Dandenong Star Journal - 5th July 2022

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

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Healthy moves inspiring our youth

Leaders show support for besieged mosque

Clarke reaps AFLW reward

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SPORT

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Family wins fight to stay in Australia

Cemetery buried In what was termed a “win for the little people”, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust has abandoned its controversial proposed cemetery on Dandenong Creek flood-plains.

In a statement, the SMCT said it had “listened to the community” about the proposed site at 1564 Heatherton Road, Dandenong.

“As part of considering its merits it has decided not to proceed with this site.”

Floodplain management authority Melbourne Water’s opposition is said to have sunk the plan.

“Following early-stage consideration, Melbourne Water … notified SMCT that it was not satisfied that the proposal met the relevant planning policies, and expressed significant concerns regarding the environmental impact,” Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said.

“As a consequence, the Heatherton Road site was rightly ruled out.”

Ms Williams said this showed “the process working as it should”.

“I’m very pleased that the environmental significance of this area has been recognised.”

Greater Dandenong Council, residents and community groups fiercely criticised the proposal when it was revealed in Star Journal in February.

Concerns included the loss of open space, environmental impacts and flood risks.

Mayor Jim Memeti said the outcome was expected, once the site’s owner Melbourne Water appeared to not support the plan.

“The community was against the proposal, the council was against the proposal, and I think the right decision was made not to proceed with it.”

Councillor Rhonda Garad said it was a “victory for the little people”.

“This is what can happen when the community and the council is aligned and speak up.

“From the get-go, this (proposal) was clearly not a good idea from any perspective.”

Dandenong Community Association spokesperson Silvia Mastrogiovanni’s reaction to the news was “Hallelujah”.

“Common sense has finally prevailed. How did they think a flood plain was a good place for a cemetery?”

An “ecstatic” Greens ex-councillor Matthew Kirwan said the “irresponsible” idea would have greatly increased the risk of flooding homes, as well as destroying native vegetation and habitiat.

“Dandenong shouldn’t be the target for unpopular projects on the assumption that residents will just take it - this proves that they won’t.”

The SCMT stated it would continuing to look at alternative sites in Melbourne’s South East.

A new cemetery was the only way to meet the region’s forecast needs, with Springvale Botanical Cemetery and Bunurong Memorial Park “nearing capacity” in “just over a decade”.

“SMCT has actively been looking at sites that meet its needs for the new Memorial Park.

“This includes enough land, for both burial and memorial needs; a significant proportion for green open space for community use and providing for the conservation values in keeping with SMCT’s values and community expectations.

“When a site is at the stage of consideration for purchase it will be subject to a community consultation and environmental and planning approvals.

“SMCT will keep the community updated.”

Recently, the SMCT said there were “limited” alternative sites to Heatherton Road.

A Melbourne Water spokesperson said the SCMT had “withdrawn from the discussion” about the Heatherton Road site.

“Melbourne Water will continue to remain the owner of this land.”

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Forging healthy connections Junior Melo, from South East Community Links, and Vic Health chief Sandro Demaio shake on a partnership to help re-connect young people after the solitudes of Covid lockdowns. More than 50

12551072-JW23-22

Phone 9582 4600

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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By Cam Lucadou-Wells

youths enjoyed a mix of music, dance, sport and healthy eating at a ‘Big Connect’ event in Noble Park on Tuesday 28 June.

Full story on page 6

NEWS

Housing stress doubles

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Rental and mortgage stress has more than doubled in Greater Dandenong, according to Census 2021 data released on 27 June.

Since the 2016 census, households are paying more than 10 per cent more for housing.

Rental stress stuck a third of tenant households – up from 14 per cent in 2016.

Mortgage stress also soared, striking 22 per cent of mortgagee households. The rate was just 9 per cent in 2016.

Both rates were higher than the Victorian average. Housing stress is defined by rent or mortgage payments absorbing 30 per cent or

more of household income.

In Greater Dandenong, 35 per cent of residents are renting – higher than the 29 per cent state average.

Median weekly rents rose 15 per cent from $300 to $346, with the most rent-stress in Bangholme (36 per cent), Dandenong South (48 per cent), and Dandenong (35.8 per cent).

It should be noted Dandenong South’s sample was low – just 125 people.

The most affordable rents were in Dandenong ($319 a week), Bangholme ($176), Dandenong South ($245), Eumemmerring ($323) and Noble Park ($341).

The most expensive were in Keysborough

($421) and Lyndhurst ($430).

Meanwhile, median monthly mortgage repayments in Greater Dandenong went up 11.5 per cent from $1600 to $1785.

Mortgage-stress was highest in Bangholme (32 per cent), Doveton (23.8 per cent) and Dandenong (23.7 per cent).

Median mortgage repayments were also highest in Lyndhurst and Keysborough – both $2167.

Overall, household income was up Greater Dandenong from $1168 to $1453 – still well short of the state average of $1759 and neighbouring city Casey’s $1918.

The gap between the most affluent suburb

Lyndhurst ($2446) doubled Dandenong South ($821), Eumemmerring ($1257), Dandenong ($1267) and Doveton ($1273).

The most common residence type were three-bedroom houses (down 1 per cent to 46 per cent). Townhouses were up by 1 per cent to 18 per cent, and flats down 1 per cent to 10 per cent.

In the five years between 2016-’21, Greater Dandenong’s population grew to 158,208 (up more than 6000).

Most of the growth was in Keysborough, up 4233 to 30,018. It closed in on Greater Dandenong’s largest suburbs Noble Park (32,357) and Dandenong (30,127).

Local Salvos hit hard as patch becomes busiest in south-east

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Sharon Harris putting in insulation under her home’s floorboards. 246257 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Dandenong’s Salvation Army is the busiest in the southeast as people grapple with financial stress amid increasing cost-of-living.

With many still behind financially after the lockdowns, the increasing cost-of-living has compounded hip-pocket issues giving Dandenong Salvos a waiting list for some of its services for the first time. Financial counselling is one that has increased in demand in a region that has the highest rates of homelessness in Victoria.

“There has been an expectation in the press that people are moving on from Covid-19, lockdowns particularly with the recent interest rate rises - comments have been made that Australians will have the resources to cope with this,” said Scott Smallacombe from Dandneong Salvos.

“We need to continue looking at the way we support the most vulnerable as an immediate priority and then the wider Salvation Army are seeking to address the longer term issues.

“We are part of a whole suite of services in Dandenong; we’re one cog so we encourage people to work with us and others.”

Golnaz Bakhtiari, also from Dandenong Salvos said one person she is working with was struggling with employment and finally found a job, but cannot afford the cost of petrol to get there.

She is now concerned about how long her employer will be accommodating. Her story is not an outlier in the area, but a common thread. Mr Smallacombe spoke of another person who could not find any accommodation cheaper than $90, draining most of his earnings and therefore making it difficult to break out of the cycle of financial hardship.

“Vacancy rates are so low and numbers of people applying are so high,” Mr Smallacombe said.

Dandenong Salvos’ comments come on the back of a Salvos survey that has revealed the extreme difficulties some Australians are facing to afford the most basic living expenses.

A total of 1409 anonymous participants completed the doorways emergency relief survey, of which 93 per cent were living below the poverty line, with 75 per cent saying that managing financial stress was one of their greatest challenges. Housing, utilities, food and healthcare were all identified as major issues, per the following findings.

64 per cent said not affording enough food is one of their greatest challenges 55 per cent are going without meals 60 per cent cannot afford medical or dental treatment when it is needed 30 per cent could not afford access to internet at home Salvos is calling on the Federal Labor Government to focus on the most vulnerable in society.

“As much as the practical and financial support, we want their help to bring these issues into the national conversation,” said Major Warren Elliott from Salvos Australia.

“People are going without things that are stable and normal parts of living in Australia and we want to help lift them up so they’ve can be contributing and productive members of society. “ “Both major parties talked about cost-ofliving in the lead up to the election but it can get lost in the noise around it all so hopefully going forward it’s increasingly in the national discourse.”

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Cost of living crush: Forced to choose heating or eating

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Crushed by the cost-of-living, more families are having to choose between “heating and eating” over winter, says the head of South East Community Links.

Peter McNamara, chief executive of SECL, says its emergency relief service had seen a 300 per cent rise in people needing help in the past two years.

In March-April 2020, 300 individuals and families sought aid. That’s risen to 900 in March-April 2022.

“It’s down to cost-of-living increases – food, energy, petrol, rents,” Mr McNamara says.

This was compounded by inadequate JobSeeker payments – just $46 a day, a lack of affordable housing and insecure work.

“We are seeing more and more Mums and Dads having to choose between ‘heating and eating’ over the winter period.”

Disability pensioner Sharon Harris is 2 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

caught in that very dilemma.

To make ends meet, she had already stopped turning on heaters in her Dandenong home.

Now she has to make cuts to her basic food bill, her pain-relief medications as well as outings in her car.

She told of a couple of aged-pensioners shocked by their latest electricity bill. They were now looking at cutting their pay TV service – their main source of entertainment.

“The basic necessities are now a luxury”, she says.

“How are you supposed to survive?”

