Dandenong Star Journal - 5th September 2023

Arresting art on show

Endeavour

Overdose crisis Report reveals alarming numbers in Greater Dandenong .....

By Sahar Foladi

An alarming report by the Pennington Institute has demonstrated staggering numbers of accidental overdoses in Greater Dandenong, begging for urgent policy reform.

The report tracked data as far back as 2001, with Penington Institute’s CEO John Ryan saying the report findings are a cause of concern for all Australians.

“It is no exaggeration to talk about an over-

dose crisis. Overdose deaths in Australia have exceeded the road toll since 2014, and we see little to no action to demonstrably change this,” Mr Ryan said.

Greater Dandenong has topped the list in Victoria from 2007-2016 with a total of 134 deaths. From 2017 to 2021, there were 86 unintentional overdose deaths in the municipality, 100 for Geelong and 84 in Frankston.

“I’m a big believer in looking at a patient’s history of prescriptions and drug abuse. That

should be something on record and considered with every prescription,” Dandenong resident Jacqui Swallow said.

She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2002 and with it also came intense depression and anxiety.

In an attempt to suicide in 2020, she’d overdosed on mood stabiliser pills, Valium and Olanzapine after a conversation over the phone with Beyond Blue.

Fortunately, through the recognition of her

tone, emergency services were called by Beyond Blue and Ms Swallow was treated right away.

“Pharmacies can do Webster Packs where patients only receive weeks’ worth of medicine at a time and I believe that should be compulsory for medications prone to be abused.”

The report presents a grim reality where six Australians lose their lives to overdoses every day - one every four hours.

Continued page 6

Hills police station has been brightened with paintings from local school students. Police Constable Tahery, is pictured with some of the works.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

‘Greenwashing’ ire

By Sahar Foladi

City of Greater Dandenong will investigate a ban on fossil fuel industry advertisements and sponsorships on council properties.

In a 28 August council meeting, councillor Rhonda Garad successfully moved for a report on council properties to being free from any indirect advertising of fossil fuel-affiliated companies, in alignment with the council’s Climate Emergency Plan.

The ban would also strike out any funding or sponsorships from fossil-fuel entities, or partner with organisations accepting such sponsorships.

Councillor Rhonda Garad said “greenwashing” has become a way for fossil fuels sector and affiliated companies to use the council’s “good name to destroy our environment.”

“We hear things like net zero, we hear things like carbon neutral from these companies, which is false and inaccurate.

“It is beholden on us that we don’t become the witting partners in allowing these companies to greenwash using our good name.”

During the council’s ‘One Tree per Child’ planting of 2500 trees, Cr Garad noticed volunteers from Conversation Volunteers Australia with badging “from the fossil-fuel sector”.

“We partnered with an organisation that were openly walking around wearing badges showing concern of the environment.

“They accept greenwashed money, for that reason we should not be partnering with them.

“Other people will refuse to work with us if we continue to partner with them.”

Greater Dandenong officers will prepare a report detailing the implications of the ban and a feasible strategy for implementing the ban.

“For us to allow our good name to be greenwashed by those who have no concern of our future why are we doing that? Why would any responsible person do that?

“They are responsible for global warming which is hurting our environment,” Cr Garad said.

She argued the climate emergency worldwide where Canada is suffering from an ongoing, record-setting series of wildfires since March 2023.

This has burnt 15 million hectares (37.8

million acres) ten times more than in 2022, an area larger than Greece and New York state.

However, the motion sparked a debate amongst councillors where Cr Tim Dark took a strong stand saying the motion “can’t be implemented.”

“I rise to oppose this motion because I have some serious issue about the detriment to the council‘s functions and operations as a whole.

“The motion cannot be supported or brought into this municipality because everything we do is connected to the fossil fuel industry.”

While he recognised climate change, he also remarked that nothing they could do as a small municipality could make a change on the “world stage.”

“We consistently work with partners and groups, and the community groups in our facilities work with them (fossil fuel affiliated entities). Sports clubs have sponsorships with them.

“We are talking about a significantly large industry.

Students of Latin show ‘excellentia’

“The natural gas industry, the petroleum industry - they are supporting many different things (such as) plastics. So what do we do about the role of all plastics ... in supplying other parts of the chain in our municipality.

“We can’t go down the path to say we’ll ban this, and we’ll ban everything to do with fossil fuels because it makes zero sense. It’s impractical and can’t be implemented.”

Cr Garad said the council had never directly received ads or sponsorship from the fossil fuel sector.

“It will not impact Council’s income and operations. It will send a strong message that we are serious about our climate emergency stance.”

Instead of “watering down the severity of what’s happening,” Cr Garad said there are many other credible organisations council can receive sponsorships from.

“The One Tree Per Child project is very expensive and we are looking for sponsorships, but we don’t have to play in the hands of the fossil fuel sector.”

Carefully choreographed dance to victory

Haileybury’s Keysborough students won a series of gold medals at the TFT Schoolaerobics Australian National Championships in Adelaide.

During five days of tough competition, the students impressed the judges and didn’t miss a carefully choreographed step.

Year 9 student, Chelsea Armstrong, won gold in the junior contemporary dance category and also in a duo with fellow Haileybury student, Braya Jade Hanssen.

A young achiever who’s been dancing since she was two years old, Chelsea also won the national title in the aerobics secondary singles event.

“My Mum owns a dance studio that my Nan started so I’ve always been around dance. My sister and cousin both danced and so I spent a lot of time at the studio and at competitions with them. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to start dancing myself,” says Chelsea.

When she was 10, she also started doing aerobics at Haileybury.

“I’ve never won a national medal at all for aerobics but it was a goal I set for myself so I was super happy to win.

“These results for dance and aerobics were my best ever and I’m excited to be a national champion.”

Fitting 21 hours of dance training in a week with homework and some downtime to rest can be challenging but winning gold and national titles make the effort worthwhile.

Her favourite styles of dance are jazz and contemporary.

Braya Jade Hanssen, Year 10 at Haileybury, was also an early starter in the world of dance. She began performing dance and calisthenics at the age of two.

“Seeing all the ‘big girls’ dance when I was

little made me want to dance and become the best that I could be.”

She trains for 20 hours a week and while contemporary and jazz are her focus, she also does ballet, tap, hip-hop, lyrical and musical theatre.

She has already won a series of national titles and added solo and duo gold medals at the recent competition to an impressive collection.

“I did five routines and won gold in all but I’m particularly proud of my solo because there were a lot of amazing girls competing on the day.

“It’s the best feeling to be a national champion and to win with your team.”

Mia Leys is the proud Dance Captain at Haileybury and another experienced performer who has been dancing since she was threeyears-old.

Inside and outside school she dedicates 14 hours a week to her craft while managing the pressures that come with being in Year 12.

She has attended Nationals three times with Haileybury and in that time Ms Leys has walked away with nine gold medals, silver and a bronze.

However, she says being elected Dance Captain has been her biggest achievement.

“Being part of and leading an incredible group of students will be one of the lasting memories I will take away from my time at Haileybury.

“For many of the girls, the dance and aerobics program has been part of school life from the age of six.

“All our teams worked tirelessly all year for that moment on stage and every single team did their best. I’m proud, thrilled and very, very happy!”

Haileybury students from the Keysborough campus have been earning title after title in the past week.

Angela Li, is helping to keep the ancient study of Latin alive as well as becoming a state champion in the subject.

She was one of around 80 students from 11 schools across Victoria who competed in an annual Latin reading competition organised by the Classical Association of Victoria.

Students were required to accurately read Latin texts, while being judged on their accuracy, fluency and expression.

This year’s theme was ‘Ghosts’ with students reading Latin passages about ghosts, the underworld and witches.

“The best thing about Latin is that each word is like a jigsaw puzzle and you have to piece together a coherent translation,” Ms Li said.

“Through learning Latin, you also tour the Ancient world, for example, reading about a Roman election is one thing but translating actual propaganda carved on the walls in Rome is something very different.

“I’ve seen comments like ‘Vote for him. He bakes good bread!’ It has been a fascinating language to learn.”

She began studying Latin at the end of 2020 because she wanted to challenge herself to try something new.

Year 11 student Jaeden Vaithianathan competed against a field of older students and managed to bring back a silver medal.

He began studying Latin in Year 8, partly inspired by an interest in GrecoRoman mythology since he was a young child.

“Latin seemed like a great way to immerse myself in that world plus I’ve developed new skills through translating, analysing poetry and learning Roman history.”

Haileybury Latin teacher, Emily Gilbert said Haileybury students have a history of winning titles at the Classical Association of Victoria event.

“Angela delivered a stand-out performance and Jaeden competed with students a year older than him in the fiercely competitive Year 12 group – a great achievement.”

The school’s dance students meanwhile topped the TFT Schoolaerobics Nationals in Adelaide, bringing home a series of gold medals and national titles.

Harry Habitat with students from Dandenong Primary School during the recent One Tree per Child event.

Braya Jade Hanssen, Year 10 at Haileybury, won gold medals at the TFT Schoolaerobics Nationals in Adelaide.

Mia Leys, Dance Captain at Haileybury, is a three time Nationals competitor with nine gold medals, silver and a bronze.

Angela Li took out a Latin reading prize at the annual Classical Association of Victoria competition.

Year 11 student Jaeden Vaithianathan won silver at the same competition.

Serial SE hoon is jailed

By Corey Everitt

A serial hoon facing scores of charges from illegal ‘skid meets’ has been sentenced to three months jail time.

Cooper Peatling, 25, faced Dandenong Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 31 August pleaded guilty to offences such as reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft of motor vehicle and property damage, while also including drug possession and incitement charges.

The offenses were committed in areas such as Lynbrook, Keysborough, Truganina and Thomastown throughout 2021.

The court heard that Peatling was part of established hooning rings ‘South East Skids’ and ‘Northern Tea Party’.

