News - Berwick Star News - 9th September 2021 by Star News Group

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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Pets step out in style By Danielle Kutchel It’s Petember! Pets across Casey are dressing up for the cause, strolling out in their prettiest outfits to raise funds for assistance dogs for kids in need. Berwick locals Jake Cini and Sasha are getting into the spirit again, and it’s the paw-fect opportunity to show off some of their favourite ’fits. Find out more about Petember on page 9

A paw-fect outfit.

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Life saving words It’s a simple question: R U OK? But those three little words can have a massive impact on a person’s life, as R U OK? Day ambassador Bruce Allen knows too well. The former Narre Warren South resident has struggled with depression for much of his adult life. Growing up in Wodonga, he didn’t know much about depression when he started university at the tender age of 17. On a visit back home he dropped into the local GP and was prescribed anti-depressants, but didn’t think much of it; he took the medication, finished the script and didn’t renew it. A year later, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Bruce was close to his mum and dropped out of uni as he travelled regularly

back home to visit her. She passed away not long after his 21st birthday. This sparked his second episode of depression. Bruce threw himself into work, abandoning his studies completely. “I didn’t have the mental capacity to grieve and study at the same time,” he recalled. “I was back on medication by then … but I still didn’t do a lot of self-care.” He still saw his GP, but didn’t see any other medical practitioners. “I thought I’d medicate my way out of it, that it was a passing phase, I was grieving.” By his mid-20s, mental health was a recurring issue for Bruce. He saw a psychiatrist for the first time but

his treatment was still heavily focused on medication. By the time he reached his 30s, Bruce was married with two young children. The next 10 years passed in a blur of new jobs, family moves and continued medication. “I had resigned myself to the fact I was going to be like this forever - I was on medication and that was the way I was going to deal with it,” he said. He saw different psychiatrists but didn’t make a connection with any of them. But in 2018, life came to a head. He separated from his wife, was being bullied at work and began having severe suicidal thoughts. And in November of that year, Bruce made

an attempt on his life. Police attended and he was sent to Monash Medical Centre for observation, before being released early that morning. The hospital called him over the next couple of days to check in, and that’s when Bruce knew he needed to make some drastic changes. “When they called me back I said ‘I’m no good. What do I need to do to get myself into hospital?’” Soon after, Bruce had checked in to St John of God in Dandenong. This, he said, was his “life changing moment”. His weight had ballooned to 115kg – and in the fog of mental illness, he hadn’t even noticed. Continued page 10 12497981-NG23-21

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We’re Vaccinated ARE YOU? Jobi and Jacinta, Members of Casey Rainbow Community Group

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Casey is a great place to live, work and play. Together, let’s roll up our sleeves to stay connected and healthy. The COVID-19 vaccine is our best shot at keeping us all safe. So we’ve teamed up with our mates at Star News Group to encourage everyone to get the jab. Lisa Mcleish, Public speaker and advocate for rights of people with disability

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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NEWS

IN BRIEF

Drug mum jailed By Cam Lucadou-Wells A 32-year-old mother has been jailed for her role in a terrifying armed robbery on two female staff at a Doveton supermarket. Pregnant and wired on ice, Suzzane Calgaret hadn’t slept for nearly two weeks when she, her sister and brother-in-law stormed into the FoodWorks store in Autumn Place on Saturday 3 February 2019, a court has heard. Calgaret was armed with a stove lighter and sister Heather with a metal pole as they made threats and demanded cigarettes. She spat at one of the staff, as her sister threatened to strike the attendants with the pole. Cigarettes were stolen, reportedly to use in a mix for smoking cannabis. The brother-in-law Narzzouli Togo had been arrested for shop-theft at the supermarket the day before. He returned to the store slightly ahead of his co-offenders, demanding cigarettes that he said he’d been promised the previous day. Calgaret told police she didn’t remember

taking in a lighter. She was “just backing my sister up, like, family”. “I think my brother-in-law yelled out to my sister … and all of a sudden we just stormed into IGA and Heather was yelling abuse. I was yelling at the ladies too.” Her younger sister Heather told police that Calgaret was a bad influence. They used the stolen cigarettes in a mix for smoking cannabis. One of the staff told police she was in fear for her life, the other was shocked and “extremely” scared. On 27 August, County Court of Victoria judge David Sexton said armed robbers often preyed on “unsuspecting” “soft targets” at work such as supermarket attendants. Calgaret had a “prominent role” in a robbery with “no real pre-planning” and the use of “rudimentary weapons”, Judge Sexton said. With a “menacing demeanour”, her spitting was a “deplorable”, “degrading” and “completely unnecessary” common-law assault. Calgaret was on a community corrections order at the time.

She’d previously served jail and CCOs for assaults, bail offences and family violence, had mental health admissions and a “problematic” history of substance abuse. Judge Sexton noted her moral culpability was reduced due to mental health issues and chronic history of traumas, including “profound deprivation and disadvantage” as a child. Calgaret had made the “most of her time” in custody, taking “positive steps” such as taking rehabilitative courses. She’d also expressed genuine, heart-felt remorse. Calgaret’s sister was earlier jailed for up to two years and four months. Togo, with a longer relevant criminal history, was jailed for up to three years. Calgaret was jailed for 18 months, followed by an 18-month treatment-focused CCO with supervision and judicial monitoring. During the CCO, Calgaret will be barred from associating with her co-offending sister and brother-in-law. Her jail term includes 417 days spent in presentence remand.

Man dies after fiery crash Police are investigating following a fatal car crash in Narre Warren. Emergency services were called to reports a silver Mercedes sedan had crashed into a tree on Anaconda Road about 4.40pm on Thursday 2 September. The driver and sole occupant of the Mercedes, a 69-year-old Narre Warren man, was pulled from the vehicle by first responders. The vehicle then caught fire with flames spreading to a nearby tree and fence before it was extinguished by firefighters. The man was taken to hospital where, sadly, he later died. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the crash, has dash cam footage or any information that could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

Employers urged to help juniors By Danielle Kutchel

Katriina Tahka, CEO of A Human Agency. Picture: SUPPLIED More practically, she said employers should be wary of Zoom fatigue and of the repetition of endless online meetings about work. To help juniors to settle in and feel connected, employers could try regular, short check-ins in different ways – even an oldfashioned phone call. Buddy systems and bonding activities like weekly trivia games can help foster camaraderie. Bosses could also encourage walking

If you feel the need to speak with someone, you can contact: Lifeline – lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – beyondblue.org.au or 1300 224 636

· ·

The man was pulled from his vehicle by first responders.

Man arrested after evading cops Police have arrested a man after he allegedly evaded police in Melbourne’s south. Officers attempted to intercept the black Mercedes as it was driven outbound on the Monash Freeway about 1.50am on Wednesday 8 September. The driver failed to stop and exited the freeway on Ernst Wanke Road where the police airwing monitored the vehicle as it drove around the southern suburbs. Police were able to successfully deploy stop sticks as the vehicle travelled along Nepean Highway. The vehicle came to a stop and the driver of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot. He was arrested nearby, and a search of the vehicle located four firearms and a quantity of drugs. The man remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

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While veterans of the workforce enjoy the perks of working from home, junior employees may be struggling to adjust, according to one HR expert. Katriina Tahka, CEO at A Human Agency, is urging employers to devise a strategic plan to support their junior staff – especially those entering the workforce for the first time. “People who’ve had 20-30 years in the workforce are quite comfortable with the idea of continuing to work from home remotely,” she explained. But those with less than five years’ at a company don’t have their office-based experience to draw on, she said, and are “thrown in the deep end, trying to figure out how to work for a company or at all after just a couple of Zoom meetings”. Additionally, she said, many younger employees don’t have adequate home office set-ups or still live at home with parents who may be trying to work remotely too. And the disconnect can begin to strain some people’s mental health, she warned. Ms Tahka said employers everywhere need to think differently about how to help new employees feel like they’re part of the workplace without having ever stepped foot in it. She said employers should be conscious of the different needs of different generations within their organisations, with younger generations experiencing work differently. “When it comes to looking after employees, you need an individual understanding of what that individual needs,” she said.

catch ups where employees take the call out in the sunshine. “There are mental health benefits to not staring at a person on a screen,” Ms Tahka said. “We know a lot of businesses will say ‘I have no time, I’m flat out trying to make it through the pandemic’ … but I think it’s something we have to make time for.” For employers, the cost of not staying connected to their junior employees can be high, Ms Tahka said. “If they don’t do it well, in a couple of months we will see massive movement of people in companies because people are just drifting off. “If you haven’t done what’s needed to keep people, especially young people now, people will take off just to get new experiences and go somewhere.” For junior employees themselves, Ms Tahka recommended they have the courage to speak up if they’re feeling disconnected from work. “You don’t have to pretend everything’s perfect. “Sometimes it can be tempting not to make waves but if you’re concerned about anything, find someone you feel confident talking to. It doesn’t have to be a colleague,” she said.

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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NEWS

MPs leading call to arms By Danielle Kutchel Almost one-third of residents in the City of Casey are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. According to data released by the Federal Government’s Operation Covid Shield, as of Sunday 5 September, 31.7 per cent of eligible Casey residents have received their second shot while 54.3 per cent of Casey residents have received dose one. There are 273,232 residents aged over 15 years old in the City. Despite having a mass vaccination hub in the city’s heart, Casey is sitting slightly behind neighbouring Cardinia, which has 56.9 per cent of its eligible population single-dosed and 32.3 per cent fully vaxxed. According to the data, 86,129 of Cardinia’s residents are aged over 15. Greater Dandenong is hovering at 49.8 per cent of residents with a single dose. But its fully vaccinated number is lagging at 27.9 per cent – among the lowest in Victoria. Overall, Melbourne’s south east has the third lowest percentage of double-dosed residents in Victoria, at 32.4 per cent. Casey is also one of the lowest-vaccinated local government areas in the state. As of Monday 6 September, Victoria-wide, 61.59 per cent of the eligible population has had its first dose, as the state inches closer to the 70 per cent first-dose target for easing of restrictions. Victoria is set to reach that target around Sunday 19 September. A total 38.3 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated. State politicians have urged Casey residents to keep going as we get closer to the target. Pauline Richards, MP for Cranbourne, said she got vaccinated so she could see her family again.

