News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 3rd June 2021

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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Design award for Deep Creek

Churchgoers defy stay at home order

Cricket is at the crossroads

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SPORT

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xxx Lockdown signals early end for Target

Lockdown learning

By Gabriella Payne For the second time this year, schools across Victoria were forced to return to remote learning as the entire state was plunged into another ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown on Thursday 27 May. Although difficult, it seems our dedicated teachers at both primary and secondary schools were more prepared this time around and quickly sprang into action.

While the Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne continues to develop, local school principals said that they are trying to look on the bright side of things, and ensure that staff and student wellbeing remains a top priority.

The acting principal at Pakenham Springs Primary School, Jane King, said that although remote learning wasn’t ideal, she believed the school community were working hard to make the most out of the situation and keep the students’ learning on track.

“It’s not ideal at all, but we’ve got three values at the school and one is resilience,” Ms King said. “[The Covid outbreak] is out of our control, but we’re trying to model resilience and make the most out of the situation.”

Ms King said that in comparison to previous lockdowns, there were less organisational barriers to overcome when transitioning to online learning, as they had been here before, and she wanted to thank all her staff and the entire school community for adjusting to the situation so smoothly.

“We’ve been quite fortunate at Pakenham Springs as all the staff jumped into action quite quickly.

One difference is that last time learning was done through the website, whereas this time we made a printed hardpack for students,” she said, adding that the parent feedback had been very positive so far.

“This time around, we are right in the midst of our end of semester reporting, so we’re just trying to make the best use of this time,” Ms King said.

Continued page 4

The acting principal at Pakenham Springs PS, Jane King, said that the wellbeing of staff and students was a top priority for the school as they Picture: GARY SISSONS returned to remote learning. 239622

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NEWS

Covid closes Target early

By Shelby Brooks

Target in Pakenham Place has shut its doors. 239639 “Always neat, clean, tidy. Got some great buys many times.”

Amy Hobson said she and her mother had been shopping there since she was in primary school while Scott Williams shared his memories of the lovely man who had stood at the entry of the store since 1997.

Paige McLeod said her regular Saturday mornings used to involve getting a Wendy’s hotdog and trying to get a new outfit from Target.

Kylie Hutchinson said, “I couldn’t find my wallet and got really upset. I had had a really bad few months and it just made me really upset and I was crying and shaking. The store manager was amazing. She helped me search my car and took me to the centre management to look on the cameras. She was so caring and I have never forgotten her kindness. I always thought how lucky the staff were to have her as a manager. I always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. It is a real shame to see

the store close, I will really miss it.”

Some locals also reminisced about their time working there.

Debra Gruschel said, “Met some really wonderful people working there for 19 years, made some great friendships.”

“Ohmg my first ever job! I worked at Target Pakenham for six years,” Carrie-Anne Cazmo Wilder wrote.

Bree Flintoff Sweet said, “My first proper job was at Target in Pakenham!”

FSA/DET0016-03

Pakenham Target has shut its doors for the last time after more than 20 years servicing the local community.

The store was temporarily closed from Friday 28 May in line with Covid-19 restrictions and unfortunately won’t be able to reopen before its official closure on Saturday 5 June.

The store will be replaced with an Aldi as part of the redevelopment plan for Pakenham Place.

Star News Facebook readers mourned the loss of the retailer, sharing some memories from the last two decades.

“The staff were so friendly,” Ivy Tucker said.

“I remember when we were looking at buying in the area back in 2005 we popped into Target to grab something, and the lady who works there was so lovely and friendly, it was like being back in a small town and the interaction made me confident that we were making the right decision. She still works there, and it makes me smile to feel how this community is in some ways the same, despite so much growth and and expansion. I hope staff are being looked after in this decision to close. It makes me very sad.”

Alysa Holt Clorley shared a funny moment she remembered with her son.

“Best memory from Target Pakenham was walking in there with my son who was only two at the time. The movie Finding Nemo had just been released so there was HUGE cut outs everywhere of all the characters and my son was so excited he pointed to the cut out of the shark and yelled out as loud as he could - “Look Mum there’s a FARK, a FARK mummy, mummy look it’s a FARK”!!! Lots of laughs by a few people that morning,” she said.

“A lovely well organised and neat store. Will miss it,” Sandra McMaster wrote, while Sandra Denham shared the same sentiment writing,

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NEWS

Deep Creek Eco Play has won a Victorian Landscape Architecture Award.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Big win for Deep Creek

By Shelby Brooks Pakenham’s Deep Creek Eco Play has been named one of the finest outdoor spaces in Victoria.

The play space won a Victorian Landscape Architecture Award on Wednesday 2 June, being described by as having a “carefully considered design strategy and appreciation of play and inclusivity.”

The jury who handed out the award said the play space, which was created by Playce Pty Ltd with Agency of Sculpture was “a commendable project for its ambition to truly deliver all abilities play that can maximize inclusion for the whole community.

“The project demonstrates a commitment through rigorous enquiry to provide accessibility and inclusion, enabling play opportunities that focus on the intersection of varying needs and abilities, and its elements to cater

to a variety of needs.

“Through a carefully considered design strategy, this detailed appreciation of play and inclusivity has resulted in a beautifully integrated and highly accessible space which is engaging and inviting for everyone.

“The jury noted the extensive engagement with the disability sector and the local community which has built a strong sense of public ownership of the project. The project highlights the demands on contemporary urban spaces which must work hard to meet the varied needs of the whole community, and the expertise that landscape architects can bring to realising the potential for the greatest public benefit.”

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) recognised seven Awards of Excellence and 11 Landscape Architecture Awards across 13 categories, highlighting landscape architects that delivered above and beyond the sole pur-

pose of the project, championing collaboration, placemaking and commitment to community.

The virtual awards event commended outstanding individual contributions to the profession, for their commitment to supporting public life as critical to both the revitalisation and recovery plan of Victoria’s cities and economy.

AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards Jury Chair Naomi Barun said this year’s winners challenged and pushed the boundaries of landscape and architecture practice and demonstrated a continued commitment to creating high quality places that support public life.

“The past year has seen changes in the way public places are valued, with the rediscovery and enabling of new forms of connection and expression. These places became the backdrop for social exchange, exercise and mental reprieve,” said Ms Barun.

‘Juiced’ and asleep in stolen car, court hears

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A drug-impaired Pakenham man has been found asleep behind the wheel of a stolen car laden with stolen goods in a railway station car park, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court has heard.

The unlicensed Christopher James Dike, 30, had admitted to taking ‘juice’ otherwise known as 1,4-butanediol before driving six kilometres from Cheltenham and pulling over to sleep at Bentleigh station on 16 January.

Earlier that day, the Mazda CX9 station wagon had been stolen about 4.30am from a Pakenham home.

The vehicle side-swiped another car in a ‘hit-and-run’ in Narre Warren South five hours later.

Dike told police he was likely to have been a passenger in the Mazda during the crash.

He would have been too sleepy and drugaffected to drive, he told police.

From the station wagon, police seized

property from burglaries and thefts from cars in Narre Warren and Officer.

The stolen goods included a Boston Red Sox baseball cap, two Australian passports, three Indian passports, phone, camera, iPad, boxes of costume jewellery, fuel card, garage remote and wallet.

He was also charged with using the car owner’s bank card to buy $30 of fast food in Berwick South that day.

At a court hearing on 1 June, Dike pleaded guilty to contravening bail and his community corrections order, as well as drug, car theft and handling stolen goods charges.

He had been remanded in custody since 16 January, the court heard.

Dike was further remanded for sentencing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 July.

“The demand for locally accessible outdoor areas saw privately managed open space repositioned.