They were known for informal meet-ups at industrial estates involving reckless driving and stunts in front of hundreds of people.

Peatling, who held a learner’s license during the offenses, would attend these meetings in a white Mazda van that was registered in his grandmother’s name.

He was apparently known in the community as the ‘One Stop Tyre Shop’ due to the van carrying car jacks and spare tyres for engagement in reckless driving.

Evidence constructed from police reports, data intercepts and from social media such as Tiktok and Snapchat showed Peatling’s wellknown white van engaging in the burnouts

On 9 July 2021, the van attended a hooning meet at the intersection of Business Park Drive

and Commercial Drive in Lynbrook, police told the court.

On nearby CCTV footage, the white van was seen to perform burnouts, figure-eights and flicking the van dangerously close to about 100 bystanders.

Peatling’s passenger allegedly ‘exited’ the vehicle briefly during the dangerous driving by sitting on the window with their legs out and holding the roof racks.

Police arrived as Peatling performed a burnout. He promptly exited the intersection at speed narrowly missing a pedestrian who had to run out the van’s way.

Peatling would have learner plates displayed in the front and back of the vehicle, while covering the van’s registration plates during this incident.

The prosecution argued that Peatling was not just a participant but an architect of the hooning groups activities, charging him with inciting others to perform dangerous driving.

He had sent Snapchat messages to call on other associates out to hooning events in the northern suburbs..

At the time, Peatling was on bail after being arrested for failing to appear before court over a suspended driving charge.

Defense lawyer Maria Cananzi argued the seriousness of the offenses had been recognised by Peatling and his rehabilitation since being charged and bailed should be considered.

“He has effectively extricated himself from

that environment, from those influences, recognising where he has found himself,” Ms Cananzi argued.

“There has been no further offending in relation to any use of motor vehicle.

“The changes in behaviour have been borne out and are evident to the court in other ways.”

The defense argued he had shown promising changes in his life, including maintaining a full-time job and strong ties to his family, who made a large presence at Peatling’s sentencing.

Magistrate John O’Callaghan said he did not consider Peatling as an ‘architect’ of the hooning meets but he took the list of dangerous driving very seriously.

“That is an entirely different category, significantly different category of serious when it comes to the actual conduct.

“I’m a country person, I was a country magistrate and I’ve seen things I can’t unsee in terms of what has been the consequences of young people.

“I come from that point of view of the seriousness of the offending and also the thefts and dishonesty types of matters.”

Mr O’Callaghan sentenced Peatling to three months jail, a community corrections order and a $3000 fine.

“I don’t put you in the category of a person who wants to hurt people. In fact, my impression of you is that are actually a quite good young fellow,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“You have people that love you and continue to love you, and that is the strongest thing

and the best thing I have heard.

“But actions have consequences, we know that as adults and you as a young man have to accept that.

“The consequences are that people could have lost their life, they could have been materially, substantially been hurt and have their lives affected, and if you think I’m exaggerating, I can tell you I have seen it.”

Mr O’Callaghan made a point of saying he calculated the maximum possible sentence for his charges, which was roughly 95 years and $200,000 in fines, to further demonstrate the seriousness of Peatlings actions.

“I’ve given you a significant discount which takes into account your youth, your prospects of rehabilitation, I think you are genuinely sorry for what has happened, despite there could be an argument that you weren’t at the time, I think you’ve moved on a bit from then,” Mr O’Callaghan said to Peatling.

“I actually think you have a good future ahead of you. You might say he just sent me to jail and why would he think that? I actually do believe that, particularly because of your family, particularly because of your work.”

Peatling will be under a corrections order for 12 months after his jail time. The CCO includes 100 hours of unpaid community service.

His license is suspended for 18 months.

Mr O’Callaghan ordered members to clear the court to give Peatling and his family a moment together before he was taken by court security.

Hornet tribute for RAAF high-flyer Edward ‘Ted’ Radford

The spectacular roar of a F/A-18F Super Hornet fly-past was a fitting send-off for a former high-flying Royal Australian Air Force pilot and commander.

The fighter plane soared over the funeral service of 87-year-old Air Vice-Marshal Edward ‘Ted’ Radford AO funeral service on Bunurong Memorial Park in Dandenong South on Monday 28, August.

“AVM Radford was instrumental in bringing the F/A-18F Super Hornet into RAAF service,” a Defence spokesperson said.

“Air Force values the service of AVM Radford immensely and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

A funeral Guard of Honour was conducted for the former Deputy Chief of Air Staff (1990) and Air Commander Australia (1985-’90).

The highly-decorated AVM Radford rose through the ranks after topping the course as a cadet at RAAF College in 1953.

Over 37 years of service, he flew 28 aircraft types for a total of 4300 hours. In 1980-81, he led large teams in France and the US to evaluate the Mirage 2000, the F16 and F18 fighters. It led to the Government choosing to buy the F18.

He later became Deputy Chief Executive Operations at Qantas which he described as like being Air Commander“except for control of a $1.7 billion budget and 17 unions to deal with.

He also was Race Director for the London Sydney Air Race – an official event in Australia’s Centenary of Federation.

AVM Radford died in Mornington on 16 August.

A passenger was seen hanging out of a car window during the smoking burnouts.

Skid meets at Lynbrook and Keysborough attracted hundreds of bystanders close to the dangerous driving.

Air Vice-Marshal Edward ‘Ted’ Radford.

A F/A-18F Super Hornet flies past Dandenong South in tribute to Air Vice-Marshal Edward ‘Ted’ Radford. 356660

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Kingswood for sale

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

In a shock move, AustralianSuper intends to sell off the former Kingswood Golf Course in Dingley Village.

The investment fund had proposed a controversial 824-dwelling estate on the course, with the State Government yet to announce whether it will approve the plan.

On 1 September, AustralianSuper announced it was starting an Expression of Interest process to divest the 54-hectare golf course.

In a statement, it said the fund was now focused on “larger-scale property investment opportunities domestically and globally”.

The golf course “no longer aligned with the new strategy”.

“AustralianSuper still believes that the development of the site should proceed as proposed as it will provide increased housing diversity and stock in this key growth corridor within the middle-ring of Melbourne as well as community and social infrastructure that will benefit the local community for years to come.”

In 2014, the fund bought the site for a reported $125 million. It stated that since then the fund’s member assets had grown from $79 billion to more than $300 billion.

Colliers has been appointed to undertake the EOI process.

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 State Government was contacted for comment.

State and Federal MPs, Kingston Council and a residents action group have publicly opposed the proposed estate.

Save Kingswood president Kevin Poulter said he was not sure what the sell-off said about the impending Government decision.

“I believe they don’t know any more about the Minister’s decision than us.

“They want overdevelopment to cover their stupid and careless lack of due diligence prepurchase. Otherwise they will be hit with a loss.”

Fantastic characters brought to life

Endeavour Hills’ Mossgiel Park Primary School celebrated its best readers and spellers last week, as part of national Book Week celebrations.

Principal Lynn Ordish said reading has helped the students broaden their view of the world.

“Book Week is always an exciting time at Mossgiel Park Primary,” she said.

“This year’s theme of ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ resonates with our commitment to develop children to have a love for reading and learning.

“We have an emphasis on teaching children how to comprehend the text they read.”

Foundation teacher Louise Rezel said this year’s Book Week celebrations involved a number of events.

“Our Book Week included many fun and engaging activities such as dressing up as their favourite book character, a spelling bee and a whole school assembly to acknowledge and celebrate students at each year level who have achieved excellence in reading,” she said.

“We also announced the Spelling Bee champions and awarded an Encouragement Reading Award for one student in each class that has shown unwavering dedication and significant growth in reading, comprehension, fluency and voice.

“Our whole school environment encapsulates the spirit of Book Week and striving to succeed.”

Fury over gum trees

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A community petition has been launched to save two of the last giant River Red Gums in central Noble Park.

The trees stand on the edge of council land and the site at 51A Douglas Street. Their removal was endorsed by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny as part of a sixstorey apartment tower development.

Within a week, more than 700 had signed on to the online petition. Organiser Gaye Guest said she was amazed at how quickly the signatures were accumulating.

“People who sign petitions also vote and people are now telling the State Government that they want the trees preserved through this petition.”

She says the gums are the last remnant specimens in the area, after the Government mowed down 66 along Mons Parade as part of the 2016 sky-rail project.

“It’s ironic that we have the stump of the tree in the station forecourt that Noble Park grew under and the beautiful mural that the council commissioned representing the birth of the river red gums in Mons Parade. And yet the State Government and the developer have done nothing to accommodate these magnificent species when ideally they just have to reconfigure the design to enhance that space.”

Greater Dandenong Council had submitted for a change of the apartments’ design so the trees could be preserved. But according to the Government, it was “not feasible” to retain the trees without “substantially restricting” the development. A native vegetation offset within Port Phillip and Westernport region was required for the removal of the trees, as well as further planting at the Douglas Street site as part of an approved landscape plan.

The trees’ retention was a matter for the developer to negotiate directly with the council, the Government says. However, the council’s city planning director Jody Bosman has publicly held little hope of saving the trees.

Mr Bosman said the permit – once issued – could not be cancelled “as it is now owned by the developer”.

“We cannot reverse the decision on the permit issued in Noble Park.”

Maestro writer inspires

Award-winning author Alice Pung, made an inspiring visit to St John’s Regional College for Book Week. A teacher, mentor and lawyer, Pung met with students in the library on Monday 28 August.

Her works such as the memoir Her Father’s Daughter and novels Laurinda and One Hundred Days have been awarded and published internationally.

She is also a prolific children’s author.

A State Government spokesperson said it was “focused on delivering more housing for Victorians with good access to jobs, transport and essential services – ensuring Victoria’s liveability for future generations.”

