EHD Star Journal - 12th September 2023

Falcons land victory

‘Save my son’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A Dandenong mother is pleading for a “compassionate” Australian Government to stop its planned deportation of her only son.

Supporters are rallying behind refugee Reeta Arulruban, who has long hoped to reunite with son Dixtan since she desperately fled to SrI Lanka a decade ago.

In 2012, she was raped by Sri Lankan security forces in her home, with Dixtan and Reeta’s mother in the next room.

She escaped via a scary, hungry and dangerous 17-day boat voyage to Australia. In June 2023, she was finally granted permanent protection with a Resolution of Status visa.

Meanwhile Dixtan, now 26, has languished for four years in immigration detention in Broadmeadows.

Recently, Home Affairs sent him a “removal notice” that he’d be deported in a week – which supporters put on hold with a legal injunction.

Reeta, who visits her “depressed” and “anxious” son every Sunday, says they feel there’s a “death sentence on his head”.

“He’s worried about what will happen to him in Sri Lanka. He will be one of the ‘disappeared’ Tamil people who are never found.”

The cricket-mad but quiet hairdresser has a handful of close friends at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) centre.

He wants to look after his mother, who works in a factory and ails with glaucoma and

asthma. Then and now, Dixtan has little family in Sri Lanka.

His father – a suspected Tamil Tiger - had died when government forces bombed a ‘no-

fire zone’, his uncle was long ‘missing’ and his grandfather shot by the military.

“He was a very outgoing person before his father was killed in 2009,” Reeta says.

“He turned inwards and was a very quiet boy after that.”

Counselling sessions help Reeta a “little bit” to cope with the anguish. “It would be like losing my husband and now losing my son,” she says.

She brings her hands together, saying she has a “total belief and hope” that a “compassionate minister will not separate a mother and son”.

“The Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) was brought up with a single mother so he would understand what Dixtan and I are going through.

“Every time I see Dixtan, I give him hope. I tell him people are looking after you and trying to keep you here.”

When his grandmother died in 2016, he made a bid for an Australian visitor’s visa but was rejected by Home Affairs.

In 2019, Dixtan was being harassed by authorities on the streets and at work in the nation’s capital Colombo. He flew from Sri Lanka with a false passport to reunite with his mother. Since arriving at an Australian airport, he’s been in detention.

“He was scared what would happen to him as well. It prompted him to leave because he felt unsafe,” Reeta says.

“I didn’t know he was coming (with a false passport), he knew I would say no. He was studying a beautician’s course and working in a hair salon – and my plan was to sponsor him eventually.

Continued page 8

Reeta Arulruban with one of the protest placards calling for her son Dixtan to stay with her in Australia. 357710 Pictures: GARY SISSONS

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High-tech learning lab

Heist victims’ compo bid

Police recruit drive

PAGE 23

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Prized collections gone

By Sahar Foladi

Customers are demanding compensation after a series of break-ins at a Hallam self-storage facility.

Tens of thousands of dollars worth of superhero collectibles and musical instruments are believed to be among the loot stolen from storage lockers at the StoreLocal business on Monday afternoon, 4 September.

A devastated Endeavour Hills couple are bearing the loss of what was more than 10 years of collection.

Kelly Davis shared the news on Facebook, asking the community to watch out online for their collectibles which included superheroes, figurines and comic cards.

“We went down there, the lock was cut off, everything was trashed and they smashed some statues.

“Someofthemyoucanpay$1,000to$3,000. The value of our statues is phenomenal.

“One was smashed to pieces - we’d paid $1500 for that alone,” she said.

“Since the post I’ve had five different people say they were there and had their storage broke in.”

A total of 20 units at Store Local was broken into according to Ms Davis, with some items chucked out in various other units.

“Ninety per cent is gone, there’s hardly anything there except for boxes.”

At the inspection of the break-in, Ms Davis received another call letting her know another one of her lockers was broken into, located right next to the other.

“Some of the collectibles were from my husband’s personal collection. He’s devastated.

“It’s devastating that we must start from scratch again.

“My husband has comic collectable cards and figurines worth thousands of dollars for

a small one.”

Husband Marty Davis, an enthusiast covered in superhero tattoos, spent thousands on some of the imported collectibles not found in Australia, which adds an additional “fortune” on freight costs.

Hulk, Deadpool, Batman, Spiderman and other hero statues have been taken or damaged. Ms Davis said they’re yet to find out the true extent of their loss, however it seems they’ve taken everything.

The couple own a fish and chip shop in

Doveton, a gym in Cranbourne and a vibrant superhero themed coffee shop in Hallam, not far from the storage unit so to help them swap out collectibles easily.

“When we opened our coffee shop we did it as a superhero theme to get some of the collectibles out of the house for people to see.

“That’s why our collection is bigger than what it normally would’ve been.”

The Davis’ had recently downsized to a house in Endeavour Hills and thought to store their collectibles at a storage unit.

Many people affected have been “put out” as there’s no insurance coverage as well, Ms Davis said.

The group of people affected by the breakins are working together to seek compensation from the company.

“I rang the storage to request for footage, the staff said why didn’t your husband put the padlock on his unit and I said we did and he said it’s not on there,” Ms Davis said.

“Turns out it had been broken in again.

“And the camera footage doesn’t pick up the faces or number plates.”

CCTV was only installed front of the main door with no alarm or cameras inside the facility according to Ms Davis.

Some customers including Ms Davis think the robbers specifically targeted them, backed by great planning.

The company has since asked customers if they’d like to relocate storage units but several aren’t keen, she said.

Police were called to the store where fingerprints were taken for tests, she said.

Store Local was contacted for comment.

Mistaken riches lead to jail-time for support worker

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

After a mistaken $10 million windfall, a disability support worker has been sentenced upon trying to flee the country with some of the proceeds.

Thevamanogari Manivel, 41, formerly of Dandenong North, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to recklessly dealing with $4 million of proceeds of crime.

It all started with a “significant” accounting error by cypto-currency business Crypto. com on 13 May 2021.

Instead of refunding Manivel’s partner $100, a staff member typed in an account number 10474143. It resulted in $10,474,143 being transferred into Manivel’s bank account.

Discovering the overpayment, her partner told her to immediately transfer it to a joint account at a different bank.

That day, she went to a bank at Casey Central shopping centre and withdrew $10 million by bank cheque and $5000 in cash.

The bank cheque - along with $80,000 electronically - was deposited in the joint account that day.

Crypto.com didn’t realise the overpayment until an audit seven months later. By that point, the joint account was down to just over $8 million.

Manivel’s bank contacted her saying the deposit was a mistake, requesting that she return the $10 million.

Claiming she thought the message was a ‘scam’, she transferred $4 million to a Malaysian-based bank account.

In March 2022, Manivel was arrested with a one-way ticket to Malaysia and $11,750 cash attempting to board a flight at Tullamarine international airport.

Born in Malaysia, she had migrated to

Australia in 2015 with a plan to save up money to sponsor her three children to join her.

To that end, she’d toiled in hard physical labour, including as a farmhand, hotel cleaner and a disability support worker. She also studied in aged care, pathology collection and community services.

In a police interview, Manivel had claimed her partner had told her he’d won the money.

In sentencing on 8 September, Judge Martine Marich said the partner’s explanation for the millions was “too good to be true – and it was not true”.

Prosecutors couldn’t prove Manivel had a “sinister intent” until she was notified by her bank of the mistake. At that point, she “yielded” into cynical self-interest to “short cut” her way to her financial goal, Judge Marich said.

The judge noted Manivel’s previously “exemplary” character with no prior criminal

history and a diligent work ethic.

Most of the $4 million had since been recovered, which was “unusual” in such a case, the judge noted.

Judge Marich noted that Manivel was assessed with trauma and on anti-depressants during an “extraordinarily difficult” seven months’ stint in remand.

She also faced the possibility of deportation – though she was able to apply for a permanent visa to address Australia’s shortage of aged care workers.

Manivel was jailed for 209 days – which was already served in pre-sentence detention.

She will serve an 18-month community corrections order with “intensive compliance”.

It included 200 hours of unpaid work and mental health treatment and a night curfew all during the first six months.

Kelly Davis and Marty Davis were robbed of their collectibles worth thousands of dollars.

A $1200 imported Hulk bust was among the stolen goods.

Alleged carjacker charged

A man has been charged with an alleged violent carjacking in an underground car park in Noble Park.

Police say the 30-year-old Noble Park man waved down a driver at the car park on Buckley Street about 12.30pm on Friday 1 September.

He allegedly demanded the driver get out of the car and punched and kicked him before fleeing empty-handed.

The man made similar demands to a second victim, producing what appeared to be a gun. Again he walked away empty-handed, police say.

