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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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Smooth travels as lanes open Major works on the Hall Road upgrade are now complete, nine months ahead of schedule, benefiting drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists with improved journeys in Melbourne’s outer south-east. Story page 4
Jumping for joy are Major Road Projects Authority’s Brendan Pauwels with Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson, and Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards. 389521 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
What’s that smell? By Violet Li Surrounding communities of Stevensons Brothers Industries (SBI) landfill have been disgusted by the latest surge of a reportedly ‘rotten egg’ odour, but the cause is yet to be identified. On the first weekend of February, the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) received 73 odour incident reports in the vicinity and started the investigation. When inquired, a spokesperson from EPA said it received a notifiable incident report from SBI on Saturday 3 February that there had been a potential failure of odour management infrastructure at the site and that several actions had been taken to fix the problem. “However, those actions did not immediately rectify the problem and we received
community reports complaining of a rotten egg smell,” they said. “Our landfill experts are conducting odour surveillance around the facility and in the community. That is continuing until we are satisfied that SBI has the problem under control.” A different story seems to have been presented at an SBI Community Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting held on Tuesday 6 February, where representatives from SBI reportedly stated that the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) monitors on site did not show any sign of detection, according to an update from the CCC on the meeting. After conducting odour surveys onsite and offsite, SBI believed the odour could not be attributed to the landfill and suggested the origin
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was the sheep from the property directly next door to them, according to the CCC’s update. SBI stated on its website that five full-time SBI employees had had their noses calibrated in accordance with EPA guidelines. CCC member and Brookland Greens resident Nick Ter-kuile, present at the meeting, said it was the first time the community had ever heard about sheep. “This [the landfill odour incident] has been going on for 18 months. So I don’t think anybody could believe the sheep was true,” he said. “Residents have smelled the odour constantly for the last two years. We know what it is better than any others. “Most people and I will take what EPA says, not the SBI because it’ll be like believing the person had broken into your house saying that
they didn’t do it.” While the mention of sheep seemed quite ‘laughable’ to the community, Mr Ter-kuile pointed out that no authority had been able to identify what the issue was. Representatives from SBI told the meeting that they reported to the EPA - on the day of the most odour complaints - they changed a carbon filter in their leachate storage tank headspace as a precautionary action. An update from SBI on its website on Saturday 10 February noted that ‘identifying alternate odour sources to that of SBI was not done to shift blame’. “These are qualitative observations by suitably qualified and trained personnel,” the update wrote. Continued page 12
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Casual facility hire Looking to hire a space on a casual basis? We offer a range of facility hire options from large halls to meeting rooms for your celebration, community group or organisation.
Casey Business Breakfast Ready to make your Casey business greener and more profitable? Join us for the Sustainability Business Breakfast on Tuesday 5 March at 6.45 am at Bunjil Place. Hear from inspiring leaders about the circular economy and enjoy a delicious breakfast while you network with like-minded Casey businesses. To book your spot, visit the Bunjil Place website or scan the QR code.
Last minute registrations for Clean Up Australia Day Join thousands of volunteers across Casey who will take part in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 3 March, as we work together to clean up rubbish from our open spaces and waterways. To sign up as a volunteer, visit the Clean Up Australia Day website.
To see what facilities are open for casual hire in 2024 and to submit an application, please visit our website. For more information, contact Council’s Community Facilities team on 9709 9288 or email facilitybookings@casey.vic.gov.au
Council Meetings Members of the community are welcome to attend the upcoming Council Meetings which are held in the Bunjil Place Function Room, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren. Council Meetings start at 4.00 pm and are also live streamed through our Facebook page and YouTube channel. For more information on Council Meetings, or meeting minutes and agendas, visit our website. Upcoming Council Meetings: Tuesday 19 March Tuesday 16 April Tuesday 21 May Tuesday 28 May (Special Council Meeting) Tuesday 18 June
Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations. Baden Powell Reserve playground concept design.
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Safe Around Schools program.
Are your pet registration details up to date?
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Affordable and alternative housing for residents aged over 55.
Renewal notices will be sent out shortly, so now’s the best time to make sure your furry friend’s details are correct.
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Improving disability access and inclusion.
You may be eligible for a reduced registration fee or refund if you hold an eligible pensioner card, if your pet has recently been desexed or has passed away. To find out more, visit our website or scan the QR code.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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From course to properties Cranbourne Golf Course, owned by the Cranbourne Country Club (CCC), has been listed for sale after 70 years of operation. Peter Sagar and Paul Callahan of LAWD have been exclusively appointed by the CCC to sell the property via an expressions of interest campaign, with Patrick McNulty and Tom Byrnes of Charter Keck Cramer acting as transaction advisors. The property has been utilised as a golf course since 1954 when the Cranbourne Country Club established a club that welcomed golfers of all backgrounds and religions in response to the exclusion of Jewish players from private clubs at the time. The net proceeds of the course sale will be placed in a foundation to assist Jewish communal projects and organisations. The course comprises approximately 70.4 hectares of residential-zoned land and has over 1.7 kilometres of dual road frontage onto Glasscocks Road and Huon Park Road, providing “existing connection to all infrastructure and offering prospective purchasers the opportunity of acquiring a ‘ready-to-go’ infill development site of scale”. A spokesperson of CCC said the property represented the last remaining site of its scale in the Casey area with no other competition of relevance expected, creating a unique offering. “The Cranbourne Golf Course presents a viable solution to assist the Victorian Government’s aim of providing 800,000 homes over the next 10 years,” they said. LAWD senior director Peter Sagar said this property offered maximum certainty on delivery, which was critical for all major developers. “Whilst there is sadness in the closure of the Cranbourne Golf Club, we look forward to the
The Cranbourne Golf Course is on the market. 150994 opportunity to assist so many in need within our community,” said CCC president Brad Wein.
The sale followed the Cranbourne Golf Club’s merger with Huntingdale Golf Club into a redeveloped course at the latter’s site in Oak-
leigh South in 2022. The merger was said to be completed in late 2025.
Director’s registration suspended amid show cause notice Following the appointment of administrators to the Victorian builder Montego Homes, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has suspended the registration of the company’s nominee director Todd Searle (DB-U 60627) pending a show cause process relating to the causes of the administration and the company’s operating practices. The VBA issues an immediate suspension to protect consumers while a disciplinary process is completed. The VBA is concerned that almost $900,000 may have been received by Montego Homes Pty Ltd by way of deposit or otherwise, in relation to 64 sites where there had been no domestic building insurance obtained, as required. These allegations call into question the company’s operating practices regarding deposits and insurance and influenced the VBA’s decision to immediately suspend Mr Searle. The VBA is currently investigating these deposit-taking practices within the powers
under the Building Act 1993 (the Act). Nominee directors are expected to act professionally and also have a statutory duty to ensure their companies comply with the Act and regulations, the VBA said. These are the reasons for proposing disciplinary action against Mr Searle personally, the VBA said. Mr Searle has been invited to show cause why the proposed disciplinary action should not be taken by making either a written or oral representation in response to the notice received. Mr Searle may apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for review of the immediate suspension. Montego Homes had advertised house and land packages in Casey South region, Pakenham, and Officer. The builder went into voluntary administration in January, with Sam Kaso and Shaun Matthews of insolvency service Cor Cordis appointed as administrators to assess the best way to restructure or recapitalise the business.
Montego Homes had advertised house and land packages in the Casey South region, as well as Pakenham and Officer. 387659
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For the love of community By Violet Li Clyde North resident, former Sri Lanka chess champion, early childhood teacher, and mum Vineetha Wijesuriya has been nominated as Citizen of the Year in the Casey Community Awards 2024 for her dedicated and excellent community service. An epitome of the best possible employment of multiple social identities, she runs weekend chess classes and free school chess sessions. She writes books to encourage children to connect with nature and distributes them free through councils and family daycare workers online. She makes her own Sri Lanka women’s magazine Aalokaa and distributes issues free through physical and online channels. She volunteers at different festivals and shows when she’s free. If you count on all the little good things she’s done, the list will probably not be exhaustive. “I am always doing a lot of community service. It’s in my blood,” Vineetha said. There are always behind-the-scenes stories to tell when it comes to an immigrant devoting her heart and soul to her new home. Looking back, every detail of her life slotted into a narrative of hardships and harvests, struggles and rebirth, and frustration and serendipity. Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a family with two brothers and one sister, Vineetha lost her father to an accident at the age of 10. Her elder brother soon quit the university and shouldered the family responsibility to support his siblings’ education. Luckily, all the young ones were good at studies. Inspired by her sister who learnt chess from the school and eventually was selected to compete in the tournament, Vineetha decided she should also give it a go. And the rest, as they say, was history. Eleven Sri Lanka Chess Championships from 1989 to 2008, third place in the world varsity chess championship in Malaysia and representing Sri Lanka in 29 international chess events. In 2009, Vineetha came to Australia with her husband - who had a master’s degree to pursue - and her 10-year-old son. A doctor in Sri Lanka, she soon discovered she could not practise in Australia because of the language requirements for a medical degree. At least two years of onshore study were required, but the family could not afford the hefty tuition fee at that time. Never a person to sulk, Vineetha quickly moved on to the silver lining behind the cloud. She joined a chess company called Chess Kids and became a coach in 20 Victorian schools. During the same period in the morning, she worked as an assistant librarian at the Resurrection Primary School in Keysborough.
