News - Cranbourne Star News - 20th July 2023

Funds not enough

By Emily Chapman Laing

Community Information and Support Cranbourne (CISC) employee Leanne Petrides from has warned locals can expect restrictions in the emergency support available to them as the new financial year begins.

Ms Petrides, who has worked at CISS for 24 years, has spoken openly about the Federal Government failing to match funding to demand for emergency relief support in the South Casey area.

“I’ve never seen the situation quite so bad,“ she said.

“We’ve got a more vulnerable community, we’ve got a massive cost of living crisis and I’m seeing more people at imminent risk of homelessness.

“Since the first of July we’ve been forced to halve the amount of financial assistance we can give people and the number of appointments we have each day.“

Ms Petrides said CISC staff are having to turn away around 10 families each day to keep in line with the new budget.

She fears the toll turning people away will have on the “desperate“ families seeking help, as well as the volunteers who are unable to provide the level of care they are accustomed to offering.

“The hardest thing is the distress,“ Ms Petrides said.

“The impact is just so hard.“

In response, CISC has implemented longer appointment times for the families they are able to help, to ensure everything possible is being done to ease their situational burdens.

“Our financial counsellors have said that about 90 per cent of the clients have jobs, but are just falling off of that cliff,“ Ms Petrides said.

In a video posted on Thursday 5 July, Ms Petrides said this financial year, the help provided by the support centre “might look a little bit different“.

“Times are tough, we struggle when we

go to the petrol station, people are struggling to pay utility bills and keep a roof over their head,“ she said.

“We know that going to the supermarket can really put a strain on the household budget.

“Unfortunately, with the massive increase in demand and our funding not keeping up with that, we are forced to restrict the level of voucher support that we are able to provide people.“

CISC offers a range of supports, including energy bill relief, food vouchers, emergency grocery items, petrol vouchers, medication vouchers, financial counselling, gambler’s help and refugee support.

All of these resources have felt the brunt of a weak budget, which Ms Petrides said would

need to be“doubled“, just to meet baseline demand.

“At the moment, the Federal Government funds emergency relief across Australia, giving $50 million annually, a drop in the ocean,“ she said.

“They can absolutely afford to double that at a minimum.

“What we need is some coordination of funding so that we can actually build capacity to service the community.“

As inflation sees soaring costs for daily necessities, CISC staff are finding their vouchers aren’t getting people very far.

“It kills us when we see petrol jump,“ Ms Petrides said.

At the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce

event on Thursday 5 July, Ms Petrides questioned Federal Member for Holt Cassandra Fernando about the insufficient funding being offered to keep families afloat during the cost of living crisis.

Ms Fernando said she understands funding often fails to meet demand for the services support centres provide.

“We must always strive to support them more,“ she said.

“The Albanese Government is providing further support in the form of increases across the board to Commonwealth payments like Jobseeker, Youth and Study Allowance, and Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

“We have made changes to income thresholds for individuals and couples to access the pension, meaning more seniors can get this vital payment.“

Ms Fernando offered, in response, the various ways she believes the Federal Government is tacking the cost of living crisis.

“We have made medicines under the PBS cheaper – the first time this has happened in its 75-year history,“ she said.

“We have made a historic $3.5 billion investment into Bulk-Billing incentives to increase the coverage of bulkbilling across the country.

“We are implementing 60-day prescriptions – which for many will mean less visits to the GP and a saving of up to $180 a year if eligible and concession card holders will save up to $43.80 a year per medicine.“

Ms Petrides commends Ms Fernando’s involvement in advocating for CISC, but remains unimpressed by the meagre day-to-day increases offered by the Federal Government.

“Twenty dollars isn’t enough, forty dollars isn’t enough,“ she said.

“It’s nowhere near, you just have to look at the increasing rates alone.

“People are on a treadmill, and at the moment, despite all of those things, it’s one step forward, two steps back.“

Leanne Petrides outside CISC. 347968

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Micheluzzi eyes the Open

By Ian Chadband, AAP

Members of the Cranbourne Golf Club are in for sleepless nights this weekend as one of their own makes his British Open debut at the magnificent Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.

Cranbourne member David Micheluzzi will tee it up alongside 2015 Open Champion Zach Johnson and Englishman Matt Wallace in the world’s oldest and most sought-after championship.

The 26-year-old first joined Cranbourne at the age of six, in 2003, and has been a familiar figure at the club ever since.

He was part of the club’s junior program for 10 years, before his talent was recognised and he began training with the Victorian Institute of Sport.

Even through his involvement in the elite junior program, Micheluzzi was a proud Cranbourne member who represented the club in pennant and is a four-time club champion.

Micheluzzi was the star of the Australian golfing summer and, as the rain drummed down on his umbrella at Hoylake, the Melburnian outlined his dream of showing exactly why with a British Open debut to remember.

Micheluzzi, a diminutive late bloomer who suddenly flowered over the summer to win three tournaments and end up order of merit champion for the PGA Tour of Australasia, admits his spectacular summer has made him reassess how far he can go in the international game.

And as it’s offered him “dream-come-true“ chances to play in his first two majors at the US PGA at Oak Hill and now at Royal Liverpool, a 500-1 outsider with British bookmakers, is adamant that he’s not at Hoylake to make up the numbers.

“I want to compete, I want to try and get

myself up there in contention - I feel I can,“ said Micheluzzi onTuesday as he outlined how his preparation at the celebrated links course in north-west England had been probably as thorough as any player’s.

Have your say on SE mobile boost grants

A federal grants program to improve mobile coverage in “peri-urban fringe” areas such as Casey and Cardinia Shire is open for public comment.

As part of the Round 2 of the Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP), grants of up to $20 million will be available under the draft guidelines.

All proposed solutions must deliver 4G, and preferably also 5G, broadband data services and a voice service.

They must also improve handheld coverage with a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) of -85dBm at a 90 per cent confidence level for the cell area.

A project noticeboard is open for councils and community groups to identify mobile coverage, reception and quality of ser-

vice issues and to upload project proposals. Eligible areas include parts of Casey such as Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren North, Berwick, Cranbourne East, Clyde, JunctionVillage, Devon Meadows, Cannons Creek and Tooradin.

Shire of Cardinia areas that are eligible include Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield Upper, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham Upper, Pakenham South, Nar Nar Goon, Gembrook, Emerald, Koo-wee-rup, Cardinia, Cora Lynn, Bayles, Tynong, Garfield and Mary Knoll.

The draft grant guidelines are open for public consultation until 5pm, 16 August.

Details: www.infrastructure.gov.au/ have-your-say

“I’ve played the PGA, I feel I know what to expect in a major now, but I’m just going to treat it like a normal week,“ he said.

“I found out so late about competing in the PGA - six days before we teed up I got a special

invite - but this week I know what to expect after such a thorough preparation and the way I’m hitting it, and the way I’m going about everything, I feel like I can compete.“

He’s been practising for the past week on the course in the teeth of the recent wet, windy weather and is awed by the challenge it presents.

“It’s awesome … what a golf course, there’s no better,“ he said.

“It’s one of a kind, the greatest and best championship in the world - and I get to play in one of them, so I’m stoked and happy to be there.

“It’s a dream come true - because a year ago, I didn’t think I’d be in this position, but I had a really good year in Oz and here I am!

“I had three wins and two seconds, and only five events outside the top 10, playing really good golf that hopefully I’ll continue my whole career.

“And now, hopefully, I can do what we did in Oz over here.“

It was only Micheluzzi’s second full year on the Australasian tour and he’s improved so dramatically that he’s planning a full-blown assault on the European tour next season having gained his card.

“It’s quite bizarre how my life changed, even in just three months.

“If you’d said I’d be playing in Open and PGA and European events, I’d be laughing at you.“

But he’s seen himself as a bit of late golf developer.

“I feel like I’ve taken my time a little bit compared to someone like Min Woo Lee.

“I’m in mid-20s and it could take me a little bit of time on the DP (European) tour but I’ll just roll with the punches and see where it goes.“

Thieves fuel their hunger

Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance to identify thieves who went on a spending spree using a stolen credit card numerous times and locations in Cranbourne on Monday 10 July.

Police have been told that the unknown males started their crime spree in Rossiter Retreat, Cranbourne North when they stole a black 2022 Mazda 3 registration BZN911 about 3am.

They males then attended Noorat Place, Cranbourne North where they stole a credit card from inside a 2015 gold Lexus about 3.10am.

The victim’s credit card was then used up to 13 times at numerous fast-food stores and petrol stations in the Cranbourne area throughout the morning of Monday the 10 July.

Police have released images of two men who they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Both men are believed to be aged 18 to 25-years old.

The first man is described as having an ol-

ive complexion with a dark hair, wearing all black clothing and black runners.

The second man as having an olive complexion, with a thin build, black and grey clothing, black runners and black baseball cap.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au

Open debutant David Micheluzzi believes he can be a contender at the British Open at Hoylake.

Picture: DEAN LEWIS, AAP

Primary-age kids abused

By Emily Chapman Laing

A man has been reported to police after he allegedly brandished a knife and spouted abuse to primary school students on 13 July.

Police received a report of a man possibly armed with a knife walking outside St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School in Cranbourne.

The man was reportedly swearing and yelling at students on Scott Street at around 2pm.

PaulVelten, Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale confirmed the incident.

“The school wrote to parents yesterday afternoon to alert them to the incident,“ he said.

“Child safety and the wellbeing of students and staff is fundamental to all schools within the Diocese of Sale in providing a safe and nurturing Catholic education.

“St Agatha’s Primary School has offered support to any student or staff should they require it.“

Police say the man did not enter the school at any time.

Police say they quickly arrived at the scene however the offender had left the area, and despite extensive patrols of the surrounds, he was unable to be located.

A similar incident was reported at Quarters Primary School in CranbourneWest on 12 July.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the Department was aware of“an incident in which students reported concerning behaviour by an individual in the vicinity of Quarters PS“.

“The school took all appropriate action, including providing extra staff supervision on yard duty, reporting the matter to police and providing full communication to parents and carers,“ they said.

No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation remains ongoing.

A recent Facebook post regarding the incident has been created and includes an image of a man that has been nominated as the offender.

Home-loan fraudster jailed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A purported mortgage broker from Lynbrook whose home loan schemes defrauded $369,000 from vulnerable families has been jailed.

Surendrakumar Thurairatnam, 49, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to 15 counts of obtaining property by deception.

Thurairatnam stripped the life savings from “already financially stressed” victims who wanted to buy their “dream” homes, Judge Michael O’Connell said on 13 July.

“As a result of their dealings with you, they have been left all the more financially vulnerable, struggling to meet basic necessities.”

Mainly from South Sudan and North Africa, the victims were referred by family and friends to his business Prime Legal & Finance at the Hub Arcade in Dandenong.

Some of them arrived after being knocked back for bank loans.

Thurairatnam falsely promised to obtain home loans in return for thousands of dollars in advance.

As part of the ruse, he presented fake loan and pre-loan approval letters from major banks.

He falsely claimed to be a qualified legal practitioner, home loan specialist, mortgage broker and land broker.

Judge O’Connell said the crimes weren’t caused by “poor business practice” but by “dishonesty”.

“Each of these victims and their families had hoped to realise their dream of buying their own home.

