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Jigsaws are no puzzle for Antonio
A sweet gesture From 14,000 kilometres away on the other side of the world, a primary school in Lynbrook is doing all that it can to support those caught in Ukraine crisis. The community at St Francis de Sales Primary School have thrown their support behind Ukrainians through a student-led bake sale. For the past two weeks, grade five students Mia Figurek, Zoe Nguyen and music teacher Kristy Galea have selling home-made cookies before school, with funds to go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Story page 5 Sadie Freni, Mia Figurek, Kristy Galea, Zoe Nguyen and Elijah McKay support the bake sale. 274924
Budget is lacking By Eleanor Wilson Tuesday’s Federal Budget announcement looks to deliver some benefits for City of Casey residents but the lack of new investment into infrastructure projects has left the Council disappointed. City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the budget measures would help Casey households to manage increasing cost of living pressures. The Council said Casey residents could expect the budget to provide petrol price relief for residents who commuted by vehicle, better connection of residents to services, and an improvement to residents and businesses’
mobile telephone reception, particularly in the growing communities of Clyde and Clyde North. Ms Duff said the extension of the Local Roads and Community infrastructure Program was also welcome news. “Council has been able to deliver some critical projects in our city through this program since it was introduced two years ago,” she said. “We hope this program will enable us to complete more eligible projects for the community.” Despite being pleased with certain areas of Tuesday’s Budget, Ms Duff said it was “very
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disappointing” to see there was no allocation to the promised South East Melbourne City Deal. “We will continue to seek funding for priority, transformational road and rail infrastructure projects that will ease congestion, boost jobs and connect our community to employment and services,” she said. The South East Melbourne Deal is a collaboration between eight councils and shires in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne, including Monash, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Frankston, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula and Knox, which advocates for investment, prosperity, jobs and sustainability across the region.
The grouping, which represents 1.5 million Victorian residents, was promised a commitment to the development of a City Deal in the lead up to the 2019 federal election. Since then, the Federal Government indicated it will not proceed with the deal until the North West City Deal has been delivered. In the lead up to the 2022 federal election, Casey Council is advocating for funding for key roads and public transport hubs, including an upgrade and extension to Thompsons Road, the Clyde Road Corridor, and a commitment to the Clyde Rail Link. Read more about Casey Council’s response to the Budget and upcoming federal election on pages 3 and 11
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Weapons focus of police blitz Casey City Council has outlined their advocacy areas ahead of the federal election.
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Election focus set By Jonty Ralphsmith Transport infrastructure and digital connectivity underpin the City of Casey’s advocacy areas ahead of the 2022 federal election. Youth mental health was also identified as a priority after council invited residents to take part in a city-wide survey in 2021. The result of the survey which received about 600 responses, revealed roads and public transport, local job opportunities and health services and facilities as three issues which the community considers most important for funding. With 68 per cent of employed residents leaving the city for work each day and 26,000 people coming in per day, the survey revealed 85 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the level of congestion on roads.
Although fewer than half of the residents stated that they were unhappy about the accessibility of train and bus services, 72 per cent said they would use public transport more often if there was a more reliable network. “Council is calling for transformational transport infrastructure in the lead up to the Federal Election to mitigate growing traffic congestion and safety concerns, improve access to jobs, education and services, and to stimulate economic recovery for our businesses,” Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff, said. “By making it more efficient to get around our city, it will create opportunities to attract investment and better enable residents to access new employment, education and/or recreation opportunities, closer to home.” The Thompsons Road upgrade and extension, Clyde Road Corridor Upgrade and Clyde Road
Rail Link were also among transport priorities. Reliable mobile infrastructure was also seen as crucial as many businesses are experiencing poor internet access and there are mobile blackspots throughout the municipality. Council is advocating for a 100-gigabit fibre connection. Ms Duff added that the council’s focuses ahead of the election support its longer term plan. “Council’s advocacy priorities respond directly to community feedback and meet the directions set in the Council Plan 21-25 which outline how Council will deliver on the community vision over the four-year period,” Ms Duff said. The Star News will publish more information about transport infrastructure and youth mental health in the coming weeks.
Police Operation OMNI resulted in 26 arrests, the seizure of 11 weapons and issuing of 21 cautions throughout Cranbourne, Greater Dandenong, Pakenham and Fountain Gate last week. From Tuesday 29 March to Thursday 31 March, police officers patrolled high risk locations including the Lyall Street bus terminal, Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre and Fountain Gate shopping centre, focusing on people carrying illegal weapons. Police said 672 vehicles were checked and 522 people were searched across the three days. Operation OMNI also ran in January 2022, with police granted extraordinary search powers at Dandenong Plaza, Dandenong railway station, Fountain Gate and Pakenham CBD. January’s operation netted 37 arrests, saw 17 cautions and 26 infringement notices issued. Speaking after the January operation, Acting Inspector Dean Grande said the biannual OMNI blitzes were expected to become more frequent and target “priority” locations. “That’s an area that we will focus more on – at the shopping centre,” Acting Inspector Grande said.
High speed connection essential, says Casey Council By Jonty Ralphsmith Casey City Council has identified digital connectivity as an essential advocacy area ahead of the federal election. Poor internet access across the municipality has stunted businesses’ capacity to invest in innovation, research and development as they cannot trial new technology. The issue has particularly been felt with the growth of working and studying from home in the wake of the pandemic with mobile blackspots hindering these opportunities. Council is advocating for a high-speed 100 gigabit fibre connection to commercial precincts, increased mobile towers and 5G deployment in new estates to address the issue felt by a swelling population. Casey’s estimated population in 2021 was 380,500 making it the most populous local government area in Victoria. That number is expected to grow to close to 550,000 by 2041. “The City of Casey is one of the fastest growing local government areas in Australia, so it’s critical for our community to be able to access reliable internet and mobile coverage at home and at work,” Casey chair of administrators, Noelene Duff said. “As our community continues to grow, this issue will only be further exacerbated. “That’s why the City of Casey is advocating for high-speed internet and reliable mobile infrastructure to be prioritised and rolled out to keep our communities connected and to drive innovation, employment and economic growth.” Much of the population boom is expected to come in the Clyde/Clyde North area, a known mobile blackspot. A 100-gigabit fibre connection would pro-
The City of Casey is advocating for improved digital connectivity ahead of the federal election. Picture: SUPPLIED vide more work from home opportunities in these estates and increase equity and inclusion for all suburbs by enabling higher quality internet and mobile coverage. Council’s advocacy supports its digital equity framework which encompasses internet access, affordability and digital ability. The framework indicates that the outer southeast – encompassing the Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong, Frankston and
Mornington Peninsula local government areas - are digitally excluded compared to the rest of Greater Melbourne. The internet is accessed less frequently despite the internet being available to a similar degree. Households are getting less value for similar services and digital ability and attitudes trail behind the Greater Melbourne’s average by 8.1 per cent. Census data from 2016 found 10 per cent of
the Casey population had no internet access from home, with Doveton (22 per cent) having the ninth highest rate of 308 statistical areas across Greater Melbourne. The framework also determined there were benefits – and challenges - of increased connectivity for the following groups: older people, low income earners, people living with a disability, LGBTIQ+ communities, women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, young people, small businesses and community/faith groups. Increased collaboration and access to greater social opportunities were among the common positives. Digital literacy programs run through libraries and neighbourhood houses further highlighted the importance of reliable internet across the municipality. Improved digital connectivity increases links throughout Casey, a key theme of the council’s long-term plan to become a more connected, bold and resilient community. “High speed internet and reliable mobile infrastructure is essential to keep up with the needs of the City of Casey’s rapidly growing community,” Ms Duff said. “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, digital connectivity has become even more important with more people working, studying and socialising from home. “As part of our Shape Your City community engagement, concerns regarding digital connectivity were consistently reported as one of the factors that made people feel less connected to the place they live or work.” Advocacy for the issue will remain on the council’s radar – one of its initiatives for the 2022/23 – 2024/25 financial years is to “advocate for improved internet reliability and signal quality in growth areas”.
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Sisters Mia and Larisa Figurek proudly displaying their heritage. 274924
Isaiah is happy with his purchase. 274924
Sweet gesture for Ukraine By Marcus Uhe From 14,000 kilometres away on the other side of the world, a primary school in Lynbrook is doing all that it can to support those caught in Ukraine crisis. The community at St Francis de Sales Primary School have thrown its support behind Ukrainians through a student-led bake sale. For the past two weeks, grade five students Mia Figurek, Zoe Nguyen and music teacher Kristy Galea have been selling home-made cookies before school, with funds to go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, a collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Caritas Ukraine - the largest Australian tax-deductible fundraising effort for Ukraine. Mia’s family has Ukrainian heritage and she attends Ukrainian school at the Ukrainian Community Hall in Noble Park, while Ms Galea also has a personal connection to the country through her sister’s fiance. “I was on car park duty and I knew that Mia is Ukrainian, and I asked her ‘what are we doing for Ukraine?’” Ms Galea said. “She thought about it and I gave her the suggestion of making some blue and yellow ribbons for fundraising and she came back to me and said, ‘I’d really like to do a bake sale.’” On day one of the sale, they sold one batch of approximately 24 cookies in just two minutes. The next day, they made a double batch, but it still wasn’t enough to cater for the hungry cohort. “There were kids walking off crying, so we had to reassess at the end of it,” Ms Galea recalled. “Before we knew it I was making about 80 cookies a day and they (Mia and her younger sister Larisa) were making 40 each.
The baked treats didn’t last long! 274924 “Zoe came in the day after, one of (Mia) best mates. “She got on board without asking and I just stood back, watched them and let them run it.” To keep up with demand, the trio began receiving donations of ingredients from the school community for their iced sugar cookies, loaded cookies, cupcakes and more. Mia’s after school routine involves making, rolling and cutting the cookie dough, baking the cookies and icing them in blue or yellow icing, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. In the morning, she would be up at six to individually bag them in time for the sale to kick-off at 8.30am before school starts, where her classmates would be eagerly awaiting with gold coins to purchase a sweet treat.
Zoe Nguyen and Mia Figurek doing their bit for Ukraine. 274924 While she enjoyed having the opportunity to support Ukraine, Mia said that she was looking forward to taking a break, with the stall closing for business on Friday 1 April. “After these two weeks I feel like I’m going to quit baking because of how tiring it is,” Mia said. “I felt really happy because people were supporting me.” At the outset, the girls hoped to raise $1000 through their sales and other contributions from the St Francis community. By the end of the two weeks, the initiative had smashed their initial target, raising $3100 which will be presented to Stephan Romaniw, Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations on the last day of term one, Friday 8 April.
