Seeking change
By Violet Li
Tom
Kapitany,
the owner of the Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Devon Meadows, will run for Cranbourne Gardens Ward in the coming Casey Council elections.
Mr Kapitany said the decision was made after years of problems with Casey Council.
“I’ve just found the council difficult to work with. Every time you work with the council, they’re very aggressive,” he said.
“I really had no interest in coming on the council, but I had dinners with some local people, and I just told them my problems, and they told me their problems. They said you should go on the council.
“This is like two years ago.”
Despite an initial lack of interest in a council position, Mr Kapitany believes changes must happen after an IBAC anti-corruption inquiry. He also took aim at the administrators and what he said was poor maintenance of nature strips, parks and roads.
“They (the administrators) subcontracted everything up from healthcare to landscaping to road maintenance,” he said.
“They (the administrators) are working for the ratepayers, but they don’t see that.”
As a rural landowner, Mr Kapitany’s top priority is to overhaul the Casey town planning division, a long-cherished wish highlighted by his well-known planning battle to display Rosie the Shark at his exhibition centre.
Mr Kapitany rescued Rosie, a two-tonne preserved great white shark, from the closed Wildlife Wonderland in Bass in 2019, and wished to build a permanent exhibition on his premises for educational purposes, which drew considerable opposition from the town planning officers.
He then brought the planning dispute to VCAT and won in 2022, after three years of negotiations and a total of $60,000 in legal bills.
According to Mr Kapitany, the conflicts continued after the VCAT.
“The council was not happy, so they put in a regulation. I had to get all my permits within two months. This was just after Covid. It was impossible to do it,” he recalled.
“I’ve been doing extension after extension, and every time I ask for an extension, it is $1500 to $2,000. They’re raking me financially.”
Mr Kapitany also cited that when he tried to build a granny flat for his parents, the council wouldn’t let him put kitchens inside, which later took him nearly 12 months to negotiate. He said he went through numerous planning challenges, decision-making delays, and wrangling over bylaws.
“Everything in council is bureaucracy. There is no logic. There is no simple way of doing things.
“Everything just shows how inflexible the council is, how council officers use their own personal opinions to make judgments, rather than be practical and say what’s good for the community, what’s not good for the community,” he said.
“They put blocks in my way. I’ve had to find ways around the blocks that they create. It shouldn’t be so difficult.
“The council lacks decision-making. They won’t make decisions because they’re afraid to take risks or afraid to do things.”
He would work hard towards eliminating the waste of time and ratepayers’ money on “frivolous“ legal actions and VCAT fees.
Continued page 3
Therefore, Mr Kapitany said if he was elected, he would strive to ensure the town planning division uses “common sense“ and makes decisions in the best interests of the residents of Cranbourne Gardens Ward, rather than blindly following bylaws.
Cranbourne Gardens Ward candidate Tom Kapitany. (Supplied)
Vegetation is minister’s
By Violet Li
A proposed commercial and industrial development in Cranbourne West has triggered Federal involvement due to its potential to disrupt the habitats of vulnerable and endangered species.
WPH Cranbourne Investments Pty Lty, related to Salta Properties, proposed to remove 0.512 hectares of native vegetation at 690 Western Port Highway for future development.
The company is both the landowner and the land developer.
Approximately 50 hectares of non-native vegetation is also proposed to be removed.
According to an environment assessment report by consultancy Nature Advisory, the proposed development land contains “potential habitats” for 15 fauna species listed under environment protection law, including the greyheaded flying-fox, critically endangered swift parrot, endangered Australian painted-snipe, and several migratory species.
Growling grass frog, endangered southern brown bandicoot, and endangered swamp skink are also considered to have the potential to occur in the area.
The report suggests field surveys failed to locate any of these three ground-dwelling species within the potential habitat.
The report also assesses the susceptibility of all the listed species and states that the proposed development is unlikely to have any significant impacts on them, given the species’ low level of reliance on the subject habitat resulted from the low quality of the land and the availability of other suitable habitats in the region.
The subject land is in a “relatively poor” environmental condition, according to the permit application submitted to the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Most of the land has been “heavily disturbed” by cattle grazing, and the vegetation now mainly
consists of introduced pasture grasses, the application writes.
The landowner highlights that it will retain a patch of native vegetation of high quality.
“The patch being removed is a low-quality patch and only comprised understorey species,” it states.
Professor of wildlife and ecology at Deakin University Euan Ritchie said threatened species needed connected landscapes to survive in and move through, no more so than in already highly modified and fragmented urban and peri-urban areas.
“Habitat quality and value isn’t simply a matter of size. Small patches of habitat can be disproportionately important for conserving some threatened species, and contribute to more connected, functional landscapes,” he said.
“Some threatened species, including southern brown bandicoots and swift parrots, are adaptable and live in or move through highly modified habitats.
“But there are limits. A patch of invasive weeds might provide a home for bandicoots, but concrete and buildings won’t.
“Continuing to destroy patches of habitat of threatened species is very much death by continuous cuts.”
A referral has been made to the Federal Environment Minister to decide upon the proposed native vegetation removal.
The referral is open for public comments until 19 September.
To submit comments, visit the EPBC Act Public Portal at epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au
The land at 690 Western Port Highway is proposed for commercial and industrial development. (Rob Carew: 430981)
690 Western Port Highway from across the road. (Rob Carew: 430981)
IN BRIEF
Fined for tossing cigarette butt
Gum tree hits shelter
By Violet Li
A wildlife rescue and rehabilitation shelter in Tooradin has been severely damaged by a 25-metre fallen gum tree following on from the recent wild winds.
Nigel Williamson, an animal rescuer from Warriors 4 Wildlife and a friend of the shelter owners, called for financial help and support from the public to rebuild all the aviaries in the Sleepy Hollow Wildlife Shelter in Tooradin. He said about 80 per cent of the shelter had been destroyed, which led to about $20,000 worth of damage.
“Rob and Pam [shelter owners] have been rehabilitating wildlife for 55 years. They’ve always had a love and a passion for native wildlife, and they’ve never ever reached out to the public for money,” he said.
“They’re very proud people. They don’t ask for help.
“They’ve always done it on their own. They’ve been quiet achievers, but it’s time that we came and supported them now.”
Nigel said at this stage, SES could not do anything officially because the fallen tree was on private property and didn’t damage any house.
“They’ve got a lot of trees down at the moment, obviously, with the wind that we’ve had,” he said.
“And they’ve earmarked this one to be done as a training course for their members to become certified in using chainsaws.
“We’re not sure exactly when they’re going to come out.”
Shelter owner Rob Cale said the tree, unfortunately, totally squashed a brand-new aviary they had just custom-built for sugar gliders and bandicoots and a shed for storing equipment.
“I’ll just continue with the wood that I can do,” he said.
“I had to leave the branch because all the weight from the trunk was on top of the branch, so as soon as you cut that, it’s all going to collapse even more.
“There were no animals in the cages at the
time it happened, which is a miracle in itself.”
He noted that the tree was planted by his wife and co-owner of the shelter Pam around 1992. Now they would have to cut it up and use it for fire afterwards.
Rob also said they were initially against the idea of asking for help, but he later accepted there were such times in life.
The couple started wildlife rehabilitation a long time ago.
“Pam started over 55 years ago and then she was living in like a suburban area and just, helping possums in that area,” Rob recalled.
“And she moved to a rural area and was on
a main highway and every day she’d go out and look for and there were possums, wombats, wallabies hit on the road.
“She just started to look after the small animals that survived the car accidents basically.
“Then the industry was formed and then wildlife shelters were an official thing and we’ve been going on ever since.
The shelter rehabilitates over 2000 animals annually in the past but has slowed down nowadays due to personal conditions.
For donations, visit gofundme.com/f/thesleepy-hollow-wildlife-shelter
Tom eyes seat on new City of Casey council
From page 1
Public consultation should also be re-introduced for proposed developments and planning, he said. Mr Kapitany also pointed out he would help stop the rezoning of rural areas for housing developments.
He observed that the council were forcing the rural landholders to sell by overrating them, a practice he would try to cease.
