The Local Paper. Eastern Suburbs Edition. Wed., Mar. 15, 2023

Care

PUSH FOR MINISTER TO OPEN NEW CENTRE

■ Matt Fregon, Ashwood MLA, has called on Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, to join him to officially open the newly completed Pinewood Early Years Hub

“We partnered with Monash City Council, who applied for one of the Building Blocks grants, and the Andrews Government allocated $2 million in round 1 of 2021–22 to build a new integrated children’s centre and a multi-faceted centre including community service, a maternal and child health nurse and a kindergarten,” Mr Fregon told Parliament last week.

“I know this kindergarten very well because I drive past it nearly every day on the way to Coles and it is where my three little kids went.

“It is such a transformation. The new centre looks fantastic, and I cannot wait to get in there and have a look.

“I did get a message from Debbie Brereton, and I give a shout-out to Debbie and the whole team down there.

“She sent me a little message today saying, out of the blue, ‘I hope you’re well, and I don’t know if you’ve seen our new preschool. It’s amazing and our families love it,’ – so I am sold already – ‘and we’re up and running and would love you to come down and see it’.

“Well, not only will I definitely go down to see it but I would love the minister to come down with me, because it is such a good improvement and it is fantastic to be a local member and see our area thriving.

“The member for Glen Waverley is over there, and a shout-out to him because a lot of the catchment area for the Pinewood Early Years Hub goes over Blackburn Road, and I know his constituents will be very happy as well. I cannot wait for the minister to come down,” Mr Fregon told the Legislative Assembly.

● ● ● ● Matt Fregon, Ashwood MLA

● ● ● ● Ingrid Stitt, State Minister

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■ Bayswater MLA Jackson Taylor has spoken in State Parliament about the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia.

“We are so incredibly lucky to have a diverse and proudly multicultural community in the electorate that I represent, one that is home to beautiful temples, one being the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia,” Mr Taylor told the Legislative Assembly.

“I have been a proud supporter of this wonderful temple and this community, who go out of their way to support their community and indeed the broader community.

Local Briefs

Congrats. Rotary

tions ensures our multicultural communities can continue to build connections, share traditions and celebrate diversity, and locally it will mean they can keep doing their incredibly valuable work.

“I am so proud to support this amazing community, who do so much to support our community.

“I am absolutely stoked by our government’s commitment to back in our multicultural communities right across Knox and indeed all of Victoria, as it is one of the very best things about our state,” Mr Taylor said.

■ Box Hill MLA Paul Hamer has congratulationed the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills for organising another Lift the Lid walk for mental health on Gardiners Creek Reserve in Burwood

“Events such as these are a great way to spread awareness of the one in five Australians who are suffering from mental illness,” Mr Hamer told State Parliament.

“That is why 100 per cent of the money raised from this event will contribute to a 3½ year scholarship for a mental health researcher at a Victorian university.

“Residents donned the colour purple to complete the walk and take part in the various activities on offer, with the support of the St Kilda Football Club as well as many of our local community clubs, including Surrey Park Football Club, Box Hill Athletic Club, Mont Albert Cricket Club, Bennettswood Bowling Club, Melbourne Baseball Club, Surrey Hills Cricket Club, Canterbury, Cricket Club, Riversdale Soccer Club, Box Hill Hawks and the Box Hill North Football Club.

“Congratulations again to the organisers and every single member of our local community who took part in this very worthwhile cause,” Mr Hamer said.

OUR TEAM

“I am equally chuffed that the Andrews Labor Government provided $243,750 to back in this amazing temple with much-needed upgrades.

“So I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs . The action that I seek is for the minister to come on down to the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia to understand further what the investment is delivering and the difference it will make to our community.

“The funding will deliver upgrades to their temple and community facilities, including flooring and carpet replacement, kitchen and non-working equipment upgrades, main roof replacement and solar energy system installation.

“You love it – absolutely love it – because having safe and secure places to celebrate and share cultural history and tradi-

Long Shots

Cartoon on TV

■ Matt BissettJohnson, long-time cartoonist for The Local Paper and Melbourne Observer newspapers, has had his work featured again on ABC-TV.

Matt’s cartoon about Peter Dutton that appeared this month, was featured in the ABC’s Insders program.

The cartoon was highlighted in the Talking Pictures segment in the ABC Sunday morning program.

Vale

Yvonne

■ Box Hill South resident Yvonne Lawrence (Bedwell) has died at age 85. The former 3AW broadcaster had served as a local Justice of the Peace and Bail Justice.

For more details, see our tribute on Page 18.

Pedestrian dies

■ Police are investigating after a pedestrian died in a collision at Clayton on Wednesday morning (Mar. 8).

Emergency services were called to reports of the collision involving a car and pedestrian at the intersection of the Princes Hwy and Wellington Rd about 9.10am.

Paramedics arrived, but sadly the pedestrian, a 68-year-old Clayton woman, died at the scene.

The male driver, a 27-year-old man, stopped at the scene and has spoken with police.

Waverley fatality

■ Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision which occurred in Mount Waverley on Wednesday morning last week (Mar. 8).

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Waverley Rd and Stephensons Rd about 6.40am after reports of a collision between a truck and cyclist.

Ambulance crews treated a male cyclist at the scene but e could not be revived.

The driver of the truck stopped at the scene and was speaking with Police.

Surrey Hills return

■ “Saturday March 4 saw the return of the Surrey Hills Primary School fete after a fouryear absence, with hundreds of families joining in the festivities,” Box Hill MLA Paul Hamer told State Parliament.

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“Events such as school fetes are not possible without the enormous dedication of parents and generous support from local businesses.

“I like to thank all those who volunteered their time or donated goods to make this fete a success.

“I arrived in the afternoon, which unfortunately meant that my go-to treat at all school fetes, the handmade rocky road at the cake stall, had well and truly sold out.

“I did, however, manage to pick up the last bottle of gin from Surrey Hills very own JBC Distillery,” Mr Hamer said.

Blackburn land sale

■ Whitehorse Council has indicated its intention to sell land at 20 Neil Court, Blackburn South.

The Counc il says it has completed community engagement in accordance with the Local Government Act.

The proposal is to sell the land via an expression of interest process for a price not less than an independent valuation obtained by Council. The property is in Residential Growth Zone 1.

● There are no ad charges for private sellers.

Jackson Taylor, Bayswater MLA

✔Artists, arts and cultural groups and organisations are invited to apply for a share in funding to support their projects through Maroondah Council’s Arts and Cultural Grants funding program for 2023-24. The grants provide support for projects at any stage of the creative process and reflect the rich diversity of the Maroondah community. Grant applications opened yesterday (Tueds., Mar. 14) and close at 4pm on Friday, April 28. Maroondah Mayor, Cr Rob Steane, said the funding can be used for a variety of projects. “The Arts and Cultural Grant Funding Program is a fantastic opportunity to obtain Council support for a range of projects, including creative development and presentation, arts and cultural programs, and the activation of new arts and cultural spaces,” Cr Steane said. “The program aims to support communitydriven projects, initiatives and events that increase Maroondah’s arts profile and our community’s participation in the arts. I encourage members of our community to apply via Council’s website.”

SALUTE TO SCHOOL LEADERS

■ Monbulk MLA Daniela De Martino has acknowledged acknowledge student leaders of some of the school communities across the district.

“I have had the distinct honour of attending several leadership ceremonies over the past three weeks, and I would like to acknowledge these leaders in this place and wish them well for the year ahead as school leaders.

“At Mater Christi College the college captains are Martha Box and Emily Tyquin. At Monbulk Primary School the school captains are McKinley Norris and Scarlett Thorp, the sport captains are Harry Arnott, Rori Garbutt and Mitch Fraser; SRC captains Alex Jones and Audrey Ross; and sustainability captain Elora Strong. At Ferny Creek Primary School the school captains are Genevieve Askew and Frankie Edquist, vice-captains Kyra Pickup and Seb Hayton, sports captains Archie Green and Hayden Allsopp, arts captains Thomas Abbott and Emily Timmermans, environmental captains Lucas Murray-Woods and Aster Hill, Arunta red house Sophie Pringle and Liara Adeson, blue house Liam Eisenegger and Tahlia Dawson, green house Noah Packer and Jade Lancaster and yellow house Max Coutts and Hudson Ashby

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● ● Daniela De Martino, Monbulk MLA

“At Ferntree Gully North Primary School the school captains are Angus Shuttleworth, Brax Taafe, Hannah Makin and Bridge Mercuri; Gordon house captains Marcus Claassens and Chloe Bell; Patterson house captains Hamish Mactaggart and Hamish Joyce; Lawson house captains Olivia Leonard and KiaraJaye Suttmann ; and Dennis house captains Lara Pascoe and Seth Wootten,” Ms De Martino said.

Police blitz across East

■ Highway Patrol officers were kept busy over the holiday long weekend with speeding drivers and three women on an e-scooter.

Three drivers were intercepted by officers on the Eastern Freeway, Alphington on Saturday night (Mar. 11).

Around 9pm a 23-year-old man, holding a probationary licence, from Ringwood and was caught doing 143kmh in a 100kh zone on the Eastern Freeway, Alphington.

● ● ● ● Jess Wilson, Kew MLA

✔Kew MLA Jess Wilson has asked State Transport Minister Ben Carroll if he willk commit to funding the extension of tram route 48, providing public transport connection for onstituents Balwyn North?

“Balwyn North is home to more than 20,000 residents in the Kew electorate, many of whom are desperately seeking an easier, more accessible commute to work or school. At the election we recognised this vital piece of infrastructure needed to be built and committed to delivering an extension from Balwyn Rd in Balwyn North through to Westfield Doncaster. This connection will form part of a high-capacity transit way integrating both trams and buses to enable faster, more frequent services and better connectivity for the residents of the Kew electorate. The 48 tram route extension will also support our amazing small businesses, like those traders at Greythorn shopping centre, by helping to increase foot traffic and encouraging residents to shop locally. I ask the minister to commit to this vital piece of infrastructure and extend the 48 tram route.”

✖There has been a $13 million blow out on the North-East Link project from $5 billion to $18 billion, Kew MLA Jess Wilson told the Legislative Assembly. The North East Link [is] a project that will have significant ramifications for the electorate of Kew and that my constituents do not feel they have been heard on. It was promised o the people of Victoria at a cost of $5 billion. It is now expected to be one of the most expensive transport projects in the history of this state at a record $18 billion.”

He had his licence immediately suspended for six months and issued with an infringement notice.

A 38-year-old man from Balwyn North was detected at 144kmh on the same stretch of road.

His licence was also immediately suspended for six months and he was issued with an infringement notice.

A 26-year-old man from Boronia was also detected at 120kmh. She underwent a preliminary oral fluid test which indicated a positive result.

Police will await tests results before taking further action. In Fitzroy , Police were called to Webb St about 12.20am after a woman fell from an e-scooter carrying two other women.

The main rider, a 21-yearold Williamstown woman, underwent a breath test and provided an alleged reading of 0.036, which was in excess of her zero limit being a learner driver.

Her learners permit was immediately cancelled and she is disqualified from driving for three months.

These intercepts were part of Operation Arid, the statewide road policing operation aiming to reduce road trauma and lives lost on Victorian roads over the Labour Day long weekend.

Tech thieves

■ Police are appealing for information after two men stole computer monitors valued over $650 from a busy supermarket in Bundoora.

COMEDY FESTIVAL FUN

■ ■ The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is set to commence on Wednesday, March 29, and is said to be the second-largest such festival in the world.

The Melbourne Observer’s team of reviewers, led by Cheryl Threadgold, present a guide to the best shows, being presented at a variety of venues in the City as well as metropolitan and country locations across Victoria.

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PALUMBO: N.Y. Judge Has Financial Stake in Case Against Anti-CCP Dissident

Among other oddities, Barry Ostrager seems to have defeated the vig—and has racked up over $3.3 million from bets placed on horse racing ...

(Matthew Palumbo, Headline USA contributor) From day one, acting New York Supreme Court Justice Barry Ostrager—the Democrat handling the case between Miles Guo and Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund (PAX)— was a gift to the Chinese Communist Party.

The timing of the lawsuit couldn’t have been any more suspect, coming just one day before Mr. Guo made an appearance on Voice of America that was infamously shut down on air right before he was about to expose Wang Qishan, then vice president of China, and Wang’s connection with HNA Group, a state-owned-enterprise that he exposed as a money-laundering front for Wang and CCP kleptocrats.

Voice of America is paid by the U.S. taxpayer, and this was the first time in its history it had ever cut off a live program. Five journalists were put on leave after—one of whom said it was because someone “caved to the Chinese government’s demand.”

This VOA interview was Mr. Guo’s first time speaking out publicly against the CCP—and they wanted it to be his last. Despite their best efforts, Guo has continued fighting the CCP ever since, and he later founded the New Federal State of China organization to further expose them.

The day the lawsuit was filed, China announced that interpol had issued a notice for Mr. Guo’s arrest, leaving no doubt that these events were being orchestrated by the CCP .

PAX is a subsidiary of Pacific Alliance Group, which is one of the largest private investment firms based in Hong Kong. The firm is headed by Shan Weijian, who has extensive ties to the CCP

Shan’s public writings regularly espouse CCP propaganda. Shan praised China’s widely protested “National Security Law” in Hong Kong that enabled extradition to the mainland, claiming that it restored “social stability” and freedoms that he claims were “suppressed by violent protesters.” In reality, peaceful protesters were protesting the removal of their freedoms from an authoritarian state.

He claimed that Hong Kong “remains an open and free society under the rule of law”—but in the two years following the passage of the law, Hong Kong’s freedom in Freedom House’s annual Freedom in the World rankings dropped by 12 points, from 55 to 42 (on a scale where 100 is the highest).

Shan has defended the persecution and cultural genocide of the Uyghurs in an article criticizing U.S. and European Union sanctions on China for their well-documented human rights violations.

Shan has also financed the publication of articles in U.S. media attacking Mr. Guo.

