News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 13th July 2023

Roundabout open

The Healesville-Kooweerup Road Upgrade is one step closer to completion, with all legs on the new roundabout at Ballarto Road now open to traffic. The upgrade is adding an extra lane in each direction of Healesville-Kooweerup Road between Princes Freeway and Manks Road, as well as upgrading intersections and installing safety barriers.

The new roundabout at Ballarto Road represents a major safety upgrade for the intersection, which will make it safer for drivers turning into or crossing Healesville-Kooweerup Road, while still maintaining traffic flow along the road. The roundabout’s westbound leg, which includes the new bridge on Ballarto Road over McGregor’s Drain, opened to traffic on Wednesday 28 June, following the opening of its eastbound leg in May and its north and southbound legs in late April.

Works are continuing at Island Road as MRPV crews replace the existing bridge over McGregor’s Drain with a new bridge. The new bridge is expected to be stronger than the existing bridge and, once open, will better cater for heavy vehicle movements.

At Ellett Road MRPV crews are installing a new culvert to manage drainage and minimise erosion, while at Livestock Way works that will deliver a new through-and-left-turning lane and a new through-and-right-turning lane at the signalised intersection with HealesvilleKooweerup Road are being finalised.

Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) Program Director Marc Peterson said the upgrade will deliver significantly safer driving conditions for motorists.

“The Healesville-Kooweerup Road Upgrade will provide an upgraded alternative northsouth route in the Pakenham South area, ensuring improved safety and traffic flow for the 21,000 vehicles who use it every day,“ Mr Peterson said. It is also expected to lower the risk and severity of crashes, improve traffic flow and travel times and introduce a new link to the southeast walking and cycling network, authorities said.

The Healesville-Kooweerup Road Upgrade is expected to be complete by 2025. All

legs on the new roundabout at Ballarto Road are now open to traffic.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Council rejects holy place

By Corey Everitt

The proposal to construct a new place of worship in Pakenham has been rejected by the Cardinia Shire Council, ending a period of uncertainty that saw disagreement between councilors.

The council held its monthly town planning meeting on Monday 3 June where the first item on the agenda was the consideration of a new church.

The proposal was made by local company Glory Architecture who lodged plans in March 2022 to use a 3.7 square metre lot on O’Sullivan Road, Pakenham to build a place of worship.

The council has since been in contact with Glory Architecture over the initial phase of proposal.

The council’s office for Liveable Communities and its general manager Lili Rosic drafted a resolution to reject the proposed construction which was initially tabled in the town planning committee meeting on 1 May.

The resolution argued the proposed location for the place of worship was not appropri-

ate within the existing location deemed statesignificant industrial land.

O’Sullivan Road is within the industrial precinct along Bald Hill Road east of Racecourse Road.

As a developing part of the precinct, the council argued a place of worship was not an appropriate use of the land on O’Sullivan Road under the existing planning scheme, while factors, such as noise and accessibility, were considered to infringe on the viability of a place of worship in the location.

In the May meeting, councilors voted against the officer’s resolution to reject the proposal in a close division.

Four councilors voted in favour of rejection: Brett Owen, Jeff Springfield, Graeme Moore and Jack Kowarzik.

While five voted against: Stephanie Davies, Collin Ross, Kaye Cameron, Carol Ryan and Tammy Radford.

After the vote was rejected the council resolved to defer the final decision to the 3 July meeting.

At the meeting, the resolution was posed

again - this time some councillor minds had changed.

Cr Springfield spoke in favor of the resolution to refuse the application.

“It has been hard because the group that wishes to establish, the purpose they wish to establish this for, has so much merit,” he said.

“But noting the report presented by the council offices, there are many difficulties associated with the site.”

Cr Colin Ross held firm to his disagreement with the resolution.

“You have places of worship which we have many of them in industrial zones in our shire and we basically haven’t had complaints from any of them in the past,” he said.

“What people don’t realise is that they can actually bring in more business for the local community because people tend to move to where a place of worship is.

“I won’t be supporting the refusal, there were no objectors to the whole thing.”

In the public notices of the proposal, only one response was made to the council which

was in support.

Cr Carol Ryan, who voted against in May now supported the resolution.

“The accessibility there is a problem,” she said.

“Being amongst the industrial area, it’s very isolated.

“And the hours I question as well, on a Saturday 8am to 8pm in the evening, they’re long hours.

“I unfortunately cannot support this, I will be supporting the recommendation of the officers.”

Cr Ross called for division in the vote, where the resolution to reject the proposed place of worship was carried with five votes for and two against.

Those for were; councilors Kaye Cameron, Jack Kowarzik, Carol Ryan, Graeme Moore and Jeff Springfield.

Those against were; councilors Colin Ross and Stephanie Davies.

Cr Brett Owen and Mayor Tammy Radford were absent from the meeting.

Announcing the 2023 recipients of shire’s art grants

Cardinia Shire Council has announced the recipients of its 2023 Cardinia Arts Grant.

The grant program aims to encourage local artists to connect their artistic practice with local communities in new ways.

It provides financial assistance to local artists for initiatives that utilise, expand, and promote the arts within Cardinia Shire. The 2023 recipients are:

· OliviaWatson (performing as Olivia Mae) is a local musician who will produce a music video for the first single on her debut EP. Olivia plans to stay local by shooting the video in the Cardinia Shire hills, using a local videography company, and hosting a launch event at the Hills Hub, Emerald.

· Nicola Blackmore is a local filmmaker who will deliver a multi-modal exhibition. Nicola aims to create an immersive display exploring a surreal far future. The exhibition will consist of projected short films cast over downlit sculptures.

· Julie Konda (business name Festive Tribe) aims to create a temporary inter-generational landscape art project called Snow Drift, which will involve large-scale snowcoloured pieces that can be formulated into custom snowflakes. This will be an outdoor activation that will pop-up at Cardinia Cultural Centre.

· Sesuraj Michaelraj has received funding for his music group, Sangaththamizh Kalaiyagam Inc to purchase new traditional instruments crafted in India. The new instruments will enable the Tamil music group to increase their offering and perform at more local events.

· Lana de Jager will deliver an artist’s ‘game’ called Superimposed. The project involves

a series of local hills-based printmakers who will remix one another’s discarded artworks. Throughout the project, the artists will be unknown to each other up until the

exhibition when they will finally meet and connect.

· Stephanie O’Connell (artist name Figgy O’Connell) has been funded to deliver lo-

cal digital art workshops. Figgy is a talented digital artist passionate about empowering individuals to access a modern form of art making.

Top row (left to right) Olivia Watson, Stephanie O’Connell, Lana de Jager, representatives from Sangaththamizh Kalaiyagam Inc. Front row (left to right) Julie Konda, Nicola Blackmore.

Brigade laments inaction

By Emily Chapman Laing

A member of the Clyde CFA has spoken out about the team “getting fed up with empty promises of a new station“.

Clyde CFA station currently sits on rail land on Railway Road, Clyde.

A new railway line and train station is earmarked for the property on which the station sits, meaning the team has to move their station to a new location.

Funding for the new station was announced in December 2020 as part of Bass MP Jordan Crugnale’s election promises.

A member of the Clyde CFA said there has been “zero progress on anything“ in the two and a half years since the funding was secured.

“There is government funding that has been allocated and CFA and the government have been promising to acquire land and build a new station for years, which to date has not happened,“ they said.

“Out volunteer members are fed up with the uncertainty of what will become of us and our station when the land is acquired back by rail.“

The Clyde CFA member alleged there has been much back and forth between the government and CFA in regards to the new station, with “CFA saying one thing and government saying another“.

“CFA and the government have been very shady around the whole process, continually placing the blame on the other for land not having been acquired,“ they said.

The member said the alleged hot-potato of acquiring land is having a negative impact on the Clyde CFA.

“The whole process is really disappointing for members, we constantly feel like we are being let down,“ they said.

“There have been several occasions where our Captain has been told that land has been

secured, to only be told a few weeks later that “something“ has gone wrong, with no details provided or an explanation and that they are once again on the search for land.

“It makes our captain look foolish every

time he feels that he can deliver the news that there is progress, only to be let down again.“

The members are also concerned for their health, with funding for important safety measures being allegedly knocked back on the

basis of the team getting a new station.

“Our engine bay where the trucks are stored is in the same room as all of our turn out gear - meaning that emissions from the vehicles when they are started are dispersed all over our turn out gear, as well as us breathing it in while we are getting dressed,“ the Clyde CFA member said.

“Because of this we applied for a CFAVESEP grant to have whirly birds installed in the roof of the engine bay to reduce the emissions.

“This grant has been rejected on the basis that we are ’getting a new station’, so our health and safety is at risk if they are not going to provide a new station anytime soon or comply with the installation of the whirly birds as an interim solution to reduce the risk.“

Clyde CFA members were allegedly asked to source locations for the new precinct, with each suggestion “not being followed up“, or being “declined without reason“.

Locations offered included the corner of Valetta and Railway Road, and the corner of Ballarto and Tuckers Road.

A spokesperson for the CFA has responded saying sourcing land for a new station is “time consuming and complex“.

“And made even more difficult because Clyde is located in a significant urban growth corridor,“ they said.

“CFA recognises the current Clyde Station needs to be replaced and is actively focused on working with the Victorian Government on finding a suitable location to build a new station.“

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government said the Community Safety Building Authority is “looking for an appropriate site to support the relocation of the CFA Clyde Fir Station“, alongside the CFA.

“We will continue to work with the CFA to identify and support its infrastructure priorities and resourcing needs,“ they said.

ClydeCFAvolunteerswithBassMPJordanCrugnale.

Picture:SUPPLIED

Kids’ handy work on show

School holiday activities were in full swing across Cardinia this week, with plenty of families choosing to escape the cold at libraries across the region.

At Cardinia Cultural Centre and the Pakenham and Emerald Libraries, art stations gave youngsters the chance to be part of the Celebration of Hands art installation, promoting NAIDOC Week through a plethora of vibrantly decorated hand artwork. Star News photographer STEWART CHAMBERS ventured to Pakenham library to immerse himself in the thick of the literary fun.

