News - Cranbourne Star News - 30th March 2023

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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‘Vile’ threats cancel event

Festival of colours

Premiership defence begins

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SPORT

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Fundraiser to support research

Temple concern Pearcedale locals have raised objections to a $4.5 million temple proposed for the area.

Melbourne Ayyappa Seva Sangam (MASS) has submitted plans for a traditional Sree Ayyappa Temple at 1915 Dandenong-Hasting Road, Pearcedale.

Local residents are concerned about the impact the temple will have on their quiet rural lifestyle. The project is set to include a golden staircase, landscaped gardens and a large ornamental pool over a 10-acre property.

The rooftop height of the main temple will be 8 metres and the flagstaff in the yard will be 13.5 metres tall.

The temple proposes to hold weekly services between 7am and 10am and 5pm to 8pm Monday to Sunday.

Twenty-four-hour use of the temple would be available up to two times a year.

Indoor bell ringing (Pooja) is proposed to occur at approximately 8.30am and 5pm daily, except on Sundays and public holidays where in the morning this would only occur after 9am.

The outdoor bells are proposed to ring at 11am and 7pm daily.

The land is currently natural bushland inhabited by wildlife.

Devotees of the temple would visit monthly, with an estimated 10,000 people to attend religious festivals at the site.

MASS has said the aim of the temple is “to fulfil the community needs of understanding the rich Hindu religious heritage, traditions,

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philosophy and culture”.

The temple will also serve to provide community activities for worshippers of all ages.

Estimates from 2021 show Pearcedale has a population of 3749.

Objections to the project were due in by Tuesday 21 March.

Residents were rallying on Facebook to get as many objections in as possible by the due date.

The most common issue flagged by locals was noise.

Residents fear religious festivals and ceremonies may cause noise pollution that will disrupt the rural essence of their community.

Local woman Yvonne Millett has voiced concerns about fireworks as part of religious celebrations.

“As a horse and dog owner I am very concerned about this possibility,” she said.

Yvonne isn’t the only one concerned about noise. Others also questioned the noise factor of festival days.

“I live on 10 acres about 2km away and our horses will go nuts with fireworks and noise pollution from loud speakers,” a local posted.

Locals are worried about the environmental impact the large-scale building will have on the green wedge area.

“The temple is a major concern in our green wedge zone,” Louise Cook said.

“A temple is totally out of place and will have a hugely negative impact on the environment.”

Continued page 8

Sam from Reptile Encounters and Pretzel the crocodile were at the open day.

Picture: ROB CAREW

Everyone and their pets Balla Balla Community Centre welcomed over 800 people at its open day.

was jam-packed with activities and entertainment.

Celebrating the new location, the day

Story page 13

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NEWS

Fundraiser backs research

By Emily Chapman Laing A Clyde North man whose family was struck by tragedy is raising funds for life-changing treatments.

Maurice Browne lost his wife and son to Huntington’s disease a mere seven years apart.

His daughter, who also has Huntington’s, is worsening by the day.

“She can’t do anything now,” Mr Browne said.

Now he watches as the disease takes hold of his grandchildren.

Mr Browne’s grandson Phillip now lives in a nursing home, though he is only 34 years old.

His other grandson Mitchell, 31, is also afflicted.

“They did trials on Mitchell but they didn’t help him.

“His movements are absolutely terrible.”

Mr Brown holds annual fundraisers, with money raised going to support research, which Mr Browne hopes will one day lead to a cure.

This year’s fundraiser will be held at Selandra Rise Retirement Village on Friday 26 May at 2.30pm.

This is during the awareness week for the disease.

“We’re going to have raffles, then we will be auctioning off items.

“Hopefully we can get more people to donate items.”

Mr Browne says the fundraiser usually raises around $3000 each year. This year, the event will feature guest speaker Sally Ferguson, whose family has also battled the disease.

Mr Browne says the disease doesn’t discriminate, even the best people, like his son, can lose their lives to it.

“What people achieve in their life doesn’t make them any more important when they pass away,” he said.

Maurice Browne with a photo of his son, also Maurice, who died from Huntington’s at age 49. 325602

Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

“If you’re going to have a disease, have a popular one.” Huntington’s disease results from a faulty gene responsible for nerve cells functioning correctly.

It is a fatal genetic condition.

The earlier the onset of symptoms, the shorter a victim’s lifespan will be. The disease results in brain cell death.

Affected functions include motor control, coordination, cognition, personality and emo-

tions. Onset generally occurs between the ages of 20 and 60 years.

Each child of a parent with the faulty gene has a 50 per cent risk factor of inheriting the disease. Currently there is no cure and minimal medical interventions to manage the condition.

To donate, contact Maurice Browne on 5991 5526.

All money raised will go towards Huntington’s Victoria.

“My son was a teacher and he wrote plays, he would act in them and write the music for them. He just did everything.

“Everything he touched turned to gold, that’s what makes it so hard.”

He says money for research is crucial to finding new treatments, but fears Huntington’s disease doesn’t make the cut.

“Huntington’s is halfway between rare and not rare,” he said.

Rising homelessness takes ‘extraordinary’ toll on kids Homelessness in Victoria is at alarming levels.

New data shows homelessness is 24 per cent higher in Victoria than five years ago.

In Casey, homelessness has risen 44.7 per cent since 2016.

A 2016 census reported 1280 homeless people in Casey.

Current data shows the number has risen to 1852 people.

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.

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 longer-term 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 and affordable housing.

“Despite the State Government’s Big Housing Build, which has been a terrific in2 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

Homelessness in Casey has risen by 44.7 per cent in the past five years. 301197 Picture: ANGELA NORVAL vestment in social and affordable housing, we’re decades behind in social housing per capita.”

Census data released on Wednesday 22 March revealed 30,660 people are homeless in Victoria.

The numbers confirm the urgent need for a strategy to end homelessness.

Victoria’s 24 per cent increase eclipsed the national rise of 5 per cent.

The numbers are believed to be the state’s most accurate picture of homelessness.

This is because the Census was conducted during Victoria’s lockdown, allowing more people to be reached and counted.

Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said the situation required an immediate response.

“This alarming surge in homelessness must be the catalyst for the State Government to act urgently by continuing to invest, and there are solutions,” she said said.

“These grim numbers show exactly why

the Victorian Government must fund highly successful programs like From Homelessness to a Home, which provides stable housing and support for people who are sleeping rough.

“H2H has successfully housed people placed in hotels during Covid but the numbers today reveal more is needed.”

Ms Di Natale says a clear, comprehensive strategy to end homelessness is needed.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homelessness in Victoria grew more than 40 per cent to 1109 people over the past five years.

Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) chair and Aboriginal Housing Victoria CEO Darren Smith said a pledge is needed.

“No more empty promises or vague targets – we need an initial pledge to build a minimum 300 houses a year in Victoria for First Nations people, because these Census figures show us how catastrophic inaction is,” he said.

“Further, the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund will fail to address the breadth of housing needs faced by Aboriginal Victorians unless 10 per cent of new dwellings are specifically provided for First Nations peoples in urban, regional and remote areas.”

Ms Di Natale said responding to growing levels of First Nations homelessness needed to be an integral part of the state’s strategy.

“It’s simply not good enough that First Nations people are massively over-represented in homelessness figures.

“That’s why CHP is urging the government to create a pool of 600 properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leaving prison and at-risk of being homeless.

“We need an Aboriginal-specific homelessness system in Victoria fully funded and implemented.”

The new data has reiterated the need for the Victorian Government to make the following commitments to end homelessness stated in the May State Budget.

The Victorian Government committed to build 6000 new social housing properties each year for at least a decade.

They also committed to ensure 10 per cent, or 600, of those properties are owned by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

The Victorian Government is set to spend $47.5 million in 2023/24 to keep From Homelessness To A Home being gutted on 30 June, with $224.4 million over the next four years to continue and grow the program.

“The solutions to end homelessness within reach, and this government has demonstrated they are committed through past investment in H2H and the Big Housing Build,” Ms Di Natale said.

“We just need to see the political will to continue to invest to end homelessness.

“Now we’ve seen the true extent of homelessness, we urge the Victorian Government to respond to the crisis engulfing our state.” cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

‘Vile’ threats cancel event

By Eleanor Wilson A local workshop series teaching young adults drag queen skills and culture has been cancelled by the City of Casey, following “vile” backlash from “alt-right” and “self-proclaimed Christian” groups.

The Art of Drag workshops were due to be held at Bunjil Place for five weeks throughout April and May, where adolescents aged 12 to 25 could learn skills in drag hair, makeup, fashion and performance, created and hosted by professional drag kings and queens including Belial B’Zarr, Linh Uendo, Holly Pop, Lilium and Randy Roy. But the event was cancelled over the weekend “in the interest of community safety”, City of Casey chief executive Glenn Patterson said.

“After careful consideration, consultation with our community partners including Victoria Police, and in the interests of community safety, we have decided to cancel the Art of Drag workshop series that was scheduled to be held at Bunjil Place in April and May,” he said.

While the council did not detail the events that caused a concern for community safety, the drag performers who were due to hosts said they experienced “a barrage of threats and violence from alt-right and self-proclaimed ‘Christian’ groups”.

It is alleged that threatening and harrassing phone calls, emails and physical intimidation, wherein a “queerphobic group forced their way into a council meeting, hurling homophobic and transphobic rhetoric at council members and security” were some of the behaviours committed by protest groups.

Mr Patterson said the decision to cancel the event “in no way legitimises or validates the actions or statements of individuals, activists or protest groups”.

“Casey is committed to promoting opportunities for engagement, advocacy, events,

Drag performer Belial B’Zarr co-created the now cancelled Art of Drag workshop series for adolescents in Casey to learn about the art of drag.

Picture: OSCAR SAUNDERS safe spaces, and partnerships that support our LGBTIQA+ community and doing so with a duty of care, especially where young people are involved.

“The carefully curated age-appropriate content was to provide a safe and inclusive space that young queer people and their parents had the choice of participating in, knowing it was specifically developed for those

members of the community identifying as LGBTIQA+.”

A recent youth engagement program in Casey revealed that one of the top five challenges facing young people is around “identity”, Mr Patterson said.

“Programs such as the now cancelled Art of Drag workshops serve as a vital affirmation of self-worth to young people who may be com-

ing to terms with their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity without necessarily getting the support they need from their peers or the broader community.

“Casey prides itself on being an inclusive organisation that aims to support people in our community irrespective of their age, ethnicity, cultural heritage, or gender identity.”

But the creators of the workshop series said the “incredibly disappointing outcome” reflects on state and federal governments “failing to protect Queer and Trans young people”.

“Those in power have a responsibility to protect our communities and provide structure and resources to local councils and prevent young people being exposed to an impacted by violent extremism,” they said.

“This includes robust/stricter safety protocols, no-tolerance policies for hate, and thorough community consultation during risk assessments.”

