Casey’s music-based charity The Common People will represent Australia at the world’s largest choir competition this July in New Zealand.
The music charity, with more than 100 members, plays international fusion from Eastern classical and Western classical, to rap, acapella and folk songs.
Members will sing four songs in the world-level competition, including an Aramaic language song, a Swahili language song, an English song, and an Indian fusion of the Hallelujah Chorus.
But while music seems to snatch the spotlight, the group wants to tell a story far beyond music. Story page 10
Rejected again
By Violet Li
A landowner’s repeated attempts to create vehicular access to Lynbrook Boulevard on the council’s land have failed again, the state tribunal heard.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) dismissed a review application lodged by Residential Processing Services Pty Ltd, which owns the land at 42S and 40 Olive
Road in Lynbrook.
The lots are currently occupied by an aged care facility and living dwellings.
The company has sought approval for a planning permit amendment to allow vehicular access to Lynbrook Boulevard and for the removal of trees.
Casey Council rejected the amendment, advising that it was the owner of the subject lands, a road and a reserve, so the develop-
ment had been beyond the scope of the permits.
The council further stated that the development did not respect the neighbourhood character, and it was likely to create amenity impacts and traffic safety issues for residents of the area and users of Lynbrook Boulevard.
The court found the amendment application futile and dismissed the hearing.
The hearing revealed that the company
repeatedly attempted to create the vehicular crossover in the past decade.
The first application was lodged in 2015 and was subsequently withdrawn.
Another application was submitted in the same year but was later removed.
The company attempted the third time in 2022 and the application was refused by Casey Council.
Continued page 3
The Common People Choir. 414536 Picture: GARY SISSONS
Special Olympics Victoria returns to Casey!
The City of Casey is proud to host the Special Olympics Victoria State Games across multiple of our sporting venues.
Over two big weekend in July and September you’re invited to come along and cheer on the athletes competing in a range of sports including basketball, bocce, gymnastics, netball and table tennis!
Check out the full program on the Special Olympics website or scan the QR Code.
Warm up at the Winter Arts Festival
Our Winter Arts Festival is in full swing, will plenty of arts, cultural and entertainment events still to be enjoyed over the coming weeks.
The captivating Hybycozo Deep Thought installation at Bunjil Place will open with a free launch party on Friday 28 June from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Come along and be among the first to marvel the five larger-than-life geometric sculptures, complemented by live music, mesmerising performances by dancers in postapocalyptic attire, and delicious food options.
The Casey Live and Local Micro-Festivals will offer a diverse range of musical experiences in Berwick and Cranbourne over two big weekends in July.
Picture yourself savouring an acoustic set with your morning coffee or grooving to a surf rock band during an afternoon catch-up with friends.
From salsa classes for seniors, dance workshops for kids and an afternoon of vibrant and dynamic street dance culture for all ages at the South East Area Throwdown, there’s plenty in the program to get you moving and grooving.
Search ‘Winter Arts Festival’ on our website to view the full program and immerse yourself in the fun.
Register your child for kindergarten in 2025
If your child was born between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2022, they will be eligible for free three and four-year-old kindergarten sessions in 2025. Spots are still available. Visit our website to register.
Casey Conversations
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY
You can provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.
• Climate Resilient Casey Plan: the plan outlines how we plan to build our climate resilience through various mitigation and adaptation activities.
• Heritage at Casey: take part in our heritage survey and express your interest in joining the Heritage Community Reference Group.
• Shape Your City: support the creation of our next four-year Council Plan via our online survey and interactive funding tool. If you would like to provide feedback in person, you can also attend a pop-up session.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Hybycozo’s Deep Thought installation will take centre stage in the Bunjil Place Plaza this winter.
Overflowing with traffic
By Ethan Benedicto
With congestion being at the forefront of every local resident’s mind, Clyde North remains a suburb yearning for other arterial pathways.
South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Michael Galea highlighted the issue following a parliament meeting on 19 June where he said he had heard from residents that both Thompsons Road and Soldiers Road are “no longer fit for purpose” in a fast-growing area.
While he acknowledged that Casey Council had been undergoing the process of extending Bells Road through to Thompsons Road, he expressed his concern on these works’ delays.
“As a user of the roads in the area myself, I know firsthand how much of a traffic nightmare the intersection of Soldiers Road and Thompsons Road has become,” he said.
Bells Road, which runs north of Thompsons Road and south just after Soldiers Road, would serve as the crucial link for residents to access O’Shea Road and the Monash Freeway but has since hit delays due to complications with a high-pressure gas transmission line.
While the intersection at Bells Road and Thompsons Road has been completed, further works are on hold as APA Group identified further requirements for the mentioned high-pressure gas transmission line that passes through the construction zone which was identified in May.
Casey’s manager of growth and investment
Kathryn Seirlis said that it is understood by council that the locale is currently experiencing congestion in the area on daily commutes, and that “is why the Bells Road extension project is a significant… priority for council”.
Alongside Frasers Property Australia, council is working with APA Group and other relevant Victorian Government agencies to achieve a timely resolution in order to proceed with works, with council officers regularly assessing Soldiers Road’s condition and
taking appropriate measures to maintain functionality and safety.
“Once complete, Bells Road will relieve the pressure on the surrounding road network by offering an alternative north-south arterial road for commuters travelling through the residential estates developing in Berwick and Clyde North and an additional connection to the Monash Freeway,” Ms Seirlis said.
The current intersection is home to Hillcrest Secondary College and neighbouring Rivercrest Primary School roughly 700 metres west of the former school; soon, it will also house the Clyde North Secondary School after it finishes construction in early 2025.
pathway from Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Clyde Road to the newer estates of St Germain and Smiths Lane, with a more roundabout method available through Hardys Road.
For Vimmy, a local resident and mother, the situation on the roads can be summed up in one word, “terrible”.
“I struggle a lot, I used to drop my boy to school and it was only showing a nine-minute drive, but it would take me more than an hour to drop him off and come back.”
Likewise, local traffic coming from St Germain and Smiths Lane turns into Soldiers Road with more traffic from Thompsons Road roundabout doing the same, ultimately resulting in an uncontrolled T-intersection.
A completed Bells Road would see a continuation of the intersection at Thompsons Road just before the Soldiers Road link, cutting through the farmland, connecting with Huckerby Drive just east of the bend at Hillcrest Secondary College and running straight through to O’Shea Road.
“The State Government is doing its bit as well, we have invested in the forthcoming works to significantly upgrade the Thompsons Road and Clyde Road intersection,” Mr Galea said.
He also added that there will be additional funding for new bus services in the suburb, which will see an extension of both the 831 and 798 bus routes that “will significantly improve and alleviate congestion in the long term as well”.
“But in the near term this is a major traffic issue which is causing grief for my constituents, and I call on Casey Council to finish these works as soon as possible,” Mr Galea said.
In the meantime, for Vimmy and other local residents, the wait goes on; having lived in the area for just under two years, the congestion had her questioning the decision to move, saying that “nothing supports the suburb”.
“I used to work in Hallam before, and during that time and because of the traffic, I’d need to leave the house earlier and put my child in before school care.
“They are telling people that this is going to happen, or that’s going to happen here, but nothing is happening,” she said.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Bruce MP Julian Hill says no one should judge the newly-freed Julian Assange for accepting a plea-deal with the US Government for his imminent return to Australia.
A steadfast Assange supporter, Mr Hill had often spoken out for the accused WikiLeaks founder – who formerly lived in the Dandenong Ranges. “It’s an enormous relief for Julian’s family and supporters that the matter has come to a close, and that we can say this Australian is a free man that can get on with his life,” Mr Hill said.
After more than 12 years either in exile or in prison, Assange was declared a free man on 26 June after a dramatic, hasty chain of events.
The day before he was released from Bel-
“This section of Bells Road cannot be completed until these requirements are resolved.” TheintersectionatThompsonsRoadandSoldiersRoad,atroughly3.30pmonanyweekday,is
Thompsons Road serves as the only main
Don’t judge Assange: MP
marsh Prison in the UK. He then flew out by charter to face a court in the US-territory Northern Mariana Islands.
At the Saipan District Court, Assange pled guilty to a single espionage charge and the chief judge agreed to a plea deal of 62 months jail already served at Belmarsh.
“No one should judge Julian for accepting a deal to get the hell out of there and come home,” Mr Hill said.
“His health is fragile. Whatever you think of Assange, he is an Australian and enough is enough.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese deserved “enormous personal credit for his judgement and determination, never giving up in pursuing resolution of this case”, Mr Hill said.
“Let’s hope for the best now.”
0600
It is not uncommon for vehicles in Soldiers Road to be backed up to Hillcrest College’s third gate at peak school hours in the morning and afternoon, covering the roughly onekilometre stretch until late in the afternoon.
Moving forward, Ms Seirlis said that“council is currently responding to these additional requirements”.
Repeated rejections
From page 1
There were two more applications in 2023.
Taking the history into consideration, the court believed Casey Council had demonstrated over time that it would not agree to access from Lynbrook Avenue.
“This is evidenced through sustained refusals of applications or requests for further information highlighting its ownership of the reserve and the necessity of its consent to the proposals,” the court heard.
“Council says that there is no rational reason for the applicant to hold out any hope that council may change its position
in relation to access to Lynbrook Boulevard.”
The company argued that Casey Council focused on the futility of the application because it did not want a decision on the merits of the proposal.
Its traffic reports showed that there were no adverse traffic or safety implications and the company claimed that the council had failed to engage with the data and the material change in the surroundings.
It further stated that when the initial permit was assessed in 2005, the possibility of vehicle access to Lynbrook Boulevard was raised.
Sharp rise in stolen cars
By Violet Li
Motor vehicle thefts have surged in Casey in the year leading up to March 2024, the latest Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) figures show.
The number of motor vehicle thefts has jumped from 896 to 1118 - an increase of 24.8 per cent.
Thefts from motor vehicles have soared by 44.4 per cent, recording a total of 3101.
Residential aggravated burglaries have remained flat over the past year.
Non-residential non-aggravated burglaries, on the other hand, have increased by 26.3 per cent from 407 to 514.
The number of drug trafficking has doubled from 105 to 212.
Overall, the total offences recorded in Casey have seen an increase of 10.7 per cent.
Cranbourne topped the chart with 3178 offences recorded, followed by Narre Warren with 3018, Berwick with 2715, Clyde North with 1709, and Hampton Park with 1699.
CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said there had been a 17 per cent increase in theft offences recorded in the last 12 months across Victoria, driven by the highest ever numbers of steal from a retail store offence, as well as sizable increases in steal from a motor vehicle and burglary offences.
“This rapid increase in crimes involving the acquisition of property may be related to costof-living pressures,” she said.
“The increase in property-related crime was the largest contributor to the overall increase in crime in the last year.
“Alleged offenders being recorded for these crimes are drawn from all age groups, especially steal from a retail store, which is above pre-COVID levels.”
Child offences committed by the age group of 10 to 17 have seen a rise of 12.6 per cent, jumping from 1108 to 1248 while the number of youth offences by the group of 18 to 24 has slightly decreased by 1 per cent with 1245 recorded.
In Victoria, crimes committed by children aged 10 - 17 have risen to their highest levels since 2010 with 22,298 incidents recorded.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Brett Curran said crimes committed by children under the age of 18 continued to rise at concerning levels, with this cohort significantly overrepresented in serious and violent crimes such as aggravated burglaries, car thefts, high-risk driving, and robberies.
“Victoria Police continues to invest significant resources towards curbing these offenders – arresting seven youth gang members, child burglars and underage car thieves each day over the past year as part of our two major youth-focused operations – Alliance and Trinity,” he said.
“There are a relatively small group of hardened child offenders causing significant community harm.
“This includes over 160 youth gang members who were arrested three or more times last year and another 38 who were arrested ten or more times as part of Operation Alliance.”
Young writers celebrate
The 18 winners of the 2024 Fresh Words Competition were announced on Wednesday 19 June, where young writers from across Casey were joined by their families, teachers, principals and teaching staff to celebrate their achievements.
The competition is open to students from Grade 5 to Year 12 in the municipality, where they are able to submit entries across three categories of creative writing, poetry and lyrics, and English as an Additional Language (EAL).
CreativeWriting Category
· Grade 5-6, First Place: Georgie Jones Pieterson with The Piebald Pony (Beaconhills College Pakenham).
· Merit Award: Ethan Manning with BlockE (Kilberry Valley Primary School).
· Encouragement Award: Manasvi Prakash with The Hot Food Family (Oatlands Primary School).
· Year 7-9 First Place: Methuki Bogahapitiya with Time to Read a New Book (Nossal High School).