“We’re a rural area. We love the rural environment. We love the land. We love the space around us, and we want to live here in our retirement,” he said.
“When you’re having to pay a $20,000 or $30,000 annual rate, how can you afford that as a retired person?”
In addition to running his exhibition centre,
Mr Kapitany is a botanist, geologist, director of the National Dinosaur Museum in Canberra, and an international consultant for museums and universities in natural history and geosciences, especially in China, Mexico, the UK, the US, New Zealand and Indonesia.
“I spent a lot of time travelling around the world, doing all sorts of fun things. I work for governments around the world. I work with small communities,” Mr Kapitany said.
“I understand what communities need and how to develop things and I know how to solve problems.
“I have a very unique way of looking at things. I’m very much into lateral thinking.”
Living in Devon Meadows for more than three decades, Mr Kapitany said he understood
what the community needed, what the landholders wanted, and what the farmers wanted.
“For example, the lack of footpaths, the lack of access to public transport for elderly people, like people across the road are quite being quite elderly and they will have to move because the facilities aren’t in place for them to live here in their retirement,” he said.
“I will make sure that the council workers know they don’t work for the council, they work for the ratepayers.
“My home will be my office. People come to my house, and I’ll make them tea or coffee. I’ll sit them there and talk about their problems. I’ll be on one-to-one with them. I’m not going to put myself above everybody else.”
A man from Clyde has been ordered to pay $385 to the Royal Children’s Hospital after he tossed a cigarette butt from a car in Clayton.
A witness reported seeing him throw the cigarette from the window of a Toyota van travelling along the Monash Freeway, just after noon on Thursday 2 November 2023.
The state’s environmental watchdog EPA Victoria says cigarette butts are the most common type of litter, and they often find their way through drains and waterways to the bay.
Having received a fine from EPA, the man took the case to the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully depositing waste.
The Magistrate found the charge proven but did not record a conviction.
The man gave an undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of six months.
Members of the public can report littering from vehicles on the EPA Victoria website epa. vic.gov.au/report-pollution/report-litter-fromvehicles
Police identify body
Police have formally identified the body of a man located deceased in a vehicle in Nar Nar Goon North on Monday 26 August as a 23-year-old Pakenham man.
A passerby located the man inside a white vehicle on Mount Ararat Road at about 3.15pm and called police.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, but police have alleged the incident was connected to the non-fatal shooting of a 58-year-old man in Cranbourne East, which occurred earlier on Monday 26 August.
The shooting victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the non-fatal shooting.
Detectives have been told the 58-year-old man’s daughter called him at about 12.25am on Monday while driving to say she believed an unknown man was following her in another vehicle.
The daughter returned to their Cranbourne East home where an altercation between the man and driver ensued; police report the driver had then gotten out of the vehicle and pushed the man, before shooting him in the abdomen.
Tom Kapitany with a real Elephant Bird Egg at the Dinosaur Garden inside the Crystal World Exhibition Centre in 2015. (Gary Sissons: 148130)
Sleepy Hollow Wildlife Shelter owner Rob Cale is in front of the damaged shelter. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430030)
THE LOWDOWN
Q&A
Tell us about yourself and your work.
I have only been with Lyndhurst Secondary College (LSC) for four months. I mainly do marketing/graphic design for the school but also fill in at reception. I have been designing for approx. 20 years and love every bit of it.
What has been your most memorable moment during your work?
Most memorable moment was seeing the sports banners completed and flying proudly on our Athletics day.
What do you love about your work?
I love the varied work I do, I really love working with the students and the people I work with are already feeling like a family to me.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
I’d love to be an eagle.
What were you like as a kid?
I was born in Ireland, I didn’t like to get in trouble and I loved spending time with family. What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
The time when Jesus walked the earth. Which dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
Jesus, Elvis, Trump, and my Grandparents. What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Generous, fun, kind.
What would you do on your perfect ’day off’? Spending time with my family. Where is your happy place?
Home and church.
If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook? Enchiladas.
Where is your dream holiday destination? Belfast, Ireland.
with Sinead Fay from Lyndhurst Secondary College
THREE … ways to commemorate R U OK? Day
With R U OK? Day today (Thursday 12 September), here are three ways to commemorate the day.
1
Ask the question
Asking if someone is OK, is, as obvious as it may seem, the best way to commemorate the day. One must also ensure that they are asking with sincerity, and providing the asked person a place of respite and comfort to confide with you their concerns.
Events
2
Participating in awareness events is also another way to seize the day, where many workplaces, schools and community groups host events that raise awareness of mental health and how important it is to check in on others.
Social media
3
With most people online, spreading the word and sharing messages of support and advocation through sites such as Facebook and Instagram is a good way to let others know about what the day stands for.
Sinead Fay from Lyndhurst Secondary College. (Stewart Chambers: 420809)
On the fence over monitors
By Ethan Benedicto
Since council monitors were officially announced by the State Government earlier this month, Casey council candidates in the north-east of the city have expressed a mixed bag of emotions with the new initiative.
According to the media release on 2 September, these council monitors would also be appointed to Whittlsea City and Strathbogie Shire Councils to support the transition back to elected councillors and ensure good governance practices.
Mush Rahaman, council candidate for Akoonah Ward is on the fence about the decision, saying that the soon-to-be newly appointed councillors have “certain expectations” and a “vision” for the council.
“These new people, many coming from independent backgrounds, they have their certain ways that they would monitor things,” Rahaman said.
“They want to progress things, they have a vision, as long as these visions are not impacted by the [monitors] then it’s okay, it doesn’t hurt.
“But at the same time it would be an additional expense by the council as well, the ratepayers will be paying for this.”
However, Rahaman recognises the need for an overseeing body, that the new councillors could bear fruit from their presence, saying that “we can embrace and use it in a positive way”.
“We can coordinate and work together; if they are there to help and we can really get that and learn from them, and use that skill for future development of our council, then it’s a blessing.”
However, Grevillea Ward Candidate, Stephen Capon sees no benefits in having the monitors in place, saying that the argument made by the State Government’s media release that monitors will support the newly elected councillors to restore good governance “is nonsensical”.
“It should have already been restored by the administrators, similarly, given that the municipal monitors’ functions are to ‘monitor council governance and practices’, ‘advise the council about the governance improvements’, and to make recommendations relating to council ‘governance matters’, their appointment shouldn’t be necessary.
“How exactly are they going to ‘help prevent recurrence of issues that led to each councillor’s dismissal’, when good governance should have already been restored and improved over the past four years?”
Capon added that the implementation of the monitors shows a “complete lack of faith” in the new Casey Council candidates and their “heart for their local community”.
Furthermore, he added that it would be additional stress for the ratepayers; as well as it remains unclear what they have to offer that “the new councillor training, code of conduct, and administrators’ governance fixes couldn’t do”.
Casuarina Ward candidate, Kim Ross is looking for balance, saying that while it may be a little “premature” to make any certainties without knowing the monitors’ powers she understands that “they don’t want a repeat of what’s happened in the past, none of us do”.
“None of us want a repeat of having four years without local representation because it’s really hard.
“However, I think that if they’re doing it for one council, they need to do it for all councils, because all councils have the potential for the wrong people to get elected for the wrong reasons.
“There is nothing to indicate that the new councillors for Casey are going to be more prone to doing the wrong things than any new councillor in any new council,” she said.
Ross stressed the comparison of the newer Casey councillors with other LGAs, further emphasising that the monitors’ presence could potentially spell a sense of uncertainty, where they’re saying “‘hey, we think you could potentially stuff up’”.
“This is a bit like shutting the door after the horse has bolted,” she said.
At the same time, if said monitors were to offer more support and guidance for councillors who need it, then that would be something she would easily get behind.
Akoonah Ward candidate, Samuel Dennison has “no issues” with the role of the monitors, agreeing that there are many who are concerned about “the past happening again”.
“I think it’s important that we want to show that we care about integrity, and obviously that is number one, but also that we’re building back the reputation of the council and also the trust of the councillors,” he said.
The guidance of the monitors, as well as the mentioned lack of experience of some councillors, is, for Dennison, a boon for the new council.
