Dandenong Star Journal - 15th March 2022

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Tuesday, 15 March, 2022

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Waste to energy plan in limbo

I’m no bully, says MP

Hammond’s historic summer

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SPORT

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Cold case murder plea

Spring in their step Multicultural Place in Springvale was pulsing with live dance and global rhythms in a lead-up to International Women’s Day. Photographer ROB CAREW captured the abundant movement and smiles at the In Situ day on 6 March, with acts by Sounds of Polynesia, Natalia Mann, Jay Dabgar Trio, the Kathak Dancers and DJ NARU with freestyle movement maker Dee. STORY PAGE 12 Freestyle dancer Dee Wong leads the crowd with extreme energy. 271232 Picture: ROB CAREW

No knife warning Police officers were unaware of a triple-0 call warning a man was armed with a knife prior to fatally shooting him on the Monash Freeway in Dandenong North, a state coronial inquest has heard.

The 53-year-old Narre Warren North father of four – who is being identified as XY – was shot during a welfare check which turned into an attempt to arrest him under the Mental

Health Act about 10am on 28 May 2020.

In the process, XY was standing on the freeway near his car and removed a 25-centimetre knife from his jacket, Counsel Assisting Susan Locke told the inquest in her opening summary on 7 March.

In response, a police officer fired beanbag shots at XY to “no effect” and XY charged with knife in hand towards the officer.

Another officer fired two semi-automatic pistol shots into XY’s body, and then another

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four shots as XY continued running.

XY collapsed on the beanbag-shooting officer, who had tripped and fallen as he “rapidly retreated”.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier that morning, an Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) calltaker had “inaccurately” and “ambiguously” recorded information about the man’s possession of the knife, Ms Locke said.

And further, the police dispatcher hadn’t noticed the comments and they weren’t broadcast to attending police units.

“It appears that none of the attending police were aware of the information … that XY had left the house carrying a knife or was believed by his wife to be carrying a knife, or the comment in the second CAD (ESTA dispatch system) event of an unconfirmed report of knife with nil sighting.”

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‘Reunite our loved ones’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Dandenong refugee advocate is pleading for lonely asylum seekers to be visited by their estranged overseas partners and children.

Wicki Wickiramasingham, a former Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre director, has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to plead for family reunions.

In fleeing for their lives from their homelands, people seeking asylum have been separated from their close family members for up to 15 years, he says.

Such as a local Tamil asylum seeker who has waited in limbo on a temporary protection visa after leaving behind his wife and three

young children in Sri Lanka.

Now his children are growing into adults without him.

In the meantime, the man is not allowed to sponsor their families to even visit them on a temporary basis.

He, like many others, is weighing up whether to risk going home and being “killed by the government troops” in order to see his family again, Mr Wickiramisingham said.

“His children are in their late teens and they don’t know their father. Covid has spread worldwide, and many are anxious to see their families.

“They don’t want to go back, but it’s like their only option – to apply to the United Nations to go back to Sri Lanka and hand them-

selves over to the Government.

“They don’t know what’s going to happen to them.”

Mr Wickiramasingham is proposing that TPV holders are allowed to sponsor their families to join them for between three or five years.

“We’re not asking for money but just for the right to visit them.”

Many have lingered on temporary protection visas for years, awaiting a decision without deadline on whether they can stay in Australia.

Some asylum seekers are deprived of work rights and income support. It forces them to work “cash in hand” or to seek charity handouts to survive.

There’s been no sign that the Government

or the Labor Opposition will relent on current asylum seeker policies, he says.

Greater Dandenong is leading a multicouncil campaign to improve asylum seeker rights ahead of the federal election.

The Back Your Neighbour campaign calls for a single refugee status decision process and an independent, timely and fair merits review.

It wants temporary protection visas for refugees replaced by permanent humanitarian visas.

They are also calling for the massive backlog of asylum applications and appeals to be heard, and for access to Medicare, income support, work rights and mental health services.

Inquest hears police were not warned of knife threat From page 1 The inquest will also examine police tactics, their decision to halt negotiations and arrest XY and the use of “lethal force”, Ms Locke said.

At the time, XY was not been diagnosed with a mental illness. But his mental health had been “deteriorating” in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and other stressors, she said.

His “increasingly erratic and paranoid” behaviour had been reported by one of his children to a school chaplain.

Hours before the shooting, the child texted the chaplain that XY told his children they weren’t allowed to go to school, his wife couldn’t leave the house and they were to turn off the home’s wifi so “people could not monitor them”.

XY’s wife rang the school’s wellbeing officer in a “highly distressed state” saying XY had left the house with a knife and driven off. He’d told his family it would be the last time they would see them.

The school’s wellbeing officer called triple-0 and told a different ESTA call taker that XY left the house with a knife.

The call taker’s notes on the dispatch system stated that the officer “believes M may have had a knife – not confirmed – nil sighting”.

A driver who pulled over and spoke to XY rang triple-0. He claimed XY said: “I don’t care what they do to me. I’ll take a bullet unless they can protect my family.”

At 9.18am, XY called triple-0 from an emergency lane on Monash Freeway. He stated he was in a crisis situation. The ESTA call taker

created a priority 1 event.

XY later confirmed on the phone to a police sergeant that he had no knives or weapons.

Ten police officers, including a Frontline Tactical Unit and Critical Incident Response Team, rendezvoused nearby prior to approaching XY. None of them were a trained CIRT negotiator. An acting sergeant, who was ex-CIRT and had completed and not passed a CIRT negotiator course, was chosen as the primary negotiator.

He was backed up by three members of CIRT, with cover from four other police members.

After blocking off the freeway, the acting sergeant approached XY who confirmed he was unarmed.

After 10 minutes, the acting sergeant opined that the negotiations were “going around in circles”. A decision was made to arrest XY under the Mental Health Act. After the shooting, police officers examined their bodycam footage prior to giving their witness statements, Ms Locke told the inquiry.

Police are now required to make an “independent recollection” prior to viewing the footage, under Victoria Police policy changes from 17 February 2022, she said.

Fourteen witnesses, including Victoria Police officers and an ESTA quality improvement investigator, are expected to give evidence during the seven-day hearing.

State Coroner Judge John Cain is hearing the matter.

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Street’s hoon nightmare

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A high-profile police operation targeting hoons has failed to quell the incessant noise from a Springvale shopping centre car park, residents say.

The Springvale Mega Centre car park on Princes Highway is on the radar of police as part of its anti-hooning Operation Achilles.

With a 24/7 McDonald’s outlet on site, it has been a magnet for revving cars and cheering crowds for all hours most nights, as reported

by Star Journal in July.

A sleepless neighbour told Star Journal that, if anything, the bombardment of backfiring, burnouts and racing had ramped up.

He recorded 45 nights of hooning noise in the past two months.

The backfiring of cars racing up and down the straights of Princes Highway echoes. It’s like a “shotgun going off”, he says.

“We’re just tired of it. The police need to step it up.

“How are these people even on the road?”

During a weekend of legal car racing at Sandown on 25-26 February, a mob of 70 cars “came out to play” at night, the resident said.

He contacted Springvale police but the mob’s noise continued unabated until 5.30am, he said.

Police say they responded to the mass gathering at Springvale Junction and Princes Highway.

They issued infringement notices for minor

Princes Highway, Springvale is an echo-chamber of backfiring and racing, residents say. 243964 Picture: GARY SISSONS offences. There was no intentional loss of traction, excessive speed or other high-risk driving detected, however.

The public was “generally well behaved,” police say.

Inspector Peter Koger, Victoria Police’s local area commander for Greater Dandenong, said police have regularly patrolled known hoon hot spots including the Springvale shopping centre during Operation Achilles.

“This intense focus has resulted in a decrease in hoon activity in the area.

“It is hard to comprehend why individuals participate in reckless behaviour on our roads and the community and police are rightly sick of it.”

Police say they are monitoring known groups and people to stop illegal hoon meets.

They use automatic number-plate recognition technology and mobile CCTV surveillance to identify hoon-event participants.

Police also have powers to identify and report loud vehicles to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

“The majority of the community do the right thing in obeying road rules and take responsibility for their actions but there are those few who think they can flout the law, cause damage to local streets and put innocent road users at risk,” Inspector Koger said.

“Police in Greater Dandenong will continue to target illegal hoon activity, put offenders before the courts and keep our community safe from reckless driver behaviour.”

Greater Dandenong councillor Sean O’Reilly told a council meeting on 28 February that MPs and Victoria Police didn’t respond to

then-mayor Angela Long’s call for a meeting on the Mega Centre issue in 2021.

“One resident tells me that he has contacted the police multiple times but police say that they are too busy.

“It is an issue that is not easy to resolve but I think for the residents’ sake, for their own peace of mind or peaceful amenity of living, we should do more.”

