Finally, an end in sight
with Tivendale Road now complete. Full story page 5
‘Desperate’ need
By Corey Everitt
A council candidate has called for more attention to be put toward the safety of local walkers and cyclists, promising to campaign for a review of Cardinia’s footpaths and bike paths if elected. Henty Ward candidate Liz Roberts has said
Cardinia Shire Council’s strategy around active transport ‘desperately needs a review’.
The Cardinia Shire Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategy was instituted seven years ago and Roberts has pledged to campaign for an update.
“In Henty Ward so many people rely on walking as their transport – to get to the train, to get to
the shops and to walk to kindergarten or school,” she said.
“Walking and cycling are the forms of transport many people use if they don’t have access to a car or a bus stop nearby or if they simply live a short distance from services. They need to be given the respect they deserve.
“When elected as Henty Ward councillor I’ll be pushing for this to happen.”
This was raised only a month after the council announced a pause to Main Street’s long-awaited revamp which would have seen an update to its many paths and crossings.
Continued page 4
OFFICER WARD
SAMANTHA-JANE
POTTER
How long have you lived in Cardinia?
We purchased and built our home in Officer nearly 4 years ago now.
Are you a member of a political party (past or present)?
No. But full disclosure, my Father was a member of the Liberal party and I have voted for Labor, Liberal and The Green’s in past elections.
Occupation, business/employer name:
I work for a not for profit organization that supports disabled children and youth. I am the Volunteer and social groups coordinator for the Southeast-including Cardinia.
I work with autistic children and youth and run community building events to support them to build social and life skills and I also match them with wonderful volunteer mentors.
In the past I was the South East region centre manager for a large not for profit, who support our vulnerable members of our community. I managed home care and nursing services,
MALHOTRA
How long have you lived in Cardinia?
Over 10 years.
Are you a member of a political party (past or present)?
No.
Occupation, business/employer name:
Business Advisor, Real Estate Advocate & International Trainer.
Do you hold any property and/or business interests within Cardinia?
Yes.
Three most important issues you are campaigning about:
meals on wheels and volunteer transport.
Prior to that, I worked in dementia support in aged care, leading a team of leisure and health professionals.
Do you hold any property and/or business interests within Cardinia?
Only my family home.
Three most important issues you are campaigning about:
Officer is a wonderfully diverse community. I don’t want to reduce our communities’ important issues to a three-fold sales plan, it doesn’t do them justice. I am listening - I aim to be deeply and practically involved in community life in Officer and Cardinia, ensuring I stay up to date with the grass root issues our community is passionate about.
Transparency in council and ensuring Officer and Cardinia is a wonderful, thriving, safe place to live - in all the ways that are important to our community, with inclusive family values, common sense and compassion.
Describe your involvement in the community?
I am a volunteer on the Cardinia Yakkerboo committee, Im involved with Have Hope - and
· Crime Reduction.
· Small Business Support.
· Roads Improvement.
I am committed to restoring common sense and conservative values.
My mission is twofold:
· To make Cardinia a premier destination for living and working.
· To uphold your rights, promote your values, and safeguard your lifestyle.
My priorities are:
· Improve safety: The crime rate in Cardinia has increased by 13 percent this year. This is unacceptable and creates fear among residents
the Stomp the Path suicide prevention day. I founded the Cardinia Creative Community - Live and Local Officer Open microphonewhich is a group to literally beat the blues and loneliness and create a grass roots creative community! I’m on the SRDA Southern Region Disability Alliance, The Cardinia Shire Youth Network, I’m on the Upper Beaconsfield festival committee, I’m part of the Cardinia women and girls sport and participation network, I’m also on the Victorian Multicultural Commision’s Southern Metro Regional Advisory Council, Cardinia and I’m also part of the community workers in Cardinia Shire network and am in the Cardinia Communities for Children Network, plus I am a mum, and my daughter goes to a local school - so of course I’m involved in the local community with her networks too. Why are you standing for election?
I am standing because I love this community. My family and I have committed to Officer, Cardinia - this is our family home. My daughter is growing up here and I want it to be the most wonderful place around - for everyone who lives, works and visits! I want our community in particular, to be inspired, safe and prosperous. What is your campaign budget?
while burdening local law enforcement. I plan to address the root causes of crime to ensure a long-term reduction and make Cardinia a safer place for generations to come.
· Economic growth: I aim to drive initiatives that support economic growth, business development, and financial independence. With my business expertise, I hope to help Cardinia become a leading community that is financially self-sufficient and thriving, setting an example for others.
· Enhance infrastructure: The deteriorating road network in Cardinia, especially the rise in potholes, has compromised safety, damaged vehicles, and increased costs for individuals and
I have spent just over $1000 of my own money. Who are your campaign donors? How much have each contributed?
Zero, I don’t have any.
What councillors, ex-councillors, MPs or ex-MPs have assisted or advised your campaign?
No one/None. In preparation for running, I did a fellowship in Community Leadership and also a Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance (Local Government) from ICDA. Also, I have been generally inspired over the last year or so, as I have had the privilege to meet and speak with Officer Ward Cr Tammy Radford, Mayor Jack Kowarzik and MP Emma Vulin at multiple community events that we have attended in Cardinia, and in particular at the Cardinia Leadership Program, that I am currently doing - they were all guest speakers. Also at the last Yakkerboo festival - I met Cr Graeme Moore who invited me to step into his MC/compare shoes, and do the official MCing at future Yakkerboo festivals, after he retires! I also met member for Eastern Victoria Region Renee Heath at the Pakenham festival.
municipalities. Regular inspections, timely repairs, and better reporting systems are needed to address these issues and improve the overall quality of life for residents.
Describe your involvement in the community: I have facilitated financial education seminars in Cardinia and held various committee roles within the City of Glen Eira. These experiences have helped me build networks nationally and internationally, aligning with my work as a trainer and advisor. Moving forward, I plan to focus more on local community initiatives, using my skills to contribute to the betterment of Cardinia.
Continued page 3
Spark up for Shocktober
Ambulance Victoria (AV) has launched its lifesaving annual campaign Shocktober, which calls on residents in the Metro region to learn the three simple steps to improve cardiac arrest survival rates – Call, Push, Shock.
Around 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day and only one in 10 survive, which is why it’s crucial that people know what to do. Bystander intervention has the greatest impact on improving someone’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest – for every minute that CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.
Shocktober is a month-long cardiac arrest awareness campaign to highlight the importance of learning CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
AV regional director Metro Vanessa Gorman said you don’t have to be a paramedic to be a life saver – it’s as easy as calling Triple Zero (000),
pushing hard and fast in the middle of the person’s chest and if available, using an AED to deliver a shock.
“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrest and when a patient receives CPR and a shock before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles,” she said.
“Last year, paramedics responded to a record 7,830 cardiac arrest patients but there was also a record amount of bystander intervention.
“Anyone can perform CPR and use an AED –you don’t need training or to be qualified.
“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions.”
AV will be out and about hosting community engagement sessions across the region.
Last October, AV organised 340 Shocktober
events which reached more than 6700 Victorians.
While Victoria has the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia, and among the best in the world, Vanessa said there’s more to be done and we need your help.
Businesses, shop owners and sports clubs are also encouraged to ensure their AEDs are registered with the AV website and made publicly accessible, so 000 call takers can direct people to it in an emergency.
Currently, more than 13,000 AEDs are registered with AV across Victoria.
For more information about Shocktober, the GoodSAM app and how to perform CPR and use an AED, visit www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober.
To register your publicly accessible AED, visit registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au.
