Dandenong Star Journal - 16th June 2020

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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Covid fines hotspot

Running the risk with trains

Leaders’ lockdown recipes

Action aplenty at Sandown

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Somyurek sacked

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Dandenong-based state MP and ALP factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek has been “sacked” as Minister for a second time while denying explosive allegations of branch-stacking.

In a stunning report by 60 Minutes and The Age, the Local Government and Small Business Minister was accused of using Parliamentary staff and paying thousands for fake memberships as part of the alleged practice.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced he’d sacked Mr Somyurek from the Cabinet, his caucus and “his team”, and expected Mr Somyurek’s ALP membership to be “terminated”.

He said that the matter would be referred to Victoria Police and the anti-corruption body IBAC for investigation.

Mr Somyurek’s comments about Cabinet colleague and Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams were “completely deplorable” and “shameful”.

“On that basis there’s no place in my government for him.

“Mr Somyurek was not offered an opportunity to resign. He’s not worthy of an opportunity to resign - he was sacked.”

In a statement on 15 June, Mr Somyurek said he’d advised Premier Daniel Andrews of his resignation.

“With respect to allegations made around memberships of the party, I reject those and will be providing a rigorous defence during any party process.”

He however apologised “unequivocally” for his “inappropriate” language during an allegedly tapped phone call about Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams.

“I accept and take full responsibility for the fact that my language on a number of occasions was simply not appropriate.

“While Ms Williams and I have been at odds

Adem Somyurek has been removed as a State Cabinet Minister for a second time. 201398 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS factionally for many years, I should not have used the language I did about her and I apologise to her unequivocally.”

In the reported call, he allegedly said of Ms Williams, the Minister for Women, for Aboriginal Affairs and for Preventing Family Violence, that he’ll “get that f***ing bitch Gabrielle out”.

“I will force her out of the Ministry, that f***ing stupid bitch, when Andrews goes. She’s a stupid, stupid moll.”

Mr Somyurek said those comments, as well as about Labor staffers, had “quite rightly cost me my job”.

On the surveillance, he’d allegedly referred to the young staffers as “real little f***ing slimy little f***ers” and “little passive-aggressive f***ing gay kids”.

In his statement on 15 June, Mr Somyurek stated he’d seek a police investigation into the use of surveillance recordings in a “Federal electorate office without my knowledge” as part of the Nine report.

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“It follows publication of numerous personal and private conversations between myself and a long time friend and factional ally of mine.

“It is clear that I was taped and surveilled in a Federal electorate office without my knowledge and that this material was published without my knowledge of its existence or my consent.”

In 2015, Mr Andrews had forced Mr Somyurek to resign from the front bench for allegedly bullying a staff member - claims that Mr Somyurek denied.

After the 2018 state election, Mr Somyurek was restored to the State Cabinet.

On covert phone taps reported by Nine, the destruction of Labor colleagues’ careers was discussed, including that of Federal Bruce MP Julian Hill.

“I’m looking forward to this actually “In between sacking councils and stuff, I’ll be sacking Julian.”

Federal Holt MP Anthony Byrne was however ‘protected’.

“Anthony’s got a terrible reputation, everyone thinks he’s a waste of space. I don’t. I protect him.

“I had to stop articles talking about Anthony Byrne going. I said he’s got my protection, he’s going nowhere.”

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien and Green acting leader Ellen Sandell had called for Mr Somyurek and implicated front-benchers Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz to be stood down “immediately”.

Mr O’Brien said the reports showed Mr Andrews’ “shocking failure of judgement” “In backing Adem Somyurek, Daniel Andrews put his own political interests ahead of the interests of Victorians.

“Andrews bears full responsibility for the actions of his Ministers.”

Ms Sandell said Mr Andrews refused to stand up to Mr Somyurek “for years”.

“The toxic factions have been allowed to run Labor and Victoria for far too long, eroding our democracy.

“The fact that Andrews put this factional warlord in charge of the Ministry for Local Government, with a local election just months away, should be deeply worrying for local communities and their democracy.”

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told ABC that he’d spoken to Mr Andrews and expected “swift action” on the matter.

State opposition multicultural affairs spokesperson Neil Angus lambasted the “dreadful” attitude that Labor has towards “multicultural Victorians”.

“The blatant use of members of Victoria’s multicultural communities, including the Indian community, for the sole purpose of enabling organised Victorian Labor Party branch stacking is disgraceful.”

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NEWS

Pictures: GARY SISSONS

The Springvale Community Hub’s stunning northern facade. 209721

Community hub is close to completion

By Cam Lucadou-Wells The keen wait for the Springvale Community Hub is nearly over.

As photographer Gary Sissons illustrates, the $50-million-plus facility is taking spectacular shape before its anticipated opening in July.

But with Covid-19 measures still in place, crowds will be restricted for the hub’s opening weeks.

Community services director Martin Fidler told a council meeting on 9 June that the entire building including the library, cafe and cus-

The hub’s straight planes on the southern side.

A panorama of the “hub’’ and its River Red Gum landscape. |

Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

A new playground takes shape

tomer service centre will open under restricted hours in July.

The outdoor lawn, barbecues and playground park will open at the same time.

“It’s anticipated that when opened there will be large numbers wanting to visit the site,” Mr Fidler said.

Crowd-thinning measures will include express queues for customer service, a pick-up service at the library, restricted hours for PC use and an online tour video.

Group hire of the facilities will also be limited.

The finishing touches take place before an expected July opening.

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A way-finding sign.

Several remnant trees have been retained at the site.

The main entrance.

Some of the hub’s spectacular lines. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

‘Secret’ peace park puzzle Questions have been raised about the origins of a little-known International Peace Park in Springvale.

Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan asked about this “secret garden” at a council meeting on 9 June, “intrigued” by a sign on Princes Highway denoting the park.

Getting access to the park is difficult, Cr Kirwan says.

The large tract, with a creek and wetlands area, is fenced off next to, ironically, the Sporting Shooter’s Association of Australia grounds.

A potential entrance from a laneway off Brough Street was locked but he found his way in via the neighbouring Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

“It was a tranquil, secluded park that is well worth a visit with its own secret bridge.”

The neighbouring Sporting Shooters Association of Australia range. 209710

A pied cormorant in flight. 209710

International Peace Park with Springvale’s cemetery in the background. 209710

A creek runs through the parkland. 209710

Cr Matthew Kirwan in front of a wetland. 209710

Cr Matthew Kirwan with the park’s ‘‘secret bridge’’. 209710

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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NEWS

Covid fines hotspot

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Victoria Police has denied targeting its Covid19-related Operation Sentinel on Greater Dandenong, despite the council area recording the second-highest fines in the state.

There were 333 social-distancing fines each worth $1652 - enforced in the municipality since mid-March, according to a recent police submission to a State Parliament inquiry into the pandemic response.

It was second to only City of Melbourne which had more than 590 infringements.

“Operation Sentinel is a 500-person strong taskforce that operates across the state,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“No specific areas are targeted as a part of their tasking. We will not be providing any localised breakdown of incidents or fines.”

As of 14 June, 20 Greater Dandenong residents had been infected by Covid-19, including two in the past week.

It is ranked 27th in case numbers compared to other Victorian council areas.

However, according to the State Government, Covid-19 testing rates have been lower in the South-East than other parts of Melbourne.

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said police had played a vital role keeping the community safe during the pandemic.

“No one likes to be issued with a fine, but we mustn’t lose sight of the importance of community compliance in helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Police patrolling Palm Plaza in Dandenong in April after social-distancing restrictions were announced. 207585 “Compliance with restrictions has quite literally saved lives.”

South-East Melbourne MP David Limbrick, of the Liberal Democrats, said people should challenge their fines.

“These people watching mass gatherings (on the weekend of 6-7 June) will have every right to feel they have not been treated fairly,” Mr Limbrick said.

“The Government may have trouble proving that their restrictions were backed by common sense in all cases.”

Springvale Monash Legal Service executive director Kristen Wallwork said the service was preparing for a possible influx of clients as fines became due and reminder letters sent out.

“Based on our data it is not possible to as-

certain if Greater Dandenong residents have been specially targeted by police.

“We are hopeful that the area is not targeted or treated differently than any other area.”

Ms Wallwork noted that Greater Dandenong had many residents, including new arrivals, whose first language was not English.

“This can sometimes mean that there is a lack of complete understanding around laws, particularly new enacted laws such as the social distancing and lockdown legislation.”

She advised those who received a fine to contact the SMLS, particularly those who did not understand why they were breached or believe it was unjust.

Special circumstances such as homelessness or mental health issues may also lead to the fine’s withdrawal, Ms Wallwork said.

“Clients who have received a fine and are under the age of 18 may also wish to receive legal assistance and advice from our service.

“Clients can also apply for the fine to be internally reviewed or for the fine to be paid in instalments.”

She said the $1652 fines were at the “ larger end of the spectrum” and could have a “substantial effect” on recipients, particularly those relying on welfare payments.

“The fines can also have a “knock on” effect that can give rise to other debts or legal issues.

“In some instances, people might not be able to cover other bills or rent, which can have significant ramifications.”

The SMLS offers legal advice as well as referrals to financial counselling, she said.

Council’s call to clean-up crime ‘disaster’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong Council is calling for a police and State Government intervention to clean up crime, street prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour in ‘inner’ Dandenong West.

In a notice of motion on 9 June, Cr Maria Sampey stated that “fearful” residents were “wanting to move out” of the area bordered by Robinson, Hemmings, Pickett streets and Railway Parade. “It is clear from resident feedback that serious crime and anti-social behaviour issues continue to persist.”

Cr Sampey called for a partnership approach between the council and other stakeholders to “significantly reduce” the issues. One issue was to better engage with residents “who currently feel ignored”, her motion’s preamble stated.

At Cr Peter Brown’s suggestion, the council will also seek regular Protective Services Officer (PSO) patrols of the area.

The council will table a report by August 24, outlining a solution with potential partners Victoria Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and services like St Kilda Gatehouse.

Cr Matthew Kirwan, in support, said the area should be a “fantastic place to live” given it was within walking distance of the library, mar-

ket and train station.

A “one-off” police blitz in 2019 suppressed the issues for only a few months, but won’t solve entrenched social issues such as poverty, homelessness, squats and poorly-managed rooming houses and a lack of safe and affordable community housing.

“Most of these are State Government issues so we need them to take the lead. We’re finally coming to the point that we need a plan to deal with this, not just with a one-off police blitz.”

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the precinct was a “busy area” but there had been no increase in reported crimes or calls for assistance. Police conducted regular proactive patrols in Greater Dandenong including the precinct in question as part of the ongoing Operation Tidal, the spokesperson said.