Pakenham Library engagement officer Fem with the Celebrations of Hands artwork for NAIDOC Week. 346150 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Engagement officer Fem from Pakenham Library with some toy construction vehicles. 346225

Jayden from Officer with a Metro train. 346225

Bellita, three, shows off her architectural skills with some LEGO. 346225

Emma and her kids Matilda and Finn have fun with some LEGO. 346225

Future bookworm Penelope and mum Pippa have fun in the kids corner. 346225

Charlotte with a toy truck she made. 346225

Top of the list for violence

By Emily Chapman Laing

Family violence is on the rise in Casey, and those aged 25-44 are at the highest risk of being both victim and perpetrator.

The City of Casey ranked highest for family violence incidents in Victoria in the year ending March 2023, with a total of 5417 reported cases.

Casey has seen a 16.5 per cent increase in reported family incidents since 2019.

Nearby government areas have also seen an increase, with Cardinia Shire reporting a 24.9 per cent surge and the City of Greater Dandenong experiencing an 11.3 per cent rise.

Family violence affects all ages, but in all three municipalities, those in the bracket of 25-44 years of age take the largest percentage for those affected and those responsible.

In Casey, this age group makes up 52.5 per cent of those affected and 55.9 per cent of other parties involved.

Those 24-years-old and under make up 19 per cent of affected individuals in Casey, and 20.3 per cent of those offending.

Those 45 and over were victims in 27.2 per cent of cases and perpetrators in 22.2 per cent of cases.

The data also shows a slight increase in the number of women affected by family violence in Casey.

In 2019, 73.4 per cent of victims were women.This has now risen to 75 per cent in the year ending in 2023.

WAYSS General Manager Robyn Roberts said brokerage spending on women and children experiencing family violence in the Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia areas grew significantly during the last financial year.

“Whilst much of this money is spent on motel accommodation there seemed to be a trend

where women are seeking safety and security measures (personal and for their home) more frequently,“ she said.

“We don’t know why but think that this may be because women don’t want to leave the home as they know it because doing so in current difficult conditions will be the start of increased poverty and they are happier to sit with the family violence risk than leave to be broke and homeless.“

Other parties involved in the incidents are disproportionately represented by males.

The data shows a 14.9 per cent increase in the number of family incidents reporting male as the offending party.

At the same time, there has been a 28.3 per cent decrease in the number of female offenders.

In 2023, 75.2 per cent of offenders were male, while 24.8 per cent were female.

“Family violence is the most pervasive and common form of men’s violence against women in Victoria,“ said City of Casey Manager Connected Communities Sara Ball.

“Recognising that gender inequality drives violence against women, the City of Casey is committed to creating a safe and equal community for all residents, and is in the second year of implementing A Safe and Equal Casey: Gender Equality and Prevention of Violence Against Women Strategic Plan 2022-2032.

“This plan was developed in consultation with local residents, community organisations and sector experts and outlines how Council will deliver on its commitment to gender equality and prevent family violence, by ad-

dressing the underlying drivers of violence.“

The Andrews Government is funding six new research projects as part of Phase 2 in the Family Violence Research Program.

The $1.2 million package aims to develop “innovative solutions“ for best practice family violence intervention.

The investment builds on the $2.5 million provided under Phase 1 of the program in 2022.

The Victorian Government said research topics for Phase 2 will address “evidence gaps in priority research topics, including children and young people, multicultural communities and embedding lived experience in research“.

Members of the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council have been part of the team developing and guiding the selection of research topics.

Successful project themes include access for children and young people to crisis accommodation, multicultural community services for family violence and a service feedback model with victim-survivors of sexual violence.

The six research projects will be conducted by five grant recipients – University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, and Monash University – partnering with 15 sector organisations and peak bodies.

“Informed by real-world experience and voices of victim survivors, these research projects will bring together universities, communities and the family violence, sexual violence and harm sectors to address evidence gaps and share learning which should inform best practice,“ said Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence.

“The evidence will be used to tailor policies and programs which better support people and help put a stop to family violence in our communities.”

Casey has the highest number of family incidents within nearby local government areas.

Picture: GENERIC

Rotary Club welcomes new leader

The Rotary Club of Casey welcomed its new President on Saturday 8 July.

Ben Plunkett marked his one year anniversary with the Rotary Club by accepting the presidency, during his induction at an event held in the Jack Rae Pavillion of Akoonah Park.

In his year-long dedication to the Rotary Club, Mr Plunkett has shown his capacity for community service time and time again.

“I have become a regular team member at our monthly barbecue at the Berwick farmers market,“ he said.

“I participated in the Leadership Institute training, I acted as Entertainment Manager at this year’s Holland Festival, myself and Jean have headed the initiative to start an Interact club at Foundation Learning Centre in Narre Warren.

Questions over pool

By Emily Chapman Laing

Doveton locals have questioned when they can expect the Doveton Pool in the Park Master Plan to be implemented and when the upgrades to the pool facility will be complete.

“What happened to the $23 million grant, whats happening with the upgrades to it,“ resident Amy Bath said.

“Its something the community really utilises and loves and something the council hasn’t taken appropriate care and action with.“

The Master Plan provides direction for future infrastructure works for the Doveton Pool in the Park site, with the project expected to cost $21.4 million.

The draft concept plan for the site showed an adventure play area, a water play area, an educational garden, active play zones and a barbecue area.

The draft was presented for endorsement to the council on 16 August 2022.

The council agreed to adopt the plan, but no major moves towards putting the plan in place have been made in the 11 months since the adoption.

“Imagine if it could be updated to a sheltered or indoor pool, with gym facilities in the empty halls,“ Ms Bath said.

“Even a decent cafe in there that was open more often would do great.“

Between Public Open Space reserves and CapitalWorks funding, the council determined they would be able to provide $11.4 million of the monetary support for the project, according to the Adopted Doveton Pool in the Park document.

The City of Casey resolved that 50 per cent of the funding must be secured from State and Federal Governments, at an estimated $5 mil-

lion contribution from each level.

City of Casey Chief Executive Officer Glenn Patterson said the redevelopment of Doveton Pool in the Park is one of the City’s “key priorities“.

“Council has been seeking funding support from both the State and Federal governments for this project since the Master Plan was adopted,“ he said.

“The Doveton Pool in the Park redevelopment was included in our pre-budget submission to the Federal Government and has been shared as a priority project with both State and Federal MPs.

“Since adoption, designs have progressed, however Council is still not in a position to fund the entire project.“

Mr Patterson said the council will only be able to deliver the entire project if both the State and Federal governments commit to 50 per cent of the project cost.

“Council will continue to advocate for this project, which we know is very important to our community,“ he said.

A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts said a new program may provide a solution.

“The Government has established a new, $200 million Thriving Suburbs Program to deliver investment in locally driven infrastructure and community projects, enhancing liveability and prosperity in urban and suburban communities,“ a spokesperson said.

“We encourage potential applicants such as the City of Casey to review their eligibility and consider applying once these details become available.“

Bruce MP Julian Hill said he likewise has encouraged the council to apply for the Thriv-

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To Jordan Crugnale MP for her tenacity, loyalty and genuine care for the community.

Thumbs down

Lack of school crossings on Somerville Road.

Thumbs down

To the poor care taken of the BMX track and park area in Essex Park reserve.

Thumbs down

To the indexation on HECS debt!

Thumbs up

To White Jasmine Thai in Cranbourne- they do the best curries.

Thumbs down

To people who dumb on other people’s hard rubbish, use your own!

ing Suburbs Program.

“I’m working closely with Casey Council and community advocates to give us the best chance of securing Federal funding for the Doveton Pool in the Park project,“ he said.

“Council has been encouraged to apply to the Albanese Labor Government‘s new Thriving Suburbs program funded in the May Federal Budget.

“Ultimately whether Federal funding is secured will depend on the strength of the application later this year and competition from other projects nationally.“

Local Government Minister Kristy McBain recently visited Casey and was briefed by the council and Mr Hill on Casey’s priority projects, including the pool.

Mr Hill says it’s up to the council to present a strong application to the government in order to secure the funding.

“The Liberal Party rorted billions of taxpayers’ dollars in grants, and Labor is not and will not govern in this corrupt way,“ he said.

“Projects will need to stack up and competition in this merit-based grants program will be fierce right across Australia, but everyone understands this and is working positively together.”

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams has been in discussion with the council “for some time“ about the project.

A spokesperson from her office said the next steps were for council to undertake the detailed design work and plans to confirm the overall cost of the project, which they are yet to present to the MP.

When they complete this work and confirm the costings, it is expected Gabrielle will advocate to the Treasurer for a budget allocation in future Victorian budget cycles.

Thumbs down

To not having a police station in Hampton Park!

Thumbs up

To the winter sun.

Thumbs down

To restaurants that don’t bother calling you when items are out of stock and just give you something totally different.

“I participated in PETs - which was a very informative and inspiring/motivating weekend, I submitted our club and participated at the CaseyVolunteer Expo and attended an incredibly inspiring few days at the RI Convention in Melbourne and contributing my services to filming the intro shot to the Zone 8 Rotary People of Influence film.“

Mr Plunkett joined the club through Friends of Business, a business networking group that happened to house quite a number of “Rotarians“.

“They invited me along to a meeting and the rest is history,“ Mr Plunkett said.

Mr Plunkett said he felt his place within the club was a matter of fate.

“Fifteen years ago when graduating Primary School I was awarded Junior Citizen Award sponsored by Rotary Club of Horsham,“ Mr Plunkett said.

“As far as I remember I didn’t have anything to do with Rotary after that but maybe it was just destiny leading to today.“

For Mr Plunkett, the Rotary Club is all about community.

“Community provides a sense of belonging and support,“ Mr Plunkett said.

“It allows people to connect with others and Rotary helps with this at club level by being part of a team and then further out to the community with all of the incredible programs, events and sponsorships.“

For the year ahead, Mr PLunkett said his presidency will have three key focus areas which he believes will be of the greatest benefit to the wider Casey community.

“As President I plan to lead our club with passion and purpose,“ Mr Plunkett said.