“It’s about doing the right thing even when no one’s looking, as long as you’re not doing anything behind the scenes or doing anything that is not in the interest of the community, then you
have nothing to worry about.
“I don’t preempt any negative outcomes from having additional scrutiny, I’m all about integrity so I really think that it makes me feel a little bit more comfortable as well,” Dennison said.
Grevillea Ward candidates, Stephen Matulec and John Ternel are both on board with the new monitors, with Ternel saying that the additional body would be a “good thing”, considering that the majority of the upcoming councillors will be treading new waters.
“A lot of new councillors are in new territory, so any help or assistance or advice is good as long as there are no political agendas that are introduced,” he said.
“Information is powerful, there are lessons that have been learned from things that have happened before and we can avoid making them again, so I’m all for it.”
Matulec is in agreement, taking into account that the City of Casey hadn’t had councillors for some time, the one-year period of monitoring would be “good for people to sort of just find their feet”.
“I think they [the monitors] should be available for the councillors to speak to, where the councillor says ‘Oh I’m not sure how this works’, or ‘I’m not sure if I need to say to declare this’.
“They should be there to support the councillors, and they shouldn’t be too hands-on with their business.”
Getting the balance “right” is integral, according to Matulec, where a fine line must be drawn between ensuring good governance as well as transparency, and intervention.
Rowe for Correa as candidates officially put up their hands
By Ethan Benedicto
As the cut-off date for candidate nominations is less than a week away, the official VEC Casey Council list is open for viewing, as former councillor Gary Rowe has entered his submission for Correa Ward.
Rowe, who is an ex-Cranbourne Liberal MP stands firm on a platform of more housing and wise spending, stressing that “everyone is suffering from housing not being built”.
Reflecting on the new council, as well as the influx of newer potential candidates with no previous experience, he added that he could serve as an “old” guide for the councillors.
“If you read what they [council candidates] say, they haven’t quite got that it’s a team event - where people are listening to each other, working together for the whole municipality,” he said.
In 2020, Rowe was part of the sacked Casey Council that was investigated by anti-corruption body IBAC; however, he was not subject to adverse findings, unlike several of his former colleagues.
Stone-Meadows: 166911)
below in the wards’ alphabetical order. The list contains additional names of candidates who have publicly announced their intention to run but have not yet appeared on the VEC’s website at the time of going to print.
Akoonah Ward
· Scott William Dowling
· Patrick R Ferdinands
· Mush Rahaman
· Samuel Dennison
Casuarina Ward
· Morteza Ali
· Kim Ross
· Jane Foreman
Correa Ward
· Kanu Aggarwal
· Tracey Ryan
· Gary Rowe
Cranbourne Gardens
· John Ternel
· Stephen Capon
· Stephen Matulec
Kalora Ward
· Zabi Mazoori
Kowan Ward
· Kasuni Mendis
· Christine Skrobo
· Jawad Erfani
Quarters Ward
· Jagdeep Singh Sukhija
· Ian Wood
· David Rolfe
River Gum Ward
· Lynette Pereira
Tooradin Ward
· Anthony Tassone
· Kuldeep Kaur
Waratah Ward
“They’re lucky to have the CEO [Glenn Patterson] that they have for this period of time,” he said.
Casey’s 12 wards have their spread of candidates for each area, which can be found listed
Building on his stance of the council working well as a team, Rowe expressed that the council is “human, councillors are human, staff are human”.
· Tom Kapitany
Dillwynia Ward
· Champika Hewa Maddumage
· Jaz Masuta
· Gurpreet Gill
Grevillea Ward
· Brian Oates
The current deadline for nominations to stand in the council elections is set to close at 12 noon on Tuesday 17 September; the list will be constantly updated online if there are any new registrations.
Former Casey councillor Gary Rowe has announced his candidacy for Correa Ward this upcoming Casey Council elections. (Victoria
Approach hailed by study
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child.
A sports-based pilot program in the South East has been hailed for successfully taking this approach in engaging at-risk children at primary schools.
The Black Rhinos junior basketball program supported young African-Australians at two primary schools and in the community.
It was co-designed by Afri-Aus Care and RMIT University as a primary crime prevention tool.
And a recently-released report by RMIT found that it did just that - as well as improving children’s academic performance and their connections with teachers, students and their families.
“We worked with the community to co-design what a sports-based youth development program for African-Australians and their families would look like,” Associate Professor Ronnie Egan from RMIT Social Equity Research Centre said.
“As a result, we saw enhanced engagement with learning, leading to increased school attendance and better grades.
“By strengthening relationships and engagement with learning, we created a sense of belonging for a group of people who had long been denied that feeling.”
As a result, the program has secured three years of funding from the state education department and Brian M Davis Trust.
Black Rhinos was underpinned by an indigenous African philosophy called UBUNTU, which prioritises reciprocity, mutuality, participation and inclusion for collective wellbeing.
A success story was hiring African-Australian young people as role-models and mentors for selected students at Cranbourne Carlisle Primary School and Narre Warren South P-12.
They started basketball training and games during lunchtime, homework clubs, life-skills development activities and in-class support. They built trust, confidence and leadership in their students.
The mentors became respected members of school staff. They forged stronger connection and understanding between teachers and students.
“You can tell the students really look up to them,” a teacher told researchers.
“And when they’re here they seek them out, they’re excited to see them, they’re excited to tell them about their week or what’s happened since they were last here.”
Each Sunday, the students’ families further bonded during basketball, homework club and cook-up dinners from the ‘Mammas’ - biological mothers, aunties or female carers of African descent.
“It’s really important, everyone gets happy when they see food,” one of the Mammas said.
“Even our kids, as soon as they finish the home-
work, they’ll be running like is food ready? Like excitement, really excitement.
“They eat together. That is different than eating at home alone.”
Afri-Aus Care CEO and founder Selba-Gondoza Luka said many of the Mammas reported better relations with their children as a result.
She says a key to the Junior Black Rhino’s success was the involvement of the African-Australian community from the design phase.
“If you work with the community to develop the program, it will have a better impact,” she said.
“When you do these programs well, it creates excitement for young people and their parents. It reduces intergenerational conflict and trauma
Afri-Aus Care coordinator Anish Varghese said the aim was to intervene early, to prevent primary school students dropping out of school later in their lives.
Disengagement from school is often a gateway to getting in trouble with the justice system, he said.
“Not everyone excels in certain subjects. It’s about meeting them where they are, finding and working with their strengths.”
Thumbs down
To Cardinia Road roadworks. When is the one lane traffic light going to go? It appears making it two way again is not a priority.
Thumbs up
To the teams from Pakenham, Bunyip, Beaconsfield, Berwick, Upper Beaconsfield and Emerald Fire brigades that helped raise over $780,000 for the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb. Raising money for Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the 000 Foundation.
Thumbs down
To drivers who don’t know that road rules also apply in car parks.
Afri-Aus Care founder Selba Gondoza-Luka said key was the community’s involvement in the program’s co-design. (Rob Carew: 320078)
A student, Bang, gets to work with Junior Rhino maths tutor Jacob. (Sam Garang)
Three-on-three basketball at the launch of the Junior Rhinos program in Harmony Square last year. (Rob Carew: 320078)
North Open Days
Pop along to Summerset Cranbourne North’s upcoming Open Days, enjoy some refreshments, and tour the brand-new range of Hibiscus homes.
These premium single-level villas are a range of ground or lift accessible, upper-level homes featuring two spacious bedrooms, bathroom, powder room, and internal access garage. Featuring open-plan kitchen, living and dining with either a generous garden or balcony with views over the neighbouring park, they’re perfect for entertaining friends and family.
Once complete, residents of Summerset Cranbourne North# will be able to enjoy a range of resort-style facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and spa, resident bar, café, exercise room, hair and beauty salon, recreational bowling green and resident workshop.
With two-bedroom Hibiscus homes available with flexible pricing from $669,000,* you could be loving the Summerset life sooner than you think.
Love the life you choose.
Open Days
Friday 20 & Saturday 21 September, 10am - 2pm
Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au
Deadly toll from illegal nets
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Illegal fruit-tree nets are taking a rising, deadly toll on grey-headed flying foxes, such as the colony in Doveton’s wetlands.
