News - Berwick Star News - 16th February 2023

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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Looking back on Ash Wednesday

Cahill joins Vinnies

Magpies march to the mountain

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SPORT

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Casey likely to raise rates

Gavin Thompson - deputy chief officer of North West region, Matt Knight - group officer Nillumbik, Simon Wallace - Panton Hill captain and Tim Smith - deputy group officer Nillumbik. 315275

Pause and reflect Each year, on the night of 16 February, members of the Narre Warren and Panton Hill Fire Brigades, along with family members of the fallen victims of Ash Wednesday, journey to the hill tops of Upper Beaconsfield, off St Georges Road, for a vigil to commemorate the 12 CFA lives lost from their crews in 1983.

The weather is always eerily similar, according to Narre Warren CFA Captain Travis Carter - quite warm and a little breezy.

“You feel it when you come up here on that night, as the sun sets in the background and you can hear the trees but you can’t see them

anymore,” Captain Carter said.

“There’s a certain feeling you cant really explain unless you’re here.”

It’s a profound opportunity for the brigades to pause and reflect on the horror summer’s day in 1983.

“Its a bit of a pilgrimage up here each year.

“We set up at the top with a bit of catering and then everyone just really quietly comes down, form a semicircle and recite the firefighters prayer.

“I think for the brigade, the main driver is to show the families that we’ll never forget… that’s what it’s really about.”

“It’s really about saying thank you to the families for what they’ve had to endure for the brigade and for the CFA and for the community, so that’s the way we look at it.

“It’s just an opportunity for us to reflect, learn and feel.”

The connection between the Narre Warren and Panton Hill Fire Brigades was forged on the evening of Ash Wednesday, when a tanker of six Narre Warren CFA members and a tanker of five Panton Hill CFA members were fighting spot fires on a forest track in the valleys of Upper Beaconsfield.

Tragically, the crews were met with a fury of fire, which is said to have travelled 500 metres

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In the days following, both tankers were found burnt out, with all volunteers on board deceased. “[Panton Hill] shares this experience with us and we’re definitely very well connected because of that, we’re joined at the hip,” Captain Carter said.

“We’re very different brigades but we shared the same experience together.”

Current Panton Hill Captain Simon Wallace agreed the connection between the Upper Beaconsfield, Narre Warren and Panton Hill Brigades is unbreakable.

Continued page 2

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By Eleanor Wilson

NEWS

Mystery of the 12th victim

By Eleanor Wilson Each year on 16 February, the communities of Upper Beaconsfield, Narre Warren and Panton Hill, pause to commemorate the sacrifice of 11 CFA members, six from the Narre Warren Brigade and five from the Panton Hill Brigade, who died protecting the community from the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires.

But, there is much to be learned about a 12th victim, Keith Busbridge, who was found huddled with the six members of the Narre Warren Fire Brigade.

Memorials honour him as a casual firefighter, but little is known about how Mr Busbridge came to be on the truck that fateful day.

“He was picked up along the way - no one really knows how he came to be on the truck, but we’ve done a bit of work on that over the last few years, to get to know his family,” Narre Warren CFA Captain Travis Carter said.

“Keith Busbridge - we knew his name - but we never knew anything about him and we could never find anything about him,” Narre Warren CFA life member Colin Booth said.

“For years we looked but we just couldn’t find him.

“Then one of the members was on Facebook and he actually found Keith’s wife and daughter and as it turned out, they lived just across the road, really, from ourfire station now.

“For 30 years we’d been looking for him and they were across the road.”

It is understood Mr Busbridge, who was known as an committed community man who often involved himself in the local SES, CFA and life saving duties, answered a call for experienced volunteers as fire ravaged the Dandenong Ranges on 16 February.

The CFA understands that Mr Busbridge reported to Akoonah Park in Berwick, and was directed to board the Narre Warren fire truck.

The truck was tracking a fire in Upper Beaconsfield when a fierce wind change pushed the blaze toward the fire truck, engulfing it in flames.

Today, the CFA and Victorian Government recognised Mr Busbridge as a CFA member, with his widow Jan and two children presented a medal of honour to acknowledge his sacrifice.

Keith Busbridge’s name is etched alongside the 11 CFA members who lost their lives in the fire.

319125 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Recalling blaze provides an opportunity for education From page 1 “There’s definitely been a lot of camaraderie between them, that’s for sure,” he said.

“I think it’s a reminder that you’re not infallible, that things can go wrong.

“I would like to think as a brigade we’re a bit more cautious about what we do, and make sure we’re prepared. We have that everlasting reminder.”

Both captains said they feel a responsibility to make sure the Ash Wednesday legacy

continues, both through commemoration and education to ensure a similar tragedy can be prevented in the future.

“Every single new recruit that joins we sit down with them and talk about Ash Wednesday so people understand from the very start,” Captain Wallace said.

A large part of that education for current CFA members is sourced from people like Colin Booth, a life member of the Narre Warren Brigade, who was on duty on Ash Wednesday.

“We rely on guys like Colin to come down

the track with our members and talk to them and tell them the story and then make sure that, as a brigade, we don’t get in that situation again,” Captain Carter said.

“It’s an honour to have him as an educator on that topic.”

The community’s role in fire safety is also a key element in the prevention of another bush fire tragedy, says Captain Carter.

“From a fire safety perspective, I’d say the most important thing is for people to be prepared so that we don’t have to put ourselves

into dangerous situations to help them.

“That’s the key, if we don’t have to come down the road in the first place, because everyone’s been evacuated, that helps everybody.

“If [community members are] prepared and they leave early, follow the CFA’s online instructions, know where they’re going, what their plans are and what the weather conditions are, that’s probably the only way the community can help - to make sure they’re in a safe position when the fire comes.”

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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NEWS

Going pink for nurse funds

By Emily Chapman Laing Bright pink flamingos are flocking to yards in Pearcedale.

The friendly stunt is in support of the local cricket club’s McGrath Foundation fundraiser.

The annual Pink Stumps Day will be run by the Pearcedale Cricket Club in an effort to raise money to fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses and the incredible support services they provide to families experiencing breast cancer.

The game will be held on Sunday 26 February at Pearcedale Cricket Club.

As part of the fundraising initiative, volunteers have created a fun way to promote awareness of the cause – by placing flocks of inanimate flamingos in yards alongside a catchy promotional sign.

The flock kindly asks for donations via the QR code provided, as well as showcasing details of the upcoming game.

The idea came from a similar campaign overseas, and was employed by Donna Williams, wife of Pearcedale Cricket Club President Andrew Williams.

Pearcedale Cricket Club Committee member Renae Smith took to Facebook with a photo of the flock, and the response was unbelievable.

“All these people were saying, ‘Can I have them to put at my mum’s place? Or can I have them to put at my sister’s place?’” she said.

The club has been involved with half a doz-

The team showing off their pink pride. 319840

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

en Pink Stumps Days so far, raising more than $2000 each year.

The flamingo flock has raised more than $800 for the McGrath Foundation.

With over a week left until the big day, it’s looking like the club is set to reach a new fundraising record.

“Most of the money comes on the day,” Renae said.

“If we could hit $3000, that’d be awesome.”

Though the club houses many knowledgeable cricket players, Pink Stumps Day will put the club mums to the test.

“There’s no skill involved at all,” Renae laughed.

With everyone dressing up in their finest bright pink garb, and team players being drawn from a hat randomly on the day, the game is sure to see some interesting team outfits.

Donation teams will be set up ready to turn

community support for local mums showing off their cricket finesse, or lack thereof, into much-needed support for those dealing with breast cancer.

According to Cancer Australia, breast cancer remains the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and the second most common cause of death from cancer in females.

Approximately nine Australians lose their lives to breast cancer every day.

More than 20,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, with 99 per cent of those diagnosed being women.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that one-in-seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

While the past three decades have seen a 43 per cent reduction in terminal cases of breast cancer, the incidence of breast cancer diagnoses has increased by 33 per cent.

The McGrath Foundation provides invaluable emotional, physical and psychological care throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.

Currently, the foundation funds 193 nurses, with hopes to reach 250 nurses by 2025.

“Come and support the flamingos and get dressed up in as much pink as you can get,” Renae said.

To donate, please visit pinkisthecolour. com.au/fundraisers/pearcedalepanthers/ pink-stumps

‘Results are shocking’: $1.25m TattsLotto win a Drink-driving hits new high Valentine’s Day surprise

The South East’s senior cop has deplored the “shocking” numbers of drink drivers caught in a weekend operation on Monash Freeway.

A staggering 41 motorists - one in every 70 tested - were caught drink driving on the nights of Friday 10 February and Saturday 11 February as part of Operation Colossus.

The strike rate was well above the one in 301 caught during the Australia Day weekend.

“These results are shocking,” Southern Metro Division 3 Superintendent Jo Stafford said.

“To detect so many drink drivers in just two nights is extremely concerning.

“Even worse, many of those caught shouldn’t have had any alcohol in their system whatsoever.”

Twelve of those caught were required to have zero blood alcohol content.

They included a probationary driver who recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.192. The driver’s vehicle was immediately impounded, and their licence suspended.

A further six drug-drivers were caught from just 79 preliminary oral fluid tests.

Police also impounded 16 vehicles and detected 18 unauthorised drivers who were either unlicensed, disqualified or suspended.

Operation Colossus, which was conducted

by Southern Metro Division 3 Highway Patrol with support from the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section and Transport Branch, targeted impaired drivers on the freeway.

Supt Stafford issued a zero-tolerance warning after the high levels of drink driving.

“Choosing to drink and drive demonstrates blatant disregard not only for your own safety but the safety of your passengers and all road users.

“There is absolutely no excuse.”

First-time offenders – even a “bit over” the blood alcohol limit - face fines, loss of licence and disqualification.

Repeat offenders and drivers with high readings face potential jail time.

“Police are conducting alcohol tests at every opportunity and if you think you won’t get caught – think again.

“We won’t hesitate to remove drink drivers from the roads – even if you’re only a little bit over.”

As of 14 February, 49 lives have been lost on Victoria’s roads this year, up from 37 at the same time last year.

The five-year average is 31.

A Clyde North couple will have no reason to forget Valentine’s Day in future years after having their $1.25 million TattsLotto windfall confirmed by lottery officials earlier this morning.

The Victorian pair held one of the 16 division one winning entries in TattsLotto draw 4337, drawn Saturday 11 February 2023 and took home $1.25 million.

The ticket was unregistered which means officials from The Lott had no way of contacting the ticketholder to reveal their life-changing news and had being waiting for the winner to come forward.

“Wow, ok! That’s unbelievable!” the happy husband gasped when an official from The Lott revealed his life-changing lottery loot.

“I went to scan my TattsLotto ticket late last night because I hadn’t checked the winning lottery numbers yet.

“It told me to call The Lott as I had a big win – I had no idea!

“I tried to call The Lott late at night, but obviously it was outside of business hours.

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I was wondering all night if it was true.

“I’ve been playing this marked entry for a while now which consists of birthdays and other special dates. It’s nice knowing we’ve won with these numbers.”

With $1.2 million about to boost his bank account, the winning man said he looked forward to becoming a homeowner again.

“We used to be homeowners but had to sell our home recently due to unforeseen events,” he said.

“We can now look forward to buying a new home!”

His winning entry was purchased at Billionaire Lotto, Kiosk 1 2S, Selandra Rise Shopping Centre, 2 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North.

Billionaire Lotto owners Joseph Annam and Mary Annam said they broke into happy tears after hearing their outlet sold another division one winning entry.

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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STAR NEWS 3

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Casey Woman of the Year Liesel Kippen

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I’ve ridden an ostrich, horse and elephant, held a python, hawk and a double-headed lizard, played with a dolphin and laid next to a tiger, with my one leg over its leg.

What do you love about the work you do?

In my teaching role, I absolutely love interacting with the many different students each day, who have rich characters, personalities and attributes. In my volunteer role (outside of teaching), I enjoy participating in initiatives which address homelessness, make an impact, enhance life, and add value and quality to life.

I firmly believe in making a difference in the lives of others.

What would your last meal be?

A combination of an Indian and English dish, which comprises of Roti and Lamb curry, Lamb Breyani, Roast Lamb with Mint sauce, and Roast potatoes. For dessert, Goolab Jamuns or Soji (Indian dessert).

What are your most memorable moments?

When I won Casey Woman of the Year 2023, Ms Australia International 2022, Ms Australia Ambassador 2022, publishing my four poetry books and interviews with television and radio producers Kate Delaney, Ric Bratton and Dr Angela Chester.

What event, past or present, would you like to witness?

Being at my Dad’s side before he passed in September 2022, and being able to attend his funeral. Living abroad makes these precious moments extremely difficult and excruciatingly painful. That’s also one regret I’ll have for the rest of my life – not being with my parents when they need me most, but knowing that in order for me to support them, I need to continue working abroad.

Which three guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

I’m tempted to quote my favourite actors and

Berwick’s Liesel Kippen was awarded Casey Woman of the Year for her volunteer work fundraising for the homeless community.

Picture: SUPPLIED musicians, but in reality my three guests would have to be my family – my mum, dad and my sister, who I haven’t seen in over seven years, as I live abroad. In life I’ve taken for granted the thought of always having my parents around, but after COVID, when both Mum and Dad were seriously hospitalised, followed by my Dad’s passing, and due to the fact that it’s been years since I last saw my family, I’d love to be able to see them just one more time in person, sitting down for dinner at the dinner table, munching on a delicious meal of meat and vegetables and having a chat about the day-to-day events of life, while laughing heartily at Dad’s humour and light-heartedness.

What are you currently listening to, watching or reading?

I’m reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective

People by Stephen R Covey. This book centres on powerful lessons in personal change and serves as a guideline for individuals who desire to make a difference in life. It provides a stepby-step pathway to adapting to change and taking advantage of opportunities that change creates. Also, Deal your Own Destiny by Kate Delaney, which centres on why goals without accountability mean nothing; surrounding yourself with people who have integrity; understanding that patience pays and that we are “playing the long game” and finally, that we have to “go all in” in order to be purposeful, effective and dynamic.

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

Main meal: Lamb curry with fragrant basmati rice, a side dish of creamed spinach, cauliflower and broccoli gratin, potato bake and roast potatoes. Dessert: Rasberry and white chocolate cheesecake with a drizzle of raspberry coulis, topped with a dollop of cream, a cherry on top and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

What is your dream holiday destination?

I’d love to go to Paris, which has been on my bucket list, for as long as I can remember. It also has a reputation for being the ultimate in love and romance, with its wrought-iron buildings, sidewalks oozing with cosy cafes and the Seine’s meandering riverbanks. I’d love to be able to taste authentic coq au vin, golden buttery croissants, and the fusion of food.

What were you like as a kid?

I was very active and enjoyed the outdoors; from canoeing, to swimming in the ocean, lagoon and tidal pool (because my parents live on the beach), to playing tennis, table tennis, pool, volleyball, hockey, netball, basketball, soccer, athletics and bike-riding. My life revolved around being outdoors. I absolutely love animals and have always had a number of pets throughout my life.