City planning director Jody Bosman said the “cat and mouse game” was a “problem that has gone on unfortunately for too long”.

“Victoria Police have a specific operation that deals with hooning in the South East and this particular site is very much on (their) radar.

“I am not too sure what the answer is.

“I can assure you that this matter has already stretched our minds and stretched our ingenuity and unfortunately it keeps coming back.

“It will stop for a while and then it will recur and I think that there a number of sites around the South East where these groups of hoon drivers move around in a cat and mouse game with Victoria Police.”

According to a 28 February council report, Victoria Police is negotiating with the shopping centre’s owner Ouson Group on ways to deter hoon gatherings.

Options include enforcing temporary parking restrictions in the car park and temporary bollards.

Last year, the shopping centre’s owner Ouson Group did not respond to the Star Journal’s enquiries.

Cold case plea: Sapountzakis murder still unsolved communications channel if Mr Sapountzakis’ car was sighted.

Around the time of this alert a witness located the cab on the Mountain Highway in Bayswater, outside the factory of Vulcan Australia.

The vehicle was locked, both amber roof lights were illuminated and the metre was still operating, indicating a fare of $127.80.

Some of Mr Sapountzakis’ personal belongings were inside the cab however there was no sign of him.

Multiple witnesses contacted Investigators after sighting Emanuel’s vehicle in and around Scoresby Road, Bayswater and Stud Road, Dandenong.

These sightings have assisted police over the years in establishing a timeline of Mr Sapountzakis’ movements.

At the time of his death, Mr Sapountzakis had been living in Clayton with his wife and two-year-old daughter.

He was also studying chemical engineering at Monash University while working six days a week as a taxi driver.

His family had migrated to Australia from Brazil in1971.

Despite a significant investigation over

the past three decades, detectives have been unable to establish who is responsible for Mr Sapountzakis’ death.

Of particular interest is that the victim, on several occasions, was in possession of large sums of U.S. currency, a claim that has been supported by multiple witnesses who saw Mr Sapountzakis carrying the money in his pocket and wallet.

Homicide Squad detectives are keen to speak to anyone who sighted Mr Sapountzakis and his vehicle around the Police Paddocks on the night of his death to come forward.

Investigators would also like to speak to anyone else who has knowledge of who was responsible for Mr Sapountzakis’ death and why.

Police are hopeful that someone will be able to provide information which may lead to further avenues of enquiry for the investigation.

Police have also released a photo of Mr Sapountzakis and his vehicle as part of this appeal.

Anyone with information relating to Emanuel’s murder is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via crimestoppersvic. com.au/

Emanuel Sapountzakis was murdered in Endeavour Hills in 1993. 271945 Picture: SUPPLIED

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The 29th anniversary of the 1993 murder of Emanuel Georgios Sapountzakis in Endeavour Hills has prompted Homicide Squad detectives to make a fresh appeal for information into the cold case.

Mr Sapountzakis’ body was located in scrubland by a passer-by about 8.30am on 2 March 1993 in an area off Greenbank Drive commonly known as the Police Paddocks.

The 26-year-old had been shot a number of times, resulting in fatal head injuries.

At the time of his death, Mr Sapountzakis had been working as a taxi driver.

About 3.30pm on 1 March, he attended his employer’s property in Wantirna to collect his blue Ford Falcon EA taxi for his shift.

Mr Sapountzakis received a number of jobs during this shift and continued to maintain contact with the black cabs’ communication depot.

About 2.03am he accepted a courier fare from Boronia to Dandenong and the in-car system indicated that the dispatch was completed at 3.29am.

This was the last confirmed contact with Mr Sapountzakis At 7.28am a message was despatched via the black cabs query channel to contact the

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Paths lead to nowhere

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A notorious hazard for cyclists and pedestrians has been earmarked as a “highest priority” fix

by Greater Dandenong Council.

The Railway Parade, Jones Road and Bennet Street corner in Dandenong is forbiddenly flanked by narrow or non-existent footpaths and has no pedestrian lights across two of the roads.

It’s regarded as a barrier for locals to access the nearby Dandenong Showgrounds and Greaves Reserve.

A Keysborough resident recently submitted to the council’s public question time for a separate bridge over rail tracks just west to the intersection.

“It is very dangerous for pedestrians to cross into the park at Bennet Street with no lights, and the path along Railway Parade stops

on grass at that intersection.

“I suggest a separate bridge just to the west of the intersection to allow pedestrians and cyclists to access the park.”

Engineering director Paul Kearsley said the intersection upgrade was the “highest priority” part of a 2-kilometre Djerring Trail extension from Yarraman station to Dandenong CBD. The $11 million ‘missing link’ project is subject to state or federal funding, and is part of the council’s state and federal election wishlist.

“The majority of the costs (are) associated with those improvements to this particular intersection due to the complexities.”

In 2020, the council received a TAC grant for a “functional design” of the extension.

It would involve realigning the intersection to provide more space for the path, improve pedestrian crossings and create a footpath

connection west of the intersection.

A raised crossing at Bennet Street was also proposed.

“Unfortunately, we have not been successful in obtaining funding at this time but we continue to advocate perhaps for some funds coming through the State budget in May and even as a possible election commitment prior to November 2022,” Mr Kearsley said.

In its federal advocacy list, the council also advocated for a $6.7 million cycle path between Greens Road and National Drive as part of a Dandenong-Cranbourne cycling corridor.

It also proposed a $7.5 million bridge for the EastLink Trail at Railway Parade and Greaves Reserve.

A powerpole looms in the middle of a footpath near the intersection. 271845 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Council chases federal and state election year funds

By Cam Lucadou-Wells An $82 million aquatic centre and a rectangular sports and events stadium head City of Greater Dandenong’s wish-list ahead of the 2022 federal and state elections.

The Dandenong Wellness Centre, which would combine aquatic facilities and allied health services in Mills Reserve, has already attracted a $20 million pledge from federal Labor.

Mayor Jim Memeti was hoping that the Liberal-Nationals Government would “commit the same – or more”.

The council also seeks funding for the rectangular sports stadium Dandenong

Sports and Events Centre proposed for Cheltenham Road near Dandenong train station.

It would be the home pitch for Melbourne City Football Club sides as well as host rugby, festivals and concerts.

Other parts of the wishlist include: A fairer go for asylum seekers in the community, including Centrelink and Medicare support.

Increased funding for social and affordable housing Increase to JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments Electrification and renewable energy upgrades in local industries, including replacing natural gas processes

· · · ·

· Rollout of electric vehicle chargers Dandenong Bypass to South · Extend Gippsland Freeway · Extend Glasscocks Road to the City of Casey network upgrades, including the · Cycling extension of Djerring Trail to Dandenong CBD. Cr Memeti said a $100,000 feasibility review and business case into the stadium proposal was yet to be completed.

It is due in June – which is after the federal election.

However, the stadium was “the key to the revitalisation of central Dandenong” – leading to more motels, restaurants and cafes, Cr Memeti said.

Interstate supporters could be offered accommodation and events packages including visits to Drum Theatre and food tours of Dandenong and Springvale.

For the 1.7 million people in the South East, the stadium was a gateway to watching professional sport.

Cr Memeti said there was also a great need to improve transport infrastructure for 80,000 workers in Dandenong South’s industrial precinct.

In late March, Cr Memeti and other members of the Local Government Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum will travel to Canberra to advocate for 90,000 asylum seekers’ rights and services.

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Waste-to-energy in limbo

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti is weighing up whether to support a joint-council proposal for a waste-to-energy plant in the South East.

The council is set to vote on 28 March on whether to commit to a 25-year pre-tender contract with South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP) Pty Ltd. The contract would commit the council to supplying a “minimum tonnage” of waste for 25 years to a waste-to-energy plant.

The site of the plant has yet to be announced.

Greater Dandenong is one of three councils who have yet to decide on signing up to a pretender contract.

Of the original 16 councils, seven have signed up – Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Kingston, Knox, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges.

Six are thought to have pulled out, including Glen Eira, Boroondara and Monash.

A report at Glen Eira Council stated that a majority of councils were needed to secure certainty of supply.

“If a majority of councils choose to not commit to the project, the project is unlikely to proceed.”

The council exodus was “very concerning”, Cr Memeti said.

It could hurt the project’s viability and increase costs borne by the remaining councils, he said.

He was also seeking assurances that the plant would not be located in Greater Dandenong, and that the proposed gate fee – believed to be up to $235 a tonne – would be reduced.

Currently, Greater Dandenong pays $167.66 per tonne gate fee – which is adjusted annually with CPI. Cr Memeti was also concerned about locking the council into a 25-year contract when

An illustration of the approved Great Southern Waste Technologies waste-to-energy plant. better technologies may surface in the next 5-10 years.

“We have to decide what’s the best thing for Greater Dandenong.”

The project aims to address a looming land-

DISCOVERY NIGHT

fill shortage for councils in the East and South East.

