From shelter to school
In Brief Ex-bikie to tell of gang life
By Casey Neill
Police warn after rider fined A scooter rider received two fines following a police intercept in Noble Park. Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol officers pulled over the motorist at part of Operation Visible on Thursday 13 July. They issued him with $476 fine for riding an unregistered scooter and a $396 fine for holding an expired rider’s licence. Police urged all motorists to ensure that they were licensed and their vehicles were registered.
Failed Taser bid to steal car AAPS manager Natasha Marginis with one of the dogs up for adoption. 170515
Man’s reign of terror leads to jail By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Springvale South man has been jailed without parole for a terrifying reign of family violence including cutting off and then smashing up his expartner’s car during an erratic pursuit. The 26-year-old repeat offender pleaded guilty to a long list of charges including assault, destroying property, theft, breaching an intervention order and failing to answer bail at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 10 July. According to a police summary, the man drove “erratically to intimidate the victim” and demanded for her to pull over on 26 April. He cut her off near the Forster Road on-ramp to Monash Freeway in Mount Waverley. He then damaged the car by striking the glass and pulling off the side mirror, police stated. The attacker was scared off by tooting motorists. When interviewed by police, the man warned that if he was charged, “for your sake and hers, don’t release me!”
During an earlier screaming outburst at home, he choked and punched the victim to the head, and then destroyed two mirrors and a lamp. He injured himself while head-butting the bedroom door. It was all due to “anger and frustration”, he told police. “I said to her don’t lie. No need to lie,” the man said. “You can be honest with me. You’re making me crazy. And I just flipped it.” He had been on a community corrections order at the time. A defence lawyer told the court that the accused’s diagnosed ADHD contributed to his offending. He had good work history and family support, the lawyer said. Magistrate Julie O’Donnell said the car-pursuit especially was at the “high-end” of the serious offending. She noted the man was a repeat offender on family violence matters, including two convictions for breaching intervention orders. He was jailed for eight months, including 94 days of pre-sentence detention.
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“don’t feel they have the time for their animals anymore and they’d be better off in a new home than with them” or following relationship breakdowns. “We accept every type of animal,” she said. “It’s not uncommon to meet people who’ve driven from the New South Wales border. “They want what’s best for their animal. “We’re known for not turning away animals in need.” The Department of Education and Training did not respond before deadline. 12358244-LB29-17
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“We’re looking to at least double the number that we’re able to accommodate now,” Ms Marginis said. “From there, the most important thing is to be able to give all the animals in our care the best chance for a great new life.” The shelter rehomed about 1750 animals last year. Ms Marginis said many were surrendered by owners who were moving into rental properties where pets weren’t allowed. Other animals arrived because their owners
Bandits tasered a Dandenong North man in his own driveway during a bungled robbery. The victim was working on his Ford Ranger utility at his Deakin Crescent home about 8pm on Monday 10 July. Two men approached him, produced a taser and made a demand for his car keys. One of the men, described as African in appearance, got into the driver’s seat. The victim tried to get him out of the car and the second man, described as Caucasian, Tasered him. Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information.
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Keysborough’s animal shelter is moving out of Homeleigh Road - and a school is moving in. The Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) sold its site to the Department of Education and Training on 1 July. It’s a moment the Keysborough South community has been waiting years for. The State Government allocated funding to acquire a site for a school in the 2016-17 budget, but this May there was no cash in the 2017-18 budget to build it. Keysborough MP Martin Pakula said at the time that “negotiations for the purchase of land are taking longer than expected”. Keysborough South Action Group spokeswoman Nina Kelly said the group was pleased that after nearly three years of campaigning a site had been purchased for the new primary school. “This is only the first step and the State Government has yet to confirm an opening date for the primary school,” she said. “The campaign will continue as the community keeps growing. We are also in desperate need for an additional secondary school for the wider Keysborough area.” AAPS manager Natasha Marginis said the shelter had bought land on nearby Perry Road that’s currently home to “two old houses and a lot of weeds”. It will clear the site and build a state-of-the-art centre with providing the best care for animals at its heart. Ms Marginis hopes it will be up and running by July next year. “It’s daunting, but being able to build a facility that supports our community and the animals that come into our care can’t be anything but exciting,” she said. The shelter has been in Homeleigh Road for about 30 years and a move has been in the works for the past two. “We saw the residential areas coming up,” Ms Marginis said. “You can definitely feel it now.” The shelter houses about 50 dogs and 200 cats.
A Dandenong church is hosting a former bikie in a bid to inspire others to turn away from drugs and crime. The Potters House in Dandenong South will run a free anti-drugs, anti-violence youth and family event from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 July. “We are wanting to help with the rising problem of drugs and violence in our community,” the church’s Daniel Villani said. Matt Siloi, a former Black Power New Zealand motor cycle gang member, will be the main guest speaker. He’ll share the reality of gang and drug life, the consequences and the hope of breaking free. His story will be paired with a hip hop concert from 7.30pm on the Saturday night. Chris Tutanekai will share his story from 7.30pm on Thursday and Ben Nouatta will speak from 7.30pm Friday. Potters House is at 216 South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South. Call 0421 955 363 for more information.
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337 Cheltenham Road Keysborough 3173 www.dentureclinics.net 3 DANDENONG JOURNAL Monday, 17 July, 2017