Dandenong Star Journal - 14th September 2021

DANDENONG

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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Rallying to help after Mum’s tragic death

Silicon Valley push for South East

Guineas hope impresses at Sandown

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Parkland with bike and shared trails was proposed aside Spring, Clarke and Westall roads. 232202

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Park plan shaded

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A touted Chain of Parks parkland at a former landfill in Springvale South has been quashed in favour of a controversial 68,000-panel solar farm.

On 3 September, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled that proponent Clarke Road Solar did not have

to provide a public park on the perimeter of the 47-hectare site along Clarke, Spring and Rowan roads.

The portion will instead be fenced off from the public and vegetated to help screen the solar farm from neighbours.

The ‘largest urban solar farm in Australia’ will comprise four-metre high panels on top of

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a steeply-banked five-metre plateau and landfill cap.

Among the farm’s 162 objectors are residents who say the site was long promised as “proposed core parkland” with footways and bike trails as part of the Chain of Parks policy.

An “absolutely gutted” Spring Road neighbour Belinda Beciric said residents had been betrayed by an “unforgiveable deceit”.

“Justice has been denied to the residents of Springvale South by VCAT. “I had hoped we would get something after years of promises.

“So now we will have an eyesore that I will need to stare at everyday and I will be unable to use any of the land.”

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Vaccine lag ‘critical’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong risks being a “sitting duck” unless it lifts its lagging Covid vaccination rate, a public health researcher says.

In a race against time, a multi-agency, multi-government push is targeting Greater Dandenong as one of the lowest vaccinated areas in the state.

As of 5 September, just under half of residents over 16 in the council area had a single jab.

Just 28 per cent were double-jabbed.

It’s well behind Victoria’s average of 65.5 per cent (single dose) and 40.5 per cent (double dose) as of 11 September.

Monash University public health researcher and Greater Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad said the situation was critical as Melbourne approached the thresholds to lift Covid restrictions.

If Greater Dandenong didn’t bridge the gap in coming weeks, it would be stuck in lockdown for longer or high numbers of unvaccinated people would be exposed to the pandemic.

It would take an “extraordinary, whole of community effort to prevent Covid causing deaths and long-term illness in Dandenong”, Cr Garad said.

“We are a sitting duck for high infection rates with our low vaccination rates and vulnerable community.

“The next month will be crucial to getting rates up before the Covid cases increase significantly.”

Greater Dandenong and Casey councils, Monash Health, Monash University, Enliven Victoria, South East Public Health Unit and the Department of Health are partnering in the vaccine promotion.

Pop-up vaccine hubs are set for mosques in Doveton and Hallam with also one targeting the Pacific Islander community.

Also among the push is Enliven’s team of 90 bicultural workers and community champions providing accurate information to the area’s diverse communities.

Enliven’s operations executive director Cinzia Theobald said the aim of the workers was to ensure “access to Covid vaccinations is easy“ and “information is clear, factual and

Cr Rhonda Garad with some of the team of community leaders pushing for a boost to Greater Dandenong’s Covid vaccination rate. 250318 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS meaningful including being respectful to faith and other customs“. Cr Garad says among the biggest concerns is dispelling the myths among the vaccine-hesitant.

“That’s where the Enliven community workers come into their own. They can speak to the specific community concerns.”

For example, a misinformed cohort were holding off being vaccinated because they had heard a Federal Opposition call for $300 handout incentives.

Pop-up vaccine blitz for Greater Dandenong

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Dandenong, Noble Park, Keysborough, Doveton, Hallam and Endeavour Hills are among 100 priority postcodes targeted for a Covid vaccine blitz.

Pop-up vaccine hubs will be opened at schools, religious and council sites in Casey and Greater Dandenong to boost lagging vaccine rates in the region.

Dandenong High School is among the first sites for pop-up clinics, with further schools to come.

It is believed mosques in Doveton and Hallam will also host hubs.

Vaccines are also available at Sandown Racecourse as well as participating GP clinics and pharmacies.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the campaign ensured “equitable vaccination coverage” across Victoria.

“We are tailoring our vaccination rollout to remove any barriers that might otherwise stop someone from getting vaccinated.

“There are a million reasons to get vaccinated and vaccination is our only way out of this pandemic.”

Health Minister Martin Foley said the targeted areas had “identified vulnerabilities and barriers to access”.

“Together with the 70 school pop-up clinics – (the new sites) will ensure all VCE students can get vaccinated during the current blitz.”

Two waiting rooms in Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department, a Tip Top 2 STAR JOURNAL

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Bread Company warehouse and a Springvale truck dealership have been listed as Tier 1 sites.

An infected case visited the ED main waiting room on Wednesday 8 September 9.35pm-9.45pm and the clinic waiting room 9.45pm-10.59pm.

A waiting room is also listed Tier 1 for Friday 10 September 6.20pm-9.55pm.

The Tip Top warehouse at 170 South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South was attended by an infected case between Monday 6 September 12am and Tuesday 7 September 6.30am.

An infected case also visited CMV Truck & Bus at 1683 Centre Road between 27 August and 2 September.

Anyone at the Tier 1 locations at the listed times must get tested immediately and quarantine 14 days from the exposure.

Woolworths regional distribution centre at Portlink Drive, Dandenong South (8 and 9 September, 9pm-10pm) and Stud Road Medical Centre in Dandenong (6 September 11.20am-12.20pm) were recently added as Tier 2 sites.

Anyone at the sites at those times are urged to get tested and isolate until a negative result is confirmed.

As of 12 September, there were 61 active cases in Casey and 22 in Greater Dandenong.

The postcode hotspots include Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Endeavour Hills, Dandenong, Keysborough, Noble Park and Springvale.

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

“It’s only intelligence that you can get from people closely connected in the community that you can find out these issues.

“It would be a tragedy if someone were to get ill and possibly die waiting for a handout that was never going to happen.”

Greater Dandenong Council is also providing its community bus service to transport refugee families to vaccination sessions.

Last week, 15 Burmese refugees were driven for doses at Sandown vaccination hub.

The weekly run is done in partnership with Monash Health, Enliven and South East Community Links.

Greater Dandenong communications executive manager Kylie Sprague said the council was promoting Covid tests and vaccinations on social media and its Council News, screens and networks.

The council had developed and printed vaccine factsheets in 21 languages to “priority communities”.

AZ hesitancy stalls rollout in the pharmacies

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Vaccine hesitancy is being reported from the front-line of Greater Dandenong pharmacies.

Pharmacies have been delivering free doses of AstraZeneca since August, with Moderna for over-12s to come within weeks.

AstraZeneca had so far been a hard sell, says Adam Younes, the proprietor of Priceline and Terry White pharmacies in Dandenong Plaza.

Many customers were instead requesting Pfizer, which is not available at pharmacies and seemingly in short supply anywhere else.

“You still see a divide over who is comfortable to take the vaccine or not, what is safer – whether it’s AstraZeneca or Pfizer.

“The way it’s played out in the media, it’s impacted on people’s perception of safety.”

Mr Younes said it took “extra effort” to educate customers on how rare and minimal the vaccine side-effects are.

“The risk of getting a clot is nearly as likely with taking Nurofen as it is getting thrombosis from AstraZeneca.

“On an international level, AstraZeneca is the most commonly used vaccine for Covid in the world. And it offers longer immunity than Pfizer.”

Richard Lim, a Greater Dandenong councillor who runs Lim’s Pharmacy in Springvale, has jabbed 880 customers with AstraZeneca in the past month.

But he also detects a great reluctance for the vaccine among Greater Dandenong’s culturally diverse community.

Cr Lim said each community’s leaders had the power to influence residents with just a

Priceline Dandenong pharmacist Marina Baselyous with an AstraZeneca dose. 250339 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS single text message.

The council also needed to use Facebook and social media to spread the message, he said.

“We need to work harder to tell the constituents what the benefits are compared to the risks.

“If they contract Covid, people can die or suffer really badly in hospital.”