The case between Mr. Guo and Pacific Alliance Group made headlines for its conclusion with Ostrager ordering Mr. Guo to pay $134 million within five days or face arrest, claiming that the yacht was moved to the Bahamas after being ordered to keep it in the U.S.

The fine equaled $500,000 per day. Ostrager says the boat (the “Lady May”) remained out of U.S. jurisdiction.

The Lady May isn’t even owned by Miles, but to his daughter, Mei Guo. Both the ownership and financing for the purchase of the boat belong to Mei Guo. Despite that, Ostrager issued an

order stating that Mr. Guo is the ultimate owner of the ship—the only evidence for which is hearsay.

The purpose of the judgment was simple: so that Ostrager could deprive Miles Guo of the right to go to trial, and thus force him into bankruptcy—and thus the arms of the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Office.

This was merely the latest in a series of biased rulings from Ostrager throughout the case. Ostrager denied Mr. Guo the ability to provide evidence in his favor.

Ostrager himself made note of how egregious his fine was, as it exceeded “PAX’s outstanding judgment of $120 million” and was a “multiple” of the £28 million purchase price of the Lady May. The fine was unfair—Ostrager openly came short of saying just that—and then implemented it anyway.

Mr. Guo did declare bankruptcy— and the DOJ manipulated the trustee appointment process to install Luc Despins as the trustee for his case.

Despins has been linked to the CCP through him being a partner in Paul Hastings, LLC, a law firm that has done business in China and Hong Kong; and he has represented many state-owned (i.e. CCP owned) Chinese companies. As one writer noted in Newsmax, the CCP’s influence is direct here:

Not only is the Chinese Communist Party a client of Paul Hastings, but they also control the licenses to keep their law offices open in both China and Hong Kong. Effectively, the CCP controls the purse strings to hundreds of millions of dollars for Paul Hastings and Mr. Despins as a partner in Paul Hastings.

To better understand the motivations behind Ostrager’s rulings in the case, it’s essentially to understand his many conflicts of interests pertaining to China.

Justice Ostrager is a 1973 graduate from the New York University School of Law who was appointed to the New York Court of Claims by disgraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June 2015. He served as an acting New York Supreme Court justice and was assigned to the Commercial division. He was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in June 2017, and remains assigned to that same division.

Previously, Ostrager spent the entirety of his career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where he was a partner since 1980. He was also chair of the firm’s litigation department, and as a litigator he tried and won numerous multi-billion-dollar cases.

Simpson–Thatcher’s business presence in China is extensive, with them having been active there for roughly three decades with offices in Beijing and Hong Kong.

They have, according to their own corporate documents, represented

“China state-owned” and non-state owned companies (over which the CCP still maintains extensive control).

In the past, they’ve represented (among dozens and dozens of CCPbacked clients) state-owned companies such as:

•Shanghai Electric Group Corporation, when they purchased a U.S.-based supplier

•China’s leading mobile television advertiser, VisionChina Media Inc.

•Focus Media Holding Ltd, which operates the largest out-of-home advertising network in China and dozens and dozens more.

Simpson–Thacher represented private equity giant Blackstone in their first ever investment in China—a $600 million investment for 20% of China’s National Bluestar Corporation.

They also represented Blackstone in an agreement with Great Eagle Holdings Limited, and represented them in connection to their 95% purchase of Changshou Commercial Plaza in Shanghai.

Simpson–Thatcher also lists “A chinese company in an investigation by the DOJ into potential theft of trade secrets” among their clients—an odd thing to boast about.

Thacher is a leading player in bringing Chinese companies public through America’s stock exchanges—despite Chinese companies having notably weaker accounting requirements than U.S.-based companies, making them more susceptible to fraud. In 2010 for example, of the 34 IPOs of Chinese companies on U.S. markets, 18 had involvement from Simpson–Thacher.

Judges with conflicts of interest ruling America’s courts are surprisingly common. A 2021 Wall Street Journal investigation found that at least 131 federal judges had overseen court cases in which they or their family members owned stock between 2010-2020.

Their verdicts leave no question as to why rules against conflicts of interest exist: Judges ruled in favor of their own financial interests in two-thirds of cases (a far cry from the half you’d expect by random chance). That’s the same for the likes of Ostrager.

Pacific Alliance Group is one of the largest independent alternative asset firms in Asia, and has over $20 billion under capital under management. In March 2018, Blackstone announced a $400 million in PAG for 17.6% of its equity, giving a direct link between Blackstone and the CCP-linked PAG.

This was hardly the first time Blackstone had been tied to the CCP— and hardly is the most direct connection. As early as May 2007, the CCP-controlled China Investment Corporations spent $3 billion for 8% of Blackstone. This stake was raised to 12.5% in 2008.

In one case, Ostrager recused him

self because of his own personal investment ownership in Blackstone—but not in Mr. Guo’s case. Ostrager began overseeing a lawsuit brought by Stuyvesant Town tenants against Blackstone in 2020, but recused himself in 2021 because Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett had performed work for Blackstone, and that his pension is “derived at least in part from the substantial revenue the firm receives from Blackstone.” Yet there were no such concerns when it came to their investment in PAG.

And this isn’t the first time Ostrager questionably refused to recuse himself.

A shareholder of up to $250k in Exxon Mobil stock, Ostrager didn’t voluntarily recuse himself from a case involving them, leading to calls for his recusal that went ignored.

Ostrager would rule that New York “failed to establish” that Exxon violated the Martin Act and any other laws in their public disclosures related to socalled climate change risks—a major win for Exxon.

“The Office of the Attorney General failed to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that ExxonMobil made any material misstatements or omissions about its practices and procedures that misled any reasonable investor,” Ostrager wrote in his ruling that protected his own financial interest.

Regardless of what one thinks about the validity of New York’s lawsuit, and even if one believes that this was the correct verdict, it remains the case that Ostrager was the wrong person to make it, and didn’t recuse himself when he clearly should’ve.

Ostrager has had other controversies throughout his career. On Oct. 26, 2018, as Mr. Guo’s case was still ongoing, Justice Ostrager allegedly made anti-Greek comments while handling a different case that involved Greek real-estate managers John Pappas and Peter Skeadas, who accused steakhouse owner Alan Stillman of mismanaging a restaurant they owned called Maloney and Porcelli.

According to Pappas and Skaedas’s lawyer, Michael Camarinos, Ostager told him and a colleague about their client, “You have a couple of old pigheaded Greek clients that don’t know what they are doing.”

Among other oddities, Barry Ostrager seems to have defeated the vig—and has racked up over $3.3 million from bets placed on horse racing. Given the relatively high house edge on horse racing, these kinds of winnings certainly are suspect, but they offer enough plausible deniability to be attributed to an extreme statistical uncertainty.

If the CCP were to have handpicked a judge in this case, they couldn’t have done any better than Ostrager. The obvious flaws in his character aside, his firm’s and his personal ties to the CCP’s created a situation where the case of Mr. Guo was destined to be a show trial from day one.

While Ostrager has recused himself in cases in the past, as you saw in the case of Exxon, he’s far less likely to do so when he decides he has enough skin in the game to make it worthwhile. And in this case, he was doing the bidding of his most valuable ally out there.

Matt Palumbo is the author of The Man Behind the Curtain: Inside the Secret Network of George Soros (2021), Dumb and Dumber: How Cuomo and de Blasio Ruined New York (2020), Debunk This!: Shattering Liberal Lies (2019) and Spygate (2018).

Barry Ostrager / IMAGE: NYS Courts via YouTube

■ Australia’s Circus Oz is back in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival after 30 years an all-new show at The Forum from April 7-23.

The show features "a collision of comedy, clowning, acrobatics, skipping, bows and arrows, beauty, cranking live music, muscles, flying trapeze, juggling, slapstick, crazy antics and daredevilry by the hand of an eclectic ensemble spanning six decades."

The all-new show, designed for a multigenerational audience, brings together multiskilled artists committed to making every single performance surprising, beautiful, and dangerous.

Directed by Nicci Wilks, an award-winning performer and creator known for her comedy whose credits include work with Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, KAGE, CIRCA, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Monoxide Circus, Flying Fruit Fly Circus, and Hothouse Theatre.

“It’s a short, fast and furious show reflecting an eclectic mob celebrating the human body in all its ages, with all its awkwardness and all its strengths and what makes us laugh: trouble,” said director and Circus Oz Co-Artistic Coordinator Nicci Wilks.

Celebrating 45 years this year, Circus Oz has struck an acrobatic chord with audiences from Hobart to Arnhem Land , from Fremantle to the Sydney Opera House and all points in between. They’ve toured to over 30 countries across five continents, where in each place, inevitably, audiences have never seen anything quite like their spectacle of hilarity before.

Performance Dates and Times: April 723, 2.30pm, 6pm and 8.45pm

Venue: The Forum Downstairs, 154 Flinders St., Melbourne

Tickets from $27

For tickets and further information visit www.circusoz.com or follow @CircusOz on facebook and @circusoz_nonstop on Instagram

- Cheryl Threadgold

A Certain Mumble

■ Darebin Arts Speakeasy presents A Certain Mumble by Amelia Jean O'Leary as part of Frame: A Biennial of Dance, from March 15-9 at the Northcote Town Hall.

Amelia is a First Nations Gamilaroi dancer and choreographer. Janelle Tan is a Chinese Malaysian dance artist with a rich understanding of the diverse culture that surrounded her growing up.

In A Certain Mumble, they step through the sticky terrain of conviction and confusion, voice and incomprehensibility, sisterhood and lineage, being watched and being understood.

In this intimate new dance work, these two young choreographers explore the murky realm between the certainty they hold in themselves, the perils of being misunderstood, and the subterranean rumblings that try to convince you you don’t belong here.

Performance Dates: March 15-19. Wed .Fri. 7.30pm, Sat. 2pm and 7.30pm, Sun. 5pm

Preview performance: March 15 , 7.30pm; Post-show talk: Saturday March 18, 2pm

Venue: Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre

Approx. running time: 50mins, no interval

For wheelchair and accessible bookings please contact: ticketing@darebin.vic.gov.au

HAMLET, PRINCE OF SKIDMARK

■ Kidult comedy team The Listies return to Arts Centre Melbourne with their latest show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, an irreverent Hamlet, Prince of Skidmark, being presented from April 11-15.

The Listies have pulled apart Shakespeare's classic and glued it back together with fun costumes, loads of silliness and plenty of interactivity with the young people in their audiences.

According to The Listies, the time is right for Hamlet's return:

"Shakespeare is on the way up at the moment. In 2020 no-one knew who he was. He was super niche and indie, like only hipsters 'got' him.

“But then he went on The Bachelor, did Celebrity Big Brother UK and now he is massive on TikTok. We've heard something about a Stan special, Lego Masters and a Kombucha endorsement but his agent is being super cagey."

The duo said Hamlet was already full of things kids love in a good story: ghosts, castles, sword fights, body fluids and fun spooky stuff.

"Add to the mix supersonic gags and expertly timed stage magic and you have a brilliantly disguised Shakespearean tragedy for everyone aged five and over."

The production will be presented as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s year-round Families and Children Program.

Launched in August 2009 and it has grown in reputation to become a highly respected program nationally and internationally.

Featuring intimate and large-scale theatre from some of the world’s most respected companies and a diverse range of interactive workshops, the program is robust and growing in size, scale and scope.

Performance Dates: April 11-15

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse Recommended for children aged 5+ years

Book: artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183

- Cheryl Threadgold

Made In China 2.0

■ This certainly looked intriguing, particularly their media quote “get off your phones, you won’t see this online”.

A suggestion perhaps of unwanted change without notice, should outside forces decree?

This one man show features celebrated Chinese Wang Chong’s experiences as provocateur and artist abroad, and also in his homeland, where all works are subject to censorship.

It is powerful, brave, confronting, even amusing at times, and should not be missed. It is brain food, complemented by clever artistry .

A visual of a white, many times folded paper stares down at us as we await Chong’s entrance.

Now, staring straight at us he begins pulling a long, folded paper out of his mouth - later drawing a similar endless list from under a table – a list of repressions Chinese people have suffered and are suffering. Yet Chong always finds a lightness of hope and strength through family learnings.

From his innocent five year old days under Mao’s rule, he takes us on a journey unravelling the iconic man against tanks image of 1989.

He discloses the clever use of code emojis and blank white posters as protests begin to appear and activists question what they are being told.

Written by Chong and co-directed with Emma Valente, clever filming allows us to see closely the stoic pain in Chong’s eyes and chest as the dying doctor who blew the whistle on the Corona Virus outbreak.

And through mists he presents the terror of those fleeing in Chinese street uprisings during hideous lock downs.

Quietly chilling is when Chong faces straight forward and speaks to “the driver of the tank“ telling him he has a choice.

Returning to this iconic image, he is asking the “everyman” audience to listen to the truth and not to report him but to join the march to a

●

Performance Details: Until March 19

Venue: Beckett Theatre, The Malthouse Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au/

- Review by Maggie Morrison

Bearded

■ Bearded as advertised is ‘new’, ‘ Aussie’, ’queer’. This show is a fun, vibrant, entertaining piece of musical theatre where notions of what constitutes a healthy relationship are explored from various viewpoints.

Sean Donehue (lyricist, composer, lead) is very talented. He wrote the music, the concept and starred in this ensemble. With co-writer Nick Waxman they have produced a show that has tears , laughter, clichés, originality.

There is a large cast with a great deal of movement in a very small space. This show needs room to fully appreciate the music. The band was great, yet tucked in the corner. The actors' large performances were too much so for this space.

There were times when the vocals were amazing, at other times requiring more practice or fine tuning to hit the right notes.

Most of the cast are young, everyone playing their role with conviction. The standouts in this production were Donehue (Ace) along with Michael Lindner playing Ace’s dad, David.

The moments these two shared brought tears. Lindner, a veteran of theatre, brought his wealth of knowledge and experience to use the intimate space by creating smaller moments. Both shined in their dramatic roles, creating real characters to empathise with.

