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Relay for Life celebrates 20 years
International Women’s Day
Last hurrah for Lucas
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Running for the kids
Leading the way By Eleanor Wilson In Melbourne’s South East, the political landscape is shifting, and a legion of determined women are at the helm. Bass MP Jordan Crugnale, Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson, Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams and Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino were all elected, or re-elected into their seats at the November 2022 State election. And they’re all the first females to represent their electorates. Ms Williams, who served as the Minister for Women for four years and is currently Minister for Mental Health, Ambulance Services and and Treaty and First Peoples, regards it is “an incredible honour” to be the first female MP for Dandenong. “I’ve grown up surrounded by strong women – with three big sisters, many aunties and four nieces – and they have taught me how remarkable women are,” she said. “It is incredibly important to me that women’s voices are heard, and I am so proud to be that voice for Dandenong.” While Ms Williams has served in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2014, Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino and Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson are still familiarising themselves with the Spring Street steps. Ms Wilson gave her inaugural speech just weeks ago, where she touched on what it means to be a feminist. Addressing the house, Ms Wilson reflected on a conversation with her children, years ago, where the MP told them she did not consider herself to be a feminist. “At the time I did not really understand what feminism was,” she said. “I thought that a feminist was someone holding a placard and protesting in the streets, which I did not really identify with, but what I have learned is that feminism comes in lots of
State Labor MPs Sonya Kilkenny, Harriet Shing, Belinda Wilson, Jordan Crugnale, Daniela De Martino, Pauline Richards and Emma Vulin celebrate International Women’s Day in Parliament on Tuesday 7 March. Picture: SUPPLIED shapes and sizes. “I have come to realise that I am a feminist, and I am really proud of it.” For Ms Vulin, it was an agonising almost two-week wait to claim election victory over her opponent, Liberal candidate David Farrelly, with just a few hundred votes separating the two at the finish line. Ms Crugnale also fought a tight race in the 2022 State election, defeating the Liberal Party’s Aaron Brown by just 200 votes to reclaim the seat of Bass. Like Ms Crugnale, Ms Richards is also serving her second term in government, as the
Member for Cranbourne, which had previously been held by Labor’s Jude Perera for 16 years before she was elected in 2018. The South East MPs are indicative of a wider marker of change within the current State Government, which is made up of 54 per cent women and a cabinet comprising 64 per cent women. “By investing in initiatives for women today, we create a more inclusive community for the women of tomorrow. Women’s voices belong in every room where decisions are made,” Ms Williams said. “Representation matters, because it leads to different discussions, the canvassing of is-
sues that have otherwise remained hidden. It leads to better outcomes, for all Victorians.” The Victorian Government is leading the nation on gender equality reforms, with initiatives such as gender responsive budgeting, free pads and tampons in schools, the nation’s first Gender Equality Act, free kinder and free TAFE. “Royal commissions into family violence and the mental health system have led to ground-breaking changes to improve our health, safety and wellbeing. And the intergenerational changes continue all around us,” Ms Vulin said. Continued page 3
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CITY OF CASEY
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Council adopts Climate Action Plan Our Climate Action Plan will direct future efforts to help the City of Casey and the community achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Adopted at last week's Council meeting, the plan, which incorporates extensive feedback from the community, provides direction and guidance across six themes - Energy Efficient Buildings, Renewable Energy, Transport, Circular Economy, Sustainable Land Use and Planning, and Education and Empowerment.
Working together to improve women's health We are working with Federation University on a research project to help improve physical activity levels for women in the City of Casey. We want to hear from women aged 18 and over, including women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, who are not active on a regular basis. T he project will involve completing a short survey and attending in-person workshops to help identify opportunities for you to become more active.
Each participant will receive a $50 gift card, plus vouchers to access various physical activities in the City of Casey.
T he plan builds on our strong record of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which includes upgrading to LED streetlighting, purchasing 100 per cent renewable energy, making our buildings more energy efficient, installing a solar farm in Cranbourne and diverting more than 35,000 tonnes of organic and food waste annually from landfill with our kerbside waste collection.
To register, please email m.casey@federation.edu.au
How can Council best support your business?
To view the plan, please visit our website.
We understand that businesses in our community continue to face the challenges of economic recovery in a changing financial and commercial environment. We appreciate too that increasing interest rates and rising inflation is cause for concern for some businesses, particularly those relying on consumer spending. To gain a better understanding of how we can best support businesses through these challenges now and into the future, we are launching an annual business survey. If you operate a business in the City of Casey, we encourage you to have your say via our community consultation website Casey Conversations
Celebrate Harmony Day As part of the Feast of Nations program, we invite you to celebrate Harmony Day with family and friends from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm on Tuesday 21 March. To be held at Autumn Place Community Hub at 29 Autumn Place in Doveton, there will be a free halal barbeque, and lots of activities, including an African drumming workshop, henna and tie dye workshops, soccer drills and many more. To book your place, please visit our website.
Contact City of Casey
Phone: 03 9705 5200 • NRS: 133 677 (for the deaf, hearing or speech impaired) Postal: PO Box 1000 Narre Warren, VIC 3805
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Get the latest news and events in the Casey • community delivered straight to your inbox. Visit casey.vic.gov.au/email-newsletter
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Help young people get their driver's license We are recruiting volunteer driving instructors to work with learners as part of our Transport Accident Commission (TAC) L2P Program. T he L2P Program is a community-based program developed to assist eligible young Victorian learner drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 years - who do not have access to a supervising driver or an appropriate vehicle - gain driving experience required for a probationary license. To find out more or join the program, please email l2p@casey.vic.gov.au
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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Coastal towns not Lead the way satisfied with roads By Eleanor Wilson Local road satisfaction in the City of Casey has taken another nosedive, according to recent data. Figures from the City of Casey Community Satisfaction Survey from quarter two (Q2) 2022/23 show residents’ satisfaction for local roads has stooped to 45 per cent, down from 56 per cent in 2021/22. The lowest scores received were from the municipality’s south and coastal villages, council said, where satisfaction for local roads was at just 10 per cent. The results come as no surprise to Tooradin local and former City of Casey mayor and councillor Colin Butler, who believes the local road quality is a result of cost cutting by council. “No wonder [road satisfaction] is at 10 per cent, rural roads get graded every six weeks since the administrators came in,” Mr Butler said. “You can ask for them to be graded but there is no accountability under administration, as you can only talk to council officers and have no community representation to pursue your problems.” Casey Council is currently run by government-appointed administrators, and will be until 2024, after it was embroiled in a corruption scandal and sacked in 2020. Mr Butler, who was Casey mayor in 2007 and a councillor from 2003 to 2008, claims unsealed roads were graded every three weeks 10 years ago. Council grades unsealed roads to reshape
Tooradin resident Colin Butler said the maintenance of dirt roads in Casey’s coastal villages is a Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS major problem. 322921 and re-compact the road, even the road surface and to ensure that the road will shed water away from the centre after rain. “The unmade roads were a disgrace last year during winter and all council did was lay cheap stone on to save costs.” A fellow Tooradin local, who wished not to be named, said residents on Bayview Road, a local dirt road located off the South Gippsland Highway, have been asking to have the road asphalted “for decades”. Residents argue the road is a common thoroughfare for traffic heading toward the local sports clubs. “Everyone uses Bayview Road to access the Tooradin pub and football/netball club, otherwise, if you’re travelling on the South Gippsland Highway, you have to go past it and do a U-turn and come back, so it’s a lot easier to use Bayview Road,” the resident said.
“I have no issue with the traffic, it’s more of a safety concern with the road quality.” Council’s community satisfaction survey is conducted four times a year, with 600 responses received for the latest, Q2 2022/23 results, which is expected to increase to 800 by the end of the financial year. The 2021/22 survey results represent a full year of data, whereas the Q2 2022/23 results represent the current quarter’s results, the council said. Aside from local road satisfaction, the council also recorded a slump in every other category of its community satisfaction survey for Q2 2022/23, including overall performance, in which just half of residents in the municipality considered themselves satisfied with the council’s management. The City of Casey did not respond to requests for comment within the given deadline.
From page 1 But, as gender equity statistics remain jarring, the women recognise there is much to be done to achieve true equity for all women in Victoria. Older women are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness and women earn 87 cents to a man’s dollar, the group said in a statement. “One in three Australian women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and older women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal women are over represented in these figures,” they said. “The work goes on to close the gap in our wages, to educate our courts and law makers, to increase to equal the prize money earned by female athletes, to recognise the economic value of the countless hours of unpaid work done by women every day.” The group said it plans to use this International Women’s Day to “celebrate our successes and our endurance [and to] gather around the women we know and love, and commit to do better, together”. “It is an honour to meet mothers, nurses, scientists, social workers, small business owners, laborers, students, and other incredible women in my electorate every day. I am celebrating every woman in my electorate this International Women’s Day,” Ms Williams said. “Our community would be lost without you.” International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on Wednesday 8 March, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and marking a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
Berwick College to take over Leisure Centre management contract for management of our stadiums so the time was right to review current usage, costs and the long-term performance forecasts for our facilities such as the Berwick Leisure Centre,” Mr Pattie said. “As there are a number of other private and council-owned facilities in Casey providing gymnastics, council has reached agreement with the school to take over management of the centre, giving them greater scope to use the building to its fullest potential.” The current YMCA operated gymnastics program will stop being offered from the Berwick Leisure Centre from July 1, 2023. YMCA, which facilitates the current gymnastics programming at the facility, will work directly with members to transition them to alternative gymnastics programs. The Berwick Leisure Centre hosts a large gymnastics program and many other children’s programs, including school holiday programs. 322051 Picture: CITY OF CASEY
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Berwick College will take over management of the Berwick Leisure Centre from 1 July under a new long-term agreement between council and the school. This follows a needs analysis conducted by the City of Casey into gymnastics provision throughout the municipality. Council has held a 40-year partnership with Berwick College and the school has had exclusive access to the facility, which borders the school, during school hours. Following agreement with the Berwick College School Council, the school will assume responsibility for how the facility is used by both the school and broader community. City of Casey director community life, Callum Pattie said council regularly reviewed its services and programs to identify opportunities for improvement, and to ensure resources are allocated appropriately to provide the best value and benefit to meet the demands of our growing community over the long-term. “We are coming to the end of the current
www.davidwbull.com.au Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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STAR NEWS 3
THE LOWDOWN Q&A
with Berwick filmmaker Gabriel Carrubba
Tell us a fun fact about yourself! When I was a child I had dreams of playing AFL for the Hawthorn Football Club. What do you love about filmmaking? For me, filmmaking is human. It’s about telling stories and creating art so we can connect with others. Our experiences are lived and shared. It’s important for all of us to feel seen. What would your last meal be? My Nonna’s homemade pasta. What is your most memorable moment? As crazy as it sounds, probably the first time I questioned my existence and purpose in the world. I would have been about 10 years old. I was laying on my bed on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I remember holding my hand out in front of me and just looking at it thinking, “Why am I here?” What event, past or present, would you like to witness? I wouldn’t say that there is one particular event; however, I would have loved to have witnessed the rising of French New Wave or Italian Neorealist cinema. Which three guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? Xavier Dolan, Sofia Coppola and Barry Jenkins. What are you currently listening to, watching or reading? I recently saw a film called ‘Close’ (directed by Lukas Dhont) for the second time since it played at the Melbourne International Film Festival last year. It’s a delicate and intimate story about childhood friendship, loss of innocence and tragedy. The film won the Grand Prix Prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It’s easily my favourite film of 2022. It also crept into my top five films of all time. If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook? Spaghetti puttanesca.
THREE … facts about International Women’s Day
1
Theme The 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) theme is #EmbraceEquity. The campaign aims to encourage important conversations on why equal opportunities aren’t enough and why equal isn’t always fair. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action, the campaign says.
2
Origins IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by more than million people.
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Primary sponsor In 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March for the first time. Since then, the UN has become the primary sponsor of the annual event.
