Licence breached
By Violet Li
Hallam Road landfill operator Veolia breached its licence and the general environmental duty, the Supreme Court found.
Winsome Anderson, who owned a 38-hectare property east of the landfill, accused the landfill operator Veolia of breaching its licence and the general environment duty and interfering with the potential use of her land.
The court accepted the two breaches but dismissed the claim of interference.
Ms Anderson is entitled to seek relief from the two breaches under the Environment Protection Act 2017, but she will not be compensated for the assessment of a vent curtain system along the boundary under the claim of interference.
The vent curtain system was to mitigate the migrating landfill gas (LFG).
The trial started on 15 November 2023 and
Justice Michael McDonald delivered the judgement on Thursday 18 July 2024.
Ms Anderson claimed that Veolia breached its operating licence and general environment duty (GED), as the tip’s landfill gas (LFG) had migrated to her property and exceeded safety benchmarks at the boundary.
Veolia rejected the claims.
The court ruled that Veolia breached its licence by failing to take all practicable measures
to prevent emissions of LFG from exceeding the prescribed levels by up to 80 times in the subsurface geology at the landfill boundary.
It was discovered that between 1 July 2022 and 30 October 2023, Veolia failed to take three practicable measures to prevent emissions of methane gas from exceeding the benchmark in the subsurface geology at the landfill boundary. Spill to page 8
Student Omid Hedayat with discus. (Stewart Chambers: 420361)
Creative Professional Development Program
Expressions of Interest for our Creative Professional Development Program are now open.
Partnering with Craft, the program will provide artists, crafters and makers, who have a connection to the City of Casey, with the tools, advice and guidance they need to develop resilient and successful careers in the art and design sector.
The program will run from August to November, with individual mentoring sessions as well as a group professional development workshop.
Expressions of Interest close on Monday 12 August.
To apply and for more information, please scan the QR code.
Free tickets to cheer on the Dees
Don’t miss your opportunity to cheer on the Melbourne Football Club as they take on Greater Western Sydney on Saturday 27 July at 7.30pm at the MCG. To celebrate the Casey Round, residents can access up to four free tickets.
Easy steps
to operate a safe home-based food business.
All food businesses that prepare, store and handle food for sale are required to register with Council. Follow the steps to ensure your business is safe and meeting all requirements.
To learn more, visit the ‘Before you start a food business’ page on our website.
Come along and show your support for the Dees.
Scan the QR code to get your tickets now!
Casual facility hire
Looking to hire a function space on a casual basis?
We offer a range of facility hire options from large halls to meeting rooms for your celebration, community group or organisation.
To see what facilities are open for casual hire in 2024 and to submit an application, please visit our website.
For more information, contact Council’s Community Facilities team on 9709 9288 or email facilitybookings@casey.vic.gov.au
Casey Conversations
Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.
• Heritage at Casey: take part in our heritage survey or express your interest in joining the Heritage Community Reference Group.
• The future of waste in Casey: we’re seeking your feedback on changes to your waste service.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Image courtesy of Craft Victoria. Photography by Henry Trumble.
Zoning for housing
By Violet Li
Casey Council has advocated the State Government for a mandatory inclusionary zoning mechanism to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, as the undersupply has been growing.
According to City of Casey manager growth and investment Kathryn Seirlis, inclusionary zoning is a form of planning tool that mandates or incentivises a minimum provision of social and affordable housing within new developments, either through the direct delivery of new housing or by making a financial contribution.
The voluntary model provides incentives including relaxing specified development controls and attracting special treatment in the planning process, according to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
“The City of Casey works closely with the private development sector to facilitate an ongoing supply of new housing in Casey. However, research indicates that there is an undersupply of affordable housing dwellings to meet the needs of low- and medium-income households and that this undersupply is unfortunately growing,” Ms Seirlis observed.
“Council continues to encourage developers to ensure a mix of housing types is provided, including one and two-bedroom apartments, townhouses, and larger family houses.
“Whilst planning schemes encourage a diversity of housing types, there are no mandatory requirements to do so, and the provision of housing is typically market-driven.”
She pointed out that inVictoria, mandatory inclusionary zoning was not currently in place.
“The only mechanism currently available to councils is voluntary negotiations with the private development sector, which has produced mixed and inconsistent results across the state,” she said.
Council’s submission to Plan for Victoria in June revealed that local agreements with developers for voluntary inclusionary zoning were being routinely overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and not resulting in the delivery of social and affordable dwellings at scale.
“These agreements are also complex, time and resource-intensive,” the submission stated.
“Without the existence of enforceable, nonvoluntary statutory mechanisms; pragmati-
cally local councils will not invest the time into negotiating agreements with developers as there is too high a risk that the effort will be wasted.”
Dr Marcus Spiller from SGS Economics and Planning is an advocate for mandatory inclusionary zoning in Victoria.
He said the current voluntary system was not only risk-laden, but it had produced only a trickle of social and affordable housing to date.
“In the voluntary system, developers don’t know what is expected of them by way of social and affordable housing contributions,” he said.
“This adds risk and uncertainty to their projects and therefore higher financing costs.
“It would be better to be clear upfront about affordable housing contributions expected of developers.
“Developers can factor these costs into their feasibilities in advance in the same way as they do other contributions for parkland, roads and community facilities.”
Casey’s Affordable Housing Strategy back in 2020 identified a shortfall of 5,655 affordable housing dwellings with the need for an additional 4,600 by 2041.
The State Government proposed a social and affordable housing levy of 1.75 per cent back in 2022, which served as a type of mandatory inclusionary zoning.
The proposal was quickly scrapped after the pushback from the developers who were concerned that the extra cost might be shifted to homebuyers.
“Contrary to the assertions made by the developer peak bodies, the cost of the social
and affordable housing contribution will not be passed forward in higher housing prices,”
Dr Spiller said.
“Developers are price takers, not price makers; they must work within the prices they can achieve in a competitive market.
“Given sufficient notice, developers will pass the cost of the contributions back to the sellers of development sites.
“This means that part of the lift in land value that goes with planning approvals comes back to the community by way of social benefit.”
Dr Spiller said that a mandatory social and affordable housing contribution should be based on splitting the cost of this infrastructure in three ways: one-third to the State Government, one-third to the Commonwealth Government and one-third to the development proponent.
“Sharing costs in this way is commonplace in urban infrastructure provision. Using this approach a mandatory contribution would be of the order of two per cent to three per cent of the finished price of floorspace produced by a developer,” he said.
Dr Spiller also said social and affordable housing shouldn’t be regarded as a welfare service.
“Rather, it is essential infrastructure for successful communities in the same way as parks and roads are,” he said
“Social and affordable housing not only protects people from severe housing stress, but it also enables more productive local economies by providing better access to local essential workers, and it makes for stronger, more inclusive neighbourhoods.”
Community Information & Support Cranbourne (CISC) executive director Leanne Petrides believed in the potential of mandatory inclusionary zoning to distribute social and affordable housing across the municipality.
“Even with public housing, history has told us that the best type of public housing scenario is it’s just random. It’s just throughout a whole suburb. It’s not one whole suburb,” she said.
“If you can scatter it throughout, then nobody should know which property is social housing, which property is affordable, which property is a private rental, which property is a mortgage.”
The State Government was contacted for comments.
Victim struck in ‘deliberate’ hit run
A man has been deliberately struck in a hit-run in Doveton on Sunday 21 July, police say.
A black Holden station wagon and a white Holden ute had been allegedly involved in illegal burnouts and street racing in the Tristana Street area about 11am.
The 42-year-old Doveton victim approached the drivers, asking them to curb their behaviour, Sergeant Paul Holtzinger of Achilles Taskforce police told ABC Radio.
The drivers got out of their vehicles and assaulted him in a home driveway, Sgt Holtzinger said.
According to police, the station wagon driver then deliberately drove at the man who was still on the driveway.
The victim was rolled onto the bonnet as he and the vehicle went through a neighbouring timber fence into another residence’s front yard.
He did not require medical treatment. An SES crew repaired the damaged fence, Sgt Holtzinger said.
The two males in the Holdens drove off toward Paperbark Street.
At this stage, they and the vehicles have not been located, police say.
Any information or dashcam/CCTV footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
Police charge four youths
Police have charged four teenage boys following a string of alleged armed robberies across a number of Melbourne suburbs on Monday 22 July.
Members of the Special Operations Group arrested two of the boys on the Princes Freeway in Officer at about 5.15pm on Monday 22 July, while police arrested the other two boys in Clayton on Monday 22 July.
Police have since charged the four boys in relation to a series of alleged offending across the East between Monday 15 July and Monday 22 July, which allegedly included a number of aggravated burglaries where motor vehicles were stolen and armed robberies at service stations targeting the theft of cigarettes.
Police have charged a 17-year-old Pakenham boy with 23 offences, including a number of counts of aggravated burglary, armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.
Police have charged a 16-year-old Pakenham boy with 17 offences, including aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, armed robbery and driving in a dangerous manner.
Police have charged a 14-year-old Doveton boy with eight offences, including theft of a motor vehicle and armed robbery.
Police have charged a 15-year-old Frankston boy with 10 offences, including aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and armed robbery.
All those charged will face a Children’s Court at a later date.
Investigations remain ongoing to identify a fifth offender believed to be involved.
To report any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Tributes flow for former Labor MP Jude Perera
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Former Cranbourne Labor MP Jude Perera has died at the age of 71.
His family announced with “deep sadness” on social media on 23 July that their “beloved father, grandfather and our whole family’s rock passed away” .
Perera was the first Sri Lankan-born and –educated MP elected to a lower house of parliament in Australia in 2002.
He served four terms, retiring in 2018 after a long battle with renal disease and two kidney transplants.
Several current state MPs such as Lee Tarlamis, Pauline Richards and Tim Richardson paid tribute to their former colleague.
Cranbourne’s current MP Pauline Richards posted: “Vale Jude Perera. Very sad news for the Cranbourne community. My condolences to the family of a great man.“
GrowingupinSriLanka,Pererawassteeped in left-wing politics in what was a turbulent environment.
His father Edmund, a coconut plantation manager, was a leader in the Marxist party Lanka Sama Samaja and hosted meetings with activists around his kitchen table.
After dabbling in politics and struggling to make ends meet, he left Sri Lanka with wife Iranganie and two small children for a “better life”.
He joined the ALP in reaction to the Kennett Government.
And in 1998, his political know-how helped him to build local support for ALP preselection in the seat of Cranbourne.
In his memoir released last year, he says many Sri Lankans were intially surprised at his preselection in what was then a heavily Anglo Saxon electorate.
“Many asked questions such as, ‘Did they easily give it to you?’,” Mr Perera writes.
“What they really meant was, ‘How come a dark-skinned Asian migrant has been selected by the white skin majority to stand for parliament?’”
Growing up in rural Sri Lanka, Mr Perera was steeped in left-wing politics in what was a turbulent environment.
His father Edmund, a coconut plantation manager, was a leader in the Marxist party Lanka Sama Samaja and hosted meetings with activists around his kitchen table.
After dabbling in politics and struggling to make ends meet, he left Sri Lanka with wife Iranganie and two small children for a “better life”.
In Australia, he joined the ALP in reaction to the Kennett Government.
His memoir Challenging Incomplete Democracy delved into great detail into his political philosphies.
It also described when then-Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews dumped him as opposition parliamentary secretary.
Perera had missed a division during Parliament resulting in the Opposition“losing a vote we should have won”.
“I was sick as a dog and was disappointed with how Daniel Andrews had treated me, a loyal supporter.
“This event coupled with my health issues led me to consider retirement.”
In 2020, Perera appeared as a witness in the IBAC Operation Sandon inquiry into alleged corrupt dealings between property developers, MPs and Casey councillors.
He admitted during the inquiry that his formal submission in favour of a land zoning in Cranbourne West was effectively written by developer John Woodman’s planning consultant.
Perera had earlier received financial support from the developer John Woodman for his election campaign, an IBAC report found.
“Mr Perera contended that this did not generate any sense of obligation… that assertion was contradicted by the lengths to which Mr Perera went to further MrWoodman’s requests and objectives,” IBAC reported.
Prior to the report’s findings, Perera told Star News that he agreed that Victoria should
follow NSW’s lead and ban political donations from developers.
“The issue is that people should not give donations for personal favours.”
Reflecting on his tenure as an MP, Mr Perera told Star News that he was most proud that he helped many with immmigration and visa issues.
He says he went beyond the call of duty. And in many cases his intervention helped
people migrate to Australia.
However, Mr Perera said last year that his health is “not the best”. After two failed kidney transplants, he was back on three dialysis treatments a week.
