News - Cranbourne Star News - 15th February 2024 by Star News Group

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Locals mourn felled trees

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Rabbit invasion By Violet Li Botanic Ridge residents are urging Casey Council to solve a local rabbit plague after several years of exhausting and futile battles with the invasive species. Richard Francis, president of the Vertebrate Pest Management Association of Australia and a zoologist who works to remove rabbits in the Casey area, removed 100 of them on one night a week ago. “Still, you can’t tell any difference,” he said. Resident Merv McCormack said the area was just crawling with rabbits in the early morning and at sunset. “They’re eating our roses, thorns and all. They’ve ruined a couple of my garden beds. We’ve had to take extra caution of putting barricades around our gates,” he said. “They dig under everywhere. I put up plastic mesh, and they just eat it and make a hole and go through. “It cost me a fortune in star pickets, and they just crash from the front yard. You look at the house and all you see is bloody star pickets.” When Mr McCormack moved in about a decade ago, the area was all farmland and there were no issues with rabbits. “They had all their burrows in the farmlands and were quite content,” he said. “But with all the development and subdivision in the area, they’re being forced out of where their natural habitat was. “All that area that the rabbits were quite happy in is not available to them. They just go roaming around everywhere.” Mr Francis said a combination of productive agricultural land and the sand dune systems around Cranbourne and Botanic Ridge contributed to ideal conditions for rabbits to breed. “Rabbits like to create warrens and these old tertiary dunes are ideal for them to burrow in, and then you’ve got the low-lying alluvial areas with nice vegetation to feed on,” he said. “Rabbits have a very high reproductive rate. But they still need a safe place to sleep and to breathe, and they still need to have access to food. And in Cranbourne, they’ve got all those things very close by.” Mr Francis said there were limited methods that could be used to deal with rabbits in the area because of the existence of an endangered species called the Southern Brown Bandicoot.

A local rabbit. 388057

Merv McCormack at his not quite rabbit-proof fence. 388057 The bandicoot was assessed as endangered in the 2021 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Threatened List Victoria. A key population of the species lives at and around the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. “There’s a reluctance to bait rabbits in case bandicoots are also affected by the baiting,” Mr Francis said. “There’s no actual evidence that the bandicoots are affected, but as a precaution, baiting is not used in areas where there are Southern Brown Bandicoots.” Fumigation, warren destruction, and shooting are the techniques used in the area to

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remove rabbits, according to Mr Francis. Fencing is also an option, but it is not used widely as it also affects the bandicoots and stops them from moving and dispersing. In 2016, Cranbourne South was one of the parts of Melbourne to trial test the RHDV1 K5 virus that targeted feral rabbits. When asked about the efficacy of the new virus, Mr Francis said it did not go well in areas where breeding was quite constant. “In order for the virus to work, there needs to be a period of time where rabbits aren’t breeding, and they need to get exposed to it during that time,” he said. “It works very well in dry areas. If you go

Rabbit fence. 388057 more inland Australia where breeding only happens at particular times of the year, then the virus has worked quite well there. “They breed almost constantly in the Cranbourne area because the environment is mild and there’s always enough food.” Drought years were a different story, but Melbourne already had two mild summers in a row, two years of what would be called mild conditions where rabbits have been breeding continuously, Mr Francis said. When Mr McCormack realised individual efforts would not be able to cope with rabbits in June 2023, he went straight to Casey Council. Continued page 11

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Devastation as trees lost By Violet Li Frances* adored the lush stand of large oak trees next to where she lived. “There were a lot of them, possibly 20. They would have been at least 80 to 100 years old,” she said. “They were gorgeous trees. They changed colours in the autumn and gave beautiful shades. There were birds all around.” Frances was devastated on Wednesday 7 February when she heard the construction noise from the site. “I didn’t go up there the next day because it makes me too sad,” Frances said. A stand of oak trees was cut down and removed for development at the corner of Craig Road and Protea Street in Junction Village, leaving the community overwhelmed with a loss of historical and environmental significance the trees carried. The block of land at 39 Craig Road was sold in 2023 for $2.55m. A listing photo shows the rectangular land of 6778 square metres had a large cover of trees on the right end. When contacted, Casey Council said it was still accessing the application on the land and could not provide relevant information due to privacy reasons. Frances, a long-time resident in the area, remembered that a beautiful old house from the 1940s era used to sit on the land with a spacious garden and a swimming pool. “It’s just sad how all the things of historical significance, the farmhouses and others in our area, are just being torn down for development,” she said. “Apart from the historical significance of those trees and also the fact that they’re so good for the environment, I feel they could’ve incorporated them into their development and made it such a gorgeous development.” Old trees perform crucial ecological roles, such as providing wildlife habitats, contrib-

Seven large oak trees at the front of 39 Craig Road have been removed for development. Three were left at the time of writing on Friday 9 February. 388052 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

The stump. 388052

The cut-off branches. 388052 uting to species diversity, and capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Frances said those oak trees were very high and spready, which might substantiate their estimated ages. “If you put your arms around one tree, you wouldn’t have been able to touch your fingertips,” she said.

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“They were similar to the trees in Cranbourne in the Avenue of Honour.” As an artist, Frances has painted quite a few eucalypts in her career, but she never got around to painting that big stand of oak trees. “I really regret. I’ve only got photographs of them coming down,” she said. At the time of writing on Friday 9 February,

seven large oak trees at the front of the block had been removed as well as some at the rear of the block. The remaining three oak trees at the front were removed on the morning of Wednesday 14 February. The developer has been contacted for comment. * Frances is a pseudonym due to privacy reasons.

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Temple hearing postponed By Violet Li A planning permit hearing for the controversial $4.5m Hindu temple in the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge has been postponed for seven months at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after an amendment was submitted for assessment. Non-profit multilingual Hindu organisation Melbourne Ayyappa Seva Sangam (MASS) is seeking approval for a place of worship on the corner of Dandenong-Hastings Road and South Boundary Road West in rural Pearcedale. A Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group has been established by the affected locals to oppose the proposed development and advocate the protection of Green Wedge land across Victoria since February 2022. As Mornington Shire Council failed to decide within the statutory 60 days, the application was referred to VCAT. The nine-day hearing was originally set to run from 19 to 29 February 2024. MASS submitted the amended proposal in January and sought a postponement, which was given the green light by VCAT on a practice day hearing on 6 February. The hearing will now be held from 2 to 12 September 2024. Resident Craig Gobbi, who represented more than 80 locals at the VCAT hearing, stood against the postponement as the community had been aiming for the day for a long time. He said it would potentially cost them some more money because of the legal preparation needed to pause and restart near the new date. Mr Gobbi also had to cancel his annual leave, which he said was difficult to work out on such short notice. He pointed out the other party missed the deadline for submitting an amended plan, which was 30 business days before the hearing. “They’ve missed that deadline, so we believe that the only way they can get these plans accepted is if they push the date back as well,” he said. A spokesperson for MASS said an extensive amount of work had been undertaken with a view to addressing key issues in dispute and hopefully narrowing the issues between the parties in the VCAT proceeding over recent months. “As part of this process, an amended pack-

A planning permit hearing for the controversial $4.5m Hindu temple in the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge has been postponed at the Victorian Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after an amendment was submitted for assessment. 365405 age of plans and associated documents has been circulated, as previously foreshadowed to the parties,” they said. “We formed the view that it was in the interests of justice to allow the parties further time to review the amended package of plans and associated documents, and we sought an adjournment of the hearing to allow for that to occur. “The statutory authorities all supported such an adjournment, however, the objector parties did not, and the tribunal has made a determination in this respect after receiving submissions from parties.” The amended plan has sought to extend the operating hours, which were from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 8pm. This would be changed to 7am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm. A proposed temple lake would be relocated and the staircase areas from the temple to the lake would be reduced by nearly half to retain more native vegetation. The height of the eating hall would be reduced from 12.288m to 10.794m and the colour of the roof would be changed from ‘copper gold colour’ to ‘colourbond terrain’ to ‘minimise any visual impacts’. The colours of the temple and shrines roof would be changed from ‘copper gold colour’ to ‘colourbond manor red’ to minimise any visual impacts. There would be a wider-angled crossover entrance from South Boundary Road.

The amended version of the temple. The overall site coverage would be reduced from over 6900 square metres to over 6700 square metres. Mr Gobbi said MASS “fudged about the edges” and made no real improvement. “That does not change our objections,” he said. The proposed temple attracted more than 300 formal objections since the submission of the planning application from December 2021 to April 2023. Opponents say that the temple would impose unacceptable impacts on the environ-

Picture: MASS ment, flora, and fauna, and produce unacceptable visual impacts, noise, and light pollution, traffic congestion and accidents, and fire risks. The MASS spokesperson said as the matter was currently before the VCAT, it was not appropriate for them to comment on the merits of the case, or particular issues that might be in dispute. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council turned down the original proposal during a meeting on Tuesday 31 October to define its position for the VCAT proceedings. It has yet to assess the amended version.

