Food for thought
Cornerstone chief executive Naomi Paterson, pictured with placement student Steph, volunteer Neil and community member Wiera, says more and more families are unable to afford groceries. The charity backs a State Parliament inquiry report calling for more funding for food relief agencies and school meals, as well as price controls on supermarket price-gouging and a lift in welfare payments.
More on the story, turn to page 8
Cornerstone CEO Naomi Paterson with Steph (Chisholm placement student), Neil (volunteer) and Wiera (community member) (Stewart Chambers: 443887)
Racism scourge
Five-time Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti has spoken out against harrowing racist attacks against a recent election candidate.
Cr Memeti is strongly favoured to be Greater Dandenong’s next mayor, ahead of a formal vote on Monday 18 November.
However, Cleeland Ward candidate Zahra Haydar Big has this week told Star News of numerous racist attacks from voters, including vitriolic abuse and demands for her to abandon her Muslim faith and stop wearing a hijab.
“It wasn’t a very pleasant experience,” Haydar Big said.
“Why should you give up on your religion or facial covering to run for council?
“This shouldn’t be about how I appear. This should be about local issues – I’m not here to represent just the Muslim community, I’m here to be a voice for all residents.”
Cr Memeti said voters should have given ALP colleague Haydar Big a fair go.
“People should have given the candidate an
opportunity to speak for themselves.
“It’s worrying and disturbing, and an unpleasant experience to attack someone just because she’s wearing a hijab.
“I hope it would be a very small minority.”
It follows several candidates in neighbouring Casey Council alleging racist abuse and voting patterns.
Cr Memeti said the newest elected Greater Dandenong councillors were culturally diverse and representative.
He also noted that the council - known as Australia’s most culturally diverse - had been proactively promoting a prominent #RacismNotWelcome campaign.
Last year, Greater Dandenong also teamed with Casey and Cardinia councils to create SouthEast Anti-Racism Support Network.
Greater Dandenong chief executive Jacqui Weatherill condemned the attacks on Haydar Big.
More on the story, turn to page 10
Family’s plea for information
By Sahar Foladi
On the 30th anniversary of the suspicious disappearance of Dandenong man Mark Jansen, his daughter and sisters have pleaded to the public for information.
In a media conference today (Tuesday 12 November) Missing Persons Squad’s Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan along with Mr Jansen’s daughter Lichelle and teary sisters Paula and Starry begged for a “full closure.”
“It’s been 30 years, we deserve closure and Mark deserves that. He’s our brother, (a) lovely guy,” his sister said.
“My Dad died not knowing what happened to his first-born child.
“When we got a call to do a 30-years media release we thought its great no one’s forgetting out brother, Markie.”
Mark shared custody of his two young daughters with his ex-wife. She made the call to police after he failed to pick up his daughters for dinner on 12 November 1994.
Paula and Starry said they thought “he went off with mates” and it wasn’t until Christmas Day that it “hit” them that “he’s really gone” when he didn’t appear at the table with the family.
The 31-year-old was seen in the car park at the rear of the Fruit City Complex on Pultney Street in Dandenong about 5pm on Saturday, 12 November 1994.
He co-owned a fresh fish shop located at the complex with his business partner.
He was last seen by his business partner getting into a car, a 1981-1985 yellow coloured Holden Gemini sedan, with unknown registration with two male and a female in the car.
The vehicle was described as in poor condition and the hub caps were missing.
Police have no information on who those people are or their relationship to Mark but call onto witnesses or those who may know about who these people are to come forward.
A photo of Mark was released today along with the sketch of the three people in the yellow car described by Mark’s business partner at the time.
Inspector Dunstan said the business partner was part of the ongoing investigation and has not been a suspect.
He acknowledged the lack of CCTV, social media and mobile phones at the time compared to today’s era that could’ve caught any sightings.
Inspector Dunstan says there were sightings reported which were investigated but no one has come forward with any information in the last 30 years.
“We investigated numerous sightings which people made.
“A number of people were looked at throughout the investigation, those around at that time but none affirmed as suspects.
“There are a number of missing person cases in Victoria and Australia wide. People go missing, we never give up and constantly searching and investigating.
“Mark’s two daughters have had to grow up without ever really knowing their father, and there are so many milestones in their lives he never got to be a part of. No family should experience that.
“To go 30 years without having any answers
about what happened to your father or brother is almost unimaginable.”
The daughters, now grown-up, missed their father on every milestone of their lives.
“Losing you broke something in me that I don’t think will ever heal,” eldest daughter Lichelle said.
“I was just a child when you disappeared, but the pain of not having you by my side has followed me every day since
“You were my Dad—my protector, my hero— and someone took you from me in the most brutal way.
“We now know you’re gone, but what happened to you still haunts us. Whoever took you away is still out there, and they shouldn’t be. You
didn’t deserve this. None of us deserved this.
“I’m begging anyone who knows anything to please come forward. No piece of information is too small—it could be the key to finding justice for my dad. Imagine if this were your family, your father, your pain. Please don’t stay silent.
“Dad, I hope you know how loved you were, and still are. I will never stop fighting for you—for the truth, for justice, and for the peace you deserve. Whoever did this to you must be held accountable. I promise I won’t give up.”
Police are aware that Mark had been declared bankrupt earlier that year and had incurred a number of debts to various people.
It is believed Mark might have also had some low-level involvement in trafficking drugs of de-
pendence prior to his disappearance.
Investigators believe Mark met with foul play and his bankruptcy status “maybe involved.”
“There’s motive there for some reason for someone to do what they did to Mark. We believe it as foul play, the exact circumstances we don’t know,” investigator Dunstan said.
He’s described by his sisters as a “hard worker”, a “great guy would do anything for you” who “went off the rails.”
Ten years later on 14 March 2014, partial skeletal remains were found after a fire in an isolated bushland area near Marysville resulted in an excavator being sent to help rehabilitate the land in an area in the Big River State Forest on Morris Road in Marysville.
Following DNA testing, the remains were confirmed to be that of Mark Jansen.
An extensive search of the bushland in Marysville was subsequently undertaken, however no further remains were located.
It could not determine when Mark may have passed away.
The family were provided “partial closure” and were able to hold a funeral for Mark and bury him.
“When this happened we couldn’t believe it. It was a miracle this excavator guy found Mark’s remains.”
The sisters said they go on to live without Mark but he’s missed even more on special milestones like birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. Their message to the three individuals in the car with Mark is to come forward with information on what happened as the family deserves a “full closure.”
Anyone with information on Mark’s disappearance or the three people he was with is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000.
Mark Jansen’s photo released to the public in the hope for information on his disappearance. (Supplied)
Rear of the carpark where Mark Jansen was last seen getting in a yellow car with two man and a female in November 1994.
Mark Jansen with his eldest daughter Lichelle (right) and his young daughter whom he shared custody with his ex-wife.
Monash Health bleeds $329m
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A cash-strapped Monash Health has stated that its state-topping $329 million deficit will not impact timely hospital care in the South East.
The health service, which includes Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong and Casey hospitals, stated the operating loss in its 2023-’24 annual report. The next-worst performing health services, Northern Health, Western Health and Eastern Health, posted $100-million-plus deficits
Monash also reported just 2.1 days of available cash – well short of its 14-days target – and a $129 million cut in State Government operational funding.
Its financial decline - down from a $450,000 surplus in the previous year – comes months after
fears of an impending $200 million budget cut. These were seemingly allayed by the Government’s $1.5 billion boost to hospitals in August.
On 15 November, a Monash Health spokesperson said the 2023-’24 deficit “will not impact or compromise the excellent, compassionate and timely care we strive to provide our community”.
Monash had incurred higher operating costs, including a new hospital, legacy Covid safety measures and unprecedented patient demand with increased acute and complex presentations, the spokesperson said.
“Monash Health has worked closely with the Department of Health to ensure the 2024-25 budget will deliver the care our community needs.”
According to the Government, health systems were still under “significant pressure” since Covid
At the same time, health costs were up nearly 10 per cent a year for the past five years.
It was now implementing a “new, fairer funding model to reset hospital budgets”, with a record $21 billion-plus funding, a spokesperson said.
“We’ll always back our hardworking doctors, paramedics and nurses and midwives, and since coming to Government we’ve grown our public health workforce by 50 per cent.
“Only Labor invests in our health system. The only political party that cuts and closes hospitals is the Liberal Party.”
The operating deficit had no impact on a health service’s ability to deliver care, according to the Government.
As part of the August reforms, the Government also announced a recommended voluntary
merger of Monash Health and the West Gippsland Health Group.
Opposition health spokeperson Georgie Crozier said Victoria’s 68 health services recorded a net deficit of more than $1 billion in 2023-’24.
“These reports reveal the extent of Labor’s one-billion-dollar hospital cash crisis.
“The Allan Labor Government can find tens of billions of dollars for a new train line from Cheltenham to Box Hill but cannot find the money to pay doctors and nurses on time – their priorities are all wrong.
“Labor’s financial mismanagement and record debt is starving funding from Victoria’s hospitals and means poorer health outcomes for Victorian patients.”
Vandals ‘desecrate’ Remembrance Day wreathes
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Vandals have shredded and scattered Remembrance Day flowers and wreathes shortly after they were laid at the Pillars of Freedom cenotaph in central Dandenong.
Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL president Lance McDermott said veterans were upset, angry and disappointed by the desecration just hours after a Remembrance Day service on Monday 11 November.
“We had a beautiful ceremony there just before, with school kids and a really big cross-section of our community.
“For something like that to happen in broad daylight, I don’t understand it.
“It made a lot of people upset and angry.”
The vandals destroyed almost all of the 30 wreathes, spreading the carnage across the surrounding plaza, McDermott said.
“From the amount of damage, I’d say it was two or three (offenders).
“I’m surprised with all of traffic down Clow Street that no one called it into police or let us know. It’s quite disappointing.”
McDermott offered to sit down and educate the perpretrators on the distress caused.
“We wouldn’t mind having a cup of coffee, explaining how upset we are with them and to try to educate them.”
Welfare advocate Vladimir Nagorny discovered the damage while out walking about 2pm.
“Everyone is shocked. This incident has deeply impacted our community,” he said.
Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL recent past president John Wells said the act was “incredibly sad”.
“Sad that you’ve got people that do that sort of thing.”
In September 2021, the Pillars of Freedom was defaced with graffiti, in what appeared to be a protest against then-Premier Daniel Andrews.
The profane slogan said: ‘Tagging a war memorial is a low act / DAN S***S ON IT’.
