News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 16th November 2023

PAKENHAM OFFICER

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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Walk against violence

Preserve our foundations call

Humble eight-wicket hero

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SPORT

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Helping wildlife thrive

Megastore opens doors

Vinnies executive general manager commercial services Jeff Antcliff and state president Michael Quinn open the store. 371236 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Vinnies has expanded to meet the needs of the bustling Pakenham community with a new large store on the Princes Highway providing essential products at low prices.

The hard-to-miss megastore clearly caught the eye of the community as a crowd already gathered at 9.30am in the heat of this past Friday 10 November to see the opening of the store.

This adds to the existing Vinnies on Main Street to total two in Pakenham.

The new store is large enough to house its own sections, such as an accessory zone, a first for Vinnies in Victoria, while you can find a whole wall for shoes, and an area for essential items like mattresses at cheap prices.

Pakenham’s second Vinnies is located at 88 - 90 Princes Highway, open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.

Rental prices soar

By Cam Lucadou-Wells Pakenham rentals are at their most unaffordable since 2015 – severely so for pensioner couples, according to newly released statistics.

The Rental Affordability Index depicts a “fundamentally broken” rental market across Melbourne.

For pensioner couples, rental prices are rated as “severely unaffordable” across the region – scoring as low as 71 in Berwick, 78 in Narre Warren and 79 in Cranbourne.

While Pakenham just notched into the “unaffordable” category with 81.

A score of 50 to 80 is considered “severely unaffordable”, 80 to 100 as “unaffordable”, 101120 is considered “moderately unaffordable”, 120-150 as “acceptable” and over 150 as “affordable”.

Meanwhile for minimum wage couples, rental affordability is deteriorating to “moderately unaffordable” in Berwick while still “acceptable” in Pakenham.

The Rental Affordability Index is an analysis

undertaken by National Shelter and SGS Economics and Planning.

National Shelter chief executive Emma Greenhalgh said low-income people were being priced out of “entire swathes” of Melbourne.

“The rental market is fundamentally broken.

“Melbourne’s rental market is in a crisis and it’s only getting worse. This disproportionately punishes people with the least.”

Overall, Berwick ranks the lowest for af-

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fordability with an “acceptable” index score of 127 (down 8 per cent from two years ago), followed by Cranbourne (132, down 17 per cent), Narre Warren (134, down 7 per cent), Pakenham (141) and Hampton Park (148, down 7 per cent).

The suburbs are all rated less than “affordable”, based on Greater Melbourne median gross household incomes of $108,955.

Soaring rents are starkly shown in the State Government’s June Rental Report.

Continued page 4

NEWS

Helping with ‘wild’ legacy School students paid a visit to Pakenham Upper’s Locky’s Legacy recently to support the wildlife sanctuary and enjoy its many wonderful inhabitants.

On Wednesday 1 November, 10 students from Bayswater Secondary College along with staff and their school principal, Liz Swan visited the beloved Locky’s Legacy, an animal wildlife shelter in Pakenham Upper run by locals Don and Lyndel.

BSC staff reached out to Lyndel and Don to see how the school could provide support to their shelter as part of the school’s Hands on Learning program.

Students were able to put their hands-on skills to work by creating two incredible wombat kennels.

These wombat kennels were created with recycled materials and will be used to assist housing of young wombats that were delivered to the shelter from road accidents.

Throughout the day, students assisted with food preparation, feeding donkeys, pigs, wombats and many other animals.

The students also were able to walk the property, cuddle baby wombats, clean up paddocks and gain lots of life experience.

Students were able to visibly see all the hard work, effort and love that goes into running this shelter and the 24-hour care, and responsibility for these gorgeous animals did not go unnoticed by the students and their staff.

One student, Alex Evans said it was “truly the best day of her life”, while others did not want to leave.

Don and Lyndel from Locky’s Legacy with Bayswater Secondary School students who made and donated wombat kennels for the sanctuary.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Ryan and donkey.

Flynn, Don, Justin, Jill and Liz.

Justin and Hope.

Alex and Matt with wombats.

Wandering through the grounds of Locky’s Legacy.

Have your say on Cardinia Shire’s equestrian strategy Cardinia Shire Council has undertaken a review of the 2014 Equestrian Strategy and released a new draft strategy for consultation.

Equestrian is a popular activity in Cardinia Shire with approximately 1000 equestrian club participants and more than 20 clubs operating, in addition to informal trail users.

The Draft Equestrian Strategy 2023 – 2033 contains recommendations to:

- Plan, deliver and maintain equestrian trails and facilities where they are most needed.

- Increase equestrian participation through improved access to trails and facilities, and better information about equestrian clubs and services.

- Enhance the promotion of equestrian trials and facilities, and partnerships that

support activations, events and infrastructure.

The community can speak to the council staff and have their say on the new strategy at the following drop-in sessions: Friday 17 November, 3pm to 4pm, Cardinia Civic Centre, Officer.

Monday 20 November, 5pm to 6pm, Hills Hub, Emerald.

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NEWS

Walk Against Violence march in Pakenham last year. 308140

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Walking to end violence The community is invited to walk against family violence in Pakenham on Friday 24 November.

The Cardinia Casey Family Violence Network, with support from Cardinia Shire Council, is hosting the Walk Against Violence to help raise awareness about family violence and services available to vulnerable families in the community.

The Walk Against Violence, now in its 13th year, will depart at 12pm from the Pakenham Library and travel through Main Street before

finishing at the library at around 12.30pm.

Prior to and following the walk, families can hear from guest speakers and participate in a series of activities, including: Raffles Family friendly activities Free sausage sizzle The walk offers all people in Cardinia an opportunity to show their support to end the cycle of family violence in the community - everyone is welcome to attend.

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Three incidents of family violence are reported to police every day in Cardinia Shire, affecting thousands of families each year. If you, or someone you know, are experiencing family violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT for advice and support. In an emergency, call the police on 000.

For more information about council’s work in preventing and responding to family violence in Cardinia Shire, visit cardinia.vic.gov. au/familyviolence

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STAR NEWS 3

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre manager Michelle Davidson

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I always order a double ice cream and one flavour has to be rum and rasin!

What do you love the most about your job?

That I am the boss! Working as the centre manager at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, every day is different. I enjoy working with the local North Cranbourne Community and offering programs and services to meet the local needs. I know all our students’ names and love a cheeky hello from the children in our before and after school care programs. One day I am writing a grant application or helping in the newly established community garden or working with volunteers and the next, preparing reports for our Committee of Management or helping to cook the barbecue as part of the Ageing Positively month.

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

I have just come back from a visit to the Adelaide Zoo, and I want to be a fluffy black and white panda bear. They are so cute and adorable, and for the most part are peaceful, easy going and happily laze about and eat.

What was your most memorable moment?

I know it’s a bit of a cliche, however it was when the doctor put my newborn daughter on my chest. Almost 20 years on, I can still remember vividly those first moments when I met my daughter.

What were you like as a kid?

I like to think I was a likeable kid, smart but not too smart. I was part of a great social group of girls, and we still meet up for dinner three or four times a year, some 40 to 50 years on! I was a bit shy in new situations, which surprises people who know me now.

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

To have been present in 1922, when Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamun.

THREE … ways to protect your home

1

Enhance visibility to deter burglars Ensure your home is well-lit, especially at entrances and along pathways. Adequate lighting makes it easier for neighbours or passersby to spot suspicious activity, acting as a deterrent for potential burglars.

2

Fortify entry points for added security Reinforce external doors and windows with sturdy locks and security hardware. Consider installing deadbolt locks and reinforced strike plates to make it difficult for intruders to force entry.

3

Safeguard your valuables and make theft difficult Implement measures to protect your belongings inside the home.

Use safes to secure important documents, jewellery, and other valuables. Consider engraving or marking your possessions with unique identifiers, making it harder for thieves to sell or pawn stolen items.

