St Mary’s Primary School students, pictured, were cheering on the action at the recent third annual PaulWade Cup at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong. More than 200 students from Catholic primary schools took part in the gala soccer day.
Turn to page 14
St Mary’s students cheering their team on. 326261 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Keysborough Golf Club has revived its plans to turn its Green Wedge greens into a housing estate and to relocate to Pillars Road, but this time with a new sweetener.
Under the plan, the City of Greater Dandenong would be donated a massive 71-hectare sports precinct near the golf club’s proposed
new home at 256-356 Pillars Road, Bangholme.
The ‘South East Sports Hub’ – nearly the size of Casey Fields - would address an “acute shortage” of outdoor sports facilities for the next 25 years, according to its proponent.
It would include passive outdoor spaces, a landscaped wetlands and a recycled water supply from Eastern Treatment Plant.
“The sports hub has been part of our relocation plans from the beginning,” golf club captain Darrell Swindells said.
“We’ve worked with Dandenong Council on the masterplan to ensure it delivers flexible grounds to cater for the many sports played in the community such as AFL, soccer, cricket, basketball, netball, rugby, cycling, running, etc.”
However, Greater Dandenong councillors have already said they are concerned by impacts on Keysborough and Keysborough South residents.
Councillors were set to vote on 22 May whether to launch a“comprehensive consultation” with“all residents in Keysborough South” on the plan.
Continued page 11
By Eleanor Wilson
Monash Health has made significant changes to suicide safeguarding practices, in the wake of a 2019 Casey Hospital death which was deemed by the Coroner’s Court to be preventable.
On 28 April 2019, a 50-year-old man, who was a compulsory inpatient in the Berwick hospital’s mental health ward at the time, was found deceased in his hospital room, a 16 March inquest hearing heard.
In the 20 April inquest findings, Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald concluded that the man’s death was preventable, due to the presence of known ligature points in the room.
The ligature points were identified as being “ medium risk” by Monash Health during ligature point audits conducted in 2016 and 2017, but were “not prioritised” for removal, according to a statement by Monash Health program director professor David Clarke.
A third audit conducted in 2018 did not identify the wardrobe doors and hinges as ligature points, which meant the risk posed by the points was not considered after that audit.
The ligature points were not removed until two days after the man’s death, on 30 April 2019.
The court heard the man had “a significant history of mental health issues” and was diagnosed with depression, opiate and alcohol abuse and antisocial personality disorder.
He also had a previous history of psychiatric inpatient admissions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, on a background of suicidal ideation and had attempted suicide in 2016.
On 30 March 2019 he was section to the Royal Melbourne Hospital under the Mental Health Act, after he was found “behaving erratically” on a Brunswick roof, believing that people were chasing him.
The court heard his daughter, who he
lived with at the time, had noticed his mental health deteriorating in the month’s leading up to his death, noting that he was beginning to suffer from paranoia and auditory hallucinations.
He spent nine days in the Mental Health Ward of Sunshine Hospital before he was transferred to Casey Hospital on 13 April.
Upon his arrival at Casey Hospital, he was assessed as being at high risk of suicide and was initially managed with 15-minute observations by nurses and was later approved for day leave.
In the days before his death, the man was regarded by the treating psychiatrist as being “low risk” and he therefore remained in a low dependency unit.
On the morning of his death, he denied thoughts of self-harm.
He was found in his room by an enrollednurse about 7:20pm that night and was declared deceased at 8:15pm, despite resuscitation attempts in the Emergency Department.
Monash Health said “an inadequate staff mix and training for those managing ligature audits; and inadequate procedure for followup of ligature audits” was responsible for the failure to identify the ligature point risk.
In an internal review conducted after the man’s death, Monash Health concluded that the presence of a ligature point was a “main factor” contributing to his death.
As a result of the internal review findings, changes were made to the ligature audit pro-
cess, which are now conducted annually by two or three people from several wards.
Monash Health also developed a “Mental Health Inpatient Ligature Point Assessment and Management Procedure” in the wake of the man’s death.
But a legal representative for the family of the deceased, Associate Professor Jonathan Phillips said Monash Health “failed to provide him with a safe hospital environment”.
He said it is “well understood by health systems and individual hospitals” that disturbed persons will use the means available to them to attempt to take their lives and the method used by the deceased was an “obvious method“ and “not a new understanding“.
It was “unreasonable“ that the ligature point was not removed, given more than two years had passed since its initial identification, Assoc. Prof Phillips said.
Ms Fitzgerald agreed the presence of the ligature points in the man’s room “was inherently unsafe having regard to [ the deceased’s] known risk of suicide“.
“The removal of these ligature points from the inpatient Unit was clearly not a difficult or time-consuming task, as it was completed within two days of Mr Harvey’s death,” she said.
“It cannot be known whether [the man] would have found some other means to take his own life at this time, had the known ligature point not been available to him, but he would not have had the opportunity to take his life in the way he did, had the known ligature point been removed.”
Ms Fitzgerald said the response and internal review process following the man’s death “adequately addressed” the issues at hand.
If you, or someone you know needs support, connect with Lifeline by phone 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat at lifeline.org.au/ crisis-chat.
By Sahar Foladi
A Federal MP has branded a South-East branch of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce as a “fake” and a “front” for the Cambodian Government.
The CCC was launched in Melbourne’s South-East on 6 May, with guests including the Cambodian Government’s secretaries of state.
Bruce MP Julian Hill said the “fake Cambodian Chamber of Commerce has no credibility.”
“It appears to be just a front for Cambodian dictator Hun Sen’s CPP political party in Australia,” Mr Hill said.
“The so-called election was presided over by the Cambodian ambassador to Australia and Cambodian Australians who support peace democracy and human rights in Cambodia have warned that people should have nothing to do with this group.”
The CCC is said to foster bilateral business investment between the two countries.
“The climate of business investment will not improve for as long as the (Cambodian) government and courts remain so corrupt,” Mr Hill said.
Works are under way to establish an official website for the Melbourne representatives of the chamber to establish social media pages, including pages for the 15 board members as well.
CCC is seeking a facility in the south-east to establish its branch.
Delegates from the Cambodian-based chamber were present at the launch including vice-president Lim Heng, as well as Buon Sarakmony, the Ministry of Commerce secretary of state.
The elected South-East president, Tan Sith Tee, said that the Cambodian Ministry of Justice secretary of state spokesperson, Kim Santepheap was also present.
Mr Tee later retracted, saying Mr Santepheap was present at the network dinner but had nothing to do with the elections in Melbourne.
Earlier this year, Mr Hill stated that Mr Santepheap should be banned from entering Australia.
Mr Tee rejected Mr Hill’s “ridiculous” statements on the CCC saying as a businessman he has nothing to do with politics and the chamber is purely for business.
“I’m not into politics. I’m just doing business between the countries”
Mr Tee said people like Mr Hill, Minister of Home Affairs Clare O’Neil and some Cambodian groups were creating “too much mess for Cambodians” in Australia instead of focusing on more important matters in the country.
Ms O’Neil made a speech in 2018 against Hun Sen and recently a speech on interference of foreign regimes on Australian soil.
“To me this is nonsense. For an MP to go after nonsense, I won’t waste my time,” Mr Tee said.
“He’s (Mr Hill) only taking one side of it because as a Labor MP they stick together.”
He said both Ms O’Neil and Mr Hill’s
speeches in Parliament against the regime are untrue.
In 2018 Cambodian president Sen visited Australia ahead of the ASEAN Australia summit meeting in Sydney.
In a speech to parliament on 7 March 2023, Mr Hill said protesters were threatened by Mr Sen who were“planning to burn effigies of him that he would ‘pursue them to their houses and beat them up’.”
Mr Hill went on to address the “anonymous” death threats received by Australians after a month of his visit.
“A month later, by coincidence, anonymous death threats were sent to Australians, including then-state MP Hong Lim, Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak and then-councillor Youhorn Chea, as well as the wife of a murdered Cambodian political analyst, Kem Ley.”
“These threats were from a person purporting to be a member of Hun Sen’s ruling family, who threatened to shoot them dead.
“Hun Sen’s nephew Hun To was questioned by police about these threats.”
Mr Hill ended his speech expressing his “firm view” that people like Hun To and Mr Santepheap should be banned from entering Australia.
“We need to do what else we can to shine a light on organised foreign influence and the network of fake community organisations run out of the Cambodian embassy.”
At the time, Mr Santeapheap rejected Mr Hill’s “fabricated” allegations, according to Khmer Times.
Recently, the main opposition, Candlelight Party was disqualified ahead of July election over its failure to submit proper registration documents.
“I was appalled last week to see Hun Sen has banned the only real opposition from this July’s election,” Mr Hill said.
“We cannot pretend that Cambodia under Hun Sen is a real democracy or earned any credibility to these sham elections.”
Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak, in a speech to State Parliament said this is not the first time
a real opposition party has been dissolved.
“This is history repeating. In 2018 the CPP won every single seat in the 125-seat National Assembly after the main opposition alliance was dissolved by the politically controlled court and the leader Kem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years in jail.
“Once again Hun Sen has eliminated any real challenge in yet another election.
“I call on the Australian Embassy and the Australian government to condemn this action in the strongest possible terms and continue to push for a return to a pluralist democracy, as enshrined in the Cambodian constitution.
“This is a dark day for Cambodians both in country and here in Australia.”
Youhorn Chea - who is Cambodian Association of Victoria president - said the group’s launch was “no good at all”.
“It divides the Cambodian community in two. They try to get people to support that group but refugees and normal people won’t support it.”
Mr Sen has remained the Prime Minister of Cambodia since 1998, coming from a military background.
According to Human Rights Watch, Mr Sen and his ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) have benefited from unquestioning support from senior officials in the army, gendarmerie and police to dissolve main opposition party.
“The Australian government continues to express its support for human rights and democracy including in Cambodia.”
Mr Hill said he’ll continue to call out “these fake community groups” that interfere “in the rights of Australian citizens to speak up for human rights and democracy.”
“I will continue to push department of Home Affairs to stop granting tourist visas to officials from Cambodia who’re clearly here for foreign interference.”
Meanwhile, articles on the launch of CCC in Australia have been making rounds online on The Phonm Penh Post and the pro-CPP English newspaper, Khmer Times.