‘Disgusting attack’: Email targets Hindu organisation the “biggest piece of s*** eyesore ever”. “You want to destroy sensitive green wedge land for your eyesore. Religion sucks,” it wrote. “Religion should be banned. All it does is breed hate and wars. “You guys are the minority. You don’t need these ugly pieces of s*** everywhere.”

A hate email targeting MASS, which the multilingual Hindu organisation found “most troubling”, was exposed on a VCAT practice day hearing on 6 February. The email, sent on Friday 26 January, and titled ‘Disgrace’, wrote that the temple was

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“We don’t agree with what they said. This is a planning issue. It has nothing to do with religion. And we respect all religions. “This attitude does not in any way represent my stance, perspective, point of view, the stance of our core group, or any group members whom I personally know. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour.”

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Pearcedale resident Craig Gobbi, who was present at the meeting, said on behalf of the Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group that the person who wrote the email was not affiliated with the group by any means. “The email was appalling. It was an explicit and disgusting attack upon the MASS community and on all religions,” he said.

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Struggling with urban heat By Cam Lucadou-Wells Casey is among one of the hottest areas of Melbourne – and not in a good way, particularly for its most vulnerable residents. Out of 27 government areas, Casey ranked second highest for the urban heat island effect, according to Victorian Council of Social Services research. Its UHI effect - which means the trapping of heat in urban environments - was on average 3.7 degrees hotter than the leafy, eastern suburbs in Maroondah. Community Information & Support Cranbourne (CISC) executive officer Leanne Petrides was unsurprised, given the surge of housing estates and shopping centres with little shade. “This means that the newer suburbs are intensely hot zones.” The paper found Melbourne’s poorest suburbs were inflicted with the highest temperatures. The six most disadvantaged government areas in Melbourne were among the eight hottest. Greater Dandenong - the most socio-economically disadvantaged - had the sixth-greatest urban heat effect. About 2.2 degrees hotter than Maroondah. Socio-economically, Casey is also ranked below average. As a double-whammy, Ms Petrides says CISC clients struggling to meet basic needs were also the least likely to afford energy-efficient cooling. “If they do have air conditioning, many will choose not to use it, in order to avoid high electricity bills. “This is something we hear most from our older clients, who are also more vulnerable to the impact of extremely hot weather conditions.”

Leanne Petrides. 347968 Renters, residents in older properties and a rising homeless cohort were also at risk, Ms Petrides said. “(People who are homeless) are highly vulnerable to heat-related health issues whether they are sleeping outside, or in their cars, or in poorly renovated rooming houses with tiny rooms and little ventilation. “Access to drinking water, as well as shower and toilet facilities are severely curtailed, and add to the risk.” VCOSS chief executive Juanita Pope said poorer people were “feeling the heat more” due to being in hotter suburbs and cheaper housing.

“Extreme heat is a threat to everybody, but especially those already living with a health condition or on a low-income. “Living on a low-income or with a health condition severely limits your ability to prepare for a heat wave and stay cool.” More trees, more parks and less concrete were part of the solution, Ms Pope said. She called for investment in free housing retrofits to cool low-income households. “We need to recognise people on lower incomes, who live in cheaper housing in hotter areas, need extra support to deal with heat.” Previous VCOSS research found homeown-

ers were twice more likely than renters to live in insulated dwellings. The latest research paper speculated why the urban heat island effect was higher in lowincome areas. “The factors that lower the UHI effect might make homes more desirable and therefore less affordable for low-income households; i.e. more parks, more trees, less development, further away from major roads,” it stated. “Low-income households might also have less time and confidence to participate in local planning decisions and campaign against high density development.”

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Woman fends off attacker A man on a bike is wanted over an attack on an “exceptionally brave” jogger on Dandenong Creek Trail last month. Sexual Crimes Squad detectives held an information caravan in Dandenong North on 14 February as part of the investigation. They have released footage of a man they are hoping to identify. A woman was running along the trail, near Outlook Drive just north of Mercer Court, when an unknown man approached her about 3pm on 31 January, police say. She was running in a southerly direction on the trail when she first saw the man on a bicycle. After turning around shortly after to start running north, the same man allegedly approached her from behind and threw her to the ground. The man lay on top of her and attempted to remove her clothing, however the woman screamed and successfully fought him off. He jumped on his bike and took off south towards Tirhatuan Park. “This is a concerning attack on a woman who was simply going for a run through her local park,” Detective Senior Sergeant Glyn Woolley said. “She has been exceptionally brave and managed to fight him off before contacting police.”

The alleged attacker is described as being possibly in his late teens or early 20s, of a thin build and with an olive complexion, potentially of Indian or sub-continental appearance. He was wearing a grey T-shirt, dark coloured pants, slides and socks at the time. Det Sen Sgt Woolley said detectives had canvassed a significant amount of CCTV in the area. Local police had also patrolled the park to attempt to find the man in recent weeks. He said detectives were treating the incident as an “isolated attack”. “We have no reason at this stage to believe the attack was targeted nor have we found any similar incidents occurring in this area over the past few months. “Hopefully by holding this information caravan and releasing this footage today, this will provide us with new lines of enquiry.” The Mounted Branch will also conduct patrols in the area. Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Police have released footage of a man they are hoping to identify. Picture: VICTORIA POLICE

OPINION SOCIALLY SPEAKING Council Watch has reported that roads are a top priority for surveyed ratepayers. What council roads in Casey need urgent attention? Alyssa Wright Continue the Bells Road extension through Pattersons Road, to meet with Ballarto Road. Mike Schendzielorz I’d start with the ones they have been working on already for years! Leanne Flitton Clyde Five Ways. Craig Marston I’m trying to understand why they resurfaced Cleopatra drive (under the powerlines). Compared to the rest of the roads in Cranbourne it was in mint condition. Linda Vecchio Can we please not start new road works until the rest are finished???? Goodman Scott Glasscocks Road between NWCR and The Promenade! Not only will it take a large amount of traffic off the back roads and help ease congestion at the Littlecroft end of Casey Central, but it would also improve emergency response times into that area east of NWCR. And while you’re at it City of Casey, duplicate/realign Pound Road/ Greaves Road which is a major thorough-

Signs of frustration As a responsible resident of Casey and a ratepayer, I urgently request the new administration to review its policy on road safety signs. There are so many that have been installed lately in Endeavour Hills, and maybe, elsewhere in Casey, as well. They are of different sizes, different shapes and different colours. Together with the large painted speed humps, they represent a real waste of public funds. After the sacking of the mayor and all sitting councillors in 2020, Casey residents would have expected something better from the new administration. Sadly however, I notice that the new administration continues to waste ratepayers money on some bogus projects. As I’ve said to Casey Council before, all my life, I’ve been a strong supporter of road safety 6 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 15 February, 2024

fare these days. Leonie O’Connor-Byrne All of them. You’re lucky to find one that’s not rooted and riddled with potholes. Jo Jo All of them ... we keep our cars road worthy, it’s high time all roads were car worthy so we stop damaging our cars on them. Malcolm Wells Would have been easier to ask if there were roads not in need of attention. Ben Bell Thompsons Road/Soldiers Road. Linsell Blvd/Clyde Road is still a joke. All of them! Stop building 100 new estates and onelane roads in and out of them! *** What do you think about Casey’s former councillors mounting a comeback? Jo Victoria Experienced councillors are needed to get Casey back to looking respectable again. We don’t need new candidates, that will campaign on issues, that are beyond the capabilities of a local government. Michael Rogers No thanks! Just focus on roads, rates, rubbish, parks and garden maintenance! Leave your ideology and crusades at the door! measures that include speed humps, roundabouts, traffic islands, street lightings and road safety signs for the safety of pedestrians and all other road users. But I’m 100 per cent against the current policy of the Casey administration in regard to speed humps, road safety signs and signage on the nature strip, along Heatherton Road, Endeavour Hills. In my humble opinion, there should be an independent investigation to find out what are the criteria, if any, that allow land developers, estate agents, business organisations, Rotary clubs and other associations to use that part of Heatherton Road as a signage for advertising their lucrative business, under the guise of promoting social and school events. Do they pay any fees? If yes, how much? To whom? These business people should not believe that all the local residents in Endeavour Hills

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Casey Cardinia Country Week cricket in the big smoke, North Port Oval, Port Melbourne. 389021 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS are naïve and stupid not to understand their astute strategy for publicity. Many years ago, I was told that Casey signage policy would be reviewed. For God’s sake, let it be done as soon as possible. First to protect the environment; (2) to remove the eyesore; (3) to avoid distractions to motorists; (4) not to obstruct the view of motorists at the intersection of Heatherton Road and Power Road. Eliezer François JP Endeavour Hills