“I have 3 focuses for the year: mental health, family violence and disadvantaged youth.

“I plan to draw passion out of our members and work together to implement service projects or fundraising activities to support these causes.“

Ben Plunkett during his induction as President of the Rotary Club of Casey. Picture: SUPPLIED

Doveton Pool. 345858

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Hockey star defies odds

Narre Warren North champion hockey player Eve Carter has remarkably overcome a neurological condition that posed a risk to her life and limbs and has made the state schools hockey team in what doctors say has been an extraordinary recovery.

Eve Carter was 14 when she started to experience tingling and numbness in her hands and feet, and back pain.

It was only her mum Julie’s intuition and experience with another family member who had a neurological issue that prompted her to seek medical help.

The family went to Monash Health at Clayton where an MRI was performed and they were told that Eve was suffering from a chiari malformation.

This is a condition where the lowest part of the brain at the base of the skull bulges through the opening that meets the spinal canal.

A chiari 1 malformation is not a particularly uncommon condition and most are detected by accident, rather than because of the symptoms.

However, in a smaller percentage of more severe cases, development of a syrinx, or fluid filled cyst in the spinal cord can occur over time, which is what Eve had.

Left without treatment, a syrinx can progress to the point of damaging the spinal cord by compressing the nerve fibres that carry information to and from the brain.

Symptoms include numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, sore neck and can also lead to muscle weakness.

Symptoms can develop insidiously and initially be easily missed.

Eve’s syrinx was so extensive, extending from her upper cervical cord to the lower thoracic cord, that she was admitted to hospital directly and underwent surgery the next day.

Monash Health neurosurgeon, Dr Juliet Clayton operated on Eve and said while the

condition itself is not rare, the severity of Eve’s syrinx at presentation was quite unusual.

“It was clear that Eve would require surgery to decompress her chiari malformation and prevent the syrinx from becoming even

worse,“ she said.

“I was worried enough about the size and extent of the syrinx that I felt she should stay in hospital to have the surgery urgently rather than wait any longer.

“Eve was at risk of developing further potentially irreversible neurological signs in her arms without surgery and our team were keen to get on with surgery to enable Eve to return to her passion, her hockey, as soon as possible without any further opportunity for neurological progression”.

Patients with a chiari malformation are usually advised not to play high impact contact sports, due to the small possibility of a significant neurological injury in the context of the crowding and loss of fluid space at the junction between the brain and spinal cord, associated with this diagnosis.

When Eve learnt of her diagnosis and the need for surgery, she was devastated at the thought of not being able to play hockey, especially as she had a very important tournament coming up just the next week which she would not be able to participate in.

However, following uncomplicated surgery and a few weeks of recovery Eve was back to playing the sport she loves and has set her sights high.

Now at 15, she has already made the state school representative team and recently played with the Southern Sharks Junior State Championship team.

“Amazingly, Eve was back playing hockey three months later and is now completely cured,“ Dr Clayton said.

“Her recovery was faster than we all thought it would be.“

Eve’s mum, Julie said it still frightens her to think about what could have happened.

“Eve was just one knock away from potentially being paralysed, or worse,” she said.

“It’s not like she had severe symptoms where we immediately knew something was wrong.

“It was gradual, and could easily have been mistaken for something less serious.”

Eve wears a big grin as part of her hockey uniform. 346073

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Youngen’s brave journey

By Emily Chapman Laing

Earlier this month four-year-old Liam and his mum Michelle received the best possible news: Liam’s cancer was in remission again.

But the family aren’t as celebratory as you might expect.

“It’s like a roller coaster, you’re excited because you’re back there, but also, it’s only been a week,“ Michelle said.

“How long can we stay there.

“I keep thinking, we’ve been here, and we relapsed.“

While Michelle is full of gratitude to see her son in remission for the second time, she is plagued by his relapse last year.

“Everyone says be positive and I’m trying, but it’s hard when you’ve been down this road and you see what happens.“

For Liam, Michelle said the label of “remission“ hasn’t meant much as far as he can understand.

“He’s still going to hospital appointments,“ Michelle said.

“So he’s like, if I don’t have cancer, why am I still going to hospital.“

During the Covid lockdowns of October 2021, Michelle noticed two-year-old Liam was starting to turn pale and was losing weight.

“But living with him, I didn’t see how much he was actually rapidly losing,“ Michelle said.

“Then he went off eating, drinking, everything and I thought, this is something major.“

Michelle made a call to Liam’s doctor, but was told she couldn’t bring him in for an appointment until they both returned a negative Covid test.

During a telehealth appointment later that day, Liam’s asthma specialist told Michelle to send her daughter Sienna to her parents, pack a bag and get Liam to Monash Children’s Hospital immediately.

“We went in and they started doing all these blood tests and not even 24 hours later they said they found a mass in his stomach and it was a tumour,“ Michelle said.

Liam was sent into surgery to have a line put in his chest, and started chemotherapy straight after to treat Stage 4 neuroblastomacancer on the adrenal glands.

“He went from 23 kilos down to 8 kilos,“ Michelle said.

“The tumor was just taking over everything, it was that big that it actually had to expand before declining down.

Michelle said Liam’s tumour started at his breastbone and went all the way down to his pelvis, taking up most of his abdomen.

With little room for the tumour to “blow up“, it began rupturing.

“He was getting internal bleeding because the tumour was bleeding out,“ Michelle said.

Liam was admitted to ICU and a short while later single mum Michelle received the devastating news: Liam only had 72 hours to live.

“Because of Covid I had to be in there on my own with no support person,“ Michelle said.

“I was literally still trying to get my head around the fact he’s just been diagnosed with cancer.

“And then it was like, well now you’ve got to prepare for the worst.“

Liam was intubated in ICU and received numerous blood transfusions.

“As fast as he was bleeding out, they were putting another bag back in,“ Michelle said.

“Then it got to the stage where he had a buildup of fluid in his lungs.

He wasn’t even stable enough to be moved to the theatre for surgery, they had to perform the surgery in the ICU.“

Michelle said after a tube was placed into a semi-conscious Liam’s lungs, litres of fluid and blood were drained.

“He was awake, but gone to the point where he didn’t even know who I was,“ Michelle said.

“I put my hand out to hold his hand and there was nothing.

“You could see he was petrified in his face,

but it was also like he didn’t know who you were.“

Despite the odds being stacked against him, Liam pulled through, but both he and his mum were left with scars.

“I’m now traumatised of ICU because of what he went through,“ Michelle said.

“I didn’t even want to walk back into the room because it was like, I don’t know who he is, he didn’t look like my son.

“He lost that much weight he literally looked like a skeleton.“

The tumour had started wrapping around Liam’s insides, and the doctors couldn’t remove it until it shrunk enough to release his vital organs.

Liam underwent several rounds of chemo as well as 12 days of radiation.

His stem cells were harvested, then placed back in two stem cell transplants later down the track.

Things improved, and by August 2022, Liam was in remission for the first time.

However, the triumph was short-lived, with the cancer returning a mere month later.

“They found there were nodules in his liver and they were tumorous,“ Michelle said.

Liam was put through another round of chemo, combined with immunotherapy.

Between his initial hospital stay and his treatments following relapse, Liam has a hospital record all too long for his age.

Alongside the 12 days of radiation, Liam has had 22 rounds of chemo, 16 surgeries, 5 rounds of immunotherapy, “hundreds“ of blood tests and transfusions and 20 long hospital admissions.

“It really knocked him on some of the days,“ Michelle said.

Liam also suffered side effects.

A little known side effect of chemotherapy is the development of leukemia, according to Michelle.

“We were treating cancer with chemo, but then you also get cancer from it,“ she said.

“No only did we have to fight the nodules in his liver, but he was showing he had early stages of leukemia as well.“

Liam also suffers from hearing loss and weakness of the muscles as a result of his treatments.

“He’s four years old and pretty much lives in a pram, because he can’t walk for long periods,“ Michelle said.

“We’re looking at getting him a wheelchair.“

Michelle said Liam’s seven-year-old sister Sienna “suffered more than anyone“ during Liam’s hospital-heavy days.

“Even at the start, I told her we were going in for the weekend and we were still there six and a half weeks later,“ Michelle said.

“I didn’t get to see her, and it’s like, when you finally come out of hospital you’re sad as well.

“Every stay that we go into the hospital has been a long one, and she gets to the stage where she doesn’t want to be close to you anymore.“

Michelle said her heart would break each time Sienna would ask when she would see them again, and Michelle didn’t have an answer.

“Even if you say, okay, chemo only goes for five days, but then if his temperature spikes during those five days you could be there longer,“ Michelle said.

“It’s all these what-ifs.“

Sienna has been lucky enough to have her grandparents living right across the road, so she has lived with them on and off and been given the loving attention only grandparents can offer.

Michelle, Liam and Sienna are hopeful this remission will last and they will be able to stay together as a family.

To donate to Liam’s GoFundMe campaign, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/little-liams-neuroblastoma-journey

To follow Liam’s journey, visit: https://www. instagram.com/brave_little_liam

New service provides access to low-cost IVF in Berwick

A new low-cost IVF clinic has opened in Berwick to help give the local community access to affordable IVF and fertility treatment.

Dr Myuran Ponnampalam, fertility specialist, The Fertility Centre (TFC) Berwick, says the clinic’s opening comes at a muchneeded time.

“With soaring cost of living pressures, we believe it is even more important to offer a low-cost IVF service in the South East,“ he said.

“The region has seen a boom in growth and is becoming increasingly popular with young couples moving here to start their families.“

The Fertility Centre (TFC) Berwick offers local patients fertility treatments, complete fertility plans and IVF services.

Haidee and her partner Steve started trying to conceive when Haidee was 35 years old.

When they weren’t getting pregnant after a year of trying to conceive naturally, Haidee visited her GP and was referred to fertility specialist Dr Myuran Ponnampalam.

Dr Myuran Ponnampalam ran fertility tests on the couple and found that Haidee’s results were fine, but Steve’s male assessment

discovered a non-aggressive form of testicular cancer.

