News - Berwick Star News - 20th April 2023

Cyclist’s hit-run horror

Iftar dinner unites faiths

Wizardry from the Wickers

Rates set to rise

By Eleanor Wilson

City of Casey residents are expected to be hit with the full 3.5 per cent rates rise, according to the council’s 2023-’24 draft budget.

Council administrators presented a $542.26 million budget plan for public exhibition at the 18 April council meeting.

Administrator Cameron Boardman acknowledged that the increase “is not going to be received well, through some members of the community” but said the council has“little option” but to pass on the rate rise.

“When we have inflationary pressure around seven to eight per cent, and yes thankfully it is trending downwards, but that is being passed on at every level of our administration,” he said.

“So whilst we need to be conscious that we are not overtly disadvantaging the community, we also need to be very conscious of continuing to deliver these services and the expectation of the community, within the challenges of the current economic situation provides.”

Fellow administrator Miguel Belmar agreed that the increase, which sits in line with the State Government rate cap, was appropriate, but assured residents that their rates would be put to good use.

“I’m confident however that the operational budget that has been proposed is going to allow for the delivery of crucial services across our city, including kindergarten, maternal and child health care services, waste management and infrastructure maintenance within the budget that is proposed,“ he said.

On top of a 3.5 per cent rate increase, residents and ratepayers will also incur about a six per cent spike in garbage charges.

The council has attributed the rise to an increase in recycling and green waste costs, heightened service growth, a higher consumer price index and the State Government Landfill Levy. Alongside changes to ratepayer fees, the 2023/24 draft budget served up a relatively conservative Capital Works Program for the

forthcoming financial year.

$74.82 million is planned to be budgeted to capital works in the municipality, about one quarter less that last year’s $102 million budget.

Casey chief executive Glenn Patterson said the council will next year focus on completing unfinished capital works.

“The priority this financial year will be on consolidation; ensuring we complete projects already underway, focusing on renewal of existing infrastructure and assets, and undertaking the necessary detailed design and feasibility work for future capital projects to mitigate escalating costs,” he said.

Key projects outlined in the capital works program include the Robert Booth Reserve AFL, Cricket and Netball Pavilion; Ballarto Road and South Gippsland Highway intersection upgrade, construction of sections of Tooradin Station and Fisheries Road and Casey Fields Ovals 4 and 5 Pavilion Upgrade.

Upgrades at Ray Bastin Reserve, Pearcedale Reserve Pavilion, Max Pawsey Tennis Pavilion, Casey Fields Athletics Track and Lynbrook Family and Community Centre were also implicated in the draft budget.

Cuts to the program are most visible in investments to recreational, casual and leisure facility works, with funding down $42 million last budget, to just over $19 million for 2023/24. Funding for bridges is down from $409,000 to $198,000 and drainage funding will receive a $1 million cut.

Having said this, $1.4 million more will go into roads, and $1.5 million more will go to parks, open space and streetscapes in this budget.

But the draft budget has signalled some reprieve for residents, announcing a relief package for ratepayers which would see the suspension of late payment penalties until 30 June, the deferment of legal action and suspension of interest on approved arrangement to pay plans.

Continued page 7

for a school holiday night walk extravaganza. The night walk commenced at the Park’s amphitheatre around 6pm, proceedingtoalooparound Basalt Lake and back.

‘We just want her home’

Council Meetings

Members of the community are welcome to attend the upcoming Council Meetings which are held in the Bunjil Place Function Room, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren. Council Meetings start at 4.00 pm and are also live streamed through our Facebook page and YouTube channel. For more information on Council Meetings, or meeting minutes and agendas, please visit our website.

Upcoming Council Meetings:

• Tuesday 16 May

• Tuesday 20 June

• Tuesday 18 July

• Tuesday 15 August

• Tuesday 19 September

• Tuesday 17 October

Applications now open for grants to support community initiatives

Are you ready to make a difference in your local community?

At the City of Casey, we believe that supporting local groups and organisations is key to building a thriving community. That's why we are thrilled to offer this year's round of Community Grants to assist with projects, programs, and events.

Applications for these grants close at 5.00 pm on Friday 28 April 2023. For detailed information on the grants, including how to apply, please visit our website.

Help protect Casey’s threatened species

As part of our current biodiversity assessment, we are asking members of the community to help us gather information on the locations of several threatened flora and fauna species in Casey including the Growling Grass Frog, Dwarf Galaxias, Swamp Wallaby-grass, the Powerful Owl and the Southern Toadlet.

Over the next 12-months, we will be approaching landholders to invite them to participate in an assessment. The properties we are most interested in are larger properties with native vegetation that hasn't been cleared.

If you are interested in nominating a property for assessment, please email enviroeducation@casey. vic.gov.au or phone Council’s Principal Natural Resource Management Officer on 9709 9364.

Book your booster dose and recharge your immunity for winter

The 2023 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and over, as well as at-risk children aged five to 17 years.

Getting your bivalent booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness. You can have your booster dose if your last dose or COVID-19 infection was more than six months ago. For more information, please scan the QR code.

Dads Matter family campfire night

Attention all dads, grandfathers, and father figures! If you're looking for a fun-filled evening with the young people in your life, bring the family to the Casey Youth Hub in Narre Warren for the Dads Matter campfire event on Tuesday 2 May.

Enjoy an evening outdoors and under the stars with entertainment, games, drumming, marshmallow toasting, and even a free sausage sizzle with vegetarian and halal options available. It's the perfect opportunity to bond with your children and others in the community while enjoying delicious food and fun activities.

For more details and to register, please visit our website.

Racism rampant in Casey

By Eleanor Wilson

Racist incidents in the City of Casey are significantly under-reported, a new report outlining the extent of racially motivated behaviour in Casey and Greater Dandenong has revealed.

The study was conducted by Victoria University, in partnership with the City of Casey and the City of Greater Dandenong, with the aim of discovering how racism can be combated at the grassroots level.

It found that, from a pool of almost 170 local Aboriginal, multicultural and multifaith individuals from the two municipalities, more than three out five respondents or their families had experienced racism in the last 12 months.

Additionally, four out five respondents who experienced racism said they didn’t report it, either because they didn’t think it would change anything, they didn’t know where to go, had language barriers, didn’t trust exist-

ing services or were concerned about negative backlash.

According to the survey, racism was most commonly experienced in places of employment (58 per cent), followed by shopping centres, at school, on public transport and on social media.

One fifth of respondents reported experiencing racism in media reporting and 14 per cent said they faced racism when encountering police.

The most common forms of racism, the study found, were microaggressions, insults and unfair treatment.

Meanwhile, less than one third of all survey respondents agreed that there are enough services and organisations that offer appropriate support for people in Greater Dandenong or Casey who have experienced racism.

VU researchers Associate Professor Mario Peucker and Professor Tom Clark collaborated

Heights of self-confidence

with community organisations and residents to develop a local ‘roadmap’ of practical ways that reporting and support services could be tailored to the specific needs of local communities.

Dr Peucker said under-reporting racism was common, and the reasons behind it needed to be addressed systematically, without expecting people who experienced racism to navigate difficult reporting processes.

“If we want more people to speak out against racism, we must ensure those who face racism have clear and effective ways to connect to the support they desire,” he said.

Recommendations from the report included tackling the persistent lack of representation of diverse communities, raising a deeper awareness about what constitutes racism, diversifying reporting pathways, establishing a local community-led anti-racism support network, promoting reporting pathways and support services and commitment and collabora-

tion between various stakeholders.

The Cities of Casey and Greater Dandenong are some of the most multicultural municipalities in Victoria, with Casey is home to over 150 different cultures, more than 140 languages spoken and over 120 different faiths represented.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the council looks forward to continuing working with partners to build on the recommendations of the study, to tackle discrimination and racial abuse.

“The City of Casey is committed to creating a safe and equal community where everyone regardless of gender, ethnicity and age feels valued, respected and can live free from discrimination and racial abuse,“ she said.

“We recognise the need for adequate support services to be tailored to the specific needs and expectations of the people who live, work or socialise in Casey.“

Women from the CFA stared down mud, rain and towering heights at a South East Region Women’s Network Challenge Camp.

Forty-five members from fire brigades including Keysborough were put through their paces from Friday 31 March to Sunday 2 April.

The thrills at the Trafalgar East camp included a high wire, leap of faith, sky bridge, giant swing and obstacle courses in mud and water in chilly weather.

There was also a test with the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument – which revealed the members’ thinking preferences in normal situations and under stress.

The camp also uncovered unconscious bias they face as women in a male dominated industry.

South East Region (SER) Women’s Net-

work Project lead Olivia Duffey said many gained self-confidence and teamwork skills through the activities.

“The feedback so far has been outstanding, with many walking away with new skills, a new network of people they can lean on, and confidence in their abilities within CFA and their personal lives.

“This was the most challenging camp we have run yet, intricately combining a variety of mental and physical challenges with learning outcomes to assist the development of these future leaders immensely.”

Ms Duffy said the SER Women’s Network supports female volunteers to succeed.

“It is one small step to seeing all of our volunteers excel on the fire ground, in their brigades and in their personal lives.”

Jewellery Repairs, Jewellery remodeling, Engagement Rings and Watch Repairs, Swiss Watch Repairs Specialist.

CFA members taking part in the ’mud run’.

Keysborough’s Shandelle Ross and Warragul’s Danielle Watkins on a high wire during a CFA Challenge Camp.

Woman released over horror hit-run

By Sahar Foladi

A 40 year old Dandenong woman has been released from custody after coming forward to police about a hit-run collision in Noble Park that left a cyclist injured.

The woman was interviewed after Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol’s Sergeant Jerome Ithier held a media conference and urged the driver to turn themselves in.

“I’m appealing to the driver to hand yourself in.What you’ve done is deliberate, dangerous and reckless,“ Mr Ithier had said.

The woman was released pending further enquiries, police say.

The investigation remains “ongoing“.

The cyclist injured in what was described as a “deliberate” hit-run collision was deemed lucky to survive without a single broken bone.

The 59 year-old Pakenham man was cycling his way to Dandenong railway station to get to work when he was passed by a 2008-2017 white Mitsubishi Lancer on Douglas Street at 6.40am on Thursday 13 April.

Cyclist Robert Clarke and his wife Donna were very emotional when they described the incident on 17 April.

“Just to think that a human being could do that to another human being, I’m just blown away,“ Mrs Clarke said.

“I actually don’t know how he doesn’t even have a broken finger, not even a single broken bone.”

The white Mitsubishi Lancer stopped, allowed Mr Clarke to pass on the left hand side, then “deliberately accelerated” and veered to the left, striking Mr Clarke and leaving him injured.

“On that particular morning as I was going into Chandler Road I heard the acceleration behind me. I just continued on because that was my path, doing nothing wrong, I felt,” Mr Clarke said.

As an experienced cyclist, Mr Clarke has been cycling in that area for almost seven years.

“There were dark windows. I heard the acceleration and I just thought here’s another smartass. They’ll just rev, scare me and keep going and the next thing the world is spinning.

“I get a lot of abuse as a cyclist and this one hit.”

Fortunately, the incident was recorded in dashcam footage by a vehicle behind the Lancer.

Mr Clarke survived the incident, grazed and bruised and taken to the hospital for treatment.

