EHD Star Journal - 23rd June 2020

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Parents of children starting prep and year 7 in 2021 have a big decision to make in the next few This special 8 page wrap highlights the richfor education choices available the South East weeks.

Where to send their child to school an education best suited toacross their individual needs. region.

Dandenong Primary is justthat one question of the schools committed to helping students reach This special 8 page wrap canSchool help answer with timely messages from some of the best for the stars. schools in the region, including St Paul Apostle North Primary School.

FOCUS ON ‌ ENROLMENTS 2021

Curious and creative By principal Mary Lucas St Paul Apostle North Primary School is one of two Catholic primary schools serving the St Paul Apostle Parish in Endeavour Hills. The North school is not located on the church site, but rather is nestled in a picturesque green wedge between Churchill Park Reserve and Barry Simons Reserve on the North side of Heatherton Road.

St Paul Apostle North is a modern, well appointed school with excellent facilities and dynamic programs. Our open learning studios create a lovely calm learning environment where all children can be curious, creative and challenged.

At St Paul Apostle North we believe that the child is the centre of all we do and that the wellbeing of every child is central to their learning. We also believe that the partnership between the school and the family is vital to the happiness and success of all children and we welcome and encourage families to be involved in whatever way they feel comfortable.

Every child is known and valued for their unique gifts and talents and our expert teachers personalise the learning to allow every child to flourish and achieve their best.

Our Outdoor Learning Program, our Kitchen Garden Program, our innovative Leadership Program and our commitment to the Walker Learning Approach are just a few of the reasons why our children are so engaged and eager to learn. The students at St Paul Apostle North are encouraged to be problem solvers and to strive to make a difference in their world.

Please come and visit us when you can, or visit our website and take a virtual tour to see what we can offer your child. St Paul Apostle North Primary School is at 76 Mossgiel Park Drive, Endeavour Hills. Phone 9700 6068.

Every child is known and valued for their unique gifts and talents.

Yarraman Oaks Primary School

Preparing students for a bright future

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Explore our website or find us on Facebook to learn more about our school community. www.yarramanoaksps.vic.edu.au

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FOCUS ON … ENROLMENTS 2021

Strong student support

By Principal Julie Fisher

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Spring Parks Primary School is a dual campus, multicultural primary school in Springvale with a current enrolment of 300 students. We are proud of our school and would welcome enquiries for a school tour.

Our teaching staff are supported by a significant number of Education Support staff including teacher aides, multi-cultural aides, a Speech Pathologist and Welfare Officers.

Our priorities include a strong emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy which is also reflected in our staffing allocation to support students with their learning needs. In Reading and Numeracy we are a high performing school, as evidenced by our 2018 and 2019 NAPLAN results.

All school programs and interactions are underpinned by the school’s core values of Respect, Engagement, Achievement, Community and Hope. The wellbeing and safety of all children is at the forefront of all we do and every decision we make. The school’s welfare officers have implemented social skills and selfregulation programs for targeted students and they liaise with various organisations to provide relevant and up-to-date information for our families. Our school recognises the importance of academic opportunity and excellence as a gateway to a positive future for its students and promotes thinking skills and goal setting as a way of scaffolding and articulating learning.

The school has in place excellent protocols for identifying and monitoring the wellbeing of students, through weekly meetings of the Wellbeing Team. Interventions include liaison with allied health staff, speech therapist, occupational therapist and community partnerships.

Our 2021 Foundation Information evening will be on Wednesday 21 October at our West Campus: 24 Erica Street, Springvale at 7pm.

2021 Foundation Information

Evening

pus am C t es W r u o at st 1 2 er b o ct Wednesday, O t 7 P.M. A e al gv n ri p S t, ee tr S ca ri E 4 2

education.vic.gov.au s@ s.p rk pa g. rin sp : ail Em | 02 Call: 9546 64 edu.au Website: www.springparksps.vic. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

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FOCUS ON … ENROLMENTS 2021

A vision of success The vision for Dandenong High School is one in which all students are empowered to achieve success, says principal Susan Ogden.

As an outstanding educational setting, the college exemplifies excellence and high expectations in all aspects of its learning community.

"I have been a part of Dandenong High School for 30 years and enjoy coming to work every day," said Ms Ogden. " I am proud to serve such a complex and rewarding community. The school’s vision is to create an environment where all our students can achieve success and our innovative House structure; state of the art facilities and collaborative learning model empower our students in their learning. I am extremely proud to lead such an outstanding school community."

At Dandenong High School students learn in Houses. The House system is fundamental to the school as it encourages a sense of community, develops connectedness to the school and creates a feeling of belonging for all students.

In Years 7 – 9 the collaborative model is designed with 50 students and three teachers for the core subject areas, including English/EAL/ Humanities, Maths/Science, Health/ PE and LOTE. Each Teaching Team plan collaboratively and divide each group of 50 students based upon the type of learning experience, the needs of each individual student, the learning space they have been allocated and the use of technology.

Students rotate through each teacher within one lesson or over several, thereby experiencing a range of activities, learning styles and experiences which ensure the learning is engaging, meaningful and targeted to meet individual student needs and maximise positive

All students are empowered to achieve success at Dandenong High School. student learning outcomes.

Students in Years 10 – 12, choose subjects that support their chosen pathway. The school is able to offer a wide range of subjects and an extensive Senior program, including VCE, VCAL and VET, the option of a 3 Year VCE, with ongoing pathways and career counselling, beyond Year 12.

The college's highly innovative approach to teaching and learning includes the STEM program, incorporating a core subject in Year 7 and 8, a year-long elective in Year 9, Year 10 Robotics and IT, and a variety of pathway options in the senior years including Computing Science, IT, Systems Engineering and Software Development, providing extensive pathways

opportunities into university and highlysought after careers.

The school has many connections and works closely with universities, TAFE providers and businesses in the local and wider community. These provide students with a valuable connection into work and career placement after school.

DANDENONG HIGH SCHOOL

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REACH YOUR POTENTIAL SELECT THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD YEARS 7 -12 VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND: VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOUR PRESENTATION FROM THE PRINCIPAL VIDEOS CELEBRATING OUR SCHOOL ACCELERATED AND ENHANCED LEARNING PROGRAM INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL ON 9792 0561 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.DANDENONG-HS.VIC.EDU.AU

Please visit our website to find more about our school or call either campus to book a tour.

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FOCUS ON … ENROLMENTS 2021

Expectations are high Hallam Senior College provides outstanding opportunities for senior students in Years 10 to 12. The senior learning environment exists within a framework of specialisms, high expectations and pathways support.

The college offers quality teaching and learning across Yr 10, VCE, VET &and VCAL in a young adult learning environment and provides pathway opportunities not available at other schools.

The college ethos balances the need for structure and processes with the understanding that students need to make decisions about their future by taking on challenges and opportunities.

Hallam Senior College provides a comprehensive senior school educational program with a focus on personalising specialisms in learning. A focus is linking learning to life and preparing young adults to confidently and successfully embrace their future by developing skills and attributes that set students up to be productive members of society and the wider community.

Success comes in a myriad of forms. To ensure success, students need to be well organised and develop a structured pathway. The small steps of learning lead to the completion of the larger picture. At Hallam Senior College each student is encouraged to not only dream of the larger picture of success but to develop a plan where the smaller steps are clearly identified.

Staff are proud of the results students have

At Hallam Senior College students take on challenges and opportunities. achieved over many years. This has come about by developing an exceptional educational framework which shapes pathway provision for each student and sets expectations for student success.

Hallam Senior College is on Frawley Road.

Phone 9703 1266 to book a tour.

Help for apprentices The Victorian Government is helping apprentices and trainees displaced by the coronavirus crisis to complete their apprenticeships and training and find work.

In May Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney announced the Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program – a collaboration with the Apprenticeship Employment Network, the peak body for group training employers.

“During times like these apprentices and trainees are among the most vulnerable when it comes to losing work.

That’s why we’re taking action to support them, so they are well placed as we start to recover from the virus,” Ms Tierney said.

“I urge all apprentices and trainees who have been impacted by coronavirus to take advantage of this program – to help them keep learning and return to work.”

The program has set up a register for retrenched apprentices and trainees. It will work actively to encourage impacted apprentices and trainees to sign up and will then assist them to stay engaged with their training and to place them with appropriate employers.

Early indications show that more than 850 Victorian apprentices and trainees had their training contracts put on hold across March and April due to the impacts of the coronavirus crisis. It is expected that in the short-term there will be a growing pool of displaced apprentices and trainees.

By helping them to complete their apprenticeships or traineeships, the program will ensure participants are well placed to contribute to a skilled and productive workforce as Victoria moves towards a period of recovery.

Apprentices and trainees who register will be supported by a project officer until they are placed with an employer.

Employers can also register at the site, making the process of matching them with dis-

placed trainees and apprentices easier.

This initiative builds on the Government’s $4.7 million funding to extend the successful Apprenticeship Support Officer program, to continue to support apprentices.