Gabriel Carrubba is set to release his debut feature film, Sunflower - set in Berwick - later this Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS year. 321294 Where is your dream holiday destination? Italy or France would be nice. I’ve always wanted to visit the town my father is from in Sicily. What were you like as a kid? I was relatively quiet and observant, always on the outside looking in. What was your first job? My first job was around the age of 15. I’d work at my Uncle’s cheese factory with my brother on the school holidays.
What are the three most used apps on your phone? Instagram, Reddit and Letterboxd. What’s one question that you have always wanted answered? I know this is a question that I’ll probably never have answered, but I often think about our purpose as humans spinning around on this rock. So I guess my question is – What is our purpose on this earth?
You don’t have to go far to feel like you’re a whole world away. Just far enough to leave the crowds behind and find your space. A place where you can reconnect with nature, soak in the scenery and feed your soul. And okay, enjoy some great wine while you’re at it. Go further in Victoria.
Stay close, go further. VISIT VICTORIA
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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NEWS
ATM skimmer jailed $200k won By Cam Lucadou-Wells A man who was part of an international ATMcard skimming fraud targeting ATMs in Melbourne’s South East has faced sentence. Diresh Kulothungam, 38, of Dandenong, pleaded guilty after a sentencing indication at the Victorian County Court to conspiring to defraud bank ATM customers in Berwick, Narre Warren and towns across Victoria, NSW and South Australia. On 3 March, sentencing judge Gerard Mullaly said Kulothungam was part of an organised syndicate that installed card readers and pinhole cameras at the ATMs between December 2016 and January 2018. The card readers would skim the card’s account details. The camera would film the PIN as the unsuspecting victim typed into the ATM keypad. The “advanced” and “modern” equipment was imported from overseas senders in Canada, France and Switzerland. Other ring-members in Australia, India, Indonesia and the UK used the details to withdraw money from the victims’ accounts. Kulothungam was a “key organising link” in Victoria, who received the equipment and communicated with members installing and retrieving the devices at ATMs, the court heard. However he was “far from a high-ranking conspirator” in the operation, the court heard. He was linked to $39,000 withdrawn by others from victims’ accounts. There was another $99,000 in unsuccessful transactions. Judge Mullaly said the overall amount stolen and Kulothungam’s share of the takings were “quite small”. But the attack on the banking system was “criminality of great concern”. “It undermines the services that banks can provide. So much of modern life does depend on cards and PIN numbers.”
The attack on the banking system was “criminality of great concern”, the court heard. The Tamil refugee fled persecution in Sri Lanka in 2008, leaving behind his parents and six siblings. He met two of his co-conspirators Tharany Ramasamy, of Dandenong, and Ravishanth Raveendran, of Noble Park, in refugee camps. Since 2018, Kulothungam was unable to continue cleaning and factory work due to his physical injuries. A psychologist assessed him as an “anxious” and “socially isolated” man, who would find prison more onerous. His generosity in helping other refugees,
lack of prior criminal history and the long delay in his court case were also noted. Ramasamy and Raveendran were more minor participants in the fraud. They had been sentenced to time already served in jail and a community corrections order on the basis of undertaking to give evidence against Kulothungam. Kulothungam was jailed for nine months followed by a three-year supervised community corrections order. The CCO includes 100 hours of unpaid work and mental health treatment.
A Hampton Park man received the shock of a lifetime when he went to claim his prize-winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket at The Lott headquarters thinking he’d won only $20,000 - but instead he’d won $200,000. When an official from The Lott called the man to confirm the instant windfall, he was still recovering from the revelation. “It’s a massive shock for my partner and I!” he chuckled. “We didn’t know that we’d won $200,000 until we visited The Lott head office yesterday to claim the top prize! “We visited a newsagency to see if we had won anything and they told us the win was over $4000, but they weren’t too sure how much and that we would have to visit The Lott head office. “At first, we thought we’d won $20,000, so it was a nice surprise to find out that we had won $200,000 instead. “We do enjoy playing Instant ScratchIts tickets now and then. “We don’t usually purchase the $15 Crosswords Book, but we’re super pleased we did.” Hampton Park Lotto owner Annabelle Johnstone said she was ecstatic to have sold the top prize-winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket to a local family. “This is incredible news for our outlet, local community, and top prize Instant Scratch-Its winner! We couldn’t be happier to have changed the lives of another one of our customers,” she said. “We’ve sold division one winning entries in all other lottery games but have been patiently waiting to sell a top prize in an Instant Scratch-Its ticket. This completes a full set for Hampton Park Lotto!”
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STAR NEWS 5
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OPINION
LENSCAPE
The 2021-2022 year saw 6485 reports regarding cruelty towards dogs and puppies in Victoria alone. Picture: GENERIC
High number of cruelty complaints Casey takes second place in the state for animal welfare complaints. Ranking second out of 79 municipalities in the state, City of Casey saw 531 animal welfare reports between 2021-2022. While per capita Casey rates 56th out of the 79 municipalities, the South East is certainly keeping the RSPCA Inspectorate busy. More than 10 reports are submitted each week in Casey, with the RSPCA reporting dogs and puppies, cats and kittens and horses as the leading animals involved in seizures and surrenders. In the second quarter of the 2022-23 financial year, 695 animals were seized by or surrendered to RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate, the highest number ever reported for any quarter on record. The total annual number of animals seized by or surrendered to RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate has risen significantly every year for the past five years, more than doubling from 1035 in 2017-18 to 2172 in 2021-22. RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said animal cruelty exists across all geographic and social boundaries but in recent years there have been a number of contributing factors to the higher level of incoming Inspectorate seized and surrendered animals. “In recent years the impact of COVID-19 and the rising cost of living may have contributed to the spiking numbers of Inspectorate seized and surrendered animals,” he said. Between 2020 and 2022 alone, the number of seizures and surrenders rose by 38 per cent (597 cases). Data from the 2021/22 financial year shows neglect continues to be the most common type of report received. During the year, RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate responded to 10,577 cruelty reports, with neglect the basis for almost half (46 per cent), meaning members of the community had reported knowledge of animals subjected to lack of food, water, shelter or veterinary care. Other types of neglect included poor husbandry, lack of appropriate hygiene and insufficient grooming, shearing and farriery for horses. “Our recently released online, RSPCA Victoria interactive cruelty map illustrates the rates of animal cruelty in local government areas and across the state,” said Mr Stagg. “We acknowledge that in addition to the rising cost of living, which may impact the ability of some to care for their pets, many Victorians adopted pets during the pandemic, some as first-time pet owners who may still require information or support to help them understand how to best care for their animals. “It is important all pet owners understand the specific needs of their pets in terms of food, water, shelter, grooming and exercise.” RSPCA Victoria is committed to helping people better care for their pets. “There are many responsible pet ownership resources available. “We encourage anyone who is the owner or person in charge of animals to be aware of their responsibilities to provide care, or alternatively to seek help from their local community, a veterinarian or animal welfare organisation.” 6 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
Last weekend marked the 20th Casey Relay For Life at Akoonah Park in Berwick. 322411
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up L’Arte Central Social Enterprise Cafe, Florist & Art Space created a beautiful acknowledgment of Amanda Stapledon and renamed their signature coffee blend in her honour. I thought this was such a wonderful way to continue to remember the amazing legacy she has left for our community.
Thumbs up Shout out and huge thank you to Amstel Club and Umbrella Support. The inclusiveness that Amstel Club offers our community is incredible. Umbrella Support works in conjunction with Amstel offering participants with a disability the opportunity to work in the hospitality industry. Providing opportunities and job prospects that are life changing.Thanks Cranbourne Star News.
Amstel and Umbrella Support made the news.
Thumbs up To the Warneet General Store who organised the Clean Up Australia for our coastal village and providing a barbecue drinks and ice-creams for participants. Thumbs up to everyone who picked up rubbish.
Thumbs up To my mature age husband who started university this week, I couldn’t be more proud! What a thing to take on!
Thumbs up To the people who stop to let cars turn in busy traffic!
Thumbs down Thumbs right down to the person who dumped a half trailer load of Agapanthus plants and soil with some reno material in the native reserve on foreshore side of Rutherford Parade between Culgoa and Balaka Street.
Thumbs up To the volunteers in our community who make it a wonderful place to live. Keep up the good work.
Thumbs down To the vandals, thieves and people carrying knives. In the last week there has been people still trying to get into food vans and ransacking cars at Cranbourne Public Hall... time to clean up and take back our area. Stand up and be counted.
NEWS
Man dies at lake A paddle boarder was found dead at Lysterfield Lake on Saturday 4 March. The 38-year-old man from Clayton was last seen in the water off Logan Park Road just after 2.30pm, Victoria Police stated. SES, Water Police, Search and Rescue divers and Victoria Police Air Wing searched the lake for several hours. The man’s body was found just before 9pm. His death was not being treated as suspicious, police stated.
A paddle boarder was found dead after being reported missing at Lysterfield Lake. 225477 berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS STAGE 2 NEARLY SOLD OUT, SO ACT NOW!
Peter Cahill was recently announced as Casey’s Senior Citizen of the Year and has lived in Berwick Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS for 44 years. 322501
Peter’s gift of power By Eleanor Wilson For Casey’s Senior Citizen of the Year, Peter Cahill, language is power. “If you’re in a society and you can speak in the language and write and communicate in the language, that gives you power,” he said. “And it’s that power that opens up possibilities.” The former school teacher has been volunteering as an English tutor for over 17 years, navigating classes through the constraints of the Covid pandemic to give his students the best support possible. Earlier this year, he was selected as the 2023 Casey Senior Citizen of the Year for his “star volunteer” work. It began with a call to AMES almost two decades ago, where the long-time Berwick resident enquired about volunteering his teaching services. “I just thought, this country has been taking in so many migrants and refugees in the last 20 or 25 years and the call came out for people to assist in helping them with English and English language and I thought these folks really do need a bit of extra help,” Mr Cahill said. “I tried to imagine myself in their situation, because without being able to speak English in this society, it’s hard, it must be terribly hard, in terms of a job, in terms of school, in terms of communicating with the doctor, with your bank, you know, on the phone, so I thought okay, what can I do? “I just thought with my background in English and teaching English, I could help in some capacity.” Since then, the grandfather of seven has worked closely with students at both AMES and Melbourne Polytechnic, offering hours of his time each week to help migrants improve their English language skills. “It’s very rewarding and the students always appreciate the help - they are always really nice people to work with. “I do a lot of work with the Afghan community and I’ve built up some nice relationships over the years. “They sometimes invite me to their home for a meal, or just to meet them with their family.” When face-to-face learning became impractical during the Covid pandemic, Mr Cahill remained determined to help his students on their English language journey, pivoting classes to Facetime and Zoom. “I try to use my skills and creativity to meet berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
them where they’re at in terms of language and build on basic knowledge they have. “If you can establish a good relationship with the student that’s really important and that’s what I’ve always tried to do. “The teaching from there flows quite nicely.” He said being crowned Casey Senior Citizen of the Year at the Casey Community Awards in late January this year came as a complete surprise. “My wife couldn’t go to the awards ceremony…but she said to me several times ‘I think you’ll get this award’, and I said, ‘I don’t know why you’re so sure!’ “She said, ‘I just know’. She’s very intuitive, my wife. “When we came home and walked in the door with the award she said, ‘I told you so’!” While Mr Cahill said he doesn’t volunteer for the praise, it was nice to be recognised in the awards. “It’s a real honour, it’s a surprise. I think it’s good to acknowledge what people do in terms of community service and volunteering. “I do know there are many people who do as much if not more than me, I know this because I’ve seen it... people just work so hard.” In addition to his work with AMES and Melbourne Polytechnic, Mr Cahill has spent over 25 years volunteering with the St Vincent de Paul Conference (Vinnies), predominantly working with community soup vans and assisting families in need. Late last year, he was elected as the president of Vinnies Berwick. He also runs a Literature circle group at U3A Casey. “I’ve always been interesting in language and communication... I love books, I love writing and I love reading.” The decision to dedicate so much of his time to the benefit of others was always a natural choice. “I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the time and I suppose I’ve got quite a compassionate nature. “I enjoy it, it’s very fulfilling. I think most volunteers would say they enjoy what they do, otherwise they just wouldn’t do it. “Mother Teresa said a person who gives their time gets so much out of it, you know, almost as much as the person they’re offering your help to.”
