News - Cranbourne Star News - 13th June 2024

For the wildlife

By Violet Li

Wild Days Wildlife Shelter’s founder, owner, and carer, Kay Taranto, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List for her service to animal welfare.

Kay has fiercely dedicated herself to wildlife rescue, foster care, and conservation for more than two decades.

She has operated the shelter since 2008. She served as a wildlife rescue volunteer in the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009 and the Victorian Bushfires in 2009 and 2010.

She has also been involved in various conservation groups and organisations such as the Conservation and Sustainability Community Reference Group in the City of Casey, the Animal Ethics Committee in Federation University, and the Wildlife Emergency Services Network under the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

“A couple of weeks ago, they sent you an email. I still don’t know who nominated me, but it’s really nice and amazing,” Kay said.

“After so many years of being involved in wildlife rehabilitation, I find there are more and more opportunities to work towards changing the minds of the community in how they impact wildlife.

“I am honoured to have been nominated for this award and hope that it will open the doors to being able to reach a wider audience.

“It is humbling to be among so many other incredible award nominees.”

Star News talked with Kay in late April when the shelter won the 2024 Casey Community Group of theYear.

Since then, the Narre Warren’s animal shelter has taken in quite a few new faces: a wide-eyed orphaned baby wallaby, an unhappy Boobook owl, a composed kookaburra - a car-accident survivor, an agitated Mountain Brushtail Possum with fractured cheekbone and jaw, and an almost hairless baby wombat.

Things stay the same. Kay goes on to work two full-time jobs: the graveyard shifts in animal rescue and care, and her daylight legal career that helps financially back the former.

“Mythrowawayisstill,IthinkIsaidlasttime, if everyone can put a water dish in their gardens, or plant a few more trees, it would have bigger impacts on the environment and save thousands of animals,” Kay said.

In retrospect, Kay believes the biggest gain she has had along the way is a realisation of the power of knowledge and understanding.

“What I’ve realised is how much you’ve got to get out in the community and let them know what’s going on and try and take steps to reduce the number of animals that come into care,” she said.

“Since I’ve been doing that, I was actually making a list of where I’ve been and who I’ve spoken to. And I didn’t realise I’d done as many as I have.”

Kay has made significant efforts to engage with the community for conservation over the years. She talked with young children in the schools. She attended network meetings. She had stalls at shows across Casey. She held nature activities for the children.

“I am just trying to reach a whole range of people. A lot of people are not aware of the impacts that what they do has on wildlife,” she said.

“As time goes on, I’ll do more and more of that because I think that will have a bigger impact.”

To know more about Wild Days Wildlife Shelter, visit wilddaysws.org

To read the feature the paper had with Kay and the shelter earlier this year, visit cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/ news/2024-04-27/a-day-in-the-life-of-kaytaranto

More King’s Birthday Honours coverage inside

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Your voice can help shape Casey’s future

You’re invited to share feedback as part of our 2024 Shape Your City campaign.

Share your feedback to help create our next four-year Council Plan and guide Casey’s new incoming Councillors on future decisions.

Your feedback will also be used to inform the review of the Community Vision and the development of the new four-year Council Plan, and other key strategic documents.

Engagement pop-up events will be held throughout June, providing you the opportunity to share feedback in person with Council officers. Scan the QR code or visit our Casey Conversations website for more information.

Survey closes Sunday 7 July 2024.

Let your imagination run wild and travel back in time as Dino Safari transforms Wilson Botanic Park into a prehistoric wonderland. Book online now via the City of Casey website or scan the QR Code.

The City of Casey’s Winter Arts Festival kicks off this week, with an electrifying line-up to warm your winter.

The program features more than 60 amazing arts, cultural, and entertainment events across the city throughout June and July.

Some highlights include:

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE

• School of Rock musical presented by Windmill Theatre Company

• Queers of Concert with a local queen of drag

• Casey Live and Local Micro-Festivals

VISUAL ARTS

• Hybycozo Deep Thought installation at Bunjil Place

• Berwick District Woodworkers Club Expo

• People of Pearcedale exhibition

DANCE

• Salsa for Seniors

• The South East Area Throwdown

• Kids Dancehall and Breakin’ Workshops

Search ‘Winter Arts Festival’ on our website to view the full program.

Leading the way in vape recycling

Want to dispose of your vapes safely?

Thanks to a partnership with Ecocycle and Envirostream, residents now have the option to safely dispose of vapes at the following locations:

– Hampton Park Transfer Station: 274 Hallam Road, Hampton Park

– Melanie’s Recycle and Community Collection Hub: 13 Pasadena Boulevard, Clyde

– Casey ARC Customer Service: 10 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren

The vapes are then safely transported, disassembled and processed through a specialised recycling system. For more information, please visit our website.

Casey Conversations

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY

Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.

• Shape Your City: support the creation of our next four-year Council Plan.

• Climate Action Living Lab: have your say on the development of the Living Lab.

• Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy: tell us your thoughts on our approach to minimising gambling harm and supporting community wellbeing.

• Casey Coastal Framework: have your say on the draft Framework to help inform the next steps on how we adapt to and manage coastal hazards.

Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.

IN BRIEF

Hallam collision

Help move the food

By Violet Li

The Cranbourne Food Truck is facing the possibility of reducing its service in the coming winter due to a shortage of volunteer drivers.

The food charity is crying out for volunteer drivers for its Monday and Wednesday night services at the Lyall St carpark.

“There are 10 driving shifts in July, and I can fill only five of them,” the food truck administrator Marie Magdziarz said.

“If we haven’t got a driver to drive the truck, we can’t do a food service.

“But we don’t want to reduce our service because even on a very quiet night for Monday or Wednesday, I think the minimum [attendant] might be 14. So you still get quite a few people. On a really busy night, we have 42 [attendants].

“We’re trying to come up with some solutions for July and August.”

Driver shortage had been the biggest issue for the community organisation as it determined the operation, chairperson of the Food Truck committee Chris Marsh said. She said the truck would be closed on King’s Official Birthday because none of their drivers were available.

“We normally operate on public holidays regardless, because a lot of the other food services [in Casey] are shut on Monday,” she said.

“Some services don’t operate, for instance, in school holidays, so it’s important for us to still be able to serve our community, but we can’t do that without qualified drivers, so that’s our biggest issue.

“There’s always the issue of not having enough money to buy and to get supplies but I think we’re keeping our head afloat with regard to money and donations and all of that.

“But as I said, if we can’t get a driver to take the truck out, it doesn’t matter how much stock we’ve got or cooked.”

Ms Magdziarz said the problem that led to the situation was that many driver volunteers

had been retired and it was the time of the year they went off on holidays to somewhere warmer.

“We also have the usual winter ailments. We’ve had people off sick, and people who used to do a couple of driving shifts move out of the area,” she said.

She also stressed that it was not an easy job to find someone already with a truck licence.

“It’s not like they budget rent a car. You can’t do this one because our truck has got a double axle. So you actually need a truck licence,” she said.

“The other thing is if you’re a brand-new driver, as we all know when you first learn to drive a car, it can be a bit scary and these catering trucks are quite heavy.

“We do get some inquiries, but so far over the last at least eight months, we’ve had one person that’s just about to start.”

Apart from an existing truck licence, a mentality to engage with the food service was also

Drainage pipe concerns

By Violet Li

A resident in Selandra Rise Retirement Village is concerned with an uncovered drainage pipe in the neighbourhood as he often sees children playing inside.

The drainage pipe is located at the intersection between Linsell Boulevard and Berwick-Cranbourne Road in Clyde North. Geoff Wright said when he passed by when walking his dog, there was always a bike or a scooter next to the drainage.

“Kids are playing inside.They love it, which is why It’s really dangerous,” he said.

“The drainage pipe goes into a pit and then it will just go off into the other drains.

“It’s better to do something before someone gets drowned or killed.”

Mr Wright reached out to Casey Council a few months ago and he has still been waiting for a response.

“A council officer came down and looked into it. He got on to contact South East Water and Melbourne Water, but they had nothing to do with it. He said he would get back to me one day,” he said.

City of Casey manager City Design and Construction Michael Barrett said the drainage structure was an inlet for the underground stormwater drainage line that discharged into Clyde Creek.

“It serves to collect the stormwater runoff from Linsell Boulevard that is channeled from the shaped open swale drain,” he said.

“Similar to other drainage structures such as this, the inlet is not covered to prevent blockages of the pipe.

“However, in this case, due to the proximity to the paths, Council will carry out further investigation and take appropriate measures to deter access to the pipe.”

required for driver volunteers, Ms Magdziarz said.

“They also need to be prepared to do more than just drive the truck,” she said.

“They have to be involved in the food too. The truck drivers often will make the teas and coffees and pack up food parcels.

“If there’s a lot of people there, they will also help with the actual food service, handing out the hot cups of tea and generally engaging the clients because often they need or want somebody to have a bit of a chat with.

“We are their company for that week. They might only engage with other people twice a week, and that’s when they go down to the truck and get a cup of tea or a meal.”

Anyone interested in helping can call the food truck on 0455 121 077. Two shifts are available on Monday and Wednesday nights. Each shift lasts for two hours from 6.15pm to 8.15pm.

Police are appealing for public assistance following a collision in Hallam on the morning of Tuesday 11 June.

It is believed a truck travelling north on Belgrave Hallam Road collided with a pedestrian at the intersection of Frawley Road at about 6.30am. The pedestrian, who is yet to be formally identified, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The truck driver, a 50-year-old Cranbourne West man, remained at the scene.

The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and an investigation remains ongoing.

Driver critically injured

Police are investigating following a critical injury collision in Cranbourne West on the morning of Monday 10 June.

It is believed a Holden and a Volkswagen utility collided at the intersection of Hall Road and Banyan Drive at about 10am.

The female driver of the Holden was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. A toddler, who was a passenger in the Holden was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The male driver of the utility sustained minor injuries and was assisting police with their enquiries.

Interview after fatality

A 21-year-old Cranbourne man handed himself in to police following an alleged fatal hitand-run crash in Dandenong on the night of Friday 7 June.

The man attended Cranbourne Police Station at 3am on Sunday 9 June where he was taken into custody.

The arrest follows the death of a 29-year-old Dandenong North woman who was struck by two cars while crossing Stud Road around 9pm on 7 June. The first driver stopped and spoke with police while the second allegedly fled the scene. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives interviewed the Cranbourne man and he was released pending further enquiries. Investigators are continuing to appeal for witnesses, particularly the driver of a car who was travelling behind a dark-coloured SUV.

Geoff Wright of Selandra Rise Retirement Village is concerned with an uncovered drainage pipe in the neighbourhood as he often sees children playing inside. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

A truck licence is required to drive the Cranbourne Food Truck. Picture: SUPPLIED

Neon winter wonderland

By Ethan Benedicto

Banjo Park in Clyde North is lighting up during this cold season, looking to embrace the winter solstice with a neon wonderland.

The event is planned to be held on Friday 21 June, and will run from 5pm to 8pm at the centre of Smiths Lane; with live music and entertainment, as well as treats for the first 300 attendees.

However, Carla O’Brien, a Melbournebased artist with a speciality on neon displays, says that this event is going to be unlike anything the park has done before.

“We’ve got a neon winter wonderland, a full winter playground of fun and in celebration of the winter solstice,” Ms O’Brien said.

Trying her best not to spoil the experience, a little sneak peek means that her and her team are “taking up the whole park”.

“There are so many pieces that we’ve got, about 20 installations for people to interact with.

“A community-based event like this is bringing all types of people, young and old, to-

gether to just have a good time and a really fun family experience as well,” she said.

Natalie, a barista at the neighbouring Smiths Social cafe said that events like these are a boon for growing areas and communities such as Smiths Lane.

“It sounds like it’ll be great for the kids and all the young families, and of course, you can go support local artists by going,” she said.

A father, who wished to remain anonymous, said that anything that “brings the community together is always good”.

With a wife and three kids, the family has been in Smiths Lane for just over two years, and in that short amount of time observed the area grow exponentially.

“They did something like this some time ago as well, and it was really good, a lot of people came and you could sort of feel the togetherness if that makes sense.

“My kids liked lights, other kids liked the lights, it brings the people out to mingle and it’s free, what more could you ask for?” he said.

For Ms O’Brien, working towards exhibi-

tions like this is nothing out of the ordinary, with multiple projects displayed throughout Melbourne CBD; her most iconic include the Sleigh My Name festive lettering, the MANIAX entrance signage and neon archways in Perth and Ballarat.

However, its magic never fades, and while it would be Banjo Park’s second year of being lit up in neon, Ms O’Brien “gets incredible joy from my work because people absolutely love it”.

“There are so many moments that people have with the artworks, but first of all, when they drive [there] and they pull up, or they start the walk into where the installation is, they can see it from afar and are just mesmerised.

“[People] are used to seeing neon signs from a distance or up high, this is neon down to where you are on the ground, and it’s taking everyday objects and animals and turning it into neon,” she said.

