News - Berwick Star News - 20th February 2025

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

It’s showtime this weekend

Proudly supported by the City of Casey and Agriculture Victoria, a celebration of agriculture, entertainment, and community spirit is now in its 176th year.

The Berwick Show is set to take place this weekend, running from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, 22 February, and 9am to 4pm on Sunday, 23 February.

Berwick Show president Sharon Geoffrey said they’re unique because they blend traditional agricultural excellence and modern family fun.

“We’re catering for those who want rides and entertainment and the people who still want the traditional animal exhibits.”

The event will feature top-quality horticultural and agricultural competitions, a variety of rides, fireworks, food stalls, and engaging family activities.

Berwickhascontinuedtoembracehorticulture,a rarity in today’s exhibitions.

“Even the Royal Melbourne Show doesn’t have horticultureanymore,butwe’vemaintainedthattradition,” the president said.

Akeyfocusfor2025isensuringstrongcommunity engagement and inclusivity. The show is designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, offering something for everyone.

“It’s about bringing people together and making sure there’s something that sparks interest in ever one who walks through the gates. I would be very surprised if there wasn’t something here that people weren’t interested in or didn’t find interesting.”

Unlike Melbourne shows, Berwick values affordability, ensuring the show remains accessible for all.

“We would like people to participate and have fun. This is a great place they can bring the family.

“We’vetriedhardtomakeitaffordablebecauseof the cost of living. We encourage people who may not be as financially able to bring their own picnic and spend the whole day here if you want to.”

TheeventattractsvisitorsfromGippsland,Mornington, Melbourne, and even interstate, making it a truly Victorian-wide showcase. Many families have been attending for generations.

It’s been very generational. People say, ‘My mum brought me when I was little, and now I’m bringing mine’,” the president shared.

“People come here, but there are lots of young families who’ve moved into the area who are now making their own connections, coming with their

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children or neighbours and things like that.”

TheBerwickShow2025promisesacelebrationof community, heritage, and pure enjoyment.

“It makes people happy—it’s good for their mental health,” Sharon said.

“We’reveryconsciousthatpeopleintheiroutside

lives have got some things going on. But when they come here, we hope that they’ll enjoy the day.

“I’m looking forward to just the joy of seeing everyone enjoying the day. Not just the community, butthecommittee,theworkthatthey’veputinfor12 months of planning to see it come to fruition.”

Mayor ready to celebrate all things agricultural

After several years, a mayor will once again appear for one of the staples of Casey, the Berwick Show.

Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen said he was excited to see the “tried and tested” event return for 2025.

“It’s a two-day full weekend affair and there’s so much to offer. I’m excited to see a lot of free events,” Cr Koomen said.

“I’m really excited to bring my kids down to see a lot of animals that they might not see regularly.

“There’s a lot of displays and stalls and I’m just looking forward to getting out on the weekend and just to be part of the community.”

This year’s theme is bees and the industrious insects have got “me and my family buzzing.

“I love honey and I’ll be making sure to get some honey on the day. But it’s great to have unique themes and co-focuses and bees are really interesting to learn about,” Cr Koomen said.

The show will be hosting many free rides and events such as the animal nursery and pony rides.

This means the day can be enjoyed by as many people as possible from Casey and beyond.

“We know it’s a really difficult time at the moment for a lot of families. So to have free things within the show like getting a pony ride for the kids and lots of activities and displays,” Cr Koomen said.

The Berwick Show is a key date on the calendar for the City of Casey as one of the largest community events at Akoonah Park.

There will be classic displays of cattle, horses, poultry and much more.

The stage is packed with a program of local performers and a list of spectacular events from a new motorcycle stunt show to the classic wood chop.

“It’s a really diverse mix of offerings and there’s something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what age your kids are, there’s something you can do. It’s a great fun activity and learning opportunity,” Cr Koomen said.

“It’s a mix of suburbia and a bit of rural.

“We’ve got a whole lot of shows and displays that relate to the farmland. But then we’ve also got rides and fun activities for kids that we expect at these types of events.”

Mayor Koomen said Casey Council has been a longtime supporter of the Berwick Show, but most of all thanked the many volunteers that make it happen.

Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen, Louie (Pony) and show president Sharon Geoffrey. (Gary Sissons: 459057)

Mayor Stefan Koomen and Louie the Pony from Little Ryders Pony Rides. (Gary Sissons: 459057)

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

Extraordinary magic fun

By Afraa Kori

With the Berwick Show around the corner, the International award-winning Melbourne magician Tim Mason will deliver extraordinary magic and fun like you’ve never experienced before.

Tim Mason’s one-of-a-kind magic will leave everyone laughing, scratching their heads in amazement, and with memories they’ll never forget.

Over the years, Tim has captivated audiences at schools, libraries, birthday parties, and more. From television appearances on shows like “Morning Sunrise” to touring Australia with the Metaverse of Magic and breaking magical Guinness World Records, Tim brings 14 years of expert magic and performance experience to each and every show.

As the co-founder and Director of the Melbourne Magic Academy, Tim teaches kids magic across Australia, empowering kids with skills that build character, confidence, and communication. It’s extraordinary fun that makes great kids appear.

This show is highly interactive—whether you’re on stage or in the audience, you’re part of the magic!

“Kids are the stars, and their laughter, excitement, and wonder are what the show is all about,” Tim said.

“I like to think of it like a Disney movie—kids will absolutely love it, but there’s plenty of fun for parents too! It’s a mix of jaw-dropping magic, physical comedy, and all-round extraordinary fun.”

“I love leaving space for spontaneous moments—kids always say and do the funniest things, which makes every performance unique and full of surprises.”

Expect plenty of magic wands, cheering crowds, silly antics, and kids becoming real magicians right before your eyes! It’s designed for all ages to have a laugh and be amazed.

Tim wants everyone to walk away with a huge smile on their face and maybe even sore cheeks from laughing so much.

“Magic has a special way of bringing people together, creating joy, and reminding us that the impossible just might be possible. Seeing those moments of pure wonder and excitement never gets old.”

“There’s nothing quite like hearing 200+ people go wild after witnessing something impossible! The show is designed so the kids are the real

stars—they’re the ones making the magic happen and getting all the applause. And because every child brings their own personality and energy, no two shows are ever the same!”

For more info: https://www.timmasonmagic. com/kids-magic

Stunt show set to thrill the audience

The Berwick Show is set to thrill with daring tricks and flips from their latest addition of a motorcycle stunt show.

Performed by MADSTYLEMOTO, this is a new outfit comprised of stunt riders Liam Heinzel and Trent Morgan who wow crowds with their interactive stunt show.

The performance also blends comedy through Trent as MC, providing a welcome relief from the spectacular stunts.

First performing over the past year, Liam describes them as the “new kids on the block” who are making it big through the agricultural show circuit. Liam has been a stunt rider for over 5 years, performing in well-known shows such as the Moscow Circus.

If you see any videos of Liam, he is the rider who can seemingly backflip off anything. A tree stump, your local half-pipe and, at the show, a tiny 1.5 metre ramp attached to a van.

“It’s very off-the-cuff with stunts and a bit of comedy, we really pride ourselves in being interactive with the kids,” Liam said.

“Every show is different, we don’t want people to see the same thing each time.”

They do giveaways as well such as a free shirt for any kid who can cheer the loudest. After the show, they stick around for kids to meet them and get signatures.

Liam said they were very excited for their inaugural event in Berwick and they hope their existing following can get more and more new people to experience the local show.

Stage program

2025 ‘Berwick Show’ Stage Program: Saturday, February 22nd :

· 10.15am Samuel Rowland – ‘Special Guest’ vocalist

10.30am ‘Soldiers Road’ / Sierra Adams - teenage band / solo vocalist

· 11.00am ‘Dance Project Dancers’dance school

· 11.20am ‘Dance On Academy - dance school

11.45am Ella Pearl - teenage vocalist

12.00pm ‘Cathy-Lea Dance Works’dance school

· 1.00pm ‘Tim Mason Magic’ - magician

· 1.30pm ‘Sterling Calisthenics Club’calisthenics display

1.50pm ‘Flash Twinkle Toes’ - children’s entertainer

· 2.20pm Breanne Peters - vocalist

· 2.40pm Taya Butler - vocalist

· 3.00pm ‘Masquerade Talent Studio’talent studio

3.20pm ‘Riviere Dance School’ - dance school

· 3.40pm Emma & Danny - vocal duo

· 4.00pm ‘Vocal Performance School’singing school

4.50pm ‘Windmill Theatre Co’ - theatre company

· 5.10pm ‘Four Fox Productions’ - vocal performance

· 5.30pm ‘Chantelle & the Cat Cartel’- jazz combo

6.00pm ‘Renee Skye’ – father/daughter duo

· 6.30pm Michael Meeking - vocalist

· 7,15pm Jay Santilli - vocalist

· 8.00pm Stage Closes

9.00pm Fireworks

Sunday, February 23rd : 10.30am Tara Romy – vocalist

10.45am Ashlyn Bell - vocalist

11.00am ‘Suzie Ryrie School of Dance’dance school

· 11.30am ‘The Triple Threat Academy’performing arts school

12pm ‘Savanah Academy of Performing Arts’ - performing arts school

· 12.30pm ‘Tim Mason Magic’ - magician

· 1.00pm Jemma Aliya - vocalist

· 1.20pm ‘Flash Twinkle Toes’ - children’s entertainer

1.50pm ‘Songbird Performing Arts & Youth Theatre’ - theatre school

· 2.10pm ‘BATS Theatre Co’ - theatre company

· 2.30pm Sonyta & Emma – vocal duo 2.50pm ‘Evolve Performing Arts’ - dance school

· 3.20pm ‘Cranbourne Lions Concert Band’ - concert band 4.00pm Stage Closes

Liam Heinzel doing a titular backflip in Sydney. (Supplied)

Showing new tricks.

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

Axes ready for woodchop

This year, the Berwick Show Woodchop will have an exciting addition to its roster. Current Stihl Timbersport Rookie Matt Coffey is set to participate, adding a fresh level of enthusiasm to this beloved event. As a dynamic newcomer to the sport, Coffey’s presence is a highly anticipated one, and it will be fascinating to see how he measures up in such a competitive environment.

First National Real Estate Neilson Partners has been proudly sponsoring the Peter Colliver Memorial Woodchop for many years, an event that holds deep significance in the woodchopping community. The perpetual trophy, with the names of past winners etched into its plaque, stands as a testament to the sport’s enduring popularity. Past champions include Stewart Theige (2018), Lawrence O’Toole (2019), and Frazer Carnes (2020). However, due to COVID-19 and a timber ban, the event has faced some interruptions in recent years, with no woodchop com-

petitions held in 2021, 2022, and 2023. But the tradition continued in 2024, with Mitchell Coffey proudly claiming the title.

First National Real Estate Neilson Partners’ longstanding affiliation with the Berwick Show has deepened over the years, starting with a simple trade stand and evolving into sponsorship of agricultural and horse events. This partnership is particularly special as the company has sponsored the woodchopping for nearly 12 years, cementing its role in supporting this uniquely Australian sport that holds a special place in the nation’s heritage.

The Berwick Show Woodchop continues to draw a wide audience, and First National Real Estate Neilson Partners is excited to maintain its ongoing commitment to this local event. With the return of competition, this year promises to be an exciting chapter in the history of the woodchop.

Matt Coffey, current Stihl Timbersport Rookie.

Berwick Show Woodchop Peter Colliver Memorial taken recently.

Peter Colliver Memorial Woodchop Event.

Glenn Gilliam, Current Underhand Champion and World Title Holder.

Adele Deverell, Women’s Final of the Stihl Timbersport.

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

Trusty workhorses of history

By Ethan Benedicto

Dedicated to promoting the history and culture of draught horses, the Heritage Draught Horse Club is looking to make their first exhibition showcase at the upcoming Berwick Show.

With a focus on the traditional roles of draught horses in farming, bush work, and road work, club secretary John Bramley is looking forward to educating others and preserving their and the horses’ history.

According to John, taking part in the show is going to be “interesting”.

“It’s because we’ve got to work above ground, we can’t plough or anything like that.

”So we’ll be doing some log snigging, some harrowing, and probably some sleds too,” he said.

The club will be showcasing their draught horses on Sunday 23 February, from 9:30am until the show itself wraps up.

Despite the limitations on showing what real workhorses can do, John said that he and the others are still excited to put on display what the horses are capable of.

The club has a strong focus on history, serving as an ode to the days when horses did more than just the brunt of the work for nearly every working person, from agriculture, forestry and transportation.

While he and the others in the club are still going strong, John admitted that there have been some struggles in keeping the history above water.

“It’s been difficult, there haven’t been any new

people coming in,” he said.

“We do have some people joining the club, they’ll take up ploughing and we have training days where we can show them what to do and how to do it properly and safely.”

The step into the Berwick Show could be the pivotal move that furthers the club’s mission, where the event, which has its roots back to 1848, attracts visitors from all over the City of Casey and beyond.

Nevertheless, the love for the club has been underlined by the members’ love of their horses, which, according to John, play as big of a role as their strength to do their work.

By the same token, having been with the club for just over 10 years, and ever since he could remember, he always had a fondness for horses.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint it really, because the horses, once they trust you, you can do almost anything with them,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of gaining their trust and not pushing them to something they don’t want to do.

“The most interesting is that bond that you can make with them.”

Despite this coming weekend being their first time at the Show, it’s not the club’s first rodeo when it comes to showing what they and the horses can do, being active in other community events such as the Wandin Silvan Field Days and the Gulf Station Heritage Festival.

With members from Don Valley, Traralgon, and Moe, the day will see members eager to show off their draught horses for all to see.

The Heritage Draught Horse Club’s secretary, John Bramley, with ‘Pinch’. (Supplied)

The club’s president, Andrew Martin with ‘Jimmy’.

The club’s treasurer, Brian Pinches, with ‘Mac’ and ‘Bruce’.

FOCUS ON … BERWICK SHOW

Haven at Benalla Living

Looking to downsize to a quality, affordable, tree change lifestyle that provides the perfect balance of convenience to facilities, essential services and amenities within a peaceful semi-rural setting in Victoria’s picturesque North East? A Haven at Benalla Lifestyle is the perfect choice, so come and check out our Open Day on Saturday 4th April 2025.

Along with food trucks and stalls, we will also have our display homes open to showcase the variety of designs we have available. Come and see us and take a look around the park and get a taste of village life.

Haven at Benalla Lifestyle Village, within Benalla Tourist Park, offers a community-focussed, pet-friendly and affordable lifestyle, allowing retirees to downsize their home while upsizing their lifestyle. It’s a wonderful retirement base for the over 50’s who love history, art, food or motor racing and is conveniently located close to the shops, cafes, restaurants, galleries, historic walks and medical services of the Benalla township, while only a short drive to local wineries, the north east silo art trail, Winton Wetlands and Winton Motor Raceway.

Benalla Tourist Park has added some lovely facilities to its residential village, Haven at Benalla, including a new community building, thriving community garden and off leash dog park as part of an exciting new expansion project.

The village prides itself on its friendly sense of community, facilities and the quality homes that their homeowners just love. A variety of brandnew homes are available at affordable prices, with one-bedroom homes from $179,000 and two-bedroom homes from $209,000 in Haven’s village expansion (prices as at Feb 2025). “Off the plan” options are also available to allow you to customise your forever home if you see a particular site that you love.

Being a land-lease community, there are no entry or exit fees and no stamp duty applies when purchasing a home in the village. Our simplified sale process and affordable site fees allow you more time (and money) for the important things in life.

Call our office on 03 5760 2000 for more information or to organise a tour if you can’t make it to our open day, we can’t wait to show you the Haven at Benalla lifestyle.