Critics say the trees’ destruction runs counter to the Noble Park suburban revitalization project to increase the area’s greenery. Labor MP Lee Tarlamis, who chairs the Noble Park Suburban Revitalisation Board, said it was “working hard to improve the amenity and greenery across the Noble Park activity centre”.

It had funded and partnered in projects like the nearby Leonard Avenue greening and streetscape works and new garden beds and tree planting on Douglas Street, he said.

“In partnership with Council, we also Implemented the Noble Park Activity Centre tree planting plan which resulted in the planting of more than 50 trees in the activity centre.“We are continuing to work with the community to identify new initiatives.”

Petition supporters were campaigning to save remnant river red gum trees near Noble Park railway station.

Alice Pung, front, meets St John’s students as part of Book Week.

The recipients of the Reading Excellence Awards. 351512 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Justin and Ivy with Reading Excellence Awards. 351512 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Foundation students Liam Johnston and Lily Rahmani won the award for the best dressed students on the day.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Foundation teacher Louise Rezel joined in the fun. Picture: SUPPLIED

Would-be rapist is jailed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A man who “terrifyingly” attacked and tried to rape a stranger soon after she got off a bus in Eumemmerring has been jailed.

David Charles Andrews, 43, pleaded guilty at theVictorian County Court to sexual assault, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence, threatening to inflict serious injury and threatening to commit a sexual assault.

He was at the bus stop near Frawley and Olive roads about 3.15am on 17 December 2022 whenthevictimtouchedofftopickupafriend’s car before going to work in Dandenong.

Andrews approached her and said: “Hey, hey, what are you doing?

“Oh, I thought you were Jane.”

She walked off, avoiding eye contact.

Along a nearby and “isolated” walking track, she was speaking to her friend on her phone when Andrews tackled her down.

He pinned her to the ground, telling her: “If you yell and scream one more time, I’m going to slit your throat”.

He repeatedly told her he was going to rape her.

In fear, she stopped resisting.

As she lay pinned down in a foetal position, Andrews kissed her head, told her she was a “good girl” and then started “grinding up behind her”, Judge Michael Tinney said in sentencing on 30 August.

Her friend on the phone heard the threats and called triple-000 and then rang the victim back. Perhaps in response to the victim’s phone lighting up or a bystander approaching,

a startled Andrews ran away.

Andrews was arrested the next day in Dandenong, which “took off the streets an obviously then-dangerous individual”. He was on bail and a good-behaviour bond at the time.

The victim didn’t submit an impact statement to the court due to not wanting to re-visit the events. At the time she stated to police:“If I have a moment to think about it, it triggers me.

“I don’t want to think about it.

“I hate the fact it happened. I hope he doesn’t harm another soul.”

Judge Tinney said he wasn’t satisfied that Andrews was under a drug-induced psychosis at the time. His loading up with ice, GHB and cannabis had been implicated with his deteriorating mental health.

During his“rational” and“targeted” offend-

ing, he intended to rape the victim and was “spelling out” to the victim the acts that he had wanted to inflict.

“The threat to inflict serious injury was not just a throwaway line,” Judge Tinney said.

The “terrifying”, random sexual offending against a complete stranger in a public place was a“sizeable escalation” from his lengthy list of previous crimes, the judge said.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. But for whatever reason you have virtually no remorse and very little insight here.”

Andrews was at “high” risk of future offending unless he addressed his attitude to drugs, the judge said.

He was jailed for seven years, and eligible for parole after five. His term included 255 days of pre-sentence detention.

Controversial deal signed School celebrates Andi Mole

By Marcus Uhe

Andi Mole’s progression through the ranks of the junior cross country talent pool has continued, finishing second in the School Sports Australia 11-year-old girls competition at the recent Australian Cross Country Championships at Canberra’s Stromlo Forest Park.

Mole’s time of 10.34 for the three kilometre circuit was a personal best for the St Francis de Sales Primary School student, and just three seconds behind the winner, improving nine places from her 2022 result on the same stage.

In an impressive display of her stamina, Mole made a fast start to the race and held her place towards the front of the 42-competitor field for the race’s duration.

As a member of an excellent Victorian squad that dominated the age group, the talented grade five student, who plays basketball at the Frankston Blues and football for Lyndhurst, walked away from the championships with gold medals for the 11-year-old girls 5x1500 metre relay, and another for the Victorian team which won its age bracket.

Mole celebrated with her grandparents, father and brother, who attended the championships over 25-28 August, by ordering a meatlovers pizza at the local restaurant.

She credits her improved finish to her training program, which she completes in the morning before going to school, to fit around her other sporting commitments.

“At training I run five kilometres, so increasing the kilometres (makes) three not seem like a lot of kilometres, and I train harder,” Mole said.

“I do most of my training on my own. Everyone else has a coach but I don’t do Little Athletics, I just train myself.

“I’ve got footy and basketball, and that helps. On saturday I do a five kilometre (run), wednesday three (kilometres) and Monday three (kilometres).”

On her return to school on Wednesday 30 August, Mole was the Toast of the school community, dropping into classrooms to display

for a run around the school grounds. 357640

the new additions to her burgeoning trophy cabinet.

School sports administrator Giuliana Faiola said the school community was extremely proud of Mole’s accomplishments.

“The furthest a student [we’ve had] make it, is regional (level), whereas Andi has made it to the state and national level,” Faiola said.

“She’s very determined. For somebody her age, it’s amazing, the determination and how much she’s willing to train and everything.

“You wouldn’t normally have 11-year-olds doing that.”

Having made such a leap from 2022 to 2023, Mole already has sights on next year’s event.

“My goal next year is to come first.”

By Sahar Foladi

Greater Dandenong Council has extended its contract with recycling contractor Polytrade Operations, which had been accused of underpaying refugees on visas.

The six-month extension passed at a council meeting on Monday 28 August, to allow the council further time to prepare a competitve tender process for its mixed recyclables processing services.

The contract, which was to end in September 2023, will be extended to 30 March 2024.

Polytrade was recently prosecuted in the Federal Court by the Fair Work Ombudsman for allegedly underpaying five refugees on visas of nearly $200,000 over 20 months at Dandenong and Hallam.

It was fined $138,600, its labour provider Polytrade Employment Services fined $200,375 and its husband-and-wife owners Man Sang Chen and Pui Shan Ho were respectively fined $27,720 and $8,820.

Polytrade back-paid the five underpaid workers in full – and also backpaid other underpaid workers a further $2.2 million.

When the allegations surfaced, the council stood by its 10-year-contract with Polytrade. On 28 August, Cr Rhonda Garad raised the question of why the council was further extending the contract.

“That contract was novated about a year ago across to a new company called Regroup who are a national based waste company,” Greater Dandenong business, engineering and major projects director Paul Kearsley replied.

“They purchased Polytrade outright.

“What I can advise is that with regard to the inappropriate matters the previous company undertook, this council stood firm in regard to any comments made in regard to the inappropriate ways perhaps

our residents were treated.”

Council had received correspondence from Regroup assuring them of an end to such activities, Mr Kearsley said.

He also mentioned that the fines imposed against Polytrade entities didn’t make up part of the 2022 transactions when Regroup acquired the assets.

“Regroup has not associated with this company and certainly not been exposed to the fines so the outcome does not have any impact on the liability of our business.

“Regroup regularly undertakes visa checks and ... assessments to ensure that they pay all staff the correct amount.

“We are confident we have the necessary systems in place to ensure these historic issue does not arise in the future.”

Mr Kearsley was hopeful that Regroup and a number of significant others will participate in the upcoming tender process.

“That decision in terms of who is chosen is a council decision and will be reported to the council,” Mr Kearsley said.

Cr Garad said she’s willing to accept the guarantee by the new owners but is also keen for the six-month extension to come to an end.

“The (workers) were in need of money they were working hard and they were ripped off knowingly by these really despicable people.

“On the other hand they were a big employer of refugees struggling to find jobs which is a positive and that’s why council was keen to trade with them.

“If we did it again that would be shameful and that is what we must prevent.

“I would be keen to know what level of due diligence is given, that whoever receives the contract ensures this doesn’t happen again.”

are many ways you can give us a hand.

Mole sets off

Andi Mole with her three medals she earned from the recent Australian Cross Country Championships. 357640

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Affordable homes call

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Affordable housing quotas should be made mandatory in large multi-housing developments, Greater Dandenong Council has told a rental crisis inquiry on 22 August.

Greater Dandenong has state-topping levels of homelessness, with dwindling supplies of social and affordable housing.

The council is proposing a 10 per cent mandatory minimum of social and affordable housing properties on new 10-or-more-dwelling developments. Smaller developments should make a financial contribution towards social and affordable housing, it submitted to the State Parliament inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis.

Currently, providing “genuinely” affordable housing was voluntary for developers, Greater Dandenong strategic planning manager Brett Jackson told the inquiry. In its negotiations with developers, the council “hasn’t been successful in getting one” affordable dwelling, Mr Jackson said. “It’s hard to get that goodwill for that to happen.”

There was also a problem in attracting apartment developments in Dandenong, he said.

Greater Dandenong community advocacy coordinator Peter Johnstone told the inquiry a privatedeveloperwitha“goodheart”hadwanted to provide rentals for low to moderate income tenants. But the planning scheme wasn’t set up to accommodate his intent, he said. The council also submitted for streamlined approvals of second dwellings on established properties.

“It would increase the availability of stock

quite quickly,” Mr Jackson said.

A clear and binding definition of affordable and social housing was also required, it submitted. In its written submission, the council described high levels of renting with recent settlers and disabled persons suffering “particularly acute” housing stress.

RentalpropertiesaffordabletoCentrelinkrecipients in the council area had dwindled from 83 per cent in 2001 to just 9 per cent in 2022. In the past six years, social housing in Greater Dandenong had reduced by 149 properties.

Mr Johnstone told the inquiry that as of the 2016 Census, Greater Dandenong had a shortfall of 1380 social housing dwellings. This was projected to top 2000 by the year 2041.