Ms Galea said the spirit of the initiative had touched everyone across the school. “I had a student who came and just dropped a bag of coins and walked off. “Mia and Zoe said, ‘come and take a cookie,’ but he said no and walked-off. “I went up to the mum and said, ‘he just dropped a bag of coins but he didn’t take any cookies,’ and the next day he brought two bags of coins and didn’t take anything. “You see these kids and you see a bright future.” St Francis de Sales principal Christine White was immensely proud of the students. “It’s what you hope might happen, but when you see it, it says something about the children,” Ms White said.
Give books and cash to flood Lismore with hope By Marcus Uhe Casey Cardinia Libraries are supporting the flood recovery in Northern New South Wales by collecting donations to be sent to the Lismore City Library. The libraries are after books no older than five-years-old, or financial donations which can be made at tap points at any of the library locations while 100 per cent of financial donations will go to the Lismore City Library. The categories primarily impacted by flood damage include adult fiction, large print books, junior and young adult books, children’s story books, children’s DVDs, jigsaws, audio books, parenting, and junior non-fiction. Casey Cardinia Libraries chief executive Beth Luppino said the donations would to restore a sense of normality to the community cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
after such a difficult period. “Public libraries play a key role in wellbeing through the provision of free services and safe spaces, helping this library will help the Lismore community recover faster,” Ms Luppino said. “We saw how much our local communities valued our libraries during Covid-19 lockdowns - now it’s our turn to help the Lismore library and community to get back on their feet.” Casey Cardinia Libraries are located in Cranbourne, Doveton, Emerald, Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren and Pakenham. To find your closest location head to cclc. vic.gov.au/branches/ Casey Cardinia Libraries staff Seema Hassani and Tim Cuthell at a tap point location at Bunjil Place Library. 275178 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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Register pets Pet owners in the City of Casey are reminded that pet registration renewals for all dogs and cats in the city are now due for 2022. By law, all cats and dogs over three months of age must be registered with Council before the Sunday 10 April due date. Pet owners will have already received their reminder notices, City of Casey says. Cat owners are also reminded that Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all cats must be confined to your premise at all times. This not only helps keep your cat safe from injury, but also protects native wildlife and helps reduce problem behaviours for neighbours. For more information visit the pet registration page on the Council’s website, casey.vic. gov.au/pet-registration
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Your One Stop Phone Shop Home made blue and yellow cookies sold at St Francis de Sales Primary School in Lynbrook to raise funds for the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. 275221 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
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At last, hope for some of the people cruelly imprisoned by the Australian government for exercising their legal right to seek asylum in another country when life becomes untenable in their own countries and they literally fear for their lives. One, I am talking about up to 20 men recently released from onshore detention (aka prison) after nine long years , last Friday night, (April Fool’s Day, 1 April 2022). Two, we welcome the news that the Australian government has finally agreed to accept the offer from that civilised country, New Zealand, of re-settling 450 refugees over the next three years. This offer could have been taken up when the offer was first made in 2013! We have no evidence to date that this program has commenced. On Saturday morning, 2 April, word filtered through the refugee advocacy networks, of
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City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff had mixed views on last week’s Federal Budget, pleased at the promise of cost of living pressures easing but disappointed with the promised South East Melbourne City Deal not getting a mention. Casey residents had their say to her response on our Facebook pages. Rob Kelly: Never mind more infrastructure. The council should be investing in beautifying the area. They should start by replanting the old oak and pine trees that have been removed for roadworks along Clyde Road over the last 10-plus years. They need to start from Mansfield Street and work their way up. Brad Battin MP Jason Wood MP. Ric Stewart: Ms Duff....how about the ad-
Thumbs Down! For all the betting ads on TV after school is out, til 8 o’clock stupidity.
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The majority of their support post release is provided by volunteer and professional refugee support services, such as Casey Cardinia for Refugees and like groups throughout Australia, as well as services like the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, (ASRC) and the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP). Fortunately, there are many willing Australians prepared to offer support, raise money; source needed items, such as furniture and bedding, kitchen appliances, musical instruments, even lawnmowers, and to provide local knowledge and friendship. Casey Cardinia for Refugees will continue to advocate for the release of all refugees both onshore in Australia and offshore in Nauru and Papua New Guinea as long as one person who has been assessed as a refugee is still illegally detained, according to the United Nations Human Rights Convention (1951) to which Australia was an early signatory. Shirley Hynes, for Casey Cardinia for Refugees
ministrators find a new mowing contractor ...or at least put some more money into the upkeep of parks and road reserves on a regular basis? Casey in many areas resembles unkempt areas of depressed American rural towns! Even Dandenong is looking more maintained! Casey was renowned for its maintenance and upkeep at one time. The response to the delay was initially it was too wet after rains....then the contractors were waiting for new machinery to arrive (which l am yet to see evidence of on my travels through the area), and now the locality is back to where it was a few months ago. Then when it is finally mowed it is scalped almost to dirt with huge clumps of grass cuttings everywhere. Linsell Boulevard is a perfect example of the blatant neglect. Not good
enough. We are still paying our rates and getting no return. l used to be proud to drive through Casey...now it is just an embarrassment. Daniel Boce: Probably couldn’t be trusted. The Casey BMX Club was left heartbroken after vandals caused almost $12,000 worth of damage to their newly-upgraded BMX track last month. Oskar T Grouch said many tracks have fallen victim to reckless behaviour. Unfortunately it was always going to happen. Casey BMX Track should have been a locked facility from the start. However, it’s not a unique to Casey problem, every track suffers the same fate and we cannot lock them all up. I feel your pain guys, been there and done that before.
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which Casey Cardinia for Refugees is a proud member, of the release of 10 men from the Park Hotel in Melbourne’s CBD. This hotel received major publicity when Novak Djokovic, world number one tennis player was held there in January before he was deported. We understand that those released were not told of the reason for their release, nor why eight of their fellow detainees are still there, behind guarded locked doors, despite their similar experiences. Refugees released since December 2020 are given a Bridging Visa that allows them to “live in the community”, but with no ability to work, study or seek government services, and are expected to leave Australia within six months, unless granted an extension. The men from Park Hotel had no warning of their release and were taken to a hotel nearby. They are freer than they were, and have minimal casework support, (from anecdotal evidence given by refugees themselves), accommodation, and some financial support.
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Hope at last
To people who leave the footy early when their team is losing. Saw a heap of Swans fans leave the game when they were down by two goals and then when they kicked back within five, they all came rushing back to their seats.
Thumbs Up! To petrol prices finally declining thanks to the Federal Budget.
Thumbs Down! To all the accidents happening on the corner of Blundy Boulevard and Patterson Road, Clyde. Most recent one involved a car bursting into flames. I’m losing count of how many accidents there have now been at this same intersection over the last couple of years… and still nothing has been done to make it safe.
Thumbs Up! To the Narre Warren Fire Brigade for their efforts in the Run For The Kids over the weekend. Well done all!
Thumbs Down! To shorter days and colder weather with the end of daylight savings over the weekend.
Thumbs Up! To the lady who admitted fault when she caused me to hit a keep left sign and pulled over, expressed sympathy and offered to pay expenses despite escaping damage to her own car.
Thumbs Up! Once again, thank you to my carer for being the most caring lady who is so kind to me, also home help, bless them, love Lilly. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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Antonio Ghazarian with some of his completed puzzles. 275044
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Antonio begins a new puzzle on-top of an already completed one! 275044
The master at work. 275044
Antonio masters puzzles By Marcus Uhe Cranbourne puzzle enthusiast Antonio Ghazarian is ready to put his passion for puzzles to the test at the Victorian State Jigsaw Puzzle Competition on Saturday 9 April. Antonio, 13, has been completing jigsaws since he was three, starting with small 20-piece puzzles before working his way up through the hundreds, and by age nine he was onto 1000-piece puzzles. His favourite designs detail Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America. Antonio’s mother Rita signed him up to the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association at the beginning of the year. This weekend’s competition will be the first of its kind in Victoria. “He had puzzles of all sorts all over my lounge room floor,” Ms Ghazarian said.
“I wasn’t allowed to move them once they were finished, I had to move them when he wasn’t home. “As soon as he got home, he would do them again.” Antonio has moved from the floor to the dining room table, where he can have up to six 1000-piece puzzles on the go at once, and often on-top of one-another, to add another layer of complexity. The more intricate and detailed the design, the more he enjoys them, according to his mother, who outlined his unorthodox methods. “Most people when they do puzzles put the border together and work their way inwards. “He will take parts of puzzle, put them together individually and then bring the whole piece together at the end.
“He doesn’t do it the easy way.” Antonio has pre-verbal autism, meaning he struggles to communicate verbally and uses his iPad or pictures to interact. He attends Dandenong Valley Special Development School in Narre Warren. The competition happens to coincide with World Autism Awareness Month, and Saturday 2 April was World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day. Ms Ghazarian said completing jigsaws had been a great way to control his emotions. “It’s definitely calmed him down a lot. “We used to get a lot of yelling and screaming and he thought he couldn’t regulate emotions by himself. “If he gets anxiety or triggered, he goes to his puzzles and it calms him right down. “It’s a similar thing with music. Pianos and
puzzles have helped him tremendously.” Antonio will compete in the partners’ competition alongside Rita where they will be required to complete a 1000-piece design in three hours, comfortably within Antonio’s capabilities, his mother said. But for Rita, it will be a case of hands-off. “He doesn’t let us touch them. “We’re not allowed to help him unless he asks, but we’re still not allowed to put a piece in for him. We can only make suggestions.” Best of all, the competitors will get to take the specially designed, competition exclusive puzzle home with them, meaning Antonio’s collection will continue to grow. The Victorian State Jigsaw Competition will take place on Sunday 9 April at the Malvern Town Hall.