A pedestrian has been critically injured in a hit-run collision in Noble Park on Saturday 20 May.
The 34-year-old Springvale woman was struck by a white van while crossing Heatherton Road near Avon Street about 7pm, police say.
She was assisted by witnesses until emergency services arrived. She was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The van driver did not stop at the scene.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives urged the driver to come forward to police.
Any information or dashcam footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
Protesters are set to target Sandown Greyhound Racing Club’s premier $270,500 event on 26 May.
Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds spokesperson Joanne Lee said the group will call for an end to the “greyhound industry” during the Group 1 Sandown Cup.
It claims 13 greyhounds have died on Victorian tracks in 2023, following 77 deaths and 3000-plus injuries last year.
“The primary reason for dogs being killed is due to broken legs, which are treatable,” Ms Lee said.
“In most cases, injuries are not fatal if treated well, yet most dogs are destroyed.
“These dogs are nothing more than a commodity to the industry.’’
Noting the track was in Premier Daniel Andrews’s electorate, Ms Lee said $17 million of taxpayer money was “poured into an industry that a significant portion of society finds unethical, outdated and barbaric”.
“The only real way to end the suffering of greyhounds is to shut down the industry.”
The protest is expected before the first race on the card at 5.30pm.
Greyhound Racing Victoria was contacted for comment.
One in 5 men across Australia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, prompting one local volunteer group to give back and ensure these men don’t go through a diagnosis alone.
The South Eastern Prostate Cancer Support Group aims to provide a supportive environment for men to connect with others going through a similar journey and share their experiences to improve health and wellbeing.
The group, supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, meets monthly at Dandenong RSL on the third Wednesday of each month.
Support Group spokesperson, Steve Cox, encouraged men and their partners impacted by prostate cancer to reach out for support.
“We know some men can have a hard time reaching out for help when times get tough,” they said.
“That’s why we’re here, to make sure that no man in our region feels like they have to walk this journey alone.
Mr Cox says having support is a simple thing that can save lives.
“Our members are fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers, and uncles and all have a story to share.
“We enjoy getting out and about to start the conversation about prostate cancer and let locals know the importance of getting checked by their doctors. “
PCFA Chief Executive Officer, Anne Savage, said that the network of support groups across the country play a vital role in the fight against prostate cancer.
Ms Savage says a diagnosis of prostate cancer can be isolating and overwhelming for both men and their loved ones.
“With today marking the start of National Volunteer Week, there is no better time to highlight the work of our Prostate Cancer Support Groups and to celebrate the dedicated
men and women who share their experience and knowledge with others to lend others a helping hand,” she said.
“When the burden is heavy and the conversations are tough, support groups are there to lighten the load and shine the light of hope.
“As the national peak body for prostate can-
cer research, awareness and support, we are proud to stand alongside them.”
National Volunteer Week runs from Monday 15 May to Sunday 21 May.
To find out more about the Prostate Cancer Support Group, call 1800 22 00 99 or visit www. pcfa.org.au/support/find-a-support-group.
Police say a serial fire-bug is likely to have caused a series of suspicious fires in Dandenong.
The three fires in Stuart Street, Stud Road and Foster Street were lit within several hours on the night of 16-17 May.
Fire Rescue Victoria members responded and extinguished all of the fires.
A blaze was lit in parkland next to a temporary fence at a construction site in Stuart Street about 10.10pm on 16 May.
Shade-cloth bunting on the fence was damaged as a result.
At 11.02pm a discarded mattress in a car park under a block of flats was set alight.
“There was no further property damage, however the location of the fire, being so close to the building, was concerning,” Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Acting Sergeant Steve Woodhouse said.
Then at 12.36am on the same night, a garden bed on Foster Street was lit, causing minor charring to a tree.
“The fires occurred within short proximity to each other and police believe that it is likely the same offender or offenders are responsible for the fires.”
Any information to Detective Senior Constable Josh Gimson at Greater Dandenong CIU on 9767 7666.
Free Kinder is available for three and four-year-old children in Victoria at participating services.
Free Kinder is available in sessional (standalone) and long day care (childcare) settings, saving families up to $2,500 each year, per child.
At kindergarten, your child will:
• learn language, literacy and numeracy skills through play, art, music and dance
• learn to express themself and make friends in a safe and caring environment
• build skills and confidence before primary school.
Contact your preferred kinder service or local council to learn about how to enrol for 2024.
Visit: vic.gov.au/kinder
The time has come for the South East to get its “fair-share” of Order of Australia Honours.
In the past five Honours lists from 2021, residents in the seat of Bruce have been drastically under-represented.
The electorate, which includes parts of Greater Dandenong and Casey, was awarded 10 medals – seven OAMs, an AM, a Conspicuous Service Medal and an Australian Police Medal.
That’s just two medals per list – three times less than the Victorian federal electorate average.
Across 39 seats in Victoria, there were 1349 awards in the same period – an average of 34.5 per electorate.
Bruce MP Julian Hill has called for a campaign involving Greater Dandenong and Casey councils to better promote the awards.
“I’m shocked at just how underrepresented our community is in the Australian National Honours system.
“Every day of every year people in our community do extraordinary things. Yet do not get deserved recognition in the Order of Australian Honours lists.
“I suspect part of the problem is there are not enough nominations going in, and it’s also possible that multicultural communities and leaders are not being adequately recognised for their contributions.
“More effort is needed to ensure worthy nominations are being submitted highlighting the contributions of local people.”
He called on more residents to nominate “local heroes”.
“The only way to change that is to nominate local heroes for national recognition. You’ve got to be in it to win it!
“Let’s work together locally, speak up and nominate so we get our fair share and see more people from Casey and Greater Dandenong recognised with Australia Day Honours. Nominate, nominate, nominate!”
Greater Dandenong mayor Eden Foster said the statistics reflect a similar struggle for nomi-
nees in the council’s own Australia Day awards.
“We want our residents to be showcased. I’ve been trying to encourage our current award winners to nominate others for all of the great work that is happening.
“I think it’s the humility of the people in our community. They get on with the work they do with commitment and don’t think about being nominated.
“We have to get thinking about who has made significant impact or been a big gamechanger in our lives.”
Cr Foster said there was a lot of “unstructured” volunteering that was unheralded.
“We have one of the lowest rates of (reported) volunteering.
“But some of the time, it’s your mums and dads volunteering at sports grounds or local agencies but it might not be officially recognised.”
Nominations for Order of Australia honours can be made via an online form.
Just include a short case on the nominee’s outstanding qualities, service for others, their fields of excellence and lists of other awards.
Up to four referees can be listed.
Details: gg.gov.au/australian-honours-andawards/nominate-someone-award
Foodbank’s “mini supermarket” on wheels is provided much-needed food relief to Doveton College families.
Twice a term, the purple bus emblazoned with bright murals rolls up to the school.
About 180 families line up for the free pick of fridges of dairy and zaatar bread and shelves of fruit, veg and other healthy food staples.
Any leftover food is distributed at the college at the end of the day.
“Foodbank are amazing. The school community are grateful because they clearly need it with the rising cost of living,” Doveton College principal Debra Gibson said.
“Anything we can do to help is a good thing.”
The bus also visits Hallam College as well
as other schools across Melbourne.
Foodbank programs coordinator Kylie McKinlay said the service aims to reach out to communities not linked to food relief services.
“Food costs are skyrocketing. This is to get them through until the next time they shop.”
Foodbank also supplies 500 agencies and breakfast clubs at more than 1000 schools including Doveton College.
The bus is feeding 50 per cent more Doveton families than when it started in late 2021.
Regional manager Emma O’Connor said there’s been up to 35 per cent increase in food relief demand in the past six months.
“Our agencies who put food hampers together are cutting back from weekly to fortnightly because there are so many people demanding help.”
A Labor-affiliated pharmacist is fighting against proposed 60-day changes to medicine dispensing by the Federal Government.
Springvale-based chemist Richard Lim, also a Greater Dandenong councillor, says the proposal to allow prescriptions for up to two months of PBS medication will hurt the profession’s viability.
Currently, the dispensing limit is for a onemonth supply only.
According to Pharmacy Guild estimates, Cr Lim’s business will be hit by a 40 per cent drop in concession-card scripts, as well as paying upfront for extra stockpiles of medicines.
He says community pharmacies are already under pressure from big business competitors, and the erosion of dispensing fees.
They were making losses on certain medicines, including diabetes tablets. At risk were services such as free delivery.
“There’s a perception that pharmacists make a lot of money but that’s not true.
“Pharmacists are a soft target, and the Government keeps squeezing us.”
Cr Lim is effectively making a stand against his own party’s policy.
“I want them to understand how it impacts us before September. They have to think about it.”
With a shortage of pharmacists since Covid,
Cr Lim worries if there’ll be a “next generation” of chemists.
He says he lost three staff due to a barrage of impatient, angry and rude customers during medication shortages at the height of Covid restrictions.
OnWednesday 26 April, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced the change to ease cost of living pressures, making hundreds of common medicines cheaper.
According to recent polling, it’s a popular move among voters.
But Cr Lim stated there was a misconception that it applied to all customers. In fact, the sav-
An“obsessed” jumping-castle company owner who hired arsonists to burn rival businesses “to the ground” has been jailed for up to 11 years.
Dandenong-raised James Balcombe, 58, pleaded guilty at theVictorian County Court to 11 counts of conspiring to commit arson.
He ordered hits on competitors’ industrial premises in Hallam, Keysborough, Tullamarine, Werribee, Warragul and Hoppers Crossing – and even his own shed - to varying effect in late 2016-early 2017.
At the time, the Awesome Party Hire owner was growing a successful business for the first time.
But he became “fixated” and “obsessed” with out-doing his rivals, sentencing judge Stewart Bayles noted on 18 May.
Hired for $2000 a job, the arsonists smashed factory windows, poured petrol and threw Molotov cocktails inside. Many of the fires didn’t take hold, including at Hallam and Keysborough.
During the latter, the owner was sleeping in the premises when he heard a bang and the Molotov cocktail bottle burning outside.
It illustrated the “potential for danger” always apparent in arson crimes, Judge Bayles said.
In contrast, a competitor’s Hoppers Crossing factory, its contents and a truck – in effect the entire business - were completely destroyed, causing a devastating $1.48 million loss.