It was the period when she got the free time to play all sorts of chess tournaments in and for Australia. She won the Australian best female chess player award in the 2009 Australian Chess Championship. In 2012, she won the title again. She represented Australia in chess championships and won two gold medals: the 2012 Asian Amateur Women’s Chess Championship and the 2014 Oceania Chess Championship in the women’s category. After securing her Australian residence, the chess player aimed to transition back to a fulltime job. To be able to do that, she needed a degree. Education had been always Vineetha’s Plan B. She always believed education would take children further. “Children are the power in the society. When they grow up with a good education level, they will become good citizens,” she said. With a good deal of experience as a chess coach already, she forged ahead to complete Certificate III and a Diploma of Children’s Services. She then worked for five years at Monash Children’s Centre as an educator and student supporter. Another five years were spent at YMCA Clyde North. During Covid, she graduated with a four-year Bachelor of Education degree within three years at Swinburne University and became an early childhood teacher. “It was not a very smooth life, but I think we met the right people,” Vineetha said, referring to her assistant librarian job at the Resurrection Primary School back in the day when she first set foot in Melbourne. “When I sent my son to that school, the principal offered me a job because they knew my previous learning. They also gave my son a scholarship,” she recalled. “We struggled and we worked hard to pay things. I once even delivered the Star’s papers.” Vineetha and her family eventually settled in Casey in 2016 after a house purchase, rounding off their nomadic way of living, typical among newcomers. They moved from town to town over the years. Keysborough, Ballarat, Glen Waverly, and the end of the circle, Clyde North. Thousands of kilometres from Sri Lanka, Vineetha still holds on to certain rituals from an early age: meditation. She meditates for half an hour to one hour every day. She goes to the temples when she has spare time. “Life is actually beautiful,” she said. Vineetha won the La Trobe Community Award in 2020 and 2024. She has also been nominated as Citizen of the Year in Casey in 2022.
Clyde North resident, former Sri Lanka chess champion, early childhood teacher, and mum Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Vineetha Wijesuriya. 389390
Smooth travels: Major works finished ahead of schedule Major works on the Hall Road upgrade are now complete, nine months ahead of schedule. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists will benefit from improved journeys in Melbourne’s outer south-east. This means 17,000 daily motorists can now use Hall Road’s 5.2 kilometres of new lanes and signalised intersections at McCormicks Road, Taylors Road, Western Port Highway, and Evans and Cranbourne-Frankston roads. The Hall Road upgrade project was delivered by equal funding of $141.25 million each from the Australian Government and the Victorian Government. Final asphalting works will be completed in March, with minor close-out works underway until late 2024. The Hall Road Upgrade will build on improvements already delivered through the Thompsons Road and Hallam Road Upgrades, along with improvements on the Western Port Highway and Lathams Road – significantly improving safety and reducing congestion for the 112,000 combined motorists who use these roads every day. Since construction began in 2022, the project has created more than 850 direct 4 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
Major works on the Hall Road Upgrade are now complete, nine months ahead of schedule. 389521 jobs, and more than 42,000 tonnes of asphalt have been laid. Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson said they were getting on with delivering the biggest and most transformative suburban roads upgrade program in Victoria’s history across Melbourne’s outer suburbs. “This project will better connect local communities in Melbourne’s outer south east to jobs, healthcare, and education – while greatly improving traffic flow along Hall Road,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. 389521
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Jail for crime spree By Cam Lucadou-Wells A pair of brazen burglars who went on a twoweek spree of daylight break-ins across the South East have been jailed. Jovan Culibrk, 27, was found guilty by a Victorian County Court jury of four burglaries, two attempts, car stealing and other thefts. His accomplice Matthew Messenger, 28, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges as well as three car thefts. The June 2022 crime spate targeted homes in Narre Warren, Glen Waverley, Springvale South, Lynbrook, Berwick and Blackburn. It kicked off with Messenger’s $152 petrol drive-off in a stolen ute at a Narre Warren servo on 9 June. Later the same morning, Culibrk attempted to break into a CCTV-monitored home in Narre Warren. About 7am, an awoken resident heard a banging noise. He saw a masked Culibrk using a screwdriver to dislodge the back sliding door from its tracks. The resident screamed, and Culibrk escaped over a back fence and into the stolen ute with Messenger. The same day, the pair broke into a Glen Waverley home, stealing jewellery, $8000 cash, a passport, Medicare card and car keys. They returned hours later to steal the victim’s $36,500 Toyota Camry. Soon after, the burglars cased a Lynbrook home while in the Camry. They then broke in, opening the garage door and loading jewellery, a phone and a CCTV hard drive into the boot. They were however later identified on neighbours’ CCTV footage. Culibrk broke into a home in Berwick the same day, stealing jewellery and designer handbags.
The County Court of Victoria. Picture: AAP IMAGE/CON CHRONIS The victim told the court that the break-in instilled fear in her young children who were the first to discover the crime scene. On 11 June, the pair terrified residents in a Springvale South home. Culibrk tried to force his way in with a crowbar. After an occupant told them to “f*** off”, Messenger tried to kick in the front door. The resident armed himself with a kitchen knife and confronted the intruders, who then fled in a vehicle. In sentencing on 20 February, judge Damian Murphy noted the “major and continuing” impact on the victim who was unable to sleep and stayed up late monitoring his security cameras. Finally, Culibrk burgled a Blackburn home, stealing $10,000 of jewellery, passports, a will, keys, bank cards and bank account details. Later $1000 was withdrawn from the vic-
tim’s bank account. The co-accused were arrested on 22 June in the stolen Camry at Culibrk’s mother’s house. Messenger was found with a prohibited Taser in his shorts pocket. A stolen Toyota HiAce van with stolen plates was also found at the property. Some of the items stolen from the burglaries were recovered at the scene. The Narre Warren-raised Culibrk’s rehabilitative prospects were rated as “fair”, according to Judge Murphy. At the time of the crime spree, Culibrk was on bail. He had a long history of committing burglaries, thefts, drug trafficking and driving offences. In the past, he’d re-offended while on a community corrections order and a drug treatment order. And his not-guilty plea showed a lack of insight and remorse, Judge Murphy said. On the other hand, during his latest remand, he’d completed a rehabilitation course and passed clean drug screenings. Judge Murphy said the WA-raised Messenger was entitled to “significant leniency”, with no prior convictions, a significant work history and an albeit late guilty plea. He’d shown remorse, shame and embarrassment over his crimes, and a desire to engage in psych therapy for anxiety and PTSD, the judge noted. On the other hand, Messenger is currently bailed over three outstanding burglaries and thefts at factories and warehouses. Culibrk was jailed for up to five-and-a-half years, with a three-year and three-month nonparole period. His term includes 607 days in pre-sentence remand. Messenger was jailed for up to three years and two months. He’ll be eligible for parole in 21 months.
Dandenong Hospital. 296906
Hospital to face court Monash Health has been charged over the death of a mental health patient at Dandenong Hospital. The charge stems from the patient taking her own life while being treated in the hospital’s mental health unit in February 2022, according to WorkSafe. WorkSafe alleges that the health service failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks. The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 13 March. It is the second current Worksafe prosecution of Monash Health relating to a patient’s death in mental health treatement. The charge over the death of an acute mental health unit patient at Casey Hospital in 2015 will be next heard at the Victorian County Court on 4 March. A further WorkSafe case relating to a 2021 assault of a nurse at Monash Medical Centre is scheduled for Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 June.
lifestyle meridian 12663887-AV08-24
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 5
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Indigenous names plan By Violet Li Casey Council has endorsed eight Indigenous names for the roads within the Casey Fields sporting precinct in Cranbourne West. The precinct has several unnamed roads that are already open to the public. The council had received requests from Emergency Services, Geographic Names Victoria (GNV), user groups, and members of the public to name the roads to improve wayfinding and emergency response times. The council’s Geographical Naming Officer (GNO) engaged with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) to encourage the use of Indigenous language to ‘increase equity in recognising underrepresented groups’. BLCAC provided four words with themes of
Indigenous flora and the use of the facility. To echo the recommendation, the council’s Sustainability and Waste team accordingly contributed a list of Indigenous flora names. The endorsed names are Marngrook (Ball), Tili Terrin (Play), Brungilo (Eucalyptus), Woolepe (Tea-Tree), Pendula, Poranthera, Hypnum, and Manuka. Casey administrator Miguel Belmar said it was a really fantastic thing about those names being used and local communities being able to find their ways using names that represented the ongoing and continued contact of our indigenous community. The cost of the street sign manufacture and installation was a total of less than $5000, available through the 2023-24 operational budget for minor works.
Mosques open doors By Emma Xerri Sunday 25 February marks the seventh annual Victorian Mosque Open Day, in what is a supremely important year for faith and unity throughout the Muslim community. Focusing on solidarity with Palestinians both at home and abroad, the day will serve as an invitation to connect, engage with and better understand one another, in the comforting spaces of the mosques many locals frequent. But the day will also be an opportunity for Victorians to learn more about the Islamic faith and its diverse cultural practices. From henna tattoo art and hijab tutorials to guided mosque tours and open dialogue about Islamic beliefs, locals are invited to partake in their mosque’s celebrations, sharing in a meal and hopefully uniting over their shared humanity.
