News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 15th December 2022

PAKENHAM OFFICER

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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Make this festive season extra special by shopping locally for all your gifts, foods and entertainment. Dive into our 12-page Christmas Cheer wrap for plenty of ideas to cater for the entire family this year.

Pictured: Santa at Pakenham Central Marketplace.

BOOKINGS REQUIRED

Santa Photos by Scene to Believe Photography 11:00am - 3:00pm Daily until Xmas Eve* *Hours increase closer to Xmas. Bookings Required, see website for photo session times.

EACH CHILD RECEIVES A GIFT*

Visit www.pakenhamcentralmarketplace.com.au to book your place pakenhamcentralmarketplace

50-54 John St

www.pakenhamcentralmarketplace.com.au

Pakenham, Victoria

12580605-SN50-22

GET YOUR PHOTO WITH

CHRISTMAS CHEER

Boutique cafe serves up a treat in Garfield

The staff at Country Style Meats, Garfield will be able to help you out with any of your Christmas meats.

Little Miss Hangry specialises in local ingredients with a seasonal menu. 259969

Fine, fresh and tasty!

Are you looking for the finest, freshest and tastiest meat in Garfield and the surrounding area?

Look no further than Country Style Meats, where quality and freshness are the top priority.

Sourcing only from Australian farmers who

practise ethical farming methods and treat animals with care and respect.

These trusted suppliers share a passion for providing top quality meat. They are situated at 89 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road, Garfield.

Phone 5629 2593 or visit countrystylemeats. com.au

Treat yourself to breakfast, brunch or lunch, six days a week at Little Miss Hangry, a boutique cafe at Garfield set in a converted cottage.

Your shopping destination Fill your stockings - and your table - with everything you need at Pakenham Central Marketplace this Christmas!

Come and see Santa, shop for longer and enjoy a break on us over the festive season!

With Woolworths and Big W plus a huge range of stores and food options, make Pakenham Central Marketplace your one stop Christmas shopping and family fun destination!

Pakenham Central Marketplace is proud to support The Smith Family Toy and Book Appeal in 2022.

It’s been a challenging year for many Australians but together, we can help bring Christmas joy to children in need.

This year, The Smith Family will once again provide a $30 digital gift voucher to each child they support - so please join us to help families make sure their children have a

At Pakenham Central Marketplace, Santa with five-year-old Olivia from Officer. 310522 gift to open this Christmas morning.

We kindly ask you make a direct donation to our Virtual Christmas Tree and watch your gift appear underneath like magic!

At Pakenham Central Marketplace, 11-month-old Paityn with Santa. 310522

Merry Christmas from all of us.

Gippsland’s Finest

COUNTRY STYLE MEATS BUTCHER & SMOKEHOUSE

MITCH, KRIS, AND THE TEAM AT LITTLE MISS HANGRY WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Voted Number 1 for Ham in Victoria Voted Best Polish Sausage Orders being taken now for all your Christmas Meats.

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89 MAIN STREET, GARFIELD • 03 56 292 593 • Free Home delivery Closing at 4 pm Christmas Eve Sat. 24th. December

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND INTO NEXT. OUR LAST TRADING DAY OF 2022 WILL BE FRIDAY 23RD DECEMBER AND WE WILL BE REOPENING ON WEDNESDAY 11th JANUARY 2023 #newsummermenuincoming2023 Find us at 101 A Nar Nar Goon - Longwarry Road, Garfield

Open Mon-Fri 7am - 6.30pm • Sat 7am - 1pm 2W STAR NEWS

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@littlemisshangry_

Little Miss Hangry Cafe

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Join in the Christmas carols Emerald Carols by the Lake Emerald Lake Park, Emerald Lake Road, Emerald Friday 16 December, 6pm to 10pm

Saturday, 17 December, 7.30pm Cranbourne Carols Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Sunday, 18 December, 6pm to 8.30pm

A Lang Lang Golf Club member teeing off.

Garfield Christmas Festival Main Street, Garfield Friday, 16 December, 4pm to 9pm

Top course

Hampton Park Carols Cairns Road Reserve Friday, 16 December, 6.30pm to 10pm

Carols by the Creek Bob Burgess Reserve, Beaconsfield (Old Princes Highway opposite Beaconsfield Park) Sunday, 18 December, 7pm to 11pm

Surrounded by scenic forest landscapes and native wildlife, Lang Lang Golf Club has been described as a hidden gem.

The 18-hole Lang Lang Golf Club is ranked number one in the South Gippsland District.

The layout is a very challenging par 70, with narrow couch fairways and slick, true putting surfaces. The course is built on a sand belt, which allows for optimal natural drainage so the course is playable all year round.

Lang Lang is a semi private golf course that welcomes visitors from all calibres of skill level:

from those who like to take their golf seriously to those who enjoy a social hit with friends, all are welcome.

The Club has 20 motorized ride on golf carts for hire. Bookings are required on all days and a driver must be over 18 years old.

Only a 25 minute drive from Cranbourne or Pakenham, Lang Lang Golf Club is guaranteed to provide an enjoyable and memorable golfing experience.

Lang Lang Golf Course is located at 90 Golf Club Road, Lang Lang. Phone 5659 6284.

Carols by Twilight Max Pawsey Reserve Saturday, 24 December, 4.30pm to 9.30pm

Christmas on the Foreshore Tooradin Foreshore (includes fireworks) Friday, 16 December, 6pm to 10pm

Upper Beaconsfield Carols in the Park Keith Ewenson Park, 8 Salisbury Rd, Beaconsfield Upper Saturday, 24 December, 6pm to 9.30pm

Gethsemane Clyde Carols Online

Dignity and compassion

Rod and Jennie from Roylaines Photo & Electronics are in store to help this Christmas.

Framing, prints, gifts and more Lang Lang District Funeral Service.

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

through - that’s why they’re there for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Phone 0418 328 205 or visit lldfs.com.au

committed to providing high quality products, specialising in film processing, framing, print photo gifts and a Jaycar Electronics stockist.

They have gifts galore in store, all centrally located at 148 Main Street, Pakenham.

Give the gift of Golf this Christmas For the Golf enthusiast in your life, we have Memberships available for all age groups.

Gift Vouchers also available.

Proudly servicing the community for 29 years

Have a business? Corporate membership available.

Merry Christmas from Rob, Family & Team.

177 Lonsdale St, Dandenong Ph: 9792 5188 CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-5pm Sun 9am-5pm

90 Golf Club Rd Lang Lang, 3984 12582176-KJ50-22

Lang Lang District Funeral Services Our Story We are a dedicated team of compassionate death care professionals.

Our team has over 45 years of combined experience in the funeral industry.

We take care of your deceased loved one from pick up to preparation and to their final resting place. Our service is personalised to respect and take care at every step of the journey.

Celebrate the life of your loved one the way you want.

Make it personal at home, a park, the beach or another special place - create a send off to remember.

Our mission Our mission is to provide your loved one with the respect, love and dignity they deserve following their passing, treating them as if they were our own family member - ensuring remaining family and friends are able to celebrate and remember their loved one free from stress and worry.

Our vision Our vision is to celebrate life as it was, remembering the good times and providing a tailored farewell for your loved ones.

The Lang Lang District Funeral Service team sincerely cares about what you’re going

Memories are made around Christmas and the team from Roylaines Photo & Electronics are dedicated to helping you capture those special memories for years to come.

With a wealth of knowledge, the team are

03 5659 6284 llgc@bigpond.com Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Refuel at Brewsters Cafe Call into Brewsters Cafe at Garfield while Christmas shopping to refuel with delicious coffee and cake.

Arts Project Officer Gabby Fisher hopes the exhibition will bring the pre-Christmas spirit to local families.

Into the spirit Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 148 Main Street, Pakenham - 03 5941 1562 16 Smith Street Warragul - 03 5623 4255 12525297-DL49-21

Cardinia Cultural Centre’s Gallery is turning into a Christmas wonderland!

The ‘Capture Claus’ exhibition will be on display, which features an awesome animation for kids to interact with as well as a sea of quirky Christmas trees.

Capture Claus is an animation that encourages kids to travel to the North Pole with a boisterous elf to help him find Santa and his lost items before Christmas Eve is over.

This animation was created by local aspiring screenwriter and film director Harrison Rook, who also dabbles in both 2D and 3D animation.

The front of the gallery also contains alternative Christmas trees created by community

members and groups, where they upcycled discarded items and utilised anything but a Christmas tree.

Arts Project Officer Gabby Fisher hopes the exhibition will bring the pre-Christmas spirit to local families.

“Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spirit of things than to enjoy the creations of our talented local artists,” Gabby said.

This exhibition is available to see from Friday 2 December to Friday 23 December, Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

For more information on what’s happening at CCC, visit cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au

CARDINIA WATERS VILLAGE

Villa 279

Villa 64

Villa 79

$480K $440K $300K 2

Freecall 1800 112 955

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2

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Price correct at publication date.

From time to time selected refurbished villas become available for sale to new residents of Cardinia Waters Village.

Call Beau to inspect the villas, tour the village and to discuss your retirement future in this friendly and welcoming community.

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Established homes 36–40 Racecourse Rd Pakenham cardiniawaters.com.au

For more information about our range of retirement communities, visit: rcavillages.com.au 4W STAR NEWS

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Latest styles Christmas is around the corner and that means so is the silly season, full of delicious food, warmer weather and lots of social activities that you’ll want to look your best for.

For beautiful transformations, unbeatable knowledge and wonderfully friendly service, Vogue Station has now opened in Officer and is taking on new clients.

Owner Inderjit Kaur has been passionate about hairdressing since she was young and with over 15 years’ experience, she loves nothing more than helping her clients achieve their hair and beauty goals.

Vastly experienced in cutting and colouring, she’s passionate in problem solving and can help with so much more than styling, but combats hair loss too, helping clients gain back their self confidence.

Ms Kaur loves that the industry is ever evolving and that there’s always something new to learn, keeping her staff up to date on latest practices and the best products.

Stylists are experienced in a vast range of hair types and textures, with a diverse range of existing clients.

Vogue Station proudly uses Keune products that are cruelty free and aims to develop a high quality product that will protect and nourish hair while maintaining sustainable practices.

They’re locally situated in newly developed One Centre Square, Officer following their already established and successful salon in Forest Hill.

With a team of qualified hairdressers and stylists on board, they’re a one-stop-shop for a range of services, offering beauty treatments, keratin smoothing treatments, perms and makeup services.

Experts in eyebrow threading, waxing, tinting and facials, not only do they strive to make

It’s now or never, Elvis fans Having started its life in 1924, the Garfield Picture Theatre was used as a dance hall on Friday evenings with movies shown on Saturday nights, and it quickly became a key venue for the area hosting many a grand ball and community gathering.

Ninety-eight years later, and the beautifully renovated Garfield Picture Theatre is now a premier entertainment venue in Gippsland.

With a variety of shows being performed throughout the year, from tribute shows and live original artists to dances and community events, there’s something for everyone at the Garfield Picture Theatre.

On Saturday, 18 February you can catch Elvis - Greatest Hits.

Two-time award winning Elvis tribute artist Sean Luke Spiteri has the voice, sharp

authentic moves and the physical presence of Elvis when he was on stage, full of energy and electrifying to watch.

Sean captivates his audiences with his genuine love and passion for Elvis Presley.

A must for all Elvis fans! Relive the excitement and energy of Elvis Presley in concert as Sean creates the illusion of Elvis live on stage.

Backed by a spectacular nine-piece band with female backing vocalists and a brass section.

If you’re looking for a night out at a very special venue where everyone is guaranteed a great time, phone Fred on 0408 584 633 or visit the website garfieldpicturetheatre.com.au for more information on what’s on at your favourite theatre, 47-51 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road, Garfield.

The wonderful team at Vogue Station will have you feeling your best this Christmas. every client look great, but feel great too.

There’s never been a better time to book an appointment with a colouring combo starting at $200, full body wax combo at $150 and every 10th visit to Vogue Station receives 10 per cent off.

Special seniors rates are also available, but conditions apply.

Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am to 5pm and open late Friday from 9am to 7pm, closed Sunday.

Call 5908 2763.

Garfield Picture Theatre is now a premier entertainment venue in Gippsland.

Vogue Station opens its second salon in Officer Over 15 years + experience.

Hair Cuts Services • Colours Services • Waxing • Beauty Services

OPENING SPECIAL 10% OFF FIRST APPOINTMENT 10% off for future bookings *Conditions apply under further

Vogue Station Shop 12 5/45 Siding Ave Officer 12581388-JW50-22

Ph: 5908 2763 www.voguestation.com.au 12582220-JC50-22

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Be a man of style this season Spoil your man this Christmas with all his menswear and accessory needs at Men of Style in Pakenham. Owner Charlie is on hand to guide you.

Amanda King, with Aurora, Logan, Mason, Paul and dog Lily at the Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm with their tree.

We have a winner!

Adriatic Continental Deli at Heritage Springs shopping centre has it all for a stunning Christmas spread.