He was listed for a third transplant, but unlikely to receive it due to his age and the extra antibodies he’s acquired from previous transplants, he said at the time.
Calls to raise flood-prone road after wild weather
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey Council says its urging water authorities to take action on the continued flooding of an industrial estate on Centre Road and Rimfire Drive, Hallam.
On 16 July, businesses and drivers were again stranded by the latest inundation from the adjoining Hallam Valley flood plain.
The industrial estate on those two roads, as well as a section of Hallam South Road, were closed to traffic for several days as a result.
In a recurring theme for more than a decade, Centre Road - the estate’s only point of access - resembled a lake that could only be traversed by trucks and other large vehicles.
Last week, four stranded drivers were rescued by Narre Warren SES from waters up to 65 centimetres deep at the flood’s peak.
Unit controller Damian Burns said it was a timely demonstration why drivers shouldn’t venture into floodwaters.
“The vehicles were trying to go through flood water that was too deep for them. The vehicles were swamped and water was going in through the door seals.
“It can be deceptive. When you drive out of Rimfire Drive, it’s not too deep. You don’t realise how deep the water will get – and once you start, you get committed to drive on.”
Eclipse Security Systems owner Greg Flood, who is based in the Rimfire Drive estate, said he and his employees were working from home but it was difficult to get in deliveries.
“The ones I feel sorry for are the retail
businesses and car mechanics who effectively can’t trade. There’s no way in or out for customers.”
In the past 18 months, he estimates about 10 floods in the water-logged estate – with Centre Road lower in some sections than the adjoining wetlands.
Businesses have long called for either a levee or the raising of Centre Road to repel the frequent flooding.
They’ve also requested repairing Troup’s Creek bridge at Shrives Road as an alternative access in the event of flooding.
The bridge was long closed due to structural damage from heavy vehicles – though it was briefly reopened for a few hours for vehicle access on 16 July, Mr Flood said.
Casey Council city and asset planning manager Keri New said a detailed assessment of the bridge found that its reopening was “not feasible”.
This was due to the impact on traffic management, structural limitations and high costs.
Ms New said the council was exploring the feasibility of lifting Centre Road’s low points.
“Further engineering investigations and flood modelling are required to determine the suitability of lifting the road above flood levels without causing any upstream flooding.”
Casey had started local flood modelling. But this couldn’t be finalised without Melbourne Water completing its Hallam Valley
Flood Mapping work to confirm the “ultimate flood levels”.
“This will inform Council decision on whether lifting the road in advance of Melbourne Water undertaking flood plain improvement works or the duplication of Hallam Road will reduce the incidence of flooding affecting road access,” Ms New said.
The council was lobbying Melbourne Water to speed up its master plan to reduce the ultimate flood level on Centre Road – which was believed to be “a few years away”.
In the meantime, Casey called for Melbourne Water to “prioritise frequent maintenance” including desilting drains connecting urban catchments into the floodplain.
A marooned SUV is passed by a ute at the flooded Centre Road and Rimfire Drive estate. Hallam Valley wetlands are in the background. (Supplied)
Greg Flood and other affected business people at Centre Road, Hallam in late 2021. (Stewart Chambers: 259111)
The newly-elected Cranbourne MP Jude Perera on the steps of State Parliament in 2002. (Supplied)
‘Devoid of moral qualms’
by Emily Woods, AAP
Less than three weeks after leaving a cyclist to die in Hampton Park, Peter Koutsogiannakis caused another dangerous crash.
Driving a stolen Mazda on January 23, 2022, he tried to skip through a queue of cars lined up at a train boom-gate.
Police tried to get him to pull over, but he sped onto the wrong side of the road and took off.
Koutsogiannakis then entered a bus lane against a red light and hit a Toyota sedan as they were turning right before striking a pole.
He then ran from the scene.
The 30-year-old Endeavour Hills man’s “pattern of lawless behaviour“ was aired by Judge Frances Hogan in Melbourne’s County Court on Monday, as he was jailed for at least five years over an earlier deadly hit and run.
Koutsogiannakis drove through a red light and struck cyclist Makaro Manapori, 58, as he was riding to work in Hampton Park on January 6, 2022.
Mr Manapori was thrown 45 metres, with his bike found mangled and folded in half.
He was left “like roadkill“ to die by Koutsogiannakis, the judge said previously, after he drove off and set fire to the stolen car used in the crash.
“You have shown yourself to have a sense of entitlement devoid of any moral qualms when it comes to ... the safety of others on the road,“ Judge Hogan said.
“Your previous appalling driving record and failure to learn from repeated offending ...
made it only a matter of time before you would kill someone.“
Koutsogiannakis was convicted for crimes including theft and dangerous driving over the crash which happened weeks after he struck Mr Manapori.
Driving dangerously had “become a way of life“ for him, and his decade-long criminal record showed he had“scant regard“ for the road rules and safety of others, Judge Hogan said.
“You present as a 30-year-old who has lived a self-indulgent, lawless lifestyle, and have been a repeated menace to society.“
She jailed him for up to seven years and 10 months.
He must serve five years and three months before he will be eligible for parole, and has already spent more than one year behind bars.
Judge Hogan said he had a complete lack of remorse for the offending, which he continues to deny despite handing himself into police.
Koutsogiannakis’ lawyer had contacted police after photos of him running after setting a car on fire were released to media.
“I couldn’t live with myself,“ he told officers just before he was interviewed.
But he fought the charges at trial, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.
A jury in June found him guilty of dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene and failing to render assistance to the dying Mr Manapori.
Koutsogiannakis remained silent throughout the hearing and his supporters in court cried as his sentence was handed down.
Student absenteeism continues to soar
By Matthew Sims
The number of students taking days off school has continued to climb following the Covid pandemic, with school attendance data for the 2019 to 2023 period revealing absenteeism for Year 7 students across students in Casey increased by 33.82 percent.
Comparing the 2019 and 2023 years, there were a number of high jumps across a number of year levels.
In Casey, the most significant increase was found at the Year 10 level with a 45.5 per cent increase - from an average of 20.2 days to 29.4 days.
Other increases included in Year 8 (43.8 per cent), Year 11 (38.3 per cent) and Year 7 (34.3 per cent).
When compared with 10 years ago, the increases were more significant.
In Casey, the most significant increase in the average number of absent days occurred within Year 11 students, increasing by 87.6 per cent.
Other increases from 2013 to 2023 included a 68.7 per cent increase within the Year 12 cohort, 66.1 per cent for Year 10, 56.1 per cent forYear 8 and 46.3 for Grade 2.
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath said there was an “urgent need“ to address the increase in absenteeism.
“These Year 7 students lost up to 150 days of face-to-face learning during the pandemic which has significantly impacted their educational continuity,“ she said.
“Regional schools are facing a chronic teacher shortage; principals are under pressure and too many students are feeling heightened anxiety in the school setting.
“As a former secondary school teacher, I know that less time in the classroom will only reduce a student’s ability to learn the essential skills and knowledge needed to enter the workforce and pursue future educational and career pathways.“
We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions
As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re easing congestion by building better roads and undertaking maintenance works in Melbourne’s south east. We’re also removing dangerous and congested level crossings and building the Metro Tunnel.
Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions
Cranbourne and Pakenham lines 27 to 28 July
Road disruptions: Closed roads and lanes
Caulfield to Westall
McGregor Road, Pakenham Until 16 AugustPrinces Freeway-bound between Livingstone Boulevard and the Princes Freeway
Until 16 AugustAt the rail bridge
16 August to late September
Princes Freeway-bound between Webster Way and the Princes Freeway
Webster Way, Pakenham Until late SeptemberAt McGregor Road
Ballarto Road, Carrum Downs and Skye Until DecemberBoggy Creek to Flora Park Way between Lyrebird and Greenwood Drive Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham 7pm to 5am, 23 to 24 July
Pakenham-bound between Southeast Boulevard and the Princes Freeway Princes Freeway, Pakenham 6pm to 6am, 23 to 26 July
City-bound between Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road and McGregor Road 7pm to 5am, 23 to 26 July
Closed at the intersection
Gippsland-bound between the HealesvilleKoo Wee Rup Road freeway ramps Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road/ Sladen Street, Cranbourne East 7am 27 July to 5am 29 July
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath. (Supplied)
Lights, camera, action!
By Ethan Benedicto
Umbrella Support’s Hellow Media was officially underway with an exciting start on Thursday 18 July, after all 12 participants gathered in the Bridegwater Family and Community Centre for an afternoon of filming.
Donned with stage lights, backdrops a camera and a teleprompter, it was easy for nerves to hit everyone early on, but according to Cindy Warren, all it took was for that someone to take the first step, and everything else followed like clockwork.
“I am so proud of these guys, today has been amazing, every single one of them has stood in front of the camera and I honestly didn’t think that was going to happen,” Ms Warren said.
“For us [support workers], it’s about creating that space of feeling calm, feeling safe, and feeling like you’re part of a team”.
With some teamwork exercises to warm up before stepping in front of the camera, the group of 12 braved the shining lights and began their introductions for the first piece, with Ms Warren remarking that it didn’t take long for them to ease into it.
For her, it was to foster that realisation within the members to “get to know each other and to understand that this is a really safe space, but also a space to grow and a space to learn”.
“There’s excitement and buzz in the air, every single one of them is now lining up for a second time, they want to do it again.
“This opportunity is not readily available to a lot of people, so to create this space and to give them this chance is so exciting, and to see them shine and to walk out of here today with smiles is going to be amazing,” Ms Warren said.
Although there was a script to follow, every participant was more than keen to add their own twist to their parts, adding the flair of character that very well embodies the group, from big smiles to flashy poses. The next step for the team at Hellow Media is to put their people skills to the test, with the aim to contact local businesses, organisations and clubs for a possible feature in the group’s YouTube channel, but also to “find out what they do to help others in the community”.
“I’d really like to look at more not-for-profit organisations that give back and how we can help them spread their message and their outlets as well,” Ms Warren said. While the afternoonwasshort,itwasthestarttheteamneeded to throttle them into the coming release of their first episode which has yet to be announced.
LENSCAPE
Thumbs down
To the health system.
Thumbs up
To those who support small local business over Kmart.
Thumbs down
To rubbish along the roads - seems it’s hard to get a team out to clean up the rubbish along our roads. It’s a disgrace.
Thumbs down
To the roads.
Thumbs down
To the person regularly stealing my elderly mother’s newspaper.
Ben smiled big after finishing his introduction. (Ethan Benedicto: 420364)
Zoe struck a pose as the team finalised their shots. (Ethan Benedicto: 420364)
The Hellow Media team; back row from left to right: Jordan (Media Consultant), Thomas B, Thomas E, Lachlan, Ashleigh, Shan, Ryan, Claire, Krystle (Support Worker); front row from left to right: Cindy Warren (Company Director), Delia (Program Volunteer) Zoe, Gipsy, Bethany, Tyson, Ben, Jessy (Support Worker). (Ethan Benedicto: 420364)
Dinosaurs roam Casey Fields, Cranbourne East for Lyndhurst Secondary College Athletic’s Carnival. (Stewart Chambers: 420811)
Car dealer fined for ‘unique’ trees’ removal
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Barry
Bourke
Motors and its hired tree removalist have been fined for illegally felling five significant-listed trees in front of the Berwick car dealership.
Three of the spotted gum trees stood on City of Casey’s road reserve, two were nearby on BBM’s land at 755 Princes Highway.
All five were protected as part of the Casey’s significant tree register of about 1864 specimens.
On 18 July, tree remover Ralph Iosefo pleaded guilty at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court to his role in the fellings.
A prosecutor told the court that the trees’ aggregate costs were estimated at more than $550,000 due to their age and significance.
During routine inspections every three years, there had been no health concerns raised about the “unique” and “significant” gum trees, the court heard.
Casey Council says it was alerted by a community member to the trees’ destruction over two successive weekends in June.
Witnesses observed a“professional-looking operation“ with teams of six men cordoning off the service road and lopping the trees.
Iosefo, who has run Hurricane Tree Services for 10 years, later told Casey officers he was unaware of the trees’ protected status.
He had not checked whether permits were obtained for the removals, the prosecutor said.
Iosefo had said he was hired by BBM after a branch from a tree had fallen into the car yard.
On 15 February, BBM pleaded guilty to two charges related to the spotted gums’ removal.
The dealership was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay Casey’s costs of $7,443.50.
The trees were also reportedly regarded as a trip hazard due to their prominent roots, and a flooding hazard due to blocking street drains.
In dealing with Iosefo, magistrate Hugh Radford said he accepted that BBM was the “main culprit“ and had received a “significant” fine.