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Emergency wait too long for patient By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Cranbourne asthma-sufferer says she was left untreated for five hours despite breathing difficulties in Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department. Noelene Nolan said she was diagnosed with a respiratory infection by her GP two days after she fruitlessly waited for an emergency doctor on the evening of 23 March. Her plight highlights the hospital’s underpressure ED, with reports of eight hours of ambulance ramping at the hospital. Ms Nolan said her GP diagnosed her infection after taking her temperature – something that the hospital triage nurse failed to do. The nurse listened to her chest, and observed it was “clear”. But that was probably because she had been using Ventolin, Ms Nolan said. Ms Nolan, an asthmatic and diabetic, says other patients were calling for nurses due to her struggle to breathe. “Usually in that situation they put me straight on oxygen and a nebuliser with high doses of Ventolin. “They then monitor me in a short-stay unit overnight or two nights and then I walk out of there and say, thank you, I can breathe again.” But after five hours of waiting, she was becoming hypoglycemic and chose to walk out of the hospital untreated. “I needed to go back to my car and have jellybeans and Coke so I could drive home and eat a meal at 9pm to get my blood sugar up.” In the past, Ms Nolan had collapsed in the
Noelene Nolan spent five hours in Dandenong Hospital emergency department while struggling to breathe. 175361 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS emergency department, unable to breathe due to an asthma attack. “As I walked out (on 23 March) I said to the triage nurse you might want to check my records and see what happened last time.” Two weeks later, Ms Nolan was still on antibiotics but feeling “knocked around” and “weak”. She says if she had been diagnosed at the hospital, she may have recovered more quickly. After Ms Nolan lodged a complaint, a Monash Health liaison officer contacted her and welcomed her back to the hospital, she said. “The officer admitted I didn’t get the treatment I deserved”, Ms Nolan said. A Monash Health spokesperson said emergency department patients were “seen in order of clinical urgency”. “We understand that the wait can be an anxious experience and apologise for any distress experienced by our patients”. According to Monash Health, it had investi-
gated Ms Nolan’s complaint. Its records didn’t align with some of Ms Nolan’s claims. “If I had a choice at the moment between being treated at Monash and dying at home, I would choose dying at home,” Ms Nolan said. “The only reason they asked me to come back was to cover their own backsides.” In January, Ms Nolan was featured in Star News with Opposition Health spokesperson Georgie Crozier and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy calling for an increase in elective surgery. Her chronic health battles have also been compounded by two terrifying home invasions in Hampton Park in 2017. In State Parliament on 23 March – prior to Ms Nolan’s visit to Dandenong Hospital - Health Minister Martin Foley responded to questions from Mr Guy about ambulance ramping outside Dandenong and Maroondah hospitals. “We know that as a result of the global pandemic our ambulance services are under pressure like they have never been before,” Mr Foley said. The 91,000 code one ambulance call outs in the last reporting quarter amounted to the second busiest in Ambulance Victoria’s history. Mr Foley also pointed to “significant infection prevention and control measures” at the interface of ambulances and emergency departments. “The interface between those two does result, in the context of patient flow through from Ambulance Victoria’s care to the emergency services care, these bottlenecks in the system, commonly referred to as ramping.”
Two nabbed Monash Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged two men following reports of erratic and high risk driving across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs on Monday 4 April. A 19-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, conduct endangering life, two counts of burglary and theft. A 20-yearold man from Carrum Downs has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, two counts of burglary, theft and commit indictable offence whilst on bail. The charges follow a protracted police response on Monday through a number of suburbs and on Eastlink, Peninsula Link and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway following reports the pair were in an allegedly stolen vehicle and driving at allegedly high speeds. At times, the vehicle was reportedly seen travelling contraflow to the traffic conditions, allegedly in excess of 150km/h and in an erratic manner, police said. The pair was arrested by police at a property in Cranbourne West after they dumped the allegedly stolen Hyundai at a shopping centre carpark. Both men were remanded in custody to appear before Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 5 April.
Two men were charged following a car chase that ended in Cranbourne on Monday. 253041
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We’re going on an Eggcellent Easter Hunt! This Easter Go All Out in Casey and join the hunt for “Easter Eggs” hidden in Tooradin Village and Pearcedale Village retailers from 9 April to 20 April 2022. You won’t need your Easter basket though! Explore the participating stores in Ellwood Drive, Pearcedale and South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin and see if you can find the coloured Easter Eggs for your chance to win one of two ultimate Easter Hampers valued at $500. Each hamper is filled with yummy Easter eggs and loads of fun Easter goodies. Participants will also receive colouring in sheets and Easter treats along the way. This Easter Hunt gives families something fun to do together over the school holidays as well as support our local retailers who have experienced a challenging last few years. Visit GoAllOutinCasey.com.au/events for full details on how to enter. This initiative is directly aimed at helping promote local businesses, encouraging shopping at local businesses and supporting communities. Council has been awarded funding for the Go All Out in Casey campaign as a part of the Victorian Government’s Covid - 19 Outdoor Activation Fund, which has been developed to reactivate key commercial areas in our local region. * Entries close 20 April 2022. Winners drawn on 21 April and notified by email or phone and published on GoAllOutinCasey.com.au/easterhunt
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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STAR NEWS 9
THE LOWDOWN Q&A
with Emergent graduate showcase exhibition co-curator Zaib Abbas
Tell us a fun fact about yourself! At school, my locker is usually filled with snacks rather than books. What are you most passionate about? I have a big passion for art, fashion, and food – can’t live without these! Who is one person you would love to interview one day? I would like to interview Elon Musk because I think it would be really cool to talk to him and get an insight of what goes through his mind, especially when he created Tesla. What would your last meal be? Macaroni and cheese with a side of mashed potatoes and peach iced tea (and with cookies and cream ice cream – can’t go without dessert). What was your most memorable moment? My favourite week of year 9 – city experience. This was an excursion on behalf of school, where we went and explored Melbourne CBD. It just made me so happy to be with all my friends, go sightseeing, and eat lots of delicious food. It was a great week filled with lots of exciting memories. What was your favourite subject in school? I love Studio Arts and Psychology. I have always been passionate about art which helps me with escaping reality for a while and psychology to earn a deep understanding of the mind and how our body works – it’s interesting. What event past or present would you like to witness? I would love to have seen Leonardo da Vinci paint Mona Lisa and also witness the cause of her mysterious smile. Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? I would invite Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and Johnny Depp.
Zaib Abbas is a Year 12 student and co-curator of graduate showcase ‘Emergent’, running at Bunjil Place this April. Picture: SUPPLIED What are you currently listening to/watching or reading? I’m currently listening to The Michelle Obama Podcast on Spotify. How would you describe your fashion sense? I love wearing classy and comfortable clothes. If I’m at home, I’ll be in hoodies and sweatpants. If I’m outside, I’ll be wearing wide leg pants and an oversized crewneck, blazer, or a button-up shirt. I always have jewellery on me. What were you like as a kid? I’ve always been very shy and quiet but once you get to know me, I love to have fun and joke around. I used to be very fast in learning new games and perfecting them immediately. When I was a baby, I apparently would not cry as much as other babies.
What is your favourite colour and why? I love neutral colours like beige as it feels very minimalist and calm. It’s also my favourite colour when it comes to styling clothes and bringing together different pieces of an outfit. Do you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert? I would consider myself to be an introvert, however I do love hanging out with people and socialising – I just need some little time alone every day to focus on myself. What’s one question you have never been able to get the answer to? We are born so innocent, but how do we lose our humanity? Why does society have such high standards, even when knowing well that it leads to so much stress and anxiety?
THREE … board games to keep the kids entertained
1
Monopoly
2
Jenga Choose your bricks carefully as you methodically work your way through the structure. Get locked in a three-way battle with gravity and a friend as piece-by-piece you try to prove you have the steadier hand. No one wants to be that person who brings the tower down with an almighty shatter.
3
Scattergories One that can be done with just a pen and paper and is bestsuited for groups of three or more children. Pick your 10 categories, pick a letter, set a timer and see what answers they come up with for each category that begin with the chosen letter.
With house prices continuing to skyrocket, it’s worth giving our youngest property ownership aspirants a taste of (semi) reality through this old classic. Who knows what a Chance card will throw at them, or how long they’ll have to spend in jail?
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10 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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NEWS
Wood slams Casey chair By Eleanor Wilson A Federal MP has slammed Casey Council after it expressed disappointment in the Federal Budget. Federal Member for LaTrobe Jason Wood’s accused council administrators of being “completely silent” and “missing in action” when it comes to lobbying the State Government to start work on key infrastructure projects in Casey. “My advice to the administrators is to actually lobby the State Labor Government to start work immediately on the Clyde Road upgrades which the Liberal Morrison Government committed $250 million in Federal funding towards, back in 2019,” Mr Wood said. “The Casey Council administrators have been completely silent and missing in action on this… and while they are at it, they should get the State Labor Government to actually put in money for the state roads in La Trobe! Or are they silent because it is a State Labor Government who appointed them?” Mr Wood’s comments came after City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said it was “very disappointing” to see there was no allocation to the “promised” Greater South East Melbourne City (GSEM) Deal in the Federal Budget. The GSEM Deal is a collaboration between eight councils and shires in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne, including Monash, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Frankston, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula and Knox, which advocates for investment, prosperity, jobs and sustainability across the region. Since the 2019 election, the Federal Government indicated it will not proceed with the deal until the North West City Deal has been delivered. Casey Council has since stated it is advocating to both State and Federal Governments in the lead up to the respective elections. “Clyde Road Corridor, Clyde Rail Link and Thompsons Road are substantial, transformational infrastructure priorities that require collaboration from all three levels of government to fund construction,” Ms Duff said. “Council hopes to work in partnership with all our local MPs from both sides of politics
Federal MP Jason Wood said Casey Council should direct criticisms about state funded roads to the State Government. Picture: TYLER LEWIS
Casey Council said it is disappointed at Tuesday’s budget’s lack of allocation to local road infrastructure. 274762 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI and the relevant government departments to deliver these important projects that will create significant benefits for our residents and Melbourne’s south east.” “These road projects extend well beyond Casey and that is why Council is also working with our neighbouring cities and the Greater South East Melbourne region as part of our advocacy agenda.”
Hallam Road now flowing
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tion upgrades along all these roads to create improved connections through these growing areas of Melbourne. The Hallam Road level crossing has been the site of 14 near misses in the past 10 years, 11 involving pedestrians and three involving vehicles, according to the state government, and its removal marks a huge boost in safety for the community. Making Hallam Road level crossing-free doesn’t just improve safety for locals, but also for truck drivers moving freight in and out of Melbourne’s industrial heartland. The upgrades will slash travel times for more than 20,000 vehicles each day, and improve connections between Cranbourne, Springs Square and Hampton Park Town Centre. To allow crews to carry out the station works safely, trains will continue running express through Hallam Station, with shuttle buses connecting passengers to Dandenong, Hallam and Narre Warren stations. The State Government is removing every level crossing on the Pakenham Line, changing the way people live, work and travel, and paving the way for more services, more often, when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025. The Hallam Road project follows the removal of the Clyde Road level crossing at Berwick in February, with nine more to go before the entire line is boom gate-free.