“You told them that you could make that dream come true and they trusted that it would.

“In each of these offences you assuredly breached that trust.“

In mitigation, Thurairatnam argued that he played a junior role at the business.

He acted under the direction of his busi-

ness partner who produced the false documents and collected the victim’s deposits, he claimed.

Under cross-examination, the business partner denied the allegations – although Judge O’Connell found his evidence “wholly unsatisfactory” and “far from frank”.

But despite these “suspicions”, the judge found Thurairatnam still had a “substantial” role in the “egregious, fraudulent enterprise”. His allegations were “completely inconsistent” with his guilty pleas.

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, the Tamil refugee was exposed to bombings and killings as part of the civil war.

His adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression deteriorated after his business closed and charges ensued.

Judge O’Connell noted his “very good” rehabilitation prospects given he had no prior convictions and had repaid nearly $60,000 to victims.

But it had taken Thurairatnam “considerable time” to take responsibility.

He was jailed for up to three years, and eligible for parole in 18 months.

Police have identified the man pictured and he has been ruled out as having any involvement.

Anyone with information or vision is urged

to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com. au or contact the Cranbourne Police Station directly, not to contact the school involved.

We’re upgrading roads in Melbourne’s South East

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re upgrading roads to reduce congestion and improve travel times.

Road disruptions: Closed roads

Brindalee Place, Cranbourne East

Hunt Club Boulevard, Cranbourne East

New Holland Drive, Cranbourne East

Hall and McCormicks roads, Carrum Downs

Until late SepAt Narre WarrenCranbourne Road

Until early Oct

Until late Sep

Until 21 Aug Intersection closed

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

Picture: AAP IMAGE/CON CHRONIS

St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School. 347526

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Red tape stifles clinic

By Emily Chapman Laing

Pearcedale may lose yet another long time staple of their town if an application for the medical clinic to be rezoned as rural is denied.

Pearcedale Medical Centre owner Dr Farza Rastegar said restrictions placed on what doctors she is able to hire at the clinic are forcing her to turn away stellar applicants.

Metropolitan clinics can only hire doctors who have been working as a medical professional in Australia for the past 10 years, according to Dr Rastegar.

The Pearcedale Medical Centre has applied to be rezoned as a rural clinic as the requirements for metropolitan clinics leave them desperate for new doctors.

“The doctor has to have been able to work in Australia for 10 years, so I can’t get a new doctor from the UK to come and work for us,“ Dr Farza said.

“I can’t get someone who graduated from uni three years ago.

“We need someone who has been working in a clinic for 10 years, and a person who has been working in a clinic for 10 years has usually settled where they are.“

Dr Rastegar took over the clinic from a retired GP in 2013, and said the issues had followed her during her 10-year stint as head of the clinic.

“It’s been years and it’s the same issues,“ she said.

Locals are distraught at the prospect of losing their beloved local medical staff, but the clinic may face no other choice as metro restrictions keep the centre understaffed.

Resident Debbie Quinn said the “survival of the town“ depends on the authorities realising Pearcedale is a “rural community“.

Many residents commented on the importance of and exceptional service from the Pearcedale Medical Centre, saying they would be disappointed to see the clinic close.

“Dr Farza and the team at Pearcedale Medical Centre are amazing and such an asset to our community,“ resident Sharon Berry said.

“Our family don’t want to travel further and start up with another medical centre.“

Elly Goldsbury said it would be a “catastrophic loss“ for the community if the centre was forced to close its doors.

“Dr Farza and her team are absolutely incredible and have gone above and beyond for my family, especially for our four daughters who they’ve seen since birth,“ she said.

Ruth Ogier said her family has been “more than happy“ with their experiences at the clinic.

“The knowledge that you have a team of

competent and compassionate doctors in your home town is profoundly important, especially for families,“ she said.

“We would be sad to see it closed.“

Louise Cook said she “searched high and low“ for a doctor she could “trust“.

“ I would be devastated to lose our local practice,“ she said.

“The team, especially Dr Nadiya, at Pearcedale are amazing.“

Not only is the Pearcedale clinic restricted by their metropolitan status, they are yet to be classed as an “area of need“.

According to the Department of Health, an “area of need“ typically relates to “any location in which there is a lack of specific medical practitioners, or where there is a medical position that remains unfilled following multiple recruitment attempts over a period of time“.

Neighbouring areas, including Frankston, Mornington and Somerville have been reported as areas of need, according to Dr Rastegar, despite having multiple medical clinics.

“Us being the only clinic in the town, we are not considered as area of need,“ Dr Rastegar said.

“Somerville, which has the same postcode [as Pearcedale] is classed as an area of need,“ Practice Manager Carol Bell added.

Ms Bell and Dr Rastegar said their communications with the government over the zoning issue have been laboured and rewarded with flippant responses.

“They just copy and paste an email from the website, and then they handball us to the next person,“ Dr Rastegar said.

Rezoning only happens once each year and is coming up later this month, with the clinic’s application for an exemption currently under review.

The clinic has started a petition and support has flooded in from the community and their patients.

“People come in just to sign,“ Dr Rastegar said.

The clinic has over 3000 active patients who come in at least once per year.

“We just can’t fit them all in,“ Ms Bell said.

The doctors are booking out weeks in advance, leaving patients in need of care with few options.

“We had someone call yesterday [Monday 10 July] and the receptionists told them we don’t have anything, and she was really angry,“ Dr Rastegar said.

“She said, ‘you are my local doctor, why do I have to go somewhere else?’ and that’s a very fair point.

“We are the only doctors clinic in the town, why should our patients have to go somewhere else?“

Dr Rastegar said the clinic was losing patients as it was unable to effectively support the needs of their wealth of patients with so few doctors.

The doctors who operate from the clinic are burnt out and are forced to stay in work-mode beyond their hours in the clinic.

Dr Rastegar finds herself completing scripts and reviewing results late into the night.

“Ten o’clock at night, six o’clock in the morning,“ she said.

“I have to put my kids to bed and then sit down with all of my scripts and results.

“I will get to a level where I leave general practice and go on to insurance paperwork like the other doctors who left.“

The practice has lost three doctors this year.

“Two of them left general practice altogether, because they’re just fed up with Medicare and the government,“ Ms Bell said.

“It’s such a messy situation,“ Dr Rastegar said.

Dr Rastegar said the clinic was functioning effectively when they were able to employ seven doctors.

“We were still booked up, but at least we had four appointments each day where we could fit in sick kids from school or an elderly person with a cough,“ she said.

“We could squeeze in the urgent ones, but now we can’t.“

The lack of doctors operating from the clinic is not due to a lack of interest, but the metropolitan requirements force Dr Rastegar to turn away those who wish to join her.

“We have got a few emailing us saying they’re overseas and they are happy to come and work for us,“ Dr Rastegar said.

“Because we have so many advertisements everywhere.“

The four doctors currently operating from the clinic all came from different suburbs and

brought loyal patients with them, who now contribute to the Pearcedale community by frequenting the cafe and pharmacy.

“We are bringing some business because when they come and see us they go to the cafe or they go to the pharmacy across the road,“ Dr Rastegar said.

“It is not only us, it is the whole community that is suffering.“

Ms Bell and Dr Rastegar reached out to their local politicians for support and to, hopefully, get the ball rolling on a palpable solution.

“I am very thankful for Dr Rastegar and Ms Bell from Pearcedale Medical Centre for taking the time to meet with my office and discuss issues regarding their request for exceptional circumstances assessment of non-Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status,“ Holt MP Cassandra Fernando said.

“As the only General Practice in the township of Pearcedale, Pearcedale Medical Centre is an asset to our community that offers critical healthcare support.”

Ms Fernando admitted the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) indicator, used to identify distribution challenges in Australia’s medical workforce, can sometimes miss critical information.

“The Government recognises that sometimes, an area can face pressures that are not picked up in the DPA assessment,“ she said.

“I have contacted the Minister for Health and Aged Care to seek further information in relation to the Casey South GP catchment’s exceptional circumstances application and I continue to liaise with the Minister’s office regarding the status of their application.

“I am determined that our community receives the healthcare they need, when they need it.“

The duo also reached out to Bass MP Jordan Crugnale, hoping to rally more support for their cause.

“I am fully supportive of the centre’s application to be classified as an Area of Need - they have over 3000 active patients on their register, need more doctors so as to best support the health and wellbeing needs of the local and surrounding communities of Pearcedale,“ Ms Crugnale said.

“I have been working closely with Cassandra Fernando MP, been in discussion with our State Health Minister’s office and offered assistance where required with supporting the Centre’s application.

“Delivering health care close to home is vital and we want to make sure when you need an appointment in your local area you can get one.“

Chisholm joins forces with Wodonga for ADF training

By Sahar Foladi

Chisholm Institute has joined forces with Wodonga Tafe and a consortium to deliver technical trades training to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

Chisholm is part of the National Technical Education Network (NTEN), led by Wodonga TAFE, which was the successful tenderer of the Joint Technical Trades Training Services contract.

The contract, valued at approximately $300 million over the next 5 years, will support the employment of up to 250 dedicated staff across the program.

Currently, Chisholm is going through its recruitment phase, looking out to recruit locally for 70 educators and 14 support roles.

Chief executive, Stephen Varty, said that Chisholm was proud to join together with strategically aligned a consortium of registered training organisations (RTO’s) to deliver this important training.

“We are very excited to be a part of this successful tender and to play a critical role in supporting the courageous personnel of the Australian Defence Force.

“Chisholm’s role will predominantly be to deliver all of the technical trade training to Navy personnel based at HMAS Cerberus in Hastings.”

The work will focus on apprenticeship training in specialised fields such as electrical fitting and fabrication.

The deal will be re-assessed for a further three years followed by a potential two year extension, totalling 10 years.

“It’s a tremendous endorsement for the quality of training delivered by our hardworking and passionate educators at Chisholm and we cannot wait to begin this work from November this year,” Mr Varty said.

This adds to Chisholm’s previous initiatives such as their collaboration with Jobs Victoria, supporting females, CALD individu-

als and middle-age women on Jobseeker, in male-dominated fields such as engineering and manufacturing.

Chisholm’s first female educational manager for the engineering faculty, Avril Switalla, encourages females to take part in these sorts of initiatives.

“I would certainly encourage women to take part in the project if interested in welding as machine operator or fabrication.”

Other members of the NTEN includeTAFE

QLD, University of New England Partnerships, National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Kangan Institute, Charles Darwin University, Kinetic IT, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and South Metropolitan TAFE.

“This announcement shows the enormous confidence that exists in the Victorian and Australian TAFE networks, and we look forward to working closely with our education partners to deliver this vital training,” Mr Varty said.

Grace Adams at the Technical Training Faculty as part of her Electronics Technician initial entry training.

Pictures: JAMES MCDOUGALL Seaman Electronics Technician Michael Furness undertakes a soldering exercise.

Pearcedale Medical Centre. 346959

Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

Pokies reforms welcome

New-announced measures to reduce pokies harm have been welcomed by the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

With Casey reporting a huge net expenditure of $146,366,433.68 in the past 12 months, the new limits may help to lessen the amount of cash lost by players each year.

The expenditure reported for the 12 months between July 2019 and June 2020 was substantially lower, at $98,000,778.71.