Casey City Council postal election
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But he told Ioefo that “it should have been clear to you that a permit would have been required, on the basis of the trees being on the verge of the footpath.”
Iosefo had no prior convictions.
He was fined $1200 without conviction and ordered to pay $1500 costs to Casey. Casey’s significant tree register includes more than 1000 River Red Gums, exotic and native species, and trees along Casey’s Seven Avenues of Honour. The list is currently under review to ensure it’s up to date. A spokesperson for Barry Bourke Motors said: “The fine as ordered by the court was paid.”
A general election for Casey City Council will be held in October 2024. To be able to vote in the election, you must be enrolled by the close of roll
Wednesday 7 August 2024. Two categories of voters can be enrolled to vote in the Casey City Council election: State-enrolled voters and Council-enrolled voters. State-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
You are automatically enrolled for this election if:
• you will be 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
• you live in the City of Casey and you are on the State electoral roll for your current address.
You need to enrol if:
• you are an Australian citizen aged 18 or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 you live in the City of Casey and you are not on the state electoral roll, or you have lived at your current residential address within the City of Casey for at least a month and have not yet updated your enrolment details, including any changes to your postal address.
How do I enrol?
You can enrol online at vec.vic.gov.au
You can also download an enrolment form from the website. All enrolment applications must be received by the Victorian Electoral Commission by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024.
How can I check my State enrolment?
You can check your enrolment details online at vec.vic.gov.au at any time, or call 131 832.
Council-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
You will be already enrolled as a council-enrolled voter if you:
• were automatically enrolled at Casey City Council’s last general election in October 2016 because you owned property but did not live in the council area
• your circumstances haven’t changed.
If this doesn’t apply to you, you may still be entitled to apply to enrol with your council.
New rules mean you are no longer automatically enrolled if you are a non-resident property owner (e.g. a landlord or a business owner that pays rates) and purchased your property, or moved out of the municipality, after 26 August 2016.
Who else can enrol & vote?
To be a council-enrolled voter, you must be: 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
• not a state-enrolled voter within the City of Casey.
You may apply to enrol if:
you have purchased a rateable property in the City of Casey since the last election but you are not a resident of the City of Casey, or
• you are not an Australian citizen and you live in, and pay rates for, a property within the City of Casey, or
• you pay rates on a property you occupy in the City of Casey and have no other voting entitlement within the City of Casey, for example you are a shop tenant and pay rates to the Council for the tenancy, and you have no other voting entitlement within the City of Casey, or
you are a director or company secretary of a corporation within the City of Casey that pays rates to Casey City Council and you have no other voting entitlement within the City of Casey.
How do I apply to be a Council-enrolled voter?
If you meet any of the criteria and wish to enrol, contact Casey City Council on 9705 5200 for a council enrolment form. Council enrolment forms must be received by the Council by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024
How can I check if I am Council-enrolled?
You can check your enrolment details by contacting the council on 9705 5200.
Thinking about standing for election?
To nominate as a candidate for Casey City Council, you must:
• be an Australian citizen and enrolled on the voters roll for Casey City Council and be eligible to become a councillor and have completed the mandatory candidate training provided by Local Government Victoria before lodging your nomination with the Election Manager.
For further information, visit vec.vic.gov.au
Enrolment closes 4 pm Wednesday 7 August 2024
State-enrolled voters can register for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders at vec.vic.gov.au
The spotted gums in front of Barry Bourke Motors’ Berwick dealership prior to their destruction. (Google)
NEWS Lyndhurst athletics fun day
By Violet Li
Lyndhurst Secondary College had a fun Athletics’ Carnival at Casey Fields on Monday 22 July.
One of the biggest events of the school calendar year, the carnival covered multiple track and field events.
A fundraising barbecue for the State Schools’ Relief, an organisation that supports students with uniforms and other essentials, added to the atmosphere of the day.
The most eye-catching element on the ground had to be theYear 12 students’ creative dress-up.
“Year 12 students were permitted to dress up. This is their final year, so they had a bit of fun and we’ve got a great video of them running that race together all dressed up,” the school’s marketing and communication coordinator Sinead Fay said.
“We had a cow. We had a horse. We had a few different ones. The horse won in the end.
“It was a really great day.”
The school principal Eloise Haynes, and sports teachers Ryan Outhred and Schenelle Bronkhorst helped organise the day.
Court orders for Veolia licence breach in August
From page 1
The three practicable measures included placing a final cap on cell 12, ensuring the optimal efficiency of its LFG extraction system, and preparing and implementing a remediation action plan.
The court revealed that cell 12 was full in May 2020 and cell 13 in February 2023, and Veolia’s licence mandates that the operator must cap the cells within two years of complete fill.
Experts evidenced that there was no current impediment to Veolia placing permanent caps on both cells.
As the design faults in the leachate drainage measures of cells 12 and 13 provided a pathway for LFG to escape, the final capping would be “very likely” to stop LFG’s
continuous escape.
Veolia did not explain its failure to put a final cap on cell 12.
However, experts evidenced that it was common to wait as long as possible to gain commercial interest for the landfill operator to place more waste inside the cell.
Veolia was found to accordingly breach the general environmental duty.
Ms Anderson also claimed that the pollution from the tip hindered the potential horticultural development of her land, as it necessitated the design of an “in-ground pathway intervention structure at the boundary of the landfill to address the changing risks of LFG” in the information requirements of the planning permit application.
An email from Ms Anderson’s planning
consultant to Casey’s statutory planner revealed that Ms Anderson was “not prepared to invest what would be a considerable amount of money in an attempt to satisfy these comments without first having the security of a planning permit”.
The absence of the design later led to the rejection of the permit.
Ms Anderson initially sought a $14 million “in-ground pathway intervention system in the form of a landfill gas vent curtain system”.
Later in March this year, she revised the order to seek an assessment of the feasibility of constructing a vent curtain system along the 600-metre boundary.
The court dismissed the possibility of the order as Justice McDonald did not consider it “reasonably necessary to prevent, minimise
or remedy Veolia’s breach of the GED or noncompliance with the licence”.
He also stated that Ms Anderson had not established that “but for the presence of LFG on their land, the City of Casey would have granted their planning permit application for a horticultural development”.
The court is considering orders for Veolia to prepare a landfill gas remediation action plan that identifies all practicable measures to reduce emissions of LFG at the boundary, implement the action plan, and provide the final cap design for cells 12 and 13 at the landfill and progress construction of the caps.
It will make the final orders on 26 August.
Students Kyara Knight (left) and Crystal Pearce (right). (Stewart Chambers: 420361)
Student Crystal Pearce.
Year 12 students dressing up as dinosaurs for fun.
Student Sohil Bhikharee with ribbons.
Dean Opalic, Logan Smith, and Duntae Seufatu.
Student Isabella Borg (left) and the school’s marketing and communication coordinator Sinead Fay (right).
The school band: Georgia Argaet, vocal teacher Loania Ausage, Belle Chubb, Ruby Davis, TJ Tipene, Chrysana Poko, Izzy Rechsteiner, Holly Vertigan, music teacher Alyce Yeoman, Allie Whittaker, Holly Williams, and Cooper Payne.
Dandenong Pavilion dining
Dandenong Pavilion (DPav) is delighted and extremely proud to have won the MMM Best Parma in Melbourne. Our team of highly motivated and experienced chefs work tirelessly to create and deliver some of the finest food available in Melbourne and winning the Best Parma in Melbourne is testimony to this. Matt, our head chef and Joel, our venue manager, have truly enjoyed working with the MMM team, and we thank MMM for this wonderful opportunity.
We use only the freshest ingredients, and for our parma we only use free-range chicken, quality cheese and Napoli. We have developed a process whereby the breast remains moist while being thoroughly oven baked and the Napoli is home-made and tasty.
Dpav has been established for 18 years and provides the ultimate dining experience to our many satisfied guests, over 4,500 of whom have reviewed our establishment with a social media average rating of over 90%.
The venue offers:
· A modern, stylish and comfortable environment.
· Plenty of on-site parking.
· A large menu catering for all dietary requirements (including children).
· Disabled facilities.
· An elegant bar area and an amazing, heated al fresco area set in gardens.
Our function spaces cater for up to 50 guests seated and around 80 in a cocktail format. Over the years, we have hosted weddings, birthday parties, engagements, wakes, baby showers, and numerous corporate events. Dpav is open every day from 11.30am to 10.30pm (kitchen closes 9.30pm). We look forward to entertaining you in our venue, and guarantee that you will enjoy your experience or we will make amends.
A few additional features: DPav is an award-winning restaurant (please
check our website for details). In addition to the best Parma in Melbourne, we also have award-winning burgers, a range of homemade scrumptious (and original) desserts, and a suite of enviable entrees a menu of Specials that changes each month. Dpav prides itself on offering the best value-for-money across the entire menu, with only top-quality produce, generous portions at affordable prices and friendly helpful service.
Coffee DPav also serves fantastic coffee, with our
baristas formally trained, and for all you coffee lovers, we are open all day, so if your local closes in the afternoon, we offer you free parking on-site, a comfortable environment (inside and out), and great coffee.
Pav’s Pantry
We have recently launched our own range of in-house, take-home condiments following lots of customer requests, all available to sample while dining and to buy on your way home. The range is called Pavs Pantry and comprises a range of sauces, spices and other condi-
DANDENONG PAVILION
ments we have used in our dishes for many years, with products available on-line at www. pavspantry.com.au or at the restaurant.
The Pav’s Pantry range comprises Habanero Hot Sauce (mild, medium & hot), Smokey BBQ (Plain and with Cayenne Pepper), Buffalo Sauce, Cajun Seasoning Spice, Chicken Salt, and from September 2024, the range will expand to include Tomato Relish (Smooth & Chunky), our unique Paprika Chips Salt, Garlic Salt and Fried Chicken Seasoning.
WINNER TRIPLE M BEST PARMA IN MELBOURNE
PAVILION
WON
Dandenong Pavilion has been established for nearly 18 years and we have won 12 awards. We are open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week from 11.30am to 9.30pm. Come for the food, stay for the experience. Plenty on-site parking, function spaces, stylish bar, heated al fresco area set in gardens, large menu catering for all dietary requirements.
Dandenong Pavilion – Come for the food, stay for the experience.
FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES
Sustaining physical education up to VCE
Physical education (PE) is essential in early education, focusing on physical fitness, motor skills, and healthy habits. Its benefits extend well beyond early years, becoming even more crucial as students progress to the upper years of schooling. Here, we explore the advantages of continuing PE during the upper years, emphasizing its role in promoting physical, mental, social, and academic well-being.
Physical Health and Fitness
Physical activity is vital for overall health at any age. Regular PE helps students maintain or enhance their fitness levels. Adolescence is a critical period for growth, and PE offers opportunities to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. Prioritisng physical activity helps reduce the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues later in life.
Lifelong Habits
Fostering healthy habits early paves the way for lifelong well-being. Maintaining PE in upper years helps students develop a foundation for a physically active lifestyle, likely to continue into adulthood. This reduces the risk of sedentary behaviors that contribute to health complications. PE encourages students to enjoy exercise, making fitness a part of their daily routines.
Mental Health and Stress Management
Physical activity significantly impacts men-
tal health. Regular exercise during upper years can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Adolescents face academic pressures, social challenges, and hormonal changes, making PE a crucial outlet for stress relief. Exercise stimulates endorphin release, promoting a positive mood and enhancing cognitive function, ultimately improving academic performance.
Improved Academic Performance
Contrary to the misconception that PE detracts from academic pursuits, research suggests a positive correlation between physical activity and academic performance. Regular exercise enhances cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. PE helps students experience improved focus and concentration, leading to more effective learning in other subjects.
MARNEBEK SCHOOL
Learning at Marnebek
Marnebek is a dual campus school based in Cranbourne East. Across both campuses, we offer an environment that supports students’ academic, social and personal needs, with Primary, Secondary and Secondary Pathways.
Social Interaction and Teamwork
PE provides a unique environment for social interaction and teamwork. Students refine their interpersonal skills, develop leadership qualities, and learn to work collaboratively with peers. Team sports and group activities foster camaraderie and mutual support, enhancing students’ ability to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts.
Body Image and Self-Esteem
Adolescence is a time when body image and self-esteem can be particularly vulnerable. PE programs that emphasize positive body image and self-acceptance contribute to a healthier self-concept. Engaging in physical activities that challenge and nurture their bodies can boost students’ self-confidence and help them develop a realistic view of their physical capabilities.
Motor Skills and Coordination
Upper years provide opportunities for students to further refine their motor skills and coordination through various physical activities. These skills contribute to overall physical fitness and impact daily tasks and recreational activities. Developing strong motor skills and coordination enhances students’ ability to engage in a range of physical activities with confidence.
