Melodies at Bunjil Place
The Floribunda Gala and opening was in full swing at Bunjil Place on Friday, 28 March, as people donned their flower best, eager to step foot into the gallery. The gallery itself opened at 8pm, with patrons greeted by a purple-lit foyer, drinks and canapes, and intricate artwork by local Casey artists as a taste of the big reveal.
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There was a piano recital for the singers at the opening, its melodies in harmony with their voices, complimenting the aura that travelled through the room.
(Gary Sissons: 462313)
Power at the polls
The South East has emerged as a key battleground for the Federal Election, judging by the first week of the campaign.
Since the 3 May election date was set, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Coalition) and Government Infrastructure Minister Catherine King (Labor) have both visited the region.
This week, the Coalition pledged to dump $2.2 billion of federal funding for the Suburban Rail Loop and divert the money to Airport Rail Link and other transport projects.
None of that money has been so far earmarked for South East infrastructure.
Labor has promised $100 million to signalise Berwick-Cranbourne, Clyde-Five Ways and Pattersons roads, Clyde North, $10 million for planning Western Port Highway upgrade options, $6 million to resurface Princes Highway and $10.68 million towards a Mini-Stadium and Women’s Centre for Excellence at Casey Fields.
Meanwhile, La Trobe MP Jason Wood and Liberal Bruce candidate Zahid Safi were heckled at
an Eid prayer event in Dandenong after pledging $6.5 million for a mosque community centre.
The pair met Opposition Leader Dutton at Berwick RSL for a round-table discussion on lawand-order on 1 April.
Bruce – held by a slender 5.3 per cent by Labor MP Julian Hill – is touted as one of the key Victorian seats to decide who forms the next government.
Other neighbouring Labor-held seats are Holt and Isaacs.
A Star News readers survey in the South East identified cost-of-living, electricity prices, immigration, health services, and roads and rail as the top five election issues.
It found surprising levels of support for nuclear power, for reduced immigration as well as concerns over global security and housing affordability.
Turn inside for more election coverage
Casey School Road Safety Forum
On Wednesday 19 March, the 2025 Road Safety Forum was held at Bunjil place.
The forum brought together passionate school principals, dedicated school leaders, road safety professionals, and committed Casey officers. Together, they delved into the challenges surrounding school safety and proactively collaborated to enhance the safety of children across Casey.
Floribunda blooms at Bunjil
Place
Drop in to Bunjil Place this Autumn and enjoy the stunning new gallery exhibition - Floribunda.
Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, and curated by David Sequeria, Floribunda is an intoxicating larger-than-life mashup of floral imagery, design and motif drawn exclusively from the NGV Collection. Floribunda is open and free for all in the Bunjil Place Gallery until Sunday 20 July.
And the floral exploration doesn’t stop at Bunjil Place — across the City of Casey there are a number of programs, activities and events that will immerse you in the natural world. From garden walks, to drawing activities, crafts and more, the region is full of blooms and life to explore.
Visit the Bunjil Place website to find out more.
Jump online, save time
Need to contact us? The online forms on our website make it easier than ever.
Avoid the phone queue and jump online at a time that suits you to manage your bins or hard garbage collection, report a missed bin collection, apply to share the cost of a new fence, register your pet, request a copy of your rates notice, apply for a rates payment plan, or report an issue.
Council partners with 102 schools in Casey to tackle safety around schools, and forums like this are crucial for advancing the vital work of the Safe Around Schools program.
Remember, safely getting children to and from school is everyone’s job!
Active Autumn
Join us for “Active Autumn” this April and take advantage of all the free activities we have planned for the whole family.
From yoga to Zumba, badminton to boxing, there’s something for everyone to get involved in!
Scan the QR code to browse the events calendar.
Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.
• Ackland Park Reserve redevelopment project: the reserve in Narre Warren North is closed until mid-June for redevelopment works.
• Nelson Street Reserve Playground concept design: share your thoughts and help shape the future upgrade of this Cranbourne East playground.
• Pearcedale Skate Park renewal project: share your ideas for a new playground and skate park upgrade.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Founder and CEO of Little Blue Dinosaur Michelle Mclaughlin and City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen.
The Netherlands
Flowerpiece late 17th century oil on canvas, 70.4 × 54.6 cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
ALP vows millions for roads
By Violet Li
Labor has pledged $100 million to remove a roundabout along the boundary of Holt and La Trobe, marking about $190 million of road funding in the South East in recent weeks.
The intersection of Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Clyde-Five Ways Road and Pattersons Road will be signalised to make it safer for motorists and pedestrians while cutting down travel times, according to the ALP.
This project is part of the Federal and State
Government’s joint $1.2 billion Road Blitz, with contributions of $1 billion from the Federal and $200 million from the Victorian Government. Since 2019, five crashes have occurred at the notorious roundabout.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said: “We’re fixing roads right across the state; we’ve doubled our road maintenance funding to local councils, reinstated road maintenance indexation that was scrapped under the former government and are investing heavily in our regions and cities.”
Incumbent Holt MP and candidate Cassandra Fernando said she was pleased to have successfully advocated for the much-needed removal of this roundabout.
“This upgrade will mean less time spent in traffic and more valuable time at home with loved ones,” she said.
Labor has so far also announced $41.75 million for the removal and signalisation of Thompsons and Berwick-Cranbourne Roads roundabout in Clyde North, $30 million for the duplication of a section of Evans Road in Cran-
bourne West, $10 million for the planning to upgrade Western Port Highway, $3 million to plan transport upgrades in and around Warragul and Drouin, $6 million to resurface a Princes Highway section and $4m for road blackspot uprades in Dandenong and Endeavour Hills. Meanwhile, the Coalition announced the axing of $2.2 billion of Suburban Rail Loop funding, with the funds diverted to Airport Rail Link and other transport projects. None of that money has so far been announced for the South East.
Star News survey drops nuclear bombshell ahead of poll
By Cameron Lucadou-Wells, Ethan Benedicto
In a pre-election bombshell, voters in the South East have overwhelmingly backed nuclear energy, according to a Star News readers survey.
A huge majority of the 111 respondents supported the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy, sitting at 71 per cent.
In contrast, Star surveys in Melbourne’s west and east found strong opposition to the nuclear option.
With a nuclear power station pledged for Loy Yang in Gippsland - about 100 kilometres east of Pakenham - a majority of Southeast respondents backed a nuclear plant in their local area, with 55.5 per cent in agreement.
Berwick Star News respondents, on the other hand, expressed a massive concern with the cost of living, with 16 out of the 25 respondents highlighting the issue.
Relevant to costs, these same respondents also expressed concern on crime, education and community safety.
There was also strong support for limiting immigration, with 19 out of 25 respondents76 per cent - calling for either a halt or a mitigation to the current flow, with insufficient infrastructure coined as the biggest concern.
One responder said that there is “not enough housing to cover new migrants”.
“The Albanese government only want
them in for votes, we do believe in getting new migrants in, but only if they’ve passed all relevant strict checks,” they said.
Another responder said that Australia “doesn’t have the houses or rental properties to support the current population”, with another adding that the current services are “haemorrhaging under pressure and (can’t) cope with the load”.
Cost of living, alongside electricity prices and immigration being top concerns, health services, and national-roads-and-rail infrastructure were also dominant.
One Berwick Star respondent said that the roads around Berwick “are horrible” and that there are “too many new houses and the infrastructure can’t keep up”.
In total, 80 per cent of responses were seeking improvements to the current transport infrastructure in the area, from potholes to train line extensions at Cranbourne.
Rounding back to the nuclear option, most respondents prioritised cheap electricity prices (78 per cent) over reduced carbon emissions (22 per cent).
The Coalition has touted nuclear energy as cheaper with ‘zero emissions’, while critics claim that the estimated cost for seven power stations is exorbitant.
The majority of the 111 responses are in line with Berwick Star News’ responses to immigration, with 74.5 per cent in favour of a
reduction, compared to an increased level - 6 per cent - and the status quo, at 19 per cent.
Building on health concerns, overall, local hospitals were readers’ top priority for federal funding, with 45.5 per cent in support, and was followed by defence at 21 per cent, infrastructure at 16 per cent and highways at 8 per cent.
For Berwick, 7 out of 25 responses - 28 per cent - favoured more federal funding in defence, while 6 out of 25 - 24 per cent - wanted better medical services, emphasising on wait times.
One response said that “we need less waiting and better services”, with another responder adding that there is a need for “more resources and staff”, as well as a bulk billing focus. Other responses focused on infrastructure, government expenditure, youth crime, and overall government self-reliance.
“We need to have governments focus on essential items, cut back on spending and pay off
government debt,” one response said.
In relation to defence, another said that after China “ceases their live fire practices”, Australia needs to “step up on defence, this can’t be put off”.
All but five had input on social media’s impact on public discourse and political decision-making, with a mixed bag of reactions saying that it has sway on people’s opinions but is also a medium that should be treated carefully.
One responder said that they thought people’s opinions have always had some form of sway in decision making, “but now with social media it has skyrocketed the availability… to political parties in this country, for better or worse”.