The novelty in the work, according to Ms O’Brien is that although the concept of neon itself is nothing new, it’s the closeness of her pieces that draw crowds in; being able to blend

into the environment, as well as the person interacting is a key part of her art.

“It’s unexpected, so when people see it for the first time, they have an amazing response to it; so to see everyone’s eyes light up, and the joy that they get from it is amazing.

“The next part of the joy is when you see people taking photos, because works are interactive [and] that’s the whole point of it - it’s interactive light art that people can have an experience with,” Ms O’Brien said.

The pieces themselves are temporary, and being battery-operated allows Ms O’Brien and her team to bring the pieces in the afternoon, have them displayed and then pack them up once the event finishes.

“You know, it’s hard to get people to come out of their house at nighttime where it’s warm but cold outside; but what if you’ve got something like this where it just warms your heart from the inside?” Ms O’Brien said.

While the event is free, bookings are essential and tickets can be accessed through shorturl.at/0VUWf

Amid wave of Covid and the flu, free tests are on offer

Bakhtar Community Organisation is providing the community with free Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) amid another wave of Covid and flu.

Free RATs are available at its Hallam office on weekdays from 10am to 3pm and at its Noble Park warehouse on weekends from 12pm to 3pm.

Founder and chief executive of Bahktar Community Organisation, Bassir Qadiri, said there was a huge demand in the neighbourhood.

“There is this virus going on and as well as people are confused if it is a different virus or if it’s Covid,” he said.

“That’s why RAT is very popular now, and everybody wants to test that to check if it’s Covid when they are sick.”

“We have got a few hundred sitting there, and then we saw the demand in the community, then we thought why not give it for free, especially for those who are eligible at the community rather than pay $10 at Chemist Warehouse.”

The charity organisation is also committed to providing the community with vital Covid information, especially about vaccinations, in collaboration with FECCA.

Its bi-cultural workers offer support in multiple languages.

Banjo Park at Smiths Lane, Clyde North during a previous neon event By Carla O’Brien.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Interactive pieces like this drum set were the focal point of the previous event and are carrying on to the upcoming one, this time doused in a winter theme.

We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re easing congestion by building better roads and undertaking maintenance works in Melbourne’s south east. We’re also removing dangerous and congested level crossings and building the Metro Tunnel.

What we’re doing

Finishing works to upgrade the intersection of Narre Warren-Cranbourne and BerwickCranbourne roads.

Upgrading the intersection of McGregor and Henry roads.

Upgrading the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road freeway roundabouts to traffic lights.

Finishing asphalting on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.

Removing the old rail track, building a new roundabout and resurfacing the road at Main Street under the rail bridge in Pakenham.

Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines 22 to 23 June

Road disruptions: Closed roads and lanes

Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham

Henry Road, Pakenham

Ballarto Road, Carrum Downs and Skye

Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East

Main Street, Pakenham

At times until late June

Caulfield to Westall

In sections between Greenhills and Manks roads

Until early JulyBetween McGregor Road and Heritage Boulevard

Until mid JulyAt McCormicks Road with detours and lane closures at times between Boggy Creek and Flora Park Way

Until mid 2024 Between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Lyall Street/ New Holland Drive

7am 12 June to 7am 17 June

McGregor Road, Pakenham 8pm to 5am, 17 to 18 June

Princes Freeway, Pakenham 7pm to 5am, 19 June

7pm to 5am, 19 to 21 June

At rail bridge

Between Southeast and Park boulevards

Gippsland-bound entry ramp at Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road

Gippsland-bound between McGregor and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup roads

Rallying for championship

By Violet Li

Para-equestrian Phoebe Roche is tacking up Smartie in the frigid Melbourne morning. She has trouble getting on the bridle, caused by a fall from 10 feet in the air two years ago that worsened the movement and dexterity in her right hand. Smartie, a 16-year-old Warmblood, is getting grumpy and quietly not cooperating because he knows well that getting his bridle on means working soon.

But Phoebe has her way and pulls everything together. The 28-year-old Tooradin resident is training every other day to compete at the 2024 Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships in the United Kingdom in the coming July. The championship advocates elite sports for athletes with intellectual impairment. Phoebe, a FEI Grade IV Para-rider, is one of the eight riders selected to represent Australia in this dressage competition. England is awaiting, while the competition costs intercept the dream midway. The family is crying out for the support of the community to make a dream come true.

“They (organisers) only told us up till recently. Phoebe got this letter that says she’s been selected to go to compete. And then they said you need $15,000 for her carer and groom,” Phoebe’s mother Shaneen Roche said.

“Phoebe said you’re not excited? And I said, oh, no, but I don’t have $15,000.”

To scrape together the money pool, Shaneen has put her car on the market and she’s organising sausage sizzles and garage sales in the coming weeks. “We can’t even buy the air tickets. It’s about $7,000. We’re $1,000 short at this stage andtheticketskeepongoingup,”Shaneensaid.

“It’s a huge amount of money because I’m a pensioner. Phoebe’s a pensioner. These things aren’t cheap.”

But the mother and the daughter are not easily giving up.They have come a long way before this shot, trading their hometown for Mel-

bourne to access more opportunities in a more “horsey community”. Now it makes more sense for Phoebe to forge ahead.

Born in Queensland, Phoebe was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Quadriplegia before her first birthday, which affected her movement for the rest of her life. She was later diagnosed with epilepsy and autism.

Horse riding was initially physiotherapy for little Phoebe, but her love for horses guided her into a competition pathway.

“When I was younger, I couldn’t always walk, so it was the freedom of being able to sit on something and go anywhere [that I like most about horse-riding], and then the trust they (horses) put in you,” Phoebe said.

In 2021, Phoebe was recognised as Victorian

Para Equestrian of the Year and a year later, she also finished her certificate in Equine Vet Nursing. Juggling the work with the equestrian was her commitment.

“It was a lot of hard work, a lot of driving, and a lot of commitment,” she said.

“I’d work and then I’d come over here (training arena) and ride or ride and then go over next door and work. I was studying, working two jobs and riding.

“It was a lot of late nights. I became very tired. It did juggle a lot, but I wanted to get it all done. When I set my mind to something, I get things going.”

2022 was tough on Phoebe. A week after her graduation, she fell from the horse and could not ride for almost two years.

“She went flying through the air and landed ahead. She had to learn to basically talk again,” Shaneen recalled.

“She just spent six months sitting on the couch at home not knowing who she was, what she was.

“The medical bills were huge. She’d go to rehab three times a week.

“She hasn’t been able to work since.”

England is no doubt a reboot for Phoebe after everything she went through. She will be the only Victorian representing Australia in the coming championships and she will not let the opportunity slip away.

For her, it’s always a matter of finding a way.

“I don’t have much movement or dexterity in my right hand, but I have the loop reins and two whips,” Phoebe said.

“I don’t have much strength in my legs, so the leg whips are to compensate for my leg weakness. I can’t hold and grip things well, so I hold the loops.

“It’s finding ways. If there’s a will, there’s a way, and never say never. You don’t know until you give it a go.”

When Phoebe was just starting years and years ago and she had a really grumpy horse, a coach told her to just move up to novice dressage instead of doing prelim dressage.

“I thought right, I want to do more than just novice dressage, so that was it,” Phoebe said.

“It’s a wonderful freedom sport if you don’t give up on your dream.

“Don’t let anyone tell you can’t. Many people along the line have told me I can’t do something, but I’m still here proving them wrong.”

To support Phoebe, visit: asf.org.au/projects/phoebe-roche/phoebe-roche-virtus-european-championships

Shaneen and Phoebe are also holding a sausage sizzle on Sunday 23 June from 12pm to 5pm at Tooradin Estate.

Special Games are coming back to the Casey region

Special OlympicsVictoria State Games are set to return to Casey for the second year running.

The Games will host athletes with intellectual disabilities and autism across various sports over two weekends (6-7 July and 20-22 September).

Athletes will compete in athletics, basketball, bocce, football (soccer) golf, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, netball, sailing, swimming, tennis, table tennis and tenpin bowling.

As a further incentive, they will be compet-

ing to represent Victoria at the 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games.

There will be two opening ceremonies with the first to take place on Saturday July 6 at Casey Stadium.

Athletes from each club will take part in the Victoria Law Enforcement Torch Run alongside Victoria Police’s Chief Commissioner, Shane Patton. Another ceremony will be held on Saturday 21 September to mark the beginning of the summer sports leg.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome

the Special Olympics Victoria State Games back to Casey,” said City of Casey chair of administrators, Noelene Duff.

“The competition is a fantastic avenue to highlight the courage and determination of athletes living with a disability and dedicated to achieving their sporting goals.

“We warmly welcome the new and returning athletes back to Casey this year and are proud to host the games at a range of our accessible sporting facilities.

“I encourage members of our community

to head along to the games and show your support.”

The Special Olympics Victoria Games were successfully held in Casey in 2023.

“Our athletes always feel welcome and the support from the community and outstanding facilities makes it a wonderful location for our athletes to shine,” Special Olympics Australia regional manager for Victoria/Tasmania, James Hammond said.

Details: specialolympics.com.au/find-asport-near-me/vic

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To the King’s Birthday OAM honour for Rob Porter - a “true humble volunteer of his beautiful community Officer”! This is a medal of a true volunteer. Thank you Rob Porter.

Thumbs down

To the removal of the U-turn on the Princes Highway at May Road in Beaconsfield, effectively removing access to the new BP and food outlets for westbound traffic.

Thumbs down

To Cardinia Council for the amount of rubbish as well as the graffiti and the general run down look of the whole area. It looks more like a ghetto than the township it was even eight years ago. What is being done with the rates we are paying?

Thumbs down

To the closure of Main Street [Pakenham] at the rail crossing again.

Great job by the boundary umpires on Saturday in the drizzle at Tooradin. 412137

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Phoebe on Smartie. 412125

Celebrated Sandy awarded

By David Nagel

Sandy Roberts had no idea what the future would hold when the Channel Seven broadcaster prophetically put the final exclamation mark on his brilliant call of Geelong superstar Gary Ablett’s 1989 VFL Goal of the Year.

“Here is the magician at work; he shoots towards goal…what more can you say.”

Almost 35 years later to the day, those magicians are researchers and hematologists; shooting towards a goal of finding out more about blood cancer Myeloma.

A largely unknown disease; awareness around Myeloma became more prominent, and the disease more targeted, after Roberts was diagnosed in May 2022; becoming the public face of the battle roughly a year later.

“What can I say, it’s very humbling, we’re just so thankful that we have the opportunity to make a difference,” Roberts said, humbled again after being awarded a 2024 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - General Divisionfor service to media as a sports commentator.

But his true humility stems from the support he has received – from friends, family and former colleagues – who have rallied to the Myeloma Ambassador’s cause; raising muchneeded funds, and awareness, to help ignite change.

The support is not surprising however, given the respect the 74-year-old Lysterfield local has generated in a lifetime in the broadcasting industry, after being raised in a rural setting in South Australia.

“Being awarded an OAM, I have had time to reflect; and it’s a far cry from being on a farm near a little town called Lucindale,” Roberts said.

“One of my main reflections is disappointment that my mum (Nan) has passed on, because when I was young and working out what I wanted to do, she gave me a book called Foreign Correspondent.

“It was about a journalist who covered wars and conflict, and I thought ‘yeah, I wouldn’t mind doing that’.

“I got a job at News Limited in Adelaide as a copy boy, but after a year and a half, Rupert (Murdoch) decided he didn’t want copy boys anymore, so I had to look elsewhere.

“I went to Perth and got a job in radio there, as a journalist, on 6PM, reading news there as well.

“Television had come along; I wanted a crack at that; so after a couple of years overseas I got a job at 3CS Colac.

“I was there for a year, just to gain experience, but I was really keen on television.

“I got a job at BCV8 Bendigo, and from there I went back to Adelaide; did an audition at Channel Seven as a general announcer and got the job.

“A general announcer did absolutely everything, you did the news, the weather, the midday movie, the sport; and I did that for a few years before someone asked if I was interested in doing football.

“I barracked for Norwood, loved the SANFL (South Australian National Football League), so said ‘yes’ and that’s how footy started for me.”

Roberts developed his craft and work ethic in Adelaide, following sage advice given by an experienced colleague.

“In Adelaide, the guy that I was influenced by was a man by the name of Bob Francis; he was in radio and television and did them both very well,” Roberts explained.

“I asked his advice one day; he told me ‘Whatever you’re asked to do, just do it, and you’ll find out at some stage that a particular path is right for you.’

“He was right, the more overall experience you can get in the television industry, then the better off you will be.”

The career of the affable Roberts took off at the age of 30.

“It was 1980, and Seven in Adelaide was like a cousin to Seven in Melbourne; affiliated, but not like they are now,” he said.

“I was asked to go to Moscow for the Olympic Games, for Seven, I jumped at it, and that was the start.

“Ron Casey, who was a marvelous man and General Manager of Seven in Melbourne, a great lover of sport, a former chairman of the North Melbourne footy club, he did everything.