Hallam landfill has an expiry date of between five and eight years, according to Greater Dandenong Council.

There are no plans to build further landfills in the South East.

SEMAWP interim chair Mick Cummins – also chief executive of Bayside Council – said the procurement was based on volumes of household rubbish rather than the number of councils.

The committed waste tonnages would help inform the design of an appropriately sized facility.

“This is a complex multi-stage procurement, and we anticipated some councils would not proceed through to award the tender.

“Councils have been given the opportunity to consider their involvement at each stage and SEMAWP Pty Ltd respects the decision of councils who have chosen to opt out of the procurement.”

Mr Cummins said a site had not been confirmed at this time.

“An advanced waste processing facility will need to be in appropriately zoned industrial land, meet local planning requirements, and have a safety distance around the facility to minimise impacts on communities, the environment and public health.”

The community would be consulted in the design and planning phases as well as the Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s development licence process.

Last year, a permit was controversially granted by EPA and VCAT to Great Southern Waste Technologies for a waste-to-energy plant in Ordish Road, Dandenong South.

Greater Dandenong Council was opposed to the facility.

However, GCWT did not make the shortlist of tenderers for the SEMAWPP. The shortlisted applicants are Veolia Environmental Services Australia Pty Ltd, Sacyr Environment Australia and a consortium of Pacific Partnerships and REMONDIS Australia.

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NEWS

Kylie Rieger with her daughter Sophia, who suffers from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Sophia is being treated at Monash Children’s Hospital.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

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Help Sophia’s brave fight

By Marcus Uhe Doveton’s Kylie Rieger and her family are dealing with a pair of medical emergencies and have turned to the public for help.

Ms Rieger and her partner Aaron were forced to leave their jobs and move from Pakenham to Doveton to live with Aaron’s parents after their daughter Sophia Amalfi was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October last year at just 18-months-old.

She is currently receiving treatment, including chemotherapy, at Monash Children’s Hospital.

Adding to the stress and shock of Sophia’s

news, Aaron’s father, Joe, suffered a stroke in February, and is now recovering at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.

The relocation made for a shorter trip to the hospitals, however with just one five-seat sedan in the family available to shuttle up to seven people, including the couple’s two other children and Aaron’s parents, Ms Rieger is appealing for support from the community to raise funds to purchase a larger vehicle.

“Because we can’t fit everyone in the car at once, it means several trips to supermarket, hospital, and schools to pick up the kids,” Ms Rieger said.

“Just to go to the Plaza to shop, Aaron has to go, take half of us and then come back home and get the rest.

“Lyn (Aaron’s Mother) has had knee surgery and hip replacement, so she can’t walk very far.”

Ms Rieger’s former employer, Castello’s Pakenham Hotel, has raised more than $1100 for the cause through contributions from patrons.

Venue manager Shane Holmes said that Ms Rieger was a terrific employee and that the venue were more than happy to chip-in.

“She had been here for a fair time,” Mr Holmes said. “Before her daughter was sick,

you could call on her to help out whenever she could.

“Even during Sophia’s treatment, she was always offering to help.

“Kids that young shouldn’t have to go through what she’s going through. Anything we can do to help, we’re happy to.”

Collections tins at Costello’s remain in the bistro and sports bar for those who wish to make a donation.

To support Ms Rieger and her family, head to gofundme.com/f/help-our-family-with-asuitable-vehicle?qid=933b8baefd129623a0f56 4219356abef

REVITALISING CENTRAL DANDENONG COMMUNITY INFORMATION Capital Alliance (CA) in partnership with Development Victoria is pleased to share our Masterplan vision with the local community which will see the urban renewal of Revitalising Central Dandenong (RCD) sites 11 to 15 and unveil the site to present as Victoria’s second Capital City.

Capital Alliance, alongside our team of leading industry experts, have drawn on local and international inspiration and successes to develop the Masterplan with the support of local and state government stakeholders.

We invite local residents, business owners and stakeholders to attend our community information sessions and welcome any feedback.

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Wednesday 23rd March 2022 Session 1: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Session 2: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Location: City of Greater Dandenong Civic Centre – 255 Lonsdale St Dandenong VIC 3157 Registration: Via email

Should you wish to receive further information and/or submit your feedback to us, please contact us via email or our website as follows: Website: rcdcapitalalliancegroup.com Email: rcd@capitalalliance.com.au *COVID density restrictions apply. COVID Vaccination Certificate required on entry.

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Let’s bury this plan

Vaxes to pop up at Bunnings

By Cam Lucadou-Wells The proponent of a controversial memorial cemetery on Dandenong Creek floodplains has broken its silence.

In a short statement on 8 March, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust stated: “SMCT is engaged in consultation with the City of Greater Dandenong regarding the technical aspects of a proposed new memorial park.”

On the same day, Greater Dandenong Council upped its “strong, unequivocal opposition” to the proposed development at 1564 Heatherton Road based on a briefing from the SMCT. In a statement, Mayor Jim Memeti said the council wrote to Planning Minister Richard Wynne and Water Minister Lisa Neville calling for their “direct intervention” to ensure the development does not proceed.

“Council is unconvinced that this site chosen for the proposed memorial park is an appropriate one, nor in the best location for this use.”

The site, owned by Melbourne Water, is part of “95 hectares of sensitive environmental habitat within wetlands and floodplains”, mayor Jim Memeti said.

It’s covered by a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, and zoned in parts as an Urban Floodway Zone, Public Use Zone 1 and Public Conservation and Resource Zone.

“Flood mitigation for Dandenong and the downstream areas, and the role the wetlands in the vicinity of 1564 Heatherton Road play in biodiversity and habitat are very important to this Council,” Cr Memeti said.

The council is also concerned about being sidelined by the State Government in the planning decision process.

Its role could be reduced to “providing a referral comment” and “formulating a submission”, which would be “completely unacceptable to Greater Dandenong City Council and

A Keysborough Bunnings store is among 20 across Victoria that will host pop-up Covid vaccination clinics.

From Wednesday 16 March, the popup at the corner of Cheltenham and Springvale roads will open 8am-1pm.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the vaccine was “the most important tool in the Covid Safe toolkit and now you can get it at Bunnings”.

“We’re proud to work with this iconic Australian business to get more jabs in arms.

“These pop-ups will be opening across Victoria, but they will focus particularly on areas with fewer GP and less pharmacy access.”

As of 11 March, about 52.3 per cent of residents 16 and over in Greater Dandenong were triple-vaccinated – well below the state’s 60 per cent average.

Postcode areas such as Dandenong 3175, Doveton, Hallam and Endeavour Hills have even lower vax rates.

Eligible people of any age will be able to attend the Bunnings pop-up without a booking to receive their first, second or third dose.

The paediatric Pfizer vaccine will also be on offer for children aged 5 to 11.

Vaccines are also available at a GP or pharmacy, or at vaccination centres at Sandown Racecourse and Dandenong Plaza. Details: www.coronavirus.vic.gov. au/vaccine.

A hard-flowing Dandenong Creek near the proposed cemetery site. 244720 Picture: GARY SISSONS our community,” Cr Memeti said.

“Council is pleading for the direct intervention of both or any Minister in this matter as the proposed development within environmentally sensitive land cannot be permitted to proceed.

“We respectfully request that any proposed Planning Scheme Amendment should not be accepted by the State Government and this council requests as a matter of urgency the opportunity to discuss this matter with any Minister.”

A Victorian Government spokesperson said the council and Mr Wynne had not received an application from the SMCT about the site.

“As no application has been received, no decision has been made about the potential planning assessment and approval pathway.”

According to the State Government, there are “ongoing” negotiations about the site’s future use and ownership between the site’s owner Melbourne Water and the SMCT. The proposal, being a public project, would be ineligible for the Development Facilitation Program – and the council would be consulted if it’s referred to Mr Wynne.

Melbourne Water, as the floodplains manager, would have to ensure adequate flood mitigations during construction and long-term before

the application would proceed.

Community groups have been outraged by the cemetery plan.

It has been identified as a key wildlife corridor and bird-watching “hot spot” of 77 bird species, according to the Greater Dandenong Environment Group.

Greens candidate for Bruce and former Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan said the wetlands were a flood protection “safety valve” set up in response to past floods in central Dandenong and a Royal Commission.

Flood historian Alan Hood said an elevated cemetery would act like a “massive bathplug” in the bowl-like flood basin.

“Future floods would result in higher water levels, flooding more houses upstream.”

SMCT has been searching for a further site to add to its nine cemeteries in the South East.

Three of its current cemeteries – Springvale, Dandenong and Bunurong – are in Greater Dandenong.

After a further enquiry from Star Journal, SMCT stated: “SCMT will be able to provide more information on the proposal once this consultation process (with City of Greater Dandenong) is complete.”