The State Government announced a $250 Power Saving Bonus payment to all Victorian households from 1 July.

It requires households to visit the Government’s Victorian Energy Compare free website and compare prices from energy retailers.

Details: compare.energy.vic.gov.au

The Dandenong Salvos is the busiest in the southeast.

Picture: SUPPLIED dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Family’s deportation win

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Doveton family is “jumping for joy” after winning their last-ditch legal fight to remain together in Australia.

Administrative Appeals Tribunal member Scott Clarey on 24 June ruled that asylum seeker Mr S. Seng met the criteria for a protection visa.

He ordered the matter should be “remitted for reconsideration”.

After six years of road-blocks, Mr Seng’s battle to stay with wife Tina and seven kids is back on track.

If he lost his tribunal appeal, he would have been deported back to Cambodia – which he fled after being seriously assaulted for his political beliefs.

Mr Seng arrived in Australia on a tourist visa in 2009. He married Tina, who has four children from a previous marriage, in 2014.

Tina and the children are all Australian citizens but were prepared to join their husband and dad in Cambodia, despite the dangers and risks of persecution.

So the tribunal win brought her both shock and relief. Her kids were “jumping for joy”, she says.

“I was thinking is this true? I just feel thankful that he’s now safe here and can feel at home in Australia.

“Australia is the best place to stay, where we can live a normal life without fear.”

Mr Seng’s application had been rejected three times by the Department of Home Affairs. The most recent blow was delivered by a Home Affairs Minister delegate in April 2020.

Some of the fault lies with his bungling, disinterested migration agents in the past, Tina says.

This time, migration agent Thayhorn Yim, led the case with advice from well-known human rights barrister Julian Burnside QC. He says the evidence was “overwhelming” in Mr Seng’s favour, and likened the outcome

Jacob, Tina Kim, Nicholas, Song Seng, Justice and Aiden. 242882 to the ‘Biloela’ asylum-seeker family’s recent release from detention.

“It is great for Mr Seng and his family that they can now put the uncertainty of their future behind them,” Mr Yim said.

“They now can look forward to enjoying family time.”

A refugee must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country on the grounds of race, religion, political opinion, nationality or being a member of a particular social group.

They must be unwilling to return, and the local authority unwilling to offer protection.

Mr Clarey found that Mr Seng faced a “real chance of serious harm from the Cambodian Government” due to his political opinions.

“I am satisfied that Mr Seng is a person in respect of whom Australia has protection obligations.”

The member accepted that Mr Seng was assaulted and his business vandalized in Cambodia due to his political opposition.

And that he was violently assaulted at a party in Melbourne by a man making “politicallybased threats”.

His attacker was sentenced for the assault at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Clarey noted there was no Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade “country information report” for Cambodia.

But other sources noted the Cambodian Government “harshly represses political dissent”.

“Political dissidents and members of opposition parties can face arbitrary arrest, detention and violent attacks from the government and its supporters.”

The major opposition party the CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court of Cambodia, effectively turning Cambodia into a “one-party state”, Mr Clarey stated.

Asylum-seeker optimism

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Greater Dandenong push for councils across Australia to back its campaign for asylum seekers is being considered by a national councils body.

At an Australian Local Government Association general assembly in June, the council’s motion to endorse Back Your Neighbour was held over for consideration by the ALGA board.

The board also held over Greater Dandenong’s motion for a more consistent approach to taking refugees from danger zones.

“We saw a significant difference in how the last Government swiftly responded to the crisis in Ukraine compared to Afghanistan,” Greater Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad said.

Both motions were likely to be endorsed, she said.

The ALGA endorsed Greater Dandenong’s call for a $800 million fund over four years to help councils respond to climate change.

“We want a portion of a $200 million annual fund to assist our vulnerable to be protected against the worst climate impacts,” Cr Garad said.

The most vulnerable included people from multi-cultural backgrounds, older persons, and those with financial and housing insecurity.

The 39-council BYN campaign was formed by City of Greater Dandenong, on behalf of 100,000 asylum seekers living “in limbo”.

Some asylum-seekers have languished for up to a decade waiting for permanent protection. Some are deprived income support or work rights.

About 40 councillors attended a Back Your Neighbour informal meeting during the ALGA assembly.

“Councillors who have had contact with asylum seekers seem to be more support-

About 40 councillors, including from Greater Dandenong, at a Back Your Neighbour informal meeting at the ALGA general assembly in Canberra last month. ive and appreciative of their situation,” Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said.

He said a rural councillor told him that asylum seekers from Afghanistan were a vital part of their local workforce. And she voiced concerns about their anxiety for their imperilled families overseas.

“She told me that they want them to live in their community. We want them to be part of our community.”

Cr Memeti was hopeful that the Federal Government will enact the campaign’s four action points: access to Centrelink, Medicare and support services, replacing temporary protection visas (TPVs) with permanent visas, clearing the backlog of asylum applications and appeals overhauling the refugee determination process.

During the recent Federal election, the ALP pledged to support the scrapping of TPVs. Labor MPs had also expressed support for speeding up asylum protection applications and appeals, Cr Memeti said.

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STAR JOURNAL 3

NEWS

IN BRIEF

Fighting for reform on youth detention

By Eleanor Wilson Despite a rocky start to adulthood, Lyndhurst resident Lyanne Morel has turned her life around - and she wants other young Australians to have the same opportunities.

In 2020, Ms Morel was put in police custody on remand.

She was eventually acquitted of her charges, but said the time she spent in Frankston jail was nothing short of horrifying.

“Being in prison, especially as a first timer who had never really had any interactions with the law, was very scary,” she said.

While Ms Morel only spent one night in jail, she said it was enough to make her push for change.

The 25-year old is part of The Red Robins, a Red Cross-endorsed team who will visit Victorian Parliament on 30 June to present a Bill to Youth Parliament, with hopes it will help reform the juvenile justice system.

The Bill aims to deconstruct the current system of youth detention centres into a series of wellness centres which focus on education and rehabilitation.

“What I really observed while I was in [jail] was that a lot of the women are quite troubled; it’s quite evident they haven’t had the right support,” she said.

“I spoke firsthand to a lot of women in prison and there’s a very large portion of them that have been there before.”

Ms Morel said the Bill aimed to address certain elements the current youth justice system falls short on, particularly keeping minors in education.

“Prison currently operates to punish younger offenders rather than rehabilitate them; it’s a revolving door and becomes a second home to those that don’t receive the help they need,” she said.

“It creates bad connections and never correctly addresses the underlying issues causing the crime.”

The Red Robins’ Bill legislates to close the majority of current youth justice centres and to focus on the introduction of youth wellness centres to the effect that residents are able to continue their education and begin reintegration trips for the purpose of remaining a part of the community.

Currently, the age of criminal responsibility in Australia is 10 years old, meaning from that age, children can enter the youth justice system, isolating them from society, argued Ms Morel.

The international standard age of criminal responsibility is 14 years old.

“Prison is not the right environment for a 10-year-old,” she said.

“You’ve pulled them away from their family, all their friends and from being in school. It’s like you’ve set them up for failure.

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Speeding drug driver jailed A drug driver has been jailed after being clocked at 54 km/h over the speed limit in Dandenong South, police say.

The 31-year-old Springvale man was detected speeding at 154 km/h in the 100 km/h zone on the Western Port Highway about 3.30am on Wednesday, 29 June.

Somerville police officers intercepted the car on South Gippsland Highway.

He returned a positive drug test, with methamphetamine found in his vehicle, police say.

The man was remanded to appear in court later that day. He was jailed for two months, his car impounded and license suspended for 12 months.

Company convicted over dropped butt

Lyndhurst resident Lyanne Morel wants to reform the juvenile detention system. 285855 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS “We want to encourage them to stay on the right path, we want to give them every chance.”

To develop the proposed legislation, the team of five young Victorians referred to the successful Diagrama Foundation model from Spain, which saw alternative ‘re-education centres’ replace traditional juvenile detention centres in many countries across Europe.

The result saw recidivism rates drop to as low as 14 per cent over a period of years and proved successful in reintegrating juveniles into the community.

After tabling the Bill at Youth Parliament, it will be passed on to the Youth Governor, who will present it to Parliamentarians for further review.

“I’m quite hopeful that someone, a party or an independent will pick this up, because I do think it has incredible potential,” Ms Morel said.

By Marcus Uhe

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Teenagers from Hallam, Springvale and Narre Warren were arrested after 13 stores were broken into at a Wantirna South shopping complex early on Sunday morning, 26 June.

Knox police arrested the four males after a series of shop burglaries at a shopping centre on Burwood Highway around 1am.

It is alleged the four youths broke into the shopping centre through an area under construction, and once inside, allegedly broke into 13 stores, police say.

A 13-year-old and 14-year-old from Hallam, a 12-year-old from Springvale and a 13-yearold boy from Narre Warren were each charged with 30 offences, burglary, theft, criminal damage and bail offences.

They will face a remand application at a children’s court, police say.

A transport company has been convicted after the driver of a company car dropped a lit cigarette out of the window in Hallam.

EPA Victoria fined the unnamed company for littering after a member of the public lodged a complaint in February.