However, there was a rush of younger people desperate to get vaccinated to end the lockdown, he said. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Trio preyed on 11yo girl

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Noble Park man is among a trio jailed for taking a 11-year-old ward-of-state to a Werribee house, plying her with drugs and sexually abusing her.

Mohammed Nuramin, 24, and his Werribee co-accused Rahamutullah Rahamutullah, 25, and Noor Hason, 31, were found guilty this year by a County Court of Victoria jury of supplying drugs, sexual assault and sexual penetration of a child in late 2018.

In sentencing, Judge Rosemary Carlin on 10 September rejected Nuramin’s argument that the girl was the “sexual aggressor” and that she told him she was 16 or older.

His denials showed little remorse, and his low IQ wasn’t a significant mitigatory factor, Judge Carlin said.

The three men arranged to pick up the girl and her 12-year-old DHHS unit co-resident from outside a northern Melbourne servo late at night.

The children were driven to Rahamutullah’s house and plied with Jim Beam and cannabis as part of a plan to “facilitate sexual activity”.

The men then took turns preying on the intoxicated 11-year-old. It was initiated with force and despite her resistance and distress, Judge Carlin said.

The still-intoxicated girls were dropped back to their unit about 5.30am the next day.

After reporting the abuse, the girl wanted to return to the Werribee house the following night for “weed”.

Given the girl’s age, it wasn’t surprising she didn’t appreciate the harm done to her. It illustrated the need to protect children from themselves, Judge Carlin said.

The 10-to-17-year age disparities between the offenders and the girl were noted.

The men ought to have known her age or were reckless to the knowledge. The victim specifically told Hason that she was 11 but he continued.

Judge Carlin didn’t accept Rahamutullah’s argument that he thought the victim was 16,

and that he thought he was in “some sort of relationship” with her.

“You had only just met her and she was trying to stop you doing what you were doing,” Judge Carlin said.

In the following days, Rahamutullah tried to call the girl an “extraordinary” number of times.

The victims were vulnerable not just because of their age but because they were in the company of three men who they barely knew.

“It was late at night, they were far from their home and had no means of transport other than you,” the judge said.

“They were completely dependent on your good will for their emotional and physical safety.

“Not only did you all fail to protect the girls, you exploited (the victim’s) vulnerability for your own sexual gratification.”

Judge Carlin said the men were equally and highly culpable – which was not reduced by their similar disadvantaged backgrounds.

They were all asylum seekers from Burmese Rohingya background with now “uncertain futures”.

They arrived by boat in Australia within months of each other in 2013.

Since being charged, all three had their vi-

sas cancelled by federal authorities. After their prison terms, they would be likely deported to unknown shores.

“Whatever hopes you had of achieving … sanctuary have been seriously threatened if not extinguished by your actions that night.”

All three had work history, and no prior convictions nor mental health or substance issues.

Despite their not-guilty pleas, their prospects of rehabilitation were assessed as reasonable.

They were sentenced as serious sex offenders.

Judge Carlin also took into account that Nuramin and Rahamutullah were remanded and bailed for periods in immigration detention, while Hason had been remanded since their arrests in early 2019.

Nuramin was jailed for up to 11 years and four months with a non-parole period of up to six years and nine months.

Rahamutullah was imprisoned for up to 12 years and six months with a non-parole period of seven and a half years.

Hason was sentenced to jail for 12 years 10 months. He will be eligible for parole after seven years and eight months.

Their pre-sentence remand periods will be deducted from their sentences.

Rallying for daughter after mum’s tragic death

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Family and friends are rallying behind a seven-year-old daughter whose mother suddenly died at home in Doveton.

Kristie Noade, 33, had been stricken by type 1 diabetes for several years when she collapsed on the floor in the middle of the night.

Tragically, she was found by daughter Tamia the next morning on 28 July.

Raised in Dandenong West, Kristie was a shy, loyal, selfless and doting mother, best friend Kate Freeman said.

“She was always worrying about everybody but herself. She’d give anybody the last thing she had.

“She was just beautiful.”

Ms Freeman says there needs to be more diabetes awareness and a hotline for sufferers on how to manage high blood sugar emergencies.

When Kristie was diagnosed in 2018, she had fallen critically ill. And she’d been regularly in and out of hospital ever since.

As a single mum, Kristie could not afford a $300 pump that helped regulate her insulin.

Each pump lasts just three months.

“She struggled a lot mentally with diabetes, though she didn’t put her problems on other people.

“Not many would understand how much you go through unless you’ve got it yourself.”

Kristie’s sister Robyn has set up a Go Fund Me page to help cover funeral costs, and support a “brighter future” for Tamia.

She wrote that losing the “strong, beautiful and loving” Kristie left a “massive hole in our hearts” and a big financial hit.

“Kristie would never want to be a burden on anyone and her one wish would be that Tamia is ok and that her future would be bright.”

Whatever can be raised will be set aside in a long-term deposit account for Tamia.

To help go to: https://www.gofundm e. c o m / f / K r i s t i e - n o a d e - f i g h t - w i t h diabetes?utm_source=customer&utm_ medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp_ guide_do&member=13803953

Kristie Noade with her daughter Tamia as a baby.

Making a difference in Greater Dandenong

Nominations now open The Greater Dandenong Australia Day Awards recognise individuals or groups whose outstanding work has made a positive contribution to the Greater Dandenong community.

Do you know someone who is making a difference and deserves to be celebrated?

Nominate now on: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/australia-day-awards Email austday@cgd.vic.gov.au or phone 8571 1000 to find out more. Closing date: Sunday 24 October 2021.

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 3

NEWS

Park hopes shaded A touted parkland has been ruled out on a 47-hectare site on Clarke Road, Springvale South. 232202

From page 1 Ms Beciric said locals were left without any parks with Spring Valley Reserve, also an exlandfill, being closed for remediation works.

She was considering moving out in response to the VCAT outcome.

“There was no consideration by VCAT on the impact such a decision would have on us, the everyday people who live here.

“I do not wish to live next to a hideous solar panel farm.”

Defenders of the South East Green Wedge spokesperson Matthew Kirwan said the council should “seriously consider” a Supreme Court appeal.

“As well as a very sad decision for local residents, this appalling VCAT decision also sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the Green Wedge and the Chain of Parks by favouring private interest over the public good.”

Greater Dandenong Council acting city planning director Brett Jackson said the council was “disappointed with this outcome”.

“The provision of this open space land was a key element of supporting the solar farm proposal.”

VCAT members Susan Whitney and Gregory Sharpley found the solar farm, with landscaping of the outer slopes, was a sensible, productive use and compatible with Chain of Parks.

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Its “relatively benign appearance … should not detract from the open and green feel of this area”.

The farm is expected to supply 39,000 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power about 10,000 homes a year.

Ms Whitney and Mr Sharpley stated there was no compulsion for Clarke Road Solar to provide the park, footpaths and bike trails “against its will”.

The VCAT members noted that Greater Dandenong rejected the owner’s offer to transfer a portion of land to the council.

The council wished to avoid potential liability for contamination from the ex-landfill, the members stated.

“What the Council is seeking from the Applicant is tantamount to acquisition of part of the Land for public purposes.

“The liability and maintenance of these areas would remain the responsibility of the Applicant, although it derives no benefit from this arrangement.

“We can see no justification for requiring the Applicant to do this against its will.”

The farm was found to be “relatively low impact” with “minimal or no potential” for glint, light spill, vibration or electromagnetic interference.

The members stated caution over the “unknown” location of underground waste so “it is not clear at what depth one will encounter waste at any point on the land”.

But given that the farm would be built on top of the mound, they were satisfied it would not impact on the landfill cap.

VCAT deemed Greater Dandenong’s push for an environmental audit on the landcap risk was “unnecessary”.

The EPA, which raised no objection, imposed controls on the landfill gas extraction system. The EPA was managing the site through PCPAN audits.

The proposal was heard at VCAT after Greater Dandenong Council failed to decide upon the permit in time.

The council argued its delay was due to uncertainty whether the farm was inconsistent with a section 173 agreement on the land’s post-landfill use.

Clarke Road Solar, also known as Progress Solar, was contacted for comment.