After a disturbing spate of flying-fox entanglements, The Conservation Regulator, Zoos Victoria, RSPCA Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria have made a joint call for households to use wildlife-safe, compliant netting.
More than 110 flying-foxes have being reportedly tangled in illegal nets in the first six months of 2024.
This already exceeds the total entanglements during 2023.
In many cases, the ‘fruit bats’ are painfully wounded or killed.
A further 400-plus flying-fox pups were rescued and rehabilitated – with many suspected to have been separated from their mothers who were entangled in nets.
Numbers in the Myuna Wetlands colony in Doveton are in the normal 5000-10,000 range for winter, which is expected to triple in summer.
However Tamsyn Hogarth from Fly By Night bat clinic in Olinda is reeling from a worst-ever tally of casualties.
“We’ve seen over 100 bats needing rescue and care across Victoria in the past month. Plus an additional 30 rescues at the start of this month alone,” she posted in the first week of August.
Many are emaciated and starved from a lack of available native fruits and nectars.
Dwindling supply is also causing more flying foxes to be entangled in household fruit trees’ netting. This year’s extended fruit season up to May and June has also contributed.
She estimates that about 70 per cent of rescues don’t survive the horrific net wounds.
Often the victims can be suffering for several days before discovered and reported to rescuers.
A common, debilitating outcome is the dieback of wings, due to the mesh winding so tightly it constricts blood-flow.
Sometimes after the bat’s rescue, it takes several more days for the gory, gaping holes to emerge in their wings.
Bats freed by the public are sometimes too damaged to fly and are later found starving to death, Hogarth says.
“We can rehabilitate them for a few weeks but the damage is sometimes too much.”
Wings, fingers, thumbs and muscles can be
deeply cut or as the bat frantically tries to free itself.
In some cases, lactating mothers with babies have chewed away at their own limbs in a desperate bid to free themselves.
Hogarth says there’s still a prolific amount of illegal nets being sold, particularly at “$2-shops”.
The injuries can often depend on the type of netting material. “If it’s black or green, we know it’s bad. The white nets are at least usually a softer net.”
A vulnerable species, the flying-foxes are often unfairly maligned, she says.
The bats play a vital role in pollinating native plants and ensuring some threatened flora’s survival.
Zoos Victoria acting chief executive Dr Sally Sherwen says the species fly thousands of kilometres in a year to search for food and pollinate a wide variety of plants, supporting important habitat for other animals like koalas and possums.
“By protecting the health and wellbeing of one species, we can help to ensure a future for an entire eco-system.”
Since late 2021, large mesh-size netting bigger than 5 millimetres by 5 millimetres has been illegal to use and sell in Victoria due to its tendency to injure wildlife.
On-the-spot fines of $395 to users and $790 to sellers apply, with penalties up to $2964 if prosecuted in court.
“We’re urging all household fruit growers to ensure they understand the law and have compliant fruit netting that protects both native wildlife and your household fruit trees,” Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said.
“A small change to your netting can make a big difference to the welfare of animals like greyheaded flying-foxes.”
The rule-of-thumb is if your finger can pass through the mess, then it’s too big.
Experts also encourage:
· White-coloured netting with a cross-weave design, which is more visible to animals at night.
· Tightly securing netting to a frame or tree trunk to prevent trapping terrestrial species.
· Protecting selected branches with fruit bags or
sleeves, rather than netting the whole tree.
Meanwhile, Casey Council have been implementing a management plan to preserve the Doveton colony.
This includes the formation of a Grey-headed Flying Fox (GHFF) stakeholder group, planned tree planting for future roosting habitat and to manage heat stress, ongoing weed management and monitoring by local wildlife carers and engagement with Bunurong Land Council on conservation works.
“The priority is ensuring the colony’s health through continued community engagement and education, including education on netting regulations and entanglements,” Casey sustainability and waste manager Michael Jansen says.
“Council is reviewing options to mitigate bat disturbance during high heat events and when pups are being reared through our bushland capital works program, which will be implemented in autumn/winter 2025.”
If a flying-fox is trapped in netting, do not attempt to handle it yourself. Call a wildlife rescuer on 136 186 or find one on wildlife.vic.gov.au/hfiw
The ravages of die-back on a flying-fox wing. (Supplied)
A roosting area at the Doveton flying-fox colony. (Gary Sissons: 429801)
A rescued flying-fox found tangled in illegal netting. (Supplied)
Fruit socks are also recommended as a wildlifefriendly option. (Supplied)
A grey-headed flying fox at the Doveton colony. (Gary Sissons: 429801)An example of a compliant, cross-stitch, narrowmesh net for fruit trees.
Arts on show at school
By Violet Li Cranbourne Carlisle Primary
School has had a bustling September so far with its Art Festival in full swing.
The school celebrated the festival on Friday 6 September.
“It was important for us to highlight the incredible work that’s happening around the school in the arts area,” principal Sally Webb said.
She pointed out that the highlight of the day was the singing and dancing performance.
“They had their moment to shine, and they felt so proud. The audience really encouraged them,” she recalled.
“A lot of those children who performed are English as an Additional Language (EAL) students who don’t speak much English at all, but they were up there singing songs on their own.
“For me, that really highlights the culture that we’ve established in the school.”
Ms Webb said the festival was celebrating and putting arts at the forefront.
“Often arts is seen as an add-on to the core curriculum or a nice thing to have,” she said.
“Whereas we see it as equally important as English and Maths because it builds those creative thinking skills that are required to be effective learners.
“So it’s not just about painting a picture or filling in time.
“To be engaged in the creative arts used to support learning across all areas.”
National awards honour
Cranbourne-based NDIS provider Kare ONE has been recognised with a sector award.
The organisation won the ‘The Most Outstanding Regional Personal Care Provider’ at the recent Enablement Awards 2024.
The awards celebrate and reward excellence, innovation and exemplary achievements in the disability care sector.
They also have a focus on considering equally all-sized operators.
Kare ONE managing director Jodie King said the award was a recognition of the hard work of the agency’s staff.
“When someone sees a person with a disability, for example in a wheelchair, few people wonder
‘how did that person get in that chair?’” Jodie said.
“Well, that’s what we do. Personal care is what assists a person to get out of bed, through the shower and beautifully dressed to go out and present themselves to the world, regardless of their mobility.”
Kare ONE was founded in 2005 to bring a fresh approach to in-home services in which clients and carers develop personal relationships.
The organisation, now in partnership with migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, prides itself on delivering quality care through careful carer placement, focusing on teamwork and recognition of the individual needs of clients.
Low-cost pet vaccinations
RSPCA Victoria’s low-cost pet vaccination day is coming back to Cranbourne this year.
The organisation will offer services with upcoming clinics at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre on Thursday 26 September and Wednesday 23 October.
The clinics, run by an RSPCA Victoria vet, are aimed at making veterinary care more accessible for people and their pets.
Speaking about the clinics, Rebecca Cook, head of prevention for RSPCA Victoria, said they were looking forward to visiting new locations and returning to familiar communities in Melbourne’s south-east.
“At our last clinic in Bentleigh, we saw 25 pets from 23 local families, and we can’t wait to hit the road again and meet more furry friends,” Ms Cook said.
“RSPCA Victoria has run over 70 low-cost vaccination events across Melbourne in the last year, where we have saved each pet owner
at least $50 on average per pet.
“We want to help people care for their pets by increasing their access to preventative veterinary care, which supports lifelong bonds among families with their cats and dogs.”
Appointments at each clinic must be booked online in advance with limited places available.
Those with more than one pet must book a separate appointment for each animal.
For $59, a dog will receive their preventative vaccines and be checked by an RSPCA veterinarian to ensure they are fit for their vaccinations.
Pet owners can also receive professional advice on how to keep them healthy now and into the future.
To book your four-legged friend a low-cost vaccination, visit rspcavic.org/vaccinationclinics/
RSPCA Victoria held a Free Healthy Pet Day event in Cranbourne in May this year. (Supplied)
Dragon eyes. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430051)
Reath with his art works. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430051)
Dragon. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430051) Art works by students. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430051)
Art works. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430051)
FOCUS ON … DISABILITY
Catered to you
Grow 2 Be is a disability support day service making a difference.
