News - Berwick Star News - 21st December 2023

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Olympic fever fun

Tackling new heights

Marie’s mammoth knock

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SPORT

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Young business leaders shine

Beata “BB” Stednik (left), Kay, Dana, and David are repackaging food for the charity’s street programs. 380564

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Barbecue success

By Violet Li It was a normal working day getting up at 6am for charity Find a Penny Foundation director Beata “BB” Stednik.

She soon met young participants from a

NDIS program and seven aged care residents at the Hampton Park Junior Football Club oval who volunteered to prepare and repackage fresh produce every Tuesday. A day quickly passed by without her even noticing.

Towards the end of the day, BB would bring

boxes and boxes of food home, cook in her own kitchen, and get everything ready for the upcoming street programs in the week, where the charity handed out cooked meals to people in need.

For BB, every day was another day of wak-

ing up early, collecting from food banks, packing meals, cooking, and distributing food.

It has been the 15th year she dived adamantly into the cause. She did not show any sign in stopping.

Continued page 8

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College joins VCE 30 club

By Violet Li Lyndhurst Secondary College (LSC) in Cranbourne has just joined the prestigious VCE 30 club following two years of hovering around the gate.

This has been the first time LSC reached the benchmark, and it is one of only four schools to get the club ticket this year.

Achieving a median study score of 30 indicates the school’s solid academic performance.

Principal Eloise Haynes said they were very excited and proud to get to the 30 club.

“It’s actually been a goal since 2014, and I think it shows the importance of having a goal and then backing it up with a solid plan and hard work,” she said.

Over the years, LSC has worked on several practices to align with the academic ambition.

“Some of the things that have been successful are raising the expectations that we have of our young people that they can achieve and succeed, and supporting our students to aspire to achieve in their programs,” Ms Haynes said.

She stressed that the school made sure many potential barriers were removed to maximise students’ chances to improve.

“For a lot of our young people, they may be the first in their family to come to school in Australia,” she said.

“We help them develop the understanding of the Australian education system or the understanding of what’s required to do well within the Year 12.

“I’ve been a lot of work we’ve done with our students, but also with our parents and carers around how the education system operates to

Front row (left to right): students Sarah Noble, 2023 VCE Dux Azada Qasimi and Zainab Muradi.

Back row: Legal Studies teacher Nada Bitar and English and EAL teacher Josephine Gibbons.

380372 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS make sure that students can be supported to succeed.”

Dedicated teachers have been the backbones of the 30 milestone, according to Ms Haynes.

“They know and understand the study designs they teach, and they also give students feedback on what they need to improve, why it needs to be improved and how they can make

the next steps,” she said.

LSC is also celebrating 24 per cent of its students achieving an ATAR of 80 or above and 7.1 per cent of its study score being over 40.

The 2023 VCE Dux Azada Qasimi achieved an ATAR of 97.6 with three subjects study scores of over 40 and a perfect score of 50 in Legal Studies.

Ms Haynes said the school was also proud

Legal Studies teacher Nada Bitar with student Azada Qasimi who achieved a full study score of Legal Studies. 380372 of their VCE Vocational Major students.

Many of them managed to secure great apprenticeship at the end of their studies.

“I want to say a very big congratulations to our class of 2023, and we are incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and we know that they will have every success in their bright futures,” she said.

Local high achievers recognised: Bright futures ahead

By Ethan Benedicto As ATAR scores were released on Monday 11 December, Hampton Park Secondary College saw 21 graduates attain a score of 80 or above.

Additionally, 87 per cent of the graduating body also attained ATAR scores above 50, something Sally Carruthers, the college’s cultural diversity and community engagement coordinator, said was a “testament to the college’s dedication to nurturing not just academic but holistic growth as well”.

According to Better Education, the college achieved a median VCE score of 29 out of 50, which is an improvement from their previous four years which sat at 27, and before that moved between 24 and 26 between 2012 and 2018.

“As the college celebrates these remarkable accomplishments, it acknowledges the hard work, determination, and resilience displayed by each student throughout their academic journey,” Ms Carruthers said.

Leading the cohort was Jessica Dekazos

Students Jessica Dekazos and Foo Souye Chan.

The Year 12 students celebrated their achievements.

Pictures: SUPPLIED who secured an ATAR of 96.35, intending to get into biomedical science at Monash University.

However, this was a feat that she didn’t

think she was capable of, but according to her was achieved by “trying my best and believing in myself”.

“I was happily surprised and shocked, I did not expect to do that well,” she said.

