Dandenong Star Journal - 4th July 2023

Stalled streetworks ire

Dandy hit-run sentence

Budget backlash

By Sahar Foladi

City of Greater Dandenong’s “modest” 202324 Budget received mixed reactions as it was passed down at a council meeting on Monday 26 June.

Councillor Rhonda Garad called it a “modest budget”, which was supported by majority of the councillors. But Crs Tim Dark and Bob Milkovic opposed the “half-baked” budget.

“I’m embarrassed by the way this has gone out,” Cr Dark said.

“We’re facing massive amount of inflation. Businesses are going out and under and people are losing their jobs.

“When it comes to the council’s budget we have significant operational expenditure. We have not done proper feasibility on the efficiency and dividend on what can be achieved.

“I will not support a budget to say it’ll go fund infrastructure when people are suffering. This Council has gone too far.”

According to the budget papers, Greater Dandenong is set to borrow extensively to fund for major projects.

They will be funded by nearly $75 million in loans and $34 million from reserves over

the next four years for the $22m Keysborough South Community Hub, the $98m Dandenong Wellness Centre (the new Oasis) and the $30m Dandenong Community Hub.

A council budget report declared the projects as important for community wellbeing, as well as stimulating local employment, businesses and suppliers.

Ms Garad also argued that although the Council and councillors empathise with those doing it tough at these times, these are community needs that are being listened to and delivered.

“I think we are all in furious agreement that everybody is hurting. In terms of council, we are facing tough times.

“We still have to deliver services and do the council work. Residents can be rest assured that this is a modest budget,” she said.

“The budget is not a rise as such we’re just keeping pace with the general economy.”

There has been a combined 30 per cent increase on waste fees with the major fees on bin delivery - up by $3.80 - along with minor increases in parking tickets on streets.

Continued page 5

Chisholm awards wrap

Falcons soar high

‘The Phantom’ death remains unsolved, eight years on

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The killer of a “major” drug dealer known as ‘The Phantom’ who was found dead in his burnt-out car in Eumemmerring in 2015 is still unknown, a State Coroner has reported.

Dung Tri Pham’s badly burnt body was found with a large knife in his neck in the Olive Road Reserve car park in Frawley Road early on 27 March 2015.

Police believed he’d died in a drug deal “turned violent”, was fatally stabbed in the neck and his red Commodore set alight.

After a“thorough and extensive” police investigation, no one has been charged over Mr Pham’s demise.The circumstances leading to his death were still unknown, Coroner John Cain stated on 28 June.

“I am satisfied that no investigation which I am empowered to undertake, would be likely to result in the identification of the person or persons who caused Mr Pham’s death.”

Mr Pham, 40, ran a drug trafficking business in the Dandenong region turned over between $40,000 and $60,000 a week, Judge Cain stated.

His criminal history spanned 22 years and several jail terms including for heroin trafficking.

He had spent most of the day before his death at Crown Casino before driving in his red Holden Commodore to his apartment in Frawley Road Eumemmerring.

At 11.18pm, he drove to the reserve and parked behind a small stadium building near netball courts.

CCTV footage showed an unidentified person leaving the area on foot and discarding an item in a stormwater drain.

An unknown vehicle arrived at speed, left five minutes later with the vehicle then seen catching on fire.

According to a police forensic expert, Mr Pham’s car was likely doused inside with petrol and ignited.

Mr Pham’s body was found lying across the back seat.

Heroinmetabolites,methylamphetamine, amphetamine, diazepam, temazepam and oxazepam were found in his system.

Due to a delay in getting CCTV footage, police didn’t conduct a search of the drain until more than a month later.

The discarded item has not been found, nor the person leaving the reserve identified.

At his home, police seized a large amount of cash suspected to be trafficking proceeds. There were no signs of struggle or that Mr Pham was stabbed there.

In their investigations, police established that Mr Pham had recently severed ties

with two drug couriers after cash and drugs were stolen from their Dandenong North home.

Police couldn’t identify who Mr Pham was buying heroin from, Judge Cain stated.

“There was also no evidence or intelligence to suggest a falling out, any bad debts or trouble with a competitor which might have brought about his death.”

A drug runner recalled that hours earlier, Mr Pham sounded drug affected over the phone while telling him: “I’ve f***ed up, I’ve got to do something and then I’ll come and see ya.”

They’d arranged to meet at 10pm that night to balance the daily takings and re-supply the drug runner. But there was no evidence it took place, Judge Cain found.

The drug runner alleged that Mr Pham told him at 8.32pm that “I’m still coming, I’ve just got something to do.”

Mr Pham’s last known conversation was with an associate wishing to buy drugs that night but he didn’t follow through on the deal.

Chaos on Leonard Avenue

By Sahar Foladi

Fenced-in traders are fed up with they say seems to be never-ending streetworks in Noble Park’s Leonard Avenue.

A dozen businesses have been impacted by the ongoing construction works, occupying more than a dozen parking spaces.They say it’s turned into a major issue, deterring customers away.

City of Greater Dandenong Council’s Director of Business and major projects, Paul Kearsley said the works are part of the Leonard Avenue Streetscape Revitalisation Project, funded by the Victorian Government and supported by the Noble Park Revitalisation Board.

“The works have been delayed due to underground service complications and Council has liaised with the contractor to accelerate the program where possible.”

The project will provide increased plantings, seating and renewed lighting and footpaths to enhance the local and visitor experience.

A council appointed contractor, Planned Construction Group, is undertaking the job.

As the fence went up for the project commencement, there were weeks of no to little work, which raised traders concerns as they started losing customers.

Teresa Postregna from Chapel Road Eggs said sales have decreased by more than a half.

“I flicked through the end of the day sale and though, Jeez that’s really bad.

“Council contracted the work out to a company who obviously doesn’t care about how it affects everyone else,” she said.

“They’re still getting their money the contractors get their money. This is where the public gets frustrated because everyone complains about council’s inefficiency.”

With a majority of the parking space occupied due to the works, it makes it even more difficult for elderly residents.

“It’s affected the parking space so much. A lot of these businesses here have a demographic of older clientele,” Ms Postregna said.

“They’re not young teens so for them to carry two to five bottles from the liquor shop or buy two trays of eggs and carry it 100-500 metres wherever they can find a space, it’s too hard for them”

Almost all of the traders say they were never consulted but were given a letter outlining the details of the project a week before the works began.

“They didn’t stop to think about how they could least impact us. I didn’t get any consultation.

“I got a letter sent saying they’ll start works here within a week. We didn’t get time to warn the customers.”

The family business has been running locally since 1962 first in Keysborough, but it had to make move as the area was re-zoned in 2020 just as Covid hit.

“That was tough but we managed to get through it then. But now this construction work which for the past month they’ve done really I think, three half-days of work.”

Traders say the council could’ve done this in a better way without the harsh impacts on all the traders and community.

“Council said they had problems with main pipe but that should not be our problem.

“They should’ve had a contingency. They should’ve planned it better and should’ve taken half of the parking space, in turns,” Ms Postregna said.

Mirjana is also part of the family business and said she receives calls from customers asking her to deliver their grocery to their car, parked on the road due to lack of parking.

“Yesterday i had customer they just parked on the road and the lady asked me to give her eggs quickly because her husband is waiting on the road.”

On Friday, nearby mosque goers use up a majority of the car spaces, making it even tougher on businesses.

“It’s a big problem and we have spoken to the council about this. They need to put a car park over there,” Ms Postregna said.

According to them, opposite of the mosque on Noble Street, there used to be a car park but now it’s fenced off.

“This is where the council should approach whoever owns the land and say can we use this land we’ll pay you for this land so that people had places to park. It will benefit everyone!”

Adrian Bell from Noble Optical said the council had told him they weren’t able to locate the owner of the vacant land, which he finds incredible.

“If they’re charging the owner rates they’ve got to know the owner and how to contact them.

“It would relieve a lot of the pressure,” he said.

The Little Lanka Groceries and Takeaway was forced to shut down their business for two weeks due to customers avoiding the fence right in front of their shop.

Next to that is the Sun Star Bakery, which has been running for 40 years now.

“This has to be the worst the Council has come up with especially after Covid, and with winter and school holidays,” the owner, Ralph Sacco said.

According to him the bakery used to gain most of its trade from 7am to 10am but that’s no longer the case.

“I know they’re improving the area but surely they could’ve come up with a better way. This job could’ve been done maybe half way but blocking the whole section has been enormous.

“It’s not fair what they’ve done.”

Jaspreet Kaur, Pharmacist manager has worked at the Chemist Warehouse for over 10 years and says the works outside has impacted everyone tremendously.

“This is not us. Usually we used to get around 700 customers a day and that has dropped to 400.

“It has impacted us badly so far and we don’t know how long they will be here for but it looks like it’ll be more than what they had told us.”

Chemist Warehouse has had to close its entrance, with the council installing three access ramps between the business’s ‘exit’ and

Buckley Lane car park.

“Customers had to use the exit to enter the pharmacy and it was a long way for them to walk from the other side,” Mr Kaur said.

“Regular customers have presented their frustration while others said they’ll never come back here.”

All of the traders are fearful that these works will only be dragged out longer than the finish date.

Mr Kearsley said the council and contractor are in regular contact with local traders in the area.

“Council has taken steps to ensure that pedestrian access to shops in the precinct remains possible during normal business trading hours.

“Several actions have been taken to try and address concerns raised by local traders, including some adjustments to parking in the area to increase the supply of short term spaces and the installation of variable message signs to inform the public that the shops remain open for business.”

Underground works including conduit laying and electrical pit installation for lighting have been completed with the demolition works.

Currently, work on the concrete has begun.