The witness provided photos, recorded the vehicle’s number plate and described the driver as part of the complaint.

They said they watched the driver drop the cigarette near the intersection of BelgraveHallam Road and Princes Highway as the car slowed for a red light about 11am on Saturday 5 February.

The company elected to have the matter heard at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court. The magistrate issued a conviction because the company failed to show up for the 16 June hearing. There was sufficient evidence to prove the littering offence.

The company was also fined $1800 and ordered to pay EPA’s costs of $406.16.

EPA has issued more than 8500 infringement notices for littering in 2020-’21.

Woman found seriously injured

The Red Robins team, from left: Shenei Meisi Penaia, Nicole Yaneza Bagatsing, Jessi Hooper, Lyanne Morel and Sam Ibrahim.

Picture: SUPPLIED

A woman in her 30s was found seriously injured at an Noble Park North intersection on Thursday, 30 June.

Investigators were called to the corner of Jacksons Road and Mathoura Court just after 9am, Victoria Police stated.

“The exact circumstances of the incident are unknown and the investigation is ongoing.”

The woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Jacksons Road was closed to traffic as part of the police investigation that morning.

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Hallam’s Helena celebrates 100 years

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Teens charged with 30 offences

It was a special day at Calvary Hallam on Tuesday 28 June as they celebrated the 100th birthday of Helena Strycharczuk.

The great-grandmother recognised the occasion with coffee and cake among fellow residents and staff at an afternoon tea.

Ms Strycharczuk was born in Karolewo, Poland, where she was one of seven children (four sisters and two brothers).

She worked on a farm, which she thought was “heaven” before migrating across the world to Australia in 1988, following the footsteps of her daughter and her brother.

Helena and her late husband, Joef, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 98, had six children together, and she has been blessed with seven grandchildren and even a few great-grandchildren.

Having worked in a private nursing home, Ms Strycharczuk now lives in the Hallam facility and quickly assumed the mantle of Rumikkub champion.

She plays every day and the fellow residents and staff cannot beat her.

Despite her age, she keeps her brain ticking through the use of her iPad, which she uses to keep up to date with family and friends, and read the news.

She credits her longevity to her devotion to God and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she was a regular attendee every Saturday morning for many years.

“I believe God looks after you,” she said.

Happy birthday to Helena Strycharczuk, who turned 100 on Tuesday 28 June. 287001 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Sam Shen was locked out of Choy’s Chinese Cuisine on 1 July.

Door shuts on Choy’s Cuisine

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Customers have vented their outrage after Dandenong Market pulled down the shutters on a 90-year-old family business.

Choy’s Chinese Cuisine is facing a legal battle to continue serving handmade spring rolls and dim sims to generations of loyal customers.

Dandenong Market management has refused to renew the stall’s lease, which expired on 30 June.

First thing on Friday 1 July, the roll-a-door was down and padlocked – with a written notice on the door ordering owner Cindy Choy to “quit the premises”.

In defiance, the owners cut the locks and fired up the woks for their lunch-time customers.

In the days before, Ms Choy was buoyed by legal advice that she was entitled to six months’ reprieve.

But at 12.30pm, Dandenong Market managers confronted Ms Choy’s husband Sam Shen at the stall, telling him he was trespassing and had no right to be there.

At the behest of managers, the business moved out before dawn the following day.

Shocked customer Lynne West, 67, told Star Journal that she was “terribly upset” by the events.

Even as a student 60 years ago, she fondly remembered Ms Choy’s uncle who started the business in the 1930’s.

“For people that have had the business for so long, let’s support them. Not close them down.

“Life’s hard enough as it is.

“The market should be thanking them for being at the market for so long.”

Meanwhile, “devastated” customer Dee Crosby said many were shaking their heads and signing a petition to save the business.

She loved Ms Choy and husband Sam Shen for their “fantastic quality” food and “the people that they are”.

“Sam is just a lovely human being. He doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.

“They’re genuine, they’re hard-working, they’ve been real features of the market.”

Ms Crosby said she remembered Ms Choy’s dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

uncle cooking dim sims in what is now the market’s deli section.

He was a trail-blazer when “there weren’t many Asian traders in the market”. He was one that introduced customers to “multicultural” food.

“I’m just pleading to the market to let (the stall) remain open into the future.

“I don’t know what the legalities are. But it just seems very unfair – this is their livelihood.

We just want them to stay open.”

Dandenong Market Pty Ltd won’t comment on the reasons for not renewing the lease – a decision communicated to Ms Choy six months ago.

According to Ms Choy, no reason was given for what is effectively her eviction – even during a face-to-face meeting with the market’s outgoing manager Jennifer Hibbs.

As recently as 2018, the couple complied with the market’s edict to buy $20,000 on a new stall fit-out, Ms Choy says.

She says she spent $200,000 relocating her market stall to its latest position a decade ago.

Even during Covid’s lean times, they never missed paying the required rent. And at the same time, they gave away meals to struggling customers.

Ms Choy started helping her uncle in the business in 1981 before later taking it over.

What she loves most about her work is the customers she’s known for up to 40 years.

“Our customers keep coming back often travelling a long way,” Ms Choy says.

“We see them as our extended family. We know most of them by name, we see them as children and as they grow up to be mothers.”

In a statement last month, Dandenong Market Pty Ltd stated it exercised its right not to offer a new lease to Ms Choy.

“DMPL has met with Ms Choy and her representative to provide further clarity around its decision.

“The specifics of the arrangement with the tenant are confidential.

“Because every commercial lease is unique, there are specific terms of the lease which are considered commercial-in-confidence.

“It is for these reasons that DMPL will not be commenting further.”

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NEWS

Youth leaders at the EPIC event. 286967

EPIC players set for volleyball. 286967

Cutting some dance moves. 286967

Moving to the new normal

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Healthy moves are being made to reconnect young people after the solitudes of Covid lockdown.

The Engage Program Inspired and Created

by Youth (EPIC) event on Tuesday 28 June was a hive of soccer, volleyball, music, dancing and lunch for more than 50 youths from Casey, Greater Dandenong and Monash.

The buzz-words were ‘connection’ and ‘belonging’ for the 12-19-year old participants.

Many were from CALD backgrounds, including new arrivals from Afghanistan.

They were joined by members of sports entities such as Melbourne City Football Club and Dandenong Volleyball.

South East Community Links, which runs EPIC, has received $250,000 in funds from VicHealth’s Big Connect funding.

As a result, EPIC will double its reach from 600 young people to 1200 in the next 18 months.

Vic Health’s Future Healthy Group executive manager Sarah Loh said there was a push to “reinvest” in young people isolated during Covid lockdowns.

Its $5 million Big Connect program aimed to help 100,000 youths make new social connections and to “get back to whatever this new normal looks like”.

In the pandemic, seven out of 10 young people stated peer connection was their most important concern, Ms Loh said.

And most parents and carers were worried about their children’s disconnection from their neighbourhood.

“We want to partner with organisations at the coal-face, whether it’s events, arts, culture, healthy food or through music, physical activity and sports.

“We’re looking for creative ways for these organisations to connect with young people.”

SECL chief executive Peter McNamara says the culturally-supportive EPIC program is designed to give young migrants and refugees a sense of belonging.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and connections that support young people to have positive networks in their local communities.

“We have been delivering the EPIC program in various forms for 10 years with support from state and local governments.

“The VicHealth funding enables us to deliver more active recreation/sport activities like today’s event here in Noble Park.”

Junior Melo, from South East Community Links and Vic Health chief executive Sandro Demaio at Noble Park. 286967

Dancing with joy at the EPIC program. 286967

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Football was on offer at the EPIC school-holiday event for more than 50 young people at Noble Park. 286967

Sunil Menon (Melbourne City FC), Sarah Loh from Future Healthy Group), Junior Melo (South East Community Links), Vic Health chief Sandro Demaio and SECL chief Peter McNamara. 286967

Vincent and Daniel from Dandenong Volleyball at the EPIC event. 286967

Census data offers snapshot of diversity in Dandenong

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong’s proud cultural diversity was confirmed in the 2021 Census data, with two-thirds of residents being born overseas.

The figure, however, slightly dipped from 64.2 per cent in 2016 to 63.4 per cent last year.

It is roughly double the rate across Victoria (35 per cent) and Australia (33 per cent).

Greater Dandenong is regarded as the nation’s most diverse municipality, home to 157 nationalities.

According to census data, overseas-born residents most commonly hailed from Vietnam (9.3 per cent), India (7.5 per cent), Cam6 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

bodia (5.5 per cent), Sri Lanka (4 per cent) and China (3 per cent).

In the suburbs of Dandenong, Doveton, Hallam and Eumemmerring, about one in 10 are born in Afghanistan.

In Lyndhurst, 19 per cent of residents were born in India.

A similar proportion of Vietnamese-born residents are in Springvale.

In Springvale South, about 15 per cent of residents were born in Cambodia, and 20 per cent in Vietnam.

Noble Park’s population includes 10 per cent born in Vietnam and 10 per cent in India.

Meanwhile, Bangholme is home to the highest rate of Australian-born residents – 59 per cent.

