Wednesday, Wednesday, 14 December, 30 June, 2021 2022
Pakenham
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Christmas Cheer
PAGE 15
20-PAGE LIFTOUT Make this festive seaso n your gifts, foods and extra special by shopp entertainmen Christmas ing locally Che t. D fo
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Year 12 students received their VCE and ATAR results on Monday 11 December. This year, 49,581 students across the state will graduate with their VCE – a completion rate of 98 per cent, while another 15,163 students will graduate with their VCAL, 6 per cent more than last year. “Finishing school is an exciting time and your VCE or VCAL qualification will unlock many pathways now available to you,” Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority chief executive officer Stephen Gniel said. “It’s also natural to feel a little overwhelmed, so reach out to your family, teachers and friends for support and seek out all the information you can as you plan your next step.” STORIES PAGES 16-17, 22-23
Tributes flow for Jack Rae For more than 70 years, Jack Rae OAM was a legend that spanned the show scene across Australia, including in Berwick and Dandenong. Mr Rae, 94, who died overnight on 8 December, was a good mate sadly missed by many, says Dandenong Show president John Follett. “He’d be someone you’d never forget for the rest of your life,” Mr Follett said. In 2018, the Dandenong Show Society named its heritage cattle sale ring, the Jack Rae OAM Pavilion. Similarly, a new building at the Akoonah Park showgrounds in Berwick was also bestowed Mr Rae’s name in 2021.
Hunting for a tree With the smell of pine needles in the air, Christmas has arrived in Cardinia. Hundreds of families have made their way to the Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm in Officer to pick a tree to decorate with all the trimmings. STORY PAGES 62-63
Elle from Emerald helped pick the perfect Christmas tree with her family. 310887
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
STORIES PAGES 20-21
Down to the wire Labor’s Emma Vulin won the seat of Pakenham by 307 votes, while Labor’s Jordan Crugnale claimed Bass on an even slimmer margin with 202 votes, making them among the most marginal seats in the state. The narrow ALP wins have helped deliver an overall “strong mandate” to the State Gov-
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ernment, a political expert says. But voters in the marginal seats also hold the power to hold the government to account, says Monash University politics senior lecturer Dr Zareh Ghazarian. Ms Crugnale and Ms Vulin would be expected to keep their promises, Dr Ghazarian said.
These included a major upgrade to Pakenham Secondary College, a dog park in Officer, planning for a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Officer and boat ramps in Lang Lang and Tooradin. As marginal seats, Bass and Pakenham would “tend to be the focus” of the next elec-
tion campaign, Dr Ghazarian said. “Both major parties’ votes went down across the board, which means voters are happy to vote for alternative candidates if they feel the major parties are not representing them effectively.” STORY PAGE 3
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