I was ‘never sacked’ It was stated sacked ex-Casey councillors are weighing up their return to council. To set the record straight I was never sacked. I resigned back in January 2020 and I was never going to be sacked for something I

was never involved in. IBAC did make contact with me but I could not give them any information as I was unaware of any transactions between certain councillors and the developer John Woodman. I have worked in a private hospital in Berwick for 21 years and over that time I have looked after many of my ward residents and ratepayers and to face them on a daily basis would be very uncomfortable if I was in the wrong. I have not and was never associated with any political party that people presume I was attached to. Yes I have put my hand up to run for council and I am certainly am not ashamed to be doing so. Rex Flannery Narre Warren South cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

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Thursday, 15 February, 2024

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Intruder behind bars Smoke alert By Violet Li By Cam Lucadou-Wells An ice-addled and armed home intruder who erratically fled in a stolen car and veered off the road to avoid a police intercept in Narre Warren South has been jailed. Trent Harrison, 39, of Dandenong, pleaded guilty to a range of charges at the Victorian County Court including dangerous driving, unlicensed driving, aggravated burglary, car theft and breaching bail and intervention orders. In June 2022, Harrison sent a ‘dick pic’ and text messages to a Hampton Park woman. She responded she was reporting him to police, adding “you deserve everything you get”. “Yeah so will you in the next 20, you’ve been playing me the whole time now it’s my turn,” Harrison typed back. Within 20 minutes, Harrison was armed with a meat cleaver and an axe multi-tool trying to break into her home. He pried open two outside French doors with the cleaver despite the victim’s attempts to keep them shut. She was flung backwards as he forced his way into the home. Another occupant was cut on the wrist by wood that flew off the door. Ranting and raving, Harrison rifled through bedroom drawers before stealing car keys and the victim’s Commodore. Later that night, police attempted to inter-

Picture: AAP IMAGE/CON CHRONIS cept the car in Hampton Park. But Harrison fled out of sight despite police activating their lights and siren. Air Wing officers observed the Commodore being driven with headlights off on the wrong side of a wet road. Harrison narrowly missed a head-on crash while overtaking on Pound Road, Narre Warren South, and drove off the road to dodge police stop sticks on Filmer Crescent. Despite police demands to get out of the car, Harrison tried to accelerate his Commodore which was bogged in mud. An officer smashed the car window and twice tasered Harrison, who was eventually pulled from the car and arrested.

Harrison later admitted he was affected by meth at the time. His victim described to the court her terror and continued flashbacks. Her car was subsequently a write-off. In sentencing on 8 February, County Court judge Kellie Blair noted Harrison was motivated to steal rather than assault during his armed break-in. His erratic driving while in a “poor state” was a “serious” example of dangerous driving. The judge noted Harrison’s “significant” prior criminal history but also his long battles with mental illnesses, drug abuse and a significantly neglected, deprived childhood. According to a psychologist expert, he’d require extensive community supports including medication management and a rehab facility to address his “chaotic mode of living”. His high risk of reoffending would otherwise be heightened by drug use, unstable accommodation and a lack of routine, the court heard. In a “difficult” sentence, Harrison was convicted and jailed for 16 months – which includes about a year already served in remand. He will then serve an 18-month community corrections order including supervision, judicial monitoring and drug and mental health treatment. He was disqualified from driving for a year.

A fire was detected at Hallam Road Landfill on the morning of 8 February. EPA was alerted by the site operator Veolia about smoke emanating from an intermediately capped landfill cell. Fire services were not required. The area was isolated for safety and doused with water. The landfill gas wells in the immediate area were closed and additional cover material was applied, which was to prevent airflow into the landfill cell to remove oxygen as a fuel source for the potential sub-surface fire. A Veolia spokesperson said they were not aware of any offsite impacts and would continue to monitor. “Our operations minimise these occurrences, and our procedures enable us to respond immediately to such matters if they periodically occur,” they said. No further actions were issued to Veolia by the EPA. EPA will continue to monitor the situation including Veolia’s ongoing odour monitoring and management. If you need to report odour issues from the site, contact EPA at 1300 372 842 or epa. vic.gov.au

FOCUS ON … JOIN YOUR LOCAL CLUB

Tee off at Lang Lang Nestled in the serene outskirts of Lang Lang, the Lang Lang Golf Club stands as a testament to passion, dedication, and a love for the game. Over the years, the Lang Lang Golf Club has become an integral part of the local community, providing avid golfers with a picturesque and challenging course to hone their skills. In May 2023, the club marked a significant milestone, celebrating its 60th anniversary at its current location. The club caters to both seasoned golfers and newcomers to the sport. Golf enthusiasts can choose between 9 or 18 hole options, providing flexibility for players with varying time commitments. The availability of motorised golf carts adds an extra layer of convenience. Open to both members and green fee players, the recently renovated clubhouse, strategically positioned overlooking the first tee with stunning views of Westernport Bay, serves as a welcoming hub for golf enthusiasts to gather, relax, and share their love for the sport. What truly sets the Lang Lang Golf Club apart from other courses is the tranquillity of its location. Situated outside of town, golfers at Lang Lang have the rare opportunity to experi-

ence the serenity of the game amidst nature. Playing at twilight, with the sun setting over the course, provides a unique and magical experience. As an added bonus, the presence of kangaroos on the property adds a touch of wildlife charm, creating a truly memorable golfing experience. General manager Tim Hewitt takes pride in the club’s remarkable achievement in membership growth. Since May 2019, the club has seen a steady rise in membership, increasing from 360 to the current figure of 520. This growth reflects the club’s commitment to providing an exceptional golfing experience, and they continue to seek ways to expand their membership base. The Lang Lang Golf Club is open seven days a week, inviting golf enthusiasts to experience the beauty of the course. Tee times can be booked through the clubhouse by calling 5659 6284 or via the club’s website using the convenient online portal. Memberships are readily available, extending an invitation to individuals who share a passion for golf to become part of the Lang Lang Golf Club community. Lang Lang Golf Club – 90 Golf Club Road, Nyora.

Soak in the serene atmosphere at the Lang Lang Golf Club this summer.

WELCOMING BOTH NEW & EXPERIENCED BOWLERS FOR

RSL BOWLING AT SILKS CRANBOURNE 2023 - 2024 MEMBERSHIPS

7 Day: 6 Day: Under 30: Junior U18:

NEW JOINING OFFER With your first year of membership you will receive a club shirt for pennant players at no cost, and a half price membership of $50.00.(Usually $100 p/y) Contact Sarah or Julie: silksbowlscranbourne@gmail.com

Tea & Coffee Supplied. BYO Lunch or from the Silks snack menu. Cranbourne RSL Bowls Club at Silks in Cranbourne. 1475 South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne

cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

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STAR NEWS 9

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with children’s services coodinator at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, Kirsty Tucker

Tell us about yourself and your job! I am married with a loving husband for 12 years and we have two beautiful children, I have worked in the childcare industry for almost 30 years. I am the children services coordinator at Merinda Park Learning and Community centre, where we run before and after school care, three- and four-year-old kindergarten program as well as a day care service for children 0-5 years old. What do you love the most about your job? I love my chosen job as I have now found a wonderful work life balance where I am able to work with lots of families to support their children with their growth and development, as well as spending extra time with my own family. If you were an animal, what animal would you be? I would love to be a meerkat, where you could sit at the top of the hill and take everything around you in. What was your most memorable moment during your current job? My most memorable moment so far is being approved to run a sessional three- and fouryear-old kindergarten program. I have seen so many children missing out on valuable learning as the current free programs are full and the childcare system is too expensive for so many families, so being able to offer a free kindergarten program to help children get ready for the school system is the highlight of my current role, this is closely followed by winning the Health Promotion Award for changing

the way the before and after care children participate in cooking and eating and cleaning up, and their new healthy menu. What were you like as a kid? I was very shy and quiet, but loved participating in sporting events. What event, past or present, would you like to witness? I would love to be able to attend either the Olympics or Commonwealth Games in Australia. Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? Would have to choose both my Dad and mother in law who have passed away to have dinner with my family so they could have a chance to meet their grandchildren. What three words would your friends use to describe you? Caring, friendly and helpful. What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’? Relax with my family at a hot rod show. Where is your happy place? My happy place is anywhere being on holidays with my family. If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook? A large lasagna with a side salad. Where is your dream holiday destination? To travel the whole of Australia in a caravan with my family, there is way too many beautiful destinations in our own backyard that need discovering before heading overseas.

THREE … things to do post Valentine’s Day

Clean the kitchen voluntarily if you’re not usually the one to do it.

Start to plan for the next anniversary. Never too early to prepare.

Finish the rest of the chocolate at work, or distribute them to colleagues.