The solar farm site in Springvale South. 232202 Pictures: GARY SISSONS

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

Greater Dandenong Council proposed parklands (in hatched blue) surrounding the solar farm. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

The house that was destroyed by the fire.

249714 Pictures: GARY SISSONS

Explosive fire under investigation

Jim Memeti, resident Adini Mylazir and younger visitors enjoy the extra seating at Norine Cox Reserve. 249829

Bench saga solved

Multiple CFA crews were called to an explosive house fire in Hampton Park.

CFA was notified at 11.39pm to reports of a house fire at Willow Drive, Hampton Park on Thursday 2 September.

Eleven CFA vehicles attended and FRV also provided on-scene support.

When they arrived the house was fully alight with significant flames and explosions coming from the property.

The single occupant of the property had already evacuated.

An alert was issued to the communities of Narre Warren South, Narre Warren, Hallam and Hampton Park for smoke in the area.

Crews managed to contain the fire to the one property and the scene was declared under control at 12.28am.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

By Cam Lucadou-Wells The controversial quest for extra seating in Norine Cox Reserve may now have been laid to rest.

Cr Jim Memeti welcomed three new benches into the popular Dandenong South park just two weeks after a furious nationwide debate on the issue.

The councillor had defended himself from “fake news” claims that he was advocating for ‘segregated seating’ after the request at a 23 August council meeting.

He’d raised the issue in response to a group of elderly men sitting on the grass due to a lack of seats.

The men were vacating seats near the playground, which were often used by mothers supervising their children.

“It is Council’s responsibility to make sure that we can supply basic infrastructure in our parks for all our ratepayers to enjoy,” Cr Memeti said at the time.

The new benches were installed with surprising haste due to the council having them in spare stock.

They were already proving popular with residents, including the young ‘hoopers’ waiting to use the basketball half-court, Cr Memeti said.

“It’s a great turnaround and a great outcome. It seems the biggest winners are the kids.”

With up to 200 visitors at the park, there are

Resident Adini Mylazir and Jim Memeti on the bench near the park’s half-court. 249829 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS now suggestions to expand the basketball halfcourt to full-size and for a cricket pitch.

Public toilets are set to be installed in Octo-

ber in what Cr Memeti says is “the busiest park per square metre in the City of Greater Dandenong”..

Firefighters assess the scene. 249714

Beeping ball? Now that sounds like a good idea A Melbourne-designed beeping ball is set to revolutionise the sport of blind cricket.

South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance member GoProto in partnership with Morrabbin-based Kookaburra Sport and Sportcor helped design the electronic ball.

It is set to replace the traditional ball filled with bells or ball-bearings, which produce sounds enabling players to bat and catch.

The traditional drawback has been when the ball stops in the field and no longer makes the sound.

That’s where the idea for a continuously beeping ball came in.

Blind Bats Inc president Paul Szep presented the idea to Kookaburra Sport and Sportcor, which had developed a SmartBall technology with an embedded microchip that provides real-time feedback.

There was a challenge to design a reasonably sized beeping ball that could withstand the punishment of a cricket bat.

Nunawading manufacturer and 3D printer GoProto helped produce functional prototypes using a combination of stereolithography (SLA) and traditional moulding technologies.

GoProto general manager James Sanders said the firm had collaborated with Kookaburra Sport several times before. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

The ball’s SLA and urethane castings designed

by GoProto.

“Professional 3D printing and moulding technologies have enabled sporting goods manufacturers, like Kookaburra, to develop sports equipment that’s lighter and better suited to the needs of the athlete.

“The technology and materials used in creating the Beeping cricket ball has the ability to cement social cohesion and greater participation.”

The beeping balls technology could potentially apply to other visually impaired sport, such as Oz tag, basketball and soccer.

The ball will soon be launched at a Blind Bats cricket match.

The prototype Beeping cricket ball emits sound even while stationary.

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 5

NEWS

Heroin boss cops jail term

By Cam Lucadou-Wells The “boss” of a flourishing heroin-trafficking business in Greater Dandenong has been jailed for six years.

Harry Piperias, 48, a father and former baker, pleaded guilty to commercial trafficking at the Victorian County Court.

He had sourced, prepared, delivered and sold heroin as well as paying five employees to traffick in Dandenong, Noble Park and Keysborough.

Drugs were ordered over the phone and delivered to a meeting point such as homes, fast food outlets, shopping centres, tennis courts and hospitals.

Referred to as “the boss”, Piperias was sell-

ing heroin for up to $8700 per 28 grams (or an ounce).

He was selling for profit as well as to support his own long-term addiction, County Court judge Jeanette Morrish said.

Between late October 2018 and February 2019, the thriving business made 520 deals totalling about 806 grams of heroin - about five transactions a day.

It was so busy that Piperias told a customer at one point that “the phone’s going off its f***ing head”.

According to a prosecution summary, an undercover police officer “Sammy” was sold 180 grams for $53,650 over a series of deals.

In February 2019, Piperias was arrested af-

ter being found in a semi-conscious state in a car at a servo.

Police seized 32 grams of heroin in deal bags as well as phones, $2570 and a knife.

In sentencing on 6 September, Judge Morrish noted the planning, system and “commerciality” of the business.

The quantifiable heroin involved was at the upper end of commercial trafficking threshold, she said.

Piperias’s chronic heroin addiction started from age 23, with his only abstinence while in jail.

His 20-plus years of “extensive” priors including drug trafficking and dishonesty offences were driven by drug use.

Resident stabbed in home invasion

Reformed dealer gets no jail hike

A resident has been allegedly stabbed multiple times during an aggravated home invasion by two men in Noble Park last year.

Police say the men pushed their way through the Arden Street home’s front door about 4pm on Tuesday 8 September 2020.

The occupant was stabbed with an edged weapon to the upper and lower body.

His wounds were described as serious.

The intruders stole several items from the premises. They fled in an unknown direction.

Greater Dandenong CIU detectives have released CCTV and images of two males wanted for questioning.

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au, or Greater Dandenong CIU on 9767 7666.

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Two men are wanted over an alleged aggravated home invasion in Noble Park.

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A man wanted over an alleged aggravated home invasion in Noble Park.

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Judge Morrish noted Piperias’ remorseful plea that he’d now “learnt the hard way” about the damage that drugs cause.

He’d failed to reform despite a variety of sentences including treatment on a CCO and a drug court placement, the judge noted.

Judge Morrish assessed his rehabilitation prospects as “guarded”. She also took into account his guilty plea and the hardship of being jailed during Covid.

Piperias was jailed for six years, with a minimum non-parole period of four years.

The term includes 936 days in pre-sentence remand.

He was ordered to pay back $53,650 from sales to undercover police.

A trafficker found with massive amounts of GBL and pills in Doveton has avoided further jail due to his positive steps to reform.

Scott Gross, now 43, pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 2.2 kilograms of the stimulant gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) as well as trafficking 1150 alprazolam tablets.

The Wantirna father of two and former plumber was a car passenger intercepted by police late on 20 August 2018.

Police seized bottles of the clear, thick liquid drug GBL, totalling more than 44 times the minimum traffickable quantity.

Officers also seized bottles labelled ‘Kalma’. Inside were 309.5 grams of prescription anti-anxiety tablets of alprazolam, also known as Xanax.

The amount was 619 times the traffickable threshold.

On bail at the time, Gross was found with pills in his pocket and drug-dealing related texts on his phone.

In sentencing on 3 September, County Court of Victoria judge Fiona Todd noted Gross’s “not substantial” criminal history included a trafficking prior in 1997.

Gross was an addict at the time, “both the victim and perpetrator” of trafficking illicit drugs, Judge Todd noted.

His multi-varied drug abuse began at age 14, escalating to large amounts of ecstasy as well as meth, GHB and Xanax.

Gross had endured an “inordinate” and “unfair” three-year court delay that was not of his own making, Judge Todd said.

But during the delay, he built a “demonstrated track record” of his rehabilitation.

He’d successfully completed a CISP bail program, a community corrections order, drug and alcohol treatment, counselling and a mens behaviour change program.