Joining the ranks of high achievers was Foo Souye Chan, who scored an ATAR of 96.00.

“When I first saw my ATAR, I was shocked and I couldn’t believe it, but I was very relieved.

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“I achieved what I did with the support and help of my teachers, friends and my family,” Ms Chan said.

Raymond Ly was another high achiever, achieving an ATAR of 90.65 with which he hoped to study a bachelor of commerce and biomedical science at Monash University.

“I believe I achieved the scores I did by attempting to improve myself after each assessment and after being provided feedback,” Mr Ly said.

Ms Carruthers said the exceptional results were a reflection of a collaborative effort by the students, teachers and the support they gained from the local community.

“The outstanding results are a testament to the commitment of the educators, the support of families, and the dedication of the students themselves,” she said.

For her, the success of the Year 12 high achievers was a source of pride for the college, where the institution looked forward to witnessing the continued success of its graduates in their future endeavours.

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NEWS

Smoke prompts warning

By Cam Lucadou-Wells More than 500 residents and staff in a retirement village were under threat of clouds of toxic smoke from a recent industrial blaze in Dandenong South, according to EPA Victoria data.

Willow Court Mobile Home Village residents and others as far away as Lyndhurst were urged to shelter indoors as the area was blanketed by thick black smoke from a massive fire at a paint factory on 8 December.

EPA Victoria took air quality readings using mobile air monitoring equipment, particularly downwind to the south of the fire.

“Results showed that in residential areas which were further away from the fire around Sandhurst, air quality was good,” an EPA spokesperson said.

“However, closer to the fire in the industrial area and in the Willow Lodge Mobile Home Village, the situation was much poorer.

“If you are sensitive to air pollution or are concerned about the impacts of smoke on your health you should contact your health care provider for advice.”

Willow Court Village Residents Association secretary Carmel Perkins said the mainly elderly residents were vulnerable to the toxic plumes but were quick to take emergency action.

Under an emergency plan, residents took

Black smoke looming over Willow Lodge retirement village on 8 December. 378624 Picture: GARY SISSONS refuge and closed doors, windows and shut down air-cons.

“The smoke came directly on us. It was a horrible smell that hit you down the back of your throat.

“I went out to water about 8pm (eight hours after the fire started). The smoke had gone but you could still smell it.

“It wasn’t until the next day that the smell went away.”

Earlier this year, the group opposed a proposed waste-to-energy incinerator at Taylors Road Dandenong South.

And Ms Perkins says the village is plagued by noxious smells from the industry-2 zone – one of just two in the state reserved for the most offensive, toxic industries.

“This is why we’re petitioning against anything else being built around us.

“The people living down the back of the vil-

lage get a few different smells and ring up and complain.”

There have been long-held concerns about health impacts from the foul odours emitted in the heavy industrial precinct with an EPA forum held at Springers Leisure Centre on 16 December.

At a 11 December council meeting, Cr Jim Memeti said emergency warnings about the smoke didn’t reach his neighbours in Dandenong South.

He has advocated for the closure of a toxic waste dump in Taylors Road as well as for the industry-2 zone’s relocation. The pleas have been rejected by state governments.

“I think we need to take it a step further and invite the minister and even the Premier to our community and look at what’s happening here and what our residents have to suffer.

“This is not right. This is not safe for our community – the houses and the schools are very, very close to these facilities. Something disastrous is going to happen.”

Cr Rhonda Garad concurred.

“It’s never acceptable for any industry to be releasing any toxic fumes or any toxic substances.

“We need to get to the point where we have enough regulatory oversight of these businesses where they’re not releasing any toxic substances into the environment.”

Drones to target landfill ‘hotspots’ this summer The state’s pollution watchdog is set to use drones to prevent fires at landfills and waste recovery businesses over summer.

EPA Victoria announced random drone flyovers using thermal imaging technology to check for hot spots and to ensure waste piles were managed.

“We’ve seen in the past that fires at waste and recycling facilities are potentially devastating,” EPA acting executive director of operations Rachel Gualano said.

“They represent an unacceptable risk to Victorians, the environment and industry, and could result in clean-up costs in the millions of dollars.”

Gualano said the program would target “high risk sites” by inspectors on the ground and drones in the air.

“We’re sending a message to waste and recycling operators; there’s no excuse for failing to properly manage their fire risk and if they haven’t or won’t, EPA will use its powers to enforce compliance with the regulations.”