It also has the municipality’s oldest median age of 71 and highest rates of owning their homes outright (76 per cent).

The most common ancestries in Greater Dandenong are Chinese (12 per cent), Vietnamese (11 per cent). English (11 per cent), Australian (10 per cent) and Khmer (7 per cent).

About three-quarters of Greater Dandenong residents reported both of their parents were born overseas – compared to 41 per cent of Victorian respondents.

Just 11 per cent of residents had both parents born in Australia.

A high number of multilingual residents were also recorded. About 71 per cent of residents speak non-English languages at home.

As was the national trend, the marriage rate in Greater Dandenong dipped from 51 per cent to 48 per cent.

In Greater Dandenong, ‘No Religion’ became the most popular religious affiliation (21 per cent), plus 6.6 per cent were ‘not stated’.

About 18 per cent Identified as Catholic, 16 per cent Buddhist and 14 per cent Islam. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Cat curfew decision looms for council

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Greater Dandenong Council is investigating a cat curfew as it’s plagued by an “over-population” of feral and stray cats.

This would make it illegal for a cat to be found anywhere off its owner’s property. Other councils have imposed curfews either at night or 24-7.

The council is expected to decide on a curfew – after further research – by February.

A drawback is the council’s dismal cat registration rate, which is seen as a barrier to the cat curfew being effective.

Stray cats and dogs and unregistered animals have been identified as major challenges in the council’s draft domestic animal management plan tabled on 27 June.

As of January 2021, there were about 3500 registered cats – but that’s estimated to be only 15 per cent of the cat population in Greater Dandenong.

“Council records clearly indicate that there is an overpopulation of cats and that in the main these are un-owned ‘wild’ animals that can never be domesticated,” a council report said.

In the past four years, cat registrations have increased by 7 per cent.

But complaints about wandering cats have risen 10 per cent since 2017, to more than 600 last year. They make up 46 per cent of complaints to the council’s rangers.

More than half of the trapped cats are euthanized due to their “wild or semi-wild temperaments”.

The council is exploring to have more “semi-owned” cats re-homed, with discount microchipping and registration programs.

This sub-group of cats is defined as being reliant on being fed by humans.

They are generally not desexed, are prolific breeders, spreaders of disease and killers of wildlife.

“Further work needs to be done to strengthen community education on confinement of animals and feeding stray animals. The need for a cat curfew also requires consideration.”

Springvale resident Susan Voutier says she’s stopped vegie gardening due to being plagued by stray cats’ faeces and vomit.

Her misgurided neighbours are encouraging the roaming cats by leaving food and water outside for them.

The Hallam Senior Citizens Centre will transition into Council Management, Acting Manager of Active Communities at the City of Casey Sara Merkus said.

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Senior Citz Centre move

By Cameron Lucadou-Wells and Marcus Uhe

Max was being offered for re-homing in Greater Dandenong in 2018. 181125 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS She says the council should impose a strict cat curfew and permanent trapping program.

Currently, the onus is on residents to pay $155 to hire a cat trap for a week, Ms Voutier says. “$155 is also exorbitant for an acknowledged socio-economically disadvantaged electorate, never mind if it is refundable or not.

“Besides, the problem is now beyond such measures. Seven days is not going to cut it.”

Educating their owners is difficult due to Greater Dandenong’s culturally-diverse population, a council report stated.

“Overpopulation of cats remains a cause for concern throughout the community, in terms of the welfare of the cats, nuisance complaints and predation of wildlife.”

Some of the council’s initiatives to boost pet registration include increasing proactive park patrols and monthly microchip database cross-matching.

“Council is also of the view the current legislated process for pet registration and microchipping is duplicative and cumbersome.

“It is therefore confusing for pet owners and this can lead to lower rates of registration.”

The City of Casey have announced that the Hallam Senior Citizens Centre will now transition into council management, following the closure of the Hallam Senior Citizens Group.

Acting Manager Active Communities Sara Merkus said all existing hirers will be supported as part of the transition, with existing bookings being honoured to ensure there is no disruption to services and programs.

“The City of Casey is aware that after 45 years, the Hallam Senior Citizens Group will cease operation,” Ms Merkus said.

“Council officers are working closely with the Hallam Senior Citizens Group Committee to formally cease the group, and provide options for all current members to continue in similar programs where available at neighbouring facilities.”

Hallam Red Cross secretary Robert Read said it was a “great shame” that that the senior citizens group had closed.

“The age of people attending has increased to an age in which they’ve got problems with health.

“They’re not turning up as much as they used to, and we couldn’t get anyone on the management committee.”

‘Keen’ leadership awarded for Hallam volunteering legend

By Cam Lucadou-Wells At a spritely 94 years, Betty Keen is one of Hallam’s most enduring volunteers.

Ms Keen received a well-deserved longservice award as one of the forces behind the 43-year-old Hallam Red Cross unit on 21 June.

She’s been a member for 30 years and secretary for 20 years. She only recently stood down as secretary due to the rise of “modern technology” such as internet and email.

“They never taught me any of that at school,” she chuckles.

For years, Ms Keen had been fundraising for Red Cross appeals and causes – such as goods for flood victims and food for refugees in Australia.

She’s organised cake and plant stalls in Doveton, Hallam and Narre Warren, Trauma Teddies for young hospital-patients, bedding for house-fire victims and bus trips for members to Crown Casino and NSW. “It’s been a job I’ve enjoyed doing. We’ve had a good group of workers – I did the organising but they did the work.

“We’ll see if the girls can continue to do it.

Two or three of us are now over 90 (years old).”

She pitched in, after neighbours and friends talked her into joining more than 30 years ago.

Ms Keen has also seen many Red Cross fundraising groups in the region fall by the dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

wayside. The annual Red Cross Calling doorknocks have also become a thing of the past.

“We can’t do door-knocking anymore. We used to know of our neighbours, but these days we hardly know any of them.”

Time has also caught up with Ms Keen’s other great passion, Hallam Senior Citizens Group.

It closed down on Friday 24 June because it could no longer get enough ageing members to form a committee, she says.

Hallam Red Cross’s new secretary Robert Read says Ms Keen epitomises the closeness felt by the unit’s committee members.

Ms Keen still phones the Red Cross unit members on a near daily basis, Mr Read says.

“She’s got a lot of friends. She’s the type of person that if you have an issue, she will try to assist wherever she can.”

Mr Read paid tribute to Ms Keen’s energy and community leadership, such as helping to set up Bendigo Bank branch in Hallam.

She’s also been part of the committee-ofmanagement at Hallam Community Centre, and City of Casey groups.

“I’d say she has been very knowledgeable in the things she gets involved in.

“She has a lot of contacts in the community and works very hard. And she’s a very good speaker when she starts talking about a subject.”

Betty Keen, 94, has been a member and leader of Hallam Red Cross for 30 years. 286153 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

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NEWS

Disability disaster plan needed now

By Jonty Ralphsmith In climate disasters, research shows people with disabilities are four times more likely to die.

The vulnerability of such community members was discussed at a recent disability and climate change workshop held by council.

Disability advocates Lefa Singleton Norton, Jax Brown and Heather Lawson proposed solutions to better include people with a disability in the discussion around climate adaptation.

“The speakers shared stories of the indifferences they, their families and friends had faced during climate change events such as storms, heatwaves and subsequent power outages, Jody Bosman, Director City Planning, Design and Amenity at Greater Dandenong Council said.

“We heard from people with lived experience about the disproportionate impact climate change has on people with a disability.

“Speakers and workshop attendees discussed the lack of specific inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster planning and the lack of consideration for what disabled people will need to cope with during increasing unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.

Rhonda Garad wnats to make sure people with a disability are protected in times of climate emergency.

Picture: SUPPLIED Greater Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad was pleased that the workshop took place but said it needed to translate into concrete and clear strategies “This is what we need to be doing - we need

to be using the lens of disability to look at the impacts and put the ground level granular work in place,” she said.

“It is inevitable there will be extreme weather events and often people with a disability live in low quality housing so we need to look at how we accommodate them.”

Ms Norton said sharing knowledge and utilising resources is imperative in protecting people with a disability from the affects of climate change.

Mx Brown said during the rebuild after disasters, universal access to buildings should be embedded into the design.

Cr Garad addressed the issue at a council meeting on Tuesday 14 June.

“We know that people with a disability are more vulnerable to extreme climate events for a range of factors such as housing and a need for transport,” she said.

“What council plans are in place to make sure people with a disability are supported in the event of extreme weather events?”

Cr Garad was told that council had a vulnerable persons register, in collaboration with Victoria Police, with those people able to be contacted in emergencies to ascertain if further assistance is needed.

Rich harvest blooms from wasteland

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A former industrial warehouse yard in Springvale has transformed into a bountiful spring of fresh vegies.

On 20 June, charity Friends of Refugees formally opened its eight flourishing garden beds, which are supplying fresh food into its ‘food bank’ pantry The winter goodies include spinach, kelp, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, coriander, parsley, carrot, radish and spring onion.

FoR chief executive Sri Samy said the harvest is supplementing its offerings to asylumseekers and refugees in need.