He allegedly approached a third victim sit-

ting in their car. He struck the man in the face with an apparent firearm and drove away in the car.

The man was arrested by police in Theodore Avenue a short time later.

He was charged with attempted carjacking, unlawful assault, attempted armed robbery, aggravated carjacking with imitation firearm, recklessly cause injury, assault with weapon, theft of motor vehicle, disqualified driving, theft and possess imitation firearm.

He was remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 September.

Terminal ‘upfront’ on Western Port impacts

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at Hastings has recently gone out for environmental impact assessment, a proponent told a ‘Towards 2050’ South East Business Conference on 30 August.

Port of Hastings stakeholder and community relations manager Todd Trimble said it was being “upfront” about environmental impacts of the project in world-signficant RAMSAR-listed wetlands.

Given the “sensitive” habitat, the project would have to meet “higher environmental standards”.

And the community was “active and engaged” on protecting those values, he said - noting the scuttling of a recently proposed AGL gas pipeline due to fierce community uproar.

Hastings was named the State Government’s preferred site for the project - effectively a staging port for giant wind turbine towers offshore in Bass Strait.

The offshore wind farms in Portland and Gippsland would help deliver a target of 2 Gigawatts of offshore power by 2032 and 9GW by 2040.

About 15 hectares of the terminal would be built out across“really valuable” sea grasses inWestern Port’s bay, Mr Trimble said.

This would minimise the dredging required, and reach no further out than existing port structures.

“We will have to manage that very closely, understanding the impact that we will be having by building across that land.

“However it is in an existing heavy industrial area so we think that it can be managed.”

Bed-levelling dredging would also be required to build the new “berth pocket”, followed by the pouring of a significant amount of concrete to bear the turbines’ great weights.

The project would still require a one-off 1 million cubic metres of dredging to accommodate the large, deep freight vessels.

After that point, no annual dredging would be required. Strong tidal movements were expected to clean the channels, Mr Trimble said.

In comparison, alternative sites in Port Phillip would require annual dredging, he said.

The staging port was required due to the sheer size and weight of the wind farm components – five times bigger than on-shore turbines, Mr Trimble said.

Hastings would receive the components mainly imported in Europe, and partly preassemble the off-shore wind turbines before they’re fully assembled out at sea.

The 200-metre tall structures would have “significant visual impact”, much taller than the Mornington Peninsula’s next tallest buildings such as the 33-metre tall McCrae

lighthouse, Mr Trimble said.

Several years ago, Hastings was overlooked as Victoria’s second major port in favour of BayWest.

In the meantime, its annual freight traffic had dramatically declined from about 500 vessels in the 1980s to about 150.

It meant that the port had plenty of capacity for the new terminal, Mr Trimble said. Tracts of available land close to natural deep water shipping channels and the proposed offshore windfarms.

The project would create at least 1500 jobs over two years of construction, with up to 300

New ‘reality’ at Lyndale SC in AR lab

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Lyndale Secondary College is leading the charge into augmented-reality (AR) learning.

The Dandenong North school is the first government school in the state to invest in an on-site Augmented Reality Immersive Technology Laboratory.

Its ‘smart’ classroom will use virtual reality (VR), AR and software to fully immerse students in topics and places around the world.

This includes being transported into an Egyptian tomb, exploring ancient Rome, delving inside a human cell and dissecting a frog.

On 30 August, three lucky Lyndale students Liv Hutchins, Ayaan Maniar and Ruby Fitzgerald were given a sneak preview of the future, donning the AR headsets inside the Melbourne headquarters of lab provider Lumination.

As part of the eye-popping experience, they

were given a spectacular virtual tour of Michelangelo’s artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Italy.

Liv said she felt “extremely privileged” to be among the first to enjoy the “super immersive and futuristic” demo.

“Some of these experiences included exploring the Sistine Chapel, building a city and exploring various places around the world such as Spain.

“It was certainly an exciting insight into how this new technology will help shape our learning and the curriculum at our school.”

The lab will be open for all Lyndale students across every subject, including science, art and humanities. Principal Pam Robinson said the state-of-the-art lab would increase student engagement, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.

“It’s a huge investment that the school is

making for its school and staff.

“We didn’t want technology that was tokenistic. We wanted it to be immersive learning, we wanted something that had real results.”

She said the thrilled, awestruck students didn’t want to leave the Lumination lab demo.

“I’m really, really excited. We don’t have to spend the money for the students to go overseas to experience these things.

“It becomes more of a reality to them.”

The lab comes on the back of a $29 million ‘top-to-bottom’ rebuild of the college, which dramatically modernised its 52-year-old setting.

“We’re setting up our students for success and our community deserves it,” Robinson said.

The lab is expected to open at the college in mid-November.

on-going jobs at the terminal.

If approved, the terminal’s construction was expected to begin in 2026. Building of the off-shore wind farms would start in 2029, with power generated to the grid by 2032. With the port’s under-utilised LPG and petrol fuel tanks, there was also an opportunity to be part of a Japanese consortium’s liquid-hydrogen supply chain from Gippsland, Mr Trimble said.

- The South East Business Conference on 30 August launched the Victoria South East Chamber Council (VSECC), a collective representative body to unite businesses through their local business group or chamber.

Lyndale Secondary College student Ayaan Maniar tries out the VR experience.

Todd Trimble from the Port of Hastings outlined the vision for the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal at Western Port. 356200

Picture: GARY SISSONS

The broken gate can wait, until it can’t.

Livestock is the second highest killer on farms – we all know cattle can be unpredictable.

So while it may seem like a job that’ll take longer to get the tools out than do, one small repair could save a life.

Understand your responsibilities with safety around cattle at worksafe.vic.gov.au/livestock

It’s never you, until it is.

Police target youth

By Matthew Sims

The South East has emerged as a hotspot for youth offenders arrested in relation to a number of burglaries and car thefts with police concerned about a new and “challenging” space where young children are chasing social media notoriety for their criminal activity.

Victoria Police has been running Operation Trinity across Melbourne since 25 March, leading to 1466 arrests, including 370 arrests in relation to burglaries and car thefts, 1096 arrests in relation to crimes such as drug offences and 45 breaches of bail identified.

Police have extended Operation Trinity to Saturday 4 November.

Southern Metro Region Rob Nazaretian said the operation had caused a drop in the number of burglaries and car thefts.

“These are important arrests which have seen about 30 offences a week reduced down to 18,” he said.

“It is a testament to the work of our members.

“We know how disconcerting it is.”

Police have been actively monitoring four boys as part of Operation Trinity:

· A 13-year-old boy arrested 30 times since 2022, in relation to 80 burglary offences, 10 aggravated burglary offences, 16 theft of motor vehicles offences and three robbery offences;

· A 14-year-old boy arrested 13 times since 2022, in relation to 55 burglary offences, 16 aggravated burglary offences, 10 attempted aggravated burglary offences, four home invasion offences and 24 theft of motor vehicles offences;

· A 16-year-old boy arrested 47 times since 2022, in relation to 10 aggravated burglary

offences, six attempted burglary offences, 42 theft of motor vehicles offences and his first criminal offences recorded at 10 years of age; and

· A 16-year-old boy arrested 19 times since 2021, in relation to offences including four aggravated burglary offences, eight theft of motor vehicle offences, one armed robbery offence and one affray offence.

Inspector Nazaretian said most of the offending was driven by young offenders aged between 13 and 16 loosely organised over social media groups and platforms, with the overwhelming majority with no formal connection to known gangs.

“It’s about growing notoriety and social media kudos,” he said.

“We know that they’re associated with one another.

“There are a number of kids who represent a challenge to us.”

The number of car theft offences was the third highest in the Casey area last year, with 762 car theft offences reported, behind Melbourne’s CBD with 973 offences and Hume with 796 offences.

Inspector Nazaretian said other hotspots included Monash, Dandenong, Bayside and Kingston, with Dandenong seeing an increase of 126 car theft offences from 2021 to 2022.

“We’ll go to where the demand is,” he said.

“We know that these kids are very fluid and dynamic in their activity.

“It is new, it is different, it is challenging.”

The offenders were also targeting more high-end vehicles in the more affluent areas of Melbourne, including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and Audi.

However, the Holden Commodore remained the number one target for theft, with 757 vehicles stolen during 2022, with Ford Falcon and Toyota Corolla in second and third place respectively.

Inspector Nazaretian said police were working with other groups such as social workers to target the factors behind what encourages youth offenders to engage in criminal activity.

“History has show that arresting children and incarcerating them has devastating results,” he said.

“It requires a balanced and nuanced approach.

“It’s unclear whether these efforts will turn anyone around.”

In 2022, Victoria Police recovered 76.6 per cent of all vehicles stolen out of 16,290 car theft offences reported.

