Dandenong Star Journal - 15th January 2018

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Doubt cast on Yoa claims

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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2017 the Year in Review PAGES 8-21

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Class achievers

By Casey Neill World-class robots, crypto-currency, breaking cultural barriers and student empowerment - it was all in a year’s work for Wooranna Park Primary.

The Dandenong North school made headlines throughout the past 12 months with its innovative and thoughtful approach to education.

Its wide-reaching and inspirational projects have earnt the Wooranna community the Journal’s People of the Year nod for 2017.

The school has made ripples in recent years with ‘enigma missions’ - student-led explorations of complex subjects - and its strong techfocus.

But it was during 2017 that it made a splash across the state - and even overseas.

In August the Journal met Seth, 8, whose father enrolled him at Wooranna following an online search for the world’s best school.

The family relocated from Singapore and Seth is not only excelling in his studies, he’s teaching other students.

Principal Ray Trotter said people remembered only a small portion of what they saw and heard.

“We remember 95 per cent of what we teach,” he said.

He said teaching coding to other students - many older than him - was building Seth’s confidence and social skills.

“And to introduce all of our children to the digital world is absolutely crucial now,” Mr Trotter said.

“What Kieran is doing is way out there.”

Teacher Kieran Nolan started his working life in network engineering, which took him into schools about 10 years ago. Then Wooranna Park was looking for “a computer geek”.

In November, the school welcomed HCash CEO Dallas Brooks to teach students more about cryptocurrencies.

Mr Nolan said the school was excited about the possibility of building a mentors program between students and the HCash team.

On building, nine students built and programmed a robot to perform specific tasks in the Australian First Lego League Championships in December 2016.

Roborannas team members Victor, Alfarabi, Hafiz and Fiona. 165562

PEOPLE OF THE

YEAR

2017 Judges invited the team, dubbed Roborannas, to compete in the First Lego League Open European Championship in Aarhus, Denmark, against more than 1000 students from 40 countries.

The school set up an online donation page to fund the trip in May. They finished 12th out of 118 teams.

In September, two Grade 2 students from Wooranna Park the People’s Choice Award and a $250 prize in the Greater Dandenong Council’s Healthy Waterways Video Competition.

Bethany and Luka produced Protecting Our Dandenong Waterways, which followed a group of young students as they tried to im-

prove the health of waterways and the environment.

In June, the school held its second Youth Empowerment Conference.

In the past, student leaders attended a conference in the city at the school’s expense but the cost increased to the point where it was unaffordable.

So the student leaders decided that the school should host its own conference and open it to neighbouring schools, free of charge.

Nine schools were involved on the day, hailing from as far away as St Kilda.

Students secured sponsors and donations from local businesses and organisations.

Grade 6 student Daniel, 11, said the day helped kids “to believe in themselves for the future and no matter what, no-one can knock you down”.

“We could be the entrepreneurs of the future and you shouldn’t have to pay money to be those people,” he said.

In August, Daniel and other students hosted children from China.

“It’s a good chance to get a bit more multicultural minded,” he said.

“You can be friends with anyone no matter what language they speak.”

Mr Trotter said: “We want our children to be global citizens and this is a good step.”

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NEWS

Man jailed over child sex offences

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Nelly Yoa is under fire for accusations of plagiarism and fraud. 152555

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Doubt on Yoa claims

By Nick Creely

nese national team.

Nike, American Express, QPR, Chelsea and Mercedes-Benz have all denied they have a relationship with Mr Yoa. Mr Yoa also claims he is a close friend of champion athletes Usain Bolt and John Steffensen, and that both were present for the birth of his child in Ballarat.

However, Steffensen told Fairfax Media that this was untrue, and that the pair were not friends with Mr Yoa. It is also understood that Mr Yoa has had two VFL training sessions with Collingwood in a bid to switch codes, and played a handful of games with Rowville Hawks’ Reserves team before being cut.

He said he is currently training with an elite football club, but would not provide the name - even off the record - despite hinting that it is in the VFL, not AFL, as widely reported.

The Journal asked Mr Yoa to provide some documentation to clear his name, but said he has no records to back up his claims and most of his interactions have been verbal.

In a statement on his official Twitter page, Mr Yoa stood by the claims about his sporting career and threatened legal action against Foxsports Australia, telling the Journal he knows ‘the truth’.

“I do understand where people are coming from and what the concerns are, but again, I’m standing firm - no one has contacted any clubs I’ve trialed with in Europe, so I’m not sure where it’s coming from,” he said.

“I haven’t told any lies about what I’ve done, it’s all true.”

12374616-RA04-18

Dandenong athlete and youth worker Nelly Yoa has labelled the speculation over his life as a complete “witch-hunt”, however evidence continues to mount against him.

The South Sudanese-Australian man’s credibility has come under considerable scrutiny over social media, with critics questioning the authenticity of a Fairfax Media article on New Year's Day in which he gave six detailed recommendations about dealing with the alleged ‘South Sudanese’ gangs in Melbourne.

In the days after the article was released, media outlets praised Mr Yoa’s stance, and he was seen on a number of respected media programs such as ABC’s Media Watch to discuss the issue and offer his thoughts.

However, Mr Yoa has now been accused of plagiarism, with the article substantially similar to that of a 2015 article by Filipino development analyst Manola de Vos on website Devex. com.

Ms De Vos took to Twitter last Sunday to raise her concerns with Mr Yoa’s article.

“Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to steal?

Interesting how the suggestions you share in a piece for The Age on how to integrate Sudanese youth happen to be exactly the same as the best practices I discuss in a story I wrote back in March 2015,” she said.

But Mr Yoa told the Journal it was purely coincidental and just a similar thought pattern, and definitely not plagiarism.

“It might look like that, but it wasn’t,” he said.

The Age has since publicily apologised for the article, saying the content has been “plagiarised“, and strongly opposes Mr Yoa’s

claims about his life.

It has created a social media storm, with Mr Yoa also forced to defend claims he has made about his involvement as a youth leader in the community, and as a professional footballer in Europe and in Australia.

According to an article on 7 January in The Age, several South Sudanese leaders such as Kot Monoah and Richard Deng believe Mr Yoa has no involvement with working with troubled youths, claiming they have spoken to several people who claim they can’t find a single person Mr Yoa has mentored.

But Mr Yoa - who is listed as a youth coordinator for Afri-Aus Care in Dandenong - refuted these claims, saying there is a division from the “western suburbs” and the “south eastern suburbs” and that they wouldn’t know what he does.

Mr Yoa has also said that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called him about the article and to discuss his arguments on South Sudanese youth in Melbourne, but the Prime Minister’s office said Mr Turnbull never spoke to Mr Yoa, according to Fairfax Media.

“The conversations (with Malcolm Turnbull) were confidential - nothing said on the phone can be mentioned in the media so I’m not sure how it’s even a story, of course he’ll deny it, it was confidential” he said.

Mr Yoa also claims he trialled for English soccer giants Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers (QPR), knocked back a multi-million dollar deal with Melbourne Victory, was the 2015 Indonesian Super Liga player of the year, played college basketball in the US for Cincinnati, has a sponsorship with Nike, is a brand ambassador for American Express and Mercedes-Benz and declined an offer to join the South Suda-

A former Pakenham milk bar owner has been jailed after pleading guilty to 33 charges of sexually assaulting boys in the 1970s and 1980s.

Kim Richard Harvey, 63, also lived in Noble Park and Cranbourne while he wrought “havoc” on 15 children, Victorian County Court judge John Smallwood said during sentencing on 20 December.

Harvey, married and aged between 20 and 35 during the offending, plied his victims with booze, lollies and pornography.

He pressured them, prevailed upon them.

On several occasions, the boys woke up to find Harvey molesting them - sometimes after they’d passed out from drinking in Harvey’s home.

The charges included three counts of buggery, performed either while the boys were showering or asleep.

He breached the trust of parents, often preying on dysfunctional families without a present father figure.

Some of the boys complained, but their claims were dismissed by their families at the time.

On one occasion Harvey threatened a boy to maintain silence, Judge Smallwood noted.

Harvey had been previously convicted in 1975 for similar offending in the Scouts movement.

He claimed he had been sexually abused himself in the Scouts.

Judge Smallwood observed that it was a “sad tale but true” that often offenders like Harvey had been sexually abused as children.

In turn, Harvey’s victims were led to question their own sexuality, were struck by selfdoubt, lost self-worth and suffered depression and relationship troubles.

Often a “sexually abused child is never a happy adult”, Judge Smallwood said.

Harvey’s plight is now one of isolation. His children and friends had “disowned” him.

He’d had no visits while serving 517 days in pre-sentence custody and “the reality is, you most certainly never will,” Judge Smallwood said.

The offending was “pre-planned”, “predatory”, spanned between 1974 and 1989, and was motivated by Harvey’s own sexual gratification.

It justified a significant prison term, but Judge Smallwood took into account that Harvey may not survive beyond his incarceration.

Harvey was ordered to provide a DNA sample, and will be listed on the state’s sexual offenders register for life.

He was jailed for 12 years, four months with a minimum non-parole period of eightand-a-half years.

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 3

LOOKING BACK 100 years ago 10 January 1918 Dandenong Police Court Two cases regarding non-vaccination were called but were struck out upon evidence being tendered to the effect that in each instance the children had been vaccinated.