Gross also gained full-time work and an employer’s glowing reference.

“It must have been a big ship to turn around,” Judge Todd said.

“You have travelled a very long way.”

Judge Todd said the sentencing must deter other offenders. But also the community was better protected by rewarding Gross’s reform rather than “puncture” it.

She noted Gross’s guilty plea and the impact of Covid on court lists and prisons.

Gross was convicted and jailed for 43 days, which he’d already served in remand.

He must also report for a 12-month community corrections order, including drug treatment. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Footage sought of hit-run

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Hit-run victim Rolf Norman is looking for answers after being struck by a car and left on the road unconscious.

Many times, Mr Norman from Endeavour Hills had rode without calamity to Hallam railway station as part of his daily commute.

About 12.30pm on 17 June, the 64-yearold cycled south along the footpath of Hallam South Road near Keeble Drive when struck by a driver reversing from a driveway.

His hip struck the car window as he flipped onto the road, striking the back of his head.

“They’ve hit the brakes too late. If it was a faster impact, I would have been thrown into the middle of Hallam South Road.”

Mr Norman woke up alone in the middle of Keeble Drive. He stood and dusted himself off, then was struck by agony in his knee, elbow and neck.

He took all safety precautions – a bright reflective vest, two rear lights, a flashing light on the front and a helmet that he says saved his life.

Though it didn’t prevent concussive sideeffects for weeks.

By some misfortune, Mr Norman had taken his bike cam off that day.

He’s seeking witnesses who may have seen the crash or recorded it on dash-cam. As a clue, his bike has been marked by blue paint.

“I can’t report it to the police without any evidence.”

The St John of God hospital worker recuperated next door in Casey Hospital for 12 days, then was back at work a week later.

He has since taken a further month off with anger, anxiety, mood swings and chronic headaches.

“It’s not a fun thing. You just want to put a pillow over your face.”

Any information on the crash to Rolf Norman at rwnorman57@gmail.com

Rolf Norman was struck by a car on his way to work at St John of God Hospital on 17 June. 249808

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

CHECK IN NOW

CHECK IN EVERYWHERE EVERY TIME Victoria, every one of us needs to check in, everywhere, every time.

Checking in helps us stop the spread of coronavirus, and protects our businesses, our communities and each other.

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STAR JOURNAL 7

NEWS

Life saving words

By Danielle Kutchel It’s a simple question: R U OK? But those three little words can have a massive impact on a person’s life, as R U OK? Day ambassador Bruce Allen knows too well.

The former Narre Warren South resident has struggled with depression for much of his adult life.

Growing up in Wodonga, he didn’t know much about depression when he started university at the tender age of 17.

On a visit back home he dropped into the local GP and was prescribed anti-depressants, but didn’t think much of it; he took the medication, finished the script and didn’t renew it.

A year later, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Bruce was close to his mum and dropped out of uni as he travelled regularly back home to visit her.

She passed away not long after his 21st birthday.

This sparked his second episode of depression.

Bruce threw himself into work, abandoning his studies completely.

“I didn’t have the mental capacity to grieve and study at the same time,” he recalled.

“I was back on medication by then … but I still didn’t do a lot of self-care.”

He still saw his GP, but didn’t see any other medical practitioners.

“I thought I’d medicate my way out of it, that it was a passing phase, I was grieving.”

By his mid-20s, mental health was a recurring issue for Bruce.

He saw a psychiatrist for the first time but his treatment was still heavily focused on medication.

By the time he reached his 30s, Bruce was married with two young children.

The next 10 years passed in a blur of new jobs, family moves and continued medication.

“I had resigned myself to the fact I was going to be like this forever - I was on medication and that was the way I was going to deal with it,” he said.

He saw different psychiatrists but didn’t make a connection with any of them.

But in 2018, life came to a head.

He separated from his wife, was being bullied at work and began having severe suicidal thoughts.

And in November of that year, Bruce made an attempt on his life.

Police attended and he was sent to Monash Medical Centre for observation, before being released early that morning.

Bruce Allen, now an R U OK? Day ambassador, says those three words could save someone’s life.

Picture: SUPPLIED

“There’s a lot of people that unfortunately end up worse than me. They don’t make it.

“And maybe all they needed was someone to ask that question.”

Since leaving the hospital, Bruce has turned his life around. With the help of a new GP and a new psychologist, he’s picked up the tools he needs to get better.

He’s taken up running and has lost weight, and finally came off his medication 12 months after leaving hospital.

He still has regular check-ins with his psychologist but they are less frequent now that he is “doing really well”.

At a work mindfulness event he ran into an R U OK? Day ambassador, and before long had signed up to be an ambassador himself.

It’s a message Bruce firmly believes can change lives.

“I understand how much it could’ve made a difference to me, that simple message. It wouldn’t have taken a lot,” he said.

With the pandemic and lockdowns weigh-

ing heavily on people’s mental health, Bruce said he would urge anyone feeling distressed or down to reach out for a chat with someone they trust.

He said while reaching out the first time is the hardest, it gets easier from there – and generally, people are willing to help you get better.

“The beautiful thing about R U OK? is you don’t have to be skilled – anyone can ask and make the difference,” he said.

He recommends a visit to the R U OK? Day website to find resources and referrals to take action if the answer to the question is ‘no’.

“There’s a lot of people doing it tough. I think now more than ever is the right time to ask if they’re OK,” Bruce said.

For resources on mental health and how to check if someone is OK, visit ruok.org.au If you need to reach out to someone, please contact: Lifeline – 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue. org.au

The hospital called him over the next couple of days to check in, and that’s when Bruce knew he needed to make some drastic changes.

“When they called me back I said ‘I’m no good. What do I need to do to get myself into hospital?’”

Soon after, Bruce had checked in to St John of God in Dandenong. This, he said, was his “life changing moment”.

His weight had ballooned to 115kg – and in the fog of mental illness, he hadn’t even noticed.

But worse was the fact that none of the people around him had thought to question his weight gain and ask if he was OK. “That was the most disappointing part for me. I got to this point where I didn’t care about myself, but no one had come forth and recognised it and told me that.

“I didn’t have someone asking if I was OK and I was really close to not being here because of it.

· ·

AI helps kids explore reading

By Danielle Kutchel A Doveton school has found an innovative way to help its students develop their literacy skills.

Holy Family Primary School is using Lexplore, a program that measures reading ability through AI and eye-tracking technology.

It’s one of the first schools in Australia to take up the technology.

Suzanne Deefholts, learning and teaching leader at the school, said it was exciting to be one of the first to try Lexplore.

“We didn’t have this when I went to university or school. It’s enhancing my practice and what I know about teaching literacy,” she explained.

She said Lexplore had complemented Holy Family’s existing literacy teaching program.

Lexplore is, in essence, a reading test.

Students work through the three sections of the test: a rapid automatic naming of letters, a verbal reading and a silent reading.

They then complete a series of comprehension questions.

The eye-tracking software looks at how students’ eyes move in relation to the words they see on the screen, which allows the school to see what sort of words or areas of reading students are struggling with.

“If they’re having trouble with a particu8 STAR JOURNAL

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Jessica with teacher Suzanne Deefholts. 249045 lar area, we can look at that and target our teaching to support those gaps,” Ms Deefholts said.

“It’s really looking at what the brain is doing – the technology will tell us how many milliseconds a child focuses on a word for.

“If the focus is on a word with ‘ch’ in it, we

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS know that’s an area for growth.”

She said the technology had enabled them to gain data on students’ learning that would not be gained through observation alone.

Parents and students have also been supportive of the program, and there had

Jessica is loving reading. 249045 been steady improvements in reading levels amongst the kids “It’s a real testament to what our teachers are doing despite the interruptions of remote learning,” Ms Deefholts said.

“Kids are still learning and growing.” dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

18 years for aunt’s murder

By Danielle Kutchel The niece of a Devon Meadows greyhound trainer has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for her brutal murder.

Jessie Moore was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday 1 September, after pleading guilty to the murder of her great aunt Karen Leek in March this year.