“He got the rights, he went to all the senior meetings of the IOC, and he would front the prime-time coverage for Seven from Moscow.

“After a few days, Gary Fenton, the Executive Producer for Sport, noticed that Ron was looking tired, just from the stress of it all.

“He told Ron to concentrate on the executive stuff and not the on-air stuff, and Ron asked‘well who are you going to get to do that.’

“Gary said, ‘well Sandy Roberts can do it’.

“A couple of days before the end of the Moscow Olympics, Gary and Ron got hold of me and asked if I’d like to move to Melbourne.

“It didn’t take me long to decide that one either.”

Taking over from Ron Casey in Moscow was a forerunner to his time in Melbourne, with Roberts taking the plum job of hosting Channel Seven’s Sunday sporting staple; World of Sport.

The kid from Lucindale was now sharing the screen with famous football faces such as Jack Dyer, Ted Whitten, Ron Barassi, Lou Richards and Bobby Skilton.

“I was like a kid in a lollie shop,” Roberts beamed.

“When I was asked to take over from Ron, he called me up to his office on the first day I was doing it, and he asked me before 10am in the morning, ‘what are you having to drink?

“I said, ‘no, I’m fine thanks Ron,’ but there were others sipping on a scotch, and that sort of summed up World of Sport.

“We had a running sheet, but after 10 minutes of being on air we were 15 minutes late (laughs).

“That’s how crazy it was.

“It was a long day, but a great day, being around those great people; you’re living off adrenaline.”

Versatility became a strength for Roberts who added tennis, motor-racing, horse-racing and many other sports to his skill set.

He also covered golf, at a time when a young Greg Norman was starting to emerge from the pack.

He was an absolute hero,” Roberts enthused.

“My first golf coverage for Channel Seven in Adelaide was in 1976, the West Lakes Classic, and there was this big blonde bombshell playing, and that was his first victory.

“From there, his career surged forward, I came over to Melbourne, Seven picked up the rights to golf, so obviously I worked with him a lot.

“On a personal note, he was also very good to me.

“I had a very sick son, Sam, and one night after practice, before the (Australian) Masters officially began at Huntingdale on Thursday, Greg and I flew down to my farm in the Western Districts and Sam was down there.

“Greg played a game of snooker with him, chatted to him, and was just marvelous with him, and Sam died several days later.

“Greg put Sam’s name on his hat and wore it during the Masters.”

Roberts retired from broadcasting in 2018; then battle through Covid like all others, before a fall down a flight of stairs at his Lysterfield home would change his and wife Carolyn’s lives forever.

“We live in a two-story house, and before the fall I had only a few weeks prior had openheart surgery,” he explained.

“A couple of boys came to help move a couch, from downstairs to upstairs, and I stood behind them.

“The friend in front of me tripped, lost his footing, and fell back on me, and that pushed me down the stairs.

“I passed blood so went to the hospital and had scans, and then the doctor came out and told me what he had found.

“He said, ‘you’ve got broken ribs; also, do you know you’ve got cancer.

“I had no idea; lesions were discovered on my back, on my pelvis, my sacrum; we were shocked, but just had to come to grips with it.

“We had to get organised; find ourself a good hematologist; and find out about Myeloma.

“I knew nothing about it, nothing at all, the nearest thing I knew was Melanoma…but it’s

nothing like it.”

Sandy and Carolyn worked through the initial shock, before deciding to make a difference.

“It certainly changed our life; and it probably took a year of talking about it, going through some rough patches, before my wife Carolyn and I looked at each other and asked ‘what can we do’.

“Let’s try and make people more aware; let’s publicise it and get it out there.

“It’s been extremely gratifying that so many people have come forward.

“We had our first Myeloma Long Lunch earlier this year, at the Glasshouse, in February, a wonderful sellout, 500 people, 200 on the waiting list, and it sold out in 15 days.

“BT (Brian Taylor) and Bruce (McAvaney) were involved, Jennifer Keyte hosted it, and so many people got behind it.

“People who had Myeloma came from Central Queensland and Perth; they were so happy that somebody was finally talking and telling people, what Myeloma is all about.

“It’s changed our lives; but we’re very keen to do it; and to continue doing it.

“It’s (money) not only for research, almost more importantly is having the opportunity of paying more staff, particularly in rural areas, for people that have Myeloma in the country.

“The lunch raised over $200,000, we had a separate donation of $220,000, and that’s to go to rural nurses.

“The research being done by the researches and hematologists will also benefit…it covers a fairly wide range.”

So, what is Sandy’s prognosis moving forward?

“It’s good,” he said.

“I was told I was in remission several months ago; and I just have a program that I stick by.

“I have regular blood tests and they’re looked at by the hematologist, and if there are adjustments that need to be made to what I’m taking, we make them and move on.

“He is happy at the moment; so, I am too.”

Celebrated broadcaster Sandy Roberts has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to media as a sports commentator. 412194 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

FOCUS ON … CHILDCARE

Life’s priceless moments

Melbourne-based photographer and founder of ShadowZone Photography, Melanie Hutcheson, has transformed a lifelong passion into a flourishing career.

Self-taught and driven by an unwavering love for photography, Mel has built a reputation for capturing the essence of life’s most precious moments.

Since establishing ShadowZone Photography in 2006, Mel has embarked on countless adventures, never looking back. From snapping the innocence of newborn babies to the joyous celebrations of weddings, and the evolving narratives of growing families, each photoshoot is a whirlwind of memories. Her versatile portfolio also includes band photography and, in recent years, a focus on pre-school photography, marking milestones in the lives of young children. Her dedication and artistry have led to her work being showcased on album covers,

displayed as artwork on walls, featured on websites, and cherished in family portraits, pre-school, and wedding albums. Watching children and families grow through the lens each year, from early learning centres to family milestones, has been a rewarding journey. Clients return time and again, entrusting Mel to document their lives from wedding days to newborn moments and beyond.

“I am forever grateful to those who have honored me with the role of their photographer,” says Mel.

“Each photoshoot adds to the tapestry of memories, and I hope to addYOU to my list of memorable moments.”

Book your next Childcare Photography Shoot now!

shadowzonephotography@gmail.com 0452 077 880

www.shadowzonephotography.com.au

Embracing diversity

Nestled in the heart of Cranbourne, Clarendon Street Community Child Care Centre is more than just a day care; it’s a vibrant learning hub where children from diverse backgrounds come together to learn, play, and grow.

Established in 1984, this centre has been a cornerstone of the community, providing quality, affordable, and flexible child care services for over three decades.

At Clarendon Street Community Child Care Centre, we believe that education is the foundation of a successful future. Our enriched learning environment is designed to help children get ahead, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Our dedicated staff and enthusiastic students create a dynamic atmosphere where curiosity is encouraged and creativity flourishes.

Our centre reflects the rich cultural tapes-

try of Cranbourne, celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity. We are proud of our community and committed to providing an educational experience that respects and incorporates the varied backgrounds of our students.

We invite you to join our community and experience the unique environment that sets Clarendon Street Community Child Care Centre apart. Come, play, and learn with us, at your child’s home away from home, and see firsthand why we are a trusted choice for families in Cranbourne.

For more information, give us a call. Clarendon Street Community Child Care Centre: where education matters.

clarstcc@bigpond.net.au (03) 5996 6258

Book your next childcare photography shoot now.

Clarendon Street Community Child Care Centre: where education matters.

AC a nod to Crean’s legacy

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Labor luminary the late Simon Crean has been awarded Australia’s top citation in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Mr Crean, now a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), died suddenly at 74 as part of a trade delegation in Berlin last June.

More than a decade out of federal politics, the former Federal party leader had not been previously awarded with an Order of Australia citation.

His wife Carole said the belatedness of the award symbolised Mr Crean’s humility.

“The first thing (on hearing of Mr Crean’s AC) I was really emotional that he was recognised for his legacy and all of his achievements.

“Obviously I feel very honoured and proud, not that I need that to feel proud about Simon. “He never sought accolades or recognition for himself. He had better and more important things to do.

“Getting the top honour was something he thoroughly deserves. He would have been chuffed.”

Mr Crean was awarded for his“eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to tertiary education, to business and to industrial relations”.

Raised in a political family, Mr Crean rose to Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president before entering Federal Parliament. He served as a Cabinet Minister under four Prime Ministers, with diverse portfolios including arts, education, employment, workplace relations, regional development, trade, energy and science.

Post-politics, he was still working “nonstop” as Monash University deputy chancellor and on a range of boards including Linfox, European Australian Business Council and Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM).

Mr Crean was “very connected with his

Here

electorate” as Hotham MP for 23 years as well as with “the South East of Melbourne”.

Carole paid tribute to his “innovation” and “hard work” in his ministries, bilateral international agreements and promoting “the best outcomes for Australia”.

Every ministry he had, there was a significant reform in place – such as industrial relations, agriculture, trade and the Creative Australia policy.

“He always believed in culture as a foundation for what Australia is.

“He set the scene for what our society is and

or overseas, you’re

By Ethan Benedicto

Being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia is no trivial matter, but it was never something Margaret Heslin had thought of, much less aimed for.

Heralded for her service to the communities in the City of Casey and in Berwick, Margaret’s life from very early on revolved around giving back and helping others.

However, when she first received her award, she initially thought it was junk mail, and it was only after that her husband, Dennis Heslin, asked her ‘do you realise what you’re receiving?’ that it dawned on her.

When it came together, she said“I was just over the moon”.

“I was honoured, I really felt like one of the privileged ones to get this award because there’s a lot of other people [that] should have this you know,” she said.

Margaret’s involvement in the Rotary Club of Casey saw her as its president in 2016. A former treasurer and contributor to the Holland Festival on multiple occasions, she was also the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Berwick from 2012-2013.

With strong praise for the goals of Rotary, Margaret said “you know, if you’re a member of a Rotary club, you can go anywhere in the world and there’s always going to be someone there to welcome you”.

One of the more memorable initiatives that she endeavoured on for Berwick and Casey was putting together an all-abilities ball that had an emphasis on inclusion for those with disabilities and higher needs.

“Now this was for young adults that couldn’t do anything like this, they couldn’t dress up, and I was part of the organisers.

“I got so much out of seeing these young people and their parents thinking how wonderful it was that people thought to go and do all this for them,” she said.

The demand for the ball was immense, with Margaret recalling that “we had to have two because there were that many of them”.

“We had dance practice and lessons every

In 54 years of marriage, there was also his great verve for life, travel, culture, history and knowledge.

“I had an incredible life with him. Forget travelling all over the world, Simon was the most-travelled inside Australia – he went to places no other politician had been to.

“It was pretty fast-paced. On top of that he always wanted his family with him.

“Simon lived for the moment before that phrase was coined. He had a lot of energy and looked for the positive in everything. He was quite an extraordinary person.

“He loved cooking, he loved beautiful things. We wouldn’t pass a church without going inside.

“He was almost bigger than life, which made everything (after his death) so difficult to accept.

“And he loved people. It didn’t have to be ‘important’ people – he just had that joy of living.”

In response to the award, GSEM chair Simon McKeon said it was “entirely fitting that such a great Australian should receive our nation’s greatest honour”.

there is also the whole legacy of how he went about things.”

Mr Crean was “the great collaborator” who had no illusions how tough the political world was.

“He would collaborate with everyone who was involved (in an issue) and he didn’t get hung up on the small stuff. He didn’t make enemies, he loved his colleagues and his people that worked with him.

“I heard that they said they’d put in 110 per cent because Simon was putting in 120 per cent.”

“After he left Parliament – including as an Independent Board Member of GSEM – he worked hard to help ensure that future generations could gain the jobs and skills they need to live fulfilled and prosperous lives.

“I’m proud to say that GSEM continues to build on Simon’s legacy. We held a Jobs and Skills Summit in May and will launch our Jobs and Skills Roadmap in Canberra towards the end of this month.”

Mr McKeon said Mr Crean’s family had suffered a great loss but could be “rightly proud” of Mr Crean’s contribution.

“In many ways this honour is for Carole too, whose support and work with Simon undoubtedly helped make Australia a better place.”

always welcome as a Rotarian

week, we had someone come in and teach these young people these routines.

“One particular man, he was in a wheelchair and it was lovely you know, to see this young fella dancing around the floor in his wheelchair.

“These were children from within the City of Casey, so they came from all different parts of the municipality and it was wonderful,” Margaret said.

Margaret was born 76 years ago in the small satellite town of East Kilbride, just 15 miles east of Glasgow, Scotland; it was 61 years ago that she and her family decided to migrate to Australia.

Eventually, she met and married Dennis Heslin and they spent most of their married life in Warragul.

It was there that Dennis got involved with the Rotary Club of Warragul, and since the pair were never far apart, it wasn’t long until Margaret was spending time there herself.

“When we moved to Warragul, Dennis joined the Rotary and of course, I sort of went along with him, and for projects that he was involved with, I helped out where I could.

“That’s when he became president of the Rotary Club of Warragul, [and] when I decided, well, we should have an Inner Wheel Club,” Margaret said.

