News - Berwick Star News - 7th January 2021 by Star News Group

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Thursday, 7 January, 2021

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Looking back at 2020

Top results in VCE

New school offers choice

Sports still triumph

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Covid heroes By Danielle Kutchel When we turned the page on the calendar at the start of January 2020, full of hope and optimism about this new decade, few of us, if any, had an inkling of what was to come. What followed was a year of turmoil, a dramatic upheaval of our lives’ routines, as Covid-19 spread rapidly throughout the world. While Australia has largely avoided the tragedy seen in other parts of the globe, we still dealt with our own struggles over two waves of the deadly disease - and our frontline workers rose to the challenge. Risking their own health, frontline workers in hospitals, clinics, testing stations, aged care homes and elsewhere showed us what they’re made of. From nurses and doctors to caterers and cleaners, maintenance staff and pastoral care workers, the myriad of health care workers are Star News’ People of the Year for 2020. Of course, frontline workers also include the supermarket staff, police, paramedics and teachers who bore the brunt of the public’s frustration (and strange obsession with toilet roll) as we ‘pivoted’ in our new world - and they deserve our respect and recognition for their efforts, too. In Berwick’s hospital precinct, preparations for Covid-19 got underway early in the year as the situation quickly ramped up. Reporter Danielle Kutchel caught up with St John of God nurses Karen Ward and Janet

2020 PEOPLE OF THE YEAR McAllister and Sally Webster from Casey Hospital to find out what really went on behind the hospital walls. They’re refreshingly honest and have somehow found the positives - from the uptake of Telehealth, to the ongoing community support for their work - in what was no doubt one of the most challenging years of their careers. We salute them for their service during an extraordinary time as Star News’ People of the Year for 2020. Turn to pages two and three for an inside look behind the Covid frontline Janet McAllister, nurse at St John of God Berwick Hospital, one of the many local frontline workers who were vital during the pandemic. 224455 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS 12476975-LB02-21

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

NEWSMAKERS

Inside the Covid fight By Danielle Kutchel

Sally Webster from Casey Hospital played an important role in community Covid screening during Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS the pandemic. 224627

Last January, it seemed the whole world waited with bated breath as news of a new virus outbreak in Wuhan, China, reached our shores. The first case in Australia was identified on 25 January, 2020. And although no one could have predicted what was to come, behind the scenes, our frontline health care workers were quietly preparing. It wasn’t just in-hospital wards that had to get ready. Hospitals are complex, with multiple units to deal with the health challenges of the public. At Monash Health Casey Hospital, Sally Webster was grappling with the challenge of delivering care to people outside of a ward in the middle of a pandemic. She’s the nurse unit manager of Hospital in the Home, which delivers hospital care to admitted patients in their own home. Stringent infection control procedures are, of course, always in place - but when it’s an environment you have no control over, concerns can arise. “Safety was paramount,” she says, for both her staff and the patient. Risk screening of patients was in place before staff went to visit, so that precautions could be put in place if needed. With the niggling worry of carrying the virus home everpresent, Sally and other managers ensured staff were supported emotionally and that they knew they would go home safely each day. Across town Janet McAllister, nurse unit manager at St John of God’s Langmore Centre Shepton Aged Care Unit, recalls working in intensive care as the first Covid cases arrived,

and realising how little clinical knowledge there was around this new pathogen. “I don’t think at that time we realised how virulent it was and how quickly it spread,” she says. “We knew it was aerosol generated, that you need distance and masks, good hand hygiene and cough etiquette.” She and her colleague Karen Ward, nurse unit manager for aged care in St John of God Berwick Hospital’s Covid-19 ward agree that they had never seen anything like Covid-19 in all their decades of nursing. Nevertheless, plans began for what would eventuate: a pandemic that would infect thousands across Victoria. It was expected to hit hard, as it did overseas. For Karen and Janet, working in the private sector, they knew that the public sector - in Berwick, Casey Hospital - would take on the bulk of the Covid-related work - but St John of God staff still needed to stand ready for anything. Karen says the plan initially was for some of the private hospitals to be kept “clean” - that is, Covid-free - to provide vital backup for daily medical care and surgery in the event that patients needed to be transferred out of the public system to make way for infected patients. Or, as Janet explains, “making sure you kept the health system going”. There were simulations and mock practises of patient transfers. Nurses from across the hospital were quickly upskilled with basic intensive care skills, in case they were needed should the worst happen. “We expected ICUs to be really full,” Karen says.

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS … “All the planning right from the beginning was around ICU - working out what areas we could expand if we needed more beds.” Thankfully, she adds, the first wave was relatively mild and hospitals didn’t fill as expected. Then the second wave arrived. “It was clear pretty soon that in this second wave, the ones who’d been hit were some of the most vulnerable in the community, and that was aged care,” Janet remembers. “I don’t think any of us expected it to be hit that hard. It took a huge toll.” Karen agrees: “it happened so quickly, we thought we were getting better”. This was where their unit came to the fore. One morning, Karen was pulled from a meeting and told the news: nursing home residents were en route, some of them positive, and the ward needed to be prepared immediately. The hospital swung into what Karen describes as “organised chaos”. Porters, allied health assistants and physios arrived on the floor and began moving patients, who were allocated to any available bed in the hospital. The maintenance team rushed to put up new shelving, doors and plastic tarp. Rooms were converted into changing areas for nurses. An executive assistant bought shower gel, shampoo and conditioner so Covid ward nurses could shower on site before going home. Any surplus equipment was moved to a different part of the hospital, to be brought back if required. Pastoral care staff hit the phones to alert family members of where their loved ones were. And, as the last patient left the floor, the first nursing home resident was coming up the lift to be admitted. “It was very close,” Karen recalls. “When they came, we had no idea who was positive and who was negative.” Of the residents who arrived, 24 were positive and six negative. Those six remained negative for the duration of their stay at St John, and no staff caught Covid from the patients. But looking after patients with dementia, with Alzheimer’s, with little understanding of English, presented challenges. Residents had to be bathed everyday instead of showered, with showering considered an aerosol transmission risk. They were confused about the nurses looking after them, who were necessarily covered in head-to-toe PPE, and about why they needed to be swabbed. “When you can’t explain or comfort them properly because they can’t see your face, don’t understand, or can’t speak English, it felt like you were violating people,” Karen says. “It was heartbreaking.” Staff worked 12, 14 and 16 hour shifts in those first few days, with ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ sections of the hospital kept entirely separate and different teams assigned to tasks like paperwork and running errands and messages. For the floor staff, it was some of the most challenging work they’d ever done. Wearing full PPE constantly was uncomfortable, but as Karen says, “you just did it”. Some of her staff were concerned about the infection risk and the possibility of bringing

Covid home to their families. But Janet says their training and preparation - their knowledge of infection control, of donning and doffing - stood them in good stead. “A part of both our roles was helping staff with that, reassuring them ... that if you follow the procedures and practises ... your chances are minimised,” she says. Karen agrees: “We’re exposed to infections all the time and we don’t take them home, so if you’re doing the right thing, following the training, it will keep you as safe as possible.” Meanwhile, Sally was out in the community working at Covid screening clinics. She started at Pakenham Health Care Centre, seeing around 150 people a day until that number climbed rapidly with an outbreak of Covid in the town. From April to September, her role revolved around educating staff, making sure IT processes were followed and documentation was done correctly, and patients received their Covid results quickly. In July as the second wave gathered momentum, she moved to IYU Reserve in Pakenham and began working with the ADF to run the testing station there, at some points seeing over 1000 patients a day. It was a gloomy time for many of us, but despite the ever-present risk of a virulent virus, Sally says Covid has had its positive moments. Working with health workers from different departments and from the ADF was a highlight, she says, and the widespread take-up of Telehealth has been beneficial for timely patient care. And of course, there’s the kindness that was evident in the community throughout the pandemic. “You saw people going through some really stressful and quite frightening times in some instances, and people were really kind and respectful to each other,” she says. “I’m really proud of our community.” It’s a sentiment that’s echoed by Karen and Janet at St John of God. Nurses from across the St John of God Victorian network put up their hands to help out as Melbourne struggled through its high numbers of cases, and businesses and individuals alike donated care packs to patients at the hospital, and food to the nurses. We’ve come out the other side now thanks to that team effort, they say - from environmental staff, caterers, maintenance and infection control teams in the hospitals, to cleaners, paramedics, teachers, family members and, of course, the doctors and nurses. While recent weeks have seen community transmission return to Victoria, the nurses say that if we persevere together, the virus risk will be minimised and we will see it run its course. Thankyou cards now line the walls of the tearoom at what was the Covid ward at St John of God Berwick Hospital - but Karen and Janet laugh at suggestions that they are ‘legends’. “You don’t expect to be in a pandemic, but you do it because it’s your job, what you’re trained to do, and you know that you’re there to help,” Karen says. “It was an experience. Hopefully I don’t ever have to do it again, but I’m glad I did it. You come into nursing for a reason.”

NEWSMAKERS

Public hospitals were expected to take on the bulk of the Covid work. 224627

Thank you cards line the walls at St John of God Berwick Hospital. 224455

Janet and Karen from St John of God Hospital are proud of the work they’’ve done. 224455

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

IN PICTURES

Greg Matthews created some beautiful Aboriginal art to sell at the Berwick market. 204281

Flynn, 3, got behind the wheel of an old military car at the Berwick Australia Day celebrations. 203684

Lisa and Michael wore the famous “9” worn in the movie “The Waterboy” played by Adam Sandler at Narre Warren’s Sporting Globe Bar and Grill for the Super Bowl. 203859

Lind-Elle School of Dance under-13s from Narre Warren South, performed live on stage at the Berwick Show. 204762

EVERY TEST HELPS US KEEP DOING THE THINGS WE LOVE Every test keeps us on top of this virus. And keeps us doing the things we love. So even if your symptoms are mild, or you’ve been tested before, every test helps.

For testing locations visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

IN PICTURES

There were sparkles and glittering outfits at Wilson Botanic Park Berwick where hundreds turned out for a “Magical Princess meet and greet’’ on Wednesday 22 January. Pictured is magical princesses with three-year-old April from Cranbourne. 203323

Bella, 3, and Samantha, 6, from Narre Warren enjoyed the Berwick Show in February. 204762

Natalie performed an old Clog Dance in a traditional Dutch costume at the Berwick Dutch festival in March. 204729

Marlon from Clyde North sussed out some goldfish that are for sale at the market at the Berwick market. 204281

Teddy bears and prep enjoyed a teddy bears’ picnic at Haileybury’s Berwick campus on Monday 10 February. Pictured is Julian with buddy Logan. 204320

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS...