In May, Pauline Richards MP, Jordan Crugnale MP and community leader Rabia Safa rolled up their sleeves to get the jab. 236670 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS “Cranbourne has made sacrifices, but it’s time to get vaccinated so that we can be back together again,” she said. “We all have different reasons; I got vaccinated so that I could see my daughters again. It was easy and protects young people.” Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said she was proud to be vaccinated and urged others to be “part of the solution - so our kids can go back to school-based learning, families can travel, friends can celebrate special occasions, our local businesses can open, musicians and artists can play and perform and our essential workers can have a well-deserved rest after a very long 18 months of doing their best to keep us fed, supported and safe.”

Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas said hitting the vaccination targets would mean “getting to have fun again”, and urged his community to speak to health professionals rather than relying on misinformation and “dodgy social media posts”. “The best way to keep you, your family and our community safe is to get vaccinated. C’mon Narre South – we’ve got this!” he said. Keen home-brewer and Gembrook MP Brad Battin said vaccinations were the best way to get back to doing what we enjoy, like having a coffee with loved ones or a beer with mates. “So many people are relying on us achieving the National Cabinet targets to return to

normal. I encourage those who can, to get vaccinated and let’s end 2021 with our family and friends,” he said. Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan praised those who had already received their jabs. “I have been pleased to see so many people in the south east rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated for their community and those they love. I am very proud to represent and be part of such a vibrant and compassionate community,” he said. “I strongly urge all who are eligible to book their jab so we can get back to doing the things we love.”

Politicians unite in call for action on Afghanistan By Danielle Kutchel

La Trobe MP Jason Wood. more urgent action for so long and failed to act until it was much too late,” the MPs said in the statement. “For many months, veterans, former prime ministers and Labor have been calling for urgent action from the Morrison-Joyce Government to fulfil Australia’s moral obliga-

ister Hawke’s office to assist with emergency visas.” He said the recently wrapped-up evacuations from Afghanistan were part of “one of our largest humanitarian airlift operations in our history”, with around 4100 people airlifted out of the country on 32 flights. “The Morrison Government also granted protection visas to around 1800 Afghan former locally engaged employees before the recent military supported airlift,” Mr Wood added. “We are unapologetic about maintaining a strong and fair immigration system but Labor’s open door policy with no caps and no security checks are exactly why they should stay in Opposition.” Mr Hill, Mr Dreyfus and Mr Byrne said they were “grateful” for the Australian Defence Force’s work in carrying out the evacuation mission and pledged to stand by the Afghan-Australian community “in the difficult days ahead”.

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Three Federal Labor MPs have joined forces to slam the Federal Government’s reaction to the crisis in Afghanistan. Bruce MP Julian Hill, Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus and Holt MP Anthony Byrne released a joint statement on Monday 30 August, criticising what they see as a failure of the Federal Government to act soon enough to save Afghans who supported Australia’s mission in the country and speed up visa processing times. Mr Hill, Mr Dreyfus and Mr Byrne said they had received an “overwhelming number of calls, letters and emails to our offices from families desperate for news of their loved ones and seeking urgent help to get their relatives out of Afghanistan”. “The Afghan-Australian community has a right to feel angry that the Morrison-Joyce Government ignored persistent pleas for

tion to the Afghans who have risked everything to support our mission and to speed up the processing of family, partner and other visas. “This humanitarian crisis was foreseeable, and many people seeking protection here could have been spared the deeply distressing scenes we witnessed at Kabul airport had the government acted sooner.” But La Trobe MP and Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, called the comments “misleading”. “The comments made by Labor are misleading and seek to politicise a desperate situation,” he said. “The Morrison Government is committed to supporting our 70,000 strong Afghan-Australian community. “My office has been working directly with both the Afghan community and with Min-

4 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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NEWS

Final care funding needed By Danielle Kutchel To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, death is one of only a couple of certainties in life, and a south eastern group is looking to make it as comfortable as possible. Palliative Care South East (PCSE) needs a new home to continue its work in providing a welcoming place for people to experience palliative care. The not for profit had been co-located with Monash Health in Cranbourne for 30 years. They have purchased a block of land on Victor Crescent, Narre Warren, which will be central to the growth of the population the organisation serves. But as a charitable body, they need a bit of help from the government to get construction of their new building over the line. PCSE currently serves the LGAs of Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong and Kingston. The majority of its clients – 53.9 per cent – come from Casey. And with the south eastern region continuing to grow, chief executive officer Kelly Rogerson predicts PCSE’s client base will also increase too. From 2018 to 2020, PCSE saw a 63 per cent increase in admissions. There has been a 65 per cent increase in palliative care requests since the pandemic started, as people in care choose to remain in their homes, staying connected with the community or their family – especially during lockdown, when visitor numbers to clinical settings are tightened. The new site will replicate and expand on the work the not for profit currently does from Cranbourne, Ms Rogerson said. “We’ll have a purpose-built environment to welcome people to and demystify and improve communication around the benefits of palliative care,” she said.

Matilde, Sheri, Mel, Rob, Jayanthi, Wendy and Linda from PCSE. 249066 “Palliative care is a right for individuals – not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.” PCSE’s mix of services caters to the whole individual and offers comfort at a difficult time: nursing and medical care, art and music therapy, counselling services and spiritual care. PCSE also supports carers and relatives for 13 months after the death of their loved one. Around 1200 people are currently on PCSE’s books for bereavement support, while more than 400 are receiving active management and palliative care services. All of this is achieved with just 65 staff and 50 volunteers. “The team is extraordinary, they give so much and are so committed and dedicated,” Ms Rogerson said. They’ve approached La Trobe MP Jason Wood for support with funding for their new home. He suggested setting up a petition to gauge support for the cause within the wider community. That petition, seeking $4.7 million in funding to finish the new Palliative Care Commu-

Kelly Rogerson, CEO of PCSE, is urging the community to sign the petition. 249066 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS nity Hub in Victor Crescent, is currently open. “We just want to keep doing the work we’re doing, but we need a capital injection,” Ms Rogerson said. They receive block funding from the Victorian Department of Health but haven’t had an uplift in funding commensurate with their costs, which increase every year. Mr Wood said the high level of population growth in the area had placed pressure on health services, including PCSE. “Palliative Care South East have already purchased the land for the new building, now they need your help to secure the funding for the Palliative Care Community Hub which will serve every member of the community who needs their care, skills and support,” he said.

“With this funding they will be able to complete the building and ensure their service can support additional people annually, making a significant difference to those living with a life limiting illness in our community. “That is why I have started an online petition, to secure federal funding and demonstrate public support for this great service.” Ms Rogerson urged the community to sign the petition. “You only die once, you don’t get chance to do it again, so you want to get it right,” Ms Rogerson said. To sign the petition, visit https://www.research.net/r/XQB9RNX?fbclid=IwAR10WpTe6 5zj1KhZBiNhoafVmG-e_yCX2t_TkSZGxmrHCHUhs9fxmFITLa8

The Victorian Government is making it easier for families to find a three and four-year old kinder learning program they can count on.

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Find out more at vic.gov.au/kindertick

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

OPINION

New degrees at Fed Uni

SOCIALLY SPEAKING

LENSCAPE

Federation University Australia has launched four new degrees at its Berwick campus to help tackle the skills shortage in health and education fuelled by a population boom in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs and growing suburban fringe. Cardinia Shire is the sixth fastest growing local government area in Australia, according the Australian Government’s Centre for Population, while the population in the growing suburbs of Cranbourne South, Cranbourne East, Beaconsfield, Officer, Bunyip and Garfield are expected to double by 2036. The new courses include industry experience to ensure students are job-ready and connected with local employers throughout their studies, with flexible study options to suit both students and employers. The Bachelor of Secondary Education provides students with a deep knowledge of two specialist teaching areas combined with valuable classroom experience. The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Health and Physical Education Teaching) will continue Federation University’s long-standing reputation for producing highly skilled, passionate and resilient health and physical education teachers. The Bachelor of Sport, Physical and Outdoor Education prepares student for either a career in community sport and recreation or in outdoor education or health and physical education teaching. The Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise is a new business degree that equips students with the skills and knowledge to use disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. This degree, co-designed with IBM, has been created in response to future industry needs. The new degrees will start in 2022.

To celebrate Father’s Day, we asked you to come up with your best dad jokes! Here’s what our readers came up with: Rebecca Blackmore: I saw a coffee go into a police station. He was mugged. Elsewhere on social media, on Monday 6 September a story was shared to the Cranbourne Star News Facebook page regarding the sentencing of Jessie Moore, who murdered her great aunt, greyhound trainer Karen Leek, in 2020. Here’s how our readers responded: Gaye Guest: Hope her children are being well cared for. Another tragedy that will have ever lasting repercussions.

Elmo is on the move from Backpacks 4 Vic Kids charity op shop in Cranbourne. 249846 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

And on Berwick Star News on Friday 3 September, we shared a story about hoons tearing up land on Chadwick Road in Harkaway. Here’s what our readers had to say: Janine Jefferys: No respect. Hayden Morin: the Karen’s have spoken (sic).

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up To Lynbrook Post Office for their excellent service.

Thumbs down To Casey Council for putting the rates up again - for what?

Thumbs up To Kelly’s for giving complimentary pints of beer for Father’s Day weekend!

Still a big thumbs down To all the car hoons in Cranbourne/Cranbourne West. What is even more frustrating is that literally nothing gets done about it. Even after one lost control in our street this year and crashed into a powerpole then did a runner. Nothing. Nada. Has never been done.

Big thumbs up To Cranbourne Turf Club for a very well run vaccine centre.

Thumbs up They found the three year old boy.

Thumbs down To those not following the rules. Thumbs up to those of us that are.

Thumbs down To the short sharp lockdown.

Thumbs down To funeral limit still.

Thumbs Up Thumbs Down is your chance to have your say. Malicious or defamatory submissions will not be accepted. All submissions must include a full name address and daytime phone number. Contributions over the phone will not be accepted. Contributors will not be identified. The Star News reserves the right to edit submissions. To submit a Thumbs Up Thumbs Down email to dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au fax to 5945 0777 or post to P.O. Box 9 Pakenham 3810.

