Wednesday, 18 January, 2023
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
Op-shop dumpsters overflowing
@PakenhamGazette
Wombats warming hearts
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PAGES 42-43
Tributes flow A large crowd is expected to pour into the Cardinia Cultural Centre banquet room on Friday 20 January to farewell popular Pakenham identity and third generation proprietor of the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette, Ian Thomas OAM. Mr Thomas died last Wednesday afternoon, 11 January, while working on his Pakenham property. He was out on his beloved red Massey Ferguson tending to the property and didn’t return for dinner when expected. His wife of 63 years Dorothy went to investigate and found Ian collapsed next to his tractor. He often joked that would be the perfect way to die. Tributes began pouring in for the 88-yearold, who in 2002 was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the newspaper industry and the local community. A Gazette online story posted last week evoked more than 250 reactions on social media, more than 120 comments and 28 shares. The overwhelming sentiment was that he was a true gentleman and wonderful ambassador for the district. Former staff fondly recalled his ritual of circulating around the office each day to ensure he said ‘good morning’ to everyone. He was remembered for his contribution to community groups like the Scouts, the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society, the Berwick-Pakenham Historical Society and the Pakenham Chamber of Commerce. At an industry level he served as president of the Victorian Counry Press Association and during that two-year term fulfilled a promise to visit every member paper across the state, which was more than 90 COVERAGE PAGES 6-7, 12, 16, 18-19, 21
Road worries reignited A video shared on social media has shown a long line of cars in the service lane of the Princes Highway waiting to enter Gumbuya World. The video has locals worried as summer tourists flock to the amusement park during the school holidays. “That intersection is horrible, especially with all the tourists and their bad driving. Dropping the speed limit has done absolutely nothing - people still do 100 through there,” Sara Watson, who captured the video, said. Thousands of patrons have attended Gumbuya World each day over the first two weekends of January, but drivers are urged to stay safe on the roads. STORY PAGE 5
Ian Thomas, who is being fondly remembered as a community stalwart and true gentleman, receives a Distinguished Service Award for Scouts in 2012. Scouting was one of many community causes close to his heart.
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‘Shot theory’ aired in court The accidental shooting of Carol Clay is one scenario Victoria Police considered when investigating the camper’s disappearance in March 2020. She and her partner Russell Hill vanished while on a camping trip in the remote Wonnangatta Valley area, in Victoria’s alpine region. Former airline pilot Greg Lynn was charged with their murder in November 2021 and has pleaded not guilty. A committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court is testing the evidence against him. Lynn’s barrister Dermot Dann outlined one scenario officers considered, including that Mr Hill had grabbed Lynn’s shotgun. “The two were wrestling over the gun causing an accidental discharge, or causing discharge, which struck Ms Clay in the head while positioned on the (passenger) side of Mr Hill’s vehicle,” he described. Victoria Police forensic officer Mark Gellatly confirmed that was one scenario considered and evidence found on Mr Hill’s car was possibly connected with that. He examined the inside of Mr Hill’s car in May 2020 and found one possible area of blood staining on an armrest. STORY PAGE 3
By Garry Howe
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