THREE … ways to stay safe during fire season

1

Have a plan in place Discuss where you will go, when you will leave, what you will take and prepare a backup plan.

2

Prepare your home Loose leaves, timber, rubbish, recycling and excess grass around your home are fuel for fires. Tidy up around your yard, prune low tree branches and mow long grass. Prepare a hose and ensure you have safe access to water.

3

Be fire aware Keep an eye on Fire Danger Rating forecasts and Total Fire Ban days and follow the advice of emergency services.

NEWS

Beach car fire suspicious from the car was highly toxic, and first respondents were to wait for Pearcedale crew members to arrive with breathing apparatus before extinguishing the fire.

Police assisted with blocking off part of Cannons Creek Road while crews worked to extinguish the fire.

The fire has been deemed suspicious due to the nature of the fire and where the car was dumped. A spokesperson for Devon Meadows Fire Brigade commented on the silver lining of the incident.

“We are lucky it was dumped near the water and not the bush land nearby as it would have been a different story with the wind this afternoon,” they said.

Emergency crews had the suspicious fire under control in less than 30 minutes.

Picture: DEVON MEADOWS FIRE BRIGADE FACEBOOK

Year 7 2025 Online Q & A Information Evening

12588248-SN05-23

A beach in Cannons Creek was the site of a suspicious car fire. Devon Meadows Fire Brigade was called to the fire at 2.52pm on Sunday 12 February.

The fire was located on the beach at the end of Cannons Creek Road in Cannons Creek.

Supported by Pearcedale Fire Brigade and Cranbourne FRV pumper 92, the Devon Meadows Fire Brigade declared the fire safe at 3.18pm.

Numerous explosions were heard and seen on the way to the fire by crews first on scene.

Devon Meadows Tanker 2 was on scene within one minute of the fire call.

Attempts to protect the jetty and surrounding bush land were made. The smoke arising

Thursday 16 March, 7.00pm – 8.00pm To register your interest, visit www.sfx.vic.edu.au 03 9707 3111 4 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

A pathway for every child

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NEWS

Casey likely to raise rates

By Eleanor Wilson and Cam Lucadou-Wells The City of Casey will likely pass on the State Government’s recommendation of a 3.5 per cent rate cap for residents in the 2023-‘24 year, according to council’s chief executive Glenn Patterson.

In December, the State Government announced a doubling of the ‘fair go’ rates cap – up from 1.75 per cent last year and the highest setting since it was introduced in 2016.

City of Casey chief executive Glenn Patterson said council officers are likely to recommend that council pass on the full 3.5 per cent rate cap for the next financial year.

“The City of Casey is committed to meeting our growing community’s needs through managing our resources as sustainably as possible,” he said.

“With annual inflation hitting 7.3 per cent in September 2022, the City of Casey will need to bridge the widening gap between the State Government’s rate cap of 3.5 per cent - council’s major income source - and increasing operational costs well above the rate of inflation as well as our capital works projects which are also experiencing on average increased costs of between 25 and 30 per cent.

“Council’s 2023/24 budget setting – inclusive of fees, charges and rates – will therefore be focused on ensuring we can support the community through the continued provision of essential services and key infrastructure delivery given the city’s continued growth.”

Last year, on average Casey residential ratepayers were charged an extra $28.15 in rates.

Residential waste charges vary depending on the size and type of bins a resident selects, with charges increasing between $18 and $32 when comparing 2022-‘23 charges with 2021‘22 figures.

Council’s draft 2023/24 budget is currently being developed and will be on public exhibi-

The State Government’s Fair Go Rates system was introduced in 2016 to curb rates rises. 238145 tion for community feedback in April and May this year, Mr Patterson said.

Spokesperson for Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association, Brendan Browne said the rates increase will be “so unaffordable for so many families”.

“Combined with mortgage stress, low wages growth and the cost of living, [residents] won’t know where to find the money.

“Perhaps they’ll be looking in the overgrown grass at their local park.”

The State Government’s suggestion of a 3.5 per cent rate cap is higher than the latest annual wages growth figure of 3.1 per cent, Mr Browne noted.

“Wages growth is only 3.1 per cent, so this increase in rates and charges represents a real increase on top of an already expensive rates bill.”

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said the government set the rates cap lower than recommended by the Essential Services Commission due to the cost of living pressures facing rate payers.

The ESC recommended a marginally higher 4 per cent in line with the Consumer Price Index.

“The rate cap for the next financial year takes into account higher inflation and the need to protect Victorians from uncontrolled

rate hikes, while ensuring councils can continue to deliver vital community services,” Ms Horne said.

Each council was responsible for setting their own rates level within the rates cap “based on the needs of the community”.

“Community members have the chance to engage with their local councils as they make decisions about rate rises through their budget process each year.”

The Fair Go Rates system was introduced in 2016 to curb rates rises.

In the decade before its introduction, council rates rose on average by 6 per cent a year.

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

OPINION

Storm, Casey partner up for five years The City of Casey and Melbourne Storm have signed a five-year partnership agreement.

The new partnership was announced at AAMI Park on Monday 13 February by City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson and Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski, as Storm builds towards its opening NRL match for the 2023 season on 2 March.

Mr Patterson said the new partnership, which is in place until October 2027, is a gamechanger for Casey and Melbourne’s south-east.

“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership. Melbourne Storm shares council’s community-first ethos and will be a wonderful addition to our growing and diverse region,” he said.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM echoed Mr Patterson’s sentiment.

“We want to inform, motivate, and create a wider variety of opportunities for physical activity, and remove any barriers to participation for Casey’s residents,” Ms Duff said.

“This partnership will no doubt help drive rugby league participation across the community, with free community programs and family day events.”

Mr Rodski said the new partnership with the City of Casey was an extension of Storm’s activities in the region in recent seasons.

“The City of Casey and the wider south-east is home to thousands of our Storm members and a real growth area for rugby league,” he said.

“In the past three seasons, we have conducted two very successful NRL trial matches at Casey Fields, as well as meeting our members and fans at open sessions and via our Storm in Your Club program.

“Storm is dedicated to developing more local Victorian juniors into NRL players and currently two juniors from the Casey Warriors Club, Sheldon Diaz and Jared Nauma, are on that pathway via our new Storm Academy program.

“NRL Victoria through the Storm Cup, Storm Premiership and Storm Junior League is also looking to continue to grow rugby league in the south-east via its five clubs and the work of its game development officers.

“We’re delighted to welcome City of Casey as an official Storm partner for the next five years and look forward to the joint benefits the partnership will bring to our club and the Casey community.”

Melbourne Storm was founded in 1998 as the first Victorian club in the newly formed National Rugby League and has a strong presence in south-east Melbourne.

Melbourne Storm’s junior representative teams will play a number of their home games at Casey Fields during the 2023 NSWRL competition.

The 2023 SG Ball under-19s team will play one game at Casey Fields on Saturday 18 March against the Sydney Roosters, while the Jersey Flegg under-21s team will play three games at Casey Fields, starting on Sunday 25 June against the Dragons.

LENSCAPE

A local farrier prepares a Clydesdale shoe ahead of the Berwick Show next weekend. 319608

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

SOCIALLY SPEAKING Owners of a Devon Meadows free range egg farm had a cracking good breakfast last week, after one of their hens laid a 165-gram egg.

Here’s what our Facebook readers thought.

Nadine Gunningham Can I say I’ve seen a bigger egg at a farm in Bayles.

Kate Foot That’s a whopper! The biggest we’ve had is 120g.

Natasha Marsh Ouch that poor chook!

Peter Butcher Nice one Al. Community members took to Facebook to share their memories of the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires.

Sharyn Walsh - fuller A day that my family and myself will never forget as we lost everything.

Janette Young For us all... this day haunts us! We acknowledge so many deaths and sadness and prop-

erty loss in our local community on Ash Wednesday... Here’s to the very special strong community people and local fire brigades 40 years ago... and they know who they are without any accolades... so many unsung community people. Thank you... let’s be our caretakers of our beautiful environment but at the same time please beware to the new locals who have chosen to live in our bushfire areas be very very aware of fire awareness and preparing beyond what you are told... please acknowledge and look after your neighbours and your beautiful community...

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up To Meals on Wheels. They do a wonderful job, thank you to all the volunteers and the meals are excellent!

Thumbs down To the people who dump hard waste without booking it in.

Thumbs up To the members of Narre Warren North Fire Brigade Service. For the duration of the closure of the Ernst Wanke/Narre Warren North Road junction, they had a fire truck parked close to Kurrajong Road, to respond to any call south of the junction.

Thumbs down To Jordan’s Cereals for changing the recipe of their crunchy oat and honey granola. Breakfast is a battle at the best of times and this curveball definitely doesn’t help.

Thumbs up To Judy and Charlie Delphine for celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day. Congratulations.

Thumbs down To my bottle of milk that went off two days before the best before date.

Thumbs up To the supermarket packer who gave me a pack of 10 lemons in place of the singular lemon I ordered.

Thumbs up To Ash Wednesday services across Victoria. Good to see we continue to commemorate the sacrifices made 40 years ago.

Thumbs up To the homemade Spanakopita and chickpea salad generously brought in for the office to enjoy this week.

NEWS

Free RATs in Casey Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski and City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson. Picture: SUPPLIED 6 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

The City of Casey is handing out free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) at various sites across the municipality.

The Covid-19 detection tests are available for all members of the public at Casey customer service centres at Bunjil Place and Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre.

Test packs can also be accessed at Casey Cardinia Libraries at Bunjil Place, Cranbourne, Doveton, Endeavour Hills and Hampton Park.

Residents can collect up to two packs of five RATs per person, and two packs per household member.

Those with a disability or their carer can collect up to four packs of tests.

“We request that those who are experienc-

ing symptoms do not attend these facilities for a test, and to contact their local GP,” the council stated. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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Following in his footsteps

By Shelby Brooks John Minett was the captain of the Narre Warren Fire Brigade when the truck he was on was engulfed in flames during the Ash Wednesday bushfires, killing 11.

Six Narre Warren firefighters, along with five from Panton Hill, died during a firestorm in Upper Beaconsfield near St Georges Road around 9pm on Wednesday 16 February 1983.

The Narre Warren volunteers were found huddled together under their new firetruck, presented to the brigade only two days beforehand.

The handover of the truck and its keys was captured by then Gazette journalist Ian Thomas on the Monday.

Near the Narre Warren truck were the volunteers from Panton Hill in their truck, also deceased.

John Minett’s son Brian held his Dad’s spare helmet while reflecting on his father’s sacrifice.

“At the time, with Upper Beaconsfield and Narre Warren being small communities, it sits very well that Dad saved lives before he perished,” he said.

“I stand here today to make sure his memory, and the memory of the other people who perished at Ash Wednesday, are remembered.”

Brian was just five years old when his father died, but his Dad was his hero.

“My Dad and I were pretty inseparable, I grew up around the Narre Warren Fire Brigade - the old tin shed on Webb St,” he said.

“I remember a really funny story where we were getting a hair cut at Berwick Barbers, and he got called to a hay shed fire on our way back from Berwick.

“I was always keen to get out and give a hand but he took the nobs off the doors so I couldn’t get out, I was stuck in the car.”

Brian said although he was just five he remembered Ash Wednesday as being “hectic”.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Brian Minett followed in his Dad’s footsteps to become a firefighter. 315275 Picture: GARY SISSONS

“I’ve certainly looked at it as a way to reflect, for my own CFA career I feel privileged an honoured to follow in his footsteps.”

Brian joined the CFA in 2001.

“Over that time I’ve had some fantastic people who had worked beside Dad so I’ve been able to get a really clear image of what Dad was as a captain and a person, where I only knew him as a father,” he said.

“To get that understanding, and to over the years, learn more about my Dad John has been a blessing for me.”

Brian has a memorial to his father in his shed, where the helmet and a spare pair of overalls are displayed.

“I reflect on this on a regular basis when I’m out in the shed. I had to dust [the helmet] off this morning and give it a polish.“

John Minett was the captain of the Narre Warren Fire Brigade.

“As a five year old, I didn’t know how enormous the incident was, I remember going to the pool and seeing the smoke come over and the sun being quite orange and the smoke cover in the air. It wasn’t until the next day it unfolded that they were killed,” he recalled.

There was never a doubt in his mind that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“It’s all I ever wanted to be - a firey,” he said.

‘You can’t get it out of your blood’: Peter the firefighter

By Shelby Brooks At age 20, Peter Dickinson wanted to help when fires began on what would become known as Ash Wednesday - 16 February, 1983.

He approached a firefighting crew to ask if they needed help.

“They said, ‘can you operate a pump?’ and I said, ‘yeah, of course I can’,” Peter recalled.

Peter jumped onboard and began helping to battle fires in region 13.

“We were doing some asset protection and then the fire changed direction,” he said.

“I was at the wrong spot at the wrong time, as I put it.”

He was helping get people out of a home when a gas cylinder exploded.

“Next thing I know, basically I was on my backside, the thing blew up and thrown me

in the air,” he said.

Peter was able to jump back up and keep helping to fight the fires.

“Later that night, I lean over to pick my napsack up and fell flat on my face,” Peter said.

He had hit his head on concrete when the explosion knocked him over and the adrenaline had kept him going.

After spending time recovering in hospital, two weeks after he was released he went and joined the Scoresby Fire Brigade.

He then moved to the Narre Warren Brigade, which he has served with since 1986.

“Once you’re in the service you can’t get it out of your blood,” he said.

“It becomes a family, you have 50,000 family members, what more can you want?”

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Peter ‘Dicko’ Dickinson was inspired to join the CFA after his experience during Ash Picture: GARY SISSONS Wednesday. 315275

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Yarram CFA’s Brian Minnet (left) with Narre Warren CFA firefighters Daniel Kranan, Andrew Davey, David Morgan, Travis Carter Pictures: GARY SISSONS and Colin Booth. 315275

Narre Warren captain Travis Carter reads the honour roll aloud while Panton Hill captain Simon Wallace tolls the bell. 315275

Brave lives remembered

By Shelby Brooks Firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting their communities during the horrific events of the Ash Wednesday bushfires 40 years ago have been honoured in an anniversary commemoration in Cockatoo.

Hundreds of past and present firefighters, and community members, gathered on Sunday 12 February at the Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre, to share in grief and appreciation for those who lost their lives in the fires on 16 February 1983, which is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Victoria’s history.

The Ash Wednesday bushfires were a series of devastating fires that impacted more than 200,000 hectares and led to the death of 47 people in Victoria, including 14 CFA volunteers. Many fatalities were a result of firestorm conditions caused by a sudden and violent wind change.

More than 180 fires occurred on that day across several towns and communities in regions across the state. More than 16,000 firefighters and other personnel were involved in the response.

Tears were shed and wreaths laid in memory of the 14 of those people who were CFA firefighters.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the state-wide memorial was a day to quietly reflect.

