Men on a mission
ann and AFL legend Tony Shaw.
STORIES PAGES 6-7, 52-53
Fatal hit-run driver jailed
A Narre Warren driver has been jailed for failing to stop after fatally striking a pedestrian on the Princes Highway in Berwick last year. George Varghese, 32, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to failing to render assistance and failing to stop after a road accident. Other charges included obtaining a financial advantage by deception from his car insurer.
Just after midnight on Saturday 26 November, Varghese’s BMW side-swiped father-ofthree Darrin Pierce, 44, who was walking home against the flow of traffic in the highway’s left lane. Varghese will serve 12 months in jail, followed by a three-year community corrections order.
STORY PAGE 5
Diminishing cop presence
Concerns over an inadequate police presence in Lang Lang have resurfaced after claims emerged of the State Government winding up one-officer police stations for regional towns.
MPs have claimed officers of small towns arebeingrelocatedtocoverwiderregions,mirroring an ongoing experience in Lang Lang.
Lang Lang residents are concerned for the future of their police station as it is rarely manned, prompting concerns that the small town is without adequate police presence, that responsetimesareslowandcrimeratesareup.
STORY PAGE 5
Children at risk
More than 90 per cent of child car restraints checked in Cardinia between May and July this year were incorrectly fitted or used, according to data released by leading safety agency KidsafeVictoria.
The concerning statistic, compiled from checks of 89 child car restraints in Cardinia,
has prompted an urgent call from Kidsafe Victoria for parents and carers to organise a free child car restraint safety check.
A breakdown of the 81 incorrectly fitted restraints revealed 43 needed complete refits, while 35 restraints required adjustments and three required replacement.
The Cardinia figure mirrors state figures over the same period, where 87 per cent of more than 6000 child car restraints checked across Victoria were incorrectly fitted or installed.
Kidsafe Victoria chief executive Melanie Courtney said the concerning trend elevated
the risk of transport-related injuries.
“Research indicates that the risk of lifethreatening injuries increases by four to six times when child car restraints are not installed or used correctly,” Ms Courtney said.
STORY PAGE 3
$2.50 Inc. GST PakenhamGazette /PakenhamBerwickGazette pakenham.starcommunity.com.au PAGE 8 Climb to the top Lions survive PAGE 46 Wednesday, 6 September, 2023 12584330-JC01-22 CONTESTED WILLS Hundreds of successful cases on no win–no fee basis www.nealcollinlawyers.com.au Preparation of Wills and Power of Attorney Kit Prompt and expert preparation of probate applications Will & Deceased Estate Lawyers 12517231-SG43-21 CALL 0419 993 800 • FIXED PRICE CONVEYANCING • CONTESTING A WILL • WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY • PROBATE AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION OPEN FOR BUSINESS! For in office consults. Online consults still available. Pakenham, Yarra Junction and Narre Warren Offices P 5941 5166 12587990-AV05-23 Billy
Dave
at
Lunch.
Slater with John Barclay and
Emery
the 2023 Cardinia Casey Biggest Blokes
357231 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
The Cardinia Casey Biggest Blokes Lunch returned to Gumbuya World on Friday 1 September for its eighth year of fundraising entertainment. The prostate cancer fundraiser saw 400 blokes show up for men’s health, helped along by appearances from NRL great Billy Slater, comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehm-