“We understand the frustration that construction works of this scale cause for local businesses and expect the completed project will be welcomed by all once finalised.

“We thank our local traders for their patience,” Mr Kearsley said.

Completion of works is currently scheduled for mid-August, with the first stage (west side) expected to be completed by mid-July.

Bakery owner of 40 years Ralph Sacco said this is the worst issue that’s affected his business.

344769

Picture: SAHAR FOLADI

Signage were put out by the Council to let the public know businesses are open. 344234

Picture: GARY SISSONS

The entrance/exit to Chemist Warehouse has been blocked. 344234 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Police next to Dung Pham’s burnt car in Olive Road Reserve, Eumemmerring in March 2015. 136842 Picture: ROB CAREW

Hit-run driver gets a CCO

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A hit-run driver who claimed he drove away from a critically injured pedestrian due to fears about ‘African gangs’ has been sentenced.

Joshua Graham Bunker, 35, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to failing to stop and to render assistance after the victim inadvertently walked into a box trailer towed by Bunker on Clow Street, Dandenong.

In sentencing, Judge Amanda Chambers said Bunker was not charged with causing the young man’s “catastrophic” and “life-changing” injuries but ought to have known there was a collision and stopped to help.

He’d heard a “bump” on the side of the trailer but there was no evidence that he’d seen the collision or its aftermath, Judge Chambers noted.

“This is not a case where you demonstrated a callous disregard or indifference to the plight of the victim.”

Bunker’s manner of driving and speed were not factors in the crash.

According to expert evidence, the victim – aged 24 at the time - would have most certainly have died if bystanders in central Dandenong hadn’t come to his aid and called for an ambulance.

Bunker’s Ford Ranger with the box trailer in tow turned left around the corner of Thomas and Clow streets on the afternoon of 4 March 2021.

With a group of friends at the time, the victim stepped behind the Ranger as he crossed the street.Tragically, he didn’t see the following trailer.

He struck the trailer’s front corner with what witnesses called a loud “bang” or “thud” - one described it as like a bomb.

He was thrown to the ground and suffered traumatic brain and spinal injuries.

Rendered a quadriplegic, he undertook sur-

geries and lengthy rehab.

He now lives in a residential care home with “frustration”, “isolation”, “anger” and “continuous pain”.

Witnesses heard Bunker loudly swearing through his open window as he drove away towards Dandenong railway station.

One claimed Bunker said “what the f***”, another that he exclaimed “What a f***ing idiot”.

A by-stander claimed she’d told Bunker to

stop because he’d hit someone, to which he allegedly retorted “f*** off”. But this was rejected by another witness, and so was found to be “unreliable” evidence.

Bunker’s passenger was head-down, counting money after just visiting an ATM.

He said he felt a bump, assuming Bunker had clipped the kerb with the trailer. He heard Bunker swearing but there was no mention of a collision with a victim.

Bunker was arrested after police found his

ute in Hallam that night. He was also charged over an imitation firearm found inside the vehicle - the gun was left by other people, he said.

Judge Chambers rejected Bunker’s claims to police that he had earlier felt intimidated by one member of a “group of Africans” - which included the victim - walking past him in his parked ute in Thomas Street.

He told police he didn’t want to stop with a gang around, looking like they “wanted to beat your head in”.

Judge Chambers said CCTV footage at the scene didn’t corrobate his claims that the group acted in an intimidating manner, or that a member stuck his chest out and walked in the middle of the road or they were interacting with him.

However, she said Bunker’s reaction of swearing and driving off from the scene were “equally consistent” with thinking a person had kicked or hit the trailer.

The judge said she must send a “clear message” that drivers were legally compelled to stop and render assistance to injured victims.

Bunker had a previous conviction for failing to stop after his vehicle crashed into a traffic pole, as well as family violence, speeding, drug-driving and drink-driving offences. His diagnosed ADHD, guilty plea, expressed remorse and history of “sporadic” drug use was also noted.

Judge Chambers rated his rehabilitation prospects as “reasonably good”.

Recently, he moved in with family in Queensland, was working and drug-free, and had not reoffended for the past two years.

Bunker was put on an 18-month supervised community corrections order including 120 hours of unpaid work in Victoria as well as drug and mental health treatment.

Due to his prior failing to stop at an accident offence, he was disqualified from driving in Victoria for eight years.

Joshua Bunker’s Ford Ranger ute and box trailer were found in Hallam on the night of the collision. 230452

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Online sellers hit

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A group of men have crashed their car and attacked a man and a woman during an online marketplace meet-up in Keysborough.

The pair had arranged online to privately sell personal items at a Parkmore shopping centre car park about 9pm on Wednesday 28 June.

Three unknown men arrived, assaulted the pair and took their items, police say.

The victims allegedly followed the men to their car, which then struck one of them at slow speed and crashed into a wall at the shopping centre.

Two of the men then attacked the victims’ car with weapons, according to police.

The victims were said to be not seriously injured.

The three attackers fled on foot and have yet to be located by police.

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

Cat curfew revised

By Sahar Foladi

After strong uproar against the City of Greater Dandenong’s proposed ‘cat curfew‘, councillors voted on a compromise plan.

In a council meeting on Monday 26 June, councillors voted on the revised version of the cat curfew, following public feedback.

Instead of a 24/7 cat curfew, council has voted on a night-time cat curfew over the duration of two years leaving a possibility to increase the curfew to 24/7 if necessary.

However, not all councillors were in favour of this strategy as councillor Tim Dark abstained to vote on the matter.

“I listened to the people who are specialists in their field who emailed and also attended and spoke and as a result I was not willing to support the item or oppose it as both sides have valid points.”

The Cat Strategy introduced in June 2022 seeks to manage the long-term cat population in the municipality and encourage responsible cat ownership.

The initial strict curfew was also driven by the overpopulation of feral cats slaying wildlife with 700 felines impounded each year by the council and only seven per cent reclaimed.

The council was hounded during the public question time at the council meeting.

Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand’s representative from School of Veterinary Science said Dandenong ranks as the worst council for

the rate of impounded cats euthanized.

“Based on data from other Victorian councils, mandated containment increases complaints, increases numbers of cats impounded and killed, and costs and exposures to mental health damage of staff at the Lost Dogs Homes.”

Greater Dandenong’s Director City Planning, Design and Amenity, Jody Bosman replied saying “the curfew is only part of the cat management strategy”.

“I agree the cat curfew in itself will not solve the cat wandering issue, which is why it’s only part of something broader.”

The revised proposal follows 356 recent public submissions, with 57 per cent in favour of a cat curfew in Greater Dandenong out of which 46 per cent approved of a 24-7 prohibition.

As previously reported by Star Journal, submitters in favour of the proposal said wandering cats were killing wildlife and leaving mess behind.

“I believe cats are beautiful animals but must be kept away from all wildlife,” a submitter who keeps their felines in a cat enclosure.

The Keysborough Australian Animal Protection Society’s shelter euthanized 10 out of 500 stray cats last year.

Veterinary nurse at Greencross Vets Springvale, Lisa Bryant said the curfew improves animal welfare as well as protects native wildlife and the safety of cats.

“Responsible pet owners can reduce the number of cats euthanized every year by ensuring their pets are desexed, ensure their pets are and micro chipped so if they do go missing, they can be returned to their owners.”

Victoria holds the second highest number of euthanized cats with 1,549 while NSW takes the lead on 2,113 and QLD on 1,493, according to RSPCA Australia National Statistics 20212022.

Mr Bosman said the Cat management Strategy is designed to bring down the euthanasia rates.

“It’s designed to also increase re-homing of cats, foster care and take semi owned cats to fully owned cats.

“Overall one should see a decrease in the absolute number and percentage of cats that get euthanized. Whether that is immediateunlikely.”

An RSPCA 2018 report was in favour of 24hour containment, rather than night-time curfews.

Although enforcement would be difficult more data would be needed to determine the impact of confined cats and the risks with cat trapping.

It recommended mandatory desexing and identification as well as community education programs.

Mr Bosmand said the Council will continue to seek state government funds to subsidise the de-sexing program.

Pair arrested after alleged car-jackings

Two males have been arrested after a series of carjackings across the south- eastern suburbs on 22 June.

Police say the pair were involved in carjackings in Patterson Lakes, Parkdale, Springvale South and Richmond.

Police arrested a 15-year-old Noble Park boy in Clayton on Monday 26 June.

He has been charged with multiple offences including aggravated carjacking, aggravated home invasion and driving offences.

He has been remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 27 June a 24-year-old Noble Park man was arrested in Noble Park.

He is currently being interviewed by police.

In a council meeting on Monday 26 June, councillors voted on the revised version of the cat curfew, following public feedback.

Rate worries grow

By Sahar Foladi

The rise in interest rates by the Reserve Bank will impact every aspect of the society but will drag down communities and individuals who are already doing it tough.

After a recent 0.25 per cent rise, the RBA’s 4.1 per cent official interest rate is a level not seen since 2012 amid inflation concerns.

Teresa Postregna runs her family business, ‘Chapel Road Eggs’, which was established in 1962 in Keysborough and is now in Noble Park.

“When interest rates go up you can see a steady decline in sales. People are just conscious of their spending now.

“Things that they can go without like a jam for example, they won’t buy it.You can see they just get what they need with eggs and poultry.”

Even with the eggs, people search for the cheapest eggs as prices have gone up on the market.

“Flicking through every day and looking at end of the day totals i was thinking, Jeez this is bad, the sales have almost halved,” Ms Postregna said.

As rent prices increase for them, just like many other businesses, traders are finding themselves crushed by staggering basic expenses and the interest rate hike.

“It’s just going up and up. It’s hard.”