While she initially got involved through her husband, it was with those first few steps that her love for helping others brewed, a factor of that being their role with Cord Blood research.

Margaret has contributed overseas through Rotary International which she has been a member of since 1988.

It was her time in Indonesia between 1994-1995, and her contribution towards establishing maternity clinics, when she recounted that “we helped build these clinics and it was saving all these lives, the babies that couldn’t be saved because they didn’t have proper facilities”.

Having gone through multiple positions of leadership, which includes being the chair of Inner Wheel District A62 between 20052006, it was the mentality of you never know until you try that pushed her through.

Margaret recalled that she just “felt I can do this” when it came to certain roles, such as being the treasurer for the Rotary

Club of Casey.

“So you know, I sort of said - because my husband’s got a law degree - I don’t need a law degree.

“I can do this without that, you know, and I felt quite proud of myself that I was able to do it, and I [also] learned a lot out of it,” Margaret said.

A key part of Margaret’s experience involved friendship, and finding out that wherever she went it involved either the Rotary or the Inner Wheel Club.

Speaking to those who are looking to contribute towards their own community, she said “you get a lot of friendship out of it”.

“You make a lot of friends, and it is rewarding; you know you get involved with different things and you don’t need to be experienced in a lot of these, you just go along.

“People will help you, assist you, and you make lots of lovely friends; it’s a terrific way of getting out and giving back to the community, [and it’s] either to get into Inner Wheel or Rotary,” Margaret said.

Margaret and Dennis resided in Berwick for 10 years and have since retired to Yarrawonga six years ago where Margaret became a charter member of the Rotary Club of Central Murray Sunrise.

“During my service with the Inner Wheel and Rotary, I have been privileged to have been involved in the Cord Blood project and our work in the provision of maternity clinics in Indonesia and so many others.

“Over the past decades, we have been exposed to so many fine community volunteers; at a personal level it is an honour to be the recipient of this award, but it is also a recognition of the work undertaken by Inner Wheel and rotary members throughout the country - these service organisations are the backbone of community life,” Margaret said.

Margaret and Dennis have three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; the couple are still currently active members of the Rotary Club of Central Murray Sunrise, with meetings held every second Wednesday of the month.

Margaret Heslin was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to the communities in the City of Casey and Berwick.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Former Hotham MP and Labor federal leader Simon Crean has been posthumously awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Top honour for Dan Andrews

by Cam Lucadou-Wells

Nine months after retiring from politics, former Premier Daniel Andrews has been named as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

The Mulgrave MP for more than 20 years was among six to receive the highest possible citation in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Mr Andrews was awarded for “eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.

In a statement, Mr Andrews said that “I’m honoured to have been nominated for this award and grateful to every Victorian who contributed to some of our state’s best times and who worked so hard to see us through our most challenging”.

“I thank the Victorian community for their support for me and my team in leading our state for nine years.

“That remains the greatest honour of my life.”

Mr Andrews has largely kept out of the spotlight since his snap-retirement as Premier in September.

His near-decade at the helm was regarded to have left a vast legacy of mass level-crossing removals, transport projects such as Suburban Rail Loop and Metro Rail Tunnel, and social reforms.

On the other hand, he’s being criticized for saddling Victoria with a mountain of debt as well as project blowouts, the cancelled Commonwealth Games and several inquiries.

Victoria’s Covid-19 lockdowns, considered among the lengthiest in the world, also generated a lot of debate.

Other AC recipients included two other Labor political leaders – the recently-retired WA Premier Mark McGowan and former Hotham MP Simon Crean.

Daniel Andrews announcing his departure as Premier in September 2023.

Picture: DIEGO FEDELE / AAP

FOCUS ON … TAX TIME

Remain alert to sophisticated scams amid tax time

With tax time on the horizon, we’re being urged to remain cautious over the coming months as various tax-specific scams begin to emerge.

The warning comes as new consumer data from cyber safety brand Norton revealed that 14 per cent of Australians said they had personally experienced cybercrime in the past 12 months, with the average amount lost to cybercrime being $863.79.

Of those who have experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months, 35 per cent had detected unauthorised access to an online banking or financial account.

Tax time can bring stress and confusion to individuals and businesses as they prepare to file their returns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is the perfect environment for cybercriminals who seek to take advantage of the time and try to obtain sensitive information to cause financial harm to unsuspecting victims.

Mark Gorrie, APAC managing director for Norton, said there were certain times each year that pique cybercriminals’ interest and tax time continued to be one of them.

“With the amount of personal and financial information that is being stored and shared at this time, coupled with the stress that comes with filing tax returns, it is the perfect storm for scammers to target Australians,” Mr Gorrie said.

“It can be easy to fall into the trap of a scammer offering to ease this burden. How-

ever, it is important to understand that cyber safety practices should never be sacrificed in exchange for convenience.

“AI is aiding cybercriminals in evolving and developing their devious tactics, it is more important than ever that Australians are continuing to educate themselves on the warning signs.”

Mr Gorrie has shared three examples of prevalent tax scams to look out for, plus ways to avoid them.

Tax-related identity theft

This scam occurs when cybercriminals access a victim’s account, impersonate them, and fraudulently lodge refunds from the ATO using your stolen personal information, including your tax file number (TFN).

This can be dangerous, as in this instance, the cybercriminal who filed a return with your information may still have your data – leaving you vulnerable to other identity-related crimes.

To avoid this scam, keep your tax file number safe. Shred any documents that contain personal information before you throw them away, and ensure that your online accounts containing sensitive information, like myGov, are protected with strong passwords and two factor authentication.

If you suspect your TFN and identity has been compromised, immediately report the incident to the ATO.

Be cautious of ATO impersonation scams Cybercriminals will pose as ATO representa-

TAX RETURNS

tives to convince victims to provide their bank details, tax file number, or other personal information via SMS, email, or social media accounts.

Additionally, in January this year, the ATO issued a warning about scammers posing as ATO workers on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and other popular social media platforms.

These phony accounts prey on social media users who have made public comments addressing the ATO with a question or complaint.

The scammer sends their victim a direct message, offering to assist in resolving the issue. After gaining trust, the scammer attempts to obtain personal information.

To avoid this scam, look out for tell-tale signs of a scam. The ATO won’t use urgent threats, such as arrest, payment, or suspension of your TFN.

If contacted via social media by a newly created unverified account with a small follower account, delete the message. The ATO only has official accounts on Facebook,Twitter, and LinkedIn – legitimised with verification ticks and over 10 years of activity.

If you receive a suspected scam email or SMS, do not click on any links, provide any payments, account log in information, or other personal information. To help people navigate the online world safely with digital tools, Norton Genie is a free app that detects scams by reviewing suspicious texts, emails, and web and lets you know if it is legit.

Occasionally, the ATO will contact you by phone, email, SMS, and post. If you are not sure about the validity of any communication, the best thing to do is to call the ATO directly. You can obtain a phone number from their official website, or a previous letter you have received, and validate the request.

Dodgy tax preparers offering to complete your tax refund

Scammers capitalising on the desire for maximum tax refunds will promise substantial returns and a speedier process, which can appear to be an enticing offer in an otherwise confusing and stressful time.

The fraudsters will ask for access to the myGov accounts of their victims and lodge tax returns through the ATO’s myTax web portal or take personal details and payment before disappearing.

If someone approaches you claiming to be a tax preparer, you can check that they are registered on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) by visiting their website to verify the legitimacy of their claims.

Never share your myGov password with anyone. Sharing your information (such as your myGov password) with an unregistered practitioner puts your personal and financial affairs at risk.

Enable two factor authentication on myGov. You can use either the myGov Code Generator app or receive a code by SMS when logging in. This will further protect you from unauthorised access to your myGov account.

More pedal power needed

By Violet Li

Cranbourne West Primary School is calling for the community to support one of its programs that teaches students sustainability, health and mechanical knowledge, leadership, and teamwork in a vehicle-racing environment.

In the Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) program, a long-living initiative in the school’s history, students in a team take turns lying down in a trike with fairing, pedalling the vehicle with their body strength, and racing against teams from other schools.

The program aims to promote knowledge about the cardiovascular system and inspire students on why they need to eat and drink well. Leadership, communication, and teamwork are the accompanying soft skills students get to command along the way.

“It’s been a really positive program at our school, and it’s been one that we’ve had a lot of success with over the last 10 years, and we’ve come a long way,” coach and program coordinator Christopher McGowan said.

“It is just another opportunity to give the kids another experience in something that will help benefit them in some way.”

Participating student Alysha found the program helpful and educational.

“We learn about sustainability. We learn about nutrition, like how we’re eating healthy to boost our fitness,” she said.

“I think lots of people have gotten better with their fitness. Some people don’t know how to ride a bike, and then they have learned from this program.”

The race spirits extend beyond the campus. Participating students compete in a major once-a-year event called Energy Breakthrough in Maryborough,Victoria. The five-day contest provides opportunities for students, teachers, parents, and the local industry to design, construct, and test an innovative and envi-

ronmentally friendly vehicle. Students race for about 14 hours across the days.

To get ready for the grand-scale battle, students also sign up for theVictorian HPV Grand Prix Series which holds four races a year by the Casey Cardinia HPV & Cycling Club.

Christoper has worked so hard to build the program over the years that it sometimes makes the school forget he also teaches.

“I teach first, and this is a secondary thing I do for the kids,” he said.

“My favourite part of my job is the part I am not paid to do but rather volunteer my time, passion, and enthusiasm toward to better the future generations of young people.”

Though passion fuels the best part, Christoper admitted obtaining enough sponsorship for each year was hard, especially when the program had been growing this year with an

extra team formed. Now the school has three teams for the big show in Maryborough.

“The school doesn’t pay for this program. We spend a lot of time fundraising here at school so the program can survive,” he said.

“I guess it’s a positive part of the program because it teaches the kids about working hard for something that’s bigger than you and helps generations after them.

“But it also becomes tricky because we still need the funds to give the kids the experience.

“We’re just seeking sponsorship from the local community. We’d really appreciate anyone willing to sponsor a program that’s having a huge impact on the lives of future generations of kids.”

Christoper estimated that a total of $35,000 would be needed to run this year’s program, including fees for competition registrations,

uniforms, equipment, repairs, and accommodation and transport fees for the Maryborough trip.

“We don’t charge families money. That’s part of the program. Our principal Andrew [Bergmeier] is very passionate about this being cost-free to families, so we try and keep it that way,” he said.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth every bit because we see what the kids get out of it.

“And you also have your special t-shirts.”

Cranbourne West Primary School will participate in Round 3 of theVictorian HPV Grand Prix Series on 27 July at Sandown International Raceway.

To support the program, you can call Christoper on 5996 2878, or email the school at: cranbourne.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Annual planting day keeps sustainability front of mind

By Corey Everitt

The South East came together in Officer this past weekend to celebrate World Environment Day by planting a new generation of trees at the Officer SikhTemple Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar.

Over the last several years, the Gurdwara has planted thousands of trees on its grounds with its agenda of promoting sustainability and conservation in the community.

Leading the day was Professor Harpreet Kandra who last year was appointed ambassador for SustainabilityVictoria’s #SmallActs-

BigImpacts campaign.

The annual planting day seems to grow larger with each year. It also attracts a host of public leaders, this year included Pakenham

MP Emma Vulin, Narre Warren South MP Gary Mass, Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson, Cardinia Shire mayor Jack Kowarzik, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action

MP Sheena Watt, Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio and Greater Dandenong mayor Lana Formoso.

While it’s also a day for many prominent community members dedicated to conservation such as local Alan Cole OAM.

Human Powered Vehicle Program (HPV) participating students (L-R) Swayzee, Alysha, Fouina, Lucy, with coach and coordinator Christopher McGowan (second from right).

Picture: VIOLET LI

Dandenong mayor Cr Lana Formoso with Cardinia mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik. 407705

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Sheena Watt, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action. 407705

Harpreet Singh. 407705

EPA authorised officers, Adam Bruce and Atul Sharma. 407705

Lily D’Ambrosio MP. 407705

A Women’s Pain Forum was hosted by Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas with the goal of raising awareness for the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into Women’s Pain.

Facilitated by Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) chief executive Kit McMahon, the event was held at the Old School House in Hampton Park on Thursday 6 June.

For Mr Maas, he said, “it was a privilege to host this Women’s Pain Forum in the South East, and play a part in bringing more attention to an issue that we should be talking more about”.

He was joined by a special guest, the minister for health Mary-Anne Thomas MP, as well as Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson and Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards at the event.

Key stakeholder organisations that have an integral role in running support for the issue also attended, representing a range of backgrounds, professions and experiences.

During the event, Ms McMahon and her team ran a workshop that facilitated a discussion about women’s pain and their experience with the healthcare system.

“The state government is committed to listening and learning from these experiences to inform improved care for women and girls experiencing pain in the future,” Mr Maas said.

WHISE will be making a submission to the government’s Inquiry into Women’s Pain, supported by research that was recently conducted by the Victorian Women’s Health Survey which detailed that their pain is real and often overlooked.

