NEWS
Robocup players fight on In the spirit of the World Cup, 12 'Lodgers' students from Berwick Lodge Primary School took on the state's best young talent in soccer robotics. Not to mention a dancing robot competition and rescue-robot section. The three teams of Years 5 and 6 STEM students excelled in the RoboCup Junior Australia regional comp at Ballarat on 6 June. The Riley Rescue team placed third, the soccer team made the semi-finals and the dance team finished second. Robotics teacher Rob Kelly said the competition helped students understand the importance and inter-connection of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. "The Lodgers really enjoyed the competition - despite the early start and late finish." The Lodgers will take part in state finals in August.
The Berwick Lodge Primary School robotics team on tour in Ballarat.
Manager steals $31,000 in ‘breach of trust’
CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION SUPPORT
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Integration Aide/Teacher Aide Gain the knowledge, skills and strategies to work as an aide in a primary, secondary or special school to support students with additional needs.
Berwick
Frankston
Commencing: Friday 20 July Duration: 4 Fridays & 4 Saturdays, 9am – 3.30pm Venue: Berwick Contact: 1300 639 878
Commencing: Tuesday 14 August Duration: 8 Tuesdays & 8 Thursdays, 5:30pm – 8.30pm Venue: Monash University, Peninsula Campus Contact: 1300 639 878
For more information, visit: monash.edu/education/shortcourses Students who complete this course may be considered for up to six points of credit towards a Monash Bachelor of Education degree, subject to their meeting admission requirements. CRICOS provider: Monash University 00008C
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A former worker at a Beaconsfield financial company has pleaded guilty to swindling more than $31,000 from her employer over a two-year period. Alisha West, as the practice manager at Lucana Pty Ltd, had abused her access to company bank cards and a petrol card from 201517, police alleged at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 18 June. The then-34-year-old, who had a bookkeeping background, had successfully argued against the firm’s “old-style” accounting method in favour of more autonomy. She took advantage of this, stealing funds for personal items such as home renovations, the court heard. Some of the 137 fraudulent transactions included $4000 doors at her home, polo tickets on-sold for profit and excessive fuel use for non-work purposes, prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Mark Donoghue told the court. After the company’s audit of the purchases last year, West’s job was terminated. The misappropriated $31,841.92 had not been paid back.
Defence lawyer Esan Pilai argued against a conviction for West, who had no prior criminal history and made full admissions. If convicted, West would face great difficulty getting another job as well as travelling, he said. Reading a submitted psychological report, magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted that West “still blames the employer ... on some level”. Her offending occurred over an “extensive period of time in a position of trust”. “When you asked for greater autonomy, unfortunately you took advantage of that for financial reasons.” West was convicted and ordered to perform up to 150 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community corrections order. The order included possible mental health treatment, financial counselling and offender-behaviour courses. She was ordered to repay her former employer $31,842.92 within nine months.
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BERWICK
12 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 21 June, 2018
berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au