Participants at the Pakenham-based service are offered a range of hands-on activities like art lessons, woodwork classes, and outings into the community on any given day.
They also have an opportunity to volunteer at a bunny refuge, a native-wildlife shelter and equine therapy, and are offered courses including a Certificate II in Animal Care, CPR, first aid, and everyday life skills courses.
“We offer days out, where we encourage our participants to choose and research places they want to go,” director Heidi Faber said.
“We are different in that we cater every part of our program to what our participants want to do, and what their specific interests are.
“They are in control of what happens, and we are teaching them life skills in the process.”
Among the highlights of Grow 2 Be’s achievements are some participants gaining employment through organised work placements.
“We love seeing our participants having the opportunity to live their best lives and achieve their goals,” Heidi says.
“We want to support them to have fun while learning and enriching their lives.
“Seeing our participants so excited and thriving drives us to continue our work. The smiles on their faces and the positive feedback from participants and their parents demonstrate how important our work is.”
The main goal for Grow 2 Be is to set up participants for a “bright and independent future”.
“This speaks to the heart of everything we do.”
Grow 2 Be is open 9am-3pm at 50 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham. Contact: heidi@grow2be.com. au
Holiday fun awaits: BJ Care Services’ exciting adventures
Ever wondered how to make school holidays truly memorable for children with disabilities? At BJ Care Services, we’re on a mission to turn every school break into an exciting and enriching experience. Our holiday program is designed with both fun and safety in mind, and we meticulously plan every detail to cater to each child’s unique needs.
Over the past few months, our participants have enjoyed:
· Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, and Melbourne Aquarium – where they’ve had amazing up-close animal encounters, learning about wildlife in a hands-on way.
· Beautiful beaches like Mount Martha and Coronet Bay – offering nature-based adventures and a chance to unwind by the water.
· Educational visits to Science Works and Melbourne Museum – providing interactive experiences that spark curiosity and learning.
We make sure every activity is tailored to each child’s needs, whether they’re into sensory play, creative arts and crafts, or baking. Our goal is to ensure that each participant not only has a great time but also grows and learns in a supportive environment.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about upcoming adventures:
· A creative trip to Legoland, where imagination and play come together.
· A scenic ride on Puffing Billy, offering breathtaking views and a touch of nostalgia.
· A visit to Healesville Sanctuary, where participants can meet and learn about Australia’s unique wildlife.
At BJ Care Services, we’re committed to making school holidays unforgettable, helping kids build skills, make new friends, and have a fantastic time!
Grow 2 Be is an organisation providing support to young people with disabilities to become empowered to achieve their goals. We will tailor-make a variety of programs (group and individual), focusing on capacity building, that takes into consideration each participant’s NDIS goals, interests and emerging skills. We equip our participants with the skills required to gain the confidence to live an independent and fulfilled life.
heidi@grow2be.com.au 0407 544 755 www.grow2be.com.au 12612333-HC25-23
Supporting all people with disabilities from children to adult providing quality services and support to our participants in South East Victoria
The main goal for Grow 2 Be is to set up participants for a “bright and independent future”.
Celebrating love of books
By Violet Li Cranbourne
celebrated
on 3 September with the highest involvement in recent years.
This year’s theme was Reading is Magic.
Principal Sally Webb said the day was a real celebration of literature.
“This year we had the most children involved and we never had that. Usually, you get younger children involved. But this year, I think everybody just really got into it. It was beautiful,” she said.
Students and teachers participated in workshops about books and stories, and they all dressed up as characters in the books.
“They were to choose a character from a book that they love or a series of books. Then they were meant to bring the book along as well,” Ms Webb recalled.
“It wasn’t a set genre. There wasn’t a set focus. It was about helping kids promote a book that they love and get other children interested
in that.”
Ms Webb highlighted that about 63 per cent of students in the school came from a background where English was an additional language, so the school ran an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program.
“Children from EAL background focused on a book called Where’s the Green Sheep?” she said.
“We gave them a copy of that book. As English learners, they came away from that day being able to feel like they are understood and they’re included in Book Week because they got their own copy of a book that they could take home and read to their family.
“For many of them, they’ll be the first English speakers in the family. For us, a really exciting part of the day was that focus on everybody can read. Even if you’re just retelling a story by looking at the pictures, you’re reading.
“It’s not about the length of the book or the difficulty or the complexity. It’s about engaging with literature that inspires us.”
Push for faster accreditation for Filipino engineers
By Violet Li
A multicultural community organisation in Casey has been working towards a quicker professional assessment for Filipino engineers in Australia.
In partnership with the Society of Filipino Engineers in Australia (SFEA), Pinoy Casey Community Inc (PCCI) held the first information session on the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between engineering bodies of the Philippines and Australia on 25 August.
MRA recognises differences in chartered qualification standards and contributes to a simpler professional assessment process on the respective sides. Engineers Australia and the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) serve as the professional bodies on the two sides.
Engineers Australia currently has MRA with 15 countries worldwide, not including the Philippines.
The information session briefed the attendants on the progress of MRA and provided a networking opportunity.
President of PCCI Alfie Tilan and other Filipino engineers in Australia launched the nationwide SFEA in May this year after recognising the challenges faced by the cohort.
“I’m surprised because there are a lot of engineers who already could be working, like in Dubai or overseas, went to Australia, and then saying, how can we practice as engineers here?” Mr Tilan said.
“Here, you cannot function as an engineer unless you have accreditation from Engineers Australia, or you’re formally appointed as an engineer in Australia through the MRA.”
During the information session, Mr Tilan reflected on his journey to be a chartered engineer in Australia, which took him six months after multiple tests and assessments.
He believed his process stage was among the fastest because of his extensive previous experience before coming to Australia in 2007.
“It was really a long process that the foreign engineers whose countries don’t have MRA had to go through,” he said.
“If we have MRA, many engineers don’t have
to go through the same process as what I did when I became an engineer here.
“It will be like a shortcut.”
Mr Tilan said SFEA was established to speed up the process of MRA between the two countries.
“SFEA is the representative body of PTC in Australia,” he said.
“We have constant communication between the Philippines and Australia.
“If no one is pushing it here, we will have to wait for very long.”
Mr Tilan said SEFA and PCCI were confident about the timeline as the Philippines officially became a signatory of the Washington Accord (WA) in June this year, which was believed to pave the way for MRA.
“It took Indonesia around one and a half years to finally have the MRA after the signatory with Washington Accord was met,” he said.
“We’re looking at a formal signing of MRA
between the two countries in December 2025.”
Mr Tilan said MRA would be for the future generation.
“We are not doing this for ourselves because we are all chartered,” he said.
“We do this because of our passion, and we want to share our stories with those who are planning to become an engineer here.
“It could be a big inspiration for them because sometimes it gets to a point where most of them are about to give up.”
Participants at the information session. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 427196)
Vice president of SFEA Alex Genota is speaking at the information session. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 427196)
The group shot of the day. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 427196)
L to R engineer Dennis Arcenas, director Victor Marzonia, public relations officer Jules Jusayan, president Alfie Tilan, vice president Alex Genota, treasurer Edrick Lim. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 427196)
Carlisle Primary School
Book Week
Staff member Janelle on the day. (Stewart Chambers: 429215)
Rhianna. (429215)
Staff member Penelope is Hungry Caterpillar on the day. (429215) Scarlett. (429215)
CRANBOURNE - THROUGH THE YEARS Community and kindness
While Casey Grammar School has evolved and grown significantly in the past 30 years, the very best things about the school remain the same
Casey Grammar School opened in 1994 with 57 students from Foundation to Year 6. Now it has more than 1,000 students up to Year 12 and is an expansive, vibrant community.
What has changed and what has stayed the same?
Jacqualine Newton joined CGS in 1998 in Year 7. After graduating in 2003, she studied Arts and Law at Monash University and became a lawyer. CGS played a major role in setting her on a successful career path and building her self-belief.
“I was encouraged to try new things and that helped me be where I am today,” she says.
