Dandenong Star Journal - 3rd August 2021

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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Historic claim over Town Hall

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Emergency services at Leonard Street, Picture: GARY SISSONS Dandenong. 245076

Rithish Kirushnaneethan, 4, who died in a house fire at Leonard Street, Dandenong on 25 July.

Firefighters battle the fierce house fire. 245076 Picture: SUPPLIED

‘Death trap’ alert A tragic housefire that killed a four-year-old boy in Dandenong has highlighted sub-standard rental properties in the area, support groups say.

Rithish Kirushnaneethan died despite desperate attempts to rescue him from his bedroom as his family home in Leonard Street was engulfed in flames about 10pm on Sunday 25 July.

The cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed but Victoria Police believe it is “nonsuspicious”. The matter has been referred to the State Coroner.

Friends close to the family say they believe a wall gas heater in the lounge room and possible gas leak may have been involved in the fire.

The privately-rented home reportedly did not have an installed smoke alarm – which legally must be fitted by rental providers.

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They moved into the Leonard Street house two weeks before the fire.

Springvale Benevolent Society president Joe Rechichi said dozens of asylum seeker families were living in “the most deteriorated places for rent”.

He described a home he visited last week as one of “many death traps”. Many of the homes were privately rented.

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Rithish’s mother recently told Seven News that she’d requested a smoke alarm but was told it couldn’t be yet installed due to Covid restrictions.

According to a 2020 real estate listing, the home offered gas duct heating.

The family allegedly moved in - and then quickly moved out - of a slum apartment block in Stud Road, Dandenong after arriving from Perth a month ago.

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Merger’s story retold

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A new book tells not only of the fractious birth of City of Greater Dandenong but also of the community’s heart.

Author Martin Curtis’s 25-year history of the city is captured in a council-commissioned book City of Opportunity: The Making of the City of Greater Dandenong.

In 1994, the merger of the cities of Springvale and Dandenong along with parts of Cranbourne and Berwick shires was part of the Kennett state government’s mass amalgamation of local councils.

Curtis tells of the shock from Dandenong leaders when the entity’s initial new name was proposed - City of Heatherton.

And how Dandenong councillor Frank Holohan fronted Premier Kennett directly to reinstate the Dandenong name.

The book also lays bare the rivalries alive between the former cities of Dandenong and Springvale.

But beyond the tensions, Mr Curtis shows there is much to be proud of in the community. His skilfully crafted introduction gives a vivid snapshot of the community’s history and cultural riches.

The rest of the book elaborates on a strong community spirit.

The concept for the book was recommended by the council’s Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.

Committee chair and sixth-generation Greater Dandenong local Christine Keys said “to collect, preserve and make available to the general public the history of this city is very important.”

Of the merger, she said “a lot of good people put in a lot of time” to make City of Greater Dandenong work.

They overcame the tensions between the city’s Dandenong councillors and the younger Springvale crop.

Christine Keys with the City of Greater Dandenong’s 25-year history. 245512 “The Springvale councillors had started a community program so they had been looking at what the community needs and how to sup-

Picture: GARY SISSONS

ply them,” Ms Keys said.

“While the City of Dandenong was an older generation and they just wanted to keep things

as they were – more in the lines of rates and rubbish.”

The Springvale philosophy prevailed. As the book shows, the council has been active in many aspects of the community, Ms Keys says.

There were moves to put the former cities on equal footing, such as alternating council meetings between Springvale and Dandenong until recently.

The council’s administration was based in Springvale until it shifted into the new Dandenong Civic Centre.

And since then, Springvale Community Hub has been built “which would be the envy of people in Dandenong”.

“I think the council do their very best to ensure money is spent in all parts of Greater Dandenong,” Ms Keys said.

She agreed with the push to keep the Dandenong name - which dated back to the 1830s and was synonymous as a major town, hub and gateway to Gippsland.

“I could see why they needed it as a name either than Springvale or Dandenong. Heatherton was dead centre of the shire.

“But it would have been very disappointing to have Dandenong disappear.”

Mayor Angela Long, ahead of launching the book, said it showed the city had come a long way.

“We’ve become Australia’s most culturally diverse community, and a real city of opportunity.

“We would like to invite you to take a trip down memory lane and acknowledge the people who have made our city so vibrant and diverse.”

Proceeds from the sales will go to Dandenong and District and Springvale and District historical societies.

To purchase the book, contact the council’s Cultural Heritage team on culturalheritage@ cgd.vic.gov.au or 8571 1000.

Heavy burden for businesses as ‘relief package’ revealed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells With some irony, a new Covid business relief package was announced on 28 July - the day after Victoria’s fifth lockdown eased.

The joint federal-state $400 million package provided belated relief for gyms – one of 24 industries eligible for $5000 grants.

Dandenong Genesis Health & Fitness owner Sean Whitaker welcomed the specific help, including a new $80 million commercial tenancy relief scheme.

During lockdowns, the gym has zero revenue – all memberships are on hold. Yet it still has an $35,000 monthly lease to pay.

“It’s a positive announcement going forward,” Mr Whitaker said of the rent relief.

“But the problem was it was only effective from the day it was announced.

“We haven’t been trading five of the past eight weeks.”

Prior to the 28 July announcement, the business received a $4800 grant for the latest lockdown.

“For our staff, we have had no option but to stand them down. They can only apply for Centrelink payments.”

He also was relieved that his business was allowed to re-open on 28 July after an industry-wide campaign.

For the past 16 months of lockdowns, gyms were directed to keep shut for the longest under Victorian Chief Health Officer restrictions.

“It was good to see our industry recognised in line with other industries and not being left on the outer again.”

Mr Whitaker had said rent was one of the gym’s biggest expenses under lockdown.

Under the new commercial tenancy scheme, landlords will be required to waive and defer portions of rent inline with the businesses’ reduction in turnover.

After the fifth state lockdown, Springvale restaurant owner Andy Dang said half of his staff had quit for more stable jobs such as retail and factory work.

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Hoa Tran restaurant owner Andy Dang is desparate for staff. 228680 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS They had got sick of being continually stood down due to the snap lockdowns, Mr Dang said.

“I can’t re-open to full capacity because I’ve got a massive shortage of staff.

“There’s no one asking for a job.”

Despite an uncertain outlook, his restaurant Hoa Tran was surviving for now. That was thanks to loyal clientele built over the past 21 years, Mr Dang says.

Every lockdown chews into the finances however, with about 20 per cent of his losses covered by government relief.

Fledgling cafes and restaurants will be the first to collapse, he said.

Mr Dang said an owner of two takeaways in Southland shopping centre was closing down, in the face of $500,000 in rent arrears.

“I know we’ve got to look after the public’s health. But as we save lives, we kill livelihoods.”

Dandenong Genesis manager Jacob Edmonds as the gym re-opened on 28 July. 245516 Picture: GARY SISSONS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Spotlight on dark places

By Cam Lucadou-Wells An innovative crowd-mapping survey shines a light on Greater Dandenong’s most unsafe night spots for women and gender-diverse people.

The YourGround research project reveals that it’s the darkest places – those lacking lighting – which are the most uninviting.

Dandenong railway station was the site of most concerns.

“I feel so unsafe at this station, with gangs hanging around and whistling at you,” a participant wrote. “The layout is awful and the lighting is poor - I would deliberately avoid this station at all costs, even driving to the city.

“If I had a later class at uni to avoid having to stop here in the evenings to change trains.”

Others told of a stalker hiding and taking photos of them as they waited for trains, a drug-affected man exposing himself, drug dealing and hearing stories of women being assaulted there.

Recently, the State Government announced $200,000 towards exploring ways to improve safety and accessibility at the station.

Unsafe spots included Dandenong Park for a lack of lighting and people at night, and Thomas Street car park being inhabited by intimidating drinkers and drug users.

Noble Park and Sandown Park railway stations were also noted for poor lighting, as was Parkmore shopping centre’s car park in Keysborough.

In Springvale, Newcomen Street and Warner Reserve were listed as unsafe due to lack of lighting.

Safe spots included Harmony Square in

Dandenong Station was the most common nominee as an ‘unsafe spot’ at night in Greater Dandenong. 235584 Dandenong, Gloria Pyke Netball Complex and Springvale Community Hub. Harmony Square was described as “beautifully lit, people around, clean”. The Springvale hub’s security and cameras were praised.

Dr Nicole Kalms of Monash University’s XYX Lab said a lack of lighting was raised by more than half of the respondents on the survey’s interactive map.

She said lighting strategies should be aligned with ‘passive forms of surveillance’.

That is, activating spaces with activities and ensuring the activities encourage the presence of other women.

“Just lighting things up isn’t the right response either. Really over-lit spaces feel as un-

safe as underlit spaces.”

CCTV cameras didn’t necessarily make women feel safer either, Dr Kalms said.

“They protect assets, which are effective for business owners and councils.

“But women see CCTV cameras and feel that that there is a reason to feel unsafe. For women, CCTV cameras are a forensic tool.”