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre manager Michelle Davidson. 363670 Picture: ROB CAREW Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

Nagi Maehashi, Margaret Atwood, Michelle Obama, Pink, Emily Brontë and Sarah Millican.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Did a quick ring around for these - principled, vibrant and optimistic.

What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’?

The day would start with breakfast in bed. The morning would be spent at home, and then out for lunch. It would be a sunny 28 degrees,

and I would spend the afternoon outside reading a book in the shade, and someone would bring me a couple of glasses of champagne.

Dinner would be cooked for me. I would go to bed around 10pm with a happy smile.

Where is your happy place?

A sunny place, maybe in Palm Cove.

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

Mussels in a pot with home-made fries and mayonnaise.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

COMO Cocoa Island in the Maldives.

NEWS

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Rental prices soar

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

From page 1 For low-income earners, there were only two “affordable” two-bedroom rentals available in the entire Casey council area, two in Cardinia Shire and 23 in Greater Dandenong.

There was just one single-bedroom rental rated as “affordable” in Casey, one in Greater Dandenong and zero in Cardinia Shire.

Median rents for two-bedroom flats in Berwick soared $40 a week in the past year to $400 and two-bedroom houses up $63 a week to $423.

In Cranbourne, two-bedroom flats were up $25 a week to $365, and houses up $40 a week to $400.

In Narre Warren-Hampton Park, two-bedroom flats were up $30 a week to $380 and houses up $32 a week to $400.

In Pakenham, two-bedroom flats rose $30 a week to $360 and houses were up $50 a week to $390.

In September, the State Government launched its Housing Statement which sets a target of 800,000 new homes over the next decade with affordable housing quotas and fasttracked planning approvals.

“More housing supply means lower prices,” the then-Premier Daniel Andrews said at the time.

Under the Government’s Big Housing Build launched in 2020, 76 social housing dwellings have been built in Casey with 70 underway.

Opposition housing spokesperson Richard Riordan said the project had been a “big let down”.

Just 394 extra public housing dwellings had

been built since 2018 at the cost of $5.3 billion – despite a pledge of 12,000 homes by 2024, he said.

“These numbers also make a mockery of the Premier (Jacinta Allan’s) claim that she will build 800,000 new homes over the next decade.”

Recently, homelessness support service Wayss said the South East growth corridor had been “neglected” – with its proportion of public and community housing well below the average of Greater Melbourne.

Ahead of the 2022 state election, City of Casey called for an “urgent investment” to stem the significant and growing shortfall of 6000 affordable and social housing dwellings. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Preserve our foundations

By Ethan Benedicto As the monthly Casey Council meeting draws nearer, former council heritage staff member David Westlake wants a greater emphasis on the area’s significant geological sites.

While Mr Westlake had already spoken about the sense of belonging these sites provide, their upkeep is more about “that understanding of country”.

“Regarding the SBI quarry in Cranbourne, you’ve got the older layers and then there’s a big gap where you can see the millions of years of soil that leads to Sandringham sandstone,” Mr Westlake said.

Neville Rosenberg, a geomorphologist with 40 years of experience, had identified the SBI quarry in 2018 to be of state significance.

The Sandringham sandstone dates as far back as five million years ago, one of the many instances where Mr Westlake states are an important part of history.

In addition, the former quarry in Wilson Botanic Park is also of state significance, namely for its preservation of fossil plants and basalt lava flows.

“It’s a legacy of the past that so many people cherish and look after, and it’s not a big ask to try and maintain it really.”

Casey Council houses a large array of heritage areas, with a big focus on structural sites.

“I think there’s more focus on structural heritage sites, it’s lacking in geological and geomorphological (heritage), and I would also add lacking in Aboriginal heritage as well,” Mr Westlake said.

However, one of the issues he added was that while a planning report might be filed, there’s a tendency for it to sit in the archive and be forgotten.

“I would advocate that since we know how to do a study and to revise it once or twice, we really should have something to protect the sites.”

David looking at the rock formation caused by volcanic activity. 372493 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS. Although not geological, Mr Westlake had previously worked on civic memorabilia with the Bunjil Place arts team where they have managed to digitalise 124 out of roughly 800 documents, but has unfortunately come to a halt.

“It’s good to focus on the top 124 pieces, but there could be many more items which could be worth the public knowing about.”

One of the many things Mr Westlake would like to see in the council meeting is a proper timeline that outlines protection for all heritage sites, stating that the “council should grasp the bullet and do justice to these heritage sites”.

Education and community outreach regarding geological heritage sites was another factor Mr Westlake said should be considered.

“Geo-heritage sites have scientific and educational values, scientific research is aided by

finds like the fossil plants at Wilson Botanic Park.

“It is one of the easiest described assemblages of this type of flora in Victoria, thus adding a key to the geological record.”

The educational value, Mr Westlake stated, is that people, especially young children are able to gain what he said is a “real sense of wonder and discovery”.

“When geo-heritage sites are preserved and protected in the local area, one’s backyard, so as to speak, they are easily accessible to local schools and families, especially when interpretative signage is added.”

Wilson Botanic Park has multiple signs throughout its premises, providing people with information detailing the specific geographic outlay of the environment.

Mr Westlake also added that a specific way for the park to push further its educational value is to do guided walks, where an expert would speak to a group and elaborate on topics of geology.

Aside from demolition from neglect, some of the greatest challenges that Casey faces in heritage protection are increasing land values and pressure for urban development within heritage areas.

In addition, there is also the lack of funding, resources and expertise to care for heritage places during and after the process of urban development, according to a parliamentary inquiry into Casey’s protections within the Victorian planning framework.

City of Casey’s planning and building manager Tania Asper said the council is preparing a planning scheme amendment to update the current planning scheme.

It will “include reference to a new local heritage policy that will require due consideration be given to heritage conservation, in addition to current planning scheme requirements”, according to Ms Asper.

One of the few things Mr Westlake said should be done is for the wider community to understand the value of geology.

Giving credit to his grandfather, David said that being exposed to the beauty of geology, the formation of the earth and its intricacies was the catalyst for his work throughout the years.

“A greater emphasis on both staff and community education and participation is central in my view.

“I think a dedicated officer would enable justice to be done to our rich heritage, ensuring that the community have a sense of belonging.”

Mr Westlake’s former manager made a case five years ago to turn the heritage officer planner position into a full-time role but to no avail.

While there is no specific focus on geological sites, Ms Asper stated the council employs a heritage officer and a panel of consultants to help homeowners manage heritage places.

“Landowners are encouraged to take advantage of our free Heritage Advisory Service or apply for funding to assist with the conservation of their heritage places via the Victorian Heritage Restoration Fund,” she said.

Regarding the planning scheme update, Mr Westlake stated that it will require more desktop research and site visits in order to update the 2018 study by Mr Rosengren, and to also indulge in more staff education.

“I still encompass this with all heritages, and it’s about having a sense of place, of belonging, bringing you back to your roots if you like, to where you come from.

“It’s good to question something you don’t know, it’s part of science as well as heritage.”

The next council meeting is set to happen on Tuesday 21 November at 4pm and is open to public viewing.

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STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

Jockey rides for a cause Star jockey Craig Williams has engaged with Kids with Cancer Foundation in this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.

His cap features the foundation logo to highlight the charity spirits and encourage fans to donate to the cause.

Mr Williams has just competed in this year’s Flemington Melbourne Cup Day with his Cranbourne-trained filly Apache Song in the 2023 Desirable Stakes.

On 21 October, Mr Williams rode Apache Song in the Group 2 Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield, calling out to Kids with Cancer Foundation through a social media video filmed from his cap.

Apache Song is a homebred for David Baker’s Kilmore Thoroughbred Services and is trained by Michael Trotter.

She won her Moe maiden prior the Caulfield race by 6.5 lengths.

She ran second in her second start in the Redoutes Choice Stakes, and is aiming for a run in the Caulfield Thousand Guineas.

Apache Song is the first foal of the accomplished Gonski mare For a Song, which won races at Caulfield, Pakenham, Moe and Seymour and placed a further eight times in a 23-start career.