At the time, the attack was condemned as “senseless” and “un-Australian” by Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL.
It was believed to be the first graffiti attack
on the Pillars of Freedom, which has stood host for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services since 1995.
The memorial pays solemn tribute to those who died in Australian military service.
Victoria Police is investigating this week’s re-
ported vandalism.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
Any information or dashcam/CCTV footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Scattered flowers and wreathes after an act of vandalism at Pillars of Freedom memorial, Dandenong on 11 November. (Supplied)
Mayor and deputy roles settled
By Sahar Foladi
Greater Dandenong’s next mayor and deputy mayor appears to be settled ahead of the formal election on Monday 18 November.
The ALP and long-term councillor Jim Memeti said he will stand to nominate himself for the mayoral position after councillors were formally sworn in on Wednesday evening 13 November.
As the longest serving councillor onboard (now his sixth term) and a five-time mayor, Memeti says he has all that is needed to support the seven re-elected councillors and three fresh ones starting their first terms.
“I’ve decided to nominate for mayor for that reason - it’s such a young council.
“Over the years I’ve always nurtured, helped and aided new councillors so I think that the strength that I have had in the past will put me in good stead.
“That’s my push for council, to say to my colleagues that I’m there, I’ve got the experience and I’ve got the time to help you.
“I’ve always fulfilled the role of mayor as a full time job and if elected I will do it full time again,”
he says.
“I’ll put everything into it and I’ll be there to support my colleagues but also give my very best to the community.”
The “inexperienced council” made up of three young councillors in their 20’s and a female majority will “learn pretty quickly” according to Memeti shining the example of the ALP Yarraman ward councillor Phillip Danh who joined the council just six-months ago and has “picked up” the role well.
Also, ALP-affiliated Noble Park councillor Sophie Tan, who was re-elected uncontested, says she had been eyeing the position but will have to settle nominating herself as deputy mayor due to her “work conditions” at Commonwealth Bank in Melbourne CBD.
“As a mayor you need a full-time role so that means you have to resign or take a year off but with my (work) condition I can’t.
“I can’t take off work at the moment, or the whole 12-months off. Instead I can reduce my hours and probably have to run as deputy mayor for this year.
“For the next year, moving forward I have to re-
duce my hours, maybe take a day off like Wednesday and finish early on Monday so I can do more.”
First elected in 2019, Tan says if work hours weren’t an issue she would’ve “definitely” be up for the mayoral position, highlighting her need to “represent diverse communities” with some experience as deputy mayor in 2020-21.
Tan praised Memeti saying he’s previously done a “great job” as a mayor.
“He used to be my mentor since I started. As Federal elections are coming up we both have an existing relationship with our state and federal MP.
“For myself, I’ll be building a relationship with our local MP’s, especially state and federal, just to advance our agenda with the elections coming up. So we’ll try to advocate for more funding, especially with major projects coming up.
“We’ve got the ($100-million-plus) Dandenong Wellbeing Centre at the moment - we’ve only got $20 million funded by the Federal government.”
The Noble Park councillor said her priorities included small business owners, senior groups with aged care reform and safety issues.
Meanwhile, the re-elected Noble Park North
councillor Lana Formoso, who just served as the mayor for the past year, says the downward transition will not be tough at all for her and that “nothing’s changed.”
“I’m doing exactly what I did. It was just a title for a very short period of time.
“I worked seven days a week, day and night. I went to meetings, I went to events, it was relentless. I’m not complaining. That’s what I asked for. I’m born and raised in this city so therefore I want the best outcomes for this city.
“So, it was an honour and a privilege, I’m extremely grateful for that opportunity and I never took that for granted.”
She says she expects the new councillors to be “thirsty for knowledge” and “to want the best possible outcomes.”
“I know because they’re young, because they knew that they’re going to work really, really hard.
“I know that they don’t have a level of complacency, they’re going to want to do the best that they can within their capacity and that’s all you could ever ask for from a councillor.”
The mayor and deputy mayor will be elected on Monday 18 November at 7pm.
Five in favour of in-house aged care amid new council
By Sahar Foaldi
A near-majority of Greater Dandenong’s new-elected councillors support retaining council aged care and disability services, according to a survey by ex-mayor
Blades led a campaign during last month’s council elections to help residents identify which candidates support keeping council-run services beyond 2027, such as meals on wheels, personal care, home repairs and home-cleaning help.
She says she “did well” with the survey, sent to all 43 candidates.
But now that the councillors are onboard, Blades is keen on working with everyone on council not just those who responded positively to the survey.
“Before I did that there was no support at all for keeping home care. Lots of candidate didn’t even mention it on their papers (election campaign) so residents didn’t know what they were voting for.
“In fairness, this council is new. I hope they all do well, they are all extremely nice and good people. I think good people do good things. If you’re elected, I will work with you.
“It’s about the council being a part of the community instead of apart from the community.
“Every council have to make difficult decisions but it’s to do with working with the community and reconfiguring your financial responsibilities.”
As reported previously, in favour of the survey are, Sophie Tan (Noble Park Ward), Phillip Danh (Yarraman Ward), Melinda Yim (Keysborough Ward), Isabella Do (Keysborough South Ward), and Rhonda Garad (Cleeland Ward).
Other councils such as Casey have opted out of providing the services due to a federal funding restructure.
As reported previously, Greater Dandenong had
been on the brink of transitioning to a new Support at Home model in July 2025 but deferred a decision on its long-term future until July 2027.
Blades is confident the program “can be kept” and as she attempts to keep the community’s concerns on the forefront, she says the “brand new” people on council need time to adjust.
“We don’t know what discussions will happen between now and when the council has to make a decision.
“It’s a complex area with complex issues. There is a lot to learn in Greater Dandenong, I’m happy to help as well.
“Any councillors who want to know anything I’m happy to be of persistence with any of my knowledge.
“I want to congratulate everyone who ran (for local council elections). It’s not easy, its complicated, time consuming and expensive.”
Councillors Lana Formoso, Phillip Danh, Isabella Do, Rhonda Garad, Bob Milkovic, Alice Phuong Le, Sean O’Reilly, Melinda Yim, Sophie Tan, Jim Memeti, Loi Truong and chief executive Jacqui Weatherill. (Gary Sissons: 442319)
Roz Blades.
Isabella Do has pledged to preserve council-run aged care services. (Stewart Chambers: 431485)
Race for Casey mayor
By Violet Li
At least four newly elected Casey councillors have declared their intention to run for mayor at the November council meeting next week.
Correa councillor Gary Rowe, River Gum Cr Lynette Pereira, Akoonah Cr Scott Dowling, and Waratah Cr Stefan Koomen have confirmed to Star News that they will run for Mayor at the November Council Meeting on Tuesday 19 November.
Cr Rowe and Cr Pereira are the only two who have been on Casey Council previously.
Cr Rowe said he based his decision on his experience, including being deputy mayor in the previous council.
“I’ve been a member of parliament and had a lot more experience than anybody that’s at the council.”
Cr Rowe said it would be a very good council because of its diversity.
“There are more people who were not working there (previously). There are other people who have got different jobs and different experiences in life,” he said.
“Everybody seems to be getting on.”
Cr Rowe was the Liberal MP for Cranbourne from 1992 to 2002. In 2012, he was elected Mayfield Ward councillor in Casey, and though not re-elected in the 2016 Casey election, he returned to the role in April 2017 through a countback following the resignation of Cr Steve Beardon.
He is a former Liberal member, now indepedent.
Cr Rowe was among the previous term of Casey councillors who were sacked amid an IBAC anti-corruption inquiry in 2020. The subsequent IBAC report made no adverse comments or opinions about Cr Rowe.
Meanwhile, Cr Pereira said she would put her hand up as she always had.
“I would love the opportunity. I’ve done four years on council before. I think I’ve worked hard enough, and I’ve proved myself, and I would appreciate the opportunity,” she said.
Cr Pereira said she was extremely hopeful that they would have a very high-functioning and very professional council.
“I’ve been waiting to be a part of it because there are so many good things we can do,” she said.
“It’s a really great council and I wanted to be unlike my last time, I want everybody to actually have a nice time on the council to go home feeling happy and positive and they’re doing something useful instead of copping all the other flack.”
Cr Pereira was a former councillor in Casey from 2008 to 2012. She is a former Green member, now independent.
When asked if he would be running for mayor, Cr Dowling said: “Absolutely”.
“I feel daily confident. I’ve got good credentials against my name. I’ve been in business for a long time and understand what we need to do from a fiscal point of view, so I think the qualifications to be mayor are good,” he said.
“The first thing I want to do is have a look at the budget and see where we sit, what they’ve already got planned for the area, since that may eat into some of my goals such as public safety, fixing amenities and so on.
“So once I can find out where the priorities sit and what’s already been agreed to, I’ll be able to put them in order.”
Cr Koomen, who is a Labor member, said he was keen to have a go at the mayoral position with his experience and his availability.
“I’m ready for the role,” he said.
“I’m keen to get to know the other councillors as well.”
Cr Koomen said he had been quite clear with his priorities.
“The three things I really want to focus on is Doveton Pool, making sure it’s family-friendly and a place that people want to go to,” he said.
“As well as upgrading parks and playgrounds in our community, including Gunns Road Reserve, and the other major priority I identified was the Hampton Park Central Precinct and getting the masterplan moving again.”
Star News contacted the other councillors.
Tooradin Cr Jennifer Dizon said she was not going to run, and she had to learn more about other councillors to decide her vote.
Quarters Cr Carolyn Eaves said she would be looking for someone who had council experience but was not tainted by the last council.
The Casey mayor election will be held from 4pm to 5pm on Tuesday 19 November at Bunjil Place.
New recycled water plant
Hydroflux has been awarded the contract to design, build and operate a new water recycling plant in Lyndhurst.
Using Australian-first technology, the plant will treat about 52 million litres of wastewater a year, converting it to Class A standard for each home in the Aquarevo housing estate.
The water would be suitable for non-drinking purposes such as toilet flushing, garden irrigation and washing machines.
The plant will include a greenhouse and an ‘organica’ food chain reactor, which looks like a natural garden to help blend in with the neighbourhood.
The process could treat up to 207 kilolitres of wastewaster daily – the volume of an Olympic swimming pool in 12 days.
The contractor was announced by Planning Minister and Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny on Friday 15 November.
Construction is planned to start in early
2025, with the plant to be operational by late 2026.
Aquarevo estate is a collaboration between South East Water and Villawood Properties to create a water and energy efficient urban housing development.
Residents have access to three types of water – drinking-quality, rainwater and Class A recycled water - plumbed to their homes.