The alleged harassment confirms that there’s an increased need for workshops such as the Art of Drag, the group said.

Since the cancellation of The Art of Drag, many artists involved have experienced hatespeech in the form of derogatory comments, slurs and threats, the group said.

Co-creator Belial B’Zarr said The Art of Drag is the third drag event they have organised to be interrupted or cancelled due to backlash.

They said the drag community needs as many allies as possible right now.

“We’ve been battling this for months and months... we are physical at risk at this point and we need every single body writing emails, we are going down a very frightening pipeline right now and if something doesn’t change, one of us may get hurt, or worse,” they said.

The City of Casey is reimbursing all performers and resources costs involved with the workshops, and has refunded all ticket sales, it is understood.

Riding for health: Students saddle up for healthy future Cranbourne South Primary School (CSPS) took part in National Ride2School Day on Friday 24 March.

“I think it’s extremely important to build their road skills and road safety,” said classroom teacher and school community captains leader Monique Bryden.

“It’s also great for mental health and exercise.”

Mrs Bryden said she has noticed a large increase in the number of CSPS students participating in Ride2School day since remote learning has stopped.

“Families are getting to know each other more because they’re outside, out of their houses,” she said.

The teachers and helpers ensure on-campus safety, monitoring students coming in through the gates.

“Once we get to the school grounds, we

Students Axel H, Alaska N and Amber R of Cranbourne South Primary School. 325887 Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING get off our bikes and walk in safely,” Mrs Bryden said.

Over 350,000 students across the nation rode, walked, scooted and skated to school.

National Ride2School Day is Australia’s

biggest celebration of active travel and the peak of the nationwide Ride2School program which works to help children get their 60 minutes of daily exercise by riding a bike to school.

Bicycle Network chief executive officer Alison McCormack said that National Ride2School Day is a day full of fun and colour where students, teachers and parents discover the joy of riding and kick-start healthy habits for the future.

“Riding to school can help students perform better in the classroom,” she said.

“Students who actively travel to school are more awake and alert.

“Their concentration levels and understanding of content improves.”

Ms McCormack says students who are physically active are happier and healthier.

“They also become more self-sufficient

and build resilience.”

National Ride2School Day in 2022 saw 911 schools participate, including 307 schools for the first time, pushing the total number to a record 370,000 students.

Bicycle Network is hoping that participation numbers in 2023 will surpass 400,000.

National Ride2School Day is a free event open to all primary and secondary schools in Australia.

Schools that register have access to a range of resources to help them celebrate the day, including posters, promotional material, stickers and count sheets to tally the number of students who ride to school.

“National Ride2School Day is a great introduction to the wider program and can be the catalyst to creating a school of healthy, self-confident, active students,” Ms McCormack said.

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 3

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Casey Radio vice president Leigh Drew

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I am the comedian at a party.

What do you love the most?

My family, wife Maie, daughter Kerryn and son Jason and my five grandchildren and one adorable great-granddaughter.

What are you most passionate about?

Radio and broadcasting.

What would your last meal be?

Chinese.

What was your most memorable moment?

Covering the Queen’s visit to Swan Hill on 7 April, 1970.

What was your favourite subject in school?

Music.

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

Landing on the Moon.

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

My wife, Hugh Jackman, Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks, Enid Blyton, and J.K. Rowling.

What are you currently listening to/watching or reading?

Power Book II: Ghost on Stan and reading ‘The Happiest Man on Earth’ by Eddie Jaku.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

Sensible.

Have you ever had a pet that has made an impact on your life?

Miss Penny is my Dachshund, turning two in May. The most beautiful dog, she is almost human at times.

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

Curried prawns with boiled rice.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

Switzerland.

THREE … facts about dinosaurs

1

Pegomastax A dinosaur called the Pegomastax is one of the weirdest dinosaurs known. Described as a cross between a parrot and porcupine, it had a beak with teeth that sharpened themselves against each other.

2

Quick thief The name “Velociraptor” means speedy thief.

3

Footage In the 1993 movie, Jurassic Park, there is only 15 minutes of dinosaur footage: six minutes of CGI and nine minutes of animatronics.

Leigh has been working in radio since 1966, with a career spanning over 50 years.

Picture: SUPPLIED

NEWS

Empowering teenagers to speak up at work Anglican church launched More than 120 teenagers in the South East were seriously injured at work last year, according to WorkSafe data.

As a result, WorkSafe has launched a safety campaign, WorkSafe 101, to help prepare Year 9 -12 students for being safe in the workforce.

The free, interactive program will be available at high schools across Victoria.

It includes e-learning modules, videos with examples from workplaces where young people are commonly employed as well as teacher-led activities on OHS basics, identifying hazards and the importance of speaking up.

Last year WorkSafe accepted 128 injury claims from workers aged 15-19 in the southern metro region, which includes Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula council areas.

Across the state, there were 615 claims accepted from this age group.

The most common injuries were cuts and amputations (207), traumatic tendon, muscle and ligament injuries (119), fractures (112), musculoskeletal injuries (88), burns (24), and mental injuries (23).

“This is the age when many young people are starting a part-time job or moving from school to the workforce,” WorkSafe health and safety executive director Narelle Beer said.

“Starting your first job is a huge milestone and a reason for young workers and their families to feel proud.

“Sadly, too many young workers soon find that celebration turns to tragedy.”

Dr Beer said research showed young workers were more likely to accept unsafe work conditions and less likely to raise safety concerns due to a lack of Occupational Health and Safety awareness.

“We owe it to young workers to give them the knowledge to work safely and the confidence to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.”

The program was trialled with 230 Year 9 Braybrook College students last year.

Careers teacher Rowena Archer said she 4 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

WorkSafe executive director health and safety Dr Narelle Beer. particularly liked the topics on bullying and other mental health hazards.

“We hope that this will help empower students with the skills to be able to say ‘that doesn’t look right’ and to query what’s actually

going on in the workplace.”

In 2022, WorkSafe accepted 615 claims from workers aged 19 or younger, including 264 from casual or part-time workers and 185 from apprentices.

The recently established Proclaim Anglican Church for Clyde and Clyde North has enjoyed a most successful beginning.

Meeting at the Eliston Community Centre in Clyde, the new church has welcomed 15 new members in its first month and has recorded an average attendance each Sunday of 60 local people.

Foundation Pastor Rev Reece Kelly, a local resident, commenting on the first month remarked: “There is a real sense of joy, excitement, and encouragement amongst those attending.

They are getting to know each other well and are committed to building this new church family for the Clyde/Clyde North area.”

Rev Kelly noted that more than 50,000 people live in Clyde/Clyde North.

“It is our hope that Proclaim Church will become a permanent and visible community presence for the people of this area.”

Sunday services start at 9am at the community centre in Eliston Avenue and all are welcome to attend the service and enjoy morning tea afterwards.

A special service will be conducted on Easter Sunday 9 April at 9am, the most significant day for Christians across the world.

Further information can be obtained at - info@proclaim.org.au cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

OPINION

LENSCAPE

Police say they’re seeing some concerning behaviour on local roads.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Stepping up for safety A recent spike in pedestrian trauma and several near-misses reported around schools in Casey has led to a new pedestrian safety initiative.

SD3 Highway Patrol is teaming up with local council and road safety partners to make pedestrian safety a priority around schools and kindergartens in Casey.

SD3 Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Matthew Camillo said police are “seeing some really concerning behaviour” on Casey roads.

There has been an increasing number of collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists in the division, with 206 recorded between 30 January 2022 and 5 March 2023.

There has also been several collisions and near-misses involving children and school crossing supervisors reported around schools in the area.

“We will be working with local council and our road safety partners to prioritise pedestrian safety, with an increased enforcement focus around school zones,” Sergeant Camillo said.

“We’ll be targeting motorists who exceed the 40km/h speed limit in school zones, and who are distracted behind the wheel using their mobile phones.

“These behaviours are consistent with road trauma and collisions involving pedestrians.”

It comes as Victoria recorded 44 pedestrian fatalities in 2022, which was a 51 per cent increase on the previous year.

There were 18 fatalities recorded in SD3 territory – a third of these involving pedestrians.

“Pedestrian deaths doubled on Victorian roads last year, and we are doing everything we can to ensure we don’t see a repeat.

“It’s up to all of us to prioritise pedestrian safety.”

Police are working closely with the City of Casey to increase enforcement around local schools and kindergartens that have raised road safety concerns.

Pedestrian safety will be the key priority, with police to target speeding and distracted drivers around school zones, as well as ensuring pedestrians are obeying traffic signals and utilising school crossings.

There will also be an increased focus on educating the community about good road safety practices, with road safety organisation Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation supporting local council and police to educate young children and families about road safety.

“Educating the community on good road safety practices will also be critical, to ensure all road users know how to remain safe around school zones,” said Sergeant Camillo.

“It’s so important that parents and teachers talk to young children about road safety.”

Police are urging motorists to slow down and pay attention, especially in built up areas and in 40km/h school zones where there are more pedestrians.

Motorists who fail to stop and remain stationary at a children’s crossing can be issued a $462 penalty and three demerit points, whilst failing to give way to a pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing can attract a $362 penalty and three demerit points.

“The penalties are significant, but we won’t hesitate to enforce if it means preventing serious injuries or deaths of young children,” Sergeant Camillo said.

“Educating the community on good road safety practices will also be critical, to ensure all road users know how to remain safe around school zones. It’s so important that parents and teachers talk to young children about road safety.”

6 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

The Edrington Great Art Show’s Best in Show by artist Rosemary Todman-Parrant, viewed down the glorious hallways of Lord Casey’s manor in Picture: ROB CAREW Berwick. 325418

SOCIALLY SPEAKING The ongoing roadworks across Casey are creating a cocktail of frustration and exhaustion for locals, with some families abandoning their homes to get away from the chaos.

Here’s what our readers thought about the issue.

Sue Stride Don’t forget they are also building the Cranbourne community so-called hospital that’s not really a hospital if you have an emergency at the same time as all this roadworks adding even more trucks and craziness around here.

Stuart Barkway Took Thompsons Road and Narre North Road less time to be done and usable than this white elephant.

Sandra Roach No surprise there. State and local govern-

ment are never going to upgrade roads before they rake in rates.

Gaye Guest This highlights bad planning. In the good old days infrastructure - roads, reserve and school sites, shops, etc, were installed before housing happened. This is now adhoc building and developers wanting the most “bang for their buck” don’t set aside any land for these community assets. Instead they “pay” a developer’s fee that goes into the coffers of the local government. Planners these days have no imagination or forethought to future projections.

Victorians were labelled the loneliest Australians during the pandemic. Neighbour Day (29 March) is just one way to combat this. Here’s what our readers had to say

about loneliness and disconnection in the state.

Oscar T Grouch No surprise there. Most locked down place in the world.