“This date is permanently etched into the minds of several generations of Victorians. For many, it still haunts them,” he said.

The sombre and special day was an opportunity to reflect but never forget and learn the lessons of the past, Mr Heffernan said.

“As we can see, the Ash Wednesday fires had a lasting effect on all firefighters, emergency service personnel and community workers in the community and it’s important, particularly for the 14 firefighters that perished on that day,

Beaconsfield Junior CFA members assisted with wreath laying. 315275 that we have learnt and made improvements across the sector as a result,” Mr Heffernan said.

Hard lessons were learnt about how to combat fires, and improvements in the following years include command and control arrangements, training, latest technologies in firetrucks to ensure firefighters are responding are the safest they can be, the PPE that they wear and other technologies such as radio communication.

“Today is an opportunity to reflect but never forget and learn the lessons of the past,” Mr Heffernan said.

“Victoria is no stranger to fire; we are one of the most fire-prone places in the world, and we will continue to see fires, which is why it’s so important to commemorate these events, so the community understands the lessons of the tragedies of the past so we can continue to rebuild communities.

“There are so many people across our community that have bushfires, and the effects of bushfires, etched into their memories forever.”

Simon Wallace, captain of Panton Hill CFA,

Stan Hamilton, Eric Bumpstead and Nancy Boura were Upper Beaconsfield CFA volunteers during Ash Wednesday. 315275

tolled the bell to mark each name from the Ash Wednesday Roll of Honour, which was read aloud by Travis Carter, Narre Warren CFA captain.

Nar Nar Goon CFA captain Justin Seddon, Upper Beaconsfield captain Ian Pinney, Cockatoo CFA captain Chris White and Macedon CFA captain Ross Luke all performed readings.

Many community members laid wreaths, which was assisted by junior members of the Beaconsfield Fire Brigade.

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino represented the Minister for Emergency Services at the commemorative event.

She spoke to attendees about how far the emergency service sector has come since the events of Ash Wednesday and acknowledged the thousands of people who battled the fires.

“Ash Wednesday demonstrated the full horror of bushfires, the strength of communities and the courage of individuals,” she said.

“The community was devastated by the fires 40 years ago but subsequently drew closer and more resilient.”

Ms De Martino said despite 40 years passing, people’s grief at losing loved ones in the fires has never faded.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Many are represented here today by loved ones. Forty years on your sense of loss is still profound and your love for them undiminished,” she said.

“They died trying to save others. They died protecting properties, animals, strangers, friends, family and communities.”

Support Anniversaries of significant events such as the Ash Wednesday fires can bring up difficult memories and feelings including sadness, fear and grief.

If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, which offer support services nationwide.

CFA members and their families can contact the CFA Wellbeing Support Line for free, confidential 24/7 access to psychologists, counsellors, peers and chaplains.

More flexibility and more time for paid parental leave

By Emily Chapman Laing Families now have greater flexibility in how they use their paid parental leave.

A legislative bill aiming to enhance the Paid Parental Leave Scheme passed the Lower House on Thursday 9 February.

The bill will now be presented by the Community Affairs Legislation Committee to the Senate for deliberation.

The report is expected to be presented on 24 February 2023.

If it passes, changes are expected to begin 1 July.

These updates will extend the leave period from 90 days (18 weeks) to 100 days (20 weeks).

The total Parental Leave Pay (PLP) available to families will then increase in increments of two weeks each July, culminating in 26 weeks of leave by 2026.

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando is excited about the changes.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s paid 8 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

parental leave program is a significant step forward in supporting working families,” she said.

“This policy will allow parents to take time off work without having to worry about financial stress, which is critical in those early months of parenthood.”

Leave payments continue to be based on the national minimum wage of $772.60 per week.

Currently, PLP provides primary carers with up to 18 weeks of payments, while Dad and Partner Pay (DAPP) provides eligible working fathers or partners with up to two weeks of payments.

Eligibility is subject to an income test, where claimants cannot exceed an annual adjusted taxable income greater than $151,350.

Changes to the scheme will combine PLP and DAPP and allow eligible working parents to share up to 20 weeks of payments however they see fit.

The new measures also expand the in-

come threshold to $350,000 per year.

This new legislation will cost $346.1 million over five years.

The Albanese Labor Government has introduced the legislation in the hope that the updated measures will better reflect the needs of today’s families, promoting equality between mothers and fathers as well as allowing families to decide for themselves how best to use their Paid Parental Leave without the constraints of primary and secondary carer labels.

The current Paid Parental Leave Scheme has been criticised as outdated, reinforcing antiquated gender roles and being unfair to women who hold the primary income in their households.

At present, families are treated differently based on which carer has a higher income.

If a birth mother’s income falls beneath the income threshold of $151,350, and her partner earns more, PLP can be accessed by the mother.

However, if the mother is the primary in-

come earner with a partner beneath the income threshold, the partner cannot access the same support.

This effectively punishes women for being higher income earners and compromises their ability to share the care load with their partner.

Advocates for the bill also propose these changes will encourage fathers to play a more active part in their role as carer, allowing them the flexibility to share the paid leave with their partners.

The Holt electorate is one of the youngest federal electorates in the state.

Local MP Cassandra Fernando anticipates that the PLP changes will have a positive impact on families in her electorate.

“Our community is a home for people who strive toward ensuring that their children have a better life than they did,” Fernando said.

“The improvements to the Paid Parental Leave Scheme will provide significant relief to these families in Holt.” berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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Battin recalls ‘world end’

By Brad Battin, Berwick MP Living in Harkaway at the time, we were all too close to the tragic events of Ash Wednesday.

I was just seven-years-old, so the memories are there, but faded.

We are reminded every year, and photos remind us of the loss, they reignite those smells, the heat, and the feeling of thinking the world was ending.

The ‘world ending’ sounds far-fetched, but this was the view of a seven-year-old seeing day become night and a sky covered by brown smoke and a red reflection from a deadly fire burning over the hill.

I recall my parents were helping Ian and Jenny McDonald, lifelong Harkaway residents, on one night of the fire.

It stands out as I recall Mum wearing a new dress, and in those times, we were not well off, but it was one of her best. Sadly, it was lost to smoke and soot.

In the context of the loss during the tragic events of Ash Wednesday, it was nothing, but as a kid I remember her leaving the house dressed up for a dinner party and returning looking so drained.

After the danger period, and spending time with other families in Harkaway whilst Mum and Dad were away supporting others, we visited Ian and Jenny.

It is a scene that I will never forget, not because of the path that destroyed land and fences, but because the house appeared untouched.

In that house were chickens and two cows from memory.

I missed the moment all animals were in the house including a horse, goats, chickens, a donkey and my favourite cow Daisy. It was a sight to be seen.

As time moves on, and we stop to remem-

Brad and Linda Battin. ber Ash Wednesday, we must never forget the lives lost, the infrastructure destroyed, and the livestock lost.

However, I will always remain indebted to the community spirit it built. Much of this spirit remains today.

Our family were proud to support the efforts of the Berwick Lions Club, Dad was the president and working with his team supported fundraising campaigns to buy Beaconsfield Upper a new fire truck to protect their town. It was the begin of a life of giving back

and supporting my community.

To all the CFA volunteers, to every group, person, community member, council officer, Member of Parliament and organisation who did anything during or after Ash Wednesday to protect our community I say, ‘thank you’.

Reconnecting part of a painful healing journey for Kylie

By Shelby Brooks Kylie Atkinson was angry at everything after her father died fighting the Upper Beaconsfield fire during Ash Wednesday.

“I hated the CFA, I hated my Dad for abandoning me when I thought I was going to die. I was the most angry at Mother Nature for taking my father and I went outside and belted those f***ing trees because I was so angry,” she said.

Kylie was just 12 when her father Maurie Atkinson, who was a firefighter with the Panton Hill Brigade, perished along with 10 others during a sudden firestorm on Ash Wednesday.

It’s taken Kylie 40 years to be in a place of loving to allow her to come to a commemorative event.

“Today is the first time I have come to a memorial service,“ she said.

“It’s been a lot of healing to get to the point

to have an open heart to come here. Trauma - it’s like grooves of a record in your brain.”

One of the more traumatic moments Kylie remembers from the aftermath of her father’s death was when a man from the CFA came to their front door to offer a compensation cheque.

“I was so angry but it has made me the amazing woman I am today,” she said.

That was when she belted the trees in her backyard in grief.

“So today, I went up to the trees and said thank you, you are the most powerful force and I love you and I am grateful to you,” Kylie said.

“It was really powerful to do that in the face of the people and volunteers here today who seem to understand this.”

Kylie understands her father joined the CFA because he was a “bloody legend”.

Kahn Franke, a Panton Hill firefighter,

knew Maurie and attested to that fact.

“Maurie was an organiser, he was involved in everything,” Kahn recalled.

“So to join the CFA was natural for him. He was willing and enthusiastic. He was a great guy and always had a smile.

“He was a force to be reckoned with.”

Sunday 12 February, at the state-wide memorial service for the 40th anniversary, was the first time Kahn and Kylie had connected - but no one would have known that - their connection was undeniable.

“I literally touched base with [the Panton Hill Brigade] today and that’s how strong the link was with my Dad,” Kylie said.

“Now I am proud as punch, I am proud to be here, I’m completely honoured and grateful and it’s so nice to connect with the people who knew him and have the opportunity to have his service to the community seen by everyone.”

Kahn Franke, a Panton Hill firefighter who served with Maurie, Kylie Atkinson’s father.

319312 Picture: SHELBY BROOKS

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PO Box 704 Berwick 3806

5953 0216

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Cahill welcomed to Vinnies St Michael’s Berwick Conference of St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) has a new president at the helm of the Berwick Branch in 2023, Casey Senior Citizen of the Year Peter Cahill.

Mr Cahill was elected to the position in November last year and was straight to work, assisting in Berwick Vinnies’ biggest and most successful Christmas hamper distribution just prior to the holiday.

The initiative saw the not-for-profit distribution of hampers to more than 80 families and individuals.

Each hamper contained a range of basic food items, such as milk, cereal, pasta and rice and many Christmas food items, such as a plum pudding, a ham, mince pies and bottles of soft drink.

Furthermore, there were age–appropriate toys of excellent quality for families with children. Each child received between three and six gifts.

Gift and food items and finance were generously donated by parents, students and staff of the three St Michael’s parish primary schools, St Francis Xavier College and the Beaconsfield Upper Primary School as well as the staff of St John of God Hospital in Berwick. Marco’s IGA, Narre Warren North, donated numerous hams and bottles of soft drink.

The parishioners of St Michael’s parish also assisted via donations to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal and the donation of many toys and gifts.

Numerous donated items were shared with the neighbouring conference in Cranbourne.

Mr Cahill paid special tribute and thanks to all generous donors as well as conference members.

“Everyone worked extremely hard to ensure the success of the Christmas 2022

Three Vinnies volunteers collecting Christmas goods generously donated by students and staff from St Catherine’s Primary School, Berwick.

Picture: SUPPLIED campaign,” he said.

“Without our many generous donors, these wonderful hampers simply wouldn’t exist. When conference visitors see the smiles of thankful parents, and their tears of joy, it makes all our efforts worthwhile.

“Everyone is entitled to a happy Christmas, regardless of their life circumstances.”

Vinnies Conferences in Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Hampton Park

Getting to the heart of it Fifty-six-year-old Cranbourne North resident Jody Rochecouste began experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath 30 years ago.

Despite multiple interventions including angiograms, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and other tests, it took decades for Ms Rochecouste to get a clear diagnosis and understanding of what was causing her symptoms.

Ms Rochecoste’s journey to diagnosis affected not only her physical health, but also her mental health with practitioners repeatedly telling her there was nothing wrong.

“I used to get disheartened, very disheartened because I started to believe them,” Ms Rochecouste said.

“They said, ‘Oh you, you’re depressed’.

You’re going to get depressed because of that.

And I used to get depressed because I couldn’t do things.”

In November 2022, Ms Rochecouste finally got the answers she had been chasing all these years after being referred to The Alfred’s Women’s Heart Clinic in Melbourne where the possibility of microvascular disease was raised by their team of cardiologists and then confirmed via definitive testing with a special angiogram using pressure wire technology.

“They’re finally seeing what I kept telling them,” Ms Rochecouste said.

It is estimated that more than half a million Australians had coronary heart disease in 2020-2021.

Whilst coronary heart disease affects men more than women in Australia, microvascular disorders disproportionately affect women who often go years without diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Microvascular disorders are a type of coronary heart disease that are caused by disease of the very small blood vessels of the heart and silently affect thousands of Australians.

Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, sleep problems, fatigue and lack of energy.

Cardiologist and Heart Failure Specialist at The Alfred’s Women’s Heart Clinic Dr Monique Watts acknowledged the critical nature of undiagnosed microvascular disease.

“At a cardiac level, there’s a clear benefit in a firm diagnosis, but the psychological impact should not be underestimated,” she said.

“It can be life changing for a patient to have 10 STAR NEWS

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also conducted successful hamper drives and Christmas hampers and food were also distributed by Vinnies Regional Soup Van. As a result, many hundreds of Casey and Cardinia families had a much happier Christmas, Mr Cahill said.

Berwick Vinnies supports families in need on a daily basis throughout the year. Vinnies will be there again during 2023, to offer a “hand up” where needed.

A truly sweet gathering

By Emily Chapman Laing

Jody’s 30-year symptom rollercoaster has finally led her to answers.

Picture: SUPPLIED an answer and an explanation, and no longer be searching.”

Cardiology experts are encouraging Australians to remain vigilant about their heart health.

“Heart disease is a leading killer of Australian women, yet women don’t perceive themselves to be at risk,” Dr Watts said.

“Talk to your general practitioner about your risk, including female-specific risk factors such as pregnancy complications and premature menopause. Make cardiac risk reduction a part of your preventative health plan.”

REDFEB is an annual campaign run by Heart Research Australia that encourages Australians to wear red to raise awareness of heart disease and raise much-needed funds for lifesaving heart research.

With more awareness about women’s heart health being raised by campaigns like REDFEB, and specialist clinics like The Alfred’s Women’s Heart Clinic being established, the hope is that women today will be diagnosed faster and more accurately, sparing them a journey like that faced by Ms Rochecouste.

“I would really recommend that [women] ask to get the smaller [vessels] checked and not to stop searching for answers.”

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

Mr Cahill said he hoped to use his presidency to “encourage everybody in the conference to do their very best and keep reaching out to people in need”.

Financial donations to St Vincent de Paul and items of furniture, clothing and other material goods may be made online at vinnies. org.au or by telephone on 13 1812.

Vinnies regional welfare assistance line is 5995 0211.

The Lynbrook Residents Association (LRA) is holding its 13th annual Pancakes in the Park.

Locals are encouraged to visit Banjo Patterson Park on Tuesday 21 February to enjoy free pancakes with the works, games and community togetherness.