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Traffic began to flow freely beneath the new rail bridge at Hallam Road in Hallam on Saturday 2 April when the State Government completed the removal of another level crossing. The Hallam Road level crossing is the 59th to be removed as part of coordinated major infrastructure upgrades to transform the South Eastern suburbs and deliver better arterial connections between Carrum, Cranbourne and Berwick. With the boom gates now gone for good, construction crews will focus on completing the new, elevated Hallam Station. The station will open on Monday 2 May, with a new forecourt, improved parking and safer pedestrian and cycling links through the station precinct. Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the government was thrilled the boom gates at Hallam Road are now a thing of the past. “The new Hallam Station and level crossing removal will make it quicker and easier for locals to catch the train to work, school or the shops,” Ms Allan said. “The Pakenham line is Melbourne’s longest and we are removing every single one of its dangerous and congested level crossings.” The removal of level crossings at Hallam Road, Evans Road and Thompsons Road complement road widening and intersec-
Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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STAR NEWS 11
NEWS
300 of Bella’s supporters turned up to honour the late teen in the Run For The Kids. Pictures: SUPPLIED
Bella’s parents and siblings from left: Troy, Alison, Chelsea and Josh Allan.
Mrs Allan pushed Bella’s pram along the course, which a friend decorated with a memorial dedicated to the teen.
Team runs to honour Bella By Eleanor Wilson Sunday’s historic Run For The Kids after a twoyear hiatus due to Covid was an emotional day for many Victorian families. But none more so than the Allan family, who lost their 13-year-old daughter Bella Allan in February after an almost seven-year battle with leukaemia. Bella’s parents Alison and Troy Allan and siblings Josh and Chelsea were joined by 300 family and friends to make up Team Bella, running the 14.8 kilometre course in a sea of yellow to represent the teen’s favourite colour. Mrs Allan, who hails from Tooradin, said the day was filled with “joy, happiness, heartbreak and sadness mixed into one.” “Bella has attended with us in past events, in which we would push her in a pram and she would also run some, so not having her join us
this year was emotionally hard,” she said. “A friend was able to decorate her pram with a memorial of her. We pushed that for 14.8 kilometres with her monkey on board.” Team Bella’s efforts on Sunday have raised almost $10,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital, which Mrs Allan said has been a “second home” for the family throughout Bella’s sixand-a-half year battle. “The hospital has always been an amazing support. We are lucky to have such a wonderful hospital right at our doorstep,” she said. “To be able to give back to them is heartwarming, so they can continue to help others families and children during difficult times.” Team Bella were among thousands of Victorians who ran on Sunday, collectively raising more than $630,000 ahead of the Good Friday Appeal next Friday.
Bella’s family and friends honoured her in a sea of yellow shirts at the Run.
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Rex name shame By Mitchell Clarke Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name. Former Springfield Ward councillor Rex Flannery, who resigned as deputy mayor just days before the State Government sensationally sacked the entire council in February 2020, says the events of the past 12 months are still “eating” him up. He has now officially requested that his name is removed from both a councillor honour board in the customer service centre and a wall plaque in Bunjil Place. “I have never had any involvement into this alleged corruption scandal and therefore I do not wish to have my name associated with past or former councillors who may have brought our City of Casey into disrepute,” he told Star News. “People look at your name and they see that you’re from Casey Council and immediately they put you in that same mould, which couldn’t be further than the truth. “It’s just horrible to have been a councillor in that term. It gives you a sickening feeling in your gut and now I have to live with that.“ Mr Flannery argues his name should never have been placed on the plaque celebrating the $126 million Bunjil development because at the time he didn’t support the project. “I guess I’ve eaten a little bit of humble pie with Bunjil Place. I’ve been able to see the value that place brings to the community but at the time I was against the development and I wasn’t once consulted (about having my name included),” he said. He also claims former ex-ward partner, Sam Aziz, stated to him that he “wished he never had my name added to the plaque”. “That was the only time I agreed with him,” Mr Flannery said. While Mr Flannery hasn’t accused any former councillor of committing wrongdoing, he said anyone found guilty from the IBAC hearing should immediately have their honours stripped. “They need to have their plaques removed
Rex name shame
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Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name.
Final Stage
Rex Flannery, pictured in late 2015, wants his name stripped from council. 148005 from anywhere within the City of Casey ... whether it’s a plaque in the botanical gardens or in Bunjil Place, I want them removed so they have absolutely no recognition anymore,” he said. “They’ve disgraced themselves and they’ve disgraced the council. They’ve taken something away from me that I totally enjoyed. I loved serving the Casey community. I just want some clarity as to what way it’s going to go.” Since his resignation, Mr Flannery has been working in an operating theatre at a local hospital. He said he has every intention to run for council again in 2024.
Bunjil Place. associated with the 2016-20 term.” Casey’s governance manager Rhys Matulis said: “Given the IBAC investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on that matter. Council has received and will consider Mr Flannery’s request in due course.”
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“I want to get back into serving the community again. I want to run again and I want to get my name back on the honour board for the right reasons. At the moment it’s a dishonour board,” he said. Star News understands Mr Flannery has put forward his request to be heard by the administrators at the next council meeting, slated for Tuesday 2 February.“It’s up to them now but a year later, this is still eating at me. I need closure and this is one way that I can get it,“ he said. “I played no part in any downturn or sacking of the council and I feel it’s my duty to say that I don’t want to be a part of or in any way
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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NEWS
Cassandra Fernando has been chosen as Labor’s candidate for Holt at the upcoming federal Picture: SUPPLIED election. 275957
Labor’s pick Cassandra Fernando has been chosen as Labor’s candidate for Holt at the upcoming federal election, replacing the outgoing current member Anthony Byrne. Ms Fernando was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Australia in 1999 as an 11-year-old with her family, settling in Dandenong North, where she still lives. With a Certificate III in Education Support and Diploma of Hospitality, Ms Fernando has put her educational support training to use as a volunteer at AMES Australia (Adult Multicultural Education Services) providing tutoring services for migrants, refugees and youths from non-English speaking backgrounds.
During her time working at Woolworths she was a Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) Union Delegate before leaving Woolworths to commence working as a Union Organiser at the SDA’s Victorian branch. She has been a Union Organiser at the SDA for almost 5 years. Mr Byrne announced in March that he would not re-contest his seat at the upcoming election after 22 years as the Member for Holt, having won the position at a November 1999 by-election. Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said that Labor would be losing “one of its truly dedicated servants,” upon his decision.
No bail for Finks accused By Cam Lucadou-Wells John Pahoumidis of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang was refused bail on Thursday 31 March in relation to charges pertaining to an alleged serious stabbing in Dandenong early last month. Pahoumidis, 31, was one of four males who boxed in the victim’s car before a sustained attack on the victim at an Egan Road factory about 7.59pm on Sunday 6 March, Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard. He and his co-accused Lee Martin, 46, of Hillside, who was said to be president of the Finks’s Cranbourne chapter, were arrested during police raids of their homes on 30 March. Pahoumidis faced charges including intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, violent affray, assaults, and possession of cocaine, meth and anabolic steroids. In opposing bail, Victoria Police nominal informant Detective Senior Constable Tamika Butters told the court the victim was attacked due to not paying his $10,000 “exit fee” to leave the Finks. As an alleged Finks’ state sergeant-atarms, Pahoumidis was “highly influential” in decisions, including retaliation. His role was well known to as the club’s “enforcement tool” – tasked with “violent assaults” when disputes arose within the club, Det Sen Const Butters said. “The Finks OMCG (is) recognised to be one of the most violent OMCG clubs within Victoria and often seriously assault and extort their ex-members for funds due to their desire to leave the club. “Investigators believe the victim’s life would be in serious risk if (Pahoumidis) was to be granted bail.” Pahoumidis was also believed to be a national office bearer for the Finks, according to police. He, Martin and two unidentified males blocked the factory driveway in a silver Hyundai soon after the victim reversed in, Det Sen Const Butter said. Police allege the four crowded around the victim, then Pahoumidis punched him twice in the jaw. As the victim tried to flee, he was kicked by an unidentified male, had a metal stand thrown at his head and was crash-tackled and put in a headlock by the other unidentified male. One of the unidentified males allegedly cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
stabbed the victim during the “frenzied” attack. Pahoumidis stood over the victim and appeared to speak to him, according to police. The victim was left alone, unaided with “significant life-threatening injuries”. He was in intensive care at The Alfred hospital for three days, with a four-centimetre stab wound to his lungs, spinal and rib fractures and facial bruises. Police say at the time of the attack, Pahoumidis and Martin’s mobile phones were switched off to avoid detection. They had both been pinged at Springvale before and after the attack. They say Pahoumidis was identified from the scene’s CCTV by his clothing and distinctive tattoos and haircut. After being arrested, Pahoumidis gave a “full no-comment” interview to police. His defence lawyer Vincent Peters admitted that Pahoumidis was at the scene of the attack, but denied inflicting violence. He argued that the risk to the victim and community safety could be reduced with conditions such as a night curfew and nonassociation with Finks members. In refusing bail, magistrate Tara Hartnett was not satisfied that any bail conditions could ameliorate the risks. Pahoumidis failed to show “compelling reasons” for his release, she said. “The prosecution case seems to be a fairly strong one particularly with the concession that the applicant admits his presence but denies the actual assault.” She noted his “lengthy” criminal history including jail in 2017 for an assault and conspiracy to kidnap while on bail and “in the context of him being a member of the Finks”. If found guilty on the serious allegations, he faced a significant jail term, Ms Hartnett said. The co-accused Martin was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 31 March. He did not seek bail. Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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STAR NEWS 13
WHAT’S ON Attention budding creatives Pakenham Library has the event for you - and Open Mic Night hosted by Josh Earl, an award winning comedian! This is your chance to show us your theatrical, spoken word, or comical talents. Book now to perform or be part of the audience. Launch is Friday 8 April 7-8.30pm and will take place the second Friday of every month at Pakenham Library. Head to the Casey Cardinia Library website to book or find out more: events.ccl.vic.gov.au/event?id=8135
Easter eggs at Emerald Free chocolate Easter egg giveaway for anyone using selected facilities in the Emerald Lake Precinct. Until stock runs out, free chocolate Easter eggs will be given away! Nobelius Heritage Park Emerald Museum; Emerald Lake Park Lakeside Café, Model Railway, Lakeside paddleboats.www. cardinia.vic.gov.au/ emeraldlakepark Easter Sunday, 17 April, 11am.