Some reported feeling entrapped in public spaces with few exits, such as railway stations and infrastructure underpasses.

Other trouble-spots were those deserted at night, crowded public transport that made it hard to identify sexual predators, untended alleys and areas near unoccupied buildings.

Dr Kalms said the overwhelming majority of responses (more than 80 per cent) identified

Picture: GARY SISSONS

unsafe locations rather than safe spots.

She commended councils for engaging with the project despite it “not always telling a happy story”.

On the plus side, councils will be armed with information to address unsafe spaces for women and gender-diverse people.

YourGround teamed Monash University’s XYX Lab and digital consultant CrowdSpot with 24 Victorian councils, including Greater Dandenong.

It invited participants to identify locations that were safe and unsafe at night on an online map.

The interactive map is open until 31 July.

Details: yourground.crowdspot.com.au

Among state’s best: High achievers ride Covid’s wave Three students at Haileybury College’s Keysborough campus overcame Covid disruptions to celebrate prizes in the 2021 Premier’s VCE Awards.

Davin Nambuswasam, Geethan Pfeiffer and Molly Vulcan were among the state’s top performers in VCE during the pandemicstruck 2020.

Davin took out two awards in Latin and psychology, as did Geethan for mathematical methods and for algorithmics.

Molly, who excelled in psychology, said she “cut myself some slack” to help avoid burnout during the stressful lockdowns.

“Discipline was important to maintain regular study in preparation for the VCE exams and SACs but I didn’t sacrifice relaxation time for excessive study during the year.”

She plans to enrol in commerce at Melbourne University, with a view to a law degree or entrepreneurship and some travel in between.

Mathematics ace Geethan said he missed the direct communication with teachers and peers.

Haileybury College students Geethan Pfeifer, Molly Vulcan and Duvin Nambuwasam claimed 2021 Premier’s VCE awards.

“I coped during remote learning by taking frequent breaks from my studies, using such time to play online chess or play the piano, activities that helped refresh my mind.”

He hopes to pursue further maths studies followed by an academic career.

Duvin said he wavered between days of enjoying the “quietness, solitude and auton-

omy” of online learning and the “not so great days”.

“By understanding that these were all just normal things to feel was what really allowed me to stay sane throughout the year.

“I forced myself to be conscious of how lucky I was to even have the ability to be in a virtual class everyday and an extensive school support system.”

He’s not certain what career path he’ll take but has interest in health sciences.

Haileybury CEO and principal Derek Scott said it was particularly rewarding for the students after enduring the unexpected shift to remote learning.

“I think the standards that have been set by these students also speak volumes of the calibre of Haileybury students and staff.

“In the face of the challenges presented

by Covid, it was ‘business as usual’ for our students, teachers and the support staff that helped to keep everything running smoothly.”

Across its campuses, 13 Haileybury students received 16 Premier’s VCE awards.

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Friends rally for charity

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Four life-long friends from Dandenong South have teamed to raise a stunning $38,000-plus for charity.

Zimyet Sabedinovski, Sally Maliku, Mary Memeti and Satlija Lumani staged the National Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser in tribute to close family and friends struck by breast cancer.

“We have had some loved ones who passed away so young,” Ms Sabedinovski said.

“It was very heartbreaking and touched our hearts. So we met up and said this is the time we need to do something for our community.”

The four, who had grown up through school

together, got to work under a group moniker South East Albanian Ladies.

Joined by an army of volunteers, they sold tickets and planned a sit-down dinner and raffle at Alencia function centre in Dandenong.

They were overwhelmed by the community response. Despite the hindrance of Covid-19, 150 donors supported the cause and $38,935 was raised.

Fortunately the sold-out event on Thursday 15 July was staged the night before Victoria plunged into Covid lockdown.

Special guest speaker on the night was surgeon Anannya Chakrabarti, who spoke of how to detect breast cancer and the tell-tale

changes to look for.

Heartened by the success of their debut charity event, the four friends are determined to make it an even bigger annual fixture, Ms Sabedinovski said.

“We just want to make people aware of breast cancer and get tested. It’s something that has touched nearly everyone.

“It’s great to see what we can achieve when we all come together.”

Details: www.instagram.com/nbcf_ladiesnight Zimyet Sabedinovski, Satlija Lumani, Mary Memeti and Sally Maliku staged the National Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser.

Voice for Noble Park A youth committee will be set up and consulted on new initiatives in Noble Park.

South-East Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis said the committee would identify key challenges for young people.

“Rather than telling young people what we think or believe are the issues and solutions, we and seeking to engage directly with young people who are directly connected with Noble Park so that they can have input into the development of future initiatives.”

The committee will explore new initiatives and projects during a series of workshops.

The committee is set up by Noble Park Revitalisation Board with the City of Greater Dandenong.

Young people who live, work, study, play or have a significant connection to the Noble Park neighbourhood are eligible.

To register go to www.youth.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au

Lee Tarlamis says young people will be heard on a new Noble Park youth committee.

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A historic image of Dandenong Town Hall, which was built in 1890.

Dandenong Town Hall, now the home of The Drum Theatre. 150148

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Town Hall rights claim

By Cam Lucadou-Wells There’s a saying that you can’t beat Town Hall.

But that’s not stopping Dandenong Mechanics’ Institute from asserting it has rights to the building itself.

The institute’s president Andrew Russell is reviving a debate that pre-dates the landmark Dandenong Town Hall building erected 131 years ago.

He claims that the council holds the upper floor of the town hall in trust for the institute – an agreement that was struck prior to the hall being built in 1890.

“It’s not their property,” Mr Russell said.

“They hold the title but they’re trustees to us. We have full rights of operation of the upper floor.”

He says the institute was set to fight for a ‘breach of trust’ claim worth “many millions of

dollars” in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Mr Russell alleges he has a copy of a 1911 agreement under special seal of the council that states the institute has had possession of the “whole of the upper floor and of the income of that portion of the building” since the hall was built.

That income hasn’t been paid by the council since 1955, he says.

It could potentially include hire charges for the meeting rooms, fittings, interest and lost business opportunities for the institute, he says.

Mr Russell says the council “refuses to give us the keys” to the building.

“We need access to our building or a building in lieu of it.”

A Greater Dandenong Council spokeperson said the council was the “sole owner and operator” of the town hall building and site.

“Council refutes any claim that any individ-

ual or association may make over any rights to the Dandenong Town Hall.”

It’s not the first time the council and the institute have clashed over the building.

In 2008, the council appealed to the Federal Court against the institute applying to trademark a black-and-white sketch of the town hall.

At the time, Dandenong Star reported that the council argued that the institute didn’t own the town hall, so the trademarking could “deceive or cause confusion” in the community.

From 1863, the Mechanics’ Institute and its public library formerly occupied the corner of Lonsdale and Walker streets.

At the time, the institute and the then-Shire of Dandenong council were two of the town’s most important organisations and were at “loggerheads” over a proposed town hall on the site, Dandenong and District Historical Society members Chris Keys and Carmen Powell

wrote in Star Journal in 2014.

At the heart of the dispute was the institute claiming it was deprived of five shillings weekly rent from the council.

In 1887, “matters weren’t helped” when the council proposed that the institute transfer the site for a town hall.

“After much controversy, the Mechanics committee finally agreed to hand over the prized location in return for the right to the whole upper floor and in consideration of council taking over its debt,” Ms Keys and Ms Powell wrote.

The Mechanics Institute set up its public library, reading room, billiard room and club rooms on the top floor, while a court room, town hall and council chambers occupied the bottom.

In time, the upstairs section was taken over by the council, Ms Keys and Ms Powell stated.

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City of Greater Dandenong Notice of Making a Local Law City of Greater Dandenong Local Law No.2 (General Local Law) Notice is given that at the ordinary Council Meeting of the City of Greater Dandenong, held on 12 July 2021, Council adopted and made the City of Greater Dandenong Local Law No.2 (General Local Law).

The City of Greater Dandenong Local Law No.2 (General Local Law), (the Local Law), will come into effect on 24 July 2021, operates throughout the whole of the municipality, and ceases to operate on 23 July 2031, unless revoked earlier.

The purpose and effect of the Local Law is to: 1. repeal the existing: • Greater Dandenong City Council Municipal Amenity Local Law No. 2, • Greater Dandenong City Council Road Management and Asset Management Local Law No 3, and • Greater Dandenong City Council Municipal Places Local Law No.4; 2. manage, control, regulate or prohibit certain activities occurring within the City of Greater Dandenong,

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4. improve the health and safety of residents and visitors to the City of Greater Dandenong; and 5. replace the repealed local laws with a single streamlined law which regulates activities that may result in potential adverse amenity impacts and which: • removes unnecessary or unused provisions; • introduces several new provisions to address new issues and identified deficiencies in the old laws; • enhances transparency by: i. clarifying the wording of various provisions; ii. identifying criteria relevant to the exercise of discretions; and

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iii. providing for standard conditions applicable to all permits; and • improves compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

A copy of the Local Law and incorporated documents is available from Council Offices, or on Council’s website at www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au 12504967-BL31-21

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Family ‘beyond broken’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A rallying community donated more than $100,000 to support a grief-stricken family who lost their four-year-old boy in a house fire in Dandenong.