Preventive Health Benefits
Engaging in PE significantly impacts pre-
ventive health measures later in life. Adolescents who cultivate healthy habits are more likely to continue regular exercise as adults, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
Time Management and Balance
Sustaining PE programs teaches students valuable time management skills. Balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and physical exercise fosters discipline and organization. These skills are transferable to adulthood, where juggling various responsibilities is a constant challenge.
Setting a Positive Example
Educational institutions play a pivotal role in shaping students’ attitudes and behaviours. By prioritising PE, schools set a positive example, signalling that physical well-being is integral to holistic education.This encourages students to value their health and make informed lifestyle choices.
Sustaining PE in upper years is a multifaceted investment yielding lifelong benefits. Beyond immediate advantages, PE promotes mental health, academic performance, and social skills. The habits formed during these crucial years lay the foundation for a healthier, more active adulthood. By recognising the farreaching impacts of PE, educational institutions can empower students to lead balanced, active lives that contribute positively to their overall well-being.
We offer a range of support and allied health services, ensuring every student has access to the support they need to excel in their learning and development.
Allied Health at Marnebek
• Speech Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychologist
• Music Therapy
• Mental Health Practitioner
• Registered Nurse
Support At Marnebek
• NDIS Navigator Service to support parents and carers
• External NDIS Funded Therapy Services
• NDIS School leaver employment supports
• Work Experience
• Career Expos
Head to our website, or book a school tour for more information.
Physical activity remains essential for overall health, regardless of age.
FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES
Explore Lyndale Secondary
Lyndale Secondary College in Dandenong North is a distinguished and forward-thinking secondary college with a proud history since its founding in 1961. Over the years, the college has remained steadfast in providing high-quality education to a diverse student body. Our commitment extends to cultivating a vibrant community that actively champions inclusion and celebrates diversity, fostering collaboration between educators and learners to instil essential 21st-century skills.
Our school takes pride in its forwardthinking approach, boasting state-of-the-art facilities, including the only Victorian Government School Augmented Reality Immersive Technology Laboratory. This innovative space is where inspiration meets cutting-edge technology, shaping the promising futures of our students.
At Lyndale Secondary College, our mission is to inspire and equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge essential for thriving in an ever-changing world. We’ve adapted our classrooms to cater to digital learners, featuring an Augmented Immersive Technology Classroom seamlessly integrating advanced technology into traditional learning environments. Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and Senior Certificate, this immersive experience transforms abstract ideas into tangible learning, nurturing a profound understanding and passion for knowledge.
Investing in both learning and well-being, we empower students with the tools to navigate current challenges and cultivate the innovation and leadership needed for tomorrow. Our Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program offers high-achieving students a rigorous curriculum, individualised support, and
their potential, gaining a valuable education for future success. We extend a warm invitation for you to ex-
plore Lyndale Secondary College by contacting us at 9795 2366 to book a tour. Join us in shaping a future of excellence for your child.
Join Lyndale Secondary College in shaping a future of excellence for your child.
NEWS Precinct in the works
By Violet Li
Clyde is one step closer to a new sports precinct as the Casey Council acquired a part of the designated land.
The proposed Clyde Park Sports Precinct, which is 6 kilometres away from Casey Field, will provide facilities for several underserviced sports in Casey, such as baseball, softball, rugby league, rugby union, and hockey, according to the Council Meeting agenda back in June 2019.
The agenda proposed the compulsory acquisition of three private properties outside the Urban Growth Boundary on the southeast corner of the intersection of Ballarto Road and Muddy Gates Lane in Clyde. They are the 1910 Ballarto Road, the 1980 Ballarto Road, and part of the 225 Muddy Gates Lane.
City of Casey Manager Growth and Investment Kathryn Seirlis confirmed that the Coun-
cil compulsorily acquired a part of 225 Muddy Gates Lane pursuant to the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 in January 2022 for the future construction of the Clyde Park Sports Precinct.
The conditions of the other two lands are unable to be shared by the Council at the moment due to legal privilege.
The proposed sports precinct will also integrate with the proposed future adjacent Clyde Regional Park.
When asked about the timeline of the proposed sports precinct, City of Casey Manager City and Asset Planning Keri New said the development of sport and recreation infrastructure in the Clyde Park Sports Precinct was a long-term project that might not be delivered for many years.
“Work hasn’t commenced on the preparation of a masterplan for public consultation,” she said.
just
but also their
Being active key to de-stress and mental health
By Ethan Benedicto
A recent survey, called the Largest Sporting Survey by rebel Sports revealed that 67 per cent of Australians use sports and exercise to relieve stress and support their mental health.
For participants of the Berwick Springs Parkrun, this sentiment rings true, with Amanda Cunningham saying that being active and taking on running as an everyday activity changed her life.
Amanda first began running in December of 2015, but was instead greeted with a series of unfortunate events; from her husband Dave’s heart attack and surgery, and the passing of close family members in the years to follow.
For Amanda, running and exercise has given her an “outlet”.
“I don’t think I could have gotten through what I’ve been through since 2015 if it hadn’t been for exercise.
“I’d probably be sitting in a corner somewhere, having been through the crap with [Dave’s] health, losing my sister, losing my parents, and other things going on in the family.
“It’s helped keep me focused and sort of not fall in a wallowing heap, so to speak,” she said.
However, it wasn’t necessarily just being
active that helped Amanda, with her also adding that connections made with the running community can be long-lasting, with the friendships playing a key role in her destressing.
Vice chancellor of research and executive dean of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation University’s Berwick Campus, professor Remco Polman said that in short, moving around is key to staying physically and mentally healthy.
According to Professor Polman, being physically active results in positive emotions, “it releases endorphins, which makes you feel better”.
“Exercise and sport are good for you, but doing it in a club context is even better, so having these social aspects, this connection with other people is above and beyond just doing exercise.
“I think it’s even more important postCOVID because people probably lost quite a lot of connections, and sport, again, is a way to reconnect with people rather than online,” he said.
Both Zavanya (Sav) and Donna are also on the same page, agreeing that communities such as Park Run foster not only the essence of being active but the enjoyment of engaging in these activities through the connections made.
To Sav who has been part of Parkrun for
over 10 years, it’s as simple as getting outside with people”.
“I suffer from anxiety and have found relief in walking or running, [and] when I was running all the time I got so much joy in what I was achieving.
“The other thing is, the people we’re meeting on a Saturday morning to go do a park run or for a walk during the week, you’re talking about lots of different things; you’re not caught up sitting in your house,” Sav said.
Donna, who was reluctant to participate at first said that once she did, she was immediately reeled in by the community spirit.
“I kept turning up by myself every week, my first friend was a man in his 60s.
“You form friendships with people that are very tight, so there were a lot of things that came out of just that one moment of going,” she said.
Speaking on physiological changes benefitting psychological factors in the human body, increasing fitness leads to improved blood flow to the brain, which also correlates to an enhancement to the brain’s executive functions, according to Professor Polman.
“There are these changes happening, and they help in making better and quicker decisions because of the diffusion of nutrients and oxygen in the brain is decreased due to better blood flow,” he said.
Exercise is also directly related to P300 brainwaves – P3 for short – which measures the brain’s event-related potential and are typically associated with cognitive functions such as decision-making and attention.
The professor added that exercise has been shown to increase the amplitude of P3 waves; reinforced by research from a journal article on the effects of acute moderate exercise by Dr Naresh Jumar et al. with latency in P3 waves being significantly reduced after exercise.
“If you keep exercising, you actually can see that these things maintain over time, the brain as a whole responds in a better way when people exercise compared to when they don’t.
“The key here is that you have to exercise on a regular basis to reap the benefits, so if you really want to improve your fitness levels, you have to do it in a systematic and regular way,” Professor Polman said.
To Dave, Amanda’s husband, being physically active has saved his life once after suffering a heart attack, and the couple aims to maintain their lifestyle, step by step.
For Sav, sometimes all one needs to do is “put your pants on each day”.
“If you put your pants on, you can get out the door, and if you can get out the door you can get walking or running.”
Sav (left) and Donna (right) are long-standing members of the Berwick Springs Parkrun, and have listed benefits of being active not
in their fitness,
mental health. (Ethan Benedicto: 421292)
Amanda Cunningham has been part of Parlrun since 2015, and has said that running and being active have served as her outlet to destress and keep herself at ease.
The proposed Clyde Sports Precinct (yellow) is next to the proposed future Clyde Regional Park (green) and the future Melbourne Water retarding basin. (Casey Council)
Seat-swap hoon fined $4K
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Berwick hoon has been sentenced over seatswapping with a passenger while driving on Monash Freeway and other dangerous acts.
Subhanu Mittal, 20, had pleaded guilty to 15 charges including reckless conduct endangering life, driving with a suspended licence, dangerously losing traction and being a Pplater driving a prohibited vehicle.
Police had detailed Mittal’s 360-degree burnouts, fishtailing, 200-km/h drag racing on Monash Freeway as well as seat-swapping at high speeds on the freeway, in Domain Tunnel and on Princes Highway, Hallam over four months in 2023.
During the seat swaps, the high-powered BMW was left on cruise control and lane-assist while without a driver for up to 17 seconds. One of them was performed on the Monash on
a Saturday afternoon.
With his licence suspended at the time, Mittal posted his Domain Tunnel seat-swapping video on social media with the label: “No licence, no worries”.
During the stunt in Hallam, Mittal swapped seats with a 17-year-old learner driver moving out from behind the wheel.
On a video of the incident, the L-plater exclaimed “that was crazy as s***” and that he wouldn’t do it again.
Mittal responded that it was “safe as”. There was no one in the driver’s seat for nine seconds, the court heard.
In a sentence indication last month, Dandenong magistrate Julian Ayres rejected a prosecution submission for jail time, as well as a defence submission for a non-conviction.
He noted there was a need to protect the
community from “potentially disastrous consequences”.
Leaving the driver’s seat was “almost at the highest end of reckless conduct”.
“It was a miracle there was no crash or collision. It’s extraordinary – thankfully – almost inconceivable that it didn’t happen.”
On the other hand, Mittal was “very young” at the time and “obviously very impressionable” with a limited history of driving offences and no drug or alcohol issues.
“(I’m) not sending him to jail but it has to be a conviction. It’s too serious globally,” Mr Ayres said at the time.
In sentencing on 17 July, Mr Ayres said he doubled the 12-month minimum licence loss due to the multiple dangerous acts.
Mittal was convicted, fined $4000, disqualified from driving for two years and put on a two-year community corrections order.
Charity lunches cooked with heart
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
It’s no small task regularly cooking a warm, hearty lunch for a hall of up to 140 people.
The first Monday of each month, a committed band of nine volunteers put on a delicious two-course spread at St James’ Anglican Church for people who are homeless and in need.
On the menu last month was a mains of roast chicken, roast potatoes, gravy and ratatouille vegetables, or a vegetarian chickpea curry and rice.
This was followed by a dessert of apple crumble and ice cream.
The lunch has been a 20-year tradition, cooked by members of the church and Dandenong-Endeavour Hills Rotary Club and sponsored by The Andrews Centre in Endeavour Hills.
Chris Keys, a volunteer for the past two years, said the aim was to provide a nutritious, home-cooked lunch.
Initially, Keys started volunteering every now and again. But seeing the devotion of others in the group, like Rob Daniels, inspired her to do more.
“The people who come in do appreciate our lunches and say so – which is delightful.
“I’m delighted to see a person who is homeless and either has mental illness, or drug or alcohol addiction, get a good meal, be welcomed and treated as a guest.
“That’s my satisfaction.”
Keys has noticed a lot of new diners lately, older people who aren’t homeless but struggling with the rising cost of food.
Around the city, she’s also spotting more signs of homelessness – such as those sleeping in cars or lugging belongings in shopping trolleys.
With growing demand for food but unfortunately less volunteers, the once-weekly lunches have been cut down to monthly events.
“I’d love to be providing a meal every week but it can’t physically be done,“ Keys says.
“If we had 40 or more volunteers we could do it every week.“
Sourcing, peeling, cutting and cooking the kilos of vegetables alone takes Keys the best part of the weekend before.
Roast beef takes several days. Twenty-five
kilos are ordered and picked up, marinated for 24 hours then cooked over the next day.
“It’s for people who are ready to devote not just a day but three days a week to it.”
The free lunches are on the first Monday of the month from 12pm at St James’ Anglican Church, 53 Langhorne Street, Dandenong. To volunteer, contact the church on 9793 0219.
The CCO includes supervision, mental health treatment and a likely road-trauma awareness course.
Victoria Police also applied to confiscate the high-powered BMW used for much of the offending.