The figures continued to rise during the pandemic period, with 2021-2022 reporting $114,664,060.26 in expenditure.

City of Casey Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff PSM said the council is “committed” to “practical and impactful” measured for curbing gambling harm.

“Earlier this year we signed a joint letter to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressing our concerns, and called on the Victorian Government to seize upon the national momentum for progressive gambling reform to protect our communities, and this includes the introduction of mandatory cashless precommitment cards.” she said.

“Council is currently developing a Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy, a commitment made as part of our Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2021–25.

“We take a public health approach to the issue, focusing on primary prevention, education, and support for those most vulnerable to its impacts. As part of our policy development, we will continue to identify measures that will minimise gambling harm in our local context.”

Premier Daniel Andrews on 16 July announced mandatory pre-commitment limits and cards for all gaming machines.

Gamblers’ ‘load-up’ limits will also drop from $1000 to $100, EGM spin rates will slow to three seconds a game, and all pokie venues except Crown Casino will close between 4am10am.

“These reforms will provide the strongest gambling harm preventions and anti-money laundering measures in Australia – we owe it to allVictorians to take this stance and help those experiencing harm turn their lives around,” Mr Andrews said.

The mandatory pre-commitment, carded play and load up limits will be introduced subject to thorough consultation with industry through an implementation working group.

The mandatory closure periods will be en-

forced by mid-2024.

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocateTim Costello said the“significant” reforms were long awaited.

“These reforms appear to be very significant, especially the introduction of mandatory carded play with set loss limits of no more than $100 a day,” Rev. Costello said.

“We still need to see all of the details, but this will go a long way towards minimising

gambling harm in our community as well as reducing the huge amounts of dirty money being laundered through poker machines.”

According to the Government, an estimated 330,000 Victorians experience harm from gambling each year.

Dr Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor and Head of Gambling and Social Determinants Unit at Monash University said the announcement is “very welcome”.

“It will do a great deal to prevent avoidable harm, and it will provide those who wish to use poker machines with a powerful tool to manage their gambling expenditure – both for time and money,” he said.

“This will certainly reduce the uptake of harmful gambling habits and the subsequent disasters that can flow from this – including financial, relationship, mental and physical health, and criminal issues.

“Unfortunately, no timeline has been announced for the major reforms – including the pre-commitment system.”

Dr Livingstone said this is “surprising, given that the voluntary YourPlay system, already operating across all Victorian pokies, could readily be adapted to a universal pre-commitment system”.

“This could be achieved rapidly,” he said.

The government will work with the gambling industry extensively through the proposal, and Dr Livingtone fears this leaves the government susceptible to the “highly skilled influencing” of harmful industries.

“The government should ensure that gambling industry involvement does not slow down the implementation of this overdue development,” he said.

“I appreciate that the government feels the need to consult with industry.

“However, the situation is a little like consulting with a fox on the design of the new henhouse.”

OPINION

Cost of living hitting home

By Helen Small, CNCISS Executive Officer

We hear daily of the difficulties Australians are facing due to the rising cost of living, interest rates and the measures being put in place to notionally reduce inflation, but it seems, out here in Casey, that these difficulties have targeted us - our community - and that we are suffering more than most.

In one day, this week, here at Casey North Community Information and Support Service, we met with a 54-year-old lady who recently lost her job and is now living in her car with her two dogs. We had no housing or even shelter options to offer.

A young mother came to us for help to purchase food. She had her primary school aged child with her, unable to send him to school without the lunch she had no way of supplying.

A family that are paying 60 per cent of their income in rent; it is hard to imagine that the vouchers we gave them to purchase food, assistance to apply for a utility relief grant and part payment of their phone bill will provide a permanent solution for them.

Or the tragic case of a young fellow with ongoing mental health illness, who is struggling to survive on Job Seeker, has no employment prospects, but has no way of paying for the mandatory consults required with a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist needed to prove his eligibility for a disability pension. Wait times for those very few providers that will supply this service for free are now in excess of two years out here.

While the faces change, we are hearing this story in a variety of iterations, hundreds of times each week.

It may seem that these are those unlikely to be fuelling inflation with their ‘extravagant spending’, but they do seem to be the ones bearing the brunt of the current cost of living increases and critical affordable housing shortage.

Sadly too, it seems that their plight may well worsen in the near and foreseeable future. They are already struggling to eat, and most are not able to afford to heat their home - that is those that have a home. What further sacrifices should they be forced to make for the ‘good of all’?

It is important to realise that those in this group are not resilient, they have no reserves and cannot pass their financial pain on to their tenants, reap the benefits of the huge profits being made by the banks, power companies and other big businesses, attract the ridiculously high salaries being paid to our corporate leaders, nor do they have a reserve of funds they can draw on to avert the crisis they face.

If we accept that, across Australia, many low-income earners, casual workers or those who are on benefits; renters or those with a high and recently acquired mortgage; large families, and, of course, those who have no income at all, now face severe financial stress.

We also must ask - why can’t we distribute this financial pain more evenly across our population and why is the problem so much worse out here in Casey?

There are many distinguishing features which, together, combine to make Casey home to a disproportionally large number of men, wom-

LENSCAPE

en and children affected by the current cost of living crisis:

· Casey has the highest proportion of households holding a mortgage (56.2 per cent) of any local government area in Victoria.

· Wearea‘growthcorridor’withhugeamounts of housing under construction and so, greatly impacted by the recent collapse of several major building companies. Remember the news of a ‘close to completion’ house being set on fire following the announcement of the collapse of one of these companies? That house is in Casey!

· Anecdotally too, we hear that houses that are completed are often used for investment purposes and never occupied.

· There is little public or community housing comparative to the numbers found in inner Melbourne suburbs.

· Mortgage rates are five per cent higher in Casey than the Victorian average, rents are also, on average higher, even though people come here to get cheap houses and cheap rent.

· People are more likely to use a car to get to work and to use that car for much longer distances than their inner-city counterparts, often travelling on crowded, slow-moving freeways with few preferable alternate options.

· Casey is geographically large, travel across the area is difficult if you don’t have a car and petrol costs are high.

· Census data shows that, at the time the Census was taken, Casey had the second highest rate of homelessness in the state, and was clearly the winner in the homeless category counting those living in severely overcrowded housing.

· Between the 2016 and 2021 Census, homelessness in Casey increased by 45 per cent as compared to 23 per cent in the rest of the state.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To my staffy who had her first excursion to the beach and had the time of her life. Definitely worth the sandy car.

Thumbs down

To people who comment negative and unfounded abuse on Facebook. Get a life!

Thumbs down

Hampton Park Community House was robbed. Our maintenance man had all his tools stolen from a padlocked storage cupboard.

Thumbs down

For no sewerage in Cranbourne South.

Thumbs up

To Pearcedale Baxter Junior Football Club Volunteers. Running a club of juniors with no club rooms and a makeshift canteen. Without them our kids don’t play. Their efforts do NOT go unnoticed. Go Dales.

Thumbs down

Potholes and no drainage in unsealed roads where needed.

· We need 6800 more affordable houses in Casey to meet the 2021 identified needs of our population, yet the Big Build will only provide 159.

· Casey is an area of high population growth; current data indicates that there are 500 to 600 babies born each month in Casey.

· From 2016 to 2022, an additional 65,683 people moved to Casey, a population increase of 21 per cent.

· Twenty-six per cent of all schools built inVictoria between 2020 and 2022, inclusive, were in Casey.

· Casey is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse local government areas in Australia, with citizens speaking over 120 different languages.

· We are also home to a large Afghan population, most of whom have come to our country on a humanitarian visa with little to no resources at their disposal. Afghani’s form 25 per cent of the Casey North Community and Information Support Service client group overall and over 50 per cent of those who attend our service and who were not born in Australia.

While here in Casey we clearly have more than our fair share of those who are the primary and referred victims of the current cost of living pain, conversely, we have far fewer services than the now, largely gentrified, inner suburbs of Melbourne and certainly far fewer mature, well established and resourced charities, nor the time-tested coordination of those resources, that can be found in the more settled and established suburbs of Melbourne.

Symptoms of stress within our community abound, with one of the saddest being instances of family violence experienced in our area, the rate of which is the highest in the state by a considerable margin.

Casey North Community Information and

Thumbs down

For pot holes in our roads.

Thumbs down

Casey fields dog Park full of mud, smells like sewerage (with green yucky liquid). So many dogs are coming to this park each day and this issue is been going on for months.

Thumbs down

No footpaths on our side of the road - only mud. Festival Terrace.

Support Service has served the local community for the past 26 years, and we see and feel the pain of our community in crisis. We bear the frustration of being unable to provide the permanent solutions our volunteers and professional counselling team could once supply due to the sheer poverty of those presenting for help which no amount of budgeting, counselling, advocacy or one-off assistance or referrals for relief from our community partners can permanently address.

Alongside this, we face the dual impost imposed by the reduction in the real value of the vouchers and goods we offer to support those in need, constrained, as we are, by the inability to offer more due to our growing operating costs which have effectively reduced the value of the funding we receive.

We are currently considering whether we will have to ‘cancel Christmas’ to allow us to fully target the resources we have to emergency relief and crisis supports.

In previous years, we have helped over 200 families with Christmas food hampers and presents for the children. While the goods we distribute are donated, the coordination and giving falls to paid staff and volunteers who are diverted from their usual emergency relief or crisis support roles to provide this service - we cannot afford to do that this year.

Compounding all the above is the reduction in assistance we can levy from our community service partners and philanthropic trusts, all of whom face the same increase in demand and the same reduction in the real value of the funding they receive and supports they usually offer.

While an increase in our funding base, an offer of sponsorship or a surge in our donations would all be of real assistance, financial solutions cannot be the only lever applied to help to lessen the pain individuals and families in Casey are currently experiencing.

Surely policy across all levels of Government could effectively work to shift some of the burden of the increasing cost of living from the shoulders of the already poor to those better resourced to bear the burden without falling into crisis.

And in Casey itself, where the numbers in absolute poverty are higher than elsewhere in the state, can government, charities and philanthropic trusts, please recognise and acknowledge the immense need out here and allocate us our fair share of resources, including community supports and a genuine, commensurate share of funding.

Members of our community deserve to receive the same supports as their counterparts elsewhere, in terms of the timely, professional assistance that they need to help solve the plethora of problems they face and reduce the health, safety and/or well-being deficits they currently experience.

We only ask that government, at all levels, take ownership of this problem, and on a broad scale, act together to disperse the cost of living burden amongst those who can best bear the added load; and for us here in Casey, recognise that the actions or lack of actions they have taken to date with regards to the current cost of living increases, have affected us disproportionally and that we, more than most, need their focused support.

SOCIALLY SPEAKING

Casey Council has unveiled a draft strategy to boost the region’s sub-average amount of tree canopy.

Thefkn Grouch

Maybe if land development was stopped some 20 years ago we would still have green spaces! Who remembers the football grounds that were where the Anaconda Narre Warren site is?

Jindivick local Mary Longden is an internationally successful equestrian coach, yet competition is not the sole driver.

Jo Victoria Mary’s work with Riding for the Disabled, teaching volunteers, giving awesome advice to coaches and helping riders is invaluable. Mary is pictured with another outstanding RDA coach.