Ambulance Victoria has launched its life-saving annual campaign Shocktober. (Supplied)
RON
From page 2
I also founded a program to assist the homeless in Melbourne, providing essential skills for new beginnings. As Vice President of the Global Transitions Foundation, I worked with underprivileged and homeless children in Australia and developing countries. In Casey, I conducted workshops for migrants, helping them integrate into the workforce and local communities through a blend of technical education, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness.
In the past, I joined local radio stations in
Casey and Cardinia to promote financial literacy, continuing my mission of empowering individuals through education.
Why are you standing for election?
As a resident of Cardinia for over 10 years, I’m running for the Officer Ward to bring intelligent, conservative representation back to our community. Over the last four years, there has been too much political correctness and neutrality on critical issues. Residents are frustrated, and I share their concerns.
As a businessman, I am focused on results, not political games. I believe hard-working families deserve to see their money invested in public safety and infrastructure. Cardinia needs a strong voice, someone willing to chal-
lenge political correctness and advocate for what is right. My business experience equips me to deliver real results that benefit our community.
What is your campaign budget?
Prefer not to say.
Who are your campaign donors? How much have each contributed?
Fully self-funded.
What councillors, ex-councillors, MPs or ex-MPs have assisted or advised your campaign?
Rosalie Crestani (Deputy Mayor of City of Casey) in 2019. Councillor of Four Oaks Ward in 2012-2020.
(File, AAP)
Calls for transparency over use of AI in polls
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to make an appearance at local council elections in October this year, according to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
Electoral commissioner Sven Bluemmel has urged voters to think critically about campaign material, while encouraging campaigners to be transparent in the use of any AI-generated or AImodified material.
In particular, the VEC is calling for visible labelling on any AI-generated or AI-modified election campaign material to ensure voters are not misled.
“Getting campaign information to voters is an essential part of the robust contest of ideas in
any election. We know that voters are concerned about mis- and disinformation. Voters need reliable and trustworthy information to help them make informed decisions about how to vote,’ Mr Bluemmel said.
“That is why, as well as the usual authorisation statement requirements, I am urging campaigners to meet community expectations by clearly labelling any election material that has been generated or modified through the use of AI.
“Tackling political mis- and disinformation is essential if we are to protect voter confidence in our electoral system. It is the responsibility of all participants, not just the VEC, to maintain that confidence,” Mr Bluemmel added.
There are no laws in Victoria that regulate truth in political advertising. Voters are encouraged to exercise their own judgement and think critically about the information they see, before deciding to let it influence their vote. Voters should look for an authorisation statement, showing who authorised the distribution of the material. This is a legal requirement for all election campaign material.
Voters are also reminded to visit the website at vec.vic.gov.au as the source of truth for all information about the election or electoral processes.
The VEC will continue to address incorrect information about the election on its misinformation register, which is available on the website.
Democracy ambassadors
Victorian community groups are being urged to book a free voter education session offered through the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC’s) Democracy Ambassador program.
The VEC’s democracy ambassador program supports voters who are under-represented at the ballot box to learn how to make their vote count at the upcoming local council elections.
Democracy ambassadors have been recruited from communities that are less well represented in the electoral process, including:
· culturally and linguistically diverse communities
· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
· people experiencing homelessness
· people with disabilities
· young, potentially first-time voters.
Sessions are completely free and the democracy ambassadors speak 14 languages.
Electoral commissioner Sven Bluemmel said democracy ambassadors were ready to travel all over Victoria to work with local communities to help them better understand how they can have a say in who runs their local council.
Communities are encouraged to book a Be Heard voter education session and can do so via the VEC website vec.vic.gov.au/ info-session
Free green waste events
Cardinia residents are encouraged to drop off their green waste for free at the upcoming green waste drop off events in Pakenham and Lysterfield.
The service helps Cardinia Shire residents to clean up and reduce the fire fuel load on their properties throughout the year.
The green waste drop-off events are accepting residential amounts of green waste, including garden prunings, tree branches and trunks (up to 30 centimetres wide and one metre long), weeds, grass clippings, leaves, and flowers.
The events will run from Monday 7 October to Sunday 13 October at the Cleanaway Resource Recovery Centre at 840 Wellington Road in Lysterfield and from Monday 9 December to Saturday 14 December at the Future Recycling Transfer Station at 30-32 Exchange Drive in Pakenham.
Residents must present photo ID as proof of residence within Cardinia Shire to access the free service.
Waste will only be accepted from residential vehicles and trailers.
For more information, visit www.cardinia.vic. gov.au/dropoff
Pakenham loses a legend
By Corey Everitt
Locals have lost one of their most beloved stalwarts, Norma Jackson (nee Marshall, 1923-2024) has died leaving a century’s worth of memories in Pakenham.
‘Aunty Norma’ died on Monday evening 30 September at the age of 100.
It would be hard to find anyone involved in Pakenham in those 100 years who has not come across Norma, she spent about 91 of her years living just off Main Street.
She is a life member of the Pakenham Football Netball Club and the Pakenham Fire Brigade, spending the vast majority of her life dedicated to her church and community.
Well into her 90s, she was still a regular face behind the canteen at the football and netball games as well as the Sunday markets.
When she was 89, she received the Stan Henwood Award, a more-than-deserving recognition for the decades of volunteering.
“She had a good innings,” her nephew Stanley Young said.
“She was a great worker for the community, for the fire brigade, the footy club, the church.”
Family and friends had the privilege of celebrating her birthday last December as she welcomed her 100th year, despite then not being in the best of health she reportedly still made the effort to read and appreciate her letter from King Charles.
First moving to Pakenham when she was 10 years old, there is possibly no one who has consecutively lived in and contributed to Pakenham as long as Norma, followed closely only by her siblings.
The move happened as her father James Marshall became a local police officer for Pakenham in 1933.
She and her two younger sisters, Thelma (Young) and Alma (Patullo), would all become well-known locals.
“She lived a long life and was a great worker for Pakenham,” Alma said.
Alma is now the last of the three sisters with Thelma having died in July this year.
Between them is a century of memories of old Pakenham, Norma herself could recall the big flood of 1934 in the Kooweerup Swamp, the bushfires of 1944, and the regular checks for potential sabotage her father did during the Second World War.
She married Norm Jackson, a legendary
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player in Pakenham Football Club history where Norma would be known as one of the most staunch supporters.
She was also dedicated many years to Pakenham netball starting back when it was referred to as basketball.
A player in 1939, by the war’s end in 1945 she would be club president.
Years later in 1960, she would be pivotal in founding the first local junior netball competition and would coach her team to three premier-
ships through the ‘60s.
Pakenham was Norma’s world for 91 years and many in the family have continued their love for the town, including her two daughters Gloria Webster and Diane Dunn who have always lived in the area.
“All the family’s here and I really enjoy what I do. I always have,” Norma said in a 2008 interview with the Gazette.
“Why would I want to leave?”
Calls for review of paths
From page 1
Safety concerns have existed for locals who regularly traverse the centre of town, Roberts said this would be an opportunity to address them while the revamp is on hold.
“Traders have reported seeing near misses for pedestrians on the central crossing near the Mr Yakkerboo and Blue statue and I’ve seen pedestrians and cars struggling to understand who has right of way on the John St/ Main St roundabout,” she said.
Active transport should be prioritised, Roberts said, not only because it is core to residents who want to keep healthy, but also because many have resorted to staying on their feet as cost-of-living has risen.
“The Covid pandemic and cost of living pressures have changed how many people get around and council policy needs to reflect this,” Roberts said.