Sandy Creek Clydesdales heads to Berwick Show

By Violet Li

Berwick Show will see a new attraction this year, as the award-winning farm Sandy Creek Clydesdales will travel from afar to showcase their rare and magnificent horses.

Owners of the farm, Jaimie and Matthew Thompson, have been operating their horsedrawn farm in the central part of Victoria for 15 years. This year will be their first time at the Berwick Show.

“We just like to go around to as many shows as much as we can spread the word about the declining numbers of Clydesdales and the history of them and the history of farming and blacksmithing,” Jaimie said.

“It’s important that we get as many avenues as possible.”

Clydesdales are a breed of large, powerful draft horses originally from Scotland. They are known for their strength, endurance, and gentle temperament, making them ideal for heavy farm work, logging, and pulling wagons. Historically, Clydesdales were used for agriculture and transport, but today, they are often seen in parades, shows, and promotional work.

Jaimie said the breed’s number in Australia was about 3,500 and up to 10,000 worldwide.

“Being able to contribute to their population is one of our passions,” she said.

“We also like to do historic farming and things with some horses as well and harness work with some horses.”

(Supplied)

with how we’ve been able to evolve as a society,” Jaimie said.

“The numbers have declined because they’re not used the way that they were back then. “Obviously, we don’t use them as they were back in the day. They’re not the tractors anymore. They’re not the main form of energy that we use anymore.

“They’re also one of the harder breeds of horses to breed with.”

For the past 15 years, the core of their business has been to stay true to themselves and just share their stories with the horses, the couple said.

They are also bringing blacksmithing displays.

“Matthew is a qualified blacksmith. He’s going to be making some horseshoes and potentially doing some hot shoeing, depending on the weather and other things as well, just showing

This year, the owners will take two to three Clydesdale horses on a two-and-a-half-hour road trip to Berwick for people to interact with and ask questions about, wishing to reach the younger generations that haven’t experienced the breed before.

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE BERWICK SHOW

that art as well as doing farrier work,” Jaimie said.

The couple has always believed in the beauty of the breed.

“They’re just a unique breed. Many people say they built the nation. They do lots of heavy lifting in regards to building the roads, paving the roads, doing mining, cutting grain, or everything to do

“There’s literally nothing magical about it. We just did that. We just worked on what people wanted.”

On 22 and 23 February, they will bring their love to Berwick Show, offering heartfelt stories and a connection with the creature that has amazed them forever and always.

Berwick Show will see a new attraction this year, the award-winning farm Sandy Creek Clydesdales. The owner Matthew and Jaimie Thompson will travel from central Victoria to showcase their rare and magnificent horses.

Jaimie and Matthew Thompson with a Clydesdale.

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*Incentive is a rebate to the value of up to $40,000, provided settlement of the home purchase agreement occurs prior to 13 June 2025. Select sites may also be offered flexible settlement timeframes, provided settlement of the home purchase agreement occurs prior to 13 June 2025. The rebate incentive does not change the purchase price of the home and will be applied at settlement by way of an adjustment that reduces the amount owing by the rebate amount. The incentive applies to selected sites at Stockland’s Halcyon Highlands, Halcyon Horizon, Halcyon Jardin, and Halcyon Evergreen communities. The promotion finishes on 31 March 2025 at 5:00pm (ADST). All photographs, illustrations, statements and information in this advertisement, are for illustrative purposes only and are based on information available to and the intention of Stockland at the time of creation (February 2025) and are subject to change without notice. No diagram, photograph, illustration, statement or information amounts to a legally binding obligation on or warranty by Stockland and Stockland accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person who relies on them either wholly or in part. Indications of location, distance or size are approximate and for indicative purposes only. Subject to change. Artist’s impression, subject to change. Furniture and accessories not included. *Incentive is a rebate to the value of up to $40,000, provided settlement of the home purchase agreement occurs prior to 13 June 2025. Select sites may also be offered flexible settlement timeframes, provided settlement of the home purchase agreement occurs prior to

Artist’s impression. Subject to change.

Artist’s impression. Subject to change.

Artist’s impression. Subject to change.

Meeting mayhem

By Violet Li and Ethan Benedicto

The first Casey Council meeting of the year was adjourned after heated protests from residents, prompting a police call-out.

Held on 18 February, the meeting saw hundreds of ratepayers voice their frustrations and anger over private land use permits, the proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station and other concerns, including governance, transpar-

ency, and maintenance of public spaces.

Tensions ran high from the start, with residents booing and heckling official statements.

Outbursts escalated when Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen addressed the recent online discussions and media coverage regarding a property in Hampton Park where several unregistered vehicles were removed, prompting aggressive shouts from the crowd.

Despite 63 public questions being read, some residents claimed their submissions were ignored.

Due to ongoing disruptions, the meeting was first paused for 15 minutes before being adjourned for the night as police escorted officials out.

•

The second report was the road discontinuance of a small section of Sofra Road/Bells Road, to make room for a desalination pipeline, a topic that wasn’t in itself all too controversial but is what eventually led to Mayor Cr Koomen adjourning the meeting shortly after.

Two officers’ reports were motioned and endorsed by the councillors, the first being Casey to appeal to the Municipal Association of Victoria for telecommunications towers and the Best Start Best Life early years reforms.

Coverage inside

Security guards were placed at the Casey Council meeting to maintain order and safety.

Victoria Police arrived after the first adjournment. (Gary Sissons: 460126)

A Casey ratepayer from Tooradin was not happy that his questions were not answered at the Casey Council meeting. (Gary Sissons: 460126)

Lightfall comes to Cranbourne

Embrace the spirit and beauty of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne as it transforms after-dark with Lightfall.

From the presenters of the global sell-out sensation, Lightscape, this world-first event for Melbourne’s south-east is premiering exclusively during the April school holidays.

From large-scale light sculptures to an immersive soundscape, Lightfall promises to be a magical evening for all ages.

Casual facility hire

Looking to hire a space on a casual basis?

We offer a range of facility hire options from large halls to meeting rooms for your celebration, community group or organisation.

To see what facilities are open for casual hire in 2025 and to submit an application, please scan the QR code.

For more information, contact Council’s Community Facilities team on 9709 9288 or email facilitybookings@casey.vic.gov.au

Council Meetings

Members of the community are welcome to attend the upcoming Council Meetings which are held in the Bunjil Place Function Room, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.

Council Meetings start at 6.00 pm and are also live streamed through our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

For more information on Council Meetings, or meeting minutes and agendas, visit our website.

With limited dates and tickets, scan the QR code to secure your tickets now!

Casey locals! Book tickets early for 50 per cent off parking. Terms and conditions apply.

Are your pet registration details up to date?

Renewal notices will be sent out shortly, so now’s the best time to make sure your furry friend’s details are correct.

Upcoming Council Meetings:

Tuesday 18 March

Tuesday 15 April

Tuesday 20 May

Tuesday 27 May (Special Council Meeting)

Tuesday 17 June

You may be eligible for a reduced registration fee or refund if you hold an eligible pensioner card, if your pet has recently been desexed or your pet is now 10 years of age.

To find out more, please visit our website.

Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.

• Cranbourne Hub: We’re seeking feedback on the concept design for the proposed Cranbourne Hub at 1-3 Lyall Street, Cranbourne.

• Ackland Park Reserve redevelopment project: the reserve in Narre Warren North is closed until mid-June for redevelopment works.

Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.

Syndicate busted, police say

Four members of an organised-crime syndicate allegedly behind a spate of burglaries targeting collectable trading cards and crypto ATMs have been arrested.

Police say the group targeted three collectable card stores, including one in Eumemmerring, since mid-January.

They also stole six cryptocurrency ATMs across Melbourne, including Vermont and Bentleigh.

North West Metro Regional Crime Squad detectives say stolen cars were used in the offending.

Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson said Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates were “tasking” the arrested men.

“We are confident that we have apprehended the main offenders who were sharing their criminal trade craft with lesser offenders.

“Police have also identified the lesser offenders supplying stolen goods.”

In raids across Melbourne, police say they uncovered an “Aladdin’s cave” of items, including $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards including Pokemon, Disney, Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA.

Police also seized five alleged stolen guns, about 100 alleged stolen car keys, ammunition, pill press machine and stolen power tools.

Among the four people arrested were the two alleged primary offenders, a 37-year-old Reservoir man and a 32-yearold Epping man.

The Reservoir man was charged with 14 counts of burglary of commercial cryptocurrency ATM and commercial games stores, being a prohibited person possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms, being a prohibited person possessing a firearm and handling stolen goods.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 2 May.

The 32-year-old Epping man was charged with five commercial burglaries, three counts of vehicle theft, theft, unlicenced driving, as well as possessing methamphetamine, a drug of dependence and a prohibited weapon.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 21 February.

Two other men, a 33-year-old and a 46-year-old both from Reservoir, were released pending further investigation.

“This was a highly organised and coordinated police operation,” Det Insp Watkinson said.

“We thank the vigilance of the affected trading card community and the invaluable support from industry partners – which assisted in the dismantling of a significant network of offenders.”

Armed man, 36, dies

By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Violet Li

An armed man who died at a Lynbrook shopping centre had self-harmed and then was tasered by police, according to a leading Homicide Squad detective.

Homicide Squad, under Professional Standards Command oversight, are investigating what happened after police chased the 36-yearold man into the shopping centre on the South Gippsland Highway about 1.10pm on Friday 14 February.

After a search, police forced the closed door of a female toilet cubicle and found the man armed and wounded, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.

“It was clear he had injured himself with what appeared to be an edged weapon.

“He was still holding that weapon …

“He was armed and he was still threatening at that point of time.”

He said a taser was deployed, then police immediately started first aid and an ambulance was called.

Paramedics took him in an ambulance to a nearby park to await an air ambulance. He died at the park.

Det Insp Thomas said a post-mortem was expected on Saturday 15 February.

“We will (then) be in a better position to understand what has caused his death.

“At this stage it would appear that the injury he has inflicted upon himself has certainly led to his death.”

Before the incident, Croydon Family Violence Unit members and local uniform officers had arrived at a nearby apartment to arrest the man on outstanding family violence matters.

The man, of no fixed address, was staying at what was believed to be his friend’s apartment at the time.

On police arrival, the man jumped off the unit’s balcony into the shopping centre grounds and the chase begun.

The police officers involved were later taken to Dandenong police station for drug and alcohol testing as well as to provide accounts of what occurred.

“The police involved are obviously very shaken up,” Det Insp Thomas said.

“They didn’t expect to come to work and be confronted with this.”

The State Coroner was notified, and a duty coroner was called out to inspect the scene to assist in any future inquest.

A worker at the shopping centre told Star News that “apparently, the man ran through to the building and straight down to the toilets. And he barricaded himself into the girls’ toilets”.

“And then, the police showed up not long after, and then they all went down the hallway and were trying to get into the toilet.”

The shopping centre worker added that there was “a lot of people around”.

“A lot of people were standing over in the delivery area, which is at the back where the dumpster area is.

“Everyone was standing around and surprised and asking us what was going on.

“There were about 20 police, car engines, and ambulance, and then there was a helicopter as well.”

Det Insp Thomas said he expected bystanders would be traumatised. Services were available to help them, he said.

Police are appealing for any witnesses, information and dashcam footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

Help is available. Lifeline 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or visit beyondblue.org.au

Five charged after alleged assault at pool

Police have charged five Casey people following an alleged assault at the Casey ARC Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Narre Warren last month.

It is alleged that a 19-year-old male lifeguard on duty was approached and assaulted by a group of youths around 5.50pm at the Park Road premises on Sunday 19 January.

He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

On Monday 17 February, detectives executed search

warrants at properties in Cranbourne North and Narre Warren South.

A 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, both from Cranbourne North, were arrested at the scene.

Theywerechargedwithaffrayandassaultandbailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 May.

Three teenagers were also arrested during the search warrants.

Two 17-year-old boys from the Casey area have been charged with affray and assault.

Both have been bailed to appear at a children’s court on 3 March.

A 15-year-old boy from the Casey area was released pending further enquiries.

IntheafternoonofMonday17February,an18-yearold Cranbourne North man self-presented to the Narre Warren police station.

He has been charged with affray and assault and bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 May.

Lynbrook Shopping Centre was cordoned off by police vehicles following the death of a man evading police. (Violet Li: 459688_03)

Car impoundment fury

By Violet Li

A Casey family has claimed Casey Council trespassed on their property and impounded their cars without notice, while the council said the family was storing unregistered cars on their neighbours’ lands and they had sent out “numerous formal notices”.

A member of the family posted their friction with the council on Facebook, which provoked another wave of widespread backlash against the council’s private land use permits. Community members say the incident shows the council’s overreach.

Jenny, a family member, said that on 10 February, when she came home from dropping her kid at school, she found the council officers were loading their car onto the back of a tow truck in their backyard. Three unregistered cars were towed away on the day without any notice, according to the family.

In retrospection, the family first heard from Casey Council in October last year regarding some unregistered cars in their backyard and the shipping containers. They said they moved quite a few cars straight away.

“We’ve always been compliant. Now then, the council officer came back again and said, I can see that you’ve moved a few cars. We need some more moved, but I’m happy to give you a bit more time. This is all happening over the Christmas New Year’s Eve period. That was the last time I spoke to him,” Jenny recalled.

“If I hadn’t come home, I wouldn’t have known who’d taken the cars because there was nothing left. We’ve got no notice that this was go-

ing to happen.

“The council officer told me that they had been sent paperwork. I haven’t received anything. And he goes, it was legally sent. My opinion of legally sent is registered mail or something where you’ve got to sign. That’s not happened.”

According to a statement provided by Casey Council, the family was storing their unregistered vehicles on the neighbouring property. After three months of unfruitful communication, the council sent out a formal notice that provided details of the vehicles that were impounded and how they could be released.

City of Casey acting director Community Life Callum Pattie said after receiving complaints from the community, officers inspected a property in Hampton Park.

“Six unregistered cars, three shipping containers, multiple boats, jet skis and trailers were found, and after an investigation, the owner of these items was identified as the occupant of the neighboring property located adjacent,” he said.

“Council attempted to reach out and engage with both the owner of the unregistered vehicles and the property owner without success.

“The owner of the unregistered vehicles lives adjacent to where the items were found and has been storing these items on land; they are not the owners of and do not have the authority to use.

“Council has been in contact the property owners of where the items were found to be stored. This property is owned by a local church, who purchased this land in 2015 and who have confirmed they have no lease agreements relating to their adjoining property.”

Council stated that no vehicles were removed

from the property of the vehicle owner, and officers did not enter the property of the vehicle owner.

The family said it was their property, and they had legal documents to back up their ownership.

They also said council officers left no ticket after the impounding.

“They left no tickets. I said, do I get something? He goes, no. You’ll get something in the mail,” Jenny said.

“We’re waiting for this supposed paperwork to arrive out of thin air.

“We want our property back, but we don’t know where they took them.”

Jenny said the permit for unregistered vehicles was a money grab.

“It’s $150 to apply and then $250 per car and the permit only for three months. This is just a money grab,” she said.

Star News was unable to reach the local church.

Libertarian MP David Limbrick said what the council did was outrageous.

“It is government overreach at its worst,” he said.

“Many people moved to this area so they would have the space to work on projects on their property. For many motoring enthusiasts in particular, it’s their passion and their life.

“Property rights are supposed to be protected by the Victorian Charter of Human Rights. The council has absolutely no right to be marching onto people’s properties and taking cars.

“I hope that the new councillors will step up to get rid of these draconian permits and take back control of the council from the bureaucrats.”

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Victoria MP Jeff Bourman said Casey Council’s private land use permit policy was a clear overreach.

