EHD Star Journal - 22nd September 2020

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Hope for Dandenong hub

Scoreboard honours legend

‘Forgotten’ paddocks’ rich history

Covid-19 wreaks havoc for community sport

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‘Dismal’ defence

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A residents group has slammed City of Greater Dandenong’s failed attempt to oppose a controversial waste-to-energy plant in Ordish Road, Dandenong South.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal granted a planning permit on 15 September after the council had approved, then rescinded, deferred and finally opposed the project.

Since November, the project has attracted public outrage, with homes as close as 800 metres from the site. A coalition of schools, residents and community centres in Keysborough within five kilometres have objected.

The gasification facility with two 55-metre chimneys will process 100,000 tonnes a year of household solid waste, commercial and industrial waste, producing 7.9MW of electricity.

The South East Environment Group (SEEG), led by council election candidate Ramy ElSukkari, claimed the council’s case was hindered by tardiness and unprofessionalism.

He said the council only made a “token gesture” to oppose the “toxic incinerator” after a “relentless community campaign”.

“It appears that the council decision was made only to appease the public outrage.

“The VCAT report demonstrates the dismal failure of the council (to take) the necessary steps to stop the incinerator application in a timely, genuine and professional manner.

“There were no serious measures in place to ensure that scientific and factual evidence were established to support ... the council position.”

Mr El-Sukkari said VCAT “failed” residents by allowing 3000 tonnes a year of “toxic” fly ash to be stored in an on-site silo as prescribed industrial waste.

The plant’s “exceptionally toxic and hazardous” bottom ash would be sent to landfill “without (VCAT) worrying about its harmful impact”.

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VCAT members Jeanette Rickards and Greg Sharpley stated the proposed waste-to-energy facility will “go some way to reducing waste to go to landfill”.

“We do not consider that the use will impact on the amenity of the nearby local community,” they stated - noting the Environment Protection Authority Victoria had granted works approval.

The site is on the western edge of the “suitable” Industrial 2 zone - a zone that is typically more than 1500 metres from residences.

Nearby are a clinical waste incinerator, a resource recovery facility and a transfer station.

“We consider that the general issues of potential impact on the amenity of the area such as traffic, noise, odour, light spill and litter are issues that have already been fully explored during the Works Approval.”

The council’s argument that it had insufficient time to assess and advise VCAT on the plant’s air emissions was “unsatisfactory”.

“Despite raising this issue no details were provided by the council as to why it was concerned.”

In its works approval findings in July, the EPA stated the “potential air emissions ... pose negligible risk to human health”.

The proposed air emission, odour and noise pollution controls were “consistent with international best practice standards of the European Union”.

The EPA found that the plant’s distance from residents and Mt Hira College was “acceptable”.

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said the decision highlighted the need to relocate the Industrial 2 zone saying “I’m disappointed that VCAT have come to this decision,” Cr Memeti said. “I’m concerned about the health of the community.”

Greater Dandenong has appealed the approval with a hearing expected in February.

App stands the test With the help of a lauded Silverton Primary School app, student Ayla has leapt into exercise while locked down at home. For details, go to page 8.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

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Sutton under fire

By Brendan Rees and Cam Lacadou-Wells Afghan community leaders have hit back at Victoria’s Chief Health Officer for pinpointing Casey’s Afghan community in the latest Covid-19 cluster, saying it was “offensive” and “inappropriate”.

It comes as Hallam, Clyde and Narre Warren have been identified as hotspots by the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton came under fire after saying on Monday 14 September that the outbreaks had occurred within Casey’s Afghan community and was a “priority for engagement and a priority for testing for us”.

“They do the right thing but they have some vulnerabilities in terms of where they work and how they need to work,” he said, adding he had offered to speak directly to the Afghan community.

Having previously travelled to Afghanistan, he said people had a “universal motivation” to protect their families.

“I know their motivation is to get on top of this as much as anyone.”

Profressor Sutton later apologised saying “I know that members of the Afghan community might have felt singled out by statements I made recently. That was absolutely not my intention. So, sorry.”

Casey’s 2020 citizen of the year and community leader Bassir Qadiri said he was disappointed by Professor Sutton’s remarks, saying the Afghan community had been following all the government guidelines.

“As a community leader I express the Afghan community’s disappointment at a way that they have been singled out and blamed,” Mr Qadiri said, who is also chair of the Bakhtar Cultural Association.

He said Covid-19 cases could “affect anyone in the community,” and it was “inappropriate to finger point a specific community“.

“The Afghan community is disappointed and hurt by the statement.”

Mr Qadiri said he had been working with the local MPs including Pauline Richards and Gary Maas and relevant community organisations to make sure the DHHS Covid related information “reaches out to everyone in the community”.

“Afghans like their fellow Victorians citizens are doing the right thing and adhering to

Casey’s 2020 citizen of the year and community leader Bassir Qadiri is disappointed by the Victoria’s Chief Health Officer comments. the current restriction applied by the government. However, no other community, Afghans or others should be blamed or to be taken responsible for the action of individuals within the wider community.”

Mr Qadiri’s comments were also echoed by Sadia Ali, president of the United Cultural Support Inc, who said the Casey Afghan community had been left “hurt morally and emotionally” by Professor’s Sutton’s comments, and urged him to apologise.

“I am personally disappointed and offended by this inappropriate act which needs to be rectified by apologising from the community,” she said.

“We are aware of our ethical and moral responsibilities towards the country’s laws and regulations we live in.

“Defaming the sanity and integrity of any community brings hatred and riot among the wider communities.

“We have worked hard all these years to achieve good name by all means of positive integration and collaboration, we would not allow anyone to pinpoint name not with any community, ethnicity, race or belief.”

Ms Ali stressed that Professor Sutton’s should have taken “appropriate steps for the resolution if he was concerned”.

Bashir Keshtiar, an Afghan community

leader and president of the Afghan Social Services Association of Victoria, said it was unfair to “single out” the Afghan community in Casey as the source of spreading the virus without evidence of contact-tracing proving this was the case.

“To pinpoint one particular community is a grave concern,” he said. “As per information in hand we had only two new contracted cases that relates to two Afghan families but how about the rest, the remaining seven cases? And why there is not a mention of other communities or individuals and only Afghans?”

Mr Keshtiar said residents of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds had the same access to accurate health information as others in their own languages.

“To blame the health department that we didn’t get the message or vice versa indirectly blaming the entire community for such outbreak we find it difficult to believe. The media must ensure they have their facts right and stop being subjective or biased when it comes to these type of highly sensitive issues.

“Even in these communities with language barriers surely they’ve got some members of their family to explain to them and they can ask this is why so far they have complied with all the rules and regulations related to Covid-19 restrictions.”

He added the community “demands an explanation” as to why “specific mention” was made of the Afghan community and “on what basis?”.

Melbourne’s RMIT University Associate Professor of Microbiology Taghrid Istivan said the latest spike of infections in the south east was “probably“ due to people ignoring selfisolation guidelines or Covid-safe directions but warned against blaming culturally diverse communities for spreading the virus due to “multiple factors that may be considered”.

However, she said “exact measures and instructions on self-isolation may not be clearly translated and communicated to non-English speaking communities” and this “may lead to other members within the same family (contracting the virus)“.

Professor Istivan said “clear communication is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus”. “If it is within the workplace then I would say maybe the workplace arrangement and management is not taking this so seriously,” she said.

Partnership formed to address food fears Casey Council is partnering with the Balcon Group to address food insecurity in the local community.During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growing demand for emergency food relief services.

This partnership, along with the powerful and ongoing work of other local organisations, aims to address this shortfall, council says.

Food insecurity can be defined as, when not all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.

In Casey, high rates of unemployment in certain areas, combined with high rates of housing stress are seen within both in established and growth areas.

Looking to make a difference, The Balcon Group funded an initiative, which, supported by the City of Casey, brought together private business, local cafes, charities, and local government, who are all united by a passion to support our community. This program provides free healthy meals to anyone who needs it.

The meals are cooked by LArte Cafe and Volt Cafe, and are distributed through The Salvation Army Cranbourne, Gethsemane Church Charity, and the Casey Aboriginal Gathering Place.

In the first three months of the initiative, council says it saw some very positive results for the community, for the cafe’s, and for Casey’s community partners, these included: 100 per cent of jobs retained at both Cafe’s, with additional casual and volunteer positions gained 2030 healthy and quality meals delivered to the community

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Casey’s charities have been working tirelessly to feed those in need during the Covid-19 crisis.

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families experiencing food insecurity within Casey benefited The Balcon Group have funded a further

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

three months of this initiative, understanding that the need for food security will increase through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 caution: get tested

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Casey and Greater Dandenong residents are urged to get tested to help contain a 43-strong cluster in the South East.

The virus spread between children, adults and elderly people in five households in Hallam, Clyde, Narre Warren South and Cranbourne North. The first case was detected on 4 September.

Infected members had made visits to the other affected households - which is banned under Covid-19 restrictions.

In some cases, they travelled beyond the allowed five kilometres from home.

They also stopped at Fountain Gate shopping centre - leading to a caution to anyone at Fountain Gate shopping centre between 18 August and 6 September.

No transmissions had been linked at Fountain Gate as yet, deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng said.

Some of the outbreak included essential workers, who had not been at work during their infectious period, Professor Cheng said.

There are no known links to the recent mass anti-lockdown protests in Dandenong South, he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said visiting other households undermined the Covid strategy.

“This thing is wickedly infectious. If you have this and go to other people’s homes, you’ll spread it to them.”

Mr Andrews distanced himself from Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s singling out of the Afghan community in the South East cluster.

“That’s a matter for him.

“At no point in many months have I made any reference to any particular community.”

He praised contact-tracing teams for their “very good detective work” in containing the “challenging” and “complex” cluster.

“Keeping it to that number is a very impressive effort. It speaks to how rapidly it spreads.”