Kirsty Tucker, children’s services coordinator at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre. 387663 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

FOCUS ON … DISABILITY

Cooking lessons for all We have started our cooking groups at SEC. The cooking groups are facilitated on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with another day available for one-on-one cooking with Roger. The spacious venue has a well-equipped kitchen that allows all participants to be creative as each cooking group prepares and cooks two recipes. Roger facilitates the cooking groups. Roger worked as a chef in the UK for a few years before moving to Australia. His passion has always been cooking, preparing meals, and creating recipes. Our participants prepared Mediterranean chicken wraps, and Udon noodle chicken stir fry for our first week. Everyone was shown how to prepare ingredients safely. All ingredients were ‘taste tested’ first, giving everyone an insight into what the ingredients would taste like when added. The wraps were quick to make, cheap, tasty, and healthy. Cooking groups can be a social experience with one other participant. It is also therapeutic and a great way to learn how to eat healthier and purchase ingredients on a budget. We also offer private cooking sessions if preferred. Unfortunately, we have limited spots for the cooking groups, so if you are interested, please call us or contact supportembraceconnect. com.au

JobCo. Disability Services Provider Specialising in Mental Health Support We are a registered provider of NDIS and Disability Employment services, that has been assisting the community since 1995. JobCo.’s mission is to ensure anyone seeking employment services, training, counselling or support is assisted to the highest standard. We take an empowerment approach and support clients to develop independence and control over their personal recovery journey. We are a not-for-profit & our services are FREE

03 8388 7046 enquiries@jobco.com.au www.jobco.com.au

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Limited spots are still available for the SEC cooking groups. 10 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 15 February, 2024

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NEWS

Police probe road incident Police are investigating an alleged road-rage collision in Cranbourne on Saturday 10 February. A motorcyclist and a driver of a blue Audi Sedan ran into a dispute on Thompsons Road in Cranbourne at about 7.50pm.

It is alleged the motorcycle rider pulled up alongside the Audi and punched the mirror of the vehicle before continuing ahead. It is alleged the Audi has then accelerated into the motorcycle, resulting in the rider being thrown from their bike and colliding with a

vehicle travelling in the other direction. The motorcyclist, a 25-year-old Cranbourne East man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car, a 21-year-old Clyde North man stopped after the collision.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the collision or the lead-up, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Rabbit invasion: Botanic Ridge residents call for action

Rabbit-proofing in the yard. 388057 deter rabits, and chicken wire - but ensure it’s buried into the ground. When inquired, Casey Council said they were aware that rabbit numbers were currently high in Casey and across Victoria more broadly, which was due to increased food availability from two-to-three years of high rainfall which had triggered ideal conditions for breeding.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

A hole eaten through Mr McCormack’s rabbit fence. 388057

“To manage rabbits in Botanic Ridge, the City of Casey has mapped warrens throughout the park network and a contractor has been engaged to deliver on-ground rabbit control works, with works scheduled to commence in early March 2024,” a spokesperson said. “The presence of the EPBC Act listed (endangered) Southern Brown Bandicoot in the Botanic Ridge area limits the use of other control methods such as Pindone. Similarly,

the use of 1080 baiting is constrained by the presence of domestic dogs in the Botanic Ridge area. “The City of Casey is also working with Agriculture Victoria to notify private landowners of their obligations to control rabbits.” Mr McCormack said people needed to keep following up on the rabbit plague, otherwise no change would happen.

12669191-AP07-24

From page 1 He claimed the council advised him to contact the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). The council helped him contact the EPA and one EPA officer visited the site in the same month and advised him to contact the Department of Agriculture, Victoria. Mr McCormack said he heard back from the department eight months later. Ultimately, though, rabbits fall under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 as an established pest animal and it is individual landowners who have an obligation to prevent the spread of, and as far as possible, eradicate rabbits from their land. According to their website, effective rabbit control requires an integrated approach using a combination of control measures and it is important to work with neighbours, rather than individual properties. It also says you can talk to neighbours - and your local Landcare group - about forming a coordinated plan. “Good planning is essential for maximising the effectiveness of your rabbit control program, while minimising impact on other animals. Consider rabbit density, distribution and habitat as this will determine what actions are appropriate,” their website says. Some gardeners use blood and bone to

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Thursday, 15 February, 2024

STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Call to fix the roads ‘No’ to By Emma Xerri It will likely come as no surprise for City of Casey locals that the results from the latest Perceptions of Local Government Survey show an overwhelming demand for improvements to local roads and footpaths. The survey, which was conducted online by a group Victoria Council Watch to allow for representative community input, saw 1389 people take to the Mailchimp form to voice their opinion. Of the top five biggest issues identified across councils in the survey, issues related to roads and footpaths occupied four out of the top five, encompassing all concerns from potholes, poor footpath maintenance and congestion. While an astounding 87.2 per cent of respondents identified roads and footpaths as core services the council should provide, it is clear that locals believe councils are continuing to miss the mark, with 80.5 per cent of respondents rating their council terrible or poor in what was surely a rude awakening. Locals have taken to expressing their frustrations online, turning to Facebook to state that “it’s high time ALL roads were car worthy so we stop damaging our cars on them”.

While other users have taken issue with the sheer number of works, writing “can we please not start new road works until the rest are finished,” and another noting that “you’re lucky to find one that’s not rooted and riddled with potholes”. This public dissatisfaction was echoed in Casey in the most recent official Community Satisfaction Survey conducted by Local Government Victoria, where sealed local roads occupied the lowest performing service areas. The survey also showed a decline in Casey’s score for the appearance of public areas since 2022. “Local Government Victoria’s annual community satisfaction survey is conducted each year to gain insights into the community’s views across a range of services and performance measures,“ City of Casey chair of administrators, Noelene Duff said. “The 2023 results place the City of Casey’s averages on track or varying slightly from Interface Council averages across all measures. “The 2023 survey results highlight service areas that face challenges in keeping pace with our growing 400,000 plus community and their evolving needs and expectations.“ Ms Duff noted the congestion and disrup-

tions caused by the State Government’s“10plus major road and rail projects across the city to improve the state-managed arterial road network particularly in our high-growth suburbs“. “These road improvement works are critical in helping mitigate transport congestion across the city in the long term.” “It is well understood by council that these works can create temporary congestion and disruptions for our community. “While we actively advocate for funding to support these major transport projects, we also continue to voice the concerns of our community members who are tackling the congested network on a daily basis, during regular meetings with relevant authorities including the Department of Transport and Planning, Major Roads Projects Victoria and the Level Crossing Authority. “Council is committed to continuous improvement across all service areas and since the survey was conducted, we have introduced important measures to address the shortfalls within Casey’s local road network. “Our 23/24 Capital Program includes over $31 million investment from council towards existing and new roads, road safety and local traffic management across the city.”

Breaking barriers: Project manager inspires By Emma Xerri Now approaching the completion of her latest project, senior project manager Angela Vorng is excited to add the Hall Road Upgrade to the list of things she can point out to her kids on their daily drives to school. Born in Cambodia, where she grew up surrounded by devastation of the civil war, Ms Vorng and her family fled the country to start a new life in Australia at the age of 13. It was only two years later that Angela, despite the difficulties of attending a school in a new language, happened upon her dream career. “A female engineer from Monash came to my school in Year 9 or 10, and it was at that moment that I thought, ‘I would like to wear that hard hat’,” Ms Vorng said. “So I was pretty focused after that session on my goal to become an engineer.” But the Monash University alum admits the course had its challenges. “First year was pretty hard. I actually failed two subjects, which goes to show that it’s okay to fail sometimes. But I managed to do really well in my second and third year. “After I graduated I worked in the private sector, specialising in high rise buildings and bridges. “But I realised I didn’t want to just sit behind a screen and do calculations, so I decided to begin navigating work across different councils, from Dandenong to Cardinia and then Knox. “I spent nearly 10 years in local government but it wasn’t enough of a challenge, so I moved

Major Road Projects Victoria senior project manager Angela Vorng is helping to break down the barriers faced by women in engineering. to the rail sector, where I worked for seven years. “And recently I thought, I’ve done pretty much everything there is to do in rail, so let’s go back to roads, and that’s how I landed my current senior project manager role at Major Road Projects Victoria.” With the Hall Road upgrade now approaching completion, Ms Vorng is able to reflect on the success of the project and acknowledge the importance of her own part in the project, a certain leadership that has not always been afforded to women in the industry. “I feel really connected to the project. I started my work on Hall Road in 2019, so I’ve

been involved at a business, budgeting and federal funding level,” she added. “To see this huge milestone finally achieved is a big relief, and I’m really excited. “Each time I drive past I’ll be able to tell my kids ‘Mummy was involved in this’, so it’s a legacy. “And it’s a completely different industry from when I started. When I was moving from company to company, I was probably the only female there. “There were times when my managers on site wouldn’t listen to me because I was a female, and I would have to stand my ground. But now there are women in leadership roles and working on site in things like traffic control. Even our female cadets are fantastic. “Having women in the interview process is also so important. I will always make sure that, as well as skillset, we are looking at attitude and mindset, and giving young girls the opportunity to do the same work as their male counterparts. “I think lots of girls fear STEM careers because it means they need to be good at maths and science, but honestly, I still don’t know my times tables and my kids always laugh at me. “Of course, there are still times when I doubt myself, especially because I’m not a native speaker. So I always feel like I need to do more to showcase myself. “But the things I have gone through have made me more resilient. “We can do just as much as our male counterparts.”

