“During the pandemic they provided food for students who were in desperate need for that support,” Mr Albanese said.
“During the bushfires, during floods. Wherever there are issues confronting Australians, we see the best of the Australian character and there’s no community organisation that has done more than Sikh Volunteers Australia.” Story page
Through speed humps, road islands and wet weather, Saffron Drive in Hallam continues to see its fair share of reckless drivers, or what Glenn Williams prefers to term, hoons.
Village manager of Saffron Grove Retirement Village, Mr Williams is no stranger to the almost-daily dangerous driving on both Saffron Drive and Nettle Drive.
These two roads surround the retirement village, and serve as what Mr Williams called a “rat run”.
“[Drivers] try to avoid the lights at the corner of Hallam Road, so they come down Nettle Drive and then they go through Saffron Drive,” Mr Williams said.
While there are traffic management devices present on Saffron Drive, with multiple speed humps and islands, Mr Williams said they do little to hinder the frequency of these incidents.
The pink brick entrance driveway of the retirement village is no stranger to tyre skid marks which for Mr Williams, “is insane”.
“They just go over them, you stand here and you watch those cars going over those speed humps and they just fly over them.
“My biggest concern is somebody exiting the village and another person is going to be coming up the end that quick, and just clean them up.
“Because the little islands they have here
“One day somebody’s going to come down this road hard, hit the speed bumps, lose control and they’ll end up in the village.”
are pretty much racing cones aren’t they? They go through those pretty quick,” Mr Williams said.
According to Keri New, the City of Casey’s manager of city and asset planning, the council is “aware of community concerns regarding hooning and speeding along Nettle and Saffron Drive in Hallam”.
“In response to this, council has programmed updated traffic surveys in the next school term at the area adjacent to the Retirement Village to determine current traffic volumes and speeds in these streets.
“Should speed data prove concerning then this data will be forwarded to Victoria Police and a request for enforcement at these locations,” Ms New said.
With his office situated at the front and cor-
ner of the village, alongside the cameras that surround the area, Mr Williams gets a clear view of the comings and goings of vehicles on Saffron Drive.
“The motorbikes go between the speed humps anyway, it doesn’t slow them down whatsoever.
“For [drivers], there’s no point in slowing down because the cars are big enough to absorb them, and it’s more when they come into the driveway like that which concerns me enormously,” he said.
Mr Williams can’t seem to wrap his mind around the ‘why’ of the incidents.
“I don’t understand, realistically, why they are coming to this little area here to do their burnouts.”
Coninued page 3
Young publishers earned the thanks of the Prime Minister at a Sikh festival celebration at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren on Sunday 7 April.
PM Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan recognised the 17 students who co-created the book The Dry Village.
The book is touted as “one of its kind”written in English and Punjabi languages, and set to be donated to Victorian schools by Sikh Volunteers Australia.
The Dry Village tells the tale of a village community coming together to overcome a long-term drought.
Much like the SVA’s own renowned food-relief efforts during disasters across the country.
Mr Albanese and Ms Allan joined a long list of VIPs in traditional Sikh attire at the Vaisakhi harvest festival celebration which also marked SVA’s 10th anniversary.
The Prime Minister later paid tribute to SVA’s “extraordinary work”.
“During the pandemic they provided food for students who were in desperate need for that support.
“During the bushfires, during floods. Wherever there are issues confronting Australians, we see the best of the Australian character and there’s no community organisation that has done more than Sikh Volunteers Australia.
“We see them whether it be here in Victoria, or up in Lismore, wherever there are floods or natural weather events, we see people putting their values into practice by providing that support to their fellow Australians who are in need.”
SVA chief executive Jaswinder Singh said SVA appreciated the recognition from the federal and state leaders.
“They gave a moral boost to volunteers that the things we are doing are good, required and appreciated by the highest leaders. This is en-
couragement to everyone.
“The whole festival was excellent and great. The energy was like a madhouse, a tremendous flow of energy on and off stage.”
The students behind The DryVillage are Divjot Kaur, Balsharn Kaur, Ibadat Kaur, Gunnit
Kaur, Gurnaaz Singh, Harjaap Singh, Jasnam Singh, Keert Kaur, Manjap Kaur, Pritpal Singh, Puneet Kaur, Roop Kaur, Sahib Kaur, Tavleen Kaur, Triptas Singh, Manroop Kaur and Manjaap Kaur.
Also recognised at the event were about 15
youth volunteers who helped SVA distribute food relief in Hastings, Rosebud, Frankston, Noble Park and Dandenong.
State and federal MPs, and members ofVictoria Police, SES, CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria were also invited.
A former Department of Transport bus planner says there should be better bus connections between Berwick and Cranbourne, and an overhaul review for Berwick’s bus network should be on the table.
Peter Parker first pointed out the missing link between Casey’s two crucial suburbs on his Melbourne On the Transit blog in 2019. Almost five years later, nothing had changed.
“There’s still no direct bus between Berwick and Cranbourne. It is an issue because Berwick has private schools, hospitals, and tertiary education that many people need to use,” he said.
Mr Parker noted the bus route did not keep up with the rapid development of the region.
“At one time, there wasn’t much housing between Cranbourne and Berwick because Berwick is a very old suburb and Cranbourne is also long established,” he said.
“Then the new housing in Berwick has gone south into Clyde and Cranbourne has gone east into Clyde and Clyde North.
“They sort of joined together so it now makes sense that for all the people living between the two suburbs there is a continuous bus route.”
The Cranbourne bus network was overhauled in 2016 by the State Government but it did not introduce a direct Cranbourne to Berwick route, while the Berwick bus network hasn’t had a thorough review for years, Mr Parker said.
“They [the Department of Transport] really need to sit back and have a look and see how we can make the network better,” he said.
Mr Parker also believed the bus routes in Casey should be simpler, more direct, and more frequent, a perspective echoed by a report from the state’s peak infrastructure body published in November last year.
Infrastructure Victoria (IV) had proposed increased frequency, longer operating hours, extra bus lanes, and more direct routes for growth areas like Casey in the report.
“There are many routes in Casey that overlap one another. Like I think Clyde Road might have four or five routes,” Mr Parker said.
“Bus routes are often typically very infrequent, and they might just finish at a dead-end location.
“They might be there only every 40 to 60 minutes, which if you’re trying to make a connection or to make a train or when you’re com-
ing off a train, then that’s quite a long period to wait.
“Therefore, it’s quicker for a lot of people to drive, and that adds to traffic on the roads. Also, cars are expensive so there’s cost of living issues there.”
The timetable did not reflect the current trends of the society, Mr Parker said.
“About 40 years ago, there was no Sunday trading, for instance. And shops were closed at midday on a Saturday,” he said.
“These bus timetables reflect how things were 30 or 40 years ago, and a lot of them haven’t had changes that respond to things since then.
“It’s basically a reluctance of the government to fix bus timetables.”
Mr Parker said the government had overlooked the bus service.
“They did have a bus plan, but theVictorian Bus Plan came out over 1000 days ago,” he said.
“They’ve done very little with it.
“I think there’ll be demand for people to use buses if there is a good bus opportunity for some people’s trips.”
The Department of Transport was contacted for comment.
From page 1
For the council, road safety is addressed through several programs such as a Local Traffic Management (LTM) Program, which provides annual funding for the installation of traffic calming devices throughout the municipality.
“This program assesses and prioritises roads based on data such as traffic speeds, traffic volumes and number of accidents,” Ms New said.
“Factors such as proximity to schools, shops and playgrounds are also taken into consideration.
“Hooning is a key concern for the Casey community and was identified as a high priority in Casey’s Community Perception of Safety in 2021.
“Council has since participated in a Victorian Ministerial Reference Group (2023) and works closely with Victoria Police to support enforcement and operations around hooning behaviour in Casey.”
Safety is a big concern for Mr Williams, not just for the residents of the village, but for those that live in the area as well.
“There’s a retirement village, there’s a church, there’s a park, and there’s always kids in the park you know.
“We’ve got bus stops here and another on
the other side of the road, and realistically there’s no safe place for the residents to cross.
“This isn’t something I want to do for myself, it’s making sure that they’re [the residents] safe and let’s face it, they’re getting older, their reflexes may not be as good as what they once were.
“And if you get somebody hooning up the road, it doesn’t take much for the residents to come out and see that there’s nothing there initially, but then all of a sudden there is,” Mr Williams said.
He’s also afraid that his concerns “have fallen on deaf ears”.
“We’re not respecting the dangers of a motor vehicle, and the council’s explanation would most likely be that they’re a caretaker council so therefore they’re going to wait until the real council’s elected.
“I do get that, but there’s always going to be some excuse with the council, and the police know that this is an issue here and I have no doubt that they don’t have the manpower, but should that make all the residents here suffer?” Mr Williams said.
For Ms New, residents reporting incidents is a key factor in curbing the numbers, saying that “staff undertake outreach with the local community and speak with residents directly to encourage reporting”.
Furthermore, Ms New said that enforce-
Fatal collision
Police are investigating a fatal collision in Lynbrook which occurred on Friday 5 April.
It is believed that a car collided with a motorcycle near the intersection of South Gippsland Freeway and Henry Lawson Drive about 12.45pm. The rider of the motorcycle, who was yet to be identified at the time, died at the scene.
The driver of the car stopped at the scene and was assisting police with their enquiries.
The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are being investigated.
Man charged following Narre Warren stabbing
Police have charged a 34-year-old Narre Warren man following an alleged stabbing in Narre Warren on Friday 5 April.
Emergency services were called to a Tralee Circuit address following reports a woman had been stabbed just before 4pm.
The 34-year-old woman was in hospital with serious injuries, and the man was charged with a number of assault charges, including intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and making threats to kill. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 6 April.
Cranbourne East crash
Police attended a crash in Cranbourne East on 7 April.
It is believed a vehicle clipped a road barrier before flipping on its side on BerwickCranbourne Road at about 5.45pm. The driver and sole occupant was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Clyde North fire
CFA responded to a structure fire at Ellaroo Circuit, Clyde North at around 4.32pm on 7 April.
The incident involved a two-storey property, with the fire extending to a neighbouring property.