The court heard that on Monday 25 May, 26-year-old Moore picked up a hammer and struck Ms Leek to the head and face at least 12 times, killing her.

Moore then wrapped the 69-year-old’s face in a plastic bag and left the house, taking her keys, wallet and phone.

Moore and her five-year-old daughter Addyson had been living at Ms Leek’s Devon Meadows home since 2018.

The court heard the relationship between Moore and Ms Leak soured when Moore began using drugs.

In April 2019, Addyson went into the care of relatives and Moore moved out of the Devon Meadows residence.

There was an altercation between Moore and Ms Leek around this time, witnessed by Ms Leek’s brother David.

A few months later, Moore moved back into Ms Leek’s home with Addyson.

By this point, the court heard, Moore was pregnant with her second child.

The court heard Ms Leek told Moore she would not be able to care for a newborn, and was “frustrated” with Moore’s behaviour and her lack of care for Addyson.

Moore made plans to move in with her partner, Justin Carroll, but lied to him about her drug use and restricted access to her daughter.

By Sunday 24 May 2020, Moore was manipulating her DHHS drug tests and had decided

Greyhound trainer Karen Leek. to move out of the Devon Meadows home with her daughter.

She and Ms Leek argued about Addyson the day before the murder.

Another argument broke out just minutes before the attack – with Addyson able to overhear, the court was told.

After the attack, Moore took the murder weapon and fled with her daughter.

The next morning, she claimed to emergency services to have ‘discovered’ Ms Leek’s body that day.

She was initially interviewed and released without charge, but was arrested on 4 June 2020 after police obtained DNA results and after Mr Carroll told police he had found a suspicious bag in his children’s bedroom in their new house.

That bag contained a blood-stained hammer, gloves, and Ms Leek’s car keys and wallet.

An autopsy determined Ms Leek’s death was caused by “‘blunt force head injuries”, the court was told. The autopsy was not able to determine whether Ms Leek was alive or dead when the bag was tied over her head.

The court heard Moore had had a difficult childhood, with DHHS becoming involved when she was just eight years old.

She was bullied at school, exposed to family violence and diagnosed with an intellectual disability as a child.

Mr Carroll was abusive towards her during their relationship, the court heard.

Moore now has very little contact with Addyson and her second daughter, Charlotte, is likely to be placed in the sole custody of Mr Carroll. Moore was also on ice until just days before the murder.

A psychological report supplied to the court determined Moore also had recurrent depressive disorder with anxious distress as well as features of borderline personality disorder, and is suffering from PTSD stemming from the killing of Ms Leek.

The report concluded that at the time of the murder, Moore’s ability to think clearly and rationally was moderately impaired.

In sentencing, Justice Coghlan said it was possible Moore would have “little or no contact” with her youngest daughter and would be separated from both girls “for a substantial part of their formative years”.

Justice Coghlan was satisfied that Moore exhibited genuine remorse for her actions.

Moore was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of Ms Leek, with a non-parole period of 13 years.

Moore has already served 454 days in presentence detention.

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Stihl Shop Hallam is also a Toro Dealer, with plenty of zero-turn ride-on mowers for you to browse, from 30-inch domestic machines right through to 60-inch machines for commercial use.

As well as stocking the best brands, makes and models, they offer a full range of service and repair options for most machines; from domestic to commercial, the team at Stihl Shop Hallam can handle it all.

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STAR JOURNAL 9

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NEWS

Silicon Valley push for SE

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Under a ‘Buy Australian’ pitch, a South-East manufacturers group is aiming to grow stronger during Covid’s challenges.

South East Melbourne Manufactuers Alliance (SEMMA), has also lobbied for a Silicon Valley concept for what is Victoria’s manufacturing heartland.

The group has set a target for a rise in manufacturing’s share in Australia’s GDP from 6.8 per cent to 10 per cent by 2025.

By 2035, the aim is 15 per cent of GDP. “Governments at all levels must support Australian owned and operated manufacturers before looking for the cheap and often substandard offshore option,” SEMMA president Peter Angelico stated in his report to the alliance’s AGM on 9 September.

It was the “road map” to a more sustainable future, he said.

“We saw what happens with cheap building products slip through the cracks with the highrise building fires a few years ago, an avoidable, lack of compliance issue that continues to be a burden on taxpayers.”

Some of the opportunities included a home-grown battery industry using Australian-mined lithium.

Currently the metal was sold overseas for US$100 million and bought back at higher cost as finished batteries. If processed on shore, the value would be about US$1.7 billion, Mr Angelicao said.

He said Covid had hit other sectors harder, such as retail and hospitality.

However, it still presented challenges such as higher shipping costs, raw material shortages and price increases, as well as major project delays and blowouts putting pressures on margins.

There was also a skills shortage, which SEMMA sought to address with a federallyfunded young welder training program.

Chief executive Vonda Fenwick said SEM-

SEMMA president Peter Angelico and chief executive Vonda Fenwick pitch for the manufacturing sector’s growth.

MA was lobbying for a ‘Silicon Valley’ in the South East, La Trobe and Gippsland regions that was “critical to our sovereign capability”.

The high-tech “eco-system” could produce its share of a soon-to-be US$1 trillion global market for semiconductors.

Their application is in technologies such as modern weapons, security equipment, medicine, vehicles, artificial intelligence and data capture, Ms Fenwick stated.

“Our modern world and advanced economies cannot function without them.”

The South East was the ideal setting with research hubs such as the Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication and universities, ready water from the Wonthaggi desal plant as well as the manufacturing heartland.

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Phill’s wife Cal and his daughter Allie handle the administration side, with the workshop run by their manager Andrew who strives to deliver personal and quality service with the help of our workshop staff Nathan, Josh and Trevor.

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STAR JOURNAL 11

LOOKING BACK 100 years ago 15 September 1921 A Polite Hint Many people who organise concerts and other public events occasionally murmur grievances - that their function has been ignored by the Press. There is, however, another side to the case, where those who get up these entertainments omit to send the usual complimentary Press Tickets. We consider it unreasonable to expect a representative from this paper to explain his position to a probably sceptical doorkeeper, and take the chance of being thought mean, or perhaps worse. If a newspaper is expected to devote space, time and money reporting and publishing reports, it is about time the amateur entertainment entrepreneurs learnt the regular and customary procedure.

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

If on the other hand, omission springs from the supposition that the Press should go and pay at the door – such entrepreneurs merely delude themselves.

50 years ago 14 September 1971 The big Redleg victory Giving one of the most exhilarating displays of power football in the VFA for many years, Dandenong “walked“ into the First Division grand final by thrashing Preston last Sunday.

Preston had no answer to the Redlegs and went down by a mammoth 74 points. Chief architect of the Dandenong win was full forward Jim Miller who kicked 10.2 from 13 shots at goal. But Miller was only one of a host of Redleg stars in a side which now must be hot favourites to win the 1971 pennant.

20 years ago

5 years ago

10 September 2001 Please open your hearts Australian’s first Afghanistan refugee is calling on the Casey and Dandenong communities to open their hearts and minds to the world’s asylum seekers. Shir Kehtiar from Endeavour Hills, a businessman and a father of five, is upset and disappointed that more than 430 Afghanistan people on the Norwegian freighter Tampa were refused entry into Australia. Mr Keshtiar came to Australia in 1974 to study English and returned to Afghanistan in 1978. “I left my homeland two weeks before the Soviet invasion in 1979 because it was in turmoil.” Three million people including his family were displaced and not much has changed since.

12 September 2016 Tin hare for the dogs on track Greyhound racing changed forever in 1956 when the tin hare returned to the opening of the new Sandown Park greyhound track.

Cars were parked more than a mile from the track as a crowd of more than 30,000 people forced the organisers to throw open the gates. Opening night proved a raging success. The Sporting Globe reported “the track looked a real colourful picture; lighting was perfect, and racing was quite good considering the short experience greyhounds have had at the track. There are hopes that it will be the first step towards transforming greyhound racing in Melbourne.” Six decades later, those hopes have been exceeded.