Steve underwent surgery to remove the cancer, and the couple started their IVF journey.

The couple’s first round of IVF was successful, creating their now 4-and-a half-yearold daughter, Ivy. The couple wanted to have a second child, but their journey to conceive the second time round was more challenging.

It was having access to lower-cost treatments that made all the difference, as Steve

was out of work due to Covid and Haidee was on maternity leave.

“If we weren’t able to have that, we wouldn’t have been able to have Mav, because I wasn’t working, Steve was out of work, we have a mortgage and we had spent our savings on our first IVF,“ Haidee said.

“The experience was amazing, everyone was supportive and caring, there’s no difference between seeing a specialist and going through a fertility clinic- everyone was great.“

The Fertility Centre provides the option to see a female gynaecologist and offers consultations via telehealth, helping busy people fit appointments into family life.

Dr Ponnampalam has worked in the South East as an experienced fertility specialist, obstetrician and gynaecologist for the past 15 years and has helped bring around a thousand IVF babies into the world during this time.

“Unfortunately, about one in six Australian couples experience fertility difficulties,“ he said.

“It’s important we offer low-cost IVF as infertility doesn’t discriminate.

“We are proud to offer state-of-the-art fer-

tility treatment at an accessible cost, helping the local community fulfil their dreams of starting their families, and making it easier for them to receive treatment locally.“

Patients have most of their care looked after by a highly skilled and dedicated team of fertility nurses.

“We offer an innovative low-cost concept while providing high levels of IVF technology and patient care by following a unique nurse-led IVF model,“ Dr Ponnampalam said.

Nurses assist with the initial patient consultation, helping patients learn how to administer the important IVF injections, and perform the IVF monitoring blood tests and ultrasounds.

“The egg collection procedure and embryo transfers are performed by a specialist fertility doctor, and the whole team is overseen by the clinical director,” said Dr Ponnampalam.

The Fertility Centre was the first private clinic to introduce the nurse-led low-cost IVF model In Australia.

TFC now has eight clinics across Australia in Berwick and Werribee, along with clinics in New South Wales and Queensland.

HaideeandStevewiththeirtwochildrenIvy andMaverick. Picture:SUPPLIED

Liam,SiennaandMichelle.

Picture:SUPPLIED

ON … FAMILY BUSINESS Support and understanding

Embreys build on success

Queensland-born Earle Embrey at first followed his father’s footsteps into coal mining.

But then he began a success story of creating industrial estates with a suite of factories and storage facilities in Pakenham.

An entrepreneur at heart, Earle settled in Melbourne and tried his hand at farming potatoes, fruits, nuts and ostriches as well as two caravan parks in Port Fairy and Cann River and demolitions.

In 1987, Earle and wife Ann bought 11 acres between Mary Street, Mulcahy Street and Purton Road in Pakenham.

The site became home for an old Malcolm Moore crane factory relocated from South Melbourne and the Robert Gordon pottery factory.

The repurposed crane factory comprised of 44 semi-trailer loads of steel frame structures that were wire brushed and repainted before reassembly into four separate buildings and 72,000 square feet of factory space.

It became home to LaBounty Manufacturing Australia, before it was sold to Bruce

Littlejohn who renamed it Littlejohn Heavy Manufacturing.

It was later bought back by Earle and renamed LJ Embrey Engineering. In 2020 it amalgamated with Embrey Attachments with offices at the original 25 Mary Street site that employs about 30 people.

In 1994, Earle and Ann bought industrial land off Bald Hill Road. It became Embrey Court and is today filled with factories.

They also bought land, which turned into residential estate in Ahearn Road. The streets Breyleigh Drive and Earle Close are a nod to the two owners – Breyleigh being an anagram of Embrey and Ann’s maiden name Leigh.

The last developed land off Peet Street has recently been subdivided with new roads and has mostly been sold off.

The family business history is still continuing on now with the opening of the new storage facility, Store it Safe, in Hill Street Pakenham, which runs off Bald Hill Road.

Store it Safe is at 30 Hill Street, Pakenham. Contact: Scott Embrey, 0473 331 117.

Pakenham 190 Princes Highway | Ph: 5941 4888

Cranbourne

6 Brunt Street | Ph: 5996 6822

Drouin 2 Porter Place | Ph: 5625 2571

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

At David W. Bull Funeral Directors they provide family and friends respectful service, combined with support and understanding by all the team of committed staff.

The proud family owned business have been caring for the local Pakenham community and beyond for over 44 years.The location of the Pakenham Funeral Home offers a central meeting place for metropolitan and country family and friends attending with serene gardens surrounding.

The Chapel is a traditional style chapel and seating comfortably for 130 guests, with up to 220 people indoors. It has a

range of multimedia capabilities, including a projector with large screen, speakers for larger groups of attendees and offers streaming services for people not able to attend.

Catering facilities are also available afterwards for families.

You will find the family team - Tony, Melissa, Louise and Katie at the Pakenham office, situated at 190 Princes Highway, between the hours of 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

For immediate attention or after hours call on 5941 4888 or 0436 414300.

Also information on www.davidwbull.com. au

PREMIUM DRIVE UP STORAGE

• Family owned and operated business

• 24 x 7 drive up access to your unit

• All larger units (over 20m2) have minimum 8 meter wide driveway

• Minimum door height of 3 meters with some up to 3.2

• All units have motorised roller doors

• 8x4 Box Trailer available for hire

• We have 2 remote controlled robotic parking trollies for boats and vans etc.

• Power, CCTV and Internet available in all units

• 15 foot high concrete wall around entire facility with one entry/exit point

• 24 x 7 CCTV Security of entire facility

• We are fully solar powered with battery backup

• Automatic ram protection bollards behind entry gate

• Shelving available on request

• 12 Month Contracts @ 20% Discount

• 24 Month Contracts @ 25% Discount

30 Hill Street Pakenham - 1300 533 111

www.storeitsafe.com.au

The Store it Safe family Ann, Scott, Earle (front), David and Leighann.

The team at David W. Bull Funeral Directors - Melissa and Tony (centre) and children Thomas and Louise.

Berwick Neighbourhood Centre Play and Grow and Child care Open Day

Come along to find out more about the centre’s 3 year old Play and Grow and Childcare sessions for 2024.

Speak to educators, explore the surroundings and make a booking for your child.

If you are looking for more time beyond the council single 5 hour session for 3 year olds come and join Berwick Neighbourhood Centre in 2024.

CCS funding is available for all sessions.

· For further details call 9769 1970 or email childrenservices@berwicknc.com.au

112 High Street, Berwick, on 29 July, 10am11.30am

Step inside Barbie’s world

Get primped and primed for the ultimate Barbie Box photo moment at Westfield Fountain Gate!

You’re invited to step into a vibrantly pink world and come dressed in your Barbie best and enjoy a real-life Barbie moment.

Giveaways will be happening on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 July, 12pm-4pm.

The photo station will be open on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 July, 12pm-3pm.

· Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, 352 Princes Highway, Narre Warren.

Conversational English

Improve your confidence in reading, writing, and speaking English in this small friendly class each Tuesday afternoon during school terms. $5 per term (10 weeks).

· Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays, 12:30pm-2:30pm

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody

Without a doubt, Queen is amongst the greatest rock bands of the twentieth century and Freddie Mercury is hailed by many as the most charismatic and flamboyant performer in contemporary rock.

Now, fresh off the heels of the successful Bohemian Rhapsody movie, comes an all new Queen tribute show from well-known Australian Freddie Mercury impersonator Thomas Crane.

Thomas, with his hot band Bohemian Rhapsody, bring back to life the visual excitement, sound and stage energy as witnessed at a Queen concert.

See all your favourite Queen hits like We Will Rock You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, A Kind of Magic, I Want To Break Free, Another One Bites the Dust and of course Bohemian Rhapsody.

Come and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of supergroup Queen at Bunjil Place Theatre.

· Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren on Friday 28 July, 8pm-10:20pm.

Pilates

Do you want to improve your posture, increase your core strength, increase your energy, improve your flexibility and mobility and decrease stress?

Pilates focuses on increasing core strength and tone of abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks.

Classes held Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings.

$90 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 2, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays 1pm2pm and Wednesdays 7:30pm-8:30pm

Christmas in July

The Christmas in July Night Market is back for 2023!

Head to Akoonah Park on Friday July 28 to enjoy a magical Christmas-themed night market experience.

Circus Royale at Westfield Fountain Gate Circus Royale Brings Australia’s Only Traveling Animatronic Zoo and 3D Hologram Experiance to Westfield Fountain Gate, bringing an exciting new addition - the only travelling Animatronic Zoo in Australia!

With even more added value included with your circus ticket,Circus Royale is the ultimate destination for family fun and entertainment.

Try some delicious food and drinks, browse a huge range of exciting stalls, listen to some live music, and take in the unique local market atmosphere.

· Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick on Friday 28 July, 4pm-9pm.

Winter Plant Sale

Join the Cranbourne Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Growing Friends Group for their winter plant sale.

This event is a great opportunity to purchase some gorgeous greenery while taking in the stunning Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

A large variety of Australian native plants will be available.

A plant list will be available on the Growing Friends website approximately a week before the sale.

EFTPOS will be available.

The plant sale will be held at the northern end of the Australian Garden. Parking and entry is available nearby (look for the large red banners).

Plant sale dates: Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd July, 2023

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July from 10am-4pm.

· Times: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on both days

Beginners Yoga

Balla Balla holds a beginners yoga class that incorporates gentle exercise, breath control and meditation.

The health benefits of regular yoga practice may include lowering blood pressure, improved posture and circulation, and a sense of wellbeing.

Running untul July 16th, the state-of-the-art Big Top will come alive with the pulse-pounding performances of international superstars, delivering a high-energy, family-friendly show that will leave you on the edge of your seat. With mystic illusions, breathtaking feats, and moments of wonder, this show promises to be an experience of a lifetime.

· Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, 352 Princes Highway, Narre Warren.

Classes available on Thursday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

$85 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 1, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Thursdays, 5:30pm-6:45pm and 7pm-8:15pm.