“Mosques are always open and always welcoming places,” said Islamic Council of Victoria president Adel Salman. “And this year we have a record number of Mosques participating. “As well as being a sacred space for prayer and reflection, they are places where communities gather, learn from each other and share.” And Mr Salman urges people to take part in the Open Day to extend their support for those who are suffering. “How can we not take this opportunity to stand with the innocent men, women, and children…and the millions of people around the world, including here in Victoria, that are showing their support? “Visiting your local Mosque is a great way of expressing your compassion and solidarity with your neighbours.”
Site plan of Casey Fields sporting precinct showing road layout and endorsed Indigenous road names. Picture: CASEY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
OPINION SOCIALLY SPEAKING
LENSCAPE
Axe at the ready for a wood chop at the Berwick Show. 389785 6 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
What was your experience in/after Tuesday 13 February’s severe storm? Bianca Iemmola Our 30 year old fence fell down. Gaye Guest Flooded road with crazy drivers creating waves as they drove through the deep water so it lapped up on our property and driveway, bark and leaves flying through the air furiously, no nbn, consequently no landline, no power down one side of the house so much investigation why this was the case ...eerie as five years ago this week we did have severe storm damage and as we watched the “newer” infrastructure survive the wind and rain grateful for stringent building codes and that we survived. People can mock climate change but with earthquake tremors and crazy weather patterns, we need to do better with environmental sustainability. To our politicians with many homes still not back on the grid we need homes fuelled by both gas and electricity for weather events like we are experiencing. You have to be able to heat, cook, etc when you cannot leave the house because of severe weather conditions. What we have all realised is how much we all rely on the internet and when it’s down and what we do! It is heartbreaking to see how much food has had to be thrown out because of the lack of generators in places of gathering that we rely on like supermarkets and shopping centres. Authorities need to have round table conferences ASAP and plan and ask the question “how can we prepare for more climate change events to stop all this waste”. Cash is king when you cannot access your money online. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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Visit our sales suite today Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 4pm Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au *Homes are secured by purchase of the right to occupy and are subject to availability and entry criteria. Rental options are not available. Only 4 villas left at this price. Flexible pricing arrangements are subject to a higher deferred management fee. Price and stock levels correct as at 15 February 2024. Exclusions apply. For full terms and conditions please visit summerset.com.au/flexiblepricing #Pending completion. Artist impressions, images and facilities are indicative only.
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 7
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From left, Rob Brown, Belinda Wilson MP, and Simon Fenech. 389423
Lewins Turner (middle) cuts the ribbon, with Rob Brown (left) and Simon Fenech (right). 389423
Simon Fenech opens The Lewins Hub to end his speech. 389423
Hallam’s fruitful adventure By Ethan Benedicto Fruit2Work has announced the opening of its Hallam branch on Friday, 16 February, making it the first hub for the organisation in the southeast. The organisation is a not-for-profit social enterprise, as well as a registered charity that delivers fruit, milk and pantry items to workplaces. A factor that makes Fruit2Work stand out, however, is that they are known for providing opportunities to those who have been caught in the justice system. Providing these people with work and helping them turn a new leaf, Simon Fenech, the organisation’s general manager, said that the work is “hard, but rewarding”. “As someone who has made mistakes, Fruit2Work is created by champions, and a champion in my eyes is someone who has lost their way and decided to do something different,” he said. Fenech himself had previously been involved with drugs and crime after a workplace accident in 2008, where he found that prescription medication and physical therapy did not ease the pain. With their other branch catering to Melbourne located in Laverton, this new branch will see a sizeable expansion of their operations and services. Titled the Lewins Hub, the branch was named after one of the organisation’s members, Lewins Turner. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Turner said that he owes Fruit2Work his life. “If I didn’t have Fruit2Work I’d be dead, I’ve
Lewins Turner and Simon Fenech embracing after their speeches. 389423 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS got pancreatic cancer, you know what I mean? “There would have been no hope, even when I had my own place I was going downhill,” he said. Turner came down to Melbourne in 1995 and eventually found himself involved with drugs, until the end of 2018. When he was looking at going back to jail, Turner then decided to appeal bail and reached out for help through First Step, an organisation that supports people addicted to drugs and alcohol. It was there that he was suggested to Simon for work. “I thought to myself that if I don’t do something drastic, I’m going to lose my place, lose my animals, and lose everything.
“I owe Fruit2Work my life, to Simon and Rob who stuck by me - even when there were ups and downs.” Rob Brown, Fruit2Work’s chief chance creator who had his own challenges with the law, said that the organisation’s vision “resonated personally.” “To be able to give people a chance, who don’t typically get a chance, made a whole lot of sense. “Not just because it’s a nice thing to do, but it has societal impact and financial impacts as well. “The most important thing this hub does is it gives us access to a cohort of people who need a chance to get from here to our other hub in Laverton, it’s too far away,” Brown said.
He added that the southeast provided the organisation with a large number of customers, which with the lack of a hub, made it difficult to cater to from the west. Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson also attended the grand opening and gave a short speech on the organisation’s importance. “For me, life’s about opportunity and I wouldn’t be in my position without someone believing in me, believing in what you can do, and that’s what this organisation does,” she said. Ms Wilson was excited about the avenues the new hub could explore, saying that the “opportunities Fruit2Work creates are life changing.” “By offering the opportunity for employment to people who may not be able to find it elsewhere, Fruit2Work enables them to re-enter the job market and improve the likelihood of rehabilitation. “It’s my job to advocate for local community organisations to ensure they have the support and resources they need to deliver the essential services they provide to our community,” she said. For Turner, Fruit2Work is family, people who gave him a chance when he thought it would never come. “When they said to me that they were going to name the building after me, I couldn’t believe it - I haven’t stopped crying in five days! “This place has continued to help people, and I couldn’t ask for any better feeling,” Turner said.
Lights on, road open: Upgrade a hit with students By Emma Xerri Lyall Street has reopened to vehicles and pedestrians, fresh with a new set of traffic lights, as part of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade. The traffic lights were switched on recently, with Lyall Street now connected with New Holland Drive to create a four-way signalised intersection, including a new pedestrian crossing. Students of Casey Grammar school were among the first to enjoy the new crossing, joined by principal Fiona Williams, who believes the crossing will be an important step in making travel to and from school safer. “I am excited to see the newly upgraded signalised intersection at New Holland and Lyall Street now partially open,” Ms Williams said. “This development represents a significant enhancement in ensuring the safety of our students who navigate this bustling intersection daily. “As we eagerly anticipate this intersection’s full accessibility to vehicles, we are confident that the improvements will provide a seamless and secure journey to school for our dedicated parents. “Together, we celebrate this positive step towards a safer and more efficient school community.” The upgrade also features more than nine kilometres of shared walking and cycling paths, providing a better connection to the nearby educational institutions, Casey Stadium, Casey RACE and the Cranbourne main 8 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
street shopping area. “Connecting Lyall Street and New Holland Drive with a new intersection with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings will provide a safer and smoother connection to the nearby education and sports precinct,” Major Road Projects Victoria program director Marc Peterson said. “We know the community will greatly benefit from this project once it’s complete and we want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we carry out this work.” While Lyall Street was closed, crews installed a large amount of underground drainage, relocated utility services and added extra lanes. And works will continue in this area – with lane closures and changed traffic conditions at times – to finish the slip lanes onto Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road at the New Holland Drive and Lyall Street intersections. Additionally, the Hall Road Upgrade is approaching completion in the next few months, and works to build the new northbound lanes on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and join the new service road into the main lanes will continue. The new Rochester Parade intersection will also be opening later this month, and crews will start upgrading the intersection at Camms Road and Rochester Parade by adding extra lanes on Narre Warren-Cranbourne and Camms Road. Stage 2 works on the Berwick-Cranbourne Road intersection will also begin from 8pm on Thursday 29 February until early June.
Casey Grammar principal Fiona Williams joins students on the new pedestrian crossing. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING
Foot and knee Always Hear for you pain help The team at Always Hear. In a bustling world where noise often dominates, our ability to hear can easily be overlooked. Yet, for Gerald Liew and Jacqueline Coyle, founders of Always Hear, hearing is cherished as a precious gift. Their vision of revolutionising the audiology industry gave birth to an independent clinic that goes beyond just hearing aids and assessments. Always Hear is about providing compassionate, expert care that erases the stigma surrounding hearing loss. As March 2024 approaches, we find ourselves on the brink of World Hearing Month—a time to raise awareness about the importance of hearing health. At Always Hear, this mission is ingrained in their clinic ethos. Beyond their clinical offerings, what truly sets Always Hear apart is their compassionate team. Comprising of individuals who understand that hearing loss is not just a medical
condition but a deeply personal journey, they provide support and understanding every step of the way. Their team is dedicated to making a tangible difference in people’s lives. Always Hear’s commitment to accessibility is evident through their government accreditation program, ensuring that quality hearing care is within reach for all. This dedication extends even further with their free micro-suction wax removal (normally valued at $120) promotion throughout March 2024 —an initiative aimed at promoting hearing health awareness. As we mark World Hearing Month, let’s not just acknowledge the importance of hearing health; let’s actively support initiatives like those offered by Always Hear. To book an appointment, please contact our friendly staff on 039131 3212 or email us at contact@alwayshear.com.au. We are always here so you can always hear!