“In a community of socio-economic disadvantage and high dependency upon rental accommodation, growth in rental and housing purchase costs has surpassed average increases in income,” the council submitted. “Whatever affordable housing is available is often taken by people on higher incomes, with the result that even the dwindling supply of low-cost housing is not all available to those on low or moderate incomes.”

There was also a decline in safe accommodation for women escaping domestic violence, the council submitted.

According to the 2021 Census, 2,366 people were homeless in Greater Dandenong.This was the highest in the state - and a 56 per cent rise in the past decade. Seventy-seven per cent of homeless residents were sheltering in “severely overcrowded” dwellings or boarding houses.

BAYSWATER NORTH BAYSWATER NORTH

Overdose stats shock

From page 1 According to the report’s main findings, the rate of unintentional deaths has been higher in regional Victoria than Greater Melbourne every year since 2005.

Out of 1,675 deaths in 2021, 765 are associated with opioids according to the report.

The report added a “cautionary note” about the future impact of synthetic opioids especially fentanyl in Australia after a devastating opioid epidemic in the US and Canada.

Opioids were accountable for an alarming 81 per cent of overdose deaths between 2017 to 2021.

A State Government spokesperson said, “We are determined to continue improving health and social outcomes for people facing drug-related health issues – we are providing support for more than 40,000 Victorians via Government-funded alcohol and drug treatment and support services each year.

“We support a range of initiatives to reduce alcohol and other drug related harms, including evidence-based education, health-led harm reduction programs, residential withdrawal and rehabilitation facilities, community-based services and crisis responses.”

The Andrews Labor Government invested more than $776 million in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, to deliver a health-led response model to mental health, alcohol and other drugs services.

The spokesperson has also listed a number of pharmacotherapies being improved by the government.

The list includes organisations such as Directline, The Pharmacotherapy Advocacy Mediation Support telephone service

and the Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks.

These existing organisations provide counselling, information and referral to opioid users and primary care medical practitioners.

However the Penington report urges establishment of a National Overdose Prevention Strategy to be developed in collaboration with experts and individuals with lived experiences.

“The time to address this national crisis is now.

“Wealreadyhavethetoolsandknowhow to reduce overdose deaths, we just need to do it by implementing evidence-based solutions, supporting access to treatment, and closing the gap in overdose death rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” Mr Ryan said.

Greater Dandenong was among the highest in the state for heroin, illicit opioid and methamphetamine fatal overdoses as reported by Star Journal previously.

In 2012-‘21, 93 people died in Greater Dandenong due to a heroin-related overdose – the fourth most in the state.

Fifty-one fatal overdoses were related to methamphetamine – the state’s third highest – and peaking at 12 in 2021.

Since 2001, Australia has seen over 37,000 drug-induced deaths.

In 2021, there were over 2,000 druginduced deaths reported, with a staggering 75% of these deaths being unintentional.

“Unintentional overdose death in Australia has far outpaced population growth over the past two decades,” Mr Ryan said.

“This shows our response as a nation is simply not keeping up.”

Corner of Canterbury & Dorset Roads, BAYSWATER NORTH

15th September to 8th October

Two boys on charges Rental crisis is ‘destroying lives’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A lack of stable, affordable housing is “destroying lives”, says the head of a South East family violence service.

WellspringsforWomenprovidesspecialised family violence case management in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia council areas.

Chief executive Dalal Smiley says a lack of suitable and affordable housing was contributing to women being reluctant to leave abusive relationships.

“One of our clients is unable to reunite with her children as she is living in a women’s refuge. Until she finds suitable housing, she can’t have her children back.

“Not having stable housing is destroying people’s lives, driving others to despair and fostering a generation that has lost all hope of ever owning their own home.”

Another Wellsprings family-violence client, due to not finding any alternative place to live, was compelled to live with the perpetrator.

“Wellsprings is monitoring her situation as she is now at elevated risk of family violence.”

The South East suffers from dwindling affordable rentals and rising mortgage stress. Homelessness has risen by more than 50 per cent since 2016, with Greater Dandenong and Casey ranked the state’s No.1 and No.2.

In a submission to the current State Parliament inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis, Wellsprings submitted for increased social, community and public housing for women and children impacted by family violence.

Forest Hills

It also called for the release of State-owned land and funding for social housing, as well as affordable housing quotas for high-rise developments and inclusionary zones.

“Having a secure home is a basic human rights issue,” Ms Smiley said. “How did we get here in Australia? A rich and prosperous first world country, yet we are facing a major housing crisis?”

Southern Homelessness Services Network submitted to the inquiry that there were no affordable one-bedroom dwellings in Casey and Cardinia, and just one in Greater Dandenong

in the March quarter.

The “extreme” rental housing pressure was leading to increased use of “inappropriate” and “unaffordable” rooming houses. A room up to $250 a week may involve sharing a bathroom with up to nine people, the SHSN submitted.

It called for help focused on those at risk of homelessness - such as raising Centrelink payments above the poverty line, rent caps and freezes, and a mandatory inclusionary zoning scheme.

The inquiry resumes on 19 September.

Police have charged a 17-year-old Cranbourne North boy and a 14-yearold Hallam boy with attempted robbery following an attempted robbery in Mount Waverley on Wednesday 30 August.

Police were on patrol when they spotted a black Ford sedan, with no registration plates, park outside a bottle shop on Andrew Street at about 9.20pm.

Police have alleged four people wearing balaclavas exited the car, ran inside the store and demanded alcohol from the salesperson before striking him in the face.

Multiple police units were quickly on scene and arrested the four teenagers, with the victim sustaining minor injuries.

Police charged a 16-year-old Wallan boy and a 17-year-old Cranbourne North boy with attempted robbery and three further robberies which occurred on 23 August in Oakleigh East, Reservoir and Northcote.

Police charged a 17-year-old Wallan boy with attempted robbery.

All three have been held in custody to appear before a children’s court at a later date.

Police charged a 14-year-old Hallam boy with attempted robbery.

He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

To report any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Wellsprings for Women chief executive Dalal Smiley, pictured front, says a lack of suitable, affordable housing was “destroying lives”. 229378

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Jail for ‘shocking’ robbery

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A teenager who was part of a gang of up to 16 who inflicted a “violent” and “shocking” robbery of a driver in Cranbourne has been jailed.

Toang Duac, 19, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to armed robbery, violent disorder and car theft as well as possessing cannabis and a counterfeit $100 note.

The 21-year-old victim had been driving home from work in the early hours of 7 January 2022.

His 2012 Mercedes Benz was blocked in front and behind by two cars that stopped sideways across Stawell Street, Cranbourne.

As four youths approached his car, the victim ran away with his keys.

He was chased by up to 16 people to the Amazing Grace Hotel car park where he was brought to ground.

The attackers, including Duac, punched and kicked him to the head and back multiple times.

At least three of the mob stabbed and slashed the victim in the lower back. As that occurred, Duac stole off with the victim’s Nike runners.

The gang also robbed the man of his phone, his car keys, and his Mercedes.

That night, one of the group tried to use the victim’s ATM card - which was found in his car - at a McDonald’s in Cranbourne North.

Duac was wearing the stolen shoes when he was arrested with two others later that morning in Cranbourne East. He and others were identified on their own Snapchat videos after the crime.

He was also found with a kitchen knife, a small amount of cannabis and a photocopied $100 note.

The Mercedes was torched and abandoned in Tower Court, Noble Park two months later. The hospitalised victim eventually got over

his injuries but was saddled with a $15,000 debt on his uninsured car as well as a bill for his ambulance ride.

Living in Cranbourne, the man stated he was reminded daily of the assault every time he drove past the crime scene.

In sentencing, Judge Damian Murphy said it was a “shocking crime” and a “gang crime” all too often fueled by youthful peer pressure.

From a stable, Christian home, Duac had been identified as a talented basketballer with hopes of playing US college basketball. At the time of the robbery, he was cut off from his parents who were trapped overseas or in-

terstate during a five-month Covid lockdown.

As a result, he had less supervision and fell into a “bad crowd”, Judge Murphy noted.

He had no prior convictions at the time. But Duac had since offended on bail and spent the bulk of his 19th year in adult custody.

“You are at a fork in the road in your life,” Judge Murphy said, noting that Duac’s basketball dreams had been disrupted. He urged him to break the bonds with young criminals.

Being just over 18 at the time, Duac faced mandatory jail for armed robbery in company of others. Several co-offenders were under 18.

It was best for Duac and the community to

not risk being contaminated and institutionalised by a long stint in jail, the judge said.

“You’re going downhill, I want you going uphill to a good life in the best country in the world.”

Duac showed little evidence of remorse but for his guilty plea after a sentence indication, the judge noted.

He was jailed for six months, followed by an 18-month supervised CCO including a nonassociation order, drug and alcohol treatment and judicial monitoring.

His term includes 25 days’ pre-sentence detention.

A group of youths, including Toang Duac, violently rob a 21-year-old man in Cranbourne.The burnt-out stolen Mercedes abandoned in Noble Park.

WHAT’S ON

Dinner with a VIEW

Dandenong Evening VIEW Club’s next dinner will feature guest speaker Maree Lee on “Making Quilts”. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and Education for women and the Club supports the SMITH Family’s Learning for Life Program.

· Tuesday 5 September, 7pm at Dandenong RSL. Bookings essential. Details: Brigitte, 0491 626 527.

Line Dancing

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. Dances can be adapted for anyone who chooses to sit down.

· First & third Thursday of month, 10.30am11.30am (next date: Thurs 7 September) at The Open Door, 110 Ann St, Dandenong. A gold coin donation is welcome. Bookings: Jo/ Tayla on 9791 8664 or theopendoor@ssjg. org.au

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.