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Two weeks ago as our attention was focused on the fall of Kabul, 33 refugees detained for more than two years in Australia were quietly released into community detention on Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). This means they are provided a house and a small payment fortnightly. They are free to move about in the community (in the absence of lockdown restrictions), and have support from a government-funded service such as Life Without Barriers or AMES. These men were brought to Australia under the Medevac Bill from Manus Island ( PNG ) over two years ago because of extreme physical and mental health needs. The legislation which enabled their evacuation for urgent medical attention was passed in early 2019 but repealed in December of that year on the casting vote of Senator Jacqui Lambie. Many of the refugees who were released had been held on Manus Island in very cruel and harsh circumstances for six years or more. Anyone who is interested in learning more about conditions on Manus and the story of one particular refugee who fled Myanmar and later managed to escape from Manus Island, should read the recently released book, Escape from Manus by Jaivet Ealom. Refugee action groups do not know why these 33 refugees were released, or how the selection was made. It would appear to be random and the men themselves have received no explanation. It is bittersweet for them as many of their close friends remain locked up. They had been detained in the Mantra Hotel in Brisbane and Park Hotel in Carlton, as

YOUR VOICE well as in the MITA detention centre in Broadmeadows. Twenty-five of the men were released from Melbourne detention. Five of them (that we know of) have been placed in community detention in the City of Casey. They are from Pakistan and Iran and are all young men who should be in the prime of their lives but are now struggling with their mental and physical health after what they have endured for the best part of their 20s. They are intelligent, gentle men who now struggle with depression, panic attacks, anxiety and PTSD as well as physical health issues. Their resilience has enabled them to survive their years of incarceration, where some of their friends took their own lives. But though they are now living in houses in our community and to us, it may seem they are “free”, they have been given no certainty from the government. Their futures remain in limbo and they live every day with the ongoing trauma of not knowing what their future will be or if they will have any chance to resume a “normal” life in Australia or perhaps in the USA or Canada. They are under stress all the time. Casey Cardinia for Refugees is a local refugee action group which has been providing financial support to refugees in off-shore detention for over four years. We also stage a weekly vigil at the Berwick Village main intersection on Saturday morn-

ings (when able) to raise awareness of refugee issues. We write regularly to the Pakenham Gazette, other media outlets and our elected parliamentarian Jason Wood, who ignores our ongoing requests to meet with him. Casey Cardinia for Refugees has been able to reach out to some of these recently released refugees who now live in our community. We are extending friendship and support where possible. They are in need of money to buy groceries, clothes, phone cards etc as their Government payment does not cover all these things. Anyone who would like to donate to Casey Cardinia for Refugees is most welcome to contact us at caseycardiniaforrefugees@gmail. com. We also help support the refugees in PNG who are in dire situations living in Port Moresby in a hostile dangerous environment with very little support. We send them money for phone cards and food. There are still close to 277 refugees and asylum seekers held in detention in immigration centres or hotels across Australia. Thirty-seven of these men are in the Park Hotel Carlton. When restrictions lift, the daily vigils on Lygon Street held by refugee action groups and concerned individuals will resume, to remind these men that they are not forgotten. We deplore this treatment of people who have come to our country seeking safety and security from places like war-torn Afghanistan. They should all be released into the community and be provided with Covid vaccinations and full and necessary support immediately. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Building a home of hope By Danielle Kutchel A cancer diagnosis turns your world upside down. For Berwick residents Jade and Adam Jenkins, being told their five-year-old son Henry had Stage V Nephroblastoma (Wilms) in August 2020 was a massive shock. Even after they visited the doctor to find out more about Henry’s illness, Jade said “cancer was the furthest thing from our minds”. “Henry presented very well. Even when we took him to the GP and for an ultrasound, it didn’t cross our minds that he was about to be diagnosed with cancer.” The diagnosis changed everything. For much of the last 12 months, the family – including Henry’s two younger brothers – have been in and out of hospital as Henry undergoes extensive treatment including surgery and 21 rounds of chemotherapy. The five-year-old has had to repeat his fouryear-old kinder year but still attends when he can – and his prognosis is positive. Jade said he’s shown remarkable resilience for someone so young. “He’s quite amazing in that he just gets on with it. “When you’re five you don’t really understand it; he knows cancer makes you sick and you need to go to the hospital and get better, but he doesn’t fully understand the extent of what that means.” They’ve been lucky enough to receive support from My Room Children’s Cancer Charity, a volunteer-led organisation that helps families and patients get through the cancer journey. “Henry had access to the dietician and physiotherapist and both of those are funded by My Room,” Jade said. My Room has a goal of reaching a 100 per cent cure rate for childhood cancers. This month, My Room will undertake one

Henry and his parents in the hospital.

Henry, centre, has been courageous over his cancer journey. of its biggest fundraisers of the year, the 2021 Home for a Cure charity auction. Satterley and Porter Davis Homes will donate a house and land package to the auction, with the funds raised going to My Room. The single-storey, four-bedroom Porter Davis home is being built in Satterley’s Arcadia community, in the heart of Officer. Proceeds from the house and land package will be donated during Channel 9’s popular My Room Telethon later this year. Jack Homann, Satterley’s general manager of Victoria and Queensland said he was proud Satterley would be a central part of the auction for the fourth time. “It goes without saying that the most important part is that we’re raising funds for an incredibly important cause,” he said.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Shaun Patterson, general manager sales and marketing at Porter Davis said the company was thrilled to be part of the auction. “Being able to lend a helping hand to kids who need it most, while building a quality home in which someone can create a lifetime of cherished memories, made our decision to support this year’s Home for a Cure an easy one.” The home will include almost $100,000 worth of upgrades and inclusions including high-quality fixtures, fittings and appliances from Porter Davis Homes. Adriatic Furniture has donated $42,000 worth of home furnishings, Fleming’s has donated $15,000 worth of landscaping, Bunnings will provide $5000 worth of outdoor furnishings and Salt and Pepper will offer $5000 worth of homewares. The successful bidder will also receive

a 12-month subscription to The Age and a 24-month subscription to Stan. My Room’s chairman Maurizio Marcocci said the proceeds from the home auction would go towards supporting the organisation’s four funding pillars: family support, medical equipment, clinical care, research and clinical trials. “It’s only with meaningful donations from our major partnerships like Porter Davis Homes, Satterley and Nine, that we can make a greater impact to funding research and clinical trials that could lead us to our goal of a 100 per cent cure rate,” Mr Marcocci said. Jade said the support her family received from My Room helped get them through an extraordinarily difficult time. “They’re a quiet background support doing really good things for childhood cancer. “I certainly think their help is highly beneficial not just to my family, but many families. “They 100 per cent helped us along the way.” The Home for a Cure charity auction will take place later this year. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks. To be kept up to date on the build, partner announcements and the auction, please visit homeforacure.com.au

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 7

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Jill Sparkes, Casey U3A secretary and Berwick Evening VIEW club member

Why did you choose to join View? I was invited to join View by a friend from U3A. They are a fun and interesting group and are very committed to helping young Australians with their education through the Smith Family. What does your work in U3A involve? I am currently the secretary of Casey U3A which is dedicated to providing courses and classes that give those 55 and over, and who are retired or semi-retired, a chance to meet and make friends with others of the same age and interests. Pre-Covid (and during the short bursts of freedom from lockdown) we offered up to 53 different classes which have been taken up by over 400 members. During lockdowns we have been able to supply things for our members to take part in. Zumba, Ukulele Beginners, Gentle Meditative Movement and Guided Meditation and Bookclub come to mind, all run on Zoom. Our development team is always trying to find interesting things for our members to take part in and all classes are offered for a very low, oneoff yearly subscription of $35. We are also one of very Victorian U3As whose membership has grown during the pandemic. I have done a lot of courses and still take part in Drawing, 4 Medium Art, Table Tennis, Bookclub and Games club. Not only have I been able to dabble in things I have always wanted to do, I have met some wonderful people who will no doubt be friends for life. Tell us a fun fact about yourself! I took up the sport of archery in my 50s and loved it. I have not yet found a club to call home here but the Olympics have certainly rekindled the flame and I am determined to find a club (preferably indoor) not too far away that I can join. What is your favourite cuisine? Vietnamese. Who is your biggest inspiration? That is a big call but if I had to I would chose

Jill Sparkes.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Maya Angelou. An incredible life, lived rich and powerful. I love listening to her voice reading her poetry. If you had to compete on MasterChef what dish would you cook? Vegemite toast. I dislike cooking, would rather read a book. If you were Prime Minister for a day. What would be the first thing you would do? I would add volunteering to the curriculum for all school students, and make companies pay their employees to volunteer for a up to a week throughout the year in an organisation of their choice. Volunteers are becoming fewer as the older people who grew up with the idea of giving back through volunteering are disappearing. It’s such an easy thing to do, to volunteer some of your time, and what you get in return is invaluable.

What are you most looking forward to when lockdown ends? Seeing my family face to face and hugging my grandchildren. Why are volunteers so important in the community? So many programs would be impossible if not for volunteers. For example, I was asked if I would like to volunteer for Riding for the Disabled at Myuna Farm and did so for a couple of years. What an incredible group of volunteers they have. The children who take part in their program have a very diverse range of disabilities and all are cherished by this band of wonderful people. Covid has of course put a stop to their seeing the children, but the horses are still fed and tended every day. If you look around, volunteers drive a lot of things we take for granted. For instance, we would not have op shops which provide us with a great source of “treasures” for inside or outside our homes if there were no volunteers. A few of my friends are addicted to these little treasure houses and just can’t go past one. Op shops in turn provide funding for many voluntary organisations Volunteers also help with feeding the homeless, animal shelters, Special Olympics, community choirs, National Trust, hospital volunteers, Scouts, Plant a Tree, Vic Parks and Gardens, to name a very few. The list is long and increasing. What do you love about the Casey Community? I love the fact that Bunjil Place exists and I can see amazing events there. I also love that all the people I have met in Casey are caring, and giving back in some way to their community. I love the trees and parks around my neighbourhood in Berwick, and feel very lucky to live in such a lovely area. If anyone is interested in making enquiries about Casey U3A they can look up our website at Casey.u3anet.org.au, contact us at caseyu3apr@gmail.com, or contact the membership officer at U3aenrol@gmail.com.

THREE … facts about baby birds

Baby birds are known by different names depending on their stage of development. They can be called nestlings, hatchlings or fledgelings. They may also have special names depending on their species - for example, baby swans are called cygnets

Bread is bad for ducklings and cygnets. It doesn’t contain the nutrients they need to grow into healthy adults. Feeding them bread can also cause them to become dependent on humans.

It’s best to watch from a safe distance. If you get too close, the parents (and babies) may get upset. Steer clear and use the zoom function on your camera to get a better view. Keep kids, dogs and cats away from where baby birds are feeding and playing and watch them grow up in peace.