This is not the first time a David Baker horse has raced for Kids with Cancer, with For a Song racing for Kids with Cancer Foundation in 2017.

Mr Williams has been passionate about helping kids with cancer and their families, through raising awareness of nearly 800 children diagnosed with cancer each year, and funds to support the important programs provided by Kids with Cancer Foundation – including direct financial support to families,

The 12 little ducklings were found huddled together in the storm drain. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Ducklings back with mum Craig Williams and his filly Apache Song are racing for Kids with Cancer in the 2023 Spring Carnival.

Picture: SUPPLIED Care Packs, Wigs4Kids, plus funding critical hospital salaries and infrastructure, cancer research and more.

This year, Kids with Cancer Foundation marks 25 years of supporting kids with cancer and their families and celebrated providing over $30 million in funding nationwide through its programs.

At Kids with Cancer Foundation, 100 per cent of direct donations and fundraising activities go directly to funding the charity’s assistance programs.

All operational expenses are paid through three $2 raffles that are run throughout the year.

To learn more, visit kidswithcancer.org.au

A group of local firies made rescued a flock of ducklings from a drain on Saturday 4 November thanks to a quick-thinking mother duck.

CFA crews from the Narre Warren CFA fire brigade rescued 12 ducklings after receiving reports that the ducklings had fallen into a drain behind Amberley Park Shopping Centre.

Responding to a call at 6.52pm on Saturday 4 November, the crew spent 10 minutes searching when the mother duck guided them to the right drain, anxiously circling the drain as she watched the firefighters remove the debris from the drain covering before lifting the drain cover.

Narre Warren fifth lieutenant Aaron Chitaranjan said when they managed to gain access to the drain, they found the ducklings huddled together.

“One by one we picked them up and put them in a box with the mother duck watching from a distance,” he said.

All ducklings were safely removed from the drain and reunited with their mother.

The Narre Warren crew kept the ducklings warm after the rescue.

OPINION SOCIALLY SPEAKING

LENSCAPE

Optus customers across the country were left frustrated last week as a nationwide outage affected millions of businesses and individuals, leaving them without access to key services. Here’s what our readers had to say about how it impacted them.

Janine Kay Definitely thinking of changing provider. It affected my banking, car servicing, shopping and my ability to be there to support family.

Ian Venables Imagine the consequences if this happened during a major disaster like fires or flood.

No warnings could be issued.. equals loss of lives.

Jude Newman-Tope When I needed to try and get my asthmatic

child into a doctor and couldn’t make calls or use the booking app, I wasn’t impressed.

Luckily, they saw me as a walk-in.

Lorraine Lindsay It can happen to any provider.

Pauline Stringer Being deaf, I had no way to communicate with anyone - text, Messenger, emails or any other way. I am a full-time carer of two adults and I couldn’t even contact anyone especially after one had a meltdown. Not happy and this should not be happening with such a huge telco.

Shaun Coe Only missed 20 business calls and 10 emails.

Tracey Matthies Not an Optus user, but couldn’t phone my doctor’s clinic because they are.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up

Thumbs down

To the Coastal Village Art Group’s ‘Coastal Colours’ exhibition.

To the weather.

Thumbs up

To inconsiderate, selfish motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Learn to get along or just stay at home.

Thumbs down To everyone who volunteers in Casey! You matter very much!

Thumbs down To Casey Council.

Arborist Jordan Wong competing in the Victorian Tree Climbing Competition in Lynbrook.

372879 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Thumbs down To insurance companies.

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

Thumbs up To the great playlist at the Berwick Bowling Club on Saturday with some AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and ’Jessie’s Girl’ by Rick Springfield, just to name a few! pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Stay close, go further.

VISIT GIPPSLAND

Chris & Gab Moore Sailors Grave Brewing Orbost, Gippsland We’re passionate about beer making.

Our specialty brews tell the story of Gippsland, inspired by the land, its people, the rivers and ocean that surrounds us. Local ingredients go into every can, and every flavour points to where we live. Ask for Sailors Grave brews at Gippsland’s restaurants and provedores.

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STAR NEWS 7

NEWS

Education funding concern

By Emma Xerri The ‘For Every Child’ campaign made its way to Cranbourne West Primary School on Wednesday, with the school claiming a $1.1 million annual shortfall in “full funding”.

The campaign, which will culminate with the delivery of thousands of postcards to Federal Parliament in late November, is calling for full funding across public schools nation-wide.

According to organisers, 98 per cent of public schools funded below the minimum Schooling Resource Standard, which sits at $11,000 per primary student and $14,000 per secondary student.

Campaigners are also drawing attention to teachers’ deteriorating work conditions across the country.

Cranbourne West Primary School teacher Ray Payne believes addressing the underfunding is a crucial step to improving the quality of education for both teachers and students.

“It’s very frustrating and a lot of people are taking time off due to stress,” Payne said.

“We’re a very multicultural school and we’ve got a range of students with different educational needs. Some students need a lot of support and some of the high-achieving students need to be accelerated, but we’re short on staff and support staff, so people are missing out on both ends of the spectrum.

“The general feeling is that a lack of resources, a lack of staff, and a lack of funding affects everyone. And we’re a very inclusive school.

“No one misses out because of their income. But that puts a financial strain on the whole school, and on the whole education system really.”

Cranbourne West Primary School principal Andrew Bergmeier states that full funding for all public schools is the only way to address these educational barriers and move forward.

Staff get behind the ‘For Every Child’ campaign at Cranbourne West Primary School.

“Currently, Victorian schools are funded at 90 per cent of the Student Resource Standard, which means that every primary school student is missing out on $1800 of funding a year.

“For a school of our size, which has about 600 kids, that’s just around $1.1 million. If we, as a school, were funded up to the 100 per cent then we would be able to employ a teacher aid for every classroom, which would significantly help our children,” Bergmeier said.

“At the moment, we can only provide our students that are coming from trauma or are suffering from mental health or physical issues very limited support.

“We are not medical experts or psychologists or occupational therapists, and we would, like all schools, benefit from having a dedicated professional in these roles at our school all the time.

“All we want as a school community is for the state government and the federal government to live up to their pre-election promises and to provide us with what our school requires to thrive.”

The Minister for Education and the Opposition spokesperson for education were both contacted for comment but did not respond by deadline.

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STAR NEWS 9

FOCUS ON … EDUCATION

Community spirit is strong A strong community spirit is key to St James being a happy and welcoming school.

With incredibly supportive parents, some of whom were students here themselves, being known, nurtured and respected is paramount to who we are.

Two recent examples of the spirit of St James, have been our working bee where parents and children helped create a wonderful landscaped sandpit and our Family Fun Night.

Staff noticed students digging in an old line of sand and decided that with the assistance of student designers, we would approach our Parents and Friends Group for help to meet the needs of our students and their desire for imaginative play.

We now have a fully functioning ‘cafe’ where students eagerly approach staff to take

their orders!

We were very lucky to have perfect weather for our Family Fun Night.

Again, our parent group rallied to raise much-needed funds for a new playground and other resources for our children.

Thank you to Nar Nar Goon CFA and DS Sports and all local businesses that supported the night.

It was great to see past students and extended family members as well as families from the broader community supporting our St James’ Got Talent, with Maddie and Matilda taking out first place with their band.

St James Catholic Primary School, Nar Nar Goon, 60 Nar Nar Goon Rd, Nar Nar Goon.

Phone: 5942 5404.

St James Catholic Primary School has a strong community spirit.

Supportive, caring learning Every school has a motto or mission statement that outlines how each member of the community can benefit from being part of the school community. St Clare’s Primary School, Officer, has the following school motto: Faith leads to courage, wisdom and compassion.

In order to live out this motto, all members of our community are asked to follow our school wide expectations which are Respect, Optimism, Courage, Kind and Safe – ROCKS. Our students follow these in their daily actions at school by doing their job, having a go, making positive choices, seeking help when needed, modelling and practising kindness and keeping themselves and others safe.