NEWSMAKERS

‘Not on our patch’ protest By Brendan Rees Residents of a Berwick estate were seething with Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) with plans to widen a road to six lanes outside their homes without noise barriers. As part of the second stage of the Monash Freeway upgrade - MRPV has proposed to add two lanes on O’Shea Road in each direction between Clyde Road and Soldiers Road. Once complete, O’Shea Road will be three lanes in each direction and six lanes in total which is due to be completed in 2022. MRPV says this will create better connections at Beaconsfield and ease congestion. But residents of Affinity Estate which adjoins O’Shea Road want the project shelved or delayed, saying “at no point” were they made aware the road being widened to six lanes and have also cited concerns of noise, large increases in traffic, and removal of trees. Michel Suttie, chairman of Affinity owner’s corporation committee, said residents were told the planned upgrade was always for four lanes and “we have had no opportunity to respond to the six lane proposal”. “Despite repeated requests, the MRPV has produced no documentation to support six lanes, no traffic management plan for surrounding streets that will become a rat run, no identification of the authorising person, no impact study and no opportunity for a submission,” Mr Suttie said. He added: “There will be an increase in the number of large trucks descending past the Affinity Estate using their exhaust brakes to slow down, just meters away from homes”. Dozens turned out for a community meeting recently where residents were keen to express their frustrations. They were told by MRPV representatives

Residents of the Affinity Estate in Berwick are concerned about the potential removal of their picturesque trees on O’Shea Road. 204377 that noise barriers were not needed “as the policy doesn’t require as to” - a remark Mr Suttie said was a “contradiction” to what residents were told at a community briefing last year. He also said he had viewed an artist’s illustration of the O’Shea Road Upgrade on the Monash Freeway Upgrade website “that clearly shows a noise wall installed”. According to the MRPV website, the noise policy “does not allow for the provision of

noise attenuation in this case”. Mr Suttie said many residents won’t be able to enjoy a walk along the footpath “due to the air buffeting and potential water spray off vehicles”- however MRVP contends safety barriers will be installed along O’Shea Road. “The roadway will only be the width of a footpath from domestic dwellings,” Mr Suttie added. MRVP program director Ray Paterson said

they had spoken “extensively” with residents about the project including hundreds who have attended information sessions where “thousands of information sheets” have been handed out. “Almost half a million people rely on the Monash Freeway daily, so it’s vital we improve connections by building extra lanes on O’Shea Road and easing the pressure on Clyde Road,” Mr Paterson said.

Town split over ‘world significant’ gallery By Jessica Anstice

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A magnificent development pegged for Harkaway divided the Casey community. Residents were intensely opposing to a proposed world-class art gallery in the rolling foothills to the Dandenong Ranges. But the developers behind the proposed gallery, that will house a $500 million art collection, were reassuring residents that their $50 million investment would benefit the community in more ways than not. Publicity-shy businessman and local, Lindsay Hogg, was in discussion with the State Government to have his enormous art collection donated to a proposed art gallery at 193-209 King Road, called Rosemaur. Under the proposed plans, which were being assessed by the Planning Minister, the eight hectare site would accommodate about 600 patrons and feature a 140-seat restaurant and function centre, plus two dwellings for the gallery. Residents were opposing the idea in fear of it “changing the amenity” of Harkaway. Residents were also concerned the site would damage the green wedge zone and is “entirely out of character for the area”. “If Casey Council and the Victorian Government preside over the wanton squandering of this unique, widely treasured asset that is Harkaway for the sake of an inappropriately located, wildly experimental, fragmenting development on the basis of a nebulous promise by a vested interest landowner living elsewhere, I believe it will go down in Casey’s history as an outrage second only to the findings of an IBAC enquiry,” Save the Casey Foothills Association spokesperson Rosalie Counsell said. Harkaway resident Phil Ward said the development, if approved, would “spell the end of the Harkaway village and surrounding area as we know it”. “It may be one of the last unspoiled areas within the whole of the Melbourne metropolitan area - how very, very sad,” he said. “Any future applicants to build just about

Phil Wild and Rosalie Counsell on King Road, where the art gallery is proposed for, in Harkaway. 217593 anything in the Harkaway area, no matter how outrageous, would be able to use this development as a precedent and could not easily be prevented from doing so.” But Rosemaur architect and project coordinator, Danielle Peck, assured residents that the facility would attract visitation to the. area, which will have beneficial effects for all local businesses, and will create future job opportunities. In response to the site affecting the green wedge zone, she said Rosemaur will protect, conserve and enhance the biodiversity, natural resources, scenic landscapes and heritage of the area with its proposed natural regeneration of the landscape through

planting, management and the establishment of a bird sanctuary. “Rosemaur will protect and enhance the existing rural living areas by delivering 75,000 square metres of open space, and provide benefit to the local community through access to these grounds during operating hours for their enjoyment,” she said. “It will preserve the landscape as the proposal does not seek to subdivide the land. “Rosemaur will also deliver sustainable land management practices and infrastructure provision with the inclusion of numerous lowlying native gardens, tree planting and a bird sanctuary.” berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

2020 - YEAR THAT WAS …

IBAC

Casey ‘corruption’ probe By Cam Lucadou-Wells One month. That was the original scope of IBAC’s examination into alleged corruption involving Casey councillors and developers starting November 2019. In the end, the Operation Sandon inquiry grew to 45 days of hearings over 13 months. It delivered blow after blow of jaw-dropping accusations at state and council political figures. The epic grilling extended to more than 20 witnesses including state MPs, council administrators and political party fundraising chiefs. On the witness stand were a string of former Casey mayors Geoff Ablett, Sam Aziz, Amanda Stapledon and Lorraine Wreford. Former and current Labor state MPs Judith Graley, Jude Perera and Pauline Richards were interrogated. At issue were their ties to developer John Woodman who stood to gain from several lucrative projects and rezonings in Casey such as Brompton Lodge estate, Hall Road H3 intersection, Pavilion Estate and Amendment C219 in Cranbourne West. Mr Woodman was a major donor to Casey Council candidates as well as to Labor and Liberal coffers, the inquiry heard. He gave $150,000-plus to Labor’s 2018 state election tilt and $70,000 as a top-tier member of the Liberal’s corporate fundraising arm in 2019. He also dined for lunch with Premier Daniel Andrews at the Flower Drum restaurant in 2017 - though no planning matters were discussed, according to Mr Andrews. More than $90,000 was said to be spent on about 20 main and support candidates in the

Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards at the IBAC inquiry on 30 November.

Sam Aziz takes the oath, 16 November.

Lorraine Wreford and Sam Aziz at Higher Ground cafe, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne on 25 October 2018. Picture: IBAC

2016 Casey Council election. The campaign was allegedly organised by mayor Aziz, who denies he was aware of Mr Woodman’s donations. In November 2020, Mr Aziz finally took the stand after staying in Egypt with health issues for Operation Sandon’s opening rounds. Mr Aziz was accused by IBAC of failing to disclose more than $1 million of “private benefits” received while a councillor. IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich indicated that he was giving “due deliberation” into whether the payments were corrupt. “What is clear is that you have in the most profound way failed to meet your integrity obligations as a councillor in terms of your obligations to disclose the private benefits that you were receiving.” An at-times combative Mr Aziz denied many of the inquiry’s allegations including of lying under oath, saying it was “trashing my reputation”. “Sure I failed to declare a conflict of interest

on a few occasions. “But my intention was not malicious nor was it intended to profit from my job.” He was accused of taking $660,000 of “benefits” from Mr Woodman and associated entities. Mr Aziz said about $600,000 was his own money being returned to him, plus interest from a “legitimate” mezzanine financial arrangement. But more side-deals were alleged, involving parties with commercial relationships with Casey Council. They included a purported loan of $250,000 from property group director Andrew Nehme, whose Kuwait-sheik owned company bought the Casey Lifestyle Centre site from the council. Mr Aziz was also allegedly paid about $45,000 from developer Vlad Kostic, and a $150,000 discount in shares from tech company Lodex, which pitched a digital payment platform to Casey Council.

Tech firm IPsoft allegedly paid him $30,800 soon after it signed a contract with Casey to trial an AI robot, Amelia. Counsel assisting IBAC, Michael Tovey added there was also about $250,000 cash that Mr Aziz “can’t explain”. IBAC also alleged former mayor and Liberal state candidate Geoff Ablett received $330,000 from Mr Woodman, as well as a donation to his 2014 state election campaign. The benefits included part shares in racehorses, buying part of Cr Ablett’s rural property and fees for looking after Mr Woodman’s racehorses. Another mayor Amanda Stapledon conceded she was “sloppy with my paperwork” in not declaring Mr Woodman’s $25,000 donation to her 2014 state election campaign. IBAC is due to report on its investigation this year. It is expected to also recommend ways to prevent corruption risks in the planning system.

We congratulate all our VCE students for their outstanding VCE results and acknowledge the achievements of our duxes: Annie Wu, Senior Girls, who achieved an ATAR of 99.80; and Oliver Ward, Senior Boys, who achieved an ATAR of 98.15 Both our Senior Girls and Senior Boys recorded excellent results. Of our Senior Girls, 36% achieved an ATAR over 95 and 52% an ATAR above 90, placing them in the top 5% and 10% of the nation respectively.

Of our Senior Boys, 27% achieved an ATAR over 90 and 48% an ATAR above 85, placing them in the top 10% and 15% of the nation respectively. 4 perfect scores of 50 were attained in Applied Computing: Data Analytics, English, Further Maths and Health and Human Development. We are proud of all our students and look forward to following the trajectories they take in life, with the same care and concern we felt for them at school. Ms Annette Rome, Principal

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS...