Among the destroyed items were 110 jumping castles worth $80,000 as well as children’s petrol Jeeps, racing go-karts, a stock racing car, a mechanical bull and a forklift.
The uninsured husband-and-wife couple tried but failed to rebuild their business using their savings. They are now working part-time in child-care.
The damage extended beyond physical property but caused “enormous” loss, suffering and emotional trauma, Judge Bayles noted.
After that job, Balcombe told the arsonist he wanted all jobs done like that.
In Tullamarine, a party-hire van was set alight with fuel and destroyed. Balcombe told his co-offenders he was not happy and unwilling to pay them, due to not burning the factory.
Balcombe ordered his hitmen to re-do failed attempts – up to another two times at some premises.
Finally, Balcombe ordered a fire which destroyed his own business shed in Kangaroo Ground to deflect suspicion. He filed a fraudulent insurance claim for $1.1 million.
After his arrest, Balcombe absconded while on bail toWestern Australia. He was located by Australian Federal Police two years later, sporting a long beard and wig as well as false IDs.
Two of the three co-offenders have been jailed. They were given reduced sentences after undertaking to testify against Balcombe.
Judge Bayles said Balcombe as the“apex” or instigator was the most culpable.
He noted Balcombe had never been diagnosed or treated for his long-standing mental health conditions, as well as his guilty plea.
The accused’s rehabilitation prospects were “difficult to assess”.
Balcombe’s jail term includes 938 days already served in pre-sentence detention.
He will be eligible for parole after serving seven years and 10 months.
ings would only assist concession-card holders on specific Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medication.
He claims that pharmacists save money for customers and the Government. Their free, trained advice forgoes the need to see a GP.
He also criticised the Government’s lack of consultation.
Tooradin pharmacist Brendan Green, who is on the committee of the Victorian Pharmacy Guild, said “there was an initial consult where basically the Department didn’t engage with the Pharmacy Guild in a productive manner”.
“It was essentially stated this is going to hap-
pen whether you like it or not,” Mr Green said.
In an interview with the ABC, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said he rejected the notion that the government did not properly consult the Pharmacy Guild.
“I mean, at the end of the day people make up their own minds about what sufficient consultation is,” he said.
Mr Butler said he didn’t accept it was “Armageddon” for local pharmacies but conceded there would be an impact on the bottom line.
“We recognise that we want to work with them to ensure that community pharmacy remain sustainable, but this is so overdue,” he said.
Mr Green is concerned the changes will mean changes to the services he can provide the community.
“If that revenue is cut, we’d have to review opening hours. We’ll have to review how and what services we deliver and when we do them, so we may still be able to do vaccination, but we may have to cut the staffing and cut out hours,” he said.
“This will also increase out of pocket expenses for services such as medication packs, vaccinations and deliveries.”
Health Minister Butler told the ABC there would “to a degree” have an affect on supply demand, but “it’s not as if every single patient or customer of a particular pharmacy is going to come in on the first of September and demand 60 days of medicines”.
Parents and concerned loved ones can now let out a sigh of relief at the Federal Government’s stern actions against the widespread use of vapes.
But can these upcoming strict laws on vaping really make a difference?
The crackdown on vaping in the federal budget was a confirmation of the vaping reform announced on 2 May by Minister for Health Mark Butler.
Founder of Drug Education Australia, Sharon Thorpey said although the fact that this issue is talked about, is a“positive starting point” there are layers that need attention.
“It’s one thing to put a law in place and another to actually follow that up with a body and I think that’s where we’re lacking.
“This law has been in place already. From what i hear from students, parents and teachers it’s not being well regulated.”
Young Victorians aged 18-30 make up the largest proportion of current e-cigarette users (54 per cent), according to the Victorian Smoking and Health Survey conducted by Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer (funded by VicHealth).
“To be honest i think we’ve missed the ball a little bit and things have gotten away from us. We really need to do something significant to change what’s happening,” Ms Thorpey said.
It’s already illegal to sell vapes to under 18-year-olds yet convenient stores and retailers have flouted these regulations.
Ms Thorpey said it’s unclear as to whose responsibility is it to regulate these laws leaving her with frail confidence in the government’s steps.
“I speak to young people all the time. It’s so easy for them to access these products. We need to get control over the ease of access they have.
“They walk into convenient-store, they could be in school uniform and these things are still sold to them.”
In Australia, around 14 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds has ever tried an e-cigarette, with around 32 per cent of these students having used one in the past month, according to Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
According to the foundation, students who used e-cigarettes most commonly reported getting the last e-cigarette from friends (63 per cent), 12 per cent of students reported buying the e-cigarette themselves
and eight per cent from siblings.
“When i speak to parents who try to report these shops they contact the police and rightly so they’re run off their feet right now it’s hard for them to manage it.
“Some council is fantastic, very progressive and actually trying but there’s other councils that don’t follow it up.
The changes will see a ban on single use, flavored and colorful disposable vapes, replaced by plain packaging and a 5 per cent excise on tobacco for the next three years.
“These people (those selling vapes) will have to have significant consequences for what they’re doing before they change their ways.
“We know they’re making good amount of money out of this so while they get away with it they’ll continue to do so,” Ms Thorpey said.
While Mr Butler said the reforms will be implemented with a sense of urgency the commonwealth, state and territories are working on the precise terms of the regulations, according to The Guardian.
New legislation will be required, transition period may be needed.
Quit (established by the Minister for Health and Cancer Council Victoria) director, Matthew Scanlon said, “Quit is hopeful that the new Federal vaping reforms will curb soaring rates of recreational e-cigarette use, especially among people aged under 30.”
Drug Education Australia (DEA) has an upcoming webinar in collaboration with Monash Health, City of Greater Dandenong and City of Casey, to educate parents on the vaping topic and how to communicate the potential risks of vaping to their children.
Ms Thorpey said students need to be educated of the potential risks of vaping and also celebrate the majority of students who chose not to vape.
Monash Health have said, “This webinar will provide insights into trends and risks of vaping as well as practical strategies to support young people.
“Decreasing tobacco and vaping use is one of the four priority areas being addressed by Monash Health’s South East Public Health Unit, aiming to reduce cardiovascular disease and ensure our children and young people are healthy.”
The free online webinar is scheduled on Tuesday 6 June.
To register for the event, visit: https:// monashhealth.org/services/healthpromotion/#events
City of Casey residents enjoyed an extraordinary day of ‘Bukjeh’ Gathering at Bunjil Place for the first time thanks to the Bukjeh organisation.
Families were able to enjoy the event from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday 13 May.
Founder and Chief executive officer, Aseel Tayah was very thankful and joyous at the success of the event.
“The event was a great success. I could tell from people’s smiles, excitement and them staying till the very end of the event.
“People loved the fact that there was so much going on, they loved that there was something for everyone (kids and adults) and they loved to celebrate with each other.”
The event saw a great attraction from community groups such as the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson and federal opposition spokesperson for community safety, migration services and multicultural affairs Jason Wood.
“I was amazed by the collaboration of dif-
ferent mosques, community centres, schools and organisations,” Ms Tayah said.
Bunjil Place struggled to close its doors as people lingered around, chatting, making conversations and sharing their appreciation for the event.
Ms Tayah said Bukjeh can’t wait for their next big Eid event.
Ms Wilson also gladly accepted the invitation to experience Bukjeh and said her favourite part was the food, multicultural experience and interacting with “so many people doing amazing work to promote multiculturalism across Victoria.”
“The event was absolutely incredible, with plenty of performances, singing and dancing –it was a great show of rich culture, family and connection in our community, and it was an honour to be invited.
“The work Bukjeh does is very important, and I support their mission to promote intercultural connection in the community. I look forward to working with them to best support their vision.”
Food was also another aspect that bonded people and communities together. 334046
Apart from music and performances, there was also henna for locals as a treat!
By Matthew Sims
South eastern Pasifika youths have been connecting with others and enjoying physical activity as part of an ongoing social engagement initiative.
Run by the Centre for MulticulturalYouth’s Le Mana Pasifika project in partnership with City of Casey Youth Services, the Late Night Hoops initiative began as an eight-week pilot program in October of last year, attracting about 90 Pasifika young people.
Le Mana Pasifika project officer Dylan Wolfgramm said the program had now grown to about 140 young people playing basketball, volleyball or netball or engaging in other activities such as arts and drawing or oneon-one counselling services.
“It’s promoting social connection,” he said.
“They use sport as a vehicle to drive social engagement with others.
“They’re using it to help with their mental health and wellbeing.”
The program now runs every Friday night from 9pm to midnight at Olive Road Sporting Complex in Eumemmering.
Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas and South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis visited the program on Friday 12 May.
Mr Wolfgramm said the group had broadened beyond Pasifika community members to include South Sudanese, First Nations and non-M?ori Pacific Islander young people.
“It has really turned into a communitydriven event,” he said.
Mr Wolfgramm said they have had constructive conversations with Mr Tarlamis and Mr Maas about further funding for the project.
Le ManaWayfinders secretary assistant Julie Ierome said she has been involved with Le Mana Pasifika for about two-and-a-half years and joined the Wayfinders young leaders program for 15 to 25 year-old Pasifika youth.
“It’s really rewarding,” she said.
“I think we’ve given young people a safe space.
“I feel like we push them to help them to accomplish their full potential.”
Ms Ierome said the program was also beneficial for young Pasifika people and young people from other cultures to get back in touch with their culture.
“It’s for young people to reconnect with their roots,” she said.
“We lose touch with our culture.
“Relearning is powerful.”
Ms Ierome said the program also helped to break through stereotypes.
“We just needed something like this,” she said.
“I would have wanted something like Le Mana Pasifika when I was younger,” she said.
For more information about the Le Mana Pasifika program, visit www.cmy.net.au/ young-people-community/communityconnections/le-mana-pasifika or www.instagram.com/lemana.southeast
100 years ago
24 May 1923
Country Telephones
The Postmaster General (Mr Gibson) is giving consideration to an important suggestion that the charges for telephone calls in the country should be made according to the distance of the direct route between the two towns in communication, instead of charging for the actual mileage covered by the telephone line. The charge would be made on a calculation of the mileage “as the crow flies”. At present persons using telephones in the country are connected in many instances by indirect routes, so that the length of the telephone line is much greater than the actual distance between the two points of conversation. It is proposed to divide the State into a number of squares for the purpose of calculating the distance between the towns connected by telephone. As the charges are
now based on the actual mileage covered by the telephone lines, it is expected that the proposed system, if adopted, would result in a loss of revenue.