“This instance is an example of what can happen when councils are given so much power,” he said.

“I understand there’s some contention about the status of the land at the rear of the rate payer’s premises, but that doesn’t excuse just coming and taking cars.”

He said if City of Casey wasn’t so busy taking cars from people’s backyards, they’d be able to deal with the real issues.

During the Christmas period last year, inaccurate wording about private land use permits, which is a part of the local law, on Casey Council’s webpage caused significant backlash and raised the awareness of the policy in the community.

After the website information was corrected, the community was still concerned about the law itself.

According to the law, a permit is needed when there are more than two unregistered vehicles on private land, which many residents believe is an overreach.

Council told Star News in January that the council’s involvement with a private land permit started with complaints, and the final application of a private land use permit is on a case-by-case basis.

It revealed that from July 2023 to December 2024, a total of 20 private land use permits were issued in the City of Casey.

Council added that in the last five years, the council had impounded vehicles from only 10 private properties.

Councillors, mayor weigh in after meeting disruption

By Ethan Benedicto

Following the adjourned Casey Council meeting on Tuesday 18 February, some councillors have weighed in on the events, reflecting on the genuine concerns of the citizens.

Cranbourne Gardens Ward councillor Michelle Crowther posted on her Facebook account on Wednesday 19 February that initially, she was surprised by the crowd, and that she was “sorry to our community members who asked legitimate questions and could not hear the answers due to the interruptions”.

“I understand the community’s frustration regarding Casey Council’s permit for private land use, I will continue to monitor the use of permits, to ensure they are applied fairly and in line with the intentions communicated to councillors,” she said.

She also added that while she was speaking to community members before the meeting, she was able to answer questions about the permit system and “reduce the fears” around it.

By the same token of an echoed sentiment by the gallery during the meeting, Crowther said that “a reminder that councillors are Casey community members too”.

“We are not employed full time at council and aren’t involved in the day-to-day operations, but I reassure the community we are working very hard

to represent community views and make Casey a better palace to live, work, and raise a family,” she said.

Casuarina Ward councillor Kim Ross said that she was personally “disappointed on behalf of any residents who showed up with a true and proper intention to be part of the democratic process”.

Casey mayor Stefan Koomen said the public’s “threatening“ behaviour at the council meeting would not be tolerated.

In a statement the next day, Cr Koomen said he was “incredibly disappointed with the behaviour displayed“

“This behaviour is not welcome and will not be tolerated.

“We had a number of residents attending the meeting in good faith, expecting to hear a response to their questions. Unfortunately they, along with our staff and my fellow councillors, were subjected to threatening behaviour.“

Cr Koomen said police were called due to the actions of “some individuals in the gallery“.

“I understand there is a real frustration over the past five years under Administration - the new councillors acknowledge this and we’re looking forward to listening to and representing our community.

“However, last night’s behaviour is not the way to go about this.“

Councillors sat at the front of the room, facing well over a hundred residents. (Gary Sissons: 460126_12)

Tensions boil over in Casey

By Ethan Benedicto and Violet Li

The first council meeting for the City of Casey this year was adjourned after hundreds of angry and frustrated residents shouted and heckled, prompting a police call-out.

Casey’s ratepayers attended the meeting on Tuesday 18 February, to voice their concerns and opinions on the municipality’s private land use permits and the proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station.

Those concerns included the governance and transparency and the daily maintenance of the roads, parks, and other facilities.

Many of them came to listen to their submitted public questions being read and answered.

Tensions were high from the beginning, with the crowd booing the country acknowledgement and Casey’s diversity statement.

Mayor Koomen first addressed the issues of the private land permit use.

“I want to reassure the community that local law permits are common across Victorian coun-

Residents shouted, “respect us first”, in return.

He reminded everyone after severe uproars and interjections that, if need be, the meeting would be adjourned for a later time.

When questions on the private land use permits were read, residents were calling the council to change the policy.

“We don’t want to hear your policy. It’s not your backyard.”

“Are you guys just for the government or the people?”

“We must be heard!”

“Human rights are our rights!”

“Our property is ours, not f***** yours!”

There was also a strong call from the assembly for the councillors to answer their questions, despite not having submitted a formal registered question to be addressed during the meeting.

While the Mayor had made it clear that only submitted questions were being answered, residents continued to persist, with many exclaiming that they should not be ignored and that their questions should be addressed right there and

Garage sale delight

By Violet Li

Casey local Alanah Parkin will bring their debut solo comedy to the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), saying the show is inspired by a real-life experience in the City of Casey.

The actor and the improviser of Cranbourne North said the show is a love letter to everyday families living in suburban areas.

“I think there’s not a lot of comedy that you’re ever going to see that’s about this specific experience of having a garage sale in the City of Casey,” they said.

“I think it’s very suburban. It clings to that suburban nostalgia.”

Directed by Issac Haigh, the winner of the MICF Best Newcomer 2023, Garage Sale tells the tale of a married couple of eclectic retirees in Narre Warren South as they navigate the emotional turmoil of downsizing their anarchic and sentimental lives together. The notorious couple in their sixties is having a garage sale because they need to downsize before moving to a retirement village up the road. There is a bargain, and there is a secret awaiting the audience. Both characters will be played by Alanah.

“I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, and I’ve been pretty scared of that. It’s a big thing to do it,” they said.

“It’s fifty minutes just me on stage running around getting changed.G

“I’ve done a lot of theater and a lot of performing, but I’ve never been on stage by myself for fifty minutes before.

“It’s a big deal for me. It’s definitely something I’ve been working towards for a really long time, and I’m really keen to get out there and finally do it.”

The actor said they came up with the idea when they were at a garage sale in Cranbourne North. They were wandering along, so was their train of thoughts.

“Garage sales are so interesting in that way because you go into someone’s garage, and it’s just their entire life, decades of their life, things they bought five years ago, things they bought fifty years ago, just all in a room,” they said.

“Where did you get this? Why do you have this? Thinking about the stories around all of the items that they have is really interesting.

“There’s just so many strange things there. You’re looking through the records and the books.

You find a magazine from the sixties. There are so many worlds in this.

“In the show, there are some moments of objects kind of coming to life in that way.”

Alanah bought a vinyl record at the garage sale that inspired them, the Disneyland Boys Choir singing folk songs from all different countries around the world in the sixties. To this day, they still could not believe they had that treasure for 50 cents, including a free freak cassette.

“My partner and I are both very interested in the history of kid’s entertainment, and Disney is a particular interest just because it has such a long history,” they said.

“We found it, and we have to get this. We took it straight home and put it on while we were making breakfast.

“They’re just singing all these different songs in different languages. Then they were singing Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gumtree because they had Australian ones as well.”

When asked why the show had been set in Narre Warren South instead of Cranbourne North, Alanah joked that Narre Warren South sounded funny to them.

“I spend a lot of time around here as well, so I’m familiar enough with the area that I felt like I could write a show set in Narre Warren South,” they said.

It has been a decade in theatre and film for Alanah. The actor has been doing improvisational theatre for the last three to four years.

“That’s when I really started kind of going down the comedy route more specifically,” they said.

There’s a lot of doing things for yourself, kind of doing everything for yourself, which is fun in a lot of ways.

“It makes you very adaptable and versatile.”

Alanah Parkin is an actor (Still Me, Residence), singer (Video Games Made My Son Like Country Music, Isaac Haigh Sings the Classics), improviser (The Big Hoo-Haa, The Improv Conspiracy) and voice actor (The Specter’s Desire, Tales from Tookaville). Garage Sale is their debut solo show.

Alanah Parkin’s Garage Sale

• 26 March - 6 April 2025, 8.45pm

• DoubleTree by Hilton (270 Flinders St)

• Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au/browseshows/alanah-parkin-s-garage-sale/

Cranbourne woman wins $1 million

A Cranbourne woman won $1 million on Valentine’s Day.

The local held the only division one winning entry nationally in draw 4508, drawn Friday 14 February 2025. She can look forward to $1 million.

“I’ve been playing the same numbers since the 90s, it’s about time they came up!” she said when an official from The Lott confirmed her newfound lottery loot.

“That was Friday’s draw. What a great Valentine’s Day present! I’ve never had one before.

“This is just surreal. This gives me so much more freedom. I think I’m going to go on a holi-

day amongst other things.

“My passions are travel and photography, which can both be expensive hobbies, but now I’ll be able to take some time off and pursue them.

She said the win took off the pressure of looking for a new job.

“Now I can take my time,” she said.

“What a beautiful start to the day.”

Her winning marked 13-game entry was purchased on The Lott website.

The winning numbers in the Weekday Windfall draw 4508 on Monday 17 February 2025 were 1, 38, 4, 16, 45 and 44, while the supplementary

Path to work

By Ethan Benedicto

Paving the way for the youth in the workforce has always been a crucial initiative of growing cities, and much remains the same for the City of Casey as the Job Readiness Bootcamp is set to take place in just a few weeks.

Located at Chisholm in Berwick, the boot camp will be held on Friday 28 February and begin at 10am in the morning, running until 1:15pm with a key initiative to foster growth in resume and cover letter writing, networking, career planning, and sessions about job market trends.

Andrew Simmons, chief executive of South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN), said that providing a platform for those aged between 18-25 who have left school, to grow their soft skills and establish themselves as key workforce candidates is important.

“There are a range of aspects around it, and one of them is knowing what jobs are actually out there and how to go about finding them,” he said.

“We hear a lot about unemployment rates, and as a region, the jobs are rich, especially if you know their whereabouts.

“The other element will be preparing everyone to present themselves in a really good light when they do land those interviews because that in itself is an art form, and some of these kids may have never done that before.”

Andrew, who will be the lead presenter on the day will take time to expand on the three key factors that were mentioned, but will also have employers who are looking for talent engaging with the boot camp’s participants.

According to Andrew, the day’s last session will be all about sitting down with employers and engaging in a “networking activity”.

“It’s about talking to those employers who are in those industries that you’re really keen to get into,” he said.

“To find out the day-to-day stuff, and break down some of those myths about, for example, always working at 4am for the bakery, even though there are other roles where you can start later.

“Look, these are things that young people, are hopefully, not hearing for the first time, but if they are hearing the same story from sources and they end up believing it.”

numbers were 14 and 31.

Across Australia, there was one division one winning entry in Weekday Windfall draw 4508, one in Victoria.

The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 311 so far in FY25, including 113 won by Tatts customers.

In FY24, Weekday Windfall, formerly Monday & Wednesday Lotto, created 99 millionaires across Australia.

During this time, there were 109 division one winning Weekday Windfall entries across Australia, which collectively won $108 million.

LENSCAPE

He added that giving transparency on what certain fields offer and their real balance of labour is key, especially for those who are new to the workforce.

Other organisations will also be present during the event, such as the City of Casey, the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance, the City of Greater Dandenong, Cardinia Shire and more. As important as work ethic and dedication are, there is an integral role that soft skills play when it comes to being successful and is something that Andrew, SELLEN and other parties during the event endeavour to achieve.

Round 3 of the VIC BMX State Series hosted by Casey BMX Club on Saturday 16 February. (Gary Sissons: 459533)

Casey local Alanah Parkin’s debut solo comedy the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival tells the story of a retired couple in Narre Warren South. Both characters will be played by Alanah. (Supplied)

Mayors’ plea for out here

By Corey Everitt and Violet Li

Mayors in the South East are pleading for the major parties to learn the lesson of the Werribee by-election by addressing the issues of the voters in outer Melbourne.

Appearing on ABC Melbourne on Friday 14 February, Cardinia Shire Mayor Jack Kowarzik spoke on behalf of advocacy group Outer Melbourne Councils (OMC) to state their view on the Werribee by-election.

The chair of OMC said the issues that affected Werribee applied to all residents on the urban fringe and pleaded with both Labor and Liberal to not take their issues for granted.

“I think the Government and the opposition won’t be properly learning the lessons of Werribee if they think those voter frustrations stop at the Ring Road, and that is fair to say for both the State and Federal Government,” he said.

OMC represents 10 councils that wrap around Melbourne, including the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire.

Traffic congestion, infrastructure gaps, local jobs and overall quality of life were the matters Mayor Kowarzik raised regarding the 1.6 million people who live in outer Melbourne.

When asked if he shared the same concern for the City of Casey, Mayor Stefan Koomen said the growing population in the City of Casey needed more investment than ever before.

Casey’s population is approximately 410,000 residents and is forecast to grow to more than 550,000 by 2041.

Mayor Koomen said the council was committed to advocating to the Federal and State Governments to support Victoria’s growth areas like Casey, with the critical projects and services they needed and deserved.

“Our engagement with our residents indicates

roads, rail, and transport upgrades are the most important for the Federal and State Government to invest in, followed by local job opportunities, health services and facilities, and other infrastructure,” he said.

“Among our key advocacy priorities are the upgrade and extension of Thompsons Road, the upgrade of the Clyde Road corridor, the construction of the Women’s Centre of Excellence at Casey Fields, and the construction of the Clyde Rail Link.

“These priorities are integral to support our rapidly growing population and provide the services, infrastructure, and community connectivity that our city needs.

“As Mayor, I am committed to continuing to work with all levels of government to ensure the best outcomes for our community.”

The Werribee by-election saw an unprecedented collapse of the Labor Party’s vote in the seat they have held safely for decades.

Recording a 16.5 per cent swing away, Labor’s primary could not break 30 per cent where it was previously polled at 45 per cent in 2022.

The South East is strongly Labor, with the exception of opposition leader Brad Battin’s hold of Berwick.

Pakenham and Bass will be key seats to pick up for the Liberal Party in 2026, as they are held by margins of less than 0.5 per cent.

Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South and Cranbourne are all held by 8 per cent for Labor.

“I think politicians need to stop assuming there are safe seats and respond better to voter concerns,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“The impacts of growth are two-fold. Firstly, new residents rightly demand infrastructure, but also with those new residents, it means there are a lot of first-time voters in these seats, no one really knows who these people will vote for and that is certainly enough to swing any of those seats.”

Motions passed amid chaos at first meeting of the year

By Ethan Benedicto

The City of Casey’s first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday 18 February was cut short after continued disruptions from the assembly, adjourned at 7.52pm to a later date.

After answering all registered 63 public questions, the council managed to go through two officers’ reports for consideration before Mayor Stefan Koomen officially adjourned the meeting.

The first report for Casey was to endorse the proposed notice of motion for telecommunications in growth areas and to proceed to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), as well as a motion for early years education.

In summary, the agenda looked for Casey to call on the MAV, a body of the State Government, to consider cellular telecommunications networks as an ‘essential service’, especially in new residential and commercial estates.

There was also a motion for the MAV to request the State Government to consult with the council’s Best Start Best Life (BSBL) reforms, and issues that have been identified that will prevent Victorian children from having access to two years of funded kinder.

Both motions were carried unanimously by the council but were echoed by protests of “no” from the assembly.

Akoonah Ward councillor Scott Dowling first motioned the topic, seconded by Tooradin Ward councillor Jennifer Dizon.

Dowling said “I think it’s an excellent motion, it’s looking after our young kids and the future of our society”.

Dizon, who said that she had been in touch with residents from in and around Clyde and Clyde North said that “residents have mentioned that they couldn’t even contact triple-zero”.

“This is not just an inconvenience, but also a safety risk, reliable mobile coverage, especially in growing areas,” she said.

Cranbourne Gardens councillor Michelle Crowther emphasised the Early Years section, saying that “we are heading for a crisis in Casey

kinders”.

“Currently we can’t service our maternal health needs, in terms of appointments and there are also 100 children this year missing out on 4-year-old kinder,” she said.

