origami houses are making a big statement about homelessness this week. The homes were created by Casey adults and children in workshops ahead of Homelessness Week.
In all, about 1800 origami homes were folded throughout all six Connected Libraries branches, including Bunjil Library.
More on the story, turn to page 6
Connected libraries staffmember Mitch next to a mini-village on display at
Place library as part of Homelessness Week. (Ethan
By Ethan Benedicto
A controversial proposal to establish a childcare centre at 1A Gori Court, Narre Warren North has been denied by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The City of Casey refused to grant a permit on the grounds of impacts concerning neighbourhood character, car parking provision and off-site amenity impacts from the location at the entrance to a court, or cul-de-sac.
The proposed development would have catered up to 86 children and eight staff, with the
existing dwelling on the site to be demolished in place of a single-storey, 619 square metre building, as well as 18 car park spaces, a landscaped garden and acoustic fencing.
Casey Council initially refused the application which led to Gori Pty Ltd appealing the decision to VCAT; from there the tribunal corroborated Casey’s decision, assessing that the development would be incompatible with the character of Gori Court and the surrounding area, on Tuesday 6 August.
Specifically, Casey Council submitted that Gori’s proposal was “not appropriate” regarding its
location within a cul-de-sac in the Low-Density Residential Zone Schedule 2 (LDRZ2).
“The childcare centre does not respect the existing pattern of development, being single dwellings on large, landscaped lots,” the council statement said.
“Landscaping and setbacks are not sufficient and the car park and fencing in the frontage of the site are foreign elements.”
The council’s statement also added that the proposal was inconsistent with the Casey Foothills Local Area Policy (clause 21.14), since the open landscaped setting is not maintained by the
said proposed development.
The applicant initially contested that the site’s location was ideal due to its proximity to Ernst Wanke Road, which is a main road, therefore making it ideal for non-residential use.
They also added that the fencing for the development along Gori Court would not “dominate the streetscapes”, since it is behind 2-metre wide garden beds therefore providing an appropriate visual buffer to “offset the built form and hard stand area of the car park”.
Continued page 4
By Ethan Benedicto
Confident not just in his profession but his 50 years of residence in the City of Casey, John Ternel has announced his candidacy for the upcoming October elections.
Running for Grevillea Ward, Ternel has his sights set on community safety, improved infrastructure and enhanced public engagement.
Ternel said with extensive involvement with the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong as its president-elect, as well as a track record of problem-solving and managing large-scale transformation projects through work in private enterprise, he wants “to change things around”.
Speaking on the previous body of councillors, Ternel said that “a lot of the councillors were going into meetings and not talking to the people”.
“They weren’t listening to what the constituents wanted, so as a resident, it’s very frustrating because your voice could never be heard.”
Having worked for companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Cisco and Dimension Data, Ternel believes that the skills he has learned would be valuable when addressing the challenges currently facing the City of Casey.
Furthermore, Ternel is no stranger to delivering numerous local and global projects “on time and within budget” with owning a project management business; experience he said is “wellequipped to work with Casey’s annual budgets”.
“I’m sure that with my experience with working on large projects, mergers and working on processes and such, those can all be incorporated; I can be the kind of guy that can help make this place better,” he said.
Running as an independent candidate, Ternel recognises the importance of public engagement and that this experience in private enterprise is not limited to conversations on the nature of business.
A “true conversation with people” is what
he aims to deliver, where proper questions are asked and it revolves around “listening to [their] points and then let’s work out a plan to go and fix it”.
His family, having owned shoe stores in Dandenong and Endeavour Hills, Ternel, “as a young boy, I was out there working with customers”.
“Learning about customer experiences, and customer service, just how to talk to people.
“My dad always taught me to be genuine in what you’re doing, and I think that’s worked really well for me,” he said.
In addition to his professional background, Ternel’s involvement with the Rotary Club has made him closely connected to the various community issues, where those mentioned conversations with everyday people and their struggles are all too common.
Ternel has also been instrumental in organising events such as the Dandenong All Holden Car Show, which raises funds for local charities; from there he said his community work has given him a clear understanding of Casey’s challenges.
Addressing crime is a key factor of Ternel’s commitments, where he has witnessed firsthand its rise in local communities where his son was assaulted by a gang on Crawley Road.
“It was really disappointing to see that Narre Warren North, which used to be a safe area, now has all these problems surrounding crime,” he said.
That incident, coupled with his concern for the community’s wellbeing has since fuelled his commitment to make a change.
These changes to community wellbeing also go beyond physical safety, with Ternel committed to keeping the annual rate rises to a minimum, ensuring that residents are not “unduly burdened by increasing expenses”.
“It costs a lot of money to run a council, so we have to look at this like it’s a business, and instead of the government saying you’re mandated to increase your rates by three per cent a year, I’m going to see if I can keep it to half or below that.
“By carefully examining and optimising our budget, I am to identify and eliminate wasteful spending, ensuring that every dollar is used efficiently,” he said.
Speaking on politics in council, Ternel acknowledged that it is essential for the body to be apolitical, but said that “there’s a fine line between selling yourself to a political party and working with them”.
If there is to be involvement in politics, he said “we need to ensure that other politicians are going to help the residents of Casey”.
Looking ahead, Ternel said he is in the process of knowing key stakeholders, putting a plan in place and relying on the age-old – but proven – methodology of forming, storming and norming.
“We’re hungry, we want to get this job done, we want to change and we’re going to deliver it,” he said.
Nine alleged patched members of the Hells Angels bikie gang have been arrested during raids in the South East as part of a national joint-police agency blitz last week.
During Operation Morpheus, 106 people and 259 charges were laid during 68 police raids and 130 firearm prohibition order (FPO) compliance checks across the country on 5-9 August.
Police seized weapons, explosives and drugs, as well as illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes and more than $100,000 as part of the “national week of action”.
On Monday 5 August, police executed seven search warrants in Cranbourne East, Cranbourne North, Dandenong South, Sydenham, Mt Eliza and Hastings as part of a joint Australian Border Force and VIPER Taskforce investigation.
They seized a sawn-off shotgun, a 3D printed firearm, three imitation firearms, ammunition, and illicit drugs including liquid steroids, powdered steroids, testosterone, prescription drugs amphetamine and methylamphetamine.
The nine alleged Hells Angels members arrested were charged with offences including possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, firearm possession, manufacturing/trafficking steroids and drug possession.
Two clandestine steroid laboratories were located and dismantled at the Mount Eliza and Sydenham properties, police say.
Across the country, police seized:
• 35 firearms, 742 explosives or various types of ammunition and 18 weapons
• More than 740,000 illicit cigarettes, more than 900 illicit vapes, more than 75kg of looseleaf tobacco and more than 125kg of shisha
• Varying drugs in various quantities, including cocaine, methylamphetamine, MDMA, ecstasy, GHB, 1,4-Butanediol, and
• More than $100,000 cash
A further 72 traffic offences were detected, with 29 defect notices issued and one vehicle impounded.
Police also served 14 FPOs.
Operation Morpheus focused on drugs, guns, FPO compliance, explosives as well as outlaw motorcycle gang members involved in family violence matters.
“The social and economic impact of outlaw motorcycle gangs on our communities is significant,” Acting Commander Jason Kelly from Victoria Police’s Crime Command and chair of National Taskforce Morpheus said.
“They are motivated by greed and profit and
we know that they have a culture of secrecy and intimidation and a greater propensity for extreme violence.”
Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) research found the average costs of crime and prison alone add up to about $1.3 million per OMCG member.
“Research has found that four in five Australian OMCG members have a recorded criminal history, and they were nearly three times as likely
to have contact with the criminal justice system by age 33 as other men,” AComm Kelly said.
“This will not be tolerated.”
Taskforce Morpheus was a joint initiative between state and territory police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Services Australia and New Zealand police.
Three early-learning centres in Dandenong and Hallam have shared in more than $100,000 federal funding.
Dandenong CommunityOSH and Rosewood Downs CommunityOSH each received $10,250 from the Community Child Care Fund: Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Communities program.
Hallam Community Learning Centre was granted $92,000.
Bruce MP Julian Hill said HCLC was “absolutely thrilled” as the funding will support mothers learning English, as well as local workers, with short-term childcare.
“Services like these are essential in multicultural communities like ours, allowing parents extra flexibility while also benefiting children’s early development.
“This funding follows the Government’s announcement of a 15 per cent pay increase for early childhood educators, contingent on service providers not lifting their fees more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months.
“I am really proud to be part of a good Government that is getting wages moving for workers, while helping families with the cost of living.”
The funding program targets services in disadvantaged communities to help them stay open and increase the numbers accessing early childhood education and care.
Police have arrested five teenagers after an allegedly stolen car was spotted in the south east on Wednesday 7 August. Officers were patrolling Waverley Road, Glen Waverley, about 2am when they noticed the Hyundai I30 with five people on board.
The vehicle was followed at a distance before the Air Wing took over observations on the car.
The Air Wing followed the car to Harkaway where the car stopped on Finkal Road.
Police moved in and the occupants of the car fled on foot and ran towards a nearby creek.
The Air Wing directed officers in, who were assisted by members of the Dog Squad. Four teenage girls and a teenage boy were quickly taken into custody. The car was searched and it is alleged machetes were found in the vehicle. Those arrested included:
• 15-year-old Clyde North girl
• 12-year-old Narre Warren boy
• 14-year-old Hampton girl
• 15-year-old Pakenham girl
• 14-year-old girl from an unknown address.
All five teens have been released pending further enquiries.
Police believe the vehicle was stolen from a gymnasium in Hallam on 6 August. This arrest is part of Operation Trinity, which runs every single night until dawn is Victoria Police’s most well-resourced frontline policing operation at present. There are 70 additional police rostered each night, on top of existing patrols. This includes frontline officers, Highway Patrol members, the Dog Squad, Public Order Response Team, and Air Wing. As a result of this intense focus, police have made over 1,450 arrests relating to burglaries and car thefts in the past twelve months. A further 6,600 people have been processed for other offences detected by police working nightshift across the Trinity area of operations. Wounded pedestrian abused: Police Separately, an elderly pedestrian has been hospitalised after being allegedly struck and then abused by a hit-run driver on Princes Highway, Hallam.
Victoria Police say the victim was crossing from the centre median strip to the north side of the highway when struck by a maroon Subaru Forester station wagon turning right from Wedgewood Road about 2.44pm on 1 August.
The male driver momentarily stopped and abused the pedestrian before driving off east on Princes Highway, according to police.
The pedestrian was taken to The Alfred hospital with leg injuries.
Any information, dashcam or CCTV footage to Casey Highway Patrol on 5991 0675, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
By Ethan Benedicto
Prosperity, safety and connectedness are the key factors that Akoonah Ward council candidate, Mush Rahaman, is striving for with the October Casey Council elections just a few months away.
Owner of La Baguette cafe in High Street, Berwick, Mush is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of the operations of small businesses, especially in the plight of the pandemic and the ensuing years.
For Mush, there have been questions, from himself and others as to what exactly it is he could put on the table with his relevant experience, but it is the “personal obligation that has been created in me after the pandemic”.
“The pandemic gave me some time to think [on] what we needed, what can be done for our community,” he said.
The overwhelming support that he and La Baguette received during the post-pandemic period is what drove Mush to step up, after reflection on his and fellow small businesses in the area’s struggles.
However, he understands that this support is not easily garnered, and must be done through constant and transparent communication with others, something Mush promises to continue if he is elected.
While he agrees that he may not be the “best person for this job, somebody needs to take ownership”.
A Berwick resident since 2013, and starting La Baguette in 2017, Mush has confidence that he has the support of the local community.
