BERWICK
Thursday, 6 June, 2019
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Workers abuzz PAGE 3
New home for lucky Charm
Casey Demons mark 10 years
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Hop in to see winter arts
In the midst of the bunnies at the Winter Arts Festival launch.
By Danielle Kutchel Bunjil Place was transformed over the weekend as artists from across Casey came together to launch the 17th annual Winter Arts Festival. Looming large over the community space are a series of larger-than-life-size bunnies, part of Amanda Perer's exhibit, called 'Intrude'. The launch also included performances by Casey Choir, Cranbourne Chorale, Australian Tamil Arts Association drumming, Star Search for a Cause and Beauty and the Beast, as well as a Smoking Ceremony by Boon Wurrung man David Tournier. Art exhibitions, musical and dance performances, an Open Studios weekend, workshops and school holiday fun will also take place during the festival. The festival runs throughout June, July and August and the full program is available at www.casey. vic.gov.au/winter-arts-festival.
Back behind bars Three weeks out of jail, a serial offender was back in custody after a large haul of drugs and a loaded rifle were seized by police at his Narre Warren North home. Nigel Conroy, 43, was at home on the oneacre block on Belgrave-Hallam Road when police raided at 6pm on 13 July as part of their investigations into his girlfriend. He was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of GHB (4.8 kilograms), trafficking 57 grams of ice, and possessing a firearm while prohibited. He was also accused of possessing $7980 found in a satchel, pockets and wallet as pro-
ceeds of crime, as well as 19 oxycodone tablets and an electrical bypass. Conroy admitted to police that he bought and sold drugs partly to fund his addiction - of up to one gram of ice a day. He claimed he didn't know who owned the cash-laden satchel or the firearm. At the time, Conroy had just served a 220day jail sentence and was three weeks into a community corrections order. Sentencing judge Susan Pullen of the Victorian County Court said on 4 June that Conroy failed to take up the chance of a rehabilitative CCO. He had instead moved back in with his
drug-addicted girlfriend and relapsed. Judge Pullen had "reservations" about Conroy's remorse given his "disturbing, lengthy and relevant" criminal history. The "extensive" drug-related priors included trafficking, dishonesty, weapons and proceeds-of-crime offences since he was 30. Despite being put on "numerous" rehabilitative orders, Conroy had been unable to overcome his addiction, Judge Pullen said. "I have real concerns about your rehabilitative prospects. 'Guarded' would be arguably a generous description." Police also raided Conroy's partner's Dandenong apartment. She and Conroy, both ad-
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dicted to drugs, had been together for a "turbulent" year. She was charged with "very different offences" to Conroy, and jailed for six months with a 12-month community corrections order. Judge Pullen noted Conroy's loving upbringing and his struggles at Berwick High School where he left at Year 9. He was allegedly sexually abused as a child by a relative. His drug history started with cannabis at 11, graduating to cocaine, speed and then ice. Conroy was jailed for up to seven years, ineligible for parole for four-years-and-sixmonths. His term included 326 days of presentence detention.
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