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Finance woes in South East A staggering $5.8 million of debts to predatory lenders were resolved by financial counsellors at South East Community Links in 2020-’21. At its annual general meeting on 15 November, the service marked 50 years since it began as the memorably-named SCAAB (Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau). Poignantly it also mourned the recent passing of its inspirational founder Merle Mitchell AM. It also reported the return of community financial hardship after the end of Covid supports - such as JobKeeper, JobSeeker supplements, home loan deferrals and moratoriums on evictions and utility disconnections. STORY PAGE 7
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7-8... Howzat! “Howzat”…Charlie Johnson has every reason to be practicing his appealing technique after the 14-year-old Beaconsfield leg-spinner cut a swathe through the Coomoora B Grade senior side on Saturday. Charlie took seven wickets and conceded just eight runs to be the star performer as cricket made its big return on the weekend. Turn to page 61 in SPORT for more on Charlie’s remarkable achievement and for a full wrap of all the cricket action.
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Federation University will begin accepting voluntary redundancies as it restructures its academic model. The university, with campuses based in Berwick, Churchill and Ballarat, announced on Monday 22 November it would cut down its traditional structure of six university schools to three. Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Bentley said the restructure was focused on employer demand which would increase job opportunities for students and help tackle regional skills shortages. “It’s an exciting opportunity that will allow Federation to grow and drive innovation and jobs in our regions,“ he said. STORY PAGE 5
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Carol and Russell shared their anguish over the disappearance. “It’s an enormous loss and I’m just really looking forward to taking that heaviness away,“ Carol’s sister Jill said. This week, the Gazette looks back on what we know about the case. STORIES PAGES 2-3
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san Patrol - and its trailer which was spotted in the area around the time of Carol and Russell’s disappearance. Police said they were keen to speak to the driver of the vehicle or any witnesses who saw the vehicle in the Wonnangatta Valley on or around 20 March 2020. In October this year, family members of
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In news some thought might never come, Victoria Police announced on Tuesday 23 November that a man had been arrested in relation to the disappearance of Pakenham woman Carol Clay and her camping partner Russell Hill, of Drouin.
A 55-year-old Caroline Springs man was arrested about 5.30pm Monday 22 November and was interviewed by police on Tuesday morning. Answers to their fate have yet to be revealed. The arrest follows a push from police to find information about a blue four-wheel drive – believed to be a mid to late 1990s model Nis-
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By Shelby Brooks