A further $43.8 million investment was made to lift the quality of apprenticeships by supporting the introduction of independent assessments, updated learning materials and the reintroduction of trade papers.

The register is up and running at aen.org. au/outoftrade.

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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

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, 23 June, 2020

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FOCUS ON … ENROLMENTS 2021

Taking enrolments now

By Noble Park Secondary College Principal Pam Dyson Noble Park Secondary College is a Year 7-12 Secondary School with a culturally diverse population that boasts extensive opportunities for all students.

We proudly get to know our students well, with teacher student relationships a high priority to enhance excellence in learning. Noble Park Secondary College offers exceptional educational opportunities for students to thrive academically, socially and creatively.

Our Student Opinion Survey results indi-

cate that our students have a very strong sense of connectedness and confidence, and they feel that their learning is stimulating amongst a settled classroom environment allowing for effective learning.

Our college is committed to developing a high level of academic and creative excellence by providing practical and relevant experiences, to help students achieve high VCE results for university entry, or to be enrolled in practical based careers according to their career aspirations.

In 2020, we introduced a very successful Year 7 “Galileo Enhancement Program”, to

Year 10 mentors and Year 7 students with their robotic creations.

meet the strong demand for high achieving students. Students undertake in-depth studies in English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science and Technology with an emphasis upon self-regulated and independent learning.

After listening to our student voice, the college has introduced more electives, encouraging extension programs and diversity. These include such programs which encourage creativity, personal leadership, and interest in high level technology, using coding in robotics as well as specialised instructions in instrumental music. Our students are also keen participants in chess and mathematics competi-

tions at the national level.

We are most proud of our 2019 Year 7 to Year 9 NAPLAN Literacy Growth results which achieved 46% score against the State score of 24%, as well as our Numeracy Growth scores gaining outstanding results of 35% relative growth against the State score of 23%.

New enrolments are now available at all year levels for 2021. Please contact the college on 9546 9066 for more information.

We are hopeful that personalised tours will be available from Term 3, as Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Zainab and her classmates are part of the Galileo Enhancement Program. 209745

Maranatha Christian School

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Passionate about student wellbeing and academic growth

Endeavour Hills Book an online tour

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To all the principals, teachers, support staff, students and families in the Dandenong electorate, thank you.

Thank you for the extra effort and the commitment to education you have shown during these difficult times.

Having most of our kids learning from home has reduced the spread of the coronavirus.

We know remote learning has been challenging, but you have done an outstanding job in making it work. Together, you have continued to educate our young ones, and keep our community safe.

The Andrews Government is committed to learning from this experience, and we are now investigating what improvements can be made to the education system as a result of the remote learning experience.

If you would like to provide feedback, please visit engage.vic.gov.au As your local member of parliament, I am incredibly proud of the great spirit and resilience our community has demonstrated in recent months.

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Authorised by G Williams, 16 Princes Hwy, Dandenong. Funded from Parliamentary budget.

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STATE LABOR MEMBER FOR DANDENONG 16 Princes Hwy, Dandenong VIC 3175 P: 9793 2000 E: gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au WilliamsforDandenong @GabbyWilliamsMP gabbywilliamsmp Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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Phone: 9546 9066 | 3 Callaghan Street, Noble Park, 3174 www.nobleparksc.vic.edu.au 12451377-NG26-20

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Crime rates rise

By Cam Lucadou-Wells In a disturbing trend, Greater Dandenong’s crime rate has soared by 5.9 per cent over the 12 months ending on 31 March 2020.

It is well above the 3.5 per cent rise recorded across the state.

Twelve months ago, Greater Dandenong’s offence rate had dropped 1.9 per cent in March 2019.

Victoria Police’s Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said police were also already seeing a “snap back” of crime after it quietened during the Covid-19 lockdown in April.

“It’s going to be very difficult with unemployment moving forward,” Dep Comm Patton warned.

Some of the rise was attributed to the greater ease of reporting crime, either via the relatively new Police Assistance Line or online.

This was particularly a factor in the rise in graffiti reports (up 41 per cent in Greater Dandenong), Dep Comm Patton said.

He also noted proactive policing took a hit during summer, due to redeployments to support the East Gippsland bushfire ‘state of emergency’.

Reported offences in Dandenong dropped 1 per cent but remains the council area’s crime capital with 7481 offences.

On the rise were Noble Park (up 4 per cent to 2759), Springvale (up 11 per cent to 2701), Keysborough (up 22 per cent to 2061) and Dandenong North (up 11 per cent 1580).

The most common offences were theft from vehicles (up 12 per cent), other thefts (up 16 per cent), criminal damage (down 3 per cent), obtaining benefit by deception and breaching bail (up 7 per cent).

Family violence reported incidents soared by 11 per cent, with threatening behaviour up 41 per cent and breaches of family-violence orders up by 26 per cent.

Family violence serious assaults dipped by 19 per cent.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said youth crime and family violence were particular areas of concern.

She said the spike in family violence offences, up 5 per cent statewide, was “not a surprise” due to people being more likely to report it and police taking it ever more seriously “But we need to ensure women and children are safe in their homes”.

Family violence fueled an increase in crimes against the person, she said.

More than half of reported assaults were family-related, the spike in homicides were also largely due to “family violence murders”.

Youth crime got “a lot of headlines” but was on the decline.

“In many cases they’re harming each other.”

The 7500 youth offenders aged 10-17 years old were still proportionally small in Victoria, making up 9 per cent of total offenders.

The age group were “over-represented” in public-place robberies.

These were largely involving the theft of phones, Air Pods, clothes and most of all, shoes from other youths.

Police had specific youth-related resources, but the issue would also be solved by “families and communities working together”, Ms Neville said.

In Greater Dandenong, dangerous driving was up 25 per cent, and firearm offences up 31 per cent (though prohibited weapons were down 13 per cent).

Homicides doubled from 3 to 7, as did hacking offences.

Drug trafficking was up 11 per cent, cultivation up 30 per cent and yet, possession was slightly down. Aggravated home burglaries were up 22 per cent but non-aggravated home burglaries down 16 per cent.

Humaira Fayazi is one of six selected artists in the upcoming HOME exhibition online. 209678 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Portrait of strength

By Cam Lucadou-Wells From the darkness of war, Dandenong artist Humaira Fayazi finds ways to shine light on the heroics of women.

The former refugee’s poignant works have long explored the theme, including when she ran a small art gallery in her Afghan homeland.

“In a country at war, my mum learned to be strong and to protect her family.”

Ms Fayazi is one of six refugee and asylum-seeker artists in Australia selected for the City of Greater Dandenong’s annual

HOME exhibition.

In response to Covid-19, this year’s show has been shifted entirely online in July and August.

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said he hoped the virtual format would lead to broader exposure and appreciation of the works.

“We hope audiences will embrace the new virtual format for this year’s exhibition, leading to broader exposure and appreciation of the exhibited works.”

HOME 2020 runs from 9 July to 15 August at greaterdandenong.com/home.

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Covid-19 testing ramps up A drive-through Covid-19 testing station has opened in Dandenong as parts of the South East have been declared no-go zones.

With the threat of a ‘second wave’ of the pandemic, the testing station in a Carroll Lane car park is hoped to lift sub-par testing rates in Greater Dandenong.

Since opening on 15 June, the station was reporting 300 visitors a day, Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said.

Many of the initial batch were linked to a Pakenham coronavirus outbreak, he said.

Victorian health authorities are urging anyone with even mild symptoms such as a fever and dry cough to get tested.

“We’ve had 22 (Covid-19) cases in the City of Greater Dandenong - it’s a fantastic result for the largest multicultural area in Australia,” Cr Memeti said.

“We hope we can have more testing done and our numbers don’t increase.”

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told State Parliament that three-week waves of testing would target specific communities such as Dandenong to “get the full picture”. “(It will) focus on local government areas with lower testing rates, communities with high case numbers, high-risk workforces and vulnerable groups.”

More than 600,000 Covid-19 tests had been undergone in Victoria.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s state-of-emergency has been extended until 19 July due to a spike of 121 active reported cases as of 21 June.

The anticipated easing of restrictions has been replaced with a tightening of rules. Visitors to homes are limited to five, outdoor public gatherings to 10.

People are being advised to limit travel to and from Melbourne hot spots such as Casey

and Cardinia local government areas, with nine and six active cases respectively.

Greater Dandenong has three active cases.

Seven recent infections have been linked to a Monash Health hospital patient.

The cluster has been described by the Department of Health and Human Services as “primarily family based”.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said more than 100 new cases in the past week was mainly caused by transmission within families.

“People have not followed our advice around physical distancing, hygiene and limiting the number of people you invite into your home.”

Premier Daniel Andrews reiterated social distancing rules for people to avoid handshakes, hugs, sharing food or drinks and crowds.

“The substantial increase in the number of household contacts spreading the virus amongst extended family groups shows the battle against coronavirus is far from over.