When asked what the responders’ concerns were about global security, many, once more, expressed the need for a stronger defence force.
However, many also coined the current United States administration under Donald Trump as a danger to global security, alongside Israel, China and Russia.
One responder said that “there is no threat to Australia (and) the only real threat in the world is America and Israel”; another said that since the world is dealing with a swathe of wars, terrorism and poverty, “it is uncertain if the countries we once accounted as allies will remain so”.
3 May election: Nuclear divide amid cost-of-living concerns
By Violet Li
As a recent Star News reader survey reveals strong support for the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy, experts say it highlights the “significant impact” that cost of living has on this election campaign, particularly the cost of energy.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has proposed integrating nuclear power into the nation’s energy strategy to bring down household energy bills.
The proposal will see seven nuclear reactors at existing coal-fired power plant sites, including the one in Loy Yang in Victoria.
The first reactor is anticipated to be operational by 2036.
The nuclear initiative is projected to cost approximately $331 billion and aims to have all reactors functioning by 2050.
About 71 per cent of the 111 respondents in the South East survey supported nuclear energy in Australia, and more than half of the South East respondents backed a nuclear plant in their local area. In contrast, the results in Melbourne’s East and West indicated significant resistance to the nuclear option.
Monash University politics expert Dr Zareh Ghazarian first pointed out the sample was “very, very small”, given that the South East has more than 400,000 voters across the electorates of Holt, Bruce, Issacs, and La Trobe.
A small sample may not accurately reflect the broader population, leading to biased results.
But Dr Ghazarian said the results highlighted the significant impact that the cost of living has on this election campaign, particularly the cost of energy.
“It is really important to a lot of voters across these electorates, but also more broadly as well,” he said.
“The results reflect the overall dynamic in this political campaign in that it is focused on the cost of living.
“It is focused on people being concerned about how they will pay bills and also the re-
sponses that the major parties have to try to address these issues.”
Peter Angelico, president of South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), said locals know that energy supply is a key to reducing the cost of living pressure and ensuring they have a consistent, sustainable supply of energy makes sense.
The peak body representing over 230 leading manufacturing companies located in the South East found the majority of members supported nuclear power.
They believe nuclear power can provide a cost-effective and reliable energy source for manufacturing businesses.
“As the population grows, our policymakers need to ensure our energy policies meet the growing needs of our city, our state and our nation,” Mr Angelico said.
“People know that if we don’t have a consistent, reliable energy supply one that is based on unreliable renewables, we will be hit with blackouts, brownouts, and rising energy costs.
“Essential sectors, like manufacturing, hospitals and medical facilities, aged and childcare and our emergency services must have that certainty of supply, nuclear offers that certainty.”
Speaking of the results of the survey, Mr Angelico believed locals understand that the future requires facts, not fear-mongering.
“People are more informed and understand the benefits and opportunities and want to give their children the best opportunities now and into the future,” he said.
Liberal La Trobe MP Jason Wood was contacted for comment.
Bruce Labor MP Julian Hill said nuclear was “not a serious policy“ and “by far the most expensive form of power generation for Australia“.
“This week, new revelations show that Dutton’s costings are cooked, as he has not even included the vastly expensive costs of dealing with mountains of radioactive nuclear waste.
“Australia needs new, cheap power now,
through clean, reliable renewables.“
Greens candidate for Bruce Rhonda Garad said the survey results were “interesting” and showed people in South East were fed with misinformation about nuclear power.
Ms Garad, who is a public health academic, said nuclear power was not safe, cheap, quick, or efficient.
“Nuclear power is going to put prices up. It is at least ten to fifteen years away, if at all,” she said.
“What people also don’t know is that nuclear reactors take a huge amount of water. In a drought-prone country like ours, it will deprive people of water because that will have to be prioritised. Otherwise, it will become a risk.
“People are being fed wrong information that these are cheap, quick, efficient, and safe.
“They are none of these. I understand that there is a high favourability because people are being told the wrong information deliberately.”
Ms Garad flagged the finding by the Common-
wealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
A draft report by the national science agency in December last year found no unique cost advantage in nuclear technology, due to the substantial nuclear re-investment costs required to achieve long operational life.
The draft report found renewables continue to have the lowest cost range of any new-build electricity generation technology.
The draft report also maintained the total development lead time for nuclear in Australia would be at least 15 years.
A report commissioned by the Coalition and written by economic consultancy Frontier Economics suggested that integrating nuclear energy into Australia’s National Electricity Market could lead to significant reductions in total system cost, up to 44 per cent less than relying solely on renewables and storage.
However, the report did not provide explicit projections regarding the direct impact on household energy bills.
When asked if the support for nuclear power in South East shown in the survey could reflect the political tendency in the area, Ms Garad said the energy choice should be science-based.
“Energy should not be politicised,” she said.
Mr Ghazarian from Monash University said the divide in energy choice goes to the heart of climate policy and the energy policy in Australia.
“For a very long time, national governments appeared unable to have a coherent and cohesive response to energy and climate policy,” he said.
“We think back to the Rudd years, the Gillard years. We think back to Tony Abbott. We think back to Malcolm Turnbull, where climate as a policy issue was really troubling for them and very difficult for them to try and work through.
“I suspect what we have here is that continuation of the debate and questions presumably from voters about how the energy mix, energy security, energy price are going to impact them.”
A recent Star News reader survey reveals more than two-thirds of the South East respondents backed the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)
Libs heckled at prayer event
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Federal MP Jason Wood and Bruce Liberal candidate Zahid Safi were heckled while pledging $6.5 million funding at an Eid prayer event.
Thousands attended the prayers hosted by Afghan Islamic Centre and Omar Farooq Mosque (AICOM) at Dandenong Showgrounds on Monday 31 March.
Many rose from their chairs, unimpressed with Wood’s announced funding to help build AICOM’s proposed community centre.
Some were waving their hands and shouting comments like ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Shame’.
Safi – who is an AICOM member – reportedly was silent during the address.
Wood, who is the La Trobe MP and opposition multicultural affairs spokesperson, when asked by Star News, said there was no conflict of interest for Safi.
Safi was “one of 3000 members” of the mosque, Wood said. However Safi was without voting rights and not sitting on the mosque committee.
“I’m the one supporting this,” Wood said. Wood and Safi were asked by the mosque committee to announce the funding and read
a statement from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at the event.
“Pro-Palestinian supporters” tried to “hi-
jack“ the speech, he said.
“There was great cheering also at the announcement. So it’s a sad reflection of modern-day politics where people try to hijack announcements.”
Wood said the community centre in Narre Warren South would cost about $14 million. It was for community engagement – supporting people in jobs, training and education.
Meanwhile, an AICOM committee member is believed to have since resigned in opposition to inviting the politicians to the event.
Stand For Palestine Australia members were among the hecklers.
A video post on SFPA social media stated Wood and Safi were “chased out” of the event.
“They had to get out, and they had to get out quick because no one wanted any of it,” the vlogger said.
The gathering “hurled some comments - we want to pray, we don’t want to be lectured, we’re not here to support the Liberal Party, these guys support genocide, think about Palestine”.
“People didn’t want any of that dirty money. People got really riled up.”
Massi Ahmadzay, a lawyer, is helping an internal investigation into the “very disappoint-
ing” behaviour by a minority in the crowd.
“Islamic teachings teach us to be very respectful to guests invited to the mosque. Most were quiet, reserved and respectful.”
But he added that Muslim voters were “let down“ by the major parties over Palestine and Gaza. And that the issue could prove to be a “vote-changer”
“The Muslim community would prefer to support a government that was blatantly against the ‘genocide’.
“That’s not just in the mosque or the Afghan community, but widely held by Muslims around the world about the Western governments.
“Perhaps the lesson is that in the current climate, the mosque is not the right setting to speak of funding and policies.”
Isaacs Greens candidate Matthew Kirwan said the Liberal and Labor parties “can’t expect to buy off Muslim communities in the southeast“.
Nor could they “ignore the pain that they have caused on the Palestine issue and also their cruel refugee and people seeking asylum policies”, he said.
“What is needed is genuine respect for our Muslim communities.”
Federal Election: Minority government on the cards
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Australia could be set to elect a minority federal government, according to political expert Dr Zareh Ghazarian.
The head-of-politics at Monash University predicts a “very tight electoral race” for the 3 May election, with neither the Labor Government or Coalition opposition certain to govern in their own right.
“Labor can’t afford to lose seats as it won
government with a very slim majority in 2022.
“Losing a couple of electorates may mean Anthony Albanese becomes a one-term prime minister.”
On the other hand, the Coalition – despite a “bit of bounce” in the polls – is coming from “too far back to claw back all of the seats”.
Cost-of-living will continue to be the main focus during the election campaign, along with energy, health care, education and infrastructure, Dr Ghazarian says.
“The key difference between the major parties is how they are going to address cost-of-living.”
In recent days, Labor has unveiled a round of tax cuts from next year and electricity subsidies. In contrast, the Coalition has pledged fuel excise cuts. “Cost-of-living has been something people have been talking about.
“It has been dominating the headlines and hasn’t gone away with talk of inflation, interest rates and housing affordability.”