At St Clare’s these expectations are modelled and explicitly taught and reinforced in an ongoing way. Our student awards are based on living out ROCKS and we link these expectations to scriptures in the Bible. Our hope is that all members of our community will leave St Clare’s with our school wide expectations and our motto instilled in their minds as they go through life.

We look to nurture the holistic development of each child at our school. For the St Clare’s family, numeracy and literacy skills are core elements of education; but so is Religious Education – developing empathy, social justice and a strong moral compass. We encourage active play and healthy bodies; understanding other cultures through learning languages; and the confidence that comes with developing creativity through the performing and visual arts.

Student achievement is measured not only by academic growth but by each child’s emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. Being part of faith-filled community instils our students with a sense of identity, a feeling of belonging and above all, a powerful sense of self-worth.

At St Clare’s their aim is to have each child reach their potential; to be a well-rounded individual - within a supportive and caring learning environment.

At St Clare’s our aim is to have each child reach their potential; to be a well-rounded individual - within a supportive and caring learning environment.

Visit our website www.stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au and tour our “virtual tour” to get a real feel for our school. School Tours are also available, please contact the school on 5940 6777 to book a time.

For all enquires or to receive our enrolment documentation please phone 5940 6777 or email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic. edu.au

St James Catholic School Committed to your child’s academic, spiritual & emotional development Where every student is known, nurtured & respected.

ENROL NOW | 5942 5404 60 Nar Nar Goon Rd, Nar Nar Goon www.stjamesnng.catholic.edu.au/ 12634390-SN46-23

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STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Don’t do your own dentistry TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH Warren Buffet says: “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

Seems like a pretty obvious statement to make, but when it comes to making sensible business decisions, I am frequently surprised by the number of business leaders who opt to save a few bucks in the short term, but end up paying more in the long term. The thinking is along the lines of ‘looks like a pretty simple task to me, how hard can it be?’

I recall thinking the same myself many years ago when it came to laying carpet and I soon found out to my own cost the difference between my poor, cheap attempt versus the result that using a professional can achieve. I am sure you can think of many professions where this rule applies, but I am going to pick on just three where business owners tend to believe that they don’t need to pay for the service since they believe they can do it themselves and why this thinking is usually flawed: Recruitment of staff I inherently believe that “hiring the right staff is the most important decision a business can make, bar none”. Why? Because great staff make your life easier, keep your customers satisfied, and enable your business to grow. Bad staff can be toxic to your organisation, cost a fortune to release, and damage staff and customer relationships irrevocably.

But how many businesses actually train their staff in recruitment?

Sadly this is rare, so when a candidate attends an interview, there is often little under-

Hiring the right staff is the most important decision a business can make, bar none, Ian Ash says.

Picture: TIM GOUW/UNSPLASH standing of how to verify a candidate’s suitability, technical competency or even portray a professional image of the business itself (even unsuitable candidates should leave wishing

that they could have got the role).

There is an innate skill here, not only in candidate selection, but also in how to attract the right staff in the first place.

With an almost universal shortage of good skills today, getting the right people through your door for an interview can be a significant challenge in itself. Now I am not going to pretend that all recruitment companies are necessarily great, but when you find one that is, you will really notice the difference.

Bookkeeping services According to LinkedIn, “The Global Bookkeeping Services market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2030. In 2022, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon” primarily driven by increasing demand from the SME market which makes up 98 per cent of Australian businesses. Demand is due in part to bookkeepers not just entering in your financial data, they can produce your BAS and IAS returns as well as provide adjacent services such as payroll, bank and credit card reconciliation and records management.

Business mentoring/coaching This is also an area of increasing growth since as market sectors become increasingly competitive, business leaders are realising that they typically do not have all the skills necessary to excel in their market space.

Price changes and Google rankings alone do not result in automatic business performance increase, these need to be considered as part of an overall business strategy which enables greater focus, operational efficiency and clarity of objectives. Today, it is clear that great leadership skills are now a key differentiator between those businesses that succeed and those that don’t, so engaging external expertise to help build these capabilities can prove invaluable.

Ian Ash ACC, AInstIB Managing director OrgMent Business Solutions - ombs.com.au

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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NEWS

Championing better care

By Emma Xerri After three decades of tireless work in palliative care, Emeritus Professor, Margaret O’Connor, has been celebrated with an esteemed place on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

O’Connor is now among more than 700 women who have had their leadership achievements immortalised on the public record for excellence in their field and commitment to their community, which she has displayed in all aspects of her work locally, federally and internationally.

“I was thrilled to be recognised in this way, and it’s something I really didn’t expect,” O’Connor said.

“The Honour Roll is recognition of the roles of women in the Victorian community, and sometimes those roles might be a little overlooked or not acknowledged as much as they ought to be.

“I started my work in palliative care because I was frustrated with the organised health care that happens in institutions, where people don’t have a say over things like when they’d like to shower or exercise, and I was frustrated over having to conform.

“Caring for dying people has always been a challenge in institutions, particularly in hospitals where it’s not really set up for looking after people who are dying. And if we were to go back in history a little bit, everyone died at home, so I became very interested in homebased care and in making sure we were able to offer people that choice if that’s what they wanted.”

Emeritus Professor Margaret O’Connor is presented with her recognition by Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins at the Victorian Honour Roll of Women ceremony.

After a diverse and highly transformative career in palliative care, which has seen O’Connor drive the early development of palliative care services in Victoria and work ex-

tensively to expand Victoria’s palliative care research and training, this honour is by no means a first for the Palliative Care South East chair.

In 2005, O’Connor was made a member of the Order of Australia for service to the development and establishment of palliative care services in Victoria.

And after serving as foundation chair of Palliative Care Nursing at Monash University and founding three palliative care services across Melbourne, O’Connor was awarded the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2018, enabling her to explore end-of-life issues in a number of countries.

Her tremendous work has been recognised internationally and she has spoken at numerous overseas conferences and undergone expert visits to Singapore, United Kingdom, Timor L’Este, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

“Palliative care helps people to have a choice about all sorts of things at the end of their life, and the choice about where they receive their care is really important.

“A ward, where the emphasis is on people getting well and being discharged, is not the optimal place to die, and people who have a limited time left to live probably want something more comforting than that.

“While people do sometimes need to go to hospital to get their symptoms managed, for example, it’s really important that we’re able to support them in having a choice over where they receive most of their care.

“At Palliative Care South East we’re very proud of the work we’ve been doing this year, and we’re looking forward to all the challenges that having a different profile in a different area will bring.”

FOCUS ON … DISABILITY

SEC eagerly anticipates embracing the future together, committed to fostering a supportive and enriching community.

Spring into the outdoors

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

mitment to enhancing the quality of support and services we provide. As the year progresses towards the festive season, our anticipation grows for the upcoming participant Christmas get-together - an event that embodies the warmth and togetherness of our SEC family.

Looking back on the year, we celebrate the remarkable progress of our participants.

Through nurturing relationships, fostering emotional growth, celebrating achievements, and empowering individuals to enhance their independence and capabilities, we have witnessed inspiring transformations.

As 2023 draws to a close, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges that 2024 will bring. With hearts full of excitement and gratitude, we embark on this journey with our participants and their families, embracing the promise of new experiences, growth, and shared accomplishments. Together, we look forward to embracing the future, united in our mission to create a supportive and enriching community at SEC.

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As the weather transitions and the seasons evolve, so does the spirit of community at SEC. With the arrival of warm, sunny days, our focus has shifted to engaging outdoor activities, giving birth to exciting new groups centered around Pokemon adventures and refreshing Walk and Talk sessions.

These initiatives have breathed life into our community, fostering connections and encouraging exploration of our surroundings.

The picturesque locales of Springers Park, the enchanting Dandenong Creek Walk, the serene Frankston Pier, and the expansive Casey Fields have become the backdrop for our newfound outdoor camaraderie, marking a return to these activities after a hiatus during the cooler, wetter months.

