Lola and their families as they graced the ice rinks at Frosted’s AWinter Spectacular. Jumping from the inflatable snowland to ballpits, and donned in red and blue, the two little ones took to the ice and weren’t afraid to show off their skating skills. Story inside Three-year-oldBellaandtwo-year-oldLola withtheirmumandgrandmotherfromNarre WarrenSouthiceskating.
By Ethan Benedicto
Pharmacists have criticised the new vape reforms introduced this month, agreeing that while they may be the best equipped to provide vapes for therapeutic services, more should have been done in preparation.
The new regulations have seen the domestic manufacture, commercial possession and sale of non-therapeutic and disposable vapes banned from 1 July.
Ganesh Tumkur, pharmacist and owner of Berwick Springs Pharmacy said that if any profession were qualified to take on the role,
pharmacists were the best equipped for the occasion.
“We tend to deal more with smoking cessation more than anybody else in the community, so I don’t have an issue with it,” Mr Tumkur said.
Beginning 1 October, only pharmaceutical supply chains are permitted to distribute and supply vapes with a concentration of 20mg/ ml or less to patients 18 years or over without a prescription as long as pharmacists deem it clinically appropriate.
While Mr Tumkur agreed that pharmacists aren’t appropriately reimbursed when it comes
to bearing the responsibility of sale and counsel concerning the purchase of vapes, he also added that the duty of “the pharmacy is to ethically and medically supply a vape to a patient”.
However, a fine line needs to be established to ensure that pharmacies retain their status as medical providers for smoking cessation devices and or methods, and do not fall under the label of an alternative vape provider.
“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) needs to work with vape manufacturers to develop products that are considered smoking cessation aids,” Mr Tumkur said.
Currently, vapes aren’t considered smoking
cessation aids for a number of reasons, one with the missing approval from the TGA, and the lack of solid research that suggests vaping helps with smoking addiction.
Founder of Drug Education Australia Sharon Torpey said that “we don’t want young people vaping at all whether it’s regulated or not, inhaling anything other than oxygen is not ideal”.
“Some people are justifying vaping for getting off smoking addictions but there’s no research anywhere that vaping is an effective way to do that,” she said.
Continued page 5
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A musical director and teacher convicted of child sex assaults as well as more than 20 online child exploitation offences has had his jail term reduced on appeal.
Benjamin Heels, 35, had been earlier sentenced at the Victorian County Court to up to 11 years’ jail with a seven-year-and-threemonth non-parole period.
On 27 June, Victorian Court of Appeal judges Phillip Priest and Richard Niall found the total sentence and the non-parole period were “manifestly excessive”.
They resentenced Heels to eight years’ jail with a five-and-a-half-year non-parole period.
Heels had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two children under 16 and four counts of sexual activity in the presence of children.
He also pled to possessing child abuse material and 21 counts of transmitting child abuse material, in some cases described by the original judge as “explicit and degrading”, “demeaning” and “depraved”.
Heels’s own “brazen” offending with no apparent regard for the child’s welfare was described by the original judge as a “significant” breach of trust.
He had taught singing, piano and drama to children as young as eight at his home, at a school and other venues in the South East.
Some of his students were among his 19 victims.
He and his co-offending partner Tristan Cullinan-Smayle - who was jailed for up to 10 years - had together taken part in musical productions in the South East.
They had fantasised about inflicting violent, sadistic and “seriously depraved” abuse of children known to them, according to the original sentencing judge.
“It is deeply depraved, confronting, explicit and without exception, provides extreme examples of child abuse,” the original judge said of the couple’s online chats.
“It explicitly describes violence, humiliation, and sadistic acts towards young and very young human beings.”
However, in a sentencing “error” conceded by prosecutors at the Court of Appeal, Heels was originally meted the same jail term for possessing child abuse material as CullinanSmayle.
This was despite Heels being found with 820 child abuse images and videos and Cullinan-Smayle with more than 2000.
Sentences on two other charges against Heels were “beyond the permissible range”, the Department of Public Prosecutions also conceded.
Justices Priest and Niall stated there needed
to be significant “concurrency” due to most charges occurring in a single month as well as most of the transmitted child-abuse material being “written fantasies”.
“Albeit that the content of these written communications was vile, no children were harmed or actually physically abused in order to produce the transmitted child abuse material.
“That said, the distribution of prose describing child sex abuse, especially where it is done for the purposes of sexual gratification, has the tendency to normalise or encourage child sex abuse, ignore the harm that such abuse occurs and undermine the unequivocal societal standard that such abuse is abhorrent.”
The judges also noted that the two students remained unaware of the “depraved” sexual offending perpetuated upon them and videoed by Heels.
The videos were transmitted to CullinanSmayle, with no evidence of them being sent to a wider audience.
Heels also made substantial admissions to police, while Cullinan-Smayle opted to not answer police questions, Justices Priest and Niall stated.
The applicant was assessed as not having a sexual interest in children but having “capitulated” into watching child pornography on the urging of Cullinan-Smayle.
These factors – along with Heels’ prior good character, very early guilty plea and the impacts of Covid on prison conditions – were not properly balanced in the original sentence, the judges stated.
Two men in an allegedly stolen car have been arrested after an extended follow by police in the South East.
Police say they spotted the red Hyundai hatchback being driven erratically and at a fast speed near Nepean Highway, Aspendale about 12.45am on 1 July. It allegedly reached speeds of about 120km/h near South Gippsland Freeway, Dandenong and ran a red light on Webster Street, Dandenong about 1am.
Police tried to intercept the car near Eastlink but the car didn’t pull over.
Officers successfully deployed tyre deflation devices on Seaford Road, with the Hyundai coming to a stop on Oliphant Way. The occupants dumped the vehicle, with a man attempting to flee in a parked Ford Ranger.
Two men were arrested by police without injury.
A 31-year-old Cranbourne South man and a 28-year-old Springvale man were taken in for questioning.
Police believe that the Hyundai was stolen from Cranbourne East and the Ford was stolen from Hampton Park, both in June.
The officers involved included Operation Trinity units, rostered on at night with a focus on burglaries and car thefts. The investigation remains ongoing. Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic. com.au
By Ethan Benedicto
The endorsement by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation on the new 28.4 per cent wage increase also came with several other benefits and new goals for the union in the future.
Local Narre Warren South resident and enrolled nurse at Frankston Hospital, Casey Collier, who attended the meeting on 26 June, was impressed with the new proposal following the confusion of the previous gathering.
In contrast to the 20 May meeting, Ms Collier said that officials “listened to all of our feedback because our big complaint was that we had no information to go off prior”.
“This time briefly they told us what it was going to be about so we had an idea of what we were coming into,” she said.
With spreadsheets for guests detailing specific information, which included graphs on the wage increases to booklets on added benefits, Ms Collier said that communication had been much clearer with the process “much easier to follow”.
Mentioned added benefits for public sector nurses include a change of ward allowance which looks to compensate nurses and midwives when they are moved from their base ward. This in turn encourages employers to move away from redeployment as a uniform rostering practice; this factor also plays into the other benefit of the right to disconnect clause, which Victorian branch ANMF secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said gives nurses and midwives“improved access to flexible working arrangements”.
“The right to disconnect means that nurses and midwives have the right not to be continually contacted by their employer to work shifts they are not seeking.
“This is happening all the time and if you say no you often feel guilty and if you say yes you get no time off to recharge,” she said.
Staff retention was a major issue that many establishments faced, with the ANMF looking at administering local workplace implementation committees – which includes the employers; ANMF and ANMF job rep representatives – to monitor the execution of new
terms and conditions.
“The wage increases will help retain and recruit nurses and midwives, but so will the new and improved allowances and penalties,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
There will also be improved night shift penalties for permanent nurses and midwives, as well as improved on-call and recall allowances.
Roughly 20 per cent of a nurse or midwife’s allowance and penalties are only for permanent staff, such as the new change of ward allowance and the additional night duty penalties.
“The proof will be in the pudding when employers can fill nurse/midwife patient ratios on the forward roster.”
Further improvements include a 92 per cent increase to the qualifications allowance by the end of the agreement (2027) as well as interstate public sector nurses and midwives relocating to Victoria having their service recognised for personal and long service leave.
Ms Collier attributed these changes to the ANMF’s perseverance, their collective effort of speaking to multiple parties and voicing their displeasure at a state-wide scale, with the results ultimately “giving us the opportunity to have control of our own lives again”.
“People were deferring from going parttime and full-time and going casual because they wanted to be in control,” she said.
Including workforce shortages, Ms Fitzpatrick said that nurses and midwives are still exhausted from the pandemic’s turmoils, adding that it has been difficult for those who are back in PPE considering the spike of patients with Covid and respiratory infection this winter season.
“Nurses and midwives continue to do everything they can to ensure safe, quality patient care.
“This EBA outcome respects the work they do, acknowledges their work during the pandemic and delivers on an overwhelming majority of their claims.
“We hope that as they start to see the benefits of this EBA outcome nurses and midwives are able to love their work again, not just feel like they are surviving,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greater Dandenong councillors have intensified calls to close a toxic-waste landfill that was recently put on notice by the state’s pollution watchdog.
The Veolia-operated landfill at Taylors Road Dandenong South was last month issued three improvement notices by Environment Protection Authority Victoria.
The notices related to ongoing management of leachate (wastewater), dust and landfill gas at the Veolia Recycling and Recovery facility.
Greater Dandenong mayor Lana Formoso and councillor Jim Memeti said the landfill needed to close immediately.
“It’s concerning that a facility like this is still operating and clearly regularly breaking EPA rules and regulations,” Cr Formoso said.
“The community has lost complete faith and trust in this facility, understandably as they continuously break the conditions under their obligations of their permit.
“We are deeply concerned about the health and well being of our community in the surrounding area where we have schools,
residential properties, food processing plants.”
Cr Memeti has opposed the landfill for nearly two decades. He has also advocated for no new permits in Dandenong South’s heavy industry zone, which borders homes and schools.
“These (notices) are why we want this facility closed as soon as possible. It should be the No. 1 priority to run this as the best facil-
By Callum Godde, AAP
A Cranbourne North man has been charged over a deadly drive-by shooting following a two-month police hunt.
Homicide squad detectives charged the 21-year-old with murder on Friday 28 June over the death of a man on 27 April.
A 30-year-old Cranbourne man was found with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle at Hampton Park. He died at the scene.
A ute was seen driving away from the suburban street after the shooting, before a burntout vehicle was found at a reserve in Berwick hours later.
Police have also charged the alleged shooter with conduct endangering life, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit kidnap over separate incidents. He was expected to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 29 June.
ity in the state but they can’t do that.
“Dandenong for too long has been the state’s dumping ground.”
In 2008, Greater Dandenong Council won a Supreme Court battle to refuse a permit for the toxic-waste landfill.
However, the ALP State Government at the time legislated to effectively overrule the decision.
A City of Greater Dandenong spokesperson said the council continued to advocate for the facility’s closure and objected to recent planning applications for additional uses on the site.
“We have recently written to the Minister for Planning outlining our concerns about these additional uses potentially extending the operating life of the facility.”
EPA regional manager Viranga Abeywickrema said it had 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.
“This is a very important landfill site in Victoria, and that importance must be met with ongoing improvements to deliver the best pollution controls.”
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 collection and treatment of leachate, groundwater and surface management and detailed monitoring and reporting.
The State Government and Veolia were contacted for comment.
By Violet Li
The latest Bring Your Bills Day in Hampton Park has seen unprecedented needs as locals continue to struggle with the cost of living.