Dr Ghazarian expects the status-quo to remain in South East seats.
Bruce, held by Labor MP Julian Hill since 2016, is considered marginal after a boundary redistribution.
“There’s still some really strong booths for Labor (in Noble Park North and Dandenong).
“As we go out more towards Berwick, there’s a few more Liberal booths – but it should be a Labor hold. If Labor can’t hold onto Bruce, it can’t hold onto government.”
Angry members of the crowd rise to their feet and shout over Jason Wood’s address. (Facebook)
Labor promises planning
By Violet Li and Cam Lucadou-Wells
In a further election pitch, Labor has announced $10 million for planning work to upgrade Western Port Highway.
The early works are said to investigate options to improve safety on the 100km/h road that runs across three electorates: Holt, Issacs, and Dunkley.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King was flanked by Labor MPs Mark Dreyfus, Jodie Belyea and Cassandra Fernando for the announcement at Lyndhurst on 2 April.
“We’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government,” King said.
“We’re fixing roads right across the state; we’ve doubled our road maintenance funding to local councils, reinstated road maintenance indexation that was scrapped under the former government and are investing heavily in our regions and cities.”
The project is part of a $1.2 billion Victorian Road Blitz, including $200 million of State Government funding.
Ms King noted a growing housing development along the Western Port Highway. She said with the planning funding, the authority would look into what needed to be done on different parts of the highway.
“You can see some parts of the road are already dual carriageway. It’s separated. You’ve got good shoulders. It’s relatively safe,” she said.
“There are some intersections that are not coping with the volume of traffic. There are other parts of the road where it again narrows down to a non-grade separated road.
“We are trying to look at what safety treatments we can put upon those. Then for future planning, further full duplication is really what we’re looking at.”
When asked if further funding would be committed, she said: “If we’re committing planning money, you can be assured that we
will be looking to commit construction money when we know exactly what it is we’re going to do.
“With this particular announcement, we know already there are need for safety upgrades, so they are relatively simple to do.
“When you’re putting barriers along, when you’re increasing the siding so that you’re making sure people do have access to being able to move off the road if something happens.
“Those sorts of things we can do relatively quickly, but bigger infrastructure investments, that’s what the planning component of this $10 million would do.”
State transport infrastructure minister Gabrielle Williams, in a statement, said: “It’s great to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and help deliver critical projects that people rely on every day.”
Labor also announced $250 million for stage 2 of the Mickleham Road upgrade and $3 million to plan transport upgrades in and around Warragul and Drouin.
Bruce candidates in ’25 poll: Who will claim the seat?
By Ethan Benedicto
With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling the election for 3 May, Bruce electorate’s seat is once more on the table.
Current Labor and Bruce MP, Julian Hill, has had a solid foundation in the electorate since his election in 2016, and even more so with his strong wins in both the 2019 and 2022 elections.
Like before, he maintains a foundation of multicultural affairs and social cohesion, as well as housing affordability, international education and student support.
A strong Liberal contender is in the works, however, with Zahd Safi seeing endorsement
from long-time La Trobe MP Jason Wood, who announced his candidacy in March 2024.
As stated on his website, Safi has a strong initiative for better access to mental health services, ‘real cost-of-living relief’, and safety.
The Greens also have a hand to play, with Rhonda Garad, a City of Greater Dandenong councillor, as their representative for the electorate.
On her website, she states that she has a ‘proven track record of getting things done’, holding a strong focus on the cost of rent, mortgages and food, as well as cheaper groceries.
Garad, reflecting the wider Greens’ initiative, is pushing for a rent freeze and tackling interest
rate increases and higher taxation for large corporations.
One Nation has Bianca Colecchia as their representative, with a goal of ‘restoring political neutrality and critical thinking’ in educational institutions; youth crime is also a focus, citing ‘mass migration’s strain on housing and infrastructure’.
Family First has Wendy Birchall, with a focus on ‘less unnecessary taxes’ and a strong traditional focus on families and freedom of speech.
Bruce has been an ALP stronghold since 1996, but with a demographic shift that extends further south to Cranbourne North and east to Berwick, Hill is looking at a close fight in the coming months.
FUNDRAISER
Dinner
Date:
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Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King was flanked by Labor MPs Mark Dreyfus, Jodie Belyea and Cassandra Fernando for the announcement of a $10 million funding for the Western Port Highway at Lyndhurst on 2 April. (Violet Li: 469689)
Liberal Bruce candidate Zahid Safi is a strong contender for the seat, backed by La Trobe MP Jason Wood. (Stewart Chambers: 457969_07)
A floral escape at Bunjil
By Ethan Benedicto
The Floribunda Gala and opening was in full swing at Bunjil Place on Friday, 28 March, as people donned their flower best, eager to step foot into the gallery.
The gallery itself opened at 8pm, with patrons greeted by a purple-lit foyer, drinks and canapes, and intricate artwork by local Casey artists as a taste of the big reveal.
Multiple councillors were present for the event, with Cr Kim Ross, Cr Shane Taylor, Cr Jennifer Dizon, Cr Lynette Pereira, and Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambros delivering a welcome reception and speech.
Prior to her speech, she told Star News journalists that the gallery featured “priceless pieces”, and was astounded to have something of its calibre so close to home.
“The fact that we have something like this in our backyard is beautiful,” she said.
“It’s like, when you walk in there, you feel like you’re in a completely different world.”
The order of business was straightforward: visitors were given tickets to the piano room, which featured performances at set times, with the first sessions also kicking off at 8pm.
However, these same visitors were handed a pleasant surprise, as two opera singers took to the stage at the bend of the foyer stairs.
With the stagelights on them, their voices soared through the air, echoing through the walls and bouncing from one glass pane to the other, reverberating in every audience’s heart.
The verses of Leo Delibes’ Lakme, or the Flower Song, were sang, as all eyes were drawn to the women, with none daring to look away.
David Sequeira, Floribunda’s curator, spoke at length about the intricacies of the gallery, what the flowers meant, and what they stood for so that each person could set their eyes on it.
“Why have flowers persisted for millennia in the lives of human beings? I think artists are fascinated by them because flowers, they don’t live very long,” Sequeira said.
“They’ve got this very short moment of life, a short burst of it, and we use them for make-ups, break-ups, dreams, births, deaths, we use them in all these spaces.”
The gallery opened, as Sequeira described, like a rose petal, introducing patrons to a strong
start, with a wall on their left covered in flower portraits and a troupe of mannequins donned in floral garments to their right.
Each painting on the wall spoke a different language and flowed with a different essence, with every flower a depiction of one emotion and then another.
Some were bespoke, some were fluid, and some were as still as a photograph.
Sequeria, who wandered the gallery as many admired the works, said that “it’s a joy for me to see this project come to fruition”.
“I’ve been sort of the captain of the helm and working with an extraordinary team of people from the NGV and Bunjil to bring over 150 works out here.
“And when I see it all out here, in one room, it’s like all the objects, all the works of art, in harmony together to create this multifaceted understanding of the place of flowers in people’s lives,” he said.
The final flourish sat in the middle of the gallery, a cave of resin-embalmed flowers, numbered in the dozens, inviting the people in like a temptation that could not be satiated.
work by
called Block Flowers, they sat in rows, suspended in the air, still as a rock, with their beauty preserved for all to see.
On the other side, more portraits of flowers donned the walls, some in graphite, some in paint, then a transition to vases, clothing and textiles.
The night went on, with many more eager to see the displays, lining up in droves with some craning their necks to take a peek.
The piano room continued its melodies, and many mingled with one another, basking in the atmosphere of everything floral.
A
Azuma Makoto,
Inside the exhibition, where many onlookers spent time looking at the paintings. (Gary Sissons: 462313)
Before the show opened, the gallery’s curator, David Sequeira, spoke about the meaning of flowers, and what it held for people in their everyday lives. (Gary Sissons: 462313)
Inside the exhibition, the holy grail of flowers in resin, a work by Azuma Makoto. (462313)
Melinda Ambros spoke during the opening, introducing Uncle Mark Brown for the Welcome to Country and David Sequeira to speak on the gallery. (462313)
One of the many walls on display at the foyer easing visitors into the theme and preparing them for the gallery. (462313)
From left to right: Georgia Milton, Skank Sinatra and Vicki Barber; Skank Sinatra welcomed guests to the gala, strutting from one place to another, making sure that everyone’s floral interests were met with the same glee. (462313)
The opera singers were on the stairs during the opening, with lights on them, it was impossible for the audience to pull away their gazes. (462313)
The crowd gathered at the foyer eagerly at the beginning of the night. (462313)
Small group tours at Summerset Cranbourne North
Come along to Summerset Cranbourne North’s upcoming open days on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April, for a small group tour around our developing village and currently available homes, followed by light refreshments.
Our two-bedroom Gardenia villas feature a modern open-plan kitchen, dining and living, which extends out to a fully-fenced backyard, ideal for entertaining friends and family.
These single-storey, double-glazed homes include a bathroom, powder room, and two individually operated split systems, one in the living area and the other in the master bedroom. The master bedroom comes with a spacious walk-in wardrobe and ensuite access, providing privacy and convenience.