Between November 2022 and October 2023, the EPA’s fire prevention inspectors fined five waste facilities and issued 117 remedial notices and four official warnings as well as providing advice on 400 occasions.

The authority has six active prosecutions against facilities where fires occurred needlessly because they had not taken the preven-

tative measures they should have.

Some of the hazards and unsafe practices found include the improper management and storage of combustible and recyclable waste, failing to identify risks on site and inadequate maintenance of fire suppression equipment.

In some instances, non-compliances were issued for failure to maintain controls in good working order.

“EPA’s teams found that despite regular contact, up to 60 per cent of operators were not fully complying with environmental regulations in some way.

“Where appropriate, advice for minor non-compliances was given but legally enforceable orders for the more serious hazards have also been issued, to ensure each business is addressing any issues on its site.”

Under Victoria’s new environment protection law, duty holders must understand fire risks and use appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce them.

“When EPA says it has zero tolerance to fire hazards, we mean fire is not an option,” Gualano said.

This year, fires have been reported at SBI Landfill at Ballarto Road, Cranbourne and Veolia landfill at Hallam Road, Hampton Park.

A fire at the SBI landfill in Ballarto Road Cranbourne in November. 371172 Picture: GARY SISSONS

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Fostering business leaders

By Emma Xerri Local business owners are now facing some serious competition from the students at Harkaway Primary School, who have been hard at work creating and operating their own businesses to fundraise for Scleroderma Australia in honour of former Harkaway teacher Mrs Walford.

From milkshake stands to dutch pancakes and gift shop goods, the school’s grade five and six students put their thinking caps (and wet weather jackets) on, proving their business ideas could beat even the worst of Victorian weather at their school’s Harkaway Show.

“My business was called Gift Shop Mayhem. We sold bubbles, stress balls, small aeroplanes, and mystery prizes which included books, pens and bouncy balls. And we sold out of the mystery prizes in under 30 minutes,” student Mia said.

Fun Crumbles business owner and student Mila added that her business sold “cookies, chocolate milk, ice cream sandwiches and toasties,” which Principal Leigh Johnson confirmed were delicious.

For Caleb, who successfully ran a tasty burger and sausage sizzle, food was also on the brain when coming up with his business idea.

“We sold burgers and sausages with help from some of the dads who were behind the barbecue cooking all day,” Caleb said.

“It was quite successful. I think we made over $400.”

Principal Johnson said they had lots of burger options, but when asked what the crowd favourite was, Caleb did not hesitate before saying “the burger with everything in it except pineapple.”

Meanwhile, Archie, with the help of his family, adopted an environmentally friendly approach with his business Milky Way Milkshakes.

Students of Harkaway Primary School were proud to present their fundraising efforts to Scleroderma Australia.

“My dad, who I’m very grateful for, helped with the biodegradable cups and the equipment that we used,” Archie said.

“Me, my dad and my sister also went to Henry’s Mercato at Waverley Gardens, and we got a donation of milkshake syrups and milk from them.

“It was a lot of work, but we ended up raising over $150 in just that one day, and then we raised a further $260 from events and milkshake days we ran by ourselves.”

While every business was a hit, it was Aliyah’s second business, Spongebob Throw, that had the crowd lined up to watch, despite Principal Johnson’s insistence that it was “the worst one,” because, as Archie describes, “he got shot in the head with a sponge covered in paint.”

Man blocked police cars

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A foul-mouthed man who allegedly blocked police cars and threatened officers at two hoon hotspots in Pakenham and Springvale has been spared jail.

Declan Adam Bailey, 22, of Cranbourne North, was offered a community corrections order for more than 30 offences during a sentence indication at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 15 December.

Police agreed that a “lengthy and stringent” CCO was within range if Bailey pleaded guilty.

In October 2022, Bailey was on bail at the time when he stood in front of a police patrol car and refused to let it pass on two occasions at a high-revving car meet at Springvale Mega Mart on Princes Highway.

“You hit me b****, see what happens,” he told an officer in the car.

Police described him as pacing back and forth in a menacing way, “smiling and laughing” and demanding to see the regional police supervisor of the anti-hoon Operation Achilles.

“He knows me,” Bailey told them.

After police back-up arrived, he was arrested.

In a similar stand-off in Hogan Court, Pakenham three nights later, Bailey leaned on a police car bonnet in an “aggressive” manner, appearing to film them as he shone his phone’s torch into the officer’s eyes.

“I can still see your face, f***stick,” he told an officer.