Amidst this vibrant atmosphere, SEC has undergone significant transformations, from relocating to a new office in Beaconsfield to expanding our support staff and diversifying the areas where we offer assistance to our Participants. These changes reflect our com-

Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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STAR NEWS 13

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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NEWS

Relief as rare car returns

By Ethan Benedicto A 37-year-old man from Narre Warren was arrested on Wednesday 8 November for stealing a rare Mustang from Ferntree Gully in October.

The man was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, specifically a $400,000 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR, a car that is one of a kind in Australia and one of 24 across the globe.

In addition, he was also charged with driving while disqualified and possessing drugs of dependence.

A search warrant was executed at a residential address in Carrum Downs on 1 November, where the vehicle was recovered with minor damages.

Craig Dean, owner of Mustang Motorsport, was relieved when he was informed by detective senior constable Michael Gatt that the vehicle had been recovered.

“He rang me up and said ‘you’re going to have to bring your spare keys out to me’ and I said ‘oh, beauty, you found it?’”, Mr Dean said.

There were initial concerns that the vehicle had been broken down and stripped for parts, but detective senior constable Gatt assured that would be unlikely.

“Because of its value and rarity, I expected the car would be kept in some sort of good condition, which is mostly the case,” Mr Gatt said.

In the span of its absence, the car had been repainted black and the spoiler was removed, all of which proved to be an easy fix for Mr Dean’s team.

“It was relatively easy to put it back to where it should be, “The boys looked at it and they were able to peel the paint off, thanks to a sealant we use on our cars, and there was no major damage.”

As a car enthusiast himself, and a fellow Ford fan, Mr Gatt said he was “probably more relieved than Craig”.

“This investigation took a lot of long days, especially as it went on but it’s good to see the car handed back to its owner and brought back to its former glory.”

These charges initially came as the report went through at 3.45pm on Wednesday 11 Oc-

Craig Dean next to the rare Mustang GT500 KR. tober, where two men were captured by CCTV entering the workshop and driving off with the vehicle.

Being on holiday at the time, Mr Dean was contacted by workshop manager James, who had informed him of the vehicle’s theft.

As for Mr Gatt, cases like these were rather common occurrences for him and his team.

“It’s not unusual to search for cars this rare,

Picture: ETHAN BENEDICTO particularly because of the value, its rarity and its attention.

“It’s a big asset for a business, and a person, to lose,” Mr Gatt said.

As for Mr Dean and his team, he is grateful to authorities and the community for the help in finding the vehicle and having it returned home.

“I didn’t want to put too much pressure

on anyone and make a big deal about it, that doesn’t solve anything.

“It was just a material thing, no one was hurt but it was of course a financial loss – I wasn’t crying but I was disappointed,” Mr Dean said.

The Narre Warren man appeared in the Magistrates Court on 9 November and another 32-year-old Carrum Downs man was interviewed and released without charge.

Call to dispose of batteries safely following ‘hot loads’

By Matthew Sims

they can be recycled,” he said.

“This includes AA, button and rechargeable batteries, as well as batteries from cars, laptops, mobile phones, cameras, power tools and electronic toys.”

Tips to store your batteries safely at home before taking them to a drop-off include: Cover the ends of used batteries with duct tape or clear sticky tape, to prevent sparking and reduce the risk of fire; Store them in a glass container and make sure the container is not airtight; Don’t keep them in metal containers or

· · ·

with other metal objects;

them in a cool, dry place away from · Store heat sources; and · Keep them away from children and pets.

Local battery drop-off locations are at the Hampton Park Recycling Centre and Transfer Station, Pakenham Waste Transfer Station (Future Recycling), Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre, Lysterfield Transfer Station, local Officeworks locations and Ecoactiv.

For more information on the disposal of various items, visit casey.vic.gov.au/how-getrid-waste-unwanted-items

12648200-JC46-23

Casey Council has urged residents not to put batteries in kerbside bins to help keep the community safe.

Batteries consist of toxic substances and can pose risks to your property and the people who empty your bins.

When batteries are placed in household bins, they can cause fires both in the bins and in the trucks that collect them.

So far this year, there have been five ’hot loads’ or in-truck battery fires across Casey.

Casey Council sustainability and waste

manager Michael Jansen said Victoria Police, the State Emergency Service and Country Fire Authority were required to assist at the scene of the fires.

“The hot loads were tipped out in a safe space and foam was applied,” he said.

“In the most serious case, the truck was off-road for a fortnight due to damage that had been done to the wiring that runs through the top of the truck.”

Mr Jansen said residents should be careful not to put batteries in kerbside bins.

“If you need to dispose of batteries of any size, please take these to a battery drop-off so

Order now on aussietoysonline.com.au pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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STAR NEWS 15

WHAT’S ON

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s Justin Zerafa with a customer at South East Community Links’ Bring Your Bills Day event at Dandenong earlier this year. 359947 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Bring Your Bills Day With support from the Outlook Community Centre, Cardinia Council and a number of other organisations, South East Community Links is providing help and advice for those experiencing financial stress.

The Bring Your Bills Day will allow local residents to receive advice and help on their

White Ribbon Art Gallery The Cardinia Cultural Centre is hosting an art exhibition to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Art works will be from local submissions from dedicated people who wish to lift the veil on domestic violence to help combat it in the community.

The gallery will be open from Tuesday 14 November to Sunday 26 November, open daily 10am to 3pm at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.

·

Bula Cup Festival The Fijian Community Association Victoria Inc proudly presents its inaugural Bula Cup Festival which is supported by the State Government and Cardinia Shire.

In Officer, for the very first time ever, the two codes of Rugby Union and League are coming together into a one-day tournament.

It will be a day to remember with something for the entire family.

From fast-paced, action-filled rugby to delicious food stalls, from kids face painters to live cultural performances.

This free event will be hosted at Comely Banks Recreation Reserve on 25 November starting at 9am and running through to 5pm.

·

Lawn bowls tournament Come and explore Officer Lifestyle Estate by Lincoln Place, and cheer on their resident bowls team as they take on local rivals Pakenham Bowls Club and Berwick Bowling Club for the coveted Officer Cup! Residents will be serving up a delicious sausage sizzle and there will be a complimentary coffee van on site. Have a look around the estate and stock up for Christmas with items from our residents’ craft stalls.

The event will be on Friday 24 November, 10am to 3pm at Officer Lifestyle Estate, 34 McMullen Rd, Officer.

·

Gethsemane’s Annual Clyde Carols By Candlelight Saturday 16 December, 5pm to 9pm, Hillcrest Christian College Oval, 500 Soldiers Road, Clyde North.

Presented by Gethsemane Church and Charity for the seventh consecutive year.

The event is back live and on-site and online as the television presentations and radio broadcasts continue.

Hosted by Pastor Kerrigan La-Brooy, the event will include festive cheer, a carnival atmosphere, gifts, giveways, prizes, live performances, television appearances, food vendors, a hydration station, children’s rides, amusements and a special visit from Santa Claus.

The event is launching Gethsemane’s ‘Christmas Miracle’ with gifts for every registered child present at the event’s registration desk.

For more information, email kerriganlabrooy@bigpond.com or contact 0404 875 647 or register your interest at facebook. com/events/1817253545397267

·

Pakenham/Berwick Women’s Friendship Cafe luncheon 12647066-HC46-23

16 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

The Pakenham/Berwick Women’s Friendship

electricity, gas and water bills, tenancy rights, financial and consumer rights, ombudsman services, Centrelink services and fines.

The family-friendly event includes a free lunch and lots of giveaways.

Monday 27 November, 11am to 3pm, Outlook Community Centre, 24 Toomuc Valley Road, Pakenham.

·

Cafe end of year luncheon will be held at Living and Learning Pakenham from noon to 2pm on Thursday 14 December.

Vegan and halal food options available.

Each year the cake is a ‘tour de force’ featuring an artwork drawn by Rana Sadeghian and made

by Pam Archibald.