With a larger venue this show would hit a high.

I would recommend it to anyone open minded as it does challenge the views of certain church groups in a sarcastic manner.

Well done to the entire cast, crew and creative team for putting together a show that celebrates all variety of love and friendship, with a feel good dancing in the aisle finale.

- Review by Elizabeth Semmel

Media Flashes

■ Rob Mills is guest speaker at the Marquee Entertainment Luncheon Club to be held at South Melbourne on Tuesday (Mar. 21). The club is convened by Jeff Joseph.

■ Claudia Long has been appointed the ABC’s first Digital and Social Politics Reporter, based in the Federal Parliament House Bureau. She will focus on political investigations and policies that have a particular impact on women and young people.

■ Ellen Leabeater has joined Southern Cross Austereo as Executive Producer (Audio Documentaries). She was previously Supervising Producer for Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast.

■ Mahmood Fazal has commenced a new role backfilling as a Reporter on Four Corners for the next six months. In this role, he will cover crime, policing, and the criminal justice system.

● ● Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood in Living.

■ Anchored by a tour-de-force performance by Bill Nighy, Living is a wonderfully uplifting film about redemption and renewed hope.

A reimagining of the 1952 Akira Kurosawa film Ikaru, the film is set in 1953 London, a city still recovering from WWII

The central character of Mr Williams (Bill Nighy) is, at the beginning of the film, a cold straight-laced Whitehall bureaucrat seemingly in total control of his life and little office fiefdom.

Unfortunately, his world is turned upside down by a medical diagnosis that sees him re-evaluate his life and its purpose.

Working from the original Ikaru screenplay, prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro has crafted a beautiful script, one which enriches and enhances the original screenplay written by Kurasawa, along with Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni (a screenplay which itself was partly inspired by Tolstoy’s novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich).

The action of the film is quite limited, as is the world it depicts, with the main emphasis being on character and character development.

Front and centre is the character of Mr Williams, played by Bill Nighy in a wonderful performance.

Nuanced and subtle in his portrayal of a man set in his ways suddenly finding himself struggling to make sense of life, the journey we are taken on is emotionally challenging but, ultimately, rewarding.

Nighy is more than ably supported by a great cast of character actors, with Aimee Lou Wood and Alex Sharp leading the way.

Oliver Hermanus directs with great sensitivity, steering clear of producing an overly sentimental weepie full of stereotypes and, instead, creating a film with great emotional depth and beautifully realised characters.

The world of 1953 London, and Whitehall in particular, is authentically recreated while the composer, Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, has written a magnificent score.

A classic “small film with a big heart”, Living is a delightful life-affirming tale of one man’s attempt to leave a legacy behind him and, in so doing, finding significance and meaning in his life.

Duration: 102 minutes

Opens in Cinemas March 16.

- Review by Peter Murphy

One Song

■ The MSO, under the baton of Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, co-presents One Song: The Music of Archie Roach, featuring a stellar line-up of artists who draw on their connections to the Australian legend to bring new life to his iconic songs.

An evening of powerful song and sublime storytelling, One Song will celebrate the enormous legacy of Gunditjamara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung), Bundjalung Senior Elder, song man and storyteller, Archie Roach, as part of the MSO’s NAIDOC Week program.

Rachael Maza, Artistic Director of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, directs the live concert featuring Dan Sultan, Emma Donovan, William Barton, Jess Hitchcock, and more, while Deborah Cheetham Fraillon will conduct the Dhungala Children’s Choir.

One Song: The Music of Archie Roach

Wednesday, July 5 - 7.30pm, Thursday July 6 - 7.30pm

Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne

● ● Register for a free digital edition of this newspaper: www.FreePaper.com.au

The Listies present Hamlet Prince of Skidmark. Photo: Daniel Boud happier, consultative China where art is used for good, not for propaganda.

- Cheryl Threadgold

● ● Circus Oz

Shows

■ Wonthaggi Theatrical Group : School of Rock the Musical, March 3 – 18 at 7.30pm at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre, 96 Graham St., Wonthaggi. Bookings: wtg.org.au

■ Beaumaris Theatre: Puffs (Two Act edition by Matt Cox) Until March 25 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Directors: Dan Bellis and Kristina Doucouliagos. Bookings: www.beaumaris theatre.com.au

■ Off the Leash Theatre: The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later March 16 – 18 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul. www.offtheleashtheatre.com.au

■ Torquay Theatre Troupe Inc: The Other Place (by Sharr White) March 16 – 25 at the Shoestring Playhouse @ The MAC, 77 Beach Rd., Torquay. Director: John Bishop. Bookings: trybooking.com

■ SLAMS Musical Theatre Company: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. March 17 – 25 at Knox Community Arts Centre, Cnr Mountain Hway and Scoresby Rd., Bayswater. Director: Justin Cleaver; Vocal Director: Julia Roper; Band Director: Glen Barnett; Choreographer/Ass’t. Director: Natasha Harvey. Bookings: www.slams.org.au or 0412 605 182.

■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: Under the Table (by Sean Guy) March 17 – April 1 at 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: Louise Phelan.Bookings: www.trybooking.com/

CFMEX

■ The 1812 Theatre: The Shoe-Horn Sonata (by John Mistro) March 23 – April 22 at The 1812 Theatre, Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Directed by Andrew Ferguson. Bookings: www.1812theatre.com.au

■ Essendon Theatre Company: Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (by Matt Cox) March 23 – April 1 at the Bradshaw St. Community Hall, Bradshaw St., Essendon. Director: Alexander Gibbs. Bookings: 0400 448 368

■ The 1812 Theatre: Shoehorn Sonata (by John Mistro) March 23 – April 22 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Andrew Ferguson. Bookings: 9758 3964 www.1812theatre.com.au

■ Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria: My Fair Lady March 30, 31 and April 1, 2 Matinee at 2pm at The Alexander Theatre, Clayton. Director/Choreographer: Robert Ray; Musical Director: Timothy Wilson. Bookings: gsov.org.au

■ Frankston Theatre Group: Things I Know to be True (by Andrew Bovell) March 24 – April 2 at 90-100 Canadian Bay Rd., Mt Eiza. Director: David Dodd. Bookings: frankstontheatregroup.org.au

■ Ballarat National Theatre: Dust and Run (by Alexandra Meerbach) April 14 – 22 at the Mt Rowan School Theatre, 453-457 Forest St., Wendouree. Director: Alexander Meerbach. Bookings: www.bnt.org.au

■ CPP Community Theatre: Sense and Sensibility (adapted by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen) April 15 – 22 at Boronia K-12 College, Performing Arts Centre, Albert Ave. Entrance, Parking at Rangeview Rd., Boronia. Director: Kathryn White. Bookings: https://cppcommunity theatre.com.au/

Auditions

■ Avid Theatre and Ardour Productions: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (by William Shakespeare) March 18, 2pm –5pm at Malvern Community Church Hall, 29 Burke Rd., Malvern East. Director: Nicholas Opolski. Audition enquiries: nopolski@hotmail.com or 0400 507 788.

■ Beaumaris Theatre: The Three Musketeers (a comedy adventure) (By John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete) March 18 at 2pm; March 20 at 7.30pm at 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director: Richard Keown. The director is looking for four actors to play over thirty roles. Enquiries: Via form on website. www.beaumaristheatre.com.au

■ Malvern Theatre Company: The Whales of August (by David Berry) March 26 at 2.00pm, March 27 at 7.00pm at Malvern Theatre, 29 Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Loretta Bishop. Audition enquiries: ljbishop@ iinet.net.au

CALLUM’S COMEDY

■ Comedian Callum Straford presents his new Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Callum Straford Nails Everything from April 3-9 at 5.30pm at The Butterfly Club. In this 55 minute show, perfectionist Callum says he is ready transcend his flaws.

After reading one chapter of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, Callum is ready to present and enter the “doorway into enlightenment” in front of our very eyes.

Through sketch, song and stand-up, Nails Everything is said to be a show for those ready to embrace The Power of Now and "live a perfect life."

Teaming with Dramaturg Charlie Lewin (Best Newcomer Winner at MICF 2021), Callum Straford Nails Everything will take the audience through relatable situations.

Expect songs on the piano and ukulele, "razor-sharp crowd work, mesmerising and thought-provoking performance art and bewildering sketch comedy."

Straford says: “My goal in life has always been to be perfect at everything. Even though I can only cook tuna and rice and my Mum still does my clothes shopping, this seems like a reasonably achievable task.”

Performance Dates: April 3 - 9 at 5.30pm

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com. au/2023/shows/callum-straford-nails-everything

- Cheryl Threadgold

Wolf Play

■ There are primal forces that transcend even family in Hansol Jung’s, Wolf Play. Sold on the internet by his former adoptive father, Peter (Charlie Cousin), to a lesbian couple, Robin (Jing-Xuan Chan) and Ash (Brooke Lee), a six year old’s inner self is given voice by Wolf (Yuchen Wang).

Robin’s brother, Ryan (Kevin Hofbauer) who is actually training Ash for her first professional boxing bout, also attempts to impose his sense of masculinity on the child.

Theatrically, Wolf breaks down the fourth wall engaging with and marvelling at how an audience accepts dramatic contrivances and emotionally commits to a story.

This is accentuated by a puppet substituting for the actual child’s presence. There are also parallel scenes with overlaying dialogue where Peter remonstrates with his wife about their decision, Ryan talks with his mother on the phone and Wolf provides us with facts about wolf packs.

In attempting to find a sense of belonging we often resort to instinctive desires that supersede ties with siblings and parents and even between individuals seeking a relationship.

Ash and Robin find their union tested by Wolf’s arrival, Ryan’s bravado comes unstuck and Peter’s guilt builds as he loses connection after what he has done.

The wolf trope is further added to by the boxing metaphor – Ash’s stylised bout on the kitchen table equally puppet life confirming the relevance of both.

Isabella Vadiveloo’s direction in making these forms coalesce works well. Daniel Nixon’s soundscape to harness different environments like the boxing arena works well and Harrie Hogan’s lighting deftly crafts necessary spaces all of which is essential given the limited stage

Go As A River

■ If you are a fan of the recent hit movie Where the Crawdads Sing, then you are going to be interested in Colorado author Shelley Read’s new novel Go As A River.

Set on a cool autumn day in 1948, Victoria Nash delivers late-season peaches from her family's farm set amid the wild beauty of Colorado, then heads into the village.

On the way, a dishevelled stranger stops to ask her directions. How she chooses to answer will unknowingly alter the course of both their young lives.

space. Sam Diamond’s plain blue set with white trim is simple, providing just enough presence to allow the actors their moment.

This is an actor’s play. We feel Peter’s remorse, Ryan’s uncertainty and follow how Ash and Robin negotiate the changing demands of their relationship now they have a child.

The evolution of them all is what convinces us of the primitive forces at play. The lynchpin is, of course, Wolf who is everyone’s focus but who still has to find his place in the pack.

Make the effort to see Red Stitch’s latest production. The concept, the performances and the theatricality should not be missed.

Red Stitch Actors Theatre. Until April 2

- Review by David McLean

Seussical Jr.

■ Seussical Jr. will be presented as a Diamond Valley Singers Youth production for eight performances from March 24-April 1 at the Warrandyte High School Theatre.

This family musical presented by performers aged eight to eighteen takes us into the world of Dr Seuss where familiar characters are revisited, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo

The Cat in the Hat guides us into the Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind-hearted elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child reprimanded for thinking too many 'thinks' ... and the rest of the story can be seen on the stage of Warrandyte High School.

Co-director, Lexi Patman says: “I am excited to be co directing with Tommy Murphy, Seussical Jr with DVS. I have previously performed in Youth productions with DVS and have now come full circle.”

The motto of the Diamond Valley Singers is 'Acting locally and thinking globally', and proceeds from these performances will be donated to International Needs Australia and Open House in Macleod. Performance Venue: Warrandyte High School Theatre, Alexander Rd., Warrandyte. Dates and times: March 24, 31 at 7pm; March 25, 26, April 1 at 2pm and 6pm;

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/CDTLK

- Cheryl Threadgold

And that’s just the beginning of an intriguing story of split-second choices and courageous acts that propel Victoria away from the only home she has ever known and towards a reckoning with loss, hope and her own untapped strength.

Go As A River is the story of a young woman's journey to becoming, of love and loss, home and resilience, against the background of a deep connection to nature.

As Victoria gathers all the pieces of her small and extraordinary existence, and survives desire, heartbreak and betrayal, she will arrive at a single rocky decision that will change her life forever.

Described as a coming-of-age story and a drama of enthralling power, Go As a River combines beautifully drawn characters and a picturesque natural setting.

It’s a story of survival and becoming, touching on the deepest mysteries of love, truth and fate.

With our Easter break looming shortly, Go As A River would be a great way to spend the Easter weekend with your nose in a book that will transport you to another world.

Go As a River by Shelley Read is published by Penguin Random House and available online or at your favourite bookstore.

- Julie Houghton

Auditions

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: Summer of the Seventh Doll (by Ray Lawler) March 19 from 2pm and March 21 from 7.30pm at Factory 8/417-419 Warrigal Rd., Cheltenham. Director: Martin Gibbs. Audition enquiries: mandcgibbs@tpg.com.au or call 0411 645 003.

