News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 28th November 2024

Demo prescription

By Corey Everitt

Demolition has begun on the old Woolworths building in Pakenham Place marking the longawaited start to the Pakenham Community Hospital.

Pakenham MP Emma Vulin gave an update last week on the hospital as some residents may have noticed the site becoming a ‘hive of activity’.

Vulin said the demolition of the old Woolworths building has begun, and the site is expected to be cleared by the end of the year.

Major construction is expected to follow in 2025 with completion set for 2026.

Offering non-critical service, Vulin said the community hospital would help ‘take the pressure off’ for other local services such as Casey Hospital.

“I think this is going to be a wonderful asset for our community joining on to our project at Pakenham Station,” Vulin said.

“There is so much going on here in Pakenham, it’s very exciting and I’m so glad to see these works finally taking place.”

The community hospital will be managed by Monash Health when operational.

It will provide a range of services for people who are not critically unwell including:

· Allied health and rehabilitation

· Alcohol and drug support

· Chronic disease management

· Day chemotherapy

· Diagnostics including pathology and imaging

· Mental health support

· Public dental

· Renal dialysis

· Social support

· Specialist appointments

· Urgent care.

The construction of the community hospital has faced delays, originally set for completion this year before being pushed to 2026.

A significant influence on the delays has been the disputes with the developer of Pakenham Place, who owned the site and planned to include it in their development before the State Government took it under compulsory acquisition.

Priceline Pharmacy Pakenham has watched Pakenham Place remain unchanged across the car park from the old Woolworths building, and

owner Jeff Thom is glad to see action at the site.

“It’s good they have started finally, they seem to be there most days of the week so it looks like it’s happening quickly,” he said.

“It’s quite loud, we can feel the shaking, but it’s good they are getting into it and the sooner it’s done the better.”

Priceline has been at their new site for 18 months, the old Woolworths building was where the pharmacy began in 2002 and would be their home for 20 years.

Thom worked there for 30 years, a decade before the pharmacy became Priceline.

“It’s a bit sad seeing it be knocked down, but we are here now and it’s good they are getting it done.”

A spokesperson for the State Government said updates will follow as works progress.

“Critical planning, design and site preparation works to progress the Pakenham Community Hospital are continuing,“ the spokesperson said.

“We will continue to update the local community on this important health infrastructure project as it progresses.“

The demolition of the old Woolworths building has begun. (Stewart Chambers: 445749)

Construction of the Pakenham Community Hospital is expected to follow.

NEWS Jack goes back-to-back

By Afraa Kori

Jack Kowarzik has been re-elected for a rare second-consecutive term as mayor while new councillor Alanna Pomeroy broke down in tears after being elected as deputy mayor.

Both were elected for a one-year term during a formal ceremony on Monday 25 November at the Cardinia Shire Council chambers.

Mayor Kowarzik was elected without contest and is incredibly grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as mayor again, promising to build on the momentum in his second term.

“Thank you to my fellow councillors. It’s an honour to have the support and trust of my colleagues, and I’m really looking forward to coming together as a team and putting some collective words on the board for our community. I want to begin by thanking my wife, my kids, and all of my family,” he said.

“I want to again thank the people of Pakenham and the Pakenham Hills Ward for having faith in me and re-electing one of their own. I also want to congratulate my councillor colleagues on their election wins, and I acknowledge the outgoing councillors from the previous term and recognise them for their contributions.“

In his second term, he aims to address the core issues that are affecting so many alongside overseeing the operation of the council.

“My focus for the next 12 months will be on engaging with and listening to our community and most importantly, delivering,“ Mayor Kowarzik said at the election meeting.

“I said 12 months ago that these are some difficult times for so many in our municipality, with the cost-of-living crisis being felt especially hard out here, and that remains the case.

“I also want to mention the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which begins today and runs until 10 December. Our council works hard to increase awareness and decrease rates of family violence, but ‘together, we can’ and [we] need to take that to another level again.“

He noted the impending Federal Election, an opportunity for the council to further campaign for more funding and support to the local area.

Mayor Kowarzik said the decision to run consecutively was partly due to factors of his work as a small business owner and he said he would not seek to be mayor again or deputy mayor for the rest of this council term.

Nonetheless, unanimous support for a rare consecutive term can be seen as a statement of his performance in the previous term.

“I worked hard to ensure I was accessible and got out into the community, local cafes, businesses and schools. Representational democracy is based upon local leaders who know and listen to their community, so I certainly focused on that,“ he said.

“I explained I’d dedicate myself to the role fulltime, giving it the effort and diligence it rightly deserves.

“I also detailed how I’d work diligently to be a sounding board for my fellow councillors and support their efforts. Every voice in our council is important, and I am committed to ensuring that each is heard, in an equitable and respectful manner. I’ll use my experience coming into coun-

From our humble beginnings journey has been one of dedication and heartfelt care. We extend our deepest gratitude to the families who have entrusted us during their most challenging times. Your trust and support have been the cornerstone of our success. Thank you to our incredible team for their unwavering dedication. Here’s to many more years of providing the little things that make a big difference.

Thank you for being a part of our story.

cil last term to help guide our councillors.“

A consecutive term for mayor is rare in Cardinia Shire Council with usually a previous deputy mayor or a different councillor taking on the role.

As Star News understands, Graeme Legge was the last mayor to serve two consecutive terms as mayor in the early 2000s.

“It’s an incredible honour to be mayor, regardless of if you’ve done it before or not,“ Mayor

Kowarzik said.

“I think there can be great benefit in having continuity in the role, particularly in a new council term.“

Despite being new to the game, deputy mayor Alanna Pomeroy is ready to take on the deputy role.

“I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Kowarzik and understanding how to best support him to help support our community. The community can expect someone that is committed to community and really listening and understanding in the development of the council plan how the community wants the council to lead over the next four years.

“My immediate goals is to represent the community through the Council Plan process and to also really support the councillors in their first term. I just want to look at the opportunities and work closely with my fellow councillors. Politics is very new to me so I want to learn as much as I can. Just learn and understand how this is and keep being transparent to the community while I do that.

“I stood on safer roads, local jobs and community infrastructure. Those are the three that the community were interested in and also the Bunyip North Quarry decisions. I want to achieve that community is well represented and the decisions councils are making represent what our community wants, not only now but also for our future generations.“

With heartfelt gratitude, With The David W Bull Family Funerals Team. The David W Bull Team.

Newly-elected Cardinia Shire councillors.

Mayor Jack Kowarzik and deputy mayor Alanna Pomeroy.

Building safer communities

By Afraa Kori

During White Ribbon Month and the 16 Days Activism, Cardinia Shire Council, Aligned Leisure and Outlook Australia joined forces to raise awareness against gender violence, which affects too many in the Cardinia Shire.

They held an annual event on 16 November at Pakenham’s Deep Creek Golf Club, attracting residents and visitors wanting to make a tangible difference in the community.

Cardinia Leisure manager Paige Kristalyn said it’s not a women’s and children’s problem to tolerate the violence.

“We’re here to promote gender equality and continue the conversation,” she said.

“White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement engaging men and boys to build an understanding that they play a central role in ending gendered violence.“

Cardinia Shire has been a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation since 2016.

The event featured guest speaker Brett Phillips – Jesuit Social Services who presented on the findings of the Man Box Survey 2024. The second Man Box Survey, published in 2024, is a comprehensive study that focuses on the attitudes to manhood and the behaviours of Australian men aged 18 to 45.

The study helps everyone to understand the social pressures men feel to comply with certain behaviours and attitudes about masculinity, and what this means in relation to violence supporting attitudes, intimate partner violence and men’s well-being.

Brett Phillips has been the manager of the targeted early intervention with at-risk boys and young men to reduce violence program within The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services for the past two years.

The program aims to reduce the use of violence, and leading indicators related to the use of violence, among at-risk boys and young men by piloting different early intervention approaches to prevent the use of violence by challenging harmful gender norms, promoting more flexible ideas about what it means to be a man, address-

ing violence-supportive attitudes and behaviours, and building skills as well as strategies that can contribute to reducing violence.

Danielle McAffrey from Women’s Health in the South East then delivered a thought provok-

Program empowers leaders from across Cardinia Shire

Cardinia Shire Council announced and celebrated the graduates of the 2024 Cardinia Community Leadership Program.

This year marks the conclusion of the program’s seventh successful year, highlighting the council’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong community leadership.

The Cardinia Community Leadership Program is designed to empower existing and emerging community leaders.

Over the past six months, participants have engaged in a comprehensive curriculum aimed at enhancing their leadership capabilities, understanding of local community issues, and ability to drive positive change.

Upon graduation, participants join an esteemed alumni network of over 100 previous graduates who continue to demonstrate leadership within their communities.

Congratulations to the 2024 graduates:

■ Allison Haddock

■ Amrapali Mithunakumar

■ Emma Hura

■ Femke Swanton

■ Imran Shaukat

■ Kirra Kruzicevic

■ Maria Midoriya

■ Mavette Sanut

Mitchell Amore ■ Sai Dhiruselvam ■ Samantha-Jane Potter ■ Shawn Mendis

■ Simone Wade

Sivadutt Parangan ■ Tina Forte ■ Xenia Sanut ■ Yibo Shan

Cardinia Shire Council CEO, Carol Jeffs, expressed pride in the graduates, stating, “The dedication and growth demonstrated by this year’s participants are commendable. Their journey through the program has equipped them with the skills and confidence to make significant contributions to our community.“

The council says that by investing in local leaders, it ensures that Cardinia Shire continues to thrive with engaged and capable individuals ready to tackle community challenges.

The Cardinia Community Leadership Program is a unique initiative that runs annually. It includes a series of workshops, practical activities, and networking opportunities designed to build leadership skills and foster a deeper understanding of the community.

Participants benefit from the shared experiences of community and industry leaders, as well as collaborative work on real community issues.

The program is proudly funded and hosted by Cardinia Shire Council.

For more information about the Cardinia Community Leadership Program, including when applications open and close, please visit cardinia.vic.gov.au/communityleadership

Graduates of the 2024 Cardinia Community Leadership Program standing proud with their certificates of completion, joined by program organiser Cardinia Shire Council community development facilitator, Kym Ockerby, and program facilitator Tony Matthews. (Cardinia Shire Council: Supplied)

ing activity about what we can all change in our day to day life that could potentially support the prevention of family violence, knowing that the prevention of violence against women (PVAW) is about stopping violence before it starts.

“The evidence is very clear that violence against women, including coercive control is driven by gender inequality and worsened by other forms of discrimination and systemic power inequity,” Paige said.