Slug-gate: ‘Deliberate’, ‘targeted’ closure

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Before she allegedly found a slug in the back corner of I Cook Foods’ factory, a Greater Dandenong environmental health inspector was hunched down in that corner for 17 seconds.

That was what the premises’ cameras recorded, I Cook Foods director Ian Cook told a State Parliamentary inquiry into the closure of his business.

“It seems (the inspector) was not aware that these cameras were on, or that they were recording.

“These cameras, including her own bodycamera, recorded (the inspector) repeatedly planting and falsifying evidence.”

On the day of her inspection, the inspector had been wearing an “unconventional smock” with tissues poking from the outside pockets, Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook’s brother Michael took a photo of a piece of wet tissue on the floor where the slug was captured. The tissue was missing on photos provided by the inspector to Mr Cook and Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook told the inquiry’s MPs on 17 June that I Cook Foods was wrongly closed by the Department of Health and Human Services in February 2019 over a disproved listeria-related link to an elderly hospital patient’s death.

But it was not closed due to “an abundance of caution” by the DHHS but a “deliberate, targeted, commercial, political and devastating” plan, he said.

He accused the department of delaying the release of exonerating reports until after $700,000 of stock was destroyed and his contracts had collapsed. The closure order was made unlawfully under the wrong section of the food-safety legislation, he said.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton wasn’t even a “lawful authority” to make the closure order, he said.

An email showed the DHHS colluding with

Ian Cook told the inquiry that his business was destroyed by a “deliberate“ and “political“ plot.

202497 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS an independent third-party auditor to change its audit. “Corruption in writing,” Mr Cook told the inquiry.

I Cook Foods won an expensive Supreme Court case for access to the report justifying the DHHS’s closure.

But the department provided just an “unrelated departmental email” without mentioning a single breach, Mr Cook said.

“To this day, uncertainty remains as to how much information was given to the Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton before he closed my business, or how much information was kept from him.”

After the listeria link collapsed, Greater Dandenong Council mounted and then dropped its “fake” case of 96 charges including the alleged slug, Mr Cook said. The slug would have been a “serious breach”. But it was improbable the nocturnal creature, not normally found in the area, slithered across an ozone-sterilised floor from outside on a summer’s day.

It had not even left a detectable silver trail.

“If we didn’t have the cameras in place, it would have been very difficult for us to fight ... I could have been facing a jail term.”

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Mr Cook says he was targeted as a rival to a failing business Community Chef, which was part-owned by Greater Dandenong Council and other councils and significantly financed by the DHHS. “Put simply, I was closed by my competitor.

“The only way for Community Chef to turn a profit would be for my business to stop operating.”

He told the inquiry that he’d filed a complaint to Victoria Police, with a brief of evidence voluntarily prepared by retired police detective Paul Brady.

Mr Cook said the issue meant more than just “the slug”. It was the loss of 41 workers’ livelihoods and the destruction of his $48 million business.

“I was so proud of the business which my family and I built, I gave it my own name.

“So when the business’s name was dragged through the mud and my business was accused of killing an elderly woman ... it felt like I was being accused of that.”

Greater Dandenong Council has “absolutely refuted” claims that it planted evidence.

It has argued that I Cook Foods was temporarily closed down by the DHHS following “a number of positive samples for listeria ... . one of which was linked to the death of an elderly woman”. “(Council) stands by its decision to bring charges against I Cook Foods, firmly believing that it is Council’s priority to enforce the provisions of the Food Act and that the allegations were well founded,” a spokesperson said last year.

Recently the council stated that it welcomed any inquiry or investigation of the matter.

The inquiry is expected to hear from witnesses from City of Greater Dandenong and the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday 24 June.

More coverage on page 15

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“As we’ve seen across the world, this virus can turn a few cases into hundreds in a matter of days.

“If you’re unwell - stay home.”

Victoria Police’s 500-officer squad would conduct spot checks to ensure people “do the right thing”, Mr Andrews said.

It would continue issuing spot fines of up to $1662 for non-compliant individuals and up to $9913 for businesses.

A maximum of 20 people have been set for restaurants, pubs, auction halls, community halls, libraries, museums, places of worship, gyms, cinemas and TABs. Community sport for children and non-contact sport for adults is allowed.

Greater Dandenong Council was planning a “soft” opening of Dandenong Oasis pool and gym, and Noble Park Aquatic Centre with reduced hours. Visitors require a booking.

IN BRIEF Would-be thief rams car An accused would-be thief has been charged after allegedly ramming a car blocking his exit from a Dandenong car park.

The man had tried to steal a trailer from a business’s car park in David Street about 6am on Thursday 11 June, police say.

An employee of the business arrived and parked his vehicle behind the alleged thief’s car.

The accused man allegedly rammed the employee’s car several times to enable him to escape.

The employee’s car was “substantially damaged” as a result, according to police. The victim was not injured.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man later that day, charging him with conduct endangering serious injury.

He was remanded to appear at court at a later date.

Robbed at knifepoint A man seated on a park bench has been robbed at knife-point by four masked males in Ross Reserve, Noble Park.

The 42-year-old was approached from behind by the armed robbers at the Memorial Drive parkland about 5.50pm on Saturday 13 June.

One of the attackers held a knife to the victim’s throat and demanded his jacket, Greater Dandenong CIU police say.

The jacket was then forcibly removed from the man.

Each of the robbers wore a bandana across their face.

They left the scene on foot.

The victim was not physically injured.

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

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STAR JOURNAL 5

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NEWS

‘Violent’ language unacceptable: MP

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams has spoken out against her recently-sacked Cabinet colleague Adem Somyurek’s “violent, misogynistic language” against her.

In a statement, Ms Williams - the Minister for Women, for Prevention of Family Violence and for Aboriginal Affairs - said such language was “unacceptable” and “when it does occur, it must be called out” whether at home, work, the street or Parliament House.

“Words matter.

“Violent, misogynistic language perpetuates the attitudes and behaviours that enable a culture of violence against women.

“No matter who you are, no one deserves to be threatened and abused in this way.”

Ms Williams thanked the community’s support and Premier Daniel Andrews’ actions against Mr Somyurek since Nine Network aired the ex-Minister’s comments via covert surveillance on 14 June.

“Today and every day, this Government is working tirelessly to end violence against women and build a gender equal Victoria.

“Last night was another reminder of how important this work is, and how much work there is still left to do.

“Words spoken by one man will not derail this work.”

Nine Network has accused Mr Somyurek of extensive branch-stacking, including the use of Parliamentary staff and paying for fake memberships.

Mr Somyurek has denied the branch-stacking claims.

He however apologized “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 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”.

Mr Andrews announced Mr Somyurek was sacked from Cabinet, and was no longer regarded as part of his Government or “team”.

He was seeking for the termination of Mr Somyurek’s membership.

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.”

Dandenong-based Minister for Preventing Family Violence Gabrielle Williams has called out former colleague Adem Somyurek’s “violent, misogynistic’’ language against her.

205113 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Ombudsman, IBAC to probe stack claims Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) will join forces with the Ombudsman`s Office to investigate recently-aired ‘branch stacking’ allegations involving Labor MPs. Victoria’s chief integrity agfencies will examine “serious allegations of corrupt conduct” including “matters aired recently in media reports”.

“As this is an active investigation, for legal and operational reasons IBAC will not be making further comment,” an IBAC statement said.

On 14 June, Nine Network alleged an extensive branch-stacking operation led by Dandenong-based ALP factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek - allegations denied by Mr Somyurek.

Mr Somyurek was “sacked” and two colleagues Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz departed the State Cabinet within days.

On 15 June, he resigned from the ALP after Premier Daniel Andrews sacked him from the Cabinet and the party room caucus.

The ALP national executive expelled Mr Somyurek from the party for life.

As Local Government Minister, Mr Somyurek last year appointed a Monitor to oversee Casey Council due to councillor corruption allegations aired at IBAC. After the Monitor’s report in February, Mr Somyurek sacked Casey’s councillors.

The Operation Sandon inquiry into Casey councillors’ alleged corrupt dealings with property developers is on hold due to Covid-19.

Any information to IBAC on www.ibac.vic. gov.au/reporting-corruption.

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STAR JOURNAL 7

LOOKING BACK 100 years ago 24 June 1920 The Railway Paradox Our greatest handicap in the business side of life is the continuous lateness of trains. Week in and week out, we are inconvenienced by delays. The latest happenings are that the 8.03 from Springvale arrives in Melbourne a quarter of an hour late. Other trains throughout the day generally suffer from slowness. It is time a strong delegation was formed to approach the authorities regarding matters attending our services. The overcrowding and delays - call for action.

50 years ago 25 June 1970 ‘Demolish the Town Hall’ “It’s graceful,” said Cr Peter Wagstaff. “It’s got

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

character and beauty,” said Cr Warren Titcher.

“It has structural beauty,” said Cr Maurie Jarvis.

