Dandenong Star Journal - 28th March 2023

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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Good deeds lauded

Traders’ DNA dispute

Titanic gold quest

Bulls are back

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Fans of joy, harmony and energy Dancers from a Filipino community group brought joy and energy to a Harmony Day celebration at John Pandazopoulos Hall, Doveton. It was one of several events held by schools and groups in the region.

For more, turn to pages 4 and 10

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Homeless aid call Greater Dandenong has again topped the state for levels of homelessness, up 22 per cent in five years, according to the latest Census data.

It has sparked further urgent calls for more stocks of social and affordable housing, as cost of living and rental shocks bite.

In 2021, there were 2366 experiencing homelessness in Greater Dandenong – equivalent to one in 67 residents.

The next highest rates in metro Melbourne were Brimbank (one in 126), Melbourne (one in 128) and Port Phillip (one in 95) council areas.

Almost half (1111) in Greater Dandenong

were crammed in “severely crowded” homes that required a staggering four or more extra bedrooms.

There was also a doubling of Greater Dandenong residents in boarding houses (724).

Twenty-two dwelled in tents, 382 in supported housing for homeless people, and 45

were temporarily staying in other households.

There were a further 2284 not classified as homeless but in ‘other marginal housing’, such as ‘crowded’ dwellings that required three extra bedrooms or in caravan parks. This was down 17 per cent from 2016 levels.

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By Cam Lucadou-Wells

NEWS

Endless works for change

By Sahar Foladi An advocate who always works around the clock for refugee and migrants’ settlement, Shabnam Safa has added yet another award to a long list.

Ms Safa migrated to Australia as an Afghan Hazara refugee from Pakistan with her parents and three young brothers.

As a teenager, she saw Australia brimming with opportunities where she could receive basic education, the right to work as a woman, not be targeted for her gender or ethnicity as a Hazara - a minority group in Afghanistan.

“Starting a new life from scratch in a new country is not easy, no matter how much you think you’re prepared for it,” Ms Safa said.

“It was challenging but also exciting at the same time because we didn’t know what was around the corner.

“I wanted to study and take on all the opportunities that would come my way. I didn’t plan the future out but I knew I had to make use of every opportunity and that’s what I did.”

Nearly 14 years later, she’s crowned as Bakhtar Woman of the Year - her most recent award.

She has represented Australia at various international summits including United Nations, serves on multiple government advisory boards at State and National levels, inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, chairs the National Refugee-Led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG), co-founded two not for profit organisations, works in Community Refugees Sponsorship Australia and so much more.

“It was a journey to give back, looking at the things not possible for my family and I to achieve before and to make it happen here.”

She threw herself into opportunities from within and outside of school, joined karate a year after she settled in Australia, earned her black belt in 2013 and represented Australia at multiple international and national championships.

“That has taken a back seat in my life right now but it was a huge instrument of change.

It wasn’t just sport, it helped me become more confident and take on challenges that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

She also ran for the 2016 City of Casey elections where she finished in the top five out of the 18 candidates.

As a young person then, she’d always been active in the local community from the get-go.

She was also awarded the 2014 Sportsperson of the Year by the City of Casey.

In between everything she does, voluntarily or as a requirement of her work, she’s consistently working whether it’s supporting community advocacy initiatives and conversations or to raise awareness on events surrounding issues in Afghanistan and refugees.

“I feel I’m constantly working and not because it’s required of my role but just working towards the goal that I have for myself, the future that I want for myself, my community and others around me.

“It’s been a very difficult couple of years for the people of Afghanistan both within and outside and I feel a huge and deep sense of responsibility to use my skills and resources and do something about it.”

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan

Shabnam Safa, centre, receives the Bakhtar Woman of the Year award from Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson and Bakhtar Community Association chief executive Bassir Qadiri in August 2021, she has been a strong advocate as a founding member of the Action for Afghanistan campaign.

The campaign called for concrete action and policy reform in Australia including a special humanitarian intake, the abolition of Temporary Protection Visas (TPV), family reunification, and other key issues affecting the Afghan Australian community.

“I may not be able to help people in Afghanistan but I know I can make a difference here in Australia so I have thrown myself into that completely over the last few years.”

After the suicide attack on the KAAJ educational centre in Kabul in September 2022, which targeted mainly Hazara girls, Hazaras and Afghans around the world united in uproar against the continuous attacks.

The global movement also saw community demonstrations in the heart of Dandenong and across Australia which Ms Safa played a key part in. Like many other Afghans her parents attended.

“It was an emotional event. The community was hurting and there were people who had

lost family members in that attack.

“After the event my father said, there were so many things I wanted to do in life which I couldn’t because of the journey I had to take and factors outside of my control.

“Looking at you I feel you’re doing a lot of what I never could do but wanted to do. I see a lot of me in you.”

Although her family is very supportive and proud of all that she does, they’re concerned about her wellbeing.

However, her parents also know the importance of the work and changes their daughter brings out.

“We have come from a country where generations have been displaced or had to live with war and its consequences. My parents now see another generation go through this.

“But they see the younger generation step up and learn from the experiences of those who’ve come before us.”

After years of advocacy from different organisations across Australia, communities celebrated as the Australian Government announced a pathway towards permanent visas

for 19,000 refugees on TPVs and SHEVs. “I’m starting to see a shift in the refugee narrative in Australia. It’s partly because of a change in government and more and more people wanting to do something about this growing worldwide issue.”

She described this moment as “exciting” with much hope to look forward to. However, there’s more work to be done to clear the backlog created in the system.

“I would love to see a larger additional humanitarian intake from Afghanistan. Currently Labor hasn’t indicated anything in that space.

“I would like to see the abolishment of the TPV and SHEV architecture that can’t be used to punish people for seeking safety in Australia.”

Her work has taken her all over the world including volunteering in India for six months and also Greece where she worked in refugee camps.

Ms Safa will strive to become an effective socio-cultural change agent and sees herself continuing to advocate for refugee rights and create changes in Australia and beyond.

Advocate for social change

Shabnam Safa with her parents.

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Picture: SUPPLIED

A committed advocate for refugees and migrants has been crowned Bakhtar Woman of the Year at a gala dinner on 18 March.

In front of 250 guests at Palmyra Hall, Shabnam Safa was presented the Bakhtar Community Association’s award by Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson and Bakhtar Community Association chief executive Bassir Qadiri.

Ms Safa has led several initiatives for positive social change and for meaningful participation for refugees.

Other finalists included Hampton Park Community House worker Zohra Hasib, who supports families and children transitioning to early start kindergarten.

Tahera Nassrat, who formed a diverse

group of Afghan women working towards community harmony and empowerment, was also nominated.

As was prodigious volunteer Mahjabeen Azim, who has translated, interpreted and educated mothers and children at Wellsprings for Women and in classrooms.

Federal opposition multicultural affairs spokesperson Jason Wood, Greater Dandenong mayor Eden Foster and Victoria Police assistant commissioner Therese Fitzgerald were among the special guests.

The evening entertainment included poetry recitals by Liesel Kippan and Shakila Nasir Bahana, and live music from Rabi Pardes. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Financial pain hits hard

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Growing numbers of residents are being crushed by cost-of-living pressure, according to City of Greater Dandenong.

Meanwhile, there seems no plans to revive the council’s $1 million-plus Covid-19 material aid program – which was co-funded by the State Government.

Greater Dandenong community strengthening acting director Marcus Forster said support services were reporting more aid requests as well as a rise in financial distress, homelessness and mental health issues.

“The stress of and shame associated with financial distress often means people wait to seek assistance, by the time they do vulnerabilities have increased, making the chance of a timely recovery often more difficult.

“Most people with lived experience are struggling with the loss of hope, mortgage and rent pressures and lack of food security.”

Food insecurity and homelessness were the two most pressing issues in what is the second-most socio-economically disadvantaged council area in Victoria, he said.

Affordable housing stocks had declined significantly, with vulnerable people paying rent, mortgages and bills often having nothing left for food.

“Average incomes are the second lowest in the state and we have the second highest level of food insecurity.

“Socio economic disadvantage goes beyond economics, people within the community that cannot afford to participate in activities most take for granted are therefore making difficult choices.

“For example their children miss out on sport and recreation activities that would help them grow confidence.

“People that find themselves in financial distress, quite often end up socially isolated not only because they no longer can afford to participate in life but due to the shame and stigma attached to poverty.”

There had been a particular rise in suffering for residents with non-permanent visas.

“We have a high number of refugees and people seeking asylum who we know are disproportionately affected by poverty.”

The council’s Covid material aid program delivered tonnes of food and other essentials to vulnerable residents via service agencies for more than two years.

It ceased in June 2022, with state funding ending in December 2022.

Currently the council is providing supermarket vouchers, helping with energy-subsidy applications and linking people to services.

It was also partnering with Foodbank for additional Farm to Families Food pop-ups in Greater Dandenong.

The council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy – the first of its kind in Australia – aimed to help understand poverty and to work collaboratively with the community to tackle it, Mr Forster said.

“Poverty is everyone’s business, it can happen to anyone at any time throughout a lifespan, if we work together and create conditions for people to move out of poverty, we all benefit.

“Which is why Council is calling on government, business and community to come together to find solutions.”

Students take a deep dive into discovery Students at Lyndale Greens Primary School have dived into making discoveries beneath the waves.

On 24 March, they dressed as turtles, sharks, mermaids, pirates and other sea-faring life on a Free Dress Sea Day, raising $300 for Dolphin Research Institute.

It followed a Sea Week filled with art, mu-

sic, stories and science activities to learn more about Victoria’s amazing marine life.

Science specialist teacher Judith Sise said Victorians underappreciated the significance of their state’s marine eco-systems and species.

More than 90 per cent of surveyed Victorians valued marine systems in other states

above their own.

“The program was developed to showcase to Victorians that what lives around our coast is too precious to lose.”

Dolphin Research Institute studies the dolphins and whales in Port Phillip, as well as running the award-winning schools program ‘i Sea, i Care’.

Greater Dandenong councillor Richard Lim says he’s seeking to transform Springvale into a tourism hub.

Ideas to ‘Shape Springvale’

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Mandy Robertson from Dolphin Foundation, right, with Lyndale Greens students, behind from left, Rose, Naiyanika and Ama, front from left, William, Picture: ROB CAREW Ashton and Dusan. 324497

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Greater Dandenong Council has launched an online public survey for ideas on how to revitalise Springvale.

The ‘Shape Springvale’ “interactive engagement hub” will include an ideas board and mapping tool for respondents to pin point what they would like to see and where.

The results will help to form the council’s Springvale Revitalisation Action Plan.

Mayor Eden Foster said the plan would build on Springvale’s strengths.

“This is an exciting time for Council as our Placemaking and Revitalisation team are wanting to know from the community what short, medium and long-term interventions could support Springvale’s evolution into the future.

“In recent years, Council has delivered the Springvale Community Hub and newly revitalised Springvale Boulevard to act as catalysts for change in the area.

“These projects celebrate Springvale’s rich cultural tapestry and provide a renewed sense of pride in which the Springvale Revitalisation Action Plan will build upon.”

Springvale Central Ward councillor Richard Lim said he hoped that Springvale would become a “a top tourism hub and a place that locals are proud of”.

“Council will consider all the feedback before presenting a draft action plan back to the community for their views.”

The Shape Springvale consultation closes on 30 April. Details: greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/shape-springvale

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STAR JOURNAL 3

NEWS

An energetic troupe with a Mauritian dance display. 324103

Performers flourishing in a Chinese dance. 324103

Dancing in true harmony

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Doveton was teeming in rhythms from all corners of the world as part of a Harmony Day celebration.

About 300 dancers and musicians brought traditional costumes, moves and tunes with gusto to the event at John Pandazopoulos Hall on Tuesday 21 March.

