Fifteen-year-old Giancarlo Artho is racing for funds ahead of a dream opportunity at a Ferrari driver academy in Malaysia. Despite second-hand vehicles and equipment, the champion go-kart racer has already racked up an impressive CV of wins.
For more, turn to page 5
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak says he’ll not be silenced from criticising the Cambodian Government despite receiving a recent death threat.
On 8 June, Mr Tak received an anonymous domestic letter warning him of a “hit list” including him, former Clayton MP Hong Lim and former Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea and their families.
“These people including yourself will be targeted for death by my Cambodian third hand squad who will be flying there to do the clean up,” the letter warns.
The list include any other critics of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) including its own members, Khmer-Australians, media and “any Australian member of Parliament”.
“So stop harassing Samdach Hun To, His Excellency Kim Santhepheap and high ranking
members of our CPP representatives around the world,” the letter states.
“TAKE THIS AS A WARNING.”
Mr Tak believes the letter was prompted by his recent State Parliament speech against the regime but the threats are nothing new.
Five years ago, he, Mr Lim and Mr Chea were named in a death-threat letter that they believed came from the regime.
All three have been outspoken against Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister and former Khmer Rouge commander Hun Sen, particularly ahead of this month’s “sham” national elections.
“It’s not a democratic election, it’s a ‘sham’ election in Cambodia. He doesn’t want the world to know about it,” Mr Tak said.
“He doesn’t want criticism at all, by shutting down opposition parties, intimidating critics, squashing independent media and unionists.
“He doesn’t have to spend millions of dol-
lars to send overseas operatives here. Why not spend it in his country to help the poor, for schools and hospitals.”
This month, Mr Tak attended an Australian Federal Police talk in Springvale on Cambodian foreign interference, and a protest in Springvale against the election.
He said he’ll continue to speak out because “it’s the right thing to do”.
“In the lead-up to the election, it’s like a prison without walls in Cambodia. Nobody is allowed to speak up.
“I can’t be prouder of the young men and women in Cambodia who continue to fight for human rights and democracy.”
He called on the Australian Government to not recognise the upcoming election results, and to deny visitor visas to members of the regime including Hun Sen himself.
In a speech to Parliament in March, Bruce federal MP Julian Hill spoke out on the 2018
death threats and called for no visas to regime members Kim Santhepheap and Hun To.
“Cambodian Australians and others from diaspora communities must be able to exercise their democratic rights and freedoms without being threatened or coerced.”
Recently, he responded to a Journal News report about members of a new South East Melbourne branch of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce being photographed with Mr Santhepheap.
“Surprise, surprise, it’s just another front for Cambodian dictator Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party!” Mr Hill said.
“A little bit more foreign interference in our suburbs!”
Victoria Police’s Moorabbin CIU is investigating the latest threat letter.
Meanwhile, Hun Sen has claimed a “landslide” victory in the Cambodian election held on 23 July.
Have a fun day out with all things animal at the 2023 Casey Pet Expo.
The expo will be held from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm on Saturday 26 August in the beautiful surrounds of Wilson Botanic Park Berwick. Come along and meet other pet owners, socialise your dogs, chat to stallholders, take part in workshops and watch live demonstrations. For more information, visit our website.
Seeking better sleep for you and your little one? The City of Casey offers free sleep settling sessions.
Learn about sleep patterns, preventing sleep concerns, and effective solutions for your little ones. Choose from sessions for newborns to three months, four to 12 months or 18 months to toddler. Reserve your free spot now on our website.
Presented by Promac Productions, the performance will showcase breathtaking opera hits to music theatre classics.
This spinetingling performance will feature a stellar cast of eight, including Australia’s most exciting tenor, Bradley Daley with String Quartet live on stage.
Friday 18 August, 10.30 am at Bunjil Place Theatre
Show: $22
Show and lunch: $44
Visit the Bunjil Place website for more information and to book your tickets.
Program partner: Lifestyle Communities.
The City of Casey, National Desexing Network (NDN) and participating vet clinics have joined forces to offer eligible residents half price cat desexing and microchipping to help prevent unwanted cats. For more information, visit our website.
If your child is ready to start kindergarten in 2024, don’t miss this year’s kindergarten open afternoon from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm on Thursday 3 August
Council operates 47 kindergartens across the municipality, which will be open for families to meet the current teaching team, experience our play-based program and learn more about sessional kindergarten. Bookings are not required.
To find your nearest City of Casey kindergarten, visit our website.
South East Community Links has organised an epic ‘Goals ’n’ Girls’ panel and FIFA Women’s World Cup watch party in the heart of Dandenong on Thursday 27 July.
The event will be held at the Drum Theatre and kicks off at 6pm where there’ll be exciting door prizes up for grab, an inspirational panel followed by the Matildas v Nigeria match live on the ‘big screen’.
The panel comprises of four inspirational figures, mostly from diverse communities.
There’s Melbourne City Football Club, Katelyn Torpey, with her future sights set on a coveted international call-up for the Matildas.
Akec Makur Chuot, a Hawthorn Football Club AFLW star who was born in a war-torn South Sudan and spent 11 years of her childhood in Kakuma, a Kenyan refugee camp.
Also appearing is Bayside United footballer Maryan Anvari, who is an Afghan refugee and a student of international business.
Olympic athlete, Nana Owusu-Afriyie, is also an advocate for improving the representation of women in sports and media.
“Community events like these are so important because sports bring people together off and on field. It gives people a trusting space to communicate, network and build relationships.”
Ms Owusu-Afriyie is also a remarkable sprinter with worldwide recognition for her achievements in athletics.
Her contribution to her team’s success in the 4x100m Women’s relay at the IAAF World Relays, at the age of 20, is a mere scratch on the surface.
“I feel very fortunate to be part of this event. I hope to be a role model to a lot of women especially from multicultural groups.
“I hope they can visualise that their thoughts can be expressed to the widest communities and I think this watch party is a great way to do that.”
As a woman of colour from diverse background, Ms Owusu-Afriyie aims to change the narrative of the lack of media representation.
“I look back and a barrier I faced was representation. Growing up I never saw a women of colour on the screen that did what I dreamt of, so I never visualised myself being in that role.
“Being part of events like these I hope to influence young people into changing their train of thoughts despite the lack of media representation.
“I hope a person my age can see me and think there are people who look like me, it is possible to be in a safe community environ-
ment and able to communicate about their goals.”
She has made a break-through in the sports media industry as a commentator for the 2023 Powercor Stawell Gift, where she covered the athletic races over the long Easter holiday.
“That experience was one in a lifetime.
“I recently got injured so commentating was the next plan. I really enjoyed that experience, made so many connections and opened my eyed in the future in the world of sport media.”
She has graduated from Deakin University with a degree in Nutritional Science in 2022 and has earned impressive positions at various prestigious events such as theVictorian Championships and Seiko Golden Grand Prix.
SECL youth support practitioner Jessie Tang said the free community event is aimed to get people moving with an increased participation among young people, especially after
Three men have been charged and two vehicles seized as part of an anti-hoon investigation in the South East.
A 28 year old from Berwick was charged with more than 100 offences after police raided homes in Berwick, Hallam and Pakenham, a Maffra tow yard and an industrial premises in Pakenham from 5am on 20 July.
Dandenong Achilles Taskforce investigators had been probing social-media vision of several cars allegedly performing burnouts at a gathering in Traralgon East on Saturday 24 June.
Sergeant Paul Holtzinger, of the taskforce, said police crackdowns on illegal and dangerous driving was reducing hoon events in the South East.
“Today’s arrests send a clear message to those doing the wrong thing – you can’t hide from police in the streets, in the home, or on social media.
“This result shows that Victoria Police will continue applying pressure to known hoon drivers to prevent future events.”
Hooning put drivers, passengers and spectators’ lives at risk, as well as innocent pedestrians and other road users, he said.
The Berwick man arrested at a Jarryd Crescent home was charged with 111 offences – one of the greatest tally of charges served by the taskforce.
the impacts of Covid.
“The Women’s World Cup presents a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on the growing popularity of women’s football and create greater avenues for girls and young women from culturally diverse backgrounds to engage in sports.”
Women empowerment in sports requires a collective approach, she says.
“Schools, coaches, parents, sporting organisations and the broader community all have a role to play in actively engaging and supporting girls in their sports journey, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for young women in sports.
“Our work with young people at South East Community Links demonstrates that sport can empower girls and young women, promoting self-confidence, leadership, and resilience both on and off the field.”
I Cook Foods’ $50 million civil claim against theVictorian Government and Greater Dandenong Council is finally set for trial.
The Victorian Supreme Court trial is scheduled for 31 July, with witnesses including ICF owner Ian Cook, former Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Greater Dandenong’s former chief executive John Bennie.
Prior to trial, the parties have been ordered by presiding judge Michael McDonald to mediation on 25 July.
The Dandenong South commercial kitchen is sueing the Government and the council for what it argues was its wrongful shutdown by health authorities as part of an investigation into a hospital patient’s death in 2019.
At a Supreme Court directions hearing on 19 July, the Government listed its only lay witness as Professor Sutton.
Its only expert witness was a loss and damages assessor Dawna Wright.
Greater Dandenong Council’s public health coordinator Leanne Johnson, environmental health officer Elizabeth Garlick and Mr Bennie will be called as witnesses for the council.
In the notoriously-named ‘slug gate’ dispute, the council will also call on mollusc expert Stephanie Clark.
Food safety specialist Gary Kennedy, real estate agent Grant Sutherland, digital forensics experts Todd Hutchison and Brendan McCreesh and Ms Wright will also
be council witnesses.