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Teddy Bear’s Picnic: Gather your family and friends, pack your picnic blanket and join us for a family day out in the Old Cheese Factory gardens on Wednesday 13 April from 11am-1pm. Dance and sing with our performers on stage, check your teddy is in the bear-y best of health at the teddy bear hospital and visit the pop-up activities throughout the grounds. Ages: Recommended for children aged 2-10. Cost: $2 per person (children under 12 months FREE). Tickets: trybooking.com/ events/landing?eid=879351&
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Games Club People of all ages are being encouraged by Casey City Council to get down to Cranbourne West Community Centre and play different board games. The Games Club takes place every Friday until 2 April from 1-3pm.
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Line Dancing Come along for a fun morning of line dancing 9:30am-12noon each Monday. Senior Citizens Hall, 1 Codrington St, Cranbourne. Enquiries 0499 910 729.
Old Time and New Vogue Ballroom Dance Come along for a fun afternoon/evening of Old-Time and New Vogue dancing: Tuesday 1-3:30pm. Every 4th Friday of each month 7pm11:30pm. 2nd Sunday of every month 1pm5pm. Senior Citizens Hall, 1 Codrington St, Cran-
Picture: SUPPLIED bourne. Ph: 0432 107 590.
Cranbourne. Ph: 0432 107 590.
Carpet Bowls
Lang Lang Rodeo
Come along for a fun afternoon of indoor Carpet Bowls 12:30-3:30pm each Saturday and Wednesday. Bowlers must sign in before 12:30pm. Senior Citizens Hall, 1 Codrington St,
The Lang Lang Rodeo is on Easter Monday 18 April. The action starts at 10am and goes all day until about 4 pm. A full program of events including Barrel Racing, Saddle Bronc, Team Roping, Steer Roping, Bull Ride and much more. It will have a very popular “Dog High Jump“ at lunchtime and plenty of food vans and amusements. Admission: adults $25, students 13 yrs - 18 yrs $10, kids (Under 13) admitted free. Location: Lang Lang showgrounds
POP IN POP UP
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Native Wildlife Show This is an educational and interactive experience featuring your favourite native animals at Centre Court, Casey Central Shopping Centre Dates: Wednesday 20 - Friday 22 April. Free entry. Three one-hour shows will take place starting at 10am, 11am and noon.
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Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club. The Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club is a welcoming vibrant social club for active senior men and women who live in The City Of Casey and the Shire of Cardinia and surrounding areas. Activities include: sequence in line dancing, dine outs, table tennis, coffee mornings, IT discussion groups, Saturday country rambles, walking groups, evening dine outs, coach trips, musical theatre and others. We have a strong vibrant social calendar and if you are independent, young at heart and feel we might inspire you to become one of us we welcome you to make contact with our enquire officer on 0468363616.
Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade
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Have a question about the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade? Head on down to the Hunt Club Village and speak with our project team. Drop in anytime, no RSVP required. The team will be available to show you what the upgrade looks like and answer any questions. We hope to see you there!
Better Living Festival Berwick
4024
12544012-HC14-22
Wednesday 13 April, 3pm to 7pm Hunt Club Village Shopping Centre 1 Linsell Blvd Cranbourne East, 3977
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
14 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
A Better living festival encompassing all things health, mind, body and soul will take place at Pioneer Park. There will be lots of stall holders, fitness industry and mindset coaching. Create a flower crown DIY workshop, bring the kiddies to enjoy arts and crafts and be entertained with face painters, or grab a ticket to the Degustation lunch to enjoy Berwick’s great hospitality venues all under one marquee with live entertainment and watch an active wear catwalk! This will take place on Saturday 30 April from 10am-3pm. Entry is free.
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Easter Wonderland at Fountain Gate Join us for Westfield Fountain Gate’s Easter Wonderland of fun! Test your skills and have a go at our bunny toss or bunny bowling these school holidays exclusive to Westfield Plus members. Simply open the offer in your West-
field Plus app, scan the QR code and present it to our Easter team to enter our wonderland! Don’t forget to collect your exclusive Easter gift! Download the free app via the following link: bit.ly/3LnN5mD Date: Monday 11 April until Sunday 17 April excluding Good Friday. Time: 11am - 2pm daily. Location: Level 2, near Toy Kingdom. Find out more> https://bit.ly/3DoZoMw
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Down but not out A live ensemble performance reflecting on loss, longing and resilience and hope. Down But Not Out, was created over two and half years, in and out of lockdowns and overcoming the challenges of isolation and exploring new opportunities that platforms such as Zoom enable. The live performance is based on an original script, cowritten by the full ensemble, with an original live music score, mixed with media elements created during lockdown. It will take place at Walker St Gallery and Arts Centre Apr 7 - April 9 from 7pm. Tickets $20.
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Sports on the streets Street Teams will be bringing Aligned Leisure’s programs and services out into the community as the Street Team Jeep hits the road these school holidays! The Street Team Jeep is fully equipped and boasts a cool range of sport and fitness equipment. Tuesday 12 April, 11am – 1pm at Puffing Billy Reserve, Emerald; Wednesday 13 April, 11am – 1pm at Cochrane Park, Koo Wee Rup
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Teenage Holiday Program Open to young people 12 to 17 years old, a range of free and low-cost activities will be offered from My Place Youth Facility. Activities include chocolate making, skate deck design, escape room and much more! Bookings are essential: www.cardinia.vic.gov. au/tshp
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Easter craft workshop Easter-themed crafts including Easter egg decorating at Cardinia Cultural Centre. Children up to 12 years old are welcome for this school holiday workshop. Tuesday 12 April, 10am – 12 noon. More information: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/ccc.
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Cranbourne and District Garden Club Come along, meet new people and join us for afternoon tea. The group meet at the Cranbourne Public Hall at 1.15pm every second Thursday of the month year-round. Next meeting: 14 April. For more information, call Julie on 5995 1420.
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NEWS
L-R The Green living stall, handing out recycling buckets to rate payers. L-R Nino Occhetti and Vandara Rama. 274997
Jay with a Python at the Wildlife Exposure stall. 274997
Daniella after some environmentally friendly face painting. 274997
Bunjil Place goes green By Eleanor Wilson Last Saturday saw Bunjil Place flex its sustainability muscle as it hosted the Casey Green Living Festival. The festival welcomed Casey locals to learn how to live more sustainably through a range of stalls, workshops and expert presentations. Attendees could “kick start their green living journey” by test driving an electric Hyundai car, attending demonstrations about en-
ergy efficiency, biodiversity and recycling, and visiting stalls filled with eco-friendly products. Kids’ activities also took advantage of the theme through recycling inspired face painting, and Simply Vegan Cuisine dished up delicious plant based meals from the Dolly bus. Casey Council manager of sustainability and waste Michael Jansen said the festival allowed council to “showcase arrange of local sustainable products and services to assist residents in reducing their environmental footprint”.
“The City of Casey is committed to reducing our community’s environmental footprint to ensure a sustainable future for our residents, and in addition to adopting the Environment Strategy 2021-25, we are currently in the process of developing Casey’s first Climate Action Plan in consultation with the community,” he said. Festival goers could also use the expo to have their say about the Climate Action Plan, which details the steps council will take to
reach its goal of net zero corporate emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions before 2037 for the community. “Council is also committed to reducing our organisational environment footprint through ensuring sustainable purchases, sourcing renewable energy, transitioning to electric vehicles, protecting biodiversity through revegetation projects and investing in water efficiency initiatives,” Mr Jansen said.
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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STAR NEWS 15
NEWS
Soccer club left offside By Marcus Uhe Doveton Soccer Club officials are fed-up with the City of Casey’s ground maintenance at their home facility at Waratah Reserve, describing their home base as being in “disrepair” to open their season. The club has been unsuccessfully advocating for light towers for their main pitch through the council’s capital works grants program for a number of years and is forced to hold all of their fixtures during day-time slots as a result. The state of their pitches is also under scrutiny, with Doveton forced to move their opening home match of the National Premier League 3 season against Melbourne City on
Saturday 19 March to their opponents’ home ground at Parade College in Bundoora due to a delay in maintenance works creating an uneven and potentially dangerous playing surface. Not hosting home fixtures can have damaging financial consequences for the club due to missing out on canteen and ticket sales on the day. Doveton Soccer Club vice president Debbie Thornton described the surface as “like a sandbox” following their first home game of the season last weekend against Springvale White Eagles Football Club. She feels their facilities have made them an
embarrassment to rest of the league. “We got laughed at last season with some of the teams that came down and played here,” Ms Thornton said. “We feel as though, they (other clubs) come to our ground, they see the state of our facilities and the surrounding area and we go to their grounds, like Casey Fields when Melbourne City are playing there, and it’s pristine, not a blade of grass out of place. “We can’t even get a couple of light poles put up.” Under NPL rules, clubs which cannot meet facility requirements risk relegation to a lower division, at the league’s discretion.
AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC PLAN
Minimum requirements for any senior NPL match to be played at the venue include “an even grass coverage where possible”, with “no important area of the field, including goal areas, [which] may be dangerous for any participant.” Ms Thornton fears the club is at risk of losing their next fixture on Saturday 9 April against the Preston Lions due to the condition of the surface. A match official can abandon a competition fixture if it is determined that playing conditions have become “unsafe or untenable for any reason”. Casey City active communities manager Angie Peresso said the council was responsible for management of the facility and have spent more than $1 million on renewal and extension projects at Waratah Reserve. “To date (Wednesday 30 April) Waratah Reserve’s soccer pitches have been serviced in line with our maintenance schedule and meet the required standards for safe use and competition use,” Ms Peresso said. “Pitch one has been serviced an additional five times compared to last year’s season due to the favourable growing conditions. Acknowledging the lighting issue, Ms Peresso said a joint effort from council and the Club to receive a Sport and Recreation Victoria grant in 2021 was unsuccessful, but that lighting for the pitch “remains a priority for future floodlighting projects”. “When allocating funding to sporting facilities and clubs, the council considers female friendly facilities, floodlighting, sportsground renewal and digital infrastructure (eg electronic scoreboards), as a priority, while also taking into account the age of the facility. “The City of Casey is committed to supporting Casey’s diverse sports community through advocacy, grants and funding a range of projects to ensure the facilities meets our growing community’s needs.”