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STAR NEWS 7
NEWS
Running fire engine returns By Eleanor Wilson
The volunteer fire fighters with their ’running fire engine’ at last year’s Run for the Kids. This year’s Narre Warren CFA R4K team will consist of Mr Bundock and his wife Karen Bundock and fellow volunteers Adrian Jones, Timmothy Oborne, Rob Beard and Anthony Jones. “We’re hoping it’s not windy on the day
- we don’t want to get blown off the Bolte Bridge!” Funds raised from the event will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal to help provide research, resources, staffing and education to facilitate the very best of care for Vic-
Photo: SUPPLIED torian children. To donate to the Narre Warren CFA’s Run for the Kids team, head to runforthekids.gofundraise.com.au/page/NARREWARRENFIREBRIGADERUNNINGFIR 12427750-CG39-19
After a marathon effort at last year’s Run for the Kids, the Narre Warren CFA’s running fire engine is gearing up for a second lap of the long course in this year’s charity event. Five members of the Narre Warren CFA and a Berwick CFA member will embark on the 14.5km race around Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday 19 March, raising much-needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal. Bound by more than just camaraderie, the team will set off bright and early from Footscray Road in the 15kg imitation fire truck, which was built from plastic irrigation pipe and shade cloth in the brigade’s “top secret research facility” - volunteer Tony Bundock’s garage. The truck also features flashing red and blue lights, horns and hoses - technically giving it a limited potential firefighting capacity, Mr Bundock said. “We’ve been doing some training runs during the week, last year we had a bigger team so our strategy is we’re gonna run on the flat and the downhill and if it’s uphill we might drop back to a jog,” he said. The team has set a target fundraising goal of $2000 for this year’s fun run and has so far collected $650. “We’re happy to put in the hard yards, if people can reach into their pockets and give to this great cause,” he said. Mr Bundock has been participating in the Run for the Kids for team Narre Warren CFA for about a decade and said his dedication to the challenging charity event comes from wanting to help out a worthy cause. “Most of the team are at an age where our kids are grown up, but we were very lucky that when our kids were smaller it was there if we needed it,” he said.
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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NEWS
Women taking the wheel By Sahar Foladi Ventura Bus Lines had its first Open Day since Covid on Saturday 4 March with a strong focus on women to consider working behind the wheel. HR manager Kim Caldow said the Women at the Wheel initiative was launched after the company recognised its gender imbalance. “We looked at ways to overcome and remove some of the barriers women face when they try to come into the transport industry. “Bringing this program gives us more equality and a nice rounded working environment.“ According to Ms Caldow many of its women recruits don’t have a bus license and are given training support by Ventura. “Nine times out of 10 women come to us without a license and the skills required to get straight into the industry. We send them to a training provider, we pay for their training and licensing.” There are 230 women in Ventura now with an aim to increase the gender diversity by 25 per cent by the end of 2024 - Ventura’s 100th anniversary. Pakenham bus driver Shazia Qadeer has been with Ventura since 2017 and looking back during the Covid years she said, “I took the right decision to join because at that time I had no clue of what’s coming in a couple of years. “It gave me self-satisfaction that I’m productive for the community.” As a single parent of two, Ms Qadeer said she wanted a role with stability and also that would allow her to stay home with her children. “As a female, people definitely don’t expect certain things from you and when they find out you can do that - that is more exciting.” Now almost 50 with her sons 26 and 21, Ms
Ventura staff members Hannah Tran, Shazia Qadeer, Kim Caldow and Carolyn Jackson. 321505 Qadeer operates in the Pakenham depot and loves her job everyday. “Both of my kids were so helpful. My elder son said to me, Mum I don’t know how you do it, I can’t drive and you drive buses as a career.” Not only buses, she also has the qualifica-
tions to drive a coach. “Females can do anything on the planet. There’s nothing females can’t do,” Ms Qadeer said. Originally from Pakistan, Ms Qadeer migrated to Australia for studies and she is
Picture: ROB CAREW thankful for the “beautiful culture where they encourage females“. “I lost my parents a few years ago, I found Australia as my home,” Ms Qadeer said. Ventura plans to extend the program further and enhance its reach.
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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STAR NEWS 9
NEWS
Uni students’ head start By Corey Everitt
First-year student Fjolla Mucaj and head of campus at Berwick, Kathy Racunica. ment of graduates, as well as a really high salary rate.” As the pandemic has subsided, the demand for professional employment has grown and Kathy sees the campus as a key pillar to rebuild local industries. “For example, the region is desperately needing more teachers, from primary to secondary, and we’ve got all the courses there to feed into the growing demand,” she said. “Same with healthcare workers, we have a huge population of nurses and health professionals.” The university’s links with locals continue to grow.
This year they begin their business accelerator, where local industry can work with the university to establish short courses designed to upskill students in the ever-changing needs of industry. Kathy takes pride in her university being ranked first in Victoria for undergraduate starting salaries in studies run by The Good University Guide, an indicator that the campus is integral to local and state industries. Another key part of Federation University’s education is providing local young men and women equal opportunity to tertiary education.
Picture: STEPHANIE CHARALAMBOUS Federation University has been number one in the country for most ‘first in family’ students for five years in a row. Kathy believes it’s essential to provide this for the area. “It’s a really fantastic achievement,” she said. “Because with a huge multi-cultural, migrant population, to be able to support higher education access in the region is just stunning.” Federation University’s new year back on campus starts this week, with two weeks of orientations to begin the semester.
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Federation University in Berwick has welcomed students to their first O-week of another year of creating young, local professionals. Food, music, art and sports capped off a fortnight of student orientation events. The Berwick campus will be attended by 2300 students this year, including 900 new enrollments and 200 international students. Fjolla Mucaj, a young woman from Springvale, is starting her first year at Berwick and is excited to begin studying IT and business. “I’m looking forward to learning more about IT in detail,” she said. “There are a lot of different pathways and jobs you can do, not just general IT, you can do architectural IT, anything.” Through IT, Fjolla hopes to make a strong career while pursuing her passion for design and architecture. Fjolla, being a South East local, finds the Berwick campus the most convenient for her. She finds inspiration from her father who works in architecture solutions for Amazon. “I was going to do architecture, but my Dad influenced me to do IT because it’s a better pathway and it’s growing, I can still pursue architecture in IT,” she said. “Maybe I can work for my Dad.” IT is one of the largest programs Federation University runs, which includes the university’s strong “co-op” model where education mixes with business to train and employ students more directly. Kathy Racunica, the head of campus for the Berwick site, wants to deepen the links the university has with local industry and business. “The opportunity for employment in our region is huge, so we facilitate the ballooning need for professional employment,” she said. “Our strike rate is very high for employ-
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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NEWS
The illustrated renders for stage three of the upgrades were recently released. Picture: VICTORIAN SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY (VSBA)
Students Jing Yi, Alex, Rheya, Antonio and Bella use VEX Robotics Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS technology in their classes. 322291
Funds flowing for college By Eleanor Wilson The third and final part of a multi-million dollar upgrade to Hampton Park Secondary College has commenced, with artist renderings providing a sneak peek into the future facilities at the school. Eight million dollars will be injected into stage three of the school’s upgrades, which will refurbish its science area, and establish a wellness centre and a house administration building. It’s part of a $14 million investment by the State Government into the school’s stage one, two and three upgrades to improve facilities and student learning. Stage one works kicked off back in 2018, which invested $2.62 million to refurbish and modernise classrooms and create a senior learning centre.
Late last year saw the completion of the second stage of the upgrades - a $3.9 million science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) centre at the school. The centre features state-of-the-art technologies including a 3D printer, plasma and laser cutters and robotics and engineering equipment available for students to utilise. “The school was built in the mid-‘80s and things have changed in society and in education a lot since then, so it’s a matter of reshaping the learning spaces to match the way that our world has evolved, but also the way teaching and learning is undertaken,” Hampton Park Secondary College principal Wayne Haworth said. In November, a builder was appointed to commence works on the final stage of the project, which will construct a wellness centre,
refurbish science classrooms and establish a house administration building. Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas, who assisted in securing funding for the project, said it was fantastic to see stage three of the works moving forward. “The recent artist renderings show what the school community has to look forward to with improved learning spaces and facilities,” Mr Maas said. “I thank principal Wayne Haworth and his team for helping to guide the school community through the phases of construction as they look forward to the benefits of these upgrades and how they will support teachers and deliver the best education possible for the students.” Mr Haworth said he hopes the establishment of a wellness centre will promote a “holistic approach to wellness”.
“We have a great team here supporting wellbeing and we needed to provide a facility to match. “Particularly in the post-Covid period, where mental health has been a challenge and everyone has been challenged in different ways.” The school currently has an onsite GP for four hours a week and employs a registered nurse, visiting psychologists, counsellors and speech pathologist to support students in their wellbeing. “Holistically, we’ve got a suite of professionals that can help students based upon what their needs are,” Mr Haworth said. The wellness centre and science area upgrades are expected to be finished later this year, with hopes for the entire project to complete in late 2024.
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NEWS
Kicking goals for 30 years By Sahar Foladi An inclusive soccer academy in the South East has reached new heights as it took out a prestigious award on its 30th anniversary. All Abilities Soccer Academy (AASA) has been recognised by the Office of the Public Advocate with an ‘Outstanding service to people with disability’ award for its vital role in the community. Founded by Juan Carlos Loyola OAM and his wife Cristina Loyola in 1993, the academy provides opportunity for people with special needs to be involved in soccer and practice at the academy once a week. “For us, the main driving force would be to see the player’s happy faces as they play soccer. The proud and sometimes happy tears on their parents’ faces are what motivate us to keep going and continue to do the best for players and their families,” Mr Loyola said. Originally from Argentina, Mr Loyola migrated to Australia in 1977 and started work in the disability sector in 1989. By 1990, he worked with the Special Olympics as the State Coach and played in the state soccer league for Brunswick. “It is very comforting to help people who really have the right to enjoy soccer like everyone else. It is an honour and privilege to teach them how to enjoy life in sports.” In 2019, players from the academy went on a Goodwill China soccer trip which saw them play in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. This year a player from the club will represent Australia in the Futsal World Cup in France. “The future of the organisation is bright with NDIS support for our players. We will continue to be the number-one special needs soccer club in Victoria and do our best for these players so they can enjoy sports and have pride in being able to achieve something for the community.”
Tanie with his mother Tatiana.
Young Minorl playing on the field. His father Mahesh also volunteers with AASA. 321143 Pictures: ROB CAREW
Glenis with her daughter Meagan.
There are 32 players registered throughout the year in the academy. The organisation not only benefits those with special needs but it also provides parents a platform to make friends. Tatiana and her son Tanie have been with the academy for more than 15 years where she’s on the committee to liaise with the families and the community. “Being part of the soccer academy was very important to me because when you have a child with a disability, it makes you socially isolated. “At the academy, I have had the opportunity to be with other parents who have the same or similar experiences and we’re able to talk about our lives, exchange information about Centrelink, or other disability, medical services and to make friends.”
expected level. “The academy has given Meagan opportunities that she probably wouldn’t be part of including playing interstate, travelling to China and playing in three different cities as well as enjoying the attractions.” Meagan has played in many cup events and has even played against Victoria Police in an annual game. “Meagan will continue with the academy for as long as she can, it’s a beautiful and important part of her life,” Glenis said. Alongside AASA, Mr Loyola has received many awards throughout his service to the community including Casey Sportsperson of the Year, a recognition trophy from a ChinaAustralia game in 2019, a Centenary Medal and an award from University of Xi’an.