It brought together seven multicultural community groups who meet separately at the hall each week.

Their backgrounds include Xinjiang province in China, the Philippines, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Italy and South-East China.

“It was lovely to see people dancing and showing off to one another in colourful costumes,” the hall committee-of-management’s chair Brian Oates said.

“Everyone was thrilled with it all. Every year, it seems to be getting better and better.”

All the groups also shared a lunch spread of their best national foods.

After the jam-packed turnout in front of City of Casey officers, Mr Oates suggested Bunjil Place’s forecourt might be the ideal venue for future events.

A dancer representing the Philippines at the Harmony Day event. 324103

Performers gave the lowdown on Filipino traditional dance. 324103

A dancer representing the Philippines. 324103

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Brian Oates addresses the 300-strong turnout.

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Tributes flow for Terry Norris, actor, TV star and MP

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Tributes have flowed for the late former state Labor MP and actor Terry Norris.

The 92-year-old former MP for Noble Park (1982-‘85) and Dandenong (1985-’92) is being remembered fondly on social media by a wide array of friends and admirers.

As a prolific film, theatre and TV actor, he was well-known for numerous roles in series such as Bellbird, Homicide, Matlock Police, Cop Shop and Jack Irish.

He put his acting on hold to pursue a 10year stint as a state politician.

“I had the biggest ethnic group in the state and the biggest unemployment and drug problem,” Mr Norris told TV Tonight in 2018.

“It was challenging but nevertheless interesting. I worked my arse off and kindly 4 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

(thanks) to the people I increased my vote at every election so I was doing something right.”

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams paid tribute to “a kind man, a decent man” a “brilliant” MP and “a great loss for Victorian Labor and Melbourne’s South East community”.

“Vale Terry Norris.

“He was among the first to call me when I was first pre-selected for the seat of Dandenong - to offer congratulations, advice and support.

“My heart goes out to Terry’s family during this difficult time.”

Former Casey mayor Wayne Smith posted: “A great man – he was very kind and nurturing to me in my early ALP days!”

Greater Dandenong councillor Angela Long said Mr Norris was “great to get along with”.

With “no airs or graces”, he was “down-toearth” and “always knew your name”.

John Pandazopoulos, who succeeded Mr Norris as a Dandenong MP, posted: “A top bloke. A community champion. Always made himself available to community groups. Endless support from being an MC at so many events, auctioneer at community fundraisers and a great Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.

“Also gave me good advice, provided support and made himself available. Vale Terry.”

Terry Norris, centre, with Margaret Ladner and Greater Dandenong mayor Angela Long in 2012. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

CommSafe bridging gap

By Sahar Foladi In partnership between the City of Greater Dandenong Council and Victoria Police, CommSafe forum was held on 22 March to provide an informative session to the community.

A wide range of members from the Victoria Police were present to speak on panels about issues such as, family violence, drug, police road patrolling, crime trends, crime prevention and much more.

Panel members also answered questions from the audience.

Among the influential individuals were Keysborough Secondary College students from Year 11 and 12 seated at the back of the room.

Sophia is interested in a career in criminology and social work.

“I think we learnt a lot about the impact the Police have on the community.

“We learnt that they’re not just law enforcement they’re trying to listen to us but we do have a lot of improvements that we would like to talk to them about.”

El and Palak both on the School Council represent the student body and they both lean towards studying Law after graduation.

“In our school student voice is a big deal with the school Council. We can bring issues on the forefront and talk about programs like Bluedge and how youth are affected,” Palak said.

The enthusiastic students learned about some of the programs available to young people and are passionate to bring those programs to their schools as well.

“A lot of the programs aren’t heavily advertised so we learnt a lot about programs that we didn’t know of before like Bluedge and living free program,” El said.

All of the students walked out with different perspectives on Victoria Police from when

Keysborough Secondary School students L-R Palak, Sophia and El with members of Victoria Police.

Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman, Cr Richard Lim, mayor Eden Foster, Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton, Cr Angela Long and Greater Dandenong CEO Jacqui Weatherill.

Pictures: SUPPLIED they first entered the room.

“We always saw them as figures to be scared of but today we saw them more as helpers and people that we can approach with our concerns,” Sophia said.

The young students were passionate about issues such as drugs, aggressive behaviours within and around school grounds, bullying, peer pressure and broadly looking at the youth in justice systems.

The forum is one of the two in the state ac-

cording to the mayor Eden Foster.

“Victoria Police supports us all to implement the Greater Dandenong Community Safety Plan 2015-22 and is an essential stakeholder to helping us improve perceptions and levels of community safety throughout our municipality.

“A partnership approach is the key to helping us achieve the strategic outcomes of our Community Safety Plan.”

Council will continue to work with key

stakeholders to improve ongoing issues in the municipality.

Along with Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton, Greater Dandenong mayor Eden Foster, CEO Jacqui Weatherill, councillors, community organisation leaders and local members also attended the forum.

Colin Huth a local member of the Dandenong Police Station has served the community for 30 years now and has also been awarded the Greater Dandenong Council’s Living Treasure award this year.

“Today was very successful we were able to demonstrate that we have a lot of work going on that’s clearly connected to the council.

“I feel we have done a very good job to present where we’re at but by no means that we’re finished there’s lot of work to do.”

Mr Huth said he’s very happy everyone came down to the forum and recognises it to be a very important encounter between Victoria Police and the community.

“There are always operations running that are there to keep issues that were identified, in check. At the moment we will continue with our neighbourhood police patrols to make sure we’re on the street using tools like CCTV to keep an eye on how things are tracking.”

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Second go at life

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

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

Pictures: HAS MEDIA

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

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

City’s top citizen

complex grieving process for donors’ families.

“Out of one person, you have seven trans-

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

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

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

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sponsors of Afri-Aus Care.

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

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

The not-for-profit provides mental health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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STAR JOURNAL 5

NEWS

Last time lucky for MP

By Casey Neill Gabrielle Williams was done.

The Dandenong MP was approaching 40 and had spent five and a half years trying IVF to finally become a mum.

“I’d already made the decision that I couldn’t keep going, I couldn’t keep doing it, so that was it,” she said.

Then Ruairí came along.

“He was the last embryo,” Gabrielle said.

She’d alwasy had in the back of her mind that she “probably couldn’t have kids” following a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis.

“As a protective mechanism I worked from the assumption that I couldn’t, and therefore tried not to want it too much,“ she said.

“As I got older and then made the call to do IVF, I wanted it a lot more.

“With every failure and loss and with the clock ticking, that longing grows.

“I also began to think it was less and less likely.”

When the embryo that would become Ruairí was implanted, Gabrielle was convinced it wasn’t going to work.

“I went straight back to work from the clinic and got on with my day,” she said.

“It wasn’t occupying every minute of my thoughts the way that every other round had.”

Five days later, a home pregnancy test came up positive.

“I thought ‘oh yeah, I’ve been here before though and it’s faded’,” she said.

She tested again on days six, seven and eight and that line kept getting darker.

“But I was still not ready to get too excited yet,” she said.

“Then we got into the world of scans and he was there and confirmed.

“Then I thought I lost him at six weeks. I was convinced I’d lost him.”

She’d had a bleed but it was the weekend, so her specialist told her to come in on Monday.

One of her sisters wouldn’t let her wait under the worry, and drove Gabrielle to Monash Medical Centre.

“I hadn’t at any point heard the baby’s heartbeat before then, and I wasn’t expecting it would be there,” she said.

“I’d kept it together until then, but I completely fell in a heap when I heard him and he was fine.”

Gabrielle had started the IVF process while she was married, but when the relationship broke down she was determined to continue the process alone.

“That meant going through a sperm donor, which is not an easy process,” she said.

She thought hard about whether to ask someone she knew but decided an anonymous donor was the best option for her.

“We do have a donor shortage so the list is pretty thin. Sometimes you have to wait quite a while for the right one,” she said.

She waited a few weeks, requesting the list of potential donors at 7am every morning.

“If you found one that was appropriate you had to be really quick at requesting it,” she said.

“There’s legislative caps on how many families each donor can have. We’ve just changed it from 10 women to 10 families.

“It’s a bit of a competition to land your donor.

“Because I’m raising him as a single mum it sounds a bit silly, and perhaps it is silly - but I wanted him to feel as connected to me as he could.

“So I was looking for someone with the basic attributes that I had - brown hair, brown eyes, but hopefully a bit taller.

“That is what I found, basically. I even found a donor that said he had wavy hair as well.”

There’s no compensation for sperm donors.

“And it’s not an easy process because you’ve got to provide a lot of information about yourself, there’s genetic screenings,” she said.

“So men who commit to doing this, it’s a big commitment.

“I find myself now always having conversa6 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

Gabrielle and Ruairí in her elecorate office. tions with friends who fit the eligibility criteria, saying ‘you should do this’, it’s really helpful and it changes someone’s life for minimal inconvenience to them in the greater scheme.

“Statistically, there are more and more women having children on their own.

“There’s going to be more of us, not less, which means the role of donors then becomes more important.”

Gabrielle made a “calculated decision” to become a single mum.

“I weighed up the reality of doing it alone pretty heavily and had conversations with my family about it,” she said.

“For me to be able to do it, I had to make sure I had plenty of support from them.

Picture: ROB CAREW does give me some flexibility.”

Breastfeeding and pumping mean carting a pump and other supplies around Parliament House, and instigating a parenting room.

“I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to feed and it’s happened quite easily for me, which isn’t the case for everybody,” she said.

“But feeding is a challenge, it’s a challenge that I continue to navigate.

“You never master it.

“I do find that there’s a calm in just accepting that you can’t predict it.”

Gabrielle has great support from her electorate and ministerial staff.

“They’ve all had to learn how to do their

I thought I lost him at six weeks. I was convinced I’d lost him.”

“I’m very blessed to be one of four girls so I’ve got three big sisters.

“I knew I had their support and they were very eager to give me that support.”

Ruairí was four months old when we spoke and, like most mums, Gabrielle was still in the thick of figuring out motherhood - and how to make it work alongside a demanding career.

“What works this week might not work next week, so I’m having to build that uncertainty into my diary and into how I work,” she said.

“There’s a serenity, almost, attached to the fact that you can’t change it and it is what it is.

“I’m fortunate enough to be in a job that

jobs a little bit differently,” she said.

“But they’ve ridden the journey with me as well.

“Now that he’s here they’re all rapt.”

Ruairí was born just weeks before the November 2022 Victorian State election.

“I did my first press conference two weeks after he was born and he came with me,” Gabrielle said.

“I had to be doing it and it was important.

“I tried to target what I was doing.”

Previously she would have spent every day at pre-polling booths, from open to close. So she cut back the hours.

“The upside of having him when I’ve had him is on the back of Covid, we’ve got a lot more used to doing things online,” she said.

Gabrielle was first elected in 2014 and never considered stepping away from the seat.

“I’ll always do this job as long as I’ve got the passion for it,” she said.

“Having him didn’t change that.

“If anything it’s made me more impatient for change.

“I can see in my own domestic circumstances the impact of what we do and in very real terms the idea that you want to leave the place better than where you found it.

“He’s another inspiration point and a reminder of why we’re here and what we’re doing.”

Gabrielle was reluctant to give any advice to other women battling infertility. She’s acutely aware that everyone’s situation is different.

“Be kind to yourself, no matter what decision you come to,” she said.

“You can’t be influenced by whatever anyone else says. It’s not their experience.

“The only advice I can give is you’ve got to listen to your own circumstance and make the call yourself.

“You’ll get pulled in different directions “Keep checking in with yourself.

“You can get caught on the roller coaster of it.”