“Quality local footpaths and crossings are infrastructure council is responsible for providing and I want to see council working on paths and crossings in a strategic manner.
“Walking and cycling have the two-fold benefits of being good for your health as well as getting you where you might want to go.”
Furthermore, the review can ensure paths are ‘meeting all accessibility standards’ as well as boost opportunities for Pakenham’s local traders.
“If you can move safely and easily in a shopping precinct you are more likely to stretch your journey to call into just one more business,” she said.
“If there are good accessible car parks matched with good paths for those who need to move from vehicles to walk with mobility aids, people can shop independently.”
The council’s strategy also encompasses regional bike trails and Roberts said residents have also raised their desire to see these further developed.
She said the review can also look into the many that are already being established to help finish them off for recreational cyclists and walkers.
Norma Jackson. (File:102126)
Henty Ward candidate Liz Roberts (Supplied)
Works end after long year
By Matthew Sims
Slower journeys through Officer and a drop in business for businesses along Princes Highway have come to an end after more than a year of roadworks.
Traffic lights have finally been switched on at the Bayview Road intersection and the intersection with Tivendale Road now complete.
The News spoke to former Cardinia Council mayor Jack Kowarzik and general manager of infrastructure and environment Peter Benazic in mid-May, with Cr Kowarzik reassuring the com-
munity works were expected to be finished in the next four to six weeks, albeit weather dependent.
However, the road works were then delayed with completion in late September.
Night works were scheduled at the Tivendale Road intersection from Monday 16 September to Thursday 19 September, but were rescheduled to the following weekend and week due to weather.
The intersection upgrade included additional lanes in Tivendale Road, additional Princes Highway through lanes, an upgraded left-hand slip lane into Station Street, a westbound bus priority lane, cyclist and pedestrian facilities, improved
drainage and landscaping.
Costing $36 million, the Princes Highway intersection program aims to deliver eight major intersection upgrades from 2020 to 2029, with $17.8 million from the Federal Government’s Urban Congestion Fund and an $18.3 million commitment from Cardinia Council via its Developer Contribution Plan.
The works have not come without consequences to local businesses, with Star News first speaking to the owners of Soulfoods Cafe Shane Baker and Judith Phillips last August about how they were struggling to sell four coffees every
morning due to the dwindling foot traffic, cutting their customer base by 40 per cent overnight.
While an access road to the retail and services precinct had reopened earlier this year, Mr Baker said their business was struggling when the Gazette spoke again with him in February, with business down 50 to 60 per cent.
The pair since decided to sell the business to new owners in May.
Now it appears as though the business has been sold altogether, with a new business set to make another go at running a cafe in the location.
Traffic lights are also active at the Bayview Road intersection. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 434351)
All systems are go. (434351)
International gold to Chisholm pair
Chisholm TAFE in Dandenong has struck gold twice at an international awards event in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Commercial cookery graduate Leela Subramanium and Chisholm’s community and social services manager Raelene Stockton took out the highest honours at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Awards (WFCPA).
A mature-age student in 2022, Subramanium is now a senior sous chef managing eight kitchen staff at Flinders Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula.
She took out the WFCPA’s Outstanding Student Achievement Award.
“Training at Chisholm built my confidence and gave me several life-changing opportunities,” Subramanium said.
“Previously, I was nervous and afraid to make a mistake, but TAFE provided a nurturing space for me to learn, free from judgement.”
She is now set for an internship at a Michelinstarred restaurant in Oslo, Norway.
Her dream is to create a social enterprise restaurant that provides training for disadvantaged youth in remote areas.
Meanwhile, Stockton won the WFCPA Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion award.
She established Chisholm’s Family Violence Training Hub, initiated a Family Violence Community of Practice for trainers and led the design and delivery of Australia’s first accredited genderequity qualification.
Stockton has devoted her career to creating specialized education and training to address family violence, and contributed to Government policy.
Chisholm chief executive officer Stephen Varty said the pair’s international recognition was a “significant honour”.
Nature garden fun for all
Parents and children had fun with a range of family-friendly, nature-based activities at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne on Tuesday 30 September.
From crafting with natural materials to learning about native wildlife, led by experienced learning facilitators, participants immersed themselves in the interactive nature play designed to inspire curiosity about the environment.
Raelene Stockton won the leadership in diversity and inclusion category at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Awards in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (Supplied)
Leela Subramanium won the outstanding student achievement trophy at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Awards in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Jonah from Clyde with Aboriginal Learning Officer Jaffa looking at plants under a microscope. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Isla enjoying schools at Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Liam from Berwick building with different shaped wood pieces. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Sarah from Clyde making a drawing with crayons and plants. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Paul with his child Skie from Berwick. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Isla and Malachi with Jaffa Aboriginal Learning Officer Jaffa and their drawings. (Stewart Chambers: 434594)
Representation lacking
By Violet Li
Casey Council candidates are concerned about the “relatively low” women candidacy rates in the coming election.
Six of the women candidates running across Casey met on Friday 20 September to discuss the issues facing them.
They pointed out that only 24 out of 89 candidates in this year’s Casey election were women, with a concerning rate of 27 per cent.
“According to ABS Census data from 2021, 50.2 per cent of Casey’s population are women, yet only 27 per cent of candidates in this election are women,” they said.
Dillwynia Ward, which contains suburbs of Berwick and Clyde North, has recorded the lowest representation of women, with no women running.
Kowan Ward candidate Kasuni Mendis said there were already many barriers for women preventing them from running for council, including finding the time and energy to campaign, whilst managing caregiving responsibilities as well as finding the time to be an elected representative, amongst other responsibilities.
“We all have our identity, and in that aspect, I get looked at differently for being a woman, being a young person, being a person of colour,” she said.
“I think there are women that have chosen not to run because of some of those barriers.
“At a time where family violence and safety are key issues for women, having representation on the council to address these societal issues is crucial.
“Women are also concerned about ensuring vital council-run services such as kindergartens and Maternal and Child Health services are adequately resourced.”
Ms Mendis said she organised the dinner because she knew how difficult campaigning was and she wanted to support other women new to
running for council.
“For candidates like Lynette and myself, we’re used to the trials and tribulations of this process. But for new candidates, it can be challenging to navigate and we wanted to provide a support system for them,” she said.
“Across Casey, some women candidates have been facing the same issues. For example, some of the men candidates running across Casey, in their respective wards, have seemed to be working with each other to preference each other and have excluded good strong, women candidates from those discussions.
“Whether that is because they’re a threat to them, I’m not sure.
“But I think candidates who claim to be about integrity and want a good representative of the community should seek to actually engage with women candidates and take that into consideration of their preference.”
Casuarina Ward candidate Kim Ross added “The prevalence of unconscious bias towards male leadership exists, and even with the best of intentions it can be easy to exclude female candidates from important conversations.”
“It’s important that women support each other to ensure our voices are loud and strong in all issues and conversations in this important election for Casey Council.”
Quarters Ward candidate Kuljeet Kaur Robin-
son said it should be 50 per cent women in the council.
“With the low women representation rate, the reason which I understand is that in Asian cultures like us, Indian, Sudanese or Pakistani, these cultures, they are man dominant cultures, so women usually just stay at home and look after kids and do other jobs,” she said.
“Most of the time, families don’t allow them to do things like that.
“And the other thing is in the multicultural community, most of the people have young kids, and they are so busy.
“I have three young kids as well, and my friend was saying it’s too much for you.”
We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions
As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re easing congestion by building better roads in Melbourne’s south east.
Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps
Healesville Koo-Wee Rup Road, Pakenham
Ballarto Road, Carrum Downs and Skye
Princes Freeway, Pakenham
Until mid NovPrinces Freeway Warragul-bound entry ramp
7pm 4 Oct to 5am 7 OctBetween Southeast Boulevard and Princes Freeway Princes Freeway city-bound ramps
4 Oct to mid NovPrinces Freeway city-bound exit ramp
7pm 11 Oct to 5am 14 OctBetween Southeast Boulevard and Peet Street Princes Freeway city-bound ramps
Until late DecBetween Boggy Creek and Greenwood Drive At Potts Road
7pm to 5am on weeknights, until 10 Oct
Between McGregor Road and Nar Nar Goon interchange
7pm 25 Oct to 5am 28 Oct Reduced to one lane city-bound near McGregor Road
Clyde Road, Berwick 8pm to 12am, 9 and 10 Oct 8pm 11 Oct to 5am 14 Oct
8pm 18 Oct to 5am 21 Oct 8pm 25 Oct to 5am 28 Oct
McGregor Road, Pakenham 7pm 25 Oct to 5am 28 Oct
Princes Freeway city-bound entry ramp
Princes Freeway city-bound entry ramp
In attendance: Kuldeep Kaur, Candidate for Tooradin Ward; Kasuni Mendis, Candidate for Kowan Ward; Jamel Singh Kaur, Candidate for Waratah Ward; Kanu Aggarwal, Candidate for Correa Ward; Lynette Pereira, Candidate for River Gum Ward; Kim Ross, Candidate for Casuarina Ward. Invited but absent: Mary-Beth Melton, Candidate for Cranbourne Gardens Ward; Kuljeet Kaur Robinson, Candidate for Quarters Ward. (Supplied)
Big increase in Casey crime
By Ethan Benedicto
There were over 3276 offences recorded for stealing from a motor vehicle in the year ending in June 2024 in the City of Casey, the highest recorded since 2020’s 3251 figure, according to the most recent release by the Crime Statistics Agency.
The 31.6 per cent increase from 2023’s number of 2488 recorded offences is followed by the second highest category of the breach of a family violence order, which is sitting at 3097 offences, up 6 per cent from 2023’s 2914.
Overall, Casey has seen an 11.3 per cent increase in total offences recorded from 2023, where figures were at 22,299 but now sit at 24,808; at the rate of per 100,000 in population, that number sits at 6161 in 2024, an 8.3 per cent increase from 2023’s figure of 5686.
According to the CSA, the top suburbs where incidents occurred remain relatively consistent to 2023, such as Cranbourne, which was previously second now replacing Narre Warren for first.
Berwick comes in third, with Hampton Park at fourth and Clyde North at fifth.
For the top three, Cranbourne recorded 3339 offences, Narre Warren recorded 3152, and Berwick recorded 2854; in comparison to the previous years, the figures were 2925, 2965, and 2330, respectively a 14.1, a 6.3 and 22.4 per cent increase.
Victoria Police’s acting deputy commissioner of regional operations, Chris Gilbert, said on 26 September that “the reality is behind every statistic is a victim of crime”.
“These people and their experiences are the reason our members doggedly pursue those who endanger the community.”
The top offence for the state, also recording the highest year-on-year increase is theft from a motor vehicle, with a state-wide total of 61,959, and according to VicPol remains the most common criminal offence.
Following the breach of family violence orders at second, the subgroup of other theft offences was
third on the list, with 2170 recorded offences ending in June 2024, an 8 per cent increase from 2023’s 2008 figure; it has also been the highest since the 2355 figure in 2017, with the period of 2018 to 2023 having an average offence record of 1628.
Criminal damage, under property damage, is fourth, with a figure of 1773 offences, a slight increase from 2023’s 1764, ultimately remaining consistent with previous years.
Common assault is at the bottom of the list and is down to 1214 in 2024 compared to 2023’s 1217 recorded offences, which was the highest figure since 2021’s 1072 offences.
The most common location for criminal offences to occur in Casey remains in and at houses, with 10,530 recorded in the year ending June 2024, a 5 per cent increase from the previous year.
Deputy Commissioner Gilbert said that “we understand many in the community are anxious about the increasing prevalence of intruders entering homes.”
“Your home should be your castle, and this is why 70 additional frontline police, Dog Squad members, Highway Patrol officers, and the Public
Order Response Team continue to swarm Melbourne’s suburbs every single night - specifically targeting burglars and car thieves as the Air Wing watches from above.”
After a rather drastic drop in number, retail as a whole placed second on the list with 3668 offences recorded.
To be precise, shopping complexes saw 956 offences recorded, which has seen a steady increase since 2021’s figure of 785, jumping to 853 in 2022 and 951 in 2023.
Service stations were next in the subgroup with 927 offences recorded, spiking 21.8 per cent from 2023’s numbers of 761.
However, as a whole, streets, lanes and footpaths are second on the list for the most common location of offences to occur, with figures sitting at 3264; it has seen a 20.2 per cent increase from the previous year’s number of 2715.
“This determination to hold criminals accountable has never been more evident, with Victoria Police making 68,579 arrests and laying 189,666 charges over the past year,” Deputy Commissioner Gilbert said.
“Victoria’s four fastest growing crimes are all related to opportunistic offending - theft from motor vehicle, retail theft, motor vehicle theft, and the theft of other items such as petrol.”
At a closer look, Cranbourne saw a total of 1754 offences committed under property and deception offences, with theft as a stark outlier with the figure of 1087, compared to the second highest of property damage at 257 offences.
Crimes against the person came as the overall second with a total of 611 offences; for this group’s specifics, assault and related offences sat at 329.
Justice procedures offences had 620 total recorded offences, with the breach of orders sitting at 515.
Narre Warren displayed similar trends, with property and deception offences sitting first in 1819 and theft, specifically, with a figure of 1280.
Likewise, crime against a person was also second, with a total of 560 incidents and 275 accounts of assault and related offences.
Berwick is on the same boat; 1630 under property and deception offences with theft at 1033; crime against the person with a figure of 549 and assault and related offences at 330.
Under the alleged offender incidents, the age group between 18 to 24 remains the highest at 1273, but only by a small margin to the next age group of 1255 with those aged 45 and above.
Coming in third is the age group of 30 to 34 years old, with alleged offenders with the figure of 1235, followed by the age group of 25 to 29 at 1169.
“Operation Trinity has made 1550 arrests over the last year - an average of more than four burglars and thieves arrested across metropolitan Melbourne every day,” Deputy Commissioner Gilbert said.
“Police continue to see far too many properties burgled and cars stolen due to unlocked doors and windows, so we urge the community to take simple measures such as checking your home and car is locked before heading to bed.”
The City of Casey has seen an 11.3 per cent overall spike in recorded offences in the year ending June 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. (Gary Sissons: 429633)
NEWS Young Tiffany feted for top Show effort
Young Tiffany Maestrale, the 2024 Parklea Pakenham Show’s Junior Ambassador and Victorian Runner-up representative, participated in the National Merino Fleece competition this week at the Royal Melbourne Show, sponsored by the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).
While Tiffany didn’t place this time, the Pakenham community and the Central and South Gippsland Group of Show Societies are immensely proud of her achievements at such a high level of competition.
Pictured alongside Tiffany to the right are
Parklea Pakenham Show’s Vice President, David Farrelly, and the Show’s Senior Ambassador Tess Runting, who will represent Pakenham and the Central and South Gippsland Group at an official luncheon this Sunday at the Royal Melbourne Show.