Recently, at a council meeting, councillors Tim Dark and Bob Milkovic opposed Greater Dandenong Council’s 2023-24 Budget and Long Term Financial Plan.

They argued that Council is not spending where it’s most needed.

“We’re facing massive amount of inflation. Businesses are going out and under and people are losing their jobs,” Cr Dark said.

“Interest rates are skyrocketing. The fact is people are struggling as hard as they possibly can.

“I will not support a budget to say it’ll go fund infrastructure when people are suffering. This Council has gone too far.”

The hike may hit some municipalities harder than others, such as Greater Dandenong with the state’s highest homelessness rate, up 22 per cent in five years.

With the increase in cost of living, rent, fuel prices and bills, organisations such as the Orange Sky will be in demand for their services during these tough times.

Co-founder and chief executive officer, Lucas Patchett said they’ve seen the impact of the cost of living increase and now the interest rate hike.

“Orange Sky services have never been busier, as many people who thought they would never be in a position of needing our service, are coming to us for help.

“Some people have shared with us that

Budget is passed with backlash

From page 1

While Greater Dandenong’s proposed $58.3 million capital works program is dominated by big infrastructure plans, spending on roads, footpaths and drainage infrastructure gets a major cut.

“I was there in Springvale central on Saturday to see that they’re suffering,” Cr Dark said.

“They’re struggling with the way things are going.We have not done proper feasibility on what can be achieved.”

right now every dollar counts. If they can save money on going to a Laundromat or being able to reduce their electricity and water bills by accessing our service, that it can mean the world of difference to them.”

Orange Sky provides a regular mobile laundry and shower service all over the Australia to those experiencing homelessness.

Mr Patchett said the cost of living pressure is impacting everyone differently and that’s not those experiencing homelessness, but also friends and volunteers.

“Some volunteers have had to reduce their volunteer commitments with us due to having to work more hours or pick up second jobs to combat the rise in cost of living, and we have also found that some donors have had to pull back their regular support of Orange Sky.”

Sue Delwaney, a retired nurse and volunteer at Orange Sky had dedicated seven years of her life to help people in the community.

“We provide the service at Doveton where Manna4Life (charity) does meals every week.

“Its basic needs, food and clean clothes make an incredible difference. Some people are living in their car and getting to work. It’s very difficult and I see it increasing.”

Every week the organisation provides more than 1,600 loads of laundry, 1,600 hours of human conversations and 130 hot showers across the country, an increase of almost a quarter (21%) over the last 12 months.

“It’s not only to provide that service but also to have a conversation, someone may not have had a conversation in a week. It’s about engaging with a friend.

“It’s about reconnecting them with another basic need, communication with another hu-

man being,” Ms Delwaney said.

According to Ms Delwaney, some of those people search out multiple organisations to meet their different basic needs.

“A lot of factors contribute to their situation some just lose their job, some are unable to work for different reasons, unable to pay their rent and the fact that they’re unable to find suitable employment,” Ms Delwaney said.

Other Greater Dandenong organisations Cornerstone, South-East Community Links and WAYSS have all reported an increase in demand.

Cornerstone chief executive Naomi Paterson says a rising number of up to 500 people were desperately seeking food parcels, fresh fruit and veg, clothes and other emergency relief.

“A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet.”

About 70 were visiting the centre for hot meals.

The recent monthly consumer price index from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed prices rose 6.8 per cent over the year to April.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said the rate hike is to provide confidence that inflation will return to its target within a reasonable timeframe.

“High inflation makes life difficult for people and damages the functioning of the economy. It erodes the value of savings, hurts family budgets, makes it harder for businesses to plan and invest, and worsens income inequality.

“Recent data indicate that the upside risks to the inflation outlook have increased and the Board have responded to this.”

Townhouse go-ahead in garden streetscape

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The state’s planning tribunal has over-ruled Greater Dandenong Council’s rejection of a six-townhouse development in a “changing” Dandenong neighbourhood.

On appeal, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved the two and threebedroom dwellings at 40 Power Street. They will replace a double-storey home formerly rimmed with large conifer trees on a spacious 1261-metre site.

The council had argued that the plan didn’t suit the neighbourhood character, which is rich with older homes and large front gardens.

It took particular aim at two “uncharacteristic” reverse-living dwellings – with “poor” private open space provided by 1.7-metrehigh screened balconies.

The proposal did not comply with internal amenity and street setback requirements, Greater Dandenong submitted.

However, VCAT member Peter Gaschk said on 9 June that these “variations” were “modest”.

The site was in an Incremental Change Area that allows “well designed” medium-density infill development that respected neighbourhood character.

The “varied and mixed” streetscape included older housing stock and predominantly

open front gardens, low fencing, “scattered” vegetation and mature trees.

But this was “continuing to change” with emerging contemporary-styled medium-density developments, Mr Gaschk said.

“Ongoing urban renewal of older, detached housing stock is also evident”.

The nearby St John’s Regional College also made a prominent impact on the area’s appearance, he found.

Mr Gaschk said the reverse-living home balcony screenings of slatted timber and opaque glass were “appropriate” for outlook

and security. The residents also had access to ground-level private open space, he noted.

The dwellings’ street setback would be less than the 7.5-metre minimum. But the site could fit “meaningful” canopy tree plantings at the front, side and rear.

In 2021, Greater Dandenong’s rejection of 11 townhouses on the next door corner block at 36-38 Power Street had also set aside byVCAT.

Seven of those townhouses were to be reverse living. Construction hadn’t yet started with a ‘For Sale’ sign on the site, Mr Gaschk said.

Mr Dark also mentioned the dire condition of Regent Avenue in Springvale where the footpath is “literally in pieces,” and requested for the appropriate councillor to take a look into it as a matter of urgency.

“I’ve had a couple of complaints regarding that area.

“The footpath is crumbling, it’s quite literally in pieces. There’s no solid panel there. If someone was to go over that in a wheelchair it’ll be rocky and would barely be able to make it to the other side,” he said.

Councillor Bob Milkovic shared the same views on the budget as Mr Dark as he rose to oppose the budget at the meeting.

“I cannot agree with Councillor Dark any more than I have.

“To sit here week after week to listen to my fellow councillors say how we need to support the residents with post Covid recovery, the cost of living, the rising cost of fuel, water bills, electricity bills, rates and then to say that the budget delivered is balanced. Well it is, but at what cost?”

Councillor Sean O’Reilly questioned both councillors over their “general details.”

“Unfortunately councillors that have opposed the budget haven’t provided a detail on what should change.

“I would invite those that are opposing to come up with actual ideas on new community facilities, which one they would cut, which services would they cut because that’s the decision we have to take,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we have to balance our books so I hope to see that forth coming from these councillors in due course otherwise it’s a whole lot of platitudes and will not affect this budget in any way.”

Greater Dandenong Council expects its debts will reach a height of $104 million in 2027 but remain “within prudential limits”, according to a budget report.

As of June 2022, the council was the second most indebted of Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne, owing about $60 million.

Residents will pay a 1.85 per cent median increase in rates - well short of the State Government’s 3.5 per cent cap on rate rises.

Including the waste charge, the median household rates bill will rise from $1459 to $1504 – up $45 or 3.11%.

Orange Sky co-founder Lucas Patchett, front, says its free mobile laundry has never been busier.

Picture: REBECCA HOSKING

The former dwelling at 40 Power Street, Dandenong - where VCAT approved six double-storey townhouses.

Dandy South link complete

The Pound Road West Upgrade in Dandenong South has been completed months ahead of schedule.

The new bridge across the Cranbourne railway line removes the previous dead-ends and connects Pound Road West and Remington Drive.

The project also adds an extra lane each way between Abbotts Road and South Gippsland Highway, and 3.1 kilometres of shared walking and cycling paths.

Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) and construction firm Seymour Whyte completed the project in less than two years. It had been expected to open in late 2023.

The end was celebrated with a community event at Pound Road West, which included a drive over the new bridge by a convoy of locally owned trucks and buses.

There was also a free lunch at Five Star Cafe for local businesses.

Major Road Projects Victoria program director Marc Peterson said it was a vital “second link” between Abbotts Road and South Gippsland Highway.

“We’ve completed the Pound Road West Upgrade ahead of schedule, delivering a critical new transport link that has significantly improved connections in Dandenong South.

“We thank locals for their patience during

construction of this essential upgrade.”

By 2031, more than 40,000 vehicles per day are expected to use the link.

During the project’s 400,000 working hours, more than 30,000 hours were worked by apprentices, trainees and cadets as well as more than 18,000 Aboriginal employment hours.

Female students from local secondary schools also attended Behind the Barriers events to gain awareness about construction job opportunities.

The project team recycled nearly 500 items of used work clothing and PPE, preventing the creation of almost 300 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Women from this area leading the way in construction

Greater Dandenong women are leading the way in one of our area’s leading industries.

Constructionarium Australia’s second Victorian All-Female Big Build Program has proved a resounding success, with 20 emerging construction and infrastructure professionals demonstrating they have the skills to help shape our state’s infrastructure for decades to come.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural all-female build, and in the lead up to International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, the 2023 Victorian All-Female Build Program was held at MRPV’s Hallam site from 31 May to 9 June.

This year’s all-female group consisted of construction professionals working across all disciplines at Major Road Projects Victoria, Level Crossing Removal Project, Rail Projects Victoria, McConnell Dowell and Arcadis, with many of them just starting out in their construction careers.

Major Road Projects Victoria Program Director Marc Peterson said it gives women in the Dandenong region a head start into their construction careers.

“We were excited to partner with Constructionarium Australia to give these future leaders of the construction industry unique hands-on training that will help them advance their careers,” he said.