Private landscapes were used as venues for organised gatherings and work meetings and communities relied on public spaces for economic recovery of our cities.

“This year saw a record number of entries, reflecting a desire to celebrate the amazing successes but importantly acknowledging the significant contribution both before and during 2020.

“Submissions were centred around Victoria’s need to connect, play, roam, to give back to the community and to proactively adapt for the unforeseen.”

Across Civic Landscape and Urban Design categories the jury saw value placed on connecting people and elevating elements required to make it successful in a new COVIDworld.

Cardinia Shire joins in emissions reduction plan Cardinia Shire Council is one of 46 Victorian councils to sign on to the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia.

The bulk of Cardinia Shire Council’s buildings and facilities, including streetlights, will begin to be transitioned to the renewable energy procurement project from 1 July 2022, following the conclusion of its current energy contract.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen said that the council was proud to join the VECO initiative which supports council’s commitment to reducing the impacts of climate change.

“In 2019, Council declared a climate emergency and we continue to recognise that we must work together to take action,” he said.

“The council is committed to showing

leadership on climate change and we understand that our actions have an influence on our environment.

“By joining the VECO project we believe we can make this influence more positive through the use of renewable energy.”

Through VECO, which is led by Darebin City Council, participating councils will be provided with 100 per cent renewable energy.

Once all councils are on board, 45 per cent of Victorian council electricity will be sourced from wind energy, reducing a combined total of greenhouse emissions by 260,000 tonnes of C02-e every year - equivalent to powering 48,000 homes or taking 90,000 cars off the road annually.

For more information about the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), visit veco. org.au

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STAR NEWS 3

NEWS

Lockdown learning From page 1 “So we’re just trying to keep in touch, make sure learning and wellbeing are a top priority and we are using this time wisely to have the information we need to do our reporting.”

Beaconhills College headmaster, Tony Sheumack, echoed many of Ms King’s statements and said that although the lockdown news was disheartening, the school community had really pulled together to make the transition to online learning a smooth one.

“Like all Victorians, the Beaconhills College community was disappointed at news of the recent outbreak of Covid-19 and the prospect of another lockdown,” Mr Sheumack said.

“However, the College has a comprehensive online learning program which swung into action immediately, with remote learning starting the following day.

As per previous lockdowns, the College is offering a blended learning program at each campus for children of authorised workers and vulnerable children who qualify for this program” he said.

“Our student and staff well-being remains top of mind, and we will continue to support all members of our community in every way we can during this time.“ Ms King said that she and her teaching staff would remain “optimistic” and despite the ex-

L-R: Kelly Carmen (Educational Support), Riley (Yr4 student) Tracey Fraser (Educational Support) and Agam (Yr4). 239622 tension to the lockdown, Pakenham Springs Primary School would “be prepared” for anything.

“We will be prepared and we’ll cope, manage and look after one another,” she said.

Ms King said that although the situation wasn’t ‘ideal’, the school community were adapting well and would remain optimistic. 239622

IN BRIEF Two men arrested over child abuse material Two men have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation by detectives from the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team.

The men, both aged in their thirties, were arrested at an address in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs on Thursday 27 May. Both have been charged with offences related to accessing child abuse material, transmitting child abuse material, and other related offences.

The men were remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 20 August.

Lockdown extended for metro Melbourne Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended by seven days while regional Victoria is reprieved from restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday 3 June.

For metropolitan Melbourne, which included Cardinia Shire and the City of Casey, there will still be only five reasons to leave home: shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and study, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated.

However, people will be able to travel further for exercise and shopping, with an expanded 10km radius.

Students in Year 11 and 12 will return to face-to-face learning, including students in other year levels who are doing a Unit 3/4 VCE or VCAL subject, while that class is being taught.

A number of outdoor jobs will be added to the authorised list – things like landscaping, painting, installing solar panels, or letterboxing.

Other restrictions – including mask wearing – will stay the same.

Acting Premier James Merlino said he hoped by the end of another seven days, the government would be able to ease restrictions for Melbourne.

“But I need to be upfront that even if all goes well, we won’t be able to have people from Melbourne travelling to regional Victoria over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend,“ he said.

“The risk of exporting the virus is just too high.“ For regional Victorians, if there are still no community transmissions by tomorrow, the relaxation of some restrictions will go ahead.

That includes lifting the travel and reasons to leave home restrictions, upping public gatherings to 10 people and schools back to faceto-face learning.

Masks will still need to be worn inside and visitors to your home still banned.

AGED 50 AND OVER? COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out to those most at risk.

People aged 50 and over can receive their COVID-19 vaccine at one of the selected vaccination clinics or at participating general practices.

It’s voluntary, free and the best way to protect you and your community.

Our Therapeutic Goods Administration continues to closely monitor the safety of all vaccines in Australia.

To find out where you can get vaccinated visit australia.gov.au or call 1800 020 080

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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NEWS

Pakenham Main Street on Monday 31 May.

Leonie from All About Chocolates and Lollies in Main Street Pakenham is still trading from the doorway. 239323

All About Chocolates and Lollies (Main street)

Street’s sounds of silence The usual bustling main street of Pakenham was once again dormant this week after a fourth lockdown was announced to try stop the spread of Covid-19 in the community.

Although no exposure sites have been announced in Cardinia at the time of publishing, several have been listed in neighbouring Casey, including clothing shops Conner and Factorie in Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre Sunday 23 May, Gami Rasa Restaurant Cranbourne Friday 21 May, 7-Eleven Cranbourne Amstel Saturday 22 May, Oporto Cranbourne Chicken Sunday 23 May, Woolworths Cranbourne West Saturday 22 May and LeNails Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre Saturday 22 May. Leonie Thorne from Pakenham’s All About Chocolates and Lollies said she has been busy delivering gift hampers to people across the local area.

“If you get something nice on your door, you feel good,“ she said.

Ms Thorne said people had been stocking up on bulk lolly orders to get through the lockdown on her new website and they could ’click and collect’ at the store.

“Being a micro-business, the lockdown doesn’t affect us too much,“ she said.

On Sunday 30 May, the State Government announced a $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package which is expected to help to 90,000 Victorian businesses that have been affected by the new restrictions.

The package includes $190 million in $2500 grants for businesses, $40.7 million in $3500 grants for liquor licence and food certificate holders and $20 million for event operators.

Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said she wanted

A quiet main street. 239323

The Opportunity Shop on Station Street Pakenham. 239323 to thank businesses for doing the right thing by closing.

“We are doing what we can to support our business community most affected by this circuit breaker, including those in the hos-

pitality, retail, events and creative industries with further specific and targeted support,“ she said.

“I really encourage businesses to go to the Business Victoria website and register their in-

terest in the Business Costs Assistance Program.

“Our package is much broader this time around in terms of eligibility as it includes sole traders and also a specific fund for our events industry.“

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OPINION

Hearing help

The recycled road less travelled

By Danielle Kutchel A very good doggo is settling into her new role in Narre Warren.

Sheena the hearing dog has been sponsored by the Lions Club of Narre Warren to live with a local family and assist with their hearing needs.

Hearing dogs are assistance dogs that are specially trained to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting them to important sounds.

Sheena, a labradoodle, has been trained to let her owner know when the doorbell rings, when the smoke alarm goes off or when the phone rings.

She was trained by Lauren and Darren at the Lions Hearing Dog Centre in South Australia and was officially presented to her new family on Thursday 27 May – after Covid caused a delay of more than six months.

As well as supporting the hearing dog financially, Narre Warren Lions will do follow up checks three times a week for three months to ensure Sheena settles in.