A pedestrian collision has renewed calls to install lights at the intersection at Wilson Botanic Park (Princes Highway and Coniston Avenue). The collision occurred in the vicinity of the intersection that claimed the life of former Casey mayor and councillor Mick Morland in 2017. Here’s what our readers had to say.

Greg Marsh Try educating drivers to be patient and us their eyes before trying to force their vehicle into on coming traffic.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up I was at St Michael’s Primary School athletics day on Friday 24 March to see my two grandsons compete. Halfway through the day I had an accident where my chair flipped over on its side, throwing me out on the concrete. I want to give everyone that helped me and asked about me for the rest of the day a very very big thumbs up. All is well, thank you again.

Thumbs up To my dogs who had their first time at a dog park last week and were both so well behaved!

Thumbs down To people who litter in nature reserves and bushland. So tired of seeing garbage in the little amount of natural habitat our local wildlife has left.

Thumbs down To the dismal autumn we are having.

Thumbs up To the Narre Warren Berwick Business Group’s launch dinner on Tuesday night. Great to see people getting together again after Covid.

Thumbs down To the rising cost of Easter chocolate.

Thumbs up To homemade ANZAC biscuits.

Thumbs down To my car breaking down.

Thumbs down To the cancellation of the Art of Drag show at Bunjil Place. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

New conduct rules $250k fine

By Eleanor Wilson The City of Casey has made a series of changes to its councillor code of conduct, incorporating protocol for councillors in relation to land use planning.

It follows investigations into allegations of serious corrupt conduct in relation to planning and property development decisions at the City of Casey council.

IBAC held public hearings during 2019 and 2020 as part of Operation Sandon. The findings from the final report of the investigation is yet to be tabled in parliament.

The councillor code of conduct outlines core legislative and governance responsibilities of elected councillors and is “reviewed from time to time as operational or legislative requirement changes”.

In a council meeting on Tuesday 21 March, City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the updated code will be “of pivotal importance to future elected representatives”. “[This is] a very important and vital document that will be essential for the future good behaviour and conduct of [administrators] and councillors into the future,” Ms Duff said.

Among the amendments are updates to specific conduct obligations between councillors and planning and property development stakeholders.

This includes the obligation for councillors to “not compromise themselves by having meetings, phone calls or other correspondence with parties without council officers or other parties being present”.

Where communication does occur, a record of the discussion is required, the updated code stated.

City of Casey administrator Miguel Belmar said the changes will ensure land use planning and the interaction between councillors and developers “forms an integral part of the code”.

The councillor code of conduct outlines core legislative and governance responsibilities of elected councillors. 238145 “This is an important document that looks to the future looks to creating an organisation that is well-governed [and] well managed, in which people get along and in which, at all times, both ourselves as administrators and future councillors understand their roles and responsibilities when interacting with developers and other organisations which are seeking to undertake development within the City of Casey.”

Administrator Cameron Boardman concurred the amendments represent “a way of moving forward” for the council.

“To separate the issue around engagements and interactions with developers and landowners is critical, we are very familiar with conduct allegations, at this stage, that have unfortunately been the hallmark of past councillors within Casey,” Mr Boardman said.

“But ensuring, again, that there is clarity, there are strict integrity controls and that there are ways of ensuring better decision making and transparency with all decision making now and into the future is undoubtedly the most productive and best practice way of dealing with such matters.”

A Cranbourne racecourse has been convicted and fined $250,000 after a young rider died during pre-dawn horse training exercises in 2019.

Cranbourne Turf Club Inc was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court last month after pleading guilty to one charge of failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the conduct of its undertaking.

The company was also issued with an adverse publicity order requiring it to advertise the outcome.

In August 2019, an apprentice jockey and her training partner were riding on a CTC operated bush trail in dark conditions when the horses became spooked and stopped suddenly, causing both riders to fall.

The 22-year-old woman died at the scene.

A WorkSafe investigation found the trail included several features that could potentially spook a horse in the dark, including tree branches encroaching onto the area above the trail, pooled water and other horses or wildlife on or near the trail.

The court heard that it was reasonably practicable for Cranbourne Turf Club to reduce health and safety risks by installing floodlights around the trail to ensure visibility outside daylight hours, or limiting access to the trail to daylight hours.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Narelle Beer said this tragic incident highlighted just how important it is to assess health and safety risks and put control measures in place.

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Rex name shame

FREE ENTRY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“They need to have their plaques removed

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

Final Stage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Pick-up parking mayhem

By Emily Chapman Laing School drop-offs and pick-ups are causing car parks to be overwhelmed in Pearcedale.

Many residents of the area have complained on a Facebook post about parents from Pearcedale Primary School parking in the shopping centre car park.

“I’ve gone down at 2.30pm before and not been able to get a park to go to the post office,” said Nicole Ainger.

“There’s lots of cars with people just sitting in them, or people standing talking to others, I assume waiting for school to finish.”

Local woman Kylie Young reported that this is an ongoing issue for the residents, who have learned to avoid the area during peak times.

However, parents maintain they have nowhere else to go.

Local parent Brad Young has said there are consequences to seeking alternatives.

“We get fined if we park in other certain spots,” he said.

Some residents say they are unbothered by the chaos.

“I usually do a few laps and eventually get one,” a local resident said.

Others argue there is plenty of parking for parents if they are willing to go the distance.

“Actually there’s plenty of parking at the oval but you have to drive all the way to the back,” Dianne Whitehead said.

“Even more so if you use the second oval it’s just a bit more of a walk.”

Parents have said the high activity offers more business to the Pearcedale shop owners.

“I know when I’m the driver for the kids to and from school, I go to the post office, do shopping at the IGA instead of the big shops and buy something at the bakery,” Joanne Osborne said.

“I pretty much use all of the services and it’s because my kids are from the Pearcedale school.”

Locals on all sides of the issue agree more infrastructure is needed.

Mrs Osborne says the council could use their time better and build necessary infrastructure.

“The spare corner clock near the roundabout could be easily used or leased [for parking].”

She says the rates paid by locals are not reflected in their community.

“Maybe [locals] can contact council with concerns and they can accommodate more

Pearcedale Shopping Village car park during school pick-up time. 325893 parking spots for a school of its size,” Mr Young said.

One resident raised concerns about the possible introduction of five-minute parking in the shopping precinct, as he had heard ru-

Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

mours the council had signed an agreement to restrict parking time.

But City of Council manager city and asset planning Keri New said the claims are false.

“Council does not have any agreement in

place,” she said.

“There are no current proposals to change existing parking arrangements in the councilowned car park servicing Pearcedale Shopping Centre.”

Three syndicates score $2.5 million each Temple concerns A merry band of Melburnians will be sporting winning smiles this week after three syndicates each scooped $2.5 million in the weekend’s TattsLotto Superdraw.

Casey News & Lotto were among those to sell the winning division one tickets.

Casey News & Lotto owner Jason Leong said he couldn’t believe his outlet had sold a division one winning syndicate within his first 10 months of owning the business.

“While I had imagined that we would eventually sell a division one ticket, I couldn’t believe it happened so fast!” he said.

“The syndicate was a new one made for the Superdraw, and unlike any we’ve ever sold before.

“Congratulations to our syndicate members and we’re stoked we can help our customers achieve their dreams.”

Shares into the syndicates were purchased at 15 different Tatts outlets across Melbourne.

With some of the syndicate members holding unregistered entries, The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said some of the winning group might still be unaware of their good fortune.

“While we will be reaching out to those syndicate members who registered their tickets to their Tatts players card, there are several syndicate members who hold unregistered entries and may not yet know they’re part of this winning group.

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

Casey News & Lotto team members Yiyi Chen and Sam Kariotis.

“If you purchased a share in a syndicate for the recent TattsLotto draw, today’s the day to check it.”

Twenty-five members of the aptly-named ‘Enrich’ syndicate have shared an exhilarating division one prize of more than $2.5 million in the weekend’s TattsLotto Superdraw.

The group syndicate was one of the eight division one winning entries nationally in TattsLotto, draw 4349, drawn on Saturday 25

Picture: SUPPLIED

March. Each entry won a division one prize of $2.5 million.

The syndicate’s marked System 16 entry also won division two six times, division three 54 times, division four 675 times, division five 720 times and division six 1680 times, boosting the total windfall to $2,670,897.40.

Each member of the syndicate took home a $106,8356.90 prize.

From page 1 A Facebook post by a green wedge advocate also outlined the environmental impacts of the project and said it is vital to preserve these areas for their agricultural, environmental, historical, recreational and landscape value.

“Once lost, they can never be replaced.”

Road safety is also an issue, residents say.

Locals fear the already unstable roads surrounding the site will be unable to cope with the extra traffic.

MASS bought the land in 2019 and submitted the planning application to the Mornington Peninsula Shire on 23 December, 2021.

MASS secretary Dr Vijay anand Senguttuvan previously told the Herald Sun that he is unable to comment on the project while it remains before the council.

Pearcedale residents are concerned about the impact the temple will have on their rural lifestyle.

Picture: SUPPLIED cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Supporting babies’ needs

By Emily Chapman Laing Babies with hip dysplasia can be very hard to dress, but a Blind Bight mother is changing the narrative.

If caught early on, hip dysplasia is treated with a Pavlik harness.

The harness helps to keep the infant’s hips and knees bent and the thighs spread apart.

Leanne Arnup found that dressing her infant daughter Maddie was very difficult after the harness was put on.

“We brought her home with no clothes on,” she said.

“Nothing fit, we had nothing.”

Leanne and her partner had no idea what the harness was prior to it being placed on their child.

Leanne’s mum had the idea to make Maddie a sleeping bag.

“That was the original Starfish Babes sleeping bag,” Leanne said.

“And then I realised we weren’t the only ones lacking and wanting to find something for our baby.

“So we started making them and selling them.”

Before choosing to outsource their clothing line, the Starfish Babes team made over 700 sleeping bags by hand.

“We initially designed our extra wide sleeping bags to accommodate all of the hip dysplasia braces/casts but were thrilled when we realised they were perfect for kids with clubfoot wearing boots and bar too,” Leanne said.

Clubfoot is a common type of birth defect that affects muscles and bones in the feet.

Instead of being straight, a clubfoot points down and turns in.

Clubfoot affects one baby in every 1000 and is twice as common in boys than girls.

Since gaining a supplier, the Starfish Babes

Starfish Babes founder Leanne Arnup holding Maddie’s Pavlik harness and showcasing some of her products. 325911 Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING range has expanded.

The sleeping bags are now tog rated and tested.

The label has been growing over the past eight years.

Starfish Babes now sells leg warmers, milestone cards, their own Pavlik harnesses, leg cuffs, wooden plaques, tees and socks.

Their products are sold all over Australia.

The team also partakes in fundraising for Healthy Hips Australia.

“We have donated over $2000 to Healthy Hips Australia.”

Leanne said it is crucial for parents to push for dysplasia to be checked in their infants.