Under the guidance of leading infrastructure experts, the group underwent a unique

hands-on training program across eight days, during which they were tasked with the pricing, scheduling, construction and handover of a Big Build Bridge under simulated realworld operational, budgetary, site and environmental conditions.

And they proved they were up to this big challenge, successfully delivering a scaleddown replica of a steel cantilever bridge, measuring 25m in length and 3.7m in height, and weighing five tonnes.

Mr. Peterson said all of the participants should be proud of their efforts.

“Over the eight-day program they successfully worked together to plan and deliver a replica steel cantilever bridge,” he said.

Constructionarium Australia’s intensive training program provides participants with

accelerated learning about a project cycle that would otherwise take two years for graduates to experience – they develop the skills they need to manage a build from start to finish, while learning to identify risks and develop strategies to achieve the desired finished product.

Major Road Projects Victoria Surveillance

Cadet Courtney Neil said it was a good opportunity to see a different side to construction, as it’s not everyday you get to build a bridge and learn from industry professionals like this.

“I think the experience can help with your everyday job and make you more confident in your skills and ability to work on big projects. I would recommend the program 100 per cent to anyone who has the opportunity to do it,” she said.

This year’s program was delivered by Constructionarium Australia in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria, McConnell Dowell, Rail Projects Victoria, Level Crossing Removal Project and Arcadis.

Constructionarium Australia Board Member Tanya Barmby said these programs help to increase female participation in construction and infrastructure, while highlighting the diversity of roles and opportunities available.

“Each program provides participants with an accelerated learning opportunity as they experience the challenges associated with major project delivery and gain a wideranging understanding of the roles, responsibilities and relationships needed to deliver a successful infrastructure project,” she said.

Constructionarium Australia’s All-Female Build supports the Building Gender Equality: Victoria’s Women in Construction Strategy 2019-2022¸which sets out the Victorian Government’s commitment to achieving a greater representation of women in construction.

Creative fun as bored kids can eye-spy at library

The mid-year school holidays is kicking off with a creative twist at Doveton Library, as part of Connected Libraries’ school holiday events.

Doveton Library are hosting a Things That Go Eye Spy Room, which involves visitors having to go on a treasure hunt to find all the items before the time runs out.

Artist Lou Endicott is also visiting throughout the school holidays to show off her window art skills.

Connected Libraries chief executive Beth Luppino said there are a range of events and special attractions planned for this holiday period. “Connected Libraries run free school holiday events and regular events through the school term, including STEAM, Lego Club, Storytimes, Code Club and more,” she said.

“Drop in and say hello, membership is free and kids get a special Sid the Sloth membership card when they join.

“We would love to see all Casey kids signed up as members and play a role in igniting their imagination.”

Other events include drama games, building Lego marble mazes, Woody’s Bush Cabaret and building clothes for fairies.

Events are scheduled across the Bunjil Place, Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Endeavour Hills and Doveton libraries.

Star News photographer Stewart Chambers visited Doveton Library on Monday 26 June to snap some of the library’s curious visitors during the start of the school holidays.

For more information on Connected Libraries, school holiday events, visit connectedlibraries.org.au.

Danica, 6. 343202

A convoy tours the completed Pound Road West Upgrade in Dandenong South. Picture: SUPPLIED

Trading words with fighter

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A cheeky headline jibe led to a memorable first encounter with the iron-will of former Hotham MP, the late Simon Crean.

Back in 2005, his political career was seemingly on the slide. Hounded out as Opposition Leader, and now demoted from shadow treasurer to the opposition trade portfolio.

“Crean gets traded in,” trumpeted the Monash Journal. Together with an inglorious photo of him doing a walk of shame past the word ‘GOING’ on a background sign.

Not long after the story rolled off the press, Crean’s media man was on the phone. The reporter was soon booked in for a one-on-one with the local Labor MP and former union boss.

In his office on Clayton Road next week, the jacket was off.

Maybe he knew the vultures were circling his seat. Talk was circulating of a preselection challenge from then-NUW state secretary and later State MP and Attorney General Martin Pakula.

And indeed over the next six months, Crean had to fight for his seat and his political life.

In the sit-down interview, he described himself as a “fighter” who stood up to “factional warlords”.

He was certain that his determination to stop branch-stacking led to the undermining of his leadership.

“Of course it did.

“What it did was threaten the power bases of factional warlords – they didn’t like it.

“You’ve got to be courageous and take the battle up and not roll over to them.”

And with the word “courageous”, he leaned forward and shook a clenched fist.

A picture of Gough looming over his left shoulder, Crean expressed disappointment of being dumped from the leadership group

for “new blood”.

“New blood is important but there has to be the fusion with those who’ve had the under-

Quake gives us real shake

By Tanya Faulkner

Several Victorians were rudely awakened in the early hours of Friday 30 June by one of the biggest earthquakes in recent months.

Thousands of people have reported feeling the quake that struck Rawson, approximately 11 kilometres northeast of Woods Point, approximately 126 kilometres eastnortheast of Melbourne

Geoscience Australia reports the earthquake struck at 1.32am and they have been notified by more than 7,000 people that they had felt the quake.

According to the ‘Felt it’ scatter map, the tremor was felt widely across central and eastern Victoria including metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong and to the Vic-NSW border.

Many of those who felt the quake took to

Facebook in the early hours of this morning to share their experience, with some reports of furniture toppling over, shaking plates, even beds‘jumping’ during the earthquake.

This is the second earthquake to hit the region in the last month following a 3.8-magnitude earthquake in Melbourne’s north-west in late May.

More than 22,000 people reported feeling that tremor, which struck just before midday on a Sunday.

The Seismology Research Centre says this mornings’ earthquake is the largest recorded in the state since a major quake in September 2021, occurring at a depth of seven kilometres, according to GeoScience Australia.

Over 1500 earthquakes have now been recorded in the area since the September 2021 earthquake.

standing as to what worked, what didn’t, why it did and why it didn’t.”

In the whirlwind months ahead, Pakula was

hot favourite to depose Crean in the name of ‘generational change’.

But Crean remained defiant, correctly predicting his strong “rank and file” support would deter Labor’s central panel from voting him out.

In local ballots, a decisive 70 per cent of Hotham branch members supported Crean. And so, Pakula withdrew. In a gracious euology, Pakula recently wrote “I was silly enough to fight him once. He taught me a lesson.

“But our love for the (National Union of Workers) and what it meant to the Labor Party transcended that fight and we mended things. Respect.”

A charged-up Crean said it was a “win for the good guys”. He called it a “massive rebuff” to a legion of state MPs Tim Holding, Janice Munt, Ann Barker and Hong Lim who had backed Pakula.

From 2007, Crean served as a Minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments before signing off ahead of the 2013 election.

A distinguished 23 years in Parliament and member of four Prime Ministers’ Cabinets, Crean died suddenly on a work trip in Europe on 25 June.

When hands were shook at end of the interview in 2005, Crean fixed a cold stare and suggested a new headline.

“Not traded in but a new model.”

A seismic recording of the 4.7-magnitude earthquake on 30 June 2023. Picture:

Simon Crean declaring in the Monash Journal that he would fight his party’s ‘factional warlords’ in 2005.

‘Crean gets traded in’ prompted a defiant interview with then-Hotham MP Simon Crean.

100 years ago

5 July 1923

District News

Hampton Park

Cr Kerr presented a gun (a war trophy) to the Hampton Park School on Friday last. In asking to accept it on behalf of the school, Cr Kerr said it was through the gallant deeds of those who took part in the Great War that they enjoyed the freedom they had today. Some people had said that they would not take part in the war till the enemy came to Australia. They did not realise that it would then be too late. The people should always remember that it was their duty to do all they could for the returned men. They had done their duty nobly and well in foreign lands, and those who came back and needed attention should be well looked after. He trusted that the children would always remember what it cost those brave men, who were responsible for the victory of freedom, and that the gun would serve to remind them of their duty to their country.

50 years ago

3 July 1973

House of the week

Today’s house of the week is a three bed-

roomed brick veneer house situated in Springvale. The house has built in robes in each bedroom and its main feature is a large L shaped lounge. It also has a large combined kitchen- family and sliding doors taking you out to the gardens. The shower room is separate from the bathroom and is fully tiled. The floors are polished and the house is complete with quality drapes, blinds and light fit-

tings. The house is on a corner position and is within easy reach of shops, school public transport. It has a septic sewerage system. The full price is $23,000.

20years ago

7 July 2003

Road works put an end to black spots

Dandenong black spots across Greater Dandenong Council run roads are almost a thing

of the past, says a council officer. Civil transport and infrastructure planning team leader Clancy Philippe said the number of intersections notorious for accidents had been significantly reduced across the municipality over the past five years. “We are getting very close to eliminating black spots altogether.“ Dandenong doesn’t appear to be as bad as it was. “Where accidents have been a problem, we are pushing to get funding for these places.”

5 years ago

2 July 2018

The hole truth on donuts

A humble family favourite is celebrating 50 years – but it almost never existed. Dandee Donuts owner Susan Bell said her parents started the business back in the late 1960’s. “It’s all just hearsay, but I believe my mother and stepfather had a donut business. Dad then decided to build his own hamburger van. Everybody got upset because they thought he was building a donut van. The story goes that he thought he might as well follow through on the rumours and Dandee Donuts was born. There are not too many businesses that have been around this long,” Susan said.

INTERFAITH Buddhist path to peace

By Venerable Bodhicitta of the International Centre for Inner Peace & Happiness

We live in a very complex world today and most of us have our own mental struggles because we are pushed beyond our capacities to meet the expectations imposed on us by our families, ca reers, and various other aspects of life.