T Lucey, VJ Dingwell, truancy cases Particulars regarding defendants’ children, Lorna and Gladys Dingwell, were furnished by Inspector Lucey, in regard to non-attendance at school, and defendant, who made a statement to the effect that his wife was a confirmed invalid, said there had been no intention to send the children to school as they were required at home, and on occasions when they had tried to go to school they could not get across the creek. The chairman said that the defendants would have to send the girls to school, as keeping them away was unfair to the children.

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

Fined 10/- on each charge, in default the day's imprisonment.

50 years ago 16 January 1968 Quick movers A bulldozer began levelling land in Hammond Road, Dandenong, at 2pm yesterday minutes after the land had been sold.

Marbon Chemical, a chemical firm jointly owned by the Borg-Warner and the Nylex corporations, will build a multi-million dollar plastic manufacturing plant on the land.

“Time is important,” said the Marbon Chemicals general manager, who stayed at the company’s temporary offices in Richmond to interview administrative personnel.

The first stage of the project will be the construction of an administrative block.

20 years ago

5 years ago

19 January 1998

14 January 2013

Letters to the Editor

Projects on track, mayor says

Saving our rubbish

Greater Dandenong Mayor Angela Long says she has no concerns about the completion of the city’s revitalisation project - despite major staffing cuts at the agency overseeing the project.

State Government developer Places Victoria retrenched eight of the nine full-time staff who have overseen the project since its beginnings in 2007.

“We’re not worried,“ Cr Long said.

“At the moment, most of our major projects are completed or are near completion.“ Much of the major work around Dandenong station, through the CBD and the bridge over the railway near Cheltenham Road, has been completed.

Some 12 months or so has now passed since the City of Greater Dandenong introduced compulsory “double bins“ for rubbish and recycling.

To ratepayers’ amazement, the council spent a small fortune on new bins, particularly the green rubbish bin, half the size of bins most householders owned.

Why spend all that money to replace rubbish bins already in use?

The answer NOW is clear.

Obviously, the council had a hidden agenda with recent revelations that ratepayers would be slugged for pay-as-you-use rubbish collection services.

Too slick for city golfers The late Jack Johnson was the author of When The Clock Strikes, a fascinating account of growing up in Dandenong, his years tending to the city’s pipes and drains as a plumber and bringing up a family with wife Frances in their beloved home in Macpherson Street.

As I was driving the horse and furphy cart around the paddocks that ran alongside the Gordon Park land, which had become the fairways of the Forest Hills Golf Club, I found quite a few almost brand new golf balls that had been hit from the fairways by city slickers who used the golf links on the weekends.

Because the nearby paddocks often contained long-horned bullocks, the golfers were not game enough to get over the barbed wire fence and look for their balls.

I sold them on to the Kendall boys and they would sell them back to the city-slicker golfers,

JACK LOOKS

BACK JACK JOHNSON because weekenders paid better prices than the local golfers.

The original Forest Hills clubhouse and 19th hole was at the Caroline Street end of Wedge Street and was a weatherboard California Bungalow.

Nearby was the little rustic wooden bridge which crossed the creek and was only big enough to allow the golfers to get across to the fairways once they had hit off from the first tee.

The little bridge which sat almost on the wa-

ter of a much smaller Dandenong Creek has vanished into the past, and near where it once stood is now a large concrete and steel bridge.

The bridge became necessary when the Dandenong Valley Authority was formed and they straightened our wandering creek and floodproofed it and turned most of our original little stream into a large concrete and earth drain.

When this was done some of the huge amount of earth from the excavation of the new drain was used to raise the level of the lower land of St John’s about a metre. There the first oval and the third section of the college was built. Caroline Street and Eckford Street and most of Power and Orgill streets were still paddocks, and Forest Hills was accessed by a thin track from the dirt and rubble track of Orgill Street. Wedge Street, from McCrae Street to Orgill Street, was also still a paddock, as was the other end of Orgill and Fox streets.

The entrance to the golf club was through a

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single gate about where the exit gate of the Worker’s is today. Above it was a wooden archway with Forest Hill written on it. Just last week as we sat by the window of the Worker’s Club dining room we were looking down on the area by the creek that, when we were kids, contained the granite quarry from which was quarried the material for the stone bridge on Princes Highway.

In a paddock at the end of Wedge Street there was a roadway surveyed to go from the end of Wedge Street to near the Kidds Road bridge.

There was a wooden sign post in the paddock with a street name on it and pointed down along the creek side towards Kidds Road. It sat on a bend in the old creek, alongside what today is the entrance and driveway of St John’s College.

I cannot remember the street name, but that roadway had to be excised from the title before a permit was issued for the first three-storey building of St John’s College in Caroline Street.

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NEWS

Champion of the people Former Journal editor John Woods has died following a long cancer battle.

His family announced on Monday 18 December that he passed away peacefully and comfortably on Sunday 17 December, aged 78.

A post on Mr Woods’ own Facebook page said a celebration of his life would be conducted at a time and place to be announced, likely in a few weeks’ time.

“At his request, and consistent with the way in which he lived his life, John was clear that he wanted no fuss surrounding his departure, preferring to simply take his bat and ball, and go ‘home’,” it said.

The post described John as a “very fine gentleman, who never came close to understanding in just what regard he was held”.

Mr Woods started his stint as editor and group editor in the early 1960s.

“The people felt it was their paper,” he said in September 2013, when the Journal joined the Star News Group stable.

“People just loved it.”

Under his stewardship, the Journal won national and state awards, including best suburban newspaper in Australia.

“I have vivid memories of the 1960s and ‘70s when it was produced from go to whoa from a ramshackle building in Scott Street and when literally hundreds of people queued up on a Wednesday afternoon to buy the paper as it came off an equally - by today’s standards ramshackle press, capable of somewhat slowly churning out only 16 pages at a time,” he said in August 2015, when the Journal celebrated its 150th year.

“And that was when the overall size of paper was at least 64 pages.”

Mr Woods also said at that time that he was privileged to be the editor of the Journal for more than 30 years.

He watched the paper change in its appear-

John Woods and Marg Stork.

Journal stalwarts Marg Stork and John Woods.

ance and the way it was produced, “but not its basic mandate: serving its readers and advertisers not only via content but, equally if not more importantly, community involvement”.

The Rotary Club of Dandenong made Mr Woods a Paul Harris Fellow, without him being a member of the organisation, and he was named Dandenong’s Citizen of the Year in 1987.

When he retired as the Journal’s editor in 1994, Dandenong Council organised a public farewell attended by more than 500 representatives of business and community groups.

Mr Woods recalled the next door pub’s bar and pool room, which conveniently opened out to the Journal office’s back door, and escaping for a “lemon squash” or “a bit of pool”.

“I shudder to think how we got the paper

out with all of our socialising,” he said.

Back in August 2015, former Dandenong mayor Frank Holohan told the Journal that John was always referred to as “the 13th councillor as he always seemed to get the inside information”.

Mr Woods was the editor when the Journal’s front page headline screamed Pommie bludgers on 21 March 1974.

“British migrants,” read the first paragraph “were described yesterday as ‘bludgers’ by a top Dandenong clothing manufacturer”.

“It was the biggest furore I ever caused,” Mr Woods said “as the story and its follow-ups certainly proved!”

Bomb threats, abuse and warnings of legal action swiftly followed.

The next week the Journal devoted three

Watch the pair speak about their time together at the paper here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nov56 pf6lbI&feature=youtu.be

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Then Immigration Minister Al Grassby also weighed in phoning the Journal to say that hanging labels on migrant groups was “unAustralian”.

Forty years later, Mr Woods was still keeping mum about the identity of the mystery manufacturer.

Only he and the late Marg Stork knew the identity of the businessman.

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 5

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

Brian Oates, Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) chairman

What is something people don’t know about you?

I don’t know what it is that I don’t know.

What was your most memorable moment?

The birth of my each of my three sons would be equal top, but the SMRC 2016 election result was rather outstanding recently.

Where were you born and what brought you to Greater Dandenong?

I was born in Weymouth in the County of Dorset in England.

It’s the home of The Tolpuddle Martyrs, Thomas Hardy, the world’s largest stone-age castle, and a Roman walled town with lots of rivers.

The threats of unemployment and devaluation and loss of property for working people in the UK and the culture of selfishness and greed in the UK in the late ‘70s made me and many others look for better places to live.

What would your last meal be?

A big English breakfast - bacon, eggs, sausages, black pudding, liver and kidneys, fried mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans with fried bread.

The cholesterol alone would finish me.

What event, past, present or future, would you like to witness?

A human’s first steps on Mars.

Why are you so passionate about the SMRC? I came as a migrant to get a better future for my family, so I can be called an economic migrant but I have yet to find anyone who came here to be worse off.

I first lived around Clayton and apart from people who had come from the same town as

me - and there were quite a few - the people who were most helpful were the Greeks and Italians.

Because of my West Country accent people didn’t think I was from England and that gave me a different outlook.

I know how hard it is to adjust and fit in, even with the benefits of language, a recognised trade and an understanding of the bureaucratic systems, and I appreciate the value that diversity of people working together can provide.