It’s particularly timely since soaring food prices have begun to bite.

“You should see how happy people are to harvest, even just a small amount of fresh, organic food to take home and cook.

“Everyone who comes to our office is amazed at how it’s literally transformed from a wasteland space to something that can help the community.”

In partnership with not-for-profit Cultivating Community, the charity has also distributed portable, self-watering garden beds – called ‘living pods’ - to 75 families.

As part of the program, the families have taken part in workshops on how to garden in the pods. The beauty of the compact pods are that rental households can take them wherever they live.

FoR has also built portable wheelbarrowstyle garden beds for families in rental homes.

During Covid, refugees were among the hardest-hit with few welfare safety nets.

At its height, FoR supported more than 225 families with food a week – up from 80 prepandemic.

The row of flourishing garden beds. 282951 8 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak and Friends of Refugees’ Roz Blades in the vegie garden. 282951 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Community members with a friendship tree planted during the opening ceremony. 282951

Jail for stolen car racket

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Bangholme ice addict who says he was “working on” eight stolen vehicles to help settle a drug debt has been jailed.

Christopher Jerome Fernandez, 42, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to eight charges of handling stolen goods as well as making a false vehicle compliance plate.

In sentencing, Judge Justin Hannebery said police seized the vehicles from a mechanic’s workshop in Dandenong about 9am on 21 April 2021.

Fernandez, who was working there at the time, was accused of handling the stolen Ford Ranger utes, BMWs, VW Tiguans and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

It was a “significant” though unvalued amount of property, Judge Hannebery noted.

Several vehicles displayed misleading VIN numbers, which matched those from other vehicles in NSW and Queensland.

One had a falsely manufactured VIN plate and compliance stickers, and another had no number plates or compliance stickers.

In a police interview, Fernandez said he was doing work on the cars for other people but wouldn’t say who they were.

He admitted using ice and having drug debts to settle.

There was no evidence of how much money Fernandez stood to gain, his exact plans for the vehicles or if he was involved in their theft, Judge Hannebery noted.

A week before the police raid, Fernandez was found by police sleeping in the driver’s seat next to a servo in Cheltenham Road, Dandenong.

His car had false number plates, a false VIN, and was seized.

Fernandez also pleaded guilty to making a false compliance plate for a Queensland man’s Mazda SUV in 2019.

The plate featured a VIN from a similar vehicle in NSW. It was used to successfully register the SUV, which had been a statutory write-off.

In 2020, the same man requested Fernandez to get a stolen Toyota Prado “ready for VicRoads”, and Fernandez stamped a false VIN to the chassis.

The Mumbai-born former IT manager said he started using meth in 2013 in order to work late at night.

His history of criminal dishonesty was almost solely due to his ice addiction, Judge Hannebery said.

Fernandez’s prospects were “guarded” but in an encouraging sign, had previously engaged with services at Dandenong Drug Court, Judge Hannebery said.

His relapse in 2020-’21 may have been caused by his treatment being disrupted during the Covid pandemic, the judge noted.

Fernandez was jailed for six months with an 18-month community corrections order.

The supervised CCO includes 150 hours of unpaid work and drug-addiction treatment. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Musician’s most Wanted

By Jonty Ralphsmith Lucky July 15 2021 was a bright, dry day in Silverton.

That is, a regular day in the Australian outback.

Country musician Jayne Denham filmed the video for her song Wanted’ a feature song of her 2021 album by the same name on that day.

With her photographer, she made the 12 hour trek from the Blue Mountains with director Jay Seeney and a small crew in a grey Mitsubishi Pajero to get the stunning visual backdrop.

“The sunrise and sundown was incredible,” Denham said.

“It’s just miles and miles of dirt and a slight hill and it’s so secluded.”

“There were all these ruins and we were walking around town with my leather jacket and gun and gun holster so it was so cool.”

After a counter meal and beer at the country pub, Denham made it home just hours before New South Wales entered a lockdown.

The location where Australian film series ‘Mad Max’ was filmed, Silverton is a tiny locality in the New South Wales outback.

The dusty red-soil plains are the sort that are depicted on postcards, fantasised as the embodiment of Australia by overseas visitors, yet the terrain is almost unmatched across the country.

It was a long trek, but worth it for the song which she described as being “country rock meeting spaghetti western”.

To properly immerse the western style into her music, she watched western films she grew up on such as ‘The Good, the bad and the ugly’ analytically, considering how similar soundtracks could work with her vocals.

“15 years ago when I started in country, the word western was a bit of a swear word, it was

Musician Jayne Denham went to Silverton to record the music video for her song ‘Wanted’. an uncool style of music,” she recalled.

“Now with TV shows like Yellowstone, whatever is old is new, so western music is becoming modern again everyone is right into it.”

Speaking to people from different walks of life, particularly those who grew up watching western-style films helped her perfect her lyrics.

“Observation has a lot to do with song-writing; you don’t have to be an expert about it to

know enough to put it in a song.”

Existing fans will enjoy the slight deviation from her previous work because it is still onbrand, and those who don’t know her can expect a fun night.

“It is going to be a little different because the footage and video will mean it is an experience, not just a show.

“They will get a full experience of the ‘Wanted’ record.

Picture: SUPPLIED “I love being an entertainer that’s my favourite thing so we love getting the crowd involved and it will be a great night so hopefully people come along.”

Denham’s first live performance of the album in Victoria will be at the Hallam Hotel on Thursday August 4 at 7.30pm and she encourages all people to come along.

Get tickets via the following link: liveatyourlocal.com.au/event/jayne-denham-4/

Circus Royale hits town

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Circus Royale - will stage an all-new circus spectacular this school holiday at Westfield Fountain Gate.

· Friday 8 July - 4pm and 7.30pm · Saturday 9 July - 4pm and 7.30pm · Sunday 10 July - 11am and 4pm · Monday 11 July - No show · Tuesday 12 July - No show · Wednesday 13 July - 7.30pm · Thursday 14 July - 7.30pm · Friday 15 July - 7.30pm · Saturday 16 July - 4pm and 7.30pm · Sunday 17 July - 11am and 4pm PRICING: VIP: Child: $40 Adult: $50 RINGSIDE: Child: $30 Adult $40 GRANDSTAND: Child: $20 Adults: $30

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“Australia’s Premier Circus” - Circus Royale will stage an all-new circus spectacular this school holiday at Westfield Fountain Gate from June 23 to July 17.

Presented by Damian Syred, the new 2022 edition will feature new and exhilarating acts from across the globe. Starring fan favourites like the motorcycle globe of death and balancing talents on the high wire and new for 2022 our incredible stage illusions that will leave the whole audience bewildered.

The Lion Brothers direct from Columbia speed inside the spherical steel cage on motorcycles at over 80km/h with millimetre precision or balancing on the high wire with unthinkable balancing talents.

Rumah - Direct from New Zealand the balancing talents of Rumah and her chair stacking will be leaving you on the edge of your own seat.

Monchino - South American born man of mirth, endless laughter with his on-stage antics and gaggle of hilarious geese.

Cassie - Swinging high on the trapeze Cassie’s true circus glamour brings the glitz and glamour to the big top.

Other acts include High wire, wheel of steel, Spanish Web, Hoola Hoops.

SHOWTIMES: Thursday 23 June - 7.30pm Friday 24 June - 7.30pm Saturday 25 June - 4pm and 7.30pm Sunday 26 June - 11am and 4pm Monday 27 June - 11am and 4pm Tuesday 28 June - No show Wednesday 29 June - 4pm and 7.30pm Thursday 30 June - 11am and 4pm Friday 1 July - 4pm and 7.30pm Saturday 2 July - 4pm and 7.30pm Sunday 3 July - 11am and 4pm Monday 4 July - 11am and 4pm Tuesday 5 July - No show Wednesday 6 July - 4pm and 7.30pm Thursday 7 July - 11am and 4pm

Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

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STAR JOURNAL 9

NEWS

Turning plastics into oil

By Jonty Ralphsmith A Dandenong South advanced recycling company is the first in Australia to receive technology that allows for soft plastics to be converted into oil.

The BioFabrik WASTX Machine is designed so that 100 per cent of the soft plastic that goes in can come out as something that can be reused – either oil, gas or asphalt material.

There are about 50 machines worldwide and after receiving its machine earlier in the year, APR will be able to recycle one tonne per day from early July.

It will also receive another machine later in the year which has the capacity to recycle five tonnes per day.

APR receives 800 tonnes of plastic per month.

To maximise effectiveness, Logan Thorpe special projects manager at APR plastics highlighted the importance of public education.

“Giving feedback allows for the best outcome possible,” Mr Thorpe said.

“Going forward it is about how we educate people and give them feedback about how they can get involved.

“Soft plastics have a QR code so residents can get feedback that it goes to a facility to get sorted then another facility to get be processed and turned into a new product.

“Allowing them to be part of the process give the warm and fuzzy feeling that what I’ve done is being recycled so I will keep doing that.”

As Australia targets a circular economy, the machine is key as it ensures hard to recycle soft plastics are diverted from landfill and enter a supply chain where they can then be repurposed by consumers.