South East Area Throwdown

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to witness some of the most exciting dancers in the region and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of street dance.

Experience the energy and creativity of our talented local dancers as they showcase their skills in a variety of styles, including hip-hop, breaking, and urban dance. Stick around for an after-show party where you can dance and mingle with fellow enthusiasts.

The Southeast Sessions are a collective of dancers trying to create an environment that is educational, fun and queer friendly for the Southeast dance/freestyle community.

The aim is to build a community where dancers can come together to create and connect with other dancers in a safe environment.

Presented by Bunjil Place and The Southeast Sessions as part of the 2023 Winter Arts Festival.

Tickets available online.

· Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren on Saturday 15 July, 6pm-10pm.

Get Your Art On Balla Balla’s new Children’s Art program will develop your child’s confidence and enhance their creative ability in producing their own unique art work.

Children’s Art will explore colour theory, mixed media, simple printing techniques, watercolour

painting and so much more.

Classes held after school on Monday afternoons commencing 24th July.

$96 per term (8 weeks).

· Hall 2, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd,Clyde North on Mondays,4:30pm5:45pm

Narre Warren Psychic and Wellbeing Expo

Come and enjoy an inspiring and relaxing day with stall holders offering a range of services and products to indulge your senses.

Free workshops throughout the day including mediumship demonstrations, readings: psychic mediumship, tarot, intuitive, readings, massage, crystals, giftware, clothing, books, natural healing and products, jewellery, soy candles and much more.

Purchase tickets at the door: $5 adults, kids aged under-12 free.

· Sunday 23 July 10am to 6pm, Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.

Computers for the Home & Workplace

A basic computer course for Beginners and Seniors, which will help you understand the basics of using Microsoft Windows, understanding the Cloud, and browsing the internet safely.

Learn about sending & receiving emails, creating and using documents and spreadsheets, interacting with social media, downloading photos, and shopping online within a comfortable, nurturing environment with like-minded learners. Commencing 21st July on Fridays for 8 weeks. $25 for the 8 weeks.

· The Lounge, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Fridays, 10am12:30pm

CRANBOURNE U3A

Classes are back in full swing for Term 3 with some exciting new classes about to commence. U3A has a lovely craft called “quilling“ where members make beautiful cards and notelets using rolled paper.

They also have Scrabble, playing cards and Tai Chi groups about to begin.

Tutors available to teach art using various mediums.

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

Chess, line dancing and table tennis are operating too.

The Open Singing group has been happily running this year and always welcomes new voices.

If you would like to play the Ukelele, the group are playing beautiful music on Monday mornings from 10am.

There is also have an Italian class.

If you would like to tutor a class, contact U3A with details of your talents, new opportunities are welcome.

· For more information visit: wwwu3acranbourne.org.au or contact Helen on 0423 623 337.

Zumba

Do you want to burn calories and blast away fat?

Do you want to de-stress, improve your co-ordination, boost your heart health and meet others wanting to improve their fitness levels? Zumba is aimed at all ages and fitness levels. Classes held Tuesday evenings. $80 per term (10 weeks).

· Hall 1, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays 6:30pm7:15pm

Chisholm to help train ADF

By Sahar Foladi

Chisholm Institute has joined forces with Wodonga Tafe and a consortium to deliver technical trades training to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

Chisholm is part of the National Technical Education Network (NTEN), led by Wodonga TAFE, which was the successful tenderer of the Joint Technical Trades Training Services contract.

The contract, valued at approximately $300 million over the next 5 years, will support the employment of up to 250 dedicated staff across the program.

Currently, Chisholm is going through its recruitment phase, looking out to recruit locally

for 70 educators and 14 support roles.

Chief executive, Stephen Varty, said that Chisholm was proud to join together with strategically aligned a consortium of registered training organisations (RTO’s) to deliver this important training.

“We are very excited to be a part of this successful tender and to play a critical role in supporting the courageous personnel of the Australian Defence Force.

“Chisholm’s role will predominantly be to deliver all of the technical trade training to Navy personnel based at HMAS Cerberus in Hastings.”

The work will focus on apprenticeship training in specialised fields such as electrical fitting and fabrication.

The deal will be re-assessed for a further three years followed by a potential two year extension, totalling 10 years.

“It’s a tremendous endorsement for the quality of training delivered by our hard-working and passionate educators at Chisholm and we cannot wait to begin this work from November this year,” Mr Varty said.

This adds to Chisholm’s previous initiatives such as their collaboration with Jobs Victoria, supporting females, CALD individuals and middle-age women on Jobseeker, in maledominated fields such as engineering and manufacturing.

Chisholm’s first female educational manager for the engineering faculty, Avril Switalla, encourages females to take part in these

sorts of initiatives.

“I would certainly encourage women to take part in the project if interested in welding as machine operator or fabrication.”

Other members of the NTEN include TAFE QLD, University of New England Partnerships, National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Kangan Institute, Charles Darwin University, Kinetic IT, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and South Metropolitan TAFE.

“This announcement shows the enormous confidence that exists in the Victorian and Australian TAFE networks, and we look forward to working closely with our education partners to deliver this vital training,” Mr Varty said.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Celebrating rich heritage

By Emily Chapman Laing

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne celebrated the rich heritage, history and culture of Australia’s First Nations people in their NAIDOC week events.

Running from Tuesday 4 until Thursday 6 July, the Gardens held a variety of events designed to honour Aboriginal culture and educate the wider community about the many amazing and interesting facets of First Nations history.

The celebrations began with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Uncle Mark Brown of the Bunurong Land Council.

Dozens of children and adults gathered to bask in the earthy smoke.

The smoking ceremony was followed by a storytelling session, led by Uncle Ron Murray.

“It is important for the different nationalities coming into Australia, coming onto this land, to hear our stories,“ Uncle Ron said.

“A lot of our stories start in the Dreamtime and talk about lessons where the animal did something wrong and got punished for it, or how the animal ended up like it is, and it makes people understand the land better.

“A lot of it is talking about our Mother, which we walk on every day, and how we should treat her better.“

A proud Wamba Wamba man, Uncle Ron told the children about his totem animal, the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo, of which only around 980 remain in Victoria.

As the rain picked up, the children nestled into an undercover tent to experience Uncle Ron’s storytelling magic.

Uncle Ron used his didgeridoo to make the sounds of different animals, asking the kids to guess who he was impersonating.

The sounds included a dog, cat, kangaroo, kookaburra, owl, snake and even a small child running after their parents.

Using plush animals and plenty of zest, Uncle Ron told the story of Perraweena the snake, who desperately wished he could sing.

The story came to explain why snakes sleep all winter long.

Uncle Ron also told the story of why wombats only come out of their burrows at night, and how kangaroos became the fastest animals in Australia, bounding on their hind legs.

Aboriginal Learning Facilitator Janine “Jaffa“ Richardson is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung woman, and has been working alongside Uncle Ron for ten years to bring the Dreamtime stories back into children’s imaginations.

“Working with Uncle Ron is one of the most important ones, because this is telling stories to our little bubups (kids), this is getting them in young,“ Jaffa said.

“This is where you’re getting into your grassroots.“

Jaffa has been part of the Gardens crew for coming up on ten years, and the NAIDOC events are something she takes immense pride in organising.

While the NAIDOC celebrations used to be held across one big day, Jaffa found that spacing them out over a week allows for

“more diverse“ events.

On Wednesday, Jaffa ran her own event making mini marngrooks (possum skin balls).

Using possum pelts from New Zealand, groups of participants were instructed on how to cut, sow and stuff the pelts in order to make their ball.

Marngrooks were the first footballs, and as Jaffa explained, First Nation’s peoples invented “footy“.

“The games might go on for days,“ she said.

The possum skin ball would be stuffed with mud and grasses to make it heavy, according to Jaffa.

“They were stuffed as hard as possible to make them as strong as possible,“ she said.

Jaffa emphasised the importance of showing respect to the possums by using as much of the pelt as possible.

She explained head pieces and tails were often turned into arm bands and parts of skirts, which she continues today in her playgroup.

In another event, Bidjara woman Karan Kent led a large group of participants through a Wayapa Wuurrk meditative session.

“Wayapa is all about reconnecting with the

environment, with the dirt,“ she said.

“It’s about sustainability, our connections with the earth and our connections between each other.

“We’ve lost those connections, you know, everybody sits there on their tablets and we don’t see each other anymore.“

Wayapa is a form of moving meditation created by Jamie Thomas and Sara Jones in 2014.

Wayapa Wuurrk means “Connect to the Earth” in the language of the Maara & GunaiKurnai peoples respectively.

Karan received her dimploma in Wayapa in 2017, and by 2019 she had started Yimba Yumba, or “home learning“.

“If you’re moving, the movement is really good for your body and your mental health,“ Karan said.

During the session, Karan combined movement with story, as she told her people’s creation story and the 14 elements that comprise her collective history.

Each element came with it’s own movement, as the story moved through the body.

Karan encouraged the participants to move through the session barefoot, despite the dew-

soaked and winter-chilled grass below.

To her, being barefoot is an essential component of regaining our connection to the earth.

“All of these mental health issues have come about because we’ve put things on our feet,“ she said.

“We’ve lifted ourselves up off of the ground, we’re sitting on chairs and blankets, our body isn’t literally connected to the earth.“

Wayapa focuses heavily on the earth-mindbody-soul connection, where a conscious connection to the environment must come before balance can be achieved in any aspect of the human form.

“In the modern era, we’ve lifted ourselves away from the environment,“ Karan said.

“So the environment is out there, and we’re in here, so we’re two different things as opposed to being one.

“But we are the environment, and the environment is us.“

Other events included traditional Aboriginal games and the performance of a “mob dance“ by Indigenous Outreach Projects (IOP) Hip Hop Crew.

‘I

don’t want to fight’: The story of the platypus

Proud Wamba Wamba man and storyteller

Uncle Ron tells the story of the platypus.

The little platypus is related to everyone, there’s not one animal that’s not related to him, and they respect him.

Back in the Dreamtime, the animals tried to get him to get involved in a big fight that happened, with all the different animals, reptiles and fish.