Many have asked him to take the mantle, with Mush returning the question out of curiosity, to
which he said that “if it’s going to be me, then let it be”.
With the strong belief that Berwick should be about small businesses, part of Mush’s vision is to have the future council work with business owners, and “create a business-friendly environment”.
“Taking feedback from the local people, I believe we need to get on the field, work with these businesses together and find out what they actually need,” he said.
By the same token, Mush is aware of the insecurity that many constituents in Casey feel about councillors regarding the 2020 IBAC investigations, but assured that he is “a pure independent”.
“I believe that when it comes to our community, political views should not be a concern, it should not affect us, and we need to work together.
“This comes even before the basic job of council, but it’s one of my priorities and it’s to say that my personal integrity and honesty will not be compromised.
“Every matter in council that I will be involved in, accountability and integrity will be there,” he said.
The revitalisation of small businesses is the first step, with Berwick Village as a whole being the main target; to make it a vibrant hub in the southeast region and to “bring that pride back”.
“I want to consider Berwick Village as a priority, and all the local businesses here, they are with me as well because this place should be pumping all the time.
“We need to have more events, more things happening in Berwick Village; it should be, in a way where somebody coming from New South Wales would come to see this place.
“Just like we’re taking them to Ballarat, Bendigo, Berwick should be one of those,” he said.
Caring for Berwick also entails other responsibilities, with continued and fostering further support for the elderly population integral to Mush’s vision.
Instead of catering to them as a community’s “weakness” and thinking of the elderly as “retired people we need to feed”, they should be encouraged to take part within the community further, and instead be considered as a major driving force for said community’s upkeep.
“These people have a lot of skills, they’re mature, they’re experienced, rather than having our
elderly community as our weakness, we should treat them as a platform for our growth and opportunity.
“More than 60 per cent of my customers are over 60, which means a major contribution to Berwick Village and local business is coming from these elderly people.
“So if they grow, that means these local businesses grow,” Mush said.
Echoing the many and repeated concerns from residents across the municipality, advocating for infrastructure and public services is something that Mush said he is dedicated to addressing if elected.
He stresses that these fundamental services should be a priority to ensure that residents can live in a well-maintained and secure environment, where “it is a priority for any candidate”.
“If the road [potholes] is not filled up, if the grass is now mowed, if the park is not clean, if the trees aren’t trimmed, if the roads are filthy, then we haven’t done our job,” he said.
Of course, with a well-maintained municipality also means there must be cultural inclusiveness and unity, with Mush adamant that in Berwick there is only one community, and that is “the Australian community”.
“We need to embrace all cultures, if there is an event that is bringing people together, everyone should celebrate.
“It’s something that encourages togetherness; it’s something that everyone should support.
“A leader should bring people together, a leader is not for division, they should be for inclusiveness – and I believe I will do it, I’m sure that people will be behind me and we’ll make it happen,” Mush said.
From page 1
However, Casey Council contested this by stating that the proposed building has a substantial footprint, and that the land would in turn “have low extent of permeable surfaces” in comparison to other swellings on Gori Court.
The Tribunal, represented by Suena Byrne, was of the same mind, disagreeing that the character of Gori Court is greatly influenced by its location adjacent to Ernst Wanke Road, as well as its proximity to other non-residential uses.
“Gori Court is an idyllic, highly intact streetscape that has a sense of being an enclosed enclave,” Byrne said. “The proposed ‘pool fencing’ along the frontage and other fencing forward of the building, together with the car park paving in the front setback, introduce elements that will be discordant in the streetscape.”
While the tribunal had no qualms with the building itself, stating that its proposed storey scale and linear form are “complementary with the residential character of the surrounding area”, issues arose with fencing and the car park spaces.
“Overall I find the proposal does not sufficiently meet the character and landscape outcomes sought for this location,” Byrne said.
“I am not persuaded that the built elements
have been designed and sited in a manner that is respectful of the low-density residential character of the area.”
Regarding the site’s impact on the amenities of adjoining and nearby residential properties, the applicant stated that in terms of traffic generation, the street would not be “unreasonably affected” by traffic: “Vehicle movements will extend only a short distance into the court, between the entrance to the subject land and the intersection with Ernst Wanke Road.”
Despite assisted evidence from Fernway Engineering traffic engineer, Supen Perea, with the applicant citing that Mr Perera said postdevelopment traffic volumes would not exceed the “environmental goal” or “maximum capacity for the street”, it was not found sufficient by the tribunal. Bryne cited previous VCAT cases, such as Graphos (Aust) Pty Ltd v Nillumbik SC [2008] VCAT 2321, where the Tribunal made comments regarding the “special character” and low traffic environment provided by cul-de-sacs and the “need to be sensitive about proposals that might interrupt” said traffic state.
“Residents enjoy a higher level of amenity that other local streets and main road locations given the usually smaller number of dwellings
and an absence of through traffic,” Byrne said.
“I find the estimated post-development traffic increases in Gori Court will have a detrimental impact on the amenity of residents in the court, even though the post-traffic volumes will not exceed the environmental or engineering capacity of the local road network.
“We would add that courts and cul-de-sacs can develop a sense of community that is often highly valued by residents.”
Looking at the wider community impact, the proposal aimed to service a local population with the applicant stating that the subject land is an “appropriate location” for the childcare centre.
The applicant also added that it is supported “from a policy perspective” considering its interface with a busy main road where other nonresidential uses are present. In addition, they also stated that the proposed development does not “compromise the role and function of centres within the activity centre network”.
“Childcare centres are commonplace in residential areas, and there are no nearby activity centres presently in operation,” the applicant said. They also said that the subject land is complementary with the other nearby non-residential uses surrounding Ernst Wanke Road, such as
Bupa Aged Care Berwick, Mary MacKillop Primary School, Kingdom Hall and more.
However, Casey Council’s testament was that the subject land does not “enjoy policy support”, since there would be a concentration of nonresidential uses – with the primary school – that would “detract from the primary residential function of the area”.
The applicant also relied on a demand analysis by Ubris, which stated tight supply and demand conditions in the local market of childcare centres, as well as a “shortfall” of long daycare places in Narre Warren North.
Casey Council on the other hand contested the demand analysis by stating that Urbis had not “demonstrated that the childcare centre will service the needs of the local community”.
Furthermore, Byrne said that while the demand assessment indicates the possibility of the need for a long-day childcare in five years, “this does not overcome the locational issues I have recorded”.
Ultimately,acombinationofnon-compliance with the area’s character, as well as unclear specifications regarding servicing local communities and the unique qualities played by cul-de-sacs were the main causes of the denial of a permit.
By Tara Cosoleto, Aap
International pop star Vanessa Amorosi will have one more thing to celebrate on her birthday after winning a years-long legal battle against her mother.
Amorosi, who turned 43 on Thursday, sued Joyleen Robinson in the Victorian Supreme Court for full ownership of two properties bought as a result of her commercial success.
One was an eight-hectare property at Narre Warren where Mrs Robinson lives, while the second was Amorosi’s current residence in California.
Mrs Robinson argued the Narre Warren property should belong to her as she had paid her daughter the $650,000 they agreed to back in 2001.
But Supreme Court Justice Steven Moore on Thursday ruled the supposed agreement between the pair never happened and Amorosi should have full ownership of the Narre Warren property.
Justice Moore also found that Amorosi should be the sole owner of her Californian home, but the judge agreed Mrs Robinson should receive close to $900,000 in restitution from Amorosi.
The legal battle started in March 2021 when Amorosi launched Supreme Court proceedings against Mrs Robinson.
During a five-day trial in October, Amorosi and her mother both gave evidence, with the performer taking breaks to wipe away tears and compose herself.
Amorosi claimed the $650,000 used to purchase the Narre Warren home in 2001 came from a trust account set up to receive all of her singersongwriter earnings.
The house was in both her and her mother’s names, with Mrs Robinson alleging Amorosi agreed to hand over full ownership of the Narre Warren home if she paid $650,000 when asked. Mrs Robinson maintained the agreement was
made in February 2001 during a conversation in the kitchen of their former family home.
My council, my vote
Vote by post this October
Ballot packs will be mailed to voters enrolled in the Casey City Council general election from Monday 7 October. Complete and return your ballot material ASAP. Ballot material must be in the mail or delivered to the election manager by 6 pm on Friday 25 October
If you will be away
If you will be away when ballot packs are mailed, or your address has changed since Wednesday 7 August, you can request for your ballot pack to be redirected by completing the online redirection form at vec.vic.gov.au/redirections, or call 131 832.
Requests for redirection must be received by 5 pm on Monday 9 September.
Large print and braille ballot papers
Large print or braille ballot papers are available for voters who are blind or have low vision – please register by 5 pm Tuesday 10 September. To register, call 03 8620 1314 during business hours.
Early votes
If you will be away during the voting period (7 – 25 October), you can go to your local election office to vote in person, from 10 am on Wednesday 18 September.
The Casey City Council election office is at: Suite OF003, Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre 125 High Street (access from Level 1 carpark near Anytime Fitness) Cranbourne
How to nominate as a candidate
To nominate as a candidate, you must:
• be an Australian citizen and enrolled on the voters roll for Casey City Council AND
• be eligible to become a councillor should you be elected AND
• have completed the mandatory candidate training before lodging your nomination with the election manager.
To nominate, complete the nomination form and lodge it with the election manager together with the $250 nomination fee. Nomination forms can be lodged by appointment during business hours from Monday 9 September until 12 noon on Tuesday 17 September at the election office. Visit vec.vic.gov.au for more information and to pre-complete your nomination form using the online Candidate Helper. The online Candidate Helper will be available from Tuesday 20 August.
If you use the online Candidate Helper, print your pre-completed form and make an appointment to lodge it with the election manager along with the nomination fee.
Call the election manager from Monday 9 September on 131 832 to make a nomination appointment.
Nominations close 12 noon Tuesday 17 September.
But Amorosi told the court she should have full ownership as there was never any agreement in place.
The singer also sought to be the sole owner of her current Californian residence, which was bought through a trust account set up by her mother.
Justice Moore ruled the agreement between Amorosi and her mother never happened and the Narre Warren property should be under Amorosi’s name alone.
“The shifting and inconsistent course of Mrs Robinson’s evidence leaves me entirely unconvinced that there existed a Narre Warren agreement as alleged,“ the judge said in his reasons.
“I did not find Mrs Robinson to be a reliable witness in her evidence to the court.“
Justice Moore also rejected defence claims that Amorosi was evasive or vague in her evidence.
“It is entirely unsurprising that some of Ms Amorosi’s evidence about conversations she had with her mother more than 20 years ago when she was an 18-year-old touring the world as an international pop star was general and non-specific,“ he said.
Justice Moore also found Amorosi should be the sole owner of her Californian home, but he agreed Mrs Robinson should receive restitution for the contribution she made to Amorosi’s property in 2014.
He ordered Amorosi pay her mother $650,000 plus $219,486.33 in interest.
Amorosi did not attend court for Thursday’s judgment, with her barrister Joel Fetter saying his client was still in the US.
Mrs Robinson was also not in attendance, though some of her family members watched on in court.
Candidate information session
6 pm Wednesday 4 September at Bunjil Place, Function Centre A, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren
Candidate information kits containing nomination forms and other electoral information will be available online and from the election manager.
State-enrolled voters can register for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders at vec.vic.gov.au
Thumbs up
To the Goon veterans team winning the Grand Final yesterday
Thumbs down
To all the street lights - especially ones along the Princes Highway and at major intersections - that are out and have been out for quite some time. Get them fixed, its too dangerous.