Casuarina Ward councillor Kim Ross also showed her support for the Early Years motion, adding that “given the high percentage of children aged zero to six years, and the need for support for them and their parents”.

The second item of discussion was the road discontinuance of Sofra Road/Bells Road crossing at Clyde North, with officer Kathryn Seirlis saying that the motion was to finalise a small discontinuance of a section of the road.

The reason was to make room for the desalination pipeline “at the request of the State Government and Melbourne Water”.

“We went through public consultation for the proposal and got no submissions, so we recom-

mend for this to be endorsed,” she said.

For background, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action requested for Casey to discontinue to road ‘for the purpose of minimising the road reserve at the intersection of Sofra Road and Bells Road’, as per the agenda.

This would mean that the water supply easement could increase in size.

There were no questions from councillors, with Dillwynia Ward councillor Anthony Walter moving the first motion of support, followed and seconded by Correa Ward councillor Gary Rowe.

However, it was at this point that the gallery had risen in volume again, with mayor Koomen asking for the public to “show some respect to your councillors as they speak to the motion”.

He gave the final warning with no reaction from the people and adjourned the meeting.

The other motions in the agenda that were not touched on included the 2024-2025 Growing

Suburbs Fund applications, with priorities, in order, for the Hallam Community Learning Centre expansion, Courtenay Ave and Hoystead Ave Reserve District Playground upgrade and Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre renewal.

There was an estimated cost of $660,000, with $330,000 from the council and the other $330,000 from the Growing Suburbs Fund on the Hallam Community Learning Centre.

The Reserve saw an estimated cost of $1.5 million, with $750,000 from the council and $750,000 from the fund/

Likewise, the Doveton Learning Centre saw an estimated cost of $926,000 in total, with $463,000 from the council and $463,000 from the fund.

The final officer report on the agenda included the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) Fund Applications, with the council looking to submit applications for three active transport projects.

This included the Graves Road shared user path in Akoonah Ward as the first priority, with 650 metres of shared pathway to be considered from Liara Boulevard to Domain Drive.

Once and if completed, the path would see safer walking and cycling routes along a 70-kilometre-per-hour arterial road.

The estimated cost was $493,350, with $246,675 from the council and $246,675 from GAIC.

The second priority would be the Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Clyde-Five Ways Road roundabout shared user path, with a proposed 800 metres of shared path network around the roundabout, also improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.

However, this requires private land consent for a small section.

The estimated cost is $614,900, with $307,450 from council and $307,450 from GAIC.

Likewise, the third priority was the Ballarto Road footpath in Cranbourne Gardens Ward, which would see a 1.5 metre footpath to connect existing footpaths between Houlder Avenue and Riverwood Drive in Junction Village.

The estimated cost is $164,450 with $82,225 from the council and $82,225 from GAIC.

The council managed to discuss two officers’ reports before Mayor Stefan Koomen had to adjourn the meeting due to constant interruptions. (Gary Sissons: 460126_18)

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

The orthodontic experts

South East Orthodontics, which has been servicing and supporting Casey for more than 20 years, is excited to announce it has moved to a new, purpose built practice on Clyde Road.

To ensure the new premises are Covid safe, South East Orthodontics sought the advice of Professor Laurie Walsh from Queensland University and Steven Kent from the Doherty Institute.

South East Orthodontics offers clinical excellence using the latest orthodontic developments and techniques.

Dr Kip Homewood and Dr Nishan Fernando are assisted by a highly trained team who ensure the best possible treatment outcome for all patients.

Training is vital in achieving these goals, so great emphasis is placed on continuing the education for all of the staff.

Dr Kip Homewood

Dr Homewood is a highly trained specialist orthodontist.

Kip completed his Bachelor of Dental Science degree at the University of Melbourne. He then completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery in Canada. Following this, he practiced general dentistry for 20 years before returning to complete a Masters in Dental Science Degree specialising in orthodontics. He has been a specialist orthodontist since 2000.

Kip’s a widely respected lecturer at local, national and international level and an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne where he teaches the postgraduate orthodontic students. Kip has examined for the University of Melbourne at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Australian Dental Course. He is a Member of the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Kip’s hobbies include swimming, cycling, skiing, golf and triathlon.

Kip has been married to his wife, Leah, since 1987. They have three children together; Matt, Laura and Renee. Kip is a grandpa (KipPa) to Noah and Orlando and enjoys spending time with the entire family; old and new. The household is filled with a dog Nala, and two cats, Gucci and Dior.

Kip has an intense passion for his work. He loves orthodontics and the results achieved from

treatment. He is always happy to see how pleased his patients and their families are with the results. You’ll be comfortable with his easy-going nature and sense of humour. He’ll treat you like a member of his family and your children as if they were his own.

Dr Nishan Fernando

Dr Nishan Fernando, is from the deep south of New Zealand. He completed a Bachelor of Science in physiology, and Post Graduate Diploma in Science, in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Otago. His area of research was in hypertension, and he also published a Poisons Information Monograph for the World Health Organisation.

Nishan later travelled to South East Asia where he completed his Bachelor in Dental Surgery at

Hong Kong University. It was during this time his keen interest in orthodontics and facial growth developed.

With his successes in the undergraduate dental program, Nishan was employed in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Prince Philip Dental Hospital as a House Officer. The position involved treating complex cases and medically compromised children, as well as orthodontic patients under the supervision of his orthodontic professor.

During this time he volunteered his time with a cleft lip and palate team which went to Cambodia. He also volunteered his time to the Warehouse Project, which was set up to provide a safe and fun environment for young teens to socialise in Hong Kong.

Upon returning to New Zealand, and a few more examinations, he registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and The General Dental Council (UK). After a few years in private general dental practice in New Zealand, Nishan attended the University of Adelaide to complete his Doctoral in Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics) in 2005. His area of research involved the investigation of dental, skeletal and facial complex changes with extraction orthodontic therapy, and assessment of the resultant aesthetic changes of the face . He also underwent further examinations to be a Member of the Royal College of Surgeon. Nishan is also the secretary of the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontists. This organisation has the primary function of providing continued education conferences for orthodontists with world class speakers, and is also the primary supporter of the Cleft Lip and Palatal Project in East Timor.

Being from New Zealand, Nishan loves mountain biking, skiing and more recently has taken up snowboarding. He has also jumped off a few bungy bridges.

When he gets the chance, Nishan returns back to Queenstown to visit his extended family and partake in his outdoor pursuits.

South East Orthodontics is located at Suite 5, Level 1, 18-24 Clyde Road, Berwick. .Phone 9330 0702 or visit the website at www.seortho.com.au

More mental health support for Victorian students

The state government has announced three new programs as part of the $200 million Schools Mental Health Menu, providing targeted mental health support for students when and where they need it most.

The Mental Health Menu is designed for schools to select evidence-based programs, support staff and resources which enables schools to select the mental health tools that best match the unique needs of their student cohorts.

The Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu

was established in 2022 in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which found that schools play a critical role in identifying student mental health and wellbeing challenges and making referrals to appropriate supports.

All Victorian government schools have access to the Mental Health Fund and receive ongoing funding for the menu.

The updated menu includes 59 evidencebased programs and initiatives, supporting schools to meet their students’ mental health

and wellbeing needs, with special consideration given to programs servicing rural and regional areas.

Through the menu, schools can book trusted services in areas such as social and emotional learning, mental health literacy and eating disorders. The menu also includes services that provide early intervention and cohort specific support, such as therapeutic programs and how to cope with disaster, grief and loss.

Schools can also use the fund to employ

qualified mental health and wellbeing professionals, including counsellors, youth workers, and arts, music and animal therapy services.

Education Minister Ben Carroll said “Not only are we putting thousands of mental health workers and leaders in every Victorian school, we’re also making sure kids have access to a full suite of mental health tools right through their time at school.”

“We’re making sure every child has the support they need to thrive at school, without the added expense for families.”

Dr Nishan Fernando.

Dr Kip Homewood.

Key road link finally open

By Ethan Benedicto

As motorists drove through the newly opened Bells Road, both the City of Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen and Dillwynia Ward councillor Anthony Walter took time to marvel at the new arterial passage.

The new, six-kilometre road connecting Clyde North and Berwick has since served as a critical passageway and has been crucial in easing congestion on the main path of Clyde Road.

Looping through O’Shea Road to Heather Grove, it has effectively replaced the former Soldiers Road which was notorious for its congested t-intersection, especially with neighbouring schools during peak hours.

Koomen acknowledged not just the local residents’ concerns, but motorists who frequent Clyde Road on its congestion, saying that “with this road open, it’s a big boost for our local road network”.

“We want to say a big thank you to our local residents for their patience while works were taking place to get this new stretch of road opened up.

“We think it was worth the short-term pain of road works to get Bells Road opened up, to support our growing community and make travelling to work, school, and sport much easier,” he said.

Local councillor Walter echoed the same sentiments, saying that there is an “extreme importance” in Bells Road, especially considering that “at any time during rush hour, Clyde Road is a mad house”.

“So just having this, to be able to get down to O’Shea Road and onto the freeway much easier, it really helps,” he said.

Koomen added that advocating for further works to be done in the area, namely the Thompsons Road roundabout, was a key piece in the council’s agenda.

“The Thompsons Road extension and the connection between Officer and all the way to Pakenham is one of our most vital road links, it’s been on the forward plan for many years.

“We’re advocating to all levels of government for the federal election coming up,” he said.

The project, which was valued at over $58 million, provides an alternative route for residents to travel between the northern and southern ends of Casey.

The road, which previously met delays due to gas pipeline works, now also supports new bus routes that service the greater Clyde North area.

Building on the importance of future upgrades to Thompsons Road, Walter agreed that the removal of the roundabout is a “major topic”.

“Luckily with Bells Road, that’s going to help divert the traffic when the construction begins to get those traffic lights up,” he said.

Ultimately, however, the vision has always

been to ensure that there is infrastructure that accommodates the growing needs of newer areas in the city.

Mayor Koomen said that these roads “have been planned”, but it’s “just about getting on with it and delivering them”.

“We want to work with all levels of government to make that happen, and Thompsons Road is a particularly important link for employment precincts.

“It’s about jobs, it’s about getting people home quicker to be with their families, and it’s an absolute priority for this area,” he said.

Walter is on the same page, adding that there needs to be more motions on being “proactive and less reactive when it comes to city planning”.

“Maybe instead of just making two lanes for a road, we could make it three, we just need to think about the future, so if we can focus on that, we’ll be kicking goals,” he said.

Narre Warren North community is going back in time

By Ethan Benedicto

Relics of the past are soon to be unveiled as the Narre Warren North community and surrounds prepare themselves for the opening of a 25-year-old time capsule.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday 15 March, the grand reveal of 36 capsules from 2000 is just under a month away, with artefacts placed underground by local schools, community organisations and charities to be displayed for all to see.

John Ternel, Narre Warren North Community Association member said that he, his family, and many others are excited to unpack the treasures that were left behind.

“Look I’m very excited because you’ve got 25 years of history down there about to be opened up, and we get to see what was happening in the community all that time ago,” he said.

“We also have the chance to read some of the stories from the schools, a bit of a snapshot in a sense of what their lives were like.

“It’s like stepping into a time machine, uncovering memories, trends, and the everyday items that shaped our lives back then.”

These 36 containers were put together by 29 groups as mentioned above, which, once fully ‘excavated’ will be displayed inside the Narre Warren North Hall for

everyone to see. The day will begin with a brief welcoming ceremony at 11am, which is followed by the excavation at 11:30.

However, the excitement doesn’t end there, for at 2pm, a new time capsule will be inserted, put together by current community organisations to be opened in 27 years, just in time for the Narre Warren North Prima-

ry School’s 175th anniversary.

As the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Dandenong and Endeavour Hills, John had in mind of playing his part and storing trophies, flyers and pamphlets that are relevant to Holden, since for him, “it’s about more than just nostalgia—it’s about preserving history”.

“I’m planning to put together a collection of artifacts that capture significant moments, including the rise and fall of Holden Australia, which was such a huge part of our automotive and cultural identity,” he said.

“Since Holden has closed down, it would be a great opportunity for people in the future to see what was going on 27 years ago.

“They’re going to be seeing these old Commodores, which, at that point, I’m guessing would be collectibles.”

He further added that aside from the historical significance of the items that are soon to be unearthed, there are also personal and emotional connections, from childhood keepsakes and other mementos.

“For me, opening a time capsule is about preserving and celebrating history—not just personal memories but moments that defined our community and country,” he said.

“It’s a chance to look back, appreciate how far we’ve come, and ensure future generations understand the journey that got us here.”

The City of Casey’s Mayor, Stefan Koomen, walking alongside Dillwynia Ward Councillor Anthony Walter at the intersection between Bells Road and Thompsons Road. (Ethan Benedicto: 459478_10)

Mayor Koomen and Councillor Walter under the sign near the intersection. (Ethan Benedicto: 459478_01)

Both Walter and Koomen touched on the importance of of Bells Road, as well as the advocacy that Casey Council would play when it came to the removal of the Thompsons Road roundabout. (Ethan Benedicto: 459478_08)

Mike Allday (left) and John Ternel (right) at the site of the time capsule. (Stewart Chambers: 459500_05)

Unforgettable journey to stunning destinations

IF it’s time to embark on an unforgettable journey to a myriad of destinations where each day unveils nature’s wonders and with itineraries shaped by the elements, then its timetoexploreaVikingcruise.

If water is a love language, then Viking have some of the most glorious lagoons and hot spring adventures to tick off the bucket list.

The famous cruise line’s wellness-focused shore excursions are highly sought after by travellers who want a little more from their holiday. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Iceland with impressive natural wonders including the famed Golden Circle waterfall, rugged canyons and geothermal features including the Blue Lagoon.

Soak in the mineral-rich waters of Iceland’s fabled Blue Lagoon, said to be the nation’s health and beauty secret. Meet a guide for a drive through the rugged lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, home of this famous geothermal pool Reykjavík is home to endless charms, watched over by the majestic Esja mountain range. The breathtaking natural sites are in abundance, from towering waterfalls and soaring mountains to blue thermal springs.

Relax in the warmth of a rejuvenating oceanside geothermal lagoon during a visit to the Sky Lagoon. Unwind as and enjoy breathtaking views of the North Atlantic Ocean through the largest single window in Iceland.

There will be free time to explore the spa at leisure, or choose to partake in the ‘Ritual’; a unique seven-step experience. Start with an immune system-stimulating dip in the cold plunge, then visit the sauna, letting the heat open pores, remove toxins and cleanse the skin. Slowly stroll through the cold fog-mist space, balancing out the heat of the sauna breathing deeply and refreshing the senses. Then, apply the lagoon’s signature body scrub to exfoliate the skin before entering the steam sauna to maximize its healing benefits. Closing eyes and enjoying the moment of tranquillity. After, feeling renewed and relaxed, passengers return to the ship.

When in Budapest it is time to soak up the restorative powers of thermal baths and join locals in a centuries-old tradition. Ancient Romans discovered the benefits of bathing in the thermal waters that flow through Budapest.

Accompany a guide to one of the city’s historic baths, immersing in the therapeutic waters that have flowed here for centuries. During the visit, mingle with the locals taking a soak or observe some bathers as they pass the time with a game of chess in the pool. So revered have these waters

been that many have been sheltered within facilities that exude a temple-like aura.

For those yearning to travel this October, then it’s time to unravel the mysteries of one of the most captivating corners of Asia with the Hong Kong to Tokyo cruise.

Mingle with merchants at Hong Kong’s famed Stanley Market. Learn the nuances of Taiwan from a local. Hear about the recovery of Nagasaki and Hiroshima from residents, connect to their rebirths. And make sense of the dazzling cultures of Shimizu and Tokyo with the help of those who live there. Overnight stays in four ports allow passengers to delve deeply.