· Until Friday 8 September at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, Walker and Robinson Street, Dandenong (open Tuesdays-Fridays 12pm-4pm). Free event.

Springvale Urban Harvest

Come along to swap excess homegrown produce and gardening extras and meet like-minded growers in the area. Supported by The Greater Dandenong Seed Library and the Springvale Community Hub Clothes Swap.

· Second Saturday of the month (next 9 September) 1pm-3pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event.

Clothes swap

Community members are invited to contribute up to 10 items of clothing, shoes and/or accessories. All items must be clean, in good condition and ready to display on the day.

· Saturday 9 September, 1pm-3pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Details: Zoe, mohlz@ icloud.com

Afghan Bazaar Cultural Tour

Experience Afghan culture and food through a two-hour guided walking tour of a wide variety of traders in Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar Precinct. Concludes with a delicious meal in a local Afghan restaurant.

· Saturday 9 September, 6pm-8pm; $50 per person. Bookings: greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/afghan-bazaar-cultural-tour

Bring Your Bills Day

South East Community Links is providing assistance and advice on electricity, gas, and water bills, tenancy rights, financial & consumer rights, Ombudsman services, Centrelink, fines and much more. Enjoy a free BBQ lunch and a chance to win exciting giveaways. Supported by City of Greater Dandenong, Victorian State Government, Australian Financial Complaints Authority, South East Water, Energy and Water Ombudsman, Telecommunications Industry Om-

budsman, Peninsula Community Legal Centre.

· Wednesday 13 September, 11am-3pm at South East Community Links, 186 Foster Street East, Dandenong.

Learn from a Local Employer

Online session for jobseekers to meet local employers in Manufacturing and Engineering. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and have a conversation in a workshop style session.

· Wednesday 13 September, 6pm-7pm. Free event. Bookings: greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/learn-from-employer

Hallam Friends of Red Cross

Monthly meeting, in which we present a 30-year service certificate and bar to volunteer Betty Keen. All welcome.

· Friday 15 September from 10.30am at Hallam Community Learning Centre 57 Kays Avenue, Hallam. Tree planting

Bring your family along to plant some indigenous seedlings at Somerfield Reserve. Fee lunch provided. Make sure to bring your own water bottle, gardening gloves and wear clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty.

· Saturday 16 September, 10am-1pm at Westwood Boulevard, Keysborough. Enter the reserve via Eastbury Street (opposite the corner of Fernleaf Avenue). Free event.

Family Fiesta Fun

Tham Gia (Join In!) School Holiday events for children and their families living with a disability.

Live music by The Mexican Music Man, Pinata games, sack races, egg & spoon relays, art & craft, chill out space, snacks & drinks. Organised by not-for-profit disability service provider Extended Families Australia.

· Saturday 16 September, 2.30pm-4.30pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $10 per family. Details: Samantha Potter, 0406 229 071 or samantha@ extendedfamilies.org.au

Doveton Show

Doveton Show brings all the fun of the Royal Melbourne Show into the suburbs for a fraction of the cost. With a gold coin donation entry, you can find a range of thrill and family rides, market and food stalls, show bags, free stage and farm entertainment, kid’s activities and community stalls.

Bees for biodiversity

Join us for an engaging workshop where we delve into the captivating world of bees, share practical tips on creating bee-friendly gardens and discuss important considerations for those interested in beekeeping. Presenter, Helen from ‘Friends with honey,’ is a passionate beekeeper and member of the Victorian Apiarists Association.

· Saturday 9 September, 12pm1:30pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Bookings: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenongcouncil/events/bees-biodiversity

· Sunday 17 September, 10am-4pm at Myuna Farm, Doveton. Gold coin donation entry

Magical Getaway Foundation Market

Handmade Crafts, Cakes, Plants, Produce, Fashion, Jewellery, Trash and Treasure and much more. All stall fees go to fully funded first ever getaways/holidays to vulnerable Australian children and their families.

· Third Sunday of every second month (next on 17 September) 10am-3pm at Menzies Hall, 41 Menzies Avenue, Dandenong North. Entry by gold coin donation. Details: Rosemary Teed, 0419372629 or rosemaryteed@magicalgetawayfoundation.org

Little Day Out

The headline event of Greater Dandenong’s Children’s Festival with the theme of ‘Up In The Air’. Enjoy amusements, cultural performances, food trucks and entertainment for all, including birds of prey, butterfly adventures, animal farm, bungee tramps and chair-o-plane.

· Sunday 17 September, 11am-4pm at Ross Reserve, 9 Memorial Drive, Noble Park. Free event.

Virtual heatwave

Heatwaves affect more Australians than any other natural disaster. Hear from guest speakers from the Department of Health, Ambulance Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Greater Dandenong Council about the impacts of heatwaves. Then participate in a virtual heatwave exercise with key stakeholders live on stage, so we can learn from each other.

· Tuesday 19 September 2023, 9am-2pm at Drum Theatre, 226 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Free event, register at greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/emergency-managementexercise

Manga workshop

Join Youth and Family Services for a Manga Drawing Workshop for Beginners these Spring School Holidays. Create your own character as you learn the basics of Manga drawing with talented artist Kenny Chan. For young people aged 12-25 years.

· Monday 18 September, 2.30pm - 3.30pm at Springvale Library - The Studio, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Bookings: youth.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/youth/ events/manga-drawing

Community 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. Noble Park Community Centre Art Show

Entries are open for all ages, from children & adults. Artists can enter up to four 2-D pieces of any medium. Entries close Friday 29 September, 4pm. Enter via www.npccartshow.org

· Details: 9547 5801 or email events@nobleparkcc.org.au

Places of worship tours

Bookings are open for Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network’s 2023 Public Tours to Places of Worship on 11 October, and 13 December 2023. Each tour features trips to four diverse places of worship for $25 plus a lunch for $101$15 donation. Payment of $25 is required prior to the tour to confirm your booking.

· Details: education@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.

Meditation and positive thinking

Learn how to make your mind your best friend through open-eyed meditation. Led by Bhavani Padmanabhan, these free sessions are open to all. Presented by Bakhtar Community Organisation and The Brahma Kumaris Organisation.

· Saturdays 2pm at 23-47 Gunns Road,Hallam. Registrations: 9703 2555 or 0403 551 596.

Weekly badminton

Adults welcome (Mondays 7pm-9pm) and ladies & retired (Wednesdays 12pm-2.30pm).

· Hallam Badminton Club, Frawley Road Recreation Reserve; $5.

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. 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

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

Truck of future in Dandy

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

An Australian-first hydrogen-fueled truck is being tested and refined by a design engineering team in Dandenong South.

Global axles and suspensions supplier Hendrickson - which is celebrating 50 years in Australia - is providing technological support and components for Pure Hydrogen’s vehicle.

Hendrickson international operations vicepresident and Asia Pacific managing director Andrew Martin says it is “extremely exciting” to be providing the “best suspension and axle configuration” on the first hydrogen primemover in Australia.

“We were the conduit for how this vehicle would work in the Australian context,”

Hydrogen was the only “credible path forward” for zero-emissions trucks, Martin says.

“When you consider the speed in which they can refuel this hydrogen vehicle,

it’s quite astounding.”

The other‘clean’ alternative, electric-power, could not provide sufficient “energy density” to propel heavy freight vehicles over Australia’s vast distances.

“To have a battery system that can deal with that is highly optimistic.”

Pure Hydrogen sales manager Clint Butler says the company hopes to produce 5000 hydrogen trucks a year.

Though not cheap up-front, the trucks deliver “massive” savings in fuel costs, he says.

“We can fix the price of fuel for the next seven years. The other advantage is we’re not reliant on importing diesel.”

The Dandenong manufacturing heartland would be an ideal potential base for producing hydrogen through electrolysis and solar farms on factory roof-space, he said.

Butler often fields questions about the safety of hydrogen fuel, with people citing the Hin-

denburg airship disaster in the 1930’s.

But the technology had advanced greatly since then, he says.

“In the 1960s they put Man on the moon using hydrogen. They still use it to this day to get people to the International Space Station.”

In its trucks, the hydrogen would be housed in high-pressure cylinders that were the “strongest part of the truck”.

Even if the gas was to “vent off”, it would quickly escape upwards into the air rather than pooling under the truck like LPG or diesel.

Pure Hydrogen was fielding interest from waste-transport companies, whose rubbish trucks often catch fire due to batteries and other combustible materials in its waste load.

“You could vent the hydrogen out and there’s no fuel (to catch fire).”

The truck is scheduled to be delivered to PepsiCo and roll into service in Queensland by October.

Hendrickson international operations vicepresident Andrew Martin, engineering executive manager Luke Callaway Executive Manager and product and market development senior manager Andrew Rawstron.

FOCUS ON … SENIORS ENJOYING LIFE

Early Christmas present

Picture this: You find yourself stranded in a sea of wrapping paper and ribbon, keeping an ear out for the gingerbread in the oven and running through your mounting to-do list in your head.

You’ve heard each Christmas carol about a billion times each, and you still haven’t oiled the deck, fixed that hole in the wall or raked the garden.

We’re all familiar with what a whirlwind the lead-up to Christmas is, and no, you’re not dreaming, it’s nearly time to do it all again!

It isn’t just the stress of all the planning, shopping, catering and present-buying, it’s that nagging feeling that surely it’s impossible for time to pass so quickly. Well, we say no more! No more crazy Christmas chaos! No more panic at the passing of time!

When your days are spent doing things you love, you’ll never look back and wonder where the time’s gone.

And when you’re living in a sparkling, brand new home, you can wave goodbye to the stress of gardening and home maintenance and say hello to no council rates and a lower cost of living.

Now that’s a Christmas present that won’t be re-gifted!

At Lifestyle Communities, life is what we do.We’re about opening up new opportunities, experiences and connections for the people who live in our communities. Why wait when a low-maintenance home and a low-stress life could be yours today?