“I can’t sit down properly. Both cheeks are patched up. I guess I had something in my backpack. I’ve got some internal injury in the back of my ribcage. I might flinch every now and then,” Mr Clarke said.

Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol Ser-

Nick’s hoop dreams

By Sahar Foladi

South East basketballer Nick Bruin is set to travel half-way across the world to compete in Special Olympics World Games.

There will be 64 Aussie athletes with an intellectual disability at the World Games in June alongside 7,000 others from 190 delegations.

Dandenong Casey Titans affiliated with Special Olympics Sports make sport accessible for those with special needs.

“Being selected to the Australian basketball team for the Special Olympics World Games is a dream. I am super excited,” Mr Bruin said.

“I’m looking forward to travelling overseas to a different country where I’ll meet different people, make new friends, do some sight-seeing and see tourist sites.”

His passion for basketball started from shooting baskets with his siblings in their backyard at a young age.

When he was 11 years old he started training along with his younger brother at Berwick Basketball Club.

At the age of 15 he trained with Special Olympics at the former Dandenong Market stadium.

geant Jerome Ithier said: “Often collisions like this depending on where, how you’re struck and how you fall, you could easily lose your life over this.

The bicycle was stuck under the front tyre of the white Lancer and dragged for almost 100 metres.

“I think anyone who partakes in this particular behaviour should not be on our roads.

“This sort of behaviour is dangerous, it’s reckless and it’s fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured as a result of this.”

Police say the white Lancer didn’t have registration plates.

“If you’re involved in a collision, stop and help the person. It’s certainly not something you should be leaving,” Mr Ithier said.

The car was tracked down and last seen on CCTV on Lightwood Road in Noble Park.

For Mr Clarke, this incident triggered unpleasant memories as he tried to hold back tears.

“This emotion in particular goes back to a ride I did in 2017 in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race where a rider was killed and the whole race was cancelled.”

Mr Clarke urges the driver to hand themselves in.

His other advice is: “Give up driving. Don’t reproduce.”

His passion for cycling has not been deterred as he looks forward to his recovery.

“I’ve cycled for many years down highways, remote country roads, things like Pacific Wheel races.

“You know the dangers are there. You keep to the left, do the right things, have helmets, have lights and you respect heavy vehicles.

“If I wasn’t hurting right now and I had a bike I would still ride.“

The horrifying incident was captured on dashcam footage.

https://youtu.be/lMxlgxjqmig

“I like playing basketball because it is something that I am good at and it is a great way to have fun with friends,” Mr Bruin said.

“Basketball is important to me because it helps me to keep fit and learn new skills.”

As someone with an intellectual disability, Mr Bruin said basketball has made him confident and more relaxed.

He has also played All Abilities football, cricket and softball but basketball remains his favourite.

There are two other players from the Dandenong Casey Titans in Dandenong selected for the World Games- a husband and wife duo who’re ready to compete in bocce.

Club chair and secretary Peter Fulcher-Meredith said: “We’re really proud and excited because we’re always seen ourselves as a small club.

“Then to have three of our athletes chosen on international level to participate for Australia is amazing.”

The World Games in Berlin covers a variety of sports including, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, swimming and tennis.

As someone who is big on staying healthy, Mr Bruin said he wants to continue playing basketball to stay fit and stop him from becoming a‘couch potato’.

“I want to keep hanging out with my basketball friends. Of course, it would be great to play in another World Games.”

Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol Sergeant Jerome Ithier, Robert Clarke and Donna Clarke. 329572

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Mr Clarke was left with graze and bruises after the collision. 329572

‘We just want her home’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A distressed mother has made an emotional plea for help to find 28-year-old Sarah Weatherstone, who was last seen in Narre Warren three weeks ago.

Judith Weatherstone reported her daughter missing to Cranbourne police on 25 March.

She told a press conference on 18 April that she’s in a “living nightmare”.

“It’s just like she’s vanished.

“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.

“I see this on my TV shows, I don’t want to live it.”

At the time, Sarah was living with her Wantirna parents Judith and Stephen.

Her birthday had just passed by last week.

She is close to family, and was looking forward to going to an upcoming family wedding in Queensland.

Herlackofcontactoverthepastthreeweeks was out-of-character, Ms Weatherstone said.

“She and I are very close. We would be in contact every single day.

“Even if we had an argument she would still contact me.

“She posted on Facebook one year you’re my Ying to my Yang.”

Since Sarah’s disappearance, there has been no known activity on her social media or bank accounts.

Sarah was with a group of friends at a factory atVesper Drive NarreWarren on Thursday 23 March.

She was last seen walking alone from the factory and along Princes Highway about 4.30pm.

At about that time, Sarah sent her last message to her mother saying she was coming home.

“I didn’t get any more answers from her,” Ms Weatherstone said.

“I was working at the time, I was messaging her ‘do you want me to pick you up from Knox?’ and I got nothing back.

“She could have been at Fountain Gate shopping centre getting a bus to Knox.”

Sarah’s phone was last detected in Hallam Valley Wetlands in the early hours of Friday 24 March.

About 40 Victoria Police members – including the Air Wing, Mounted Unit and a drone specialist - combed the wetlands between 1113 April.

Neither her phone or any“items of interest” have been found there, Detective Senior Constable Adam Reid said.

Police will continue to search the area as

wellascontactingSarah’smanyfriendsandfamilyinNarreWarrenandthewiderMelbournearea.

Sarah’s disappearance wasn’t treated as suspiciousbuttherewereconcernsforherwelfare,Det Sen Const Reid said.

Ms Weatherstone says Sarah has been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder.

“That has been very hard the last 14-15 years but we’ve supported her through that.

“I don’t think she’s done anything to herself …

“Everything is still at home – her dog, her teddy.Ifshewastotakeoffordisappear...shewould take her teddy.”

Sarah is described as Caucasian appearance, about 170 centimetres with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a green jumper, yellow singlet, cream trackpants and white sneakers.

“If you see Sarah, please contact somebody like Crime Stoppers.

“Please, we just want her home.

“We want to know where she is and what’s happened to her.”

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

An ‘undeniable’ case for $40m Cranbourne Hub

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A proposed $40.3 million community services hub in the heart of Cranbourne within four years is set to go out for public comment.

On the back of an “undeniably strong” business case, the Cranbourne Hub would potentially open early 2027.

It has been identified as a “priority major community infrastructure project”, a key part in revitalising Cranboune’s major activity centre.

Built on the council’s car park at 1-3 Lyall Street, it could include council customer service, youth services, a library, community meeting spaces and consulting suites.

However the community “appetite” for

the project was as yet unknown, Casey administrator Cameron Boardman said at a 18 April council meeting.

He also raised concern about the “challenging fiscal and investment environments” despite the facility’s “number of benefits”.

“Whilst the motivation and the acceptance of this (project) is meritorious, the cost is significant.

“There is significant community engagement to be undertaken and until we do, we won’t be making a decision at this stage.”

Administrator Miguel Belmar said the Hub was a “great opportunity” to revitalise Cranbourne as well as to put the car park site to “better use for the enjoyment of the community”.

He was also concerned how the Hub would be funded.

The community consultation this year will include project cost, funding sources, services at the Hub and design.

Under a proposed timeline, detailed design would then occur in 2023-’24, followed by 15 months of construction.

The hub could be mainly funded by a loan, as well as rates and the sale of the former Balla Balla Community Centre site.

Due to the“compounding” cost of loan repayments, a council report “strongly recommended” exploring other funding sources such as State grants, partnerships and surplus property sales.

To that end, the council will consider whether to retain or dispose the Casey Administration building site in the Casey Complex in Cranbourne East.

The report warned that deferring the Hub beyond 2027 would result in“significant risk” of cost escalation, community frustration and funding stagnation.

It would also “de-couple” the Hub from other revitalisation activity in Cranbourne and put “unacceptable pressure” on ageing facilities.

“Significantly … there will be lost opportunity to relocate existing Council services and release key sites for future strategic, economic and community benefit.”

Sarah Weatherstone, 28, was last seen walking on Princes Highway Narre Warren about 4.30pm on Thursday 23 March.

Sarah Weatherstone leaving a factory at Vesper Drive, Narre Warren on 23 March.

Sarah Weatherstone walking along Princes Highway after leaving a factory on 23 Marchthe day she disappeared.

LENSCAPE

Cyclone Ilsa sheds in South East

By Eleanor Wilson

Melbourne’s South East was dealt a significant lashing of rain over the weekend, which saw the state hit with over half the April rainfall average in 12 hours.

Hampton Park and Cardinia Reservoir were both knocked with 55 mm of rain, while Berwick recorded 50 mm.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Michael Efron said the impact of tropical cyclone Ilsa, which ravaged through Western Australia last week, contributed significantly to the weekend’s rainfall in Victoria.

Across the state, the rainfall was felt most heavily in the East between Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday.

“We did see some impacts on the roads, there was very localised flash flooding in some areas and that was mostly because the gutters and drains couldn’t handle that amount of rainfall,” Mr Efron said.

The highest rainfall in the state was concentrated in the Dandenong Ranges, where Scoresby received 58 mm and Mount Dandenong received 63 mm.

This was almost double the rainfall in Melbourne’s West, where 34 mm fell in Point Cook and 33mm was recorded for Sunbury.

Narre Warren SES unit controller Damian Burns said his unit received 16 calls for assistance across the weekend, including two rescue assists.

“We get approximately 700 jobs a year, which averages to about two a day and a lot of them are clustered in events such as this, but we would have 2 or 3 calls on an average weekend, so it was a busy weekend for us,” he said.

Mr Burns said the downpour tested the integrity of many roofs across the municipality.

“We also received many assistance requests from households scared about flood waters threatening their houses,” he said.

Mr Efron said the state has experienced above average rainfall for April so far.

“We’ve still got two weeks of April to go, so there’s a decent chance we’ll see potentially well above average rainfall, depending on how much rainfall we get in the next couple of weeks. he said.

Thankfully, outlooks show a much more settled week weather wise this week.

“There will still be a few showers around, especially on Wednesday, but the weekend is looking quite settled, so it will be a nice change from what we’ve had just recently.”

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To Eid celebrations this weekend. Eid Mubarak!

Thumbs down

To getting another year older and edging closer to mortality.

Thumbs up

To the great range of school holiday activities in the City of Casey at the moment.

Thumbs up

To the NBA playoffs beginning.

Thumbs up

To more sun forecast for this week.

Thumbs down

To the fact that I live in a community that still thinks it can bully groups of other human beings. I’m absolutely disgusted to read that the workshop series The Art of Drag was cancelled.

Thumbs up

Happy and proud to be part of the City of Casey and Cranbourne, lovely and generous hearts in our community, as Camms Road Fish and Chips reached $500 donations for Very Special Kids Donation this year.

Thumbs down

To too much sour cream in taco bell wraps.

Stadium wins award

The City of Casey can add yet another award winning sports facility to its arsenal, after Casey Stadium was named Indoor Facility of the Year at Cricket Victoria’s 2023 Community Cricket Awards

A City of Casey facility, managed by YMCA Victoria, Casey Stadium has played a major role in the indoor cricket world - hosting several national and international events in 2022, including the Indoor Cricket World Cup, Indoor Cricket Nationals, and the Indoor Cricket Masters.