Lock up, say police as hundreds of car thieves arrested
Police are urging residents to take simple measures to avoid falling victim to opportunistic thieves, as they arrest an average of almost two people a day for stealing cars across Cardinia, Greater Dandenong and Casey.
Local police intelligence has revealed six out of 10 stolen cars are taken from residential street parking or driveways.
Almost all of these showed no signs of forced entry, indicating that owners are becoming complacent about their vehicle security when parking at home.
Given this, police are asking the community to ensure their car is locked, keys are removed, and all valuables are out of sight.
In the past year, around 600 people have been arrested for allegedly stealing cars across the three areas.
Half of them have been charged with one or more car theft.
In the last month, police have also recovered most stolen vehicles within five days of being stolen, suggesting they’re being stolen for joy-
rides or to aid offenders in committing further crimes.
Unfortunately, more arrests correlate with more crimes being committed, with car thefts across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia on the increase.
Police understand this is a concern for residents, and have dedicated teams working around the clock to prevent car thefts and hold thieves to account.
Recent arrests include:
A 32-year-old man from Cranbourne was accused of opening the door of an unlocked vehicle in Lyndhurst that had the keys inside, before driving away on 9 August. He was arrested 29 August and charged with theft of motor vehicle, burglary, theft, and possess drug of dependence. He was bailed to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 2 December.
On Saturday 25 August, police arrested two men who allegedly stole a vehicle two hours earlier in Keysborough. The white Subaru Impreza was tracked to a home in Clayton, where police quickly caught up with them. A 26-year-
old Dandenong man was charged with theft of motor vehicle and drive while disqualified, while a 25-year-old Carrum Downs man was charged with theft of motor vehicle and state false name when requested. Both were bailed to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in November. Police will allege that one of the men is a recidivist car thief.
A 30-year-old man from Sale was charged with theft of motor vehicle, drive whilst disqualified, possess drug of dependence, handle stolen goods, and deal with suspected proceeds of crime, after allegedly damaging a car door to gain entry while it was parked in Dandenong on 15 August. Police will allege in court that the man detached wires from the ignition barrel to start the vehicle, before it was allegedly used in a petrol drive off at Little River. The vehicle was recovered in Traralgon 16 days later. The man was bailed to appear in Sale Magistrates’ Court on 15 October.
A 15-year-old boy from Cranbourne North was arrested after allegedly stealing two sets of keys from gym lockers while the owners were
exercising, before taking their cars. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Keysborough and Hughesdale on 23 June just half an hour apart. The boy was released on summons.
While most cars stolen in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia have been from residential streets and driveways, cars are also stolen from locations such as supermarket and train station car parks, residential burglaries, and commercial burglaries.
Crime data shows the hardest hit areas across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia in the twelve months to March 2024 were:
■ Dandenong (330)
■ Pakenham (199)
■ Springvale (165)
■ Noble Park (134)
■ Berwick (126) and Cranbourne (126)
More suggestions on how to keep your vehicle safe can be found via Motor vehicle theft (police.vic.gov.au)
Orchid show a success
By Ethan Benedicto
As the Melbourne CBD was packed with crowds over the Grand Final, it wasn’t the only event that saw an enormous turnout, with the Berwick Orchids Club’s 29 September Spring Show.
Over 600 people attended the event, and according to president Murray Harding, was “the best show we’ve ever had”.
“The major good moment for me was that we had around 40 membership applications, and when you consider that this club’s got around 70 members, that’s massive.”
Colours from red, yellow, purple and a blend of everything in between adorned the event, showering guests with a lush aroma that filled the air.
Each orchid presented itself with its own name, given to it by its owners, each ensured to fit its character from its diverse and intricate blooms.
There was also a series of categories to be won
throughout the event, showcasing some of the most illustrious blends of sophistication and elegance.
“The way this club operates is that we don’t have a green champion orchid,” Murray said.
“It might sound silly but there’s a good reason for it, there are a lot of different genera in orchids and you’ve got plants like cattleyas that can be quite large and things like Australian natives that can be quite small.
“When you get to the end and you’ve got a series of champions that need to be judged, and you try to pick amongst them for the best, you’re really not comparing eggs with eggs.
“What we do is we have champions in their respective genres, and as far as I’m concerned that makes an awful lot of sense.”
Looking ahead, the club is also looking to hold their orchid auction on 27 October, with Murray more than keen to showcase the club’s orchid collection and for the local community to come and indulge in them.
Deb Polman won Champion Orchid by a Novice. (434168)
Dendrobium Speciosum Variety Grandiflorum, which was grown by Club President Murray Harding. (434168)
Siew Bee Lae won Best Intermediate, here holding her “Dendrobium Pittero Gold”. (434168)
An overview of the show, where a forest of orchids and colours surrounded onlookers. (434168)
Judith Mehegan won the award of Novice Phalaenopsis Orchid. (434168)
Colin Gillespie won Best Large Specimen and Best Intermediate and Miniature. (434168)
Diana Lester and Club President Murray Harding won Best Native Specimen and Champion Cattleya. (Rob Carew: 434168)
FOCUS ON … SENIORS ENJOYING LIFE Walking to better health
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With a relaxed pace and our fully escorted service, our luxurious coach with extra legroom ensures a first-class experience. Plus, we offer a home pick up service for all our extended holidays if you live in Pakenham or nearby areas, so no need to worry about getting to a designated departure point.
Often the only decision you’ll need to make once on board is which two courses you might like for dinner. Kevin, our super friendly guide and driver, will keep you entertained throughout the journey with his patience, cheekiness, and humour. Whether you’re interested in flight or coach tours, stay-put holidays, or multi-stop adventures across Australia, we’ve got it all.
For a stress-free, VIP holiday experience filled with fun and relaxation, contact the friendly crew at Daytrippers on 1300 274 880 or email info@daytripper.com.au and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
You’ve heard of physical health and mental health, but have you ever come across the term ‘social health’?
Social health is the wellbeing that we experience as a result of our connections with the people around us.
Social relationships matter at every age. In our younger years, activities like school and university bring us into frequent interaction with others.
But in our adult lives, work and family commitments can make spontaneous opportunities for connection harder to come by. And the cost is significant: social isolation has been linked to everything from mental illness and emotional distress to higher risks of dementia, stroke and heart disease.
The good news that there are lots of simple ways to build social health — for example, taking up a new hobby like joining a Heart Foundation Walking group. Walking is a free, low-impact physical activity that offers a wealth of health benefits, including reducing heart disease risk and protecting against mental health issues like depression. Walking in a group gives you access to all these positive health impacts, as well as to the social benefits of spending time with others.
Heart Foundation Walking is one of Australia’s largest free walking programs, with hundreds of groups across Australia. Rosanne, one of the program’s many volunteer Walk Organisers, has seen the impacts of communal walking up close.
“You foster a sense of community among walkers, creating a supportive network of likeminded people,” she says.
That sense of community can lead to fun, friendship and a regular fitness habit, and it can also be protective against some of the challenges that life throws up along the way.
“The social involvement has gone a long way to improving my mental health,” says one walking group participant.
So, what are you waiting for? No matter your age, fitness level or location, you can start or join a Heart Foundation Walking group and enjoy the impacts of better physical, emotional and social health. If you’d rather walk independently or on your own schedule, sign up for a free Personal Walking Plan that’s developed by experts and tailored to your fitness level.
Find out more about Heart Foundation Walking today
https://walking.heartfoundation.org.au/
Walking could be the key to social connection and to better health.
holiday experience filled with fun and relaxation.