To donate to Lions Hearing Dogs, or to join Lions to help out with this and other important projects, contact Narre Warren Lions Secretary Noelene Birnie on 0408 861 353.

Sheena and her new owner with Lions Noelene and Karen.

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Cash grab we can’t afford Casey Council’s decision to increase rates by 1.5 per cent defies the hardship that is so evident in the community (Berwick Star News, 20 May 2021).

Surely as Lockdown 4.0 bites even harder it is time for the Administrators to reconsider this cash grab from a community that simply cannot afford it.

It is well and good for Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff to cite hardship provisions if ratepayers can’t afford the increase but it ignores the fact this increase could not be justified in the first place.

Acting CEO James Collins is clearly very proud of Council’s capital works and Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 but surely now is not the time to be hitting ratepayers up to fund these extravagant projects.

Would it matter if one or two of the proposed major projects were delayed for a year or two or at least until Covid is eliminated?

If you are not aware rates are charged to owners according to the council’s valuation of your property – the Capital Improved Value (CIV). The cost of waste removal and the Fire Services Levy are then added.

Council’s web site shows an example of a $400,000 property incurring $1041 in rates. But the real trick lies in the fact that council increas-

LENSCAPE

Sikh volunteers packing free food in Devon Meadows. 239572 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

es the CIV every year. So here we have Council hitting property owners twice without many of them knowing – the first time on the increased property value and the second with the actual rate increase itself.

Council’s 2020 Annual Report is enlightening: In 2016/17 rates accounted for 65.51 per cent of council revenue – this has blown out to 72.23 per cent in 2020/21 – that’s more than a 10 per cent increase.

In 2019 council employed 706 staff – costing $116 million – this rose to 744 staff in 2020 costing over $124 million – a hidden increase of nearly 7 per cent.

So here is where council weaves a devious narrative to deceive the good people of Casey.

Council is getting fatter at your expense! One is tempted to ask have any of the new staff and $8 million in salaries improved outcomes in regards to road safety and fire prevention?

Throw in the State Government’s recent assault on property owners via its Budget and council should have thought harder about how they should pay for future community projects and its burgeoning payroll.

I, for one, like the idea of small Local Government particularly given the outrageous budget scenario that has been presented out by council!

Lawrie De La Rue, Berwick

· ·

Swim safety

www.davidwbull.com.au

Australian owned family business since 1979.

Many thanks for the article in last week’s News regarding recycling plastics into roads. I am now semi retired after spending 25 years in plastics, most of that in recycling.

I have followed recent developments in recycling including roads in Adelaide, Macquarie Lake, Craigieburn and the Netherlands. India has built over 26,000 km of roads using recycled polymer. The Victorian railways has a trial of rail sleepers in a siding under way.

The Casey project involves plastic bags and HIPS, both of which are banned from council recycling bins.

Recently, after hearing general public concerns about recycling, I have made contact with local council with an initial two page email.

There has been no reply despite prompts .

There are many successful recycling projects both here and overseas from daily US Plastics News International and the lack of support from local councils is very disappointing.

We need positive stories on successful work in this area because the young are seeing too much bad news these days resulting in therapy for depression.

Graham Johnstone, (by email)

Marathon swimmer Tammy van Wisse is among a group of high-profile Australians lending their support to help increase water safety education for under-fives.

Ms van Wisse has joined other famous Aussies including Dave Hughes (Hughesy), Cathy Freeman, Anna Meares and Mark Minichiello to be part of the Kids Alive Storytime with Famous Friends, which involves the stars reading one of the Kids Alive water safety books covering safety messages for the pool, beach, farm, and home.

Ms van Wisse is no stranger to water, having swam over 65,000kms in her career - including swimming the English Channel twice - and she is the only person to have swum across the treacherous Bass Strait from King Island to Apollo Bay. As a swim school owner in Narre Warren, Ms van Wisse is passionate about giving kids the skills to be safe around water, through swimming lessons and education programs and said the Kids Alive Storytime with Famous Friends initiative helped children absorb water safety messages in a really fun way.

“I believe there is absolutely nothing more important that you can do for your child than give them the skills to be safe around water,” she said.

“Tragically, drowning is still one of the leading causes of accidental death in children under five and I find this absolutely heartbreaking.”

Laurie Lawrence, who founded Kids Alive 21 years ago, said the book reads aligned with aspects of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 in supporting the availability of education

SOCIALLY SPEAKING On Sunday 30 May, a story was shared to the Berwick Star News and Pakenham Gazette Facebook pages regarding a Narre Warren church which attempted to hold a service during lockdown.

Police attended and arrested multiple people. Here’s how our readers reacted online: Sue Stride: How embarrassing using so called religion to push their agenda.

Janine Jefferys: Irresponsible.

Jennifer Oakes: Close it down, simple.

Sarah Prescott: And again I bet they weren’t fined or anything for breaching Covid laws, what is the point of attending if you are not charging them for the breach, why are we in lockdown if we can do whatever we want.

Steve Monro: Just remember, this is a minority individual group of people, and are not representative of “the church” as a collective.

Rebecca Brook: Good fine them all.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up To the High Street bottle shop attendant who went to the aid of the couple in their 90’s who were robbed. Robber apprehended and incarcerated, ladies bag returned.

Thumbs down To Parks Victoria who have closed the Warneet Jetties down a year ago this week. No further works have gone ahead on having the jetties re opened.

Narre Warren swim school owner and marathon swimmer Tammy van Wisse. to the at-risk zero to four years age group.

“Kids Alive is solely focused on educating families with young ones in this age group and the Storytime with Famous Friends is another way for us to reach more people and make our message as engaging and accessible as possible,” he said.

Ms van Wisse said while there had been significant progress made in educating and engaging the under-five age group, especially with the Kids Alive initiatives like the famous Kids Alive - Do the Five song, there was still much work to be done.

“Until the drowning toll is at zero, we must continue to spread the water safety message to both parents and children.”

Kids Alive Storytime with Famous Friends debut on Kids Alive Facebook @kids.alive. do.the.five on the third Friday of every month and then can be found as replays on Kidsalive. com.au on the Kids Channel.

Thumbs up To the hard-working supermarket and cafe staff, as well as all the health workers and cleaners who are getting on with an important job.

Thumbs up To Damien at Kelly’s being voted AHA Best Chef in Victoria. A win for Cranny!

Thumbs up To L’Arte Central Social Enterprise Cafe, Florist & Art Space. The staff are always friendly and the pies are amazing.

Thumbs down To people not wearing masks,esp in supermarkets,thumbs up to all the vics doing the right thing.

Thumbs up To this beautiful weather that Victoria is getting at the moment. So blessed. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Community pantry cash

By Gabriella Payne They say good deeds rarely go unnoticed, and that’s certainly the case for the Pakenham Living Learning Centre’s community food pantry, which has received a $40,000 state government grant to help support their work in feeding those in need.

Having started as a little idea in 2020, the community food pantry has blossomed into a fantastic communal food cupboard that provides a helping hand to our more vulnerable community members.

Located just outside the doors to the Living and Learning Centre in Pakenham, the large wooden pantry was built by volunteers from the centre’s ‘men’s shed’ and is an easily accessible and judgement free space where people can either donate food items or take some with them, free of charge.

The CEO of Pakenham’s Living and Learning Centre, Miriam Cadwallader, said that the community food pantry had already been providing a lifeline to many locals during the Covid pandemic and the money from this grant was a much needed boost to help see this project continue into the future.

“Donations come in to the pantry and we keep it stocked, but we decided to apply for the grant because it is getting emptied daily at the moment,” Ms Cadwallader said.