Mental struggle is not limited to any particular group or class but these struggles transcend the societal hierarchies.

The burdens of addiction, depression and other mental health issues permeate all levels of society and this shows us that mental health issues today are a shared human experience.

What lies beneath this surface is our discontentment.

Recognising the truth behind this suffering is central to Buddhism.

At the secular level, Buddhism can provide valuable guidance towards freedom from our everyday suffering through understanding the nature of our discontentment and feeling to start happy with what we have.

MESSAGE OF HOPE

Therefore, everyday suffering is not difficult to overcome with a bit of mindful effort from an empowered individual mind.

Empowering your mind includes a reflective understanding that dissatisfaction arises from our desires and attachments.

Our desires and attachments lead to clinging, which in turn creates suffering when things inevitably change or we are unable to fulfill our desires.

Understanding these origins of suffering helps us address the underlying causes and reduce their impact on our lives.

The Buddha encouraged us to develop and

gradually perfect ten qualities which are essential to leading a peaceful life through achieving contentment:

1. Developing generosity and giving up miserliness.

2. Developing morality and giving up immorality.

No ‘contrition’ for second back-pay breach

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A former car-repair franchisee in Keysborough has been penalised a second time over failing to back-pay an underpaid worker.

C & G Smith Enterprises Pty Ltd, which formerly operated a Rapid Tune outlet in Keysborough, showed a “blatant disregard for workplace laws” without a “hint of contrition, corrective action or cooperation”, Federal Circuit and Family Court judge Jonathan Forbes said.

The business had failed to comply with a Fair Work compliance notice requiring it to calculate and back-pay entitlements to a young apprentice mechanic employed in 2020-’21.

A Fair Work inspector served the notice believing the company had underpaid the 23-year-old worker’s minimum wages, overtime rates and annual leave entitlements.

C & G Smith was fined $19,980 and ordered to back-pay the worker in full, plus interest and superannuation.

Last year, the court penalised C & G Smith $22,200 for failing to comply with a compliance notice to back-pay a motor mechanic.

The Fair Work Ombudsman had “every reason to be totally exasperated at the respondent’s failure to engage and its belligerent ‘head in the sand’ response to the statutory compliance scheme,” Judge Forbes said.

“There was no acknowledgement of the Compliance Notice, let alone compliance with it.

“The respondent did not cooperate with the investigation, nor has it engaged in these proceedings despite being given every opportunity to do so.”

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said business operators that fail to act on compliance notices face penalties in court on top of having to back-pay workers.

“When compliance notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements,” Ms Parker said.

“Employers also need to be aware that taking action to protect vulnerable workers, like young workers, continues to be a priority for the FWO.

“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact the FWO for free assistance.”

3. Developing renunciation of greed.

4. Developing wisdom.

5. Developing effort to give up evil and cultivate goodness.

6. Developing patience.

7. Developing honesty and giving up dishonesty.

8. Developing determination to be good in the face of adversity.

9. Developing loving kindness to all beings impartially and giving up hatred and violence.

10. Developing equanimity in the midst of the vicissitudes of life.

As long as we uphold goodness, and we believe in the fact that only goodness will bring the best solutions to our problems, then we can have hope that we will find peace within ourselves, society and the world at large.

For enquiries on the City of Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network, executive@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.

MP pay-rise ‘inexcusable’

I am writing this to register my dismay and disgust at the announcement of another ‘‘pay rise’’ for our impoverished state politicians.

It would be nice if they lived on the same planet as the rest of us.

Especially given the current circumstances, that is the housing shortage and lack of rental properties, ever-rising interest rates, the cost increases in food, gas, water and electricity, under-employment and its friend, income insecurity.

The result of the above, as being seen in people from all backgrounds having to seek help, food, clothing and money, etc.

For many, this is their first shattering experience of this circumstance. Some will become homeless, sleeping in their cars if they still have one.

By any method of reasoning, the above mentioned ‘‘pay rise’’ is an inexcusable, insensitive, arrogant decision.

Worse than that it is wrong or just plain bloody immoral.

Shame on all of them - Labor, Liberal, Greens, Nationals.

Again, shame on all of you.

Geoff Cain, Endeavour Hills

Venerable Bodhicitta from International Centre for Inner Peace and Happiness, Dandenong.

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Susan Bell marks 50 years of the iconic business Dandee Donuts in 2018.

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Across our communities, we’ve designed, installed and delivered a range of resort style amenities and surrounds for our homeowners to call their own.

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Angry residents rally against council meeting times

By Emily Chapman Laing

Narre Warren local Stephen Matulec is rallying the community to pressure Casey council to amend their meeting times.

The monthly meetings are currently held onTuesdays at 4pm, and Mr Matulec has started both a paper and e-petition to present to the council administrators in favour of changing this to 7pm.

“A lot of people are upset because they want to attend meetings but can’t because of the start time,“ Mr Matuelc said.

“Being a ratepayer I’d like to attend, but unfortunately I have to work at that time,“ local Cheryse Schembri said.

Casey Locals Wayne Delaney and Tony Jones said being “public servants“, the administrators should be providing council meetings with the highest availability to their constituents.

“It should be 7:30 pm so all can attend, they work for us not themselves,“ Mr Jones said.

“They work and are paid by us,“ Mr Delaney said.

Sotiria Stratis said 4pm is a “ridiculous time“ for the council meetings.

Casey local Elizabeth Kirkwood said the council plan their meetings to suit their “work days, time [and] staff availability“.

“Unfortunately regardless of what time or day it is there will always be someone who isn’t happy cause it doesn’t fit into their schedule,“ she said.

Emma Materne said she doesn’t see any benefit or difference to changing the time.

“You need to pre-submit your questions before the meeting anyway and in my disappointing experience, the entire question I put forward was reworded and summarised in a way that it was turned it into something totally different and pointless,“ she said.

“Which ironically proved my point- [the administrators] aren’t accountable for anything.

“And 4pm just shows the community they aren’t inclusive of all- parents would not be able to attend for one, and if you were able to finish work earlier, you would still likely be stuck in endless traffic trying to get back into the area at that time anyway.“

Tania Sacco said she feels like Casey residents are the “losers“, being robbed of their “representation“ and “support“.

“Three administrators are being paid more than all the councillors put together,“ she said.

“They halved the meetings, and changed the time to one that worked within their working hours, rather than staying at a time where the general public could attend.

“Surely once a fortnight, time in lieu and a little common sense could have prevailed.“

Local resident Paul Mathew offered a solution, suggesting the council “change the day and time frequently, so to give the rate payers the opportunity to plan around it, so they can attend if they wish“.

South East Metropolitan MP David Limbrick, under whom Mr Matulec works, raised the issue of the council meeting time in a State Parliament meeting on 4 May.

City of Casey Head of Governance, Integrity and Legal Support, Michelle Tipton says the council’s governance rules prevent the administrators from changing the meeting time until 2024.

However, Mr Matulec explained “The Local Government Act 2020 allows for Councils to adopt its own local governance rules“.

“Currently under Casey’s local governance rules, the meeting time cannot be reviewed until December,“ he said.

“But The Local Government Act 2020 60(3) says ’A Council may amend its governance rules.’.“

Mr Matulec said the council has the power the amend these governance rules at any time.

“Since the administrators have the power to change the rules, we want them to amend them as soon as possible to consider a better meeting time,“ he said.

While Mr Matulec is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he said the petition was something he decided to pursue for the community independently.

“I believe this petition should be above politics, because if people are being excluded, then we can’t even discuss politics or express our opinions,“ he said.

“Every other council in the area have their meetings at 7pm, so I don’t know why Casey can’t do the same.

“Is it because they want to knock-off at five o’clock or because they don’t want public attendance to criticise them?“

Cardinia Shire Council, City of Monash, City of Greater Dandenong, City of Frankston, City of Kingston and City of Knox each hold their monthly council meetings at 7pm.

Mr Matulec is hoping to be out and about in Casey gathering signatures for the petition.

“Check my socials for updates,“ he said.

The link to the e-petition can be found at https://chng.it/ZTqRLdLD

Breaking through barriers

By Matthew Sims

Afghan refugee and Hallam resident Zahra Karimi has found her calling in cyber security and is encouraging other females to move into the traditionally male-dominated industry.

The Hallam resident was among the winners at the ninth annual Chisholm Education Awards on Wednesday 21 June, taking home the Vocational Student of the Year award.

Arriving in Australia a month before the Taliban regained control of Afgahnistan, Ms Karimi said after completing her Bachelor of Software Engineering through a scholarship in Kyrgyzstan, she wanted to to move into cyber security, which is one of the fastest growing areas of Information Technology.

“Cyber security is the future,” she said.

“Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation are taking over the world by speed.

“Being safe and having control over cyber life, which is the future, one must know cyber security.”

Enrolling in Chisholm’s Certificate IV in Cyber Security and covering everything from network security fundamentals and incident response plans to ethics and privacy in an IT setting, Ms Karimi said she found the Chisholm community to be welcoming and she made friends easily.

“Whenever I needed any help regarding my academic issues, the teachers never hesitated to help me,” she said.

“Chisholm provided me with opportunities, not only in my field of study, but also as a newcomer to Australia.

“It helped me find a community to interact with.”

One of only two girls in her group, Ms Karimi was also part of Chisholm’s Student Ambassador Program, which helped her improve her communication skills and network with people from different backgrounds.

She has since started work in a migration agency.

Ms Karimi said she was already putting what she has learned to good use.

“I remind my colleagues at work or my circle of friends and family to be more cautious of their data security,” she said.

“I also let them know how to better manage their data protection.”