50 years ago
22 May 1973
60,000 watch pageant
An estimated 60,000 spectators packed Dandenong’s main street on Saturday for a parade to commemorate the city’s centenary of local government. It was the biggest crowd ever to attend a single event in Dandenong. Spectators packed both sides of the road from Pultney St to the Scout Hall in Princes Hwy, where the procession dispersed at 3.30pm; jut 1½ hours after it began. Almost 100 floats – described by the same people who judged the Moomba procession as “comparable with Moomba and showing great originality” – took part as well as bands, matching girls, baton twirlers, sports groups,
and clowns. The Mayor of Dandenong Councillor Warren Titcher said: “I have never seen such a crowd in Dandenong. The attendance more than justified the two-year preparation for the event.”
20 years ago
19 May 2003
Labor attacks budget ‘insult’ Medicare and education reforms in the Federal Government’s budget were an ‘insult’ to Dandenong families, Holt MP Anthony Byrne claimed last week. Mr Byrne said Medicare remained the headline issue. He claimed last week the Government was trying to ‘abolish’ the system, a move which would impact heavily on Dandenong families.
In last week’s budget the Government announced it would continue to reform Medicare, give income tax cuts to all taxpayers and allow universities to increase fees. For people earning $30,000 - $50,000 the Gov-
ernment’s proposed tax cut equates to $4 a week. Mr Byrne said a Labor Government would save Medicare. “We are about saving Medicare and making education affordable to young people.”
5 years ago
21 May 2018
Dumpers
Rubbish dumpers should face tougher penalties says Greater Dandenong Council. It’s advocating for increases in fines and more money to fight dumping in a bid to clean up its streets. Dandenong resident Adam Kukic said he was “ashamed” to see piles of rubbish on Clow Street while attending Dandenong’s Anzac Day March.
He said the problem was prevalent outside blocks of flats. “We do have one pick up a year which people should utilise,” said Mr Kukic.
By Ursula Aruma from Sri Sathya Sai Organisation
The first step towards this Message of Hope is to do all your actions with Love and devotion to God, by surrendering your attachments and ego and pride, then you cannot go wrong. Always have an open mind and be humble. Listen to your heart and God will do the rest.
Therefore, take this first step with unwavering faith.
When you want to be free from sorrow and pain and from the ups and downs of life, make progress by moving into a new situation.
Let go. Take a deep breath.
Move away from fear and negative situations into positive actions and loving emotions and decide on your next step.
Stepping out in faith is scary, but always
keep in mind that God has a plan for each and every one of us - instead of thinking that it’s our plan that we can do it on our own.
We should always be in balance and firm, in thought, word and deed, with a joyous and harmonious outlook, accepting all as God’s will.
‘Awaken the Jesus Within You!’
Jesus taught simple, practical lessons, supported through his own example of compassion and love, demonstrating how we can cul-
tivate these divine qualities.
Jesus served the poorest of the poor and taught his followers that whenever we serve the needs of the poor, the needy, the hungry and the diseased, we are serving God.
Let us live His Message.
All religions and scriptures expound natural universal laws by compliance of which enables humans to be contented and happy and save themselves from suffering.
May these ideas help you realise what your next step is and make you feel less doubtful and transform your inaction by stepping out into action with strong faith.
Please stay safe, keep smiling and may you receive torrential grace and share the Love.
Nine-year-old Stephanie Shen only began fencing a year ago but the talented athlete is already making a name for herself in this ancient sport.
After many hours of practice, Stephanie, who is in Year 4 at Haileybury’s Newlands campus, has learned to feint, lunge and parry like a pro.
She was recently part of the gold-medal winning U12 Girl’s Foil team at the international Rise Olympic Foil competition in Sydney, where she beat opponents from across Australia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Stephanie also won a silver medal in the U10 Girl’s Foil individual event.
“Last year I wanted to try something new and so I did a fencing camp during the school holidays and just decided to keep learning. I enjoy fencing because it’s like playing a game,” says Stephanie.
“I do get nervous before a competition. In Sydney I was so nervous I didn’t want to eat but Mum told me I had to eat. When I get nervous, I just try to concentrate on the competition and listen to my coach.
“It’s important to stay calm and not get too excited.”
Winning gold against older competitors in Sydney has been a highlight so far for Stephanie.
She trains about 10 hours a week, juggling her passion for fencing with her studies at Haileybury.
She also likes ice skating, playing cello and reading.
Stephanie’s proud mum, Jing Pan, says that, despite her young age, Stephanie is very self-motivated, which helps her manage her time.
“Stephanie truly loves the sport which is why she’s achieved so much in a short time,” she says.
“She is lucky to belong to a wonderful fencing club and is surrounded by good coaches.
“Balancing her after-school timetable is tricky but between Stephanie, her coach and her family we help her to learn, progress and achieve her goals.”
And Stephanie isn’t the only one affected by nerves when she steps on to the fencing strip to compete.
“I am so nervous in every competition that I get stomach cramps,” Ms Pan said. While she now has a gold and silver medal displayed proudly in her home, Stephanie now has bigger plans.
“One day I hope to represent Australia at the Olympics,” she says.
A mother-daughter duo are trying to dismantle the unnatural expectations of motherhood.
Yvette O’Dowd and her daughter Kaitlyn Greig are the team behind the Southern Natural Parenting Network (SNPN).
Yvette is a qualified breastfeeding counsellor, who ran a successful breastfeeding drop-in centre in Melbourne for five years.
With an extensive background in maternity, babywearing education and breastfeeding, Yvette saw she could fulfil a need within her community.
“I wanted as safe environment where five core things were shared by everyone, and then we could talk about everything else,” Yvette said.
Yvette explained the SNPN community is like a “village” to support mums as they raise their children.
SNPN members have five core tenants in common that serve as the foundation from which they explore their natural parenting journeys.
Co-sleeping, baby-wearing, breastfeeding, using cloth nappies and baby-led weaning are the main practices of the SNPN community.
Yvette noted that in regular parenting groups online, some of these practices would get heavy push back, leaving mothers feeling even more isolated.
“They take your choices as judgement of their choices, and I think [motherhood] is probably the only stage of life where that’s such a big thing,” she said.
SNPN started as a Facebook group in 2014, and quickly grew from 100 members to 11,000.
One post reached 50,000 viewers, blowing Yvette’s expectations out of the water.
“It brought people together in a way that showed them they were far form the only person doing the things they were doing,” she said.
SNPN focuses on “respective, responsive and gentle” parenting.
This means validation for the child’s feelings, understanding and explanation of experiences, and gentle discipline over harsh punishment.
“It’s not a group of perfect parents,” Yvette said.
“We still raise our voices sometimes,” Kaitlyn added.
“The difference is we might apologise later and explain that we had big feelings.”
Yvette says their model is one of reflecting the type of behaviour they wish to see in their children.
“Often people are expecting behaviour from a child they’re not exhibiting themselves,” she said.
SNPN was thriving in the local community, with weekly social sessions and babywearing try-on days.
COVID presented a host of challenges for SNPN, who were no longer able to hold crucial face-to-face events.
“There was a two year period where mothers and babies weren’t coming together,” Yvette said.
“My son Teddy has hardly played with kids his own age,” Kaitlyn added.
While online mother’s groups were available, Kaitlyn admitted the participants weren’t getting as much out of it as if they were faceto-face.
The team are now trying to kick off in-person events again.
Previously, SNPN held weekly playground meet ups for mums to socialise in a childfriendly environment.
“There was one point where we were averaging 20 mums, and once we got up to 60,” Yvette said.
The group also hold babywearing sessions, where expectant or new mums can try on a host of baby carriers to find their right fit.
The babywearing group is run entirely money-free, with carriers being donated from manufacturers, spaces offered for free and no cost to participants.
Though Yvette stresses the donations do not come with a positive review- if a carrier has negative qualities, these are highlighted impartially.
SNPN has weighted baby dolls for use in the carrier try-on sessions, so mums don’t feel the nervous pang of putting an infant in a new carrier for the first time.
“We take them through it with the demo dolls, and then we take them through it with their baby, with us there,” Yvette said.
“We will do that as many times as they need us to. We will be there to help.”
Yvette and Kaitlyn joked about how odd they look carrying the life-like dolls to the car, stuffed under their arms.
The benefits of babywearing have been known far back in human history, Yvette says.
“Babies are biologically wired to live [on a mother’s chest],” she said.
“If you don’t have a baby carrier, they’re not
going to be in a bassinet, they’re going to be in your arms.”
Research from the Universite de Montreal found evidence of the use of baby carriers 10,000 years in the past.
Yvette says the baby carriers give back a level of freedom to mothers that is otherwise missed out on.
“It allows you to meet their needs and your needs,” she said.
Yvette says eventually children will naturally branch away from the carrier, but it remains vital in the first three months of life.
“It would be easier if we had a pouch, the amount babies need to be on us,”Yvette joked.
“Babies don’t come with a 2023 update. They’re still living in a primitive world, where if they’re not being held they could be eaten, and they don’t want to be eaten.
“It’s about going back to an intuitive and supportive relationship with the child.”
Yvette is passionate about transforming social views towards motherhood, women’s bodies and the post-birth journey.
She says ideally, the government would instate 12 months of paid parental leave, allowing breastfeeding mothers to do so until full term.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life.
Beyond that, WHO says breastfeeding remains an important source of nutrition until the 24 month mark.
However, the Victorian Paid Parental Leave scheme is only offered for 20 weeks, or five months.
Yvette says the pressure on women to return to work shortly after giving birth is unnatural.
“It’s like giving birth and having a newborn is blip in your CV,” she said.
“We need to honour the importance of the mother-baby dyad.
“We need to honour and respect mothers, not dismiss them.”
From page 1
It would include impacts of creating a new residential estate such as the reduction of the Green Wedge, infrastructure, environment and traffic.
Keysborough South Ward councillor Rhonda Garad, who led the motion, said residents had not been “fully informed” on the impact of a “massive development”.
By Sahar FoladiSimilar to the many organisations, Palliative Care South-East celebrated the impactful works of their volunteers. Betty Williams and Marilyn Morrow are unique in their own ways but both share the commonality of breaking down barriers. Resident of Dandenong for 68 years, Ms Williams is an example of age is just a number.