Simply yum!

Adriatic Continental Deli has everything you could ever need to put together a show-stopping grazing platter this Christmas.

With some of the freshest products,

antipasto mixes, high quality prosciutto and a sensational selection of European food, see the selection in store at 1/1 Livingstone Blvd Pakenham.

One lucky Star News reader has won a real Christmas tree from the Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm.

Amanda King was notified shortly after the competition closed at noon on Friday 9 December that she had won.

“We go every year to the Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm for our tree, so it was great to win it this year,” Amanda said after picking up the tree.

“The tree is a beauty and smells delightful!”

There really is nothing like that fresh smell of a real tree.

Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm is at 336 Browns Road, Officer.

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Christmas Magic at The Heri tage SANTA PHOTOS 15th - 24th December

GIFT WRAPPING STATION 17th December 10 am to 1 pm

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDES 5th - 24th December

Visit www.theheritagesc.com.au for more details

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Sally and Stacey from Daydreamers.

Dreamy spot for all meals The fantastic team at Daydreamers Cafe would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy and safe new year and would like to invite you during your summer break or over the Christmas period to come down to Beacons-

field’s dreamiest spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch and now dinner. With Daydreamers officially open seven days a week, with a choice of dining indoors or outdoors, plenty of seating options, a gorgeous courtyard and did we

mention the venue is fully equipped with a bar!

Perfect for those lovely warm summer nights that are on the way.

A sanctuary where you can enjoy a meal with your family and friends, have a business

meeting, relax and recoup or even grab a cocktail while the outdoor ambience surrounds you whatever the weather.

Daydreamers Cafe is situated at 12/14 Princes Hwy, Beaconsfield, 9796 1991.

BEACONSFIELD’S BEST SPOT FOR DINNER Step into our daydream... where the scent of coffee or a cocktail greets you, where you eat with your eyes first and where our courtyard can be a little slice of heaven.

Open: Breakfast and lunch 7 days a week Dinner 4 nights Wednesday to Saturday 12-14 Old Princes HWY Beaconsfield Ph: 9796 1991

Follow us on instagram and facebook 12581097-FC49-22

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Baked goods galore Come on in to see the team at The Great Australian Bakehouse in Pakenham for an assortment of delicious gingerbread houses and Christmas treats, sure to appeal to even

the fussiest eaters this festive season.

Located at 145 Main St, Pakenham, head on in to see what the team have on display today or place an order on 5941 3262.

Karlee from the Lazy Frog is on hand to help out with your Christmas shopping.

Gifts galore at Lazy Frog The Lazy Frog has gifts galore, with something for everyone in store. A carefully curated collection of items line the shelves, from teapots to tote bags.

They even have an assortment of beautiful candles and assorted gift packs. The options truly are endless and it’s the perfect stop for Christmas shopping in Pakenham.

BATTERY ZONE

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Batteries for Everything

In the heart of Garfield

OPEN 7 DAYS

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Breakfast & Lunch Gourmet Foods Private Catering Corporate Catering 81-83 Main Street, Garfield 0407 151 202

Wishing our customers a Merry Christmas Offering home delivery and click and collect!

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Happy Christmas from the Team at the Great Australian Bakehouse

Shop 3/206 Princes H’way, Pakenham pakenham@batteryzone.com.au | Ph: 5940 1364

A very Merry Christmas from Lazy Frog Gifts We have you covered for all your Christmas needs.

A large range of gift ideas instore.

Great gifts for family and friends.

A stunning variety to choose from to suit all budgets.

Gift Vouchers also available for that hard to buy for person.

YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT OUR LARGE RANGE. AVAILABLE INSTORE OR ONLINE

145 Main Street, Pakenham

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e hav e r W you all tmas is Chr urites o fav

Plus a great range of children’s wear and accessories.

www.lazyfroggifts.com.au | 109 Main Street Pakenham | 5941 2225

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Experts at sleeping easy

Thriving community In 1843 when an adventurous Englishman named Thomas Minton snapped up a lease on 1045 acres of prime land south-east of Melbourne, little did he know what he was starting.

Inspired by the land’s rolling hills and picturesque outlook, he christened his holdings ‘Mt Pleasant’.

Thomas Minton’s acreage Mt Pleasant has now commenced a brand-new chapter as the home for a contemporary hub in Pakenham’s heart, and 105 Timberline Parkway offers an amazing opportunity to join this thriving new community.

Make effortless entertaining a reality in the

Power up this summer

For all of your battery-related problems this summer, see Charlie, Brett and the team at Battery Zone Pakenham for helpful service and straight up solutions.

Sprucing an extensive product range both online and instore, head to 206 Princes Hwy, Pakenham or contact 5940 1364 to see what’s on offer.

WE OFFER FREE SLEEP TESTS*

We offer dignified, quality funeral services undertaken with genuine compassion and sincerity

Christmas Day Service 9.30 am Sunday, 25th December

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A place to celebrate for the whole family 1 Bentley Court Pakenham 5940 2344

Est. 1982

• Snoring • Headaches • Poor Concentration • Lack of Energy

Lang Lang District Funeral Service

• Depressed Moods • Forgetfulness • Tiredness • Mood Swings

Many People have sleep apnea, but may not even know it!

Call in and speak to Peter today

Contact us on 0449 220 652 michelle@lldfs.com www.lldfs.com.au

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• Locally owned. We are locally owned and operated • 24/7 Service • We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Respect, Dignity and Compassion • We have many years of experience helping people deal with grief and loss

Do you know what Sleep Apnea is?

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For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

pakenhambaptistchurch.org

brand-new, custom designed, split-level fourbedroom home.

105 Timberline Parkway, Pakenham, is being auctioned on Saturday, 17 December (unless sold prior).

Overlooking the Mt Pleasant Estate Hilltop Park and a stone’s throw from the play park and footbridge which provides access to Beaconhills College and Childcare Centre. An easy weekend stroll to Nancy Cafe and the Lakeside Shopping strip.

Contact Aman Singh, KR Peters Real Estate, on 0430 420 053 for all enquiries about this showpiece home on 1133m2.

Sleep easy with the range of diagnostics, treatment, equipment and expert advice at The Sleep Apnea Clinic, in Main Street, Pakenham.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year

55 Main Street, Pakenham Phone 0413 731 278 *subject to Medicare requirements

We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Real Estate CONTACT US FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. 432 Princes Highway, Officer

I

P 5943 1111

I

W krpeters.com.au

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

The perfect barbie cuts For quality meat at an affordable price, look no further than Heritage Springs Meats. Head in store to 173-175 McGregor Rd, Pakenham and see Doug this Christmas. Whether

Country hospitality

you’re after a high quality brisket to smoke, a ready made flavourful meal or in need of a haul for a Sunday barbecue, they’ve just about got it all.

Soul Sisters cafe at Longwarry has comforting food, warm hospitality and family at its heart.

Established in 2016, the cafe offers country charm and smiling faces as well as a delicious menu and a great outdoor setting.

Soul Sisters is situated at 9 Mackey Street, Longwarry. Phone 5629 9626.

Doug and the team from Heritage Springs Meats have everything you need for the perfect summer barbecue.

Looking forward to seeing you!

MEN OF STYLE

Soul Sisters Cafe has everything to tantalise your tastebuds. Serving delicious Di Bella Coffee, loaded milkshakes the kids will love you for and scrumptious brekky all day, plus a menu suited to everyone.

Quality Menswear OPEN THIS SUNDAY

Wishing our customers a very Merry Christmas

10am – 3pm SPOIL HIM THIS 12581509-KJ50-22

CHRISTMAS WITH QUALITY MENSWEAR

138 Main St, Pakenham Pakenham Central Marketplace Santa with Aryansh (5) from Pakenham.

5940 1103

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& ACCESSORIES • Mon - Fri 6am - 3pm • Sat - Sun 8am - 2pm Closed public holidays

Bookings and orders welcome 9 Mackey St. Longwarry Ph: 5629 9626

FOUNTAIN GATE BINGO

$100,000

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R E V O

N O W Y L K WEE

ph. 9796 7011 www.fountaingatebingo.com.au Located at Westfield Fountain Gate - 5b Brechin Drive Narre Warren (around the corner from Harvey Norman & Officeworks) 10W STAR NEWS

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CHRISTMAS CHEER

Great local shopping centre With friendly staff, and fabulous food on offer, Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre is a great local centre with a well-stocked Coles, Liquorland, a Caremore Chemist, and delicious food shops with take away and delivery options.

At Caremore Pharmacies their Christmas gift range is outstanding, and you’ll be able to find the perfect gift.

So that you don’t have to cook over the Christmas season, their range of takeaway food should be enough to keep any family or person happy.

Uncle Sam’s Charcoal Chicken is a firm favourite in the neighbourhood for a quick and healthy meal.

Cardinia Lakes Fish & Chippery has delicious burgers, along with crispy chips and tasty fish for a favourite takeaway option. You might even be brave enough to get one of their deep-fried mars bars for dessert.

Pizza Fellas has a great range of pizzas and can be ordered online so they are ready for you when you pop in to pick up dinner.

Wok to Go rounds out the takeaway options with tasty Asian dishes galore to tempt your tastebuds.

Great breakfast and lunch options are on the menu at Urban Hype Cafe. Come and meet the friendly staff and grab something for lunch or morning tea.

You could always brave the kitchen and stock up with supplies from Coles and cook a barbecue lunch. A ready-made salad from the vegetable department and a cake from the bakery.

Whatever you do, everyone at Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre wishes you all a Merry Christmas no matter how you spend the day.

Stay up to date by following the Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre Facebook page.

Cardinia Lakes is your local shopping centre for friendly service, community connections and great produce.

Sugarcoat Nails & Beauty

Take a break with us

140 Windermere Blvd, Pakenham

12523730-SG49-21

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PAKENHAM OFFICER

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

/pakenhamstarnews

@StarNews_SE

Two fires on the same night

Food insecurity on the rise

Lions win a thriller

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SPORT

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Leaders celebrate graduation

40¢ Inc. GST

Inspiring art on show Students at Beaconhills College and the construction team from the Pakenham level crossing removal project have joined forces to make artwork featuring six MCGs’ worth of new open space that is being created by the two-kilometre Pakenham rail bridge.

Story page 5

Beaconhills College students Briana, Alliyah, Flynn, Zac, Luka and Daisy.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Heath joins ranks Liberal candidate Renee Heath has been elected to the Eastern Victoria Region.

During the election campaign, then-opposition leader Matthew Guy announced Ms Heath would not sit within the parliamentary Liberal Party over her links to the controversial City Builders church, but new leader John Pesutto reversed the decision.

In representing Eastern Victoria, Ms Heath will be joined by Tom McIntosh (Labor), Melina Bath (Nationals), Harriet Shing (Labor), and Jeff Bourman (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers).

On Facebook on 14 December, Ms Bath said: “May I humbly say how grateful I am for having opportunity to continue my work advocating for the issues important to EVR (Eastern Victoria Region.”

BATTERY ZONE Keeping locals charged for 17 years

Call in and speak to the friendly staff

FREE HOME DELIVERY *conditions apply Shop 3/206 Princes H’way, Pakenham | pakenham@batteryzone.com.au

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5940 1364

There are 11 Lower House seats in Eastern Victoria: Bass, Evelyn, Gippsland East, Gippsland South, Hastings, Monbulk, Mornington, Morwell, Narracan, Nepean and Pakenham.

Bass and Pakenham went to Labor, with Jordan Crugnale elected to the seat of Bass while Emma Vulin picked up the new Pakenham seat.

Low Dose CT, Digital X-ray, Comprehensive Ultrasound, Dental X-ray, Dexa or Bone Densitometry, Echocardiogram

The 2020-2021 redivision of state electoral boundaries saw Eastern Victoria lose 7740 electors to North-Eastern Metropolitan Region (parts of Chirnside Park and Kilsyth), and a further 30,914 electors to South-Eastern Metropolitan Region (Beaconsfield, Clyde North and Guys Hill; most of Beaconsfield Upper, Berwick and Harkaway).

Continued page 3

BULK BILLING OPEN 7 DAYS

(03) 5922 2072 U2, 1 Stephenson Street PAKENHAM

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By Matt Male

NEWS

Cardinia Community Leadership Program graduation 2022.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Building leadership skills the six-month course and for progressing their skills and knowledge as community leaders.

“The Cardinia Community Leadership Program has provided participants with the opportunity to build and strengthen their leadership capabilities.

“These leaders will be walking away with increased skills and abilities to be knowledgeable, inspiring, and engaging community

mentors within their local communities.

“The 17 graduates now join more than 60 previous program participants as part of the Cardinia Community Leadership Program alumni, and we look forward to continuing to be part of your leadership journey,” the mayor said.

Each year, program participants are encouraged to engage in active citizenship with-

in the local community and are empowered to take collaborative action around local projects, issues and community building opportunities.