“During one of my first school camps we went to the Grampians. I don’t have a sporty bone in my body but our teacher encouraged me to try to abseil. I was so nervous but he gave me enough confidence to put on a harness and stand on the edge. Then he suggested I descend a little. Before I realised it, I’d abseiled to the bottom — a huge achievement!
“That’s just one example of how Casey Grammar created a safe, encouraging place. Teachers saw our potential and helped us grow.”
Jacqualine has been on the CGS Consultative Committee for 10 years and while she’s seen new facilities change the look of the school, the sense of warmth and community has endured.
“Casey still has that feeling of care for every student. Nobody gets lost – it’s a bigger school with a small community feeling,” she says.
Nick, a current Year 12 student, enrolled in Prep and has many positive school memories.
“Being interested in the Performing Arts, I cherish memories and close friendships formed during school productions. Many excursions and camps have been highlights and so were the Deb-
utante Ball and Year 6 Graduation. There have also been many classroom conversations that I’ll remember in years to come,” he says.
“The teachers are the biggest strength of the school – they are supportive, highly-skilled and have helped me meet my potential, and some-
times exceed my expectations of what I can achieve. The improved facilities over the years have also been important in allowing the school to expand,” says Nick.
With his final day at Casey Grammar looming, Nick, who hopes to study Engineering and Com-
merce at Monash University, has mixed emotions.
“I’m excited for the future, but I’ll be sad to not see some of my friends and teachers,” he says.
“After spending more than two-thirds of my life at Casey Grammar, I will miss the school.”
Jacqualine Newton has been on the Casey Grammar School Consultative Committee for 10 years and while she’s seen new facilities change the look of the school, the sense of warmth and community has endured.
Nick, a current Year 12 student, enrolled in Prep and has many positive school memories.
Star News Group is an innovative and dynamic media company located in Pakenham, Victoria. As a leading publisher of print and digital news, we are looking for a part-time Telesales Representative to join our team.
Overview
The successful candidate will be responsible for increasing revenue by selling our products and services to potential and existing customers via phone call. This is a part-time role with flexible hours.
Key Responsibilities
•Manage a portfolio of existing customers and develop relationships with new customers.
•Conduct outbound telesales calls to promote our products and services.
• Achieve and exceed sales targets and KPIs.
•Keep accurate and updated records of customer interactions and sales leads.
•Coordinate with the sales and marketing team to align sales strategies and campaigns.
•Telesales or cold-calling experience is preferred but not essential.
•Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Results driven and target-oriented mindset.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail.
The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.
Send your application letter and resume to:
Advertising Sales Manager
Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au
Cranbourne Senior Citizens
Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.
Weekly activities - Line Dancing Mon. 10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.
• For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590
Casey Pet Expo
Saturday 14 September, 11am - 3pm, Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick
Come and explore the beautiful surroundings of Wilson Botanic Park, participate in pet-related workshops and watch live demonstrations.
There will also be live entertainment, roving performers, face painting and an abundance of exciting market stalls showcasing the latest in pet products (including food, clothing and unique accessories).
If you do decide to bring your pet with you, please make sure they are on a lead.
• No bookings are required.
U3A Cranbourne
U3A is a community group for anyone 50 and over to learn, share and socialise in Cranbourne. Activities range from Line Dancing and Ballroom Dancing, Guitar and Ukulele, Arts and Crafts, Table Tennis and more. The group offers a variety of activities at 20-22 Bowen Street in Cranbourne. Line Dancing and Ballroom Dancing classes are held at Casey Basketball Stadium in Cranbourne. Find the joy in joining others in keeping your brain, body active and pursuing creative interests that you are passionate about.
Supported by Casey Council U3A is a not-for-profit organisation with a membership fee of$50 per year. This fee allows members to participate in as many activities as they wish.
Please check our website www. u3acranbourne,org,au or call 0493991919.
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 enquiries, contact Heather at hsims14@ gmail.com
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.
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.
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-to-one basis. Come along to learn how to play or improve your game.
• Contact David on 0433 566 456.
Connected Libraries - Buildings of Casey Photography Competition 2024
Calling all photographers – be part of recording the City of Casey as it is now, for future generations!
Enter our “Buildings of Casey” photography competition this spring and help us collect images of the City of Casey’s current buildings, for tomorrow’s history. Photos submitted will be kept in our Local History Archive and used for historical projects in the future.
· 9am, 1 September - 5pm, 30 September
Sarah H. won the first prize
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.
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
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 with the onset of spring.
• For more information, visit ballaballa.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, a chat, and then afternoon tea. Day, short and long trips away via coach, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly Tuesday dine-outs, a weekly walking group, a weekly table tennis group, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, entertainment function days and more.
Anyone interested can visit on Thursdays at 2pm for socialising and low-key dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House at 21A Bemersyde Drive or join the club for a coffee and a chat every Wednesday from 10am at the new François cafe in front of Myer in Fountain Gate.
• For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.
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 lunch and then host a guest speaker.
Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies.
The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.
• For more information, contact Shirley on 0438 191 759 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com
Probus Club of Casey Combined Meetings finish at noon when many of our members assemble for lunch at one of the local cafes.
• The club meets at the Old Cheese Factory at 9.45am on the second Tuesday of each month.
in 2023 with her photo End of the Line which captures the section of the disused railway between Broadoak Drive and Casey Fields Boulevard. (Supplied)
Casey’s Crees wins bronze
By Marcus Uhe
Berwick’s Dayna Crees will return from the Paralympic Games in Paris with a bronze medal in her suitcase after claiming third place in the Women’s Javelin Throw F34 event last week.
Crees, who honed her craft at Casey Cardinia Athletics Club, threw a personal best of 17.65 metres on her first attempt in the early hours of Monday morning, 2 September in Paris to finish third in the event behind a pair of Chinese competitors, with the gold medal winner, Zou Lijuan, setting a new world record in the process.
The 22-year-old was the second-last competitor to participate in the event and trumped her previous best distance that she threw at the 2023 Para-Athletics Championships of 16.84 metres, which at the time set a national record.
In the F34 shot put event the next day, she placed ninth with a throw of 6.3 metres on her fourth attempt, also a new personal best, to cap a wonderful maiden Paralympic Games venture.
Crees, who lives with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, throws while seated in a wheelchair due to her disability, and recovered from a rotator cuff injury suffered in January in order to qualify for the Games.
Her athletics journey began with success in running and jumping events before transitioning to the throwing disciplines as a teenager.
Overall, the Athletics team claimed 11 medals, with three golds, two silvers and six bronze.
The Paralympics concluded on Monday morning, 9 September with the closing ceremony, bringing an end to 11 days of competition.
The Australian Paralympic Team claimed 18 gold medals, 17 silver and 28 bronze, including Crees’, to finish ninth on the gold medal tally and eighth for total overall medals.
Six athletes won multiple medals, including swimmers Alexa Leary and Callum Simpson, with medals coming in a total of nine sports; boccia, athletics, canoe, cycling, rowing, swimming, table tennis, triathlon and wheelchair rugby.
The 2028 Paralympic Games will be held in Los Angeles beginning Tuesday 22 August and concluding on Sunday 3 September. Berwick’s
O’Brien proud to be leaving a lasting legacy with Eagles
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Cranbourne’s semi final loss to St Paul’s McKinnon in Division 1 of the Southern Football Netball League on Sunday brought an end to Steve O’Brien’s time at the helm of the Eagles.
O’Brien was appointed as coach ahead of the 2018 season, bringing with him five years of VFL experience as well as a local resume which included experience at Rowville, Devon Meadows, St Kilda City and Highett.
The highlight of his seven years was the 2022 premiership, the club overcoming significant adversity to win the flag.
“It was amazing there was a lot going on at the footy club throughout the year, a lot good, some not so good,” O’Brien recalled.
“We were challenged with injuries but we devised a plan about eight weeks prior to finals and we never deviated from the plan so it became reality on grand final day so we can all look back with immense pride about that.”
The Eagles entered a new league in 2022, after being premiership favourites the previous year before the pandemic truncated the season.
O’Brien and his team built the perfect list demographic and played a brand that wins finals consistently to make a statement in the club’s first season in the Southern Football Netball League.