“We are aware this is a busy area, particularly given the proximity to the Dandenong CBD, and task our officers to patrol accordingly.”

Since the operation’s introduction in Melbourne’s South East in April 2019, more than 1000 arrests were made, 500 warrants executed and more than 2000 traffic infringements imposed.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Protective Services Officers were deployed for foot patrols in Dandenong’s CBD as part of Operation Shielding. Their brief was to deter and detect

street crime and address public order issues, the police spokesperson said.

In 2019, Cr Kirwan told Star Journal of street prostitutes’ clients stalking female residents, and drug dealers and sex workers visiting “seemingly unregulated” rooming houses in Dandenong’s ‘inner west’. There was an abundance of 17 legally-registered rooming houses in the neighbourhood at the time.

“Something needs to be done for sex workers. They’re living horrible lives with issues with drugs and housing themselves,” Cr Kirwan said.

“It isn’t a simple law and order issue, it’s a complex social issue.

“Meanwhile the residents are suffering because they are living in fear.”

Recently, Greater Dandenong councillors knocked back plans for 43 Housing Choices Australia social-housing units in its 2-4 Hemmings Street car park.

The proposal was described by Cr Tim Dark as an “absolute buster” in the “wrong location”.

Cr Kirwan said the “well managed” social housing proposal wouldn’t feed crime but was “part of the solution”.

Crime in the precinct wasn’t linked to HCA’s existing social housing units but instead caused by “poorly managed rooming houses, squats and overcrowded private rentals”, he said.

Dandy show cancelled The Dandenong Show, one of the longest-running traditions on the events calendar, is the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society has announced that the event on 14 and 15 November has been cancelled.

The show, which first ran in 1871, is in its 149th year.

“Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, current restrictions in place for public gatherings, the uncertainty of any timeline around lifting restrictions, and in the best interest of public health, it makes it unworkable to hold a large event such as the Show in 2020,” the society stated.

Now in its 149th year, the society stated the decision had to be made now for the sake of sponsors, exhibitors and competitors who spend months getting their entries ready.

The decision would also impact on volunteers and community groups that help in the show’s running.

The latter also used the event as a major fundraiser for their organisations, the society stated.

“The society will now turn its attention to planning and presenting the 150th Year of Dandenong Show on 13 and 14 November 2021.”

IN BRIEF Servo encounter ends in arrests Two 18-year-old men have been remanded in custody after police discovered - by chance - a stolen car being filled up at a service station.

As part of their Operation Tidal patrol, police officers drove into the Hampton Park servo about 4am on Wednesday 10 June.

At that point, a driver allegedly sped away in the stolen car, leaving his co-offender standing alone at the petrol pump.

Police arrested the abandoned man shortly after.

The car was found dumped in Doveton that morning.

As police started a search for the driver, he was discovered returning to the car in an attempt to drive away, police say.

He was arrested at the scene.

Red-light rider evades police A speeding motorcyclist has escaped through a red light from Victoria Police officers during morning peak-time.

Police say they detected the rider on a lightcoloured sports motorcycle travelling west at 125km/h in an 80 zone on Wellington Road, Mulgrave about 9am on Wednesday 10 June.

The rider stopped briefly in the far-right lane at the Springvale Road intersection, then rode through a red light and sped south down Springvale Road.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate the motorcyclist.

Any information and dash-cam footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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STAR JOURNAL 5

LOOKING BACK

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

100 years ago 17 June 1920 Crackers The ragged little fellow suddenly sprang from nowhere, darted towards the taxi, which the man in a hurry had just summoned, and politely opened the door. Then he handed in the suitcase, carefully closed the door, and waited. But the man in a hurry had no loose change. Moreover, his overcoat was tightly buttoned, and he would have to squirm considerably to get at this money. Therefore, he ignored the expectant child.

The youngster knew from experience that he had struck a hopeless case, and smiled sourly.

50 years ago 18 June 1970 A peek into the past The City will celebrate its centenary in 1973

when historical relics will move to the forefront ....but the public won’t need to wait that long to see how the district looked 100 years ago. In its recently acquired rooms in the Town Hall the Dandenong Historical Society will have an open day on Wednesday July1 from 10am to 4pm when photographs up to 120 years old will be on display.

20 years ago 19 June 2000 ‘Gutless’ Greater Dandenong’s leadership on the drugs issue has come under fire after it became the first municipality to vote against the state government’s proposed safe-injecting clinic trail last Tuesday. Mr Pandazopoulas said he was extremely disappointed and angered by the decision. “Despite all the rhetoric they dished out about holding a proper consolation process, the

council has made an extremely premature and ill-advised move” he said. “Now they will have to cope with the drug problems which are getting worse and in no time will be back asking the Government for funding to find other solutions.

Councillor John Kelly said although he was opposed to a trial the council had acted unprofessionally. “I was embarrassed to be a councillor on the night,” Cr Kelly said. Greater Dandenong Mayor Councillor Angela Long said she believed the correct decision had been made. “The majority of community members have told us they don’t want it and we made this vote for them,” she said.

5 years ago 15 June 2015 Breakfast praise is served Praise to Greater Dandenong’s leaders was giv-

en in spades and served on plates, songs and speeches at the annual thanksgiving breakfast on 30 May. The Dandenong Ministers Fellowship and Momentum Co - sponsored event gathered parishioners to fete their guests of honour their serving mayor, councillors, charity heads, police, CFA, ambulance and SES members - as well as RSL representatives. Pastor David Owen said it was important to appreciate the work of the guests and their institutions.

“How often do people come up and say ‘good job’,” Mr Owen said. A moved Sergeant Melissa Blair of Victoria Police told the audience she appreciated the feeling in the room. “A lot of people in the community don’t like us. “They don’t really appreciate us for the people we are. “If they thought of us as people the world would be a happier place.”

NEWS

Writers fest goes virtual Greater Dandenong’s Emerging Writers Festival has moved entirely online for 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It follows the council’s announcement to also virtually host its national refugee art exhibition HOME in July and August.

Despite the forced change, the Emerging Writers Festival still offers professional development opportunities to new and emerging writers. The program includes a two-hour podcasting workshop with experienced pro-

ducer Lee Tran Lam. Via Zoom, Ms Lam will discuss how to start your own podcast at home, to refine it and release and distribute the product.

Comedy writers Elizabeth Davie, Urvi Majumdar & Annie Louey will be part of a panel discussing the different stages of their careers - and the key topic of what makes a good joke.

A workshop with award-winning author Eloise Grills looks at different ways to write a creative memoir - whether by essay or by poem.

Elizabeth Davie will join a three-way panel on comedy writing.

She explores issues of honesty, ethics and doing justice to the people in our lives.

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said the festival was a “great opportunity for our talented local artists to be profiled,

among some of the best storytellers and creatives in our country”. The festival events will be staged on Thursday, June 18 and Sunday, June 21.

Details at greaterdandenong.com

Works continue in the south east and there will be transport disruptions We’re upgrading the Monash Freeway, as well as the intersection of Thompsons and FrankstonDandenong roads. Works are also underway to remove level crossings on the Cranbourne Line.

Cranbourne Line

7 Jul to 12 Jul From 8.30pm on 31 Jul to 2 Aug

Dandenong to Cranbourne

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps Monash Freeway

Throughout Jun

Reduced speed, overnight lane and ramp closures

Jacksons Road, Mulgrave

From 10pm on 19 Jun to 22 Jun and 26 to 29 Jun

Closed under the Monash Freeway

Thompsons Road, Carrum Downs

Until 5am on 13 Jul Intersection at FrankstonDandenong Road closed

Keep in mind there are other disruptions over winter.

Find a detailed list at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Dates subject to change. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. MTIA3764

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Public transport disruptions: Buses replace trains

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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NEWS

April ‘fools’ on station

By Cam Lucadou-Wells It’s after school at Westall railway station on 1 April, but no joking matter.

CCTV footage from Metro Trains shows a male student commuter nonchalantly strolling beyond the yellow safety line.

Hands in his pockets, he stands with his heels on the white-painted platform edge. His toes flirting with the dangerous space over the tracks.

A female student sits down beside him, either sucking on a lollypop or smoking. Her legs are over the platform edge, in the danger zone.

The male walks away, and returns. At one point, he stands casually on the edge, this time backwards to the tracks.

His heels and backpack are beyond solid ground.

Meanwhile, another student is riding a scooter along the platform.

With students largely returned to school, the State Government and Metro Trains have issued a reminder on rail safety.

There are serious consequences when dicing with train safety, Metro community education officer Kelli Williams says.

“Trains are 140 metres long, weigh as much

A female sits down on the edge of the platform next to a standing male.

On the edge of Westall rail station platform, a male student stands backwards with his hands in his pockets. A female sits with her legs over the tracks. as 250 cars, and can’t swerve or stop quickly so there can be serious consequences if young people take risks.

“We ask students to please look out for one another and speak to staff if they need help.”

Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne added that there was “no excuse for risk-taking behaviour”.

“Every school student returning to the classroom this week needs to take responsibility for their own safety.”

Despite the bullet-proof attitudes of youth, there are more than 230 rail safety incidents involving students in Melbourne each year.

In Term 1, there were 43.

The most common causes are phone and

headphone distraction, children rushing for trains, forcing up train doors, illegally crossing the tracks, and riding skateboards or scooters on platforms.

Metro Trains runs an annual program of classroom visits, offering sage advice such as putting away your phone, taking your headphones out and carrying your scooter or skateboard.

It engages with about 350 schools a year.

Virtual lessons have been run during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Uncertainty over expiring visas with flights out of action

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Dandenong-based registered migration agent has warned that stranded overseas travellers with expired visas are facing “bad ramifications” for their future visa applications.

Thay-Horn Yim, who is a state vice-president for Migration Institute of Australia, responded to a recent Star Journal story on 190-plus desperate Chilean travellers stranded with airfares but no flights home due to a worldwide Covid-19 lockdown.

During Covid-19, there ought to be an amnesty on unlawful non-citizens trapped with expiring visas through no fault of their own, Mr Yim said.

If sick, they are unwilling to come forward for Covid-19 swab tests. On their visa’s expiry, they are no longer covered by travel health insurance and so must pay for the tests themselves.

The travellers were also reluctant to test due to being “very scared of being possibly detained by Australian authorities”.

“If they are detained, they will be charged up to thousands of dollars per day as debt to the Commonwealth.”

The Federal Government has been “silent” on the matter, Mr Yim says.

He urged travellers to discard the “myth” that “because there is no flight, they can continue to stay lawfully after their visa expires”.

“While the Department of Home Affairs will try to prioritise an application for a visa that is about to expire or has expired within 28 days, there are so many that will become unlawful.