Ms Williams, who’s turning 91 next month, has served 32 years of her lifetime volunteering with PCSE and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition.
“Everything about volunteering has changed and enriched my life. If i had all those years i wouldn’t change a thing.” She discovered PCSE when two of her close friends were diagnosed with cancer within 18 months of one another. I learnt through them the care, support and encouragement that PC nurses gave to their families.” So, when her friends passed away she joined her journey towards enrichment. “Back then we started off in a small unit on David St Dandenong.
“I started off by going into the homes of sick clients,” Ms Williams said. Interestingly, Ms Williams never learned to drive instead she took trains, buses and sometimes walked from Dandenong to Pakenham, Berwick, Endeavour Hills and so on.
“If somebody would say where such and such is, they’ll say don’t ask Betty she’ll tell you where it is but she’ll take you on the bus route,” she said. MsWilliams has an incredible unwavering passion to support the bereaved through
the bereavement program at PC, while she has her own personal experiences of death of loved ones. She lost her 48-year-old daughter to an illness which she counts as a “lesson.”
“I learnt firsthand what it’s like to lose someone. ‘‘
Ms Williams has 16 grand-children, enjoys music and escapes into her gardening world.
Marilyn Morrow migrated to Australia from Northern Ireland in 1970 when she was 17-years-old. Born with cerebral palsy, she proved doctors wrong who told her family she will never be able to walk. Ms Morrow continued to flag down misconceptions about disabled people and lives an independent, active life working in crisis housing sector for the past 21 years.
“I always wanted to work in PC because as a European when we lose someone we are very hands on, very present with the person throughout that process.
‘‘I love my volunteer work i think it’s a privilege to be part of that journey with the people,” Ms Morrow said. She joined PCSE during the pandemic and now wheelchair bound at the age of 70, she has strong desire to continue her work.
“We can create barriers for ourselves if we want to. I’ve got this disability it’s something was born with I’m stuck with it i might as well make the most of it. Noble Park resident of 21 years, Ms Morrow works four days a week and fills the fifth day to support clients with terminal illness and carers.
“We have seen an incredible amount of development around this area and these have multiple impacts on traffic, drainage, infrastructure and the environment. It is important we hear from them.
“Also, this is the thin edge of the Green Wedge. Once we start slicing it up, we will lose it in the longer term.
“The Green Wedge is the lungs of Melbourne and has incredibly important health and ecological value.”
Keysborough Ward councillor Tim Dark agreed the impact on local amenity needed to be investigated.
Residents were already concerned about the scale of new townhouse development on Chapel Road as well as traffic, he said.
He said there was a shortage of sports facilities but questioned whether the residents would get behind the new sports hub’s remote site.
Mayor Eden Foster said she’d like to learn more details about the proposal.
Mr Swindells said the club needed to move because its “tired” facilities could not cater for a growing number of female and young players.
“The club does not have the capital to undertake the necessary upgrades in its current location.
“Moving to Pillars Road, through the sale of Hutton Road, will allow us to invest in a new, modern, accessible course with facilities to suit all types of members, including women and our youth people, and make us financially viable into the foreseeable
future.”
The plan ultimately hinges on whether Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approves rezoning the club’s present site on Green Wedge A land at Hutton and Springvale roads to allow a residential estate.
In 2015, the club voted to relocate to Pillars Road as part of a windfall sale to developer Intrapac, which would have yielded $40 million for the club.
The move was supported by Greater Dandenong Council, and fiercely opposed by the Defenders of the Green Wedge.
Ultimately, the then-Planning Minister Richard Wynne was resolutely against rezoning the Green Wedge and no formal application was made.
Mr Swindells seized on the State Government recently talking about “building homes where infrastructure already exists”, rather than continuing the outer-suburban sprawl.
“This proposal should make enormous sense given the overwhelming benefits for the community and our club, with zero cost to Government.”
The current golf course just outside the Urban Growth Boundary was a “historical anomaly”, he said.
“It’s nothing like what most people imagine as Green Wedge.
“It’s an infill site in a middle-ring suburb, surrounded by existing housing and major roads.
“It just makes sense to deliver more housing in areas like Keysborough given how well it is serviced by existing transport, schools, shopping and all the existing community infrastructure.”
The State Government did not respond before Star Journal’s deadline.
More details on the South East Sports Hub is at sesportshub.com.au
Award-winning circus company Na Djinang Circus presents ‘Common Dissonance’ at the Drum Theatre on Saturday 27 May from 5pm.
It’s not the sort of traditional ‘circus’ that springs to mind but according to director and company founder, Harley Mann, it carries the “same thrill” with more of a focus on stories.
The Waka Waka Queensland-based director’s contemporary production was nominated for a Green Room award for Best Circus.
“It is the first work where I started to find a sense of who I was as an artist,” Mr Mann said.
He has been doing circus from the age of five. Growing up he was part of the circus training and went on to complete his Bachelor of Arts in circus.
“At the time of making Common Dissonance, I was growing through a stage in my life where I was observing the Aboriginal cultures and Western culture.
“I saw similarities and differences. There was this discourse or reactiveness combining those two.
“I spent a lot of time talking to people to try discovering for myself where those lines were and what mattered to me.”
Na Djinang Circus creates work that utilises the next generation’s social and political attitudes and tell stories that challenge our own perceived ideas about contemporary Australian society.
He’d transitioned his thinking for the last two years and wanted to collaborate with other artists to reflect people’s social and moral opinions through “dynamic thrilling circus”.
“What really sits right and I always had this vision, that the work I do isn’t solely mine,” Mr Mann said.
The DrumTheatre performance will be embodied by Johnathon Brown and Sarah Gray. It was originally performed by Mr Mann with
contemporary dancer and circus performer Isabelle Champagne-Chittick.
“They (performers) will bring to it their own interpretation and reflect it in a way that’s right for them,” Mr Mann said.
“Particularly art and culture is always growing and shifting as people and society change.”
Mr Mann alongside Ms Champagne-Chit-
tick used their distinctly contrasting upbringing as inspiration for the work.
Through his works Mr Mann learnt the“real commonality” in people regardless of the geography and a “whole bunch of variations and individual aspect.”
“What this shows emphasises is uniqueness of each individual whilst holding true to universal commonality.”
The performance uses the physical body to demonstrate complex human experiences, exploring connection, trust, vulnerability, joy and explores human characteristics from an indigenous perspective.
To book tickets email drumtheatre@cgd. vic.gov.au.
For more information view: https://youtu. be/C_ehPkaD4JI
Casey Council and Federation University Australia have renewed their partnership via a memorandum of understanding (MoU), following an initial partnership signed between the council and the university in 2020.
Expiring on 31 December 2024, the partnership would focus on developing a shared voice for the Berwick Health and Education Precinct, with the council and the university planning to work with partners and key stakeholders to help realise the vision of the precinct as a hub of knowledge, technology, health, education, research and employment for Melbourne’s south east.
The council and the university would also collaborate on projects and initiatives which contribute to solutions for environmental issues, innovative and responsive health and wellbeing services and resilience in current strategic and emerging industry sectors for a stronger local economy.
The partnership would also involve the council and the university working with stakeholders to identify gaps in knowledge and skills, come up with strategies to develop a skilled workforce in the region and promote local employment.
Casey Council chair administrator Noelene Duff PSM said the council was “pleased” to renew the partnership.
“We particularly look forward to working closely with the university and our stakeholders to enable upskilling, skill alignment and increased employment pathways for Casey residents,” she said.
“Our economic development strategy is to stimulate the knowledge economy and enhance relationships between academia, industry and government to cultivate a skilled workforce that is aligned to the needs of our local businesses.”
Federation University Australia Berwick campus head Kathy Racunica said the university was “excited” to continue to work alongside the council to find solutions to local problems in areas such as health, employment and the environment.
“By collaborating with government and implementing the Co-operative Education Model to create programs that are collaboratively de-
signed, developed and delivered with industry, we can identify skills and knowledge gaps and build a pipeline of qualified graduates to address local workforce shortages and help grow opportunities in the south east region,” she said.
The existing partnership between Casey Council and Federation University has resulted in the implementation of a number of projects, including addressing workforce shortages in Maternal Child Health Nursing (MCH), joint research initiatives on environment matters and sport participation and collaborative efforts in the region’s jobs and skills development.
Eight teenagers piled into an allegedly stolen car have been pursued by police in Endeavour Hills, Doveton and Hallam.
Police in an unmarked vehicle spotted the Honda Jazz sedan on Scotsburn Way in Endeavour Hills about 3.15am on Thursday 18 May. A check found the car to be reported stolen.
Marked and unmarked police vehicles and the Air Wing were involved in the chase to Power Road, Doveton and Frawley Road, Hallam.
Two of the car’s tyres were deflated by police stop sticks in Frawley Road, but the vehicle drove on into Saffron Road.
One of the teens fled into a field and jumped a fence until they were arrested by the Dog Squad.
Seven other teens were arrested near the Jazz.
Two males and six females between the ages of 14-18 are being questioned by police.
More than 200 students battled it out for the third annual Paul Wade Cup at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong.
On 8 May, teams gathered from Catholic primary schools across the South East – St Mary’s Dandenong, St Paul Apostle North and South in Endeavour Hills, St Francis De Sales in Lynbrook, Holy Family Doveton, St Gerard’s in Dandenong North and St Kevin’s in Hampton Park.
The gala soccer day was named after former Socceroos captain Paul Wade, who is also an ex-student at St John’s college.
Presenting the cup was another ex-student Majack Mawith, who represented South Sudan at World Cup level.
St Kevin’s Primary School took out the final, narrowly defeating St Gerard’s. St Francis de Sales won the third-place playoff against St Paul Apostle North.
The day was facilitated by St John’s football program partner Dandenong City Soccer Club with the help of St John’s VET sport and recreation students and football program students.
Details on the St John’s football program: 8793 2000.
The 2023 Greater Dandenong Volunteer Expo features stalls from more than 40 groups from various sectors: aged care, disability, new migrant services, local Council, gardening and conservation, hospitality, emergency and other community services. Find out what volunteering opportunities are available in the community and learn more about volunteering. Presented by Greater Dandenong Council and the Greater Dandenong Volunteer Resource Service (South East Volunteers). Includes performances, cultural cuisines and a coffee cart.