For more information about the Cardinia Community Leadership Program, including when and how to apply for next year’s intake when this information becomes available, visit the council’s website at cardinia.vic.gov.au/ communityleadership

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The Cardinia Community Leadership Program celebrated its 2022 graduates at a small ceremony in November.

The program, delivered by Cardinia Shire Council, contributes to furthering the leadership capacity and community participation of some of our community’s emerging leaders.

Cardinia Shire mayor Cr Tammy Radford congratulated the 17 graduates on completing

Victoria, you know fire.

Our regions have been hit hard with extreme wet weather over the past few months.

But Victorians know how quickly the conditions can change. Increased rainfall causes vegetation to grow, so there’s more fuel on the ground. It’s important Victorians plan and prepare this fire season.

Plan. Act. Survive. Go to vic.gov.au/knowfire Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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NEWS

Firefighters on call

By Marcus Uhe It was a busy afternoon for Pakenham firefighters on Tuesday 13 December after they were called to two separate incidents in Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon.

CFA responded to reports of a laundry fire on Racecourse Road in Nar Nar Goon at around 5pm.

Ten CFA units from Nar Nar Goon, Cardinia Group, Bunyip, Tynong, Maryknoll and Pakenham attended the scene, where the fire had spread into the roof and kitchen within the home.

Crews were able to contain the fire to the kitchen and the roof by 5.52pm and declared the incident under control, the CFA said.

The scene was declared safe at 7.11pm before it was handed over to Victoria Police.

Around the same time, FRV crews responded to a separate house fire on Gilmour Street.

The flames were quickly extinguished within minutes, an FRV spokesperson said.

Christmas lights warning Separately, the CFA is uring people to always check the wiring and placement of the lights in the lead up to Christmas and the holiday season.

CFA chief officer, Jason Heffeman urged Victorians to take simple precautionary steps to be sure it’s only Santa’s sleigh that visits this Christmas, and not a fire truck.

“Before setting your lights up, make sure the wiring is intact, check there are no missing bulbs or frayed cords and the lights are in good, working order.

“When plugging in your lights, remember not to overload power boards, and make sure electrical cords are not covered by a rug or mat,” he said.

In September, CFA responded to an electrical fire caused by fairy lights at a Ferntree Gully house which caused significant damage to the

Renee Heath has been elected to the Eastern Victoria Region.

New faces in East Vic

Firefighters were kept busy in Pakenham on Tuesday night. 141637 brick veneer property.

Incident controller and Ferntree Gully firefighter Todd Small said the incident demonstrated the risk associated with damaged festive lights.

“Please don’t leave fairy lights on all the time. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe,” he said.

Electrical fires are among the top causes of

Picture: FILE

house fires each year.

“Tinsel and other festive decorations will be abundant but placing lights too close to these items can present a fire risk.

“Remember to turn your Christmas lights off when leaving the house or before going to bed to ensure they don’t overheat,” Mr Heffeman said.

From page 1 On the other hand, Eastern Victoria Region gained 7088 electors from Eastern Metropolitan Region (most of The Basin; parts of Boronia and Ferntree Gully) and 2183 electors from SouthEastern Metropolitan Region (part of Ferntree Gully).

Labor will need at least six crossbenchers to vote with them to pass legislation through the Upper House.

Premier Daniel Andrews led Labor to a sweeping victory to secure a third term in power at the election on 26 November.

Labor won 56 out of 88 seats in the Victorian Lower House, winning a bigger majority than it had in its last term.

The Coalition secured 31 and the Greens claimed four.

The Labor Party won 55 seats in the so-called “Danslide” election of 2018.

- With AAP

Congratulations Class of 2022 Pakenham and Berwick

Lux Luceat Let your light so shine

1982

2

0 2 2

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 3

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Narre Warren North Primary school teacher Vanessa Wilson

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I’m a big fan of the iconic ’80s artists, movies and fashion!

What do you love about what you do?

The chances I get to make a difference in the lives of students in a meaningful way every single day. It is simple yet humbling to challenge and engage students to strive towards their goals.

THREE … songs for an Aussie Christmas

1

How to make Gravy by Paul Kelly It’s 21 December and Joe is sitting in the correctional centre, writing home to his family ahead of the big gathering on Christmas Day. Front of mind is who will make the all important gravy.

Thankfully, Joe includes his own recipe, including the secret ingredient - a dollop of tomato sauce for that sweetness and the extra tang.

2

Six White Boomers by Rolf Harris In the Australian leg of his visit across the globe, Santa’s reindeer are replaced with Kangaroos, helping a joey find its mother along the way. Upon reuniting with its mother, the Joey told Santa it was the best Christmas it had ever experienced.

3

Carol of the Birds by WG James and John Wheeler Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day! This is a significant shift away from European Christmas carols depicting scenes and features from cold European winters. Brolgas Woodlarks and Bellbirds take centre stage, depicting a classic Australian outback Christmas scene.

What would your last meal be?

A really great omelette, strong coffee and something chocolate.

What is your most memorable moment?

Welcoming our beautiful little girl Anja into the world.

What event past or present would you like to witness?

1956 Olympics in Melbourne at the MCG. Which three guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

Kate Bush (because my six-year-old would not forgive me if I didn’t), Elvis (because my husband would not forgive me if I didn’t) and Tom Hardy (that one is for me).

Vanessa Wilson recently won the Physical Education Teacher of the Year award. 311576 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

What are you currently listening to, watching or reading?

I’ve just started watching Firefly Lane on Netflix, listening to INXS greatest hits and reading Out of Thin Air – Running wisdom of Ethiopian distance runners.

What are the three most used apps on your phone?

Apple Music, Facebook and the last two days, Instagram (I’m just getting around to working this one out).

If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?

Chicken stir-fry.

What’s one question that you have always wanted answered?

What magical force always makes one of my

socks disappear in the wash?

What is your dream holiday destination?

Iceland or New York to run the NY Marathon.

What were you like as a kid?

Very active, quiet and shy.

What was your first job?

An AFL boundary umpire.

NEWS

Renewables cut power bills Approximately 172,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions have been saved by councils in the first 12 months, which is equivalent to powering up to 35,000 homes or taking 66,000 cars off the road each year.

Initiated by and facilitated with the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, now led by Glen Eira City Council, VECO recognises the benefits of renewable energy for the environment and the economy.

VECO is on track to reduce Cardinia Shire Council’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5500 tonnes of CO2e and its electricity costs by an estimated $90,000 this financial year.

Cardinia Shire Council chief executive Carol Jeffs said the project helped deliver on climate emergency commitments reflected in the council’s Aspirational Energy Transition Plan.

“Cardinia’s operations are powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity - including streetlights, libraries, children’s and community centres,” Ms Jeffs said.

“This renewable energy is essential to achieve our goal of net-zero council emissions by 2024.”

Cardinia Shire mayor Tammy Radford said the project showed the value of collaboration in local government.

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Cardinia Shire Council is one of 51 Victorian councils to have slashed its energy bills and reduced emissions through the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO) - a joint renewable energy contract.

The collective investment in Victorian renewables has provided electricity 25 per cent cheaper over its first 12 months. These savings can be redirected to critical community services provided by the council.

The long-term contract will continue to protect councils from record high wholesale prices in the coming years and help to increase the stability of the state’s energy system.

“Effective collaboration through VECO has enabled us to pursue our target of zero-net council emissions, while supporting the renewable energy transition and reducing council utility costs,” she said.

The renewable energy is being provided by two wind farms in Victoria — Dundonnell Wind Farm near Mortlake, which started exporting power to the grid in March 2020, and Murra Warra II Wind Farm near Horsham, which started exporting power in February 2022.

For information about this project, visit cardinia.vic.gov.au/veco

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Excludes Chanel. Terms and conditions apply. See in-store fore details.

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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Visit OPSM Berwick today Ph: 9707 5556

2 Tango Circuit Pakenham (off Commercial Drive)

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NEWS

The Grade 4 students have put their imaginations to work to come up with some brilliant artwork.

Work on the Pakenham level crossing removal project is continuing.

Students’ train art inspires Students at Beaconhills College and the construction team from the Pakenham level crossing removal project have joined forces to make artwork featuring six MCGs’ worth of new open space that is being created by the twokilometre Pakenham rail bridge.

The level crossing project team spoke with around 90 students from Beaconhills College in Pakenham about the project earlier this year and asked them to draw things they like to do in the park, taking inspiration from the open space being created by removing the three level crossings.

Since then, the Grade 4 students have put their imaginations to work and came up with some brilliant artwork, which now adorns the Pakenham Station construction site, for all to see.

The students came up with creative ideas including skate parks, food trucks, mini-golf, virtual reality rooms and cafes.

“Using a real-life example of a project happening in the community made it meaningful to the students,” Beaconhills College Grade 4 coordinator Nicola Grierson said.

“They had a lot of fun, collaborating to create the imagery and make the areas inclusive and accessible for all.”

Level Crossing Removal Project program director Andrew Pepplinkhouse said by building an elevated rail line, the project would create new safe, green open space where there was once a railway line.

“The construction team would like to thank the Beaconhills College students for their work

in creating this artwork,” he said.

“We’ve been really impressed with the level of enthusiasm and understanding the students had of the project.”

The level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road are being removed by building an elevated rail bridge over the roads.

The crossings will be gone for good and new, modern, accessible stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham will open to passengers in 2024.

The 2.5km rail bridge will unlock more than six MCGs’ worth of open space under the rail line, which the community can enjoy for generations to come.

Designs for this new open space in Paken-

ham were released recently and can be viewed on the project’s website.

The design includes a three-metre-wide shared use path under the rail bridge between McGregor Road and Main Street, improving transport connections for pedestrians and bike riders to safely access the Pakenham Station and the shopping precinct.

Other features of the new Pakenham open space include multi-purpose facilities including a barbecue area, exercise equipment, garden beds, seating, basketball court, playgrounds and parklands.

Work on the Pakenham level crossing removal project is continuing, with the first of the mega concrete segments that will form the new Pakenham Station being craned into place recently.

Road trauma reduction a priority for police this Christmas Police will be doing their best to drive down road trauma during the high-risk Christmas period as Operation Roadwise commences this week.

The statewide road policing operation, which kicks off on Friday, comes as the number of lives lost in Victoria reaches 236, already surpassing last year’s total of 234 and sitting well above the five-year average of 221.

The operation will see police provide highly visible enforcement on Victoria’s major arterial roads and highways in an effort to reduce road trauma and detect dangerous drivers before someone is hurt.

Police intelligence shows there is an increased risk of impaired driving associated with end-of-year work and social functions,

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

with vulnerable road users like pedestrians also deemed at risk, particularly around busy shopping centre precincts.

“Nobody is immune from road trauma – it is something that impacts all of us, and it’s up to every road user to do their bit to keep themselves and other road users safe. We don’t want to see anybody else succumb to road trauma this year, particularly at Christmas,” said acting assistant commissioner for road policing, Justin Goldsmith.

Last year almost 130,000 motorists were tested for alcohol and drugs during Operation Roadwise, with police anticipating the increase to a 12-day operation this year from 10 days will likely see even more motorists undergoing tests.

“For those who simply choose to ignore

the road rules – your Christmas will be costly.

The penalties for speeding, drink and drug driving and using your mobile phone are significant, and we make no apologies for enforcing these rules – it could save someone’s life,” Mr Goldsmith said.

With 40 per cent of last year’s Operation Roadwise infringements issued for speeding, police are reminding motorists to keep the foot off the accelerator to avoid a costly Christmas. The penalty for speeding by more than 10km/h but less than 15km/h is $370 and three demerit points, with those exceeding the speed limit by more than 25km/h facing even more significant penalties and a suspended licence.

Mobile phone use continues to be a major contributor to road trauma, with 536 mobile

phone infringements issued to drivers during last year’s operation. The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving is $555 and four demerits.

Police are urging motorists not to ignore the warnings around road trauma, with 25 lives lost during December last year.

The operation commences at 12.01am on Friday 16 December and concludes at 11.59pm on Tuesday 27 December.

Police enforcement will continue throughout the New Year period, particularly in coastal locations and holiday hotspots.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads during the festive period, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 5

OPINION

LENSCAPE

Join us for our Christmas Church Services 7pm

Christmas Eve - Service with carols and Christmas Story

9.30 am Christmas Day with Holy communion

We worship in the Senior Building of Lakeside College on the corner of Portobello Road and Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham pakenhamlakesidechurch.org.au Contact Pastor Eugene Minge

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Funeral Director

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Cranbourne 6 Brunt Street Ph: 5996 6822

Assuring personal attention and care at all times for our local community.

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Drouin

2 Porter Place Ph: 5625 2571

Morning tea with a Christmas tree at Balla Balla Community Centre in Cranbourne. 312681

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

www.davidwbull.com.au

Thumbs down To losing a pair of ladies blueframed glasses in a black case on the 828 bus last Thursday afternoon 8 December, between Fountain Gate Shopping Centre and Gunns Road in Hallam. If you see them please hand them in to the bus driver or Ventura Bus’ head office.

starcommunity.com.au CONTACT US Phone: 5945 0666 ADVERTISING Visit starcommunity.com.au/advertise Email advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone 5945 0666 EDITORIAL Email dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au

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Thumbs up To Courtney Gardens Primary School for having Christmas songs sung by the students at their concert last night.