Tanie has autism, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy. He joined the academy between the ages of 12 and 13, and now as a 29-year old he continues to love soccer. “He talks about soccer all the time gets ready straight away on Saturday mornings and can’t wait to go to soccer,” Tatiana said. The calendar is packed for the year ahead but the most exciting event is said to be in Tasmania for a championship in September. Another academy member, Meagan, will also participate in all the events for the year. Meagan has moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder and gross/fine motor skills issues and first started playing in mainstream soccer at age 11. However, her mother Glenis had to pull her out in her mid-teens as she couldn’t play to the
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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NEWS
those Jailed for 11 years Help recovering By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Hampton Park man has been jailed for up to 11 years after beating and twice raping a drugaffected ex-partner. Star News has chosen not to name the man to avoid identifying the victim. The 35-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to two counts of rape, common law assault, threat to kill and causing injury intentionally. In February 2020, the man and the victim took GHB in his mother’s garage where he lived at the time. At the time, the woman was drowsy, weakened and vulnerable due to also taking prescription medication, sentencing judge Simon Moglia said on 6 March. The accused aggressively queried the woman if she’d been with other men. He punched her several times to the head and continued to beat her as she curled up on the couch to protect herself. “You’re not getting out of this alive,” he told her. Then as a “punishment”, he raped her while he “berated and demeaned” her. Afterwards he told the sore and bruised victim to get out of the garage, refusing to allow her to clothe herself or to use the toilet. The following night, the man raped her while she was unconscious after another GHB session at a friend’s house. Police later discovered this second “serious act of denigration” on the man’s video of the act on his phone. The man told police he knew she was unconscious. But claimed she’d previously said it was OK and knew what was happening. At the time, he’d been recently freed from prison on a CCO for assaulting the same woman and breaching her intervention order.
from storms
The County Court of Victoria. The victim, who described the man as an “animal” to a friend, stated she was still being treated for panic attacks, depression and anxiety as a result of the attacks. She was cross-examined during a committal hearing before the man pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. Judge Moglia said drug-taking was clearly a relevant factor in the man’s offending and his risk of reoffending. The man reported that at the time he was in a “toxic” circle of relationships with drug takers. He was smoking cannabis daily and regularly using ice and GHB. The judge found the man showed “genuine” but “limited” remorse but his letter to the court made no mention of his impact on the victim. Just punishment for “such heinous crimes”
David Mallon 0413 748 240 dmallon@futurefood.com.au
Picture: AAP IMAGE/CON CHRONIS warranted a lengthy jail term, the judge said. The man’s ongoing violent history was concerning, his risk of re-offending was “moderate to high”, Judge Moglia noted. The man was jailed for 11 years, including a seven-year and three-month non-parole period. His term includes 1123 days – about three years – of pre-sentence detention. Prosecutors applied for the man to be registered as a sex offender with reporting obligations. Judge Moglia refused due to the offending being against one person over a short period of time while both were affected by drugs. There was a lack of evidence that the firsttime sexual offender would be a threat to any others, he stated.
Cardinia Shire Council is encouraging community members to volunteer to help clean up properties affected by the June 2021 storms. This severe weather event caused considerable damage in some parts of the shire, and several residents are still in need of help with moving storm debris from their properties. These residents face additional barriers to undertaking their own property clean up including disability, health, unemployment or financial constraints. The council has been working in partnership with Yarra Ranges Council, Habitat for Humanity Australia and Treasuring Our Trees to continue to support local communities affected by the storms, with help from State Government funding. Working with a team of other generous residents, volunteers would be helping with tasks including clearing storm debris, splitting and stacking wood using automatic wood splitter, and repairing fences. Volunteer days run from 9am until 3.30pm on weekdays and weekends. To get involved, go to habitatvic.org. au/volunteer or email Felicity Smith, from Habitat for Humanity on fsmith@ habitat.org.au If you need storm recovery support, please go to cardinia.vic. gov.au/stormrecovery To contact the council’s Recovery Officers, call 1300 787 624 or email recovery@cardinia.vic.gov.au
F O O D A N D H OS PI TA L I T Y CO N SU LTA N T S
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STAR NEWS 13
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Milestone in cancer battle By Eleanor Wilson Camping tents and running shoes were in abundance at Akoonah Park over the weekend, as the Casey Relay For Life participants showed up for those battling cancer. The 18-hour fundraising event kicked off at 6pm on Friday 3 March, where 500 participants descended on the park track to get their legs moving for a good cause. It was Casey Relay for Life’s 20th relay event and its first relay event back since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Casey Relay For Life chair Donna Harrison said it was a “an incredible community effort and a 20-year celebration to remember”. “It was fantastic, it went better than expected…it was full of fun, full of emotion,” Mrs Harrison said. “The passion and dedication from every participant, team captain and committee member was nothing short of inspirational.” The relay saw teams continuously complete laps of the Akoonah Park track throughout night and day, with some participants proving incredibly dedicated to the cause, like Colin Healey from team Monaz Mates who completed a distance of 60km from midnight to 7am. The relay has so far raised almost $110,000 for the Cancer Council through the event, ultimately hoping to reach $200,000 when donations close in four weeks’ time. “We’re doing it for the people that can’t and every step we take, we take with pride and it showed at that event,” Ms Harrison said. “Just a huge thank you to everyone who supported the event and participated and came down to walk shoulder to shoulder with each other to continue to keep raising that money for cancer research.” Donations to the 2023 Casey Relay For Life are open for another four weeks. To donate, head to relayforlife.org.au/ event/casey-2023/home
Michael Grayling has completed a countless number of relays. 322041
Jodie, Rebecca and Carlene from We Bear Hope. 322041
Casey Relay For Life committee member Maree was thrilled to have the event back after a Covid hiatus. 322041
Many participants were walking in honour of loved ones who had lost their cancer battles. 322041
Ian Luxford, Rhonda Luxford, Suzanne Ioannou, Margaret Luxford and Jen Rouse from Mauve Movers. 322041
Sonya, Ian, Craig, Pam, Matt and Steph from Lollipop Lappers. 322041
Florence and Maree from the Casey Relay For Life committee. 322041
Even the youngest of relay goers showed up to offer their support. 322041
And they’re off! After cutting the ribbon for the Survivors and Carers lap, Kerryn Cerchiaro, Leigh Drew, Julie McKnight and Elaine Thomson led the relay in purple style. 322041 14 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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Casey Relay For Life chair Donna Harrison with her mum (right). 322041
Keith Thompson and Daniel Gargaro. 322041 berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
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Over 50s’ affordable living With interest rates, household bills, and the general cost of living on the rise, it makes sense that those over 50s are looking for affordable solutions for their retirement and pre-retirement years. If you’re wondering how you’ll experience more financial freedom and less stress by downsizing, then Lifestyle Communities is for you. Lifestyle Communities can offer: 1. Free up equity by selling your current home. 2. Reduced household costs in your smaller, more efficient home. 3. Pay no stamp duty, water rates, council rates or sewerage rates. 4. Fixed-price homes with no increases. 5. Save on repairs and maintenance. Most importantly, when you move to a Lifestyle Community, you’ll enjoy 24-hour access to incredible amenities and have peace of mind within your safe and secure community of like-minded neighbours. With a range of ready-to-move homes and homes still under construction, we can cater to your downsizing timeline. Plus, if you settle before 30 June 2023 on one of our selected homes at Lifestyle Bellarine or Lifestyle St Leonards, we will pay for your electricity for two years* So, why wait when an incredible lifestyle is just around the corner? Book a tour today, call 1800 413 658 or visit lifestylecommunities. com.au * From the date of settlement, Lifestyle Communities Limited will pay for your electricity for a period of 24 months. This offer is capped at $2000 per annum totalling $4000 for the two years off. Any additional costs will be charged to the homeowner. To qualify, clients must settle in before June 30, 2023.
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STAR NEWS 15
WHAT’S ON Ball Balla Open Day Celebrate Balla Balla Community Centre’s Open Day at the new location! There will be a lot of fun activities for adults and children, including free food, live music, reptile encounters, face painting, Butterfly Stilt walkers, community art project, free kids rides and more. This is a great opportunity to get to know your centre with free ‘Come and Try’ activities. 7 – 9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Saturday 25 March 12pm–3pm
Paranormal Expo Explore your mysterious side among other fans of the weird, the occult, the celestial and all things paranormal. Speakers and workshops throughout the day on topics of the paranormal, supernatural, metaphysical, and more! Stalls from all over Australia come together in one place. Proudly presented by Paranormal Adventures Australia and Co-Hosts Australian Paranormal Society! The Castle, 61 Princes Hwy, Dandenong on Saturday 25 March 10am-6pm.
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Annual Twilight Car Boot Sale The Warneet-Blind Bight Fire Brigade is hosting its annual car boot sale. There will be a food and coffee van, live music, raffles, kids activities, a CFA Mobile Engagement Unit and more. Warneet Reserve, Gilgandra Street, Warneet on Saturday 25 March 3pm-7pm.
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Festival of Colours Get colourful with the Lynbrook Residents’ Association in Lynbrook’s Festival of Colours. Start the day in plain white clothing and finish swept up in a rainbow of colour. Food stalls will be on site including Indian cuisine, Twisty Potatoes, Robbie’s Diner, ice cream, popcorn and a coffee van too. This year LRA has added a Giant slide! Bollywood dance group ‘The Bollydazzlers’ performing a dance extravaganza and workshop at 5pm and our great DJ Shalend playing tunes for the whole event.Come celebrate this fun annual event with your family, friends and neighbours. Bags of colour $3 each. Banjo Paterson Park, Lynbrook, on Saturday 18 March, 3pm to 7pm.
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Global Flavour Feast Bunjil Place will be hosting a month of delicious food nights with Global Flavour Feast. Explore the rich cultural diversity Melbourne and the south-east has to offer. Tantalise your taste buds with delicious bites, whilst enjoying cultural performances and demonstrations from around the globe. Free entry with food and drinks at vendor prices. Program: Friday 10 March - Australasia; Friday 17 March - Europe; Friday 24 March - Africa. 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren starting Friday 3 March from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.
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Harmony Day at Balla Balla Celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity this Harmony Day. Harmony Day is a time to reflect on the importance of respecting each other and celebrating our differences. You are invited to bring a plate to share and bask in togetherness at Balla Balla Community
· Centre’s Harmony Day lunch. 7 – 9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesday 21 March 12pm - 1.30pm
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Every 1 Cafe Join the Amstel Club in their new Every 1 initiative. For a gold coin donation, members of the community can enjoy a coffee, tea, milkshake or smoothie. You might even be lucky and receive a cookie or cake. Show your support for Amstel’s Umbrella Support participants, who are expanding their vocational opportunities as they learn the ins and outs of cafe service. 1000 Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Cranbourne. Running every Thursday afternoon 1.30pm-3.30pm.
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Casey Kids Carnival Grab the family and come down to the Casey Kids Carnival for a day of fun and excitement. This free event is one of the City of Casey’s most celebrated and attended events. There will be face painting, roving singing sailors, rides and inflatables, music and dance performers, stilt walkers, circus performers, gymnastics activation, AFL activation, a petting zoo, and much more! There will also be displays by Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and the City of Casey Waste Team and Road Safety Team. While free, this event is ticketed and bookings are essential. Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick on Saturday 18 March 12pm-5pm.
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International Women’s Day African Drumming The 2023 theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity’ – create a fair and equal
world where we embrace equity to forge harmony and unity, and to help drive success for all. Join Balla Balla Community Centre for an African Drumming session followed by a morning tea to celebrate International Women’s Day. Drumming connects us to natural rhythms and nature and group drumming helps to create a potent sense of community. 7 – 9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Wednesday 8 March 10.30am –12.30pm.
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Neighbour Day Neighbour Day is a day to celebrate community, and encourage people to connect with those who live in the neighborhood. Neighbours are important and these social connections help to prevent loneliness and isolation. Ball Balla Community Centre is hosting a lunch where local neighbours can get to know one another and forge important social connections while enjoying some tasty food at the same time. 7 – 9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Monday 27 March 11am - 1pm.
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Community Lunch @ CAGP Strengthen community identity over a delicious meal. Casey Aboriginal Gathering Place is hosting a community lunch for local Torres Straight Islander and First Nation’s residents. Held on the second Friday of each month, the lunches are a great place to come together for a “deadly feed and a yarn”. 20 Agonis Street, Doveton on Friday 10 March, 12pm-2pm.