· Merit Award: Yusuf Md Alauddin with The Serenity Glade (Alkira Secondary College).
· Encouragement Award: Bobby Bhatia with The Daring Drop Down (Nossal High School).
· Year 10-12 First Place: Lale Peri Yildirim with The Apogee (Alkira Secondary College).
· Merit Award: Tashi Mallawa with The Glittering City (Nossal High School).
· Encouragement Award: Khushi Thakar with Dolls (Narre Warren South P-12 College).
Poetry/Lyrics Category
· Grade 5-6 First Place: Isabelle with A Thousand (St Margaret Berwick Grammar).
LAKE MOUNTAIN ALPINE RESORT.
· Merit Award: Elbert Yuze Ma with The Beast of the Sea (St Margaret Berwick Grammar).
· Encouragement Award: Evelyne Ong with Lying (Homeschool).
· Year 7-9 First Place: Amna Bilal with Mother Bird (Nossal High School).
· Merit Award: Almira Hafiz with We are all Unique (Clyde Secondary College).
· Encouragement Award: Bobby Bhatia with For in Dadi’s (Grandma’s) Kitchen, (Nossal High School).
· Year 10-12: Megan Phoon with Please Remember (Nossal High School).
· Merit Award: Anvi Sharma with A Consumer of the Past (John Monash Science School).
· Encouragement Award: Luke Mu with The Dreaded Fields of Red (St Peter’s College Cranbourne).
Congratulating the winners and thanking the students for entering the competition, Ms Duff added that she “would also like to thanks the distinguished panel of six judges”.
“The judging panel were incredibly impressed by the creative talent on display,” she said.
The 2024 Fresh Words Competition winners and recipients of the Merit and Encouragement awards. Picture: SUPPLIED
Hybycozo to light up event
The City of Casey’sWinter Arts Festival is in full swing, and some of the best events are yet to come.
Running throughout June and July, this year’s festival offers an exciting array of arts, cultural, and entertainment experiences across places and spaces in Casey that will warm up your winter.
One of the most anticipated events of the program - the Hybycozo Deep Thought installation – will open with a free launch party at Bunjil Place on Friday 28 June from 5pm to 7pm.
The installation comprising of Hybycozo’s larger-than-life geometric sculptures will take centre stage in the Bunjil Place Plaza from Friday 28 June until Sunday 28 July.
The hero of the five-piece installation is Deep Thought - an immersive 4.3m x 4.3m triambic icosahedron internally lit with architectural LED lighting.
The launch party will be packed with entertainment to complement the installation including live, original music by Dave Prideaux curated specifically for Hybycozo, dancers in post-apocalyptic attire, live performances by local artists, delicious food options and free henna art.
City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM encouraged the community to check out Hybycozo and join the Winter Arts Festival fun.
through an explosive hour of entertainment, pushing the boundaries of their art with a unique eye for musicality and timing.
· Casey Live and Local Micro-Festivals: enjoy a diverse range of musical experiences in Berwick and Cranbourne over two big weekends in July. Picture yourself savouring an acoustic set with your morning coffee or grooving to a surf rock band during an afternoon catch-up with friends.
· People of Pearcedale: see an exhibition featuring a unique and compelling collection of portraits by local artist Christopher Pyett.
· The South East Area Throwdown: back for another year, the Southeast Sessions are bringing an afternoon of vibrant and dynamic street dance culture for all ages.
· Salsa Social Night: join Salsa Society for a workshop that will consist of one-hour of learning Bachata fundamentals with a social dance at the end.
· Family Dance Off with IOP: Indigenous Outreach Projects have taken their skills all around the world and now they’re coming to Cranbourne with an interactive dance show for the whole family.
“The Winter Arts Festival, now in its 22nd year, is the southeast’s largest annual celebration of the arts. Whether it’s immersive art installations, interactive workshops or fun events for families and children, the program has something for everyone.”
“This captivating display will light up the outdoor plaza at Bunjil Place, creating a dazzling spectacle of art and science. The launch party promises to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating this unique installation with music, light and community spirit,” she said.
Bills relief returns to Hampton Park
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A sixth installment of the ground-breaking Bring Your Bills series is set to return to Hampton Park on 2 July.
In the past year, the free events have wiped more than $500,000 of debt from households in Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong.
South East Community Links initiated the series in 2023 in response to the cost of living crisis.
In the five events so far, household debts have been slashed by $512,000 and been attended by more than 1100 people.
The most recent one in Springvale in April cleared a staggering $200,000 and attracted a crowd of 500-plus.
Chief executive Peter McNamara said he was “blown away” by the ever-rising demand for financial help.
At Springvale, 250 concessions and relief grants were allocated for utility-bill customers.
A senior couple saved $1000 a year on their power bill by shifting onto a concession rate. This included a backdated $700 rebate.
In other cases, debt repayment plans were organised.
The Bring Your Bills success story was testament to the power of face-to-face interaction, Mr McNamara said.
Phone helplines and online services clearly had not been working for everyone.
“Our role is to bring in the community and get savings. But also to highlight the issues that people are facing to the powersthat-be.
“We’re proud of the outcome. We’ve brought everyone together to play a role.”
The event gathers more than 20 service providers, financial watchdogs, advocates, banks and utility companies to advise on bills, rents, mortgages, loans and other expenses.
Among the stallholders are Community Information & Support Cranbourne (CISC), Consumer Affairs Victoria, South East Water, Magistrates CourtVictoria, Casey Coun-
South East Community Links financial counsellor Robert assists at the Bring Your Bills event in Springvale in April. 403433
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
cil, the Energy and Water Ombudsman, Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, Commonwealth Bank, Services Australia and the Victorian Public Tenants Association.
Bi-cultural workers and indigenous liaison officers are also on hand to assist.
Bring Your Bills is at Arthur Wren Hall, 16-20 Stuart Avenue, Hampton Park on Tuesday 2 July, 11am-3pm.
Some other events still to come on the Winter Arts Festival program include:
· Winter Family Film: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: over the winter school holidays, as part of the Hybycozo program, Bunjil Place will present the film Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
· Escalate: Australia’s best jugglers will rip
LENSCAPE OPINION
Check out the full program and book your spot on the council’s website.
View the events taking place at Bunjil Place on the Bunjil Place website.
Hybycozo is proudly supported by Hospitality Partner Carlei Wines. The Winter Arts Festival is proudly supported by Festival Partner Bendigo Bank Narre Warren South.
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN
Thumbs down
To the driver flying down Bridge Road not doing 40 at 8.15am, turning right down Siding Avenue on a red arrow and almost hitting school kids. He was millimetres away from hitting them. We couldn’t believe what we saw and what almost happened.
Thumbs up
To Dance Legacy! Fantastic, uplifting concert at the Cardinia Cultural Centre! Wonderful! Both thumbs up!
Thumbs up
To Garfield Stars Football Club for their past players function and Heritage Round, and to Garfield Netball Club for the new club rooms opening. Outstanding efforts right across the club!
Thumbs down
To Cardinia Shire Council for doing polls instead of real community consultation for naming places, and not allowing comments on them.
Thumbs up
To the ambulance service and paramedic that came to me a week ago last Saturday when I needed them, and the wonderful care I got at Casey Hospital. Thank you. Thumbs up
To the Cardinia Jobs and Skills Showcase run by the Cardinia Shire Council.
Thumbs up
To Frosted - AWinter Spectacular at Narre Warren.
Bollydazzlers Dance Troupe at Fusion Festival 2024 at Pakenham Hall. 413052
The South East Community Links team during a previous Bring Your Bills day. 359947
Picture: GARY SISSONS
Deep Thought - an immersive 4.3m x 4.3m triambic icosahedron internally lit with architectural LED lighting. Picture: SUPPLIED
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.
What we’re doing
Getting ready to open the upgraded intersection of Narre Warren-Cranbourne and BerwickCranbourne roads.
Finishing the new McGregor Road northbound lanes and Henry Road intersection.
Upgrading the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road freeway roundabouts to traffic lights.
Working to finish the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade.
Road disruptions: Closed roads and lanes
Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East
Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham
Henry Road, Pakenham
Ballarto Road, Carrum Downs and Skye
Until mid 2024Between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Lyall Street/ New Holland Drive
7am to 6pm, 29 June to 7 July In sections between Spirit Boulevard and Lyall Street/New Holland Drive
At times until late June
Until 1 July
In sections between Greenhills and Manks roads
Between McGregor Road and Heritage Boulevard
Until mid July At McCormicks Road between Boggy Creek and Flora Park Way
Koo Wee Rup Bypass, Pakenham South 9am to 3pm, 27 to 28 June
Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Lyall Street/New Holland Drive, Cranbourne East
7am to 6pm, 1 to 3 July
Between Rossiter Road and Manks Road
At the intersection
Webster Way, Pakenham 1 July to late September At McGregor Road
McGregor Road, Pakenham 1 July to late September
South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne East
7am to 6pm, 4 to 5 July
Gippsland-bound between Webster Way and the Princes Freeway
Gippsland-bound between South Gippsland highway and Cameron Street Intersection
$30 million worth of cars recovered
Police have recovered more than 1000 stolen vehicles across Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia alone since the start of the year, with several of these vehicles dumped after being joyridden by young offenders.
The City of Casey alone has almost $16 million worth of stolen vehicles which have been recovered since 1 January, or 468 in equivalent.
Dandenong had 411 recovered stolen vehicles, while Cardinia had 126.
Acting superintendent and deputy police commander for Operation Trinity, Andy McKee, said that they “know that Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia are the worst dumping grounds in the state for stolen vehicles”.
“That’s why we are watching these areas –and offenders – like a hawk,” he said.
In less than six months, local officers and detectives have recovered 1005 stolen vehicles valued at an estimated $30.6 million, almost half of them which were stolen in the three mentioned municipalities.
Recent police intelligence shows that across Victoria, over 50 per cent of vehicles are stolen from residential streets and public locations, such as train stations and shopping centre car parks.
Police from the Greater Dandenong Youth Gang Team – with assistance from the Investigation and Response team, as well as the Eastern and Southern Region Crime Squads – have recovered 169 cars that were stolen during an aggravated burglary, with the estimated value of these vehicles totalling $6.6 million.
“We are generally not seeing cars stolen for profit – youth and child offenders are targeting particular high-end vehicles to joyride at high speeds across the city,” Mr McKee said.
A significant number of high-end European cars were among those recovered, including Maseratis, BMWs, Audis and Mercedes – as well as six Porsches. Several Range Rovers and Jaguars were also located.
The significant number of vehicles recovered already this year follows on the from the 1420 vehicles stolen during aggravated burglaries that police tracked down in 2023 as part of Operation Trinity; 581 or 43.5 per cent of these vehicles were recovered in Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia.
Last year alone, police recovered over 94 per cent of all vehicles stolen during aggravated burglaries across Melbourne, given this offending is most often not driven by financial gain.
In several instances, offenders and stolen vehicles have been recovered across Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia just hours after being stolen.
“Police hold strong concerns around young children with little to no formal driving experience behind the wheel of stolen vehicles on the roads and putting innocent motorists in harm’s way.
“That is why we are targeting this offending every single night as part of Operation Trinity, which has led to the arrest of over 1,400 burglars and car thieves in the past year,” Mr McKee said.
Operation Trinity, which runs every single night until dawn targeting burglars and car thieves, isVictoria Police’s most well-resourced frontline policing operation at present.
There are 70 additional police rostered each night, on top of existing patrols.
This includes frontline officers, Highway Patrol members, the Dog Squad, the Public Order Response Team, and the AirWing.
“On top of arresting these offenders, we are recovering stolen vehicles every single day and returning them to their rightful owners.
“To those who commit these crimes, you expect to see us at any hour of the day and night; we are here waiting to hold you to account,” Mr McKee said.
As a result of this intense focus, police have made over 1,400 arrests relating to burglaries and car thefts – with 83.8 per cent below the age of 25 and 64.5 per cent below the age of 18.
Victoria Police advises residents to ensure their vehicles are locked, and that valuables
are removed to deter opportunistic thieves, and where possible, to park their cars in garages.