Thumbs up
To the weather - it’s brilliant.
Thumbs down
To whoever is taking plants from others’ gardens.
Thumbs down
To all the potholes all over this state. I swear every few months I have to replace rims. This is getting ridiculous.
Thumbs down
To all the road closures. There are so many detour signs you don’t know which ones to follow.
Thumbs down
To those dumping their rubbish.
Thumbs up
To a beautiful weekend and being very productive outside.
By Ethan Benedicto
The large steps on the second level of Bunjil Library were decorated by over 100 origami houses on Monday 12 August, a combined community effort to raise awareness amidst Homelessness Week.
Ticking off each colour of the rainbow, the houses were made by members of the local community which included children’s groups but also adults, with Bunjil Library previously inviting the public to take part in the craft-making activity.
Connected Libraries’ manager of children, youth and outreach, Cenza Fulco, said that the houses were part of a much larger initiative for Homelessness Week.
“The display of origami houses kind of really resonates with [Homelessness Week], and it’s a cute thing to get the community involved in making a house themselves.
“But it’s also about the conversations around the creation of the house that you can talk about.
“We’ve had children’s groups making houses, had adults drop in to make houses, and it’s the conversations around you know, ‘there are people that are homeless that don’t have a house like we do, so can you make a house?’,” she said.
The concept of Origami Houses began with Homelessness Australia, with the significant, yearly display of 6000 houses at the steps at Parliament House, representing 10 per cent of the 60,000 social homes needed in Victoria.
Over 72,839 origami houses were folded across the state, with a large portion of those displayed at the Parliament steps on 31 July.
At a more local level, 1800 origami homes were folded throughout all six Connected Libraries branches, including Bunjil Library.
To Ms Fulco, the act of speaking about homelessness, from children to adults is important to “break down the stigma”.
“I think there is sometimes the perception of homeless people we see and the fear around them, but it’s about making them real people with
real experiences.
“We at Connected Libraries have always wanted to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and that includes people that are homeless or sleeping rough.
“For them to feel welcomed, even just spending the day in the library where they’re not bothered or annoyed; and that’s part of creating safe spaces and how it connects for [Connected Libraries],” she said.
The other integral part of the origami houses initiative is its encouragement of the homelessness drive and the fundraising surrounding it.
Discover Joy is one of these endeavours during the Christmas season, where food materials and other perishables are delivered to community organisations.
“We partner with some community organisations and encourage people to come to the libraries to donate and pass the good message along,” Ms Fulco said.
Part of the much larger campaign by the Victorian Homelessness Network, it calls for the construction of 60,000 social homes to meet the state’s current need, as well as implementing a 10 year nationwide place with a commitment to end homelessness.
The Donation Drive at Bunjil Library is currently ongoing and will conclude on Sunday 18 August.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Ethan Benedicto
A man has been accused of stabbing a victim five millimetres from their heart at a Berwick shopping centre on Sunday 11 August, according to charge sheets tendered at court.
Jikany Puoch, 29, of Berwick, did not apply for bail at a hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 12 August.
Casey CIU charged Puoch with nine offences relating to the incident, including two counts of reckless conduct endangering death, two counts of intentionally causing injury and two counts of recklessly causing injury.
Puoch was also charged with violent affray, using a controlled weapon as well as causing $5000 of property damage to glass doors, display fridges, a coffee machine, glass containers and plates.
Police have publicly allegedly that Puoch armed himself with the knife from a nearby store before stabbing a 24-year-old Cranbourne North man in the chest.
The wound was 5mm from his heart, according to the charge sheets.
A 77-year-old man from Berwick was injured when he intervened to subdue the man before police arrived, according to police.
Both alleged victims were taken to hospital with the 24-year-old sustaining serious injuries, and the 77-year-old with non-life threatening injuries.
Police have stated they believe it was a random attack, with the people involved not knowing each other.
In the courtroom, police submitted to uplift
The alleged incident on Sunday 11 August took place inside the shopping centre just off Lyall Road in the heart of Berwick Village. (Ethan Benedicto: 425137)
the matter to a higher court due to the seriousness of the alleged offending.
Magistrate Jacinta Studham adjourned the application to hear more details on the alleged victim’s injuries.
Meanwhile, Puoch was diagnosed with depression and PTSD, and was likely to be withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, a defence lawyer told the court.
He also suffered a suspected shoulder injury during his arrest, the lawyer said. It was Puoch’s first time in custody.
Ms Studham requested a custody doctor to assess Puoch’s suspected injury.
Puoch was remanded to appear via video link at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 August.
A police application to revoke Puoch’s bail was also adjourned until next week.
By Tara Cosoleto, AAP
A teenage girl begged neighbours for help after seeing her father allegedly hack her mother to death with an axe and kitchen knife.
CCTV footage of the girl, then aged 16, banging on her neighbour’s front door was played to a Victorian Supreme Court jury on Tuesday as her father stands trial for murder.
Prosecutors allege Dinush Kurera, 47, killed Nelomie Perera in December 2022 in a “sustained, brutal and vicious attack” with a hatchet and kitchen knife.
The 47-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder, admitting he killed his wife but saying he did so to save his own life.
The daughter, now aged 18, told the jury she saw her father repeatedly strike and stab her mother with the axe and knife.
During her evidence on Monday, she told the court Kurera came to their house armed with an axe and threatened to burn the property down if they tried to contact police.
She said her mother was already bleeding from the head when she came downstairs and when her brother tried to flee, Kurera chased after him with the axe.
The teen told the jury she ran to the bathroom and tried to call triple zero but the calls did not connect.
She then heard her mother’s screams so she ran back into the kitchen and allegedly saw Kurera holding an axe and hovering over Ms Perera, who was bleeding on the kitchen floor.
Kurera went to grab a knife from a kitchen drawer and the teen unsuccessfully tried to stop him, the jury was told.
He then used that knife and the axe to allegedly strike and stab Ms Perera repeatedly in the neck and upper body, the girl said.
The teen told the court she picked up a knife as well and was going to stab her father
in the back but she did not follow through with her plan.
“I didn’t want to get in trouble,” she said.
“I felt like she was already going to die either way so I didn’t know what to do.”
Ms Perera yelled out “I’m dead” as she was allegedly attacked and the girl ran from the house to her neighbours next door, the jury was told.
CCTV footage played to the court showed her banging on the front door, saying “dad’s killing mum” and “I’m pretty sure she’s dead”. Kurera sat expressionless in the courtroom as the video was played.
He has pleaded not guilty to murder, saying he was acting in self-defence when he killed Ms Perera because she came at him with a knife.
Kurera also denies striking his son with the axe as he tried to flee the house.
Ms Perera was found in a pool of blood with 35 separate injuries, the jury was told. Their son sustained injuries to the back of his head, knee and shoulder.
The daughter’s evidence continues.
· 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
· Lifeline 13 11 14
By Sahar Foladi
Refugees from the South East have joined an encampment outside the Department of Home Affairs in Melbourne, calling on the new Minister Tony Burke for “urgent policy reform”.
Among thousands of asylum seekers waiting in the ‘fast-track’ process, they say they have had enough of living in limbo - some for more than a decade.
On Sunday 11 August the group were set to complete a month of encampment and 24-houra day protest, braving extreme cold at times.
Thanu Mylvaganam fled Sri Lanka at the young age of 18. He didn’t imagine camping outside the Immigration office 12 years later, given the horrific situation back home.
“My three brothers were killed by the Sri Lankan army and I had to leave my mother and father behind.
“I have lived in Dandenong since I arrived in 2013 and have been working hard, getting along with the Australian community, paying tax and GST.”
He owns a transport company but without a permanent protection visa it’s impossible for him to embrace his parents again.
“My heart is broken, waiting 12 years for protection and not knowing whether I will be able to see my mother and father.
“My father had a heart attack last month and my mother has heart problems.”
His father luckily survived the heart attack after a successful operation.
A national push demanding justice has included the launch of an indefinite 24/7 protest in front of Minister Burke’s office in NSW. They say the Labor Party has failed to “provide a remedy for the failed system.”
Advocates also call for urgent protection to “address the widespread mental health and homelessness issues arising from the lack of safety net and certainty”.
According to the latest Department of Home Affairs report, 7376 applicants have had their applications refused, expired or cancelled while 3228 Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) and RoS applicants are
An unrivalled location on the corner of Station Street and Rossiter Road in the heart of Koo Wee Rup. The site of 118m2, offers the unique opportunity to occupy one premises, while receiving an income from the other with an established tenancy in place.
The site benefits from the following features:
• Established tenant in place paying $1,030 + GST, and outgoings per month on a lease to February 2025, with a 3-year option to renew
• Suitable for immediate owner occupation in the other premises
• Prominent corner location
• Rear shared car park
Address: 275 Rossiter Road, Koo Wee Rup Floor Area: 118m² | Category: Retail
For more information or an inspection, please contact:
Shannon Hynd | 0499 980 100
Commercial Department Manager
Todd McKenna | 0418 391 182
Managing Director
large pool identified as ‘Stateless’ (566),
The group of protesters are comprised of those refused a protection visa (2821) or are awaiting judicial review (4555) or are awaiting a response for their application (3228).
Introduced in 2014 by then Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, the ‘fast track’ system was supposed to process temporary protection visa applications at a faster pace.
It shortened the steps necessary to determine an appropriate outcome for each protection claims such as disabling the Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA) to hear directly from the people seeking asylum and instead making decisions based of information before the Department of Immigration.
This resulted in the IAA making unfair and legally incorrect decisions forever, according to refugee advocates.
Some of those on TPVs or SHEVs were granted bridging visas. According to each applicant’s circumstances, they included conditions such as no access to Medicare, Centrelink, and no right to work or attend higher education.
Recently, there was an emotional vigil held for the Dandenong based Tamil asylum seeker Uthayakaran Periyathamby who passed away in his sleep after spending more than a decade in limbo and full of struggles.
In February 2023, the Federal Government announced a Resolution of Status (RoS) visa for 19,000 asylum seekers as a pathway to permanent visa.
As at 30 June 2024 there were 18,026 RoS visas issued, with 2,038 RoS visa applications on hand.
Those left behind the RoS visa road to permanent residence include Iranians (519) Sri Lankans (245) as well as Rohingyas.
awaiting an outcome, bringing the total to 10,604 in limbo.
Victoria accommodates the largest TPV and SHEV applicants (879) followed by Sydney (725) mainly from Iran, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and a
According to the Federal Government, the “flawed” IAA will be replaced by a “user-focused, efficient, accessible, independent and fair” Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) on 14 October 2024.
In the 1950s, the United States Navy was engaged to project manage the building of the Polaris nuclear submarine. Back then, the idea of launching an inter-continental ballistic missile from a sea-going vessel was seen as revolutionary and indeed it was regarded as one of the most complex engineering projects ever undertaken up to that time.
With little in the way of predecessors to this kind of project, there was not much to go on to determine how long it would take to build and how much it would cost, but of course both these pieces of information are essential to being able to determine feasibility of the project itself. So as part of their management process, the Navy developed a comprehensive project management system known as ‘PERT’ which stands for the Program Evaluation and Review Technique. The PERT technique can be applied to any sort of project and indeed any type of problem where there is a high degree of uncertainty but some kind of realistic estimate needs to be derived.
What many businesses usually do in such a situation is come up with a broad estimate and then add a contingency (also known as a “fudge factor”) to allow for the fact that they may well have missed something. The problem with this approach is that this is hard to defend and if the contingency is too big, you may simply become commercially unviable and if too small, the slightest overrun may push you into negative territory and you can end up losing money and/or running over time.