Tides out at Cannons Creek. 346997

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Casey’s leading killer

By Emily Chapman Laing

Coronary heart disease is the number one killer in Casey, according to recent data.

The Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare have released their latest documents showing the top 20 causes of death for local government areas.

The overall biggest killer in Casey between 2017-2021 was coronary heart disease (9.7 per cent of deaths).

Accoring to the Heart Foundaiton, coronary heart disease occurs when a coronary artery clogs and narrows because of a buildup of plaque.

Plaque is made of fat, cholesterol and other materials, which builds up inside artery walls and can cause the arteries to narrow and stiffen, reducing blood flow and vital oxygen to your heart muscle.

The Heart Foundation reports many Australian’s are unaware of the plaque build up until they have a heart attack or angina.

Coronary heart disease was likewise number one in Cardinia (10.8 per cent) and Greater Dandenong (10.3 per cent).

Risk factors include unhealthy eating, being physically inactive, smoking, obesity, lack of good social support and age.

Over the five years collated in the report, Casey’s death toll, median age at death and number of premature deaths fluctuated.

In 2017, Casey reported 675 deaths with a median age of 78.4 years and 286 premature deaths.

2019 was Casey’s worst year in the report, with 827 deaths, a median age of 75.5 years and 401 premature deaths.

By 2021, the numbers were beginning to decline as Casey reported 793 deaths, a median age of 77 years and 354 premature deaths.

While the top ten causes of death for males and females were largely the same, there were

some important differences.

The top ten causes of death in males were, coronary heart disease (11.9 per cent), lung cancer (6.6 per cent), dementia (6.2 per cent), cerebrovascular disease (3.9 per cent), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.6 per cent), diabetes (3.6 per cent), suicide (3.4 per cent), prostate cancer (3.3 per cent), colorectal cancer (3.3. per cent) and heart failure (2.5 per cent).

Coronary heart disease was also the num-

ber one killer for males in Cardinia (13 per cent) and Greater Dandenong (12.1 per cent).

In females, the top ten leading causes of death were dementia (12.7 per cent), coronary heart disease (7.4 per cent), cerebrovascular disease (6.1 per cent), lung cancer (5.3 per cent), breast cancer (4.7 per cent), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.5 per cent), colorectal cancer (3.7 per cent), diabetes (2.9 per cent), accidental falls (2.9 per cent) and heart failure (2.6 per cent).

Dementia was likewise the number one killer for females in Cardinia (11.2 per cent) and Greater Dandenong (14 per cent).

Females had numerous diseases in their top 20, which men did not have.

These included hypertensive disease (1.5 per cent), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissues (1.3 per cent), ovarian cancer (1.5 per cent), uterine cancer (1.5 per cent), cardiac arrhythmia (1.5 per cent) and pancreatic cancer (2.1 per cent).

Hypertensive disease, or high blood pressure, develops earlier and faster in women than in men, according to a study done by non-profit healthcare organisation CedarsSinai.

The study also showed women’s blood vessels age faster than men’s.

Males had reported deaths due to suicide (3.4 per cent), liver cancer (1.5 per cent), liver disease (2 per cent), brain cancer (1.6 per cent) and accidental poisoning (1.5 per cent), which were not present in the female data.

According to the Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF), there are five key risk factors for male suicide.

These include relationships, where men who commit suicide are more likely to be single or recently separated, and unemployment, where unemployed men are reported to be nearly ten times more likely to commit suicide than employed men.

AMHF reports as many as 1 in 5 male suicides are linked to problems with finances and 1 in 2 suicides are linked to physical health problems.

An Australian Burden of Disease study revealed men account for 87 per cent of deaths from alcohol related suicides, with around 40 per cent of male suicides linked to alcohol and drug problems and 4 out of 5 male suicides being associated with alcohol and substance abuse.

Coronary heart disease is the number one killer in Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong.

Kinders are welcomed

Bass MP Jordan Crugnale welcomes the Andrews Labor Government’s efforts to curb the double drop off by offering kinder facilities on or near school grounds.

“Our landmark investments are delivering quality early childhood education for local families, building hundreds of new kinders on or near local schools and making life easier for busy parents and carers,“ she said.

“Early design works are now underway which will give more families across our community easier access to quality early years education and make the transition to school easier.

“Importantly also, they will make sure that even more children in our growing communities will have access to the lifelong benefits of kinder.”

Ms Crugnale announced Devon Meadows Primary School as one of 12 new or expanded kindergartens set to open in early 2025 on Monday 17 July.

The new facilities are expected to deliver“vital“ new places to help ensure local children get “the best start in life“ as the community continues to grow.

Students inspired

Year 7, 8, and 9 students at Hampton Park Secondary College were treated to a remarkable experience as they gathered to witness a captivating presentation by the acclaimed Aboriginal musician and motivational speaker, Scott Darlow on Monday 10 July.

With his exceptional musical talent, magnetic stage presence, and compelling life story, the Yorta Yorta musician captivated the hearts and minds of the young audience.

“Hampton Park Secondary College takes great pride in being a diverse school that celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures within its student body,“ said Cultural Diversity Coordinator Sally Carruthers.

“Among these diverse cultures, the Aboriginal heritage holds immense significance, and it is crucial that we honour and celebrate the traditions, history, and contributions of our Aboriginal students and community members.

“Recognising and celebrating Aboriginal culture not only fosters a sense of belonging and pride among our Indigenous students but also enhances the understanding and appre-

ciation of all students for the diverse cultures that exist within our school and the wider community.“

Excitement rippled through the air as the auditorium filled with eager students from Hampton Park Secondary College.

The anticipation was palpable, and the stage was adorned with musical instruments, creating an immersive environment.

Mr Darlow kicked off the presentation with a captivating musical performance, skilfully blending his exceptional guitar playing and mesmerising vocals.

The students were instantly drawn into the magic of his music.

Mr Darlow’s songs carried messages of resilience, unity, and the power of self-expression, leaving a profound impact on the young minds.

As the performance continued, Mr Darlow opened up about his personal journey, sharing stories of triumph and overcoming challenges.

He emphasised the importance of perseverance, even when faced with obstacles, and urged the students to embrace resilience in

their own lives.

By narrating his own struggles,Mr Darlow fostered a sense of empathy and connection among the students, inspiring them to navigate their own challenges with courage and determination.

An essential message in Mr Darlow’s presentation was the power of self-belief.

He urged the students to dream big, set audacious goals, and believe in their abilities to achieve them.

Mr Darlow shared personal anecdotes and empowering stories, reminding the students that their dreams are within reach if they have the courage to pursue them.

He encouraged them to silence their inner critic and embrace the limitless potential within themselves.

Mr Darlow’s presentation at Hampton Park Secondary College was a transformative experience for the Year 7, 8, and 9 students.

The students left the auditorium with a renewed a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture.

Clyde North’s new Alexander Boulevard Primary (interim name) will welcome a kinder opening in 2025.

The project is part of the $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reform, an effort by the Labor Government to make sure every new primary school has a kindergarten on-site or next door.

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 is investing an additional $1.2 billion by building or expanding around 145 kindergartens – supporting the delivery of 15 hours of free Three-Year-Old Kindergarten each week by 2029 and 30 hours of free Pre-Prep each week by 2032.

Young hockey star defies odds and neurological setback

Narre Warren North champion hockey player Eve Carter has remarkably overcome a neurological condition that posed a risk to her life and limbs and has made the state schools hockey team in what doctors say has been an extraordinary recovery.

Eve Carter was 14 when she started to experience tingling and numbness in her hands and feet, and back pain.

It was only her mum Julie’s intuition and experience with another family member who had a neurological issue that prompted her to seek medical help.

The family went to Monash Health at Clayton where an MRI was performed and they were told that Eve was suffering from a chiari malformation.

This is a condition where the lowest part of the brain at the base of the skull bulges through the opening that meets the spinal canal.

A chiari 1 malformation is not a particularly uncommon condition and most are detected by accident, rather than because of the symptoms.

However, in a smaller percentage of more severe cases, development of a syrinx, or fluid filled cyst in the spinal cord can occur over time, which is what Eve had.

Left without treatment, a syrinx can prog-

ress to the point of damaging the spinal cord by compressing the nerve fibres that carry information to and from the brain.

Symptoms include numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, sore neck and can also lead to muscle weakness.

Symptoms can develop insidiously and initially be easily missed.

Eve’s syrinx was so extensive, extending

from her upper cervical cord to the lower thoracic cord, that she was admitted to hospital directly and underwent surgery the next day.

Monash Health neurosurgeon, Dr Juliet Clayton operated on Eve and said while the condition itself is not rare, the severity of Eve’s syrinx at presentation was quite unusual.

“It was clear that Eve would require surgery to decompress her chiari malformation and prevent the syrinx from becoming even worse,“ she said.

“I was worried enough about the size and extent of the syrinx that I felt she should stay in hospital to have the surgery urgently rather than wait any longer.

“Eve was at risk of developing further potentially irreversible neurological signs in her arms without surgery and our team were keen to get on with surgery to enable Eve to return to her passion, her hockey, as soon as possible without any further opportunity for neurological progression”.

Patients with a chiari malformation are usually advised not to play high impact contact sports, due to the small possibility of a significant neurological injury in the context of the crowding and loss of fluid space at the junction between the brain and spinal cord, associated with this diagnosis.

When Eve learnt of her diagnosis and the need for surgery, she was devastated at the thought of not being able to play hockey, especially as she had a very important tournament coming up just the next week which she would not be able to participate in.

However, following uncomplicated surgery and a few weeks of recovery Eve was back to playing the sport she loves and has set her sights high.

Now at 15, she has already made the state school representative team and recently played with the Southern Sharks Junior State Championship team.

“Amazingly, Eve was back playing hockey three months later and is now completely cured,“ Dr Clayton said.

“Her recovery was faster than we all thought it would be.“

Eve’s mum, Julie said it still frightens her to think about what could have happened.

“Eve was just one knock away from potentially being paralysed, or worse,” she said.

“It’s not like she had severe symptoms where we immediately knew something was wrong.

“It was gradual, and could easily have been mistaken for something less serious.”

Eve wears a big grin as part of her hockey uniform. 346073 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

L-R: Devon Meadows Primary School Principal Kristy Miller, school captains and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Scott Darlow at Hampton Park Secondary College in 2021. 227579

Narre Warren Psychic and Wellbeing Expo

Come and enjoy an inspiring and relaxing day with stall holders offering a range of services and products to indulge your senses.

Free workshops throughout the day including mediumship demonstrations, readings: psychic mediumship, tarot, intuitive, readings, massage, crystals, giftware, clothing, books, natural healing and products, jewellery, soy candles and much more.

· Purchase tickets at the door: $5 adults, kids aged under-12 free.

· Sunday 23 July 10am to 6pm, Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.

Casey Philharmonic Orchestra

The Orchestra is currently preparing a selection of big screen movie themes from Marvel, DC and more for their upcoming concert, ‘Villains and Superheroes’ this month.

In keeping with the orchestra’s approach to making orchestral music relatable and engaging for everyone, audience members are encouraged to join in the fun and come dressed as their favourite hero or villain, with prizes, giveaways and a themed photo zone on offer at the event.