Watching Gabrielle hold a smiling Ruairí on her lap while we chat, it’s obvious that every low on her roller coaster was worth it.

“He’s everything I could have hoped,” she said. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Liberal MP backs level crossing push

By Sahar Foladi

Little India Traders spokesperson Steve Khan between his cafe and the car park, which has been taken over as a storage yard. 325570 Picture: ROB CAREW

Traders compo call

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Little India traders are seeking compensation after being caught in the stalemate between City of Greater Dandenong and builders of the new DNA art gallery in Dandenong.

For nearly 12 months, a private car park on Mason Street and Gilbert Lane has been commandeered as a storage yard for the $7.2 million-plus Dandenong New Art gallery project.

Little India Traders spokesperson and cafe owner Steve Khan said business owners using the 20-space car park were originally assured the disruption would last about three weeks in April 2022.

However, the project has been delayed for 18 months due to an ongoing contractual dispute between the council and builder Harris HMC. Mr Khan said the traders were now parking on the street and getting parking fines.

His cafe had lost 60 per cent of trade due to the lack of parking and the “monster fencing” outside his business, he said.

“The council has issued us parking permits restricted to park in an allocated council car park with 10 spaces.

“The irony of the situation is that by the time the traders arrive in the morning, the allocated spaces are already occupied by (other workers) in the area.”

In response to his request for the withdrawal of the fines, the council told him ‘you can go to the court’, Mr Khan says.

“This unbecoming attitude of council is deplorable, as we do not park on the street by choice but are forced to do so.

“We’re wondering whom should we hold responsible for the losses that we have incurred in our businesses due to this situation created by the council.”

Greater Dandenong chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said the council had entered into a licence with Development Victoria, which owns the car park.

“This area is where essential construction equipment needs to be placed in order to erect the DNA Gallery steel work.

“Any arrangements that Development Victoria have had with the Little India traders to utilise the ‘private car park’ are unknown to Council.”

Ms Weatherill said the council was considering further parking options to help traders.

“We have been in discussions with Steve Khan to support him and other traders in the Little India precinct while DNA Gallery construction works are completed.

“Reserved car parking spaces have been designated in the adjacent Council managed car park for Little India precinct traders.”

The council expects it would be “still several months” before the private car park reopens, Ms Weatherill said..

“When the contract is resolved with builder Harris HMC, Council will take over the construction to erect the necessary steel work as soon as possible.”

The DNA gallery was originally slated to open in mid-2021.

On latest estimates, the council hopes it will open by late 2023.

Works on the 1920’s former Masonic hall site ground to a halt over a dispute over some of the builder’s work, including steel framing..

When finished, the DNA facility is expected to be a gallery of regional significance.

It will include state-of-the-art exhibition spaces, workshop spaces, cafe and retail, active outdoor spaces and public art.

Poetry reflects Habib’s life and loves

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A retired English-language teacher who fled the Balkan Wars is now penning poems in quiet reflection.

Habib Mandzic, of Noble Park, fills his days fishing for mullet and King George whiting, walking and taking his granddaughter to play centres.

He also makes time for writing his eighth book – a book of poetry beautifully entitled ‘When I think, the moon listens’.

Growing up in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he became steeped in American literature, sociology and philosophy.

“When I was in high school, I wrote some poems because as a teenager I was in love.

Many girls inspired me to write love songs.”

In the past five years, he’s reacquainted himself with poetry.

His texts reflect on lofty topics - war, freedom of will, gender equality, will-power, environment, fear, stress, sleep deprivation, mental balance, suffering, and the good and evil in ourselves.

Life wasn’t always this tranquil for Mr Mandzic.

Teaching English language classes, he was forced to flee from Bosnia “literally a day” before war broke out in the early 1990s. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Habib Mandzic with his eight books in order Picture: ROB CAREW or publication. 325237 Via Hungary, he travelled to Germany in frantic search for his wife and son, who had fled three days earlier.

In an era before widespread internet or mobile phones, he searched 10 days “going from police station to police station” while thinking his family may be in a camp.

Miraculously, an acquaintance in Germany told him that a girl had arrived in Dortmund in the country’s north.

“He gave me a telephone number of this house and they were there.

“That was emotional and a big drama.”

He and his family arrived as refugees in Australia in 1995, and he resumed his work as an English-language teacher at Chisholm

and Holmesglen Tafes and AMES. “I helped people out with different languages, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, it gave me that love to write again.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, the essence of everyone is to be happy.

“My motto in life is the best way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy.”

Every morning, Mr Mandzic asks himself how he may serve others.

But he says power and fear dominate our world.

“There’s lots of ignorance in the world, lots of discrepancy between rich and poor, lots of misunderstanding, lots of fear.

“We’re not communicating, we need to open up ourselves. We pretend we know other people, ethnicities and cultures on a lot of different levels.

“That’s really it – more communication, more social connection. Not in social media, but in real life seeing our friends, meeting in parks and sports.

“To open our hearts to others is the best way to say ‘Here I am’.”

‘When I think, the moon listens’ is selfpublished with In-house Publishing. For copies, message Habib Mandzic on Facebook.

An opposition MP has called for the scrapping of the proposed level crossing removal on Progress Street Dandenong after businesses raised safety concerns.

Liberal South-East MP Ann-Marie Hermans raised the topic in the Parliament on 22 March asking the Transport Minister not to proceed with the project.

“The owners of these businesses specifically chose Progress Street and Nathan Road because of this road access, and the government is now taking it away from them with their level crossing removal so-called solution.

“The government solution is not to remove the level crossing at all instead they are just closing it and permanently splitting Progress Street in two.

“So the action I seek is for the minister to save the government’s money by not removing the level crossing and not constructing a connecting road over Eumemmerring Creek, and I request in this action that the minister actually considers the impact that this will have on the businesses and meets with the people, along with me.”

As part of the government’s level-crossing removal project, the rail line on Progress St would be permanently closed off and instead divert all traffic via Fowler Road onto South Gippsland Hwy. A road bridge is proposed by Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), which will connect Progress Street and Fowler Road in the busy industrial precinct.

The precinct is home to manufacturers such as Vulcan, Pakaflex, Simmonds Lumber Group, JDN Monocrane and also Australia Post.

In opposition, nearby businesses say the level-crossing on Progress Street is not dangerous and neither does it cause congestion.

They say if the project goes ahead, Fowler Road is not designed to take on larger loads of B Doubles and other large trucks bearing large loads from both directions.

Businesses have had meetings with Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams and LXRP to discuss alternatives to the plan of the level crossing removal.

Managing Director of Pakaflex, Andrew Hamer said they asked about their contingency plans for of the project doesn’t work.

“Basically they have no contingency plan this is the only plan. They’re saying they’ve done all the modelling and it’s all good. They keep saying it’s a done deal and we go who made the done deal without talking to anyone first?

“A lot of safety issue was raised and they said we’ll look into that and kick it off,” Mr Hamer said.

Ms Hermans asked a follow up question in State Parliament on 23 March to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety about when the government will complete the Dandenong Bypass extension, in order to connect Progress Street to the bypass.

This alternative was a “clear solution” for Progress Street and its businesses, Ms Hermans said.

Ms Williams seemed genuine and interested in this alternative in their meeting, according to Mr Hamer however, the timeframe to achieve the alternative is drawn out which means fears of going down Fowler Road still looms.

The businesses’ next step is to start a social media campaign backed by Ms Hermans.

Businesses are united against the closure of Progress Street in Dandenong South as part of a Level Crossing Removal Project.

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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NEWS

Teacher jailed for teen sex

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A teacher in the South East has been jailed for grooming and having sex with her student.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to the offences with a child under 16 as well as possessing child sexual abuse material of herself and the boy.

In sentencing on 21 March, Judge Trevor Wraight said she had been “motivated by sexual desire knowing you were breaching your position of trust and influence as a teacher”.

In 2021, the teacher told him she wished he was older, and that she wanted to be friends with him outside of school.

Later on Microsoft Teams, she told him she couldn’t believe she was “catching feelings” for him and gave him her phone number.

They first had sex in the back of her car at a football ground at 5.30am.

Beforehand, she said if they got caught “I’m gonna go to jail, I’m gonna lose my job” but she was “willing to risk it”.

“Just be 100 per cent certain you want to do this.”

They had sex about 15 times in nearly five months.

The teacher also sent “thousands” of text messages to the boy, most were of a “grooming” nature with explicit images and videos of herself.

Videos of them having sex in her bedroom were later found on the boy’s phone.

Their relationship continued until his parents discovered the teacher’s messages on his phone.

The teacher admitted the offending to them, saying she was in love with the boy. The parents reported the matter to police.

While on bail, she was caught contacting the victim several times despite an intervention order. Her bail was revoked in February 2022.

Although the boy willingly took part, his consent didn’t make the acts any less serious, Judge Wraight noted.

In victim impact statements, his parents said there was a “devastating” impact on them and their son.

His introduction to the “adult world of relationships” and the criminal justice system had robbed him of his “normal teenage years”, they stated.

A psychologist found that the majorly depressed accused had previously suffered abusive, controlling partners.

She “sought comfort” from the victim to “curb her loneliness without the risk of control and abuse from her previous relationships”, the psychologist reported.

In what was her first teaching position, the teacher reportedly struggled to connect with colleagues and identified more with students.

Her immaturity and “lack of clarity with interpersonal boundaries” led her to wrongly view the boy as an “equal”.

Judge Wraight noted the teacher’s “very strong” rehabilitative prospects, with a low risk of reoffending.

Her lack of criminal history, early guilty plea, genuine remorse, relative youth and developing insight were also taken into account.

“You accept that your career as a teacher is over.”

The teacher was jailed for up to three years and nine months. She is eligible for parole after serving two years.

The term includes 401 days in pre-sentence remand.

She must report as a registered sexual offender for life.

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NEWS

Housing crisis intensifies

By Shelby Brooks Families in the South East are finding themselves in the middle of a “perfect storm” - leaving thousands vulnerable to homelessness, according to a local tenant advocate coordinator.

A housing affordability crisis, a housing availability crisis and a cost of living crisis, along with the interest rate increases, are coming together to create a nightmare situation, Catherine Currie from Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) said.

“Renters are in the frontline of the cost of living crisis; more and more are being pushed into homelessness because they are unable to find a rental,” Ms Currie said.

“They can be lodging up to 100 applications and having absolutely no success and the difficulty with that is they don’t know why they are missing out.

“There are just so many people applying for them that the rental provider will just pick the cream of the crop.”

Ms Currie said in Cardinia 8800 households are in private rentals and out of those approximately 30 per cent are in rental stress. According to a recent university study, a similar rate of rental stress exists in Greater Dandenong, with housing services saying that the area’s housing market can no longer be regarded as “affordable”

Catherine Currie (tenant coordinator), Jackie Galloway (chief executive) and Laura De Felice (tenant advocate). 323248 Picture: ROB CAREW Rental stress can be defined as paying in excess of 30 per cent of income on rent.

“The formula that used to be considered reasonable was if you paid under 30 per cent you could manage everything else,” Ms Currie said.

“These days, people are paying 50 or 60 per cent on rent and are still trying to manage.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic-induced moratorium on evictions and rent increases finished, Ms Currie said she saw a “massive influx” in rent increase notices.

“Then it sort of slowed down, but now we’re seeing them again and they are significant increases,” she said.

“It used to be $20, $30 a week, now it’s up $100, $150 a week and that’s excessive to people on single incomes.

“You might have a parent with two or three children, they may work part-time, they may have some Centrelink benefit, but for them to try pay this increase and still manage is almost impossible for them.

“If they can’t pay their rent, they will fall behind and get a notice to vacate and then the matter proceeds to VCAT.” Ms Currie said she recently assisted a family who hadn’t breached their obligations under the act but they had to leave their property because a possession order was made at VCAT. “They applied for many properties but were forced to live in their two cars,” she said.