Arrests and vehicle recoveries of note include:
· Four children between the ages of 14 and 15 were arrested following a collision in Berwick on 9 April, which involved an allegedly stolen Mazda 3 from a business on the Princes Highway in Narre Warren. The Mazda allegedly collided with another vehicle before slamming into a traffic light; the alleged driver and passengers then fled on foot. A 14-year-old Seaford boy was charged with burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft, unlicensed driving and failure to stop a vehicle after an accident. He has been remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date. Two 14-year-old girls and a 14-year-old boy were also charged and bailed to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
· Between 9pm on 13 February and 4.30am on 14 February, a group of offenders allegedly gained access to a home in Beaumaris via an unlocked laundry door. There was no confrontation with the residents, and the group fled with a wallet and keys to a Volkswagen Arteon Station Wagon. Just after 6am, police will allege two boys entered a home in Keysborough where they stole the keys to a BMW X3, along with an Xbox. Less than two hours later, police located theVolkswagen on Sharon Road, Springvale. Following further enquiries, police arrested four boys at a shopping centre on Cheltenham Road, Keysborough, and recovered the BMW which was allegedly bearing stolen number plates. A 14-year-old boy from Highett was charged with three counts of home invasion, two counts of aggravated burglary, and two counts of theft of motor vehicle. He was remanded in custody. A 16-year-old boy from Springvale was charged with home invasion, six counts of aggravated burglary, and six counts of theft of motor vehicles. He was also remanded. Two boys aged 15 were charged with theft of a motor vehicle and bailed to appear before a children’s court at a later date.
· Following an alleged aggravated burglary at Beaumaris on 13 February where three offenders entered the home via an unlocked door, the trio fled in an Audi A4 reported stolen from an aggravated burglary in Clyde two days prior. Five people then allegedly entered a home in Black Rock but were dis-
turbed by the occupants and fled emptyhanded, before being involved in a police chase. The Audi was tracked to the Monash Freeway, before being recovered in Narre Warren South just before 5am. Shortly after, police located an allegedly stolen BMW 430 in Cranbourne, where the group allegedly tried to flee, however, were arrested soon after. Five boys aged between 14 and 17 were all charged with three counts of home invasion, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, and two counts of theft.
· Police recovered a BMW 430, allegedly stolen during an aggravated burglary in Officer on 13 February. Five boys – a 13-year-old, two 16-year-olds, and a 17 and 18-year-old – have been charged with several offences including home invasion, and theft of a motor vehicle. The 18-year-old was remanded and remains before the courts. The two 16-year-olds and the 17-year-old have been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date. The 13-year-old has been charged and bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
· A gold Toyota Camry, which had been stolen from an aquatic centre in Noble Park on 22 February was located in Keysborough the next day. Two 15-year-old boys were charged with theft of a motor vehicle – one of them was also charged with burglary, while a 13-year-old boy was cautioned by police.
· Five men aged between 23 and 29 were arrested following an alleged aggravated burglary in Black Rock on 22 May. The group is accused of gaining access to the residence via an unlocked door and taking five sets of keys and three cars. A black Range Rover, a black Audi Q3 and a black Mercedes C63 were all allegedly stolen – one from the break-in at Black Rock that same day, as well as another car from Doveton – were recovered at a home in Langwarrin. The five men were arrested about midday that same day in Edward Street, Langwarrin, and charged with several offences. All remain before the courts.
· Police will allege a Honda HRV was stolen from Bentleigh East on 5 April, before being used in aggravated burglaries in Burwood and Preston. An 18-year-old Pakenham man was arrested on 11 April and charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of attempted burglary, intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, and criminal damage. He has been remanded in custody.
Help find Simone’s red Hyundai i30
Cranbourne East resident Simone is urgently seeking the community’s help in locating her car, which was stolen from her driveway this month.
Simone’s vehicle is a red 2017 Hyundai i30 SR Premium with registration number AZF465. The licence plates are black but may have been replaced.There is a noticeable dent in the lower section of the front passenger side door, and a service sticker is affixed to the far-right side of the windscreen.
The car was not recently washed and may still be in a visibly dirty condition.
The exact time of the vehicle theft is uncertain, but Simone estimated that it occurred between 10pm on Monday 17 June and 10am Tuesday 18 June.
“The last time that I saw my car was on Monday night at about 10pm,” she recalled.
“On the morning of Tuesday 18 June, I heard someone come in through the front door. I was still in bed, and I assumed it was my housemate, so I didn’t really think much of it or feel any fear or concern.
“Later that day, a friend came over. He had called me just before arriving at my door.
“I was curious as to why he had called, and he explained that he was unsure if I was home since he didn’t see my car in the driveway.
“I informed him that my car was indeed there, but he insisted that it wasn’t.
“I went to check and discovered that my car was indeed missing, which evoked a range of emotions within me, particularly confusion.
“It was discovered not long after that several valuable items, including two Nintendo Switches, a Panasonic GH5 camera, two lenses, two watches, and other electronic devices were missing, the majority of which belonged to my housemate.
“My housemate denied returning home earlier in the day, and I came to the realisation that my car and all other belongings had clearly been stolen. I experienced a profound sense of violation, guilt, distress, and anger.”
Simone said it was possible that the car theft and the property theft could be two separate incidents or they could have both happened at the same time.
The local police are currently investigating and access to CCTV footage from a neighbouring house is being looked into, but the process may take some time.
Simone recently relocated to Cranbourne East from Rowville and she said she had not yet completed unpacking or setting up security cameras.
“We do have security cameras, and installing them was certainly a priority for us. However, it was not at the forefront of our minds.
“We could not predict that something like this would occur so soon after moving in, or at all,” she said.
Due to financial constraints and hardship, Simone’s car was uninsured, so not finding the car would be a devastating financial loss for her.
Simone said recovering the vehicle was crucial for her livelihood and mental health, as she relied on it for essential tasks and appointments and lacked convenient access to public transportation.
Anyone who may have a lead or dashcam footage that could assist Simone in locating her stolen car, please contact Simone directly at simonnie33@outlook. com
Simone said she was willing to offer a $200 reward for any information that led to her stolen car’s recovery.
Police released footage of an incident in Berwick earlier this year.
Pictures: VICTORIA POLICE
Police making an arrest in relation to a stolen vehicle.
Police recovering a Range Rover.
FOCUS ON … TAX TIME
Casey finance solutions
Small business owners looking to expand, innovate, or simply manage cash flow can find their perfect financial partner with Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans. Offering tailored business finance solutions, Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans stands out as a premier brokerage firm dedicated to helping businesses understand their borrowing capacity and secure the necessary funds with ease.
Why choose Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans? The answer lies in their advanced technology enabling fast approvals, often on the same day, with minimal paperwork involved. This efficiency is paired with a range of options that include no financials, no valuations, and low to full documentation solutions, ensuring that businesses of all types and sizes can find the perfect financial fit.
At the heart of their operations is a deep commitment to the success of their clients. They offer comprehensive business finance advice, spanning secured and unsecured business loans, complex equipment finance, and more. Their philosophy is simple: they only succeed if their clients succeed. This is reflect-
ed in their multi-step support strategy, which begins with securing finance, followed by strategic planning, marketing, and leveraging opportunities.
Beyond just financing, Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans provides ongoing support to their clients. This includes free sessions for business planning, marketing planning, credit coaching, and even a free website landing page, all valued at thousands of dollars, for new and existing clients. These additional services underscore their dedication to not only providing financial resources but also equipping businesses with the tools needed for sustained growth and success.
Located in the City of Casey and servicing businesses Australia-wide, Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans is a reliable partner for business finance. Whether it’s an unsecured loan for immediate capital needs, a line of credit for flexible financial management, or an equipment loan to invest in better assets, their expertise and client-centric approach make them a top choice for business owners seeking comprehensive financial solutions.
The stakes are high if you lodge in early July
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is warning taxpayers against rushing to lodge their tax returns on 1 July.
ATO Assistant Commissioner RobThomson said those who lodge in early July are twice as likely to make a mistake in their tax return.
“Tax time is not a race, and there is a much higher chance that your return will be missing important information if you lodge in early July. This is particularly relevant if you are receiving income from multiple sources.
“We see lots of mistakes where people who rush to lodge early have forgotten to include interest from banks, dividend income, payments from government agencies and private health insurance details.”
From late July, most information from employers, banks, government agencies and health funds will be automatically loaded into your tax return, regardless of whether you use a registered tax agent or lodge your own return.
“We know some prefer to tick their tax return off the to-do list early and not think about it for another 12 months, but the best way to get it right is to wait just a few weeks to lodge.
“In the meantime, you can get a head start on your tax obligations by gathering all necessary records, ensuring your details are up to date and reviewing the occupation guides on the ATO website to check you’re claiming what you’re entitled to.”
Take some time to make sure all your details are correct. This includes your contact details, address, and bank details. Updating these after you lodge may cause delays. Once your information has been pre-filled and finalised by your employer, your income statement will be marked as ‘tax ready’.
“Youcancheckifyouremployerhasmarked
your income statement as ‘tax ready’ as well as if your pre-fill is available in myTax before you lodge. Once the information we collect is available, all you need to do is check it and add anything that’s missing,” Mr Thomson said.
The ATO understands people sometimes make mistakes. Taxpayers that realise they have made a mistake can fix errors or omissions in their tax return once their initial lodgment has been processed through the ATO online amendment process, accessed via myGov or by speaking to their registered tax agent.
Another happy client, Damien Matthys Managing Director of Computers Unplugged Narre Warren with Michael Pajar Owner and Operator of Casey Asset Finance & Business Loans.
From late July, most information from employers, banks, government agencies and health funds will be automatically loaded into your tax return, regardless of whether you use a registered tax agent or lodge your own return.
Picture: MARKUS WINKLER ON UNSPLASH
Wood enters council race
By Violet Li
President of Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, Ian Wood, has announced his candidacy for the City of Casey election in October.
A Cranbourne resident for 26 years, Mr Wood decided it was time to give back to the community he had loved for so long.
He will run for the Quarters Ward, which covers Lyndhurst, the north part of Cranbourne West, and the central part of Cranbourne.
Mr Wood said he would be running as an independent and wanted to make it clear that he had no backing of any political party.
Having observed Operation Sandon and the past four years’ administration in Casey Council, Mr Wood said upholding honesty, integrity, and transparency would be his drive.
He did not approve of the way the three administrators ran the council meetings with four or five insignificant items on the agenda, which he believed did not show transparency.
He has been especially opposed to the administrators’ handling of the proposed $40 million Community Hub in the heart of Cranbourne and the forthcoming eviction of Casey Radio and not-for-profit L’Arte Central Cafe.
“This [the proposed Community Hub] should be put on hold till the elective council comes back,” he said.
As the president of the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, Mr Wood said he would advocate for the responsible spending of ratepayers’ funds and the growth of the business community.
“Quarters Ward has a big business community. I am going to go around, talk to the business community, and find out what they expect from the City of Casey,” he said.
“You have to listen. I think that is a very important attribute if you go into public life.
“You should always be available for your
constituents, be it business or the people.”
One of Mr Wood’s main priorities would be to lobby for more funds in the southern part of Casey for better infrastructure, and better facilities for maternal health, sports and leisure.
“This council is very north-centric, but most people in Casey live in the southern part of Casey. This is where the population is growing,” he said.
An acquaintance of the late and former mayor Amanda Stapledon, Mr Wood would like to dedicate his term to her legacy, especially her passion for Cranbourne hence his love for Cranbourne if he was elected.
“One of the things she was very passionate about was the Motorcycle GP run, where Casey
Council used to close off the main street when the event was on,” he recalled.
“And there were 10,000 motorcycles who used to gather, and they used to head down and convoy to Phillip Island.
“That was a big sense of community, and I would like to see that brought back.”
Embedded in the community and volunteering around for almost three decades, Mr Wood believes he knows where to patch the holes.
He would advocate for community safety and more police as he had witnessed some bad examples of crime during his 20 years of retail working in Cranbourne.
He would advocate for ongoing support for senior citizens as well.
Mr Wood is a part owner of local music station 87.6 Surf FM, which has a long-term relationship with Melbourne’s first 24-hour Indian radio station Radio Hannji.
MrWood said he was proud to acknowledge the support of Radio Hannji for his candidacy in the 2024 Casey Council Election.
Mr Wood is also a founding member of Casey Race, and an avid swimmer all year round.
He is a Kennedy Legends member of the AFL club Hawthorn and likes to spend his spare time attending matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The Common People: Transforming lives through music
By Violet Li
Casey’s music-based charity The Common People will represent Australia at the world’s largest choir competition this July.
The multicultural group will fly to New Zealand to compete in the World Choir Games 2024.
The music charity, with more than 100 members, plays international fusion from Eastern classical and Western classical, to rap, acapella and folk songs.
Members will sing four songs in the world-level competition, including an Aramaic language song, a Swahili language song, an English song, and an Indian fusion of the Hallelujah Chorus.
While it is assumed that entering such a big game for your country would no doubt top the milestones, director and conductor Mathews Abraham provided a different answer.