Thumbs up To the Balla Balla Community Centre for their dedicated service to the Cranbourne area.

To all the 2022 classes with their amazing VCE results!

Thumbs up

Thumbs down

To Christmas holidays. Not far away now!

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To roadworks.

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

Thumbs down To Christmas shopping.

Thumbs down To the inconsistent weather patterns!

Thumbs down To disproportionate office celebrations that disrupt people trying to work.

Thumbs up To Coles quinoa tabbouleh.

NEWS

New ideas aplenty OM:NI men’s discussion groups came together at the Outlook Community Centre last Tuesday, 9 November, to celebrate 15 years of operation in the City of Casey and the Shire of Cardinia.

Thirty-five men attended, representing all six groups in the South-East.

The morning theme was Friendship and Connection, which is the core of what OM:NI is all about.

The morning included a roundtable discussion. Six tables of five men were asked a number of questions, this led to some fun and laughter and valuable feedback.

Guest speaker Geoff Edwards enlarged on the day’s theme with some of his own observations about the positives, and the way the OM:NI organisation could develop going forward.

After the coffee break, followed by Comedy Corner, presented by a guest from the Diamond Creek group, then the more formal part of the morning took place.

Three certificates of appreciation provided

Thirty-five members of OM:NI groups from across the South-East caught up at the Outlook Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Community Centre last week. 310574 by the parent body, Council on the Ageing (COTA Vic) were presented to three dedicated members of OM:NI - John Doutch, Ken Young and Ken Ramplin - each man with 12 to 15 years of service to the organisation. This concluded a very valuable morning.

The group then adjourned to Club Officer for lunch at 1pm and this rounded out a very enjoyable and successful day.

The ON:NI (Older Men: New Ideas) members continue to be ever grateful to Outlook for their continued support. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Food insecurity on the rise

By Eleanor Wilson Emergency food relief organisations in the City of Casey say they are at breaking point in the lead up to Christmas.

Transit Outreach coordinator Reverend Keith Vethaak said the food charity is having to turn people away from its services for the first time in its 15-year history.

“In the last 11 months we’ve had a 55 per cent increase in the numbers registering, which is enormous,” Revd Vethaak said.

“At the moment we’re spending over $600 to $700 a week just to buy food from Foodbank.”

Foodbank Australia is described as “the pantry to the charity sector”, currently partnering with 533 charities throughout Victoria.

While sourcing groceries from Foodbank is free for charities, the organisation does charge a fee for handling and delivery.

Revd Vethaak said he expects the organisation’s weekly Foodbank bill to tip $1000 in the coming year.

“We’re a completely voluntary organisation and it’s at the point where it’s going to become unsustainable for us soon,” he said.

“I understand the need for Foodbank to charge a handling fee, but I think perhaps the government needs to look at its funding model and help cover the costs, because it’s becoming unsustainable for us.”

Founder of fellow not-for-profit Bk 2 Basics Melbourne, Kelly Warren said their Foodbank bill has doubled over the last 12 months to $3000.

Demand for the Narre Warren food service has become so high that they were recently forced to put their weekly hot dinner service on hold for the remainder of the year.

“We’re servicing over 3000 families, or about 7000 individuals every week… at least 10 to 20 new families are coming through the door every day,” she said.

Transit Outreach coordinator Keith Vethaak said the not-for-profit is being forced to turn struggling families away due to overwhelming demand.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Kelly said she and husband Craig are working 18-hour days to keep up with the demand.

Data from Foodbank’s 2022 Hunger Report, released in October this year, found over two million Australian households have experienced severe food insecurity in the last 12 months, which means they ran out of food because of financial limitations and at worst went entire days without eating.

Households with dependent children are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity.

More than half were either moderately or se-

verely food insecure in 2022, 1.6 times higher than the national average of household food insecurity at 33 per cent.

In addition, 1.3 million children in Australia lived in severely food insecure households in the past 12 months.

A majority 64 per cent of people surveyed said cost of living was the main contributor to their food insecurity.

Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey said the results should “make everyone stop in their tracks”.

“We know how important it is for people to have access to nutritious food, yet the rising costs of energy, fuel, groceries, rent and mortgages have put this fundamental need beyond the reach of more and more people with no respite in sight,” Ms Casey said in a statement.

“The numbers being reported are massive and hard to process, but they represent the harsh reality of living week to week when the cost-of-living crisis collides with an income crisis and the household budget now lists food as a discretionary spend.”

College DUX

Gabriella Stipkovic

VCAL DUX

Emma Heinze We congratulate the Class of 2022 on the following achievements: • 4% of study scores are over 40 • 5% of ATARS are over 90 • 21% of ATARS are over 80 • 42% of ATARS are over 70

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STAR NEWS 7

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admin@minaret.vic.edu.au Springvale

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82.55

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pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Duxes look to the future The coveted accolade of St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar 2022 Dux has gone to Brianna Munns and Ovin Jayawardana, who achieved ATAR scores of 99.55 and 99.45 respectively.

Both students said they were ecstatic to receive their scores on Monday morning.

“I was so nervous the night before, I couldn’t sleep, but I was so happy just knowing all the hard work had paid off,” Brianna said.

Ovin said finding out he was one of the school’s duxes was an added bonus to receiving the score.

“It’s a nice achievement and I’m very happy with it, but for me the Dux wasn’t the be-all and end-all, it was more about getting a score to get into the course I wanted,” he said.

The Senior Boys Dux hopes to study medicine at Monash University, while Brianna is also seeking entry to Monash, where she wants to study a double degree in law and arts, majoring in psychology.

The Duxes said finding a balance in their study routines and maintaining social connections was vital to their academic success throughout VCE. “I just tried to listen to my body...if you feel you’re getting super tired, don’t be afraid to

Aleisha top of the class Pakenham Secondary College’s Dux was Aleisha Lippis.

How are you feeling about being the Dux of your school?

I am ecstatic, being able to physically see how my hard work and determination to achieve my personal best has paid off. I am content with my score and proud of my self efficacy and resilience which has not only been tested over the stressful year but also reinforced.

How were you and your family feeling the morning when you got your results?

I had shown my mother my ATAR and she screamed and hugged me, telling me how proud she was. I called my father as well and he told me he always believed in me and was proud. They never held academic expectations on me, however, were confident and significantly proud of my efforts to achieve high results.

What was your study routine and how did you find remote learning?

Although some days it was a struggle to get out of bed, being able to connect with friends and teachers online kept me going.

Are you looking to study further and, if so, what uni course are you considering?

I am so excited to hopefully go to Monash to study a double degree in arts and secondary teaching. Keen to educate and inspire students both inside and outside the classroom, and replicate the dedication and passion all my teachers at Pakenham Secondary have shown.

Do you have any words of wisdom for the class of Year 12 2023?

I shall leave you with one quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to try that counts.” Regardless of your talents, intelligence and passions, always try your hardest because that is the true reflection of your character, not your academic marks.

take that break, whether it’s watching TV or hanging out with your friends, allow your body to have that break from study and it will make it that much more effective when you do jump back into your school work,” Brianna said.

Ovin also worked to find a balance between studying 25 hours a week, working at his parttime job and meeting up with friends.

“For the most part I found I was able to find that balance, but come exam time it was definitely a lot harder,” he said.

“Interestingly, I found that it made motivation harder when I wasn’t doing those hobbies.”

St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar principal Dr Annette Rome said the 2022 VCE cohort completed their studies with maturity, application and grace.

“While we acknowledge the outstanding results in 2022 and laud our duces, we are also so proud of every young person in our community. Behind every one of them is a story of courage, curiosity and character,” she said.

“This year’s class of 2022 has been particularly adept at looking after others and making each other smile. Frankly, they have been an absolute delight to work with. I wish them, and all VCE graduates, a fruitful and happy future.”

St Margaret’ Berwick Grammar VCE Duxes Brianna Munns and Ovin Jayawardana. Picture: SUPPLIED

ATAR delight for Beaconhills students Beaconhills College Dux Jasper McDowell received an ATAR of 99.85.

Mr McDowell’s subjects at the Pakenham campus included English, English literature, maths methods, French and an extension subject of philosophy and science at the University of Melbourne.

Knowing the work he had put in throughout the year, Mr McDowell was confident he would receive a good ATAR. He said it was “quite pleasing” to see all the hard work he had done had been worth it.

“It was an element of this could happen, but is it actually going to happen? But it did so I was very happy.”

There were still nerves for Mr McDowell in the lead up to receiving his ATAR on Monday morning.

“I was quite nervous and I tried not to think about it throughout the week,” Mr McDowell said.

“Yesterday I was putting off looking at it.”

Mr McDowell is planning on studying an arts degree at the University of Melbourne alongside a maths diploma.

As a humanities-oriented student, Mr McDowell said the best advice he had for the class of 2023 was to find a way to engage with the content beyond memorising.

“With history, for me one of the things that made that subject so interesting was being able to engage with the politics and the ideas and all the figures and movements involved,” Mr McDowell said.

“I feel like especially with that subject people tend to take it as I’m going in and memorising dates and events and for me that doesn’t work.

“It’s about being able to engage with it in a dynamic, interesting way where you can make interesting points and I feel like that applies to most subjects.”

Jasper McDowell received an ATAR of 99.85.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Beaconhills Berwick campus Dux Ruby Thornton-Mackay.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Berwick campus Beaconhills College Berwick campus Dux Ruby Thornton-Mackay is already carving out a career in dance, having recently learnt she was accepted into the prestigious West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) for 2023.

She said she was thrilled with her ATAR score of 97.45.

“I definitely aimed high from the start of the year, but it was a pleasant surprise to be Campus Dux.” While her passion lies in Dance, Ruby chose a diverse mix of other VCE subjects, including English, French, chemistry, geography, mathematical methods.

“I have so many interests, so wanted to choose something from every realm of learning,” she said.

St Francis Xavier College celebrates students’ success The morning of Monday 12 December was filled with nerves and excitement for thousands of VCE students who obtained their VCE results.

The honour of 2022 Dux for St Francis Xavier College’s Beaconsfield campus has gone to the school’s vice captain Gabriella Stipkovic, who achieved an ATAR score of 98.85.

Gabriella said it was great to be rewarded for the hard work she has put in over the last two years and hopes to go on to study a doupakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

ble degree in law and global studies.

The Year 12 graduate said consistency was the key to success throughout the year, ensuring she prepared in the lead up to classes and maintained a balanced study routine.

Her advice for students approaching VCE was simple.

“Give it everything you have got as it goes quickly. Maintain a balance between academics and social life,” she said.

The school’s VCAL top scorer went to Emma

Heinze, who attended some of her VCAL classes at Foundation Learning Centre in Narre Warren.

She too said it was “amazing and satisfying to know the hard work has paid off”.

Emma said VCAL’s focus on personal development and vocational skills were the main factors that led her down the applied learning path.

“I found I wasn’t very engaged with my classes in Year 9 and I was looking for a more applied way to complete my learning, so I

chose VCAL in Year 10 for that reason.”

Emma hopes to use her score to attend university and study early childhood and primary teaching, after discovering a passion for education through her VCAL classes.

“We did a Basketball program with Officer Specialist school and I found that working with the kids was so much fun.

“It opened my eyes to that sort of work opportunity and in Term 3 and 4 I did my work placement at a kindergarten and I had the best time there, I still visit sometimes.”

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 9

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We’re building big this summer Public transport disruptions

Victoria’s Big Build is building a better road and rail network in December and January while there are fewer people on our trains and less cars on the road.

This includes major works on the Metro Tunnel with crews working around the clock to upgrade tracks at Caufield Station and install new high-tech signalling. We’re also upgrading the City Loop.

We’re also continuing to build the West Gate Tunnel, including new connections into the city and CityLink. Important maintenance is happening on the West Gate Bridge and major road upgrades continue across the south east this summer.