“It was heartbreaking - it’s since turned around for them but that was months they had to survive like that.”

Ms Currie said in her 20 years in the sector, this was the worse she had seen it.

“We are seeing many renters presenting with notice to vacate orders for rent arrears, rent increases, rental provider selling or wanting to renovate the property then place it on the market to sell,” she said.

Homeless aid call as Dandy tops state From page 1 Meanwhile in neighbouring Casey, homelessness soared by 45 per cent from the 2016 census figures. In 2021, there were 1852 residents in homelessness.

Greater Dandenong’s 22 per cent rise mirrors a 24 per cent rise across Victoria.

As recently reported by Star News, housing agencies have warned of rising rental stress and a dire lack of affordable housing in Greater Dandenong.

Wayss homelessness and housing general manager Shari McPhail said the Census showed an “extraordinary” rise in children in families experiencing homelessness in the South East.

Up 115 per cent in Casey, 61 per cent in Greater Dandenong and 77 per cent in Cardinia Shire.

And since the 2021 census, the housing “crisis” had worsened into a “catastrophe”.

On any given night, Wayss has about 35 families, including 80 children, in crisis accommodation in hotels.

“Before now, we could put case management around these families and find longerterm rental accommodation. That’s now becoming more and more difficult,” Ms McPhail said.

“The capacity for us to assist is diminishing.

“We’re using government funds for crisis accommodation more than for getting people in affordable, long-term housing.”

Boarding houses aren’t suitable for families, the 64,000-strong public housing waiting list is growing and affordable rentals are harder to find.

So, hotels were being used for “significant” periods, until families find housing or family and friends to stay with.

“It’s really unsettling for them,” Ms McPhail said.

“These hotels do the best they can but they don’t have cooking facilities, the family all sleep in the same room and it can be difficult to get children to school.”

Ms McPhail said there was a desperate need for more social, affordable housing.

“Despite the State Government’s Big Housing Build, which has been a terrific investment in social and affordable housing, we’re decades behind in social housing per capita.”

According to the Big Housing Build website, there’s been 111 homes completed and 168 underway in Greater Dandenong and the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor at the cost of $104 million.

This isn’t close to housing the 4500-plus homeless in the region.

And it pales in comparison to the 1142 homes completed in City of Melbourne as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build project.

Launch Housing chief executive Bevan dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

“Fortunately, VCAT recognises the impact that Victoria’s rental crisis is having on renters who are unable to find affordable alternative rentals. For example, in matters where the rental provider is seeking possession of a property to sell it, VCAT weighs up the competing interests of the rental provider and the renter and the impact of a possession order on each of them. In these matters, the tribunal generally finds that it is not ‘reasonable and proportionate’ in the circumstances as doing so would potentially make the renter/s homeless.

“With the scarcity of housing across Victoria and the cost of living crisis expected to worsen, the rental crisis is only going to get more serious for local renters.”

PCLC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that has been providing free legal services to Melbourne’s south-eastern communities since 1977.

Ms Currie encouraged anyone who is facing eviction from their property or experiencing any issues with their tenancy and would like free legal advice to get in touch with PCLC on 9783 3600 or pclc@pclc.org.au “We’re concerned that renters do not see their issues as a legal problem and it is,” she said.

“There are options available to them that they may not be aware of and it’s important that they know this.”

Permanent visas joy

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Twenty-two residents were sleeping rough in tents in Greater Dandenong in 2021. 229381 Warner said “more housing is not enough and that supported accommodation is required to address health needs, which are correlated with homelessness.”

The Census shows a moderate rise in supported accommodation in Greater Dandenong, with 62 more residents in supported accommodation in 2021 compared to five years earlier.

Launch Housing is involved in Functional Zero projects to end rough sleeping in five council areas – Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Melbourne, Port Phillip and Stonnington.

As of February, there were about 37 people sleeping rough in doorways, parks, under bridges, in cars or in derelict squats in Greater Dandenong, according to Launch Housing stats.

This was down from 51 the previous month.

“We know that hyper-local approaches work here and around the world, focusing on where homelessness occurs – which is increasingly the outer suburbs and regions,” Mr Warner said.

“Of course, investing in more affordable housing and addressing cost of living pressures is essential.

“But with more resources toward Functional Zero projects, we can work together at a local level toward zero homelessness.”

Greater Dandenong Council’s community strengthening acting director Marcus Forster says homelessness in the area was different to Melbourne’s CBD, inner cities and coastal suburbs.

Greater Dandenong’s “ongoing migrant settlement” cohorts make up about 40 per cent of its population.

They face “challenges of low-income levels, high unemployment, unfavourable educational outcomes, a substantial rate of refugee settlement, lower levels of mental and physical health than the Victorian average, and elevated crime rates”, Mr Forster said.

Many of the 1,200 asylum-seekers living within Greater Dandenong “find themselves living in low quality housing, with highly pre-

carious tenures, and inadequate physical standards”.

The council is advocating for more social and affordable housing in Greater Dandenong, as well as higher Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments, Job Seeker allowances and Status Resolution Support Services payments.

Mr Forster said the council was also seeking funding for a bespoke crisis-accommodation centre for women and children experiencing family violence.

Council to Homeless Persons called for the State Government to build 6000 new social housing properties each year for at least a decade, with 10 per cent owned by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

It also urged $224 million to retain the state’s From Homelessness To A Home program over the next four years.

The program provided stable housing and supports for people sleeping rough during Covid.

A State Government spokesperson said the Census data was collected at the “height of the Covid-19 pandemic”, which skewed the causal factors behind homelessness.

Factors like social and affordable housing availability, federal income support payments, employment, family violence and access to support services.

Specialist homelessness services responded to more than 100,000 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness each year, the spokesperson said.

“In the latest Census, Victoria had the highest number of people (7,831 or 32.2 per of the national total) in supported accommodation for the homeless while the number of people counted as sleeping rough declined by 9 per cent.”

The State Government also offers the Private Rental Assistance Program (PRAP), the Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) and RentAssist bond loans to those in crisis, and $50 million for accommodation for 16-24 year olds at risk of homelessness..

After decade-long waits, the first of thousands of temporary visa holders have been granted permanent visas.

Refugee advocate Wicki Wickiramasingham said at least 20 Tamil refugees in the past week had been approved for permanent protection.

They were among the first since the Federal Government announced a permanent visa pathway for 19,000 Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders in February.

Many thousands on temporary visas had been living in limbo in Melbourne’s South East for up to 15 years, Mr Wickiramasingham said.

“They are very, very happy,” Mr Wickiramasingham said of the first 20 approvals.

“We were expecting it would be processed at the end of the year. They can now for the first time invite their wives, their children and their families here.”

He estimated that of the 19,000, about 3000 were Tamil refugees.

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.

Mr Wickiramasingham said he’d continue to fight for 12,000 temporary visa holders not covered by the announcement.

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

In announcing the move, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said all people on TPVs and SHEVs were found to be refugees and were owed Australia’s protection.

“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.”

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STAR JOURNAL 9

NEWS

Adrian and Amelina (Albainian) 324058

Asya, Elhana and Ava 324058

Azra and Aylin 324058

Inclusivity starts with us

By Tanya Faulkner ‘Everybody belongs’ has been the message spread across the Greater Dandenong region for a community coming together in celebration of diversity.

Mt Hira College was one among many in the area to change up their regular schooling programs, and share with their students what it means to be accepting of a culturally diverse community - something quite prevalent in Dandenong and wider Victoria.

Students were encouraged to unite in an array of activities, starting with the delivery of both the Australian and Turkish national anthems to open their celebrations, followed by a selection of cultural dances and performances, African drums, and a market of stalls with treats and activities from different cultures around the world.

Principal Toni Pikos-Sallie said this event is a special day for the school, with parents also invited to come down and experience the vibe and connection between the students.

“The theme of the day was ‘everyone belongs’, and we encouraged the students to partake in a range of educational activities to strengthen their appreciation for cultural diversity amongst themselves,” she said.

The celebrations coincided with International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – recognised in Australia as Harmony Day, as celebrated nationally on the 21st March annually.

Rose (school councillor) 324058

Amelina (Albainian) 324058

Hamza, Farham and Omer 324058

Bosnia stall 324058

Students, staff enjoy dining out on cultural respect

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Students and staff at Southern Cross Primary School enjoyed a feast of world foods on Wednesday 22 March.

The event was to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – recoined in Australia as Harmony Day. The school’s courtyard was dressed in Harmony Day orange, while students and staff displayed an array of national costumes.

They enjoyed a banquet of Halal chicken-and-rice tahchin, lamb-and-rice ghormeh sabzi, chicken biryani, beef korma, pulav rice, pasta, dumplings, curries, chicken nuggets, haloumi cheese, zaatar pizza, calamari rings and spring rolls.

Not to mention the ever-popular cupcakes and donuts.

As part of it, student leaders organised Harmony Day activities in their classrooms.

And at a school assembly, students showcased their cultural garments.

Southern Cross staff Jo Wilson, Vibhuti Jain and Ika Stojilovic. 321770

Jasmine and Jaylee in front of the Harmony Day decorations. 321770 10 STAR JOURNAL

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Abel, Beatrice, Ariyannah, Zachary and Wei. 321770

Pauline Peters, Angeline Singh and Sanjida Syeda. 321770

A Harmony Day cake. 321770 dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Trio’s Titanic golden quest

By Sahar Foladi Athletes from a small local club in Dandenong are set to travel half way across the world to compete in this year’s Special Olympics World Games.

Dandenong Casey Titans affiliated with Special Olympics Sports work hard within the community to make sports available for those with special needs.

The hard-work of the organisation and athletes has paid off with three of their athletes qualified for the Summer Games set in Berlin of June this year.

Club’s Chair and Secretary Peter FulcherMeredith said “We’re really proud and excited because we’re always seen as a small club then to have three of our athletes chosen on international level to participate for Australia is amazing.”

Nick Bruin will compete in basketball while husband and wife duo Andrew and Vicki Robbins will play bocce.

“It was our dream to go to World Games together,” Mr Robbins said.

Mr Robbins has been to the games in 2007, 2011 and 2019 along with Mrs Robbins.

They both aim to bring home gold medals.

There will be 64 Aussie athletes with intellectual disabilities at the World Games alongside 7,000 others from 190 delegations.

The Summer Games in Berlin covers variety of sports including, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, swimming and tennis.

However, financial strains to get to Berlin are a significant hurdle.

Players have to pay $9,000 each to compete.

“We’ll run fundraisers to help them. The club will pay an incentive to get them started,” Mr Fulcher-Meredith said.

As a minor local club, Mr Fulcher-Meredith said they rely on funds but it’s hard when

Andrew Robbins will be at the Summer World Games in Berlin to play bocce. they’re not often in the spotlight.

“For us the challenge is to keep afloat and get funding. It’s hard to be heard sometimes.”

The three athletes competed in Nationals last year, the first since Covid, and qualified for the World Games which according to Mr Fulcher-Meredith is “equivalent to the Olympic Games.”

The club wrapped up with 25 medals comprising of eight bronze, seven gold and 10 silver.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

This will be Vicki Robbins’s second time at the World Games.

There are more than 7,000 Australian athletes in Special Olympic and 60 registered athletes from the Dandenong Casey Titans club.

Mr Fulcher-Meredith said although the club wants their athletes to achieve higher goals, the aim is to grow participant numbers into the hundreds.

“We want people to achieve internationally but we want more special needs athletes to get the opportunity. A lot of people don’t even

know these sports and activities are out there.

I would love to attract people to our clubs so that athletes can enjoy the inspiration they get for feeling worthwhile.”