The PERT approach to estimation does the following: first you break down the project, activity or element into the discrete components that make it up and then for each discrete component, you create three separate estimates:
· The best-case scenario (optimistic estimate
– E(O))
· The worst-case scenario (pessimistic esti-
mate – E(P))
· The most likely scenario (expected estimate – E(M))
From these three estimates, a ‘Planning Estimate’ can be derived using the formula:
· Planning Estimate = { E(O) + (4 x E(M)) + E(P) } / 6
In effect, this produces what’s known as a ‘weighted estimate’ so the best-case and worst-case estimates are factored in, but not completely. So, for example, suppose we have the following estimates for a particular task:
· Best-case estimate = 10 days
· Expected estimate = 15 days
· Worst-case estimate = 38 days
· Then the Planning Estimate = ( 10 + (4 x 15) + 38 ) / 6 = 108 /6 = 18 days.
You can see that this has affected our ‘expected estimate’ by increasing it by a factor of 3 days, but far better than planning on 10 or 38 days!
This technique is usually used to calculate timeframes, but it can also be used in financial forecasts or any other application where there is uncertainty. For example, if you want to estimate how much revenue you could expect from a specific customer over a given period, you can estimate best-case, worst-case and expected sales figures and then use the Planning Estimate formula above to derive a forecast sales figure for that period. Happy estimating! Ian Ash ACC, AInstIB Managing Director OrgMent Business
Join the Summerset team and current residents at 10.30am on Tuesday 20 August to hear all about Summerset Cranbourne North. Riet Bersma-Rees, Head of Sales Australia, will talk to what makes Summerset Cranbourne North a great choice, outline the costs of retirement village living, give an update on the Village Centre construction, and answer any questions you may have. Following the presentation, enjoy some light refreshments and tour the completed areas of the village.
With the village open and several residents already enjoying village life, you’ll be able to chat with them directly and find out what it’s like to live at Summerset Cranbourne North.
“Everything was done to make us feel welcome and after only two weeks we feel like we belong. Nothing could have been done to make our transition better.”
GERRY & FENNA, RESIDENTS AT SUMMERSET CRANBOURNE NORTH.
Love the life you choose.
Tuesday 20 August, 10.30am
Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A feared $200 million budget cut at Monash Health has been averted in a State Government health services reform announced on 8 August.
Victorian hospital executives had reportedly discussed possible bed closures, elective surgery cuts, cancelling breast screening and special-care cots in the face of “significant” funding cuts.
Premier Jacinta Allan announced an additional $1.5 billion for hospitals to end months of speculation that hospitals would have to close beds, halt elective surgeries and breast screenings.
It would help cover “record demand” in the emergency department as well as a further 10,000 elective surgeries.
According to the Government, hospitals had operated without an agreed budget during Covid and it was “time to return to something a bit more normal”.
The Government also announced that health services, such as Monash, would not be forced into merger.
An independent Health Services Plan review had recommended the mergers, such as Monash Health and the West Gippsland Health Group forming a South Metro LHN (Local Health Network).
It also proposed a Bayside LHN combining Alfred Hospital, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health.
Each network would comprise of a major hospital, a women’s and a children’s hospital. In the case of the South Metro LHN, all three would be at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton.
In a streamlining move, the LHNs would eventually share IT and payroll functions.
The proposed LHN boundaries were still subject to “further consultation with the sector”, according to the Government.
“The Government will provide guidance to health service boards on principles to underpin Local Health Service Network groupings,” a Gov-
ernment website stated.
“Health services will then be able to propose groupings for their region for approval by Government.”
The State Government accepted 26 of the review’s 27 recommendations either in-principle or in full, but declined to force mergers.
As part of the reform, the Government will also establish an agency Hospitals Victoria to oversee collaboration between hospitals as well as their financial sustainability.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the reforms would lead to a “better integrated and connected” health system while “protecting the lo-
cal services we know Victorians trust and rely on”.
The State Opposition labelled the extra funding an “humiliating backdown” after speculation of “secret health cuts”.
“These funding cuts were never about efficiencies or better services, but mopping up the real-world consequence of a decade of financial mismanagement and record debt under Labor,” opposition leader John Pesutto said.
Opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier said the Government had caused enormous concern about the potential loss of health services and jobs.
Victorian Healthcare Association chief execu-
tive Leigh Clarke said the Health Services Plan was “centralising administration and resources across health services without immediately having to consolidate.”
“The VHA supports the intent of reform – to achieve equity of access to clinical care for all Victorians.
“The return of funding of $1.5 billion is focused on avoiding the most significant of risks to clinical staff and services – and we look forward to seeing the additional funding to achieve system reform.”
Monash Health declined to comment.
Connecting with family and friends online can be fun and exciting, but it also comes with some risks.
Find out what these are and what you can do to stay safe online.
What are the risks?
Here are some of the risks and dangers to look out for:
· Privacy – your personal information could be seen by anyone, anywhere. It could be viewed by friends, family and strangers.
· Permanency – once something is posted it can stay online for a long time, even when comments or photos are deleted.
· Grooming – there are people who try to talk with children and young people online in an attempt to have sexual contact. This is against the law.
· Identity fraud – people can gather enough information about a person to steal their identity. They can use this to do illegal things like steal your money or commit crimes under your
name. It could also be used to create fake profiles to ruin someone’s reputation or to bully others.
· Trolling – this is when someone misuses social websites to cause conflict or harm to an individual or group.
· Catfishing – a person can pretend to be someone they’re not by stealing a profile or creating a fake one. They can use this profile to trick people over a long period of time.
How can I protect my personal information?
It is important not to share your: address or location, phone number, school or work, sporting clubs or groups that you’re in, passwords, bank details.
Helpful hints to stay safe online
There are a few simple things you can do to try to keep safe online:
· Be careful of requests – only accept ‘friend’ requests from people you know in real life.
· Block anyone you’ve had contact with that was
negative or unsafe.
· Think before you upload and share photos.
· Be mindful of what you write to others – you never know who will read these comments and how they might interpret them.
· Think carefully about sharing links to other sites.
· Keep your online friends online – never agree to meet someone you’ve only known online on your own. Take one of your parents with you and meet in a public place. If they are who they say they are, they’ll be happy to do this.
· Think about your privacy – avoid sharing personal information online that could be misused by someone in real life.
· Protect your identity – pick a username that isn’t your real name and a profile picture that doesn’t show any personal information.
· Sexting – keep sexting laws in mind when taking photos and sending or receiving images..
Courtesy: kidshelpline.com.au
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 mental 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
Physical activity remains essential for overall health, regardless of age.
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.
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 preventive 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 aca-
Physical
demics, 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.
The Hallam Secondary College Sports Academy is one of the longest running and most successful programs of its type in Victoria.
Many graduating students have had successful careers either as professional athletes or in associated sports-related occupations.
Our program has helped numerous athletes get drafted into the AFL/AFLW and NRL while also providing opportunities for students to enrol in several US College sporting programs.
Our number one focus is academic performance and excellence.
We provide an extensive range of educational options under the new VCE model, including a range of exciting pathway options whilst assisting students in pursuing a career in the sports industry.
The new VCE model is underpinned by applied, hands-on learning in HPE, Year 10 sports science and more than 15 unique offerings in vocational education and training. We have strong links with Universities, TAFEs, apprenticeships, registered training organisations, state sports organisations, community and elite sporting clubs, organisations, and various talent pathways.
Our sports have a range of external elite coaches, focusing on athlete development and developing good people in our community.
The Sports Academy is a select entry program.
Students interested in becoming a student of the Academy must go through an interview and screening process and adhere to their academic studies, individual learning plans and strict criteria set by the College.
Students must provide an academic history, sporting background and references to ensure that this is the right program for them
before being selected.
Students are also required to attend Selection Trials (dates TBC). Note students must
2025 applications are now open for students in Years 10-12. Please see the website for more information. Note places are limited.
The Hallam Secondary College Sports Academy recognises the importance of providing students in Years 10-12 with a fulfilling and challenging education that also allows them to further develop and enhance their opportunities to pursue a career in sport.
To be part of this exciting program, students must submit their application and attend an interview and possible selection trial.
Applications Close Friday 6th September
For more information and an application form please visit our website: www.hallamsc.vic.edu.au or call the College on 9703 1266.
Frawley Road, Hallam VIC 3802
hallam.sc@education.vic.gov.au www.hallamsc.vic.edu.au
The Hallam SC Sports Academy is currently built around sports that were identified as an integral part of Hallam and its surrounding communities.
With the cost of living increasing, now is a better time than ever to teach children about the importance of saving money effectively. With that in mind, financial experts from money.co.uk have compiled a list of their top ten tips for teaching your children about money.
Start with the basics of money and finance
How you introduce money to your children will partly depend on their age. A good place to start is getting children comfortable handling cash and coins.
Explain to them how money is used to buy things and that it must be earned before it can be spent.
Speak openly about small financial decisions
Start getting your child involved with minor financial decisions, such as which brands and items to buy when shopping. This way your child is able to understand the decisions you make while also feeling in control of certain financial choices.
Older children could also help with budgeting while shopping if you ask them to keep a running total of the items you buy.
Not only will this help their maths skills, but it can also help them to understand how small items can still add up in price and not everything is affordable on a budget.
Set a good example with your own finances
There are no two ways about it, children learn money habits from their parents.
Showing them small activities, such as checking the receipt after your shop or putting money into savings can start developing positive habits from a young age.
Encourage your child to ask questions with-
out repercussion in this setting. While you might not necessarily have all the answers, opening up a dialogue is a healthy way for your child to learn more about finance.
Use pocket money as an incentive for small tasks
Using pocket money as an incentive to do chores around the house not only helps you, but it also helps your child learn more about the value of money and what it takes to earn it. Creating a simple plan with a set amount of money for different tasks, along with caps per week or month, is a great way to help your child start understanding where money comes from.
The relationship between work and money, household chores and pocket money is also a great opportunity to show children how to save. If your child has shown interest in a more expensive purchase, you could set them up with an old-fashioned piggy bank where they can ‘deposit’ their earnings or create a chart for them to fill out so they can track how much money they have.
James Andrews from money.co.uk encourages parents to teach children how to handle money from a young age.
“Creating an environment where you can speak more openly with your children about financial decisions is key to them gaining an understanding of the value of money,” Mr Andrews says.
“It’s important to make sure your lessons are age-appropriate and that you continue to involve and teach your children about money as they grow - a healthy relationship with finances starts at a young age, and children learn most of their habits from their parents.”
Originally published on www.money.co.uk/.
We invite you to join us for our next tour and explore our ELC, Junior School, Senior Girls and Senior Boys schools.
Please book your place via our website or using the QR code
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I dressed up as a carrot for my 40th birthday. I had always wanted to dress up as a carrot and thought that would be the perfect opportunity. So, I made everybody that was coming to my party dress up as something that started with the first letter of their name because my name is Cindy and carrot starts with C!
What do you love the most about your job?
This is such a hard question to answer because there are so many aspects of my job that are incredibly rewarding. I have pure moments of joy when I can physically feel a breakthrough with a new client after a certain period of time. Each new client that comes to us is a different person which means we need to change the way we adapt our service delivery to make them feel welcome, included, safe and encouraged. Sometimes that feeling of success can come early. Sometimes it takes a little while longer but every single time I feel that moment of “Oh my goodness we just made progress and this person now feels safe and included” is one of the best feelings that I can have in my job. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
I would like to be my dog “Mavis”. She is a toy poodle and lives the best life in the world with me. I adopted her four months ago. She is five years old and was used for breeding. She is quite anxious, however, we are working on building her confidence, much like what I do in my job in everyday life. She has come so far already. My favourite thing to do is to hang out with her and feed her, yummy doggy treats. She has become my best little friend and I love her.