“They’re a great bunch of boys that personify that talent takes you so far but you need some other ingredients to be really successful year after year and these boys just ooze character and resilience,” the coach said.
“They say a playing group is a reflection of their coach and if that group is a reflection of me, then I walk away pretty proud.”
Vice-president Chris Keenan notes two key things that will define O’Brien’s legacy.
Coach Steve O’Brien during the 2023 season. (Stewart Chambers: 343169)
“For me, it was his professionalism and determination that stood out,” Keenan said.
“The professionalism he shows is completely second to none.
“He is very strong and determined in what he wants and he won’t let anything get in the way of that which is something I learned from him.
“The proof was there in 2022 and 2023 - there were hiccups but he sets a goal and achieves it.
“From a leadership point of view, he doesn’t want to give in and clubs know Cranbourne won’t die and I think we got that a lot from him.
“We find a way to go again and that comes back to what Steve has put into the group over the years.”
O’Brien will remain involved at Cranbourne, easing the transition to new senior coach Angelo Soldatos.
Cranbourne
outclassed in disappointing last day out
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Cranbourne’s run in the Southern Football Netball League Division 1 finals series came to a hollow end with an uncharacteristic finals thumping at the hands of St Paul’s McKinnon, which won 19.10 124 to 6.3 39 on Sunday.
Kicking against the wind in the first quarter at Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc, Cranbourne fell behind by 26 points at the first break, and the Saints flattened Cranbourne with a goal within the first minute of the second quarter.
The Saints were better in the contest and able to link up smartly, with Cranbourne kicking just one of the four goals of the second quarter to fall behind by 40 points at the main break.
Any hope the Eagles had of arresting the Saints’ momentum before a final quarter flurry evaporated thanks to a goal to the favourites inside 30 seconds which laid the platform for a frustrating quarter.
Ill-discipline exacerbated a period where Cranbourne was unable to get territory and forced to repeatedly defend, with the Saints blasting home 9.3 to lead by a staggering 97 points at the last break.
“We probably went to the well one too many times I think,” outgoing coach Steve O’Brien said.
“We’ve been playing elimination finals for the past six weeks and that and injuries just told in the end but credit to St Paul’s who played incredible footy.
“We thought we could get them in a few areas but they got us in every area.”
Three last quarter goals to the Eagles maintained some respect on the scoreboard at fulltime.
Co-captain Dylan Cavalot was named best on ground, Jordan Bertrand worked hard in the backline to cap a career-best season and Tyson Barry kicked four goals as he rediscovered his 2022 form, albeit in a slightly different role.
“Tyson Barry’s last six or seven weeks has been huge so we take huge pride in his development,” O’Brien said.
“Jake Stephens was huge taking over the number one ruck mantle.
“He’s undersized in height but is such a competitive beast so to watch him develop and grow was outstanding.
“(Jordan Bertrand) was crucial to us and took another step forward in his leadership which was fantastic to see so he can be proud of his year going to a new level.”
Angelo Soldatos will succeed O’Brien as coach of Cranbourne.
Jake Stephens had a career-best year for Cranbourne. (Rob Carew: 424380)
Dayna Crees celebrates her fantastic bronze medal finish at the Paralympics in Paris. (Drew Chislett/AAP: 430703)
Stingrays hit Power switch
By Jonty Ralphsmith
A first quarter blitz has lifted Dandenong to a quarterfinal victory over Gippsland at ETU Stadium on Saturday.
The Stingrays held on to win 9.10 64 to 7.16 58, leading the whole day following a 42-0 opening term.
Reliant on spasmodic magical moments following a near-perfect first quarter, against a synergetic side lacking polish, a Tom Matthews behind with 90 seconds remaining put Gippy down by just six points, producing a helter-skelter finish.
St Kilda father-son prospect Elwood Peckett took a match-saving intercept mark in Gippy’s penultimate thrust forward, before a Cooper Hynes clearance on the wing just about iced it.
Needing a perfect play to give themselves a chance to send it to overtime, the Power won a clearance and got it to the arc, before time expired prior to a dangerous kick inside 50.
Somehow, despite leading by as much as seven goals and never trailing all day, there was a sense of larceny about the result.
Following an effervescent first quarter, Dandenong frustrated with a messy and reactive display of inconsistency.
The apparent early class difference which gave the Rays a six-goal buffer 15 minutes into the game had evaporated.
It was a domination in all facets in the first quarter, with the Stingrays capitalising on a breeze advantage, winning the contested ball, running in numbers and finding space forward.
Hynes led the charge, with his setup kick to key forward Tairon Ah-Mu in the first minute of the game laying the platform for an absurd quarter for the Rays.
It had all the hallmarks of a blowout at quarter time.
The Power was missing first choice midfielders Xavier Lindsay and Max Stobie against a side
with as many as six 2025 draft prospects on the field.
What followed was inexplicable.
It felt that Gippsland had given itself a 42-point handicap before awakening for a chastening pursuit.
The Power got their hands on the footy and locked the ball in their forward half for extended periods.
Under-16s key forward Wil Malady kicked his team’s first goal early in the second quarter, and
Things getting serious as Rays’ stars get set to shine
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong’s boys and girls will both face off in preliminary finals on the weekend, against Sandringham and Oakleigh respectively.
Different narratives have underpinned each season.
TheboyshaveuncoveredruckJordanDoherty, defender Riak Andrew, forward Sam Toner, interceptor Charlie Orchard and St Kilda father-son prospect Elwood Peckett as draft prospects.
Co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes have also continued pressing their case for selection at the pointy end of the 2024 AFL Draft.
Jemma Reynolds and Kayla Dalgleish have led the charge for the girls, while Elli Symonds has added some grunt late in the season, with that trio well led by Zoe Besanko Utility Makahela Bluhm has also generated momentum, while bottom-agers Nikhita Harris, Evelyn Connolly, Nalu Brothwell, Mizuki Brothwell and Matilda Argus have all had impressive games.
Both teams will enter their final as underdogs, with the boys to play at RSEA Park, on Sunday at 11am and girls to play at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn, on Saturday at 11.30am. Below is a list of match-winners for each side
• Harvey Langford: Gets things started in the midfield for the Rays, with his power and class scintillating.
• Cooper Hynes: Proved on the weekend he doesn’t need much of it to impact thanks to his smarts and Langford will need support against a stacked midfield.
• Riak Andrew: The Berwick junior appears to have found some late season form, and is one of several that will have a tough task down back if the Sandringham midfield gets on top.
• Tairon Ah-Mu: The bottom-aged key forward gives Dandenong a clear target inside 50.
• JordanDoherty: Will be going up against highly rated 2025 prospect Louis Emmett, but Doherty moves as well as any key-position prospect in general play and is in excellent form.
Dandenong will be hoping that Evelyn Connolly is at her best this weekend. (Rob Carew: 430152)
• Kayla Dalgleish: Smart midfielder-forward who has been uber-consistent in 2024.
• Evelyn Connolly: Has quietly put together a strong season as a goalsneak and Dandenong would love her to fire, having challenged Oakleigh at times across the last 12 months without putting it on the scoreboard.
• Jemma Reynolds: A midfielder who will look to use her speed and athleticism to advance it forward.
• Nikhita Harris: Runs all day to provide a contest and her defensive work is as good as anyone in the league.
• Elli Symonds: Plays with a hard edge and her strength and power will be crucial against a balanced Oakleigh lineup.
Locals who could feature:
Kane Hurst (Berwick defender), Toby Sinnema (Devon Meadows winger), Riley Hilliard (Beaconsfield defender), Jay-De Varlet (Beaconsfield forward), Tahj De La Rue (Pakenham utility), Tairon Ah-Mu (Berwick forward), Riak Andrew (Berwick defender), Mitch Toner (Narre Warren forward), Kayla Dalgleish (Officer), Indi Sherritt (Beaconsfield), Kheely Cornwall (Cranbourne)
looked dangerous throughout, alongside Alixzander Tauru who spent much of the day forward.
At their feet, the fleet-footed trio of Matthews, Brodie Atkins and Marlon Neocleous had flashes of brilliance and applied bone-crunching pressure.