■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: The Glass Menagerie (by Tennessee Williams) March 19 at 4pm, March 21 at 8pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute. Director: Grant Purdy. Audition bookings: www.warrandytehallarts.asn.au/theatre

■ Encore Theatre : The Popular Mechanicals (by Keith Robinson, Tony Taylor and William Shakespeare) April 2 at 3.30pm and April 3 at 7.30pm at Fleigner Hall, 31-39 Highland Ave., Oakleigh East. Director: Andrew Ferguson. Audition enquiries and bookings: afconsulting@bigpond.com

■ The 1812 Theatre: Of Mice and Men (by John Steinbeck) April 2 at 7.00pm at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Malcolm Sussman. Audition enquiries: 0417 141 803 fatters@bigpond.com

■ Malvern Theatre:The Third Act (by Emma Wood) April 2 at 2.30pm, April 3 at 7.30pm at Malvern Theatre, 29 Burke Rd., East Malvern. Director: Susan Rundle. Enquiries: theatre@psrundle.com, or 0416 298 136

■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Normal Heart (by Larry Kramer) April 30 at 7.00pm, May 2 at 7.00pm at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Loeman St., Strathmore. Director: George Benca. Enquiries: georgebenca@gmail.com

■ Brighton Theatre Company: Fracked! Or Please Don’t Use the F-Word! (by Alistair Beaton) May 21 at 7.00pm, May 23 at 7.30pm at Brighton Theatre, Cnr Carpenter and Wilson Sts., Brighton. Director: Alan Burrows. Audition enquiries: aburrow1@bigpond. net.au or 0412 077 761

● ● Comedian Callum Straford

- Cheryl Threadgold

● ● Shelley Read

● ● ● Kevin Hofbauer, Jing-Xuan Chan, Charlie Cousins and Yuchen Wang in Wolf Play.

FUN AND FIESTY JULIET

■ This play-within-a-play reworks Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s age-old tale of star-crossed lovers, into a cracking, all-singing, all-dancing jukebox rom-com.

Rob Mills as Shakespeare and Amy Lehpamer as his wife Anne Hathaway spark onstage, with Anne suggesting the reframe.

“Maybe she doesn’t kill herself just because he killed himself?”

After all, she argues, Juliet (Lorinda May Merrypor) has only known Romeo (Blake Appelqvist) for three days.

With her bestie May (Jesse Dutlow), her nurse Angelique (Casey Donovan), and Anne tagging along in disguise, the no longer lovestruck Juliet heads off on a road trip to Paris.

There the unlikely team crash a party and meet the shy Francois (Yashith Fernando) and his father Lance (Hayden Tee), and crash headlong into a love triangle, a resurrection, and a sweet boy-meets-boy romance.

The whole unrequited love shebang is peppered with Swedish ubersongwriter Max Martin’s effervescent pop tunes.

A live orchestra belt out earworm hits such as Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, Bon Jovi's It's My Life, Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone, Britney’s Oops I Did It Again, and Back Street Boys I Want It That Way , revving the audience up throughout.

The cast give their all with energetic, spirited and infectious performances.

Lehpamer and Merrypor are standouts with well-deserved standing ovations for girl-power solos.

A great set by Soutra Gilmour , fabulous lighting by Howard Hudson, and first-rate costuming, including a fleur-de-lys codpiece by Paloma Young, add to the wacky, rollercoaster feel.

Fun and feisty, it pays not to overthink the story.

Instead, just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

- Review by Kathryn Keeble

Community heritage grants

■ Aplications are now open for the 2023 Community Heritage Grants program.

The CHG program offers cash grants of up to $20,000 to community organisations. The grants support organisations to preserve and manage collections that have Australian cultural and historical significance.

“We continually see the benefits of the CHG grant program, as small, volunteer-run organisations work with professional assessors to better understand their collection and are then well placed to implement practical measures to care for the collections they

Pearl

■ (MA). 102 minutes. Opens in selected cinemas March 16.

Yet another film that received no love from the Academy Board, this opulent, beautifully realised horror/drama features one of the year’s best performances, one that deserved Oscar attention.

Mia Goth is outstanding as Pearl, a young woman struggling to find herself in Texas , circa 1918.

Kept under strict control on their isolated farm by her domineering mother, a German immigrant who has been totally twisted and psychologically deformed by WWI, and has to help care for her invalid father, who is mute and wheelchair bound due to a major stroke.

Pearl’s one love is the movies, which is able to transport her to other worlds.

● ● ● ● Juliet and Angelique: Lorinda Merrypor and Casey Donovan look after,’ said Fiona Clarke, Assistant Director, Collaboration Branch.

Since 1994, the CHG program has provided over $8.4 million in funding to more than 1600 projects nationally.

Last year, $420,097 was shared between 57 regional and community groups, including Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Limited, Trafalgar Holden Museum, Queensland Braille Writing Association, Flinders Palaeontology, Mawson's Huts Foundation, Australian Academy of Science and the Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation and many others.

Historical societies, regional museums, archives and galleries are invited to apply, including Indigenous and multicultural organisations.

The grants enable groups to work with consultants to undertake significance assessments and preservation needs assessments and based on these reports, deliver preservation and conservation, collection management, and digitisation activities. Funding is also available for training workshops.

“Our message to new applicants –the most competitive applications are those that are well planned and convey the strengths of their collection and commitment of their organisation. We encourage applicants to read the guidelines and then speak to our CHG team at an early stage about their proposal,” Ms Clarke said.

General applications close midnight on Monday, May 8. Previous CHG program recipients have an extended deadline, with applications closing on Thursday, June 1.

To find out more and apply visit nla.gov.au/chg

CHG is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communica-

tions and the Arts; National Library of Australia; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia

Media Flashes

■ Darren Ally has started as a Senior Producer at 7News Spotlight. He joins the program after working as a Producer for Warner Bros. Discovery and prior to that, as a Producer with 60 Minutes.

■ Nine’s talk radio stations have commenced the first of three internship rounds for 2023, focusing on content producers, social media and podcasting. Successful applicants will work alongside the Digital Audio teams, learning how to drive audiences through engaging social media content and work with the 9Podcasts team, creating content for listeners. The six-week internships are paid and will be offered at each metro station: Sydney’s 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW, Brisbane’s 4BC and 6PR in Perth.

■ Marina Freri has made the switch from radio to television and joined the ABC's 7.30 program as an Interview Producer. She was most recently Journalism Manager for ABC Radio National.

■ Shelby Garlick has commenced at The Age as Digital Producer. Her role will also include homepage editing duties. Shelby joins from the Herald Sun where she was Night Homepage Editor.

■ Seven Network has confirmed Sydney will be the new home of the 63rd TV Week Logie Awards, with the event to be broadcast exclusively on Channel 7 on Sunday, July 30.

- Telum Australia

This growingly fractured mental state sees Pearl carrying out disturbing acts of violence against some of the farm animals, plus developing an odd bond with a large alligator that lives in the nearby river.

When she meets the town’s temporary projectionist, things take a dark turn indeed.

A prequel to X, which saw Pearl as an old woman wanting love and affection while tormenting a visiting adult film crew, was a great homage to 70’s exploitation cinema.

Pearl is presented as a lavish, Douglas Sirk type 1950’s melodrama, and the effect is both exhilarating and discomforting.

Gorgeously photographed and designed, director Ti West (who cowrote the script with star Goth), cleverly uses the lovely surface (a la David Lynch’s Blue Velvet) to explore the horrors hiding underneath.

The whole cast are good, but Goth (who also co-stars in Brandon Cronenberg’s upcoming Infinity Pool ) is extraordinary, and thanks to both her and West, provide one of the most memorable final shots in cinema history.

I cannot wait for the concluding chapter, the 80’s set MaXXXine, which is due out this year.

RATING - ****½

History Of The World Part II

■ (M). Eight episodes. Now streaming on Disney+.

Having worked in many video rental stores (remember those?) over the decades, I repeatedly had to tell many customers from the Jewish community that History Of The World Part II didn’t exist, it was just a gag that finished off Mel Brooks’ 1981 comedy History Of The World Part I, a film that had

built up a strong cult following on VHS after a financially disappointing run in cinemas.

So it feels weird that after 42 years, Brooks (who returns as executive producer, co-writer and narrator) has finally been coaxed into doing an official follow-up, but the results are not pretty.

Segments (or brief moments) lampoon everything from The Civil War to Sigmund Freud, Harriet Tubman to the Russian Revolution, from Shirley Chisolm to Jesus and his disciples.

Some skits barely last a minute, while others are broken up into several chapters, even when the material isn’t working from the very beginning.

Sloppy in the extreme, this sketch series throws numerous ideas and historical situations at the viewer in lazy, machine gun fashion, but even given the hit-and-miss nature of the format, it is incredible how nothing comes close to hitting the bullseye.

Dispiriting and oppressively unfunny, this is like someone took the worst SNL skits and packaged them into one show.

Lots of familiar faces, but nothing works. Brooks’ original movie (***½) may not have been perfect, but it did provide plenty of decent laughs, with a cast (Brooks and his regulars, Spike Milligan, Pamela Stephenson, and a charming Gregory Hines in his feature film debut) that delivered the comedic goods.

RATING - *

- Aaron Rourke

■ I vaguely remember watching the Our Gang short films at my local cinema in the late 1940s and I used to read the Our Gang comics.

It was a strong influence on young children and we formed gangs of our own so that we could play together, have fun and imitate the characters in the film series.

My favourite was Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer because he had a funny strand of hair sticking up on top of his head.

The series was originally titled The Little Rascals but it was changed to Our Gang in 1938 over a copyright issue.

Carl Dean Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois, in 1927. As a child Carl and his older brother Harold sang in local shows.

In 1935 the boys were visiting their grandparents in California and wanted to see the studios where the famous Little Rascals series was filmed.

They did an impromptu performance of hillbilly songs and comedy at the studio cafeteria where they were spotted by the producer Hal Roach.

Roach was so impressed with the boys that he cast them in one of the short films.

Carl was given the name of ‘Alfalfa’ and Harold became ‘Deadpan’ or ‘Slim’.

Carl became a very popular character along with George ‘Spanky’ McFarlane, Billy ‘Buckwheat’ Thomas and Daria Wood.

It was the first time filmgoers saw children

Whatever Happened To ... Carl Switzer

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

playing together without racial overtones. Although Carl was a fine singer Alfalfa would always sing “off key” to get a laugh.

Carl acted in 61 short films and was known throughout the world.

In 1941 Carl Switzer left the series at the age of 14.

Comedy, It’s a Wonderful Life, Going My Way, The Track of the Cat, White Christmas and The High and the Mighty.

Carl married Dian Collingwood in 1954 they had one child but the marriage only lasted for two years.

By 1956 he was reduced to playing an uncredited slave in The Ten Commandments.

Carl dreamed of making a big comeback but it

never happened. His friend Roy Rogers gave him a small role in his television series.

Carl’s last film role was in 1958 in The Defiant Ones which starred Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. He did earn a reasonable living working as a dog breeder and hunting guide with some notable clients such as Roy Rogers and James Stewart.

On the night of January 21, 1959, Carl had been drinking heavily at a bungalow home in the San Fernando Valley and got involved in an argument with a man over a payment of $50.

The argument turned into a fight and when Carl allegedly charged at the man with a knife he was shot in the stomach and died on arrival at the hospital.

The trial resulted in a verdict of “justifiable homicide” but there are some who think Carl was murdered and he only held an unopened pen knife. But after all this time who knows the real truth?

Carl Switzer was buried at Hollywood Memorial Park. He was only 31 – and like many famous child actors, Hollywood turned its back on him when he grew up. Kevin Trask

Kevin can be heard on 3AWThe Time Tunnel - Remember WhenSundays at 10.10pm with Philip Brady and Simon Owens. And on 96.5 FM That's Entertainment - Sundays at 12 Noon. www.innerfm.org.au

EUROPEAN AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION

■ Buda Historic Home and Garden and Castlemaine State Festival are pleased to announce A European Australian Connection including prints inspired by the house and gardens of Busay itself.

Exhibition closes April 19.

The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria is pleased to present an exhibition at the 2023 Melbourne International flower and Garden Show.

Exhibition hours: Wednesday March 29 and Thursday March 30 –9am-5pm.

Friday, March 31. – 9am – 9.30pm.

Saturday, April 1 – Sunday April 2. - 9am 5pm.

Venue: Royal Exhibition Building Carlton.

BUDA – A European Australian Connection

42 Hunter St, Castlemaine

At Ballarat

Pre-Raphaelites Drawings and Watercolours from The Ashmolean Museum.

The Art Gallery of Ballarat is about to present a special exhibition featuring works never before seen Australia, from The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England, Pre- Raphaelite Drawings and Watercolours.

Alongside, in a special double feature is an exhibition of historical and contemporary Australian artworks drawing from the influence of the PreRaphaelites, In the Company of Morris.

Few people have ever examined the large number of Pre-Raphaelite works on paper held in the Western Art Print Room at The Ashmolean. Even enthusiasts and scholars have rarely looked at more than a selection.

The Ashmolean has generously lent the Art Gallery of Ballarat artworks from their permanent collection and the exhibition makes it possible to see a wide range f these fragile works together for the first time in Australia in this exhibition which is exclusive to Ballarat.

Exhibition opens May 20 and closes August 6.

Art Gallery of Ballarat

40 Lydiard St. N., Ballarat Central

The Arts

Exhibition closes Saturday April 15. Boroondara Arts

360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

Woven Together

Contemporary Tapestried from the Australian Tapestry Workshop. Bunjil Place and the Australian Tapestry Workshop are opening an exhibition celebrating the outstanding contribution the ATW has made in the contemporary tapestry in Australia over the past four decades.

Delve deeper into the world of contemporary tapestry through a range of hands-on and conversation programs, adult and family weaving workshops. Exhibition closes April 23.

Bunjil Place

Harry’s fashions are contagious

with Peter Kemp

Art After Hours

Enjoy a Friday night feast for the senses at Art After Hours.

Pairing fantastic music with exquisite exhibitions and an after-hours vibe, this Friday night event provides a new way to experience art at Hawthorn Arts Centre.

Entry is free and gives you afterhours access to the Town Gallery exhibitions, live music and the Arts Bar.

The exhibition curators will also be close at hand to answer any questions so if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to check out Hawthorn Arts Centre this is it!

Everyone is welcome after Art After Hours.

Exhibition opens Friday March 24 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Friday June 23. 5.30pm – 7.30pm.

Bookings unnecessary ★

Romancing the Streetscape is a group exhibition celebrating streetscapes and buildings of Melbourne and surrounds.