Their households are using on average 40 per cent less drinking water than other South East Water homes as a result.
South East Water managing director Lara Olsen said Aquarevo was a “working example” of how to reduce the impact of urbanisation on water supplies and local environments.
“We’re excited to work with Hydroflux to deliver Australian-first water treatment services to our customers that will reduce reliance on previous drinking water across our network in Melbourne’s South East.
Hydroflux CEO John Koumoukelis, South East Water’s Charlie Littlefair, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, South East Water’s Karen Lau and Hydroflux EPCO CEO Luis Bastos, CEO at the water recycling site.
Waratah Cr Stefan Koomen. (Supplied)
Akoonah Cr Scott Dowling. (442764)
River Gum Cr Lynette Pereira. (442764)
Correa Cr Gary Rowe. (Stewart Chambers: 442141)
Two injured in rollover
Two males have been hospitalised after a school bus rolled over on the side of South Gippsland Freeway, Hallam.
Police say the bus left the freeway and rolled about 10.30am.
Man wanted for questioning
Police are hunting for a man who allegedly performed a lewd act on a bus in Endeavour Hills last month.
The act occurred in the presence of a young woman on the route 845 bus between Linden Place, Doveton and Endeavour Hills about 12.15pm on Monday 14 October, police say.
The man left the bus at the corner of Hanna Drive and Reema Boulevard.
The woman was not physically injured.
Transit CIU detectives released images of a man wanted for questioning on the matter.
He is described as Middle Eastern appearance, between 30 and 45 years, bald and with a brown moustache and beard.
At the time, he was wearing black sunglasses, a green or blue Puma T-shirt and light-coloured jeans.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
The 55-year-old driver from Carrum and his male passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police say.
Both were taken by road ambulance to Dandenong Hospital.
Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol officers are investigating the rollover. The exact cause is yet to be determined, police say.
Any information or dashcam footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic. com.au Emergency
services at the scene of a bus rollover on South Gippsland Freeway, Hallam on 13 November. (Casey Crime Page/Facebook)
Remorseless killer stabs party-goer in the heart
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A serial violent offender who fatally stabbed a Noble Park resident in the heart, then smiled and said ‘I did it man’ has been jailed.
An apparently remorseless John GatwechChouil, 31, pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court of Victoria to manslaughter.
On 16 September 2022, the victim Bol Guak was on his bed arguing with Gatwech-Chouil during a party in Guak’s apartment.
At one stage, Guak and a friend laughed together on the bed, prompting the accused to say “Do you think I’m joking” and to stab Guak twice in the chest with a large kitchen knife.
As others tried to help Guak, the accused remained lying on the bed next to him.
Paramedics were unable to resuscitate Guak, who was stabbed in the lung and the heart.
“When asked by a member of the group about what had happened, you smiled and said ‘I did it man,’” sentencing judge Rita Incerti said on 13 November.
The victim’s cousins and sister told the court of their intense grief. Guak was described as a happy, respectful man – “always being a good boy”.
He’d send money to his family in Africa even when he was unemployed in the pandemic.
Gatwech-Chouil was arrested, initially charged with murder and assessed by police as unfit for interview.
There was “no apparent provocation”, nor any attempt by him to assist the dying victim, Justice Incerti noted.
He showed no evidence of remorse, the judge found.
Justice Incerti rated the accused’s rehabilitation prospects as “poor” given his history of vio-
lence and failing to engage with supports while in custody.
Gatwech-Chouil was exposed to violence, deprivation and war-related trauma while growing up in an Ethiopian refugee camp. He had no formal schooling and saw his cousin killed in front of him.
In 2002, he and his family migrated to Australia without being able to speak English and with learning difficulties.
After being expelled from high school, he stated he “decided to give up” on life, drank heavily and used illicit drugs.
Gatwech-Chouil declined to attend appointments for mental health assessments prior to sentencing.
Justice Incerti noted that it was well established that refugees to experience trauma in fleeing their countries. They commonly exhibit symptoms of PTSD and aggressive behaviour.
His prior history included lengthy jail terms for violent offences – including six years imprisonment at age 18.
“It is hard to see this sentence serving a rehabilitative purpose,” Justice Incerti said.
“However I hope that a lengthy period of time in custody will prompt you at some point to take up the opportunity to access any resources available to you in custody, including mental health supports.”
The judge also observed: “There is a scourge of knife violence in this State and it too often has tragic results.”
Gatwech-Chouil was jailed for up to nine years. He’ll be eligible for parole after serving seven years.
His term includes 789 days of pre-sentence detention.
(Cam Lucadou-Wells: 171634)
Food relief boost needed
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Families are increasingly struggling to put food on the table and school lunchboxes, says a Dandenong-based charity.
In the wake of a State Parliament report into rising food insecurity, Cornerstone chief executive Naomi Paterson says a rising new “cohort” was in need of help.
Traditionally, the charity came to the aid of rough sleepers and the acutely disadvantaged.
These days, it was helping mortgagors and renters just covering their housing costs but unable to afford basic food.
“We’re seeing more families needing material aid support for food to fill their kids’ lunchboxes and to put food on the table.”
The Parliamentary inquiry report released last week recommended more support for school meal programs and for food relief services as more Victorians struggle to afford food.
It also recommended higher Commonwealth welfare payments, as well as state grocery price controls to ensure supermarket food was more affordable.
Paterson agreed that food relief services needed more funding, with demand for Cornerstone’s food parcels doubling in the past six months.
About 80 families a week access fresh fruit, vegetables and bread, and about 50 receive pantry food parcels. Another 80 people are served fresh meals five days a week.
“That’s without us broadly advertising this support. We couldn’t meet demand if there was an increase in numbers.”
In its submission to the Parliamentary inquiry, South East Community Links stated 97.5 per cent of surveyed clients were finding it harder to afford food.
“It is apparent that Victorians are struggling to afford food because of increasing food prices, fuel prices and increases in private rent.
“Through our emergency relief, we are regularly hearing how people are unable to purchase
nutritious and healthy food to the quantity their families need.”
Greater Dandenong Council submitted to the Parliament inquiry that 13 per cent of its residents ran out of money to buy food in 2020 – the highest level in the state and double the Victoria-wide figure.
Its advocacy officer Therese Watson backed state controls to curb supermarket price-gouging.
“Profits increase, and I know large companies have to bow to their investors and ma profits, but how much profit does one company actually re-
ally need?”
Despite an increase of programs to promote and access healthy, low cost food, there were “no signs of decline” in food insecurity or obesity rates, the council submitted.
Greater Dandenong also supported a junkfood tax to deter shoppers and encourage food manufacturers to “reformulate” unhealthy food.
“An appealing option is the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, since these are a major source of sugar in the diet.
“The consumption of excess sugar – particu-
OzHarvest to expand in South East
By Corey Everitt
Food rescue organisation OzHarvest will expand their work through the South East to combat rising local demand with a new hub to be built in the region.
OzHarvest will receive $200,000 from the State Government’s Community Food Relief Program to go to a new operational hub in the South East.
As the cost of living is rising, OzHarvest said, food insecurity is becoming the norm for more and more families. Reports from their agencies show a 29 percent increase in demand and 74
percent of those agencies are requesting more food for their service.
OzHarvest has 146 charities on their waitlist, 42 percent of them are reportedly located in the South East of Melbourne.
As part of their overall response to the demand, OzHarvest will establish a new warehouse and distribution centre to expand their local capabilities in the growing South East.
12 new charities could be serviced with the establishment of the new hub across Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Monash and Mornington Peninsula.
larly among children and adolescents - is an increasing contributor to obesity, dental cares, diabetes 2, and cardiovascular disease.
“Recent studies have shown greater exposure to ultra processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes often cheaper to produce and more appealing to the disadvantaged due to price.”
Sustain: the Australian Food Network welcomed the inquiry’s 25 recommendations such as legislating a right to food and providing sufficient funding to local councils to address food security.
“Our work with several Victorian local governments over many years demonstrates their willingness and capacity to work with communities to address food security at the local level, but currently they lack the necessary resources to do so adequately,” Sustain executive director Dr Nick Rose said.
He was concerned that the report didn’t detail how to finance greater funding for food relief and school meals.
The State Government has six months to respond to the report.
Giant drug haul alleged
Three people have been arrested and large amounts of drugs and cash seized during a police raid of a Springvale South home on Thursday 7 November.
During the operation in Sunrise Court about 9.15am, police allegedly seized almost 1 kilogram of ketamine, commercial quantities of methylamphetamine, heroin and ecstasy and almost three lires of 1,4-butanediol.
They also discovered almost $100,000 cash and luxury watches, police say.
Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Policing Team - assisted by Springvale Divisional Response Unit – allege the trio were making illicit drugs in the home’s bedrooms prior to distribution.
A 32-year-old man was arrested while allegedly near a bum bag containing a loaded 9-millimetre semi-automatic gun as well as ammunition, drugs and cash.
A 28-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man were also arrested.
Police also allegedly seized cocaine, cannabis, firearm parts, several rounds of ammunition of various calibres and an imitation handgun.
Knuckle dusters, precursor chemicals used to make illicit drugs, several phones and electronic devices, and pills were also allegedly seized.
Currently, OzHarvest deploys three vehicles to deliver produce across the area, with this new hub they say 3 tons of additional food or 6000 meals could be saved each week.
OzHarvest Melbourne currently rescues 174 tonnes of food each month, delivering over 350,000 meals to 137 charitable agencies across the Melbourne Metropolitan area and beyond.
You can support OzHarvest’s efforts to establish the hub from either donations or the lending of equipment and space, to find out more contact Manager Christine Crowley at christine.crowley@ozharvest.org
The woman and youngest man were charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of ketamine, commercial quantities of meth, heroin, ecstasy and 1,4-butanediol as well as trafficking cocaine, possessing precursor chemicals and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The man was also charged with possessing a handgun and ammunition. He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 8 November and further remanded.
The woman appeared at court on Monday 11 November and was granted bail.
Both are scheduled to reappear at court on 14 February.
The 59-year-old was released pending summons.
OzHarvest will establish a new hub in the South East (Supplied)
Cornerstone kitchen manager JJ and volunteer Saabirh serving free meals in Dandenong last Friday.
(Stewart Chambers: 443887)
James (community member).
Driver reform welcomed
By Sahar Foladi
Former Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades says a State reform for drivers using medicinal cannabis is a “step in the right direction”.
Under the new laws, Victorian magistrates will be allowed sentencing discretion when medicinal cannabis script-holders test positive for cannabinoid chemical THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) but are unimpaired while driving.