THREE … active ways to kick off the new year

1

There are 98 kilometres of on and off-road cycling paths in Greater Dandenong, including the EastLink and Dandenong Creek trails.

Cycling is low-impact and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Visit www. greaterdandenong.com for bike path map.

2

Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) and the Dandenong Oasis have lap pools. Swimming keeps the heart rate up but takes some impact stress off the body.

It builds endurance, muscle strength and tone and cardiovascular fitness.

3

Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough and sporting clubs around the municipality provide team environments in which to get active.

Visit www.dandypages.com for a list of local teams.

What is your favourite television show?

I always thought The Adventures of Hiram Holiday was the best TV show ever made.

I like comedies and nerdy stuff.

What six guests, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

Cleopatra, Mohammed Ali, Boudica, Van Morrison, Jane Fonda and Ghandi.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?

I came out of a toilet I had rushed into to find a line of impatient ladies waiting outside.

What do you wish the wider community knew/understood about migrants and refugees?

That in the vast majority of cases we are all very much the same in honestly wanting safety and security and the best future opportunities for our families.

Brian Oates.

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6 STAR JOURNAL

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

2017 - YEAR IN REVIEW - NEWSMAKERS

Rising sky rail ‘unites’ city

By Casey Neill

Keerthi, Saduni, Leon, Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams, Sukart, then-Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti, Kalows, Bruce MP Julian Hill and Kelly.

Work to plan

By Casey Neill

An artist's impression of the new Noble Park Railway Station.

12376282-CG04-18

Unemployment was a key focus in Greater Dandenong right from the start of 2017.

Councillors voted to establish a mayoral taskforce to tackle youth unemployment in particular at their January meeting.

In November, the council unveiled the Mayoral Youth Employment Taskforce Action Plan.

The first objective is to bring together young people and industry through a jobs fair.

In March, the State Government launched a $500,000 project to upskill disadvantaged jobseekers and connect them with employers, the Dandenong-Doveton Community Revitalisation project.

The funding will enable the One Percent Project to involve more businesses and better connect the region's employment programs with local job opportunities.

The Dandenong-Doveton Community

Revitalisation project overall will strengthen links between employers, school transition programs and TAFE institutes to create more opportunities for early school leavers to get into pre-apprenticeship programs.

The City of Greater Dandenong Employment Taskforce will work closely with community service agencies and schools to connect families struggling to find work with employment services and employers.

The year featured plenty of employment success stories, too.

In November, Daniel's Donuts hosted Industry and Employment Minister Ben Carroll to highlight the Jobs Victoria program and partner organisation The Bridge.

The Springvale business employed two young women from multicultural backgrounds through the project about six months earlier.

Workers raised the first Noble Park column for Noble Park's elevated rail in February, and put the first column into place in March.

It was part of the project dubbed sky rail, which will remove the level crossings at Heatherton, Chandler and Corrigan roads in Noble Park and create open space and parkland.

In April, Premier and Mulgrave MP Daniel Andrews visited the work site at Mons Parade to celebrate a 70-tonne Super T beam milestone.

"The first four beams, these horizontal beams we see behind us, were installed just a couple of days ago," he said.

He said the level crossing removal would "unify" Noble Park.

By August, more than half of the beams needed to raise the rail line in Noble Park were in place and Greater Dandenong Council was advocating for a multi-deck car park near Sandown Railway Station.

Cr Tim Dark said the sky rail project was building "a permanent wall between two sides of Noble Park".

In November, Liberal candidate for Mulgrave Maree Davenport said drug addicts and dealers would "flood" the open space beneath the sky rail in Noble Park.

She spoke out after the State Government revealed new designs for the parkland, which included a 1275 square metre fenced dog park, walking paths and 100 extra car spaces for commuters.

8 STAR JOURNAL

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

2017 - YEAR IN REVIEW - NEWSMAKERS

Hoseah hits a high

By Casey Neill

Amazon sets up big centre

Dandenong High School student Hoseah Partsch touched hearts in lounge rooms across Australia during 2017 with his captivating voice and positive attitude.

The Cranbourne West 18-year-old was the runner-up on television talent show The Voice in July.

He soon had one of the country's highest selling singles with Paper Planes and was offered a national tour with Culture Club and his coach Boy George.

"Boy, he's brought out another Hoseah. I just feel like I'm a fresh Hoseah," he said.

Hoseah auditioned to help his single mum and three siblings. In October he landed a modelling gig with menswear brand Johnny Bigg.

"I'm just a normal kid from Melbourne trying to chase his dream and make a better future for his family," he said.

He's going to keep working hard and "push to get that house that my mum's always wanted".

"When school finishes, I'm just going to write music. Music is going to be my everyday job," he said.

Dandenong High School principal Susan Ogden was blown away by Hoseah's performances.

"He has a quiet dignity, humility and he has stayed true to who he is despite the hype," she said.

"He is an inspirational young man and we wish him well."

Rumours about Amazon's move into Dandenong South started in July and quickly generated excitement.

The US online retail giant's PR team said there was nothing to share at the time, despite several advertisements for Amazon jobs at what is now their first Australian warehouse and distribution centre, in Pellicano's M2 Industry Park.

The Committee for Dandenong joined the buzz.

"We don't know that they're coming," spokesman Jamie Sturgess said.

"But we'd be surprised if they don't come.

He said an Amazon warehouse would bring jobs to the region and hoped it would give governments a push to deliver promised and proposed infrastructure, a point he reiterated in August.

"It will draw other businesses into the area if Amazon is a roaring success," he said.

"For that to happen, the State Government's got to make moves on infrastructure. Urgent, practical and strategic action is needed to make sure the south-east of Melbourne is not left behind or loses it competitive advantage."

He said key projects included an overpass to connect Remington Drive to Pound Road West, the Abbotts Road level crossing removal, a Bangholme Road EastLink exit ramp, the Port of Hastings, the long-planned Dandenong South Inland Port project and more.

The first orders started leaving Amazon in December.

Hoseah Partsch performs on The Voice.

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 9

2017 - YEAR IN REVIEW - NEWSMAKERS

Year to grow

By Casey Neill It started in January with street width, and the planning issues didn't stop all year.

Greater Dandenong Councillor Matthew Kirwan successfully moved for a report on design standards to ensure wider streets in future subdivisions.

In April, Dandenong residents claimed a win when the council reversed its decision to approve four double-storey homes in Wedge Street.

In June, a Bangholme produce market that could generate 200 jobs got the green light from councillors - but immediately arrived at a stop sign.

They approved the DandyFresh development for green wedge-zoned land, but Cr Kirwan brought the matter back to a July meeting in the hopes of reversing it.

His argument was that the market was actually a large-scale commercial food enterprise that should be in an industrial zone.

But his colleagues upheld their original decision. Defenders of the South East Green Wedge then took up the fight, and will argue against the project in VCAT in early 2018.

In September, Planning Minister Richard Wynne vowed to personally look at the market proposal.

In November, Dandenong residents won a four-year battle to save their streets from becoming "slums".

Planning Minister Richard Wynne approved Dandenong Planning Scheme Amendment C182 more than a year after receiving it.

It's set to cap building heights, improve setback, landscape and open space requirements, and protect areas from high-density development.

Police at the Keysborough shooting crime scene. 167881

Tackling crime together

By Casey Neill Greater Dandenong's police and council joined forces for community safety in February, launching a mobile message sign.

The council donated the device to Victoria Police for promoting community safety messages throughout the city.

Sharing the responsibility for tackling crime came up again in March, at a community forum in Keysborough.

About 70 people turned up to discuss fears that crime was spiralling out of control in the area's new estates.

They asked for more police, CCTV and security patrols.

In May, a fatal shooting in the suburb put

DandyFresh CEO Rod Kerley at the Bangholme market site in 2016.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

residents on edge and police put more officers on the streets in response.

June brought good news, with latest crime figures showing crime was dropping in Greater Dandenong, bucking the state-wide upward trend.

The December statistics also showed a decrease in crime.

In June, Springvale traders told a crime forum they were anxious about break-ins and in October, Noble Park locals told a similar forum that they wanted more PSOs. The community rallied in August following a Dandenong North home invasion, vowing to stand up against violence and support each other.

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

2017 - YEAR IN REVIEW - PICTURES

Shots that made the year The Journal takes a look back at 2017 through some of the stand-out images from the year from photographers Stewart Chambers, Gary Sissons and Rob Carew.