Ms Karimi said cyber security was set to grow rapidly in the future and encouraged other young women with an interest in science and technology to not be afraid to branch into

a traditionally male-dominated field.

“I’d recommend women and girls get into cyber security,” she said.

“I’d say my biggest achievement is being a woman in this field.

“I found the courage to be myself and have the power to do things that people normally think I’m not able to.”

Proud Wiradjuri/Ngunnawal woman and Cranbourne resident Sarah Thorne won the award for Koorie Student of the Year, following a whirlwind journey of recovery from addiction and mental illness and reconnecting with her First Nations culture.

She is a proud LGBTIQA+ queer ally and a passionate activist for pride rights, especially for Rainbow Mob.

After high school, she completed a Diploma of Visual Arts with Chisholm.

After working in graphic design and marketing for a while, in addition to doing retail work, Ms Thorne eventually decided to have a career change and enrolled in Chisholm’s Bachelor of

Picture:SUPPLIED

Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), followed by the Graduate Certificate in Family Violence.

“I’ve lived a very colourful life, with lived experience of mental health and AOD specifically,” she said.

“That’s probably what led me to choose the course.”

Ms Thorne did a placement at Salvation Army START Community, an AOD day program and later got a job at headspace Dandenong as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island youth access worker.

After just six months, she was offered a position with headspace as the national project manager of outreach and relationships.

Ms Thorne’s most recent posts included spending 14 hours and three flights getting to the tiny town of Kununurra in Western Australia to work with the local First Nations young people and heading to Mutitjulu at the foothills of Uluru to help open a new service provision for First Nations people.

“If you’d told me that five years ago, I would have laughed at you,” she said.

“There was a point in my life where I was in a pretty bad way.

“I was in a really dark place.”

Ms Thorne said her work was both exciting and rewarding.

“It’s pretty incredible what I get to do,” she said.

“I work with the headspace centre network, which has over 156 centres across the country, and support them with their First Nations community connections.

“I love it, I get to see some of the most incredible places, which I would never have seen any other way.”

Ms Thorne said the support of Chisholm was invaluable along her journey.

“The knowledge and the lived experience that the teachers had in the sector was just incredible,” she said.

“That was one of the greatest opportunities I had, was to learn under people who have done some pretty cool things in the sector.

“I was really inspired by that.”

Ms Thorne said her recovery inspired her to reconnect with her culture.

“As an Aboriginal woman, I wasn’t that connected in my younger life to my culture,” she said.

“I decided I wanted to be able to help other people in the same position as me.”

Ms Thorne said she was lucky to be able to help others and she “couldn’t be happier”.

“It’s been hard work and it’s taken having a really supportive network,” she said.

“I have a family who never let me go and never backed down on sticking by me.

“I get up every day and I’m so excited to go to work.”

Chisholm Institute chief executive Stephen Varty said every nominee should be“extremely proud” of their achievements.

“I congratulate all finalists and winners from the Chisholm Education Awards,” he said.

“With over 36,000 students enrolled across over 300 courses, the nominations process was very competitive, and the winners were exceptional examples of what makes Chisholm one of Australia’s leading TAFE providers.

“Thank you to all of our partners and everyone involved in organising the 2023 Chisholm Education Awards, it was such a fantastic event and congratulations once again to all of the inspirational winners and everyone who has supported them along the journey.”

StephenMatulec. 342333

Picture:EMILYCHAPMANLAING

CranbourneresidentSarahThorne(thirdfromleft)receivedtheKoorieStudentoftheYearaward andHallamresidentZahraKarimitookhometheVocationalStudentoftheYearawardatthe 2023ChisholmEducationAwardslastweek.

Casey, sadly, passes on rise

By Matthew Sims

Casey Council has adopted its budget for the 2023-24 financial year, which has passed on the State Government’s 3.5 per cent rate cap.

During the council’s meeting on Tuesday 20 June, administrators also adopted its Council Plan 2021-25 Year 3 Review and Annual Action Plan 2023/24 documents.

The budget outlined an underlying operating deficit of $14.48 million with a total expenditure of $466.4 million and a revenue of $583.7 million.

Administrator and acting chair Cameron Boardman said the budget aimed to deliver stronger connections and places, platforms for community engagement and ensure the council was future-ready.

“We need to adopt flexibility and nimbleness,“ he said.

Mr Boardman said the council took “no great pride“ in passing on the maximum rate rise.

“We are operating in an inflationary environment nationally,“ he said.

“It is something that unfortunately, we have no option but to pass on.

“There are many people within the community that are undergoing significant financial hardship.

“It is a difficult decision to make.“

The budget outlined $238.3 million would be raised through general rates, with $54.5 million expected to be raised from the Waste Service Charge, together with $1.6 million expected supplementary waste charges expected to occur during the 2023/24 financial year.

The 2023/24 capital works program proposes the investment of $74.82 million to see completion of the previous financial year’s projects, including $16.65 million for new assets, $31.58 million of renewal works, $25.08 million of upgrades to existing facilities and

$1.51 million to expand existing assets.

This will deliver $20.56 million in roads works, $3.41 million in footpaths and cycleways, $4.85 million in drainage works, $19.37 million in recreational, leisure and community facilities and $6.2 million in parks, open space and streetscapes.

Some of the highlights of the 2023/24 capital works program would include the Robert Booth Reserve AFL, cricket and netball pavilion, the Ballarto Road and South Gippsland Highway intersection upgrade, construction of sections of Tooradin Station and Fisheries Road and Casey Fields’ Ovals 4 and 5pavilion upgrade.

Renewal and upgrade works would include works at Ray Bastin Reserve, Pearcedale Reserve Pavilion, Max Pawsey Tennis Pavilion, Casey Fields Athletics Track and Lynbrook Family and Community Centre.

Administrator Miguel Belmar said considering the increasing cost of living, the council had decided to pass on a relief package for ratepayers, which would include deferment of legal action and suspension of interest on approval arrangements.

“Council is aware of the situation,“ he said.

“We are well versed in this.“

Mr Belmar said the council had also provided an additional $135,000 towards the Com-

munity Grants program and an extra $50,000 per year for two years to the existing Events Funding program

“The aim is to prioritise long-term economic and environmental sustainability,“ he said.

Casey Council scheduled a special meeting at 4pm on Tuesday 30 May to hear submissions on the draft document.

However, as no submitter elected to speak on their submission, the council cancelled the meeting.

To view the budget documents, visit conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/budget-councilplan-actions

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Picture: DANIELLE KUTCHEL

WHAT’S ON

Community planting day

Bring the family and plant some indigenous seedlings at Somerfield Reserve. Includes a free barbecue lunch. Make sure you bring your own water bottle, gardening gloves and wear clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty.

· Saturday 8 July, 10am-1pm at cnr Fernleaf Avenue and Eastbury Street, Keysborough South. Free event. Registrations: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/somerfield-reserve-planting

Zen Zone

Keep the kids entertained inside with free Zen Zone activities at Dandenong Plaza during the winter school holidays. Features a daily dose of kids’ wellness activities including yoga, mindful colouring in and blissful bead craft.

· Mondays to Friday,3-7 July,11am-2pm at Dandenong Plaza, centre court. Free events, no bookings required. Details: armadadandeongplaza.com.au

Movie Mania

Join Youth and Family Services for Movie Mania these Winter school holidays. Let’s watch the newest blockbuster, eat popcorn, and laugh the afternoon away at Reading Cinemas. For young people aged 12-25 years.

· Tuesday 4 July, 11am-2.15pm. Meet at the Youth Services Office, 39 Clow Street, Dandenong. $5, registrations essential at winterholidayactivities.eventbrite.com.au/

Fairytale Festival - Tham Gia (Join In)

A school holiday event for primary school aged children, from a Vietnamese background and living with a disability. There will be fun games, arts and craft, stories and a snack to share.

· Tuesday 4 July, 2pm-4pm at Noble Park Community Centre; $10 per family. Details at extendedfamilies.org.au or Mai, 0477 240 563 (Vietnamese and English Speaking) or Samantha, 0406 229 071 (English Speaking).

Dinner with a VIEW

Dandenong Evening VIEW Club’s dinner will feature guest speaker Antonia Arfaras to speak on being ‘stroke safe’. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and Education for women and the club supports the SMITH Family’s Learning for Life Program.

· Tuesday 4 July, 7pm at Dandenong RSL. Bookings essential. Details: Brigitte, 0491 626 527.

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

Best Friends Day - Tham Gia (Join In)

A school holiday event for secondary school aged children, from a Vietnamese background and living with a disability. There will be a dance class, arts and craft, fun games and snacks to share.

· Saturday 8 July, 2pm-4pm at Noble Park Community Centre; $10 per family. Details at extendedfamilies.org.au or Mai, 0477 240 563 (Vietnamese and English Speaking) or Samantha, 0406 229 071 (English Speaking).

South Sea Roller Derby

In a ‘Christmas in July’ double-header, our South Sea Sirens go up against Varsity Derby League, who’ve travelled all the way from chilly Canberra for this match-up. We then follow up with Varsity taking on Victoria Men’s Roller Derby League. Please note: The venue provides limited seating - Bring-your-own blanket or beach chair.

· Saturday 8 July, 4pm-8pm at Springer Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough; $10/kids under 16 free. Bookings: southsearollerderby.com/wp/shop/christmas-injuly

Pop-up blood donor centre

Do you have time to give blood and change lives this month? One in three people in Greater Dandenong will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. The Red Cross is popping up in central Dandenong from Monday 11 July to Friday 14 July.