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A new way of living

Nellie Melba Retirement Village invites you to

EXPERIENCE THE VILLAGE COMMUNITY Assisting living apartment tours – Wednesday 16 March, 2pm Independent apartment tours – Thursday 17 March, 2pm Touring our amazing Nellie Melba Village is a fantastic way to experience what life is like in a Ryman Village.

This is also your opportunity to view our assisted living and independent apartments, tour our village amenities and finish the day by joining our residents for happy hour.

We will be presenting and touring assisted living apartment options on Wednesday 16 March then presenting and touring independent apartments on Thursday 17 March.

To ensure this event remains COVID-safe we have limited numbers and booking is essential.

Scan the QR code or call Morag or Theresa on 03 8513 1930 to book your spot.

NELLIE MELBA VILLAGE 2 Collegium Avenue, Wheelers Hill

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NEWS

‘I’m no bully’ - Williams

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams has “vehemently” denied claims in Parliament that she bullied a former Labor MP. Upper House MP Kaushaliya Vaghela told State Parliament on 9 March that Ms Williams and Premier Daniel Andrews were part of a “systematic bullying campaign against me”.

At length, she described bullying comprised of “seeking to undermine, isolate and exclude me” after she switched Labor factions.

The ALP’s factional culture was “toxic” and “corrosive”, she said.

“It is not conducive to women”.

Ms Vaghela had earlier in the week resigned from the Labor Party.

She was facing ejection from the party after recently crossing the floor of Parliament to support her former factional ally and ex-Labor MP Adem Somyurek’s motion for IBAC to investigate the ALP red shirts rorting scandal.

In a Parliamentary debate, the State Government immediately denied Ms Vaghela’s allegations.

“They are simply not true,” Upper House Government whip Nina Taylor told the House.

Ms Williams, who is the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, for Women and for Aboriginal Affairs, tweeted the allegations were “politically motivated”.

“More than 18 months ago I was the subject of a vile and vicious misogynistic tirade by Adem Somyurek, which was broadcast on national television,” Ms Williams stated.

“That attack is now being continued in the media and in Parliament, by proxy.

“I vehemently repudiate these politically motivated allegations.

“I will not be commenting any further at this time.”

In her Parliamentary speech, Ms Vaghela said she received an “angry” text message from Ms Williams on 13 August 2018 after defecting from the Socialist Left faction to the party’s Right wing.

Ms Williams was “questioning my integrity and demanding an explanation”.

“I thought it was strange that Ms Williams thought that she had proprietorial rights over me.

“Little did I know that that text message was the opening salvo in the worst period of my life.

“For three-and-a-half years she has referred to me as a rat who cannot be trusted.”

Ms Vaghela said the “childish behaviour”

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams ‘vehemently’ denied claims of being part of a bullying campaign against Kaushaliya Vaghela. 256849 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS included Ms Williams refusing to acknowledge her at official events.

“Ms Williams often says words matter. My word, they do, Minister, and so does behaviour. “ After Ms Vaghela switched factions, Mr Andrews – who is also the Noble Park Northbased MP for Mulgrave - was a “different man towards me”, she claimed.

“He was hostile. He would not speak to or acknowledge me. He treated me like I was invisible.

“The Premier referring to me as ‘that person’ summed up his three years of interaction with me.

“By calling me ‘that person’ he stripped me of my name and my identity, therefore making me feel worthless—exactly how he made me feel in the three years of interactions I have had with him.”

She also named an adviser of Mr Andrews as well as one of his “close personal” friends as “ringleaders of a group of men who incessantly bullied, laughing, mocking and sneering at me”.

A social media post from a man aligned to the group called her a “circus monkey” for

leaving the Socialist Left – leading Ms Vaghela to complain to Mr Andrews’s office.

She said Mr Andrews later “punished” her by excluding her from an important event he hosted for Indian community leaders. The ‘ringleaders’ were however invited, she said.

She claimed a member assaulted her husband at an event, and she was stood over by a staffer working at Mr Andrews and Gavin Jennings’ joint electorate office at an ALP conference.

In response to opposition questions, Mr Andrews told Parliament on 9 March that claims that he brushed past Ms Vaghela at events and embraced people who she’d complained about were “completely and utterly wrong”.

“I attend many, many functions. I do not behave in that way.

“I reject that assessment of my behaviour.

“And as far as serious issues with a staff member, that matter was dealt with comprehensively. It resulted in that staff member’s employment being terminated.“ Referring to the allegations, Mr Andrews said: “I do not, nor have I ever, nor would I ever, conduct myself in that way, and if anyone

needs further evidence of that, have a look at the record of my time in this place and the record of our government.”

Mr Somyurek – whose office until recently was in Dandenong - described Ms Williams’s response as a “pathetic attempt to deflect three years of systematic bullying of a woman MP”.

“Shame on Dan and the minister for women for using this grubby tactic,” he stated on Twitter.

“I apologised immediately and lost my job.

What has my private comments about you got to do with an independent women pursuing her rights?”

In June 2020, Mr Somyurek was secretly phone-tapped saying of Ms Williams that he’ll “get that f***ing bitch Gabrielle out”.

“I will force her out of the Ministry, that f***ing stupid bitch, when Andrews goes. She’s a stupid, stupid moll.”

Mr Somyurek soon after resigned from the party, clouded by the comments as well as allegations of branch-stacking which are being investigated by IBAC.

Vaghela returns fire in a bitter war of words

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Upper House MP Kaushaliya Vaghela has returned fire in a war of words with Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams, denying she is a “proxy of a man”.

Ms Vaghela released a statement on Twitter on 10 March calling for Ms Williams – who is the Minister for Women - to “grow up and stop calling me names”.

“To accuse me of being a proxy of a man insinuates that Ms Williams has little regard for my intelligence either because I am a woman or because of my skin colour and my accent or both.”

Describing herself as a “strong independent woman who does not like being told what to do by anyone let alone a man”, Ms Vaghela said she had two Master degrees and spoke three languages.

“I ask the Minister for Women to stop perpetuating sexist and racist stereotypes that are not based on fact: that is that women need men to think for them or that skin colour and an accent is a sign of intelligence and degree of personal autonomy.”

The day before, Ms Williams described Ms Vaghela’s claims in Parliament of systematic bullying as “politically motivated”.

“More than 18 months ago I was the subject of a vile and vicious misogynistic tirade dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

by Adem Somyurek, which was broadcast on national television,” Ms Williams stated.

“That attack is now being continued in the media and in Parliament, by proxy.

“I vehemently repudiate these politically motivated allegations.”

Ms Vaghela had said Ms Williams and Premier Daniel Andrews were being part of a “systematic bullying campaign against me”.

She accused Ms Williams of calling her a ‘rat’ for the past three years.

Ms Vaghela had earlier in the week resigned from the Labor Party. She and a swathe of factional allies had already lost pre-selection for the 2022 state election.

She was facing ejection from the party after recently crossing the floor of Parliament to support her former factional ally and ex-Labor MP Adem Somyurek’s motion for IBAC to investigate the ALP red shirts rorting scandal.

Labor MPs Kaushaliya Vaghela, Sarah Connolly and Tim Pallas with Level Crossing Removal Project director Tony Hedley in 2020.

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NEWS

End of the line for Byrne

By Marcus Uhe After 22 years as the Federal Member for Holt, Anthony Byrne has announced that he will not be recontesting the seat at the upcoming Federal Election.

Mr Byrne came to power in a November 1999 by-election and has served a number of roles as a member of Federal Parliament, including Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Trade.

Most recently he was chair and deputy chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee of Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), a position he resigned from in October 2021 after admitting to branch-stacking and misusing Commonwealth-funded staff as part of an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation.

In a statement provided to Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, he declared that his time working in the area of national security was his “proudest achievement” as a member of Parliament.

“For nearly 20 years I’ve stood and worked alongside the men and women of our incredible intelligence and security services,” Mr Byrne said.

“They have laboured day and night to keep us safe, and I have been fortunate to develop many wonderful friendships with remarkable people in this area.

“I’ve sought to make Australia safer in each of those roles by working with our intelligence and security services and our Parliament to ensure that we created the best security laws, with appropriate oversight mechanisms, and with the resources needed for our services to perform their roles.”

He said he believes “just as deeply in the Labor path now,” as he did when he first joined the Party 35 years ago.

The Federal Member speaking at an Anzac Day event.

Member for Holt Anthony Byrne MP will not stand for his seat at this year’s Federal Picture: SUPPLIED Election. 193364

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve the people of Holt for over 22 years.

“I can’t thank the Labor Party enough for giving me the opportunity to do so.”

The conclusion of his tenure has been clouded by the IBAC investigation into corruption allegations within the Victorian Labor Party.