With mechanical recycling currently successful, Mr Thorpe emphasised that plastics emphasised that the advanced recycling

The BioFabrik WASTX technology has been lauded as a great way to support mechanical recycling. methods coming in will support – not threaten – existing recycling.

“We’re not targeting recyclables already being recycled, we’re targeting flexible packaging that have nowhere to go because it cannot be recycled in mechanical sense.

When you look at how many things are made out of plastic, you would see there is no way of slowing down plastic manufacturing, it’s in your cars, homes, offices, it’s everywhere so we need to work on how we recover and process it.”

In Australia, 3.5 million tonnes of plastic is made each year at a growing rate of 3.5 per cent.

For every kilogram of plastic put into the machine, a litre of oil is produced.

Improved recovery is reliant on collaboration within the supply chain.

“I think personally that we’re 10 years behind as a country in recycling efforts compared to Europe which has a lot more technology and processes set up over the years,” Mr Thorpe said.

“We’ll get there, everyone just needs to get in the same path and work together.”

The machine is also self-powering with the gas produced fed to the operation of the technology and therefore not causing emissions.

Picture: SUPPLIED Careful not to promote the use of soft plastics, Greens councillor Rhonda Garad said she supported the work that APR were doing This level of innovation is exactly what we need to be doing and this is something as a council we need to be supporting,” she said “We still need to be deincentivising use of plastic but given we do have this plastic that can’t be recycled it is great that Dandenong is part of the initiative so we should do whatever we can to support this technology.

“These guys are looking at waste as a resource which is what we should all be doing so all power to them.”

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Tuesday, 2 February, 2021

Second go at life

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

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Twanny Farrugia has made it his mission to

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

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

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

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sponsors of Afri-Aus Care.

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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City’s top citizen

complex grieving process for donors’ families.

“Out of one person, you have seven trans-

Affordable and Compassionate

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DANDENONG

A multi-lingual Covid information campaign is set to have a sequel.

The next instalments of the South East Community Links series are being supported with $62,000 in State funding.

The first series, starring comedian Diana Nguyen as a caped crusader, tackled anxiety about Covid-19 and third-dose vaccinations.

It reached 30,000-plus people in multiple languages across digital channels, SECL chief executive Peter McNamara said.

The next project will tackle the longerterm impacts of the pandemic and lockdowns.

“In SECL’s work with young people, we have also observed declining states of mental health and wellbeing,” Mr McNamara said..

“In particular, social connectedness, sleep and physical activity have declined leading to adverse impacts on family relationships, education and health among some youth.”

The series will promote social connec-

tions, healthy behaviours and “hope for a brighter future”.

“While this campaign is directly targeted at youth, we also see them as an important communication channel that reaches parents, siblings, relatives, friends and communities.”

In March, Mr McNamara said there was a “huge gap” in culturally-appropriate health education and vaccination services.

“Our experience shows that when information is translated and presented by community leaders, there is more trust and respect.”

The project was funded as part of the State Government’s Multicultural Communications Outreach Program, which promotes Covid-safe behaviour and recovery in multicultural communities.

“Multicultural media outlets have played a vital role ensuring everyone knows how to play their part in keeping the community safe,” Multicultural Affairs Minister Ros Spence said.

“It’s a big job – and I can’t thank them enough.” dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Besieged mosque backed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Politicians and faith leaders were united in support of a vandalised mosque in the South East.

The Baitul Salam mosque – translated as House of Peace – in Langwarrin hosted a ‘Love for all, Hatred for none’ forum on Friday 24 June, in wake of a group’s alleged attack the weekend before.

In a bipartisan show of support, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, Liberal MPs Brad Battin, Neil Angus and candidates, Frankston councillor Brad Hill and Labor MP Paul Edbrooke attended.

Also there were Rabbi Yaakov Glasman from the Jewish community, Reverend Alexander Yule from the Uniting Church and Jasbir Singh from the Victorian Sikh Council.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association spokesperson Aziz Bhatti said the show of support meant much after several acts of vandalism and assaults against the mosque in recent years.

“The political and religious leadership of Victoria proved that we united against hate, and against any attacks on places of worship.

“An attack on one place of worship is an attack on everyone.”

There was also an “overwhelming” response from the wider community, Mr Bhatti said.

“With this kind of leadership, anyone who thinks of attacking a place of worship or trying to create fear or hate will be discouraged.

“We need to stand up to these people.”

Last week, Victoria Police arrested and charged eight men with burglary and trespass over the incident on Sunday 19 June.

They include one aged 62, two aged 18 and five aged 19.

The mosque’s imam Wadood Janud has stated that the community would invite the offenders back, to inform them about their faith.

Rabbi Yaakov Glasman and Imam Syed Wadood Janud at the Langwarrin mosque on 24 June.

Faith leaders show support for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy at the solidarity event.

Jasbir Singh, of the Victorian Sikh Council.

In Parliament on 21 June, MP Brad Battin in support of the Ahmadiyya association said: “One of the greatest things I have done is to

“I invite more people to go and learn about that so we have less of this ignorance in our community.”

learn and educate by going to some of these mosques, as well as the Islamic museum, to understand the Muslim faith more.

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

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STAR JOURNAL 11

LOOKING BACK

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

100 years ago 6 July 1922 News in brief •฀The฀Nationalists฀at฀their฀meeting฀last฀week฀ were฀very฀pronounced฀in฀their฀loyalty฀to฀Mr฀ Hughes฀as฀their฀leader฀and฀ended฀up฀singing฀“For฀he’s฀a฀jolly฀good฀fellow.”

•฀The฀Block฀Arcade฀Melbourne฀was฀sold฀last฀ week฀for฀£232,500.

•฀The฀British฀Government฀has฀decided฀to฀defend฀Ulster฀against฀any฀Southern฀invasion,฀ at฀all฀costs.

•฀About฀75,000฀medals฀are฀on฀hand฀at฀the฀ Victorian฀ Barrack’s,฀ Melbourne฀ awaiting฀ to฀ be฀distributed฀to฀returned฀soldiers.

•฀ Australia฀ House฀ London,฀ has฀ made฀ provision฀ to฀ handle฀ 100,000฀ immigrants฀ annually฀when฀Australia฀is฀ready฀for฀them •฀The฀British฀Labor฀conference฀has฀decided฀ against฀the฀Russian฀Soviet฀form฀of฀government฀and฀communism,฀on฀the฀ground฀that฀ they฀are฀antagonistic฀to฀the฀best฀instincts฀ of฀ humanity฀ and฀ the฀ progress฀ of฀ democracy.

50 years ago 4 July 1972 Datsun 120Y is honest little car Datsun’s฀1200฀coupe฀is฀hardly฀new฀in฀Australian฀ motoring฀ scene,฀ but฀ it’s฀ still฀ one฀ of฀ the฀ prettiest฀little฀coupes฀around.฀Its฀appeal฀lies฀ in฀its฀classic฀simplicity฀of฀design฀and฀honest฀ efficiency.฀It฀fits฀with฀the฀needs฀of฀city฀motorists฀and฀has฀the฀comfort฀and฀speed฀to฀make฀ it฀a฀handy฀cruiser.฀At฀$2,635,฀the฀coupe฀follows฀the฀Japanese฀tendency฀to฀provide฀plenty฀ for฀money,฀such฀as฀reclining฀seats,฀good฀carpet,฀a฀radio,฀disc฀brakes,฀and฀radial฀tyres฀as฀ standard.

20 years ago 1 July 2002 Words, no result Greater฀ Dandenong฀ Council฀ has฀ signed฀ an฀ agreement฀ to฀ develop฀ trade฀ opportunities฀ with฀ Xuzhou,฀ its฀ Chinese฀ sister฀ city,฀ despite฀ not฀one฀job฀or฀contract฀being฀created฀in฀the฀ controversial฀program’s฀nine-year฀history.฀The฀

DandyFresh฀CEO฀Rod฀Kerley฀at฀the฀Bangholme฀site฀in฀March฀last฀year.