I Cook Foods listed 13 lay witnesses, including owner Ian Cook, managers Michael and Ben Cook, as well as experts in slugs, loss and damages, forensic pathology and digital forensics.
A directions hearing was set for 26 July if the
matter failed to resolve at mediation.
The matter – which has included allegations of a slug being planted by food inspectors - has been the subject of police and Parliamentary investigations.
No charges have been laid.
He was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, incitement, breach of bail, committing an indictable offence on bail, loss of traction while driving, dangerous driving, using an unsafe vehicle and making or causing unnecessary noise and smoke.
Police say that he took part in hoon events at Yallourn North and Traralgon East and incited an event in January this year. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 21 July. Two Hallam men, aged 20 and 18, were arrested during a police search of a home at Kilberry Crescent Hallam.
They were charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving and loss of traction while driving.
The 20 year old was also charged with incitement.
Both were bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 November.
A silver 1995 Holden station wagon and white 1997 Holden sedan were seized by police.
Hoon driving events have declined by more than 75 per cent in the two years since Taskforce Achilles was formed in February 2021, police say.
Any information on illegal hoon activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
Coronary heart disease is the number one killer in Greater Dandenong, according to recent data.
The Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare has released their latest documents showing the top 20 causes of death for local government areas.
The overall biggest killer in Greater Dandenong between 2017-2021 was coronary heart disease (10.3 per cent of deaths).
According 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 Casey (9.7 per cent).
Risk factors include unhealthy eating, being physically inactive, smoking, obesity, lack of good social support and age.
While the top ten causes of death for males and females were largely the same, there were some important differences.
The top cause of death in males was coronary heart disease (12.1 per cent), about double the rate of lung cancer, dementia and cerebrovascular disease.
Meanwhile the number one killer for females in Greater Dandenong was dementia (14 per cent), followed by coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
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.
In the top 20 causes of death, males had reportedly died due to suicide - which was not present in the female top 20.
According to the Australian Mens 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.
· Lifeline 13 11 14
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Calls are ramping up for a decaying and vandalised historic church in Keysborough to be saved before it’s “demolished by neglect”.
A community group hopes that the 146year Gothic-style church - the oldest surviving building in the fast-developing suburb – may be home to a gallery and cafe.
They are backed by more than 2200 signatures on its Saving the Historic Keysborough Church online page.
But currently the church stands unused, and become a regular target of intruders and vandals.
This year, locks have been damaged, the exposed interior has been tagged with graffiti, and most recently a plain stain glass window destroyed. Its slate roof is in obvious disrepair.
The owner Uniting Church of Australia no longer uses the two buildings on the site.
It says it is looking to subdivide the site and transfer the buildings to a community group at a “peppercorn” rate.
Community group member Gaye Guest says several years of negotiations between Uniting Church and Greater Dandenong Council were “taking far too long”.
“It needs to be handed over.
“We need it back in the community hands so we can start wrapping our collective arms around it and turning it into a functional community space.”
Ms Guest says the circa 1877 building designed by renowned architect John Beswicke should be given state heritage significance “in a heart beat”.
The largely-abandoned site is instead “vul-
nerable”, protected by padlocked waist-high gates and broken gaps in the security fence.
“Inside the heritage church hangs the heritage-listed WWI honour board right next to a (jimmy-opened) exposed window.”
Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman said the council had been working with the Uniting Church on ways in which to preserve and protect this site.
“The buildings on site have important historical value.
“Council continues to actively work with the Uniting Church to find a suitable future use for the site as soon as possible, and to ensure the site does not fall into disrepair.”
In an email to Ms Guest, Mr Bosman said progress was “admittedly slow” and shared the concern over the site’s “dereliction”.
“I do feel that it is in good faith the (Uniting
Church has) entered into discussions to see these buildings ultimately becoming a community asset.”
He suggested the community could be involved in working bees with Uniting Church to maintain the property.
Uniting Church did not comment.
Earlier this year, a Uniting Church spokesperson told Star Journal the “discussions are progressing well” towards a subdivision plan with the churches transferred to community group ownership.
The council had indicated it would “fast track” the subdivision and offer an open-space exemption in exchange for Uniting Church’s “in principle” plan for a “new long term ownership of the historic buildings”, the spokesperson said.
A 15-year old Dandenong racer will chase his dreams to Malaysia in September to become part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Giancarlo Artho has been chosen among 23 other professional go-kart racers from the Asia Pacific and Oceania to compete for the coveted 2023 Ferrari Driver Academy.
“Growing up I watched Formula One with my dad and from that moment I thought that’s what I want to do when I grow up.
“My dad used to take me to go-kart races and every time I would be amazed watching the race,” he said.
“Eventually we bought a very old go-kart and I had so much fun driving it around.
“Slowly I got better and racked up some achievements so here I am now.”
However, one of his biggest hurdles stands in the middle of his dreams, the staggering financial costs of the competition.
“When we got the news, we all panicked, how were we going to make this happen?” his mother Luci Tassone said.
“The first thing I did was I went to the bank to see if I can get a loan.”
As a small business owner in Dandenong South, the family are already struggling under the immense pressure of inflation just like many others.
Despite the challenge, the family are determined to make this work.
“The competitors he’s up against are people that are cashed up, who have resources thrown at them and money is no issue.
“They’ve had the best of the best cars, equipment, coaches and mechanics employed for them. He’s up against that,” Ms Tassone said.
“Whereas he has had second-hand equipment, second-hand vehicles and secondhand materials his whole life.”
Mr Artho has not even sat in the F4 Tatuus GEN race-car that he’s required to drive and test in.
Although there are predicted $50,000
costs for the competition, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The ticket in the competition costs roughly $24,000. To try out in the vehicle he’s tested in when they’re in Sepang Malaysia is roughly $14,000 in landing costs.
“We financially cannot make it happen without the support of sponsors. We haven’t even factored fares, accommodation, the equipment needed for the competition, the high-risk insurance cover and costs of a coach to mentally and physically prepare him for the competition,” Ms Tassone said.
“It’s a massive stretch for us but we know we have to make this happen for him.”
Thankfully, father Tony Artho is a diesel mechanic which comes in handy to keep Mr Artho’s outdated vehicle maintained.
A Go Fund Me page is set up for donations with $50,000 set as the goal.
So far the page has reached $2,810 in 12
days with the majority of the funds from family and close friends.
Lyndale Secondary College, where Mr Artho attends school, also contributed a small amount through the Go Fund Me page.
Assistant principal Luke Wilson said the school will endeavour to help the bright and active student as much as they can through alternative ways.
“It’s pleasing that he’s rewarded with such an opportunity and as a school we are very proud of him.
“We’ll be supporting him through our school council, we’ll promote this through our school website, compass and electronic school board for the community.”
Mr Artho is a known figure both inside school communities and outside the school as an active member of the Greater Dandenong community.
“What’s really pleasing about him is that
he socialises with a lot of different groups of students whether in music, sports, in his class so he’s a leader and people can see what he does,” Mr Wilson said.
He’s in the Selected Entry Accelerated Learning program, with a special interest in maths, science and English because of their correlation with racing.
At the impressive age of six in 2014 he started racing and had his first competition at the age of seven.
He has earned a string of achievements starting off with second position at the 2016 and 2017 Club Championships at Oakleigh Go Kart Club and was the winner in the 2017 Class Titles at the club.
Although Covid slowed down the pace, he was quick to get back on the track and won the 2023 Go Kart of Victorian Championships. He is positioned as the leader for this year.
“He has always been passionate and worked very hard towards anything he sets his mind to. He’s worked very hard on so many levels to be where he is now,” his mother Ms Tassone said.
“He’s very active in the community and always gives back to the community through mentoring younger children whether in primary school or through his go karting club.”
Now he’s in need of the local community support to help him break down the standing hurdle in his way.
“I’ve very excited for this competition but nervous at the same time because this is my dream and I’m up against the top skilled drivers selected,” Mr Artho said.
“I’ve been obsessed with Ferrari ever since I was little, it’s all that I was about.”
Although he has an Italian heritage, Mr Artho didn’t know the language till he found out selected drivers will travel to Italy for another face-off after the competition in Malaysia.
To help, go to https://giancarloartho34. wixsite.com/ga34 or https://gofund.me/ a1330604
Alternatively, Luci Tassone can be contacted on 0450 070 375.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
It was said the ever-curious Simon Crean couldn’t let an overseas trip go by without visiting every documented landmark, the highest vantage point and every church.
The worldly, ex-Hotham MP’s last stop was the grand St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, where he was feted at a State funeral on 20 July.
At 74, his dynamic thirst for life and service was cut short without warning by a large blood clot in the lungs on 25 June.
At the time, he was in Berlin as part of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the EU.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to a “great Australian” and “beloved son of the Australian Labor Party”.
Crean’s personal qualities of humility and compassion, integrity and intellect had “earned him a respect that knew no political boundaries”.
His spirit of working together and standing up for each other was at the heart of the Labor movement, Mr Albanese said.
“And that sense of fairness that was forever his guiding star.”
Crean was a leader of the Storemen and Packers Union, the ACTU and the Labor Party as well as Minister in four Prime Ministers’ Cabinets.
He didn’t believe in “positions of convenience” nor that politics should be a “game”, Mr Albanese said.
The reformist was fond of saying he was “joining the dots”. He fought battles but could keep the friendship.
Crean’s brother David said their lives were shaped as sons of federal MP Frank Crean. With politics at the kitchen table and home visits from leaders Gough Whitlam and Doc Evatt.