Prizes are on offer for children and adults who participate in the pancake themed games.

“Come meet your neighbours, bring your friends and get your pancake on!” the LRA said.

The yearly event was inspired by Shrove Tuesday, a religious event where people traditionally ate pancakes.

However the LRA has adapted the idea to serve as a celebration of community gathering.

“Our favourite thing about this event is that it gives the community an opportunity to come together and meet their neighbours,” LRA member Vanessa Watson said.

“We love seeing all the happy faces enjoying some yummy treats and having fun playing our games surrounded by our

beautiful Banjo Paterson park.”

It will be a sweet day indeed as the LRA supplies all the best pancake toppings, from ice cream, to jam, cream, chocolate topping, maple syrup and Nutella.

Games of the day for kids include a pancake relay, a pancake toss and a pancake scavenger hunt.

Adults can expect to delight themselves with the “Biggest Tosser” game, where a pretend pancake is thrown into a pan at a distance.

There is a first, second and third prize for the men’s and ladies’ games.

“We give prizes for each winner, some donated by local businesses,” Watson said.

“We at the Lynbrook Residents Association call this a ‘give back event’ to the community as a way of thanking the community for coming and supporting our events throughout the year.

“This event is important because it helps develop a real sense of belonging to your community and a feeling of inclusion. Invitation is open to all.”

The free event will begin at 5.30pm and finish at 9pm.

The Lynbrook Residents Association gives back to their community with pancakes.

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Fate sealed by changeover

By Eleanor Wilson Fire is notoriously unpredictable. A slight change in wind, terrain or vegetation can be enough to meander the wrath of a blaze.

Narre Warren Fire Brigade life member Colin Booth knows the unpredictability of fire all too well.

But, as he explains, it was perhaps a routine crew changeover at the Narre Warren North fire station on the evening of Ash Wednesday in 1983 that sealed his fate, and those of his six colleagues who perished in the fires.

As Colin recalls it, the mercury had peaked above 42 degrees on that fateful Wednesday, forty years ago, and a drop in humidity created a scorching dry heat, ripe for devastation.

Originally from England, Colin had joined the brigade three years prior.

He said nothing could prepare him for the devastation he witnessed on Ash Wednesday.

“I had just knocked off work and got to the station and not long after that the call came in for a fire up in Belgrave South,” Colin said.

“We did a couple of things up there, at one point the fire crowned over the top of us but we got through that alright.”

The volunteers then moved onto Horswood Road in Narre Warren North, where they tended to some houses that were threatened by fires.

“We were going to start to head up to Harkaway and we decided to come down Narre Warren North Road and actually the Captain called us and we swapped crews over at Narre Warren North fire station, so we changed over crews and they took off.”

In that truck, a brand new tanker presented to the brigade just two days prior were CFA volunteers Captain John Minett, Dorothy Balcombe, Lloyd Donovan, Murray Forsyth, Neil Henry and Darrell Wilkes.

Headed along a track in Upper Beacons-

Narre Warren CFA captain Travis Carter and life member Colin Booth at the site of the tragedy in Upper Beaconsfield. 319125 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS field, along with a tanker of five Panton Hill Brigade members, the six CFA members, and casual firefighter Keith Busbridge, were met with a wall of flames travelling up the hill.

Records show Dorothy put out a mayday call on the radio, stating “we can’t go forward and we can’t go back”.

All seven volunteers, including Busbridge, were found huddled under the tanker, deceased.

Just days before, Captain John Minett was presented with the Fireman of the Year award, Colin explained.

“John was very, very experienced and he knew the Upper Beaconsfield area well.

“We actually trained down the bottom [of the track] a few weeks before the fires, so we knew the area, but I’d never come up to the top.”

Captain Minett was just 32 at the time of his

death, and was married with two young children.

Fellow firefighter Lloyd Donovan, 25, had been married just 10 months before the fateful fires.

Colin described Dorothy Balcombe, 36 at the time, as a “great lady” and one of Narre Warren CFA’s first female firefighters, alongside his own wife, Hazel Booth.

“Dorothy wouldn’t just be in the ladies auxiliary…she had to be a firefighter.

“Tim and Dorothy, they were married, they both loved the brigade.”

Murray Forsyth was well known throughout the district, especially for his work with the Berwick Show Society.

He was the show’s society president at the time and had been working hard organising the show planned for 26-27 February.

Murray had been married only three years to Noelene, daughter of show legend Jack Rae. Darrell Wilkes of Shrives Road, Narre Warren was married with two young children, with his young widow expecting their third child in June.

Darrell had been a member of the brigade only weeks, having transferred from Narre Warren North.

Neil Henry was the youngest of the brigade’s Ash Wednesday victims, at just 18.

He has been described as colleagues as “a special sort of young kid”.

“He made every effort to be good at everything he did,” said the brigade’s First Lieutenant Frank Clarke.

“He was a fine example to young people of his age.”

The fires claimed almost one third of the tight-knit Narre Warren Fire Brigade, which, Colin says, had been at risk of being dissolved prior to Ash Wednesday.

“Just before [Ash Wednesday] the CFA were

wanting to close us down, they were saying Narre Warren wasn’t needed there anymore,” Colin said.

“We all started the work to prove we were needed and we’re still here today. We all worked together and we formed that bond.”

A large part of that bond is evident each year on the anniversary of Ash Wednesday, as members of both Narre Warren and Panton Hill Brigades, along with family members of the victims, gather at the site of tragedy in Upper Beaocnsfield.

For Colin, it is one of the rare times he allows the memories to come flowing back.

“In some respects I do tend to bury my head in the sand, I don’t let things like that get to me.

“But I get up here on the night and I really do think about it and you start to look at the members, like Neil Henry, how young he was, you know he still had his life ahead of him. All of them did. They were good people.

“We’d all get together on a Sunday, we’d have our Sunday training and then we’d have a few drinks and have a chat, you know, until your wife would ring and ask if your were coming home.”

While anyone would be forgiven for walking away from the brigade after experiencing an event as traumatic as Ash Wednesday, Colin said it made him more dedicated to the cause.

“If we’d have walked away we’d be, in some respects, dishonouring their names, the members that died,” he said.

“I suppose it made me more committed in many respects, to be part of it.

“Coming from England,you never really look at volunteering, because it’s not really done, so to be part of it out here, the brigade is probably one of the biggest things in my life I’ve achieved.

“What I was in England and what I am out here have changed so much and really it is because of being a member of the brigade.”

haileybury.com.au

More than a little numbers whiz.

We believe that our students have the perfect balance of academics, extra-curricular activities and most importantly — fun!

Dylan loves being a vocal and enthusiastic member of our Junior School, throwing himself at a number of activities including writing creative stories, maths challenges and even tackling the bagpipes!

Jumping into everything with a smile that spreads from ear-to-ear, we can’t wait to see what Dylan blows up next!

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‘Depraved’ man, 65, jailed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A 65-year-old former shoe salesman found with “particularly depraved” sexual abuse material involving children with dogs and adults has been jailed.

After police made enquiries at his workplace, Graeme Bremner was caught deleting child abuse material in his car at Endeavour Hills shopping centre in April 2021.

His phone contained 238 images and 154 videos of abuse material, including sexual acts of adults with infants.

Bremner also pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to twice transmitting abuse material via the Wickr Me app on his phone.

“While the volume of material may be re-

garded as moderate when compared with other cases, a significant part of the material itself in this case is particularly depraved,” sentencing judge Sandra Davis stated on 6 February.

“All of it involved real children.”

In a police interview, Bremner made admissions and expressed regret and shame.

“I hate myself,” Bremner told police.

He said he was introduced to Wickr through a Facebook group.

He believed his Wickr chat mates were men in their 50 and older. Through the app, he met up with adults to have sex and watch child pornography.

The Scottish-born Bremner, who had worked as a shoe salesperson in Dandenong for 37 years, pleaded guilty at an early stage.

Aidan Blythman is the 250,000th visitor to Metro Tunnel HQ.

He had no prior convictions and hadn’t reoffended while on bail, Judge Davis said.

A psychologist report presented Bremner as a “sad, socially detached, directionless man of below average intelligence, with deficits in identity, intimacy and empathy, who has withdrawn from healthy social interactions”, Judge Davis said.

He had viewed child abuse material since his 20s, fantasising that the children were enjoying themselves.

“You told (the psychologist) that you regretted becoming involved in the online group, that having sex with children was disgusting but looking at it, ‘it’s just fascination’.”

Bremner was diagnosed with a paedophilic disorder, and rated a moderate risk of reof-

Picture: SUPPLIED

fending online “in the context of social isolation and untreated depression and alcohol problems”.

He reportedly showed little insight into his offending and little motivation to manage his behaviour, the judge noted.

Bremner was jailed for 19 months, but released on a recognisance release order after serving six months.

Under the two-year RRO, he must pay $1000 bond and remain on good behaviour.

Bremner will be supervised by a probation officer, and undertake rehabilitation including sex offender treatment.

He must report as a registered sex offender for 15 years.

A peek inside Metro Tunnel HQ.

Train enthusiast signals delight at rare opportunity The project will transform Melbourne’s train network, delivering more trains to and from the suburbs and slashing travel times by up to 50 minutes on a return journey for Cranbourne and Pakenham line passengers.

In 2029, Melbourne Airport Rail services will also run via the Metro Tunnel.

Blythman, who won his site visit by being the 250,000th visitor to Metro Tunnel HQ in Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD, said he was excited to see the project with his own eyes.

“It’ll be pretty cool seeing how the tracks work,” he said.

For a train enthusiast like Aiden Blythman, the opportunity to be one of the first to see the brand new Metro upgrades in Victoria is like winning the lottery.

Which is exactly what happened for the Doveton local, who was the 250,000th visitor to the award-winning Metro Tunnel Headquarters and has won a site tour of one of the project’s five new underground stations.

He will be one of the first to visit Ardern Station, one of the new underground stations opening in 2025 as part of the Metro Tunnel, which is set to connect the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines with the Sunbury Line via twin rail tunnels under Melbourne.

“That’s why I like the Metro Tunnel - because it’s a new form of infrastructure.”

HQ welcomed more than 90,000 people last year, ranging from primary school children to retirees, all interested in learning about one of the biggest rail projects in Victoria’s history.

The centre features a 3D city model, interactive displays, virtual reality, panoramic theatrette, kids’ activities and giveaways, and has free entry all year round.

Blythman is a frequent visitor to HQ and said he enjoys learning about the progress on the city-shaping project.

“There’s a lot of people that want to learn

about trains and I really like talking about trains,” Blythman said.

“Most of my interest in trains comes from the train infrastructure along with the lines and how the trains operate along the lines.

“It makes me think not just how cool it will be to have trains going to the airport, but also how this affects the other parts of the network.”

HQ can be booked by community groups and schools wanting to learn more about the Metro Tunnel and the state’s other rail projects. Blythman said he is excited for when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 - a year ahead of schedule.

Narre Warren man jailed for online child abuse images A Narre Warren man, 65, has been sentenced to one year and seven months’ jail after pleading guilty to two online child abuse offences, including transmitting child abuse material via a messaging platform.

The Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising members from the AFP and Victoria Police, arrested and charged the man in April 2020, after the AFP received a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user transmitting child abuse material through the Wickr messaging platform.

AFP investigators linked the man to the account and executed a search warrant at his 12 STAR NEWS

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Narre Warren home on 14 April 2020, where they seized a mobile phone which was found to contain child abuse material (CAM) and text-based messages discussing and transmitting CAM. On 1 February 2023, the man pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to one count of possessing child abuse material and one count of transmitting child abuse material through a messaging platform.

On 6 February he was sentenced to 19 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of three months.

AFP Senior Constable Kelly George said the AFP and its partners would never give up their

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

fight to protect children and stop those trying to harm them.

“This investigation should serve as a warning that we are dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” Senior Constable George said.

“We also ask the community to help us ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.”

If you have information that could help law enforcement, please contact the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) at accce.gov.au/report Members of the public who have informa-

tion about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or accce.gov.au/report If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, there are support services available at accce. gov.au/support Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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STAR NEWS 13

NEWS

Old wood put to good use The Cranbourne Line Upgrade delivered more services, level crossing removals and a new station and has inspired a new life for redgum logs repurposed from construction sites.

With eight kilometres of duplicated track between Cranbourne and Dandenong complete, trains are now running every 10 minutes on average from Cranbourne in the morning peak, two dangerous and congested level crossings are gone for good and a new station at Merinda Park has been built.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) looked for a way to repurpose trees that could not be retained.

LXRP has partnered with Treasuring Our Trees, a community organisation founded in 2021 with the aim of rescuing timber for re-use in Victorian schools and community projects and helping children learn how to value and recycle resources.

The timber will be transformed into indoor and outdoor furniture for 20 Melbourne primary schools and kindergartens, as well as community projects taking part in the Treasuring Our Trees program.

Founder David Ferrier said he was determined to salvage timber for use by schools and artists.

His first mission for Treasuring Our Trees was to collect fallen trees in communities afflicted by the severe storms of June 2021, which struck the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges.

The redgum load marks his first venture with LXRP, which is committed to re-using materials as it works to remove 110 of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested level crossings by 2030.

“The Level Crossing Removal Project is focusing on sustainability, and that’s why we decided to partner with the project,” Mr Ferrier said.

“We’re impressed by the LXRP team’s foresight to salvage these logs for a greater purpose.

“This wood can be used for cabinets, tables, outdoor furniture, yarning circles and kitchen gardens.”

Construction timber will be transformed into indoor and outdoor furniture. 312843 Mr Ferrier said Treasuring Our Trees has agreements with 20 primary schools and kindergartens in outer-east Melbourne and has recently begun presenting to secondary schools to raise awareness about sustainability.

“We also have more than 20 community projects, and we are absolutely determined to showcase the amazing work of local artists by providing them with natural resources to work with,” he said.

Mr Ferrier said that Treasuring Our Trees has created a database to record donations including species, length, diameter, location of the donated materials and intended project.

Every log will eventually be tracked on the Treasuring Our Trees website so that donors could find out how and where the timber was used.

“Even if it’s 5000 logs at once, they are recorded,” he said.

“As they are pulled off the stack they are measured by length and width.

“We want to be able to share the story of what happens to them next, so you might have 40 or 50 small pieces that are allocated a millimetre measurement and eventually made into art display cabinets or tables.

“It is important that we can suggest what we can do for schools.”

Picture: SHELBY BROOKS Treasuring Our Trees recently opened a showroom and educational hub in Lilydale.

The inaugural exhibition, inspired by LXRP’s donation and trees rescued from the storms, features work by Melbourne artists including Anton McMurray and Emma Jennings, whose portrait of Kalorama CFA captain Bill Robinson is painted on fallen blackwood.

Treasuring Our Trees has another exhibition planned for early March 2023.

Across the level crossing removal project, more than 2.54 million trees, plants and shrubs have been planted.