Ramesh, Lorna, Fonna, Mark, Bridgette, Bronwyn and Michael united for a good cause. (Afraa Kori)

Community members engaging with the workshops. (Afraa Kori)

Keynote speaker Danielle McCaffrey excited for her speech. (Afraa Kori)

Locals enjoying the activities. (Afraa Kori)

Guest speaker Brett Phillips providing valuable information. (Afraa Kori)

Terminal progresses

By Violet Li

The State Government is pushing ahead with the project to expand the Port of Hastings for the future assembly of offshore wind farms, despite the Federal Government vetoing the original project in January this year.

Despite the rejection, the State Government has continued to support the project.

It opened the public consultation of the draft scoping requirements of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) on 19 November.

According to the State Government, the purposeoftheEESistoprovide“asufficientlydetailed description of the project, assess its potential effects on the environment and assess alternative project layouts, designs and approaches to avoid and mitigate effects”.

The scoping requirement sets out the proposed specific environmental matters to be investigated and documented in the EES.

The project, known as the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (The Terminal), proposes to “develop and operate a facility to serve as a base for the assembly of offshore wind farms” at the Port of Hastings.

According to the initial proposal submitted for the referral of the Department of Environment, it involves 25 ha of vegetation clearing on the existing reclaimed land site, reclamation of 29 ha of seabed for a wharf structure and 92 ha of potential dredging to allow deeper ship access to wharf structure from the existing channel.

It is also proposed that the newly reclaimed land would be formed using the dredged material if feasible and further imported material.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected the proposal publicly in January this year. In her statement, she said that although detailed project specification and environmental assessment had not been undertaken, she noted and accepted the advice from the department’s Wetland Section Line Area that the information provided was sufficient to conclude that the project was “clearly unacceptable”.

She noted that a large part of the proposed development was within the internationally protected Western Port Ramsar Wetland (WPRW).

“Large areas of the WPRW will be destroyed or substantially modified as a result of direct impacts of the proposed action,” she stated.

“The proposed action is likely to cause irreversible damage to the habitat of waterbirds and migratory birds and marine invertebrates and fish that are critical to the ecological character of the WPRW.

“[It is also likely to cause] adverse impact on the habitat or lifecycle of native species dependent on the wetland, negatively impacting the ecological character of the WPRW and adverse impact on the ecological character of the WPRW

is not only likely but unavoidable.”

In the recently published draft scoping requirement for EES, the project still includes land reclamation and dredging to allow for ship access, but the total reclamation size has shrunk to 18 ha, compared with the 29 ha in the initial proposal.

The 18 ha reclamation now contains 12 ha for the operational area and approximately 6 ha for a quay apron.

The new dredging area has not been shared in the existing public document.

Subject to federal approval, construction activities are scheduled to commence in late 2027, with the terminal expected to be operational by 2030, two years later than the initial document.

Chief executive officer of the non-profit organisation Western Port Biosphere Mel Barker said the project was still in the beginning process.

“We’re going to need to wait until these scientific studies are completed before anyone can really form a view on whether they are acceptable or not,” she said.

“We’re looking closely at these scoping requirements just to make sure they are doing all the studies that need to be done from that perspective.”

Ms Barker said the organisation strongly supported the accelerated transition away from fossil fuels to renewables, but it needed to make sure these renewables projects were designed and implemented in a way that protected the international significance of Western Port.

“Western Port is an internationally significant wetland in part because of its mudflats,” she said.

“Those mudflats are critical, feeding grounds for thousands of birds, some of which migrate from the northern hemisphere and need that food

Biosphere shake-up

The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Foundation has appointed Geoff Brooks as chair.

He has succeeded retiring chair Jo McCoy, who reached her maximum tenure of nine years on the Biosphere Foundation’s Board.

Geoff joined the Board in 2020, since then serving as deputy chair and treasurer.

In preparation for his transition to Chair, Geoff stepped down as treasurer in June to be replaced by Dr Paul Whitelaw, who joined the Board in April 2024 after providing specialist financial expertise for 18 months as a member of the Foundation’s Governance Finance and Risk Committee.

These new appointments coincide with other board changes.

The appointment of new board directors Clare Baker and Amy Richards was confirmed at the Biosphere Foundation’s Annual General Meeting.

Clare and Amy replaced Jo McCoy and Heather Johnson, who had retired.

“The board and executive recognise and thank Jo McCoy for her leadership as chair for the past five years and contributions as a director since 2015,” Mr Brooks said.

“She was one of a few directors and stakeholders who saved the Biosphere Foundation from an existential crisis in 2017 and has guided it to where it is today, an organisation with growing respect and influence across Western Port and its adjacent cities and shires.

to survive.

“There are also seagrasses in that part of Western Port which, again, are a habitat for a number of species, but are also part of what is called blue carbon, something that draws down carbon and sequesters it in the muds of Western Port. From a climate perspective, it’s very important.

“Western Port, more broadly, has got a whole range of things. It’s got these mangroves and salt marshes that really protect our coastlines and help with carbon absorption.”

Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security, David Davis, said: “It’s clear that now from admissions in their Environmental Effects Statement materials that no work will commence at Hastings until at least 2027 and the plans for Hastings to be operational have slipped right out to 2030.

“Labor is now wedged through their own incompetence, between the closure of a key coal plant in 2028 and delays in meeting their offshore wind targets for 2032.

“The timeline to assemble offshore wind turbines at Hastings is now more than tight, it now looks unlikely, unless Labor sends the work, and jobs offshore, that is out of Victoria.

“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage the energy system and Victorians are paying the price.”

The State Government has been contacted for comments.

The draft scoping requirements are open for public comment from 19 November 2024 until midnight on 11 December. Visit: engage.vic.gov. au/victorian-renewable-energy-terminal-eesscoping-requirements

“Key to this has been Jo’s relentless pursuit of improved governance across the organisation. This has included transitioning the board to skills-based recruitment while ensuring cultural fit with the values and aspirations of the Foundation and its stakeholders.”

Mr Brooks said the Foundation’s future would be defined by its capacity to partner effectively across three tiers of government and strategically with corporate, philanthropic and community partners.

“Despite the scientific evidence of climate change, biodiversity loss and their impacts, we still cannot take the future health and wellbeing of the planet, financial support for the Foundation, or even the prosperity and wellbeing of our communities for granted,” he said.

“We are facing challenging times politically, economically and environmentally, not least because of a communications bonfire fuelled by self-interest, disinformation and mischief.

“The best way to overcome this is to work with partners to evolve a clearly articulated, long-term and pragmatic vision for the Western Port Biosphere region, built around our core pillars of climate action, ecosystem protection and restoration, and sustainable development.

“A core component of this must be the development of a Strategic Framework for Western Port, within which governments, statutory bodies, businesses and communities can ensure that future living, amenities and services thrive within the natural environment rather than apart from and at the expense of it.”

Mangrove forests along the coastlines in Western Port. (Supplied)

Western Port Biosphere chief executive officer Mel Barker. (442401)

The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Foundation has appointed Geoff Brooks as chair. (Supplied)

NEWS From wild to wonderful

By Corey Everitt

Local brumby Harley has made a spectacular showing at this year’s national challenge, completing a journey that has left Kooweerup trainer Sarah Kearvell proud.

In July this year, Star News reported on the journey of Kosciuszko brumby Harley and trainer Kearvell from Equine Perceptions.

They were beginning their attempt in the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge where untrained brumbies are brought from ‘wild to wonderful’ in just 150 days.

The competition at Equitana Melbourne caps off the challenge, held from 14 to 17 November where Harley and Kearvell finished fourth overall.

“I’m thrilled, but more than that I’m glad he coped through the whole challenge,” Kearvell said.

“Full credit to the winners, they all just got the best out of them.”

The challenge involves three classes: conditioning, obstacles and freestyle.

Harley would take third in freestyle and fourth overall, as well as receiving the Hi-Point Barefoot Award.

Of the many applicants to this year’s competition, all selected trainers were women. To Kearvell, this was a testament to women being successful brumby trainers and disproving stereotypes around the requirements for handling wild steeds.

These trainers may be together in a competition, but it didn’t quite feel like one.

“The trainers are so invested in their brumb-

ies, it didn’t feel like a competition, all the trainers and teams helped each other,” Kearvell said.

It’s not just about winning, it’s proving a point about trauma and recovery with horses. That compassion is core to horsemanship.

The biggest achievement for these trainers is for their brumbies to just get through the loud and busy event.

Training for this fact, Kearvell began to bring Harley to various events in the weeks leading up to acclimatise him to the environment.

In July, Kearvell described Harley as ‘levelheaded, curious and boisterous’, the main focus was ensuring his trust.

“As a trainer, you need to recognise their limits, the bond is crucial, if the trainers know then they can go that extra mile,” Kearvell said.

Kearvell thanked Officer’s The Trading Stables and Equine Therapist Stacey Akers for their work with Harley during the challenge.

Harley and Sarah came fourth overall in the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge 2024 (Kelly Wilson: Supplied)

Free Kinder: Enrol for 2025.

Free Kinder is available for three- and four-year-old children in Victoria at participating services. Free Kinder is available in sessional (standalone) and long day care (childcare) settings, saving families up to $2,563 each year, per child.

At kindergarten, your child will:

• learn language, literacy and numeracy skills through play, art, music and dance

• learn to express themself and make friends in a safe and caring environment

• build skills and confidence before primary school.

Contact your preferred kinder service or local council to learn about how to enrol for 2025. Visit vic.gov.au/kinder

Fire restrictions looming

The majority of southeastern municipalities will be subject to fire restrictions as the CFA’s Fire Danger Period (FDP) begins at 1am Monday 9 December.

Applying to the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire Council as well as the City of Greater Dandenong, residents are encouraged to use the remaining time to prepare their properties ahead of the FDP.

This includes cleaning up dry grass, leaves and other flammable materials, as well as completing safe private burn-offs while they are still permitted.

The CFA’s southeast deputy chief officer, Trevor Owen stressed the importance of taking early action as conditions continue to dry across the region.

“Now is the time for residents to act by clearing around their homes and ensuring any pri-

vate burn-offs are completed safely before restrictions come into effect,” he said.

“Even though grasslands might still look green in some areas, the ground underneath is much drier than in previous years, which makes fires more likely to spread.

“After much consultation, there was strong support for introducing the fire danger period now to keep our communities as safe as possible.”

Owen also added that there is a shared responsibility in fire prevention and that “CFA members are ready to respond and support communities as we head into another bushfire season”.

“But we can’t do it alone - fire prevention is a shared responsibility.

“Using common sense and taking proactive steps, like preparing your property and follow-

ing fire restrictions, are key to reducing the risk of fires.

“These actions can make a significant difference in keeping our communities safe,” he said.