Any foot or leg pain, call Dr. Dowie at his Foot and Leg Pain Clinics in Berwick. Many foot and knee conditions, e.g. plantar fasciitis symptoms, knee, heel and ankle pain, injuries and degenerative conditions are incorrectly treated with cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and arthroscopies. These may provide some temporary relief but do not fix these conditions and can delay healing and even cause further tissue damage. To achieve safe, effective, long-term outcomes in assisting pain, injuries, degenerative conditions like arthritis and function and mobility concerns, the latest medical research supports the following strategies: 1. Assisting load management, to reduce forces and stress placed through the joints and tissues. 2. Encouraging joint and tissue repair (often with natural regenerative therapies i.e. Prolotherapy and PRP). 3. Improving joint and tissue function, range of motion, strengthening and conditioning to assist long-term healing. If you have any foot or leg pain, you can see Dr. Dowie at his Foot and Leg Pain Clinics in Berwick and other locations across Melbourne. Call 1300 328 300.
Sore Feet or Legs? Call 12612386-KG25-23
Most people suffer foot or knee pain at some point in their lives but it can be difficult to find effective treatment with long-term results. Foot and knee pain expert and musculoskeletal podiatrist, Dr. Paul Dowie explains, “Many foot and knee conditions are misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated, often because only symptoms are treated and the cause and contributing factors of the pain or injury are not being addressed.” With 25 years experience in musculoskeletal medicine Dr. Dowie has been the chosen practitioner to some of the world’s best athletes, providing proven solutions to help alleviate pain, heal injuries and even delay or eradicate the need for surgery. He provided us with the following insights into common foot and leg complaints and treatments. Bad foot posture can continually pull your body out of alignment, placing undue stress on other joints and tissues throughout the body, contributing to pain, injury and arthritis. Consulting a lower limb, musculoskeletal expert who has an understanding of complex foot and leg biomechanics, is essential in ascertaining the exact nature of your condition and providing appropriate treatment.
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STAR NEWS 9
NEWS
Clearing the visa backlogs through years of migration limbo due to the previous Liberal Government’s policies,” Mr Hill said. “The majority of these visa holders, who have lived in Australia for a decade or more, have now been granted their permanent visa so they can build their lives and businesses with certainty.” However, refugee advocates say thousands of asylum seekers and refugees are still in wait. Dandenong-based advocate Wicki Wickeramasingham welcomed the Government’s progress but said long-frustrated RoS holders were still yet to reunite with their overseas families. He cited the case of a refugee who was granted a RoS and had been estranged from his overseas partner and three adult daughters for 17 years. Despite paying $22,000 in fees, he has been waiting 12 months for family reunion visas. Also many asylum-seekers were languishing up to four years in the legal system to appeal against their visa refusals, Mr Wickeramasingham said. Others were still waiting for an interview after lodging visa applications several years ago. “People still in the courts are struggling. Some of them don’t have a Medicare card or work rights. They’re forced to work illegally for day-to-day living and to support their families back (in their homeland) - some of them are unable to pay the rent. “The Government should withdraw the applications from the courts by making a decision on their visas. “My request to the Labor Party MPs is please look after the Tamils. They are in danger if they return to Sri Lanka. Don’t allow them to go back against their wishes.”
By Cam Lucadou-Wells Bruce MP Julian Hill has welcomed a clearing of a backlog in citizenships, partner visas and humanitarian visas in the past 12 months. He said the Government was “committed to cleaning up (former Home Affairs Minister) Peter Dutton’s shocking mess”, including 500plus new staff to clear the visa backlogs. “After a decade of Liberal decay and dysfunction, Peter Dutton left behind a complete mess, with over 1 million visa and citizenship applications backlogged in his black hole of a department. “For the first time in more than five years the Australia’s Humanitarian Program has been delivered in full, and wait times for almost every visa have been slashed.” Temporary partner visa finalisations were up 54 per cent in July-December 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. Permanent partner visas were up 158 per cent – the largest increase in at least 17 years, Mr Hill said. Despite a 23 per cent increase in applications, the permanent partner visa waiting list was down from 54,000 in June 2021 to 29,335. Citizenship approvals had also increased 13 per cent. “Efficient visa and citizenship processing is not a luxury for people in South East Melbourne - it’s an essential service in a multicultural society,” Mr Hill said. “Knowing that family members can visit for special occasions, and allowing families to be together.” Since February 2023, 14,390 Resolution of Status visas have been ‘fast tracked’ for refugees on Temporary Protection Visas or Safe Haven Enterprise Visas across Australia. As of 31 January, there were about a quarter (5685) of RoS applications remaining. “Thousands of TPV and SHEV holders lived
Julian Hill welcomed the increase in citizenships and visas granted in the past year. 384998 Picture: GARY SISSONS
Tributes for orchard legend One of the region’s great horticulturalists William ‘Bill’ Montague OAM has died at the age of 97. The founder of Montague Orchards – who started his company at age 22 - passed away at home on 6 February. His family described him on social media as having an “unwavering passion for quality fruit production”, planting his first orchard in Narre Warren North. He acquired orchards and built coldstorage facilities, steering a thriving business that’s spanned three generations of family. Among his innovations was being the first to introduce controlled atmosphere storage in Australia in 1967 as well as the first to wax supplied fruit in 1977. The business has also famously created many new varieties of apple.
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When he started out, Montague supplied fruit to hospitals across Melbourne. He was also a member of Dandenong Hospital Board for 10 years . He was also an honorary member of Rotary Club of Dandenong, as well as a patron and supporter of the arts and charities. In 2007, Montague was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to the fruit industry. He was also inducted in the Australian Fresh Fruit Company Hall of Fame and named a Friend of the International Dwarf Treefruit Association of America. Montague was described by his family as a keen Collingwood fan and “self-proclaimed best fisherman of the Bay”. Ray, Tim, Hamish and Scott Montague continue to run the enduring family business.
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Bill Montague OAM, pictured in 2006, was known as a legend in the fruit industry. 390487 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
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NEWS
Rental pain Casey single-member ward structure ticked off hitting home
Cranbourne is in the top 25 suburbs for experiencing the worst ‘rental pain’ in the state. Picture: ON FILE “As we step into 2024, the Rental Pain Index not only highlights the severe challenges faced by renters across Australia but also serves as a call to action for out-of-the-box thinking from our policymakers. “Observing that over 6 per cent of Americans reside in mobile home villages compared to less than 1 per cent of Australians living in caravan parks, it’s time to broaden our perspective. “In an era where premium quality prefabrication offers rapid, cost-effective housing solutions, our focus should shift towards exploring these faster and more economical alternatives to address the current housing crisis. Innovative policy solutions are crucial now more than ever to alleviate the dire rental stress evident across the nation.”
councillors. Four councils will change to a multimember ward structure: Buloke Shire Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Surf Coast Shire Council, and Yarriambiack Shire Council. A further five councils will change to an unsubdivided structure: Campaspe Shire Council, Gannawarra Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council, and Strathbogie Shire Council.
12669191-AP07-24
A recent survey on rental affordability and stress reveals Cranbourne is one of the top spots where renters are feeling the bite in a tough rental climate. The latest iteration of the Rental Pain Index by Suburbtrends, as of February 2024, reveals the suburbs where renting is toughest by weighing the factors of average rental increase over a 12-month period, how much income is going to rent, and the vacancy rate. The freshly updated report uncovers that an overwhelming majority of Australian suburbs are now grappling with severe rental distress. Cranbourne scored 15th in the top 25 worst suburbs in Victoria for renting with a Rental Pain Index Score of 94. This score comes from an average rental increase in the past 12 months of 14 per cent with 29 per cent of income on average going toward rent and a vacancy rate of 0.4. Nationally, the Rental Pain Index scored a median 82.32. Kent Lardner, who is behind Suburbtrends, underscores the gravity of these findings across the country. “Our latest report unveils a scenario where the fabric of Australian rental living is under unprecedented stress. With states like Queensland and South Australia witnessing over 75 per cent of their suburb groups mired in extreme rental hardship, the financial burden on Australian tenants has intensified like never before,” he said. Mr Lardner urges policymakers to adopt innovative strategies in response to the index’s findings.
Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne has accepted the recommendation for a single-member ward structure for Casey Council, following an electoral structure review undertaken by the Electoral Representation Advisory Panels (ERAPs). On 10 October 2022, the Minister for Local Government announced the establishment of two ERAPs to undertake reviews of 39 councils whose electoral structures were not compliant with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020. Under the Act, there are three permissible electoral structures, including singlemember wards, uniform multi-member wards, and unsubdivided. All metropolitan, interface, and regional city councils must have a single-member ward structure, and all rural councils (31 in total) are permitted to have any of the three permissible electoral structures. The reviews undertaken by ERAPs included consideration of the total number of councillors for each municipality; the ward structure, including the number of wards (if subdivided), the number of councillors per ward, ward boundaries, and names. The ERAPs have provided their final reports to the Minister for Local Government. The minister has considered these reports and accepted the recommendations to alter the electoral structures of all 39 councils. The structure amendment will see 30 councils change to a single-member ward structure, including Casey Council which has been governed by administrators rather than councillors since 2020 and would currently have six wards with a total of 11
cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 11
NEWS
Odour saga Connected Libraries chief executive officer Beth Luppino and City of Casey administrator and Connected Libraries board member Miguel Belmar are cutting the ribbon. 385228
Fabian with his kids Phoebe and Clara at the Family Fun Day. 385228 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS
Casey administrator and Connected Libraries board member Miguel Belmar. 385228
The lingering odour from the SBI site in Cranbourne has been haunting the community since March 2022. The source of the initial odour was confirmed to be SBI’s sole landfill cell by EPA, and the rotten egg smell was hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which can be produced when solid inert waste decomposes. EPA inspected the site and identified issues, including potential hotspots in the landfill cell, one or more blockages in the leachate management infrastructure, lack of an appropriate Risk Management and Monitoring Program (RMMP), and management faults of landfill gas extraction. The agency launched civil proceedings against the operator on 4 August 2023. The number of odour reports from the surrounding communities dropped substantially in 2023, before residents noticed an increase in odour emissions since November 2023.