Rithish Kirushnaneethan died despite desperate attempts to rescue him from his bedroom as his family home in Leonard Street was engulfed in flames about 10pm on Sunday 25 July.

Victorian Tamil Association as well as a separate Go Fund Me page have been set up to collect cash and donations for the shattered and homeless family.

The asylum-seeker family lost all of their savings and belongings in the awful inferno.

Within a week, the Go Fund Me page had collected more than $101,000 from about 1600 donors. All proceeds will go towards accommodation, furniture, clothing, and food for the family as well as a grave site and headstone for Rithish.

Donations were also to go towards Rithish’s funeral service, but a funeral director has subsequently offered the service for free.

Tamil Community Association secretary Murugesu Paramanathan said there had been an “absolutely fantastic” community outpouring of clothes, furniture and white-goods.

About $7000 in cash had also been donated to the cause, he said.

A stunning example of generosity was a Dandenong woman who offered her recentlydeceased mother’s furniture, beds and household items.

Mr Paramanathan said the next step was to find suitable accommodation.

In the meantime, City of Greater Dandenong has arranged for about $1400 aid for new clothes and basic supplies from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and The Salvation Army.

Rithish Kirushnaneethan, 4, perished in a tragic house fire in Dandenong on 25 July.

It also organised for culturally-appropriate bereavement counselling for the family from Monash Health’s refugee health and wellbeing service.

Local MPs are believed to be also lobbying to ensure substantial hospital costs are waived for the family, who are not entitled to Medicare.

Friends of Refugees has also offered to help the family find suitable housing, move in and furnish their new home. It is also fully supporting a male boarder, who was seriously burnt while trying to bravely rescue Rithish.

Go Fund Me page co-organiser and Greater Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad liaised with many of the willingly helpful groups.

“My phone has not stopped ringing from people offering support.

“No one can bring back their boy but the practical, psychological, and emotional comfort these people have provided, is incredible.

The Dandenong community is a very caring and capable community, and when Council and community work together, incredible things happen.”

On 25 July, Rithish’s mother had been cooking in the kitchen when she noticed the couch and then the room engulfed in flames.

His nine-year-old brother and three-yearold sister were rescued by the mother and the boarder.

The mother suffered cuts to her hands and smoke inhalation. She desperately tried to break through Rithish’s bedroom window as she heard her son’s crying inside, she later told Seven News.

Rithish’s father returned from running errands to find the home consumed by fire.

After their discharges from hospital, they are staying with a relative in Pakenham.

Cr Garad said the family was “gutted”, with the mother particularly distraught by the tragic loss of her son.

“She is eating herself alive with guilt.

“She said her son wanted to go to bed early and so she was cooking in the kitchen and just saw the flicker of flames and them the whole area was on fire.

“She is beyond broken.”

The asylum-seeker family had arrived in Australia after a long journey by boat from Sri Lanka in 2012. They had been detained on Christmas Island and in Adelaide, and remained on a bridging visa for nine years, according to the Go Fund Me page.

They had moved into their home from Perth two weeks ago.

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre deputy chairperson Wicki Wickiramasingham said Dandenong’s vast refugee community was shocked.

“The family survived war, cyclones and they came all the way from Sri Lanka by boat.

It’s so very bad for them – a family of young children.

“In Sri Lanka they feared for their life. I’m just really, really sad for them.”

He urged the community to come to the aid of the family.

Cash donations can be made to Tamil Community Association BSB 063 894, account number 1049 6414 or go to the Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-for-rithish Tamil Community Association volunteers are also available to collect donated clothes, furniture and whitegoods from homes. Details: Murugesu Paramanathan, 0408 360 865 or m.paraman@gmail.com

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Tuesday, 2 February, 2021

DANDENONG

Selba Luka, centre, receives her award from Mayor Angela Long and Deputy Mayor Sophie Tan.

Pictures: HAS MEDIA

Selba (front) and volunteer Veronica in the Afri Aus-Care veggie garden.

The organisation provides cooking classes for vulnerable members of the community. 213664

By Danielle Kutchel A tireless champion for African and CALD communities has been named Greater Dandenong’s Citizen of the Year.

Selba Luka, founder of Afri-Aus Care, received the award at an invite-only event at Springvale City Hall on Tuesday 26 January.

She admitted the award was a total shock, but a welcome one, and dedicated it to the community, staff, volunteers, supporters and

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sponsors of Afri-Aus Care.

Born in Malawi, Ms Luka often says her heart is in South Sudan as she works closely with the south-eastern South Sudanese community.

Afri-Aus Care was born of her experiences when she arrived in Australia, where she experienced difficulties and hardship in her first years in the country.

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African women who are new to Australia and need assistance to find employment and learn English. Many of these women are survivors of domestic abuse, and Afri-Aus Care provides mental health support too as they build a new life.

Speaking at the Australia Day ceremony, Ms Luka said she was honoured to have received such a prestigious award.

“May we continue to be united. Dandenong is a great city to be,“ she said.

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support, outreach and skills development for members of the African and CALD communities.

It works closely with youth offenders, providing them with a pathway out of these behaviours and into a more positive contribution to society. During the pandemic for example, ex-offenders helped create food hampers and deliver these to the most vulnerable in society.

Afri-Aus Care also works with “the mamas“,

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City’s top citizen

From page 1 “A young lady said she couldn’t open the front door from the inside and signalled me to give it a push open.

“There’s her baby and some relations there. Can you imagine a fire there? There’s no escape whatsoever.”

There were instances of several asylumseeker families with several children sharing a house – an entire family occupying each bedroom, he said.

They did so out of necessity due to little or no income. They don’t request maintenance fixes out of fear that the rent will go up, Mr Rechichi said.

“The availability of affordable places aren’t great. Some of them are unfit to rent.

“I don’t know who, but someone has to come out and look at these places.”

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre deputy chairperson Wicki Wickiramasingham agreed some private owners were reluctant to spend money on their houses.

And that they exploited asylum seekers’ reluctance to complain.

He said many rental properties to asylum seekers were sub-standard in Dandenong and Doveton.

Some lacked heating at all, he said.

Wayss chief executive Liz Thomas said asylum seekers confront issues that are “all too common” for people on very low incomes looking for “safe, secure housing” in the South East.

“The real problem is lack of affordable, suitable housing options, especially multibedroom homes for larger families.

“There is also very little emergency accommodation for families.”

Their situation was made worse by Covid-19’s impacts. In the case of asylum seekers, they did not qualify for some government payments.

Due to their fear of being identified and deported, they were less likely to ask for support, Ms Thomas said.

“This can lead to people managing in

A prior image of the lounge room in Leonard Street, Dandenong, which shows a floor heating duct as well as a wall gas heater. whatever way they can, which can include living in overcrowded dwellings, in substandard conditions.”

In recent years, there has been a Staterun campaign warning of dangers from old wall gas heaters.

It states such heaters should be serviced and tested every two years, due to the perils of carbon monoxide heaters.

Rental provider must ensure a gas safety check of all gas installations and fittings every two years.

They must also provide the renter with the date of the most recent safety check, in writing, on the request of the renter.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said rental providers must ensure properties meet minimum standards.

The same applies for rooming house operators – who face fines of more than $27,000 for an individual and more than $136,000 for a body corporate.

The State Government provides funding to support asylum-seekers at risk of homelessness with rent arrears, advances, shortterm rent subsidies and bond loans.

New arrivals are also eligible for crisis accommodation. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Review of ‘issues’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong Council will not issue a “stop work” as it reviews the controversial Keysbrough Townhouses project.

After heated public criticism, the council is set to begin a “peer review” of eight “key issue areas” raised about the 116-dwelling estate under construction at 452 Cheltenham Road.

Residents had raised alarm about the western dwellings standing about a metre from a truck access road into HomeCo shopping centre.

As a result, there was no footpath along the access road to the HomeCo shopping centre, child-care centre and Cheltenham Road bus stop.

The estate’s corner property Lot 1 stands just a metre from a slip lane where trucks enter from an 80km/h roadway.

The intersection has been likened to a notorious truck-route corner at City Road, Southbank in which five pedestrians were injured by a B-double truck cutting the footpath.

At a council meeting on 26 July, Cr Jim Memeti asked why the council wasn’t issuing a stop work while the project was reviewed.

City planning director Jody Bosman said there was “nothing for us to issue a stop-work on” at this stage.

He said in the council’s view, all planning permits were appropriately and lawfully issued – as well as all building permits approved by a private building surveyor, not the council.

“We have to await the outcome of the peer review on these matters.

“If there’s anything to be done, we will take it forward.”

Chief executive John Bennie said the peer review would assess issues including Lot 1, the proximity of a light power pole from Lot 1, front setbacks from Lot 1, the footpath network within and outside the estate, several

Cheltenham Road’s footpath comes to an abrupt end at ‘Lot 1’. 241044 easements and parking inside and outside the state.