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13.3 million
The penalty area one Doveton’s main pitch looking worse for ware. 275893
+260 , 000 More people in work than before COVID 13 million Doveton Soccer Club’s main pitch following last weekend’s fixtures. 275893
March 2020 - January 2022 12543649-JC14-22
Data: ABS Labour Force, Australia
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra. 16 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
Vice President of Doveton Soccer Club Debbie Thronton described the surface as “like a sandbox”. 275893 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
Mr Bell’s hallway is filled with splendid artwork.
Christine Quigley with her painting of a bear that she will enter into the show.
Barbara Pain, Deborah Polman, Christine Quigley, Kiran Singh and Calvin Bell engaged in a conversation.
Painting for pleasure By Jonty Ralphsmith
classes for a roundtable discussion about the upcoming show. “Our aim is painting for pleasure – we want artists go away happy,” Mr Bell said. “We never say to them ‘you will paint this,’ we ask them ‘what do you want to paint?’ and the style can be abstract, oils, watercolours, acryllics, pencils…” “We help direct them without being too overbearing. Kiran Singh had not painted in 35 years, he said, before attending his first class at Provenance and impressed with his meticulous
attention to detail. He is entering a piece he painted in his third class into the show. “I practice Hinduism and that’s Lord Christian,” Mr Singh explained. “The word Christian was like music to me so it attracted me to go deeper and deeper into it. “I see a person and I want to narrate it through art.” The society also thanked Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas and Gembrook MP Brad Battin for their support.
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A walk into Calvin Bell’s Cranbourne North rental property reveals a long held zest for painting. Mr Bell, now retired, has been painting and exploring different genres of art since he was a kid. His hallway is lined with approximately 30 pieces of work which he rotates regularly. “As an artist it’s fun to change what’s on the walls – I don’t want it to get boring.” At the back of the property is a living space
which was been converted to an art workshop during the lockdown for his own recreation and for the Provenance Art Society, an incorporated group of which he is the president. The society is preparing for the 22nd Great Art Sale and Show, taking place from Friday 8 April until Sunday 10 April at Nossal High School, Berwick. There will be 543 paintings on display, of which “well over 100“ will be from Provenance There are 123 artists within the society and about 10 are entering work into the show. Mr Bell gathered four artists who attend his
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STAR NEWS 17
FOCUS ON … EASTER HOLIDAY GUIDE
School holiday fun This April rediscover the joy of live theatre at the Drum Theatre, Dandenong. A beautiful historic building, teeming with quality programming, The Drum Theatre is a place for people to meet, connect, create, and be inspired. This month discover Sun Rising - The Songs That Made Memphis. The critically acclaimed theatre show tells the incredible story of Sun Records. Celebrating the early years - enjoy the music and stories of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Howlin’ Wolf and many more in this in impeccable tribute to the great rock ’n’ roll performers. Keep the kids entertained with the Songs of Frozen. For the first time, Showcase Entertainment Group brings the magic of these songs to the Drum in a concert for the young and young at heart. Dress up as Anna or Elsa - or even Olaf - when you join the Drum to enjoy this wonderful concert production. Everyone loves a treasure hunt! Part laboratory, part performance and all imagination, Hidden Creature Gallery is an exciting interactive activity for school-aged children and their families. Visit the Drum Theatre between Monday 11 - Friday 22 April, excluding Easter public holidays, for an immersive and fun space that blends nature and technology. There will be about 30 hidden creatures to hunt for together with your smartphone. Try this charming theatre for the first time or come back to a familiar favourite. Their varied program will delight with something for everyone at prices that will surprise. Save yourself the drive to the city and support local business by booking a performance at the Drum. To learn more about for the Drum Theatre, please see drum.greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au or call 03 8571 1666, 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday.
SpongeBob the Musical Saturday 2 April, 12 & 7pm
Sun Rising; Frozen.
*See website for additional dates
Sun Rising: The Songs That Made Memphis Saturday 9 April, 5pm
CHILDREN AND FAMILY
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The Songs of Frozen Wednesday 13 April 10.30am & 1pm
Our Beat Thursday 21 April, 6.30pm Thursday 19 May, 6.30pm
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Hidden Creatures Gallery 11-22 April FAMILY ACTIVITY
Zeitgeist: Alchemy Dance School Saturday 23 April, 1pm Sunday 24 April, 1pm & 6pm
Tamil Puththaandu Vivha 2022 and Kalai Vizha Sunday 8 May, 5pm COMMUNITY EVENT
Paradise Lots Thursday 12 May, 7pm Friday 13 May, 7pm Saturday 14 May, 7pm
Brass Monkeys – school holiday circus Saturday 2 July, 2pm
Singing up Country with Kutcha Edwards Friday 8 July, 7.30pm
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Drum Theatre Corner Lonsdale & Walker streets, Dandenong | 8571 1666 DRUM.GREATERDANDENONG.VIC.GOV.AU 18 STAR NEWS
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EASTER HOLIDAY GUIDE
Extra Easter trading day Get all your eggs in one basket at Dandenong Market on Thursday 14 April. It’s an extra trading day to make Easter easy for shoppers. “Our three seafood shops will be fully stocked with calamari, prawns, crayfish, whole snapper, cuttlefish, flake, flathead and rockling,” Dandenong Market general manager Jennifer Hibbs said. “With three fishmongers open from 7am next Thursday, you won’t find fresher or cheaper seafood anywhere else.” Food is central to all Easter celebrations, regardless of ethnicity, and Dandenong Market is a one stop food destination for Easter delicacies, treats and gifts with a great range and prices. “Not only do we have the freshest seafood,” Ms Hibbs said. “We have a large selection of local and
imported chocolates, plush toys, delicious hot cross buns straight from the oven, spring lamb, an abundance of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, a new outfit, and so much more. “By opening an extra day next Thursday, shopping for Easter traditions, egg hunts, decorations and treats means you can relax and enjoy this Easter long weekend. “Of course, must-not-forget items include those tasty hot cross buns, thoughtful Easter gifts and cute baskets for the kids’ Easter egg hunt.” To help customers beat the busy Easter rush, or for those planning on going away this Easter, the Market will be open next Thursday from 7am to 4pm. Parking is free until 10am then just $1 for three hours. The market will be closed on Good Friday then reopens again on Saturday and Sunday.
Father and daughter fishmongers Michael and Makayla from MC Quality Seafoods at Dandenong Market.
CORNER CLOW & CLEELAND STREETS, DANDENONG
Bash from Baker Boys serves hot cross buns straight from the oven.
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Reflect with Night MODE By Eleanor Wilson Bunjil Place’s adult art evening Night MODE returns on Thursday 7 April for its Cycle of Life edition. Attendees can explore all things life and death between 6pm and 9pm, with exhibitions, artist conversation and a live DJ to set the scene. Included in the evening showcase is discussion group Death Cafe – a global movement working to normalise discussion around death, surrealist portraiture exhibition Look Into My Eyes, and Vivian Qiu’s Sentimental Rice Jewellery workshop. Ms Qiu’s workshop uses handmade rice fabric to create jewellery pieces based on meditation and self-reflection. The multi-disciplinary artist said the mental health toll of the Covid pandemic led her to create the project. “In terms of this project I would approach it by reflecting on my emotions that day and would design my jewellery based on that emotion,” she said. “When I was studying fashion I realised designing garments takes a long time… when I have the urgency to express myself through art, making jewellery is a much quicker outlet.” Ms Qiu said the handmade rice fabric is the “essence of the whole project.” “When working with rice fabric, some people like to play with it because it’s very meditative to hear that sound and that crunch and people can smell the rice aroma so it’s a very different art experience, “ she said. Night MODE: Cycle of Life is also platforming graduate VCE exhibition Emergent, showcasing artworks from south-east local VCE students. Fountain Gate Secondary School student Zaib Abbas was one of several students chosen as co-curators of the exhibition. “We found the themes of the exhibition
Student Furat Ibrahim’s piece ‘Chaos’ will be showcased in the Emergent Showcase. Pictures: SUPPLIED
Student Audrey Stock’s art piece for the Emergent Graduate Showcase.
Vivian Qiu’s Sentimental Rice Paper Jewellry.
were based around identity, especially considering mental health and cultural backgrounds, of course the global pandemic also made us all stop and look at our identities too,” she said. “There’s also a big focus on the environment and sustainability.”
being displayed, it’s not just paintings. There’s clay-work and textiles and a whole range of different platforms,” she said. Emergent is running from Saturday 2 April to Saturday 16 April at Bunjil Place and is also featuring at NightMODE on Thursday 7 April.
The exhibition includes work from local students studying unit 3 & 4 Art, Studio Art, Media, Product Design and Technology, and Visual Communication and Design, which Ms Abbas said made for an inspiring display of talent. “There’s so many different elements of art
The Autumn Edition of your favourite family magazine is out now... Pick up a printed copy of Casey Cardinia Kids Today Magazine from outlets everywhere.
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Written submissions for any proposal contained in the Draft Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 2 Review, Draft Annual Action Plan 2022/23, Draft Budget 2022/23 and Draft Financial Plan 2022-32 and Draft Capital Works Program 2022/23 must be made to Council within 28 days from the start of the exhibition period. The period for receipts of submissions will close at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 17 May 2022. Submissions should be made via the online submission form available on Casey Conversations, emailed to caseycc@casey.vic. gov.au or submitted by mail to: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805 Any person who prepares a submission may also choose to speak to their submission in front of Council. Submitters may choose to be represented by a person acting on their behalf.
The name and suburb of all submitters will be included in the agenda and minutes of the 31 May 2022 Special Council Meeting. Adoption of the documents will be considered during the Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 28 June 2022 at 4.00pm. Council will give public notice of its decision. Glenn Patterson Chief Executive Officer
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Submissions on the draft documents will be heard at the Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 31 May 2022 commencing at 4.00 pm.