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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NEWS

It’s doggy dress up time By Gabriella Payne If you’ve been feeling a bit blue lately, have we got the perfect remedy for you… yes that’s right, it’s doggy dress up time! Variety Australia’s annual ‘Petember’ doggy dress up competition is back bigger and better than ever, and with all of us stuck at home in lockdown, a huge number of locals are pawticipating in this year’s fun. For each week of September (aka ‘Petember’), entrants must come up with a fun, creative look for their pooch based around a theme - and it’s all in the name of a good cause. Berwick local Kathren Bucknell said her family and their beloved dog Maggie were thrilled to be taking part in this year’s competition, as it was a bit of much-needed fun but also a great campaign raising both money and awareness for Variety’s assistance dogs. “For me, it was a fun thing to do, but also the fact that it raises money for assistance dogs is so great,” Ms Bucknell said. “These lockdowns aren’t going to go away anytime soon, so if we can provide help for assistance dogs for other kids - not just guide dogs, but for therapy dogs and emotional support dogs - then that would be amazing.” Ms Bucknell said Maggie had joined her family during last year’s lengthy Covid lockdown and had been such an incredible support to both her and her kids during these difficult times. “Without Maggie, honestly lockdowns would have been so much harder,” she said. “My two kids adore her, they cuddle her, they come on walks (which I never thought they would) and she’s been really good for their anxiety during all the lockdowns, especially this sixth one.” “Whenever they’re upset they give her a hug, and I just see how much that’s helped,” she said. Jake Cini, another Berwick local, has also gotten into the spirit of ‘Petember’ with his beautiful dog, Sasha. After taking part in the competition last year, Mr Cini said he was inspired to do it all again as it is a fantastic cause and a great way to brighten up people’s days. “I adopted Sasha last year during the first wave of Covid. She’s a dog that has anxiety issues, so she’s a bit misunderstood, but I found that we really connected,” he said. “I’ve always liked Cosplay and stuff, so we started dressing up and going on our walks in matching costumes, and people would see us walking and wave and smile.” “And then I heard about ‘Peptember’ and thought that would be perfect for us!” he said. “Raising money for the assistance dogs is just fantastic and it gives us something to do in lockdown too.” Mr Cini said that last year, he and Sasha had managed to raise over $800 for Variety Australia and they hoped to raise even more this time around, as he had plenty of creative ideas up his sleeve. “The first week’s theme was the ‘red carpet’, so Sasha got dressed up and we did a ‘pooch

Ready for the main stage? Maggie is looking gorgeous in her pink tutu.

Miss Maggie is looking stunning in her red carpet look!

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Mr Cini and Sasha - aka, spider man and spider girl, look out!

What a beautiful pup!

Sasha getting ready for a big night out!

party’ with two other dogs that are friends,” he said. “It’s ‘sports’ this week and she’s a Collingwood supporter, so I think we’ll get her in her guernsey.” Mr Cini said that it was great to see so many people getting involved in this year’s competition as it just went to show how important doggy companionship is, particularly after the year we’ve all experienced.

“All these other owners and dogs are coming together to share their experiences of how they’ve connected with their dogs, and we can look at each others stories and pictures - I just find that amazing,” he said. You can donate and keep up to date with Sasha and Jake via their page at fundraise.variety.org.au/fundraisers/sashajake Or to check out and support Maggie and Kathren’s lockdown looks, head to fundraise. variety.org.au/fundraisers/kathrenbucknell

Jake Cini has started his own business, Power Pooches, to help raise awareness about anxious dogs like Sasha and help other anxious dog owners in the area.

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 9

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

NEWS

Replacing sick trees The City of Casey is preparing for a tree renewal project for its Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour. Casey is home to seven Avenues of Honour, planted to commemorate the contribution and sacrifices made by local volunteers in World War I, as well as stand as living memorials to those who served in the wars that followed. The council has identified that many of the trees along the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour, which runs along High Street, Berwick, are in poor or declining condition. Now, work is underway for a proactive removal and replacement project at the site. Council undertook Phase 1 of a project to start the replacement of 32 of the trees in late 2019 and, following its success, is now ready to start the next phase which will involve the removal and replacement of a further 35 trees along the Avenue. Works are expected to start in mid-September during the school holidays and will be completed within four weeks. The council planned for the renewal of the Avenue of Honour by propagating new trees from cuttings from the original Avenue trees back in 2015. These cuttings are now established and have grown to between four and five metres in height, ready to replace the trees in declining condition. The original trees (Poplar x canadensis) were planted more than 90 years ago, in an initiative led by the Beaconsfield Progress Association, with funds generously donated by Ada Armytage, a local philanthropist, to honour the 65 servicemen from Beaconsfield and district who served in World War I. While the trees have grown well since, it’s expected they have reached, or will soon reach, the end of their lives. City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said Council was committed to preserving the living memorials. “We know the cultural and historical significance our Avenues of Honour hold for our community and that’s why we’re taking the necessary steps to ensure this memorial is renewed so it can remain in place for the future and continue to honour those who’ve served for our country,” she said.

Trees in the Avenue of Honour are set to be replaced. 249663 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS The Berwick RSL has acknowledged their support for the council for undertaking this project and ensuring the long-term conservation of this memorial. “We were very pleased that as the trees were nearing the end of their life span, the City of Casey planned to replace the necessary trees with root stock from the existing trees so that the Avenue of Honour will continue for many decades to come. “We congratulate the council on this initiative that has been done with sensitivity, and wholeheartedly support this next tranche of tree replacement,” Berwick RSL president Wayne A’Vard said. Beaconsfield Progress Association president Graeme Taylor said they were very supportive of the work done by City of Casey to remove and replace the necessary trees with those propagated from the original trees. “This will ensure that the 65 servicemen will be remembered in the beautiful Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour,” he said. To find out more about the project, contact Casey Council on 9705 5200.

Life saving words matter From page 1 But worse was the fact that none of the people around him had thought to question his weight gain and ask if he was OK. “That was the most disappointing part for me. I got to this point where I didn’t care about myself, but no one had come forth and recognised it and told me that. “I didn’t have someone asking if I was OK and I was really close to not being here because of it. “There’s a lot of people that unfortunately end up worse than me. They don’t make it. “And maybe all they needed was someone to ask that question.” Since leaving the hospital, Bruce has turned his life around. With the help of a new GP and a new psychologist, he’s picked up the tools he needs to get better. He’s taken up running and has lost weight, and finally came off his medication 12 months after leaving hospital. He still has regular check-ins with his psychologist but they are less frequent now that he is “doing really well”. At a work mindfulness event he ran into an R U OK? Day ambassador, and before long had signed up to be an ambassador himself. It’s a message Bruce firmly believes can

change lives. “I understand how much it could’ve made a difference to me, that simple message. It wouldn’t have taken a lot,” he said. With the pandemic and lockdowns weighing heavily on people’s mental health, Bruce said he would urge anyone feeling distressed or down to reach out for a chat with someone they trust. He said while reaching out the first time is the hardest, it gets easier from there – and generally, people are willing to help you get better. “The beautiful thing about R U OK? is you don’t have to be skilled – anyone can ask and make the difference,” he said. He recommends a visit to the R U OK? Day website to find resources and referrals to take action if the answer to the question is ‘no’. “There’s a lot of people doing it tough. I think now more than ever is the right time to ask if they’re OK,” Bruce said. For resources on mental health and how to check if someone is OK, visit ruok.org.au If you need to reach out to someone, please contact: Lifeline – 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue. org.au

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berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Global sports commentating star Michael Schiavello.

Pictures: DAVID ASH

At the top of his game By Danielle Kutchel In a career spanning 30 years, Narre Warren South resident Michael Schiavello has beamed into millions of homes, bringing sport to life with an electric energy. He’s rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s biggest sports stars and worked on massive global events. But it wasn’t always his dream to be a sports commentator. In fact, as a year 10 student looking for work experience, Mr Schiavello had his heart set on being an architect. When none of the architecture firms he wrote to offered him a work experience position, Mr Schiavello’s mother encouraged him to try radio instead. He applied to Triple M and received a confirmation letter on his birthday. The team put him in the newsroom for his work experience tenure, and Mr Schiavello said he quickly fell in love with the gadgets, the microphones and flashing buttons. “From that moment on, all thoughts of being an architect disappeared and all I wanted to do was radio and broadcasting and media.” His mum, it seemed, had been on to something. In year 11, as a “means to wag class”, Mr Schiavello joined some mates in commentating a school athletics event at Olympic Park. Finding he had a real knack for the craft, he went on to work at the local community radio station where he scored interviews with some of the world’s biggest sports stars. By the age of 20 he had found his groove commentating fight sports. Since then, Mr Schiavello’s passion and enthusiasm for sports and commentating has taken him all over the world to commentate major sporting events, including commentating the boxing events for over 130 countries in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the boxing in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He’s worked in 27 different countries, from Jamaica to Hungary, England to France, the USA to Poland and all throughout Asia. He’s a two-time winner of the Asian Television Award for Best Sports Presenter/Com-

Michael Schiavello in his element. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

mentator and is the most watched Australian sports television commentator, broadcast to 154 countries with Nielsen-rated viewership of 81 million globally. He’s hosted his own prime time interview show in the US, ‘The Voice Versus’, where he interviewed big names like Steven Seagal, George Foreman, Hulk Hogan and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. He counts ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin as his best ever interview – and to this day, the nowretired wrestler calls Mr Schiavello for interviewing advice for his own television shows. Now, Mr Schiavello has released a book, called ‘The Commentators’, celebrating 100 years of sports commentating. 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the profession, and Mr Schiavello’s book delves into the greatest sporting moments in history and the commentators behind them. Some of the world’s best commentators have contributed sections to the book, including Vin Scully, who has been voted the number one sports commentator of all time. With such an impressive CV, it might look like there’s little left to achieve – but Mr Schiavello said he still has a few things on his bucket list, like commentating a Wrestlemania. But for now, the Narre Warren South resident is enjoying commentating for ONE Championship, the third most watched sports broadcasting company on the planet. He hopes his story can serve as an example of how far passion and enthusiasm can take you. “I was just a regular kid with a regular background, no formal study ad no diplomas on my wall, but I made it to the top of the TV world and sports commentating world,” Mr Schiavello said. “I’d like that to be an inspiration to anyone out there, that if you have a passion and enthusiasm you can do it. “Do what you love, and if you love it, do the best you can and no matter what anyone says keep ploughing through.” Find out more about Mr Schiavello’s book at wilkinsonpublishing.com.au/book/ the-commentators

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Caitlin, Sarah and Jess from Mr Black Juicery Berwick, ‘smizing’ behind their masks. 249751

Cage and her mum Fontaine enjoy their outdoor time at Banjo Paterson Reserve Lynbrook. 249751

Sharing the positives By Danielle Kutchel Let’s be honest: it’s a tough time right now. But there are still positives in the little things. Star News photographer STEWART CHAMBERS went hunting for some this week as we mark R U OK Day, and found plenty of locals still doing their best to put smiles on other people’s faces in their own special ways.