The sixth instalment of the serial program by South East Community Links recorded more than 200 attendances in the first one and a half hours on Tuesday 2 July, already close to the entire turnout of 300 in the last event in Springvale in April.
The program, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, aims to educate and support people who suffer financial hardship with their bills, rental, legal, and fines.
Chief executive Peter McNamara said they brought service providers together to simplify things for people.
“Service providers might put them on a concession. They make them a grant. They might wipe the bills. Not everyone’s going to get their bills, or their fines, wiped, but there are some that can,” he said.
“At our last event in Springvale, we had a couple of our pensioners, but they weren’t receiving their discounts as pensioners, so this can be as simple as you’re on the wrong plan. With that couple, they wiped $700 off the payment straight away, plus they got a rebate.
“So much of the information we receive is confusing. Many people may feel guilt or shame if they get a debt, and they don’t want to open the bill. What we’re trying to do is say it’s okay.We’re here to help.”
The previous five events across Greater Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia alleviated about $500,000 of debt and the Springvale event alone offered 250 concessions and relief grants for utility-bill customers.
A Casey local, who attended the day and preferred to be anonymous, said it was very difficult to live, especially with three children in the family.
“Grocery and mortgage are expensive, and only my husband is working and in the past two or three months, his work is not so good. It’s very hard,” she said.
“We bought our house in December 2019.
The mortgages have gone up.
“Whatever goes into the pocket just finishes at the end of the week.”
As the family has no choice but to turn on the heat in the middle of the winter, the utility bills have been huge. In the hope of wiping out the bills, she showed up on the day.
“I thought they were going to directly pay the bills, but no. They said they would apply for the concession, and then wait for it. It takes time,” she said.
“Because my bill is due in four days and I am worried that if we don’t pay on time, they are going to charge us more.”
Another local, who also preferred to be anonymous, said the event provided a lot of information and getting information was good.
“Everybody is struggling and there’s no money left after paying all the bills every month. That’s why I came here.”
Rachna Madaan-Bowman, senior practitioner and financial counsellor of South East Community Links said the program was about giving information and advice, and it was very
Former Star News sports reporter Marc McGowan is living out a childhood dream, covering the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London for The Age.
McGowan, who grew up in Narre Warren North, made his ambition clear at his first job interview with Star back in 2006.
Editor Garry Howe remembers he and fellow interviewer Narelle Coulter affording themselves a wry smile when the university graduate laid out his future plans.
“I’m not sure there was actually an eyeroll, but that was the intention,” Howe laughed. “I don’t think Marc has forgiven us for that.”
McGowan built up the Star News sports
section from June 2006 to October 2009 before leaving to further his career with the likes of the McPherson Newspaper Group in Shepparton, the NT News in Darwin, the Herald-Sun and covering elite football at AFL Media.
“I’m so thrilled he has got to live out his dream,” Howe said. “It just goes to show what skill, ambition and hard work can achieve.”
Former Star News sports reporter Marc McGowan is reporting from Wimbledon this week, living out a childhood dream.
critical for people to understand that they have the right to ask for assistance in hardship.
“For us, it’s a starting point to begin a conversation,” she said.
“It is so important that the community understands that they have a right. And many don’t know that, so it’s taking that barrier away.
“At the same time, there’s always more that can be done.
“This is an opportunity for us to learn, but also for the stakeholders to learn from it and know that they need to do more to engage with the community, especially in the current cost of living crisis.”
Community Information & Support Cranbourne (CISC) executive director Leanne Petrides, who attended the day and offered help to locals, observed that as people struggled to juggle the range of payments, they had to make room for a whole lot of essential expenses.
“What we’re hearing is gas and electricity, rent, and mortgage payments,” she said.
“So often what that means is that food and those other items tend to fall quite low in the
scheme of things. People are trying to keep their heads above water and they’re trying to pay all of their bills first.”
Ms Petrides said she felt doom and gloom looking at the whole picture in Casey.
“Every day, we’re seeing people who have never come in for support services before. Every day we’re seeing between 6 and 11 brand new people coming in and just completely at a loss of where to go, where to start,” she said.
“Homelessness is on the rise and that’s pushing up into an area of people who perhaps would never have been in that position: people who have jobs.
“No longer is employment necessarily a safeguard to protect your housing.
“There are people paying 80 per cent or more on their housing and therefore they’re having to move from welfare agency to welfare agency to welfare agency, where we encourage them to try to get food to offset those other expenses that they have because people don’t want to lose that roof over their head, and that’s understandable.”
By Ethan Benedicto
Being recognised for your struggles and efforts is a feeling that many can appreciate, and this is especially the case for Wida Tuasif, who was awarded theVictorian Afghan Association Network’s Refugee Award on 23 June.
Firstly an author, but also an educator and community advocate, Wida is still set on the same path of bringing cultural awareness and discrimination to the forefront of everyone’s minds, especially children; saying that the award “has made me stronger and has encouraged me to continue this”.
“This award has recognised my achievements within the community, I feel stronger, more confident,” she said.
The award itself was a surprise, where on the night of the awarding she had only expected to recite one of her poems but instead turned into a “really valuable experience”.
“I didn’t expect that I was going to get something, but it was huge, I felt really honoured and proud – the moment was just amazing,” Wida said.
Living a childhood rife with turmoil and discrimination, navigating through multiple obstacles from school and racism to fitting in was the norm for Wida, and for her, the award was not just an acceptance of her childhood struggle, but of her achievements as an Afghan woman as well.
“There are no words that can describe this feeling; the moment that I got on the stage and got this award and having everyone clap for me, being an Afghan woman [was amazing].
“I’m not saying that a woman’s life is [being] violated, but there are a lot of issues going on in Afghanistan at the moment, and it’s been going on for years since the country was invaded by the Taliban in the 1990s,” she said.
Born in 1992, Wida’s family was no stranger
to war, and to save her from that plight had soon fled to Pakistan when she was just 20 days old.
They lived in the city of Peshawar for nine years, where life was uncertain and had soon registered with the United Nations High Commission where they were granted residency in New Zealand in 2001.
However, it was during that time that she faced severe discrimination and bullying, which reached its peak in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks.
“Those memories have always been some of the darkest of my life,” Wida said.
“I remember at school, I was labelled as a terrorist, my ‘friends’ would bully me and I would get tomatoes and eggs thrown at me.
“That’s why I decided that you know what, I’m going to start speaking about this when I grow up – the phase of bullying made me put pen and paper together.”
Writing became Wida’s medium to deliver her message and to support young children and women with their aspirations and have their voices heard.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why I decided that I wanted to be an author, getting messages out and also helping young children follow their dreams and their hopes, and young women out there to have their voices heard as well,” she said.
As an educator and utilising her own experiences as a child, it became clear to her that many children harbour a similar fear and have
since used her books as a learning method for these children, not just with literacy and other educational areas, but also as an experience.
Reinforcing the idea of opening up to the schooling environment within her young readers, one of her upcoming novels, Ali Goes To School delves into that story where Wida “socially, [is] hoping to deliver that message”.
“At the moment we’ve still got kids, kids born during Covid, that still have that fear, they’re still intimidated.
“In their little mind they make this whole perception, create this image that school is scary, like ‘we’re going to school and there’s going to be hundreds of kids and we might get bullied’ – I’m hoping to have children use those stories as a learning method,” she said.
For Wida it’s about harnessing the confidence, the assurance, and the ability for children to be kind and treat each other with respect as early as possible, in order for them, in turn, to deliver and live with those sentiments, whether consciously or not, in their own lives.
Speaking on the award, Wida said that no one expected her to win an award as big as the one she did, and that“it’s been a huge achievement for the family and for the whole tribe, including my relatives”.
Moving forward, Wida is aiming to write and publish a story revolving around a young woman’s journey through life’s obstacles and is currently in the works.
Currently, there are two children’s books out by Wida, Aliens Don’t Belong on Earth and Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams.
Her third book, Ali Goes To School, was bound for release in early 2023 but has since had setbacks with its illustrations; however, Wida herself is in the final stages of polishing the graphics with the hopes of soon printing and launching.
From page 1
Pharmacy owner of Direct Chemist Outlet in Hampton Park Central, Mina, agreed that pharmacists were the most appropriate persons to provide vapes; however more action and awareness should have been provided prior to the regulation’s passing.
“The comparisons we were made aware of were the differences between the vapes the pharmacy sells and the vapes they buy off the streets.
“We know it’s safer, but is it safe long term or not?We haven’t been advised on that.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where we are selling products causing more health issues to consumers without being confident that it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
An additional course on vapes where more detail is involved would be beneficial, according to Mina, where certain pharmacists if not all, would be more qualified to provide information considering that the everyday person
doesn’t “understand everything”.
According to the Australian Institute of Health andWelfare, while tobacco use had reduced among people aged 18-24, e-cigarette use has risen; with a 1.6 per cent of the total population figure in 2019, compared to a 9.3 per cent figure between 2022-23.
A clearer set of guidelines would benefit not just the pharmacies, but those seeking therapeutic devices as well with Mina saying “some people even think it’s subsidised now”.
“They come asking, are the government giving away vapes now? Some people are confused.
“For example, we don’t know what’s going to be in the market, we don’t know how it’s going to work.
“So many questions there before making it official that should have been answered first, we haven’t been given enough resources or information to agree or disagree,” he said.
Mr Tumkur added that if the TGA can ef-
fectively collaborate with manufacturers, then they can be considered a medical product.
“If that happens, and in conjunction with that, if the government can provide some additional resources and funding to pharmacies to be able to supply these in a proper way to patients… then that is an appropriate way to go forward.” This proposition by Mr Tumkur includes additional information on medical vapes to patients, proper counselling, detailed instructions and the ability for pharmacies and pharmacists to follow up on patients on their process.
“If we just become essentially a vape shop moving forward, I don’t think that’s really an appropriate thing for a healthcare provider like a pharmacy to be.
“I think there’s a part to play from the government and the TGA in assisting pharmacies and pharmacists to treat vape supply as a medication rather than just you know, have a vape, see you later kind of thing,” he said.
In a previous Star article, Associate Professor Michelle Jongenelis from the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences said that the reformsare“definitelyawin”forpublichealth.
“It’s a huge step forward in public health safety, we didn’t get the controlled access we were hoping for but it’s better than anything else beforehand and better than stores opening near high school selling e-cigarettes,” she said. For Mina a crucial factor are mandates around monitoring and the frequency of use.
“There’s no way to completely guarantee if the customer is going to come back to you or if they were just someone passing by, it’s hard without proper regulations,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Tumkur believes that a long-term goal of collaboration between manufacturers, the government and the TGA is the best course of action to develop a proper smoking cessation device, alongside “stringent rules” and targets to avoid making another recreational tool.
By Violet Li
The Western Port Biosphere Foundation and Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park are embarking on a three-year joint project to link koala habitats within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to ensure a healthier and more resilient population.
The project, called The Western Port Koala Corridor, will involve local landowners who help by providing land and accepting tree plantations. Over 50,000 trees are planned to be planted in the next three years across the region.
“Basically, it’s the idea that we’ll have a koala highway. That would be above trees so they can take it from one area to another,” Moonlit Sanctuary founder and director Michael Johnson said.
“What we’re trying to do is link up koala habitats and give koalas more opportunities to move around.
“If they’re in one small group, they’ll become inbreed and die out in that area, or they could overgraze the trees sometimes too.”
The corridor project continues to build on the extensive work done by the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group, the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port and Bass Coast Landcare Networks and other Landcare and Friends groups and local councils.
