Wednesday, 31 January, 2024
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
Community to the rescue after horse escapes
@PakenhamGazette
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Bunyip’s Ace Classic a hit PAGES 47 and 62
PAGE 14
Long closure Aussie pride
McGregor Road closed this week and will remain so until March, as significant works are underway that will transform its intersection with Princes Freeway. Since Monday 29 January at 7pm, McGregor Road between Princes Freeway and Webster Way, including its outbound exit ramp, has been closed and will remain so until Monday 4 March at 5am. This closure is for a 24/7 construction blitz that will widen the exit ramp to McGregor Road and add additional lanes to the roundabout. These major works are a part of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade which will be improving Princes Highway between Racecourse and McGregor Road throughout 2024. STORY PAGE 6
The Cardinia community came together last week to celebrate the high achievers and hard-working community volunteers, as part of the Cardinia Council Australia Day awards. Award recipients included Citizen of the Year Liz Roberts, Senior Citizen of the Year Dr Mary Cole, Young Citizen of the Year Ella Chawkley and the Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre winning the Community Event of the Year award for their 40th commemoration of Ash Wednesday. There were also many other local award ceremonies taking place throughout the shire. STORY PAGES 22-24
Community champions
Cockatoo local Patsy Parnall was showing off her Aussie pride at Connecting Cockatoo Communities’ annual Australia Day breakfast and awards. Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC
Pakenham’s Barbara Grove OAM has earned a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her lifelong service to Girl Guides, joining a number of locals honoured as part of the Australia Day honours. “It’s a surprise and it’s good to feel that years and years of work had been acknowledged,“ she said. Other local recipients included Upper Beaconsfield Returned and Services League president Eric Chaplin OAM receiving an OAM and prolific chemical engineer and Harkaway resident David Vernon Boger AC being named a Companion of the Order of Australia and St Francis Xavier College principal Vincent Feeney OAM receiving an OAM. STORY PAGES 2- 5 and 10
Access denied Pakenham resident, author and mother Jess Walton (they/them) was left stranded at Pakenham station after their attempt to board was unsuccessful, citing inadequate accessibility. At about 8.50am on Tuesday 23 January,
they were on their way into the city to meet friends and waiting in the designated disabled spot on the platform. After finally gaining attention by knocking on the window, it was explained that it was too late for them to board, leaving Jess “really dis-
tressed” on the platform. A Metro spokesperson said public transport was for everyone to use. “We sincerely apologise to our passenger unable to board a train at Pakenham Station last week,“ the spokesperson said.
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Jess said they often feel othered when having to ask a train driver to bring out a ramp. “It means that you’re beholden to someone and made powerless, it others you,“ they said. STORY PAGE 6
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