He completed law and economics degree at Monash Uni. But the anti-Vietnam War cam-
paign led him away from law to unionism, wife Carole said.
With his “incredible self-belief”, he trusted his intellect, judgement and life choices. “It gave him the strength to fit for what he believed in,” she said.
After one of his battles, Carole asked him if he won.
“No,” he said.
“Not today, but we will.”
Carole said: “Sure enough, it was a victory but a victory for all stakeholders – that was how he defined success.”
What he’d now wish for Australia was for the
FreeTrade Agreement to be agreed and signed, and TheVoice to succeed as a “positive step for all”.
Daughter Sarah Crean said her Dad’s passion was people – connecting, understanding and helping others.
Not always a patience for technology, but a patience for people.
His other passion was travel. To experience it all was something he did every day of his life, Sarah said.
At the Storemen and Packers in 1970, he met life-long friend and former ACTU leader Bill Kelty, who told mourners to judge Crean
on what he did for people’s lives.
“Simon’s DNA” was in the nation’s wages, retirement, health care, education and regional policies, and what made the country a better place, Kelty said.
Even when people forgot about what he did, there would still be things that Crean changed for the better in their lives.
He embodied courage, provided hope and fought hard for those who needed it.
Kelty said that on their many travels, Crean stopped at many churches.
“He went to them a lot because Simon was a believer and a carer to people.”
Wednesday 19 July Session 1: 7.30pm
Friday 21 July Session 1: 7.30pm
Saturday 22 July Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 6.30pm
Sunday 23 July Session 1: 11.00am Session 2: 3.00pm
Wednesday 26 July Session 1: 7.30pm
Friday 28 July Session 1: 7.30pm
Saturday 29 July Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 6.30pm
Sunday 30 July Session 1: 11.00am Session 2: 3.00pm
Friday 4 August Session 1: 7.30pm
Saturday 5 August Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 6.30pm
Sunday 6 August Session 1: 11.00am Session 2: 3.00pm
Friday 11 August Session 1: 7.30pm
Saturday 12 August Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 6.30pm
Sunday 13 August Session 1: 11.00am Free onsite parking available
Flood mitigation at a controversial 823-home development at the former Kingswood Golf Course in Dingley Village is still unaddressed, according to opponents.
State Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is yet to decide upon rezoning the course and approving the AustralianSuper Residential Properties project – more than 14 months after a panel reported its recommendations to the Minister.
The Standing Advisory Committee report on Amendment C199 has yet to be publicly released.
Doubts have surfaced over whether Melbourne Water was able to fully assess the developer’s flood mitigation plans prior to the report.
In a letter to a resident in December, Melbourne Water stated its formal response to the SAC requested “further information and the submission of a drainage strategy for further assessment”.
“We have not had any further communications from the Advisory Committee with regard to this matter,” it stated – eight months after the Advisory Committee’s submitted report.
“In this case, an amended drainage strategy/flood management report must demonstrate that any potential flooding related impacts on the subject property and onto neighbouring downstream land can be adequately mitigated.
“MelbourneWater requires that prior to endorsement of development plans, the requisite reports are submitted to Melbourne Water for assessment.”
Melbourne Water did not comment to Star Journal before deadline.
In opposing the project, Kingston Council “flagged” several concerns about flood water,
chief executive Peter Bean said.
AustralianSuper had provided “no detailed design” to show its purported drainage solution would succeed, he said.
The estate “could exacerbate existing downstream flood impacts”, with Melbourne Water’s downstream network already subject to “frequent blockages” and “flood impacts”
upon surrounding homes.
“Public open spaces (on the site) would be unavailable for community use due to proposed temporary onsite storage of flood waters.”
In the meantime, the council and Melbourne Water couldn’t provide “formal findings” on flood mitigation until the SAC’s report
was publicly released, Mr Bean said.
AustralianSuper claims it will decrease the likelihood of downstream flooding with $18.7 million of flood mitigation works.
It includes 62,000 square metres of retarding basins and wetlands to store floodwaters.
A link to its Flood Management Strategy Report has been deleted from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website.
“The report highlights that the Site meets the requirements of MelbourneWater for flood behaviours and limits outflows from the site,” AustralianSuper claims.
Meanwhile, the proponent stated it would “welcome a government decision on this application”.
Save Kingswood Group president Kevin Poulter claimed flood storage would be less due to “bulldozing” a 120 million litre aquifer storage system on site.
The proponent’s solution of “bigger dams” and “way too small” downstream pipes for the overflow was “guaranteeing floods of biblical scale”, he said.
Kingswood was on a flood plain, with a Melbourne Water retarding dam regularly overflowing onto the course and Dingley Village.
“Hundreds of kilometres of drainpipes, subsidiary dams and a massive aquifer keep Dingley Village and downstream from total inundation.
“But the developer wants to destroy all those measures.”
Last year, State Election candidates in Clarinda – including Labor MP Meng Heang Takwere united in opposition against the project.
A Government spokesperson said: “The advisory committee’s recommendations about the Kingswood Golf Course proposal have been submitted and are currently under consideration.”
Doveton locals have questioned when they can expect the Doveton Pool in the Park Master Plan to be implemented and when the upgrades to the pool facility will be complete.
“What happened to the $23 million grant, whats happening with the upgrades to it,“ resident Amy Bath said.
“Its something the community really utilises and loves and something the council hasn’t taken appropriate care and action with.“
The Master Plan provides direction for future infrastructure works for the Doveton Pool in the Park site, with the project expected to cost $21.4 million.
The draft concept plan for the site showed an adventure play area, a water play area, an educational garden, active play zones and a barbecue area.
The draft was presented for endorsement to the council on 16 August 2022.
The council agreed to adopt the plan, but no major moves towards putting the plan in place have been made in the 11 months since the adoption.
“Imagine if it could be updated to a sheltered or indoor pool, with gym facilities in the empty halls,“ Ms Bath said.
“Even a decent cafe in there that was open more often would do great.“
Between Public Open Space reserves and CapitalWorks funding, the council determined they would be able to provide $11.4 million of the monetary support for the project, according to the Adopted Doveton Pool in the Park document.
The City of Casey resolved that 50 per cent of the funding must be secured from State and Federal Governments, at an estimated $5 million contribution from each level.
City of Casey Chief Executive Officer Glenn Patterson said the redevelopment of Doveton Pool in the Park is one of the City’s “key priorities“.
“Council has been seeking funding support from both the State and Federal governments for this project since the Master Plan was
adopted,“ he said.
“The Doveton Pool in the Park redevelopment was included in our pre-budget submission to the Federal Government and has been shared as a priority project with both State and Federal MPs.
“Since adoption, designs have progressed, however Council is still not in a position to fund the entire project.“
Mr Patterson said the council will only be able to deliver the entire project if both the State and Federal governments commit to 50
per cent of the project cost.
“Council will continue to advocate for this project, which we know is very important to our community,“ he said.
A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts said a new program may provide a solution.
“The Government has established a new, $200 million Thriving Suburbs Program to deliver investment in locally driven infrastructure and community projects, enhancing live-
An Endeavour Hills home has been destroyed by fire on Tuesday 18 July.
Dozens of firefighters and eight appliances including a ladder platform battled for an hour to control the blaze at Endeavour Crescent as shocked residents looked on.
A Fire RescueVictoria crew from Hallam responded at 2.43pm to reports of an undefined fire in the backyard.
The crew found the house alight.
Black thick smoke poured onto Heatherton Road prompting a community warning.
At the scene, FRV district commander Paul Caligari said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
The 40-year-old residence was destroyed, he said.
Fire appliances from Hallam, Dandenong, Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Pakenham, Scoresby, Rockville and South Melbourne as well as police and paramedics were at the scene.
ability and prosperity in urban and suburban communities,“ a spokesperson said.
“We encourage potential applicants such as the City of Casey to review their eligibility and consider applying once these details become available.“
Bruce MP Julian Hill said he likewise has encouraged the council to apply for the Thriving Suburbs Program.
“I’m working closely with Casey Council and community advocates to give us the best chance of securing Federal funding for the Doveton Pool in the Park project,“ he said.
“Council has been encouraged to apply to the Albanese Labor Government‘s new Thriving Suburbs program funded in the May Federal Budget.
“Ultimately whether Federal funding is secured will depend on the strength of the application later this year and competition from other projects nationally.“
Local Government Minister Kristy McBain recently visited Casey and was briefed by the council and Mr Hill on Casey’s priority projects, including the pool.
Mr Hill says it’s up to the council to present a strong application to the government in order to secure the funding.
“The Liberal Party rorted billions of taxpayers’ dollars in grants, and Labor is not and will not govern in this corrupt way,“ he said.
“Projects will need to stack up and competition in this merit-based grants program will be fierce right across Australia, but everyone understands this and is working positively together.”
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams has been in discussion with the council “for some time“ about the project.
A spokesperson from her office said the next steps were for council to undertake the detailed design work and plans to confirm the overall cost of the project, which they are yet to present to the MP.
When they complete this work and confirm the costings, it is expected Gabrielle will advocate to the Treasurer for a budget allocation in future Victorian budget cycles.
An 87-year-old man and his dog died at the scene. Picture: SUPPLIED
An 87-year-old man and his dog were struck by a car on Tuesday 18 July while reportedly walking at the intersection of Heatherton and Power roads in Endeavour Hills.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Heatherton and Power roads, following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a car, just after 7.40pm. The Endeavour Hills man along with his dog sadly died at the scene.