Immerse in one of Japan’s most cherished rit-

uals, bathing in a hot spring. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach to the Aqua Garden, set in the hills above Beppu. Here, 11 onsens, or openair pools, invite a relaxing dip in the therapeutic, mineral-rich waters.

There are also sauna with a variety of salt scrubs to massage away any aches and leave feeling refreshed and invigorated.

For an authentic Japanese bathing experience, soak in the Tanayu spring pool where a guide will explain the culture and etiquette behind the tradition. Afterward, travel to Umi Jigoku, one of Beppu’s ‘Boiling Hells’. Marvel at its boiling turquoise waters and enchanting, otherworldly aura.

Viking state-of-the-art ships turn every room

into a panoramic gallery, offering incredible views with floor-to-ceiling windows inspired by Norway’s bird hides.

Whether indoors or outdoors, be immersed in extraordinary views in absolute comfort while exploring the Viking way.

Join Viking for a truly immersive experience that bringing passengers closer to nature and all her splendour and where prices cover everything guests needs, and nothing they do not.

To learn more about the many Viking adventures that await, please visit viking.com or phone 138 747.

Soak in the mineral-rich waters of Iceland’s fabled Blue Lagoon.

LEE MCCARTHY

Immerse in one of Japan’s most cherished rituals, bathing in a hot spring.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Iceland with impressive natural wonders.

A joy for the spirit and the mind

CONSIDER the joy of taking a journey to engageyourmindanddelightyourspiritwhere you return home from your dream holiday in better shade physically and mentally than when you left.

This is not only possible but by indulging in the centuries-old Nordic bathing ritual of hot and cold therapy during your voyage you will be booking your next vacation before you leave the ship.

Following Nordic tradition, Viking’s onboard Badestamp, a traditional wooden-sided hot tub, is perfect for relaxing after a day of exploration. Try the longstanding Scandinavian practice of alternating between hot and cold when bathing to relax and rejuvenate.

Or spend time discovering the benefits of utilising the world’s first snow grotto at sea aboard all Viking cruise ships.

As Steve McKenna discovered on his fifteenday voyage on Viking Jupiter from Barcelona to Copenhagen, the snow grotto is among the most irresistible features of the Viking Cruise Line.

“The key to the Nordic bathing ritual, we’re told by the spa’s therapists, is not necessarily how long you spend in each place, but how often you repeat the process. Warming the body opens the pores; the cold rinses the toxins and closes pores,” he said.

“The spa area has other wellness diversions, including a free-to-use gym with weights and cardio machines, daily yoga and stretching classes and a hair salon offering everything from trims to Nordic scalp treatments.”

As spa designer Raison d’Etre explained these relaxation therapies are onboard to help you rejuvenate the body and calm the mind enhancing your health and well-being, with the entire process designed to detoxify, energize, and restore balance.

“Connectivity to nature, a healthy lifestyle, beauty, and sound mindfulness are characteristics of the Nordic people. The LivNordic Spa

pursues holistic wellbeing by drawing on the rich resource that Nordic culture–traditional and contemporary, has to offer.”

For the second consecutive year, Cruise Critic editors awarded Viking Best for Light Expedition and Best Spa.

“The LivNordic Spa is among the most gorgeous and serene spas we’ve seen at sea.

The spa, found aboard all of Viking’s oceangoing vessels, is inspired by Nordic traditions, which offer a balance between hot and cold therapies

that are said to stimulate the circulatory system,”

Cruise Critic said

“The pretty thermal suite features a beautifully designed thalassotherapy pool with an adjacent hot tub. They’re backed by a fireplace, which uses flame-like water vapor and is the first we’ve seen in a cruise ship spa.”

“In keeping with hot and cold traditions, other features include warmed tile loungers, a rustic Norwegian-style shower that features a bucket that dumps cold water on your head, a steamy sauna and a snow grotto.”

“Even better, whereas most cruise lines charge a premium for thermal spa time, Viking has bucked the trend, making access complimentary. Viking sets the bar sky-high for cruise ship spas.”

Viking thrives on being the number one destination focused and culturally enriching cruise line. Is it time for you to discover what makes Viking the world’s leading small ship cruise line?

Book your therapeutic cruise today by visiting www.viking.com or by phoning (AU) 138 747.

The Nordic Spa, found aboard all of Viking’s oceangoing vessels, is inspired by Nordic traditions, which offer a balance between hot and cold therapies.

LEE MCCARTHY

Utilise the well equipped fitness centre while on board a Viking cruise.

Relaxation therapies including the sauna are all onboard to help you rejuvenate the body and calm the mind.

If yoga is part of your fitness routine you can enjoy onboard.

MEDITERRANEAN’S ICONIC SHORES

Barcelona to Istanbul or vice versa

29 DAYS | 8 COUNTRIES | 23 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: OCT-DEC 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; FEB-MAY, JUL 2027

From $23,095pp in Veranda Stateroom

From $27,595pp in Penthouse Veranda

NORTH PACIFIC PASSAGE

Tokyo to Vancouver or vice versa

23 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 8 GUIDED TOURS

SAIL: MAY, SEP 2025; MAY, SEP 2026; MAY 2027

From $12,195pp in Veranda Stateroom

From $18,195pp in Penthouse Veranda

EXPL RER

Enjoy free flight offers with selected river, ocean or expedition voyages, valued up to AU$2,400 per person. Plus AU$500 shipboard credit with any ocean and expedition booking. Available for a limited time only, offers end 31 March 2025.

ICONS OF THE VIKING AGE

Bergen to Copenhagen or vice versa

22 DAYS | 8 COUNTRIES | 17 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL: MAY-SEP 2027

From $19,795pp in Veranda Stateroom

From $24,295pp in Penthouse Veranda

Terracotta Warriors.

In Xi’an, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilisation, witness the astounding 8,000 life-sized sculptures of the Terracotta Army. Discovered by sheer chance in 1974 when a group of farmers were digging a well, the soldiers form part of the necropolis built for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang in 210 BC.

Your holiday includes

Full-Board Cruise

14 night full-board cruise on board Westerdam

Holland America Line’s Westerdam is a superb ship for those looking for a leisurely pace of life at sea, yet with interesting activities, modern innovations, high-quality dining options, and contemporary entertainment venues.

Ropeway cable car; complimentary boat trip across Lake Ashi and complimentary high-speed bullet train to Tokyo

Hotel Stays

23 Nights | 22 February 2026 | Prices fr $8,899pp

Witness China’s Terracotta Army and the Great Wall, cruise the highlights of the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan on Holland America Line’s Westerdam, and experience Mount Fuji in bloom.

Be swept away in China’s extraordinary ancient past during this all-encompassing trip. Follow in the footsteps of emperors in Beijing’s Forbidden City and Summer Palace, and see the Great Wall of China. Meet Xi’an’s 8,000 terracotta warriors, every one unique.

Fly to Hong Kong for a one-night stay before embarking Holland America Line’s elegant Westerdam. Be awed by Boracay’s powdery white-sand beaches before exploring vibrant Manila. From port in Keelung, discover Taipei, the bustling capital of Taiwan. Witness the tranquil beauty of Japan’s Ishigaki Island ahead of Osaka, home to sacred shrines and sushi dens. Disembarking in Tokyo for a two-night hotel stay, you’ll experience a full-day Mount Fuji tour.

Visiting: Hong Kong, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Manila, Kaohsiung, Keelung, Ishigaki Island, Naha, Osaka, Yokohama

Fully Escorted Tours

Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square; Great Wall of China and Summer Palace; fast Train to Xi’an; Terracotta Warriors; complimentary tour of Mount Fuji including the Hakone

Five-star hotel stays in Beijing, Xi’an and Hong Kong

Four-star hotel stay in Tokyo

All Flights, Taxes & Transfers

Overnight flight

Show pulls in thousands

JINDIVICK FARM

560 Jacksons Track, Jindivick FOR SALE

Expressions of Interest closing 26th March at 12 noon unless sold prior

Evan Broadbent 0438 379 151 evan.broadbent@harcourts.com.au harcourts.net/au/office/warragul

Todd McKenna 0418 391 182 todd.m@neilsonpartners.com.au neilsonpartners.com.au

602HA (1490 Acres approx.) ACROSS 13 TITLES

Offered for sale for the very first time in the renowned West Gippsland dairy region located at the foothills of the Baw Baw Ranges, only 10 minutes from the Princes Highway and 90 minutes from Melbourne.

• 13 Titles opportunity for development (STCA)

• Substantial dairy infrastructure and shedding

• Three homes

• Secure permanent water supply including 200ML of dam storage, irrigation licence for 60ML, plus the convenience of mains water

• All weather laneways & sealed road frontage

• Currently milking 800 cows through multiple herringbone dairies with capacity to increase productivity

Jindivick Farm offers income and limitless potential.

Tooradin had its annual Tractor Pull and Truck Show on Saturday 15 February. Despite the wind and the rain, the community event attracted thousands of visitors.

The locals gathered around to see tractors competing, car shows, helicopter rides and burnouts.

Paul Bennet Airshows. Stunt flying.

Braxx from Bittern was having his birthday, and they got the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to him.

Grading the track.

Coming back after a run.

Paul Bennet Airshows. Stunt flying.

Veolia challenges the EPA

By Violet Li

Hallam Road landfill operator Veolia brought the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria to the state tribunal claiming the state environment watchdog didn’t make a timely decision on its development licence application for the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station.

In an update to the community, Veolia claimed that a timely decision was important as the proposed Hampton Park Transfer Station would be a vital part of South East Melbourne’s waste infrastructure.

“It is central to modern waste management systems that will transition the region away from landfills and deliver waste to facilities that recycle, recover, or effectively dispose of different waste streams,” it stated.

The landfill operator applied to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on Thursday 13 February, to seek a decision on the development licence application for the Hampton Park Transfer Station that was being assessed by the EPA.

“This is because the timeframe for the EPA to make a decision on our proposal expired on January 23, 2025, and we want to have clarity on the outcome, both for the community and ourselves,” it stated.

Veolia stated the action was commonly undertaken to ensure projects continue along the decision-making path.

On 24 January, EPA requested more information from Veolia after receiving more than 700 community submissions. The request has paused EPA’s assessment and decision-making process until the applicant provides a satisfactory response to the matters raised in the submissions.

EPA is also preparing a consultation conference in the community.

Veolia stated that the community feedback already shared with the EPA about the project would also be shared with VCAT, and community consultation would proceed as normal.

“The Tribunal will consider all of this feedback in its final determination. As part of the process, we are still preparing a detailed response to those community submissions, and these will be made publicly available by the EPA in due course,” it stated.

Several community organisations have publicly called out Veolia’s latest move.

Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association vice president Anthony Tassone said the court action was big business trying to ride roughshod over the clearly outlined processes by EPA Victoria and deprive the community of having their say at the upcoming ’conference of interested persons’ that the EPA would be hosting.

“Rather than pulling these stunts and trying to sidestep our independent environment protection regulator, Veolia should focus on addressing

the request for further information by the EPA with their development licence application, and to respond to the community’s concerns as outlined in the 751 submissions to EPA’s consultation last year,” he said.

“Given Veolia’s appalling compliance record at the landfill at Hampton Park Hill and not abiding by EPA’s distance separation guidelines from neighbourhood for their proposed waste transfer station, they must be properly scrutinised by our environment regulator.”

A spokesperson of the Lynbrook Resident Association said Veolia had just crossed the line.

“Instead of proving they can operate responsibly, they’re trying to bully their way through the system,” they said.

“This isn’t just about a waste transfer station anymore. This is about a corporation trying to silence the very processes meant to protect us.”

Narre Warren police station closed for upgrades

Refurbishments for the Narre Warren Police Station are set to begin in March, with the public reception counter expected to be closed until February 2026.

To be precise, upgrade works are scheduled for 11 March this year, and are expected to be completed by 28 February the year after.

The station design includes new public-facing areas and a major upgrade to the building to enable police to better serve the community.

Southern Metro Division 3 superintendent Damian Jackson said that “the refurbished Narre Warren police station will provide our officers with the modern facilities required to carry out the important work they do in keeping the community safe”.

“Officers based within the new station will continue to perform round-the-clock patrols, which are vital to help prevent crime and arrest offenders.”

Despite the closures, community members who require urgent police attendance should call Triple Zero.

Non-urgent crimes, such as property damage, can be reported via the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or by using our online reporting service at police.vic.gov.au.

The Narre Warren Police Station is undergoing some upgrades as part of a $78 million investment to the southeast region by the State Government. (Supplied)

Veolia said they were now waiting for the initial orders from VCAT.

“Once these orders have been made, we will have more information about the Tribunal’s requirements, which we will share where appropriate,” it stated.

“It is important to note that the EPA may still reach a decision about the proposal.

“We will keep the community updated on all possible developments.

“It is our hope that a timely decision will be made about this vital facility, which will give every Casey resident clarity about the future of the site.”

A spokesperson of EPA said the Development Licence application was a complex process.

“Given the nature of the Veolia application, EPA has required time for both the procurement of information, consultation with the community

and the opportunity to properly consider all the factors that could impact on the local community and the environment,” they said.

“There is a high level of public interest in this application. We spoke to almost 100 people across three information sessions and have now reviewed all 751 submissions.

“On 24 January 2025, EPA provided redacted copies of the submissions to Veolia asking them to review and provide a response.

“Veolia’s decision to lodge an appeal with VCAT is their legal right, but the development licence application process will continue. EPA will continue to use feedback from the community to inform our assessment process.”

In September last year, EPA started civil proceedings against Veolia in the Supreme Court, alleging a range of serious non-compliances with the State’s environmental protection laws.

South East man pleads guilty to five drug charges

By Ethan Benedicto, Cam Lucadou-Wells

A South East man has pleaded guilty to five drug charges, including trafficking, at the Victorian County Court.

Lionel Ari Albert pled guilty after a sentence indication to trafficking methylamphetamine and the possession of precursor chemicals phosphorus, iodine and hypophosphorous acid above legal limits in Langwarrin South on 13 September 2022.

should receive structured supervision and therapeutic intervention, considering he is currently drug-free and on a rehabilitation pathway.

The prosecution opposed the CCO proposal, instead highlighting that Albert had an extensive criminal history, including multiple breaches of previous community orders between 2007 and 2017.

It was further added that due to his involvement in drug trafficking and attempt to obstruct justice, Albert’s sentencing should follow a traditional custodial sentence with a non-parole period.

Endeavour Hills Police Station is a 12-minute drive, Dandenong Police Station is a 16-minute drive and Cranbourne Police Station is a 20-minute drive from the Narre Warren facility. The upgraded Narre Warren Police Station will continue to accommodate a range of police functions, that together will ensure delivery of a quick and agile police service.

For those who need to attend a 24-hour police station reception counter has three options within less than 15km of Narre Warren Police Station.

He also pled guilty to the possession of a firearm while being a prohibited person, the handling of stolen goods and attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to persuade witnesses to retract their police statements.

The courtroom debate on 14 February hinged on sentencing - imprisonment versus monitored rehabilitation.

With Albert having already served 820 days in custody, his defence advocated for a sentence equal to the time served combined with a Community Correction Order.

The defence further argued that Albert

Judge Stewart Bayles acknowledged the legal validity of a combined sentence of jail and a CCO, but also expressed concern given Albert’s non-compliance with court orders.

His criminal history included being convicted of drug trafficking and possession involving methylamphetamine and other chemicals in 2018.

Albert was scheduled to reappear at court on Thursday, 20 February.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting with the local community about the Development Licence application for the proposed waste transfer station next to the Hallam Road landfill. (Stewart Chambers: 348748)

Journeys revealed

South-East MPs have shared stories on their migrant families’ journeys to Australia and their sense of identity.