The project will turn genetic research on local koala populations conducted over the past year by the Biosphere Foundation’s Kelly Smith, who will play an integral role in ensuring her findings translate into effective prioritisation and planning for the naturelink developments.
According to Mr Johnson, koalas usually climb up a tree and stay there for two or three days.
“They eat the nice leaves they like, then they’ll come down and want to move on. What we don’t want them to do is roam, run across farmland where they might come across dogs or run across busy roads,” he said.
“The biggest threats to koalas are loss of habitat, quality of habitat, land clearing which
is often for housing, especially up north in Queensland and New South Wales.
“And when you get more people, you get more cars, cats and dogs, and both are problems.”
Western Port Biosphere chief executive officer Mel Barker said the collaboration with Moonlit Sanctuary was an exciting new phase in the partnership, which began with contributions from the Biosphere Foundation to Moonlit Sanctuary’s successful program to
save the Orange Bellied Parrot.
“As science-based organisations, we are committed to ensuring our research translates into tangible outcomes for the maintenance of biodiversity and the restoration of healthy habitat and the populations of native animals it supports,” she said.
“While we have some core funding, public donations through our ‘Join the Dots for Nature’ campaign will enable us to construct a more extended network of naturelinks.”
The Western Port Biosphere embraces the entire Mornington Peninsula and overlaps the cities of Frankston and Casey, the shires of Cardinia and Bass Coast, as well as the entire Western Port marine zone, including French Island, Phillip Island and internationally acclaimed Ramsar wetlands.
To support the project, visit biosphere.org. au/donate
An earthquake originating from Avonsleigh was felt by residents near and afar in the early morning on Monday 1 July. Here’s what our readers had to say.
Jan Baker: I just happened to wake up before it. It sounded like a bit of thunder a long way off. Made me think is it thunder or is it a tremor? Felt nothing.
Suzanne
I heard it and there was a little rattle of frames.
Matt
I was awake. I didn’t feel a thing.
randomly barking around this time.
Lovers of Krispy Kreme’s original glazed doughnuts were in for a treat last week, as the first store in Victoria celebrated 18 years of operation within the state last month. Here’s what our readers had to say.
Lara Volkoff: I remember when they were
Thumbs
By Emily Woods, AAP
The heartbroken family of a cyclist left for dead on a Hampton Park road have asked the man who killed him for one thing.
An apology.
“You serving a longer sentence will never bring back my great uncle,” Mauranga Pita said, in a letter read to the County Court on Tuesday 2 July.
“I hope that somewhere in your heart you tell the truth about how you came like a thief and stole my great uncle from us.”
Makaro Manapori, 58, died on the road after he was struck while riding a bike on 6 January, 2022.
But Peter Koutsogiannakis, 30, refuses to admit he was the driver, despite a jury finding him guilty of the hit-run. He drove through a red light when he hit Mr Manapori, at the intersection of Pound and Hallam roads, and set the car on fire after the crash.
He turned himself in to police on legal advice after a photo was released to media of him running away from the car he destroyed.
“I couldn’t live with myself,” he told officers during his interview.
Despite this, Koutsogiannakis continues to deny he was behind the wheel and continued to offend after the fatal crash.
Prosecutor Deanna Caruso said Koutsogiannakis did not brake, was speeding and driving while disqualified when he hit Mr Manapori. He drove off knowing he had left someone for dead.
“There was no effort to slow down or alert anyone the deceased needed assistance, he
didn’t turn around or make a call,” she said.
The prosecutor called for a long jail-term to protect the community after reading out his criminal history, which includes being in and out of prison for police pursuits, speeding, careless driving and car thefts.
“The issue is, the moment he gets out (of prison) he reoffends,” she said.
Koutsogiannakis’ barrister Philip Skehan said his client became addicted to drugs and was rehabilitating himself while in prison.
He said the crash was a “watershed moment” for Koutsogiannakis and he was ready to move into a law-abiding life. However, Judge Frances Hogan said “it was probably only a matter of time before he killed someone”.
“Maybe he’s morally bankrupt,” she told the pre-sentence hearing.
“Within weeks of leaving a human being like road kill on the side of the road, as the jury has found, he’s back ... driving while disqualified, creating a collision, endangering others, fleeing from the scene.”
She said his denial of the offending continued to traumatise Mr Manapori’s family and forced police to pour an enormous amount of resources into their investigation to prove his identity as the driver at trial. “He’s repeatedly thumbed his nose at the law, thumbed his nose at police,” Judge Hogan said.
“We’ve got, not only a seriously grieving family, we have police who have to go and scrape the remnants from the roads of people who were badly injured and killed.
“He will have to live with what he’s done for the rest of his life.”
Koutsogiannakis will be sentenced on 19 July.
Victoria Police has announced a road blitz on motorcycle safety following a spike in rider deaths.
There have been 35 motorcyclist fatalities this year - 75 per cent higher than the same time last year when 20 deaths were recorded.
In the South East region of Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong, four riders have died in 2024.
Operation Kickstand will launch in the neighbouring region of Kingston, Glen Eira and Bayside, which recorded five deaths.
Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said the significant rise in motorcyclist road trauma was “extremely concerning”.
“Police will be conducting targeted motorcycle operations like Operation Kickstand across the state to address the increase in trauma and educate both riders
and motorists on the potential dangers involving motorcycles.”
Statewide, 40 per cent of the riders were aged 18- 35 and more than 90 per cent were male.
Police say the key factors include failing to give way (by both riders and drivers) and inappropriate speed.
“We typically see motorcycle riding decrease over the cooler months, but there have been no signs of this slowing down,” Asst Comm Weir said.
“In fact, May and June both have both experienced large increases in rider deaths.”
Police are urging motorcyclists to consider the weather conditions before riding and ensure they wear appropriate protective riding gear.
Other motorists are also being warned to look out for motorcyclists on the roads, particularly when changing lanes.
By Violet Li
Clyde North local ZachVanderputt will take on a half marathon this July to fundraise for the FightMND.
The 24-year-old will participate in Run Melbourne 2024 on Sunday 21 July in memory of his grandmother who passed away from Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in September 2021.
His first time attending the event, Zach has been very excited and proud.
Despite his busy schedule, Zach has been training two to three times a week.
Raising awareness tops what he aims to achieve through fundraising.
“I think a lot of people, even my friends, they just don’t know enough about it. You say Motor Neuron Disease and people don’t know what it is. And I think that’s the first point. Just getting people to understand what it is first,” he said.
“I guess once people understand what it is and the effects of it and how kind of brutal the condition is, it might spark something in their brain and be like, okay, let’s look a bit more
into it, and maybe we can try to do our part to help people with this condition.
“I think the FightMND charity is doing a great job raising awareness and bringing peo-
ple that education piece, but also raising money to research into helping people with the condition who may not be financially stable.
“I know it’s a very complex condition and finding a cure may not be something in the short term, but I think in the short term, we can maybe find ways to better manage the condition.”
Run Melbourne encourages participants to raise funds and awareness for the charities of their choice as they take to the streets of Melbourne, running past iconic Melbourne landmarks on their way to the finish line.
The event will feature entertainment including live music and DJs, food trucks and finish-line celebrations.
Participants will take off from Batman Avenue with routes weaving past Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Marvel Stadium, The Arts Centre, Shrine of Remembrance, and Royal Botanic Gardens before finishing at Melbourne Park Oval.
To support Zach’s fundraising, visit runmelbourne24.grassrootz.com/fightmnd/zachvanderputt
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accompanied by Holt MP Cassandra Fernando, visited JD Propagation in Pearcedale on Saturday 29 June.
JD Propagation, a wholesale plant nursery located at the southern end of the Division of Holt, employs more than 55 people.
The Prime Minister held a press conference at the venue, followed by a tour of the facility conducted by the owners, Jen and Dan.
During his visit, Mr Albanese promoted the government’s cost-of-living measures and highlighted the role of small businesses in job creation.
“This business in southeast Melbourne grows nearly 14 million plants a year. And on Monday nearly 14 million Australians will get a tax cut,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’re focused on cutting taxes, growing wages and helping families with the cost of living because we want an economy where every Australian can thrive.”
Ms Fernando addressed the workers at JD Propagation, discussing how the latest tax cuts would help alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
“It’s great to see our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, right here in the electorate
of Holt and the southeast suburbs,” Ms Fernando said.
“I would like to thank Jen and Dan for hosting us here today and showing us around. JD Propagation is a job creator located right here in the electorate of Holt.”
By Matthew Sims
Victoria Police have launched new teams across a number of areas, including in Casey, towards stopping further offending and providing support pathways which encourage rehabilitation.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Neil Paterson announced the launch of the Crime Reduction Teams on Monday 1 July, with the focus being on managing highly recidivist repeat offenders, such as burglaries, robberies, assaults and car thefts.
“The primary focus of these police is going to be engagement with these people that are offending,” he said.
“This isn’t babysitting, this is about a primary function of Victoria Police in preventing crime.
“All of this work is absolutely necessary at the moment, given some of the significant rises in some of the harmful crimes that we’ve seen over this last 12-month period.”
Deputy Commissioner Paterson said the teams’ operations would include executing firearm prohibition checks and patrolling locations where offenders are known to frequently target, while Crime Investigation Unit detectives would be rostered to undertake enforceable actions.
“We know that this style of model works,” he said.
“We’ve seen it work in other countries around the world.
“We’re really going to be focused on diverting them away from criminal offending.”
The Crime Reduction Teams would have consistent interactions with the person, their family and relevant support agencies for as long as they are monitored.
The new teams would support Operation Alliance and Operation Trinity, which have helped arrest more than 2700 children and youth over the past 12 months.
The new teams would eventually expand further into regional Victoria, with Victoria Police aiming to embed Crime Reduction Teams across the state by 1 January 2025.
By Holly Hales, AAP
A homeless man accused of killing a Cranbourne North fisherman at Frankston Pier has appeared in court charged with murder.
Forrest Stevenson, 36, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday (30 June) after the attack on a man just after 6am on Saturday.
He is accused of killing 45-year-old Andres Pancha, who was found unresponsive and died at the scene.
Shortly after, Stevenson, who was of no fixed address, was arrested on the nearby foreshore.
The two men are not believed to have known each other.
Mr Albanese also used the visit to meet local community leaders.
He continued his Melbourne visit by meeting with local business owners in Forest Hill and concluded the day at a send-off dinner for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic teams.
Homicide Squad Detective Senior Constable Kate Lynch told the court that 12 weeks would be needed to compile a brief of evidence for the case.
Magistrate Marc Sargent remanded Stevenson in custody until 6 November and said the accused required prompt medical attention to make his custody stay “more comfortable”.
“The nurse will see you as soon as possible today,” Magistrate Sargent said.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The South East’s “critical” manufacturing sector was “key” to the government’s ‘A Future Made in Australia’ plan, Federal Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor told a regional delegation in Canberra.
Mr O’Connor addressed the launch of a jobs and skills roadmap presented by a Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) delegation at Parliament House on 26 June.
The roadmap aims to create well-paid, secure jobs and provide the necessary skills closer to home for the fast-growing GSEM region’s 1.5 million residents.
Addressing the launch, Mr O’Connor said the roadmap would inspire him to help regions across the country.
“Planning for skills needs is critical at a time when the economy and labour market are rapidly changing.
“(The roadmap) will help inform me about how other regions of Australia can take the best approach to ensuring that we have successful economies, good jobs and of course, ultimately, a successful nation.”
Mr O’Connor said the government agreed with GSEM on the need for greater collaboration, so to invest in education and training “in areas of existing and growing demand”.
“We both get the need for strategic planning to address current workforce requirements.