“Now the grant will help us keep it stocked again, and we’ll be able to provide more culturally specific foods and start doing care packs for those that we know need them.”

Bass MP, Jordan Crugnale visited the Living and Learning Centre before lockdown to share the good news and said that this $40,000 grant, courtesy of the state government’s ‘priority response for multicultural communities during coronavirus Covid-19’ program, would help go a long way.

“This funding means the Pakenham Living and Learning Centre can support our multi-

Community members Aanchal Mahajan Meshram (left) and Janette Young (right) with Miriam Cadwallader (centre) as they helped to paint the donation bins. 239669

L-R: Manager of Community Engagement and Inclusion, Glenda George, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and the CEO of the Living Learning Centre, Miriam Cadwallader in front of the community food pantry.

Picture: SUPPLIED cultural communities with culturally appropriate foods and health information that will be distributed via the community pantry,” Ms Crugnale said.

“These funds will go towards emergency relief food and essential items for people in

need; vital public health and vaccination information in languages; and support and referrals to local services - all in response to the pandemic and impact on our multicultural and faith communities.”

Ms Cadwallader said that in the short time

that the pantry had been running, she had witnessed many acts of kindness and knew that the food was helping so many people throughout Pakenham.

“I’ve watched as a stream of elderly people come in, take a few things and walk away again,” she said.

“Another time there was a young-ish man putting groceries into the cupboard, so I stopped and said ‘thank you, it’s very much appreciated’ and he told me that a few weeks prior, he had a need to use the cupboard, and so now he was coming to pay it back.

It’s things like that that make it all worth it,” Ms Cadwallader said.

Ms Cadwallader thanked the Cardinia Shire Council and the ‘financial vulnerability action team’, for spearheading this project and ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.

If you are able to donate any non-perishable food items to those who may be struggling, there are a number of colourful, painted bins located around town including at a number of supermarkets where you can drop off some food - or you can just head to the pantry itself, at 6B Henry Street, Pakenham.

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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STAR NEWS 7

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Kids dressed and job ready

By Gabriella Payne School dress up days are always a lot of fun, and the kids at Pakenham Primary School were thrilled to transform into their favourite community member for the day, as they celebrated our diverse society for Education Week.

On Thursday 27 May, the school grounds were filled with doctors, nurses, builders, ballerinas, footy players, firies and everything in between, as students dressed up as their own little community.

The principal of Pakenham Primary School, Gail Butterworth, said that it had been a great day for everyone and a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about the range of jobs out there, and how everyone comes together to create our bustling society.

“The theme this year [for Education Week] was ‘building connections’, which allowed the students the chance to celebrate the connections between school and the community,” Ms Butterworth said.

“The students gained a greater knowledge of services within the community.

It gave the students the opportunity to recognise that schools and community groups/ members come together to support student learning and provide a deeper learning experience for the students,” she said.

The dress up day wasn’t just for students either - as many teachers pulled on an outfit and joined in the fun for the day.

Ms Butterworth said that overall it was a very successful day, and the kids even had the chance to share their dream careers with their classmates.

“Within each ‘learning community’, students shared and discussed the different community representations and pathways that would help them transition into those fields,” she said.

It looks as though we’ve got a new generation of hard working community members on our hands, but for now at least, it’s back to school.

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Stirring trouble

By Mitchell Clarke

Stirring trouble

By Mitchell Clarke It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing any-

It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing anything but joy.

During the one hour exercise limit - which is now a distant memory - Spoonville sites across Cardinia Shire were the most popular place to visit.

Despite the fad having died down entirely, the Cardinia Lakes community was understandably upset at news their local site appeared to have been targeted by cruel vandals.

Estate resident Laksika noticed the destroyed site during her daily walk on Sunday 24 January.

“I think someone has just walked over it or kicked them all over. It’s very sad to see it. We always used to stop there and have a look for new ones,” she wrote on Facebook.

The reaction from her neighbours was similar.

“Absolutely disgusting. The highlight of our walk is our toddler stopping to look and admire the spoons,” one local woman said.

“That’s so disappointing. My kids had spoons in there,” another woman added.

Pakenham Hills Ward councillor Jack Kowarzik said the news was “really frustrating”.

“Spoonville was created by locals for the enjoyment of local children and to see it vandalised is disappointing,” he said.

Cardinia Art Society president Jillian Ronald described Spoonville as an “amazing initiative” during Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown.

“It’s given joy and positivity in some very dark times and I just think it’s really disappointing that, when the community put together a project to support each other during a difficult time, that someone would take the trouble to destroy it. They’d be better off going home to create a spoon and putting it with

In happier times - Maci, Willow and Aubrey at a Pakenham Spoonville site. 214450 the rest,” she said.

“I’d suggest there’s much better things they could do with their time.”

The ‘Spoonville’ trend was born out of Winnersh, England, in an attempt to improve mental health by simply making people happy as they were out and about during daily exercise.

The quirky saga soon made its way to Cardinia - after Australia’s first ever site was constructed up the highway in Longwarry.

Within weeks, the site had spread to Pakenham, Officer, Garfield, Nar Nar Goon, Emerald and Beaconsfield.

Ms Ronald acknowledged the Spoonville craze had now hit a dead end.

“They’re getting a little bit tired, so maybe it’s time for the spoons to come home,” she said.

Ms Ronald, who commissioned the two local sites at Lakeside in Pakenham, encouraged community members to collect their spoons from their local sites.

She added that in mid-February she’d look to clean up all remaining Spoonville’s and relocate any leftover spoons to an “undisclosed location”.

The once popular Spoonville trend appears to have hit a dead end.

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There were a few budding firemen and women running around the school grounds on Thursday.

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

Roxy Sheehy, the school’s leadership assistant (left) and Gail Butterworth, Pakenham Primary’s principal (right) got dressed up alongside the students as emergency workers. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Police had blocked off Victor Crescent in Narre Warren. 239185

A man is arrested. 239185

Police move in on the gathering. 239185

Church breaches lockdown

By Danielle Kutchel Police have dispersed a crowd of around 50 people who attended a Narre Warren church gathering that breached lockdown guidelines.

Revival Christian Church attempted to hold a service on Sunday 30 May in defiance of the Chief Health Officer’s lockdown rules, after its pastor, Paul Furlong, posted a video to Facebook encouraging the meeting.

Police had closed roads around the church’s Victor Crescent address in the lead up to the service, however attendees instead moved to Max Pawsey Reserve.

Police, including Public Order Response teams, quickly surrounded the gathering.

Attendees yelled abuse at police, calling them “paedophile protectors” and “terrorists”, while adding they were “doing this for you”.

Churchgoers - most of whom did not wear a mask - spent much of the service railing against the lockdown and repeating conspiracy theories about the lockdown being unconstitutional.

Speaking to Star News after the event, attendees again questioned whether the lockdown was constitutional, and made allegations that doctors promoting vaccines as safe are being paid by the World Health Organisation and the mafia.

But they insisted it was a church gathering, not a protest.

“It was people who wanted to pray to God around people. That’s all. It was not a protest.

But the police bombarded,” one woman said.

Two people were arrested in short scuffles

but the crowd dispersed after a scripture reading, followed closely by police.

It’s believed many of those who attended are not actually part of the church, but instead had come together over a common interest in defying the lockdown.

The church had previously held a service during the February lockdown.

Pr Furlong, who leads Revival Christian Church Narre Warren and has said he believes Covid is a front for the establishment of a ‘New World Order’ - a conspiracy theory that has existed for generations and been soundly dismissed - was fined at the time.

Prior to Sunday’s gathering a man - believed to be Pr Furlong - was arrested for alleged incitement and breaching bail.