With the mastery of paint, the featured artists slip between direct observation and imagination, revealing their unique perspectives of urban existence and our shared experiences of places within this community.

Highly realistic and evocative images of inner city scenes reflect the romanticism often associated with traditional landscape painting.

2 Patrick Northeast Drive Narre Warren

- Peter Kemp

NIDA donation

■ Zareh Nalbandian, CEO of Animal Logic Entertainment, has made a personal donation of scholarship support to NIDA

The Animal Logic Entertainment Scholarships will help support students from under-represented backgrounds in the arts and entertainment industries with the cost of living and study expenses.

Zareh recently visited NIDA to meet the 2023 scholarship recipients and take a campus tour.

The scholarship recipients are Siann Lau, who began their 3-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Course Costume and Mehhma Malhi who is studying their 15-month Master of Fine Arts Directing course.

Future ALE scholarships will be available to the Master of Fine Arts Directing or Master of Fine Arts Writing for Performance for the 2024 and 2025 student intake.

Animal Logic Entertainment was established in Sydney by Animal Logic Founder and CEO Zareh Nalbandian. The Company is now completely independent with offices in Sydney and Los Angeles.

■ The whirlwind visit of the pop phenomenon, Harry Styles, had an amazing effect on some of the fashions he wore on stage. Major Melbourne retailers sold out of feather boas ,cowboy hats, even face glitter. Rumour is his cowboy hat was purchased from style icon, Bunnings.

Rockstar of the Seventies

■ Cast your mind back to the late seventies, there's a good chance you will recall Alby Mangels. Alby was the man of the moment, an untrained cine photographer who roamed the world filming wild animals in dangerous places, always in the company of leggy, bikini models. Then he disappeared for decades only to reappear early this year to arrange conversion of his epic adventure films to digital. Mission complete. Alby, now 75, plans to screen the 'World Life' series in outback theatres, but no sign of those iconic leggy ladies.

Familiar face on TV

■ You might do a double take when you see a TV commercial for Xero Online Platform. The surprise element is the presenter, you'll know the face, it's none other than Lee Lin Chin, presenter of SBS Weekend News from 1992 to retirement in 2018. During her time on TV she was nominated for several Logies

Harold makes his return

■ The beloved Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, will be returning to the re-born cast when the new Neighbours soapie gets underway later this year. Harold will make guest appearances in the new episodes to be seen in Australia , UK and other countries.

Catriona takes to the air

■ TV travel reporter Catriona Rowntree ('Getaway' on Channel 9) has achieved a lifelong desire to become a non-commercial pilot. Catriona got her license through training with RA AUST.

Catriona, now 51, started her media career as a cub reporter on Simon Townsend's (remember Simon and his dog Woodrow) on Wonder World ? Catriona currently appears in 'Getaway' and 'Country House Hunting' . - John O’Keefe

OK. With John O’Keefe

● ● ● ● Carl Switzer

● ● Harry Styles

Stateside with Gavin Wood in West Hollywood

AFL ABOUT TO BOUNCE THE BALL FOR 2023

■ Hi everyone, remotely from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites in West Hollywood comes this week’s news.

Welcome home Alastair

■ Alastair Thomas Clarkson is an Australian Rules football coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of the North Melbourne Football Club

He was previously the head coach of the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League from 2005 to 2021 where he won four premierships.

Hailing from the small Victorian town of Kaniva, Clarkson played 11 seasons of AFL football, nine for North Melbourne (1987–1995) followed by two for Melbourne (1996–1997). He played 134 games in total, playing either in the midfield or on the half-forward flanks.

He was appointed his first senior AFL coaching role at the Hawthorn Football Club for the 2005 season, when the Hawks appointed Clarkson to lead their rebuilding phase.

While his side could only manage five wins in his debut season, finishing 14th, 2006 saw the side improve, winning their last four games in a row and taking them to 11th spot on the ladder.

The Hawks continued to improve in 2007, winning 13 games and finishing fifth on the premiership table. This took them into the finals, where they eliminated Adelaide in the Elimination Final, before being eliminated themselves in the Semi Final against North Melbourne.

On May 13, 2008, the Hawthorn Football Club announced that Clarkson had signed a contract until the end of 2011. In 2008 Clarkson took the Hawks to second place on the ladder in the home and away season, behind Geelong, a team who lost only a single game during that period.

After defeating the Western Bulldogs and then St Kilda to qualify for the Grand Final, he then coached the Hawks to what many believed was impossible: a Grand Final win over the dominant 2008 Geelong Cats

The 2008 premiership is the pinnacle of his career, completing a meteoric rise in his tenure as coach at Hawthorn, and in doing so, Clarkson became the only coach to ever lead his sides to a premiership in both the AFL/VFL and the SANFL, in the well over 100 years existence of both leagues

Southwest troubles

■ The most immediate question: How far will Southwest go to do right by passengers seeking reimbursement and other compensation for their travel trouble?

It has repeatedly pledged to cover all reasonable expenses, including flights, hotels, car rentals and other costs incurred by those whose travel plans were messed up, some repeatedly.

Southwest has refused to publicly define reasonable, arguing that individual circumstances vary widely. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation and potential for stinginess and bureaucracy.

Anyone who has ever submitted receipts for a lost or delayed bag on any airline knows resolving it can be as painful as an IRS audit.

Brazen thieves

■ Manhattan’s trendiest tourist-packed neighbourhoods have become increasingly terrorized by brazen thieves who are leaving shop workers stymied and scared.

Grand larcenies, or thefts of $1000 or more, have soared up to over 60 per cent in Gotham precincts in the past year, according to the latest NYPD stats and some business owners blame the state’s lax bail laws for dumping suspects back on the streets to strike again.

“There’s a true belief out there among criminals that they’re going to get away with it,” said Jim Giddon, whose Rothmans men’s clothing store in Gramercy was once robbed twice in about a week by the same gang. The grand-larceny crisis is so bad that Mayor Eric Adams held a “summit’’ with business leaders at Gracie Mansion earlier this month to deal with the spike in retail thefts, although sources said he left the two-hour powwow after about 20 minutes.

● ● If you are considering coming over to California for a holiday, then I have got a special deal for you. We would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. I have secured a terrific Holiday deal for readers of the Melbourne Observer and The Local Paper. Please mention ‘Melbourne Observer’ when you book to receive the ‘Special Rate of the Day’ for your advance bookings. Please contact: Jennifer at info@ramadaweho.com

Out and About Fitness study

■ Many gyms and health clubs seem to be filling up again with people eager to return to their old routines and communities or just to get in shape, at the same time that new Omicron variants are pushing COVID infections up. So, how safe is it to go back to the gym? Put another way, how many microscopic aerosol particles are the other cyclists in your spin class breathing out into the room? How many is the runner on the nearby treadmill spewing forth? A small study about respiration and exercise published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides some rather startling answers. The study looked at the number of aerosol particles 16 people exhaled at rest and during workouts. These tiny bits of airborne matter measuring barely a few hundred micro meters in diameter, or about the width of a strand of hair, and suspended in mist from our lungs can transmit coronavirus if someone is infected, ferrying the virus lightly through the air from one pair of lungs to another. The study found that, at rest, the men and women breathed out about 500 particles per minute. But when they exercised, that total soared 132-fold, topping out above 76,000 particles per minute, on average, during the most strenuous exertion.

Celebrity bail reform

Gavin Wood

■ A California bail reform group backed by A-list celebrities has shut down after being sued for releasing a serial criminal who less than a week later tried to murder a waiter in Las Vegas The Bail Project, whose supporters include Danny Glover, John Legend and Richard Branson announced it discontinued its operations due to restructuring in early December. Its closure comes after it posted a $3000 bond for burglary suspect Rashawn Gaston-Anderson in December 2021. Six days later, Gaston-Anderson shot Chengyan Wang 11 times in Chinatown. In a plea deal, the 24-year-old was convicted of attempted robbery and mayhem, both with deadly weapon enhancements.

Prison phone calls

■ US Congress recently passed the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022. The act, which now just needs President Biden’s signature, will allow the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the rates of prison phone calls. Here’s why that’s a big deal. The prison phone call industry generates $1.4B each year. The Prison Policy Initiative pins the average cost of a 15-minute phone call from jail at $3. That doesn’t include all the other fees associated with these calls, including setting up and adding funds to required prepaid accounts. In 63 per cent of cases, inmates’ family members shoulder these bills. Among them, 83 per centare women. According to the Ella Baker Centre, over a third of paying families go into debt over the calls. Historically, the FCC has limited the cost of cross-state phone calls to 21 cents per minute for prepaid calls. Problem is, 80 per centof these calls are made in-state. With the passing of this bill, the FCC will be able to cap in-state prices. “Today, the FCC will be granted the authority to close this glaring, painful, and detrimental loophole in our phones rate rules for incarcerated people,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said.

Eggs becoming expensive

■ Eggs are outta control, with prices up a whopping 49 per cent this year. In perspective: Bureau of Labour Statistics data shows the average US price of a dozen large, Grade A eggs were $3.59 in November. Last November, you would’ve paid $1.72. Why? There are a few compounding factors scrambling up prices, but the biggest is bird flu. You can eat an egg laid by a hen with bird flu, but most chickens will die if infected. This year, 57.7m+ poultry birds have been infected, the worst outbreak in US history. Additionally: The cost of chicken feed is up. People still eat eggs when prices rise, driving the prices even higher, Daniel Sumner, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of California, Davis, told Marketplace. Egg prices also spiked in 2015. Why? Again, bird flu. It’s not just the US. For example: In Britain, egg prices are up due to bird flu, plus the war in Ukraine driving up energy and chicken feed prices.

● ● ● ● Pictured at the “Welcome Home to North Melbourne Football Club” function are former NMFC Director Alan Johnson with coach AlAstair Clarkson.

● ● Ramada Hotel and Suites, West Hollywood.

Crossword No 7

Across Across Down Down

Ticket remnant

Happen 174. Periodic 177. Socially excluded 180. Anglican parish priest 183. In an unspecified way

Leaps over

Pencil rubber

Book publicity hype196. Ever

Of the sun

Musical pace

Peace offering, ... branch

Male sibling

Root vegetable

Sport, Rugby ...

Willingly

Powered bike

Portable light

Circuit-breaker 237. Leather strap 239. Golf club

Goodbye 241. Warm & cosy 242. Port style

Stimulates

Raise

perceptive

Crossroads

By Rob Foenander info@countrycrossroads com.au

Troy joins list

■ Aussie country music star Troy CassarDaley joins a star studded line up for the Gippsland Country Music Festival at Lardner Park Gippsland on Saturday, April 22.

Other A-listers will include Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Beccy Cole, Sara Storer and others.

Food trucks, carnival rides and a boot tossing competition will add to the family friendly event.

More info and tickets at gippslandcountrymusicfestival.com

Richard at Palais

■ Popular French pianist Richard Clayderman will perform at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre on April 19.

Regarded as one of the world’s most successful piano players, his catalogue includes 290 Gold and 90 Platinum albums plus concerts in excess of 2500 around the world.

Peninsula Folk

■ Green Fieldz with Sally Carter and Keith Rea will be the guest performers at the Peninsula Folk Club on April 2 at Frankston Bowls Club, commencing 6.30pm.

Blazing fiddle, ukulele and wild guitar along with soaring vocals and harmonies is what’s being promised.

The popular Jam Sessions kick off at 5.30pm.

- Rob Foenander

YVONNE LAWRENCE DIES AT 85

■ One of the popular Melbourne Observer columnists of years past, Yvonne Lawrence, has died at age 85.

Yvonne was best known for her work as a broadcaster, mostly on talk station 3AW.

Yvonne’s early years were in the Mildura region, where she was raised by her grandmother.

She was involved in the retail shopping centre sector, as a manager for outlets such as Eastland, Whitehorse Plaza (Box Hill) and Greensborough.

Yvonne had worked as a copywriter at 3AW, but was encouraged by manager Bob Quinn to go on air as one of the after-midnight girls.

Her overnight colleagues included Caryl Browne and Cecile Blackman.

Yvonne took on weekend evening shifts at 3AW, and pioneered with the Matchmaker and Sexually Speaking programs.

Her 3AW days came to an end in the late 1990s when Program Director Steve Price re-organised the host line-up.

Yvonne went on to work at 3AK led by Mal Garvin for a short while. Like many of the other presenters on the station, she went unpaid for much of her work.

Yvonne then presented her Life and Style program on community station 3WBC-FM at Box Hill.

One of her favourite past-times was running monthly luncheons at Glencoe Restaurant, with celeb-

Crossword Solution No 7

rity guests including Greg Evans, Baby John Burgess, Keith McGowan, Simon Owens, Muriel Cooper and John-Michael Howson.

Her weekly columns in the Melbourne Observer were a favourite amongst readers.

She was fearless in covering all subjects, often taboo topics.

Yvonne and partner Peter Bedwell held a lifetime interest in antiques and collectables.

Listener Damian O’Brien said:

“So sad to hear that Yvonne passed away, I can remember having met her many years ago at the Glencoe and also I remember her columns that she used to write in the Melbourne Observer and her having mentioned me in one of her editorials from a letter I sent in to her column in the Melbourne Observer many years ago.

“I also fondly remember listening to Yvonne on 3AW all those years ago and reading her editorials in the Melbourne Observer.

“A lovely lady who bought a smile to many of her 3AW listeners of a Saturday night. RIP Yvonne , you will be sadly missed.”

Retired newspaper executive Robert Bradley swaid: “he certainly called a spade a spade and expected perfection. If there was an error in an ad she certainly let you know about it and then moved on to the ad for next week. A great shopping centre manager sadly gone.”

● ● Yvonne Lawrence

■ Top middle-distance star Alligator Blood is the one to beat, come the All-Star Mile to be run at Moonee Valley this Saturday (Mar. 18).

A winner of over $6 million in stakemoney, he has really hit his straps since joining the Gai Waterhouse-Andrew Bott combination.

At his last outing he defeated the Hayes runner, Mr Brightside, in good style in the Futurity Stakes over 1400 metres at Sandown on February 25.