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STAR NEWS 23
BUSINESS
Smartronic is the solution By Elle Cecil
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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Ending a winning summer By Tyler Lewis Regardless of the actual result, it was a win for Casey-South Melbourne. Coming from 15th to play in its first grand final in over three decades, and winning as many games in succession in the latter half of the year as Casey-South Melbourne has ever won in a season – the season as a whole, is a win. The Swans were up to their eye balls in the grand final against a seasoned Carlton outfit, having the Blues 4/66 after taking a quick 3/6. But the experienced Blues side ultimately steered back on track, reeling in the Swans revised 203 with four wickets to spare. First year coach Will Carr had the toughest task as a coach: addressing his players after grand final defeat. But like most, he insists his players will appreciate the season once the pain of the loss fades. “As much as the disappointment of losing a grand final hurts – and it should hurt, it needs to hurt – the guys have put so much time and effort into something and to come so close, it is going to hurt, but hopefully that will drive us as a group to go again,” he said. “Once the dust settles and they have a bit of time to reflect, they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. “Not only to make the grand final, but to play off in the semi in the twenty-20 (SuperSlam), there has been good stories within the group. Ash (Chandrasinghe) has played Second XI cricket, Ruwy (Kellapotha) has played Second XI cricket. “We have three young guys representing the under-19’s in the (Victorian) carnival that starts later this week. “The development and growth as people has been there for all to see, there is so much more than just the result on Saturday.” The Swans were almost guided to victory from a sensational spell of bowling from Jackson Fry. Often labelled by Carr as ‘the unluckiest bowler I have seen’, he was once again proud of his left-armer. “It has been great for him in the second half of the year to get some reward for his efforts,” Carr said. “He doesn’t get the choice of ends, he gen-
Kellapotha after his great catch to dismiss Nick Ross. 275348
VPC - GRAND FINAL
Jackson Fry had his boys up and about when they took 3/6. 275348 erally bowls into it (the wind), he toils away, you know he walks away a few times disappointed with not getting the results for how well he has bowled. “But he keeps backing up and charging in for us, in recent times he has been getting some rewards. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and brings the boys along with him, he never drops his head, he possesses so many qualities that we love about him and it resonates through the group.”
Pictures: TYLER LEWIS
While the paint of the Albert Ground crease is still yet to fade, there is already a burning question ahead of the Swans for season 2022/23. Is this the expectation now? “I think it’s the minimum,” Carr said. “We don’t set the standards, the competition does and now we have had a new look at the top, we know what the minimum expectations are. “For us to keep going forward we need to keep raising the bar.”
CARLTON V CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE A Chandrasinghe c & b Smyth 25 (58) L Manders c Lemire b O’Sullivan 63 (103) M Wallace c Harvey b Crone 14 (25) H Kannan run out (Stevenson, Lemire) 16 (18) D Pollock b O’Sullivan 17 (27) L Shelton not out 32 (35) R Kellapotha b Gulbis 22 (18) L Sperling c McKenna b Gulbis 3 (7) D Webb b Gulbis 2 (2) N Lambden c Stevenson b Gulbis 0 (1) J Fry not out 0 (0) Extras: (w3, b1, lb2) 6 Total (revised): (49 overs) 9/200 Fall of wicket: 56, 85, 106, 133, 146, 181, 193, 198, 198 Bowling: C Stevenson 5-0-1-25, E Gulbis 10-2-3-35, C Rutland 5-1-0-19, T Smyth 9-0-1-44, X Crone 10-1-0-42, E O’Sullivan 10-1-3-32 CARLTON E Gulbis c Pollock b Fry 28 (25) M Harvey b Fry 5 (12) B Stepien c Shelton b Sperling 51 (72) H Smyth c Pollock b Fry 0 (2) N Ross c Kellapotha b Fry 0 (4) T Smyth not out 52 (101) C Rutland c Sperling b Kellapotha 45 (56) X Crone not out 18 (9) Extras: (w3, b1, lb2) 6 Total: (46.5 overs) 6/205 Fall of wicket: 18, 60, 66, 66, 110, 185 Bowling: N Lambden 8-0-0-51, J Fry 10-3-4-28, D Web 1.5-00-25, R Kellapotha 10-0-1-34, L Shelton 10-0-0-30, L Sperling 7-0-1-34 JOHN SCHOLES MEDAL WINNER: T Smyth (Carlton)
Fast finishing Cranbourne strikes first blow in Southern By Lachlan Mitchell Cranbourne and Springvale were the main event in a fresh round-one. The Eagles were flying into the new Southern League, meanwhile Springvale Districts were looking to make a name for themselves in Division 1. Conditions were perfect for a traditionalist, with gloomy and wet conditions the main feature at Springvale Reserve on Saturday afternoon. The Demons went into the match missing boom-recruit Ty Vickery, as well as headcoach Kris Thompson. The first quarter provided fans with a slogfest of wet-weather football. Demons new recruit Shakore Bragg-Taylor was the first to hit the scoreboard. Cranbourne was on the board early through cult-figure Marc Holt. The Eagles holding sway going into the quarter-time break, The second-quarter saw the cobwebs swept away as Holt steered through his second for the afternoon, Kirk Dickson was also on the score-sheet early. A sickening clash between Cranbourne’s Matthew Alister and Demons Mark Griffiths saw the game come to a stop. Both men were out and played no further part in the game, Two late second-quarter goals by the Demons saw Cranbourne ahead by two points leading into the main break. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
Cranbourne held off a gallant Springvale side in wet conditions. 275015 A stern half-time spray by Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien clicked his side backinto action. The third-quarter provided another key injury with Eagle’s Mitchell Tharle being stretchered off after clinching his right-knee. Tyson Barry kicked his first of the day and Holt kicked his fourth to give his side a
Picture: ROB CAREW
16-point lead going into the final break. The final-quarter started with a bang, Holt kicking his fifth with his side kicking five goals in the last to run out 50-point winners. Cranbourne coach O’Brien was full of praise for his side but is ruing the injuries in the game. “It was a tough game,” he said.
“We copped quite a few injuries; we pretty much had no bench after half-time. “They were really well organised, and we weren’t playing too smart for the first two and a bit quarters. “We showed we were at a pretty good fitness level and we were able to run right over the top of them.” Cranbourne kicked a very inaccurate 13.19 (97) “We work on our goal-kicking,” O’Brien said. “There was a bit of a wind out there, it was pretty strong, we probably just didn’t adjust to it quite well. “But when the whips were cracking in the last quarter, we kicked straight which was most important.” Meanwhile in other round one fixtures across Division 1, St. Paul’s McKinnon had an emphatic win over Bentleigh by 87 points. St. Kilda City ran out 52-point winners under the guidance of Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan. The Saints had to also contend with a power-outage as they accounted for the Port Melbourne Colts. The Dingley Dingoes also proved too strong for the Cheltenham Rosellas away from home. The Dingoes running out 26 point winners. Finally Mordialloc got the job done in a low-scoring affair over East Malvern at Dunlop Reserve. The Blood Hounds winning by five goals. Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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STAR NEWS 25
SPORT
City ready for Asian assault By Lachlan Mitchell
Essendon clawed its way back, but weren’t able to steal the win. 275029.
Picture: GARY SISSONS
Casey’s nail biter By Tyler Lewis Casey is two from two after a heart-stopper at Casey Fields. The game was not short of ebbs and flows, as Essendon took it right up to VFL premiership fancies, Casey. The Demons trailed at the first stanza, but a four goal to one second term created an eventual game-saving buffer. The Bombers stormed home in the final term, after trailing by 17 points at the final break. Goals to Alec Waterman and a characteristically creative left foot snap from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti inside the first three minutes of the final term brought the Demons three goal lead back to a solitary straight kick in the blink of an eye. The game remained on edge for the rest of the final term, as both sides wrestled momentum. Luke Dunstan immediately answered back for the Demons, before promising youngster Roan Steele booted his second goal on debut to push the lead back out to three goals. The Bombers found a second wind in red time, kicking two quick majors to move watchers to the edge of their seats with 26 minutes gone.
Jimmy Munro missed an opportunity to ice the game, the minor score handed the Bombers and more specifically, McDonald-Tipungwuti, a chance to steal it late. But the Dees held their nerve, securing a 13.13 (91) to 13.10 (88) win. Munro was among the best once again for the Demons, accumulating his customary 25 disposals and eight tackles. Munro’s skipper Mitch White hit the scoreboard once again, following up his two from last week with a trio of goals this week. The win for the Demons sets up the opportunity for a strong start to the VFL season, with the win-less Williamstown in their sights next weekend. Frankston, meanwhile, has yet to secure its first win of the season, suffering another defeat at home to the GWS Giants. In a scrappy game under lights at Frankston Park, the Dolphins were never able to apply scoreboard pressure to the Giants. Dolphins were held scoreless in the first term and finished with just 10 scoring shots from 33 inside 50’s in the 4.6 (30) to 8.9 (57) defeat. Former Gold Coast Sun listed midfielder Sam Fletcher (23 disposals) had his best game for the Dolphins in his two seasons at Skybus
Stadium, but had the majority of his impact in the first half. Will Fordham also impressed with 19 disposals and 14 tackles, while Ned Shannon – son of MPNFL legend Andrew – also laid 11 tackles in his debut. The challenges will continue for Danny Ryan and his side, as they travel to Essendon to take on the Bombers this week. It was a big week in the VFL for some local products, as the regions best footballers are spread across the competition. Mitch Cox (Narre Warren) played his best game for the Lions in their thumping win over North Melbourne, collecting 25 disposals and a goal. It has been a tough start to the year for Williamstown, but Jack Toner (Narre Warren) was a shining light with 20 disposals and five tackles. Craig Black’s Collingwood are up and about with two wins from as many outings, and it has a lot to do with its ability to hit the scoreboard. The 2018 Rays coach has got the band back together, with a string of Rays playing for the Pies. One of which, former Ray and Dromana listed live-wire Sam Fowler booted another two goals on Saturday to go with his four last week.
Melbourne City has its sight on Asia. After its stellar championship winning 20/21 season, the boys from Casey will take on the rest of the continent. The Asian Champions League fixtures will take place from April 15 to May 1 in a jampacked 16 days of football. City has drawn Group G, and is set to face the likes of Thailand BG Pathum United, Filipino Club United City and South Korea’s Jeonnam Dragons. Melbourne City will play all sides twice in an attempt to feature in the round-of-16 in August. This will be City’s debut in the League since the competitions inception in 1967. City’s first match is on April 15 against BG Pathum United. BG Pathum United was managed by former Australian captain Aurelio Vidmar, the ex-Socceroo led the side through the 2021 version of the tournament. Under Vidmar’s guidance United won four out of six group matches. BG Pathum crashed out of the tournament in the round-of-16 losing on penalties. Vidmar’s 65 per cent winning rate wasn’t enough to see him keep his job, as he was sacked in November 2021 after the last Champions League tournament. The Thai side currently sit second in the Thailand League, coming off an 11-game winning streak. All of Melbourne’s City’s matches will be played in Pathum Thani, Thailand. Australia will have two sides in the tournament, with Sydney FC also featuring. Australian teams are no stranger to the Asian Champions League, with the Western Sydney Wanderers taking home the title in 2014.