“Those staying unlawfully could have bad

Migration agent Thay-Horn Yim warns of the perils of the expired visitor visa.

Chilean travellers stranded in Melbourne due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ramifications for their future visa applications.”

Given the glut of applications, Mr Yim urged international visitors to apply for exemptions to extend their visas well before expiry.

This is especially the case where visa conditions prohibited extensions or banned the application for further visas.

“In these circumstances, the immigration department requires them to lodge well in advance - at least two months.”

“Some may have to request a waiver of their

visa conditions, which must be approved before lodging or applying for any other visa.”

“If you leave it to the last minute, it’s easy to overstay.”

Alfredo Dattwyler, who had travelled to Australia for an English-language course, says most of the 195 compatriots have tickets to fly home on Qantas or the Latin-American-based LATAM Airlines.

The rest of the group have money for fares but can’t secure a ticket, he says.

They have waited weeks without incomes

and dwindling savings. Some are living in parks, friends’ garages or taken in by churches.

Their student visas, work visas, tourist visas and health insurance are also fast expiring.

Without medical insurance, the visitors are not covered for Covid-19 tests.

Some are suffering medical emergencies; all are anxious to join their loved ones in Chile - which is of course also in Covid lockdown.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, international airlines have cancelled many flights and stood down staff. LATAM Airlines has recently filed for bankruptcy in the US. Qantas website advises that its scheduled international flights, except for New Zealand, are suspended until at least the end of July 2020, due to government restrictions.

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STAR JOURNAL 7

NEWS

IN BRIEF Keysy Hub draft released The draft design for the future Keysborough South Community Hub has been released for public comment.

On the corner of Chapel and Villers roads in Tatterson Park, the hub will include meeting and activity rooms, a community lounge, kindergarten, child care, maternal and child health and an outdoor play space.

The plans are displayed at greaterdandenong.com Public feedback is open until 5pm on Friday 26 June.

Computer bookings open at library As a further step of re-opening, Dandenong Library’s personal computers will be available from Monday 15 June.

Library users can pre-book for 30-minute access to the computers.

All other visits are restricted to the collection of items on-hold and to 15 minutes per patron.

Social distancing requirements remain in place. Patrons are expected to practice good hand hygiene.

The library is open Monday to Friday from 10.30am-6pm.

To book a computer, call the library prior to your visit on 1300 630 920.

To place an item on hold, visit greaterdandenonglibraries.com or call the library directly.

Wind-powered lights for a decade Greater Dandenong’s public lighting will be 100 per cent renewably-powered under a new 10-year deal.

Under the power purchase agreement (PPA) between Alinta Energy and Procurement Australia, the electricity will be supplied by Bald Hills Wind Farm in Gippsland.

Greater Dandenong, 12 other Victorian councils and a Victorian Government Authority will benefit from the agreement.

The deal begins on 1 July.

Mayor Jim Memeti said the agreement brought certainty and reinforced the council’s declaration for a climate and ecological emergency response in January 2020.

“By getting electricity from renewable energy sources, instead of coal-fired power, we are not only tackling climate change head on, but we are also ensuring value for money.”

Councillor Matthew Kirwan said a second PPA covering the rest of the council’s electricity needs is also expected to be signed soon.

“By July 2021 we will then be using a 100% renewable electricity.”

Cr Kirwan said it was an important first step but “hard but necessary choices” were required for the council to emit net-zero carbon emissions by 2025.

“We need to remove gas installations from our existing council buildings and ensure that new buildings don’t use gas.

“In particular our current aquatic centres are huge users of gas so our new Dandenong Aquatic Centre planned to be built by 2024 needs to use heat pump technology to be gas free.”

The council is committed to being a netzero carbon city by 2040.

Its draft climate change strategy and action plan is due for endorsement this year.

Greater Dandenong is also part of the National GreenPower Accreditation Program that ensures that the council’s voluntary commitments are matched with renewable energy added to the grid.

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

$1m plea to fix Springvale tangle

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong Council is calling for $1 million-plus to relieve dangerous congestion just north-east of Springvale train station.

The congestion-busting Springvale levelcrossing removal - which included a new bridge Lindsay Williams Crossing - has created a new set of problems in the ‘North East Quadrant’, a council traffic report has found.

Greater Dandenong councillor Sean O’Reilly said “land-locked” drivers were facing “iron walls” of congestion trying to exit the ‘quadrant’.

Some were running the gauntlet trying to exit right onto busy, fast Springvale Road, without the help of traffic lights.

The council report found that during school pick-up times, bottle-necks were particularly heavy at Sandown Road and the unsignalised Lindsay Williams Crossing onto Lightwood Road.

Likewise, motorists’ only signalised exit to drive north on Springvale Road is at Lightwood Road - again via Lindsay Williams Crossing.

In a council survey, an “extraordinarily high” number of residents called for changes, Cr O’Reilly said.

As a result, the council will lobby the Department of Transport to fund $1 million traffic signals at the Virginia Street-Springvale Road intersection - 200 metres south of a fatal crash last year.

It is also urging for a re-introduction of a left-hand turn from Springvale Road to Lightwood Road.

As part of its advocacy, the council will also write to state MPs Meng Heang Tak and Martin Pakula.

Cr O’Reilly conceded that he felt the council was ‘kicking into the wind’ - given the Department’s reluctance to concede there was an issue.

The original design was ticked off and modelled by VicRoads prior to its opening in 2014 but was obviously flawed even from a “cursory view”, Cr O’Reilly said.

“We’ve had a huge improvement with the train station and the removal of the boom gates, but now we have these bottle-necks introduced.

“Residents in the North-East Quadrant have no choices if they want to go north on Springvale Road.

Cr Sean O’Reilly and resident Dyna Holl at the congested corner of Lindsay Williams Crossing and Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Lightwood Road in July 2019. 195476 “They’re land-locked ... apart from doing a U-turn on Springvale Road or exiting at Lightwood Road.”

At the time VicRoads project director Andrew Williams said the bridge was developed through a “lengthy and rigorous design process” with the project design team and Greater Dandenong Council.

According to its review, “traffic flow will be low; and even at the peak movements, traffic flow will be maintained as the peaks occur at different times of the day”.

Mr Williams also said independent road safety audits of the design found no safety issue.

Traffic modelling up to 2046 showed traffic signals weren’t required at the intersections at either end of the bridge.

The Department of Transport - formerly VicRoads - told Star News on 11 July 2019 it is now not responsible for the Sandown Road and Lightwood Road intersections.

It is managed by City of Greater Dandenong, it asserted.

In May 2019, a driver was killed exiting Rosalie Street onto Springvale Road in a threecar crash.

A 21-year-old Springvale man was recently charged with dangerous driving causing death as a result of the incident.

On 10 July, the department also investigated the recent fatal crash site at Rosalie Street.

It found there was sufficient sight distance at the intersection, with a centre median allowing cars to make a staged right turn onto Springvale Road.

“We’ll continue to monitor the area to determine if any changes need to be made.”

A department spokesperson told Star Journal on 11 June that “safety is our highest priority”.

“We will continue to work with local council, community and motorists to investigate opportunities to improve traffic flow and safety within and around the Springvale North East precinct.”

According to the department, intersection upgrades are prioritised according to factors including traffic volumes, public transport frequency, pedestrian activity levels, nearby land uses, the historical safety record of the site, the effectiveness of proposed upgrades and implementation costs.

Police sting uncovers child-abuse video

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A man has been jailed after being found with a self-produced child abuse video while arrested as part of a drugs, guns and stolen luxury-cars ring.

Andrew Rohan, 40, of Hampton Park, and two co-accused men were caught in an Operation Thrives police sting as they arranged to sell a stolen $180,000 Mercedes and a sawn-off shotgun and shells to an undercover police officer.

The trio were arrested by Special Operation Group police in Worrell Street, Dandenong on 4 June 2019.

Rohan’s nine-minute “graphic” video of him and a 15-year-old girl was found on a twoGiga-byte storage device in his wallet, the Victorian County Court heard.

The girl was also arrested at the scene.

Rohan was driving a $70,000 Toyota Kluger which had been stolen in an aggravated burglary on 14 May 2019.

From the vehicle, police seized nearly 20 grams of ecstasy tablets and 2.3 grams of ice, a tomahawk, bolt cutters, disposable gloves and a satchel of spanners.

They also found various bank cards, ID cards and cheques of other people.

At the time, Rohan was on bail and a community corrections order.

Rohan pleaded guilty to offences including three counts of sexually penetrating a child under 16, producing child sex material, drug trafficking and handling stolen goods.

Sentencing judge Kevin Doyle said on 9 June that Rohan knew the age of his victim during the “substantial” breach of trust. Being under 16, she could not legally consent.

Rohan told a police interview that the relationship had “blurred lines”, Judge Doyle noted.

He later expressed remorse for what he told police was a “moment of weakness”, that he’d originally wanted to protect the victim from a preying older man.

Judge Doyle noted if Rohan had regrets, he wouldn’t have kept the video for more than four months until his arrest.

It “kept alive” the possibility that Rohan could distribute the video or keep it for “selfgratification”.

It was an isolated act but there was nothing to show that Rohan acted protectively towards the victim. There was a substantial age difference and power imbalance, Judge Doyle said.

The victim was vulnerable and living in difficult circumstances, Judge Doyle noted.

No evidence was given to rebut the presumption of harm to the child.

In the police sting, Rohan was a drop-off driver with associates Jayden Schmidt, 22, of Narre Warren, Iqan Mehrdadian, 19, of Trugannina and a fourth man.

On 4 April 2019, Rohan delivered a stolen $40,000 Audi A4 to a covert police operative in Worrell Street Dandenong.

Rohan told the undercover purchaser there was “a little present” in the boot - three ounces of cannabis.

The covert officer paid Rohan $5750 for the drugs and the car.

Rohan’s involvement in the ring was less than co-offender Schmidt but “not insignificant”, Judge Doyle said.

Schmidt was linked to selling five stolen cars, 63 grams of ice and a fully-automatic SKS assault rifle for undercover cops for four months.

In May, Schmidt was jailed for up to three years and eight months, including a two-year and four-month non-parole period.

The co-accused Mehrdadian was jailed for 13 months with a two-year supervised community corrections order.

As a child, Rohan was exposed to drug use, various father figures and family violence.

After a successful career in management, Rohan - a former football player and club official - spiralled into ice use and criminality in his mid-thirties.

He’d been previously placed on two CCOs for offences such as car theft, deception and drug possession.

With no previous sexual offences, Rohan’s risk of re-offending was regarded as low-tomedium - and significantly less with drug and mental health treatment.

Sentenced as a serious sex offender, Rohan was jailed for up to five years, including a three year non-parole period.