“The milestone is, I would say apart from all the times when we performed and will perform at the big venues, the fact that we came together as a group and started this meaningful charity where we’re now impacting 200 children, and we are going to add another 100 children every year,” he said.
The Common People was started around 2015 when Mathews and like-minded fellows wanted to provide meaning through their music.
“We wanted something done about our music, and it started off with helping other charities raise funds through concerts. We have worked with a lot of charities including Samaritan’s Purse and Christian Blind Mission,” he recalled.
“We had a few charity concerts happening in various venues. We got the opportunity to go to the Sydney Opera House to conduct a concert there. We had a concert at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne City.
“And after a few years, we thought maybe we should channel all our energy into starting our own charity.”
The organisation’s inaugural charity pro-
gram Stand By A Child started in 2020 amid Covid when the need was at its strongest.
The international program has a sponsorship model where members are sponsored parents for a particular child for $23 a month.
The funds provide daily supplies, basic health care, tuition fees and educational goods to children in underprivileged communities in southern India.
The first step, the most critical yet challenging, is to educate single parents to send their working children back to school.
Child labour is rampant in the districts The Common People has been reaching out to, with many children forced into the industry when their single parents find it hard to afford to support the families.
When an opportunity is presented for their children to return to school, these single parents sometimes do not understand why their children have to go to school.
“We have first coached them and educated them. We got in touch with local authorities,” Mathews said.
“We had to go with the village council. We spoke to these single parents and eventually, they thought that it would be a good idea to have their children go back to school.
“Once that was all sorted, we made sure monthly grocery packages were given to all the families at the start of every month, including rice, oil, groceries, and other living essentials.”
All the members take time every year to visit India and spend time in these villages meeting single parents and interacting with children.
The immersive experience incubated more charity programs including Stand By Her, which improves the feminine hygiene of girls and women in the same area, an initiative to rebuild huts destroyed by cyclones, and a new workshop that imparts skills to single mothers.
“What all this brings to us is a lot of purpose,” Mathews said.
“And once you visit the place, you will not look at life the same way again. You see so much poverty, but you see so much hap-
pening.You see so many smiles on these children. If you give them a pen, they are so happy because it’s the first time they’re getting something from a foreign land and writing.
“Your perspective changes about what life is.”
Four years into the charity cause, a few students have started universities, studying nursing, teaching, and various courses. Success stories are aplenty.
Mathews shared one story of a child from the fisherman area where people risk their lives catching fish in the sea for a livelihood.
“His dad passed away in the sea a few years back.We took that child up and he kept studying. He got into a very prestigious institution in India. He’s doing his bachelor’s in fisheries,” Mathews said.
“If everything goes well, in five years, he will come back to his hometown as a manager of that fisheries department, and he can then implement a lot of actions that will help the safety of the community.
“He’ll be a local hero.”
The Common People music charity. 414536
Conductor and director Mathews Abraham Puliyelil. 414536
President of Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, Ian Wood, will run for the Quarters Ward in the October election. 414834
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
BUSINESS IN FOCUS
End of an era: Farewell to beloved chiropractor
Dr Ken Ewen, the founder of Casey Chiropractic, will be retiring at the end of July.
Since its establishment in August 1989, Dr Ken has dedicated his career to building a chiropractic practice that prioritises integrity, honesty, and continuous learning.
His goal has always been to provide the best possible chiropractic care to our patients and community.
Throughout his 35 years of practice, Dr Ken has helped thousands of people and treated multiple generations of families.
Although Dr Ken is retiring, his legacy of Casey Chiropractic will continue through Dr Harris Delfinis and Dr Ellie Wooldridge, who have been practicing alongside Dr Ken for many years.
On behalf of the team at Casey Chiropractic and all our patients, we would like to express our gratitude for his years of dedicated service and the exceptional care he has provided.
Dr Harris joined Casey Chiropractic in 2014 and took over the practice two years ago driven by his passion and commitment for providing care to the community.
Casey Chiropractic has been a pillar of chiropractic care to the Cranbourne and surrounding Casey community since its establishment in 1989. Our aim at Casey Chiropractic is to help people achieve healthier, happier, and more active lives.
Our experienced chiropractors are committed to providing safe, gentle, and effective adjustments to relieve pain and improve mobility.
We address a range of conditions that in-
clude back pain, neck pain, headaches and sports injuries. In addition to chiropractic care, we also of-
At Casey Chiropractic we are committed to achieving outstanding results for you and your family. Our Chiropractors have a depth of experience and knowledge that is continuously updated by a commitment to ongoing education. We help people of all ages live healthier, happier and more active lives.
Offering chiropractic care to Cranbourne and the surrounding Casey community since 1989
fer on-site Myotherapy and Chinese Medicine services. This holistic approach to healthcare further enhances our ability to support the
well-being of our patients. We look forward to continuing to provide care to the local community.
Dr Ken Ewen and Dr Harris Delfinis.
FOCUS ON … SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
A winter spectacular
Melbourne, prepare to be enchanted! This winter, the city will be graced with an extraordinary celebration – FROSTED: AWinter Spectacular, bringing the magic of Christmas in July to life. From June to July 2024, the expansive field in Narre Warren, opposite Westfield Fountain Gate, will be transformed into an enchanting winter sanctuary, where visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of a winter Christmas under the Big Top.
This whimsical event promises to transport attendees into a breathtaking winter wonderland, offering a variety of captivating event zones. Wander through Snow Land, delight in treats at the Bakery, and listen to festive tales at Mrs. Claus’ Storytelling Corner.
The Winter Craft Corner and The Elf’s Village are perfect for hands-on fun, while the Polar Bear Ball Pit and the Toboggan Slide add a touch of adventure. Guests can also enjoy skating, meet and greet beloved characters, and relax with refreshments amidst this winter spectacle.
Photo opportunities abound with the Giant Gold Rocking Horse and the Magical Hot Air Balloon, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.
FROSTED caters to everyone with VIP experiences and family-friendly ticket options, making it the ideal winter outing for all ages. Melbourne, don’t miss out on this frosty festivity. Secure your tickets now and get ready to be spellbound by an experience that promises to warm hearts and ignite imaginations. FROSTED: A Winter Spectacular awaits, ready to fill your winter with the magic of Christmas in July.
· For tickets and more information, visit FROSTED: A Winter Spectacular.
The expansive field in Narre Warren, opposite Westfield Fountain Gate, will be transformed into an enchanting winter sanctuary, where visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of a winter Christmas under the Big Top.
FOCUS ON … SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Get ready for a world of dance these holidays
We know that the cost of entertaining little ones can really add up, and right now, that’s tough for everyone.
In the spirit of keeping our much-loved community together, we’re always striving to keep our school holiday entertainment free, or as low-cost as we possibly can.
This July, The Wiggles World of Dance is coming to Waverley Gardens!
We’ve also got fun food and craft activities on the schedule – all happening for free. There is a small charge for sushi workshops, simply to ensure that our wonderful hosts at Sushi Hub are able to cover their costs.
Muffin Break is generously offering a free muffin with any purchase – just cut out and bring along the coupon from this publication.
In addition to school holiday fun, Waverley Gardens also offers two free children’s play areas that are suitable for children under age 5. One is in the food court, and the other is outside Gloria Jean’s Coffees near ALDI.
Both play areas are open during regular trading hours. Parental supervision is required at all times.
Once a month, Mulgrave Neighborhood Library hosts Story Time – another fantastic, free activity for kids! Story Time supports the development of children’s literacy, social and group learning skills.
Running from 10.30am-11am, each session includes the opportunity to sign up as a library member, check library accounts and borrow
picture books from the Pop-Up Library. Please check our website for dates.
Waverley Gardens also offers free monthly kids’ crafts and activities!
These help to promote good mental health, well-being, and a multitude of developmental skills by encouraging communication, listening, attention, and imagination.
Dates and times are listed in the What’s On section of our website.
For even more free fun – did you know that we also have Kiddy Cruisers that you can hire for free? Visit the Customer Service Desk to ask our friendly staff for more information.
The Customer Service Desk is open from 9am-4pm, Monday to Saturday and is located between Millers and MySkin Clinics. While you’re there, grab a copy of our Centre Directory – a handy go-to for finding all of your favourite retailers and perhaps some new ones to explore.
Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre is on the corner of Police and Jacksons Roads, Mulgrave.
Please join us on Facebook and Instagram or visit waverleygardens.com.au for more information.
We’re open 7 days – and we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!
WHAT’S ON:
Groove to The Wiggles World of Dance
Monday 1 - Wednesday 3 July
Join us for 3 wonderful days of Wiggly singing and dancing fun, plus, you’ll get to meet some of your favourite Wiggles characters.
Sushi Making Workshops with Sushi Hub
Thursday 4 July
Bookings are essential, scan the QR code below.
Food & Fun
Monday 8 – Friday 12 July
Yummy Fruit Salad, Donut Decorating and more!
Here for the motorcycles
By Violet Li
A typical Thursday morning is hectic for the Old Jetty Cafe & Tearooms owner SoksanWesp.
It’s the weekly coffee hours for the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC) Mornington Peninsula group. She and her staff have more than 100 motorcyclists to take care of.
The rush starts at 10am sharp, with old friends gradually flowing through for everything and it ends right around noon. For the past seven years, the cafe at the Tooradin Foreshore Reserve has loved and treasured the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
“It’s a very friendly place, bike friendly, dog friendly. It’s easy for motorcyclists to come. There’s no stress. There’s a public toilet here. You can also go for a walk,” Soksan said.
“People just come for the vibe, really. People that aren’t in the club come here as well because all the motorcyclists are here, and they love the ambience.”
VJMC, a worldwide club, aims to foster the restoration and riding of older model Japanese motorcycles. In Australia, it is a not-for-profit, community association for Japanese motorcycles 15 or more years old and includes motorcycles from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Branches span across the nation except the Northern Territory.
Dave Parker, the Mornington Peninsula area representative, founded the branch in 2017 with two of his friends Kevin and Trevor. In retrospect, the start touched on the haunting coldness of Melbourne’s winter.
“We were up at Kevin’s place at Cockatoo. He was a paraplegic and died in 2021. And we said it was cold. We’re trying to get the heater going, trying to get it to work. And we said, why don’t we just get out of the house once a week for a cup of coffee so we don’t have to think about getting the shed warm,” Dave recalled.
“So we came here [Tooradin Foreshore Reserve], and this is a perfect spot. It’s got a cafe, toilets, and barbecues. And if it’s raining, there’s a shelter. The environment’s beautiful.
“We just put the word out to anyone. If you want to be interested in motorbikes, turn up. And it’s grown into this. It just got popular and popular and popular.”
Now normally on a sunny good day, more than 100 motorcyclists show up from everywhere in Victoria to have coffee together. As Dave said, a stroll around would bump into 40 Johns, 40 Daves, and 40 Peters, and many boys from other motorcycle clubs, and even footy clubs.
“When we started, we didn’t realise that there were so many guys like us who wanted to get out of the house just for something different, something to get away from the routine of every day,” Dave said.
“Every week you come here; it sorts of resets you.”
While Soksan and Dave believed it was all about getting around with people, long-time member John, one of 40 of them, joked, or not, that it was more about the motorbike.
“As long as you’re riding the motorbike, you’re accepted,” he said.
“If somebody says to you, do you know John Smith? No. I don’t know John Smith.What does he ride? Oh, he rides a Triumph motorbike. Yeah. I know him.”
John, now over 80, started riding motorcycles at an early age of 13.
It is soon revealed that this always seems to be the case. Back in the day, it was common. Every motorcyclist started young, moved on to engage with the police, lost the licence occasionally, recollected the licence, and grew old like everyone else. Halfway through their lives, they have already had plenty of stories to tell.
Max, the 68-year-old who joined the group a year ago, said he lost his licence in the first year of riding. He was 18 and never got on a bike till last year.
“I spent 50 years without a bike,” he said.
“Because my father was dead against me having a motorbike, and when I lost my licence, he said that maybe you should sell it and get rid of it. And then I got married and had family and grandchildren. Then I retired last year and had nothing to do. My wife said, well, you know, go and buy yourself a bike.
“Good idea, and this is great. I love coming along here and just talking to anyone and just talking rubbish.”
Andrew, who adores one cylinder bike, had
a story of getting lost in Thailand on a motorbike with his wife.
“We’re at Koh Samui. I wanted to go and see around the island. We hired a smaller moped with my wife on the back. And it was lovely. We went around, but on the way back, we got lost,” he recalled.
“I pulled into a hotel where the guard was out in front. I said, look. I’m lost. He told me to turn around with the motorbike and go down that road there, this really busy road, hundreds of cars going that way.