trade฀agreement฀followed฀a฀trip฀to฀Xuzhou฀in฀ April฀by฀mayor฀Paul฀Donovan,฀the฀council฀economic฀development฀unit฀manager฀Rod฀Shell,฀ and฀city฀development฀manager฀Mal฀Baker฀and฀ members฀ of฀ local฀ businesses.฀ A฀ report฀ by฀ the฀ mayor฀ and฀ two฀ council฀ officers฀ revealed฀ there฀ had฀ been฀ no฀ firm฀ offers฀ from฀ the฀ trip.฀ The฀ report฀ estimated฀ the฀ trip’s฀ cost฀ to฀ ratepayers฀was฀$13,400฀for฀airfares฀accommodation฀and฀other฀incidental฀expenditure฀for฀the฀ mayor฀ and฀ the฀ two฀ council฀ officers.฀ “I฀ went฀ over฀ there฀ (to฀ Xuzhou)฀ to฀ try฀ and฀ see฀ if฀ the฀ program฀ is฀ worthwhile฀ and฀ to฀ develop฀ some฀

specific฀spin-offs฀for฀our฀city,”฀Donavan฀said.฀ green฀wedge-zoned฀land฀in฀Harwood฀Road฀at฀ “If฀this฀is฀not฀possible,฀we฀need฀to฀reconsider฀ their฀ Monday฀ 26฀ June฀ council฀ meeting,฀ six฀ votes฀ to฀ two.฀ But฀ Cr฀ Matthew฀ Kirwan,฀ who฀ the฀relationship.” voted฀against฀the฀proposal฀with฀Cr฀Loi฀Truong,฀ 5 years ago lodged฀a฀rescission฀motion฀that฀will฀bring฀the฀ 1 July 2017 matter฀back฀to฀the฀Monday฀10฀July฀meeting.฀ He’ll฀ask฀councillors฀to฀take฀back฀their฀deciJobs up in the air sion฀and฀re-debate฀it฀this฀time฀around.฀“The฀ A฀ Bangholme฀ produce฀ market฀ that฀ could฀ officer’s฀ report฀ provided฀ flimsy฀ justification฀ generate฀ 200฀ jobs฀ got฀ the฀ green฀ light฀ form฀ and฀special฀treatment฀for฀a฀large-scale฀comGreater฀ Dandenong฀ Councillors฀ –฀ but฀ imme- mercial฀food฀enterprise฀that฀should฀be฀in฀an฀ diately฀ arrived฀ at฀ a฀ stop฀ sign.฀ Councillors฀ industrial฀zone,฀not฀a฀green฀wedge฀zone,”฀Cr฀ approved฀ the฀ Dandy฀ Fresh฀ development฀ for฀ Kirwan฀said.

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NEWS

Dig Deep for mental health

By Jonty Ralphsmith A Keysborough event attracted 5000 people on Sunday, 29 May with $100,000s raised to go towards mental health charity beyond blue.

Organised by CRE group, the family fun day - Dig Deep - was two years in the making with the idea formulated during the lockdowns of 2020 by co-founders of Dig Deep Michael Harding and Patrick Doheny.

Mental illness is a significant issue in the construction industry with one person committing suicide every two days, on average, according to figures by the Australian Men’s Health Forum.

Amid much societal discussion about workplace safety at construction sites, workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than workplace accidents.

“Our target was to reach out to that individual and show that it is okay to talk out and reach to the support systems,” he said.

“One thing I have learned from this is there are lots of people that want to help, but it is very difficult to get engagement from the individual because it is so personal and hard to get people to seek the support.”

Ten construction companies came together to raise awareness about men’s mental health and destigmatise the notion of reaching out.

“The support that this event has got shows that people are there and want to help if those suffering speak up.”

Mr Harding expressed thanks to Beyond Blue for their ongoing support of people in the construction industry as well the Serbian Sports Centre and Gaelic Athletic Association who provided the venue in Keysborough.

Several companies also offered services such as event management and equipment for the event pro-bono to increase the money directed to Beyond Blue.

NEW

Co-founder Michael Harding said the event was successful.

Mr Harding estimates about $350,000 was raised on the day, with tickets costing $18.50 and 25 exhibitors showing off their latest technology.

There was also food and entertainment and a kids’ area, but the trademark event was the William Adams Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge.

The event sees equipment operators face

off in a test of agility, speed and accuracy to crown the best in Australia.

That went – coincidentally – to Mr Doheny who will now go to Japan to compete on the global stage.

After Sunday’s success, there is cause for optimism that another event could be held in the next couple of years as Dig Deep targets a sum of $1 million to go towards Beyond Blue.

Picture: SUPPLIED “It was a phenomenal result, it was abolsutely massive. We didn’t want to run an event where the funding would just breakeven and the funds we received were massive.

“But it was also about raising awareness about the issue which I think we all did: keep digging and keep talking.”

Mr Harding also wished to thank the exhibitors and sponsors.

and sports balls that float

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Wyndham to enter an residents are being invited which aims amateur photo comp to showcase etition toget

By Cam Luca

dou-Wells

her durin how local A quick-thin s came Non-profi g the COVID-19 driver out king hero who pulled a for Australast group, Bridge Buildpandemic. nong Southof her burning vehicle in dazed Wyndham ia (BBFA), is runn ers tion for Bravehas been awar ing the ded a Com DandeConduct.

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The partnership between the trustee for the Matthew Dennis Trust, the trustee for the Luke Marget Trust, the trustee for the B.M & S.L Dennis Superannuation Fund and the trustee for the C A. & J.A. Marget Retirement Fund, previously carrying on business under the business name LMBB Partnership ABN 40 716 229 976 in the district of Dandenong Victoria, was dissolved on 30 June 2022.

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WHAT’S ON Photography comp Every year Greater Dandenong City Council produces a Community Calendar for residents which features photos taken in our municipality.

Residents can submit photos taken in their local community to win cash prizes and feature in our 2023 calendar. All photos chosen to appear in the calendar will also feature in an exhibition at the Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre later this year. Photos can be of architecture, outdoor space or something different that captures your imagination.

Prizes are $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.

Submissions close on Friday 16 September.

Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/photography-competition

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A Floral Muse Exhibition: An opportunity to admire the beauty of the decorative use of flowers and plants to embellish home furnishings, create amazing public spaces and to learn plant symbolic cultural meanings.

Date and time: weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, starting from Tuesday 10 May, 10:00am. Location: Benga, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens - 66 McCrae St, Dandenong.

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Conversation circle Join the Conversation Circle at Dandenong Library and make new friends whilst practising English in a friendly, relaxed and safe environment. This program is suitable for adults. Low to intermediate levels of English language skills are required.

When: Every Thursday during school terms 6-7.30pm.

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English for Work classes at Chisholm Skills Kids Cooking Classes: What: Armada Dandenong Plaza is calling all mini master chefs to guess the ingredients and then create a different tasty dish every day on the second week of

Jobs Victoria Advocate Drop-in employment information Monday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Springvale Library; Wednesday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Dandenong Library; every Thursday fortnight at CoCO’S, 2-3/48 McCrae Street Dandenong; Tuesday and Friday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Springvale Learning & Activities Centre.

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ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number.

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

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STAR JOURNAL 17

SPORT

The moment Amber Clarke ‘won’t ever forget’.

Pictures: MICHAEL WILSON/AFL MEDIA

Mack Eardley was an in demand selection last Wednesday.

Clarke reaps AFLW reward

By Tyler Lewis To escape the hysteria ahead of the AFLW Draft, Amber Clarke sought solace at the place in which it all began.

The former Dandenong Stingray went down to her local footy ground – the home of the Narre North Foxes – to clear her mind and to ultimately avoid overthinking the lifechanging night ahead.

And though gracing the old patch was a brilliant plan, Clarke revealed it only postponed the eventual tidal wave of nerves before the unforgettable night.

“It was all amazing, I was so nervous for it all,” she said.

“But getting up there, getting presented the jumper by the coach and Maddie… oh, it was just something I won’t ever forget.”

With the first three picks of the Victorian zone of the draft being with Hawthorn and Essendon, Clarke felt one of those clubs could be her new home.

And ironically, the Bombers and the Hawks have unknowingly fought for Clarke before.

“There were lots of rumours that I was going to either the Hawks or Essendon,” she said.

“Obviously there was no guarantee with that, but I had that maybe in the back of my mind that it could be one of those.

“When I heard Essendon call my name out, I was so excited for that.

“When I was really young, I actually went for Essendon, and then when I moved to Rowville (Sports Academy) in year seven I switched to Hawthorn because my school is associated with them.

“I got a tour of their place and met a few of the players… but I’ll have to go back to the Bombers now.”

In the wake of receiving that first Essendon jumper, Clarke reflected on the endless list of inspirations that drove her to that point.

At the very top of the list – of course – is mum and dad, Pauline and Rod, who have quite literally driven her.

“My parents have been an amazing support network,” she said. “(they’ve been) Taking me to training, to games, running me around everywhere and always supporting me.

“At the Stingrays, all the coaches have been amazing: the line coaches, the strength and

conditioning, the media, everyone there have been amazing – obviously Coxy (Nick Cox) oversees it all, so he is incredible, he will always be one of my favourite coaches.

“Even my school coaches that have helped me since year seven, they have helped me until now and I couldn’t be more grateful and thankful of them.”

While many AFL draftees have completed studies and have nothing but footy to focus on when their name is called, Clarke is now engulfed in an important balance for the next four months, but she is supremely confident she can steadily juggle both.

“I’m in the first week of (school) holidays at the moment, so I will start term three in a week or so,” she said.

“When that’s done the season will have started, so I will also have exams later in the year, I will be managing studying, exam prep and balancing training as well.

“I think I will be able to do it pretty well, because I have been able to do it pretty well so far this year.

“I have always wanted to be a paramedic, so I have always had that in the back of my mind – potentially going to uni next year and study

paramedicine – that could be an option next year.

“I have also thought about becoming a tradie, being a carpenter or something, but I am not 100 per cent sure what I want to do yet, but paramedic is still definitely in my mind.”

When that juggling act begins, her aim at training will be simple: Make an immediate impact!

“I think it will be similar to VFL,” she said of the step up.

“Stepping into the VFL, I was quite nervous because the girls are a lot older, some of them are nearly 30 – it was pretty daunting stepping in as a 17-year-old.