Special Olympics is the only organisation authorised by the International Olympic Committee to use the word “Olympics”.

Special Olympic is a global movement founded by John F Kennedy’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shrivers supporting more than 5 million athletes in 177 countries.

The Autumn Edition of your favourite family magazine is out now...

Pick up a printed copy of Casey Cardinia Kids Today Magazine from outlets everywhere.

Or, read the full digital edition as it appears in print now!

Scan the QR CODE

OR VISIT: caseycardiniakids.com.au/digital-editions dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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Read it now

STAR JOURNAL 11

LOOKING BACK 100 years ago 22 March 1923 Duck Shooters’ ruse fails Several sportsmen from Shepparton joined with a large number of others from different parts of Victoria in obtaining an aeroplane for the purpose of disturbing the wild duck at Lake Cooper, near Corop, on Sunday of last week. The birds, however, displayed greater intelligence than the shooters gave them credit for, as every time the aeroplane descended to a low level, they dived beneath the surface of the water. At last the venture was abandoned. It is stated that not a duck was shot.

50 years ago 20 March 1973 Two-Day Produce Market on way?

The city council was expected to discuss in

Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society

committee last night (Monday) a report by the Town Clerk, Mr Cal Elliott. The Journal understands the lengthy report also recommends extensive redevelopment of the existing market site at the junction of Cleeland, Clow and McCrae Sts. Councillors are believed to have received Mr Elliott’s report last week. It follows a request by Councillor Barry Powell (North Ward) last year for a report on the feasibility of a two day market in Dandenong.

20 years ago 24 March 2003 Call for Calm As the bombs fell on Baghdad last week, local leaders spoke out about Australia’s involvement in the Iraq conflict. While many opposed the action, they threw their support behind Australian troops and their families.

Holt Labor MP Anthony Byrne said while he

did not support Australia’s involvement in the war without the backing from the UN Security Council, his thoughts were with the troops and their families. Muslim communities expressed support and compassion for those caught up in the conflict.

5 years ago 26 March 2018 Supernatural Forces Supernatural forces are rumoured to be behind the Drum Theatre clock chime ticking back into action. Power surges are an alternative explanation, but there are plenty of spooky stories about Dandenong’s old town hall to support the theory. Theatre co-ordinator Cheryl Rush said it started chiming about Tuesday 6 March. “It’s very interesting that it chimes the right amount of chimes for the hour,” she said. But the bells ring out at odd times, like 4.25pm, 12.23pm and 6.24pm.

INTERFAITH

A cracking good bonbon recalls old friends MESSAGE OF

HOPE

By Helen Heath OAM, executive officer of the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong I know people who place an empty chair at the dinner table to remind them of family and friends who are no longer present with them.

My family began placing an extra bonbon in the middle of the Christmas table in memory of ‘absent friends’. This bonbon is never pulled and sits there for the meal. For those who do not know, Christmas bon bons, also known as crackers, are usually cardboard tubes twisted at both ends and wrapped in colourful paper.

They resemble oversized lollies wrapped

Helen Heath reflects on Christmas bonbons and the value of special moments. up and often contain paper crown hats, corny jokes or a saying, a small gift, and a note. A person pulls on each end of the bonbon and when it breaks, a small banger goes off inside the cracker, making a crackling ‘pop’ sound.

They were first made in about 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith.

He had seen the French ‘bonbon’ sweets (almonds wrapped in pretty paper) on a visit to

Paris in 1840.

He came back to London and tried selling sweets like that in England, but he also included a small motto or riddle in with the sweet.

While for some members of my family bon bons are pointless, for others like my sister who lives with an intellectual disability, they are a great source of joy because she invariably knows the corny joke. If she does not know the joke, for the moment when she has read out the joke, she knows she has power because she knows and holds the answer in her hands!!

While bonbons are a long and simple tradition, they bring hope in the moment they are used: the anticipation (for some) of what might be contained in them; for others the hope that they will ‘pop’ just right and break apart revealing all - and for others a moment of laughter and smiling as you share expectations in the pulling of the bonbon.

Dr Seuss once said: “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”. Hoping you have a ‘cracker’ of a day.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NAPLAN hunger games Congratulations to those local schools that got some of the best NAPLAN results in the state (Dandenong Journal, 28 February).

However let’s be clear - getting the best NAPLAN results doesn’t necessarily mean that your school has the best literacy or numeracy outcomes, nor does it mean that it is the best school. Your school is just succeeding at NAPLAN. NAPLAN tests were originally designed to give one measure - not the only measure - of student performance and in particular help schools identify students who most needed help.

It wasn’t designed to be used to compare one school against each other but that is what the misguided MySchool website has done.

Because being on top of the NAPLAN league tables created from the MySchool site affects school numbers, schools in Australia are increasingly not focussing on what is best for student’s educational development and instead focusing on boosting students’ NAPLAN scores.

Critical thinking and creativity don’t get measured by NAPLAN - but who cares in the NAPLAN hunger games.

Arts and science - not important as there is no score.

Student wellbeing - an afterthought as we push for our students to beaver away for NAPLAN glory.

Schools that focus on NAPLAN are seen as “winners” and other schools that don’t focus on NAPLAN are seen as “losers”.

Unfortunately as concerned parents react to this championship playing out it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Schools not focussing on NAPLAN lose students and the associated funding and become lower achieving schools.

Schools with big differences in funding and achievement lead to increased inequality, across Australia but even between different neighbourhoods in our local area So have a think about whether the school lauded as your nearby NAPLAN champion is really the best school for your child or for society. It may be, but it may be just a brand that is really a mirage.

Matthew Kirwan, Noble Park

NEWS

Phillip Island African Youth Camp kick-starts school year

By Nyibol Gatluak The African Youth Alliance hosted a threeday African Youth Camp at Phillip Island last month to build the community connection of African students in Melbourne’s south-east.

The alliance (AYA), in partnership with Lyndale Secondary College, aims to improve mentorship, skill development and create life-long memories for the African youth.

All 65 students at February’s camp were of African descent and about 40 volunteers and three teachers supported the productive camp.

AYA co-founder Daniel Olasoji said the camp was important to reach an unrepresented group of young people.

A recent ABC report revealed most AfricanAustralian students are experiencing racism and discrimination in schools and felt a lack of staff support.

Mr Olasoji said the camp was an opportunity for African students to foster positive relationships with their fellow peers and school staff.

It would provide them with the appropriate tools to set short-term goals while celebrating their African heritage, Mr Olasoji said.

“We’re really proud to give these kids an experience they wouldn’t be able to get through school, something they may not be able to see the value in right now.

“But when they look back, I am sure they will realise they got to experience a really special camp.”

The camp included fun and engaging activities such as talent shows, innovative games, surfing, visiting a koala reserve, penguin watching and eating traditional African food.

There was also a resume-building work12 STAR JOURNAL

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The African Youth Camp involved 65 students, 40 volunteers and three teachers.

Picture: SUPPLIED shop and inspiring guest speakers for the African youth to garner valuable tips and help kick start their academic year.

The AYA has a strong relationship with Lyndale Secondary College and hopes to produce greater outcomes for their African Youth Camp in 2024.

In recognition of The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, it is important that young African students are not subject to racism and feel confident to report discrimination to school staff.

AYA’s main focus is to help ensure African students feel accepted and safe in their school environments and beyond. *Nyibol Gatluak is a student journalist at Monash University

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

Students on the African Youth Alliance camp last month. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Hoon clampdown success

By Sahar Foladi Operations Achilles was launched in February 2021 to combat hooning offences.

Fast forward to two years later there’s been over 80 per cent decrease in organised hoon events in the South-East.

Over those years more than 360 hoon drivers were charged with over 2930 offences, more than 375 vehicles connected to hooning seized, and almost 900 un-roadworthy notices issued.

Victoria Police’s specialist investigation and support inspector Rodney Maroney said, “The decrease hasn’t happened simply by chance – Achilles investigators have been arresting, charging, and seizing the vehicles of our worst hoons in record numbers since Achilles commenced.”

Victoria Police had changed their approach to crack down on hoon drivers by

There has been significant drop in hooning thanks to Operation Achilles. their relentless focus on holding high-risk drivers to account.

Previously, the approach centred on dis-

rupting events as they occurred.

“This approach is clearly working, improving safety on our roads and in the wider com-

munity,” Mr Maroney said.

However, despite the significant drop, hooning activities still take place.

A Keysborough resident complained of loud hooning noises and “idiotic behaviour“ on Dandenong Bypass on Monday 13 March from after 1am till 3am.

Police responded to multiple calls of vehicles gathered near the intersection of Perry Road and Dandenong Bypass Keysborough at about 2.30am “Police observed the vehicles revving their cars. However all vehicles left the area peacefully and no offences were detected.”

From February 2022- January 2023 there have been 13 hoon events in the Southern Metro policing region - a significant drop from 76 events in 2021-22.

Victoria Police say if they’re unable to make arrests at the time, a full-scale investigation will follow.

Power Saving Bonus is back so you can now apply Another round of the energy bill-busting $250 Power Saving Bonus is now open, meaning Victorian households can secure a boost to help manage cost of living pressures.

Acting Minister for Energy and Resources Ingrid Stitt launched the fourth round of the Labor Government’s Power Saving Bonus on 24 March, with every Victorian household eligible to receive $250 when they access the Victorian Energy Compare website – even those who received payments under previous rounds.

Since the $250 Power Saving Bonus launched on 1 July 2022, more than 1.8 mil-

lion households have received the payment by comparing their energy bills.

“We’re making sure that Victorians facing hardship receive the Power Saving Bonus, and get the support they need to access concessions for cheaper power through The Energy Assistance Program,” Ms Stitt said.

“We have also revived the State Electricity Commission – delivering government-owned renewable energy, cutting energy costs and helping create 59,000 jobs across our state.”

Applications for the payment can be made through the Victorian Energy Compare website, which gives customers access to the

best energy offers in their areas – potentially saving hundreds of dollars.

Households needing help to apply can call the Victorian Energy Compare helpline on 1800 000 832 to apply over the phone or be connected by an outreach partner in their community.

The State Government’s new Energy Assistance Program, a free service providing energy consumers experiencing hardship with one-on-one assistance, is also tackling cost of living pressures. The Program is a $3.75 million initiative that will help Victorians struggling with power bills to navigate

the energy market, apply for eligible grants and concessions, find and switch to better offers and address billing errors.

For those without internet access, phone and in-person support is available through our Community Outreach Partners – including Anglicare Victoria, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Community Information and Support Victoria, Ethnic Community Council Victoria, Good Shepherd, State Trustees and Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.

To apply, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au.

To speak to an Energy Assistance Program advocate, call 1800 161 215.

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STAR JOURNAL 13

NEWS

Donations booster Refugees and new arrivals may not be aware of the vast services made available to them in the community with a lack of access to the online world.

AMES refugee and migrant clients in Melbourne’s south-east can now connect with critical services, education and employment more easily thanks to the donation of 189 repurposed laptops from 7- Eleven.

“It can be incredibly difficult for new Australians to access the support, education, and employment services they need to successfully live, learn and work without access to basic technology,” AMES chief executive Cath Scarth said,.

“This is particularly true for our refugee clients including those from Afghanistan and Ukraine who had to flee their homes so quickly and in many cases arrived without resources and technology.

“Being able to provide these laptops through our People in Need Fund makes a huge difference to our clients.

“Trying to do online learning or access services such as healthcare is incredibly difficult using a mobile phone, so the laptops have been amazing.”

Moska Amini, who arrived from Afghanistan in early 2023, said:“We couldn’t bring lots of things when we came and it was so hard for us.

“Now with the laptop I can use it for my lessons and my sisters use it to apply for jobs.”