To find out more about the Cranbourne Line Upgrade, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

SEMMA welcomes a new face to head the association SEMMA’s new phase of membership growth and public awareness.

Ms Walker’s communication roles in the manufacturing sector include tenures at PPG Industries Australia Pty Ltd, Thiess Pty Ltd and Monsanto Australia Pty Ltd. She has also served as the industry development manager/executive officer for APSAA (Asia Pacific Student Accommodation Association) and as the public affairs manager for PACIA (Plastics and Chemical Industries Association).

Graduating from Deakin University with her Masters in Professional Communication, Ms Walker has an outstanding history in education, also earning her Graduate Diploma of Public Relations from Deakin University and an Associate Diploma of Business

South East Melbourne Manufacturers Association (SEMMA) is welcoming a new face to the team to lead them into 2023.

SEMMA is pleased to announce the commencement of Honi Walker as their new CEO. She takes the place of previous CEO Vonda Fenwick, who served as SEMMA CEO from September 2019 to January 2023.

Ms Walker will guide SEMMA in its mission to represent the interests of manufacturers and advocate on all issues impacting manufacturing in our local region.

Over the last 20 years, Ms Walker has dedicated her career to business development, strategic relationship building and communications as well as co-owning a local manufacturing business.

These skills will be invaluable in building

from Holmesglen TAFE. Ms Walker said she is excited about continuing the great advocacy work to government for members, and building the SEMMA membership.

“SEMMA is primed to begin a new phase of growth as we support our members to identify their capabilities, enabling them to embrace new opportunities for manufacturing through innovation, technology and industry networks,” she said.

With her experience working with stakeholders and implementing strategy, Ms Walker will help to move SEMMA forward in assisting their more than 200 members and build SEMMA’s public profile as the leading voice for manufacturing.

Honi Walker takes over as CEO of SEMMA. Picture: SUPPLIED

BUSINESS PROFILE

Superbikes action is back The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to its season opening format in 2023, bringing you the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round on the 24th to 26th February at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Australia - bask in the glory of cheering our world class Australian riders Remy Gardner and Oli Bayliss as they take on the World Superbike and World Supersport Championship, giving spectators all the more reason to celebrate in 2023.

With World Superbikes returning to its traditional timeslot in February, this will bring about warm summer weather to make for a perfect trip to Phillip Island that we are sure 14 STAR NEWS

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riders, team members, fans and spectators will all enjoy.

All three-day General Admission ticket holders receive free access to the WorldSBK Paddock, including unrivalled access to the WorldSBK Paddock Show where you can get up close to all your racing heroes. Tickets are also available for VIP Hospitality, BarSBK and Camping.

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

‘Limbo’ over for refugees

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Elated refugee advocates have praised the Federal Government’s announcement for a permanent visa pathway for 19,000 temporary visa holders.

Many thousands in Melbourne’s South East have been living in “limbo” for a decade while holding either a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV).

Under the new visas, they will be allowed to live, work and study in Australia permanently.

They can access Centrelink and Medicare, travel internationally and sponsor eligible family to become permanent residents in Australia.

The government says it has delivered on its eagerly-awaited election promise, though refugee bodies say they are hopeful of help for 12,000 temporary visa holders not covered by the announcement.

Refugee advocate Wicki Wickiramasingham, who had been frustrated by the ninemonth wait since the election, was elated.

He’d said TPV holders had been depressed and anxious to reunite with partners, parents and children they’d not seen for 10 or more years.

“I’ve had about 50 calls this morning. The people are very happy, especially for family reunion. That’s the main thing.

“It was a critical situation. It’s good news not only for my community, but for the rest of the community.”

He was hopeful for the 12,000 ineligible visa holders who have had their claims rejected.

Many had been appealing the decision “in the courts” for up to five years.

A former refugee, Sajjad Askary of Dandenong, said it was “welcoming news” for him, his brother and community.

A decade ago, Mr Askary and his brother arrived from Afghanistan by boat as Hazara asylum-seekers.

Mr Askary was swiftly granted a permanent humanitarian visa, is studying law and has flourished in his new home.

But his brother, who arrived just two weeks later, has languished depressingly on a temporary visa for the past decade.

He has been subject to limited work rights.

“My brother is very happy, very excited,” Mr Askary said after the announcement.

“A lot of refugees have family, children and partners overseas – they’re quite happy to be able to get them here.”

Mr Askary said they were awaiting further details on how his brother applies for a permanent visa.

The waiting time could be a further year, with up to two years for stricken family members to join them in Australia, he said.

“It will still be a long time especially for families stuck in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.”

Wicki Wickiramasingham greeted the news with elation. 235665 Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said all people on TPVs and SHEVs were found to be refugees and were owed Australia’s protection.

“There are thousands of TPV and SHEV holders in the community that have endured ten years of uncertainty due to the policies of the previous Liberal government,” Mr Giles said.

“TPV and SHEV holders work, pay taxes, start businesses, employ Australians and build lives in our communities- often in rural and regional areas. Without permanent visas however, they’ve been unable to get a loan to buy a house, build their businesses or pursue further education.”

“It makes no sense – economically or socially – to keep them in limbo.”

The government will commit $9.4 million in visa application assistance over the next two years.

Operation Sovereign Borders will still halt “unauthorised boat voyages” to Australia.

Hotham MP and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the new visas applied only to people entering Australia prior to Operation Sovereign Borders.

“Let me be crystal clear – if you try to enter Australia without a valid visa you will be

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Kon Karapanagiotidies, Scott Cosgriff, Mark Riley, Sitarah Mohammadi, Jana Favero, Sajjad Askary, Jim Memeti, Rhonda Garad, Zaki Haidari, Steve Staikos and Ry Atkinson lobbied for refugee rights in Canberra ahead of the 2022 election. turned back or returned to your port of origin.

“There is zero-chance of settling in Australia under Operation Sovereign Borders.

“The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force are patrolling our waters to intercept and return any boats that try to enter.”

‘Still a lot more to do’ for bridging visa holders: MP Hill

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Federal MP Julian Hill has welcomed the announced pathway to permanent visas for 19,000 refugees but acknowledged “there is still a lot more to do”.

The delivery of the Federal Government’s election commitment was “such welcome news for thousands of local residents”, the Labor MP for Bruce said.

“Providing a permanent pathway for (Temporary Protection Visa) and (Safe Haven Enterprise Visa) holders assists Australia to meet its international obligations to those who have been found to engage Australia’s protection obligations, and provides them a more certain future.

“It will empower TPV and SHEV holders to move forward with their lives and more fully contribute to Australia.”

Since the announcement, refugee advocates called for a “pathway” for another 12,000 people on bridging visas who had missed out.

“There is a lot more to clean up the Liberals’ shocking mess in the Department of berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Home Affairs,” Mr Hill said.

“Including resolution of people on bridging visas whose cases are still being assessed, or who may be able to apply for ministerial intervention.”

Many bridging visa E holders reside in South East Melbourne, with the Dandenong postcode home to the most in Victoria.

As of June 2022, there were 591 BVE holders in the 3175 postcode – about one in eight of those living in Victoria.

Springvale ranked seventh with 138, Doveton tenth with 132 and Noble Park 11th with 131.

Also in the South East, Cranbourne was home to 59 BVE holders, Endeavour Hills 52 and Hampton Park 49, Hallam and Narre Warren each with 32 and Pakenham 27.

The short-term visa is granted to ‘unauthorised maritime arrivals’ awaiting a decision on their refugee status.

Mr Hill said the government’s Operation Sovereign Borders would continue.

“Australia’s border protection policies have not and will not change - any person

who attempts to travel to Australia irregularly will not settle permanently here.”

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre called the announcement an “extraordinary and long-overdue win” for refugees “failed” by the so-called ‘Fast Track’ process.

“Many of these groups will now have access to permanence: finally, security, and the recognition of their rights as refugees that will allow them to rebuild their lives,” ASRC principal solicitor Hannah Dickinson said.

“There are thousands of people seeking asylum and refugees who are excluded from this announcement but failed by the same system.

“ASRC will continue to advocate alongside all people seeking asylum to protect their rights.”

Atena, a human rights advocate who is on a bridging visa, said her future remains “unclear”.

“Are we going to have our future here or be sent somewhere else?

“I felt awful this morning, our group chat is blowing up and there is a fear we will be rejected.”

Bruce MP Julian Hill says the futures of 12,000 bridging visa holders still need to be resolved.

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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STAR NEWS 15

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

For foot, leg pain relief

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GET YOUR BACK

Bring beans into the kitchen

By Holly McGuinness ‘Bean’ thinking about shaking things up in the kitchen?

The Heart Foundation is encouraging more Australian’s to cook with lovely legumes in a new initiative, the ‘bean blitz.’

A new report by the foundation found that half of Australians lack confidence in the kitchen when cooking with the budget friendly and highly nutritious food group.

Heart Foundation senior dietitian, Jemma O’Hanlon, said eating more legumes by adding them to existing meals is an excellent way to eat healthier.

“Try to integrate small amounts of whole, nutrient-rich foods such as legumes into your existing meals,” she said.

“This will help you to feel fuller longer, helping both your heart and your hip-pocket.”

BACK INTO ACTION

The Heart Foundation said legumes are a great source of protein and fibre that are important for heart health, they can be incorporated into your diet in a number of yummy ways.

“When it comes to including more legumes in your cooking, think outside the box. You can include beans, chickpeas or lentils in almost any recipe, even desserts.”

She suggests adding beans to a taco mix for some added protein, pop lentils into an ordinary spaghetti bolognese to bulk it up and almost any legume can be added to a soup to make things interesting.

The report also found that one in three people think it’s expensive to eat healthy food, but a 1 kilogram bag of lentils averages at about $4. The Heart Foundation has various e-books and tasty recipes listed on their website with plenty of legume rich options.

• Headaches • Shoulder Injuries • Acute Neck Pain/Whiplash • Tennis/Golf Elbow • Scoliosis Postural Problems • Back Pain/ Disc Problems • Repetitive Stress Injuries • Sciatica • Arthritis • Muscle Strains • Carpel Tunnel Syndrome • Knee Pain/Sports Injuries • Foot Pain • Shin Splints

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Dr. Dowie has spent much of his career assisting professional athletes including 7 of the world’s number 1 tennis players, PGA golfers, Olympic gold medallists and world record holders, but now focuses on his Foot and Leg Pain Clinics located across Melbourne, including Berwick, to assist locals with pain, injuries, degenerative conditions and children’s growth and development issues.

Over the past 25 years Dr. Dowie has successfully treated both common and complex issues related to the lower limb (from toes to hips) for everyone from professional athletes to children and seniors. His ‘Foot & Leg Pain Clinics’ were established to provide comprehensive, evidence-based and clinically proven treatment plans to people of all ages and lifestyles, without the need for medications or surgery.

Dr. Dowie is renowned for successful treatment outcomes so is commonly referred patients with the most complex of issues, who have been unable to find solutions elsewhere.

So, if you suffer from any foot, heel, ankle or knee pain; sports or general soft tissue injuries; arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis or plantar fasciitis; joint pain or children’s development concerns or growing pains… … Rest assured, expert help is just around the corner.

For appointments with Dr. Dowie, call Foot and Leg Pain Clinics on 1300 328 300.

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Find your mouthguard fit While participating in a sport such as football, basketball, rugby, or a combat sport like boxing- you need to be mindful of potential dental injuries. A custom-made sports mouthguard is your best bet to prevent dental injuries, while enjoying your favourite sport.

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STAR NEWS 17

NEWS

Incinerator concern Police call for assault assistance

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Hundreds of retirement village residents are taking their fight against a second waste-toenergy plant in Dandenong South to the Planning Minister.

Willow Lodge Village residents say they are ‘sandwiched’ between the proposed South East Energy Recovery Facility (SEERF) at 845 Taylors Road and a similar facility set to be built in Ordish Road.

The $250 million SEERF, near the Lyndhurst toxic-waste landfill, would generate 25 megawatts of “renewable” electricity by incinerating about 242,000 tonnes of mainly industrial and commercial waste a year.

Willow Lodge Village Residents Association argues that the plants’ “odours, gases and fine dust” will compound the health issues of its 550 residents aged up to 90-plus years.

“The committee does not oppose the building of the waste-to-energy facility per se, but situating two … so close together is, we believe, unprecedented,” it stated in a letter to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. “(It) will compound the traffic, noise, emission and hazard issues for the residents of Willow Lodge, the wider Bangholme community and the surrounding areas.”

According to proponent Equis Environmental Projects, the SEERF would divert “residual” waste from increasingly scarce landfill sites.

It will result in “net negative” greenhouse gas emissions, saving nearly 142,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases a year, a spokesperson said.

“The facility will operate during periods when renewable energy generation is weakest and thereby help stabilise expensive power pricing periods.”

The project would create about 100 jobs during construction as well as 30 ongoing.

The SEERF permit will not be decided by Greater Dandenong Council, but instead by Ms Kilkenny, who is also the local MP. According to the government, the Planning Minister decides on permits for facilities that generate 1 megawatt or more of energy output.

Councillor Rhonda Garad said Greater Dandenong was “set to become the rubbish burning capital of the South East and we don’t even get a say in the matter”.

“Burning of waste is not aligned with a circular economy as it destroys raw materials that cannot be reused. In addition, it produces toxic by-products.

“There are no safe levels of dioxins and furans which are known to cause a range of health problems including respiratory and heart disease.

“Burning waste is also very carbon intensive which contributes to climate change.

“Denmark underestimated the amount of carbon its waste-to-energy plants produced and missed their Kyoto targets as a result.”

Mayor Eden Foster said the council was set to discuss its position.

“We could lobby the State Government to look at this project elsewhere.

Cr Rhonda Garad, centre, and Willow Lodge residents opposed to a waste to energy plant at Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Taylors Road, Dandenong South. 318820 “We’re quite hesitant about this coming up in our municipality but unfortunately it’s out of our hands.”

Ward councillor Jim Memeti says he doesn’t support the project – or the entire heavyindustry 2 zone - being so close to homes in Dandenong South and Lyndhurst.

“Why do we as residents have to face these uncertain risks – if it’s dangerous to health, we might not know until many years later.

“I don’t have anything against waste-toenergy, just not in our backyard or near our residents.”

An Equis spokesperson said the plant was “carefully designed” for the only state-significant industrial precinct in South-East Victoria, and to respond to an “acute” shortage of waste disposal options from 2027-’28.

The region’s main landfill site in Hallam Road is set to close within several years.

“Other alternatives, such as transporting waste to other existing landfill sites elsewhere in the city, would likely increase local waste disposal costs and disruptive transporting and as an environmental impact.

“The shift to a (waste-to-energy facility) versus landfill also reduces soil contamination, groundwater contamination, noise pollution, dust pollution, odour and greenhouse gas emissions.”

The SEERF’s “state of the art” technology would also exceed Australian emissions standards, and meet EPA and European emissions standards.