· Tuesday 23 May, 10am-3pm at Springvale City Main Hall and Supper Room, 8 Grace Park Avenue, Springvale. Free event. Details: 0402 607 991.
Celebrations for Reconciliation Week are at Springvale Community Hub and Alex Wilkie Reserve. Learn about First Nations stories, cultures and achievements with nature walks, basket weaving, contemporary circus and movie night.
· Tuesday 23-30 May. Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/reconciliation-week-2023
Trivia Night
Enjoy fun games, raffles, silent auctions with prizes galore at the Lions Club of Noble Park/ Keysborough Trivia Night. All money raised will go into the Lions Medical Alert Dog Program. Light refreshments provided. Bring-your-own drinks and nibbles, as well as gold coins to join in the fun. Eftpos payments available on the night.
· Saturday 27 May, 7pm-10.30pm at Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre, 31b Marcus Road, Dingley Village. Tables of 8 - $20 per person. Details: Thomas, 0432 025 825.
As part of Pathway for Carers Victoria we invite all Carers to come along and share a relaxing walk with fellow carers to get a chance to connect, socialise and learn about services and supports that is available to Carers. The walk goes along an accessible path around Burden Park and is suitable for all fitness levels.
· first Thursday of the month (1 June), 9.45am for a 10am start at Burden Park, 880-924
Heatherton Road, Springvale South. Details: Mala, 8571 1000 or council@cgd.vic.gov.au
Tree planting day
Bring the family and join us on World Environment Day to plant some seedlings at Fotheringham Reserve. This is a way for the community to take action against habitat loss. Free barbecue lunch. Bring your own gardening gloves.
· Sunday 4 June, 10am-1pm at Fotheringham Reserve, The Des Nolan Pavilion, Alexander Avenue, Dandenong. Free event. Registrations required: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/ greater-dandenong-council/events/community-planting-day-fotheringham
Places of worship tours
Bookings are open for Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network’s 2023 public tours to places of worship on Wednesdays 14 June, 9 August, 11 October, and 13 December 2023. Each tour features trips to four diverse places of worship for $25, plus a lunch for a $10-15 donation. Payment of $25 is required prior to the tour to confirm your booking. Details via the Interfaith Network, education@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.
Scottish Heritage Day
Dandenong Agricultural Show Society presents its 20th annual Scottish Heritage Day, including bagpipers, Clydesdales, Shetland ponies, Scottish terriers and a champion of champions parade.
· Sunday 28 May, 10am-3pm at Dandenong Showgrounds, Bennet Street, Dandenong. Free entry and parking.
‘Optimism, Opportunities and Achievement’ reflects on the 1973 celebrations of the Centenary of Local Government in Dandenong.
· Until 31 May, Wednesdays-Fridays, 10am-2pm at Benga, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Stret, Dandenong.
Shakespeare in Love
Monash Uni Student Theatre presents a stage production of Shakespeare in Love, based on the screenplay by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard. Suitable for ages 13-plus.
· 1 and 2 June, 7.30pm, and 3 June, 1.30pm (AUSLAN-interpreted) and 7.30pm at Alexander Theatre, 48 Exhibition Walk, Monash University, Clayton; $35/$25.
· Bookings: monash.edu/performing-arts-centres/event/shakespeare-in-love
Bruno Groning doco
The Phenomenon Bruno Groning is a documentary film looking back at spiritual healer Bruno Groning and events in 1949. Organised by Bruno Groning Circle of Friends, Circle of Spriritual Aid to Life Inc.
· Saturday 3 June, 11am-5pm (including two intermissions) at Jan Wilson Community Centre, Halton Road, Noble Park North. Free admission, donations welcome. Details: brunogroening-film.org or 0404 837 311.
Vaping concerns
Understanding Vaping webinar with guest speaker Sharon Torpey from Drug Education Victoria. Get up-to-date, accurate information on vapes/e-cigarettes, trends and health risks, and strategies to support young people. Open to anyone including parents, teachers, sports clubs and professionals. Presented by Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia Shire councils, Quit and Monash Health.
· Tuesday 6 June,7-8.30pm. Register at events. teams.microsoft.com/event/1b07bd28c163-491b-b2dc-49c92d48b0ea@fd72cf66868a-4edd-8f84-8e91a618ab7f
9x5 Exhibition
Now in its 16th year the 9 by 5 Exhibition proves that small things can have a big impact. Artists from around Australia present their creativity on panels measuring nine inches by five inches in a wide variety of styles.
· Until Friday 7 July at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, cnr Walker and Robinson Street, Dandenong. Open Tuesdays-Fridays 12pm4pm. Cost: free
Multicultural seniors activities
Keysborough and District Multicultural Senior Citizens Club has resumed activities for 2023. Enjoy concerts with professional entertainers such as Ron Kingston (18 April) and Marcia Rae (16 May). Also bingo on 1pm, 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, line dancing on Wednesdays 1pm, ballroom dancing including lessons Thursdays 12.30. Membership only $5 until 30 June. Tea and coffee supplied.
- Rowley Allan Reserve, 352 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough. Details: Carol, 9580 6480.
Yoga Classes
For all ages, experience and abilities. Mats and other equipment available. No Booking required.
· Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am-10.30am at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $5 per class or $40 for 10 classes. Details: programs@nobleparkcc.org. au or 9547 5801
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Supermarket 169 Princes Highway
• Dandenong Caltex Dandenong 154-156 Princes
Highway
• Dandenong Coles Supermarket Dandenong 23-26
Princes Highway
• Dandenong Genesis Fitness Club Dandenong
63 Scott Street
• Dandenong Valley Village Mews 112 Stud Road
• Dandenong Dandenong Basketball Stadium
270 Stud Road
• Dandenong Caltex Star Mart Stud Road & Heatherton Road
• Dandenong Dandenong Lotto 308 Thomas Street
• Dandenong Gulistan Supermarket 187-189
Thomas Street
• Dandenong Quest Hotel 2-Oct Walker Street
• Dandenong McLennan Real Estate First floor, 126
Walker Street
• Dandenong North Foodworks Dandenong North 42-44 Brady Road
• Dandenong North Dunearn Pharmacy 11a Dunearn Road
• Dandenong North Coles Express 166 Heatherton Road & Stud Road
• Dandenong North BP Service Station Heatherton Road & Stud Road
• Dandenong North Dandenong North Senior Citizens Club 41a Latham Crescent
• Dandenong North FoodWorks Menzies Cellars
52 Menzies Avenue
• Dandenong North Menzies Milkbar 64 Menzies Avenue
• Dandenong North IGA Friendly 54 Outlook drive
• Dandenong North Liberty Fuel 182 Stud Road
• Dandenong South Georges Lunch Box 22a Amberley Crescent
• Dandenong South BP Service Station 175-187 Greens Road
• Dandenong South Lunchmaster 3/491 Hammond Road
• Dandenong South Kirkham Road Milk Bar 102 Kirkham Road
• Dandenong South Woolworths Supermarket 81-125 Princes Highway
• Dandenong South Shell Service Station 50 South Gippsland Highway
• Dandenong South United Petroleum 314 South
Gippsland Highway
• Dandenong South Caltex Service Station 275-295 South Gippsland Highway
• Dingley Village Dingley Village Newsagency Shop
2/79 Centre Dandenong Road
• Doveton Doveton News and Lotto 7 Autumn Place
• Doveton Bottle O 2-Apr Linden Place
• Doveton Shell Service Station 48 Princes Highway
• Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre
Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue
• Endeavour Hills Woolworths Service Station Cnr
Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue
(Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre)
• Endeavour Hills O’Brien Real Estate Shop PS 5A
Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue
(Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre)
• Endeavour Hills Coles Supermarket Cnr
Heatherton Road & Matthew Flinders Avenue
(Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre
• Endeavour Hills Woolworths Supermarket Cnr
Heatherton Road & Matthew Flinders Avenue
(Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre
• Endeavour Hills 7 Eleven Endeavour Hills Cnr
Heatherton Road & Power Road
• Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Milk Bar 13
Gleneagles Drive
• Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Medical Centre 61
Heatherton Road
• Endeavour Hills Liberty Service Station 13-17
Heatherton Road
• Endeavour Hills Ocean Blue Milk Bar 90/92 John Fawker Drive
• Endeavour Hills Nicholls Gledhill Real Estate 2
Raymond McMahon Boulevard
• Eumemmerring Atura Hotel May-17
Doveton Avenue
• Eumemmerring Caltex Woolworths Service Station
40/44 Princes Highway
• Eumemmerring BP Service Station 60-64
Princes Highway
• Hampton Park Hampton Park Library 26 Stuart
Avenue
• Keysborough Caltex Keysborough 248
Cheltenham Road
• Keysborough Parkmore Shopping Centre 317
Cheltenham Road
• Keysborough Barry Plant Real Estate Shop
1,320 Cheltenham Road
• Keysborough 7 Eleven Keysborough 309
Cheltenham Road & Cnr Kingsclere Road
• Keysborough Woolworths Supermarket 317
Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre)
• Keysborough Coles Supermarket 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre)
• Keysborough O’Briens Real Estate Shop 6, 317
Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre)
• Keysborough City of Greater Dandenong Shop A07, 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre)
• Keysborough Michaels IGA 466 Cheltenham Road
• Keysborough Keysborough Learning Centre 402
Corrigan Road
• Keysborough Foodworks Keysborough 285-289
Corrigan Road
• Mulgrave Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre
271 Police Road
• Noble Park Sandown Park Hotel Corrigan Road
• Noble Park Coles Supermarket 1 Douglas Street
• Noble Park Noble Park Newsagency 22
Douglas Street
• Noble Park Harvey Real Estate 26 Douglas Street
• Noble Park Century 21 Real Estate
38 Douglas Street
• Noble Park Ray White Real Estate 42
Douglas Street
• Noble Park Caltex Woolworths Heatherton Rd & Chandler Highway
• Noble Park Noble Park RSL 1128 Heatherton Road
• Noble Park Lucky Star Lotto 1268 Heatherton Road
• Noble Park Cellarbrations 3 Leonard Ave
• Noble Park Noble Park Aquatic Centre 9
Memorial Drive
• Noble Park Noble Park Community Centre
Memorial Drive (Ross Reserve)
• Noble Park Noble Park Bowls Club 56
Moodemere Street
• Noble Park Barry Plant Real Estate 390
Princes Highway
• Noble Park Harrisfield Milkbar 519 Princes Highway
• Noble Park North Halton Road Milk Bar 65
Coolavin Road
• Noble Park North Jan Wilson Community Centre
Halton Road (Barry J Powell Reserve)
• Noble Park North Jacksons Road Service Station
139 Jacksons Road
• Springvale Century 21 Real Estate Shop 5-6/64
Buckingham Avenue
• Springvale Springvale Shopping Centre 46-58
Buckingham Avenue
• Springvale KFL Supermarket 46-58 Buckingham Avenue (Springvale Shopping Centre)
• Springvale Springvale Learning & Activities Centre 1
Osborne Avenue
• Springvale Springvale RSL 23 Osborne Avenue
• Springvale Caltex Woolworths Springvale 102
Police Road
• Springvale Aobao
•
Customer Service Centre 397-405 Springvale Road
of Greater
• Springvale South Southvale Newsagency 565 Springvale Road
• Springvale South Koh’s Marketplace 162-170 Athol Road (Athol Road Shopping Centre)
• Springvale South BP Service Station Springvale Road & Clarke Road
• Springvale South Springvale Plaza Pharmacy and Tattslotto 3/800 Heatherton Road (Springvale Plaza)
South BP Springvale 974
The Adass Israel Cemetery Trust is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified members of the community who would be interested in becoming honorary trust members. Women and those from a diverse background are actively encouraged to seek appointment. Cemetery trust members are appointed by the Governor in Council for a term of up to five years on the recommendation of the Minister for Health. Cemetery trusts are responsible for the proper and efficient management of the public cemeteries under their control, including planning for future cemeteries services and the preservation of local history. Being appointed to a cemetery trust provides successful applicants with a unique opportunity to develop their competencies as a board member. The Department of Health provides free governance training to all trust members.