Steven with a smoothie at Mr Black Juicery Berwick. Stay healthy over lockdown! 249751

Tommy in Blackburne Square Berwick, seeing the sights. 249751

Kelsey making a coffee at Gloria Jean’s Berwick - because who doesn’t love the warmth of a hot drink. 249751 12 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

Click and collect time! Georgia Sheers from Emma Marie Fashion Emporium with customer Lisa O’Sullivan. It’s like a present to yourself! 249751 berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

FOCUS ON … R U OK DAY

Time to ask are you OK? Anthony Byrne MP Today is Are you ok Day? An important day to check in on family and loved ones because a conversation could change a life. The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have taken a toll on everyone living in the City of Casey, so chances are someone you know might be struggling with their mental health. Your support can make a difference to the challenges they are facing, big or small. Don’t wait until someone’s visibly distressed or in crisis. Make a moment meaningful and ask them how they’re really going. I had the lived experience of this when we had a suicide cluster in the Casey region in 2011 and 2012. There was a sense of great helplessness and fear in the community - helplessness about what to do including, in fact, how to even safely discuss what was happening. In mid 2012 I sought the assistance of Prof Patrick McGorry on the best approach to have a public discussion about what was happening. With his advice we conducted a forum that was covered by Four Corners, in their program entitled “There is No 3G in Heaven”. At the forum we heard from parents who had lost a child to suicide describe the impact of their loss of their child and what we could do to prevent further losses of our children.

Anthony Byrne asks ‘Are You Ok?’ 250114 We lobbied and achieved two Headspaces and two early psychosis support hubs. We achieved something substantial together as a community. To address the severe mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns I am convening another mental health and wellbeing forum via Zoom on Thursday 16 September 2021 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm with Professor Patrick McGorry AO, 2010 Australian of the Year. To participate, please register by emailing your name, address, email and mobile number to anthony@anthonybyrnemp.com or call 8790 0556.

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HOLT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING FORUM – VIA ZOOM

The COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdowns have placed an enormous toll on everyone’s mental health. To provide support to local residents Hon Anthony Byrne MP, Federal Member for Holt, is hosting a Zoom Session with Professor Patrick McGorry AO, 2010 Australian of the Year. THURSDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2021

6:30PM START to 8:30PM To participate, please register by emailing your Name, THURSDAY Address, Email and Mobile Number to anthony@anthonybyrnemp.com or call 8790 0556. 16TH SEPTEMBER 2021 6:30PM START to 8:30PM

Authorised by Anthony Byrne, ALP, Shop 7, 1060 Thompsons Rd, Cranbourne West VIC 3977.

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To participate, please register by emailing your Name, Address, Email and Mobile Number to anthony@anthonybyrnemp.com or call 8790 0556. Authorised by Anthony Byrne, ALP, Shop 7, 1060 Thompsons Rd, Cranbourne West VIC 3977. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 13

NEWS

Speech for the ages A last-minute “leap of faith” has propelled a Haileybury student into national speaking awards. Zuva Goverwa, of Lysterfield, took out the Victorian title in the VCAA Plain English Speaking Awards. She is set to represent the state in the national finals in September. “Considering the calibre of everyone who spoke, and the diversity and ingenuity of the speech topics, I truly was not expecting to win.” She won the state finals held online in August with a prepared speech entitled Seen And Not Heard. It focused on a major frustration for her and many peers. “I wanted to highlight how disproportionate our intelligence as a generation is to how much society is willing to listen to us,” she says. “I hoped to communicate that this issue is not only unfair, given that we are the ones who will inherit the world we are trying to change, but it’s ultimately dangerous to the progression of society as it enables apathy.” Ms Goverwa then delivered an impromptu talk on ‘last minute decisions’. “Initially, due to a mix of fear and a busy timetable, I’d been tossing up whether or not to compete in the first round of heats. “But, the night before the competition, I decided to take the leap of faith and confirm my entry, never imagining I’d make it this far. “So, I based my impromptu speech on the idea of expanding your comfort zone through spontaneity and the opportunities you allow yourself when you do.” The public-speaking competition is open to 15 to 18 year olds. It is designed to help students build

Sanya with a Hindi poster she made during her studies.

Consistency key to VCE

Zuva Goverwa spoke on the need for young people to be ‘seen and heard’.

By Danielle Kutchel A St Margaret’s School student who won one of the state’s most prestigious study awards has shared her study tips and tricks for other students. Sanya Verma, now in year 12 at St Margaret’s, was awarded a Premier’s VCE Award for her phenomenal studies in Hindi. Sanya, who was in year 11 when she completed the final-year subject, learned Hindi at the Victorian School of Languages and attended class every Saturday morning. Hindi is her mother tongue and although her family speaks it at home, her interest in the language was really piqued when she went on a family vacation to India in year 7. “We went to several spiritual destinations and I remember some of the places had boards and signs written only in Hindi, and that’s when it struck me that I didn’t know much about my mother tongue and culture and should learn to read and write in Hindi,” the student explained. She feels that learning a language is different to learning other subjects in VCE. “Most of the other subjects in VCE are very content-based and theory-related, but Hindi and other languages are very skills-based,” Sanya said. “They test you on writing, listening, reading and speaking so you needed to become proficient in all four categories.” Learning online was a bit of a challenge because she was unable to practise things like reading and speaking in a classroom environment – but fortunately Sanya had the support of her family, especially her grandmother, to bounce her new skills off at home. “Remote learning had its pros and cons and

self-confidence and extend their oral communication skills, speech writing and research experience.

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Well known jewellers call it a day

Dees ready to rumble

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OAMs for a couple of proud Aussies

Rex name shame By Mitchell Clarke Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name. Former Springfield Ward councillor Rex Flannery, who resigned as deputy mayor just days before the State Government sensationally sacked the entire council in February 2020, says the events of the past 12 months are still “eating” him up. He has now officially requested that his name is removed from both a councillor honour board in the customer service centre and a wall plaque in Bunjil Place. “I have never had any involvement into this alleged corruption scandal and therefore I do not wish to have my name associated with past or former councillors who may have brought our City of Casey into disrepute,” he told Star News. “People look at your name and they see that you’re from Casey Council and immediately they put you in that same mould, which couldn’t be further than the truth. “It’s just horrible to have been a councillor in that term. It gives you a sickening feeling in your gut and now I have to live with that.“ Mr Flannery argues his name should never have been placed on the plaque celebrating the $126 million Bunjil development because at the time he didn’t support the project. “I guess I’ve eaten a little bit of humble pie with Bunjil Place. I’ve been able to see the value that place brings to the community but at the time I was against the development and I wasn’t once consulted (about having my name included),” he said. He also claims former ex-ward partner, Sam Aziz, stated to him that he “wished he never had my name added to the plaque”. “That was the only time I agreed with him,” Mr Flannery said. While Mr Flannery hasn’t accused any former councillor of committing wrongdoing, he said anyone found guilty from the IBAC hearing should immediately have their honours stripped. “They need to have their plaques removed

Rex name shame

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

Rex Flannery, pictured in late 2015, wants his name stripped from council. 148005 from anywhere within the City of Casey ... whether it’s a plaque in the botanical gardens or in Bunjil Place, I want them removed so they have absolutely no recognition anymore,” he said. “They’ve disgraced themselves and they’ve disgraced the council. They’ve taken something away from me that I totally enjoyed. I loved serving the Casey community. I just want some clarity as to what way it’s going to go.” Since his resignation, Mr Flannery has been working in an operating theatre at a local hospital. He said he has every intention to run for council again in 2024.

it was up to the student to balance maintaining learning the language at home even when not in the classroom – you had to be driven by yourself,” Sanya said. Her biggest piece of advice for other students learning a language in VCE is to maintain consistency. “You need to be consistent in how you practise your skills. Doing those things consistently can build your skills in the long run so you’re not overwhelmed when exams come,” she said. She also recommends integrating learning and practice with daily activities – like listening to an in-language podcast or news service while going for a walk. “Doing things like this might sound mundane, but in the end it’s going to lessen your workload.” As VCE students rush headlong into the final few weeks of learning before their end-ofyear exams begin, Sanya urged them to work smarter, not harder. “It’s really easy to get overwhelmed in that kind of situation and it’s important to take a step back and think about how to work smarter,” she said. And after an exceptionally busy year 11 – albeit with an exceptional reward for her effort – she says she would recommend learning a language at VCE level to any student. “I feel like sometimes people overlook VCE languages – I never knew VCE languages were available. “It’s important that everybody knows that there are organisations such as VSL available to teach them to people.” She also paid tribute to the guidance and support of her St Margaret’s teachers for encouraging her agency in her learning.

WHAT’S ON

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

“I want to get back into serving the community again. I want to run again and I want to get my name back on the honour board for the right reasons. At the moment it’s a dishonour board,” he said. Star News understands Mr Flannery has put forward his request to be heard by the administrators at the next council meeting, slated for Tuesday 2 February.“It’s up to them now but a year later, this is still eating at me. I need closure and this is one way that I can get it,“ he said. “I played no part in any downturn or sacking of the council and I feel it’s my duty to say that I don’t want to be a part of or in any way

Bunjil Place. associated with the 2016-20 term.” Casey’s governance manager Rhys Matulis said: “Given the IBAC investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on that matter. Council has received and will consider Mr Flannery’s request in due course.”

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Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name.