For those who are conducting burn-offs, they must notify authorities online at the Fire Permit Victoria website, or by calling Triple Zero Victoria on 1800 668 611.

By registering the burn-off online, it allows emergency call takers to allocate more of their time to taking calls from those who need emergency assistance immediately.

Other councils in the southeast subject to the FDP include Frankston Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, French Island and the City of Kingston.

Also in the list were Baw Baw Shire Coun-

cil, South Gippsland Shire Council, Wellington Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council and Latrobe City Shire Council.

During the FDP, no burning-off is permitted without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website.

It must also be noted that lighting fires without a permit can bring a penalty of more than $21,800 and/or 12 months imprisonment.

For more information about FDPs visit cfa. vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/fire-dangerperiod/fire-restriction-dates or call VicEmergency on 1800 226 226.

As for the fire permits, they can be applied for at firepermits.vic.gov.au

$7000 fine for dumping Top Casey businesses in the limelight

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

An illegal dumper of a half-a-truckload of waste on Glasscocks Road, Lyndhurst has been caught on a covert camera.

Jinquin Yang pleaded guilty at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court to dumping the 4-cubic-metre pile of rubbish including a bath on the side of the rural road on 17 August.

Greater Dandenong Council’s covert cameras had captured Yang’s truck tipping out the load in the dumping hotspot.

The truck was owned by a Berwickbased company run by Yang’s father.

In an interview with council officers, Yang said he’d been paid to collect the waste from a Berwick friend.

But the decision to dump the waste illegally “has nothing to do with my friend”, Yang told the court on 22 November.

“You basically took a short-cut and dumped it on a vacant road,” magistrate Hugh Radford said.

“You couldn’t be bothered to go to a waste disposal unit and paying the fee.”

Yang, who had no prior convictions, said he had followed others who had littered at Glasscocks Road in the past.

Noting the maximum fine of $47,500, Mr Radford said the penalty should deter other illegal dumpers.

“I’ve seen the photos – it’s a large load and there’s plenty of other rubbish floating around the site as well.”

Yang was fined $7000 without conviction.

Food truck rental business KDS Gourmet won Casey Business of the Year 2024.

“Their unique business model, which rents food trucks to aspiring food entrepreneurs, has revolutionised the industry by lowering the barrier to entry with minimal upfront costs, so their customers can focus on growing their own entrepreneurial dreams with confidence,” Casey Council stated.

“They also provide ongoing support to their clients with strategic advice, resources and invaluable industry connections, supporting their clients to thrive while sustainably working to grow the local economy.

“KDS Gourmet’s dedication to pioneering solutions has redefined the food service industry. Their flexible rental options, cost-effective solutions and strategic partnerships have positioned them as leaders in facilitating accessible and sustainable business ventures.”

The food truck also won the Innovation category award.

Winners of each of the categories were also celebrated at the awards ceremony at Bunjil Place on Friday 15 November, which was attended by Casey’s newly elected councillors, including deputy mayor Cr Melinda Ambros, Cr Scott Dowling, Cr Kim Ross, Cr Shane Taylor, mayor Cr Stefan Koomen and Cr Michelle Crowther.

Casey Business of the Year Category Award

Winners:

· Community Contribution: Nobody Puts Furbaby in the Corner Grooming

· Nobody Puts Furbaby in the Corner Grooming is a young, yet impactful business which has quickly become a cornerstone of their com-

munity, through strong support of their local economy, customers and beloved dogs.

· Customer Experience: iRock Music School

· Cherished local institution, iRock Music School leads with their commitment to personalised, engaging and rewarding music education, which ensures students can start playing parts of their favourite songs from the first lesson.

· Employment Diversity: Outlook Australia

· Outlook Australia delivers on their guiding mission — to ensure that people with disabilities and those facing disadvantage have the same

LENSCAPE

rights and opportunities as other community members, every day.

· Home-Based Business: SANA Skin Clinic SANA Skin Clinic is renowned for its innovative approach to skincare and wellness, while its home-based clinic creates a nurturing and personalised environment, fostering comfort and trust among its clients.

For more information about the awards and each of the winners, visit: businessincasey.com. au/news/casey-business-awards-2024-winnersannounced

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To Cardinia Shire for running the textile drop-off event. We cleared out a few drawers.

Thumbs down

To the long grass from Army Road to Mount Burnet to Cockatoo and up to Avonsleigh it’s so bad that you can’t see if animals are coming out onto the road.

Thumbs up

To the patient and friendly people in society. Thank you.

Thumbs down

To state government - nice grand opening of the rail station in Pakenham but the bus interchange still not running.

Thumbs up

To Australia Post, this year’s Christmas stamps are beautiful. My overseas friends are going to love receiving a koala on their card.

Voters ‘scared of change’

By Violet Li and Cam Lucadou-Wells

Casey Council candidates as well as a politics expert have spoken out on how few “non-Anglo” councillors were elected from a widely diverse field of candidates.

In the six wards across Casey South during the October election, about half of the candidates come from a diverse background.

However, out of the 12 newly elected councillors there are only two from a diverse background.

In neighbouring Greater Dandenong, it was the reverse - nine of the 11 councillors are from a non-Anglo-Celtic background.

Casey Council candidate Kasuni Mendis, who comes from a diverse background, said she was saddened that there appeared to be a racial element at play across voting patterns in Casey.

“My desire was to represent all the people of the Kowan Ward regardless of their ethnic origins and to bring a youthful energy and perspective to help further our community’s interests,” she said.

She said she was in disbelief that being a young woman of colour would effectively disadvantage her in an electoral contest in this day and age.

“But I am proud of the campaign I fought, the many, many conversations I had with local people, and the fact that I conducted myself with diligence, honesty and integrity at all times.”

Another Casey Council candidate Kanu Aggarwal, who also comes from a diverse background, said people were remaining in their comfort zone by still voting for candidates from traditional backgrounds.

“They are scared of change. They talk about the change, but they are scared of change,” she said.

Ms Aggarwal said the disproportionate racial representation in the newly elected council relative to the diverse population in Casey was not good.

“This is not good in regard to creativity. This is not good in regard to welcoming new ideas and

challenging the old ones which are not working for the community,” she said.

“Because if there are different people from different backgrounds, then we need to think from different perspectives rather than the same old white policies. I’m not saying that we need to change those policies completely, but we need to welcome the ideas and creativity from diverse backgrounds.

“These people need their voices to be heard.”

Ms Aggarwal said the younger generation needed to come forward.

“The older generation needs to give a chance to the younger generation rather than be hungry for the power when they’re 70 or 75 years old.”

In Casey, there was also widely-reported racist graffiti on candidate signboards.

Associate Professor Mario Peucker, of Victoria University, said this may have been due to 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.”

Dr Peucker said he was taken aback by how non-diverse the elected Casey Council was.

But on closer inspection, some candidates still gained 15 to 20 per cent of the primary vote but were defeated on preferences, he said.

“Soit’snotliketheywerecompletelyshunned,” he said.

He said “non-Anglo” voters didn’t necessarily vote for “non-Anglo” candidates and might tend to vote for “white” candidates due to an “internalised racism”.

“A person of colour thinks I’d rather vote for someone who knows the system, so I’ll vote for a white person,” he said.

According to the 2021 census, about 42 per

cent of Casey residents are born overseas and about 77 per cent of them are born in non-English speaking countries.

Dr Peucker said in time, Casey might accept a more diverse council such as in the neighbouring Greater Dandenong.

“Casey is not as matured in its multicultural nature, whereas Greater Dandenong is much more established. It just takes a bit of time,” he said.

In the past, Casey had a “bad reputation in the multicultural community”, fuelled by fiery council debates against proposed mosques. But it has done a lot recently to address the issue, such as helping to find a South East Anti-Racism Support Network with Greater Dandenong and Cardinia councils.

“It’s on the right track,” Dr Peucker said. Casey Council was contacted for comment.

Casey Council candidate Kasuni Mendis.

Casey Council candidate Kanu Aggarwal. (Supplied)

Resin art unlocks potential

By Sahar Foladi

A young aspiring artist has crafted a creative way to adjust to life in Melbourne’s South-East.

Narges Hazareh, of Noble Park, dreams of establishing a successful career in art after many challenges keep her from doing just that as an Afghan refugee who lived in Iran for the past 20 years.

Born and raised in Afghanistan, her family fled the country as a Hazara minority to Iran. She describes life as “difficult” while facing racism from Iranians.

“I left Afghanistan very young, so I don’t remember much about my homeland.

“We were not allowed to open a business, have a sim card or a bank account.

“I was subjected to racism from Iranians and told I should work as a cook or a tailor – low level jobs associated with Afghans. It broke my spirit, so I stopped my studies. It was at that point that I decided that I had to leave Iran.”

She wanted to study IT but as an Afghan refugee wasn’t allowed to attend university in Iran. So she stopped studies after Year 9 taking on jobs at hair salons, did pedicures to support herself financially and that’s when she discovered resin art and unlocked her creative potential.

However, the Iranian Government’s restrictions restricted her from practising her passion on a larger scale.

Resin art is created when a runny chemical called epoxy resin is combined with various colour pigments and additives to produce a blend of unique patterns and textures.

“I started very small watching an artist do basic techniques. I learned the basics and then I studied more at home.

“I started selling pieces and hired people to help me, but I was not allowed to set up a business by the Iranian authorities because I was a refugee. But in the future, I would like to start a business selling my artwork here in Australia.”

It has been five-months since she migrated to Australia, improving her English language and even setting up workshops in February next year sharing her passion and teaching the process of resin art, supported by her AMES case manager Farzana.

Farzana has connected Narges with an arts group in Hampton Park. which had led to opportunities and her flourishing as an artist.

“Upon her arrival, she felt excited and eager to grow her art.

“In her first meeting with me, she shared her artistic skills and asked for help in connecting with organisations that could support her goals

in Australia.”

While it’s exciting and nerve-wrecking to start a new life in a new country, Narges misses her siblings and her partner who are still in Iran, hoping to bring them to Australia with her.

“I am very close to them. I was struggling when I first came, feeling overwhelmed and missing them.

“Now I feel a little bit better but my heart still feels very tightened sometimes thinking of them.”

Her upcoming workshop is considered to be a breakthrough in her career, helping her to keep busy and move closer to achieving her dream.

Speaking of her first upcoming workshop, she

says she is eager to help people who are interested to learn.

“I feel very good. I really want to teach them everything I know and it’ll be a very proud moment for me.”

She has conducted workshops in Iran after she started to attract pupils to her resin art journey. Narges creates physical objects like diary covers, bookmarks, clocks and much more with resin. The young and motivated artist is full of potential saying she welcomes anyone who is willing to learn from her.