“It’s an eyesore,” said Cr Lois Twohig. Under discussion at Monday’s meeting of Dandenong Council was a motion by Cr Barry Powell that the city engineer investigate the cost of dismantling the town hall and of placing a car park on the site.

20 years ago 26 June 2000 GST countdown - so who’s nervous?

proprietor of a Dandenong new car dealership said he “could ‘t wait” until July 1 when the GST starts, while the head of a respected community aid organisation said grants crucial to his agency’s survival , would be lost under the new tax system. Mr Ray Canobie, the chief executive officer of Windermere’s Kids in Crisis centre in Narre Warren, said a State Government review of the GST which claimed his organisation would be better off under the new tax system, was a “nonsense.”

5 years ago

With five days before the introduction of the GST, most businesses in the City of Greater Dandenong are cautiously optimistic about the new tax system, while politically and socially it has been soundly condemned. Retailers surveyed by the Journal last week said despite various pre-GST sales, there had been little ‘stockpile’ buying of essential items by shoppers. The

22 June 2015 One of the Best The Dandenong Journal was lauded at the annual community newspapers of Australia awards on Friday night. The Journal picked up four awards in the southern division for best editorial, best special publication, and two top pho-

tographic awards. Steward Chambers won best feature photograph for a picture taken at the Illuminated Voices exhibition at Heritage Hill.

Judges said the photograph “uplifts humanity in a way that makes us think”. Rob Carew’s photograph of a blind serviceman placing a poppy at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day watched devotedly by his guide dog won best news photograph. The Journal’s Premier Regional Business Awards feature, put together by business writer Casey Neill won best special publication. Finally the Journal’s open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott asking for more assistance for refugees and asylum seekers, which launched last year’s Give Us a Hand campaign, also drew praise from judges as “a stand out and brilliantly displayed on the front page.”

Compiled by Dandenong & District Historical Society

NEWS

Aquatic centres re-open Greater Dandenong Council’s aquatic centres will re-open to the public from Monday, 22 June.

Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) and Dandenong Oasis had been closed for three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of a “phased” re-opening, the centres’ operating hours will be reduced.

Opening times are Monday to Friday 6am10am and 5pm-8pm, and weekends 8am12pm.

Visitors must pre-book their visit, with their swimming sessions limited to 45 minutes.

Under health guidelines, a “restricted number” of visitors are allowed in the centres at one time. Social distancing rules are in place.

NPAC will offer lap swimming in the out-

door 50-metre pool and use of the indoor program pool.

Oasis will open for lap swimming in the 50-metre pool, gym access, group fitness classes and entry to the hydro pool.

Between 10 and 18 June, four new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Greater Dandenong. Over the same period, Victoria has recorded 89 new cases - far higher than other Australian states and territories.

To visit, make a booking at dandenongoasis.com.au or nobleparkaquaticcentre.com.au Details: greaterdandenong.com NPAC is set to re-open on Monday 22 June with restrictions. 207585 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 9

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The Victorian Government is rolling out Three-Year-Old Kinder.

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Securing a future

By Danielle Kutchel After fleeing a devastating war, a family of refugees is grateful to be able to call Australia home.

Raed Hamoud Alshaar, his wife and their infant daughter fled the horrors of the Syrian conflict in 2018.

He has no doubt that had they stayed in Syria, they would have died.

“Our life was endangered all the time there.

If we hadn’t died from the war, we would have died from not having food,” he says.

“You don’t have money or work over there.”

They spent some time in relative safety in Erbil in Iraq, before making the journey to Australia as refugees eight months ago.

Raed says they made the decision to come to Australia for a better life for their growing family.

“I want my daughter to study and have a life in a better community,” he says.

He was client of refugee and migrant settlement agency AMES Australia in Noble Park and studied English there as well as a pre-employment course. Determined to support his family, he enrolled in VCE at Box Hill Institute and is studying a certificate two in English Language at Chisholm too. In addition to his studies, Raed is also working at a warehouse in Keysborough.

Meanwhile, his wife is also studying English at Chisholm. Both plan to go on to further study once finishing their basic qualifications.

Their daughter, now four years old, already

Raed and his family are grateful to Australia for welcoming them. speaks English well. All Raed wants now is to be able to finish his studies and contribute in a positive way to the country that welcomed him home.

“I want to work in Australia and work for Australia because Australia saved me from the war,” Raed explains.

He has no plans to ever go back to Syria.

“I want to stay in Australia because it’s a safe and wonderful place for us - the best place,” he says.

Like Raed and his family, hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers have made Greater Dandenong their home over the years.

Greater Dandenong is Australia’s most culturally diverse community, with its residents representing 157 different birthplaces.

Many of those people have come from countries and places ravaged by conflict, according to the council’s website.

The week of 13-20 June is World Refugee Week, which raises awareness of the issues facing refugees around the world.

In a video message on the council’s website, Mayor Jim Memeti promoted said Greater Dandenong had a proud history of welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum.

“Greater Dandenong Council continues its commitment to supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community by leading a mayoral taskforce delivering on council’s People Seeking Asylum and Refugee Action Plan, as well as facilitating the provision of material aid with community organisations,” he said.

“As a council we’ll continue to promote social inclusion, equity and community participation, and I encourage everyone to uphold our city’s welcoming spirit.”

Inquest into Monash shooting begins

By Danielle Kutchel A knife-wielding man who was fatally shot by police on the Monash Freeway is not believed to have had a diagnosed mental health issue, a court has heard. The revelation was made at a directions hearing before before State Coroner John Cain at the Melbourne Coroners Court on Wednesday 17 June, ahead of the inquest into the man’s death.

In the opening summary, presented by Lindsay Spence, Counsel assisting the Coroner, the court was told that the man, known only as ‘XY’, had witnessed years of family violence inflicted on his mother - and potentially himself - by his now-deceased father.

Although it is believed the “trauma had an everlasting effect on XY”, at this stage he is not believed to have had any diagnosed mental health issues. However, the court heard he had developed a string of strange behaviours. XY was described as having become “paranoid and fixated” during the Covid-19 pandemic and was noted to have stopped working.

The court heard he believed someone was out to kill him, and had increased CCTV around his house.

XY had refused a support referral from police and crisis assessment team personnel who attended his home to check on his mother’s deteriorating mental health and dementia on 20 May 2020. Two days later, he contacted the police assistance line, concerned that his Facebook account had been hacked.

On the morning of Thursday 28 May, the

court heard XY told his wife not to take their children to school as he wanted to have a “family day”. XY believed that if he or his family members left the home, they would die. The school was notified and contacted XY’s wife to check on their safety, telling her they would be contacting police.

When XY’s wife told her husband that police were coming, he armed himself with a knife and fire poker and left, forcing the family to wave at him from the driveway so that CCTV would capture that he had not harmed them. The man informed his family that that was the last time they would see him, and they reported his behaviour to police.

XY drove to the Monash Freeway, where he stopped in the left-hand running lane inbound and calling 000. The court was told XY spoke to the operator for 12 minutes, during which time he denied having any weapons, said he was not suicidal and said he required assistance in relation to his hacked Facebook account.

A concerned passer-by stopped and spoke to XY, who said he wanted the police to “take him out”. The other driver also called 000.

Police who attended the scene were told by Police Communications that it was believed that XY could commit suicide. XY’s comments about wanting to be ‘taken out’ by police were also passed on, although the court heard the context around the comments was unclear.

Once on scene, police began negotiating with XY through a trained negotiator for approximately 14 minutes, during which time XY told police he wasn’t armed. When negotiations

failed, police decided to arrest XY. Due to the amount of clothing worn by the man, police decided tasers would be ineffective.

As they approached XY, the man became agitated and put his hand in his pocket and refused to remove it, before producing the knife he had taken from his home. Police fired beanbag rounds at the man, which only served to agitate him further. The court was told XY ran at police, brandishing the knife, and was then fired on by a police officer using his semi-automatic pistol. XY was hit in the upper body, and fell forwards onto the police officer he had been running towards. The knife was secured before police provided first aid, including CPR, to XY until paramedics arrived, but XY died at the scene from his injuries.

No police officers were injured during the incident, which was captured by seven police body cameras. As the incident was declared ‘critical’, all police were subjected to drug and alcohol testing which came back negative. The investigation into XY’s death is ongoing, and the coroner is expected to hand down a report in early October.

If this story raises any concerns for you, please contact: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or beyondblue. org.au MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or mensline. org.au Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au

· · · ·

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The Lonsdale Street store opens on 27 June.

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Marlene Kairouz has stood down as Suburban Development Minister.

Two Ministers follow Somyurek out

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Two ministers have stood down from State Cabinet following the departure of Dandenong-based ALP factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek.

Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz were linked to Nine Network’s expose of an alleged branch-stacking operation by Mr Somyurek allegations that Mr Somyurek has denied.

Mr Somyurek, a South Eastern Metropolitan MP, is now sitting on the cross-benches as an independent.