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By Mitchell Clarke

Picture: SUPPLIED

If your community group or organisation is running an online-based activity during lockdown, email the details to dailyeditor@starnewsgroup. com.au for inclusion in our What’s On column.

on Mondays from 7pm till 9.30pm at Fiddlers Green in Berwick (when allowed in-person), or otherwise over Zoom. For more information contact Paulien on 0412 741 195 or maritimes.1@hotmail.com

Join your community choir

TedX comes to Casey

Voices of Casey are continuing to rehearse throughout the lockdown. When lockdowns restrict in-person meetings, the choir rehearses over Zoom. On Zoom the choir is split into two ’rooms’ to make rehearsing easier and allow ongoing interaction. If you’re looking for a new hobby, a chance to practise your singing or a place to make new friends, why not join Voices of Casey - it’s Covid-safe! Rehearsals are held

TEDxYouth@Casey 2021 will take place at Federation University in Berwick. This is the first live event for some time and will be a dedicated youth event with a range of guest speakers. The event will be held on a yet-to-be-confirmed date. Cost is free but bookings will be required. For more information or updates, visit tedxcasey.com/

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Improvement starts here It was the Scottish poet Robbie Burns (1759 – 1796) that once said: “O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us!” which in modern English simply states ‘if only we could see ourselves as others see us’. If we are serious about improving performance in our own business role(s), whatever they may be, then it is important to start by understanding how we are doing. I clearly remember at an early stage of my managerial career being involved in what was termed an ‘upward feedback survey’ (also known as ‘360 degree feedback’) in which anonymous feedback is provided by your peers and team members as well as your boss on your own performance. I also remember the CEO at the time saying that this was not something you should necessarily “read from the top of a tall building” as you invariably get some unpleasant truths fed back! Sometimes you can be left wondering how your actions could have been interpreted in the way they were but equally you do also get some pleasant surprises as well. My point here is that we all try to behave in ways we consider reasonable but what may be ‘reasonable’ to us, may not necessarily appear so to others and so understanding how our behaviours are showing up to others is key. Here is an old Chinese parable that highlights the point: A young man set off walking from village A to village B along a well-used track, a journey that was going to take him most of the day. As he approached the mid-point, he saw an old man sitting beside the road. They chatted for a bit and curious to know what lay ahead of him, he asked the old man what the people at the next village were like. The old man asked him “what were they like at village A?” to which he responded that they were very friendly, hospitable and he really enjoyed their company.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH “That is what the people are like at the next village” said the old man. Happy with this response, the young man continued his journey. The following day, another young man was making the same trip along the track from village A to village B and he too spotted the elderly man sitting by the road around the half-way point. This young man was also keen to find out what might be in store for him at village B. The old man asked him “what were they like at village A?” to which this young man replied that they were unfriendly, anti-social and he was glad to be rid of their company. “That is what the people are like at the next village” said the old man. The point here is that when we start to see patterns emerge in the relationships that we have with others, whilst we may have previously thought that ‘the others’ were at fault, if we tend to see the same problems reoccurring for us, it might be time to start to take a more critical look at our own actions and behaviours. This is not to necessarily say that we are always in the wrong, but it may be a question of style or perhaps we are filtering the information we receive through a strong personal belief system which causes us to view things differently to most. As an example, I recently coached a talented young man whose consistent complaint was that ‘people didn’t listen to him’. As we explored this further, it became clear that for him, ‘not agreeing’ meant they weren’t listen-

If you are a business leader with people responsibilities, being aware of how others perceive you is critically important. ing which puts a very different perspective on things. In fact, his challenge was to listen harder to others. If you are a business leader with people responsibilities, being aware of how others perceive you is critically important otherwise you can continue to make the same mistakes over

and over perhaps without even realizing it. Getting some feedback to understand where you can improve is the first step to becoming a highly effective manager and leader. Ian Ash is the Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions - www.ombs.com.au

FOCUS ON … TAX TIME

ATO reminder about legitimate work claims The Australian Taxation Office has issued a reminder to taxpayers about the rules regarding work expenses like protective clothing, uniforms and travel. A deduction some people might be claiming due to Covid-19 is expenses for protective items required for work. “Taxpayers working in jobs that require physical contact or close proximity with customers or clients during Covid-19 measures may be able to claim a deduction for items such as gloves, face masks, sanitiser or antibacterial spray if they have paid for the items and not been reimbursed. This includes industries like healthcare, retail and hospitality” said ATO assistant commissioner Karen Foat said.

You still cannot claim travelling from home to work. “Generally, most people cannot claim the cost of travelling to and from work and working from home as a result of Covid-19 does not change this. For example, if you are working from home because of Covid-19 but need to go to your regular office one day per week, your home to work travel is still private travel and cannot be claimed,” Ms Foat said. Reduce claims that aren’t relevant for part of the year “With more people working from home, working reduced hours or unfortunately not working at all, we expect to see claims for laun-

dry expenses or travel expenses decline this year,” Ms Foat said. “If you aren’t travelling for work, you can’t claim travel expenses. If you aren’t wearing your work uniform, you can’t claim laundry expenses. It’s still important to meet the three golden rules: you must have spent the money and not have been reimbursed, it must relate directly to earning your income, and you must have a record to prove it. “What you can claim really depends on your circumstances. Whilst we are trying to make it easier for people to claim what they are entitled to; we are also asking people to take a bit of extra care if their circumstances have changed this year.” Ms Foat said.

As good as your word and don’t make promises you’re not going to keep.

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NEWS

Piling rigs on site at Berwick Station.

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A view of the pile cage.

Clyde Rd crossing update Clyde Road’s level crossing removal project is getting ready to step up construction in September following the completion of extensive bridge piling and micro tunnelling works at the Berwick site. Buses will replace trains between Westall and Pakenham and Cranbourne stations from 8.30pm, Friday 10 September until the last service, Sunday 12 September, to allow for the installation of underground services and further drainage works. These works will coincide with Metro Trains’ rail infrastructure renewal and maintenance on the line, with works on the level crossing removal project at Clyde Road being

carried out at the same time to minimise disruption to passengers. During the past eight months, three piling rigs weighing up to 100 tonnes have completed major bridge piling works at the Clyde Road site, digging 16 holes up to 29 metres deep for bridge foundations. These works have paved the way for the installation of the new rail bridge in early 2022. Meanwhile, a micro tunnel boring machine has steadily been working its way for 385 metres under Clyde Road so that important drainage pipes can be laid. More than two kilometres of drainage will be installed, and more than 11 kilometres of underground services will be relocated by the

Residents rate council The City of Casey has scored a positive increase in its overall performance over the past year,according to the results of the 2021 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey (CSS). The surveys were conducted in February and March this year by independent market research agency, JWS Research, with about 600 interviews among a representative sample of the community. The annual survey, which is coordinated by the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions on behalf of Victorian Councils, asks community members in Victorian local government areas about their council facilities, services, infrastructure, community engagement and more. Despite the ongoing challenges and interruptions to some services as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, the results showed that perceptions of Casey Council’s performance have improved significantly by five index points in 2021, achieving an overall performance index score of 57 (a 10 per cent increase). Rating of the council’s performance across most service areas also improved or held steady in the past year, with waste management the area where council performed best with an index score of 71, compared with the state-wide score of 69. Sealed local roads was Council’s next highest rated service area (index score of 62, compared with 59 in 2020, a 5 per cent increase) and for the fourth consecutive year, Casey was rated significantly higher than both the state-wide and interface group averages in this area. Customer service came up as an area needing improvement, dropping from an index score of 73 in 2020 to 68. While Covid-19 at times impacted the ability of residents to interact with the council face-to-face and increased phone wait times, the council has promised more work will be done to ensure resources are in place to improve the community’s contact with it across all channels. The council’s overall direction and community decisions were other areas where berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Residents have rated the City of Casey highly in a number of areas according to the survey’s results. Casey performed relatively well in 2021, compared with the previous year. City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the annual survey was a valuable tool to gauge the feelings of the community in relation to the services and programs that the council provides and highlight areas where improvements can be made. “While council’s overall performance score has improved, we are committed to building on this across all aspects of council’s work,” Ms Duff said. “Despite the challenges we have all faced in the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, council has continued to deliver services and support the most vulnerable members of our community. “We will use the community feedback provided in this survey to review the way we provide services, how we communicate with our residents, and consider where improvements can be made.” The state-wide results are available in the 2021 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey report

time the project is finished. The works are part of the Victorian Government’s $15 billion upgrade to the Pakenham line, including the removal of every level crossing by 2025, new high-capacity trains and the Metro Tunnel Project. Construction crews will work around the clock for three days, with an increase in heavy vehicles, pedestrian and cyclist detours, and lane closures with reduced speed limits also expected to be in place. The southern car park at Berwick Station also remains closed while car park construction work continues, with some northern car parks also scheduled to be closed throughout Sep-

tember during the level crossing removal works. Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas welcomed the benefits the crossing’s removal will bring for commuters and road users. “Although a temporary closure of the line is required to allow essential works to continue, the works will deliver huge benefits for train passengers and road users and we thank them for their patience while crews are out on the ground.” Passengers and road users can plan their journey at bigbuild.vic.gov.au For more information on the works, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/clyde-roadberwick

History group looks back By Danielle Kutchel After a tumultuous year, Narre Warren and District Family History Group has welcomed in its 2021/22 committee via a Zoom-based AGM. The meeting was held on Saturday 21 August and was preceded by an informative presentation and Q and A session with Masonic research Rob Hamilton. Rob’s presentation held members in thrall as he showed them how to search Masonic records and make sense of the traditions and history of the Freemasons – including some local names. After the main presentation, members of the group remained online for the official proceedings of the day. It’s been a difficult year for the group with restrictions making many of their research and fundraising activities difficult or impossible. Zoom meetings have allowed them to stay connected online, and the group continued to hold monthly history hot spots at the Cranbourne Library when it was open to the public. A highlight of the year was receiving $300 from Grill’d, which helped replenish the fundraising kitty. Meanwhile, activities like cataloguing

books continued to be carried out, and there was time for some face-to-face catch-ups throughout the year. The AGM saw the re-election of the same committee that led the family history group through 2020. Jane Rivett-Carnac will lead the committee again as president. She’ll be joined by Fay McCoubrie as vice president, Eileen Durdin as secretary, Lynne Bradley as treasurer, Moreyn Dimsey as librarian, Barbara Sharp as Lorraine Taylor research room manager, Marianne Rocke as newsletter editor, Lyne McGregor as correspondence secretary and Kerryn Maxwell as membership officer. The position of publicity officer is currently vacant. The Member of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Awards were held over for the next face-to-face meeting, in order to appropriately honour the recipients. The group is looking forward to a return to normal operations once Covid restrictions lift. To find out more about the Narre Warren and District Family History Group or to read its newsletter, Spreading Branches, visit nwfhg.org.au You can also find the group on Facebook.

