SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Damjan Janevski)
In touch with state’s best Three students from Gladstone Park’s School of the Good Shepherd are hoping to make a lasting impression when they represent Victoria at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in December. Twins Dre and Zyon, 12, and Charlotte, 11, have been selected in the 12 and under TeamVic touch football side which will compete against teams from 15 countries. The students were chosen for the team after excelling in a series of try-outs through TeamVic and School Sports Victoria. Physical education co-ordinator David Kehagias said he was proud that the school had students invited to be part of the 14-student Pacific Games team. He said all three students had taken part in touch football sessions with players from Melbourne Storm, while Dre and Zyon have represented the school at inter-school sports as grade 4 students. CHARLOTTE (FRONT), DRE AND ZYON
Laura Michell
Crime fear over cop cuts By Laura Michell Whittlesea police station will have the staffing levels of a “tucked away country outpost” if a forecast reduction in officers goes ahead, according to the Police Association. The association said there were plans to cut the number of officers working at the Church Street station after the Mernda police station opens at the end of the year. Association secretary Wayne Gatt said a local police command forecast has allocated one sergeant and four to five officers to the Whittlesea station. The station’s gazetted strength is one senior sergeant, two sergeants, and 12 senior constables or constables. “It is the commitment of police that you
would expect to see in some tucked away country outpost. Whittlesea is a bustling growth corridor, the last place you should reduce police services,” Mr Gatt said. “Communities like Whittlesea do not want to lose connection with the local police. Putting our members under more pressure to do what they have always done with less is a sure-fire way of ensuring that occurs.” Resident Celina Mott said there has been a decrease in station staff over the past three years. Ms Mott said residents were concerned the forecast cut would drive up crime rates further. “We don’t feel the station is being manned correctly,” she said. “It is well known that after 6pm there is no
police in town. It doesn’t deter people if there are no police.” Whittlesea mayor Ricky Kirkham has asked Victoria Police and the state government to assure the community the station will be properly staffed. He has called on the community to rally to ensure the station’s future. The issue has also been raised in Parliament by Northern Victorian Liberal MP Wendy Lovell, who asked Police Minister Lisa Neville to guarantee that there will be no reduction in staff and that the station will remain open. “The Whittlesea community are outraged by the blatant gutting of police numbers at Whittlesea. The Police Association share their anger because they know – and I know – that
the Whittlesea community deserve so much more,” she said. A Victoria Police spokesman said resourcing for the Whittlesea Police Service Area was being finalised ahead of Mernda station’s opening, but a police presence would be maintained in Whittlesea. He did not answer questions regarding plans to cut staffing numbers at Whittlesea. Yan Yean MP Danielle Green said police command had repeatedly assured her the station would not close and would continue to have the same hours. Residents have organised a community meeting for Wednesday, September 13 at the Whittlesea Community Activity Centre, Laurel Street at 7.30pm.
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