On 15 June, he resigned from the ALP after Premier Daniel Andrews sacked him from the Cabinet and the party room caucus.

Prior to Mr Somyurek’s resignation from the party, Mr Andrews said he was seeking for Mr Somyurek’s expulsion as an ALP member.

Mr Andrews had declined to stand down Mr Scott and Ms Kairouz due to their “assurances” they had done no wrong.

Mr Scott later stood down from his posts as Assistant Treasurer and Veterans Minister, saying he was “very confident” that his name would be eventually cleared.

On 16 June, after new surveillance audio was released by Nine, Ms Kairouz also resigned as Consumer Affairs, Liquor and Gaming Regulation and Suburban Development Minister.

“I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name and am confident any investigative process will do so.

“I note that these matters do not relate to any allegations of criminality or corruption.”

The Government has referred the allegations to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) for investigation.

ALP national president Wayne Swan said in a statement said Mr Somyurek’s “reprehensible” conduct was “at odds with everything the ALP stands for”.

“Noting that Mr Somyurek has now resigned his membership of the Victorian ALP, the National Executive Committee has taken further steps to ensure there will never be a place for Mr Somyurek in the ALP ever again.

“The ALP National Executive takes these matters incredibly seriously, and will be responding to the wider issues raised over the last 24 hours in the coming days.”

The former Local Government and Small Business Minister has denied using Parliamentary staff and paying thousands for fake memberships as part of alleged branch-stacking.

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

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 11

NEWS

Call to fix fatal freeway

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Drivers have called for an upgrade of a notorious section of Monash Freeway at Endeavour Hills where a motorist died on Tuesday 16 June.

The victim was killed in a crash between a car and two trucks in the outbound lanes between Heatherton Road and the South Gippsland Freeway about 8.30am, police say.

The car driver died at the scene.

A chorus of readers on Dandenong Star Journal’s Facebook called for a solution to the “scary” freeway section.

“That is a terrible section of road,” a reader stated.

“You have to negotiate getting across two lanes of traffic to merge onto the freeway while others are cutting across you to get to the (South Gippsland Freeway) exit.

“There is a very short amount of road for everyone to find their lane. It needs a solution ASAP.” Another reader said the “poor” signage on the freeway’s outbound entrance and exits in the area had to be fixed.

“That is one of the worst bits of road to merge into traffic on,” a third reader wrote.

According to the Department of Transport, the freeway section is not considered to be a higher risk than “other comparable” freeway sections.

Since July 2014, there have been 53 crashes on the section. Thirty-eight of them were rear-

Police divert traffic onto Heatherton Road after the fatal crash on Monash Freeway on 16 June. end crashes, according to the DoT. “The Department of Transport is working closely with Victoria Police to fully investigate this serious crash,” a department spokesperson said.

“Safety is our highest priority. We frequently assess the road network to ensure it is safe and to determine whether future upgrades are needed.”

Victoria Police’s Major Collision Investiga-

tion Unit are investigating the cause of the crash.

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Spare a few words to spread the ‘kindness pandemic’

By Roz Blades AM Jewish affirmations intersect in the concept of Torah as the ordering of human existence.

Humans are ethically responsible creatures who are responsive to Nature.

Shalom is generally regarded as a friendly and peaceful word when we meet, but also means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, welfare, prosperity and tranquility.

So in times of difficulty, we turn to humanity, talk to each other to keep each other positive.

When positive, we put ourselves in the best possible position to make it through difficult times together. Just a small, but important part.

When life takes a turn, we need to remain positive and remind ourselves that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Then we can make it through.

Facing the difficulties together is vital and we can do this. The human spirit is insurmountable.

MESSAGE OF

HOPE We need to believe that there is a silver lining. In the City of Greater Dandenong, the most multicultural city in Australia, many have survived difficult circumstances and will do again. We are resilient.

When we are feeling down, let’s write down everything in our lives that we are grateful for.

Friends and family. Feel grateful for this. Even let everyone know how important they all are.

There are some things beyond our control and that we can’t change, but there are some things we don’t want or shouldn’t want to change, like our community and the way we band together in times of difficulty when we need solace.

In times when we need reassurance and solace, we need to focus on what is good in our lives. Having the right people around is important. Surround yourselves with loving, caring people.

Be available on the phone for your family, friends and those in need. Time is important when people are frightened and lost.

Try and link up with community groups who understand what we are all going through because everyone has different reactions to a crisis.

Community is vital. The Kindness Pandemic is a case in point.

And be kind.

To yourself and everyone you know.

If you can, go for a walk when the weather allows, read a book.

It doesn’t matter what you do, just do something that gets your mind and body engaged at a higher level.

Greater Dandenong is a great community and together we can find a way through.

Shalom.

Roz Blades says it’s best to remain positive in tough time.

FOCUS ON … TAX TIME

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

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Extra help from the ATO this tax time

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recognises that the community has experienced significant challenges this year. The ATO’s support and guidance should make tax time easier, particularly where new circumstances mean that people are receiving a different type of income or able to claim new deductions.

Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said the ATO has a range of different approaches to support taxpayers and the community through this tax time.

“We know many of our clients and their agents will have questions about how different types of income and expenses may affect their obligations this year. We’re helping to make sure people know how to get it right,” Ms Foat said.

“We have published information on our website to help you get it right when lodging this year, including the ‘Tax Time Essentials’ page which is a one stop shop for the things that are a little different this year and how they

impact your return.

“If you’ve read through the information on our website and still have a question, search our online forum ‘ATO Community’. This forum is available 24 hours a day and we have a great community of expert members who respond to questions. In a lot of cases, there’s an ATO-endorsed response to help you. If not, post it yourself and we’ll have a response back to you as quick as we can.”

How has COVID-19 impacted work-related expenses?

“This tax time the ATO expects to see a substantial increase in people claiming deductions for working from home or for protective items required for work,” Ms Foat said.

The ATO has already announced a temporary ‘short-cut method’ that applies from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020. The short cut method makes it easier for the millions of Australians who have incurred some form of expense for working from home as a result of

COVID-19. It covers all deductible expenses and can be used by multiple people working from home in the same house. People claiming their working from home expenses using the shortcut method, should include the amount at the ‘other work-related expenses’ question in your tax return and include ‘COVID-hourly rate’ as the description.

“If you use the shortcut method, all you need to do is keep a record of the hours you worked from home as evidence of your claim.

But it is all inclusive, meaning you can’t claim for any other working from home expenses,” Ms Foat said.

Taxpayers can still choose to use one of the other existing methods to calculate their expenses for working from home if they prefer.

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Whistle-blower slams inspection

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A City of Greater Dandenong whistle-blower has told a State Parliamentary inquiry that the closure of I Cook Foods by health authorities was “over-the-top” and “highly irregular”.

Environmental health inspector Kim Rogerson was ordered to take swab-samples of sandwiches and ingredients at I Cook Foods due to a possible link to a listeria case, she told the Upper House legal and social issues committee on 17 June.

She said that the council was “intent on destroying” I Cook Foods - which was shut down by the Department of Health and Human Services three weeks later in February 2019.

The Dandenong South commercial kitchen remained closed for more than a month, effectively destroying the business, according to its owners.

“I was shocked that I Cook Foods was closed the way it was,” Mr Rogerson said of the “highly unusual” order.

Ms Rogerson said her three-page statement was beefed up to seven pages by Greater Dandenong management - one of whom said he wanted to “nail those b***ards”.

She said the manager asked her to change her statement, to delete “weak” sentences and “positive” words such as “clean”.

He told her to add the words “filthy” and “shouldn’t be operating”.

Ms Rogerson said she refused to sign.

She told the inquiry that the council had a conflict of interest - it was a shareholder of Community Chef, a rival company to I Cook Foods.

Greater Dandenong chief executive John Bennie is a director of Community Chef. He was unable to sign the I Cook Foods closure notice due to the conflict, Ms Rogerson said.

The conflict of interest should have extended to all council staff, including health inspectors, she said.

It would be like giving “Hungry Jacks the power to inspect and close down McDonald’s”.

Ms Rogerson said she didn’t know why the DHHS would “name and shame” I Cook Foods in the media when the matters were usually dealt with “privately”.

Meng Heang Tak has not responded to reported links with accused branch-stacker Adem Somyurek. 122829 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Meng Heang Tak goes to ground

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The closure of I Cook Foods kitchen was “highly irregular”, says environment health inspector Kim Rogerson. 190890 In previous listeria or “notifiable bacteria” cases, they were usually dealt with by a cleanup of the premises. Swabs were then taken and the business was re-opened “very quickly”.

A “below par” business would be normally closed down only after being given cautions and chances to comply with health standards.

Still employed by Greater Dandenong, Ms Rogerson hasn’t gone back to the office for more than a year.

“The stress caught up with me.”

Greater Dandenong had spent “thousands of dollars on an expensive law firm” to fight her Work Cover claim despite her case being recommended by counsellors and health professionals.