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The Holland Festival Enjoy Dutch culture and raise funds to support a local charitable organisation at the same time! The Holland Festival is run by the Rotary Club of Casey with the sole purpose of operating a
cultural festival for the benefit of the community, including people of Dutch heritage and to raise funds for community service projects. The festival is managed completely by volunteers. We can taste the kibbeling, stroopwafers and ollie bollen already… and remember every cent of profit on the day goes to charity through the Rotary Club of Casey. Tickets are $10-$20 and are available via hollandfestival.org.au. Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick on Saturday 18 March 10am-6pm.
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Mauritius Independence Day The paradise island of Mauritius is coming to Dandenong Market with a celebration of Mauritius Independence Day. Mauritian culture is a fascinating blend of African, South Asian and European influences. The event will showcase Mauritian traditions, including sega music and dance workshop and LIVE performances featuring Indian dhol drumming from 11am. Authentic delicacies will be served by La Caze Mama, formerly the popular Delicious Mauritius. The dress code is typically Mauritian – “tropical loud” – and we will have spot prizes for the loudest and proudest on the day! Of course, you don’t have to be Mauritian to join in the fun! Corner of Clow Street and Cleeland Street, Dandenong, Sunday 12 March from 11am2pm.
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Connected Group Join the Connected Group, who offer people in the community a place to get together in a nonclinical and non-judgmental, welcoming, casual environment. The aim of the group is to give people the opportunity to build new friendships and gain support from like-minded individuals. The group is for adults and anyone is welcome to come along – there is no obligation or cost involved. The evenings can range from discussions about life’s challenges to feelings of isolation and, where comfortable, the sharing of personal experiences. The night also includes fun, interactive activities and a chance to meet other and feel supported and connected. The group gets together on the last Thursday of each month. To register your interest in joining the group please visit our Facebook page “Connected” or please email Dyllon at dyllonjconnected@yahoo. com Held in the Cranbourne area, Thursday 30 March, 7pm-9pm.
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Bookmark a piece of Casey It’s an art lover’s paradise history with your camera By Eleanor Wilson
By Eleanor Wilson Casey Cardinia Libraries (CCL) is inviting young photography fans to get snap happy and capture a piece of Casey history. CCL’s Landscapes of Casey Photography Competition is looking for photos of the Casey region in all its autumn glory this year to keep in the library’s local history archive and use for historical projects. CCL chief executive Beth Luppino said collecting local history is an important part of the libraries’ function. “The collection and preservation of our local history gives us an important perspective on how Casey has changed over time,” she said. “It tells our community story in much more detail than you will ever find in state or national archives.” CCL local history librarian Kate Davis said CCL aims to record what is important to the community in 2023, for future reference. “The Casey Community are best placed to document their local communities now, [such as] what’s important to them in their neighbourhood. “We want to document what’s happening and expand the libraries rich resources, so future generations can enjoy looking back.” The competition is open to children and young adults, with a number of prizes up for the grabs for the best photo in each age category. First prize in each of the two categories, which are split into a young adults and chil16 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
Local history librarian Kate with photos of Wilson Botanic Park from 1989. 322142 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS dren under 16 category, will receive a $75 gift VISA gift card. The runners-up and third place getters will cash in on a $50 and $25 visa gift card, respectively. Submissions into the Landscapes of Casey Photography Competition opened on 1 March and will close on 31 May at 5pm. To make a submission, head to cclc.vic. gov.au/landscapes-of-casey-photographycompetition
Art lovers are encouraged to keep their calendars clear next weekend, as the Hampton Park Uniting Church presents its annual Creative Arts Festival. The festival will be held at Hampton Park Uniting Church on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 March, with a range of fun activities expected to bring out the community’s creative flair. Between 50 and 100 artworks, submitted by locals with a range of creative abilities, will be displayed over the weekend, with some available for purchase. Event organiser Lyn McBain’s painting ‘The Brain’ is one such canvas which will feature at the festival. The acrylic piece represents the factors that impact and emotions related to brain injury trauma in a stirring, along with the ‘healing hands’ that support patients throughout recovery. Ms McBain, who has worked as a nurse for over 50 years, said the art piece’s inspiration came from her two decades of experience working with patients with traumatic brain injuries. “I wanted to educate society on brain injuries, to help them understand what people with brain injuries are actually going through,” she said. “The painting points out the emotional side of it, and the dark side, as well as the hope side,” she said. This year’s festival will be the third of its kind and expects to attract hundreds of visitors throughout the weekend. Festival goers can freshen up their brush
Creative Arts Festival organiser Lyn McBain with her art piece ‘The Brain’. 322136 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS skills with a free painting workshop, get lost in the all-ages treasure hunt along with a plethora of other activities, including mindfulness art, card making, drawing for relaxation, cake decorating, cartoon drawing, knitting, acrylic painting, gardening, book folding and diamond painting. “There’s digital art, as well as painting and canvas art, crocheting and kitting, quilting, there’s a whole mixture.” Festival goers can also vote for their favourite piece of art, with the winning submission awarded a $250 hamper, donated by The Lime Box cafe and food hub in Pakenham. This festival will showcase artists in a wide variety of art forms, including paintings, drawings, craft, photography, poetry, music, digital art, sculpture quilting, floral art and more. Music and entertainment, a multi-faith celebration and a sausage sizzle will also be on offer. To book a free workshop at the Creative Arts Festival, head to trybooking.com/ events/landing?eid=1016939& berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
CELEBRATING WOMEN every day 8th of March 2023 GO FOR YOUR DREAMS
PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW ERA My name is Ann-Marie Hermans, your new Liberal Member for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region. I’ve had many strong women who championed my life-choices, worldview and self-worth. My grandmothers were strong-willed, opinionated, and adventurous, and migrated from New Zealand and Sri Lanka. They lived in the South-East and passed away when they were about 100 years old. They worked hard, spoke their mind, valued their family and were Australian migrants. My parents are migrants too. My mother arrived in Melbourne when she was 12 years old. She achieved a government Select Entry education which encouraged women to study, develop careers and embrace new opportunities. Qualifying as a teacher, she travelled overseas to work when she was 22. She returned to Melbourne in the early 60s and studied to become a speech pathologist. In her spare time, with the support of my father, who always encouraged her to succeed, Mum found a way to serve on boards and committees, help individuals, organisations, young people, and families, and constantly upskilled and tried new things. Mum is a force of nature: She completed her master’s degree in her 70s, and in May will celebrate 60 years of marriage. Mum also had a successful career at a time when men were given more promotions and paid more
Some of my tips for working mums are:
· Teach your children to be friends with each other, not competitors. · Give your children (and husband) lots of praise, patience and quality attention. · Give each of your children their own colour towel in the bathroom. · Teach your children how to use the washing machine by age 12. · Help each child learn to cook their chosen signature dinner-dish once a week. · Love your partner, children, God and self. · Be the example you want your children to
This International Women’s Day, Ann-Marie Hermans wants to encourage the women in the South-East to go for their dreams and to dream big. than women. As a young adult, Mum believed she had to work twice as hard and be twice as smart as any man, to be considered an equal in the workforce. My mum worked hard and was ahead of her time. She taught me to not be intimidated by male-dominated workplaces,
to value positive outcomes for people more than recognition, to work hard, study, be courageous and tenacious. Like my mother, I’ve served many groups, am educated, a teacher, and worked as a volunteer in Asia and South-East Africa. Unlike my mum, I chose to be at home with my four children in their early years, so I could see them take their first steps and speak their first words. I have many hard-earned degrees, including two master’s degrees. I can still remember the painful nights of studying when the children were asleep, after a hard day at work. I’m so thankful for every school lunch my husband helped pack. He kept things functional in our home when I ran out of steam, and I am thankful. In April we will celebrate 28 years of marriage.
follow. Like me, my four children are educated. My girls believe in the power of education to transform lives. I am also thankful they know how to speak up about things like giving consent (or not), reporting abuse, and standing up for justice, personal dignity, and respect. This International Women’s Day, I want to encourage the women in the South-East to go for their dreams and to dream big. Enjoy womanhood. Love family. Embrace your opportunities, your children, your partner, your home, each moment. Live intentionally because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Smell the roses. Watch the sunsets. Get educated, learn something new and find people who will champion and respect you. Please know that I am here to advocate for you in parliament and wish you every success!
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1/31 Princes Hwy, Dandenong VIC 3175 AnnMarieHermansMP 9794 7667
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CELEBRATING WOMEN every day 8th of March 2023 MOTIVATED TO EXCEL
ALWAYS WELCOMING A CHALLENGE Boasting a notable career in the building industry spanning over 25 years, being Sales Manager for a dominant building company, then moving into the role of Sales Manager at a local real estate agency for six years, leading the reign in transitioning it into a highly competitive office, Debbie Brettoner has now earnt a Director’s title at Ray White Berwick, being absolutely motivated to excel in her most esteemed position yet. Having lived locally for over 30 years, Debbie has accumulated strong market knowledge, which is a significant aid in her negotiation skills and tactics. Debbie has experienced the market’s peaks and lulls, with an unprecedented ability to use the current climate to her advantage – always welcoming the challenge! The women that make up the team at Ray White Berwick are exceptional, and we are proud to celebrate these hardworking and dedicated women every day but especially today on International Women’s Day. While we appreciate the crucial role each and every one of these women play, International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of these women, many of whom juggle not only a busy real estate career but also the role of mother, wife, sister and daughter. Ray White Berwick is largely made up of strong and intelligent women and without each and every one of these amazing
Debbie Brettoner has accumulated strong market knowledge, which is a significant aid in her negotiation skills and tactics. women in our team there is no way we would be able to enjoy and celebrate the success that we do. Historically women have faced inequality in almost all facets of life and it is inspiring to see we are moving to a very exciting time
in history where the world now “expects” diversity, equity and inclusion. The world notices its absence and celebrates its presence and understands that embracing equity and the rise of women has nothing to do with the fall of man but more to do
with identifying, celebrating, and increasing visibility of women’s achievements to forge a stronger future for all women. Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. #EmbraceEquity
# I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N S D AY L E A D I N G L A D I E S AT R AY W H I T E B E R W I C K
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Ray White Berwick 42 High Street Berwick, VIC 3806 18 STAR NEWS
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CELEBRATING WOMEN every day 8th of March 2023 PROJECT TICKED OFF
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
FINDING SUCCESS
EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our restaurant business, Doppiozero Pizzeria and Wine Bar in Beaconsfield. Myself, Asmita Rania, and my sister-in-law Rinal Rania are operating the business at Beaconsfield. It was initially very challenging as it was Covid and lockdown and we already had the site. We had real challenges in creating the team as coming from a different country and settling down was never that easy. Thought of not going ahead with the project multiple times but gathered the courage to keep going with this challenging time. Finally and fortunately, after having one Doppiozero in Mornington, we really wanted to open in the south-east. So, we set the date, created the team, did the renovations at the venue - of course with lots of obstacles as everything is running in shortage, from stock to staff. However, finally we have finished our project. It has been more than six months now and we are very proud of its outcome and so overwhelmed with locals’ love and support towards our brand Doppiozero.
International Women’s Day is an important day. It’s a day that brings to the fore the need for a peaceful and just society for our global community, which was a focus of my recently completed PhD. As the principal of a school, I believe that access to equitable education is key to delivering fairness in all corners of the world, as knowledge and confidence are power. As the principal of a Diamond Educational Model school, with the privilege of leading a girls’ school as well as being one of the few female principals of a boys’ school, I see the influence our focus on education, values and character has on our students daily. Our aspiration at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar is to grow great people. For us, this means empowering young women to have powerful, considered voices and engage with boys so that they become good men. At St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar we seek to develop values-based leadership for life, with students that can lead themselves in thought and deed. Leaders who can lead others through
Asmita Rania and Rinal Rania from Doppiozero Pizzeria and Wine Bar in Beaconsfield.
Dr Annette Rome is the Principal of St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar School. influence and example. Leaders who have the capacity to drive change. Through leadership, I believe we can change the world to make it a better place for all. - Dr Annette Rome is the Principal of St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar School.
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FOR BOOKINGS CALL: (03) 9768 9609 10 Brunt Rd, Beaconsfield VIC 3807 www.doppiozerobeaconsfield.com.au berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
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Business success strategy meet customer needs?