· St Mary’s Community Centre, New Street, Dandenong. Registrations required. Details: lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre/vic/dandenong-pop-up-donor-centre

Cultural Sketch

You don’t need to be a visual artist to enjoy an evening of Cultural Sketching, just bring your enthusiasm, interest and willingness to have a go. Bunurong and Palawa contemporary artist Kobi Sainty will be our Cultural Sketch presenter and model. He will share his story, his creative interests, arts practice; the audience is encouraged to sketch and draw Kobi and his favourite objects in response. Event is 18+. Materials will be provided, refreshments and alcohol served.

· Tuesday 11 July, 6pm-8pm at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, Walker and Robinson Street, Dandenong. Free event. Registrations required. Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/greater-dandenong-council/events/cultural-sketch

Our Community Objects talk

An afternoon talk which will explore 150 years of Local Government through unique objects and stories held in the City of Greater Dandenong’s Civic Collection. The talk will end with a delicious afternoon tea.

· 13 July, 1.30pm-3.30pm at Benga, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens,66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Free event, registrations essential. Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/greater-dandenong-council/events/ourcommunity-objects-talk

Multicultural seniors activities

Keysborough Multicultural Senior Citizens Inc is an over-55s club, with bingo on the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, line dancing on Wednesdays, ballroom dancing lessons on Thursdays. Upcoming concert with Col Perkins (18 July) and a bus day trip to Phillip Island tourist attractions on 25 July ($50, lunch at own expense). We are in need of few volunteers able to arrange tables and chairs on Tuesdays from 10.15am to 11.00am. Please note the club will be closed from Monday 26 June-Sunday 2 July for renovations.

· Rowley Allan Reserve, 352 Cheltenham Road Keysborough. Tea and coffee is supplied for all activities. Membership $10. Details: Julie, 0428 561 694

Interfaith tours

Bookings are open for Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network’s 2023 public tours to places of

worship on 9 August, 11 October, and 13 December 2023. Each tour features trips to four diverse places of worship for $25 plus a lunch for $10-$15 donation. Payment of $25 is required prior to the tour to confirm your booking. Details: education@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662

Tai Chi & Awareness Meditation

Tai Chi is a form of physical exercise aiding health and relaxation, following Shibashi DVDs to stretch the body and move into a state of calmness followed by Awareness Meditation. Meditation harmonises the body, brings stillness and connects the soul to meaning. All welcome to join us for one or both of these workshops.

· Mondays, Tai Chi: 2pm-2.20pm; Awareness Meditation: 2.30pm-3.30pm (excluding public and school holidays) at The Open Door, 110 Ann St, Dandenong. Gold coin donation welcome. Bookings: Jo/Tayla, 9791 8664 or theopendoor@ssjg.org.au

English for Daily Life

Bakhtar Community Organisation is starting basic English language and cultural integration classes in July. Led by an experienced tutor, ‘English For Daily Life’ will focus on the needs of refugees in a communicative environment.

· Details: bakhtar.aidaform.com/free-courseregistration-form or 9703 2555.

Mindfulness meditation

Held weekly for people to learn the basic skills of concentration. Meditation may benefit people with spiritual and mental health support.

· Thursdays, 2.30pm-3pm at Dandenong Hospital’s Sacred Space, 135 David Street, Dandenong. Free, no bookings required. Details: Chuentat Kang, 0405 421 706 or · chuentat@hotmail.com

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

Fifty years of family tennis

By Emily Chapman Laing

Hallam Tennis Club will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next month and are welcoming current and former players to celebrate the journey.

“We’d love to see as many previous players at the event as we can,” club Secretary Liane Weaver said.

There will be finger food and drinks provided, and Glow in the Dark tennis will be played at 5pm.

The event will be held at the Hallam Tennis Club on 23 July at 2pm.

The club started from bare bones in 1973.

The tennis club had approximately 150 members before they even acquired their own courts to play on, instead playing with other clubs like Hampton Park.

“They started without having tennis courts,” Ms Weaver said.

“There was nothing in Hallam.”

“We did a lot of fundraisers, dinners, balls and hoedowns,” founding member Margaret Millier said.

The founding members still have a buzzing social circle with regular catch-ups going beyond the courts.

“Making friendships is the biggest thing, and they’re still there today,” Ms Millier said.

“I would be lost without them.”

Now the club is down to 70 members, having dropped in members as other sports grew in the area.

The club members encourage locals to join the club and try their hand at tennis.

“Tennis is something anyone can do,” Ms Weaver said.

“You don’t have to be good at it, you can play singles, doubles, you can play anytime of the day or night and on the weekends.”

The club hosts many different sessions for

the sport across the week.

“We’ve got quite a strong midweek ladies’ and midweek men’s, which are mainly older people,” Ms Weaver said.

“We’ve got social comp, comp at night, comp on Saturdays, coaching, there’s plenty of stuff going on.”

Past club President and life member Janette

Jones, who joined the club in 1991, said her favourite thing about being a member has been the “family” feel.

“It is definitely a family,” she said.

“And then there’s all the friends you make.

“From two to 92, it doesn’t matter, anyone can play at any time of the year.”

Former club Secretary Lynne Dickson

joined the club in 1988 and has enjoyed sharing the sport with her family.

“We’ve just really loved being part of a club where the whole family can play together,” she said.

The members look forward to reminiscing with past and current players on their time at the club for the 50th anniversary celebration.

L to R: Lynne Dickson, Liane Weaver, Margaret Millier, Glenn Weaver and Janette Jones. 343053

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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PACKAGED LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATION

King applied to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation on May 31 2023 for the Grant of a packaged liquor licence at/to 48 Smith Road Springvale Victoria 3171.

Any person may object to the grant of this application on the grounds that:

•It would detract from, or be detrimental to, the amenity of the area in which the premises are situated, and/or

•It would be conducive to or encourage the misuse or abuse of alcohol.

An objection must state the reasons for the objection.

All objections are treated as public documents.

Objections must be made in writing to: Victorian Commission for Gambling And Liquor Regulation

GPO Box 1988

Melbourne VIC 3001

Objections must be made no later than 30 days after the date of this notice.

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SPORT Injury hits humbled Hawks

By Marcus Uhe

Rowville’s five-match winning streak in the Eastern Football Netball League has come to a crashing halt at the hands of Vermont, losing its star ruckman Nik Schoenmakers in the process to a serious injury.

A stretcher was required for Schoenmakers during a second-quarter barrage to rub salt into gaping wounds for the Hawks, with a suspected broken leg ruling him out for the remainder of the stand-alone contest on Sunday afternoon, in which the Hawks fell 47-points short, 16.11 107 to 9. 60.

Slow out of the gate, the Hawks conceded the first three of the contest to the home side, who bossed territory and locked the ball in their front half.

But for all its dominance, goals to Maverick Taylor and Joshua Clarke in stoppage time meant the Eagles took just a nine-point lead at quarter time.

Despite sunny conditions, mud patches across the playing surface saw players struggle to their feet all over Vermont Recreation Reserve.

Goals were traded early in the second quarter before Vermont cut lose.

Dominance at the stoppages converted to the scoreboard, punishing the Hawks on turnover with quick ball movement from the back half.

Five goals in 11 minutes saw the margin quickly explode from four points to 35 late in the second term, not helped by poor discipline from Jackson McDonald and Anthony Brolic, both conceding 25-metre penalties for not returning the ball to their opponent’s correctly.

Adrian Kalcovski did the major damage, running rings around the Hawks defenders with four goals in the quarter alone kicking to the Canterbury Road end of the ground.

It was vicious football from the Eagles, who completely shut-off the ground at halfway and

made scoring impossible for the visitors, as the home side took a seven-goal lead into the long break.

Needing a spark to reignite the contest, goals to Jai Coleclough and Callum Verrell to open the third term cut the lead to five goals for Rowville, who begun to dominate at the contest and lifted the pressure on the football.

Kicking four goals to two in the quarter, a 28-point lead at the final break left the door

ajar for the Hawks, eager to hold on to their spot in the top four.

Matt Davey kicking the first of the final quarter further intensified the battle, after star midfielder Lachlan McDonald bound free of the Vermont defenders through the middle of the ground.

But Davey was soon-after dispatched from the field after laying a dangerous tackle.

Davey’s goal would prove to be Rowville’s

final of the game, as the Eagles kicked the final four of the match, with the final margin the largest of the afternoon.

Missing star midfielders in Cooper McDonald and Max Martini, too much was left to Brolic, Lachlan McDonald, Lachlan Stapleton and Brock Coleclough in the middle of the ground.

Rowville will tackle Doncaster at Seebeck Oval next week.

Bulls short of the mark while Berwick keeps season alive

By Marcus Uhe

Reigning champions Noble Park endured a difficult day at Doncaster East, registering its lowest output of 2023 in a seven-goal loss.

Going into the contest equal on premiership points, the Bulls looked inferior to the home side, only managing three goals in the 3.5 23 to 9.11 65 loss.

A bizarre breakdown in the defensive half resulted in a lone Lion in the goal-square for an embarrassing opening goal for the Bulls in the first minute of the game.

Doncaster East kicked its second minutes later with the speed of ball movement proving overwhelming for the Bulls, who struggled to impact the contest in the forward half.

Heavy rained blanketed Zerbes Reserve early in the contest, further decimating an already struggling centre-wicket area that forced both sides to explore the playing field’s extremities.

It departed at quarter time, replaced by bright sunshine, but it did not provide an uptick in productivity for the Bulls, who trailed by 14 at the first break.

The home side kicked the first three of the second term before a much-needed steadier to Chris Horton-Milne momentarily put the brakes on.

Liam Scott had the chance to make it two in a minute shortly after, but a long set shot fell short, and was rushed by the Lions defensive group.