NEWS

Persevere in tough times

By Rev. John Vayalilkarottu Ofmconv* Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, medical experts, sociologists, and all those interested and involved in human flourishing have all examined the idea of hope.

People from diverse fields have discovered that the word ‘hope’ has a variety of meanings, concepts, and interpretations from different perspectives.

The virtue of hope helps us to overcome situations of despair, suffering and hopelessness.

During this time of pandemic, hope will fill our hearts with the idea that this pandemic will come to an end.

And that we can overcome it by cooperating with the guidance of health experts and government regulations.

Most of the religious founders and great men and women of history confirm through their teachings and lived examples that one

MESSAGE OF

HOPE can overcome trials in life through perseverance.

The very foundation of Christian faith, for example, is that it is through suffering that we participate in the glory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus shows us that there is no victory without suffering and the cross.

Victor Frankl (1905–1997), an Austrian psychiatrist, showed the world how to triumph over hopeless situations.

Frankl, who was a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, founded the psychological system of Logotherapy, which promotes striving and struggling to achieve a greater goal even when surrounded by hopeless situations.

According to Frankl, what is required is not the immediate release of tension, but the summoning of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled.

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi is a beautiful prayer that can help us persevere in the face of hopelessness.

This powerful prayer, a synthesis of Christian spirituality, can help us to grow in optimism, increase our personal satisfaction and offer support to others.

The prayer reads: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.” * Rev. John Vayalilkarottu Ofmconv* is from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Springvale.

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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NEWS

Rail bridge takes form Massive concrete beams were being lifted into place as part of the rail bridge built across Hallam Road in Hallam.

The 27-metre, 130-tonne beams were hoisted using a 650-tonne crane during Level Crossing Removal Project works at Hallam station on Thursday 9 September.

In all, 60 beams will complete the 394-metre rail bridge – a total of 13,500 tonnes.

The beams made by NVC Precast in Kilmore were transported to site by Bayswater trucking company Hi-Haul during the night.

Meanwhile the under-construction railway station is taking shape, with 12 Super-Ts installed at the foundations.

The dual-entrance, elevated station will serve 2200 passengers a day, with improved

links for pedestrians and cyclists.

The project is continuing under strict COVIDSafe plans, having been deemed as critical by the Chief Health Officer.

Works on removing the level crossing are expected to finish in 2022.

A 650-tonne crane lowered the massive beams as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project at Hallam.

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Putting a heart check on your retirement to do list Now you have time to your self it’s time to have a heart check according to Heart Foundation Queensland Heart Health manager Doctor Anna Lewis.

Brisbane-based Doctor Lewis said retirement is the perfect time to finally take some time to really consider your health - though in an ideal world the Heart Foundation recommends starting a little earlier.

“What we say is when people get to the age of 45 - it’s not exact - but when they get to 45 we recommend that people go and see their doctor to have a heart health check and that’s because as we get older risk of heart disease increases,” Dr Lewis explained.

“However, we do recommend that people are aware of their risk of heart condition at any age but particularly as people get older we recommend people see their doctor for a heart health check.

“When I say 45 that is for non-indigenous people for our First Nation people we recommend that when people reach the age of thirty for a heart health check.”

She said there were a number of things that the Doctor will check for as part of the heart health check.

“Some of the things the Doctor will ask them about or they will measure, is whether they have high blood pressure, whether they have high cholesterol or diabetes - they’re some of the medical conditions that can increase risk of heart disease,” she said.

“They’ll also ask them about their lifestyle - so they’ll want to know whether they’re doing any physical activity, what their diet is like, whether they’re smoking, how much alcohol they’re taking in regularly and they’ll also consider whether they may have a mental health condition.

Doctor Anna Lewis.

“So it’s all of those lifestyle factors that can increase people’s risk of heart disease but like I said people’s risk of heart disease increases so they’ll also consider their age.”

She said gender also plays a part in heart risk.

“Unfortunately our male counterparts are more likely to get heart disease and they’ll also consider people’s ethnicity - people’s ethnic background,” Dr Lewis said.

Putting all of these factors together the GP will access whether someone is at risk of heart disease as well as measuring if they already have heart condition.

“It is really important that people go and have the heart health check and talk to their doctor but there are a number of things we can do,” she said.

“We can’t change our age, gender or ethnicity clearly and there are those clinical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol

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and diabetes - we may not be able to change if we have them.

“But there is a number of things can do. We recommend that people are physically active and that they do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. So that’s going for a good brisk walk. People can do vigorous activity and they only have to do 75 minutes a week. We recommend that people eat a good balanced diet.

“On our website we have heart healthy eating principals where we recommend what people do - usually that’s eating more wholegrains, more fruit and vegetables, low fat and healthy proteins, limiting their salt intake and drinking water - essentially eating a good balanced diet. On our website - rather than telling people what they should be eating we try and help people so we’ve got a large number of recipes to help people put our healthy eating principals in to practice. They don’t have to think about what they’re eating they can just pick our recipes and by eating that food they’ll be eating a good balanced diet.

“We recommend that people limit alcohol intake, we now say in Australia that its no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four in any one day. We recommend that people try to stop smoking if they are smokers - or don’t take it up.”

But it’s not just physical health that contributes to a healthy heart according to Doctor Lewis.

“We do suggest that people talk to their health professionals - their doctor, about their mental health,” she explained.

“We know that good mental health can also reduce risk of heart disease.

“The other risk factor that is important for people to control is their bodyweight - and obviously through having a healthy diet and

increasing physical activity people can help to manage their body weight but that’s another risk factor for heart disease.

“Now that you’re not working all the time take some time to listen to your body.

“If people have some time - some retirees are very busy I realise that - it’s good - good to be busy, it’s good for your mental health to have social connection but if it’s a time in your life to think about your health and wellbeing it’s important to think about these risk factors. In fact, by doing those things people will reduce their risks, not only of heart disease but of a number of other things and generally make themselves feel better. The good news is that by working on the risk factors for heart disease, people will generally feel better in their general frame of mind both physically and mentally anyway.”

Doctor Lewis also stressed the importance of talking to the Doctor before taking any new strenuous exercise regimes.

“It is important to think about what they want to do and then if there is any concerns, talk to their doctor about what exercise or behaviors might be important for them to do and if they need any support in that for example if they do have high blood pressure to talk to their doctor first before they take on any sort of extreme exercise.”

One of the most important things that the Heart Foundation stresses is knowing the warning signs of a heart attack.

“If anyone is concerned we recommend that they call triple 0 straight away, but the main warning signs of a heart attack are going to be if people are experiencing chest pains, pressure or heaviness in their chest, pain down their arm, there can be some other symptoms like jaw pains or neck pain, nausea or dizziness that some women experience they don’t always have the typical symptoms,” she said.

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 13

NEWS

Fun festival goes virtual The 10th annual Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival goes online for two weeks from 18 September.

Under the theme of Little World Explorers, families can explore free activities and workshops from the comfort of home.

The headline event Little Night In offers live-streamed performances and activities for big kids and little kids is on Sunday 26 September, 4pm-6pm.

The Little Explorers Writing Competition is open to primary-school aged children living or studying in the City of Greater Dandenong.

The winner will have their story turned into an animated short film, to be premiered at next year’s festival.

Last year’s winner Fading Memories is a moving story written by Jordan Jackson.

It has been animated into a short film by local artist Hung Lin and will premiere at a special event on Monday 27 September at 11am.

The launch features a Q& A with the writer.

Drum Theatre has joined with Bukjeh artists for a holiday arts program Home Away from Home for culturally and linguistically diverse families. It has more than 30 virtual classes in storytelling, cooking, movement, creative writing and visual arts workshops presented in both English and Arabic.

Greater Dandenong mayor Angela Long said the council was still able to provide fun and adventure for families even in lockdown.

“Local residents have been doing it tough, and the school holidays provide a perfect opportunity to reconnect and have some good old fashioned family fun.

“We want to offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy some adventure and laughs while adhering to all the restrictions currently in place.”

Great prizes are up for grabs to participants who fill out a feedback survey after the events.

Details: www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov. au/childrens-festival

Join the Circus workshop will be presented on 21 September.