New lounge a winner What’s that A Family Fun Day was held at Cranbourne West Community Hub on Saturday 17 February to celebrate the opening of Connected Libraries’ (CL) new library lounge. A formal ribbon cutting started the day, followed by various free activities including face painting, giant bubble, Storytimes, giveaways, a sausage sizzle, performances, and an animal petting zoo. More than 1000 people revelled in the joyful atmosphere, and the library attained lots of new members afterward. The new Cranbourne West Library Lounge was launched in January at Cranbourne West Community Hub. CL members can borrow, return, and renew items at the new lounge. Free Wi-Fi and public computers are available for use. Storytimes and regular programs will operate from the lounge. The Library Lounge will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and will be staffed a few hours each day.
smell?
Aveleen. 385228
Connected Libraries chief executive officer Beth Luppino. 385228
Guiding youth on the road earns recognition By Violet Li David Jefferies from South East Community Links (SECL) has been nominated for the 2023 Volunteering Awards after more than 13 years of mentoring young drivers under the agency’s L2P program. He was acknowledged under the Volunteer Commitment category for his sustained and substantial record of commitment to the community and the organisation. The L2P program, funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and completely free, matches young learner drivers with volunteer mentor drivers who help them meet the required minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving with a supplied car before they can apply for a probationary licence. The start of a decade-long service was very easy. In retrospect, there was an interest and a sign-up, David said. “I am a member of the Lions Club of Wheelers Hill, and I’ve been there for about 25 years. Back then, I think we had a person come from SECL and gave us a presentation about this L2P scheme,” he recalled. “A few of us volunteered to sign up and have a go at doing it. “I thought I’d enjoy it. And there you are. The rest is history.” Having mentored 91 learners and currently on the road with five boys, David has long come up with his own ‘mentoring syllabus’. Instead of organising driving for just one or two hours as most mentors do, he would go out for three or four hours with the kids and plan the best for behind the wheel. “We might drive into the city and do hook turns, and we’d like to go right around the out to Western Ring Road and go right around it over the West Gate Bridge,” he said. 12 STAR NEWS
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Afghani learner Shuk and David Jefferies are about to hit the road. “One of my favourite drives is to drive down from Dandenong to Frankston along the beach road, then to Mornington down Mornington Main Street, then onto the windy road that goes to Dromana, then up Arthur’s Seat, and eventually come back to Melbourne on the Peninsula Link Freeway. “It gives the kids a good big variety of different conditions.” Working with young people has allowed David to understand the generation. Most of the learners are from the Dandenong area, where a large ethnic varied population is present. He has mentored young people from Afghanistan, China, India, Pakistan, and Egypt.
Thursday, 22 February, 2024
Picture: SUPPLIED
“We discussed a wide range of subjects, like school, employment, and immigration,” he said. “Immigration is a big one. “I’ve got quite a few young people who started off as migrants and then they’re Aussies!” Speaking of the award nomination, David was not aware of it until someone told him about it. When asked why he thought he would be nominated, he said: “Probably because I’ve been there so long, and I’ve done a fair bit of mentoring.” “I just like doing it.”
From page 1 A week following the untraceable odour, EPA attended the landfill site on Saturday 10 February after a new wave of community odour reports. EPA officers detected landfill odour at an offsite location approximately 500 metres from the closest edge of the landfill, an onsite location approximately 100 metres west of the site entrance along Ballarto Road, and onsite leachate storage tanks, which were approximately 180 meters from the site entrance. A H2S parts per billion (ppb) monitor located in the northern boundaries of the site recorded an average of 0.3 ppb during 9-10 February with a maximum of 9 ppb at around 4am on Friday 9 February. According to EPA NSW, about half of people can smell H2S at a concentration of around 8 ppb. However, the odour sensitivity varies among individuals as some people can smell it at 0.5 ppb. “Exposure to these low concentrations of H2S may cause irritation to the eyes, nose or throat, and difficulties in breathing in people with asthma,” the EPA website writes. “Repeated exposures at these levels can also understandably cause anxiety and distress and result in indirect symptoms such as headaches and nausea.” The source of the odour has also not been identified, but SBI noted in a February website update that a treatment system for the leachate storage tank was ‘now being investigated for points of weakness in the treatment train’ and ‘a long meteorological is being sought to eliminate interference by meteorological fluctuations’. SBI identified the leachate storage tank as a potential offsite odour source in April 2023 and accordingly upgraded the extraction system on its headspace. The odour continued to upset the community, with 69 new air pollution reports coming up from 12 to 16 February. SBI believed that about 45 per cent of the reports could not be attributed to the landfill based on the wind direction. “Statistically, given the high percentage of reports that cannot be attributed to SBI based on wind direction alone, rationalises that the percentage of false reporting within the remaining reports, to be reasonably high as well,” its update wrote. A maximum H2S of 21 ppb was detected on the morning of Tuesday 13 February at the northern boundary of the site at around 5.30am. The same monitor showed 9 ppb at 4.55am, 5 ppb at 6:32am, and 3 ppb at 7.42am on the morning of Friday 16 February. No trace of H2S was detected at other times in the week. A new H2S scrubber is due to go online on 1 March and a new flare on 15 March subject to the approvals being granted by Energy Safe Victoria. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
Woodchop back at show By Emma Xerri The woodchop is making a return after a court ruling inhibiting timber harvesting saw the competition axed. For the Berwick Show, which has hosted the event since the 1970s, the competition has found a way to go on amid the ruling, by moving to sourcing their timber from a privately owned coupe, not from VicForests. And the return of the competition is bringing with it some of Victorian woodchopping’s most renowned names. “We’ve got the Meyer family, which is a huge family of axemen,” Berwick Show organiser Andy Fyfe said. “As well as Laurence O’Toole Senior and some of the other O’Toole’s, who are quite a famous name amongst the woodchopping community. “Of the 30 choppers who have entered, we’ve also got some four females having a chop as well. “And the accuracy of the choppers and the talent they have to cut the wood without cutting their foot off is something in itself. “It’s quite dangerous and the axes are so sharp, so this along with the noise and the
Andy Fyfe (committee), Matt Clark (sponsor from First National Neilson Partners), Josh Lane (representing Central Victoria Axemen Association), Willem Boon (committee) and Tom Gibson (committee). 388268 commentary make it exciting to watch.” A variety of different competitions will run across the event, with different grades and log sizes, including a tree competition where choppers have to climb up a tree pole and chop the log at the top of the pole. The event will also feature hand saw and chainsaw competitions, which tend to bring
Josh Lane (representing Central Victoria Axemen Association) competing at the Berwick Show. 388268
enthusiastic crowds of their own. “The chainsaws are so noisy, so the kids come running from miles away just to find out what the noise is,” Mr Fyfe said. But while the show has sourced a temporary fix, a change in timber might be necessary to secure the event moving forward.
“All the shows across the country have competitions, so being able to secure enough timber is a problem,” Mr Fyfe added. “It looks like the competitions are going to have to make the move to pine like the woodchopping in Europe.” The Berwick Show is on this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 24 and 25 February.
Queer party shines bright in Summer Stage program By Emma Xerri Bunjil Place’s Summer Stage program has continued in the sparkliest of fashion with their Glitter Groove Queer Party. The program, which is running until the end of February, is taking over Bunjil Place’s outdoor plaza to deliver a range of ticketed and free events spanning everything from trivia nights to weekly yoga and the intriguingly named musical plants workshops. Taking to the plaza stage on Friday 9 February was an explosion of powerhouse performances and colourful self-expressions of love and diversity, as 150 attendees enjoyed Glitter Groove: The South-East’s Summer Queer Party. The evening was of particular importance to local members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who have long awaited such a public celebration of queerness after previous attempts throughout Casey were thwarted by conservative protest. But the clouds looming over past events were not enough to dim the sparkle of the performers and their glittering looks, leading the crowd in a night of non-stop song and dance hosted by Brenda Bressed, and sharing in drinks and conversation with their favourite performers. While the upcoming events may be lacking in spandex and dazzling eyeliner, the remainder of the Summer Stage program promises to make up for it with fun-filled variety. Continuing every Sunday afternoon are
The plaza was lit up for another terrific Summer Stage show.
Cerulean Wu.
Brenda Bressed commanded the crowd.
Dj Cliterally, Kat Zowthabag, Gloss, Aubrey Haive and Cerulean in the background.
Brenda Bressed with audience members.
weekly Sunday Sessions, along with the upcoming Quiz Meisters Trivia Night on Thursday 22 February, and Summer Sounds 2024 on Saturday 24 February.
Weekly yoga is also taking place every Friday morning, and if yoga isn’t your scene, try your hand (or leg, or foot) at weekly pilates on a Wednesday.