An advice message was issued for smoke in the area. Seven units from Berwick, Casey, Beaconsfield, and Narre Warren responded alongside FRV. The incident was deemed under control at 4.54pm and declared safe at 5.28pm.
Teenagers arrested
Police have arrested two children, including one from Cranbourne, following a collision in Frankston on the morning of Monday 8 April.
Officers first noticed a 2015 silver Honda CRV travelling at high speeds along Cranbourne Road in Frankston at about 1.15am.
Police attempted to intercept the Honda but were unsuccessful at the time.
The vehicle continued to travel through Frankston at high speeds when the driver failed to negotiate a corner and hit a fence, before crashing into a tree outside a residence on Coprosma Avenue, at about 1.25am.
Initially, the driver fled from the severely damaged vehicle, before returning to the scene a few minutes later.
Both the driver and her passenger were uninjured in the crash and were arrested at the scene.
ment is a police responsibility, and urged residents who have witnessed dangerous driving to report it to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 1800 333 000.
Two 16-year-old girls from Cranbourne and Noble Park were assisting police with their inquiries.
The Honda CRV is believed to have been stolen from an address on Durham Street, Richmond between 30 March and 1 April.
Being heralded as one of a city’s most upstanding citizens - whether through commendation for your deeds, representation of a people, or a combination of both and everything in between - is a title many would be honoured to have.
As is the case for Jodie Hollis, who was named City of Casey’sWoman of theYear on 22 March, for her outstanding commitment and contribution to the community through her work and personal endeavours.
Jodie’s repertoire made its mark in 2017 through her volunteer work for the NarreCranbourne Relay for Life and in recognition of her involvement with the locality, she was given the Holt Australia Day Award in 2020.
Fast forward to 2024, Jodie said that while she was initially shocked to have won, the award has pushed her to strive for more.
“I feel excited and elated, to tell the truth, knowing who I was up against in that category - they were just so deserving of the award that it’s a pity they couldn’t give it to all of us.
“It seems that almost every year there’s another [award] under my or the charity’s belt and it does, it pushes me to continue to hit new levels and raise the bar day in and day out with Cancer Support Angels,” she said.
A not-for-profit organisation that focuses on providing direct practical, financial and emotional support to those undergoing cancer treatment, Cancer Support Angels was Jodie’s ultimate ambition and is not a centrepiece of her life.
“Back in 2013 when I had my own journey with thyroid cancer, I was looking around for support groups and I just couldn’t find any,” she said.
“I could only find online groups and also no financial support services besides Centrelink; that was one of the things that made me
go ‘maybe I should look into starting a support group for people with all cancers’.
“While every single person’s journey is different, I find that we’re talking about similar things,” Jodie said.
Jodie founded Cancer Support Angels in 2019 and is entering its fourth year of service to the community.
The journey itself had not been easy, however, and began with Jodie selling her previous business to volunteer for three years to gain insight into the people and their needs.
The organisation officially launched on 16 March 2020 and was met with a tumultuous road to begin its journey.
“When we did start in December we were hit by bushfires, and then when they died down we had severe flooding throughout the country.
“Everything from that died down, and we just started out first moral support groups and whatnot, and then around 22 March I fell over and had a a bad accident,” she said.
Jodie had broken her ankle and torn a few
ligaments, and after undergoing surgery she came home at the beginning of the series of lockdowns.
“There was trying to overcome the navigation of children studying at home, not being able to go anywhere and also not being able to do anything since I was stuck in a wheelchair.
“I had to sit there and say, ‘how am I going to navigate online?’, I’m not a marketer, I’m a bookkeeper.
“I just sat there and continually posted every day, we came up with new strategies but finally we got a really large donation from Village Cinemas in Fountain Gate to start our care packs,” Jodie said.
The cogs began turning for Jodie, and with the help of a then-young advertising firm that offered their services free of charge for a month, the not-for-profit moved towards its full potential.
“In the first few days that they were working for us and doing all of our online content, we had 2000 requests for care packs and we had to put it on hold after nine days so I could pack them.
“We started the campaign again, and within 12 days we had another 2000 requests for packs, so they kind of catapulted us nationally in that respect pretty quickly.
“We just had to realise that our presence was going to be more online than it was faceto-face, it was a massive pivot from what we originally planned, but thank God it worked,” Jodie said.
Moving forward, the Cancer Support Angels is a combination of both online and in-person support, with the launch of face-to-face support groups in Casey.
At any given time, there are roughly 70 to 80 active volunteers for the organisation, and with over 5000 patients already supported, Jodie and the Angels are looking to spread their influence and work state-wide.
By Violet LiA futuristic semi-open piece of impressive architecture is tucked away in the quiet neighbourhood of Lifestyle Meridian in Clyde North.
The white front wall says it is a microgrid and battery house. Inside the structure, a lineup of contained batteries stands on one side and faces two digital screens installed on the opposite wall: a monitoring dashboard for the homeowners to see how much energy they are saving and an educational cartoon for kids from the surrounding schools to learn how the microgrid works.
Innovative solar energy and battery microgrids are emerging as a certainty to save homeowners in the lifestyle community up to 30 per cent on electricity bills, a comfort when power bills bite.
The innovation has been the largest of its kind in a residential community in Australia, a partnership with renewable energy solution provider Mondo that started almost two years ago.
“It’s a renewable energy microgrid that has turned this community into a self-serving virtual power plant that meets a large portion of its own energy needs,” Mondo business and market development manager Max Karmali explained.
“We’ve distributed the rooftop solar systems across the community on a selected number of roofs. Then our energy management technology Ubi connected these rooftop solar systems to a centralised commercial battery for energy monitoring and reducing the energy import from the national grid.
“The more energy you generate, and you use at your own sites, then the less energy you need to use from the national grid. Therefore, it reduces the cost of electricity for the homeowners.”
Clean, low-cost energy is generated from 6-kilowatt solar panels placed on every third home acting as nodes in the grid network. The microgrid will, it is estimated, reduce emissions by roughly 600 tonnes every year.
That’s the equivalent of filling 120 hot air balloons.
A number of parameters were considered when the crew installed the solar panels such as sunshine, the development pipeline, and the orientation of the houses.
More north-facing and west-facing roofs were used to capture more sunshine
throughout the year.
“Every solar system has now been installed. We are connecting more and more grids to the batteries. I think we are close to 90 per cent of the grids connected. And more benefits will flow through,” Max said. Homeowner Gemma Brown is one of the many who loves such renewable innovation.
“It’s not necessarily just about the cost savings upfront, but it’s also about what it does for the way of living,” she said.
“It’s the way of the future.
“You could also bring young children in and show them this and show them how sustainability is important for the environment.”
Lifestyle Meridian construction manager
Jennifer De Baize believes the whole idea of a microgrid system is making the place a sustainable community.
“We want to reduce the cost for our homeowners so that it is a much more affordable way of living for them as well, but then we would also be able to divert that energy out as a sustainable company,” she said.
The key uniqueness of the project was that there had been lots of applications of solar panels, but the use of battery was what differentiated the experiment in the lifestyle community.
“Other people would just use the solar and that’s it. But this is the first and largest of its kind with solar and battery microgrids in a land lease community,” Max said.
“The design that we have put is quite unique in the country.
“We’re very proud of this system. It’s such a great service.
“Everyone can benefit from this locally generated energy, locally stored energy, and locally used energy.”
As six members of Casey’s Indian community have lost their lives to drowning this year, a community volunteer is calling for more water safety awareness while stressing the need for swimming lessons.
Clyde residents Dharmvir Singh, 38, and Gurjinder Singh, 65, drowned after leaping into a pool at a Gold Coast hotel to try to save the younger man’s child on Sunday 31 March.
The shocking news came only two months after Victoria’s worst drowning incident in almost two decades where three Clyde North residents - Kirti Bedi, 20, Suhani Anand, 20, and Jagjeet Singh Anand, 23 - and Reema Sondhi from India, drowned during holidays at Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island on Wednesday 24 January.
On 12 January, Cranbourne East man Sahil Panwar, 25, was swept out to sea in the vicinity of the Bourne Creek Trestle Bridge at Kilcunda Surf Beach when he was trying to retrieve his sunglasses in the water.
The Officer Sikh Temple Gurudwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar held a voluntary prayer service on Thursday 4 April for the shattered families of Dharmvir and Gurjinder.
Harpreet Singh Kandra, a community volunteer who helped organise the prayer service, said they tried to build a bit of water safety awareness in the community on the day.
“A lot of people in the Indian community do not know swimming, which is not good.We did tell people that it’s good for everyone to learn to swim,” he said.
“If you can’t learn swimming, you need to be extra careful with water when you are on a holiday.”
He said there was a need for the media and the community to build up awareness on a wider scale.
“When news is new, people remember it and people can relate to it. But once the news dies down, people again get used to their lives,” he said.
“I have spoken with a few community leaders, and I don’t think it’s a problem in the wider community.
“Again, we are using the opportunity to make the community aware of water safety and the need for us to learn swimming.
“People come here when they relocate from other countries. They learn driving because driving is an important skill to have here, and we are stressing that swimming is also an important state skill to acquire.”
Holt MP Cassandra Fernando said she was deeply heartbroken about the recent drownings of Dharmvir Singh and Gurjinder Singh, which followed other drowning incidents that
have taken the lives of people from the community.
“Every life lost is one too many,” she said.
“When I heard about the incident that took place on the Gold Coast, I could not help but reflect that I had only recently attended the funeral of the four people from the Indian community who lost their lives at Forrest Caves Beach.
“It’s important to drive more awareness about being safe in and around the water.
“While swimming lessons are often a staple in Australian schools, it is important that this is not the case around the world. Similarly, while we’ve been taught to ‘swim between the flags’ since childhood, not everyone is aware of this.”
Ms Fernando said she was currently in discussions with a few Indian community organisations about the steps they could take to im-
prove water safety awareness.
The drowning of two men from Melbourne’s Indian community has also prompted a plea from lifesavers to inject more cash into multicultural water safety programs.
Multicultural communities are five times more likely to drown when swimming and the Indian community is particularly vulnerable, according to Life Saving Victoria.
