Wednesday, 27 January, 2021
Pakenham
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
@PakenhamGazette
$1.50 Inc. GST
Jewellery stalwarts call it a day
All the Australia Day award winners
Glory days of Kooweerup Potato Festival
Cardinia ruthless in cricket quest
PAGE 2
PAGES 3-10
PAGES 36-38
SPORT
Celebrating our finest
Award winners - Citizen of the Year Chris Rogers, Senior Citizen of the Year Stan Hamilton, Young Citizen of the Year Michael Pearce and Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS John Henderson representing Event of the Year with Mayor Brett Owen. 226397
Three outstanding men have been recognised with Cardinia Shire’s highest honour, after their contribution to the community earned them a 2021 Australia Day award. Decorated Pakenham SES volunteer Chris Rogers was named our Citizen of the Year for consistently going above and beyond, not only attending local emergencies but being deployed to assist across the country. Stan Hamilton is this year’s Senior Citizen of the Year for his various volunteering positions in the community. Recently, the Upper Beaconsfield CFA volunteer celebrated 60 years of service. Meanwhile, Michael Pearce was crowned Young Citizen of the Year after significantly contributing to the broader community through his volunteer engagements, driven primarily by his passion for physics and the outdoors. The Gazette has also profiled locals - from Beaconsfield to Narre Warren South, Kooweerup and Cockatoo - who received Australia Day honours. Our full Australia Day coverage is on pages 3-10.
Fix killer stretch change made for the safety of everyone who travels within the area,” Ms Clark wrote. “Gumbuya World is only going to get bigger and more popular. There’s also a sand quarry situated nearby and trucks using the intersection often. There has been multiple motor vehicle accidents already and we don’t want to see more incidents like this occur.” Liberal Narracan MP Gary Blackwood has long advocated for increased safety measures to be implemented along the road. He “strongly urged” everyone to sign the petition. “This is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with the family,” he told the Gazette. “I will again raise this issue in Parliament and directly with the Minister. Something must be done to ensure this never happens again.”
12480396-SG05-21
12425088-FA36-19
A man has been killed and a woman and child are in hospital after a horror smash outside Gumbuya World. Emergency services were called to the notorious Princes Highway intersection near the theme park in Tynong North at about 5pm on Monday 25 January. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, but the Gazette understands the occupants of a 4WD had just left Gumbuya World when their vehicle collided with a truck at speed. The driver of the 4WD tragically died at the scene while his two female passengers were both airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. A woman in her 30s was taken to The Alfred hospital and a primary school aged girl was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The injuries sustained weren’t revealed by Ambulance Victoria, but a spokeswoman from The Alfred on Tuesday confirmed the woman remained in a critical but stable condition. The little girl’s condition is also now stable, the Royal Children’s has confirmed. As reported previously by the Gazette, frustrated motorists have long been calling on VicRoads (the Department of Transport) to take action on the deadly road. An overpass at the site has been touted as a long-term solution. A petition calling for that type of infrastructure to be considered was launched immediately after Monday’s fatal crash. In less than 18 hours, almost 4000 people had signed the petition, organised by Krystal Clark, who wrote the intersection was “so dangerous”. “The aim of this is to hopefully have a
In a statement, Gumbuya World said: “The team at Gumbuya World is deeply saddened to hear this news and our thoughts remain with the family.” A Department of Transport spokesperson said the cause of the crash was yet to be determined. “We are working with Victoria Police to investigate the circumstances of the crash, as we do with any tragic fatality on our roads - and our thoughts go out to the loved ones of those involved,” the spokesperson said. “As part of our investigations we will review safety and make any improvements required to keep Victorians safe.” To sign the petition: change.org/p/vicroads-road-overpass-needed-for-tynong-nthon-the-princess-fwy-at-gumbuya-world-intersection.
JASON WOOD MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LA TROBE 03 9768 9164 JasonWood.Updates Authorised by J.Wood, Liberal Party of Australia, 3/16 Langmore Ln, Berwick VIC 3806.
12454762-DL38-20
By Mitchell Clarke