“We understand the importance of improving equity, inclusive growth and reducing disadvantage in our VET (Vocational Education and Training) sector.”
The launch’s roll-call included deputy PM Richard Marles, deputy Senate leader Don Farrell, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Catherine King, and Home Affairs Minister and Hotham MP Clare O’Neil.
Six other federal MPs from the South East
attended – Bruce MP Julian Hill, Holt MP Cassandra Fernando, Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea, Aston MP Mary Doyle, Chisholm MP Carina Garland and Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie.
GSEM chair Simon McKeon said the launch “could not have been more successful”.
“We are looking forward to working collaboratively with government at all levels to deliver for the workers and employers of the GSEM region.”
Mr McKeon said the region’s communities deserved to contribute and share in Australia’s prosperity and to have meaningful employment closer to home.
“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 delegation included the region’s seven mayors as well as industry, business, education and community leaders as a “unified voice” for the region.
Greater Dandenong mayor Lana Formoso said it was vital to end the disconnect between the area’s job-rich industrial precinct and high unemployment.
“How many of our kids can’t go to university because of their visa status and not being able to afford it?”
She said the launch opened the eyes of government ministers in the room.
“There’s a misconception and stigma attached to Dandenong and the South East. This is the biggest growth corridor in the country, with potential to be bigger than Western Sydney.”
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-education-community 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.
By Ethan Benedicto
Berwick is shaping up to be filled to the brim with the harmony of different voices, instruments and atmospheres as 17 artists look to bring their talents to the village.
As part of the City of Casey’s Live and Local micro-festivals, genres from soul, R&B, indie alternative and more will be echoing throughout the streets from 10am to 7pm on Saturday, 6 July.
Owners of Gather: Food, Coffee and Co and Little By Little Cafe, Brent Madhavan and Ryan Lim are more than keen to be hosting 10 artists between both locations.
Speaking for himself and on behalf of his partner, Mr Madhavan said that “it’s just great to be involved in these sorts of local community initiatives where you get to showcase small artists or artists that don’t get that opportunity where they live”.
“The epicentre is the city, and for local artists that live out in our area or surrounding areas, [like] Cardinia, Frankston, the Peninsula, it’s a big trip into the city.
“I think it’s awesome, not only do they get to do it in their local community, but our customers, our patrons, the local people that come here get to see it as well and it’s not really an opportunity that they get exposed to all the time,” he said.
Gather: Food, Coffee and Co, which is situated in the middle of Wilson Botanic Park will have five artists performing, beginning at 10am and ending at 2pm.
Narre Warren South local, Shehan Bodinagoda will be taking the 12pm slot and is wracked with a combination of nervousness and excitement.
While he is used to playing with other artists, Mr Bodinagoda is also jumping on the chance to showcase the fact that “you can be a freelance musician and you can still challenge your boundaries”.
Multi-faceted in his approach from drums, bass, guitar and vocals, he is more than eager to put his versatility to the test, with a number of unreleased tracks set to play.
Admitting that performing outside instead of inside a venue would prove to have its challenges, he also added that “I can let myself free a little bit”.
“It’ll give me an advantage since I don’t really have, metaphorically and literally, a closed space around me”.
Casey’s initiative for the micro-festival has its roots in bolstering not just the local, but also the southeastern music scene, nurturing its growth into the future.
For Mr Bodinagoda, “it’s a great opportunity for artists who have different genre versatility where they can showcase their talent”.
“[Artists] can also challenge the stereotype
and the standard thought of ‘my favourite artists or my favourite genres are only existent within the CBD’.
“It’s a great chance for the people to see that, right, well these are local artists, and they don’t have to go all the way to Fitzroy, to Thornbury to listen to their favourite type of music,” he said.
Thirty Eight O Six Brewing will be another hosting venue, with Alisya Rae, one of the three artists on the venue’s line-up, more than eager to hit patrons with her vocal range and acoustic precision.
Taking over the 12pm slot at 12 Enterprise Avenue, Ms Rae shares a similar sentiment to Mr Bodinagoda, saying that “it’s a great idea” to bring local music more to towards the southeast suburbs.
“Especially to highlight artists that are either from that area or just to make live music much more accessible,” she said.
While not a southeast local, being from the eastern suburbs places her in the same boat, adding that many of her gigs are played in the northern suburbs “where all the live music tends to be located”.
“It’s just so much more accessible to bring the beauty and the community aspects of live
music into outer suburbs like the southeast,” Ms Rae said.
Expanding further, the big appeal to her was the chance to play with other artists, and like the patrons, also be exposed to their sound and what they have to offer in a live experience.
As for her own segment, Ms Rae is looking at a“more stripped-back type of performance”.
While there would normally be another performer or band, she acknowledged the more“intimate setting”, making her set a“kind of acoustic stripped back vibe of my music”.
“I’m really excited to share some of my originals, I’ll be releasing a song this week as well which is a fully produced studio version but to be able to share that with the community in a more intimate seeing is really exciting for me,” Ms Rae said.
Lava Lounge at 27 High Street is the fourth venue and is also the only one with a late afternoon – early night line-up, with the first performance beginning at 3pm and the last at 6pm.
Looking beyond the upcoming micro-festival, Mr Madhavan is confident that with consistency, Berwick and the southeast could be a major hub for music in the near future.
“I think Berwick would be a great opportunity to seize and utilise, and it would work really well within this area and I think we have the demand for it as well, within the youth and the people,” he said.
Works to protect the APA gas pipeline underneath Kangan Drive and Clyde Road have been completed as part of the Clyde Road Upgrade.
The next significant milestone on the project has concluded with the installation of a 13-cubic tonne protective concrete slab placed over the pipeline.
Protection of the pipeline and relocation of underground services was needed to make room for the new lanes and shared walking and cycling path along Clyde Road and this work has minimised the risk of a service disruption once major works start later this year.
Part of the 2000-kilometre Victorian Transmission System, this important pipeline works to supply natural gas throughout the region and work was required to protect it for the upgrade.
To protect this essential infrastructure, the team carefully removed the road surface and installed a concrete slab as protection.
The 13-week pipeline protection works included pouring the concrete slab and laying 170 cubic metres of crushed rock and 30 metres of clean soil.
There will be further works in the area to relocate other utilities ahead of major works
starting later this year.
The Clyde Road Upgrade will relieve bottlenecks for residents, commuters and users of nearby health and educational institutions including Monash Health – Casey Hospital, St John of God Hospital, Federation Univer-
sity and Chisholm Institute. These works will add additional lanes on Clyde Road between the Princes Freeway and Kangan Drive, upgrade both freeway intersections and Kangan Drive/Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard intersection as well as widening
the existing freeway bridge. The upgrade also will build and upgrade
1.2km of shared walking and cycling paths to give more safer and easier travel options, and install new street lighting, road signage, drainage and landscaping.
The Clyde Road Upgrade will:
· Provide more reliable travel times along Clyde Road in the Berwick area
· Improve traffic flow and access to local facilities and streets
· Make it easier and safer to walk and cycle along Clyde Road
· Improve liveability in the area through better street lighting and landscaping
· Improve safety and reduce the risk of crashes with upgraded intersections and additional lanes.
The upgrade will be completed in two stages – utility relocation (February to early 2025) – and major works (late-2024 to late2027).
This project works in unison with recent road and level crossing infrastructure upgrades throughout the south east to provide better connection to the Princes Freeway and surrounding suburbs via arterial roads.
With tax time on the horizon, we’re being urged to remain cautious over the coming months as various tax-specific scams begin to emerge.
The warning comes as new consumer data from cyber safety brand Norton revealed that 14 per cent of Australians said they had personally experienced cybercrime in the past 12 months, with the average amount lost to cybercrime being $863.79.
Of those who have experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months, 35 per cent had detected unauthorised access to an online banking or financial account.
Tax time can bring stress and confusion to individuals and businesses as they prepare to file their returns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is the perfect environment for cybercriminals who seek to take advantage of the time and try to obtain sensitive information to cause financial harm to unsuspecting victims.
Mark Gorrie, APAC managing director for Norton, said there were certain times each year that pique cybercriminals’ interest and tax time continued to be one of them.
“With the amount of personal and financial information that is being stored and shared at this time, coupled with the stress that comes with filing tax returns, it is the perfect storm for scammers to target Australians,” Mr Gorrie said.
“It can be easy to fall into the trap of a scammer offering to ease this burden. However, it is important to understand that cyber safety practices should never be sacrificed in exchange for convenience.
“AI is aiding cybercriminals in evolving and developing their devious tactics, it is more important than ever that Australians are continuing to educate themselves on the warning signs.”
Mr Gorrie has shared three examples of prevalent tax scams to look out for, plus ways to avoid them.
Be cautious of ATO impersonation scams
Cybercriminals will pose as ATO representatives to convince victims to provide their bank details, tax file number, or other personal information via SMS, email, or social media accounts.
Additionally, in January this year, the ATO issued a warning about scammers posing as ATO workers on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and other popular social media platforms.
These phony accounts prey on social media users who have made public comments addressing the ATO with a question or complaint.
The scammer sends their victim a direct message, offering to assist in resolving the issue. After gaining trust, the scammer attempts to obtain personal information.
To avoid this scam, look out for tell-tale signs of a scam. The ATO won’t use urgent threats, such as arrest, payment, or suspension of your TFN.
If contacted via social media by a newly created unverified account with a small follower account, delete the message. The ATO only has official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn – legitimised with verification ticks and over 10 years of activity.
If you receive a suspected scam email or SMS, do not click on any links, provide any payments, account log in information, or other personal information. To help people navigate the online world safely with digital tools, Norton Genie is a free app that detects scams by reviewing suspicious texts, emails, and web and lets you know if it is legit.
Occasionally, the ATO will contact you by phone, email, SMS, and post. If you are not sure about the validity of any communication, the best thing to do is to call the ATO directly. You can obtain a phone number from their official website, or a previous letter you have received, and validate the request.
Dodgy tax preparers offering to complete your tax refund
Scammers capitalising on the desire for maximum tax refunds will promise substantial returns and a speedier process, which can appear to be an enticing offer in an otherwise confusing and stressful time.
The fraudsters will ask for access to the myGov accounts of their victims and lodge tax returns through the ATO’s myTax web portal or take personal details and payment before disappearing.
If someone approaches you claiming to be a tax preparer, you can check that they are registered on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) by visiting their website to verify the legitimacy of their claims.
Never share your myGov password with anyone. Sharing your information (such as your myGov password) with an unregistered practitioner puts your personal and financial affairs at risk.
Enable two factor authentication on myGov. You can use either the myGov Code Generator app or receive a code by SMS when logging in. This will further protect you from unauthorised access to your myGov account.
Family owned and operated for 21 years, Taylor & Moore provide nationwide business activity statements (BAS), bookkeeping and payroll services.
Their services include bookkeeping services, such as accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliation, expense and debtor management, data entry, EOFY preparation, and accountant journals; BAS agent services including BAS, IAS, SGC, STP, GST and PAYGW Registrations, FTC and TPAR; payroll services including payroll processing, workers compensation, payroll tax and superannuation; specialised reporting services including cash flow management, budgeting, board reports, file audits, EOM reporting; and Xero software integration and training services.
Taylor & Moore director Sharron Taylor said they are constantly updating their processes to stay up-to-date.
“We are driven by a commitment to accuracy and precision in our work, providing meticulous bookkeeping services to ensure that our clients have reliable financial data to make informed decisions,“ she said.
“The dynamic nature of accounting and bookkeeping means staying updated with the latest industry trends, regulations, and technologies enables us to provide superior services to our clients.”