Top rider, Blake Shinn , has stuck with the six-year old by former top contender, All Too Hard.

In his races he has the ability to lead, or sit off the pace, but the 1600 metres at the Valley, will suit his front running style.

In second spot in the market are I’m Thunderstruck and Mr Brightside, both at good each way quotes.

I thought I’m Thunderstruck was a bit disappointing in the Futurity, and looks like he wants further, maybe around the 2000-metre mark.

However, who is complaining, as he has accumulated over $8 million is stakemoney, winning seven of his 22 starts, with eight minor placings, but hasn’t won for a while.

He wasn’t suited by the 1400 metres of the Futurity, and will be hard to beat here.

TOP FIELD TO CONTEST ALL-STAR MILE Ted Ryan

Mr Brightside, I feel is a little behind in class behind the top two, although he tries hard.

Prepared by the Hayes team of Ben and J.D. Hayes, he has already won over $3 million in earnings, a figure that warrants his consistency.

He will be in it for a long way, but I feel the others like those mentioned before him seem to have the wood on him.

The up and coming star, I Wish I Win, a four-year-old, with leading trainer Peter Moody, is a star on the horizon, having shown his class especially at his last start.

He tackled the 1000 metres of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes up the straight 1000 metres at Flemington in a good field.

The flying filly. Coolangatta, won the Lightning in good style, but the run of the race was that of I Wish I Win.

He came from second last of the 11 runners, to flash home, and go down by about a neck.

He finished in front of top sprinters like the world’s top rated Nature Strip, Bella Nipotina, and Marabi.

He is now moving up to 1600 metres, and a bigger task here with the likes as previously spoken about.

Moody is confident the son of former Cox Plate winner, Savabeel, is all class, and will show it come All Star Mile day.

Then there is Gentleman Roy, a consistent performer, and was hard at It, as they came at him passing the 300 metres mark from home.

The class also told a bit, with the outsider, Nonconformist, getting up to run second at good odds.

Gentleman Roy will have his work cut out in the All-Star Mile, with the quality of the field that will contest the classic.

Next is the ex-France galloper, Alenquer, who is now with leading Flemington trainer, Mike Moroney.

Golfers-Jockeys Day

■ Just a reminder of the big Golf Day at Woodlands Golf Club in Mordialloc this coming Monday (Mar. 20), with tee-off time at just after 12 noon.

Proceeds go to the National Jockeys Trust and the Woodlands Golf Club Trust.

A number of leading jockeys including Damien Oliver will be playing.

There are a number of top racing people playing along with various players from all over town.

Players can strike it rich with a hole in one on the 17th, a chance to win a new Mazda Six, courtesy of Brighton Mazda, through the Executive-Principal, Andrew Stott, and Peter Finch.

Players can also win a further $10,000, on two occasions, on the fifth hole of the picturesque course.

The winners on the day will be guests of the Moonee Valley Racing Club at their Feehan Stakes, plus the winner’s names will be engraved on the masterpiece.

One that is smart on his day is the James Cummings trained good galloper, Cascadian, who won the Doncaster over this distance in 2021.

He has challenged the best and done well, he recently finished fifth behind Artorious in the Canterbury Stakes over 1300 metres at Randwick.

Others who made the field include Nugget, Tuvalu, and The Inevitable.

Then you have Law of Indices, who goes all right, Aegon goes well on his day.

My Oberon at odds could run well.

One that is racing well is Pounding, from the Peter Moody camp, and will run a big race.

Overall, I am sticking with Alligator Blood, I’m Thunderstruck, I Wish I Win and Alenquer.

I will have the pleasure of interviewing two special guests on the day.

First up will be the grandson of former toptrainer, Ray Hutchins, who was one of the pioneer trainers in the early days at Mordialloc. Darren Hutchins will join me for a chat about the top trainer in his racing days.

Then I will be joined by leading writer, journalist and accountant, John Macnaughtan, who has studied the history of the Epsom Race Track and the start of the Woodlands Golf Club.

He is in the throes of a new book, after his best seller about the Leviathan Punter of yesteryear, Eric Connolly.

I am looking forward to having a good chat with both gentlemen.

- Ted Ryan

He had good form in France, but it is hard to have him first up, over the straight over 1200 metres.

But Moroney has proved again and again, that he can have them cherry ripe first up.

● ● Alligator Blood ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes at Ladbrokes Park Lakeside Racecourse on February 25.

Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos.

● I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) ridden by Mark Zahra wins the PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on September 10.

Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos.

SMALL FIELDS AT STAWELL MEETING

■ Stawell started the week off on March 6 with an eight event card which attracted unusually small fields throughout the day.

Local trainer/driver/part-owner Jason Ainsworth’s 4Y0 Danny Bouchea-Bellerina Spur mare Daisy Bouchea opened the program by taking the 2180 metre Buy Tickets For Powercor Stawell Gift Trotters Mobile.

Restrained from gate five to settle five pegs as the favourite Carnera led Willdomxav (gate two) after a tussle, Daisy Bouchea after easing away from the inside to race exposed for the final circuit raced past the leader prior to the home turn, holding off a determined challenge on turning by Willdomxav which was momentarily held up when Carnera gave ground, Daisy Bouchea scored easily at the finish by 8.7 metres in a mile rate of 2-04.5 from Willdomxav, with The Sergent (four pegs – one/one at bell) third 3.4 metres away.

■ Ten year old Bettors Delight-Romador gelding Kempseys Delight (Denbeigh Wade) having start number 201 after racing at Boort the day before, led all of the way from the pole to defy all challengers and win comfortably by 5.6 metres in the 1785 metre McIvride Family Pace, accounting for Summerhill (three pegs from gate three) and Aerodyne Guy (gate four – one/two –three wide last lap) which was a nose away. The mile rate 2-03.3. It was Kempseys Delight’s 11th success.

■ Burrumbeet trainer David Barbetti combined with Michael Bellman to land the Carey Covers Pace over 1785 metres with Littleblabbermouth, a 4Y0 daughter of Tell All and Turbo Elly. Restrained from outside the front line to settle three back along the markers, Littleblabbermouth after receiving a late split as the winning post came into view, sprouted wings to blouse Straight Up (one/two) which looked all over a winner coming with a timely finish. Iamawingate which led on turning after racing uncovered from outside the front line was third. The margins 1.9 metres by a half neck in a mile rate of 2-01.1.

Trotting features

■ Shepparton was Tuesday’s venue with a massive twelve race program including two interesting trotting races.

Elmore breeder/owner/trainer Jenny Johnson’s 4Y0 Creatine-Singing Creek gelding Its Diamond Creek returned to the winners list for the first time since May last year when victorious in the Your Sold Real Estate Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres.

Driven by Lisa Miles, Its Diamond Creek (gate three) enjoyed a sweet passage trailing the leader Lucky Speed (gate four) before being checked in the last lap when Sunny Spider after racing exposed ran to the front, but was a sitting target after doing it tough.

Extricated four wide in the straight, Its Diamond Creek ran on best to prevail by 3.6 metres over Little Tedey (one/one) which nearly caused a complete blow out at odds of $151. Calders Day Out after a slow beginning from gate three on the second line switched down to the sprint lane from mid-field to finish third 4 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.8.

■ Local trainer Clive Dalton landed the Cottrells Electrical Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres with 7Y0 Imperial Count-Bacardi Jade mare Imperial Countess with Nathan Jack in the sulky.

Quickly away from barrier four to settle three pegs after Hateitwhenyourrite crossed Aldebaran Jaytee (barrier three) following a battle, Imperial Countess ($14.00) was given a cosy trip and after gaining a split halfway up the running, scored by 6.4 metes from Aldebaran Jaytee, with Yankee Lover (one/one at bell) third 1.1 metres away third.

Twenty metre backmarker Easy Pickings appeared to have the race in his keeping when surging clear in the straight, but went off stride shortly after. The mile rate 2-04.9. It was Imperial Countess’ first victory since September 2021.

■ Four year old Betting Line-My Major Rocket mare Younggiftedandblack was a deserved winner after some excellent runs of late in the Jims Diggers Pace over 2190 metres for Melton duo Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt.

Going forward mid-race to race in the open from the bell, Younggiftedandblack kept on giving all the way up the running to prevail by a half

Harness Racing

Beaumont Tiles 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1750 metres. Going forward from gate five, Miki Pins was able to cross Renegade Outlaw (gate three) running into the first turn and proceeded to run her rivals ragged, greeting the judge by 8 metres over Renegade Outlaw which battled on well. Eye See Philtra which broke shortly after the start before settling three pegs raced exposed for the last lap when finishing third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.7.

10 races at Bendigo

len-baker@ bigpond.com

head over Shaq (one/two) returning a mile rate of 1-59.7. Bettor Sport (one/one) was third 4.4 metres away.

Night of nights

■ It was presentation night at Swan Hill on Wednesday March 8 as part of an even eight race program which included the annual Keil Tiling 2023 Blue Pearl Classic restricted to female reinspersons over a distance of 2240 metres and it was Codi Rauchenberger, part of the Greg Fleming (Moorilim) training operation taking the honours on what was a ‘night of nights’ for her finishing with three winners. Greg himself originally being from the area.

■ Three year old Rock N Roll Heaven-Shes Magnetic gelding Viking being the victor for trainer David Moran who is stable foreman.

Burning away from gate six to lead, Viking toyed with his rivals to record a 6.9 metre margin in 1-56.9 over Coco Beach (three wide last lap) from the rear, with Yapper (three pegs – three wide home turn) third a half neck away. By winning, Codi received a pearl bracelet valued at $1000.

■ Greg Fleming also trained a double on the night – Machs Last and Mauries Bonus as did Woorinen’s Joe Costa – Bella Abby and Star Shine. Machs Last, a 4Y0 daughter of Mach Three and Samantha Chloe led throughout from gate three in the Holt’s Mitsubishi Battlers In The Bush Maiden Pace over 2240 metres to account for first starter Starzinhereyes trained at Concongella by Owen Martin which ran home late (four wide on the final bend) from the tail, with Epic Orion third 1.9 metres back after trailing the winner from the pole. The mile rate 203.1.

Five year old Pet Rock-Perfect Bonus gelding Mauries Bonus named after Greg’s late father was strong in winning the Noah And Wren Keil Pace over 1750 metres.

Despite racing uncovered throughout, Mauries Bonus (gate four) surged past the leader Lady Lani on turning to gain the day by 4.3 metres from Im Shadow Boxer (four wide home turn) from the tail returning a slick mile rate of 1-54.4. All Da Rage was third 9.6 metres away after following the winner.

■ Joe Costa’s 4Y0 Betterthancheddar-Live In Abby mare Bella Abby after racing exposed from outside the front line in the 2200 metre RLA Battlers In The Bush Maiden Pace dropped down to trail the pacemaker Royal Edard (gate five) in the last lap before striding past him to take over on turning and score by 3.1 metres over Im Stuck Man (one/one – three wide home turn) in a rate of 2-00.1.

Sky Full Of Stars (four wide last lap from the trail) was third 3.9 metres away. Five year old Sunshine Beach-Divine Lady mare Star Shine (gate four) eased three wide off a one/one trip approaching the home turn to blouse Ruth Arthur’s death-seating Maxy Wants To Play by a half head in the 1750 metre Kiel Family Pace returning a mile rate of 1-57.5. Caribbean Magic was third 1.6 metres back after trailing the weakening leader Shaded. Both winners were driven by Ararat’s Michael Bellman.

■ Narrandera duo Ellen Bartley (trainer) and Blake Jones (driver) made the approximate eight hour round trip with Always B Miki-Pretty Pins gelding Miki Pins who was an easy winner of the

■ Bendigo also held a ten race card on Thursday including five trotting races. Longlea’s Paul and Rebecca Morrissey were successful with home bred Centurion Alm-Canadian Dream filly Centurian Dream trained by Rebecca in the 1650 metre Forty Winks 2Y0 Maiden Trot from the standing start with all runners making their race debut.

Driven by Michael Bellman, Centurian Dream stepped cleanly from barrier three to trail the leader and favourite Star Of Patrick (barrier two) only to go off stride running into the first turn losing valuable ground to settle three back along the markers with the rest of the field all galloping.

Gradually making up the leeway to tack on three pegs, Centurion Dream came away from the inside to follow Hestuffenough which had moved off the back of the leader in the last lap.

Giving chase to the pair approaching the final bend when Hestuffenough galloped under pressure, Centurion Dream ran home stylishly to record a 4.3 metre margin over Star Of Patrick returning a mile rate of 2-08.4. Magic Law was third 70.5 metres away. It was Mick Bellman’s 5th winner for the week.

■ The 1650 metre Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile went the way of 6Y0 Andover Hall-Access To Success gelding Itsallandover in a rate of 2-00.4 for local father and son combination of Justin and Jayden Brewin.

Enjoying a beaut trip from gate six following the leader Kyvalley Surfrider (gate three), Itsallandover after moving away from the back of the pacemaker on the home turn, dashed away to score by 20.1 metres in advance of Tension Seeker (three pegs), with Jessies Son third 9.3 metres away after racing exposed.

■ Ardmona owner/trainer/driver Donna Castles snared the Haeuslers Echuca Trotters Mobile over 1650 metres with ever reliable Bacardi Lindy-Im Tina Turner 7Y0 mare Dances.

Spearing away from gate six to lead, Dances bowled along at her leisure, giving her rivals the slip on the home turn to record an easy 14.2 metre victory (her 9th in 83 outings) from a deathseating Rioterra in a rate of 2-01. Supplanter (four pegs – four wide last lap) was third 3.5 metres away.

■ Another all the way winner was Stawell partowner/trainer Ray Harvey of The Penny Drops fame who landed the Smartline Mortgage Advisers Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres.

Driven by ‘Herbie’ Herbertson, Lady Be Lucky at start number ten led most of the way from gate six, accounting for Hurricane Jane (one/one) by 6.5 metres in a rate of 2-05.3. Shez Majestic (three wide from the rear to race parked) battled on gamely for third a head away.