A 53-year-old Tyabb man is currently in custody and continues to assist police with their enquiries.

Police confirmed they issued five infringement notices on Sunday for breaching of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.

A number of other offences were detected while police were at the scene including an unlicensed driver, a driver who returned a positive drug indication test and a person wanted on warrant.

Investigations into further alleged breaches of CHO directions are ongoing.

“Those who choose to blatantly disregard the CHOs directions and put the health and safety of all Victorians in jeopardy can expect to be held accountable and fined,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

The police line follows behind the churchgoers as they leave. 239185

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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STAR NEWS 9

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

NEWS

Neil Armstrong had the right attitude.

Attitude is everything A recurring theme in many of the business articles and presentations that I do is the importance of adopting the right mindset in order to achieve.

Last September’s article on ‘Growth Mindset’ highlighted how Professor Carol Dweck’s studies of high performing children showed that their enhanced abilities derived primarily from their propensity to learn from their mistakes rather than any inherent talent or skills.

This carries on into our professional lives as well where you will find that the best performing staff are not necessarily those with the highest IQ, but rather those that exercise higher levels of emotional intelligence (the ability to understand how others are feeling as well as the impact of their own actions on others) and focus on the personal growth and development of themselves as well as others.

This approach is very neatly summed up through Theodore Roosevelt’s quote: “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

Close to four years ago, I established a recruitment business (OrgMent Talent Solutions) with the intention of using this as a key differentiator in the search for new staff.

Whilst technical competence is of course a natural precursor to finding new employees, I believe that the technical characteristics tend to dominate the thinking of many business leaders hiring as well as that of the recruitment companies that support them in their search.

For me, this is the wrong way round since if you get a highly technically competent person into the business who does not share the company’s declared values, it is extremely difficult to shift the individual’s behaviours to align.

However, if you hire someone who has exactly the right attitude, it is much easier for them to learn and/or be trained in any technical skills required and hence stay with the business for longer.

This is especially true for highly specialised or key roles where psychometric or personality profiling tools are highly likely to be used to assess a person’s character and suitability for the position.

Consider the role of a commercial pilot or astronaut. I do not know for sure, but I strongly

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH suspect that a person’s ability to stay calm and focused during a pressure situation would be tested and an absolute requirement for any such role.

Can you imagine Neil Armstrong yelling out “Oh my God, there is only seven seconds of fuel left for us to land on the moon! We’re all going to die!” as he navigated his final descent onto earth’s closest neighbour? He certainly did no such thing, and most people don’t realise just how precarious the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle’s position was before it touched down in July 1969.

The good news is that as per Carol Dweck’s findings, the ‘right attitude’ can be learnt. Irrespective of what we were each born with, it is possible to change our actions and behaviours to accomplish whatever we want.

To highlight this point, I would like to share a personal example. The secondary school that I attended in the UK (Dartford Grammar School – incidentally the same one that Mick Jagger attended, although he was years before me!), was in the habit of testing all students at the end of the term through exams.

In the first maths test I undertook, yours truly came 23rd out of a class of 24, thereby showing my ‘natural’ ability in maths.

Fortunately for me, I ended up becoming friends with someone far more academically accomplished than me and partly because of some healthy rivalry and partly due to a shift in my own mindset, my academic scores improved and I ended up gaining an honours degree in Applied Mathematics. Clearly not due to any innate skill, but much more a function of developing the ‘right attitude’.

I hope this gives some hope to all of you that are striving to do better (or struggling with maths!). * Ian Ash is the Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions - www.ombs.com.au pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

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Art Show committee members Jillian Ronald and Wendy Andrews on hearing the lockdown news.

Wendy is seated on an interactive sculpture titled Jester’s Chair by Wisam Ibrahim. People are invited to sit and take a photo.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Art show is postponed

By Shelby Brooks Winners of the Art Show Pakenham have been announced online after the opening weekend has postponed due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Sharing the good news on Facebook was an unprecedented decision, event coordinator Jillian Ronald said.

“We thought that this would be something positive to do and help people through this difficult time,“ she said.

So far, highly commended awards have been announced, with Wilma van Eyk receiving one for her piece ‘Beach Time’, Maryam Russell for ‘Mesmerising Pieces’, Jennifer Koch for ‘Still Waters’, Susan Robertson for ‘Rainbow Bee Eaters’ and Carlos Alberto Mari for ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

More winners will be announced during the week.

The Art Show will hopefully go ahead from Friday 4 June, provided it is safe and government regulations permit, committee president David Young said.

“It is disappointing this has occurred because, at the time of writing, the works are all on display waiting to be viewed thanks to the tireless work of a small army of volunteers,“ he said.

“I must compliment the artists on the overall quality of their work, the new gallery at the Cultural Centre shows that off beautifully.

“It would not have been possible to get to

Susan Robertson’s artwork titled ‘Rainbow Bee Eaters’ was awarded highly commended. this stage without the support of the many volunteers, the judge, the artists, our sponsors, management of the Cultural Centre and the caterers Khans Hospitality.“ Mr Young said he was working with the Cardinia Cultural Centre to see if the show could be extended beyond 6 June.

“This will depend on the availability of the exhibition space and the majority of the art works being available,“ he said.

“It will be a shame if it is unable to open after all the work.“

Highly commended also went to Carlos Alberto Mari for ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 3 June, 2021

|

STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Vaccine demand hits GPs

By Danielle Kutchel GPs across Casey are being slammed by demand for Covid-19 vaccines.

Star News has spoken to a number of GPs across the City of Casey to determine the impact of the sudden rise in people seeking vaccinations since the beginning of the circuit breaker lockdown.

Many were just too busy to speak.

Others have said the volume of requests for vaccinations has skyrocketed.

One clinic reported being “overwhelmed” with requests for Pfizer, which is not on offer at GPs at the moment.

Members of the public have become abusive over the phone when they’ve been unable to get their hands on Pfizer.

The influx in requests for vaccines is in some cases impacting the ability to provide quality care to patients with staff busy answering queries.

One clinic noted the difference a few days can make; just a few weeks ago it was cancelling Covid clinics due to a lack of demand, whereas now, it’s running out of stock.

A doctor at The Avenue Family Medical Clinic in Cranbourne North, who did not wish to be named said the clinic was being careful to manage its doses to ensure there was no wastage of those precious vials.

She said the clinic was waiting eagerly for its next delivery of AstraZeneca on 11 June.

“We are planning and booking because we don’t want to throw any vials away like we did before because people booked and didn’t turn up.

“Now, everyone wants it.”

Dr Paul Tescher, clinical director at HealthMint Medical Centre in Cranbourne North, said call volume had “increased by 120 per cent following the government’s announcement”.

Jeroen Weimar gets the jab at Cranbourne Turf Club. 236118 “We have expanded the time set aside each week for vaccines to six hours covering around 150 doses a week,” he said.

While the clinic hasn’t experienced any difficulties in getting enough vaccines, he said staff availability to administer the doses had been a “limiting factor”.

Another clinic also noted a shortage of staff to give out the jabs.

Dr Tescher recommended that people

make a booking at HealthMint to reserve their AstraZeneca dose sooner rather than later.

“For people that wish to book with us, we have an online booking system and digital forms to complete prior to the visit in order for things to run smoothly and efficiently,” he said.

Other doctors also encouraged people to book directly with their clinic – and they urged the public to be patient and polite as doctors

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS and staff work through the demand.

For more information on Covid-19 vaccines, visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov. au/about-covid-19-vaccines or contact your GP. Vaccination is one of the five reasons to leave home during the latest circuit-breaker lockdown, with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton encouraging people to “shop around” for vaccine availability.