In October 2021 he admitted to holding a “kitty” for membership funds in his own electorate office, having paid for other people’s ALP memberships and “multiple hundreds” of membership renewals since the start of his Parliamentary career in 1999, and employing staff who didn’t turn up to work at the request of Victorian South East Metropolitan MP and factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek, which he reluctantly complied to do out of fear of “retribution”.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Mr Byrne’s career on Friday 4 March, noting his considerable time spent on the PJCIS. Mr Albanese said that the decision to not re-contest means that Federal Parliament “will be losing one of its truly dedicated servants.”

“During his more than two decades as the Member for Holt, he has served his constituents, and more broadly, the Australian people, with energy and devotion, guided every step of the way by Labor values and his love for our country,” Mr Albanese said.

“As he prepares to conclude his parliamentary career, Anthony speaks of owing the Australian Labor Party ’a debt of gratitude and love’. The debt is mutual.

“I thank Anthony for all he has done and wish him the best for life’s next chapter.”

Mr Byrne said his role in the investigation contributed to his decision to resign.

“One of the reasons I am not recontesting is because of the role I played in assisting the IBAC investigation into allegations of corruption as part of Operation Watts.

“This involved giving public testimony that I knew could have implications for my role in Parliament, but this did not deter me from doing what I knew I needed to do.

“I believe that I have helped protect the Australian Labor Party, which I will continue to be a member of, and to which I owe a debt of gratitude and love.

“The role of our integrity and corruption commissions are essential to our democracy, and I strongly support the creation of such a commission under a future Labor Government.”

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NEWS

Event organiser Grace Vanilau captures the energy of the crowd and onstage performers. 271232 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Poet and DJ Mr. Congo performed magnificent poetry including a piece for his Mum ahead of International Womens Day. 271232

Springvale’s got rhythm Multicultural Place was pulsing with live dance and global rhythms in a lead-up to International Women’s Day. Photographer ROB CAREW captured the abundant movement and smiles at the In Situ day on 6 March, with acts by Sounds of Polynesia, Natalia Mann, Jay Dabgar Trio, the Kathak Dancers and DJ NARU with freestyle movement maker Dee. The finale was performed by Ausecuma Beats.

The live event launched two months of art installations, performances and events by local artists in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale.

It has been funded by the State Government and City of Greater Dandenong.

A sitar player at the In Situ launch. 271232

Susana Le leads the crowd in Freestyle Dance. 271232

Sounds of Polynesia dance group. 271232

Traditional Indian musicians. 271232

Davinia Aererua, a champion dancer in Cook Islands, performs with Sounds of Polynesia. 271232 12 STAR JOURNAL

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Ida Ghatge performs a dance from Kathak, one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. 271232 dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Club moves after 59 years

By Eleanor Wilson After 59 years at the Albion Hotel Dandenong, the Dandenong Chess Club has found a new home in Endeavour Hills.

The club, which was formed in 1973, recently relocated to Sydney Pargeter Reserve, after failing to find a suitable location closer to home.

“We had to leave Dandenong because we just couldn’t find anything decent,” said club vice president Paul Huvey.

“It was too expensive and the old venue wasn’t suitable for the junior players,” he said.

But Paul said the club was happy to have made the move to Endeavour Hills.

“It was actually the Endeavour Hills Men’s

Shed who recommended the Reserve to us,” he said.

“Thanks to them, we’ve got this most perfect venue. It’s the most modern venue we’ve ever used.”

“The only distraction we might have now would be the kangaroos.”

Dandenong Chess Club plays friendly and tournament chess games every Wednesday night from 7pm.

Paul, who has been a club member since 1978, said he hopes the move will attract new faces from the local area.

“We lost quite a few members over Covid-19, so it would be great to welcome some locals to come along and test their chess skills,” he said.

“I just love the game of chess. Even when you lose I love that you can analyse the game to find out where you went wrong.”

This year Dandenong Chess Club collaborated with Killester College in Springvale to host the club’s junior chess learning centre.

“Kids they love chess, they love learning. It’s so good for their brain development,” Paul said.

The junior club gathers on Sundays from 1pm until 3pm.

Membership with the Dandenong Chess Club is $40 per year, with discounts available for concession card holders.

If you would like to get involved with the club, contact Paul on 0406 786 242.

Members of the Dandenong Chess Club gather at their new club home at Sydney Pargeter Reserve.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Ukraine visa advice Free information seminars are being held on humanitarian visas for Ukrainian nationals.

Migration agent Thay-Horn Yim says he’ll provide accurate information on the new visa rules announced by the Federal Government in response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

The Government was prioritising outstanding visa applications from Ukrainians across all visa categories Mr Yim says.

It is also allowing close family members to apply for visas on behalf of people in Ukraine.

Ukrainian visa-holders in Australia are eligible for six-month extensions if their visa is expiring before 30 June.

Mr Yim says people should seek advice from a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.

“There have been many trying to get help from dodgy agents/community workers without checking if they are qualified to provide immigration assistance.

“It is important to know that anyone including former politicians who provides immigration assistance in the non-profit communities/organisations will not be asked for a fee.“ The information seminars are open to “anyone interested in assisting Ukrainians”, including community workers and service providers.

They are held at Asylum Seekers’ Centre in Dandenong Memorial Hall, 10 Langhorne Street, Dandenong on Wednesday 16 March and 23 March, 10.30am-11.30am.

Details: David Spitteler, Asylum Seekers Centre, on 0409 416 744 and Thay Horn Yim, Yim Migration Service, 9774 9944.

Thay-Horn Yim will inform how to apply for visas for loved ones in Ukraine. 242882 Picture: GARY SISSONS

AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC PLAN We’re taking the next step to keep our economy strong.

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Australia’s Economic Plan has helped us through the last two years. There are 260,000 more people in work than before COVID. Australia has performed better than major advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step.

To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au

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NEWS

St Gerards Primary School cyclists Jacob, Sophia, with Anita and Hirdey in the background.

Pictures: GARY SISSONS

St Gerards Primary School cyclists Jacob, Sophia, Anita and Hirdey. 270596

School ride back on track Students are set to get on their bikes for National Ride2School Day on Friday 25 March.

At St Gerard’s Primary School, about 30 are expected to ride bicycles and scooters as well as others commuting on foot.

“You notice that the students who ride are a bit more settled at the start of the day because they’ve exerted that energy,“ teacher Nicole Fernandez says.

“Usually the parents join them and

really enjoy it too.

“They get to slow down in the morning, have a talk with their kids on the way to school.

“They’re often huffing and puffing by the time they get here.”

Ms Fernandez said that cycling to school was rebounding after the disruption of Covid remote learning.

This year, the school has already staged two ride to school days, competitions and bike

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education classes to help encourage ‘active travel’.

Several students who hadn’t known how to ride a bike had become proud cyclists.

Ride2School Day organisers also visited to help draw an ‘active map’ to demonstrate safe routes between homes and school.

“We definitely seeing a lot more bikes than in the past,” Ms Fernandez said.

Riding to school is being promoted as a way

for children to get their 60 minutes of daily exercise.

Bicycle Network behaviour change general manager Leyla Asadi said it helped students perform better in the classroom. “Studies have shown students arrive at school energised, alert and more ready to learn.”

National Ride2School Day has been running nationally since 2006. Registrations are open at ride2school.com.au

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NEWS

No jail over crash death

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A grief-struck Narre Warren woman has been spared mandatory jail after her dangerous driving caused the death of her sister.

Mikayla Wells, now 22, had changed lanes without indicating as she sought to turn left into Caribbean Gardens market off Stud Road, Rowville on a Sunday morning on 17 February 2019.

Wells was not speeding beyond the 80km/h limit at the time on the busy road. But unknown to her, two males were driving their cars in the left bus lane.

The males, both friends of each other and on the way to the market, had been earlier observed speeding and making dangerous manoeuvres.

As Wells’s Commodore crossed into the bus lane, she didn’t see the second of the males’ cars.

The rear passenger side of her car struck the door and front quarter panel of the second car.

Wells lost control and ploughed into a power pole, which sheared her sedan in two.

Her younger and “vibrant” sister Nikita, 17, who sat in the back of Wells’ car, “bore the brunt” of the collision, sentencing County Court of Victoria judge Gerard Mullaly said on 3 March.

Despite a “deeply distressed” Wells’s CPR attempts, Nikita died at the scene.

Judge Mullaly said Wells had cleared a “high hurdle” to escape the otherwise mandatory jail term.

This was due to Wells’s “impaired mental functioning”.

If she was jailed, she faced a substantially greater than the ordinary burden and an increased risk of deteriorating “to the point of suicide”, Judge Mullaly said.

Prosecutors did not dispute that finding,

the judge noted.

“Prison would simply be too much for you in those circumstances,” the judge said.

Wells was “deeply traumatised” and “griefstricken” as a result of causing her sister’s death. What added to this was that “you and your younger sister were so close”.