Following the tragedy, the state’s peak water safety body said urgent action was needed to better support multicultural communities around water, with 28,000 migrants arriving in Victoria each year.
Philanthropic organisations and local governments have been forced to fill gaps in funding, Life Saving Victoria’s diversity and inclusion advisor David Holland said.
“We’re at the stage now where (programs) won’t operate without the generosity and the assistance of the State Government,” he told reporters on Friday 5 April.
‘‘We’re pretty much tapped out.”
Life Saving Victoria wants to develop the water skills of as many African, Asian, and Middle Eastern people as possible so they can work as pool lifeguards, swim teachers, and volunteers.
“For people who can’t come to the beach and learn, we’ll go to their classroom, church, sporting clubs, community centre, homework group and we’ll deliver (programs) there,” Mr Holland said.
Victorian Minister Vicki Ward said the State Government had spent more than $400,000 on supporting multicultural community water safety awareness.
“We will continue to work with our communities and... with our swimming industry to see how we can continue to help keep Victorians safe,” she said.
An annual fundraiser for promoting awareness and supporting research for Huntington’s disease will be held at Selandra Rise Retirement Village in Clyde North on 27 May at 2.30pm.
It’s been organised by a Selandra resident who lost his wife and son to the fatal sickness.
Maurice Browne has been involved in the Huntington community for decades after discovering his wife carried the gene and passed it on to three of their six children.
“It [the disease] affects the central cortex of the brain. The main symptoms are neurological disorders, balance problems, depression, and confusion,” he said.
“Your reflexes slide down. Your swallow gets compromised. You choke because of the compromise.
“You suffer from personality disorders... [and] mood swings.”
The tragedy first hit the family in 2007 after his wife lost her battle to the disease. Seven years later, their eldest son also succumbed to the same illness.
Now, their son Philip and daughter Sharon are in the late stages of the disease, constantly in care.
“Sharon is in a very bad way at the moment. She’s lost weight, and she has trouble talking and walking,” Maurice said.
Maurice’s grandsons Mitchell, 34, and Philip, 37, have also been diagnosed with the disease.
“It’s a long journey. We’ve been through emotional roller coasters,” Maurice recalled.
“It’s one crisis after another, but we’ve got through so far. We’re sticking together.”
Maurice has organised many fundraising events since 2001 to help gain more exposure to the disease and funds for a cure.
“We raise money for Huntington’s Victoria in May to coincide with the Awareness Month, in the form of raffles, and auctions,” he said.
“All the money raised will go to research to find a cure.
“Last year we raised about $2700 and usually we raise close to $3000.”
Afternoon tea will be provided on the fundraising day. Any donation would be gratefully accepted.
Maurice and fundraising organiser Gillian Clegg would like to say a great thank you to Tobin Brothers Funerals Cranbourne branch manager Alan Muller who has donated generously to this year’s fundraiser.
For more information, call 5991 5526.
A residents group says young families may be left ‘high and dry’ if toddler pools and water slides are removed from a redeveloped Doveton Pool in the Park.
Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association chair Stefan Koomen said “many local families believe that at least one slide and shallow pool need to be kept for younger children”.
“If you don’t have anything fun for little ones, families are less likely to use the pool.
“This will impact the long-term viability of the pool’s operations.”
Recently, Casey Council committed to $7.91 million of stage 1 funding to retain the 50-metre pool and splash pad facilities only.
It is awaiting state and federal funding to help fund further stages including a possible beach sand pit, plaza, canopy tree planting, upgraded splash pad, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, barbecue, toilets and upgraded pool building.
Mr Koomen welcomed the funding to
save the historic pool but raised his concerns at a recent meeting with the council.
“We’ve asked the council to reconsider the removal of all slides and smaller pools and are eager to work with them to ensure
the design and investment align with community needs.
“It’s vital to have a shallow area for little swimmers to get confident with water in a safe controlled environment, suited to their size and ability.”
He said it would also be “such a shame” to remove the slides which were “notstalgic” for residents who “grew up spending their childhood summers at Doveton Pool”.
After a fierce community campaign in 2021, Casey Council reversed its plans to replace all of the pools with parkland.
Casey’s city and asset planning manager Keri New said community feedback in 2021 showed a “strong sentiment to retain the pool whilst supporting year-round elements such as a park and water play”.
“Doveton Pool in the Park annual visits identify that school carnival users make up approximately 75 per cent of the annual visitation, with the remaining visitation being community visits.”
Ms New said several “activations and programs” would be offered to ensure the 50
metre pool would be used by people of all ages and abilities, including young children and families.
She said the community, including DETA, had been engaged during a public exhibition of the site’s masterplan in mid-2022.
“In light of council’s recent endorsement to stage the delivery of the master plan and fund stage 1, council will be informing the community of this decision and will continue to advocate to State and Federal Governments, seeking funding commitment to deliver future stages.”
For the past two summers, the outdoor pools has opened on days 25 degrees Celsius and hotter – a reduction from the previous 30-degree temperature trigger.
However, attendances were down. In 43 days of operation in 23-’24, there were 5836 visitations – thought to be due to the lack of extreme heat days.
The Doveton Pool was developed in 1968 after a long campaign of community fundraising in response to drownings in Eumemmerring Creek.
Thumbs up
To free junior footy back at Catani Football and Netball Club starting soon.
Thumbs down
To Federal MPs who ignore their constituents’ emails. Do your job and represent us.
Thumbs down
To the ridiculous amount of storm debris lying all over the road sides that council do nothing about. It’s either one good wind gust away from ending up on the road or it’s blocking drains from running properly, creating a whole host of other issues.
Thumbs up
To all the unfinished roadworks on the highway and the way the move on to another part without finishing anything.
With over 26 years of experience, 37 villages under our belt and over 8,000 residents across the ditch, we’ve become pretty good at creating the kind of retirement community you want to live in.
Our first Australian retirement village with premium aged care,# Summerset Cranbourne North is a modern village with resort-style facilities, a full range of living options to suit your level of independence* with the reassurance that there will be a modern aged care home onsite. With homes priced from $599,000 and flexible pricing options to suit your budget, that next step could be closer than you think.*
The village is conveniently located with easy access to nearby shopping centres, public reserves, the freeway, and is just minutes away from the local golf club and the gorgeous Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.
Pop along to our upcoming Open Days to tour the brand-new homes, enjoy some refreshments, and get a taste of the Summerset life that our residents love so much.
Love the life you choose.
At only 25, Maya Pinn is paving the way for disability inclusion across the City of Casey, turning her self-described “over-enthusiastic” efforts into a well-deserved Casey Community Award win as the 2024 Young Citizen of the Year.
As a disability inclusion advocate, business owner and single mother to two children, Ms Pinn has taken matters into her own hands, after her now six-year-old son’s diagnosis with rare genetic condition IQSEC2-related disorder inspired her to seek much-needed change in a flawed system.
“My advocacy work came about after I had to advocate for two years to get genetic testing for my son, Lloyd, after I had done every test known to mankind to find out why he had such a severe global developmental delay.
“The average Diagnostic Odyssey for receiving a diagnosis is seven to nine years, and 30 per cent of children with a rare genetic disease pass away before they’re five. So I think it’s so important that these are caught early on.
“If there’s going to be a life-limiting condition, and there’s no cure right now, then how can we improve the quality of life for the child and their families so that they have the best five years?”
Ms Pinn’s advocacy work began in 2019 when she first connected with Syndromes Without a Name (SWAN) while awaiting her son’s diagnosis.
Five years on, she is still devout in her work with the organisation, moving into a paid administration role, while continuing her volunteer work in peer support by providing advice to families, lending an ear for their diagnosis stories and connecting them with research projects.
Her work with SWAN has also seen her become involved with the Community Advisory Group, through which she has advocated against issues like Discrimination Against Genetic Testing in Life Insurance, which stops life insurance companies from increasing your premium or denying you health or life insurance due to genetic tests.
Outside of SWAN, Ms Pinn dedicates some of the remaining hours in her busy week to the Association for Children with a Disability (ACD), volunteering as a community champion and advocating on behalf of the organisation in issues regarding the NDIS, while offering her experience in the creation of training modules for inclusive playgrounds.
“My six-year-old, Lloyd - who has a rare genetic condition, is in a wheelchair, is non-ver-
bal, has a severe intellectual disability, and is PEG-fed now - has completely different needs from my four-year-old, who is neurotypical and can walk, talk and run,” she said.
“So, how do you include them both in the park at the same time?
“And it’s not just my family that I’m providing this sort of feedback for.
“Trying to keep everything as inclusive and accessible as possible not only suits me but the families around me.”
Supporting her two children and continuing to pursue higher education, Ms Pinn also runs an adaptive clothing business, called RareWear, that aims to “help parents lessen the stress for simple daily tasks like getting their kids ready in the morning”.
“A lot of families don’t even know that things can be easier,” she said.
“So I hope to make mine and their lives easier so we have more time for fun and connection.”
And having just celebrated its first birthday, the founding of her clothing business took place while studying a Bachelor of Health Science full time, which she just finished in 2023, and working at her local auto retail store 25 hours a week.
During this time, she also volunteered with the Royal Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council, and at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, where she is now doing her honours in increasing diversity in Australian genomics, with The University of Melbourne.
“I try to do as much as possible,” she explained.
“I’m not good at being bored, or relaxing for that matter, so I’m very strategic in how I plan my days, weeks and months.
“I’m also really lucky to have such a great community around me in terms of my family, with my parents and sister, and also my best
friend, work colleagues and, of course, groups like SWAN and ACD, who have always been really supportive, especially when I need disability-specific advice.
“And I have so many calendars, it’s not even funny. I have two on my phone, one on my email, two physical calendars in my kitchen, and I do a weekly one as well.
“But the key for me in balancing everything is passion. When you’re passionate about it, it doesn’t feel like work.”
Hoping to help lighten her mum’s load is four-year-old Elsie, who has taken the busyness of her little life in her stride, and works alongside her mum to make the things that could otherwise be burdensome more fun, naming Lloyd’s medical devices fun things like Peggy and Tricia, and helping with her favourite job of changing the “Peggy pads” twice a day.