The37-year-oldmaledriver,alsofrom Endeavour Hills, immediately stopped at the scene to render assistance.
He has been interviewed by detectives and released pending further enquiries.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or with dashcam to come forward.
More kids can get active and grubby in school gardens thanks to extra funding.
The State Government announced in March that its annual grant to the Victorian Schools Garden Program would increase from $95,000 a year to $145,000 a year.
“I’ve seen first-hand how school gardens offer great opportunities for primary school students to learn in an outdoor setting, providing a tremendous boost to their health and wellbeing,” Education Minister
Natalie Hutchins said.
“Sharing the importance of sustainable living and fostering a love of gardening is vital to ensuring that the next generation takes a hands-on approach to caring for the environment.”
Now in its 46th year, the Victorian Schools Garden Program has provided rewarding outdoor education initiatives to generations of Victorians.
The Department of Education and Nurs-
ery and Garden Industry Victoria have worked closely together to cultivate the program and grow its student engagement.
The additional funding will deliver schoolbased activities and on-site learning at 35 participating primary schools – benefiting about 3500 students.
The program includes grants to encourage schools to start new gardens or improve existing ones; an awards scheme that recognises and rewards student and school community
achievements; and professional development workshops for teachers and volunteers to learn the basics of running a school garden.
The program also connects schools with horticulture industry experts to help with large-scale garden projects.
The awards and grants programs are open to all Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools. Visit vsgp.org.au for more information.
With the cost of living increasing, now is a better time than ever to teach children about the importance of saving money effectively. With that in mind, financial experts from money.co.uk have compiled a list of their top 10 tips for teaching your children about money.
Start with the basics of money and finance
How you introduce money to your children will partly depend on their age. A good place to start is getting children comfortable handling cash and coins. Explain to them how money is used to buy things and that it must be earned before it can be spent.
Speak openly about small financial decisions
Start getting your child involved with minor financial decisions, such as which brands and items to buy when shopping. This way your child is able to understand the decisions you make while also feeling in control of certain financial choices.
Older children could also help with bud-
There are so many benefits to teaching your child about money at a young age.
Picture: SHUTTERSTOCK/SUPPLIED
geting while shopping if you ask them to keep a running total of the items you buy. Not only will this help their maths skills, but it can also help them to understand how small items can still add up in price and not everything is affordable on a budget.
Set a good example with your own finances There are no two ways about it, children learn
money habits from their parents. Showing them small activities, such as checking the receipt after your shop or putting money into savings can start developing positive habits from a young age.
Encourage your child to ask questions without repercussion in this setting. While you might not necessarily have all the answers, opening up a dialogue is a healthy way for your child to learn more about finance. Use pocket money as an incentive for small tasks
Using pocket money as an incentive to do chores around the house not only helps you, but it also helps your child learn more about the value of money and what it takes to earn it. Creating a simple plan with a set amount of money for different tasks, along with caps per week or month, is a great way to help your child start understanding where money comes from.
The relationship between work and money, household chores and pocket money is
also a great opportunity to show children how to save. If your child has shown interest in a more expensive purchase, you could set them up with an old-fashioned piggy bank where they can ‘deposit’ their earnings or create a chart for them to fill out so they can track how much money they have.
James Andrews from money.co.uk encourages parents to teach children how to handle money from a young age.
“Creating an environment where you can speak more openly with your children about financial decisions is key to them gaining an understanding of the value of money,” Mr Andrews says.
“It’s important to make sure your lessons are age-appropriate and that you continue to involve and teach your children about money as they grow - a healthy relationship with finances starts at a young age, and children learn most of their habits from their parents.” · Originally published on www.money. co.uk/.
Nazareth College is a co-educational learning community that prioritizes Jesus Christ as its centre. With a commitment to Catholic tradition, the college fosters a culture embracing faith, wisdom, and knowledge. It provides students with a holistic spiritual and educational experience beyond academics, excelling in academics, vocational training, and Applied Learning.
As a school of opportunity, Nazareth College offers diverse co-curricular and extracurricular activities, encouraging active engagement and exploration of interests. Immersing themselves in these opportunities enables students to unlock their potential.
Nazareth College offers an extensive acceleration program in subjects like Mathematics, Science, English, and Humanities, empowering students to excel in their strengths. The renowned School of Excellence provides exceptional opportunities for sports development, instrumental and performing arts, and a wide range of electives, ensuring a well-rounded education for VCE and VCE Vocational Major students.
The colourfully redeveloped food space now contains two cooking areas, including a commercial kitchen. This includes an exciting variety of new facilities, such as deep friers, stainless steel workspaces, ovens, serving areas and dishwashers, to provide great opportunities for our futureYears 8-10 andVCE Food Studies students as well as running VET Food and Hospitality courses.
Advanced training in the Hair & Beauty industry will also be offered in the future for VET students, expanding students’ horizons in these fields.
Nazareth College is a community where students, staff, and parents unite in their pursuit of knowledge and service.We are a diverse community that is enriched by our mutli-cul-
tural nature with many families finding Catholic education an attractive middle ground between private and Government schooling. Nazareth values growth, achievement, and
personal development, fostering an environment that combines educational excellence and character formation. Join the extraordinary Nazareth College family and experience
the transformative power of education in a close-knit community.
Please join us on our next school tour. Nazareth.vic.edu.au
Nazareth College is a community where students, staff, and parents unite in their pursuit of knowledge and service.
Lyndale Secondary College takes pride in its Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program, specifically designed to meet the needs of highly academically talented students. Recognized as one of the few Department of Education Schools in the state offering this program, Lyndale Secondary College combines acceleration with a strong emphasis on pastoral care, ensuring that all students receive effective guidance throughout their secondary years.
Three Year 7 students from the SEAL class - Vedran, Sanchay, and Janina - share their experiences at Lyndale Secondary College so far and highlight the enriching opportunities provided by the program.
Janina, the former Form Captain of 7C (SEAL class) during the first semester, expresses her excitement about the various leadership opportunities offered by the college. Open Day/Night leaders, Student Representative Council, and Form Captains are just a few of the roles available for students to develop their leadership skills.
Vedran proudly serves as a Year 7 Student Representative Council (SRC) Captain, a role he considers honourable. He highlights the importance of supporting and communicating with peers, as well as the opportunity to engage with older students and teachers.
Sanchay, a member of the 2023 SEAL class, shares his exceptional experience as part of the program. He recommends the SEAL class to all Grade 6 students who are gifted and interested in accelerating their learning. In the SEAL class, the curriculum is accelerated, allowing students to progress at a faster pace.
To learn more about Lyndale Secondary College’s Accelerated Learning Program, visit their website at https://lyndale.vic.edu.au/accelerated-learning/. Interested individuals can
also schedule a school tour by calling Lyndale Secondary College at 9795 2366.
Lyndale Secondary College’s commitment
to providing exceptional opportunities for gifted students is evident in its Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program.With a focus on both
academic advancement and pastoral care, students at Lyndale Secondary College can thrive and excel in their secondary education.
100 years ago
26 July 1923
Commonwealth Loan
An attractive investment
The Commonwealth Treasurer has just launchedanappealforaloanof£21,500,000, this sum being the amount required to meet the unconverted portion of the huge 7th War Loan of £44,000,000 raised in September 1918, which falls due on September 15th next. The 7th War Loan was an extraordinary one in many ways. The Great War was then at its height, and although the people of the Commonwealth had already subscribed nearly £150,000,000, they rallied again, and no fewer than 243,181 individual applications for Bonds were received,and the amount subscribed was over £4,000,000 more than the £40,000,000 asked for. The rate of interest offered for the present loan is 5%, and as the Bonds are being issued at £98 which means that a £98 cash will buy a £100 bond, the rate of interest works out at nearly 5½%.
50 years ago
26 July 1973
Thanks from an ex-councillor
Sir – To the editor and staff of the Journal
I would like to thank you for our co-operation during my 11 years as a councillor of the City of Dandenong. Your assistance during this time has been greatly appreciated during my Mayoral year. I have been both honoured and proud to have served the rate payers of Dandenong. I find that my only regret is the absence of another women councillor. I shall continue to serve the community in any place where I am needed.
Yours Lois J
Twohig20 years ago
28 July 2003
History Highlight
Dandenong and District Historical Society’s ruby anniversary celebrations featured many highlights, including the striking of a special certificate for the City of Greater Dandenong to thank it for its ongoing support. Society president Ray Carter who also edits GippsLand Gate, the group’s magazine, was made
a life member. Susan Perham, the initiator of the society, cut the 40th anniversary cake. Another foundation member present was Jean Uhl, the author of historical essays about Dandenong and its area. Other guests included life members Muriel Norris, Eileen Quigley, and Jenny Ferguson. Presentations were made to the society’s sponsors, The Dandenong Club and Dandenong RSL Club, for their sustained support. Royal Historical Society of Victoria president Weston Bate spoke on the society’s beginning in the context of the growth of local historical societies in Victoria.
5 years ago
23 July 2018
Dandy launches towards the final frontier The sky is the limit for Dandenong, which has leapt to the forefront of Australia’s space technology program. DefendTex, which is based in Dandenong, will lead the responsive access to space programs in developing a revolutionary engine that could lead to satellites being launched in Australia. On 20 July, the Federal Government announced $3million over three years for the program, which has attracted $10 million in cash and in kind contributions from universities and industries.
By Helen Heath OAM, executive officer of the City of Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network
“Life is a journey, not a destination” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
If anything gives a Message of Hope, it is when people from all walks of life willingly give up a day to participate in a tour to places of worship offered by the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong.