The Indoor Cricket World Cup saw over 10,000 spectators at the venue and was broadcast to the world via Kayo Sports andYouTube.

The Cranbourne East sport and recreation facility provides a wide range of social and recreational programs for the community and continues to grow in popularity.

The last 12 months saw a 100 per cent increase in adult cricket team participation and a 61 per cent increase in children’s programming participants.

City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM said Council is honoured to see Casey Stadium recognised for its state-of-theart facility.

“Casey Stadium continues to provide our growing community with the opportunity to get involved in the sports that they value and enjoy, and we are thrilled to have the venue recognised by Cricket Australia,” said Ms Duff.

In partnership with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia, Casey Stadium has developed youth cricket clinics for school-aged children and established ‘Come Try’ Cricket sessions for women and girls of all ages.

Held annually, Cricket Victoria’s Community Cricket Awards celebrate contributions which grow the game at all levels through schools and clubs, highlighting exceptional service to key areas of participation.

Tooradin-Dalmore sports stars volunteer their time

By Emily Chapman Laing

Tooradin Dalmore Football Netball Club are volunteering their time to support the community.

Club members are offering their time to hold a working bee in Tooradin on 6 May, 10am-12pm.

The club is taking requests for working bee projects throughout the local community.

“We want to give back to our community, to say thanks for all the ongoing support we receive,“ said Tooradin Dalmore Netball Vice President Bec Kinna.

“We believe this is a great way to teach our junior and senior players that when we wear

our colours we’re not only wearing them for us.

“We want everyone to know we represent our community with respect and care and just like on the court or field we’ve got each others backs.

The club has suggested possible projects including holding a free personal training and sporting session, mowing lawns, walking local pets, weeding gardens and collecting rubbish.

The members also plan to hold a meet and greet in the park.

“We will endeavour to help as many locals as we can and are looking forward to giving back to our community to show our appre-

ciation for all the support our town gives to our club,“ the club wrote in a Facebook post.

“This is an opportunity for us to show we’re more than a football and netball club, the residents of our town are our heart and soul and we’re willing to give them our support as they have for us for so many years,“ Bec said.

For enquiries email becdorling@hotmail. com with your name, email, phone number and description of service required. Tooradin

The flow-on effects of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa saw the East of the state battered with rain. 284313

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Casey Stadium was recognised in the 2023 Community Cricket Awards for its outstanding sport and recreation contributions to Melbourne’s southeast community.

Picture: CITY OF CASEY

Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick looks spectacular as locals celebrate the Twilight Walk and Neon Lanterns event. 330018 Picture: ROB CAREW

Coffees for good cause

George

By Eleanor Wilson

Working the hospitality industry for several decades, George Psomadelis has been crafting the perfect coffee his whole life.

Now, he is throwing his all behind a new social enterprise cafe in Narre Warren.

80VC Cafe was opened to the public late last month as a branch of Palliative Care South East (PCSE) , which is due to officially open its multi-million dollar facility in Victor Crescent next month.

All the proceeds from 80VC cafe go straight back into services at PCSE, chief executive Adjunct Associate Professor Kelly Rogerson explained.

“Every dollar we make goes back into services and providing end of life care…that’s our real goal to help building running and programs. George said business is slowly building, encouraging local office workers and community workers to stop by to pick up a coffee, or grab a muffin, wrap or banana bread.

“We’re hoping the community will support us, because whatever profit the cafe makes goes back into the community, so you aren’t

supporting a business, you’re supporting the community… that’s what its all about,” he said.

PCSE has been running for 40 years, providing end of life care through health and wellbeing services, to allow individuals with a lifelimiting illness the best quality of life possible.

The new centre features a community facing area, with counselling rooms, music and art therapy and capabilities for palliative care training.

“The staff are really committed to providing exceptional care to people,” Ms Rogerson said.

“Palliative care is not just about death and dying, its about keeping people well and giving them a great quality of life while they’re still with us.”

Ms Rogerson said the Narre Warren location gives PCSE staff a great home base from which to conduct community care.

“It’s really central to our catchment area and our population growth, we service an 1800 sqm area from Dingley all the way past Kooweerup.“

80VC Cafe is located at 80 Victor Crescent, Narre Warren.

Rates set to rise 3.5%

From page 1

The relief package is set to result in a $600k loss for the council, which will be absorbed within the budget.

In referencing the relief package, Ms Duff acknowledged the “the significant financial hardship that many of our residents and ratepayers have faced in the last 12 months”.

Mr Boardman encouraged struggling residents to approach the council for financial help.“If you are faced with a degree of pressure or a degree of hardship, to contact us and we’l work through a solution that meets everyone’s best interests.”

While the documents are a statutory requirement, they are not yet final, he said.

“We are adopting a recommendation this afternoon to release them for public consultation.“We will be holding a meeting specifically to hear from members of the public on 30 May, to include that feedback into our final decision making, in addition to any other community feedback.“

The full suite of draft documents will be on public exhibition until Tuesday 9 May 2023, whereafter Council will consider all of the feedback before formally adopting the documents at the Council meeting on 20 June 2023.

To view the documents, head to conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/budget-council-planactions

Psomadelis said working at PSCE’s not-for-profit cafe has proved incredibly fulfilling. 329888

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Iftar dinner unifies faiths

By Eleanor Wilson

The Casey Multi-Faith community was a true vision of cultural cohesion over the weekend, marking the final week of Ramadan with an Iftar dinner at Hampton Park Uniting Church.

Held by Casey Multi-faith Network, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association and Hampton Park Uniting Church, the event welcomed about 80 guests from multiple religious sectors for a dinner to break the day’s fast on Saturday 15 April.

Representatives from Victoria Police and other community groups were also in attendance on the night, where a number of speakers educated the crowd about different fasting practices within religion.

Casey Mutli-Faith Network president Kasuni Mendis said it was the first time the group has held an Iftar dinner in a Uniting Church.

“We had a lot of people who had never attended an Iftar before and were really excited to learn and participate in that,” she said.

“I think for us that exemplifies what MultiFaith is about, being able to hold an Iftar in celebration of Ramadan in a uniting church is kind of the epitome of Multifaith understanding for us.”

Ms Mendis was one of four speakers at the event, speaking about the history of fasting in her religion of Buddhism.

The crowd also heard from Hampton Park Uniting Church Reverend Ric Holland, who touched on the tradition of lent, Imam Atif Ahmad Zahid who spoke on fasting during Ramadan, and Casey Multifaith committee member Sarita Kulkarni,, who educated attendees on fasting in Hinduism, with a focus on health benefits.

“Overall, what we learnt is that fasting as a part of religious beliefs is a way we can show our graittude an understanding of what we have and also pay tribute to the practises or events that might have happened in our own religions that led to those beliefs,” Ms Mendis said.

“It’s really great to share those commonalities among different faiths as a way of uniting us.”

Eid Market attracts big crowds in Narre South

By Eleanor Wilson

Narre Warren South’s Oakgrove Community Centre was transformed into a cultural shopping paradise on Friday 14 April, as locals reveled in an annual Eid Exhibition hosted by local business Mannat’s Collection.

Local, female-owned Indian, Pakistani and Afghani businesses selling cultural clothing and jewellery filled the centre, while children played as they lined up patiently for face painting and henna art. The event, which had attendees entertained from the early afternoon late into the evening, allowed locals the chance to shop for clothing and accessories for the upcoming Islamic Eid festival. Mannat’s Collection owner Galsum Foladi said she started the exhibition three years ago to empower multicultural, female small business owners.

“I’ve been running my business for four years, I started with a very small box and now I have a big room filled with jewellery and clothes,” she said.

“I’m really happy to support my family, my children,” she said. Mrs Foladi said setting up Mannat’s Collection four years ago helped her overcome her struggle with anxiety.

“I had very bad anxiety, my daughter said you have to keep yourself busy with something or your anxiety will not get better,” she said.

“Now all my anxiety is gone, I feel fit and more young because I can connect with these women and travelling all around Melbourne The event was held ahead of Eid celebrations this weekend, which will see Muslims across the world mark the end of a month-long fast, Ramadan. This year’s Eid celebrations will take place around 21 and 22 April, when families come together to pray, before sharing a meal and celebrating.

L-R Event host Galsum Foladi, Greater Dandenogn Cr Richard Lim, stall holders Kajal, Money, Maryam, Maqsoudi and Payal.

Ritu from Kara Collections shows off her selection of scarves.

Two-and-a-half year old Aliza receives some henna tattoo art.

Ilias enjoyed having his face painted at the event.

Indian and Pakistani dishes were served as shoppers browsed the stalls.

Money and Aaleen show off their range of cultural dresses.

A number of speakers educated the audience on the fasting practices in their religion.

The Iftar saw 80 individuals from a range of faiths gather at Hampton Park Uniting Church.

From bottom left: Hampton Park Uniting Church Reverend Ric Holland, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association East Melbourne Chapter president, Imam Atif Ahmad Zahid, Casey Multi-Faith Network President Kasuni Mendis, Sarita Kulkarni and members of Victoria Police and the Casey Multi-Faith Network Committee.

Lanterns light up Park

By Eleanor Wilson

Berwick’s Wilson Botanic Park was glowing from within on Tuesday night, 18 April, as 400 locals toted handmade neon lanterns for a school holiday night walk extravaganza.

The night walk commenced at the Park’s amphitheatre around 6pm, proceeding to a loop around Basalt Lake and back.

Along the way, families were encouraged to bring along torches to spot various soft toy animals peppered around the park.

Immersive creative arts group The Indirect Object assisted with a neon lantern workshop, while Angie from Koo Wee Kapers provided storytelling, live music and puppetry and the Friends of Wilson Botanic Park had their tongs at the ready with a barbecue.

Star News photographer ROB CAREW had his flash camera on hand to capture the electric atmosphere.

Riley with a Lantern.

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Cordelia holds as many Lanterns as she can. 330018

Riley shared a special night with Mum Alex Jennings. 330018

Madeline finds new ways to carry lanterns. 330018

Ready to walk into the night looking for dinosaurs and animals. 330018

Lantern Wizards helped children make their own lanterns. 330018

Families explored the Basalt Lake to find animals and even the Wilson Botanic Dinosaurs. 330018

Keeping warm and exploring the night. 330018

Madeline inspired by the light of the lanterns.

Turning the page on grief

By Eleanor Wilson

At the dawn of the Covid pandemic, Berwick mum Rachael Dumonic packed her bags and moved across the world to a tier two city in Northern China.

Unaware of a looming global pandemic, the plan was to stay for 12 months to teach English, something the floristry teacher had been wanting to do for years.

She didn’t speak any Chinese and spent the first five weeks of her stay living out of a small hotel room, boiling eggs in a kettle and slowly adjusting to the culture shock.

Despite the challenging circumstances, it was a step on from her reality five years earlier, when, grieving the loss of her 18 year-old son Callum, she said she had “no desire to wake each day”.

“I was so destroyed that I could not see beyond my grief and inconceivable loss, and all of what life was and what I knew was shattered,” she reflected.

It had been a long, hard road for the teenager and his family, who suffered a long battle with mental illness, depression and anxiety, passing away in 2015.