“It’s not automatically tested for,” Leanne said.

“You really need to push to get ultrasounds.

“If it’s not picked up when they’re a baby and they aren’t placed in a brace, the next thing is a spica cast.”

A spica cast is a type of plaster cast that cov-

ers one or both legs from the ankles up to the belly button.

The cast is used to immobilise the hips.

“Children are really restricted, at first they can’t move,” Leanne said.

“They will eventually get used to it but they are literally stuck.”

Maddie’s dysplasia was picked up by a nurse who noticed she had uneven thigh creases.

Leanne stressed that the condition may not be evident, so it is vital to demand testing.

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Working for change Playground upgrade

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

By Emily Chapman Laing

Shabnam Safa with her parents. 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 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

Picture: SUPPLIED 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.

Merinda Park Playground is getting a makeover.

The existing playground of Merinda Park Reserve has been closed for some time, with Casey council explaining the construction period for the new playground was pushed into March as “unprecedented heavy rainfall” made the site “extremely challenging for construction”.

Local resident David Short said the current playground failed to cater to “little kids”, specifically mentioning the site lacked the swings children are accustomed to enjoying.

Mr Short also noted the playground has previously had an issue with “stagnant water” pooling on the ground around the play equipment.

Mr Short says the waste water creates an unpleasant smell.

Manager city presentation Mardi Cuthbert says these issues have been addressed as part of the upgrade.

“As part of the project, the area where the old playground was located has been reshaped to assist with water flow, alongside new drainage and pits around the site to assist in the removal of water quickly during heavy down pours,” she said.

The playground’s upgrade will include a 20-metre flying fox, giant nest swing, balance and lateral climbing totems and a junior play tower surrounding the circular plush multi-use lawn.

Casey council has said the concept for the park “brings activity to the fore” with a design that complements “the energy of the existing skate facility”.

Mr Short reported large quantities of rubbish around the playground.

Star News has witnessed shattered electronics scattered across the skate park.

“As the playground area is still under construction, we have been unable to access that space to assess for any dumped rubbish or litter,” Ms Cuthbert said.

“However, we have been able to remove two piles of dumped rubbish which was located near the Merinda Park Learning Centre and Community Centre.”

The refurbishment will utilise natural rocks and logs “as seating alternatives” and for use in “balance play and exploration”.

The new playground will also receive “mass plantings” of shrubs.

The new playground is due to open to the public this week.

Why it’s Greased Lightnin’ The Performing Arts students at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar are looking forward to presenting Grease, The Musical.

The musical is the popular story of Danny and Sandy and follows their journey as students in the 1950s.

The show is full of comedy, impressive dancing, and singing movement and will be presented in an arena style.

St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar is a leading institution in the Performing Arts in Australia.

It provides a holistic Performing Arts education for students, including unique co-curricular performance opportunities.

The cast and crew comprise over 120 students from Year 7 to Year 12 and they have been working for just this term. The students have enjoyed this learning process and are excited to share this classic tale with the wider community. Performances are on Wednesday 29 March, Thursday 30 March, Friday 31 March, and Saturday 1 April.

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St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar are set to present Grease the Musical.

The pre-show arrival time of 6.30pm will feature a classic car display, food trucks, and live dancing, with the musical commencing at 7.30pm each night.

Performance at their Officer Campus, Tivendale Rd, Officer. For tickets, please visit trybooking.com/CFXXE

The students have enjoyed this learning process and are excited to share this classic tale with the wider community. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Calls for cost of living relief

By Cam Lucadou-Wells “Spending restraint” looks set to overrule calls for further cost of living relief in the upcoming Federal budget.

Australian Council of Social Service is calling for JobSeeker payments to rise to at least $76 a day, as well as more social housing and a “fairer” tax system.

It also submitted for the scrapping of stage three tax cuts, which ACOSS says favours the top 20 per cent of income earners.

Bruce Labor MP Julian Hill said the Federal Government’s plan to bring down inflation was “working” and “we need to stick to it”.

The cost of living “crisis” was mainly caused by “inflation challenges”.

This was an issue affecting nations “all over the world” due to the Covid pandemic and worsened by “Russia’s illegal ware in Ukraine”, he said.

“Key to beating inflation is spending restraint in the budget so that the government isn’t adding to inflation in the economy.

“Scott Morrison and the Liberals spent like drunken sailors, leaving $1 trillion of debt and making the inflation problem worse.

“Labor has stopped this wasteful spending, returning 99 per cent of revenue upgrades to the budget over the next two years compared to the Liberals’ average of just 40 per cent.”

Mr Hill said the government opted for “responsible cost of living relief” including cheaper childcare, cheaper medicines and direct energy bill relief.

“Action is being taken to repair Australia’s broken supply chains and skills crisis including fee-free TAFE and more university places, the National Reconstruction Fund and investing in cleaner and cheaper energy.”

There was evidence that inflation had peaked and would start to “moderate in 2023”.

“After plenty of work, and plenty of sacri-

Julian Hill, left, says the government will stick to its plan to reduce inflation. 318937 fices from Australians… there’s still a long way to go, but the plan is working, and we need to stick to it.”

ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said the budget needs to make “the right choices about who needs more government support”.

“With more than three million people in poverty in Australia, this budget must deliver

cost of living relief for those who need it most and help shape a more inclusive society.

“The Labor government came to power promising that no one would be left behind.

“But right now people on income support are skipping meals, foregoing essential medicines and turning off their hot water just to keep a roof over their head.”

Currently, JobSeeker payments start at less

Picture: ROB CAREW than $50 a day for singles without children – not including rental assistance.

This is the second-lowest unemployment payment in wealthy nations and insufficient for an adequate standard of living, ACOSS stated.

It said revenue could be raised by cancelling the $18 billion a year stage three tax cuts, as well as the private health insurance rebate and fossil fuel subsidies.

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Call for advertising rethink Local print newspapers like Star News may survive the onslaught of online media.

A national report into local news sustainability is challenging the perception that print newspapers are dead.

The report is calling on governments to revise their advertising rules to help local news providers and better target regional and rural communities.

“Local and regional newspapers continue to play a significant role for local communities,“ said Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas.

“They provide a voice, an opportunity for informed public debate and hold the powerful to account.

“Star News Group is proud to continue to provide quality local news with balance and fairness but the conditions are tough.”

The report Media Innovation and the Civic Future of Australia’s Country Press made 22 recommendations.

The finding was the culmination of a threeyear Australian Research Council project, led

by Deakin University.

Deakin partnered with Country Press Australia, the nation’s peak local news lobby, and RMIT University.

Project lead Professor Kristy Hess, of Deakin’s School of Communications and Creative Arts, said the project’s aim was to examine the local media landscape to identify challenges and opportunities for sustainability and innovation.

“We wanted to examine the challenges facing small-town news providers given the commentary in recent years about the crisis they are facing in Australia and across the world,” she said.

This was the first comprehensive report of its kind in Australia and its recommendations provide a blueprint to preserve and grow rural and regional news for future generations.

Country Press Australia president Andrew Manuel said the Media Innovation and the Civic Future of Australia’s Country Press report should be seen as a beginning and not an end.

Mr Manuel said the report highlights the essential role local papers play in serving their communities and delivering civic journalism.

“This is arguably the most comprehensive study of our industry ever undertaken and the report stands as a beacon for government, for policy makers and for the community to take the appropriate and necessary actions to en-

A collection of local Star newspapers. 325574 Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING sure newspapers can continue to play such a vital role,“ he said.

The study began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic resulted in the temporary or permanent closure of dozens of local mastheads across Australia and a shift among some to digital-only platforms.

“The first thing we did was conduct a major national survey to find out what people valued about their local mastheads,” Professor Hess said.

“We found people in many regional and rural towns and cities were passionate about their local mastheads but rejected an over-reliance on syndicated content, in print and digital, sourced from neighbouring areas or other parts of the country.”

The research team conducted two main national surveys – one with local news audiences and one with those who do not engage with local news.

There were 35 interviews with Australian news editors and proprietors and seven interpretive focus groups with editors, journalists and advertising managers within the Country

Press Australia network.

One key finding was the strain on local mastheads hit with lost revenue from local, state and federal government advertising.

Advertising in recent years has prioritised social media and metropolitan news outlets with a larger digital reach.

“Our research found there is this obsession with digital reach,” Professor Hess said.

“That’s all well and good, but a local masthead, whether in print or online, isn’t designed to reach one million people.

“If we use the digital reach metric as an indicator as to which news outlets should get government advertising, these independent regional and rural outlets are going to lose out every time.

The report supports a recent Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation that stipulates 20 per cent of all Federal Government advertising expenditure be directed to regional and rural news organisations.

“Communities without a newspaper rarely have a platform that enables them to be fully informed,“ Mr Thomas said.

“They no longer have professionally trained journalists providing balance and seeking out the details.

“They become reliant on social media which has no balance, and most often simply coughs up someone else’s bias.“ Data from the study also showed government funding schemes for local news outlets were often tied to digital innovation.

Funding is often given to buy drones and other technologies.

The report describes a ‘digital shiny things bias’ towards digital innovation at the expense of supporting initiatives that may be most beneficial to rural and regional audiences.

A greater appreciation for place-based public interest journalism and the need for collaboration among publishers were other key findings.

While what local news providers needed was financial support to upgrade print infrastructure or to hire more staff.

Professor Hess said print is not dead for many regional and rural communities.

“We need to remember there is a digital divide in Australia that means some communities still struggle with poor-quality and unreliable Internet connections.

“Some segments of the community, including older citizens, find it difficult to use

newer technologies.

“Younger audiences also like the look of a printed newspaper.”

The report also recommends better incentives, including pay, to attract seasoned reporters to the regions. Governments are also urged to provide seed funding for journalistled news start-ups to counteract local “news deserts” developing in some parts of Australia.

“Our research shows people in these communities want more local news content, including stories on locals’ achievements, successes and milestones.

“They also want news on local events and more investigative-type pieces.”

Mr Manuel noted that regional newspapers are unique in their ability to give readers an insight into their close community.

“Our members continue to provide the local and civic news that readers crave more than ever, often as the only local media outlet serving a particular region,“ he said.

“Coming out of the pandemic, many publishers have reported a strong revival in their readership, underpinned by a focus on hyperlocal and unique news that has been a common denominator of country papers since their inception.”

The research also found there is more capacity for regional and rural news providers to develop collaborative advocacy and solutionsstyle reporting campaigns that address important rural and regional issues that span multiple communities.

Mr Thomas said the Victorian State Government is very supportive of the industry, ensuring important government communications are “provided to local communities through the local newspapers”.

However he stipulates that this dedication is not reflected in the Federal Government, who place their announcements solely online.

“Government messages can easily be misconstrued online or end up next to inappropriate material,“ he said.