7-Eleven chief information officer Drew Coffey said the 7-Eleven tech team, and a number of suppliers worked together to reformat and repurpose the laptops to get them ready for use.

“We need to replace devices every few years, and usually, these are wiped and sent for e-recycling.”

Mr Coffey said it’s important to reduce ewaste which ends up in landfills.

Cash grants announced South East Water’s 2023 Community Grant program is now open with up to $10,000 grants available for community groups.

Now in its fourth year, the program has helped 50 local projects with more than $220,000 granted so far in the South East. In 2022, the grants program supported 16 community groups, including rescue equipment for Pakenham SES and water safety sessions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place.

Bluearth, a not-for-profit organisation that helps primary school students to stay active was one of the successful recipients, which received a $10,000 grant. Their ‘Active Schools’ program improves students’ levels of physical activity and mental health through movement and mindfulness workshops led by a Bluearth-certified coach. The grant funding helped deliver the program to 4 primary schools across Melbourne’s south east.

Bluearth Coach Ryan Stone said “Our Active Schools program plays a significant role in promoting healthier, happier, more cohesive school communities. We’re very grateful to have received this grant that enabled us to support so many students’ physical, social and mental wellbeing.”

South East Water General Manager Service Delivery, Simon Willis said the organisation was proud to run its Community Grants program again in 2023.

Applications close 5pm on Friday 21 April. Visit southeastwater.com.au/ grants to apply for a community grant.

L-R Marzieh Babakan from Iran, Hafiseh Safari from Afghanistan, AMES teacher Tracey Yuki, AMES case manager Zakia Hassan and Moska Amini, from Afghanistan with the donated laptops.

“Being able to instead repurpose these devices to provide digital connectivity for AMES clients was a great outcome.

“We are incredibly proud to have made a

contribution towards digital inclusion for new Australians, and we’ll be looking to see what’s possible when we complete routine device replacements in future.”

WHAT’S ON tures an Easter bonnet parade. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and Education for Women and the Club supports the Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program.

Tuesday, 4 April, 7pm at Dandenong RSL. Bookings essential. Call Brigitte on 0491 626 527.

Neighbourhood Watch public forum Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch is holding a public forum including safety information and a Q&A with guest speaker Sergeant Andrew Nisbet from the Victoria Police Forensic Unit. Andrew has worked on many major crime scenes, his presentation is not to be missed. All residents welcome from Springvale, Noble Park, Keysborough , Bangholme and Dandenong.

Wednesday 29 March 2023, 7.30pm at Paddy O`Doughue Centre, 18 -34 Buckley Street Noble Park. Details: president@nhwgreaterdandenong.org or visit nhwgreaterdandenong.org

·

Easter bunny The Easter Bunny will be hopping into Dandenong Plaza giving out free Easter Eggs at Easter time. BYO your phone for a fun social media ‘selfie’ with the Easter Bunny.

Thursday, 6 April to Monday, 10 April (excluding Good Friday, 7 April), 11am-2pm at Dandenong Plaza. No bookings required, free.

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‘That Made Me Laugh’ Join us for a new workshop where we will enjoy poems, riddles, comics, jokes, puns and short texts. Come along to have a laugh and a coffee.

You are welcome to bring your own material to share that made you laugh.

Monday 27 March 10.30am-11.30am (Zoom is also an option) at The Open Door, 110 Ann St, Dandenong. A gold coin donation is welcome. Bookings: Jo or Tayla, 9791 8664 or theopendoor@ssjg.org.au t

Thai Chi and Awareness Meditation

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1973 centenary exhibition ‘Optimism, Opportunities and Achievement’ reflects on the 1973 celebratoins of the Centenary of Local Government in Dandenong.

29 March-31 May, Wednesdays-Fridays, 10am2pm at Benga, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Stret, Dandenong.

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GDNW president Dawn Vernon and VicPol Inspector Peter Koger. 296810

Our Beat

Neighbourhood Watch public forum

The Drum’s Our Beat is returning in 2023 with a block party in Crump Lane, Dandenong. It’s a place to meet local music makers and creatives, with always space in the program to come and sing, dance or make jokes.

Thursday 30 March, 6.30pm at Crump Lane, Dandenong. Free, no registration required.

Details: 8571 1666 or drumtheatre@cgd.vic. gov.au

Places of worship tours Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch is holding a public forum including safety information and a Q&A with guest speaker Sergeant Andrew Nisbet from the Victoria Police Forensic Unit. Andrew has worked on many major crime scenes, his presentation

·

International comedy festival For one-night only the Drum Theatre will play host to Melbourne International Comedy Festival acts Bob Franklin, Dane Simpson, Hannah Camilleri, Nick Schuller and DeAnne Smith. Recommended for people aged 16 years or older.

Saturday 1 April, 8pm at Drum Theatre, cnr Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong;

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14 STAR JOURNAL

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Tai Chi is a form of physical exercise aiding health and relaxation, following Shibashi DVDs to stretch the body and move into a state of calmness followed by Awareness Meditation.

Meditation harmonises the body, brings stillness and connects the soul to meaning. All welcome to join us for one or both of these workshops.

Mondays, 2pm-2.20pm (Tai Chi) and 2.30pm3.30pm (Awareness Meditation) at The Open Door, 110 Ann Street, Dandenong (excluding public and school holidays). Gold coin donation is welcome. Bookings: Jo or Tayla, 9791 8664 or theopendoor@ssjg.org.au.

$35/$30 (concession)/$28 (members)/$18 (under 30’s) Details: 8571 1666 or drumtheatre@cgd.vic. gov.au

Keysborough’s Big Picinic Bring your picnic blankets, chairs and snacks for a day of free activities for all ages. Join in at the annual Easter egg hunt, animal nursery, pet photo booth, fun library activities, face paint-

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

is not to be missed. All residents welcome from Springvale, Noble Park, Keysborough , Bangholme and Dandenong.

Wednesday 29 March 2023, 7.30pm at Paddy O`Doughue Centre, 18 -34 Buckley Street Noble Park. Details: president@ nhwgreaterdandenong.org or visit nhwgreaterdandenong.org

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ing, sports and games. Food stalls and trucks available.

Sunday 2 April, 11am-4pm at Frederick Wachter Reserve, 133-155 Kingsclere Avenue, Keysborough.

·

Dinner with a VIEW Dandenong Evening VIEW Club’s next guest speaker is Dawn Vernon from Neighbourhood Watch Greater Dandenong. The dinner also fea-

Bookings are open for Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network’s 2023 public tours to places of worship on Wednesdays 14 June, 9 August, 11 October, and 13 December 2023. Each tour features trips to four diverse places of worship for $25, plus a lunch for a $10-15 donation.

Payment of $25 is required prior to the tour to confirm your booking. Details via the Interfaith Network’s Community Education Officer, Stacey Odwazny at education@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.

Yoga Classes For all ages, experience and abilities. Mats and other equipment available. No Booking required.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am-10.30am at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $5 per class or $40 for 10 classes. Details: programs@nobleparkcc.org. au or 9547 5801

·

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

FREE Pick up your favourite local newspaper, the Dandenong Star Journal or Endeavour Hills Doveton Hallam Star Journal from local outlets listed below or subscribe to our digital edition and have it sent to your device every week!

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• Dandenong North Dunearn Pharmacy 11a Dunearn Road • Dandenong North Coles Express 166 Heatherton Road & Stud Road • Dandenong North BP Service Station Heatherton Road & Stud Road • Dandenong North Dandenong North Senior Citizens Club 41a Latham Crescent • Dandenong North FoodWorks Menzies Cellars 52 Menzies Avenue • Dandenong North Menzies Milkbar 64 Menzies Avenue • Dandenong North IGA Friendly 54 Outlook drive • Dandenong North Liberty Fuel 182 Stud Road • Dandenong South Georges Lunch Box 22a Amberley Crescent • Dandenong South BP Service Station 175-187 Greens Road • Dandenong South Lunchmaster 3/491 Hammond Road • Dandenong South Kirkham Road Milk Bar 102 Kirkham Road • Dandenong South Woolworths Supermarket 81-125 Princes Highway • Dandenong South Shell Service Station 50 South Gippsland Highway • Dandenong South United Petroleum 314 South Gippsland Highway • Dandenong South Caltex Service Station 275-295 South Gippsland Highway • Dingley Village Dingley Village Newsagency Shop 2/79 Centre Dandenong Road • Doveton Doveton News and Lotto 7 Autumn Place • Doveton Bottle O 2-Apr Linden Place • Doveton Shell Service Station 48 Princes Highway • Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue • Endeavour Hills Woolworths Service Station Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue (Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre) • Endeavour Hills O’Brien Real Estate Shop PS 5A Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthews Flinders Avenue (Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre) • Endeavour Hills Coles Supermarket Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthew Flinders Avenue (Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre • Endeavour Hills Woolworths Supermarket Cnr Heatherton Road & Matthew Flinders Avenue (Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre • Endeavour Hills 7 Eleven Endeavour Hills Cnr Heatherton Road & Power Road • Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Milk Bar 13 Gleneagles Drive • Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Medical Centre 61 Heatherton Road • Endeavour Hills Liberty Service Station 13-17 Heatherton Road

• Endeavour Hills Ocean Blue Milk Bar 90/92 John Fawker Drive • Endeavour Hills Nicholls Gledhill Real Estate 2 Raymond McMahon Boulevard • Eumemmerring Atura Hotel May-17 Doveton Avenue • Eumemmerring Caltex Woolworths Service Station 40/44 Princes Highway • Eumemmerring BP Service Station 60-64 Princes Highway • Hampton Park Hampton Park Library 26 Stuart Avenue • Keysborough Caltex Keysborough 248 Cheltenham Road • Keysborough Parkmore Shopping Centre 317 Cheltenham Road • Keysborough Barry Plant Real Estate Shop 1,320 Cheltenham Road • Keysborough 7 Eleven Keysborough 309 Cheltenham Road & Cnr Kingsclere Road • Keysborough Woolworths Supermarket 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre) • Keysborough Coles Supermarket 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre) • Keysborough O’Briens Real Estate Shop 6, 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre) • Keysborough City of Greater Dandenong Shop A07, 317 Cheltenham Road (Parkmore Shopping Centre) • Keysborough Michaels IGA 466 Cheltenham Road • Keysborough Keysborough Learning Centre 402 Corrigan Road • Keysborough Foodworks Keysborough 285-289 Corrigan Road • Mulgrave Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre 271 Police Road • Noble Park Sandown Park Hotel Corrigan Road • Noble Park Coles Supermarket 1 Douglas Street • Noble Park Noble Park Newsagency 22 Douglas Street • Noble Park Harvey Real Estate 26 Douglas Street • Noble Park Century 21 Real Estate 38 Douglas Street • Noble Park Ray White Real Estate 42 Douglas Street • Noble Park Caltex Woolworths Heatherton Rd & Chandler Highway • Noble Park Noble Park RSL 1128 Heatherton Road • Noble Park Lucky Star Lotto 1268 Heatherton Road • Noble Park Cellarbrations 3 Leonard Ave • Noble Park Noble Park Aquatic Centre 9 Memorial Drive • Noble Park Noble Park Community Centre Memorial Drive (Ross Reserve) • Noble Park Noble Park Bowls Club 56 Moodemere Street • Noble Park Barry Plant Real Estate 390 Princes Highway • Noble Park Harrisfield Milkbar 519 Princes Highway

• Noble Park North Halton Road Milk Bar 65 Coolavin Road • Noble Park North Jan Wilson Community Centre Halton Road (Barry J Powell Reserve) • Noble Park North Jacksons Road Service Station 139 Jacksons Road • Springvale Century 21 Real Estate Shop 5-6/64 Buckingham Avenue • Springvale Springvale Shopping Centre 46-58 Buckingham Avenue • Springvale KFL Supermarket 46-58 Buckingham Avenue (Springvale Shopping Centre) • Springvale Springvale Learning & Activities Centre 1 Osborne Avenue • Springvale Springvale RSL 23 Osborne Avenue • Springvale Caltex Woolworths Springvale 102 Police Road • Springvale Aobao Milk Bar 106 Police Road • Springvale Savemore Supermarket 774 Princes Highway • Springvale Coles Supermarket 825 Princes Highway • Springvale Sundowner Caravan & Cabin Park 870 Princes Highway • Springvale Springvale Neighbourhood House 46-50 Queens Avenue • Springvale Biggin Scott Real Estate 363 Springvale Road • Springvale Raine and Horne Real Estate 236 Springvale Road • Springvale Woolworths Supermarket 302 Springvale Road • Springvale Springvale Newsagency 321 Springvale Road • Springvale Springvale Library 411 Springvale Road • Springvale City of Greater Dandenong Customer Service Centre 397-405 Springvale Road • Springvale South Southvale Newsagency 565 Springvale Road • Springvale South Koh’s Marketplace 162-170 Athol Road (Athol Road Shopping Centre) • Springvale South BP Service Station Springvale Road & Clarke Road • Springvale South Springvale Plaza Pharmacy and Tattslotto 3/800 Heatherton Road (Springvale Plaza) • Springvale South BP Springvale 974 Heatherton Road • Wheelers Hill Mulgrave Country Club Wellington Road & Jells Road

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

It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice.