He’d already spent 371 days in pre-sentence custody.

He will be a registered sex offender for life. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

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STAR JOURNAL 11

NEWS

Covid-19 covered

By Brendan Rees An Endeavour Hills charity has stepped up to create homemade masks to protect the community from Covid-19.

Using scrap material and sewing machines, the volunteers at St Paul Apostle Church have so far made 80 reusable masks in just three weeks - which will distributed free to the public.

The group named Justice Peace and Integrity Committee say due to masks selling at “exorbitant prices” in retail stores, they took it upon themselves to make their own from cotton.

Volunteer Hector de Santos said the group initially put in $120 to their project - but thanks to a kind-hearted lady who runs the parish’s quilting group, much of the material was donated.

The volunteers have four sewing machines with eight people helping in total - including some cutting and ironing material to make it easier to sew.

“If it gains popularity we’ll try and get some money from somewhere else wherever we can,” Mr de Santos said.

“We’re all very keen because they all realise how important that little work we’re doing is.”

He said with fears of a second wave of coronavirus and the onset of winter, the volunteers saw it as their duty to do their part and prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria - “especially now with the return to work and school

“Welcome to Greater Dandenong, one of the most diverse cities worldwide with more than two hundred different communities of language, faith, culture and heritage.”

This greeting still resonates with me after five years, when I first moved to this city to live and work in one of these communities.

My community is a German Lutheran Church in the heart of Springvale with a history of over 60 years and proudly engaging in environmental sustainability initiatives to ensure its future.

My time so far has been a period of great

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is calling for public comment on a proposed new wastewater recycling plant in the Aquarevo residential estate at Lyndhurst.

South East Water has applied for an EPA works approval for the construction of the plant as part of water efficiency measures in the new residential estate. The proposed plant is designed to collect wastewater from the surrounding estate via a pressure sewer network for processing into Class A recycled water.

The recycled water would then be returned to the houses for use in washing machines, toilet flushing and the watering of gardens.

Application documents and the opportunity to lodge a submission can be made via the Engage Victoria website engage.vic.gov.au/ epa-works-approvals/sewater

OPINION Volunteer Liseby Lapierre, front, with volunteers Jolene Stewart, Hector de Santos,Milroy Martyn and Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Christine Kennedy who have been busily making face mask. 209267 and all the commuters using public transport”.

Mr de Santos said more people were needed to sew and would graciously accept donations of material off-cuts, preferably natural cotton.

Volunteers dedicate one day a week - usually for three hours making the masks of different shapes and sizes - and expect to have about 150 masks ready within a week, which

come in a bag and care instructions.

Mr de Santos said the masks hadn’t been distributed to the public yet as they wanted to have a “little back up stock” - however people were welcome to drop in and collect one.

The volunteers are adhering to safety protocols including sanitising their hands and disinfecting hard surfaces.

Crisis has tested our common values

By Peter Demuth of St John’s German Lutheran Church, Springvale

Not wasted

enrichment and learning for me, but none more so than recent weeks since the coronavirus impacted on our city.

For us all it has presented challenges on many levels, personally, our faith communities, our environment, and our society.

And yet it’s been an experience that strengthens our important bond and commitment to one another.

Because uppermost in this crisis is the realisation of how important it is to be in a good, supportive and peaceful community.

Six weeks in isolation remind us that as individuals, we are always in need of and part of a greater community.

It’s no different in the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong.

Many faith communities were not able to gather at their places of worship.

And even with eased restrictions our gatherings and the way we celebrate our faith and traditions will be vastly different from now on.

This new crisis puts to the test the core common values of our varied communities living in a shared city.

More than ever the united statement of the Interfaith Network of Greater Dandenong is inspirational and comforting in its message: “We bring greetings from the faith communities to the Mayor, Councillors and people of Greater Dandenong.

“We offer to the City of Greater Dandenong our common commitment to seek to live together in peace and goodwill.

“We affirm our desire to promote respect and tolerance for the integrity of each other’s beliefs, cultures, and traditions.

“We recognise that as neighbours, we have responsibilities to the community, the world and ourselves.

“We therefore urge all citizens, both religious and non-religious, to put aside intolerance, prejudice and divisiveness, to attain peaceful and fruitful co-existence in our City.”

It is through solidarity, sensitivity and nonviolence, through justice, compassion and honesty, through patience, endurance and help that we strengthen our community and our city.

Where does ‘offensive’ history stop?

Since the protest of ‘black death in custody’ there has been calls and actions to remove statues or images of anybody that they consider is offensive.

I tutor history. How far back does one go to remove something that one may find offensive?

Throughout history there has always been an image, a construction that has been offensive to sections of that community.

We take the Colosseum should it be dismantled for it was used to discredit and execute countless early Christians.

Should the statue of Richard I (‘The Lion Heart’) be pulled down because he executed 3000 Muslim prisoners during the crusades?

Should the records of Oliver Cromwell be destroyed for he executed a king?

Should the tomb of ‘Bloody Mary’ be destroyed for she burnt at the stake hundreds of Protestants?

Should the mythologies that people follow be discontinued because in the names of their deities, thousands have died to preserve myths and legends?

Where do you stop?

We were outraged at the destruction of the Buddha statues blown up in Afghanistan and of artefacts by Islamic State.

Yet we are doing the same, eradicating history because someone does not like it.

What next? Book burning because these character and events are mentioned?

There is no part of history that someone or some group does not like so we do we destroy it or do we recognize it for what it is - history.

Richard Ryan, Dandenong.

FOCUS ON … TAX

Individual Tax Returns Property Investors Companies & Trusts Self Managed Super Funds Tax Returns Online

12 STAR JOURNAL

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12419694-SN27-19

The benefits of a registered tax agent

Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

A registered tax agent can prepare and lodge tax returns for clients. Registered tax agents are the only people allowed to charge a fee to prepare and lodge tax returns.

Individuals need to organise all their required tax records to take to the tax agent appointment.

You can easily keep these records and share these with your tax agent using the ATO App’s myDeductions record-keeping tool.

This record-keeping tool allows individuals and sole traders to keep track of general, worked-related and sole-trader deductions (and business income) in the one place during the income year. They can then email them to their tax agent.

Tax agents must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB).

You can find a registered tax agent, or check whether a person is registered by visiting the TPB website.

Using a registered tax agent will provide you

with consumer protection as the TPB ensures they: meet and maintain the required standard or qualifications and experience comply with the Code of Professional Conduct when choosing an agent, you should discuss the service to be provided so you both know what to expect.

Most registered tax agents have a special lodgment program and can lodge returns for their clients after the usual 31 October deadline. The due date will also depend on your personal situation. Contact your tax agent for advice.

If you’re using a tax agent for the first time, or using a different tax agent, you need to contact them before 31 October to take advantage of their lodgment program due dates.

If you haven’t lodged a previous year’s tax return, it’s important to get up to date as soon as possible to avoid penalty.

· · ·

Your tax agent can prepare and lodge prior year tax returns for you, so contact them for advice.

- Information courtesy the ATO dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

FOCUS ON ‌ MEDICALLY SPEAKING

The joys of arrival St John of God Berwick Hospital is proud to introduce a new bundle of joy- a lower cost private maternity model.

Joy offers privately insured patients a more affordable way to use their cover and access a high end private hospital experience by reducing out of pocket costs. In fact, patients will only be $990 out of pocket*! Joy, oh, joy!

Joy is a new option for maternity care at St John of God Berwick Hospital, a hospital which now has two maternity models for patients to choose from. In addition to the Joy package, patients can still choose their own obstetrician with the traditional maternity care package.

No matter which package patients choose, they will receive the same exceptional care once they are admitted to hospital, including a single room with bedding for their partner.

Joy enables patients to save money by providing a collaborative model of care, where patients will be seen by a whole team of specialist obstetricians and midwives, rather than just one doctor. Joy patients will be cared for and monitored by the rostered obstetrician at each of their appointments and at the birth of their baby. Each of these obstetricians is a joy- compassionate, highly trained and experienced.

Delivering a baby at St John of God Berwick Hospital comes with all the education parents need as they embark on their new family life.

Paediatric first aid, sleep and settling workshops and one on one lactation advice are just some of the ways new parents are supported.

To access Joy, patients should ask their GP for a referral to the clinic. To learn more about Joy, including the *terms and conditions: www. sjog.org.ay/berwickjoy or call 8784 5800

St John of God Berwick Hospital offers two models of maternity care.

New face is an old hand Doveton Medical Centre has welcomed a new podiatrist Alexander Si. Alexander graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a Masters degree in Podiatric Practice. He has experience in many settings including practicing in rural Australia, hospital work and, most recently, returning from Singapore after working for a year.

Alexander likes to take a step wise approach and he enjoys all aspects of podiatry with a passion for biomechanics. As an avid sports person, Alexander understands the most effective way to treat foot pains. He bulk bills all patients on a care plan and is available on Saturdays.

Outside of podiatry Alexander likes to keep active by taking part in numerous sports and enjoys travelling the globe.

Doveton Medical Centre is open Monday to Friday 8.30am-7pm and 8.30am-1.30pm Saturday/public holidays. To make an appointment with a practice doctor or allied health professionals, please call 97924060 or book online at www.dovetonmedicalcentre.com.au for face to face consultation or telehealth.

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 13

RECIPES

BRAD’S AMERICAN PULLED PORK ROLLS MUM’S LIGHT AND FLUFFY SCONES Light and fluffy scones.

By Brad Battin, Gembrook MP

My go-to, served with on rolls, with apple coleslaw, cheese and barbecue sauce and a side of American Pale Ale (home brewed of course).

By Glenn Patterson, City of Casey CEO Serves six, preparation time 25 minutes, cooking time 12 minutes - all ready in 37 minutes.

Ingredients

· 3 tbs paprika · 2 tbs salt to taste · 2 tsp black pepper · 1 tsp chilli powder (I like to add 2 tsps) · 1 tsp garlic powder · 1/2 tsp dried thyme · 1/2 cup honey · 1/4 cup red wine vinegar · 3 tbs olive oil · 1 onion halved peeled · 2kg shoulder roast pork, bone in · 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Method 1. Mix together all the spices with a fork and then stir in the honey, vinegar and oil to make a paste 2. Place onion in the slow cooker and then top with the pork. Pour the honey paste over the

pork, allowing it to run down the sides.

3. Turn slow cooker to low and cook for 7-8 hours, or until the meat is tender enough to shred apart with a fork.

4. Once the pork is cooked, pour the liquid into a saucepan and allow to cool, skimming off the fat as it surfaces.

5. When the pork is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and fat. Using two forks, flake the meat into small pieces. Place the shredded pork into a bowl.