Part of the decision to move to China was a dream she was chasing, to reclaim her life after years of pain and anguish.

But, with Covid taking off across the globe, Rachael made the return to Australia five

months after she had arrived, in the middle of 2020.

The stories she brought back with her, both etched in her memory and jotted into journals, were slowly transformed into a book - Do You Think It’s a Good Idea? - which was recently picked up by global publishing company Austin Macauley.

“Being a foreigner in an unfamiliar country really opened my eyes to the challenges

immigrants face and just how difficult it is to adjust,” she said.

She hopes it can serve as a reminder for readers to “feel the fear and do it anyway”.

“My story is just one of many but I feel that it could be an inspiration to others to push outside the boundaries of grief and that there can be some small joys in life,” she said.

All proceeds from the book will go towards the SMUK Foundation - which Rachael estab-

lished in 2017 in Callum’s honour.

“Callum led me to all my achievements, and I hope that he will be proud of all that I have established,” she reflected.

After his passing, Rachael found herself with about $5000 of Callum’s savings.

At the time, she said, she didn’t know what to do with the money.

“I sat on it for a bit and I thought I’m gonna start a foundation and see where we go with this, in memory of Callum,” she said.

In 2017 the SMUK Foundation, which stands for Supporting and Mentoring Unique Kids and also represents Callum’s tag name ‘SMUK’, was created.

The not-for-profit works with local projects and charity organisations to raise funds for youth facing homelessness and mental illness.

“I can’t save the world, but if we can help to save a few kids, and save a few families from going through what we have, then my job is done,” she said.

The official book launch for Do You Think It’s a Good Idea? will be held on 21 May this year, at LOLA St Kilda.

The proceeds are going to be donated to The James Marcon Foundation for mutual projects for youth to support mental health and wellbeing projects at Headspace/ Orygen.

To book a ticket to the event, head to bit. ly/40fu5Ok

Dog lover’s delights set to light up Bunjil Place

Dog lovers will be drawn to Bunjil Place this winter, as the civic hub’s plaza is transformed into an interactive dog sculpture.

The Lost Dogs’ Disco is a temporary sculpture that celebrates the place of dogs in our lives.

Journey through an immersive installation of 16 dogs, some up to 5.5m tall. Some are curled-up, some are standing, even touching noses and there are four distinct characters, inspired by three dog breeds: Poodles, Bull Terriers and Dachshunds.

As you make your way through the happy pack, the dogs’ coats light up and they greet passersby with happy grunts to celebrate each new person’s arrival; for the Lost Dogs’ Disco is a hallowed place for dogs and every newcomer to the disco is greeted as a fellow disco dog.

The installation features a custom sound design of electronic music that captures the beauty and pathos of a dog’s life including a chorus of barks, growls, howls and all kinds of doggie hullabaloo.

The Lost Dog’ Disco launch will be held on Friday 23 June from 5.30pm – 7.30pm and is free. The installation will be open in the Bunjil Place plaza from 24 June to 16 July from 10am – 10pm daily.

To find out more about this event and other family friendly events coming up at Bunjil Place, visit bunjilplace.com.au

Party with the pooches at Bunjil Place Plaza this winter at the Lost Dogs’ Disco.

Picture: DIANA SNAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Rachael Dumonic, pictured here with her debut book Do You Think It’s a Good Idea?. 328842

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Oyiti Cup event excites

By Cam Lucadou-Well

A roaringly successful Oyiti Cup paid tribute to a popular young leader as well as promoting positive mental health for hundreds of young basketballers.

The inaugural three-day Easter tournament attracted 18 teams of teenagers from across Victoria, and packed out the Hoops 247 centre in Dandenong with nearly 2000 visitors.

It had to knock back several teams, including from Adelaide and Canberra, due to the confined venue.

Competition was robust between sides like Dandenong-based Red Roo, Longhorns, Amateur Athletic Union and the Elites.

But the event was not about winning the gleaming trophies and medals – or the bevy of free, nutritious lunches, Mr Amum said.

It about bringing together young people and promoting positive mental health.

Mr Amum’s son Oyiti, a talented young leader who played college basketball in the US, took his own life two years ago.

Many of the event’s participants knew, befriended and admired him.

“It was a way of celebrating Oyiti’s life, a tribute in his memory. Young men there suggesting that the tournament should be held twice a year.

“But it’s also not just about Oyiti anymore. It’s about these young people’s welfare and their future – and for them not to fall into the same trap as Oyiti.”

With a team of 22 volunteer supervisors, Mr Amum was focused on keeping the crowds of teens safe. The tournament ran without incident.

“It was really friendly and like a family.”

The Oyiti Cup is the latest in a series of inspiring actions by Mr Amum, a trained mental health worker from Cranbourne.

A year ago, he embarked on an epic ‘walk of hope’ from Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney to tackle the tragic scourge of youth suicide in African-Australian and CALD communities.

Along the way, he met with the then Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

And raised $10,000 to launch his Oyiti Foundation as a “voice for the voiceless”.

Now with State Government support, the foundation runs a weekly homework club, basketball training and monthly mental health awareness sessions for more than 20 youths.

During school holidays, the basketball training and activities like cinema visits ramp up.

“We don’t want them alone at home. We’re keeping them active and engaged.”

Premier pops in to visit Melbourne City

Emily Chapman Laing

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews visited Melbourne City Football Club to recognise their important work in the community.

On Wednesday 12 April, Mr Andrews, joined by Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, visited Casey Fields.

The Andrews Labor Government has backed a $50,000 election commitment to help Melbourne City’s ‘City in the Community’ (CITC) programs.

CITC uses the “power of football“ to “promote employment, social inclusion and physical activity”.

“It’s a wonderful unifier,” Mr Andrews said.

“It’s all about giving kids structure and teaching them soft skills like how to be part of a team, how to relate to others and how to keep busy doing something that’s fundamentally enjoyable.

“And this program is much cheaper and much more accessible than being a member of a club, so this is a really important opportunity.”

Mr Andrews says there’s also some significant career paths coming out of the program.

“You start off as part of the community program, next thing you’re a team leader,

next thing Melbourne City has got you on staff running other important community programs.”

The Andrews government has invested more than $1.6 billion to upgrade and improve recreation reserves and sports grounds across the state.

Mr Andrews says backing this commitment also creates jobs.

“There’s many thousands of people working in delivering those important upgrades in country towns and suburban hubs like this one,” he said.

“Sports are important to us because they’re important to the Victorian community.”

The club was established in 2010 and their community outreach programs have engaged over 100,000 youngVictorians using football to “promote wellbeing, education, employment and gender equity”.

Many of these young people go on to become part of the Young Leaders program, where young people aged 16-24 volunteer with CITC staff.

Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards says she has enjoyed watching CITC operate within her community.

“I’ve seen Melbourne City out in schools

in the area.

“For me to be able to see them getting the kids together and having fun makes my heart sing.

“And seeing the girls and boys play together, it just shows that the program does unify people and it gives these kids those connections.”

Sunil Menon, Izzy Johnson, Pauline Richards, Josie Mirarchi, Daniel Andrews, Brad Rowse, Kay Mohammadi and George Halkias. Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

Joshua Piech Meat with organiser Nyibil Amum.

Volunteer supervisors at the tournament.

One of several medals handed out during the tournament.

Red Roo players were among 18 teams at the event.

Some of the big crowds that flocked to the Oyiti Cup.

THE LOWDOWN

Q&A

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I worked as a contiki tour manager for year travelling around Europe.

What do you love about theatre?

I think the main thing I love about theatre is the way it brings community together. The ability to work together to create something from nothing - to use our collective skills to problem solve, and create unique productions.

What would your last meal be?

Chiang Mai Noodles.

What is your most memorable moment?

Getting to perform at Royal Albert Hall was fairly memorable.

What event past or present would you like to witness?

I wouldn’t mind an invite to the coronation of the King. I feel like that would be a pretty memorable moment in history.

Which three guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

Prince, Michael J Fox & Ricky Gervais.

What are you currently listening to, watching or reading?

The Seussical Soundtrack and the works of Dr Seuss - directing the upcoming production of Seussical at Bunjil Place is all consuming.

If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?

Seafood Chowder.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

North America. Canada and of course New York!

What were you like as a kid?

A handful! I am so grateful my kids are better behaved than I was.

What was your first job?

The first real job I had was working at

with Windmill Theatre Company president Sean van Geyzel

THREE … facts about Eid

1

Eid is celebrated by the muslim community after a month of fasting called Ramadan.

2

The date of Eid each year is determined by the moon cycle, with celebrations occurring at the sight of the new crescent moon. This year, Eid will take place between Friday 21 and Saturday 22 April.

3

Windmill Theatre Company president Sean van Geyzel, pictured here as Amos Hart in the company’s production of Chicago.

McDonald’s part time.

What are the most used apps on your phone?

Duolingo - brushing up on my Japanese and Google Drive.

Picture: SUPPLIED

What’s one question that you have always wanted answered?

I’ve always wanted to know what the numbers for the next Tattslotto draw are going to be.

Eid festivities last for a few days, in which Muslims will go to prayer, visit their family, eat special food and give children gifts and money.

ON … ANZAC DAY MESSAGES

Untold stories of wartime

Two postgraduate history students have unearthed new findings from within the Australian War Memorial’s collection of wartime diaries and letters.

Anna Wilkinson and Hannah Billington, from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne, will share their research into First World War sailors and Second World War airmen as they complete the memorial’s prestigious Summer Scholars Program.

“The most surprising thing I found is the everyday joys, frustrations and anxieties felt by these boys and men. Something as mundane as waiting for a letter could consume someone’s thoughts for weeks, even months,” Wilkinson said.

“We have plenty of research focusing on ships, engagements and officers but I wanted to look at individual emotions.”

Billington has investigated the experience of members of the Empire AirTraining Scheme during the Second World War and the enduring legacy of their training in Canada.

“There is a gap in existing scholarship. By exploring how their Canadian training impacted RAAF recruits’ transformation from civilians to service personnel, I hope to highlight the significance of training to an individual’s service history,” Billington said.

Both scholars are focusing on the reflections of the young men during these formative experiences and how they conveyed and recorded them.

“It has been hard to whittle down the memorial’s vast collection of writings to focus on a few stories. The diaries and correspondence aren’t those of seasoned veterans, but of young men grappling with foreign countries, climates and cultures. They are all important,”

Billington said.

Memorial historians assigned the scholars’ topics, which are distinct from what they are pursuing in their academic careers. Wilkinson said the chance to utilise the memorial’s col-

lections and work with experts was a great advantage.

“I had the chance to interrogate the National Collection, the Research Centre and the Sea Power Centre-Australia. Accessing these records took me to the source of the history I am writing.”

Billington is augmenting the scholarship of the Empire Air Training Scheme already undertaken by the memorial.

“The opportunity to bolster the memorial’s work around this chapter of our military his-

tory, by understanding the personal links and wartime bonds between Australia and Canada, is something I am very proud of,” Billington said.

Since 1985, the Summer Scholarship Scheme has given more than 90 young historians practical experience of working in a major historical institution. Each scholar produces a research paper related to their topic, be it an aspect of Australian military history, the memorial’s collection, or developing an exhibition.

Afghan women sew hopes during the war

An artistic exchange between Afghan and Australian women, The Handkerchief Project, has been acquired by the Australian War Memorial.