They tried to convince the platypus to join them.

He kept saying to them, “Come back and see me in two days.“

All of the animals arrived to see which ones he was going to side with.

Sitting behind he bush was an Aboriginal man, a warrior.

He was watching all this going on.

The platypus answered, “I don’t want to join any of you, I don’t want to fight.“

The platypus continued, “I don’t want to hurt anybody, I like you all.“

The Aboriginal man watching decided it was such a wise decision the platypus had made, and that the people were never to harm him.

So the platypus was another animal that the Aboriginal people never ever ate, because he was wise.

Platypus artwork by Aboriginal artist Melanie Hava.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Smoking ceremony opening the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne NAIDOC Week events. 345547

The blackboard where attendees could write how they would honour the elders in 2023. 345809

Jaffa and one of the marngrook making groups. Jaffa shows off a completed mini marngrook. 345809

Wayapa teacher Karan Kent (left) and Janine (Jaffa) Richardson, Aboriginal Learning Facilitator (right). 345809

Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

Uncle Ron with some of his storytelling tools. 345547 Picture: EMILY CHAPMAN LAING

THE LOWDOWN

Q&A

Tell us a fun fact about yourself

I have been to every continent including the Arctic and Antarctic and through the Panama Canal eight times.

What do you love the most about your job.

Can volunteering be considered a job?

As a retiree, former manager with the Education Department and CEO of a large disability organisation I enjoy meeting people and supporting my community as a Justice of the Peace, Secretary of the Cranbourne Rotary Club, President of the Balla Balla Committee of Management and Board member of the ACE (Aiding Casey Education).

I enjoy learning new things and keeping the brain busy.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

A dog.

My dog, who is nearly 16 years, enjoys the lap of luxury with all the love and care she deserves.

And she knows it!

What would your last meal be?

Freshly caught fish that has been cooked on the open fire in the wilderness.

What was your most memorable moment?

Sitting on a rock in the Antarctic with a penguin asleep on my foot, looking at this amazing vista of sea and land life, with blue waters and huge icebergs.

I would love to revisit and see it again I would recommend you put it on the bucket list. What were you like as a kid?

Sometimes too adventurous and always independent.

One teacher wrote on my report, a natural leader.

I have always loved learning and enjoyed working with children and adults with their learning.

with Cranbourne Justice of the Peace Lloma Shaw

you invite to dinner?

My family and friends of course, however for amazing conversation I would have: Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Caroline Chisholm, Amelia Earhart, and Emmeline Pankhurst.

What are you currently listening to/watching or reading?

I‘m reading the Remarkable Mrs Reibey by Grantlee Kieza, which is about a convict who became Australia’s richest businesswoman. I always have a book on the go and even though I use my E-Reader I still love reading an actual book.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

I think they would say independent, organised and loyal, but I do not suffer fools too well.

Where is your happy place?

My happy place is sitting or walking through pristine nature on my own, listening to the sounds of natural beauty, or sitting beside a river with a good book and a good glass of wine.

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

Certainly not in the league of Masterchef, a but I do make a mean roast rack of lamb with roast vegetables.

I love to come back to Australia for the best lamb in the world.

What is your dream holiday destination?

THREE … tidbits of First Nation wisdom

First Nations teachers recently gathered for events at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to share their knowledge with the wider community. These are some of their lessons.

1

Bidjara woman Karan Kent spoke of the importance of seeing the many gifts of the earth: “We could look at the sky and know when we could go hunting, we knew when we could pick a plant and when to leave it, we knew when we needed to stay, and when we needed to move. [The environment] gives us all that we need, we don’t need anything else.“

2

I hope to be 96 years of age and still have the capacity to learn new things.

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

Just as Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 I would love to be around when someone discovers a cure for cancer. Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would

I have travelled the world extensively on cargo ships, oil tankers, trains, planes and expedition ships, and seen some amazing places, but my dream holiday is now enjoying Australia as it has such a diverse geology and climate. In fact, I am off to explore the west coast of Australia in August on another expedition. There is so much to see and hopefully I can continue to do all the travel that I want.

3

Dja Dja Wurrung woman

Jaffa Richardson spoke about respecting the land, and how she teaches her playgroupers to show respect for the earth: “I also don’t let my playgroupers take from the grounds, we talk about that being home, that it could be food.“

WambaWamba man Ron Murray said: “We’ve all got to change out stories, the story has to move. A lot of people might think no, they have to stay the same, but Australia is moving. I think we need, as storytellers, to write more stories about modern day things.“

Lloma has been a practicing JP for nearly 20 years. Picture: SUPPLIED

Success for text service

The arrest of a man on two counts of sexual activity directed an another following an incident at Clayton station last year is just one of more than a dozen arrests made in the last year as a result of Victoria Police’s STOPIT text service.

STOPIT – a text-based notification service – launched exactly one year ago to help combat sexual offending on public transport and give commuters greater confidence when they travel.

The first service of its kind anywhere in Australia, it received more than 1500 notifications in its first year.

Victoria Police analysis shows more than 40 per cent of notifications to STOPIT related to threatening and offensive behaviour such as verbal abuse and harassment.

Almost one in five notifications related to unwanted sexual behaviour.

This can include catcalling, sexual gestures, non-consensual touching and flashing.

Since its inception, STOPIT has led to 13 arrests.

That includes a 20-year-old man who was charged after performing allegedly explicit acts towards five women on a number of train lines between March and August last year.

Police were able to link the incidents after one victim used STOPIT.

In another instance, a 33-year-old man was charged after two witnesses saw him allegedly perform an explicit act towards a woman on a city-bound Sunbury line train on 6 September.

Both witnesses notified police through STOPIT. The man was also charged with committing an indictable offence while on bail.

A number of separate notifications remain under investigation by detectives.

Transit safety division inspector Mark Zervaas thanked community members who used the STOPIT service over the last year.

“Every piece of information received has helped us make the network a safer place for all commuters,“ he said.

“Without STOPIT, more than a dozen investigations may have never been solved.

“These offenders have now been charged and put through the courts – all thanks to commuters who have stood up to this type of behaviour.“

Insp. Zervaas encouraged the community to save the STOPIT number and text STOPIT if they experience or observe unwanted sexual

behaviour on the network.

“Your information could be the final piece of the puzzle we need to arrest an offender.”

Women and girls have made up more than half of people using STOPIT, with all notifications reviewed and assessed by a dedicated team of transit police.

Many are then escalated to detectives at the Transit Crime Investigation Unit for investigation.

Information received also gives police a

broader picture about behaviour across the public transport network, be it a particular train line or time of day.

It means deployment of transit police is intelligence-led.

To use the service commuters simply text ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455.

Theserviceisnotmonitoredliveandshould not be used if an urgent response is required. For further information go to police.vic.gov. au/stopit

TheSTOPITserviceallowscommuterstoreportunwantedsexualbehaviouronthepublictransportnetwork.

Picture:SUPPLIED

Plan to boost tree stocks

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Casey Council has unveiled a draft strategy to boost the region’s sub-average amount of tree canopy.

The council area is home to an estimated 646,544 trees, but its 11.3 per cent tree canopy rate is well short of the 19.3 per cent metro Melbourne average.

In its Greening Casey draft strategy, the council aims to reach 15 per cent by 2030 and 20 per cent by 2050.

It plans to plant more than 10,000 street trees in the next three years as well as boost the numbers of privately-owned trees with a mix of regulation, education and incentives.

More trees are needed to build Casey’s “climate resilience” by helping cool urban temperatures and lessen the harmful impacts of heat waves, according to the report.

Its priority suburbs for more tree shade include Cranbourne North, Clyde North, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne West, Hampton Park and Botanic Ridge.

The greatest canopy “opportunities” on public land were wide road reserves, retail centres, walking and cycling paths, car parks, parklands and streets surrounding schools.

Activity centres with extensive slabs of asphalt car parks were some of the hottest areas in Casey, the report stated.

In the past four years, Casey gained nearly 350,000 square metres of tree canopy, mostly along roads and streets in new developments.

However large infrastucture projects had wiped out many of those gains.

The strategy looks at better preserving mature trees on private land, including the large losses at new estates.

At the recent Canopy estate in Cranbourne, 61 per cent of canopy cover was lost in three years. Overall canopy was just 6.5 per cent.

“While this was for the purpose of develop-

ment, it raises the issue of whether more of these established trees should have been strategically retained at the planning phase,“ the report stated.

“It will take over 50 years to replace the amount of canopy lost.”

Non-permitted vegetation removal and vandalism of 15 per cent of new planted trees were also issues.

Currently, the council doesn’t employ an officer to police these matters.

This week, Greater Dandenong Council approved stronger protection for trees on private land in its bid to increase canopy cover from 9 per cent to 15 per cent by 2028.

A permit would be required to remove trees of 40 centimetres diameter at 1.4 metres above ground level, with certain exemptions.

Casey Council’s strategy also recommends better protecting private trees.

It would also require canopy tree planting at the front and rear of subdivisions and developed properties, encourage Significant Tree Register nominations and incentivise residents to plant trees.

Many residents felt there should be “some level of protection” of private trees, especially on development sites. But some felt “uncertain”, the report stated.

“People feel that they would like a level of freedom to make their own choices for their

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private property and feel that more regulation would see that control lost.”

In the report, Casey said it was also dealing with the legacy of “poor past decision making” with older trees damaging underground infrastructure.

There were poor tree species selections, such as the Eucalpytus scoparia that’s being replaced in Timbarra Estate, Berwick.

“While these trees grow fast and large, within a decade they were causing impacts to infrastructure and property.”

Public comment is open on Casey Council’s online portal Casey Conversations until 26 July, 5pm.

Neighbours were recently concerned about the felling of an old tree in St John’s Wood Terrace, Berwick. 343252 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

On the road to fundraiser

Endeavour Hills couple Luke and Annabel Schulze are set for the adventure of a lifetime when they join a convoy of teams in this year’s Spring Shitbox Rally, Australia’s largest independently-run fundraiser for Cancer Council.