councillors’ comeback By Ethan Benedicto Berwick residents aren’t too keen with Casey’s sacked ex-councillors eyeing a comeback on the October election this year. At Berwick High Street, two elderly locals were appalled by the news, with one of them saying “yeah no, it’s not something I’d be voting for.” “I think that one councillor shouldn’t be up there, that’s what the name says to me,” one of them said, but did not mention a name. The other replied saying “hopefully he wouldn’t get re-elected.” “How could he? When his name’s been slandered, tarnished and everything else,” her friend said. In 2020, then-Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek sacked the Casey councillors during the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s probe, called Operation Sandon. An inquiry report in 2023 found that former mayors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett accepted more than $1.15 million in payments and donations from developer John Woodman. There is no confirmation as to whether any of the ex-councillors will be facing any criminal charges. Another resident, when asked if it was a good idea for any of them to run again, said “clearly not”. “I don’t know much about it, but based on general information and the news, I would say no, that’s not very fair.” A local who frequented the cafes said that the idea should never have been entertained. “Well everyone’s obviously lost trust, a hundred per cent. “Look, we’ve run without it for all this time, so they’re going to need to build some trust if they ever want to see themselves up there again,” she said. Ex-deputy mayor Rex Flannery, who was not named in IBAC’s report and quit before the council was sacked, declared he would run for election. A number of other ex-councillors, such as Damien Rosario and Wayne Smith are still undecided. Some ex-councillors have called for any charges arising from Operation Sandon to be finalised before October’s council election.

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Thursday, 15 February, 2024

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NEWS

Two impersonate police Police are on the hunt for two men after an aggravated burglary in a Highland Avenue home in Hampton Park on Friday 2 February. Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident where the two offenders bypassed the locked security entrance, kicked in the front door and

impersonated police. Footage had been acquired from the stolen front door camera which showed the men identifying themselves as police when they entered the home just before 3am that Friday. The two occupants of the home had woken

up and saw the two men in the hallway, and both had fled on foot after being discovered. Detectives released an image and CCTV footage of one of the men who can be observed wearing a GEEDUP windcheater, and the other man off-screen is described to have been in all-black clothing.

One of the men was described as having an Australian accent, and the other a New Zealand accent - both described as in their 30s. Anyone who witnessed the incident, footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

WHAT’S ON

Berwick Farmers Market The Berwick Farmers Market has been trading for 18 years and it represents the only genuine Farmers Market in the South Eastern Suburbs, by definition a genuine farmers market is predominately fresh local farm-origin produce and no craft. Resulting of customer demand a decision has been made to trade twice a month after years of trading on the second Saturday monthly, trading is now extended to the fourth Sunday. The next market is Sunday 25 February at The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Rd Berwick, 8am – 12.30pm.

Cranbourne West Library Lounge Family Fun Day

Narre Warren & District Family History Group General Meeting A volunteer, non-profit group whose primary aim is to support both family and local history within the City of Casey and the Shire of Cardinia. It serves the communities of Narre Warren, Narre Warren North and East, Berwick, Harkaway, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Beaconsfield, and surrounding areas. The general meetings are not all online. President Jane will be sharing the many avenues in the Lorraine Taylor Research Room to begin your family or local history research or knock down a brick wall without using Ancestry or Find my Past. Cranbourne Library Centre, Wednesday 21 February 2024

Berwick Bridge Club Are you looking for some exercise for your brain that is both fun and challenging? Berwick Bridge Club is looking for new members. There is a free beginner’s course starting on March 4th from 7pm-9pm. No partner required. Lessons are held at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21A Bemersyde Drive, Berwick. The course will run for 6+ weeks on a Monday night. To reserve your spot phone Maree on 97022348.

Balla Balla Community Centre Located in Clyde North, the centre has vacancies in the following classes: Introduction to Creative Writing, Conversational English, Yoga, Zumba, Playgroup, Balla Balla Bubs (0-12 months). Morning Melodies is back! First date for the year is 13 February. Share a morning of music, enjoy a cuppa, or scones with jam and cream, and make new friends along the way. Enrolments can be made online at ballaballa. com.au/programs or by phoning 5990 0900.

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club Are you newly retired or new to the area or just wanting to enjoy your freedom or expand your so-

Do you enjoy craft making? Join Berwick Activities Group’s Elizabeth to discover the world of papercraft and have a chat with like minded people. You will be introduced to a range of papercraft techniques through a new project each week. Casual attendance is welcome. Timbarra Community Centre 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick $5 per class, all materials supplied. Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863. Tuesdays from 10am to noon.

Come along and join in the fun as the Library Lounge is officially launched to the Cranbourne West Community. There will be face painting, giant bubble, performers, storytimes, giveaways, sausage sizzles, and animal petting zoo. Saturday 17 February, 10.15am arrival, with formalities and ribbon cutting from 10.30am – 11am, at Cranbourne West Community Hub, 4 Flicka Blvd, Cranbourne West.

Family Fun Day ticket. 383593

Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

cial life? Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities such as weekly social/chat activities with low-key in line dancing if you want to tap your feet and enjoy an afternoon tea. Day, short and long trips away via coach and flights, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly evening dineouts, weekly table tennis club, walking groups, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, and more. Come along and get to know us by visiting us on a Thursday at 2pm at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House or join us on a Wednesday at 10am for a Coffee at Little Sparrow Fountain Gate. For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.

Cranbourne U3A We have commenced our classes and are happy that the new classes are proving to be very popular. Our Ballroom dance class has commenced and it is a lot of fun. You do not need a partner, just come along and give it a try. The Tai Chi class is also going well. We have room for new members if you are interested. Our usual art, music, calligraphy, quilling, knitting, sewing/patchwork, chess, Italian, and Table Tennis groups are all back and enjoying lots of laughs and good company. New members are always welcome. If you would like to join us pop into our rooms, we are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. Our website is u3acraqnbourne,org.au for more information.

Wednesdays from 10.45am to 11.30am.

Craft Classes

Berwick Springs VIEW Club

Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library building - enter from the Casey Radio entrance - next door to L’Arte Cafe.

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre is a not-for-profit community managed centre, with a volunteer Committee of Management that provides strategic direction and oversight. For more than 30 years, the centre has provided a range of high-quality childcare, community services, educational classes and spaces for hire. Explore diverse activities and engage with fellow community members at their open day this weekend. Lots of free family fun, sausage sizzle, animal nursery, popcorn, and fairy floss. For more details, visit merindapark.com.au or facebook.com/MPLandCC

Seated Movement Sessions (Chair Dancing) Would you enjoy exercising from the comfort of your chair? Join the Berwick Activities Group for some seated movement sessions including fun and uplifting songs and different styles and eras of music. An opportunity to get moving and enjoy the company of others. Timbarra Community Centre, 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick. $8 per session. Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.

Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not for profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students. The club currently supports seven students of varying ages with their education expenses and are about to take on an eighth student. Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies. The club is always looking for new members in all age groups. For more information, contact Shirley on 0419 878 481 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.30am, where members enjoy a lunch and then host a guest speaker.

DnD at Orana Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is an inclusive tabletop, fantasy, role playing game. Participants work together with other players to go on adventures in the DnD world. You can act, explore, instigate, solve problems, and tell stories as you bring their chosen character to life within the game world. Second Saturday of each month, 1pm to 9pm, Orana Community Place, 16/18 Playwright St, Clyde North. For enquiries and to book a spot at the table, reach out to Jonathan Whelan at thestoryweaver.dnd@gmail.com

Weekly badminton Badminton for ladies or retired. All welcome. Mondays 7pm-9pm and Wednesdays 12pm2.30pm at Hallam Badminton Club, Frawley Road Recreation Reserve; $5.

'Elmo's Circus Dream' is coming to Bunjil Place, Narre Warren!