This act of commitment and curiosity gives me hope that people are still willing to experience and learn about others whose faith and spiritual beliefs differ from their own.
They are prepared to explore and be open to learning news things about others, and on the way perhaps learning something new about themselves, as they engage with, and are welcomed by, the diverse faith and spiritual communities who gather and worship here, and who call the City of Greater Dandenong home.
Growth comes from exposing ourselves to new and unfamiliar places and people.
Tours provide a wonderful opportunity to engage and connect with our neighbour, who may be not as different as we might think they are!
Since 1991, the Interfaith Network through its tours to places of worship, offers a hope that we can live, work, play, learn and worship together in this great city that is home to such a rich tapestry of faiths, foods, and festivals.
If you have never had the opportunity, there
are public tours on offer which usually include an opportunity to visit a Hindu temple or Sikh Gurdwara, a Mosque, a Buddhist temple, and a Christian church, either Western or Eastern tradition.
Consider taking a moment out of your
usual routine and come on a journey of hope, receive the gracious hospitality offered by the various faith leaders hosting these tours and immerse yourself by being involved with others on the same journey.
An Irish Blessing speaks about the road rising up to meet you.
It wishes that the wind be always at your back and that the sun shines warm upon your face and that the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, it invites the divine to hold you in the palm of their hand. Bon Voyage!
Public tours are arranged and conducted by members of the Interfaith Network and planned for Wednesdays 9 August, 11 October, and 13 December 2023.
Bookings and enquiries: Helen Heath OAM, executive@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.
By Emily Chapman Laing
NarreWarren North cancer survivor, art teacher and author Alison Ward turned her illness into a catalyst for her creative endeavours and is now ready to showcase her first book to the world.
“The Corporate Creative: 5 Influential Ways To Build Creativity” is Alison’s exploration into how creativity can redefine the working environment, especially for people who, like Alison, “have always been different.”
“I don’t fall into a system, I can’t always conform to everything that is asked of me,” Alison said.
“My book is about creating vulnerability in a team setting, being able to allow some of the relationships to be exposed and allowing creativity in your workplace.
“I believe at the moment, we’re so led by various institutions, rules and regulations, which is very constricting when you’ve got creative energies.”
With 60 per cent of CEO’s saying they value creativity, Alison began to wonder why there was so little fostering of it in the workplace.
“It’s not rocket science,” Alison said.
“It’s about being vulnerable and opening yourself up with your team members equally, and if you’re a leader, being vulnerable with that as well
“The minute you’ve got a bit of vulnerability, you open the doors for a bit more creativity.”
Allison and her new book. 346957
Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING
At 22, Alison was diagnosed for a second time with category 2 Hodgkin’s disease, just six months after her first diagnosis.
“I hit remission very quickly, my body responded quickly to the chemotherapy,” she said.
“And then it came back at a rapid pace again, and I planned my funeral.”
Hodgkin’s disease is a general term for cancer of the lymphatic system, which limits the body’s ability to fight off infections and causes lymph nodes in the body to swell.
Alison was given a 10 per cent chance of survival.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant, which she said was the “reset” point of her life.
A natural creative, Alison decided to take a holistic approach to managing both her health
and her life going forward.
Alison set herself four goals, to walk down the aisle, to have children, to hold an art exhibition and to write a book.
“I wound up having three children naturally, which wasn’t supposed to happen because I was deemed as infertile,” she said.
“I attribute that to lots of different things I did.
“I did organic eating, I exercised, I meditated, I read books, I fostered and nurtured my own health and I never took for granted the fact I might not be here next year or in five years’ time.”
Alison began recording her journey as a memoir she could pass on to her children, and added “write a book” to her bucket list, alongside learning how to paint.
“It was a time when I wanted to actually have an art exhibition, but I’d never painted before,” she said.
Much like the reset in her body following the transplant, Alison’s creative endeavours also “started from scratch.”
Alison began taking art classes once a week.
“That was all I could cope with but for that two hours I thought of nothing else, just of being creative,” she said.
“I could go to that space, and I wouldn’t think about the cancer and it was the only time during my recovery that I didn’t think about my illness.”
At the same time, Alison was pushing to regain her body’s natural skills after the transplant wiped much of her movement.
“I was crawling up the stairs to get to my room,” she said.
“I was fainting for the first three months every time I had a shower, so I knew that by the time I got out, I’d sit on the floor, wrap myself in a towel and I would pass out.
“Learning to pedal a bike and actually driving again took me about six months after the transplant.”
Now 50, Alison has healed her body, obtained a fine arts degree, ticked off all of her goals and is now a secondary art teacher with plenty of impressive portraiture and realism under her belt.
She also has her own business platform, My Artistic Innovations, where she offers artistic retreats, workshops and art therapy sessions for individuals, families, businesses and groups.
“I’m truly grateful for the experience, which sounds weird,” she said.
“But I wouldn’t be where I am now, had I not had that.
“So the way I look at it, I was blessed with the gift of it.”
The Corporate Creative will be published by Ingram Spark and and will be available soon through Alison’s business website www.myartisticinnovations.com
By Corey Everitt
The Coroners Court of Victoria has recommended the installation of defibrillators on V/ Line trains after an inquest into the death of a man at Dandenong railway station.
Coroner John Olle published on Wednesday 12 July the findings into the death of Carl Anthony Van Der Kaay, a Pakenham man who died at the age of 50 on 18 July 2019.
Mr Van Der Kaay suffered a cardiac arrest on his early commute to work on aV/Line train as it was stopping at Dandenong Station.
Those aboard the train administered resuscitation efforts and contacted emergency services.
Off-duty clinical nurse who at the scene, Glenn Porter, led the resuscitation efforts and requested a defibrillator from the train service operators, but was told there was none on board nor at the station.
A defibrillator was not available until emergency services arrived, which was after 30 minutes of resuscitation efforts from those on the train.
Paramedics took over resuscitation and administered a defibrillator but Mr Van Der Kaay’s condition was not assisted and he was declared dead.
The Coroner’s investigation confirmed that MrVan Der Kaay died of natural causes, but recommended that defibrillators be installed onV/ Line trains in response to his sudden death.
The Coroner investigated if “prevention opportunities were available”.
“In particular, I sought advice on any data arising from medical episodes encountered on trains and at train stations, and whether the use of a defibrillator was recorded,” the Coroner’s report said.
The Coroner’s Prevention Unit collated 49 deaths which occurred due to a medical episode either on trains or in or around train stations between 1 January 2010 and 31 May 2021.
It was found that only 5 of the 49 deaths had confirmed use of a defibrillator, but the Coroner noted that only 4 of the 49 cases had any circumstances reported by the Court so the exact findings of how accessible a defibrillator was, were inconclusive.
Nonetheless, the Coroner invited V/Line to respond on the proposed recommendation.
In May 2021, the CEO of V/Line, Mr Matt Carrick, CEO, responded to the Coroner via a letter, saying that V/Line reviewed the feasibility of installing defibrillators on their trains.
The finding supposedly supported the effort as plausible, however the CEO identified three issues preventing the implementation; funding, the current configuration of carriages and possible impact on timetabled services.
As mandated under the Coroners Act 2008, V/Line has three months from the publishing of the Coroner’s report to produce a statement of action to the Coroner.
Australia’s most vulnerable are grappling with cost of living pressures that are affecting families and the country’s young people.
As families seek to minimise costs, more young people are taking up a carer role for friends and family.
The $6 million Commonwealth Government grant provides added financial aid and support young people to continue their educational journey while they provide unpaid care to family and friends.
Applications for the 2024 Young Carer Bursary Program has opened from 18 July to 12 September 2023.
Young Carer Bursary has offered 1,592 grants nationwide, with each grant providing a young carer with up to $3,768 to assist them with the costs of education in the 2024 academic year.
With high inflation on groceries and bills, soaring rents, a housing crisis and low wages growth, funding is vital to help to support young people to carry out their vital carer roles.
Young carers are identified as 12-25 years of age and provide substantial unpaid care to a family member or friend facing disability, illness, injury, mental health, and aged care, through to dependence on alcohol or drugs.
Most care for a parent or a sibling and more than a third care for two or more relatives.
Alison Brook, CEO, Carers Australia says, “Young carers are hugely inspiring and provide a nurturing role typically beyond their years. However, caring comes with considerable pressure that can be very isolating.”
“I’m so pleased we are able to provide some financial relief in the form of an educa-
tional grant to enable these young people to remainableandcommittedtotheirstudies.”
Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s carers, advocating to influence policies and services at a national level.
The combined National Carer Network deliver a range of essential carer services across states and territories.
Young carers help with many tasks like household chores, paying bills, personal care, giving medication and emotional support.
The grants available will impact and acknowledge the lives of those who are struggling to juggle caring duties alongside education, work and their own personal interests and development.
The Young Carer Bursary Program supports young carers to continue with their education and reduce their need to undertake paid work at the same time as their study and caring duties.
More information can be found https:// youngcarersnetwork.com.au/bursary/ young-carer-bursary/.
By Emily Chapman Laing
Fifty-six time award winning Narre Warren high tech business Successful Endeavours has yet again been nominated, hoping to add another shiny frame to their Hall of Fame wall.
Successful Endeavours is run by Endeavour Hills husband and wife duo Ray and Junette Keefe and specialises in electronics design, embedded software and manufacturing.
On 7 June, the couple found out they had been chosen by the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) as a finalist for the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards with winners to be announced in August.
In 2022, Ray and Junette were awarded the Best Complex Electronic Technology Business 2022 at the Australian Made Awards.