There is a giant raffle that will enable the Women’s Friendship Cafe to continue into its 7th year.

To RSVP, contact Living and Learning Pakenham at 5941 2389 before Monday 11 December.

Thursday 14 December from 12pm to 2pm.

·Housing Support and Advice

Are you experiencing homelessness? At risk of having no safe place to live? Living in low-cost accommodation with no support?

Visit the Pakenham Library and have a chat with a support worker to discuss available options and resources.

Every Wednesday between 2pm to 4pm.

Bookings are not required. If you require more information, please phone Pakenham Library on 5940 6200.

·

Berwick Springs VIEW Club Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.

The club currently supports seven students of varying ages with their education expenses and are about to take on an eighth student.

The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.30am, where members enjoy a lunch and then host a guest speaker.

Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies.

The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.

For more information, contact Shirley on 0419 878 481 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com

·

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club Are you newly retired, or new to the area, or just wanting to enjoy your freedom, or expand your social life?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities such as weekly social/ chat activities with low key in line dancing if you want to tap your feet and great afternoon teas, day/short and long trips away via (coach/ flights), Weekly Morning Coffee Club, Monthly Saturday Country Pub Lunches, Monthly Evening Dineouts, Weekly Table Tennis Club, Walking Groups, Seasonal Daytime Musical Theatre Outings, and more! We welcome all you gentlemen out there with time on your hands! Ladies, come along, this is your time to meet like minded people and make those new friends.

Come along and get to know the club by visiting on a Thursday at 2pm at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House or join us on a Wednesday at 10am for a Coffee at Little Sparrow Fountain Gate.

For more information, contact Enquiry Officer Gloria 0468 363 616.

·

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Tackling violence head on

By Emma Xerri Violence-prevention charity, the Pat Cronin Foundation, is partnering with YMCA Victoria in a new initiative working to address and educate against violence on and off the sporting field.

The foundation is taking their popular Violence is Never OK seminar online, hoping to equip players 13 years and above with the tools needed to manage anger and aggression, and raise awareness of the broad, highly-impactful effects of senseless violence.

Foundation director Matt Cronin, whose son Pat Cronin lost his life to a senseless coward punch attack, has worked tirelessly with the foundation to deliver anti-violence presentations nation-wide.

“We give people an understanding of Pat’s story as well as a wealth of practical tips and strategies to deal with anger and aggression – which are life-changing skills just as relevant off the field as well as on,” he said.

The seminar is just one portion of the partnership being backed by a City of Casey grant, as part of the Victorian Government’s Empowering Communities initiative within the Building Safer Communities Program.

The partnership will also see the foundation deliver a series of violence-prevention education measures at Casey Stadium, and centre manager Josh Sadler urges all players, coaches and officials from the 300 clubs involved with the facility to partake in the seminar, which is also available to those participating in entrylevel sports across the wider community.

“This is such a crucial initiative and underscores our commitment to making a lasting, positive change in thousands of lives,” he said.

“As part of our partnership with the foundation, we’re aiming to convey to a million-plus visitors to the stadium this year the importance of empowering people with the tools to say no to violence.”

The free seminar will take place online on Tuesday 21 November at 7pm.

Bookings are necessary and can be made at ViolenceisneverOK.eventbrite.com For more information about the Pat Cronin Foundation, visit patcroninfoundation.org.au

Pat Cronin.

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Stirring trouble

By Mitchell Clarke

Stirring trouble

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

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

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

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

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

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

The reaction from her neighbours was similar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture: FACEBOOK

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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STAR NEWS 17

NEWS

A walk among tree tops

By Violet Li Watching arborists perform stunts could easily trick you into an illusion that tree climbing is effortless.

The just-finished 2023 Victorian Tree Climbing Championships (VTCC) certainly pushed the false belief to the side when tree artists were seen to ascend, put the lines in, get into the spreading red gums, and walk in the clouds.

Held at Banjo Paterson Reserve in Lynbrook from 11 to 12 November, more than 30 arborists convened and competed for the awards.

The championship started with five different events for preliminary rounds where the participants showcased their abilities to professionally and safely manoeuvre in a tree while performing work-related tree-care tasks in a timely manner.

The highest scoring participants went to the Masters’ Challenge - the championship round of the competition in which they fight for the male and female titles.

The Masters’ Challenge is designed to judge in a single challenge event the competitor’s overall poise, techniques, and mastery of the combined skills tested in preliminary events.

Two-time and 2023 ITCC champion Barton Allen-Hall won the men’s master and 2023 ITCC 4th place Alana Murray won the women’s. Jack Lewis who won the second place in the 2023 ITCC came second in the men’s.

Mr Allen-Hall and Ms Murray did a ‘shoey’, drinking a beer from a shoe, as a celebratory tradition.

Mr Allen-Hall believed being an arborist was a very interesting job and he had philosophical reasons.

“Every tree is different, so makes it more stimulating. You’re not just applying the same formula to every tree. You got to think each

John Petrie presents Mat Holland (Chirnside Park) with The Spirit of the Competition Award. 372431 time,” he said.

“When you’re working, you’re working on a living thing. But, working on a living thing presents interesting challenges as opposed to building a building where they’re all the same.

“Trees are such three-dimensional things.

You don’t really get a sense of how they are until you are actually in the canopy. Climbing definitely gives you another perspective, a way to know trees and to connect with trees.”

Ms Murray, an arborist for seven years, said she truly enjoyed working for one of the most dangerous industries in Australia.

“I still found it daunting all the time,” she said.

“I come in with a load of nerves, but it’s just something that you gotta push through because the community is amazing and the support’s amazing.

“Once you’re done, the feeling you get is brilliant.”

Apart from regulars in the ITCC, other arborists also shined their expertise, creativity, and most importantly their love for the lives on the trees.

Narre Warren resident Oliver Moore, who competed in the preliminary rounds has engaged with trees for about 18 years.

He started the tree climbing as way of keeping fit and he initially saw it very much a game.

“As I got a bit older and matured a little bit, I started to be more and more interested in the trees themselves and why we were doing this work,” he said.

“Because we’re living around these organisms, so that’s why our jobs exist.”

He said it was nice to have events like VTCC. “It’s a big problem-solving exercise, really, and this competition sort of demonstrates problems of getting from this side of the tree to the other,” he continued.

“Maybe we can remove some branches

Arborist Barton Allen-Hall. 372431 where they might fall on someone or whether we could deal with a branch that might be snapped and hung. That’s the problem-solving aspect that I really like.”

VTCC first-time competitor Nikita Anderson, who has been in the industry for four years, said it was a good atmosphere at the competition.

“Everybody’s so friendly and encouraging.

And it’s really good to meet other people that do the same work as you, and everybody’s interested in the same thing,” she said.

“You learn a lot of different things from a lot of different people, and everyone has their own unique way. So it’s good to hear what everybody else.”

The adrenaline and the rush she got from actually bringing down some big goals kept Ms Anderson in the industry.

“Everything’s different all the time too. It’s a different challenge every day,” she said.

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Friendly bowls competition Officer Lifestyle Estate at Officer has invited local bowls clubs to participate in the inaugural Officer Lawn Bowls Tournament, competing for the Officer Cup. On Friday 24 November 2023 from 10am, Berwick Bowling Club and Pakenham Bowling Club will compete against the residents’ team in the friendly competition. Residents of Officer Lifestyle Estate will host the event including morning tea, sausage sizzle and a craft stall. Everyone is welcome and for those not playing bowls, there will be other leisure activities to enjoy.

Officer Lifestyle Estate is an established over 55s land lease community on McMullen Street, Officer. The Estate is being developed and managed by Lincoln Place and is currently home to more than 100 happy residents enjoying a range of lifestyle facilities including a Homeowners Lodge, indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna, gym, cinema, library, bowling green and a thriving community garden. New

homes are available for sale and display homes will be open for inspection.

The friendly bowling competition is to recognise that the Estate residents are very much part of the broader Officer community, using local services, shopping, and enjoying recreational activities.