While standing in front of the car, he called out to the patrol car officers that “you’re f***ing hitting me, bro” and to “stop driving, c***”.

Other associates illegally parked two cars nearby, hemming in the police car as Bailey threatened them: “Are you going to keep going or are you going to get out?” and he launched himself on the bonnet.

Bailey also damaged the police car’s front bumper as he tried to peel off its number plate.

Police eventually spotted an opening and escaped in their car.

Bailey’s charges included intentionally obstructing police, using intimidation against a police officer, affray, damaging a police car’s bumper and indecent language.

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

But with each business different from the last, it wasn’t only the business ideas that were unique, but the experience itself, with student Ava noting “I don’t think any of us have done anything like it before.”

And with the wet weather requiring the students to think on their feet, the students put on an exceptional display of resourcefulness, rounding up gazebos from home storage, and prioritising their warmer food options.

“Our warm, fluffy poffertjes were good for the weather, but sometimes the rain would leak through,” Aliyah said.

Ava similarly noted that while “the weather kind of ruined our ice cream sandwiches, because it was so cold, our toasties went really well.”

“For my store,” Archie said, “it was relatively

smooth sailing until we realised it was going to be pouring with rain. But my Mum’s partner rushed home to get an old gazebo for us, which was great.”

“But that’s a useful lesson. We’ll definitely plan for the weather next time.”

Employing real world marketing and business skills that would rival any seasoned business owner, the students were also sure to offer desirable discounts, rounding out a busy day of sales with a rush of last minute customers.

“The main special for the barbecue was offering $1 sausages instead of $2,” Caleb said.

Caleb’s end of day specials also included a limited edition menu item called the ‘halfway special’ - a burger with the lot plus a sausage cut in half - which Principal Johnson enthusiastically claimed “tasted amazing.”

“We offered free thick shakes for all the teachers, and about a 50 per cent discount for everyone else. So our loaded milkshakes dropped from about $4 to about $2.50 at the very end,” Archie added.

“It was one of those frantic, panic moments. I think we all noticed the time and thought we’d just launch some specials and hope something good came out of it.”

And something good certainly did.

Raising a total of $1500 through their businesses, the students were honoured with a visit from Scleroderma Australia representative Louise Inglese at their end of year assembly, where they had the opportunity to present a cheque to Ms Inglese in front of their school community.

“It was a very proud moment,” Aliyah said.

But despite their tremendous accomplishments, these students aren’t rushing to get back into business.

When asked by their principal if any of them would start their own business one day, the answer was unanimous: a choir of very reluctant maybes.

Bin lid changes loom

By Violet Li

He also faced multiple counts of disqualified driving across the South East, using a phone while driving and stalking.

Other offences were breaching a family-violence intervention order, taking a sex tape of a woman without her permission and sharing the intimate image on group chats.

He also used a victim’s licence details exchanged after a car crash to buy a SIM card and to access the private emails of his girlfriend’s ex-partner.

There were other charges of breaching night curfew bail conditions, riding a motorbike without a helmet, illegally recording a court hearing and texting screenshots.

His defence lawyer said Bailey was prone to manic or hypermanic episodes, and to “attention-seeking and stupid behaviour” in order to be liked.

Bailey had since “genuinely changed his life” after spending a night in custody earlier this year, the lawyer said.

He had “stabilised” on psychiatric medication for the first time in his life, as well as other therapy for borderline personality disorder, bipolar, ADHD and high-functioning autism.

He’d not reoffended, was working six days a week and cut off “all negative peer groups”.

Magistrate Tony Burns noted Bailey’s “extensive” mental health issues, and that Bailey’s friends were “laughing at him and not with him”.

Bailey was sentenced to a 30-month CCO with 300 hours of unpaid work and treatment.

He was disqualified from driving for six months, and ordered to compensate Victoria Police $1762 for the damaged bumper.

Casey Council has endorsed changes to its waste management services to comply with the Victorian Kerbside Reforms during a council meeting on Tuesday 12 December.

The changes include the standardisation of bin lid colors and bin contents, introduction of a separate glass collection service, and expanding the existing food and garden waste service.

The State Government requires all Victorian councils to commerce using the standard colours for waste bins: red for garbage, yellow for commingled recycling, lime green for food and garden organics, and purple for glass.

Casey currently has three types of bins with lids of red, yellow, and lime green, and there are approximately 250,000 to 265,000 lids in old colours that require a changeover, which will take up to six months to deliver.

It is estimated that the lid replacement will occur in 2025/26.