WIN TICKETS This thrilling show takes you on an enchanting journey with Elmo and his friends as they discover their hidden talents and dreams at the circus. Star News is giving giving FIVE families the chance to win a Family pass (2 adults & 2 children) to the show - Sat 24 Feb or Sun 25 Feb

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Thursday, 15 February, 2024

STAR NEWS 13

NEWS

Dads ride to fight cancer By Violet Li Three dads from the Casey BMX Club were successful in taking up a challenge to raise money for cancer research after riding 205km from Cranbourne to Ballarat on Saturday 10 February. The Ballarat BMX Club hosted a race day on the day, attracting BMX riders from across the state as part of the 2024 Ballarat Cycle Classic. The Ballarat Cycle Classic, in its 17th year, raises funds for Ballarat’s Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute. This year, the aim is $250,000. Casey BMX Club members Brent Bailey from Cranbourne North, Adam Wright from Nar Nar Goon, and Nathan Leworthy from Narre Warren, on hearing of the event, thought it was a great idea to ride from their home club in Cranbourne to Ballarat’s BMX Club event, along the way raising money for the cause. Leaving Casey Fields at 4am on their 20inch BMX racing bikes, they arrived at Ballarat at about 5pm after 13 hours’ journey. Adam said none of the three were professional cyclists, and they only made the decision to go three weeks ago. “I think it just determination that kept us going, and we looked to get it done because so many people have donated money to support such a great cause,” he said. “We’ve now tallied up over $10,000 for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.” Along the journey, they also called into the Frankston Sharks BMX Club, Wyndham BMX, and the Bacchus March BMX Club on the way to Ballarat. The inspiration behind their crazy idea has come from family and friends who have fought this horrendous disease. Adam’s sister Hayley, who is only 33 years old, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last year.

The ride.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Adam and Hayley lost their mother to breast cancer when they were children. “We’ve had a lot of people within our club sort of touched by cancer, so we thought it was just a great way for us to contribute,” Adam said. Nathan is not a bike rider nor goes to the gym but has a very personal reason also for this challenge. When he first heard of this idea from his mates, his response was: “Well I have to try, my wife had cancer, I may not make it, but I am going to give it a red-hot crack!” A support crew followed the team and met up with them at certain sections to facilitate the smooth completion of the journey. The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is a world-class cancer research facility based in Ballarat, Victoria. As Australia’s only regionally based cancer research centre, community funded, and rely

Three dads from the Casey BMX Club were successful in taking up a challenge to raise money for cancer research after riding 205km from Cranbourne to Ballarat on Saturday 10 February. on the generous support of the community to continue research into more effective ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

To support cancer research, you could donate at: https://ballaratcycleclassic.com.au/ page/BallaratSebasBMX

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STAR NEWS 15

BUSINESS PROFILE

Elmo will be joined by popular Sesame Street friends during the show.

Elmo joins a spectacular circus show coming to Bunjil Place this month.

Roll up to Elmo’s circus Step right up and join the spectacle of Elmo’s Circus Dream tour coming to Narre Warren. This thrilling theatre show takes you on an enchanting journey with Elmo and your Sesame Street favourites as they discover their hidden talents and dreams at the circus. Get ready to be entertained by their amazing acts, catchy songs, and heart-warming moments that will leave you smiling from ear to ear. It all begins with Elmo’s enchanting bedtime story about the circus. As Elmo falls asleep, he is magically trans-

ported to his dreamtime circus where he is warmly greeted by his friends Abby, Cookie Monster, Grover, Bert, and Ernie. The show bursts into high energy as the talented cast sings and dances to the iconic Sesame Street theme song, but with a twist -they are embarking on an exciting adventure to the circus. With their vibrant costumes and catchy tunes, they express their deep desire to join the circus and become part of its magical experience. From hilarious clowning and daring stunt

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show – it’s an immersive experience that ignites the imaginations of children, encourages self-expression and teaches valuable life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Get ready to be dazzled as the magic of the circus unfolds before your eyes, leaving you with unforgettable memories and a renewed belief in the power of dreams. Elmo’s Circus Dream is at Bunjil Place Theatre, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren on Saturday 24 February 10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm and Sunday 25 February 10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm. Bookings: bunjilplace.com. au

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attempts to mesmerizing dog acts and captivating dance routines, the stage comes alive with their boundless energy, skill, and infectious enthusiasm. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Brace yourself as internationally renowned circus performers take the stage, showcasing their extraordinary talents. Prepare to be spellbound by their impressive acrobatic displays, jaw dropping juggling acts, and mind-bending illusions that will leave you in awe at their incredible feats. Elmo’s Circus Dream is more than just a

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DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Are you a persuasive communicator with a passion for sales? Are you looking for a flexible, casual, or part-time role that allows you to showcase your skills and earn some extra income? Look no further! Network Classifieds, a leading online and print classified advertising platform serving multiple mastheads across Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and NT, is seeking enthusiastic Telephone Sales Representatives to join our dynamic team. About Network Classifieds Network Classifieds is at the forefront of connecting buyers and sellers across multiple regions in Australia. With a strong online and print presence, we help communities find the perfect deals, services, and opportunities. As a Telephone Sales Representative, you'll play a crucial role in driving our sales efforts and expanding our network. What You'll Do • Engage with potential customers over the phone to promote our advertising solutions. • Build and maintain strong customer relationships. • Understand customer needs and provide tailored advertising solutions. • Meet and exceed sales targets and performance goals. • Collaborate with a motivated and supportive team. Requirements • Strong communication and interpersonal skills. • Confidence in making outbound sales calls. • Motivated, goal-oriented, and results-driven. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Previous sales or customer service experience is a plus, but not required. How to Apply If you're ready to take on this exciting role with the flexibility you desire, we want to hear from you! Please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant skills and why you're interested in joining Network Classifieds as a Telephone Sales Representative to Sue Hall, Classified Advertising Manager, at sales@networkclassifieds.com.au. Join us in helping our diverse communities connect, buy, and sell through effective advertising solutions. Be a part of the Network Classifieds team and make a difference in the world of classifieds! 12667087-MS05-24

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SPORT

Chandrasinghe chips away By Marcus Uhe Casey South Melbourne opening batter Ashley Chandrasinghe says he’s enjoying his cricket “as much as I have ever been” as a key member of the Swans’ charge to a potential Victorian Premier Cricket championship. The opener is fourth on the competition’s leading run-scorer list, with 686 runs at 68.6, including three centuries and three fifties. His 159 against Melbourne University, his highest score of the campaign, came on the back of a slight adjustment he made to his technique during the week. Striving for that extra ounce of improvement, the 22-year-old spent the previous day honing a new dimension to his game, before putting it into practice with great success against the Students. “I guess it’s probably what I haven’t done in the past, I’m usually a ‘set in stone’ kind of guy, but I think it’s what I’ve had to do to try and get better; it’s forced my hand a little bit to try to tinker around, which I’ve had to do this season,” Chandrasinghe said. “I tried a new trigger on Saturday, which was the first time I used it, which was interesting. “In particular last weekend it was trying to get my head further into the ball, rather than leading with my feet. “I do think about my batting a lot and see how I can improve, but this is something that I’ve been trying to figure out for a while now.” It may come as a surprise to hear from the prodigious talent that the enjoyment for the game is at its peak, given his absence from the Victorian Sheffield Shield side this season. Having made himself a mainstay in the Victorian batting lineup in 2022/23, with a century on debut against Tasmania and carrying his bat in the first innings of the Sheffield Shield final, Chandrasinghe was upgraded from a Rookie contract at Cricket Victoria to the primary list in May 2023 for the 2023/24 campaign. But he’s found himself on the outer of the Shield side for the duration of the season to date, with Victoria blessed with options at the top of the order. Travis Dean and Marcus Harris have been

Casey South Melbourne’s Ashley Chandrasinghe has continued to pile up the runs this summer at Premier Cricket level. 266416 the preferred combination, the pair opening the batting in four of the seven matches so far, with Will Pucovski and Nic Maddinson also given opportunities. Maddinson scored a breakthrough century in the Victorian’s last contest against South Australia, his first match since knee surgery in January 2023. While in fellow young batting guns in Melbourne’s Blake Thomson and Footscray’s Dylan Brasher, first and third respectively in Premier Cricket for runs scored this season, the competition for spots is fierce. It bodes well for the State’s batting stocks, and for Chandrasinghe, it’s another challenge to overcome. “I think there’s more motivation when other guys are doing really well around you, so you

definitely want to be up to that mark or standard,” he said. “I wouldn’t say there’s a rivalry, each of us are on our own journey. “Particularly with the young guys, like ‘Brash’ (Dylan Brasher), we have hits quite often and try to figure out how to help each other out, so there isn’t really a rivalry as such, but we are trying to progress our own journey.” Victoria has three Sheffield Shield games remaining, including one in Hobart, the scene of Chandrasinghe’s dream debut. A Victorian Second XI game, to be played at Chandrasinghe’s home deck of Casey Fields against Queensland from 19-22 February, presents a perfect opportunity to put his name forward once again, and showcase the improvements he has made to his game away from the

Picture: ROB CAREW

spotlight of Domestic cricket this summer. But for the man himself, the focus remains on the Swans, and delivering a fresh addition to the trophy cabinet at the new Lindsay Hassett Pavilion. “Of course I’d love to be in the (Sheffield Shield) squad again this year but I think the likelihood of that happening is pretty low,“ he said. “I’ll try to take each game as it comes and in the meantime, focus on the Swans and try to progress our finals race, to make sure that we’re in the best shape for finals. “It’s been awesome with the Swans so far this year and hopefully we can keep that going and get some silverware.”