While she is still “shocked” by the award, Ms Pinn hopes that her win can help raise greater awareness for her work and for disability inclusion as a whole throughout the City of Casey and beyond.
“I think my win is a great opportunity to really make a big impact on families in the City of Casey predominantly, but also statewide and nationally, by building a community for children like mine.
“And children turn into adults too, so this way we will have people to turn to when they finish school, and around guardianship.
“This is all information that shouldn’t be kept from these families, and I don’t think anyone should ever be alone. I know what it’s like to feel isolated, so I hope to lessen the mental health impact on families and help them find more people like them.
“Because from my standpoint and experience, we can do a lot better with disability inclusion, and it doesn’t have to be hard.”
A high-ranked member of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has been jailed over the extortion, assault and robbery of a member wishing to leave the outfit.
Paul Robert “Romeo” Draper, 40, of Endeavour Hills, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to robbery, common law assault, extortion with a threat to inflict injury as well as theft of a number plate and possession of steroids.
Three other full-patched Fink members Michael Bacalja, 43, of Berwick, Andrew Tonkin, 32, of Keysborough, and Allan Campbell, 30, of Endeavour Hills, were earlier sentenced to community corrections orders over the incidents.
The victim had been a fully-patched Finks member and treasurer based at the Cranbourne West clubhouse. He didn’t provide a victim impact statement.
Draper, Tonkin and Campbell barged their way into the victim’s house in Doncaster in July 2021, with Draper demanding the victim’s $60,000 2019 Harley Davidson while he was deciding whether to leave the club.
The victim pleaded for them not to take his bike and Draper assaulted him.
Campbell warned the victim that“if you call the cops, we’ll shoot you” and ordered the victim to write a note authorising the hand-over of his bike to Draper.
The victim complied and the men rode away with his bike.
A week later, after pleading for his bike’s return, the victim was told to go to Draper’s home in Endeavour Hills.
Inside the house, Draper – in company with Bacalja - told the victim that he’d have to pay $15,000 and forfeit his bike to leave the Finks.
If he didn’t sign over the bike, he would be “f***ed”, Draper told him – and the victim duly signed VicRoads transfer papers.
When he left, Draper phoned him to say he’d signed the wrong part of the form. If he didn’t come back inside, he’d be “really f***ed”.
An angry Draper punched, kicked and kneed him in what the victim said was a “really savage” beating. He was left with red marks, and a sore jaw and head, for days.
Sentencing judge Sarah Leighfield said on 10 April that Draper, who was ranked as a ‘Nomad’ at the Finks, was the“principal” offender. She noted his limited but relevant violent history including a road-rage incident in 2011 and forcibly evicting a female flatmate.
Draper had worked 20 years in the crane industry, as well as a singer and guitarist with various bands.
The road rage assault was against a cameraman associated with a record company, which led to Draper and his band losing their record contracts.
Raised in Doveton and Hoppers Crossing, Draper was diagnosed with PTSD due to being a victim of numerous acts of violence since childhood.
Judge Leighfield said the PTSD as well as the stress from a painful neck, arm and hand condition from a car crash into a mob of kangaroos would make Draper’s time in custody more burdensome.
Despite recent surgery, he still endured pain flares and required intensive physical therapy and medication.
His guilty plea, his remorse, trial delay and his lack of subsequent offending despite continuing to be a part of the Finks were also noted.
Draper’s role and gravity of his offending meant he was required to serve jail time.
He was imprisoned for seven months, followed by a 21-month supervised community corrections order with alcohol, drug and mental health treatment.
In October, Echo Taskforce police raided the accused’s homes as well as the Cranbourne West clubhouse.
At Draper’s home, they seized the bike’s keys and registration plate as well as several steroids.
Over several weeks, the victim transferred $11,500 to Draper’s bank account, spurred by several demands from Draper via calls on encrypted app Signal.
Draper submitted against an order not to associate with the Finks, arguing that the outlaw motorcycle gang was an important support structure.
Judge Leighfield limited the non-association clause to the first nine months of the CCO.
Inadequate computer access is further hampering struggling students.
Eight in 10 students in lower socio-economic schools surveyed for a new report had trouble finishing class work and assignments because they didn’t have a computer.
KPMG prepared the report pro-bono for WorkVentures, a not-for-profit supporting Australian communities through technology, skills and meaningful career pathways.
It also found two in five (44 percent) Year 6 students and a quarter of Year 10 students did not have access to a computer outside of school.
One in two (51.6 percent) lower income families reported their children could miss out on the digital devices needed for schoolwork because they couldn’t afford them.
So WorkVentures is calling for a National Device Bank for students who can’t otherwise afford to access vital educational technology.
The organisation said digital learning increasingly dominated classrooms and online resources were an essential part of learning.
Access issues put children at risk of falling behind academically and grappling with the social impacts and limitations of future employment opportunities.
WorkVentures IT solutions and social impact director Jacob Muller said not everyone was afforded the same opportunities when it came to digital technologies.
“Australia is undergoing a rapid digital transformation but despite increased connectivity, socially and financially disadvantaged families have found themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide due to affordability and confidence barriers,” Mr Muller said.
“Our report found that students, who are from schools in areas that identified as having greater relative socio-economic disadvantage, experienced reduced or no access to a computer after school.
“This reduced access outside of school is likely to have a negative impact on the educational outcomes for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.”
The report found schools commonly provided laptops forYear 6 students (57 percent), but only a third (32 percent) of Year 10 students received a device from their school.
“We have been addressing digital exclusion by refurbishing end of life corporate laptops and PCs and distributing these to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford them, including school students,” Mr Muller said.
“Unfortunately, there have been various hurdles to scaling this up including a lack of device donations and lack of consistent funding to support the ongoing costs.”
public and corporate sector will refresh 10 million laptops, PCs, and tablets.
WorkVentures CEO Caroline McDaid said a key component to closing the digital divide was a national strategy.
“WorkVentures is urging the introduction of a National Device Bank to aid digitally excluded Australians by providing free digital devices,” she said.
“Wewanttoensureallchildrenhaveaccess to digital learning essentials so they can make the most of their education and not miss out due to their individual circumstances.”
Over a five-year period, the Australian
The WorkVentures report highlighted the benefits to students of access to a laptop out of school, with 83 percent of surveyed students experiencing improvement in their grades, and 97 percent indicating that their new laptop supported them in completing their homework and assignments.
Most of these devices are currently diverted into international markets for profit, recycled, or sent to landfill.
“While we have had some Australian companies and government agencies donating devices for social good for a number of years, there is substantial scope to amplify this across the corporate and public sector landscape,” Ms McDaid said.
“We want to see a system where these devices are kept in Australia and redistributed for free to people who are digitally excluded.
“We are calling upon these organisations
to get involved and for the public to advocate for a National Device Bank to help students get connected for the good of their education and their future.”
A National Device Bank aims to secure one million pledged devices to support digital inclusion programs within five years while providing more than 100,000 Australians with devices, connectivity, and digital coaching.
It also looks to divert 2500 tonnes of potential ewaste, promoting a circular economy while also combating its environmental impact.
Visit workventures.com.au/national-device-bank to find out more.
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar has been bestowed with a remarkable honour, receiving an invitation from St James’s House in London to be showcased in the commemorative publication for‘The Commonwealth at 75’.
This publication, set to be an official commemorative hardback album, marks the 75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth.
The unexpected invitation, which is understood to have been received by 12 schools across the Commonwealth, underscores the international recognition and impact of this school.
In response to the invitation, the school’s principal Dr Annette Rome, questioned why they were chosen when she spoke with Kian Husain Bor, Partnerships Manager at St James’s House.
Mr Bor advised that the school had garnered attention for its exceptional standards of teaching, focus on global respon-
sibility and nurturing environment.
“We were drawn to your relatively unique Diamond Education Model, which appears to provide the best of all worlds when it comes to learning environments,“ Mr Bor said.
“as well as your commitment to Global Responsibility which is demonstrated via your Certificate in Global Responsibility, which your students can earn.”
“This aligns with the Commonwealth’s long-term plan to serve communities and improve global education.”
“This is a unique opportunity for the School to be showcased internationally,“ a school spokesperson said.
“We believe this recognition is a testament to our historical contributions to the local community and Melbourne as well as our recent growth and development, solidifying our position as a leader in Education not only in our region and in Australia but across the Commonwealth.”
We have redesigned our scholarship program in 2024 to reflect our 4As, so that we can award talented individuals cross a range of disciplines including academic, sport, art and design, dance and music.
To find out more and to apply please visit our website or use the QR Code.
In an era where mental health challenges are increasingly recognised and acknowledged, the importance of dedicated support cannot be overstated. Organisations like Seachange, with their unwavering commitment to providing tailored assistance to individuals grappling with complex mental health conditions, are beacons of hope in our communities.
At the heart of Seachange’s ethos lies a profound understanding that each client’s journey is unique. Their approach is not about fitting clients into preconceived moulds but rather about finding the perfect match between client and support worker. This personalised approach ensures that clients receive the support they need in a manner that resonates with them, fostering trust and comfort along the way.
What truly sets Seachange apart is their dedication to building genuine connections with their clients. It’s not merely a professional obligation for them; it’s a deeply personal commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those they serve. Through one-onone support, Seachange fosters an environment where clients feel safe and empowered to open up about their struggles, knowing they are met with empathy and understanding.
The passion and dedication of Seachange’s support workers shine through in their approach to their roles. Armed with extensive experience in mental health and guided by principles of patience, understanding, and non-judgmental acceptance, they create a nurturing space where clients can thrive. It’s evident that for Seachange, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
The impact of Seachange’s work extends far beyond the realm of mental health support. By fostering independence and empowerment in
Seachange Care Support Services stands as a beacon of hope and assistance.
their clients, they contribute to building stronger, more resilient communities. Their belief in treating every individual as equals underscores their commitment to inclusivity and respect for diversity.
In a world where mental health stigma still lingers, organisations like Seachange serve
as beacons of hope and compassion. They remind us that with empathy, understanding, and dedication, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Seachange’s unwavering commitment to empowering lives through compassionate support is a testament to the transformative pow-
er of human connection.