Shitbox Rally is not a race, it’s a challenge to drive cars worth $1500 or less across Australia via some of its toughest roads to raise money for Cancer research.

Luke and Annabel have lost several immediate family members to cancer and know many friends and families who are still battling, as well as some lucky ones who have “beat the beast“.

“With a significant birthday looming this year instead of choosing a relaxing holiday somewhere or a party I wanted to give back to a cause close to my heart,“ Annabel said.

“We have obtained a VS commodore that was just sitting gathering spiders and birds nests in someone’s barn, and with the help of some friends and Luke’s mechanical knowledge the car is on the road and we looking forward to the exciting journey ahead of us.”

Box Rallies Founder and CEO James Free-

man OAM, lost both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other.

“Shitbox Rally is not a race, but a reward for fundraising efforts,“ he said.

“This is a chance to explore Australia, drawing teams from around the country to help achieve the extraordinary.“

For the first time ever, the teams will start in Port Douglas, far north Queensland.

This will be the most northern start line in the history of the rallies.

“The route takes us from humidity and heat, into the dry outback diagonally crossing both Queensland and South Australia in what will prove a very challenging and very visually striking rally,“ Mr Freeman said.

“This will be a very special rally indeed.“

Box Rallies have raised more than $33 million since the first event in 2010.

To participate, each team must raise a minimum of $5000 with a target of $2 million for the entire rally.

To donate to Schulzey’s Shitbox, visit https://spring2023.shitboxrally.com.au/ schulzeys-shitbox

Luke(left)andAnnabel(right)withtheir‘shitbox’.

Pictures:SUPPLIED

AFP talk on espionage

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Claims of foreign interference were the subject of a federal police information session in Springvale on 9 July.

Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak said the Australian Federal Police session at the Cambodian Association of Victoria was part of “ongoing work to combat foreign interference from a foreign state”.

“The Cambodian diaspora community is a community traumatised through civil war and the ‘Killing Fields’.

“We have to call out foreign government activities that attempt to split the community.

“We value our active community members participating in a democratic process. This needs to be protected by Australian law and not to be intimidated by foreign agents.”

MrTakdescribedthecommunityasgripped in an “atmosphere of fear and division”, due to a Cambodian Government “war room” that was trying to intimidate Australian critics into silence.

“I don’t expect a big turnout,” he said in the leadup to the AFP event.

“Because of the fear of being photographed and identified by foreign agents.”

Mr Tak says regime opponents were being warned about visiting Cambodia and that their family and friends in Cambodia would be “watched”.

Regime “propaganda” was being spread by “false” business groups and by Facebook posts from Cambodia posing as local comment, he alleged.

Local politicians such as himself, former Clayton MP Hong Lim and former Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea claim they have received threats from foreign agents in recent years.

“In Australia, we know they have been watching our activity. My predecessor Hong

Trades & Services

Lim was charged by the regime with incitement. He was threatened that it wasn’t safe for him to go back to Cambodia.”

In the meantime, a protest is being held in Springvale on 16 July against “undemocratic” elections in Cambodia this month.

The main opposition party Candlelight was barred from taking part in the election, and opposition members have been allegedly assaulted or convicted on what supporters claim are politically-motivated charges.

“There’s no viable opposition party. Any opposition party, media, NGOs and individual who speaks out against the regime have been consistently shut down,” Mr Tak says.

An Australian Federal Police spokesperson

said espionage and foreign interference were “Australia’s principal security concern” and a “serious threat” to sovereignty and integrity of its national institutions.

When asked about Cambodian activities, the AFP stated it took a “country agnostic” approach to countering foreign interference.

“Our focus is on strengthening the resilience of sectors of Australian society which are at risk from foreign interference.”

Since the relevant laws came into effect in 2018, the AFP has charged two people with foreign interference offences.

The crime is defined as coercive, deceptive, clandestine or corrupting activity on behalf of a “foreign actor”, beyond “routine diplomatic

influence” and against Australia’s sovereignty and national interests.

It can involve seeking information or to influence government processes by using threats to cause serious harm or making “demands with menaces”.

In February, the AFP launched an education campaign on what to do if communities were threatened or intimidated by foreign governments.

AFP community liaison teams have since met with CALD communities, groups and religious leaders on the issue. afp.gov.au/sites/default/files/PDF/Factsheet-ForeignInterferenceintheCommunity. pdf

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Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak says the Cambodian diaspora needs protection from foreign interference. 327980

Picture: ROB CAREW

SPORT Football’s future in focus

By Sports Desk

Five leagues will come together as one to discuss the growth of football throughout the South East region on Monday night as the date rapidly closes in for clubs to submit Expressions of Interest to join the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League (MPFNL).

While Narre Warren, Pakenham – and now Cranbourne – have confirmed their interest in joining the MPFNL from 2024, a meeting will take place between Outer East, Eastern, Southern, VAFA and the MPFNL to discuss the growth of the game moving forward.

Outer East CEO Brett Connell said the meeting was designed to provide a positive platform for the future.

Narre Warren and Pakenham are both currently Outer East clubs, looking to move to the MPFNL, while Cranbourne is currently in the Southern league.

“It’s about coming together to talk about growing the game, and what we do going forward, as opposed to acquiring clubs and cannibalising one-another, and talk about having a strategic approach collectively,” Connell said.

“Our view of the world is, we’ve got a meeting in a couple of weeks with all competitions to talk to AFL Victoria about growing the game organically, like growing junior clubs into senior clubs like Berwick Springs.

“Let’s do some exciting stuff, and build some brand new senior footy clubs.

“We don’t have animosity about what’s taking place, and we talk to AFL South East, who does the Peninsula.

“We talk to Eastern, the Amateurs, we talk to all those competitions regularly and there are great relationships there.

“We just want to continue to build on them.”

Narre Warren and Pakenham have made intentions known in recent weeks, while reigning Southern Football Netball (SFNL) Division One premier Cranbourne has now confirmed that it will lodge an expression of interest to join the MPFNL in 2024.

It will be the third time Cranbourne has attempted to enter the competition, but there is a sentiment from some that MPFNL member clubs remain apprehensive about their inclusion.

Others at the club are more optimistic, pointing out that the interest to join the league appears to be more widespread this time around.

If a larger number of clubs express interest, that would enable the league to potentially immediately introduce a third division.

“The reasoning hasn’t changed from the previous three occasions,” said Cranbourne President Terry Gleeson.

“Geographically, we fall into a lot of areas including that league.

“Our juniors are now playing in the Frankston District Junior Football League and

South East Junior Football League competition against MPFNL member clubs.

“We also want to expand our netball.

“Playing netball at our home ground would allow us to do that.”

The club has been transparent with the SFNL through the entire process.

Expressions of interest must be lodged by Friday 14 July before the applications are presented to MPFNL club presidents for a final decision on entry.

Meanwhile, rumours have been circulating recently that four clubs from the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) have been assessing their options and potentially moving away from the league.

Star News contacted the four presidents, Bunyip’s Noel Mollison, Dalyston’s Andy Thomas, Kilcunda-Bass president Shae Eden and Korumburra-Bena’s Ken Myors, with all showing 100-percent commitment to the WGFNC moving forward.

“Yes, we’re struggling at the moment, but our plan is to rebuild and forge a long future in

theWest Gippsland league,” said Bunyip president Mollison.

“Whenever any club is struggling, these rumours start to flow, butWest Gippsland is definitely our Plan A.”

Thomas said Dalyston was equally as committed to the WGFNC as Bunyip.

“I don’t know where these rumours start from, but we’re not going anywhere,” Thomas said.

“I think there’s inevitability that years down the track, something will change with the composition of the leagues, but we’re committed to West Gippsland and we’re not going anywhere.

“That discussion about the future needs to be driven from up the line.”

Eden was steadfast with his comments when asked about the rumour.

“First I’ve heard of it, it hasn’t even mentioned at our club,” he said.

Myors, like Mollison at Bunyip, was keen to put the rumours to bed.

Korumburra-Bena did seek a switch to the Ellinbank and District Football League (EDFL) last year, but did not gain the support of the EDFL’s member clubs.

Myors said the club’s future was now in the West Gippsland league.

“We understand that we’re struggling, but the club has made a decision that we will work through these hard times and come out the other side.

“It’s obvious we’re in a rebuilding stage at the moment, but we’re committed to a future in West Gippsland.”

WGFNC Operations Manager Brett Tessari, and his EDFL counterpart Ken Moore, were both unaware of the meeting that was taking place on Monday night between Outer East, Eastern, Southern, VAFA and the MPFNL.

Finals bound Lions happily handball their way to victory

By David Nagel

Pakenham has virtually locked away a place in this year’s Outer East Women’s Division One finals series with a comfortable 44-point victory over Monbulk on Saturday.

The Lions - missing key players Courtney Stephens, Sarah Ventura, Courtney Karayannis and Amanda Hobba - played some rocksolid team football, handballing their way to a 7.10.52 to 1.2.8 success.

Pakenham kicked with the breeze - but up the hill at Monbulk - in the first term, with key-forward Chelsea English dribbling through the first of the day after seven minutes of play.

Tash Wakenshaw was giving the Lions midfielders Bianca Moody, Chloe Nagel and Tayla Sbisa first use in the ruck, while winger Tianah Vandesteeg was simply on fire on the outer side of the ground.

Katie Sanders, Pippa Simon and Brianna Menere were applying plenty of pressure for the Lions, while the attack on the ball of Sarah Connelly was also impressive.

English kicked a late goal to give the Lions a 15-point lead at quarter time.

Pakenham played its best football in the second quarter, with Emily Divine, Kayla Menere, Aliya Daniel and Steph Grentell controlling the back half, and Emma Caulfield, Tanya Stafford and Niamh Mooren having an influence around the ground.

English kicked her third and final goal after three minutes in the second quarter, before Lions’ skipper Nagel nailed a goal on the run to cap off a great passage of play…with Caulfield the instigator at half back.

Briana Menere then took a chest mark and goaled, after the siren, to give the Lions a 38-point lead at half time.

The Lions shared the ball beautifully by hand in the second term, opening up the play with some great teamwork.