The car was owned by the company of Mittal’s father. The father told the court he was seeking legal advice on whether to oppose the forfeiture.
The issue was set for a hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 21 October.
Mittal’s co-accused twin brother Sushant meanwhile is contesting up to 110 similar charges at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in July.
The twin had rejected a sentence indication in March that included a jail term if he pleaded guilty.
Tractor stolen
Police are investigating following the theft of a tractor from a vegetable farm inWest Pearcedale on Saturday 22 June.
Unknown offenders attended the market garden of the property on South Boundary Road at about 12.30am on Saturday 22 June.
The offenders then stole the large green 2000 Model John Deere 5075E tractor with registration XW57BA. Investigators have released an image of the $60,000 tractor and CCTV captured from a neighbouring property showing the stolen piece of machinery being driven north on South Boundary Road towards Baxter-Tooradin Road.
Police are appealing for public assistance to help get this tractor back where it belongs.
Detectives are particularly interested in anyone who may have sighted the tractor or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from the time and area of the theft. Anyone with information that could assist is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.
The willing band of volunteers who provide the free two-course lunch each month. (Stewart Chambers: 416004)
Christine Keys and Rob Daniels in the St James’ kitchen, preparing lunch for more than 100. (Stewart Chambers: 416004)
Warm, nutritious meals are produced. (Stewart Chambers: 416004)
The stolen large green 2000 Model John Deere 5075E tractor with registration XW57BA. (Supplied)
Campaign builds for pool funding
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A pro-Doveton Pool sticker campaign has been launched to press for funding the complete $14.7 million upgrade of the site.
Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association chair Stefan Koomen was pleased that Casey Council’s early works were going ahead as planned.
The council has allocated $4.26 million to the works in 2024-’25.
However, without federal and state funding, the revamp has been scaled down from a $21 million revamp to $14.7 million.
The project is staggered across three stages, with the council funding the $7.91 million stage 1 rebuild of the outdoor 50-metre pool.
Future stages will be subject to funding from state and federal governments as well as community feedback, according to a council report in March.
“Our campaign is still continuing for funding and delivering the next stage of the upgrades so that the pool remains a great destination for families,” Koomen said.
“We are giving away free stickers so people can get behind the campaign.”
Casey Council confirmed at a public question time on 16 July that preliminary works had started onsite, with pool replacement works to start after the 2024-’25 season.
“We do not anticipate any major disruptions to the pool operation and opening times this summer,” Casey city design and construction manager Mick Barrett stated.
Meanwhile, the relocatable building at Doveton Pool at the Park is set to be relocated to Webb Street, Narre Warren.
It had previously provided a temporary kindergarten and been leased as office space. Doveton College were seeking to lease it for adult education, according to Koomen.
“With the adoption of the (pool) master plan and the intention to provide public open space for the community it is time for this building to be relocated and the land vacated for public use,” Barrett stated.
The building will provide a home for Casey North Information and Support Service, which assists vulnerable clients and families, he stated.
After a fierce community campaign in 2021, Casey Council reversed its plans to replace all of the pools with parkland.
However DETA has criticised Casey’s plans to remove the childrens shallow pool and slides.
According to an earlier council report, the rebuilt pool may include environmentally sustainable design features, such as energy capture and recovery, more efficient electric services, and water use and capture systems.
Stage 2 could include a beach sand pit, plaza, canopy tree planting, upgraded splash pad, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, barbecue and toilets.
Stage 3 will upgrade the pool building.
The stickers are available via savedovetonpool.com or 0403 033 243.
Locals slam public question time change
By Violet Li
Casey ratepayers are concerned about the loss of transparency after a new rule has been recently passed that requires the compulsory presence at the 4pm Council meetings for public question submitters.
The new rule that was endorsed at June’s council meeting led to only two out of 14 questions being read and answered at July’s meeting last week.
Casey resident Michelle Crowther submitted a follow-up question on the Maternal & Child Health Service and she received a fourhour notice on the compulsory attendance.
“If I didn’t attend in person, they weren’t going to answer the question publicly,” she said.
“I feel the change in requirements for the public to attend council meetings impacts people who are working or have family commitments.
“I was lucky that I could juggle my work and family commitments, but this might not be possible for everyone.
“Only two of the 14 public questions were answered publicly at this week’s meeting. This reduces transparency and reduces Casey residents’ ability to influence local issues.”
Casey Council proposed the new item in its Governance Rules at the April meeting this year.
“Any person who submits a public question will need to be in the gallery at the time the question and response is due to be read, except if it is determined to hold a Council Meeting in a virtual setting,” it states.
“If the person is not in the gallery, the Chair will not read the question and response, however, will note that the question will be recorded in the minutes of the Council Meeting, together with a copy of the written response.”
Two submissions were recorded in June’s meeting after the four-week public exhibition.
One of the submitters found the new rule confusing.
They suggested the rule be amended to avoid confusion and ambiguity to say that the Chair would read the question and response,
however, would note that the question would be recorded in the minutes of the Council Meeting, together with a copy of the written response, if the submitter was not in the gallery.
Council officers then made an amendment based on the comment.
“Officers have made a minor amendment to Rule 65.11 reflecting that a person must be in the gallery, rather than stating needs to be, for clarity,” the June council meeting agenda noted.
Another local Anthony Tassone, who submitted two questions, did not receive any notice before the meeting. His questions were not read and answered at the meeting.
“People’s lives don’t revolve around the schedule of council meetings being on the thirdTuesday of the month at 4pm.They have everyday issues that are important to them,” he said.
“It’s a great initiative to have the ability to submit questions online to the council for consideration but having a requirement that they be present for the meeting itself is an unnecessary barrier.
“It will have a consequence of potentially fewer questions being considered by ratepayers, then that’s not what we want.”
Narre Warren’s Stephen Matulec submitted a petition with about 250 signatures to
Top VCE award for graduate
Casey Grammar graduate Zain Wasif received a prestigious Premier’s VCE Award after scoring top marks for Industry and Enterprise.
Casey last year to request a change of Council’s meeting times from 4pm.
The petition did not take effect.
He was told that residents could watch the meetings online at 4pm.
“People who watch the livestream or recordings of the meeting also cannot have their questions answered, as they need to be in the gallery. This also contradicts what the administrators said when reviewing the meeting times when we discussed last time,” he said.
“One of the reasons given for not having a later start time was that people could watch remotely or watch the replay, but now people who watch remotely or watch the replay cannot even ask a question.
“How can they encourage people to watch remotely if they are now making in-person attendance mandatory for questions?”
When contacted, City of Casey head of corporate governance Michelle Tipton said many councils included a provision within their Governance Rules for the submitter to be present in the gallery at the time the question was read.
“Casey’s Governance Rules state if a person is present in the gallery, the question and response would be read, which is then reflected in the Minutes of that Council Meeting,” she said.
“Where a person is not present, the question is not read, however, both the question and response are included in the Minutes of that Council Meeting. Council will also introduce a practice of providing the link of the Minutes to the public question time submitter.
“Casey’s Governance Rules were endorsed by the Council at its meeting in June 2024. The Governance Rules were subject to community consultation, with details of the changes and the proposed Governance Rules advertised on Casey Conversations for a period of four weeks.
“Those who submitted the public questions for the Council Meeting on Tuesday 16 July, were informed in writing that they would need to be present. They were also informed that if they could not attend, they could nominate a proxy to attend on their behalf.”
Zain, the 18-year-old from Officer, was recognised for his hard work and outstanding achievement in the 2023 VCE at a special presentation ceremony at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 17 July.
The Premier’s VCE Awards recognise the exceptional accomplishments of individual students and pay tribute to the schools, teachers and families who play a valuable role in supporting students during their VCE studies.
Zain attended Casey Grammar School for six years and Industry and Enterprise was one of his favourite VCE subjects.
It prepares students for the world of work and incorporates topics such as the workplace culture of different organisations, occupational health and safety, the impacts of changing societal values on workplaces and the impact of technology.
“The subject builds enterprising skills and work experience through a range of practical and written tasks. We looked at our own personal work experiences so far to understand how various industries operate and we studied a range of Australian and international industries,” Zain said.
Zain, who is now studying physiotherapy at university, has some advice for the current batch of VCE students preparing for exams later this year.
“Understand how VCE grades are marked, break down the questions and be straightforward and concise in your answers,” he said.
“Don’t stress too much, take breaks and enjoy activities outside of study, too.”
“Casey Grammar is thrilled to see Zain receive a Premier’s VCE Award. It is very well-deserved and recognises Zain’s commitment to his studies,” Casey Grammar principal Fiona Williams said.
“Zain was an exceptional student who always did his very best inside and outside the classroom. He brought energy and plenty of ideas to school and Casey Grammar wishes him the very best for his future.”
Stefan Koomen with daughter Frankie and the new Doveton Pool campaign stickers (Supplied)
Casey Council. (FILE)
Casey Grammar graduate Zain Wasif received a prestigious Premier’s VCE Award after scoring top marks for Industry and Enterprise. (Supplied)
SEMMA slams RTO cuts
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A South East manufacturers group has labelled State funding cuts to 22 private training organisations as “senseless”.
The State Government argues that the affected registered training organisations (RTOs) were providing courses in over-supply or weren’t aligned with workforce needs.
However, South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) says the RTOs provided much-needed nationally accredited courses.
“It’s hard to understand why the policy makers think cutting funding during a skills crisis will help fill skilled roles or upskill people who are desperately needed in the manufacturing and building trades,” SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker said.
“This defies the government’s own recent Skills First program that clearly outlines the industries that are considered priorities. It makes no sense.”
Walker said the skill shortages would severely impact the Government’s proposed renewables sector growth and its housing plan.
SEMMA has also long warned of skills shortages such as welders, CNC machine operators and engineers.
“It is just not feasible to think reducing the number of training courses won’t negatively impact the number of trainees.
“Some people don’t enjoy the TAFE experience and prefer an RTO instead.”
Opposition skills and training spokesperson BridgetVallance said as a result of the cuts, RTOs were describing “detrimental and longterm impacts for many industries, including construction, manufacturing and early childhood education”.
The State Government argues the 22 reduced contracts were a small minority of the 242 Skills First contracts to RTOs.
The contracts were awarded according to highest priority workforce needs such as construction, clean economy and aged/disability care, it argues.
“This year, we’ve invested a further $555
million into the training system, which will support even more Victorians to upskill into meaningful, well-paid careers,” a Government spokesperson said.
“We’ve given our RTOs more certainty this
year so they can plan for the future and deliver quality training to Victorians that is aligned with real industry and workforce needs.”
In 2024, the Skills First contracts were extended to two-year terms for the first time.
Akaroa, Dunedin (overnight in port), Kaikoura, Napier, Auckland
Complimentary Hotel Stay
• 1 night four-star stay in Auckland at the Crowne Plaza Auckland, an IHG Hotel with breakfast Complimentary Flights, Taxes & Transfers
SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker argues training cuts make no sense in a skills shortage. (Supplied)
Jail term for drug driver
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Hampton Park drug-driver has been jailed after fleeing from police across several suburbs, ramming a divvy van and crashing at high speed into two cars at a red light.
Ilija Stojanovic, 35, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to a bevy of charges including conduct endangering life, recklessly causing injury, failing to stop at a car accident and theft, firearm and drug offences.
Sentencing judge Claire Quin said it was fortunate that victims weren’t more seriously injured, given he didn’t brake or take evasive action as he crashed into the turning cars at more than 100km/h at a Lynbrook intersection.
In the early hours of 1 November 2023, he had been detected driving a stolen 2012 Jeep Cherokee with false plates at high speeds on Monash Freeway.
He accelerated away from an attempted
police intercept, which was abandoned due to the risk to the public.
Tracked by the police Air Wing, Stojanovic reached speeds of about 150km/h on the freeway and more than 170km/h on South Gippsland Highway during a 25-minute escapade.
Stojanovic later reversed into a police divisional van which partially blocked his car in his home’s driveway in Hampton Park.
Two officers – one outside the van and one just starting to get out – had to take evasive action.
Police deployed stop sticks on Short Road but Stojanovic continued accelerating through traffic on two deflated tyres.
At between 112 and 127km/h, he ran a red light at Lynbrook Boulevard and South Gippsland Highway and crashed into two turning cars.
There was no evidence of Stojanovic brak-
ing prior to impact.
One of the drivers suffered severe bruises and persistent pain in her thighs, shoulders, chest and knee as a result.
The Jeep crossed a grass median embankment, crashed into a pole and came to rest on the opposite side of the highway.
Stojanovic fled on foot towards Lynbrook Village shopping centre, jumping down an embankment wall where he was arrested.