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and state upper house member Lee Tarlamis have both penned personal stories that feature in the ‘Heartlands: At the Heart of Identity’ publication, produced by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia.

Ms Fernando says in the book she sees herself as a reflection of the communities she serves.

“I’m hardworking, a migrant and I’m unafraid to speak up when it matters,” she says.

“These values have shaped my life, from my childhood as a migrant in suburban Melbourne to becoming the first Sri Lankan-born member of Australia’s Federal Parliament.

“My story begins in Sri Lanka, where my parents led a comfortable life. They had stable careers and a close-knit community, but they wanted something more for my brother and me. They wanted us to have opportunities we wouldn’t have had in Sri Lanka. So, in 1999, when I was just 11, they made the life-changing decision to leave everything behind and start again in Australia.

“The first months were tough. We arrived in Melbourne, then briefly moved to Sydney before finally settling in Dandenong North – and we never moved again.

“Starting over in a new country was a challenge, especially for my parents, who had to navigate language barriers, cultural differences, and the reality of building a new life from scratch. But through their courage and resilience, my brother and I learned the value of hard work and sacrifice.“

Ms Fernando said she loved the diversity in Melbourne’s South East - “a cultural melting pot of Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese, and more“.

“Here, I learned the true meaning of community as people from different backgrounds came together.“

South-East Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis tells of reconnecting with his heritage.

“I became determined to reconnect with Greek culture.

“Embracing both the Greek community and my wife’s Vietnamese culture helped me value diversity and the importance of preserving it.

“I’ve come to see how important it is for migrants and their descendants to retain their heritage while also integrating into a new society. For me, this balance – holding onto my Greek roots while embracing my broader Australian identity – has become a lifelong journey of understanding and growth.

“I am passionate about ensuring that every voice is heard, regardless of how long someone’s family has been in Australia or where they have come from.

“Whether they are part of well-established communities or have recently arrived, I am committed to making sure they feel represented and empowered. My goal is to build bridges and create opportunities that benefit everyone in my community, not just my own diaspora.

“I firmly believe that our society is at its strongest when we move forward together, and I will continue to dedicate myself to fostering progress, equity, and inclusion for all.“

The book, launched at Parliament House in Canberra this week by Ms Fernando, also contains reflections by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, former Socceroo Archie Thompson as well as the children of migrants from 15 different countries.

Published recently as part of AMES Australia’s annual ‘Heartlands’ cultural project, the book is a reflection of Australia’s long and diverse history as a nation of migrants.

AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the book was timely at a point in history when polarisation and divisiveness are on the rise across the globe.

“Stories of settlement in Australia, no matter where you have come from, are things that unite us,” Ms Scarth said.

“These stories are reflection of how migrants have helped to build Australia and helped to create the successful brand of multiculturalism we enjoy along with the high levels of social cohesion that we have built.

Celebrating women with Jo Stanley

As a celebration of International Women’s Day, the City of Casey will feature Jo Stanley, at Bunjil Place on Wednesday 5 March.

Starting at 10am and running until 12:30pm, guests will be greeted with complimentary mimosa and morning tea, before settling into an event poised to honour the achievement of women in business, while fostering connections within the community.

Casey’s deputy mayor Melinda Ambros said that “this unique International Women’s Day event is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and support local businesses”.

Jo will share her journey and insights as a trailblazing female leader and then join a panel of successful women in business to discuss their experiences, challenges, and triumphs, offering valuable lessons and inspiration.

The panel will be hosted by the chair of Women Making It Work, Khatija Halabi, and will feature best-selling author and keynote speaker Kabinga Mazaba, St. Margaret’s Berwick Grammar School principal Dr Annette Rome, and Casey’s director of customer and corporate services Jen Bednar.

Following the panel, guests can explore a vibrant market featuring local goods and services from members of the Women Making It Work business network.

Uniting AgeWell Community Hub Berwick

Community Open Day

Date: Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Time: 10am – 3pm Location:12 Wheeler

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and South Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis contribute to the book. (Supplied)

Learning centre underway

Clyde Grammar has held a sod turning ceremony to signal the beginning of the development of a $11 million Collaborative Learning Centre.

The learning centre is expected to enable Clyde Grammar to offer students a complete Foundation to Year 12 education.

The Collaborative Learning Centre will be completed ready for the start of the 2026 school year and the first Year 7 students will become part of the school in 2027.

The sod marking the start of the new development was turned by South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Michael Galea. South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis also attended the ceremony.

“Parents, students and teachers are very excited for this next stage in Clyde Grammar’s

journey to begin. The new facility will include state-of-the-art facilities for our current students and for those students who join us in the future,” principal Leanne Evans said.

“It will be a cornerstone for collaborative learning and foster innovation and creativity.”

When completed, the centre will include four classrooms, a sessional music room, a full-size basketball court, an assembly hall with retractable seating and a before and after-school care area.

The centre will also incorporate student change rooms, storage areas, a staff office and amenities.

Year 3 student Aiden is looking forward to being active and playing basketball in the new

Centre.

“I hope there are two basketball hoops on each side and lots of lines and curves on the floors, pictures on the walls and seats to rest and watch people play sports. I think it will be amazing,” he said.

Year 4 student Sahib is also excited about the sports facilities in the new Centre.

“I am really excited about our gymnasium for PE, and we will be able to be all together for our school assemblies,” she said.

Clyde Grammar was awarded $3.6 million towards building the centre by the Victorian Government’s Building Fund for Non-Government Schools.

Mrs Evans said the school hoped to achieve

another milestone in 2032 when the first cohort of students was expected to graduate as the inaugural valedictorians.

“So many elements have helped Clyde Grammar reach this milestone, and our students continue to flourish,” she said.

“We have healthy waiting lists with many more local families wanting to send their children to our school, and we think very carefully about every decision we make – everything we do at Clyde Grammar has our students’ success, wellbeing and growth at its core.

“We look forward to watching the evolution of the Collaborative Learning Centre and to taking the next step in this exciting journey together as a strong school community.”

Floral creations and connections: Bouquets for loved ones

By Ethan Benedicto

Held just before Valentine’s Day, the Andres Pancha Anchor Community gathered at the entrance of Wilson Botanical Park for their first activity of the year.

Called the Flower Bar, it involved participants trying their hands at making a bouquet for their loved ones, a process that involved careful and firm handling, but also that splash of creativity to make each flower blend amongst one another.

The charity’s director, Katalina Vergara, said that despite the cloudy weather and the rain, “we feel good”.

“People pushed through and it still turned out great, you know? We’re also very excited for this year since we feel more prepared.

“There are events in the works, and we also finally have people who are donating to the charity so we have that budget in our pocket, which also means that we can make these activities more fun,” she said.

From roses, carnations, and peonies to daisies, every person had their hands busy, with Divine Pancha leading the way in guiding those who needed some extra assistance.

“This is beyond what we expected really,” Divine said.

“We planned to have a small family gathering, with some other family members but then it went beyond that, they invited their friends who also showed up.

“Of course, these young people had the chance to make their own creations, and also learned those techniques and skills when it comes to working with flowers.”

The skills don’t apply to just flowers, according to Divine they serve as a bigger platform for

creativity, something that should be fostered with the youth.

In addition to that, it’s also about learning to be sustainable, through the simple act of mingling with flowers and other orchids, to using recyclables such as newspapers to act as the bouquet.

“We’re tackling different values, advocacy for things such as family, connections with friends, all in go,” she said.

For Katalina, she and the other members of the charity are keen to keep the momentum going for the remainder of the year.

“Our workshops are going to be more constant, we’re looking at having them once a month, all different of course,” she said.

“Then we’re also looking at more major events throughout the year, such as our wellbeing conference in June, held on the same day as the death anniversary of Andres Pancha.”

With a strong start to the year, the charity is confident of taking big leaps on its mission of connecting and uplifting the youth through advocacy of mindfulness and wellbeing.

Valentine-themed stuffed toys, as well as small and traditional Filipino treats, were available to purchase throughout the event, with all proceeds going to the charity. (460408)

The attendants of the Flower Bar, alongside committee members from APAC, stood next to their flowery creations. (Ethan Benedicto: 460408)

The APAC committee, from left to right: Charlene Deldio, Grace Pancha (daughter), Divine Pancha, Katalina Vergara, Nicole Castro and Elizabeth Sabelino. (460408)

Principal Leanne Evans addressed the public at the ceremony. (Violet Li: 459452)

Clyde Grammar has held a sod turning ceremony to signal the beginning of the development of a $11 million Collaborative Learning Centre.

Songs from the heart

By

Born to sing and express himself through melodies and instruments, Samuel Rowland is ready to take on the stage at the Berwick Show on Saturday 22 February.

However, Samuel only learned how to sing six years ago, as a matter of fact, he only learned how to speak around the same time.

At just 11 years old, he was born with the genetic disease of Dravet Syndrome and autism, making childhood difficult for Samuel.

According to his mother Michelle, seeing her son persevere was nothing short of amazing.

“Oh it’s been an awesome, awesome journey, he learned music from his sister, who also had the same condition,” she said.

“However, she’s in heaven now, and he developed a sense of music from her, so I guess he’s been listening to songs from the day he was born.

“It was in 2019 and early 2020, when the lockdown hit that, through me giving him that one-on-one support, he learned to talk, to read through the lyrics; and then he started singing.”

His sister, who had passed away due to illness, left a strong and lasting impression on Samuel, an impression that came in the form of music.

Michelle recalled that he began to teach himself to read, to discern the lyrics and melodies, and from there, his love for it only grew.

Come Saturday, Samuel, supported by friends and the sister duo Tanjil and Sienna Adams, has been granted the opportunity to perform at 10.15am, with two songs ready to go under his belt.

The reality of it became even clearer to not just Michelle, but Samuel as well after his rehearsal with the sisters on Sunday 16 February.

“Everything Samuel does is music, his personal carer when they’re brushing teeth, he has to make up a song,” she said.

“Going to the toilet, they make up a song, it’s

all songs for him, and everything is a song to him, so it has been an extraordinary journey.”

Samuel’s love for the art only grew, and it continues to look as if there will be no end to it.

He began to add flair to his music with costumes, imitating artists that he saw online or on television, learning their dialogues and their tunes.

Blessed with what Michelle described as an astounding memory, Samuel can just “store chunks of information”, and that when he takes interest in a band, “he needs to learn everything about them”.

“It can be from the singers’ spouse’s name, where they are from, anything,” she said.

Currently, Samuel’s favourite band is Ernie Hase and Signature Sound, and while it may seem a little niche, Michelle said that her chil-

dren always had a penchant for gospel music.

Samuel’s interest doesn’t stop there, however, and like a true old soul, also took a liking to Long Play (or LP) CDs, then more to DVDs and eventually, everything technical.

His love for music expanded, and Samuel learned how to download songs, edit certain segments, and add his own flair.

“Don’t ask me how he does it, because I have no clue, but then one day, he discovered VHS tapes,” Michelle said.

“So I went to Facebook and searched for VHS tapes, and an older couple who were selling it were curious as to what I was going to do with it, but I was happy because I knew Samuel would enjoy it.”

Everything about music, from the melodies it produces to the technicalities that work behind

the scenes to make people groove, Samuel loves them all.

The boy has been through multiple hospital admissions, and incubations, has experienced language delays, has had problems walking and often times low on energy.

The severity of his condition was nothing to scoff at, yet despite all that, Michelle said that “he’s still quite hyper though, so it’s a bit contradictory”.

“I always say he was born to perform, he has no sense of fear that sometimes comes with autism.

“He’s a natural you know? The pain and suffering, the hardships for him to do just the most basic things that kids his age do has been difficult, it’s an uphill challenge.

“It’s hard, but he never lets it get him down; he can’t write because he’s unable to get that pencil grip, but he finds other ways of expressing himself,” she said.

Both Michelle and Samuel are excited, more so his mother, considering that her son is a step closer to living and realising his passion for many to enjoy.

Samuel himself has been preparing for Saturday for well over a year, from intertwining himself with different instruments to designing his own stage at their home.

Finally dawning on her, it didn’t take long for her to tell family, relatives and friends about the upcoming performance.

“He’s a self-made man, including all the stuff online that he does, the music, how he learned to edit, photography, everything,” Michelle said.

“My heart is so filled with pride because I have watched him have those prolonged seizures, and be hospitalised, but now I’m just soaking in this blessing.

“Being able to witness this, it’s one thing to desire, to dream and to want things like this for your child, but God has given me the grace and the blessing to live it.”

Park 6 Melville Park Drive, Berwick Tuesday, 4 March (10-11am) Get a sneak peek of the lifestyle you could enjoy at our free Open Home event. Explore our community, inspect our display home, discover our social activities, chat with our friendly team and find out if retirement living will suit you.

Samuel Rowland, alongside the Adams sister duo at their practice sessions on Sunday. (Supplied)

Ethan Benedicto

WHAT’S ON

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

17 March - 12pm - Harmony Day cultural celebration - Celebrate your culture through food, bring a plate and come and meet new friends at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre - Free Fridays from 7 March - 10-12:30 - Hazaragi Computers for Work - Learn digital skills for the workplace in Hazaragi from a native speaking computer skills teacher - Free during term 1

Every Monday - 9.30-11am - during school termsCome and sew tote bags - For sewists who want to meet new friends and practice their sewing skills making tote bags - we supply the sewing machines and fabric - Free

Every Friday - 11am-2pm - Thee Coffee Table - Welcoming women’s community group - Free Volunteers are welcome to come and help to maintain our community garden

All the above are held at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, 141 - 147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North 3977

• For more information and bookings call - 5996 9056

We also have:

• Fridays 9.30am-11.30am during school termsConversational English Classes at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre - Come along to practice and improve your English skills in a relaxed environment comfortable, casual classes with a friendly, patient tutor - $5 per class.

• Call 03 5996 9056 to enrol in Conversational English or come along to Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre during class times. The Cranbourne Park Community Hub is conveniently located in Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, in the space behind Target, next to Pacific Smiles Dental and opposite Centre Management, and the nearest entrance is next to Australia Post.

U3A Cranbourne

A community group for people aged 50 and over to pursue a variety of activities and interests. We are at 20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne.

Line Dancing and ballroom dancing are run offsite. Supported by Casey Council we are a not-for-profit organisation with a membership fee of $50 per year which entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.

Trades & Services

Members have the opportunity to learn, share and socialise. The variety is endless from table tennis to Italian, cardmaking, art, sewing, quilling, knitting, singing and ukelele and guitar classes.

Our gardening group started this week with a lovely meeting to share ideas and encourage each other. We are keen to start planting out some tubs and containers next week with herbs and vegetables.

• Wish us luck! Check out all our courses at our website www.u3acranbourne.org.au or phone 0493 991 919 for more information.

Casey Kids Carnival

Casey Kids Carnival is back for 2025 providing a free event filled with rides, stalls, and entertainment. The event is ticketed so be sure to keep an eye out for when they release!

• When: Saturday 15 March, 12pm – 5pm

• Where: Old Cheese Factory

Berwick Bridge Club

Berwick Bridge Club is looking for new members.

There are two free beginner’s courses.

One starts on Monday night, 24 February, from 7 to 9pm and the second is on Friday morning, 28 February, from 10am to 12pm.

Both courses run for eight weeks.

Lessons are run at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21A Bemersyde Drive, Berwick. No partner is required.

• To reserve your place please phone Maree on 9702 2348.

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club

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

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club meets weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls.

Weekly activity times - Line Dancing Mon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.

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

• Find us on facebook https://www.facebook. com/groups/487808127399953

Blind Bight Community Centre

Craft gift making for adults from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesdays.