Our face of Covid By Mitchell Clarke A Berwick man who almost lost his life to Covid-19 became the face of a statewide campaign to warn Victorians about the deadly virus. Michael Rojales, 46, spent 72 days in hospital fighting coronavirus after first contracting it on the plane trip back from South Africa. Mr Rojales arrived home on 19 March and tested positive four days later. Within two days, his condition worsened and he presented to hospital. By 29 March, he had been placed into an induced coma. His inspiring story caught the attention of Premier Daniel Andrews, who shared his journey as part of the ‘Staying Apart Keeps Us Together’ campaign. “I had a temperature and a mild cough and I thought I’d just go to the fever clinic to make sure I didn’t have corona ... I thought it was unlikely but I wanted peace of mind,” Mr Rojales told Star News. He got tested at the Gibb Street facility and was advised the following day that he did, in fact, have the virus. “I couldn’t believe what I heard. How could I possibly have corona?” Mr Rojales isolated at one end of the house, away from his wife, daughter and mother in law, but as his symptoms progressively worsened, he was taken to hospital. “I just had this non-stop cough which I’ve described as like drowning. It’s almost like when you’re underwater and you’re struggling for air. You basically can’t breathe and when you get out of the water, you gasp for air but you fall in again,” he said. “It was a horrible cough and it went on for one to two minutes before I could get air, but somehow breathing tickled my throat and I started coughing again. That was just happening over and over - it was a vicious cycle.” Mr Rojales was taken to Casey Hospital before being transferred to Monash Clayton. At this point, the virus was still fairly new in Australia. “There were a lot of things still unknown. Doctors said to me ‘for now, the best treatment is to put you into an induced coma’,” he said. “I didn’t really know what that meant and I wasn’t sure how long I’d be in that state, so I was just hoping for the best.” For the next two weeks, Mr Rojales remained in an induced coma. He had stopped breathing on his own, which meant the ventilator was working at 100 percent. Doctors thought he had 24 hours to live. “I had no idea what was happening, I was in dreamland and didn’t know the seriousness of

Rachel and Michael Rojales. 212041 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS what was going on,” he said. He eventually woke on Easter Sunday to one of the nurses saying: “Hey Michael, your wife and many people are praying for you”. He didn’t fully understand why. “Two weeks after I woke up, my wife told me exactly what happened. She said I almost died and the doctors told her to prepare for the worst and prepare to say goodbye to me,” he recalled. While Mr Rojales fought for life, wife Rachel, was dealing with an unimaginable situation. She had also contracted the virus, as did her mother, Gely Constanilla, who tragically passed away on 6 April, after being admitted to hospital on 31 March. “I was in the midst of my induced coma when she passed away,” Mr Rojales explained. “On the day she died, the nurse called my wife. My mother-in-law was feeling a bit distressed, so my wife spoke to her as the nurse held her hand. “My wife said: ‘Mama, I love you, be strong. Let me pray for you’. As soon as she said that, my mother-in-law peacefully passed away. “One of the things that is very hard with corona, when people die, they don’t have their loved ones around them.” Mr Rojales own doctors were getting prepared to tell Mrs Rojales that she’d lose her husband too, but called The Alfred hospital in search of a last minute solution. “They said ‘we’ve done everything we can, but nothing’s changed’,” Mr Rojales recalled. “The Alfred doctors suggested to lie me on

my stomach, which sounds simple and also very weird, but amazingly I started to breathe again at 50 percent, straight away. “As the days went by, I just got better and better. We’re people of faith, so I can only attribute breathing again to the prayers of my church.” Throughout his hospital stint, Mr Rojales developed pneumonia, anaemia, acute kidney failure and nerve damage. After 72 days, he was finally deemed well enough to be discharged from hospital on 5 June. “It was great to be home and in a different environment. I felt like furniture in the hospital,” he laughed. “I’m still very immobile. I’m not able to walk or stand for long periods and my left leg is not weight bearing, but it was just great to be back with my family again.” Having Mr Rojales home was the best possible outcome for 19-year-old daughter Megan, who witnessed the virus affect the people closest to her. “For my daughter to see everyone she loved taken to hospital and not knowing whether they’d come back or not, that broke my heart,” he said. Mr Rojales said the power of faith has allowed his family get through their darkest days. “My faith in God has become even stronger. He’s given me a second chance at life and I don’t want to waste it. I want to help people as much as I can,” he said. Prior to his hospital stay, Mr Rojales had never seen the inside of a ward. He was a healthy person and didn’t fall into a high risk category. By sharing his story far and wide, he hoped to bring much needed awareness to the deadly virus, which continues to wreak havoc across the globe. He said he “didn’t know how to feel” about being the face of the State Government’s campaign - which ran across social media and television - but said people needed to understand the seriousness of the situation. “I do know I have a story to tell and I just want to help our community and our fellow Victorians be caring and careful through this interesting period of history,” he said. “We know that this virus is real but there are people out there that think this is just a cold, but different people are impacted in different ways by the virus. Some only get mild symptoms but some die. “We don’t want anyone else to go through what we’ve been through.”

Mum’s heartbreak: Legal threat after loss By Brendan Rees A young pregnant woman who lost her unborn child claimed she was “purely neglected” by Casey Hospital after being turned away five times. Kristy Watson of Blind Bight said she experienced “textbook” symptoms for pre-eclampsia when she was six months pregnant in June 2018. However, the single mum at the time said the condition went undiagnosed and was sent home with Panadeine Forte and told to “come in if it was worsening”. The then 19-year-old said she started experiencing symptoms of swelling in her face, feet and hands, blurry vision and bad headaches. For the next three weeks Ms Watson attended the hospital a further four times with her symptoms worsening, including protein in her urine and high blood pressure before her unborn son Kaycen died in her womb at 33 weeks. Ms Watson, in July, launched legal action against Monash Health. “It wasn’t just one mistake made,” she said. “I had my whole family telling me to go back, go to different hospitals but I trusted the hospital in what they were saying. “Obviously no money is going to put a price on my child but I’m hoping this will be the clo8 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

Kristy Watson, lost her baby, Kaycen, at seven months pregnant from what she claimed was hospital negligence. 210614 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS sure of my journey.” At one stage she said she was turned away because her doctor was in “a meeting”. “I just wished they had listened more.

“My mum’s first reaction was ‘she’s been in here so many times, how the hell have you not picked up on this?’” When she was eventually admitted on 27 July, Ms Watson claimed staff told her “that I was going to have him” but when they did the ultrasound “they didn’t realise he wasn’t alive anymore”. “I was just in so much pain all the time. I could barely move; I could barely get out of bed. Pregnancy towards the end was absolutely horrible for me.” Ms Watson, now 20, said for the past two years she had been trying to fall pregnant but had been experiencing “many complications”. She’s now in the process of going through IVF but admitted it’s a 50-50 chance of working. “I do believe what actually happened to me is the reason why I haven’t been able to conceive again.” In a statement at the time, Monash Health said: “We are sorry for the loss suffered by the family. “Monash Health undertook a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding this matter,” the statement read. “Monash Health has also met with and has spoken with the family. “As the matter is now the subject of legal action, we will not be providing any further comment.”

In their own words “It’s not just against the organisation - it takes away from the whole community.” - Clyde fireftighter Ian Earle said after heartless thieves made off with their fire helmet used to collect donations at a shopping centre in February. “I was shocked and annoyed there was nothing left for people that needed it especially people who live week to week or pensioners.” - Aleksandra Burska of Narre Warren South said she stood looking at empty shelves at Aldi Supermart in Hampton Park after it was cleared out of toilet paper at the beginning of coronavirus lockdown. “I did not lie.” - Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz denied that he lied under oath about the extent of his $600,000 ‘investment’ with developer John Woodman. “I just had this non-stop cough which I’ve described as like drowning. It’s almost like when you’re underwater and you’re struggling for air. You basically can’t breathe and when you get out of the water, you gasp for air but you fall in again.” - Berwick resident Michael Rojales, 46, who was diagnosed with coronavirus in July. “This week has been one of the scariest times of my life.” - Berwick mother Nikki Jane said when her six-month-old baby tested positive to coronavirus. “All of us who work in retail anywhere in metro Melbourne are suffering because of it, through no fault of their own. We’re receiving government handouts to survive.” - Berwick businessman Harry Hutchinson said while businesses were closed throughout lockdown. “This is what he wanted. He always said ‘tell the world my story to ensure it never happens again’.” - The Tattooist of Auschwitz author Heather Morris in reference to Holocaust survivor and the book’s main character Lale Sokolov. “It just didn’t cross our minds to think you would never think that it would happen to you.” - Madee Vos, a young mum of four, was devastated to find her car stolen just metres away from her doorstep in Cranbourne East. “I wanted to do something good, I didn’t want to be looked at as the bad kid that steals cars, because that wasn’t me and I didn’t do it for that reason; I had personal reasons why I did what I did. It was nice to be able to come to a place where I felt safe and not judged.” - Calliopeia came from a rough background but turned her life around when she became involved in an organisation called Hand Brake Turn. “I’m trying to do everything right that I could.” - Mungo Andrew who was living peacefully in his caravan at Casey Fields was ordered to move on by six council staff and four police officers. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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32% of our students are high achievers! Springvale Campus 03 9574 0567

Oﬃcer Campus 03 5943 2058

Website minaret.vic.edu.au

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Doveton Campus from 2021 03 9238 4200 Enrolments enrol@minaret.vic.edu.au

MIN GE FAI A RE T CO LL E CE TH TI K NOWLE DGE P RAC

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

STAR NEWS 9

2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS...

NEWSMAKERS

Pokies ‘no’ By Brendan Rees

Former Casey councillors Tim Jackson, Geoff Ablett, Wayne Smith, Rex Flannery, Susan Serey, Gary Rowe, Amanda Stapledon, Damien Rosario and Picture: BRENDAN REEES Rosalie Crestani ... minus Sam Aziz, after the mayoral election in late 2019. 199882

Councillors sacked By Cam Lucadou-Wells The State Government, backed by the Opposition, moved to sack Casey Council in February 2020 and put it under the rule of administrators until 2024. It came on the back of an ongoing IBAC investigation of serious corruption allegations involving chiefly Casey councillors Geoff Ablett and Sam Aziz and property developer John Woodman. However an explosive report by the State appointed Monitor Laurinda Gardner found more widespread “governance failures” and a bullying culture across the council. Failings included councillor conduct, disclosure of conflicts of interest and decision making. Her report recommended dismissing the council and appointing administrators beyond the 2020 election. On 18 February, the government moved a Bill of Parliament to dismiss the councillors in the hope it would pass both Houses by the end of the day. “Our intention is to see this matter resolved for the Casey community as quickly as possible,” government MP Jacinta Allen told Parliament. Opposition local government spokesman Tim Smith, in supporting the Bill, noted he would prefer a shorter administration period until March 2023. He labelled Cr Aziz as “the Christopher Skase of local government” who should immediately return to Melbourne to “face the music” at IBAC. Instead, Cr Aziz was staying in Egypt “next to a river called Denial”.