Current trust members whose terms of appointment are due to expire may apply for reappointment as part of a competitive selection process.
More information about the role of cemetery trust members is available at: https://www. health.vic.gov.au/cemeteries-and-crematoria/ class-b-cemetery-trust-appointments
To register your interest please contact The Adass Israel Cemetery Trust as follows within two weeks of the date of this advertisement:
The Adass Israel Cemetery Trust contact details: 0407 233 244 or sba@sba2.com
The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the rich diversity of the Victorian community. We encourage applications from people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people. The trust will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.
South-east Melbourne locals are encouraged to spruik local stories from their hometowns as part of an upcoming virtual tour-based podcast.
Metro Trains is partnering with travel podcast and geo-mapping platform Storytowns Podcast Tours and the Department of Transport and Planning to deliver the tour experience.
Podcasts will play automatically as you approach a town, landmark or point of interest.
The series of podcasts will cover a variety of themes, including local food, culture, street art, travel tips, fun facts, and interesting stories about each suburb’s history, culture and train stations.
One of the series will focus on stations and suburbs along the Pakenham line, including Pakenham, Berwick, Narre Warren, Dandenong, Sandown Park and Springvale, with additional podcasts coming on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Upfield, Williamstown and Sandringham lines.
South-east Melbourne locals can contribute to the series by Thursday 1 June.
After hitchhiking around the world, Storytowns founder Jarrod Pickford wanted to connect travellers to communities, launching the project in regional Victoria, with hundreds of free geo-located podcasts now available throughout Australia.
“We believe that every suburb has a story to tell, and we’re excited to bring Melbourne’s unique character and history to life through the voices of its people.”
Metro Trains chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty said the podcast series will be a
“new and unique“ way to enjoy Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs.
“This will provide our passengers with a new and unique way to experience Melbourne,“ he said.
“These podcasts will enhance the journey and provide passengers with fascinating insights into the places they travel through.”
The Storytowns app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.
To express your interest in contributing to the podcast series, visit www.storytowns.app.
The Airwing was in the right place at the right time overnight assisting members on the ground with arrests in Cranbourne and Bangholme within five minutes of each other.
In the first incident the Airwing was called in to assist after a car, seen driving erratically in a nearby suburb, was spotted travelling approximately 150km/h in an 80km/h zone on Ballarto Road about 3.15am.
With help from the air, the stolen vehicle was followed as it travelled along Hall Road, Frankston Cranbourne Road and then onto the South Gippsland Freeway where officers successfully deployed stop sticks.
The car continued for a short distance onto Thompsons Road before the driver lost control and crashed into a ditch.
A man and woman tried to run from the crashed car before police caught up with them following a foot chase.
The pair, aged in their early 20s, are currently assisting police with their enquiries.
No sooner had the Airwing pulled away from the successful Cranbourne arrest they were called to Seaford after a car speed off from police in Yazaki Way.
Officers attempted to intercept the car after they noticed one of the headlights was out and it appeared to be roving in an industrial area.
The Airwing was able to track the car and guide officers on the ground to a property in Smith Street Carrum where the male driver was arrested.
The 37-year-old man is currently assisting police with their enquiries.
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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.
Rowville held-off a plucky and resilient Berwick outfit on Saturday to record their third victory of the Eastern Football League campaign in a 35-point triumph at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Hawks battled momentum swings, including a five-goal run from the Wickers during the middle of the contest, on their way to a 10.15 75 to 6.4 40 victory to level their win-loss ledger at three wins and three losses.
It took 13 minutes for either side to break the deadlock on the scoreboard and to the surprise of few, it was Lachlan Wynd who opened the account for the Hawks.
In his first hit-out of the 2023 campaign, prized recruit Lachlan Stapleton, who divided his time between the Hawks and Williamstown’s VFL program in 2022, won the ball halfback before switching the play, where the ball found Wynd close to the Hawks’ interchange bench in the forward pocket.
Kicking on the desired side for a right footer, his set shot drifted back perfectly over the goal umpires cap, and the contest was underway.
The ball took up residency in the Hawks’ half of the ground as their defensive group stayed disciplined and won the support of the midfield, who often drifted back in numbers to support.
When Berwick did have the chance to go, they often kicked to an outnumber as they moved the ball too quickly from halfback and before their forwards were in-position to anticipate an entry.
Their best ball movement of the quarter, a slow play from a stoppage at half back, resulted in Anthony Vella’s first of the day, the recipient of a kick-mark passage down the scoreboardside wing.
A free-kick on the quarter-time siren to Wynd, close to goal, would have infuriated the Berwick coaching staff, but thankfully for them he was off-target with the resulting kick.
Despite their inaccuracy, Rowville began to flex their muscle in the second term to apply some scoreboard pressure to the home side.
They guarded the corridor expertly, forcing their opponents to the wings and the flanks, and won repeat entries inside 50 to maximise their dominance.
Their second goal of the game came similarly to the first, with Stapleton winning the ball at halfback again and opening the field of play with a switch.
This time it was Josh Clarke who was the beneficiary, after Matthew Davey found him alone in the forward 50.
An unlucky free-kick against Jayden Graham, in a ruck contest against Wynd, saw him kick his second, and the key forward then played distributor as he found Jake Arundell after taking an intercept mark.
The three goal run from the Hawks was broken late in the term by Charlie Muley after Berwick took the ball the length of the ground after a kick-out without leather touching grass.
Berwick picked their way through the unsuspecting Rowville back six before Muley kicked his 11th goal of the year from the goalline to stem the tide of Hawks momentum.
For all their dominance in the first two periods, they would have entered the rooms disappointed to only possess a 12-point lead, having let their opponents off the hook by allowing the goal late in the quarter.
The momentum from the conclusion of the first half carried into the second, where Berwick kicked the opening four goals to snatch the lead.
Vella snagged his second immediately after his side won the first centre clearance and kicked long into the forward line, before Ashton Williamson was the beneficiary of an offball free kick just a few minutes later.
Not only were the Wickers able to score but their defence across the ground was tremendous as they found an answer for everything the Hawks threw at them.
Repeat efforts from Jonty Andrew at ground level resulted inVella’s third, before a true team effort saw them take the lead in the fifteenth minute.
From half back, the Wickers won a series of contests by fighting and scrapping the ball forward on the grandstand side, before Caleb Van Oostveen capped the endeavours with a check-side in front of the canteen that brought the forward line together in celebration.
The Hawks, who have conceded goals in runs on many occasions already in 2023, appeared shell-shocked, and fears of another late-game fade-out would have reared their ugly head.
In need of a reply, it was Wynd who answered the call.
His third of the contest shortly before three-
quarter-time broke the run of five consecutive majors in Berwick’s favour, and tied the scores at the final break.
It was anyone’s game with a quarter to play, but Rowville showed why they fell just short of a premiership in 2022, kicking five goals and holding Berwick scoreless.
Wynd’s fourth of the afternoon early in the term set the tone, before he moved into the ruck and influenced a further two to put the game out of reach for Berwick.
The tall forward now has 24 goals in his five appearances for the Hawks, a model of consistency having never kicked less than four in a contest this year.
For Berwick, a fourth consecutive score in the 40’s has them still languishing at the bottom end of the ladder, having lost their last five contests.
They’ll have a second consecutive home game next week, against South Croydon, while Rowville will tackle the high-flying Doncaster East.
Elsewhere, Noble Park recovered from a slow start in their contest against Doncaster to snap their two-game losing skid.
They hit the first break with a 10-point deficit against a struggling Sharks outfit but held them to just five goals in the remaining three quarters as they rediscovered their defensive identity.
For their part, the Bulls kicked 12 after quarter time to finish 14.13 97 to 9.3 57 winners.
Liam Scott kicked four for the Bulls as the primary target inside 50.
They’ll put out the welcome mat for Vermont at home next week, in what will be an evenly matched contest between fourth and fifth on the ladder.
A pair of wins to the Dandenong Rangers women’s squad over the weekend has seen them rocket up the NBL1 South competition’s standings to ninth.
A disastrous opening quarter saw them fall behind by 16 points on Saturday night at the first break but launch a miraculous comeback in the final period to score a 78-71 win over Launceston.
A tremendous two-way quarter saw the Rangers outscore their Tasmanian opponents 25-9, led by Nyadiew Puoch’s 24 points and six rebounds.
On Sunday, an extraordinary third quarter in which the Rangers women outscored Nunawading 32-2 was the key in turning around an 11-point half time deficit.