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
can we differentiate ourselves from our · How competition?
IAN ASH You may well have heard the term ‘business strategy’ but what does it mean and why does it matter? The word strategy derives from the Greek word strategia meaning generalship which itself is made up of the Greek words stratos (meaning army, not the aftershave!) and agein (which means leadership) and so historically was always understood to be a military term. In essence, it means defining what is needed to win using limited resources. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the term started to be used in a business context since it became clear that businesses too need to win (i.e. beat the competition) using limited resources. The latter term is important since every business, no matter what its size, only has limited staff, equipment and funds at its disposal and those businesses that tend to do best are those that make best use of their limited resources. In practice, defining a business strategy resolves down to focusing on those few essential things that a business needs to do in order to be successful and defining what specifically needs to be achieved. Often it is not the lack of options that constrains a company’s performance, but rather a lack of clarity about which are the right ones to select to give the biggest bang for the buck. A well-defined business strategy will typically answer the following questions: What is our desired sales and net profit
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It is important to develop a business strategy which includes the company mission, vision and values. for the period? · How will we measure and manage our performance? · What are our primary sources of income? What should our company culture look like? What systems and processes will we need to · · be successful? · How will our products and services evolve to
Peter Rabbit
There are many other questions that a good strategy will answer and it can also be a great precursor for (or even integral part of) a business plan which may be required by banks, investors or venture capitalists who will want to know that the above questions can be answered. If a business strategy has not been defined before, it is very valuable to include creation of mission, vision and company values. A mission statement is a succinct way of capturing the purpose of the company (i.e. the reason the business exists) and forms a useful basis for an elevator pitch, differentiating the company from its competitors and is hence useful in marketing materials. A vision statement articulates the direction of the company and effectively defines what success looks like if everything were to go right and the company values form the foundation for the company culture and hence expectations on behaviour between staff and with customers and suppliers. It may be tempting to think that strategy is only for medium to large businesses, but this turns out not to be the case. If you don’t believe me, look at the bullet points above and ask yourself which of these does not matter for a small business? It may take a few hours to pull together a business strategy the first time you define it especially since this should be developed by the leadership team, but it is actually easy to then review and update each year perhaps taking only a couple of hours. Having a well-defined strategy can be an indispensable aid to guide your decision-making and provide a real level of clarity about where you are going and what needs to be achieved. Ian Ash is the managing director of OrgMent Business Solutions.
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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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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.
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
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Championing the cause By Emily Chapman Laing As the first female MP for Holt, and the first ever Sri-Lankan born woman to take a seat in parliament, Cassandra Fernando represents the inclusive future of our community. The pastry-chef, turned union organiser, turned federal advocate for diversity, workers rights and community has been an inspiration to women everywhere since she stepped into the political spotlight after winning the 2022 federal election for Holt. Ms Fernando admits the feeling of being the woman to trump two firsts in the Australian political arena is surreal. “To this day I think I’m in shock and I don’t think I will ever get over it,” she said. “I don’t even know how to explain how I feel when I go into Canberra. “Every time I’m up there, I‘m so grateful, words can’t express how grateful I am.” Ms Fernando knows, however, that her political firsts and her position come with new pressures. “Those two things carry a lot on my shoulders,” she said. “There’s a lot of eyes on me. But I’m hoping that I’m doing everything right to bring the needs and wants of the people into parliament.” It was her passion for people and workers rights that drew Ms Fernando to life as a political leader. “Being in the union movement really showed me what politics can do for people, and not just for people but for everyday people like myself,” she said. “Being from a coloured background, and being able to be that voice in a diverse community I thought was really important.” Undeterred by the complications of being a woman in search of political weight, Ms Fernando found her way into a supportive politi-
Federal MP for Holt Cassandra Fernando. Picture: SUPPLIED cal party where she is recognised for her brilliance. “Being a woman I think also does make it a little bit harder,” she said. “Not everyone [thought] that a person like me can relate to the everyday person [in comparison to male candidates], but they’re wrong. “I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult, but it’s been challenging.
“But I have a lot of support from our Labor caucus, [which allows] me to do my job extremely well. “They see me as an equal to them, so that has been really important, being accepted.” In the early days of holding a parliamentary seat, Ms Fernando voted to instate 10 days of paid family and domestic leave, which she notes as the proudest moment of her career thus far. “I was so happy that it passed through both the Senate and the House,” she said. “The people that I represented in my previous working life [as a union organiser], there was so many people that I felt very helpless. “There was not much I could have done, and having those 10 days paid leave I think is very important for men and women to come back to their feet.” Ms Fernando always shines the spotlight on her family as the source of a lot of her values, citing her mother as her biggest female influence. “My mum has faced many challenges in her life. “At the age of 40, she moved to a country that she didn’t know and she had to leave her whole family behind and start a new life. “That was very hard for mum, because she’s one of eight. “Learning to drive was very challenging for her [too] because she never drove in Sri Lanka. “She overcame all her fears and she’s a very strong woman, and I think she passed that strength down to my brother and I.” Just as her mother was a role model for her, Ms Fernando hopes to be a positive role model herself. “I would like to be a role model for women to stand up and speak up,” she said. “I think that’s very important for women,
especially from coloured backgrounds. “Everything can be talked about, you know, we live in a country [where] we can do that sort of stuff. “I want people to know that nothing is too embarrassing. “It’s really important for women from coloured backgrounds, young women, women from all over the world, all shapes and forms to stand up for what we believe in and speak up for what we believe in. “We are educated, we are intelligent, we’re multi-taskers and these are the sorts of things a lot of us women forget. “We’re strong, we’re independent. “[It’s important for women to remember] never to doubt each other. I think a lot of women, we doubt each other and we shouldn’t be doing that.” Rather than doubt, the MP chooses to use her power to build others up. “What power means to me is empowering other people. “If I can change the life of just one constituent, that’s me empowering someone to do better for their community. “I think empowering is the biggest power I can have as an individual.” Ms Fernando is a lot of things. She represents two major firsts in the Australian parliament. She’s a member of a loving family, an exWoolies worker, a former union rep and a voice for our diverse community. She is also a woman, and Ms Fernando appreciates her innate womanhood as her favourite thing about her female experience. “One of the most powerful things is being a mother,” she said. “That’s probably my favourite part about being a woman, is being able to create.”
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has reAn adjustment to policing methods number of sulted in a dramatic drop in the South East, hooning events in Melbourne’s charges laid. and large numbers of arrests and Police From January to July 2021, Victoria events reported 40 to 50 large-scale hooning region, inin industrial areas within the SD3 Areas of corporating the Local Government Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia. @StarNews_SE 40¢ Inc. were just GST In the same period in 2022, there two reported events. STORY PAGE 7
Kucks legacy lives on
Still hot proper ty Dogged by Covid PAGE 3
PAGE 5
area Pakenham is proving to be an appealing prices remain for first home buyers as house suburbs closrelatively low when compared to
er to Melbourne’s CBD. unit price The annual pace of house and and surgrowth is easing across Melbourne
PAGE 8
Domain’s June rounding suburbs, according to Quarterly House Price Report. said Ray White Pakenham’s Gavin Staindl in Pakengrowth had declined marginally ham. in Paken“We’re in a very affordable area
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dog attacks from occurring “has to start with education”. He said the wave of ‘pandemic pets’ who had not been socialised as puppies was an issue that couldn’t be ignored by owners or council. “I can’t believe there has been no mention
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“We all know people who bought dogs during Covid who couldn’t be socialised due to restrictions, yet our council properly does noth“They provide no education whatsoever, yet they have thousands of dollars in pet regMr Cini, who started his dog training ness after noticing the need for specialisedbusiservices for his dog Sasha, said he had personally offered to provide free training for dog owners to prevent dog attacks in the municipality, but
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PAGE 2
if they find themSPORT selves not contained to their property, which can lead to instances of dog attacks. “Keeping your dogs securely confined to your property, and ensuring they are always under effective control when out, are key measures to keep your pets and the community
He said pet registration fees help council provide a number of services, including reuniting lost pets with owners, investigating dog attacks, puppy farms, and prosecuting of-
in schools on safety around animals. But Mr Cini said he remained sceptical about council’s investment in education for dog owners. “A lot of people are misinformed about the reasons their dog might have social issues,” he said. “We have to have proper education programs...why not give [owners] a quick online test or a copy of the legal requirement of owning a dog when they register their pets?” In 2020/21, there was a total of 237 reported dog attacks in the City of Casey, 151 of the attacks on dogs and 51 attacks on humans.
GP Run cancelled Mr Osborne added that registrations
fees
BABY SEAT FITTING
on the fivethe same period in 2021, and seven year average. Speaking on those events, Superintendent John Road Policing Operations & Investigation as a “worryFitzpatrick described the increase of the vulnering trend” and issued a reminder abilities of motorcycle riders. some of the “These figures are alarming and coming is that AUTOBARN anecdotal evidence that we see to sitting out of Covid-19, people aren’t used NARRE WARREN and they’re Cnr Narre Warren in traffic for long periods of time Nth & maybe alchoosing a mode of transport that Lauderdale Rds Tuesday, 9 August, 2022 Fitzpatrick lows them to (avoid) that,” Supt said on Saturday 23 July. on motor“We’re seeing many more people bikes than we’ve seen ever before. it’s bike, a “Driving a motorcar and riding a shared responsibility about understanding what’s around where you are on the road and about you. We ask people to please be sensible mothey ride the way they drive and the way torbikes.” of President of the Cranbourne Chamber to decision the said Dart Jeremy Commerce given the cancel the event was “short-sighted”, to take missed opportunity for local traders /DandenongJournal @StarJournal_SE of the increased patronage. advantage 40¢ Inc. GST feedback While the Chamber has received aligning with from some retailers in the region to the Casey’s hypothesis that the disruption was problematic, riders and roads and their businesses options ness of the relationship between he was disappointed that alternative vehicles. approved. to see how had not been to the “We need to encourage people “It does bring significant numbers a valid form of transport. two-wheelers arePAGE the specific precinct,” Mr Dart said. 9 road-user region and SPORT would “We’re the most vulnerable “To allow a different model to exist with pathThere are plenty of group. Pedestrians are protected bike lanes. be a much better option. High Street) that ways and crossings; cyclist have but facilities out the back (of traffic the of middle the still. in festival We’re out there would allow them to still have a it would we are such a solution (to road congestion).” “Had there been some foresight, in re The issue has come into sharp focus
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Cranbourne High Street shopping precinct in Gippsland before proceeding down the South Highway for the big race. PatterCity of Casey chief executive Glenn a number of son said the council attributed was not made factors to their decision, which lightly. the signifi“Council has taken into account the disruption cant costs of running the event, aware of the to local traffic and we are also of Cranfrustration experienced by a number disbourne businesses, who face considerable seeing ruption due to the road closure, without said. an increase in patronage,” Mr Patterson dandenong.starcommun budget and ity.com.au “We will be retaining this event comare investigating options for another that ofarea Cranbourne the in munity event benefits to fers greater enjoyment and more to be anresidents and ratepayers, with details 199533 The last Cranbourne GP Run in 2019. nounced at a future date.” 60 per The City of Casey said approximately and they’ll be spendwas required will be at Phillip Island, cent of the $93,000 event budget money down there instead.” of the PAGE 2 South Gippsland ing their to manage the closure that4Casey would have PAGE He said he hoped Highway for the event. too late, allowing the Motorcycle a “re-think” before it’s John Eacott from the Victorian two-year absence. “extremely event to proceed after a VictoCouncil (VMC) said the council was decision. “It’s not just locals and people within disappointed” with the City of Casey’s a nation-wide thing. Peoit’s attend who ria constantly South Wales, “The VMC had years of working ple come from Queensland, New said. get-towith the City of Casey,” Mr Eacott South Australia. The GP is an annual
Fresh faces at Lyndale Secondary
Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au
Cops seize hundreds of cannabis plants
Hazaras reclaim their identity
Rangers search for answers
The end of an era
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Husband and wife, principal and assistant principal.