The first release of Gardenia homes sold out quickly, and we’re now selling Stage Two, which are ready to move in to. These Stage Two homes are located just a short distance from the village centre which will offer stunning resort-style facilities once complete including a café, library, hair & beauty salon, exercise room, indoor pool and spa and a recreational bowling green.#
With two-bedroom Gardenia homes available with flexible pricing from $693,300,* you could be loving Summerset life sooner than you think. Plus, you could also treat yourself with $20,000 cash back. Simply sign a Sales Application for a selected home between 01 April 2025 and 30 June 2025 and then settle by 30 September 2025.^
Love the life you choose.
Open days with small group tours
Friday 11 & Saturday 12 April, tours commence at 10am, 11am, 12noon and 1pm Enjoy light refreshments after each tour
Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au *Flexible
* Licence to occupy. Images are indicative. This insert is produced using a
Hey, grant is welcomed
By Ethan Benedicto
In light of the recent announcement of the $10,000 HEY Grant for the City of Casey, local LGBTQIA+ youth leaders have shown their eagerness and support for the development.
Likewise, Casey’s manager of child youth and family, Bronwyn Saffron, said that the city is more than pleased to have received the grant, something that will “enable our Youth Services team to host a Pride In School forum”.
“Through the forum, for local primary and secondary school teachers, we hope to empower and educate teachers so they can help shape a more inclusive school culture.”
At the same time, Saffron said that this directly benefits the LGBTIQA+ youth by improving their sense of belonging, safety and well-being in their learning environments.
Austin Parker, one of the many youth leaders in Narre Warren Headspace, said that since he was young, he has always known that he was agender.
This means that he knew that he held some internal feeling that he was neither male nor female, but just Austin.
“I’ve always known, but now I understand what agender means, it makes more sense that I don’t see gender, it’s kind of irrelevant to me,” he said.
Having gone to a Christian high school, it was difficult for Austin to fully express himself without any constraints, and while he recalled that his friends were great and that there were instances of mockery from time to time, it ultimately came down to his environment.
“I went to a Christian high school, which was interesting and for the most part, the other students were fine, but I wasn’t able to really express myself in that environment,” Austin said. It was only really after secondary education that he was able to explore himself, and his myriad of options, eventually finding his home at Headspace.
Sam Franks, a barbering student at TAFE and part of Headspace’s youth advisory committee, said that the funding is a “big step for the area, it’s really needed”.
“Growing up as queer, I went to a Catholic school, and I was the first to rally put myself out there and say, hey look, this is who I am, and this is who I want to be,” he said.
“That got a lot of backlash, I copped a lot of slack, but I think it’s changing now.
“The dynamic is starting to shift, but when I was growing up, it was a lot harder.”
Sam said that his journey was difficult, re-
calling that his parents have struggled to accept the change but have been forward with telling him to be authentic and be himself.
His confidence eventually grew, especially with the support of younger peers who “came up to me and pretty much praised me for just existing because they felt comfortable showing up for themselves”.
“That was my biggest motivator, other people, and then it fell into doing it for myself,” he said.
Carmen Parker, Austin’s mum, said that as parents, she and her husband have always supported him, adding that it was more the external factors that posed as a serious challenge.
For both mother and son, the creation of
queer spaces, physical spaces, is essential, considering that it is somewhere that those from the LGBTQIA+ community can be seen.
“It’s someplace where we can be seen, as opposed to just announcing it and then just feeling like we have no support,” Austin said.
“Schools and organisations might say they support queerness, but they don’t always do that, they’re sometimes just rainbow-washing and they want the political and social clout that comes with it.”
According to Sam, support from the everyday people can come in little gestures, and does not need to be grand in the sense of grants or from organisations and or local government.
It could be as simple as researching the topic,
more inclusion and acceptance is always
asking for people’s pronouns, wearing a rainbow lanyard when available during work, and so on.
“A lot of young queer people are scared, they don’t know what’s up in the air, it could be our rights up there,” Sam said.
“But for local governments like Casey to put a foot down and support us, saying that they want to support queer people and celebrate them, just means we have an extra blanket in a tough time - it’s a great feeling.”
Both Austin and Sam are keen to see more development in acceptance and inclusion in their home city.
With small and assured steps, they are confident that more can and will be done to achieve a safe space for all.
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a further three males on 26 March, following a fatal stabbing in Lyndhurst earlier this month.
An 18-year-old Seaford man and an 18-year-old Cranbourne North man were arrested at a hotel in Box Hill.
A 17-year-old boy from the southeastern suburbs was then arrested in the Dandenong area.
All three were interviewed by police and have subsequently been charged with murder and armed robbery.
The two men were set to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
The 17-year-old boy will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
An 18-year-old man from Narre Warren was previously charged with murder on Saturday, 22 March.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 28 July.
The charges follow an incident where a group of males were seen fighting in the vicinity of Society Avenue about 8.30pm on 14 March.
Emergency services arrived to find a male with serious stab wounds.
All other parties had fled the scene. Timothy Leek, a 24-year-old man from Clyde, was taken to hospital where he later died.
Police believe the parties involved were known to each other.
The investigation is ongoing.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
Sam Franks, a member of Headspace’s Youth Advisory Committee, is in full support of the grant, saying that
welcome. (Ethan Benedict0: 469596_03)
Legalise cannabis push
By Ethan Benedicto
Battling chronic pains, depression and anxiety in the last few years, Berwick local Christopher Filer has called for broader awareness and a bigger push on legalising cannabis after immense improvements with his medicinal doses.
Chris, back when he was in his early 60s in 2012, slipped and broke his lower spinal disc in four places.
This led to four consecutive surgeries, and while successful, left him with immense chronic pain that mired the remainder of the decade with constant hospital visits.
What made it worse, however, was the opioid medications that Chris had been on, which he said was supposed to be ‘pain-relief’ turning him “into a zombie”.
Not in the literal flesh-eating sense, but Chris recalled becoming a shell of what he had once been.
Now in his 70s, he acknowledges that he can only base it off his own experiences, yet Chris remains steadfast in advocating for more avenues of access to medicinal cannabis.
His support is behind any who would push for the legalisation of cannabis, agreeing that more good than harm can be done for the wider community - especially those experiencing chronic pains.
“Well, the picture of me is worth a thousand words,” he said.
“From taking all that s**t and making me
bump into things, collapsing - a lot of my life is gone because of it, this is better.
“I can only go off my own experiences, but if it helps people like it helped me, then why not?”
When speaking to a Star News journalist about his experience with opioid treatments, he had to pause, adding that “these drugs, my brain’s not as good as it used to be”.
“I’m a highly qualified person, I’ve got my degrees, but since taking all these drugs, I forget things.
“When I went back to the clinic, they told me, don’t worry Chris, you’ve only started the basic level of medication, we can up them all the time.
“So they did that, and I was walking around like a zombie, falling over, and I used to live in my own unit but I also used to have a lot of falls because I was taking all this s**t,” he said.
It was only in the last two years, when Chris switched to medicinal cannabis, both oils and flowers, that he saw improvement.
Currently residing in an aged care home in Berwick, he recalled when he needed to have his walker to move around, but ever since he began taking the cannabis oils, all he needed was his trusted walking stick.
After some time, he was referred to a different clinic, his current one that administers his medicinal cannabis doses.
Here, he remembered the doctor looking at his medical sheet and saying, “**** me’, so I guess that’s how intense it was”.
“They gave me the oils and flowers, and they’ve helped me immensely.
“I take Panadol here and there, but it’s been fantastic; there’s some small pains, but the oils deal with the rest of it.
“I’m steady on my feet, even if I’m using a walking stick, and I still have my walker, but I rarely use it,” he said.
While legalising cannabis is one thing, doing so, Chris said, could just as easily provide a greater platform for its medicinal properties.
However, before the transition, he had a yearlong battle with depression and anxiety, the onset of what he said was caused by post-ketamine
Expert speaks on cannabis decriminalisation
By Ethan Benedicto
The Penington Institute said that Rachel Payne MP’s tabling of a move to decriminalise small amounts of cannabis is the right step forward, but more remains to be done.
John Ryan, CEO of Penington, said that the bigger challenge at hand is confronting and dealing with the illegal drug market and its grip on cannabis.
“My concern with the approach is that it doesn’t actually solve the problem of the at least $1 billion annual income for organised crime on cannabis,” he said.
“Nearly 90 per cent of all arrests for cannabis in Victoria are for personal use and possession, so it does solve that problem.
“But it doesn’t solve the criminal supply problem, and so that’s why I think we need a regulated market so that we can get rid of that illegal supply chain.”
The institute has held a strong stance on public health and safety through harm reduction and acknowledging the reality of drug use in communities.
Ryan holds the same view, welcoming the development but also concerned about the “rivers of gold” and the profits that criminals make from the plant.
As a solution, it begins with having “open and honest conversations about cannabis”, and despite the proposed effectiveness of Payne’s bill, Ryan believes the negative connotations around cannabis currently will still persist.