Give yourself an early Christmas present –a life of opportunity, of peace, and of knowing that the best things in life come to those who reach out and grab them!

Call to speak with one of our amazing team - 1300 50 55 60.

We’re all familiar with what a whirlwind the lead-up to Christmas is, and no, you’re not dreaming, it’s nearly time to do it all again!

First step to carefree living

The decision to sell your family home and move into a retirement living community can be an emotional journey, but the lifestyle rewards on the other side can be vast.

Being well informed will help you make the right decision for your needs and circumstances.

Australia’s leading retirement living provider Aveo has created the convenient online First Steps Retirement Living Information Sessions, bringing together eight independent experts

in their fields to share their insights.

The free to access series of videos offers advice on key topics such as downsizing and decluttering, selling the family home, and the financial and legal considerations of living in a retirement community.

In one of the videos, Director - Village Guru Rachel Lane suggests visiting several retirement villages to find the right community.

“Get the vibe of the community by doing the

formal tour, then go back for the social events and chat to the residents,” Ms Lane says.

She says that while retirement villages are very different from residential aged care, you can receive extra services or have care delivered.

“When looking at communities, it is important to ask, ‘what happens if I need support?’ You may not need the services now but in the future,” she says.

Knowledge is key to your first steps to the retirement you deserve in a village suited to your needs. Then it’s your time to make new friends and have fun.

For more information about the range of services available at Aveo’s Melbourne communities, please call 13 28 36.

To access the First Steps information videos go to aveo.com.au/infosessions

* Facilities vary across communities

Knowledge is key to your first steps to the retirement you deserve in a village suited to your needs.

Director - Village Guru, Rachel Lane.

Warding off dementia

Computer use, crosswords and games like chess are more strongly associated with older people avoiding dementia than knitting, painting or socialising, a Monash University study has found.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings - some of the most robust on this topic to date - may help older individuals and aged care professionals plan more targeted approaches to reducing dementia risk.

Researchers drew data from 10,318 Australians aged 70 and older participating in the ASPREE* project and the ALSOP (ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons) sub-study.

They found that participants who routinely engaged in adult literacy and mental acuity tasks such as education classes, keeping journals, and doing crosswords were 9-11 per cent less likely to develop dementia than their peers.

Creative hobbies like crafting, knitting and painting, and more passive activities like reading reduced the risk by 7 per cent. In contrast, the size of someone’s social network and the frequency of external outings to the cinema or restaurant were not associated with dementia risk reduction.

The results remained statistically significant even when adjusted for earlier education level, and socioeconomic status. No significant variations were found between men and women.

In 2022, 55 million people globally lived with dementia, with 10 million new cases each year.

Senior author Associate Professor Joanne Ryan, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said identifying strategies to prevent or delay dementia was a huge global priority.

“Wehadauniqueopportunitytocloseagap in knowledge by investigating a broad range of lifestyle enrichment activities that older adults often undertake, and assess which of those were most strongly aligned with avoiding dementia,” Associate Professor Ryan said.

“I think what our results tell us is that active manipulation of previously stored knowledge may play a greater role in dementia risk reduction than more passive recreational activities. Keeping the mind active and challenged may be particularly important.”

Groups welcome scripts

Consumer, health and doctor groups have welcomed the 1 September start of 60-day dispensing which they say will bring immediate benefits for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.

The reform doubles the amount of medicines that pharmacists can dispense for stable conditions, on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, from 30 to 60 days - saving patients at least $180 a year and more if they’re taking multiple medicines, the groups said in a joint statement.

The reform has been welcomed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Asthma Australia, Breast Cancer Network Australia, Council of the Ageing, the Lung Foundation, and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

The change is rolling out in three stages, which started 1 September, when the first group of medicines became available for 60-day scripts. It includes treatment for patients living with high cholesterol, hypertension, osteoporosis, Crohn’s disease, cardiovascular disease, gout, heart failure, and ulcerative colitis. Once the rollout is complete, over 300 medicines will be available for 60-day scripts.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Dr Nicole Higgins said: “This change is going to bring immediate benefits for some the most vulnerable people in our community, including people living with chronic and ongoing conditions. It will save patients money and mean fewer trips to pick up medicine and repeat scripts, as well as freeing up GP consultations. The change is happening in three stages, and I encourage people who think they may be eligible for 60-day scripts to talk to their GP.”

Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman said: “While asthma medications aren’t included in this first round, we welcome the start of this initiative at the beginning of Asthma Week, for all those Australians living with a chronic condition who can now

afford to buy the medicine they need.”

Breast Cancer Network Australia Director Policy, Advocacy and Support Services Vicki Durston said: “BCNA welcomes the commencement of 60-day dispensing for certain medications. This will make medicines cheaper for people living with chronic disease, including those with breast cancer. Although not released in this tranche, we look forward to the release of hormoneblocking therapies used to treat hormone receptor positive breast cancer in future rollouts of the program to reduce the cost for those diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Council of the Ageing (COTA) Australia CEO Patricia Sparrow said: “The move to 60-day prescribing will make a big difference to the lives of many older people from a health, wellbeing and financial perspective. It’s a practical, common-sense change that recognises that medicines aren’t a luxury, but a necessity.This is an acknowledgement of how crucial it is that everyone can get timely, affordable access to the medicines they need to keep them healthy.”

Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said: “For millions of Australians and their loved ones who live with lung disease, being able to fill two months’ worth of vital everyday medicines for the price of one prescription is a tremendous hip pocket relief amid acute cost of living pain. This change means less unnecessary trips to the GP, freeing up the incredibly overburdened system, and less time for immunosuppressed people spent in crowded waiting areas. From our community’s perspective, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be immediately affected, and for patients with stable chronic conditions it also reduces their risk of missing medication dosages at the end of the month when their script runs out. The crucial job our pharmacists do as part of our health care teams will not change - they will still help people to understand their conditions, advise on monitoring symptoms and improve management of health at home.”

The leisure activities assessed encompassed:

· Adult literacy activities such as adult education classes, using computers, keeping a journal

· Mental acuity tasks like completing quizzes and crosswords, playing cards/chess

· Creative hobbies like woodworking, knitting or painting

· More passive activities like keeping up with the news, reading or listening to music

· Social network activities like meeting and interacting with friends

· Planned excursions such as going to a restaurant, museum or the cinema.

Associate Professor Ryan said the results did not rule out that those naturally drawn to the types of leisure activities linked to cognitive health also had specific personality traits that were otherwise beneficial, or they may generally have had better health behaviours.

“While engaging in literacy and mental acuity activities may not be a magic pill to avoid dementia, if that was your goal and you had to choose, our research certainly suggests these are the activities most likely to support prolonged good cognitive health,” she said.

Associate Professor Ryan said social connection may also still be quite important to cognitive health and mental wellbeing, even though it did not show a clear link with dementia risk in the study. “The participants were cognitively healthy, and were likely already leading socially active lives, such that the cognitive benefits of strong social networks may be less obvious in this group compared to the general public,” she said.

About ASPREE*

ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) is a two-phase research project conducted in Australia and the USA, comprising a completed clinical aspirin trial and an ongoing follow-up longitudinal study, ASPREE-XT. ASPREE participants were mostly aged over 70 and without dementia, severe physical disability or known cardiovascular disease at enrolment into the trial. ALSOP is an ASPREE substudy consisting of a series of questionnaires about aspects of social and medical health.

Participants in this analysis reported leisure activities in ALSOP within 12 months of enrolment into the ASPREE trial, and underwent standardised cognitive measures over a 10year period.

Photo: ALEXANDRA LOWENTHAL ON UNSPLASH

LOOKING BACK

100 years ago

6 September 1923

The Rubaiyat of “Omar Khayyam”

The above is the title of the selected super picture to be shown tonight (September 6th) at the Dandenong Town Hall. It represents a most authentic portrayal of the story bearing the same name, also having Persia as the setting, being beautifully shown by the introduction of natural colour photography. Over 7000 people were engaged in the making, it being considered the best picture make for 30 years. Tremendous scenes, including a marvellous conception of heaven, combined with a thrilling story make it one for all to see. In anticipation of the numbers who have been clamouring for this picture to be shown locally, the management have dusted up their “House Full” sign. Patrons would do well to be early or book their seats in advance.

50 years ago

4 September 1973

Threat to blow up petrol tanks

A man armed with a stick of gelignite climbed on top of a large tank of petroleum in South Dandenong last Thursday. The man had told police that he intended to blow up the whole area. Police were quickly on the scene and began a frantic attempt to coax the man down. The drama ended when the man fell to the ground after being forced off the tank by a high-pressure water hose. Although the action was realistic, it was all part of the filming of a future episode of the TV police series, Matlock Police.

20 years ago

1 September 2003

Parents question Dande high re-enrolment

Getting families involved in the school community and helping parents pay fees before the demands of Christmas was why Dandenong High School changed its re-enrolment this year, principal Martin Culkin said last week. Last Tuesday, Year 10 and 11 students were asked to re-enrol between 1pm and

8pm in the school gymnasium with parents present. It is the first time the school has conducted re-enrolment this way, with forms previously sent home with students. “It was a most successful and well received initiative,” Mr Culkin said. One parent contacted The Journal last week and alleged the school had used the face-to-face meetings to put pressure on parents to pay voluntary fees.

5 years ago

3 September 2018

Land Sale Blocked

Two disused kindergartens could be set to become ‘pocket parks’ after a stunning reversal by Greater Dandenong Council. At 27 August meeting councillors overturned council officers recommended sell off of the Grove Street Springvale and Fifth Avenue Dandenong West sites. It was a victory for people power with a petition of 42 signatures from a nearby school as well as emails and texts flooding councillors’ inboxes after the agenda item was publicised days before. Sivva Mastrogiovanni of the Dandenong Community Association said public open space was becoming more of a necessity as a common meeting point. “It seems with more apartments, the more we lose a sense of community.