Successful Endeavours was a finalist for the Endeavour Awards 2022, national manufacturing industry awards in which they ended up taking home Industrial Product of the Year for their Plumb Guard Bluetooth device, which helps prevent plumbers from being electrocuted on the job.
“You connect it to pipes that plumbers are working on, and if a hazardous voltage appears on the pipes, it goes off,” Mr Keefe said.
“Lots of noise, bright flashing LEDs, and it also connects to an app on their phone.”
This year, the Plumb Guard was a finalist for the IoT Impact Awards Health category, but the winning spot was “pipped” by Telstra.
The company works on a variety of different projects, from high voltage power distribution equipment, to cell therapy machines, to digital bagpipes.
The cell therapy machines allow biological samples to be taken and isolated down to a particular cell type.
From this, DNA can be removed and reintroduced to “cure diseases” that come about from having “bugs in your own DNA”.
The cell therapy machine has been used to treat haemophilia, where blood fails to clot properly.
“They can actually replace the broken gene,” Mr Keefe said.
“Our part of the project was the electron-
Nominations are now open for the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 South East Business Awards, held annually to celebrate business excellence in the south east region of Melbourne.
Hurry, as submissions close on 15th August.
The South East Business Awards offer more than just recognition.
The program offers entrants a free health check on their business.
The chamber has people to help you with your application if needed.
The small investment of time is about charting a path to success, securing long-term financial stability for your family and team, and establishing a prominent position in the competitive market.
Imagine the honor of being celebrated as a winner at the exquisite gala dinner in October, an unforgettable night to cherish.
Successful nominees will also gain invaluable exposure at the highly anticipated SE Business Conference, providing a platform for networking and collaboration with other businesses in the region.
Previous award winners, like iEnergi, described their exhilarating experience, stating, “The process gave us a great check-in on each aspect of our business.”
Their journey to success was not merely about winning an award but also about evaluating and enhancing every facet of their business.
ics and software pieces in the guts of the machine to the circuit boards.”
Perhaps the most unique project from the company is their digital bagpipes.
“Bagpipe players have three problems,” Mr Keefe said.
“Firstly, the instrument is quite large, secondly, it’s quite loud and thirdly, not everybody likes the sound of them.
“One of our clients is a professional bagpipe player and he was looking for something players could use to practice.”
With the digital bagpipes, players can plug in their headphones and “play away” with real bagpipe sound samples programmed into the device.
But Mr Keefe’s true passion project from the company has been the creation of a world-first IND technology, used to find electricity grid faults to within a few metres, so they can be repaired.
“This is another high voltage power distribution project, and it’s sampling 250 million times per second,” he said.
“It’s looking for signatures of particular events and when a fault is seen by two units we can calculate where the event was happening.
“The idea is you can pick up the signature of these events four to eight weeks before they actually happen, then you can do preventative maintenance before you have a disaster.”
The Victorian Bushfire Amelioration Fund has trialled 62 of the devices, which Mr Keefe said was “an overwhelming success”.
The device has also become incredibly popular in California, where penalties for power companies are higher.
Mr Keefe said he owes much of his success to his business coaching.
“Back in 2006, I realised that the business wasn’t growing the way I wasn’t and wasn’t achieving the goals that I wanted for it,” he said.
“And I realised that I didn’t know what to do to change that, which meant I was lacking in business education.”
When you walk into the Successful Endeavours office suite, you will see awards on almost every wall, spanning over a decade.
To Mr Keefe, it is the continued recognition of his business that helps keep Successful Endeavours above the “noise” of social media and SEO optimisation.
“Every year we look at what we can do to continue to give people the confidence to contact us,” Mr Keefe said.
“One of the jokes we made when we moved into this office was that I was moving for the wall space, not the floor space.”
Having tangible examples of their success also helps to “encourage” the staff “to appreciate who they are and what they’re doing”, Mr Keefe said.
Sustainability is important to Mr Keefe and it shows through the operation of his business.
After the work from home orders of the pandemic, Mr Keefe realised he could contribute to a greener world by offering work from home options after COVID restrictions eased.
“This is keeping people off of the road,” he said.
“With sustainability one of the things we’ve got to do is stop people driving around when they don’t need to drive around.”
Another project one of Mr Keefe’s team members is working on will help to reduce the amount of coal needed to burn in a coalfired power station by 15 per cent.
The company is also looking to give back to the economy, with their recent venture into manufacturing set to create more jobs.
“Manufacturing creates a lot of other jobs around it,” Mr Keefe said.
“The estimate is that one job in manufacturing directly generates five jobs around it.
“You’ve got office workers, accountants, lawyers, cleaners, suppliers and the guy with the coffee cart.”
Mr Keefe said he also values manufacturing for its ability to“spread wealth more evenly through a community”, as the chain of jobs hires workers at “every level”.
Casey will soon have to say goodbye to Successful Endeavour’s Narre Warren office as the team move to Dandenong South to a larger design office and dedicated factory.
Mark and Andrew from Chilltech shared, “So many connections we hadn’t heard from congratulated us when we shared on LinkedIn - we were pretty amazed at how many messages we got!”
This achievement not only expanded their network but also solidified their reputation as an employer of choice, attracting exceptional talent.
Seize this opportunity to invest in your business’s future and steer it towards success by participating in the South East Business 2023 Awards.
We eagerly await celebrating your achievements and contributions.
Act now and nominate your business for a chance to be recognized and valued in the South East business community.
www.greaterdandenongchamber. com.au/awards
Dandenong Garden City Plastics’ employee Olumuyiwa Akintola Elliott was namedYoung Horticulture Leader of the Year at a prestigious industry awards night.
Mr Akintola Elliott from Cranbourne East was acknowledged at the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) 2023 awards 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 southeastVictoria,” 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 the Year 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.
Goals n’ Girls
A captivating panel conversation featuring Olympic athlete Nana Owusu-Afriyie, footballers Kaitlyn Torpey and Maryam Anvari, pictured right, and AFLW player Akec Makur Chuot. Hear these remarkable women’s inspiring personal journeys to elite-level competition. Held by South East Community Links with Melbourne City Football Club’s City in the Community. Followed by Matildas v Nigeria on the Harmony Square big screen.
· Thursday27July6pmatDrumTheatre,Walker Street and Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Free event; registrations essential at eventbrite. com/e/goals-n-girls-watch-party-and-paneltickets-668579337797?aff=oddtdtcreator
Wilam Biik
A TarraWarra Museum of Art exhibition touring with NETS Victoria, curated by Stacie Piper. In the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people, Wilam Biik means Home Country. You are called to listen deeply with your ears, eyes and hearts – to understand how First People connect with Wilam Biik.
· Tuesday 25 July – Friday 8 September at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, Walker and Robinson Street, Dandenong (open TuesdaysFridays 12pm-4pm). Free event.
Community Safety Forum
Victoria Police and Greater Dandenong Council staff will respond to community safety concerns in Noble Park.
· Tuesday 25 July, 6.30pm-8.30pm at Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-34 Buckley Street, Noble Park. Free event.
Matildas on the Big Screen
Watch Australia’s games at the FIFA Womens World Cup on big screens at Harmony Square and Springvale Community Hub.
· Thursday 27 July, 8pm - 10.30pm (Australia v Nigeria) and Monday 31 July, 8pm - 10.30pm (Australia v Canada) at Harmony Square, 225 Lonsdale Street Dandenong and Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event.
Get rid of large unwanted household goods and electronic goods suitable for re-use or recycling. Items for re-use include furniture, bicycles, toys, cookware, sports items, baby equipment, clothes and linen. Items for recycling include TVs and computers, electric appliances, whitegoods and mattresses. To avoid missing out, it is highly recommended for resident to attend as early as possible.
· Saturday 29 July 2023, 8am-1pm at Greaves Reserve, Dandenong (entry via Sinclair Road). Free event.
National Tree Day Dandenong North
Plant seedlings as part of National Tree Day weekend. Includes a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Traditional Custodians from the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, planting activities, a free barbecue lunch and more. Bring drinking water, a pair of
gloves and a hand towel to wipe your hands with. Warm clothes and shoes suitable for muddy, uneven ground are recommended.
· Saturday 29 July, 10am-1pm at Tirhatuan Park, 4 Kriegel Way, Dandenong North. Free event, registrations required at greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/ events/planting-day-tirhatuan
Keysie Market - Winter edition
Come along and get all your plants and gifts at this indoors winter market. The not-for-profit event supports small businesses whilst staging live entertainment, stalls and delicious food.
· Sunday 30 July, 10am-2pm at Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough. Free event.
Springvale Snow Fest
Snow areas, artificial ice-skating rink, rides, roving performers and food from around the world, as well as a bustling stage program, activities and a 6.50pm fireworks finale.
· Sunday 30 July 12pm-7pm at Buckingham Avenue Springvale. Free event ($15 for iceskating, bookings essential). Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenongcouncil/events/springvale-snow-fest
National Tree Day Springvale South
Plant seedlings as part of National Tree Day weekend. Includes a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Traditional Custodians from the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, planting activities, native plant giveaways, a wildlife presentation, a free barbecue lunch and more. Bring drinking water, a pair of gloves and a hand towel to wipe your hands with. Warm clothes and shoes suitable for muddy, uneven ground are recommended.
· Sunday 30 July 10am-3pm at Springvalley
Reserve, Clarke Road, Springvale South. Free event, registration required. Also registrations open for women’s weaving workshop, Yidaki led meditation and sustainable kokedama workshop. Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/national-tree-day-springvalley
Dinner with a VIEW
Dandenong Evening VIEW Club is holding a dinner and trivia night. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and education for women and the Club supports the SMITH Family’s Learning for Life Program.