He was hospitalised for a month with leg injuries – which have hampered him ever since. A blood test revealed that meth was in his system.
Police seized a deal bag of meth and a gun magazine, gun barrel and ammunition round, the Jeep’s original plates and a stolen drivers’ licence.
The Jeep had been stolen from Fountain Gate shopping centre about a week earlier.
Judge Quin noted that Stojanovic was trau-
matised by growing up in war-torn Bosnia.
His family initially settled in Keysborough in 2000 with limited possessions, little command of English language and no money.
The judge wasn’t satisfied that he’d suffered “profound disadvantage”, given that he’d started his own painting business.
Stojanovic had extensive priors for similar drug, driving, gun and dishonesty offences.
His daily ‘ice’ abuse, reportedly to cope with childhood trauma, was directly linked to his offending but was no excuse, Judge Quin stated.
She had “limited confidence” in him overcoming his drug addiction, though his injuries may deter any further offending.
Stojanovic was jailed for four years, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.
He was disqualified from driving for five years.
Push for medicinal cannabis driving changes
By Corey Everitt
A South East resident is sick of living in fear for simply taking medication for chronic pain, prompting him to support the establishment of a legal defence for unimpaired drivers with a medicinal cannabis prescription.
A 68-year-old retiree, for the last five years Brad has been prescribed medicinal cannabis to help his sleep and treat chronic neck pain.
Despite having a strict nightly regimen where he never gets behind the wheel within 12 hours after treatment, he can still lose his ability to drive if he tests positive for cannabis.
“I only take it at night, there is nothing recreational about it, it’s not my thing,” he said.
“It can make a real mess of things for me, I am never ever sure if I will run into a drug bus.
“I always leave 12 hours after using any of the medicine before I get behind the wheel, but cannabis can stay in you for a month.”
The psychoactive effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the main component of cannabis - lasts only a few hours for an average dose.
However, THC is a fat soluble compound which can store in fat cells meaning it can remain in a person’s system for a matter of days or even months while a person in all other factors is sober.
Victoria Police at roadside testing use a saliva drug test which can detect the usage of marijuana up to 24 hours after usage.
If not detected, the police can ask for an impairment assessment and follow up with a blood or urine test - the latter can come back positive for cannabis use within the previous 30 days depending on level of use.
A first time detection through a saliva test penalises the driver with a 6-month suspension.
Brad has been driving for over 50 years with no offence to his name after thousands of kilometres within his personal and work life.
He finds it offensive that he could be among criminal offenders for something his GP prescribes him.
“I’ve never had a serious penalty, never lost my licence, never gone over in demerits,” he said.
“The community is better with me taking this medication, otherwise I will be driving without a good night’s sleep.
“I’m treated like a criminal for taking a legal drug.”
The alternatives are limited for him, he could go off the medication which would severely limit him as his wife lives with mobility issues.
He could try a different treatment such as opioid painkillers, which he has been prescribed in his life.
He took up medicinal cannabis in his retirement and stuck with it as he got away
from opioids - a highly addictive drug which the World Health Organisation says is attributed to 600,000 deaths worldwide by 2019.
Cannabis is much more manageable and effective for him, even though‘it’s never been really his thing’ he can keep use and tolerance down.
“It’s an analgesic, muscle relaxant, it turns the whole thing down and tolerance builds slowly,” he said.
“Whereas opioids build up straight away, you have to increase your dosage for it to work. It makes you feel crook, I had liver problems when I was taking it - all of that is gone.
“I keep to a strict daily dosage, when I feel it’s not working as usual, I take some time off to build back tolerance.”
Nonetheless, Brad says he has to choose to be‘worried all the time of being caught’. To him it doesn’t seem much relief will be coming from Spring Street anytime soon.
Recently, the State Government announced they will be starting a trial to test medicinal cannabis users while driving.
Expected to wrap up by late 2025, this was a delay from a promised solution by 2024 given by then Premier Andrews in 2023.
The problem for Brad is compounded by his experience of never wanting to drive while impaired.
“Many of us take it at night, some people have to have treatment in the day, but we don’t want to drive under the influence,” he said.
“But this Government has done very little for the issue and seem like they are resigned
to doing nothing this term.”
The central concern is legal, Brad supports the recent campaign by Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP Rachel Payne in calling for a legal defence for unimpaired drivers who test positive.
“Ordinary working Victorians are losing their licence even though they are taking their prescribed medication as directed by their doctor,” Payne said.
“There is nothing wrong with their driving. They shouldn’t be penalised because testing only shows presence.
“It’s a six-month loss of licence for a first offence, and a 12-month loss of licence for a second offence. We will campaign hard in July to secure a legal defence for Victorian patients.”
Legalise Cannabis Victoria MPs David Ettershank and Rachel Payne. (Supplied)
WHAT’S ON
Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre
Join us on July 24th, 9.30m onwards to see what Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre can do for you. Enjoy a day of free classes and activities, visit our childcare, chat with our friendly staff, learn about our programs, give us feedback, meet new friends or perhaps, enjoy a cup of tea in our Drop-in lounge - your lounge away from home.
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.
Cranbourne U3A - OUR NEW ROOMS IN BOWEN STREET
During the term break our members have been very busy setting up our furniture ready for classes to commence on July 15th, next Monday. It has been lovely seeing the main room transformed from a Kindergarten to our social and educational rooms for our many classes. The Council has been extremely helpful getting last minute maintenance done so all is ready now. Our craft classes, music and singing groups are all excited to begin again. If you would like to visit us we are at 20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne, near Camms Road. Drop in between 10 - 3 each weekday. We would be happy to show you around.
· Or you can visit our website for more detailswww.u3acranbourne.org.au
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!
Cranbourne Senior Citizens Free Community Day - Proudly sponsored by the
Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club
Are you new newly retired, or new to the area, or just wanting to enjoy your freedom as a senior or expand your social life?
Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating Activities and Friendship. We hold weekly Social Activities with dance to low-key in-line dancing if you want to tap your feet, great music, chat time, then enjoy scrumptious afternoon teas!
Day, short and long trips away via Coach, a Weekly Morning Coffee Club, Monthly Saturday Country Pub lunches, Monthly Evening / Day Tuesday Dine - Outs, Weekly Walking Group, Weekly Table Tennis Group, Seasonal Daytime Musical Theatre Outings, Entertainment Function Days and more.
Come along and get to know us by visiting us on Thursdays at 2 pm (socialising and lowkey dancing, no partners needed, at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House Bemersyde Drive Berwick, or, do join us for a Coffee and a chat with our friendly bunch on a Wednesday at 10 am at Little Sparrow Cafe Fountain Gate.
· For more information, don’t hesitate, just contact our Enquiry Officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.
City of Casey.
Dance with Eileen Hams, lunch and afternoon tea included, Friday 2nd August 10:30am-4pm. Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.
Weekly activities - Line Dancing Mon. 10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am-2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.
· For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590.
Blind Bight Community Centre
Art Smart with Sandy - 40 years of experience in teaching Art and Design to adults/children both overseas and in Melbourne. These Art classes are designed to focus on teaching students the fundamentals needed by every artist i.e. basic techniques of the art form, exploring a variety of materials, enhancing drawing skills and broadening the scope of creative possibilities and your artistic potential.
Tuesdays 6th August – 10th September 6 weeks 10am – 12 noon
Cost $240 per person, per term (includes tutoring & materials and to be paid in full prior to the class proceeding) Max number 6
Stamping Flair This will be a birthday card series and each week you will create 2 birthday cards based on a theme. Join in for an individual class or register for the entire series and get a discounted price. Class will include everything you need to complete your projects including guided instruction.
Friday 8th August - 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Cost $20 per session or $70 for 4 sessions.
Contact Rochelle Laird-Smith 0404 255 001
The hey dee ho music program is an educational music experience where children learn the concepts of beat, rhythm, tempo, pitch and dynamics in a play-based environment. Different educational themes are presented each week using props, puppets, costumes and percussion instruments to deliver a multi-sensory experience.
Tuesdays 23rd July to 17th September 2.00pm - 2.30pm. Cost $13 per child, per class and children under 12 months are free. $117 per term. For more information contact Catherine on 0417 591 229 or book below.
· For more information & for bookings www. blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au
Balla Balla Community Centre
Women in the Workplace: This 4 week program is designed for women of all cultural backgrounds, including those newly arrived in Australia. Are you returning to the workplace, or wanting to plan your career pathway or need to build your self-confidence to apply for jobs? Topics will include: Interview to succeed, Defining Career Goals, Building Confidence, Resilience, Budgets, Motivation and much more.
Wednesdays starting 7th August 7.00pm9.00pm
Citizenship Test Training: Do you want to take the Australian Citizenship Test?
This 9-week course will help you to start getting ready to do this. The course will help you understand Australian culture, history, laws, and your rights and responsibilities as Australian Citizens. This course will cover all the topics that are part of the test. Wednesdays starting 24th
July 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Meditation: Mindfulness Mediation – Connecting and transforming Relationship with Self, Other and the Living World. Suitable for all including Beginners. Monday starting 29th July for 6 weeks
Health & Wellbeing classes held at Balla Balla Community Centre include Pilates – Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday evenings, Zumba - Tuesday evenings and Yoga Thursday late afternoons or evenings. Enhance your fitness levels before Spring arrives.
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 coordinator 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
•
•
The
THE LOWDOWN Q&A
Tell us about yourself and the organisation(s) you work for.
I have been married for 17 years to my wife Lauren who is a midwife and we have three children: Max, Ella and Ruby who all attend a local high school.
As health professionals, my wife and I have spent our professional careers serving and caring for others which we feel very strongly about.
I was born and raised in Mildura and moved to Melbourne when I was 18 to study pharmacy at university. Growing up in the country gave me a strong sense of the importance of community and how important primary producers and industry is to our employment and our economy.
ThePharmacyGuildofAustraliaisamember’s association that represents Australia’s 6000 communitypharmacies. Pharmaciesarethemostfrequentlyvisitedandaccessibleprimaryhealthcare destination in Australia.
What has been your most memorable moment during your time in that (those) organisation (s)?
A once-in-a-century global pandemic with COVIDwasverymemorablebothasapharmacist inmypharmacyandbeingarepresentativeofthe Pharmacy Guild. Our pharmacy kept our doors openandturnedupeverydaytoprovidecareand advice for our community. At first, pharmacies were not part of the COVID vaccination roll-out and as part of my role with the Pharmacy Guild, I advocated strongly that pharmacists should be able to administer the vaccine and patients receive it from their local pharmacy. In September 2021,IstoodwithPremierAndrewsatalive-to-air press conference to promote the COVID vaccine rollout through pharmacy.
What do you love the most about working for the organisation (s)?
Helping make a difference to people’s health
with Tooradin Ward candidate Anthony Tassone
and wellbeing every day both as a local pharmacist at the local level and advocating for primary healthcare on a state and national level.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
I’m a dog person. I love how dogs are loyal and give unconditional love. I can relate to that.
What were you like as a kid?
Asakid,IwasalittlemorequietthanIamnow but have always had a determination to ’have a go’ and make a difference even as a School captainofmyprimaryschoolatIrymplePrimaryoutsideMildura. Inacountryprimaryschool,wehad large class sizes often with multiple year levels. What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
I would have loved to have been at the Sydney
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The site benefits from the following features:
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Olympics in 2000. Seeing Australian athletes representing our country and winning Gold at home brought immense pride to our great country.
Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
I would have a mix of entertainers, creative people and world leaders who I think would be interesting: Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, Leonardo DaVinci, and RobinWilliams.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Determined. Approachable. Leader.
What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’? Spend it with my family in any activity we could all actually agree on! I love going to the beach and spending time near the water so a day trip or spending any time on the coast works for me.
Where is your happy place?
Walking my cavoodle Betty around the local neighbourhood. IdomybestthinkingwhenIam out walking with her. Also playing guitar helps clear my mind.
If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?
Pasta is my favourite food so my go-to dish would be fresh homemade Spaghetti bolognese with pork and veal and a nice glass of Australian red wine.
Where is your dream holiday destination? BeingfromanItalianbackgroundIwouldlove totakethefamilyonatriptoEuropetolearnmore about the history and experience the culture.
THREE … ways to get involved with the National Homelessness Week
1
Organise a creative fundraising Drawing pictures for others’ furry friends, running a marathon, a barbecue at the park, and selling your homemade cookie and lemonade are all creative and achievable ways to fundraise for the cause. And they are also ways to bring some colours to your lives.
2
Volunteer with organisations Offering your time and action for free is one of the most straightforward ways to help people in need. Local community organisations that support underprivileged people always need an extra helping hand and maybe it’s where you can start.