Samson Smith from Justice Crew helped to welcome the Salvation Army and the Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD) program to Dandenong in February. The dance and mentoring classes were designed to inspire young people to come together and reach their Picture: GARY SISSONS full potential. 164965

Jai couldn't wait for the Springvale Snow Fest to return. The July event brought 80 tonnes of snow from Mt Buller and more than 40,000 people into the middle of town. 170201 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Artist Carla Gottgens helped Keysborough College students, including Por, to celebrate their individuality and connectedness in September. The My Tree Our Forest project involved seven stop-motion films. 172137 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Topsy-turvy wall art is spreading smiles in Springvale as Springvale Rise Primary students Sa Fa One and Socheata showed. Schoolkids worked with artist Julian Clavijo to create Upside Down which will adorn the United Energy substation in the Warwick Avenue car park for the next two years. 169384 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Noble Park Secondary College showcased its diversity for guests from its Japanese sister school in August. Among the students involved were Zia, representing Sri Lanka, Jazz from North India and Sahar from Afghanistan. 171134 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Haileybury Keysborough students brought Disney's The Lion King to life on stage in September. Olivia in costume as Zazu and Zuva as Rafiki were among more than 100 students in Years 5 to 8 to perform at the school’s Berthon Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Hall. 172162

Keysborough’s Gloria and Allan Coggins have been inseparable since their first meeting at a town hall dance more than 60 years ago. They celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with family in October and shared their secrets to a successful marriage. 174266 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Warm weather and reduced entry fees attracted strong crowds to the Dandenong Show in November. There were plenty of ways to beat the heat – as this cow found out – and even more to see and do. 174087 Picture: ROB CAREW 12351228-EPJ19-17

VALLEY VILLAGE MEWS RETIREMENT VILLAGE

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FIT FOR THE ROYALS PAGE 2 MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 2018

DANDENONG, NOBLE PARK, SPRINGVALE, KEYSBOROUGH, HALLAM, DOVETON, ENDEAVOUR HILLS

COME ALIVE AT OFFICER’S #1 LAND ESTATE • Timber capped fencing (rear and corner) • Landscaping rebate*

Register your interest now

SMAL LE LOTS R 2 84 - 44

8m 2

timbertopestate.com.au 1300 925 349

Visit the Sales Suite 11am - 5pm daily 325 Princes Hwy Officer VIC 3809

Proudly

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*when completed within 3 months of build

ON THE COVER

FIT FOR THE ROYALS ABUNDANCE of space in this mighty architecturally designed masterpiece.

From the moment you enter this lovely home you’ll feel welcomed and overwhelmed by the generous open spaces with high volted ceilings, formal and informal living areas complemented with quality appointments.

Central heating, cooling, security and vacuum system, huge 2-pac kitchen opening on to family/rumpus and a garden with a water feature.

King size master bedrooms offering ensuite with spa, and three other generous bedrooms upstairs and kids/rumpus/ entertaining area. Large study downstairs with direct access to the double garage.

Quality is evident from the terracotta roof tiles to the elegant floor coverings and window furnishings.

Surrounding schools include Gleneagles College, Maranatha, St Paul’s and more ... this is Endeavour Hills at its best. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 69 Reema Boulevard, Endeavour Hills 3802 Description: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car Inspect: By appointment Price: $950,000-$1,040,000 Agent: Walter Kubiak, 0412 359 973, HALL & PARTNERS FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE, 9792 0265

HOME FOCUS

ROOM TO ROAM IN SERENE SETTING THIS property is a one-owner home, and is now offered for sale for the first time.

Built as a family residence, space abounds everywhere. Three living areas, a formal lounge/dining to the front, a large open-plan kitchen/meals/family area to the central area and easy care inside/outside casual area that overlooks the private rear gardens.

The kitchen has gas hotplates, outstanding Blackwood cupboards and plenty of work bench for preparing meals for all the family.

There is a centrally located bathroom, a large 1.5 car garage, shedding and plenty of off street parking.

All of this set at the top of a quiet court within walking distance to schools, shops, swimming pool, Dandenong Plaza, market and transport options. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 4 Crouch Court, Dandenong North, 3175 Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 1.5 car Inspect: By appointment Auction: Saturday, 20 January, 11.00am Agent: Mick Whelan, 0416 003 505, MCLENNAN REAL ESTATE PTY LTD, DANDENONG, 9791 5922 2

STAR REAL ESTATE

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

com.au

realestate.starcommunity.com.au

HOME FOCUS

HOME FOCUS

FAMILY CHARMER WELCOME to the prestigious Rosewood Downs estate where you get to bask in this open and free single-storey beauty – it’s truly an outstanding family home with everything it has to offer.

Beyond the gated entry you get to enjoy a four-bedroom home with two bathrooms, a spacious living room, formal dining area plus an expansive kitchen that overlooks an undercover timber deck, which looks out

to the grassy area where kids and pets can play.

There is also ducted heating, evaporative cooling, a double lock-up garage plus carport, solid hardwood floors and it’s positioned on about 669 square metres.

If you have been searching for an easy living, low maintenance stunner in a premium position, look no further than this delight. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 123 Outlook Drive, Dandenong North, 3175 Description: 4 bed, 2 bath, 4 cars Inspect: Saturday: As advertised or by appointment Price: $700,000 - $770,000 Agent: Silvana Lakic, 0412 241 888 and Ari Oinonen, 0402 349 644, BARRY PLANT DANDENONG SALES, 9706 7455

DEVELOPERS TAKE NOTE OCCUPYING a position which allows you to make the most of amenities at both Parkmore Shopping Centre and Noble Park’s vibrant hub, this fabulous development opportunity offers a block of about 876 square metres of coveted land along with the rare and exciting option to double it.

Boasting the dimensions and zoning to

accommodate a multi-dwelling development (STCA), this level allotment currently features a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in original condition.

Including a lounge and dining area, the home offers a practical kitchen.

With ample on-site parking, some simple updates could see a potential rental income while your future plans await approval. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 152 Buckley Street, Noble Park, Noble Park, 3174 Description: 2 bed, 1 bath Inspect: By appointment Price: $889,000 Agent: Jaymee Le, 0416 336 902, AREA SPECIALIST, 8586 6411

SALES & RENTALS

118 walker St dandenong p: 9791 5922 F: 9792 2536 N IORDAY T C TU ATUHIS SA

Dandenong North

Frankston

4 CrouCh Court

THREE LIVING AREAS IN A QUIET COURT!

11/396 nepean highway

6 YEAR OLD CONTEMPORARY TOWNHOUSE!

This property is a one owner home and is now offered for sale for the first time. Space abounds everywhere with three living areas, a formal lounge/dining to the front, a large open plan kitchen/meals/family area to the central area and easy care inside/outside casual area that overlooks the private rear gardens. The kitchen has gas hotplates, outstanding Blackwood cupboards and plenty of work bench for preparing meals for all the family. There is a centrally located bathroom, a large 1.5 car garage, shedding and plenty of off street parking. In a quiet court within walking distance to schools, shops, swimming pool, Dandenong Plaza, Market and transport.

Set in a gated community, this property is ideal for people who appreciate quality and style. Upstairs there is a large open plan living area with a designer kitchen with everything a budding chef could want. There is also a powder room and a study or 3rd bedroom which opens onto the living area. There is also a large balcony with views – ideal to watch those magnificent sunsets over Port Philip Bay. The ground floor has two bedrooms and two bathrooms plus there is a storage shed for the beach gear and bike, a designated carpark and direct access to the amazing Kananook Creek Trail that takes you to the beach and up into the Seaford Wetlands.

Dandenong

Doveton

auCtion: Saturday, 20th January, 2018 @ 11:00am (if not sold prior) open: wed 4:30pm to 5:00pm & Sat 10:30am to 11:00am

8/12 hutton Street

PERFECT PRESENTATION & POSITION!

And priced to sell as well! This two bedroom apartment is in one of the best complexes in Dandenong. Well cared for and with secure entrance, lift and garage. The kitchen has room for preparing dinner parties and the open plan allows for entertaining both inside and onto the adjoining balcony with its sweeping views towards the South.

So close to the Central Shopping area, train station and access to Freeways etc.

WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION!

For Sale: $330,000 to $350,000 open: tues 3:00pm to 3:20pm & Sat 1:00pm to 1:20pm

For Sale: $485,000 to $530,000 open: thurs 5:00pm to 5:30pm & Sat 3:30pm to 4:00pm

122 power road

FIRST HOME BUYERS & INVESTORS!

This red brick veneer home has a fantastic street appeal and can be used as a three, four or five bedroom residence. There is 3m up the side of the house for easy access to the rear and future development (STCA). Polished timber flooring, a separate lounge, kitchen with almost new gas upright stove and an entertaining area to the rear that opens out onto the paved rear yard. Also a bungalow in the rear and garage to store the care and tools. All this and located close to schools, transport and shops.

A SOLID HOME INDEED!

For Sale: $590,000 to $635,000 open: wed 3:00pm to 3:30pm & Sat 10:00am to 10:20am

12374760

Daryl Rayner Director 0411 537 820

realestate.starcommunity.com.au

Mick Whelan Sales Manager 0416 003 505

John Ratnam Sales Consultant 0414 556 517

Stephen Lamb Sales Consultant 0421 045 460 com.au

Frank Holohan Senior Consultant

9791 5922

mclennanrealestate.com.au

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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4

WE DELIVER...

GREATER DANDENONG

SPRINGVALE SOUTH 13 SUNRISE COURT

W G E N TIN S LI

LAVISH LIVING, LIFESTYLE LOCATION & HOME TO MATCH Contemporary space, sheer elegance and timeless style define this sumptuous 25sq of prestige “Burbank” luxury home, finished with absolute quality and positioned in one of Springvale South most coveted pockets, this 4-bedroom plus study home is the ultimate family package set on a generous allotment of 464sqm approx.