“I said, but I can’t get across that road. There’s so much traffic. He went and stopped all these cars and let us go then.
“We got home in the dark. I was very worried, but my wife has a good sense of direction. And we finally got home. That’s my motorcycle story from overseas.”
The love and passion for vintage Japanese motorcycles bond the gang.They could talk for ages without taking a breath.
“Japanese just took motorcycles in designs in the ’60s and ’70s and improved them out of sight. Us British would like to hold on to things, the same things for a lot longer,” John said.
“The engineering was superb with all of these machines. And they made what you wanted, while the English will make this, and
you must buy this because this is what we’re making.”
Why motorcycle? Motorcyclists have different answers but eventually are on the same page.
“Freedom. The open road. Leave all your worries at home,” John said.
“When you’re riding a motorbike, you don’t think about anything else. You don’t worry about your money, financial problems, wife having an affair with somebody else. You’re just enjoying yourself.
“And riding a motorbike is not like driving a car. In a car, you could just sit there and be very lazy and think about many things.
“On a motorbike, you’ve got to concentrate, and you’re using both sides of your brain.”
Soksan, the dedicated cafe owner, is revamping the store. She’s adding a bar, putting new tables and chairs in the back garden, and planning to extend the hours.
She will also put a new button for Dave. Press it, and the staff will know Dave and the boys are here, and Dave will get a free large flat white - his favourite.
Everyone is looking forward to the spring, when the unsteady weather is over and the group could go for a ride.
L-R: Rob, Andrew, and Peter.
An array of motorcycles.
Long-time friends Old Jetty Café and Tearooms owner Soksan Wesp (left) and VJMC Mornington Peninsula area representative Dave Parker (right).
L-R: Hans, Peter, and John.
Max lost his licence when he was 18 and restarted riding last year.
Michael and John.
Old Jetty Café & Tearooms is a popular meeting spot for the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC) Mornington Peninsula group. Picture: VIOLET LI
L-R: Ron, Ken, Laurie, and Tony.
Motorcycle feast.
Uni redundancies rebuke
By Ethan Benedicto
TheNationalTertiaryEducationUnionwarned of inflamed financial problems following Federation University’s decision to go through with their Future Fed initiative.
Announced on Wednesday 19 June, FedUni vice-chancellor and president, Professor Duncan Bentley confirmed that 163 positions across the institution would be made redundant, in a bid to return to a sustainable financial position by 2026.
However, an NTEU statement released later on the same day dictated that the move does not address the core issues that they say are facing the institution - which are declines in enrolment and the general difficulty of retaining students.
Dr Matthew Abbott, president of the NTEU FedUni branch said that “FedUni management is trying to address a revenue issue by cutting costs”.
“The problem is that these mass cuts only stand to exacerbate our revenue problems, making our university a less attractive place to study by undermining the quality of our programs and student support.
“What’s required for management is to create an environment of stability and security in which we can rebuild our institution.
“What’s lacking is a plan for the university to improve the student experience, make us a more attractive place to study - it’s a downward spiral of cuts undermining revenue leading to more cuts, then undermining revenue further,” Dr Abbott said.
In a statement released by FedUni, the proposed redundancies are predominantly in professional and administrative support areas, and that there would be little or no impact expected on teaching and delivery courses.
For Professor Bentley, “these difficult decisions are necessary to ensure that we can continue as a strong and sustainable university”.
“After careful consultation with our staff, it means we can reposition and strengthen investment in the initiatives that help us serve our local communities - the student experience, high-quality teaching and research and an expansion of regional industry partnerships,” he said.
To Dr Abbott however, just because the positions cut were not teaching in nature, “it’s misleading to imply that the removal of our professional staff teams won’t impact our students”.
“Those professional staff do incredibly important work supporting the functioning of the entire university, including by supporting academic staff, but also by directly supporting students.
“It’s wrong to suggest that we can remove, you know, 160 positions from the university
and expect there to be no flow-on effect - negatively impacting the student experience,” he said.
According to the same FedUni release, of the 163 positions, 42 of those were voluntary redundancies, with the total figure contributing towards the $20 million in annualised cost savings required to bring the university to an operating surplus.
“Making these decisions now means we can ensure we can continue to work with our communities across Ballarat, Berwick, Gippsland, and the Wimmera, to lift tertiary attainment, empower transformation and address skills shortages,” Professor Bentley said.
“Federation has always recognised what the Universities Accord recently called outregional universities walk a tightrope in offering the most we can to our communities in the face of significant financial challenges.”
For Dr Abbott and the NTEU, these cuts are
part of a much larger story, and represent the fifth round of redundancies at the institution in the past five years; according to the NTEU, 64 positions were cut in 2020, 28 were cut in 2021, 44 cut in 2022 and 18 cuts in 2023.
“Chaotic decision-making and distressing levels of job insecurity are taking their toll on staff at our institution, and these negative impacts are simultaneously felt by our students whose learning conditions are undermined as staff working conditions are,” Dr Abbott said.
“This style of management which we’ve had since 2020, in which problems are dealt with via mass redundancies on a regular basis [implies] among staff members that management is not actually carrying out a coherent strategic plan.”
The Universities Accord Final Report released by the Commonwealth Government recognised that the public funding for regional universities needs to be more adequate.
In FedUni’s context, their statement included that the significant changes to university income caused by policy changes on international migration will require a reduction in costs in order to ensure the sustainable delivery of education and training; which in turn was enacted through the proposed redundancies.
“Given that the Federal Government does not fully fund universities and regional universities in particular, any reduction in revenue resulting from adverse policy changes means that we have no choice but to reduce our operating costs,” Professor Bentley said.
There needs to be a change, according to Dr Abbott who said that “staff members feel that the future of our university is under threat”.
“We need to get out of that downward spiral and we need stability and certainty, we need a safe working environment so we can actually look after our students and give them the kind of education and support that they need,” he said.
Drugs and illegal weapons seized in South East raids
Guns, crossbows, a medieval sword, a zombie knife and other illegal weapons have been allegedly seized during a series of police raids and Firearm Prohibition Order checks across the South East.
Seven were arrested and about 50 weapons and drugs charges were laid during the 37 FPO compliance checks between 10-14 June in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia.
Greater Dandenong Tasking and Co-Ordination Acting Inspector Brett Skurka said a “myriad” of illegal weapons were uncovered.
VIPER Taskforce, CIU units, local police and the Youth Gang team seized more than 20 prohibited weapons such as guns, imitation guns, machetes, a medieval sword, a knife with shooting blades, a dagger, crossbows, batons and OC spray.
“That’s why we will be relentless in our efforts to remove dangerous weapons from the wrong hands and keep our community safe.
“These weapons can be deadly, and they are prohibited for a reason.
“My message to anyone who has an FPO is to adhere to it all times. We are consistently targeting this type of offending, and you never know when to expect a knock at your door.”
Large quantities of MDMA, GHB and can-
nabis were also seized, police say.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at a Lang Lang home, where three guns, two imitation guns, hand-grenade fireworks, two crossbows, a machete, a dagger, medieval sword and a significant amount of ammunition were allegedly found.
Police say they seized traffickable quantities of GHB and cannabis, as well as steroids, counterfeit money and suspected-to-be-sto-
len jewellery and ID documents.
The man was charged with 22 offences, including possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cartridge ammunition without a licence, possessing explosives, possessing counterfeit money, possessing precursor chemical, trafficking butanediol and resisting an emergency worker.
He was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 21 July.
A 28-year-old man was arrested
A large zombie knife and quantities of MDMA and steroids were allegedly found in his possession.
He was charged and bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 10 September.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
in a caravan on Raisell Road, Cranbourne West.
A man arrested at Cranbourne West during a series of police raids and Firearm Prohibition Order checks.
A zombie knife allegedly seized from a Cranbourne West caravan.
Picture: VICTORIA POLICE
Dr Matthew Abbott led an NTEU protest at Federation University Berwick Campus on 30 April 2024, calling for a stop to the then-proposed redundancies by FedUni. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
No jail indicated for hoon
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Berwick hoon has pleaded guilty to seatswapping with a passenger while driving on Monash Freeway and other dangerous acts after a magistrate’s sentence indication spared him jail.
Subhanu Mittal, 20, pleaded on 20 June to 15 charges including reckless conduct endangering life, driving with a suspended licence, dangerously losing traction and being a Pplater driving a prohibited vehicle.
Dandenong magistrate Julian Ayres indicated that Mittal, if he pleaded guilty, would face conviction, a “substantial fine” and a nonpunitive community corrections order.
“It was a miracle there was no crash or collision. It’s extraordinary - thankfully - almost inconceivable that it didn’t happen.”
Mr Ayres rejected a prosecution submission for jail time, as well as a defence submission for a non-conviction.
Police had detailed Mittal’s 360-degree burnouts, fishtailing, 200-km/h drag racing on Monash Freeway as well as seat-swapping at high speeds on the freeway, in Domain Tunnel and on Princes Highway, Hallam over four months in 2023.
During the seat swaps, the BMW was left on cruise control and lane-assist while without a driver for up to 17 seconds. One of them was performed on the Monash on a Saturday afternoon.
With his licence suspended at the time, Mittal posted his Domain Tunnel seat-swapping video on social media with the label: “No licence, no worries”.
During the stunt in Hallam, Mittal swapped seats with a 17-year-old learner driver moving out from behind the wheel.
On a video of the incident, the L-plater exclaimed “that was crazy as s***” and that he wouldn’t do it again.
Mittal responded that it was “safe as”. There was no one in the driver’s seat for nine seconds, the court heard.
A defence lawyer argued the BMW’s“intelligent” cruise-control could detect cars in front of it and slow it down, if necessary.
“This isn’t a dumb cruise control.”
Magistrate Ayres responded that it wasn’t a driverless car either. The police prosecutor later asserted that “technology frequently fails”.
Mittal and his family had high expectations for him, his lawyer argued.
He lived in the“shadow” of his father, a successful business-person who owned an IGA supermarket and other enterprises, the court heard.
However, his Year 12 studies were upended by a medical condition and he recorded an “abysmal” ATAR score. He then rebelled against his parents and fell into a “bad crowd”.
Jobs roadmap hits Canberra
A Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) delegation was set to launch its Jobs and Skills Roadmap at Parliament House in Canberra onWednesday 26 June.
The roadmap is an ambitious agenda” of “big ideas” to create well-paid, secure jobs and provide the necessary skills closer to home for the fast-growing region’s 1.5 million residents.
“Greater South East Melbourne is a nationally significant region,” Greater South East Melbourne chair Simon McKeon said.
“Its people and communities deserve to be able to contribute to, and share in, Australia’s prosperity and get every opportunity to live, and have meaningful employment closer to home.”
The delegation included the region’s mayors as well as industry, business, education and community leaders as a “unified voice” for the region.
They were set to meet with Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor, who was expected to launch the roadmap.
Senior government and opposition MPs were also anticipated to attend.
“One of the main challenges facing the GSEM region is making sure growth is beneficial and shared across the community,” Mr McKeon said.
“Pockets of serious disadvantage exist
across Melbourne’s southeast, but so do significant untapped pockets of opportunity and we need to link the need with the opportunities.
“That is what we are seeking to create with this GSEM Jobs and Skills Roadmap.”
The roadmap derives from a summit of more than 200 of the region’s leaders in early May.
Among the ideas is immediate funding for education providers to target foundation study for migrants and other disadvantaged groups in the vastly-multicultural region.
GSEM also wants a simpler process for recognising overseas qualifications and a taskforce to help reform English competency testing for migrants and refugees.
Expanded programs to support students to earn while learning was also required.
In the medium to long term, GSEM called for support for emerging industries and innovation, for inclusive growth and reduced disadvantage and for industry-educationcommunity connections.
The GSEM region which includes Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong and five other council areas comprises 500,000 jobs and 85,000 businesses.
It is one of Australia’s largest manufacturing regions with $85 billion in Gross Regional Product.
Mittal sought a “temporary escape and relief” from his health issues and poor results, a psychologist reported. Anxiety and depression also impaired his reasoning and judgement.
Since the charges, the business-degree student had regained his driver’s licence and mixed with more positive peers.
In December, he had run a red traffic-light causing police motorcyclists to take evasive action, but not re-offended in 2024.
“His father and mother are watching him like a hawk,” the lawyer said.
A police prosecutor submitted for a jail term or jail combined with an“extensive” CCO.
A “strong message” needed to be sent against hoon behaviour that endangered the public, the prosecutor argued.
In his sentence indication, Mr Ayres noted there was a need to protect the community from “potentially disastrous consequences”.