“I believe I’m being punished by the council for blowing the whistle and telling the truth”.

The inquiry is expected to hear from witnesses from City of Greater Dandenong and the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday 24 June.

In May last year, a council spokesperson responded to Ms Rogerson’s allegations.

“Greater Dandenong Council does not believe the allegations to be true, however we do take them extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.

“Council CEO, Mr John Bennie has previously declared a conflict and taken no part in any discussions relating to I Cook Foods.”

Recently, when the inquiry was announced, Greater Dandenong’s corporate services director Mick Jaensch said the council “welcomes any inquiry or investigation into the matter”.

Health Minister ‘defamed’ me: Cook

By Cam Lucadou-Wells I Cook Foods director Ian Cook has accused Health Minister Jenny Mikakos of “effectively defaming” him and his company during a ‘right of reply’ tabled in State Parliament.

In February 2019, the Dandenong South commercial caterer was shut down for a month by the Department of Health and Human Services and Greater Dandenong Council.

At the time, the department ‘named and shamed’ I Cook Foods, linking it to the death of an 86-year-old hospital patient.

However, all 96 food-safety charges against the company were later dropped.

In the meantime, the company had lost its contracts and was effectively destroyed, Mr Cook says.

Under Parliamentary privilege on 3 March, Ms Mikakos asserted that I Cook Foods was linked to the patient’s death.

She said the woman died of listeriosis, which was traced to food supplied by I Cook Foods.

“So this is why we have made no apology for the department taking the action that it took.”

In his right-of-reply tabled in the Legislative Council on 17 June, Mr Cook said the statement linking the patient’s death to I Cook Foods was “effectively defaming myself and my company”.

“This misinformation ... adds to the damage that has been done to my family name which also is my company name, to the point where I have no customers or contracts remaining and the business and our reputation dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Ian Cook was given a “right of reply’’ in State Parliament on 18 June. 202497 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS has been destroyed.

“I would like to also point out that this has had a massive financial and emotional impact on my family, myself, 41 workers and their families who lost their jobs due to the actions of the department.

“Therefore, respectfully I request that the house is informed of these untruths and that the record is corrected immediately in whatever manner is appropriate.”

Mr Cook stated there was no evidence of the patient eating any food products with listeria at the hospital.

The I Cook Foods sandwiches sampled and tested by authorities were 10 times under pre-

scribed safe limits for listeria, he wrote.

In any case, DNA matches of the same bacteria were found in Queensland - a state which I Cook Foods doesn’t supply, he added.

“The source of the listeria had to be from an external supplier, perhaps our small goods supplier who does produce and distribute food nationally.”

Mr Cook urged that “the record is corrected immediately in whatever manner is appropriate”.

Later in Parliamentary Question Time, Ms Mikakos repeated her previous assertions of the link.

She had been asked by opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier about why the DHHS had delayed providing evidence that “exonerated” I Cook Foods.

The appropriate time for DHHS officials to respond was in their appearance at a Parliamentary inquiry into the I Cook Foods closure, Ms Mikakos said.

She said the DHHS had offered to provide the documents on a confidentiality basis only - which was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Victoria.

“In public health incidents there needs to be direct and robust communication between departmental employees, relevant authorities and authorised officers.

“These confidentiality provisions ensure continued reporting of public health risks and informed decision-making by the department so that appropriate action can be taken.

“There is nothing being hidden here.”

A state MP and former Greater Dandenong mayor has not responded to alleged links to an extensive ALP branchstacking operation.

In its recent expose, Nine Network alleges in a covertly-recorded phone call that Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak was instructed to stack a party branch with 13 people per month by factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek.

According to party rules, a maximum of 13 members can be added to a branch at each meeting.

“From now on, it’s just going to be hard, hard, hard war ... and then we’re going to start big recruiting,” the Dandenong-based Mr Somyurek allegedly told Mr Tak. According to Nine, it’s unclear whether Mr Tak obeyed the directive.

In another recorded call to an undisclosed person, Mr Somyurek claimed he’d secured the Clarinda state seat for Mr Tak - who was duly elected in 2018 with a safe 17.5 per cent margin.

The seat, which includes parts of Springvale, was formerly held by Hong Lim. “Whereas Hong used to be this f***ing whingeing turd, Heang’s not like that,” Mr Somyurek tells the other person.

“It’s like, ‘I got you in [to Parliament], you gotta do as I say.’”

In the call, Mr Somyurek says how he told Heang that “we support you for preselection and you hand your votes (branch members) over.”

Mr Tak has not responded to the Star Journal’s enquiries.

In a statement since the allegations, Mr Somyurek has denied branch-stacking - which is the improper recruiting of party members to influence the preselection of election candidates.

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

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.

Mr Somyurek was sacked as Local Government and Small Business Minister on 15 June after the Nine Network reports accusing him of using Parliamentary staff and paying thousands for fake memberships as part of an extensive branch-stacking enterprise.

He later resigned from the ALP, which has since expelled him from its membership for life.

Labor Ministers Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz, who were also named in Nine’s report, stepped down from their Cabinet posts.

The matter is being jointly investigated by the State Ombudsman and the state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

|

STAR JOURNAL 15

NEWS

Insider’s Shaw bet to thrill

By Tania Phillips New South Wales-born author Xavier Wallace has just released the latest novel in his Max Shaw thriller series - Shaw Initiation - released late last month through Vanguard Press.

A decade of living and working in Canberra for the Australian Government, a love of thriller novels and a truly enthusiastic curiosity for politics, government, national security, journalism, philosophy and history has come together to create Australian Intelligence Service (AIS) recruit - Max Shaw.

This time around we go back to the start when General Patrick “Hulk“ Scott head of the AIS recruits young and promising Max Shaw.

He knows Shaw’s talents are unusual and desirable but as Max goes through training and orientation, Hulk and co start to see that he Is something rare. Here is an Intelligence agent with an Instinct for what to do and when with a speed and ruthless that makes him one of the countries most dangerous young agents.

In fact the hierarchy are so Impressed that he Is pushed Into active duty almost before his training Is finished and is soon pursuing people responsible for a wave of terror, all the while questioning not only the actions he needs to take to succeeds but the personal cost of lying to the man he loves.

Xavier Wallace.

But still, along with new friends Blake, Jacob “Flash“ Gordon and Kate, he goes on a rollercoaster ride in a race against time to save the world.

Take advantage of the abundance of creamy Hass avocados and sweet Kent pumpkin to great this great lunch dish.

An Avo Classic There’s an abundance of pumpkin and new season Hass Avocadoes in stores at the moment and beautiful winter weather to enjoy a little al fresco dining.

Here’s a recipe from health and fitness guru and cookbook author Luke Hines.

Combining with avocado growers, he has come up with this taste-tempting but healthy Thai-style roasted pumpkin with a zingy avocado dressing.

LUKE HINES’ HASS AVOCADO RECIPE Thai-style roasted pumpkin wedges with avocado dressing and crunchy seeds (Serves 4)

tablespoons pumpkin seeds, lightly · 2toasted · 1 small handful of coriander leaves · 1 lime, cut into cheeks, to serve AVOCADO DRESSING 125 ml (1/2 cup) olive oil 1 Hass avocado. Hass avocados have a creamy texture that’s perfect for smashing.

1 handful of coriander leaves 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon chilli powder zest and juice of 1 lime pinch of sea salt

· large Kent pumpkin (about 2 kg), un- · · 1peeled, deseeded and cut into large wedges · · · 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil · · 1 teaspoon ground cumin · · 1 teaspoon ground coriander · sea salt and freshly ground black pepper · Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.

2. Place the pumpkin pieces on the prepared tray and, using your hands, massage in the oil and spices to coat well.

Season generously with salt and pepper and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the pumpkin is sot and caramelised,

16 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

with crispy skin and a lovely goldenbrown colour on the outside.

3. While your pumpkin is cooking, make the avocado dressing. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz until well combined, smooth and creamy. Set aside.

4. To serve, divide the pumpkin wedges among plates or pile onto a large plate.

New list allows fans to listen to old favourites.

Going to the dark side

By Tania Phillips Fans of legendary British band Pink Floyd are getting a chance to check out unavailable and rare tracks through a new daily evolving playlist on Spotify and Youtube.

The list, ‘Syd, Roger, Richard, Nick and David - An Evolving Pink Floyd Playlist’ offers a new way to rediscover and immerse in Pink Floyd’s music.

It kicked off late last month with the currently unavailable track ‘Us & Them (Live at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London 1974)’ from the 2011 Immersion box set of The Dark Side Of The Moon.

With specially curated album tracks added daily and appearing at the top of the playlist, the selection is gradually evolve with the addition of the band’s best-known classics to deeper album tracks. ‘Syd, Roger, Richard, Nick and David - An Evolving Pink Floyd Playlist’ highlights the band’s contribution to music over the last 60 years. Every Friday, the playlist will feature rare tracks

(via streaming or download) originally available on the Immersion boxsets.