■ The 1650 metre TLC Carpentry Trotters Mobile saw Merrigum trainer/driver Luke Bryant successful aboard 7Y0 Andover Hall-Shez Allrighty mare Violetta Gift.

Given the run of the race from gate three trailing the poleline leader Aldebaran Maverick, Violetta Gift after moving outside the leader on the top turn raced clear in the straight to greet the judge by 6.6 metres from Black And Gold (one/two – three wide last lap), with Speedy Lover making up plenty of ground for third 2.6 metres back after galloping shortly after the start. The mile rate 1-59.6.

■ Twenty one year old Tasmyn Potter the daughter of Wayne would have been ‘over the moon’ after driving her first winner at her fourth attempt aboard the Connor Crook (Kialla) trained Shadow Play-Sassy Seelster 4Y0 mare All So Classy in the Simonds Homes Bendigo

Pace over 2150 metres, leading throughout from gate five to run out a 4.9 metre victor from

Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets

This Week

■ Wednesday – Yarra Valley/Bendigo, Thursday – Geelong, Friday – Shepparton, Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Ouyen (Cup)/ Cranbourne, Monday – Maryborough, Tuesday – Kilmore.

Keayang Alex (one/three) and Follow The Eclipse who was 9 metres away third. The mile rate 1-59.2.

Geelong winners

■ The feature race at Geelong on Friday was the $24,000 Hoyts Foods Geelong Rocket over the true 1609 metre journey taken out by the Jess & Greg Sugars team with much travelled 9Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven-Atomic Gold gelding A GS White Socks which qualified for the 2019 Auckland Inter Dominion Grand Final.

Driven by Greg, A GS White Socks was eased at the start from gate five to settle momentarily three back in the moving line as the raging hot favourite Curly James led from the pole.

Going forward racing for the bell to race outside the hot pot for the final circuit, A GS White Socks raced clear over the concluding stages to score by 1.9 metres in a mile rate of 1-55 from Curly James who was most disappointing, with Tangoingwithsierra third 3.3 metres away after using the sprint lane. It was A GS White Socks’ 14th success in 92 outings.

■ Teesdale trainer Geoff Smith combined with Jayden Barker who has only r ecently severed ties with the David Miles stable to lead all of the way from the pole aboard 5Y0 Auckland Reactor-Baji Bromac gelding Sir Floyd in the 1st Heat of the Southern Cross Feeds Sprint Series over 1609 metres.

Allowed to set the tempo, Sir Floyd making his 7th race appearance was never headed, greeting the judge by 3.1 metres over Machavelli which trailed, with Go Accused third a half neck away after trailing the pair. The mile rate 159.3.

■ It was a Sunraysia trifecta to the $18,800 Rocky Baker Memorial Broken Hill Pacing Cup over 2500 metres at Broken Hill on Friday, with Irymple trainer/driver Boris Devcic’s 4Y0 For A Reason-Lara Croft gelding Buster Reason after trailing the pacemaker Yoursnmine blousing him by a half head.

Colerne was third 12.1 metres away after a one/one passage. Red Cliffs trainer Reece Moore trained second and third. The mile rate 2-05.2.

- Len Baker

News Extra

Emergency lane driver charged

■ Police arrested and charged an unlicensed driver in Sunshine on Friday (Mar. 10) after they were spotted speeding and dangerously overtaking cars in an emergency lane.

Police Airwing spotted a red hatchback travelling eastbound on the Western Freeway in Deanside about 1.45pm.

The hatchback was allegedly driving at speeds of up to 180kmh, dangerously overtaking vehicles in the emergency lane.

Numerous triple zero (000) calls were received from concerned members of the public as Air Wing continued to follow the vehicle to Ballarat Rd at speeds of up to 130kmh.

The vehicle, driven by a 41-year-old man from Melton South, was intercepted at the intersection of Duke St and Ballarat Rd in Sunshine.

with Len Baker

PUBLIC NOTICES

The Local Paper

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Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986

AMENDMENT

TO NOTICE OF ACQUISITION

COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF INTEREST IN LAND

In accordance with the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 (Vic), the Minister for Environment amends the Notice of Acquisition dated 27 January 2023 and published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 27 January 2023 (No. S 19), by deleting the words “The Minister for Climate Action” and substituting the words “The Minister for Environment” so that the first paragraph of the notice reads:

“The Minister for Environment (formerly the Minister for Environment and Climate Action) (Minister) declares that by this notice it acquires the following interests in the part of the land described as Lot 8 on Plan of Subdivision LP79325 and contained in Certificate of Title Volume 8705 Folio 258, which is shown as Reserve 1 on proposed Plan of Subdivision PS906422X (6.539 ha) and depicted below.”

Published with the authority of the Minister. For and on behalf of the Minister

Signed:SARAH CRUTE

Name:Sarah Crute Director, Suburban Parks Program Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Date:20 February 2023

Email: editor@LocalPaper. com.au

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CLOTHES. Boys. Approx. 200 pieces. New and as new. Age 0-14. Ex Op Shop stock. Excellent for market. VGC. $50 the lot. Tullamarine. 0417 999 224.

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TANDEM TRAILER. 10’ x 5’, all steel construction, lights, brakes all in good working order. Made by Forest Hill Trailers. GC. $2000. Croydon. 9726 8513.F-I

VEGEPOD. Medium size. 2 covers. Base has been assembled (never used). One opened box which contains the cover/poles and joiners and a new unopened cover and all accessories/instructions. New cond. $250 ONO. Seymour. 0438 228 617. F-I

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MORNINGTON Dutch Australian Seniors Club. Meets weekly in Tyabb Community Hall, Frankston-Flinders Rd, Tyabb on Mondays, 10am2pm. Morning coffee, games of Klkaverjas and Rummicub. New members welcome. Nel, 0414 997 161. Paula, 5779 8291. UFN

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CAR REG. No.

RESULTS FROM SATURDAY’S LOCAL CRICKET

■ Premier Cricket. Men’s Premier

Firsts. Carlton v Richmond 8/287 S Mills 88

AJ Humphries 70 T Goodman 33 M Parker

31* EP Gulbis 3/47 K Thavarajah 2/31.

Footscray 198 RJ Stingel 43 MT Jamieson 35

DJ Russ 31 DG Kight 30 KJ Elliott 5/53 GJ

Hannah 2/31 KR Williamson 2/50 v Melbourne

2/60. Ringwood 5/274 DA King 118* TF Rogers

54 JJ Roberts 45* M Wilcox 3/44 v Prahran.

St Kilda 3/276 JA Merlo 110* EJ Newman

100* JA Manning 31 HT Dixon 29 J Medew-

Ewen 2/65 v Northcote.

Seconds. Northcote 236 M Lawson 99 M

Mikedis 38 V Vasan 37 MC Phelan 27 AG

Fernando 3/11 R Adams 2/33 v Dandenong 0/

33. Prahran 106 BJ Roosenboom 4/41 A Price

3/24 B Aggelis 2/10 def by Footscray 2/162 S

Mihelakos-James 101* A Nadeem 34. Rich-

mond 254 C Hinds 36 J Dekel 36 J Hinds 29

A Cross 27 DA Scholz 25 L Hatzoglou 4/34 Y

Singh 4/53 v Melbourne University 1/19. St

Kilda 0/25 v Geelong 201 HL Hauenstein 79*

S Kapoor 4/44 WH Fraser-Smith 3/42 WR Lovell 2/37.

Thirds. Camberwell Magpies 9/187 A Vidajic

77 TM Donaldson 28 LR Tully 4/33 ZW Gelsi

3/43 v Ringwood. Melbourne University 243

MP Forwood 61 J Hahnel 46 NW Ritchie 35 R

Jain 3/70 BA Matthews 2/30 AL McIlroy 2/43

v Frankston Peninsula 0/4. Prahran 10/198 C Giles 68 N Munasinghe 47 T Marchant 4/53

N Brennan 3/61 N Anaan 2/23 v Carlton 3/26. St Kilda v Richmond 9/257 J Czosnek 76 T Cashman 50 N Cowling 45 BT Kittlety 3/48 LO Sellenger 2/63 JB Sugden 2/68.

Fourths. Geelong 155 J Baldi 40 DN Fanning 34 MA Cesarios 4/31 PJ Halbish 2/20 T Hunter 2/27 v Melbourne 1/24. Melbourne University 3/96 T McManus 34* S Dias 29 v Ringwood 121 ZW Grech 79 O Patel 6/39 S Goel 4/22. Prahran 1/35 G Collins 28 v Northcote 146 TS Ryder 31 D Goela 28 J Rotstein 4/27 H Cummings 2/35. St Kilda 6/ 252 WH Faulkner 70 HN Gray 64* HA Hughes 39 v Dandenong.

■ Diamond Valley Cricket Association. Barclay Shield. Epping 6/210(cc) T Hughes

85 NJ Gardiner 81 DD Wickramarathna 2/9 v Rosebank. Rosanna 0/20 v Diamond Creek

128 NM Rowe 2/17 A Khanna 2/22 PE Bourke

2/23.

Money Shield. Eltham 142 K Sheehan 53

S Sceney 29 M Chrimes 27 CC Prasad 4/12 L Richardson 3/36 v Plenty 0/0. Bundoora 2/31

KC Richards 2/20v Lower Eltham 135 N

Sharma 4/28 S Silva 2/7.

Mash Shield. Lower Plenty 2/108 LM

Sirianni 47 B Wright 37 J Barton 2/35 def

Panton Hill 102 J Barton 26 BA Jenkin 4/23

A Caldera 2/16 LM Sirianni 2/32.

Greensborough 8/313(cc) JD Berthet 116 UJ

Ranasingha 90 D Patullo 44 MK McAuley 5/ 93 ME Komen 2/51 v Mill Park.

B-Grade. Diamond Creek 9/204(cc) J

Schaerer 74 L Dwyer 49 T Balcombe 3/67 S

Byrne 2/22 P Hannah 2/47v Heidelberg.

Rosanna 118 MH Mohamed Farook Ali 55 K

Lamprey 4/34 J Kearney 3/34 v Epping 3/41.

C-Grade. Lower Plenty 178 T Smith 49 L

Taylor 4/42 A Mitris 2/36 S Wright 2/39 v Mernda. Riverside 1/5 v Bundoora 186 CD

Drake 3/38 S Gibbs 2/15 L Morgan 2/55.

D-Grade. Plenty 1/6 v Rosebank 163 J

Dimarco 98 C McEvoy 6/25 J Gavin 2/26 D

Cocking 2/40. Mill Park 0/18 v Bundoora Park

125 D Doddato 45 ZP Howell 37 A Sacco 3/

12 JD MacDonald 3/35 B Van Driel 2/10 S

Ullah 2/29.

E-Grade. Riverside 0/6v Greensborough

275 RS Dosanjh 193 J Bohan 5/38 J Hartigan

3/44. South Morang 190 L Xavier 48 E Elango

32 JN Ramalingam 26 J Loudovaris 3/28 C

O'Connor 3/34 M Bennett 2/30 v Panton Hill 0/1.

F1-Grade. Lower Plenty 9/256(cc) G

Brown 58 C James 44 JD Turner 40 A Tsardakis

34* E Kitchen 4/36 W Mills 2/47 v Riverside. Rosanna 0/45 v Heidelberg 83 M Owen 38* A Dickson 5/24 N Spokes 2/14.

F2-Grade. Research Eltham Collegians 8/ 247(cc) B Jones 58* C Dornan 56 N Kilby 34 K Volpe 2/39 B Key 2/55 v Plenty. Laurimar 9/263(cc) A Najeeb 98 RL Kelsey 47 DG Sinclair 32 B Chapman 4/41 T Jones 2/48 v Diamond Creek

F3-Grade. Diamond Creek 1/31 v Rosanna

97 G Wilson 69* J Gent 5/39 BA Oliver 4/17.

Research Eltham Collegians 181 D Wilcox 41

A Perrett 28 D Ellis 26 T Ciarlo 3/31 l Skaife

2/15 JT Cleary 2/30 B Caldwell 2/33 v Macleod

0/3.

F4-Grade. Lower Plenty 4/265(cc) B

James 57 ML Thompson 53* NP Sirianni 49 D

Taylor 34 T Carson 25* J Sheahan 2/64 v Bundoora. Greensborough 1/2 v South Morang

198 G Noonan 53 J LoValvo 39 M Kay 29 V

Premarathne 4/38 CW Rathnayake 3/43.

G1-Grade. Rosebank 2/150(cc) N Reid 52*

R Clark 50* D Keating 2/29 def Montmorency

142 J Stacy 50* R McCallum 28 D Keating

27 R Alonso 3/14. Laurimar 5/172(cc) DR

Lashford 50* J Moroney 32* M Ford 28 P

Jenkin 2/32 def Lower Eltham 121 J Gilhooley

30 S Goel 25 M Boyle 4/20 M Talbot 2/15 J

Moroney 2/21.

G2-Grade. Bundoora United 6/198(cc) G

Casey 51* J Maskell 50* T Johnston 46* A

Regan 3/17 J Callegari 2/51 def Plenty 8/

162(cc) L Pyers 34 J Callegari 30 M Busse 2/

19 C Willis 2/24. Thomastown 2/130 J

Gammino 52* M Smith 41def Laurimar 128

P Batchelor 27 PJ Stewart 2/12 M Schlenzka

2/23 J Gammino 2/31 N Angaria 2/35.