Since the cluster, public education forums and conversations with community leaders have been held, DHHS deputy secretary for community engagement and testing Jeroen Weimar said.

An information blitz had also targeted retailers in Noble Park, Dandenong, Narre Warren and Fountain Gate, Mr Weimar said.

More than 4200 people had been tested in Casey and Greater Dandenong in the past week.

Extra testing sites have been installed in Noble Park, Hallam, Clyde and Dandenong Market in the past three days.

He said a multi-agency effort of Monash Health, City of Casey and City of Greater Dandenong had helped to give a “clear picture” on the virus’s spread.

As of 18 September, the two council areas have 101 active cases - with Casey recording 47 in the past seven days.

However, no new cases were recorded in Casey on 18 September.

Greater Dandenong has recorded 10 in the past week.

Casey and Greater Dandenong residents are urged to get tested for Covid-19, in response to a five-household cluster.

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NEWS

Dandy’s hub needs ‘heart’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A “long overdue” Dandenong Community Hub will bring a “heart” to the old town’s centre, its supporters say.

Mayor Jim Memeti, in a unanimously supported motion on 14 September, declared that “it is our turn” after similar hubs opened or planned in Noble Park, Dandenong North, Springvale and Keysborough South.

“Dandenong has facilities that are really ageing “The almost 10-year paralysis that this Council has seen with regards to this project needs to end.”

Over the next nine months, $80,000 concept plans will be drawn for an “intergenerational” hub with childrens services, informal meeting spaces and activity spaces.

A possible location is the Clow Street precinct near the Dandenong Market and former council offices.

The building is expected to be of a similar scale to Keysborough South’s at a cost of about $10-15 million.

A feasibility study showed strong community support.

It would cater for a mix of ages in a growing Dandenong population, forecast to swell from 37,000 to 52,000 by 2030.

That includes children between 0-4 doubling to about 5000, and a similar number of residents over 65.

The council has also identified the need for a welcoming, supportive community place for young people, especially migrants. And to help them navigate education and employment pathways.

Dandenong Community Association member Silvia Mastrogiavanni says for years, Dan-

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti with Dandenong Community Association on the possible site of a long-awaited hub. 215804 Picture: GARY SISSONS denong had a “dead centre”.

It had been “disjointed” between focal points such as Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Plaza and Dandenong Market.

The hub would be its new “heart”, Ms Mastrogiavanni said.

It was a “place of connection” for residents to “mix and mingle” and to meet “new friends”.

Somewhere to learn a language, do a hobby,

run an exercise or dance class.

“While we have this darned pandemic it’s illustrated why connection is so important to the human spirit and to our health.”

Cr Matthew Kirwan had steered through budget bids for the feasibity study and concept design in the past two years.

He said Cr Memeti’s motion ensured “a fully integrated, intergenerational hub” - and not a

version that excludes childrens services.

“It is only when you put children’ services and informal and formal meeting activity spaces together do you get a true community heart, a place that the whole community calls home.”

“Having served Dandenong for eight years it is a great community but a fragmented community - we need to bring it together.”

Bombardier jobs boost as government orders up big In a jobs boost for Dandenong, Bombardier’s factory is set to roll out an extra 18 VLocity regional trains for the Victorian Government.

The order for the 54 carriages - using 69 per cent local content - will support 100 direct manufacturing jobs, Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said.

Hundreds more jobs in the local supply chain will also be supported.

“Not only are we building great trains for Victorians - we’re doing it right here in Dandenong, providing jobs for 100 Victorians in construction, and creating work for hundreds more across the supply chain,” Mr Carroll said.

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said the announcement was timely given many Victorians had lost work due to the pandemic.

It would provide job security and extra work for hundreds of locals, she said.

The $340 million batch are a mix of broad

The State Government has placed an order for 18 VLocity trains made in Dandenong. and standard-gauge vehicles, including the first VLocity trains to run on regional tracks between Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga.

The long-haul standard-gauge trains will have comfortable seats, luggage racks and overhead storage and wheelchair spaces with companion seats nearby.

Mobile phone signal boosters, built-in USB chargers and catering facilities are new features on the trains.

Bombardier Transportation stated the Government’s option on its existing contract had provided certainty to the Victorian rolling stock supply chain.

“We are proud to deliver these locally built, world class trains for V/Line, Bombardier Australia and New Zealand president Wendy McMillan said.

“Providing job security for our workforce and our local supply chain in Dandenong is critically important for our business and we look forward to being here for many years to come.”

Recently, Bombardier’s VLocity platform won two prestigious Australian Good Design awards for Best Interior and an overall Gold award for the Automotive and Transport category.

Australasian Railway Association chief

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executive Caroline Wilkie said the announcement confirmed the “outstanding quality” in Australian industry.

“Rail contractors and manufacturers are actively looking to increase their use of Australian businesses in the wake of the pandemic and these projects provide new opportunities for them to do so.

“It is great to see Bombardier awarded a contract that will deliver trains locally to support the smooth operation of the Victorian regional rail network for years to come.”

Ms Wilkie called for state governments to work together to create a nationally consistent approach to rail procurement.

“This is an outstanding example of the jobs, innovation and opportunity contracts like these can create for communities like Dandenong,” she said.

“A nationally consistent approach would provide even greater scale for the industry and extend those benefits further.”

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The future will bring new challenges.

So we’re prepared.

We’re building a modern fire and rescue service, with firefighters working together for all Victorians. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) leads fire and rescue in Melbourne and major regional centres.

We are also strengthening and supporting the CFA with new equipment, upgraded stations and better facilities – ensuring our volunteers continue to serve and protect their communities.

With world-class technology and highly trained firefighters, we’re ready to meet the challenges we face today, and into the future.

For more information about Fire Rescue Victoria visit frv.vic.gov.au

Fire Rescue Victoria.

We’re prepared.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Hope for crime hotspot

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A $100,000 State grant to complete Hemmings Street shopping strip’s upgrade is the latest step towards solving the entrenched crime spot.

Meanwhile the State Government has been attacked for failing to reveal its police patrol and rooming house inspection regime in the precinct.

Under a Covid-stimulus fund, the final stage 4 works in the shopping street will build a “landscaped parklet” and other landscaping.

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said the improvements will encourage locals to use the “important community space”.

“In doing so (it will) create a safer area for local residents.”

Ms Williams is convening a meeting of several Government ministries, Victoria Police and Greater Dandenong Council on the area’s persistent anti-social problems such as drug and alcohol abuse and street prostitution.

She says she’s seeking a “long-term” collaborative approach from agencies.

Greater Dandenong Council has drafted an action plan, including a CCTV mobile trailer and variable message signs to deter crime.

It would also install public artwork to rejuvenate the area, encourage Neighbourhood Watch activity and seek a perceptions-ofcrime research partnership with Deakin University.

But the council has no budgeted funds for the initiative.

A council report tabled on 14 September stated that a lower “perception of safety” in the precinct was “disproportionate” to the “minimal levels” of reported crime.

Cr Matthew Kirwan noted that lower crime rates in Dandenong hid the problems in “hot spots” like the Dandenong West precinct.

A State grant was been provided for the finishing touches to Hemmings Street shopping strip’s Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS updrade. 211455 Meanwhile, Liberal Upper House MP Gordon Rich-Phillips had tabled questions in Parliament on patrol and inspection numbers in the area bounded by Jones Road, Railway Parade, Robinson Street and Princes Highway.

He received a non-answer from Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne that inspectors aimed to prioritise the “highest risk rooming houses”.

Police Minister Lisa Neville replied that the numbers and routes would not be disclosed due to being a Victoria Police “operational matter”.

“The Andrews’ Labor Government has failed to address the underlying issues that continue to plague the Hemmings Street precinct area in Dandenong,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“It is time this government is held accountable for their mismanagement. Residents of Dandenong deserve better.”

There will be no “band-aids” in fixing of a complex, entrenched crime hot-spot in ‘inner’ Dandenong West, says Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams.

Ms Williams, after meeting with Greater

Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti on 4 September, said “strategic, long-term thinking” was required for the area bordered by Robinson, Hemmings and Pickett streets and Railway Parade.

She will be seeking a meeting of several Government ministries, Victoria Police and Greater Dandenong Council.

The meeting will discuss “short and long term options to boost community safety” and for “better outcomes for local residents”.

“I don’t want to simply band-aid over complex issues that require thoughtful, long-term policy interventions across multiple levels of government and agencies,” Ms Williams said.

“We owe it to our community to work collaboratively in their best interests.”

A multi-agency approach had been called for in a notice-of-motion by councillor Maria Sampey in June.

She said at the time that “fearful” residents were wanting out from the area, blighted by crime, street prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour.

One issue was to better engage with residents “who currently feel ignored”, her mo-

tion’s preamble stated.

Cr Memeti told Star Journal the council had applied for a $495,000 infrastructure grant for the area, which would be bolstered by a letterof-support from Ms Williams.

The grant would cover items such as mobile CCTV, variable message signs, as well as public artwork to rejuvenate the area, Cr Memeti said.

Council officers had started collecting hard rubbish from the area’s streets on a daily basis, he said.

“We want to give the area a council presence. We acknowledge there’s a problem there.”

In June, Cr Matthew Kirwan said the area should be a “fantastic place to live” given it was within walking distance of the library, market and train station.

A “one-off” police blitz in 2019 suppressed the issues for only a few months, but won’t solve entrenched social issues such as poverty, homelessness, squats and poorly-managed rooming houses and a lack of safe and affordable community housing.

“Most of these are State Government issues so we need them to take the lead.

“We’re finally coming to the point that we need a plan to deal with this, not just with a one-off police blitz.”

In June, a Victoria Police spokesperson said the precinct was a “busy area” but there had been no increase in reported crimes or calls for assistance.

Police conducted regular proactive patrols in Greater Dandenong including the precinct in question as part of the ongoing Operation Tidal, the spokesperson said.

“We are aware this is a busy area, particularly given the proximity to the Dandenong CBD, and task our officers to patrol accordingly.”