According to Development Manager, Will Stirling, local connections beyond Officer Lifestyle Estate are important.

“Some of our residents have moved to Officer from other areas and establishing local connections is important. The bowling competition is a great opportunity for residents to meet other likeminded locals and widen their social networks.”

Location: Officer Lifestyle Estate, 34 McMullen Road, Officer.

Phone: 1300 844 492.

Website: lincolnplace.com.au/officerlifestyleestate

Officer Lifestyle Estate at Officer has invited local bowls clubs to participate in the inaugural Officer Lawn Bowls Tournament, competing for the Officer Cup.

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With over 2 and a half hours of unlimited festive fun, this extraordinary event has something for everyone!

Star News has 10 x Family passes to giveaway to readers for the 7pm Friday 24th November performance!

You’ll be able to experience the magic of Christmas in our interactive walkthrough under the big top tent, where you can see,hear, touch, and smell all the wonders of the season.

Check out the show - christmasunderthebigtop.com.au pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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NEWS

Gearing up for new council Casey is inviting residents interested in running in the 2024 council elections to upcoming information sessions to kick start their journey in making a difference in the community.

Casey has been governed by administrators for the past few years since the dismissal of all Casey councillors in February 2020 by the State Government.

Next year Casey will return to elected councillors when the next local government elections take place across Victoria in October 2024.

To support community members who might be considering running for council, Casey is hosting three Role of Council Candidate information sessions over the coming months.

The sessions are designed to give community leaders and residents the chance to find out more about the diverse range of functions and services local government provides, the role of councillors, and to provide the resources required for potential candidates for the election.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff encouraged anyone who was interested in taking an active role in shaping their community to attend one of the sessions.

“Local government is where grassroots democracy begins, and Casey is seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds, with various skill sets and experiences, to step forward and take part in the electoral process,” Ms Duff said.

“Anyone who intends to run for council should be passionate about their community, be keen to learn and willing to contribute to strategic decisions.

“By running as a candidate, you can help ensure that the voices and concerns of your community are heard and that your local government represents the diverse perspectives and needs of its residents.

“If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I encourage you to register for an upcoming information session so you can explore the possibility further.”

The information sessions will give an overview of the City of Casey, council functions and services and provide key details on how to run for council including formal training requirements for candidates.

The sessions will also cover topics including good governance practices, social media awareness and the Local Government Act 2020.

Council will be hosting three information sessions, two in-person events and one online.

November in-person session Date: Tuesday 28 November 2023 Time: 6pm – 8pm Venue: Eliston Family and Community Centre, Clyde Bookings: trybooking.com/events/landing/1128893 February virtual (online) session Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024 Time: 1pm - 3pm Venue: Online session Bookings: trybooking.com/events/landing/1122762 March in-person session Date: Tuesday 26 March 2024 Time: 6pm – 8pm Venue: Bunjil Place, Narre Warren Bookings:trybooking.com/events/landing/1122765 To find out more and register to attend, visit casey.vic.gov.au/council-elections-2024

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Casey has been governed by administrators for the past few years since the dismissal of all Casey councillors in February 2020 by the State Government.

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STAR NEWS 21

SPORT

Jacobus Hynes blasted his maiden career century for Cardinia against Clyde on Saturday. 368093

From left; Pakenham skipper Dale Tormey and Jack Anning follow Jason Williams off at the tea break. 372557

Humble eight-wicket hero

By David Nagel It will come as no surprise to anyone that knows him that Jason Williams would play down his own achievements and share the plaudits with others after his epic eight-wicket haul for Pakenham (0/27) against Devon Meadows (160) on Saturday.

The 37-year-old, known to most as Boof, returned the best bowling figures of his career (20.5-8-47-8) in a spell-binding performance that can only be described as brilliant.

But not by the man himself.

“To be honest, I didn’t really bowl that well,” the off-spinner said with a familiar chuckle.

“I bowled a lot of half trackers, and a few full tosses as well; I was just trying to turn it as much as I could.

“It was just one of those days where the boys fielded well and I was the beneficiary of some good bowling from the young blokes, Jordy (Seers) and Marcus (Martini) at the other end.

“They were bowling really tight, so the batsmen came harder at me and made my figures look better than they probably should have been.

“It’s good to get eight wickets, but I had quite a bit of help from the young blokes.”

After winning the toss and batting, Devon Meadows started well against the Lions with openers Lucas Ligt (27) and promising youngster Will Halton (55) putting on a 45-run partnership.

The left-right combination complemented each other beautifully, with the Lions struggling to bowl tight lines Skipper Dale Tormey set a concentrated 7-2 off-side field, but any pressure was released with several balls drifting onto the leg side.

The Lions upped their game after 10 overs, with keeper Rob Elston coming up to the stumps which seemed to change the momentum somewhat.

It was a tactic employed successfully by Tooradin keeper Ben Parrott last week, and it worked again, with a free-flowing scoring rate slowing down as a consequence.

It just added a different element to think about for the batters.

The Lions renewed consistency and tight lines - and Elston’s presence - would soon pay dividends, with Ligt pulling a short ball from James Close (9-1-25-1) into the safe hands of Jordan Seers at square leg.

That’s when tickets to the ‘Jason Williams Show’ were clipped.

‘Boof’ would take the next four wickets to fall, before handing over to Seers who removed the classy Halton to make the score 6/119.

Williams would then take back control, claiming the last four wickets to fall.

The talented right-handed all-rounder played his first senior game for Pakenham in 2003.

He played two seasons at Cranbourne in the DDCA from 2009 to 2011, before making the move back to Toomuc.

He is one of the most respected figures in the WGCA/CCCA over the last two decades, with his laconic nature and smiling face attracting many fans to his supporter base.

“I do love it, and having the backing of my wife (Bree) is something I really do appreciate; 22 STAR NEWS

|

‘Boof’ in full flight. Jason Williams steps to the crease on his way to an incredible eight-wicket haul against Devon Meadows on Saturday. 372557 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS I’ve always had the mentality that you’re a long time retired in anything that you do,” he said.

“I don’t take sport, or life, that seriously, and if you’re going to play sport you may as well have some fun while you’re doing it.

“I love to have a joke with the boys…and I think it helps my cricket as well.

“Things sort of flow on from being relaxed, and having fun is a big part of that.”

Williams has a beautifully smooth bowling action…one that he has honed himself over the years.

It took him from behind the stumps…to bowling at them.

“I was a keeper through the junior years, and just started mucking around and bowling off-spin with a few mates,” he said.

“I would keep for 20 overs, then rip off the pads and bowl a few overs and it just grew from there.

“I’ve just worked on my technique over the years, found what’s worked for me, and haven’t changed my action like I did five times through my twenties.

“From 30 onwards, I found the action that I’ve got now…and it seems to work.”

The Lions’ eight-wicket hero has a simple philosophy when trotting in to the bowling crease.

“My biggest thing is that I try to turn it as much as possible,” he explained.

“Everything flows from that; if I can get through my action and try to give it a rip, the flight and drift all stem from that.

“It’s great to have the confidence of blokes like Rob (Elston), Dale (Tormey) and Dom

Thursday, 16 November, 2023

(Paynter), who don’t mind if I get hit for a few runs.

“That’s part and parcel of trying to bowl the way I do and how the leaders allow me to.

“If I get it right, I can get some turn and bounce and that probably makes me the bowler that I am and a bit different to others.

“I used to bowl a lot flatter and try to bowl dot balls, but with the backing of those blokes I’ve tried to give it more of a rip.

“It’s a lot more rewarding on the days when you bowl really well, but sometimes you can bowl 100 good balls, then one bad ball gets a wicket.

“I bowled a few bad balls that got wickets on the weekend.”

Williams has two premierships with the Lions, and he and Bree have two children, with Taj, seven, and Jai, three-and-a-half months, bringing a wonderful joy to life.

Williams believes a third premiership is well and truly within reach.

“I’d like to think so…with the calibre of players that we’ve got we have to be a chance,” he said.