More than 40 mixed media handkerchiefs were sent to Afghan women by Australian women during the AfghanistanWar. On each handkerchief an Afghan woman sewed her response. The handkerchiefs will be taken into the National Collection to represent the lives of women during the war.

Afghanistan participant, Mursal Rahimi, said the teamwork between the Australian and Afghan women was important.

“It means a lot to me and lots of other people in my country. It was amazing that women from two different countries with very different levels of education, with dif-

ferent languages, and very different cultures worked together very closely and provided such wonderful artworks,” Rahimi said.

Project founder Gali Weiss said: “The objective of the project was to support women in Afghanistan in their quest to acquire and use literacy skills.

“As Australian women living in privileged circumstances, in a country whose military was involved in Afghanistan, we felt a responsibility to connect with Afghan women living in circumstances of war and immense hardships.”

The Australian women’s work was sent in 2018 to the Organisation of Promotion Afghan Women’s Capabilities (OPAWC) in Kabul, which was running literacy and vocational classes. Handkerchiefs were selected

because they were easy to transport and could be used with various media, including printmaking and embroidery.

Weiss, an artist and printmaker, contacted 19 Australian artists to join her in the project.

The first marks on each handkerchief reflect the Australian artist’s environment, including themes of place, nature and history.

The handkerchiefs were then delivered to OPAWC’s Vocational Centre in Kabul, where Afghan women learning literacy skills there were invited to write or embroider directly on, over or around the Australian women’s imagery, using any medium.

“By presenting and exchanging our personal worlds of art and text we were creating a meeting place – despite the challenges of

The summer scholars will present their research at a webinar, available on the memorial’s website at awm.gov.au

A longer written version will appear on the website later in the year.

“Having gained a more nuanced understanding of history as a craft, we can’t wait to share what we have found,” Billington said.

More information on the program, including application dates, can be found at bit. ly/400OmXC

difference – in an artwork,”Weiss said.

The handkerchiefs were returned to Australia, bearing messages such as: My aim is to become a judge; Our country needs peace; I wish to see my family healthy; I want to live in freedom forever; and I hope that no more Afghan mothers shed tears from the loss of their children.

Director of the memorial, Matt Anderson, said: “These universal messages of hope, the pain of war, and the resilience of women are a treasured addition to the Australian War Memorial.

“The collection has found the right home to share this important message with Australia: messages of connection and friendship, but most importantly, solidarity between two cultures.”

Berwick RSL Inc.

Sevice for remebrance day will be held at Bunjil page 6am Dawn service. Berwick RSL assemble at 10.40am to walk to memorial site at High Street berwick for 11am service.

On behalf of the Berwick RSL Sub-branch, specifically our veteran community I would like to thank you the people of Berwick and surrounds for your very generous donations and support as part of our Poppy and ANZAC Appeals, all money raised from these appeals goes directly into supporting the veteran community of Berwick.

LEST WE FORGET

0455 556 437 BerwickRSLWelfareTeam

Summer scholars Anna Wilkinson and Hannah Billington in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial. Picture: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Recognising their service

Anzac Day is Australia’s national day to recognise all military personnel who have served our country over more than a century.

Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Alison Frame said this year Australians will commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings at home, in the community, and overseas.

“With Covid-19 restrictions now lifted, I expect many more Australians will be planning to attend public services this Anzac Day,” Ms Frame said.

“I encourage everyone to check online for local services being organised by the RSL and other community groups. Some of the most poignant Anzac Day events are held at Australian War Cemeteries and Gardens of Remembrance.

“If you are planning to travel overseas, there is still time to register for the Dawn Services at Gallipoli in Türkiye and Villers-Bretonneux in France.”

For those planning a commemoration, or commemorating at home, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has designed a digital Kitbag of 10 printable and adaptable factsheets to help families and communities commemorate Anzac Day.

“Our Anzac Day Kitbag includes all the resources necessary to conduct a commemorative service, but also craft activities for children, social media images, a musical selection and a recipe for the legendary Anzac biscuit,” Ms Frame said.

“I encourage everyone thinking of organising their own Anzac Day service to make use of the resources in the Kitbag as we prepare to commemorate this solemn occasion.

“And for those not attending services in person, you can tune in to the Anzac Day National Service at the AustralianWar Memorial on ABC

Lest we forget

television or the live-stream on Facebook.”

The Anzac Day Kitbag is available to download from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Anzac Portal at anzacportal.dva.gov.au/re-

sources/anzac-day-kitbag

The ABC will also be broadcasting the Dawn Services at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux on Anzac Day, also available on the DVA Facebook

page. Anyone planning to attend these two international services must register online for a free attendance pass at commemorations.teg. com.au

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.”

Improving decision-making

TAKING CARE

BUSINESS

It’s estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions each day!

These necessarily include a raft of routine selections such as what to wear that day, what to eat or which way to go to work but there are some of course some that are more important than others the ramifications of which may affect serious outcomes for a business.

So what if we could improve our decisionmaking?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

What are the consequences of not making a decision?

Theodore Roosevelt had a view on the latter: ‘In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing and the next best thing is the wrong thing - the worst thing you can do is nothing.’

In his book, How to Be a Better Decision Maker: Tested Techniques to Help You to Get the Results You Want, Alan Barker defines a simple checklist (5C’s) to assist with making those important decisions:

Consider

Sometimes decisions are difficult because we have not adequately defined the issue or objective.

Once this is done, it should be possible to identify a range of possible alternatives.

Thinking about the possible consequences of each and who else may be impacted are both important considerations in narrowing down the selection of the various options.

Consult Chances are someone you know has had to deal with similar problems in the past, knows

someone that has or may be knowledgeable in the issue domain.

If this is the case, why reinvent the wheel?

Consider who can you approach for guidance and/or advice and get other perspectives before coming to a final conclusion.

Commit

‘Procrastination is the thief of time’ so once you have made your decision, then best to define a plan of action. The plan should include checkpoints so that you can verify progress along the way.

As Theodore Roosevelt noted above, ‘the worst thing you can do is nothing’, so if the decision is not right, one of your ‘checkpoints’ should quickly make this clear.

Communicate

In a business context, chances are that your decisions will affect other people so it is important to communicate effectively and as early as possible, especially if you are in a management role.

This is vital if any significant change is likely to arise as a result of your decision.

Check

Use facts and data to verify progress against the checkpoints of your plan.

Are you seeing the results you expected or are other things showing up?

If a bad decision has been made, better to admit and correct early rather than continue on knowing that it’s the wrong approach.

Finally, a simple tool I sometimes use for key decisions is a decision matrix.

This is simply a table that lists the key decision criteria as rows and the various selection options as columns and rates each of the options against the defined criteria.

Using a numerical approach that calculates how each option fares against each criteria and then summing up for each option should provide a guide to assist in the final selection.

Ian Ash is the managing director of OrgMent Business Solutions ombs.com.au

Theodore Roosevelt had wise words on decision making: “The worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Timbarra Over 50’s Social Club

The Timbarra Over 50’s Social Club will be celebrating its 30 year anniversary this July and new members are always welcome. We meet in the Timbarra Community Hall which is part of the Berwick Neighbourhood Centre. Our activities include Indoor Carpet Bowls, Scrabble, Table Tennis and cards (500). All activities occur in a very friendly atmosphere and nothing is taken too seriously.

We also hold an Old Time/New Vogue dance every Thursday night with the first half hour devoted to tuition.

Throughout the year we provide subsidised Day Trips and Luncheons for regular attendees. In the near future our club will be looking at a name change to better attract a wider age range of interested adults.

· For further details phone: Bruce 0447 554 475 or David 0433 566 456

Boutique Craft Food Market

Spend your Saturday at the historic Old Cheese Factory in Berwick.

This lovely venue offers beautifully manicured gardens, a large children’s playground and barbecue/picnic facilities along with plenty of parking.

Step back in time and browse the wonderful and unique crafts and design from local makers and unwind from the week.

$5 onsite parking, dogs allowed.

· 34 Homestead Road, Berwick on Saturday 22 April from 9am-2pm.

Baby and Children’s Markets

Bumble Bee Baby and Children’s Markets are excited to announce their upcoming market at Berwick Fields Primary School.

With up to 65 stall holders you are sure to snap up some bargains on new, handmade and preloved baby and children’s goods for all ages! And of course they will have a coffee van on hand for all your caffeine needs!

At only $2 entry for adults (children under 12 free) and plenty of free parking it is the perfect Sunday morning outing.

Bring the whole family and be sure to share the event with your friends and extended family. The buzzier the better!

· 35 Gwendoline Drive, Berwick on Sunday 30 April from 9am-12pm.

Seniors and Active Retirees

Are you newly retired, new to the area or just wanting to enjoy your freedom or expand your social life?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities such as weekly social / chat activities with low key in-line dancing if you want to tap your feet and great afternoon teas, day / short and long trips away via (coach/ flights) , weekly morning coffee club , monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly evening dineouts, weekly table tennis club, walking groups, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, and more ! We welcome all you gentlemen out there with time on your hands!

Ladies, come along, this is your time to meet like minded people and make those new friends. Come along and get to know us by visiting us on a Thursday at 2 pm at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House or join us on a Wednesday at 10am for a coffee at Little Sparrow Fountain Gate.

· Or for more information contact Enquiry Officer Gloria 0468363616

Community Centre Open Day

Brentwood Park Community Centre is once again welcoming everyone for an open day.

The day will include Children’s activities, market stalls, workshops and food vans.

· 21A Bemersyde Drive, Berwick on Saturday 29 April from 10am-2pm.

Anzac Day Dawn Service

The Anzac Day Dawn Service will be held at Of-

ficer Recreation Reserve. Tea, Coffee, Bacon and Egg Rolls are available afterwards.

· 20 Starling Road, Officer on Tuesday 25 April at 5:45am.

Frog Census

City of Casey is hosting a frog-tastic event at Banjo Paterson Park. Join the team to carry out some very important monitoring to record which frog species are calling the wetlands home. Learn all about these frogs, how to identify them from their calls and how you can help protect their habitat. Bring along a torch and your smart device and learn about the Melbourne Water Frog Census app. The event is free. Spots can be reserved via Eventbrite.

· Banjo Paterson Park, Paterson Drive, Lynbrook, on Thursday 20 April 5pm-6.30pm.

Kaleidoscope of Cultures

Come along to Casey Fields Playspace and Village Green in Cranbourne East for a celebration of Casey’s culturally diverse communities. Connect with your local community, while enjoying live performances and free activities such as come and try sport and dance sessions and a kite making and flying session.

There will also be a range of stallholders and food vendors!

· Casey Fields Playspace, 160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East, Sunday 23 April from 1pm-4pm.

An Evening of Mediumship

Join for an unforgettable evening of spiritual connection and messages from the beyond. Psychic medium Denise Wilkinson, along with her team of psychic mediums, will take the stage to deliver evidential proof of the afterlife through their unique platform work.

Be amazed as they connect with the spirit world and share messages of love and healing with members of the audience.

Whether you are seeking closure, guidance, or simply a sense of wonder, this is an event not to be missed.

Light refreshments will be provided, along with time to mingle and chat with the psychic mediums. Bookings essential. Tickets available via Eventbrite for $39.