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NEWS With Victoria plunged into lockdown for the fourth time, the usually bustling streets around Casey have gone quiet once again. Our photographer STEWART CHAMBERS went for a lonely walk around our shopping strips.

All’s quiet for the duration

High Street Berwick was unusually quiet. 239143

Signs of life at food businesses in Webb Street, allowed to trade as an essential service. 239143

Signs of the times in Cranbourne. 239143

Empty footpaths in usually busy shopping strips. 239143

Quiet in Cranbourne. 239143

Ruby Inspired Hair and Beauty in Narre Warren, closed for lockdown. 239143

High Street Berwick’s once bustling outdoor dining has again come to a halt in lockdown number four. 239143 pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

No issues getting a carpark! 239143 Thursday, 3 June, 2021

|

STAR NEWS 13

THE LOWDOWN with Felicity McGuire-Bell, customer experience officer at Cranbourne Library

Felicity McGuire-Bell, customer experience officer at Cranbourne Library.

1

Many local businesses are offering click and collect or home delivery throughout the lockdown. Hop on to their website and see what you can buy to help them out over the lockdown. If you had planned a spending spree in person, give it a go online instead.

2

Keep your shopping local as much as possible - rather than ordering an item from overseas, see if the same or a similar product is available within Australia - or even better, within Casey - and buy it from here instead.

3

Never underestimate the power of sharing. If your favourite local business makes a post on social media, give it a like and a share - you might not need their products right now, but another person might see your share and make a purchase, and it could be that purchase that gets the business through.

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Dir ty on dining

By Gabriella Payne

Pop-up dining spaces sprang up throughout the city last year as Covid safe practices restaurants and forced cafes to turn to the streets for space, and after a successful summer initiative is set to run, the be months - a decisionextended over the coming that has left some munity members comvery unhappy.

The pop-up outdoor dining program originally developed was as a way for businesses to adapt to the ever-changing Covid ronment and saw temporary platformsenviseating areas quite and literally “pop up” Cardinia, with seating around spaces in many areas, taking over car parking including in Pakenham’s Main Street.

Whilst many people are enjoying making use of the new al fresco spaces, longtime enham local and Pakactive community Jack Mitchell said member that the lack of cleanliness and maintenance of the Main Street was “an absolute disgrace” and neededspaces addressed by the to be council.

“I travel all over the state and I have seen a main street never in as bad a shape Street, Pakenham,” as Main Mr Mitchell said.

“It’s just dreadful, everywhere, there’s there are cigarette butts bird and the street pavementspoo all over the place Outdoor dining spaces are falling apart. are proving quite “Why anybody divisive along Pakenham’s would want to Main Street now go to the Main Street. is beyond me,” Mr Mitchell said.

Picture: CARDINIA The other, less glamorous SHIRE COUNCIL view of the Main Street outdoor dining Mr Mitchell has be going anywhere lived in the area area. anytime soon, as since 2004 dinia Shire and said he has the Carraised Picture: JACK MITCHELL dinia Shire Council this issue with the Car- sions of Council are now calling for expres- dining spaces had proved popular interest for businesses mer and helped over many times, but avail. to support businesses sum- the shops - but it’s to no new, free “parklets” to apply mainly the dirtiness after a the problem,” - hoping to see more for difficult year. that’s “They told me porary outdoor he said. temthat they’ve got seating areas spring “Outdoor dining but it’s just getting big plans, Cardinia.

“We have this big, certainly brought up across the worse,” he said. low-hanging tree a buzz to and streets of the shire outside all these parrots following a tough “Taking away the Cardinia Mayor keep coming along year.

It’s great to see parking out the Brett Owen said making a mess. of the shops for and the community front a successful summer that after Cardinia some embrace venues and show trial of the parklets, unbelievable - most outdoor seating is just council Yesterday the council them some much the needed love,” were excited of the seats can’t came because she said. used.” complained to even be ing areas installed to see more outdoor dinwe them and they But the owner and throughout the area. said ‘yes, it’s very dirty’, but Mr Mitchell said “We trialled the they told us that Kebabs, Sam Bayraktar operator of Pakenham clean that the council parklet concept we should sending “someone should be mer in it up.” told over Star News that he sum- and other business Pakenham and we’re down there to clean as the council are owners on Main now on the look- that it up” out for new Mr Bayraktar said Street felt “accountable” for the restaurants, cafes that the area had the spaces are worthwhile ensuring the shire ly become “a dumping recentand bars across saster outdoor seating areas had been that would love to “a difor us”. ground” for people and usable if they are going to be taking leave rubbish and host a parklet from to March onwards,” Cr Owen unwanted junk as up car parking spots.

“It’s a total mess,” said. that he didn’t have well, and Mr Bayraktar said.

However, the pop-up Councillor Tammy the resources or “We can’t even use dining spaces won’t to be cleaning up the time the seating, it’s so highly of the concept, Radford also spoke less. the “ridiculous” point- side. mess outstating that the al fresco First of all we lost “It’s become more our car parks in of a dumping ground front of and an eyesore than something nice,” he said.

“About Children, Being Children”

Pick up your favourite local newspaper, the Pakenham Officer Star News from local outlets listed below or subscribe to our digital edition and have it sent to your device every week!

2021

pakenhamnews.starc

12476975-LB02-21

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I am possibly the world’s worst frisbee thrower!

What are you most passionate about?

Equality and opportunity for all.

What does your role at the library involve?

My role is about helping people. It could be finding information, accessing the digital library or assisting with the English Conversation Club. Every day is different. It also involves lots of book recommendations and lovely chats with borrowers!

Why should people visit their local library?

Why wouldn’t you visit? Welcoming spaces, awesome programs, extensive collections, friendly staff and the best part, it’s free!

What is your favourite book and why?

‘Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga’ by Todd Alexander. This is an absolute laugh out loud story about a couple from Sydney who decide to do a “Maggie Beer” and move to a property in the Hunter Valley.

With no farming or agricultural experience, what could possibly go wrong?

Who is your favourite author and why?

One of my favourites is Garry Disher because he is brilliant at writing uniquely Australian thrillers.

What would your last meal be?

My mum’s lasagne.

What was your most memorable moment?

Visiting my dad’s home in Ireland.

What was your favourite subject in school?

English Literature.

What event past or present would you like to witness?

The dismantling of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

THREE … ways to support small businesses during lockdown

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Q&A

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• Pakenham - Arena Cafe Shop 8 Princes Highway and Cardinia Road (Arena Shopping Centre)

• Officer - Officer Bakehouse 412 Princes Highway • Officer - Chelles Soulfood 20/445 Princes Highway

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• Pakenham - The Coffee Club Shop 6, 50-54 John Street (Pakenham Central Marketplace)

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NEWS

Helping Scouts with pride A Narre Warren scout leader has taken a lead role in planning the Scouts Victoria contingent in the annual Midsumma Pride March.

Kaine St Paul helped plan Scouts’ involvement in the annual march in St Kilda on Sunday 23 May - the sixth time youth from Scouts Victoria have marched to celebrate diversity and the inclusive environments local Scout groups create for young people.

In previous years, Scouts Victoria has been able to invite all LGBTIQA+ members, their allies, friends and family to the march however this year, 15 members represented the whole organisation’s membership with 20-year-old Kaine as part of the planning team.

In 2019 over 200 people came with the Scout contingent and in 2020, over 300 – so the 2021 team knew that it was their duty to represent all those people as well as the wider 22,000 members of Scouting in Victoria.

The Scouts’ contingent included members from Geelong, Caroline Springs, Ballarat, Pakenham, Essendon, Eltham, Doncaster, Trafalgar, Mordialloc and Sandringham representing the state-wide scope of Scouting.