The Legalise Cannabis Victoria party-led amendment comes come into effect from 1 March 2025.
Prior to this, people who use medicinal cannabis to manage cancer treatment, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions, would lose their licence automatically if found behind the wheel with THC in their system.
This would force them to either drive in pain or give up driving altogether.
Former Greater Dandenong mayor and longterm ex-councillor Roz Blades is in her fourth year of using medicinal cannabis oil, cannabidiol (CBD) to manage her intense chronic pain of more than 50 years.
She recognises that this amendment doesn’t mean they “can’t” cancel your licence but says “it’s a step in the right direction.”
“Magistrates ‘can’, not ‘will’, allow you to have your licence. I think it’s an improvement, a bit of an adjustment, but it still needs work.
“You have still got to go to court, they can still hand down a sentence.
“What is in here that I want in here is the medical knowledge. It’s not complete. It only allows them sentencing discretion - it needs more. You still have to prove it (that you need medicinal cannabis as part of treatment).”
The whole process allows a gateway for those on medicinal cannabis to be heard in court and according to Blades, “that means there’s a lot more knowledge.”
She has nominated herself to be part of the
State Government’s $4.9 million “world’s-first” medicinal cannabis driving trial to be conducted by Swinburne University of Technology over 18-months.
The trail will assess prescribed medicinal cannabis effects on people behind the wheel.
“It’s a positive impact because it’ll mean people will be more confident, they’ll take it now, they wouldn’t have taken it before.
“I know people who won’t take it because they’re worried about their licence. This discretion now gives them a choice where that wasn’t
there before - you were just going to lose your licence.”
According to a National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) report, an increasing amount of people are accessing medicinal cannabis with a prescription,.
In 2022–2023, three per cent of people in Australia had used cannabis for medical purposes in the previous 12 months, equating to around 700,000 people, according to the report.
Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank says before this amendment, drivers would’ve faced
not just a loss of licence for six months but also a “steep fine” just for taking their medicine as “directed by their doctor.”
“This change means a current prescription holder, who is unimpaired and has taken their medication as directed, can appear before a magistrate, explain their circumstance and the magistrate can allow them to keep their licence.
“The presence of THC in the system remains an offence, the only change is that magistrates will be given this discretionary power.”
Roz Blades (Stewart Chambers: 435813_04)
We will remember them
The community gathered at Noble Park RSL memorial on Remembrance Day, Monday 11 November to honour armed force members who died in the line of duty during wartime conflicts.
Among the dignitaries laying wreathes for the fallen were Mulgrave MP Eden Foster and former Greater Dandenong councillor Angela Long, as well as veterans ex-Noble Park RSL pres-
ident Gordon Murray and ex-Commando Don Bergman.
Students from Carawatha College P-12 performed Advance Australia Fair as well as recited traditional poetry.
Dozens stood in the memorial park for a minute’s silence.
Former Mayor of Greater Dandenong Eden Foster, now Mulgrave MP. (438352)
Standing in silent respect. (438352)
Don Bergman (left) was among those paying tribute to the fallen at the Noble Park memorial. (Rob Carew: 438352)
Gordon and Lynette Murray lay a wreath together. (438352)
Aya from Carwatha P-12 College reads the Poem. (438352)
Remembrance Day at Noble Park’s memorial. (438352)
Thoughts for the fallen. (438352)
Flags during minute of silence.
Former Greater Dandenong councillor Angela Long. (438352)
Angie from Carwatha P-12 College sings the National Anthem. (438352)
Heads bowed for a minute’s silence. (438352)
Racist attacks blight election
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Greater Dandenong council candidate has joined a chorus speaking out against despicable racist abuse while on the hustings in the South East.
Zahra Haydar Big ran a bold campaign against two sitting councillors in Cleeland Ward, garnering nearly a quarter of the vote in November 2024.
For the proud Hazara and Muslim local candidate, the result was a triumph for multiculturalism.
However her third election tilt was also the most hostile. It left her rattled and at times, afraid to leave her home to campaign.
While doorknocking 4000 homes, Haydar Big was met with anger and vitriol at about 1000 of them.
Some would slam the door in her face, she says.
“Many of the local residents stated to my face: ‘Will you give up your religion?” or “Will you give up on your head scarf?”.
“’If you do, I’ll give you my No.1 vote.’”
“It wasn’t a very pleasant experience.
“Why should you give up on your religion or facial covering to run for council?
“This shouldn’t be about how I appear. This should be about local issues – I’m not here to represent just the Muslim community, I’m here to be a voice for all residents.”
She is shocked by her treatment in Greater Dandenong, which is Australia’s most culturallydiverse council area and runs a prominent #RacismNotWelcome campaign.
It was a “happier” time running as a candidate at Greater Shepparton in regional Victoria in 2020, when global conflicts weren’t so much in the news, she says.
The escalating Gaza war between Israel and
Palestine could have been a factor. This is despite Haydar Big never making the conflict a local election issue.
There may have also been backlash against the Labor member for rising cost-of-living pressures.
Haydar Big is speaking out about the abuse to “raise awareness”, not to “play the victim card”.
“We don’t want people from culturally diverse backgrounds to stop running.
“Whether someone is Muslim, Christian, Hindu, or not religious, regardless of how they appear, they are not running to represent just one particular group as per local government rules and laws.
“And they don’t have to give up their religion, background or change their appearance if they’re running.”
Islamophobia Register Australia executive director Dr Nora Amath said the register hadn’t received any complaints from recent candidates but Islamophobia remained a “deeply embedded issue”.
“It’s disheartening, though not entirely surprising, that the candidate faced such levels of Islamophobic abuse.
“In election campaigns, Muslim candidates often face an additional layer of scrutiny and bias based on their faith, which non-Muslim candidates typically don’t encounter.”
Dr Amath said the Gaza conflict’s intensification was contributing to heightened “tension and hostility, often fueling anti-Muslim sentiment”.
“Just in one year alone, we received 932 reported cases. This total is more than the eight years of reported incidents to the Register.”
Complaints of verbal abuse, violence in public settings, online abuse and hate speech had risen, she said.
“Instances of harassment, discrimination and abuse targeting Muslim women wearing visible
markers of their faith, such as the hijab, continue to be a significant portion of the reports we receive.”
Racist abuse has also been prominently reported by candiates in the neighbouring Casey council.
“I am in disbelief that being a young woman of colour would effectively disadvantage me in an electoral contest in this day and age,” Kalora Ward candidate Kasuni Mendis told Star News.
Waratah Ward candidate Jamel Kaur Singh recently said she believes racism is becoming more prevalent.
“I have been told many times in the last four weeks that I speak Australian really well, not English.
“The amount of assumptions that people make due to the colour of my skin, I have never had in my life.
“Racism definitely is more prevalent because my kids who are Australian born, 24 and 23, are finding themselves being more racially targeted today than I ever did my entire life.”
In 2023, Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia councils set up the South-East Anti-Racism Support Network in response to a Victoria University study into racism in the region.
The network has received State Government pilot funding for grass-roots and accessible support services for people experiencing racism and racial/religious vilification.
Assoc Professor Mario Peucker, who led the Victoria University research, said he was struck by how diverse the Casey Council candidates were, and also by how few “non-Anglo” candidates were elected.
“What you see in the nasty incidents there, is a backlash in the community against the relatively rapid demographic changes.
“It’s the change that triggers the backlash …
the sense of losing control of the cultural landscape.”
Greater Dandenong chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said the community’s “diversity is our strength” but racism still happened with “terrible and far-reaching impacts”.
“We stand firm, with our community, in condemning all racism and discrimination.
“The majority of our residents treat each other with respect.
“We are proud that the diversity of our newlyelected council group reflects that of our community.”
The council didn’t receive any formal complaints of racism from recent election candidates.
“We are appalled to hear this has taken place and offer our sympathy to the candidates who experienced it.
“We also understand that too often individuals find it difficult to speak out against racism and to seek support after experiencing discrimination.”
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said a collective effort is needed to support candidates and address racism.
“Just having equity and diversity targets doesn’t ensure the safety of people in politics or running for politics.
“It shouldn’t be the case that for a person of colour to succeed in politics or local government, they must shed themselves of everything that makes them different; their culture, religion, language, or dress, leaving them with nothing to differentiate them from someone who is Anglo, but the colour of their skin.
“That forced assimilation and lack of cultural safety is a form of systemic racism, which in turn is what leads to the kind of interpersonal racist attacks these candidates suffered.”
Dark-web identity thief sentenced but appeals
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 22-year-old Springvale scammer has been sentenced to jail over a dark-web trade of fake bank accounts using the stolen identity details of up to 20 victims.
Victor Dieu pleaded guilty to identity theft over his trade on the notorious cybercrime website Genesis Marketplace in late 2022-early 2023, a prosecutor told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 15 November.
He would sell stolen identity details from driver licences, Medicare cards and bank accounts, or use them to create and sell fake bank accounts for cryptocurrencies.
Dieu would also “scam the scammers” on on-line forums who were looking to set up
cryptocurrency accounts.
As a further side-hustle, he offered online tuition on how to perform the scam.
Police raided his home, seizing a laptop, mobile phones, SIM cards registered to victims, an imitation gun and Dieu’s ‘burner’ phone.
A defence lawyer told the court that the former Lighthouse Christian College student succumbed to “gambling” and “materialism” under pressure from finances and a negative peer group.
But gambling sent him further backwards and he made poor choices to offend. Though at first, he “scammed the scammers” to make “easy money”, his lawyer told the court.
The “youthful offender” had no prior convictions.
He had since made detailed admissions, was “incredibly apologetic”, rediscovered religion, embarked on an electrician apprenticeship and attended Gamblers Anonymous.
The lawyer submitted for Dieu to receive a good-behaviour bond without conviction, with a donation to charity.
However a police prosecutor told the court the community would expect punishment for the “incredibly serious” offending.
The rorting was not a “one-off” or “spur of the moment”. It required significant training, equipment and pre-planning, the prosecutor said.
“The impact of this type of offending on the
community cannot be over-estimated.
“(It) appears to be assisting the commission of further offending by the setting-up of bank accounts.”
Magistrate Hugh Radford said Dieu’s “sophisticated enterprise” aimed to defraud, scam and “rip-off” others.
Victims who lost their “preciously held” identities endure “so much grief” trying to gain a passport, bank account or driver licence.
“There are people like yourself causing havoc in people’s lives”.
Dieu was sentenced to 12 months’ jail – which his lawyer immediately appealed.