6. Combine the liquid in the saucepan with the barbecue sauce and gently boil until the sauce thickens slightly. Mix the sauce into the pork and serve.

Ingredients 2 cups (250g) self raising flour 1 egg 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup (125ml) skim milk 1/2 cup (125ml) thickened cream

· · · · ·

Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 220 degrees C. Lightly grease a large baking tray.

2. Whip up the egg and add sugar. Beat in the milk and cream. Stir in the (sifted) flour.

3. Knead onto a flour dusted bench top until a smooth dough consistency.

4. Cut out 12 scones with a cutter or rim of a glass.

Place on greased baking tray.

5. Cook for 12 minutes - removing immediately and let cool for 5-10 mins before serving.

CAROL’S CHICKEN AND VEGIE SOUP

By Carol Jeffs, Cardinia Shire CEO I make a big pot on the weekends - great to reheat for a quick meal during the week - also great with fresh sourdough.

Ingredients

· 1 brown onion · 4 cloves of fresh garlic · 6 chicken thigh fillets · 2 litres salt reduced chicken stock · 2 carrots · 1 parsnip · 1 turnip · 1 sweet potato · 1/4 butternut pumpkin · 1 zucchini · Handful of green beans · 4 sticks of celery

Method 1. Prepare by roughly dicing all vegetables and chicken fillets.

2. Finely dice onion and garlic, saute in large saucepan with a bit of oil.

3. Add diced chicken and cook until lightly browned.

4. Add chicken stock and all other vegies.

5. Boil for about 20 mins or until vegies are just soft (not mushy).

Serve with fresh sourdough - yum!

14 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

LEADERS SHARE LOCKDOWN GO-TO DISHES

Lockdown Salmon.

LOCKDOWN SALMON RECIPE

By Gabrielle Williams, Dandenong MP This super simple and healthy recipe has been one of my favourite go-to dishes during lockdown. It’s not only very quick to prepare, it’s packed full of flavor and all veggies and spices can be modified to suit taste preferences.

Gabrielle Williams with a plate of “lockdown’’ salmon.

Ingredients

· Skinless salmon · Brussels sprouts · Asparagus · Capsicum · Sweet potato · Garlic · Shallots · Ginger · Lime · Soy sauce · Olive oil · Chilli Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

2. Place chopped sweet potato, and shallots on a tray with baking paper. Drizzle with oil and season with preferred spices, salt and pepper. Place tray in oven and cook for about 45 mins. Add asparagus and capsicum for the last 15 minutes.

3. Drizzle skinless salmon fillet with lime, a dash of soy sauce and lay slices of ginger and chilli across the top (chilli flakes if you don’t have fresh chilli). Wrap the salmon in baking paper, and then in foil, folding the ends to seal.

4. Cook the salmon for approx 15 minutes. Remove ginger before serving.

5. While vegetables and salmon are in the oven, pan fry Brussels sprouts in oil or butter and chopped garlic, salt and pepper. When Brussels sprouts are slightly brown, remove from heat.

6. Serve all together and decorate the plate as you choose!

LEMONADE SCONES Serves: 8 Ingredients

· 300g (2 cups) self-raising flour, sifted · 55g (quarter cup) caster sugar · 125ml (half cup) thick cream · 125ml (half cup) lemonade · 40ml (2 tablespoons) milk · Jam, to serve · Whipped cream, to serve

By Daniel Andrews, Victorian Premier My mum is a great scone maker and we used to eat them regularly growing up in Wangaratta.

This isn’t her recipe, but is the version we make at home.

They’re dead easy and delicious with jam and cream - jam on first of course. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees C. Lightly grease a baking tray.

2. Place the flour, sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. Add the cream and lemonade and mix to form a soft dough.

3. Turn out onto a lightly floured workbench and knead lightly until combined. Press the dough with yur hands to a thickness of about 2cm.

4. Use a 6cm round cutter to cut out eight scones, place on a baking tray and brush the tops with some milk. Re-roll scraps to make a few extra scones.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned.

Serve warm with your favourite jam.

EASY HOME RECIPES

By Pauline Richards, Cranbourne MP Like many people, I’ve used isolation to learn the things I’ve always wanted to cook; hence this recipe includes fresh pasta. I promised the super stars at the local Italian senior citizens I’d have a go at making fresh pasta, so I had a commitment I needed to keep before I saw them again.

The Ragu is based on a recipe I’ve used over the years from Jamie Oliver. I’ve often got a bunch of young adults to feed, so this adapts well.

I bought all the ingredients for this dish from the Cranbourne Market.

BEEF RAGU Ingredients 1.5 kg chuck steak, diced. *If chuck isn’t available, I usually check with the butcher to see what is affordable and works with a slow cooker 3 celery sticks 3 onions 3 carrots 8 cloves garlic 250g mushrooms 1 cinnamon stick 2 cups red wine 1 large jar of passata Olive oil 2 cups stock

· · · · · · · · · · ·

Method I use a heavy, based pan for this dish that can transfer from stove top to the oven.

All of these vegetables can be roughly sliced, rustic works well with these slow cooked, winter dishes.

Besides.. who has time for finely chopping anything?

1. Brown the beef in batches with olive oil and set aside.

2. Dice onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms. Roughly crush the garlic and slice as finely as you have time for.

3. Splash some more olive oil in the pan and brown the onion and garlic. Add in the carrots and celery, cook for about 4 minutes or until just tender.

4. Return the beef to the pan with the vegetables and combine.

5. Pour in the stock, wine and jar of passata.

6. Add in the mushrooms and celery stick.

7. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 mins.

8. Pop it in the oven for four hours - or so.

9. After all those hours in the oven, the beef will fall away like clouds.

10. Serve with fresh fettucine (if you have the time) or packet spaghetti or fettucine and top with oodles of parmesan cheese.

FRESH FETTUCINE This is straight from Jamie Oliver and it’s idiot proof. You need a pasta cutter for this recipe.

Ingredients 400g of pasta flour 75g fine semolina 12 egg yolks 2 tbs olive oil 4 tbs cold water

· · · · ·

Method 1. Separate the eggs and beat the yolks - gently.

2. Mix the flour and semolina in a large bowl, making a large well in the centre.

3. Add the water and olive oil to the well followed by the egg yolks.

4. Mix with a fork to start with until well combined.

5. Roll up your sleeves and, using clean, dry hands, turn the mixture into a ball and pop it onto a wellfloured bench top and get kneading. This part is good for the soul.

6. Once it is well combined, wrap it in glad wrap and set it aside.

7. After 30 minutes (or so) divide the mixture into quarters and flatten it out.

8. Pop some flour around the pasta machine.

9. Run it through the thickest setting on the pasta machine, doubling over a couple of times and redoing it again. This bit is like magic, so beautiful to watch.

10. Tighten the setting and run it through again.

11. Choose the fettucine setting and run it through until those spectacular ribbons come out the other end.

12. I hang mine on clean coat hangers around the kitchen until I’m ready to cook it.

13. Bring a large pot of water to the boil and drop the fettucine in carefully.

14. Bring the pasta to the boil and cook for just five minutes or so, checking every minute or so to make sure you don’t over-cook it.

15. Drain the pasta and serve topped with the ragu and parmesan.

Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 15

NEWS

Back on the learning curve

By Danielle Kutchel When Rozi Myint found out she was pregnant, her first reaction was fear.

Not of the pregnancy journey, or even of giving birth: instead, she was scared of what people would say about her.

As a teenage mum-to-be, Rozi had heard all of the stigmas, and she was horrified by the judgement dripping from people’s mouths.

“They’d say ‘she’s a young mum, she got pregnant at such a young age, she won’t succeed, won’t finish school, won’t have a good life’,” Rozi recalls.

“Those words were so hurtful.”

She was determined to challenge those perceptions - and this year, she was the first person to enrol in the Young Parents Education Program (YPEP) at Hallam College.

YPEP offers pregnant or parenting young people a chance to re-engage with their learning to finish year 12 - levelling the playing field for them for future employment and training.

It’s an inclusive space, with cots, baby toys, food and drinks around the room: parents can bring their babies to class with them, and a parent supporter is on hand to help with feeding, changing and sleeping while the parents study.

There is no judgement from teaching staff, only a desire to help these students reconnect with their studies in the most flexible and adaptive way possible. Appointments, childcare issues and sick kids are all accounted for and accepted.

Students undertake VCAL and complete a VET qualification, and also have access to experts in parenting, early childhood development, financial literacy, mental health, wellbeing, housing and legal issues.

The space also allows the parents to socialise with others in their situation, something that Rozi has relished.

The YPEP program hosts Jo White. Back row, left to right: Headstart cluster director inner southeast, Adam Cooper, VCAL coordinator Felicity Burton, teacher Kate Silvagni, project leader Mary Tresize-Brown, Hallam College assistant principal John Lyall. Front row, left to right: Jo White, Angel McEwan, Rozi Myint, Hallam College principal Greg McMahon, parent supporter Kathryn, Nyabogh Rack, Erika Martin.

“After giving birth I didn’t speak to any friends and I didn’t talk to family, I was at home with my child literally crying every day because I thought, ‘is this how my life will

end up?’” she says.

“Here, I met new girls, amazing teachers and people that support around the classroom. I’m so much happier.”

The program has been running at Hallam since the beginning of the year, and at nearby Foundation Learning Centre in Narre Warren since 2018.

Eight young women are enrolled in the Hallam program, with staff expecting more as time goes on.

Some, like Rozi, found the school themselves while others hear about it through word of mouth or referral from services like Maternal Child and Health.

Project leader Mary Tresize-Brown said situating the YPEP program in a school helped give the young parents a community to be part of. The school’s leadership team has fully embraced it.

On Thursday 11 June, the class played host to Jo White, a presenter and TV personality who shared her own story of becoming a mum at age 17, and going on to follow her dream of becoming a social worker and then TV presenter.

“I want them to know it’s not the end of the world when you became a young parent,” she told Star News Group.

“You can achieve for you and your baby.”

Through sharing her story, Jo said she hoped to help raise awareness of young parenthood and reduce the stigma that young parents face.

“We should treat people like people no matter what’s happening in their life,” she said.

It’s a message that resonated with Rozi, who is excited to be close to finishing year 12.

“I’m going to get my year 12 pass, and that is my first step, to prove to people that I can finish school as a young mother,” the aspiring real estate agent said.

“My next step is to get a job, and then I will go from there and see what the future holds.

“I will do it, and I can do it. You’ll see me one day being successful!”

Home alone then isolated

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

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A soccer showcase in Dandenong will kick things up a notch in the race for an A-League team. Gach Chuol, Greater Dandenong Councillor Jim Memeti and Sukart Alex got in some practice ahead of the Saturday 16 June event. See page 7 for the full story. 181655 Picture: GARY SISSONS

His life for others

By Casey Neill

Lee Tarlamis.