WINTER “It’s a big deal. They really love it,” she says. 2022 “Everyone needs to be acknowledged at least one day a year.” Her husband and principal Kevin says it goes to how much the school’s team cares. Next term, the couple will face their own special day – their last day at the school that they have served for such an extraordinary time. Mr and Ms Mackay have been there for 39 years and 36 years, respectively. All up, their teaching careers have spanned 60 years and 45 years. On 4 October, they will mark their retirement with a massive ‘general assembly’ at Dandenong High School hall. Kevin and Jenny Mackay have served Mr Mackay OAM said it would Dandenong North Primary School be the first as principal and assistant principal assembly since the Covid pandemic’s for nearly four decades. 292591 start. “It’s been an enormous part, where Picture: GARY SISSONS I get to food parcels or writing to government teach all the kids for half an hour. agen- follow each other to Dandenong We’ve missed cies on their behalf. North Pri- the best teachers I’ve that, so it will be good to have a met. mary School. last one. “And that kids know that you like “As the school became more complex “It’s going to be hard to avoid tears.” them. You Alarm bells rang for over have staff here that care about them – they’ll principal Mr Mackay the newly-appointed many years, Jenny’s experience has helped In their time, the school has built adwhen his wife was ap- dress an envi- ask the kids to ‘tell me more’. They go that the complexities. able reputation to bringing out the extra pointed to join the school. mile. best in from more than 50 diverse backgrounds. kids “From the synergies of effort you Mr Mackay worried about how get more “I think all the Dandenong schools to handle bang for your buck do a ter- the potential conflicts Its cutting-edge programs have than just two people. We’re of interest and staff dis- more been docu- rific job at that.” like two-and-a-half.” mented in award-winning films. harmony. While deputy principal at Clayton Meanwhile, Ms Mackay Primary What makes the school special “We made it work,” he said. “And School in the 1980’s, Mr Mackay thank God cipal as an “incredibly describes the prinmet a first- she was appointed “warmth”, Ms Mackay says. The school is its creative and lateral here. ensures year teacher Jenny. thinker” who will always look for the families get what they need a better way “My job is to get the best teachers – whether it’s They of course later married, and I possibly of doing things. were to can to work with the children. Jenny is one of Continued page 10
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER Time Fraction: 0.6 FTE The South Eastern Independent Schools Association (SEISA), a small sporting and cultural co-curricular association of independent schools in the Gippsland/South-East Melbourne region, is seeking a highly-organised individual to take on the position of Executive Officer. The successful applicant will have experience in sports administration, together with excellent communication skills and sound financial management skills. SEISA’s Executive Officer will ideally be able to be based at one of the member schools - Beaconhills College, Newhaven College, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School or Gippsland Grammar School - with the requirement to be in attendance at various SEISA events and meetings. There would also be scope for the Executive Officer to work from home when not required on site or at events. While the position is 0.6 FTE, there will be busy weeks during the year where more than this is required, yet other weeks where a lesser amount of time is needed. Consequently, the successful applicant will need to have flexibility, together with an ability to be an independent worker and a self-manager, to succeed in the role. A suitable salary will be negotiated with the preferred candidate, together with additional benefits such as the provision of a laptop computer. For further information about SEISA, please visit www.seisa.com.au or email Cobie Giliam at secretary@seisa.com.au. To apply for the position, please send a cover letter and resume to Cameron Herbert, SEISA Chair, at principal@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au. Closing Date for Applications: Monday 27 March 2023 12593902-JC10-23
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Growth critical for Connell By Marcus Uhe Organic growth from within and strengthening the current landscape will be the focus of Brett Connell’s first 12 months as Outer East Football Netball’s new Chief Executive. Bringing with him a wealth of experience at the community sport level, from roles at the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), Cricket Australia and AFL Victoria, Connell has replaced Aaron Bailey, who tendered his resignation late last year after six years in the role. Having hit the ground running with securing affiliation with AFL Victoria once again last week, Connell said that his next priority is to speak with clubs across the competition to assess the needs, strengths and weaknesses of both the competition and its stakeholder clubs. “You want to make sure you’re coming from a solid base and making certain that the club structures are in-place here, that there’s a nice flow from juniors through to seniors and we’ve got our junior structures right that support our senior clubs in the North and the South,” Connell said. “That’s where I see growth happening straight away. “I’ve got to make certain that there’s more boys and girls in football and netball playing our sports in the regions that we cover and the council shires that we cover as well. “I think what we want to do is focus on how we can support every club we have in a football and netball sense to make certain they’ve got a future. “Making certain that this is the competition they want to play in with their football, netball and juniors.” Capitalising on the “healthy” position the league finds itself in financially, the example shown by Berwick Springs is one he views as a successful case study of internal growth, an emerging club in Melbourne’s rapidly expanding outer south-east growth corridor established after the creation of their junior club in the early 2000s. Expansion in the form of plucking clubs from other leagues, meanwhile, is not on the horizon. While the competition welcomes Hallam to Division One from the Southern Football Netball League in 2023, Connell does not see clubs moving from league-to-league as a sustainable solution for long-term success. “We need to get our own shop in-order first before we start looking beyond,” he said. “I think we’ve proven in the last 10-15 years, we’ve been so accommodating to other competitions and clubs that have come to our competition. “They’ve broadened and stretched our competition more to the North and more to the South than they ever have, and that’s presented its own challenges. “I think looking beyond your own backyard
New Chief Executive of Outer East Football Netball, Brett Connell. is a little dangerous at times.” With cost of living pressures squeezing budgets on every level, grassroots sports are not immune, with clubs expecting an increase in operating costs in season 2023. While player registrations have remained “pretty constant” according to Connell, umpiring costs have experienced a minor increase. Already feeling the pinch after close to two years of inaction due to the pandemic, it’s another burden to the recreational outlet that key decision makers and figures at clubland would rather not be required to consider when completing their budgets and excel spreadsheets. But the return to affiliation with AFL Victoria is set to reduce the burden on those costs, with eligibility to grants and funding programs such as the Strategic Community Investment Fund, Country Football Netball Grants Program and the Community Club Sustainability Program. As such, a review of club’s affiliations is underway.
“There were budgets put in place in October, November, December, which at that time, Outer East Football Netball League was a stand-alone body that wasn’t aligned with AFL Victoria so all the budgeting is done specifically around that,” Connell said. “There’s a genuine cost that’s come across from apparel, and other associated footy matters like footballs, netballs, uniforms, all those things. “We tried to defray as much as we possibly can. “I think the focus is more-so on the commercial benefit that we can bring in. “More commercial partners means that we can reduce costs and maintain costs at a more manageable level. “That’s our focus right now, but as I said, we are looking to review the current club affiliations.” The requirement for new garments and apparel due to the affiliation will provide shortterm pain, but will bring intangible benefits, according to Connell.
Picture: SUPPLIED “If there are individual cases and issues of hardship with junior clubs and senior clubs, we’d certainly take them on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “In the main, if we’re going to be serious about the professionalism of the competition, we need to make-certain that the AFL Outer East Football and Netball logo is going to be front-of-mind for everybody, rather than carrying Worksafe logos, which are not relative to us right now. “ISC, who are our licensed apparel supplier, have kept costs to a reasonable level as well, despite costs for them going up in terms of manufacturing, freight, storage, all that sort of thing. “(in) 2020 and 2021, clubs bought new jumpers, and case-by-case if they come to us and say ‘We’ve got sets that have basically been unused for the past three years, can we find a solution?’ Let’s talk about that. “But there hasn’t been too many that have come at us at this stage.” With the season just over one month away from kicking-off, Connell can’t wait for the action to begin.
Last hurrah for Lucas as Fountain Gate star signs off By Jonty Ralphsmith It wasn’t the way he wanted to bow out, but Fountain Gate’s semi-final exit on Saturday was Dave Lucas’ last hurrah. His experience and assistance for the club during this campaign has been widely commended after a host of departures last season left several unsure where the club sat. Dealt difficult cards - with their coach departing just two weeks out from the season and the experienced but unfamiliar Dave Sime left to lead a young team with no home venue all season - relegation seemed more likely than finals. “I was like, if we win two or three games this season we’ve done well,” said first-year captain Karan Singh. “Him staying has given us the ability to move forward and that’s the reason (we played on the weekend).” The club finished with six wins and seedlings of optimism, knowing that sustained commitment and maturity is all that stands in the way of further success. In a season of change, Lucas has been a pilberwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
Fountain Gate’s Dave Lucas. 322130 Picture: ROB CAREW lar of experience who knows which levers to pull – both as leader and player. “He’s a smart bowler, he changes his pace, snaps his wrists and has a couple of slower balls and makes the batters play, that’s the key to him – he’s just a clever bowler,” said Sime. The extra season on the park, though, hasn’t come without challenges – the seam-up bowler has had to change his action for the first time in his career to accommodate his ageing body. Still, the left-armer offers a point-of-differ-
ence that builds dot balls and breaks patience. “It’s the Dave Lucas line and length and he hits it more than anyone I know...it’s a consistent 6-8 overs,” Singh said. Part of the growth of the next generation is attributed to the experience of Lucas – Sime indicates he’s helped grow Turf 3 team of the year bowler Hasindu Waduge, among others. It’s fitting that they’ve grown on such a linear trajectory this season, for fostering young talent with waning interest, into senior cricketers hungry for team success, is an intrinsic part of Lucas’ legacy. “(Dave) was instrumental in providing guidance in how we want to play,” the skipper revealed. “Dealing with players, dealing with situations that come up on and off field, so having him there to fall back on was important knowing I was going to make wrong decisions. “On field I trust him completely – if he has an idea, it will work more often than not work. “He has 22-25 years of experience in the ones so if he comes to me with something, 95 percent of the time, he’s right.” For Lucas, a former captain-coach, like so
many ageing grade cricketers, the decision was driven by a desire to spend more time with family. “The big thing for me is around communication with everyone and instilling that level of respect and getting people into the club and understanding what the history is and playing hard but doing things the right way,” Lucas said. He takes with him a bounty of memories and mates and leaves behind a legacy of guile and fun, showing and telling exactly the way cricket should be played. In all, he finishes with 203 matches, 369 wickets at an economy rate of 2.55 and a batting average of 15.11. “I would’ve loved to have played Turf 1 cricket,” Lucas said. “At that time, I really had to think and decide what’s more important and for me it was being at Fountain Gate. “I would’ve loved the challenge, the best part of bowling is doing it against the best batters, that’s the most enjoyment I get out of cricket. “It would’ve been great but in an ideal world it would’ve been with Fountain Gate.” Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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Tigers hold nerve in semi By Jonty Ralphsmith All season the question mark hanging over Beaconsfield in DDCA Turf 2 has been whether the middle-order has enough spine to stand up to the pressure of finals. In reaching 231 against Lyndale at Perc Allison Reserve on Saturday, with just 33 runs coming from the openers, the Tigers sent a message. Not only that there’s reason to believe that a blemish at the top would prohibit a premiership, but also that they’ve got the batting talent to sustain competitiveness. Riley Clark was the star of the innings with 75, but it was short of a match-winner, particularly playing a club containing arguably the biggest hitter in the competition. Clark’s boundaries flowed, while Ashan Madushanka rotated the strike nicely as they formed an important 98-run partnership, of which Madushanka contributed 42. That allowed more expansive players Jesse Busacca, who has batted higher in recent weeks, and Michael Dunstan to capitalise on the foundation and catapult the score well north of 200 against a bowling attack that had no answers. Facing a team accustomed to their home deck, Lyndale found scoring much harder than the Tigers and were on the back foot immediately after an inspired opening spell from Mitch Tielen reduced the visitors to 3/5. Crucially, the performance has those middle-order batters primed against a Cranbourne bowling attack that will surely pose more questions next week. The Eagles just scraped past Heinz Southern Districts in a dramatic clash at KM Reedy Reserve. Having set 162, Cranbourne was well on top after a tight opening spell by Pete Sweeney and Marty Kelly put HSD on the back foot quickly.
Lefty Ashan Madushanka stood up to the finals pressure. 317204 The Cobras were reduced to 7/87, Cranbourne looking all but home when skipper Craig Hookey gave Sweeney a sharp chance off his own bowling, which he grasped. That’s when it almost slipped away. With the run-rate required above a-run-aball, tail-ender Ryan Patterson took the long handle to Sweeney, and debutant Ketan Bakshi, and got a few to or over the rope.