“The proposed SEERF will employ the same technologies as the Amager Bakke - an Energy from Waste facility located less than two kilometres from the Danish royal palace, in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark.”

Air monitoring would occur at the facility,

with results provided to the EPA and publicly reported, the Equis spokesperson said.

The residual waste ash would be treated and turned into products such as road base and construction materials.

Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman said the council would make a submission to Ms Kilkenny.

“Council officers are at the early stages of assessment and have not yet formed a view on the application or the recommendations it will make to council.

“This proposal is an example of new waste solutions and technology councils across the state will have to consider in the years ahead.

“Greater Dandenong City Council will always advocate in the best interests of our local residents.”

A government spokesperson said the Department of Transport and Planning had been consulting with the City of Greater Dandenong.

“A planning decision will be made after thorough consideration.”

The proximity of the facility to nearby residents and workers was a “key consideration” for the permit application, the spokesperson said.

The project also requires approval by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

EPA Victoria permissioning and development director Con Lolis said the public would be invited to make submissions ahead of the EPA decision.

If the project goes ahead, EPA licences would cover limits to noise, dust, odour and other emissions, pollution-control equipment and procedures, and monitoring and reporting requirements, he said.

Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives continue to investigate a serious assault which occurred in Narre Warren in April last year.

Investigators have been told a 23-yearold Endeavour Hills man was walking along the Princes Highway in Narre Warren near Springfield Drive and Tinks Road some time between 12am and 12.30am on 20 April.

The man was walking east on the northern side of the road and a number of cars had to swerve to avoid him. He crossed over to the other side of the road and a car was forced to stop to avoid hitting him. A small white hatchback/coupe with a small black spoiler also stopped at the scene.

The driver exited the car and struck the victim to the head with a long object.

The offender got back into the hatchback which drove off towards Dandenong. Senior Constable Adam West said police had been told the car made a ‘whistling’ sound as it changed gears.

The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries and has since had numerous surgeries and lives with ongoing health complications as a result of the incident.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or any other information that could assist investigators with their enquiries to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

Police are calling for assistance with an ongoing investigation following an incident in Narre Warren.

BUSINESS PROFILE

Rev-heads fired up for show and shine extravaganza Rev-heads will step into a world of nostalgia as hundreds of vintage cars line the car park of Narre Warren’s Autobarn on Saturday 25 February.

Huge crowds are expected to gather to see a display of hot rods, muscle cars, and chrome bumpers at the annual Show and Shine car show.

The family event will also offer food stalls, prizes, giveaways, and a DJ playing rock ‘n’ roll.

Gavin Sheedy, manager of Narre Warren’s Autobarn, said the event had grown every year.

“Our first show was initially to give the people of Casey somewhere to showcase their fan18 STAR NEWS

|

tastic collection of old school cars and 14 years later, it’s now become an iconic event within the show and shine calendar,” he said.

“The positive response and feedback from our show has been incredible and a great motivation to do many more of these into the future,” Mr Sheedy said.

So, head down to Narre Warren Autobarn on 25 February for a fun-filled family day out.

Classic cars packed the car park of Narre Warren Autobarn at the last event.

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Look no further than the Drum Theatre for a top-notch theatre experience.

Enjoy Drum Theatre in 2023 brand new all in the comfort of your own backyard.

April will bring the laughs, with headline shows by Jimeoin and Stephen K Amos, as well as a performance from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Neighbourhood Sessions with a hand-picked line-up of festival favourites and some of the country’s best new comedic talents. Rediscover one of the greatest plays of the 20th Century, Arthur Miller’s masterpiece Death of a Salesman, brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble from Hearth

Theatre. Some of Australia’s best musical performers will also hit the Drum stage, including Pot Pourri, The Shuffle Club, Marina Prior and David Hobson.

Circus and puppetry will entertain the whole family in the April school holidays, see First Nations-led Na Djinang Circus explore complex themes of Australian culture with their brand of contemporary circus.

The experiences aren’t limited to the theatre this year either. Melbourne performance collective Pony Cam returns to work with lo-

cal teenagers on a new performance piece in vacant buildings, while Our Beat showcases the best of the south east in quarterly performances in different locations. Support local dancers, singers, hip hop artists and poets in a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else.

We can’t wait to celebrate the arts with you, your friends and family at the Drum. Visit drum.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au or phone 8571 1666 for more information.

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Looking for a top-notch theatre experience in your own backyard? Look no further than the Drum Theatre.

If you haven’t visited for a while there are many reasons to come back, starting with this season’s range of wonderful live performances including comedy, music and theatre for people of all ages.

From swingin’ jazz to opera greats, and music legends to new stories, you can see the familiar, the challenging, the nostalgic and the

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

|

STAR NEWS 19

NEWS

CEO’s secret to success Our first focus on a successful business leader this year is Adam Lowndes - CEO of Pro Plumb, based in Pakenham.

Q: Why was the business started in the first place?

Adam: To provide excellence in plumbing and drainage solutions. I saw that professionalism and proper application of systems and processes were lacking in other companies and hence saw a gap in the marketplace for a plumbing company that could excel here.

Q: What does the business specialise in?

Adam: The provision of plumbing and drainage solutions for the domestic and residential markets.

Q: What are you most proud of?

Adam: Our service level and professionalism this sets us apart.

Q: What is the secret for success?

Adam: Hard work and persistence. Our focus on systems and processes has enabled us to really understand how to optimise business performance.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge in the business?

Adam: Last year was really difficult due to the combination of higher raw material prices, long lead times on deliveries and Covid-19.

This obviously hit the construction sector in a big way too and so necessarily had a knock-on impact on us.

Q: How did you overcome it?

Adam: We were able to draw on our excellent company culture and hence retain staff when other businesses were losing people. We also have a great company image which has attracted new staff. The systems and processes that we use in the business meant that we were able to predict impacts and hence make any necessary changes early on.

Q: What advice would you give to a new business owner just starting out?

Adam: Focus on building a strong foundation

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH for the business right from the outset. This means having a clear and well-defined organisation chart, Position Descriptions defined for all roles within the business and the tools to provide sufficient financial insight. A strong Business Plan will also help you to know who you are and where you are going.

Q: Who inspires you and why?

Adam: Richard Branson. He has an amazing ability to achieve business success but at the same time engages well with other people and promotes a sense of fun.

Q: How do you see business changing over the coming years?

Adam: I see us continuing to achieve our growth targets and focus on adding further value to our existing client base by adding complementary services and the provision of new and emerging technologies.

Q: What are your interests and hobbies?

Adam: I love motor sport and spending time with the family where you can find me waterskiing and wake-boarding on the Murray at Echuca. (Editor’s note: Adam currently races saloon cars, competes in the Victoria State Championships and co-drives in endurance events. He also competed in the Bathurst sixhour event last year). Adam’s company vision is to “To change people’s perception of the construction industry” and this understanding and associated implementation by staff throughout the business drives the quality of the services Pro Plumb provides.

Ian Ash is the managing director of OrgMent Business Solutions.

Peter Rabbit

Pro Plumb CEO Adam Lowndes.

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Rex name shame

By Mitchell Clarke Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name.

Former Springfield Ward councillor Rex Flannery, who resigned as deputy mayor just days before the State Government sensationally sacked the entire council in February 2020, says the events of the past 12 months are still “eating” him up.

He has now officially requested that his name is removed from both a councillor honour board in the customer service centre and a wall plaque in Bunjil Place.

“I have never had any involvement into this alleged corruption scandal and therefore I do not wish to have my name associated with past or former councillors who may have brought our City of Casey into disrepute,” he told Star News.

“People look at your name and they see that you’re from Casey Council and immediately they put you in that same mould, which couldn’t be further than the truth.

“It’s just horrible to have been a councillor in that term. It gives you a sickening feeling in your gut and now I have to live with that.“ Mr Flannery argues his name should never have been placed on the plaque celebrating the $126 million Bunjil development because at the time he didn’t support the project.

“I guess I’ve eaten a little bit of humble pie with Bunjil Place. I’ve been able to see the value that place brings to the community but at the time I was against the development and I wasn’t once consulted (about having my name included),” he said.

He also claims former ex-ward partner, Sam Aziz, stated to him that he “wished he never had my name added to the plaque”.

“That was the only time I agreed with him,” Mr Flannery said.

While Mr Flannery hasn’t accused any former councillor of committing wrongdoing, he said anyone found guilty from the IBAC hearing should immediately have their honours stripped.

“They need to have their plaques removed

Rex name shame

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Rex Flannery, pictured in late 2015, wants his name stripped from council. 148005 from anywhere within the City of Casey ... whether it’s a plaque in the botanical gardens or in Bunjil Place, I want them removed so they have absolutely no recognition anymore,” he said.

“They’ve disgraced themselves and they’ve disgraced the council. They’ve taken something away from me that I totally enjoyed. I loved serving the Casey community. I just want some clarity as to what way it’s going to go.”

Since his resignation, Mr Flannery has been working in an operating theatre at a local hospital. He said he has every intention to run for council again in 2024.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

“I want to get back into serving the community again. I want to run again and I want to get my name back on the honour board for the right reasons. At the moment it’s a dishonour board,” he said.

Star News understands Mr Flannery has put forward his request to be heard by the administrators at the next council meeting, slated for Tuesday 2 February.“It’s up to them now but a year later, this is still eating at me. I need closure and this is one way that I can get it,“ he said.

“I played no part in any downturn or sacking of the council and I feel it’s my duty to say that I don’t want to be a part of or in any way

Bunjil Place. associated with the 2016-20 term.”

Casey’s governance manager Rhys Matulis said: “Given the IBAC investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on that matter. Council has received and will consider Mr Flannery’s request in due course.”

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Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name.

12425088-FA36-19

By Mitchell Clarke

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

WHAT’S ON Take a break and meditate at Berwick Neighbourhood Centre

Grow Mental Wellness Program

Take some time out to care for yourself through meditation. Meditations range from 10 to 30 minutes.

Suited for all abilities and those who may be on their lunch break.

For more details call the centre on 9704 1863 or email Admin@berwicknc.com.au Tuesdays starting 1 February at Timbarra Community Centre meeting room, 1-2pm.

The Cranbourne & District Garden Club meets monthly at the Cranbourne Public Hall.

Afternoon tea follows the meeting. The club enjoys coffee mornings, lunches and bus trips. New members are welcome. Contact Julie on 5995 1420 or Jean on 9704 6242.

The club meets on the second Thursday of the month at 1.15pm at Cranbourne Public Hall on the corner of High and Clarendon Streets, Cranbourne (Mel.133K3).

·

Active Seniors of Casey Cardinia Fancy a regular afternoon out? Want to get out of the house, get social, active or try something new?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club holds weekly afternoon music sessions for Active Retirees in Central Berwick (Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House). Plenty of parking.

It’s simple and relaxing! Come along and dance, or grab a chair and watch or learn, then enjoy new friendships over afternoon tea.

For more information about this activity and a variety of other social activities/outings and membership, contact the enquiry officer on 0468 363 616.

·

Testing out activities at Berwick Neighbourhood Centre Want to start something new yet not sure what to choose or whether you will like it for that matter? Well, have we got the opportunity for you!

Come along to our try it out classes. Each week for three weeks you will get to try a new activity.

Week 1: Enjoy a craft activity.

Week 2: Check out the delights of the garden.

Week 3: Participate in some light exercise.

After the three-week trial, you may like to take up one or all of the activities we offer on a weekly basis. To make it even more appealing each session comes with morning tea. Book your place now as spots are limited.

Cost: $10 Bookings essential: Call 9704 1863 or email admin@berwicknc.com.au Timbarra Community Hall, 26 Parkhill Drive Berwick on Timbarra Way on Thursday 23 February, 2 and 9 March, from 10am to 11.30am.

·

Melbourne Youth Chorale Showcase MYC’s first-ever showcase, share in the joy, beau-

GROW offers a unique mental wellbeing program to those suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and other emotional difficulties. Gold coin donation appreciated.

For further information, please contact GROW Community Centre on 1800 558 268. Website grow.org.au Cranbourne Group meets at the Balla Balla Community Centre, 7/9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North, Thursday 10.30am –12.30pm, excluding school holidays.

Cranbourne & District Garden Club

·

· ty and music of one of Casey’s truly wonderful community organisations doing great work with our children.

Enjoy three mini choir performances and delicious food and drink. Have the opportunity to meet with the MYC choristers, teachers and board members.

Free entry, Thursday 16 February 5pm to 7pm; performances at 5.15pm, 5.45pm and 6.15pm at La Baguette cafe, 82 High Street, Berwick.For more information, call Alan on 1800 474 448.

·

Berwick and District Show The Berwick Show will be held over 25 - 26 February at Akoonah Park, with fireworks for the family on Saturday night!

Come down for a range of activities for the family including agriculture and Horticulture shows and competitions, family and thrill rides, food trucks and market stalls, horse shows, arts and crafts, entertainment and much more! Tickets available from 1 February. Visit berwickshow. org.au for more information.

The show will be held over 25-26 February at Akoonah Park.

·

Tooradin Tractor Pull, Truck ‘N’ Car Show The Australian Tractor Pull Association is coming to town, bringing the biggest and baddest tractors in Australia.

25 February, 10am to 10pm, at Rutter Park Re-

·

Pancakes in the Park at Banjo Paterson Park

serve, South Gippsland Hwy, Tooradin. Head to ticketebo.com.au/tooradintractorpull for tickets and details.

Summer Sounds 2023 Celebrating its sixth year at Bunjil Place join us for an evening of soulful, funky, upbeat live music from highly acclaimed local and international artists.

Tickets are just $15 and the first 100 tickets sold receive a free drink on arrival.

Saturday 25 February, 5.30pm to 10pm at Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick NE Drive, Narre Warren.

The Lynbrook Residents Association is holding its 13th annual Pancakes in the Park community gathering. There will be free pancakes with all the trimmings, pancake themed games and prizes on offer.

This free event will be held at Banjo Paterson Park, 51 Paterson Drive, Lynbrook VIC 3975, Tuesday 21 February 5.30pm - 9pm.

·

Marriott Waters Family Day

·

Marriott Waters Shopping Centre will be hosting a fun-packed family day this March.

There will be lots of fun and free activities for kids, including a petting zoo, soccer darts, face painting, giant bubble blowing and more.

Corner Thompsons Road and Marriott Boulevard, Lyndhurst VIC 3975, Saturday 4 March 10am - 3pm.

February Berwick Breakfast

New Moon Women’s Circle

Joe and John are hosting their next iconic Berwick Breakfast on Sunday 19 February.

All rods and classic cars are welcome to come along, grab something from one of the many cafes as you check out all the awesome cars.

From 7am until 10am in the Main Street of Berwick on 19 February.

Sapphire Spirituality is hosting their fortnightly women’s circle.

Women are encouraged to explore the energy of the new moon and move towards personal growth and feminine connection in a safe and supportive environment.

Tickets are $33 and are available via Eventbrite.

The event will be held at Timbarra Community Hall, Timbarra Way, Berwick, Friday 17 February, 5.30pm - 7pm.