Jane Rivett-Carnac, in maroon, leads a group on a tour in a 2018 picture of the Narre Warren and District Family History Group. 186308 Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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Berwick Berwick Newsagency 29 High Street Berwick Ray White Real Estate 42 High Street Berwick Alex Scott and Staff Real Estate 49 High Street Berwick Harcourts Real Estate 20 High Street Berwick Neilson Partners 1st National 57 High Street Berwick Gluten Free and Chocolate 9/48 High Street Berwick O’Brien Real Estate 56-58 High Street Berwick St John of God Hospital 75 Kangan Drive Berwick Chris Peake Real Estate 18 Langmore Lane Berwick Woolworths Shopping Centre 1-9 Lyall Road Berwick Mansfield Street Foodmart 157-159 Mansfield Street Berwick Parkhill Plaza News and Lotto Shop 13, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Chemist Discount Centre Shop 2, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Coles Supermarket Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre Shop 19, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Coles Berwick Central 2 Richardson Grove Berwick Hocking Stuart Real Estate Suite 2, 16 Langsmore Lane

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Hallam 7 Eleven Service Station 38-40 Hallam South Road Hallam Joes Mini Mart 117 Hinrichsen Drive Hallam Coles Hallam 2 Princes Domain Drive Hallam Raine and Horne Real Estate - Hallam 2 Spring Square Hallam Hallam Square News 42 Spring Square Narre Warren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street Narre Warren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street Narre Warren Narre Warren Newsagency 34 Webb Street Narre Warren Fleetwood MiniMart 94-96 Fleetwood Drive Narre Warren Casey Gardens Caravan Park 6 Fullard Road Narre Warren City of Casey 2 Patrick NE Drive Narre Warren Neilson Partners 1st National 418 Princes Highway Narre Warren The Good Food Emporium 15/430–440 Princes Highway Narre Warren Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Coles 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Woolworths 25-55 Princes Highway

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Narre Warren O’Brien Real Estate Narre Warren 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Coles Express 2 Regency Drive & Princes Highway & Lauderdale Road Narre Warren Only Real Estate 13/3 Webb Street Narre Warren Donaldson Martin Real Estate 43-45 Webb Street Narre Warren Coles Express 155-171 Narre Warren North Road Narre Warren North Marcos IGA 2 Oakview Boulevard Narre Warren North Narre Warren North Newsagency 3/1E Oakview Boulevard Narre Warren South Casey Central Shopping Centre 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Coles 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Woolworths 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Ray White Real Estate Shop 20, 400 Narre Warren Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Casey News and Lotto Shop 156, 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Ritchies Amberly Park 245 Ormond Road

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There will be no more local football or netball in 2021. 242702

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Leagues left to ponder By Nick Creely and David Nagel It was inevitable, but now it’s official. There will be no more local football and netball in 2021, with the latest lockdown extension until at least the 23rd of September dispelling all hopes that a finals series could be possible, with leagues now set to turn their attention to 2022, and hopefully no more disruptions after two Covid-riddled seasons. After no competitions in 2020, and just half a season in 2021, it’s a bitter blow for sportstarved communities. Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the longterm duration of the current Covid-lockdown - and subsequent restrictions - has caused the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) to abandon its 2021 season effective immediately. The WGFNC released the following statement on Friday, 3 September, acknowledging the difficult situation facing all governing bodies of community sport in Victoria. “On the back of Wednesday’s state government announcement to extend the lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne the WGFNC, in consultation with member clubs, will abandon all grades of football and netball for the 2021 season“, the WGFNC statement reads. “Despite the intention of the WGFNC to complete a 2021 finals series, the current restrictions, and no clear timeline on easement of restrictions has forced the decision. “The WGFNC are committed to working closely with their member clubs, AFL Victoria, AFL Gippsland, and Netball Victoria to manage the associated issues related to the cancellation of all competition and working towards a return to play next season. “The teams who finished on top of the WGFNC ladder will be recognised as the 2021 minor premiers and the 2021 Best and Fairest berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Vote Counts will take place online with presentations to be arranged in due course. “We wish to take this opportunity to thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and league partners for your patience, support, and cooperation throughout the 2021 season.“ On Thursday 2 September, the Metropolitan Melbourne leagues - Eastern Football Netball League, Essendon District, Northern Football League, Southern Football League, Riddell District, VAFA, Western Region and South Metro Juniors issued a joint statement to get the ball rolling, confirming that they have mutually agreed to end all 2021 competitions. “This decision is an extremely difficult one and has not been made lightly,” the statement read. “All leagues have been working diligently in the hope of enabling the remaining games in the 2021 season to be played. “However, it is now apparent this will not be possible in the current environment.” The Metro leagues said it was now time to focus on a return to play next year. “All leagues are committed to working closely with their member clubs, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria to manage the associated issues related to the cancellation of all 2021 competitions and working towards a return to play next season,” the statement read. “We wish to take this opportunity to thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and league partners for your patience, support and cooperation throughout the 2021 season. “We urge all associated with our respective communities to heed the advice and regulations in place by order of the State Government. “We all have a role to play in ensuring our

community remains safe and healthy so we can all return to football and netball next season.” The AFL Outer East announced on Friday morning that its senior and junior competitions are cancelled for 2021, informing clubs on Thursday night. “While we understand this is an extremely disappointing decision, which was not made lightly, Outer East has exhausted all avenues possible in the hope of enabling the remaining games in the 2021 season to be played,” the league said. “Across September, we will be releasing and announcing our players awards for season 2021 to recognise the achievements of players across our various competitions. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and league partners for your patience, support, and cooperation throughout the 2021 season.” AFL South East has also made the difficult decision to pull the pin on 2021, announcing that its competitions will be cancelled effective immediately. This applies to competitions such as the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, South Eastern Womens, South East Juniors, Frankston District Junior Football League, and AFL South East Top Age football. “This is an extremely difficult decision and we had continued to hold hope that we would be able to complete our season,” AFL South East said. “However, it has become clear over the last 24 hours that it will not be possible to return to football in the Greater Melbourne area in the near future. “We wish to thank all club officials, players, volunteers, umpires and our partners for their

willingness to remain flexible and for their understanding throughout the whole year in very difficult circumstances.” The AFL has also announced that the VFL season will officially be called off. Despite trying valiantly to find a way to navigate a finals series, ongoing lockdown and state border closures have made it impossible for football to find a way through. Footscray has been recognised as the 2021 VFL minor premiers, but there will be no premier or Liston Medal awarded. “The 2021 season saw multiple schedule changes, several match cancellations, postponements and weeks of hiatus for many clubs, and all clubs, players, officials and umpires should be congratulated for their relentless pursuit to play matches,” AFL Head of Talent Pathways and State League Competitions Tristan Salter said. “All levels of the game across Australia have been impacted by the health pandemic this year and it has been another challenging year for everyone connected to football. “Footy clubs are the heartbeat of many local communities and the identity of our clubs and our league will not be defined by the outcome of the 2020 and 2021 season.” The Ellinbank and District Football League has also cancelled its 2021 senior competitions due to the lockdown extension. “As we played half a season it is very disappointing there was not a satisfactory conclusion to the senior season however all persons involved with senior football cannot put up with the uncertainty of indefinite lockdown extensions any longer - hence the season is called off,” the league said. However, the EDFL has left the door slightly ajar for potential junior finals, if the lockdown is lifted in Regional Victoria.

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

STAR NEWS 21

SPORT

Ash on fire By Nick Creely

Josh Dowling has departed Narre South, joining Springvale South. 230556

Picture: ROB CAREW

Big season shuffle By Nick Creely Amidst all of the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, it’s been a bumper off-season in the Dandenong District Cricket Association, with some big name recruits set to bolster the competition when community sport is given the green light to resume. Here are some of the signings and departures from the top two grades with cricket hopefully not too far away: TURF 1 Runners-up Berwick have been busy, both with recruits and departures, with Wookey Medal winner Ruwantha Kellepotha off to Premier Cricket to try his hand with Casey-South Melbourne, while Brendan Rose is another notable departure with the reliable paceman off to Richmond in a coaching-playing role at the Premier club. Cory Bevan (Knoxfield) and Josh Holden (Buckley Ridges) are two reliable players who’ve also departed the Cave. But the Bears have landed three big names as they look to once again remain in the premiership hunt, with ex-Tasmanian quick Andrew Perrin returning to the club after winning a premiership with Prahran in a major coup that will bolster the bowling, while talented leggie Riley Siwes comes across from Dandenong West where he will help fill the void left by Kellepotha. Mordialloc premiership skipper and champion keeper-batsman Damith Mapa Ralage is also bound for Arch Brown Reserve as he seeks a fresh change of scenery. Buckley Ridges have undergone some changes to its playing list with coach Chanaka Welegedara departing, while their pro pair, Benny Howell and Ian Cockbain won’t return and champion all-rounder Daniel ‘DJ’ Watson is also 50/50 to play for the club this season. But the Bucks always have something up their sleeve and have landed quick Nimesh Kariyawasam from North Dandenong as well as batsman Josh Holden from Berwick. It has also landed former Glamorgan batsman and ex-England Under 19 player Ben Wright as the club’s new skipper, in a huge signing for the club and competition.

Triyan De Silva is a quality addition to HSD. Picture: COURTESY OF ARJ GIESE/CRICKET VICTORIA Narre South are also hoping it has the cattle to compete for the Turf 1 flag this season, but will need to do so without star pair Josh Dowling and Scott Phillips, who have both departed Strathaird Recreation Reserve.But the Lions are hopeful that Jersey international gun Jonty Jenner can return to the club to help bolster the batting, while hard-hitting top order batsman Harsha De Silva joins the club from West Coburg. Springvale South - as they usually are - have had a bumper off-season, with two star quicks, Josh Dowling, and ex-State and BBL paceman Jayde Herrick linking up with the Bloods in what is a potent new-ball duo in the making. Star all-rounder Blade Baxter, who most recently has been performing strongly in the Northern Territory, has also joined the club from Ormond. Mitch Forsyth has also returned to the club after a stint with Dandenong and will add plenty of class through the middle order. Spots will be tough to obtain in the Turf 1 side down at Harold Road.