Nikita’s life was “invaluable”. She was “young, vibrant and certainly with many of her best years in front of her”, Judge Mullaly noted.

Before the crash, Wells was already struggling with mental health difficulties.

She is being counselled for her post-traumatic stress and depressive disorder, reporting suicidal ideation, panic attacks and flashbacks since the crash.

Wells’s driving was “otherwise lawful” but for the way she changed lanes. Her culpability was at the lower end of the inherently serious offence.

However the judge noted that changing lanes when not safe on a major road can “set off a chain of catastrophe … leading to lifelong grief”.

He noted Wells was a young, first offender.

She pleaded guilty at an early stage, was remorseful and had “very good” prospects of not reoffending.

She was studying with the aim of working as a nurse. Her motivation was to give back to the community as a result of her loss.

“This was one mistake and it ought not define who you are and what you can contribute in the future.”

However, noting the need for deterrence and denunciation, Judge Mullaly ordered a conviction on Wells’s record.

Wells was also placed on a two-year community corrections order. She must perform 200 hours of unpaid work.

She was disqualified from driving for the minimum 18 months.

Women in Greater Dandenong SES unit gather for International Women’s Day.

SES not just ‘men’s work’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells One picture can speak loudly of the changing ranks at SES Victoria’s Greater Dandenong unit.

A dozen of the unit’s female members got together for the photo as part of a celebratory lunch for International Women’s Day. “More women are taking leadership roles, such as myself,” unit deputy controller Erin Wallace says.

“Our unit is one of the best ones for having females and for doing ‘men’s work’ as it used to be called.

“We’re breaking down the bias.”

The culture has changed for the better since Ms Wallace first volunteered at the unit in the mid-1990s.

She quit after a few years, because she “couldn’t stand the bullying and BS”. It wasn’t a place where women could take leadership roles, she said.

Four years ago, a friend convinced her

to return to the unit. And she now speaks glowingly of the place.

Ms Wallace also leads the unit’s community education arm.

There’s a variety of jobs for volunteers – including finance, administrative and managerial roles.

While on the trucks, no two jobs are the same. Crews can be called to remove fallen trees, search for missing people in the bush, help at crime scenes or rescue car-crash victims.

With a big intake of recruits, the unit is approaching 50 members. But there’s always room for more helping hands.

Especially for people with spare time during the day, such as those in part-time work or moving into retirement, Ms Wallace says.

The unit meets and trains at 42 Mills Road, Dandenong on Mondays 7.30pm.

For details, email greaterdandenong@ ses.vic.gov.au

School life’s a ‘picnic’ It’s been a baptism by pandemic at Keysborough Gardens Primary School.

Since opening in 2020, every school term has been marred by Covid lockdowns and remote learning.

Finally on 4 March, there was a chance for parents, students and staff to celebrate together at a Welcome Picnic on the school grounds.

State MP Tim Richardson and federal MP Mark Dreyfus were on hand to present Year Six leaders with badges and leadership certificates on the newly-built outdoor stage.

The Student Representative Council members were also recognised by acting principal Sherri Jenkins and school council president Sharna Woods.

The rugs were out for the Welcome Picnic. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

School council president Sharna Woods, acting principal Sherri Jenkins and MP Tim Richardson and students with leadership certificates.

The first community celebration at the school for 2022.

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LOOKING BACK

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

cars going and returning whizzed through at 25 to 30 miles an hour.

100 years ago 9 March 1922 Fatal Accident On 7 February while Mr Frank Stanley Nicholl of Oakleigh accompanied by Mr R C Comely was driving home from his building contract in New Street Dandenong, he was overtaken by a motor from Nar Nar Goon races, going at an excessive speed. Although Mr Nicholl was well on the proper side of the road, the car ran into the junker, smashed it to spinsters and propelled the occupants violently on to the roadway. The driver of the motor drove rapidly away in a cloud of dust, so that it was impossible to get glimpse for identification purposes. Although it was market day in Dandenong, and the main thoroughfare thronged with people and vehicles, some of the race

50 years ago 9 March 1972 Ferry being built in Dandenong Max and Betty Curtain’s popular Wedge Swimming Pool in Dandenong is closed temporarily this season and for a very good reason. Max is building another boat. The motor vessel to cost thousands of dollars, will be completed in a month, and will be sailed to Darwin to be used as a 250-passenger harbor ferry. “We’ve had to close the pool temporarily because the welders are in, and it would be dangerous for the children,” said Betty. “The pool has been popular with kids for 12 years.” The new ferry to be christened the Darwin Princess will be one of the larg-

est built in the district.

20 years ago 11 March 2002 HOWZAT Journal reporter Phil McLeod grew up with comedian Col Elliott in Dandenong. Australia’s best-known comedian was recently back in town. As a cricketer from the Pommies against the Aussies in the Curtain Crescent Ashes, former Dandenong neighbour Colin Elliott is a bloody good comedian. While the world has become his stage, Col say he enjoys coming back to his hometown – he still calls Dandenong home. “It’s a pretty big world away from Dandenong. I’ve been to the States and England and all over the world, but I still enjoy coming home to Dandenong because it’s part of me. Dande is my roots.”

Col’s first big break came via a $10 all-the beer-you-could-drink gig at the Dandenong football club, while trying to support his wife and newborn baby in a one-bedroom flat in Hutton Street.

5 years ago 13 March 2017 Reaching for the sky as rail piers cement their pace The first column for Noble Park’s elevated rail is in place. Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams visited a work site near Mons Parade to check on the progress on Monday 6 March.

The project dubbed sky rail will remove nine level crossings on the Dandenong line – including those at Heatherton, Chandler, and Corrigan roads – and create 22.5 hectares of new open space and parkland.

NEWS

Fostering a sense of self

By Sister Jacqueline Russell Of Brahma Kumaris How do I define myself?

The things by which we generally define ourselves such as appearance, personality, occupation, and relationships can all change.

Our sense of self can be influenced by what people say, the situation around us and the problems we face.

What is it then that truly defines who I am?

A good method to find an answer to this question, and also to get to know myself on a deeper level, is to ask myself “What do I really value in life?”

I will probably find I value qualities such as love, happiness, compassion and kindness, the things that bring inner contentment and joy.

MESSAGE OF

HOPE Can I then consider these qualities to belong to me?

When I take time to reflect and listen to my own inner silence, I can really begin to experience these qualities in myself. I come to understand that I am a spiritual being.

This experience is proof that provides conviction, and so I am able to bring them into action.

Using the power of inner silence, I can choose to create thoughts of good wishes for others, with the power of my mind spreading peace into the atmosphere.

It will help to have the understanding that actually there is benefit in every situation, even and especially if it does not appear to be beneficial.

Having such an attitude enables me to first of all accept whatever is happening, which then enables me to understand clearly what I need to do to move through and forward from the situation.

Call it faith, call it hope, it is real, and it enables me to understand how to stay on the rails of the world drama that is playing out, and to maintain a positive spiritual attitude towards my life.

Message of Hope is compiled by the Inter-

Sister Jacqueline Russell. faith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong.

Details on its activities, tours and volunteering opportunities, email executiveofficer@interfaithnetwork.org.au

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Tuesday, 15 March, 2022

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STAR JOURNAL 17

NEWS

Record entries as art lovers back March show

A Taste of Ireland’s world-class dancers will be in Dandenong on 20 March.

All-stars bring ‘craic’ Touring world champion Irish dancers are set to kick their heels up for a jigging extravaganza in Dandenong.

A Taste of Ireland is a feel-good feast of dance and music with more than 20 singers, dancers and musicians – some of whom have starred in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

“The Irish are known for having the ’craic’, which is an Irish word for fun, and A Taste of Ireland is no different,” producer Celli Moore says.

“You’ll laugh, dance and sing along with the performers celebrating all things Irish.

“There’s something in it for everyone, and you’re guaranteed to walk away feeling good.”

Among the troupe is two-time world champion Irish dancer Sean Michal McHugh who started dancing in Belfast at age 3.

McHugh has performed alongside the likes

of Michael Flately on London’s West End and Broadway New York.

Another two-time world champion is Gavin Shevlin, who has also spent many hours on the Covid front line as a mental health nurse.

He’s also performed around the world with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

Also there’s homegrown talent such as 23-year-old Dakota Courtney from Perth, WA. She’s the first Western Australian to place in the world top 5.

Courtney has toured with Flately’s Lord of the Dance multiple times and recently featured on the cover of the Irish Dance Magazine in 2020.

A Taste of Ireland is at The Drum Theatre, Dandenong on Sunday 20 March.

Details: atasteofirelandshow.com

With a record 460 entries, the Noble Park Community Art Show has been hailed as a success.

Normally held in October, last year’s annual art show was rescheduled to 4-6 March due to Covid restrictions.

Noble Park Community Centre manager Therese Kennedy said bigger crowds and more new artists had swarmed to the event than ever before.