The survey found that four in 10 Victorian women suffer from a chronic health condition and one in three have health conditions that affect their ability to work and keep a job; in addition, half the participants were suffering from pain connected to their period

which impacted their health and wellbeing.

“Thank you to the formidable Kit McMahon of Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) for facilitating this important discussion, and to all the representatives from community organisations who shared their stories and experiences.”

Police bust alleged Holden V8 rebirthing racket

A residential address in Narre Warren was allegedly found to be home to a Holden V8 rebirthing racket, after a search warrant was executed on Wednesday 5 June.

Detectives from the Vehicle Crime Squad charged a 30-year-old Newborough man on Thursday 6 June with over 43 offences including handling stolen goods, theft of motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, theft and possessing drug of dependence.

Vehicle Crime Squad detective inspector Julie Macdonald said that “rebirthed vehicles can be a major safety threat to unwitting buyers”.

“Often the rebirthing process is not carried out by a qualified mechanic, meaning that the car could have serious issues which can result in an accident.

“Not to mention the use of stolen vehicles in the commission of other serious crimes and allowing offenders to move around more easily,” she said.

With assistance from the Illicit Firearms Squad and Fugitive Squad, authorities seized three previously stolen Holden Special Vehicles, drugs, and stolen IDs and car parts following an investigation.

A stolen Holden VF SS, methylamphetamine, approximately 20 sets of vehicle keys linked to a burglary, multiple sets of stolen number plates, multiple diagnostic tools valued at over $50,000, and multiple victim IDs believed to have been stolen from inside motor vehicles from the address were found at the home.

The suspect was remanded to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrate’s Court on 3 July.

“The Vehicle Crime Squad will continue to target those contributing to organised motor vehicle crime in Victoria and shit down any illegal activity of this nature,” Ms Macdonald said.

A warrant was previously executed at a Darlimurla address on Wednesday 15 May,

ANarreWarrenhomewasallegedlyfoundtobe operatingaHoldenV8rebirthingracket,aftera searchwarrantwasexecutedonWednesday5 June.

Picture:ONFILE

with assistance from the illicit firearms Squad and Morwell Divisional Response Unit.

There, two previously stolen Holdens - an SSV Redline utility and a Clubsport - were found, as well as a vehicle fitted with stolen SSV Walkinshaw sedan interiors, front and rear bumpers from stolen vehicles, an engine from a six litre V8 Holden, stolen number plates and a surveillance device sweeper.

The two stolen vehicles had their window VINs replaced, stamped floor VINs cut out and replaced, their electronic control units replaced and engine numbers grounded off.

Police will allege that those involved were rebirthing and selling stolen Holden vehicles, specifically Holden Special Vehicles; the investigation remains ongoing.

“We’d also invited anyone with information about this kind of illegal activity to please contact Crime Stoppers - it can be done anonymously, and we’ll continue to act on these reports,” Ms Macdonald said.

Anyone with information on vehicle rebirthing is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Drivers fined

Dozens of motorists have been hit with a collective 350 fines following two recent road policing operations in the City of Casey.

A specific incident saw a 36-yearold man from Hampton Park being involved in a crash on Hallam South Road in Hampton Park, where he allegedly returned a positive breath test with a reading of 0.275.

The man’s licence was immediately suspended and he was summoned to appear in Dandenong Magistrate’s Court at a later date for drink driving, careless driving and failing to give way.

Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia highway patrol senior sergeant David Hewatt said that “it’s extremely disappointing to see so many people continue to flout the law and put themselves and other road users in serious danger”.

One of these initiatives, called Operation Malleus was conducted from 27 May to 31 May, while Operation Sizzle took place on 4 June.

In total for both operations, almost 1200 preliminary breath tests and 328 preliminary oral fluid tests were conducted, where 343 offences were detected which included drink driving, drug driving and speeding.

The 350 fines included one driver who was allegedly five-and-half times over the legal alcohol limit after crashing his car.

For those interested to be part of WHISE’s submission, registration is available through surveymonkey.com/r/WomensPainInquiry

To put a submission directly to the Inquiry, visit health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womenspain Submissions to the Inquiry intoWomen’s Pain close 31 July 2024.

“Making the selfish decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol can end or drastically change lives in a matter of seconds,” senior sergeant Hewatt said.

Other incidents of note include eight drivers who were detected with illicit substances in their systems, the results of which will undergo further forensic analysis.

TheeventwasheldattheOldSchoolHouseinHamptonPark.

Picture:SUPPLIED

Youth crime fighters cut

By Sahar Foladi

Two frontline workers at Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS)’s South East office will lose their jobs after a cut in State Budget funding.

Statewide, YSAS suffered a $1.85 million cut in youth crime prevention funds in this year’s State Budget leaving them short of 11 youth support service workers as of 30 June.

YSAS argues that the impacts will be felt across the South East, slashing crucial crime prevention programs amidst a rise in youth offenders.

Its regional crime prevention manager, Katrina Bould says along with the devastating news they’ll expect huge amounts of young people on the waitlist as a result of being under-resourced.

“Those two positions ultimately carry a full case load and would see approximately 40 young people per year and their families on top of that, so we’re talking about 80-plus families impacted in our direct community in the southern region.”

YSAS provides early intervention programs and services to at-risk young people between 10-17 years who either have had encounters with police or had their worried parents calling YSAS for help.

The workers help to divert young people away from crime, support them to integrate back within the community through education, employment, social and recreational activities.

“They are the young people who will ultimately be losing out in the end by not getting a service,” Ms Bould said.

“When young people are ready for action, they are ready here-and-now to get that support. Even two weeks’ (wait) is long, and anything can shift in that time.”

The current estimated wait time to be seen by someone at YSAS is four weeks which is expected to more than double to nine weeks after 30 June.

Over the funding period of four years (20202024) YSAS received 1460 referrals with 75 per cent becoming YSAS clients.

“The complexity of young people coming through is different to what it was pre-lockdown.

“We see lots of school disengagement cases. Schools are screaming out for us to come in and support,” Ms Bould said.

This aligns with official crime statistics of a 26 per cent increase from 2022 in young offenders aged 10-17 in Greater Dandenong.

As reported previously by Star News, this is the second-highest level in eight years with car thefts up by 32 per cent and aggravated burglaries up by 50 per cent.

“Working to support the families is a stan-

dard part of our casework. There’s a lot of other things that come through such as family breakdowns, family tensions,” Ms Bould says.

“We see a lot of families struggling out there, but we’ve seen just a little bit of our support can make it go a long way with them. That’s our biggest fear, of who’ll miss out.“

Katra Shumbayaonda, a YSAS senior practitioner, says they receive a range of referralsfrom parents needing support with their child to addressing more serious crimes such as aggravated burglary.

“The police had been active in giving out our flyers to the community as well and we see a lot of changes for good after they do contact us.”

Currently, 90 per cent of YSAS clients have family involvement where youth and family workersalsoworkfrom“afamilyinclusivelens.”

Youth support service team manager Cassie Thrower says the impact of the long waitlist will be felt by stakeholders such as Youth Justice Court Diversion (CCYD) which support young people to stay away from the youth justice system as their “final chance.”

“We quite often deter young people from the court system so if we’re unable to service these young people they’re more likely to go into the justice system and possibly into custody.

“With the extra funding we were able to build that position in the community to service so many young people. But to have the referrals continuing and not being able to service them, it really impacts on our stakeholders.”

The Dandenong team will be down from seven workers to five across the Southern met-

ropolitan region forcing them to not just manage their waitlist prioritisation but also prioritise contact methods with clients.

“We’ve just finished some training around our priority mechanism. It will look at our systems internally, how we will allocate our clients according to needs.

“It will have to bring focus on brief interventions versus before we would work with them for six months.”

Youth support service team leader Nathan Lambie spends a majority of his time on case management which also includes driving on the road to visit clients, working around time constraints now more than ever.

“Some young people may live 45-minutes away so that is two hours travelling time just to see one person.

“It gets difficult especially when dealing with high-risk people with a number of complexities. They need support on top of the brief case work,” Mr Lambie says.

While time spent with each person varies according to their needs, once a fortnight is common. For a very complex case, it could be weekly visits.

YSAS were forced to pull out from taking part in Operation Newstart, an out-of-school recreational program which provided youth support, engagement with local community and educate them about services available to them.

YSAS had been part of Operation Newstart since 2012 where one youth support service worker would attend and assist young people throughout the program.

“Being out there in the community, we still want to have a presence, but it will be quite limited, “Ms Bould said.

“The caseloads will be very high, trying to service young people will be the main focus.

“That’s why we have no option but to look at extra things like Operation Newstart because we can’t service that across the whole geographical region.”

This partnership has seen YSAS youth workers support more than 400 vulnerable young people in the Operation Newstart Casey program.

Operation Newstart Casey program manager, James Seeary says both the program and its participants will not just feel the impact if YSAS is not supported but it places the program’s future in jeopardy.

“In the current environment, where the growing need to support young people trying to cope with a myriad of issues is obvious, I am dumbfounded that funding has been cut to such a crucial service.”

In question time in State Parliament on 29 May, Premier Jacinta Allan was asked if she would “urgently reconsider its decision to cut funding”.

Ms Allan responded that “it is this one-off funding that has now come to a conclusion.”

“In terms of the allegation made about YSAS, who I do want to acknowledge are an excellent agency who do very good and important work, there has been no change or adjustment to their core level of funding.

“This organisation and many others during the period of the pandemic were provided with some additional one-off funding allocations to provide them with support.

“That was in recognition that during the pandemic many organisations ... needed to be provided with some additional support to be able to work through that period of time and continue their service provision.”

Ms Bould, like many other YSAS workers, disagrees it was just a once-off pandemic funding.

“For us as workers, the government saying that was Covid funding, that’s very untrue.

“There was a lot of advocacy work done for this funding that happened prior to the pandemic and it happened that the pandemic landed, and our funding was instated at that time,” she said.

“It’s absolutely devastating. The last few weeks have been very hard on us taking in this news.

“We’re losing colleagues, losing support to the young people and our community, the morale is down.

“It brings the spotlight onto it, questioning whose jobs are safe at these challenging times?”

Inner peace: Interfaith gathering unites community

By Violet Li

Casey Multi-Faith Network hosted the Annual Interfaith Gathering at Hampton Park Uniting Church on Saturday 8 June.

The day gathered more than 50 faith leaders and followers from across Casey to foster peace, harmony and cross-collaboration.

Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson and South-Eastern Metropolitan MPs David Limbrick and Ann-Marie Hermans also attended the day.

The topic for this year was inner peace.

“How does religion promote inner peace is the question that we asked, especially given the things that are going on in the world today,” president Kasuni Mendis said.

“It might sometimes feel like that peace is hard to find, so we wanted to have a discussion about how religion can help promote that inner peace and more general peace for our community as well.

“Everyone really enjoyed it. I think it was kind of nostalgic for some of our older members who have been involved in the early years of the network.

“And I think it was informative to some of the new members as well who really got to

interact with people from different sites and different backgrounds and came to understand that the network has had a long-standing relationship with the community.”

Tai Chi performance on the day.

More than 50 faith leaders and followers from across Casey attended the Annual Interfaith Gathering on Saturday 8 June. Pictures: KATERYNA LAVRYNENKO

Katrina Bould,front,with YSAS youth support service workers at Dandenong. They say they will lose two of their colleagues due to State Budget funding cuts. 410079 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Funding need for program

By Violet Li

An evaluation report by Monash University has highlighted the need for sustainable funding for a program that supports young mothers in the South East with education and employment.

Young MothersTransition Program (YMTP), launched in 2022 by South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN), aims to engage or re-engage young mothers across Casey, Cardinia, and Greater Dandenong in education and employment through a case management model.

Two transition coaches work with young mothers to help address barriers to transport, mental health, housing, and childcare so that they can complete post-compulsory education and build knowledge for future employment.

The program of complementary nature functions alongside the Young Parents Education Program (YPEP) at Cranbourne Secondary College and Foundation Learning Centre which provides inclusive education and early parenting expertise – young parents bring their baby with them and are supported by qualified parenting experts.

TheYMTP has seen over 110 young mothers in the region registered in the past two years.

Young Parents Program manager Mary Tresize – Brown said funding for the currentYMTP program ceased on 30 June and would finish by October or November this year without further funding.

YMTP is currently funded by the Women’s Leadership and Development Program (WLDP) of the Office forWomen in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“It’s hard to secure sustainable funding. There are funding grants available of course but long term, they are not sustainable,” Ms Tresize - Brown said.

“I am working on finding ways to ensure it continues.”

A program participant, who preferred not to be named, said she wouldn’t have been able

to finish school without the resources provided by YMTP and YPEP.

“Kirstie [transition coach] has been an enormous help, from helping me with clothing and other essentials for the baby to helping with more difficult things such as Centrelink, lawyers, and learning about how to acquire housing, as well as getting me a stroller that I take everywhere with me,” she said.