Armed intruder jailed

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Call for Nominations – Positions on Springvale Community Hub Committee Greater Dandenong Council is calling for nominations for the Springvale Community Hub Committee.

The purpose of the Springvale Community Hub Committee is to provide strategic advice to the Greater Dandenong Council on matters related to community development, engagement, access, participation, sense of place, promotion, and the implementation and review of the Hub’s action plan.

Council is looking for nine Community Representatives, including three local Greater Dandenong residents who have experience and interest in achieving great outcomes for the new Community Hub. Candidates may have interests in: Community Development, arts, sustainability, business, education, health and wellbeing or may just be passionate about their local community and have broad community connections.

Council embrace’s our diverse community and work environment and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds to apply.

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A Dandenong-raised man who wielded a large knife during a rapid series of aggravated home burglaries has been jailed.

Gregory Stephen Duiker, now 41, “terrified” three separate women in their homes in St Kilda in the early evening of 4 June 2018, Victorian County Court judge Fiona Todd said during sentencing.

“These events unfolded over approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

“And caused very significant distress to the women whose homes were entered, and to their friends, neighbours and family.”

It was only when Duiker was confronted by a tradesman at the third apartment that he “accepted defeat and left”.

“I note that all three women reacted very bravely to your terrifying behaviour,” Judge Todd said.

At the time, a homeless Duiker was barred from the area due to a family violence safety notice. He was also on bail and found with a small quantity of meth.

At the first intrusion, Duiker rung the doorbell then held a 25-centimetre serrated knife at the first victim’s face when she answered the door.

After a struggle, she fled her house and flagged down a passing driver.

Duiker left the house, allegedly telling the victim he’d stabbed her dog.

He stole $5500 of items including her phone, laptop, handbag, drivers licence and credit card.

A short time later, he pointed a knife in the face of a resident in the doorway of another apartment. She managed to slam the door shut on Duiker.

In the third case, he walked through an unlocked door of a nearby apartment.

He told a resident seated in her lounge room to “shut the f*** up, sit down, sit down” as he waved a knife.

A tradesperson working in the apartment confronted Duiker, who then apologised and fled.

“I don’t want to hurt you, I just want to

get out of here. Please let me go,” he told the occupants.

Police arrested Duiker in a nearby alleyway, seizing the stolen items and a knife that slid from the sleeve of his jumper.

Judge Todd said Duiker’s intent was to steal, rather than to harm or carry out “acts of anger or punishment”.

“I accept that your offending was chaotic, unplanned and completely desperate, and not motivated by any particular malice towards the owners of the properties.”

Born and raised by a “good“ family in Dandenong, Duiker attended St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield up to Year 11.

During an uncompleted carpentry apprenticeship, he used cannabis, injected amphetamine then moved on to heroin.

By the time of offending, he was addicted to meth, alcohol and prescription tranquilisers.

In the days before, he’d presented to The Alfred hospital emergency department and Royal Melbourne Hospital, reporting his homelessness and heavy ice use.

Neither hospital offered ongoing support.

Duiker’s criminal history spanned 20 years - mainly for non-violent crimes to support his drug addiction, Judge Todd noted.

He’d also lacked access to safe, permanent housing, lingering on the public housing waiting list for 10 years.

Eight days after being remanded, he finally received an offer for a public housing tenancy.

While in custody, he completed courses, work certificates, a drug and alcohol course and counselling. His prospects for rehabilitation were “good”, Judge Todd said.

“Your participation in education while in custody has been exemplary and should give you confidence, as it gives me, that there is a different life available to you.”

Duiker was jailed for three years, including a 22-month non-parole period.

His term included 460 days already served in pre-sentence detention.

Appointments of members will be until December 2022.

Please refer to the Information Pack for more details, including Nomination Form and Terms of Reference, at www.greaterdandenong.com/springvalecommunityhub Enquiries: Sarah Hill sarah.hill@cgd.vic.gov.au or 8571 5174.

Nominations close Monday 19 October 2020.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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By Cam Lucadou-Wells

STAR JOURNAL 5

ANY SYMPTOMS GET TESTED

It’s important to get tested for coronavirus at the first sign of any symptom and stay home until you get your result. Getting tested means you keep yourself, your friends, family, workplace and your community safe.

It’s not over yet.

Find out where to get tested visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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NEWS

Vote to help with a click

By Cam Lucadou-Wells With just an online click, people can support a Dandenong-based charity’s quest for a muchneeded $10,000 grant.

We Care Community Services is a finalist for the Sunsuper Dreams for a Better World program’s People’s Choice award. In simple terms, the charity with the most online votes wins the $10,000.

The charity, which is a by-product of Faith Christian Church, is feeding up to 300 people a week during the Covid-19 shutdown.

It’s receiving a critical weekly supply of staple foods and fresh fruit and vegetables from City of Greater Dandenong’s Covid material aid relief program.

But there’s increasing demand for food, clothing, toiletries and bedding, says project officer Jenner Ramasima.

“At a time when donations are low and demand is high we’re driven to ensure everyone in our community who needs help, receives it.

“We believe that no one should have to go without necessities such as food and clothing.”

Ms Ramasima said the grant would be “imperative” for the charity, with an expected surge in people in need as the JobKeeper and

We Care’s Bernie Anderson, Esira Ramasima, Kathryn D’Costa and Jenner Ramasima. 215656 Picture: GARY SISSONS JobSeeker programs are scaled down. “(The grant) will help us fit out our Community Shed to provide food and clothing packages to those doing it tough and ensure we never have to turn away someone in need.”

The program supports grassroots charities and local causes who work to improve Australians’ lives, offering $150,000 in grants each year.

To vote, go to dreamsforabetterworld.com. au/vote before 18 September.

Taste the jungle these lockdown school holidays Dandenong Market will launch free virtual kids’ cooking classes over three Wednesdays in September and October to coincide with school holidays and to celebrate the City of Greater Dandenong’s Children’s Festival and Children’s Week.

Three unique Jungle Kitchen step-bystep guides will be uploaded to the Dandenong Market website as a downloadable PDF for kids and parents to enjoy. Everyone gets to decorate a free chef’s hat too, which can be downloaded from the Dandenong Market website.

Kids aged three to eight years old are invited to get down and dirty in the kitchen using healthy ingredients that can be found at the market. Delivery options are available from many traders for those living outside the 5km radius.

The delicious and healthy recipes have been put together by accredited Australian chef, Tim Hollands, or as he’s known in the jungle, Tastebud Tim. These school holidays, tiny chefs are invited to discover the colourful world of fruit and veggies in Week One (Wednesday 23 September) with a healthy Veggie Patch and explore the tastes of the world in Week Two (Wednesday 30 September) with Mexican Style Corn Fritters.

Jungle Kitchen-lovers can try something wild during Children’s Week too! Get messy on Wednesday 21 October with mouth-

Corn fritters. watering home-made pizzas.It’s all about inspiring a love of cooking and healthy eating in kids.

“Cooking is one of those important life skills that sets young children up for a lifetime of healthy eating,” Jennifer Hibbs, Dandenong Market’s general manager said.

“Our dishes aren’t complicated but they are colourful and delicious and letting little ones prepare their own food can be a wonderful way to spark their interest.

“You won’t find any fairy bread here!”

For more information or to download your hat, visit www.dandenongmarket.com. au/dandenong-market-jungle-kitchen/

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Dandenong Pavilion appreciates the support received from the community and remains open 7 days for lunch & dinner (11:30am-9:30pm) for take-aways only.

Receive a FREE Chocolate or Sticky Date Pudding with every main meal ordered for pick up!

Our late night Burger Bar (Burger Stop) is also open for take-aways only from 11:30am-9:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 11:30am-Late Friday and Saturday.

The great news is that we have launched our new Sweet as You take-away dessert range, a sumptuous range of quality desserts made from only the finest ingredients, available at The Pav and Burger Stop.

We wish all our customers and the entire community good health, and please stay safe, as we look forward to welcoming you back to the restaurant once we have beaten the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 7

NEWS

Students win hands-down A school’s innovative app is certainly fitting the bill for lock-down home fitness.

Silverton Primary School in Noble Park North developed the app to encourage students to “get outside” and do different physical activities during remote learning, PE teacher Mark Blundell said.

“We wanted to encourage students to get up and away from their computers.”

The app offers cardio activities such as dancing, jumping and skipping, or training sessions for basketball, soccer, cricket, netball and Australian Rules.

It also pitted students in healthily competitive challenges with their peers - and even a virtual cross-country race.

“We were able to align our school curriculum to the remote learning environment. Our virtual cross-country is one great example of this,” Mr Blundell said.

“Children were encouraged to keep active and run over a specific two-week period, with each run contributing to School House points.”

One of the participants was student Gianluca.

“The games where really enjoyable and I’m glad Mr Blundell created the app because it definitely gave me ideas on what physical activities I could do,” Gianluna said.

“My favourite activity is the ‘Find my 60’. It definitely gives me motivation to exercise for 60 minutes or more.”

The app has been lauded by the Healthy Schools Achievement Program, a partnership of the State Government and Cancer Council Victoria.

Head of the achievement program, Tope Adepoyibi, was impressed with the creative way Silverton Primary School adapted to remote learning.

“I was blown away by how quickly the

Silverton Primary School students Ayla Ayas and Taner Ayas have been keen participants.

215649

school created an app that has positively impacted the whole school community.

“With remote learning making it more challenging for some children to keep active, this tool is a great option to promote physical activity.”

Silverton Primary student Ayla Ayas takes some healthy exercise while on the tablet. 215649 Pictures: GARY SISSONS

JobKeeper cuts will bite

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

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A soccer showcase in Dandenong will kick things up a notch in the race for an A-League team. Gach Chuol, Greater Dandenong Councillor Jim Memeti and Sukart Alex got in some practice ahead of the Saturday 16 June event. See page 7 for the full story. 181655 Picture: GARY SISSONS

His life for others

By Casey Neill

Lee Tarlamis.