Visitors reported the event had given them a “real lift” out of Covid lockdowns, and had loved the “diversity“ of artworks, Ms Kennedy said.

“We created a welcoming atmosphere with music and a couple of market stalls selling knitted items from our knitting group as well as a stall with plants and homemade jam and chutney.”

Eighteen winners accepted awards, including four encouragement awards.

“It was a great event for people of all ages and all abilities with winners aged between 7 and 94.

“We are very pleased with the outcome and are looking forward to the next show in October this year.”

Noble Park Community Centre also marked its 46th birthday during the art show’s final day.

A visitor absorbs the diversity of works.

Some of the hundreds of artworks on display at the Noble Park Community Centre.

The art show was hailed as a great success.

Pictures: NICO ANDIKO

Escapees roar back into stage life with Legally Blonde

By Marcus Uhe Legally Blonde The Musical is coming to the Drum Theatre in September, thanks to the Escapees Theatre Company.

The group got back into the fun and frivolity of live theatre in February with their production of The Wedding Singer after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

President of the company, Amy Planner, said there was a whirlwind of emotions at the conclusion of the show.

“It was quite an emotional moment when it all came together and the curtains closed,” Ms Planner said.

“Everyone was relieved and pumped-up at the same time.

“It was quite an intense moment.”

The company begun in 2007 as an outlet for recent school graduates and those not involved in regular theatre programs to express themselves and gain valuable learning hours in the field.

As well as providing a space for performers, Escapees offers volunteer experience in all kinds of behind-the-scenes and production roles, such as lighting, scripting, costume planning and choreography.

No prior work experience is necessary for those interested in joining, according to Ms Planner.

“It’s not an easy field to get career experience in.

“We try to offer a space between school

drama and the semi-professional area and try to be as inclusive as we can, because not everyone has that outlet.

“There’s lots of singing and acting classes, but there’s nowhere to learn how to be backstage.

“If we can give people credit, it’s helpful when they try to step into professional realm.”

The company wasn’t immune from the complications caused by Covid-19.

In 2020 they had to cancel their scheduled production of The Great Gatsby, but it didn’t keep them down for long, as in true theatre style, the show had to go on.

“Throughout Covid-19 we did online rehearsals and Zoom calls to keep everyone connected.

“We had to livestream rehearsals to people who were in isolation and make heaps of notes.”

Run by volunteers and lacking consistent funding, the Escapees often rely on community centres and inexpensive venues across Dandenong, Berwick and Cranbourne to hold rehearsals and gather as a group.

Having recently established a relationship with the Drum Theatre and the City of Greater Dandenong, the company is excited at the prospect of holding even bigger shows going forward.

Information regarding the audition process for Legally Blonde is available on the Escapees Theatre Company’s website.

For more information head to escapeestc. com/

WHAT’S ON Jalsa exhibition The word Jalsa suggests celebration and coming together in both Hindi and Arabic. This exhibition celebrates South Asian women artists, often underrepresented in the Australian artistic landscape.

Thursday 10 February - Friday 25 March at Walker Street Gallery, corner Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 12pm - 4pm.

·

Storm Boy Greater Dandenong Open Air Movies screens the classic Australian film Storm Boy. Friday 18 March, 7pm-9pm at Springvale Community Hub. Free event. Movies run every Friday up to 8 April.

·

Women’s Health The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health are delivering a series of information sessions on different areas of women’s health in community languages. Sessions include Healthy Relation18 STAR JOURNAL

|

ships, in Persian, on Tuesday 15 March, 2pm3pm at Dandenong Library and a Living With Covid workshop, in Vietnamese, on Tuesday 22 March, 2pm-3pm at Springvale Library.

Free events. Register online, by phone or see library staff. Details: greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au/libraries Vietnamese Women’s Health Workshop – Living with COVID

·

Harmony Week Armada Dandenong Plaza will display handprint artwork to highlight ’everybody belongs’ as part of its Harmony Week celebrations. On average two languages are spoken by each staff member, two of the centre’s security guards speak four different languages each. The week includes free kids’ basket weaving workshops on 19-20 March, and a best international recipe competition.

Tuesday 15 March - Monday 21 March at Armada Dandenong Plaza. Details: armadadandenongplaza.com.au

·

Tuesday, 15 March, 2022

Noble Park Big Day Out A day of fun and free family activities for all ages including live performances, silent disco, workshops, sports, and art activities.

Cultural foods also on offer.

Some of the attractions are an AFL clinic with St Kilda Football Club, a rock climbing wall, reptile zoo, circus tricks, Pacifika dancing and basketball.

Saturday 26 March 11am-3pm at Noble Park Skate Park, Memorial Drive, Noble Park. Free event.

·

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STAR JOURNAL 19

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STAR JOURNAL 21

SPORT

Hammond’s historic haul

By Tyler Lewis Jordan Hammond etched himself into Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) folklore on Sunday, when he was crowned Hallam Kalora Park’s sixth Alan Wookey Medal winner.

Of those six to win the coveted award for the Hawks, two of them are Hammond’s, as Jordan’s uncle Richard claimed the prized back in 1992/93.

The all-rounder crunched 323 runs at 46.14 to go with his 26 wickets at 12.31.

Hammond was out of the top-10 after round four, an equal leader after round seven, the outright leader after round 11, and the Wookey Medallist after round 14.

With 5/8 and 66 not out in the respective penultimate and final matches of the year, it was going to be hard for the Hawks skipper to be reeled in.

And fittingly, as his final votes came as a result through his divine performance with the bat, it’s his batting that Hammond feels has improved him as a cricketer this summer.

“This year I think I was more consistent with both bat and ball,” he said.

“In previous years I have probably been better with ball, I think I have probably had my best year I have ever had with the bat.

“The one-day format probably helps, suits me more, especially in the back half of the year with the white ball.

“I haven’t really been a top order bat in past years, but I have worked hard on new ball stuff, getting through the new ball if I ever have to go in early.

“I have worked a little bit on it, being local cricket you train as much as you can with work and stuff, but I have improved on facing the newer ball,” Hammond said.

Despite the Hawks leader adding to the poolroom in the last two white-ball seasons, with a premiership last year and now a Wookey Medal, Hammond believes his side is going to be well suited for the return of two-day cricket.

“Being able to bowl a few more spells and bat more overs will be a good thing,” he said.

“As a team it will probably help us as well having a lot of guys that dig in and take their time a bit, which kind of meant we fell apart a bit this year in terms of scoring and whatnot.

“I will keep working on the batting as much as I can, but I think it’s a good thing that the red ball is going to come back next year”.

With the wash-out to Springvale South and

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Jordan Hammond is now among legends as a Wookey Medal winner. 187071 Berwick in the final round all but securing the award ahead of Bloods spearhead Blade Baxter, Hammond is confident he would trade it in for a place on the park this Saturday.

“As honoured as I am, and as prestigious as the award is, I would happily trade in to be playing next week and to be playing for another premiership,” Hammond said.

“I will be playing at Hallam for the rest of my life, I am happy to take the individual awards as they come, but premierships are what we aspire for in a team sport.

“I love playing with my mates at Hallam and that is what our goal is.”

Despite having three of the XI selected for the Team of the Year, Hammond’s Hawks will miss this summer’s DDCA Turf 1 finals series, finishing in fifth.

DDCA TURF 1 - TEAM OF THE YEAR Ryan Quirk (Springvale South) Leigh Booth (Hallam Kalora Park) Mahela Udawatte (Buckley Ridges) Jordan Wyatt (Springvale South) Clayton McCartney (North Dandenong) Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park) Blade Baxter (Springvale South) Ciaron Connolly (Hallam Kalora Park)

· · · · · · · ·

· James Wilcock · Matthew Goodwright · Kasun Niranjana

(Berwick) (Buckley Ridges) (St Mary’s)

WOOKEY MEDAL TOP FIVE Jordan Hammond Blade Baxter Mahela Udawatte Kyle Hardy James Wilcock

Hallam KP 39 Springvale South 31 Buckley Ridges 27 Narre South 25 Berwick 23

Sweeney thrilled to claim prestigious Gartside Medal

By Lachlan Mitchell One of the key’s to Cranbourne’s success in 2022 has been Peter Sweeney.

The talented all-rounder was recognised for his achievements with bat and ball winning the Charles Gartside Medal, the best player in DDCA Turf 2 adjudged by the umpires.

Sweeney’s season has been nothing short of exceptional averaging 79 with the bat and taking 24 wickets with the ball this season.

Sweeney finished the count on 55 votes, 14 votes clear of his nearest competitor. The former Dandenong premiership player still hasn’t let the moment sink in.

“I had a think about it last night I got a few messages off people I use to play with at Dandenong and my team mates from Premier Cricket,“ he said.