What was your most memorable moment? I’ve had many memorable moments in my life but the one that comes to mind still has me pinching myself. It was recently in Bali when my long-term partner Daz who also works in disability proposed to me in a stunning exclusively prepared private dinner setting on the beach. He had planned the whole night with a team in Bali prior to us leaving Melbourne and I have never been more surprised
in my life. It was the single most romantic setting I have ever been in complete with a professional photographer who captured the moment perfectly along with a photo shoot along the beach. Of course,I said yes!
What were you like as a kid?
So different to the person I have become now. I have my parents to thank for bringing me up to be a very well mannered and respectful young lady who really didn’t do anything naughty when I was going through my teenage years. I was always scared I was going to get in trouble if I snuck out of thehouseorwaggedschool.Ioncegotintroubleat school for smoking behind the lockers but it wasn’t me! I had to do the detention anyway. I never liked smoking. Overall I was a quiet child which over the years has changed. I am now a much louder and vibrant person with a very colourful personality and zest for life which I believe everybody should have. I don’t tolerate nastiness or disrespect - this extends into my business. I simply treat everybody with respect and kindness and think the world
would be a better place if everybody conducted themselves in the same manner.
What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
I would have loved to have gone to an Elvis Presley concert. My late mum Sofie was a huge Elvis fan. She also was the first volunteer as part of the Umbrella Support program. She gave me a love for 70s and 80s music and I still listen to that type of music every single day.
Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
Oh, this is a very hard question because my dinner table would probably have 50 people seated, not just six. Okay let’s give this ago! Oprah Winfrey, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Barack Obama, Helen Keller and Elvis Presley.
What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’ I would start with coffee in bed with my little dog Mavis then a trip to a day spa where I would indulge in a ridiculously long massage treatment and facial. Then I would meet my best friend Deni for a long lunch and a few cocktails and finish with dinner at home with my brand new fiance Daz and my beautiful toy poodle Mavis watching trashy TV and planning our next holiday together.
Where is your happy place?
Definitely at home. I recently moved to a much quieter location and it’s beautiful. When I first moved I missed my son and our dog Louie. That’s when I decided to adopt Mavis and life got much better for both of us. My home is definitely my happy place but it’s especially great when Daz is with us which is a lot of the time.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
Ihavebeentosomanyplacesintheworld.Iamvery fortunate to have seen a lot. Daz and I once spent Christmas Day in New York which was a bucket list tickbuttheplaceIamstillyettoseeandwilloneday look forward to visiting is Santorini. With that said I am still on cloud nine after coming home from Bali and Daz’s most unexpected romantic proposal. I would go back to Bali tomorrow to relive that evening but Santorini is definitely on my list.
This is my 6th year as Principal of St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar after having held leadership positions at some of Melbourne’s top independent private schools including Korowa, Wesley, MLC and Lauriston.
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar is unique as it offers a coeducational junior school and single gender education senior schools on dedicated campuses in Berwick and Officer. This model allows us to honour everything we know about providing a great education as boys and girls learn differently as they progress through school.
Everything we do at the school is actioned through our values of: COURAGE to do the right thing, CURIOSITY to know and learn, CHARACTER to be one’s true self and RESPECT to live wisely and compassionately with others and the planet. We use these values to frame everything from HR processes to curriculum design. While we focus on academic outcomes, we take a holistic approach to education leveraging athleticism, artistry and adventure to help students find their spark helping to grow good men and build empowered young women who know they can.
This week, Berwick College Captains Tarran, Shaya, Kaiden, Matthew, and Regan had the pleasure of officially welcoming Josie Millard OAM as the new Principal of Berwick College. Speaking on behalf of the school community, the captains expressed their excitement about the positive impact Josie is expected to bring to the school.
Josie, who is the tenth Principal in the history of Berwick College, shared her deep sense of honour and privilege in taking on this significant role. She is passionate about education and is committed to ensuring that every student at Berwick College has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Josie’s vision is to create an environment where students not only achieve outstanding educational outcomes but also grow into well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of the future.
With extensive experience in various educational roles, Josie brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to quality education. She firmly believes that strong educational outcomes are vital for the social and economic prosperity of the community. Josie is excited about the journey ahead and looks forward to collaborating with students, staff, and the broader Berwick College community to continue the school’s tradition of excellence.
Visit strokefoundation.org.au for more information. Remember FAST. Face, arms, speech, time. Call 000 immediately if you recognise any of the following signs.
1
Signs of stroke include FASTface, arms, speech, time. Has their mouth dropped, are they able to lift both arms above their head, are they slurring their speech or having trouble understanding you, call emergency services immediately.
2
Strokes can have many long lasting effects including loss of vision, fatigue, difficulty speaking, reading or writing, struggling to swallow, personality changes and problems with memory.
3
High blood pressure, smoking tobacco, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and abnormal blood lipids can all increase the risk of experiencing a stroke.
The Friends of Wilson Botanic Park Berwick’s new history project is well underway, with a grant from the City of Casey to digitise its thirtyplus years of archival records.
On 6 August, the group held a background briefing along with lunch, with the attendance of council staff who were present when the Friends was initially formed.
With the support of council staff, the group created a visual display of the then and now scenes of the park’s visitor centre, with the current display highlighting the Rose Garden and Arbour Walk.
Coordinator of the history group, Paula Taylor said that “visitors will be amazed at the transformation”.
“The display will change every few months, we invite visitors to stop by and learn about the history of both the park and the Friends,” she said.
Special invitees to the lunch meeting included former CEO of the City of Berwick and mayor of Casey, Neil Lucas; former City of Berwick senior design engineer and later manager of technical services for Casey, Ron Chidgey.
Paula Taylor added that both guests were “proactive in the establishment of Wilson Botanic Park Berwick” and have “maintained a lifelong interest and connection”.
Attendees of the meeting learned that the council faced a number of challenges concerning the park and that its development was dependent on successful applications for support from State and Federal government agencies and other community groups.
“It was also dependent on volunteers for their physical work and fundraising efforts,” Ms Taylor said.
“Neil and Ron are in complete agreement that the park could not have progressed as well as it has and become what it is today without the countless hours of dedicated volunteer work contributed by the Friends.”
Mr Lucas, one of the special guests learned about the work of the Friends of the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, where a report to the
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A milestone has been reached towards a $600 million redevelopment of the Little India precinct in Dandenong.
The State Government has given the green light to a Planning Scheme Amendment for the ambitious plan of 470 new homes as well as new apartment, retail and office towers and 2500 square-metres of community spaces.
The proposed first stage in the Foster Street precinct includes homes, a supermarket and a food market hall.
The project, which is expected to support about 2600 construction jobs, was first touted in 2020.
The redevelopment was expected to occur at seven stages around Foster Street, bounded by Settlers Square, Dandenong train station, Halpin Way, Thomas Street and Cheltenham Road.
Capital Alliance chief executive Mohan Du said the PSA approval was an “important milestone in the delivery of this generational masterplan vision”.
The project would transform central Dandenong into “Melbourne’s second capital city”, Du said.
Private developer Capital Alliance released a master plan for community engagement in 2022.
It included a plan to relocate Little India retailers to a new laneway between Halpin Way and Foster Street, as well as a 29-storey hotel and conference centre, 29-storey office tower and an outdoor plaza on the corner of Foster Street and Cheltenham Road.
An urban brewery entertainment district and supermarket was to be the last stage constructed from 2038.
A community centre near Settlers Square, and a school at the corner of Mason and Foster Street was also proposed.
The government’s developer arm Development Victoria will now partner with Capital Alliance on a development plan, which is subject to final approval.
Greater Dandenong Council has no planning authority over the project. It reported that after the development plan, Capital Alliance will submit planning applications to the Planning Minister for each stage of development.
The project renews Sites 11 to 15 as part of the State Government’s 18-years-and-growing
Revitalising Central Dandenong program.
The Government says RCD is expected to attract $1.2 billion in private investment and sustain up to 500 jobs.
“Dandenong is booming,” Development Victoria Minister Colin Brooks said.
“And we’re ensuring more homes and jobs
are created closer to public services, so local families can access everything they need, close to where they live.”
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said
“we’re turning this area into a vibrant new neighbourhood with hundreds more homes and jobs, right on top of a dining and entertainment precinct”.
In the first half of 2024, one-third of Australians accessed Facebook for news, a new study reveals.
The finding contradicts Meta’s long-standing assertion that news content is a minor part of the Facebook experience for most Australian users.
Meta has previously used this claim to justify its decision to abandon commercial agreements with local publishers.
The implications of this are significant for the local journalism landscape, especially for the more than 230 newspapers who are part of Country Press Australia, the association representing the interests of regional and rural newspapers across the country.
The research emphasises the essential role that news media plays in Australia, particularly how regional newspapers contribute to offering balanced and precise news coverage.
More than 40 per cent of Australians cited news access as a key motivator for their daily social media activity, with this tendency more noticeable among Gen Z and millennials at 60 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively.
Country Press Australia President Andrew Schreyer said there were significant industry challenges ahead, and forecast potential closures of up to 50 member outlets as current agreements under the News Media Bargaining Code with Meta near their expiration.
The study also found that while overall Facebook usage is waning, half of the Australians still turn to social media for news, with 25 per cent using it as their primary news source.
These findings starkly contradict Meta’s position that news is a minimal component of the content seen by Australians on its platforms, which Meta claimed represents less than three per cent of the total.
This study, initiated by News Corp and conducted by Dynata, refutes those statements.
This research release aligns with the media industry’s wait on the Albanese government’s decision regarding Meta’s obligations under the News Media Bargaining Code, which might compel Meta to negotiate compensation for content with news providers.
Meta has threatened to block Australian news content should these costs be enforced.
In an article published in The Australian on Monday, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller expressed concerns over Meta’s threats to remove news content, potentially
replacing it with less reliable sources.
He also criticised Meta for its lack of accountability.
The study shows strong public support for social media responsibility, with 85 per cent of Australians agreeing that platforms should prevent the spread of false or harmful information.
Without trustworthy journalism, 66 per cent believe the societal impact would be negative, anticipating increases in misinformation and decreased media diversity.
Mr Miller highlighted the significant impact
these findings have on public understanding and the obligations of large tech companies, criticising Meta for avoiding transparency.
This analysis of 2,500 Australians confirms the integral role of social media in their news consumption habits, countering Meta’s underestimations of news relevance on its platform, and exposing the misleading nature of its claims.
Mr Schreyer further highlighted the implications for democracy.
“Democracy in areas without local news is
lost. Who is going to stand up to a council decision that doesn’t meet the pub test? Who is going to shine a light on issues when people don’t have a big enough voice to get their message out?
“The research underscores the vital role that regional newspapers play in providing accurate and diverse perspectives.
“As Australians show a growing dissatisfaction with Meta, the study reaffirms the importance of maintaining a strong and independent local press to ensure accountability and transparency within communities.”
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Loved ones and friends fondly farewelled South Eastern Metropolitan MP and “unstoppable force” Inga Peulich in a funeral mass in Springvale on 8 August.
Ms Peulich died at 67 after a long illness, leaving a legacy including 22 years as a state politician, loyal friend and “tower of strength” for her family.
Son and former Kingston mayor Paul Peulich told of her favourite saying: “Failure is not the falling down but the staying down”.
As a girl, her family fled communist Yugoslavia when her father Drago had been “blacklisted” from working as a journalist for uncovering and reporting on state corruption.