A finalist at this year’s Casey Community Awards, Casey Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) facilitates unique artistic opportunities in Melbourne’s outer south-east, and prides itself on performing orchestral music of the highest calibre for the enjoyment of audiences and musicians alike.

“We’ve undertaken an ambitious program of events in recent years, and have consistently attracted sizeable, enthusiastic audiences”, said Anthony Ware, President of CPO.

“The Bunjil Place performance of our 2022 ‘Star Wars Extravaganza’ tour was a complete sell out at this venue, a remarkable achievement for a community orchestra, so I would certainly recommend you purchase your tickets early for ‘Villains and Superheroes’.”

CPO’s ‘Villains and Superheroes’ will descend upon the Bunjil Place theatre, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren on Sunday, 30 July with the show commencing at 2.30pm.

· Tickets are available at www.cpo.org.au/ events and the latest event news can be found on CPO’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Nesian Fest 2.0

Join City of Casey as they support our young local Maori and Pasifika artists in the south east. Hear the stories of these young Polynesian creatives as they express themselves through spoken word, rap, music and dance.

Maui’s snack bar will be in the plaza serving up tasty Polynesian food and drinks all night.

· Bunjil Place Studio, Friday 28 July, 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm.

Berwick Neighbourhood Centre Play and Grow and Child care Open Day

Come along to find out more about the centre’s 3 year old Play and Grow and Childcare sessions for 2024.

Speak to educators, explore the surroundings and make a booking for your child.

If you are looking for more time beyond the council single 5 hour session for 3 year olds come and join Berwick Neighbourhood Centre in 2024.

CCS funding is available for all sessions.

For further details call 9769 1970 or email childrenservices@berwicknc.com.au

· 112 High Street, Berwick, on 29 July, 10am11.30am

Berwick Activities Club

As the club heads into its 31st year it wishes to welcome new members to join in the many activities on offer such as New Vogue Dancing, which will see you moving in no time.

Social Wednesdays where you can join in Carpet Bowls, cards, Scrabble and Table Tennis. Take the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy yourself.

Membership is only 10 dollars with a $5 weekly attendance fee which includes morning tea.

· For more information phone David on 0433566456 or Bruce 0447554475

Conversational English

Improve your confidence in reading, writing, and speaking English in this small friendly class each Tuesday afternoon during school terms.

$5 per term (10 weeks).

· Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays, 12:30pm-2:30pm

Narre Warren Psychic and Wellbeing Expo

Come and enjoy an inspiring and relaxing day with stall holders offering a range of services and products to indulge your senses.

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody

Without a doubt, Queen is amongst the greatest rock bands of the twentieth century and Freddie Mercury is hailed by many as the most charismatic and flamboyant performer in contemporary rock.

Now, fresh off the heels of the successful Bohemian Rhapsody movie, comes an all new Queen tribute show from well-known Australian Freddie Mercury impersonator Thomas Crane. Thomas, with his hot band Bohemian Rhapsody, bring back to life the visual excitement, sound and stage energy as witnessed at a Queen concert.

See all your favourite Queen hits like We Will Rock You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, A Kind of Magic, I Want To Break Free, Another One Bites the Dust and of course Bohemian Rhapsody.

Come and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of supergroup Queen at Bunjil Place Theatre.

· Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren on Friday 28 July, 8pm-10:20pm.

Pilates

Do you want to improve your posture, increase your core strength, increase your energy, improve your flexibility and mobility and decrease stress?

Pilates focuses on increasing core strength and tone of abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks.

Classes held Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. $90 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 2, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays 1pm2pm and Wednesdays 7:30pm-8:30pm

Christmas in July

The Christmas in July Night Market is back for 2023! Head to Akoonah Park on Friday July 28 to enjoy a magical Christmas-themed night market experience.

Try some delicious food and drinks, browse a huge range of exciting stalls, listen to some live music, and take in the unique local market atmosphere.

· Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick on Friday 28 July, 4pm-9pm.

Winter Plant Sale

Join the Cranbourne Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Growing Friends Group for their winter plant sale.

Free workshops throughout the day including mediumship demonstrations, readings: psychic mediumship, tarot, intuitive, readings, massage, crystals, giftware, clothing, books, natural healing and products, jewellery, soy

This event is a great opportunity to purchase some gorgeous greenery while taking in the stunning Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

A large variety of Australian native plants will be available.

A plant list will be available on the Growing Friends website approximately a week before the sale.

EFTPOS will be available.

The plant sale will be held at the northern end of the Australian Garden.

Parking and entry is available nearby (look for the large red banners).

Plant sale dates: Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd July, 2023

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July from 10am4pm.

· Times: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on both days

Beginners Yoga

Balla Balla holds a beginners yoga class that incorporates gentle exercise, breath control and meditation.

The health benefits of regular yoga practice may include lowering blood pressure, improved posture and circulation, and a sense of wellbeing.

Classes available on Thursday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

$85 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 1, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Thursdays, 5:30pm-6:45pm and 7pm-8:15pm.

Get Your Art On

Balla Balla’s new Children’s Art program will develop your child’s confidence and enhance their creative ability in producing their own unique art work.

Children’s Art will explore colour theory, mixed media, simple printing techniques, watercolour painting and so much more.

Classes held after school on Monday afternoons commencing 24th July.

$96 per term (8 weeks).

· Hall 2, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd,Clyde North on Mondays,4:30pm5:45pm

Computers for the Home

& Workplace

A basic computer course for Beginners and Se-

candles and much more.

Purchase tickets at the door: $5 adults, kids aged under-12 free.

· Sunday 23 July 10am to 6pm, Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.

niors, which will help you understand the basics of using Microsoft Windows, understanding the Cloud, and browsing the internet safely. Learn about sending & receiving emails, creating and using documents and spreadsheets, interacting with social media, downloading photos, and shopping online within a comfortable, nurturing environment with like-minded learners. Commencing 21st July on Fridays for 8 weeks. $25 for the 8 weeks.

· The Lounge, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Fridays, 10am12:30pm

Cranbourne U3A

Classes are back in full swing for Term 3 with some exciting new classes about to commence. U3A has a lovely craft called “quilling“ where members make beautiful cards and notelets using rolled paper.

They also have Scrabble, playing cards and Tai Chi groups about to begin.

Tutors available to teach art using various mediums.

A variety of crafts can be enjoyed including knitting, patchwork and sewing, card making, and calligraphy.

Chess, line dancing and table tennis are operating too.

The Open Singing group has been happily running this year and always welcomes new voices.

If you would like to play the Ukelele, the group are playing beautiful music on Monday mornings from 10am.

There is also have an Italian class.

If you would like to tutor a class, contact U3A with details of your talents, new opportunities are welcome.

· For more information visit: wwwu3acranbourne. org.au or contact Helen on 0423 623 337

Zumba

Do you want to burn calories and blast away fat?

Do you want to de-stress, improve your co-ordination, boost your heart health and meet others wanting to improve their fitness levels?

Zumba is aimed at all ages and fitness levels. Classes held Tuesday evenings.

$80 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 1, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays 6:30pm7:15pm

Picture: GENERIC

Halcyon Berwick – Final Release

Less than 25 houses remaining

A lifestyle community designed for over 50s, Halcyon Berwick has no deferred management fees, stamp duty, entry or exit fees.

Since launching in 2022, Halcyon Berwick has seen a fantastic response from the local area and is now on the verge of selling out. With a brand-new clubhouse, modern homes and a community that grows every month, it’s easy to see why the response to Halcyon Berwick has been so positive. Featuring multiple 2 and 3 bedroom floorplans with prices starting from $550K*, Halcyon Berwick has a home to cater for any lifestyle.

This is your last chance to purchase new at Halcyon Berwick. If you’d like to see first-hand what makes Victoria’s first Halcyon community so special, register to attend our next discovery tour or make a private appointment.

Halcyon Berwick

You Can Trust

excellence of care for our clients for today and the future. to for NDIS Disability Care. Evergreen Disability Care to caring that you can trust. desire with real Capacity Building and Community access planning. creating a culture of growth by reaching your goals our great Support Workers.

THE LOWDOWN

Q&A

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I have performed (sang) on stage to a packed Federation Square.

What do you love the most about your job?

I love helping others achieve more. By sharing their story and creating emotional connection it makes magic happen.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

I would be an owl. I’m detail-oriented, enjoy learning and good at problem-solving. What would your last meal be?

You can’t beat a home cooked meal. Roast meat & veg - crispy crackle and potatoes!

What was your most memorable moment?

Recently seeing Ricky Gervais live in Vienna, Austria.

What were you like as a kid?

I was a quiet achiever. Anxiety stopped me from doing a lot - I’m glad that I’ve learnt to manage that now and I encourage everyone to get outside their comfort zones.

What event, past or present, would you like to witness?

I would’ve loved to be in London for the coronation of King Charles III. It would’ve been an exciting time in London, one of my favourite places.

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

Ricky Gervais, Peter McKinnon (Filmmaker/YouTuber), Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Rotary International President Gordon McInally.

What are you currently listening to/watching or reading?

I’ve recently finished watching Ozark - incredible show.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Ambitious, honest and kind.

with Casey Rotary Club President Ben Plunkett

THREE … ways to Christmascelebrate in July

While Australian’s celebrate Christmas on 25 December, the yearly festivities held around 25 July are an added bonus of the Christmas spirit set in the holiday’s true season of winter. Here are a few ways you can celebrate.

1

Throw a Yuletide party

The long nights and cold days can make winter a dreary time for many. Bring warmth and joy back into the chilly season by hosting a Christmas themed party, complete with decorations, carols and delicious holiday themed foods.

2

BenrecentlybecamethenewPresidentoftheRotaryClubofCasey.

Where is your happy place?

In the mountains listening to a waterfall and surrounding nature.

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

3

Picture:SUPPLIED

I would cook a delicious, perfectly put together, burger & chips.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

Watching and capturing the Northern Lights in Norway.

Go ice-skating

There might not be fluffy white snow coating the ground, or naturally frozen lakes of ice, but there are ice-skating rinks! Pack on the protective gear and some thermals and head to your nearest ice rink to experience the magic of gliding along the ice.

Have a Christmas movie marathon

Pick a particularly frosty winter night to sit snuggled under some blankets with your favourite Christmas movies. Extra points if you’re snacking on homemade gingerbread men while you

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Winter foot and leg pain

The cold weather can affect our bodies in various ways, but it can have a particular impact on our feet and legs, which we rely on for so much of our daily activity.

But why? We spoke to one of Australia’s most experienced musculoskeletal podiatrists, Dr Paul Dowie from Foot and Leg Pain Clinics, to get some insights on how the cold weather affects pain and injuries and what you can do to help.

“Winter doesn’t have to be synonymous with increased foot and leg pain. However, cold temperatures can impact your pain and injuries, particularly in the feet, ankles, and knees. Cold weather can constrict blood vessels, reduce blood flow and circulation, increase joint and tissue stiffness, aggravate pain, injuries, and arthritic conditions, affect mobility, and increase the risk of injuries.

Wet and icy conditions also increase the risk of slips and falls,“ says Dr Dowie.