• Brivis” ducted heating + 3 inverter split system • Three huge living areas • A fully appointed kitchen with s/s appliances • An informal meals area, separated from the kitchen • Window shutters throughout • Outdoor under covered entertainment area • 2 car lock-up garage • A shed and a 10,000L water tank

A4 B2 E3 C2 D1 PRIVATE SALE $870,000 - $960,000 Wednesday 6:00pm - 6:30pm Saturday 11:00am - 11:30am Photo ID Required CONTACT Tommy Nguyen 0431 644 889 Corey (Khoi) Le 0417 311 491 OFFICE 363 Springvale Road, Springvale Tel: 03 8581 0999 ESR VIEW

SPRINGVALE 48 GRAY STREET

W G E N TIN S LI

VISION OF OPPORTUNITY Residing on the high side of the street on a beautiful garden allotment of 743 sqm (approx.).

This immaculate single-level home holds a cherished past and a promising future. Use your creative imagination and add value to its traditional spaces with a stylish renovation or explore untapped potential to build your dream home or redevelop with multi townhouses (STCA).

• 3 beds 1 bath 1 toilet • Laminate kitchen bench top with s/s appliances • Ducted heating and ceiling fan • Lounge room with wood heater • Well designed and easy to maintain gardens • Walking distance to the local Coles Shopping • Within minutes to both primary and secondary school • A basement for wine cellar • Double lock up garage • 743 sqm approx.

A3 B1 E1 C2 AUCTION 17/2/2018 @12.30PM (Unless Sold Prior) Terms: 10% Deposit, Balance 60/90 Days ESR $950,000 - $1,050,000 VIEW Wednesday 5:00pm - 5:30pm Saturday 12:00pm - 12:30pm Photo ID Required CONTACT Tommy Nguyen 0431 644 889 Corey (Khoi) Le 0417 311 491 OFFICE 363 Springvale Road, Springvale Tel: 03 8581 0999

363 Springvale Road, Springvale

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858 10 999

com.au

bigginscott.com.au

realestate.starcommunity.com.au

WE DELIVER...

GREATER DANDENONG

PAKENHAM UPPER 762 PAKENHAM ROAD

W G E N TIN S LI

BLISSFUL FAMILY OASIS This substantial residence is surrounded by parkland offering absolutely high quality, privately built 50 square architectural phenomenon of prestige Pakenham Upper luxury and positioned in one of the areas most coveted pockets, this 4-bedroom residence is the ultimate family package set on a large 10 acres of opulence and luxury block!

• Ducted heating & refrigerated cooling (zoned) • Soaring 12’6’’ high ceilings with ornate cornices • Three huge living areas • Wood heater & OFP • A fully appointed kitchen with s/s appliances • An informal meals area, separated from the kitchen • Alarm system • Corrugated verandas along the outside of the home • Outdoor entertainment area • An 11 square 3 car lock-up garage • 9’x18’ shed approx. with 3 phase power • 50sq approx.

A 4 B 3 E 4 C 10 D 1 PRIVATE SALE Contact Agent

By Appointment Photo ID Required CONTACT Tommy Nguyen 0431 644 889 Corey (Khoi) Le 0417 311 491 OFFICE 363 Springvale Road, Springvale Tel: 03 8581 0999 ESR VIEW

CLAYTON SOUTH 1/1233 WESTALL ROAD

W G E N TIN S LI

PRESTIGE STREETFRONT POSITION Stand tall on the streetfront, hideaway in the heart of it all, a brilliant lifestyle proposition or investment with no owner’s corporation fees.

This prestige two-storey residence provides a huge 3 bedroom floorplan suitable for a small or growing family.

• Ground loor bedroom or convertible home office • Spacious kitchen w/ SS appliances • Central family living zone • Central family bathroom w/ three-way access • Separate laundry • Roller shutters throughout • Front/rear courtyards • Single auto-garage • 221m2 (approx)

A3 B1 E1 C2 AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) Sat 3rd Feb @ 2:30pm Terms: 10% Deposit, Balance 30/60 Days ESR $670,000-$737,000 VIEW Saturday 2:00pm-2:30pm Tuesday 5:00pm-5:30pm Photo ID Required CONTACT Ozan Kanbur 0403 644 379 Alex Khun 0438 443 846 OFFICE 363 Springvale Road, Springvale Tel: 03 8581 0999

363 Springvale Road, Springvale

realestate.starcommunity.com.au

858 10 999

com.au

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Your first stop before buying a home.

View the whole picture.

THE PRO PER TY INSIG HTS SITE

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AREASPECIALIST

2A 1B 1C 2D 1E

3 A 1 B 1 C 1 D 2 E 540 F

Noble Park 2/2 Bowmore Road

Springvale South 26 Northgate Drive

Auction 27 January 11:00am

Auction 27 January 10:00am

Price $465,000-$510,000

Price $680,000-$700,000 Jaymee Le 0416 336 902

Inspect

By Appointment

Inspect

By Appointment

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There’s so much more in a Rawdon Hill Home. Flexible designs with a great list of inclusions!

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Celebrating SABA's 30th anniversary

2018 Springvale Lunar New Year Festival

2 18 Year of the Dog

Springvale Activity Centre

q Lion dance Buckingham q Fire crackers Balmoral & q Martial arts displays Windsors Aves q Folk dancing q Live Band, hip hop & break dancing q Asian food, art & craft stalls q Games and rides q Children’s corner q Activities for all the family

SUNDAY

11.02.2018 10am-10pm

9 pm Fireworks

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dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 21

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Hospital is on the move On Thursday January 18, St John of God Berwick Hospital will open its doors to patients for the first time at its new location on Kangan Drive in Berwick.

The date marks the end of a two-year construction process that has seen St John of God Berwick Hospital grow from an 82-bed facility to a multi-storey state-of-the art hospital which can now accommodate 202 patient beds.

The hospital is also expanding its services also in order to meet the demand of the growing Casey-Cardinia communities and the Eastern Victoria region. Theatre capacity has dou-

bled, growing from four theatres at Gibb Street to eight at Kangan Drive.

A new Critical Care Unit will open which will house the area’s first intensive care unit and a cardiac/high dependency service, along with the region’s first catheter laboratory.

Rehabilitation services will also open next month.

“These services enable us to continue to provide a more comprehensive range of services to enable us to fulfil our commitment to serving the needs of our local communities,” CEO for St John of God Berwick Hospital Lisa Norman said.

Philip McCahy @ Melbourne Urology Centre, 55 Kangan Drive, Berwick

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“It’s about continuing to expand our services and build on the legacy that was started some 100-plus years ago when the first health care facility was opened on our Gibb Street hospital site in Berwick back in 1910.”

On January 18, the first patient will be transferred from Gibb Street at 8am, with the entire hospital expected to be relocated by mid-afternoon the same day.

Once the last patient has arrived at 75 Kangan Drive, the Gibb Street hospital location will close while it undergoes a redevelopment of its own. A rehabilitation hospital, to be known as

the St John of God Langmore Centre, will open in its place in 2019.

For more information, visit www.sjog.org. au/berwickredevelopment or call the hospital on 8784 5000.

Three-pronged attack While some smaller kidney stones may pass, South Eastern Urology Urologist Philip McCahy warned that others can be so large that they will not pass and require medical attention.

“Up to 15 per cent of the population may develop these stones which can cause recurrent urine infections, and, if left untreated, kidney damage or failure,” Mr McCahy said.

Mr McCahy stated that there are three main treatment options for those suffering from large kidney stones.

The first is shockwave therapy, a process where external shock waves are focussed on the stone and break it up into small pieces.

“We are lucky in the Casey-Cardinia region in that Casey Hospital offers a service unique to Australia with day case, no anaesthetic lithotripsy,” Mr McCahy added.

The next treatment is Ureterorenoscopy, a procedure where a very small flexible telescope is passed through natural passages into the kidney where stones are vaporised with a laser.

Feel safe in our hands

“The urologists at Casey Hospital have the most powerful stone laser available which significantly reduces surgery time and enables better clearance,” Mr McCahy said.

Finally, the third treatment Mr McCahy uses is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, a process where a needle is passed into the kidney from outside and a special balloon stretches the tissues to allow passage of a special telescope into the kidney.

“The stones can either be plucked out or broken up and removed,” Mr McCahy explained.

“Casey Hospital has one of the largest experiences of these operations in the country and the leading surgeons have developed techniques that have reduced hospital stay significantly.

“There are pros and cons to all these treatments and a combination of procedures may be required to guarantee stone clearance. Discussion with a urologist with expertise in stone surgery is essential.”

For details visit seurology.simpl.com

DANDENONG ETIC COSMTION T S IR F ULTA CONS FREE IS

Dermatology Centre Laser Treatment at Specialist Dermatologist

■ Pigmentation/Melasma: A very common skin condition that is easily treatable, often using combination therapy of cream and laser treatment ■ Sun Damage: Rejuvenate your skin for a lighter and more youthful appearance ■ Age Spots: Those unsightly blemishes on the backs of your hands can be removed permanently ■ Vascular Marks: Blemishes in many sizes and shapes can be found all over the body and can be easily treated with instant cosmetic results achieved ■ Flushing: Redness can be treated with little or no side effects and minimal downtime ■ Rosacea: A common skin condition that causes red pimples, telangiectasia and flushing mainly of the cheeks and nose, often causing embarrassment. This irritating condition can be safely treated with our medical grade laser.

