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Thursday, 8 October, 2020
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Stroke survivor helping find ‘new normal’
Anger over rubbish dumped in street
Family’s desperate plea for help
Big Brad sets big goals
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Quick reads: Little books spark a whole lot of joy By Mitchell Clarke As the famous saying goes, it’s often the little things in life which bring the most joy - and that’s proven true, especially when it comes to Coles’ Little Treehouse books. The success of the supermarket giant’s mini collectable series has brightened up lockdown for many local families. But now - thanks to a Pakenham woman’s noble quest - the books are about to make their way into the hands of some very sick kids in need of colour in their life. In just two weeks, Fiona Miszkowiec has collected more than 1000 books for the Monash Children’s Hospital cancer ward Fiona Miszkowiec has been collecting the little books for sick children. 217409 from generous families across Pakenham, Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Officer, Berwick and Narre Warren.
“People have really got behind it. They love it and just want to get involved,” she explained. Ms Miszkowiec, who works in Narre Warren, has been able to pick up the books from people living between her house and work. “The books are left in the letter box, so it means I can just drive past and pick them up contact free,” she said. Ms Miszkowiec’s sister co-created the ’Amy & Allie’s Band-Aid and Sticker Project’, which collects character band-aids, stickers and bubbles for children in hospital. To donate, contact Fiona Miszkowiec via Facebook Messenger.
New home horror they’d probably run into someone,” she said. “Of course you go through those ‘what if’ scenarios. It could have been something more.” Security doors, cameras and new looks have been installed at the house. “It’s been over a week and I’m still not sleeping, but I’m sure I’ll feel better once all the new measures are in place,” she said. “At first it was really scary and awful, but now it’s borderline laughable. I just think ‘you morons’. I’d really like to smack their faces.” The distinctive Honda was found burnt out two days later, near the intersection of Toomuc Valley Road and Browns Road. A number of items from the car boot - including work items and documents - were found in another stolen car. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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been robbed’,” she added. The couple realised their garage had also been ransacked and the woman’s distinctive orange Honda Civic had been taken. “I just thought ‘you bastards’. I’m a sales representative, so my car is my office and of course, your handbag and wallet is also your life,” she said. One of the stolen cards had already been used between 4am and 5am to make online purchases of up to $4000. While there were no signs of forced entry, police believe a dodgy lock could be to blame. But to make the situation even more unsettling, the victim believes the offender/s were possibly armed. “I assume they’d come prepared for a fight ... If you’re going to break into someone’s house, you expect them to be home, especially during this time. I think they’d come knowing 12457238-CG32-20
A Pakenham couple - who only moved to the area nine weeks ago - have had their dream car stolen and torched during a bizarre aggravated burglary. Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident, where it’s believed at least two people broke into a three storey Lakeside townhouse in the early hours of Sunday morning, 27 September. The residents, who have asked to remain anonymous, said they slept through the entire ordeal. One of the victims woke around 5am on Sunday morning to find their house had been burgled. “Everything was fine when we went to sleep, so it had to have happened between 12.30am and 5am,” the woman explained.
“When I got up, I went downstairs and saw the back door had been opened and one of the cupboard doors was also left open.” In her half asleep state, the woman hadn’t fully processed that someone had been rummaging through her new home. “I thought ‘oh my god’. It was all a bit strange. I was really confused and couldn’t work out what was going on,” she said. The unknown offender/s allegedly stole the woman’s 2019 Honda Civic and handbag, as well as motorbike gear, a work phone and credit cards. But a number of other possessions including the couple’s new TV, a laptop and new speakers, which were left in plain sight, weren’t taken. “I thought if we’ve been burgled, they’d take more stuff. I was walking around ‘umming and ahing’ until my husband said ‘we’ve definitely
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By Mitchell Clarke