NEWS DESK
Departure from Dolphins a ‘kick in the guts’ Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au FORMER general manager of the Frankston Football Club Gary Buckenara said he is “bitterly disappointed” at the club’s decision to let him go on the eve of the 2019 VFL season. Buckenara was appointed general manager of the Dolphins in January 2017, and helped guide the club back into the VFL after they had their license revoked in 2016. On 25 March it was announced that they had parted ways. Buckenara told The Times he was
“blindsided” by the decision. “It’s one of the biggest kicks in the guts I’ve ever had in footy. I thought I’d done a great job for them to help them get to a position where there was light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We were hosting more games, there were more dollars coming in. We were looking at plans to host AFLW games and JLT preseason games, we were also looking at getting into the VFLW space. There were some really good plans, there were more opportunities for the business to grow and with that I would have grown too. That’s why I’ve been so bitterly disappointed that
they’ve made that decision and didn’t give me the opportunity to see through the plan. I had a vision of another five years there. I felt it was a rough decision not to let me see it through. “Over the last couple of years the club lost its license and that’s when I came in. The big focus was to start raising money and increase membership, and that’s what I’ve done for the last two years. They’ve gone from 180 members to 1200 plus there’s been record sponsorship. I’ve been a part of lobbying to get broadcast quality lights and extra facilities, we’d got to a point now where there was some light at the
end of the tunnel. I was blindsided myself when they said they wanted a different management style.” Buckenara said he feels it might be time for him to move on from football after the Dolphins decided his time was up. “To be honest you never say never, but I’d prefer my next role to not be in football. Basically with my experiences now of what the AFL system is like and the type of people it attracts, it’s become a very selfish environment. I love the game, I’ve loved being part of it, and I think I’ve made a difference.” Frankston Football Club president Pe-
ter Geddes acknowledged Buckenara as a “factor” in the club returning to the VFL for the 2018 season, but told The Times “it was best for the club to continue in a different direction.” “Gary played a role in getting us back into the VFL, as did many people. We had a lot of people contribute,” he said. “We’re about halfway towards our objectives to make sure our club stays out of the hands of administrators. That process doesn’t finish until 2020, so that’s been the compelling drive. That’s the significant factor in the decision to move in this certain direction.”
Police patrol
with Brodie Cowburn
Police seize drugs at Edithvale house DRUGS, cash, and electronic devices were seized by police from a house in Edithvale on 28 March. A warrant was executed at the property as part of an “ongoing” drug trafficking investigation. Moorabbin Frontline Tactical unit members entered the Lochiel Avenue property at around 4.40am and arrested two people. Two Edithvale men, aged 23 and 24, were charged with trafficking ketamine, trafficking cocaine, trafficking methylamphetamine, trafficking prescription drugs and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime. They were remanded in custody and appeared at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on 29 March.
License plate operation nabs three drivers AN automatic number plate recognition operation resulted in three arrests on Frankston-Dandenong road on Monday, 25 March. The first arrest made as a result of Operation Kinetic was of a 48-year-old Carrum Downs woman at around 10.30am, who is alleged to have tried to avoid the site by doing a u turn. Carrum Downs police intercepted her vehicle and conducted a breath test, which resulted in a reading of 0.144. She is expected to be charged on summons with drive while disqualified, drink driving and fail to stop on police direction. Her car was impounded for 30 days. Shortly after police intercepted another driver after the number plate recognition system revealed they were driving with a suspended license. It is alleged that the 46-year-old Cranbourne woman gave a false name and address in addition to driving with a suspended license. She is expected to be charged on summons with state false name and address, drive while suspended and fail to display P plates. Her vehicle was also impounded for 30 days. A 50-year-old Frankston man also had his car impounded for a month after allegedly being caught driving with a suspended license.
Youth arrested after alleged theft of cars
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra. PAGE 6
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
3 April 2019
A YOUTH has been arrested after allegedly stealing four cars between 21 March and 26 March. The youth is alleged to have taken cars between Dandenong and Safety Beach. They were charged with 31 offences, including two aggravated burglaries, three burglaries, eight offences related to theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a motor vehicle, fail to stop for police, and unlicensed driving. The four allegedly stolen vehicles were recovered.