“We can see in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) that the sky hasn’t fallen in, and they’re decriminalised personal use, possession and cultivation of cannabis, and that hasn’t created a problem,” he said.
“On the other hand, only 10 per cent of cannabis consumers get their cannabis from their own cultivation, so it still leaves the criminal market in charge.
“Those conversations are really difficult when the industry is basically in the shadows.”
He added that while the move is a positive step, it’s not something that directly addresses the larger controlling body that proves to be the biggest obstacle for a regulated market.
Coining Canada’s success with a regulated cannabis system, he said that taking a similar approach can “severely undermine organised crime networks” and is something that Victoria, if not Australia, should be aiming for.
A regulated market for cannabis would see tested and labelled products open for
purchase by legal adults from licensed and reputable retailers, as compared to street dealers.
Another hurdle is the stigma; with the proliferation of its illicitness and ties with the underground market, it remains a crucial aspect that needs to be brought to light.
“Alcohol is a really interesting parallel, and obviously more people consume alcohol compared to cannabis,” he said.
“But nearly 50 per cent of the population (over 14) have consumed cannabis at some stage in their life and that are willing to admit to it.”
However, those figures could be much higher and simply stagnate due to said stigma.
“People don’t want to talk about it, but I think if we do talk about cannabis in the walk that we talk about alcohol, then there’s progress,” he said.
“I think that sort of honesty is really important, and it’s the honesty that the community wants.
“We’ve had a lot of fear-based approaches from governments in relation to cannabis over the decades, and that fear is hard to displace.”
Of course, this stigma also permeates the fear of being involved with other forms of drugs, with it being more than common-
treatments, something that, while undergoing it, Chris said kept him up for over a week.
“I was sent to a hospital for treatment, but (ketamine) had the opposite effect on me,” he said.
“What they do is they put an initial drip in and turn it into certain amounts per day, and every morning and night they would change it.
“So I was there for eight days having ketamine pumped into my body, and I was awake for most of it,” he said.
While he did come out of it with some level of relief, not all the pain was gone.
Chris recalled being unstable, both physically in the sense that he kept falling, with times where he crashed into his mirror closet, and at some point he had passed out in his kitchen floor “for God knows how long” until his son found him.
To mentally, where he spent a year struggling with his own mental health and personal grief of the coming to terms with his condition.
While Chris still has regular visits to his psychiatrist for his mental health, he takes the days one step at a time, eager to return home now that he’s feeling better.
Currently, Chris takes 0.5ml of prescribed cannabis extract twice a day.
“There were so many times that I could have killed myself with my falls, but I’m here,” Chris said.
“They’re not cheap, the medicine, but I’d pay $500 more if I could; it just keeps me normal.”
Dutton would divert loop funds
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The Liberal-Nationals Coalition has pledged to cancel $2.2 billion of federal funding for the controversial Suburban Rail Loop (SRL).
Opposition leader Peter Dutton labelled the project an “unfunded, cruel hoax” that “would never be delivered”, promising to divert part of the funds towards the $13 billion Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
He’d also cancel $2 billion federal funding for an upgrade of Sunshine railway station.
The total savings of $4.2 billion would go towards the airport rail link ($1.5 billion) and other Victorian road and rail projects such as extending the Frankston line.
The airport rail link funding is on top of $5 billion committed by the Labor Federal Government, making a total of $6.5 billion.
In response, Bruce Labor MP Julian Hill labelled the Liberals’ funding promise as a “cruel April Fool’s joke”.
“It is actually a $500 million cut and doesn’t include upgrading Sunshine station.
“You cannot actually have Airport Rail without upgrading Sunshine station.
place for dealers to have access to other illicit substances.
For Ryan, the direct correlation or pipeline that using cannabis leads to the use of more harmful drugs is “extremely weak”.
What isn’t, however, is the act of purchasing cannabis from underground or criminal sources, which can, as mentioned, lead to other, sometimes more severe avenues.
“Actually taking cannabis out of the criminal market reduces people’s exposure to other drugs, so it’s protective in that way,” he said.
“I don’t think as a community it’s helpful to expose people to the criminal underworld for a drug like cannabis, when we’ve seen with alcohol that we can regulate it effectively.”
Touching on the possible long-term timeline of the decriminalisation and legalisation of cannabis, Ryan said that he would be surprised if it would still be a criminal offence if he was in his 80s.
Community awareness, the states’ and country’s leaders and their support is what’s needed in the long run for further progress.
“Most communities support a health-led approach to cannabis,” Ryan said. “We’ve seen from overseas in Canada, the United States and even Thailand, we can learn from these countries on how to do it better.”
“With no new platforms or rail flyovers it would leave Melbourne with a big chokepoint in the rail network and mean airport rail would be so infrequent it would be unusable.”
Recently, the State Opposition called for a “pause” on stage one of the SRL – between Cheltenham and Box Hill - estimated to cost $34.5 billion.
It cited Infrastructure Australia finding the State Government’s business case “overstated” the project’s benefits.
At the same time, the State Labor Government is reportedly seeking $11.5 billion of federal funding.
La Trobe Liberal MP Jason Wood said “we can’t keep pouring billions” into the SRL, which lacked a justifiable business case. On the other hand, the airport link was “so important” and it was “embarrassing not to have one.”
When asked if the South East would receive any of the diverted funds, he said: “We’ll have to see. Watch this space.”
Bruce Greens candidate Rhonda Garad said the State Government needed to “review” the “financially irresponsible” SRL project. “The business case has not been made. It would appear that there’s no money to finance this.”
She said she’d prefer the money to be spent on hospitals, schools and services.
Garad supported the airport rail, which was financially viable and could be fully funded.
Chris Filer strongly advocates for legalising cannabis after medicinal doses and treatment did what years of opioid treatments could not achieve. (Ethan Benedicto: 468647_01)
John Ryan, CEO of the Penington Institute, said that Rachel Payne MP’s move is the right step forward, but more remains to be done. (Supplied)
Milestones marked on stage
By Ethan Benedicto
More than 340 students took to the stage and had their final moments at Federation University Berwick Campus’s graduation ceremony, with milestones celebrated and diplomas held close.
Among these students was Isha, who delivered a strong speech during the ceremony on Wednesday, 26 March, where she touched on her journey so far and what life has in store for her and her peers.
Isha graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology after she realised the value of devices in people’s everyday lives during the pandemic.
After letting a deep breath go, she said that she’s “trying to believe that I’ve done it”.
“Like, all of those years, how I went through them and just the feeling of disbelief and excitement, and of course, that tinge of nervousness too,” she said.
Touching on her choice of degree, she said that from what she experienced, technology played a big role in current society and that it was “helping people”.
“People were using it every day, especially since you had to stay home; so I was like, okay, if I want to make an impact in the world, technology was in the middle of that,” she said.
What appealed to Isha the most was the flexibility of the degree, from tackling computer-based roles, to information management, infrastructure and more.
“You get to know about a lot of sectors because it’s not just IT in health or in education, it’s everywhere,” she said.
One of the bigger impacts for her was being a woman in STEM, a male-dominated field, where Isha looks to find her success.
She recalled the first years of her university days when she walked into a class and saw only three other women.
While it was a shock, she remains gleeful to be one of many to be representing women in her field.
“When I first thought about IT, I thought it was all about coding; that was my first impression,” Isha said.
“But the thing I like about women in STEM is that we’re able to utilise all of our skills in (the broader) IT, rather than just thinking about it as just coding.
“You can build anything from IT, it can be an organisation even; right now I’m doing an analysis role, so not much coding, but the impact is the same.”
Isha, in light of her studies, praised the university’s co-op model in enabling her, and many other students to gain hands-on experience while still undertaking their studies.
Talking about said hands-on experience, she also said that it gave her the “opportunity to observe recent industry trends and see the results of my hard work in front of my eyes”.
“That made me clear about what I want to pursue in the next five years in the education or technology industries and also get a taste of work-life
balance,” she said.
As for Federation’s vice-chancellor, Duncan Bentley, he was ecstatic to be able to deliver another riveting ceremony; the sight of students taking on a new journey was something he said he’d never grow tired of.
“It’s such a fantastic experience and one of the wonderful things is all these co-operative programs we’re delivering with employers mean we’re seeing graduates come out with unique skill capabilities,” he said.
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Isha, who spoke during the ceremony and graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology, said that she was still trying to take the experience all in. (Ethan Benedicto:468394)
Greetings were in order, as heads of the university prepared themselves to greet the students. (Gary Sissons: 467922)
Everyone stood for the national anthem before the ceremony began, with the front row seats filled with the graduates. (Gary Sissons: 467922)
Reserve a cruising dream
WITH the official start of Spring in Europe, Viking is celebrating the start of its 2025 European river season as its award-winning fleet of Longships embark on their journeys acrossthecontinent’smostscenicwaterways.
This season, Viking will continue to expand its destination-focused offerings with the introduction of seven new sister ships, which host 190 or fewer guests and are designed specifically for European rivers. The company will also sail three new itineraries this year, as well as its popular Viking journeys.
