Wednesday, 1 November, 2023
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
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Night of thrills and chills
Grand celebration
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Racing merger By David Nagel A new ‘Super Club’ in Melbourne’s south-east is set to become a powerhouse of Victorian racing after the Cranbourne Turf Club (CTC) and Pakenham Racing Club (PRC) reached an in-principal agreement to merge. The merger - supported by Racing Victoria (RV) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV) – will take place subject to a members’ vote and regulatory approvals. The coming together of two of the most progressive race clubs in Victoria would affirm the region’s standing as a focal point for thoroughbred training and racing in Australia. The CTC and PRC committees believe that
the merger would further strengthen racing in the region and create significant additional benefits for members, participants, racegoers, commercial partners and local communities. The completion of the merger is subject to a vote by both CTC and PRC members that is expected to occur in late 2023, early 2024. Current CTC CEO Neil Bainbridge is likely to head up the new entitiy and it is believed the inaugural chairman will also come from Cranbourne. Mr Bainbridge said the potential of the merger was enormous. STORY PAGE 3
Cross town
A woman has been left happily baffled after she got a call that her cat had been found in Berwick after missing for almost 18 months. She’s now asking the Good Samaritan who found him to come forward so she can personally thank him. After 17-year-old cat Booboo went missing in June 2022, inner-city resident Hayley was heartbroken. Yet, after so much time, this past weekend she received a surprise call saying that Booboo had been found alive and well, all the way in Berwick. “It was completely baffling, how does a cat come back after 512 days?” Hayley wept tears of joy to finally see her best friend again after so much time. With her “old man” by her side again, the man who found Booboo and brought him to the vet in Berwick is yet to be identified. STORY PAGE 5
A lot has been happening in the town of Lang Lang with the community left disappointed at the recent actions of the council. Cardinia Shire Council has ruled against a pedestrian crossing on Mcdonalds Track, to the disappointment of residents who have been calling for it for some time. Concerns emerged from seeing the level of traffic, predominantly trucks, in such proximity to homes with people having to cross the busy road to get around town. In addition, there’s an ongoing dispute over the town’s proposed public artwork to honour the historic rodeo, where the council has decided to wipe the slate clean and start afresh, but this time it’s to the relief of many residents who are glad the community will still be involved in the decision. STORIES PAGE 7
Off the back of the One Foot Forward challenge, Bek Bishop will this month complete Picture: GARY SISSONS Smiling Mind’s Walk For Kid’s Mental Health. 366956
Walking for mental health Maryknoll resident Rebecca Bishop is continuing her mental health awareness crusade, taking on Smiling Mind’s Walk For Kids’ Mental Health, walking 21 minutes
each day to raise awareness and funds for vital mental health programs in primary schools. STORY PAGE 2
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