Join in the craft gift making class and bring along your own craft to complete.

A variety of techniques and skills are shared including mosaics, macrame, sewing and painting at $3 per class.

Playgroup from 10.30am to noon on Wednesdays. The program provides fun play activities and craft for children at $5 per family.

Free knit and crochet from noon to 2pm on Wednesdays.

Line dancing from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesdays. All ages, and abilities welcome at $10 per class.

• For more information and for bookings, visit www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

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

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

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

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

Balla Balla Community Centre

Playgroup – Balla Balla Bubs for families with babies (0-12 months) and Playgroup (1- 4 years). All our Playgroups are led by Early Learning Educators and are a great opportunity for families to make friends, socialise children and enjoy crafts, singing, sensory play, Storytime and more. Enrol online https://ballaballa.com.au/children-youth/ Health & Wellbeing – Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Walking Group, Tai Chi - Regular exercise has been

TO UPGRADE

Optus and Vodafone plan to upgrade the telecommunications facilities at the below mentioned address with the addition of new 5G equipment: off McKenzie Road, Beaconsfield Upper VIC 3808 (1\TP201469) (RFNSA: 3808001)

The proposed 5G upgrade will consists of:

•Replacement of three (3) existing Optus/Vodafone joint panel antennas with three (3) new Optus/Vodafone joint panel antennas (each not more than 2.8m in length);

•Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment, including twenty-one (21) new remote radio units (RRUs), GPS antennas, mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and

•Internal works within existing equipment shelter at base of the water tower.

Optus and Vodafone regard the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”), the based on the description above. The proposed infrastructure will comply with ACMA EME regulatory arrangements.

In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code 2020 we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Vanessa Wan at Service Stream Limited, 0447 240 015, Optus.Submissions@servicestream.com.au or Zenith Tower B, Level 3, 821 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood NSW 2067 by 5pm, Friday 7 March 2025

If you would like to know more about the site, further information can be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/3808001

shown to help boost energy levels and enhance your mood. It may also be associated with many other health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Look after your social wellbeing by joining our Men’s Discussion Group – ideal for men over 50; Mindfulness Meditation – learn to enhance your self-awareness and recognise your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This awareness can lead to a better understanding of how one communicates and interacts with others. Further details onlinehttps://ballaballa.com.au/health-wellbeing/ Morning Melodies is back! Held the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Our featured entertainers will sing the songs you know and love. Enjoy a cuppa, or scone with jam and cream, make friends and have some fun.

• Enrolments and bookings can be made in person or by phoning the centre between 9am -3pm.

• Online enrolments can be made: ballaballa. com.au/programs/

Combined Probus Club of Narre Warren

The club welcomes men and women to join for fun and interesting activities.

The club hosts bowling, armchair travel, book clubs, walk and talk, happy snappers and cards.

• For enquiries, contact Heather at hsims14@ gmail.com

Scrabble Club

Berwick Activities Club has started a Scrabble Club recently and it runs every Friday from 1pm to 3.30pm.

It will be both competitive and social on a one-toone basis.

Come along to learn how to play or improve your game.

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

• Contact David on 0433 566 456.

Probus Club of Casey Combined Meetings finish at noon when many of our members assemble for lunch at one of the local cafes.

• The club meets at the Old Cheese Factory at 9.45am on the second Tuesday of each month. Community Place, 16/18 Playwright St, Clyde North.

Teenager spell hurts Gators

By Marcus Uhe

A potentially “match-winning” spell from Keysborough’s teenage sensation Dante Happawana could seal the Knights’ minor premiership hopes and avoid a dreaded two-three contest in the first week of the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 3 finals.

Happawana took 4/21 and affected a run out to bring a steady situation for Fountain Gate undone in the heavyweight top-of-the-table contest at Max Pawsey Reserve.

From 3/89, Fountain Gate finished day one at 8/110, thanks to Happawana’s four wickets and his second run out.

Bowling with a breeze behind him to assist with his angle into right-handers and away from left-handers, Happawana repaid the faith of the senior heads at the club that stuck with him despite three wicketless Turf 3 performances in his last three matches.

He broke a 70-run partnership between John Mirranay and Fountain Gate captain Karan Singh at 4/89 by dismissing Mirranay for 41, before the Gators capitulated late in the day, losing 4/5.

Antony Pradeep was the next to go after Mirranay for two, having been swallowed by Christo Otto, with Singh (41), Nadim Nazif (zero) and Ray Pal (two) all departing with the score on 110.

Outside of the pair of 41s, only Shantanu Gupta reached double figures for the Gators, making 10.

Knights’ captain, Otto, said the 16-year-old showed immense maturity and growth during the performance that typified just how far he has come from the beginning of the season.

“Normally when he gets hit for a boundary he goes into his shell a little bit, bowls short and loses his confidence but he didn’t this week,” Otto said.

“We kept him for another over and he got a wicket, then it all just went from there and he turned three into four (wickets).

“He got hit for a couple of boundaries early and without needing to say anything, he just bounced back, backed himself in and it payed dividends.

“They were doing well but for him to rip that partnership for us and get four or five quick wickets as well, it could be big for us.

“He’s still so young, he’s got a lot to learn and a lot to learn about his own game, but you’re only going to get that quicker by playing in the ones.

“He’s come along leaps and bounds.”

His success reduce the burden on the Knights’ key bowlers at the tail end of a long season, in James wright, Otto and Chanaka Kahandawala, with the latter not bowling and the others combining for just 18 overs.

Should Keysborough pick up the six points next week, the Knights will head into the finals with a pair of significant wins over their biggest threats to the Turf 3 crown, in Silverton and Fountain Gate, with wins against both sides coming in rounds 12 and 13.

There’s a run chase on a “tacky” wicket to com-

plete before that point, but the win will all-but secure top spot on the table, barring a catastrophic loss in the final round to the winless Doveton.

Otto believes his side is receiving the ideal preparation ahead of the finals and is pleased to have the significant wins over their contemporaries under their belt before the knock-out portion of the season.

“If I could pick the fixture at the start of the year that’s exactly what I would have wanted – play two of the top three teams in the last couple of games, 100 per cent.

“I suppose you take that mental edge and advantage into it but I think it’s a reset when you get to finals – it’s a whole different game and there’s that pressure of if you lose you’re out, which

changes things.

Three of the four matches slated for Turf three this weekend went ahead, with Doveton finishing in a world of hurt at stumps against Lynbrook and Berwick Springs having an excellent day with the bat against Hampton Park.

The Doves equalled their lowest total of the season, reaching just 49 in the first innings, as Lynbrook’s Jesse Walia claimed 8/22.

Lynbrook declared at 4/60 with an 11-run lead, before taking a further seven Doves wickets for 67 runs before stumps.

Walia claimed a further two to complete a 10-wicket haul, with Jatinder Singh grabbing 4/13.

Doveton will begin day two with a 56-run lead.

Lynbrook will be chasing the 10 points banked

from an outright win as the Lakers remain an outside chance of claiming fourth place. They are currently four points adrift from Hampton Park and Berwick Springs, tied on 40 points in fourth and fifth respectively.

The two managed 60 overs of play at Berwick Springs Recreation Reserve on Saturday, with Titans star Jackson Marie making a welcome return to form.

Marie, the most destructive batter in the competition last season, hit 106 at the top of the order in just his second score above 50 at Turf 3 level, as Berwick Springs posted 7/297.

Braydon Hillman (60) and Radomir Badzoka (42) added important contributions to the Titans’ best batting performance of the summer.

Redbacks ready to improve? Well that’s certainly no Bull

By Justin Schwarze

Hampton Park Football Club has been very busy behind the scenes bringing in a haul of signings while gearing up for 2025.

This comes after the club announced Luke Bull as their new senior player/coach in August.

Bull holds an impressive footballing resume, including playing 230 games at Noble Park over 15 years.

He also vice-captained the club from 2018 until his departure last season, and won two premierships, being in 2011 and 2022.

The list of new recruits is extensive, with names Mason Hawkins, Liam Scott, Mitch Woolgar, Myles Wareham, Makaio Haywood and Lionel Benoit all set to become Redbacks in 2025.

Hawkins comes in with size, playing in the ruck for Vermont in the Premier Division of the Eastern Football League last season.

“We’ve strengthened our tall stocks,” Bull said of Hawkins.

“He’s going to be huge for us.”

Scott joins Bull across from Noble Park, having also played in the Bulls’ premiership in 2022.

“He’s a huge asset, he was one of the better young players in the EFL,” Bull noted.

“He’s a key forward, a utility, he can really play anywhere.”

Woolgar is another former Bull that is set to call Hampton Park home in 2025, but he is no stranger to the Redbacks clubrooms.

He was a part of Hampton Park’s 2019 premiership, so the club is very happy to see him back through its doors.

“He brings a lot of experience and he’s familiar with the club,” Bull said.

“He’s a very solid full back; he’ll probably take the best forwards every week.”

Haywood looks to highlight Hampton Park’s midfield as he takes a prominent role for the Redbacks.

He comes across from Ellinbank where he helped the Eagles reach a grand final last season.

“In my opinion he’ll be one of the best players in the league,” Bull said of Haywood.

Benoit and Wareham will add significant depth to the side, with Benoit having played juniors as a Redback and senior footy at Noble Park.

Wareham’s goalkicking ability is undeniable, as he was a four time leading goalkicker for his previous club Gembrook.

While at Gembrook, Wareham’s highlight season included winning the league goalkicking and a premiership in 2022.

“We’vegotsomegoodforwards,somegoodbacks and some really good mids,” Bull said of his line-up.

With the season set to begin on 5 April, the Redbacks are looking to incorporate their new faces with their existing squad.

For this season, there’s one overall sight Hamp-

Keysborough quick Dante Happawana claimed 4/21 in a huge clash for the Knights against Fountain Gate. (Supplied)

Luke Bull will lead the way for Hampton Park in 2025. (Rob Carew: 292964)

Smith soars to new heights

By David Nagel

The statistics are mind blowing and the purity of his craft is to be admired; but the genius behind the wand-waving ability of Pakenham champion Chris Smith is hidden in the calculated cricket-machine on his shoulders.

Smith, or ‘Smudge’ to his Pakenham teammates, created history at Glover Reserve on Saturday, blazing 229 not out, from 62 rain-reduced overs, to break his own club record and complete a preposterous 12 months of his career.

On January 26 last year, Smith began a remarkable run of 662 runs without dismissal, with his 140 not out against Devon Meadows - on the very ground he destroyed them again on Saturdaythe beginning of something special.

He backed that up just seven days later with the first double century of his career, before dousing his 210 not out against Merinda Park with a new career-best 214 not out against Cardinia just three weeks later.

His remarkable run came to an end in round 14 against Tooradin; where he fell just two runs short of a fourth-consecutive visit to triple figures.

Since beginning his senior career as a 15-yearold for Pakenham Upper/Toomuc on February 4, 2006, Smith has been the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association’s number-one run-getter.

He made 2998 runs for the Yabbies, before moving to Toomuc Reserve for the 2013/14 season.

He has since made 6348 runs for the Lions, taking his overall tally to 9346 at the remarkable average of 44.72.

He has now scored 21 centuries across his time at both clubs; raised his bat for a half-century on 51 occasions and now has a new top score of 229 not out after 20 seasons in the top flight.

His current captain, opening partner and great friend Jack Anning has seen it all up close.

He is as impressed and full of admiration as anyone that has seen the elegant right-hander elevate his game to new levels by picking to pieces his opposition.

Anning began in the middle on Saturday, and then admired from afar as Smith cracked 34 fours and five sixes on his way to his record score.

“He’s a marvel; his ability to identify what the bowler and opposition captain are trying to do, and then manipulate the field to his own benefit is like something I’ve never seen before,” Anning said.

“There are a lot of guys that do it with brute force, but Chris doesn’t do it that way.

“He’s ability to read the play is next level.

“On Saturday, they had a wide-mid-off, cover and cover-point, on angles that didn’t allow a gap to be there; but he pierced the gap three or four times in two overs.

“I don’t envy anyone that has to try and set fields for him; he’s so clever and sees things well in advance of when I see them when we open the batting together.

“He’ll tell me to ‘watch out for this’, or, ‘they’re

trying to do this’, ‘have you noticed this’; he’s mindset and how clever he is gets underrated because of how quiet, reserved and humble he is.

“I’ve said it for a long time now, and I say it regularly to him, that the 34-year-old version of Chris Smith would be an outstanding captain.

“But I don’t think that’s high on his priority list right now.”

Anning said Smith’s capacity to grind things out is another underrated feature of his game.

“He’s got this ridiculous ability to not throw it away and not mentally quit,” Anning said.

“He was 130 not out on Saturday and let a full over go through to the keeper; where a lot of guys in that position would be looking for the big shots.

“He just gave himself a reset and soldiered on from there; looking for his next boundary ball.

“It’s just a ridiculous mental capacity to not bail out.”

Pakenham has had many great champions over the years, with players like Eddie Lewis and Dallas Wyatt considered the best of the best over

the long journey.

Smith’s record, which now contains three double-centuries, would more than match motors with those legends; but Anning fell short of naming his close friend as Pakenham’s greatest-ever player.

“I have a connection with people like dad (Club President Phil Anning), Eddie Lewis, Clinton Smith and Keith Popovits, because I’ve grown up with those guys and I’m fully aware of the history of the club, dating back to the sixties when dad first started playing,” Jack said.

“One thing we’re really mindful of, guys like myself and Dom (Paynter), when we talk about the history, is that we don’t disrespect the past and say that ‘Chris Smith has to be our greatest ever player’.

“We can’t comment on that because we never saw Eddie Lewis play.

“I can read his statistics, listen to stories about how they went about it, but I think it would be disrespectful for us to declare him the greatest

player that Pakenham has ever had.

“But for us in the modern world, Chris and Dale (Tormey) have separated themselves to the next level; both statistically and how they go about their cricket.”

Anning said he felt humbled to captain a player that he almost considers a hero, and is more than happy to have his name connected with the batting maestro stories get longer and more animated down the track.

“We’ve got a wonderful relationship and it’s just a privilege to be at the non-strikers end and watch him go about this work,” Anning said.

“Maybe in the future my legacy will be - if anyone remembers me - that I was Chris Smith’s opening partner.

“I’d be more than happy to be remembered as the guy at the other end.

“Admittedly, when he does get these big scores I’m normally out pretty early…but the scoreboard still says C Smith; J Anning, that went out to open the innings.”

Cannons ready to explode with big bangs predicted in 2025

By Justin Schwarze

Over past seasons, the club has seen tremendous growth in its on and off field production.

In 2024, the Cannons came up short in four grand finals, but a lot of their programs - up and down the club - qualified for the postseason.

Ahead of 2025, the club looks to continue to build on the success of last year.

“We’d love to see some premiership flags at the end of this season,” club president Seann Rowland said.

“Last year we had a really successful season, but this year we’re just building on it.

“We’ve entered more teams in our junior and senior division; we’ve got heaps of new coaches, heaps of experience in that coaching, so I think we’re going to see some really good on-field performance.

“We’re looking at building some really good hockey on field and a really good social side off it.”

The season launch included training sessions for the club’s players of all ages and intra-club matches taking place throughout the day.

“We’re a bigger club, we’ve got heaps of good teams to offer, heaps of really good facilities and we

want everyone to get involved,” Rowland said.

As for the club’s goals in 2025, there were many they hoped to address. Winning, establishing a good culture and bridging the gap between the junior and senior programs were areas highlighted as focal points.

“Last year we had four teams make it to grand finals and we lost all in shootouts, so it was an exciting year in terms of seeing so much progression and development and I think all the teams have really built on that,” Rowland said.