In comparison to pre-pandemic figures, this represented an 18.8 per cent reduction from 20,056 offences reported during 2019.

Cleanaway cop hefty EPA fine

Waste company Cleanaway has been fined nearly $30,000 by EPA Victoria for failing to properly log its transporting of waste hand sanitizer.

On four occasions in April, hand sanitizer was allegedly not properly recorded in EPA’s Waste Tracker system as it was moved from a Braeside site to Cleanaway’s Dandenong South facility and then Cleanaway’s regional landfill in Ravenhall.

One of Cleanaway’s transport contractors DSS Investments (Aust) Pty Ltd was fined $9246 for the same offences.

As a reportable priority waste (RPW), the movement of hand sanitizer must be logged in Waste Tracker from originator to its final destination.

“The movement of RPW is recorded to ensure it is appropriately treated or disposed of. Waste Tracker must be used, and it must be properly completed,” EPA South Metropolitan Melbourne Region Manager Viranga Abeywickrema said.

“Cleanaway and DSS did not do that so EPA has fined them.

“We have given clear instruction to the waste industry about the use of Waste Tracker.

“The improper use of the system is not acceptable and EPA has warned that it will take enforcement action.”

Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI

Bond for candidate

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A Liberal candidate in the seat of Isaacs who declared a false home address in breach of Commonwealth law has escaped conviction.

Robbie James Beaton, 56, pleaded guilty at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to providing false or misleading information to the Australian Electoral Commission ahead of his unsuccessful 2022 federal election campaign.

He had submitted to the AEC that he lived at his family’s former businessThe Bridge Hotel in Aspendale, rather than his true address in Camberwell – which is well outside the electorate.

He had not lived at the hotel since October 2021. Prosecutors had argued for a conviction, saying Beaton consciously and deliberately

provided the wrong address. It was not a momentary lapse, since he’d admitted working on the document for a month, they submitted. Beaton’s defence argued that there was no legal requirement for him to live in Isaacs, so his breach had no bearing on his capacity to stand as a candidate.

There was no “sophistication” or “disguise”, with Beaton exposed after truthfully responding to an enquiring journalist. His lawyer argued he’d already suffered reputational harm due to significant adverse publicity from the breach. Beaton was unlikely to be selected as a political candidate as a result. He had suffered “real punishment” that was likely to deter other would-be offenders, the defence argued.

In sentencing on 7 September, magistrate

Rosemary Falla said Beaton met a two-step test for a non-conviction despite the breach being “not a trivial matter”.

She didn’t accept Beaton’s explanation that he had made a mistake due to being “too busy” during the election campaign.

Given the nomination form’s importance, he should have taken the “utmost care”, Ms Falla said. Giving false information to the AEC could adversely impact the integrity of the electoral system and the “heart of democracy”, she said.

On the other hand, she noted Beaton’s genuine contrition, his early guilty plea, clean criminal record, favourable character references and the impact of a conviction on him.

Beaton was placed on a $1000 bond for two years, plus $158.70 costs.

Save my son, pleads mum to Australian Government

From page 1

“He came with the help of an agent, and he did whatever the agent told him.”

Refugee groups and supporters such as Tamil Refugee Council have rallied behind the pair.

They brought a legal injunction to stop Dixtan’s deportation, and are calling for Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to intervene.

In a mounting campaign, they staged protests including a fortnightly vigil outside Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil’s electorate office in Oakleigh.

A full-page advertisement has also been placed in Dandenong Star Journal.

Tamil Refugee Council national coordinator Kalyani Inpakumar says “the community is devastated”.

“Reeta’s only child, the last remaining

member of her immediate family, having been detained for years without charge by the Australian government, is set to be deported into the hands of her husband’s killers.”

Among the groups holding vigils at Ms O’Neil’s office is Bayside Refugee Advocacy and Support Organisation (BRASO) and Grandmothers for Refugees.

“We think it’s a terrible thing to break up a family like that. Especially when they’re the last members of the family still living, and what they’ve gone through in Sri Lanka,” BRASO member Geraldine Moore said.

“This boy did the wrong thing, the government would argue. But there wasn’t a right way for him to come to the airport and apply for refugee status.

“It’s not a case where if we let him in and it will lead to another 10,000 coming in – it’s clearly a special case.”

Pamela Curr of Grandmothers for Refugees says the issue is about “basic human rights” and “keeping a family together”.

“Dixtan had no other way of getting here. There’s no suggestion that there’s any security problem about Dixtan.

“Hears are breaking for this woman - she just wants her son with her. She can look after him and he can look after her.

Also in support is Dandenong refugee advocate Wicki Wickiramasingham of Justice and Freedom for Ceylon Tamils.

He says Dixtan has done “nothing wrong” seeking refuge under international law.

The long-standing ALP member said Dixtan was unlikely to be safe if he was returned to Sri Lanka – where Tamils still live in fear under the watch of heavy security forces.

“The authorities will say we will rehabili-

tate you, we will look after you – two weeks later he will be missing. No one will know where he’s kept.”

Reeta’s federal MP Julian Hill said “I really feel for Mrs Arulruban as all such cases like this have human dimensions”.

“As you would be aware, Ministerial Intervention is a matter for Minister Giles, and consistent with long standing practice the Government does not comment on individual cases.

“Ultimately everyone in Australia is subject to the law and non-citizens who are found to not engage Australia’s protection obligations are not able to stay indefinitely.

“The matter is before the courts which are independent of MPs and I hope all of the circumstances are fairly considered.”

Ms O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles were contacted for comment.

Liberal candidate Robbie Beaton was sentenced to a $1000 bond for nominating a false residential address to the AEC.

Itch for the thin blue line

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The best part of working the Dandenong beat isn’t locking up the “bad guys” but helping people, says police officer Adam Tate.

Seven years ago, he traded in his landscaping and pool-construction career to become a Protective Services Officer (PSO). He soon trained up to joinVictoria’s police force.

Senior Constable Tate recommends the job as the “best seat to the best show in the world” as Victoria Police’s recruitment drive lands in Dandenong this Thursday (14 September).

There’s the thrill of the unpredictable. One minute you could be chasing a stolen car, the next helping a person at their lowest.

“You’ve got the ability to have an impact on a person’s life. Sometimes it’s a good impact, sometimes not so great.

“The rewarding side is helping someone in crisis, like helping someone who’s homeless get into emergency accommodation or help someone with a mental health crisis get the help they require.”

On a memorable callout, he talked down a man threatening suicide at home. They ended up chatting on the man’s balcony as they waited for a medical car.

The man shared his struggles, how his wife had left with the kids. As they talked, he began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“He could see that dark place he was in, it wasn’t so dark after all.

“He said can I give you a hug? Sure you can.

“Just hearing him say those words ‘thank you’ makes you think you’ve made a difference.”

From the time he left school, he’d harboured a hope of being a police officer. Instead he worked as a greenkeeper and other tradeswork.

One of his employers said he was better off working in maintenance because he wouldn’t have to worry about being shot.

But the itch for the thin blue line didn’t leave. He talked to friends and relatives in the force, and made the leap.

At 38, it was as good a time as any, he says.

“I was a little older than most recruits. That additional life experience has really helped me in my role.”

Nonetheless, things have surprised Tate – such as the prevalence of mental health issues, particularly since Covid-19.

“People have been locked away from living their normal lives and taking their liberties away ... it’s played a massive part. There was also more family violence.”

He came face-to-face with the anger from lockdown protesters when they marched from the CBD onto West Gate Bridge.

“That has been the only time I felt that I was going to be hurt. Most of the day it was a wild goose chase.”

He said the fury was directed at “the uniform” rather than police personally. But it required having a thick skin.

“We’re the ones trying to enforce those lockdowns. Whether you agree or disagree,

you have to follow the line.”

He advises recruits not to expect a 9-to-5 job, or to still be able to “party” with mates every Friday and Saturday night.

“No two days are the same. It’s so dynamic. One minute you’re driving to get a coffee, the next you’re flying down a freeway to a car accident or a home invasion.

“If you’re considering having a look at joining the police, it’s a case of jump in and grab the opportunity with both hands.”

Victoria Police is aiming to recruit an extra 502 police officers and 50 protective services officers by the end of June 2024. Acting Superintendent Charmaine Hosking, of the police’s

recruitment division, said policing was “challenging, rewarding and purposeful”.

“We encourage anyone interested in making a difference within the community to apply now.

“There are so many different roles that you can literally have what feels like multiple careers within the one organisation.

“You’ll start off on the van, then you might move to a specialist area, then you may become a detective or work on multi agency rescue efforts.”

An information session for potential recruits will be held at Dandenong police station on Thursday 14 September, 6pm-8pm.