“It was great I had someone to help me with everything, which I am extremely grateful…

“This program has helped me achieve ma-

jor and minor goals but has also allowed me to gain so much knowledge, not only relating to schoolwork but also to general day-to-day life skills.”

The report by Dr Penny Round of Monash University evaluated the program as “overwhelmingly successful”.

Dr Round said Jen and Kirstie [transition coaches] were able to have sustained contact with young parents and be able to help them address barriers so that education was possible for them.

“They were always solution-focused,” she said.

“They were supportive, strength-based and they were the absolute resource for young mothers to be able to re-engage with their pathways, but also to support their baby.

“They were very accessible and that was important because what happened over time was that the students learned to trust Jen and Kirstie and to know that they were there. And not only were they there, but they were helping.”

Dr Round recommended in the report that more transition coaches needed to be employed to ensure the continued success of young parents and their education.

“It was just the right people for the right job and so we need more Jen and Kirstie,” she said.

“We also need to make sure that funding is there because I just can’t imagine what would happen if they weren’t there.”

A spokesperson for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said it was a one-off grant awarded to the SELLEN in 2021 through the Women’s Leadership and Development Program to pilot the Young Mothers Transition Project.

“We recognise the project has had a positive impact on the lives of young mothers in Melbourne’s South East,” they said.

“We encourage SELLEN to register on GrantConnect where future grant rounds and other upcoming Australian Government grant opportunities are published.”

The South East region has recorded low Year 12 completion rates. About 16.9 per cent of young people in Casey, Cardinia, and Greater Dandenong Region have completed Year 10 or less.

According to the 2016 Census, there are 1110 young people in the region with parenting responsibilities.

Many of them lack family or other support to continue their education and obtain a Year 12 certificate.

Electorate shake-up proposed to balance voter numbers

By Violet Li

Harkaway, alongside parts of Cranbourne North, Berwick and Beaconsfield, are proposed to be transferred to Bruce, an electorate redistribution report notes.

The report by the Australian Electoral Commission finds that elector enrolment in the current Division of Bruce is projected to be lower than the minimal number required by the Electoral Act in 2028, while the projected enrolment in the neighbouring Division of Holt and La Trobe will be higher than the maximum number.

It acknowledges that Bruce must gain electors from Holt and La Trobe.

Part of Cranbourne North, which is cur-

rently located within Holt, will be transferred to Bruce with 7,866 electors. The existing boundary along Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Narre Warren Road will be extended further south to Thompsons Road.

Harkaway, part of Beaconsfield and Berwick, currently sitting in La Trobe, will be redistributed to Bruce with 8,250 electors. The eastern boundary will deviate from Clyde Road, follow Princes Freeway, adjoin the boundary of Casey and Cardinia, and rejoin the existing border with the Division of Casey.

Monash University politics expert Dr Zareh Ghazarian said Holt losing part of Cranbourne North would be a really small change and he would not expect there to be much of

a difference in voting patterns.

“I don’t think that’s going to have a massive impact on the margins based on what the MPs hold them by. In other words, I don’t think this changes the political fortunes of the current MP,” he said.

He also believed part of Berwick going into Bruce might impact the margin “slightly” and make the seat a bit more marginal, but certainly “not ultra-marginal”.

“I don’t think it’s going to be so much that it causes any problems for the current MP,” he said.

Bruce MP Julian Hill said the draft boundaries in South East Melbourne showed relatively little change this time, which was welcome.

“Bruce needs to grow slightly, and I’d be delighted to represent more of beautiful Berwick and surrounds, though what ultimately happens is up to the Australian Electoral Commission,” he said.

“Everyone will take time to work through the details and make public submissions to inform the final boundaries.

“One of the great things about Australia’s democratic system is that electorate boundaries are set by the independent Australian Electoral Commission, and I encourage anyone interested to have their say.”

The proposed redistribution report is open for comments until 28 June. Visit aec. gov.au/redistributions/2023/vic/index.html

From left to right: transition coach Kirstie, SELLEN chief executive officer Andrew Simmons, Dr Penny Round, Young Pregnant & Parenting Network president Lyn Allison, and Young Parents Program manager Mary Tresize – Brown. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE LOWDOWN

Q&A

Tell us about yourself and your jobs.

I work as an Office Manager at a Software and Electrical Automation Company in Hallam.

What do you love the most about your jobs?

I love the fact that this business treats all their employees like family, and they too are a major sponsorofthisdayandhavebeenverysupportive of this fundraiser for a number of years now.

What has been your most memorable moment during your jobs?

I loved working in London for two years when I was younger on a working holiday visa, and also working at a couple of start-up recruitment companies and helping to build them into profitable businesses.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

Probably a cat – I like to curl up on the couch and sleep!

What were you like as a kid?

A bit of a tomboy – loved going to the footy and the farm with my Dad!

Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

This is easy – my sister and my Dad– who have both passed away, then my Mum, my niece and nephew, and my brother in law – so we could all have one more family dinner together! What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Loud, generous, loving.

What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’?

Sit by the pool in the sunshine, with friends, relaxing!

Where is your happy place? Gold Coast.

If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?

Lasagne – not sure why as I am not a great cook, but everyone seems to love my lasagne!

Where is your dream holiday destination? NewYork – can’t wait to get there one day!

with Berwick Biggest Morning Tea organiser Kirsty Ring

RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OCCUPY AND INVEST

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The site benefits from the following features:

• Established tenant in place paying $1,030 + GST, and outgoings per month on a lease to February 2025, with a 3-year option to renew

• Suitable for immediate owner occupation in the other premises

• Prominent corner location

• Rear shared car park

Address: 275 Rossiter Road, Koo Wee Rup Floor Area: 118m² | Category: Retail

For more information or an inspection, please contact:

Shannon Hynd | 0499 980 100

Commercial Department Manager

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Managing Director

THREE … bowel cancer facts

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness month in Australia. Bowel Cancer Awareness Month raises awareness for bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer.

1

In Australia, bowel cancer is estimated to be the second most diagnosed type of cancer for both men and women and the third most common cause of death from cancer. It was estimated that over 15,000 Australians would be diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020.

2

Anyone can acquire it, but people over the age of 50 are at higher risk. That is why through its National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the Australian Government urges everyone aged 50 to 74 to undergo a free test which can be done at home.

3

The ribbon for bowel cancer (known as colorectal cancer there) is blue. In Australia, a green ribbon with a red apple on it – an abstract representation of the human bowel, is sometimes used.

BUSINESS PROFILE

BATS to celebrate 35 years

Melbourne’s BATS Theatre Company presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame as their featured 35th Anniversary musical.

Since opening its doors 35 years ago as the Berwick Amateur Theatre Society in 1989, BATS Theatre Company has produced over 70 junior musicals, plays and musicals and has been nominated for a number of Lyrebirds awards, receiving an impressive number.

Over 70 productions later, BATS Theatre Company, one of Greater Casey area’s oldest non-profit community theatre associations is producing one of their biggest productions yet with a cast of over 40 performers.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame director/ choreographer Bridie Clark is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this award-winning musical to life, bringing her experiences and knowledge straight from the stages of Broadway where she has spent most of the past decade.

She has joined forces with Kent Ross, the Resident Conductor of the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra who is no stranger to musical theatre having conducted close to 35 different shows and will lead the orchestra as they play some of the memorable show songs includ-

ing “Out there”, “Hellfire” and “Bells of Notre Dame”.

With Jarod Rhine-Davis portraying Quasimodo, Tim Blencowe portraying Frollo and Rebekah Bennetts as Esmeralda, BATS promise audiences will experience the full range of human emotions with Hunchback of Notre Dame. From its inspiring ensemble numbers to its realistic depiction of aggression and fear, BATS promises a production which will tell the story of love, faith and facing prejudice.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

· Music: Alan Menken. Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz. Book: Peter Parnell.

· At the Tony Schumack Theatre in Berwick from 5 July to 7 July 2024 for five shows only.

· A special Star Newspaper readers discount code can be obtained for Saturday 6 July Matinee starting at 1.30pm which has a 45 mins Q and A session with it or Sunday 7 July night performance starting at 7.30pm via trybooking.com/COQDX

· Established in 1989, BATS Theatre Company is a not-for-profit organisation.

Matt Pines, Mia Knudson, Jess Masalski, Felix de Lemon, Stephanie Nguyen, Alicce Cooper and Rebekah Bennetts.

Picture: TIM BLENCOWE

Berwick local Kirsty Ring has been hosting Biggest Morning Tea for years to honour her father and sister. This year, she raised a stunning number of $33,500. Behind her is a photo of her sister Jodie. 332566

Picture: ROB CAREW

WHAT’S ON

CWA Berwick Branch, Wine and Cheese event

Cost - $25 per head or $40 for a couple.

A wide variety of paired cheeses will be available. Fundraising for Children’s Disability Services supporting local children and their families.

Booking: trybooking.com/CRPJB

· Friday 14 June, 7pm – 9pm, Berwick Neighbourhood Centre, TImbarra Hall, Timbarra Way, Berwick

Narre Warren & District Family History Group

This month’s meeting will be held from 2pm on Saturday 15 June at the conference room at Cranbourne Library.

Use your general knowledge and luck to solve Clyde history puzzles.

Lunch at noon, catered by L’Arte Central Social Enterprise Cafe.

· For more information, contact secretary Eileen Durdin on secretary@nwfhg.org.au or 0439 720 557.

Berwick Activities Club

New members are welcome to join in the many activities on offer such as New Vogue Dancing or Social Wednesdays where you can join in carpet bowls, cards, Scrabble and table tennis. Take the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy yourself.

Membership is only $10 with a $5 weekly attendance fee which includes morning tea.

· For more information phone David on 0433566456 or Bruce 0447554475, or visit berwick-club.com

Woodworking Display and Expo

The Berwick District Woodworkers Club is hosting its annual open weekend and expo in July at the clubrooms at the Old Cheese Factory at 34 Homestead Road in Berwick.

The free event will include demonstrations of wood turning, band sawing, scroll sawing, Dremel toy making, routing, pyrography and wood carving.

Various members produced by members on display with a selection of items for sale.

· For more information, contact John McMahon on 0437 096 840 or bdwwcsec@outlook.com

Probus Club of Casey Combined

We are hoping to attract new members to our Probus Club of Casey Combined. We are hoping there are retirees out there who would be interested in joining our Club. Meetings finish at noon when many of our members assemble for lunch at one of our local cafes. After morning tea we have an interesting guest speaker. Our Club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Berwick to provide the opportunity to meet and mingle with other retirees. Open to singles.

· We meet at the Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick at 9.45am on the second Tuesday of each month.

Blind Bight Community Centre Programs

1. Live Music Afternoon Sessions and Open Mic. Join us and bring your friends on Saturday 15 June from 2pm - 7pm. Featuring the fabulous Turk Tresize and band, door prizes and Peter will be back with his hot food van. BYO drinks and nibbles. We hope to see you there. Bookings can now be made via the website at blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au or via the door on the day.

2. TurnStyle returns on 20 July to keep us warm during winter. Mark and Steve will play classic rock and chart favorites, interacting and entertaining you all night.$20 per person, BYO drinks and nibbles, Doors open 7.30pm. Bookings can now be made via the website above.

3. School Holiday Fun - Mad Science, 2 July –11am

An awesome combination of crazy chemical reactions and mad science fun.

Explore the magic of dry ice, make a bag mysteriously self-inflate, and erupt a flurry of snow. Fun for mad scientists 5 -13 years old.

Children need to be accompanied by an adult.

$5.00 per child

· Bookings can be made via the website at www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au

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.

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.

Balla Balla Community Centre

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.

· 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

Make the most of your retirement! Tutors available to teach art using various mediums. A variety of crafts including knitting, patchwork and sewing, beginners card making, and calligraphy. Chess, resin making, Italian and table tennis groups welcome you. Would you like to play the Ukelele, or just singalong for fun? We can help. If you would like to tutor a class, contact us with details of your talents, we welcome new opportunities.

Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library building, enter through the Casey Radio entrance. · Visit u3acranbourne.org.au, or call the office on 5995 0311 for more information.

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

Located in Cranbourne North, it has vacancies in the following classes, learn to speak, read, and write in English - all levels, Monday to Thursday; Early Childhood Education classes - four hours on a Friday, government-funded, great to do before enrolling in a Certificate class; Computer classes every Wednesday morning and afternoon and in Hazaragi Wednesday evenings; Crochet and chat every Wednesday morning with a crochet teacher for free.

· Enrol now for our funded three and four-yearold Kinder Program with sessions up to five days a week. 9.30am to 2.30pm every day with structured play.

• 1 night four-star stay in Auckland at the Crowne Plaza Auckland, an IHG Hotel with breakfast

Flights,

& Transfers

The land affected by the application is located at: 32 Leemak Crescent BERWICK VIC 3806 Lot 13 PS 425312L

The application is for a permit to: Removal/Variation of Restrictive Covenant

The applicant for the permit is: D Cugnetto

The application reference number is: PA24-0135 - (Mark Sheehan)

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.