· Timbarra Community Centre, Timbarra Way, Berwick on Friday 21 April at 7pm.

Hampton Park CFA Open Day Join the firefighters at Hampton Park CFA on

May for its well awaited Open Day! There will be heaps to do, including a Captain

Koala Visit, food trucks, face painting, raffle prize, firefighting demonstrations and more.

Foot and knee pain help

Most people suffer foot or knee pain at some point in their lives but as foot and knee pain expert, Dr. Paul Dowie explains, it can be difficult to find effective treatment with long-term results.

Dr. Dowie explains that many foot and leg conditions are misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated, often because only symptoms are treated and the cause and contributing factors of the pain or injury are not being addressed.

With 25 years experience as a musculoskeletal podiatrist and practitioner to some of the world’s best athletes he has provided proven solutions that have helped thousands to alleviate pain, heal injuries and even delay or eradicate the need for surgery. He also provided us with the following insights into common foot and leg complaints and treatments.

· Bad foot posture can continually pull your body out of alignment, placing undue stress on other joints and tissues throughout the body, and contributing to pain, injury and arthritis. Consulting a lower limb, musculoskeletal expert who has an understanding of complex foot and leg biomechanics, is essential in ascertaining the exact nature of your condition and providing appropriate treatment.

· Many foot and knee conditions, e.g. plantar fasciitis symptoms, knee, heel and ankle concerns are incorrectly treated with cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and arthroscopies.

These may provide some temporary relief but do not fix these conditions and can delay healing and even cause further tissue damage.

The latest medical research supports the following strategies for safe, effective, long-term

outcomes to relieve pain, improve function and mobility, heal injuries and aid arthritis:

1. Load management strategies, to reduce forces/stress placed through the joints and tissues

Tackle pain effectively

Is pain keeping you up at night?

Are headaches affecting your daily life? Does sciatica stop you from enjoying time with your family and friends?

Come and see the friendly staff at Casey Osteopathic Health Services and see how Osteopathy can help you with these and many other conditions.

If what you’re currently trying isn’t helping, give Osteopathy a go.

Beaconsfield’s Casey Osteopathic Health Services offers a variety of treatments aimed at improving mobility and posture while also reducing pain and inflammation.

Tolerance of pain is different for everybody and individuals with chronic pain are often limited in their activities because of their discomfort. long-term medication usage for chronic pain is not ideal, so it is critical to explore a more natural pain management op-

WHY OSTEOPATHIC

tion. Osteopathy can assist with a wide spectrum of disorders, both of an acute and/or chronic nature.

Casey Osteopathic Health Services has been helping the Beaconsfield and greater Melbourne community for over 22 years.

It consists of five Osteopaths who all hold a double degree and are members of Osteopathy Australia.

The Myotherapist holds an Advanced Diploma and is also a qualified remedial massage therapist. 2 Stella Street, Beaconsfield, telephone 9769 9881. www.caseyosteo.com. au

Come and see the friendly staff at Casey Osteopathic Health Services.

2. Encouraging joint and tissue repair (often with natural regenerative therapies i.e. Prolotherapy and PRP)

3. Assisting joint and tissue function, range of motion, strengthening and conditioning to

assist long-term healing

If you have any foot or leg pain, you can see Dr. Dowie at his Foot and Leg Pain Clinics across Melbourne including Berwick. Call 1300 328 300.

Parkinson’s Awareness

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and World Parkinson’s Day is recognised on 11 April each year. Today in Australia, more than one person every hour will hear the words ’you have Parkinson’s’ for the first time, making it a critical time to increase awareness about managing the disease.

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Managing Parkinson’s medication can be challenging, as patients often require multiple medications at specific times throughout the day. However, using Webster-paks can improve medication management and reduce the risk of medication errors.

A Webster-pak is a medication management system that organises medication by time of day and dose, making it easy for patients to take the right medication at the right time. Developed in partnership with Parkinsons NSW, the Webster-pak 6 Dose (Parkinson’s) solution accommodates up to six dosage times in one convenient medication pack. The distinctive fuchsia-coloured folder stands out to alert the user of specific dosage times, offering greater flexibility to increase treatments as the disease progresses and the therapeutic window narrows.

“Parkinson’s medication management is critical, as missing a dose or taking the wrong medication can lead to serious consequences such as increased tremors, muscle rigidity, and even hospitalisation. However, the use of Webster-paks can help patients and caregivers avoid medication errors and ensure medication compliance,” explains Gerard Stevens medication expert, and inventor of the Webster-pak.

Pharmacist Rosemarie Mundy says that the use of Webster-paks can be an effective tool for managing medications in patients with Parkinson’s disease, improving medication adherence, reducing medication errors, and improving quality of life.

“We have seen the benefits of a Websterpak firsthand in our customers with Parkinson’s. The system simplifies medication management for both patients and caregivers and ensures that the medication is taken on time, which is crucial in managing Parkinson’s Disease,“ she said.

The extra dosage times accommodate the high frequency medication intervals required for complex medication regimens, like Parkinson’s disease. This offers greater flexibility to increase treatments as the disease progresses and the therapeutic window narrows. Medication dosage times can be fully customised by the prescriber to meet patient requirements, allowing individuals to control their treatment, and not be fixed to standard dosage times.

The Parkinson’sWebster-pak is equally use-

ful for aged care facilities and home use.

“The Parkinson’s Webster-pak is particularly useful in aged-care facilities where there are often numerous medication rounds to be made which can make it very challenging to deliver medication on-time every time. Feedback from the pilot was that the bright colour helped a lot as a visual prompt to give those medications first and at exactly the right time,“ Ms Mundy said.

The Webster-pak system is available through pharmacies and can be customised to meet the individual needs of each patient. The system is simple to use, and patients receive clear instructions on how to take their medication.

On World Parkinson’s Day, Mr Stevens encourages patients and caregivers to talk to their pharmacist or healthcare provider about using Webster-Paks to manage their medication.

“Webster-paks offer a smart solution for Parkinson’s medication management, providing patients with peace of mind and reducing the risk of medication errors. If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s Disease, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about using Webster-Paks to manage your medication,” said Mr Stevens.

For further information or to place an order, contact Webstercare’s Customer Service team on 1800 244 358 or email info@webstercare.com.au

After

enjoyment of Easter, it’s time to save your teeth

With a plethora of Easter eggs and sweet treats on the supermarket shelves, it is important that we all remember not to neglect our oral health. It is best not to over indulge, and below are some suggestions to ensure that you continue to look after your teeth and gums while still enjoying Easter celebrations.

If you can’t resist munching on some chocolate easter eggs, try to enjoy them at mealtimes (for example, for dessert straight after dinner) rather than in between meals. This avoids the number of times a day (frequency) your teeth are in contact with sugar. ‘In between meals’ generally means: morning break, afternoon snack, TV/movie munchies (popcorn, chips).

Eat a small piece of sugar free chewing gum after a meal or sugary treat. Chewing gum can

help to stimulate saliva, neutralise acid and keep bacteria from sticking to the surface of the teeth. Saliva also has calcium in it to help with remineralising tooth enamel.

Drink a glass of water after eating those Easter eggs. This helps to wash away the sugars that can cause decay. Fluoride found in tap water will also help protect your teeth.

Always brush your teeth well with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, at least twice each day.

The team at Endeavour Smiles Group wishes the community a Happy Easter - and for the kids, a wonderful holiday/break. They are only a call away for all your dental needs. Book today as school holiday spots are filling up fast.

The team at Endeavour Smiles Group are only a call away for all your dental needs.

Healthy crowd at festival

By Eleanor Wilson

More than 500 Casey locals shared in a slice of a better life on Saturday 1 April, as the newly amalgamated Narre Warren Berwick Business Group (NWBBG) hosted the Better Living Festival of Berwick.

The first public event held by NWBBG, the festival included over 15 traders in the fitness, health and beauty industries showcasing their services and products in the centre of Berwick’s High Street.

Free massages, live music, specials on gym memberships and free yoga in the park was enjoyed by locals, while a magician entertained the kids in front of the local toy shop.

Shopfront businesses throughout High Street also participated in the event, including fashion and accessories shop Little Black Bag which hosted a styling session, and 81 Bistro andTaphouse, which held a 30-person psychic lunch.

NWBBG vice president Magda D’Abaco said the festival sought to showcase local businesses to the community, while emphasising a holistic, healthy lifestyle and positive mental health.

“It was a great showcase of local businesses together collectively hosting a festival to encourage the community to continue to eat, play, shop and work in our beautiful area,” she said.

“The new business group welcomes new members to join as many more networking events are planned for the future.”

To close the day off, the Meet the Chef hour saw guests enjoy a lovely community degustation menu, with samples from Berwick’s favourite local eateries Row Your Boat, Populus Cafe, Lantern’s Viet Kitchen and Cold Rock Ice Cream.

Peter Rabbit

Michelle Gregg from Blue Chelle styled the Psychic Dinner, which was hosted by ALavu Pty Ltd.

Populus chef Al (right) explains his dishes during the festival’s Meet the Chef hour.

Shopping Village 1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd

• Berwick Coles Supermarket

Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre 1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd

• Berwick Berwick Springs

Lucky Lotto Shop 10/1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd

• Berwick Grants Estate Agents 3a Gloucester Avenue

• Berwick Berwick Newsagency 29 High Street

• Berwick Ray White Real Estate 42 High Street

• Berwick Alex Scott and Staff Real Estate 49 High Street

• Berwick Harcourts Real Estate 20 High Street

• Berwick Neilson Partners 1st National 57 High Street

• Berwick Gluten Free and Chocolate 9/48 High Street

• Berwick O’Brien Real Estate 56-58 High Street

• Berwick St John of God Hospital 75 Kangan Drive

• Berwick Chris Peake Real Estate 18 Langmore Lane

• Berwick Woolworths Shopping Centre 1-9 Lyall Road

• Berwick Mansfield Street Foodmart 157-159

Mansfield Street

• Berwick Parkhill Plaza News and Lotto Shop 13, 215-225 Parkhill Drive

• Berwick Chemist Discount Centre Shop 2, 215-225 Parkhill Drive

• Berwick Coles Supermarket Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre Shop 19, 215-225 Parkhill Drive

• Berwick Coles Berwick Central 2 Richardson Grove

• Berwick Hocking Stuart Real Estate Suite 2, 16 Langsmore Lane

‘soap opera’

• Hallam 7 Eleven Service Station 38-40 Hallam South Road

• Hallam Joes Mini Mart 117 Hinrichsen Drive

• Hallam Coles Hallam 2 Princes Domain Drive

• Hallam Raine and Horne Real Estate - Hallam 2 Spring Square

• Hallam Hallam Square News 42 Spring Square

• NarreWarren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street

• NarreWarren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street

• NarreWarren Narre Warren Newsagency 34 Webb Street

• NarreWarren Fleetwood MiniMart 94-96 Fleetwood Drive

• NarreWarren Casey Gardens Caravan Park 6 Fullard Road

• NarreWarren City of Casey 2 Patrick NE Drive

• NarreWarren Neilson Partners 1st National 418

Princes Highway

• NarreWarren The Good Food

Emporium 15/430–440

Princes Highway

• NarreWarren Westfield

Fountain Gate Shopping Centre

25-55 Princes Highway

• NarreWarren Coles 25-55

Princes Highway

• NarreWarren Woolworths 25-55 Princes Highway

• NarreWarren O’Brien Real Estate Narre Warren 25-55 Princes Highway

• NarreWarren Coles Express 2 Regency Drive & Princes Highway & Lauderdale Road

• NarreWarren Only Real Estate 13/3 Webb Street

• NarreWarren Donaldson Martin Real Estate 43-45 Webb Street

• NarreWarren Coles Express 155-171 Narre Warren North Road

• NarreWarren North Marcos IGA 2 Oakview Boulevard

• NarreWarren North Narre Warren North Newsagency 3/1E Oakview Boulevard

• NarreWarren South Casey Central Shopping Centre 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road

• NarreWarren South Coles 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road

• NarreWarren South Woolworths 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road

• NarreWarren South Ray White Real Estate Shop 20, 400 Narre WarrenCranbourne Road

• NarreWarren South Casey News and Lotto Shop 156, 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road • NarreWarren South Ritchies Amberly Park 245 Ormond Road

BERWICK

Call 1300 666 808

General Notices

Print and Online Sales Executive Star News Group

Star News Group seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms.