He was released on bail to appeal at the Victorian County Court on 11 March.
Zahra Haydar Big, pictured left, doorknocking during the recent Greater Dandenong council election campaign. (Supplied)A campaign sandwich board, which was routinely kicked-over by hostile passers-by.
Zahra Haydar Big has been rattled by the levels of racist vitriol on the campaign trail. (Stewart Chambers: 424414)
Looking to the future
Chisholm Institute of TAFE students celebrated their achievements at their graduation ceremony, held in October at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren.
With 180 excited students and more than 500 proud relatives and friends in attendance, the atmosphere was exuberant.
One of the members of the graduating cohort, Karan Grover, explained the significance to him of celebrating this important life milestone.
“Completing a course is not easy. It is the outcome of great commitment, and that deserves to be recognised and celebrated with family, peers and educators who supported you along the way.”
Karan graduated from Chisholm with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology and was named Higher Education (International) Student of the Year in the 2024 Chisholm Education Awards.
LOOKING BACK
100 years ago
20 November 1924
Wirth’s Circus
Messrs Wirth Bros Ltd, will again bring their enormous combined shows to Dandenong on Tuesday December 16, for one night only. This season’s attractions, which were specifically engaged by Mr. Phillip Wirth on his recent tour of America, outdo all previous efforts to amuse and instruct the Australian public. Captain Betts, with his trained seals, roosters, and monkeys, has acts to marvel at, besides the great number of other noted artists Mr Wirth engaged at an enormous expense.
50 years ago
21 November 1974
50,000 at Oktoberfest weekend.
A happy carefree crowd of just over 50,000 attended the highly successful 1974 Dandenong Oktoberfest last weekend. Magnificent weather, fine entertainment and family attractions saw the Oktoberfest cement itself as a yearly attraction. With all things being equal, it seems likely the Oktoberfest will again be held the weekend after the Dandenong Show giving the City a wonderful nine days of family fun and activity to suit all ages. The entertainment was provided last weekend by the Eidelweiss Folk Dancing Group which with the Teutonia German Association Club of Dandenong organises the Oktoberfest.
20 years ago
15 November 2004
Your View
Give Kelly a go
It will soon be time for Greater Dandenong Council to elect a councillor to serve as mayor
INTERFAITH
Having specialised in Mechatronics, he is now developing his career in car automation in Australia.
A proud member of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Keysborough, Mr Grover has volunteered at the temple since he arrived from India three years ago, helping to prepare and distribute free meals for the local community.
Chisholm Chief of Education, Conor Mullan congratulates all of the graduates and wishes them all the best as they take the next steps in their journey, whether that be into further study, teaching, employment, volunteering in the community or reflecting on which direction they would like to take next.
Enrolments for 2025 open soon. Check out www.chisholm.edu.au for more details.
Peter Brown surrounded by fellow councillors as he is announced as the winner of the countback at Dandenong Civic Centre in 2019. He was controversially declared ineligible to stand in the 2020 election due to not being on the electoral roll, and came runner-up in the 2024 Yarraman by-election and the recent council election after that. (Cam Lucadou-Wells: 200559)
for the next term. It is hoped that this time justice will prevail and the party politics that has bedevilled our council for a long time will be discarded and that long-serving councillor John Kelly will be given the opportunity to serve as Mayor. The voters of Dandenong North ward have demonstrated their trust in Cr Kelly by reelecting him for many years. It is time for that confidence to be recognised, time for their chosen councillor to serve as Mayor of our city. It is time for a fair go.
J Marriner Dandenong
5 years ago
19 November 2019
Brown to cast decisive vote through ‘political traffic’
Peter Brown is back on Greater Dandenong Council- and he is set to make an early mark.
“Apologies for being three years late but I’ve been held up in heavy political traffic,” Cr Brown told an audience when his countback election
was announced on November 11. He planned to deliver the decisive vote in favour of a recission motion scrapping Greater Dandenong’s approval of a waste-to-energy plant in Dandenong South. The motion was duly passed, the council deferring the matter until the Environment Protection Authority assessment was done. He has replaced the long-serving Roz Blades who suddenly resigned as mayor and councillor last month.
We can’t change the past but we can - and should - learn from it
By Pastor David Owen, president of Dandenong Ministers’ Fellowship (DMF)
What exactly is Hope?
The Bible asks us ‘why do we hope for what we already have?’ and it talks about ‘the hope that lies ahead’.
It may be concluded then, that the true essence of hope lies in the future and ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for’, the evidence of things ‘not seen.
The substance is what we do NOW because we fully expect something in the future.
Although our past cannot be changed, we can look at our past and learn some lessons from it.
Someone once said, ‘it’s not what happens to you in life but how you deal with it that makes you what you are’.
This is so true.
The only real mistakes that can hinder our future, are those that we don’t learn from.
Life is tough, it brings many tragedies, misfortunes and hardships to us, but we can use those troubled times to strengthen us as we face tomorrow, and project our hopes to bring us to our final destination, which waits for all of us.
As a Christian, I put my hope for the future and beyond, in Jesus Christ, who promises me eternal life if I accept that the death He died, He died for me to give me a hope beyond compare which stretches far beyond the span of my life here in this lifetime.
On what grounds should I put my hope and trust in Him?
He conquered sin and death by rising from the dead … why would I not hope in Him and His promises?
I have hope in God, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offence toward God and men.
This is the ultimate ‘hope’ without which I have nothing to aim for in life, because at the end of it, we all perish.
Hope in the resurrection from the dead, gives me the strength to hope for a beautiful and fulfilling present and future.
Enquiries regarding the Interfaith Network, City of Greater Dandenong, administration@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.
Visit interfaithnetwork.org.au
Recent graduate of Chisholm with his proud uncle Sukhpal Grover, aunty Manvir Grover and cousins Rubaaz and Arnaaz Grover. (Supplied)
Pastor David Owen.
In 2019, Peter Brown was re-elected as a Greater Dandenong councillors on countback, after the sudden resignation of mayor Roz Blades. (Cam Lucadou-Wells: 200559)
Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society
Fresh look
By Sahar Foladi
Emerson School is experiencing exciting times, with continuing progress of its first large-scale building upgrade since opening in 1973.
The four-stage building modernisation program is in its second stage, which consists of wood and automotive technology buildings for students.
Its $14 million stage one was completed last year, consisting of a new admin and senior student wing - the first state-funded upgrade the school has received in 50 years.
Nearing completion in time for the start of 2025 school year, the wood and automotive department will unlock new potential for students to undertake practical skills and personal growth in their chosen career fields.
The school’s principal John Mooney was “eternally grateful” to Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams who has “worked hard” for the school.
“She has done a lot of great work. She’s a very good person and we appreciate it.
“It’s a child’s delight here to watch all the machines working. It’s also the attitudes of all the team knowing that they’re in a partnership in doing something worthwhile.
“You can feel it in the air and it’s a nice place to be as they work.”
The specialist school for 400 students with mild intellectual processing difficulties, previously relied on its own budget to make improvements across its three campuses (junior, middle and senior school).
Mooney is passionate about personalised learning programs where students can “stand on their own two feet”.
Through its school-based apprenticeship training on the ground and the right resources, students are supported from “being a welfare recipient to be a taxpayer.”
“This could become the nerve centre of really getting kids to find out more about themselves and be less dependent on the welfare support that they need - because you get them to blossom.
“That should be not necessarily confined to your school age, it could be there for the whole community.”
Mooney however is looking forward to the “essential” stage three which will transform the “very tired, very old” junior building, which has also remained untouched since 1973.
Almost five to six classrooms in one corridor, and chipped paints and holes in the doors with holes and chipped painting, it’s a stark contrast to the stage-one tall and modern seniors building.
The junior building is surrounded by wornout portable buildings from the late 60’s, a rare sight to set your eyes upon in the 21st century.
Despite all that, little kids work hard to beautify their old buildings and classrooms with their drawings.
The school is hopeful that the entire four-stage program will be carried out despite fears of funding thinning out.
“I’m hoping in my time we’ll get the stage three upgrade and better facilities for horticulture and allied science.”
Stage four will be for performing arts, music practice and a gymnasium.
Mooney was this year recognised as a Living Treasure in the City of Greater Dandenong Australia Day Awards.
Belinda thankful after timely smoke alarm check
A new smoke alarm battery proved a saviour for Keysborough resident Belinda Peterson.
She made a rapid getaway and called triple-000 when she was alerted to a fire in her kitchen recently.
In a freak accident, Peterson had placed a food-delivery polystyrene box on her stovetop bench.
She then went outside to water her plants, and started chatting with her neighbour before the alarms sounded.
“The stove wasn’t on when I initially placed down the box, but from that movement it made contact with the ignition button and as a result sparked a flame and ultimately the fire.”
Peterson couldn’t get to her fire blanket under the stove so grabbed doonas off the bed to try to suppress the fire.
As the flames continued, she escaped outside and called triple-0.
Fire services were able to extinguish the remaining fire and contain it to the kitchen.
However the microwave, kitchen cabinets, stovetop and plaster throughout the kitchen were damaged.
Peterson is still unable to return home but considers herself fortunate to have been assisted by a CFA and RACV smoke alarm installation program four months earlier.
“The fact that I am above 60, single and unable to reach the heights of those ceilings meant I needed help,” Peterson said.
“It was a case of calling my local fire brigade and having them come round and install them for myself and my neighbour.
“Although the units didn’t need to be changed, they did replace the back up batteries that were well and truly out of date and cleaned them all thoroughly before performing tests to ensure they were working before they left.”
Peterson was one of more than 1000 atrisk people to receive a free smoke alarm and assistance since April.
CFA recommends all home smoke-alarms are powered by a 10-year lithium battery as well as interconnected and installed in every bedroom, living area and hallway.
All smoke alarms, even hard-wired ones, should be replaced every 10 years, the CFA states.
Residents should also test smoke alarms monthly and clean or dust them yearly.
Our supportive approach and one-on-one time make a great option for young minds looking for alternative education for Year 10 to Year 12.
ECG is ideal for the young learners who are:
aged 15-20 years seeking individualised learning looking for holistic development and overall wellbeing looking to develop emotional and personal skills interested in gaining applied learning and practical life skills seeking a supportive community with an inclusive environment
Join ECG Secondary College and start shaping your future with us.
ECG is a Child Safe organisation that has zero tolerance for child abuse.
The kitchen fire was swiftly contained by firefighters.