Casey Council will consult counterpart councils at Wyndham, Yarra Ranges, and Knox.

The kerbside reform mandates councils to provide a glass service by 2027, which Casey does not provide currently.

Glass accounted for about 18 per cent of all kerbside recyclables collected by Casey in 2021 and 2022, equating to 5316 tonnes.

The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), introduced in Victoria on 1 November 2023, is expected to redirect roughly 28 per cent of the glass from the current commingled stream, which would leave the annual volume of glass for Casey to drop to 3827 tonnes and an average household collection of 31 kilos.

Council officers believed an additional glass bin would be unnecessary, but the reform would be statutory.

Council has not decided upon the collection frequency, but it is suggesting every four weeks would be optimal.

The State Government requires all Victorian councils to commerce using the standard colours for waste bins: red for garbage, yellow for commingled recycling, lime green for food and garden organics, and purple for glass.

The reform also stipulates all households must have access to food and garden waste bin unless they can prove they practise home composting.

Around 12,000 to 15,000 households in Casey do not house such bin and council is considering delivering the rest of the bins in the fourth quarter of financial year 2025/26.

The kerbside reform is expected to cost Casey Council $17.1m, including the cost of staffing, infrastructure, collection, and disposal of collected material. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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Students lead tree design

By Emma Xerri As a cherished tradition in the local community, deciding on the design of the Bunjil Place Christmas tree is no small feat, and in past years Bunjil Place has worked with a variety of different creatives to celebrate the holiday.

This year was no exception.

Calling on the help of 23 talented little helpers from Fountain Gate Primary School, this year’s tree is representative of the way a portion of Casey’s youth perceive Christmas.

From the tree’s decorations to the colour of the tree itself, the children’s imaginative ideas have brilliantly captured the Christmas spirit.

“This year, we wanted a community-led tree and what better way to bring out the spirit of Christmas, than to bring the ideas of children to fruition,” said City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff.

The children’s designs ranged from innovative snow globe creations to heartfelt depictions of the students’ cultural backgrounds, and it was the role of Bunjil Place’s production designer Kirsten Macalpine to combine the creations and produce a tree each of the students and the wider Casey community can be proud of.

“Christmas looks different to everyone and is celebrated in all sorts of ways - something that can be interpreted in the children’s artworks,” Ms Duff added.

“The tree design shares what a section of our youngest community members think about Christmas time, and what this time means to them.

“The students were able to be part of a memorable experience that contributed to their development as artists and designers of the future. The creativity, thoughtfulness and consideration of the designs developed by students rivalled that of some design firms!”

And this sentiment was certainly shared by the students, with one student noting “I think people will be jealous. I think they’ll be like, ‘that’s the best tree I’ve ever seen.’”

You can view the Christmas Tree at Bunjil Place anytime until Monday 1 January 2024, from 10pm nightly.

Casey residents gathered at the tree lighting event to celebrate the creative work of the students.

OPINION

That’s a wrap for 2023

LENSCAPE

Thanks for reading Star News this year!

Our next edition will be available to grab on Thursday 11 January and will be the annual favourite Year In Review edition, looking back on the highs and lows of 2023 – newsmakers, best pictures, our favourite quotes, front pages and more.

On behalf of everyone at Star News, we hope you enjoy the festive period however you choose to celebrate and have a happy and safe new year.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs up For Jesus, who brings light into this world. That’s what Christmas is all about and it’s for everyone everywhere.

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Olympic fever fun

By Violet Li Running in a white sack, moving forward in a coconut shell slipper tied with bamboo stilts, jumping ropes, hopscotch, and other traditional Philippine street games came to Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick on Saturday 16 December, as parts of the first Pinoy Olympics.

Run by Pinoy Casey Community Inc (PCCI), a newly established not-for-profit, volunteerrun organisation, this alternative Olympics flowed with laughter, excitement, challenges, nostalgia, and sprouting bonds.

“It brought us back to the ’80s in the Philippines, when we did not have any internet and we got out to the street sports,” president Alfie Tilan said.

“We played everything on the street, and the drivers would wait for us to finish every round before they shouted us away.

“In Australia, you obviously cannot do it on the street, but we thought we could still do it because there’s so much open space here.”

Mr Tilan said members brought their families, and everyone - especially the kids - had a good time.

“It’s such a fantastic way for us to at least give the new generations a glimpse of what we have done before at home,” he said.

“Some family already asked me: Can you please invite us again next time?