“But I am excited to get into it, get around all the girls, get to know them, show them who I am and how I play.”

Clarke was shortly followed into the now 18-team competition by four Dandenong Stingrays teammates: Mack Eardley (Hawthorn, pick 6), Taylah Gatt (North Melbourne, pick 28), Charley Ryan (Richmond, pick 38) and Charlotte Blair (Collingwood, pick 56) all deservedly made their way into the AFLW.

Keysborough’s Kookaburra

By Tyler Lewis Nathan Ephraums is looking forward to the atmosphere and the chance to win gold when he competes in his debut Commonwealth Games later this month.

The 23-year-old out of Keysborough was running up and down the hockey field from the moment he could walk, and it’s those early moments he feels has steered him to donning the green and gold.

“For me it pretty easy, dad was always coaching when I was growing up so I was always around it,” he said of his introduction to hockey.

“I took a knack for it and continued from there, I was about three or four when I was running around with a hockey stick so I have always been around hockey and I think that has held me in good stead.

“Josh (his brother) was able to play some pretty high level hockey… there was definitely a fair bit of competition growing up in the backyard.

“Because I was the younger one, dad always played on my team, it was always two on one, I think that helped me become a bit more of a striker and him a defender – it always got a bit fiery.”

Ephraums made the shift from his Melbourne club to Perth on the cusp of a turbulent time.

And while missing the eventual Olympic Games, Ephraums admits the extra 12 months helped him solidify a platform to ‘launch’ from.

“I moved over at the start of 2020, or the 18 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2022

end of the 2019, so that entire period was a bit frantic with the games being cancelled and Covid,” he said.

“But since moving back over I have been able to have a really settled period of about 18 months, I narrowly missed out on the Olympics, but I think that extra 12 months has given me a good platform to launch into selection I guess.

“In terms of really developing, getting to the next level and then the Kookaburra’s – definitely at club level, it has helped me springboard.

“That’s gone a long way to helping my performance.”

The Kookaburra’s culture inspired many at a difficult time last year, when the Men’s Hockey side made it all the way to the gold medal match with Belgium.

Ephraums revealed what drives that famous Kookaburra culture.

“I think our Kookaburra’s culture is driven by mateship,” he said.

“Not only having a good group of friends that you can have a good hit around with on the hockey field, but go out for coffee, hang out as a group and just really being a tight knit group of friends.

“We always talk about our daily training environment being our strongest drivers, but we love going on tour because we get to spend that extra bit of time together, that we don’t always get at home.

“We all get along really well and it helps us on the hockey field.”

Nathan Ephraums will make his debut for the Kookaburras at the Birmingham Commonwealth Picture: AAP IMAGES Games. 288217 The Kookaburra’s suffered a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of Belgium in the Tokyo 2021 gold medal match, with the European powerhouse holding their nerve in a shoot-out.

But with neither Belgium nor Germany competing in the Commonwealth Games, Ephraums believes the expectation is nothing short of gold.

“There is a bit of a different group to what we usually play against,” he said.

“We miss out on playing those European teams in the Commonwealth Games and it’s

been spoken about, we’ve had a pretty good run at the Com Games, I think we’ve won the last six.

“We are definitely going over there to win and we have the expectation of winning, but as well we have eight debutants, so at the end of the day it’s all just new guys that get their crack at winning a gold medal.”

The reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalists will begin their title defence in Birmingham with a match-up against Scotland, before facing the nation in which they beat for gold back in 2018, New Zealand. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Mid-season rule change hits football

Dandenong had a tough time of things on a trip to Tasmania on the weekend. 288212

Picture: DANDENONG RANGERS FACEBOOK

A Rangers wipeout

By David Nagel The Dandenong Rangers may have some extra frequent-flyer points in their back pocket but that’s about the end of the positives after being clean-sweeped in Tasmania on the weekend.

Round 10 of the NBL-One South season saw the Rangers men’s and women’s teams fly across Bass Strait in search of some crucial victories.

The Rangers men’s team hit the court against the Hobart Chargers on Friday night and after a promising start were blown away by the locals in the second half.

The Rangers trailed by just three points at quarter time, and by four at the half, but failed to gain traction in the second stanza on their way to a 107-80 defeat.

The Rangers were well-served by Deng Puoch (18 points) and Calvin Enge (12 points), while Dyson King-Hawea continued to be a shining light with a 16-point, 11-rebound, double-double.

But the story of the night was at the defensive end of the court, where the Rangers had no answer to the scoring power of Chargers’ duo Harry Froling (28 points) and Ole Anger-

stein (25 points).

The Rangers then headed to the Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday night for a clash against North West Tasmania.

Dandenong was once again up for the battle in the early stages of the contest but fell away badly leading into half time.

The Thunder took control of proceedings in the second term, scoring 24-15, and were never headed from that point forward.

Regular figures once again shined for the Rangers, with Puoch (15 points) and KingHawea (14) scoring most heavily and Lawson Eales (12) also making a solid contribution.

Enge was also impressive, hitting the boards at both ends to drag in 11 rebounds.

The Rangers, currently 16th in the 19-team competition, host eighth-placed Kilsyth this week at 8pm on Saturday.

The Dandenong women’s team also took on the Chargers on Friday night with a very similar result to the men.

After being competitive early the Rangers fell behind in the second and third quarters to trail 59-44 at the final break.

Full credit to the Rangers for fighting things out – they won the last-quarter 20-18 – but the 77-64 final score gives an indication of the local’s dominance.

Gemma Potter (24 points) and Clare Camac (21) were terrific for Dandenong, but they lacked the support to get the job done.

The Rangers then ran into a storm at the Elphin Sports Stadium on Saturday night, being blown away 91-65 by the Launceston Tornadoes.

The trip to ‘Launie’ didn’t begin well for the Rangers, who were blown away early with a 32-8 first term.

Dandenong lost the remaining three quarters by just two points…but the Tornado damage had well and truly been done.

Camac once again stood out for the Rangers, scoring 17 points from her full-40 minutes on the floor, while Makaela Zeldenryk (15 points), Maxine Allan (11), Georgia Taylor (10) and Maddison Zugna (10) all chimed in with double-figure scoring performances.

The Rangers, currently 17th, also host the Kilsyth Cobras on Saturday night, beginning at 6pm.

A mid-season rule change has taken place.

The AFL has written to clubs, communicating an adjustment to the Protected Area 50m penalty adjudication.

The rule has always permitted a defending player to accompany their opponent into the protected area, provided they’re within two metres of each other.

In the instance of a split of defender and opponent, there will no longer be a 50m penalty awarded.

The defender still needs to vacate the protected space immediately and not delay nor linger.

AFL Head of Umpiring Dan Richardson revealed the adjustment is set to come into play immediately.

“The protected area rule is designed for the kicker to have options to move the ball,” he said.

“It is having the desired effect, however there have been more and more instances of players deliberately running their opponent into the zone with the intention of getting split and / or drawing a 50m penalty.

“If this ‘split’ of players happens, providing the defender moves to vacate the area, the umpires have been instructed to no longer apply a 50m penalty.

“Feedback is important, and we continually listen to a whole range of stakeholders, and this clarification will provide opportunity for the rule to be applied as intended.”

The rule comes as an additional hurdle to community umpires who are facing a shortage of staff.

In some leagues, such as Eastern and Outer East, a 25m penalty is the sanction for Protected Area and Dissent infringements.

More rule changes for the umpires...

287192 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Mepunga Warrior immense in McKenna Memorial Heat

By Luke Corda Mepunga Warrior stole the show on Thursday night at Sandown with a dominant victory in the final Group 2 McKenna Memorial Heat.

The versatile sprinter was away fast from Box 2 and settled in sweetly behind Hill Top Jack with a lap to go. From there he hounded Hill Top Jack along the back straight before swiftly hopping to his outside and overpowering him to win by 4.25 lengths.

The time was a slick 33.98s – the quickest of the Heats.

Mepunga Warrior’s consistency is becoming a marvel. Of his past eight starts he has missed a placing just once – all in quality fields with a mixed bag of box draws.

Despite failing to hold on for victory, Hill Top Jack’s second place was enough to secure a spot in the Final.

The pair will jump from the wide boxes next week – Mepunga Warrior in Box 7, Hill dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Top Jack in Box 8.

Stout Monelli was a brilliant 34.06s winner in the opening Heat despite it being his first go at the track. His triumphant habits know no boundaries as the WA and SA star looks to snag Group success in Victoria.

Riccarton Rick overcame a Box 4 draw and held second position for the entirety of the race, punching a ticket to the Final. Aston Ulysses powered home as the fastest third place finisher of the Heats and also progressed – much to the delight of a relieved Paul Abela on track.

Rufus Scrimgeour caused a boilover in the second Heat, bursting through from Box 4 before pinching victory along the fence over Xinmin Bale. He was a large $26 to win with TAB. The Cockerell family weren’t in attendance but Lisa’s mother, Marlene, was over the moon and showered Rufus Scrimgeour with love.

Tuesday, 5 July, 2022 | STAR JOURNAL 19

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