She regularly posts her works and its progress on her Instagram page @Gallery_sun

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Teenager spared conviction

By Violet Li

A Cranbourne-raised then-14-year-old who repeatedly attacked their grandmother with a metal pole has been sentenced without conviction, as their undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder was one of the main sentencing considerations.

The now-16-year-old BC (pseudonym) pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on 15 November to two charges, causing serious injury to their grandmother Melinda (not her real name) intentionally in circumstances of gross violence and common assault towards their sister.

Initially, BC was charged with attempted murder towards Melinda, but it was later resolved to the one they pleaded guilty to.

The two offences happened on 30 August 2022 in Melinda’s house in the Cranbourne district.

BC and their mother and siblings originally lived in a Cranbourne house, which was purchased by Melinda.

They moved in with Melinda about 10 days before the incident as Melinda could no longer afford the mortgage and needed to sell the house.

The court heard that BC was “very attached to the house and not happy to move”.

On the day of the assault, BC repeatedly refused to return the Cranbourne house key to Melinda.

Melinda took BC’s computer controller as punishment and told them she would give it back if BC gave her the key.

BC later picked up a white plastic-covered hollow metal pole, which was approximately 60 centimetres long and two centimetres in diameter, according to a witness neighbour.

They struck the sister first, and then repeatedly hit Melinda.

According to the court, BC hit Melinda in the head, neck, chest, back and side. Melinda yelled out to BC to stop, but BC continued to assault her.

The assault ended after Melinda managed to leave the house and was helped by the neighbours.

BC later gave a detailed account of what had occurred to the police and repeated that they had intended to kill Melinda and that they hoped she died.

BC also said to the police that they hit Melinda with as much force as they could and that they wanted to kill her.

They said they were disappointed that they did not kill her and annoyed that she was still alive.

Melinda sustained non-displaced and minimally displaced right-side rib fractures, a right wrist fracture that later required surgery, right shoulder pain and lacerations to her head.

The sister suffered pain and bruising, which did not require medical care.

The court found that BC had a long history of behavioural concerns and a range of diagnoses from age five when a paediatrician diagnosed

We’re building the Metro Tunnel and

there will be disruptions

them with oppositional defiance disorder. BC had been assessed as “unsettled, oppositional, easily frustrated and lacked confidence, threatening and violent at times” during the years.

Expert witnesses noted that BC had highfunctioning autism spectrum disorder, which had not been diagnosed previously.

They also noted that the neurodevelopmental disorder impacted BC’s capacity to emphasise or express remorse.

The court stated that BC’s moral culpability was reduced due to their undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder contributing to the offending.

“As Dr Deacon [the witness expert] noted in his report, you found the prospect of moving from your home ‘beyond uncomfortable; it was distressing and overwhelming to contemplate,” the court stated.

“Your intense attachment and rigid inability to contemplate such a change must be seen in light of your autism spectrum disorder.

“In Dr Deacon’s opinion, there is a ‘clearly identifiable nexus’ between your underlying autism spectrum disorder and your offending. You feared change and considered Melinda to be cold and uncaring.

“The cumulation of stressors resulted in intense anger and what Dr Deacon termed ‘autistic rage’ or ‘autistic meltdown’.”

The court also stated that the youth was the other key reason for the reduced moral culpability.

The court found that BC did not have any prior criminal history and had not reoffended again.

BC was released on a youth supervision order for a period of 15 months, and they were to engage in assessments, forensic treatment, and treatment for mental health and disability support.

The court heard the victim impact from Melinda, who wrote that she still loved BC and was heartbroken that the family was now apart.

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building the Metro Tunnel. Work is underway with the fit out of five new underground stations at Anzac, Town Hall, State Library, Parkville and Arden. We’re now testing trains through the tunnel and fitting out the station interiors, making sure they operate smoothly, safely and they’re accessible to all. We’re also easing congestion by building better roads in Melbourne’s south east.

Train disruptions

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines

30 Nov to 1 Dec

7 to 8 Dec

14 to 15 Dec

Passengers interchange at Caulfield

Road disruptions: Closed roads and ramps

Clyde Road, Berwick 8pm to 5am each night, 24 Nov to 1 Dec

Princes Freeway, Pakenham

HealesvilleKoo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham

Princes Freeway Warragul-bound entry ramp and citybound exit ramp at times

8pm 6 Dec to 5am 9 Dec Princes Freeway Warragul-bound exit ramp

8pm 6 Dec to 5am 9 Dec Princes Freeway citybound exit ramp

7pm 29 Nov to 5am 2 Dec 7pm to 5am each night, 3 Dec to 5 Dec

Warragul-bound between McGregor and HealesvilleKoo Wee Rup roads

7pm to 5am each night, 27 and 28 Nov Pakenham-bound between Southeast Boulevard and Bald Hill Road, including citybound entry ramp and Warragul-bound exit ramp 7pm to 5am each night, 3 Dec to 5 Dec Koo Wee Rup-bound between the Princes Freeway and Southeast Boulevard

Cardinia Road, Pakenham 7pm 29 Nov to 5am 2 Dec Princes Freeway Warragulbound entry ramp

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

(James Ross/AAP)

On a mission to help others

By Ethan Benedicto

Being comfortable and one with yourself has always been a rather difficult ordeal, but finding that peace, that medium to allow the expression of emotions is key to this organisation’s goal.

The Andres Pancha Anchor Community, posthumously named after the Cranbourne North father of three who was allegedly killed at the Frankston Pier earlier this year, aims to provide a safe space for the freedom of articulation and connection.

With a focus on providing for disadvantaged youth, APAC’s launch on Saturday 30 November - the same date as Andres’ birthday - at Chelsea Activity Hub looks to take the first step in the notfor-profit’s mission of giving people a voice.

Divine Pancha, wife of Andres Pancha, said that finding peace after her husband’s passing has been difficult, but after realising that many close to her and many just a stone’s throw away were undergoing similar situations, an idea brewed in her mind.

“Before Andres passed away I did a lot of work on myself since we have three children, training on spirituality work and also a lot of artwork,” she said. “I was struggling when I had postnatal, depression and anxiety - that was after Covid, and so I was looking at things for me, but then this happened.”

The media liaison and anchor guides, but also close family friends Elizabeth Sabelino and Katalina Vergara, had taken to visiting the Pancha household after Andres’s death.

A simple welfare check and a hello turned into something more when they saw Divine’s projects such as clay pottery and gardening.

“They took part and they loved it, so we started having regular meetings where I would give them some workshops,” she said.

“Then it was, ‘oh, how about we bring this to others?’, and they were talking about friends that lived nearby and like, maybe they wanted to do it.”

It all began with a simple conversation and for Divine, that was all the convincing she needed.

The location of the launch is close to the sea, resonating with Andres’ love for fishing and all

things aqua, considering his trade as a seaman.

The event itself aims to provide an insight into connection through the arts, with a focus on addressing the needs of those who are disadvantaged and those who have been impacted by crime.

Divine said she’s been “very excited” for the launch, with previous workshops, called Wayfinder Workshops being held since the start of November.

The most recent was a Clay and Play workshop which took place on Saturday 23 November, one that focused on easing tension, releasing excess energy and expressing one’s feelings, incorporating the needs of the inner self and being comfortable in that mentioned space of mental and emotional safety.

It began with a grounding, colour meditation that had participants lay on mats and engage in breathwork, ensuring that they relaxed their muscles and their minds.

The clay-making came after, where the same participants were given the freedom of creation, whether that be to form something out of their meditation experience, or something else from their imaginations.

Once finished, they were asked to interpret the figures of their clay, on what it stood for and what it meant - and the answers ranged from the

feeling of love to the care shown to a smoothened bowl, and to the comings and goings of experiences yet the stability of oneself through a clay tree.

“With APAC we have a mission on just the core, simple values of love, connection, compassion and the sense of wonder,” Divine said.

The finale was a journaling activity, where this session’s prompt had participants draw a flower and in the petals were asked to list a series of emotions.

From there, they were tasked with combining those words, constructing a loose narrative on their experience throughout the workshop where they were asked - if comfortable - to share with the rest.

“I’m really looking forward for the community to gather and just get a taste of it, it’s a very different kind of launch,” Divine said.

Held on Andres’ birthday, she added that this launch, and APAC as a whole is “coming from a real story that affects families and people”.

“This is important because people now are always measuring up to things, people are always thinking that you have to achieve something.

“Children should do this, or they should do that, or a young person should be able to do this; there’s so much pressure and they forget about who they really are you know?

“It’s extraordinary, this route, what happened to Andres has a huge message, the death itself is a message; what have the people done with themselves that it came to a point where someone died because of a person who didn’t have a home?”

Divine, through her and her late husband’s love for their children said that what APAC stands for is something that Andres would want to do, to “nourish the young people”.

With three children all under the age of 13, Divine said that the only step to be taken is to nurture her children, and from there, APAC looks to extend that love to others.

“It all connects with love, and we go back to ourselves because everyone is very busy, but at least with this, there’s some way of connecting,” she said.

“It’s more ways of creating encounters and connections and finding those abilities that you thought you didn’t have, but then realise that a lot of things are happening within you.

“Children have lost that sense of imagination because they’re scared of the world.

“It’s more of that we come from the authentic side because this is an extraordinary story, we have a root, we have a human story, and the power of that human story we will allow it to unfold, to do its work.”

To Divine, she has hopes of collaborating with other organisations in the future with a strong belief that tackling their missions hand-in-hand would sow the seeds that would flourish within and nourish local communities.

But as the launch soon approaches the excitement grows for Divine, taking that first step into sharing the love and connection to all.

Forrest Stevenson, a 36-year-old of no fixed address, was charged with murdering Andres Pancha earlier in June.

He was remanded to next appear for a committal mention at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 March.

For more information on APAC, visit apacommunitygroup.carrd.co/ and for more information on the launch, please visit the online version of this

to access the event’s link.

article

Divine Pancha, wife of the late Andres Pancha has collaborated with family and friends to create APAC, with a vision of supporting disadvantaged youth and others in need. (Ethan Benedicto: 446273)

The grounding and meditation segment served as a soft introduction to the activities that followed. (446273)

Divine leads the clay-making session, as others carefully shape their figures in the background. (446273)

Many clay figures were made, from bowls to plates and trees, all displayed a sense of creativity and the interpretation of one’s feelings. (446273)

The final journaling task had participants put their feelings into words, with the freedom of expression allowing them to fill a page in no time. (446273)

Creative hub takes shape

Six local creatives have joined forces with architectural firm Sibling to transform Narre Warren MechanicsHallintoabright,purpose-builtcreativehub.

Theco-designisamajorstepintheEmergingArtists Creative Hub project and will feature spaces for individualstudios,aswellassharedspacesformessy and wet work, workshops, and small exhibitions of residents’artworks.