Greens MP Sam Hibbens, also in support, called for reform to ban political donations from property developers. In her report, Ms Gardner found councillor bullying, intimidation and exclusion flourished due to an “embedded “avoidance culture”. She stated that amidst the IBAC Operation Sandon allegations, councillors prioritised their own reputations rather than the City of Casey. She singled out the council’s special council meeting on New Years’ Eve to establish a special planning committee out of councillors’ belief that it would help restore public confidence. The timing and the concept was of “significant concern to the community members I spoke to as an example of poor process and little regard for the community”, Ms Gardner said. “The establishment of the Special Committee indicates a willingness to pass responsibility onto another body rather than taking up the challenge of demonstrating how they can govern well, and restore community trust and confidence.” Councillors had taken an overriding view that if either one or both councillors in the middle of the IBAC investigation were removed that “everything would be all right”, she reported. It was an “inadequate” response that showed a lack of understanding by councillors on the “poor governance practices” exposed by the IBAC allegations. Ms Gardner noted that no councillors had sought refresher training on conflict of interest and governance issues. She reported on councillor cliques based

on “one or more dominant personalities”, and read “disrespectful” and “inflammatory” email exchanges between councillors. “(The) unwillingness of councillors to call out unacceptable Councillor behaviour and hold each other to account appears to be motivated by a fear of conflict or further intimidation that has enabled inappropriate behaviour to go unchecked.” Ms Gardner also observed councillors “stumbling” in declaring conflicts of interest at council meetings, and failing to inform the gallery of the reasons for conflicts of interest. There was too much ‘en bloc’ voting by councillors with a lack of questioning and a low standard of debate contributing to meetings of less than an hour. Casey Council had suffered “serious damage” to its reputation and public confidence, Ms Gardner said. “I do not have confidence in the ability of the Casey City Council to meet its statutory obligations under the Act for the foreseeable future, particularly in relation to its ability to ‘act in a way that secures and preserves public confidence in the office of councillor’.” Former Local Government Minister, Adem Somyurek, who was sacked in June following explosive branch stacking allegations, said the Monitor reported “clear evidence” of governance failures. “Victorians expect and deserve the highest standards of governance and integrity from their local council - the monitor’s report has found clear evidence Casey has fallen short of those standards,” Mr Somyurek said. “This a very serious measure but it’s essential that Casey residents get a council that works in their interests.”

A bid to install 100 pokies machines at a proposed $36 million hotel in Clyde North was knocked back by the state’s gambling regulator. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation rejected the proposal after concluding the application had the potential to increase the impact of problem gambling within the City of Casey. The application by Castello Daisy’s Hotel, which is to be located on the corner of Matterhorn Drive and Thompson Road, planned to be the first venue of its kind in Clyde North. The development proposed to offer a 10-pin bowling complex, a bistro, a sports bar with TAB, function rooms, a beer garden, a kids’ play room, a cafe, alfresco dining terrace, a virtual entertainment and E-sports area, and a gaming lounge. The Commission said there was evidence which indicated a “negative community attitude” towards the application, with a social impact assessment undertaken by City of Casey receiving 68 opposing submissions. There are currently 13 gaming venues operating across the municipality with approvals to operate more than 900 electronic gaming machines. Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said the application’s rejection was a “big win” for the community. “People in Casey already lose $362,000 every day on the 913 poker machines currently in the municipality,” Mr Costello said. “This application would have taken the city to well over a staggering 1000 poker machines ... in an area that is already experiencing mortgage stress, that would have been a disaster.” Casey Council’s administrator Noelene Duff said the result was a “fantastic outcome”. “Gambling machines can have detrimental effects on local communities and it is council’s responsibility to ensure our community’s wellbeing,” Ms Duff said. “I wish to thank and congratulate the community members who provided their feedback.”

Tom Cummings of Berwick in 2017 after objecting to gambling regulator’s decision to approve extra poker machines at Zagame’s Berwick Springs. 169118

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10 STAR NEWS

YOUR INVITATION NEW COMMUNITY LOCAL CHURCH

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

The year in front pages

A pathway for every child

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020 College DUX

ATAR Score

Laura Thorpe

98.65

Laura was thrilled to find out she is the 2020 College DUX. Laura said, “It feels very surreal. It is a great honour, especially in the year that was 2020. I am honestly quite lost for words, but I am very happy. I am extremely grateful to have had an abundance of support from friends, family and teachers to which this achievement would not have been possible without.” Laura plans to attend The University of Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Arts and eventually teaching.

VCAL Student of the Year

Elodie Tour The title of VCAL Student of the Year is awarded to the Year 12 student who achieves outstanding excellence overall in their VCAL studies. “I feel so honoured and shocked. There were so many hardworking VCAL students this year. I am feeling very blessed.“ Elodie attended Chisholm TAFE during her VCAL studies and is going on to complete a Pathology Collection course next year and then onto a Diploma of Nursing. Elodie said, “I’d like to be a Nurse in the Army or work in third world countries as a Nurse one day”.

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berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

STAR NEWS 11

Light Meals Available 9am - 3pm EGGS ON TOAST CHOICE OF FRIED/POACHED/SCRAMBLED EGGS SERVED ON SOURDOUGH $14

OPEN OMELETTE W/CHERRY TOMATOES, SPINACH, MUSHROOM & SOURDOUGH $19

VISTA MUESLI WITH MILK, NATURAL YOGHURT & MIXED BERRY COMPOTE $16

SMASHED AVO ON SOURDOUGH W/2 POACHED EGGS TOPPED W/CRUMBLED FETA & DRIZZLED W/OLIVE OIL $21

HAM & CHEESE TOASTIE $10

HAM, CHEESE & TOMATO TOASTIE $11

CHEESE & TOMATO TOASTIE $10

LAMB, TOMATO RELISH, SPINACH & CHEESE TOASTIE $12

EGG, BACON & TOMATO RELISH TOASTIE $12

HOMEMADE SCONES (SWEET OR SAVOURY) W/HOMEMADE JAM AND CREAM $51 | $9 FOR 2

Extras BACON $4 | MUSHROOMS $4 HASH BROWN $3 | SAUTÉED SPINACH $3 GRILLED TOMATO $3

Hot & Cold Drinks

BUTTER CHICKEN CURRY (GF) W/ RICE AND FLAT BREAD $24

VEGAN BURGER (V) VEGAN PATTIE W/ LETTUCE CARROT, CUCUMBER, TOMATO ONION AND BEETROOT RELISH. $22

HOKKIEN NOODLES STIR FRY (VG) TOSSED IN MIXED VEGGIES, SOY & CHILLI; FINISHED W/ FRIED SHALLOTS $20 - ADD CHICKEN $4

SLOW COOKED PULLED LAMB GREEK SALAD LETTUCED ONION, TOMATO, CUCUMBER, OLIVES & FETA, FINISHED W/ OLIVE OIL & LEMON JUICE DRESSING $24 - WITHOUT LAMB $19 (VG, GF)

CHICKEN SCALLOPINI (GF) CHICKEN BREAST SAUTEED IN A WHITE WINED BACON & MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE, SERVED W/ STEAMED VEGETABLES $26

HAWAIIAN CHICKEN PARMA W/ HAM, NAPOLI, PINEAPPLE, CHEESE, CHIPS & SALAD $25

AMIGO’S CHICKEN PARMA

Smoothies - $9

W/ SALSA, GUAC, JALAPENO’S, CHEESE, CHIPS & SALAD $25

BEGREEN

CAJUN CHICKEN SCHNITZEL BURGER

SPINACH | BANANA | KIWI | CUCUMBER | OJ

W/ LETTUCE, SWISS CHEESE, CARAMELISED ONION, CHIPOTLE MAYONNAISE & SIDE CHIPS $22

TROPICAL BLITZ MANGO | PINEAPPLE | OJ

VANNI’S OPEN SOUVLAKI

STRAWBERRY SMASH STRAWBERRY | BANANA | OJ

Milk Shakes - $7 CHOC | STRAWBERRY | VANILLA | BANANA CARAMEL | BLUE HEAVEN MAKE IT A THICK SHAKE ADD $2

Soft Drinks & Juice - $4.5 PEPSI | LEMONADE | SUNKIST | SOLO | PEPSI MAX - (BOTTLED)

YOUR CHOICE OF LAMB, CHICKEN OR MIXED MEAT W/ PITA BREAD, GREEK SALAD, GARLIC SAUCE & HERBED CHIPS $25

NICKO’S LEMON & HERB CALAMARI (GF) SERVED W/ GREEK SALAD, CHIPS AND GARLIC SAUCE $24

MOUSSAKA GREEK STYLE LASAGNA W/ LAMB BOLOGNESE LAYERS OF EGGPLANT & POTATO FINISHED WITH BECHAMEL CHEESE SAUCE SERVED W/ GREEK SALAD $23

Tea - $4.5

Entrée GARLIC PIZZA (V) $10

MARGHERITA PIZZA (V)

ENGLISH BREAKFAST | CHAMOMILE | MINT | LEMON EARL GREY | GREEN

$12

Coffee by

W/ LEMON WEDGE $10

ST.ALi Single Origin Organic - Wide Awake Cup $4 - Mug $5

LATTE | CAPPUCCINO | FLAT WHITE LONG BLACK | LONG/SHORT MACCHIATO SPICED/VANILLA CHAI | ADD $ ICED COFFEE $7

YIA YIA’S DOLMADES (6) (GF, V)

GRILLED SAGANAKI W/ OLIVE OIL, HERBS AND LEMON WEDGE (V) $13

CHICKEN SATAY SKEWERS W/ STEAMED RICE AND SATAY SAUCE (GF) $13

TRIO OF DIPS

ICED CHOCOLATE $7 HOT CHOCOLATE | ADD $.50

W/ WARM PITA BREAD (V) $14

MINI SPRING ROLLS

HONEY | VANILLA | CARAMEL | HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE | EXTRA SHOT

Milks CALDERMEADE FARMS - FULL CREAM | SKINNY MILKLAB ALMOND+$1 | SOY+$1 | LACTOSE-FREE+$1

Main Kitchen

CHICKEN PARMA

W/ HAM, NAPOLI, CHEESE, FRIES & SIDE SALAD $25

CHICKEN SCHNITZEL W/ GRAVY, CHIPS, SIDE SALAD & FRIED EGG $24

FISH N CHIPS W/ FRESH LEMON,TARTAR & SIDE SALAD $23

VISTA BURGER & CHIPS W/ BACON, CHEESE, TOMATO, LETTUCE, EGG & SAUCE $20

PENNE CARBONARA SAUTEED ONION BACON & GARLIC IN A CREAMY WHITE WINE SAUCE FINISHED WITH EGG YOLK AND PARMESAN CHEESE $22

SERVED W/ SWEET CHILLI DIPPING SAUCE (6) (V) $10

Kid’s Menu NUGGETS & CHIPPIES $14

FISH N’ CHIPPIES $14

MINI OPEN SOUVLAKI W/CHIPS $14

PENNE NAPOLI $14

Desserts WILDBERRY CHEESECAKE (GF) NEW YORK CHEESECAKE - $14 DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CAKE COOKIES & CREAM CAKE LEMON MERINGUE CAKE FLOURLESS ORANGE CAKE (GF) ICE CREAM SUNDAE W/ CHOCOLATE TOPPING & SWEET CANDY BAKLAVA & PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

40 Lakeside Boulevard Pakenham (Cardinia Cultural Centre) Bookings/inquiries : 59450015

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Extras - $1

KINDNESS IS KEY - LOCAL FAVOURITE - BE KIND COMMUNITY - KINDNESS IS KEY - LOCAL FAVOURITE - BE KIND COMMUNITY - KINDNESS IS KEY

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

NEWS

Chow down at a ‘pop up’ As Casey’s community welcomes in the festive season and embraces a COVID safe summer, vibrant pop up dining precincts will soon be launched as part of Council’s Expanded Outdoor Dining Program. With many business already taking advantage of expanded outdoor dining spaces on footpaths and public spaces, Council’s unique pop up parks will provide additional dining opportunities for locals to reconnect with family and friends, while also supporting local cafes and restaurants. Residents are encouraged to visit these colourful and pedestrian-friendly outdoor spaces to help support our local business community. While in town, why not stay and complete your Christmas shopping at one of Casey’s boutique gift shops. Take your pick from Berwick’s laneway

experience on Kempson Walk and pause for a photo in front of the selfie wall at the High Street dining zone. Enjoy Narre Warren’s relaxed picnic precinct on Webb Street or visit one of the colourful parklets in Cranbourne Town Centre. All precincts will be family friendly spaces with COVID Safe measures in place. Visitors are encouraged to follow restrictions and be mindful of some temporary changed traffic conditions, such as reduced car parking and lowered speed limits, which have been implemented to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. Visit eatdrinkshopCasey.com.au to find local favorites and hidden gems, and help support local businesses- many of which are owned and operated by families in our community.