MsTaylor said they pride themselves on being an established business.
“We service clients both local and interstate. We have an extensive knowledge base with friendly with accessibility of staff.
“Our approach is to help businesses succeed and we’re proud to provide proactive support to owners and their business.“
Ms Taylor said the enthusiastic and dynamic team, which includes a number of senior staff members with more than 15 years’ experience, works hard to help clients achieve their goals.“It is our mission to help our clients and to give them back their time and alleviate all the bookkeeping pressures and headaches so they can focus on all other aspects of their business,“ she said.
“We offer specialised bookkeeping services tailored to most industries including all trades, medical industry, investment properties and developers, retail, consulting, manufacturing, hairdressing, importer and exports, tourism, engineering, IT, entertainment, education, beauty and more.
“We are preparing our clients and their books for EOFY in preparation of their tax returns with their accountants.”
Accountants regularly refer their clients to use Taylor & Moore for their bookkeeping needs, with 98 per cent of its clients coming from referrals from accountants and other clients. For more information, visit taylormoore. com.au
Casey Council officially launched the Hybycozo Deep Thought Installation, one of the most anticipated events of the Winter Arts Festival, with a celebration party on the night of Friday 28 June.
The launch party was packed with entertainment from live music, and dance performances, to hot food.
Hybycozo’s five larger-than-life geometric sculptures were brought to life through highlevel metal fabrication and architectural LED lighting. Anthony Van Dorsten, the project manager of Vesica Aotearoa, who has brought Hybycozo to Australia and installed it at Bunjil Place, said: “I’ve been invited by Bunjil Place to install these five beautiful sculptures. So, we’ve got Deep Thought, Dodi, Trocto, Icozo, and Rhombi. They make up this incredible installation.”
“The importance of light art is massive in these days of trials and tribulations in the world. I’ve got a strong belief that light brings together a community like it always has done.
“As humans we light fires, we have been lighting flyers for millennia as the people of this land have. It’s so pertinent to be under Bunjilcreation eagle.
“I think it’s a magical story and feel truly privileged to install these sculptures on behalf of the artists, Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu.” Anthony said it took the team a couple of days to install and six months to plan.
“The sculptures are made from perforated aluminium, steel, and brass. We’ve got five polyhedral - a dodecahedron, a truncated octahedron, a lesser triambic icosahedron and an icosahedron,” he said.
“Google origami and try to make those! Come down and please enjoy the shadow play on the ground. It is absolutely stunning when we switch the lights on at night. Thank you very much to the City of Casey for having us.
“One of the core principles of what we do is foster intergenerational connectivity through the power of light art. So, what I mean by that is light art is unique. It’s got an extremely low barrier to entry. It’s the perfect style of art for free, temporary public art that anybody in the community, no matter your age, shape, gender, or sexual preference, everyone can enjoy.”
Hybycozo Deep Thought Installation will be on display in the Bunjil Place Plaza until Sunday 28 July.
By Ethan Benedicto
The Winter Special Olympics are just a few days away, with the weekend of 6 to 7 July shaping up to be packed with six sports across Casey Stadium and Casey Fields.
With the goal to platform athletes with intellectual disabilities and autism by showcasing their determination and sportsmanship, this weekend is only the first leg with the summer games already set for September.
The first day on 6 July will begin with marshalling at 8.30am, then the opening ceremony between 9am to 10am and the Victoria Law Enforcement Torch Run to fol-
low soon after.
The opening ceremony will be held at Court 1 in Casey Stadium, with basketball, gymnastics and netball beginning at 11am, and finishing at 5pm, 1pm and 4pm respectively.
Bocce will be the only outdoor sport played during the day at Casey Fields, and will be running from 11am to 5pm.
Sunday 7 July offers a similar line-up, with the addition of table tennis in Casey Stadium from 11am to 4pm.
Basketball and bocce have earlier starts at their respective venues, running from 9am to 3pm, with gymnastics starting at 8.30am
and netball at 9am; both sports conclude at 12pm.
All sports competitions throughout the duration are run in accordance with the Special Olympics sport rules, which are adapted to accommodate the wide range of skills and abilities of competing athletes.
Furthermore, all Special Olympics athlete members with all skill levels – from beginners, to intermediate to advanced players –are able to compete.
The City of Casey has a notable history with the Special Olympics, having hosted the Victoria State Games in 203 which had 400 athletes competing in various sports from
swimming, athletics and AFL.
Putting excitement aside, the Special Olympics provides groundwork for cultivating empathy and inclusivity within communities, as well as pushing for systematic changes for those who face health disparities.
It also provides an environment for participants to build self-esteem and confidence, with the opportunity to take part in the experiences and achievements in sport which plays a crucial hand in personal growth.
For more information on the Special Olympics, as well as the September games, visit specialolympics.com.au/find-a-sportnear-me/vic
Looking for an exhilarating family activity to beat the winter blues? Look no further than Phillip Island Go Karts! Nestled on the stunning shores of Phillip Island, this adrenalinepumping attraction is the perfect destination for an action-packed day out with your loved ones.
One of the greatest advantages of Phillip Island Go Karts is that it’s open seven days a week, ensuring you can plan your visit around your family’s schedule. Whether it’s a weekend adventure or a midweek treat, you can rev up your engines and hit the track any day of the week. Say goodbye to boredom and hello to heart-pounding excitement!
The best part? This thrilling experience is not hindered by Mother Nature. Come rain or shine, Phillip Island Go Karts is open and ready for action in all weather conditions. Don’t let a little drizzle dampen your spirits. Grab your raincoats and prepare to race in the rain, adding an extra element of thrill to your karting experience. It’s an opportunity to make unforgettable memories together as a family, regardless of the weather forecast.
Safety is a top priority at Phillip Island Go Karts, so you can rest assured that your loved ones are in good hands. The meticulously maintained track and state-of-the-art karts are designed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for drivers of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time racer, the friendly and professional staff will guide you every step of the way.
Phillip Island Go Karts offers much more than just an adrenaline rush. It promotes friendly competition, encourages teamwork, and strengthens family bonds. This is an experience that will create lasting memories and stories to share for years to come.
So, this winter school holidays, grab your family and head to Phillip Island Go Karts. With its availability all week long and its readiness to operate in any weather, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable adventure that will leave you buzzing with excitement. Start your engines and get ready to race your way into an extraordinary family experience.
Experience the thrill at Phillip Island Go Karts.
Free and fun activities are on offer for kids during winter school holidays at Dandenong Market.
The two week program features interactive crafts such as designing your own market bag art or your own little chef apron. There’s also room for being inventive in the kitchen with a pasta play sessions and making your own quirky, cheery vegie sculptures.
The activities are suitable for children aged 5 and over.
It runs opposite Nesh’s Corner Deli in the market’s Meat Fish Deli Hall from 2-14 July, 10am-2pm.
Open on market days only – Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Details: dandenongmarket.com.au/school-holidayprogram/
Holiday Program Holiday Program
While expense management is always important for business efficiency and net operating profit, real growth for a business can only come by increasing sales.
I was speaking with a business owner recently who has been working hard to earn more income from their business and who admitted to me that they were“not good at sales”. When I worked in corporate life, my Dad would often ask me why I didn’t start my own business and one of the reasons that I always gave him was that I believed I was not good at selling. However, the harsh reality is that if you own a business, you either have to source people that are good at selling (such as great telemarketers and even then, they will only get you in the door, you still have to sell your products or services), hire staff with sales skills or do it yourself.
When I did finally set up my own business over 14 years ago, I pretty well proved myself right about my inability to sell for the first 18 months or so – I was lousy at it. However, that period taught me a number of vital lessons about what was required to be effective at
sales. This experience taught me what I consider to be the three golden rules of sales:
· It’s not about you;
· Be persistent; and
· Systemise the sales process.
In this article I am going to focus on the last item since it is actually very easy to do and can improve the performance of even good sales people to a greater degree.
So what do we mean by the phrase ‘systemising the sales process’?
Well, the first thing to make clear is that it does not require that you have to go out and buy a whole lot of expensive tools!
This is achieved through a combination
of simple spreadsheets and a disciplined approach. One key weapon in this armory is the ‘sales pipeline’. Some very good CRMs (Customer Relationship Management databases) can include this but equally Microsoft’s Excel is perfectly capable of tracking these as well.
The purpose of a sales pipeline is to fundamentally track the opportunities that have been surfaced. No matter how good the initial engagement, if you fail to follow up with a prospective client, they may well assume either a lack of interest or a lack of personal organisation on your part, neither of which will make a good impression!
A useful sales pipeline will contain useful notes about the opportunity as well as essential information such as potential sales value, likelihood of achieving the sale (multiplying the two together will provide an indication of the importance of the opportunity itself), key contact(s) details, expected closure date and required next steps.
Another key part of the systemisation activity is to keep data records on sales performance. One key metric worth knowing is your
‘sales conversion rate’ which is usually expressed as a percentage.
A sales conversion rate of 40 per cent means that for every five opportunities you create, two of those opportunities have become customers.
If you also know the average value of a sale (this is simply calculated as the total value of sales divided by the total number of customers over a given period), then it is very easy to work out how many opportunities you need to create in order to achieve your defined sales target.
Another key part of systemisation is the creation of a Sales Plan. Most businesses tend not to create this document but spending the time to think about and document your sales strategy and using known sales-related data (such as conversion rate and average sale value) turn out to be highly effective in predicting your sales for the forthcoming period and is well worth the time spent.
IanAshACC,AInstIB
Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions-www.ombs.com.au
By Violet Li
Locals swarmed to their beloved social enterprise cafe L’Arte Central to celebrate its last day at the Casey Administration Building on Saturday 29 June, despite the unfriendly rain.
Nothing really showed the sign of the last day. The staff was as busy as usual, grinding coffee and serving the pies. More than 60 tables were reserved, and people came in and out.
As the director Anthony Cheeseman said, this was not the end, and they were just at an in-between season.
After having to be detached from the anger, disappointment, and devastation brought by a three-month eviction notice from Casey Council in March of this year, Anthony scurried around and did everything he could to find a new location.
Time was ticking, and he could not afford to waste a day. He had 30 staff and he looked after another 15 people with disabilities. In an unpromising economic environment like now, a day without pay could impose tremendous pressure on not just one individual, but an entire household.
“It was a shock. I remember when they (council) told us, Sharon (Anthony’s wife) burst into tears because this is our life,” Anthony recalled.
“We’ve built this place for five years, and it’s really 20 years [of experience] that you put into building something like this.
“You can do two things. You can fight to stay or fight to leave in a way, and we chose we’re going to leave because, at the end of the day, this building will not be here.”
Starting in July, L’Arte Central will be spread across two locations with the cafe and florist at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre and the pie production and catering at Lanterns Viet Kitchen in Clyde North. The Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre site is planned to commence on Thursday 4 July.
While this was not the finale, a sensitive community soul could still trace the sadness in the air, from the pats on Anthony’s shoulder and the best wishes to the staff to that “alright, this is last day here” you overheard when passing a table.
Local CFA showed up with Captain Koala to support the cafe, and the community was taking photos and tying their memories to the ambience, on this last day.
The L’Arte Central opened in October 2019.
Anthony used to run Madcap Cafe, another social enterprise, then went on to work for Retail Food Group as a territory manager looking after franchisees around the country.
One of the Casey locals Drew Gormlie, later the first managing director of the L’Arte Central, rang him up one day and asked if he wanted to jump on board, and Anthony said yes, why not?
“We’ve got this idea of calling it Latte. And it was going to be with art space because doing art courses is really good for people recovering from mental illness,” Anthony said.