City of Casey Bunjil Place 2 Patrick Northeast Drive NARRE WARREN

This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Documents can also be viewed on Council’s website: www.casey.vic.gov.au/view-planningapplications

The Responsible Authority must make a

of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 27 June 2024

If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of its decision.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BUNYIP BASIN

Southern Rural Water (SRW) wishes to advise of an application to permanently transfer 71.3 megalitres of surfacewater for irrigation purposes on land described as 260 Manks Road, Clyde. All surfacewater proposed to be extracted will be sourced from a tributary of Western Contour Drain.

Southern Rural Water is committed to an appropriate consultation process to ensure the proper consideration of relevant matters as prescribed by the Water Act 1989

We therefore seek comment from any interested person or parties that considers they may be affected by these applications. Submissions on this proposal will be accepted until 4pm on 11 July 2024 and will be taken into account in determining these applications.

Please direct enquiries and submissions to:

Alisha Clark

Manager Water Licencing P.O.Box 153

Maffra Vic 3860

Telephone 1300 139 510

Please quote reference: CZ 1793949

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NEWS Kicking goals

A large number of clubs in the City of Casey are set to receive funding after being successful applicants on the State Government’s Sporting Club Grants Program.

The 2023-2024 program, which closed on 20 March this year, saw 27 different clubs supported throughout four categories in two different rounds, which included their on-field uniforms or equipment, volunteers and officials, access and engagement and competitors.

According to the State Government’s website on the program, providing access to this funding “helps grassroots clubs and organisations address barriers in participation, develop safe and sustainable practices and build social and active local communities”.

Round one, category one provided up to $1000 to purchase on-field playing uniforms, participation equipment for competitors and active participants, for safety, injury prevention and first-aid equipment. For this category, the following clubs received funding:

1. Berwick Bowling Club

2. Berwick City Soccer Club

3. Berwick Cricket Club

4. Casey Tongan Pickleball Club

5. Doveton North Cricket Club

6. Epsicon Sports Club

7. Kotaitanga Netball Melbourne

8. Melbourne Crickeroos

9. Melbourne Flash Sports Club

10. Phoenix Archery Club

11. Southern Diamonds Netball Club

12. The Hills Netball Club

The second category in the first round saw up to $2000 for projects that provide practical improvements to strengthen volunteering and officiating in clubs, and the following clubs were successful recipients:

1. Doveton Soccer Club

2. Endeavour Hills Junior Football Club

3. Fountain Gate Junior Football Club

The third category focused on assisting with funding for tools and resources that improve accessibility, governance and strengthening engagement with members and participants, for which funding was up to $1000.

The other option for this category included up to $4000 to plan and deliver a new sport or active recreation program.

While not disclosed which option was picked, the only club in the council that was under this category was the HSC BLUES AUS.

The fourth and final category saw up to $750 towards the cost of travel, accommodation and even registration fees for individual athletes who have been selected to attend representative competitions, selection trials or training camps.

The Knox City Mavericks were the only club to receive the funding in this category and round.

In the second round, category one recipients were:

1. Ballers Haven Basketball Club Incorporated

2. Casey Cardinia Athletics Inc

3. Casey Hockey Club

4. Cranbourne United Soccer Club

5. Narre North Foxes Netball Club

6. Narre Warren South Scout Group

7. Regency Callisthenic College

8. St Mina Hallam Scouts

There were no clubs in the council that received any funding for categories two and three in the second round, but two clubs, the Khalsa Lions Inc and Melbourne Handball Incorporated, received funding for the fourth category.

Scholars set to pay it forward

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Nine proud asylum-seekers and refugees have celebrated taking a big step up the career ladder.

Fauziah, Kanimozhi, Mohsin, Sana, Kate, Somornea, Zahra, Razia and Rasvinder were each awarded South East Community Links scholarships to study a 12-month Certificate IV in Community Services.

As new arrivals, the group are charged as full-fee paying students. And so without the scholarships, they were unable to afford further education.

Since graduating, three have found work and three others are in the process of gaining employment.

Among the students were married couple Mohsin and Sana – who was the highest-achiever or valedictorian of the group.

Mohsin said they leapt on the opportunity after seeing an ad for the SECL scholarships.

“Immediately I thought it was a great career opportunity for Rukhsana (Sana) to learn about financial literacy and how to support our community in Australia.

“When I offered to drive her to and from the course, she said: ‘Why don’t you do it too?’.

“So we both applied and were awarded this fantastic scholarship.”

Mohsin says he came to Australia with a commitment to help others in need. He has since passed on what he’s learnt from the course to empower family and friends.

“In my culture, we work for three reasons – to look after our immediate family, our extended family, and to have the means to visit family overseas.

“Thanks to this scholarship opportunity, Rukhsana and I are on track to fulfilling our commitments.”

SECL’s role was to support and mentor

the students, as well as helping them into placement work with hands-on experience.

Registered training organisation ICAN Learn delivered the Cert IV course, and the scholarships funded by Commonwealth Bank’s Next Chapter program.

SECL chief executive Peter McNamara said providing the vocational opportunities was a “no-brainer”.

“The South-East of Melbourne is Australia’s most culturally rich and diverse region and every day we see the amazing resolve and commitment of community members.

“It’s super pleasing seeing graduates gaining meaningful employment as a result and all on an employment pathway.

“We look forward to expanding our partnership with ICAN Learn to further support the community…watch this space.”

ICAN Learn executive officer Tracey McCurdy said her organisation was a social enterprise focusing on community services and financial wellbeing sectors.

“We specifically focus on the self-determination of indigenous Australians and people from multicultural backgrounds to grow professional opportunities, community and personal knowledge and pathways to employment.”

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The nine graduates at Springvale Community Hub on 5 June.

SPORT Seagulls down contenders

By David Nagel

Tooradin-Dalmore has once again shown its immense fighting qualities with the Seagulls downing second-placed Nar Nar Goon 44-41 in a ripping contest at Tooradin.

The Gulls looked in more strife than the early settlers three weeks ago; having won just three games - against the bottom three teams in the competition - after six rounds.

Back-to-back games against Dalyston (4th), Inverloch-Kongwak (1st) and Nar Nar Goon (2nd) were expected to sort them out quickly.

But the Gulls have emerged with a 2-1 record from those three tough encounters; now sitting fifth, but just one game away from a coveted top-two position.

The perennial finalists are not going away in a hurry!

Scores were locked at 9-all after the first term, but the Gulls gradually took the initiative in the middle stages of the match.

Zoe Coventry (C) and Stacey Sawyer (WA) were in great touch through the midcourt, allowing Chloe Phillips (GS) to set up a threegoal lead for the Seagulls at half time.

Ebony Dolan (GD) and Summah Boyd (GK) then cranked up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, allowing the Goon little space in an 11-8 victory for the Gulls.

Six goals ahead at the final break; the Gulls looked home and hosed.

But the Goon has built its reputation on rising to the challenge in close finishes, and came hard at the Gulls in the final term.

Steph Lee (GA) had a blinder under the ring, while Chantelle Dale (WD), Olivia Hamilton (C) and Meaghan Winter (WA) led the Goon’s resurgence.

The visitors won the final quarter by 15-12

in the highest-scoring period of the match.

But Dolan (GK), Jess Maher (GD) and Coventry (WD) stayed tough to the final buzzer, giving the Gulls a huge victory in the context of their season.

Tooradin heads to Phillip Island this week, while the Goon hosts near-neighbours Garfield.

Kilcunda-Bass remains in third position after the Panthers scored a 38-35 victory over Cora Lynn.

The Cobras started fast, leading by three goals at quarter time with Danielle Cameron (GK) and Annabel Sheppard (GD) keeping the dangerous Panthers’ attackers at bay.

The Panthers then turned things around in the second term with Kacey Maund (C) and Grace Rand (WA) lifting their rating through the midcourt, while Caity Egan (GK) and Ca-

ity Stephens (GD) kept the Cobras to just seven goals in the second stanza.

The Panthers led by one at half time, building that to two at the final break, before edging clear by a further goal in the final quarter.

Stephens and her gang head to Dalyston this week for a clash between third and fourth on the ladder, while the Cobras will look to arrest an alarming three-game losing streak when they host Warragul Industrials at the Cobradome.

Korumburra-Bena is knocking on the door of the top six after a magnificent second half propelled it to a 55-45 victory over Kooweerup.

Scores were locked at 29 each at half time, with the Giants leading by three goals at the final break before gallivanting away with a 14-7 final term.

Pallas Lamers (GK) and Gemma Dixon (GD)

Sharni rubbing shoulders with the best

By David Nagel

Casey Demons captain Sharni Lambden was back rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in Australian netball on Monday after receiving a call up for the Melbourne Vixens.

Lambden replaced injured defender Kate Eddy for the King’s Birthday clash with the Melbourne Mavericks at John Cain Arena.

A strong and agile athlete known for her ability to swing from the midcourt into circle defence, Lambden was a Melbourne Vixens squad member from 2021-23 and made her Suncorp Super Netball debut with the Vixens in Round 7, 2022.

Her speed and versatility have been evident through her previous appearances at national level, including as captain of the Victorian Fury for their Australian Netball Championships campaign last year and in the Fury squad currently competing in the SN Reserves competition.

Vixens General Manager High Performance and Pathways, Megan Simpson, was excited to have Lambden on board.

“As a Victorian pathway athlete Sharni has previously been part of the Vixens environment, and will bring great versatility to our team while Kate continues her rehab process,” Simpson said.

“Sharni is an exciting athlete with plenty of experience as part of our group, we’re pleased to be able to call on her and we know she’ll take the opportunity with both hands.”

After an even first quarter, the Vixens controlled the contest against the Mavericks; leading by five at half time before building that to 12 goals by the final break.

The Vixens capped off a good day at the office by winning the final quarter 19-12; and walking away with a 77-58 victory.

TheVixens currently sit top of the table with an 8-1 record after nine rounds of Suncorp Super Netball.

The Vixens squad included: Kate Moloney

Emily

Lambden, Hannah Mundy and Jo Weston.

were spectacular in the second half, keeping the Demons to just 16 goals, while Felicity Fox (C) was a powerhouse performer through the midcourt.

In other games this week, Phillip Island broke a four-game losing streak with a 6342 win over Garfield, while Dalyston made it back-to-back wins with a 59-27 triumph over Warragul Industrials.

And it was a case of no Kelsey Buxton; no problems for Inverloch-Kongwak, who stretched its unbeaten winning streak to nine with a 55-34 victory over a brave Bunyip.

Kate French (C) filled the vacancy left by Buxton with real aplomb, while Amy Scott (GA), Ella Sadler (GA) and Kelly Boyd (GS) scored heavily enough to get the job done.

Ally Grist (C), Keely Wright (GK) and Nat Dijkstra (WD) never gave up the fight for the Bulldogs.

Zoe’s flying the flag high

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dandenong Stingrays key-position player Zoe Besanko represented the AFLW Academy in its match against the under21s All Stars on Sunday at RSEA Park, Moorabbin.

The exciting tall finished with 10 disposals, four tackles and six hitouts rucking against the more seasoned Lauren Jatczak, who represents Casey in the VFLW competition.

Jatczak finished with 11 disposals and 15 hitouts in a strong performance in the Academy’s 7.11 53 to 2.6 18 victory.

The 181cm Casey prospect has had a strong start to the season for the Dees, averaging 15 hitouts and 11 disposals.

The All-Stars team was made up of prospects aged 21-and-under nominated by AFLW clubs and seen as the most draftable players.

Gippsland also had a representative, Jas Sowden, who was productive in the midfield in the first half and finished with 16 disposals and a team-high nine tackles.

Dandenong ruck Elli Symonds is also in the Academy but did not play due to injury.

Zoe Besanko is a well-regarded Stingray. 359433 Picture: ROB CAREW

(C),

Mannix (VC), Kiera Austin, Ruby Barkmeyer, Rudi Ellis, Sophie Garbin, Lily Graham, Sharni

Casey Demons captain Sharni Lambden was called up to the Melbourne Vixens

team for the big game against Melbourne Mavericks on Monday. 413127 Picture: JAMES ROSS/AAP IMAGES

“It’s mine.” Darcy Utber, Ebony Dolan, Steph Lee and Summah Boyd have eyes only for the ball at Tooradin. 412137

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Nar Nar Goon shooter Darcy Utber concentrates on the task at hand. 412137

Casey puts foot on the throat of Pies

By Marcus Uhe

A trademark galloping set shot from veteran and AFL premiership-winning forward, Ben Brown.

AslicktransitionfromthebackhalftoShane McAdam on his lonesome in goal square.

The explosive Oliver Sestan breaking free at a stoppage and saluting on the run.

The skipper, Mitch White, breaking free from a centre clearance and nailing an attempt from outside 50.

A 31-point lead at half time grew to 55 by the 11 minute mark of the third quarter, as the Casey Demons put their feet on Collingwood’s throat in Sunday’s VFL contest at Casey Fields.