BUSINESS PROFILE

Blooms The Chemist Casey Central says thankyou By Charlene Cerros, Blooms The Chemist Casey Central Merry Christmas to our local Casey community and customers! On behalf of my team at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central, thank you for your continued support throughout the whirlwind that was 2020. Community is at the heart of Blooms The Chemist - we couldn’t do what we do without our valued customers, supporters and fellow local businesses. This was even more evident when restrictions and lockdowns started, and we found ourselves becoming a hub for the community to connect with others, whilst continuing to provide crucial access to healthcare services. The team at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central are proud to be more than just your average pharmacy. We know and understand our customers and their families well, throughout multiple generations and life stages. Because of this, we have different specialists available on the ground, such as a Naturopath, to offer a wider range of health services to better support you. We’ve also been able to introduce new initiatives to better support the broader community, such as offering our customers the ability to donate menstrual products and

baby formula for those who need them. We are so excited to share with you, our local community, that we have been recognised as Store of the Year in Blooms The Chemist’s annual awards. Personally, I am also humbled to have been awarded the title of 2020’s Blooms The Chemist Retail Manager of the Year. As Retail Manager, I am so proud of what we do as a local pharmacy, and I want to take this opportunity to thank my team for their dedication and hard work, and our community for your continued commitment and trust in us as a healthcare service. I feel very lucky to say that I love my job and am privileged that this is my profession. While our award wins were a surprise, it’s a sign to us that we’re on the right track and doing the right thing for our team, customers, and local community. We have so much more planned for the future to improve this even further and can’t wait to bring you all on the journey with us. Again, to our community and my wonderful team at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central, thank you! For more information or to get in touch, please visit our friendly staff in-store or check out our Facebook page berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

STAR NEWS 13

2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS...

NEWSMAKERS

Harry’s open battle By Jessica Anstice Throughout lockdown, Berwick businessman Harry Hutchinson went to work every day to sit behind the register and stare out the front window at an empty street. Owner of Harry’s Clothing, the retailer wondered if his 15 years’ of hard work and love would survive this year. When there was no end date to the harsh coronavirus restrictions, he said his mental health was starting to “play havoc”. “The restrictions have affected my business immensely due to the ongoing scenario that we’re having: stage one, two, three and four - it’s just continuing and there is no end,” Mr Hutchinson said at the time. “The further it goes on, the harsher the restrictions. “All of us who work in retail anywhere in metro Melbourne are suffering because of it, through no fault of their own. We’re receiving government handouts to survive.” Along with many other businesses across metropolitan Melbourne, Harry’s Clothing, in Loveridge Walk off High Street, was inconsistently opening and closing for about six months. “I’ve been closed for six weeks now in these restrictions but even when the prior restrictions were in place there were few people walking around the streets as they were told not to shop even though we were allowed to open,” he said in October.

Mr Hutchinson was slapped with a hefty $10,000 fine after he illegally reopened his business during lockdown. He is still fighting the fine. 218074 “I’m a retail on-seller so it’s difficult because when people look up my products, they go straight to the source which is my supplier, so the supplier gets the first bite of the cherry unless they specifically look up Harry’s Clothing. “It is generating some sales but certainty not enough to survive on.” Mr Hutchinson said business was down by about 90 percent, forcing him to lean on JobKeeper and savings to survive. Before Covid-19, Mr Hutchinson’s small business would see an average of seven customers enter the shop each day. “It’s a case of living off savings and Job-

Keeper, which is terrific, and we would’ve been long gone if it wasn’t for that, but you can’t run a business on that,” he said. “We’ve still got commitments - we’ve still got rates and all the bills from running the business, but we have no one coming in and spending any money. “I am extremely worried that if this goes beyond the 19th of this month that a number of businesses may close, and I could be one of them.” Mr Hutchinson was slapped with a hefty $10,000 fine after he illegally reopened his business during lockdown. He is still fighting the fine.

Covid alert In June, Australia’s top medical officials have advised Victorians against visiting the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire amid an increase in Covid-19 cases. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) “strongly discouraged” travel to and from six local government areas (LGAs), including Cardinia and Casey, until control of community transmission had been confirmed. In a statement released on Sunday 21 June, the AHPPC said it was “critical” that community transmission numbers could be controlled. “The AHPPC recognised the importance of the measures taken by the Victorian Government, which seek to reduce further spread and the development of new outbreaks,” a statement read. “The Victorian Government has identified the local government areas of Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin as the focus of current outbreaks of concern. The AHPPC strongly discourages travel to and from those areas until control of community transmission has been confirmed.” The news came just a day after Premier Daniel Andrews warned that Cardinia and Casey residents could be subjected to further strict lockdowns. “I am not announcing any changes for those geographical areas right now but I cannot rule that out,” the Premier said.

FOCUS ON … SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Family fun at the Grand Prix circuit these holidays Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is the destination for the whole family with many hours of entertainment and enjoyment on offer and over these school holidays is the ideal time to visit. Go Karts and Tandems Strap yourself into the all-new Sodi Go Karts for an exhilarating session on the 750-meter track - a replica of the world-renowned Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Push out a series of hot laps and try to set the fastest time. With 9 horsepower Honda GX 270cc engines, the French-made karts provides an ultimate karting sensation and are tested to meet the stringent Australian standards. The RT8 Evo2 single karts can reach up to 65k/mph and feature a high front blade for greater safety and a roll bar with all-round protection to avoid wheel-to-wheel contact. While the harness seatbelt and easy to use seat adjusters allow for greater comfort and custom fitting.

The 2Drive tandem karts allow the whole family to get involved as the twin seats provide children the thrill of go karting. The dual steering allows children to get involved while under the safety and supervision of an adult driver. Bookings are recommended. Grand Prix Motorcycle Collection at the Circuit The star exhibit in the History of Motorsport Display is the superb collection of 25 Grand

Prix winning motorcycles from the two famous Italian marques, Aprilia and Cagiva, with the two-wheel treasures permanently installed in the display at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Visitor Centre. In total these sleek racing machines have won 9 World Championships, 51 Grand Prix wins and 106 Podiums. Make the time these holidays to take in these magnificent pieces of racing history. Slot Cars - The Best Fun for all Ages Race your family or your mates and experience the fun on Australia’s largest four-lane GP Slot Car Track - an exact replica of the circuit. Racing Simulators Test your skills or challenge your mates to a simulated race on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Go flat out down Gardner Straight, through ultra-fast Doohan Corner, slide through Stoner Corner, thread your way through Siberia and slip stream up the back straight. Watch out for the hairpin at the bot-

tom of Lukey Heights. Who will get the bragging rights? Champions Cafe After all the excitement, the Champions Licenced Cafe delivers with its fresh menu with plenty of choices. Fantastic coffee and delicious scones, cakes, slices, muffins, pastries, sausage rolls and pies hit the spot Our gift shop at the Visitor Centre has a wide selection of stylish apparel, merchandise and souvenirs to choose from so you can take a memento home with you. COVID-19 Operating Conditions Due to current restrictions Guided Circuit Tours and Hot Laps will not be available. Push Bike Ride Days will also not be running over the Summer. We are aiming to have these days return for the Easter School Holidays. For further information call 03 5952 9400 or visit www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au and www.phillipislandgokarts.com.au

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14 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS...

Covid cluster in church By Brendan Rees A Berwick pastor was fighting the coronavirus in hospital in May following a trip to South Africa in March - which also led to the death of a family member who contracted the virus. Pastor Michael Rojales was in a coma for two weeks upon his return to Australia after travelling to Cape Town for a study tour with four other pastors from the Berwick Church of Christ, according to a source from the church. “His kidney basically closed down and at one stage he only had two per cent,” the source said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “(He’s) still in corona wards - he hasn’t been let out to go to rehab yet.” The source also revealed Pastor Michael’s mother-in-law died after contracting Covid-19 while his mother was also infected but had since recovered after being admitted to hospital. “The funeral was happening while he was still in a coma so I believe, which is pretty tough, and he’s got an 18-year-old-daughter,” the source said. The wife of Pastor Mat Daniels, who was “least affected” by Covid-19, also contracted the virus.

Asked whether other members of the church had contracted Covid-19, the source said: “Not that I’m aware of.” Of the five pastors who travelled to Cape Town, four are back working at the church two of whom were infected with the virus, the source said. It comes as Pastor Braam Botha spoke of his “desperate physical state” after being diagnosed with Covid-19 following the trip to Cape Town with the group of pastors. Speaking in a video streamed to the Berwick Church of Christ Facebook page, Pastor Braam revealed Pastor Michael “was doing it tough” on their return flight home. He explained their flight times had changed but nonetheless all five were flown back to Australia’s before the borders were closed. Information about the virus at this stage, he said, had been “still a bit sleepy” following their trip from 8-19 March. “At that stage we could really see Michael was doing it tough and we are still trusting in god for Michael’s miracle,” Pastor Braam said, adding “thank god he has been healing up and it’s going better with him”. “Then I had some symptoms that wasn’t the typical symptoms,” Pastor Braam said. “I had

the headaches which was quite severe. I could feel that something in my chest wasn’t right, but there was no cough, there was no phlegm produced, it was just the headaches and the fever that was intense. “I suspect on our way back on the second leg of the flight we were exposed to the coronavirus in the airplane. “A few days after coming back we started to present some symptoms that was relating to the coronavirus.” Upon returning to Australia, Pastor Braam said he had three visits to hospital but due to his lack of symptoms at the time, medical staff suspected his condition was “something else”. On his third trip to hospital, he said staff took some x-rays and diagnosed him with “a typical pneumonia with 50 per cent of my one lung left functioning normally and 25 per cent of the other lung.” “A few days later I was still doing it tough and I was so distressed because I sensed something in my body was not doing well,” he said in the streamed video. “I was lying in bed at one stage and the pain was so intense and I could feel my back to get oxygen to my organs was intensifying.