To combat these issues, Dr. Dowie recommends the following:

· Staying active. Rug up and walk, go to the gym, an indoor heated pool, or use a home exercise bike. Exercise improves blood flow and circulation, assisting with aches, pains, and stiffness.

· Stretching or yoga. These can assist flexibility and mobility of joints and tissues.

· Be cautious outside when wet or icy. Wear shoes with good traction and support.

· Consider support products for existing inju-

Diabetes support program

According to Diabetes Australia, people with diabetes experience increased rates of anxiety and depression compared to people without diabetes.

This can result in poor health outcomes due to decreased motivation to follow effective diet, exercise and adherence to medication practices. It’s important to seek support in a timely manner to avoid negative long term complications such as heart, kidney, vision and nerve damage.

ries e.g. knee/ankle braces or strapping.

· If you’re spending more time at home, indoors, make sure you wear comfortable, supportive shoes. Socks and slippers can contribute to bad foot posture or slips and falls.

· Dress appropriately by wearing warm, layered clothing, thermal socks, and waterproof footwear to maintain body heat.

· If you have persistent or recurring foot or leg pain, seek professional advice from a lower limb musculoskeletal expert.

If you need assistance with foot and leg pain or injuries, you can see Dr Dowie at his Berwick clinic or other locations across Melbourne. Call 1300 328 300.

The City of Casey is reported to have some of the highest rates of diabetes in Melbourne. On a positive note it was also identified as having some areas with lower rates. Casey also has a high migrant population whose diets and genetic make up can put them at increased risk of developing diabetes compared to the general population. People with diabetes would benefit from programs to help them increase their knowledge about the impact of poorly managed diabetes. This information would aid in better self management of their condition, thereby improving their health and well being. Diabetes self management programs have been shown to help participants adopt a whole person approach.

The Living Well with Diabetes program will give participants an opportunity to address some of the lifestyle and psychological barriers to better diabetes management. There is also the added bonus of the emotional support from others.

Some of the areas of frustration expressed by people with diabetes were not being able to see diabetic clinicians and specialists for long enough during consultations due to time constraints.

They also spoke about having to wait

for weeks and sometimes months to get appointments. This can lead to a further deterioration in their physical and mental health. Diabetes Self Management programs are conducted over a two-hour period with the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment.

Some past participants of the program spoke of feeling more empowered to better manage their Diabetes after the information gained during the program. Others reported feeling less burdened by having diabetes. They credit applying the strategies learnt during the program for their change in mindset.

These sessions will be conducted by a counsellor with experience in working with people with Diabetes. Let’s work together for a healthier Casey.

Diabetes Self Management programs are available at the Lynbrook Community Centre every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. Call Marcia from Glen Counselling on 0451 192 428 to register.

Diabetes Self Management Program

At the Lynbrook Community Centre every Sat from 2.00 to 4.00

Are you tired of feeling frustrated with your blood sugar levels? Feeling anxious and depressed at constantly having to think about what to eat? Finding it difficult to stick to a food or exercise plan? This program is for you!

Topics covered include: Managing anxiety and depression.

Strategies to address the impact of stress on blood sugar levels. Smart goal setting to help achieve positive outcomes with medication and blood sugar management. Identifying areas of Diabetes Distress and ways to assist with addressing them. Emotional support from other people with Diabetes.

Interested?

Contact Marcia on 0451 192 428 to register

Cost: $50.00 Group limited to 15 people per session

Marcia Knipe from Glen Counselling.

Assistance with foot and leg pain or injuries, you can see Dr. Dowie at his Berwick clinic.

New leaders growing well

Casey left the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) 2023 Annual Horticultural Industry Awards Night glowing with pride after Cranbourne East resident Olumuyiwa Akintola Elliott and Narre Warren East business Speciality Trees were awarded for their outstanding contributions and achievements within the horticultural industry.

Cranbourne East resident and Dandenong Garden City Plastics’ employee Olumuyiwa Akintola Elliott was namedYoung Horticulture Leader of the Year at the prestigious awards ceremony.

Mr Akintola Elliott was acknowledged for his capability, commitment, and vision, to become a future leader.

He received the award from NGIV CEO, Craig Taberner, who thanked him for his dedication to the Victorian horticulture industry.

Through the application process it became clear that Akintola Elliott had an “unwavering commitment to continuous learning and research”.

“As a category manager, I have interacted extensively with growers across Victoria and Australia – from propagation nurseries in far north Queensland to large tree growers in southeast Victoria,” Mr Akintola Elliott said in his application for the award.

“As I continue to develop and demonstrate leadership qualities, my goal is to continue to inspire change within my industry and that has an everlasting effect.

With hard work, dedication, leadership skills and exceptional contributions in Horticulture, I believe I make an ideal candidate for Young Horticulture Leader of the Year honour – not only as recognition for my own achievements but as motivation to young migrants, students, and emerging horticulturists in my industry.”

Narre Warren East’s Speciality Trees took

home two of the night’s most illustrious awards.

Speciality Trees were recognised with the Commitment to Environmental Stewardship Award and the Horticulture Student of theYear Award, which was awarded to Speciality Trees employee and Swinburne University of Technology student, Jacob Chizik.

Speciality Trees operates on 3 different nursery sites in Victoria, producing trees in a variety of ways, utilising sustainable horticultural management techniques.

Their application for the award outlined the values underpinning their practices.

They pride themselves on “understanding the environmental aspects and impacts of business activities upon the community and industry in which [they] operate, changing the

way [they] operate through innovation, development and technology and ensuring at all times that both staff and external contractors are aware of [their] expectations”.

Mr Chizik was acknowledged for his career and study achievements, team and communication skills, and his ability to be a representative for the horticulture industry.

Through the application process it became clear that Mr Chizik had an “an appreciation for how horticulture draws upon many elements to bring a quality product to the market”.

“This industry is part of the solution for climate change, and we need to grow and plant more green life,” Mr Chizik said in his application.

“This makes horticulture a forward-moving

and vibrant industry to be involved in.

“It is important to recognise that we all work with living things that need specific requirements to thrive in the environment, as well as routine care and maintenance for long-term survivability, functionality, and enjoyment.”

The Victorian horticultural industry contributes more than $2.5 billion annually to the economy.

Industry members continue to play their part in supporting the state and the national economy, environment, and community.

The NGIV said it is “through recognising high achieving members, as well as those setting exceptional standards” the nation moves towards further developing the Victorian industry as a leader across the country.

Garden City Plastics employee and Cranbourne East resident, Olumuyiwa Akintola Elliott. Pictures: SUPPLIED Speciality Trees team, Ben Scoble, Gaby Mitchell and Hamish Mitchell.

Speciality Trees employee, Jacob Chizik.

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RETAINING WALLS

ANTENNA MAN

Notification under Water Act 1989

An application has been made to Melbourne Water for a permanent storm water licence for irrigation purposes for 60 Megalitres of water which may affect you.

Details of the application are as follows:

Application address: Casey Fields – 160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East

The application is for: 60 Megalitres

ECONOMY TILING

General Notices

Public Notice

From:Clyde Creek Main Drain Diversion location:160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East

The applicant’s name is: City of Casey Melbourne Water’s File No: 462/371/5000

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at: Melbourne Water Unit 1/88 Merrindale Dve Croydon South, Vic 3136

This can be done during office hours by appointment and is free of charge. For an appointment please telephone 131 722. Any person who may be affected by the granting of this application may object or make other submissions to Melbourne Water.

Any objections must:

• be in writing,

• include reasons for the objection,

• state how the objector will be affected and

• be mailed to Melbourne Water at PO Box 4342, Melbourne, Vic, 3001. Any response is requested within 30 days from the date of this notification. Should a response not be received within this period, Melbourne Water may determine the application.

Note:

Are you experienced in sales and enjoy dealing with customers over the phone?

TELEPHONE SALES Inbound/Outbound

We are looking for new team members to join our team. Do you like talking to people over the phone, building rapport and great relationships?

If you are a motivated and reliable individual who loves a challenge and enjoys a fast-paced, deadline-driven team environment we want to hear from you. Work close to home with free onsite parking at our office in Pakenham. Your day will be kept busy servicing existing clients and making cold outbound calls to gain new business.

Experience in advertising sales is an advantage, but not essential.

To apply send your resume with covering letter to: Classified Advertising Manager sales@networkclassifieds.com.au

the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.

City of Casey Bunjil Place

2 Patrick Northeast Drive NARRE WARREN

This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Documents can also be viewed on Council’s website:

Any private or public notification must provide the owners or occupiers of the nature of the proposal (ie what is proposed), time available for comments or objections (30 days) and the address to which any such comments or objections should be forwarded to Melbourne Water, P O Box 4342, Melbourne, Vic, 3001.

https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/viewplanning-applications

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.

An objection must:

•be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to, Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805 or emailed to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au

• include the application number and site address

• include the reasons for the objection, and

• state how the objector would be affected.

The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 4 August 2023

If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of its decision.

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DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL

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

$29 .00

•All advertisements must be pre-paid. For $29.00 you get a 4 line, ONE ITEM ONLY advertisement, restricted to “For Sale” or “Motoring” items only for private advertisers, run initially for 13 weeks or until sold. Additional lines will be charged at $3 per line per publication.

•After your advertisement has run for 13 weeks you must call us each fortnight to renew it for a further 2 week period AND reduce the price of your item by a minimum 5% for items in the “For Sale” section or 3% for items in the “Motoring” section. This process may continue until you have sold your item. If we do not hear from you we will assume you have sold your item and your advertisement will not appear.

• The sale price must be included in the advertisement and the only alterations you may make are to the PRICE of your item.

• Business advertisements, rental hire, pets & livestock and real estate are not included in the offer.

• The publisher reserves the right to decline any booking for the purpose of ongoing gain.

12620877-ET29-23

SPORT Eagles lose ugly slogfest

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Cranbourne has gone down in an ugly slogfest to premiership favourites Cheltenham.

With light rain falling in a low scoring grand final rematch, Cranbourne never led after conceding the first two goals of the game.

The margin sat at about the one-to-two goal markforthemajorityofthecontestastheRosellas generally responded straight after an Eagles goal gave the visitors a sniff at Jack Barker Oval.

Matt Alister kicked a goal early in the last quarter to tie the scores up at 40 apiece, but that would be the Eagles’ last, with Cheltenham banging home the final three.

Missing full forward Marc Holt, Cranbourne lacked a big presence inside 50 all day and couldn’t execute their plan with their entry kicks.

Skipper and key defender Brandon Osborne returned for his first game in a month in time for an enticing duel with league leading goal kicker Josh Fox.

Fox, who rotated through the ruck, took three marks inside 50 and finished with two goals, including the match-winner but Brandon Osborne won some critical one-on-one battles.

Both teams brought high pressure and were willing to get to work in the clinches with repeat stoppages the flavour of the day.

Jarryd Barker won plenty of the footy and Dylan Cavalot was named among the best but Cheltenham was able to match Cranbourne’s hardness and deny them easy exits from stoppage.

Another key part of Cheltenham’s victory was their ability to slingshot between the arcs when they intercepted in defence.

When Cheltenham dictated play, it was off the back of their speedy ball movement, set up by the halfbacks, which gave their forwards good looks ahead of the footy.

Glenn Osborne was named best on ground but it was fellow defender Andrew Green who caught the eyes of several watchers from both sides with his spark off halfback.