Earlier this week, the company took delivery of its new river vessel, the Viking Nerthus which is built specifically to sail the Seine River, and the company continues to grow its capacity across its fleet.
They expect to take delivery of twenty-five additional river ships by 2028 and nine additional ocean ships by 2030. With these orders, Viking will have 109 river ships in 2028 and 21 ocean and expedition ships in 2030. Viking’s River Voyages in Europe:
Sailing March through December, Viking will introduce three new itineraries on the Rhine, Main, and Seine rivers, offering guests the opportunity to explore more of Europe in the Viking way; and it will continue to offer its popular European river voyages.
Highlights of the 2025 river season in Europe include:
· New Rhine and Main Explorer (Eleven days;
Nuremberg – Basel) – Discover the hidden gems of southern Germany, Switzerland, and France. Visit Basel, Switzerland’s capital of culture, explore Frankfurt’s vibrant cityscape, and admire the charming medieval towns of BadenWürttemberg and Bavaria. Turreted castles, rolling vineyards, and a fascinating blend of old and new await.
New Christmas on the Rhine and Main (Eleven days; Nuremberg – Basel) – Experience the magic of Europe’s Christmas markets along the Rhine and Main rivers. Browse festive stalls in Basel and Karlsruhe, discover Strasbourg’s Alsatian traditions, and wander through Nuremberg’s world-famous Christkindlesmarkt while savouring mulled wine and handcrafted holiday treats.
New Christmastime in Paris and Normandy (Eight days; roundtrip from Paris) – Celebrate the holiday season in the ‘City of Light’ before setting sail through the serene landscapes of Normandy. Visit the charming riverside town of Rouen, soak in the festive atmosphere of Christmas markets, and return to Paris to enjoy its world-famous holiday illuminations.
· Rhine Getaway (Eight days; Basel – Amsterdam) – Explore one of Europe’s best-loved rivers. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. Sa-
vour the various culinary traditions of Alsace. With calls in Amsterdam, Cologne and Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.
· Danube Waltz (Eight days; Budapest – Passau)
– Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school.
Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Witness daily monastic life on an exclusive visit to Göttweig Abbey. This eight-day itinerary reveals the best of these places while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.
Romantic Danube (Eight days; Budapest – Regensburg) – Visit Budapest’s Castle District and cross the famous Chain Bridge. Explore Göttweig Abbey, one of Austria’s most revered monastic centres, and make dumplings with Wachau Valley apricots. Visit historic Salzburg. Spend two days in Vienna and celebrate the city’s musical heritage at a concert featuring works by Mozart and Strauss. With medieval towns, grand cities and stunning scenery, this eight-day journey on the “Blue Danube” is one you are sure to love.
· Paris and the Heart of Normandy (Eight days; roundtrip to Paris) – Dock in the heart of Paris, admiring views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from the ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture.
Explore Giverny and the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting inspiring many of his masterpieces. This voyage celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.
· Grand European Tour (Fifteen days; Amsterdam – Budapest) – Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the culinary delights of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz, visit Melk’s Benedictine Abbey and delve into Nuremberg’s World War II history. Indulge the senses on this 15-day journey spanning the best of Europe, tracing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.
· Portugal’s River of Gold (Ten days; Lisbon –Porto) – Experience the renaissance of Lisbon, newly invigorated with trending galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia’s oldest university towns: Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain. Roam the port warehouses of Porto. Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site. Their 10-day cruise tour includes a hotel stay in Lisbon and the added bonus of a visit to Spain.
For more information visit viking.com or phone 138 747 for further information.
Enjoy the scenery and learn the history of the region aboard a Viking Longship with 190 or fewer guests.
While relaxing on board enjoy the sleek and sumptuous surrounds of the Explorer Suite, Living Room.
Uncover Normandy’s heart
Experience the joy of European river cruising with Viking’s eight-day Paris and the Heart of Normandy voyage from Paris to Rouen and back to Paris.
Dock in the heart of Paris, admire views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from the ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture.
Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration.
Music, film, architecture, literature, dance and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theatres, bookstores and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city.
At the centre of it all is the Champs-Élysees. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum.
Explore Giverny and the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting inspires many of his masterpieces. This voyage celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.
One of the most pleasurable activities in Paris is whiling away the time in one of the city’s outdoor cafes. Whether sipping a cafe au lait or a kir royal, there is no better way to feel like a Parisian. Listen to stories that tell the tale of the area’s historic past while navigating medieval passages
brimming with some of the city’s finest eateries and hidden gems tucked away on every corner.
The Parisian culinary journey takes guests to a selection of vendors that showcase a range of sweet and savory treats. Stop at one of Paris’s renowned chocolatiers or bakeries to sample a sweet delight and pause for tastings of savory delicacies, accompanied by a glass of wine or soda.
Life in Paris revolves around the Seine River, with 37 bridges crossing the river, each telling a story. Perhaps none are so extravagant as the Pont Alexandre III, a graceful span named for the Russian tsar who signed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892.
Downriver, the five-arched Pont d’Iena is beloved for its scenic location linking the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadero district. The Pont des Arts, set between the Louvre and the Institut de France, was famed for its thousands of padlocks, attached by couples to the railing grate as a sign of their devotion to each other.
Enjoy the Seine as it meanders through the mellow vistas of Normandy. As it makes its sleepy and serpentine way to the English Channel, it winds along for 240 miles from Paris, more than doubling the distance of a crow’s flight.
As it sails, guests enjoy viewing swathes of fields unfurl toward groves of apple orchards, sources of the region’s famed Normandy cider. Calvados apple brandy is also a regional specialty, and a celebrated staple ingredient in Normandy cuisine. It is a chance to gaze upon picturesque villages and historic abbeys on these bucolic banks.
There are few more pivotal moments in his-
tory than the D-Day landings that ushered in the end of World War 11. Visit the sacred Normandy Beaches and recall the day’s monumental sacrifices.
Explore one of the most fantastic fortresses of Normandy while admiring sweeping views of the Seine as it winds its way through the countryside. Discover the Château Gaillard is the most scenic castle ruin in the Seine Valley and the strongest and most magnificent castle of its age. It guarded the Seine River Valley and was the key structure in a vast system that defended Normandy during the Wars of Religion Rouen, founded by Romans, is situated amid chalk cliffs along the Seine. The Norman capital boasts many pleasures, from the 700 charming half-timbered houses of the Old Town to the glorious Rouen Cathedral, which so captivated Claude Monet that he painted it many times in varying light.
The city is perhaps best-known as the site of Joan of Arc’s last stand; the patron saint of France was tried and condemned here for heresy and burned at the stake in 1431.
Guests will enjoy a day at the former home of French kings: the awe-inspiring Château de Versailles. The palace and its sprawling gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began as a small hunting lodge. Over the years, it was enlarged by each of its three resident kings—most famously Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’.
Visit one of the most celebrated districts in Paris, Montmartre. This bohemian enclave, in which Belle Époque (‘Beautiful Era’) artists, writers and poets such as Dalí, Modigliani, Monet,
Picasso and van Gogh spent hours and gained inspiration in cafes and at cabaret revues, still retains its charms from that bygone era.
During this cruise, guests can extend their holiday and spend time exploring more of France with Viking’s new fully guided three-night Reims & Champagne hotel extension. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Champagne region.
Stroll through lush vineyards, savour a taste of Champagne and exquisite cuisine, and visit the grave of Dom Perignon. Admire the grandeur of Reims Cathedral and see the Châteaux de Vauxle-Vicomte, an inspiration for Versailles. (Available as a pre-extension only with Paris & the Heart of Normandy.)
One of the pleasures of a river cruise is to simply unpack once and let the dedicated crew take care of the rest allowing guests to relax on board their award-winning Viking Longships. Local guides immerse travellers in the history and culture of each destination with enriching excursions.
Enjoy onboard meals with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner and enjoy endless specialty tea, coffee and bottled water, unlimited Wi-Fi, and all onboard gratuities, port charges and taxes.
If this sounds too good to be true, visit viking. com and enjoy Viking guests recall how much they loved exploring the rivers of Europe on a Viking Longboat with less than 190 guests or phone 138 747 for further information.
Discover The Château Gaillard, the most scenic castle ruin in the Seine Valley on a Viking Longboat.
Life in Paris revolves around the Seine River, with 37 bridges crossing the river. Cruise and explore with an eight-day Viking cruise.
LEE MCCARTHY
43 Nights | 3 January 2026 | Prices fr $8,999pp
Savour an extraordinary adventure on board Noordam, where you’ll be immersed in a world of awe-inspiring sights, unforgettable experiences and endless adventure.
Embark on the ultimate adventure with a one-night hotel stay in Sydney before setting sail on a 42-night cruise across Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand. Dive into Moreton Island’s crystal-clear waters, then journey to Brisbane, Townsville, and Cairns. Venture into Papua New Guinea, where you’ll discover the beauty of Alotau, the Conflict Islands and Kiriwina Island.
Immerse yourself in WWII history of Honiara, then be enchanted by Vanuatu and Fiji. Experience Tonga, explore New Zealand’s breathtaking coastlines and stand in awe at the historic Waitangi. Your adventure culminates with Tasmania’s natural wonders and Melbourne’s charm, before returning to Sydney.