Details: police.vic.gov.au/police

Colourful explosions ‘yarn bomb’ local library

Endeavour Hills library has received a burst of colour in the form of a yarn bombing event on Tuesday 29 August.

Casey Council Connected Communities manager Callum Pattie said more than 80 community members participated in the Ageing Positively Crochet for a Cause event, which aimed to raise awareness of elder abuse.

“Casey’s Connected Libraries are the first partners to support the cause by welcoming the yarn bombing of the trees out the front of their libraries at Cranbourne East, Hampton Park and Endeavour Hills,” he said.

“A total of 500 pieces were collected, with around six volunteers piecing together

the installations.

“The installation out the front of Endeavour Hills Library was especially created for children who can sit amongst the colours while participating in Story Time.”

Participant Kay Slacik said crocheting something beautiful makes her smile.

“Crocheting makes me happy and calm,” she said.

Participant Lill Dyson said there is a good feeling about crocheting to help others.

“It is very satisfying seeing your completed pieces of art,” she said.

Star News photographer Rob Carew visited the yarn bombing to capture the colourful creations.

Senior Constable Adam Tate loves making a difference in his job at Dandenong police station. 359271

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Jenny Out. 354864

Gillian Brown,Brooke Osborne,Lill Dyson,Kay Slacik,Jenny Out,Ria Bywater,Courtney Rushton,Georgia Hillebrand and Malcome Davies. 354864 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Kay Slacik with her little people. 354864

Jenny Out and Ria Bywater. 354864

Gillian Brown and Brooke Osborne. 354864

FOCUS ON … SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Kids festival takes flight

The annual Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival returns for two weeks of fun these school holidays.

Greater Dandenong Council will hold a packed program of September fun for primary school children as well as for young people from 12 to 25 years.

The Children’s Festival will take flight with the headline event Little Day Out at Ross Reserve in Noble Park on Sunday 17 September, from 11am-4pm.

The rest of the school holidays will be filled with a range of family-friendly activities and workshops with the theme‘Up in the Sky’.

Venues include the Drum Theatre, Dandenong Library and Springvale Community Hub. Deckchair movies will also return, with films showing at Springvale Community Hub and Dandenong’s Harmony Square across the two-week school holiday break.

Young people (aged 12-25 years) can have fun with friends and explore their creative side through activities and workshops including, manga drawing, pizza making, K-Pop dance, an escape room visit and a sports day.

The council’s Youth and Family Services team will hold a five-a-side Street Style Soccer Tournament.

The popular tournament returns to Soccer5’s Dandenong on Friday 22 September, with four divisions, including Under 14 Male, Under 16 Male, Under 25 Male and Under 25 Female.

Youth Fest is a half-day festival featuring sport, arts workshops and live performances held at the Noble Park Skate Park and surrounds on Thursday 28 September, from 11am-2pm.

Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/childrens-festival or youth.greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au/programs/holiday-activities

Ferntree Gully Hotel Car Park 1130 Burwood Highway

Extreme wet ground conditions have prohibited us from moving to Bayswater North. Silvers Circus will remain at the Ferntree Gully location until 8th October.

Ashleigh and Sarah from Noble Park Aquatic Centre with Slushies at a previous Little Day Out. 197489

Jimmy Jay from The Dreaming Space at a previous Little Day Out at Ross Reserve. 197489

Remi tries rock climbing at the childrens festival event at Ross Reserve. 197489

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Inquiry calls for stories

By Rachael Ward, AAP

Survivors of child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools are being asked to come forward to share their experiences.

An independent Board of Inquiry is examining abuse at Beaumaris Primary School in Melbourne’s southeast in the 1960s and 1970s and at other government schools up to the late 1990s.

Allegations have been made against at least three perpetrators who worked at 18 schools including Dandenong North, Dandenong West, Beaconsfield Upper, Emerald and Cranbourne.

The inquiry identified former Beaumaris teacher Gary Arthur Mitchell as one of the known perpetrators and said others would be named at a later date, with legal proceedings underway against one other person.

Mitchell was employed as a teacher, deputy principal and principal at several schools from 1964 until the late 1990s and has previously been sentenced over child sexual abuse matters.

The scope of the inquiry was initially limited to the 18 schools with a link to the known perpetrators but Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had indicated it could be widened if other victim-survivors came forward.

“They can go where the evidence takes them,” Mr Andrews told reporters on Thursday.

“It was not for us to be kind of naming a whole bunch of other schools, there needs to be evidence led that needs to be a process.”

Inquiry chair Kathleen Foley is calling on

Overdoses ‘preventable’

By Sahar Foladi

Prescription drugs are a common factor in accidental fatal overdoses despite being “largely preventable”, a Monash University expert says.

Both illicit and pharmaceutical opioids are prevalent in accidental fatal overdoses, according to the Pennington Institute’s Annual Overdose Report. Out of the 1675 deaths in 2021, 765 were associated with opioids as the report warns of the possible increase of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. It cites the Australian Federal Police seizing 11 kilograms of Canadian-imported fentanyl in Melbourne in August.

Monash University associate professor Jennifer Schumann, who is also head of the Drug Intelligence Unit at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, echoed the threat posed by fentanyl.

low socio-economic demographics,” Ms Schumann said. “This is a common problem throughout Australia and the rest of the world and is something we need to address more effectively.”

anyone who experienced child sexual abuse in the school system to come forward for a confidential discussion, regardless of whether or not they have connection to the 18 schools.

She expects a “significant” number of people to make contact given the number of schools and time period being examined.

“I reassure people that you can choose to provide information confidentially or anonymously, we will respect people’s preferences in how they share their information with us,” Ms Foley said.

Submissions are open until 12 October and all victim-survivors are entitled to a private hearing while some will be able to give evidence in public if they wish.

The government has promised an apology to abused former Beaumaris students and set aside $4.5 million to support victim-survivors and run the inquiry.

The final report is due to be handed to government at the end of February 2024.

“There have been shipments of illicit fentanyl intercepted at the Australian border which raises great concerns of this potent opioid infiltrating the local drug supply. This is why drug checking services are so important to prevent harm.”

Ms Schumann, who is also chief investigator at Emerging Drugs Network of Australia (EDNAV), says there needs to be more funding for harm reduction despite a $372 million investment in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in the 2023-24 state budget.

“This was a welcome announcement for the AOD sector, especially the increased access to treatment that will be provided for many Australians currently receiving Opioid Agonist Treatment.”

Greater Dandenong ranks among the highest for accidental fatal overdoses over the past 20 years, according to the Penington report. From 2017-‘21, the municipality was ranked second highest inVictoria.

“While substance use affects everyone, there is a higher prevalence among

As previously reported in Star Journal, from 2017-’21, there were 86 unintentional overdose deaths in the municipality, 100 in Geelong and 84 in Frankston.

“We need to upscale existing opioid treatment and harm reduction programs, introduce new supervised injecting rooms and implement drug checking services in Victoria.”

In a coronial finding released for the first time on Wednesday 6 September, the State Coroner recommended a drug checking service to the Victorian government. The recommendation follows an investigation into the 2022 death of a 26-year-old man from a type of highly potent MDMA pill called the ‘Blue Punisher’. A collective push is necessary, as the overdose crisis has now exceeded the road toll since 2014, according to Penington chief executive John Ryan.

“Greater access to treatment and harm reduction services are key to reducing harm, as well as increased prevention programs, particularly among school aged children,” he said.

Full-throttle racing at Sandown hypes the crowd

High octane action returned to the track over the weekend with Sandown coming alive for the Shannons SpeedSeries.

Delighted fans were treated to a range of races including the National Trans Am and Kumho V8 Touring Car Series as well as the Australian Formula Open.

While the weather was gloomy, this only added to the excitement as the wet conditions proved to be challenging for the drivers.

Take a look at some of the snaps captured.

The

weekend.

John Ryan, chief executive of the Penington Institute.

The noise was deafening during the National Trans Am Series.

Spectators were able to get up and close to the action.

The Australian Production Cars and Monochrome GT4 Australia saw drivers’ push their engines to the max.

Kumho V8 Touring Car Series was a highlight of the

ON … FOSTER CARE MONTH Help children in need

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on a young life? Partner with Berry Street this Foster Care Week and join their dedicated team committed to nurturing and empowering children and young people on their unique journeys.

As a Berry Street foster carer, you’ll support local children and young people at a crucial moment in their life.

As one ofVictoria’s largest providers of outof-home care, Berry Street provides children and young people who have experienced trauma with a safe and secure place to live.

For over 145 years, they’ve supported children and young people in Victoria at whatever point in their journey that they need help.

“Childhood is a journey, but not every child has the same opportunities, which is why we need foster carers to play an empowering role in a child’s or young person’s life,” said Melissa Robertson, Berry Street’s team leader of Foster Care Recruitment, Assessment, and Training.