“It was the first time we did this. We’ll do it every year now, so next year it will be way bigger with more games.”

South Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis and Philippines Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao were among the guests at the event.

Officially launched on 11 November at Cranbourne West Community Hub, PCCI aims to foster camaraderie, promote Filipino culture, focus on family bonding, provide sports and social activities, and inspire the younger generation among the Filipino-Australian community in the Casey area.

Next year, PCCI will bring more cultural extravaganza and community projects, including a celebration of Philippine arts and dances

Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas, Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and Casey Council’s chief executive officer Glenn Patterson.

Doors wide open for pavilion Pinoy Casey Community Inc (PCCI) had its first Olympics at Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick on Saturday 16 December. 379801 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Zyra having a go at the Filipino garter. 379801

PCCI president Alfie Tilan in a sack race. 379801

in January and February, and a youth leadership program.

PCCI currently has 10 members, and new

members are welcome to join and volunteer.

For more information, contact PinoyCaseyCommunity@gmail.com

Free Christmas barbecue for community From page 1 It is hard to imagine this powerful woman had the energy to pick up the strenuous physical work right after running an annual free community barbecue for thousands of people across Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia at at the Hampton Park Junior Football Club oval on Sunday 17 December.

The workload was so gigantic that BB and her husband William, alongside more than 300 volunteers, served mashed potato, halal chicken kebabs, salads, and other food nonstop.

BB said her mission was to make sure everyone had food for Christmas.

That was why she did not advertise the barbecue as just for ‘the disadvantaged’. She wanted everyone who had a need to come and participate in.

“Our aim is to mingle everyone together and to bring old people that are lonely, low income, refugees, to come together, sit down on the grass to sing music in a friendly environment,” she said.

“And that’s what we achieved.

“I was extremely happy with the amount of people that turned up.”

In addition to food, the venue offered free activities for children.

“It was nice to see kids doing activities and the parents not being stressed that they have to pay for it,” BB said.

“It was just simple, like painting butterflies.

But kids love it.”

BB was surprised and moved that many people came in and did donations, which was beyond her expectation.

“We had free coffee, and people just said they were happy to pay the five dollars,” she said.

“They know the money they donate will be for the community.”

Despite it being a day teeming with cheerful atmosphere, BB could not help but notice that the community was going through a difficult time given the cost of living.

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

Beata “BB” Stednik has been engaged in charity for the past 15 years. 380564 She said the turnout was way bigger than previous years with more than 3000 people showing up.

“I was so busy running and checking stuff.

At one point when a photographer took the photo for me and my husband, I finally got to pause and look around, and I said wow, that’s a lot of people,” she said.

“The difficult thing is that if there is only one income for a family, they could hardly make ends meet with rent.

“We had about three or four families that had to sell the house and moved to the country just to have a roof over their heads.”

BB recalled meeting single parents who skipped meals to get food for the kids.

“I had one mother coming with three kids, and she said ‘if it wasn’t for you, I would have no food for my kids for the week’. She’s got $5 left in her wallet,” she said.

“We just wish that no one goes hungry to bed.

“I believe it’s human rights that everyone can afford a loaf of bread. But that is so far from the truth.”

Keeping the charity going has never been an easy job when the source of income relies solely on donation and grants.

But BB was grateful that it was much better this year with the grant from Casey Council.

“We received the grant for the event that

helped us to have the proper music stage,” she said.

“And we have to hire refrigerated trucks and freezer trucks to keep our veggies and fruits fresh till Sunday.”

Though the free community barbecue shined a great deal of spotlight on her, BB did not have any time to dwell on it.

“I hardly got time for myself. My husband takes my phone and computer away because if I’m not doing physical work, I will do some paper work, like applying for grants,” she admitted.

Over the years, BB has put on different programs that cater to the need of the community.

“We saw that there’s a need for aged care residents because they’re locked up in the facility, and they’ve got nothing to do,” she said.

“We bring them to us. You can see the changes in their lives. They’re happier. They love coming. They feel that they are still needed.

“We also create activities for young participants from NDIS. They are so focused. They know what they are doing here.”

One thing that kept BB awake at night was that the small kitchen at the football club could not fit all the volunteers and food.

She had to bring the food from the club to her house and prepare there.

“Our primary goal is to have a commercial kitchen where we could do all that stuff from one place as opposed to one place preparing and one place taking to cook and bringing it back,” she said.

“It’s just tiring.

“I’ve been doing that for the last 15 years, so it’s really draining on me.”