Belinda Peterson escaped a kitchen fire after being alerted by a freshly-checked smoke alarm. (Supplied)
The junior school classrooms are awaiting a stage-3 upgrade. (444100)
The cramped corridor of the junior building, which is next-in-line for an upgrade - subject to State funding. (444100)
Principal John Mooney is forging ahead with modernisation of Emerson School’s buildings. (Sahar Foladi: 444100)
BUSINESS PROFILE
Santa’s magical arrival
Santa has departed the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and his festive friends, and is set to arrive at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre on Saturday 30 November! It’s going to be a day full of holiday magic and fun for the whole family!
Arriving in Style on a Trackless Train.
This year, Santa is making a grand entrance on a trackless train, bringing even more joy and excitement to his arrival. The festive parade will travel through the shopping centre, with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Cheeky Elves, Mirrored Ballerinas, and a Festive Duo Band all taking part. The fun doesn’t stop there—after the parade, you can join in the festivities with a free ride on the trackless train!
Meet Santa’s Festive Friends:
• Santa and Mrs. Claus
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Frosty the Snowman
• Cheeky Elves
• Mirrored Ballerinas
• A Festive Duo Band playing Christmas tunes
It’s an experience filled with music, joy, and plenty of holiday cheer that will delight children and adults alike.
Event Details:
• When: Saturday 30 November
• Time: 12pm – 3pm
• Where: Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre
• Cost: FREE! Bring the whole family and join the celebration.
Santa’s Photography Session:
After the parade, Santa will be available for photos until 4:30pm on the day of his arrival, and then continuing up until Christmas Eve for magical Santa Photography. Don’t miss the chance to capture a special holiday moment with Santa and your loved ones!
For more details on Santa’s arrival or to get updates on other Christmas activities and services, contact Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre at 03 9700 2374 or visit our website at www.endeavourhillsshopping.com.au.
A new pathway to learning
In response to the increasing disengagement among Year 9-12 students in Victorian mainstream schools, ECG Secondary College (ECG) is excited to announce the introduction of Year 10 classes at its Dandenong campus beginning in 2025. This initiative aims to provide a supportive alternative learning environment for students who are seeking a different approach to education.
A growing number of young people are expressing dissatisfaction with traditional schooling methods, particularly the pressure of exams and academic workloads. ECG recognises the unique challenges faced by teenage students during these formative years and has redefined the educational experience by placing nurturing relationships at the heart of its teaching approach.
The new Year 10 program at the Dandenong campus provides a second chance for students located in Dandenong and surrounding areas to re-engage with their education in a way that suits their individual needs and aspirations. The curriculum focuses on hands-on learning, skills development, and real-world experiences, ensuring that students are prepared not only for further education but also for future employment opportunities.
Currently, ECG offers Years 11 and 12 (VPC and VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate programs) across all four of its campuses in Warragul, Leongatha, Pakenham and Dandenong. ECG is also extending invites for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for mid-year enrolment in Years 9 and 10 for the 2025 academic year at its Pakenham campus.
“We understand that not every student thrives in the conventional academic setting,” said Russel Praetz, Principal at ECG. “By launching these Year 10 classes at Dandenong, we aim to provide a nurturing space where students can rediscover their passion for learning with a hands-on approach. Students will receive tailored support to help develop their confidence, life skills, and career readiness, ensuring they are set up for success in their chosen pathways.”
At ECG, students and staff work together in a learning community where everyone is encouraged to THRIVE—both in their academic achievements and their overall wellbeing. The school’s values embrace each student’s unique journey,
helping them set meaningful goals and achieve their full potential.
ECG’s curriculum is built on its T.H.R.I.V.E
Learning Model, which fosters a Therapeutic environment focused on the Holistic development of skills for success in life. The approach centres around building positive and nurturing Relationships while offering Individualised education plans and differentiated instruction tailored to each student’s needs. With a strong focus on Vocational pathways, ECG connects students to VET education and taster programs, promoting Engagement, Enrichment, and Excellence in every student’s journey.
The curriculum promotes resilience, confidence, health, wellbeing, and practical life skills, all tailored to student interests. At the heart of ECG’s educational offerings are the four pillars of applied learning, supported by rich experiential learning opportunities in Years 11 and 12, and project-based learning aligned with the Victorian Curriculum standards for Years 9 and 10.
With enrolments now open, CCG is encouraging students and families to explore this unique opportunity to step into a learning environment that understands and meets their needs. To learn more or to apply, please visit https://ecg.vic.edu. au/enrol-with-us/ or contact 03 5622 6000 or info@ecg.vic.gov.au.
Right choice for Karla in Melbourne Cup sweep
The Melbourne Cup might be done and dusted, but there is one matter we need to wrap up.
And that is the winners of Star News’ Melbourne Cup Sweep!
Readers were encouraged to enter online for a chance to win after seeing the feature in our paper.
Karla Kadjakoro backed the winnerKnight’s Choice - while Nicole Cooper picked the runner-up, Warp Speed.
First prize was one night’s accommodation and buffet breakfast for two at Novotel Glen Waverley.
And second prize was a $100 voucher for Sandros Cafe Restaurant Bar, Berwick.
Congratulations.
Runner-up was Warp Speed with Nicole Cooper taking home the second prize, with a $100 voucher for Sandros Cafe Restaurant Bar, Berwick.
Star News 2024 Melbourne Cup Sweep competition winner - Knight’s Choice - Karla Kadjakoro and family. First prize included one night’s accommodation and buffet breakfast for two at Novotel Glen Waverley.
Santa has departed the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and his festive friends, and is set to arrive at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre on Saturday 30 November.
ECG Secondary College Dandenong Campus Launches Year 10 Classes: A New Pathway to Re-engage in Learning. (Morgan Fisher Photograph)
NEWS Crank it up, bogan style!
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
City of Greater Dandenong Band will be celebrating ‘bogan culture’ in a bold and brassy cabaret in Springvale this month.
‘Blokes’ and ‘sheilas’ are urged to dress up in flannies and denim, and bring along eskys of food and drink for the Bogan Brass performance.
The program starts with traditional brassband arrangements, cranking up to a full V8 rumble of pub rock classics from the likes of ACDC and Daryl Braithwaite.
There will also be best-dressed and air-guitar competitions.
Band musical director Jamie Lawson says the three-act epic will be a celebration of “everything bogan”.
It starts with yesteryear classics such as Waltzing Matilda and a tribute to Henry Lawson’s witty short-story The Loaded Dog.
A rarely-performed Dreamtime soundscape, which was written for a touring Cory brass band
WHAT’S ON
Walk Against Family Violence
Meet at Dandenong Market and walk to Harmony Square for our annual walk against family violence. Hear from guest speaker Simone O’Brien, a dedicated social change advocate who has lived experience of surviving family violence.
■ Tuesday 19 November, from 11.15am at Dandenong Market, Cleeland Street.
Hallam Friends of Red Cross
Last meeting for the year, open to the public. Come and have a cupper and a chat. All welcome. We are a very friendly group.
■ Tuesday 19 November 10.30am-12pm at Hallam Community Learning Centre, 56 Kays Avenue. Details: Robert Read, 0455 566 570. Reuse and Recycle Drop Off Day
The event gives you the opportunity to get rid of any larger unwanted household goods suitable for donating or electronic and household goods suitable for recycling. To avoid missing out, it is highly recommended for resident to attend as early as possible.
■ Saturday 23 November 8am-1pm at Greaves Reserve, 20 Bennet Street, Dandenong. Free event. Details: 8571 1000 or greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au/recycle-day
Come and try roller-skating
Dive into the world of roller skating – no prior experience needed! Roller skates and protective gear provided. Our experienced skate instructors will be there to guide you through the basics, with an impressive demonstration from our talented coaches. Come any time within the session, first in first served. Subject to weather conditions.
■ Saturday 23 November, 10am-12pm at Frank Street Open Space, Noble Park. Free event. Details: princessonskates.com.au/come-and-tryroller-skating
Bogan Brass
City of Greater Dandenong Band presents a celebration of everything we love about this sunburnt country - live in cabaret! Get out your best flannies for best-dressed and air-guitar competitions. Epic raffle and door prizes. BYO food, drinks and eskys.
from Wales in 1913, will also be unearthed.
The second act is a tribute to “bogans of the stage and screen”.
It includes themes from home-grown TV shows Neighbours and Prisoner, as well as songs from musicals The Boy from Oz and Matilda.
And finally, the Aussie rock section – though its repetitive soundlines aren’t easily translated into brass, Lawson says.
“It grates on me a little bit.
“As long as lots of people are singing, it’ll be fine!”
The band’s BYO cabaret with a musical theme has become an annual tradition. Previous themes have included space , villains and superheroes, sport and Halloween.
Bogan Brass BYO cabaret is on Saturday 23 November, 6.30pm for 7pm start at Springvale Town Hall; $30/$22/children 5 and under free. Bookings: 0423 925 192 or trybooking.com/cvnvi
Visit dandenongband.org.au for details.
Saturday 23 November, 6.30pm for 7pm start at Springvale Town Hall; $30/$22/children 5 and under free. Bookings: 0423 925 192 or trybooking. com/cvnvi
Visit dandenongband.org.au
SuperCars and SuperHumans
Back in Keysborough for its second year, bringing even more excitement and thrills to Australia’s largest NDIS community event. This family-friendly event is free for everyone to attend, with over 60 of your favourite supercars on display, live entertainment, delicious food, fun competitions and incredible prizes to be won - expect some notable figures and VIPs to make special appearances as well.
■ Sunday 24 November, 11.30pm-2.30pm at Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road Keysborough. Free event. Details: Ibrahim, 0458 888 883 or ibrahim@psupportservices.com.au
Neighbourhood Watch Q&A forum and AGM
Catch up with your local police, get tips on personal safety and hear about what’s happening in your area. Guest speaker: Senior Sergeant Dave Smith, who has worked in Highway Patrol, proactive policing unit, youth offenders and missing persons. Light supper provided.
■ Wednesday 27 November 7pm for 7.30pm start at Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-34 Buckley Street, Noble Park. (Ample parking rear of centre off Frank Street)
The Importance of Oral Histories
Historian Dr Nicolette Snowden will explain how to record oral histories and examine their value in both a community and professional context. Oral histories now form part of Council’s Civic and Cultural Heritage Collection. This program is being run in conjunction with the We Built This City exhibition. A light afternoon tea will be held following the presentations.
■ Thursday 28 November, 2pm-4pm at Benga, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Free event, registrations required at trybooking.com/events/landing/1311016
Cornerstone Christmas Fete
Market stalls, unique handmade Christmas gifts, free face painting, sausage sizzle, crafts and prizes. Directly supports Cornerstone’s mission to help our community.