Casey-based Melbourne City is setting its sights on dominating Asian football. 271497 Picture: AAP IMAGES
Casey’s thriving soccer scene based on new metropolis By Lachlan Mitchell The soccer-scene in Melbourne’s south-east has provided fans and aspiring players the foundation to grow into the next superstar. The City of Casey boasts a world class facility, as well as a legion of fans that support and follow the local sides. One of the biggest events on the local soccer calendar is the National Premier League (NPL) Dandenong Derby, between Dandenong City and Dandenong Thunder. The two-sides faced off last Friday night to a rousing reception at George Andrews Reserve. Thunder captain Harry Ascroft understands the support in the local area. “The crowd at the game on Friday night was probably close to two thousand people,” he said. “The south-east area especially Dandenong has got a great catchment of sports but especially soccer. It’s a huge community, it’s a really good atmosphere.” Casey also boasts one of the premier facilities in Australia if not the world in Cranbourne’s Casey Fields. The field houses the current AFL premiers, the Melbourne Demons, as well as current ALeague champions Melbourne City. Earlier in the year Melbourne City opened a state-of-the-facility to train on and foster 26 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 7 April, 2022
Casey producing the next crop of soccer stars. 269255 the next generation of footballers coming through. Casey Council administrator Miguel Belmar sees the pitch as further inspiration for players to take up the game. “Already I am heartened by the dramatic increase in young people from the south-
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
east being chosen for City’s junior teams this year,” he said. “And by stories of positive interactions between the players, coaches and members of the local community here at Casey Fields.” Belmar also used past players from the
area as inspiration. “South east Melbourne over the years has produced many outstanding footballers, he said.” “There are many outstanding footballers who are out this way including Scott McDonald and Paul Wade who captained Australia and went to school in Dandenong.” Wade made 84 appearances for Australia scoring 10 goals. McDonald represented Australia on 26 occasions playing most of his football for Scottish giants Celtic where he became a cult-figure. Melbourne City CEO Brad Rowse is hopeful the new facility will be used by everyone to enjoy the game. “We are building a facility that belongs to everyone,” he said. “Who is passionate about football and we want to work closely to with the local football community to develop the game in the South East. “We would love to see the kids who come down after school and play on the pitches, one day running out for Melbourne City.” Melbourne City Coach Patrick Kisnorbo was also quick to praise his sides newest training pitch. “In Europe they don’t have facilities like this, and if we continue to have great places like this hopefully the quality of the game can also grow,” he said. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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Miller’s memory lives on By David Nagel Tooradin Football Club has bestowed a wonderful honour on its legendary midfielder Beau Miller…announcing the late superstar as its number-one player of the last 25 years. There was not a dry eye in the house, and a standing ovation was afforded at the Tooradin Sports Club on Saturday night, as Beau’s widow Stephanie, their son Chase, and parents Debbie and Peter, accepted the honour on Beau’s behalf. Stephanie spoke after Miller was announced as Tooradin’s number-one player from 1995 to 2019. “If Beau was here, he wouldn’t have thought he would come first, that’s not the player he was, he always thought that there were people above him,” an emotional Steph said. “But he actually deserves this, both on and off the field, he played every game like it was his last, and he put so much into it…he really deserves this. “He would be honoured, absolutely honoured.” Peter Miller was as chuffed as any person in the room after his son was acknowledged in such a way. “Everyone loved him, we loved him, everyone loved him and what an amazing tribute this is, and would have been for Beau,” Peter said. “If you look up tonight, you might see a shooting star, that will be Beau. “He’d be thumbs up and saying ‘Thanks guys, I love you all’…and that’s the sort of person he was. “He loved his footy, loved his training, and just loved life.” Beau Miller’s great friend, and current-day senior coach, Lachie Gillespie, was proud as punch to be asked to present the award. “I feel very lucky to have had Beau in my life, a great human being more so than a great footballer, and that’s saying something because he was a bloody good footballer,” Gillespie said. “To be able to do this is a great honour, for me personally and for my family. “It’s well deserved, I’m absolutely proud, and all of his mates here are as well…
From left, Debbie Miller, Stephanie, Chase and Peter Miller. 275339 we love you, Beau.” Miller was a champion junior who debuted at Tooradin in 1998 and played his last game there in 2013. Miller captained and coached the club, and won two club best and fairest awards and was a two-time league medallist. But the impact he had on his teammates was even greater. “I came down to meet Beau and Derek (then president Derek Genoni) at the club, I fell in love with the footy club, fell in love with Derek and absolutely fell in love with Beau Miller,” said Ryan White via video, selected at number 15 on the list. “The piercing blue eyes, the sculptured body, and how could you not fall in love with the footballer he was.
Picture: PAKENHAM GAZETTE
“Guts, determination, physical, aspiring, inspiring, he was someone that I looked up to…he was a figure on the field, a figure off the field, he was a great footballer, he was a great mate, and he deserves to be named the best.” And champion midfielder Matt Wade, who starred alongside Miller when Tooradin made an emotional charge to the preliminary final in 2012, was full of praise for his former teammate. “Beau Miller, what a champion, number one for a reason,” Wade began, via a video preprepared from his home in Swan Hill. “His work ethic around the ground, his intensity at the contest were un-matched. “If you ever wanted to mimic someone’s playing style Beau would be the one to try and mimic.
“No-one was as hard as he was, his training ethic was through the roof, and it really showed on Saturday’s. “A ripper person, as honest as the day is long. I couldn’t be prouder or privileged to have played alongside him and got to know him as a person. “Congratulation’s champ.” And number-two of the last 25 years, gun midfielder Steve Hamill, spoke of what the football club means to him. “Mateship, that’s what footy’s about, it’s about the journey, you meet people and you accumulate, and you have relationships, and the strength of it is you come back through the doors tonight, you say gidday and people say hello to you…that’s a great thing,” Hamill said. “It’s just been great to be part of this club and great to be part of the journey. “Congratulations to Beau and his family for being number one.” TOORADIN TOP 25 – 1995 - 2019 1. Beau Miller 2. Steve Hamill 3. Matt Wade 4. Darren Sherrit 5. Dan O’Loughlin 6. Peter Vandermeer 7. Sean Edwards 8. Robert Arvanitakis 9. Chris Pym 10. Jon Gahan 11. Greg Bethune 12. Matt Wood 13. Scott Weekly 14. Steve Arvanitakis 15. Ryan White 16. Julian Suarez 17. Luke McKenna 18. Adrian Mack 19. Michael Hobbs 20. Aaron Setford 21. Adam Splatt 22. Adam Galea 23. Paul Ray 24. Mark Amalfi 25. Andrew Dean
Sensational Stingrays just a grand final win from glory By Tyler Lewis The girls are off to the big dance! After a sensational home and away season to go with an excellent finals series, the Dandenong Stingrays girls have booked a NAB League grand final berth. The Rays continued their unbeaten run to defeat the Geelong Falcons at Frankston Park on Saturday afternoon, 7.7 (49) to 3.14 (32). Dandenong led the wasteful Falcons at every change and ultimately hung on in the final term, despite not hitting the scoreboard. Amber Clarke paved the way for the Rays for disposals (19), but such is the unselfishness of the Dandenong side, was fifth leading ball winner on the ground. The Rays were switched on from the first bounce, needing no motivation to strike the first blow in the big final The attitude of the group for the preliminary final pleased Rays head coach Nick Cox. “The environment inside the rooms was a bit different, the expectations of being a team that haven’t lost a game were pretty high,” he said. “It was great they were switched on early, I thought it showed when we started the game and the girls never thought they’d get the win easily. It was great to see us come away with it in the end. “Credit to Geelong, the way they stayed in the game, if they kicked a bit straighter it might’ve been a different result.” The Falcons kicked 14 minor scores, eight of which in the final term. But wayward kicking from opposition seems to be a common theme against the Rays, while Dandenong itself isn’t often cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
The Rays have sung the song in each of their outings, will they sing one rendition this Friday? Picture: AFL MEDIA caught by the miss-kicking bug. Cox addressed that theme by revealing his girls have an understanding of their capabilities when it comes to distance from goal. “I thought the way we distributed going forward makes a big difference, to give girls an opportunity to have easier shots on goal rather than a rushed kick from 40” he said. “A couple of times girls were about 40 or 50 (metres) out, instead of going back we’re looking for a better option. “The girls have an understanding that we want to make a play and look good in the moment.” A key to the Dandenong units success is
the willingness from players to play a role that may not be the flashy and enjoyable, but one that has guided this side to a grand final. Felicity Crank and Olivia Robininson had 18 tackles between them, and as Cox explains, they’re just two that are all in to the Rays’ mantra. “You must’ve been in the room before the game, because that was the first word on the board: selfless,” he said. “And knowing that when your moment comes, it’s not about possessions, it will be your moment of when the team will benefit. “That has been a big emphasis for us, every week most of the leading disposal win-
ners, there is not usually many Stingrays at the top, we have an even spread across the board. “That is a pleasing aspect, particularly in NAB League, girls and boys can be a bit individualised at times. “But the importance of developing as a team is something we as coaches have been really pleased with. “I am sure it is a big emphasis for most NAB League regions.” This Rays side has been through it all. Playing all over the state, having sprinklers on during games and effectively being homeless, training out of the old St Kilda venue at Seaford, as cricket season crosses over the Shepley Oval timeline. But all of that is taken into their stride, and it is something Cox couldn’t be prouder of. “It is a great word, resilience, we have been all over the country with these girls,” he said. “We have been to Craigieburn, out to Churchill, a few games at Seaford, one at Frankston yesterday - which was great. “The resilience and I suppose the girls not complaining about what they can’t control I guess is a great thing, they just get on with it. “They train hard, challenge each other, we have had few issues on and off the ground but we work through them as a group. “The big thing on it is they’re not just good footballers, but they’re maturing and developing as humans who will go out into the real world once they leave our program. “I am sure they will represent themselves well which is credit to their junior clubs, their parents and themselves.” The Rays will travel to Werribee to take on the Western Jets in the NAB League grand final this Friday night. Thursday, 7 April, 2022
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