They arrived in Australia with her family with two suitcases, no English and no money.
Born on a farm, she recalled the delight of finding ‘two cherries in a gully trap’ – which was to be the title of her memoir.
“Inga was a woman of education. Books –she had a massive library - strategy and the spoken and written word.”
She was a sought-after VCE English and Psychology teacher, who worked night shifts at the family restaurant The Last Penny in Oakleigh. She was to win an international teaching fellowship.
When she was recruited to the Liberal Party, her father commented that Inga was “too honest for politics”.
Inga served as Bentleigh MP in 1992-2002, returning to Parliament in the South East Metropolitan upper house region in 2006-‘18.
Son Paul said her “schedule was legendary”
– more than 550 meetings a year.
Strong, proud and compassionate, she had an “open-door policy” in helping whoever sought assistance, her son said.
“I saw first-hand the great impact and effectiveness of her words and more importantly her actions.”
A gifted sportsperson in her youth, she and the family forged a special bond in athletics. She would have loved to have watched the current Olympic Games, Paul said.
She had a love of country-western music and travel. In semi-retirement, she considered writing a book, studying a PhD or
returning to teaching.
“She was a tower of strength in our lives.”
Her husband Sav Peulich told the service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church that they had met at a small country fair 41 years ago.
The couple quickly fell in love, married and their journey was filled with great memories, he said.
Whether selling garments on the NSW border or fighting to win a marginal seat, there was never a dull moment.
He paid tribute to Inga’s thirst for life – she was first in the water on family holidays and striving to see all of the sights.
“You had a brilliant intellect and a heart of gold.”
Liberal colleague and ex-Moordialloc MP Geoff Leigh told of his fierce but strong friendship. They used to have many disagreements as friends – more often than they fought with their own partners.
“Politics isn’t a place where you make many friends you can trust. I know I made one friend that I could trust and that was Inga Peulich.
“It told you a lot about the quality of Inga as a person.
“Coming from the country she came from, she made me see and value how valuable free speech was. Many Australians took it for granted … up until the pandemic.”
Mr Leigh said Inga put together and trained the team of South East Liberals that defeated the Brumby Government in 2006.
“The media would often claim that it was transport issues that defeated the Brumby Government. But we all knew it was Inga putting the campaign together that resulted in our victory.”
Dianne Noulikas-Galinas joined Inga in setting up the first Liberal multicultural branch.
Ms Noulikas also spoke of Inga’s hopefulness, optimism and never failing to give up in the face of her terminal illness.
She told the service that Inga was like “family”, and “fiercely loyal”, recalling late night coffees, jokes and light-hearted ‘palm-readings’ in the Bentleigh office.
“She was the hardest working, most dedicated MP I had met, and a force to be reckoned with.
“There was no immoveable object that was a match for her unstoppable force.”
By Ethan Benedicto
The combined Probus South Pacific in Berwick was graced by a lecture from Arnold Dix on Tuesday 6 August where he spoke to the roughly 200 members about his experience and rescue of 41 men at the Char Dham highway project, in India.
The session, which went from 11am to 12:30pm involved a breakdown of the event from Mr Dix himself; which included a thorough insight into the cause of the incident, and how his expertise in tunnel safety and disaster management saved the men who were trapped for over two weeks.
To Peter Day, coordinator and the Probus member responsible for sourcing guest lecturers once every month, the experience was enthralling. He was someone who “comes across just like a mate”.
“He’s a barrister right, and you’d think oh maybe he’s a bit prim and proper, but he’s not that at all, he drives a ute!”
“He’s a very dynamic and charismatic person, and he’s probably one of Australia’s greatest humanitarians.”
While a busy man with a never-ending schedule, Arnold Dix made time for his attendance at Probus Berwick due to his mother, Norma’s, membership with the club.
According to Peter, she had asked him if Probus would like Arnold to make an appearance, to which Peter said that he, among others would “walk over broken glass” for him to make a lecture.
However, the day of the lecture just so happened to be Norma’s birthday, and according to Peter, Arnold had to honour his mother’s wish of coming down to the Old Cheese Factory on that particular Tuesday.
Arnold’s attendance would be one of the more difficult acts that the Probus had achieved, said Peter, and that the Probus at Berwick was very fortunate for his mother’s convincing.
Cranbourne and District Garden Club
The club is turning 51 this year and still meets at the Cranbourne Public Hall from 1.15pm on the second Thursday of the month.
The club enjoys day trips and lunches, afternoon teas and friendship.
· For more information, contact Julie on 5995 1420 or Jean on 9704 6242.
Women’s Health Week
Blind Bight Community Centre and Women’s Health in the South East are presenting a conversation about women’s health for Women’s Health Week from 11am to 1pm on Friday 6 September.
A free friendly forum where local women can share experiences, learn from each other and discuss the health topics that matter most to them.
· For more information or to book visit www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au or phone 5998 7014.
New Vogue dancing
Berwick Activities Club is offering another eightweek course on New Vogue dancing, commencing on Friday 6 September from 7pm to 8pm 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.
Trivia night
The Berwick Activities Club is hosting a trivia night on Saturday 7 September, with tables of six available.
· To book a table or a seat, phone David on 0433 566 456.
Blind Bight Community Centre
Craft gift making for adults from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesdays.
Join in the craft gift making class and bring along your own craft to complete.
A variety of techniques and skills are shared including mosaics, macrame, sewing and painting at $3 per class.
Playgroup from 10.30am to noon on Wednesdays. The program provides fun play activities and craft for children at $5 per family.
“I would say that we’ve never met someone as easygoing and as humble as Arnold,” Peter said.
“When he arrived there [at the incident in 2023], he talked to the mothers of the boys he was going to save.
“He put his reputation on the line and said I’m going to save your sons and we’re not going to have one accident while doing it.”
During the lecture, Peter said that throughout the presentation it became clear to the audience the kind of man Arnold was, which eventually became an experience that many would not soon forget.
“The Probus people that were there, they were
in awe of the whole thing, you couldn’t take your eyes off him, he speaks so well and he’s entertaining, he’s not boring,” Peter said.
Arnold’s sister, Helena Dix was also present during the presentation; a decorated and renowned opera singer, she graced members’ ears with an opera-style happy birthday for her mother, an experience which Peter recalled everybody thoroughly enjoyed.
For Peter, he was sure that he and many others, if not all who were in attendance, had been ignited by Arnold’s story, and while told by many a people and media, is something that they would never get tired of nor forget, especially if it came from the man himself.
U3A Cranbourne
U3A is a community group for anyone 50 and over to learn, share and to socialise.
The group offers a large variety of activities from its new premises at 20-22 Bowen Street in Cranbourne and the line dancing and social ballroom dance classes from the Casey Basketball Stadium in Cranbourne.
Supported by Casey Council, U3A Cranbourne is a not-for-profit organisation, with a membership fee of $50 per year and members wel-
Free knit and crochet from noon to 2pm on Wednesdays.
Line dancing from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesdays. All ages, and abilities welcome at $10 per class.
· For more information and for bookings, visit www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au
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. The club hosts 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 Tuesday dining trips, a weekly walking group, a weekly table tennis group,
Balla Balla Community Centre
Health & Wellbeing classes held at Balla Balla Community Centre include pilates on Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday evenings, Zumba - Tuesday evenings and Yoga Thursday late afternoons or evenings. Enhance your fitness levels before Spring arrives.
· For more information, visit ballaballa.com.au Combined Probus Club of Narre
Warren
The club welcomes men and women to join for fun and interesting activities.
The club hosts bowling, armchair travel, book clubs, walk and talk, happy snappers and cards.
· For enquries, contact Heather at hsims14@ gmail.com
come to join in as many classes as they wish. If you want to keep your brain and body active and want to make new friends, or perhaps run a class in something you are passionate about, check out the courses on offer or give 0493 991 919 a call to learn more.
New courses starting in Term 3 include the new gardening group or the Resincraft group, with social ballroom classes now underway.
· For more information, visit www.u3acranbourne.org.au
seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, entertainment function days and more. Come along on Thursdays from 2pm for socialising and lowkey dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House or join the club for a coffee and a chat with a friendly bunch on a Wednesday at 10am at Little Sparrow Cafe at Fountain Gate.
· For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.
Cranbourne Senior Citizens Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun. Weekly line dancing on Mondays from 10am to noon, New Vogue and Old Time Dancing from 1pm to 3.30pm on Tuesdays, Carpet Bowls on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11.30am to 2.30pm and bingo from 11am to 2pm on Thursdays.
· For all enquiries or bookings, contact Marilyn on 0432 107 590.
Scrabble Club
Berwick Activities Club has started a Scrabble Club recently and it runs every Friday from 1pm to 3.30pm.
It will be both competitive and social on a one-toone 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.
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
Nicole and Tom Cooper of Berwick have won Berwick Star News’ Shop Local and Win competition. The two will enjoy $50 vouchers for participating local businesses such as:
· Mitre 10 Beaconsfield.
· Harry’s Clothing Berwick
· The Central Hotel Beaconsfield
· Berwick Village Jewellers Berwick
· Autobarn Narre Warren
· Chemist Direct Outlet Alira Berwick
· Billy Lidz Children’s Boutique Berwick.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A massive turnout of 400 people sought rent and debt relief at the latest Bring Your Bills event in Dandenong.
South East Community Links hosted 25 providers, its largest array ever, including telcos, the ‘Big 4’ banks, energy and water companies, state and federal agencies, legal aid, tenancy services and councils.
For the first time, SECL featured its Private Renter Support Program at the 9 August event at Dandenong Civic Centre.
The outreach program signed up 40 rentstressed tenants who were at high risk of losing their housing. They will be offered intensive casework by SECL.
Clients can be supported in meeting rent arrears, paying a bond or facing a crushing rent rise.
There’s also support in negotiating with banks if they’re struggling to pay back mortgages, credit card debts and loans, as well as with utility companies.
“We make sure their rights are supported and being adhered to, as well as whatever else is causing financial stress,” SECL chief executive Peter McNamara said.
Visitors cited rental and mortgage stress as their primary debt worry, followed by energy costs as well as fine debts.
About 70 per cent of attendees were renting, 30 per cent had a home mortgage.
“Housing stress is massive. More and more people are working second and third jobs to stay in their mortgage and rental,” McNamara said.
“There’s been a 78 per cent increase in people who have a mortgage approaching us for emergency relief, like food or money to pay for petrol.”
Bring Your Bills also broadened its interpreter services to cover 10 different languages.
This was a crucial initiative to break down language barriers, Mr McNamara said.
“In CALD communities, sometimes there’s no understanding of hardship policies (at banks and other billers).
“People in hardship are ashamed and intimidated from speaking to their bank. They fear that it will affect their credit rating.
“We’re trying to normalize hardship policies, to say it’s OK and there’s support out there.”
In the 12 months before the latest Bring Your Bills, 1000 residents have resolved $511,000 in debts and gained 218 grants and concessions on their bills.
Mr McNamara said the SECL team drew satisfaction from bringing palpable relief.
“People were walking away smiling and relieved. You just see the relief on their face.
“We get inspired by the resilience of the community and to see them walk away having made a material difference in their circumstances.”
By Marcus Uhe
500 ankle straps, 500 pre-game warm ups, 500 pre-game speeches, 4000 sirens and countless memories and friendships along the way.
A who’s who of the Doveton Eagles Football Club flocked to Power Reserve to celebrate the remarkable milestone of the club’s favourite son, Life Member and games record holder, Tony Mertis.
‘Merto’ was welcomed to the arena through a guard of honour before charging through a banner held by fellow club legends Steve Chisholm and Tim Evans with a Sherrin tucked under his arm, as his mum Dimitra and partner Simone joined the hundreds-strong contingent who made the trip to witness history.