Slippery conditions made for a stoppageheavy contest the longer the game wore on, suiting the bigger bodies of Doncaster East and the immense pressure it applied to the ball-carriers.

At its heaviest early in the third term, the Bulls were unable to make inroads, held to just two behinds and facing a 39-point deficit at the final break.

With both sides holding each other to only

one in the final term, the result was never in doubt for the Lions.

Experienced heads in Horton-Milne, Jackson Casey and Ryan Morrison were among the Bulls’ best, as was Kane Marshall on senior debut.

A brilliant third quarter from Berwick has kept any slim hopes of finals qualification

alive in the Eastern Football Netball League, providing the catalyst for a 38-point win over Norwood on Saturday.

Five goals in 10 minutes saw a three-point deficit at half time quickly become a 26-point lead for theWickers, and 36 at the final break, before closing the game with a 9.13 67 to 3.11 29 advantage.

Harry Money set the ball rolling in the third, pouncing on an errant kick in the Norwood defensive 50 to mark and goal, giving his side the lead in enemy territory.

Forward pressure also allowed Kyle O’Sullivan to hit the scoreboard, making something from nothing after Norwood turned the ball over again in their back 50, before Anthony Vella’s karate skills came to fore, kicking the ball out of mid-air following a marking contest for a third in five minutes, as the Wickers grasped the momentum.

Sensing the game was theirs to be won and looking to maximise its new-found energy, the Berwick defenders, led by Will Athurson, begun to move the ball with aggression out of back half, an approach the forward group seemed to delight in.

Charlie Muley was one such beneficiary, goaling for the first time since early June after his teammates moved the ball the length of the field from a full-back kick-out.

It was then the creative Vella, whose decision to take a defender on at half-forward reaped major rewards, changing angles and kicking inboard to a contest where Caleb Van Oostveen had stolen a march on his defender, running into an open goal after some unselfish hands from his fellow forwards.

The 10-minute burst left Norwood bereft of answers, suddenly with its back against a wall and facing an onslaught in white charging full-steam ahead.

What rare opportunities the home side did have in the third term, they were squandered by kicking five behinds, where Ber-

wick, sitting on 2.8 at the half, were suddenly clinical in front of the big sticks, kicking 7.2 for the quarter.

Harrison Canning kicked two before the term was out, once following a mauling tackle from imposing ruck Jesse Cirulis that turned the ball over at half-forward, and later from a double 25-metre penalty conceded by the home side.

One advancement was for the slow return of the ball to Canning from the opponent who infringed at a marking contest, and the other given while the umpire was in motion, and appeared to be for abusive language.

Neither managed a major in the final term, but that was of little significance for Clint Evans’ side, who registered just its third win of the campaign.

In spite of repeat deep forward entries in the final minutes of the game, Norwood was held to just one behind in the fourth quarter, making for a goalless second half and its lowest score of the 2023 season.

By contrast, it was Berwick’s second highest score for 2023, only falling short to its round one win over Vermont.

Warning signs were evident early for the visitors, who missed their first four opportunities on goal and conceded two to their hosts, before Canning finally converted late in the first term.

The game was played at a rapid pace, one in which Berwick appeared a step-behind as skill errors haunted them through the middle of the ground.

In a contest between two sides on the outer of the top six looking in, the game shaped as critical for two sides desperately trying to stay in the hunt with the break-away pack in the top half of the ladder.

New to the club in 2023, the trip of O’Sullivan, Brad Homfray and Jordan Roberts were all critical to the result, as were veterans Arthurson and Ashton Williamson.

Jordan Roberts was one of Berwick’s best on Saturday in its win over Norwood. 343185

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Nikolas Schoenmakers suffered a suspected broken leg for Rowville in Sunday’s loss. 338708

Picture: ROB CAREW

SPORT Falcons find finals form

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Southern Football Netball League Division

Three club Endeavour Hills remains undefeated 11 games into the home-and-away season after comfortably accounting for Narre South Saints on Saturday.

The Falcons’ average winning margin is 59 points, with a 25-point victory over then undefeated Frankston Dolphins in round six, establishing themselves as this year’s team to beat.

Highlighting the depth, the reserves team is also undefeated, with a percentage of 335.

After losing former captain and best and fairest winner Nick Gay from the 2022 list, which finished fifth with nine wins and a draw from 18 matches, there was a sense the club might take a step back before challenging.

The Falcons have been competitive in recent years but lacked top-end star power to put themselves in premiership calculations, with Gay’s loss compounding that stigma.

But Knox recruit John Rafferty has come in and expertly led the midfield, while the club’s go-to target inside 50, Ryan Johnson, is also new and averaging three goals per game.

Playing assistant coach Rowan Scott’s leadership on-field, along with standard-setters Nathan Reid and Ben Holland have elevated the squad’s accountability.

Those contributions, combined with a buyin from the group has catalysed the rise according to coach Matt Peake.

He says the sliding doors moment was midway through last year, with those recruits providing further ingredients to progress.

After starting 2022 with one win from six games, the Falcons went undefeated for seven weeks, a period which contained six wins and a draw.

Having regained some key players from injury, that run was started with wins over each of the Division Three finalists: Murrumbeena, Black Rock, Ashwood and Carrum Patterson Lakes.

Experiencing that success provided the impetus for an excellent preseason which has carried over into 2023.

Youngsters Luke Peters, Liam Hasler and Bailey Bowman are among the under-19s who have transitioned seamlessly into senior footy this season, which has evolved the team’s dynamic.

Endeavour Hills is also the local club of Jacob Grant, who represented Vic Metro on Friday night against Western Australia, and has been playing good footy as a key forward for Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League.

The club is in good shape and has several players to return from injury imminently, but after fluctuating from 1-5 to 7-5-1 so quickly last year, Peake remains focused on the process.

“There’s just been a good vibe,” Peake said.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves.

“Every club wants to win flags but our focus is on developing as a team but also individually.

“If we focus on that, hopefully we are playing our best footy when it counts.

“We want to be accountable and disciplined in how we go about it.

“We defend the ground quite well, restrict the opposition and get offensive on the

back of that.

“We like to be pretty organised in what we do and I just need guys to play their role in the team.”

Dingley devastated as Eagles rattle on 12 last-quarter goals

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Cranbourne slammed home 12 final-quarter goals and silenced the Dingley crowd at Souter Oval on Saturday.

The Eagles had the scoreboard ascendancy all day after starting strongly and leading by 19 points at the first change.

The lead got towards five goals in the third quarter before Dingley’s resistance was finally rewarded on the scoreboard.

Marc Holt kicked an important snap against the grain to keep the margin at 16 points going into the final quarter.

Dingley had all the running and were well revved up by coach Zach Horsley at threequarter-time.

“This is the win of the year,” he bellowed.

“When we are where we are at the end of the year, we’ll look back at this and say this is the reason we’re in the position we’re in.”

That final statement may yet prove foreboding, though not in the way Horsley had meant it.

The home team had the momentum, crowd support and dictated terms for the third quarter as it looked like their run and transition game would overpower the visitors.

Star midfielder Zak Roscoe was tagged out of influencing the first three quarters but kept coming and got off the chain in the last quarter.

The league medal fancy got on the move at stoppages, got to repeat contests and the icing on the cake was a classy goal on the run from 50.

Roscoe skippered the side last week as Brandon Osborne remains sidelined indefinitely with injury, and he is developing the aura of a player that lifts when his team needs a spark...but it was a full team lift after

the last change.

Jarryd Barker scored a similar long-range goal.

Rucks Michael Boland and Jake Stephens gave their team ascendancy in the midfield when it mattered.

Kirk Dickson kicked the first goal inside a minute of the last quarter to stifle and swing the momentum.

The centre-half-forward finished with three to continue his streak of multiple goals in every game this year.

Matt Allister’s purple patch continued.

After 23 disposals, seven intercept marks and four spoils last week, he was another who cashed in on the scoreboard, while playing his role expertly.

Alongside veteran Luke Bee-Hugo and stand-in skipper Dylan Cavalot, Allister had the most complete performance.

After Cranbourne won it at the coalface in the first term, Barker and Cavalot capitalised on the attention Roscoe received, the second and early part of the third quarter was an ugly arm wrestle.

Cranbourne had more territory but didn’t

look like scoring as defenders Kristen Feehan, Cam Hansen and Michael Dolan were staunch.

Lochie Benton provided creativity and run off halfback as best afield performances become second nature, with his work finally translating into some promising looks in the third quarter.

After the Eagles had the first three shots if the third term, debutante Mitch Cook won a holding the ball free kick and calmly slotted it from 50.

That started Dingley’s brief run, and his spriteliness and pressure was among the green shoots Horsley drew on post game.

With seven missing, mostly due to overseas trips, Dingley put faith in the youngsters who had come through the club’s well-regarded junior program.

Six players aged 20-years-old or younger took the field, with Zac White, Jordan Letts and Cook all showing glimpses but running out of puff.

The silver-lining was their competitiveness as they stayed with the reigning premiers until three-quarter-time, but Port Melbourne is on the horizon, the result to be telling in the top five seedings.

Meanwhile, Springvale Districts has smashed a listless St Kilda City, with five players scoring three goals and six multiple goal scorers in total.

Stefan Feehan was a target inside 50 and named best on ground, and winger Matt Thompson ran hard on the wing with the Dees piling on 15 goals after the main break to boost their percentage.

Mordialloc’s upset win over St Paul’s McKinnon has done Kris Thompson’s Dees a major favour as they look to secure a top five berth.

Jarryd Barker roosted a goal from 50 in the last quarter for Cranbourne. 343169

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Endeavour Hills’ season is in a good position. 335966 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Liam Hasler has been an under-19s player who has come in and provided energy.