Lee Tarlamis says his older brother’s cancer battle inspired him to spend his life helping those less fortunate.

His service culminated in a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced on Monday 11 June.

The Noble Park man and former state Upper House MP received the nod for service to the people and Parliament of Victoria “I’m extremely humbled. It’s not something that I’d expected,” he said.

“I didn’t do it to get acknowledgement.

“It was about wanting to provide assistance and help to people.

“It’s a view that I formed very early on.”

Mr Tarlamis said his brother fought cancer for two years before dying at age 17.

“The trouble and the stress that the family went through, I saw how positive he was

throughout those two years,” he said.

“It instilled in me that as tough as I think I have things, there are always people out there who are doing it a lot worse than me.

“That’s why I got involved in the local community.”

Initially that was through the Keysborough Learning Centre.

“The centre loaned me a computer for me to do my school work,” he said.

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“I wanted to repay the favour so I was volunteering time with them.”

There he met then-politician Eddie Micallef and became his electorate officer.

“That’s how I got into the politics world,” Mr Tarlamis said.

“That opened up a lot of opportunities to provide assistance to community groups.”

He never intended to run for parliament, but “one thing lead to another which lead to another” and he was a South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP from 2010 to 2014.

“That was such an honour as well, when you consider the fact that very few people get to hold that position and represent that large number of people,” he said.

Mr Tarlamis was a Springvale Benevolent Society volunteer from 2002 to 2012, a Noble Park Community Action Forum member for many years, a founding Springvale Multicultural Men’s Shed committee member, and more.

He’s now a senior advisor to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings.

The world of politics is not where he thought he’d end up.

The Tarlamis family moved from Oakleigh to Keysborough when he was eight months old.

He went to Wallarano Primary School in Noble Park and to Chandler Secondary College, where Keysborough College’s Acacia campus now stands.

Mr Tarlamis went on to study an associate diploma of business.

“I grew up working with dad in the family businesses,” he said.

“I thought it would be logical that I would go into the business world and maybe into management or something like that.

“I really enjoyed the community stuff.

“Politics became that vehicle to do it.”

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

property

Going for goal in the world game

Going for goal in the world game A soccer showcase in Dandenong will kick things up a notch in the race for an A-League team. Gach Chuol, Greater Dandenong Councillor Jim Memeti and Sukart Alex got in some practice ahead of the Saturday 16 June event. See page 7 for the full story. 181655 Picture: GARY SISSONS

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Dandenong jobs and businesses will be among the hardest hit in the country with the tapering-off of JobKeeper payments from 28 September, a research paper has stated.

In response to Victoria’s Covid-19 second wave, the Federal Government has extended the $1500 fortnightly wage subsidy beyond its initial six months - but at reduced rates.

Progressive thinktank The McKell Institute stated that the cuts would have “real consequences on employment”.

According to the paper Crossing the Fiscal Cliff, businesses in the 3175 postcode, including Dandenong and Dandenong South, would suffer a $6.2 million cut.

It’s the third highest loss in Victoria, behind the Melbourne CBD and Tarneit/ Hoppers Crossing.

Noble Park/Noble Park North businesses will lose $1.9 million a fortnight. Keysborough businesses will suffer a similar loss.

Other local estimated cuts are Springvale ($1.8 million a fortnight), Endeavour Hills ($1.4 million), Hallam ($1.3 million), Lyndhurst ($954,000) and Doveton ($729,000).

From 25 September, the JobSeeker $500 fortnightly coronavirus supplement will be reduced to $250.

Bruce MP Julian Hill said Greater Dandenong would be one of the “worst hit areas in the country” by the payment cuts.

“People need more support, not less, so families and the economy come through this crisis.”

Charities and City of Greater Dandenong Council are also bracing for more people in need of material aid and rates relief in this period.

The McKell paper stated that JobKeeper had been most needed in Victoria due to its stage 4 lockdown, but was also widely adopted through the country.

The Federal Government’s saving of $1.52 billion a fortnight would slow the economic recovery, according to the paper.

It was “likely to increase unemployment in all states, lead to an increase in business closures, and facilitate a ‘W shaped’ economic recovery in Australia, which may have been avoided with stronger fiscal support from the Commonwealth.”

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Government was providing an “unprecedented level of support” for Victorians as it transitions out of the JobKeeper program.

“So obviously the challenge in Victoria is very significant and very serious.

“I’m really pleased that the numbers have started to come down in Victoria, and as they come down, those restrictions, which have been very stringent indeed, can be eased, and as they’re eased more people can get back to work.”

By Treasury estimates, Victorians would comprise 60 per cent of JobKeeper recipients between December 2020 and March 2021.

During that time, Victorians would receive $11 billion of JobKeeper payments.

“Around $28 billion has already gone to Victoria through the JobKeeper program and the cash flow boost, the $750 payments to millions of pensioners as well as the coronavirus supplement and other economic support.”

The McKell Institute found nearly 250,000 JobKeeper applications were made in Victoria, supporting jobs in construction, scientific, technical, health care, transport, postal and retail.

The JobKeeper cuts are estimated as more than $440 million a fortnight in Victoria.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 9

LOOKING BACK

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

100 years ago

Sir - In a recent issue I was pleased to see “Cowpuncher” voicing an objection to stores putting chaff, oats, etc. on public footpaths to tempt cows onto forbidden territory. I quite agree on that point, but what I as a housewife think is more objectionable, is the staking of sugar on the footpath. My melons went rotten because I could not get enough sugar to make them up. I think this is much worse than a few bags of chaff in the street.

Yours “Housewife”

$1m hospital on way A 72 bed private hospital will be built at the corner of Heatherton Roads and Princes Hwy Dandenong. Estimated cost is $1m. It will be known as the South Eastern District Private Hospital and is expected to be open next March. General medical, surgical, and maternity cases will be catered for and there will be provision for a full diagnostic, pathology, radiology, and physical medical services. Each ward will be fully air-conditioned, carpeted, and complete with showers, toilet, and bathroom. To enable nursing staff to devote more time and attention to patients, special “nurse savers” holding cupboards will be placed strategically within easy access to save work and time in each ward.

50 years ago

20 years ago

24 September 1970

25 September 2000

23 September 1920 Sugar Scarcity

Viewpoint - Dave Glazenbrook “This is the best day of my life” was just one of the many comments from young people at Visy Cares Centre who met the world’s greatest boxer, and arguably the most recognisable face in the world; Muhammad Ali. It’s fair to say that everyone present was in awe of Ali. He gave so much joy and inspiration to those young people which was testament to the legendary status he has around the world. A week later, his visit remains in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to have met him. Without a doubt, Ali has been the single most positive and motivating influence on their lives.

5 years ago 21 September 2015 Neighbourly friends

Des Morrish has called Marie Kean and Thelma and Alan Witham his neighbours for more than 60 years. Oswald Street Dandenong was just a dirt road in 1954 when the now 95 year old, his wife Sadie and their two children moved in. The Arborist and his family had called Warburton home “The upper Yarra dam was being finished. There didn’t look to be any future for my children.” Mr Morrish said. “We bought the block of land for £300 and had the house built for £3,800. Ms Kean and her husband moved to Dandenong from Fish Creek, “Dandenong was the last place that I wanted to come to. I thought it was a terrible place” said Marie Kean. But they bought a shop and moved into Oswald Street on 9 January 1955.

Mr & Mrs Witham married in March 1955 and moved into the street on 1 April.

NEWS

Stay strong

By Roz Blades AM So when we are frightened, worried for our loved ones and world, helpless and confused, we turn to each other for comfort.

The strong must protect the weak and elderly, our young must protect our old and help each other to do our part to halt the spread of the virus.

We need to send strength to our health care professionals, in the front lines and fortify them with healing thoughts.

Send wisdom and insight to the scientists.

We need to bless their efforts We need to fill our leaders with wisdom and courage to choose wisely and act quickly.

We are one people who need to rise above

Roz Blades says we should turn to each other for comfort during the pandemic.

Where to pick up a printed copy of your FREE Dandenong Star Journal!

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this pandemic together Send us health, watch over us, grace us with your love Hear and love your people.

Shalom.

10 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

An offer of change

By Cam Lucadou-Wells MarketFresh Place managing director Stephen Fanous says he has time and energy to make a positive change on Greater Dandenong Council.

He is locked in a hot contest for Keysborough South ward in the October council elections.

Challengers include Greens member Rhonda Garad and non-endorsed ALP member Ramy El-Sukkari of the South East Environment Group (SEEG) - with the field to be finalised on 22 September.

Mr Fanous, a non-endorsed ALP candidate and a “local” Keysborough father of three, says stopping the waste-to-energy plant from being built in the area is a key priority.

He also wants a truck ban on the Chapel and Perry road rat-runs, and the completion of the long-awaited Keysborough South Community Hub. “The Keysborough South ward has a very diverse community particularly with young families.

“I want to make sure that when I go for a walk with my family through the reserves, we are proud of what we have.”

His stance on the Green Wedge, as reported

by Star Journal, is against “over-development” of the “significant open space”.

But he is open to more housing in the zone, new parks on the “run-down land”, and “more

Keysborough South Ward candidate Stephen Fanous, right, with wife Rana and children Marcus, Isaac and Evangelina. activation” of the Keysborough end with a winery or other uses.

Mr Fanous runs the MarketFresh Place franchise with stores across Melbourne, including Parkmore shopping centre and Dandenong Plaza.

He has risen steeply with “high hopes” from “humble beginnings”. Growing up in a Housing Commission home in Dandenong South, he has always looked to “shoot for the stars”.

There are sharp early memories of his father being unemployed for a long time during the recession in the early 1990’s. He got work at fruit and veg stalls at Dandenong Market to make ends meet.

“He would bring home boxes of mixed fruit and vegetables that my family would always look forward to eating.