“Dale (Tormey) and Smithy (Chris Smith) are elite players; Jack (Anning) has come on in leaps and bounds; Rob (Elston) is all class, and we’ve got Dom (Paynter) and Stu (Johnson) come in as batters, when we probably felt we were one or two short last year.

“We feel like we can make the runs now, but we just need to be there when finals come around.

“Tooradin and Koowee look the benchmarks again…but I think we’re thereabouts.”

Williams said he felt no extra responsibility

with the younger players finding their feet.

“Not really…the kids are learning their craft, and sometimes it’s not easy for them because we’re still a pretty good team,” he said.

“If they were playing in lesser sides, they’d probably be bowling more, but it’s a catch-22 because they’re playing in a team where they get to pick our brains and learn off us older guys as well.

“We’re trying to pass the baton on a bit; and they can watch the way we go about it and start to have more of an impact as they learn.

“The wheel is turning; now the young guys have first crack and we’re there to fall back on if needed.

“We’re giving them more of the responsibility…and we’re always there to support them.

“I got the rewards this week, and Dale (Tormey) has at times as well, but it’s on the back of those younger guys having first shot.

“They’ll get rewarded for their hard work one day, if they just keep sticking at it.”

And when they do get their rewards…the self-effacing Jason ‘Boof’ Williams will be the first to pat them on the back.

CCCA PREMIER - ROUND 6 TWO-DAYER (DAY ONE) Clyde v Cardinia 7/335 (Jacobus Hynes 109, Alex Nooy 77, Bradey Welsh 49, Max Adams 3/57) Merinda Park 141 (Daniel McCalman 41, Tyson Bertrand 41, Brad Butler 3/26)) v Tooradin 0/52, Pakenham 0/27 v Devon Meadows 160 (Will Halton 55, Jason Williams 8/47), Kooweerup 0/90 (Chris Bright 75*) v Carlisle Park 142 (Kasun Balasuriya 51, Hasintha Jayasuriya 45, Adam McMaster 4/44, Mathew Bright 3/30). pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Brayden Attwood shows his impressive display of silverware. 372346

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Attwood in full stride. 372346

Attwood aims for the stars

By Marcus Uhe Brayden Attwood’s qualification for the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships is a story of dedication, perseverance and independence.

The Year 11 student from Pakenham Secondary College is one of the fastest in his age group in Victoria, earning Victorian representation in the 110-metres hurdles.

Having grown up with Little Athletics at Pakenham and Berwick, Attwood is still a relative newcomer to hurdles, having only made them a focus of his in the last couple of years.

He remembers the life-changing moment it all came together for him, and hasn’t looked back since that day.

“One day something just clicked inside me with the hurdles,” Attwood said.

“Usually on the hurdles you want to use the same lead leg.

“I used the same lead leg on every single hurdle, which I never did before, and that really sped-up my time.

“I ran seconds quicker than I usually would, which made me want to practice even more than I usually did, and try my best to get better.

“I think that was by chance, but I understood what I was doing so it happened more and more.”

October was a monumental month for Attwood, when he won the Boy’s 17-Year-Old 110m Hurdles final in 15.29 seconds and finished second in the Boys 17-Year-Old 100m in 11.59 seconds at the School Sport Victoria State Championships at Lakeside Stadium.

Two weeks later he returned to the blue surface at Albert Park, placing second in the Under 18 Men’s 110m Hurdles with an even quicker time of 15.06 seconds and fifth in the Men’s 100m at the Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championships.

But what makes his story unique is the behind-the-scenes dedication to his craft.

Unlike many of his competitors, Attwood is self-coached.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, he races to the Pakenham athletics track to squeeze in an hour or two to train, where he films himself running on his phone, before getting to his local fish and chip shop for work.

He analyses his strides and his hurdleclearing technique, comparing and contrast-

ing himself and other elite competitors at his level, to assess where he stands, and where he can improve.

“I try to watch kids around my age because we’ll have the same genetics,” Attwood said.

“Six months ago during the off-season, I went up in height on the hurdles, so I’ve been trying to watch myself do them, and have a six months ago comparison to now.

“It’s very noticeable between the first month of practising new heights (and now).”

His approach to the hurdles comes down to a pair of numbers; nine and three.

Nine strides out of the blocks before he reaches the first barrier, and three between the barricades.

Attwood describes himself as a slow starter but makes up the difference on the back-end of the run with his closing speed.

A contributing factor to this is the sub-standard equipment he practices with.

Competitions require a block start that grants athletes propulsion on the starter’s gun.

For Attwood, this is a major adjustment, given his lack of access to the competitiongrade blocks.

“When I do a standing start I feel a lot quicker and you’re not allowed to do a standing start at competitions,” he explained.

“I have to train with not the greatest tiny little blocks that, when I run out of them, I have to keep on adjusting them because they come out of the ground.

“And you can’t adjust them to make them higher, which is another problem, because I can’t push my leg out on the left.

“If you ever watch most of my races I pretty much get them right at the end, or I’m quick at the end compared to others that are slowing down.”

While he is unable to attend the Championships in Perth next month, the fact that he reached this far with the lack of tools at his disposal left his school community both in awe of the feat, and beaming with pride.

Naturally, speculation abounds on his competitive ceiling in a level playing field.

“It’s a lack of coaching that would be hard, self-coaching myself to the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“If I can qualify for (Olympics and Commonwealth Games), I would happily do them.”

Joyful Jiu Jitsu as father and son take home the gold

By Jonty Ralphsmith Pakenham father-son duo Kris and Dylan Boler won gold at the Jiu Jitsu Pan-Pacific Championships in Melbourne last month.

35-year-old Kris, competing in blue belt in the Masters One Division for over-30s, was forced to do it the hard way, winning three matches en route to the title.

His first opponent was one Boler had recently lost to, while his second and third both entered fresh due to a quirk in the draw.

Seven-year-old Dylan was a class above his opponents in the 30.2 kilograms grey belt, winning his final via submission thanks to a rear-naked choke.

It’s the first time the Gracie Elite pair have taken out gold at the same event, but both have tasted individual success along the journey.

Kris’s follows golds at the Australian Jiu Jitsu Championship in August, and the Victorian Jiu Jitsu State Championship in 2021 and 2022.

The family man and former Berwick footballer got into Jiu Jitsu in January 2020 to stay fit.

Jiu Jitsu’s literal translation in Japanese is gentle art, with that detail enabling a greater volume of sparring and ensuring it’s a sport everyone can try.

“Having three kids, I needed to do something to stay healthy and it’s the fittest I’ve ever felt,” Kris said. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

Kris and son Dylan were both at the top of the dais last month. 373380 “I didn’t want to turn into that fat dad that was drinking, so I started training at my gym and really loved it, so from there my son followed suit.”

Dylan was introduced to the sport in 2021.

Since then, he has collected gold at Oceania Kids Championships (2023) and at the Australian National Championships in 2022 and silver at the Victorian State Championships in 2023.

A speech Dylan gave at school confirms the impact that Jiu Jitsu has had on him.

“My coach Jhunior came to Australia from

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Brazil with nothing and couldn’t speak English,” the speech began.

“He has built a gym for Jiu Jitsu with 150 students.

“He teaches me discipline, respect and how to work hard to achieve my goals.

“I would like to be a black belt just like coach because then I could do lots of fighting overseas.

“I love training Jiu Jitsu.”

Both Kris and Dylan are at the gym five times per week training, with Dylan’s early start and zest giving him a strong platform to

Kris and son Dylan were both at the top of the dais last month. 373380 pursue it if he chooses.

“Children get a lot of discipline and learn a lot of respect along the way,” Kris said.

“Dylan just needs to keep his head down and bum up.

“I want him to see me do it and realise it’s not scary, you just have to get out there and give it a go and train hard.

“It’s been the best thing for him and me.

“It’s very good cardiovascular fitness and excellent for your mental health with the peace of mind it brings.”

Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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Thursday, 16 November, 2023

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