· Tuesday, 1 August 7pm at Dandenong RSL. Bookings essential. Details: Brigitte, 0491 626 527.
Line Dancing at The Open Door
Have fun moving to music in this vibrant group. Make connections and discover new ways to move and create. Absolute beginners welcome to enjoy a variety of easy dances. We’ll adapt many of the dances for anyone who needs/ chooses to stay seated.
· first and third Thursdays of month 10.30am11.30am (next date: Thurs 3 August) at The Open Door, 110 Ann St, Dandenong. A gold coin donation is welcome. Bookings: Jo/Tayla, 9791 8664 or theopendoor@ssjg.org.au
Multicultural seniors activities
Keysborough Multicultural Senior Citizens Inc is an over-55s club, with bingo on the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, line dancing on Wednesdays, ballroom dancing lessons on Thursdays. Upcoming bus day trip to Phillip Island tourist attractions on 25 July ($50, lunch at own expense). We are in need of few volunteers able to arrange tables and chairs on Tuesdays from 10.15am to 11.00am.
· Rowley Allan Reserve, 352 Cheltenham Road Keysborough. Tea and coffee is supplied for
all activities. Membership $10. Details: Julie, 0428 561 694
Interfaith tours
Bookings are open for Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network’s 2023 public tours to places of worship on 9 August, 11 October, and 13 December 2023. Each tour features trips to four diverse places of worship for $25 plus a lunch for $10-$15 donation. Payment of $25 is required prior to the tour to confirm your booking. Details: education@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662
Are you considering study but need to know more? Speak to educators directly and learn more about courses from Senior Secondary Programs through to Higher Education study options. Learn about subsidised study options such as free TAFE Pathways and a range of skillset - earn while you learn options.
· Wednesday 9 August, 4pm-7pm at Chisholm TAFE, 121 Stud Road - Building A, Level 2, Dandenong. Free event. Details: events@chisholm.edu.au
Healthy Minds
A mental health forum with author and psychiatrist Greg de Moore, VISION disability advocate Matt Degruchy, author and childhood genocide survivor Frida Umuhoza and others. Held by Greater Dandenong Endeavour Hills Rotary Club and Casey-Cardinia Rotaract.
· Tuesday 15 August, 6.30pm for 7pm start at Lyndale Secondary College auditorium, 14 Halton Road Dandenong. Includes supper and book signing; $10pp to be donated to Australian Rotary Health - Mental Health Research. Tickets: events.humanitix.com/ healthy-minds-mental-health-forum-aolt3xx5
Communmity safety forum
Victoria Police Superintendent Jo Stafford is guest speaker at Neighbourhood Watch Greater Dandenong’s community safety public forum. Supt Stafford oversees the Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia police areas, is a police officer for 25 years and a former nurse. Includes Q&A and light supper.
· Wednesday 27 September, 7pm for 7.30pm start at 18 Buckley Street Noble Park. Mindfulness meditation
Held weekly for people to learn the basic skills of concentration. Meditation may benefit people with spiritual and mental health support.
· Thursdays, 2.30pm-3pm at Dandenong Hospital’s Sacred Space, 135 David Street, Dandenong. Free, no bookings required. Details: Chuentat Kang, 0405 421 706 or chuentat@ hotmail.com
Yoga Classes
For all ages, experience and abilities. Mats and other equipment available. No Booking required.
· Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am-10.30am at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $5 per class or $40 for 10 classes. Details: programs@nobleparkcc.org. au or 9547 5801
Casey Connected Libraries is offering kids the chance to win each month, simply by signing up.
Signing up to the library is free and kids receive their very own Sid the sloth membership card.
All new members can go into the draw to win a Toymate Voucher valued at $100.
One winner will be chosen per month from 1 July until 23 December 2023.
Enter online via https://www.connectedlibraries.org.au/sidthesloth/
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 progress 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.
Members of a Dandenong-based charity made huge strides at the Run Melbourne fundraiser on Sunday 16 July.
Wellsprings for Women runners Robyn, Samar, Rowena, Sophea, Aimee, and Fatima raised $5509.
“They smashed it and raised over and above our target,” Wellsprings chief executive Dalal Smiley said.
“Very proud of our runners as they really devoted time to training before the event, promoting the fundraiser, harassing friends, family and colleagues to donate.
“Our heartfelt thank yous go to them for their generous spirit and commitment toWellsprings mission.”
In terms of funds raised,Wellsprings ranked 31 out of 270 charities taking part in Run Melbourne.
The donations will go towards Wellsprings’ family violence case management program, which assists women impacted by family violence in the South East.
In total, 20,000 runners and 12,000 donors helped to raise more than $850,000 for charities.
Details: https://runmelbourne23.grassrootz. com/wellsprings-for-women
“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.”
Twin double-storey units have been approved in a Eumemmerring backyard despite opposition from Casey Council.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal member Megan Carew granted the permit at the rear of a one-storey house at 26 McLennan Street.
Casey had originally refused the permit in the predominantly single-storey neighbourhood.
It remained opposed to amended plans, which still “squeezed” the twobedroom dwellings with single car spaces into the back yard.
The pair of homes would create “unacceptable visual bulk” , Casey argued.
They did not fit Doveton-Eumemmerring’s neighbourhood character policy, which was for “established, diverse areas with attractive, open, treed streetscapes and a strong, proud sense of place”, according to the council.
On 17 July, Ms Carew ruled there was no dispute that the site was suitable for medium density housing.
“The area does have an open feel, but the traditional suburban character is changing with new redevelopment occurring for medium density housing.”
She noted that next-door sites recently added extra backyard dwellings – albeit single-storey units.
Ms Carew found there was sufficient space for canopy trees to “contribute” to the area’s garden character.
She granted a permit with further alterations, including enlarging the private open space.
PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE AN EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION ON A 30M STEEL POLE AT OAKLEIGH PISTOL CLUB, OFF SIMPSONS ROAD, CLARINDA VIC - 3169 INCLUDING 5G
1.The proposed facility consist of the addition of new Vodafone and Optus 5G equipment and associated works as follows:
•Replacement of existing Three (3) Vodafone passive antennas not more than 2.8m installed onto the existing headframe;
(3) Optus passive antennas not more than 2.8m in length installed onto the existing headframe;
•Installation of Three (3) Vodafone and Three (3) Optus 5G antennas not more than 1.2m in length installed onto the existing headframe;
•Installation of Twenty One (21) Radio Remote Units (RRU’s) installed onto the existing headframe;
•Installation of ancillary equipment, cabling, GPS antennas and other items associated with the safety and operation of the facility; and within the existing equipment shelter.
2. Vodafone and Optus regard the proposed installation as low impact under The Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 based on the description above.
3.In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Should you require further information or wish to comment, please contact: Abhishek Gampala from Nokia Solutions & Networks on 0413 809 856 or at communityrelations.vha@groups.nokia.com by COB Tuesday 08 August 2023. Further information may also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/3169007
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The curtain has been drawn at Dandenong for both the men’s and women’s NBL1 programs for another season despite both sides achieving wins in their final contests of the campaign against Casey.
A monster stat-line from Amber Smith powered the women to their 11th win of the campaign 87-76, before the men made it two-from-two to finish the year with an 83-72 victory.
A shock fourth-consecutive win for Berwick in the Eastern Football Netball League Premier Division over Noble Park has heaped pressure on the reigning premiers as the mid-year revival of Clint Evans’ side continues.
In one of the club’s most significant victories in recent years since shifting to the EFNL, Berwick held the Bulls goalless in the second half to keep its finals chances alive, winning 9.8 62 to 6.12 48 on the road.
Both sides looked to maximise the dry conditions and the space afforded at Pat Wright Senior Oval by moving the ball quickly and with hands through the middle and via the wings.
Noble Park kicked two of the first three in the contest before a series of missed opportunities saw them whiff on an opportunity to maximise its dominance, having gained the upper hand around the footy and in the territory battle.
The Bulls missed three shots in a threeminute period as Berwick found itself moored in the back half, before chaining their way out of trouble to find Charlie Muley in the goalsquare for its second.
Seven shots on goal to just two for only a five-point lead told the story of both the Bulls’ wastefulness, and Berwick’s efficiency.
The home side found their radar in the second, kicking 4.2 in a more polished performance.
The pressure they applied in the front half of the ground was sensational, with all goals coming from turnovers forced in the forward half or freekicks won through fierce tackling.
Kevin Kean’s crunching tackle on Lachlan Vaughan was the most-notable, leading to a goal to Nathan Noblett, who kicked five in the previous encounter between the two to announce himself to the competition back in round two.
Berwick was not to be denied, however, as the pendulum of momentum swung viciously throughout the term.
No side was able to kick more than two in a row, as Berwick hit the lead at the 24th minute through Caydn Lane.
It was the Bulls with a slender lead at the half, but scoring would become harder and harder for the home side who failed to kick a major for the remainder of the afternoon.
Nick Hillard opened the scoring in the second half by sharking a ruck tap from opposition ruckman Jono Beech and nailing a long shot on his right, a perfect start to the period for the Wickers who could sniff an upset.
Harry Money bagged a major with a long set shot to snatch the lead, the beneficiary of slick ball movement from a back six growing in confidence by the minute as it thwarted scoring opportunities.
He repeated the dose later in the term as his side showcased its ability to spread from a stoppage to push the lead to eight points.