“I believe that the lessons my father taught me in humility, being humble and hardworking have had a positive influence on my upbringing and have held me in good stead as I grew older.”

His business is open during Covid-19 but other sectors like hospitality have been hit hard, Mr Fanous said.

In the council’s relief response, young adults and youth in Keysborough South also need to be remembered. Youth services could be part of the mix at the to-be-built community hub.

Mr Fanous said he’d taken particular inspiration from mayor and fellow successful businessperson Jim Memeti.

“I look up to Jim. His story is similar to mine, going into business at a young age and having high hopes.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for the community. That’s the beautiful thing about Australia - we live in the best place in the world.

“It’s people like us that recognise that we need to give back.”

Cr Memeti was supportive of Mr Fanous’s decision to run for council, he said.

As “clarification”, Cr Memeti told the Journal Star that he’d never asked Mr Fanous or any candidate to run for council.

But he vouched for Mr Fanous, his “hardworking family background” and his ability to run a large retail company.

Car park robber hits the legal skids An ice addict checked out of a Dandenong rehab centre while dosed up on tranquilisers, then got drunk and held up victims at knifepoint in a shopping centre car park.

Damon Shane Crapper, 22, was sentenced on 16 September at the Victorian County Court for armed robbery and two armed robbery attempts on an afternoon that he had little alleged memory of.

On 6 January 2020, Crapper voluntarily checked into Windana clinic in Dandenong to detox his entrenched drug and alcohol addiction.

Five days in, he discharged himself after an argument with his father over the phone.

He felt rejected by his dad who gave him an ultimatum - to complete his 14-day stay or he wouldn’t be welcome home.

At the time, he was under a “very substantial” dose of benzos to manage withdrawal seizures.

Crapper left, bought a bottle of booze which combined with the Valium put him in an “unfamiliar” stupour.

He shoplifted a stay-sharp knife from a supermarket, then wandered for an hour with

“severe” withdrawal pangs and wondering how to get money for drugs.

Armed with the 15-centimetre weapon, Crapper held-up visitors at The Pines shopping centre car park in Doncaster East.

The first victim said she didn’t have cash.

Crapper didn’t press the point. He walked away and said “sorry”.

Crapper’s second attempt was more “menacing” as he threatened to stab a father and son at their car. The father gave Crapper a $50 note.

Crapper then rounded on the son. The father confronted Crapper with a gym bag and told him to leave.

The father followed Crapper away in an attempt to photograph him. Crapper again threatened to stab him.

On his arrest, Crapper was nursing a selfinflicted thumb laceration from his offending. His elbow was fractured while being wrestled to the ground by police.

Judge Todd noted Crapper’s genuine remorse, that he had acted to satisfy “severe withdrawals” rather than profit, and his of-

fending was at the lower end of the armed robbery spectrum.

Though he swore to police he wouldn’t stab anyone, his shocked and fearful victims weren’t to know, Judge Todd said.

During his long-running addictions, Crapper had toked up to 40 bongs a day. He’d smoked and injected 1.5 grams of ice daily. He also took benzo tranquilisers to calm himself down from the meth.

For up to five years, he’d been in and out of detox, private rehab and hospitals for substance abuse and anxiety.

He had no criminal record.

After spending 66 days in custody, Crapper was released on CISP bail with drug and alcohol counselling. He tested negative for ice use on all but one occasion.

Judge Todd rated his rehab prospects as “good” - “but that’s not to say it will be easy”.

Crapper was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order, including judicial monitoring, treatment and up to 75 hours of work.

He was also jailed for 66 days - already served in remand.

‘Hard’ lesson

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Greater Dandenong council election candidate says he’s “learnt valuable lessons the hard way” after his business was fined for underpaying workers more than $130,000 in 2012’14.

Stephen Fanous, who is running for Keysborough South ward, is the managing director of A & S Wholesale Fruit and Vegetables that was fined $243,000 in the Federal Circuit Court in 2019.

The company trades as MarketPlace Fresh in Dandenong Plaza and Parkmore shopping centre.

Mr Fanous, a company partner at the time, was found to be involved in most of the company’s breaches including underpaying three workers below minimum entitlements at four stores including florist outlets in Parkmore and Dandenong.

A & S and its senior managers’ conduct was “serious”, with the underpayments “substantial” and continuing across an extended period, Judge John O’Sullivan said in his ruling.

Two of the workers were paid in an “off the books” and “on the books” payment system that made it difficult to determine the underpayments, the judge said.

The falsified employment records and noncompliant book-keeping were the “gravest” of the contraventions, he said.

Mr Fanous and operations manager Etherah Louli were fined $30,000 and $13,000 respectively.

The under-entitlements were repaid in full.

Mr Fanous said the company had since installed specialised electronic payroll, rostering and back-up storage systems to ensure there was no repeat breaches.

“I have learnt some valuable lessons the hard way.

“The lack of strength and sophistication of our systems and processes during the events in question posed significant issues for the business.”

He took responsibility as “any strong industry leader should be expected to do” and put “pillars in place” to protect employees’ rights and improve its financial governance.

“In some ways, I am thankful for the hard lessons learnt.

“It has shined the light on the innovation required within my business at the time.

“Six years on, we are now stronger than ever and are continuing to provide job opportunities within the community on an increasingly larger scale.”

In 2015, A&S was embroiled in controversy after an ex-staff member posted photos of vermin and claimed “appalling” food safety and hygiene at its Fountain Gate store.

However, health authorities at the time cleared the store of the allegations.

FOCUS ON … TAX TIME

More businesses support crucial: CPA

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

for several months, providing critical support to business to ensure that government stimulus is effectively implemented. Many of these professionals and advisers work in accounting firms that are themselves small businesses and are seeing firsthand the shocking impacts the ongoing lockdown is having on business, and the personal toll, including significant mental health issues.”

CPA Australia recommends the State Government extend the following supports: Increase the Business Support Fund-Expansion grant from $10,000 to $15,000 for ALL businesses in metropolitan Melbourne, and from $5000 to $7500 for ALL businesses in regional Victoria Extend the closing date for applications for the Business Support Fund-Expansion grant until two weeks following the commencement of the Third Step of the roadmap to allow those businesses who need assistance to complete the application, the additional time they need to physically meet their ac-

countant to apply for such assistance

the Business Support Fund-Expan· Extend sion to include non-employing sole traders the payroll tax waiver for businesses · Extend with annual taxable wages up to $3 million until 31 December 2020

a small business concessional · Introduce loan for businesses significantly impacted by

·

·

·

· ·

COVID-19 along similar lines to the bushfire concessional loans for small business Establish an economic recovery advisory panel of external experts from business and academia to advise the Government of how best to facilitate business recovery and create jobs Incentivise small business to seek professional advice from their existing trusted adviser Working in conjunction with professional business advisers, increase the assistance available to support the mental health of small business owners.

Individual Tax Returns Property Investors Companies & Trusts Self Managed Super Funds Tax Returns Online

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CPA Australia has written to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews recommending additional support for Victorian businesses significantly impacted by restrictions on their operations.

“The extension of Stage Four restrictions in Melbourne until at least 28 September, and the conditional timeline set out in the ‘roadmap to reopening’, will have disastrous consequences for businesses,” said a CPA spokesperson.

“Many businesses have already faced at least six months of severe trading restrictions.

The result of this has been a significant impact on cash flow, profitability and jobs. The viability of many businesses is under serious threat, and with it the jobs of many Victorians. While current business support measures such as the JobKeeper Payment and the Business Support Fund-Expansion grant may limit job cuts and business closures in the short term, their effectiveness will be severely tested over the coming months.

“Tax professionals and business advisers have been working tirelessly at the coalface

Phone: (03) 9769 3380 www.rjsanderson.com.au

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 11

NEWS

Jail time for servo syringe hold-up

By Jessica Anstice A man who was sleeping rough in Dandenong when he held up a service station late last year has been sentenced to jail and a one year community corrections order.

In the Victorian County Court, Rodney O’Doherty pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted armed robbery.

The court heard the 44-year-old threatened a Coles Express service station employee in Richmond using a syringe that was filled halfway with blood, about 7.10am on Friday 20 December.

Judge Frances Dalziel informed the court O’Doherty demanded that the cashier handed him $100, “or I will stab you with the needle”.

Shortly after the incident occurred, O’Doherty was arrested by police at Richmond Railway Station.

He was then remanded in custody and has remained on remand since.

Judge Dalziel noted the cashier said in his statement, “I don’t even remember how I felt - I was in a little bit of shock.”

The court heard O’Doherty’s explanation for the offending was that he was homeless at the time, sleeping rough around the Dandenong area.

The night before the attempted armed robbery, he had met a woman and travelled to Richmond with her.

On the way, O’Doherty gave the woman his wallet, which contained $200 cash and a Myki card, to carry in her handbag.

While in Richmond, he and the woman injected heroin together.

The court was told O’Doherty said it was the first time he had used heroin in many years.

Some time later, the woman fled, taking his wallet with her.

Stranded in Richmond with no money, O’Doherty resorted to holding up a petrol station.

The court heard O’Doherty stated he intended on using the stolen money for food and a train ticket.

Judge Dalziel acknowledged he had a “good childhood in a stable home with loving parents” in Pakenham.

In a letter written by O’Doherty to Judge Dalziel, he said he realised what he did was “very wrong” and “promised not to steal or commit an offence like this again”.

“I accept that you understand what you did was wrong and that you are sorry for it,” Judge Dalziel said in court.

In sentencing O’Doherty, Judge Dalziel took into account his guilty plea early on, in March, as well as a range of other factors including his mental health.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, with a 12 month community corrections order.

O’Doherty had already served eight months and one day of pre-sentence detention.

Bob Black, left and Rod Hoober stand in front of the new machine at Dandenong Letters Centre in November 2019. 201705

Working to deliver on record post

By Danielle Kutchel

St Anthony’s Primary student Johnathan, centre, Edward and Janice’s winning selfie entry.