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Star News Group seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms.

100 days celebrated

12591363-SN13-23

Crackdown on hoons in South East

BERWICK

Thursday, 4 August, 2022

St Clare’s Primary School Officer Foundation students and teachers of are celebrating reaching 100 days learning in the classroom. as Students enjoyed dressing up 100 year olds, with props of pearls, sushair rollers, walking sticks and penders donned for the special day. a The students celebrated with singshindig that involved dancing, berwicknews.starcommu 100. nity.com.au ing, colouring-in and counting to STORY PAGE 18

Pleas for a school crossing supervisor

/berwickstarnews

Community rallies around bookshop

Avery and Brooklyn colouring-in. 291782

Dream come true for Elvis

has reAn adjustment to policing methods number of sulted in a dramatic drop in the South East, hooning events in Melbourne’s charges laid. and large numbers of arrests and Police From January to July 2021, Victoria events reported 40 to 50 large-scale hooning region, inin industrial areas within the SD3 Areas of corporating the Local Government Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia. @StarNews_SE 40¢ Inc. were just GST In the same period in 2022, there two reported events.

STORY PAGE 7

Kucks legacy lives on

Still hot proper ty Dogged by Covid PAGE 3

PAGE 5

area Pakenham is proving to be an appealing prices remain for first home buyers as house suburbs closrelatively low when compared to

er to Melbourne’s CBD. unit price The annual pace of house and and surgrowth is easing across Melbourne

Domain’s June rounding suburbs, according to Quarterly House Price Report. said Ray White Pakenham’s Gavin Staindl in Pakengrowth had declined marginally ham. in Paken“We’re in a very affordable area

PAGE 8

buyers it’s quite appealing.” increase, With interest rates continuing to to borrow as first home buyers won’t be able much as they would have previously.

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A Berwick dog trainer is calling for increased education and training for dog owners and their pooches following a series of recent dog our attacks in the City of Casey.

We come to you or can help through Frame & Lenses Jake Cini, who owns dog training + business contactless pick-up and remote services.

Pair Power F R E E Second Pooches, said preventing dog attacks from occurring “has to start with education”.

He said the wave of ‘pandemic pets’ (03) 9113 4616 who had not been socialised as puppies was contact@synergyitservices.com.au an issue that www.synergyitservices.com.au couldn’t be ignored by owners or council.

“I can’t believe there has been no mention

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“We all know people who bought dogs during Covid who couldn’t be socialised due to restrictions, yet our council properly does noth“They provide no education whatsoever, yet they have thousands of dollars in pet regMr Cini, who started his dog training ness after noticing the need for specialisedbusiservices for his dog Sasha, said he had personally offered to provide free training for dog owners to prevent dog attacks in the municipality, but

@StarNews_SE /Cranbournestarnews “Most people see a wagging tail munity.com.au and they Power Pooches’ Jake Cini and Sasha, cranbournenews.starcom think of a happy dog, but that who are advocating for increased is not the case at

40¢ Inc. GST

education for dog owners.

underwent a six-hour operation Exciting 240150 for injuries he dog rushes occur when “I want to be able to walk down Gracious dogs are not contained were also the street sustained in the attack.

Successful used for education programs on Eagles to their property,” he said. reOlympian and not have a fear of dogs rushing us or ownThe school girl and her parents Grigson sponsible pet ownership, including are underroad shows “Dogs that have not been adequately crackdown stood to be mentally shaken by add pace so- and events, the Maternal and Child the attack, but inspires Tooradin backcialised with It comes after a series of dog attacks gives Health other animals are also more likely Centre’s in the are grateful their dog and daughter We Are Family program and education on hoons are alive. to demonstrate aggression students Two dogs were seized by Casey

Council7ofPAGE

PAGE 2

City of Casey manager of safer communi10 PAGE ties Daniel Osborne said the matter remains

if they find themSPORT selves not contained to their property, which can lead to instances of dog attacks.

“Keeping your dogs securely confined to your property, and ensuring they are always under effective control when out, are key measures to keep your pets and the community

He said pet registration fees help council provide a number of services, including reuniting lost pets with owners, investigating dog attacks, puppy farms, and prosecuting of-

in schools on safety around animals.

But Mr Cini said he remained sceptical about council’s investment in education for dog owners.

“A lot of people are misinformed about the reasons their dog might have social issues,” he said.

“We have to have proper education programs...why not give [owners] a quick online test or a copy of the legal requirement of owning a dog when they register their pets?”

In 2020/21, there was a total of 237 reported dog attacks in the City of Casey, 151 of the attacks on dogs and 51 attacks on humans.

GP Run cancelled Mr Osborne added that registrations

fees

BABY SEAT FITTING

on the fivethe same period in 2021, and seven year average.

Speaking on those events, Superintendent John Road Policing Operations & Investigation as a “worryFitzpatrick described the increase of the vulnering trend” and issued a reminder abilities of motorcycle riders. some of the “These figures are alarming and coming is that AUTOBARN anecdotal evidence that we see to sitting out of Covid-19, people aren’t used NARRE WARREN and they’re Cnr Narre Warren in traffic for long periods of time Cranbourne Nth & maybe alHigh Street shopping precinct in choosing a mode of transport that Lauderdale Rds Gippsland Tuesday, 9 August, 2022 Fitzpatrick before proceeding down the South lows them to (avoid) that,” Supt July.

Highway for the big race.

23 Saturday said on Patteron motorCity of Casey chief executive Glenn “We’re seeing many more people a number of son said the council attributed bikes than we’ve seen ever before. was not made a bike, it’s factors to their decision, which “Driving a motorcar and riding lightly. a shared responsibility about understanding the signifiwhat’s around “Council has taken into account where you are on the road and the disruption about cant costs of running the event, you. We ask people to please be sensible moaware of the they ride to local traffic and we are also the way they drive and the way of Cranfrustration experienced by a number torbikes.” disof bourne businesses, who face considerable President of the Cranbourne Chamber to seeing decision ruption due to the road closure, without Commerce Jeremy Dart said the said. the given an increase in patronage,” Mr Patterson cancel the event was “short-sighted”, dandenong.starcommun budget and to take ity.com.au “We will be retaining this event missed opportunity for local traders /DandenongJournal com@StarJournal_SE of the increased patronage. are investigating options for another advantage 40¢ Inc. GST area that offeedback munity event in the Cranbourne While the Chamber has received benefits to aligning with fers greater enjoyment and more from some retailers in the region to be anto the residents and ratepayers, with details 199533 Casey’s hypothesis that the disruption The last Cranbourne GP Run in 2019. problematic, nounced at a future date.” roads and their businesses was 60 per options relationship between riders and The City of Casey said approximately and they’ll be spend- ness of the he was disappointed that alternative was required will be at Phillip Island, vehicles. approved. cent of the $93,000 event budget money down there instead.” to see how had not been to the of the PAGE “We need to encourage people 2 South Gippsland ing their to manage the closure “It does bring significant numbers that4Casey would have PAGE He said he hoped a valid form of transport. arePAGE Highway for the event. the specific precinct,” Mr Dart said. too late, allowing the two-wheelers 9 road-user region and Motorcycle a “re-think” before it’s SPORT would “We’re the most vulnerable John Eacott from the Victorian two-year absence.

“To allow a different model to exist “extremely event to proceed after a protected with pathof Victo- group. Pedestrians are Council (VMC) said the council was better option. There are plenty decision.

“It’s not just locals and people within cyclist have bike lanes. be a much the back (of High Street) that disappointed” with the City of Casey’s thing. Peo- ways and crossings; facilities out constantly ria who attend - it’s a nation-wideSouth Wales, We’re out there in the middle of the traffic but to still have a festival still. them allow “The VMC had years of working New would Queensland, road congestion).” ple come from said. it would get-to- we are such a solution (to with the City of Casey,” Mr Eacott “Had there been some foresight, in re South Australia. The GP is an annual The issue has come into sharp focus

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Hazaras reclaim their identity

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The end of an era

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Husband and wife, principal and assistant principal.

WINTER “It’s a big deal. They really love it,” she says.

2022 “Everyone needs to be acknowledged at least one day a year.”

Her husband and principal Kevin says it goes to how much the school’s team cares.

Next term, the couple will face their own special day – their last day at the school that they have served for such an extraordinary time.

Mr and Ms Mackay have been there for 39 years and 36 years, respectively.

All up, their teaching careers have spanned 60 years and 45 years.

On 4 October, they will mark their retirement with a massive ‘general assembly’ at Dandenong High School hall.

Kevin and Jenny Mackay have served Mr Mackay OAM said it would Dandenong North Primary School be the first as principal and assistant principal assembly since the Covid pandemic’s for nearly four decades. 292591 start.

“It’s been an enormous part, where Picture: GARY SISSONS I get to food parcels or writing to government teach all the kids for half an hour. agen- follow each other to Dandenong We’ve missed cies on their behalf.

North Pri- the best teachers I’ve that, so it will be good to have a met. mary School. last one.

“And that kids know that you like “As the school became more complex “It’s going to be hard to avoid tears.” them. You Alarm bells rang for over have staff here that care about them – they’ll principal Mr Mackay the newly-appointed many years, Jenny’s experience has helped In their time, the school has built adwhen an envi- ask the kids to ‘tell me more’. They go that extra pointed to join the school. his wife was ap- dress the complexities. able reputation to bringing out the mile. best in from more than 50 diverse backgrounds. kids “From the synergies of effort you Mr Mackay worried about how get more “I think all the Dandenong schools to handle bang for your buck do a ter- the potential conflicts Its cutting-edge programs have than just two people. We’re of interest and staff dis- more been docu- rific job at that.” like two-and-a-half.” mented in award-winning films. harmony.

While deputy principal at Clayton Meanwhile, Ms Mackay describes Primary What makes the school special “We made it work,” he said. “And the prinSchool in the 1980’s, Mr Mackay is its thank God cipal as an “incredibly met a first- she was appointed “warmth”, Ms Mackay says. The school creative and lateral here. ensures year teacher Jenny. thinker” who will always look for the families get what they need a better way “My job is to get the best teachers – whether it’s They of course later married, and I possibly of doing things. were to can to work with the children. Jenny is one of Continued page 10

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ham,” Mr Staindl said. closer to “You can travel into Berwick or as much but the city and you’re paying twice here in Pakenham, you can get four-bedroom for around houses under 10 years of age of first home $600,000 to $650,000, so for a lot

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the State Government. opposed But local residents, who have long say they the development of Rosemaur Gallery, the decision. are “surprised and saddened” by resThe approved plans for the gallery, cater for a taurant and function centre will with up to maximum of 300 patrons at a time, quarterly 580 patrons permitted during large events.