Leaving the driver’s seat was “almost at the highest end of reckless conduct”.
But also Mittal was “very young” at the time and “obviously very impressionable” with a limited history of driving offences and no drug or alcohol issues.
As a youthful offender, Mittal’s rehabilitation was a primary focus – particularly because no one was actually injured or killed.
“Driving offences are very largely consequence-based,” he noted.
“(I’m) not sending him to jail but it has to be a conviction. It’s too serious globally.”
Mittal accepted the indication of a conviction, a “substantial” fine, a two-year CCO and two-year driving disqualification.
The CCO would include a road-trauma awareness course, supervision, mental health treatment but no unpaid work.
His sentencing is set for Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 28 June.
The prosecutor also applied for the forfeiture of the high-powered BMW, which will be considered at a later date.
The car was prohibited for P-platers due to its high power-weight ratio, and registered to a business in which Mittal and his parents were co-directors, the court heard.
The defence lawyer told the court that he would oppose the forfeiture due to Mittal’s father holding a “high equitable interest” in the car.
It was driven by Mittal without the parents’ knowledge, he submitted.
Mittal’s co-accused twin brother Sushant meanwhile is contesting up to 110 similar charges at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in July.
The twin had rejected a sentence indication in March that included a jail term if he pleaded guilty.
Simon McKeon (GSEM chair), Emma Dawson (executive director of Per Capita), Honi Walker (CEO, SEMMA) and Michael Rowland (MC) at the GSEM Jobs and Skills summit in early May. 403587 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Saving an orchid
Scientists from Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and La Trobe University introduced the critically endangered Frankston Spider-orchid back into the wild in native bushland in Melbourne’s South East with the assistance of volunteers on Monday 24 June.
The Frankston Spider-orchid, with the scientific name of Caladenia robinsonii, was once commonly seen in Frankston, Black Rock and along the Mornington Peninsula toward Rosebud, however, the species has declined due to habitat destruction from suburban expansion.
Only two populations, totalling less than 350 plants, remain in the wild.
Dr Noushka Reiter, senior research scientist (conservation) at Royal Botanic GardensVictoria said they were proud to be giving Caladenia robinsonii a chance at survival.
“This is the culmination of seven years of research,” she said.
Dr Reiter, together with colleagues Dr Ryan Phillips from La Trobe University and professor Rod Peakall from Australian National University, uncovered the Frankston Spiderorchid’s unique method of reproduction: the sexual deception of a wasp combined with pollination during feeding.
The orchid lures a male wasp with the scent of a female wasp emitted from dark “clubs” at the ends of its petals.
After initial sexual attraction, the wasp then feeds on sugars from the lip of the flower. While feeding, pollen is deposited on the wasp by the orchid. Such is the power of the sexual attractant; the male wasp is drawn to another flower where the process repeats, and pollen is transferred.
Caladenia robinsonii relies on a single species of thynnine wasp for reproduction and a single species of mycorrhizal fungus to germinate.
“To successfully reintroduce this species, we had to find suitable sites where the pollinator was present, identify associated mycorrhizal fungi, and germinate the seed symbiotically with its preferred mycorrhizal fungi,” Dr Reiter said.
It is one of several species being re-introduced in projects led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Orchid Conservation Program in the coming month.
Other species being re-introduced include 200 of the Critically Endangered McIvor Spider-orchid Caladenia audasii, in addition to the supplementation of populations of the Endangered Coloured Spider-orchid (Caladenia colorata) and the Endangered Elegant Spiderorchid (Caladenia formosa).
This research was supported by funding from the Natural Environment Program of the Port Phillip Region, the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, and an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.
To read the paper, Sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour: impli-
Budget green light
Following a three-week public exhibition and a special council meeting on Monday 24 June, Casey Council has adopted its Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 4 Review and the Budget 2024/25.
Setting out the priorities and projects for the year ahead in line with community feedback, council adopted the following strategic documents The Budget Report, which includes the Budget 2024/25 and Capital Works Program 2024/25; Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 4 Review; Annual Action Plan 2024/25; Financial Plan 2024/25 – 2033/34; and Schedule of Fees and Charges 2024/25.
Casey’s chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM said this year’s budget totals $560.8 million, which includes a $460.1 million operational budget that supports the delivery of crucial services including kindergartens, maternal and child health, waste management and infrastructure maintenance.
“The budget also includes a $100.6 million Capital Works Program (CWP) to deliver much-needed infrastructure and upgrades throughout the City of Casey.
“As part of the CWP, we have allocated approximately $11 million towards our road resurfacing and rehabilitation programs. Our Capital Delivery and Maintenance teams have proactively identified areas where asset renewal is most required, resulting in an increase in projects from 37 in 2023/24 to 72 in 2024/25,” Ms Duff said.
Due to economic pressures and rising costs being experienced by the community and the council, Casey is working within tight budget parameters, which according to them was made more challenging by the 2.75 per cent State Government rate cap that has since been endorsed. Ms Duff added that in 2024/25, Casey’s waste charge will also increase by 3.29 per cent for households across the municipality who have a 120-litre garbage bin with recycling and food organics (FOGO) bins.
“There has also been a significant increase in the Fire Services Property Levy; the increase, which is set by the State Government, was announced as part of the 2024/25 State Budget on 7 May 2024.
“These charges, which will vary from property to property, are reflected on residents’ rates notice as we are responsible for its collection and remittance back to the State Government to assist in funding fire emergency services,” Ms Duff said.
Furthermore, since the draft version of the budget was released to the community, there have been some changes which include the CWP.
“Six projects have been rephrased, meaning the timing for delivery has moved [and] design for some projects will commence this year, with delivery scheduled for the following year.
“Three new projects have also been included as a priority for delivery; these are the construction of a dog-friendly space at Sweeney Reserve, the upgrade of the Edwin Flack Reserve Athletics Pavilion, and the relocation of the Casey North Community Information and Support Service to the Casey Youth Hub building in Webb Street, Narre Warren,” Ms Duff said.
There are also a number of community-focused projects to be delivered in 2024/25, including Multicultural Water Safety Program - in response to the recent drownings of Casey residents, Sport4All program - aiming to educate and guide local sports clubs to be inclusive and welcoming for those people who identify as having a disability, Maternal and Child Health Nurse Scholarship program - with the goal of supporting nurses to undertake MCH nurse training and then work in council’s MCH service to address workforce challenges, and hosting aYouth Summit.
Volunteers Cathy Beamish and Jeanette Miller are helping with the re-introduction. 414979
Caladenia robinsonii. 414979
Volunteer John Hodges from Australasian Native Orchid Society, Victorian Group. 414979
Caladenia robinsonii, commonly known as Frankston Spider-orchid. Picture: DR NOUSHKA REITER
Scientists are introducing the critically endangered Frankston Spider-orchid back into Melbourne’s South East. Pictured is senior research scientist Dr Noushka Reiter and research officer Alex McLachlan at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. 414979
Watchdog puts landfill on notice
A toxic waste landfill at Taylors Road Dandenong South has been issued three improvement notices by the state’s pollution watchdog.
The three notices from EPA Victoria relate to issues with ongoing management of leachate (wastewater), dust and landfill gas at the Veolia Recycling and Recovery facility.
“This is a very important landfill site in Victoria, and that importance must be met with ongoing improvements to deliver the best pollution controls,” EPA regional manager Viranga Abeywickrema said.
“We’ve directed Veolia that it must manage leachate in a way that minimises the risk of harm to human health and the environment.”
The EPA also ordered Veolia to assess, review and take remedial action over its generation, management and disposal of landfill gas.
Veolia was also directed to mitigate and prevent dust being discharged beyond the site boundaries from vehicle movement and material storage.
Mr Abeywickrema said EPA would maintain contact with Veolia to ensure progress was being made but would use its regulatory powers as necessary.
“The important thing is that impacts offsite be minimised and the community and environment protected.”
Last year, the EPA fined Veolia $9246 for failing to provide a report on groundwater quality at the facility.
The landfill is the only facility in Victoria
licensed to receive a broad range of solid hazardous waste, classified as Category B.
The environmental measures include col-
lection and treatment of leachate, groundwater and surface management and detailed monitoring and reporting.
Charge after fatal crash on freeway
A Pakenham man has been charged by Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives after a fatal collision in Mulgrave on Wednesday 19 June.
The collision occurred between three vehicles and the rider who was travelling inbound on the Monash Freeway at about 6.15am.
The female rider, a 20-year-old Clyde North woman, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries but later passedaway.
All drivers of the vehicles stopped at the scene.
The driver of a Nissan hatchback sustained minor injuries and was conveyed to hospital for treatment.
The driver of a Nissan Patrol, a 34-year-old Pakenham man, was charged with dangerous driving causing death. He was set to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 June.
A section of the Monash Freeway was shut for some time following the collision.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Call 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic. com.au
The hazardous waste landfill in Taylors Road Dandenong South has been issued three improvement notices from the EPA. 228738
Picture: GARY SISSONS
Music star in the region
Australian music star Mitch Tambo graced South East with his Walanbaa Youth Tour this week.
Throughout the tour, Mitch will visit schools, learning centres and youth hubs to deliver high-energy musical performances and impactful workshops with a mission to empower students and teachers.
The singer travelled to Upwey South Primary School on Tuesday and Cranbourne Secondary College on Wednesday 19 June as part of the tour.
Mitch said the response and demand from schools visited had been nothing short
WHAT’S ON
New Vogue dancing
If you love dancing and would like to learn New Vogue, Berwick Activities Club is offering a short seven-week course for beginners.
The course is held over one-hour classes each Friday, commencing on Friday 5 July at 7pm in the Timbarra Community Centre.
Dancing is a great way to make new friends and at the completion of the course you may join the weekly dance held on Thursday evenings. Booking is essential as numbers are limited.
· For more information, contact Bruce on 0447 554 475.
Berwick Neighbourhood Centre Open Day
If you would like to view our rooms and meet our wonderful educators at our little centre, please feel free to attend our Open Day on Saturday 27 July 2024 from 9.30am to 11am at 112 High Street, Berwick. We offer 3 year old Play & Grow for children turning 3 by the end of April in the year they enrol and childcare for children aged 15 months to 4 years. We have shorter sessions being either 5 hours in Play & Grow or a 3 or 5 hour session in childcare. If you qualify for the childcare subsidy, we can apply it to your fees. Please note that these sessions are very popular, and we have very limited spots left for 2025 - our Bush Adventures that we offer is already full and a waiting list now applies, so don’t delay in enrolling your child if you would like a spot for 2025.
· For more information visit berwickneighbourhoodcentre.com or contact the centre’s Timbarra office on 0397041863.
Berwick Artists Society Art Show
Meet our artists and their art, enjoy free drinks and nibbles.
· 24 June - 13 July, Cranbourne Library, Casey Complex, 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road. The exhibition can be viewed during the library’s open hours.
Cranbourne U3A Relocation
Cranbourne U3A will be relocating to new rooms from the commencement of Term 3 in July.
We are moving to the kindergarten building at 20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne.
This building is being refurbished at the moment
of phenomenal.
“The students have such a fun time, they are so pumped dancing and singing along to the songs, and really have embraced the messages, it’s a really joyful atmosphere,” he said.
The singer said developing a strong selfesteem when you were young had never been more important.
“Students have a lot of fears about the future given all the uncertainty and change in our society,” he said.
“More than ever children really need to believe in themselves and understand they re-
ally can achieve great things if they cultivate a positive mind set and a solid sense of who they are, to be prepared for anything life throws at them.”
With teachers also playing a crucial role in fostering social positivity in high school, Mitch also works with educators to create a sense of belonging and inclusion.
“Teachers work so hard - retention rates are in jeopardy, and they’re always under the pump - so I also make sure to remind them what a great job they’re doing as well. Some of them have even been moved to tears during some sessions,” he said.
to suit our needs. We will be moving in there in early July. New members will be made welcome at our new rooms. There are lovely windows facing out to a well-maintained garden area where we can enjoy lunch or a coffee on a nice day.
· Please check our website for more details.
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
Berwick Springs VIEW Club
Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.
The club currently supports 10 students of varying ages with their education expenses.
The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.15am, where members enjoy a
Scrabble Club
Berwick Activities Club is started a Scrabble Club recently and it runs every Friday from 1pm to 3.30pm. It will be both competitive and social on a one-to-one basis. Come along to learn how to play or improve your game. Word lists and more will be available to increase your skills.
· Contact David on 0433 566 456.
lunch and then host a guest speaker.
Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies.
The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.