Winners are grinners at St Anthony’s Iso families have put on cheery faces in a morale-boosting competition at St Anthony’s Primary School in Noble Park.

While closed for remote learning under Covid stage 4 restrictions, the school invited families to share their widest grinniest selfies as part of its ‘Share a Smile’ competition.

“The smiles came in thick and fast,” principal Patrika Rowley said.

“They were used to spread some joy and happiness at the end of term when spirits were starting to dwindle.”

In a letter to families, the school stated: “While we’re very proud of how well our students have once again settled into online learning from home, we want you to know how much we miss seeing their happy smiling faces at school every day.”

The school was also planning a Share a Smile day of social activities for the last day of term 3.

The three winning families won Lenovo Chromebooks.

12 STAR JOURNAL

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St Anthony’s Primary student Sebastian, centre, Carlos and Viviana smile for the camera.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

A new parcel sorting machine installed at Dandenong Letters Centre almost a year ago is working around the clock to keep up with current demand.

An Australia Post spokesperson confirmed that the machine, which was officially opened in November 2019, is currently processing around 200,000 parcels a day - its expected peak, as announced at the opening - and operating seven days a week.

But residents are taking to social media to tell of extended wait times for parcel delivery as Victorians in lockdown opt for online shopping.

The spokesperson acknowledged that Australia Post is currently dealing with “record parcel volumes at the same time as our workforce capacity has been reduced due to stage four restrictions”, adding that demand and restraints on Australia Post’s workforce added up to “an additional three-day delay for deliveries ... within and into Victoria.”

Distribution centres in metropolitan Melbourne, including the one in Dandenong South, have been hit with a 10 percent reduction in daily workforce and 33 percent in peak times, along with split shifts to adhere to Covid-safe requirements.

Tracking numbers show many parcels are making detours to other centres for processing, even as far as Sydney.

The spokesperson said this was to help “ensure we keep moving items through our network as quickly as we can, whilst adhering to stage four restrictions.”

The majority of Melbourne parcels have been processed in Melbourne, with any parcels sent to Sydney sent overnight, processed the next day and sent back to Melbourne that night.

Earlier this month, The Age reported that Australia Post had asked its workers to “volunteer” to assist with delivery of parcels from the Dandenong South facility, to help cope with the backlog.

According to the article, staff who volunteered on weekends would receive time off in lieu, and volunteers would also be reimbursed for the use of their cars.

When asked about this scenario, the Australia Post spokesperson said: “non-operational team members are now working alongside our posties in Victoria to help us deliver while receiving their normal salary.”

In addition, they said, 1000 new casuals had been brought on board to manage the “unprecedented parcel volumes”.

“In the lead up to Christmas, we’ll recruit an additional 2,500 people into our network so we can continue to serve the community and deliver these essential supplies,” the spokesperson said. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF

Scoreboard tribute for Colin Riddiford

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Steeped in his clubs’ maroon colours, the late Colin Riddiford’s name has adorned pride of place at his “second home” at Lois Twohig Reserve.

The reserve’s digital scoreboard has been named after the admired administrator and life member at North Dandenong cricket club and junior football clubs.

Greater Dandenong councillor Angela Long had consulted with Mr Riddiford on the tribute during his final weeks, ensuring the work was done and paid by the council.

Famously shy of the limelight, he didn’t mind having his name on the scoreboard, Cr Long said.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t room for his request for the initials of his beloved clubs on the sign as well.

“It would have made the size of his name too small.”

Nonetheless it was a fitting honour for a club leader who’d worked so hard for members for nearly 50 years, she said.

Cr Matthew Kirwan joined the list of tributes from the sporting world, council and community.

“What I will remember him for his role as a model active citizen.

“Attending every Council meeting where his health will permit it he would follow the debate closely and always communicate his views to councillors afterwards on how they voted.

“Sometimes after a long discussion we agreed to disagree but his feedback was always

Chisholm’s $6.8m upgrade Chisholm Dandenong’s 36 year old buildings will receive an upgrade as part of a statewide TAFE maintenance blitz.

The campus will receive more than $6.8 million to reconfigure and refurbish its trade areas in buildings J, K, L, U and P and to establish Dandenong Trade Centre.

The refurbishments include a dedicated student lounge in Building F with “holistic, wraparound support” to help keep students engaged in study, strengthen employability and reduce attrition rates.

The Dandenong Trade Centre will have adaptive and flexible learning spaces.

In announcing the funding, Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said it was “great news for the students of Dandenong and will continue to ensure they are taught in the very best learning environments.”

Training, Skills and Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney said the $55 million statewide blitz would rejuvenate TAFE facilities while keeping Victorians in work.

Alleged thieves at Waverley Gardens

North Dandenong Cricket Club president Jason Shaw and Angela Long in front of the Colin Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Riddiford Scoreboard. 215723 well meant and his views reflected what he saw was in the best interests our city.

“You could not ask for any resident to be more civically minded and I will miss his contributions to the democratic life of our city, showing that you don’t have to be elected a resident to make a difference in local government.”

Mr Riddiford, 80, was known both for his direct manner and his giving heart - as well as

decades of service to sport.

Though deserving, he’d declined the title of club legend as well as the honour of a City of Greater Dandenong Living Treasure.

He was however awarded an Australian Sports Medal for his service for community sport.

Mr Riddiford died after recent illness on 3 September. He is survived by wife Lorraine and sons Mark and Darren.

Police are seeking two men who allegedly committed a series of thefts at Waverley Gardens shopping centre.

The pair allegedly stole items from a supermarket about 11.50am on Tuesday 4 August.

One of the alleged thieves returned to a black Mazda 3 sedan with stolen number plates.

He pulled up next to a victim’s car, smashed the front passenger window and stole the victim’s handbag, according to police.

The man was described as African appearance and about 195 centimetres.

He was wearing a dark jacket, green camouflage cargo pants, a dark beanie, striped scarf and dark shoes.

The accomplice had left the scene on foot.

He was described as Caucasian appearance and about 170 centimetres.

He was wearing a grey and black hoodie, black tracksuit pants with white stripes on both legs, white runners, and a white disposable mask.

Temples close for Pchum Ben

The Springvale Community Hub awaits its opening - subject to Covid restrictions. 209721

Picture: GARY SISSONS

‘Soul’ group to help run Springvale hub

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Community members will have a greater say in forming the “soul” of the soon-to-open Springvale Community Hub. A grass-roots hub committee of up to nine residents and community groups will collaborate on the council’s running of the facility.

Two councillors, a council officer and a Springvale District Historical Society representative will also be on the committee.

The facility will house a new Springvale library, cafe, meeting areas, activity spaces, art gallery and the Springvale District Historical Society as well as parklands and outdoor courts.

Its opening - which had been scheduled for July - has been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Cr Sean O’Reilly said the committee will help the hub “come to life in the best possible way”.

“The Springvale Community Hub is a beautiful building with great facilities but it’s not the building that is most important.

“It’s the people inside and the community feeling that will provide the soul of the Springvale Community Hub.” Cr Matthew Kirwan said the council’s endorsed hub action plan for the hub acknowledged the need for more informal space, more affordable room hire and a “community development focus”.

As a result of public feedback, the council has reduced hire fees by 20 per cent, Cr Kirwan said. The council will also hire a hub community development worker to connect people and groups.

Spirit of Enterprise group member Jan Trezise, who was part of a major submission on the action plan, said the hub to be as “accessible and welcoming”.

“It’s got to grow from the community not be imposed on it.”

The hub community development worker could offer help during Covid-19, with people suffering traumas such as loneliness, disconnectedness, financial loss and potentially mental illness, Ms Trezise said.

“We were quite keen for community development to go on there, not just for someone to hire a room and leave.

“But for someone who is hired to connect people, connect individuals to groups and to services, and to support community groups to form.”

Buddhist temples will be eerily empty during a time of one of their biggest annual spiritual events, Pchum Ben. The Wat Buddharangsi temple in Springvale South will be closed to worshippers due to Covid-19 restrictions, Cambodian Buddhist Monk Council of Australia and New Zealand spokesperson Thay-Horn Yim said.

“There would have been thousand of followers attending monasteries in their local communities in Springvale South to bring food to their venerable Buddhist monks for conveying a blessing to their passing relatives during this special event.

“Unfortunately because of the Covid-19 restriction, we have asked people not to attend.

“It is very difficult for our Buddhist communities.”

Pchum Ben involves devotees seeking blessings and burning incense in prayer for their relations and friends’ spirits.

They also offer traditional food to Buddhist monks, who offer a blessing for all people.

The event is regarded as one of the two most important Cambodian Buddhist events apart from Cambodian New Year on the calendar, Mr Yim said.

Supermarket reopens to customers Woolworths Dandenong Plaza is re-opening for walk-up customers from 7am on Wednesday 16 September.

In the past six weeks, the supermarket had operated solely as a delivery hub for local online orders and Priority Assistance service for vulnerable customers.

In a statement, Woolworths stated that normal trading was resumed due to a “strengthening of ... home delivery capabilities across Melbourne”.

“Dandenong Plaza will continue to fulfill online orders for home delivery, along with resuming the regular pick up in-store service.”

Dandenong Plaza group Manager Rob Valente said the conversion had been “inconvenient for many of our walk-up customers”.

“It was a difficult but necessary step that allowed us to meet the sudden spike in demand for home deliveries during the early onset of Stage 4 restrictions. While the store was closed to walk-up customers, we’ve been working behind the scenes to stand up home delivery from many more of our Melbourne stores.”

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

|

STAR JOURNAL 13

NEWS

Historic gem’s lost lustre

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Police Paddocks Reserve’s a “forgotten gem” that’s hidden by neglect, vandalism and a lack of promotion, says Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan.

The sprawling 499-hectare reserve shows few signs or markers of its important indigenous history from at least the 1830s, nor its biodiversity.

In the reserve, a plaque is two kilometres down an unmarked track, with no signs to tell visitors that it exists.