“At a stage I suddenly felt some of the organs in my body starting to slow down, that’s the most awkward experience. “A fear got hold of me,” he said, adding at one point he turned to his wife and said: “It’s as if death is knocking on my door.” Pastor Braam said he went back to hospital but “they referred me to another hospital”. “My fever just kept on rising and rising and at one stage I had a fever of 41.8 which is way too high.” (A normal body temperature is around 37 degrees). Pastor Braam was bathed in ice in an attempt to cool his body as he recalled “battling for my life.” Fortunately, Pastor Braam recovered, saying “thank god for the amazing treatment I got.” The Department of Health and Human Services was contacted regarding Covid-19 cases linked to the Berwick Church of Christ, however, a spokesperson at the time said: “DHHS does not identify individual cases or their close contacts.” “The department is responding to cases as they are notified and the public can be confident that all close contacts are responded to accordingly as required to protect public health,” the spokesperson said.

Sutton under fire: Leaders react to CHO’s concerns By Brendan Rees and Cam Lucadou-Wells Afghan community leaders hit out at comments made by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer in September, after Brett Sutton pinpointed Casey’s Afghan community in a Covid-19 cluster. The community leaders said the comments were “offensive” and “inappropriate”. It came as Hallam, Clyde and Narre Warren were identified as hotspots by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). 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.” On 14 September, the Hallam postcode had recorded 16 cases in the past week, and Clyde/ Clyde North/Cardinia with 18 - including nine on 14 September. There were 83 active cases in the City of Casey on 15 September. Casey’s 2020 citizen of the year and community leader Bassir Qadiri said he was disappointed by Professor Sutton’s remarks,

Casey’s 2020 citizen of the year and community leader Bassir Qadiri is disappointed by the Victoria’s Chief Health Officer comments. 215737 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 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

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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”.

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Challenge brings out best Haileybury students have produced incredible VCE results despite a challenging year that saw them study from home for extended periods. Ninety-four percent of all Haileybury students have been placed in the top 40 percent in Australia. Two Haileybury students achieved the highest possible ATAR of 99.95, and 32 percent of all boys and girls were in the top 5 percent in Australia. This is the second-best set of VCE results produced in the school’s history. It is a proud achievement in a year in which they faced, and met, many challenges. Online learning has long been a focus at Haileybury, which put the school’s Year 12 students on the front foot in learning from home during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Classes were replicated on Zoom, with breakout rooms for small groups. Teachers and students showed agility and resilience in adapting to their new environment. Haileybury CEO and principal Derek Scott says this year’s Year 12 cohort will be remembered as one of the school’s most remarkable. “All Victorian VCE students are to be commended for their resilience and determination to make their final year memorable despite the challenges of Covid-19,” Mr Scott says. “We are always proud of our Year 12 students, but I think I can say without contradiction that this year’s group will stand out as one of our most resilient. “They worked incredibly hard during online learning and their brilliant results reflect this. Our teachers and support staff also did a sensational job to ensure that everything was covered, as it would be during in-person classes.

Haileybury College 2020 Joint Dux, Oscar Jeffrey.

Haileybury College 2020 Joint Dux, Jun Wen Lin.

“The efforts of Haileybury’s Class of 2020 are nothing short of remarkable. They also learned new skills and will be among the most worldready Year 12 cohorts we have produced. “World-class online programs and a can-do attitude have ensured that our high-achieving graduates are now ready to take on the world.” Haileybury’s 2020 VCE results 2 perfect ATAR scores of 99.95 were achieved. 38 perfect Study Scores of the maximum 50 were achieved in 8 different subjects.

percent of students attained an ATAR of · 51 90 and above, placing them in the top 10 per-

· ·

Haileybury Girls College 2020 Dux, Jingyue Na.

cent in Australia. · percent of Haileybury Girls College Study · 29 Scores were 40 and above. · percent of Haileybury College Study · 27 Scores were 40 and above. · percent of students attained an ATAR of · · 7.5 99 and above, placing them in the top 1 percent in Australia.

· 32 percent of students attained an ATAR of

95 and above, placing them in the top 5 percent of Australia. 94 percent of students were placed in the top 40 percent in Australia. 12 students from Year 11 attained maximum Study Scores of 50. Haileybury recorded a medium ATAR of 91. The 2020 Dux of Haileybury Girls College is Jingyue Na, while the joint 2020 Duces of Haileybury College are Oscar Jeffrey and Jun Wen Lin.

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Top results at St Francis St Francis Xavier College is pleased to announce its 2020 VCE Dux and VCAL Student of the Year. Laura Thorpe was named VCE Dux with an ATAR Score of 98.65 Laura was thrilled to receive a call from Rebecca Cetrola, deputy principal, head of campus on Wednesday 30 December, congratulating her on being the St Francis Xavier College 2020 Dux. Laura said: “It feels very surreal. It is a great honour, especially in the year that was 2020. I am honestly quite lost for words, but I am very happy. I am extremely grateful to have had an abundance of support from friends, family and teachers, without which this achievement would not have been possible.” Laura is hoping to go to The University of Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Arts and eventually teaching, and gives these words of wisdom for the class of 2021: “Make the most of every opportunity offered to you in your Year 12 year. On behalf of the Class of 2020 who did not get to enjoy the majority of the usual celebrations that occur in Year 12, make the most of every day, enjoy your friends and the opportunities that the school provides you. Also know that it is OK to lose motivation and to have off days but always keep your goals in mind, strive to achieve the best you can and most importantly surround yourself with people who support you.” Elodie Tour was named VCAL Student of the Year. On hearing the news Elodie said: “I feel so honoured and shocked to be the 2020 VCAL Student of the Year. There were so many hardworking VCAL students this year. I am feeling very blessed.” Elodie attended Chisholm TAFE during her VCAL studies and is going on to complete a Pathology Collection course next year and then a Diploma of Nursing. “I’d like to be a nurse in the Army or work

Elodie Tour, VCAL Student of the Year.

Laura Thorpe, Dux. showed consistently throughout the year · Excellent planning and organisation skills · Preparedness for learning · Competency for all VET studies in class discussions and all · Respect towards staff and students. · Engagement VCAL activities St Francis Xavier College congratulates the communication with her teachers class of 2020 and wishes them all the best in · Excellent their future endeavours. throughout the year

in third world countries as a nurse one day,” said Elodie. Elodie has achieved VCAL Student of the Year by demonstrating the following: Excellence across all subjects Excellent leadership qualities which she

· ·

FOCUS ON … YOUR HEALTH, YOUR IMAGE

After ‘unforgettable’ year, it’s time for some self-care By Andrew Leslie, Pharmacist Blooms The Chemist Casey Central The silly season is wrapping up and we’ve finally said good bye to 2020. A year I’m sure we’re all ready to see the end of. I spent the last few weeks with my friends and family, reconnecting and re-establishing the bonds that only a lengthy hug with your family loved one can. It’s been eighteen months for me since I felt their warm embrace. This excitement was of course accompanied with indulgence in too many of the nicer things in life and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably now looking down the barrel

of the dreaded New Years resolution. As a pharmacy, of course Blooms The Chemist can assist you with smoking cessation, weight loss and the myriad of other self improvement options often accompanied with New Years. Though, this year I’m encouraging you to consider compassion as your New Year resolution. Compassion for yourself and for your neighbour. Many of us are suffering from 2020 fatigue and we still have many hurdles to leap in the year ahead. The great city of Casey was one of the worst cities afflicted by Covid in the country. It was our community spirit that pulled us

through. We need to celebrate our wins but acknowledge the pain this year has caused. We need to forgive ourselves for not always choosing the treadmill and forgive our neighbour for letting the hedge get out of control. Compassion is key. 2020 caused me to do some research on the benefits of compassion and the findings inspired me to write this article. When a physician displays compassion to their patient we observe a marked reduction in patient anxiety, PTSD (after a life-threaten events) and even a reduction in reported physical pain. Compassion helps us live through pain!!! This is astounding, however, every Mother and Child

with a grazed knee could have imparted this wisdom upon me. And the kicker.....The benefits are not limited to the recipient. The physician prescribing these doses of compassion also reporting increased patient connection, increased job satisfaction and an increase in overall quality of life. So how much does all this compassion cost? An average of 40 seconds per consult. So this New Years, take those 40 seconds for yourself and your neighbour. Continue to support each other and be compassionate to yourself. Happy New year from the team at Blooms the Chemist Casey Central. We look forward to seeing you in 2021. Merry Christmas from all of us at

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Dux Dylan ‘overwhelmed’

Annette Rome, principal of St Margaret’’s and Berwick Grammar School with the School’s two duxes Annie Wu and Oliver Ward.

‘Next level’ “2020 was a year where the words “pivot” and “resilience” entered our everyday vernacular and nowhere was it practised more than by our VCE students who showed their true character,” explained Annette Rome, principal of St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar. “In partnership and with the support of their dedicated teachers, our students learnt more about themselves as learners, rising to challenges of the new normal, displaying our school values of Courage, Curiosity, Character and Respect. “We congratulate all our VCE students who achieved a 100 percent pass rate, and we acknowledge the outstanding results and achievements of our two duxes; Annie Wu from our Senior Girls School who achieved an ATAR of 99.80; and Oliver Ward, from our Senior Boys, who achieved an ATAR of 98.15,” said Ms Rome. “The results from both the schools were fantastic, but the Senior Girls outcomes are particularly note worthy as they are amongst the top 10 in the state,” she added. St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar’s Senior Girls published results include the following statistics: 12 percent achieved an ATAR over 99, placing them in the top 1 percent of the nation 36 percent achieved an ATAR over 95, placing them in the top 5 percent of the nation

· ·

percent an ATAR above 90, placing them · 52 in the top 10 percent of the nation · achieved a median study score of 35 “Our Senior Boys results were also impressive, moving to the next level which is a testament to the fantastic work of Dr Steven Middleton and his team in building a dedicated boys school that focuses on academic excellence and growing good men,” Ms Rome said. St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar’s Senior Boys published results include the following statistics: 27 percent achieved an ATAR over 90, placing them in the top 10 percent of the nation 48 percent an ATAR above 85, placing them in the top 15 percent of the nation respectively achieved a median study score of 32 “As a whole school our results continue to build year on year and we’re proud that our combined median study score has increased to 34. Our students also achieved four perfect scores of 50, which were attained across a diverse range of subjects that include Applied Computing: Data Analytics, English, Further Maths and Health and Human Development,” Ms Rome said. “We are proud of all our students and look forward to following the trajectories they take in life, with the same care and concern we felt for them at school.”