City of Casey mayor Cr Stefan Koomen was thrilledwiththeproject’smomentum.

“I am delighted that this project will bring further energy and opportunities for creatives and artists in theCityofCasey,”hesaid.

Sibling director Amelia Borg said they were very excited to be working with the City of Casey to breathe new life into this special community building.

Once the renovations are completed, the following six artists will take up residency in the Creative Hubforoneyear.Theartistswillworkindependently and collaboratively to develop their art practice and shareskillsandresources.

Navaal Saeed: photographer Navaal’s plans over the course of the year are to fulfil his ambitions of capturing and exploring the intersection of identity, sport and culture — something that’sextremelymeaningfultohim,particularlyfootball.Hisendgoalistocreateaphotobookand/orexhibititasasoloproject.

Way Over There Collective: a collective of artists, creative producers and community organisers Way Over There Collective works with arts organisations and the community to create opportunities, events and programs that platform and prioritise Black, Indigenous, and POC artists. They will use the spaceforeachoftheirownpractices,tomeetasacollectiveandwithcollaborators,andtoproduce,shape andtestnewwork.

Fathiah Raihan: henna artist and art therapy

student

Working across printmaking, writing and painting, Fathiah’s practice is sustained by the relationships, communities and land that surround her. Fathiah’s works are created with the intention to be transformed and re-transformed for many years to come. During her residency, she would like to host henna appointments, private lessons and workshops.

Fausto Gallego: artist

Self-taught, Fausto has a love of pop culture, anime, cartoons, and character creation. Known for his use of dynamic forms, explosive colours and story rich artworks, residency at the Creative Hub will open doors for him to cohabitate with other artists. Fausto wants to use his time in to create local contactsandcreateaninstallationpiece.

Anna Konecny: artist and jeweller

Anna creates beautiful art and jewellery using Mizuhiki, a traditional Japanese paper cord used for giftdecorationswithspecialmeaningsforeventslike weddingsandanniversaries.Annaislookingforward to meeting new peers and seeing how other artists work. She will be running some workshops and is planningtoendherresidencywithanexhibition.

RIDDIM: community-driven events organisation

RIDDIM represent diverse cultures through music, events, and community advocacy, offering an alternative to traditional Australian nightlife. During its residency, RIDDIM plans to host workshops in DJing, photography, videography, and design. They intend to collaborate with established individuals to providementorshipandreal-worldinsights.

Located on Webb Street in Narre Warren, the Emerging Artist Creative Hub is supported through a $150,000 grant provided by the Victorian Government’s Creative Neighbourhood Infrastructure Support Program combined with a $185,660 investment from the City of Casey. The Hub is expected to be openinearly2025.

FOCUS ON … INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS DAY

Our amazing volunteers

By Renee Heath MP, Member For Eastern Victoria Region

It’s said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by how it treats its weakest member. If that’s the standard, then Australia ranks as one of the greatest.

We have hundreds of organisations that exist for the sole purpose of helping society’s most vulnerable.

But their backbone are its volunteers. Unpaid voluntary work through an organisation contributed 489.5 million hours to the community.

Around one in three people volunteer which means most of us will have regular contact with a volunteer and hardly give it a second thought.

It’s often the type of work that we take for granted, from the school crossing supervisor to parents sacrificing weekends to coach sporting clubs all quietly doing their part to seamlessly knit together communities.

Volunteering also has deep roots in Eastern Victoria. In 2021, a greater number of people volunteered in the Eastern Region (14.5 per cent) compared to Greater Melbourne (12.1 per cent). It’s not surprising given regional areas don’t have the same access to as many programs and services especially in times of crisis.

With summer holidays approaching I want to make special mention of a couple of incredible community volunteers including the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) who’ve always stepped-up during fire, flood and storm emergencies with over 5,000 dedicated volunteers. And with the cost-of-living crisis, Purton Place Pre-Loved Shop in Pakenham is again organising its annual Christmas toy and food drive where families can select items without the need for reg-

Plenty of rewards to reap

Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. There are many opportunities available where your skills, experience, and wisdom can make a significant impact. Here are some ideas to consider:

Mentoring: Offer your time to mentor younger individuals or even peers who may benefit from your guidance and expertise. Many organizations, schools, and community programs are always in need of mentors.

Tutoring: Help children or adults in your community with their education. You could volunteer at local schools, libraries, or community centers to assist with homework help, literacy programs, or adult education classes.

Senior Centers: Many senior centers have

volunteer programs where you can help organize activities, lead classes or workshops, or simply spend time socializing with other seniors.

Nonprofit Organizations: There are countless nonprofit organizations that rely on volunteers to carry out their missions. You could volunteer at a food bank, animal shelter, hospital, environmental organization, or any cause that you’re passionate about.

Remember to choose volunteer opportunities that align with your interests, skills, and schedule. Volunteering not only benefits others but also provides a sense of purpose, connection, and fulfillment in your own life.

istration, ensuring that no one is left out during the festive season. But I’m so thankful for every volunteer and wish each one a blessed and safe holiday season.

Renee Heath MP, Member For Eastern Victoria Region

Way Over There Collective (a collective of artists, creative producers and community organisers).

Artist and jeweller Anna Konecny. (Supplied)

Artist Fausto Gallego.

Caldermeade Farm & Cafe night carvery.

Every Thursday and Friday night Caldermeade Farm and Cafe are offering a two course roast dinner to make life easy for our amazing customers. They are open from 6 ’til late and the carvery service is from 6-8pm. The price for adults is $35 and kids (12 and under) are $20. It will take place at Alma Trelar Reserve. Healesville- Koo Wee Rup Road, Cockatoo, VIC.

Christmas Twilight Market

Locals are invited to Christmas Twilight Market held in Cackatoo, on Saturday 30 November 2024 from 3:00pm-8:00pm. The event promises family fun carnival and great food. Local produce, bread, olive oil, preserves, plants, unique Christmas gifts, leather goods, timberware, garden art, craft, pet products, community stalls, entertainment by local musicians and kids activities.

2025 Leongatha Art and Photography Show

Calling all artists and photographers! The highly anticipated 2025 Leongatha Art and Photography Show, hosted by the Rotary Club of Leongatha, has announced entry submission for the 2025 show is now open until 6pm on Friday 6 December. The 2025 show will open to the public at Leongatha Memorial Hall on Saturday 18 January and will run until Saturday 8 February.

Celebrating over 48 illustrious years, the event has evolved into a cornerstone of artistic expression within the Gippsland community.

• For more information, visit www.leonartshow. com.au or contact rotaryleongatha.artshow@ gmail.com

Officer Probus Club

The new Officer Probus Club meets on the first Friday of the month from 10am at the Officer Sports Club on the corner of Princes Highway and Sterling Road in Officer

Be part of a social club to meet new friends, hear from guest speakers and enjoy activities and outings.

• For more information, contact Helen Kusters on 0412 170 300 or officerprobussecretary@ gmail.com

Pakenham Arthritis Self-Help Group

Are you living with arthritis and looking for a supportive community?

Join the Pakenham Arthritis Self Help Group (PASH) and discover the benefits of water and chair aerobics.

The group offers a safe and welcoming space to connect with others who understand your challenges.

Together, the group learns strategies to manage pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall quality of life.

Warm water exercises are held at Cardinia Life from 8.15am to 9.15 am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with chair exercises running at Meadowvale Retirement Village from 10.30am to 11.15am on Mondays and Pakenham Senior Citizens Centre from 10.30am to 11.15am on Thursdays.

• For additional information contact bernadette. lilley56@gmail.com or 0411 098 519.

Cranbourne Senior Citizens

Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.

Weekly activities include line dancing from 10am to noon on Mondays, new vogue and old time dancing from 1pm to 3.30pm on Tuesdays, carpet bowls from 11.30am to 2.30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays and bingo from 11am to 2pm on Thursdays.

2024 Pakenham Carols By Candlelight

Join the festive evening to celebrate the holiday season. This family-friendly event features a fantastic afternoon and evening filled with fun, food, music, and festivities. The carols will be held at Toomuc Reserve, Pakenham VIC on Saturday 7 December 2024, 4:30-8:30pm.

• For all enquiries or bookings, contact Marilyn on 0432 107 590.

Line dancing

The Berwick Senior Citizens Centre is hosting line dancing sessions from 10am to noon every Tuesday at 112 High Street in Berwick.

First session is free, with a small fee for future classes.

Morning tea or coffee included.

Probus Club of Casey Combined

The Probus Club of Casey Combined is welcoming any new members to meet at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick from 9.45am to noon on the second Tuesday of each month.

After morning tea, the club hosts an interesting guest speaker, with members often meeting up for lunch at a local cafe after the meeting.

• For more information, contact Margaret Luxford on 0409 861 207 or Magda Michael on 0406 468 265.

Inner

Wheel Club of Berwick

The Inner Wheel Club (IW) Berwick is a ladies international friendship club which raises funds to support local charities and other worthwhile causes.

They have a dinner meeting on the first Monday of the month and enjoy a range of activities including guest speakers, morning teas, book club and craft afternoons.

• For more information, visit their Facebook page or contact iiw.au.berwick@gmail.com

Berwick Springs VIEW Club

Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.

The club currently supports 10 students of varying

ages with their education expenses.

The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.15am, where members enjoy a lunch and then host a guest speaker.

Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies.

The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.

• For more information, contact Shirley on 0438 191 759 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com

Probus Club of Pakenham East

The Probus Club of East Pakenham is encouraging new members to join the Club.

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cardinia Club, 71 Racecourse Road, Pakenham, commencing at 10.30am.

A short meeting is followed by morning tea and the opportunity to get to know members prior to the introduction of the guest speaker.

Various activities are held throughout the month.

• For more information, phone president Gary on 0428 255 178 or contact secretary Dorothy on probuspakenhameast@gmail.com

U3A Casey

Did you know that U3A Casey now has 471 members and operates out of multiple venues across the Casey area?

It offers 65 different classes, ranging from exercise/movement/dance groups to literature, crafts, music, discussion groups and more.

Membership from July to December is $30 with no further costs.

• If you want to keep both your mind and body active after retirement, then visit u3acasey.org.au

Yoga and meditation

Run by Heartfulness Yoga and Meditation, the sessions are conducted in a community environment to promote wellness.

Heartfulness is a simple and subtle practice of meditation which aims to connect all participants with the light and love in their hearts.

All are welcome to come and experience yoga and meditation on Sundays at Bunjil Place starting from 8.30am.

No previous experience is required.

Bring your own yoga mat.

Gold coin donation welcome.

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

Are you new newly retired, or new to the area, or just wanting to enjoy your freedom as a senior or expand your social life?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities and friendship.