Tracks released already include: 29 May - ‘Have A Cigar (Alternate Version)’ - Wish You Were Here Immersion 5 June - ‘Any Colour You Like (Live at Wembley 1974)’ - The Dark Side Of The Moon Immersion 12 June - ‘Run Like Hell (The Wall WIP pt2 Band Demo)’ - The Wall Immersion.

This Friday, June 19 will see ‘Money (Early Mix 1972)’ - The Dark Side Of The Moon Immersion go out with more currently unavailable tracks due to be scheduled and announced soon ... .

‘Syd, Roger, Richard, Nick and David An Evolving Pink Floyd Playlist’ is live and updated daily on Spotify and YouTube.

In Addition, the currently unavailable tracks are also being released to download or stream on Amazon, Apple Music and other digital retailers with a new track appearing each Friday.

· · ·

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STAR REAL ESTATE

17

NEWS

Removing barriers to IVF

By Danielle Kutchel Undergoing assisted reproductive treatment is no easy feat for women and their partners.

There’s the financial cost, which is often prohibitive.

There’s the physical and emotional toll of ongoing treatments, and the rollercoaster of emotions, from hope to disappointment, often multiple times over.

And there’s the discomfort and embarrassment that many women feel over not being able to conceive as easily as their friends.

But in a win for women and their families, one barrier has now been removed by the State Government: the need for patients to undergo a police check to determine their eligibility for treatment.

This week, the State Government passed the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Bill 2020 which removes that requirement for women undergoing fertility treatments.

It’s a move that has been celebrated by Gabrielle Williams.

The Member for Dandenong has been undergoing various forms of assisted reproductive treatment since 2016, all of which have so far been unsuccessful.

In a Facebook post on Friday 5 June, Ms Williams described the police check as “embarrassing and demeaning” and coming at a time when she already felt “pretty low”.

Ms Williams told the Journal that being asked to complete the check was “pretty confronting”, and that her inbox had been flooded with messages from other women who could relate to her post on the issue.

“For all of us, we’re looking at friends and family conceiving naturally and thinking, ‘they didn’t have their fitness to be a parent questioned in such a formal way’.

“Why should we, simply due to our infertility, which is something that we can’t control?”

The removal of the police check requirement comes after Michael Gorton’s review into assisted reproductive services reported in 2019 that many people undergoing treatment had concerns about the checks.

In addition, Ms Williams said, people undergoing treatment have to pay for the checks themselves - adding to the immense cost of treatment.

She said that now that Victoria’s child pro-

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Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams hopes the stigma around IVF and assisted reproductive treatment is lifting.

tection legislation and landscape had been improved and enhanced, police checks prior to treatment had been made redundant.

Monash IVF Group medical director Professor Luk Rombauts also welcomed their removal.

“The removal of police and child protection checks is fantastic news for our patients,” he said.

“Monash IVF has been lobbying for this change and welcome the Victorian Government’s recognition of the discrimination that patients felt when undergoing fertility treatment.”

Ms Williams said the State Government is still working through the Gorton report’s recommendations.

In particular, she wants to see the option of public IVF pursued, as the expense of IVF means it’s out of reach for many potential parents.

“As it currently stands, an IVF cycle can cost $15,000. It should be available to all people regardless of their financial circumstances,” she said.

She believes the stigma around IVF and other types of assisted reproductive treatment is slowly lifting as the processes become more common, and families begin to share their experience more openly.

“Most of us know someone who’s gone through it. I made a conscious decision to be open about it,” Ms Williams said.

“Only through this enhanced knowledge can we be more accommodating.

“The only way to trigger cultural change and understanding is if people talk about their experience and what it involves and it becomes more commonly understood in workplaces and society.”

The Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Act 2020 will come into effect on 8 July 2020.

18 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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NEWS

Free TAFE a success New data reveals that students have flocked to Chisholm Institute to start their training since the State Government’s Free TAFE program began.

There has been a 196 per cent increase in commencements at Chisholm Institute compared with the same courses at the end of 2018.

In 2019 at Chisholm Institute, Free TAFE commencements doubled for unemployed Victorians along with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those with a disability.

The number of women studying in Free TAFE courses increased by 264 per cent.

The most popular Free TAFE courses in

2019 at the Chisholm Institute were Certificate IV in Building and Construction, Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, and Certificate III in Individual Support.

Almost 40,000 students commenced Free TAFE training across the state, making an 88 per cent increase in commencements compared with the same courses at the end of 2018.

The Free TAFE program is playing an important role in providing a pipeline of essential healthcare workers, such as nurses, during the coronavirus crisis and it is anticipated that the program will help to re-train those facing unemployment and underemployment as we move into the recovery phase.

State-wide, more than 25,000 students took up courses to bolster the NDIS, family violence and infrastructure workforces.

“As we respond and recover from the coronavirus crisis here in Narre Warren South, Free TAFE at Chisholm will provide the next wave of essential workers for our local industry,” said Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas.

“It’s fantastic to see so many more people undertaking tertiary education. It shows that once barriers are reduced people are very enthusiastic about learning new skills and upgrading their qualifications. These personal achievements ultimately benefit us all with high quality workers, greater productivity and a stronger economy.”

Gary Maas MP, Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney and Luke Donnellan MP at Chisholm (photo taken prior to Covid-19).

Busy roundabout being removed four months early

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Applications open 1 June 2020 Applications close 5:00 pm 15 July 2020 The Casey Cardinia Foundation Ltd is a philanthropic community foundation, raising funds for local community groups throughout the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire, with funds dispersed through an annual grants program.

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The Foundation aims to support the social, community and general welfare of those living in the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire region. The Foundation provides grants to projects that support the growing needs of its communities, now and into the future.

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flow and support the predicted growth in the surrounding suburbs.

Once complete, there will be three lanes travelling through the intersection and two right-turn lanes at every approach, providing a more reliable and smoother journey.

Dedicated slip lanes are also being built at

12426142-FA36-19

the Frankston-Dandenong Road and Thompsons Road intersection every day, making it an extremely busy freight and transport link in Melbourne’s booming South East.

The existing roundabout at FrankstonDandenong Road will be replaced with traffic lights to reduce congestion, improve traffic

each approach to the intersection to reduce the queuing effect of left-turning vehicles on through traffic.

“This upgrade is another way we’re easing congestion in Melbourne’s booming southeastern suburbs so that drivers can get where they need to go sooner and safer,” Ms Allan said.

Works are also continuing on the new road bridge and level crossing removal at Evans Road, which will make it easier and safer for drivers travelling between Thompsons Road and Hallam Road.

Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny said: “I know a lot of people in our community are going to be frustrated with losing access to the intersection for five weeks, but it means we will remove the roundabout four months sooner.”

Motorists are strongly advised to completely avoid the area and to seek an alternate route.

Visit Victoria’s Big Build for the latest traffic disruption information: bigbuild.vic.gov.au

G5855585AA-dc11Mar

The intersection of Frankston-Dandenong Road and Thompsons Road will be closed for five weeks as the State Government removes the roundabout four months ahead of schedule.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan made the announcement on Monday 1 June, saying the closure, effective from 5 June, would save residents and road users from ongoing delays and detours and ease congestion even faster than planned.

Taking advantage of the current lower traffic volumes, the intersection will be closed for five weeks to allow the project team to work around the clock to remove the roundabout without disruption or the danger of live traffic.

It was also been timed to start just as major construction finishes on the nearby Hallam Road Upgrade, with Hallam Road duplicated and traffic lights installed at the South Gippsland Highway intersection.

More than 58,000 vehicles travel through

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STAR JOURNAL 21

SPORT

The extremely popular Damien Fleming (middle) has signed on at Victorian Premier Cricket club, Casey-South Melbourne.

Picture: COURTESY OF CHRIS THOMAS

The ‘Bowlologist’ returns

By Nick Creely He’s one of Springvale South’s favourite sons and one of the south east’s greatest ever cricketing talents.

And now he’s back where it all began - at Premier Cricket level with Casey-South Melbourne.

Damien Fleming, widely known as the ‘Bowlologist’, will return to the Swans in an official capacity in 2020/21, signing on as a high performance consultant, which will see the ex-Australian Test swing bowler work closely with the Victorian Premier Cricket outfit’s pace bowlers and conducting small group training sessions, as well as maintain his ongoing commitment to the club’s Damien Fleming Academy.

The 50-year-old originally from the powerhouse Bloods in the Dandenong District Cricket Association, who took a total of 209 international wickets for Australia across 20 Tests and 88 One Day Internationals, is now one of the most loved cricket media figures in the country - appearing for the Seven Network in the Big Bash coverage, while also hosting the Bowlology podcast.

But he’s also an extremely talented coach, having been involved with the Australian Cricket Academy after retiring in 2003 due to ongoing injuries.

Fleming - who was in the club’s team of the 20th century alongside such great names as 22 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

Lindsay Hassett, Keith Miller and Graham Yallop - said he was excited to be back involved officially at the club after staying in touch with the club regularly over the years.