The youngest member of the team was a Cub Scout aged 10 while three adult volunteers supported the group.

(David) Wombat Lyons, state commissioner – diversity and inclusion at Scouts Victoria, said the work and participation by the team and volunteers like Kaine reinforced that Scouting is a movement that welcomes all people.

“Scouting is for all young people - regardless of gender, faith, language, location, or sexual orientation,” Mr Lyons said.

“For young people Scouts is a safe and more supportive environment, a place where they

can be themselves while having fun and adventure with peers.

“We are proud to be out celebrating diversity and sharing a message that Scouting is an inclusive, welcoming and contemporary organisation.

“Scouting is a diverse and adventurous program - from rock climbing to theatre sports and [the march] reinforced that it’s a program for all.”

As well as the 15 Scout members who were marching on the day, members of all ages signed up to a “marching @ home” event and shared messages of pride and support to the LGBTIQA+ community during the march with their local Scouting networks.

Kaine said that being part of the Pride March meant young people could express their true selves and be allies to the LGBTIQA+ community.

“It’s great to think we have support from all ages,” he said.

“As a gay man myself Pride March for myself is so important because you get express you true self without any judgement from anyone which is so great for all LGBTIQA+ humans.

Kaine, who has been in Scouts for about a year, is a Scout Leader for the 5th Sandringham regiment and helps out with the advantage Scouts section for 11-16-year-olds with a disability.

He said Scouts is “overwhelmingly” inclusive and “diverse in every way”.

“I’m honoured to be a part of such a fabulous movement. I have never felt I could be more myself in any place than Scouts and you make fantastic friendships with so many wonderful people in Scouts.”

Kaine St Paul.

Picture: SCOUTS VICTORIA

FOCUS ON … YOUR HEALTH, YOUR IMAGE

Take steps to better foot health Most of us love working from home - but new research suggests our feet are bearing the burden of our change in lifestyle.

Research commissioned by the Australian Podiatry Association late last year has uncovered a significant shift in footwear behaviour as more Australians find themselves working from home in 2020, resulting in discomfort, pain, and loss of mobility.

The research revealed that during lockdown, 70 percent of Australians had worn less supportive shoes (or went barefoot) and one in three people noticed an increase of pain or discomfort in their feet and lower limbs, resulting in (27 percent) reduced daily walking, (20 percent) no exercising, (18 percent) difficulty sleeping and (16 percent) not participating in leisurely activities such walking a dog or

playing with their kids.

Commenting on the findings last year, Charlotte Bodell, podiatrist and member of the Australian Podiatry Association of Australia, noted that over the last few months patients had come to her with increased lower limb pain due to a change in footwear behaviour.

Charlotte says people need to be aware of the importance of wearing suitable footwear and understand the short- and long-term implications of neglecting your foot health.

“It’s important that patients are conscious to seek advice from their podiatrist not only when they are in pain and to look at their health holistically by considering visiting a podiatrist as regularly you would a dentist or optometrist,” Charlotte says.

Australians are urged to be aware of their foot health.

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SPORT

Brothers take home gold

By Gabriella Payne A passion for jiu jitsu clearly runs in the family at the Stivi household, and all their hard work and dedication has been recognised at the 2021 Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships, with brothers Dominik and Lean each taking out the gold medal in their respective age groups.

Following in the footsteps of their mother and father, who also train in brazilian jiu jitsu, both Dominik, age 12 and Lean, age 11 are both highly skilled in this martial art, and they said it was exciting to each be awarded the title of state champion - the second time in a row for Lean.

“It was very exciting, because I haven’t won in ages,” Dominik said.

Lean nodded in agreement, and said that all their friends at school thought it was “pretty cool” that they had taken out the top prize at the state competition.

Held on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, the 2021 Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships had been “a lot of fun” according to the boys, and their mother, Dragana Stivi, said that she and her husband were very proud of them.

“I always get more nervous than they do!”

Ms Stivi said.

“It was very exciting, because Dominik was like the underdog.

My other son [Lean] has more confidence, so he goes in saying ‘I’m going to win’, whereas Dominik, he needs to believe in himself more.

So for him to win this, it means a lot to him,” she said.

Dominik has been training in brazilian jiu jitsu since he was four years old and Lean since he was six - and now their little sister Klara has also taken up the sport, making it a whole family affair.

The boys’ coach and the owner of Pakenham’s SD Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Silvano ‘Sam’ Souza Chaves, said that it was amazing to see the Stivi brothers’ hard work paying off.

“I’m very proud of the achievements of

Dominik and Lean showing off some of their fighting skills. 238271

Dominik and Lean Stivi with their gold medals. 238271 these two young kids - they’ve been training here since they were very young,” Mr Souza Chaves said.

“It’s very encouraging for the other local kids as well, because our aim is to show these kids that everything is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard for it.

It’s such a remarkable achievement and I’m very happy to be doing this job with this young generation,” he said.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Ms Stivi said that jiu jitsu was a fantastic sport based on ground fighting where you learnt a lot of key self defence skills, and it was a great way for her family to bond and “keep the kids out of trouble”.

“We all train at the same gym so we all go together and my husband works a lot as well, so that’s a chance for us to be together,” she said.

Lean said he loved jiu jitsu because “it’s

Dominik and Lean love to practice brazilian jiu jitsu at home. 238271 competitive and entertaining”, while Dominik said it was a lot of fun and “you make heaps of friends”.

Mr Souza Chaves encouraged people to come down to SD Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no matter their age or experience, and give it a go.

“It’s really good for the whole body and the mind, and we all encourage each other here,” he said.

Local leagues ready to emerge strongly from lockdown

By David Nagel Local football and netball leagues are taking varying approaches to dealing with the impact of the seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown that caused a cancellation of community sport on the weekend.

AFL Outer East (AFLOE) – the home of clubs such as Beaconsfield, Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Officer and Pakenham – has stuck strictly with AFL Victoria Covid Framework Guidelines – abandoning all matches from the weekend – while the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) is exploring all options as it looks at the possibility of rescheduling affected matches later in the year.

AFLOE made modifications to the AFL Victoria Guidelines in March this year, and has worked with its member clubs in its approach to its consequent ‘2021 Covid-Specific Competition Interruption By-Laws’.

AFLOE Commercial and Operations Manager Cameron Hutchison said the league was focussed on the safety of its community first, participation second, with the results of the competition not the top priority.

Hutchison confirmed that AFLOE will not consider the rescheduling of any affected rounds of competition as a result of this seven-day lockdown.

“We discussed various options at the start of the year, regarding a Covid interruption to our season, and we came to the conclusion that the best approach for our specific situation would be to abandon any rounds affected by Covid-19,” Hutchison said.

“Our competitions are wide varying and different in structure, and not one solution would fit all, so we’re comfortable with that position.”

AFLOE has reverted from traditional 18 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

Local leagues have dedicated much resource in planning for Covid interruptions to their regular Picture: GARY SISSONS seasons. 234455 match points (four points for a win and two for a draw) to match ratio’s in premier and division one – seniors, reserves and under 19s, and also in division one women’s.

WGFNC League Operations Manager Brandon Milburn insists the health and safe-

ty of the community remains the top priority for the league, as it consults with clubs about the impact of lockdown on the competition.

The WGFNC currently has the option of rescheduling round eight on Saturday, 3 July, in the gap between round 12 on Saturday, 26

June, and round 13 on Saturday, 10 July.

Home and away matches in the WGFNC are currently scheduled to finish relatively early on Sunday, 15 August, providing an optional eight-week solution period before the grand final shut-off date on Sunday, 10 October, a date subject to relevant approvals.

