BERWICK
@StarNews_SE
/berwickstarnews
40¢ Inc. GST
Hit-run witnesses sought
Foster carers needed
How they stay OK
Wickers in elite of Eastern
PAGE 10
PAGE 11
PAGE 13
SPORT
WIN a $1000 SHOPPING SPREE
SCAN QR CODE
12509694-DL35-21
berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 16 September, 2021
starcommunity.com.au/competitions
Hop down to Lysterfield By Danielle Kutchel You never know who or what you might see at Lysterfield Park! Located on Horswood Road on Casey’s edge, the park is filled with many wild inhabitants. Take this one, for example. Star News photographer Stewart Chambers came across this mother having a lounge in the sun on his visit to the park this week. It goes to show that no matter what part of the evolutionary curve you sit on, we can all appreciate the challenges of parenting in lockdown!
Enjoying the spring sun. 250476
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
For more pictures from the park, turn to page 21
Battin elevation By Danielle Kutchel Gembrook MP Brad Battin has been returned to the shadow ministry after Matthew Guy replaced Michael O’Brien as Victorian Opposition Leader. Mr Battin has been handed the shadow emergency services portfolio, including police, victim support, community safety and corrections. It’s a good fit for the MP, who is a former police and prison officer. “I’m rapt to be back in shadow cabinet,” Mr Battin told Star News. “Now we can put some positive policy together going forward, talking about what we
Gembrook MP Brad Battin is back in shadow cabinet. 242885 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS want to do and the services we want to see delivered if we get into government.” Mr Battin highlighted several areas of focus,
including the fire services. He said harassment had been raised as an issue in the past, and said he wanted to make sure people feel safe to go to work. He said he has hit the ground running, making contact with key stakeholders like the Police Association of Victoria to introduce himself and discuss ideas for the future. He said he’s looking forward to having “positive discussions for change”, and wanted to remind Victorians that Victoria Police is “an amazing organisation”. “I want to ensure that that voice is heard from them and they get the respect they deserve,” he said. As for the corrections side of his portfolio,
Mr Battin said it was important to ensure the corrections system worked to get “bad people off the street” while also rehabilitating offenders to reduce the reoffender rate in Victoria. Mr Battin will have a tough balancing act ahead of him between his electorate duties and his portfolios. But the popular Gembrook MP said his priority would always be his electorate, and pledged to “keep their message going”. “I’ve got to make sure I’m delivering for the state, but never at the expense of my electorate,” he said. “I’m looking forward to my next challenge. I’ll be out there making sure people in my electorate aren’t forgotten.”
ADVERTISEMENT
12502899-AV28-21
NARRE WARREN
FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS Authorised by B. Battin MP 3/445 Princes HWY Officer 3809. Funded from the Parliamentary Budget.
CNR NARRE WARREN NTH & LAUDERDALE ROAD PH: 9705 8800 12504455-AV30-21