· · ·

Chairo’s high achievers Hope Van Rossen, with an impressive ATAR of 98.80, has been announced as the Dux of 2020 at Chairo Christian School’s Pakenham campus and is planning to study Law and Information Technology at Monash University. For her VCE, Hope studied English Language, Mathematical Methods, Further Mathematics, Physics and Legal Studies, as well as undertaking a first year Law subject at Deakin University. Hope, who lives in Beaconsfield, kept up her part-time work at Woolworths throughout Year 12 and faced more than a few disruptions in 2020. Even before lockdowns, Hope was forced to relocate to a new house because of a flood but she didn’t let this affect her learning. Hope said: “The support group at Chairo just made me want to study a bit harder. Chairo was always celebrating what you were capable of. I loved all my subjects and it gave me something to focus on during lockdowns.” At Chairo Pakenham, 11 percent of the VCE cohort achieved an ATAR above 90, with 26 percent above 80. High achievers are planning to pursue studies in fields as diverse as medical imaging, science, education, law, international studies, paramedicine, engineering and nursing. Principal Peter Wells commented: “We’re delighted to see that our VCE students are able to pursue their course and career interests, and we’re excited that in years to come our alumni will be making a meaningful contribution to our community in many different professions. “Similarly, our VCAL students all suc18 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 7 January, 2021

Chairo Pakenham 2020 Dux, Hope Van Rossen. cessfully completed their program despite the disruptions, and we look forward to seeing them use their talents in trades and industry. There has been a significant interest in the hospitality sector from this cohort.” Noting that 2020 has continued a pleasing improvement in VCE results at the campus, Mr Wells commented that the outcome was testament to the hard work of all students and staff members, and to the parents who supported them throughout a challenging year. “With our IT platforms already established, Chairo was well-placed to maintain quality learning and supportive relationships throughout the periods of remote learning,” Mr Wells explained. “As much as we’re all pleased to see 2020 behind us, our senior students can certainly say that it wasn’t a wasted year. We congratulate them on their outstanding achievements.”

The 2020 St Peter’s College Dux was Dylan Pattison with an ATAR score of 97.4. Dylan’s response to this outstanding result was that he felt overwhelmed and could not quite believe it. Dylan said he felt nervous going into the exams and especially the night before receiving his VCE marks, noting that he did not sleep well. Not only did Dylan receive the highest ATAR across the College but he was also Dux in all the subjects he studied this year: Chemistry 38 English 40 Health and Human Development 36 Specialist Maths 38 Dylan’s other VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject was Mathematical Methods which he studied in 2019. This year, Dylan also completed an accelerated unit of Mathematics at the University of Melbourne. In what was a very challenging year, Dylan continued to participate diligently and competently in all facets of school life and had a 98 percent attendance rate on campus and in remote schooling. His manner was always positive and cheerful and he willingly shared his valu-

· · · ·

St Peter’s College Dux, Dylan Pattison. able insights with other students. His learning advisor, Cameron Ross, noted that Dylan was particularly supportive of younger students in his tutor Ggoup. Dylan wants to study Medicine in 2021 and is confident of an offer in Biomedicine at Monash University. St Peter’s College is hopeful that this outstanding result, together with a very strong UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) result earlier this year, may even result in direct entry into Medicine at Monash University. The school wishes Dylan all the best for his future.

Sam earns a perfect score Beaconhills College VCE students have produced some spectacular 2020 VCE results, including a perfect 99.95 ATAR for College Dux Sam Sail. Sam, a Pakenham Campus student, recorded perfect scores of 50 in French and Mathematical Methods, 47 for English and 44 for Specialist Mathematics, along with his 2019 score of 50 in Physics. Berwick Campus Dux was Jaime Watts with 98.25. Jaime scored 39 for French, 38 for Literature, 40 for Media and 42 in Theatre Studies and Psychology to add to her 48 for Extended Investigation in 2019. Year 11 Berwick student Sharni Seamons also scored 50 this year in her Extended Investigation subject. The College is celebrating strong results across a wide range of subjects, with 12 students achieving ATARs of 95 or more and 27 students with 90 and above. Headmaster Tony Sheumack said students from both campuses achieved 40s in all learning domains. These included English, Mathematics, Visual and Performing Arts, Technologies, VCE Vet Programs, Humanities, Science, Digital Technologies, Health and Physical Education, Business and Economics, Languages and Extended Investigation. “These results really reinforce the benefits of our open-entry, diverse College, where students can follow their passions and succeed,” Mr Sheumack said. He said despite the challenges of Covid-19, the exceptional work of teachers in supporting students through months of remote learning - along with the resilience shown by students themselves - had paid dividends. “I am extremely proud of how our students have risen above the difficulties of 2020 and shown the tenacity and resilience to achieve these results,” Mr Sheumack said. College Dux Sam Sail said that finding a genuine interest in the subjects he studied helped keep him engaged throughout Year 12.

Beaconhills 2020 Dux, Samuel Sail. This year Sam also studied Physics as part of the University of Melbourne’s Extension Program and hopes to do a Bachelor of Science at the university in 2021. And while remote learning had its challenges, Sam said there were also some Covid positives. “For studying maths subjects, I think it [remote learning] was actually an advantage. Covid affected us all in slightly different ways, but it brought us all together.” Round 1 offers from Victorian tertiary institutions are released on 14 January 2021. Beaconhills College’s top 12 ATARs: Samuel Sail 99.95 - College and Pakenham Campus Dux Jaime Watts 98.25 - Berwick Campus Dux Callum Pritchard 98 Sandy-Amick Wu 97.45 Erin Schubert 97.4 Benjamin Coleman 96.65 William Peiris 96.3 Alex Aumann 96.15 Sharnie Foot 96.1 Harleen Kaur 95.6 Jai Lewis 95.5 Alicia Scalzo 95.05

· · · · · · · · · · · ·

The Beaconhills students who achieved ATARs above 95. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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New school offers choice Students from the City of Casey and surrounding areas who struggle with mainstream education are set to benefit from a new specialist secondary school at Berwick. The campus is an extension of Yarra Ranges-based Cire Community School, which has a strong reputation as a ‘school of choice’ for young people disengaged or at risk of disengaging from their education. Drawing on a range of research into trauma informed education Including the Berry Street Education Model, Cire Community School provides young people with an alternative to mainstream education and realistic career pathways. Testimony to its success, student numbers at the Yarra Junction and Mount Evelyn campuses have grown 86 percent since 2015 to more than 200. Years 5 and 6 are being offered for the first time this year at Yarra Junction. The launch of the Berwick campus follows an 18-month process including securing approval from the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). It aligns with Cire’s Strategic Plan to source opportunities, with a lens on areas of need and growth that complement its existing campuses. “Berwick offers an amazing opportunity to extend what we deliver, and do well, in the Yarra Ranges and adjacent areas,” said Cire CEO Gus Seremetis. “Cire Community School is one of choice, offering alternative education for young people who struggle in mainstream education for all kinds of reasons. We are not competing with other schools, we simply offer a positive alternative with many successful outcomes.” Cire enjoys a strong reputation and track record for engaging students who have previously struggled; some have not attended school for up to 18 months or more before enrolling at Cire. Successful outcomes include students transitioning to TAFE and further education, em-

ployment including apprenticeships and traineeships, and returning to mainstream school. Cire Community School’s executive principal, Paul van Breugel said he is proud that Cire’s model and expertise in specialist education can be extended to the City of Casey and adjacent areas where schools have identified the need for such alternative education. “Local young people who need this type of education will have access to better opportunities to learn and grow and become successful adults,” Paul said. Cire Community School’s success is underpinned by specialist wellbeing teams and dedicated staff on each campus where each student is respected as an individual with unique needs. “Our flexible and innovative approach is reflected in individual learning plans for each student, enabling them to achieve at their own pace and in their own way,” Paul explained. Cire Community School campuses offer a welcoming environment to ensure students have a sense of belonging, purpose and growth, and are supported in their learning, wellbeing and life goals. The Berwick campus, formerly the Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired, is offering middle years and a VCAL program with the first intake of students beginning at the start of the 2021 school year. Already with strong enrolments and levels of interest, the Berwick Campus has the capacity for 90 students and the potential for further growth. In addition to the Community School, Cire’s other core operations are Cire Children’s Services with centres at Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park; Lilydale-based Cire Training, a registered training organisation, with First Impressions Clothing Exchange (FICE) at Mooroolbark; and Cire Community Hubs at Yarra Junction and Chirnside Park.

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SPORT YEAR IN REVIEW

City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson and Melbourne City FC chief executive Brad Rowse at Casey Fields on Wednesday morning.

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Big league: A dream win By Cam Lucadou-Wells The South-East’s A-League dream was revived in December, with Melbourne City set to relocate its A-League, W-League and Academy teams to an elite training facility at Casey Fields. In what’s been labelled a “game-changer” for the region, Melbourne City’s relocation from Bundoora will be sealed by a signed Heads of Agreement with the cities of Casey and Greater Dandenong. From 2 January, the club’s W-League side will play the first of four home games for 2020‘21 at Dandenong City Soccer Club. A W-League derby clash with Melbourne Victory is set for 28 January. The news comes two years after Team 11’s A-League and W-League license bid was rejected by Football Federation Australia. Greater Dandenong mayor Angela Long says it reignites the push for a stadium in Dandenong’s CBD. “The Dandenong Sports and Events Centre was an important part of (the Team 11) bid and today’s announcement marks a step forward in bringing that idea to life.” The City move was “incredible reward” for four years of hard work by people in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia Shire, Cr Long said. “In Melbourne City FC we have found an established and well-loved partner with the same long-term and sustainable approach to development, a deep-rooted passion for community and a global network through its owners City Football Group. “To be able to welcome Melbourne City’s extraordinary W-League team within a matter of weeks makes today’s announcement all the more exciting and will serve as a huge inspiration to young girls across Greater Dandenong and the region.” Melbourne City’s training base is already berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson and Melbourne City FC chief executive Brad Rowse on the eve of an exciting new era for the A-League club in the south east. part-built at the 84-hectare Casey Fields precinct in Cranbourne East. It features four full-size floodlit pitches, clubrooms and offices that will be home to the Etihad City Football Academy as well as the club’s schools and community work.