The result all but sews up top spot for Cheltenham.

“It was a slogfest but sometimes they’re the games you need,” Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien said.

“The guys needed that contest just to prime us up going into the bye.

“It was a tough contested game and not the greatest spectacle.

“We give ourselves a chance, we know our best footy’s good enough, we rate this side so highly.

“They’re well organised out on thee ground. We have a bit to improve on to challenge them when the whips are cracking but I think we’ve shown we can do that.”

NO HOLT NO METHOD

IntheabsenceofHolt,RyanJones,ChrisRamac, Alister and ruck Michael Boland were among the Eagles to play as the deepest forward.

Dickson remained in his natural centre-halfforward position all day.

The premiership goal kicker’s absence was front and centre from the first minute.

Cranbourne broke away from the first centre bounce and went inside 50, having the ball in their forward end for the first two minutes, with three kicks to dangerous spots but no mark pulled in. No one was able to stand up and have scoreboard impact, though the delivery early wasn’t suited to an attack that lacked its biggest player – both in size and reputation.

Cheltenham threatened with their ability to pick off the high ball and either intercept and go or get it to ground level and chain out through hands.

At the first break, midfielder Zak Roscoe implored his teammates to lower the eyes and hit up targets while composure was the coach’s phrase of choice.

But the pressure on the ball carrier made it difficult for kicks forward to have directive in a game with limited free flowing play.

It took a Glenn Osborne smother when numbers were in Cheltenham’s forward end of the ground for Cranbourne to get a two-on-two look inside 50, which Dickson cashed in on.

In the second half there was a willingness to go to open space with the entry kicks and back themselves at a stoppage inside 50.

But the deviation from the usual method of operations proved one which was too big to overcome.

Cranbourne scored three goals via free kicks, two from quick kicks inside 50s to even numbers to the advantage of the forward and Ramac opened the scoring with a pearler in open play from 50.

EMERGING DEFENDER

With each game he plays, Green looks a more confident and established member of the Cranbourne lineup.

The Officer local from Northern Australia played for the NT Thunder in the Coates Talent League earlier this year and was a reasonable contributor in a team that lost its three games by an average margin of 136 points.

In a much more successful Cranbourne team, he’s been able to showcase his weapons, taking the game on when exiting defensive 50.

He was willing to get high up the ground to help lock the ball in Cranbourne’s forward half and the teenager’s marking and read of the ball in flight round off his game nicely.

At one stage in the third quarter, he put his head over it to try and win a hard ball in Cranbourne’s forward 50 and won a free kick.

When he went back and nailed the set shot, all 17 of his teammates got around him to celebrate his first goal. Halfbacks that can create are a key part of the modern game and Green’s certainly got that and more.

““He’s a good young player,” O’Brien said.

“He gives us plenty of drive. He’s a nice kid and has really embraced our footy club and we’ve embraced him. He’s a fairly quiet boy but he’s a good kid to have around.

“He’s a good defender but gives us a fair bit of drive and he’s got a good left foot coming out of the back half and uses the ball pretty well.”

Meanwhile, Springvale Districts escaped with a draw against Dingley.

Shakore Bragg-Taylor had the ball outside 50 with about 20 seconds remaining and launched it to the line where it came off hands and narrowly missed the behind post to level things up.

Cam Dickie took the kick out, his attempted torpedo coming off the side of the boot and travelling just 40 metres but fortuitously ending up in Dingley hands before the siren sounded.

Brody Ledder was the clear best on ground for the Dees providing drive off halfback, while Mason Russell laid some important tackles in the dying stages.

Springvale Districts came from three goals down in the last quarter, shifting the way they moved the ball and moving some magnets to get back in the contest.

Dingley’s Kristen Feehan had the job on Matt Wetering, keeping him to one goal, but Wetering was playing injured after the first quarter.

Results R13: Chelsea Heights 6.14 50 v Mordialloc 10.5 65, Cheltenham 8.11 59 v Cranbourne

6.6 42, St Kilda City 1.4 10 v St Paul’s McKinnon

24.19 163, Dingley 6.11 47 v Springvale Districts

7.5 47, Bentleigh 12.12 84 v Port Melbourne Colts 12.14 86

Ladder: Cheltenham 48, Cranbourne 40, Springvale Districts 38, Port Melbourne Colts 36, Dingley 34, St Paul’s McKinnon 28, Mordialloc 16, Chelsea Heights 8, Bentleigh 8, St Kilda City 4.

Fixture R14: Mordialloc v Dingley, Port Melbourne Colts v Cheltenham, Cranbourne v St Paul’s McKinnon, St Kilda City v Chelsea Heights, Springvale Districts v Bentleigh

Premiership heroes to play three games at Casey Fields

By Marcus Uhe

Reigning AFLW premiers Melbourne will play three fixtures at Casey Fields in the upcoming 2023 season, with the fixture for the next campaign finally announced on Monday 17 July.

The Demons will unfurl the premiership flag in a blockbuster season opener against Collingwood in round one at IKON Park on Friday 1 September, before clashes in round three, round six and round nine at Casey later in the premiership defence.

Original AFLW clubs Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Fremantle will all make the trip to Cranbourne, on Saturday 16 September, Saturday 7 October and Saturday 28 October, respectively.

The home and away fixture will run for 10 weeks before a four-week finals structure.

Other showcase events include a Thursday night clash with Geelong during the ‘festival of footy’ of AFL Grand Final week, and a Grand Final rematch against the Brisbane Lions in round 10 back at the scene of their famous premiership win of Brighton Homes Arena last year.

“While the 18 clubs have been working towards key dates, it was important to get reach an agreement with the Players’ Association and not delay the fixture any further to provide certainty to players, clubs and fans,” AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“We thank the AFLPA, led by Paul (Marsh) and their delegates for their commitment and our aim now is to make 2023 the best

season yet, while we collaborate on the sustainable growth of the competition, both in number of games, attendances and overall engagement.

“The AFL is incredibly proud the growth women’s football in the past seven years and remain committed to growing the competition in a sustainable way as we continue to invest heavily in driving attendance and

viewership this season.”

A second premiership for the Demons would make them just the second side to win multiple AFLW flags, behind Adelaide who have saluted three times.

FULL MELBOURNE AFLW FIXTURE

· Round 1: v Collingwood, 7.20pm Friday 1

September, IKON Park.

· Round 2: v GWS, 5.05pm Sunday 10 September, Manuka Oval.

· Round 3: v Western Bulldogs, 3.05pm Saturday 16 September, Casey Fields.

· Round 4: v Hawthorn, 5.05pm Friday 22

September, Skybus Stadium.

· Round 5: v Geelong, 6.15pm Thursday 28

September, GMHBA Stadium.

· Round 6: v Adelaide, 3.05pm Saturday 7 October, Casey Fields.

· Round 7: v West Coast, 2.05pm (WST) Sunday 15 October, Mineral Resources Park.

· Round 8: v North Melbourne, 7.15pm Saturday 21 October, Ikon Park.

· Round 9: v Fremantle, 1.05pm Saturday 28 October, Casey Fields.

· Round 10: v Brisbane, Brighton Homes Arena. Date and Time TBC.

AFLW premiers Melbourne will play three games at Casey Fields this season. 348375

Kirk Dickson was Cranbourne’s only multiple goal scorer. 334585 Picture: ROB CAREW

Cranbourne kept coming all day, but could never claim the lead. 337182

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Skipper Mason Russell lunges back to take a mark. 347261 Picture: ROB CAREW

Chuol crowned best in the country

By Marcus Uhe

When Riek Chuol began boxing 12 months ago, his coach at Doveton Boxing Club Ryan Wilson said he “didn’t even know if he was left or right handed”, or what a ‘jab’ was.

Fast-forward 12 months and the Doveton Boxing Club can lay claim to one of the best boxers in the country as the rapid ascension of the Pakenham 17-year-old continues.

Chuol won the Under 57kg Youth Division National Championship at the 2023 Australian School’s Boxing Championships in Adelaide on Sunday 8 July, defeating Queenslander Cohen Robinson on a unanimous points decision over three rounds.

After receiving a bye in the competition’s first round, his first fight of the tournament came in the semi final stages where he dominated his Western Australian opponent Shareef Mohammad, with the referee forced to stop the fight early in the first round.

In the final against an experienced competitor, with recent international competitions under his belt, Chuol delivered one of his best performances.

“He dominated the bout from start to finish against a really good kid too, a Queenslander who was selected to represent Australia just recently,” Wilson said.

“Straight away when he started landing heavy shots on this kid and snapping his head back, I thought, ‘he’s got this’.

“He won every round pretty clearly.

“He had the kid hurt several times.”

Chuol said the feeling of being crowned a national champion was “amazing”, and took

immense pride in the manner of the victory.

“All the hard work I put into it, it just feels really good to be a national champion,” he said.

“Knowing that you shut your opponent out all three rounds and having the judges think you won can, in a way better, sometimes feel better than a knockout.

“It’s good to shut-out your opponent and win in that way, because it showcases your skill.

“I was really excited that I won that way.”

With family and friends watching the fights from afar on the live stream,Wilson was forced to calm his star-pupil down during the early stages of the contest, full of excitement and pent-up energy in one of the biggest contests of his boxing journey to date.

“At the end of the first he did cop a good shot, which they gave him a standing eightcount,” Wilson said.

“This kid has come from nothing 12 months

ago, to now be fighting on live TV, it was really hard to control him.

“We settled him down and he boxed the kid’s ears off for the remainder of the fight.

“He’s beating these kids by quite a fair amount and we’re talking about kids who have been boxing for 6-10 years, so they’re at their peak.

“This kid is not even close to it.”

For Chuol, the victory adds fuel to fire as to what he’s capable of.

“It’s opened my eyes to say ‘I can really do well in this sport,’ and I’m only getting better from now on,” he said.

“12 months ago I had my first fight and now I’m a national champion.

“It’s telling me that I can really do good at the sport and continue.

“I feel like I can only get better from now on.”

Premiership is just reward for Just Social

By David Nagel

Just Social has rubber-stamped its dominant season in the South West Gippsland Dart League (SWGDL) with an 8-4 victory over a gallant Warriors team in Tuesday night’s Summer Season grand final.

The Cardinia Club in Pakenham was buzzing with excitement as the two best teams of the season battled it out for the title of the best tungsten throwers in the business.

The race to eight…across 15 legs, was on!

A total of 30 tons would be thrown across the 12 legs of darts, with Ant from the Warriors striking two of those blows in his first-leg victory over Jake.

But Just Social started warm favourites for a reason and began to dictate terms in the crucial first five legs of singles.

Jamie from Just Social threw the leg of the night, a 17-darter, which included scores of 81, 100, 140, 40 and 100 - before a 40 peg-out – to take care of Jazz in leg two.

Tony then threw a doube-18 to defeat Liam, before Terry nailed the dreaded double-one to make it 3-1 for Socials with a tense win over Hank.

Just Social then went 4-1 ahead after singles when Shane threw a classy 70 finish to end the brave effort of Etty.

The competition front-runners then went 5-1 ahead when Steve and Tony defeated Ant and Hank in the first of the five legs of doubles.

It looked set to be an easy night for Just Social, but Jazz from Warriors had other ideas.