“Considering we’ve had so many new people, so

many transfers in, we’re hoping to see a lot of that success continue and we want to see all of the kids develop and people just enjoying their hockey.”

With exciting growth, the juniors program is as strong as it’s ever been.

For the first time in the club’s history, the Cannons will field teams in the under 12s, 14s and 16s age brackets in both boys and girls hockey.

“Our numbers have just been going through the roof,” junior coordinator Karen Martz said.

“We’ve got a great depth in our coaches and they’re all really focused on developing kids, and

they’re really passionate about the sport.

“We’ve just got some amazing depth in our juniors unit and great plans so I think there’s heaps of potential for this club.”

To bring together a club atmosphere, the Cannons implemented a buddy program for the girls in 2024, where senior players mentor juniors.

This is part of the club’s aspiration to bring more togetherness and develop cohesion between the senior and junior programs.

“It’s something they can lean on, if they didn’t want to talk to their coach about a specific problem, they can go to their mentor,” women’s coordinator and under 14s coach Emma Harris said.

“It’s just our way of getting them into our senior ranks, making them feel more comfortable and bridging the gap.”

Despite the season still being some time away, the club is focused in its goal to continue to progress and develop in the lead up.

Preseason has begun, and the ramp up in the Cannons’ quest to hoist a premiership after last season’s heartbreak is well and truly underway.

“Everything’s really competitive, even this early with the season so far away, so the signs are really positive,” women’s head coach Andrew Harris said.

“As a coach, it’s great to see that competitive atmosphere at training and no doubt that’ll drive us to improve this year.”

Pakenham opener Chris Smith made his third double-century in 12 months with a magnificent 229 not out against Devon Meadows on Saturday. (Stewart Chambers: 393920)

Casey Cannons Hockey Club is gearing up ahead of the upcoming season with the club holding its season launch over the weekend.

The Casey Cannons officially launched their 2025 season on Saturday. (Rob Carew: 416181)

Falcons’ new flight pattern

By Justin Schwarze

Endeavour Hills Football Club will enjoy some change in its game-day squad for 2025 with some names, both familiar and new, being welcomed for the upcoming campaign.

The Falcons announced the signings of Josiah Kyle, Sam McLean and Baron Grant.

After winning a senior premiership in 2023 in Division 3, the club had patchy form after moving up a grade and ultimately finished seventh in 2024, missing finals.

These recruits will look to help Endeavour Hills bounce back and contend for the postseason and beyond in 2025.

Kyle, despite only being 21 years of age, has a plethora of experience, previously playing for Hallam in 2023 and Berwick in 2024.

Earlier in his career, he was a member of the Dandenong Stingrays, and was also rookie listed with St Kilda until 2022.

A talented small forward, the club is very excited to bring him on board.

“He’s a very talented mid-sized forward,” senior coach Matt Peake said.

“He’s got a lot of X-factor; I think he’s going to make a lot of difference to our forward half.”

Kyle’s addition addressed a much needed area for improvement for the Falcons.

The club targeted forward pressure and scoring as areas they looked for while recruiting.

“One area we really identified last year was

scoring, we played some good footy and held up as a defence but we just lacked the firepower at times,” Peake admitted.

“Josiah’s a real young guy and he’s already been a great addition through the preseason.”

Alongside Kyle, some recognisable faces will rejoin the club after different ventures.

After a couple of years overseas, Grant will once again pull on the Falcons guernsey.

“He’ll be a great addition back into our midfield,” Peake said.

“He’s a really skilled young player, and he can run as well.”

Another familiar face will lace up for Endeavour Hills with Sam McLean back on board after taking a year off football.

McLean has a rich history whilst donning the Falcons colours, including being a part of the club’s 2023 premiership.

“He’ll be great to have back in,” Peake noted.

“Sam’s got a strong body, he’s experienced and a really smart footballer.”

Ahead of the 2025 season, there are multiple goals for the club to kick this year.

Whilst they look to compete in Division 2, they also aim to develop talent in their line up and build a winning culture.

“We do have quite a young side still, and I still think there is a lot of improvement for the quality young guys we’ve got,” Peake said.

“I don’t think we’re going to go away from who we were from the last couple of years.

Swans take unwanted dive

By Marcus Uhe

Casey South Melbourne’s finals fate is not yet secure with one week remaining in the Victorian Premier Cricket season, despite embarking on a six-match winning streak in the back half of the season.

While it would take a dramatic final round for the Swans to lose their place, they are vulnerable to an outright victory from Melbourne in eighth place, and Prahran in ninth, which could sensationally tip the Swans out of the top eight.

Casey South Melbourne missed a giltedged opportunity to secure their place in the top eight this weekend in a 53-run loss to an understrength St Kilda outfit.

The Swans could only offer 181 in reply to the Saints’ total of 234 from day one.

St Kilda was missing a trio of key batters on assignment for the Victorian Sheffield Shield side on day one in Peter Handscomb, Harry Dixon and Marcus Harris but still posted a score too strong for the Swans to chase down.

“I think just building a connection off-field with all of our teams is important and asking our-

DDCA pitch furore for Lions

By Marcus Uhe

Matthew Calder’s elevation to the top of the order proved an unsuccessful risk, making just 12, and his absence in the middle order was keenly felt, as a dramatic collapse of 5/38 brought their innings crashing to a halt.

Devin Pollock was removed without scoring in the chaos while Ash Chandrasinghe (39), Jackson Isakka (17), Luke Shelton (seven) and Vinu Mohotty (seven) joined the wicketkeeper batter in the departure lounge.

From 2/80 in the 33rd over, the Swans surrendered their ability to score and protect their wicket, falling to 7/118 22 overs later.

The innings came to an end in the 83rd over having crawled along at a run rate of 2.2.

Harry Hoekstra’s 31 at number 10 shows continued improvement with the bat in hand, Yash Pednakar reached 38 in the middle order and Chandrasinghe’s 39 continues a solid run of recent form, but this will be viewed as one that the Swans let slip. They face Carlton in a grand final rematch in round 20, the first meeting since last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss.

The intriguing relegation battle in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 competition could be determined off the field with Narre South to appeal a critical six-point deduction handed down on Monday 17 February.

The penalty is a result of the pitch at its home ground of Strathaird Reserve on Saturday not meeting the satisfaction of the umpires and breaching Rule 13.1 of the DDCA’s senior rules.

Rule 13.1 states that “Grounds, pitches and boundaries shall be prepared properly to the satisfaction of the umpires on each day of play. Where these are not prepared properly, a club shall be dealt with, as the Executive Committee deems fit.”

DDCA Executive member and vice president Marcus Coutts observed the pitch in question, which he said “didn’t appeared to be cut.”

Line markings were prepared but the surface had wet patches in certain areas.

The Lions were scheduled to host Dandenong West, but play did not commence.

Narre South is now languishing in last place on the Turf 1 ladder, six points back from Dandenong West, Beaconsfield and North Dandenong, all tied on 24 points.

Club president Nathan Tracy confirmed on Tuesday 18 February that the club would appeal the sanction, but chose not to comment further on the matter.

DDCA president Hilary Wijarante described the sanction as a “serious penalty”.

“We’re talking a loss of points and if clubs don’t take notice then they could end up in the same situation,” he said.

“It’s significant and I think the match committee has taken that into account when they made the decision to take points off.

“We understand that City of Casey clubs do their own curation but the expectation is that you engage someone who’s qualified to prepare the wickets.

“This is something that we want to highlight to all clubs, that the turf wicket policy is significant and we want all clubs to be aware of it.

“All we can go on is the expectation of the umpires and if you were playing cricket you would expect – keep the weather aside – the expectation is that a wicket will be prepared, that’s a basic ingredient in being able to play cricket.”

The Lions face Dandenong West in a one-day contest in round 13 and Berwick in round 14, both at home.

Endeavour Hills coach Matt Peake guided his side to a first-up win. 399552 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Yash Pednekar made 38 for Casey South Melbourne. (Rob Carew: 453799)

Narre South Cricket Club will appeal a six-point deduction handed to them by the DDCA.

The glittering star is Brown

By Marcus Uhe

Two weeks ago, Berwick finger spinner Lachlan Brown had never taken a hat-trick in his cricketing career.

Within the space of 13 days, he now has two on his resume.

With the spotlight glaring in the final of the Dandenong District Cricket Association T20 competition on Sunday 2 February, Brown grabbed his maiden hat-trick during the course of a sensational spell of 7/16 that set his team on their way for a convincing triumph at Shepley Oval.

Saturday’s circumstances in Turf 1 action against Beaconsfield were slightly toned down, but the unassuming left-armer still rose to the occasion.

Beginning with the final two balls of the 41st over, Brown had Beaconsfield wicketkeeper Michael Dunstan caught down the leg side by Jordan Cleland, before trapping new batter Daniel Maskiell dead in front on his first ball, to give him wickets in consecutive deliveries.

A maiden from Michael Wallace at the other end prevented Beaconsfield’s set better, Ashan Madushanka from acquiring the strike, meaning Jake Cutting, fresh to the crease and under immense pressure, would face pivotal hat-trick ball to open the 43rd over.

The scene was set – a packed house as the Bears hosted their annual Ladies Day function, all eyes on the contest as the only in Turf 1 to go ahead, and six catches huddling around the new batter, circling like vultures in the hopes of a nick and catching opportunity.

Despite the rarity of the feat, Berwick captain Jarrod Goodes said there was foreboding confidence in the middle.

“After him getting the other one, we all just knew he’d get,” Goodes said.

“It was that sense of ‘he’s going to do it again’.

“We crowded the bat and he bowled a dart, which wasn’t his best ball of the day either, but Cutting nicked it straight to the ‘keeper.

“It’s more disbelief than anything that a bloke who started bowling two years ago has now got two hat-tricks inside two weeks.

“We were saying in the group chat the other day that we can’t remember a day where he didn’t get a hat-trick, it feels like it will happen again next week.”

Setting aside the novelty of the feat, the triple strike played a critical role in swinging the momentum of the contest back into Berwick’s favour.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl on the basis of overcast conditions and a delayed start, Beaconsfield looked set to continue on their recent strong batting form that has seen it post its

two highest scores of the summer in the last three rounds.

Openers Jack Steel (28) and Andrey Fernando (26) shared in a 39-run stand and having reached 3/85 at the Tea interval, with senior pair Madhushanka and Susantha Pradeep at the crease, Beaconsfield was in a promising position.

“We were thinking that if we could keep them to 200/220, we were going to be happy, from the 65 overs it was going to be in the day,” Goodes said.

“They had Madhushanka and Pradeep in and I said to our boys ‘This is the most important part of the game, straight after Tea.’

“We brought Corey Bevan back on, who’s been playing in the twos and hasn’t bowled for a month, but such are our depleted stocks with Toby (Wills) and (James) Trodd out, we brought Corey in to play a role.

“He came on and bowled six overs for 1/4 after tea and ‘Browny’ went for three or four runs as well in 10 overs.

“That was the crucial bit, we slowed them right

down and it forced a couple of shots to be played, hence the wickets fell.”

Beaconsfield lost 5/7 between the 36th and 43rd, posting 164 from 61 overs at the crease as yet another middle order collapse crushed Beaconsfield’s progress.

Madhushanka watched the drama unfold from the other end, making a resolute 30, before being the ninth wicket to fall at 9/121.

Final wicket pair Nawid Mohammady and Charlie Johnson’s 43-run partnership was the biggest of the afternoon, with Mohammady making 35 to top score for the Tigers.

The partnership could prove vital in preserving the Tigers’ percentage, which is set to play a critical role in determining their fate in the context of relegation.

Berwick lost Jarryd Wills for eight in the four overs they batted before stumps, finishing play at 1/10, but Goodes said he was “stoked” to keep the Tigers to 164, particularly considering its bowling stocks.

Three of the Bears’ top five wicket takes in Trodd, Wills and Matthew Hague all missed the contest through injury and personal reasons, forcing Brown, Goodes, Bevan and Jarryd Wills to shoulder the majority of the overs.

Trodd and Hague will be fit for the first week of finals on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, having recovered from heel and calf injuries respectively, with Wills also set to return from an overseas trip in time.

Star number three Jake Hancock, meanwhile, will be “100 per cent” recovered from his minor hamstring strain when he takes to the crease next week.

Three one-day contests will round out Turf 1 next week after wet weather prevented play from taking place.

Narre South will host Dandenong West in another match with major relegation connotations, Hallam Kalora Park and Springvale South will play off for second place, while Buckley Rides will look to maintain top spot against North Dandenong.

‘Purple Army’ excited as Casey Fields gets rocked by Storm

By David Nagel

Casey Fields will be pumping with excitement on Sunday when Rugby League powerhouse Melbourne Storm fine tunes its preparations for its 2025 NRL opener with a pre-season match against the North Queensland Cowboys.

Storm is expected to name a full-strength NRL squad as it lays the platform for another successful season under the guidance of coach Craig Bellamy.

Storm is expecting the ‘Purple Army’ to be out in force as it puts the final pieces in place ahead of the Round 1 clash with Parramatta Eels on Sunday 9 March at AAMI Park.

While the NRL pre-season match will be the highlight of Sunday’s action, Storm fans can also watch three curtain raisers before the 5.15pm kickoff, on what is sure to be an epic afternoon of footy.

The Storm Under-17s will play at 1pm, followed by the Under-19s at 2:30pm, with both teams taking on the Manly Sea Eagles.

At 4pm, the Storm Female Development Squad will showcase their talent in an intra-club match, before the big guys hit the field.

Storm forward Trent Loiero said it’s a great time of year, knowing the grind of pre-season training is almost done.

The 23-year-old said the Storm had worked hard after last year’s NRL grand final loss to Penrith.

“It’s been very tough but all the boys have been ripping in; I think there’s definitely been a hunger, coming back after what happened at the back end of last year,” Loiero said.

“Everyone came back ready to train and we’re looking forward to trials and round one.

“We came back a bit later, but we’ve definitely squeezed a lot of work into the shortened pre-season that we’ve had.

“We’re definitely ready footy wise, and we’re just looking forward to games.”

Loiero can’t wait to experience the vibe at Casey Fields once again, having been part of the pre-season clash in 2022.

“It’s always good going out to the regional

grounds and I remember all the fans showed up, we got a massive turn out and we definitely felt their support,” he said.

“All the boys are looking forward to playing in front of our loyal fans again.

“It’s special, they come from far and wide to AAMI Park to watch us, so it’s nice to repay the favour, to do open trainings and play in games like this, like we did in 2022.

“Our supporters are very important to us and we can feel their love and support every time we play in front of them.”

Loiero said fans can expect a full-scale test against the Cowboys as the excitement builds for round one.

“It’s a good chance to test any new combinations, and I feel like you can do all the training you want, but nothing can prepare you for games and game speed and even just the contact,” he said.

“That’s what we’re most looking forward to, testing our combinations and playing the footy that we’ve been working on.”

City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the event is a great opportunity for Storm fans to watch their favourite team play before the start of the NRL season.

“The City of Casey is home to thousands of Storm members, and Council is thrilled to welcome the Storm back to Casey Fields,” Cr Koomen said.

“It promises to be a great day for the whole family, so get your tickets now.”

Tickets can be purchased via: www.melbournestorm.com.au

MELBOURNE STORM PRE-SEASON MATCH DETAILS

Sunday, 23 February

Casey Fields, Cranbourne East 1pm Gates Open Storm Zone Open Harold Matthews U17s 2:30pm SG Ball U19’s 4pm Female Pathways 5:15pm Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys 7pm Storm Zone Close

Berwick’s Lachlan Brown took a hat-trick against Beaconsfield on Saturday. (Rob Carew: 391023)