Monbulk really lifted its intensity after the break, making the Lions work for everything, before Vandesteeg put the finishing touches on her best game for the Lions with a goal from the top of the goal-square.

The Lions kicked one more in the final term, with Nagel kicking her second to cap off a fine game through the midfield.

Kathryn Gow and Madeline Caarels were best for Monbulk, who battle bravely in the second half.

The third-placed Lions face Olinda Ferny Creek on Friday night this week, while the Hawks face a tough test at home against Healesville.

Berwick Springs continues to emerge as a finals contender this season after the fifthplaced Titans downed fourth-placed Olinda Ferny Creek by 29 points at Mick Morland Reserve.

The Titans, fresh off a commanding win over third-placed Pakenham last week, over-

came a half-time deficit to win 6.6.42 to 2.1.13.

The Titans were held goalless in the first half - trailing by 11 points - but booted three goals in each of the third and final quarters to race away with victory.

Emily Browning kicked three for the winners, and Sheridan Holland two, while Kim Emile finishing off a cracking of football with a single contribution to the scoreboard.

The Titans will put their good form to the test against second-placed Upwey Tecoma on Saturday, while the Bloods will look to bounce against Pakenham on Friday night.

And undefeated Healesville would appear to have the premiership at its mercy after a complete shutdown of second-placed Upwey Tecoma.

Healesville eventually prevailed 4.10.34 to no score, with Danielle Carrucan kicking two goals and skipper Alexandra Bryan and Scarlett Potter one apiece.

Leah Borg, Teagan Burton and Dakota Roach were best for the defeated Tigers. Results: Monbulk 1.2.8 def by Pakenham 7.10.52, Healesville 4.10.34 def Upwey Tecoma 0.0.0, Berwick Springs 6.6.42 def Olinda Ferny Creek 2.1.13.

Ladder: Healesville 48, Upwey Tecoma 32, Pakenham 28, Olinda Ferny Creek 20, Berwick Springs 16, Monbulk 0.

Fixture R13: Olinda Ferny Creek (4) v Pakenham (3), Monbulk

(6) v Healesville (1), Berwick Springs (5) v Upwey Tecoma (2).

Pakenham celebrates its win over Monbulk on Saturday. Back from left; Courtney Karayannis, Courtney Stephens, Emily Devine, Chloe Nagel, Tayla Sbisa, Pippa Simon and Katie Sanders. Middle; Tanya Stafford, Steph Grentell, Brianna Menere, Bianca Moody, Chelsea English and Kayla Menere. Front row; Aliya Daniel, Sarah Connelly, Tianah Vandesteeg, Emma Caulfield, Tash Wakenshaw and Niamh Mooren. 346298

Picture: SUPPLIED

Cranbourne has confirmed it has put in an expression of interest to join the MPFNL. 343169 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Snipers follow the script

By Marcus Uhe

Snipers will face-off against Just Social for a place in the SouthWest Gippsland Dart League grand final this week after results in the first round of finals followed the script.

The all-important double chance earned through finishing in the top two means the Warriors stay alive, despite falling 8-2 to the unstoppable force that is Just Social.

While not getting the result they wanted, Warriors will be buoyed by the form of Liam, who threw a 180 in the loss.

They will have to combat Dean the tonthrowing machine from Snipers to stay alive in the competition, however, after he powered his side to a 8-5 defeat of Paky One in a knockout semi final.

Dean added another nine Tons to his regular season league-leading total of 127, to go with the five 180s that he bagged across the campaign, another league-topping statistic.

Snipers upset the Warriors 9-6 in their last encounter, after Warriors snuck home 8-7 in the earlier meeting between the two sides.

Just Social will rest their arms and eyes for a week before returning to the field of battle at the Cardinia Club Hotel for a quest at glory.

In the lower half of the table, 26ers and Rebels will battle it out for the coveted Don Brown Memorial Shield after winning their respective sudden-death encounters.

26ers prevailed over Gembrook 8-3 and

Rebels got the better of Bullseyes 8-2 to set up the decider, a fitting crescendo given they tied for ladder points after the regular season and finished with a six-win gap on the rest of the field.

Work to do for Pakenham

By Marcus Uhe

It was billed as a fortnight that would provide a frank assessment of Pakenham’s growth as a side since the beginning of the season, and the results proved that there’s still work to do for Ash Green’s men.

Last week’s 65-point loss to Narre Warren was followed by a 52-point loss toWoori Yallock in round 11, in a contest in which the Tigers had 34 scoring shots to 12, finishing 11.23 89 to 5.7 37.

The second quarter was the telling period of football in the contest, where last year’s runner up kicked 6.11 to Pakenham’s four behinds, making full use the breeze at their backs on its home patch.

Pakenham went goalless in the fourth term as well, unable to register a major while kicking into the wind all day.

That quarter aside, the Lions were largely in the hunt, but fell short against a bigger, stronger and more organised side, while managing personnel issues of their own.

Inspirational captain Jake Barclay missed due to the league’s concussion protocols, after suffering a knock to the head against NarreWarren the week before, while Jackson Berry and Stephen Moray’s absences in the back half were acutely felt, with Joshua Neal kicking four for the home side.

Zach Monkhorst starred for the Tigers in the middle of the ground, finishing the contest with 32 disposals, 13 clearances and an incredible 76 hit outs.

Jordan Stewart, Koby Grass and Joel Sarlo were among Pakenham’s best.

This week’s bye comes at a good time for Pakenham, offering more precious recovery time for senior players to get themselves right for the back half of the season.

With return clashes against the Magpies andWooriYallock out of the way early in the second half of the year, all remaining contests outside of the match-up with Wandin are against sides on equal place or below them on the table, leaving them primed for a run at a finals spot.

Gembrook Cockatoo’s brutal run of form continued at the hands of Monbulk, thrashed by 68 points at the Hawks’ nest.

The Brookers managed to hit the scoreboard in the first term but still trailed by 41 at the first change, and 56 at the half.

Eight goals to 10 in the second half showed their resilience, but the absence of leaders Josh Tilly and Michael Firrito proved telling.

Myles Wareham kicked five in a lone hand up forward for the men in green, with defenders Brayden Weller and Frank Dido-

offering resistance in the back half.

For Monbulk, Ziggy Hatherley and Lochlan Beecroft each kicked four.

For the second week in a row, Mt Evelyn provided the upset of the round, getting the better of Upwey Tecoma at home by nine points.

The Rovers flew out of the blocks to lead by 28 points at the first break before holding the Tigers at arms-length for the remainder of the contest, despite being outscored by 13 points in the final term.

Rebels thrashed 26ers 14-1 back in round one before 26ers exacted their revenge in round 12 with a 10-5 victory.

Results

· Finals Week One: Just Social 8 v Warriors 2,

Fixture

· FinalsWeek Two:Warriors v Snipers, Rebels v 26ers (Don Brown Memorial Shield).

Magpies make their move

By Marcus Uhe

Narre Warren have rocketed to the top of the

Ferny Creek’s Hailey Howard and Monbulk’s Peri Reid, who each have reached the marker once.

Outer East Premier Division

netball

ladder after inflicting a second consecutive defeat of previous ladder-leaders Wandin 60-46 at home.

Dominant first and third quarters were crucial for the home side, outscoring the Bulldogs 39-17 over those periods to establish a considerable buffer.

Missing Charlotte Spinks for a third-straight week, much ofWandin’s goalscoring was left to Emmalia Blake, who scored 43 of Wandin’s 46, where the Magpies were able to share responsibilities through their dual-threat in attack of Clare Vearing (24) and Jemma Osborne (32).

Lupe Fonua continues to impress for the home side, fitting into place at senior level having earned a promotion from the under 17s earlier in the season.

The story was similar for Beaconsfield at nearby Holm Park Reserve, who accounted for Pakenham 56-30 on the back of a half-century of goals for Elizabeth Murphy.

The Eagles flew out to a 21-12 lead at the first break, before scoring dried-up almost completely for both sides who scored just four goals each in the second term.

The half time break allowed for the Eagles to recharge their batteries and launch again in the third term, outscoring the young Lions 18-2 to lead by 25 at the final break.

While Pakenham mounted a good fight in the final term, the deficit was too great to overcome.

Murphy became just the fourth player to achieve the 50 goal milestone in a game this year, joining Wandin’s Blake (twice), Olinda

For Pakenham, Rose Laidlaw made a welcome return to the side in her first game since round seven, scoring 20 goals.

Mt Evelyn suffered a shock loss to Upwey Tecoma 41-43 in what was just the Tigers’ third win of the season.

A tight contest all day saw the lead never stretch beyond three at any break in the contest, and the Tigers lead by one at the final change of ends.

A low-scoring final term 8-7 in favour of the Tigers was enough to secure the upset, only the third time the Rovers have suffered defeat in 2023, but critically they manage to maintain third place on the table.

One game back from Mt Evelyn is Olinda Ferny Creek, who took care of business at home against Berwick 55-44.

An eight-goal advantage at the end of the first quarter was too much for Berwick to overcome, despite tallying its third-highest score of 2023.

Emma Clarke led Berwick in scoring, matching Olinda Ferny Creek’s Howard’s tally of 23.

Monbulk, meanwhile, heaped pain on Gembrook Cockatoo with another heavy defeat, winning 62-23.

It was the Brookers’ sixth consecutive score of under 30 goals, who continue to struggle in premier division without a win to its name.

The eight-point gap between Olinda Ferny Creek and Monbulk in fifth and sixth respectively alludes to the final five being already set, but with six rounds to play, the challenge for the sides on the outer is plain to see.

Narre Warren’s Soph Hennessey wears contact from Kyah Kympton in a physical clash between the top two sides in the competition. 346052 Picture: ROB CAREW

nato

Tom Gamble’s positional versatility has been valuable for Pakenham as it weathers a storm of injuries. 344555

Picture: ROB CAREW

Snipers 8 v Paky One 5, Rebels 8 v Bullseyes 2, 26ers 8 v Gembrook 3.

The Rebels take on 26ers for the coveted Don Brown Memorial Shield this week. 321895

Picture: SUPPLIED

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