WHAT’S ON
Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club
Welcoming new members - Community Social Day
- includes lunch, cuppa, games and chat. Fri 4th October, 11am-4pm. Cost $10.
Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.
· Weekly activities - Line Dancing Mon. 10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am-2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm, community days and bus trips. .
· For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590.
· Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/487808127399953
Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre Community Safety Day
Our free Community Safety Day is coming up on Saturday 5th October 10.30 am - 1.30 pm at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre.
Join us for fun, family activities, free food, stalls and more!
Enjoy a free sausage sizzle, popcorn and fairy floss, get up close with farm animals, have your face painted, meet Casey Dog who will be reading stories at 11am and 12.30 pm, loads of free fun activities for the children, click some pics with a cop or a firefighter, stalls selling a variety of goodies and much, much more!
You can also: ask questions and learn about upcoming classes, take a look at our classrooms and Drop in lounge, visit our children’s services area.
· 141-147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North Berwick Pakenham Historical Society
Bellevue Orchards will speak of their 70-year history at the Annual meeting of the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society. This event will take place on Sunday October 6th at 1pm. Visitors welcome. Exit the Highway at James St. and turn right into the Service Rd.
NEWS
U3A Casey Expo for Seniors
Seniors are invited to come along between 10am and 2pm to see what U3A Casey is about and what we have to offer.
As well as celebrating our 33 years in the City of Casey, we will also be showcasing our over 60 different activities for seniors.
This free to enter event will include active demonstrations and displays, including Walking Football, Tai Chi, Discussion Groups, Pickleball, Zumba, Music, Arts & Crafts, Fitness and much more. Join us for a free sausage sizzle, with scones and coffee also available for purchase.
· Friday 11 October, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Jack Rae Pavilion, Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick
· Entry cost Free, Enquiries:0410 415 409
Cranbourne Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens
Plant sale dates: Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th October, 2024
Times: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on both days
Location: Royal Botanic Garden Victoria – Cranbourne (Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne)
· The plant sale will be held at the northern end of the Australian Garden. Parking and entry is available nearby (look for the large red banners). A large variety of Australian native plants will be available. A plant list will be available on our website approximately a week before the sale. EFTPOS is available.
Lynbrook Lake Lantern Festival
Banjo Paterson Reserve Lynbrook, Saturday 12th
October, 4pm - 8:45pm
2024 WILL BE OUR BIGGEST LANTERN FESTIVAL
EVER FREE ENTRY - all welcome!
Paint a lantern and display for all to see or release a floating lotus candle lantern onto the lake and watch in awe as hundreds of other people do the same. It’s quite the spectacle. Painting and floating lanterns for sale at the event $3-$5.
· FREE childrens show with Charlie Sillypants, FREE Chris Morant Magic Circus show, FREE Mermaid Tariel by the lake delighting the young and young at heart. Stories of the sea and games.
U3A
Cranbourne
U3A is a community group for anyone over 50 to learn, share and socialise. The group offers a large variety of activities at its new premises 20-22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne. Line dancing and ballroom dancing are held at Casey Basketball Stadium in Cranbourne. The group is a not for profit organisation and is supported by Casey Council. The membership fees of $50 per year give you access to as many classes as you wish. They have a wide variety of classes including extensive art classes with freestyle, general painting, calligraphy, quilling, card making and resin craft offered.
U3A is holding an open day on Friday 18th of October for anyone who would like to see classes in action.
· Check out the classes on offer at our website www.u3acranbourne.org or call 0493 991 919 to learn more.
U3A
Dandenong Expo
U3A Dandenong is holding an expo to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Some Dandenong-based seniors’ clubs will be presenting what they offer. Some participation and/or demonstrations are provided eg. Line dancing, exercise class, singing in English and Italian, games played like Scrabble, Mahjong and Rummy Kub, Art display of different mediums, a plant stall, this is just a small sample of displays. Refreshments are available via the Dandenong Netball Assoc. canteen including a Devonshire Tea at a small cost.
· Entry: Free
· When: Friday 18 October, 2025
· Venue: Gloria Pyke Netball Stadium, at Greaves Reserve, Dandenong Show Grounds, Bennett Street, Dandenong.
· Time: between 10am and noon.
· For more information call – 0494 018 356
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.
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 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 enquiries, contact Heather at hsims14@gmail.com
What ‘showing up’ says
Many, many years ago in China, a wise old man was sitting by a road that connected two villages, both of which he knew very well. Around about midday, a young man was walking along the road from the eastern village towards the western village and since he had not been there before decided to ask the old man what the people were like in the next village.
The wise old man considered his question and asked in return “what were they like in the village you have just come from?” The young man replied that they were friendly, hospitable and that he very much enjoyed their company to which the old man replied, “that is exactly what they are like in the next village” and so the young man carried on, looking forward to meeting the people at his destination.
Sometime later, another young man was setting out from the eastern village with the intent of going to the western village and similarly spotted the old man by the side of the road. Since he too had not travelled there before, he decided to ask
TAKING CARE
IAN ASH OF BUSINESS
the old man what the people were like in the next village.
The wise old man listened to his question and once again asked “what were they like in the village you have just come from?” The young man said that they were unfriendly, difficult to get on with and that he was very pleased to have left the village.
The old man replied “that is exactly what they are like in the next village”.
This story, based on an old Chinese parable, illustrates the point that if we seriously reflect on
our relationships with others, we are likely to see some patterns emerge which will actually tell us more about ourselves and our own behaviour.
The key here is to be open about our own personal contributions to the relationships we have and this is particularly important if you are in a position of leadership or are finding that similar issues re reoccurring in the relationships you are having.
In 1955, psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham created a model known as ‘The Johari Window’ to help understand more about our conscious and unconscious biases.
The model consists of two columns (what we know about ourselves and what we don’t know about ourselves) and two rows (what others know about us and what they don’t know).
There isn’t room in this article for a complete discussion about this framework, but what is particularly of interest is the top right quadrant, which contains those things others know about
us, but which are unknown to ourselves. This is the area that can be tough to enter but is really worth exploring so as to better understand what might be holding us back from improved personal performance in our relationships. There are many ways to do this – personal profiling using tools such as Myers & Briggs, DiSC, Facet5 etc can certainly helps as they provide objective insights simply based on your responses to a set of questions or statements and will compare your results against a general population base. You can also ask close friends or relatives but be sure to select people whose opinion you trust and will give you an honest opinion, there is no value in getting feedback from people who will simply want to tell you what they think you want to hear.
Ian Ash ACC, AIECL, AInstIB Managing Director
OrgMent Business Solutionswww.ombs.com.au
SPORT Stanton new Lions’ leader
By David Nagel
New coach Justin Stanton is preparing to roll up his premiership-winning sleeves and take on the massive challenge of bringing respect and success back to the Pakenham Football Club.
Stanton, who coached Nar Nar Goon to the 2024 WGFNC premiership, has a huge job ahead after the Lions were relegated from Premier Division in Outer East Football Netball this season.
The challenges associated with the relegation are vast and include player retention and extended travels to towns such as Alexandra, Powelltown and Yea in 2025.
But Stanton is only thinking one way; positive, as he prepares to lead the Lions into the unknown.
“It’s certainly exciting, and I had a number of offers from Eastern League clubs to return to that competition, in high divisions, and at clubs that are very much on the cusp of contending,” he said.
“But my fingerprints, to be fair, would not have been on that club, it would have been as a result of somebody else’s hard work.
“The appealing thing at Pakenham is that somebody is going to work closely with the footy department and, if we’re all on the same page and pulling in the same direction, be able to create a list that will hopefully get this club back to being the powerhouse that it once was.