The margin was trimmed to 15 points at halftime and they didn’t allow Dandenong to kick away with the wind.
Gippy forced Dandenong to repeatedly defend in the third quarter, but converted just two
of their seven opportunities.
At the other end, the speedy Harry Doughton kicked an opportunistic snap to maintain a five point lead for Dandenong at the last break.
As he has done so often in 2024, Hynes stepped up at his team’s time of great need, kicking a goal from the centre stoppage on the run from 50 to start the last quarter.
It gave the Stingrays breathing room while the Power attacked.
Tauru, a constant target as Gippsland revived, kicked a goal midway through the last.
That brought the margin back to two but that was as close as the Power would get, with Dandenong quickly responding via Ah-Mu.
Hynes finished with an influential 16 disposals, while top-three prospect Harvey Langford amassed 27 playing through soreness.
Doughton continued his strong month of form with 18 disposals and two goals, while Charlie Rowe attacked it hard and gave his direct opponent no room.
For Gippsland, the standouts were Max Donohue, who stepped up in the midfield, alongside Jesse Craven, giving the forward line plenty of supply.
Meanwhile, the girls also progressed with a 12.14 86 to 2.5 17 over the Power.
After a tight first quarter, the Stingrays broke away with the wind, kicking 3.7 in the second term and never looking threatened thereafter.
Highly regarded 16-year-old stood up in a statement performance, kicking 3.2, while Tahlia Sanger, Kayla Dalgleish and Jemma Reynolds got well on top in the midfield to give Dandenong extended territory.
Makhaela Bluhm’s pressure in the forward half was also noteworthy, with the utility finishing with two goals.
Dandenong’s boys will face Sandringham, while the girls will face Oakleigh for a spot in the grand final.
By Jonty Ralphsmith
FourDandenongStingraysandfourGippsland Power players are among the 91 players nominated for the 2024 AFLW Draft combines.
Stingrays Zoe Besanko and Elli Symonds were invited to the national combine, alongside Gippsland top-five pick contender Ash Centra.
Dandenong midfielders Jemma Reynolds and Kayla Dalgleish and Gippsland trio Jas Sowden, Lilly Leighton and Zali Gallagher were invited to the state combine.
Besanko is an athletic tall, Symonds projects as a strong-marking forward/midfielder and Centra is a smooth-moving utility.
Reynolds is a polished on-baller, Dalgleish is athletic and fierce, Sowden is brilliant in the contest, Leighton is a hard runner and Gallagher is pacy and tenacious off halfback.
The three-day national Draft Combine will
be held in Melbourne from Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6. It will be held over the same weekend as the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft Combine for boys.
Club interviews will be held at the MCG across Friday and Saturday before players take part in physical testing at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) on Sunday. Testing will include the vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20-metre sprint, agility test and 2km time trial.
In addition to the national Draft Combine, smaller state-based Draft Combines will also be held in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia for players who were not nominated for the national event.
Selection to attend the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft Combine and 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft Combines was based on nominations provided by AFLW clubs.
Zoe Besanko was invited to the AFLW National Draft Combine. (Rob Carew: 430152)
Cooper Hynes doesn’t need much of the footy to be a matchwinner. (Jordan Sacchetta/AFL Photos)
Sluggish start costs Dees
By Marcus Uhe
A goalless first half at Casey Fields against the reigning premier proved too tough an obstacle to overcome for Melbourne’s AFLW side in its first game of the season at their Cranbourne base.
Debutant Alyssia Pisano’s goal at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter was the Demons’ first for the game in a low-scoring day, but the Demons were unable to build on her efforts to launch a fight back, going down by 18 points in a 2.3 15 to 5.3 33 loss.
Pisano reduced the lead to just 12 points heading into the final change with a set shot after Tyla Hanks found her on a lead, but a pair of goals to Brisbane key forward Dakota Davidson midway through the last quarter gave the Lions an unassailable 24-point buffer.
Captain, Kate Hore added another for Melbourne late in the piece but her efforts only served to cut the Lions’ eventual margin to the final 18-point gap the game settled upon.
Given Melbourne’s inability to score, in part due to the absence of Talya Harris to a long term injury, it was its defence that kept it in the contest, holding Brisbane to only two goals in the first half.
The Demons were comprehensively beaten at the contest, losing contested possessions by 17 and clearances by 14, yet lost the inside 50 count by just three.
Melbourne had no answer for star Lion Ally Anderson, who recorded 43 disposals, seven clearances and 599 metres gained in a dominant performance.
Pisano was Melbourne’s prized number five selection in last season’s AFLW draft, and was a late inclusion to the Demons’ side after Lauren Pearce succumbed to a wrist injury sustained early in the week.
Casey ready for grand final
By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Cannons Hockey Club has two senior teams through to the grand final following a successful preliminary final weekend.
The Cannons firsts and thirds men’s side qualified for the big dance, following 4-3 and 6-4 wins respectively.
The men’s firsts, competing in the Vic League 2 competition, defeated minor premiers Craigieburn, and are set to face Yarra, which it had a 2-2 draw with in its most recent meeting following a 2-0 loss early in 2024.
Casey raced out to a 4-1 lead in the preliminary final, before Craigieburn pegged it back late, with the Canons one man short in the last quarter but able to hold on for a significant victory.
Josh Watson scored a double, while Satpal Singh and Tristan Chaffey also found the back of the net.
“The boys worked well for each other, controlled the ball and linked up well,” coach Steve Noney said.
“We were hungry for the ball in the circle early which was a big part of the result.
“We’re building something special with the culture we’ve developed and there is a really good feel around the club.”
The match was also club stalwart Matthew Light’s 300th game and his experience shone through on the big stage.
Meanwhile, the thirds were led by doubles to Matt Guastella and teenager Ilham Amin Nur Iszehar Bin in the big win in the wet.
Youngsters Alfie Ray and Jessie Jelavic were also brilliant as goal-keeper and at right half respectively
The Cannons led 6-1 at three-quarter-time before Southern United restored some respectability on the scoreboard.
“We came out blazing in the first half and we couldn’t have played any better in the first three quarters,”
“We really put it to them and were well on top and in the last quarter, we brought finals pressure, stood tough and held them off.
“It was a good all-round team effort.”
Casey is set to take on local rivals Cardinia for the men’s Metro 2 South premiership, with the
Cannons the only team to defeat the Storm in 2024 after losing to them early in the season. It will be an enticing spectacle, with many of the Storm’s inaugural players starting their career at Casey.
Cardinia had 14 wins, three draws and a loss through the home and away season to finish on top of the table to guarantee promotion; Casey finished third with 11 wins, three draws and four losses.
Meanwhile, Casey’s under-16s and under-14s teams finished as runners-up after an excellent season of development and joy.
Warriors win premiership
By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Warriors First Grade women’s team have capped a dominant season with a premiership in the NRL Victoria competition.
The Warriors were forced to come from behind to defeat Truganina 16-12.
Played at Seabrook Reserve, Broadmeadows, Truganina scored the first two tries of the game, before a late Casey try trimmed the margin to four points at halftime.
Tyra Boysen and Aliena Faavae both scored early in the second half, with Chantelle Latu’s conversions essentially the difference, with Truganina unable to convert its three tries.
Highlighting the tightness between the two grand finalists, the two home and away matches between the sides yielded two draws.
The premiership followed a third-placed finish on the table for Casey, with 10 wins and four losses, alongside the two draws against Truganina.
Below is a pic spread of the special day.
Chantelle Latu’s conversion was excellent.
Casey hoist the premiership. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 430080)
Tristan Chaffey was reliable as ever. (Rob Carew: 427117)
Casey’s under-16s were runners-up on the weekend. (Supplied)
She finished with three disposals but spent just 50 per cent of the game on the ground.
Sinead Goldrick, Blaithin Mackin, Karen Pax-
man and Tyla Hanks were the Demons’ leading disposal winners. Melbourne returns to Casey Fields on
Sunday for round three to tackle North Melbourne, which drew with Geelong last weekend.
Debutant Alyssia Pisano kicked Melbourne’s first goal of the game on Saturday. (File)