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/summer

10 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Summer disruptions Train disruptions: City Loop closed City Loop

9pm 2 Jan to last train 15 Jan

Parliament, Flagstaff and Melbourne Central stations closed

Tram and train disruptions: Buses/coaches replace trams and trains in both directions Tram routes 3, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72

Until 18 Dec

Arts Centre and Commercial Road

Tram route 58

Until 18 Dec

Flinders Street/Market Street and Fawkner Park

Hurstbridge Line

8.30pm 2 Jan to last train 6 Jan 9 Jan to last train 13 Jan

Parliament to Heidelberg

Alamein Line

8.30pm 2 Jan to last train 15 Jan

Camberwell to Alamein

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines

1am 4 to last train 13 Jan 8.30pm to last train, 16 Jan

Flinders Street to Dandenong

14 to 27 Jan

Flinders Street to Westall

8.30pm to last train, 8 and 12 Jan

Flinders Street to Cranbourne and Pakenham

4 to 27 Jan

Flinders Street to Moorabbin

6.30am to 7.30pm, 22 Jan

Flinders Street to Mordialloc

Stony Point Line

4 to 27 Jan

Frankston to Stony Point

Sandringham Line

8.30pm each night, 9 to 11 Jan

Parliament to Sandringham

Sunbury Line

9pm 3 Feb to last train 5 Feb

North Melbourne to Watergardens

8:30pm 8 Feb to last train 12 Feb

North Melbourne to Sunshine

Werribee and Williamston lines

Each night 8 to 10 Feb 11 to 12 Feb

North Melbourne to Newport

Geelong Line

14 to 15 Jan 18 to 26 Feb

Geelong to Waurn Ponds

Gippsland Line

4 to 31 Jan

Southern Cross to Bairnsdale

Bendigo and Echuca lines

At night, 3 Feb

Southern Cross to Bendigo

4 to 5 Feb

Southern Cross to Gisborne

Swan Hill Line

4 to 5 Feb

Southern Cross to Bendigo

Warrnambool Line

18 to 26 Feb

Geelong to Warrnambool

Frankston Line

Freeway disruptions: Changed traffic conditions or closed lanes and ramps West Gate Bridge

9pm 26 Dec to 6am 4 Jan

Four outbound lanes closed

Monash Freeway

Some nights in Jan

Closed between Warrigal Road and EastLink

Princes Freeway

Some nights in Jan

Closed between Princes Highway and Cardinia Road

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps Until 21 Dec

Between Dryburgh Street and Dynon Road inbound exit ramp from CityLink

Greensborough Road, Watsonia

Until 22 Dec

Lanes closed and speeds reduced

Narre Warren North Road and Ernst Wanke Road, Narre Warren North

In Jan

Intersection closed

Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Thompsons Road, Cranbourne

Jan to Feb

Intersection closed

Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn

Jan to Feb

Between Hume Highway and Hanson Road

Lancefield Road, Sunbury

Jan to Feb

At Sunbury Road

Hall Road and McCormicks Road, Carrum Downs

From Jan

Intersection closed

12580977-HC50-22

Dynon Road, West Melbourne

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Council ambassadors Elvie, Ruth, Ludmila and Margarita. 310859

Margaret gets a front seat for the carols. 310859

The conductor of the City of Greater Dandenong Band. 310859

Greater Dandenong mayor Eden Foster with Santa and Frosty the Snowman. 310859

Carols grace Dandenong Crowds flocked to a magnificent Dandenong Park for the return of Greater Dandenong Carols.

Hundreds enjoyed the festive repertoire of Greater Dandenong Band and live singers and choirs on the park’s revamped Stan Prior Stage.

There were also roving performers, food trucks, a Christmas market and a visit from Santa Claus.

Community and school choirs joined performers on stage for classic Christmas carols and traditional festive-season songs.

A Bonapasogit band member performing Batak music. 310859

The Stan Prior Stage lit up in a magical scene in Dandenong Park. 310859

Performer Celia takes in a magnificent Dandenong Park scene. 310859

City of Greater Dandenong Band. 310859

Sabrina and six-month-old Kaiyana from Narre Warren meet Santa Claus. 310859

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St Mary’s Parishioner’s Choir. 310859

Geraldine Quinn in spectacular song. 310859

Dandenong Primary School Choir. 310859

Sasha and Sarah dancing to the carols.

Elfis reveals a sidekick. 310859

Celia with a Rudolf-masked volunteer on stage.

Heart Strings ensemble member from Springvale Evangelical Community Church. 310859

310859

12 STAR NEWS

Pictures: GARY SISSONS

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Bob, Chantelle and Danny from the Balla Balla Ukes provided the musical entertainment. 308843

Maree and Connie share a dance. 308843 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Last hurrah before moving

By Marcus Uhe A range of emotions swilled at the Balla Balla Community Centre on Tuesday morning, 13 December, ranging from sadness, to nostalgia, and excitement at what lies ahead.

The centre’s volunteers, staff and contributors were invited to a morning tea that would double as both a Christmas party and a farewell to the facility, ahead of the move to Selandra Community Hub in 2023.

As the crowd grazed on sandwiches, cakes, sweet treats, croissants and many more delectable snacks, centre manager Maree Cullinan led tributes to all that had made the facility the community hub that it has developed into over the years, including former Casey mayors Colin Butler and the late Amanda Stapleton, manager of active communities at Casey, Angie Peresso, and more.

For Ms Cullinan, who has seen the facility from its very beginning back in April 2007 when it was known as the Cranbourne East Community Centre, the move to Clyde will be a significant shift.

“I know this building better than I know my own home,” Ms Cullinan said.

“I know any noise, and if I hear a certain noise, I know that the solar panels are broken on the roof.

“This is my other home. It’s grown around me and I’ve grown around it.

“There is some sadness there because it has been 16 years, but added to that is the excitement of something new. Change can be a really good thing and I’ve never shied away from change because I think that’s what keeps us engaged.”

In recent years the reliance on the facility has come into sharp focus, as the pandemic did it’s best to separate and disrupt communities at every turn.

It’s something Ms Cullinan sees as one of the centre’s main achievements, and it’s been reflected in their membership numbers, swelling at more than 600.

“As a manager, trying to keep a team together but only contacting via Zoom, (the challenge) was, how do you stay innovative, fun and spontaneous over Zoom?

“I would mail them stuff, for example, a block of chocolate called Bear Hugs and a moisturising facemask. The idea was to open the package, to have a hug from the chocolate and then do facemasks on Zoom together to pamper ourselves.

“Watching six people trying to put them on was just crazy and towards the end it became even tougher, but what happened was we came out much stronger than when we went pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Mena Grigson, Rod Grigson and Veronica. 308843

Dianne, Seda and Grace enjoy the morning tea.

Maree Cullinan (in yellow) with some of Balla Balla’s army of volunteers. 308843 in. We came out very strong as a team.”

It’s a long way from when she would sit in the dormant office back in 2007 awaiting a visitor or for someone to engage with them as they attempted to embed themselves into the community.

Colin Bulter was mayor of the City of Casey when the facility opened and remains involved as a member of the board in the role of treasurer.

Of all the projects he oversaw during his stint on the council, it’s Balla Balla, named after his council ward, that he remains invested in.

He said the centre’s current output has exceeded his expectations.

“You could certainly not (see it becoming what it is today) but back in 2007 there wasn’t the houses around here that there is now,” he said.

“We stuck it here and thought, ‘How’s it going to go? Will it go alright?’

“And it’s grown to magnificent community centre now and Maree’s been part of it the whole way.”

As she scanned the room on Tuesday looking for people to say hello to, Ms Cullinan made a bee-line for Jo Hall, who she considered to be a “founder” of the centre.

Ms Hall was a regular at the centre in multiple capacities, as a volunteer running personal development workshops and a class attendee

308843

in more recent years.

“It was good because it gave me a place to run some workshops of my own but also to be a volunteer and give to the community,” she said.

“I wasn’t working at the time so I had the time to come and do that.

“You get to know a lot of people and I’m the kind of person who likes to do things for others. That fuelled something for me.”

Despite the relocation, she is confident the centre’s reputation will follow them into the new year and all that lies ahead.

“This is the best neighbourhood house that I’ve even been to. I have been to couple of others since this has been built but it doesn’t quite have the same kind of vibes, same freshness.

“Maree’s really devoted to the people who come here, not to say that the people who work in the other community houses weren’t but it seemed a little bit more clinical in those places.

“I just love Maree and she’s such a lovely person. She’s put in so many years here.”

Rod Grigson, who runs the Scribe Tribe and creative writing classes at Balla Balla, agreed with Ms Hall.

“I work in a lot of community centres and this is the best organised one,” Mr Grigson said.

“There’s strong community support as you

can see here today, for the Christmas party.

The people who run the place, Maree and her team, are very efficient, so when I come as a teacher, everything is easy for me.”

Towards the end of the morning tea, attendees were handed a survey and asked to respond with what their most significant memories of the Cranbourne facility will be, to be placed into a memories box.

When asked what she’ll remember most about her years there, Ms Cullinan came back to three key themes: Friendship, fun and tough times.

“For me it really is that I’m grateful that I took on this challenge. At the beginning it was very much a challenge to build when there was no community. I’m very blessed and grateful to have been given this opportunity.”

As they embark on a new era, Ms Cullinan said her and her team were full of excitement for the future of Balla Balla.

“There’s lots of young families in that community and it’s very multicultural,” she said.

“That’s exciting because it adds to what we’re already doing. Everyone will benefit.

“It’s right for Balla Balla and right for Selandra. It’s the right thing for the community next year.”

The new Balla Balla Community Centre will open to the public on Monday 16 January before a grand opening on Saturday 25 March.

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

|

STAR NEWS 13

NEWS

Helicopter a crucial reminder for youth Students at Waverley Christian College in Narre Warren South learnt how to stay safe in Victorian waterways on Thursday 8 December, while meeting the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service crew who patrol our coastline.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service, operated by Life Saving Victoria (LSV), provides a vital, free community service to Victorians each year.

Last season, the service carried out 142 rescue missions and flew over 1800 hours including beach patrols.

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service chief crew member Wayne Cartwright said the chance to bring the service to schools was a great opportunity to share critical water safety tips leading up to school holidays.

“As we approach the summer months, we know many students will be out and about enjoying our waterways, so it’s an important time to remind young Victorians to always swim between the red and yellow flags and remind parents about the importance of active supervision,” Mr Cartwright said.

“Students also learnt about how to check the beachsafe app and website to find patrolled locations near them, as well as how to identify and avoid dangerous conditions such as rips, currents, or poor weather – skills that can help keep them safe when it matters most.”

Westpac regional general manager, Scott Whitford, said Westpac has proudly supported the service in Victoria for more than 13 years.

“Students got the chance to hear first-hand from the crew who dedicate their time to help-

Students at Waverley Christian College had the rare chance to see the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter up-close.

Picture: SUPPLIED ing the community, as well as learn important safety tips so they’re better prepared if faced with an emergency.

“The session was great fun and offered an interactive experience where students were able to watch the helicopter fly in and land at their school, along with the chance to ask the crew and pilot questions about flying, rescues and patrols.”

Waverley Christian College deputy head of primary, Mrs Sarah Michael, said the program was a great way to help students learn about water safety.

“It was not only a very exciting experience for the primary students, but such an important reminder about water safety before the end of the school year, so they can enjoy time

on the beach or in a pool over their summer break,” she said.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service patrol is in full service until April but supports emergency agencies for year-round search and rescue services, meaning no Victorian has ever had to pay to be rescued.

The visit was part of LSV Water Safety Month, which sees LSV and Play It Safe By the Water partner agencies prioritise sharing water safety messages across all of December, with Westpac’s visit aiming to remind parents to always keep a close eye on their children in, on and around water.

Since 1 July 2022, there have been 15 drowning fatalities in Victoria; 15 per cent of these drownings occurred in coastal waterways.

Funding for schools Nearly $200,000 of federal funding will be rolled out to South East schools in coming weeks.

Among the grants were $50,000 for classroom laptops at Dandenong High School and $30,000 for a climbing structure at Dandenong Primary School.

Dandenong West Primary will receive $35,000 for upgrades to the outdoor learning area, Maramba Primary $48,445 for playground upgrades, and Oatlands Primary $15,000 for roof repairs.

Mossgiel Park Primary was granted $20,000 for its radio station’s equipment and sound proofing materials.

Bruce MP Julian Hill said the commitments were made during the 2022 elections and secured in the new government’s recent budget.

“Finally after a decade of being completely ignored by the Liberal Government, our community is getting a fair share.

“This is terrific news for these schools – especially for their students.

“It means better equipment and facilities to help them learn and play in a top-class environment.”

The funding is part of the Federal Government’s $270 million School Upgrade Fund to boost infrastructure for students especially to combat the impacts of the pandemic.

Mr Hill said schools could apply for the next open grant round of $32 million.

Grants were available for small-scale projects up to $25,000 such as laptops and iPads, classroom upgrades and outdoor learning areas, Mr Hill said.

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Stirring trouble

By Mitchell Clarke

Stirring trouble

By Mitchell Clarke It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing any-

It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing anything but joy.

During the one hour exercise limit - which is now a distant memory - Spoonville sites across Cardinia Shire were the most popular place to visit.

Despite the fad having died down entirely, the Cardinia Lakes community was understandably upset at news their local site appeared to have been targeted by cruel vandals.

Estate resident Laksika noticed the destroyed site during her daily walk on Sunday 24 January.

“I think someone has just walked over it or kicked them all over. It’s very sad to see it. We always used to stop there and have a look for new ones,” she wrote on Facebook.

The reaction from her neighbours was similar.

“Absolutely disgusting. The highlight of our walk is our toddler stopping to look and admire the spoons,” one local woman said.

“That’s so disappointing. My kids had spoons in there,” another woman added.