The review will be undertaken by council officers from the planning, engineering and traffic safety departments as well as “external third-party specialists”.

They would potentially report on the work undertaken and ways to “address or redress matters brought to our attention”, Mr Bennie said.

The findings are expected by the end of August.

Recently Mr Bennie stated in correspondence that there were “many issues that warrant some attention”.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Ex-mayor Peter Brown had warned councillors and officers faced the risk of “criminal negligence” and civil lawsuits if a resident or pedestrian was killed or injured at the intersection near Lot 1.

The intersection design was a “travesty of town planning exposing pedestrians and vehicle users to foreseeable, unreasonable, serious risk to life and limb”, Mr Brown wrote.

The townhouses’ current position was in an amended permit approved by a council officer in 2018.

The application by developer Salter Brothers was neither advertised to the public or put in front of Greater Dandenong councillors.

Gang crime A Cranbourne man and a Dandenong man have been arrested as part of an alleged gang-related cocaine ring across Victoria.

The pair and a Glenroy man were arrested as part of raids by Gang Crime Squad and Echo Taskforce detectives in Dandenong, Cranbourne, Glenroy and Fitzroy on 28 July.

Drugs such as cocaine and cannabis were seized during the raids, police say.

The 22-year-old Cranbourne man was charged with deceptions, drug trafficking, as well as driving and bail offences.

He was expected to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 28 July.

The 25-year-old Dandenong man was released pending further enquiries, police say.

On 27 July, six men were arrested and charged after three police raids in Shepparton and Kialla. They face charges including cocaine trafficking, firearm and explosives offences and bail offences.

During the rural Victoria raids, police allegedly seized a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, cannabis, GHB, cash, illegal fireworks, design clothing and accessories.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks of Victoria Police’s Crime Command praised the “excellent result”.

“We now have nine people who will be held accountable for the harm their criminal activities cause the community.

“The seizure of any firearm is always especially pleasing and again, underlines the strong link we know exists between illicit drugs and firearms.”

Det Insp Banks called for people with any information on the group to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 7

NEWS

Pear varieties from Taylor’s Orchards. 245567

Fresh radishes from Peninsula Organics. 245567

Fresh from the farmers This wet winter has been just the tonic for healthy greens.

Peninsula Organic Farmgate is one of several primary producers that sell their homegrown foods direct to the public at Dandenong Market.

This season, rainbow chard, silver beet, kale, broccoli and lettuces, as well as leeks, radishes, beetroots and heirloom carrots are being picked at the seller’s farms in Baxter on the Mornington Peninsula and Barham near the Murray River.

The farms are four-and-a-half hours’ drive apart, offering starkly different climates and growing conditions.

The reality for farmers is they are often at the mercy of the weather.

“Our carrots have taken forever to get growing this winter. It’s been too wet,” proprietor Tash Shields says.

“At our farm on the Murray, it’s usually quite warm. But we’ve had more rain than for the six years we’ve owned the property.”

Last year, Peninsula Organic Farmgate set up their stall in the deli section of Dandenong Market. It also home-delivers across Melbourne’s South East.

The produce is certified organic, meaning it’s verified as free from chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

The Baxter farm was long dormant when Ms Shields and her husband bought them in 2009. After a year “in conversion”, the farm’s organic status was authenticated.

“By farming organically, we seem to be getting less diseases and pests. You see frogs and other animals take care of the bugs.

“They eat some of the crops but it’s like a natural ecosystem.”

The voracious cabbage moths are avoided by delaying their cabbages – so they’re grown outside of the moths’ life cycles.

Another Peninsula farmer at Dandenong Market is Taylors Orchards.

Most of its fresh apples, pears, peaches and nectarines hail from its 60-year orchards in Tyabb.

Proprietor Gary Taylor is carrying on the tradition from his parents.

Their produce has been sold at Dandenong Market since the mid-1980s. After supplying other market sellers, the orchard set up its own stall in 2003.

They supplement their offerings with fruit from other local orchards within 60 kilometres of Dandenong.

Triple Q Farm has sold freshly harvested eggs at Dandenong Market for more than 15 years.

Each market day at 3am, the farmers collect their eggs and care for their hundreds of freerange chickens.

It sells eggs of all shapes and sizes, including duck and quail eggs.

Another local producer at the market is Hart’s Honey, which harvests from its 600 hives in Lilydale as well as across Victoria and NSW. Joza Hart moves his portable hives between his properties to allow bees to collect nectar from different trees and flowers, such as yellow box, ironbark, stringybark and orange blossom.

Each of the honey has different properties and uses – such as helping a cold, enhancing a cheeseboard or making a great spread on warm toast.

Dandenong Market is celebrating its primary producers as part of National Farmers Market Week.

8 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

Rainbow chard at Peninsula Organics. 245567

Piles of apples from Taylor’s Orchards. 245567

Tash Shields from Peninsula Organics Farmgate. 245567

Jade and Michelle from Taylor’s Orchards. 245567

Orange-blossum honey from Hart’s Honey. 245567

A quail egg from Triple Q Eggs. 245567

George from Triple Q Eggs. 245567

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

‘Online’ car robbers jailed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Two violent, drug-fueled armed robbers bashed a Gumtree seller and his housemate in his Dandenong home in an attempt to steal his car, the Victorian County Court heard.

Benjamin Matthews, 31, of Mulgrave, and Matthew Senior, 24, of Balaclava, respectively wielded a sawn-off shotgun and an imitation Glock handgun during the attack on 28 July 2020.

The victim had advertised a 2005 BMW X5 for sale for $4200 on Gumtree when he received a message from a ‘James Bafoula’.

Matthews – who as Mr Bafoula offered “$3500 cash today” - drove with his co-offender to the Dandenong address.

After a test drive and some haggling, Matthews tried to online transfer $2900 to the victim’s account. The victim discovered the transaction failed, so asked Matthews to withdraw

the cash instead.

Matthews left with the owner’s manual and transfer papers, saying he had the money at home.

In the meantime – and on the back of a three-day drug binge - Matthews became “paranoid” that the BMW was stolen.

He sent a message to the victim: “Don’t sell dodgy cars, someone will be back soon to collect my mate’s things. And if not well…(ambulance emoji)” The message was unnoticed by the victim.

Matthews and Senior hatched a plan to steal the vehicle with “force and weapons”, sentencing judge Patricia Riddell said on 21 July.

In the victim’s bedroom, they pulled out their guns and demanded the victim’s keys.

During a struggle with the victim and his housemate, they battered the victim’s head with their weapons multiple times.

It was unknown whether the shotgun was loaded, and only later was it discovered that the Glock was an imitation.

“It’s no wonder he says he feared for his life,” Judge Riddell said.

The armed men fled empty-handed in Matthews’ vehicle after the housemate ran outside yelling, “Gun, gun, he’s got a gun.”

The victim was hospitalised, requiring stitches for his facial wounds and surgery for a cut hand.

As a result, he felt unsafe at home, and was evicted in any case – without the return of his bond – due to the landlord’s fears that the victim knew the offenders.

Matthews was on bail at the time and prohibited from carrying a gun.

Upon arrest, Matthews denied the robbery.

He told police at the time he was at home all day on a “narcotic binge”.

Judge Riddell noted that both Matthews

and Senior’s lives were marked by family tragedy and unresolved grief.

Their future prospects hinged on being drug-free after their release from jail, she said.

Since 2019, Matthews spent about $30,000 of his inheritance on a cocktail of drugs, including “using ice as hard as I could”.

His offending - involving drugs, weapons, driving and dishonesty - escalated.

Senior’s youthfulness, mental health issues and limited criminal history were noted.

His successful drug rehab in the past showed “real grit and determination”, the judge said.

Matthews was jailed for up to three years, seven months. He was eligible for parole after two years and three months.

Senior was jailed for 17 months, followed by an 18-month supervised, therapeutic CCO. Both had nearly served a year of their jail terms already while in pre-sentence custody.

$60m plan open for comment: Public say on pool design An online survey has been launched for the public to have their say on the design of Dandenong’s new aquatic centre.

The $60 million-plus facility will replace the 40-year-old Dandenong Oasis. It will be built south of the existing Oasis in Mills Reserve in 2023.

The new Dandenong Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre will have a greater focus on allied health, passive activity, education, fitness and wellness.

It includes a 50-metre pool, two warm water pools, a learn-to-swim pool, leisure pool/water play, spa, sauna and steam room, gym, group fitness rooms, allied health consulting suites, meeting rooms, creche and cafe.

The online survey asks for community opinion on how to make the centre welcoming and accessible to all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds.

The survey asks what allied health services you’d use, such as a GP, nutritionist, physiotherapist or counsellor.

It also seeks the features that would attract people to the warm water pool, gym and fitness rooms, main pool hall and the outdoor recreational area.

Respondants are asked about ideal noise and lighting levels, accessibility needs, the need for social areas and seating, and the proximity to the cafe and changerooms.