“So I said, well, we put it together, and that’s why the name is L’Arte.”
Initially, L’Arte Central was proposed at the old shire building on the corner of Sladen Street but later the planning did not come through.
“It was about a month later, the late exmayor Amanda Stapleton said we’ve got this building here [Casey Administration Building],” Anthony said.
“It’s perfect because people with mental health challenges don’t really want to think about how to travel to work, how to catch public transport, and the parking issues if they are driving, so this building ticks every box that we were after.
“And it is a place that isn’t in a business shopping centre where people could just come and feel welcome. And the size of it is huge. It’s 400 square metres.”
When Drew suffered health challenges in early 2020, Anthony took on the managing director role.
The opening clashed right on with Covid.
“It was Saturday morning. We had to have a staff meeting after work and I had to address staff and make them more redundant, except for a couple, because we had to go into lockdowns,” Anthony recalled.
“I promised the staff that I would employ them within six months. It was a pretty big statement to make at the time. But we did.
“Lockdown was pretty hard for Victorians, especially with cafes.
“But because we were deemed a central service because we were giving opportunities to people with disabilities, so we ended
up doing 20,000 meals during the pandemic, and they were distributed by five local charities to people who needed them.”
The florist business was an unexpected beauty out of the pandemic.
“We’re an art thing. When the pandemic hit, we couldn’t run art programs.We couldn’t run meetings.We couldn’t do anything. So we had to get creative,” Anthony said.
“One day one of our friends Deb asked Sharon, my wife, what do you really want to do with your life? Sharon’s passion is to be a florist, and Sharon says, I’d love to be a florist. And Deb says, why aren’t you doing it? Now’s the chance to do it.
“Here we are three years later with a fully-fledged florist. Sharon stepped into that space.We delivered flowers to people, to hospitals, to retirement villages, and just to individuals. Because of lockdowns, you couldn’t go out, but we could because we were delivering.
“We also ended up doing pies. We made thousands of pies during Covid that we delivered to people’s houses and stood at the front door with masks on talking to people, counselling people.”
With all the memories and history, leaving after a three-month eviction notice hurts when the thought of it creeps out.
“The building is old. It is a 60-year-old building. We knew it was probably going to come to its end of life sometime,” Anthony said.
“We’re on a five-year lease. We knew there were no options at the end of it, but that means you go on a month-by-month lease, and that’s fine because you can be on a month-by-month lease for 20 years.
“It’s costing us a lot to move, and council is not paying one cent. It’s probably costing $60,000 to $70,000, and I have to put out
there a GoFundMe page. Waiting on that money is stressful and we have a lot of money going out of our own pockets at the moment and on credit cards and things like that to pay for a move that we shouldn’t really have.
“If it was a 12-month notice, we could have fundraised a bit better for it.”
A faint-hearted is not for running a social enterprise, as Anthony says. He is not one of them, and that’s probably why it took him two weeks to find the new locations and forge ahead when people thought that might be the end for L’Arte Cafe.
Two nights before the last day, the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, which is also moving after an eviction notice, held its regular meeting in L’Arte Central, the last time in this venue. Anthony, as a guest speaker, talked about the drivers for small businesses and social enterprises.
“We do things for reasons. Like, there are easier ways to make money,” Anthony said.
“It’s about people. After three family members have suicide over 25 years, I suppose, it affected me to the extent I didn’t want people to suicide.
“It’s an unconditional care of people. It’s a different love. You know, you can walk in here, and no matter what’s happening in your life, we’ll have a chat.
“Employment changes people’s lives, but not just employment. It’s just having somewhere they can meet because sometimes employment’s the last thing people want to do, but they just need to get out and have something to eat, good food, good coffee, good company, and next thing you know, they progress to the stage where they can work.”
Back to almost a decade ago, Anthony was running Madcap Cafe in Masters Home Improvement Stores.
“So I used to run cafes in shopping centres, and I am glad I never said I’d never go back,” Anthony said.
From July, L’Arte Central will wait for you in Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre with music and coffee on again.
· Lifeline 13 11 14
Your Berwick Star News and leading local businesses are giving you the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from businesses across the region!
We are publishing this Shop Local & Win page in the Berwick Star News for the next four weeks listing local businesses that have something special to offer. You have the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from each participating business... that makes for a super prize!
For
Aligned Leisure has taken over the running of seven City of Casey leisure facilities.
As of Monday 1 July, the company – a subsidiary of Richmond Football Club – is managing Casey ARC, Casey RACE, Doveton Pool in the Park, Casey Stadium, Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre, Olive Road Sporting Complex and The Shed Skatepark.
Learn-to-swim programs will also now be delivered by Life Saving Victoria and the gymnastics program done in partnership with Gymnastics Victoria.
Last year, council announced plans to streamline the management and operation of the seven facilities.
The former managers were YMCA Victoria, Skateparks Australia and Casey Netball Asso-
ciation across four separate contacts or service agreements.
Casey chief executive Glenn Patterson said Aligned Leisure was a highly capable, community-focused organisation with a proven record.
“We are very pleased to partner with Aligned Leisure, who are leaders in the aquatics and leisure industry.
“They provide an exceptional range of innovative, inclusive and high-quality programs that will be delivered within the facilities.
“Our leisure facilities are highly valued by the community and play a vital role in improving the overall physical, social and mental wellbeing of our residents and visitors.”
Melbourne, get ready to Frost yourselves, celebrating Christmas in July.
Embark on a magical winter journey at FROSTED – A Winter Spectacular, celebrating Christmas in July!
During the months of June and July 2024, the big field in Narre Warren opposite Westfield Fountain Gate will be transformed into a whimsical sanctuary where all can revel in the magic of a winter Christmas under the Big Top.
Lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of an immersive winter wonderland and enjoy the beauty of a Christmas in July.
Friday June 21 – Sunday July 21
· Under the Big Top, opposite Westfield Fountain Gate, Narre Warren
· Tickets -ticketmaster.com.au
· On sale now.
EVENT ZONES:
· Snow land - Delve into an inflatable playground of frosted fun
· Bakery – Create your own adorably frosty snowman or reindeer biscuits with special French icings
· Mrs Claus’ Storytelling Corner – Join Mrs Claus and celebrate the frosty season with some of your favourite Christmas carols and stories.
· Winter Craft Corner – Unleash your creativity at our winter craft village where you can create your own reindeer antlers.
· The Elf’s Village- Make you very own snow Globe.
· Character Meet & Greets – Enjoy a special photo moment with your favourite frosty
characters, with appearances from Frosty the Snowman and Everest from Abominable.
· Live Performances – Get swept up with amazing circus performances.
· Polar Bear Ball Pit - Slip down the inflatable slide past the polar bear and into the ball pit with 100,000 Balls
· Taboggan Slide – Grab your special mat and slip your way down the artificial icy taboggan slope.
· Skating – Glide across the icy field on our enchanting artificial skating rink
· Refreshments – Delight your tastebuds with a selection of wintery food and drinks
· Reindeer Barn – Don’t forget to visit Rudolf’s Barn
Photo opportunities in front of the Giant Gold Rocking Horse and the Magical Hot Air Balloon
With VIP experiences and family-friendly ticket options available, prepare to be spellbound by an experience that ignites wonder and promises to warm hearts and ignite imaginations!
Join us for some icy excitement, warm memories, and endless fun surrounded by an immersive world of winter that glitters with Christmas magic. Don’t miss your chance to experience this spellbinding frosty Christmas experience right here in Melbourne!
Secure your tickets now and get ready to be enchanted by ‘FROSTED – A Winter Spectacular.’
· General Admission from $32.50 (plus booking fee)
· Admission to either a day event or evening event
· Enjoyment of all Frosted Zones
· VIP Experience from $65.00 (plus booking fee)
· Admission to either a day event or evening event
VIP Fast Pass Lanyard
· 10 minute early entry
· Front of line priority at each Frosted Zones
· Complimentary VIP Gift Bag from the Frosted Merchandise Shop
· Food voucher - including either: hot dog/hot chips & drink, or chicken nuggets/hot chips & drink
· Family Special from $100.00 (plus booking fee)
· Admission to an evening event only
· 4x General Admission tickets
· Enjoyment of all Frosted Zones Facebook: Frosted - AWinter Spectacular facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558713443568 Instagram: @frosted_awinterspectatular instagram.com/frosted_awinterspectacular/
Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@frostedwinterspectacular Hashtag #frostedawinterspectacular Website: frostedawinterspectacular.com.au/ Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au ticketmaster.com.au/frosted-a-winterspectacular-tickets/artist/3116447
Tell us about yourself and the organisation you work for.
I am a father of three adult children two females and one male all with successful careers. One works in a Federal Government agency, one works in IT and one works in the media at Channel Nine in Sydney in the back o ffice. I work and have done for 20 years in retail with a local fuel company here in Cranbourne.
I then do the administrative work for the local Music station Surf FM which I partly own. This business, ie Surfside Radio, has a connection with Radio Haanji which I am very proud to acknowledge is Melbourne’s first Indian 24hour Radio Station.
What has been your most memorable moment during your time as a present at Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce?
My most memorable moment being president of the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce was hosting an event earlier this year and seeing the room full overflowing of local businesses and community-minded people. It makes the job very rewarding.
What do you love the most about working for Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce?
The best thing about volunteering to be president of the Cranbourne of the Cranbourne of Commerce is the sense of community. I have met so many people and have been involved in so many events. It is simply a joy to be doing this job. I hope I can continue to deliver as president of the Chamber.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
If I were an animal, I would love to be a cat. I have a cat called “Cuddles” and all she does is cuddle up to you all day (not that I have time
to do that). What a life just spending all day sleeping.
What were you like as a kid?
As a kid I was very shy (hard to believe now), was living in a then small town in Tasmania, ie Devonport, so had a sheltered life and spent my time watching trains and ships coming and going and hanging out with my cousins.
What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
The event I would love to attend is the Olympics, especially the swimming.
The Indoor Cricket National Championships has returned to Casey to showcase the nation’s best teams and players.
The tournament kicked off on 29 June.
The ICNC will be taking place at Casey Stadium and will run for two weeks; it begins with the Open tournament then the finals on 6 July, with the junior divisions commencing on 7 July and finals wrapping up the tournament on 13 July.
Cricket Australia’s general manager of events and operations, Joel Morrison said that “the Indoor Cricket National Championships is a fantastic event showcasing the best Australian indoor cricketers and we are thrilled that it will be back at Casey this year”.
“Almost 100,000 people play indoor cricket in Australia, with the fast and exciting format providing opportunities to compete all year round.”
More than 800 players are set to come together across four senior divisions and six junior divisions, those being Open Women’s and Men’s, U22 Women’s and Men’s, U18 Girls and
Boys, U16 Girls and Boys and U14 Girls and Boys.
Casey’s chair of administrators, Noelene Duff PSM wished all competitors success and said that Casey was pleased to host the 2024 Indoor Cricket National Championships where “we’ll see some of the best junior and open age indoor cricketers play off for the championships at our very own Casey Stadium”.
Players will also vie for national selection and the chance to compete in the Tri-Nations Series in Adelaide against New Zealand and South Africa in September.
Mr Morrison also added that ICNC plays a vital role in the nation’s cricket pathway and provides “an opportunity for players to represent Australia later in the year”.
Casey Stadium has been home to indoor cricket for some time, hosting several national and international events in 2022, as well as being named the Indoor facility of the Year at Cricket Victoria’s 2023 Community Cricket Awards.
The 100km in July challenge has just begun and will last until the end of the month.