“This Foster Care Week, we’re encouraging Gippsland residents to start their foster care journey - you never know where it will take you. The team and I will be there to support you every step of the way, as you learn and grow in your new caring role,” she said.

Berry Street welcomes foster carers from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

For more information and to start your foster care journey, visit berrystreet.org.au/ fostercare

Partner with Berry Street and support a local child.

More support for kinship and foster carers

The State Government has boosted practical support for Victorian kinship and foster families with a help desk service that assists carers in their important roles in our community.

The Care Support Help Desk, launched in 2022, assists carers navigating the children and families service system to access important information and vital documents for children in their care, including

birth certificates and Medicare information. The service also eases the administrative burden on Child Protection practitioners, giving them more time to actively engage with children, families and carers.

The service, run by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, operates from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Find your closest team at services.dffh.vic.gov.au/foster-care or by calling 1300 475 170.

ON … FOSTER CARE

Be a positive influence

Local foster care agency, OzChild is looking for families who might be interested in opening their homes, and their hearts for a few nights, weeks or months to a child in need.

At OZCHILD they believe that a child has the right to live within a stable family home, not in staffed residential care facilities or hotels.

Chief executive officer Dr Lisa Griffiths says too many children are growing up away from family, residing in group homes with other children they don’t know.

“Without the stability of a family home many become disconnected from school and the community, which leads to a lifetime of disadvantage,” Dr Griffiths said.

That’s why the agency is keen to hear from individuals and families in Melbourne’s western and south-eastern suburbs who would consider becoming foster carers.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Child Protection data indicates that in Victoria there are almost 10,000 kids in care, some live with close family or next of kin, but many are placed into foster care. With an increasing number of local children in need of temporary homes, OzChild is on a desperate search for people who can help.

“Every child, no matter the age or their circumstances, deserves to be supported with the opportunity to heal, grow and thrive. We can and we must do better.

“But we can’t do it alone. We need the help of kind-hearted members of the community, those who think they can provide a safe and positive living environment, pass on simple life lessons like how to ride a bicycle or how to brush your teeth.” says Dr Griffiths.

People from all walks of life can be foster carers, including empty-nesters, singles or

couples who identify as LGBTQIA+. It does not matter what your cultural background is, and no qualifications or work-experience is needed.

Carers receive initial training and ongoing education, along with financial assistance and access to a network of professionals and a vil-

lage of carers offering support and guidance, especially for new carers.

“We want to make sure our carers have the tools and resources they need to succeed, that includes access to school drop off and pickup services, babysitter reimbursements, school holiday programs and allowances to ensure

caring for a child or young person can fit in with your personal circumstances,” adds Dr Griffiths.

Fostering not only benefits the child in your care, many foster parents find that fostering enriches their family life and teaches their own children invaluable life lessons about empathy, kindness, and understanding.

“The decision to care really can change the lives of many, and create a brighter future for generations to come. I encourage anyone who has the capacity to care to take the first step today, I have never met a carer who has regretted the decision, only those who say they wish they’d done it sooner.”

To learn more about becoming a foster carer with OzChild interested individuals are encouraged to visit ozchild.org.au. The organisation’s dedicated team is ready to provide information, answer questions, and guide potential foster carers through the application process.

OzChild is appealing to families who may be interested in foster care.

100 years ago

13 September 1923

A Despicable Act

Petty thieving

Some days ago, undesirable visitors forced an entrance at the Dandenong golfers’ club house, and 1½ dozen golf balls were stolen. Petty thieving has become far too prevalent here, lately. At the monthly meeting of the Dandenong Mechanic’s Institute on Tuesday evening, the secretary reported that two electric light globes had been removed from rooms in the Institute, also that newspapers and periodicals had been taken from the public reading room. The matter has been reported to the local police authorities. In future newspapers will not therefore be available during the absence of the Librarian.

On Sunday last persons were noticed to get out of a motor car near the soldiers’ honor avenue, Dandenong and pick off some of the tops of the young gum trees planted there. One can hardly realise anyone being so thoughtless and callous to the objects of a soldiers’ honor avenue as to pick the young, growing branches of the trees.

50 years ago

11 September 1973

Fire Brigade Take-Over bid attacked

Dandenong and Springvale Councils are violently opposed to a Melbourne fire brigade move to take over the duties of the Country Fire Authority. The councils claim they would be up for a “fortune” if the proposal was carried out. Councillor Maurie Jarvis of Dandenong Council said the Dandenong brigade gave the City great service “and it would be a disaster if we were to lose it”. He added: “the cost of MMFB service could be $120,000 per year in Dandenong which ratepayers would have to find”.

20 years ago

8 September 2003

Anthony makes the right career choice, at last

Anthony Giummaria is a 27-year-old writer from

North Dandenong who finally decided to try his hand in literature after exhausting long and tortuous career options and part-time jobs. Originally a pianist, Anthony graduated from Nazareth College in 1993 and moved on to Deakin University, where he studied music for several years. He taught piano for three years and also delivered pizzas, pumped petrol, flipped burgers, sold stereos, cleaned houses, and poured beers – all the time becoming increasingly frustrated with the scattered nature of his

existence. Having long been a keen reader of fiction, he enrolled in RMIT’s professional writing and editing diploma in 2001. Anthony is the winner of the local writers’ award in the Greater Dandenong Writing Awards 2003 with his story ‘Falling the safe way’. The awards are supported by The Journal.

5 years ago

10 September 2018

Barren Promise

Residents of a Keysborough housing estate

waited for years for their long-promised and overdue local park. Twelve months after opening, the site at the corner of Stanley Road and Westwood Boulevard is still far from finished. Built by Greater Dandenong Council the park’s lawns are blighted by vast dunes of grey sand: its grasses are still to take hold. As a result, the soccer pitch is just “full of weeds and sand” says resident Zaneta Biskup. “It’s terrible – you can’t imagine kids playing soccer and footy there.”

Food for all

By Sahar Foladi

Food relief ‘markets’ have rolled out at schools in Greater Dandenong as part of the partnership between Chobani and FoodbankVictoria.

The program ‘Food for Good Markets,’ is a trial roll-out in the municipality allowing families to select fresh fruit, vegetables, pantry essentials and Chobani yoghurt in their school yards.

It was targeting the many ‘food insecure’ families who didn’t feel comfortable seeking support from traditional foodbank relief services, according to Foodbank Victoria research.

General manager at Chobani, Tim Browne said the pilot program was more meaningful because it was serving Chobani’s local community.

“As a food and drinks manufacturer we have a responsibility to make sure everyone has access to delicious and nutritious food,” he said.

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to evolve our support for Foodbank to help make a real impact.”

The soaring cost of living sees Foodbank feed 57,000 Victorians daily, including families in Dandenong who otherwise have little to no access to healthy food options.

Assistant principal at Keysborough’s Chandler Park Primary School, Bianca Kotsonas said the program is a fantastic opportunity for the community.

“Not only did our families have access to healthy and quality ingredients, but the market brought our community together and bonded them over healthy food.”

Springvale Rise Primary School community health leader Julie Raciti said the “convenient” market helped many families in need, who didn’t know where to otherwise seek food relief.

“They trust our school, they know where to go and it’s a wonderful way to connect.”

The trial of five markets, including at Springvale Rise Primary School and Noble Park English Language School, is expected to end in November 2023.

“We know that one of the biggest challenges for families doing it tough is overcoming the shame they feel accessing food relief,” Foodbank chief executive Dave McNamara said.

“With the markets being hosted in the school yard, a setting that is familiar and trusted, we hope that families feel more comfortable accessing the help they need.”

In addition to the Foodbank, Chobani also provide a weekly donation to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Refugee Resource Hub’s food pantry.

The donation provides food for up to 80 families each week.

“Our employees are really passionate about giving back to our community, in fact, they are the ones jumping in the van each month to deliver the yoghurt to schools and rolling up their sleeves at Dandenong South Primary School’s breakfast club during the week,” Mr Browne said.

As reported previously by Star Journal in March 2023, food insecurity and homelessness were two pressing issues in the second-most socio-economically disadvantaged council area inVictoria.

City of Greater Dandenong Council had also established a ‘School Breakfast Resource Kit,’ providing all information for schools to initiate a breakfast program at their school.

Breakfast programs can help ensure children start the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast, which can benefit them with increased concentration in class, improve punctuality, social skills and overall health and wellbeing.

Eddie Kolar with his kids Tijana and Lavinia on the barren field in Keysborough in 2018. 184989

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Jail time for $550K scam

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A pharmacist who scammed more than $550,000 from government ‘back to work’ job programs has been jailed.

Elizabeth Wun Yeen Yau, 38, formerly of Clayton North, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to three rolled-up charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

She submitted 101 false claims using fake employee details to Victoria’s Back to Work Scheme and Queensland’s Back to Work Program in 2016 and 2017.