An elite training tablet pitch and a twostorey elite performance and HQ building are expected by early 2022. There is space for a future 4000-capacity mini stadium as part of Stage Three. Melbourne City’s charitable arm City in the

Community will also be based at Casey Fields. The precinct is already home to Melbourne Demons’ AFL, AFLW and VFL teams, the Casey-South Melbourne Premier Cricket Club and grassroots sports clubs. City of Casey chief executive Glenn Patterson said the move was a “game changer” for the region. “Melbourne City is a club that shares our community-first ethos and will be a wonderful addition to our growing and diverse region,” he said. “Thanks to Melbourne City, we will be able to co-develop world class facilities that the community will also be able to enjoy. “But just as importantly, we will be introducing amazing male and female role models into our community, who will not only inspire a new generation of potential Matildas and Socceroos stars but who will also encourage our residents to be active and lead healthy and happy lives.” Mr Patterson said welcoming 250 players and more than 100 staff would have “wideranging economic and social benefits” as well creating much-needed construction jobs. Greater Dandenong councillor Jim Memeti has lobbied for a south-east based national league team since raising the issue in the Journal News in early 2016. He urged South East Melbourne to get behind Melbourne City with “equal enthusiasm”. “We must take this moment to thank everyone who supported the Team 11 bid - our board, our investors, local members of parliament, ambassadors, council staff and all of the grassroots football players and volunteers,” Cr Memeti said. “We are now looking forward to watching Melbourne City’s men’s, women’s and junior teams represent us all with pride for many years to come.” Thursday, 7 January, 2021

STAR NEWS 21

SPORT YEAR IN REVIEW

Future Score claimed the $400,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup in impressive style with Fred Kersley piloting him home.

Pictures: RACING PHOTOS

Sport has its triumphs By Nick Creely and Lance Jenkinson 2020 has been a year of challenges in Melbourne, Victoria and the entire country but from a community sport perspective, there is still plenty of local achievements that are not only worth celebrating, but give added optimism that 2021 will be something to look forward to. One of the major stories of 2020, coming in the back-end of the year was the announcement that A-League club Melbourne City would be relocating to an elite training facility at Casey Fields - something expected to bolster the football-loving region and open even greater pathways for boys and girls to pursue their dreams of playing professional soccer. After persistent rumours, the club announced in December that it would be moving its administration and training facilities to the south east region after years of Team 11’s presence in the area, and City CEO Brad Rowse said it was a win-win for all involved. “One of the things we’ve found, is that a lot of our members reside in the area - we also at the time, when Team 11 were submitting their bid for the region, knew it was a powerhouse of an opportunity for a club to be based there,” he said on the morning of the announcement. “If you look at the facts, there is 1.6 million people living there, and I think 1.9 million when you factor in Gippsland. “It’s been one of the fastest growing areas in the country for the last 10 years, its multi-

“

It’s absolutely fantastic - he’s such a lovely horse. He’s only small, but he’s a real tryer and he seems to get better and better with each prep.” Trainer Matt Cumani after Future Score won the Cranbourne Cup.

cultural, residents from 160-odd nationalities, and there are 115 grassroots clubs. “The biggest one for us, its probably rare in Victoria, is that football is the number one code - there’s only one professional sporting club in that entire region, compared to in and around Melbourne where there is a proliferation of sporting teams. “So its very attractive to be the sole club representing the south east.” Another major story was Future Score, who lived up to the name as one to watch for future races, with the $18 outsider storming home to claim the 2020 running of the now $400,000 Cranbourne Cup in sensational scenes in October. The Matt Cumani-trained horse stormed home from Odeon and Dr Drill rounding out the places. “It’s absolutely fantastic - he’s such a lovely horse. He’s only small, but he’s a real tryer and he seems to get better and better with each prep,” Cumani said. “I thought when he was 20-1 to one it was a

bit wide of the mark - 15 was a bit more where I thought - but I was quietly hopeful he’d at least run a place. “But to win that well - it was an impressive performance from the horse, and a beautiful ride. He just did it so well that it bodes well for the future.” There was plenty of local recognition in 2020 at the Victorian Sports Awards, with both the Victorian Sikh Games and the City of Casey taking out prestigious honours. The Victorian Sikh Games took out the Community Sporting Event of the Year for its outstanding event at Casey Fields in 2019, toppling a large group of very strong finalists. The City of Casey also took out the Local Government Initiative of the Year with its work in transforming Casey Stadium into a world class multi-sport stadium, equipped with new gymnastics, indoor cricket, indoor soccer and wheelchair sports programs. Parliamentary secretary for sport, Danielle Green, said it was incredible to see so many boys and girls take part in sport across the state, and to be honoured for their achievements.

“We’re seeing growing numbers of girls and boys, women and men signing up to play sport at local clubs. Home-grown heroes play a big part in inspiring that growth,” she said. “Congratulations to all the achievers recognised in the Victorian Sport Awards. The hard work and dedication of athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers at all levels of sport is truly outstanding.” Adrian Little was another to shine in his field, with the Berwick local shining in the 262-kilometre Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic on 15 February - one of the most iconic sporting events in Victoria and the second oldest one day cycling event in the world winning the A Grade event with an impressive time of 6:25:48, and with a phenomenal average speed of 40.8 kilometres per hour. “I wanted to just do my best, and I was lucky enough to come away with a win,” he said. “Coming into the race, the forecast wasn’t great, there were really big head winds, which isn’t good for a really long race, so I was pretty hesitant not knowing how it’d pan out.” Tiggerlong Tonk showed why he’s regarded as one of the country’s most exciting young sprinters with a comprehensive victory in April’s star-studded edition of the Group 3 Easter Gift at the Sandown Park greyhounds. Here’s Tears also became the Victorian National Distance Champion after a superior staying performance at Sandown Park in August.

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SPORT YEAR IN REVIEW Pearcedale-based trainer Luckie Karabitsakos confirmed that his superstar local dog Hard Style Rico will go out on a high after racing into immortality with 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup glory at Sandown Greyhound Racing Club in late-November. Ex-St Kilda AFL player, from Hallam and Beaconsfield, Arryn Siposs was signed by the Detroit Lions in the NFL after an eye-catching punting stint at US college powerhouse, the Auburn Tigers. “I didn’t expect this to happen in my wildest dreams,” Siposs admitted. “It has been an amazing journey so far and it really is just the beginning of it...I just wanted to play AFL for 10 to 12 years and have a great career doing that, but that didn’t work out, so having the opportunity to do this is amazing and hopefully I can have decent career in the NFL.” Peter Moody returned to training the way he left it - with a winner - thanks to a dominant display by Shepard at Ballarat in May. The man best known as the trainer of former champion sprinter Black Caviar celebrated victory with his first runner in more than four years. In more racing triumphs, Rachael Cunningham, who trains out of Sportsbet Pakenham in Tynong, was in awe of her nine- year-old as he crossed the line with her great mate Lee Horner on board to claim the time-honoured Grand National Steeplechase over 4500 metres at Ballarat in August. Attorney then laid down the law for Matthew Smith in December as jockey Nash Rawiller powered home the six-year-old bay at the head of a bumper field to claim the $300,000 Sportsbet Pakenham Cup for 2020. In the baseball and softball scenes, young local baseball player Kendra Rutgers oozed potential. Rutgers, a student at Kambrya College in Berwick and member of the Southern Mariners, was selected to represent Australia at the IBA Under 12 World Championships. The 12-year-old was excited to follow in the footsteps of her older brother in being selected to represent her country and be the first female selected in this team. Softballers rejoiced after the Sweeney Reserve softball pavilion was officially opened. The $2.59m pavilion is the headquarters of the Casey Softball Association, which is home to 37 teams across nine clubs and 390 participants. It was also a big year in basketball, and one of the first teams impacted by the dreaded Covid-19 was Berwick College’s budding young basketballers. After winning the School Sport Australia national title, the school was invited to represent Australia at the World Schools Championships in Croatia. The dates were set for 15 to 22 March , a time when the pandemic was beginning to wrap its tentacles on every corner of the globe. Much to the disappointment of the Berwick students, the school made the tough decision to cancel the trip. Club and association basketball was next to hit hard by Covid-19. Our headline - ‘When Hoop Dreams Deflate’ - summed up the feelings of players, coaches and fans of Casey Cavaliers, Pakenham Warriors and Dandenong Ranges in the Big V and NBL 1 competitions. Warriors women’s coach Simo Pajdic summed up a strange situation unfolding due to the pandemic in April. “Obviously it’s been postponed and we’re not allowed to have any contact with players in regards to training sessions,” he said. Organised basketball, outside of the professional competitions, was cancelled for 2020. The talents of Cranbourne West’s Nyadiew Puoch were recognised with a scholarship to the world renowned Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Australian superstar Liz Cambage was unveiled as Southside Flyers boom recruit for shortened 2020 season. The WNBL was played in a hub in Queensland due to Covid-19 and Cambage led the Flyers to the premiership. Upper Beaconsfield product Jack Le Brocq will certainly remember 2020 for positive reasons. Le Brocq took out his maiden Supercars win for the Tickford Racing team in Sydney. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Upper Beaconsfield product Jack Le Brocq claimed his maiden Supercars race win.

Picture: COURTESY OF SPEEDCAFE.COM

Berwick sport shooter Sergei Evglevski After an impressive inaugural season that saw them reach the grand final, Casey Demons were eager to step back out onto the court and try to go one better. Unfortunately, Covid-19 wiped out the Victorian Netball League season in what coach Robynn Pym described as a “bummer”, leaving the Demons disappointed and seeking a one year extension to the VNL licence with Netball Victoria. Hard working Pakenham Lions president Marg Jones was recognised for her efforts with Netball Victoria’s prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award. In Rugby League, The City of Casey played host to the Storm Harmony Nines competition in February. Some of the best players from across the state featured in the fast-paced nine-a-side game that has become a traditional warm up

Picture: SUPPLIED event for rugby league competitions the world over. Melbourne Storm players Tui Kamikamica and Ryley Jacks, part of the NRL championship winning squad later in 2020, was on hand to launch the event, which featured 12 teams, six men’s and six women’s. The Storm also played a preseason game for local fans against the North Queensland Cowboys. Storm CEO Dave Donaghy described the event as “a celebration of rugby league” in the lead up. Of course, it was a pro-Storm crowd, and they went home happy after the Purple Army beat the Cowboys 22-14. Berwick shooter Sergei Evglevski had his preparations for Tokyo 2020 meticulously planned. In his dreams was a gold medal in the

25-metre rapid fire pistol. Unfortunately, it was his nightmares that played out in 2020, with the Olympics postponed due to Covid-19. Amidst the lockdown, Evglevski turned to juggling, drawing, puzzles and study to keep his mind sharp. “I kind of just assumed it [Covid] would be one of those things that would come and go, but this has become a much more serious thing,” he said. It was a similar story for Laetisha Scanlan, who, instead of competing in the green and gold in shooting, she was picking apples alongside her dad on their Tynong orchard. Despite the many obstacles and challenges faced by clubs and athletes in 2020, there has been plenty to celebrate and remember. And Star News looks forward to covering even more fantastic local achievements in 2021! Thursday, 7 January, 2021

STAR NEWS 23

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