· For more information, contact Shirley on 0438 191 759 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.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
TurnStyle returns on 20 July to keep us warm during winter. Mark and Steve will play classic rock and chart favourites, interacting and entertaining you all night. $20 per person, BYO drinks
Drawing from his experience as a social worker, Mitch has been open on the tour, sharing stories about his life and how he got to where he is today – a world-acclaimed music artist and family man.
“I’m thrilled at the interest shown by schools across Australia – from some of the biggest city schools to small regional schools, everyone has been so enthusiastic,” he said.
TheWalanbaaYouth Tour, which kicked off in February, will see Mitch perform at more than 100 dates over eight months throughout NSW, Victoria, Queensland, ACT, and WA, with additional dates planned.
and nibbles, doors open 7.30pm. Bookings can now be made via the website above.
· Bookings can be made via the website at www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au BADFolk Club
Berwick and District Folkclub have been meeting at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick for the past 21 years! We meet on the third Friday of each month. This month we welcome back Maria Forde - she is a classic folk singer and has written some great songs like ’Will You Dance with Me’ which is often played at weddings. We also welcome spot acts - anyone who can play an instrument, sing, share a poem etc. Please note our earlier running times: Doors now open 6:30 and the music runs 7-10pm. Our kitchen sells snack food and a variety of drinks - tea/ coffee/wine/beer/soft drinks. Entry: $15. Website: badfolkclub.org Contact: Edward: 0418 535 264.
· Meet on the third Friday of each month. Craft Classes
Do you enjoy craft making?
Join Berwick Activities Group’s Elizabeth to discover the world of papercraft and have a chat with like-minded people.
You will be introduced to a range of papercraft techniques through a new project each week. Casual attendance is welcome.
Timbarra Community Centre 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick $5 per class, all materials supplied. Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.
· Tuesdays from 10am to noon. Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre
If you are over 55 years old, newly retired, or new to the Casey area and looking for something to do, come and join us.
Narre Warren Seniors is a friendly Club and we can offer you many activities. Our main Club day is on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3pm.
· We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Phone us at 9704 0015 or 0426 736 467 or email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information
Berwick Activities Club began hosting their Scrabble Club on Friday 14 June, and looks to continue well into the remainder of the month.
Picture: UNSPLASH
Australian music star Mitch Tambo is traveling around the country this year with his Walanbaa Youth Tour. Pictures: SUPPLIED
Mitch is ready to perform for his tour. Mitch is performing at schools during his tour.
Everyone is welcome to Battery Zone Dandenong’s Open Day, open from 8.30am on Saturday 13 July.
There will also be a Show N Shine commencing at 10am (cars and boats), and a sausage sizzle.
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The store is situated at 3/58 Greens Road, Dandenong South.
David Strucelj - franchisee owner of the Battery Zone, Dandenong store.
No More Than One Dwelling on Each Created Lot and Deletion of Part (b))
The applicant for the permit is: MG Land Surveyors
The application reference number is: PA24-0157 - (Carrie Luo)
You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the
With brushes to canvases and spirits high, the Berwick Artists’ Society gathered at the Old Cheese Factory on Thursday 20 June, as they held the final strokes for their opening night.
Just a few days out of the Society’s opening event on Monday 24 June, the function room at the Factory was brimming with life, with pastel, watercolour and acrylic-covered pieces decorating the easels.
The group’s secretary, Rose Duncan said that while there was no specific theme planned for the opening night, it served more as a culmination of their pieces, efforts and styles.
“Everyone is very artistic, very talented and there’s a lot of artwork that hasn’t been seen before.
“We have different styles, and I think the difference is what connects everyone and it makes it a beautiful exhibition to see,” Rose said.
One of the main activities of the Thursday session was portrait painting; held once a month, a member of the Society volunteers to model for other artists, and the rest then spend the duration painting.
While general committee member, Jenny, did not show any artwork on Monday night, her time at the society made her realise that “the beauty is, that we help and encourage each other”.
The essence of art can be subjective, and when it comes to working on pieces,“you need the motivation”.
“Because when you’re retired like a lot of us are, to do it at home you’re just stuck in your own world.
“The beauty is, you can see with this room it’s a very big group but also everybody does different things,” Jenny said.
Rose is on the same page, agreeing that it’s the difference in everyone’s styles that “connects everyone and [what] makes it a beautiful exhibition to see”.
Organising the event roughly took a month, and speaking on the group, Rose said “everyone chipped in”.
“[Everyone] does a little bit and that’s what makes it special because we’re such a companionable art society,” she said.
The Berwick Artists’ Society was formed in 1992 by a local group of artists who were excited to share their passion.
Providing an environment for others to explore their interests and styles, which in turn encourages local emerging and professional artists to contribute to the community’s artistic identity, is the group’s main goal.
Lyn, who has been with the group for the last four years presented three of her works on Monday night; with a focus on water-based oils she’s a free spirit, and when it comes to art being uniquely ‘her’, she said “I don’t honestly know”.
“I just come up to the canvas and if I like something I paint it.
“If I see something I like I’ll take a photo of it, if I flick through a book and see a nice picture of something then I’ll use that as inspiration,” she said.
Rodney, a long-time member with a specialty in landscapes echoed the same notion, saying that he keeps landscape “in the back of my mind all the time”.
Speaking for himself and on behalf of friend and fellow artist Quentin, he said that they are both influenced by all great Australian artists.
The art show’s opening night was held at the Cranbourne Library and ran from 7pm to 8pm; however, the exhibition itself will go on for roughly two weeks and will conclude on Saturday 13 July.
The event is free and for Rose and many of
the members, they are more than keen to be showing their work.
“It’s like a part of yourself that you’re putting out there,” Rose said.
“It still feels the same, it’s wonderful to be acknowledged and have other people appreci-
ate the time and the effort that goes into each piece that you do.”
For more general information on the Berwick Artists’ Society, such as membership and future workshops, visit berwickartistssociety. com.au/#bas
Rose Duncan (pink jumper) amongst other artists as they drew a live portrait. 414943
Pictures: ETHAN BENEDICTO
Rodney (blue jumper) looking at references for his ongoing landscape painting. 414943
Judy Gee was the live model for Thursday’s portrait activity. 414943
Barry was deep in his piece for the majority of the session, taking short and careful strokes. 414943
Lyn with her ongoing cafe piece, while still sometime before completion, three of her previous works are exhibition-ready. 414943
Rosaleen with her ongoing nature piece, as she browsed for more colour inspiration. 414943
A lover of the Australian outback, Manuel’s piece is only two days in, with many more aspects to add. 414943
SPORT Hansen decides to call time
By David Nagel
Long-time administrator Rob Hansen will “call time” on his cricket journey and refuse the temptation of nominating for the recently vacated position of President of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA).
New nominations are being called for to fill the vacant position after a motion was passed by the association’s member clubs on Tuesday 18 June.
In a secret ballot, the majority of clubs voted in favour of passing the motion to declare the President’s position vacant; effectively ending the tenure of the now 80-year-old.
The motion was put forward after an unofficial meeting of CCCA clubs was held in May; with several clubs believing the time was right for Hansen to step down.
Discontent with Hansen’s leadership style has been building in recent years, and grew stronger throughout the 2023/24 CCCA season; resulting in the motion being put forward.
With the CCCA president’s position now vacant, the role is open to all-comers, with Hansen receiving support in some quarters to reapply for the role.
Despite the well-wishes, Hansen has decided the time is right to bring to an end an administration career that extends all the way back to 1973.
Terry Stephenson and his great friend Hansen became President and Secretary respectively of the then Berwick Pakenham District Cricket Association that year.
“People have contacted me and want me to re-nominate, but I want to call time,” Hansen said.
“I admit that things haven’t been as smooth as they might have been over the last 12 months, but the way people have gone about this process has left me disappointed and upset.
“Resolving issues is not about chopping the head off the beast and expecting everything to be hunky-dory again – with everyone sailing off into the sunset - it’s just not a good business-like approach to deal with issues the way they’ve been dealt with.
“My approach has always been one of consensus, of talking things through with people, and resolving them.
“I’ve had a number of people contact me and ask me to stand again, but I believe I’ve had my time and already made a pretty valuable contribution to what has gone on over 50 years in the association.”
Since beginning his playing career at Pakenham in 1968, Hansen has been a familiar figure in the region for 56 years.
His administration journey includes five years as president, one as vice-president, 14
years as secretary/general manager and a season as junior manager.
He has been a driving force behind the CCCA’s Female Cricket Group, and in 2022 worked with Cricket Victoria Senior Manager Chris Harris, who asked the CCCA to work on initiating new clubs.
After three years of lobbying with Cardinia Shire, Avengers Cricket Club was introduced as a new club in the CCCA for the 2023/24 season.
Avengers, based at James Bathe Reserve, were joined by Melbourne Sixers and Kerala Strikers as the newest CCCA clubs.
“I’ve had my time; had my go, and hopefully the next crop can be as passionate about the association as I have been,” Hansen said.
“I think I have spent enough of my time attempting to create a clear path for local cricket…but it’s a case of enough is enough.”
Hansen said his disappointment stems from unwillingness from others to talk things through and try to resolve their issues.
“I’m incredibly disappointed that I was presented with a fait accompli, people had made their minds up without any room to move in regards to talking things through and fixing what needed to be fixed,” he said.
“I reached out to clubs to see how we could help, I was partly through that, but it was interrupted by what happened.
“Possibly I could have got on the front foot more, but there didn’t seem to be that appetite from others.
“The disappointment is more about the process that has taken place, and how people believe the president is responsible for everything, when actually it’s a team approach from the whole Board of Management and clubs feeding off that.”
In accordance with the CCCA Constitution, Vice-President Ben Knowles has assumed the President’s duties in the interim.
Knowles, in his first duty in his interim capacity, has called for a Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held on Wednesday 10 July, where a new CCCA President will be elected to serve a one-year term.
Nominations will be taken up to 24 hours prior to the SGM being held.
Last Tuesday night’s meeting was chaired by VCCL Region 8 Manager Keith Thompson, and was attended by CCCA club president’s including Devon Meadows leader Michael Floyd.
Floyd remains respectful of Hansen’s con-
tribution to cricket in the region, but strongly believes the motion being carried is in the best interests of the competition moving forward.
“Rob has been a tremendous servant of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association, having served in a number of roles within the Association over the course of more than four decades,” Floyd said.
“However, a number of issues have arisen over the past few seasons and the clubs have made it clear that a change is needed.
“For the Association to grow into the strong, vibrant competition we believe it can be, it needs a new voice and new direction.
“It is important that people use this opportunity to put their hand up and get involved in setting the direction of the Association, to reengage with the clubs, and to bring fresh enthusiasm to cricket in the region.
“It has been a challenging period for the clubs, the Association, and its members.
“The result of the vote was conclusive, and it is now incumbent on the clubs to work together with whoever is elected; for the betterment of the Association and for the game of cricket through Casey and Cardinia.“
Heritage respected with Cranbourne’s inaugural strip
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Powerhouse Southern Football Netball League Division 1 side Cranbourne donned its inaugural guernsey during Saturday’s clash with St Paul’s McKinnon.
The club wore a maroon blood red jumper with a white sash, similar colours to which were believed to have been worn from the club’s establishment in 1889 until 1909.
The usual blue and gold of the present day Eagles clashes St Paul’s McKinnon’s kit, with several instances in previous years of players mistaking opponents for teammates.
Offered a white clash jumper by the league, the club instead opted to have the original guernsey made, with the associated costs sponsored by veteran player Luke Bee Hugo’s plumbing business.
The move was arranged following Cranbourne’s round 2 match against the Saints, with several club people involved including president Terry Gleeson, vice president Chris Keenan and life member Frank Johnson.
The club is looking to wear the guernsey on an annual basis in away matches against St Paul’s McKinnon.
On Saturday, the Eagles were defeated 16.11 107 to 6.7 43 by the Saints, with Michael Boland, Harry Bird and Jake Stephens named among the best afield.
Several top-liners including Brandon Osborne, Andrew Green and Jarryd Barker, were missing with injuries of various seriousness.
The result causes Cranbourne to slip out of the top five ahead of a clash with the undefeated Cheltenham at Livingston Reserve on Saturday.
An image of the original Cranbourne guernsey, most recently worn in 1909. 415398
Cranbourne’s senior team wearing the jumper pre-game on Saturday. 415398 Picture: SUPPLIED
The role of Casey Cardinia Cricket Association President, held by long-standing administrator Rob Hansen, pictured, has now been declared vacant. 274235 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Doves outclass Redbacks
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Doveton has continued its strong 2024 season in Division 2 of the Southern Football Netball League with a workmanlike 10.12 72 to 7.7 49 victory over traditional rivals Hampton Park.