Leap to Fame sets Cranbourne alight with new track-record By Lachlan Mitchell Grant Dixon and Leap To Fame closed out an ultra-successful Victorian raid by adding victory in the $100,000 Decron Cranbourne Gold Cup to the A G Hunter Cup triumph from seven days prior. The Queensland megastar had to negate a back row draw (10) and three-wide trip throughout the last lap on Saturday night, but forged clear in the concluding stages to win convincingly while smashing the 2555m track record in the process. After Petes Said So found the early lead from gate three, Chris Alford and Kanena Provlima burned to the front at the winning post the first time and then set the race alight with a sizzling 26.7 third quarter. This kept Leap To Fame working down the back straight and approaching the turn, but he eventually assumed control and powered away to prevail in a sizzling 1:55.6 mile rate. The time was a half-second quicker than Shadow Sax’s record set in 2018. Kanena Provlima faded late to finish fourth, with the David Aiken-trained Max Delight and Jess Tubbs-prepared Rakero Rebel rounding out the minors. As Dixon and Leap To Fame returned to the winner’s circle, a round of applause filtered through the grandstand with spectators in awe of what they had just witnessed. “He went well,” Dixon said. “I had to give him a tap-up down the straight, just to keep his mind on it when he cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Grant Dixon and Leap To Fame crossed the line first in track-record time in the Cranbourne Cup Picture: STUART McCORMICK on Saturday night. 388416 went past the leader. “When I asked him, he knows what he’s got to do.

“I was super happy with him.” The result took Leap To Fame’s career record to 33 wins from 43 starts, and his

51-year-old trainer-driver now has sights set on New South Wales’ big pacing features. “Next stop is the Newcastle Mile and all being well, the Miracle Mile,” he said. Veteran trainer-driver John Justice raised his whip high in the air as Mufasa Metro landed a narrow victory in Saturday night’s other headliner, the Betavet Bruce Skeggs Memorial Cranbourne Trotters Cup. The six-year-old squaregaiter was set for a spell after galloping at the start and finishing sixth in the Great Southern Star Final, but a lack of early nominations saw connections chase one more race before a break. And it proved an inspired decision as Mufasa Metro wore down favourite Im Ready Jet in the shadows of the post to win for the first time since March 2023. Is That A Bid and Kyvalley Hotspur took turns with the lead through the early stages before Nathan Jack and Im Ready Jet pressed forward to take up the running. Then, in what was a brilliant piece of driving, Justice progressed to the “death seat” from his inside back row draw and ducked in for cover behind his great danger when the pace quickened at the bell. Justice and Mufasa Metro stalked Im Ready Jet until the final turn and then wore her down in a stirring duel to claim the $50,000 event. “He has had Im Ready Jet’s measure for the last few runs and I think tonight he dug deep… it was fantastic,” Justice said. Mufasa Metro has now won 12 races for prizemoney earnings up over $370,000. Thursday, 15 February, 2024

STAR NEWS 17

SPORT

A familiar sight as Kooweerup’s Chris Bright punishes one to the boundary. 388170

Devon Meadows celebrates after keeper Will Halton holds on to a hot chance to remove the dangerous Luke McMaster. 388170

Dillon delivers for Demons By David Nagel

CASEY CARDINIA CRICKET ASSOCIATION

It feels a little strange to write this - but three teams that lost by a combined total of 463 runs walked away with their heads held high in the CCCA Premier Division on Saturday. An extraordinary opening day of round 12 left Merinda Park (368), Carlisle Park (447) and Clyde (400) with virtually impossible runchases on the weekend, but all three acquitted themselves well. Normally you would expect one of the bottom three teams in the competititon to roll over and die in such circumstances, but the three remaining teams in the relegation battle can head into the final two rounds of the season with their confidence in check. The one game that retained a competitive balance heading into day-two was the clash between Kooweerup (9/255) and Devon Meadows (9/228) at Denhams Road, where the Demons had a tricky run-chase on their hands. And at 2/31 it became even trickier after Lucas Ligt (16-3-55-3) and Tom Rowe (10.1-0-402) removed Lachie Ramage (1) and Suchintha Lakshan (3) in quick succession. Kooweerup’s two big guns - Luke McMaster (36) and Chris Bright (58) - then chipped away nicely at the total, but the Demons were 4/114 with both of those players in the sheds. We might look back at this game as the ‘changing of the guard’ for Kooweerup, with Steven Dillon (75) and Mitch Davey (40) taking responsibility to get their team across the line. It’s no coincidence that Dillon and Davey were chosen as co-captains for the Demons’ successful Kookaburra Cup campaign recently, with both recognised as future leaders of the club. At age 29, Dillon has already experienced leadership responsibilities throughout his career at other clubs, but held no such place in that ‘leadership’ status at Kooweerup. That domain was held by Bright, Michael Giles and now McMaster, but Dillon’s growth as a cricketer has been outstanding. This has well-and-truly been his breakout season, with 338 runs to his name; 157 (82 not out and 75) of those being match-winning. He also sits equal-12th in the competition with the ball, taking 15 wickets for the season. While Dillon has matured as a cricketer, Davey looks finally set to realise his enormous potential after back injuries threatened to ruin a highly-promising junior career. Standing roughly 195cm, his combination of pace, bounce, and being a lefty, makes him a difficult proposition to handle. And his clean hitting also makes him dangerous with the bat. Both forms of his game are still nowhere near their top, but Saturday’s innings will give him the confidence to take things to the next level. Dillon and Davey put on a crucial partnership of 80, taking the score to 4/194 and the Demons to relatively safe ground. They made hard work of the remaining 35 runs for victory…passing the Panthers seven down. Cody Miller (18) then made his highest Premier Division score for the season, in a campaign that has only consisted of six hits. Who knows…those runs could be highlyvaluable come late March. 18 STAR NEWS

PREMIER REVIEW - ROUND 12 - DAY 2

Steven Dillon continued his breakout season for Kooweerup with a match-winning 75 against Devon Meadows. 388170 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS Ligt took bowling honours for the Panthers, with his three wickets well supported by Rowe and Lucas Carroll (14-1-78-2). Kooweerup host Merinda Park in round 13, while Devon Meadows face a tough trip to ladder leaders Tooradin. Clyde (9/288) will take a healthy dose of momentum into this week’s crunch game against Carlisle Park after the Cougars produced their highest score of the season against Tooradin (5/399). The Cougars produced an incredible looking scorecard, with the top-10 on their list all making double figures. Nick Miles (74) knocked in his first halfcentury for the season, while classy left-hander Michael Vandort (54) produced his highest score from 12 completed innings. Teddy Fonseka (38) and skipper Zac Davis (25) were others to shine bright as the Cougars did well to bat out their 80 overs. The Seagulls threw the ball around on the weekend, with nine bowlers having a trundle. Josh Lownds (3/30) completed a spectacular all-round performance - backing up his 116 from day one - while Ben Mantel (2/23) chimed in with the last two wickets to fall. The Gulls host Devon Meadows this week,

Thursday, 15 February, 2024

while the Cougars head to Carlisle Park for a must-win encounter. The Cougars just need to win to confirm their Premier Division status next season. Carlisle Park (212) proved it will be a tough nut to crack for the Cougars this week after the Vikings batted deep against Cardinia (3/446). There’s no ‘rule-book or master-plan’ on how to bat when you’re chasing 447 for victory, but the Vikings decided it was best to dig in for the long haul. Hasintha Jayasuriya (55) took his seasontally to 291 with an impressive second halfcentury, while skipper Ben Perry (60) broke through the 300-run barrier after a back-toback 50. Perry has now made 331 for the season and is the highest scoring Viking, just ahead of Kasun Balasuriya (325). Jaan Balasuriya (23) and David Nutting (17) made some valuable lower-order runs to push the home side past 200. For the Bulls, skipper Dean Henwood (3/32) jumped into the top-10 wicket-takers for the season with a typically tidy spell, while Matt Welsh (3/44) joined his captain in the threewicket club. Josh Browne (2/40) was also impressive…