“I just saw that as such a terrific opportunity.
“134 years of community football; 28 premierships, the results speak for themselves and ideally, I wanted to be that person that is going to put Pakenham back to where it belongs.
“And that includes being feared by clubs in this region and the surrounding suburbs.”
Stanton suggested his sleeves are already rolled up as he prepares to hit the ground running.
“The first thing will be to have face-to-face meetings with the playing group and start building relationships with the playing group,” he said.
“Making sure that the guys are enjoying their off-season, but also having an eye to what preseason looks like and turning up to pre-season; not to get fit, but turning up to pre-season ready to improve their fitness.
“I also need feedback from the playing group in regards to what deficiencies we have and where we need to grow.
“Also, I need to work closely with the footy department to identify players we would like to target, and just be honest with the players and tell them the vision and direction we would like to head in.
“Yes, there will be some challenges, in regards to travel next year, but that provides an opportunity for us as a playing group, footy department
and supporter base, to be able to embrace those challenges and build some really solid foundations for the club to surge again in 2026.”
Stanton said he had been impressed with the Lions level of professionalism in their search for a new coach.
“I was approached by Pakenham last week and it was explained that they had been watching me coach during finals with Nar Nar Goon, and they were impressed with the relationships I had with the players and how we coped with challenges we faced during those games,” Stanton said.
“They had done their homework very well, and it was refreshing to talk to a club that had done its homework over the last month and was acting in a professional manner.
“They had been monitoring the dialogue that was coming out of Nar Nar Goon, and they didn’t want to approach me until that finals campaign was done.
“I think that says a lot about the Pakenham Football Club and I can’t wait to put my stamp on things moving forward.”
Stanton also has an eye to the past, and will encourage input from past legends of the football club.
“You look at a person like Darren Hillard, an absolute champion of the Pakenham football club; I’ll reach out to someone like him and ask him to share with me some of the memories that he has of the halcyon days,” he said.
“They formed the nucleus of their power by developing a side that won the under 18s and then rolled through and won multiple premierships, several years in a row, as senior footballers.
“There are a number of stars, over different generations, that I’m certainly keen to talk to and reconnect them with the footy club.
“We want them families to reconnect, and this list is in a similar situation with the under 19s winning the premiership this year.
“Yes, there are challenges; but I see some exciting times being enjoyed in the near future.”
The new Lions’ coach said recruiting players back to the club would be a key part of the process.
“Talented ball users are something that I’m strong on, and guys that have already got a history of playing with the Pakenham football club; I will certainly be talking to them,” he explained.
“For whatever reason they fell out with the club, or chose not to be there, and I’ll certainly be getting feedback from them and trying to have them reconnect with the club.
“It’s a blank canvas at the moment, but we’ll start working on our portrait during the coming weeks and over the pre-season until we put the finishing touches on it.”
Stanton suggested the ambiguity of Pakenham’s current situation had him excited for what lies ahead.
“Probably the uncertainty of what the future looks like is the most exciting part,” he said.
“Some people look at that as a negative, but I see that as exciting; it’s unclear but it’s exciting where we’re going to be playing in 2026; it’s exciting where we’re going to be playing in 2025, because we’re playing against teams that have their own challenges in the communities that they operate within.
“It’s exciting to work with a playing list that I haven’t worked with before; it’s exciting to get new recruits on board, and it’s exciting to be working with a newly-developed footy department and working with a new president that will be announced in due course.
“Some people see negatives…I see exciting
times ahead.”
The former Berwick junior played his senior football at both Beaconsfield and Berwick, before working through the junior and senior coaching ranks at Beaconsfield.
He coached Eastern Division Two club The Basin, for five years; ending with 35 wins from 68 games at the helm, before taking over at Nar Nar Goon in 2023.
Stanton leaves Spencer Street after a one-point preliminary final loss in 2023 and Nar Nar Goon’s first senior premiership since 2010 this year. He departs after 43 games, with the impressive record of 34 wins, eight losses and one draw.
The Goon played seven finals games under Stanton; with the outstanding record of six wins and one loss; which was by a point to Phillip Island in last year’s preliminary final.
New challenge at Officer entices Allen to Starling Road
By Marcus Uhe
Officer Football Club has settled on its replacement for Daniel Charles as senior coach, and has taken an alternative approach to filling the void.
The club announced last week that Nathan Allen had signed as a playing coach at Starling Road, concluding his two-year tenure at Meeniyan Dumbalk United (MDU) Football Netball Club in the Mid Gippsland Football Netball League, where he also was an on-field coach.
Both seasons saw the Demons qualify for finals with an overall record of 22 wins and 13 losses under Allen’s reign, bowing out in close losses in both years.
A local product, having spent his teenage years in Pakenham and playing junior football at Narre Warren North, the appointment is somewhat of a homecoming for Allen, keen to join the Officer journey.
“Knowing the young talent coming through, and I’ve seen a few experienced guys that have headed that way as well, I thought, ‘what a challenge,’” Allen said.
“The team is really striving forward and I wouldn’t mind being a part of that.”
Allen inherits a young list that just fell shy of a remarkable finals birth in 2024 and ultimately only has itself to blame for doing so, having lost critical games to Gembrook Cockatoo and Mt
Evelyn in the back half of the year that saw them fall out of the top six in the Outer East Football Netball Premier Division football competition in the season’s final weeks.
Team of the Year fullback Joshua Westra has already put pen to paper for 2024, along with Antonio Quach, Sam Hoghton and Ryan Hutton, while prized recruits Jake Gains and Brenton Hillard will form one of the strongest midfields in the competition once again in their second seasons in blue and white.
Allen, a midfielder by trade, believes playing in the midfield is the best use for his coaching knowledge, with the ability to influence stoppages part of his key coaching philosophy.
Taking the leap into coaching further fuelled Allen’s love for the game and allowed him to showcase his knowledge and understanding further than simply kicking and chasing the Sherrin.
Having experienced the growing pains associated with finding the balance between coaching and playing, a number of mentors including newly appointed Nar Nar Goon coach Matt Shorey helped him strike what he feels is the right formula.
“I spoke to them a lot about it and obviously you need someone you trust on the benchthat was the number one thing - but basically, once the siren goes, you’re a player out there
between the sirens,” he said.
“You obviously lead and you’re thinking while you’re out there, but if you’re not getting a kick, you lose all respect.
“They said ‘once the siren goes, you play footy, and once the end siren of the quarter goes, you worry about coaching again,’ - that held me in good stead.”
While still getting up to speed with the assets at his disposal, he wants to bring some older heads to the club to help steady the young list and offer further stability across the ground, to help the players grow and develop on the fly.
Dealing with players in their early stages of adulthood, however, will require a simplified message and calm approach.
“There’ll be certain starting positions and structures and things like that but you don’t want to go too overboard because they’ll get into their own heads,” he said.
“Especially early, I think it will be a lot about letting them play, not over-complicating it and making it fun and more skill-based at training.
“You don’t want to jump the gun too early and confuse them a little bit, I want to see what their natural talent can do.
“It will be interesting to see how it looks when it all comes together.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
Nathan Allen kicking for goal playing for Narre Warren back in 2017. (Stewart Chambers: 171051)
Justin Stanton is dreaming big as he prepares to take the reins of the Pakenham Football Club in 2025. (Supplied)
Ceiling of CCCA standards
By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) has made clear its intention to work with clubs for the 2024-25 season.
It follows a relationship breakdown between the CCCA board and member clubs, which have felt at times in recent years that the league has not been receptive of their ideas.