A local business has intended to lease its warehouse for the charity, while there is still a gap of $600,000 for equipment installation that the charity is seeking to raise.

Find a Penny Foundation is also aiming to create a life skill program for NDIS participants.

The refurbished pavilion at Robert Booth Reserve in Hampton Park was officially opened by Casey Council on Thursday 14 December.

Council’s chief executive officer Glenn Patterson was joined by Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas to open the double-storey multipurpose community facility.

Located on Somerville Road, Robert Booth Reserve is home to Hampton Park Football Netball Club, Hampton Park Cricket Club and Hampton Park Tennis Club, which recently had new lighting installed.

The newly refurbished pavilion includes a community room, unisex change rooms and amenities, a commercial kitchen, a canteen, and public amenities.

Mr Patterson said refurbishment of the ageing facility was a recommendation included in the Robert Booth Reserve Master Plan, adopted by council in 2021.

“Council is committed to providing the required infrastructure for all clubs across the municipality so our community can be active, healthy and connected,” he said.

“Completion of this project will benefit the multiple users of the facility both now and in the future.

“It’s an impressive facility for all members of the Hampton Park community to enjoy.”

The $5.4 million refurbishment project was funded by Casey Council, along with contributions from the State and Federal Governments.

Casey Council received $3 million through the State Government’s Local Sports Grants for the pavilion refurbishment, as well as $200,000 via the Federal Government’s Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program for the femalefriendly facilities.

It also received $200,000 in funding via the State Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund - Community Sports Lighting Stream to upgrade the tennis court lighting.

Mr Patterson welcomed both the State and Federal Governments funding towards the pavilion refurbishment and tennis court lighting, and thanked them for their investment in Casey.

“We look forward to continuing to grow our partnerships to maintain and build sport and recreational facilities, as well as other critical infrastructure,” he said.

The refurbished pavilion at Robert Booth Reserve in Hampton Park was officially opened by Casey Council on Thursday 14 December.

Pictures: SUPPLIED berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Erin’s tackling new heights

By Ethan Benedicto and Matthew Sims Hampton Park Secondary College teacher and rugby academy program leader Erin Louden has received an award for Most Outstanding Rugby Academy School Ambassador at Rugby Victoria’s main awards night recently.

The teacher said it was a “complete surprise”.

“I’ve been working very closely with Rugby Victoria for a few years now with our rugby academy program at Hampton Park,” she said.

“We opened our rugby academy to engage some disengaged students at our college and since we’ve opened the program we’ve had an increase in attendance and learning outcomes.

“The kids get accredited to give them another pathway when they leave high school.”

Since announced in early 2020, the school’s rugby academy program has delivered specialist training and coaching from Melbourne Rebels and Rugby Victoria to the students.

Ms Louden said the value of the program was instantly evident.

“It’s their passion that drives me and providing another pathway for success for kids in the South East,” she said.

“It gives the kids opportunity to develop their rugby skills but also their leadership, teamwork and collaboration.”

Ms Louden said the school was looking forward to build and further influence a broader program towards launching a senior rugby academy in 2024.

“The program will have around 80 to 100 students which is really cool, and that will be launched properly in 2024,” she said.

“It’s important to support the development of sport in Victoria and working with Rugby Victoria is a real honour.

“They’re so passionate at a grassroots level which really helps schools like Hampton Park to develop athleticism in young people.”

Ms Louden said the program helped the

Ms Louden showing the students some skills.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Melbourne Rebels’ Lachlan Buttenshaw and sports academy leader Erin Louden. 366995 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Ms Louden with her rugby squad.

Picture: SUPPLIED

students develop their personal and social capabilities like strong leadership and tight cohesion and teamwork.

“They also get trained up as accredited coaches and referees, so they are able to run their own training sessions, and their own tournaments inside the school and we’re looking to expand that next year,” she said.

completely upscaled in the sport,” she said.

“On a personal level, it’s so rewarding to see our students grow into really successful young people.

“We have students that are playing really high level rugby outside of school and I’m so proud of the commitment and effort that they show in the classroom and outside of it.”

“We are aiming to host a touch rugby tournament for local schools to get them involved in the sport as well.”

Ms Louden said she entered into the academy program with no rugby experience.

“Through my own personal development and coaching and accreditations and working closely with the coaches at Rugby Victoria, I’ve

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

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STAR NEWS 9

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

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Additionally, they provide diagnostic and employment assessments, doctor referral assessments, and custom ear plugs, catering to various needs and situations.

