JULY 28, 2015 \ BRIMBANK.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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From hell to Down Under “A rough road leads to the stars” is an old adage being put through new tests in a partnership between Victoria University Secondary College and creative social project Youth Movement. YM brings together disengaged youth across the multicultural west. Its members performed for about 60 year 11 VCAL students in the secondary college’s drama room earlier this month, telling their own inspiring stories. Good Shepherd youth engagement worker Angela Scarpaci said YM was a creative outlet for people aged 15 to 25, who had lived through hard times. “It brings together many cultures – Russian, African, European, Nepalese, Islander, Lebanese – with different kinds of talents,” she said. “They tell of their life journey to, and settling in, Australia – the issues they faced: like language barriers, abuse at home, struggling to get support. Some members had been child soldiers, spent time in refugee camps and watched their parents die.” VCAL teacher Colleen Lynch said it was a chance for her students to see how “adversity does not need to define who you are”. To get involved in Youth Movement, call Angela on 0423 930 014. Youth Movement’s Lerato Masiyane, Good Shepherd youth engagement worker Angela Scarpaci, year 12 student Madhab and Youth Movement’s Maima Massaquoi. (Shawn Smits)
Ben Cameron
Storm pokies bid brewing By Ben Cameron The owners of National Rugby League club Melbourne Storm are believed to be in the final stages of buying the Kealba Hotel. Neither Storm nor hotel management denied reports last week that the sale was imminent, amid claims that the NRL club would use the pokies venue to prop up its finances. On the club’s Facebook page last Wednesday, chief executive Dave Donaghy did little to hose down speculation when questioned by fans whether the club was going to purchase an entertainment venue.
“The shareholders of the club are looking at ways of diversifying our commercial interests, which will help re. sustainability longer term,” Donaghy replied. Melbourne Storm was acquired in 2013 by Holding M.S. Australia Pty Ltd, an organisation made up of internationally experienced and successful businessmen. It has been reported the Storm’s 2014 annual report noted that the club had signed a heads of agreement to purchase a business, but details were not disclosed. The Storm did not respond to Star Weekly before deadline. Hotel management last week said it
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was aware of media reports about the sale, but it declined to comment further. Kealba Hotel is Brimbank’s number one venue for pokie losses, with punters losing $17.7 million on 86 gaming machines in the past financial year. Brimbank punters have been the state’s biggest losers on poker machines for eight consecutive years, losing $141.6 million in 2014-15, just short of a record $145.6 million three years ago and $20 million more than its nearest rival City of Casey, where punters lost $119.3 million. Big losses above $15 million were felt
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at Deer Park Hotel, Taylors Lakes Hotel, Westend Market Hotel and Watergardens Hotel. Meanwhile, Melton council has not objected to an application from WestWaters Hotel at Caroline Springs for an extra 10 gaming machines, believing these would have only an “incremental impact” on the community. “Caroline Springs is not an area that experiences high levels of vulnerability disadvantage,” a council report stated. “WestWaters is the only gaming venue within a 2.5-kilometre radius. The additional machines will not result in an unreasonable concentration of EGMs,” the report concluded.
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