Seachange Care Support Services, Suite 429, Waterman Narre Warren, Level 2, 66 Victor Crescent, NarreWarren.
· info@seachangecare.com.au
· 0450 599 488 and 0461 380 966
Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) is proud to announce the launch of its newWhat is CP? video series, aimed at raising awareness about cerebral palsy (CP) and providing valuable insights into the condition and its impact on individuals and their families.
Hosted by CPA researchers living with cerebral palsy, Tash Garrity and Georgina Henry, the series features adults and children with lived experience of CP, offering an inside perspective.
Despite its relatively high prevalence, cerebral palsy is a little understood condition, and many misconceptions can prevent people with CP from achieving the best of their abilities, Ms Henry said.
“The series is a vital resource that aims to bridge some of those barriers by educating the parents of children with CP about all the things that their child can achieve with the right support, “ Ms Henry said.
“By sharing personal stories and insights, we hope to empower individuals with CP and their families while fostering greater community support and inclusion.”
The What is CP? video series builds on a previous explainer video that garnered sig-
nificant attention, becoming one of CPA’s most popular ever videos and reaching global audiences. It is particularly relevant for individuals and families with a new diagnosis of CP. By revitalising this series, CPA aims to reinforce its position as a global leader in CP support, advocacy, technology innovation and research.
TheWhat is CP? video series is now available on the Cerebral Palsy Alliance website and social media channels.Watch the video series at youtu.be/JLaROMpCxuY
What matters to our participants, matters to Support Embrace Connect. Our support services revolve around the needs of our participants.
We offer a personalised support process according to your NDIS goals in your NDIS plan: including individualised support and team connections.
SocialOutings,Art,Cooking,SpecialEvents, Gardening,Team Building Exercises and More.
Support Embrace Connect is situated at 5-6/10 Princes Highway, Beaconsfield, telephone 0484 679 364.
· www.supportembraceconnect.com.au
As our society progresses into a more inclusive and welcoming environment, it is important that we make a conscious effort to ensure the language we use towards others is appropriate. Rather than relating to concepts such as profanities, this is in reference to the way we address or describe people with disabilities.
Like fashion crazes, music styles and interior design trends, language tends to change and update with time. New words and phrases are introduced into our vocabularies to reflect the times we live in.
Terms like ‘handicapped,’ ‘physically challenged’ and ‘wheelchair-bound’ are heading away from being the accepted way torefertopeoplewhohaveadisability,while the use of phrases like ‘suffering from’ or ‘afflicted with’ are generally deemed offensive in today’s language.
Avoid the use of words and phrases such as crippled, a victim of, unfortunate, suffering from, incapacitated or worse, words that have evolved from historically medical terms to become hurtful slurs.
Using the word ‘normal’ is also, depending on context, one that should generally be avoided when referring to people with a disability.
Using proper terminology is empowering, while outdated terminology is hurtful and offensive.
Instead of defining someone by an impairment or disability they may have, try to first recognise that they are a person above all else. They are not disabled, they have a disability - in the same way that someone is not brown hair, but rather they have brown hair.
Instead of saying ‘a blind person’ or ‘a quadriplegic’, perhaps consider rephrasing to ‘a person who is blind or has a vision im-
When referring to someone with a disability, start your sentence with ‘a person...’ so as to not define them by their disability. (iStock)
pairment,or‘apersonthathasquadriplegia.’ Similarly, this concept also applies to medical conditions such as asthma and cancerinstead of ‘she suffers from asthma,’ instead use ‘she has asthma.’ Rather than ‘a cancer patient,’ use‘a person with cancer.’
It is in this way that we are not defining someone by any disability that they may have, but rather recognising that it is simply a feature of who they are.
One of the best ways to address or refer to people with a disability is to start with ‘a person,’ as you are affirming their humanity first and foremost.
You can then go on to say ‘...that uses a wheelchair,’ ‘...with a hearing impairment,’ or whatever their disability may be.
Language and terminology will continually evolve, as do all other aspects of our society, and is something that we all have a duty to remain aware of. It is important to take note of the terms that the person with the disability uses to describe or refer to themselves, and then use those terms accordingly. It all comes down to each person’s own preference and we should respect everyone’s preferred way of self-identification.
Supporting the community, Embracing life and connecting with those that matter most.
• Supporting participants with empathy
• Transport to appointments
• Community access e.g. coffee shop, grocery shopping, local parks and gardens
• Booking and reminders for appointments
• Support to build relationships with family and friends through goals
• Teaching life skills
• Liasing with other support workers and support agencies
• Assisting clients with Government agency contact and applications
Casey Council is supporting a ban on dark roofs on new homes on small lots to alleviate the urban heat island effect and promote energy efficiency.
The Victoria Planning Authority (VPA) has proposed an updated Small Lot Housing Code where a new set of standards would be introduced specifically for dwellings on significantly smaller lots between 75 and 150 square metres.
The new proposed standards aim to deliver improved environmentally sustainable designs and one of them would mandate that “roofs must be finished with a colour or material with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) greater than 50”.
LRV measures the amount of light a colour reflects on a scale that ranges from zero to 100 per cent. Absolute black is at the bottom end of the scale, absorbing all light and heat, while pure white is at the opposite end. A colour with a LVR greater than 50 is lighter and will reflect more light than it absorbs.
DrTimothy R O’Leary, a lecturer in construction economics and sustainable building engineering at the University of Melbourne, said the planning authority in Victoria was concerned that lots of dark roofs in close proximity on small lots in housing estates made a hotter heat island with the combined effects of all the dark pavements and roads.
“In hot weather, the heat of the sun shining on house roofs contributes to what is known as heat island. Basically, the hotter a roof gets, the more heat is being radiated to the surroundings. The increased absorption of solar energy
in high-mass, often dark-coloured roofing materials, can contribute to elevated local temperatures,” he said.
“Particularly in hot summers, this can impact thermal comfort, increase energy consumption, and drive peak energy demand.
“Lighter-coloured roofs reflect more of the sun’s energy away and so do not get as hot and so contribute less to the heat island effect.”
He said the targeted ban of roofs on smaller lots was the concern that houses were packed intogethersotheareaofroofperareaofground was much denser, and in hot weather would exasperate the issue of any heat island effect.
“Inlargerlots,thehousesarenotsosquashed together, and the total roof area is not as dense per area of ground.
“In hot weather heat from the sun can be
dispersed more readily onto cooler outdoor surfaces like lawns, plants, vegetation, lowering any heat island effect.”
The updated housing code would be applied to the Planning Schemes of Ballarat, Baw Baw, Cardinia, Casey, Greater Geelong, Hume, Latrobe, Melton, Mitchell,Whittlesea, andWyndham.
Google aerial images have shown a great number of dark or near-dark roofs in the City of Casey.
Casey ranked second highest for the urban heat island effect out of 27 government areas in Melbourne, according to a Victorian Council of Social Services research in February this year.
City of Casey manager growth and investment Kathryn Seirlis said the council had been engaged by the Victorian Planning Authority’s consultation process for the proposed amendments to the Small Lot Housing Code.
“Casey is supportive of the amendments proposed, as these changes will provide clarity on requirements detailed in the Small Lot Housing Code, whilst providing an opportunity for greater housing diversity,” she said.
“Mandating lighter roof colours for Type C designs is a positive initiative in responding to localised climate issues and energy efficiency.
Melton and Hume Councils are also supporting the new standard and suggesting it should be extended to homes on larger lots.
However, Dr O’Leary pointed out that dark roofs could benefit a house’s thermal performance in winter.
“A house’s thermal performance and level of thermal comfort, which is the amount of energy a normal occupant needs to use both heating and cooling the house to live comfortably, is
a function of the weather and typical annual weather,” he said.
“In cold weather, we need to heat our home to be comfortable, and in Victoria, the days we spend heating our houses is typically significantly more days than we spend cooling our houses, despite global warming which has led to more hotter days.
“Dark roofs with their greater ability to absorb heat from the sun can assist in lowering the amount of additional energy needed to keep warm in winter.
“If you ban dark roofs, you are going to miss out on this advantage of darker roofs over the lighter colour roofs for winter heating.”
Henley Properties Group stood against the new standard and submitted during the consultation stage that the roof colour control was most often contained in design guidelines, where a building design was assessed by a design panel.
The Housing Industry Association also argued that“it was not appropriate for a planning instrument to specify building products”.
VPA submitted the final amendment to the Minister for Planning in February and is awaiting the outcome.
Its spokesperson said it would not be making any further comment until the minister’s decision on the amended code.
The Small Lot Housing Code applies to housings on lots less than 300 square metres. A planning permit is not required if the development complies with the code. A developer or a house builder could opt to use the existing planning permit process if the standards in the code are not met.
Experience a day of family fun and enjoyment at Officer Lifestyle Estate by Lincoln Place. To celebrate the school holidays we are throwing open our gates so that you can come and enjoy everything our friendly over 55 community has to offer – but with some added extras for the kids. Join us on Thursday, 11 April, from 10 am to 3 pm, for a fun day out suitable for all ages.
Bring your kids, grandkids, and friends for an array of activities, including the Ultimate Officer Olympics, hosted by Andy’s Antics, face painting, a petting zoo, and barefoot bowls and pickleball throughout the day. Why not help yourself to some complimentary treats from our coffee van, fairy floss, and sausage sizzle while you’re there?
This event is open to everyone, so whether you’re already a part of our community or simply curious to explore Officer Lifestyle Estate, please come along. We’d really appreciate it if you could RSVP at info@lincolnplace. com.au to help us manage our catering.
Nineteen female high school students across the south east have been awarded Harding Miller Education Foundation scholarships to support and empower them in their educational pursuits.
Given to female public school students who show high academic potential and who are currently experiencing low socioeconomic circumstances, the scholarships serve to support the students as they navigate the crucial secondary schooling years of 9-12.
Among the fortunate recipients are students from local schools Gleneagles Secondary College, Hampton Park Secondary College and Nossal High School.
“The Harding Miller scholarship has brought tremendous blessings and resources into my academic life,” Hampton Park Secondary College student Zeba Mohseni said.
“My parents are from a refugee background and are both migrants that came from a wartorn country.
“They didn’t have the opportunities that I have now.