Yarning with one Voice

of Indigenous Australians” being the voice that they didn’t have in their own countries.

The Dandenong-based service for migrant and refugee women has backed the ‘Yes’ campaign with a series of ‘Aboriginal awareness’ sessions for staff and yarning circles with Badjiri woman Karan Kent and Gurindji woman Kayla Cartledge.

“Our participants, the majority of whom from refugee backgrounds, were quite moved by engaging in the yarning circles,” chief executive Dalal Smiley said.

“They related their own experiences of loss, dislocation, grief and sorrow to what they heard on the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal people in Australia and the process of reconciliation.”

Some of the attendees spoke of “the Voice

Ms Smiley said 10 yarning circles will be held to boost awareness of “this important juncture in our history as a nation”.

On 9 August, Wamba Wamba woman and First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Centre CEO Karinda Taylor addressed 60 guests at a Wellsprings dinner at St John’s Regional College’s graduate restaurant.

Taylor spoke about what the referendum means to First Nations people and why and how people could support the Yes campaign, Ms Smiley said.

Wellsprings is also developing its first Reconciliation Action Plan.

TheVoice referendum will be held on Saturday 14 October.

Karinda Taylor, Robyn Erwin and Karan Kent at the Wellsprings dinner for the Yes campaign.

Residents outside the Fifth Avenue, Dandenong West site after Greater Dandenong Council’s reversal in 2018. 184713

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Gaye Guest, Mark Dalton, Terri Soumilas, Jenny Kirkilis and Daphne Nichol stand in front of the old Sandown kindergarten - saved for public open space in 2018. 184686 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Bold vision for South East

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A packed audience at Bunjil Place was sold a vision of a growing, thriving region at the launch of the Victoria South-East Chamber Council.

At the council’s inaugural conference on 30 August, Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) chair Simon McKeon and a luminary cast of speakers cast their eyes on the region’s next 30 years.

The presenters also included world-renowned demographer Bernard Salt, Carmel’s Kitchen founder Carolyn Cresswell and Port of Hastings Corporation’s Todd Trimble.

Mr McKeon, whose GSEM group is a“voice” for eight South East councils, said the 1.5 million-strong region was “nationally significant” - more populous than Adelaide or the combined total of Tasmania, Canberra and Gold Coast.

It was also young – teeming with first-home buyers and a diverse, skilled community from around the world which had expertise to capture and share.

Without the history of Ballarat or Bendigo, the South East would tell its story as it continues to grow, Mr McKeon said.

GSEM was pushing for “transformational” projects such as a long-touted South East airport and the extension of Thompsons Road to unlock a 500-hectare industrial precinct and 100,000 jobs.

A plan was needed for more local jobs and focused skills-training. Two of three CaseyCardinia workers were travelling outside the South East to their workplace, with many in a job below their qualifications, Mr McKeon said.

In particular, youths and females in the South East were unemployed at significantly higher rates than other parts of Melbourne.

He pointed to some of the region’s achieve-

ments. Monash soon being home to the first RNA vaccine production facility in the southern hemisphere as well as hosting the only Western university created in the past 50 years to rise into the world’s top 50.

The Morrison Government failing to offer a ‘City Deal’ with GSEM was however a recent “letdown”.

Born and bred in Dandenong, the 2011 Australian of the Year underlined the strength of a collaborative “regionalism” rather than councils being a “voice in the wilderness”. GSEM

was learning from the transformation of the Geelong and Gold Coast regions.

Demographer Bernard Salt pointed to Australia’s comparative wealth, with much of its riches invested in housing.

He pointed to the South East as a drawcard for the‘Great Australian Dream’, withWarragalDrouin the fastest growing region in Australia.

Melbourne was projected to expand to 8 million by 2053, the South East would swell to 3.2 million, he said.

On the back of this were future growth opportunities in construction, home development and innovation.

With Australia’s largest manufacturing hub in Dandenong South, it could be a logical home for a domestically-owned agribusiness as well as a logistics warehousing giant.

The working from home revolution would be like a “defibrillator” to the region, predicting 15 per cent of workers would still be WFH. It would mean less long commutes and a boost for the region’s business and services.

Greater South East Melbourne chair Simon McKeon AO at the inaugural Victoria South East Chamber Council conference. 356200 Pictures: GARY SISSONS

A packed house of 250 attended the Victoria South East Chamber Council conference. 356200

Todd Trimble from Port of Hastings Corporation outlines the proposed off-shore wind farm terminal at Western Port. 356200

$

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

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Planning and Environment Regulations 2015 Form 3 Section 52(1)

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO A PLANNING PERMIT

The land affected by the application is located at: 890 Taylors Road, Dandenong South 3175

•Amend Planning Permit Number 2010-013898 to allow for the use and development of a soil washing facility

• Amendment to the permit preamble

ADVERTISERS, in this section are qualified practitioners and offer nonsexualservices.

Motoring

V Motor Vehicles

The application is to amend permit number 2010-013898 by:

• Amendment of endorsed plans

• Amendment of technical assessments

•Addition of conditions relating to the proposed soil washing facility.

Note: This is a summary. Full details of the proposal are contained within the application documentation.

The applicant for the permit is: Ricardo Energy, Environment and Planning Pty Ltd

The application reference number is: 2010-013898-3

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at:

•The office of the responsible authority – Minister for Planning (care of the Department of Transport and Planning) at 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge. Please contact Development.Approvals@delwp.vic.gov.au to look at the application at the office of the responsible authority.

•The website of the responsibly authorityhttps://www.planning.vic.gov.au/permits-and-applications/ ministerial-permits/browse-ministerial-permits

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the responsible authority (Minister for Planning) at either:

• Post: PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 8002

• Email: Development.Approvals@delwp.vic.gov.au

An objection must be made to the responsible authority in writing, include the reasons for the objection and state how the objector would be affected.

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

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:

20 September 2023

If you object, the responsible authority will tell you it’s decision.

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SPORT Hawks hang on in thriller

By Marcus Uhe

Kyle Stainthorpe has ensured his name will enter folklore at the Rowville Football Club following a heroic tackle in the final seconds of his side’s one-point semi-final win over Vermont on Saturday, sealing a spot in Eastern Football Netball League Premier Division grand final for the Hawks for the second successive year.

Goals to Adrian Kalcovski and Ryan Fitzpatrick saw Rowville’s 13-point lead shrink to just one in the space of two minutes as the final quarter pushed the 30-minute mark.

A scrimmage for possession on the far wing saw Vermont emerge from the mass of players with the ball, and with little time to waste, kicked long into its forward line.

Stainthorpe contested the kick to ensure another Eagles’ opponent couldn’t secure the mark, but left his direct opponent, Daniel Nielson, in the process.

The quickest to react, Nielsen gathers the ball at ground level charging towards goal, but Stainthorpe’s second effort saw him wrap-up the burly forward from behind, despite Nielson’s best attempt to shake the key defender off.

Nielsen’s handball goes to ground, failing to find a teammate, before the siren sounds at Bayswater Oval to bring the tense final to its dramatic conclusion, Rowville prevailing 13.7 85 to 13.6 84.

Tension built throughout each of the opening 24 minutes of the final term that remained goalless as Rowville clung on to its slight advantage it had worked so hard for.

Lachlan Wynd, Lachlan McDonald, Matt Davey, Mav Taylor and Kurtis Flakemore all missed shots on goal that could have made life incredibly difficult for the Eagles, having locked the ball in their half of the ground for

much of the period.

It took Matthew Traynor’s first goal of the season to snap the tension in the 24th minute, finding space as the quickest back to goal after a marking contest at half-forward and having his hard-running rewarded by Kane Young, putting the Hawks 13 points ahead.

Vermont responded with the next two, catching Rowville’s defence off guard with a running goal from halfback and then surging the ball forward at a stoppage and swarming at ground level with numbers, to lay the foundation for the epic finish.

Scores were tied at quarter time before both

sides kicked into gear in the second term.

Vermont threatened to break clear with the opening two goals of the quarter for a 14-point lead, having owned the first 10 minutes of the period.

But 15 minutes of dominance from the Hawks saw the advantage eviscerated, kicking the next six to lead by as many as 22 shortly before the half time break.

The brown and gold engine room of Lachlan McDonald, Lachlan Stapleton and Anthony Brolic wrestled-back the momentum in the middle of the ground, chaining with hands into space and finding targets ahead of the ball.

Wynd kicked three in the critical quarterhour to assert his imprint on the contest, proving both too tall and too quick for his opponents, and Jai Coleclough contributed two, with the remainder of the quarter played almost entirely in the Hawks’ front half of the ground.

Vermont stemmed the bleeding with the final goal of the half to hit the long break 17 points down, before the sides traded goals to open the second half.

Flakemore’s major in the 15th minute for Rowville snapped the run of too-and-fro, and gave the Hawks a 23-point lead midway through the term.

Kalcovki responded for the Eagles before Wynd kicked his sixth to restore the buffer, but Vermont kicked the final three goals of the term to cut the margin at the three-quartertime to just five points.

Rowville will watch on eagerly next week as the vanquished Vermont tackle Doncaster East for a place in the grand final on Saturday 16 September, with the Lions defeating Balwyn by 25 points in premier division’s other semi final on Sunday.

Long-form returns to cricket

By Marcus Uhe and Jonty Ralphsmith

Two-day cricket returns to the DDCA in the upcoming 2023-24 season, including for finals, for the first time since before the pandemic forced a premature end to the 2019-20 season.

Each side in Turf 1, 2, and 3 will play seven one-day and seven two-day matches across the 14-round home-and-away season, with one match against each opponent in each format, beginning on Saturday 7 October.

top four, who all play one-another once in the first four rounds.

As a result, the non-finalists in last year’s competition will also play one-another in the opening month, giving the lesser-ranked sides a chance of banking early wins to start the year, and build momentum.