It was almost a milestone that wasn’t, with Mertis avoiding disaster by shaking off a bout of the flu during the week to put the boots on for the 500th time.
Having sat-out round 17 in order to play the match at the Eagles’ home ground, the milestone man said there was no way he would not take to field for the occasion 34 years in the making.
And the weather gods played their part, serving up a stunning sunny Saturday akin to ensure everything – bar the result of the match – went to script.
“Someone said ‘we’re going to have to get you in a wheelchair and roll you out’, and I said ‘okay’”, Mertis said of pre-game discussions.
Mertis’ tenure at the Eagles dates back to 1990, and to date he has kicked 270 goals, played in four grand finals, won a reserves Best-andFairest, won the leading goal kicker award three times in the reserves.
Describing himself as a “true Dovetonian”, Mertis grew up over the road from Power Reserve, played junior football at the Doveton Lions and still calls the suburb home 34 years later.
He thought he had convinced himself to hang up the boots after game 450, but found it too hard to resist the call when the club was short on num-
bers. It wasn’t a case of love at first sight for Mertis, who still remembers succumbing to running laps of Indian File in 38 degree weather at his first
training session, but seeing the club taste senior success for the first time in 1995 solidified what would become a life-long friendship.
“The seniors won the club’s first premier-
ship and the celebrations that day, we’d finally reached the mountain top as a club,” Mertis said.
“I was already in love with the club then, but that was it for me; I’m here for life.
“I played reserves that day and we lost, and that hurt me, but looking back now, that moment for our club, to finally win a premiership and get the monkey off our back as a club... all the people there, they’re like family.”
He attributes his success to sticking to the basics; eating well, looking after your body, turning up to training, showing resilience and being grateful for every day.
Club president Mick Odgers said he can’t imagine the football club without him.
“He’s what Doveton’s all about,” he said.
“He’s been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and he’s still kicking through.
“He’s an inspiration to the young blokes, he says to them ‘If I can get out there then you blokes can’.
“Turning up to training is his biggest thing… if he’s not here it means he’s sick.”
Despite reaching 55 years-of-age, he has no plans to stop playing any time soon, with the competitive fire still burning inside.
Away from the field, he’s busy documenting the history of the football club, such is the man’s passion for the Eagles.
The humble hero said he hopes to be remembered as “a little battler who was determined to get a kick”, who always strives to get the best out of himself.
“I love football and I’ll keep playing until I physically can’t,” he said.
“I’ve lived in Doveton all my life, so Doveton is in my veins.
“Playing sport, whether it’s football, cricket or table tennis, I’ve always enjoyed the competition and being competitive.
“Football, that little red ball we chase around, is what we keep playing for, just to have a kick.”
By Marcus Uhe
The Outer East Football Netball A Grade premiership race will once again run through Narre Warren after the Magpies secured the minor premiership for the second consecutive year on Saturday afternoon.
With two games remaining in the home and away season, Narre Warren has an unassailable 10-point lead at the top of the table, on the back of a 57-47 victory over Monbulk at home in round 16.
Quick balls into Grace Ioelu fuelled a formidable start for the Magpies who doubled Monbulk’s score at the first break to lead 18-9
On the back on tenacious defence from Gabrielle Dwyer, Abbey Barrientos and Julia Kaitani, the Magpies forced turnovers in the Hawks’ front half that led to easy scoring opportunities at the other end of the court.
Such was the threat of Ioelu that Monbulk chose to double-team her at stages under the net in an effort to deny her receiving the ball.
Monbulk fought back to close the gap to six goals at half time, but the Magpies got back to their brilliant best in the third term that sealed the minor premiership.
They opened the quarter with five of the first six goals and closed with four of the final six to outscore the Hawks 18-12.
Monbulk won the final quarter but was too far back to alter the outcome of the contest.
Beyond quarter time, Monbulk matched it with the top side, outscored by just a single goal in the prevailing three quarters in an effort that will boost the Hawks confidence ahead of September.
Peri Reid was held to just 17 goals by the swarming Magpies defence as her counterpart Ioelu scored 40 at the other end of the court.
Elsewhere, Emerald’s 23-goal win over Upwey Tecoma shut the door on any potential gatecrasher’s to the A-Grade finals party, as its lead over seventh place extended to 12 points.
It secures a finals berth for the Bombers, a
feat to be applauded following promotion from Division One the previous season. Emerald was slow out of the blocks and trailed by as many as eight goals during the
opening quarter but found its groove in the second to run away with a comfortable victory.
From a five-goal deficit at quarter time, the match swung on the back of an 18-9 second
quarter in the Bombers’ favour. They took the lead at 22-23 and closed the quarter with eight of the final 11 goals to lead by four goals at the half.
After the long break, Emerald flexed its muscle with a 41-22 half to remind not only the competition, but themselves, of what their best looks like.
58 goals from Kaylah Loulanting led the Bombers’ charge, overtaking Emmalia Blake as the competition’s leading scorer.
Kim Ryan, meanwhile, added a spark off the Emerald bench in just her fourth game of the season, and first since round 13.
Pakenham showed no mercy in a 56-goal hammering of a struggling Olinda Ferny Creek outfit, piling on 87 goals in a frightening display.
It’s a fourth consecutive win for the Lions and comes at crucial time ahead of a seasondefining battle with Monbulk next week.
Such was their dominance that the lowestscoring quarter of the afternoon netted 19 goals – the rest garnered 20, 24 and 24, respectively.
The goals were shared between Kelly Cousins, Charlotte Hudolin (28 each) and Rose Laidlaw (30), while Eliza Molino added cream to the top of a priming cake, playing her fifth game of the season as she reintegrates herself back into the side ahead of the finals.
ROC found a much-needed scoring punch in notching its second highest team score for the campaign in a 71-42 defeat of Gembrook Cockatoo, thanks to a combined 68 goals from Kaelah (28) and Isabella O’Shanassy (40).
Important wins to Wandin over Berwick Springs and Mt Evelyn over Woori Yallock sustained the congestion in the top six, with the Rovers maintaining second place on the table and Wandin fourth.
With two points separating second and fourth, all is building to a massive final round when Mt Evelyn heads to Narre Warren for a huge final game of the home and away season.
By David Nagel
Beaconsfield has once again laid down a serious challenge to one of the frontrunners for this year’s Eastern Division One premiership after a seven-point loss to second-placed Mitcham on Saturday.
For the second time in three weeks the Eagles were right in the thick of the action; falling short 10.6(66) to 8.11(59); after losing by a solitary point against runaway ladder leaders Park Orchards in round 15.
The Eagles have one game remaining in the home-and-away season, a home game against eighth-placed Bayswater; but it’s a game of little consequence.
The fixture for week one of finals is already guaranteed, with the Eagles to take on Montrose in the elimination final, while Mitcham and South Belgrave go toe-to-toe in the qualifying; leaving Park Orchards to have a week’s rest.
Eagles coach Mick Fogarty found himself in a unique situation heading into Saturday’s clash against the Tigers; making zero changes for the very first time this year.
Both teams played aggressive free-flowing football in the first term, with eight of the 18 goals scored in the match being delivered in the opening stanza.
Goals to Charlie Muley and Hayden Brough had the Eagles in a sound position midway through the first, but late goals to Jesse Uren, Guy Laughlin and Sam Carney - after a free-kick reversal against Connor Mouat - gave the home side a 20-point lead at the first change.
Jake Bowd kicked the Eagles back into the ballgame in the second term, slotting the opening two goals to cut the margin back to nine points.
A goal on the siren to regular centre-half-back Tom Lovell, gave the Tigers a 17-point advantage at the main break.
Beaconsfield came out breathing fire in the premiership quarter, ramming home the first
four goals to open up a handy eight-point lead.
Midfielder Mitch Szybkowski got things rolling for the Eagles with a brilliant right-foot snap, before some terrific set-up play by the classy Jafar Ocaa set Brough up for another.
The Eagles took the lead, nine minutes into the third, when Myles Currie kicked truly from deep in the forward pocket.
A specky in the goal-square from Ocaa then extended the lead to eight points; 17 minutes in.
But that would be the last goal the Eagles would kick for the match.
Mitcham steadied with goals to Jackson Hallo and Josh Du Vallon to end the third quarter, to take a two-point lead to the final change of ends.
The Tigers kicked the only goal of the final term; with a strong chase-down tackle on Currie by midfielder Jesse Cheery being the key play for the quarter.
Currie broke free on centre wing, but the ball spilt free after the Cherry tackle, with Flynn Maguire breaking Beaconsfield hearts with a long goal from outside 50.
The last 20 minutes turned into a grind, with both teams adding minor scores to their tallies.
Beaconsfield can once again take plenty of positives away from the contest; with finals just around the corner.
Bowd and Brough ended with two each for
the Eagles, while goals to Currie, Muley, Ocaa and Szybkowski had the classy Tigers right on the backfoot at times.
Szybkowski, Damien Johnston and Josh Mounter were effective through the middle for the visitors, while Brandon White, Mouat and Trent Stokoe were strong and resilient in defence.
Mitcham Goals: Nathaniel Barnes, Sam Carney, Nathan Crampton, Joshua Du Vallon, Jackson Hallo, Guy Laughlin, Tom Lovell, Flynn Maguire, Anthony Marek, Jesse Uren. Best: Danny Baglava, Nicholas Hallo, Jesse Cherry, Flynn Maguire, Tom Lovell, Jesse Uren.
BeaconsfieldGoals: JakeBowd2,HaydenBrough 2, Myles Currie, Charlie Muley, Jafar Ocaa, Mitch Szybkowski. Best: Mitch Szybkowski, Charlie Muley, Damien Johnston, Joshua Mounter, Connor Mouat, Brandon White. Other Games: Bayswater 9.2(56) def by South Belgrave 12.18(90), Doncaster 4.4(28) def by Park Orchards 13.20(98), Mooroolbark 22.14(146) def Wantirna South 5.11(41), North Ringwood 6.6(42) def by Montrose 14.9(93).
Ladder: Park Orchards 64, Mitcham 52, South Belgrave 52, Montrose 44, Beaconsfield 40/ Mooroolbark 32, North Ringwood 20, Bayswater 20, Doncaster 12, Wantirna South 4. Fixture R18: Beaconsfield (5) v Bayswater (8), Doncaster (9) v Mooroolbark (6), Park Orchards (1) v Mitcham (2), South Belgrave (3) v North Ringwood (7), Wantirna South (10) v Montrose (4).
By Marcus Uhe
A calamitous close to the third quarter saw Berwick fritter away the chance of a major upset over Vermont in the Eastern Football Netball League on Saturday afternoon.
Having levelled proceedings at 39 apiece in the third quarter thanks to Sam Frangalas’ sharp work at a forward 50 stoppage, the wheels completely fell off in the term’s final 10 minutes as they retreated to the huddle at the final break down by 31 points.
It was a brutal display from last season’s runner up, who flexed their extra gear that the young Wickers simply don’t possess at this point in their development.
It would prove to be the decisive period in the contest, as the Eagles held on for a 20-point win despite a goalless final term, downing Berwick 10.17 77 to 9.3 57.
The chaos begun with a fumble deep in defence from Caleb van Oostveen.
Hemmed in his defensive goalsquare, he dropped a mark from a simple kick from Deng Andrew across goal that subjected him to swarming Vermont forward pressure.
His attempted rebound 50 missed the target, and the Eagles swooped on the opportunity to move seven points clear, before Jordan Roberts was outmarked at the next forward 50 entry and
the margin quickly grew to 13.