■ Saturday 30 November, 9am-2pm at Cornerstone Contact Centre, Dandenong Baptist Church hall, 25 James Street Dandenong. Respect at the Market
WHISE (Women’s Health in the South East) will be partnering with Dandenong Market, South East Community Links, Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre and Wellsprings for Women to host “Respect Is… at the Heart of Dandenong Market.” This interactive event is designed to engage families and individuals in conversations and activities that promote respect and equality. Key highlights are a spinning wheel with prizes, a smoothie bike to mix your own drinks, teams and advocates to answer questions about respect and safe relationships.
■ Saturday 30 November, 9am-3pm at Dandenong Market, corner Clow and Cleeland streets.
Red Cross Christmas Lunch Hallam Friends of Red Cross will be having a Christmas lunch. We wish all members of red cross and the community, to enjoy the Christmas sprite with family and friends.
■ Tuesday 3 December, 12pm at Dandenong Workers Club. Details: Robert Read, 0455 566 570. Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club Community Day and Morning Melodies with The Hoffmans on Friday 6 December. Also meets weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls. Weekly activity timesLine Dancing Mon.10am-12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am-2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am2pm.
■ Friday 6 December 10:30am-4pm, includes lunch and afternoon tea. Bookings: Marilyn, 0432 107 590. Details: facebook.com/ groups/487808127399953
Come and try pickleball
Get ready to serve up some fun at our free pickleball program. Open to all ages and skill levels. Wear comfortable clothing and don’t forget to bring a drink bottle. All pickleball equipment will be provided as well as an expert coach to facilitate.
■ Every Tuesday until 3 December, 5pm-7pm at Lois Twohig Tennis Courts, 80 Carlton Road, Dandenong North. Free event, registration required at forms.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/publicforms/come-and-try-pickleball-registration-form/ Learn from an Employer
Online ZOOM sessions for jobseekers to meet local employers and learn about career pathways and required work skills. Topics are health and care/support (19 November) and admin/customer service (21 November).
■ 6pm - 7pm. Free event, register at greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/learn-from-employer
We Built This City
Come and see stories behind Greater Dandenong’s favourite heritage places through short videos, historic objects, photographs and oral histories from Council and local historical society collections.
■ Wednesdays and Thursdays (excluding public holidays) until 18 May 2025 at Benga, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Free event.
Sandown Probus
Are you retired or semi-retired and would like to stay engaged and connected with others? Come along and see if you would like to join Sandown Probus Club. Enjoy the opportunity to make new friends, expand your interests, participate in the variety of activities and hear guest speakers on a wide range of subjects.
■ 2nd Monday of each month at Club Noble, Moodemere Street, Noble Park. Details: probussouthpacific.org/microsites/sandown or Marion, 0458 660 016.
City of Greater Dandenong Band members rev their instruments ahead of Bogan Brass cabaret. (Gary Sissons: 443673)
Major exhibition on the way
An exhibition and workshop series by Tagata Moana (People of the Pacific) art collective, the Pacific Sisters, will be showcased at the Bunjil Place Gallery from Sunday 8 December through to Sunday 9 March 2025.
The Pacific Sisters’, FROCK A WHANAUNGATANGA, a major exhibition, is coming to Bunjil Place Gallery.
Presented in association with Asia TOPA and Arts Centre Melbourne, this exhibition and workshop series showcases the Pacific Sisters’ legacy through fashion, performance, film, and music.
Visitors will encounter niu aitu (new ancestors) adorned in the Sisters’ intricate handmade garments alongside over 40 ancestral taonga and measina (treasured cultural items) drawn from the collections of Museums Victoria.
City of Casey Manager of Creative Communities Emily Clarke said: “We are looking forward to sharing the creative vision of the Pacific Sisters at Bunjil Place as part of our Asia TOPA partnership.
“The Pacific Sisters’ exhibition and workshop series sits alongside recent theatre events such as the sold-out 4Cs program, which saw a large representation of the Pasifika community participate.
“Creative programs like these highlight our commitment to supporting and celebrating diverse communities from across the City of Casey. I’m excited to experience the Pacific Sisters’ unique creative practice at Bunjil Place!”
The exhibition curator, Jade Hadfield has worked with the Pacific Sisters on curating this exhibition for Bunjil Place audiences.
“With the largest population of Pasifika community in Victoria residing in the City of Casey, this is an important exhibition for Bunjil Place. It provides access for Pasifika to see themselves and connect with world-leading Pasifika artists,” she said.
“This exhibition by the Pacific Sisters is an opportunity to cement relationships with a large part
Trades & Services
of the City of Casey’s community.”
FROCK A WHANAUNGATANGA will also feature a dynamic Pasifika lounge where exhibition
visitors can engage with archival footage and imagery from the Pacific Sisters’ 30 years of pioneering work.
There are also opportunities for people to join one of the public adornment-making workshops on offer over the exhibition period.
Pacific Sisters: He Toa Taera | Fashion Activists, 2019. (Auckland Art Gallery)
Singh builds rhythym
By Marcus Uhe
The emergence of Shobit Singh as a mainstay of the Dandenong Cricket Club’s batting stocks adds to the burgeoning crop of young talent bolstering the regeneration at Shepley Oval under Tom Donnell in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Arriving at Dandenong after crossing from Richmond in the winter, 21-year-old Singh links back up with Panthers skipper Brett Forsyth, who he had been coached by as a junior.
Adapting to life in the Dandenong top order quickly, Singh has two centuries from his first four innings with the Panthers, his second coming in a seven-wicket thrashing on Saturday against Greenvale, making him the competition’s leading runscorer.
Having passed Greenvale’s score early in the day, he and Forsyth added 273 for the third wicket, with Singh reaching 167 from 165 deliveries and Forsyth finishing unbeaten on 124.
Donnell described Singh as having been “unbelievable” since arriving at the club.
“He said he wanted to be a little more attacking and free-flowing and we were more than happy to accommodate that and back him in,” he said of Singh.
“The way he hits the ball, he’s timing it really well and he’s brought a breath of fresh air amongst the batting,” he said.
“He’s been scoring really quickly and looking really well and doing it stylishly.
“He’s hungry to make runs and wants to get his game going to play at a higher level as well, which hopefully we can help him out with and get him up there.”
Singh’s emergence, paired with Dhanusha Gamage’s breakout summer last season in which he was named in the Victorian Premier Cricket First XI Team of the Year, bodes extremely well for the future of the Panthers’ middle order
While Singh has caught the eye with the bat, Noah Hurley has turned heads with his bowling performances as the new leader of the Panthers’ attack.
Plucked from Gippsland on a tip from club legend Brendan McArdle, Hurley has quickly blossomed as one of the competition’s brightest stars, with an impressive record to his name less than a season-and-a-half into his tenure at the Panthers.
Following 25 wickets at 21.8 last summer that featured a Victorian Second XI appearance and a likening to Peter Siddle from senior captain Forsyth, Hurley has found his feet quickly in 2024/25 with 10 wickets from the opening four matches of the summer to place equal-second in total wickets taken for the season.
Donnell is a huge fan of the 21-year-old’s competitiveness and work ethic, believing the combination of the two has seen him grab rewards early in his Dandenong career.
“He’s always wanting to take wickets and always wanting to get in the game,” Donnell said.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into him and he’s definitely paying us back, which is great.
“He’s got all those attributes - naturally strong and fit - which I think holds him in good stead.
“His willingness to learn and improve is going to hold him well.
“His first full season was last year and he’s getting better and better which is really good to see.”
Hurley, Singh, Gamage and leg spinner Vishwa Ramkumar are the leading lights in the new generation of Panthers as the club looks to regenerate its playing stocks after a period out of contention for senior premierships, and with a glutton of experienced heads departing in recent years.
Ramkumar missed the beginning of the Panthers’ season, but with good reason, having represented Australia’s Under 19 side in India against its equivalent.
His 3/75 and 4/79 in the first of two unofficial three-day Test Matches bettered any of his teammates’ bowling efforts in that fixture, and despite taking just 12 wickets last summer, the backing from the senior leadership at the club saw him
play 17 matches
Teething problems remain and the Panthers have not escaped the lulls in consistency that come with a focus on young talent, but Donnell is happy to ride the bumps in the road.
“I think our best is really good but our worst can be pretty down as well,” he said.
“It’s still a work in progress, we’re still a fair way off being one of the top sides in the competition.
“It’s a matter of getting things right and the methods right and making the gap between the best and worst as little as possible, which is what all the good sides do.
“Hopefully we can bridge that gap and be a bit more consistent with everything.”
The Panthers reached 3/311 from 67 overs on Saturday before declaring and affording themselves the chance of an outright result.
Ramkumar and Nanopoulos grabbed one wicket each as the Kangaroos bunkered down, reaching 76 before play was called.
The seven-wicket win moved Dandenong into fourth place on the table and delivered a healthy boost to its percentage.
The competition moves into its white-ball phase for the next two months, with the Panthers welcoming second-last Fitzroy-Doncaster to Shepley Oval on Saturday.
Memeti makes A-League strides for City
By Marcus Uhe
The rise of former Dandenong Thunder star Medin Memeti has reached new heights in recent weeks with the 17-year-old’s emergence into A-League prominence.
The Young Socceroo and graduate of Melbourne City’s Academy program backed up his first senior A-League match for City against Western United on Monday 4 November by scoring last Sunday, 10 November against Perth Glory in his first start for the club and at ALeague level.
With City experiencing a glutton of injuries early in the A-League season, Aruelio Vidmar called Memeti’s number to replace Socceroo Marco Tilio in the first half against Western in round three when the speedy attacker was forced from the field with a hamstring tendon injury.
He played 38 minutes before making way for Benjamin Dunbar, but started for Vidmar’s side six days later in Perth, after starting striker Andrew Nabbout was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
A pair of chances went begging in the first half, but late in the first 45 he made his first major impact by assisting Steven Ugarkovic for his second goal.
Memeti was involved in the build up with
multiple touches running down the centre of the pitch before playing Ugarkovic in for the strike to put City up 2-0 on the road.
He played the full 90 minutes and was rewarded for his effort with a goal in the 88th minute to put the finishing touches on a 5-0 thrashing, sneaking behind the Glory’s defensive line and finishing with his right foot off a low Kavian Rahmani cross, a fellow City Academy graduate.
The nephew of re-elected Greater Dandenong councillor Jim Memeti signed his first senior contract back in July, just weeks after his 17th birthday, and has been a goalscoring force for City’s National Premier League (NPL) side, having made his senior debut in Australia Cup play in 2023.