“We call on the Federal Government to ensure that they provide information to local communities across appropriate platforms and commit to the recommendations of this report by Deakin.“ The report was launched at a national event in Melbourne on 23 March.

Easier walk to school for students as new crossing opens School students and their parents can expect greater safety as a new highly anticipated crossing makes its debut.

More than 1500 students will benefit from the newly installed Bradman Drive pedestrian crossing as part of the Hall Road Upgrade.

Major Road Projects Victoria program director Brendan Pauwels says the crossing will have benefits for nearby schools.

“The recently opened Bradman Drive pedestrian crossing will increase connectivity throughout the Hall Road Upgrade project area and will make it easier for residents to walk to the nearby Cranbourne West Secondary College and Barton Primary School.”

Major Road Projects Victoria added the Bradman Drive pedestrian crossing to the Hall Road Upgrade following a community suggestion from Barton Primary School council president Amy Bland.

Works to build the Bradman Drive pedestrian crossing were fast tracked and delivered ahead of the school year returning in January 2023.

The crossing will greatly improve safety for pedestrians in the area with approximately 1500 students based at the nearby Cranbourne West Secondary College and Barton Primary School, as well as several daycare centres located near the crossing.

Residents will also benefit from the crossing with plenty of shops, parks, skateparks, leash-free dog areas and reserves located just off Bradman Drive.

12 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

Students from Cranbourne West Secondary College and Barton Primary School celebrating the recent opening of the crossing.

Picture: SUPPLIED “It’s great to see this crossing open as part of the Hall Road Upgrade to add new walking options for residents to travel safely to the nearby shops, businesses, parks, and schools,” said Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards.

This pedestrian crossing is part of the Hall Road Upgrade, increasing the number of

traffic lanes on Hall Road to two lanes in each direction between McCormicks Road and Western Port Highway, while also upgrading intersections at McCormicks Road, Taylors Road, Western Port Highway, Evans Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road to improve traffic flow and ease congestion.

A new shared walking and cycling path will be constructed along sections of Hall Road.

Centre median and kerb side safety barriers will be installed to reduce the risk of rear and head-on collisions.

Hall Road is an important transport link in Melbourne’s south east providing access to industrial and commercial precincts and access to some of Melbourne’s most popular beaches.

Widening and upgrading key intersections along Hall Road will improve travel times and make it safer for the community.

More than 17,000 vehicles use this section of Hall Road between McCormicks Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road each day as an important thoroughfare between Cranbourne, Frankston and Carrum Downs.

Major Road Projects Victoria is upgrading several roads in Melbourne’s south east including the Western Port Highway, Lathams Road, Pound Road West, Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and the Thompson Road duplication completed in 2020.

The Victorian Big Build is also removing Cranbourne’s last level crossing at Camms Road to provide safer and quicker driving conditions throughout the region.

The Level Crossing Removal Project is hard at work removing the crossing which will create a full duplication of the track between Dandenong and Cranbourne and also build a new Merinda Park station. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Ruth Leitch (left) and Kisharn Waiti from Grace Recovery Hub, based in the South East and servicing all of Melbourne. 324688

City of Casey emergency management team members, Wendy Gomez (left) and Imogen Barton with emergency preparation information. 324688

Clyde CFA firefighter Olivia Duffey with brothers Juan (8) and Omar (10). 324688

Doors open to community Balla Balla Community Centre welcomed more than 800 visitors on Saturday 25 March.

The centre held its first Open Day at its new location on Selandra Boulevard in Clyde North.

“The event was beyond amazing,” said centre manager Maree Cullinan.

“The day had a very festive feel with lots of movement, colour and people.”

The day had many activities on offer, including Tai Chi, face painting, a children’s craft area, henna tattooing and a butterfly stilt walker.

There were also reptiles roving around and free food galore.

Over 30 stalls showcased their community spirit.

The visitors were also encouraged to participate in a community art project.

“The Community Art Project we did on the day was called Together,” Maree said.

“When developing this piece with Sohail Yamin I wanted to bring both Balla Balla Com-

munity Centre community together with the Selandra Community, thus the name of the project was born – Together.

“The event really bought that home with so many people coming together to celebrate the day.”

Maree said there were people who had been part of Balla Balla for 15 years alongside people who had joined this year.

“I think the day gave people a chance to come in and experience who Balla Balla Community Centre is,” she said.

“It was a fun and festive day with lots of smiles and laughter.

“People also got to experience how important those community connections are to create a sense of belonging, which is what every person wants.”

Balla Balla will continue to host festive events throughout the year.

These include Science Week activities, the Biggest Morning Tea, Get Online Week and free come and try programs.

Maree Cullinan (left, manager, Balla Balla) and artist Sohail Yamin (who designed the community Pictures: ROB CAREW art piece called Together), admire the artwork. 324688

Out of the box solution

By Emily Chapman Laing A suburban family took matters into their own hands during a nationwide timber shortage.

The Wetere family opened a timber packaging company in 2019.

Australia was hit with a timber shortage shortly after.

The Weteres decided their solution to the shortage would be to just make the timber themselves.

The family bucked the odds of opening a new business during the pandemic and now operate a successful timber packaging company and mill.

Crate n Pack Solutions is located in Dandenong.

The company began making pallets, crates and cases during Melbourne’s first lockdown.

“Everyone said we were crazy,” said sales and marketing manager Catherine Wetere.

The team started with Catherine, her father Clarence Wetere (CEO), her sister Kelly and her brothers Jarred, Chris and Cori.

“My dad was ready to retire and put his retirement fund into the business with the goal of stopping generational poverty,” Catherine said.

The timber shortage was followed by a pallet shortage.

Scarcity caused rising prices from the timber mills.

“With nowhere to get timber, we went into panic mode.”

Catherine recalled “many large companies” not making it through the first year of the timber shortage.

One company was “forced to close due to the timber shortage”.

This came as a shock since the company had been operating for “around 30 years“.

“It also affected builders nationwide,” Catherine said.

“As a business, like many other businesses, we had to diversify.”

The family came up with an out of the box solution.

They would simply open their own timber mill. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Clyde and Greenvale Secondary Colleges by Mcbride Charles Ryan in association with Kerstin Thompson Architects.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Kelly Wetere (left), Chris Wetere, Clarence Wetere and Cori Wetere (right).

Picture: SUPPLIED Sitting on 33 acres in Clyde, the mill was a new journey for the family and the business.

The venture required the team to learn some new skills.

“We purchased 1000 tonne of logs and we milled the logs into timber for use in our pallet production.

“We purchased a 14-tonne front end loader to unload 46 tonne of logs per trip.

“I had never sat in a wheeled loader, but I got my licence to operate it at COVE Training in Dandenong.”

The mill became a saviour for other businesses whom Crate n Pack was able to support, including Visy Dandenong.

“We are so proud to have helped many big name businesses during the pandemic,” Catherine said.

“We are just a small family who never had a business.

“We came into the business world at the perfect time and our business has rapidly grown over the last three years.”

Bright, colourful education

By Emily Chapman Laing A design project has brought thoughtful colour-blocking to Clyde Secondary College (CSC).

CSC’s architecture and design is a finalist for the 2023 Dulux Colour Awards.

Mcbride Charles Ryan in association with Kerstin Thompson Architects are responsible for the project.

The team’s work “exemplifies innovative and creative use of colour in the built environment”.

Lead interior designer Debbie Ryan said the team did a series of colour combinations over the schools they designed.

These included a primary school as well as Clyde and Greenvale Secondary Colleges.

The team chose natural timbers alongside varying colour schemes as a way-finding tool for students and parents.

“Because these schools are quite big, it really helps if they can say, ‘go to the orange building’,” Ms Ryan said.

“It’s really easy for parents and students

to find where they are meant to be.”

Associate architect Katrina Owers said the colour-blocking is a way to break up repetition.

“The colour-blocking evolves as you move through the buildings,” Mrs Owers said.

Ms Ryan said the Clyde Secondary College students are thrilled with the design.

“We deliberately didn’t want to give an institutional look,” she said.

“Children spend a lot of time at school, there needs to be variety, because that expands their minds. We wanted buildings that had humanity.”

The Dulux Colour Award is the “premier award” for colour application in interior and exterior residential, public and commercial spaces.

The team joins 112 other finalists for the award.

“We’re really honoured. It’s really true to our ethos and our practice, because colour is a vital part of an environment.”

Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 13

NEWS

Batty inspires graduates Leading education and training provider Chisholm Institute held its 2023 Graduation Ceremony at Frankston Arts Centre last week, with 128 students taking to the stage to receive their academic awards.

Students graduated from a wide variety of courses, including Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, Certificate IV in Disability and Bachelor of Engineering Technology.

As part of the ceremony, attendees heard from guest speaker and former Chisholm student, Rosie Batty AO, who epitomises what it means to overcome adversity.

Ms Batty, who was named Australian of the Year in 2015 in recognition for her work as a passionate campaigner against domestic violence, previously undertook a Diploma of Community Welfare at Chisholm’s Frankston campus.

Ms Batty said her experience at Chisholm gave her the foundational knowledge she needed to become a leading voice for victims of family violence, following the tragic death of her son Luke, at the hands of his father in 2014.

“One of the subjects that I studied during my diploma was family violence, and that gave me the theoretical understanding and foundational knowledge to assist me on my journey to raise awareness of family violence, whilst challenging and seeking to change community attitudes.

“My education foundations began at Chisholm, and I have certainly grown and developed enormously since then. Opportunities will become available to you throughout your life as well, and I encourage you to embrace them as they arise.

“I realise that life is a journey, a journey of continuous learning, and I learnt much from the two years I spent at Chisholm,” Ms Batty said.

The 2023 student cohort faced unique

Former Chisholm student Rosie Batty AO shares her own TAFE story with students.

Graduates celebrated as they walked off the stage. challenges as a result of the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and Chisholm’s chief of education, Conor Mullan, said these experiences will hold them in good stead in the years to come.

“Find your passion and have the courage

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Students graduated from a range of courses.

to pursue the job that will fulfill you, and bring you joy. Seek out those who can help and support you along the way, keep your networks strong, and above all, always be true to yourself,” Mullan said.

“It’s important to acknowledge your sup-

port networks who have helped you get to this point,” Mullan continued.

“On behalf of Chisholm, I would like to offer each of our graduands our most sincere congratulations on everything you have accomplished,” Mullan said.

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 14 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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Read it now

cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Festival of colours Lynbrook locals recently enjoyed a most colourful weekend.

The Lynbrook Residents Association (LRA) hosted its annual Festival of Colours on Saturday 18 March.

LRA president Scott Watson says the event has been a tradition for the past decade.

“There is a very strong Indian community within Lynbrook and the event has been extremely popular for years,” he said.

The event complements Holi, a popular and significant Hindu festival celebrating the eternal and divine love of the god Radha and Krishna.

Mr Watson said over 1500 people attended the event.