The club hosts weekly social activities with dance to low-key in-line dancing if you want to tap your feet, great music, a chat, then afternoon tea. Day, short and long trips away via coach, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly Tuesday dine-outs, a weekly walking group, a weekly table tennis group, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, entertainment function days and more.

Anyone interested can visit on Thursdays at 2pm for socialising and low-key dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House at 21A Bemersyde Drive or join the club for a coffee and a chat every Wednesday from 10am at the new François cafe in front of Myer in Fountain Gate.

• For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.

Cardinia Diabetic Awareness Group

The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Pakenham Uniting Church meeting room at 10am.

The group would love to see people who have diabetes or live with someone who has diabetes attend or join.

The meeting consists of a short meeting and then a guest speaker dealing with diabetes.

• For more information, contact Lyn on 0149 116 972 or lestep12@people.net.au

BADFolk Club

Berwick and District Folk Club has been meeting at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick for the past 22 years.

The club meets on the third Friday of each month and every month features a different genre of music.

The club also welcomes spot acts.

Doors now open from 6.30pm and the music runs from 7pm to 10pm, no bookings required, entry $15.

The kitchen sells sweet and savoury snack food and a variety of drinks – tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks.

• For more information, visit badfolkclub.org or contact Edward on 0418 535 264.

Scrabble Club

Berwick Activities Club is hosting a Scrabble Club every Friday from 1pm to 3.30pm. It will be both competitive and social on a one-to-one basis. Come along to learn how to play or improve your game.

Word lists and more will be available to increase your skills.

• Contact David on 0433 566 456.

Cigarette possible culprit

By Violet Li

A fire at a neighbouring property caused a 15-minute delay between races at Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day on Saturday 23 November.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded at 1.21pm on Grant Street in Cranbourne after callers reported a tree fire in a garden bed.

According to the videos on Facebook, a fire was spotted outside the Trios Sports Club.

Firefighters arrived on the scene within five minutes to find a grass and scrub fire, with a building heavily smoke logged.

About 500 people evacuated the premises. FRV and CFA crews responded and swiftly extinguished the blaze. Four firefighting appliances were on the scene.

The scene was deemed under control at 1.30pm.

Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria also attended. One patient was treated at the scene.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing and initial indications are that it may have started from a discarded cigarette.

According to Southside Racing, the operators of Cranbourne and Pakenham racecourses, who also organised the day, the fire caused a brief 15-minute delay between races, but the remainder of the day’s schedule proceeded smoothly.

Southside Racing chief executive Neil Bainbridge extended his gratitude to the emergency responders for their prompt actions.

“It’s disappointing it happened to the neighbouring property, Trios. Full credit to emergency services, who were on the scene immediately and put the fire out straight away. Everyone was safe and sound,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

Personalised approach

Sunrise2Sunrise is a Registered NDIS provider that does things differently. We take pride in offering professional services traditionally only provided in larger corporate Disability Support organisations, but take a personalised approach. We tailor our services to each and every participant and all our services are in accordance with the Disability Act 2006, NDIS Act 2013 and Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities act 2006. At Sunrise2Sunrise we’re about relationships - people always come first.

The Sunrise2Sunrise staff - or as we call them, our Life Changers - are selected for their experience in the Disability Support Industry. Our team are NDIS Rockstars, and support people’s lifestyles to help them find their strengths and abilities in a variety of settings to suit our participants needs. Whether it be through 1:1 community participation, in house supports or SIL/SDA accommodation. We strive for our participants at Sunrise2Sunrise to live their best life.

Sunrise2Sunrise is proud to be able to support participants who want to live independently. Participants who have SIL funding in their plan can access the SIL service. The planning for SIL sup-

port uses a person-centred approach to help participants reach their goals while facilitating their culture, lifestyle and circumstances. The support is delivered respectfully in a participant’s home by Sunrise2Sunrise to advance skills for independent living. The customised support will ensure the participant is central to all decision-making to best suit their wants and needs. Participants can adapt their SIL support to align with their life at any stage.

Sunrise2Sunrise use the social support model to help extend a participant’s independence beyond their home, to allow them to enjoy experiences in their local area while building up their confidence to make meaningful lifestyle choices. As participants’ independence and confidence grow, their ties to the community grow too. From here, they will be able to try new experiences and further develop accomplished skills in existing leisure’s and hobbies. The participant can develop skills through community programs like gardening, volunteering, and public events.

The sky’s the limit!

Sunrise2Sunrise is situated at 43 Treloar Lane, Pakenham, 9188 3499.

Sunrise2Sunrise is a Registered NDIS provider doing things differently. We take a personalised approach and tailor our services to each participant. • Supported Independent Living • Community Participation

The team at Sunrise2Sunrise.

A fire outside the Trios Sports Club. (Facebook Casey Crime Page)

NEWS Mega garage sale sizzles

Warneet Blind Bight Fire Brigade’s Mega Garage Sale was held on Saturday 23 November.

The garage sale took place at two locations on the day: Blind Bight Community Centre and Warneet Blind Bight CFA Station.

Despite the hot weather, coffee, egg and bacon rolls, sausage sizzles went on and Star News photographer Stewart Chambers attended to capture the best shots on the day.

Mark (Captain) and Michele at the barbecue at Blind Bight Community Centre.

Ian Shiell from the Tooradin Lions Club.

Rylee and Indy at their garage sale stall selling fresh lemonade on a hot day. (Stewart Chambers: 444861)

David and Dorothy from Lynbrook with a snag and a drink at the CFA Warneet - Blind Bight Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Debra from the Community Safety Team (CFA Warneet - Blind Bight Volunteer Fire Brigade)

Keith Williams, Sandy Williams, Ken Eakins and Jade Gannon.

Firefighter Jade Gannon. (444861)

Ten interesting statistics

Is it just me or have you also noticed how tough businesses have been doing it this year? Over the past 12 months or so, I have seen a significant decline in the number of businesses looking to hire new staff, far fewer businesses willing to sponsor or donate to charitable causes and a fair bit of belt-tightening all round. However, it’s not all doom and gloom and as I went searching for some better news, I came across a range of interesting business statistics that I thought I would share with you courtesy of the NNA Money Blog (annamoney.au/blog/guides/australian-business-statistics/):

97.3 per cent of all Australian businesses are classified as ‘small’ businesses (small is defined as those with fewer than 20 employees). This translates to 2,520,419 small businesses out of a total of 2,589,873 businesses in June 2023.61 per cent of these small businesses are self-employed or non-employing, 27 per cent of businesses employ one-four people and nine per cent employ five-19 people. Only 2.5 per cent are mediumsized (defined as between 20-199 employees)

TAKING CARE

IAN ASH OF BUSINESS

and just 0.2 per cent are ‘large’ businesses (200+ employees).

For many people, the idea of running their own business implies more time and more money, but this turns out to be far from the reality as the following statistics show:

· 24.67 per cent have a turnover of $0 to less than $50k.

· 32.66 per cent have a turnover of $50k to less than $200k.

· 34.59 per cent have a turnover of $200k to less than $2 million.

Around 92 per cent of Australian businesses

have a turnover of less than $2M.

The overall number of businesses increased in the 2022-23 financial year across all sizes, except for those small businesses with one-four employees, which saw a decrease of 3.3 per cent.

During the 2021-22 financial year, total employment increased by 462,000 people (3.9 per cent) across all industries with the top growth sectors as follows:

· Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: +90,000 people (7.5 per cent)

· Health Care and Social Assistance: +84,000 people (5.8 per cent)

In the 2022-23 financial year, despite a net reduction of 392 businesses (0.1 per cent), Construction still remained the largest industry by number of businesses. Key growth sectors were Health Care and Social Assistance (6.1 per cent increase), Financial and Insurance Services (up 2.7 per cent) and Transport, Postal, and Warehousing which grew by 2.4 per cent. The Administrative and Support Services declined by 1.6 per

cent and retail trade was down 1.4 per cent.

The outlook for the Australian Construction sector is mixed with some predicting growth and others anticipate a downturn. Over the next four years, the construction industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2 per cent from 2024 to 2028 but it will face serious challenges such as: labour shortages, low productivity, rising costs, impact of high insolvency rates and reduced market capacity.

New businesses grew in all states over 2022-23 except in Victoria which saw a 1 per cent decline. Australia places third in the list of top 10 countries experiencing ecommerce growth.While the number of female entrepreneurs is increasing, and despite women now starting businesses at a faster rate than men, they only make up 19.9 per cent of CEO positions in our companies. Still some room for improvement in this space.

Ian Ash ACC, AIECL, AInstIB Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions - ombs.com.au

Call out unacceptable behaviours and make a difference

Victoria Police is urging bystanders to not ignore the signs of family violence and call out the unacceptable behaviours and attitudes that contribute to the crime.

Every bystander has a powerful role to play in deterring, preventing and reducing the harm caused by family violence.

Whether it’s seeing behaviour that’s violent, noticing signs of abuse or witnessing a heated argument – bystanders have critical information, which can help police to prevent further family violence harm.

Bystanders are vital in influencing the out-

come of the situation by making a report to police or intervening only if it’s safe to do so.

Crime Statistics Agency figures show police responded to almost 99,000 family violence incidents in the last year. That works out to one family violence incident every five minutes in Victoria.

Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway said it’s never too late for bystanders to act and come forward to police.

More information about the Walk Against Family Violence can be found online at respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/campaigns/walk-against-family-violence-2024

If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.

Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.

For more information on what Victoria Police is doing to protect victim-survivors of family violence visit police.vic.gov.au/family-violence

Police want bystanders to act. (File)

Dream now true for Tauru

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Warragul Industrials footballer Alix Tauru landed at St Kilda at the AFL National Draft last Wednesday.

Tauru was taken at pick 10, with the Saints pouncing on a bolter who wasn’t on draft radars at the beginning of 2024.

His rise has been so rapid that there was an expectation prior to the draft that a North Melbourne team in need of key position depth could select him at pick 2.

While talk about the Roos selecting him at pick 2 had shifted by draft day, Melbourne were also believed to be keen, before they passed him up as they took the strategy of picking the best available talent.

The new Saint was the first key-position player selected in the 2024 AFL National Draft.

“Alix is an aggressive and powerful intercept defender who can go forward and hit the scoreboard,” said EGM Football David Misson.

“He’s a very exciting prospect and will be a great addition to our defensive stocks.”

He watched his name get called out at Marvel Stadium surrounded by family and friends, whose passion was one of the highlights of the night.

“There definitely was a great reaction, it was nothing I didn’t expect though,“ Tauru said.

“I knew Mum would be up and about - she’s been along the road with me but the reaction shows how much they care for me.