Ahead by seven to begin the last, nerves ap-
peared to set in for a side clinging to hopes of September action.
Four misses to open the quarter showcased their anxiety, but the Bulls didn’t fare much better.
The arm-wrestle was eventually broken by Sam Hilton-Joyce in the 24th minute, who dispossessed Luke Bull at half-forward before goaling on the run, wheeling away to his right as his teammates struggled to keep pace.
Where exuberance was written all-over the faces of those in navy blue, their counterparts in the royal variance look bereft of answers.
Hilton-Joyce was named in Berwick’s best players in just his third game of senior football, alongside more senior heads in Hillard, Tom Brennan and Jesse Cirulis.
For the Bulls, Jackson Casey continues to earn his keep, while Josh Stern kicked two.
Accuracy continues to dog Steve Hughes’ side, having not kicked more goals than behinds since thrashing Park Orchards in round eight, and averaging just 47 points in its last five outings.
Against East Ringwood in round 12 it was a goalless final term, only managing six behinds, an alarming sign for a side looking to defend its crown.
Berwick will look to push its winning run to five when it hosts Balwyn next week, while the Bulls will look to rectify its current skid, having dropped three of its last four, against Park Orchards.
A dominant second quarter from Rowville has lifted the Hawks into second place, having dislodged opponents East Ringwood by 35 points.
Ben Wise’s side slammed on 6.5 to the Kangaroos’ one behind in the second period, the clear difference in an otherwise even contest between Eastern Football Netball League heavyweights...that quarter aside, East Ringwood gets the chocolates by five points.
Of significance for the Hawks was the lack of scoreboard impact from Lachlan Wynd.
The imposing key forward was held goalless, and lost his place at the top of the leading goalkickers list as a result, yet his side still managed to record a victory of such significance.
Instead, it was Kurtis Flakemore (four goals) Zac Greeves and Max Martini (three each) who did the majority of the scoring.
Nashua Wood, Lachlan Stapleton and Anthony Brolic were all among the best for Rowville, who fell to the Kangaroos at home back in May.
It takes the Hawks to eight wins in its last nine contests and franks their credentials as a legitimate premiership threat, in their quest to go one-better than they did in 2022.
With four fixtures remaining against sides battling for a spot in the top six, including
rivals Noble Park, there should be every confidence in the brown and gold that they can overtake Vermont in top spot, who have a more difficult run home with games against three of the current top six. Vermont, Doncaster East and Balwyn all
took care of business in their respective contests to ensure the logjam chasing Vermont remains tight.
Three sides, in Rowville, Balwyn and East Ringwood, are tied for 40 points on second, third and fourth, respectively.
Smith tallied 35 points and 13 rebounds as the Rangers recovered from a slow start in the women’s contest.
Where Casey was playing for pride and aiming to lift itself from the bottom of the NBL1 South ladder, Dandenong was playing to keep its final chances alive, needing to win and for other results to fall its way in order to finish in the top eight and qualify for the postseason.
While able to hold-up their end of the bargain, the remaining matches did not fall in their favour, consigned to a 10th place finish after a .500 season (11 wins 11 losses).
The Rangers struggled for consistency on the court all season, splitting their first eight contests with four wins and four losses before losing four consecutive matches in rounds five and six.
While they were able to stabilise and win three of their last five, heavy losses to Mt Gambier (92-59) andWaverley (9763) contributed to a negative scoring percentage.
Despite missing finals qualifications, the stocks of Nyadiew Puoch continue to rise, leading her team in points per game (24.5).
The men recovered from a slow start, trailing at the first break, but outscored the home side by 17 points over the remaining three quarters to notch a fourth win of the season, to finish second-last on the table.
It’s a minor improvement on the 2022 season for the Rangers men, who finished 19th.
The season started brightly for the Rangers with a thumping victory over local rivals Casey 97-72 on opening night at home.
The wheels soon fell off, however, losing 10 consecutive matches between rounds two and seven, and another seven consecutively after a breakthrough win against Kilsyth.
Jack Roberts scored 15.9 points per game to lead his side in scoring.
Doveton and Hampton Park both squandered opportunities for statement wins on the weekend, going down to Highett and Murrumbeena respectively.
While a win would have kept the Doves in with a chance of finishing in the top two, last year’s runners up now face a fight to stay in third spot with Highett equal on points.
Hampton Park, meanwhile, is just two points clear of sixth-placed Skye after looking a class below second-placed Murrumbeena at Tony Way Recreation Reserve.
A Kyle Hendy ankle injury in the first 30 seconds of Hampton Park’s game was symbolic of the narrative for both local sides, whose prospects of victory were decimated by absences.
For the Spiders, key forward Nathan Carver
missed the second consecutive week with a finger injury.
Also out were skipper Liam Myatt, vice-captain Trent Thomas, winger Tristan FernandezPhillips, pinch-hit rucks Peter Gerard and Jye King, and Lionel Benoit and Ryan Hillard.
Key defender Jackson Philpin is also expected to miss multiple weeks after injuring his calf during the game.
It’s well known across the league that Hampton Park lacks height, and injuries to the full back, full forward and two ruck options cued discussions at the venue about whether the squad is the smallest in local footy across the state.
Tanner Stanton kicked an early goal to reward the Redbacks for a competitive start, but the visitors found it far too easy to take marks
inside 50, resulting in a deficit at quarter time.
The hosts were unable to arrest the momentum before ‘Beena’ took the game away from them, ultimately going down 9.3 57 to 16.14 110.
Meanwhile, Doveton was missing midfielders Will Smith, Jake Basa and Brodie Howie, key defender Sam Muirhead, forward James Gascard, defender Deekon Stapleton and veteran Michael Henry.
After playing in the reserves last week, coach Michael Cardamone was back on the field.
Having been beaten in the midfield from the first quarter, the Doves were on the back foot from the get go.
With the margin at 10 points midway through the third quarter, Cardamone looked like he had put his team back in the contest
with a snap from the boundary, but it was ruled a behind.
From there, Highett banged through three more for the quarter, to stretch the lead as high as 26 points, eventually winning 10.4 64 to 6.7 43.
Cam Williamson had his goal-kicking boots on, providing presence in attack and finishing with five goals.
The club’s leading goal kicker has now scored nine of his 25 goals against Highett.
The Redbacks have now lost five of their last seven, while Doveton has lost two of its last three, after a seven-game winning streak through the middle of the year.
Meanwhile, Keysborough nabbed its third win of the season, defeating winless Black Rock 11.14 80 to 8.13 61.
One club Springvale Districts faces a seasondefining month to finish off the home and away season.
A 33-point win over Chelsea Heights two weeks ago saw Kris Thompson’s men tick past the eight wins recorded in 2022.
Springvale Districts have continued producing in recent weeks despite the absence of 2021 best and fairest winner Peter Heng, star midfielder Dylan Quirk, ruck Ryan Auld and key backs John Walker Matthew Blair.
They currently sit third on the ladder ahead of games with Bentleigh, Cheltenham, Cranbourne and St Paul’s McKinnon.
Cheltenham and Cranbourne are the ladder leaders and will prove an intriguing reference point as to how far off the pace Springvale Districts is.
The Dees beat Bentleigh and St Paul’s McKinnon by 20 and six points respectively last time, and must win both games for the sake of confidence as much as ladder position.
“If you had have said to me that we would be 9-3 and (Tyrone) Vickery wouldn’t have played a game, I’d be pretty happy,” Thompson said.
“We were very reliant on him last year, to score so we’ve had to change the way we score, that’s been the most pleasing thing.”
The ex-AFL key forward kicked 47 goals in 15 games last year, proving a bail-out option inside 50.
“Not having Vickery has forced us to lower our eyes and change lanes and move the footy better and get better entries. We’ve done a lot of training around that since preseason,” Thompson said.
The return of pack-crashing key forward Matt Wetering has been welcome for Spring-
vale Districts after he played only four games last season, in between Collingwood VFL commitments.
He has 40 goals in 13 games but is slightly smaller and, while important structurally, and a score generator, doesn’t have the same commanding presence.
It’s seen them become more unpredictable, with Daniel Helmore and Alex Derzekos both scoring threats.
That pair have both added speed to the engine room for the Dees in short spurts, which is where they’ve been able to find another level in 2023.
The three starting mids weren’t at the club last season: Dylan Quirk, Liam Giove, Nick Gay.
“Nick Gay has been a really good defen-
sive midfielder,” Thompson said.
“He’s leading our club for tackles by a long way. Giove is similar. It’s a tough midfield.
“Our midfield last year was simply not a Division 1 midfield.
“We needed to improve that and we did. Giove has a bit of pace, Derzekos goes through there and breaks lines and kicks the ball really well. Helmore goes in there at times as well and he’s got pace and George Angelopoulos stands up when he gets his chance.”
Since Auld’s been out of action, following the game against Cranbourne on 27 May, Toby Arms has competed as an undersized ruck and his follow-up work has made him effectively an extra midfielder.
Arms was awarded the player with the
most potential at the club best and fairest in 2022, and is delivering on that this year, averaging 25 possessions when playing as a ruck.
His clearance work has been crucial in that position, despite training as a forward/ winger in preseason.
Veteran Stefan Feehan, meanwhile, has led the defence after playing most of his career as a forward, his team conceding at least 16 goals fewer than every team except for 2022 grand finalists Cheltenham and Cranbourne.
“People are just standing up or playing their role.
“Every year since I’ve been at the club, we’ve finished higher on the ladder and (we) are trending on the right path this year.”
Springvale Districts this week has a home clash against a young Bentleigh outfit.