The Bloods have lost a few, however, with destructive all-rounder Nathan King off to Lakes Entrance as captain-coach after he moved to East Gippsland, champion batsman Clint Tomlinson has retired after a short stint, while Stephen Hennessy has departed for Keysborough. St Mary’s have been busy locking away its senior list and are looking incredibly stable under skipper Wendyl Pires, but have added a quality recruit with top order batsman Nanayakkarawasam Kalumshehara signing on after two strong seasons for North Dandenong. TURF 2 Cranbourne has had a fairly busy off-season, with the Eagles landing attacking wicketkeeper batsman Matt Collett from Dandenong West, with the top-order batsman a quality addition. But it’s been Heinz Southern Districts who have really gone on a substantial recruitment drive after a tough Turf 1 season in 2020/21, with a scattering of new names down at the Snakepit. Under new coach Craig Hookey who has joined the club from Cranbourne, the Cobras have been busy, landing Matt Blanch (Frankston Peninsula), leg-spinner Maheesha Gamage (Casey-South Melbourne), all-rounder Jason Ward (Richmond), gun paceman and former Victorian Under 19 player Triyan De Silva from Dandenong who has first XI experience at Premier level, as well as off-spinner Jordan Margenberg from Cranbourne. As previously mentioned, Keysborough has bolstered its batting with the signing of Stephen Hennessy from Springvale South, with the top-order batsman expected to really relish his opportunity after mixing between the first and second XIs at the Bloods. And the Parkmore Pirates have also steadily locked away the majority of its playing list and looms as a side to watch, but have added toporder batsman Abhinav Bhatia who took out Coomoora’s club champion award last season after a sensational individual season.

As the scores keep flowing off the bat of the prodigiously talented Ashley Chandrasinghe, the noise is only going to get louder for the Casey-South Melbourne star opener. The left-hander - who plundered 669 runs last season for the Swans in a remarkable breakout season - has continued on his merry way in the Victorian off-season up in the Northern Territory, crossing past 1000 runs for the season. On the weekend, Chandrasinghe struck an absolutely sublime 156 from 213 balls in the Darwin District competition semi-final for Waratah, backing up his brilliant 172 the week prior. In the pressure-cooker that is finalscricket, Chandrasinghe looked unfazed, bringing up the back-to-back tons with a crisp pull-shot to help guide his side into this weekend’s grand final against Southern Districts. Chandrasinghe also struck an unbeaten 59 to guide his club to the one-day premiership, and was also prominent in the Twenty20 grand final, combining his commitments with a strong stint for the Southern Storm in the TIO Men’s Strike League and in the Top End Series, which featured some of the finest talents in the country. His most impressive performance for the Northern Territory came in a clash against the Cricket Australia XI featuring a bowling attack featuring state players Liam Guthrie, Chris Tremain and Jack Edwards, where Chandrasinghe struck 86 from 111 balls in what was a thrilling tied match. Chandrasinghe’s Waratah - which also features talented local youngster Yash Pednekar - takes on the Southern Districts for the premiership this weekend, with the match to be live streamed from 12:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

CHANDRASINGHE’S SEASON IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY: Waratah CC (Darwin District Cricket Competition) 1 25 7 22no (Twenty20) 36no 34no (Twenty20) 85 59no (One Day grand final) 36no (1Twenty20) 10 27 (Twenty20 grand final) 99 28 172 156 Southern Storm (TIO Men’s Strike League One Day) 36 9 44 35 14 Southern Storm (TIO Men’s Strike League T20) 10 27 35no 28no Northern Territory (Top End Series) 86 31 10 28 innings 1162 runs at 55.33 Two centuries, three half-centuries

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22 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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SPORT

Struck out By Nick Creely Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed that all of its Metropolitan Melbourne competitions have been cancelled for 2021 after the latest extension of the Covid-19 lockdown. With many of the planned scenarios eliminated in recent weeks, FV had no choice but to make the announcement, and set it sights on an uninterrupted 2022 season. This applies to the NPL Womens (NPLW including Senior & U19), Victorian Premier League Womens, Womens State League, NPL Junior Girls, NPL Junior Boys, NPL Mens (NPL NPL2, NPL3, including Senior, U21 and U19), Mens State League, Mens Metropolitan and Masters, Metropolitan Community Juniors (U12-U21) and Metropolitan MiniRoos (U7U11) competitions. The south-east is a soccer rich region, hosting a vast range of clubs in these competitions, including the Dandenong Thunder, Dandenong City and Doveton SC which play in the NPL. FV released a statement, expressing its utter disappointment at the cancellation of the season. “2021 has certainly been another year of ups and downs for our state, and for football,” the statement read. “We brushed off the cobwebs of 2020 and saw a positive return to football in 2021, enjoying some exhilarating runs of play, giving us all hope that we could complete the football season.

“But COVID-19 has proved to be a truly fierce adversary and, sadly, we once again find ourselves in a very challenging landscape for football.” “We would like to express our gratitude to our football community, who have engaged in roundtable discussions, completed surveys and provided direct feedback to the team, all of which has been absolutely essential for us to best align with the needs of our community.” FV has, however, left the door ajar for a possible return to play for Regional Victoria, should the lockdown lift in time. “We are so pleased that there is still the possibility for players in Regional Victoria to return to football, once Government restrictions allow and subject to FV’s Return to Play conditions,” FV said. Basketball Victoria has also made the tough call to cancel its competitions, with the Big V, NBL1 South, and VJBL seasons all ending. The Big V competition, which hosts local outfits such as the Pakenham Warriors and Casey Cavaliers, released a statement saying it did everything it could to get basketball up and running. “While the league’s intent was to play finals and grand finals at the start of September, the extended lockdown has removed all available weeks remaining in the schedule to accommodate the return to the season,” the statement read. “An unfortunate ending to a remarkable season, with players, coaches, team staff and

Community sport such as soccer has been cancelled. 235198 administrators having navigated every up and down along the road to put the best possible product on the court each (available) week. “Following the cancellation of the season and no finals series, there will be no 2021 championship winners declared.” The Dandenong Baseball Association (DBA), where the Pakenham Pumas and Berwick City Cougars play, previously announced on 21 August that its Winter Season would be cancelled effective immediately. “This decision has not come lightly, and

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

it certainly isn’t the decision we wanted to make,” DBA said. “Further delays in lockdowns and restrictions, together with the unknowns of when and how we can return to baseball in the near future were major factors in this decision process, as well as the consideration for our members safety out in the community. “We understand that this decision will come hard to our clubs and our members, especially given the season has presented many challenges.”

Storm’s indigenous support

Future Score takes out $400,000 Cranbourne Cup for jockey Fred Kersley and trainer Matt Picture: ROSS HOLBURT/RACING PHOTOS Cumani last year. 249364

Hunt for Cranbourne Cup Melbourne Racing Club and Cranbourne Turf Club are joining forces to bolster the tail-end of the Spring Racing Carnival making the Neds Peninsula Cup (1600m) a win-and-you’re-in to the first standalone $500,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup (1600m). In light of Racing Victoria’s recent programming changes, the two predominant racing clubs in Melbourne’s Southeast have identified the win-and-in concept as a natural progression for the winner of the Neds Peninsula Cup on Sunday 31 October to advance to the TAB Cranbourne Cup two weeks later on Saturday 13 November. Despite the changing of ratings over the years, the Neds Peninsula Cup has some excellent winners and placegetters over the journey with recent winners having performed strongly at their subsequent starts, with some going on to become stakes level performers. The recent honour roll includes; 2020-Kenya, 2019-Danon Roman, 2018-Royal Ace, 2017-Raghu, 2016-Master Reset, 2015-Inspector and 2014 Red Bomber. MRC Executive Director of Racing and Operations Jake Norton said forming a relationship with these two races is a mutually berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

beneficial move for both clubs. “The Club is no stranger to pushing for innovation and identifying opportunities for the betterment of racing and teaming up with Cranbourne Turf Club on this win-andin concept is one of them,” said Norton. “This extra incentive will hopefully benefit the Peninsula Cup by boosting the size of the field, which has struggled for numbers but not for quality in recent years, and we’ll no doubt see it become an attractive path for connections to pursue with their horses.” Cranbourne Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge said that Cranbourne was delighted to partner with the MRC to further strengthen racing in the south east during the Spring Racing Carnival. “The club is determined to deliver the best TAB Cranbourne Cup ever in its exciting new timeslot and is pleased to formally establish the pathway from the Peninsula Cup to the Cranbourne Cup,” Bainbridge said. The recent honour roll of Cranbourne Cup winners includes; 2020-Future Score, 2019-Dr Drill, 2018-Octabello, 2017-Folkswood, 2015-Digitalism, 2014-Mourinho, 2013-Pakal, 2012-Midnight Martini and 2011 Boom ‘N’ Zoom.

Coles has extended its First Nations pathways program and support of indigenous aspiring athletes, partnering with the Melbourne Storm to help young Indigenous rugby league players realise their dreams of becoming an NRL player in the future. The three-year partnership builds on Coles’ indigenous programs and includes support for education, employment and health and wellbeing outcomes. Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the Storm First Nations Pathway Program would provide emerging indigenous talent with the unique opportunity to have a full immersive experience at the club, focusing on professional and personal development, mentoring, elite training and preparation. The partnership was officially launched at Melbourne Storm training by three of Melbourne’s current day Indigenous stars, Josh Addo-Carr, Reimis Smith and Nicho Hynes, as the program’s firs participants were announced in front of the playing group. The inaugural indigenous talent identified to be selected for the program are Ammaron (AJ) Gudgeon, a 19-year-old Noongar man, who has been playing for the CQ Capras in Rockhampton; and Seamus King-Smith, a 19-year-old Kulkalgal man from the Northern Pride, based in Cairns. They will be part of Storm’s 2022 NRL preseason, giving them the opportunity to work with coach Craig Bellamy and his coaching staff and alongside the NRL squad. “We’re very excited and proud to be launch-

ing this program and partnership with Coles over an initial three-year period,” Storm CEO Justin Rodski said. “Coles, like our organisation, is genuine and committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities right across Australia. “By creating a First Nations talent pathway, and utilising the resources we have here at Storm, we hope more Indigenous kids will have NRL careers and hopefully many will be wearing our famous purple jersey. “This is a first for our club and is part of a broad range of initiatives and programs we will be focusing on into the future, including starting our new health-focussed partnership with Deadly Choices. “The partnership with Coles is groundbreaking and reflects both organisations’ investment into providing mentoring and professional development opportunities for young talent in indigenous communities and providing a worthwhile immersion experience in Melbourne to support their footballing dreams. “Our recruitment and development staff will identify those players with potential and then they will get an opportunity to be immersed in our club, learning and developing their skills, on and off the field, in an elite environment.” The Storm First Nations Pathway Program aligns with the Coles Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander plan established in 2010 and launched in 2011 to drive Indigenous employment, supply chain and partnerships.

Melbourne Storm Indigenous players Reimis Smith, Josh Addo-Carr and Nicho Hynes with inaugural Storm First Nations Pathway Program members Ammaron (AJ) Gudgeon and Seamus King-Smith. Picture: MELBOURNE STORM Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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24 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 9 September, 2021

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