· ·

Skiffle Party at the Berwick and District Folk Club Tickets $15 at door. Doors open at 7.30pm followed by open mic, then Skiffle Party at 9.30pm!

Skiffle is high energy upbeat American roots music in the style of UK proto-rockers Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and the Vipers Skiffle Group. It was the birth of British rock.

Friday 17 February, Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick

·

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Pearcedale Market Pearcedale Market supports local produce and local artisans, as well as sustainable products and environmental education.

Pearcedale Community Centre, 710 BaxterTooradin Road, Pearcedale, Saturday 18 February 8am - 12pm.

·

Become a foster carer

12568605-JW37-22

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Play a part today. Call 1800 013 088 fosteringconnections.com.au berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Tattslotto 55 Old Princes Highway Beaconsfield Kaye Charles Real Estate Shop 2, 6-10 Old Princes Highway Beaconsfield Bendigo Bank Shop 6, 52-62 Old Princes Highway Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre 8 O Neil Road Beaconsfield Woolworths Beaconsfield 28 Sylvia Road Berwick Brentwood Milkbar 24 Bemersyde Drive Berwick Bemersyde Bakery 6/84 Bemersyde Drive Berwick R and R Real Estate 1 Clyde Road Berwick Century 21 Real Estate 9 Clyde Road Berwick Eden Rise Shopping Village 1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd Berwick Coles Supermarket Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre 1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd Berwick Berwick Springs Lucky Lotto Shop 10/1 Corner Oshea Rd & Clyde Rd Berwick Grants Estate Agents 3a Gloucester Avenue

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Berwick Berwick Newsagency 29 High Street Berwick Ray White Real Estate 42 High Street Berwick Alex Scott and Staff Real Estate 49 High Street Berwick Harcourts Real Estate 20 High Street Berwick Neilson Partners 1st National 57 High Street Berwick Gluten Free and Chocolate 9/48 High Street Berwick O’Brien Real Estate 56-58 High Street Berwick St John of God Hospital 75 Kangan Drive Berwick Chris Peake Real Estate 18 Langmore Lane Berwick Woolworths Shopping Centre 1-9 Lyall Road Berwick Mansfield Street Foodmart 157-159 Mansfield Street Berwick Parkhill Plaza News and Lotto Shop 13, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Chemist Discount Centre Shop 2, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Coles Supermarket Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre Shop 19, 215-225 Parkhill Drive Berwick Coles Berwick Central 2 Richardson Grove Berwick Hocking Stuart Real Estate Suite 2, 16 Langsmore Lane

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Hallam 7 Eleven Service Station 38-40 Hallam South Road Hallam Joes Mini Mart 117 Hinrichsen Drive Hallam Coles Hallam 2 Princes Domain Drive Hallam Raine and Horne Real Estate - Hallam 2 Spring Square Hallam Hallam Square News 42 Spring Square Narre Warren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street Narre Warren Ritchies IGA Shop 4/14 Webb Street Narre Warren Narre Warren Newsagency 34 Webb Street Narre Warren Fleetwood MiniMart 94-96 Fleetwood Drive Narre Warren Casey Gardens Caravan Park 6 Fullard Road Narre Warren City of Casey 2 Patrick NE Drive Narre Warren Neilson Partners 1st National 418 Princes Highway Narre Warren The Good Food Emporium 15/430–440 Princes Highway Narre Warren Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Coles 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Woolworths 25-55 Princes Highway

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Narre Warren O’Brien Real Estate Narre Warren 25-55 Princes Highway Narre Warren Coles Express 2 Regency Drive & Princes Highway & Lauderdale Road Narre Warren Only Real Estate 13/3 Webb Street Narre Warren Donaldson Martin Real Estate 43-45 Webb Street Narre Warren Coles Express 155-171 Narre Warren North Road Narre Warren North Marcos IGA 2 Oakview Boulevard Narre Warren North Narre Warren North Newsagency 3/1E Oakview Boulevard Narre Warren South Casey Central Shopping Centre 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Coles 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Woolworths 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Ray White Real Estate Shop 20, 400 Narre Warren Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Casey News and Lotto Shop 156, 400 Narre Warren - Cranbourne Road Narre Warren South Ritchies Amberly Park 245 Ormond Road

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24 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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SPORT

Narre raring to go again

By Marcus Uhe A strong culture and the presence of senior, mature heads on the track has kept complacency at the door during Narre Warren’s preseason, according to premiership coach Shane Dwyer.

Having lost just once on the way to a memorable victory in torrid conditions in the decider last year, they could be forgiven for letting training standards slip during the summer heat in the midst of intense running sessions, or for the message from the coaching group to grow stale.

But Dwyer says the motivation is simple.

“You don’t get tired of winning flags,” he said.

“I could understand if we’d won the grand final by 15 goals, there might be a fair bit of complacency, but it was a lot tougher than that.

“I don’t think there’s much (complacency) there and if there is, we’ll draw that out of them in the practice games.

“We try and implement a player-driven system, a lot of players have a lot of input into training so that they’re not just hearing my voice all the time or my assistant’s voice all the time.

“We’ve got a lot of really good leaders who I’m more than happy to let take-over a drill whenever they want.”

Leading the charge once again are Jake Richardson, Tom Miller and Kurt Mutimer, who is stepping-in to a playing-assistant coaching role in place of Brad Scalzo, who will make his welcome return to on-field action after injuring his knee during preseason last year.

The star onballer will be one of a handful of new and returning players pushing for inclusion in the powerhouse side, including Ryan

Shane Dwyer’s Magpies will be hoping for similar scenes come the end of 2023. 299107 Picture: ROB CAREW Quirk and Matt Peteira, while competition from the under 19 brigade has injected enthusiasm from within.

Jacob Mutimer, Logan Hitchcock and Daniel Toner have been the standouts among that group, according to Dwyer.

“We’ve got a couple of guys that missed out on games in the grand final last year so you’d hope that they take another good step-forward and become regular players, which I’m sure they will,“ he said.

“If you miss out on a grand final, a lot of guys can nick-off to another club.

“They’ve hung around and hopefully they get the reward this year.

“We’ve got Jesse Davies who was injured for a lot of the year and missed out on two grand finals now because of injury.

“We’ll be really keen to stay healthy and get there again.

“We’ve got kids coming through from the 19s last year that we’re hoping to play many games as well.

“The guys that we got from last year, the senior players, they’ll just be who they are and

play how they play.

“You’ve just got to hope that the kids coming through can develop and settle quickly into senior life and keep you going.”

One spot that will be up for grabs, however, is Josh Tonna’s, with the five-time premiership winner choosing to retire on a high, having won a premiership with his brother Mitchell last year.

History beckons for this nest of Magpies, looking to win back-to-back premierships for the first time since their golden run a decade ago in 2012-13, when they claimed six titles in eight seasons between 2006 and 2013.

Having claimed the 2019 premiership and not playing a full season in 2020 and 2021, one could argue that it’s already been achieved, and that the beginning of another successful era is on the horizon.

But Dwyer is not concerned about the weight of expectation on his chargers after 2022’s trevails.

“I reckon last year going into grand final day, the expectation couldn’t get any bigger than what it was.

“We were massive favourites and everyone expected us to win by 10-15 goals, and we were four goals down halfway through the third quarter on a really wet, shitty day.

“If we rolled-over and got done in that grand final, I would have thought that maybe the pressure got to us, but I don’t think (it did).

“We’re going to hopefully be up there again, competing with your Wandins and Woori Yallocks.

“As long as we stay fit and healthy, we’ll give it another good shake.”

Their season begins in Pakenham against the Lions in a stand-alone fixture in round one on Saturday 15 April.

Tough Tigers handle top-of-the-table clash with ease

By Jonty Ralphsmith Beaconsfield proved it is well and truly the team to beat in the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 2 competition on Saturday against HSD at Reedy Reserve, with a 10-wicket win over the second-placed team.

The Tigers’ organised bowling performance starkly contrasted to HSD’s impotent batting, which lacked the maturity to form a partnership or stem the visitors’ momentum.

Brent Patterson and Ethan French were the only Cobras to reach double digits in a dismal batting performance that saw HSD dismissed for 80, which Beaconsfield chased down in 82 balls.

Beaconsfield opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Ashan Madushanka and he bowled his 12 overs upfront which included six maidens as he tied down an end and got some balls to grip.

He claimed two scalps, while skipper Mark Cooper’s leggies got three, but it was seam-up bowler Jake Cutting who reaped the rewards of their collective suppressive economy rate of 2.04, nabbing four wickets.

With top spot all but locked in, Cooper said his team will use the last two home and away fixtures, against Keysborough and Cranbourne, to ensure it peaks for finals.

“In two-day cricket you can manipulate it more, but in one day cricket you can lose a game in a five-over period,” he said.

“There is a fine balance between looking to find form for everyone and giving them a look, and team form, so we will look to tinker, but not over the top, because we don’t want to lose momentum.”

After Madushanka had looked to have made the number-three spot in Beaconsfield’s batting line-up his own in the first half of the season, Cooper said the Tigers will embrace flexibility and shuffle it around.

“It will depend on conditions,” he said when asked about the batting order.

“We want to be adaptable for the situation, knowing we were stationery in the first berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Jake Cutting finished with four wickets for HSD. 319026 part of the season, so we’re unsure of that.”

One player missing from HSD’s line-up in its 10-wicket loss to Beaconsfield was skipper Craig Hookey.

After a lean run with the bat, Hookey dropped himself down to the twos to find some form.

Prior to the weekend he had 14 runs from five hits with a high score of just six.

Bowling first in the twos, Hookey got a trundle and was effective with his tweakers, finishing with 4/15 off eight overs as Beaconsfield was bowled out for 100.

He then spent more than 20 overs in the middle, facing 60 balls for his 22 in HSD’s sixwicket win.

“It had to happen eventually,” Hookey said.

“It’s no secret that I need two-day cricket to have an impact on the game and have opportunities.

“It just hasn’t gone my way a little bit, I

don’t put it down to too much.”

Hookey said he would return to the First XI for its clash against Lyndale this week.

A decision has not been made on whether he will return to the top of the order alongside Brent Patterson where he has batted thrice this season, or he will slot into the middle order.

Jett Kearney replaced him up top on the weekend but was dismissed for a duck.

Triyan De Silva, viewed as a more aggressive skipper than Hookey, captained the side in its bad defeat.

“The boys will try and park it to one side – being that young, there will be days we get absolutely smashed.

“We’ve been shown the standard, so hopefully we can match the standard.”

Meanwhile, Narre Warren has fallen out of the top four with a one-wicket loss to Cranbourne.

Cranbourne looked to be cruising at

Picture: ROB CAREW drinks, chasing Narre’s 5/156, before skipper Mick Sweeney was dismissed with a Josh Dinger ball that kept low, sparking a collapse.

It was moreso Cam Dinger, though, who bowled them back into it in partnership with offie Bevan Radhakrishnan, the pair finishing with five wickets between them after Zach Allen smacked 50 off 68 balls.

Elsewhere in Turf Two, Parkfield defended 122, defeating Doveton by seven runs to consign the Doves to eighth spot after Keysborough’s upset four-run win over Lyndale lifted them to seventh.

Meanwhile, in Turf 3, Berwick Springs all but saved itself from relegation with an eightwicket win over bottom-placed Hampton Park, bowling the Redbacks out for 70 and easily chasing down the total.

Dandy West leads that competition, with Coomoora and Springvale also ensconced in the top four, while Fountain Gate and Lynbrook are fighting out for the remaining spot.

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

|

STAR NEWS 25

SPORT

Bloods let off the hook

By Marcus Uhe It shaped as an epic contest between the two pace-setters of Turf 1 on Saturday, as rivals Buckley Ridges welcomed Springvale South to Park Oval.

And for much of the afternoon, an epic contest is what unfolded.

A sensational spell from Michael Davies had Buckley in the box-seat early, dismissing Ryan Quirk in his 100th game for 12 and the Forsyth brothers for five runs each to have the ladder-leaders in-trouble at 3/30.

But as the old-saying goes, catches win matches, and Buckley dropped five to let their rivals off the hook.

Jordan Wyatt capitalised on his second chance, top-scoring with 81 off 65 before he became Davies’ fourth victim of the day.

A valuable 46 from Blade Baxter and 54 from Yoshan Kumara pushed the total to 265, as Buckley left the field optimistic of their ability to chase, but feeling they had missed a real opportunity with their sloppy fielding.

In the absence of Jayson Hobbs, still recovering from a hand injury, Daniel Watson was accompanied to the crease by Jake Cronin in what was his first Turf 1 match for the season.

But things quickly took a dramatic turn for the hosts, with Daniel Watson requiring a runner after straining a hamstring while running a single.

Early indications are that the injury is not overly serious, and Buckley are hoping he will be avaible to play before finals.

The pain didn’t affect Watson’s eye, hitting three sixes in his rapid innings of 24, but he was in obvious discomfort throughout his innings, straining and hobbling around the crease between balls before he was caught by Quirk in a superb diving effort on the squareleg boundary under the trees.

When Cronin fell for a well-made 37 in a decision that left he and his teammates fuming, and Mahela Udewatte two overs later during a superb spell from Matt Wetering, Springvale South began to seize the momentum.

The right-armer charged-in consistently and brought an infectious enthusiasm to the crease, flexing his muscles and roaring in delight after Udawatte was given out LBW for 34, generating lively enthusiasm among his teammates who became more and more vocal with

Blade Baxter’s late-innings runs were vital for Springvale South. 319027 Picture: ROB CAREW every dot ball.

At 3-130 and with experienced heads both at the crease and still in the sheds for Buckley, the game was on a knives-edge.

Needing another wicket, Quirk turned to his opening bowler in Kumara halfway through the innings, and the right-armer delivered.

He had Troy Aust strangled down the leg side for seven, thanks to a superb catch by Paul Hill, and in the next over Jarryd Straker grabbed the big scalps of skipper Ben Wright and Davies, as the arm-wrestle took another dramatic turn.

3/130 became 6/130 in the blink of an eye, before they were soon dismissed for 179 in the 37th over.

Despite dropping from second to third on the table due to the loss, Buckley Ridges coach Manjula Manusinghe was looking at the positives of the result.

“We were ontop and dominating in the last few years, so this year the team is getting some more experience by (having) a bit of a hard time in normal matches,” Manusinghe said.

“This is a really good sign for me, failing earlier, and looking at the areas that we need to improve, and then we can go hard at the finals.”

Among the areas for growth include taking a more cautious approach when things weren’t going their way with the bat, such as milking the singles on offer rather than chasing boundaries.

“My message to the players that when wick-

ets fall, we still need to rotate the strike and take the pressure off us, rather than go for the big ones.

“We have experienced that for a few matches, rather than getting singles, we try to go for the big ones.

“That’s all about mentally how you approach the middle, how to calm down and build an innings. That’s what we need to focus on.”