Pakenham Hills Ward councillor Jack Kowarzik said the news was “really frustrating”.

“Spoonville was created by locals for the enjoyment of local children and to see it vandalised is disappointing,” he said.

Cardinia Art Society president Jillian Ronald described Spoonville as an “amazing initiative” during Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown.

“It’s given joy and positivity in some very dark times and I just think it’s really disappointing that, when the community put together a project to support each other during a difficult time, that someone would take the trouble to destroy it. They’d be better off going home to create a spoon and putting it with

In happier times - Maci, Willow and Aubrey at a Pakenham Spoonville site. 214450 the rest,” she said.

“I’d suggest there’s much better things they could do with their time.”

The ‘Spoonville’ trend was born out of Winnersh, England, in an attempt to improve mental health by simply making people happy as they were out and about during daily exercise.

The quirky saga soon made its way to Cardinia - after Australia’s first ever site was constructed up the highway in Longwarry.

Within weeks, the site had spread to Pakenham, Officer, Garfield, Nar Nar Goon, Emerald and Beaconsfield.

Ms Ronald acknowledged the Spoonville craze had now hit a dead end.

“They’re getting a little bit tired, so maybe it’s time for the spoons to come home,” she said.

Ms Ronald, who commissioned the two local sites at Lakeside in Pakenham, encouraged community members to collect their spoons from their local sites.

She added that in mid-February she’d look to clean up all remaining Spoonville’s and relocate any leftover spoons to an “undisclosed location”.

The once popular Spoonville trend appears to have hit a dead end.

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14 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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‘Mixed-use’ precinct plan

By Eleanor Wilson

Aerial view of the Bunjil Place Precinct concept masterplan looking north-east.

Mr Boardman said the focus of the draft concept plan was to bridge the gap between Bunjil Place, Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre (ARC) and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.

The draft concept plan includes the proposed sale and development of 5ha of land which currently encompasses the Bunjil Place car park and surrounding open space.

He stressed the designs were commissioned to “get the conversation started” and were not final designs.

“These are not final plans at all, these are

Photo: MGS Architects.

literally plans that have come up… to generate discussion among the community about what we could potentially do with this precinct if the community so desires.

“We very much want to get community feedback on what is the best future use of the municipality of Casey.

“This is our civic hub, this is our cultural hub, this is the part that we want to ensure that we are bringing as many people as possible to enjoy to participate in, engage with community activities but we want to give them some degree of economic, cultural, community and investment incentives to stay longer to enjoy

what we have to offer.”

Fellow City of Casey administrator Miguel Belmar said the draft concept plan was a “fantastic opportunity for the community to be engaged in the planning of an area such as Bunjil”.

“It’s important to realise the great opportunities that are viable in the precinct and to ensure the best use of such valuable land in Casey.”

Subject to council approval, community engagement on the Bunjil Place Precinct Draft Concept Plan would commence in early 2023.

12580180-JW49-22

The City of Casey has unveiled preliminary plans to revitalise land surrounding Bunjil Place, with hopes to better connect the civic hub to Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, Casey Aquatic Recreation Centre (ARC) and Max Pawsey Reserve.

In a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December, City of Casey administrators unveiled plans to commence community engagement for the Bunjil Place Precinct Masterplan, which included plans to use existing open space and car parking to transform the area into “an exciting and viable high-density mixed-use precinct”.

The masterplan for the project includes potential for multi-rise residential apartments, a mix of private and public uses that help to create a 24-hour activated precinct such as a hotel, hospitality, leisure, and wellbeing facilities, a multi-deck car park and enhanced pedestrian access throughout the precinct.

City of Casey administrator Cameron Boardman said public feedback following Bunjil Place’s exhibition of the 2022 Archibald Prize in September, along with analysis of a report on the revitalisation of the Fountain Gate-Narre Warren Metropolitan Activity Centre, sparked the decision to look at the future of the precinct.

“We were quite impressed and at various stages overwhelmed with the number of visitors we had to this precinct, many of whom, if not the overwhelming majority, were first time visitors who remarked on a number of issues,” he said.

“Some of the themes that we received as feedback was that there would be a desire to stay longer to experience other parts of this precinct and of the general area and also the complete inadequacy that we had in providing food and beverage and hospitality services for that amount of people.”

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 15

NEWS

Rollers promote respect

Wreckers’ JB Boom and Revin Townsend collide. 309489

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Shift in focus

Show is back on track

Exhibitors, volunteers, sponsors and spectators were Changes are being thrilled to be back made to the Casey at P.B Ronald Reserve Foundation, which Cardinia for klea Pakenham Show the 111th Parsolely as the Cardiniawill potentially be known on Saturday.

Foundation.

Spoiled with sunny The foundation weather, the is making the show was the first to transition to decision a Cardinia-only Covid-19 shutdownsone back since body to strengthen not for in 2020 and profit organisations help 2021. community. in the It was a bumper Director Paul Thomas tainment with plenty day of entersaid the board yet to approve has of high qualthe new direction ity poultry, sheep transform the foundation. that will and exhibits, reminiscent horticulture “Throughout the of the district’s pandemic, like rural roots.

Casey Cardinia Foundation ganisations that director Paul Thomas are philanthropic, most or- says the foundation dation has had the founmay be shifting its little focus to carry out fundraising to no opportunities to Cardinia only. 198803 COVERAGE PAGES - we have continued 16-17 grants process so our the out, but we haven’t funds have been going their own organisation. really had monies ing in because The foundation comJunior Ambassador our fundraising was mainly grants process and currently has an annual through events,” of the Parklea Mr Thomas Pakenham Show is Sheridan Venables per cent of its assets. required to give back four “We took the opportunitysaid. (left) with Senior Ambassador Indi to go strategic review If approved by the Skehan. 271091 over the last couple through a board, the foundation Picture: ROB CAREW years. only give out to Cardinia “The review indicated will based organisations. we need to fund organisation properly Beaconhills College Mr Thomas said the to ensure we’re once the changes fundraise to the Class for VCE Dance.student Ruby Thornton-Mackay has able to proved, the foundation are aplevel we need to, been chosen will and ultimate- at a whole be able to operate to perform at Top ly give out significant new level. funds Picture: SUPPLIED “We will have significantto the community.

“It will mean we support from the Cardinia can make a difference Cardinia Shire.” to organisations through Cardinia Shire our grants process,” Mr Thomas councillor Jack said. said it was important Kowarzik “There was an

By Jonty Ralphsmith to continue to provide Ruby Thornton-Mac the foundation spreading ourselves argument that we were with financial support. too thin and this Casey also recorded training has paid kay’s 13 years of dance outstanding The“By City reinvigorating us in will hone of Casey recorded off, to a smaller territory. the the foundation of the best students being named one who have VCE performing arts students the third we work withofphilanthropist with 5174 – 231 fewer most family incinumber highest can dents Houses criminal offences completed; who undertook “Cardinia than in 2020. the s in the is growing at such Dance inwere VCE Music Investigation, Music Performance, incommunity.

2021 of any we In better news, Victorian 2021. top location for offences “With the a rapid rate so with 5833 offences localcompletion governmentofarea. deception offences, Music Style can concentratethe number occurring in the of criminal this strategic re- cidents view, Ruby has been some significant public order and position, VCE household. offences, it would inThe the City ofon ects thatinreally Criminal and Combe short Stealing selected to perform VET Music Industry, security Casey was sighted to wrap from a motor Statistics can make the Melbourne down 17.2projfoundation.” vehicle was the most at Drama justice procedures Dance, cent from 2020 to a difference up the community.” its released 2021 data on Thursday Agency Recital in per the common 2021.

Centre later this fences. and Theatre Studies. - except drug ofmonth offence, 17 March, revealingCasey as part followed by breach family Caseyjoined Ruby said she was of Top Class The highest number recorded violence order, Cardinia the 19,680 foundation Shire Council Hampton of Excellence, criminal Season ceived offences, of will in 2013 offences only is choosing Park (1868grateful damage,VCE have rebehind Greaterto but cial occurred managed in Cranbourne provide in 2020tocompared Geelong honour make an support to the finan- andCurriculum theft 1453 inthe by theother common assault.

(20,018) withfoundation performing exit as Victorian 1863, followed and they 2021), Narreof Melbourne (1629), (33,597). ate their focus her skills- to based dance and by first for the Warren (2627 in Berwick and undergo changesreevalu- years, solo which Narre with five theWarren In Berwick, total Assessment Authority as 2020, 2123 she in 2021), (VCAA). goal to grow (1533), within (1022) theHampton part ofNarre offences were down Warren Northchoreographed foundation a pointand her extermination Park where to to 2157 (352 Cranbourne it will be able 2475 last 2020, 323 in 2021) for withseason theinsubject The North a decrease in all to (999). year.and Narre Warren South run on its own. offence 11 concerts divisions – crimes against presents also recorded the person, property by decreases in the annual number Read moreof and oncrimes. page 2 Continued page 3

Crime concerns

Dancer takes centre stage

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Dynamic action in the Sovereigns v Westside Wreckers game. 309489

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World champion and ’Change Our Game’ ambassador Lauren Foote. 309489

Kingston mayor Hadi Saab and deputy mayor Chris Hill with some of the roller-derby skaters. 309489

12496498-DL22-21

Despite playing under the theme of ‘Respect’, there were no beg-your-pardons at a recent roller derby match at Springers Leisure Centre.

There were inspiring speeches followed by plenty of bruising action as The Sovereigns from Kingston City Rollers took on the Footscray-based Westside Wreckers at the ‘Roll for Respect’ event on 3 December.

The proudly open-gender Rollers donned orange in support of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Guest speakers were Kingston mayor Hadi Saab, ‘Change Our Game’ ambassador and 2017 world champion roller-derby player Lauren Foote and Rollers player Raff.

‘Change Our Game’ is driving for more equality for women and marginalized genders in sport, Foote said.

“Initiatives like Roll for Support amplifies it’s normal to treat everybody with respect.

“I see a lot of people come to roller derby and find their inner power. Where they can be unapologetically aggressive, where they can be strong, can be tough.

“Feeling strong on the track helped me feel strong in my everyday life as well.”

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LA TROBE 03 9768 9164 JasonWood.Updates Authorised by J.Wood, Liberal Party of Australia, 3/16 Langmore Ln, Berwick VIC 3806.

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• Pakenham - Tea for 2 Cafe 58 John Street

• Pakenham - Century 21 Real Estate - Pakenham 103 Main Street

• Officer - Chelles Soulfood 20/445 Princes Highway

• Pakenham - Pakenham Central Marketplace 50-54 John Street

• Pakenham - Vanille Bistro 116 Main Street

• Pakenham - Milk Bar Jun-58 Racecourse Road ( Cnr Cameron Way )

• Officer - Peake Real Estate Lvl.2, 439 Princes Highway

• Pakenham - O’Brien Real Estate - Pakenham Shop 3 & 4 /11 John Street

• Pakenham - Bakery 127 127 Main Street

• Pakenham - Cardinia Club 71 Racecourse Road

95 Main Street • Pakenham - Arena Cafe Shop 8 Princes Highway and Cardinia Road (Arena Shopping Centre)

• Officer - Officer Post Office Princes Highway and Cardinia Road (Arena Shopping Centre)

• Pakenham - Four Seasons Cafe Shop 5, 50 54/5 John Street

• Pakenham - Neilson Partners 1st National - Pakenham 130 Main Street

• Pakenham - Lollipop’s Playland & Cafe 01-Mar Southeast Boulevard

• Officer - Arena Shopping Centre Princes Highway and Cardinia Road

• Pakenham - The Coffee Club Shop 6, 50-54 John Street (Pakenham Central Marketplace)

• Pakenham - Twisted Sista Cafe & Gelateria 131 Main Street

• Pakenham - The Cornerstone 2 Station Street

• Pakenham - Pakenham Heights Cafe & Milk Bar 3810/28B Ahern Road

• Pakenham - Elders Real Estate - Pakenham 1140 Koo Wee Rup Road

• Pakenham - The Great Australian Bakehouse 137-145 Main Street

• Pakenham - Lakeside Square Shopping Centre 9 Village Way

• Pakenham - Gloria Jeans Shop 1/1280 Koo Wee Rup Road

• Pakenham - Bendigo Bank 105 Main Street

• Pakenham - Frankies 5 Lakeside Boulevard

• Pakenham - Pakenham Place Shopping Centre 67-69 Main Street

• Pakenham - Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre Windermere Boulevard

• Pakenham -Stockdale and Leggo Real Estate - Pakenham Shop 9, 22-26 Bald Hill Road • Pakenham - Deep Creek Reserve Cafe Cameron Way PAKENHAM OFFICER

• Pakenham - Cardinia Cultural Centre Lakeside Boulevard • Pakenham - Pakenham Hills General Store 1 Leigh Drive • Pakenham - Homestead Cafe @ The Heritage Shop 5/1 Livingstone Boulevard

• Pakenham - Robert Gordon Pottery & Kitchen 114 Mulcahy Road • Pakenham - Pakenham YMCA 4 Olympic Way

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• Pakenham - Ray White Real Estate - Pakenham Lcl.1, 11 John Street

• Pakenham - Spill the Beanz Coffee Shop 825 Princes Highway • Pakenham - Salvos Stores 895 Princes Highway

• Pakenham - Harcourts Real Estate - Pakenham Lvl.1, 48 Station Street

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Mayhem and Bam put a hold on a Wreckers roller. 309489

Chang-tave (Sovereigns) and Juke Box (Wreckers) get on their skates. 309489

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STAR NEWS 17

WHAT’S ON Garfield Christmas Festival Richmond FC Christmas in Cardinia

Garfield’s annual Christmas Festival is on Friday 16 December 2022. This family-friendly event has plenty of fun for the kids, enjoy live music, food stalls, late-night trading, street markets, and even a visit from Santa, plus much more!