And the Summer Stage program has also ensured there is plenty in store for the kids, with after school workshops Kidstruments and Musical Plants now underway.
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 13
THE LOWDOWN Q&A
with Pakenham Garden Club member Margaret Macdonald
What do you love about being a member of the Pakenham Gardening Club? I love going and visiting beautiful gardens and meeting with other gardeners and sharing their knowledge. If you were an animal, what animal would you be? A cat. I could lie around and sleep a lot and be pampered. What would your last meal be? Anything I did not have to cook myself. What has been your most memorable moment/s so far? The birth of my three children. What was your favourite subject at school? Geography. What event, past or present, would you like to witness? Weddings of my grandchildren. Which five dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? My husband, grandmother and my three children, so they could meet their great grandmother. What are you currently listening to/watching or reading? Back Roads on the ABC and Gardening Australia. If you had to compete on Masterchef, what dish would you cook? Golden syrup dumplings. Where is your dream holiday destination? Canada and the inside passage to Alaska. What three words would your friends use to describe you? Hopefully kind, quiet and dependable. What would you do on your perfect day off? Travel the Great Ocean Road.
Margaret Macdonald, proud member of the Pakenham Garden Club.
THREE … ways to prepare your home for a severe storm
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WHAT’S ON 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. Wednesdays from 10.45am to 11.30am.
Hallam Mosque Open Day 2024 The Victorian Mosque Open Day is an annual event that seeks to bring the Victorian community closer to Muslims around the state. Join us on 25 February for a day of fun, faith, and friendship. 131-133 Belgrave-Hallam Rd, Narre Warren North 11am-4pm Activities: Q&A, gift bag giveaways, sausage sizzle, refreshments, Hijab try on, Hena corner, guided mosque tours, lollies for kids, get a better understanding of your local Muslim community
Berwick Show The annual Berwick show is on this weekend (24 and 25 February). Celebrating its 175th anniversary, the show offers entertainment for all ages and a variety of competitions to participate in. The agricultural show will be held at Akoonah Park, Princes Highway, Berwick. For more information, please visit berwickshow.org.au or contact 0407 866 049
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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.
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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 4 March 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.
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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.
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· Four-year-old Talia with her calf, Grace. 320809
Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club Are you newly retired or new to the area or just wanting to enjoy your freedom or expand your social 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.
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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
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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
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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
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Berwick Springs VIEW Club 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.
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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. For enquiries and to book a spot at the table, reach out to Jonathan Whelan at thestoryweaver.dnd@gmail.com
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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Network Classifieds! 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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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. Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library building - enter from the Casey Radio entrance next door to L’Arte Cafe.
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.
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CCCA’s connected crusade By David Nagel Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) has earned promotion to the elite-level Provincial Division in 2024/25 after a stirring return to Melbourne Country Week. The former WGCA Warriors - now CCCA Crusaders - remained undefeated throughout the round-robin stages of the tournament before succumbing to Bairnsdale in an absorbing grand final at the Albert Cricket Ground on Friday 16 February. The Crusaders made 197, and had their opponents in trouble at 7/141 in reply, before a brilliant innings of 51 not out from Bairnsdale’s Reagan Kyle led his side to a tense two-wicket victory. Bairnsdale was 8/200 when the winning runs were struck off the second last ball of the 40th over, winning with two wickets and 61 balls to spare. Both Division 2 grand finalists will be promoted to Provincial Division next season. Despite being defeated, the CCCA can hold its head high; returning to the fray after not fielding a team last season. Led by Team Manager Phil Anning, the CCCA players bought in and became a strong and connected unit throughout their campaign, which consisted of a winning practice match against the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association (MPCA) and regular training sessions at Tooradin. Anning was grateful for the players’ efforts when he spoke to the team in the changerooms post-match. “I just want to thank you all for the effort you have all put in,” Anning began. “We had two aims this week, to get promoted to Provincial Division and to win Division 2. “We came close to winning, but being promoted to Provincial is still a great achievement. “Hopefully we’ve learnt a lot from this year and we come back even bigger and stronger next year.” “You have done the association proud this week, and no-one can ask for more than that.” DAY 1 A magnificent undefeated century from Devon Meadows star Lucas Ligt (142 not out) propelled Casey Cardinia (6/314) to a 130-run win over Kingston-Hawthorn (8/184). Ligt made a spectacular start to the carnival, cracking eight boundaries and four sixes in an innings that remained unconquered after 163 balls. Ligt and Kooweerup star Luke McMaster (58 off 50) got the CCCA off to the perfect start with a 127-run opening stand. McMaster raced to his half-century off just 35 balls, cracking eight fours and three sixes, including a huge swipe over square leg to bring up his fifty. The CCCA lost its first wicket when McMaster holed-out on the mid-wicket fence, trying to go large, bringing Pakenham skipper Dale Tormey (29) to the crease.
Opening partners Luke McMaster, left, and Lucas Ligt were the two standouts for the CCCA with Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS the bat. 388796 Chris Bright (27) then shared a 46-run stand with Ligt, who brought up his century with a classic square cut for two in the 38th over. Bright, Travis Wheller (1) and Dylan Sutton (7) all came and went, before Steven Dillon (17 off 12) played a bright little cameo to edge the team towards 300. Brad Butler (9 not out) then took a back seat as Ligt finished his innings off in style. Butler (5-0-19-1) then made the first inroads for the CCCA, finding the edge of Ben Spencer’s (4) bat and through to the waiting hands of his Tooradin teammate Ben Parrott. Prajay Paramesh (43) was the key player for the Hawks, and he was third to go after a brilliant piece of fielding from Wheller. Paramesh hit a ball from Tormey (7-4-6-1) high into the sky, with Wheller taking a great catch at mid-on looking into the sun. Tormey and Wheller (8-1-24-1) bowled beautifully in tandem, restricting the scoring rate through the middle overs. Luke Stow (51 not out) made a solid contribution for the Hawks, but the CCCA had too many weapons to fire. In a perfect sign of the all-round talent of the squad, 10 bowlers were used with Wheller and Jason Williams (8-0-24-2) taking two wickets apiece, while Tormey and Sutton (5-3-8-1) were at their economical best. DAY 2 Tuesday, against Ballarat (5/147) at Port Mel-
bourne, saw the CCCA (7/283) secure the points via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) system. McMaster (89) was once again brilliant, cracking 10 fours and two sixes in his 72-ball innings that had his team in front of the game from the get-go. Tormey (33) and Bright (20) once again got starts, before two of the youngest members of the CCCA squad took control of the innings. Wheller (58) and Will Halton (34 not out) put on a crucial stand of 63 for the seventh wicket to lead the CCCA to 7/283 from its 50 overs. Tooradin speedster Butler (1/13) then struck an early blow, with Williams (3/45) bowling beautifully from the opposite end to rip the heart out of the Ballarat top-order. Ballarat was 5/147 when play was abandoned due to severe storms that swept across North Port Oval after 31.5 overs had been bowled. Five wickets down after 31.5…Ballarat required 179 runs to win via the DLS system. DAY 3 The game between the CCCA and Sunraysia was abandoned after damaging storms on Tuesday caused the pitch at Warrawee Reserve, Oakleigh, to be under-prepared for Wednesday’s fixture. The Victoria Country Cricket League (VCCL) did seek alternative arrangements, but the game was abandoned by the umpires 15 minutes before the scheduled 10am commence-
ment of play. Both teams received two points for a draw. DAY 4 Thursday belonged to Tooradin all-rounder Sutton (6.1-2-10-6) who bagged a six-wicket haul to demolish Bellarine (61) on a sticky deck at Donvale. Sutton was the chief destroyer, with five of his dismissals being edged through to wicket-keeper Halton. McMaster (2/26) and Butler (1/10) were the other wicket-takers, but it was Sutton who hit his line and length to perfection. Chasing 62 for victory, Ligt (31 not out) then played a steadying knock in tough conditions to lead the CCCA to victory. The win assured the CCCA of a place in the Division 2 grand final against Bairnsdale at the Albert Ground on Friday. DAY 5 - GRAND FINAL On a magnificent day, and on an equally magnificent Albert Cricket Ground, CCCA skipper Dale Tormey won the toss and elected to bat first against Bairnsdale. Luke McMaster (12) looked in superb touch, cracking a lofted cover drive in the first over and the CCCA was away. Lucas Ligt (10) then got off the mark with a beautiful punch behind point and the CCCA was 0/11 off two. McMaster then hit two consecutive boundaries, the first a lofted off drive, then a pull shot…before edging the very next ball to second slip; 1/19 off 3. The CCCA was going along steadily at 1/30 off six; but the seventh over was a huge setback. Ligt hit a simple catch to mid-off, before Tormey was adjudged LBW for a first-ball duck. Morteza Ali (47) and Bright (25) then consolidated with a 44-run stand, before the wickets of Bright and Wheller (0) saw the CCCA in all sorts at 5/77. Ali and Halton (18) then put on 41, before both fell in quick succession, the CCCA soon in more trouble at 8/139. Williams (28 not out) then showed his experience, combining with Dillon (28) and Ben Parrott (9) to post a competitive score of 197 off 48.5 overs. Butler and McMaster were wildly erratic early, struggling to contain an unfamiliar ‘Dukes’ ball and conceding far too many extras. Williams (2/39), Tormey (1/23) and Wheller (1/32) made steady inroads, before a brilliantly executed run-out by McMaster had Bairnsdale on the back foot at 5/97. Sutton (2/34) then threatened to be the hero on consecutive days, taking two wickets in two balls to have the score at 7/141. Reagan Kyle (51 not out) and Nick Adendorff (25) then put together a match-winning partnership of 25 to deny the CCCA’s best efforts. Ali (1/5) claimed a late-wicket, before the winning runs were scored by Ryan Halford (4 not out) off the very next ball. Kyle was a thoroughly-deserving man-ofthe-match after his match-defining innings.