The departments paid $373,410 into 16 of Yau’s bank accounts, and another $178,500 into others’ accounts.

The schemes paid employers to hire or train eligible unemployed and retrenched workers. Up to $16,000 per worker was on offer.

Yau’s former partner, Simon Ashley McGraw, who was a Noble Park-based car parts importer, was sentenced to a CCO earlier this year for his lesser role in the ploy.

Yau was also sentenced on appeal over charges laid while she worked at a Colac pharmacy. They included possessing pre-cursor materials for the purpose of trafficking meth, and making a false record of the pharmacy’s dexamphetamine tablets which were found at her home.

In sentencing on 7 September, judge Simon Moglia noted that “cheating the public purse is not a victimless crime” and that the need for deterrence “loomed large”.

Yau received a “very substantial amount” of money, only ceasing the scam due to the back

to work schemes being halted.

None of the numerous documents and information provided in Yau’s ‘back to work’ claims were truthful, he said.

“This is not a case of mere overstatement of otherwise true facts or entitlements.

“While you did not use concocted identities for the accounts to which the money was paid, you did use multiple accounts which reduced the likelihood in my view that the fraud would be detected.”

Judge Moglia noted her guilty plea, limited criminal history and her low-level Asperger’s diagnosis.

Growing up with Vietnamese parents in Tasmania, Yau was socially isolated and bullied when she moved to Melbourne for a Year 11 and 12 scholarship.

During her pharmacy degree, she used MDMA to connect with others at nightclubs and spiralled into meth dependence.

She had reportedly poor insight into her

FOCUS ON … DISABILITY

Donna’s passion shines

Support Embrace Connect began in 2020 by Donna, who has spent her whole life in Casey, growing up in Hampton Park and residing in Berwick for the past 14 years with her four kids.

I was working in aged care and endured a workplace injury, causing me to find a new avenue of work. I was misplaced and believed I would never work again at the time and then I decided to reeducate myself. I have always loved helping others and thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to work in a field where I could do just that. Once I completed my studies, I was supported to gain employment through a Disability Employment Agency and started working in Disability Support which I loved.

Sadly the company did not have the same outlook of support as I had, so I decided to leave and start my own business and Support Embrace Connect (SEC) was born.

I am very passionate about not only supporting participants but also my employees, we have social get-togethers and I do upskill training with my team regularly. Our team are easy going and adaptable people who have compassion and drive to help participants access the best support possible while improving their daily lives with meaningful community access, and engagement as well as daily life skills and support with so much more.

At SEC we have an individualised care plan for each person we work with, and we also run groups for cooking, art, and walk and talk groups to support our participants in accessing the community and being a part of it. We have had great success with our small groups, with participants looking forward to the next group running and catching up with participants out in the community they have met. Our newest group is for all of the Pokemon lovers, where they meet up in the community and play Pokemon together and battle each other.

We pride ourselves on having regular scheduled support with regular workers and go above and beyond for them. We are not just about turning up and taking them for a coffee and dropping them home. We are ensuring we are impacting their daily life and helping them with their steps toward their NDIS goals.We have seen fantastic growth in the participants we support in many different areas of their lives, and our team thrives on seeing the growth and personal development of the people they are supporting.

When asked for, we work in care team meetings to help the other services engage with the participant so that everyone is on the same page and the participants get a better outcome from all services. A team that communicates and supports the person in need will always have better outcomes than those who are disconnected and unaware of new changes and challenges of the participant; it’s also best practice for the participant as they do not have to repeat everything to each person.

For further information contact director Donna Poole 0484 679 364 - manager Brenda. supportembraceconnect.com.au

‘ice’ abuse, which led her to being sacked from several pharmacies.

Upon her arrest in Colac, her pharmacist registration was suspended.

It was likely that Yau’s offending had “destroyed or significantly hindered” a return back to her chosen career, Judge Moglia said.

A property owned by Yau had been confiscated in order to repay her ill-gotten gains.

She was jailed for 23 months, including a 13-month non-parole period.

The County Court of Victoria.

Picture: AAP IMAGE/CON CHRONIS

Support Embrace Connect.

Fatal hit-run driver jailed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A hit-run driver has been jailed for failing to stop after fatally striking a Dandenong Cricket Club stalwart walking on Princes Highway Berwick last year.

George Varghese, 32, of Narre Warren, pleaded guilty in theVictorian 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.

Walking about half-a-metre inside the bitumen edge, Pierce was in an unlit section about 400 metres from the Bryn Mawr Boulevard intersection.

Shortly earlier, a driver swerved to narrowly avoid Pierce. Another had only seen him just as she drove past.

The small-business owner had been drinking at a football presentation in Dandenong and at BarEightyOne in Berwick that night. His recorded blood-alcohol level was a “relatively high” 0.19.

His wife Kati, who was walking ahead on the footpath, heard car horns blare but thought Pierce was following her on the same sidewalk.

When she got home, she received a call from Pierce’s son that her husband was involved in an accident. On impact, Pierce had been thrown about 25 metres and lay by the roadside with significant, life-threatening injuries.

He died in hospital later that morning.

Varghese had been travelling at least 61-69 km/h in the 70 km/h zone.

His driving didn’t warrant criticism and he

was not charged with causing Pierce’s death, sentencing judge Wendy Wilmoth noted on 1 September.

However, Varghese was “highly culpable” for not immediately stopping and assisting. Instead he continued on his trip to meet an acquaintance at Sandown Park Hotel in Noble Park.

Varghese conceded in court that he’d heard a sound at the point of hitting Pierce.

It was enough to alert him to the “high possibility” that he’d hit a person and should have stopped, JudgeWilmoth said.

When visited by police, Varghese claimed his car had been damaged when it struck a parked vehicle and a fallen branch in his driveway.

He’d concocted the same story to claim a replacement hire vehicle from his insurer as well as trying to organise a tow and repair of his BMW via insurance.

Pierce’s family “movingly and eloquently” described the grief, stress and impact on them, JudgeWilmoth noted.

His wife said Pierce was a “gentleman”, “friendly and generous to everyone. She was left to run his business and was struggling financially.

Pierce’s brother was angry that Varghese left a seriously injured Pierce at the roadside and tried to cover it up.Varghese left it to other passers-by to deal with the traumatic experience, he noted.

Born in India, Varghese studied in Australia where he met his wife.

The qualified accountant had a good work history, was heavily involved in church and charity work and had no previous convictions.

With a list of glowing references, Varghese was very well regarded with excellent personal attributes, JudgeWilmoth noted.

Since the collision, he’d reported symptoms of panic and adjustment disorders. He’d stopped driving and become isolated due to the stigma and judgement from his communities.

The judge noted his early guilty plea, sincere remorse and that he was unlikely to reoffend.

Varghese had applied for a partner visa with a hope of becoming a permanent Australian resident.

He faced possible deportation after serving his sentence.

Varghese was convicted and jailed for 12 months, followed by a three-year community corrections order.

His CCO includes 300 hours of unpaid work as well as driver education programs.

His driving licence was cancelled for four years.

$1m to tackle youth crime

By Matthew Sims

The State Government has invested $1 million towards an extension of the Pivot program, a local program running across Casey, Dandenong and Frankston which helps tackle the causes of youth offending.

Pivot is for young people aged 12 to 23 who are at risk of being involved with the criminal justice system, offering tailored support plans, therapeutic and family-based interventions to address the challenges they face towards keeping young people out of the justice system and on the right track for a bright future.

The program aimed to help young people learn new skills, reconnect with education opportunities, access employment, build relationships and generate meaningful connections within the community.

Run by Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), the program has provided intensive support to young people and their families by linking them to ongoing care, case management and with local support agencies to ensure their needs are met.

Crime Prevention Minister Anthony Carbines said the program offered young people to feel valued, be heard and live a fulfilling and crime-free life.

“Investing in initiatives like theYouth Crime Prevention Program empowers our local communities to work together to support vulnerable young people and give them the tools they need for a bright future,” he said.

The program was funded through the State Government’s Youth Crime Prevention Pro-

gram (YCPP), which delivers community-led initiatives across 14 sites inVictoria.

The YCPP has engaged young people aged 10 to 24 who have had contact with, or who are at risk of being involved with the criminal justice system.

A 2022 evaluation found a 29 per cent reduction in offending and a 24 per cent reduc-

Serious charges

A man has been charged with an alleged violent carjacking in an underground car park in Noble Park.

Police say the 30-year-old Noble Park man waved down a driver at the car park on Buckley Street about 12.30pm on Friday 1 September.

He allegedly demanded the driver get out of the car and punched and kicked him before fleeing empty-handed.