Friday 16 December 5pm to 9.30pm.

Richmond will celebrate the festive season with an open training session in Cardinia Shire on Tuesday 20 December from 2.30pm to 5pm.

Through the club’s partnership with Cardinia Shire Council, the session will take place at Beaconsfield’s Holm Park Recreation Reserve and will be the first chance for fans to see the Tigers’ full squad in action this pre-season.

After the session, kids aged 5-14 can participate in a free clinic run by the players.

Register via tige. rs/3XWyXb4

·Xmas on the Foreshore Tooradin

Finally after two years of Covid-19, Xmas on the Foreshore is back and bigger than ever. More food trucks, more carols, entertainment and bigger than ever fireworks. This alcohol-free event is hosted by the Tooradin Foreshore committee of managment, with sponsorship from local businesses and City of Casey.

A gold coin donation is always appreciated.

Starts 6pm, fireworks at 9.45pm, Friday 16 December.

·

Child of the Year - Narre Warren Baby Show We are coming back to Narre Warren for what will be an incredible event to be a part of. We are excited to announce we now have a new exciting addition to our events that you will absolutely love. Adults get ready to dance, have fun and make new friendships! We will be searching for our newest King and Queen high title winners and have dozens of trophies, ribbons and prizes to give away. Come along and have some fun while supporting Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia. Bookings: babyshowtime.com.au/event/narre-warren-baby-showchild-of-the-year Friday 16 December 11am-2pm at Toymate Fountain Gate, 23 Brechin Drive, Narre Warren.

·

·

LDTR Trail Maintenance Day We need you to join us on the trails.

Come help us get the trails open sooner so we can ride them. Help us, to help you!

Meeting point: Parks Victoria Depot, Reservoir Road.

Saturday 17 December 8am to 3pm at Lysterfield Park.

· ·

Akoonah Park Wednesday Christmas Market

·

tion) around 5.30pm starting out in Guys Hill and work his way back through the Brennan estate, McBride Rd and Valley Dr, onto Grant Court, Burton Rd, Paul Gr (Beac/Emerald Rd) before arriving at the community centre for the carols at approximately 7.45pm.

CFA Santa Run Upper Beaconsfield

Emerald Carols by the Lake

Once again this year we are excited to be bringing you the Santa Run on Christmas Eve around the streets of Guys Hill and Upper Beacosnfield.

Santa will leave the North Pole (aka the Fire Sta-

Carols are led by the talented Cardinia Civic Concert Band and entertainment from other amazing local artists. Come from 6pm till 7.30pm for the community picnic and entertainment by lo-

12569257-DL38-22

The Wednesday pre-Christmas market will be returning again this year!

Come and grab some delicious food and drinks and enjoy some Christmas shopping with friends and family in a great local market atmosphere.

More information on stall categories to come.

Wednesday 21 December 9am - 3pm at Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia St, Berwick.

cal artists. Come or stay on for the carols themselves between 8pm and 9.30pm.

Emerald Lake Park Friday 16 December.

Santa comes to Emerald On the back of the Big Red Emerald Tanker, Santa will be spreading his festive cheer all around Puffing Billy Park and Playground on December 24. Come meet the jolly man, grab some lollies, and say hi to his elves (your local CFA volunteers!).

Saturday 24 December 3pm to 4pm.

·

Catch up on all the news from the across the region... every Wednesday

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NEWS

Back left: Ray Carr, Taleb Elhassan, Santa and Captain Travis Carter; front, Anastasia Barker, Marko Gochez and Lt Adrian Jones. Santa stood in for Colin Booth. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

This year, Santa’s sleigh comes in the form of a tinsel adorned trailer, ready to collect donations.

Spreading Christmas cheer

By Eleanor Wilson Santa will be making a special visit to the City of Casey later this week as the Narre Warren CFA spreads Christmas cheer with its annual Santa Run. Families across Berwick and Narre Warren are encouraged to make the trip to their local park for the opportunity to meet the big man in red.

This year, the gift of giving is a two-way street, with Santa and his elves towing a tinseled-out trailer for families to fill with goods for those in need.

Donating to emergency food relief organisation Transit Outreach, the brigade is looking for non-perishable food items to gift to fami-

lies in need this festive season.

Transit Outreach coordinator Reverend Keith Vethaak said the Narre Warren based not-for-profit is currently feeding upwards of 1500 people each week.

“The last couple of months the demand has escalated enormously…we’re noticing huge queues of people waiting to pick up food,” he said.

He said the CFA’s food drive will help bridge the gap between supply and demand for the charity.

“It’ll just help up having enough groceries to give out…for the first time ever we’re having to limit the number of groceries people can pick up, just so there’s enough to go around,” Rev Vethaak said.

“We have lots of families that are coming to us saying they just have no money to buy anything for their children for Christmas. We’re seeing that much more than previous years.”

Narre Warren CFA wellbeing officer Anastasia Barker said the brigade is also accepting Transit donations at its CFA station up until Christmas.

Donations can be given to staff on duty at the station, or can be placed in the donation box located out the front of the station.

Santa and his elves will embark on the Narre Warren CFA’s Santa Run on Saturday 17 and Wednesday 21 December at the following locations: Saturday 17 December 5.30pm - 5.50pm Ray Bastin Reserve (Pocket

Park) 6pm - 6.20pm Wood Road Reserve 6.30pm - 6.50pm Berwick Springs Playground 7pm - 7.20pm Berwick Springs Junior Football Club 7.30pm - 7.50pm Casey Central Park Wednesday 21 December 5.30pm - 5.50pm Oakgrove Community Centre 6pm - 6.20pm Lake View Drive Park 6.30pm - 6.50pm Kershaw Drive Reserve 7pm - 7.20pm The Common Reserve 7.30pm - 7.50pm Narre Warren South Football Club

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How to easily create KPIs TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH

There is precious little point in setting individual staff member objectives if the business has not defined objectives of its own, says Ian Ash. vidual staff member objectives if the business has not defined objectives of its own.

In fact, this can be a recipe for disaster as each individual manager may then set objectives which could well compromise or conflict with other manager’s objectives.

As we have noted in previous articles, the

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It is essential that the organisational roles and responsibilities are well defined, ideally with each role (not person) having its own position description.

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The Cardinia Foundation was established in 2004 with the vision of building strong, healthy and diverse communities. In partnership with the Cardinia Shire Council, the Foundation primarily supports local NFP groups in the provision of Grants including older persons, disability, disadvantaged, youth, arts, environment and men’s health across the Cardinia Shire region.

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Responsibilities include policy and procedure compliance,IT and database systems,general administration regular reporting and advising on Foundation outcomes and revenue generating activities.

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12583145-JC50-22

Something that seems none too common these days is the creation of staff objectives or key performance indicators (KPIs). This is a pity since these are a great way to align manager and staff member expectations on individual goals and to be specific on what constitutes a successful outcome.

So, why aren’t they done?

There are probably a few reasons for this: managers don’t see the need, managers don’t feel sufficiently well trained or equipped to adequately define and review these, things have worked OK in the past without them, this is only done by large corporations or perhaps the process is lengthy and cumbersome and of little value.

In practice, there are extremely few business-related activities that belong only with ‘large corporations’.

Instead, it is usually a question of scale, i.e., to what extent the activity is undertaken rather than should it be done at all, so if you agree with this, then the very last item effectively becomes the major stumbling block.

This article shows how to create these simply and easily, and once done, it is very easy to do the same thing thereafter.

There are two important precursors that must be known: 1. What is the business trying to achieve over the defined interval of time?

2. What are the organisational roles and responsibilities?

There is precious little point in setting indi-

An important thing to bear in mind with position descriptions is that they should be very clear and specific about what the role is actually responsible for, not just what it does.

When you write a position description in this way, it then becomes independent of the tool, system or process that is used and focuses more on the specific outcomes that need to be achieved.

This has the big advantage that the position description does not need to be rewritten every time the tool, system or process changes.

When you think about a particular role, you will usually find that there are between three and six major functions associated with it and so it is a good idea to separate these in the position description and then simply bullet list the accountabilities associated with each.

For example, a key function of a sales manager is to document the sales strategy and planning for the business and so a key accountability is to ‘write the sales plan’.

Once the business goals have been defined and the position description is agreed with the staff member, then it is a relatively simple task to go through each of the business goals and determine which of these apply to person concerned.

One or more key performance indicators can then be produced for each of the relevant business goals. So, using the sales manager again as an example, if the business goal were to achieve annual review of $5 million, then two obvious KPIs would be: 1. Document a sales plan that shows how the company’s annual revenue target of $5m will be achieved by dd/mm/yy.

2. Achieve the company’s annual review of $5 million by 30/6/23.

The must be reviewed and agreed in advance otherwise the process won’t work.

Ian Ash is the managing director of OrgMent Business Solutions.

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STAR NEWS 21

SPORT

Goodwin glory at Sandown

By David Nagel Victorian racing’s power shift to the South East suburbs of Melbourne continued at Sandown Park Hillside on Saturday with seven of the nine winners being trained at Cranbourne or Pakenham.

Pakenham trainers had a huge day at the office with gun-trainer Peter Moody scoring a winning double, with Life Lessons and Sigh, while Phillip Stokes prepared Savannah Cloud to win race eight on the nine-race program.

But it was the win of eight-year-old gelding Never Again that held most prominence, continuing the rise of up-and-coming Pakenham trainer Reece Goodwin.

The former picnic-jockey, the son of wellrespected trainer Barry Goodwin, only secured his ticket in the early stages of this year.

Goodwin has mainly purchased tried horses to this point in time, but looks set for a very bright future in the sport.

Goodwin learnt his craft from spending time at some prominent overseas stables before working with his dad for two years.

The weekend provided a great guide to Goodwin’s future prospects, with Never Again becoming his first metropolitan winner and becoming the second-leg of a weekend double after Sarnia scored at Cranbourne on Friday night.

Never Again was formerly trained by Clinton McDonald, and showed enough class to win the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington in January 2021.

His first city-winner capped off a great firstyear of training for Goodwin.

“It’s been a really good first 12 months, plenty of success and plenty of more horses in work from when I first started out, so I couldn’t be much happier,” he said.

“I just felt I had learned enough and it was time to go out on a venture of my own.”

And Goodwin didn’t need to look too long for a new home.

“I had a look at locations, where I thought would be best, and I thought Pakenham was more a place of the future, in five to 10 years, that’s going to be bigger and better than anything else around here,” he said.

“Some of the plans they’ve got in place, I think it’s certainly going to be the place to be.”

Never Again provides up-and-coming Pakenham trainer Reece Goodwin with his first city winner on Saturday.

Picture: BRETT HOLBURT/RACING PHOTOS

Sigh waltzes in the last race at Sandown on Saturday to give Pakenham trainer Peter Moody a winning double.

Picture: BRETT HOLBURT/RACING PHOTOS Just like Pakenham, Goodwin has plans to grow significantly into the future.

“We just want to try and get some better stock in the stable, no one really sells group or

city-class horses on the tried sales,” he said.

“Sometimes that might happen if you’re very lucky, but we’ve basically got to start sourcing some younger horses, Yearling

Sales, New Zealand tried horses, and trialled horses, that’s basically the path I’ll be trying to take.

“It’s just trying to get some backing behind me, at the moment I’m trying to get some small share-holders involved, but hopefully there’s someone out there that can throw me a bone and really kick me on in the future.”

Cranbourne’s Melbourne Cup winning team of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace landed a double at Sandown with Detonator Jack and Right You Are, while Cranbourne stalwart Robbie Griffiths was on track to see exciting two-year-old filly Serasana make an impressive racetrack debut.

The beautifully bred daughter of Snitzel/ Twilight Royale – who cost $400,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales - could hardly have been more impressive.

Serasana sat just off a hot speed before jockey Dean Yendall opened her up and she galloped away in the straight for a three-length victory over the 1000-metre trip.

Griffiths and his training partner Matt de Kock – who is currently in his homeland of South Africa getting married - will now freshen the filly before returning to Sandown for the rich Blue Diamond series early in the new year.

“She delivered today,” Griffiths said postrace.