“It’s a crazy moment and unreal to think about - it’s been a dream.“

Tauru addressed the links to North Melbourne and spoke about how he’s handled the talk.

“No doubt I’ve seen (the links to North) on the socials and the family has brought it to my attention but I couldn’t be happier now and couldn’t care about all of that stuff, as long as I ended up as a club,“ Tauru said.

“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone but myself and the team and people around me.

“All the anticipation was a bit overwhelming at times but I’m nothing but grateful to end up with St Kilda.“

A Dusties local, Tauru played four senior games for he club, including an eyecatching debut in 2022 which has hindsight has proven was merely an appetiser for the consistency he would soon show.

“It’s been really good to build those connections and it makes it a whole lot easier when you have those people to rely on for advice especially footy people who can give you life advice and footy advice,“ Tauru said.

“Respect is a massive thing and i think you gain that by doing the best you can.

“All I can bring is my best intercept defending going forward.

“Hopefully I can gain the respect of my team-

mates and they see how much I put into the club.“

Having hardly been on the map early in the season due to continual injury interruptions, Tauru played 12 games in 2024, averaging 15 disposals and six marks.

His raw competitiveness, marking and ability to read the play led to a late call-up for Vic Country, with AFL interest burgeoning thereafter.

“It wasn’t really development, I think I always had it in me,“ Tauru said.

“Obviously, though, the injuries, there has been road bumps in the journey but I found my position, the coaches trusted me to play there and that just let me shine and show my real talent.

“It’s pretty easy coming in when you don’t have any expectations.

“I didn’t think I was going to get drafted until halfway through this year so it’s just about taking it day by day and go and playing the best footy I can and it’s come to fruition and here I am now.

“I never had any expectations.

“I started hearing my name out there but I had to tell myself that nothing’s certain.

“I never got it in my mind that I was already drafted, I always had to work hard to get where I am.“

Xavier Lindsay was the next player taken, at pick 11 by Melbourne.

The Morrish Medalist will add to the Dees’ midfield mix and indicated his recovery from a PCL injury is progressing well.

Dandenong duo Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes were also taken on night one.

Langford, a Larke Medal winning midfielder-forward, was linked to Adelaide’s pick four as well as Melbourne in the lead up, ending up at the Dees.

It was known in the industry for some time that the Dogs were keen on Hynes, with the explosive talent selected at pick 20.

Langford and Hynes’ Stingrays’ teammates Noah Mraz and Riak Andrew were both selected on the second night of the AFL National Draft, each enjoying the moment surrounded by family and friends.

Mraz was selected by Hawthorn at pick 35, with the Hawks adding to their key-position depth following the departure of Denver Grainger-Barras.

Andrew, an interceptor from Berwick, was taken by a Sydney side which has been impressed by the rate of his development.

Warragul’s Jasper Alger was also taken on night

two, Richmond seizing at pick 58.

The strong marking small forward had first round interest from three clubs, which all overlooked him, leading to him sliding down the order, before the Tigers traded back into the draft to get him.

Gippsland pair Asher Eastham and Ricky Mentha, meanwhile, found their way onto a rookie list.

Eastham went to Gold Coast at pick 17 in the rookie draft and proved one of the bolters of the draft.

The interest in the Power swingman came late after a move to halfback exposed his strong ball use.

Mentha was Category B listed by Melbourne after the AFL Academy prospect showed he could provide x-factor as a small forward and drive as a running back throughout 2024.

Narre Warren’s Sam Toner was one of the hard luck stories of the draft.

Expected to get picked in the lead up, clubs ultimately overlooked the 19-year-old whose form at Narre Warren has been sizzling but has spent minimal time in a talent pathways system.

Intriguing first day with ‘top-four’ games in the balance

By Jonty Ralphsmith

The two top-four clashes in round six of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Premier Division are in the balance, while Clyde has a chance to close the gap between itself and the top four.

Ayden Mills’ 116 was the backbone of Kooweerup’s 261 against Tooradin.

His score of great need comes after a lean season for the top-order batter, with his ability to stand up when others failed to capitalise on strong starts highlighting the depth of a premiership contender.

Organised and proactive number four Shiran Rathnayake continued his strong form, scoring an efficient 47 which transferred the pressure on to Tooradin after the Seagulls took two early wickets.

Playing his opening First XI game of the season, Bailey Lownds was the pick of Tooradin’s bowlers, taking the big wicket of Rathnayake to break a 71-run partnership.

It got Tooradin back in the game, with Lownds continuing to build pressure in his 23-over spell of 3/67.

At Toomuc Reserve, off-spinner Jason Williams has given Pakenham the edge against Cardinia, taking 4/54 off 28 overs.

Against opening pair Alex and John Nooy, the Lions opened the bowling with spin which proved a masterstroke, with Alex Nooy stumped in the first over.

Mark Cooper dropped down the order to number four as Cardinia search for the right mix after a satisfactory but unspectacular start to the season with the blade.

Cooper and Yohan Arumadura put on 52 together

to stabilise after the loss of two early wickets, before Jordan Seers took three quick wickets to change the momentum.

Falling to 6/86, Cooper and Matt Welsh looked to bat time and combined for 122 runs to frustrate Pakenham and keep themselves in the game.

Both were dismissed by Williams in quick suc-

cession, with the Bulls routed for 218 and Pakenham had four overs before stumps to survive and got through unscathed.

While it appears a sub-par target, Pakenham struggled to chase down Merinda Park’s 146 at the same venue last round, winning by just two wickets against an inferior bowling attack.

Clyde is well positioned to potentially close to within a game of the top four after bowling Upper Beaconsfield out for just 192 and sitting 0/26 in response.

A 73-run partnership between Nick Pastras and Will Haines was the only form of sustained resistance against an attack led by Ankush Rana.

The Maroons fell to 4/33 before the pair stabilised, but after Pastras was dismissed no one else was able to support Haines.

Trevor Bauer and Kane Avard survived 16 overs to set the Cougars chase up on day two.

At Tony Way Recreation Reserve, Devon Meadows manufactured 9/247 to keep themselves in the contest against Merinda Park.

A 58-run 10th-wicket partnership between Coby Podd and Riley Worsteling has given the Panthers momentum after falling to 9/189.

Digging in and finding ways to win moments when the game is in the balance is something Devon Meadows is doing far better in 2024-25 as the club fights for a finals berth.

As well as that pair, all-rounder Chris Cleef scored a boundary-filled 71 off 69 which put pressure on the Cobras after he entered at 6/99.

Merinda Park is winless in the 2024-25 season, despite having repeatedly put themselves in competitive positions.

CCCA PREMIER SUMMARY

Round 6 – (Day 1): Merinda Park v Devon Meadows9/247.Pakenham0/5vCardinia218.Kooweerup 261 v Tooradin. Upper Beaconsfield 192 v Clyde 0/26. Ladder: Cardinia 54, Pakenham 48, Tooradin 44, Kooweerup 42/ Devon Meadows 24, Clyde 18, Upper Beaconsfield 18, Merinda Park 0.

Tauru’s Power teammate

Alix Tauru reacts after he’s drafted last Wednesday. (AFL Photos).

Mark Cooper and Matt Welsh played an important partnership to keep Cardinia in the game. (Stewart Chambers: 445257).

Masterful Mills sets scene with century

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Popular Kooweerup clubman Ayden Mills scored his maiden First XI century on Saturday against a strong Tooradin lineup in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Premier competition.

It was a critical knock in an innings where there were several starts, but the absence of a strong partnership.

Mills accumulated his first 30 runs patiently, despite wickets falling at the other end, before getting going late in his innings.

“He hurt his hamstring early in his innings,” skipper and close mate Chris Bright revealed.

“I was batting with him at the time and asked if he wanted to go off.

“But he decided to keep going and once he got to the point of knowing how fast he could run, he changed the momentum of the innings.

“It helped him as well, because he was looking to score, not just dropping and running all the

time.

“He would strike the ball to the blokes on the boundary to get a single.

“It was the smartest innings I’ve seen from him.

“I’m mates with him and have stuck with him as he’s been dropped up and down and I couldn’t be prouder.”

After threatening to become an important staple of the Dees First XI side for several years, Bright crystallised Mills’ role ahead of this season.

It has allowed him to shift his mindset away from his runs tally and towards the process, which led to his breakthrough.

“He’s got all the ability to make runs, he just has doubt in his own head about whether he’s good enough or not, so this year we’ve supported him and backed him in to play a role and he got rewarded on Saturday,” Bright said.

“In one-dayers we want him to come in later, rotate strike and bat time to ensure we bat the 40 overs.

“In two day games, we want him to bat through innings, it doesn’t matter how many runs he makes.

“We want the team to bat around him.”

Despite three scores across the First and Second XI on that ground in the past month in excess of 400, a slower outfield has Bright confident about the state of the game.

A long-serving clubman who is well respected across the league, Mills scored 116 of Kooweerup’s 261.

“We were cruising a little bit in a good position at tea but then lost a couple of wickets and it could have gone either way, but ‘Millsy’ stuck around, batted time and didn’t throw it away,” the captain said.

“He’s a quiet kid but he’ll give you the shirt off his back if he could.

“He’s very family orientated, loves his cricket.

“This year he’s come out a bit more as a person and we’re starting to see a different ‘Millsy’.”

Selection for local quartet in AFL Academy

By Jonty Ralphsmith

A pair of Gippslanders and pair of Dandenong Stingrays have been selected across the 2025 AFL and AFLW National Academies.

Potential 2025 top selection Willem Duursma and courageous marking forward Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves were both named in the boys Academy.

Duursma’s siblings Xavier, Yasmin and Zane are all in the AFL/W system and he hails from a basketball background, impressing with his read of the play and skill execution this year.

Hibbins-Hargreaves ability to stand up with the game on the line and make good decisions in the front half made him a valuable asset for Dandenong. Both players also represented Vic Country as bottom-aged players in 2024, underlining their talent.

Stingray Mizuki Brothwell and Gippsland’s Ella Stoddart were named in the AFLW Academy.

Bowlers dominate at Bellbird Park

By David Nagel

On paper it appeared a beautiful day for batting; but it was the bowlers who rolled up the sleeves and dominated the opening day’s play of the WDCA top-of-the-table clash between Drouin (4/53) and Western Park (106) on Saturday.

Western Park skipper Sam Batson won the toss and elected to bat first, but every batter failed to fire against a quality Hawks’ attack led by captain James Wilcock (4/15 off 10.4)who produced his best bowling performance for the season.

The Warriors had six players make it to double figures; but a top-score of just 15 - from number-nine Ben Clarke - suggests how difficult it was to kick on.