“There is no wayfinding other than telling me how to get to Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Lake Park,” Cr Kirwan said.

“You wouldn’t know if you came across it how much valuable aboriginal, first contact, natural and equine history was there.”

The site is significant to the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people due to their association with the Narre Narre Warren Reserve of the Port Phillip Aboriginal Protectorate and the Native Police Corps.

Daungwurring and Bunwurrung people were also part of the first version of the corps established by Christian de Villiers in 1837.

Cr Kirwan regards the site was a nationally significant “gem” - that all of Victoria and Melbourne should know more about.

It has also been home to Queensland Aboriginal trackers - some who were assigned to find bushranger Ned Kelly.

Up until 1931, the Victoria Police Stud Depot bred, trained and spelled its horses, including the force’s famous grey bloodlines.

Today, that is all sadly overshadowed by graffiti, poor roads, rubbish dumping and abandoned amenities.

More than five years ago, the land’s manager Parks Victoria closed the toilet block and picnic ground due to frequent damage, graffiti and rubbish dumping.

Serial vandals targeted cultural heritage interpretative signs - and so the signs were removed.

Parks Victoria’s website offers no detail on the reserve’s history or ecology.

Cr Kirwan said the area was part of a wildlife corridor of significant biodiversity - an increasingly rare remnant of Melbourne’s swamp scrubland.

It is home to sugar gliders, powerful owls and at least four native fish species and 90 native plant species.

The habitat includes stands of swamp gum and swamp paperbark, as well as prickly currant bush and bidgee widgee.

The council will press the State Government and Parks Victoria for a new management plan to better enshrine the reserve’s value in Dandenong North.

Cr Kirwan said the plan needs to also consider Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Lake Park - the latter is the subject of a separate, recently revised management plan.

Cr Zaynoun Melhem, in support, said the site was one of the most significant in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Knox.

A Parks Victoria spokesperson said it was

Some of the many fallen trees and branches throughout the park. 215643 14 STAR JOURNAL

|

Dandenong Creek at Police Paddocks Reserve. 215643

A walking track that follows Dandenong Creek. 215643 aware of recent, frequent vandalism and antisocial behaviour in parts of the site, including the toilet block and picnic ground.

“Parks Victoria is monitoring activity in the Dandenong Police Paddocks, with rangers regularly patrolling to discourage antisocial behaviour.”

There are plans for Parks Victoria’s website to provide more information on the reserve’s significance on its website.

Parks Victoria also pledged to remove any unsafe storm debris from recent weeks, such as felled trees blocking paths or leaning on one another.

To report rubbish dumping, call Parks Victoria on 13 1963.

A Spring bloom. 215643

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

A sign that reads “Healthy Parks - Healthy People’’. 215643

The long-decommissioned toilet block at Police Paddocks picnic area. 215643

Matthew Kirwan at the graffitied and closed toilet block in the abandoned picnic grounds. 215643 Pictures: GARY SISSONS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

LIFESTYLE

RUMP AND HALOUMI KEBABS WITH REFRESHING PINEAPPLE SALAD Created by Rod Leaver of Edge Hill Butchery this combination of salty haloumi and juicy rumpsteak makes tasty summery kebabs.

Team them with this salad of fresh pineapple, crunchy Lebanese cucumbers, red capsicums and rocket - all tied together with fresh tastes of lime and coriander.

Find more great rump steak recipes at Australianbeef.com.au.

RUMP & HALOUMI KEBABS WITH PINEAPPLE SALAD Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 mins, Cooking Time: 5 mins Ingredients Kebabs: 500g rump steak trimmed 200g packet haloumi olive oil salt and pepper Salad: One medium pineapple peeled cored and diced three Lebanese cucumbers roughly chopped One red capsicum diced two tsp lime juice 1/2 cup coriander leaves three cups rocket leaves

· · · · · · · · · ·

Method 1. For the salad, combine pineapple, cucumber, red capsicum, lime juice and a splash of olive oil in a large bowl. Stir well. Add coriander and rocket leaves and toss.

2. Cut rump and haloumi into similar sized cubes.

Thread onto 8 skewers, brush with oil and season with a good crack of pepper.

3. Preheat barbecue or a heavy-based pan to high. Cook skewers for 2 mins, turn once and cook a further 2 mins. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with pineapple salad.

Tips Switch rump for a flat iron steak.

Switch fajita seasoning for taco seasoning.

Leftover fajita mixture and toppings make a great salad for lunch the next day.

Mushrooms add a new depth to a family favourite.

· · ·

Rump and haloumi with a spicy tropical salad.

LEMON PEPPER CHOPS WITH SPRING PASTA SALAD

Looking for something quick, easy and tasty?

Why not take a mushroomy twist on traditional pork san choy bao.

With plenty of gorgeous Asian flavours and the added bonus of mushrooms this one is sure to become a family favourite.

Pepper season gives the lamb forequarter chops some extra zest in this dish perfect for spring.

Teamed with a salad of fresh spring vegetables this dish is sure to impress - even if you can’t go out for dinner.

For more delicious recipes head to australianlamb.com.au.

LEMON PEPPER CHOPS WITH SPRING PASTA SALAD Serves: 2 Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking time: 10 mins Ingredients

· Two x 225g forequarter chops · 1tbsp lemon pepper seasoning · 150g pasta · 1/2 cup green peas · 2 small zucchini peeled into ribbon · 120 baby grape tomatoes (yellow or red) · 1/4 cup marinated feta in oil · 1/4 cup mint leaves · lemon wedges to serve

Method 1. Coat lamb with lemon pepper seasoning. Heat a lightly oiled char-grill pan or barbecue over medium-high heat. Cook chops for 3-4 minutes each side, or until cooked to your liking. Rest on a plate loosely covered with foil for 5 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, peas, zucchini, tomatoes, feta, mint and oil. Season and toss to combine.

3. Serve lamb with pasta salad and lemon wedges.

Tips Lamb cutlets, loin chops or leg/rump steaks would also work well in this recipe.

For a delicious lunch, cook extra chops, slice meat off the bone and mix through pasta salad to enjoy the next day.

You can also use brown rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa instead of pasta.

STICKY MUSHROOM & PORK SAN CHOY BAO Serves: 4 Prep: 15 mins Cooking: 14 mins Ingredients

· · ·

Lemon Pepper Chops with pasta.

TART UP BACON AND EGGS Looking for something a little different for breakfast?

Then these mushroom breakfast tarts might just be the answer, combining the traditional bacon and eggs with capsicum and mushrooms and the warm flavour of thyme in a tart that you can eat at the table or on the go on a busy Saturday morning of kids sport or outside on a spring morning.

MUSHROOM BREAKFAST TARTS Prep: 10 mins, Cook: 15 mins, Makes: 6 Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 200g Button Mushrooms, trimmed and quartered 4 (100g) bacon rashers, trimmed and chopped (1cm pieces) 1 red capsicum, finely chopped 2 tbsp chopped thyme leaves, plus sprigs to garnish 3 sheets puff pastry 6 eggs

· · · · · · ·

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

JUST ADD MUSHIES

Method 1. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Cook mushrooms for 4-5 minutes or until golden. Add bacon, capsicum and thyme and cook for 2-3 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Add capsicum, cook for 2 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 200°C fan forced. Lightly grease 6 x 10.5cm (base) loose base fluted tart tins. Using a 14cm cutter, cut 6 rounds from the pastry. Line pans with pastry, prick well with a fork and trim the edges.

3. Place tins on a baking tray and cook for 15 minutes or until pastry is just golden. When cool enough to touch, gently push pastry down into the base.

4. Break an egg into each pastry shell, top with mushroom mixture. Cook in oven for 10-12 minutes or until egg white is cooked and yolk is slightly runny. Serve with thyme sprigs to garnish.

· 2 garlic cloves, chopped · 3cm piece ginger, peeled, chopped · 1 long red chilli, deseeded, chopped · 2 tbs peanut or vegetable oil Swiss Brown, cup or · 300g button mushrooms, quartered · 400g lean pork mince · 2 tbs ketcup manis or hoisin sauce · 1 tbs oyster sauce · 8 ice berg lettuce, trimmed to serve sprigs, thinly sliced red chilli and · Coriander fried Asian shallots, to serve Method 1 Combine garlic, ginger and chilli in a small food processor. Process until finely chopped.

2 Heat a wok over high heat until hot. Add half the oil and the mushrooms. Stir-fry for 3 minutes until light golden, remove to a bowl. Add remaining oil and mince, stir-fry until mince changes colour. Add garlic mixture, stir-fry 2 minutes until aromatic. Return the mushrooms then add the ketcup manis and oyster sauce, stir-fry until sticky.

3 Spoon into lettuce leaves, top with coriander, chilli and shallots. Serve.

Tips No Asian shallots at home, use roasted salted peanuts or crispy fried noodles Going Meatless - turn this into a meatless main meal, replace the pork with an extra 500g mushrooms, so in total you need 800g mushrooms (a combo of flat, cup and Swiss Brown)

· ·

Breakfast tartlets.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 15

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STAR JOURNAL 17

SPORT

Grassroots basketball is currently facing its biggest ever threat - Covid-19.

Covid forces cancellations With Victoria navigating its way through the Victorian Government’s Covid-19 restrictions roadmap, and with the focus on a successful return of grassroots basketball for the community, Basketball Victoria (BV) has made a series of key updates to some of its representative team events.

Without a clear return to interstate travel, due to current border restrictions, as well as the inability to organise and host fair tryouts, Basketball Victoria has opted to cancel the 2021 Southern Cross Challenge, originally scheduled for January 2021.

BV said it looks forward to the 2022 Southern Cross Challenge and bringing back the tournament’s significant development opportunities for under-14 and under-15 players, as well as developing coaches and referees.

In lieu of a potential cancellation and with similar concerns surrounding interstate travel and event logistics, Basketball Victoria has also made the decision to withdraw its teams from the 2021 East Coast Challenge.