Greater Dandenong City Council Mayor, Angela Long said the new centre will include both traditional aquatic and leisure facilities, plus a range of features designed to encourage less active people to enjoy the facility.

“The proposed inclusion of two warm water pools is one example of how the new centre will cater for a broad cross section of the community, including those seeking gen-

Have your say on the replacement design for the ageing Dandenong Oasis. 234418 tle exercise, rehabilitation / hydrotherapy, relaxation or just wanting to socialise with friends,” Cr Long said.

To take the survey, go to greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/community-engagement/ dandenongs-new-aquatic-and-wellbeing-

centre-consultation-dandenong-oasis The survey is open until Sunday 15 August.

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www.therevival.com.au Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 9

LOOKING BACK

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

100 years ago

50 years ago

4 August 1921 Dandenong Football Club There was a good attendance of players and the committee of the Dandenong Football Club at the meeting on Friday night held in the Assembly Room, Town Hall.

The president of the club (Mr W H A Rodd) occupied the chair and explained that the meeting had been called to try to improve matters in connection with the club and endeavour to overcome the trouble recently in securing a full team for the club.

After some discussion, in which one of the two members stated they were not prepared to play unless a full team took to the field, certain action was agreed upon so as to obtain improvement in the matter referred to.

29 July 1971 Property shock: City land deal off Plans for a massive re-development scheme in the heart of Lonsdale St, Dandenong, have been scrapped. A Sydney-based development company intended to convert the premises previously occupied by Gippsland Hardware (G N Raymond) into an arcade of shops leading through to McCrae St. Now after paying $450,000 for the property last December, the Sydney firm Dominion Properties Ltd has put the building up for sale. But the company hopes its conception of a lavish arcade leading from Lonsdale St to the projected $7m Myer Emporium complex in McCrae St will be carried out by the new owners. The managing director of Dominion, Mr Lloyd Williams of Punt Rd South Yarra said after the sale that

reconstruction on the site would start soon after March 10 when Gippsland Hardware vacated.

20 years ago 6 August 2001 Poverty out of control A welfare centre in Keysborough is struggling to meet a 50% increase in the number of families wanting food hampers. Keysborough Learning Centre manager Agnes Bonar said the situation was the worst she had seen in years and was reinforced by the demands on other welfare agencies. Ms Bonar said: “We are getting up to 15 families a day coming in for food hampers and we never get less that 25 families a week. We just can’t cope with the demand”. Ms Bonar said casual working conditions, unemployment and the GST were reasons behind a 50% increase in the num-

ber of families coming to the centre for food hampers. “The casual work basis is really knocking people around because they don’t know from week to week what their income will be compared with their bill and living costs,” she said.

5 years ago 1 August 2016 Light and Dark Cr Jim Memeti said Webster Street in Dandenong was “quite dark” when he recently visited at night. Fellow councillors chuckled at the Monday 26 July Greater Dandenong Council meeting. “It was night-time Jim,” Cr Maria Sampey called out. Mayor Heang Tak asked engineering services director Julie Reid to “shed some light” on the issue. She offered to investigate whether lighting in the street was up to standard.

NEWS

Everyday happiness Imam Ismet Purdic and Sabina Z. Purdic of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mosque, Noble Park I am writing this message for you because I am happy, and I believe you are too.

Happiness is always with us, now in the time of pandemic and lockdown we all feel it.

So, we were happy yesterday, and we have no reason to be sad today.

In every day and moment of our life, happiness is around us and know that there are a thousand reasons and paths to happiness.

In all this, it is very important how we look at things and at what is happening.

No need to curse the darkness, just wait for the morning and enjoy the sunlight.

Lockdown has definitely changed our lives, but ask yourself: have we really lived life in the best way before?

There is always something that can be changed and made better.

Let’s do so in lockdown and after it, and

MESSAGE OF

HOPE especially with the fact that everything has a beginning and its end.

Happiness is the only and alone thing we carry with us throughout life and even after death. How can that be?

If we fill life with good things of love, kindness, attention, respect for others, helping those in need, improving the environment, sharing grace, humanity, solidarity . . . then we will always be happy and we will have reason to wait for the light of day in the darkness of night.

To laugh and give someone a smile, a nice word, support and to share happiness. In return, others will give it to us.

Isn’t life really a mutual sharing of good, love, grace . . .

If we look at life that way, the voices around us don’t matter.

I enjoy the murmur of the river as well as the songs of birds.

I like to watch flowers on a sunny day as well as to watch stars in the sky.

Look around you, you will see people. Your mission is to be happy, and help people be happy, so happiness will live in your house.

It means that happiness will wake up with you every morning: happiness is the good smell of morning coffee, the nice taste of afternoon tea, the warm voice from another side of the phoneline, the bright face of a visitor at your door.

Happiness is me and you, so enjoy happiness.

Lockdown is just one night that passes, and tomorrow is a sunny and beautiful day, a day of happiness and joy.

Skills program to start: Jobs at the ready Manufacturers are offering a free four-week course to help bridge a welding skills-shortage at South East workplaces.

South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance (SEMMA) received $200,000 of federal funding for the industry-led program that trains and places 60 job seekers in full-time work.

SEMMA chief executive Vonda Fenwick said the “creative solution” was made to address a “severe shortage of suitably trained and skilled welders” in Australian industry for the past 25 years.

“The reality of Australia’s construction-led Covid recovery and the increased Defence focus over the coming years will increase demand for skilled welders exponentially.”

According to SEMMA, companies had re-

sorted to importing skilled migrant workers due to a lack of local job-ready talent.

Ms Fenwick said there was also fear that the infrastructure-led recovery would draw welders away from manufacturing.

“We simply cannot wait for three years for Tafe to turn out a couple of hundred apprentices. We need a more creative solution, and we believe that is what SEMMA’s proposal offers; it is the welding equivalent of a ‘shovel ready project’.”

The 150-hour course will equip graduates to perform the work of ‘Class 2 welders’ – sufficient for about 70 per cent of welding tasks at local manufacturers.

Participants – at no cost to them - will learn key welding skills under Chisholm Tafe and an

industry leader in a real factory environment.

The training is tailored to local employer needs, including the use of brand-new equipment such as VR welding simulators.

They are then placed in full-time work with a South East manufacturer. More than a dozen manufacturers have provided expressions of interest to employ successful graduates, SEMMA stated. The course offers a pathway to potentially full-time, stable and long-term careers in welding.

The program will target youth, female and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as people whose jobs were disrupted by Covid-19.

The program is expected to start from late September.

Sports win major grants Sports centres have come up winners in a recent round of State Government grants.

Greater Dandenong Council received two grants for a total $148,750 to upgrade fencing, dugouts and a batting cage at the Police Paddocks softball and baseball diamonds.

The cage also includes lighting for night training.

The facilities are used by the South East Baseball Club and Dandenong Softball Association.

With a $250,000 State grant, the council is set to install new lighting for soccer and Australian Rules football at Tatterson Park oval.

The field is used by Parkmore Junior Football Club, South East United Football Club, Dandenong City Soccer Club and Dandenong South Soccer Club.

The council also received $100,000 to relocate and upgrade of cricket training nets used by Parkfield Cricket Club at Parkfield Reserve.

The project also was granted $30,000 from the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund.

Works on the nets are expected to start in 2021-’22.

The grants were provided by the State Government’s 2021 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Mayor Angela Long said the upgrades would provide great long-term benefits.

“It will mean we have improved facilities to encourage participation, which will have lasting benefits for the health and wellbeing of our community.”

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10 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF Occupants flee house fire

Road plan gets tick

Occupants have fled to safety from a house fire in Noble Park.

Fire crews were called out to reported flames coming from the building in Alma Crescent just after 2.30pm on Tuesday 27 July.

Twelve firefighters from Fire Rescue Victoria, supported by CFA crews, brought the fire under control by 3.10pm.

“Fortunately all occupants of the building had evacuated before firefighters arrived on scene,” an FRV spokesperson said.

Firefighters remained to ensure the scene was safe, she said.

A smoke advice message was issued by Fire Rescue Victoria to residents in Dandenong and Noble Park just after 3pm.

It warned that smoke may be visible from nearby roads including Eastlink. There was “currently no threat to the community”.

Alma Crescent was closed to traffic. Victoria Police was directing traffic near the incident.

By Danielle Kutchel Residents of Casey want to see less congestion on the roads.

That’s the overwhelming message received in response to a call for public consultation on the City of Casey’s Road Management Plan 2021.

According to a council officer’s report, tabled at the Tuesday 20 July council meeting, 940 responses were received from the public during the consultation period in May-June, with the “majority of the feedback relating to congestion on Casey’s main arterial roads”.

Unfortunately for residents, that’s outside the scope of the Road Management Plan.

Instead, the plan sets out the standards, policies and management systems the City of Casey will use to maintain council roads.

It also provides the council with a policy defence against civil liability claims that might be made in the event of an accident on a council road.

The new plan was adopted at the council meeting and incorporates some small changes to the previous plan, which was approved in 2017 and due for review.