3
Write to your local MPs and council Homelessness is not an issue that could be solved overnight. Collective and continuous efforts are the key. You can start with the advocacy with a single email or letter.
Clay arts to grace Bunjil
Place in August
Exhibition Generation Clay: Reimagining Asian Heritage will grace Bunjil Place from 3 August, celebrating the vibrant versatility of clay by a new generation of Asian-Australian contemporary artists.
The exhibition is curated by Vipoo Srivilasa, an award-winning contemporary artist and curator, who invited fourteen artists from across Australia to create new work using a palette of predominately blue and white.
These works re-imagine cultural expectations, presenting a fresh perspective within a traditional colour palette and form.
Blue and white ceramics have a long and complex history tracing back centuries from early Islamic and Chinese wares.
Together, these artists are redefining traditional and ceramic forms to reflect their personal histories and memories, cultural heritage, and family tied to mythological and popular culture narratives.
The artists include Armie Sungvaribud (TAS), Asahi So (NSW), Casey Chen (NSW), Dai Li (Qld), EJ Son (NSW), JayantoTan (NSW), Mai Nguy?n-Long (NSW), Monica Rani Rudhar (NSW), Nani Puspasari (VIC), Theodosius Ng (VIC), Yang Qiu (NSW), Yen Yen Lo (VIC), Yoko Ozawa (VIC) and Zhu Ohmu (VIC).
At the centre of the exhibition is The Bloom Room, a special making area where exhibition visitors can participate in a range of changing monthly activities, from hand-crafting origami flowers and tiny clay objects to sharing stories.
The colour blue is also a unifying feature of the exhibition’s design, alluding to the wider discourses of blue and white patterning, its connections to the global movement and its reinterpretation and translation through form and motif over time.
‘’I have brought together some of the most
exciting ceramic talent and together we are creating, what I believe, is a first-of-its-kind exhibition – Asian Australian ceramicists interpreting the blue and white palette in new ways,” Vipoo said
“I have also worked with the Asian diaspora on the exhibition design, construction, writing and photography of the show.
“The works, along with the participatory nature of the exhibition is something that I’m very proud of.’’
The exhibition will be from 3 August to 24 November 2024.
An opening celebration will be held at 9.30am on Saturday 3 August, along with a Tea Ceremony.
An Artist Market will be held on the same day from 10am to 2pm, featuring 35 stallholders, including artists from the exhibition.
Tooradin Ward candidate Anthony Tassone. (Violet Li: 419757)
Bunjil Place. (FILE)
Brooke to bound on biggest stage of all
By Marcus Uhe
Brooke
Buschkhuel
concedes that she doesn’t know what her future as a long jump competitor looks like beyond the Paris Olympics.
The Lyndhurst Australian record holder will turn 35 two days before the 2028 Games begin in Los Angeles, which would be her fourth Games, should she qualify.
In the world of Australian athletics, four Olympic Games trips would place her into elite company, with names like Robert de Castella, Stephen Moneghetti and Jane Saville.
The unknown has brought with it a sense of anxiety and compounding physical and mental consequences in the lead up to Paris, but with the games now at her doorstep, there’s a sense of confidence in being able to perform at her best in the biggest moment.
“I had a few average competitions early on in the season and there were reasons for that and I feel like my training quality in terms of distances I’m jumping in training have definitely picked up recently,” she said.
“There’s also some indicators in the gym that are showing that I’m definitely on track and have improved a lot - tests like drop jumps, and doing some light testing on my acceleration which seems to be really really good at the moment.
“Although a lot of those exercises somewhat correlate to your jumping distances, the best indicator is results in competitions.
“I’ve slowly been building those up and I’ve got another one this weekend, which will be my last competition before I hit the runway in Paris, which is exciting.”
Her two previous Olympic experiences could hardly be more contrasting; the hustle, bustle and sensory overload of Rio de Janeiro, and the eerie, sanitised hush of Tokyo, where face masks and isolating was as important as stretching, warm ups and cool downs.
2016 delivered a sense of imposter syndrome and overwhelming emotion for the then 23-year-old, the enormity of a dream sparked in a grade one student during Sydney in 2000 finally coming to fruition at the Olympic Stadium in front of a packed house.
She placed seventh in the final with a jump of 6.74 metres, and repeated her seventh-
placed finish in Tokyo with a jump of 6.83 metres, off suboptimal preparation as she battled a knee injury.
Since then, she set a new Australian record with a jump of 7.13 metres in 2022, and won silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the same year.
Having honed her craft at Casey Fields since moving to Lyndhurst in recent years, the experienced competitor knows how to juggle an Olympic experience, both on and off the track.
It won’t be until the 11th day of the games that long jump heats even begin, and another two before the finals, allowing plenty of time for performance anxiety and nervous energy to fester.
Having worked with a sports psychologist to best deal with those intrusive thought patterns, the importance of following routine will be crucial in not playing the event over in her head before she enters the Stade de France.
She’ll experience some of what the city of Paris has to offer in the opening week, and cheer on her Australian teammates in an effort to distract herself away from the training track.
She’ll go through her itemised checklist to pack her competition bag, and stick to the same diet that has served her so well in her decade-long career.
Freddie Mercury’s vocal chords and her pre-competition playlist consisting largely of ‘Queen’ will help to shut out the outside noise, and into competition-zone she goes.
Three years of planning, training, gym work, pouring over vision studying and finetuning her approach with her father and coach, Russell Stratton, has come down to this.
There’s four key fundamentals to every attempt; the runway, the take off, the jump, and the landing.
At the top of the runway, it’s about keeping the shoulders down before accelerating through the first six strides.
Rapidly approaching the board, she’ll look to stay upright, maintaining strong posture and keeping the hips up, before launching herself at full-throttle into the pit.
By now, the 31-year-old Buschkuehl has the routine so down-pat to the point it feels she’s on auto-pilot.
Stanton to call it a day
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton will step down from his role at the end of the 2024 season.
Stanton informed the Redbacks committee of his decision two weeks ago, and made the announcement to the playing group following their victory over St Kilda City on Saturday.
The experienced mentor says this year will be his last coaching at any level as he prioritises his family and work as a real estate agent.
“Fundamentally, I’ve just been doing it for so long and it’s got to the point where I’ve put my heart and soul into it and I now need to focus on my profession and family, so my priorities have shifted,” Stanton said.
“I try not to think about too much, because you don’t want to be running down a runway thinking about 20 different things,” she said.
“We train so much for the events that we compete in, a lot of the time you probably don’t even need to be thinking, because whatever happens is going to happen anyway.”
Buschkhuel considers the field to be deep, yet open, and a sense that something in her training program has finally ‘clicked’ is fueling her confidence ahead of what shapes as a potentially life-changing two weeks.
“A lot of these good training sessions that I’m putting together have built confidence and allowed me to acknowledge that a medal could be within my sights,” she said.
“Until all of us women are in the exact same conditions and competing on the exact same track, it brings everyone to the same level and it’s really about who is ‘on’ on the day.
“The medals are there for the taking and I really believe that if I can get over there in the physical shape that I’m in currently, and with my current mindset, I feel like anything’s possible.”
32 competitors have entered the long jump competition at Paris from 21 different countries.
Reigning gold medallist from Toyko, Malaika Mihambo, is back to defend her crown, but silver medallist, Brittney Reese from the United States is not, having retired.
Last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest saw Serbian Ivana Vuleta clear the field with a leap of 7.14 metres, 23 centimetres clear of the United States’ Tara DavisWoodhall’s 6.91 metres, as Miahmbo missed through injury.
Buschkhuel did not qualify for the final, jumping 6.55 metres in the qualifying rounds.
Australia has won four Olympic silver medals in long jump, but no gold, and no Australian woman has ever claimed a medal in the discipline.
History is not on Buschkhuel’s side, but records are made to be broken.
Qualification begins on Tuesday 6 August, with the finals to take place during the early hours of Friday morning, 9 August, Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Stanton has coached six clubs across the past 23 years in local footy, passing up on the opportunity to coach at a higher level to maintain a work-life balance.
“I’ve given everything to footy and have been committed to every club I have ever coached and have given 100 per cent of myself and that’s all you can do,” Stanton said.
“There’s been lots of things I’ve enjoyed but most importantly, I’ve enjoyed coaching young men and trying to make them better on and off the field – that’s been the most important thing for me.
“You’re not just coaching these young men in football, you’re coaching them in life so to see players doing well off field is a joy I’ll miss because clubs are full of good people.”
Stanton is a well-regarded leader who took over as coach of the Redbacks ahead of the 2023 season, having previously coached several clubs at difficult junctures.
He so far has a 20-12 record with the club, overcoming adversity throughout his tenure on and off the field.
“With no rooms, nowhere to train at times, being off our home ground, player absences, towing the line with player points last year, his commitment has been second to none,” president Craig Seers said.
“What he’s done has been remarkable and he will leave the club in a much better place than it was when he got there.
“He’s oldschool and has done everything he can, giving his utmost to the club.”
Speaking about his two seasons at Hampton Park, Stanton said: “They’re really good people, hard working and try really hard to make something of a club in a low socioeconomic area.
“It’s hard to fathom what we’ve had to deal with, so to likely take them to two finals series is pretty brilliant.”
The club has already received moderate interest for the 2024 job, with Stanton set to help the club source a leader.
The club is hoping to be led by a player-coach in 2025.
Hayden Stanton coaching on Saturday. (Rob Carew: 420281).
Brooke Buschkhuel is off to her third Olympic Games. (Alastair Grant - AAP)
Seagulls collar Cobras in best win of the season
By David Nagel
Bibs were swapped more than a ‘baby-shower’ at three-quarter time at Tooradin on Saturday as a last-quarter revival propelled TooradinDalmore to one of its best wins of the season; a 36-31 victory over a brave Cora Lynn.
The Gulls led by two at the first break, but were stunned by the visitors who scored 12 to 8 in the second term to take a two-goal lead to half time.
Only 11 combined goals were scored in the third stanza as both teams lifted their defensive pressure rating.
The Cobras led 24-23 at the final break; but the home side had something special up its sleeve.
Coach Kelly Haynes swung the changes at three-quarter time, with Summah Boyd (GD) the only player to start the fourth term in the same position that she ended the third!
The changes worked wonders, with a 13-7 last term leading the Gulls to victory.
Chloe Phillips, Alex Maher, Ebony Dolan, Stacey Sawyer and Zoe Coventry were all instrumental in that last quarter surge.
After a sluggish start to the season; the Gulls are now firmly entrenched in second position after winning six in a row.
Kooweerup is finally in control of its own destiny after the Demons sent Nar Nar Goon tumbling outside the top six with a desperate and dour 38-35 victory at Denhams Road. It’s hard to imagine worse conditions for netball, but the Demons and Goon overcame the drizzling rain and freezing cold to provide
a mid-winter see-sawing battle.
Kooweerup led 10-8 at quarter time, but the Goon returned fire with an 11-8 second term to lead by one at half time.
The Demons then took back control in the third quarter, with Mikaela Stokkel (GK), Talia Charalambides (GD), Chantelle Stokkel (WD) and Alix Galante (C) working hard defensively to limit the Goon’s scoring options.
Jayda McConkey (GS), Ash Murphy (GA) and Kate Sidebottom (WA) were also calm and composed for the Demons, who set up their fifth-position at the end of the round with a 10-6 third term.
That’s seven wins from nine starts for the Demons, while Nar Nar Goon is heading in the opposite direction after its fourth-consecutive loss.
The Goon - now seventh - needs to regroup, and do it in a hurry, with upcoming home games against Tooradin-Dalmore (2nd) and Cora Lynn (6th) likely to decide its finals destiny.
Bunyip’s three-game winning streak has come to an end at the hands of Kilcunda-Bass at Bunyip.
The visiting Panthers led 8-7 at quarter time, but opened the game up with a dominant 19-8 second term.
Tamika De Nardis (GS) was the gamebreaker for the Panthers - scoring 13 goals in the second - while the play of Kacey Maund (C), Sophie Baker (WD), Grace Rand (WA) and Caity Stephens (GK) proved too much for the Bulldogs to handle.
Bunyip’s Brooke Cleeland (GS) and Ally Johnson (C) really took things up to the Panthers in the opening exchanges.
The seven-game losing streak of Garfield is finally over after the Stars won a classic con-
test; 46-42, against Phillip Island at Beswick Street.
The Stars looked comfortable at quarter time; leading 13-9 at the first break, but were soon stunned by a 15-6 retort from the Bulldogs.
The Stars cut the five-goal margin back to one at the final break, and then put the foot down further to edge clear for an impressive victory.