The Hawks restricted the Warriors to well under two runs per over for the majority of their innings, with a late flurry of 28 runsfrom overs 36 to 40 – lifting the run-rate to over two.

The Hawks were nothing but determined and never had to wait more than eight overs all day for a breakthrough.

Wilcock was magnificent for his Hawks, while the efforts of Troy Lehman (2/28 off 9) and Lahiru Jayakody (2/10 off 9) should also be spoken of highly.

But the Warriors are not on top by fluke, and spent the 26 overs remaining to fight back into the contest.

Hawks’ opener Damon Healy (26) played aggressively at the top of the order, but his dismissal saw a quick return to bowling dominance.

Jason Croft (3/12 off 9) soon struck multiple blows for the Warriors, while skipper Batson (1/15 off 9) also had the radar dialled in.

The Hawks have the upper hand heading into day two, requiring 54 runs to win with six wickets in hand.

But this one has a funny feel about it; hold onto your hats as the two best teams go head to head!

Ironically, the only team to pass the 200mark on Saturday was bottom-placed Iona (213) who batted patiently through the middle order against Ellinbank (0/0).

Iona received little output from its four keyplanks at the top, but middle-order resistance from Michael Taylor (38), Jesse De Pasquale (36), Kieran Lenders (36) and Jay Wilton Riley (30) gave the visitors something to defend on day two.

Curtis Howell (4/38) took bowling honours for Ellinbank, while Tom Keily (2/39) and Jeremy Gray (2/46) were key support providers.

Third-placed Catani (110) is in a world of pain after Hallora (2/78) hotshot Aidan Phillips (6/35) ran rampant on his home ground Hallora.

Phillips has been in terrific form this season, but took things to new heights in the fourteenth over of the innings.

He was on a hat-trick after knocking over the castles of Dan Vela (0) and Jackson Bennet (0) in consecutive balls, with Raheem Kasser (10) taking a single off the hat-trick ball.

Catani skipper Cameron brown (12) was then on strike, becoming Phillip’s third victim for the over.

Catani never recovered, limping to 110 with Ethan Guest (2/32) finishing off the job.

Kian Burns (33) and Andrew Donohue (29 not out) have Hallora beautifully placed heading into this Saturday’s play.

game

Stoddart is a similar type of player, averaging 18 disposals in 2024.

The Marsh AFL National Academy is a holistic program that combines football and personal development.

The program provides the next generation of stars with valuable experiences, insights and opportunities in their Draft year which will best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.

The Marsh AFL National Academy program is designed to ensure players are presented with unique opportunities and learnings that differ from other football programs they are involved in.

Content is delivered across three camps, commencing with a high-performance camp that will be held in Melbourne during December. The boys camp will be conducted from December 4-6, with the girls camp to follow from December 9-11.

Two additional camps will be held during the 2025 season which will involve talent showcase matches where the Academy squads will represent their country as part of the Australia U18 team.

And Longwarry (4/103) will be chasing outright points this week after steamrolling a disappointing Trafalgar (56).

Johanne De Silva (4/16) led the way for the Crows, with Ali Sarosh (2/8) and Matthew Aslett (2/18) also doing as they pleased.

Longwarry openers Vidusha Hettiarachchige (44) and Isaac Carney (21) made sure there were no nasty surprises in reply.

WARRAGUL AND DISTRICT STATS

TOP-5 BATTING

Vidusha Hettiarachchige Longwarry 178

Matthew Brewer Ellinbank 159

Damon Healy Drouin 156

Aiden George Trafalgar 156

Yashan Samarasinghe Longwarry 155

TOP-5 BOWLING

Aidan Phillips Hallora 19

Jason Croft Western Park 17

Brad Glover Drouin 13

Sean Masterson Ellinbank 12

Tyler McDonald Western Park 11

Sam Batson Western Park 11

Ayden Mills was sensational on Saturday for the Demons. (Rob Carew: 442533).

Brothwell’s rise alongside twin sister Nalu has been rapid this season with Mizuki a halfback who takes the

on.

Ella Stoddart was named in the 2025 AFLW Academy. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 414858).

Pass mark for Pakenham

It was a mixed weekend for the Pakenham Pumas Baseball Club with stifling heat making life difficult for players on Saturday before the rain tumbled down forcing seven of the club’s teams to have washouts. Here’s how the week unfolded.

JUNIORS

Pumas Big League headed to Sandringham on Saturday for what looked to be a good match up. We gave up a couple of runs early but fought back with three of our own in the third. The Royals capitalised of a few undisciplined lapses and despite our best efforts we were unable to rally back. The local derby against Berwick awaits this week as we look to get back on the winning side.

The SL70 Pakenham Pumas made light work of both the weather and their opponents, cruising to an 18-3 win over Mulgrave/Chelsea in a rainsoaked showdown. Every Puma crossed the plate at least once, showcasing the team’s depth and unity. Logan led the charge with a stellar 5 RBIs, including his second home-run for the season and a double in the first to open the scoring. Blake had an outstanding game, contributing a triple in the third inning while dominating on the mound striking out six in two innings. Ca’Del made his impressive season debut on the hill, while Hunter demonstrated another strong performance behind the plate. Walks and wild pitches kept the offence rolling as Mulgrave/Chelsea struggled to contain the onslaught. All in all, another great win for the Pumas!

T-Ball, LL Minor and Senior League 90 all had washouts.

SENIORS

PREMIER 2

Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts fell to Cheltenham 7-2 on Thursday night at Pakenham. Pakenham got on the board in the first inning after Max Vetter singled, scoring two runs. Cheltenham then flipped the script in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs on six hits to take the lead, 7-2. Tim Bellerby was the reliever and pitched one inning, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking two. Rhys McKenzie opened the game for Pakenham. The starter surrendered five hits and four runs over four innings, striking out two and walking two. Max Hunter, Kyler Rinehart, Danny Cannizaro, and Vetter each collected one hit for Pakenham. Vetter went one-for-two at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in.

FIRSTS

The Pakenham Pumas Firsts once again demonstrated their ability to compete with the league’s elite, narrowly falling short in execution. Max Hunter was a force to be reckoned with on the mound, dominating the first four innings and conceding only two runs on three hits. Tim Bellerby, showcasing his exceptional skill, faced one of the top teams in the competition and allowed just three unearned runs. Bellerby masterfully directed the Port Melbourne hitters, but a lapse in fielding, with three errors in a single inning, proved costly and gave Port Melbourne the edge they needed to secure the win. The Pumas’ bats were lively, but they struggled to capitalise with runners in scoring position. Goke, Hunter, Cannizaro, and Fahy led the offensive charge with solid hits, yet the team ultimately fell to the second-place Port Melbourne squad with a final score of 5-3. Despite the defeat, the Pumas’ per-

formance was a testament to their quality and determination, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their next clash.

RESERVES

The Pakenham Pumas Reserves displayed remarkable valor in their weekend showdown, battling fiercely against the odds. The game kicked off with James McFadden taking the mound, delivering a masterful performance over three innings, skillfully keeping the Port Melbourne hitters guessing. The early part of the day saw the wind playing tricks, causing some hits to narrowly escape the outfielders’ grasp, allowing Port Melbourne to notch up early runs. Despite the Pumas’ commendable efforts at the plate, they struggled to string together a series of hits to counteract the early deficit. The Port Melbourne pitcher was in formidable form, stifling the Pumas’ attempts to mount a comeback rally. Nevertheless, the Pumas’ pitching duo, James McFadden and Rohan Hector, shone brightly, showcasing their prowess on the mound. At the plate, the hot bats of Hector, Taylor, and McFadden led the charge, making significant contributions to the Pumas’ valiant effort. Though the game ended in defeat, the Pumas’ spirited performance was nothing short of heroic.

There were washouts for State League 3 and 4; and both Regional League teams.

WOMENS

PUMAS WHITE

Cheltenham defeated Pakenham Pumas Women’s White 13-5 on Saturday thanks in part to seven runs in the first inning. Pakenham got on the board in the top of the first inning after Katherine Walton doubled, scoring two runs, and Emma Barker drew a walk, scoring one run. Chelten-

ham then came back scoring seven runs to take the lead, 7-3. Jessica Moulding started the game for Pakenham. The starting pitcher gave up eight hits, struck out six and walked eight. Katherine Walton led Pakenham with three runs batted in; the outfielder going two-for-three on the day. Pakenham had a strong eye at the plate, tallying 10 walks for the game. Danni Wilson and Sofia each stole multiple bases.

PUMAS BLACK

Pakenham Blacks started out strong against the Berwick Cougars. With the heat against both teams it was a struggle to get through the game but both teams persevered. Pakenham won

against Berwick 16-1 with a great effort put forward from the Blacks. Pumas got on the board in the top of the first from Katherine, Jade, Holly and Emily. Seven runs were collected for the Women’s team in the first inning and another five runs were made in the third inning. Olivia Garcia played a strong game, pitching for the duration of this round, showing her strength in striking out three of the Cougars. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying 14 walks for the game. Kirby Cannizzaro, Jade Taylor, Holly Lunn, Carni Dowsett, and Katherine Walton each stole multiple bases for Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black. Pakenham stole 15 bases in the game. -Jessica Moulding

Hampers at the ready as picnic racing returns to Woolamai

By David Nagel

The picnic racing season at the leafy Woolamai racecourse kicks off this Saturday 30 November with a six-race card set to get the ball rolling.

The club is looking forward to hosting its usual six meetings over the summer period with a highlight being back-to-back Saturday meetings on December 21 and 28 across the Christmas period.

Committee member Peter McCluskey said the club is excited to be back up and running through the summer months

“Bookings for groups are looking very healthy and we want to encourage groups to get together for their Christmas celebrations at our track,” McCluskey said.

“We have plenty of shade, plenty of oncourse action and tables available for bookings and plenty of space for groups to set up their

own picnic spots.

“The old toilet block, which sat at right angles to the straight, has been demolished and replaced by a modern unit set back further which opens up more space for patrons.”

A six-race card is planned for most meetings this summer, starting around 1pm with gates opening at 11am.

Bookings can be made via the club website: woolamairaces.com.au

Alternatively, simply roll up to the course on race days, which is 4km east from the sign-posted Bass turnoff on the Bass Highway.

“The home straight looks in prime condition with grass at a very consistent racing length thanks to our hard working track manager Macca Mathieson,” McCluskey added.

“He does a great job, mixing it in with a variety of farming responsibilities around the district.”

Racing returns to the picturesque Woolamai Racing Club on Saturday. (Supplied: 189546)

Kirby Cannizzaro stole multiple bases for the Pakenham Pumas in a 16-1 win over Berwick. (Stewart Chambers: 440004)

Rhys Mckenzie started on the mound for Pakenham Premier 2 against Cheltenham. (440004)