Some of the changes are purely terminology-based, such as amending VicRoads to Department of Transport.

A more substantial change was made to shared path maintenance, whereby the council has aligned the maintenance and inspection standards for designated shared paths with those of the footpath network.

Bridge classification has been split into road and pedestrian bridges, with the latter also divided into high and low priority.

Sealed road line marking now forms a single category, and certain road bridges will have their hazard inspection intervals increase to 24 weeks, bringing them into line with VicRoads’ recommendations.

In response to public feedback, the report

Man arrested over train assault A man was arrested in Dandenong over an alleged sexual assault on a V/Line train.

The 48-year-old Traralgon man was arrested on 30 July by Transit CIU detectives after a public appeal for information in June.

Police say an 18-year-old woman was approached and sexually assaulted on the train between Pakenham and Warragul stations on 10 May. The man is expected to be charged on summons with sexual assault and unlawful assault, police say.

Garage fire warning Dandenong police have issued a warning after a heater fire in a Dandenong home garage on Wednesday 28 July.

Police say the fire started after items were placed near a portable heater and caught alight.

No one was injured.

Police advised people to not leave heaters unattended, to keep items roughly three metres away and to plug heaters into wall outlets.

They also stated that smoke alarms should be checked and maintained, and heaters should have an automatic shut-off.

The City of Casey has adopted a new Road Management Plan. noted “Council has responded by further increasing its advocacy with the Victorian Government for the duplication of up to eight kilometres of arterial road as well as a rail extension from Cranbourne to Clyde and increased bus services.”

In moving the motion to adopt the plan, administrator Miguel Belmar said he was satisfied council officers had considered the

submissions made by the public and had addressed their concerns.

Administrator Cameron Boardman seconded the motion and said the new plan would provide consistency across road standards for the council.

The plan would also ensure the council’s schedule of maintenance and upgrades was transparent and clear, he said.

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 11

NEWS

They mean business City of Greater Dandenong’s South East Business Networks (SEBN) program is re-launching its new breakfast series championing women in business.

On Friday 6 August, body-language specialist Dr Louise Mahler will be the keynote speaker for the Showcasing Women in Business breakfast.

The SEBN also hosts a Women in Business network group that meets regularly to explore issues across small businesses and corporations.The group is designed for women in the workplace to support and mentor each other

as well as those experiencing disadvantage and young women in the community.

The SEBN’s 2021-’22 program will explore business trends, leadership, organisational skills and encourage collaborative approaches to common issues and challenges.

The program introduces four themes – Time to Share (connection), In the Loop (communication), Go for Gold (confidence) and Out of the Box (creativity).

Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/southeast-business-networks-sebn/sebn-womenbusiness for more information.

An SEBN International Womens Day event held in Dandenong last year.

rect result of this infamous legislation till now has been the cruel, deliberate elimination of approx 234,000 innocent unborn humans in Victoria.

One reality that cannot be escaped (and yet is so often buried or suppressed) is the ongoing pain, trauma and regret experienced by their mothers that can linger for decades. Too many mothers are put under coercion, denied truly humane counselling. True ‘Women’s choice’ is a myth.

Included in the tragic statistics are hundreds of confirmed late-term abortions (LTAs), i.e. after 20 weeks gestation (324 in 2017 according to an RMIT ABC Fact Check).

More than one source affirms LTAs have increased 39 per cent since the 2008 law was

passed. Even many babies born alive after attempted LTAs are left to die, deprived of any care - all ‘safe and legal’ under the ALRA 2008.

The next step will be proposed legalised infanticide - babies born alive left to die after failed LTAs is really the start.

It would be fair to assume a great many of these 234,000 innocent victims, if granted their basic right to live, would have become excellent lawyers, entertainers, footballers, doctors/medical carers or politicians with proven lives of ‘high calibre’ that contribute, in the best of their capacity, to the happiness, welfare and fulfillment of all their fellow humans, free from discrimination.

Peter Phillips, Springvale

OPINION With current moves to abolish the Lower House seat of Keysborough in proposed state electoral boundary changes, I was intrigued to read reported comments by Cr Jim Memeti. He expressed his concern over the risk of pressure on surrounding local MPs: “especially to lose someone of Martin Pakula’s calibre.”

He added: “If he can’t find a seat locally, he would be a big loss to this region.” (‘No seat for MP’, July 6).

If Cr Memeti refers to ‘high calibre’, he doesn’t know Mr Pakula’s record very well.

In the early hours of Friday 10 October 2008, Martin Pakula was one of the 23 members of the Victorian Legislative Council who passed the Abortion Law Reform Act (ALRA 2008) into the Victorian statute books. The di-

Works ahead

By Danielle Kutchel Motorists, look out! There are more roadworks ahead around the region.

The Princes Highway in Dandenong South is closed nightly from 9am to 5am from Plunkett Road and Power Road until Friday 6 August for level crossing removal works.

A local detour will be in place via Power Road, Green Street, Hilton Street, Patrona Street, Lonsdale Street, Frankston-Dandenong Road and Dandenong Bypass.

The South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South remains closed in both directions between the Princes Highway and Dandenong Bypass for the removal of the Dandenong South level crossing.

The road is scheduled to reopen at 5am on Friday 6 August.

Detour via Dandenong Bypass and Frankston-Dandenong Road.

Look out for roadworks in Dandenong.

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A popular way to restore missing teeth is through dental implants. These are used as an alternative to dentures https://www.smilesfirst.com.au/info/dentures/ and bridges https://www.smilesfirst.com.au/info/dentalbridge/. Implants have many advantages, including their natural appearance, their convenience and ability to maintain bone mass - a quality that makes additional tooth loss far less likely.

Dentures are another way to replace your missing teeth. Full and partial dentures are

custom-made removable prosthetics that can replace all or several teeth at one time.

Today’s dentures are comfortable and aesthetically enhancing. A series of skillful steps are taken to ensure your dentures are fitting correctly, and for overall great oral health.

We can provide you with all of these treatments under the one roof where we have specialist Prosthodontist who is specialized in helping you choose the best teeth replacement option.

At Smiles First we are available to answer any questions you have and the choices that are available to address specific conditions.

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12 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Mud, sweat and gears

By Danielle Kutchel It’s muddy, it’s fast, and it’s fun – but for women across the region, the Lysty Chicks mountain biking group is about so much more than just riding.

Lysty Chicks encourages women to get on their bikes and have a go at the challenge and adventure that is mountain biking, all while forming strong bonds with friends from across Casey and beyond.

Each month, the group meets for a ride through the wild trails of Lysterfield Park.

They are divided into three categories of riders: a more capable group that will cover 20-25 kilometres in one ride, a beginners’ group for those still learning the ropes, and an intermediate relaxed group of women who are capable riders but want to enjoy a chat and a ride.

Every group is supported with leaders trained to MTB Level 0 and in first aid should anything go wrong.

For beginners, the group leaders will often take them back over a trail several times to ensure they feel comfortable. The ride is adapted to their needs.

“It’s a really encouraging environment to step away from home, work and life as well as having fun on the bikes,” spokeswoman Sandy Parkinson said.

She started in the group as a beginner and is now the club president and one of the ride organisers.

Originally a road cyclist, Ms Parkinson said when she first moved to Melbourne she was

Hitting the trails. nervous about hitting the roads and decided to give mountain biking a go instead.

Her first foray was at Lysterfield, and she’s never looked back.

Over her time with the Lysty Chicks group she’s formed firm friendships with other women over their shared interest in riding.

“I think you’d be hard pressed to find any women who don’t make friends in this sport because of the group ride,” she said.

Picture: SUPPLIED targeted trail rides for women.

“Women need a supportive environment where they have a group to encourage them,” Ms Parkinson said.

“It’s motivation to get out on the bikes and meet someone.”

Anyone interested in joining Lysty Chicks can find the group on Facebook for details of the next monthly ride, or visit lysterfieldmtb. com/

After each ride, members will stop at a nearby cafe, giving them more opportunities to sit and chat and become friends.

Ms Parkinson said while mountain biking was traditionally a male-dominated sport, the club planned to change that.

“Women really want to get involved in this,” she said, citing the club’s enthusiastic members.

In fact, other cycling and riding clubs are taking a leaf out of the Lysty Chicks book with

FOCUS ON … SENIORS ENJOYING LIFE

Christina and Ruban Malarrajan have been running Rosewood Downs for 28 years. 245404 Picture: GARY SISSONS

In Covid times, it’s safety first at Rosewood Downs Vaccines, hard lockdowns and the ever-present danger of the Covid pandemic.

There’s been no more challenging time for proprietors Ruban and Christina Malarrajan, who have run Rosewood Downs aged care home in Dandenong for 28 years.

Mr Malarrajan said there was palpable relief as the Covid vaccine rolled out among staff and residents.

The residents’ AstraZeneca vaccines were organised through the federal health department. Nurses administered the first jabs on 1 July, with the second booked in for August.

Months ago, many of the 20 staff had already been vaccinated through GPs or vaccine hubs.