“I will use this scholarship to increase my chances of getting into my dream selective school and to study medicine… to get a job as a doctor.
“I am so grateful that they’ve seen my potential.”
The 15 students from these three schools, along with the remaining recipients, will receive four years of scholarship support valued at over $20,000.
This includes a high-quality laptop in the first year as well as four years of online IT support, high-speed internet, $2500 worth of online or face to face tutoring, online homework help, and prepaid expense cards for essential school needs such as uniforms, textbooks, and school excursions.
Each scholar is also allocated a personal coach who supports and guides them through the four years of the program, as well as access to a variety of enrichment programs that aim to introduce scholars to a range of career and tertiary education pathways.
Foundation chief operations officer Caroline Hill says the foundation is proud to be providing vital support to help promising young girls reach their full potential, having supported more than 1200 recipients in over 350 public schools since its inception in 2015.
“Our scholarship recipients are bright, talented and engaged, but don’t currently have
the resources they need to make the most of their educational opportunities,” Ms Hill said.
“The scholarship provides them with tangible items and practical things that give these young women a hand to complete their highschool education and take advantage of tertiary opportunities.
“This support for high-potential young girls experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage has become even more critical as our country faces increased pressures with higher costs of living.
“But our scholarships offer more than just a financial boost. Our scholars are also paired
with a volunteer coach who provides them with mentorship throughout the year.
“This support can often be the difference between continuing education or dropping out for an uncertain future.
“We encourage any other local young girls who may need support to consider applying for a Harding Miller Education Foundation scholarship this year.”
Applications for scholarships for 2025 ar open from 15 July to 18 September 2024.
For more information, visit hardingmillereducationfoundation.org.au
Tell us about yourself and your roles!
I am first and foremost a single mum to two beautiful children: Lloyd (six), who has a rare genetic condition, and Elsie (four). I am the owner of RareWear (an adaptive clothing brand),afulltimeuniversitystudentundertaking Honours at The University of Melbourne, an administration officer and volunteer at Syndromes Without A Name (SWAN) Australia, a Community Champion at Association for Children With a Disability (ACD), a member of the Nepean School Council, and an associate investigator on two research projects within the health science sector.
What do you love the most about your work?
Providing opportunities to further increase accessibility and disability inclusion from policy to the ground, and helping families of children with a disability in all surrounding communities.
What was your most memorable moment during your current role?
This is tough! I’m so very grateful to have had many significant opportunities and memorable moments throughout my various positions, but if I had to pick one, it would be the surprise of being named 2024 Young Citizen of the Year by the City of Casey.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
A monkey. I’m a bit of a jokester, but also strategic and agile.
What were you like as a kid?
Inquisitive and empathetic, with a tendency to push boundaries.
What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
Peter Brock winning Bathurst for the last time in 2003 in his 7LV8 Holden Monaro. I was born and bred a Holden girl, if you couldn’t tell.
Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
My great grandma who passed away at 100-years-old in 2020, Stephen Hawking, Elvis, Bobby Darin (to duet with Elvis, of course), Steven Bartlett (author of Diary of a CEO), and Mel Robbins (who has helped me more than she will ever know via her podcast).
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
I asked them! The answers were: 1) persistent, 2) eclectic, and 3) determined.
What would you do on your perfect day off?
Head off into the Dandenong Ranges for a long
hike to a waterfall destination, with Lloyd in a carrier on my back and Elsie happily alongside me.
Where is your happy place?
Sitting at the Harkaway Cemetery at my grandparents’ grave, picnicking with my beautiful kids, and telling them stories about Grandma.
If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?
Vegetarian lasagne.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
The Northern Lights (whether in Iceland, Norway or Sweden).
1
Eid @QVM - 13 and 14 April
Known for its bustling markets and delicious food, the Queen Victoria Market will be hosting an exciting two-day event in celebration of Eid. People are invited to come and immerse themselves in the diverse Muslim cultures, ranging from Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Bosnia, South East Asia and the Subcontinent through a mouthwatering culinary journey and interactive art offerings.
2 The Eid Show at Broadmeadows Town Hall - 19 to 21 April
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, The Eid Show boasts an unmissable collection of multicultural food kiosks and trucks, exhilarating rides, stalls, fireworks and stage shows, making for a family outing that is perfect for all ages.
3 Hakaya (Stories) of Eid 2024 at Bunjil Place - 27 April
Visit Bunjil Place for an interactive day of storytelling in an event that honours Eid’s diverse narratives and traditions across different cultures. The day will feature cultural performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
From watercolour paintings and acrylic pieces to digital art, the Calvin Bell Art Show will be showcasing the best local and interstate artists have to offer.
Held at Nossal High School’s auditorium in Berwick, the show will be running from Friday 12 April to Sunday 14 April with a raffle and prizes to be won.
Zoe Panagiotopoulos, current president of Provenance Artists Inc., said the upcoming art show is dedicated to the organisation’s founder, Calvin Bell who passed away in 2023.
“We dedicate this exhibition to our beloved Calvin Bell, founder of Provenance Artists, whose passion and enthusiasm for the creative life was infectious and unwavering.
“The driving force and lifeblood of the group, he shared his knowledge and guidance, opening up the rich and rewarding world of art to all,” Ms Panagiotopoulos said.
Guests should expect a wide variety of pieces, not just in number but with different categories that these said pieces follow.
Furthermore, all artwork pieces are for sale, with purchasing details to be liaised with the artists themselves.
In addition to what was already mentioned, the expo will have “oils, pastels and scratchboards”.
“The categories are varied, we’ve got marine and waterscapes, landscapes, urban scapes, still life, flora and fauna - we also have real life which includes people and portraits,” Ms Panagiotopoulos said.
While the last few years have been rather quiet, Ms Panagiotopoulos is still confident
of the expo’s attendance, saying “we normally have quite a few thousand coming through historically”.
“We’ve had tremendous support from the community, and we love to support our artists as well, just bringing the appreciation of art to art lovers both in the City of Casey and to the wider community.
“We consider art food for the soul, and it’s autumn, we’ve got beautiful autumn days and I think it would be a lovely, relaxing and fulfilling day out supporting local and interstate artists,” she said.
The show opens on Friday 12 April, at 10am and will finish at 4pm; the same times apply for Saturday 13 April, but not on Sunday 14 April when the expo will be finishing at 3pm.
Tickets will be presented at the door, with adults priced at $10 and children at $5.
The reception and awards presentation night will be held on Friday 12 April at 7pm.
Being abletospeakeffectivelyinpublicisessential for a business leader and pretty well expected these days, but writing as someone who was once terrified of public speaking, I feel reasonably well qualified to share five tips that should make your presentations as effective as possible.
Know your material
Many surveys on fear frequently show ‘Fear of Public Speaking’ as figuring in the top three (often even above ‘Dentistry’ and ‘Fear of Dying’!) and a significant way to overcome this is to be fully confident of the material you are presenting. This does not mean memorizing great chunks of text as this will not help, but it does mean having good examples, knowing key facts, anticipating possible questions you may be asked and being really clear on the message(s) you want to provide.
Keep slides simple and supportive
A frequent mistake that people make when presenting is to have slides loaded with text. Doing this inevitably means that the audience will be reading the slide contents instead of listening to you. The point is Powerpoint slides should exist to support the presenter, not be in competition. For this reason, keep text to an absolute minimum, use bullet lists to drive the narrative so that these act as a prompt for you to speak to as opposed to just reading it off the slide.
Tell a story
A good strategy is for you to (briefly) ‘tell your audience what you will be telling them’ (a contents list really helps here), ‘tell them’ and then ‘tell them what you told them’ (i.e. summarise the key messages you want them to leave with). The material itself should naturally flow so that context is provided upfront and supporting material (facts, charts, data etc) used to illustrate the point. It is important to emphasise that if you have a time limit to your presentation, you must stick to it since your audience’s interest and atten-
tion drop off dramatically if you exceed your allotted time.
Be conscious of people’s learning styles
People learn in different ways. Most of us are visual so when presenting, remember that a picture tells a thousand words. We can process an image in about 13 milliseconds so showing a relevant image should enhance the point you wish to make without distraction. Some people learn best through listening so ensuring variety in tonality and using short videos should keep the presentation interesting. Finally, if presenting to train others, then be aware that many people learn best by actually doing, so brief exercises, break-out rooms and teamwork work well.
Personal pace, voice and posture
This can be a tough one to master at first if you are nervous about giving presentations, but they are necessary if you are to maintain audience engagement. If you have ever been in a situation where the speaker drones on in a monotonous tone for what seems like hours, you will know what I mean. So vary your tone of voice as appropriate and a good trick here is to always talk to the back of the room to aid voice projection. Avoid talking too fast (silence for short durations is okay) and it is good practice to stop occasionally and ask the audience a relevant question to keep them on their toes. Finally, never have your back to the audience and if talking to a slide, stay close by.
Ian Ash ACC,AInstIB Managing Director, OrgMent Business Solutions,www.ombs.com.au
Casey Cardinia Heritage Festival
Community members across Casey and Cardinia are invited to come along to the 2024 Casey Cardinia Heritage Festival. This free event will feature various information stalls from local historical community groups, book sales, live music, and entertainment for all.
A Devonshire tea will also be available for purchase for $2.50.
This event is proudly delivered by Connected Libraries and Myli (My Community Library) and supported by the City of Casey.
· 10am to 2pm, Sunday 21 April, Berwick Senior Citizens Centre.
Yakkerboo Festival
Kicking off on Saturday 20 April, with a carnival at amusement ride prices.
The event will also feature an open mic competition and a spectacular firework display to close out the evening.
On Sunday 21 April, the family festival gets into full swing, commencing with the parade at 10am.
From 11am to 4pm there will be unlimited rides for all ages, with the purchase of a $15 wrist band, as well as a line up of local talent to entertain on stage.
· Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 April. Holi ‘The Festival of Colours’
Lynbrook
The Lynbrook Residents Association is very proud to present Lynbrook’s most colourful event.
Free entry - all welcome.
Plain white clothing shows the colour best (plain black also works well.) Please note: Colour may not fully wash out so don’t wear your best threads. Bags of colour (100g) $3 each.