Georgia Coleman (GA), Ash Bowden (C) and Tyla Redwood (WA) played huge roles in the Stars’ revival, while Lily Mewett (GS) was sensational for the beaten Bulldogs; scoring 12 goals alone in the second quarter.
In other games this week, Korumburra-Bena kept its finals hopes alive with a comfortable 59-32 victory over Warragul Industrials, while second and third-quarter dominance led Inverloch-Kongwak to a 47-42 win over Dalyston.
The Magpies won the opening and last quarters - 21-16 – but the back-to-back reigning champions more than matched that total through the middle stages of the contest.
With Amy Scott (GS) running hot, and Lanni Pryor (WA), Kelsey Buxton (C), Asha Boyd and Kate French (WD) doing as they pleased through the midcourt, the Sea Eagles scored 31-21, either side of half time, to set up their five-goal victory.
Bitt Thomas (WA), Olivia Bramley (GD) and Bella Schmidt (GS) never gave up for the Magpies.
Courageous Cora Lynn relishes wet and wild conditions
By David Nagel
The battle for a coveted double-chance in this year’s WGFNC finals series is down to a four-horse race after Cora Lynn rode a faststart to a 13-point victory over Tooradin-Dalmore on Saturday.
Actually, for safety reasons, we should substitute horses for yachts; with the Tooradin Recreation Reserve resembling a lake, more than a footy ground, after a week of heavy rains heading into the contest.
The Cobras had the spinnaker up early; taking advantage of a strong breeze - and equally strong rip - to build the platform for an 8.9(57) to 6.8(44) success.
The Cobras opening salvo resulted in the only six-goal quarter across the WGFNC this weekend; and effectively ended the game as a contest.
It only took 45 seconds for Nathan Gardiner to kick his 82nd goal for the season, and the Cobras were off and running.
The powerful right-foot of Piva Wright penetrated the breeze for the home side; but the Cobras answered his goal with five more to finish the term.
Nathan Villella kicked a cheeky right-foot snap from the pocket, before Will Stephenson drilled a set shot after receiving a headhigh free kick.
Cory Machaya then nailed the Cobras fourth for the quarter, after some great work from Jimmy Munro up-field, before Lachie Coverdale made it 28 points the difference; capitalising on some terrific build-up work from Jett Edwards, Max McDermott and Ryan Eaton, who was playing his first game in Cora Lynn colours and against one of his former clubs.
Machaya then struck again; kicking a goal on the siren to the Highway end of the ground to make it 6.4.40 to 1.0.6 at the first break.
Munro was relishing the conditions, with his workrate and ability to stick tackles that others couldn’t standing out from the crowd.
Ruck Billy Thomas was dominating the
(Stewart Chambers: 420280)
stoppages, and it didn’t take long for the Cobras to build on their lead in the second term.
Gardiner won a tough one-on-one battle with his opponent for the day Rory Neate; snapping truly off his left foot to make it 38 points the difference.
Munro then won a freekick for a strong tackle, with Tooradin’s remonstrations resulting in a 50-metre penalty.
While all around him took the thinking caps off for a moment, Munro found Stephenson alone - 20 metres out from goalwith the resultant kick making the margin 44 points.
A late second-quarter goal to Panos Papas
cut the margin to a still huge 37 points in the conditions.
Neither team kicked a goal in the third term, with the Seagulls defending much better against the wind than they did in the opening term, while the Cobras were in command, and in no hurry to do anything stupid with the ball.
They controlled the tempo perfectly and took a 39-point lead to the final break.
Wright and Cooper Shipp kicked two goals in three minutes at the beginning of the final term, but 28 points still seemed an unattainable bridge to gap in trying and slippery conditions.
Luke McKenna and Kris Sabbatucci then kicked two goals in the final five minutes of play to give the scoreboard a look of respectability.
Both teams will take some real positives away from the contest.
Shaun Sparks will be thrilled with Cora Lynn’s dominant first-half display, with the Cobras just going harder and lower at the footy when the game was supposedly at its hottest.
Sparks will also be delighted with the even spread, with Gardiner, Machaya and Stephenson all chiming in with two goals on an impossible day for forwards.
He will be pleased with the efforts of Thomas and Munro, and equally effusive at the defensive craft of Lachie Peluso, Jake Ross, Tim Payne and Edwards.
Peluso completely shut-down Stewart Scanlon; hardly allowing the dangerous forward a touch.
Jordy Kelly, on the other hand, will be happy with the Seagulls performance after half time, scoring 4.5 to 0.4 over that journey.
The question is; did they work out a magic formula of shutting the Cobras down, or did Sparks and his winning team simply take the foot off the gas?
Did they prefer to grind things out - protect their lead - instead of going for all-out attack?
Wright was the only multiple goalkicker for the Gulls, ending the day with two, while Matt Buntine did well matching motors with Munro; his former teammate at Casey.
Exciting left-footer Logan Downe played terrific all day for the Seagulls, while Luke McKenna, Adam Oxley, Dylan Sutton and Neate played well in defence for the home side.
Both teams will continue the blockbuster theme this week.
The Cobras host reigning-premier Inverloch-Kongwak at the Cobradome, while the Seagulls head to Nar Nar Goon in an important game for both sides.
Will Stephenson was like salt and pepper for Cora Lynn, in everything, for the Cobras against the Seagulls.
Tooradin-Dalmore midcourter Abbey Howes looks to pass off in the driving rain against Cora Lynn. Pictures: (Stewart Chambers: 420820)
Cannons fire at Monash Uni
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey has secured a 2-1 victory over Monash in what coach Andrew Harris described as“basically a midseason finals game.”
The two teams are fighting for the last finals spot in the Women’s Vic League 1 competition, with Pakenham entering the clash a win behind Monash Uni, but with a mildly easier draw on the run home.
The result means the Cannons will be in control of their destiny in the last month as they look to make it back-to-back finals campaigns at the level.
Casey scored the first two goals of the game to take a commanding lead into halftime, with strikers Mikayla McDonald and Emma Harris linking up for the first from the field, and McDonald capitalising from a short corner for the second.
“There was a level of intensity from the start that was mentally above all the other games we have played so far – the girls understood the importance of it,” coach Andrew Harris said.
“We dominated the first half, scoring goals in the first and second quarter to go ahead.
“We found ourselves behind in a lot of games this year so to get an early buffer was good.”
Monash University was then able to dictate terms for much of the second half, putting a goal away midway through the third quarter to heap pressure on Casey.
At one stage late in the third quarter, Casey was reduced to just eight players on the field due to a yellow card and pair of green cards, with their grit throughout the day underlined in that period.
“Monash pressed defensively in the second half and we started to get sloppy,” Harris revealed.
“They scored halfway through the third quarter then we were under siege for the last ten minutes of the quarter.”
Goal keeper Sarah Sutton-McLellan made several crucial short corner saves early in the fourth, before Casey was able to wrench back control late and hold on for a significant victory.
“The girls adapted really well to the pressure of the game,” Harris said.
“To put the first two goals on the scoreboard took pressure off for the rest of the game but then to show the resilience when we led by only a goal was enormous.”
While a positive result, the Cannons are still yet to take the scalp of a team in the top five, so will be keen to prove to themselves across the next month that they are capable of winning a final.
Meanwhile, the men had a big 7-0 win over Frankston, and while the result was an expected one, the goal difference gained from the result could prove instrumental on a tight ladder.
Johnson jumping over Demons
By Marcus Uhe
Beaconsfield forward Matt Johnson played a major role handing the Casey Demons a 10th loss for the VFL season in a 27-point Demons loss at Frankston’s Kinetic Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Johnson kicked four first-half goals and three during a disastrous stretch of six consecutive goals for Frankston during the second term that sunk the Demons in a wet, low-scoring affair.
10.8 68 to 5.11 41 read the final score, with the second term the game’s major outlier and ultimately deciding factor.
Casey was outscored 7.2 to 1.2 in that period, with Johnson a focal point in the Dolphins’ forward half, as Frankston turned a sevenpoint deficit at quarter time into a 29-point half time lead.
Johnson nailed one snap from a tight angle at a forward 50 stoppage, another major from a difficult set shot outside 50 and a third at ground level after his teammates took the advantage from a free kick further afield against Casey defender Blake Howes, helping Frankston race to a 28-point lead late in the quarter.
Resting ruck Jake Bell goaled late in the term for Casey, but poor defending from the Demons at the next centre bounce allowed the Dolphins to immediately answer back, and take a 29-point lead into the half.
Beyond half time, there were only two goals scored apiece, with heavy rain making life difficult in the third term, as Casey’s poor kicking for goal netted them just 1.6.
Ryder returns as Panthers prove too strong for Tigers
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Former AFL gun Patrick Ryder has returned unscathed to help Devon Meadows defeat Seaford 12.18 90 to 7.4 46.
The key-position player was stationed inside 50 in his first game in 86 days, kicking a goal among his nine disposals, three marks and three tackles, providing important forward presence.
“We played Patrick at full forward and put him up to centre half forward for a bit, they double-teamed him,” coach Ryan Hendy said.
“We just built him into it and he cruised into it to get match fitness.
Roan Steele, Shane McAdam and Oliver Sestan all missed chances, with McAdam looking particularly dangerous in the forward half as a speedy ground level threat.
Despite winning the clearance battle by 13, the Demons were unable to capitalise with territory wins, losing the inside 50 count by five.
Led by Kynan Brown’s outstanding 24 tackles, Casey finished with a higher tackle-count in the slippery conditions, but it mattered little in the final result.
Brown added 27 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal to his stat line, with MitchWhite not far behind on 24 disposals, 13 tackles and 13 clearances.
Johnson’s Beaconsfield teammate Mitch Szybkowski had 17 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances.
Regular contributors Bailey Laurie, Jack Billings, Adam Tomlinson, Tom Fullarton and Lachlan Hunter were all absent through AFL selection and travel or injury, depleting the Casey side at the selection table.
The Demons host Greater Western Sydney on Saturday morning at Casey Fields in an attempt to start a winning conclusion to the season.
Johnson’s four continued his excellent goal kicking form, moving to outright second in the Frosty Miller Medal count.
Elsewhere in the VFL, Beaconsfield’s Kade De La Rue was recalled for North Melbourne in its 14-point loss to Cal Porter’s Box Hill, while Narre’s Jack Toner had 13 disposals and five tackles in a slogfest at Williamstown.
“(Him playing) plays into our hands –the back six when they play against us have to prepare differently and put a lot more focus into him so it gives our other forwards opportunities to get off the chain.
“Structure wise we look better with him there and move the ball into our forward line a hell of a lot differently.
“Having him in our side straightens us right up which is a bonus.”
Dean Kent played his second game back from injury and first on full minutes, amassing 30 disposals to lead the backline with aplomb.
Patrick Sinnema, Ty Kirkwood and Jayden Sullivan both returned from injury, but Brendan Hermann, Brady O’Toole and Dylan Gregson were still missing.
“We’re starting to get some continuity and get players back from injury after playing 36 players in the last 12 weeks which is massive and eight under-19s so it’s been a massive effort to still be second,” Hendy said.
“It’s been good to give some young boys a run. We’ve given Jack Grimsey a go, he’s played three on the trot and has hopefully learned a lot from the experience and will be a good little forward crumber for the future.”
Joel Hillis led the charge with a ridiculous 52 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 11 tackles and 18 clearances in Devon Meadows’ comfortable win, while Alex Canal and Kirkwood snagged three each.
The result maintains Devon Meadows’ second spot on the ladder, but they face a must-win match this weekend against Ed-
Patrick Ryder eased back into the fold in his return game for Devon Meadows. (Stewart Chambers: 354794).
ithvale-Aspendale if they want to stay there.
Chelsea has a soft draw to finish the season and is equal on points with the Panthers.
Pearcedale, meanwhile, had a surprise 3.11 29 to 12.16 88 loss to Somerville, which is finishing the season with a rush.
Jake Frawley, Ryan Bastinac and Shane Davidson led the Dales, but the result has put them outside the top five.
Somerville has a significant percentage buffer on Pearcedale, so the Dales will almost have to go undefeated across the last three to make finals, given Somerville’s straight forward fixture.
Kynan Brown (middle) layed an astonishing 24 tackles for the Casey Demons on Saturday against Frankston. (Rob Carew: 408033)
Craig Moore, Dave Noney and Tristan Chaf-
fey all scored doubles.
Casey has maintained its second placing on the Vic League 2 table, a point clear of the
chasing pack – and crucially, with the second best goal difference in the competition, behind only Yarra, well clear atop the table.
Cannons’ goalkeeper Sarah Sutton-McLellan made some crucial last-quarter saves. (Gary Sissons: 347266).
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