Lee Tarlamis says his older brother’s cancer battle inspired him to spend his life helping those less fortunate.

His service culminated in a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced on Monday 11 June.

The Noble Park man and former state Upper House MP received the nod for service to the people and Parliament of Victoria “I’m extremely humbled. It’s not something that I’d expected,” he said.

“I didn’t do it to get acknowledgement.

“It was about wanting to provide assistance and help to people.

“It’s a view that I formed very early on.”

Mr Tarlamis said his brother fought cancer for two years before dying at age 17.

“The trouble and the stress that the family went through, I saw how positive he was

throughout those two years,” he said.

“It instilled in me that as tough as I think I have things, there are always people out there who are doing it a lot worse than me.

“That’s why I got involved in the local community.”

Initially that was through the Keysborough Learning Centre.

“The centre loaned me a computer for me to do my school work,” he said.

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“I wanted to repay the favour so I was volunteering time with them.”

There he met then-politician Eddie Micallef and became his electorate officer.

“That’s how I got into the politics world,” Mr Tarlamis said.

“That opened up a lot of opportunities to provide assistance to community groups.”

He never intended to run for parliament, but “one thing lead to another which lead to another” and he was a South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP from 2010 to 2014.

“That was such an honour as well, when you consider the fact that very few people get to hold that position and represent that large number of people,” he said.

Mr Tarlamis was a Springvale Benevolent Society volunteer from 2002 to 2012, a Noble Park Community Action Forum member for many years, a founding Springvale Multicultural Men’s Shed committee member, and more.

He’s now a senior advisor to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings.

The world of politics is not where he thought he’d end up.

The Tarlamis family moved from Oakleigh to Keysborough when he was eight months old.

He went to Wallarano Primary School in Noble Park and to Chandler Secondary College, where Keysborough College’s Acacia campus now stands.

Mr Tarlamis went on to study an associate diploma of business.

“I grew up working with dad in the family businesses,” he said.

“I thought it would be logical that I would go into the business world and maybe into management or something like that.

“I really enjoyed the community stuff.

“Politics became that vehicle to do it.”

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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Going for goal in the world game

Going for goal in the world game A soccer showcase in Dandenong will kick things up a notch in the race for an A-League team. Gach Chuol, Greater Dandenong Councillor Jim Memeti and Sukart Alex got in some practice ahead of the Saturday 16 June event. See page 7 for the full story. 181655 Picture: GARY SISSONS

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First-time mothers say they have been needlessly isolated after the cancellation of mother group meetings by Greater Dandenong Council due to Covid-19.

They have questioned why the council did not offer to host the meetings on online social platforms.

Danielle Matulis, of Keysborough, said the support should have been maintained online as an “essential service”.

As a first-time mum, Ms Matulis had been unable to visit or be visited by family and friends for nearly two months.

“You don’t have the support network that you’d normally have, so I was highly reliant on that support network of mums.

“I’m a resilient person, we have managed it’s more the fear that the services I relied on weren’t going to be there.”

In desperation, she posted on Facebook asking if other parents wanted to meet with her and her two-month daughter in her local park.

Seven of them met, and they’ll meet again the following week, Ms Matulis said.

“It’s very important to meet others having the exact same experience.

“One of the mothers was talking about suffering a bit of post-natal depression - talking to other mothers was helpful for her.”

Keysborough second-time mother Meaghan Mack agreed.

“Just having that contact with other mums - we’re still in touch two-and-a-half years later.

“It’s especially good for families who are new to the area. It’s great way to meet other families.”

Councillor Matthew Kirwan said the council needed to “learn to do things differently” during Covid-19.

“The new estates of Keysborough are a particularly concentrated part of the municipality where they are a large amount of young parents comfortable with technology.

“Mother’s groups are vital in providing peer support for new mothers and reducing social isolation so not providing an online option is not acceptable.”

New parents support groups have been cancelled due to Covid-19.

Greater Dandenong community services director Martin Fidler said the “overwhelming majority” of families were not interested in online meetings after the First Time Parent sessions were cancelled in March.

“Families were asked if they would be interested in attending meetings online and the overwhelming majority declined.

“As a result, Council did not investigate delivering the meetings online any further.”

Mr Fidler said the council tried to contact all families on the First Time Parent list.

They were advised that its Maternal and Child Health Service was still operating, and available for questions and support.

As restrictions ease, the council was “putting protocols and procedures in place” to reopen First Time Parent groups this month.

“Council is not rushing this process as the health and wellbeing of its clients and staff are its number one priority.

“Council hopes the groups will recommence later this month.”

The groups will be subject to 1.5 metre social distancing and provided with hand sanitiser, he said. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Sweet potato laska.

Darryl Braithwaite.

Sweet serve of vegies

By Tania Phillips As a busy mum of two, television personality and cookbook author Magdalena Roze knows all about trying to make sure a family gets enough vegies in their diet.

Magdalena said less than four per cent of Australians are meeting the recommended daily intake of vegetables.

She said the real winner for her in the

SWEET POTATO LAKSA Serves 4 Prep time: 15 mins Cooking time: 25 mins

· 1 tbs vegetable oil · 1/2 cup laksa paste · 3 cups chicken stock · 3 cups coconut milk Method 1. Heat the oil in a wok or large saucepan over high heat. Add the laksa paste, cook stirring for 1 minute. Add the stock, coconut milk and sweet potato.

Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently 15 minutes or until sweet potato is tender.

2. Meanwhile, place the noodles in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Stand for 3 minutes or until the noodles have sotened slightly. Drain and keep warm.

vegie stakes is the sweet potato, now in season.

“Sweet potatoes are a firm staple in my household,” she said.

“My kids love sweet potato so it’s always a fuss-free vegetable that Darren and I can serve up and know our little ones are getting a serve of veg. Mashed sweet potato was also the first food we fed both our children.” sweet potato, peeled, cut into 2cm · 800g pieces dried rice vermicelli or flat rice stick · 250g noodles · 1 tbs grated palm sugar or brown sugar · 1/2 lime, juiced · 3 tsp fish sauce · 150g snow peas, shredded green shallots, Thai basil, corian· Sliced der and fried shallots, to serve

3. Combine the palm sugar, lime juice and ish sauce and stir into the laksa.

Remove from the heat and stir in the snow peas.

4. Divide the noodles between bowls and spoon over the soup. Top with, green shallots, herbs and fried shallots. Serve.

Tip Laksa paste can vary in lavor from mild to very hot.

Vegetarian option Want to turn this into a vegetarian meal, replace the stock with vegetable stock and fish sauce with vegetarian soy.

MAGDALENA’S ‘TOP TIPS’ Magdelena’s top tips to supercharge any occasion with sweet potatoes: 1. Sweet Treats - Add sweet potatoes into your next dessert or even as an ingredient in a birthday cake, muffins or brownies. Sweet potatoes have a natural sweetness, which makes it a delicious addition to desserts. Added bonus: it will have less added sugar, the benefit of Vitamins A and C, and the kids won’t notice they’re having a serve of veg!

2. BBQ Perfect - Sweeten up your next barbecue with sweet potato. If you’re looking for a plant-based option, sweet potato is the perfect choice. Grill some sliced sweet potato and serve with a squeeze of lemon and crumbled feta for a simple and delicious summer staple.

3. Entertaining Delight - Go meat free for your next event and make sweet potato the star of the show. I love making my sweet potato galette when having friends over for dinner - it impresses even the biggest meat eater. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Magdalena Roze visited Far Northern NSW to check out the sweet potatoes.

Love Songs from a master

By Tania Phillips He was the pop heart-throb of the mid-’70s and the comeback king in the late ’80s and now at 71 Darryl Braithwaite might just have another hit on his hands.

The Aria Hall of Famer released his new single “Love Songs” through Sony Music Entertainment late last week.

Written by Grammy nominated Australian wunderkind Michael Fatkin and Los Angelesbased writers Rozzi Crane and Charlie Synder, the new single has a strong contemporary pop vibe just shy of mainstream.

“I thought that was George Ezra,” my 17-year-old said listening to the song with me and when it was explained that the artist was almost old enough to be the grandfather of the 26-year old Englishman (of Budapest and Shotgun fame).

“That’s better than most of the ’pop’ music you hear - I wouldn’t turn that off if it came on the radio.”

But maybe she’s a little biased - she’s a fan of Pink and this song was originally meant for the multi-award winning singer and yet it fits Braithwaite’s voice perfectly. And having come upon it almost by accident, it has obviously become a favourite of the former Sherbet frontman.

“It was sent to me by an old friend of mine,” Daryl said, explaining how he came to record it.

“He wanted to know if I could forward it to my friend, ex-Sherbet manager Roger Davies.

He wanted to see if P!nk would like it. I had it

The cover for Darryl Braithwaites new single. for two days and thought ‘My God, this sounds right up P!nk’s alley’.

“I sent it to Roger on my phone and didn’t hear back. Weeks turned into a couple of months and eventually we ended up having lunch together - I asked what he thought of the song and he said he’d never received it.

“I had started playing it with my band and the reaction it got from audiences was really good. People at the gigs felt like they knew it by the second chorus.

“Roger finally got to hear it and said, ‘It suits you more than P!nk, and she’s not recording at the moment’. I was relieved. So, we went ahead and recorded it.”

So, what makes ‘Love Songs’ stand out to a man whose work from ‘Howzat’ to ‘The Horses’ is now firmly part of the cultural fabric?

“I think it’s how ‘Love Songs’ starts,” he says.

“It’s so simple. The dynamics of the song really appealed to me. Initially I thought twice about the title - but I’ve accepted it for what it is. I love the version we ended up recording.”

Gumboots on for the season It may be the start of winter and all you want to do is cosy up indoors, but there is no better time to put on your gumboots and enjoy the cooler weather outside.

Winter is a key season to give your garden some love, maintenance and prepare for a successful end of year.

To start, clear space for your summer flowering plants and produce by removing annual flowers that have finished blooming, and cut down perennials like Dahlias and Chrysanthemums if they have finished their show.

Pull out weeds and empty your compost bin spreading fresh rich compost onto your cleared garden beds. Be sure to mix it into the soil!

For those with more established gardens, continue to harvest plants that are still producing enjoying the fruits of your labour and sharpen your secateurs to start pruning.

Once you’re ready, take some time to plan your garden for the upcoming seasons.

Mr Fothergill’s have all the tools you need. If you’re wondering what seeds and bulbs might thrive where you live, the free Mr Fothergill’s Planting Guide App is ideal for you. Available for both iOS and Android users, this unique, easy-to-use app provides you with tips specific to your postcode about what’s in season or when to sow and harvest.