This challenge is used to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds to help those affected by it.
Every day in Australia, 57 new patients are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is estimated that over 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. While anyone can be affected by it, breast cancer is more commonly found in women. In Australia, approximately one in eight females and one in 667 males are diagnosed before age 85.
Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
My six dinner guests would be the late Queen, late President John F Kennedy, Prince William, Pop group ABBA, Peter Hudson and Michael Tuck (champion past Hawthorn players).
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
My friends describe me as “honest outspoken and has integrity“.
What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’?
My perfect day off would be a summer thing that is a day at the beach as I love swimming.
Breast cancer can be caused by many factors, including genetics, advancing age, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and a history with specific non-cancerous breast conditions.
Because the average age at diagnosis is 62 years, the BreastScreen Australia program allows women aged 40 and over to receive free screening mammograms every two years to help detect breast cancer early.
The site benefits from the
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.
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 woodturning, 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
ASRC Foodbank @ RRH Dandenong Food Drive
Food drive supporting people seeking asylum
Saturday 27 July: 10 am to 2 pm
Please help us make a difference in the community! ASRC Foodbank @ RRH Dandenong is hosting a food drive on Saturday, July 27th, from 10 am to 2 pm. We provide food to people seeking asylum who do not receive government support. We would love your donations of basmati rice, canned veggies (corn, peas, carrot and tomato), tuna in oil,coconut cream/milk,olive oil,biscuits, razors and deodorant, jam/honey/peanut butter. The drop-off location is at the rear of 205 Thomas St, Dandenong (enter via the Oldham Lane car park).
· For more information, please contact Kate Quin at kate.q@asrc.org.au. Your generosity will make a real difference! Thank you!
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.
Combined Probus Club of Narre Warren
Our club welcomes men and women to join us in getting together for fun and interesting activities. We have bowling, armchair travel,book clubs, walk and talk, happy snappers and cards. Our eager activities co-ordinator has organised an evening on the Melbourne Tramboat, a “Spring in the Riverland’ holiday and much more. At our monthly dine-outs and happy hour in local restaurants we enjoy good food and good company. We’d love you to join us too!!
· Enquiries please email Heather at hsims14@ gmail.com.
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 oneto-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.
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 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 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.
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. En-
try: $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.
On the first Wednesday of the month we enjoy socialising with our members and, on the next three (3) Wednesdays we have live entertainment wherein you can do some line-dancing if you wish and enjoy an afternoon cup of tea. There are also weekly activities on other days of the week, which include the Garden Group Club, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Line Dancing, Table Tennis, friendly Card games, and a Gentle Exercise class.
· We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Phone us at 9704 0015 or 0426 736 467 or email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information
Weekly badminton
Badminton for ladies or retired.
All welcome.
· Mondays 7pm-9pm and Wednesdays 12pm2.30pm at Hallam Badminton Club, Frawley Road Recreation Reserve; $5
By Marcus Uhe
Members of the Berwick Springs Football Netball Club have voted in the “overwhelming majority” to move competitions and join the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) in 2025, leaving Outer East Football Netball (OEFN).
The decision comes in the wake of the looming relegation prospect for the Titans at the end of 2024, which would see them join Division One and travel to towns such as Alexandra, Yea and Yarra Junction.
In April it was decided that the bottom three sides in Premier Division football would be relegated to Division One, and the premiers of Division One promoted, to return to two 10team divisions of football.
In 2024, Premier Division has 12 teams and Division One nine, however a key finding of the OEFN’s 2023 Competition Structure Review was that clubs preferred a 10-team competition structure.
The news prompted the Titans to begin considering what is best for them going forward, eventually landing on the application to move to the SFNL.
The Titans sit last in the Outer East’s Premier football division, and their A-Grade netball team, promoted as a result of the football side’s success in 2023, is also last on the Premier Division A-Grade ladder.
Berwick Springs Chairman Ashley Allison believed the club would risk an exodus of players leaving if the club decided to stay in OEFN, risking relegation.
“We haven’t had the success we wanted so far, but we recruited a range of players, in excess of 10, to come and play Premier Division footy,” Allison said.
“If we went back and said we were playing in Division One, the reality is we’d lose I would say, 100 per cent of those players.”
Allison said that there had been no “prediscussion” between the League and clubs regarding relegation before the April decision was made, an assertion that OEFN Chief Executive Brett Connell refuted.
Allison said it was “disappointing” that the club had reached the decision to leave OEFN, but said there were a number of attractive factors about the SFNL, including the breadth of competitions.
“We weren’t even considering moving until we received that notice from (OEFN) that that was how it was going to play in the years ahead,” Allison said.
“To be fair, they had come back to us and said they were reconsidering what happens with relegation and promotion.
“The problem with that is, we still (had) a 30 June deadline in terms of advising what we wanted to do.
“That forced our hand in terms of making a decision.
“Travel is a massive issue for us if we were to be in Division One, but there is a breadth of options, having four divisions in SFNL, and having the ability for netball to spread across 14 divisions of netball.
“We can then position our teams where we think is best suited for them in competition.
“It’s a concern of ours that the netball goes with football as well, because we’ve really struggled with netball in terms of being competitive in Premier Division.
“Not everyone was happy with that decision, but we had to go with the majority rules.”
The Titans have “strongly indicated” their desire to be placed into Division 2 of the SFNL, Allison said, which currently accommodates fellow City of Casey clubs, Doveton, Hampton Park and Endeavour Hills, but that decision is yet to be confirmed.
Acceptance to the competition and the division they will be placed in will be determined by the SFNL’s board.
Having first taken the field as a club in 2019 as an Under 18s outfit, and OEFN is the only competition theTitans know in its brief history as a club.
Following a grand final appearance in Division One football in 2023, the club earned promotion to Premier Division for both football and netball in 2024, which has been tough on both programs.
The Titans lost star midfielder Hayden Stagg to injury on the eve of the season to injury and sit at the foot of the ladder with one win to show for their efforts in senior football, appearing destined for relegation, with their reserves side only managing three.
Despite a heavy recruiting effort in order to meet the standard of Premier Division, the football club also lost a host of key players in the offseason, some of whom have not been replaced on field.
Key forward Ty Ellison kicked 39 goals and gave the Titans a focal point in the forward half, but this season the Titans have struggled to put winnings cores on the board, averaging
just 40 points per game.
On the netball court, the club has just two wins across its four senior netball sides in 2024, and the A-Grade netball side is yet to taste victory in Premier Division with a hefty average losing margin of 56 goals.
The netball club was forced to join the football club in Premier Division this year, as per OEFN rules, despite the A-Grade netball side finishing fifth in Division One in 2023.
Berwick Springs’ application comes on the back of NarreWarren’s request to join the SFNL last month.
Should Berwick Springs succeed with the move, the Titans would be the third OEFN team in the last 12 months to apply to move to the SFNL, with Hallam returning after one season in the OEFN in 2023.
Attention turns to the OEFN to see how the loss of potentially two clubs form Premier Division shapes relegation and promotion for 2025.
The League said it will not make comment on the matter until after its next board meeting later this month.
By Marcus Uhe
Berwick Trap Shooting star Laetisha Scanlan has fallen short of selection for a third straight Olympic Games campaign after she was not selected for the 10-athlete Shooting squad to compete in Paris later this month.
A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Scanlan was beaten to the two women’s trap shooting spots on the team by fellowVictorians, Penny Smith and Catherine Skinner.
Having finished fifth in the trap shooting in Rio de Janeiro and fourth in Tokyo, the stars were aligning for Scanlan to finally medal in 2024, but her non-selection puts a line through that possibility.
Skinner, the Women’s Trap gold medallist in 2016, placed third in the Women’s Trap event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in June, the final large-scale international shooting event before the Paris Games. Smith, meanwhile, experienced a brilliant 2023 and has carried her form into this year,
winning a silver medal in the Women’s Trap event at the ISSF World Cup in May.
Both Smith and Skinner remain in the top
20 of the Trap Women World Rankings, at 11 and 15 respectively, where Scanlan has drifted to 90th.
Scanlan addressed her non-selection on Instagram, wishing those who were selected all the best in their Paris endeavours.
“Sometimes fate is a cruel mistress,” she said.
“And regardless of effort, commitment and sacrifice, life doesn’t always give you what you’d hoped for.
“This experience has been an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of high performance sport.
“I continue to love the sport deeply, not only for the joy competition brings me but also for the meaningful connections it has allowed me to cultivate.
“As I reflect on this chapter, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to my friends who have earned their place in the Paris team. And deeply thank all of those who have supported my quest.
“Looking ahead, I have no regrets, my love and passion still burns strong and I look forward to 2025 and beyond.”
By Marcus Uhe
Spectators at Outer East Football Netball Premier Division games on Saturday were refreshing PlayHQ in bewilderment reading the scoreline between UpweyTecoma and NarreWarren.
The Tigers did what no side has done since last season’s grand final in downing the Magpies, 8.6 54 to 5.14 44, on the back of a fivegoal-to-one third term, and a run of five unanswered majors, resulting in a 23-point lead early in the last quarter.
The question on everyone’s lips was simply, how? And what’s the magic formula?
For Tigers coach Stuart Hill, there was no inventive tactics or intuitive approach to the contest, the main ingredient was a simple staple every side needs in their back pocketself-belief.
Recent strong performances against the division’s strongest sides, and a momentous win over Pakenham in trying circumstances the week before, fuelled the idea that anything was possible against the Magpies.
“We got done to Woori Yallock by three or four goals, then Wandin by three or four goals and felt like that type of distance against the best teams puts you within striking rangetwo games against the stronger teams weren’t 50-point blowouts, it was that three/four goal mark that means that you’re always a chance, and always within striking range,” Hill said.
“It was more that mindset; just be close enough to challenge and see what happens from there.
“The win against Pakenham the week before was pretty significant, we had never won there before as a club and came from 20 points down with two players on the bench.
“I think that aspect of footy resilience and having the courage to win, not just try and respectfully lose, but have the courage to win, was significant.
“We used that to help fuel the week for us.”
Conditions at Upwey Recreation Reserve were“pretty tough and pretty nasty” according to Hill, simplifying the game to a contest-bycontest approach.
A Daniel Waters shot on goal that died on approach and became lodged in the mud in the first quarter set the tone for a torrid afternoon, a stark contrast to conditions both teams have become accustomed to in 2024, and the Tigers worked the home ground advantage to their favour with a strong focus on winning the contest.
Achieving quick entries inside 50, rather than needing to shift the ball the length of the ground against the at times impenetrable press the Magpies so often use to generate their own scores, disabled one of Steven Kidd’s side’s greatest weapons, and altered the complexion of the game.
As far as a blueprint for other teams to fol-
low, Hill feels the vision will offer more to opposition masterminds than the data.
“You probably take a bit out of the ferocity at the ball, competing on the inside and getting the ball moving forward.
“Statistic-wise it was probably a bit different to a dry weather day but I think in terms of how i’st viewed, I think that is something potentially clubs could use.
“You are looking at against the best all the time, you’re trying to find some little chinks in their armour and go from there.
“It was a bit of a territory game as opposed to a pristine, transitional-type movement as well.
“I think both sides would have struggled to get five or six possessions clean and clear in the moment.
“I think you had to win it at the source, drive through the legs and move the ball forward a bit more as well.”
The task of winning the ball at the source was made easier with the unavailability of Kurt Mutimer to injury, but take nothing away
from the Tigers - Saturday’s result was one of the most significant for the club in some years, and will inject even more belief into the squad that is earning ‘threat’ status by the week.