taking the key wickets of Perry and Mark Henry (11). Cardinia host Pakenham this week in what should be a cracking game of cricket. And Pakenham (8/367) had little trouble defending its huge score against Merinda Park (249) after James Close (3/48) did some early damage with the ball. The improving youngster removed Tyson Bertrand (3) and Bevin Corneille (15) before the score had reached 20 to put the Cobras on the back foot from the get-go. The silky-skilled Daniel McCalman (64) looked in glittering touch for the home-side, while Luke Dinger (79) surprised with a midorder cameo. Dinger faced 124 balls and cracked 10 boundaries, adding significantly to the 12 previous runs he had made in the Premier Division this season. Jordan Bertrand (22) and Rajan Rana (18) also dug in for the Cobras, who perished with 13 overs left to bat. Dale Tormey (2/48) and Chris Smith (2/49) joined Close as multiple wicket-takers for the Lions; with Smith backing up his magnificent 210 not out from day one. Three Votes: C Smith! cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Outright locks in Eagles By Jonty Ralphsmith The top four in the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 2 competition looks set following the weekend’s results. In Turf 2, Cranbourne recorded an outright win over Lyndale to cement its place in the top four, while Parkmore’s surprise loss to Keysborough has made it decidedly difficult for the Pirates to sneak into finals. Cranbourne arrived at Casey Fields on Saturday 38 runs in arrears with five wickets in hand, and were able to knock off the total quickly, reach a lead of 42 and then bowl the Dales out for 91. With 15 overs to chase 50 runs, Cranbourne won with eight in the shed and 18 balls remaining. Parkmore, meanwhile, struggled for rhythm against a Keysborough side which has been more competitive since December, losing its last six wickets for 12 runs to go down by 47 runs. After Kyle Gwynne looked to blunt the Knights attack on a hot day with 10 off 94, the only partnership which looked likely was that between the in-form Jaime Brohier and standin skipper Ammar Bajwa before tea, which supplied 51 runs. Meanwhile, skipper Anthony Brannan and vice-captain Riley Siwes combined to maturely guide Dandenong West to a comfortable win over Heinz Southern Districts, affirming the Bulls’ premiership favouritism. Unphased by the disciplined bowling, Brannan, who finished on 43 off 144, blunted the Cobras’ attack which was spearheaded by Triyan De Silva, whose 27 overs delivered four of his team’s seven wickets. After playing his part perfectly, Siwes (36 off 117) departed just before the total was reached, with Malinga Bandara playing a confidence-boosting cameo of 41 before the skippers shook hands. Led by a 10-wicket haul to Nick Jeffrey, Parkfield, meanwhile, had an easy outright over Narre Warren, propelling it ahead of HSD to second on the table. After the openers played well last week, the

Picture: ROB CAREW

Sajana De Silva played a key role with the bat in the Cranbourne victory. 388163 Bandits’ middle-order struggled until number eight Stephen Cannon scored an unbeaten 42 to give his team an 89-run lead. After taking five wickets in the first innings, Jeffrey’s spinners were dangerous again in the second innings as he held down an end in the fatiguing late-afternoon heat. Jeffrey finished with match figures of 10/50 off 32.1. “He’s okay,” skipper Steve Cannon said with a chuckle.

“The bounce and kick he gets is incredible and he was so tight. “He was always challenging the stumps so they always had to play. “In their second dig, he came on just before drinks and got the big breakthrough of Bevan and then just carried on and got his tail up.” It continues a strong season for Jeffrey, with Cannon attributing it to the season-on-season improvement of the pace bowlers upfront, which allow him to attack the middle order.

Jeffrey has 26 wickets for the season, putting him third in the competition and 11 wickets clear of his nearest teammate, Sanjay Kahawatte. Turf 2 ladder: Dandenong West 58, Parkfield 55, Cranbourne 46, HSD 45, Parkmore 32, Lyndale 30, Narre Warren 21, Keysborough 21. Turf 2 fixture: Parkfield v Keysborough, Narre Warren v Parkmore, Cranbourne v Dandenong West, HSD v Lyndale.

· ·

Sun shines bright on a Super Saturday for Cranbourne CRANBOURNE BOWLS Saturday saw a magnificent warm and sunny day and it was a good day to play bowls. The Cranbourne teams enjoyed a great day, with four winning teams out of five. The Division One team travelled to take on their opponents under the roof at Pakenham. As is always the case, both teams put in great efforts winning two rinks each, but Cranbourne 1 took the overall and the majority of points. Best rink was skipped by Lyn Quigg, with third Brian Gay, second Peter Elgar and Lead Garry Hunt winning 28-17. Cranbourne 1 (85) defeated Pakenham 1 (74). + 11 shots and 14 points. Playing at home on Grass Green B, again, Cranbourne had a very close game. After trailing at one stage by about 10 shots, the teams tightened up their games to fight back and win two rinks each. Margins were minimal but Cranbourne 2, with a great spirit of togetherness, ended up the victor to take the overall victory. Best rink of the day was skipped by Ian Barrenger, with third Peter Colthup, second Marijan Bobetic and Lead Barry Graham winning 23-18. They were closely followed by skip Doug Boggie, with third Fred Scicluna, second Chris Stevenson and Lead Dale Henry winning 20-16. Cranbourne 2 (78) defeated Edithvale 1 (73). + 5 shots and 14 points. Cranbourne 3 travelled to Narre Warren to play under the roof, and the humidity made it uncomfortable for many. Despite the great effort of the team skipped by Neil Drummond, with third Tristan Vorbach, second Brian Biasci and

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son winning 35-15. They were followed very closely by the team skipped by Stuart Walters, with third Hans Worsteling, second Dennis Tomlin and Lead Allen Skurrie winning 29-10. Cranbourne 4 (103) defeated Parkdale 3 (58). + 45 shots and 18 points. Cranbourne 5 (12-A-Side), playing at home on the back grass green, took on Parkdale 4. Cranbourne got the better of Parkdale and won all three rinks. Cranbourne had one rink win by one shot, 17-16, but best rink of the day was skipped by Sofio Raiti, with third Helen Blake, second Davina Bobetic and Lead Cate Sharpe winning by 33 shots…37-4. They were followed closely by skip Steve Muhi, with third Phil Nielsen, second Jeanne Tomlin and Lead Jo Alsop winning the game by 31 shots - 40-9. Cranbourne 5 (94) defeated an under sized Parkdale 4 (29). + 65 shots and 16 points. MIDWEEK PENNANT There were mixed results for the Cranbourne Bowling Club Midweek Pennant teams. While the number one and four teams enjoyed very good wins at home, the two away teams were taught a lesson about playing on fast synthetic greens. Cranbourne 1, playing at home, took on Berwick 2 on the synthetic. Playing some good bowls this past couple of weeks, Cranbourne 1 defeated Berwick 2 by two rinks to one to take the overall win on the day. Best rink was skipped by Chris Hunt, with third Bill Sherriff, second Harry VanSoest and Lead Allen Skurrie giving their opponents a lesson, winning their rink by 32 shots - 40-8. Cranbourne 1 (81) defeated Berwick 2 (52).

Cranbourne bowler Marijan Bobetic is well prepared for a big day in the sun. 388825 Picture: SUPPLIED Lead Louis Magri only going down by one shot, the other teams struggled on the quick Narre synthetic and couldn’t match their opponents. Cranbourne 3 (63) was defeated by Narre Warren 3 (95). - 32 shots and 0 points. Cranbourne 4, playing at home, took on their opponents Parkdale 3 on the front synthetic. Following a slow start, the Cranbourne 4 teams started to find their range and even though we had two rinks who won well, our other two rinks just dug in and we won all rinks up. Best team for the day was skipped by Ron Fenton, with third Brian Caddell, second Dermot McConville and Lead Sarah Richard-

+ 29 shots and 14 points. Cranbourne 2 travelled to Pakenham on a day of frustration for many players, particularly for Cranbourne. Unfortunately the Paky 2 lads and lasses just outplayed Cranbourne, and on two rinks we suffered severely. The best rink was skipped by Rob Scott, with third Derek Maguire, second Phil Nielsen and Lead Monica Peers playing some great bowls to only go down by five shots, 1621. Cranbourne 2 (36) was defeated by Pakenham 2 (98). - 62 shots and 0 points. Cranbourne 3 travelled to Ferntree Gully to take on the number-three side on their very fast synthetic. The best rink of the day was skipped by Brian Caddell, with third Dermot McConville, second Bob Bellamy and Lead Jeanne Tomlin holding strong to lose by seven shots, 10-17. Winning all three rinks, Ferntree Gully 3 won the overall comfortably and probably put an end to the dream of C3 playing finals. Cranbourne 3 (38) was defeated by Ferntree Gully 3 (70). - 32 shots and 0 points. Cranbourne 4 took on Heathmont 5 at home and reversed their early season loss by our 6-A-Side teams winning both rinks and taking the overall win by 12 shots. Best rink was skipped by David McMaster, with second Helen Blake and Lead Jo Alsop winning 21-14. Second best rink was skipped by Fritz Helle, with second Steve Muhi and Lead John Anstiss winning 17-12. Cranbourne 4 (38) defeated Heathmont 5 (26). + 12 shots and 14 points. Go Cranny -Derek Maguire

Thursday, 15 February, 2024

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Thursday, 15 February, 2024

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