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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STAR JOURNAL 17

SPORT

Look out: Bulls are back

By Marcus Uhe How does a reigning premier become even better in an offseason?

By keeping the majority of their established list and adding two icons of the last decade of local football, that’s how.

Noble Park - the champions of the Eastern Football Netball League’s Premier Division with a steely defence and superstars to boot will welcome Bonbeach pair Shane McDonald and Jackson Casey into a side already brimming with talent, having set the benchmark in 2022.

McDonald is a two-time league best-andfairest winner in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League, and both were coached by Steve Hughes during their time at the Sharks.

And the best part? Their motivation for joining the blue and gold.

“Their (McDonald and Casey’s) sole reason in coming across is the aim to win a premiership,” Hughes said.

“Neither of them have. I think Shane’s had four goes at it and Jackson three.

“They’ve come across with a real hunger and great training standards. Jackson in particular, I appointed him captain of Bonbeach eight years ago as a 22-year-old and part of the reason was his professionalism around the club and his training standards.

“Both of them bring that, which only helps our group. We already had good standards to be honest, and they only add to that.”

From the grand final side that turned the tables on Rowville after the Hawks got the chocolates three times earlier in the year, only Ziggy Alwan and Shane Allan have left the club due to retirement.

The rest, including the stars in Kyle Martin, Jackson Sketcher, Ryan Morrison, Ben Marson and Lachlan McDonnell, are all back, and raring to go.

“They’re all keen to stick together and do it again,” Hughes said.

“They’re a pretty close group. They made it easy on our footy manager and all took a fair bit less.

“You commence every preseason with the goal that it’s going to be the hardest, and that the players are going to be fitter than they were the year before. I think we’ve ticked that box.

“There’s nothing better for a young bloke than to win a premiership with your mates and they probably all realise that a large reason for that is the amount of work that they put in.

“I think we’ll get the same again, and I haven’t seen anything over the past four/five

Noble Park coach Steve Hughes has earmarked Lachlan McDonnell as a big improver in 2023. 299102 months that will make me think that they’ll be anything more than hungry to do it again.

“I don’t think they feel a sense of pressure, I think they’re excited for the year to start again.”

Injury forced them to dig deep into their reserves in 2022, giving 43 players exposure to the senior level, meaning their depth won’t be something that holds them back.

McDonnell, who the club will have firstaccess to, as no-longer part of Collingwood’s VFL program, is one that Hughes has earmarked as a big improver, being able to focus full-time on Noble and not split his duties elsewhere.

Nathan Noblett is another who will bring VFL experience from his time at Port Mel-

bourne last season, in addition to a season with the Gippsland Power Coates League side in 2021.

A utility with a sharp left foot, he’ll be another handy resource to add to the bullpen, in what Hughes expects to be another even playing field across the league.

“I think Rowville will only get better. They’re very young, so they’ll naturally improve without a doubt.

“I think the likes of East Doncaster, Balwyn, South Croydon, I’d even point-out Park Orchards (will challenge for finals). I thought their first year coming out of Division One, I thought they had a very good year with a very young group that’s talented and play

Picture: ROB CAREW an exciting brand.

“It’ll be an even competition, I know it’s a bit cliche but it generally is in Eastern premier.

“If you’re off a little bit, anyone can get you, that’s for sure.”

Their season gets underway at home in a grand final rematch against Rowville, a contest that should have local football fans in the South East licking their lips in anticipation.

“The reality is, we beat them once last year, played them four times and lost three.

“We were able to get them on the big day, but total respect goes their way from us.

“They’re a terrific young side, really well coached.”

Southside’s season over after grand final series loss

By Marcus Uhe The curtain has been drawn on the Southside Flyer’s season, losing game two of their WNBL grand final series against Townsville on Wednesday night.

Needing a win to keep their hopes of a championship alive, a 25-13 fourth quarter from the Fire saw them pull-away to a 13-point to clinch the 2022/23 title in front of a raucous crowd Rowville’s State Basketball Centre.

Needing to bounce-back after a horrorshow in game one, the Flyers matched it with their opponents for much of the first quarter, and held a slender lead with just under three minutes remaining in the term.

But the Fire closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to create a seven-point lead at the first break.

Defending the paint was proving problematic for the Flyers once again, with the aggressive point-of-attack defence on screens opening driving lanes for the likes of Shyla Heal and Stephanie Reid to take advantage of.

Nyadiew Puoch and Maddison Rocci mounted the comeback in the second quarter before Rebecca Cole lit-up the Fire defence to close the half.

Cole scored 10 points in the quarter in18 STAR JOURNAL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

The season is over for Cheryl Chambers and the Southside Flyers after losing their WNBL grand final series 2-0.

Picture: SUPPLIED cluding six in the final two minutes as the Flyers rode her hot shooting, and cut the margin to two at the long break.

The second half opened as the first half closed, as Cole set the tone with five quick points.

Back-to-back threes from Sara Blicavs and Kayla Thornton saw Southside take a fourpoint lead late in the term, in what was becoming a true arm-wrestle for ascendency.

Townsville’s tenacious defence kept them in the contest, creating easy baskets off steals when Southside were caught napping.

A lay-up for Reid at the buzzer meant Townsville took the smallest of leads into the final quarter, setting the stage for an epic conclusion.

Southside needed a good start to the quarter and that’s exactly what they got, making a 7-2 run to claim a 64-59 lead within the first three minutes of the quarter.

From that point forward, however, they would only score five more points, as Townsville withstood the head of the moment better than their opponents in blue.

A pair of free throws to Tianna Hawkins gave the Fire a 13-point lead with 13 seconds remaining, and sent their bench into delirium as they celebrated their achievements with the final seconds elapsing.

Cole finished with 26 points for the Flyers, who can look back on their season with pride, having fallen just shy of clinching a championship. dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Cavs keen for NBL1 crusade

By Marcus Uhe

The Stingrays are on the board in 2023. 325863

Pictures: JAZZ BENNETT MEDIA

Girls get first win of the season

By Jonty Ralphsmith The Dandenong Stingrays girls have picked up their first win of the season in a high-standard affair against Geelong at Deakin University.

After a tight first half, the Stingrays held a four-point halftime lead which they never relinquished.

The ‘Rays had 14 fewer inside 50s in the 8.5 53 to 6.7 43 win, but the aptitude of Sophie Butterworth and Brooke Smith in the forward half helped their efficiency.

Butterworth kicked four of her club’s eight goals, with each coming at a crucial stage.

The first came in the opening 30 seconds of the game, as Dandenong won the centre clearance and she was hit up leading away from her direct opponent out of the goal square.

She then kicked two consecutive goals in the third quarter to give her side a handy buffer before nailing an important settler in the last quarter as Geelong mounted a fightback.

Butterworth has long been seen as a footballer with a natural skillset, with coach Josh Moore rapt to see her marrying that up with an excellent work-rate and four quarter effort – a key preseason focus.

The coach also lauded the match of 19-yearold Brooke Smith, who is eligible for the 19-years-and-older AFLW draft next month.

Smith finished with 17 possessions and two goals in her first Talent League game of the season.

She returned to the Stingrays as a 19-yearold this year after an ankle injury curtailed her 2022 campaign.

“We’re playing her in a different role this year as a hybrid forward after she had been a half-back, and she was really good on Saturday,” Moore said.

“She kicked two really classy goals and set up a lot more – she set up Sophie for a fair part of the day and is a sneaky chance for the (AFLW) draft.”

Meg Robertson was the standout in the midfield, collecting 19 disposals before play was stopped for several minutes in the final quarter as she was victim of a nasty head knock which left her concussed.

She was taken to Geelong Hospital and will miss the next two games.

“I’ve seen some quality girls come through dandenong.starcommunity.com.au

A pair of US college basketballers and some NBL1 veterans are set to power a new-look Casey Cavaliers squad this season, beginning this weekend against Dandenong.

Injuries and retirement forced the club’s hand in the recruitment space, with 10 new faces to wear the Cavs colours in 2023.

Guard, Jack Perry brings six years of NCAA experience from his stints at Eastern Washington University and University of Portland, while forward Hunter Marks returns to Victoria from four seasons at the University of Hartford, and one at Sacramento State.

The Cavs have also added Jack’s brother, Mason, and between them, Marks, Malcolm Bernard and Preston Bungei, coach David Peters has a crop of ball-handlers he can trust.

“It just takes the pressure off the main one or two scorers that we have, that they don’t have to create for themselves all the time, or have multiple people being able to create for them as well,” Peters said.

“And we’ve got a couple of guys who have come up from Youth League as well, a couple of really good guards who are ball handlers and can play out of pick-and-rolls.”

Having finished 15th in their first season in NBL1, Peters and the Cavs recruiting staff identified the need for malleable players as a necessity to mix it in their new competitive environment.

“For the most part we brought in a number of good individual defenders, something we knew we had to cover-off last year as we almost felt like we were filling holes with our defence,” Peters said.

“We’ve also brought in players that can play multiple positions, so we’re probably a lot more versatile and a lot faster than we were last year.

“At times I felt like we were maybe a little bit big and slow against the more mobile teams, so those are the two main things that we really attacked in the offseason; improving our versatility across positions and improving our ability to have really good individual defenders who can guard both on the perimeter and inside if we needed to.”

The Cavs’ men’s side gets underway against the Ranges at 8pm on Saturday at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium, with the women playing at 6pm.

Local lad Sam Frangalas played a role in the midfield. 325866 the program and she’s tracking in the same direction as them,” Moore said.

“It was a very good game of girls footy in the midfield – her ability to get in and out of traffic, make good decisions and execute, really stood out.”

Moore added that the injury tempered celebrations post-game.

Bottom-ager Jemma Reynolds impressed with her cleanliness at ground level while Jemma Ramsdale played a captain’s game, standing up in big moments.

Zoe Besanko won the important ruck battle to give Dandenong first use in the midfield when it mattered, with 16 hitouts and her five tackles were indicative of her willingness to follow-up.

“I was speaking to (Geelong coach) Mel Hickey after the game and we were just in awe of the quality of football they played and how much girls footy has developed – it was a really good hit-out,” Moore said.

The win’s an important one for the fancied Rays, which next Sunday face arguable premiership favourites Eastern Ranges at Kilsyth.

Meanwhile, the boys season got off on the wrong foot, Nick Cox’s men going down to Geelong by 30 points at Colac on Sunday.

After a tight start, the Falcons blew the game open in the second quarter and Dandenong could never wrench back control.

Defender Kobe Shipp led all comers with 28 disposals and seven marks as an intercept defender.

The Vic Country representative is highlyregarded and was an important cog as Dandenong had to repel 51 inside-50s.

Matthew Nelson finished with 24 disposals and five tackles while Beaconsfield’s Kade De La Rue played a well-rounded game to finish with 21 disposals and a goal. Berwick midfielder Sam Frangalas also contributed with 20 disposals and a goal, while Harry DeMattia, sole captain on the day with Cooper Simpson out, kicked three goals among his 15 disposals.

The ‘Rays will next week be tipped to open their account against Brisbane Lions Academy, which was comfortably accounted for by Oakleigh this weekend.

Casey Cavaliers coach David Peters is excited for the upcoming NBL1 season, beginning on Saturday against Dandenong.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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STAR JOURNAL 19

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