The Bloods have now beaten Buckley in their last three matches, including last year’s Turf 1 Grand Final, and would appear to have an edge over their local rivals.

But not according to Manusinghe, who welcomes the challenge of playing against the best.

“I would really like to see another final against Springvale. We have no concerns because we beat them easily twice last year and then got beaten in the finals, but we are confident.

“They’re a good team, there’s no doubt about it, but we are even better and on the day, we’ll be better.”

Buckley’s fall was Hallam Kalora Park’s gain after the Hawks comprehensively took care of business on the road against Parkmore, dismissing the Pirates for 107 after posting 3/243 batting first.

Jagveer Hayer and Leigh Booth added 120 for the first wicket, with Booth registering his fourth 50 for the season with 85.

The returning Ryan Hillard notched 51 from 30 in a display of late hitting to post a total that would prove to be out-of-reach for the Pirates.

Things started brightly for Gavin Lehman’s side, as Johann Brohier and Mohomad Safras reached 34 before the first breakthrough.

That was as good as it got for the home side, however, with a steady procession of wickets seeing them dismissed for their lowest total of the year.

From 0/34 they lost all 10 wickets for 63.

Jordan Hammond and Lauchlan Gregson bagged three each for the Hawks, who have a crucial two-game stint remaining in order to hold-on to second, against North Dandenong and Buckley Ridges.

North Dandenong’s grip on fourth place took a hit, going down to Narre South to by four wickets at home.

Ramneet Dhindsa’s excellent season with the bat continued, posting 57 at the top of the order as the Maroons made 199 batting first.

Outside of Javed Khan, all their batters made starts, but it was only Dhindsa who passed 50.

They targeted Jeevan Mendis, who went for 64 from his 12, but grabbed the crucial wickets of Dhindsa and Clayton McCartney along the way, and took a difficult skied-catch off the bat of Tahsinullah Sultani.

Imran Laghmani hit the former Sri Lankan star for two sixes in one over and was dropped at midwicket in his quest for a third.

But some poor running between wickets and excellent fielding from Narre South meant the home side were never able to string together long partnerships.

A Langmani slog sweep to square leg was cut off by a Lions fielder prowling the boundary, who threw the ball to the bowlers end as the batters contemplated a second.

Ethan Kolaritsch collected the throw and threw down the stumps at the keeper’s end in what was a superb piece of awareness from the tweaker, whose six over spell of 2/30 tightened the screws late in the innings.

Mendis showed his class with the bat, combining with Jonty Jenner to successfully steer the chase.

Jenner’s 77 was his highest score for the season, and included five sixes and six fours as he and Mendis put on 83 for the third wicket.

North Dandenong are now only one game ahead of the Lions, and have a tricky contest against Hallam Kalora Park next week.

Meanwhile at Berwick, an economical bowling effort from the Bears’ setup a chasing victory against St Mary’s in their quest to avoid relegation.

Two wickets each to Andrew Perrin and Jake Hancock and two run-outs helped restrict the Saints to 7/158 at Carroll Reserve.

Despite a minor collapse of 4/35 in the middle of their batting innings, Hancock carried his bat with 55 not out to steady the case, supported by strong contributions from Mason Binns and Luke Engler.

The result sees the Bears leapfrog their vanquished opponents into sixth, three points both ahead of St Mary’s and behind Narre South, in fifth.

Panthers prowling and set for huge finals campaign NARRE WARREN BOWLS Narre Warren has six weekend teams and five midweek teams and 10 of the 11 teams have qualified for finals. This is an outstanding result and reflects the determination of all members to achieve success for their club.

Credit must also go to the selectors who have had an enormous task this year and they have worked extremely hard to field the best teams week in and week out.

The finals start this Saturday and we wish all teams the best of luck.

SATURDAY PENNANT – ROUND 14 •฀ Side 1: defeated Keysborough 93-63 Points: 16. Ladder: 2nd Best rink: Russell Keay; Braidon Johnson; Dane Gade and Cam Bell: +17 •฀ Side 2: (Away) defeated Beaumaris 95-58 Points: 16. Ladder: 4th Best rink: Ana Mateos; David Wilson; Keith Emms and Keith Fox: +26 •฀ Side 3: (Home) defeated Boronia 97-77 Points: 16. Ladder: 1st

Best rink: Pauline Kempf; Joe McGuire; Michael Toole and Geoff Miller: +11 •฀ Side 4: (Away) lost to Burden Park 67-82 Points: 4. Ladder: 1st Best rinks: Luka Klarica; Peter Castricum; Brian Exton and David Anderton: +6 Les Clement; Sue Menzel; Nola Burdett and Arthur Scheurer: +6 •฀ Side 5: lost to Ferntree Gully 55-93 Points: 2. Ladder: 2nd Best rink: Peter Anderton; David Entwistle; Stella Ellis and Gary Wilson: -4 •฀ Side 6: drew with Moorabbin 71-71 Points: 11. Ladder: 2nd Best rinks: Geoff Lee; Pauline Blake; Ernesto Vergara and Peter Wilson: +4 Bill Isaacson; Stan Platt; Robert Woff and Andy Tobler: +4 Rink of the Round: Side 2: Skip Keith Fox + 26 (Div 3 Sect 8) MIDWEEK PENNANT – ROUND 14 •฀ Side 1: (Home) drew with Keysborough 57-57

Points: 9. Ladder: 7th Best rink: Ana Mateos; Scott Butterworth; Colin Blyth and Colin Groom: + 5 •฀ Side 2: (Away) lost to Edithvale 50-64 Points: 4 Ladder: 1st Best rink: Joe Selfridge; James Stewart; Gary Farrington and James Millar: + 5 •฀ Side 3: (Home) lost to Pakenham 72-59 Points: 2 Ladder: 2nd Best rink: Kery Cadman; Thomas O’Loughlin; Dennis Bradford and Geoff Miller: + 1 •฀ Side 4: lost to Dandenong Club 59-66 Points: 2. Ladder: 4th Best rink: Len O’Brien; Pauline Blake; Ann Henderson and Andy Tobler: + 7 •฀ Side 5: (Away) defeated Cheltenham 6349 Points: 14. Ladder: 4th Best rink: Susan Ellery; Stan Platt; Stella Ellis and Gary Wilson: + 10 Rink of the Round: Side 5: Gary Wilson +10 (Div 6 Sect 8) -Eric Sydenham-

The Panther-Dome is buzzing with 10 of 11 teams making finals for the Narre Warren Picture: ROB CAREW Bowls Club. 244252

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SPORT

Finals fever hits Berwick BERWICK BOWLING CLUB Berwick 1 def Bacchus Marsh 1 86-79 (Home). Ladder: 5th Probably two to four points shy of what the ones wanted this week only picking up two rink wins and 14 points for the day. It sees them fifth still with Parkdale at home this week. The ones sit 14 points behind Whittlesea at present and can only do one thing from here and that is win their last two games and rely on Whittlesea losing one of their last two games!

Not the ideal scenario but in what has been a great challenge this year, the competitive side are hanging in by a thread. The rink of Ethan Mills set up the day with Dylan Booth, Ed Wilson and Cooper Kraus scoring a big 13-shot win backed up by Steve Ellard with a nine-shot win. The focus is clearly on our Div 2 to Div 9 finals teams this week so hopefully the ones are still alive after the weekend.

Berwick 2 def Moorabbin 101-53 (Home).

Ladder: 1st What a way to finish off the home and away season with a 52-shot drubbing of Moorabbin 2. The four skips in Dennis Griffin, Tony French, Charlie Azzopardi and Graeme Manifold have the twos humming at the moment and with a home final against Clayton 3 - and a double chance - we are tipping the twos to go straight through to the section final with a big win in their first final. If by chance they do go down (and we are no way thinking they will) they will back up again on Sunday against the winner of third-placed Edithvale and fourthplaced Mordialloc at a neutral venue. Last time they played Clayton 3 was away at Clayton, a tough green to win on. They went down overall by four shots, losing two rinks, but at home, on a green some say are the best going around, we are predicting the win and progression through to the sectional final.

Berwick 3 def Burden Park 2 81-86 (Away).

Ladder: 8th Another win - the third for the season - and an awesome way for our development side to finish off the year. They buried the finals hopes of Burden Park 2 and managed a five-shot win and took three rinks to top off a great day. We would like to thank all the threes that played this year for their commitment, attitude and effort. They continued to enjoy their experience at a level they had not been accustomed to, and with the help and guidance of our four skips throughout the year they have come on in leaps and bounds. Well done threes, great effort.

Berwick 4 def Hampton Park 2 102-57 (Home). Ladder: 2nd Yet another huge win, this time for the fourths against seventh-placed Hampton Park 2. The fours have had a great season this year to finish

Berwick Bowling Club is going to be a busy place this weekend with many teams making finals.

261693 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Karyn Mackie will be a key player when Berwick Two hosts Clayton in the qualifying final on Saturday. 303393

second on the ladder and will travel to Pakenham on Saturday to take on their second side in the qualifying final. Last time they met was at home and the fours got over the Lions by four shots, winning one rink and a draw. Pakky has been the yardstick all year and the fours will need to be at their very best to go through to the section final. All four rinks won well on the weekend and it’s a great confidence-booster going into next week. The side will look a little stronger than last time they met Pakky so we are predicting a nail biter under the dome at Pakenham.

Berwick 5 def Mulgrave CC 94-64 (Away).

Ladder: 5th With drama through the week and nearly 30 other clubs having to forfeit their games in Round 13 due to players included who were not eligible, the fives were unfortunately relegated to fifth spot after having to give last week’s four points to Burden Park 3. The selectors’ interpretation of the rule unfortunately was not correct and at the end of the day it has cost the fives a spot in the final. One more drawn rink, or one more rink win throughout the season would have got them over the line as well. They have finished on the same points as fourth spot, but fifth on percentage. It is a heartbreaking finish for the fives who have been in the four for most of the year. It’s fair to say BV has already stated the rule will be looked at in the coming months. Well done fives, and from the selectors it’s a big apology.

Berwick 6 def by Cranbourne 4 75-79 (Home). Ladder: 2nd The 6s have managed to scrape in for the

this year to try and snatch fourth spot but coming up against the top side with only two losses for the season was always going to be a big ask. With the amount of changes in the eights every week it’s a testament to the efforts they have provided. To miss by only five points is heartbreaking and like other sides this year, a rink win here or there can prove the difference. The eights, we know, will hold their heads up and to those that have helped them out to fill in this year we send a big thank you.

Well done eights.

Summary Six out of eight wins for the last round (Div 2-Div 9) is a great way to finish off the homeand-away season. This week’s games see the ones at home in a must win against Parkdale 1, the twos hosting their qualifying final against Clayton 3, the fours away against Pakky in a qualifying final, the sixes away against Dandy Club in the qualifying final and the mighty sevens hosting Churchill Waverley at home on Saturday for their qualifier.

All in all, we’ll have four sides playing Saturday and depending on results all four playing another game with a second chance. Great job Berwick!

Special thanks goes to Jeff Parker and his team for hosting what was believed to be a very successful Trivia Night on Saturday night, with plenty of laughs, lots of fun and a great night had by all. Our Corporate Challenge continues each Monday night through February as well with 42 full teams of local businesses thrashing it out for the 2023 Corporate Challenge winner.

- John Rich

double chance by taking two rink wins on the weekend and the loss overall. Finishing 2nd sees them off to play Dandy Club on possibly their own green as this side has been playing it’s home games at Burden Park on grass but we’ll have to wait for the draw to see where they’ll be playing. Last time the 6s met Dandy Club was at home on Jan 14 and that proved a nailbiter and both teams sharing the points in a draw. A qualifying final that has only been separated by 6 shots overall in two games is a mouth watering prospect and this now probably sees it as the match of the rounds this week. Can the 6s with a full squad come away with a sectional final birth?

Berwick 7 def Vermont Sth 64-50 (Home).

Ladder: 1st Our second side to finish on top of the ladder after the home and away season and again, after sitting in the top two, they have been seesawing with Churchill Waverley 2 all year for top spot. Alf Reina’s and Terry Wood’s rinks did it for the sevens on the weekend and covered the losing rink very well to take the 14 points.

The sevens will host Churchill Park, probably under the roof, and the last time they met the sevens took an overall seven-shot win in round eight and an 11-shot win in round one. Does that mean they have the wood on the opposition? Finals are a different game but they must go in very confident of a good showing and a sectional final berth awaits the sevens who have been the team of the year in this section.

Berwick 8 def by Brighton 3 49-66 (Away).

Ladder: 5th Well, the eights fought right to the last bowl

Cobras show class against very young Cranbourne side JUNIORS First up were Cranbourne versus Cobras.

Cobras have a strong batting side and they jumped out of the blocks with an 11-run first innings. The very young Cranbourne team gave it their best but Cobras were too strong winning 26-4. Berwick Cherokees, too, outplayed Doveton in a 22-13 win. In a highstandard game, it was great to see how much all of the kids have improved as the season has progressed. The best players were Cherokee’s Judah Tutahi-Campbell, and Doveton’s Rose Addison.

SOCIAL WOMEN MVP took on Cranbourne Comets. Comets had a great first innings scoring 11 runs and keeping their opponents scoreless. MVP had a late innings rally, but Comets were too strong winning 13-5. Berwick Chickasaw took on Narre Warren Penguins in a fairly even game until eight runs were scored in the Penguins’ third innings, the final score being 16-2. The final game was Berwick Geronimo vs Cobras. A fun entertaining game saw Geronimo win 15-6. There were home runs to Geronimo Caroline Willemsen, and Cobras’ youngest Rachel Steendam.

B GRADE WOMEN’S Doveton took on Cobras. Pitchers Eva Hoad and Brooklyn Maloney kept the scores to zero berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

in the first innings. Both teams started batting in the second innings with Cobras scoring six to four. Doveton managed one more in the third, but Cobras held on to win a thriller 6-5. The second game was Berwick Cheyenne vs Cranbourne. Cranbourne started slowly falling behind by six runs after three innings.

They started batting and made a late charge with three runs in the fourth. The home runs went to Cranbourne’s Amanda Clunes and Milli Parata, and Cheyenne’s Kirsten Hamilton in Cheyenne’s three-run win.

MEN’S Cobras Maroon faced off against Cranbourne Meteorites. Both teams had a great first innings with Cobras scoring eight runs and Metorites nine. Meteorites bats struggled thereafter, scoring only one more run to Cobras’ eight, leading to a six-run Cobras victory, led by Andrew Johnston. Warriors took on Cobras Grey in the final game of the day. A tough day for batters saw pitchers Alex Chapman and Zane Davies dominate the first four innings with only five runs scored in total.

Cobras managed four in the fifth to Warriors two, for a three-run Cobras win.

This weekend, Casey Softball will be celebrating Pride Round with face painting (gold coin donation), and a trophy for best dressed.

Games start at Sweeney Reserve at 10.50am.

It was great to see the return of junior softball on the weekend. 319872 Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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