It was seven minutes of electric football from the Demons, and a reminder of what they can offer when firing on all cylinders.

Taylor Whitford and his coaching panel, however, will be hoping it can be the catalyst for something more, and kick-start the Demons as they enter the back half of their VFL campaign.

Casey went on to win the contest 18.14 122 to 11.4 70 against the Magpies, notching a first victory of the year at home, and breaking free from the shackles of defeat after three consecutive losses.

The Demons were the stronger side at both ends of the ground, with a spread of 12 individual goal kickers and keeping the Magpies to one of the lowest scores the Demons had conceded in 2024.

Celebrating the history of the Springvale Football Club with throwback navy blue guernseys, it wasn’t just the jumper that made the Demons look a different side to what had taken the park in recent weeks.

Grey gloomy skies circled above Cranbourne as the Demons jumped to an early lead, courtesy of a trio of small forwards.

Kai Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup and McAdam each converted opportunities in the opening term, but inaccuracy from their teammates saw chances go begging and a lead of just 15 points at the first break.

But the second term saw the home side locate its kicking boots and begin to convert inside 50 ascendency into scores.

It began with a Harvey Neocleous set shot after some slick work at ground level from Brown to find his teammate in space, and the Demons slammed on four more to open a 31-point lead at the long break.

A chain of six handballs from halfback and a daring dash on centre wing from Windsor saw Casey work the ball from back 50 into an open goal for debutant and mid-season draft-

ee Luker Kentfield, in what was a highlight of the afternoon, as was yet another high leap from McAdam, showing his bag of tricks after crossing from Adelaide in the AFL offseason.

Four consecutive Demons goals gave them a 36-point cushion after 20 minutes, before Collingwood hit back with two of the term’s final three goals to stem the bleeding.

But just as quickly as the blood clotted, the cut was flowing freely early in the second half as Casey kicked into gear.

The aforementioned burst killed the prospect of a tight contest in the second half, with a shell-shocked Collingwood outfit unable to recover from the onslaught.

A shootout ensured there was plenty of action in the final term, but importantly for the Demons, the lead never dipped below 39 points, eschewing any danger of a late collapse.

Lapses deep in defence no-doubt frustrated the coaching panel as the Magpies pegged

Cannons net crucial victory

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Casey had a crucial 4-3 win over West Vic at Essendon last Wednesday, keeping it within two points of the finals bound top six.

The Cannons continued their fast-starting trend by getting on the board first in the opening quarter via a penalty stroke which Sam Wagg converted.

West Vic responded promptly but teenager Aleisha Foot scored a goal late in the first quarter to ensure the visitors’ ascendancy was reflected on the scoreboard at quarter time.

West Vic scored the next two, taking the lead midway through the last quarter, before the Cannons rallied to score two late ones to emerge with the three points.

The last two goals came in the concluding seven minutes of play; via a Wagg short corner goal and Emma Harris giving them the lead with three minutes to go in her 100th game.

“The girls fought hard and turned it around,” said coach Andrew Harris.

“We either could have conceded or really gone the other way and stepped up and it was the latter which was another show of resilience and another good example of our fitness.

“It was huge for confidence after having some narrow defeats.

“It was good to put four goals in - we’ve been attacking a lot (in recent weeks) but not scoring a lot so to convert was important and hopefully improve the confidence of the strikers.”

The coach heaped praise on milestone lady Harris, who coaches a junior team and has implemented a buddy system at the club to help ease the transition into senior hockey for young talent.

He also gave a shoutout to junior Chantele Galado who immersed herself in the senior lineup “doing everything on the night other than playing.”

The Cannons finished third last season, with this season’s results effectively mirroring that of last season’s.

Casey is currently seventh, sitting behind the two incumbent Vic League 1 teams and four teams which were demoted from Premier League as a result of the competition recalibration.

“We’ve had narrow losses which from a results point of view has been disappointing but from a game plan aspect, I think we’ve done quite well,” Harris said.

Langford leads local charge

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dandenong Stingrays co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes representedVic Country on Sunday, alongside Gippsland’s Xavier Lindsay and Willem Duursma.

Vic Country opened its national championships campaign at Ikon Park against South Australia, winning a tight battle 13.9 87 to 11.13 78.

Langford, who has somewhat flown under the radar in the midst of Hynes’ recent form for Dandenong, finished with 25 disposals and a team-high six clearances to finish as one of the better performers.

He spent plenty of time in the midfield, with his second quarter the best, showing his calmness, ability to link up and cover the ground.

Hynes worked into the contest nicely to finish with a tidy 19 touches playing predominantly up forward.

Lindsay also grew as the game went on, playing on the wing and bringing his trademark efficiency and overlap run in a 19-disposal effort.

Duursma finished with 16 disposals showing some nice signs with ball in hand in defence.

Others locals in the squad who did not take part included Riak Andrew, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves and the injured Noah Mraz.

back some crucial percentage points, but six goals to five in Casey’s favour in the final term ensured the Demons could not be questioned of a four-quarter effort.

Kentfield grabbed a second to make it a debut to remember, and Edward King capped his first game at the level with six points of his own, as the Demons broke through the 100-point barrier for the first time in 2024.

A major advantage in the inside 50 count (67-38) and clearances (52-31) reflected the Demons’ dominance, while winning the tackle count no doubt put smiles on faces in the coach’s box.

Tholstrup and White both finished with 29 touches and a goal each and combined for 18 clearances, with Sestan not far behind, with 22 touches, two goals and eight clearances, as he pushes his case for an AFL debut.

The Demons will put their feet up next week courtesy of a mid-season bye, before returning to Casey Fields on Sunday 23 June to face North Melbourne.

Harvey Langford pressed his draft case on Sunday. 412520

Picture: ROB LAWSON/AFL PHOTOS

The Cannons got a win in Emma Harris’ 100th game. 357899

Oliver Sestan was a key contributor for the Casey Demons in Sunday’s win over Collingwood. 408033

Picture: ROB CAREW

Captain Cam takes charge of Bloods

By Marcus Uhe

Cameron Forysth’s elevation to captain of Springvale South’s First XI etches the family’s name further into the history books at Alex Nelson Reserve.

Very few families have been as intertwined with a single sporting club in recent generations as much the Forsyths’ with the Bloods, with Cameron’s brothers Ryan, Mitch, and Brett all having donned the red and white, following in the footsteps of father, Paul, in an association between club and family that dates back more than 30 years.

Brett, Cameron and Mitch each have First XI premiership medals as mementos of their successes at the Bloods, while Ryan also was an accomplished First XI player.

Harold Road is a venue within walking distance from the family home where the quartet of brothers grew up, and came to leave indelible footprints at the facility’s cricket nets, with Cameron and Mitch sharing the 2022/23Turf 1 flag as teammates.

“It’s (the club) always been a very special place for our family,” Cameron said.

“The club has always been very supportive of myself, Brett and Mitch going off and playing Premier Cricket at Dandenong, with the expectation and knowledge that we’d return and give back to the club at the back end of our playing days.

“It’s the least that we can do after the club supported us so much through our junior careers and the start of our senior careers.”

Cameron said being asked to assume the leadership capacity was“quite a special thing,” replacing talismanic opening batter Ryan Quirk after two seasons at the helm that culminated in consecutive grand final appearances.

“Making grand finals in the past three years is quite a testament to ‘Hilly’s (Paul Hill) job as captain and coach and the job that Ryan (Quirk) did over the last couple of seasons,” he said. “They should be quite proud of the position that they’ve put the club in.

“I feel quite blessed to be taking over the leadership role, given where the club’s at, at the moment.”

Leadership is not a capacity unfamiliar to Cameron, having steered a number of sides in junior cricket and at various representative levels, as well as sporadically at the Panthers.

But the Bloods’ predicament heading into the summer of 2024/25 is somewhat alien, needing to rebound from a grand final day that ended in contrasting fashion to the previous two - without premiership medallions hanging around their necks - against long-time rivals Buckley Ridges.

Cameron was unavailable for selection on grand final day due to injury, but played an integral role in his side’s return to the decider in the second half of the season, and knows the squad inside and out, quickly becoming an integral member since returning from Dandenong.

A home-and-away campaign that saw the Bloods finish in top spot, with just two losses, and be declared the second-best side for the season, suggests there’s slim room for improvement, and marginal requirement for significant change.

Personnel-wise, the squad will remain largely intact, and Cameron is not eager to mess with a largely-successful formula, but the new captain said he will draw on the triumphs of previous seasons in an effort to add to the trophy cabinet at Alex Nelson Reserve, and amplify the already steeped legacy of the current squad.

“The team plays hard but has a lot of fun and I won’t be trying to change anything from that perspective.

“There’s a few things that I’m excited to share with the group in terms of how I think we should play our cricket, and to see if we can all buy-in to that and get everyone pulling in that direction.

“I think the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons where the Bloods won the premiership in

Top talent on display Toner takes massive hit

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Teenaged Pakenham forward Abby Hobson led the charge of local girls in action for Vic Country in its trial game against Vic Metro at Kinetic Stadium, Frankston.

Hobson kicked a goal from 40 and was an aerial presence all day for Vic Country, setting up goals and showing her poise when the ball hit the deck.

There were 48 players in action for Vic Country across two games against Vic Metro, with those matches set to assist with selection of of the final squads that will compete at the national championships, which begin on 29 June.

Hobson was one of seven Gippslanders in action, alongside Zahri Burn, Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Zali Gallagher, Ella Stoddart, Maya Crestani and Lilly Leighton.

Highly regarded bottom-aged player Ella Stoddart was another standout as a hard-tackling gamebreaking halfback.

Meanwhile, Dandenong Stingrays were the most represented Vic Country region with 12 in action including Officer’s Kayla Dalgleish.

Others included: rising mid Kate Terri, halfback Makhaela Bluhm, aerobic beasts Nikita Harris and Tahlia Sanger, bottom-aged gun Matilda Argus, the speedy Jemaya Bressan, eyecatching twins Mizuki and Nalu Brothwell, crafty forward Evelyn Connolly and the clean Jemma Reynolds.

Reynolds was a standout in the first half of her game with her polish and decision-making in the middle, while Sanger won plenty of the footy and showed her marking and pressure.

Turf 1, there was much more even contributions across the team.

“If you look at the players’ stats in those years and even at individual games, I think there were a lot more guys contributing to victories each and every week.

“Last year we were probably too reliant on our best players; we had two or three guys who had outstanding seasons but then there were quite a few other players who were probably a little bit down on what they would expect from their seasons, myself included.

“One thing that I’m going to look to achieve is to try to get a bit more even output across the team and really focus on players playing their individual roles to the best of their abilities.

“While we want to celebrate the best performers in the team, my view is that if someone plays well in the position that they’re in with limited opportunities, that should be celebrated just as much as the top order batter who gets a better chance to make more runs, or the bowler who bowls more overs and gets more wickets.

“We haven’t got together as a group and talked about last year or the season ahead yet, but I’d be very surprised if last year hasn’t stung the boys a bit.

“I expect the group is very hungry to right the grand final result from last season and go one-better this season.”

2022/23 premiership player Matthew Wetering is being touted as a ‘new’ recruit, having battled injury for much of last season and not featuring at senior level, while premiership-winning allrounder Yoshan Kumara has departed the club.

Quirk meanwhile, will remain at Springvale South but without the leadership tag.

Forsyth is confident he can return to his prolific form from the 2022/2023 season, where he was one of the competition’s highest run scorers and placed second in the Wookey Medal vote count.

By Marcus Uhe

Jack Toner’s trip to Queensland with Williamstown ended in distressing circumstances after he was the victim of a heavy collision in the Seagulls’ clash with Southport on Saturday morning.

In an effort to lay a front-on tackle, Toner’s head collided with Shark Will Sexton’s shoulder while he gathering a ground ball at speed.

The Narre Warren product was concussed and began to spasm and convulse while lying on his back on the field, as players from both sides quickly signalled for medical personnel in what rapidly became a concerning situation.

The game was paused before the quartertime siren sounded, as Toner was helped from the field by medical personnel.

A spokesperson from the club said Toner had suffered no structural damage from the incident.

Cranbourne’s Corey Ellison finished with 14 disposals and goal in the Seagulls’ loss.

Beaconsfield’s Mitch Szybkowski continues to hold his own at VFL level for Casey, with 15 disposals and five clearances in his eighth match in red and blue colours, while fellow former Dandenong Stingray Harry DeMattia had 23 touches and a goal in the same contest for Collingwood.

Cora Lynn midfielder Luke Ryan had a VFL debut to remember at Sandringham, as he and the Zebras fought back from 25 points down midway through the final term to force a draw against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.

Beaconsfield’s Matthew Johnson kicked two in Frankston’s loss to Werribee, and the consistent Callum Porter continues to accumulate the footy for Box Hill, with another 21-disposal game, his seventh this season with 20 or more touches.

Cameron Forsyth will captain Springvale South in the DDCA next season. 391023

Picture: ROB CAREW

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