Picture: ROB CAREW
He was ably supported by Liam Jansen who got 27 off 27 at the other end. Interspersed in his quickfire 32, Eagles outfielders dropped him thrice as they looked to be losing their nerve. But a Pete Sweeney wicket-maiden in the 43rd over put Cranbourne back on the front foot, HSD needing 10 off the last 12 balls with one wicket in hand.
After Pardeep Boyal kept it tight in the 44th, Bakshi bowled two dots to start the last over. That heaped the pressure on Jett Kearney, who looked to pounce on a slight miss-field and sprint back for a second that wasn’t on, allowing Matt Collett to gather a Tim Fathers throw and whip the bails off, cuing wild celebrations.
Beaconsfield v Cranbourne...a match made in heaven! By Jonty Ralphsmith It’s the 2022-23 ladder-leader against the long time DDCA Turf 2 powerhouses. A boom opening pairing against the Sweeney brothers, ex-Vic Premier cricketers who lead the Cranbourne line-up. The grand final will be contested by the two teams which have been in the most ominous form since Christmas and it is a genuine flip of the coin. They’ve split their two home-and-away clashes, and there’s little to go off from those games to get a clear indication of who is going to win. Cranbourne will back itself to maintain momentum if it takes early scalps. Beaconsfield will hope Cal Tout and co. can take early wickets - as much to get the openers - as to put the Sweeney boys under early pressure. If the stars align, Mick Sweeney’s former coach Mark Cooper could be sending down some leggies to him at some stage. It’s all there to play for and while Beaconsfield enter as a team with lots of individuals with some form behind them, Cranbourne will reflect on the semi and know they were solid, if unspectacular, overall: a premiership blueprint. The only question left to be answered is whether Cranbourne allrounder Harsaroup Singh gets up for the clash. The aggressive opener and spinner faced throwdowns last Thursday and was close to playing the semi.
Does Harsaroup Singh play? 320194
Will Tyler Clark be Beaconsfield’s match-winner? 311012 For the balance and depth of the Eagles side, they’ll be crossing everything that he gets up. BEACONSFIELD WEAPON: Opening pair: what’s left to say? The left-hand right-hand combination of Mark Cooper and Tyler Clark complement each other so well, as has been written so many times this season, allowing each other to play to their strengths and providing a foundation. It’s interesting to note that in both clashes between the two teams, Marty Kelly has gotten Cooper and Pete Sweeney has removed Clark.
Pictures: ROB CAREW
They’ve both had a quiet couple of weeks so surely at least one of them gets going. UNHERALDED PLAYER Ashan Madushanka: One of the most watchable players in Turf 2 when he’s up and going, it was terrific to see Madushanka get some runs on the weekend and the elegant lefty will hope to back it up. His spinners also add a different dynamic to the bowling attack and he’s gone wicketless just twice this season – once against Cranbourne. CRANBOURNE WEAPON: The Sweeney boys: It’s no coincidence that the ever-dominant Turf 2 cricket-
Can Beacy go all the way? 319026 ers finding form with the bat after Christmas has been right when the Eagles’ season got rolling. UNHERALDED PLAYER Tim Fathers: Is a highly-commended contributor by Mick Sweeney with his seam-up balls. Penetrates batters with accuracy rather than pace which makes him a good partnership bowler. Epitomises the solid role player that premierships are built upon. THE TIP It’s Mark Cooper to lead Beaconsfield to glory.
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Cherokees too strong for Doves
Avril Steere’s rink, from left, Reg Rowswell (Team Manager), Avril Steere, Albert Bertoncello, Val Wynen and Pat Steere. 322640
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Wicks’ Super sixes BERWICK BOWLS It was all about the Super Sixes on the weekend – Berwick’s last remaining hope for the season and didn’t they do themselves proud with two fantastic games of bowls to finish off the season. Berwick 6 (Division Semi-Final) def Moorabbin 4 96-62. The weekend started with the Super Sixes taking on Moorabbin 4 at the picturesque Mulgrave Country Club. With an average age of 76 the sixes were taking on a side that probably averaged half their ages, but to their credit - and obviously their experience - the sixes fought hard all the way through the game. The lead see-sawed through the first half of the match and with supporters from both sides up and about, the noise was deafening at times. Up to the break the game was there for the taking, both sides fighting hard to win ends and control their rinks. After the break through, the Super Sixe came alive! End after end we could hear the numbers being called out by the Berwick thirds and the crowd was going off. You wouldn’t have thought this was a game of Lawn Bowls and especially a Division 7 game. Although the crowd support for both teams was sensational the Mulgrave umpire actually requested to both factions of the crowd to tone it down a bit. Unfortunately for the umpire, that spurred the Berwick supporters on even more and with the game now in Berwick’s favour it was theirs to lose with 15-20 ends left in the game. Tony Wynen’s rink of Judy Turner, Joan Marshall and Val Fowler edged ahead and finished their rink seven shots up. Brucey Shearer nearly secured himself a starting spot in the ones on Saturday with a superb display of skipping and he was backed up by Ray Findlay, Annette Kirby and Peter Kirby to get up by six shots. Tommy McDermott had a great season and another great win, again by 12 shots, and Leanne Kleverlaan, Martin Grindley and Helen D’Amelio were sensational at the front to set it up for him. Probably the biggest noise for the day was for the ditch rink of Pat Steere, Albert Bertoncello, Val Wynen and Avril Steere. They were sensational and got up by nine. That rink certainly had the advantage of being next to the Berwick supporter crew and at times we thought we may have even had Albert and Pat get a trot up as they moved down the green giving high fives to the supporters. All in all, a fantastic win by the 16 and ably led by side manager Reg Rowswell who fired the side up and kept them focused all day. It was then onto Sunday and a chance to play for the Divisional Flag, the hardest competition to win in Bowls.
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Tony Wynen’s rink, from left, Judy Turner, Tony Wynen, Val Fowler and Joan Marshall. 6 (Divisional Grand Final) def by · Berwick Monbulk/Cockatoo 1: 73-84. It was off to Glen Waverley Bowls Club and the Super Sixes knew on Sunday they were a big chance. Cockatoo couldn’t field a pennant side in 2022/23 so teamed up with Monbulk to keep their pennant hopes alive. They had a vast array of young and experienced talent in their line up including recent Champion of Champion Singles finalist Mark Coulter skipping a rink. So the sixes knew they’d need a bit of luck going their way. They had played some great bowls and had some belief that they’d made the final two out of an original 64 sides this season. The game got off to a very nervous start by both sides. With the blustery northerly gusting across the green, and the height of the occasion, it took both sides a little while to find line and weight but it was Cockatoo/Monbulk who fired the first shot and had Tom McDermott’s rink down 13-1 in the early stages. Avril Steere’s rink started to fire with ‘Postman’ Pat Steere (always delivers) on the jack from lead and Albert Bertoncello backing him up, Avril and Val continued to convert ends and before we knew it they were covering McDermott’s rink. Tony Wynen was in the fight of his life on his rink as the lead see-sawed and the margins stayed tight. Bruce Shearer’s rink unfortunately, after a tight start, was luckless at times and came up against a very determined opposition. They were down but at the break the margin was 12 and the sixes were still right in it. As the ends ticked over McDermott’s rink
stemmed the flow of the opposition and Steere continued to forge further ahead eventually getting up by 21 shots, but unfortunately the close win also by Tony Wynen’s rink couldn’t cover the losing margins. They were still a chance right up until the 78th end if they were able to pick up a number or two…but it just wasn’t to be against a very talented outfit. What a magnificent season for the Berwick 6 side who was very settled throughout most of the season with all players committed and playing every week. They showed the whole club that it isn’t about who should play where, who should play with who or any of the negatives. They showed that just being out there, playing with mates and friends and doing all the positive things as a group will get you much further than any individual needs or efforts. We applaud the sixes and everything they have achieved this season and look forward to them rising a division next year to see what they can achieve. With the season now done and dusted, planning has already started with recruitment discussions, selection committee reviews and player availability forms out for the members to complete. We will look to next season where the club will have the following sides (numbers permitting): Division 1, Div 2, Div 3, Div 4, Div 5, Div 6, Div 8 and Div 9 which is a great mix and continuing on from this season our members have had tremendous opportunity to develop and learn which we hope will help them along in their endeavours next season. Well done Berwick, enjoy the break. - John Rich
The great action continued in Casey Softball over the last week. Cobras and big improvers Cranbourne faced off first, with the more experienced Cobras getting up 22-5. Brothers Dean and Jordan Hill played well for Cobras and Brayden Henry did likewise for Cranbourne. Berwick Cherokees, led by Isla Turcino, started strong with 11-2 in the first innings against Doveton, which found it hard to get their game going and Cherokees won comfortably. MVP played Doveton Renegades in the social women competition. Renegades started strong with a 4-3 lead after two innings. The strong bats of MVP got going in the third scoring 5-1, and they held on for an entertaining 9-5 win. Best for MVP was Ashley Paterson, and Renegades Pamela Joynson. An all-Berwick affair saw Chickasaw take on Geronimo. There was strong batting by both teams, including a home run to Mandy McLean, and a number of safe hits to Nicky “Jones” Blyth. A pretty even competition saw Geronimo win 14-8. Cranbourne Comets played Narre Warren Penguins in the final social game, with the Penguins leading 7-6 after an even first two innings. However, a 13-run third innings for Penguins blew the game open. Including homeruns to Nicole Knudsen, Kyla McGuire and two homeruns to Jessica George. The highlights for Cranbourne were big hits for Lisa Lever, Colleen Sullivan and a homerun to Emily Lever, giving Penguins a comfortable 20-10 win. Cranbourne B Grade women’s won 16-7 against Berwick Cheyenne, thanks to an eight-run third innings, while Doveton was too strong for a young Cobras outfit. Wednesday evening held the Women’s A Grade under lights. In a double-header Storm took on Young Guns, whose strong fourth innings guided them to an 8-1 win after a tight opening. In the second game Casey Red’s consistent batting allowed a 13-5 win over Doveton. The men’s competition finished off a great round of softball, with Warriors taking on Cobras Grey in a lopsided game, walking away with an easy 18-3 win. Cranbourne Meteorites took on Cobras Maroon in a close and seesawing game they won 13-9. There will be no games next week due to the State Open Championships being held at Werribee Softball Association. Competition resumes on 18 March for the final round of the home-andaway season.
The action was hot in Casey Softball this week. Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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STAR NEWS 27
Your child’s future comes FiRST at ...
Emma: Owner
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About children being children We are so excited to join the Narre Warren North community and offer Childcare, Kinder and Early Education to our little learners at FiRST early learning. Our stunning, boutique early learning centre is located on A’beckett Rd, opposite the Narre Warren North Primary School. FiRST early learning operate five centres across Melbourne and all services are carefully designed and created to provide high quality education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. We understand that the first 5 years of every child’s development and learning is of the utmost importance. We provide enthusiastic, qualified, experienced and loving educators together with Bachelor qualified kindergarten teachers that deliver the steps needed for
quality educational curriculums to build and prepare your child for the next stages in their lives. At FiRST, we lay the steppingstones to nurture, build, and develop secure and trusting relationships with our little learners and families. Every change, growth and milestone are celebrated and encouraged. Our environments are safe and stimulating, mixed with natural materials to offer the children exciting play spaces where they can build their creative thoughts and imaginations. No matter what age and ability your child is when they take their first steps into our classrooms, FiRST ensures that every child and family will feel welcome and happy in our home away from home environment.
Our educators understand each child as an individual with a range of needs, wants, interests, abilities and languages. FiRST will provide, encourage and further develop your child’s interests, ideas, theories, needs, sense of self and engage with your child in helping them to become the best they can be. We offer swimming lessons, bush kinder, library visits, yoga, music, science, cooking, intergenerational visits with our older friends and much more. We are excited to introduce our newest centre in Narre Warren North and look forward to meeting you all! Email: info@fel.vic.edu.au or call Narre Warren North on 9123 4452.
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28 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 9 March, 2023
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