This development tournament for elite under-16 and under-18 players remains an important event to BV and it will work together with Basketball New South Wales to ensure the success of the event in 2022.

The 2020 Country Events Calendar, including the rescheduled Country Skills Days, has been cancelled. This is due to the Victorian State Government’s Covid-19 restrictions and the lack of viable options for rescheduling dates through the remainder of 2020.

Further information regarding the Country Basketball League and the 2021 Country Events

Calendar will be available in upcoming weeks.

In addition, the uncertainty regarding interstate travel in the early stages of 2021, the inability to conduct lead-in programs, and the continuing focus on grassroots participation, Basketball Victoria has made the decision to withdraw its Victoria Country teams from the upcoming Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup (ACJBC).

BV has said it’s a decision that was made “regretfully”, as the ACJBC is a highlight on the calendar for junior players and country coaches alike. BV has committed to fully supporting the ACJBC organisation and aims to return to the event in 2022. Dates for the ACJBC in 2022 will be announced in time.

Basketball Victoria CEO NIck Honey said the decisions made were extremely difficult,

but the uncertainy surrounding travel was too hard to navigate.

“Due to ongoing uncertainty regarding the return of basketball in Victoria and our continued focus to support associations to provide grassroots opportunities, we have unfortunately had to withdraw teams and cancel a number of representative events for late 2020 and early 2021 on the basketball calendar,” Honey said.

“Interstate travel is still uncertain at this stage, which makes the extensive planning needed to operate these elite development tournaments particularly difficult to achieve.

“With Victoria still under Covid-19 restrictions, we have to cancel these events and suspend our involvement in others in the interim.”

Warriors are up for the battle as they march forward

By Lance Jenkinson Dollars and cents are not the primary concern for the Greater Dandenaong Warriors Hockey Club during the pandemic.

Warriors president Girish Fernandez is more worried about the immeasurable impact the Melbourne lockdown is having on individual club members in these incredibly tough times.

Hockey provides an outlet for people to socialise and stay physically and mentally fit, but that has been taken away indefinitely for the first time.

“Apart from the financial impact, it’s more the social impact that it’s having on the people associated with the club,” Fernandez said.

“Right from the kids in the under-10s up to the veterans, the social impact has been huge.

“Just that interaction with people and having some activity is important.”

The unpredictable nature of a pandemic is what makes it hard.

Twice Greater Dandenong Warriors players thought the Hockey Victoria season would get underway, and both times it was met with harsh restrictions that rendered it impossible.

That sweet sound of the ball cracking off a stick and nestling into the back of the net was no longer being heard at JC Mills Reserve and hockey was eventually cancelled for the winter.

There are positive signs that Victoria could be coming out of its second wave of Covid-19, but exactly what 2021 may bring 18 STAR JOURNAL

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The Greater Dandenong Warriors Hockey Club is a community where all its members come together to support each other and feel a sense of genuine belonging.

Picture: SUPPLIED is anyone’s guess.

“When we started off a little bit of activity before Covid with training, people were getting very positive about it,” Fernandez said.

“Then, all of a sudden, we had to shut things down - which makes it very tough.

“A lot of our demographic area in the south-east, you get a lot of people from not so well-to-do areas, but they look forward

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

to these opportunities just to interact with people.

“The veterans, when they train on a Thursday and afterwards they catch up at the bar - they look forward to that.

“When that’s been taken away from them, it makes it difficult for them.

“The kids as well haven’t been able to play.”

There will obviously be a financial toll for Greater Dandenong Warriors to absorb in the road ahead.

The bills have not stopped because of the pandemic, but income from player fees and sponsorships has.

Fernandez is confident the Greater Dandenong Warriors will come out the other side, but it will take time.

He praised the local council for its assistance in a tough situation.

“The financial impact comes with it as well,” he said.

“Our club, being non-for-profit, we do rely on sponsorships and things like that for equipment and maintenance.

“There’s no fees being paid, so that’s an impact.

“That comes down the path, but you can always recover from that.

“People wanting to reach out and play hockey to socialise, that’s the biggest impact and you can’t put a price on that, unfortunately.”

As it stands, the Greater Dandenong Warriors still have plans for Monday night summer hockey to go ahead.

Hockey Victoria has given no indication of fixture changes to winter hockey next season.

Hockey Victoria chief executive officer Andrew Skillern penned an open letter, describing 2020 as “arguably been the most challenging year” in the association’s history.

Skillern announced that all players will have the majority of their fees paid this year, credited towards the 2021 season. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

CLASSIC MATCHES REVISITED

With community sport currently on-hold indefinitely across Dandenong and the wider south-east region, the Journal is going back through the archives to revisit some classic matches from a range of sports over the years. This week, we take a look at the Doveton Eagles’ remarkable comeback premiership victory over Endeavour Hills in the 2017 Southern Football League Division 3 decider...

A comeback for the ages

By Nick Creely Only a champion team can lift itself off the canvas when the game looks buried, and find the will to win.

That’s exactly what the Doveton Eagles did in what was a gripping grand final clash with Endeavour Hills at Jack Barker Oval in Cheltenham.

In a game of spits and spurts of momentum for each side, the Eagles found the winner late with a clutch set-shot from the 50-metre arc by Russell Robertson, 13.6 (84) to 13.10 (88).

It took just 30 seconds for the scoring to begin on Saturday, with Nick Gay running into an open goal to give the Falcons the dream start.

The Falcons - in their first senior grand final ever - settled into the contest quicker, and with the likes of Daniel Batson and Byron Hoe playing big roles in the first, managed to hold a slender nine-point quarter-time lead.

A rev-up by Eagles coach Simon Caldwell provided the catalyst for a quick response, with the underdogs producing a sensational second quarter, kicking six of the next seven goals to all of a sudden race out to a 22-point half-time lead.

Eventual best-afield Michael Callinan was causing plenty of headaches through the midfield, often bursting out of a stoppage unopposed to give forwards Robertson and Adam Read silver service.

A move to the midfield by Batson - and a tougher, more competitive showing in the middle - saw the Falcons immediately regain the momentum after the major break.

After three brain fades that resulted in 50 metre penalties, the Falcons made the Eagles pay for ill-discipline, with goals to Joel Marie, Chris Webber and the brilliant Batson pegging the margin back to five-points.

Only moments after Batson sunk his setshot, Marie - who was helping turn the game on its head - found space to kick a goal to put the Falcons in front.

That momentum continued through to the early stages of the final term, with Nathan Strom and Hoe kicking goals to bring the margin all the way out to a game high 28-point lead.

A response was needed from the Eagles and a response they got.

The Division 3 grand final saw two tough midfields battle it out.

All of a sudden - with nothing left to lose - the Eagles started pulling the trigger, with skipper Corrie Wilson in particular starting to lift in the middle and hit his targets.

An outstanding bit of play by Jarrod O’Neill saw the margin cut back to a gettable 14-points only nine-minutes into play, before Robertson eventually stole victory with only two minutes left with a clutch shot that sent the crowd into raptures.

Even though Robertson was well held for the most part by Falcons defender Ben Moriaty in an absorbing one-on-one battle, the ex-AFL high-flyer’s class shone through.

Pictures: NICK CREELY

Corrie Wilson was brilliant for the Eagles.

The 2017 Southern Football Division 3 premiers, the Doveton Eagles.

Robertson rams home a precious premiership sealer

By Nick Creely Make no mistake about it - the Doveton Eagles entered the 2017 Division 3 finals series as the underdogs.

And when they faced a hefty 28-point deficit early in the last quarter of the grand final against a red-hot Endeavour Hills, the premiership looked like it was making its way down to Barry Simon Reserve for the very first time.

But as Eagles coach Simon Caldwell explained, the belief that saw them win four out of four finals kicked in, with a desperate scramble resulting in a match-winning goal by the sharpshooting former Melbourne forward, Russell Robertson.

“I was nervous - I genuinely thought we were done, and being 28 points down, I thought it was all over,” Caldwell said postmatch about the last quarter revival.

“I’m just shell-shocked we won it, unbelievable but very nerve-racking - I’m just so proud of the boys’ efforts to keep going with it.

“We had the finals experience, a few blokes are still here from the 2013 flag, and we have a few older heads playing at a higher level - we still had the belief the whole way through that if we get on a roll, there’s no readandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Endeavour Hills did its best to keep Russell Robertson under control, but the ex-Melbourne star’s class shone through.

Picture: NICK CREELY son we can’t take it out.”

Rather than panic when faced with a deficit after a dominant third quarter by the Falcons, Caldwell kept things simple.

“At three-quarter time, we sort of just put what I thought was our best midfield in there,

and we put some fresh blokes in there to give them a run, and we just stuck fat,” he said.

“Our midfield is our strength - we have some bigger bodies in there, and sometimes it can hurt us on the outside and we know that.

“The coaches were throwing things

around, saying let’s do this and that, but we ended up leaving it and got on a roll.”

Caldwell was full of praise for his players, in particular Robertson, who shook off a tough day to kick the goal that got them in front with just minutes to play.

“Robbo’s had a few down games this year - in one match he kicked 6.13 - but when he got the opportunity he just took it, (and) that’s why he played at the highest level,” Caldwell explained.

“When the game needed to be won, he just slotted it from 50 out, and it got us over the line I guess.

“I’m super proud - it was nothing us coaches did, it was all on the boys on the field, they fought it out and kept rolling.”

With the Eagles finishing in fourth spot at the end of the home-and-away season only one game from sixth and missing out altogether - they had to do it the hard way.

After defeating Black Rock in an elimination final, the Eagles defeated Ashwood in a semi-final, before overcoming Hallam in a preliminary final performance.

“The biggest thing for me is that no one expected us to win - internally, we spoke about being the best team for the four weeks because we hadn’t been all year - and we did that,” Caldwell said.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 19

Phone: 9546 9066 | 3 Callaghan Street, Noble Park, 3174 www.nobleparksc.vic.edu.au 12451377-NG26-20

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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