There will be about 20 market stalls at this event too! Come have some retail therapy with us and support local small businesses.
· The Holi Festival of Colours is on Saturday 27 April, 12pm to 5.30pm.
BADFolk Club
Berwick and District Folkclub have been meeting at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick for the past 21 years! We meet on the third Friday of each month. This month we welcome back Ma-
ria Forde - she is a classic folk singer and has written some great songs like ’Will You Dance with Me’ which is often played at weddings. We also welcome spot acts - anyone who can play an instrument, sing, share a poem etc. Please note our earlier running times: Doors now open 6:30 and the music runs 7:00-10:00pm. Our kitchen sells snack food and a variety of drinks - tea/coffee/wine/beer/soft drinks. Entry: $15.
Website: badfolkclub.org Contact: Edward: 0418 535 264.
· Meet on the third Friday of each month.
The Woodlands Park Retirement Village in Berwick is again raising money for its Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event, which will contribute to raffles, door prizes and auction prizes available on the day and towards cancer research.
Resident Colleen Astbury has organised three events towards the initiative, raising a total of $22,486 towards the Cancer Council.
· For more information or to donate, visit biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/ColleenAstbury or contact Colleen on 0422 849 619.
Craft Classes
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.
Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre
If you are over 55 years old, newly retired, or new to the Casey area and looking for something to do, come and join us.
Narre Warren Seniors is a friendly Club and we can offer you many activities. Our main Club day is on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3pm. On the first Wednesday of the month we enjoy socialising with our members and, on the next three (3)
Wednesdays we have live entertainment wherein you can do some line-dancing if you wish and enjoy an afternoon cup of tea. There are also weekly activities on other days of the week, which include the Garden Group Club, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Line Dancing, Table Tennis, friendly Card games, and a Gentle Exercise class.
· We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Phone us at 9704 0015 or 0426 736 467 or email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information
Mental Health Peer Support
Program Cranbourne Group - Free
The program is based on a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help, and support. Participants share challenges and solutions in a supportive and structured peer-to-peer format within a confidential, caring, and sharing community.
· The meetings are weekly and go for about two hours. 10.30am to 12.30pm Thursday, excluding school holidays, 7/9 Selandra Boulevard (Balla Balla Community Centre), Clyde North. For any enquires contact Grow Victoria on 9528 2977/1800 558 268.
The centre is filled with activities in the coming weeks, catering to both children and adults. Morning Melodies – running on 9 April at 10.30am, the centre’s entertainers will be singing for the audience, joined with some tea, scones, creams and jam and some friends to make along the way.
Introduction to creative writing – facilitated by local author Rod Grigson, the class will be held every Friday for eight weeks, beginning Term 2 and will prepare participants with the inspiration and skills to write their own stories.
Citizenship training – Held on Wednesdays, the eight-week course will cover all topics included in the Australian Citizenship test. Playgroups – Balla Balla Bubs for 0-12 months will be held on Wednesday mornings and encourage little ones to explore tummy time, sensory play, singing and also reading with your baby. For playgroups 1-4 it also includes singing, dancing, sensory play, craft activities and story time.
Introduction to mindfulness meditation – Held on Monday evenings, this four-week meditation course will explore the topics of mindfulness, instructions and meditation practice, mindfulness of breath and body, the heart and being fully human and mindfulness of emotions.
· Bookings are essential for all of the mentioned activities and events and can be done over the phone at 5990 0900 or online at ballaballa.com.au/special-interest
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.
Cranbourne U3A
Come along to Cranbourne U3A meet new friends and have fun doing interesting classes. We are a not-for-profit group for over 50 retired, or semi-retired people. Our latest class will be Resin Craft, where we will be creating small items such as earrings, necklace pendants, coasters, and more. Great for small gifts for your friends. Come along and give it a try. Class materials will be provided for the first 4 weeks to give you an opportunity to try out a large variety of casts and molds. We have lots of samples to give you inspiration.
Our usual craft, music, chess, table tennis, and calligraphy classes are all open to new members. Come along and give it a try. Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library Admin building, enter from the Casey Radio entrance, next door to L’Arte Cafe. We are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.
· Our website is - u3acranbourne.org.au.
Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) Division 2 newbies Endeavour Hills made a statement in Round one by defeating 2023 finalist Highett 8.2 50 to 5.18 48.
After winning a momentous premiership in Division 3 last season, the club has backed its youth to compete at the next level, after it was reasonably quiet on the recruitment front.
Those youngsters repaid the faith on Saturday, shading Highett in what was a tussle for three quarters, before defending staunchly in a goalless last term at Barry Simon Reserve.
Highett had the territory and got on top in general play, but scored seven behinds after trailing by nine at the last break, with the Falcons’ grit led by Ben Holland and Luke Peters.
“They had a lot of opportunity on the last quarter but our pressure was very high,” Endeavour Hills coach Matt Peake said.
“None of the shots they had were easy –our backs really held up.
“The wind was going against us and we potentially went into our shells a little bit.
“They came hard in the last quarter and it was gutsy for the guys to get the points.
“It was clearly a step up in standard and physical pressure and especially after the first quarter, Highett lifted but it didn’t shake our guys and that should give them a lot of belief that they can stand up to that stuff.
“Overall, it’s nice to come up and say ‘we belong’.”
Under 19s graduate Tyler Studd led the young brigade, competing well in the ruck after working hard in the preseason.
For Doveton, Sam Muirhead kicked six in a side containing former AFL-listed and 2019 Doves premiership player Deakyn Smith, who added class to the midfield mix and rotated forward.
Listed for North Melbourne’s VFL side, Smith got the opportunity to play in Doveton’s 14.7 91 to 4.6 30 win over Keysborough due to the VFL bye.
“He loved getting the opportunity to play with premiership teammates and it was positive for the young players who listen to every word he says,” coach Matt Stapleton said.
“He was silky with the ball in hand, has that pace to break away and give himself some time with the footy.
“He looked dangerous at times when he went forward as well and on another day would have kicked three or four goals.”
There were several sources of excitement for the Doves on Saturday, playing under a new coach on their home ground, Robinson Reserve, for the first time since 2022 and unveiling a bevy of recruits.
Stapleton was full of praise for the contri-
butions of some of those club debutantes.
“Lochie Conboy was fantastic - he’s a hidden gem in some respects.
“Joel Pritchard showed some great run and dash off halfback and defended well.
“Matt Rogers was lively up forward and through the middle and applied pressure and Ben O’Loughlin was fantastic using the footy behind the ball.”
Meanwhile, in Division One, Cranbourne got its first look at a post-Marc Holt/Kirk Dickson forward line on Saturday in a 16.17 113 to 9.5 59 loss to Cheltenham.
In a rematch of last year’s grand final thriller, it was what has changed for each club across the offseason which proved decisive in the result.
Cheltenham’s ex-AFL recruit Jack Lonie showed his class, kicking three goals and adding energy to an already stacked line-up, while Cranbourne’s attack looked bare.
Coming up against the reigning premiers and 2024 flag front runners was a challenge exacerbated by the absences of champion defenders Brandon and Glenn Osborne, but the youth showed signs.
Tyler Finn ran hard, Ethan Campbell was opportunistic, Brad Frater showed forward craft, and creative halfback Andrew Green has clearly taken another step forward.
That quartet was among six teenagers representing Cranbourne, alongside Ky Williams and Tyson Barry.
Having made a name for himself on the wing, Nick Darbyshire had presence and worked hard often playing as the deepest forward.
Fellow winger Ryan Jones was another who spent time deep in attack, alongside Matt Alister.
There was a glimpse of the forward 50 pressure Cranbourne will hope becomes customary in 2024 during the first quarter.
Finn was one of several who transitioned well and was able to put the ball to forwards’ advantage.
At times, there was a dose of patience, though.
Cheltenham kicked the first two of the game in a perilous start before Cranbourne responded and got themselves into the contest.
The Eagles were again playing catch-up in the second quarter after Cheltenham had momentum for a sustained period.
Darbyshire dribbled home the crucial first goal of the third before Cheltenham came hard.
The undermanned defence withstood several waves from Cheltenham, with Cran-
bourne still within four goals at three-quarter-time despite struggling for territory.
The dam wall burst in the fourth, with three goals in stoppage time helping the Rosellas put on a sizeable buffer.
Elsewhere, Jye King was a marking machine in defence and winger Tanner Stanton were named best for a Hampton Park side which easily accounted for St Kilda City 18.8 116 to 8.10 58 in Division 2.
Club debutantes Ryan Patterson, a halfback from Narre Warren, and Bronson Martin, recruited through a mutual contact at the club, showed pleasing signs after coming off hand surgery in preseason.
Martin is the brother of Richmond superstar Dustin, and fills an important hole for the Spiders.
“He’s about 6’2 ½ so he’s probably more of a third forward for us but we used in the forward and ruck stocks because we’re undermanned there,” coach Hayden Stanton said.
“He’ll be handy enough because we don’t have a lot of height so his big body is an acquisition.”
Narre South went down 3.5 23 to 14.21 105 against Lyndhurst in Division 3; and Doveton Eagles comfortably accounted for SouthYarra 14.27 111 to 3.4 22 in Division 4.
Berwick is approaching the 2024 Eastern Football Netball League season with a mantra of ‘no fear’ as it embraces the injection of youth at senior level.
A host of senior players, including Travis Tuck, Harry Money, AnthonyVella and Jayden Graham have left Edwin Flack Reserve, while captain Will Aurthurson will miss the entire season due to a torn ACL, presenting opportunities for the club’s bounty of Under 19s and emerging senior players to take the reins.
The circumstances have forced Clint Evans andWickers to implement a quick gamestyle that will aim to catch opponents on the hop.
“It’s going to take us, probably, a little while to get back up, but we’ve got a lot of young guys that we’ll get games into that probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity,” Evans said.
“We’re going to have to try and slingshot
off halfback and change lanes a fair bit.
“We’re not big, so we’re going to try and get sides on the outside with our speed.
“We’re going to make mistakes and we understand that, but we’ve just got to keep on learning.”