“The colours area this year featured a water area, [attendees] enjoyed a performance by the Bollydazzlers while the kids enjoyed an inflatable slide,” he said.

There were multiple food options, face painting and market stalls on the day.

“The event is a colourful celebration of the Indian tradition with spontaneous dancing breaking out to the DJ’s music.

“It is amazing to see that the event brings the entire community together with many cultures enjoying the day with family and friends.”

Anvi with her spectacular colours. 324338

Andrew (left) and Jay. 324338

Hailey and Dean. 324338

Families gathered to celebrate the colour festival. 324338

Pictures: ROB CAREW

Alexis covered in colours and water from the sprinklers. 324338

Windmill scoops the pool

By Eleanor Wilson South East based Windmill Theatre Company is riding high after sweeping up at the recent Lyrebird Awards earlier this month.

The amateur theatre company took home eight awards for their musical productions of Jersey Boys and Lights, Camera, Music…, picking up a range of honours for best director, most entertaining item, highly commended performance and best set design.

Costume designer Glenda Novotny and daughter Lisa Novotny took out the best costume for a musical over $40,000 for their handy work in the company’s 2022 production of Jersey Boys.

Part of the Windmill family since 1986, Glenda said the sleepless nights spent researching and bringing designs to life are worth it.

“I like designs that draw on ‘60s and ‘70s fashion, because I grew up in that era so I can relate to that,” she said. “[I love that] it’s challenging…it gives you something to do and it’s for the community, that’s the main thing, it’s community theatre.

“You see everyone put in so much effort to perform and you want to make them look good.

“It’s a proud moment when the actors want to wear the costumes home.”

The Hallam-based company was nominated for a whopping 28 awards at this year’s Lyrebird Awards, a “pretty huge” achievement according to the company’s president Sean Van Geyzel.

“I think we were genuinely and very very pleasantly surprised by how many nominations we got,” he said.

“We don’t do it for [the awards]. We do it for the love of it, and then it’s nice to get a little something as a bonus,” he said. “[The awards] do sort of tell us that we’re doing things that people like... but our primary focus is just trying to keep the audiences happy, entertained and feel like they get good value for their ticket.”

Sean said the company aims to put on a production of quality which rivals that of professional theatre companies. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

The winning team, from left, Dylan Bradshaw, Bailey Buntine, Ginny Chapman, president Scott Pinxt, David Gamble and Luke Sparks.

Picture: SUPPLIED Glenda Novotny and Windmill Theatre Company president Sean Van Geyzel with one of Glenda’s award-winning Jersey Boys costumes. 324428 Picture: ROB CAREW “A lot of money gets spent to make sure it’s as good as when you go and pay $200 to see a show in the city.

“We want people to get that same sort of experience but for a quarter of the price, and highlighting local talent.”

Sean, Glenda and the rest of the Windmill team are currently preparing for their next production, Seussical - a musical comedy based on the stories of children’s author and cartoonist Dr Seuss.

“It’s probably one of our bigger casts - they are insanely talented,” Sean said.

It’s a show that gets done a lot by schools, but it’s uncommon for an adult company to do a production of it, so we’re giving it a bit of a different flavour to what usually gets seen.”

The musical is set to play at Bunjil Place Theatre from 9 to 18 June, with tickets available at bunjilplace.com.au/events/windmilltheatre-company-seussical

Record-breaking fundraiser

By Peter Scollo* The Rotary Club of Cranbourne held its 56th Annual Charity Golf Day on Friday, 17 March 2023, raising a record $30,000 for local not-for-profit organisations.

Over 105 players participated on the day, which began with a barbecue lunch at 11am, before a shotgun start at 12.30pm.

Prizes were awarded for best teams and various classifications with a final dinner provided to all players and guests by Rotary at Settlers Run Country Club.

Rotary Club president Scott Pinxt said he was happy with the day.

“Not only was it an absolute cracker of a day for golf weather wise, but it was also well supported by players, sponsors and Rotarians,” he said.

All the feedback received from the players was fantastic and extremely positive.

Many had already signed up for next year’s

golf day on 15 March, 2024.

This year the Rotary Club of Cranbourne raised a record amount and we would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors for supporting this annual fundraising event.

The annual golf day is Cranbourne Rotary’s major fundraiser and all funds raised will go to the ACE Foundation, Helping Hands Program and CISC-Community Information Support Cranbourne.

The Annual Charity Golf Day has been held since 1967 when Barry ‘Chappie’ Chapman - long-time resident of Cranbourne and inaugural Rotary member - had the idea to hold a charity golf day.

Who would have foreseen how it would continue for the next 56 years and raised in excess of $600,000 to help those less fortunate in our local community. *Peter Scollo is a member of the Cranbourne Rotary Club.

Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 15

NEWS

Keys to financial success TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH I have often before mentioned the following anonymous quote: “Turnover is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash is reality.”

And this turns out to be so true.

According to Business Insider, 82 per cent of small businesses fail because of cash-flow issues.

So let’s start with the latter and most important one first – cash-flow.

Understanding your cash-flow is far more than just looking at your bank statement on a regular basis. It is about being able to forecast with a reasonable degree of certainty how much cash you will have in the account over the coming weeks and months, and whether you might need to dip into savings or a loan account in order to keep in the black.

Cash-flow management is all about understanding what monies will come into your business bank account in the future and what funds will be going out.

Note that the incoming amounts are not necessarily easy to predict since just because you have invoiced a customer for products or services, it doesn’t mean that you will definitely receive the funds soon after (for example, manufacturing businesses typically pay 30 days end of month).

Any cash-flow modelling therefore needs to make a conservative prediction about when the money will actually hit your account.

Typical profit and loss statements do not include tax, but when forecasting your cash position, you must include tax payments (such

Cash flow, profit and a balance sheet are the three keys to financial success. as BAS and IAS) as well as the GST for invoices and receipts. Not forecasting this can lead to some nasty surprises, so always good to put the GST payments by as these are incurred, so that you have the funds available when needing to pay your business activity statement.

Profit is indeed sanity.

If your business is not profitable, you won’t generate the cash to survive and so understanding, and being able to predict, your profit and loss over coming months is invaluable.

The process starts with determining what

you believe your business income and expenses for the forthcoming period are likely to be.

Sometimes I hear business owners say that you can’t possibly predict your sales, but by looking at what happened over previous financial intervals, it is possible to derive reasonable and realistic estimates.

Similarly, expenses don’t tend to vary wildly from year to year so if you have kept a good record of expenses, you can then produce a reasonable approximation for the forthcoming year. When your estimated income and expenses are put into a month-by-month forecast, you can create a budget from which your monthly and annual net profit can be derived.

The third essential key is a balance sheet.

Ask a business owner if they have heard of a balance sheet and most will, but ask them to describe its purpose and what it contains and you are likely to hear the proverbial crickets chirping.

A balance sheet effectively describes a business’ health at a particular point in time.

It is comprised of a list of assets and liabilities and subtracting the latter from the former, gives you what is known as (owners) equity or net assets.

Assets are made up current asset’ (cash and money owed to you) and fixed assets (everything the business owns, e.g. property, plant and equipment, etc).

Liabilities is everything that the business owes, e.g. loans, debts and unpaid bills, etc.

So, if a business sold everything it owned and paid off everything it owed (i.e. assets minus liabilities), what is left over (equity) should give a good an idea of the business’ net worth.

If the equity is negative, then the business is said to be trading insolvently – not good and not legal!

Ian Ash is the managing director of OrgMent Business Solutions.

Become a foster carer

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Play a part

Play a part today. Call 1800 013 088 fosteringconnections.com.au 16 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

WHAT’S ON For a gold coin donation, members of the community can enjoy a coffee, tea, milkshake or smoothie.

You might even be lucky and receive a cookie or cake.

Show your support for Amstel’s Umbrella Support participants, who are expanding their vocational opportunities as they learn the ins and outs of cafe service.

1000 Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Cranbourne. Running every Thursday afternoon 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Montague Apple Harvest Festival To celebrate the harvest of the new apple season, Montague will be hosting their third festival, Apple Harvest Festival at The Orchard at Montague.

The festival will include a Farmers Market with live music, food trucks, fruit tastings, kids activities, pick-your-own orchard and facility tours and much more!

18 Horswood Road, Narre Warren North, Saturday 1 April from 8.30am-3pm.

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Kaleidoscope of Cultures

Cranbourne U3A

Come along to Casey Fields Playspace and Village Green in Cranbourne East for a celebration of Casey’s culturally diverse communities.

Connect with your local community, while enjoying live performances and free activities such as come and try sport and dance sessions and a kite making and flying session.

There will also be a range of stallholders and food vendors!

Casey Fields Playspace, 160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East, Sunday 23 April from 1pm-4pm.

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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Jams for Juniors Jams for Juniors is the perfect way to introduce babies and toddlers to the magic of music!

Children aged 0-5 and their adults can explore, play and join in at this popular 30-minute musical workshops.

Presenter Karen Kyriakou is joined by musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for this popular series of workshops specially designed for children up to aged five and their carers.

Pull up a cushion and explore the music of Romeo and Juliet.

This event will be held in the Bunjil Place Function Centre, with relaxed floor seating.

You are welcome to bring your own cushion to sit on.

Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, Saturday April 1 from 10am-10.30am.

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Lynbrook Easter Market Featuring market stalls, great food, specialty retailers, free kids activities, live music, the Easter Bunny and more.

With thousands of guests each year, this is a

Soak in the atmosphere at the upcoming Casey Food & Wine Festival. 186118 Picture: ROB CAREW

Casey Food & Wine Festival The City of Casey is bringing a celebration of good food and wine to the south eastern suburbs.

Gather your family and friends for an afternoon of gourmet food and cheeses and drinks from wineries, breweries and cider houses.

Bring along a picnic rug or camping chairs and sit back and relax on the lawn while listening to some live music. must attend event!

There will be a range of different market stalls so that you can find the perfect gifts, decorations, outdoor items, homewares and treats.

The market stalls will feature hand-made, locally sourced, unique products.

The Lynbrook Easter Market will be an evening

Performers on the day include Dakota East, Mark Jubb, Orlando Jazz Combo and Zak Shepherd.

Tickets are $6 and bookings are essential.

Children under 16 years are free and do not require a ticket.

The first 1000 tickets sold will receive a free reusable glass.

Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick, Saturday 1 April from 1pm-7pm.

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for the whole family to enjoy.

Lynbrook Village Shopping Centre, 75 Lynbrook Boulevard, Friday 31 March, from 3pm to 8pm.

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Every 1 Cafe Join the Amstel Club in their new Every 1 initiative.

Make the most of your retirement! Tutors are available to teach art using various mediums.

A variety of crafts including knitting, patchwork and sewing, card making, and calligraphy.

Chess, line dancing, Italian language, table tennis and cycling groups welcome you.

Would you like to play the ukulele, or just singalong for fun? Cranbourne U3A can help.

Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library building, through the Casey Radio entrance.

Expand your social life and get active for a healthy third age in your retirement.

For more information, visit u3acranbourne. org.au or call Helen 0423 623 337.

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Lynbrook Neighbour Day The event is designed to help you and your family get to know your community.

Enjoy free pizza and chocolate while watching The Incredibles 2.

Neighbour Day encourages everyone to reach out and make meaningful connections with the people around them - every day.

Lynbrook Community Centre, 2 Harris Street, Lynbrook on Friday 31 March, 5pm-8pm.

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Cockatoo Country Market Support local, stock up your pantry and catch up with friends and neighbours.

Treat yourself to a yummy morning tea or barbecue lunch.

There’s so many different stalls at Cockatoo Country market.

Support local stallholders while finding perfect items for personal joy or to give as gifts.

77 Pakenham Road, Cockatoo on Saturday 1 April, 8.30am-1.30pm.

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NEWS

Creating art from smart data A Swinburne motion design team is taking data from the lives of everyday Melburnians and transforming it into a living artwork.

Lead designer James Berrett, project manager Sonja Pedell and communication designer Simone Taffe have used smart city data to create a captivating set of real-time data visualisations that respond to human movements around the City of Casey.

“The driver for the project was to showcase movement across the City of Casey 24/7 and demonstrate how smart city data can be used in creative ways,” Berrett said.

The motion artwork called Three Corners of the City featured at Bunjil Place community hub and has been awarded the Victorian Premier’s Design Award Best in Category Digital Design, an Australian Good Design Award and a DNA Paris Design Award.

Smart city data is information collected from Internet of Things (IoT) sensors placed around a city.

The sensors can track a variety of information, such as when a button is pressed, a bin is emptied or a person walks past.

The City of Casey has developed an open data platform to make all that information accessible to the public.

“The council commissioned this piece to engage community members in what is happening around the City of Casey,” Berrett said.

The project uses real-time data sets from Narre Warren, Berwick and Cranbourne that measure the amount of pedestrian traffic in busy areas.

“It was about taking the everyday life of people, the movements of people, and turning this information into something visually engaging,” Berrett said.

A motion artwork created from real-time data visualisation of human movements around the City of Casey.

The unique colour sets for the suburbs helped to give each data set its own personality. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Three Corners of the City is a motion art piece commissioned by the City of Casey to promote the creative use of data from smart city sensors.

Picture: SUPPLIED The challenge was to take raw data, something that would usually not interest the public, and transform it into a creation that was visually captivating and could be understood intuitively.

Berrett used his diverse background in visual effects, graphic design, motion graphics and media art to curate meaningful data sets and transformed them into intriguing motion graphics visualisations.

One of the most unique aspects of the project is that it allows viewers to see what is happening across their city in real time.

Motion graphics are usually created in timeline-based applications, making this impossible, but Three Corners of the City uses a game engine instead.

The team designed the standalone realtime application from scratch.

It uses the foot traffic in each suburb to determine the density, colour intensity, speed, and direction of the particles that make up the visualisations.

These multifaceted visuals make it intuitive to relate peaks and troughs in the data to a suburb’s respective movement and ‘busy-ness’.

This was particularly important to ensure the visualisation was accessible across language barriers for the City of Casey’s multicultural community.

Charlotte Boyd (left), Leigh Drew and Zak Love with dinosaurs Pixie and Trixie.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Tuning into the dinosaurs Two dinosaurs made an appearance at the local Casey Radio station on Friday 24 March.

Casey Radio vice president Leigh Drew organised for Pixie and Trixie to visit the station.

“I don’t know what they are going to do, but it should be a lot of fun,” Mr Drew said prior to the visit.

“I just thought it will be something a bit different, a bit novel.

“It’s nice to do those things on radio, people hear what you’re doing and become involved.”

The visit featured giveaways of family passes for the Jurassic Creatures event at Westfield Fountain Gate.

Jurassic Creatures is a realistic animatronics exhibition “like no other”.

Over 30 dinosaurs and spectacular activities immerse viewers in a prehistoric time.

The dinosaurs will continue to make their appearance at the shopping mecca from 31 March to 23 April.

Children will be provided with their expert digger outfit, and chip away at their very own fossil.

Let imaginations run wild and learn about prehistoric times with fossil displays, dinosaur arts and crafts, a giant world bug display, dinosaur jumping castles, Jurassic ball pit and block village, dinosaur egg photo opportunities and walking dinosaurs.

Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 17

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Har vey lends a helping pa w

By Marcus

Oliver, Valen

, Emily and

Mary from

Cranbourne

Primary Scho

ol with the

Jail for

By Marcus

Uhe

school’s

therapy dog,

Harvey. 28463 6

Picture:

STEWART CHAM

BERS

Uhe

There’s a new staff Primary member School this year, at Cranbourne portfolio with a of special and traum engagement, connectiv a support. eness But unlik doesn’t teache many of his colle any class or hand es, write agues, he out grade report cards s.

Eight-mo nth old the scho Groodle, ol’s thera Harvey py dog, become is and he’s a quickly ing to imprfavourite of the students, ove atten regulate help danc e the beha the scho viour of numbers and ol. the stude nts at

PSO bit

Story page

8

er

Former Ham calm Dela dent Scott pton Park and ney Cranbour Delaney tack on ne resi- verbal alterc after he beca Protective has been jailed ner of Eliza ation with road me involved in over an security ata guards in Service Officers work beth Stree (PSO) and Melbourn t and Flind ers at the cor- and kicking the Delaney The 33-ye e’s CBD ers then abus Three PSOs guards in the proc last year. them he ing a commar-old, who was ed the guard Lane. ess. was s and told tion and bega arrived durin time of offen unity correctionon bail and serv- they chased going to “sma g the alterc The guard n attem sh” them him away down, who , befor guard, and ding, bit two PSOss order at the Elizabeth Stree and afrom the was “voic pting to calm t. kicked anot Delaney broken due to the the PSO, whos venue ontoe and some and a secu ing vario the ches Whe e skin was pretty us racia bites, soug ment for n her rity they t in taunts,” security l abus their woun ht such as disgusting and November the early hour guard in path, Delaney attempted to retur ds to preve medical treat“bite that unpleasane rape that s , The PSO n to the person’s nt infection. chael Tinn Victorian Coun of Wednesday 10 what was obvio “charged” at t also soug footnose ney said. person’s mum or one ty Court tions to ey said. ht “advi his lifest Judge Mi- punch”, Judge usly the makings guard “with sister,” Judgeoff or ce as The cour Tinney said, of a haym While resis Tin- until given the yle in the window to alteraroad work t heard aker trolling the but ting all clear,” er of guard was befor bit two PSOs being a nearby The victim Judge Tinn infection Upon being e reaching him. tackled by a venue, weres, who were paon the hand handcuffed, Dela ey said. released, Delaney security ney ments as theres did not provide attempting .

Dela pled guard impact state ney spray was no indic guilty in to to the Tuesday s with beer ries havin the Coun ed the 31 May ground again ation of g a longbefor their injuterm impa by another e being taken causing injury, to two charges ty Court on Delaney’s ct. one of saulting civilian, biting an emer charge each of recklessly play of remo guilty plea was accepted genc an emer rse by gency work y worker, andaffray, as- the attac as a disk as “bell the Judge, who er. resisting aggre described igerent, ssive”. unpredict able and Afford

Thinking

Compassion for over

ate

75 years

ourne

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said preventing dog attacks from occurring “has to start with education”.

He said the wave of ‘pandemic pets’ who had not been socialised as puppies was an issue that couldn’t be ignored by owners or council.

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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

40¢ Inc. GST

@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

education for dog owners. 240150

Exciting Gracious able to walk down the street sustained in the attack. when dogs are not contained were also used for education programs Successful Eagles to their property,” he said. on 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 “I want to be

Two dogs were seized by Casey

Council7ofPAGE

PAGE 2

underwent a six-hour operation

for injuries he

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

dog rushes occur

if they SPORT find themselves 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 Highway for the big race. said on Saturday 23 July.

PatterGlenn executive motoron chief City of Casey “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. given the an increase in patronage,” Mr Patterson cancel the event was “short-sighted”, dandenong.starcommun and budget take event to this ity.com.au “We will be retaining 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 festival still.

“The VMC had years of working would allow them to still have a ple come from Queensland, New said. such a solution (to road congestion).” would it are we foresight, get-tosome annual been an with the City of Casey,” Mr Eacott is there “Had in re South Australia. The GP The issue has come into sharp focus

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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 his wife was ap- dress an envi- ask the kids to ‘tell me more’. They go that the complexities. able reputation to bringing out the extra pointed to join the school. 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 Primary What makes the school special “We made it work,” he said. “And School in the 1980’s, Mr Mackay thank God cipal as an “incredibly describes the prinmet a first- she was appointed “warmth”, Ms Mackay says. The school is its 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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Challengers in line to Ligt

By Marcus Uhe If Lucas Ligt doesn’t take home the Eric Winter Medal as the best player in CCCA District cricket this season, it will go down as one of the all time upsets in the history of sport.

Think the ‘Miracle on ice’ when the US upset the USSR in ice hockey during the 1980 Winter Olympics, Greg Norman falling short of a Green Jacket at the 1996 Masters, Collingwood beating Richmond in the 2018 preliminary final, or LeBron James leading Cleveland to defeat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.

The Devon Meadows all rounder was one of the keys to their premiership success this year, having compiled an extraordinary season.

He led all comers with the bat, plundering 832 runs at an average of 104, and finishing in the top 10 wicket takers as a new ball bowler for Lucas Carroll’s side, with 19 scalps at 13.

In an all rounders’ world, as vote counts tend to be, you couldn’t ask for much more.

But IF the unthinkable were to happen, who would be in the mix to knock him off his perch?

Let’s take a look at the contenders.

Imesh Jayasekara - Upper Beaconsfield Batted big on many occasions when his side needed contributions. 629 runs at an average of 52 speaks to his consistency, hitting two centuries and another score of 97 that will command votes.

Dale Cranston - Lang Lang A weapon with two disciplines opens the door for many vote-polling opportunities. Opened the batting for much of the season before a move down to five to conclude the campaign, hitting three fifties, and took 21 wickets as one of the frontline spinners in the league.

James Markland - NNG/Maryknoll Made plenty of runs and led the Marygoons in

Chris Cleef might take votes off his teammate.

323355

Lucas Ligt is the unbackable favourite. 323355

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

James Markland crunches one through cover.

323355

scoring on five separate occasions, but some of them came in losses. Major scores of 92, 99 and 75 stand-out like a beacon, and he should expect to be there or thereabouts. Always in the contest in the field, as a wicketkeeper, too.

Chad McDonald - Upper Beaconsfield Went wicketless on just three occasions with a tidy economy rate to boot, and made some

valuable lower order contributions with the bat for a side that finished second in the homeand-away season.