For those looking for a more detailed plan, the Mr Fothergill’s Online Garden Planner will help you to draw out your garden beds, add plants and move items around to get the perfect layout.

Baby flower seedlings just planted in a newly prepard garden.

Find these tools and much more by visiting us online at mrfothergills.com.au.

And, be sure to share your gardening journey with us on social media by using #MrFothergillsAus Karen Taylor Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 17

NEWS

WHAT’S ON

Big build underway at high-tech orchard

By Danielle Kutchel Construction is powering ahead on a new community engagement, packaging and export distribution centre at Montague Orchard.

Covid-19 has not gotten in the way of the Narre Warren North orchard’s plans, with parts of the facility on track to be opened in November 2020.

La Trobe MP Jason Wood was given a tour of the construction site on Thursday 4 June.

Although the Federal Government has not committed any funding to the project, Mr Wood praised the Montague family for having the drive to get the project, which has been four years in the making, off the ground.

“It’s a huge credit to the Montagues to have a vision and passion and keep going forward,” he said, adding he was saddened and disappointed at the lack of Federal funding so far.

The facility will incorporate a community engagement space, including mountain bike hire, a pick-your-own-orchard, educational hub and cafe.It has been designed with sustainability in mind, with solar panels and recycled water to be utilised in the finished building.

When finished, the facility will allow Montague to triple its packing capacity thanks to its high-tech credentials including a state-of-theart automatic storage and retrieval system to drive efficiency.

The project has seen 200 tradespeople employed for the duration of the project, while 50 new permanent positions will be created in the centre.

It’s anticipated the production facility will be complete in late January 2021.

Construction on the project is well under way. 209451

Join The Open Door on Zoom as we continue to conduct our Awareness Meditation workshop online. Meditation brings stillness, harmonises the body and soul and connects to meaning.

Mondays 2.30pm-3.30pm. Details: Jo or Tayla on Theopendoor@ssjg.org.au.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

·

Take-home kids crafts Kids craft kits filled with fun activities are available at Armada Dandenong Plaza during the school holidays. The kits are on offer to customers that spend $30 at any speciality shop or $50 at any major store in one transaction. Customers must present their receipt to the plaza’s Information Desk on level 2 (near Daiso).

Monday 29 June - Sunday 12 July 2020 or until stocks last

Left to right: Montague GM intellectual property and business development Rowan Little, La Trobe MP Jason Wood, Ray Montague and Scott Montague take a tour of the facility.

·

Online kids activities

The community centre in the facility is set to open in November 2020

An automatic storage and retrieval system will be housed in the new facility to drive efficiency.

Visit www.armadadandenongplaza.com.au anytime and you will find free kids activities at the Munster Zone. Activities include free downloadable colouring-in pages, word-find activities, spot-the-difference activities and a Munster hunt.

Details: www.armadadandeongplaza.com.au

·

Where to pick up a copy of your FREE Dandenong Star Journal!

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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NEWS

Statue’s endeavour

By Garry Howe Commemorative statues and cairns have been called into question of late in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Some have been toppled overseas and, closer to home, questions have been raised whether to dismantle or rebadge those recognising the achievements of explorers like Captain Cook and Angus McMillan.

Many would be surprised to learn that one of those, the bronze likeness of Captain Cook now standing in Fitzroy Gardens, actually had its origins in Endeavour Hills.

The suburb had its origins around 1970, when celebrations were in full swing for the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook’s “discovery” of Australia.

The statue was commissioned by developers of the estate, Endeavour Hills Pty Ltd. Captain Cook and the Endeavour are the motive and theme of the sales and promotional effort of Endeavour Hills Pty Ltd, which owned more than half the land in the new suburb.

All the major roads and streets in the development were named after the entire crew of the Endeavour, including botanist Joseph Banks, naturalist Daniel Solander, lieutenants Zachary Hicks and John Gore, surgeon William Monkhouse and sailmaker John Ravenhill.

The artist who created the sculpture was Marc Clark.

And its unveiling was not without controversy at the time.

Outspoken City of Berwick councillor Syd Pargeter said at a council meeting in November 1973 that the bronze statue was “flaunting Captain Cook in all his glory” at the Endeavour Hills Estate.

Cr Pargeter then added: “the name Endeavour Hills is a prostitution of history”.

Cr Pargeter successfully moved a motion that a letter be sent to Endeavour Hills Pty Ltd asking: “Should a statue flaunting Captain Cook be used to sell houses”.

But he wasn’t entirely against displaying the statue, moving a second part of the motion asking that “when and if the statue is taken down, would you consider erecting it at the Endeavour Hills Technical School”.

The statue was unveiled in November 1973 outside the first sales office on the corner of Joseph Banks Crescent and Heatherton Road.

The building is now a medical centre.

The Dandenong Journal covered the unveiling by well-known broadcaster Norman Banks, a descendant of Sir Joseph Banks, the Endeavour’s botanist.

Mr Banks said that the “face is modelled after the only two portraits for which Cook sat in person and there has been tremendous attention to detail in the uniform. His (Clark’s) wife was the curator of costumes at the National Gallery of Victoria and had provided valuable aid to her husband in this respect”.

Paul Day, the project manager of the Endeavour Hills development, said that the statue was the symbol of Endeavour Hills and

The statue of Captain Cook that was commissioned to sell blocks of land in Endeavour Hills now stands in Fitzroy Gardens, near Captain Cook’s Cottage. he hoped that it would help develop a strong sense of local identity.

A new sales office opened around July 1979 on the corner of Matthew Flinders Avenue and Monkhouse Drive. The statue was then moved from the original location to the new sales office in Matthew Flinders Avenue.

The Endeavour Hills Gazette of July 1979 reported that: “The statue of Captain James Cook has been moved to the new location and has been sited in a commanding position on a large area of undulating ground which has been sown to lawn”.

The statue remained outside the sales office building, even though it ceased being a sales office around 1993 and was leased out to a radiology group.

In March 1996, the building and the statue went up for auction. According to the Captain Cook Society, no bids were received and the owner, Endeavour Hills dentist Dr Mark Hassed, gifted it to the City of Melbourne and accepted by the Melbourne Open Air Sculpture Museum Trust.

The statue is now located in the Fitzroy Gardens, near Cook’s Cottage.

On the back of the sales flyer for the sculpture, there are some biographical details of the artist, Mr Clark.

He was born in London in 1923, studied at the Canterbury School of Art, served in the 9th Queens’s Royal Lancers from 1942 to 1947 and then studied sculpture at the Royal College of Arts in London.

After various jobs he arrived in Australia in 1962 and lectured at the Caulfield Institute of Technology, was Drawing and Sculpture Master at the National Gallery Art School and later lectured at the Victorian College of the Arts.

The sales flyer for the statue.

Other works he was commissioned for include a statue of the late Queen of Tonga; a statue of the first Australian Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton in Canberra; a statue of Governor Bligh in Sydney and a statue of Matthew Flinders in Mornington. · Acknowledging the Casey Cardinia Heritage blog by Casey Cardinia Library Corporation local history librarian Heather Arnold.

VCAT’s shisha approval a blow to council

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A proposal for a shisha lounge at a Dandenong community centre has been given the all-clear

by Victoria’s planning tribunal despite opposition from Greater Dandenong Council.

On 10 June, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal stated the council’s public health concerns against the proposal at 6/171173 Cheltenham Road were not relevant.

“While I am persuaded by (the council’s) submissions and references that there are potential health impacts with smoking shisha, I have not been persuaded that this is a relevant issue in this proceeding,” Member Michael Deidun ruled.

Mr Deidun said it was not the role of the planning system to “effectively outlaw” a “legal and legitimate activity” in Greater Dandenong.

He agreed with an earlier VCAT finding that “town planning is not a panacea for all perceived social ills”.

“It is not the role of this Tribunal to start to regulate the smoking of shisha within the State of Victoria, or determine that its health effects dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

are too significant to allow the smoking of shisha from the review site.”

Mr Deidun found that the shisha lounge wasn’t a “change of use” at the Afghan community centre - which was already permitted to run a cafe, cultural gathering space and social activities.

Its hours of operation and attendance limits were unaltered, the nearest residence was 580 metres away from the industrial-zone site.

“As such, I do not regard the proposal as having the potential to further impact the safety and amenity of local communities.”

Mr Deidun was not persuaded by the council that there was a safety risk to patrons at night due to a lack of lighting and surveillance.

“I also do not agree with the Council’s analysis that a net community benefit is not achieved.”

The applicant Mohammad Bahrami had appealed the matter to VCAT due to the council failing to decide the matter in the prescribed time.

Greater Dandenong Council has rejected

planning applications for shisha lounges in the past - including one in Foster Street’s Indian Cultural Precinct last year.

It based its latter decision on factors including health impacts as well as noise impacts upon future residents in an area earmarked for high-density living.

The council has also lobbied for the regulation of smoking shisha in 2013 and 2015.

Cr Matthew Kirwan, who had led the council calls for shisha regulation in the past, said the VCAT decision was “very disappointing”.

“Greater Dandenong Council is not trying to outlaw shisha but ensured that any planning matter that we’ve approved takes into account the community’s health and wellbeing.

“For them to say the council shouldn’t take that into account is for us to fail in our duty to protect occupants and users of buildings.”

The Star Journal contacted the proponents for comment.

D’Ghan Shisha Cafe, located at the site, has been advertised on Facebook since July 2019.

Minaret College founder’s brave vision Minaret College’s community has mourned the death of its visionary founder Mohamed Hassan OAM. Mr Hassan, who died peacefully on 7 June, fulfilled a long-held dream to establish fulltime Islamic schools in Australia.

“Generations of families have benefited from Mr Hassan’s efforts,” a Minaret College statement said.

“We will reflect on the life of a man whose sincere intention was uniquely matched by an ability to translate those intentions into action.”

A trained engineer, Mr Hassan took on his education vision at the ripe age of 60.

He took the brave step of retiring from his job to volunteer full-time and establish Minaret College’s first Noble Park campus in 1992.

The initial intake was 22 students, enrolled mainly from local Afghan and Bosnian communities.

Since then, Mr Hassan dedicated himself to building the school’s community, which is now 2100 students strong across campuses in Springvale and Officer.

A third campus in Doveton opens next year.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1931, Mr Hassan completed a Masters of Engineering in the UK. After arriving in Australia with his young family in 1967, Mr Hassan was profoundly impacted by stories of the Afghan cameleers’ contribution to Australia.

However, he noted that their descendants had lost their Islamic identity.