White Star Dandenong soccer players celebrate back-to-back premiership wins.

Picture: SUPPLIED

White Star go back-to-back

By Marcus Uhe

White Star Dandenong Soccer Club is in the midst of an unprecedented era of success, having secured a remarkable back-to-back premiership feat last weekend.

After winning the Men’s State League Five competition in 2022, the club’s first ever senior premiership victory, White Star was promoted to State League Four for the 2023 season.

Rather than be overawed or outmatched by the increased standard in competition, Dogan Dagli’s side went undefeated in its first 14 outings before suffering its only loss of the competition in round 15, on its way to sealing a second premiership in round 21 against Springvale City with a 4-2 win at Ross Reserve.

CommitteememberBrendanShonesaid belief started to build within the squad after comprehensive wins over highly-touted opponents in Endeavour United and Sandown Lions early in the campaign.

“Once we were quite competitive in the first few games, it was ‘alright, there’s potential here’, and then once the run started and we really kicked into gear, I think the whole club really got behind the team, and thought we could get there,” Shone said.

White Star not only topped the league for goals scored, led by Said Uygur’s 13 strikes, but the high press Dagli implemented, with Halil Gur at the heart of defence, saw them concede the second lowest amount of goals in the division,

“That’s been a key,” Shone said.

“It’s where it all builds from, it’s where the structure has been really solid, for two years now but especially this year, is our defence.”

A trophy cabinet that previously lay dormant at Greaves Reserve’s Alan Carter Pavilion now has two years of success to reflect upon, putting a smile on the face of many attached to the club, beyond those associated through the club’s connection to Dandenong’s Polish community, as it was initially established for.

“It’s been a pretty special thing to be around, for the community as well,” Shone said.

“All the guys who have been around for a number of years who are in the background and past their playing days, to see the success and the hard yards that have been put in for over 30 years now, to see that success and actually be a part of that, that’s been a real joy.”

Two-day cricket was slated to return last season, however wet weather in the opening rounds of the season forced alterations to the remainder of the fixture.

Eight rounds will be played before a Christmas break between 17 December and 5 January, with six to be completed upon the resumption.

Two rounds (three and 13) will see two days of cricket played across both days of those weekends.

Finals will begin in March, with round 14 scheduled for the final weekend in February, however dates for finals fixtures are yet to be determined.

In Turf 1, Springvale South and Buckley Ridges will renew hostilities in a grand final rematch in round one at Alex Nelson Reserve in a tricky opening month for each of the last year’s

Newcomers to the top flight, Beaconsfield, face Berwick in the traditional ‘Battle of the Creek’ in round two, before a brutal first twoday contest in round three against Buckley Ridges.

Meanwhile, there will be excitement about Dandenong West’s first game back in Turf 2 as the Bulls will face off against Heinz Southern Districts (HSD).

HSD made the semi finals last season and will again be a threat in 2023-24, while Dandy West have strong top-end and have recruited well.

A new look Cranbourne’s first match since its grand final defeat last season will be against Lyndale, before games against Narre Warren and Parkmore.

Parkmore, relegated to Turf 2, and Doveton, down to Turf 3, will be favoured to win their first matches, against Keysborough and Silverton respectively.

One-day rounds: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14.

Two-day rounds: 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13.

Whites are back in fashion this summer as two-day cricket returns to the DDCA. 307627

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Kyle Stainthorpe’s critical tackle with seconds remaining prevented a Vermont score. 357904

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Season ends for Stingrays

By Jonty Ralphsmith

It was another case of what could have been for Talent League team Dandenong Stingrays on Sunday.

The Stingrays boys went down to Gippsland 11.14 80 to 7.14 56 in the ‘wildcard’ round of the finals which has seen them eliminated.

Nick Cox’s side had the wind in the first quarter and had the better of Gippsland but, for the second consecutive week, was unable to convert the ascendancy onto the scoreboard.

Bottom-aged players Cooper Hynes and Harvey Langford had likeable moments, but the Stingrays trailed by three points at the first break, opened up on transition and beaten in the midfield.

Ahead on the scoreboard and with the wind on their backs, Gippsland played with freedom in the second quarter and extended the lead to 24 points, the Rays always playing catch up from there.

Midway through the third quarter, the Rays were able to tighten the screws and lift their intensity, closing to within two goals.

Berwick product Riak Andrew had an enormous 10-minute patch, taking four intercept marks and laying a big tackle in defence to allow Dandenong to continue pressing.

Talismanic skipper Cooper Simpson scored two goals at crucial junctures, including one from stoppage in the third quarter to keep the Rays within touching distance.

The Stingrays brought pressure all day, but their corridor usage and chained ball movement made them much more dangerous in the third quarter.

But, trailing by 13 points and needing to kick against the wind in the final quarter, the task proved too difficult.

Gippsland kicked two goals in the first two minutes, and while Dandenong was doughty

and much more opportunistic when the game was on the line, they left their run too late.

The 24-point final margin, extended by a goal due to an ill-discipline double 50 metre penalty when the Rays realised the game was

over, belied how tight it felt until the final four minutes.

With quick midfielders Billy Wilson and Harry DeMattia and defender Kobe Shipp leading the go-at-all costs mantra, they gave

themselves every opportunity given the predicament they found themselves in.

Shipp had an enthralling duel with Zane Duursma, both players having strong games, with top-10 lock Duursma kicking three goals and Shipp collecting 25 disposals to make himself an important rebounding ingredient.

Lively forward Coren Gilliam finished the day with his arm in a sling which left the Stingrays down a rotation.

Meanwhile, the girls won the final game of their home-and-away season, reversing the early season loss against Geelong with a 10.8 68 to 4.2 26 win.

The Falcons lead by 11 points at quarter time, kicking four of the first five goals, but did not manage another one for the rest of the afternoon.

Led by three goals each to Sophie Butterworth and Abbey Tregellis (24 disposals), and productive games to Mikayla Williamson, Nikita Harris and Stella Rogers, Dandenong was able to run over the top of Geelong.

The Rays will kick off their finals campaign this week against GWV, which they will be favoured to win.

Lessons learned as Demons go down in extra-time thriller

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Sometimes you have to lose one to win one, so the proverbial goes.

Southern Football Netball League Division 1 club Springvale Districts made big strides in 2023, falling just short of Port Melbourne Colts in the elimination final on Sunday.

The Demons got away to a fast start and held the scoreboard ascendancy for the most part until the final minute of the game.

A piece of wizardry from the pocket to Port’s ex-AFL listed player Billie Smedts, clearly a class above all day, levelled the scores at 9.11 65 with less than a minute to play.

The teams were still deadlocked when the final siren sounded, with two five-minute periods, plus time-on, played to determine who would progress to face Dingley next week.

With all the momentum, the Colts proved too strong.

Extra time delivered high pressure footy, but the Colts got out to an early lead and outscored Districts by seven points.

It was the top-end talent of Port Melbourne, whose resilient attitude made for a famous comeback, which proved the difference.

As well as Smedts, Williamstown VFLlisted Eren Soylemez and evergreen veteran Justin Taylor proved too strong for a Demons side short some soldiers.

While Port Melbourne’s fitness and adaptability has been questioned, which saw Springvale Districts go in as favourites, the Demons did not have the players to match Port.

They tried to tag Smedts late, but he had already left his imprint on the game, gathered momentum and was able to seize the moment on the big stage.

It was an entertaining battle as the teams went toe-to-toe, with Springvale Districts able to play the brand of footy which put them in finals for sustained periods throughout the match, without ever deliver-

ing the dagger blow.

The Demons led by 26 points at quarter time, with the Colts corroding that margin when they had the wind advantage in the second quarter.

Port Melbourne started the third term strongly with two early goals giving the outsiders the lead for the first time on the dayand it was also the first time the team kicking against the breeze had momentum.

But Springy Districts responded.

They lifted the intensity and collectively halted the Colts, finding two goals just before three-quarter-time to lead by six points at the final change.

That small lead proved insufficient given the seesawing momentum the conditions brought about.

Having not played finals since 2019, the demands of September caught players short,

as only Shakore Bragg-Taylor and Daniel Spence played to their capacity.

Bragg-Taylor’s liveliness and athleticism was a big part of the way it looked like Springvale Districts would orchestrate a win, which comes after he tore Port apart two weeks ago.

Spence, meanwhile, is highly regarded internally for shutdown roles he has played on small forwards and he was again impressive in not affording Mitch Clarke his usual time and space - though Clarke still snagged three goals.

Full forward Matt Wetering headlined the absences while hard defender Drew Stockton, best on ground when the teams last played, punctured his lung early in the contest.

It left the Dees down a rotation, while Wetering not lining up shifted the personnel in the Dees’ forward 50.

Adam Read played a crucial focal point as his team were otherwise forced to lower their eyes and spot up smaller targets.

Darcy Warke finished with two goals and provided flair, while Read and Cory Hutchinson were the other multiple goal scorers.

It was a big season of growth for Springvale Districts, whose resilience in the face of injuries demonstrated the depth of the squad.

Beating Cranbourne at home in a tight affair late in the season with a depleted midfield was the high-point, which had the Dees entering the finals series with the belief that they could beat anyone.

Kris Thompson’s men also stayed with clear premiership favourites Cheltenham for a half, and drew with Dingley this season, and was undefeated against teams outside the top five.

The club with no junior program saw the emergence of Toby Arms in his first season of senior footy, while Daniel Helmore was a shrewd pick up as a powerful game changer. Helmore headlined a long list of recruits, with Liam Giove, John Walker and Mitch Dewar others to give bang for buck.

Springvale Districts punched above their weight in 2023.

Picture: ROB CAREW

Dandenong’s season has come to a close. 358186

Pictures: JAZZ BENNETT

Berwick’s Riak Andrew taking one of his seven marks.