■ Hair removal: Laser hair reduction reduces the amount of unwanted hair, with any new hairs tending to grow through lighter and finer ■ Glycolic Peels: Glycolic peels are a specific technique for skin renewal that helps remove the damaged layer of surface skin cells revealing fresh skin for a healthier, smoother, plumper, firmer less oily and more even toned appearance

www.sjog.org.au www.sjog.org.au/berwick 75 Kangan Drive Berwick For more info.berwick@sjog.org.au 8784 5300information: Gibb Street, Berwick Ph: 9709 1400 22 STAR JOURNAL

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

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dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

FOCUS ON ‌ AUSTRALIA DAY

Wave the flag on Oz Day Australia Day is a significant celebration for the Greater Dandenong community with over 11,000 local residents expected to enjoy the festival with family, neighbours and friends.

Australia Day presents a great opportunity for people of different backgrounds and experiences to gather together and reflect on what it means to be Australian and to celebrate the things Australians have in common.

The award winning Australia Day Festival will be held in Dandenong Park, corner of Pultney and Foster streets, on Friday 26 January from 3pm to 9.30pm.

This all-ages event will commence with a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony by a Wurundjeri elder, followed by a flag raising ceremony and Australia Day Awards on the

main stage.

This free family friendly event will feature two stages with live entertainment, roving performers, a dedicated food court, community and market stalls, exciting rides ($2-$6), free family activities, and will conclude with a grand fireworks finale at 9.25pm.

For extra fun, ride a bike to the Australia Day Festival and receive two free ride tokens and take advantage of the free valet bike parking.

Meanwhile, the night before Australia Day, Sandown Park is hosting Oz Eve Rock at the Dogs featuring Big City Beat. Get into the Australia Day spirit with a great night out on Thursday 25 January.

Councillor Heang Tak's son, Lawson, got into the spirit of last year's celebration.

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Sisters Fauzia, 11, and Merhin, 2, enjoyed the Australia Day celebrations last year.

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 23

NEWS

Strassman to get social in Dandenong

By Casey Neill Comedian David Strassman is looking forward to bringing his latest show to Dandenong.

He spoke to the Journal from his home in California, US, which had been evacuated due to wildfires.

“It was a bit challenging,” he said.

But his focus is now on his next run of shows, including two at Drum Theatre on Saturday 3 March, at 7pm and 9.15pm.

“I’ve never played there before and it looks like a beautiful theatre,” David said.

Fan favourites Chuck Wood and Ted E Bare return in iTedE, but he can’t get them off their tablets and phones.

“They are immersed in this online social media world,” he said.

“They’re not using their imaginations.

“So my show is about the fact that I’m afraid that all this technology and social media keeps us from using our imaginations.”

He said he worries about the damage it’s doing to the fabric of society - but the show’s not about sending audiences home with a message.

“In no way do I preach,” he said.

“I hold up a mirror to social media and let the audience decide.”

“It’s a comedy show.

“I’m a grown man, I play with dolls.

“It’s hilarious from the moment the show starts.”

David said the first half of the show featured “traditional hand-up-the-bum ventriloquism”.

In the second act he’ll use a handheld wire-

David Strassman and the gang from iTedE. less remote control to operate five puppets simultaneously, and they have a six-way conversation.

His writer set the challenge and David put in the hard yards rehearsing.

Picture: ADAM SHANE “The response has been fantastic,” he said.

Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666 for tickets.

Enjoy a little of Strassman’s magic:

Entries open on ‘short’ film festival Film-makers from across the board can enter next year’s Short Cuts Film Festival.

Entries are open for current or recent film graduates with less than five years of experience, primary and secondary school students and people with no training, and professional film-makers.

Greater Dandenong Council’s Short Cuts is entering its third year and gives local community members, emerging artists and accomplished industry professionals a chance to share their stories.

Richard Moore will again curate the event and films will screen at Dandenong’s Drum Theatre on Saturday 23 June.

Prizes will be awarded to a winner in each of the three categories, and there’ll be a $3000 mayoral prize.

Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea said the festival had gone from strength to strength, attracting more than 700 entries last year.

“It is the ideal festival for exposing our local audience to international films and for identifying untapped local talent in the film-making industry,” he said.

The Shorter Cuts Junior Film Festival joins the program for next year.

The specially curated G-rated screening will cater for a younger audience and is aimed at primary and secondary school students.

Shorter Cuts will screen on Tuesday 26 June, also at the Drum Theatre.

Entries close Friday 30 March. Visit www. shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au for entry details.

WHAT’S ON Plaza holiday fun

Learn manga drawing

Kids can decorate a pencil case, create a bookmark, design a library bag and more as part of free school holiday activities.

Dandenong Plaza, McCrae Street, Dandenong. Monday 15 January to Friday 19 January. Visit www.dandenongplaza.com.au for more information.

Australia Day Festival

·

King of Concrete This skate competition has four categories: 12 and under, 16 and under, ladies open and men’s open.

Compete for $5 or just watch free of charge.

Noble Park Skate Park, Memorial Drive, Noble Park. Saturday 20 January, 11am to 5pm.

·

Bubble soccer This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event for 12 to 25-year-olds will include bubble soccer, an obstacle course, space jump and more.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Monday 22 January, 10.10am to 1.50pm. $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com or call 9793 2155.

·

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Councillor Heang Tak's son Lawson, 2, enjoys the many activities at last year's Australia Day Festival.

·

Aqua Fun Park This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event will have 12 to 25-year-olds bouncing, sliding and splashing their way over bridges, down slides, onto trampolines and through hamster wheels.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Tuesday 23 January, 11.20am to 4.40pm. $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com or call 9793 2155.

·

St Olaf College Concert Band Composer and conductor Dr Timothy Mahr will lead this 93-member band in performing selections from its program Flourish.

It will share the stage with the Royal Australian Navy Band of Melbourne, led by Lieutenant Andrew Stokes.

24 STAR JOURNAL

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This event brings people from different backgrounds together to reflect on what it means to be Australian and celebrate the things they have in common.

The festival aims to also educate and create awareness about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, history and culture.

The all-ages event will start with a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony by a Wurundjeri Elder, a flag-raising ceremony and Australia Day Awards on the main stage.

There’ll be live entertainment on two stages, roving performers, a dedicated food court, community and market stalls, rides priced from $2 to $6, and a fireworks finale at 9.25pm.

Dandenong Park, Pultney Street, Dandenong. Friday 26 January, 3pm to 9.30pm. Call 8571 1000 for more information.

Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Tuesday 23 January, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, including interval. Tickets are $15 full-price and $10 concession.

Bookings are essential. Call 8571 1666 or visit www.drumtheatre.com.au.

School holiday paintball This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event will take 12 to 25-year-olds for a day of paintball.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Wednesday 24 January, 10am to 2.45pm. $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong. com or call 9793 2155.

·

Street Style Soccer Tournament This event is open to young people aged 12 to 25 years across four divisions: under-14s, un-

Monday, 15 January, 2018

der-16s, open female and open male.

There are five to seven players per team.

JC Mills Reserve, 162-174 Cleeland Street, Dandenong. Thursday 25 January, 9am to 5pm. Call Josh at Greater Dandenong Council’s Youth and Family Services on 9793 2155.

·

Al-Anon family groups This group offers help and support to family and friends of problem drivers at weekly meetings.

Seminar room two at Dandenong Hospital, David Street. Wednesday 8.15pm. Springvale Church of Christ, corner Buckingham and Windsor avenues. Fridays 10.30am. St Gerard’s Community Centre, 71 Gladstone Road, Dandenong North. Saturdays at 2pm.

Call 1300 252 666 or visit www.al-anon.org. au.

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Kenny Chan will host this free school holiday workshop for 12 to 25-year-olds.

Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Wednesday 17 January, 2pm to 4pm. Bookings are essential. Visit www. greaterdandenong.com, call 1300 630 920 or see library staff.

·

Xtreme Air Trampoline Park This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event will take 12 to 25-year-olds to Xtreme Air Trampoline Park in Keysborough.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Wednesday 17 January, 11.50am to 4.10pm. $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com or call 9793 2155.

·

Go karts and laser tag This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event will take 12 to 25-year-olds to a jam-packed day of go-karting and laser tag.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Thursday 18 January, 10am to 4.15pm. $15 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com or call 9793 2155.

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Clip ’n’ Climb This Greater Dandenong Council school holiday program event will take 12 to 25-year-olds to indoor climbing with a twist at Clip ’n’ Climb in Berwick.

Pick up available in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale. Friday 19 January, 9.50am to 3.10pm. $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com or call 9793 2155.

·

Probus Club Attention residents of North Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale North. New members sought by the Waverley Gardens Combined Probus Club.

In addition to other activities, members also meet for coffee and listen to a guest speaker at the Vegas Club, Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, from 9.45am to noon on the last Tuesday of each month. Details 9560 6046 or 9801 4049. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

A lifetime of passion

By Mick Floyd There a few people in greyhound racing that can boast as diverse a resume in the sport as new Sandown Greyhound Racing Club chairman Neil Brown.

Brown is just the fifth chairman in the club's decorated 61 year history. He has served on the board since being invited by his predecessor in 2001, and has been on the executive since 2006, his elevation to the Chair following Geoff Dawson's retirement after 30 years at the helm.