“Mr Hassan ... subsequently set his mind to guiding his family and Muslim community towards making a positive contribution to society whilst remaining steadfast in their religious belief and practices,” the college stated.

Mr Hassan was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2007.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the college held commemorative services for Mr Hassan before family and invited guests at the Springvale campus from 7- 9 June.

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti, who attended, expressed gratitude for Mr Hassan’s leadership and vision.

“As a strong advocate for multiculturalism, racial tolerance and respect of different faiths, Mr Hassan expertly led Minaret College to deliver a well-balanced education where Islamic values are promoted, Australian values are upheld, a strong sense of community is established, and the economic, spiritual and social well-being of students is paramount.”

Mr Hassan is survived by his wife Susie and daughter Inas, who are both educators, and his son, Dandenong ophthalmologist Dr Ahmed Hassan.

His patience, gentle manners and deep faith endeared him to all who knew him.

Minaret College founder Mohamed Hassan OAM has been remembered as a visionary leader.

Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 19

SPORT

Blazing Cartier shines

By Mick Floyd Robert Britton continues to enhance his reputation as one of the country’s leading conditioners of stayers following Blazing Cartier’s win in the Gr8 Eight over 715 metres at Sandown Park last Thursday night.

The latest edition of the Gr8 series shaped as one of the strongest yet, with the 715-metre event featuring four Group 1 winners, however it was the unheralded Blazing Cartier that stole the show. In her first appearance since running sixth in the RSN Sandown Cup, Blazing Cartier settled near the pace set by early leader Rajasthan and proved the superior stayer in the run to the line, winning her 50th career start in 41.82.

Fellow RSN Sandown Cup finalist He Shall Power was again the eye-catching runner from the race, charging home to finish within two lengths of the winner. Despite having just four wins to his name from 20 career starts, the Shona Crawford-trained youngster is yet to miss a place in four starts over the distance and remains one of the country’s hottest staying prospects.

Meanwhile, Christo Bale is quickly emerging as one of the country’s fastest sprinters.

Very quickly, in fact.

After scintillating wins in 29.21 at Sandown and 29.72 at the Meadows, Christo Bale lined up in a hot Free For All. Lining up for his 22nd career start, it was his first above Grade 4 level (excluding the Group 1 Silver Chief, in which he ran last) and met two of the state’s premier sprinters in Tiggerlong Tonk and Jax Bale.

Tiggerlong Tonk ($1.40) looked the dog to beat, having drawn box two, however he was unable to hold out Jax Bale to the first turn. As they came together, Christo Bale took the sit on the outside of the leaders before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to score in 29.29.

It was his third consecutive victory and the 10th of his blossoming career.

“His last three starts he’s shown what he’s capable of,” said handler Lisa Delbridge.

“He had about six weeks off when the virus came through and we’ve just taken our time to build him up. He just needs a clear passage early because when he gets going he is really strong.

“I’d love to see what he can do over 600 metres.”

A week after the Kel Greenough-trained Houdini Boy won after recording one of the slowest first splits of the year, the Jackie Greenough-trained Wynburn Lethal won while recording one of the fastest.

Christo Bale produced a powerful finish to claim his third straight win.

First up after a three-month break and on her Sandown debut, Wynburn Lethal shanghaied from box two to record a 4.98 first split and lead by three lengths past the post the first time. Only Catch The Thief - the current favourite for the TAB Melbourne Cup - has won a race going quicker to the first mark in 2020.

Interestingly, it was the same split a greyhound named Pechey - also trained by Jackie Greenough - ran in 2016. Pechey is the mother of Houdini Boy, who ran 5.45 in his recent win.

While their racing styles couldn’t have been more contrasting, the overall difference in the times of Wynburn Lethal and Houdini Boy was just 0.01 seconds.

Glenn Rounds had two of the shortestpriced favourites on the night, which - having both drawn box one - led to one tipster on RSN to declare “they just win”.

Those who took the $1.60 for Amarillo Highway in Race 7 and the $1.50 on Aston Stealth in Race 11 would have had their hearts in their mouths after both greyhounds began only fairly from their inside draws, passing the post the first time in the second half of the field before working their way through to win in the shadows of the post. Their combined margin was just over one length.

It was another big night of racing on Thursday at Sandown Park as Amarillo Highway just edged clear to claim Race 7 on the card.

Pictures: SUPPLIED It was one of the themes of the night, with seven of the 12 races determined by less than a length.

Finally, it’s been a long time coming, but Flossing finally broke through for her first win at Sandown Park.

She ran second on her debut at Sandown

Park in September 2018 and has run second five times, including in the Group 2 Laurels in December that year.

It was her fourth start since resuming from a 10-month break. She had been placed twice before winning the Super Sprint at Healesville and breaking through at HQ for the first time in nine attempts.

There is relief on the way for clubs in the local area

By Nick Creely Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed there will be relief packages in place across all tiers of football this season with soccer’s return potentially only weeks away.

FV confirmed the proposed competition structures, fee relief and refund proposals to all clubs on 4 June, with approximately $1m in reductions - including over $600,000 for community competitions - expected to pave the way for the return of the game.

Football Victoria president Kimon Taliadoros said it was important to get clubs and communities back into sport after a challenging period.

“We understand that this has been a very challenging time for our community and would like to recognise the extraordinary efforts of our club officials and volunteers,” he said.

“We hope that these proposals assist clubs in getting back to playing our game.”

At this stage, elite pathway NPL junior competitions are proposed to resume on 27 June, while NPL senior competitions have been earmarked for 10 July. Community club juniors are proposed to start on 28 June, while community senior competitions have a proposed start date for 11 July.

FV has announced relief packages in consultation with football stakeholders, including players, parents, the 355 clubs and associations - across all tiers of football - that have been funded by the foregoing of registration and participation fees that would have otherwise been due payable to FV for participation in 2020.

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

All NPL clubs received the initial proposal based on self-funding from within NPL revenues, without cross-subsidisation from other levels of football. With the competition the most impacted due to current State Government restrictions on crowds, the offer will cease when mass gatherings are allowed for more than 300 people.

NPLW and NPL referees have also offered a 25 per cent discount on game day senior team match fee payments in a proposed 2020 season. This arrangement will cease if the State Government enables gatherings of more than 300 people in Victoria.

Senior state league football is set to receive a 20 per cent reduction on team entry and registration fees, while FV has extended that level of support for the women’s game at senior community level to include 100 per cent team entry reductions and 50 per cent registration fee reductions FV is still in the process of reviewing junior and other community competitions - including All Abilities, men’s metropolitan and Masters - but, based on the current return to play target dates and the agreements with other sports, councils and the State Government to extend the season into October, all competitions are expected to complete a full season, with FV also confirming it will issue fee relief offers should the seasons be shortened.

FV is also developing a hardship policy, which will be released shortly to further support those who are unable to return to the game, as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

The NPL competition could be set to kick off on 10 July. 177940

Picture: GARY SISSONS

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SPORT

Young makes AFL debut

By Nick Creely The smooth-moving Hayden Young was a prized Dandenong Stingrays’ draft selection in last year’s AFL draft.

And now, just months into his career at the Fremantle Dockers, the left-footed youngster - taken with pick seven in the 2019 AFL Draft - has an AFL game next to his name after making his debut on Saturday against Brisbane at the Gabba.

In what has been a strange old 2020, Young - who won the best and fairest last season at the Stingrays after a dominant NAB League campaign - was a late inclusion after defender Nathan Wilson pulled out of the side with injury, but equipped himself well on the big stage, amassing 11 possessions and three tackles as his side went down narrowly to the Lions by 12 points.

Young - who called his family shortly before making his debut - told DockersTV after the match that it was a bit of a bizarre lead up to the clash with very little time to over-think the occasion.

“It was a bit of an interesting process, because obviously I was a late inclusion - it all happened pretty quickly and it was very exciting,” he said.

“It was probably too much to take in - a lot of the boys just said like ‘keep it simple and just play the game to your strengths’ so that was probably the main message that I took into the game.

“My family has been a great support for me over the years so to get an opportunity, they enjoyed it too.”

With the AFL season put on hold for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Young said it was certainly a different experience debuting in front of an empty stadium.

“This whole year’s been pretty unique, so it kind of sums it up that I’d debut without a crowd and no family,” he said. “(But) that’s just how the year’s been going, but it was easy to hear the teammates and they

The Dandenong Stingrays’ 2019 best and fairest winner Hayden Young made his AFL debut on Saturday. 195934 helped me a lot and communicated to help me set up.”

Young’s Dockers stayed with last year’s semi-finalists for the majority of the clash, getting to within four points late in the final

term, before a Dayne Zorko goal put the game to bed.

“It was a bit unfortunate - we ran with them the majority of the day, so we took a lot out of it, but we’ll go back to the drawing board,

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

review the game and go again next week,” he said of the game.

“We’ve just got to start the game well so we don’t get on the back foot - there were a lot of positives to take out of it.”

NAB League return is on the cards as restrictions ease

By Nick Creely The NAB League boys and girls could be set for a start in August in what would be a reduced season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As reported by AFL.com.au on 9 June, the AFL wrote to clubs about the second-tier and junior competitions and the desire to get both competitions up and running, but with reduced seasons.

With some of the finest young AFL and AFLW talents in the country vying to get drafted later this year but with no footy under their belt at this stage, the AFL is targeting an August return with a potential six-week season to ensure hopefuls get a chance to impress.

With the AFL prioritising each state-based under-18 competition, there is also hope of a representative program for October, which

The Dandenong Stingrays could be back in action from August. 195934 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS would be in place of the normal mid-year national championships. The AFL Draft Combine is still expected to go ahead in October, but will

wound back to focus on club interviews and medical screenings.

In terms of the VFL, there is hope that a shortened season will also kick off, with the AFL exploring the option of an eight-team competition - five standalone clubs and three AFL-aligned clubs.

The three aligned VFL clubs - Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons and Sandringham Zebras - would compete in the competition against standalone clubs Frankston, Port Melbourne, Werribee, Coburg and Williamston, but would not have any access to AFL-listed players due to restrictions and will be able to sign additional players to its list.

Importantly, players who have signed with AFL-affiliated VFL clubs but aren’t AFL listed could be on the move to other clubs to ensure

each club has enough players.

“We are working closely with all governments and health authorities to determine a return for the state league and talent pathways competitions,” AFL head of talent Tristan Salter told AFL.com.au “Over the past few months we have been working through and understanding the details surrounding each competition in consultation with clubs and officials.

“We are committed to getting football back at these levels and will continue to help and support all players, clubs, officials, supporters and leagues.

“We are determined to provide all eligible AFL draft prospects the opportunity to showcase their skills ahead of a NAB AFL Draft at the end of this year.“

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Tuesday, 16 June, 2020

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