“I think that’s when you realise it is a special award, people do take notice of the league and the competition it is a good competition.”

Sweeney’s top score came against the bottom-placed Dandenong West when he put on his maiden ton for the season. The star all-rounder made five scores over fifty helping Cranbourne to the top of the table.

“With the bat I think I got off to a bit of a flyer. I think as all cricketers are, you get your confidence up and when you’re confident with your effort it all just seems to 22 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 15 March, 2022

flow,” he said.

“I think that’s one of my keys to batting. I think with me once I do get a bit of a role on, it’s just a feeling, it can be just a feeling.

“Sometimes it can be when you walk past the boundary and other days you get out for none and you realise you weren’t quiet as switched on as you thought.

The Cranbourne tweaker had a terrific bowling season as well, averaging just under 10 with the ball.

“I have always thought that one-day cricket suits me my bowling,“ he said.

“I don’t turn it too much and I’m just accurate and in one-day cricket that could easily get you a wicket as much as a big spinning leg-break.”

The role of the all-rounder suits Sweeney, giving him a part to play in the field and with the bat in hand.

“Being an all-rounder definitely helps.

When it doesn’t work with the bat or the ball, you can’t just throw the toys out with the cot, you have got another job to do,” Sweeney said “If you are doing well it does feed into the other one, you kind of just ride a bit of a high.”

Sweeney has credited his team’s success to a full team performance and everyone putting their hand up to do the job.

“I think we are going all-right. I think with

the batting and the bowling we have found a few guys who are getting into hot form at the right time,” he said.

“Like with the openers (Matthew) Collett and (Dean) McDonell both getting 50’s in the last few weeks and Brad Stephens has also had a massive contribution batting a three.“ Cranbourne next take on fourth placed Heinz Southern District at Casey Fields Oval for a place in the final.

The Gartside Medal winner believes the competition is still anyone’s to win and doesn’t believe finishing on top gives you an advantage.

“I don’t think it gives us any extra confidence. If you win games early in the season you finish on-top, but finals is a whole new ball-game, it’s do or die, and all teams who have made it are all good enough to win it,“ he said.

“You need to have your best day, and if they have their best day, so be it.”

GARTSIDE MEDAL TOP FIVE Peter Sweeney Matthew Goodier Christo Otto Triyan De Silva Ashan Madushanka

Cranbourne Parkfield Keysborough HSD Keysborough

55 41 33 26 24

Peter Sweeney has won the Gartside Medal after a great season with Cranbourne. 225294 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Secret’s out...My Whisper

By David Nagel Champion trainer Peter Snowden is no stranger to putting a saddle on some serious horse flesh – and he may have uncovered another potential star after My Whisper toyed with her opposition at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

Snowden – now in partnership with his son Paul since 2014 – was the talk of Australian racing in 2008, as head trainer for the Australian arm of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Darley racing operation.

The pinnacle came in 2011 when Snowden made a clean-sweep of all five juvenile Group 1 races, with Sepoy (Blue Diamond, Golden Slipper), Helmet (ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes) and Benfica (T.J. Smith) all at the top of their game.

Stars of the breeding barn – Denman and Epaulette – are just two others that had success due to the Snowden polish.

The Snowden’s now have over 100 group wins since joining forces in 2014, with Capitalist, Captivant, Hot Snitzel, King’s Legacy, Redzel and Wild Ruler just some of their horses to have tasted Group-1 success.

And while My Whisper still has a hell of a long way to go to reach that lofty level…she is giving every impression that a mid-week $50,000 BenchMark-64 Handicap (1300m) will be nothing more than a stepping stone.

The three-year-old Frankel/Hersigh filly made it back-to-back wins with gun jockey Jamie Kah keeping her out of trouble early, before exploding wide down the straight.

My Whisper smashed her opposition, with the fast-finishing Wrote To Arataki two lengths adrift in second.

“She was fantastic, it was a less than ideal run for her, but I just didn’t want to upset her and drag her back,” Kah explained of decision to keep the filly wide.

“I didn’t think we were going to get cover unless we dragged back, so I just kept her happy, trusted that she was good enough, and she was.

“I would rather have been where we were than be back last.

“In the end I was happy, we got a bit of cover early when they were sorting their order out and she relaxed fantastic.

“She has a tendency to overdo it, but she was great and there are definitely bigger races in store for her.”

The Snowden’s stable representative, Andrew Angelone, suggested that several factors

Gun-jockey Jamie Kah cruises to victory aboard My Whisper at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday. 271988 were against My Whisper on Wednesday, and almost forced the stable to scratch her from the race.

“She just keeps improving, we were umming and ahhing this morning on whether to run her or not because of the bad gate, the rail’s out, but when they come around the bend it was hard to not be confident,” Angelone said.

“First up she was still very green, and we had to urge her to get to the line, but today she just seemed to travel really well.

“Jamie had her in the perfect spot, the way

the race was panning out…and we’re very happy.”

Angelone said the stable was wary of not pushing the petite filly too hard, but may step her out over more ground for her next adventure.

“That will be determined by her because she’s not a very big filly,” Angelone said.

“She’s handling everything right at the moment, but we don’t want to push her too hard, she’s got a lot to learn and is going to go so much better when she gets older.

Picture: SCOTT BARBOUR/RACING PHOTOS

“If she gets through this alright maybe we can push onto the next one over 1400.”

My Whisper made an inauspicious debut at Geelong in September last year, but has now won races at Kilmore and Sandown after returning from a five-month spell.

Other highlights of the Sandown program were winning doubles to trainer Grahame Begg and jockey Damien Thornton, with some tight finishes also the order of the day.

Racing returns to Sandown Hillside this Wednesday 16 March.

Zipping Kansas explodes to begin Sandown campaign

By Luke Corda Sandown Park played host to a series of incredibly fast wins over all distances on Thursday night.

Gun New South Wales stayer Zipping Kansas made headlines with a dominant win over the night’s 715m event.

After an average getaway from the boxes Zipping Kansas pushed through to lead with a lap to go. He then turned on the afterburners, extending his lead before stopping the clock at a mind-blowing 41.27!

Owner Cam Hallinan – son of Martin Hallinan – was delighted with result.

“It was his first look at the track and he couldn’t have been better,” he said.

“Especially given the circumstances, it was his first start outside of New South Wales and drove down with Jason (Magri) on the day.”

The Hallinan family have established themselves as legends of the sport over the years having bred countless Group winners, one of the most recent being Zipping Rambo in last year’s RSN Sandown Cup. Despite this, Zipping Kansas has already made a lasting impression.

“I know it’s a big call but he could be the fastest one we’ve ever produced. We knew very early on that he was special and anywhere he’s trialled over any distance he’s broken records or ran right up to them.” dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Cam is not wrong. Zipping Kansas’ 41.27 on his first look at the track was the sixth fastest time ever recorded over the 715m at Sandown and with a quicker getaway you can only imagine what time he could possibly set.

As we get closer to May’s RSN Sandown Cup carnival, there is no doubt Zipping Kansas will head into the series as a strong favourite.

“At the moment it’s difficult for him to get a start at Wentworth Park so he had to come down here, it was also a great opportunity to get a look at the track ahead of the Sandown Cup.” Earlier in the night, new superstar Amron Boy kept his record flawless with a brilliant 29.09 victory in Race 2 to improve to four from four.

He would be later outdone, however. Fellow Launching Pad favourite Big Opal Rocks had jaws dropped with a 29.02 victory in the night’s Free-For-All. Both Amron Boy and Big Opal Rocks represent an exciting new generation of highestquality talent.

The RSN Sandown Cup will be run a week earlier than original published dates – the heats will be on Thursday May 12. The move was made by the club in conjunction with GRV, it creates a week between the RSN Sandown Cup final (Thursday May 19) and GRNSW’s ‘The 715’ heats (Saturday June 4).

Zipping Kansas after zipping across the line.

Picture: SUPPLIED Tuesday, 15 March, 2022

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STAR JOURNAL 23

Success for all At Hallam our aim is to create a school which is: ✔ a true learning community ✔ a place students wish to attend, staff want to work and parents feel welcome

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Everything we do is focused on identifying and maximising individual potential through the use of the very best tried and tested teaching and learning practice within a supportive and caring environment.

Tours welcome 9703 1266  Frawley Road, Hallam VIC 3802  hallam.senior.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au  www.hallamssc.vic.edu.au

OPEN NIGHT

Over the next 4 years Hallam Senior Secondary College will transition to a Year 7-12 school to meet the growing enrolment demand in Melbourne’s south-east and give the families of the Hallam community the certainty they have a quality local school for their entire secondary schooling journey.

The new Hallam Secondary College is committed to the delivery of a comprehensive and high quality education program that ensures ‘Success for all’.

The new College will build on its current strengths at senior level in vocational education and its Sports Academy to provide a strong offering of academic programs for its student cohort.

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