A Berwick turnover at half back saw Vermont extract maximum value the other way in
the 23rd minute, before captain Ashton Williamson had the unfortunate double of putting teammate Kane Hurst under pressure with a
kick deep in defence and being out-marked 10 seconds later at the top of his opposition goalsquare.
27 minutes into the quarter they could be forgiven for switching off, but Vermont had one final thrust and nailed a ground-level goal from nowhere with the second-last kick of the term.
Heads slumped as Berwick trudged to the huddle, having succumb to manic intensity that they will no-doubt hope to emulate in future years.
Elijah Roewer nailed two goals and unselfishly assisted Daniel Pinter with another to cut the lead to just 20 deep in the final quarter, ensuring the disappointing result was not further compounded by a percentage blow.
Frangalas and Pinter joined Roewer with a pair of goals, with Hurst, Andrew, Roberts, Josh Parker and Caydn Lane among the Wickers’ better performers.
Around Premier division, East Ringwood has one hand on the minor premiership, two games clear atop the table with two rounds to play following a 74-point win over Norwood, while Noble Park upset Blackburn by 19 points.
Rowville, meanwhile, bounced back from consecutive defeats to thrash Doncaster East by 130 points.
It was
effort with every player contributing to our success. What was most pleasing was the support from our teammates who were on the sidelines having a break. The encouragement and positive voice was great to hear. A super win! Awards: Flow and Co - Abill Akol, Taco Bill - Lily Drake, Bellevue Farm Gate - Louis St Mart.
U13 WEST: Beaconsfield 18 v Berwick 20
Awards: Shanikas Pantry – Indie Szymanski, Taco Bill – Mia Bramley, Bellevue Farm Gate – Delilah Harrowfield.
U15 EAST: Beaconsfield 23 v Berwick 27
After our great win last week, the girls wanted to carry the same intensity and drive into our game this week against Berwick. We started the game strong, keeping up with Berwick and working hard to turn over the ball. Our defence was challenged against Berwick’s height in the goal circle but that didn’t stop them.
The last few weeks our defence has been putting in so much hard work and it was great to see them get rewarded during points in the game with a deflection or an intercept.
Although we started well, we did have a bit of a low in the second and third quarter which allowed Berwick to extend their lead and make us play catch up in the final quarter. We dug deep and came out firing in the final quarter and kept Berwick to one goal. Our final game of the year for this amazing team is next week.
Awards: Shanikas Pantry – Sienna Dyer, Taco Bill – Eliza Brennan, Bellevue Farm Gate – Makenzie Carswell.
We didn’t get off to the start we were after with Berwick leading 10-3 at the first change, but you can never count this team of 11 players out. Despite being well down they worked solidly as a team and clawed their way back into the match winning the next two quarters 5-3 and 6-2. There were amazing passages of play from defence, midcourt and goals. With just one goal in it at the last change we were poised for a great finish. We managed to draw level with Berwick in the last, but unfortunately, a few missed opportunities that can be costly in the moment didn’t go our way and Berwick closed out the quarter to win the match. Next week is our final home and away match against Hampton Park. Let’s get around this amazing team!
U15 WEST: Beaconsfield 25 v Berwick 29 15 West came up against Berwick this week.
We were slow off the bat but as the game progressed we upped our fight and intensity. At three-quarter-time we were down by eight, but after our huddle the girls really stepped up and brought it to Berwick!
Our defensive pressure was outstanding and the way we transitioned the ball down the court was amazing to watch.
The last quarter really showcased our potential and skill.
Bad luck to our girls, but we gave it everything.
Awards: Shanikas Pantry – Abuk Akol, Taco Bill – Jayda Rydquist, Bellevue Farm Gate – Jasmine Yong.
U17 WEST: Beaconsfield 24 v Berwick 25 What a day, what a game. Unfortunately the final score didn’t go our way today after a very intense battle with Berwick at Berwick.
The sun was shining and the girls were keen to get out on court and start strong. We came out firing, putting our hard work at training to good use.
We were lucky to have Beaconsfield’s head coach Johnny on the sidelines today who was able to provide the girls with some extra support, insights and encouragement.
Our first half was great!
The second half was when we lost our momentum and let Berwick back into the game.
The crowd was very loud and the game had a finals-like feel.
The girls fought it out until the end but Berwick were able to get the lead right at the end of the game.
It’s a good learning for us coming toward the end of the season and we’ll be working on maintaining our composure during those high-pressure games.
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey has just about locked in its finals spot in the Women’s Vic League 1 competition with a 5-1 victory over Knox on Saturday at Berwick Secondary College.
Teenager Chantelle Galado scored a hattrick in the victory in a coming-of-age victory for the emerging talent.
In the absence of key striker Mikayla McDonald, currently on state duty, Galado was called up to the firsts and made her mark early, scoring the first goal of the game six minutes in.
She then put the finishing touches on a commanding Cannons performance, scoring twice in the last quarter, including one on a break away, dribbling around the goal keeper.
“She’s developed a lot in the last three months,” coach Andrew Harris said.
“She came in as an under-14s player and started playing in the women’s thirds team, was pushed into the seconds and now got an opportunity in the firsts.”
Goal-keeper Sarah Sutton-McLellan continued her strong season, while Emma Harris was also strong upfront.
The Cannons now sit two games and goal difference clear in the top six with three games
remaining in the regular season with a straight forward run home.
After a deflating mid-week loss three weeks ago against MCC, the Cannons have won three on the bounce to tighten their hold on a position in finals, with one of those wins coming against fourth-placed Yarra.
It remains Casey’s only win over a top five opponent and highlights their recent form elevation, Harris pinpointing the reaction to the MCC loss as a turning point.
“We had a really light training session and the girls took the initiative to have some conversations and they took a lot out of it and have gained momentum,” Harris said.
“I was impressed with how they took it on board themselves with how they were going and how they needed to improve and freshen up and make the adjustments we need to.
“We’re mentally and physically in a good place.”
“I think across the board our gameplan is starting to come together.”
The men have continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over fourth-placed Bayside, the result putting them just a win behind topplaced Yarra in the Vic League 2 competition.
By Marcus Uhe
Starling Road appears the venue of choice for Outer East Football Netball officials having been selected to host the biggest day of the competition’s year once again on Saturday 21 September.
Premier Division Football and Netball deciders, as well as Under 19s football and East junior netball divisions will be held at Officer for the second consecutive season, after the venue hosted the 2023 decider on a stunning spring day 11 months ago.
Fittingly, it will be the first grand final since the passing of Robert Porter OAM, whom the ground was named after in a fitting ceremony earlier in the month.
Six days earlier it will also host the preliminary finals on Sunday 15 September, giving the
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venue a ‘test run’ before the showpiece occasion.
Starling Road is a venue that carries fond memories for Narre Warren’s netballers after
winning six of the eight grand finals on offer last season, including all four senior grades, but the for the footballing contingent it’s a different story – while the Under 19s and Reserves sides walked away with silverware, the senior footballers had their premiership dreams shattered by a ferocious Wandin outfit baying for – and finding – blood.
But as the season sits after 16 weeks, the Magpies are in a perfect position to vanquish those bad memories and flip the script, leaving the Outer East competition with a premiership to remember.
Grand final day at Officer will be the culmination of a four-week finals series and whittle six teams down to the final two over the course of five games.
The Outer East’s south east contingent will be hitting the roads in the prior two weeks how-
ever, with trips to Healesville, Woori Yallock and Yarra Glen slated for the opening two rounds of the finals competition.
OUTER EAST PREMIER DIVISION FINALS VENUES
Saturday 31 August
• Elimination final 1: (3 v 6) at Healesville
• Elimination final 2: (4 v 5) at Woori Yallock
Saturday 7 September
• Qualifying final: (1 v 2) at Healesville
• Semi final: (Winners EF1 and EF2) at Yarra Glen
Sunday 15 September
• Preliminary final: (QF loser v SF winner) at Officer
Saturday 21 September
• Grand final (QF winner v PF winner) at Officer
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Doveton has gone down to East Malvern in an excellent tune up for finals in the Southern Football Netball League Division 2 competition.
Matthew Jameson led a typically hardy Doves defence, with East Malvern key forward Isaac Morrsiby kept to just two goals in an 8.12 60 to 9.4 58 result.
Morrisby played on Luke Daidone who neutralised him in the air, reprising the role he held as a key defender several years ago.
“He did a terrific job - the goals Isaac kicked weren’t directly on him,” coach Matt Stapleton said.
“Obviously Isaac is a quality player but I thought Luke did a quality job on him.”
On a perfect day for footy at Robinson Reserve, Doveton’s A-Grade midfield led by Deakyn Smith and Jake Basa were unable to shake East Malvern, whose tightness stymied the ball movement which has propelled Doveton’s recent hot form.
The Doves kicked five of their goals in a strong second quarter where they looked like pulling away from East Malvern, but the visitors stayed within six points at the major break, before a second half arm wrestle ensued.
Stapleton praised Basa and Shannon Henwood, whose returns in recent weeks have added toughness to the side ahead of a finals campaign they’ll back themselves to do damage in.
“They’ve both played for quite a few weeks now and have played reserves footy to build up that fitness base,” Stapleton said.
“They give us experience - Jake was a premiership player in 2019 and Shannon’s record speaks for itself.
“We’re playing them a little bit differently to
what we have i the past - given they’re only playing the back part of the season, it’s about finding continuity in their football.”
Despite the loss, it continues a trend of excellent defensive efforts from the Doves which will fill the club with confidence ahead of finals.
Just once in 2024 have they conceded more than nine goals - when they fielded a significantly weakened team against Murrumbeena early in the season.
While their style has long been built off a reliable defence, the synergy and ability to lockdown has gone to another level in 2024.
Matthew
Jameson, Jake Ingaliso, swingman
Sam Muirhead and Daidone are among the players with impeccable one-on-one records.
“The guys down there have played a fair bit of footy together but it’s really important we look at different ways we can get better,” Stapleton said.
“The test will be doing it in big games.
“All we ask of our guys down there is about defending and respecting the opposition - that’s our philosophy.
“it’s about finding the best matchup and players hone in on the specific matchups they’re given.
“The rest of the team have really helped and
bought into the defence aspect.”
Ricky Johnson, Matt Parker and James Canty were the best for Doveton in a rare loss which confirms they’ll play in the qualifying final in the first week of the SFNL Division 2 finals.
Hampton Park, meanwhile, dodged a major bullet with a 10.9 69 to 9.14 68 victory over Keysborough.
It’s the second scrappy yet tense encounter between the two sides this season, with the Redbacks emerging victorious on both occasions.
Trailing by 18 points at halftime, a seven goal to four second half got the Spiders over the line.
In his 200th senior game, Jackson Philpin’s desperation and toughness shone through in a critical final quarter, while Jackson Dalton’s strong form continued, alongside the strongbodied Jye King.
Endeavour Hills had a disappointing 7.15 57 to 16.11 107 loss against ladder leaders Murrumbeena.
The Lions pulled away in the second quarter before cruising to victory despite the best efforts of Shaun Richards and Luke Peters.
In Division 1, Cranbourne’s finals hopes remain alive as they made up critical percentage in a 19.17 131 to 11.7 73 victory over Bentleigh at Livingston Reserve.
Zak Roscoe’s purple patch continued with five goals, while Jarryd Barker and Bailey Buntine were each strong.
Winning by such a margin positions the Eagles strongly to make finals should they win their last two.
They would also need to make up five per cent and East Brighton and Port Melbourne to lose one on the run home but both play the undefeated Cheltenham.
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