G3-Grade. Lower Plenty 6/149(cc) S Nayef

50* C Bosso 2/23 A Lyngcoln 2/25 def by Macleod 3/150(cc) J Chaperon 53* S Fleiss

40. South Morang 8/162(cc) JD Pierce 50* P

Narendranathan 27 H Stone 3/21 NC Bennett

2/27 def Heidelberg 9/90(cc) L Ingwersen 3/

22 V Sivasubramaniyam 2/17.

■ North Metro Cricket Association. Jika

Shield. Rivergum 116 N Fowler 52 C Altis 26

A Boughton 3/26 I Brincat 2/26 def by Preston Baseballers 9/117 C Altis 4/26 J Bannister 3/

3. Jack Quick Shield. Lalor Warriors 6/ 169(cc) Z Taleb 54* D Turner 45 F La Mendola

35 JC Sparrow 2/27 def Dennis 114 L Green

39 JC Sparrow 28 B Kalra 2/9 J Lukey 2/15 J Delcus 2/17 BH Gorski 2/22.

Jack Kelly Shield. Holy Trinity 2nd XI 3/

82 B Boyall 42 def Bellfield 81 B Rickard ACC

4/15 E Macciocca 3/20.

John Adams Shield. B-Grade. Old Ivanhoe

2nd XI 5/81 V Pawar 38 M Ryan 27* R Potts

3/22 v Camrea 2nd XI 79 P Dhundhara 4/

26 R Hense 2/8.

Les Horne Shield. C-Grade. Keon Park

2nd XI 7/170(cc) S McCleish 78* D Ewart 2/

18 D Dimasi 2/47 def Rivergum 3rd XI 10/149

C Worrell 37 C Spaliaras 28 J Schembri 3/13

D Jeffrey 3/24 R McKernan 3/39.

Bob Herman Shield. D-Grade. Holy Trinity 3rd XI 9/160 M Stanford 39 M Bopardikar

3/18 v Fairfield 2nd XI 10/171(cc) V Bukka 47

T Ahmed 27 A Sibillin 3/25 B Maplestone 2/6

JB Murphy 2/37.

Les Kemp Shield. E-Grade. Reservoir

Cobras 3rd XI 2/103 R Kondru 57* def West

Preston 3rd XI 101 R Kondru 4/28 P Rao 3/0.

■ Eastern Cricket Association. Dunstan Shield. Mont Albert v North Balwyn 8/240(cc)

C Sanders 93 K Maheshwaran 56* N Patel 28

X Bateman 26 C Parker 4/60. East Doncaster 186 MJ Bremner 68 R Sayer 34 DC Clarke 4/ 50 J Quartermain 2/37 T Merry 2/55v Old

Carey 0/1.

Wright Shield. St Kevins OC 212 PL

Gheller 47 TR Norris 42 J MacKinnon 42 M

Maiolo 4/10 SD Vitharana 4/21 B Madhushanka

2/40 v Mulgrave 0/19. Heathmont 4/37 MA

Perera 3/10 v Deepdene Bears 132 M Bell 26

S Peiris 5/28 H Nirmal 2/25 D Howard 2/29.

A Turf. East Malvern Tooronga 273 A

Wheatley 144 D Carman 4/47 J Ingram 3/89

S Bowen 2/27 v Boronia 1/12. Edinburgh 263

BM Donnellan 124 S Randiv 44 J Viola 30 K

Pumpa 6/56 A Saxena 2/34 v Richmond City

0/13.

B Turf. Heathmont 1/16 v Canterbury 206

L Ross 58 H Crothers 46 AE Hume 27 TG

Swoboda 5/56 D Lawrence 4/40. Old Carey Cricket Club 0/3 v Marcellin OC 135 A

dler 48 R Jayaweera 48 CB Don Paul 34 A

Vekariya 2/48 v Hawthorn.

D Turf. St Kevins OC v Edinburgh 207 LD

Hinds 51 W Vickery 51 JD Delahunt 35 A

Fernon 6/49 S Browne 2/39. Mulgrave 84 W

Trewella 4/16 M Horn 2/10 Z Macdermid 2/

20 def by Glen Iris 2/85 C Ward 58*.

E Turf. Richmond City 3/288(cc) C Lovell

171* J Abooj 56* DB Annan 39 v Hawthorn. Edinburgh v Ashwood 9/273(cc) J Dennis 140

D Healy 38 MP Edmonds 36 DT King 3/43 SE Barber 3/63.

F Turf. Bulleen 140 U Sameera 33 A Rhodes

25 T Freeman 4/20 F Heron-Paterson 2/11 S Cosham 2/13 v Heathmont 2/36. Mazenod OC

6/83 HR Emerson 30 D Broman 2/8 W Herbert

2/10 Z Mackey 2/25 v Richmond City 127 W

Herbert 40 M Jago 3/7 D Huggins 3/26 M Ware 2/47.

G Turf. St Kevins OC 125 U Chakraborty

29 J Willett 26 G Dikeos 6/24 P Bist 3/27 v

Deepdene Bears 2/78 C Rowbotham 46* Z

Miller 2/9. Heathmont 0/3v Mont Albert 216

DJ Bonnett 71 NP Woods 33 TP Smit 27 D Wynne 4/40 D Sharma 2/35.

■ Ringwood District Cricket Association. Lindsay Trollope Shield. Lilydale 1st

XI v Ainslie Park 1st XI 272 TD Stray 91 A Sier

58 J Tucker 43 S Muthalif 4/63 QA Hodgkinson 4/71.

Bill Wilkins Cup. Warrandyte 1st XI v St Andrews 1st XI 8/237(cc) CR Moorhouse 68

D Paisley 59* JE Lynn 28 L Killey 4/68.

Stuart Newey Plate. Croydon Ranges 1st

XI 230 Z Jenkins 56 A Stewart 55 JO Blyth 30

DM Walker 4/44 K Jones 3/47 C Witherdin 2/

14 v Seville 1st XI 0/17.

Steve Pascoe Shield. Montrose 2nd XI

2/81 L Grigg 53 H Brown 2/12 v Warrandyte

2nd XI 120 C Malluwawadu 59 L Haberfield

25 J Crowe 3/22 BJ O'Neil 3/22 CL Storm 3/ 28.

Pat Meehan Shield. East Ringwood 2nd

XI 150 RM Webster 42 D Delaney 25* JJ

Stone 4/38 WR Hartley 4/41 T McKinney 2/24

v Wonga Park 2nd XI 3/15 D Delaney 2/4.

Ian Spencer Shield. St Andrews 2nd XI

1/5 v Templeton 2nd XI 212 C Williams 29 RG

Gill 28 D Singh 28 C Nicolopoulos 7/115 V Premaratne 2/59.

District. A-Grade (David Beatty Shield). North Ringwood 3rd XI 123 C Dikschei

3/19 T Smith 3/28 RJ Masters 2/15 def by Coldstream 1st XI 6/127 C Dikschei 39* M

Pezzimenti 36* T Andrikopoulos 3/9 N Rule 2/ 20.

B-Grade (Don Smith Shield). Norwood

3rd XI 9/139(cc) B Fittolani 58 M Piper 3/26

J MacCartney 3/28 def by Heathwood 2nd XI

6/196(cc) B Gordon 43* C Noske 40 A MacCartney 38 S Noske 25 T Strus 2/29.

C-Grade (John Springett Shield). Yarra

Glen 1st XI 148 S Fordham 36 M Coghlan 30

T Biddiscombe 27 A Woolhouse 4/5 R Beale

2/32 def Kilsyth 3rd XI 10/117 J Woods 4/26

J Bain 2/18 L Senti 2/19 AF Derham 2/20.

D-Grade (Neil Tull Shield). Seville 3rd XI

7/224(cc) R Akers 39 F De Varga 36* SJ

Sculthorpe 34 JM Smith 32 M Tilney 27 RP

Eknek Gedera 3/42 G Rai 2/43 def Eastfield

2nd XI 131 R Christie 48 J Young 40 M Beri

3/30 F De Varga 2/27 JP Barry 2/43.

E-Grade (Ann Pascoe Shield).

Heathwood 3rd XI 6/133(cc) TJ Darmody 36*

B Hanna 31* J Newsome 2/8 B Collins 2/19

def by Chirnside Park 3rd XI 9/134 B Collins

29* Z Ashworth 28 W Trease 4/21.

F-Grade (D. J. Strachan Shield).

Bayswater Park 3rd XI 5/227(cc) C Ray 108 B

Warnakulasuriya 32 B Trump 26* DN Finch

2/27 defMount Evelyn 3rd XI 10/79 DN Finch

35* E Fay 5/20 P Eagles 2/6 C Robbins 2/23.

G-Grade (Adrian Hammond Shield).

Wantirna 1st XI 157 M Tufvesson 76 M Sealey

3/34 R Forster 2/13 D Walles 2/32 vAin slie

Park 4th XI 7/234(cc) D Walles 78 L Walles

25 L Cavallo 3/11 C Allen 2/61.

H-Grade (Stuart Minetti Shield).

Croydon North 2nd XI 8/188(cc) M Niemiec

80 D Earp 33 R D'Amico 2/27 J Prangley 2/

30 def Warrandyte 6th XI 10/119 C Callow 37

D Earp 5/23 A Smith 3/13.

Union 1 8/210(cc) M Rasheed 88* D Kuzma 44 B De Alwis 4/36 M Silva 2/104. Woolnough Shield. Washington Park 1 10/ 95 P Burnell 7/32 v Omega 1 3/58 G Slaughter 3/4.

Quiney Shield. Hampton Central 1 165 B McGregor 43 C Amoore 33 P Sanders 3/22 A Gribben 2/43 v Kingston Heath 2 1/15. Pullen Shield. Bentleigh ANA 2 174 MJ Lloyd 66 AS Chiragoni 4/32 DR Aavula 4/59 v CUCC Kings 1.

E-Grade. Highett West 1 2/23 v Gladiators 1 126 A Karim 7/41.

F-Grade. Le Page Park 3 107 M O'Brien 31 R Singh bhinder 4/22 K Singh 3/7 a singh 2/26 def by Diamond 1 9/138 RS Shergill 74 H Partridge 5/27.

G-Grade. Washington Park 3 8/227(cc) G Finney 58 P Verrall 44 H Ritchie 44* S

Ahlawat 2/31 v Mackie 3.

H-Grade. Oakleigh District Footballers 3 v East Oakleigh 1 157 H Chick 30 Y Billias 5/ 58 J Rozakis 4/53.

I-Grade. St. Andrews Gardiner 1 v East

Bentleigh Central 2 183 S Pritchett 68 P Vaghela 2/67.

J-Grade. Aspendale 1 9/137(cc) M Edwards 3/11 A Keys 3/25 def East

Sandringham 5 8/105 AA Pryor 28.

K-Grade. CHAG 3 8/149(cc) A Lamb 53*

T Mitchem 27 S Sathasivam 5/23 v CUCC

Kings 3 10/74 SC Ganta 32 J Salter 3/3 P

Sheppard 3/23 B Champion 2/14.

L-Grade. Melbourne Premier 2 3/235(cc)

AM Sane 50* S Akula 50* P Pandian 50* A

Bhatia 30 def Mackie 5 10/120 S Manual 37

C Kantarias 27 S Baral 3/22 M Sirigudi 2/11

A Bhatia 2/14 A Sahasrabudhe 2/31.

M-Grade. Aspendale 2 5/145 GP Fox 50*

M Lee 50* B Johnston 2/16 def Hampton

United 4 9/144(cc) R Doyle 28 M Lee 4/32 O Fox 2/8.

N-Grade. Brighton District 2 110 AB Green

4/18 S Lielups 3/18 B Newell 2/45 def by Cluden

4 8/169(cc) N Martin 45 C Howard 34 S Stephens 3/37 B Loughnan 2/31 J Stephens 2/ 45.

■ Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association. Provinicial Firsts . Langwarrin 9/ 232(cc) IA Cockbain 91 C Brittain 42 BL Frith

3/56 A Christou 2/52 Z Klan 2/56 v Baden

Powell. Old Peninsula 186 J Forrest 42 JS Grant 32 D O'Malley 28 R Ramsdale 4/36 P Jackson 4/51 v Pines.

Peninsula Firsts. Mornington 0/6 v Heatherhill 203 J Theobald 57 BT Maxwell 37

A Hussain 26 N Cassano 25 BE McGain 3/48

CH Moon 3/73. Seaford Tigers 199 MC Gardner 89 LS Kranzbuhler 29 J Voelkl 6/66 D Irving 2/49 v Dromana.

District Firsts. Carrum Downs 0/5 v Seaford 170 JM Bardwell 43 S Manders 35 RW Johnston 4/56 J Watters 2/32. Delacombe Park 5/192(cc) A Perry 87* A Christides 43*

SB Jones 3/43 v Rosebud.

Sub District Firsts. Balnarring 7/102 M Walles 38 J Hannah 28 C Williams 2/22 S Spencer 2/46 v Boneo 93 J Peet 31 P Nickeas

3/3 B Taylor 2/14 J Brown 2/19 L Hewitt 2/34.

Tootgarook v Mt Martha.

Provincial Seconds. Baden Powell 8/

269(cc) A Cripps 101* D Di Paolo 44 J Waldron 26 C Irving 4/49 B Steven 2/51 v Baxter. Long Island v Old Peninsula.

Peninsula Seconds. Mt Eliza v Heatherhill

8/229(cc) J Hamilton-Smith 74 K Lenehan 59

J Avery 27 H Watson 3/35 R Higgins 3/51 A

Watson 2/13. Somerville 0/0 v Flinders

231 S Beggs 101* G Symes 47 J Lymer 4/24

M Eager 4/68.

District Seconds. Crib Point 3/63 J

Scanlan 37* B Bryant 2/15 v Main Ridge 136

C Barker 53 A Holmes 34 J Banks 30* J Johnson 5/54 J Scanlan 2/20 A Sharp 2/36.

Delacombe Park 212 M McDonald 48 S Blight

39* L Maling 38 R Charles 25 JA Brown 3/39

S Din 3/40 N Lynch 3/69 v Carrum Downs. Sub District Seconds. Balnarring v Frankston YCW. Mt Martha 0/22 v Tootgarook

Wales 63* AD Chan-

■ South East Cricket Association. Longmuir Shield. Bentleigh Uniting 1 v Brighton

115 J Lane 29 M O'Malley 27 K Sommer 5/ 20 JP Mathers 2/10