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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.

The not-for-profit provides mental health

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“,

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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broadcasting company on the planet.

He hopes his story can serve as an example of how far passion and enthusiasm can take you.

“I was just a regular kid with a regular background, no formal study ad no diplomas on my wall, but I made it to the top of the TV world and sports commentating world,” Mr Schiavello said.

“I’d like that to be an inspiration to anyone out there, that if you have a passion and enthusiasm you can do it.

“Do what you love, and if you love it, do the best you can and no matter what anyone says keep ploughing through.”

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viewing advice for his own television shows.

Now, Mr Schiavello has released a book, called ‘The Commentators’, celebrating 100 years of sports commentating.

2021 is the 100th anniversary of the profession, and Mr Schiavello’s book delves into the greatest sporting moments in history and the commentators behind them.

Some of the world’s best commentators have contributed sections to the book, including Vin Scully, who has been voted the number one sports commentator of all time.

With such an impressive CV, it might look like there’s little left to achieve – but Mr Schiavello said he still has a few things on his bucket list, like commentating a Wrestlemania.

But for now, the Narre Warren South resident is enjoying commentating for ONE Championship, the third most watched sports

Global sports commentating star Michael Schiavello.

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the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the boxing in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

He’s worked in 27 different countries, from Jamaica to Hungary, England to France, the USA to Poland and all throughout Asia.

He’s a two-time winner of the Asian Television Award for Best Sports Presenter/Commentator and is the most watched Australian sports television commentator, broadcast to 154 countries with Nielsen-rated viewership of 81 million globally.

He’s hosted his own prime time interview show in the US, ‘The Voice Versus’, where he interviewed big names like Steven Seagal, George Foreman, Hulk Hogan and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard.

He counts ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin as his best ever interview – and to this day, the nowretired wrestler calls Mr Schiavello for inter-

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In a career spanning 30 years, Narre Warren South resident Michael Schiavello has beamed into millions of homes, bringing sport to life with an electric energy.

He’s rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s biggest sports stars and worked on massive global events.

But it wasn’t always his dream to be a sports commentator.

In fact, as a year 10 student looking for work experience, Mr Schiavello had his heart set on being an architect.

When none of the architecture firms he wrote to offered him a work experience position, Mr Schiavello’s mother encouraged him to try radio instead.

He applied to Triple M and received a confirmation letter on his birthday.

The team put him in the newsroom for his work experience tenure, and Mr Schiavello said he quickly fell in love with the gadgets, the microphones and flashing buttons.

“From that moment on, all thoughts of being an architect disappeared and all I wanted to do was radio and broadcasting and media.”

His mum, it seemed, had been on to something.

In year 11, as a “means to wag class”, Mr Schiavello joined some mates in commentating a school athletics event at Olympic Park.

Finding he had a real knack for the craft, he went on to work at the local community radio station where he scored interviews with some of the world’s biggest sports stars.

By the age of 20 he had found his groove commentating fight sports.

Since then, Mr Schiavello’s passion and enthusiasm for sports and commentating has taken him all over the world to commentate major sporting events, including commentating the boxing events for over 130 countries in

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STAR JOURNAL 17

SPORT

The DDCA season shuffle

By Nick Creely Amidst all of the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, it’s been a bumper off-season in the Dandenong District Cricket Association, with some big name recruits set to bolster the competition when community sport is given the green light to resume. Here are some of the signings and departures from the top two grades with cricket hopefully not too far away: TURF 1 Runners-up Berwick have been busy, both with recruits and departures, with Wookey Medal winner Ruwantha Kellepotha off to Premier Cricket to try his hand with Casey-South Melbourne, while Brendan Rose is another notable departure with the reliable paceman off to Richmond in a coaching-playing role at the Premier club. Cory Bevan (Knoxfield) and Josh Holden (Buckley Ridges) are two reliable players who’ve also departed the Cave.

But the Bears have landed three big names as they look to once again remain in the premiership hunt, with ex-Tasmanian quick Andrew Perrin returning to the club after winning a premiership with Prahran in a major coup that will bolster the bowling, while talented leggie Riley Siwes comes across from Dandenong West where he will help fill the void left

by Kellepotha. Mordialloc premiership skipper and champion keeper-batsman Damith Mapa Ralage is also bound for Arch Brown Reserve as he seeks a fresh change of scenery.

Buckley Ridges have undergone some changes to its playing list with coach Chanaka Welegedara departing, while their pro pair, Benny Howell and Ian Cockbain won’t return and champion all-rounder Daniel ‘DJ’ Watson is also 50/50 to play for the club this season.

But the Bucks always have something up their sleeve and have landed quick Nimesh Kariyawasam from North Dandenong as well as batsman Josh Holden from Berwick. It has also landed former Glamorgan batsman and ex-England Under 19 player Ben Wright as the club’s new skipper, in a huge signing for the club and competition. It is expected that the Bucks will likely look to further bolster their batting stocks.Narre South are also hoping it has the cattle to compete for the Turf 1 flag this season, but will need to do so without star pair Josh Dowling and Scott Phillips, who have

Josh Dowling has departed Narre South, joining Springvale South. 230556 both departed Strathaird Recreation Reserve.

But the Lions are hopeful that Jersey international gun Jonty Jenner can return to the club to help bolster the batting, while hard-hitting top order batsman Harsha De Silva joins the club from West Coburg.

Springvale South - as they usually are - have

Picture: ROB CAREW

had a bumper off-season, with two star quicks, Josh Dowling, and ex-State and BBL paceman Jayde Herrick linking up with the Bloods in what is a potent new-ball duo in the making. Star all-rounder Blade Baxter, who most recently has been performing strongly in the Northern Territory and was named in the Darwin District Team of the Year, has also joined

the club from Ormond. Mitch Forsyth has also returned to the club after a stint with Dandenong and will add plenty of class through the middle order. Spots will be tough to obtain in the Turf 1 side down at Harold Road.

The Bloods have lost a few, however, with destructive all-rounder Nathan King off to Lakes Entrance as captain-coach after he moved to East Gippsland, champion batsman Clint Tomlinson has retired after a short stint, while reliable batsman Stephen Hennessy has departed for Keysborough.

St Mary’s have been busy locking away its senior list and are looking incredibly stable under skipper Wendyl Pires, but have added a quality recruit with top order batsman Nanayakkarawasam Kalumshehara signing on after two strong seasons for North Dandenong.

TURF 2 Cranbourne has had a fairly busy off-season, with the Eagles landing attacking wicketkeeper batsman Matt Collett from Dandenong West, with the top-order batsman a quality addition.

But it’s been Heinz Southern Districts who have really gone on a substantial recruitment drive after a tough Turf 1 season in 2020/21, with a scattering of new names down at the Snakepit.

Under new coach Craig Hookey who has joined the club from Cranbourne, the Cobras have been busy, landing Matt Blanch (Frankston Peninsula), leg-spinner Maheesha Gamage (Casey-South Melbourne), all-rounder Jason Ward (Richmond), gun paceman and former Victorian Under 19 player Triyan De Silva from Dandenong who has first XI experience at Premier level, as well as off-spinner Jordan Margenberg from Cranbourne.

As previously mentioned, Keysborough has bolstered its batting with the signing of Stephen Hennessy from Springvale South, with the top-order batsman expected to really relish his opportunity after mixing between the first and second XIs at the Bloods.

And the Parkmore Pirates have also steadily locked away the majority of its playing list and looms as a side to watch, but have added toporder batsman Abhinav Bhatia who took out Coomoora’s club champion award last season after a sensational individual season.

Aston Rupee smashes track record at Sandown Park

By Mick Floyd Aston Rupee staked his claim as the fastest greyhound on the planet after he sensationally slashed two lengths off the Sandown Park record this afternoon, stopping the clock at 28.790.

The dual Speed Star winner nailed the start from box 3 to run 5.01 to the first mark - almost a length quicker than his previous best at the circuit - and quickly accelerated away from the field. His ran 18.58 to the second mark before getting him in 10.21 to round one of the most complete performances seen at Sandown Park.