Ben Knowles has replaced Rob Hansen as CCCA president and emphasised to this masthead in August the direction he was hoping to take the league.
“The trust has definitely waivered over the last couple of years, so that’s the number-one thing, winning that back, and then putting important pillars in place for the future,” Knowles said.
“At the end of the day, we’re here for the clubs.
“The clubs elected to make this change because they were worried about the future of the association.
“They wanted change, they wanted to modernise it; and now I’m putting it back on them.
“The clubs got what they wanted, but where are we going from here?
“The ball is now firmly in the court of the clubs; we now have the opportunity to build an association together that is attractive to other clubs throughout Casey and Cardinia.”
Vice-president Ben Parrot echoed a similar sentiment at the CCCA season launch in midSeptember, which was attended by 10 member clubs.
“We want the clubs to know we’re there to work for them; we’re not working as a board deciding for them, we are working for the clubs.
“Decisions aren’t made by the board, it’s driven by the clubs so we at no stage make decisions for them.
“They make decisions and we verify that; where I think for a long time the shoe was on the other foot.
“We want to build that trust again among the clubs.
“I think the relationship between all the clubs has never been as strong as what it is now and we’re seeing clubs supporting one another and it’s the way it should have been a long way before this but we finally got there so we will continue driving that.”
Storylines to watch in CCCA
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Ahead of the season beginning on Saturday, Gazette journalist Jonty Ralphsmith examines the key storylines to watch ahead of round one.
TOORADIN will have a big hole to fill with allrounder Peter Sweeney retiring following last season’s premiership. He scored 430 runs and controlled the middle overs for the Seagulls, taking 14 wickets with his left-arm orthodox bowling.
For the first time in three seasons, the CCCA District competition will have eight teams, with an improving Melbourne Sixers Sports Club welcomed to the fray. The Sixers will field four teams this year after having just a B Grade and D Grade side last year.
Establishing trust with clubs and female participation are among the top priorities for the CCCA board in 2024-25. In line with their desire to grow the competition, the CCCA is also open to adding a new club in the City of Casey in the future, as junior registrations are filling up in those areas.
CARDINIA will regain the services of homegrown gun all-rounder Mark Cooper for the 2024-25 season. Cooper is set to add leadership to his home club, having most recently guided Beaconsfield to the top flight of the Dandenong District Cricket Association. “It just seemed to happen pretty quickly after the end of last season and it fitted in with life – it worked out organically and getting into it has been surreal after playing against them a little bit,” Cooper said. “It’s more of an attacking competition knowing the volume of runs batters make and the style of cricket is different.”
The absence of Dale Tormey is set to put incumbency on other members of the PAKENHAM lineup this season but he won’t entirely be lost to the club, with the champion all-rounder set to be the Lions’ marquee player in the T20 competition.
The junior numbers at PAKENHAM are as strong as they have been for a long time, with nine junior teams set to compete this year, and excitement about what several under-16s could add to the senior sides in the short-term future. DEVON MEADOWS is another club with record numbers and a “good vibe” in pre-season according to president Mick Floyd.
Tongues were wagging at the season launch about the damage KOOWEERUP all-rounder
Jess Mathers will do in the competition this season after missing the 2023-24 campaign due to injury. Skipper Chris Bright said he’s had a huge preseason and hungry for an enormous season: “He’s fit and firing and is keen to give back after he couldn’t contribute much last season,” Bright said. “He’s hitting the ball better than anyone, he’s enjoying his batting and he’s bowling off his long run up and his body isn’t hampering him. If he’s up and about, people feed off that so it’s been really important.”
TOORADIN skipper Mick Sweeney is bullish on what Dylan Sutton can achieve in 2024-25. The aggressive batter came in as low as 10 last season and made the most of his opportunities when he was promoted. “Pretty hard hitting, plays a really good style and is the sort of player that can take a game away from the opposition, so to have a match-winner crying out for opportunity is perfect for us,” Sweeney said.
Veteran Nathan Worsteling is set to play a key role for DEVON MEADOWS in 2023-24, with the club set to promote him to number three in the batting lineup. He’s been hitting them well in preseason, and with Will Halton departing for Casey-South Melbourne, the club needs a calm head to assist Lucas Ligt.
Round 1 will provide Upper Beaconsfield with a clear look at what the best of the best can produce in CCCA Premier, taking on powerhouses Pakenham. The improving Clyde will have an intriguing clash with a Kooweerup side that will contain a hungry Jess Mathers, while Devon Meadows will back itself to take an early scalp as underdogs against Cardinia. Tooradin will look to get its season off to a winning start on the road against Merinda Park.
Highlighting the increasing trust, the CCCA committee has added two members – Devon Meadows president Mick Floyd and umpire David Huntington – due to demand.
Parrot and Knowles have both also highlighted the increased focus on female cricket, with the vice-president also impressed with the clubs working together to drive junior participation in the region.
Another noteworthy change to the CCCA in 2024-25 is the addition of an eighth team, Mel-
bourne Sixers, to the second-flight District competition, providing each club with the opportunity to play 14 games, rather than 12 with two byes, as happened last season.
Melbourne Sixers came fifth in the B Grade competition in 2023-24 and lost the D Grade semi final after finishing the season in second place. The Sixers will have four teams this season and are based at Barton Reserve, Cranbourne West. The CCCA kicks off this Saturday.
Pakenham’s young talent ready to support Smith
By Jonty Ralphsmith
CCCA Premier Division reporter Jonty Ralphsmith takes a look at Pakenham ahead of Saturday’s round one opener against Upper Beaconsfield.
PAKENHAM
2023-24 finish: Runners-up
2023-24 leading runscorer: Chris Smith (1022 runs)
2023-24 leading wicket-taker: Dale Tormey (30 wickets) (departed)
It will be a season of natural evolution for grand finalists Pakenham in 2024-25, with great excitement surrounding a slew of young talent, which will complement the staples which carried last season’s success. The change has started at the top with Jack Anning replacing the now departed Dale Tormey as captain. “We want to give him a lot of scope to facilitate what he wants to do with the team,” said coach Rob Elston.
“He’s got a good rapport with all of our guys and it was a really major reason why he was given the role and he’s very forthright in his views.” Young quicks Marcus Martini and James Close are ready to take the next step after each taking 12 wickets last season, while leggie Jordan Seers, batter Jackson Luka and young recruits Josh Murray and Jack Scott have all shown signs. One thing that Pakenham will hope stays the same is the productivity of Chris Smith, who scored in excess of 1000 runs last season. The club, has, however, emphasised the importance of spreading the load as they look to go one better.
Club quote
Rob Elston: “I think the fact there is opportunity means players will think it’s their turn to take the reins and while we might not get guys making 600 runs, we just need guys contributing when it’s their time. (Marcus Martini and James Close) have done a fair bit of work in the offseason. There’s a really exciting opportunity for them this year; hopefully they can use their ability and become the mainstays of our attack.”
Outs:
Prediction:
Ins: Daniel Evans, Zac Chaplin, Jack Scott, Josh Murray
Dale Tormey, Sendhil Naiudu
Fourth
CCCA PREMIER - ROUND 1 FIXTURE
(ONE DAY): Cardinia v Devon Meadows, Clyde v Kooweerup, Merinda Park v Tooradin, Upper Beaconsfield v Pakenham.
Jack Anning will take the reins for Pakenham this season. (Stewart Chambers: 395148).
Dylan Sutton could take a big step this year, according to skipper Mick Sweeney. (396637).
The CCCA has put the pillars in place for a positive season. (Stewart Chambers: 393920).