AFL Victoria and Cricket Victoria have been working closely together through 202021 to produce a Winter to Summer Seasons Transitional Framework, which assists respective networks, including local government authorities, with planning guidelines.

The transitional framework could open the door for affected rounds to be played at the end of the season, with the grand final to be played in early October.

This could see a vast majority of grounds be transitioned to cricket use from midSeptember and then a gradual transitioning of remaining grounds through the football finals period “Making sure our communities are safe is definitely the number-one priority right now, and we’ll be having discussions with clubs, and internally, on a frequent basis this week to discuss possible outcomes,” Milburn said.

“The potential rescheduling of one round is an entirely different proposition to rescheduling two rounds or more.

“We need to also consider the impact on the fairness and integrity of the competition.

“We’re keeping all options open at the moment and will await advice from the relevant authorities, and assess club feedback, before any decisions will be made.

“We understand the difficulties that 2020 presented, for our participants, administrators and volunteers, and we need to factor in the impact on all of those important parts of our communities as well.” pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

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WGCA begins to transition

By David Nagel West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) President Rob Hansen sees his recent appointment as part of an interim phase that will see new talent and fresh ideas added to the league executive.

Hansen, who started playing cricket at Pakenham in 1968, began life as a cricket administrator when he was appointed secretary of the Berwick Pakenham Cricket Association in 1973.

He has since served terms as secretary of the WGCA for 14 years, was president for three, and most recently has been general manager and vice president of the league.

But Hansen sees this as an important opportunity for change, and urged clubs and members to become key pillars of the transition process.

“It’s time for the younger members of our association to put their hands up and be responsible for the future direction of cricket in West Gippsland, and owning what cricket looks like,” Hansen said.

“I very much see my appointment as an interim phase for the association as we begin to build for the future and make sure our competition is healthy moving forward.

“The coming years provide a great opportunity to grow clubs, build junior and female participation numbers and partner with stakeholders to strengthen sport participation more broadly.”

It’s been hard to ignore a negative sentiment that has building towards the WGCA executive in recent times, but Hansen said it was a key focus to take action and turn those thoughts around.

“We need to develop the lines of communication between the clubs and the executive, there’s no denying that,” Hansen said.

“The criticism has been that the communication has not been as clear and as easy-flowing as it should be and we acknowledge that as being the case.

“Sometimes the decision-making process is not simple, it is complicated by a number of factors, but it is something we are really focusing on improving.

WGCA President Rob Hansen is looking for a new breed to help lead the future direction of the Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS game. 239175 “Being open and accountable is something the executive and the clubs need to work on moving forward.”

Hansen said another key focus would be the further development of the WGCA Senior Cricket Committee – that would oversee all aspects of senior cricket including complaints, discipline and involvement in the future structure of the competition.

“We have some wonderful players that would be great administrators scattered through our association and it would be silly not to utilise that knowledge, passion and experience,” Hansen said.

“At the same time, we totally understand that making decisions in an association as big as the WGCA can be stressful and put pressure on one individual, so having a committee of people alleviates that pressure somewhat.

“I have already spoken to some individuals that have been around the WGCA for a long time about being involved. I think those people would be ideal and help us do things better in the immediate and long-term future.”

One of the major focus points for the WGCA is the retention of current numbers of participation, and then growing those numbers, right across the board.

The WGCA’s Junior Management Committee and Senior Cricket Committee are currently being bolstered, while the new role of Female Cricket Coordinator will be appointed before the association’s affiliation meeting towards the end of August.

In 2020/21, the WGCA had 17 senior clubs fielding 68 teams in eight grades of competition.

The WGCA is particularly focused on the

participation rates of the lower grade competitions – B to F grade – which last season provided 45 of the 68 teams – or 66 per cent of senior competition participants.

Hansen believes that are some key ways to make cricket more appealing for that particular demographic.

“We need to make sure that people are enjoying their cricket and it is not becoming a chore, because this is the area where we can really grow the game,” Hansen said.

“We are looking at several options for the lower grades, including the implementation of switch cricket, where teams would swap batting for fielding after 35 overs, and then repeat that process on day two.

“Hopefully things like that, and some other ideas we are swirling around, will help make cricket the sport of choice through summer.”

Hansen was appointed president at the WGCA Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Tuesday, 25 May. The WGCA welcomed the emergence of Nicky Simpson (Tooradin) to the role of Fixtures Coordinator, with the WGCA’s goal of having 40 per cent of females on the Board of Management now closer to fruition.

Other members elected included Shane Dalton (Secretary), Aaron Straughair (Treasurer) and Mike McKenna (Umpires’ Advisor).

The WGCA is still to appoint a vice-president, who will coordinate senior cricket and work closely with the Senior Cricket Committee, while the position of Female Cricket Coordinator also needs to be filled.

Expressions of Interest for all roles can be sent to secretary Shane Dalton via email at wgca@asn.cricketvictoria.com.au or dalton.s.au@gmail.com Two other presentations were also made at the meeting.

GameFace Director Glenn Carter outlined options available to clubs to sell their brand and to build membership, while Cricket Victoria Area Manager Jason Mathers communicated the strategies to unfold through the peak body to assist clubs and provide opportunities to grow cricket throughout the region.

Bridge club makes the call and takes on the challenge

By David Nagel When it comes to auctions - bids, calls and contracts are more commonly associated with the real estate market - but the Berwick Bridge Club has been using those exact terms for years.

Bridge is a game played with four players, who get dealt 13 cards each, and play in pairs, first bidding and calling for a contract, that once won by the bidding pair, needs to be achieved to win points.

That’s the very simple and brief description (from a journalist with little idea) of a game that never fails to challenge even the most experienced of players.

Berwick Bridge Club President Rob Osborne, a member of the club for the last 11 years, said it is the consistent but unique challenge that keeps him coming back for more.

“It’s the challenge of the game that appeals to me so much,” Osborne said.

“I’ve been playing for 10 years and I’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to the tactics and understanding of the game.

“Every single hand is different, there’s always a new challenge, and that happens several times during our three-hour sessions.”

Berwick Bridge Club is fully operational again after a nine-month shutdown in 2020.

The club has roughly 90 members, a decline from before the Covid-pandemic as some members have chosen not to return.

The club caters for a range of abilities, from beginners to very experienced players, and since re-opening in January has maintained Covid-safe conditions under protocols developed by the committee.

The club plays four times a week at the Brentwood Park Community Centre, 21(a) Bemersyde Drive, Berwick. The three-hour pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

From left, Melissa Nouza, Mark Saunders, Val Harmon and Joyce Garton enjoy their game of Bridge. 238333 sessions start on Monday at 7pm, and at 1pm for day sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and the most popular session on Friday.

The club also has beginner lessons and assisted play on Friday mornings to help less experienced members develop their skills.

And beginning on Friday, 18 June – at the Bunjil Place Library in Narre Warren – the club will conduct a 10-week beginners’ program that will run from 10am to 12noon every Friday.

The course is already proving popular, but places are still available.

“People who do want to learn will need patience and perseverance,” Osborne said.

“It’s a game that doesn’t come quickly to most, but becomes enjoyable and more satisfying as the understanding of the person grows. We are a very welcoming club that is happy to take on new members and welcome visiting pairs to our sessions.”

The committee and directors ensure that playing conditions and rules of conduct and etiquette are maintained, thus creating a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere at the club.

For all enquiries, contact Rob on 0422 277 274 or robosborne@optusnet.com.au

Berwick Bridge Club President Rob Osborne simply loves the unique challenge of the game.

238333 Pictures: GARY SISSONS Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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STAR NEWS 19

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20 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 3 June, 2021

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