It’s all ahead for the Swans By Marcus Uhe Casey South Melbourne’s is facing the prospect of a tricky chase at home next week as it eyes a top-four finish in Victorian Premier Cricket. Opponents, Footscray are 7/279 at the close of play on day one, having been sent in by Luke Shelton. The Swans made an excellent start to the innings thanks to the returning Jackson Fry, who removed Footscray’s key batters in Dylan Brasher and Travis Dean for minor scores. The third-wicket partnership for Footscray, however, saw the advantage swing to the visitors’ favour. Aiman Nadeem and Mitchell Jamieson were the roadblocks, putting on 120 before Jamieson was caught at square leg off the leg spin of Ruwantha Kellapotha. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
The Swans took consistent wickets in the middle order to have the visitors at 7/223 but let the Bulldogs off the leash with as Jay Vine and Dylan Kight added 56 for the final wicket, both finishing the day unbeaten. Spin proved effective on the Casey Fields surface with Kellapotha, Shelton and Lachlan Sperling bowling 61 of the 94 overs. Upcoming quick Harry Hoekstra bowled just four. The Swans will need to take the remaining three wickets and chase the resulting target if they wish to climb into the top four at season’s end. In the other contests that will determine the Swans’ fate, Ringwood (second) is defending 226 against Carlton (third), while Prahran (first) is 1/32 in pursuit of Geelong’s 265 (fourth). A Swans win will likely see them finish third, securing a double-chance.
Ruwantha Kellapotha took 2/110 for Casey South Melbourne on Saturday. 267264 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 17
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Flag favourite rolled for 56 By Jonty Ralphsmith The issue of Dandenong West’s perennially misfiring batting lineup has reared its head in the last game of two-day cricket before finals kicks off. Chasing 228 for victory from 90 overs at a typically quick Casey Fields, the Bulls were bowled all out for just 56 by Cranbourne. Sent into bat for 10 overs late on day one, leading run scorer Shaun Weir was dismissed by a Jakeb Thomas ’rip-snorter’ that caught the shoulder of the bat. Night-watcher Adam Reid followed him back to the pavilion before stumps, but it was the following day where it became ugly. Matt Collett didn’t trouble the scorers which put a premium on the runs that skipper Anthony Brannan scored. Brannan remained stoic while Thomas ripped through the batting order at the other end. The right arm quick got vice-captain Riley Siwes caught and bowled, went straight through former internationals Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga Bandara and struck Bailey Howarth on the pads. Thomas finished with 7/19 off 17 in a masterful and tireless display. That quartet contributed eight runs between them, while Brannan tried his best to establish partnerships. Leggie Jamie Love got the last wicket, Dandy West limping from 8/29 to 56 all out in a disappointing display. Dandy West was able to avoid an outright despite being 171 runs behind with plenty of time remaining in the day when forced to bat again.
But given it was usual suspects Weir and Brannan who staved off the Eagles bowling attack, the grit of the second innings would hardly have raised confidence. Outside of that pair, it has been slim pickings for Dandy West this season. Bandara bobbed up for a cameo last game, Nathan Power continues to be backed and looks to have a solid defence but has yet to pass 10 this season, Howarth has struggled and Collett has a few starts but nothing to write home about. Kulasekara is the only other player to have a half-century this season, but that 71 against bottom-placed Keysborough makes up more than half his runs tally for the season. That Dandenong West was chasing such a high score was demoralising in itself, given Cranbourne was 7/101, before Harsaroup Singh put on 61 with Tim Fathers who occupied the crease sensationally. When Kulasekara went through the star batter, Fathers, who finished unbeaten on 49, continued resisting, firstly alongside Marty Kelly and then skipper and number 11 Clint Ayres, who did well to only play at balls he needed to. To go with his stunning bowling figures, Thomas also made a handy 31 justifying his promotion to number three, with Cranbourne’s spread of contributors belying their reputation of being overly reliant on too few - and in stark contrast to their more lauded opponents. Elsewhere, Parkmore overcame Narre Warren, Mackenzie Gardner led HSD to victory over Lyndale and in Turf 3, Doveton North reverse-outrighted Silverton, Fountain Gate was too good for Lynbrook and Coomoora and Berwick Springs both recorded outright wins.
Jakeb Thomas went on a tear against the ladder-leaders. 319025
Picture: ROB CAREW
Broken down: What rides on the final round of the season By Jonty Ralphsmith With so much riding on the results of each match in the final round of a tight DDCA season, we gaze our eyes over what each team will be looking to get from the contest. EVERY TURF 2 GAME BROKEN DOWN Keysborough v Narre Warren: This one’s pretty simple: the loser will be relegated to Turf 3, while the winner will remain in Turf 2 next season. Keysborough has been much more competitive since Christmas, but it is the second consecutive season the club has been in a relegation fight, while Narre Warren was in Turf 1 as recently as 2021-22. Parkfield v Parkmore: For the widespread belief that HSD and Dandenong West are the premiership front-runners, it’s Parkfield with destiny in its hands. Win, and the club will finish the season in top spot. The Bandits are excellent at the one-day format and will relish their last go at it this season. It’s effectively a dead rubber for Parkmore, which will finish fifth regardless. HSD v Cranbourne: Both teams had players put indifferent seasons behind them and find form on the weekend and will be looking to build on that. HSD, in particular, would love a big score with the bat. A win for HSD and it would finish as high as first – if Dandy West and Parkfield both lose – or second – if one of those happens. A win for Cranbourne, meanwhile, would see it finish at least third – or second if Dandy West loses, while HSD would slip to fourth. Lyndale v Dandenong West: The Bulls will be looking to bounce back from its poor showing against Cranbourne, and, in particular, would love to see runs come from players other than Anthony Brannan and Shaun Weir. The stop-start nature of the season, caused by rain has meant changing the XI would be a reactive choice and Dandy West have chosen to keep faith but need that confidence to be repaid. Remarkably, given their fearsome reputation, the Bulls would slip to third if it lost and HSD won. If HSD lose and Dandy West lose, Dandy West would remain second, while a Dandy West win would see it return to the top of the table if Parkfield lose. Predicted semi final match-ups: Parkfield v Cranbourne, Dandenong West v HSD 18 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
Pictures: ROB CAREW
Lynbrook has a big clash this weekend. 389335 EVERY TURF 3 GAME BROKEN DOWN Coomoora v Silverton: Coomoora will look to use this game as a tune-up before finals. Having had some easy wins in recent weeks, it would love a competitive hit-out, but regardless, will be ladder leaders. Doveton North v Doveton: A dead rubber match unless Doveton North’s appeal to have its points this season restored is successful. Lynbrook v Berwick Springs: The winner of this game will almost certainly face off against Fountain Gate in the semi final. Lynbrook has had a stable lineup for several weeks, but someone looks set to be squeezed out of the XI for finals given emerging talent Tajbir Powar’s impending return. Opening bowlers Jatinder Singh and Medie Dala would be keen to bounce back after feeding Hasindu Waduge’s century last week. Berwick Springs would love to get more out of its middle-order which has been the least con-
sistent component of the team this year. Hampton Park v Fountain Gate: Provided it beats the Redbacks, Fountain Gate will avoid Coomoora in the semi final. A strong batting performance would boost confidence for Fountain Gate, which has been susceptible to collapses this season – as shown in round 13 when it lost its last nine wickets for just 47 runs. Predicted semi final match-ups: Coomoora v Lynbrook, Berwick Springs v Fountain Gate **All calculations assuming Doveton North’s appeal is unsuccessful TURF 2 Round 13 Results: Parkfield 9/192 defeat Keysborough 114, Narre Warren 89 and 137 defeated by Parkmore 4/164dec, Cranbourne 9/227dec defeated Dandenong West 56 and 2/33, HSD 9/224dec defeated Lyndale 147 and 105.