“I’m delighted to be back involved at Casey South Melbourne in what are exciting times for the club,” he said.

“Having played for the Bloods for 17 summers I’m very passionate about getting stuck into my role and helping the next generation of CSM cricketers.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with all players and coaches, and passing on all the knowledge I’ve learnt playing in successful Australian and Victorian cricket teams as we strive for success across all our teams.”

Swans president Shaun Petrie said to add someone of Fleming’s calibre was a major boost for the club.

“Damien has always been very generous with his time in the past. He has regularly appeared at club functions in guest speaking roles and he’s always been available at training sessions with our own Damien Fleming Academy (the club’s Junior Development Program),” he said.

“We’re so lucky to have ‘Flem’ involved. He’s a very generous guy, this just shows the passion he has for CSMCC and the development of young promising talent.

“Imagine being a young up and comer at our club and getting to talk cricket, tactics, and keys to success with someone of the calibre of

Damien Fleming.

“He’s not just a famous name, he’s an extraordinarily good cricket coach. Flem also knows what’s required to get selected for Victoria.

“He’ll be an amazing resource for the club and our players”.

Swans coach Brian Keogh told the Journal that the addition of the Australian great was going to benefit the club greatly - not only on the field, but off the field as well.

“The first thing about Flem is that he’s just such a likeable guy,” he said.

“We want to create a high performance environment, but we want to create an environment where people enjoy coming to training.

He’s fantastic with that balance.

“Technically, he’s as good as anyone in the country, and he knows Premier Cricket as well.

The beauty of him is that he started out at Springvale South, to South Melbourne, to Victoria, to Australia.

“He just knows how to push to that next level, and he’s just so invested. He knows the first XI guys already, but he wants to know the players from the other grades too.”

The Swans’ coaching panel was finalised recently, with ex-Sri Lankan star Thilan Samaraweera - who scored 5462 Test runs at 48.76 - re-joining the club as a specialist batting consultant, while highly-regarded coach Bathiya Perera has signed on as full-time batting coach and will help mentor the current

wave of Swans batsmen as well as some of the emerging players, such as rising opener Ashley Chandrasinghe.

“The thing about Thilan that people might forget is that he played 80-odd Test matches, he was an absolute jet,” Keogh said.

“After he left us, he went and coached at three national teams, and its likely at some point when things open up he’ll go back to doing it, so we’ve locked him in for pre-season and then we’ll reset.

“As for Bath, he’s just really well-known and people speak extremely highly of him - he played 160 first class (games), himself - he was a serious player.

“But the most important thing about both of them is that they’re both just great people and good fun to be around, and hopefully they can help contribute to that high performance but fun culture we want to bring.”

The three new signings cap off an impressive coaching group for the rising club out of Casey Fields, and will work closely with head coach Brian Keogh and senior assistant and coach-in-waiting Will Carr (the reigning DDCA Turf 1 premiership coach) this season, as well as development coaches Mathew Pearson, Stu Fairley and Brett Lewis, while ex-State player and DDCA champ Nathan Pilon is also locked in once again to do some work as a batting and keeping coach. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Simon told us he’s a racer

By Mick Floyd Simon Told Helen might just be getting even better.

The country’s top-ranked greyhound made it five wins in a row at Sandown Park on Thursday night, which in itself came as no surprise to those who took the $1.33 fixed odds on offer with TAB. But it was the manner in which he won the race - slashing almost two lengths off his previous best time at the circuit - that suggested the three-time Group 1 winner is still improving.

His winning time of 29.105 was the second fastest run so far in 2020 and his middle section (the time between the first and second splits) of 13.40 equalled the time he set on TAB Melbourne Cup night last November - a time which is believed to be a record.

“It was a terrific run. Those sections, they make him dominant when he puts those sections to together,” said trainer David Burnett after his star claimed his 17th career victory and took his prize money so far to $519,545.

“As soon as he gets off the mat (in front of the starting boxes) he just goes whoosh. To run 18.46 to the back, it breaks most dogs’ hearts.”

Simon Told Helen has quickly become as popular as he is brilliant, with his powerful performances on the racetrack coupled with his distinctive appearance (he has a prominent roman nose) - endearing him to racing fans across the country. That popularity is not lost on Burnett and he’s enjoying the ride, even if it does add pressure every time he steps on to the track.

“It’s just a terrific feeling to have people consistently just praising the dog and pumping him up,” he said.

“It’s a nice thing to have as a trainer, but to keep up to that hype and make sure the dog keeps performing to the levels that people are expecting is the hardest thing. To his credit, the dog just keeps bouncing up.

“He’s had a very light two weeks now and

Simon Told Helen made it five wins in a row at Sandown Park on Thursday night. he came out and ran those times tonight with hardly any work. It’s just super, he’s just a terrific dog.”

Following the run, Simon Told Helen firmed into $9 equal favouritism for the TAB Melbourne Cup. As happy as Burnett was with Simon Told Helen’s performance, he was equally pleased with the effort of Who Told Stevie, which finished two-and-three-quarter lengths second to his littermate in his first city start in six months.

Burnett has long touted Who Told Stevie as

the faster of the two on the trial track, however an injured wrist in January led to him spending the next five months on the sidelines.

“He’s run 29.29 (on Thursday) so that’s a super run first run back in town. He’s getting back to where he was so with a couple more runs he’ll be topped off nicely,” he said.

Burnett will take a few days to determine the next move for his dynamic duo, with the Brisbane and Bendigo Cups on the horizon, however he said he is likely to split them in a bid for both cups.

NAB League’s return date is announced

By Nick Creely The AFL has officially confirmed its start date for the leading under-18 competition in the country, the NAB League, with the boys’ competition set to get underway on Saturday, 22 August, albeit with a shortened season.

Last Wednesday, just a day after the VFL announced it would kick its season off on 1 August, the AFL confirmed the date - officially informing clubs of the plans for a season to commence.

All 12 sides will compete in a six-week season - splitting the clubs between Metro and Country conferences - and play five rounds within the conferences, and then a final in the sixth round between the top-placed side in each division for the premiership. The lowerranked clubs will play off against a side in the opposing conference in the final round of the competition.

There is still work to be done in regards to Tasmania’s involvement in the NAB League this season, with current Covid-19 restrictions to play a big part.

In regards to the NAB League girls competition, the 2020 competition will recommence with a further three matches to be played to complete a six-week season, with the first match to be played on Saturday, 5 September.

With the first three rounds of the competition having been played in March, a further two rounds still need to be played before the finals weekend for all clubs.

There is also hope that representative games for both boys and girls will be played in late September or early October, potentially in tandem with the NAB AFL Draft Combine giving AFL clubs another chance to have a look at the prospective draftees before the draft.

The AFL’s head of talent pathways and state league competitions, Tristan Salter told AFL. com.au that getting the NAB League up and running in some capacity was vitally important for the competition.

“All levels of the game across the country have been impacted by the health pandemic this year. While we would prefer to provide a dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Picture: SUPPLIED

Dingoes are headed South

By Nick Creely Reigning Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) Turf 2 premier Dingley is on the move.

The Dingoes - who secured their second Turf 2 flag last season in an incredible grand final victory against the Parkmore Pirates at Lois Twohig Reserve - have joined the Cricket Southern Bayside (CSB) competition after mounting speculation that the club would make the move, following similar clubs in the City of Kingston making the same call on their own futures in recent years.

After joining the DDCA in 2013/14, the Dingoes have enjoyed plenty of success - winning two flags in Turf 2 and enjoying competitive stints in the strong Turf 1 competition.

But travel, combined with a need to align itself with its junior program and synthetic senior sides - which play under the umbrella of the CSB - has forced Dingley to make the shift, despite the prospect of another crack at Turf 1 cricket.

In recent years, clubs in the same region the likes of Parkdale, Aspendale, St Brigid’s/St Louis, and ex-Turf 1 powerhouse Mordialloc have all made the same move out of the DDCA into the CSB. It is believed, at this stage, that either North Dandenong will remain in Turf 1 after initially facing relegation from the division, or Turf 2 runner-up Parkmore will make the jump into the DDCA’s top-flight after an incredibly strong season. However, no decision has been made on what potential impact Dingley’s departure from the association will have in terms of the division structure of the Turf grades.

The Dandenong Stingrays’ boys and girls teams will get a 2020 season underway. 195006 Picture: GARY SISSONS standard season of NAB League football, this outcome ensures an opportunity for many players to continue their journey in the talent pathway,” he said.

“We know how much these competitions mean to players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans and we look forward to working to-

gether to ensuring all clubs return to play in a safe and well-managed environment.”

“We are excited about the return of community and school footy, and players are being encouraged to engage in these formats before returning to test themselves in the NAB League competition.”

Dingley is on the move to Cricket Southern Picture: ROB CAREW Bayside. 206260 Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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STAR JOURNAL 23

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