The man made similar demands to a second victim, producing what appeared to be a gun. Again he walked away empty-handed, police say.

He allegedly approached a third victim sitting in their car. He struck the man in the face with an apparent firearm and drove away in the car.

The man was arrested by police in Theodore Avenue a short time later.

tion in the severity of offending for participants who completed the program.

More than 4800 young people have been supported through the program since 2016, including 1800 young people receiving intensive support and 3000 young people engaging in activities to give them the right skills and education to prevent offending.

He was charged with attempted carjacking, unlawful assault, attempted armed robbery, aggravated carjacking with imitation firearm, recklessly cause injury, assault with weapon, theft of motor vehicle, disqualified driving, theft and possess imitation firearm.

He was remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 September.

Picture: FILE

WHAT’S ON

Bring Your Bills Day

South East Community Links is providing assistance and advice on electricity, gas, and water bills, tenancy rights, financial and consumer rights, Ombudsman services, Centrelink, fines and much more. Enjoy a free barbecue 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 Ombudsman, 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

Creative Writing Group

Welcome to an organic and supportive group where we awaken our inner writer and spark our imagination in this encouraging workshop. We will share prompts, short stories, ideas and do a couple of writing activities together. New writers welcome.

· Thursday 14 September, 10am-12pm 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

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 re-

serve 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 and spoon relays, art and craft, chill out space, snacks and 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.

· 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

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.

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

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

Deckchair movies

Outdoor cinema screenings of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (PG), Studio Ghibli’s ‘Ponyo’ (G), ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ (PG) as part of the 2023 Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival. Bring a picnic, a blanket, or use one of our deckchairs and enjoy this free, family-friendly movie.

· Monday 18 September, 6pm-8pm (Puss in Boots), Wednesday 20 September, 6pm-8pm (Ponyo) and Friday 22 September, 6pm-8pm (Minions) at Springvale Community Hub, 5

Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. 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

Hub birthday

Springvale Community Hub is turning three. Join us for a morning of performances, circus workshops and butterflies on the hub’s lawn. For ages 4-8 years old. Part of the Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival.

· Tuesday 19 September, 10am-12pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event.

Meet the wildlife

Get hands-on experience with a variety of native lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, sugar gliders and giant insects. This event is suitable for ages 5-12 years. Presented by Lizard Wizard. Part of the Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival. Library membership is required to register.

· Wednesday 20 September 2023, 2:30pm -3:30pm at Springvale Library, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Register at libraries.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/libraries/events/wildlife-presentation-school-holiday-program

Youth Links Hub Open Day

Join us for a day packed with free fun at the launch of the new Youth Links Hub, a welcoming and safe space for the amazing young people in our community. The day features exciting sports activities, yummy food, beautiful art, Henna tattoos, dancing, live music, inspiring presentations from young people and a special guest.

· Friday 22 September 2023, 10am to 2pm at Youth Links Hub, Shops 2-4, 49 Douglas Street, Noble Park. Register at eventbrite. com/e/youth-links-hub-open-day-tickets710038312707?aff=oddtdtcreator

SPORT

Wynd stands tall in premiership quest

By Marcus Uhe

Lachlan Wynd knows the weight of pressure that sits upon his broad shoulders each and every week.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Rowville spearhead sits head-andshoulders above his next most-successful teammates on the Eastern Football Netball League Premier Division’s leading goalkicker tally, with 54 from his 17 appearances in Rowville brown and gold in 2023, 23 ahead of Maverick Taylor’s 31.

In the second semi-final against Vermont last weekend, a thrilling one-point win that secured direct qualification into another grand final for the precocious Hawks, Wynd’s bag of six goals helped his side push ahead during the middle periods of the game before holding on for the famous victory.

“I love the responsibility of taking the best defender,”Wynd said.

“Freeing up the other boys is good, the way that we play most of the time.

“We like to hit-up the short ones and that frees up the other boys.

“I find it a challenge playing on the best defender in the side.

“It makes me better and hopefully it makes the team better as well.”

Beginning the year with a bang, the 22-yearold’s summer of maturing and time on the track saw him slot 30 in his first six outings, holding up his end of the bargain as the Hawks made a stuttering start to the new campaign.

When he’s not towering over his opponent with his height and taking contested marks, the Hawks midfielders can find him darting around the forward 50 chest-out as a leading target, before showcasing his clinical set-shot approach.

Rubbing shoulders with fringe-AFL talent at VFL club Box Hill during the preseason, extra practice games compared to many of his contemporaries had him raring to go when he first took the field for the Hawks against Balwyn in round two.

“Last year I didn’t have the season I wanted and got injured,”Wynd said.

“I put my mind to having a big preseason, putting a bit of weight on, and working hard on my fitness.

“Then there’s the mental side; last year when you’re at aVFL club, you want to be playing VFL every week, and if you go back to local when you think you should be playingVFL, you get annoyed.

“That was me a little bit last year, so this year I’m trying to embrace wherever I’m playing, and play the best I can, put everything I can into every team I play for, don’t get angry if

Mendis returns to Lions den

By Marcus Uhe

Former Sri Lankan all-rounder Jeevan Mendis has recommitted to Narre South Cricket Club for another season of DDCA cricket in a blow for opposition clubs.

The 2022-23 Alan Wookey medallist starred in his first season in the DDCA, topping the leading wicket-taker list with 25 at an average of 16, while also finishing as one of the league’s highest run scorers.

I don’t playVFL.

“Whatever team you play for, play your hardest.

“I’d say that being at VFL level, I probably played four practice games before I played round one.

“Having those four practice games and then playing intra-club, my body was pretty much ready to go before round one.”

In some ways, the 200-centimetre prospect was destined for success in Hawks’ stripes, with brown and gold pumping through the family bloodlines.

His father StuartWynd and grandfather Phil Wynd both played for Hawthorn, meaning there was no doubt in his decision to follow the Hawks, and was blessed with four premierships at AFL level during his teenage years.

A late bloomer of sorts, the heights of representative Coates Talent League (formerly NAB League) football eluded him as a teenager before hitting his stride in his early 20s.

But impressive performances at Box Hill saw him added to Hawthorn’s 20-player Covid-19 contingency list in 2022, placing him on standby for a potential call-up to the top level pending an outbreak atWaverley Park.

While the opportunity never arose, the time spent in the inner sanctum opened his eyes to the possibility and fanned the flames in his ambitions to take his footy as far as he can go, as his idols briefly became his peers.

“If you’re not trying to make it to the top level at the VFL, I don’t understand why you’d be there,” the apprentice electrician said.

“I didn’t know how training was before (training with the Hawks).

“I obviously wanted to make it and play AFL before, and then when I started training, it made it even better for me.

“Just being able to train and play the game you love everyday is pretty special.

“I remember the first time meeting Sam Mitchell I was pretty starstruck shaking his hand.

“Then the first few sessions, you’re talking to blokes I grew up watching win grand finals and admiring, like Luke Bruest, Jack Gunston, those blokes last year.

“I remember in the intra-club that we played, I kicked a goal from Luke Bruest, leading at him and he hit me lace-out, which was pretty cool.”

As the ultimate dream permeates in the periphery, the possibilities of the immediate future consumes Wynd, as history beckons for Rowville in Saturday’s grand final against Vermont at Bayswater Oval.

An eight-game winning streak since falling to the Eagles in early July, with a mix of blowouts and hard-fought grinds, has the Hawks firing on all cylinders, rested and confident after having the week off.

Lifting silverware would be Rowville’s first taste of success in the top flight of its respective football leagues, and after the heartbreak of last season’s conclusion, there’s no shortage of incentive.

“I think this year, we have talked about last year’s result and how it hurt and how we don’t want to feel like that again,” he said.

“Having those real close games where we just got over the line is going to put us in good stead, if its a grand final and it is a close game, I back myself and the rest of the team to know what we have to do, back the system and get us over the line.

“Personally, none of us boys have never won a flag together.

“It would mean the world to me and the club.

“If we win it this year, we’d absolutely love it and it would probably be the best day of our lives.”

No bumps in the road for Bloods’ coach Hill

By Marcus Uhe

A wealth of experience and well-established relationships will assist in the transition of leadership at Springvale South as Paul Hill begins his coaching tenure at the Bloods.

An assistant principal and former coach at fellow DDCA club Coomoora and Sub-District side Noble Park, wearing the coaches hat is not a new experience for Hill, a well-respected figure as the 2021-22 premiership captain at Springvale South.

With the club’s desire to replace Darren Arter from within, Hill’s credentials made him an excellent fit for the position.

“We’re really happy with how we’ve gone in the last few years and the culture we’ve built in the club, not just in the firsts but in the three grades,” Hill said.

“We didn’t really want to upset that by bringing someone in externally.