For the past 16 months, Rosewood Downs and other aged care homes have been on tenterhooks. Especially in 2020 as Covid killed 655 aged care residents in Victoria. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

“As operators we weren’t getting any sleep at night,” Mr Malarrajan said.

“Touch wood, no one here has had Covid yet. And no one has even been suspected to have Covid.”

Mr Malarrajan said there was a concerted effort to “really lock down” Rosewood Downs to keep the pandemic at bay.

As a necessity, residents and staff members’ temperatures were taken daily.

Outings were limited to medical appointments or short walks. Loved ones were unable to visit, so contact was by phone and video calls.

“It was very difficult to keep people inside but they understand that it’s for their own safety. It was a very difficult situation.

“But the protocols are the protocols. Whatever the health department says, we just do it.”

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

|

STAR JOURNAL 13

NEWS

Program helps kids ‘pivot’ A program that helps turn young people away from offending has received a substantial funding boost from the State Government.

Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas has announced YSAS will receive $700,000 in funding for the extension of its Pivot program, which is offered at its Casey and Dandenong locations.

The funding is part of the State Government’s Youth Crime Prevention Grants program, which received $4.4 million in the 2021-22 State Budget to extend projects across Victoria for an additional 12 months.

The Pivot program supports young people from 14-24 who have repeatedly ended up in the justice system to get away from crime, improve their health and wellbeing and make a positive contribution to the community.

Through intensive outreach-based case work, Pivot builds resilience and capacity in high-risk young people, reducing the risk factors that might push them towards crime.

Pivot also helps their families learn how to provide support to their loved ones.

Pivot workers assist young people to build skills, relationships and community connections through activities like therapy, crisis management and group work.

Youth are engaged through coaching, mentoring, employment and education opportunities, all of which work to address the underlying causes of offending and steer them away from offending.

The government’s funding means Pivot has begun supporting 27 young people across Casey, Greater Dandenong and Frankston City.

Already, staff at YSAS are seeing broader community benefits for young people and their families who are involved in the program.

Meanwhile, participants have told staff just how positive the experience has been for them – especially having a support to turn to in hard times.

Between July 2017 and March 2021, Pivot

supported 133 young people, giving them opportunities to overcome disadvantage.

The wraparound service differs from traditional hard-line crime deterrents, but Pivot has been proven to improve engagement in school, employment and community connectedness.

Participants have the chance to develop their motivation for change and build new skills and relationships more effectively than they would in the criminal justice system.

“Pivot provides young people with the opportunities and support to overcome disadvantage and make a valuable contribution to community life,” YSAS chief executive officer Andrew Bruun explained.

“By linking young people up with employment or training opportunities and providing intensive individual case work, we can meet the immediate needs of young people and their families, while keeping young people of our prison and Victorians safe.”

The model has already been successful in Casey, Dandenong and Frankston, and has the potential to be replicated in the Shire of Cardinia, he said.

“YSAS is proud of its programs, like Pivot, that take an empathetic and effective approach to crime prevention,” Mr Bruun added.

Mr Maas said YSAS did “incredible work” with local youth.

“Tackling crime in our community means tackling its root causes by making sure that young people stay engaged we’re ensuring that they are given pathways in life that help them flourish, rather than offend,” he said.

“It is important that we make sure that those at risk have access to educational pathways, employment opportunities, and meaningful connections.

“The YSAS PIVOT program and their fantastic mentors have changed the lives of many young people and this benefits the whole community.”

The Pivot program helps deter young people from offending.

Picture: MARIO GORDON, YSAS

BUSINESS PROFILE

Stockland launches over-50s Melbourne lifestyle village Stockland has announced the commencement of its first land lease community in Victoria, Thrive Berwick in Melbourne’s south-east, with strong early interest from buyers as the project marks its official sales launch.

The $89 million Thrive Berwick, the second lifestyle community to be launched by Stockland for the growing over-50s market, will offer 175 homes and resort-style community facilities, located close to cafes, restaurants, shops and public transport.

Stockland General Manager of Land Lease Communities, Kingsley Andrew, said: “The lifestyle community model allows customers to purchase their new home outright with no entry or exit fees, and pay a site rental fee which covers council rates, and includes access to community facilities for all homeowners.

“Thrive Berwick will offer affordable homes architecturally designed for active over-50s who are keen to downsize and free up capital to enjoy their lifestyle.

“The average cost of a home in Thrive Berwick will be around 15 per cent less than the catchment median - so approximately $160,000 less than a comparable standalone house in the surrounding suburbs.

“We’ve received strong sales enquiries and accepted a number of deposits having only officially launched sales less than a month ago, which demonstrates great customer feedback.”

Located 48 kilometres south-east of Melbourne CBD and close to the Princes Freeway, Thrive Berwick is set within beautiful natural reserve, lakes and green open spaces in the masterplanned community of Minta, with safe access to kilometres of landscaped pathways.

There is a range of architecturally designed, low-maintenance homes to choose from, including four site configurations, ten floor plans and three facades; all generously sized, 14 STAR JOURNAL

|

Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

Thrive Berwick is set within beautiful natural reserve, lakes and green open spaces in the masterplanned community of Minta, with safe access to kilometres of landscaped pathways. thoughtfully appointed and built to flow seamlessly from private yard space, through openplan living areas and out onto the front patio areas.

Each home also comes with a 6 Star Energy Rating, passive solar design considerations, and the option to upgrade to solar - to help homeowners cut down on energy costs.

The hub of the community will be the clubhouse, where like-minded residents can enjoy all the social, wellness and creative spaces on offer, such as a cinema, indoor heated swim-

ming pool, billiard room, lounge and dining room, outdoor alfresco and barbecue areas, pizza oven, spa and gym, yoga retreat, community garden, arts and crafts centre, bowling green, pickleball and croquet court, a workshop, kitchen and bar, and even be a dedicated dog wash.

Kerry Balci, Project Director at Stockland, said: “Thrive Berwick complements the mix of detached and medium-density housing on offer at Minta, and provides over-50s with a great new living option in the highly sought-after neighbourhood of Berwick.

“We’re really pleased with customer interest in Minta with more than 600 people already calling Minta home. When completed, we expect the residential community to have more than 1,700 homes, and look forward to welcoming many more residents into our growing community.”

For more information, please call 1800 72 71 70 visit stockland.com.au/residential/vic/ minta/over-50s-living or make a private appointment to drop by the Sales Centre at 10 Soho Boulevard, Berwick. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

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STAR JOURNAL 15

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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Professional Services

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DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 17

SPORT

Panther legend re-signs

By Nick Creely In an off-season that has seen a number of notable senior players depart the club, Dandenong has received a mighty boost with the great Tom Donnell signing on for another Premier Cricket season.

The champion left-handed premiership skipper weighed up retirement as well as a few local cricket offers, but has committed to what is going to be a new-look Panther outfit as he closes in on 9,000 Victorian Premier Cricket runs in what has been a storied career.

Donnell, however, has handed the captaincy reins to his long-time opening partner, Jack Ryder Medal winner and fellow club great Brett Forsyth who will lead a new era for the club out of Shepley Oval under Warren Ayres.

He’s a big boost to the Panthers’ side, not only with the bat but his experience as the club goes through a youthful phase after years of on-field success.

The Panthers have had an interesting offseason to say the least after playing off in the 1st XI grand final, with a huge chunk of their grand final side departing - legendary allrounder James Nanopoulos (Frankston Peninsula), Jacques Augustin (Frankston Peninsula), Peter Cassidy (Brighton), Comrey Edgeworth (Mentone), Suraj Randiv (Edinburgh), Jack Fowler (Dromana), Ed Newman (St Kilda) and Lincoln Edwards (Elsternwick) all departing - while fringe players such as Dasun Opanayaka (Elsternwick), Zac Grundmann-Perera (Elsternwick) and Mitch Forsyth (Springvale South) have also found new clubs.

Under Forsyth, the Panthers have added talented keeper Brodie Eccles from Frankston Peninsula, all-rounder Matt Wilson from Carlton and are hoping to get plenty out of other recruits such as Aryaman Bhardwaj (Northcote), Visura Fernando (Kingston Hawthorn)

After plenty of speculation, the great Tom Donnell will return to Dandenong this season. 226906 and Sam Newell (Kingston Hawthorn) as they look to prioritise the club’s developing players and give more opportunities to the likes of Angus Newman, Braden Taeuber, Jarryd Wills,

Josh Slater, Cameron Forsyth and Gehan Seneviratne.

There could be as many as eight changes from last season’s grand final side which fell

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS narrowly to Prahran, however with the experience of Forsyth and Donnell once again leading the charge, the Panthers will be confident of making a significant impact.

Kalmar brace seals win

By Nick Creely

Elisa Mineo, pictured with daughter Sierra and chef Steve Rivers (before mask requirement).

Community meals reaches amazing 10,000 milestone

By Jason Adams Sandown Greyhounds’ partnership with local charities Reaching Out Because We Can and Servants Of The Two Hearts reached a significant milestone in July with the 10,000th meal donated to the local community.