“If you’ve got the runs on the board and something tangible to grasp onto, it’s less imaginative future outcomes, it’s more, we can do this, we did this on the weekend,” Hill said.
“That’s the plan, we wanted to be the team that can match it with some of the top teams.
“I think we’ve been decent at that, but at the same time I think we’re a pretty young group and pretty hungry.
“I like to think that there’s plenty more future-focus as opposed to just on the weekend, but it was great.”
For the Magpies, Sam Toner was held goalless for the first time in his senior football career to date, and poor kicking for goal ensured there were no multiple goalkickers for Narre Warren fpr the first time in 2024.
Unavailability and injuries appears to be taking a toll on the powerhouse, with a shaky
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three weeks post the King’s Birthday break indicating a drop in form after a blistering opening eight weeks.
Defenders Trent Papworth and Travis Callahan, and forward DanielToner joined Mutimer on the sidelines as a result of round 10’s battle against Woori Yallock, while another senior debut was handed to Luca Pascuzzi from the side’s Under 19s program.
Riley Siwes, Hayden Dwyer andTom Russell were named in the Magpies’ best players.
Around Premier Division, Officer keptWandin to its lowest score of 2024 in a 9.10 64 to 4.6 30 loss, while a poor first quarter in which they conceded six of the first seven goals was too much for Emerald to overcome, despite a strong following three quarters, going down 10.9 69 to 8.11 59.
Berwick Springs couldn’t manage a goal after quarter time in an 82-point loss to Monbulk, the Hawks’ fourth win in a row, and Woori Yallock held off Olinda Ferny Creek by six points.
By Marcus Uhe
A young Berwick side received a lesson in a four-quarter effort of football on Saturday in an 81-point loss to Blackburn in the Eastern Football Netball League.
Poor kicking from Blackburn prevented the margin from escalating, but the 15.20 110 to 4.5 29 result does not make for positive reading the Wickers.
Berwick held sway for the opening sixteen minutes before Blackburn struck first, and put the first three on the board in quick succession, eventually capitalising on inside 50 ascendency.
Blackburn moved the ball at speed despite the falling rain and made an early statement in the battle for territory.
Caydn Lane showed his crumbing nous to put Berwick on the board late in the first term with a brilliant dribble kick from a tight angle, pausing the home team’s momentum and putting his side back in the mix.
The weight of numbers continued to dog the backline, but Berwick held strong under immense fire in the form of inside 50 entries.
Thankfully, the home side could not convert, missing five of its first six shots of the
quarter, and when Jai Neal kicked truly after a strong contested mark, the Wickers were only down by 17 points, despite AshtonWilliamson being sent from the ground for a high bump. 24 points was the halftime margin, growing to 36 at the final break, before Blackburn flexed its muscle in the final term with a further six goals.
Blackburn managed a minimum of seven shots at goal every quarter, accelerating
away from Berwick in the second half with 10 goals to two.
29 points was Berwick’s second-lowest score for the year, swamped by a heavy inside 50 count against them by one of the competition’s highest scoring sides.
Harrison Canning returned to the Berwick line-up for his first game since round one after holding a place in the Gippsland Power Coates Talent League side for much of 2024,
and Riak Andrew played his first game for the year in Berwick’s senior side, after a run of games with the Dandenong Stingrays.
The brilliant years of Noah Cannon and Braedyn Bowden continued, and Jesse Cirulis continued to hold his own in the ruck.
Berwick remains in ninth and next faces seventh-placed Noble Park at Pat Wright Senior Oval, a side desperate for a victory having lost its last eight matches.
It will be a crucial week in the context of the fight to avoid relegation, with Doncaster East (ninth) facing Norwood (10th).
Berwick has only beaten the Bulls once since moving to the Eastern Football Netball League, as part of last season’s midyear revival when they won four consecutive matches, including downing the then-reigning premier. Should both Norwood and Berwick lose to the sides closest to them on the table, fight to climb out of the bottom two will have another layer of difficulty added.
In other Premier Division contests, Vermont became the first team to get the better of Vermont, while Doncaster East appears to have turned a corner despite a loss to East Ringwood.
By Marcus Uhe
A pair of major upsets from Emerald and ROC in the Outer East Football Netball A Grade netball competition has given Narre Warren a four-point lead at the top of the ladder.
Emerald prevailed over the red-hot Mt Evelyn by three goals in a huge 38-35 victory on the road, while ROC finished two clear ofWandin, 39-37.
In ending the Rovers’ 10-game unbeaten run, which included a win over Narre Warren two weeks ago, the Bombers held the netball powerhouse to their lowest score of the season in a grinding arm-wrestle in the rain.
It was the second term where the Bombers made their move, outscoring the Rovers 12-7 as Kaylah Loulanting found her shooting groove.
The Bombers’ patience was on show, denying Mt Evelyn possession and working the ball around the circle for Loulanting to find a better quality shot.
At the other end of the court, Mt Evelyn missed a handful of chances, and the Bombers showed their rebounding prowess.
The fourth quarter, however, saw the Rovers make a late charge.
Trailing by seven goals the start of the last quarter, Kaitlyn Black was back in the defensive goal circle for the Rovers and offered a new challenge for Loulanting to overcome.
Unsurprisingly, the defence tightened considerably, as the superstar shooting became quelled.
Mt Evelyn cut the lead to three goals with two minutes remaining, and at 34-37, the contest was there to be won by either side.
Emerald needed a goal, and looked to Loulanting for the breakthrough.
From the Bombers’ centre pass, they went back to their patient approach as they looked for an opening to feed Loulanting.
Loulanting and Mackenzie managed to initiate a switch for each other, and a moment of indecision from the Rovers’ defensive pair saw both players follow Mackenzie deep into the goal circle.
It left Loulanting with the opportunity the Bombers had worked so hard to achieve, and with the rain falling, she nailed the critical shot to halt the home side’s charge with 30 seconds remaining.
She finished with 31 of the 38 goals in a dominant display that keeps the Bombers in the hunt for a spot in the top six.
ROC, meanwhile, pulled off a similar feat against Wandin, it too keeping the Bulldogs to a season-low scoring total.
ROC led by as many as six goals in the second term against the 2023 runner up, before the Bulldogs mounted a fight back in the third term to snatch a lead.
Eight of the first 10 goals in the third term
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey’s women have made a statement in the Vic League 1 competition with a 10-0 victory over West Vic.
The Cannons are eyeing a finals berth in a tight competition where goals difference could be a factor, highlighting the significance of the big margin.
Silky mover Mikayla McDonald scored five goals in her 50th game, while Emma Harris also scored twice as she eyes a strong end to an injury-interrupted campaign.
Jenna and Leandra McLauchlan also hit the scoreboard as did regular scorer Sam Wagg as the Cannons played with intensity as their style won out, capitalising on repeated opportunities.
The Cannons blooded 14-year-old debutante Chantelle Calado who showed positive
signs, while stalwart Jess Rowland brought up game 300.
It lifts Casey to the finals-bound sixth position, and gives them a big buffer on goals difference with Monash University, which sits equal on points and Brunswick, three points behind, also eyeing finals.
The Cannons have a much tougher assignment against fourth-placed Geelong after a week off this weekend.
Meanwhile, the men won 4-3 against St Bede’s in an enthralling Vic League 2 contest.
Tristan Chaffey scored twice, while David Noney and Blake Edwards also found the back of the net to lift the Cannons to second position.
Highlighting the significance of the result; a loss would have resulted in Casey falling to fifth, while they would be fourth if they drew.
Casey has a tough game against top-placed Yarra in its next fixture on Sunday week.
on the visitors’ court. Isabella O’Shanassy nailed 23 goals for ROC in a standout performance, with Bella Heppell and Melanie Overdyk keeping Wandin powerhouse Emmalia Blake to just 24.
With chaos unfolding on the other courts, meanwhile, Narre Warren cruised to yet another victory to restore its one-game buffer at the top of the ladder.
The Magpies were never headed in the 24goal win over Upwey Tecoma, thanks in large part to a dominant opening quarter in Erin Bell’s return to the starting line-up.
Bell shot 13 of the Magpies’ 15 first quarter goals, including a run of seven consecutively to open a six-goal lead midway through the quarter.
In true Magpies’ fashion, Narre Warren grew itsleadateverybreakinthecontestandfinished with a dominant final term, its equal-highest of the match, showing no signs of mercy.
Former Pakenham defender Tenielle Morrell made her return to the court in her first game since round five, and Julia Kaitani continues to hold down a place in the defensive goal circle, impressing in her third A-Grade contest.
At Gembrook, Pakenham’s steely defence played a key role in claiming another scalp, this time in the form of Gembrook Cockatoo.
went into the Bulldogs’ net, returning from the half time break raring to go, but ROC steadied and combated the Bulldogs’ charge with six of the final seven of the quarter to force yet another momentum swing.
ROC’s run at the end of the third quarter gave them a two-goal lead heading into the final change, but two quick goals to Wandin to open the quarter returned the contest to level pegging.
A critical five goal run to ROC, however, proved decisive in downing the perennial premiership threat.
Wandin went on a three goal run of their own, but the final eight goals of the contest alternated, with ROC withstanding the pressure
The Lions kept their hosts to a single-figure score in two of the four quarters, on their way to a 47-32 win, thanks to the efforts of Cainlin Cooke, Charlize Reid and Evie Drake.
Quick movement of the ball and forcing turnovers in the midcourt proved the key to their success, restricting the scoring opportunities on offer for the Brookers in what were difficult conditions.
At the other end of the court, Matt Cooke’s willingness to bring Charlotte Hudolin off the bench gives him a strong front-court trio of Hudolin, Rose Laidlaw and Kelly Cousins to rotate under the basket.
Berwick Springs’ difficult season continued in a 86-20 loss to Monbulk, and Woori Yallock comfortably defeated Olinda Ferny Creek by 37 goals in other contests.
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong Stingrays co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes both starred as Vic Country maintained its unbeaten run so far in the under-18s boys national championships.
Hynes, playing predominantly as a forward, kicked the sealing goal in Vic Country’s 11.11 77 to 9.12 66 victory at Claremont againstWestern Australia.
The strong-bodied mid-forward kicked 2.1 on the day, rising with the game on the line in the final quarter as he showed his power and aerial presence in a 20 disposal, three clearance, eight mark performance.
Langford, meanwhile, was consistent across the four quarters, finishing with a game-high 29 disposals as his clean hands and smooth ball use were both features.
He also laid six tackles, won five clearances and took eight marks in an influential and balanced game in the midfield.
Gippsland trio Alix Tauru, Xavier Lindsay and Jasper Alger were also impactful for the victors.
Tauru’s first quarter set the tone for his daring and aggressive game, taking two early intercept marks and crashing packs with great courage.
The Warragul Industrials boy looked to intercept at every opportunity and took the game on with his disposal, finishing with 10 disposals, including four marks and five intercept possessions in defence.
Lindsay got given the opportunity to spend time in the midfield and took it with both hands, winning a game-high eight
Warragul’sJasperAlgertapsittohis advantageinside50. 416625
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clearances and disposing at a game-high 94 per cent in a typically polished performance. Alger, meanwhile kicked two goals as he showed his speed, leap and creativity inside 50.
Alger attends Caulfield Grammar and represents Oakleigh in the Coates Talent League in 2024 but was previously part of Gippsland Power’s system and is a Warragul local.
Bottom-aged players Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Dandenong) and Willem Duursma (Gippsland) were both part of the wing rotation and each finished with 13 disposals. Vic Country is in action again on Sunday at 10.35am against the Allies, with a win to set up a tantalising championships decider againstVic Metro the following week.
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