"It's a pretty unique job when you're following someone like Geoff Dawson, and Henry Harrison before him. They're a couple of very big names in the sport to follow," he said.

"I've seen the club really prosper in my time, it's a well run operation and the actual venue itself has really blossomed. (Former CEOs) Jeff Davies and Matt Corby did a wonderful job renovating the grandstand, and since Greg Miller has joined us we've gone up another notch. We've done a good job in other areas too, things like social media and stuff it's a new direction one that for us old timers is very different to what we knew - and we're the leaders in developing different products that appeal to the younger punters.

"I'm looking forward to maintaining our position as the leading club in the country."

Brown has a lifelong passion for greyhound racing. Growing up in Springvale, he was exposed to greyhound racing at an early age via a number of trainers who lived in the area, and it wasn't long before he would become a regular at his local track.

"I used to slip in the back fence down off View Road. We'd have our bets put on by some very accommodating older punters who were always happy to put the young teenager's bets on. On my first night there I backed a dog

New Sandown Greyhounds chairman, Neil Brown. called Perilous from box seven and got the money, so you're instantly hooked aren't you?

"Things have changed a lot now but I have some very fond memories the late 60's and the halcyon days in the 70's at Sandown Park.

I had a great enthusiasm from that point on and couldn't get enough of greyhound racing.

I got a chance to train a few myself when I was working full time and really, really enjoyed it.

"I trained for 15 years or so and had a few city winners. We won some races here at Sandown, won some races at Olympic Park and all around country Victoria."

During his 50 year love affair with greyhound racing, Brown has been involved in

almost every aspect of the sport. As well as a former trainer and breeder, Brown has been a registered owner since 1970. He is a former CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Greyhound Association (now Greyhounds Australasia), has worked as form analyst and commentator on RSN - Racing & Sport for the last 21 years, has also worked for Sky Racing and numerous greyhound publications, is the Publicity Officer for Greyhound Clubs Australia (formerly AGRA), and was even the course commentator at Lang Lang coursing club for almost 20 years.

He has served numerous industry committees including a decade's service on the Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Topgun panels,

Stingrays face premier

Blicavs wins third MVP for Rangers

By Nick Creely The Dandenong Rangers gave out their 2017/18 WNBL awards at the conclusion of the final round match against Canberra on 24 December, with captain Stephanie Blicavs earning her third straight MVP in a remarkable effort.

Blicavs enjoyed a stellar individual season for the Rangers, often playing a lone hand and providing immense leadership throughout the year.

The inspirational skipper averaged an outstanding 15.1 points, 3.6 assists, and was second at the club for blocks.

Other award winners included the highly consistent Kayla Pedersen, who was duly rewarded for her leadership as an overseas signing.

The Rangers endured a tough year on court, finishing seventh on the table with a 7-14 record, in a season full of unexpected personnel changes and injuries.

2017/18 AWARD WINNERS: Rangers MVP - Stephanie Blicavs Defensive Player of the Year - Kayla Pedersen Caitlin Ryan Rookie of the Year - Kiera Rowe Janine Fielder Award - Kayla Pedersen Coaches Award - Tessa Lavey

MVP Stephanie Blicavs. 176485 dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

and has been a member of the GRV Victorian Hall of Fame committee since inception in 2006, and in 2000 was awarded the Australian Sport Medal for services to greyhound racing.

"I really love the history and that's a great privilege just to learn about how they used to do things even way back in the non-proprietary days (when tracks were privately owned).

"I've been lucky enough to see racing in different parts of the world and that's been fantastic as well. If I was going to Dublin, well I wouldn't go there without going to the greyhounds, and my wife is quite aware of that! I even found one in Casablanca in Morocco so I thought that was an achievement."

By Nick Creely AFL Victoria has released the 2018 TAC Cup fixture, with the Dandenong Stingrays to kick off their campaign against reigning premier, Geelong Falcons. There has been a major change to the way football will be played at the elite junior level in 2018, with a Wildcard round introduced for the very first time.

The top four teams will essentially earn a week off, with the final four finalists to be decided from teams finishing from fifth to twelfth, in what will be a final round before the three week finals series gets underway. Craig Black's side will also play one home game at Frankston, and will play seven games at Shepley Oval, Dandenong.

2017/18 Award Winners (from left to right): Kiera Rowe, Tess Lavey, Kayla Pedersen and Stephanie Blicavs.

176485 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2018 FIXTURE: ROUND 1 Geelong Falcons, GMHBA Stadium, Sunday 25 March ROUND 2 Gippsland Power, Morwell Recreation Reserve, Friday 30 March ROUND 3 GWV Rebels, Queen Elizabeth Oval, Saturday 7 April ROUND 4 Western Jets, Shepley Oval, Sunday 22 April ROUND 5 Oakleigh Chargers, Warrawee Park, Saturday 28 April ROUND 6 Eastern Ranges, Shepley Oval, Saturday 12 May ROUND 7 Murray Bushrangers, IKON Park, Saturday 19 May ROUND 8 Sandringham Dragons, Shepley Oval, Sunday 3 June ROUND 9 Oakleigh Chargers, Shepley Oval, Saturday 16 June ROUND 10 GWV Rebels, Shepley Oval, Saturday 23 June ROUND 11 Geelong Falcons, Shepley Oval, Saturday 7 July ROUND 12 Bendigo Pioneers, Shepley Oval, Saturday 21 July ROUND 13 Calder Cannons, RAMS Arena, Sunday 29 July ROUND 14 Northern Knights, Preston City Oval, Saturday 4 August ROUND 15 Geelong Falcons, MARS Stadium, Saturday 18 August ROUND 16 Sandringham Dragons, Skybus Stadium, Saturday 25 August

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 29

SPORT

Rain washes cricket away

By Nick Creely Wild weather across the south-east once again proved the enemy for the local competitions, with the weekend’s cricket once again severely disrupted.

Turf cricket was the hardest hit, with no game in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition even getting through half the day’s play before the rain swept through.

Dandenong got off to a strong start in their clash with Ringwood at Shepley Oval, with the Panthers rolling out another debutant, quick bowler Jakeb Thomas (0/11) from Wonthaggi.

Experienced Rams openers David King (25) - in game 200 - and Pat Ashton (13) got the visitors off to 41 runs for the first wicket, before young talent Pat Turner (1/18) trapped King in front to get the Panthers on the board.

All-Rounder James Nanopoulos (1/15) wasted little time finding his length, and eventually forced Ashton to snick one behind to Jacques Augustin only a few overs later.

The Rams entered lunch at 3/56 after a late Akshat Buch (1/2) wicket just before the end of the session, but only a few overs were played after the main break as rain pelted down in the area, and the day ended with the visiting team on 4/68 after 36 overs.

They will resume their batting innings next week, with Nathan Walsh (9) and Ben Hastie (1) the not out batsmen.

In the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 and 2 grades, all matches will be played as one dayers next week with no match completing enough overs to be counted as a reasonable day’s play.

In Turf 1, four matches got a reasonable start, with the clash between Berwick and Cranbourne drawing out to 51 overs before the rain took over.

In a fascinating beginning to the match, the

Picture: ROB CAREW

Berwick opener Jarryd Wills is bowled on the first ball of the match. 176657 highly fancied Bears were immediately under the pump from the struggling Eagles. After skipper Lucas Ligt sent Berwick in, Pardeep Boyal (4/29) struck with the first ball of the match, knocking out opening batsman Jarryd Willis’ stumps.

The Bears struggled in the tough batting conditions on an excellent bowling track,

crawling their way from 4/39 to 7/123 after Nathan Pilon (42) and Jarrod Armitage (37 not out) salvaged something from the wreckage.

Buckley Ridges reached 0/86 against St Mary’s before play was abandoned, Hallam Kalora Park were cruising at 0/59 against North Dandenong before rain soaked Lois Twohig Reserve, while Mordialloc and Heinz Southern

Districts (2/14) didn’t get much play in.

Dandenong West’s clash with Dingley was abandoned last Friday night, while rain leaked through the covers at Alex Nelson Reserve meaning no play was possible between Springvale South and Narre Warren.

Rippin’ Sam puts stayers on notice at Sandown

By Mick Floyd Australia’s staying ranks have been put on notice after Rippin’ Sam unleashed a powerful performance on Thursday night at Sandown Park.

He was unsurprisingly slow to begin though with clear running quickly found himself at the pointy end of the field.

By the time they reached the back straight Rippin’ Sam took control of the race with the fancied Azkaban in pursuit. Rippin’ Sam maintained the margin to defeat Azkaban in a fast time of 41.56.

Jointly trained by Rob Britton and Brendan Pursell, Rippin’ Sam has relished the step up to 715m.

He won on his racing debut then had to wait 10 starts for his next win, when eventually stepping up to the staying trip.

“We were hoping he’d become a stayer, but you never know until you try. We gave him a

couple of trials from the 715m boxes, him and Saint David were trialling together and the sectionals were real good. They both looked like they were going to be stayers, but he’s (Rippin’ Sam) gone to another level,” said Pursell.

His lack of early speed is no secret, however his power after that can’t be questioned.

“His post-to-post times are fast. One day he went well at Geelong, six lengths quicker than what Fanta Bale ran at the same stage of her career.”

Rippin’ Sam has just the 14 career starts under his belt and already looks to be a staying star of the future.

