Cultures united in faith IN a week filled with international tensions in the wake of the MH17 air disaster, there was a beacon of hope at one church in Frankston. Three congregations – Cook Island Christian Church, the Chinese Evangelical Community Church and High Street Uniting Church – came together for One Great Sunday of Sharing. Readings were given in Mandarin and Cook Island Maori, prayers were said by the three ministers for each other’s flocks and for troubles around the world, followed by hymns by choirs in different languages. Ross Huggard, chair of High St Uniting Church’s council, said: “This joint service unifies us all - in a wonderful mixed-up, diverse kind of way. Yet it reinforces that we can, and should, celebrate in fellowship together.” Pastor Charles Ho, from the Chinese congregation reflected on the interfaith service: “I think we’ve all felt what Heaven is like this morning.”
United: The Rev Dr Robert Johnson, left, the Rev Eddie Dean, centre, and Pastor Charles Ho lead the service.
Chris Brennan chris@baysidenews.com.au
A MAN was knocked unconscious after being repeatedly punched to the head during an attempted carjacking outside Karingal Hub last weekend. The 38-year-old man was stopped at traffic lights at Karingal Drive waiting to turn right into Cranbourne Rd when two males approached his distinctive yellow Toyota Hiace work van about 6.30pm last Saturday. He told police one of men went to the passengers-side door and distracted him while then second man opened the driver’s door and began punching him to the head while ordering him to get out of the vehicle. He was knocked unconsciousness during the attack and suffered a broken nose and extensive facial bruising. The two would-be carjackers, described as being of Maori of Pacific Islander appearance and aged in the mid-20s, were forced to flee after the lights turned green and traffic began to bank up. Detective Senior Constable Chris Zurek of Frankston Embona unit said such a brazen attack was of particular concern to police. “We have a father on his way home from work whose been seriously assaulted and knocked unconscious while sitting in the safety of his car,” he said. “This is a pretty serious escalation from the typical street assaults we’ve been seeing in area. To try to steal a car with the driver inside is really up another level and very concerning to police.” Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Frankston crime investigation unit on 9784 5555 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
POLICE are on the hunt for graffiti vandals who caused thousands of dollars worth of damage during a “tagging” spree in Frankston. Investigators from Frankston’s graffiti taskforce, Operation Canned, are appealing to the public to help identify the vandals after a business and sports facility were sprayed with multiple tags in two separate incidents last month. Operation Canned investigator First Constable Catherine Mussared, who is based at Carrum Downs police station, said the first incident occurred at building on McMahons Rd between 9pm on 2 June and 6am on 3 June. A sports ground on Hillcrest Rd was hit ten days later, with numerous tags appearing sometime between 9pm on 13 June and 9am on 14 June. Green and silver paint was used to write ‘PK’, ‘BUSTA’ and ‘PAKS’ on sports facilities, buildings and signs. She said police were “particularly keen” to know if the tags represented a local gang known as PFK (Playing For Keeps). First Constable Mussared said police were taking a proactive approach in trying to identify graffiti vandals, such as by monitoring specific tags and gang activities. And in an effort to encourage help from members of the public, police are offering cash rewards of up to $500 as part of a Crime Stoppers ‘dob in a tagger’ campaign. She said the latest police operation has successfully identified 46 offenders, layed 209 charges and executed 25 warrants in Frankston and Carrum Downs since February. Anyone with information about vandals active in the community is urged to report confidentially online at www.crimestoppersvic.com. au or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Canned heat: Operation Canned investigators First Constable Catherine Mussared and Constable Adam Pagram display examples of recent graffiti attacks that occurred in the Frankston area. Main picture: Yanni
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Frankston Times 28 July 2014
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Police turn up heat on vandals
Driver knocked out by carjackers
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