Playing in front of dozens of past players in a celebration of the club’s threepeat from 19821984, the Doves’ trademark pressure was too much to handle for the visitors.
Despite Doveton dominating territory and general play throughout the first half, they led by just 15 points at the main break, before breaking away in the third.
The hosts kicked the first three of the third quarter to strengthen the lead to 36 points, putting the game to bed.
Doveton had five shots on goal from eight entries as they found space in the forward half in the first quarter and carried that into the early part of the second quarter.
Magician Matt Clarke shimmied his opponent and finished around the corner on the boundary line to open his team’s account in the second quarter. Nik Hibbert then connected with Cam Williamson who added to the tally, with that connection and poise a clear difference between the two teams
But Hampton Park was able to neutralise centre clearance and take four crucial intercept marks to stymie Doveton late in the second quarter and give themselves a sniff.
Ultimately, though, they were delaying the inevitable, with Jake Ingaliso kicking the first of the third quarter from 50 before Sam Muirhead and Dylan Chapman followed.
Even once the result was effectively sealed, Doveton continued bringing the heat.
“That was clearly a focus going into the game - we felt we let ourselves down in that area of the game in round 2 when we last faced them so it was really good to see a response in that regard,” coach Matt Stapleton said.
Chapman exposed Hampton Park’s lack of recognised ruck in a best afield performance,
while Hibbert and Johnson were both efficient contributors to the victory.
Matt Clarke, meanwhile, finished with just two goals but got on top of his direct opponent all day, and generated plenty of scoring opportunities. He played inside 50 having spent most of the season as either a midfielder or winger.
“We just wanted to try something different,” Stapleton said.
“That flexibility is something he gives as a player and i thought he played a terrific game once again.”
Stapleton rued his side’s inability to put the game away earlier in the comfortable win.
“Our effort and contest work was good all day but we didn’t finish our work so that’s clearly an area of our game we’ll need to tidy up on,” Stapleton said.
For Hampton Park, Josh Craig mopped up well in defence, Tanner Stanton and Jye King fought hard, and returning clubman Nathan Langley kicked two goals.
Key 2023 contributors Cory Phillips and Jackson Dalton also returned to the club on Saturday for their first game of the season after starting their campaigns elsewhere.
Elsewhere, Endeavour Hills will be ruing a missed opportunity against Keysborough, coughing up a 15-point three-quarter-time lead to go down 6.13 49 to 7.13 55 against St Kilda City. The Falcons were excellent in the third quarter but Jacob Grant’s quick back-to-back goals early in the second quarter were their only goals before the main break.
Ruck Tyler Studd and interceptor Luke Peters were the best for Endeavour Hills.
Casey Demons get bounced by Kangaroos
By Marcus Uhe
Twelve agonising minutes of time on was not enough for the Casey Demons to snatch four points off North Melbourne in a thrilling conclusion to itsVFL contest on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by 12 points in the 18th minute of the final term, a running goal from Eddie King in just his second match at VFL level cut the Kangaroos’ lead to six points, with plenty of time remaining to retake the lead.
The final surge began poorly with a starting positions infringement against the Demons and proceeded with a frustrating set of end-toend transitions.
The Demons failed to score from their three inside 50s in time on, as North Melbourne’s halfbacks, including Casey’s 2023 best-andfairest winner Deakyn Smith, held the fort, repelling a number of forward forays.
Kai Windsor thought he had put the Demons ahead in the 20th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a free kick against Bailey Laurie at the previous stoppage.
11.11 77 to 12.11 83 was the final score, the Kangaroos prevailing by a single goal at Casey Fields.
It’s the Demons’ second loss by single figures and a fifth by 20 points or less in 2024, and the fifth time they’ve relinquished a lead in the second term in a loss.
The lead changed five times in a seesawing first half before the visitors pulled away with a pivotal stretch late in the half.
North Melbourne kicked the final three goals of the half to take the lead back from Casey and reach half time with a 16-point advantage, and kicked the first of the second half to extend the lead to 22.
A pair of goals to Matthew Jefferson and another to Laurie in the third helped to chip away at the advantage, and first two of the final quarter, through MitchWhite andTom Fullarton, ensured the remainder of the contest would be played on a knife’s edge.
North Melbourne responded with the next two, coming either side of a trio of Casey behinds, before King’s finish set the game alight
once more, only to amount to a false dawn.
Casey lost many key indicators of the contest as North Melbourne had great success in keeping the ball out of Demon hands.
The Kangaroos’ 141 marks was 51 more than their season average in 2024, while the visitors won the clearance count and inside 50s.
Andy Moniz-Wakefield finished with a season-high 35 disposals, his third haul of 30 or more this year, to lead all comers for the Demons, with White the next best on 27.
Beaconsfield’s Mitch Szybkowski made it a hat-trick of weeks with 15 disposals and added a goal in the first quarter.
In positive news for the Demons, prolific tall Josh Schache, whose absence from the Demons’ front half has been noticeable, had four disposals in his return from a foot injury, his first game since five.
His return will lessen the burden on Matthew Jefferson, who finished with four goals as the Demons’ only multiple goal kicker.
Casey heads to Preston on Saturday to tackle the Northern Bullants in round 14.
In Division 3, Charlie Gardiner and Tyson Sparkes combined for nine goals in Lyndhurst’s 18.16 124 to 13.13 91 win over Black Rock, while Narre South’s winless season continued against premiership contenders Carrum Patterson Lakes.
A seven goal to three first quarter set the tone for Lyndale in its 14.9 93 to 8.8 56 win over DandenongWest in Division 4. Hallam upset premiership contenders Hampton 12.10 82 to 11.11 77, with Matthew Jerram and Joshua Anderson playing key roles. The result sees second-placed Hallam close to within two wins of the previously undefeated Hammers.
In Division 1, Cranbourne was soundly defeated 16.11 107 to 6.7 43 against second-placed St Paul’s McKinnon.
Devon wins
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Devon Meadows has bounced back from a shock loss in commanding style, defeating Bonbeach 14.16 100 to 4.6 30 at Glover Reserve.
The Sharks were never in the contest with Ryan Hendy’s side kicking four of the first five goals to put itself in a commanding position.
Joel Hillis and Ty Kirkwood each kicked three as the Panthers played with flair and defended strongly against their eighth-placed opponents.
Jack Wilson was named best on ground, with the half forward/midfielder kicking two goals from 35 disposals and influencing with his class and energy.
It’s the fourth consecutive week Wilson has had a major say on proceedings, with the teenaged Hampton Park recruit averaging 28 disposals and nine marks in his last month of footy.
Pearcedale, meanwhile, made a statement against Chelsea with an 11.14 80 to 7.11 53 victory, led by Mitch Davis and Alex Dimic.
The result sees Pearcedale consolidate its spot in fifth position, while Devon Meadows slide up to second, given its superior percentage to Chelsea.
Matthew Jefferson kicked four goals in Casey’s loss to North Melbourne in the VFL on Sunday. 408033 Picture: ROB CAREW
Devon Meadows celebrate an excellent victory at home. 406512
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Doveton celebrates a clinical win over Hampton Park. 413417
Picture: ROB CAREW
Stingrays salute in one-point thriller
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Ace bottom-aged talent Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves kicked the matchwinner for Dandenong in its thrilling 14.12 96 to 14.11 95 Coates League victory over Bendigo.
Bendigo kicked three goals to one in a frantic final six minutes, with Hibbins-Hargreaves the hero, kicking a goal on the run from 30 with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.
Henry Hayes then kicked a decisive behind when the Rays went forward from the ensuing centre clearance, extending the margin to seven at Shepley Oval.
While Bendigo was able to transition the footy and kick a goal, the visitors had just 15 seconds to execute the perfect play from the centre and the Rays held them up.
Hibbins-Hargreaves kicked three goals and took some brave marks inside 50 in a best-onground performance as the Vic Country squad member pushes his case for selection in the final team.
His two crucial final term goals continue his clutch last quarter goal kicking in 2024, kicking 6.1 after three-quarter-time of matches decided by a kick or less.
Missing gun midfield starters Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes, both managed ahead of three matches on the bounce for Vic Country, several different names were given midfield minutes.
They did well to match it with a virtual fullstrength Bendigo outfit, with Haileybury College’s Charlie Rowe playing a tough game and bottom-ager Tyson Anic playing with dash.
Defender Charlie Orchard and key-position player Jordan Doherty continued their strong form, as did the hard working Hayes.
The girls got the job done comfortably in the first game of the double header, winning 10.15 75 to 2.6 18.
The Stingrays extended the margin at every change, able to expose the class difference between the two sides as a host of players showed their weapons.
Kate Terri continued her terrific season in the midfield with 30 disposals, while Evelyn Connolly had her best game at the level, kicking 4.2 from 16 disposals.
Georgia Templeton adapted to a new role well, combining 2.2 with 14 hitouts, while Jemma Reynolds, Makhaela Bluhm and Tahlia Sanger were all influential.
Cheers raise a glass to return of darts
By Marcus Uhe
A two-week layoff from competition in the South West Gippsland Dart League did little to affect the form of the competition’s heavyweights in last week’s return to competition across the local watering holes.
Predators and Snipers continued on their merry way with comprehensive 14-1 wins in their respective contests but it was Cheers’ slim victory over Dart Vaders that has altered the race for the top four.
In prevailing by the smallest of margins, Cheers sent Dart Vaders crashing out of the top four, replaced by Mud Rats, riding the high of a three-game winning streak.
Mud Rats last occupied a spot in the four back in round nine, but have been on the outside looking in ever since.
By prevailing 10-5 over Railway, Mud Rats moved a game clear of DartVaders into fourth.
The pressure now falls to Dart Vaders to recover that precious ground now lost in the remaining 12 weeks of the season.
Elsewhere, 26ers made it four wins in a row in a 13-2 win over Bullseyes, and Just Social secured consecutive wins in a 14-1 result over Dart Attack.
Results R14: Cheers 8 v Dart Vaders
Cannons in finals race with 2-1 win
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey’s men banked a crucial 2-1 win in the Vic League 2 competition over bottom-placed La Trobe to strengthen its position in finals calculations.
Forced to fight hard with green and yellow cards at one stage reducing the visitors to nine men at La Trobe Hockey Centre, Blake Edwards and Craig Moore were both able to convert from short corners to ensure victory.
The players ran the game out well and linked up stylishly throughout the game, with Cam Ritchie and Harsimran Grewal playing well, while David Noney’s return to the team in the last three games has added a youthful, versatile and offensive dynamic to the side.
Casey now sits in fourth spot on the table, two points clear of fifth ahead of a clash with sixth-placed Mentone.
Meanwhile, the women had a 3-2 loss against Melbourne University, despite goals to Mikayla Davis and Sam Wagg.
The result causes them to fall out the finals-bound top six, sitting behind Monash University by two points.
Classy Coe shines bright for Dolphins
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Beaconsfield’s Harrison Coe had his most productive outing at VFL level on Saturday, kicking 2.2 in Frankston’s 18.8 116 to 9.12 66 loss to Brisbane.
The key position player returned to the side after some time on the sidelines and one game at local level and took six marks playing predominantly inside 50.
Teammate Matt Johnson kicked a major to lift his season tally to a club-high 22 goals, having found the big sticks in all but one of his 11 VFL games this season.
Others in action across the league included Matt Nelson (Noble Park, Frankston, 13 disposals), Corey Ellison (Cranbourne, Williamstown, one goal), Deakyn Smith (Doveton, North Melbourne, 17 disposals), and Wal Wuol (Berwick, Northern Bullants, 13 disposals).
Harrison Coe had four shots on goal for Frankston. 293982 Picture: ROB CAREW
Cam Ritchie fights for possession. 343183
Picture: GARY SISSONS
14 v Dart Attack 1, Gembrook 15 v Hoodies 0, Snipers 14 v Generals 1. Ladder: Snipers 56, Predators 52, Cheers 48, Mud Rats 40, Dart Vaders 36, Just Social 32, 26ers 32, Gembrook 32, Fore 20, Railway
Fixture R15: Bullseyes (12) v Just Social (6), Mud Rats (4) v 26ers (7), Dart Attack (13) v Predators (2), Railway (10) v Snipers (1), Fore (9) v Dart Vaders (5), Generals (11) v Hoodies (14), Cheers (3) v Gembrook (8).
Garrod Hanen and his Cheers squad secured an important win over Dart Vaders last week. 321895
Picture: DAVID NAGEL
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves sealed the game for the Stingrays. 415180
Picture: DANIEL POCKETT/AFL PHOTOS
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