“As good as new voices and new ideas are,

we’re pretty happy with how things are tracking at the moment.

“There’s a couple of things that we might do a little bit differently, but that’s sort of where it came from, trying to find someone internally and having a little bit of experience myself, having coached Coomoora and a little bit at

Noble Park as well.”

Hill will oversee the entire coaching program at the club, assisting with the sides in the lower grades during the week, such as the victorious Turf 4 side that claimed last year’s premiership in remarkable circumstances in the grand final.

With nearly all of last year’s first 11 returning for a shot at a historic three-peat, Hill expects to play more of a soccer-style ‘manager’ role rather than a hands-on leader, confident in the leadership of Ryan Quirk and Jordan Wyatt.

“It’s really important that a coach is no-longer like it had been years ago, when you’re yelling and screaming, everyone’s doing the same thing and you’re giving them a bake after a game...we’ve moved away from that” Hill said.

“It’s more understanding people, building relationships with them and understanding what they need to do, and what you need to do for them, to get the best out of them.”

With an eye to coaching when his playing days come to a close, Mendis secured an assistant coaching position with Premier Cricket club, Dandenong, but will continue to ply his trade at Strathaird Reserve on Saturdays, while offering his knowledge and expertise to skipper Kyle Hardy and the coaching panel.

Narre South coach Matthew Brooks said he was excited to have Mendis recommit to the Lions as they push to return to the top four.

“He’s got three kids at Narre South, he loves it, which was a big reason why he wanted to stay and play with us, and try to get better opportunities on the coaching front,” Brooks said.

“With two day cricket coming back, I think we’ll see more of how good a player he is.

“Especially with the ball, being able to attack with the two-day format, I think he might be a bit more of a handful, which is obviously a good thing for us.”

As part of a revamped bowling attack featuring former Beaconsfield quick Callan Tout, English import Alex Cruickshank and all-rounder Joel Zietsman, who featured sparingly in last season, Brooks expects Mendis to have more tactical flexibility at the crease this season, particularly in the longer format.

“I think that weapon we’ve got with him, not bowling the one-day 12 overs, he can bowl bulk overs and we can attack with him this year,” Brooks said.

“We’ve added some quicks around him that we didn’t really have the depth of quick bowling stocks (last year).

“When he was coming on to bowl, he was always having to defend, but this year we’ve added a few where we think we can really attack with him, which is only going to help us, which is a really nice luxury to have.”

The Lions’ season begins at Arch Brown Reserve when they face Berwick on Saturday 7 October.

Jeevan Mendis has recommitted to Narre South Cricket Club for the upcoming DDCA season. 321398

Picture: MARCUS UHE

Paul Hill (batting) replaces Darren Arter as Springvale South’s coach for the upcoming DDCA season. 229044 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Lachlan Wynd has put together a stellar season in 2023. 351676 Picture: ROB CAREW

Falcons flight to first flag

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Amid a swarm of fans, rhythmic drumming from the Frankston Dolphins cheer-squad and bellowing support for both teams, there was a sense of calm at the Endeavour Hills threequarter-time huddle.

Like at quarter time and halftime, the Falcons trailed Frankston, forced to play catch up after being beaten in the contest in the first quarter.

But the game was on Hills’ terms.

The saying ‘that the will of depth players to stand up in big moments wins flags’ proved true in the premiership quarter when a suite of unheralded defenders put their bodies on the line.

They absorbed an avalanche of Dolphins momentum, conceding 15 inside 50s, but only three goals, to lose the third quarter against the zephyr by just six points.

There was a series of huge plays in defensive 50 midway through the quarter to keep the margin manageable.

Ben Holland got an important fist in front of a one-on-one tussle in the goal-square to see a ball through for a behind.

Ben Swift got a touch to a kick into the goal-square from 60 that carried the pack and would otherwise have been a goal.

A Liam Hasler smother soon thereafter gave thefatiguingdefenceamomentarylet-upfrom repeat stoppages, before a contested intercept mark to skipper Nathan Reid prevented their fleet-footed smalls getting to work.

Endeavour Hills faithful could have gathered together post game to write a song about the efforts of their doughty defenders on Sunday.

It was rightly an echo-chamber of praise.

Jimmy Archer was another who played with typical September grit, his one percenters in the first stanza earning praise on the sidelines from onlookers and coach Matt Peake at quarter time.

But at the last break, Peake needed to ground the group and harness the energy for a 13-year-old club seeking its first premiership after tasting grand final heartbreak in 2017-18.

Notably, he kept his address short – about two minutes briefer than his Dolphins counterpart.

He talked about their teamsmanship and run.

Unlike when these teams faced off in the qualifying final two weeks ago, Endeavour Hills was playing its brand, prepared to switch the footy, take on inside kicks and back their pace.

The positivity and belief was embedded in the conscience of players, with Peake just needing to provide the spark for them to go once again.

It lit something in Jacob Grant, who played a special last quarter.

The Falcons’ intensity lifted from the start of the fourth, but they had only four behinds to show for a dominant first five minutes of play.

When Frankston finally got momentary territory, Grant laid a driving tackle on a more senior opponent who would’ve tasted the turf as he was driven into Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve.

A minute later, he kicked the first of the

quarter, working deep inside 50 to take a huge contested mark on the goal line when a set shot from Alex Cann fell short.

All season, the Falcons have been hoping to see as little of Grant as possible, cheering for the teenager’s selection at the Dandenong Stingrays andVic Country - but he turned it on at the crucial 11th hour.

Goals had been flowing all day, but the pressure dialled up in the final quarter, with Grant’s major breaking a 13-minute gridlock.

After that, though, Endeavour Hills never looked back.

Bailey Baumann, who was the first to wear the flag like a cape in the celebrations, won a clearance soon after, putting it in the direction of Liam Hasler.

Those two have formed a potent one-two punch in the midfield in 2023 and are a big reason, alongside John Rafferty, why the clearance numbers have looked so good.

But in a grand final, it was a Hasler tackle which was crucial as he pounced on his opponent quickly, finding Cann, who took a onehanded mark inside 50 on the boundary line.

To give Endeavour Hills the lead for the first

time in the second half approaching stoppage time, he kicked it from Dom Sheed territory.

Endeavour Hills continued coming, eventually wearing out the Dolphins, with Grant able to extend the margin beyond a goal and give his team breathing room.

When Hasler got a goal on transition deep into stoppage time, the lid was just about off, Endeavour Hills bringing sizzling heat and their style of footy.

Grab a copy of the Pakenham Gazette, or go online for full coverage, including some more key storylines and the thoughts of the coach, captain and best-on-ground.

Endeavour Hills best

SeanVanVelsen: The ruck didn’t win the medal, but he was arguably best-on-ground, dominating the hitouts, tapping to dangerous areas and taking some big marks.

John Rafferty: For a midfielder, Rafferty can take a big grab. Has the power to bust his way out the front of stoppage and allowed the Falcons turned around their contest work.

Jimmy Archer: Courageous defender who epitomised what the win was built on, willing to put his head over it, and a factor behind the

quick Frankston forwards being kept quiet.

Ryan Johnson: Awarded the best on ground medal, he kicked his goal in the first quarter and again marked everything that came his way inside 50. A big finish to a big season, his first as a forward.

Liam Hasler: Had a groundball gather at full pace in the third quarter that was AFL-like. Hit the post with the running shot, but it would have brought the house down. Elegance and work rate both stood out.

Ben Virgona: Kicked one of the best finals goals you’ll ever see on the boundary line in the second quarter, with his weight going away from the goal face. One of half-a-dozen moments where he stood up when he needed to.

Brendan Moldrich: A winger whose run allowed Endeavour Hills to slingshot and play the game on their terms.

Premiership-winning 22: Ben Holland, Tobias Griffin, Liam Hasler, Ricky Boccari, Ben Swift, Ben Virgona, Bailey Baumann, Rohan Scott, Nathan Reid (c), Sean Van Velsen, Jacob Grant, Harrison Malone, John Rafferty, Daniel Cann, Ryan Johnson, Alex Cann, Mitchell Anderson, Travis Hall, Devlyn Hasler, Sam McLean, James Archer, Brendan Moldrich

The players celebrate the club’s maiden premiership. 359434

Picture: ROB CAREW

The players celebrate a late Liam Hasler sealer. Ryan Johnson celebrates as he is awarded his best-on-ground medal.

Premiership winning coach Matt Peake with skipper Nathan Reid.

Players get around Jacob Grant after one of his last quarter goals.

Player celebrations post-game.Ben Virgona’s emotion on the final siren.Alex Cann gives Endeavour Hills the lead.

At Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve on Sunday, Endeavour Hills claimed its maiden premiership over Frankston Dolphins 13.16 94 to 11.11 77. This is the story of how they did it.