“She’s a quality filly, she kicked off her career the right way.

“One thing Dean (Yendall) and I said before the race was the best part about her will be the conclusion of the race, she’s very strong at the completion of anything she’s done in her education.”

Serasana is bred in the purple, by winningmachine Snitzel out of a mare that won the Group 2 VRC Sires Stakes as a two-year-old.

Griffiths agreed that the $400,000 purchase now looked a bargain buy with bigger targets on the horizon.

“She’s (Serasana) got a lot of substance behind her, both in genetics and on talent, there’s a lot ahead of her,” he said.

“Possibly the (Blue Diamond) Preludes, we’ll see how she comes through, we won’t jump ahead of ourselves in planning, but it will be something pretty big.”

Miles proves man on a mission at Drouin Speedway

By Dean Thompson Drouin Speedway completed its second race meeting of the season on Sunday with the annual Eliminator Cup for Standard Saloons sharing top billing on a packed card of racing.

Also prominent was the Lucky-7 series for Unlimited Sedans and the “Remember When, Remember Them” opening round of the season for Division 2 Hot Rods.

Mark Miles from Catani won the Eliminator Cup whilst Peter Cox from the Northern Suburbs won the Unlimited Sedans and Bobby Devine the Division 2 Hot Rods.

Other winners on the day included Colac’s Zac Barwise in Junior Standard Saloons, Trish Dike in Ladies Standard Saloons, and Danny Cox in Sports Sedans.

Six qualifying races were required to determine the starting line up for the Standard Saloon Eliminator Cup final.

Bunyip racer Jeff Blencowe started with victory in the first race, with Mark Miles the victor in race two followed by Stephen Douglas, Chris Miles, Blencowe again, and Andrew Miles.

Throughout the feature race - which is segmented into three eight lap stints, with a change of direction after the first two Blencowe, Chris Miles and then finally Mark Miles were race leaders.

Blencowe eventually became a nonfinisher while Mark Miles - a Pakenham businessman - won from his brothers Chris 22 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

and Andrew with Kacey Ingram of Warragul fourth and Leigh Gooding from Trafalgar East in fifth.

Unlimited Sedan action in the Lucky-7 series started with the Victorian Champion Johnny Young from Sale winning the first of four qualifiers with Peter Farley the second.

Young then backed up with a second win in the third heat before Peter Cox won the final qualifier.

Cox was under early pressure from Young in the feature event before Young suffered mechanical issues and pulled infield.

Cox went on to defeat Drouin member Daryl Nicolson, Darren Forrest, Peter Farley, and Peter Camilleri.

Division 2 Hot Rods were competing in their first ever round of the new “Remember When, Remember Them” series that honours previous racers and members of the Division 2 Hot Rod class and association.

Bobby Devine from the Latrobe Valley won the first of three heats, before completing the trifecta with the second and third also.

The final was never close with Devine the clear star of the class winning from Troy Hutchison, Kevin Hayes, Peter Disher and Allan Ward.

Across the day there were four different winners in Sports Sedan action with veteran racer Ray Gould from Warragul winning the first qualifier then Troy Glassborow flying the Drouin club colours, taking the second, before Rhys Lansdown won the third.

Mark Miles from Catani won the Eliminator Cup for Standard saloons at Drouin Speedway on Sunday.

Picture: CRAIG MITCHELL/CBM PHOTOGRAPHY However, none of them would win the feature with visiting driver Danny Cox taking the win in the final ahead of Gould, Zach Leeson, Matt Sgroi and Will Leeson.

Beau Stuchbery, the previous Drouin events Junior Standard Saloon winner, looked on track to double up as he won all three of the qualifying heat races on his way to starting from pole position in the final.

However, Colac racer Zac Barwise, who led most of the final except for one lap, went on to claim the win by .364 of a second over Stuchbery, Zoe Hunt, Cooper Joynson, and

Tom Braz.

Maddison Miles, Trish Dike, and Caroline Allen won the Ladies Standard Saloon qualifying races before Allen led every lap right into the second last corner of the final.

Dike then passed by for the lead and the race win by just a .473 margin at the chequered flag.

Miles finished in third, with Stacey Sheedy and Michelle George rounding out the top five.

Drouin Speedway will return to action in the middle of January. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Top two flex their muscle

By David Nagel Pakenham and Tooradin continue to set a hot pace at the top of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Premier Division ladder with both delivering in emphatic style on the weekend.

The undefeated Lions reduced Cardinia’s brittle batting line-up to rubble, while the Gulls rode a magnificent all-round performance from Josh Lownds to a thumping victory over Kooweerup.

PAKENHAM 126 V CARDINIA 105 Mesmerising performances from skipper Dale Tormey (18.2-7-4-30) and Jason Williams (3114-4-46) have propelled undefeated Pakenham (126) to a magnificent victory over Cardinia (105) at Gunton Oval.

The Lions under-performed on day one, but drew on the belief of an undefeated season to gun down the Bulls on their home deck.

Williams bowled unchanged from one end, while Tormey took over after an eight-over stint from Tommy Tyrrell (12-6-2-27) to lead his team to a memorable triumph.

“It’s right up there, you’d put that up there with the Tooradin win from earlier in the season,” Tormey explained.

“I said that to the boys after the game; that these are the type of wins that you can fall back on later, when things get tough and tense come finals time.

“Winning is contagious and if you win the tight ones you don’t tend to panic as much when those situations arise again.

“It’s a good habit to get into, that’s for sure.”

Off-spinner Williams opened the bowling and contained the Bulls brilliantly, bowling 14 maidens in a high-class display of slow bowling.

Tormey threw him the new rock for good reason.

“He (Williams) was super, obviously he opened the week before because we thought he was good match up with Alex (Nooy), spinning the ball away from the left-hander,” Tormey said.

“But basically we just took a leaf out of their book, they didn’t bowl amazing wicket balls, but they didn’t bowl badly, and that was the key for us.

“It’s a small ground at Cardy; if you bowl bad balls you get punished.”

Nooy (31) top-scored for the Bulls, while skipper Jake Prosser (11) and Nathan Volpe (18) threatened to stop the Lions in their tracks with a 24-run stand for the sixth wicket.

At 5/92, chasing 126, the Bulls were in the box seat, but the Lions refused to buckle.

“We were all very calm, the young boys were up and about, and we believed if we got on a roll, got a couple of quick ones, that we’d put them on the back-foot, given they’ve had a few low scores recently,” Tormey said.

“Boof (Williams) gets through his overs quickly, I have a short run up as well, so we tick through the overs and that can apply pressure as well.

“Dot ball pressure in all forms of the game is what we’re looking for.”

Williams claimed four vital scalps, with Nooy, Prosser, Bradey Welsh (9) and Leigh Paterson (3) among his victims.

The Lions head to bottom-of-the-ladder Clyde this week, while the Bulls host an also spluttering Kooweerup.

KOOWEERUP 199 V TOORADIN 5/302(DEC) Josh Lownds is emerging as a key weapon in the title defence of Tooradin (5/302dec) after the gifted all-rounder completed a career-best performance against Kooweerup (199) at Denhams Road on Saturday.

Lownds, who took 5/48 and finished 57 not out on day one, completed his inauguration with an even century (100) that built the platform for first-innings points.

Brad Butler (73) earned the title of ‘Best Supporting Act in a Thrashing’, while Tyler Evans (29 not out) and super-impressed skipper Cal O’Hare (49) were well-performing extras.

“He (Lownds) is a very good cricketer and always had the potential to be one of the best players in the league, and this year we’re seeing what he can do,” O’Hare said.

“He’s in a really good place off field and that’s helping his cricket a lot.

“It’s great to see him finally reach his full pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Build him a statue! Jason Williams bowled unchanged from one end to lead Pakenham to an incredible victory over Cardinia. 311879 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS potential…it’s great for the team and great for him as well.”

The Seagulls seem to be cruising at the moment, with depth in all departments, but O’Hare can see one or two things derailing the opportunity of back-to-back glory.

“Two things, we’ve got to get our bodies right – we’ve got too many injuries at the moment – and we need to start holding our catches,” he said.

“We’ve put down four or five chances in the last three or four games, and that’s going to cost us big time if we put down the wrong players.

“Drop (Dale) Tormey or (Chris) Smith in a final and they’re going to make you pay.

“We’re definitely not playing at our best, and that’s exciting that we’ve still got room to improve.”

But, overall, the Gulls’ imposing leader is highly impressed with his chargers.

“Our strength has been having a lot of contributors the whole way down the list,” he said.

“Blokes like Brad Butler, he’s an exciting cricketer and is still improving every game, BJ (Ben Parrott), has been fantastic, and young Tyler Evans is making a significant contribution as well.”

The Gulls head to Officer this week, while the Demons will look to bounce back from two consecutive losses when they head to archrivals Cardinia.

Rob Maskiell (2/11) and Gamini Kumara (2/44) were the best of the Demons bowling attack…that welcomes back trump-card Luke McMaster this weekend.

OFFICER 9/210 V MERINDA PARK 208 Officer (9/210) and Merinda Park (208) have done it again.

After the Bullants survived a last-ball thriller against the Cobras on Sunday 16 October, this time they prevailed again with a one-wicket win in their first run-chase for the season.

A hard-hitting half century from Jas Gill (68 off 53 balls) and an overdue return to form for Nick McLennan (60) set the Bullies on the path to victory.

The Cobras fought back through stirring efforts from Sas Perera (3/62), Andy Martin (2/16) and Josh Phillips (2/35), but late heroics from Leigh Boyle (12) and Nick Whitelaw (11 not out) got the Bullants across the line.

Keeper Whitelaw, who whipped off the bails

to secure the first victory back in October, was at it again, playing a ramp shot for two to give the Bullants their third win of the season.

“I don’t know what it is between us and them, they’ve both been very close, but I think we almost shot ourselves in the foot on the weekend,” said Officer skipper Ash Smith.

“We were going along well and then gave away a few wickets to make it tight, and that’s something we’ve done consistently over the years.

“We can’t seem to win one convincingly.

“Our attitude is always to maintain wickets and not lose wickets in clumps, but we’ve got a couple of guys that bat pretty much the same way each week.

“Jas Gill hit his third ball almost into the tennis courts at Officer, that’s how he bats, and he got us off to a flyer, but then we lost wickets and made it interesting.”

McLennan, with uninspiring scores of 0, 3, 5 and 0 in his previous four knocks, would then anchor the innings.

“He was copping a bit of stick, and when he got to seven he turned around and said, ‘that’s my highest score for the season, what’s that say about you blokes’,” Smith said with a laugh.

“He was good fun on the weekend and played a crucial role.”

Smith and the Bullants have now set the bar high.

“We’ve got a lot of room for improvement, and we’re really hunting that fourth spot now, and we’re pretty confident we can get there,” he said.

CLYDE (199) V CARLISLE PARK (263) A growing confidence is developing at Carlisle Park (263) after a five-wicket haul to Senal De Silva (17-3-5-36) launched the Vikings to a 64-run victory over Clyde (199) at Ramlegh Reserve.

Not even a fighting century – that included 13 fours and one six - from reigning Team of the Year member Jason Hameeteman (106) could deny the Vikings from banking their second-consecutive victory…their only two wins for the season.

“We obviously got off to a pretty slow start, but we’ve got a few new recruits and everyone is starting to come together well,” said skipper Teddy Fonseka.

“We’ve had some really good performances; Shalika (Karunanayake) got his ton last week and Senal (De Silva) took five wickets in the

Noah Parraga and Nick Whitelaw celebrate Officer’s thrilling win over Merinda Park. 311881 same game, so it’s building nicely.

“They’re really good cricketers, and were always going to come to the fore, it was just a matter of time before they showed their class.”

Remarkably, if the Vikings can beat Merinda Park this week, they could head to the break in fourth position after languishing in last place prior to round six.

“That was always the goal for us, to play finals, and we knew we would slowly build into the season and play our best cricket over time,” Fonseka said.

“It’s been good to get the last couple of wins and hopefully be in the four by Christmas.

“There’s still some very good teams around, Tooradin for example, but it looks like the middle spot is available and hopefully we can sneak in there.”

Fonseka has been thrilled with the performance of a long-list of recruits that have transformed the Vikings playing list.

“Mahie (Bodahandi) got 50 and batted well with Shalika last week; Ben (Perry) is a classy player, and all the other recruits have chimed in nicely at times,” he said.

“Ravi (Kodithuwakku) was a very big loss, but the guys we brought into the team have made up that difference, and then some.

“The club did extremely well to attract talent, especially finishing bottom last year, to attract that talent has been an amazing effort from the club.”

De Silva was the clear standout for the Vikings, with Bodahandi (2/48) also chiming in, while Kane Avard (27) provided most support to Hameeteman in the ill-fated run-chase.

Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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STAR NEWS 23

St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Officer

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Please contact the school now to make a booking Ph 5940 6777 St Clare’s Primary School Officer Officer 3809 Phone 03 5940 6777 Email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au 24 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 15 December, 2022

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