Ashton Williamson and Caydn Lane have
been among the standouts in training and in practice matches to date, while Josiah Kyle and Sam Hilton-Joyce will bring an injection of flair to the Wickers’ forward line, with Hilton-Joyce providing a tantalising sample late last year of his capabilities, kicking 11 goals in seven games.
It’s in front of goal where the Wickers will need assistance, with Money joining Charlie Muley in the departure lounge, two of the club’s most dangerous in recent years.
Berwick was excellent defensively last season, forcing its way into the top half of sides for least points conceded, but struggled to capitalise on opportunities at the other end of the ground.
And while a number have recommitted for 2024, the club has been unable to shake the torrid injury curse that has followed them like a black cloud in previous years.
Arthurson, last season’s best-and-fairest, already has company on the injured list, in ruck, Jesse Cirulis, and midfielder,
Nick Hillard.Development will be fast-tracked for those that do don the Berwick jumper, paving the way for a bright future.
“It’s a whole new club at the moment, which is exciting,” Evans said.
“When I started, I think there’s four guys left, from round one when we played Noble after Covid-19.
“The guys that left were 28, 29, 30 (years old) - the guys we’re bringing in are 18, 19, 20-year-old kids who are going to improve.
“We’ve got a mantra that, we just want to go out and enjoy our footy, and not play timid footy; if you make a mistake, don’t drop your head, just keep going, because that’s how we’re going to improve.
“It might take one or two years but for the footy club moving forward, it’s really good.”
The Wickers will get a sense of just where they need to go when they tackle defending premiers, Rowville, at Rowville, in round one on Saturday.
Erin Bell made a successful return to the netball court for Narre Warren on Saturday as the Magpies recorded a first-up win in Outer East Football Netball’s A-Grade competition against Pakenham.
Bell, who sat out last season while pregnant, scored 32 goals in the 53-38 win, with the Magpies extending their lead at every break as the contest played out.
NarreWarren threatened to pull away during a physical first half but the Lions were able to reel leads back in before they got out of hand on a number of occasions.
Light rain made for a slippery surface and ball, while the physicality at both ends of the court was noticeable.
Pakenham’s shooters in Rose Laidlaw and Charlotte Hudolin were steadfast in the face of strong bodywork from Narre Warren’s defenders Gabrielle Dwyer and Julia Kaitani, but the swarming wings of Narre Warren further ahead in the court made moving the ball difficult for the Lions, who were forced to resort to long balls down court on a number of occasions.
A six-goal run in the third quarter helped the Magpies extend their lead to 11, and was enough to keep the Lions at arms-length for the remainder of the contest.
11 goals to just five in the final term saw the Magpies run away with the result, and begin their premiership defence in ideal fashion.
Recruits, Jordyn Adams and Millicent Utber both made strong impressions in their first games for Pakenham, as did Kelly Cousins, who shot 14 goals.
At Wandin, the Bulldogs prevailed in a highstakes contest with 2023 preliminary finalist Mt Evelyn.
The high-scoring clash finished 55-45 in Wandin’s favour, eager for redemption after lasts season’s grand final loss.
Taking a four-goal lead into the second half, Wandin outscored the Rovers 16-10 in the third term, and grew the margin to 13 midway through the final period, before settling on the eventual gap of 10.
Shooter Emmalia Blake picked up where she left off last season, scoring 50 goals in her first contest of the year.
Clubs in 2024 will now have the option to activate rolling substitutions throughout the game, rather be limited to making changes through injury.
Outer East introduced rolling substitutions
in accordance with the 2024 edition of the Rules of Netball.
One player at a time can be substituted at the designated interchange area next to the score bench, or near the team’s interchange bench, without needing to notify umpires or stop the game.
Outer East’s Netball Operations Coordinator Matt Blanchard said the decision to choose rolling substitutions over tactical substitutions was made to minimise disruptions to the game, and to ease pressure on scorers.
“We opted for rolling substitutions because
we thought it would be easier for our scorers and volunteers to record,” he said.
“Because you only do one at a time, whereas tactical subs you can technically change every position on court.
“It keeps the game flowing, it doesn’t stop and start.
“For us, for an integrity point of view, because we have goal-shooting awards, it’s making sure the right player is apportioned the right amount of goals.”
The remainder of round will be played this weekend.
Exciting ball movement propelled Dandenong to its first Coates Talent League win in 2024 on Sunday.
The Stingrays went down narrowly in each of the first two rounds despite playing with flair and a strong spread of contributors putting their names forward.
In a 17.15 115 to 13.4 82 win, Dandenong made the running for the majority of the day but was unable to put the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels away at Mars Stadium until midway through the last term.
The ‘Rays led from the start of the game, kicking the first two off the back of a productive start toVic Country boys Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes, and St Kilda father-son prospect Elwood Peckett.
Despite hemming the Rebels in for a large part of the first quarter, it was four goals apiece at the first break as the Rebels were opportunistic in their few forays forward.
The Rays got away from the Rebels on multiple occasions but the home side remained within touching distance despite struggling to generate any momentum amid the visitors’ class and hard work.
Narre North Foxes junior Noah Mraz and Berwick’s Kane Hurst were crucial in repressing GWV’s forward 50 entries when they won it out of the middle.
That pair stood tallest when GWV got out to a game-high 10-point lead and briefly got a run-on, with Mraz’s aerial presence and Hurst combining his toughness and intercepting in his finest game at the level.
When the Stingrays ran the ball out of defensive 50, they had the legs to look searing and worked hard for each other.
Uncontested marks were a feature when the Stingrays were at their best, with Pat Bloink one who linked up well with a forwards group led by 19-year-old Endeavour Hills junior Jacob Grant, who slotted three goals.
The lead stretched to 25 points late in the third quarter to finally apply the scoreboard pressure which threatened all day, before the Rebels slotted two in the two minutes either side of the last break to get back into the contest.
But Grant kicked two of his three goals in the last quarter to help the ‘Rays pull away for good, while Harry Doughton also popped up for a sizzler from 50.
Hynes spent time late as the deepest forward and got on top of his opponent, generating three scoring shots to show a different element to his game, complementing his 32 touches with seven tackles.
Others to perform included Tom Sullivan, who was potent off half-forward and laid six tackles and athletic ruck Jordan Doherty who cleanly gathered 21 disposals.
Meanwhile, Gippsland was outgunned 12.9 81 to 8.9 57 by a Bendigo outfit which was more consistent across the course of the game.
After conceding the last three goals of the first quarter to go into the first break trailing by 14 points, Gippsland looked ominous from the start of the second.
Max Donohue, who was one of Gippsland’s best across the day, was the beneficiary of a centre clearance goal to kick-start the Power’s second quarter.
Asher Eastham was the go-to man and got his hands to everything in the air, kicking 2.2 in a dominant 10-minute patch, including a snap around the body which showed his ground-level acumen.
AFL Academy small forward Ricky Mentha finished the second quarter with a goal to even the ledger for Gippsland – an important goal after Rhett McLennan’s side had let momentum slip late in the quarter.
Playing his last game for Gippsland before school footy takes precedence, Warragul’s Ollie Wilson kicked a crucial second quarter goal thanks to a clean front-and-centre after Donohue got it in deep to even numbers.
That would ultimately be the Power’s only goal of the third quarter, falling behind by 27 points at the last break before two goals apiece
in the last quarter.
Xavier Lindsay’s kicking efficiency and run was crucial before he was restricted by injury late in the third quarter, while Julian Callahan’s dare from the back half was also crucial.
In his second game at the level, Brodie Snooks was an important piece in a backline at times under duress.
Following a third-placed league finish in last season’s Outer East Football Netball Under 19s best-and-fairest, the halfback has acquitted himself well at the level, playing above his size on the weekend and taking the game on with 18 disposals and five marks.
Tooradin’s Jesse Craven also had moments, finishing with 18 disposals and five tackles.
The Power next play on Saturday 20 April, while the Stingrays boys are not in action again until Sunday 5 May, but several players will play in the Vic Country trial match this weekend.
A tactical shift with its approach inside 50 helped spark a second-half turnaround for Beaconsfield in its round one win overWantirna South at home on Saturday in the Eastern Football Netball League, according to coach Michael Fogarty.
The Eagles kicked nine goals in the second half to the Devils’ four to run out 37-point winners, 13.13 91 to 8.6 54.
Beaconsfield took 11 shots on goal in the first half but only kicked 4.7, to take just a seven-point lead into the long break.
With “dynamic” forward Matt Johnson in the side for a rare match in a Beaconsfield jumper due to the VFL’s bye, the Eagles used speed to their advantage to capitalise on their stocks ahead of the ball.
“It was fast ball-movement and getting one-on-ones, giving our forwards a chance to actually compete, bring it to ground when we couldn’t mark, and we were able to get our smalls to finish off their work,” Fogarty said of the adjustment.
“We had a lot of the ball in the first half, a lot of entries but we couldn’t really capitalise on the scoreboard.
“The second half, we were able to do that, and we were able to have a good win at the end of the day.”
Johnson kicked three and Harrison Coe two as the side’s only multiple goal kickers, while Johnson was joined by fellow VFL-listed talents Kade De La Rue, Kobe Shipp and Mitch Szybkowski in returning to Holm Park Reserve.
Coe and recruit Charlie Muley formed a strong ruck duo that complimented one-another while fellow new faces Mackay Bateson and Nathan Wright both hit the scoreboard and made strong impressions.
In a sad blow for the Eagles, Darren Minch-
ington suffered a hamstring strain in the second quarter and was unable to play the remainder of the contest.
The hosts were only able to win one of their men’s games, a 13-4 victory over Waverley on Sunday afternoon, which accompanied two defeats to Sunshine and an 11-3 loss to Frankston.
The women fared better, winning all three games on Saturday.
They followed up an 11-2 win over Melbourne with a 9-6 victory over Frankston and 7-3 win overWaverley.
Casey sandwiched a 7-4 victory over Keilor Park on Sunday with losses to Dandenong (8-2) and Albury-Wodonga (8-4).
The winners were: Waverley (Women’s Cup), Dandenong (Women’s Plate), Glen Eira (Men’s Cup) and Sunshine (Men’s Plate).
There were 19 Men’s andWomen’s teams representing 13 associations from all over the state.