Ladder: Parkfield 61, Dandenong West 58, HSD 55, Cranbourne 52, Parkmore 38, Lyndale 30, Narre Warren 21, Keysborough 21 Round 14 Fixture: Keysborough v Narre Warren, Parkfield v Parkmore, HSD v Cranbourne, Lyndale v Dandenong West TURF 3 Round 13 Results: Hampton Park 81 and 22 defeated by Berwick Springs 170, Lynbrook 180 and 4/29 defeated by Fountain Gate 192 and 129, Doveton North 121 and 8/146 defeated Silverton 200 and 8/66dec, Coomoora 1/65dec and 3/72 defeated Doveton 61 and 72 Ladder: Coomoora 66, Fountain Gate 59, Lynbrook 55, Berwick Springs 53, Silverton 42, Doveton North 20, Doveton 18, Hampton Park 9 Round 14 Fixture: Coomoora v Silverton, Doveton North v Doveton, Lynbrook v Berwick Springs, Hampton Park v Fountain Gate cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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Flyers return with Flames By Marcus Uhe Southside Flyers marked a return to the basketball courts after an international break in the Women’s National Basketball League with a tight three-point win over the Sydney Flames on Sunday. The steady head of veteran point guard Leilani Mitchell was critical down the stretch, nailing a three and assisting on a Mercedes Russell layup in a pick-and-roll in the final minute, before nailing a free throw to push the lead to three points ahead of the game’s final possession. She then pressured Flames guard Paige Bradley the length of the court as she attemped the final shot of the game, resulting in a miss, the Flyers sneaking home 81-78. With the scores tied on 62 at the beginning of the final quarter, the Sydney crowd was treated to a thrilling 10 minutes of basketball that saw five lead changes in a seesawing battle. With reigning league MVP Cayla George, Sydney looked likely to pull-away on multiple occasions but the Flyers managed to find an answer time-and-again. A savvy Nyadiew Puoch converted on a Mitchell missed layup with just over four minutes to go to secure a one point lead at 75-74, an advantage the visitors never relinquished. Mitchell assisted Rocci on a wide-open corner three after collapsing the defence on a drive to the basket to push the lead to four, before a scoreless near-two minutes heightened the tension even further.
Sydney cut the lead to two with 1.16 remaining as pressure got the games stars, as Mitchell missed a three and George turned the ball over in the half-court. Cheryl Chambers called a timeout with 37 second remaining, resulting in the perfectly executed Mitchell-Russell pick-and-roll with two seconds remaining on the shot-clock. Sydney managed to score on the next play, before intentionally fouling Mitchell, where she converted that critical free-throw. The match was an arm-wrestle for almost the duration of the game, a 10-point lead to the Flyers in the second quarter the biggest lead of the match at any stage. Southside shot a superior percentage in all three categories, most notably 10 per cent better in three-point shooting, while 16 bench points to seven proved telling. Sydney star George was kept to just 14 points in 37 minutes while Russell scored 18 to lead Southside in scoring. Mitchell and Lauren Jackson added 15 each for Southside. Southside sits second with two games to play in the WNBL season but must win its remaining matches to secure a finals birth, with Bendigo, Melbourne and Sydney close behind on winning percentage. The Flyers will play Townsville on Wednesday night in a rescheduled clash after the first was postponed due to a late-January cyclone, before closing the regular season on Saturday against Adelaide.
Leilani Mitchell was huge for the Flyers in the dying stages of their win over Sydney on Sunday. Picture: PICS BY TRE
Winning rinks a shining light on a dull day for Cranbourne CRANBOURNE BOWLS Saturday was a beautiful day to play bowls but a number of Cranbourne teams found the going tough and were well beaten. However, there was a shining light in the form of the Cranbourne 3 team. Cranbourne 1 played at home against bottom of the ladder Berwick 1 and found the Tigers had come to play and perform well enough to take the overall points. Winning two rinks each, Berwick outlasted Cranbourne to win the game. Best rink of the day for Cranbourne was skipped by Jay Tootel, with third Gavin Wright, second Danny Meyer and Lead Chad Tootel defeating their opponents by 14 shots. Skip Steve Ellard, with third Shane Jakins, second Steve Bentley and Lead Chris Hunt won their game by two shots. Cranbourne 1 will take on Keysborough 1 at Keysborough next Saturday in the Section Elimination Final. Winner moves to the Section Preliminary Final on Sunday. Cranbourne 1 (70) was defeated by Berwick 1 (79). - 9 shots and 4 points. Cranbourne 2 travelled to Berwick to take on their number two side. Winning by three rinks to one, Berwick 2 was just too strong and took the overall win. Best rink of the day was skipped by Ian Barrenger, with third Phil Nielsen, second Marijan Bobetic and Lead Barry Graham winning their rink 26-9. Cranbourne 2 and Berwick 2 will do it all again in the Section Elimination Final this Saturday at Berwick. Cranbourne 2 (74) was defeated by Berwick 2 (87). - 13 shots and 2 points. Cranbourne 3 playing on the back grass green took on Upwey Tecoma 2. The game didn’t go exactly as we hoped it would, but the green skipped by Neil Drummond, with third Brian Biasci, second Cheryl Wright and Lead Louis Magri won their rink 23-12. Skip Tony Collins, with third Bill Sherriff, second Dermot McConville and Lead Kristi Hickson who won their rink 2211. Finishing second, the team will play Ferntree Gully 2 at Ferntree Gully in the
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Winning skips for Cranbourne 3, from left; Neil Drummond and Tony Collins. 390611 Picture: SUPPLIED Section Semi Final for a chance to play in the Section Final. Cranbourne 3 (73) defeated Upwey Tecoma (59). + 14 shots and 14 points. Cranbourne 4 took on top of the Ladder Dandenong Club 4 at the Dandy Club and even though the teams were matched fairly evenly in the first 11 ends, Dandenong Club was too strong in the end winning all rinks for a comfortable win by 46 shots. Best rink was skipped by Steve Boyd, with third Gerry Dudink, second Kath Dudink and Lead Monica Peers losing 16-26. These two teams will battle it out again next week in the Section Semi Final. Cranbourne 4 (55) was defeated by Dandenong Club 4 (101). - 46 shots and 0 points. Cranbourne 5 travelled to Glen Waverley to play their number four team in the 12-ASide last round. Glen Waverley 4 proved too strong in the end winning by two rinks to one with our best rink being skipped by Rob Sorensen, with third Steve Bakker, second Olive Stanley and Lead Michael Schwab winning 23-17. Cranbourne 4 will again travel back to Glen Waverley this Saturday to take on Glen Waverley 4 in the Section Semi Final.
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a minimum number of ends to constitute a game. Our three teams, in difficult conditions, played some great bowls to reach the target of 45 ends for a 12-A-Side team. We couldn’t have been prouder of the teams who won all three rinks to secure their position on the ladder and have locked in playing finals. It would not have been fair if the game was called off and the points shared, with Cranbourne 2 now locked in to third place on the ladder. Best rinks of the day were skipped by John Kent, with third Lesley Deal, second Kath Dudink, and Lead Brian Turton winning 23-7. They were followed closely by skip Rob Scott, who with third Harry VanSoest, second Phil Nielsen and Lead Kristi Hickson won 229. And let’s not forget skip Steve Hickson, who with third Scott DePiazza, second Gerry Dudink and Lead Dennis Tomlin won 17-13 to complete a great team effort. Cranbourne 2 (62) defeated Keysborough 3 (29). + 33 shots and 16 points. Cranbourne 3 travelled to Narre Warren to take on their number three team under the roof…and it was very warm. Our teams put in a mighty effort to take two rinks off Narre, but our third rink struggled and we’re beaten comfortably which gave Narre Warren 3 the overall win by five shots. The two notable rinks were skipped by Brian (Cuddles) Caddell, with third Dermot McConville, second Tony Hughes and Lead Bob Bellamy winning 22-15. And skip Ron Fenton, third Chris Sharpe, second Olive Stanley and Lead Frank Male won 23-19. Cranbourne 3 (52) was defeated by Narre Warren 3 (56). - 4 shots and 4 points. Cranbourne 4 was to play Churchill Waverley Golf 3 on the front synthetic, but following a late evening call from Churchill, they couldn’t field a team and therefore gave Cranbourne 4 a ‘forfeit’ win and the day off. Cranbourne 4 was awarded + 8 shots and 14 points. We’re sorry players have missed out on a game and next week looks to be similar with Hampton Park 2 advising the Weekend Chairman that they will be forfeiting their game against Cranbourne 4 midweek. -Derek Maguire
5 (46) was defeated by Glen · · Cranbourne Waverley 4 (82). - 36 shots and 2 points. MIDWEEK PENNANT On a day that was hot, steamy, extremely windy, temperatures hovering between 35 and 36 degrees, then a full-on storm, then sun again, followed by some heavy rain and now…as I write this…the sun shines again. It made it difficult for all bowlers and we have to thank them all for their efforts. Playing at home, our Cranbourne 1 team had a tough job with their opponents Edithvale 1, but can be very proud of fighting it out. Unfortunately, we lost two rinks to one, but our team is still in it. Our best rink of the day was skipped by Chris Owen, with third Cheryl Wright, second Chris Stevenson and Lead Gwen Scott winning 28-11. Cranbourne 1 (52) was defeated by Edithvale 1 (65). - 13 shots and 2 points. Cranbourne 2 travelled the well-worn road to Keysborough to take on their number three side, playing on their matting synthetic. Our players knew the importance of the game and we had two or three breaks when the temperature reached 36+ degrees - and then it was back to the game when it dropped below. The main aim was for the teams to reach
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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STAR NEWS 19
At Lyndale Secondary College, our mission is to inspire and equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge essential for thriving in an ever-changing world. CLASS OF 2023 VCE RESULTS College DUX: Ciya Joseph – 95.55 ATAR 6.6% over ATAR 90 23% over ATAR 80 46% over ATAR 70 LSC School Median of 29
2025 YEAR 7, SEAL & SCHOLARSHIP ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN OPEN NIGHT – WED 13TH MARCH
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Visit www.lyndale.vic.edu.au Call 9795 2366 for a School Tour
Lyndale Secondary College | 14 Halton Rd, Dandenong North VIC 3175 | (03) 9795 2366 | www.lyndale.vic.edu.au 20 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 22 February, 2024
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