Star News Group is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future. The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business.

Sales skills/experience:

• Ability to maintain existing professional relationships and to create new ones

• Ability to meet defined sales and activity targets

• Excellent listening skills

• Accuracy and attention to detail

• Effective time management to meet deadlines

• Ability to operate in a team

• Demonstrates initiative and flexibility

• Effective oral and written communication

Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance.

The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.

Send your application letter and resume to:

Advertising Sales Manager

il Meeting to be held on Tuesday 20 June 2023 commencing at 4 00 pm, subject to the right of any person to make a submission as set out in this notice

Copies of the draft documents will be available from 19 April 2023 for inspection online via the Casey Conversations website at https://conversations casey vic gov au/ Written submissions for any proposal contained in the Draft Council Plan 2021-25

– Year

3 Review, Draft Annual Action Plan 2023/24, Draft Budget 2023/24 and Draft

Capital Works Program 2023/24 must be made to Council within 21 days from the start of the exhibition period The period for receipts of submissions will close at 5 00 pm on

Tuesday 09 May 2023

Submissions should be made via the online submission form available on Casey Conversations, emailed to caseycc@casey vic gov au or submitted by mail to:

Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805

Any person who prepares a submission may also choose to speak to their submission in front of Council Submitters may choose to be represented by a person acting on their behalf

Submissions on the draft documents will be heard at the Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 30 May 2022 commencing at 4 00 pm

The name and suburb of all submitters will be included in the agenda and minutes of the 30 May 2022 Special Council Meeting Adoption of the documents will be considered during the Council Meeting on Tuesday 20 June 2022 at 4 00pm Council will give public notice of its decision Glenn Patterson

Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

Part-Time Telesales Representative Star News Group

Star News Group is an innovative and dynamic media company located in Pakenham, Victoria. As a leading publisher of print and digital news, we are looking for a part-time Telesales Representative to join our team.

Overview

The successful candidate will be responsible for increasing revenue by selling our products and services to potential and existing customers via phone call. This is a part-time role with flexible hours.

Key Responsibilities

•Manage a portfolio of existing customers and develop relationships with new customers.

•Conduct outbound telesales calls to promote our products and services.

• Achieve and exceed sales targets and KPIs.

•Keep accurate and updated records of customer interactions and sales leads.

•Coordinate with the sales and marketing team to align sales strategies and campaigns.

•Telesales or cold-calling experience is preferred but not essential.

•Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

• Results driven and target-oriented mindset.

• Strong organisational and time management skills.

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Strong attention to detail.

The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme. Send your application letter and resume to:

SPORT

Wickers win with wizardry

By Marcus Uhe

A miracle goal from Jonty Andrew gave Berwick the edge in a massive round one comeback win over Vermont on Saturday.

In wet conditions on the road, with roughly 30 seconds remaining and down by one point, Andrew kicked ball out of mid-air from a Charlie Muley hit-out at a boundary throw-in that sailed over the goal umpires head for six points.

It capped an extraordinary comeback for the Wickers, who kicked the final five goals of the game to claw back the lead at the death.

Winning a free-kick for holding the ball at the following centre bounce, Andrew managed to kick wide and ice the clock for a famous victory that had his coach in “disbelief.”

“The Gods were with us, that’s for sure,” Berwick coach Clint Evans said.

“Once we structured up a little better in the third quarter, we thought we were a chance at thee-quarter-time, we just had to keep plugging away and we got a couple of goals.

“The momentum kept going and after each goal, we started thinking, ‘shit, we could win this’”.

The game was riddled with momentum swings throughout as the weather conditions played havoc with the flow of the game.

Berwick kicked the opening four goals of the contest when the ball was dry, but once the heavens opened, the scoring came to a halt.

They could only manage one in each of the second and third quarters, a period in which their opponents kicked eight, and headed into the final quarter with a 19-point deficit.

“When the weather came in the second and third, their bigger bodies were pushing us off the ball and they spread a lot better from the contest,” Evans said.

“Once we started holding our own in stoppages we were better, but I think we were a lot

Charlie Muley kicked a goal in Berwick’s fourth-quarter comeback win on Saturday over Vermont.

289934

better on top of the ground with pace and kids.

“It was a game of yardage, just get the ball in and win it around the stoppages.

“They spread really well and we just had to get on top of that and I think we did in the last

Picture: ROB CAREW

quarter, we smashed them and that’s how we got it.”

A Vermont goal at the beginning of final term made for a buffer of beyond four goals, but Berwick found another gear.

Goals to Ashton Williamson, Jye Neal twice and Muley, got them within striking distance, before Andrew’s miraculous winner put their noses in front.

“I suppose going into round one and winning just means that what we’re trying to implement at training has worked, and gives them belief that it stacks up against the best,” Evans said.

“I knowVermont has lost a few players from a few years ago, but to win on their ground and come back from 27 points down in those conditions shows a fair bit of belief in those players and that the pre-season has really kept pressure on our fitness.”

They’ll host Noble Park on Sunday in a standalone clash, presenting the perfect opportunity to prove their mettle against the reigning premiers.

“We know that they’re the yardstick, we just want to go and compete and see where we’re at,“ Evans said.

“It’s exciting and there’s no limit from our point of view.

“We just want to go there and see how we go.”

VERMONT

1.4 6.6 9.10 10.12 (72)

BERWICK

4.4 5.6 6.9 11.11 (77)

Vermont Goals: Calvin Daraio 2, Daniel Nielson 2, Campbell Barker 2, Lochlan Jenkins, Lachlan Johns, Fraser Smith, Adrian Kalcovski.

Best: Campbell Barker, Zac Hanlen, Calvin Daraio, Daniel Nielson, Lochlan Jenkins, Connor McCafferty.

Berwick Goals: Jai Neal 2, Charlie Muley 2, Nick Hillard 2, Caydn Lane, Kyle. O’Sullivan, Wal Wuol, Ashton Williamson, Jonty Andrew.

Best: Jesse Cirulis, Ryan Bromley, Tom Brennan, Brad Homfray, Will Arthurson, Jai Neal.

Employment Motoring

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL

equipment

•The car wash attendant role primarily entails working outside and the attendant must have the ability to work unsupervised with great work ethic

•Greet and interact with customers with a warm smile, ask them what they need & want to get done, and ensure that they are happy and have great experience

• Able to communicate effectively at all levels

•The attendant is required to direct the Driver into the entrance to the car wash or guide them onto tracks.

•Followcompanyandcustomersafetypoliciesandprocedures and communicate effectively at all levels

Skills and experience

Previous experience as a carwash attendant is preferable, however not essential. Training will be provided tailored to our specific equipment.

Email: geoff@soapyrides.com.au

Phone Geoff: 0423 314 194

The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

SPORT Eagles eager for success

By David Nagel

A taller, stronger and fitter looking Beaconsfield is on the board in Eastern Division One after a comprehensive 31-point victory over Bayswater at Holm Park Reserve.

Looking a superior unit to the one that finished seventh - with six wins - in its inaugural season in Eastern, the Eagles rode a fast start and a brave defensive effort against the breeze in the second term to a 10.7.67 to 5.6.36 triumph.

With Brandon White, Josh Mounter and Lachie Valentine creative across half back, and Jafar Ocaa and skipper Jake Bowd proving a handful up forward…the Eagles looked sharp in the lead up to quarter time.

Bowd kicked two for the quarter, but played a key hand in four of the Eagles five first-quarter goals.

He opened the scoring after receiving a bullet pass from Sam Merrick, after some intense midfield pressure forced a turnover.

He then won a free-kick from close range, with Mitch Szybkowski pouncing on the subsequent loose ball to kick his first goal for the season.

Bowd then gathered a ball on the boundary, between wing and half forward, and provided run and carry before hitting Ocaa on the chest at the top of the goal-square with a raking left foot.

Mounter then launched a bomb from outside 50, before Bowd kicked a goal on the siren after some great lead up play from White and Hayden Brough.

The Kangaroos answered with the only goal of the second term, to Josh Treeby, to see the Eagles take a 14-point lead to the major interval.

The Eagles then held the Kangaroos scoreless in the third quarter, while slotting three majors themselves to take control of the contest.

Devon Smith goaled after a superb hit-up from Darren Minchington, before Ocaa received a free-kick and 50 as the visitors’ frustrations grew stronger and stronger.

Some brilliant forward pressure from Brough then allowed Ocaa to stroll in for his third of the afternoon.

Bayswater came hard early in the final term, but a fourth to Ocaa, and first to Minchington – on the siren - capped off a good day at the office for the home side.

Eagles coach Mick Fogarty said it wasn’t an illusion that the Eagles looked a better prepared and deeper unit this season.

“We’ve got some serious depth, which is great, we’ve got a group of guys running around in the development team that could easily play a role at senior level,” Fogarty said.

“We’ve got more strength around the footy and the boys are fit, they’ve had a really good pre-season.

“I know I bang on about it a lot, but it’s a relentless competition this one, a real fourquarter game is required, so we need that conditioning to compete.

“Even on Saturday, Bayswater got a bit of momentum there in the second quarter and put some scoreboard pressure on, so our focus is on our fitness this year so we can run games out, and stay in the contest longer.”

The Eagles do look bigger and stronger this year, with players like Paddy Gerdan and Harrison Coe getting regular time on the park, while Minchington, Mounter and White add class and grunt in various areas of the ground.

“Minchington played his first game, he

kicked one goal four, but he’s going to be a player we can throw through the mids as well, with his strength and his smarts,” Fogarty explained.

“We’ve got some taller options; White gives us flexibility across half back and on the footy, so we’ve got more options in most areas of the ground.

“If we’re struggling with the game-plan up forward, we can throw big Harry (Coe) up there as a tall.

“We’ve got White, Mounter gives us that offence run off half back, and it allows us to be more flexible with Jafar (Ocaa) and Bowdy up forward.

“They give us speed and a bit of lead up around forward and that’s always dangerous.”

After a hard-fought first-up loss to premiership aspirant Mitcham, and now the win over the Kangas, the Eagles know they are going to be competitive against all teams in the competition.