The Spectres were held to just one field goal, made midway through the third quarter, in the spectacular performance, as Dandenong continued on to win 80-63.
Pouch top-scored again with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Sarah Boothe (19 point 10 rebounds) and Amber Smith (13 points 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles.
The men fell just short of completing a remarkable comeback of their own against North West Tasmania on Saturday, with a poor opening three quarters seeing them trail by 20 points at the beginning of the final quarter.
The fourth quarter, however, was a threepoint shooting barrage.
Dandenong made six in the final period as they mounted a charge to reduce the deficit and return to the winners’ list.
Six were made in the final term, with none more important than Jack Roberts’ third with 14 seconds remaining.
Down by eight at the beginning of the last minute of play, Deng Puoch cut the lead to six before North West Tasmania nailed a pair of free-throws.
JacobEymanfollowedamisswithaputback, and the Rangers caught a break when their op-
By Marcus Uhe
Buckley Ridges Cricket Club have added a pair of international talents to their playing stocks for the upcoming DDCA season in their quest to go one-better than they have in the last two campaigns.
Sri Lankan test player Roshen Silva and emergingWest Indian talent Kadeem Alleyne will both call Park Oval home in the 2023-24 season, the club announced over the weekend.
Silva played 12 test matches for Sri Lanka between 2017 and 2019, averaging 35, with one hundred and five fifties, and has compiled a stunning record in first class cricket with 9600 runs at an average just shy of 50.
The 34-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to Buckley Ridges having played in all types of conditions around the world, from England to New Zealand and all across the subcontinent.
By contrast, Alleyne is yet to consolidate a consistent spot in the West Indian first class scene but brings a reputation as a hard-hitting, seam bowling all-rounder. The arrivals come in the wake of Mahela Udawatte’s decision to call Hallam Recreation Reserve home, having made the move from Buckley Ridges.
Udawatte played the last two seasons at Park Oval, hitting 572 runs at 41 in the 2021/22 season and 344 at 28.6 in 2022/23 in campaigns where his side fell short on grand final day on both occasions to Springvale South.
In a 10-year international career for Sri Lanka, the 36-year-old played two test matches, nine ODIs and eight T20s, averaging 35 in 169 first class games.
Hallam Kalora Park fell agonisingly short of a grand final berth in 2022/23, finishing third on the table before a fourwicket defeat at the hands of Springvale South in the preliminary final drew their season to a close.
His arrival adds to a formidable toporder featuring 2021/22 Alan Wookey medal winner Jordan Hammond, veteran Leigh Booth, and playing-coach Matthew Cox.
Booth finished third on the Wookey Medal vote count last season, plundering 434 runs from 11 matches in the homeand-away campaign to finish second for total runs behind Springvale South captain Ryan Quirk.
Cox will continue in his role as playing coach next season.
ponents this time missed a pair at the line.
Roberts was then fouled on a three at the top of the key to make it a one-possession contest, but missed the ensuing free throw to cut the lead to two.
They were forced to foul, and cashed-in on the miss on the second shot by streaking the floor for a layup on the fast break, and the lead was back to two.
Fouling again, the Thunder made one and missed the second, but Jesse Ghee fumbled the rebound and the ball stayed in the visitors’ hands with only seconds remaining.
The Thunder’s attempted tip shot was off line, but the final buzzer sounded as Elijah Duol grabbed the resulting rebound.
AgainstNunawadingonSunday,adisastrous second half in which they were outscored 35-58 sunk their halftime lead in the 89-103 loss, leaving them still stuck on the bottom of the table.
Both sides will face Kilsyth on Saturday night in their next outings.
Dandenong Magpies?
The Dandenong Stingrays came from 29 points down at the 10-minute mark of the last quarter to steal a four-point win over Oakleigh at Frankston under Friday night lights.
When Ziggy Toledo-Glasman banged through their fifth unanswered goal from the square with less than three minutes to go, Dandenong claimed the lead for the first time on the night.
He then lined up in the final minute and took enough time off the clock to ensure Oakleigh couldn’t rebound after he snapped a behind.
The first goal of the last quarter felt decisive in the outcome of the match and momentum felt like it would stay with the visitors when Oakleigh’s Kobe Askew opened the scoring.
The Chargers followed that up with two gettable set shots, which both missed, before Dandenong got a look in.
And when they did, there was no stopping them.
They played with fearless dare, high intensity and skill, taking it on through the middle and working hard to find space after winning it at the source..
All five final-quarter goals were scored from the top of the square as Dandenong got it in deep, and quickly.
Cooper Hynes got on the end of the first goal of the chain which sparked energy and life, and less than two minutes later, he banged through his second.
The parochial supporters standing behind the goals gave the Rays real belief when Cooper Simpson closed the margin to 11 points halfway through the last stanza.
The Stingrays had the play thereafter, with Hynes kicking his third to close the margin to three points before theToledo-Glasman sealer.
It took the Rays until eight minutes into the last quarter to get their first inside-50 but after that point, Oakleigh itself didn’t have another inside 50.
The four times the Chargers looked likely to press in the last 15 minutes, winger Matt Nelson, a Berwick Springs local, either did something important defensively or took an intercept mark.
Coach Nick Cox highlighted Ben Hopkins’ last quarter in helping Dandenong trap it inside 50.
“Ben Hopkins off halfback had some big moments late where he defended really well and made good decisions coming off,” Cox said.
“The pleasing part is we coach it, and train it, it’s up to them to execute it, we did it for small periods of the game, they probably did it for longer but good teams win so we’ll take that.”
The Stingrays, who had strong representation in the Vic Country trials three weeks ago, were expected to romp home against the Chargers, missing 13 players to school footy.
But Oakleigh was the better side for 85percent of the game.
The Stingrays had only five goals for the night up until three quarter time, but Cox was optimistic that their midfield work started to shift late in that quarter which stemmed then shifted the momentum their way.
As well as the surge footy, some positional switches also aided the Rays late.
Quick rebounder Billy Wilson provided spark off half forward after splitting his time between halfback and the wing in the first three quarters.
Defender Corey Braden, a Hampton Park local, gave a strong aerial presence inside 50 late, and skippers Cooper Simpson and Harry DeMattia brought intensity and class in attack.
On a night where his cousin Tahj made his Stingrays debut, Beaconsfield’s Kade De La Rue was a standout with his core strength, confidence and cleanliness on a dewy night.
The Vic Country representative continues to build on a strong start to the season, playing as a link up half forward who gets his hands on it when thrown in the midfield mix.
“His contest work is something he’s con-
tinuing to improve, his cleanliness is a standout and he seems at times like he’ll be tackled but he has time and is really strong in the core so he’s going along nicely.”
Tahj, meanwhile got the call up after strong senior footy for Pakenham in recent weeks and finished with seven possessions in defence.
Highly regarded Riak Andrew, from Berwick, also made his Talent League debut.
The 192cm Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect has long been touted but injured.
His game on Friday night came on the back of three games for local club Berwick, and finished Friday night with eight touches in the backline.
Hynes was a catalyst for the tide changing with some clearances in the third quarter and strong stoppage work before kicking three of his team’s final five goals.
Fellow bottom-ager Harvey Langford’s work rate and ball winning ability in and under were important on the night.
“They’ve been really good for the first four weeks and it’s easy to forget they’re 17-yearolds doing a lot of grunt work in there,” Cox said of Hynes and Langford.
“They’re taking their opportunity and showing some nice stuff while learning to play at the level.
“The longer they play, the better they’re getting.”
It took Dandenong until late in the first quarter to hit the scoreboard after they conceded the first four.
They kicked two goals to zero in the second quarter, but Oakleigh remained dangerous and the visitors maintained the ascendancy in the third.
“I thought it changed through the middle of the third quarter when Cooper Hynes started getting a few clearances and our midfield got better around the footy and then we gained momentum, a few things went our way, the pressure on the ball and player picked up as well,” Cox said.
“We just played the way we wanted to a little bit more.
“We always want to find that perfect kick and sometimes we have to adapt to the conditions a little bit more.
“We got a few goals in the goal-sqaure just from surging the ball forward so that’s something we did better in the last quarter.
“It’s a bonus to have a win but it’s good to show players in other spots and execute it really well.”
The Rays will return to Frankston on Sunday with both the boys and girls programs to take on strong Eastern Ranges outfits.
Hampton Park has bounced back from a disappointing loss to Murrumbeena with a commanding win over Highett.
The Redbacks won each of the four quarters to post a percentage boosting 19.14 128 to 8.11 59 victory.
After an almost day last weekend, big forward Nathan Carver was able to put it together on Saturday and slot five goals.
Jack Wilson, dropped from the Dandenong Stingrays outfit, played with a point to prove as his partnership with Tanner Stanton on the wing becomes a feature of Hampton Park’s best footy.
Trent Thomas, under an injury cloud coming into the clash, kicked three goals as did Declan Brunnell.
At Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve, stalwart Michael Henry played his first game since round one and showed his class, leading Doveton to a 9.4 58 to 5.6 36 victory over Skye.
The Doves’ perennial first quarter issues, however, plagued them again, as they were forced to claw back a deficit.
Five third-quarter goals in a low scoring
clash proved decisive, giving them a 22-point lead at the last break with Skye unable to get a look in a final quarter arm-wrestle.
Keysborough, meanwhile, went down by seven points to East Malvern.
It was a game Keysborough needed to win to clear two games away from bottom-placed
Black Rock and the doorstep of relegation.
After East Malvern kicked three goals to one in the first quarter, there was only five goals more kicked between the teams all day.
The Burra kept East Malvern goalless in the second and third quarters to lead by two points at the final break, before East Malvern
kicked the last two goals of the game.
Meanwhile, in Division One, Springvale Districts got a reality check against 2022 runners up Cheltenham.
The Demons came into the contest with four wins from five games - but those positive results all came against sides sitting below them on the ladder.
Districts’ two matches against formidable opposition have yielded a 46-point loss (Dingley) and a 38 point loss (Cheltenham).
The hosts managed just one goal in the first half before playing with spirit thereafter.
Cranbourne, meanwhile, had its second loss of the season, going down by three points to Port Melbourne on the Colts’ tiny home ground.
The Eagles had the jump early before Port Melbourne got the lead in the second half, skipper Brandon Osborne playing with spirit throughout.
Dingley comfortably accounted for St Kilda City by 77 points.