Kiriwina Island
Alotau
Cairns
Townsville
Moreton Island
Brisbane
Your itinerary
Honiara
Conflict Islands
Luganville
Port Vila
Mystery
Sydney
Burnie
Hobart
Waitangi
Lautoka
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WHAT’S ON
Bakhtar Casey Nawroz Festival
As we come together to celebrate Nawroz, Eid & Easter, we are delighted to announce a special initiative for newly arrived families. We will be providing a Nawroz Gift Package, which also includes a food voucher provided by Foodbank Victoria, to support those who have recently joined our community.
We warmly invite all newly arrived families to attend the Bakhtar Casey Nawroz Festival and be part of this vibrant celebration. To receive their Nawroz Gift, families must arrive on Saturday 5 April at 12:00 PM at Gunns Road Hallam for registration, and the packages will be distributed later in the day.
Festival Highlights
• Music Performances – Afghan, Bollywood, and Rock Band
• Dance Performances – Iranian, Afghan, and Bollywood
• Fashion Show – Showcasing Afghan, Bollywood, African, and Nepali attire Face & Henna Painting – Fun activities for all ages
• Fairy Floss & Kite Flying – Traditional and engaging experiences
• Rides & Attractions – Bumper Cars, The Claw, The Twist, Carousel, Jumping Castle Slides
• Acknowledgement of Community Champions & Sport Teams – Honouring achievements
• Parade of Nations Flags – Celebrating cultural diversity
• Festival Food Trucks – A variety of cuisines representing different cultures
• Community & Business Stalls – Showcasing local organisations and vendors
• Honouring the Legacy of Afghan Cameleers
– Recognising their vital role in shaping Australia’s history through resilience, trade, and transport in the outback.
• We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, especially our major sponsor, Bendigo Bank – Dingley Village, for their generous support in making this festival possible. We encourage our community partners to spread the word and ensure that newly arrived families feel welcomed and included in this special celebration.
We look forward to celebrating Nawroz, Eid, and Easter together!
Trades & Services
Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre
• 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 terms - Come 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-forprofit organisation with a membership fee of $50 per year which entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.
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.
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.10am-12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am-2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am2pm.
• 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.
Berwick Springs VIEW Club
Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.
The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.15am, where members enjoy lunch and then host a guest speaker.
The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.
For more information, contact Shirley on 0438 191 759 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com
Fierce rivals resume battle
By David Nagel
Some things have changed significantly at Kalora Park since Narre Warren and Cranbourne continued to forge a fierce rivalry from 2010 to 2014 in the Casey Cardinia Football League.
Brighter lights now illuminate a fresh new facility at Fox Road that replaced an older version that absolutely reeked of character.
If only those walls could talk!
They’d talk about the day when Narre Warren full-forward Kerem Baskaya laid a short-front on Cranbourne defender Stuart Morrish that rocked him to his very core.
The slap of skin on skin, the bone-jarring sound, the consequence of Morrish spinning in the air and lying strewn on the ground, lifeless for what seemed like minutes…it summed up the eye-for-an-eye attitude of both football clubs.
The call from the umpire that day; play on!
But don’t feel sorry for Cranbourne; who also had a leviathan full-forward that could cause some serious damage of his own.
If those walls could put pen to paper, the full history of champion forward Marc Holt and his ongoing run ins with Narre Warren would take more than this page to fill.
Baskaya and Holt were burly; they were strong…and it was never a good idea to antagonise and push their buttons and then defiantly stand in the hole.
That never ended well!
The coaches at the time; well they simply despised each other as well.
Both were uncompromising as footballers and brought a similar approach to their coaching.
No Narre Warren player would ever let down Chris Toner with a timid baulk or sidestep against Cranbourne, while Doug Koop demanded and expected every player on his Cranbourne list to hit the contest with full intent.
Blood was spilt, bones were broken, bodies were bruised; but both clubs would not have it any other way.
They were the best; clearly the best two…and they were fighting for the same prize.
That’s the only way rivalries can exist, fighting for the same prize, and at 7pm on Saturday night the rivalry between the Magpies and Eagles will forge its next chapter.
Things have changed in football - with blood, bones and bodies a lot more protected than they use to be.
That may be the case, but courage will still be
tested in the most anticipated season opener in recent memory.
Narre and Cranny…it’s great to have you back!
The Magpies and Eagles; quite literally, will steal the spotlight this week, but this is a weekend of football and netball for the ages.
Bunyip makes its long-awaited return to the Ellinbank league, with a home game against Trafalgar the first true test of new coach Nick Smith’s reign.
The Doggies tasted rare success in the off-season; albeit in a practice match, and will be chomping at the bit to continue that winning form.
In West Gippsland, the netballers from Inverloch-Kongwak begin their quest for an unbelievable fourth-consecutive premiership.
The playing field looks even, with clubs recruiting well and the Sea Eagles losing some
guns, making this journey a testing one from the start.
If they win it again; they climb from rarefied air into a completely different stratosphere!
And whoever pieced together the draw for the opening round of WGFNC football should take a lengthy bow.
Phillip Island host reigning premiers Nar Nar Goon in a mouth-watering grand final rematch, while Tooradin-Dalmore and Cora Lynn are set to unleash some boom recruits when two serious premiership contenders collide on the banks of the Westernport.
In Eastern Division 1, Beaconsfield welcomes back former Richmond AFL forward Jake Aarts to Holm Park Reserve for a tricky test against North Ringwood, with the Eagles beginning their fourth season in Eastern with a healthy dose of confidence.
Mick Fogarty and his team fell one game short of the big one last year, but have added significantly to their list and appear a major contender this season.
Then there’s Pakenham!
Historically one of the most successful clubs in Australia, the Lions have fallen from the highest mountain in recent years to lose their billing as Kings of the Jungle.
But the doom and gloom forecast has been pushed to one side, with new coach Justin Stanton taking on the challenge ‘head-on’ of bringing a 31st premiership cup to Toomuc Reserve.
A visit to Yea would not have been on the master plan this time last year, but the relegated Lions need to win to capitalise on this initial burst of spirit.
So many storylines, so many chapters to tell… footy and netball; it’s great to have you back!
Shankland shines as Cavaliers begin season with a bang
By Justin Schwarze
With some early bumps in the road, Casey Youth League Men are now travelling smoothly after four games of Championship action.
The Cavaliers have opened their season 3-1, claiming wins over Melbourne in round 1, Waverley in round 2 and Dandenong in round 3.
In the round 3 double header, Casey went down in its trip to Keilor, but bounced back perfectly the next day to knock off the Rangers at home, 109-87.
The scoreline may read a 22-point and an assumed comfortable win for the Cavaliers, but the game was all square at three quarter time.
An offensive explosion in the final frame lifted the hosts as they dropped 43 in the term with Dandenong’s defenders having no answer.
Blake Shankland was exceptional, recording a dominant statline of 29 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
He was one of the initiators in Casey’s monster fourth, scoring seven points and grabbing six rebounds in the final term.
Superstar guard Justin Ochaya contributed 16 points and Joel Robinson provided an efficient double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds on 8/14 shooting.
“Right now, it’s been a really positive start to the year,” head coach Paul Mellett said.
“With a new group and a new style of play, to be 3-1 at this stage in the season is really positive.
“We’ve got a lot of depth on our roster, the team balance with offensive firepower, we certainly have that.
“We scored 43 points in the last quarter, so that’s the potential of the group, we’ve got a lot of guys that can score, we just need to keep trying to figure out ways to share the basketball, get good shots and rebound.”
The Cavaliers were enforcing on the glass
in the result over the Rangers, hauling in 60 rebounds as a team, including 27 of those being offensive.
It was a focus of Mellett’s side to be active on the boards as they were out-rebounded in their previous three games.
“That was a point of emphasis in the pregame, and the players were able to carry it out which was a real positive,” he said.
“To get second and third opportunities, it gives us a real chance of having a competitive score and that was shown at the end on the weekend with 109.
“Rebounding isn’t all about size, it’s about attitude and effort and there’s definitely been a shift in that on the weekend.”
Mellett has been clear with his side to bring energy and pressure to every game, with lots of strategies that include picking up players from full court.
The DNA for Casey is a fast tempo on both ends, with the synergy brought from defensive stops being translated into offensive sets.
“We play fast both ends, full court, 40 minutes,” Mellett said of the Cavaliers’ style.
“Three of the four games, that’s what got us across the line, because we were able to increase our energy in the fourth quarter and run away with the win.
“The constant pressure that we apply and the fact that I’ve got a little bit of depth holds us in good stead that makes us able to run over the top of teams in the fourth quarter.
“Our offense is race and space, we race it down there and have good spacing in the half court with lots of movement to open areas to try and create an advantage.
“We’re trying to create an advantage as early as possible in the possession, to open up space, whether that’s cutting or a two-man game, dribble handoffs, whatever we like which opens up
Tyler Roberston’s 21 points was crucial for Casey in its NBL1 opening round win. (Supplied: 469337)
good shots at the basket.