The president of the SWGDL grabbed the bull by the horns, first teaming up with Ant for an impressive win over Shane and Tony…with Jazz ending the leg with a fist-pump after his double-one finish hit the mark.

At 5-2, leg eight was a crucial juncture of the evening.

Shane from Just Social returned fire with the fist-pump after beginning the leg with a maximum 180.

But Jazz and Liam stuck to their guns, with Jazz showing great class and composure to hit a double-six to defeat Jamie and Shane and bring the deficit back to 5-3.

And when Etty finished with a wonderful 60-pegout in leg nine, the Warriors had drawn to within one.

But that win, by Etty and Liam over Jamie and Terry, would be the last taste of success for the Warriors for the evening.

Leg 10, the last leg of doubles, saw Ben and Terry defeat Etty and Hank to extend the Just Social lead to 6-4, with Terry’s double-nine accompanied by a deep sigh of relief.

Jake then defeated Etty in the first leg of return singles, hitting a huge double 16 under pressure, before Jamie secured the premiership for the Kooweerup-based team with a double-10 finish against Ant.

The match lived up to the occasion and both teams should be congratulated on what they delivered.

The grand final between teams finishing fifth to eighth was won by the 26ers, who secured the Don Brown Memorial Shield with an emphatic victory over Rebels.

The SWGDL will now go into a short recess before the Winter Season kicks off on Tuesday 8 August.

Cannons keep firing

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Missing a host of usual starters, Casey was still able to overcome WestVic 3-2 in a tight encounter.

Star April Picton, sisters Mikayla and Skye McDonald are three of Casey’s most critical players in attack but others were able to step up in their absence.

In a show of depth as the home and away season reaches its pointy end, Emma Harris, Michaela Bullock and Jess Rowland all scored, well set up by a productive midfield.

It’s the women’s seventh win in a row, with the weekend’s results seeing them move to top spot on the Vic League one ladder.

It’s a remarkable achievement for a team in its first season at the level and following an undefeated 2022 when it faced no evenly matched opposition teams. Casey’s men, meanwhile, have gone down 3-0 to second-placed Old Xaverians.

Women

Results: North West 0 v Yarra Valley 4, Casey 3 v West Vic 2, Knox 4 v PEGS 2, Werribee 2 v Mornington Peninsula 2, Monash University 0 v Brunswick 1

Ladder: Casey 30, Mornington Peninsula 29, Yarra Valley 28, Monash University 23, Knox 15, WestVic 13, PEGS 10, Werribee 10, Brunswick 9, North West Lightning 9

Fixture: Brunswick v Werribee, Mornington Peninsula v North West Lightning, West Vic v Knox, PEGS v Monash University, Yarra Valley v Casey

Men

Results: Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 1 v PEGS 5, Monash University 0 v Brunswick 1, North West 1 v Yarra Valley 0, Casey 0 v Old Xaverians 3, Werribee 4 v Melbourne Sikhs 8

Ladder: Melbourne Sikhs 27, Old Xaverians 26, Brunswick 25, PEGS 22, Monash 22, North West 22, Werribee 12, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 8, Yarra Valley 4, Casey 3

Fixture: Brunswick v Werribee, PEGS v Monash University, Old Xaverians v Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation, Melbourne Sikhs v North West Lightning, Yarra Valley v Casey

Just Social celebrates its grand final win over the Warriors, from left; Ben, Terry, Jake, Ming, Jamie, Tony and Shane. Absent: Steve. 348512

Pictures: DAVID NAGEL

The 26ers with the Don Brown Memorial Shield, from left, Wayne, Glenn, John, Steve and Dale.

Shane from Just Social fired an impressive 180 in the eighth leg of the SWGDL grand final.

Emma Harris was one of the Cannons’ goal scorers on Saturday. 347266

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Riek Chuol continues to rise through the ranks of the Australian boxing scene. 326470

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Rays stick to structures

By Jonty Ralphsmith Dandenong’s

girls romped to a 158-1 win at Shepley Oval on Saturday afternoon against Bendigo.

The Stingrays were favoured coming into the contest against a Pioneers outfit missing three of its best four players.

The first four goals were on the board before the visitors could blink, as ruck Elli Symonds connected with Mikayla Williamson and the midfield group in what looked like a training drill.

The hosts led 51-0 at quarter time at Shepley Oval, conceding just one inside 50 in the first term. Coach Josh Moore gave an insight into what they were trying to get out of the contest at that point.

“It was mainly around staying in the game with concentration,” Moore said of his quarter-time address.

Doves down Spiders

By Jonty Ralphsmith

A courageous Doveton has overcome injury to down Hampton Park by a goal at Reid Oval on Saturday.

Ruck Dylan Chapman was the difference in the game as Hampton Park went in without a recognised ruck against the best big man in the competition.

Player points contributed to the absence of usual Redback ruck Andy Parker.

Just as telling was the absence of Makaio Haywood and Liam Myatt, with a significant gulf in class in the starting midfield, Doveton exposing that through their clearance work.

Jake Basa, Shannon Henwood and Aaron Johns are the three Doveton would start a grand final with, while Hampton Park had to make do with Charlie O’Neil, Dylan Morris and Cameron Bowman.

It put the Redbacks’ post clearance work under pressure all day and they also had no

targets forward of the footy.

Nathan Carver was missing so medium forwards like Kyle Hendy were made to play on taller opponents.

Injuries to Doveton’s Michael Henry and Basa through the middle of the game kept Hampton park in it, but despite their top-end players running the game out, the Redbacks still fell short by six points.

Going into the last quarter within a kick,

both teams scored two goals before the final siren was sounded which was enough for Doveton to hold on, after going down in a tight one between the sides earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Keysborough went down by 38 points to Murrumbeena.

It was an ugly clash in the first half, but Keysborough led at the main break 3.1 19 to 1.8 14, the hosts then unable to put another major on the board.

Results: East Malvern 6.6 42 v Skye 7.9 51, East Brighton 18.7 115 v Highett 12.7 79, Black Rock 6.9 45 v Caulfield 15.17 107, Doveton Doves 8.9 57 v Hampton Park 7.9 51, Keysborough 3.7 25 v Murrumbeena 8.15 63

Ladder: East Brighton 48, Murrumbeena 40, Doveton Doves 36, Highett 32, Hampton Park 28, Skye 26, Caulfield 24, East Malvern 16, Keysborough 10, Black Rock 0.

Fixture: Skye v East Brighton, Caulfield v East Malvern, Black Rock v Keysborough, Doveton Doves v Highett

Goodes and more return to Arch Brown

By Marcus Uhe

Jarrod Goodes is “very excited” at the prospect of donning the baggy blue again at Berwick Cricket Club this season after missing the 2022-23 campaign through injury, as he and a number of returning faces look to elevate Berwick to another successful era.

Goodes, along with fellow premiership players Corey Bevan and Matthew Robertson, are coming back to the Bear cave, with the club looking to make-amends for a disappointing 2022-23 summer in which it did not qualify for finals action, despite playing in a preliminary final the season before.

Having recovered from a complex upper body injury, Goodes said that his intention was always to return to the playing field when capable, and is looking forward to what lies ahead.

“At the club we identified that we didn’t have a great year last year but we identified a few reasons for it,” Goodes said.

“One of the things was, we wanted to get as many good Berwick people back to the club as we could.

“Corey is one of those, ‘Robbo’ (Robertson) ended up playing the twos towards the end of year but he wasn’t really training a lot, he was just coming down for a hit, but wanted to be fair-dinkum again this year.

“We’re trying to call a number of past players to get them back involved at the club again, it’s a good place to start, and then build on the team we had from last year.

“But (it’s) more around, getting some quality people in, enjoying our cricket again and being hard to play against.

“That’s the bit we sort of went away from last year.”

Star wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cleland

and last season’s leading run-scorer Jake Hancock are both sticking with the club, to be led by once again by Brad James, who will have a number of assistants to lend a hand with the coaching duties.

Batters James Wilcock and Damith Mapa Ralalage, and leg-spinner Riley Siwes have all departed the club, while the playing futures of Andrew Perrin and Matthew Chasemore at Berwick are yet to be finalised.

“We’re going to miss Mapa and Wilcock for sure, but it just gives opportunities for others.

“We didn’t want to go out and search for high-profile players, we just wanted to fill those gaps with what we’ve got within, try to develop our younger players a bit more, put more of a focus on that, and then good quality Berwick people in the team to make us a bit

harder to play against.

“I think that will go a long way to us enjoying our cricket a lot more and being competitive.”

Having been sidelined for nearly 12 months and with preseason on the horizon, the goal is evident for those involved at the club, seeking to dethrone Springvale South’s crown as backto-back premiers.

“We want to get our Turf 1 (team) back to where they should be, and that’s in and around the finals hunt,” Goodes explained.

“We’ve got some good people back involved to make that happen.

“I’m very much looking forward to it.

“We’ll see how the body copes with it all, and then it’ll be the old, one week at a time.”

“In a game like that, it’s easy to think about yourself and cashing in, but I wanted the girls to concentrate on the way we trained and make sure that still happens, and not go away from what we wanted to do. “We spoke during the week about ball movement, and how we want our offence to look with ball in hand, and we executed it to a tee.

“It didn’t matter who we played, I think we would’ve challenged most teams with the way we moved the ball.” Dandenong won the inside 50s 55-14 and disposals 336-144.

Moore shifted players’ positions to expose usually dominant players in different positions and allow the youngsters to take centre stage.

Symonds played in defence, likely Vic Country player Williamson played an unfamiliar wing role and brick-wall defender Jemma Ramsdale kicked two goals playing forward.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Nikita Harris got lots of midfield time and accumulated 28 disposals, and fellow under-16 Vic Country player Molly Reimers kicked two goals. Debutant Claire Quigley kicked three, runner Jemaya Bressan stood up with increased responsibility and speedy Stella Rogers showed she was up to the level in her second game.

Jemma Reynolds’ step through traffic and clean ground-ball gathers throughout the day were also eye-catching, finishing with 29 disposals while key forward Sophie Butterworth kicked five goals. More pleasing for Moore was Butterworth’s five direct goal assists as she preferenced bringing others into the game over stuffing the stats sheet.

“When you flip the magnets around, which I did a fair bit, as a player you can think ‘why’s that happening’ but they adapted to role changes in game really well,” Moore said.

“I think that’s a sign of being unselfish. “I spoke after the game as well about how I thought we were really professional about it because we didn’t go away from that. “It was a really disciplined win.”

Meanwhile, Gippsland went down by 37 points to second-placed Eastern Ranges. Despite the 9.4 58 to 3.3 21 result, usual suspects Ash Centra and Ella Stoddart shone while Alisha Molesworth brought pressure around the footy.

Gippsland has a bye next week while the Rays will look to carry the momentum on against Northern Knights which are an evenly matched team.

Jarrod Goodes will return to Berwick Cricket Club this season having recovered from a complex upper body injury. 227540

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Sophie Butterworth (right) celebrates her goal with teammates Jessica Pacevski and Zoe Besanko. 347259

Picture: ROB CAREW

Stand-in captain Trent Thomas in a one-on-one with young Dove Brodie Howie. 347263

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Doveton celebrates the win.