Wednesday, Wednesday,330 August, June, 2021 2022
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Accused freed on bail A father accused of kidnapping two 15-yearold girls and raping them in remote locations in the 1990s has been freed on bail because of his family’s ongoing support. Father of seven, Garry Cook, has been charged nearly 24 years after allegedly raping the girls in September and December 1998, after picking them up in the Belgrave area. The 71-year-old’s first alleged victim was hitchhiking near Belgrave train station at about 8.45pm on 24 September, hoping for a lift to Emerald. It has been reported that Cook, of Drouin, was bailed to his sister’s home in Pakenham. STORY PAGE 2
100 days celebrated
Community focus for cop
St Clare’s Primary School Officer Foundation students and teachers are celebrating reaching 100 days of learning in the classroom. Students enjoyed dressing up as 100 year olds, with props of pearls, hair rollers, walking sticks and suspenders donned for the special day. The students celebrated with a shindig that involved dancing, singing, colouring-in and counting to 100. STORY PAGE 18
The South East’s new police boss lists family violence and hooning as among her greatest priorities, on the back of a rise in family violence offences in Cardinia. Another modern policing issue is resources and how to deploy them across the sprawling South East. Superintendent Jo Stafford said police were always close at hand at Kooweerup and Lang Lang, despite the towns’ police stations not being open 24/7. The nearest 24/7 police station is in Pakenham. Under the police’s resourcing model, officers and resources were put in known areas of most need at the times they’re needed, she said. STORY PAGE 6
Avery and Brooklyn colouring-in. 291782
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rounding suburbs, according to Domain’s June Quarterly House Price Report. Ray White Pakenham’s Gavin Staindl said growth had declined marginally in Pakenham. “We’re in a very affordable area in Paken-
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Pakenham is proving to be an appealing area for first home buyers as house prices remain relatively low when compared to suburbs closer to Melbourne’s CBD. The annual pace of house and unit price growth is easing across Melbourne and sur-