Already a popular talent, Pursell believes there may still be improvement to come.

“He’s only 22 months old, there’s no reason why he can’t improve,” he said.

“Most greyhounds improve from this stage onwards, the sky’s the limit for him.

“The hardest part was getting him to Grade

5 level. We were lucky that a novice race over 715m came up here (at Sandown), luckily he won that then we thought where are we going to go next. It was a matter of getting him to Grade 5, because once we got him there the opportunities open up.”

While assisting the Rob Britton kennel, Pursell has been a part of some of the sport’s biggest races, including last month’s Hobart 1000 won by their own Rock Up Top. He says he’s typically cool and calm behind the boxes, though feels the butterflies when Rippin’ Sam is set to strut his stuff.

“I actually get nervous when he races,“ he said.

“I’ve handled in group races and they don’t worry me. I get nervous with him because he has so much potential.”

Rippin’ Sam is set for stardom on the track.

12368848-DJ43-17

WHAT’S ON this week Summer Domestic 2017/18 Registrations NOW OPEN! Registrations for new and returning teams teams for the Summer 2017/18 Senior Domestic Competition are now open!

Proud supporter

Indoor Beach Volleyball Social Competitions FOR ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE Indoor Beach Volleyball Mixed,฀Men’s฀and฀Women’s฀teams฀฀•฀฀Teams฀of฀Pairs:฀Wed฀&฀Fri฀Evenings Teams฀of฀Fours:฀Tue฀to฀Thurs฀Evenings

Team spots are available for comp nights Monday-Thursday, with Mixed & Over-35 available on Sunday.

Ready to register your new team or want more info about our Senior Competition?

Contact us today at (03) 9794 7192 or email admin@dandenongbasketball.com.au

www.dandenongbasketball.com.au/domestic-comp/senior-domestic

Dandenong Stadium - 270 Stud Road Dandenong 3175 Phone: 9794 7192 30 STAR JOURNAL

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Monday, 15 January, 2018

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Open Mon – Sun 9am – 11pm dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

MOTORING

Stinger makes good points MODEL RANGE 200S 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $45,990 200Si 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $52,990 GT-Line 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $55,990 330S 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol five-door hatch: $48,990 330Si 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol five-door hatch: $55,990 GT 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol five-door hatch: $59,990 Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges.

New Kia Stinger is a large sporting hatch with plenty of style. seat to its lowest setting but once ensconced the seat is comfortable and supportive thanks to the GT’s adjustable bolsters.

The view out of the rear mirror is restricted by Stinger’s long, low angled rear window but that’s the norm in cars of its ilk.

The difference in performance between the 2.0-litre four and the 3.3-litre V6 was surprisingly small which is as much about how good the smaller engine in the lighter (1693 kg) car is, rather than any deficiency in the larger (1780 kg) car.

In normal urban conditions or in motorway cruising the difference between the engines is barely noticeable but the extra grunt of the V6 does make a difference in winding and hilly terrain.

As with all Kia models local engineers have

been heavily involved in the tuning of Stinger’s suspensions to suit both Australian conditions and driver preferences.

The system is adjustable in conjunction with engine, steering and transmission, through the car’s five drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Eco, Smart and Custom). In the Sport setting the ride is at its firmest but even there the occasional pothole didn’t give the crunch that we anticipated.

Stinger GT and GT-Line both have Kia’s Dynamic Stability Damping Control which aims to predict the driver’s inputs and provide better cornering by firming the front shock absorbers and softening the rears.

The icing on the Kia cake is the company’s permanent seven-year unlimited warranty, ‘permanent’, as distinct from other limited time seven-year offers - though there’s a feeling that seven years may soon become the new norm.

To inspect the Kia range contact Dandenong Kia, 46 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Phone 9792 9922.

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•฀Engine฀oil฀change฀5฀Ltr • Oil filter change • Inspect Spark Plugs •฀Oil฀ilter฀change • New contact points •฀Inspect฀Spark฀Plugs • New wiper blades • Check hoses and clamps •฀New฀contact฀points • Pressure test cooling system • Check & adjust all fan belts •฀New฀wiper฀blades • Check PVC Valves •฀Check฀hoses฀and฀clamps • Inspect battery • Inspect charging system •฀Pressure฀test฀cooling฀system • Check clutch operation •฀Check฀&฀adjust฀all฀fan฀belts • Full mechanical & electrical report •฀Check฀PVC฀Valves •฀Inspect฀battery •฀Inspect฀charging฀system •฀Check฀clutch฀operation •฀Full฀mechanical฀&฀electrical฀report

• Check transmission oil level ••฀Check฀transmission฀oil฀level Check differential oil level ••฀Check฀differential฀oil฀level Inspect fuel lines • Grease front end ••฀Inspect฀fuel฀lines Check all tyres ••฀Grease฀front฀end Inspect brake pads and discs • Inspect front & rear suspension ••฀Check฀all฀tyres Inspect steering system • Inspect exhaust system ••฀Inspect฀brake฀pads฀and฀discs Inspect all seat belts ••฀Inspect฀front฀&฀rear฀suspension Check all lights • Road test

•฀Inspect฀steering฀system •฀Inspect฀exhaust฀system •฀Inspect฀all฀seat฀belts •฀Check฀all฀lights •฀Road฀test

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INCLUDING: INCLUDING: • Engine oil change 5 Ltr

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All-wheel-drive is available in some overseas markets, as is a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, however at this stage there are no plans for either to come to Australia. Nor is there a manual gearbox on the horizon.

Standard safety features across the complete Stinger range include seven airbags; ABS brakes; stability and traction control; hill start assist; rear parking sensors; rear view camera; active bonnet lift system; LED daytime running lights; automatic headlights; two IsoFix child seat anchorage points; and impact sensing auto door unlocking.

Added features on the mid-spec Stinger Si are autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist, as well as front parking sensors and driver attention alert.

The GT-Line and GT variants get a 360-degree camera; electrochromic door mirrors; blind spot detector; rear cross traffic alert; dynamic bending light; and high beam assist.

The Stinger GT uses an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen mounted at the top of the centre fascia.

Rather than relying entirely on touch commands, with the distraction that these can often entail, a number of the most commonly used features are accessed through old-style push buttons situated below the screen.

As befits its spot at the top of the Stinger range the GT gets a 15-speaker premium Harmon/Kardon audio system powered by an external amplifier. Speed dependent volume control is a neat feature.

Bluetooth pairing is simple and quick allowing access to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The satellite navigation system comes with 10 years of updates for both SUNA traffic information and MapCare.

There are USB and Auxiliary inputs recessed at the bottom of the front console directly alongside a storage space that’s designed for smartphones. The GT and GT-Line models also provide for wireless phone charging.

Entry and exit is surprisingly easy given the Stinger’s low profile. We needed to set the driver’s

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In a year in which Australian SUV sales have overtaken those of traditional passenger cars for the first time the launch of the Kia Stinger was welcome news for keen drivers.

Because, as sensible and practical as SUVs are, with a few exceptions they don’t provide much driving enjoyment.

It’s no coincidence that the arrival of the Stinger has coincided with the demise of Ford Falcon and the switch from local production to importation of Holden Commodore and Toyota Camry. Quite clearly Kia Australia has seen an opportunity to bring in its highest performance vehicle.

Stinger combines excellent performance with cruising comfort in a body that attracted admiring looks wherever we went during our fortnight behind the wheel.

Back in 2006 Kia pulled off a major coup by recruiting the renowned German designer Peter Schreyer from Audi as its chief design officer.

One of his earliest moves was the creation of a new corporate grille known as the Tiger Nose that in various guises has been a feature of every Kia model over the past decade.

Behind the grille there’s a long, low bonnet with air vents on either side reminiscent of the now-departed Holden Monaro, together with side vents.

The entry level Stinger S gets 18-inch alloy wheels, the higher spec Si, GT-Line and GT models get 19-inch. All models come with chrome coated quad exhaust pipes.

Stinger is a rear-wheel drive five-door hatch with a sleek profile that could easily be mistaken as a coupe. It comes with the choice of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol or 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol and three equipment levels, tagged S, Si and GT-Line in the four and GT in the six. A few Holden and Ford punters did ask if there would ever be a V8. Sadly … no.

We recently reviewed the 2.0-litre GT-Line and this week’s test is on the V6 GT. Despite Stinger’s fastback styling headroom in both front and rear is good, though a bit of ducking and weaving is needed for taller occupants to get inside. Rear legroom is good by courtesy of the car’s 2.9-metre wheelbase.

Stinger GT gets Sports Nappa leather appointed seats with a GT logo. All models have powered driver’s seats enhanced in the GT with lumbar support, thigh extender and position memory.

The boot is wide and flat but without much height. Capacity is listed at 406 litres with the rear seatbacks in place and up to 1114 with them folded.

Kia Stinger come with the choice of two turbocharged petrol engines, a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol that produces 182 kW of power, with maximum torque of 353 Nm running all the way from 1400 to 4000rpm. The 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 has peak power of 272 kW, and a big 510 Nm torque from 1300 to 4500rpm.

Both engines drive the rear wheels through Kia’s in-house eight-speed multi-mode automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted shift paddles.

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Monday, 15 January, 2018

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STAR JOURNAL 31