He quickly made a name for himself on debut for City’s senior Academy team as a 15-yearold, when he scored a hat-trick in the final 30 minutes of playing time to complete a remarkable 3-2 win over Brunswick Juventus, having trailed 0-2 when he was substituted onto the pitch late in the second half.
With Nabbout ruled-out for the remainder of the A-League season and Tilio joining him on the sidelines for the next month, expect opportunities to present themselves for Memeti to become a fixture in the City’s attacking third.
City next hosts Western Sydney on Saturday 30 November.
Bloods bite back in huge clash
By Marcus Uhe
Springvale South is in a commanding position to inflict the first loss of Buckley Ridges’ season following day one of the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s two-day clash clash in Turf 1 action at Park Oval.
The Bloods fought back from a tough opening hour in which Buckley Ridges played with attacking intent with the bat to be 52 runs into the chase of 270, having rolled the Bucks for 269 in 59 overs in the grand final rematch.
The Bucks made a brilliant start thanks to significant opening efforts from Jake Cronin and Josh Holden who found the boundary with relative ease to frustrate the Bloods’ attack.
Holden hit nine fours and a six on his way to 51 and Cronin made 33 from 34, as solidly-struck ground strokes and the dissection of a tight infield replaced the outlandish stroke-making often enticing sides at Park Oval’s tight parameters.
The pair added 61 for the opening wicket before Cronin’s was beaten for pace and bowled by Matt Wetering, before Holden was the next to go, having shared in a 58run stand with Ben Wright.
Holden dragged a short ball from Jarryd Straker, a man he targeted and took down in last summer’s corresponding contest, to Cameron Forsyth at midwicket, and Straker had his second shortly after when Wright offered a leading edge to Wetering on 31.
Straker’s third victim, in Bucks’ skipper Jayson Hobbs shortly before the lunch break, put the contest back on level pegging at the interval, and consistent wickets after the break gave Springvale South the chance to bat late in the day.
Roshane Silva was the anchor in the Bucks’ top order, making 45 and Daniel Watson added 37 in his first two-day contest since before the Pandemic, but a collapse of 5/23, instigated by Springvale South quick Josh Dowling, wiped out the hosts’ lower order.
Only Hussain Ali’s boundary-laden 37 saved the Bucks’ blushes, the primary contributor in a frustrating 36-run final wicket partnership with debutant spinner Sam Bates.
Springvale South survived 21 overs before stumps, reaching 0/52 when play was called.
Mitch Forsyth and his new opening partner, Cam Scott, will both resume their innings on Saturday on 23.
Grand finals now await in dart league
Grand final matchups have been determined for the Mountain Dart League’s three Friday night divisions.
• Division 1: Bad Boys v High 5’s
• Division 2: Redbacks1 v Spectrum
• Division 3: Sick 6’s v The Night Trawlers Bad Boys overcame Noble Park 1 in Division 1, Spectrum got the better of the Bandits in Division 2 and Sick 6’s beat Madarras in Division 3. The grand finals will be played on Friday 29 November at the Mountain Districts Darts Association on Elliott Road, Dandenong South.
Medin Memeti has opened his A-League scoring account. (Gary Sissons: 333711)
Shobit Singh is one of the Victorian Premier Cricket competition’s brightest lights. (Rob Carew: 439516)
Stingrays draft prospects
By Jonty Ralphsmith
With the AFL Draft set to take place across Wednesday 20 November and Thursday 21 November, followed by the rookie draft on Friday, we have profiled the locals most likely to land on AFL lists.
Riak Andrew
It’s been an interesting season for the athletic 19-year-old Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect. Only established his preferred position - halfback - in the last game of 2023 and came into the year off the back of a preseason with Casey with clear areas of his game he needed to show. Separate head knocks early in 2024 essentially ended his midseason draft hopes and put him on the periphery and it took him some time, but a strong finish to the season has him right in the frame. As well as his athleticism and rebound, he locked down Jack Whitlock, Jobe Shanahan and Harry Armstrong across the last month of the season, with that trio viewed as the clear top three forwards in the draft class. The brother of Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew who recently signed a record-breaking contract extension has had the importance of professionalism and strong first impressions imparted on him ahead of a potentially life-changing week. Collingwood is among the clubs most interested in the Berwick junior.
Jordan Doherty
The key-position 19-year-old pieced together an excellent campaign for Dandenong and Vic Country as a ruck and tall forward, receiving a state combine invite.
Cooper Hynes
The Dandenong co-captain is a powerful marking medium forward who rotated through the midfield this year, with his strength and explosiveness appealing to AFL clubs. The 190cm prospect had the best preseason of his life which paved the way for an ultra-consistent season, where he averaged 24 disposals and more than a goal per game for
the ‘Rays in 2024. Carried his team throughout 2024, winning several games off his own boot and also had a solid national championships playing mostly as a forward. Has similarities to Harvey Langford, with whom he shares a close relation-
ship off-field and who has leapt at every opportunity to talk up Hynes. He’s expected to land late in the first round, with multiple clubs in that range including Western Bulldogs having shown interest in him.
Harvey Langford
Has hardly put a foot wrong in 2024 which has propelled him from a fringe first round prospect into top five calculations. The big-bodied midfielder from Mount Martha is a hard-runner, clean in traffic and terrific overhead, which make him an exciting package as a mid-forward at the next level. A solid AFL Academy series and strong start to the season for Dandenong paved the way for a Larke Medal-winning under-18s national championships.He was viewed by the Vic Country coaching staff as being among the two best players in each of his team’s four games of the national carnival. Also got the opportunity to play for Richmond VFL and served alongside Hynes as Stingrays co-captain. Averaged 26 disposals and kicked 20 goals in his 15 Talent League games in 2024. Adelaide, which has pick four, and Melbourne with pick five are the two clubs viewed as his most likely destinations.
Noah Mraz
A navicular injury truncated Mraz’s season after just three games, but he is still seen by most clubs as being in the top tier of key defenders in the 2024 draft class. A basketball convert who played footy for fun growing up, he only started taking the sport seriously in 2022. His development since has been rapid, playing a game for Vic Country last year as a bottom-ager, and shutting down several now AFL-listed key forwards at Coates League level. Has played across all three lines as a nimble and athletic key position prospect but is most at home using his strength and read of the play in defence. Has spent his time on the sidelines to build his frame, which, alongside his skillset and strong character, has clubs keen. Will likely be selected on the fringe of the first
round or early on the second night, with GWS among the clubs to do significant work on the Narre North junior.
Charlie Orchard
Received a State Combine invite indicating a level of interest. In his first year in a talent pathway program, the raw interceptor improved as the year went on, with his marking and composure in the backline highlights for the Langwarrin junior. If he misses, he’s one who could attract midseason draft interest next year with a strong start to the season.
Elwood Peckett
The son of former 250-game St Kilda player Justin, Elwood has been nominated by the Saints as a father-son enabling them to match any bid that comes for him. A strong preseason laid the foundation for a campaign of growth for Peckett, a strong extractor from stoppage and big-bodied midfielder who uses his frame well. A four goal, 25-disposal game in the middle of the year elevated his stocks, but he remains a far from certain selection, with St Kilda also having Next Generation Academy prospects Adrian Cole and Lennox Hofmann they could match bids for.
Sam Toner
Arguably the best story of the entire 2024 draft. Started the season a local footballer and could end it on an AFL list. Having never previously played senior footy, 50 goals in 12 games for Narre Warren catapulted him onto Dandenong’s list as a 19-year-old, where he turned heads with his contested marking, pace and pressure. Remains raw but his work ethic in the last 12 months has unlocked a potentially life-changing opportunity for the happy-go-lucky teen who is beating heart of the Narre Warren Footy Club. GWS and Hawthorn are among the clubs to show strong interest in the medium forward.
Narre Warren star Toner bolts into AFL draft contention
By Jonty Ralphsmith
In May, Narre Warren’s Sam Toner was a local footballer who had never made any representative or interleague squads.
This time next week, he could be on an AFL list.
If it were a film, Sam Toner’s story would be listed in the fantasy genre.
Producers would be criticised for the impracticality of the narrative.
As the 19-year-old points out, the representative omissions was never down to a lack of confidence or ability, but absence of opportunity.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Toner said.
“Playing for the Stingrays was on my mind a little bit at the start of the year but I knew not many overagers come in late.
“I played well at Narre in round one and nothing came of it, so it went to the back of my mind, I just wanted to enjoy footy with family.”
There was plenty to enjoy.
The wunderkind kicked 50 goals in his first 12 games of senior footy.
It propelled Toner onto the Stingrays’ list.
“I knew I had to go out there and exceed the expectations I was given,” he said.
“Any game could be your last.
“If you’re going to go out there as a 19-yearold taking another kid’s opportunity, you need AFL interest.”
11 goals in just over three games - he was injured early in his fourth - put him on AFL clubs’ radars, with the cameo highlighted by a five-goal, contested marking clinic at a soaked Frankston Park.
The uniqueness of Toner’s journey gave him perspective when preparing for the attention that would follow.
“You go from local footy to AFL clubs calling you which is pretty surreal,” he recalled.
“One thing I have that stands out is my maturity, having worked for a while now and being a year older.”
Toner’s journey is more comparable to that of an archetypal VFL footballer, working full time on the tools, scrambling to get to training
on time, having late dinners then going to sleep and doing it all again.
An invitation to the State Combine restored the pacy forward’s belief that he could give the AFL draft a shake, and a strong showing which included a top-five finish in the standing vertical jump further strengthened his case.
Pursuing that dream, though, meant sacrificing another as his wrist needed time to heal: playing in Narre Warren’s premiership.
“Everyone has been so supportive at Narre,” Toner said.
“Missing the premiership was tough - if the Stingrays made the grand final, I would have played, but I knew it wasn’t the best thing for me to play for Narre.
“Regardless what happens next year, I’ll always come back to support them - no amount of money could keep me away.”
Despite more than 10 club interviews, the
Magpie remains uncertain whether his fantastical story will have a fairytale conclusion.
“I can be a third to fourth or even fifth forward at the next level and with my speed, goal sense and aerial ability I feel like,” he said when asked what he could offer an AFL club.
“I’ve put a lot of effort into my defence in the last few years so once the ball hits the ground, I think I could be one of the better two-way forwards in the comp.”
Sam Toner is the beating heart of Narre Warren. (Stewart Chambers: 442128)
Narre North junior Noah Mraz is set to land on an AFL list on the fringe of the first round. (Stewart Chambers: 433304)