Chris Cleef - Devon Meadows He’ll find it difficult to poll big votes, given much of the attention will be on Ligt in their games, but the leading wicket taker in the competition cannot be overlooked in this discussion.

Went wicketless just twice, with standout performances including 5/15 against Pakenham Upper Toomuc and 4/16 against Gembrook. Only played in 11 matches too, from a 14-round season, which may cost him.

The Eric Winter Medal will be awarded at Sunday’s CCCA Senior Presentation Day at the Beaconsfield Club.

Let the games begin: Tooradin ready for new season

By David Nagel The title of champions has sat comfortably on the shoulders of Tooradin-Dalmore for the best part of six months now – but the Seagulls will finally unfurl their first senior premiership flag in 25 years at the Tooradin Rec Reserve on Saturday.

It’s quite fitting that the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) will begin an exciting new chapter on the banks of Westernport Bay…where the main story of 2022 was told.

The Seagulls were cherry-ripe for success, with senior coach Lachie Gillespie building an impressive and strong list, that survived the undoubted impact of a worldwide pandemic to stay focussed and strive for the ultimate in football success.

They achieved it in the best style possible, proving their dominance with a stunning victory over Phillip Island in the grand final at Garfield on Saturday 10 September.

But, apart from a highly-anticipated flagraising ceremony, that glorious day at Garfield is now just a cherished memory, with the Seagulls kicking off the defence of their title with a tough seasoning-opening clash against Cora Lynn on Saturday.

Gillespie is excited to be back amongst the action.

“We’ve had a very good pre-season, the players have come back in good shape, but nothing beats seeing our footballers and netballers back out there competing, and supporting each other, against other clubs,” Gillespie said.

“And to kick things off with a standalone game against Cora Lynn, a club we have huge respect for, is really exciting for the club.

“We can’t wait to get out there again and see if our best footy stacks up against the rest of the competition like it did last year.”

The Seagulls will start the season as the team to beat this year, with club and league best and fairest winner Brent Macaffer orchestrating the chorus through the midfield.

The 2010 Collingwood premiership player cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Nathan Gardiner will again spearhead the Cobras forward half in 2023. 259039

Now the hunted. Tooradin-Dalmore coach Lachie Gillespie is excited for the challenge ahead.

276101 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS brought a calmness and quality that had a huge impact on the Seagulls last year, with his on-field leadership making a huge difference – particularly when the pressure was at its greatest in the second-semi and grand final.

The Gulls also retain their leading goalkicker from last season, with former Narre Warren star Stewart Scanlon set to cause some serious headaches for opposition defenders this year.

Scanlon has a high football IQ, and whichever Cobra stands him this week will have to be right on their game.

But success, well it does come at a cost.

Two of the most lively performers for the Seagulls in 2022, great mates James Trezise and Lewis Hill, have signed on with Richmond in the VFL, meaning the Gulls will miss their run and carry at various stages through-

out the season.

Trezise was the epitome of the modernday half-forward last year, often found deep in the defensive half before turning and carving his opponents on the rebound.

Hill, despite his youth, was also critically important to the Gulls success, finishing runner up in his club’s best and fairest in a premiership year.

When these two ‘energisers’ aren’t playing for the Gulls, they will be sorely missed.

Speaking of sorely missed, Cora Lynn will enter 2023 with a different look, with heartand-soul midfielder Chris Johnson just one of a handful of players that have departed the sleepy hollow from last year.

The Cobras have a habit of rebuilding quickly and simply finding a way to compete, and coach Shaun Sparks will need to be at his

best if the Cobras are to be part of the action when the real things heat up in September.

After waiting 25 years for a premiership, the Seagulls have made a habit of winning over summer.

The footballers knocked over the cricketers in a T20 match named in honour of Ben Proctor, a much-valued member of both clubs, while greyhound Mobile Legend added $5,000 to the club’s coffers by taking out the Warragul Cup in early January.

A total of 64 greyhounds were allocated local sporting clubs for the cup, with the Seagulls coming out on top.

We need to get used to it…because they’ll come out on top on Saturday with a 24-point victory.

The netball courts will also be heaving on the weekend with the Seagulls to begin another quest for a finals appearance with a big game against the Cobras.

Co-coaches Kelly Haynes and Sara Howie have been working hard to get the Seagulls back their crown, while Cora Lynn has a new coach and showed impressive signs in a recent practice match against Somerville.

The Cobras were to be hard to score against this season, with Danielle Cameron and Bianca Douglas to form a rock-solid defence – but Douglas will be out for a few weeks with a knee injury which will hit the Cobras hard.

The Seagulls will capitalise…and win by double digits.

Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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STAR NEWS 21

SPORT

Cannons set to fire

By Jonty Ralphsmith The Casey Cannons are set for another season of hockey with the women’s and men’s teams generating plenty of hype in preseason.

The women have moved up a division to Vic League one after romping to a premiership last year, with coach Jim Galanos boldly declaring they may give finals a nudge in their first season at the higher level.

“If we’re prepared to do the hard yards and get fitter, I’m pretty confident we’ll play finals with the squad we’ve got,” the coach said.

“We’ve maintained the majority of our list from last year with the inclusion of a few players so I’m really confident heading into this year. They’re a good bunch of girls who have a bit of fun but know when to settle down and do the hard yards.”

Four clubs reach finals in the 10-team competition, with the Cannons’ depth improving from last year.

Their four additions - Bec Cheater, April Picton, Jenna McLauchlan, Skye McDonald - are all different types of players, bolstering their potency on each line of the field and instilling confidence that they will be consistent across the board.

The focus of preseason has been high-volume goal-shooting to increase their firepower up forward.

The Cannons are aware that they will have to be smarter with their ball use in facing more rigid and structured defences at the next level.

Naturally, another challenge for a squad which blitzed the competition last season will be their defensive accountability and ability to respond when play goes against them, but it is a challenge that the coach believes they can handle.

The season kicks off with a clash against Brunswick at 3.30pm on Sunday 16 April, with the first home game being the following weekend, on Saturday 22 April at 2pm against PEGS. The men, meanwhile, have the challenge of filling Bryan Young’s shoes.

A scoring machine who scored 35 goals in 18 games last season, he has gone elsewhere seeking opportunities to play at a higher level.

First-year coach Steve Noney was supportive of his decision and wants that to form part of the club’s blueprint under his leadership.

“It’s about developing players to go and enjoy their hockey,” Noney said.

“Players can go off and play at a higher level and know the club will always invite them back, so we want to have players transitioning to the next level.

“We want to make sure they’re enjoying their hockey and getting rewards for the time and effort they put in.”

Nick McPhee is one player who the Cannons will hope can step up in the forward half.

A young striker dedicated to his craft, he worked closely with Young last year and has been a revelation in recent times, with the opportunity to lead the attack now presenting itself.

Recruits Elliot Stephens and Gurdeep Singh will also help to fill the scoring hole.

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

Picture: SUPPLIED

Southside lose grand final series

By Marcus Uhe

New recruits Bec Cheater, April Picton, Jenna McLauchlan pose for a photo. 320646 Pictures: SUPPLIED The evergreen Matthew Light, meanwhile, is stable at fullback and contributes on the offence at short-corners.

The new coach has been team manager in recent years, so is familiar with the way they have setup and is keen to maintain continuity and continue building on that style with his players.

“It takes time to develop a style so we want to introduce the new players into their roles and consolidate that through to the seconds team to give us more flexibility at selection,” Noney said.

“Everyone has a role to play and as a unit it is about developing more freedom.”

The coach added that he wanted the players to have a greater understanding of each other’s roles to improve synergy and individuals’ IQ on-pitch.

Coming off the back of some positive results in practice matches, the men’s season kicks off against Brunswick on 16 April at 2pm.

Elliot Stephens will plug a hole for the Cannons.

Cavs ready to begin their NBL1 crusade

By Marcus Uhe 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 22 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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

Picture: SUPPLIED 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 off-season; 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.

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 including 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 four-point 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, mounting 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. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

FOOTBALL

New year, same Demons

By Marcus Uhe A long summer has done little to stop the momentum of reigning VFL premiers, as the Casey Demons notched a win over Footscray in their season opener at Casey Fields on Saturday.

The Demons led the contest from start to finish, pulling away in the second half to record a 37-point victory, 13.16 94 to 8.9 57.

It was a special occasion all-round for the club, with new coach Taylor Whitford earning his first victory in the head coach’s chair, and fans seeing the unfurling of their 2022 VFL Premiership flag in a pre-game ceremony.

George Grey scored the opening goal of the game for the Dees, holding a strong contested mark and then snapping truly from a tight angle, but wayward kicking for goal meant it was their only major of the term, to go with seven behinds.

Midfielder James Jordon racked plenty of the footy in the first half while Luke Dunstan nailed a miracle snap from hard against the boundary in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs made more of their opportunities inside 50, and three goals in the final five minutes of the half meant the lead was a slender eight points, despite a 14 scoring shots to six disparity in Casey’s favour.

A six-goal-to-three third quarter provided the necessary breathing room for the home side as the key forwards began to flex their muscle.

Josh Schache, Jacob Van Rooyen and Joel Smith all kicked one each, and Oliver Sestan two in two minutes, to create a 24-point buffer at the last break.

Schache proved a handful for his old teammates in his first game in red and blue, kicking two goals and taking seven marks, but took an errant knee to the head in a ruck contest during the third quarter from Buku Khamis.

The Bulldogs broke a 10-minute scoring

Picture: ROB CAREW

Joel Smith celebrates with a fan at Casey Fields after his goal. 325648 drought to open the last quarter, cutting the lead to 18 and breathing some life into the contest, but it would prove to be their final major of the game, as Casey kicked the last three to silence their bite.

Sestan showed his smarts, intercepting a risky Footscray kick in their defensive 50

for his third of the game, while AFL-listed pair Jordon and Andy Moniz-Wakefield both kicked their second of the day to finish the contest.

Rebounding defender Michael Hibberd pressed his case for an AFL recall with 36 disposals and 10 marks, as did the midfield trio of

Jordon (28 disposals), Dunstan (29) and Bailey Laurie (29).

Van Rooyen, meanwhile, took 11 marks to go with his 19 touches and a goal, to put himself in the frame to replace Melbourne captain Max Gawn, who suffered a knee injury in their loss on Friday night against Brisbane.

Stingrays girls ace Geelong assignment as boys fall

By Jonty Ralphsmith The Dandenong Stingrays girls have picked up their first win of the season in a highstandard 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-year-old 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 cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Local lad Sam Frangalas played a role in the midfield. 325866

The Stingrays are on the board in 2023. 325863

Pictures: JAZZ BENNETT MEDIA

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 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 her 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 fan-

cied 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.

Thursday, 30 March, 2023

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*Visit our website for full details. T&Cs apply. While offer lasts. Selected homes only.

24 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 30 March, 2023

cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au