“We definitely played a fast tempo, and we’re always trying to apply pressure to both ends of the floor.”
Shankland and Ochaya have been one of the league’s best duos so far this season, with Shankland second in scoring at 23 points per game to go along with an average of eight rebounds.
Ochaya is averaging 18.5 points per game on an impressive 60 percent two point shooting.
The pair is supported by a fantastic supporting cast, making Casey a real threat in Championship.
Most importantly, the team showed outstanding toughness after being beaten by Keilor.
“We did struggle in the fourth quarter against Keilor, kind of lost our way a little bit, so we’re still trying to figure out combinations on the floor,” Mellett admitted.
“That’s going to take a little bit of time, so the focus at the moment is on just on us, and in time that will shift to our opponents but we’ve still got a lot of things we need to get better at.”
The impressive start comes at an exciting time for Cavaliers basketball, as the NBL1 South season tipped off on the weekend at Casey Stadium.
The NBL1 Women were overrun by a wellequipped Dandenong side, being outscored in every quarter to end in a result of 56-98 in favour of the visitors.
Esra McGoldrick and captain Jaden Owens and were the only two Cavaliers players in double figures as the team connected on just 28 percent of their shots from the floor.
Following that, the NBL1 Men charged to a spectacular victory against the Rangers.
Led by Tyler Robertson’s 21 points and eight rebounds, Casey did the damage in the first half and was able to withstand a resistance from Dandenong, winning 87-80.
Handy buckets and clutch shot making from Nate Roberts and Trendon Hankerson staved off Dandenong, as Hankerson managed 21 points himself, knocking down 3/6 of his attempts from beyond the arc.
2024 Youth League Championship MVP Ben Waller looked comfortable at the next level, providing eight points on 3/4 shooting off the bench.
The hosts were able to keep their opponents to 38 percent shooting, with the Rangers going just 8/32 from deep.
In round 2, the Men and Women squads will make a long interstate journey to play Mount Gambier.
The long-standing rivalry between Narre Warren and Cranbourne will resume at 7pm at Kalora Park on Saturday night. (Stewart Chambers: 106294)
No Moore as Josh resigns
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong Stingrays girls coach Josh Moore has resigned as head coach of the female program.
Moore has served as the Stingrays’ girls regional development coach for each of the past two seasons, the first two that the Coates League girls have had a full time coach, and left a profound impact on the program.
It follows five seasons as a senior assistant coach heading the midfield in the boys program, with Moore taking a role in Essendon’s AFLW recruiting department.
Moore will coach the first two games of the Stingrays season, and the Vic Country under-16s before transitioning into his new role, giving the AFL a month to find a replacement coach.
“The Stingrays and AFL are a good platform to develop coaches but the real grounding they gave me was to develop my leadership which will translate into my new role,” Moore said.
“There’s lots of great leaders within Stingrays, Vic Country and the AFL.
“I’ve learned the right way to do things so I’m very grateful to all three organisations.”
AFLW players Mikayla Williamson, Meg Robertson, Elli Symonds and Zoe Besanko are among the players Moore has mentored in their talent pathways career.
“I’m pretty proud of all the players that got drafted during my time, especially in the girls program, being head coach and seeing girls get
onto AFLW lists,” the respected mentor said.
“They’re memories I’ll cherish, and the draft nights were special.
“I’ve coached hundreds of amazingly talented footballers, and I’d like to continue to watch their journey whether that’s at AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW or even local footy.
“All the players I have coached, I continue to follow their progress and the relationships you form with staff you love and is why you do it.”
Moore highlighted boys coach Nick Cox and long-time wellbeing co-ordinator Kellie Fallon as important pillars, with both serving in their roles across Moore’s entire tenure at the ‘Rays.
“I took lots of learnings from ‘Coxy’ and I was still working out what sort of coach I was (when I came in) but with his and many others’ help, I worked that out and my style and was able to grow from there,” Moore said.
“‘Coxy’ has a lot of strengths to his coaching, and I’ve been able to put that into my coaching and leadership style.
“I’ve always had him for support and mentorship and we’ve been able to bounce ideas off each other and help each other along the journey.
“Kellie Fallon has been an absolute rock for me: every program I’ve been in, she’s been there.
“We’ve got a really good working relationship built on trust and respect so those two people I’ll keep in my corner going forward.”
Dandenong Stingrays was contacted for comment.
Duursma delivers as pick one contender shines bright
By Jonty Ralphsmith
A magical performance by pick one contender Willem Duursma has led Gippsland to a commanding 13.12 90 to 6.6 42 victory over Murray.
The athletic dynamo combined 36 disposals with 1.3 and was as flashy as always and thrived around the contest, a positive start to the season for a player whose contested ball-winning has been queried.
Just as influential as Duursma was over-aged debutante Zac Walker, who spent last season developing quickly in Phillip Island’s senior side after being cut from Gippsland’s under-16s program.
The sole overager on Gippsland’s list, Walker was an intercepting force, finishing with 10 marks and 16 disposals in a head-turning performance.
A five goal to one first quarter set up the victory, with plenty of players starting the season on the right note for the Power.
The courage of Luke Cheffers and Warragul Industrials bottom-ager Cody Templeton set the tone in the first half, while Vic Country’s Zach O’Keefe and tenacious Drouin midfielder Brodie Atkins (24 disposals, 11 tackles) were all part of a formidable on-ball brigade.
Adelaide father-son prospect Mitch Stevens –son of former Crow, Mark - blended offence and defence well off halfback, before getting midfield time in the last quarter and winning several clearances.
In the forward line, livewire skipper Tom Matthews showed why he has been touted as one to watch by Gippsland all preseason, with the small forward finishing with 17 disposals and two goals, particularly damaging early.
Fellow small forward Marlon Neocleous, a standout at the under-16s national championships in 2024, was strong, quick and clean, combining 23 disposals and two goals in a dynamite round one performance.
But that pair was outshone by bottom-ager Wil Malady, who finished with 4.2 as a speedy hit-up target who looks set for a monster campaign after getting a taste of Talent League footy last year.
Nar Nar Goon tall Xavier Ladbrook, mean-
led Gippsland to a round one win. (AFL Photos)
while, was handy on debut, the 200cm prospect utilised on a wing to showcase his running and ball-use and finishing with 10 disposals.
Dandenong Stingrays was similarly dominant over Geelong in round 1, winning 15.12 102 to 7.11 53.
A four goal first quarter set it up, before the ‘Rays kicked away with a seven goal last quarter just as Geelong had pulled back the margin late in the third quarter.
Returning overager Henry Hayes kicked four goals, while midfielder Sam Lewis finished with 24 disposals in a promising round one performance as he pushes for higher representative honours.
Devon Meadows local and Melbourne Next Generation prospect Toby Sinnema gathered 22 disposals, while AFL Academy member Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves started his season with a solid 18-disposal outing.
Gippsland play Dandenong this Sunday at Morwell in a double-header, with both programs’ girls seasons kicking off, before the boys’ round 2 clash.
Deperate Dees hold off Suns
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Two close finishes to start the season and six points to show for it.
While a frustration shadow lingers over Casey’s round 1 inaccuracy-plagued draw with North Melbourne, the Demons’ grit late in both games has been promising.
Despite Gold Coast coming hard late, Casey held on for a two-point win on Saturday at Casey Fields.
With close VFL watchers predicting an exceptionally tight season, banking early results is critical, while the capacity for the young side to run out games showed spirit.
It follows a 2024 where Casey faded out of games, going 1-3 in matches decided by two goals or less and 2-6 in those with a margin within 20 points.
Casey fired out of the blocks in both games, but while round 1 required the Demons to score in a hurry in the last quarter, round 2 was all about defending a 20-point three-quartertime lead.
The home side didn’t register a goal in the fourth stanza, with the Suns kicking three, including a Ben Jepson major at the 29-minute-mark, bringing the margin within a kick, creating a tense conclusion.
Daniel Turner turned in a best-on-ground
performance with five goals and 14 marks, impacting at both ends of the ground.
He spearheaded the forward line for most of the day, but coach Taylor Whitford sent him into defence to play as a spare behind the ball late in each of the final three quarters, where his aerial work was instrumental in stymying the Suns.
Riley Bonner, Riley Baldi and Bailey Laurie all played important roles in the midfield, while Kynan Brown’s pressure was important The former trio’s experience has proven instrumental in big moments across the first fortnight, while the exposure of close games will expedite the development of the less experienced VFL players in the side.
Despite AFL-ready Suns ruck Ned Moyle dominating the ruck contest, Casey were plus17 in clearances and did well to neutralise the visitors when they had momentum.
Jed Adams was excellent in the backline with 19 disposals, while Noah Yze kicked two first quarter goals.
It was somewhat of an upset given the Dees lined up with just nine AFL-listed players compared to 16 for the Suns.
The Demons will be looking to maintain their undefeated start to the season this Friday against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Casey have a win and a draw from its first two VFL fixtures. (Stewart Chambers: 466727)
Willem Duursma
Dandenong coach Josh Moore has left a lasting legacy at the Stingrays. (Gary Sissons: 403699)