“Phenomenal run from the greyhound and I think he thoroughly deserved it,” said his delighted trainer Glenn Rounds.

“He’s had his name on it for a little while and it was just a matter of conditions being right and the right circumstances in racing and he got it tonight. He’s been brilliant.”

Aston Rupee has long been regarded one of the country’s most exciting prospects.

He opened as the $14 TAB Melbourne Cup favourite when the market was released in March despite having just seven starts to his name, and has now been placing in 25 of his 26 starts - a fourth in a heat of the Launching Pad before going on to finish second in the final.

Following his track record gallop, Aston Rupee is now rated a $7 chance for the world’s greatest greyhound race.

Rounds has prepared a number of group glass greyhounds throughout his career but none compare to Aston Rupee all-round brilliance.

18 STAR JOURNAL

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“I think dogs like him are born. I don’t think anyone makes them, I think they’re born beasts,” he explained.

“It’s a whole combination of everything being in the right mix. We very rarely get it in greyhounds - we get good dogs that are slow early or good dogs that aren’t strong, but it’s just a rare dog of this type.

“It’s fantastic to have a track record next to his name, and one person who will be more thrilled than me will be (owner) Ray Borda.

He’s all over that, he’ll be loving it.”

Speaking to the Greyhound Recorder, Borda was elated.

“I’ve won Melbourne Cups, Adelaide Cups, you name it, but this is something else,” he said.

“And all credit to Glenn who does a immaculate job with this dog. In fact, if you see the dog’s coat, you cannot believe what a gleam Glenn has put on him. It is amazing.”

Aston Rupee’s next assignment will be the TAB Match Race Challenge at Angle Park on 23rd September ahead of the Adelaide Cup. He’ll then return to prepare for the TAB Melbourne Cup on Friday 26 November.

Fastest Runs at Sandown Park 9/09/2021 27/11/2020 22/11/2019 23/07/2020 17/03/2016 25/09/2011 7/05/2015 5/05/2019

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

ASTON RUPEE HARD STYLE RICO HOOKED ON SCOTCH SHIMA SHINE UNLAWFUL ENTRY BEKIM BALE FERNANDO BALE DYNA PATTY

28.790 28.909 28.939 28.949 28.951 28.960 28.980 28.999 Aston Rupee staked his claim as the fastest greyhound on the planet. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Linas Legend is growing

By David Nagel Leading Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien may have a potential Caulfield Guineas hope on his hands after his exciting colt Linas Legend made a mess of some quality three-yearolds at Sandown on Wednesday.

It’s a massive step up - from a midweek $50,000 BenchMark 64 Handicap (1300m) to the $2million Group-1 feature at Caulfield on Saturday, 9 October - but the son of Teofilo/ Cloanthy won in the style of a potential highend talent.

Linas Legend scorched the clock early, leading comfortably, before showing a great turn of foot to race away with a very impressive twolength victory.

Linas Legend began his racing career as a two-year-old in the autumn, with placings at Caulfield and Flemington, before having an easy kill at his first start as a three-year-old at Echuca on August 26.

He made it back-to-back wins at Sandown defeating the talented Fortunate Kiss, who was Group-3 placed behind Enthaar and Ingratiating at Caulfield in late January.

Ben Gleeson, stable representative for O’Brien, said Linas Legend had elevated his levels to new heights with the win.

“He was very impressive,” Gleeson told Racing.com post-race.

“I was watching the sectionals go by and he rolled along and then seemingly controlled the race and quickened away impressively. He’s done it at both ends and just stamped himself as a high-quality colt.”

Gleeson said progressing to the grand stage of one of the country’s premium three-yearold races was now a distinct possibility. The O’Brien stable obviously has a high opinion of their colt, nominating him for the Caulfield Guineas when noms opened in early August.

“The turn of foot he showed there, he’s pretty versatile so there could be a certain mile race on the radar,” Gleeson acknowledged.

“The way he sprinted there he’s certainly got a bit more brilliance than some Teofilo’s have.

“Quite often they’re a staying type of horse, but the way he’s built, he’s a very imposing horse and certainly looks like he’ll appreciate getting out to the mile.”

Jockey Damian Lane has no concerns about Linas Legend stepping out to the mile.

“The mile will be no issue” he said.

“I’m not sure beyond that at this stage, but I’m probably still learning a bit about him.

I think a mile no problem and we’ll see after that.

“He was good, he’s made good progression from his first up win and I think he’ll progress again after this.”

Linas Legend was not the only potential group performer to emerge from Wednesday’s program after Symon Wilde’s four-year-old mare Sirileo Miss made a great return to racing in the $50,000 BenchMark 70 Handicap over 1300 metres.

The daughter of Pride of Dubai/She’s Sirius was given a patient ride by champion jockey Craig Williams before bursting clear over the last 100 metres to score an eye-catching victory.

Sirileo Miss did look destined to be a highquality stayer after running a close-up fifth – beaten just over a length – to Media Award in the $500,000 Group-1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in early May. But jockey Craig Williams, who rode Sirileo Miss in the Oaks, and again on Wednesday, thinks the promising mare will be much better suited to distances up to a mile.

“I did speak to Symon (Wilde) after we got beat in the Oaks and told him she just doesn’t stay but we always felt like she was good enough for black type,” Williams said, before explaining her pet distance range.

“I think seven furlongs (1400 metres), maybe to a mile (1600m).

“I think he (Wilde) has got plenty of options in the next couple of months the way she’s going, and the way she looks she’ll continue to improve.”

Williams intimated that Sirileo Miss does herself no favours when it comes to conserving her efforts for race day.

“She doesn’t stop, she’s a cantankerous girl and really doesn’t save all of her energy for the dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Linas Legend looks destined for higher honours following his great win at Sandown. 250314

Sirileo Miss produced an eye-catching finish at Sandown on Wednesday.

Pictures: PAT SCALA/RACING PHOTOS

Craig Williams salutes his winning double at Sandown. 250314

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race, which means there’s a lot more merit to her performance today,” he said.

“But she’s also good really good fresh form and she was able to deliver today in a really strong tough competitive race, so they’re in for a nice a preparation.”

Sirileo Miss has now won three of her seven starts and accumulated more than $180,000 in prizemoney.

Williams claimed riding honours on the day, scoring a winning double, after earlier piloting the Jerome Hunter-trained Barb Raider to a runaway win in the second race on the card.

Barb Raider ran second to Adele Amour over 1400 metres at Sandown on August 18, but turned the tables in stylish fashion in the $50,000 BenchMark 70 Handicap over 1600 metres.

Williams sat camped off a hot pace, before striking the lead at the 400-metre mark and fighting off a strong challenge from Adele Amour at the 300-pole.

The daughter of Rebel Raider/Graebarb then put the issue beyond doubt, exploding away over the concluding stages for a soft three-and-a-half-length victory.

Hunter said Barb Raider would now be set for an Oaks trial in two weeks’ time.

“We’ve had a long-tern plan and today cemented what we’ve always thought about her.”

Sandown’s next meeting is sure to be a beauty, on AFL Grand Final Day, Saturday, 25 September, when the club hosts the $1million Group-1 Underwood Stakes Day.

Barb Raider was super-impressive giving Craig Williams the first leg of a winning double. 250314 Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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STAR JOURNAL 19

DANDENONG HIGH SCHOOL Design Engineering Academy

DESIGN ENGINEERING ACADEMY OPENING 2022

COMMENCING

2022

In response to a considerable, demonstrable increase in global demand for STEM-related workforce skills, Dandenong High School is launching a Design Engineering Academy.

The Academy program will be taught in the new Design Centre, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art and future-focused learning precinct opening at Dandenong High School in 2022.

The Academy will provide students with a deeply immersive and full-faceted STEM program and a clear learning pathway to an extensive array of tertiary courses and career opportunities.

Initially opening to Year 9 students, for further information please contact Dandenong High School on 9792 0561.

92-106 Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 T (+613) 9792 0561 E dandenong.hs@education.vic.gov.au www.dandenong-hs.vic.edu.au

12512236-BL38-21

20 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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