The relationship between the charity groups and Sandown Greyhounds began during the second lockdown of 2020. Rather than disposing of stored food, the club reached out to the City of Greater Dandenong and were directed to the two charities who help distribute meals and other items to members of the community in need.

“We are so privileged to be partners with Sandown Greyhounds. Thousands of meals are cooked by them that we personally deliver to our friends out there - we call them our friends because to us, they are,” said Elisa Mineo of Reaching Out Before We Can. “Working together with Sandown Grey18 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

hounds has given many people that meal they would never have had.”

The charities’ outreach program covers Springvale, Noble Park and Dandenong, providing community lunches, dinners, delivery of food parcels, toiletries, clothing, blankets, doonas, sleeping bags, filling homes with furniture, white goods and much more.

“We help people from all walks of life.

No discrimination regardless of culture, nationality, age or gender. We don’t look at a person for the situation they are in at the present, we see a human being that needs us and we are there with open arms,” said Sister Margaret Mary of Servants Of The Two Hearts.

The groups are planning a fundraising event in the coming months to raise money for their program. Sandown Greyhounds has donated the venue for the event and is keen to speak to anyone who is willing to contribute to the fundraiser.

A superb brace from Nick Kalmar has set up a strong win for Dandenong City on Friday night under lights, with NPL football returning with a bang at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.

After the snap lockdown prevented any football, it was just a welcome relief for sport starved communities to get back out there - albeit without crowds - over the weekend.

And City played like a side on a mission with a vintage Nick Kalmar first half setting up the 2-0 win against Melbourne Knights FC, their third win of the season.

Kalmar scored in the 14th and 25th minute to set up an unassailable lead for the home side who through super defence held onto the advantage in a terrific second half.

Dandenong Thunder, meanwhile, scored a late match winner with a header in the dying stages against Heidelberg United.

With scores 0-0, Thunder managed to find the match winning goal in the 93rd minute of what was a thrilling contest to bank their eighth win of the season and move into fifth,

the first time this season the side has moved inside the top six.

Dandenong City travels to take on the might of Bentleigh Greens this Friday night, while the Dandenong Thunder have a massive chance to keep making in-roads on the table with a home clash against second-placed Oakleigh Cannons which is a huge challenge for the group.

In NPL 3, Doveton SC’s promotion dreams remain alive after an impressive 3-0 win against Nunawading City at home.

The Doves played out an interesting clash on Saturday afternoon, with scores 1-0 in the home side’s favour after a Dau Ahkol opener in the 35th minute.

But the visitors responded with an equaliser in the 68th minute, before the home side flexed their muscles with two late goals to seal the all-important points - Frank Vissers and Zander White doing the damage with the goals late in the piece for the Doves.Western United FC, meanwhile, defeated Springvale White Eagles FC 2-0 with two goals in the second half sealing the deal.

Fresh off another lockdown, the Dandenong Thunder found a late goal to secure an important win.

235294 Picture: ROB CAREW dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Tough return for Rangers

By Nick Creely

Nick Gay was in the best for Endeavour Hills on Saturday. 235197

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

The footy is back!

By Nick Creely Keysborough returned to the field with plenty of venom, brushing aside Skye by 44 points at home on Saturday, 13.12 (90) to 6.10 (46).

While the clash was played in front of an empty crowd, community sport finally made its return on Saturday and the Burras banked their ninth win of the Southern Division 2 season.

The home side set the game up with an unanswered three goal first term, and applied the heat even further in the second to leave the visitors goalless at the main break, and with a five goal advantage.

While the Bombers showed some fight in the third term, the Burras still managed to kick eight goals to six in the second half to bank the dominant win.

On a strong return to the field for the Burras, Calum Letcher was particularly impressive, 1000-goal champ Matt Carnelley bagged three goals, and the likes of Damian Collins, Matthew Beer and Brandon Mather were all in the best.

Down at Murrumbeena, ladder leaders Springvale Districts did what it needed to against the Lions, 17.17 (119) to 11.6 (72).

Off the back of six majors from Matt Wetering, and impressive displays from Darren Sheen (two goals), Daniel Spence and Peter Heng, the Demons were never really troubled in the win.

And Hampton Park thumped Hampton to the tune of 80 points, 14.23 (107) to 4.3 (27).

The Redbacks had winners all over the park but would have probably liked to have kicked straighter in front of goal, registering 11 individual goal kickers in the win.

In Division 3, Endeavour Hills were on song in a 90-point drubbing of South Mornington, 16.15 (111) to 2.9 (21).

The Falcons enjoyed a consistent four quarters but were particularly dominant in the third term when they slammed on seven unanswered goals to really race away with the contest.

Ben Holland bagged five on the day, Sam McLean also cashed in with four, while Jayson Bruce and Nick Gay were named in the best.

Narre South Saints, meanwhile, registered a stunning 45 scoring shots on the way to a 153-point win against South Yarra at Leigh Park, 30.15 (195) to 6.6 (42), with Danny Brewster backing up his haul of 12 in the last game on 10 July with a haul of 13 majors.

And Doveton Eagles endured a tough afternoon to go down by 143 points to Clayton at Meade Reserve, 28.21 (189) to 7.4 (46).

In Division 4, Lyndale went down in a close affair with Frankston Dolphins, 12.13 (85) to 10.9 (69).

The game barely got out to more than a goal throughout what was an absorbing contest at Overport Park, but the Dolphins did enough in the final term to get the job done.

Hallam and Carrum Patterson Lakes also played out a thriller, but the Hawks fell narrowly short, 8.13 (61) to 9.10 (64).

The Hawks led the contest at every change and looked poised to bring down the ladder leaders, but a two-goal to one final term from the home side saw them claim the four points.

Matt Jerram, Brendan Reynolds and Rory McIvor were named in the best for the Hawks.

The Dandenong Rangers returned to oncourt action in the NBL1 South Men’s competition on Saturday, but fell 83-71 to Kilsyth Cobras.

It was a scintillating start from the home side who opened up a 14-point lead at the first break, but the Rangers battled hard to get themselves back in the contest and a genuine chance of pulling off a come-from-behind win.

Missed opportunities plagued the home side who were on the verge of being potentially overrun by the Rangers with scores drawing level in the final term, before star addition Deng Deng lifted to another gear with nine points in the final six minutes, ultimately helping the home side secure the win.

Oliver Hayes-Brown did all he could to keep the Rangers in it, dropping 17 points, 14 rebounds and two assists in a dominant display, while Sean Macdonald (10 points, six assists) was also valuable for the visitors.

In the NBL1 South Women’s competition, the Dandenong Rangers were never really in the hunt against the Cobras, going down 83-70.

The home side never trailed in the dominant 13 point win, mostly due to the vintage display from Lauren Scherf (20 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks).

It was a tight opening half with the scores tied 33-33 at one point, but the home side found another gear to their game and completely blew the game away with a dominant 31-7 block of basketball to extend the lead to 24.

Despite a valiant fightback, the Rangers were never able to come within single digits of the home team.

Emilee Harmon was a colossal in the loss for the Rangers, dropping 26 points and eight rebounds, while Tenaya Sooalo (24 points, five assists) and Sherry Glennie (nine points, eight rebounds) were also impressive all game.

The Dandenong Rangers’ Men and Women sides take on Ringwood Hawks on Saturday evening in Round 16, before backing it up the next day at home against Sandringham Sabres.

Another sparkling display from flying Aston Rupee

By Jason Adams The flying Aston Rupee produced another brilliant win at Sandown Park last Thursday night.

He began well then got the opportunity to balance up and accelerate.

He took control mid-way through the race and from that point it was all eyes on the clock.

The margin was a sizable 6.5 lengths in a scintillating time of 29.13 - no surprise for one of the fastest greyhounds in Australia.

“He began sweetly and didn’t get a touch through the corner so I knew he was about to get going. I was very happy with him,” said trainer Glenn Rounds.

His time was the 6th fastest of the year however it only compliments the 29.05 he set at Speed Star in May - which he qualified for with a near record 28.93 trial.

With the trial included he holds three of the seven fastest times set in 2021.

Having only turned two-years-old in April there are no shortage of feature races to target.

‘Jimbo’ as he’s known at home, was eligible for heats of the age restricted Warragul St. Leger however Rounds decided to bypass the series which came as a surprise to some. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

The flying Aston Rupee produced another brilliant win.

“I didn’t want to drop him back in distance to the 460m at Warragul. We want to keep him up over ‘500’ metres so we’ll go back to The Mead-

ows next Saturday for heats of the Nationals.

“After that there’s no plan in stone. We hope to go towards the Million Dollar Chase

but with the uncertainty in Sydney at the moment it’s hard to know what it’s going to look like.”

Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 19

e l r y t u o S Y n i e r i t New Home Awaits e R Blue Hills Residences, Cranbourne East - Blue Hills Rise, Cranbourne East has a great selection of resale everything you need in the one units available. place.

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Tuesday, 3 August, 2021

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