The secret now; is to take things to the next step.

“Sides like Bayswater, which we played on

the weekend, they would have pencilled that game in for them, and we did the same thing,” Fogarty said.

“Last year we didn’t win a lot of the 50/50 games and for our phase of development going forward we need to turn competitiveness into wins.

“It’s only two games in, we were competitive against Mitcham in round one, but instead of just being competitive we thought we could win.

“We didn’t, but the same applied against Bayswater, and it’s the same thing against Croydon this week.

“It’s at Croydon, they played finals last year; they’re a good side.

“We know we’re going to be competitive, but we need to start turning good performances into wins.

“We’re not going to get the result every time, but that’s the next phase of the Beaconsfield footy club and its development over the next few years.”

White was again outstanding for the Eagles across half back in a best-on-ground performance, while Szybkowski and Tylah Stokoe led the midfield dominance.

BEACONSFIELD

BAYSWATER 1.2 2.5 2.5 5.6(36)

Beaconsfield Goals: J. Ocaa 4, J. Bowd 2, J. Mounter, D. Smith, D. Minchington, M. Szybkowski. Best: B. White, J. Ocaa, T. Stokoe, M. Szybkowski, E. Harris, L. Valentine. Other games: Croydon 5.8.38 def by Mooroolbark 13.16.94, Montrose 10.15.75 def by South Belgrave 14.11.95, North Ringwood 8.15.63 def Lilydale 5.6.36, Wantirna South 13.14.92 def by Mitcham 16.13.109.

Cavs still searching for that elusive breakthrough win

By Marcus Uhe

The Casey Cavaliers’ difficult start to the new NBL1 season has continued with a pair of losses on the road over the weekend.

Friday night saw them cross the South Australian border to Mount Gambier, but their hunt for gold proved elusive despite a stellar performance from Malcolm Bernard, going down 80-97.

Bernard scored 41 points on 55 per cent shooting to lead all comers for the Cavaliers, but played a lone hand as one of only three to score in double figures for his side.

He set the tone early with a monster three from just inside the halfway line, and mixed up his offence with more threes and strong finishes at the rim as the Pioneers’ defence struggled to contain him.

The visitors were playing catch-up for nearly the entire game, having fallen behind 19-27 after the first quarter and 36-53

at the half.

Mount Gambier feasted inside early, scoring on 78 per cent of their two-point shots, where Casey languished at 35 per cent.

A balanced spread of scorers provided too much for the Cavaliers to contain, and while

they matched the Pioneers in scoring in the second half, the damage had already been done.

Preston Bungei added 20 points and eight rebounds and Sidy Djitte recorded a 12-point 14-rebound double-double, but those three contributed for 73 of the team’s 80 points.

A slow start cost them again against Sandringham on Sunday, falling behind 13-27 after the first quarter and failing to recover on their way to a 19-point loss.

Much of the first quarter was tight until the final three minutes when the Cavs relinquished the rope.

From 15-12 with 3.07 left on the clock, the Sabres finished the quarter on a 12-1 run.

The Cavs managed to regroup and match it with their Bayside opponents for the remainder of the game, only outscored by five points across the final three quarters, but much like Thursday night’s encounter, the poor start opening quarter had

Quality timber & hardware products

cost them dearly.

The lead was cut to single figures in the third quarter but the speed of the Sabres’ guards often proved too difficult for their opponents to contain, and rendered the Casey big men ineffective.

The Sabres continued to put the likes of Hunter Marks and Sidy Djitte into screening actions, continually freeing-up driving lanes.

Preston Bungei nailed an acrobatic circus shot, falling to his right and shooting on the way down late in the third quarter as he tallied 31 points and 12 rebounds.

His teammates were unable to follow suit, however, with Djitte the only other scorer in double figures.

They’ll host a back-to-back next weekend at Casey Stadium, with Bendigo on Friday night and the fellow winless Geelong side on Saturday in an excellent opportunity to get their first victory of the campaign.

Dave Peters’ men are 0-3 to start the NBL1 South campaign. 278371 Picture: SUPPLIED

Skipper Jake Bowd was instrumental in Beaconsfield’s early dominance over Bayswater. 328967 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Mitch Szybkowski was rock-solid for the Eagles through the midfield on Saturday. 328967

By Marcus Uhe

A halftime adjustment to their playing style helped Narre Warren make a perfect start to their Outer East premiership defence on Saturday against Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve.

Wayward kicking for goal and poor ball use made for a tight and scrappy first half, before the champs flicked the switch in the second to pull away to a 53-point victory, 12.15 87 to 5.4 34.

Coach Shane Dwyer said change in approach at the half made the difference in the contest.

“I think it was just about hitting targets and taking the right option,” Dwyer said.

“We sort of felt we were kicking to 50-50s a lot when there were obvious easier kicks on.

“We made a point to take the easier kicks and then hit that first one, and then it may open up for us to continue on hitting between centre-half forward and centre-half back.

“Once you get the ball forward of centre, the forwards can get to work a bit, and you don’t have to just bomb it on their heads.”

Both sides displayed that early season rust so customary to a round one performance, with turnovers aplenty between the arcs.

Pakenham kicked the opening two goals of the contest; first from livewire forward Matthew Debruin and then Josh Hagger with a neat finish from a tight angle.

Thehomesidemadelifetoughforthereigning premiers, flooding their backline with extra numbers and swarming the contest whenever the ball hit the deck in their defensive 50, led by Jordan Stewart and Bailey Stiles.

Two goals late in the quarter to the Magpies gave them a slight advantage at quarter-time, but Pakenham didn’t look overawed at all by the occasion.

Their manic pressure in the defensive half of the ground continued into the second term

Trent Papworth was part of a dominant Narre Warren unit against Pakenham. 328965

as Narre found it difficult to convert their opportunities in front of goal.

They did make life hard on themselves, however, with Jake Richardson and Will Howe blowing a certain goal after the new captain was unable to connect with Howe closing-in on an open goal.

Debruin added a second, this time a tight snap in the wrong pocket for his right foot after dropping a mark on the lead, and Koby Grass kicked one on the run as they took advantage of a slight breeze towards the cricket club end of the ground.

While entering the sheds with a slender sev-

en-point lead at the long break, 14 scoring shots to the Magpies and seven to Pakenham was an early indication of things to come, with a sense that the dam wall was threatening to burst.

It was the third term in which the Magpies really flexed their muscle, kicking five and holding their opponent scoreless as the ball took up residence in their half of the ground.

There were emotional scenes for the visitors when Brad Scalzo converted from distance.

After missing last year with a knee reconstruction as he was mobbed by his teammates for the traditional ruffling of the hair, and it seemed to provide the spark

the Magpies needed.

Tom Miller and Harrison Brain were among those who came into the game more while Tom Toner and Mitch Tonna began to cause havoc in the forward 50.

The connection between Richardson and Howe up forward was looking back to its best, and produced an animated address from Pakenham coach Ash Green at three-quartertime that could be heard from the balcony at Toomuc Reserve.

Conceding just one goal and kicking another three in the last quarter, it made for an 8.5 to 1.1 second half in favour of the visitors.

Emerald, Berwick Springs make round one statements

By Marcus Uhe

Emerald coach Sean Clearihan has heaped praise on his young side’s maturity after their opening round win over Officer in Outer East Football Netball League’s Division One.

The Bombers broke the game open in the second quarter on their home deck, kicking six goals to two, and increased their lead at every break to record a 60-point victory, 17.21 123 to 8.15 63.

During the preseason, Clearihan had identified staying mentally engaged for longer periods as something he wanted his chargers to improve, having felt it cost them on occasion on 2022.

On Saturday, against an Officer outfit with a point to prove having been relegated, he felt they nailed the brief, particularly in the second quarter when they made their run.

“They stuck to the structures and they got a little bit tired towards half time, but they still worked their way through it which was good, they took ownership for it,” Clearihan said.

“They did the basic things, they were controlled and composed and just did the basics right.

“They didn’t go into a bit of panic mode like they used to in the last couple of years and worry about themselves instead of the team-orientated stuff, they really worked well together and looked after one-another.

“It’s the workrate and what they’re doing off the ball, the way they’re setting up off the ball and the communication with one-another is good.”

He credited a strong preseason and productive practice games for their ability to be round-one ready.

“It’s only game one, but we’ve been working really hard on it,” Clearihan said.

“We were alot stronger at the stoppages than we have been. I think we worked really hard at that over preseason and a pleasing aspect was that they stuck to our structures, no matter what.

“I think we played some quality sides with our practice matches and I think because we finished with Upwey, that set us up.

“We played Hastings too, which was good, then we played Upwey on Thursday night before Easter and that was fantastic and we played Gembrook at Gembrook.”

New recruit David Johnson delivered on the expectation up forward with four goals, as did Lachlan Hoye and Callum White, who also bagged four themselves.

But it was the defensive group who really impressed Clearihan as they shouldered the adversity of injury carnage further up the field.

“We lost Michael Richardson early and then we lost Nick Russo just before half time,

so we were down to only two on the bench and I had to work the rotations, put the midfielders through the forward line a bit without coming off the bench, so we were one short,” he said.

“But the back six, they went without a rotation for the whole second half and those boys like MitchThomas, BrendanWiIson and Harry Lang led from the front down there. They were fantastic down back.

“He (Thomas) was the standout one, he impacted all contests all the time and was well supported by the other boys.”

For Officer, Brent Moloney stood up as captain with three goals, while Anthony Bernado led the charge in the middle.

With such a new side, it may take some

time for the Roos to find the crucial chemistry and connectivity with one-another under new coach Danny Charles.

Elsewhere, Berwick Springs gave Hallam a rude welcome to the Outer East competition with a thumping defeat at Mick Morland Reserve.

Six goals to Thomas Nelson and five to Ty Ellison provided the backbone of the scoring for the home side who ran out 85-point winners, 19.19 133 to 7.6 48.

The Titans kept the pressure on all day against the new arrivals, piling-on six goals in the final quarter despite the result being well-beyond reach for the visitors.

Like Emerald, they increased their margin at every break, with their lowest scoring quarter being the first where they managed 4.3.

Star additions Chris Johnson and Hayden Stagg were among the best for Berwick Springs in their new colours, as was skipper Brodie Worland.

For Hallam, playing-coach Dean Kelly was a standout, as was Adam Nekic in his first game in black red and yellow.

Daniel Guic kicked two, as their only multiple goalkicker.

The tightest contest of the day took place at Seville Recreation Reserve, where the hosts nearly cost themselves with poor kicking for goal against Healesville.

The visitors kicked just one goal across the second and third quarter, while Seville were able to open a slight gap with three in the second.

The Blues will feel it was a missed opportunity to gain confidence and make a statement, having finished the day with 8.16 (64) to Healesville’s 7.7 (49).

Emerald and Seville will square-off in a highly anticipated fixture next week at Chandler Reserve, while Officer tackle Berwick Springs at Starling Road and Hallam host Belgrave in their first home game in the competition.

Healesville have the bye.

Hallam tried everything to stop Thomas Nelson, who kicked six goals. 328970

Pictures: GARY SISSONS

Hallam

to regroup after a shock start to life in the Outer East Football Netball League. 328970

Magpies tame the Lions

Picture: GARY SISSONS