Always Hears’ commitment to accessibility is evident through their accreditation under the government health services program, which allows them to provide services and devices to eligible pension holders.

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Their success reflects the growing demand for their premium care and service.

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They are champions of better hearing and are here to ensure that everyone can hear the world more clearly.

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Night shift workers need support to manage lifestyle Work based policies must be designed to target barriers that night shift workers face when managing weight and metabolic health conditions, a Monash University-led review has found.

Making up 13-27 per cent of the workforce, there are no systems in place to assist night shift workers to make healthier lifestyle choices, despite having an increased risk of weight gain, and a higher risk of weight related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Published in Obesity Reviews, the mixed-methods systematic review which was led by the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University, investigated the barriers that night shift workers face in enabling them to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Such barriers identified in eight studies in Australia, Sweden, Nigeria, the USA, and Botswana include: Personal - time constraints, fatigue, stress.

Social - work routines and cultural norms.

Organisational - work-related fatigue, lack of routine, limited healthy food options at night, lack of meal breaks.

Community - limited healthy food options surrounding work at night.

First author Corinne Davis, PhD candidate from the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University, said: “The fatigue and disruption to routine that often accompanies working at night is challenging for night shift workers and we need to make it easier for them to choose

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healthier food options.”

The review also analysed the data from 12 intervention studies in Europe, Australia and Canada. It found the studies targeting weight management behaviours for night shift workers demonstrated limited weight loss results, with only one intervention reporting a clinically significant weight loss result. The existing interventions had largely focussed on addressing only a limited number of barriers faced by night shift workers.

Senior author Professor Maxine Bonham, from Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: “Night shift workers are critical to our 24-hour society, yet interventions to improve their health fail to acknowledge the physiological and behavioural challenges of their work schedule.”

The authors called for more research that takes into consideration the complexities of shift work and consideration of weight loss approaches that account for timing and quality of food intake as well as exploring the impact of sleep quality for night shift workers on weight management.

Future interventions should also focus on eliminating the key barriers faced by night shift workers such as facilitating the availability of healthier food options within the workplace at night, it was noted.

“It is critical that interventions for night shift workers are designed to target the known enablers and barriers identified by night shift workers,” they wrote.

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FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Antibiotics for the future Going ‘back to the future’ to understand how natural antibiotics evolve could unlock new and effective treatments for potentially deadly superbugs.

Co-led by researchers in Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) and the Cluster of Excellence “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI) at the University of Tübingen in Germany, the project has for the first time characterised a type of antibiotics that includes last-resort drug vancomycin.

Researchers are confident that the vital new information, published in Nature Communications, will enable the development of next generation superbug treatments.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats according to the World Health Organisation*. Research led by the BDI and the University of Tübingen has taken a novel approach to reinventing ancestral antibiotic production.

The paper’s co-senior author, Professor Max Cryle, said that most antibiotic substances came from nature, including vancomycin.

“Vancomycin is a really interesting antibiotic,” Professor Cryle said. “While antibiotic development is fraught, we took heart from the fact that vancomycin and derivatives of it have remained in clinical use for over 50 years.

How come these compounds are so successful?

“Before we can fully answer that question, we need to understand how nature has evolved the compounds themselves and their natural production pathways. Knowing how these pathways and strategies work is crucial in order to be able to synthesise new antibiotics.

“Then we can focus our efforts on understanding how we can use those approaches

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats, according to the World Health Organisation. together with our engineered enzymes to produce new antibiotics.”

Professor Cryle likened synthetic biology to the Roman invention of concrete.

“Once upon a time we had to build structures with stones from nature,” he said. “And then we figure out what’s the composition of the stone and how to replicate that synthetically, and then suddenly boom! You can build really fast.

“Similarly, what we want to do with antibiotic production is understand how nature works, understand that diversity and their processes, but then use it in ways that nature simply hasn’t done. We can win the game because we’ve got more playing cards than nature originally dealt us.”

The research team is interested in the glycopeptide antibiotics [GPA], of which vanco-

mycin is the best known. Vancomycin is produced naturally by bacteria, biosynthesised by a long ‘assembly line’ process during which various amino acids are linked to form the peptide involved.

“The GPAs are a good class to focus on because there’s something about how they work that makes it hard for bacteria to bypass them,” Professor Cryle said. “The compound structure is rigid, which makes it good at binding its target. But, they are also hard to synthesise.”

Professor Cryle said their group had characterised the evolution of GPAs and tested the process computationally and experimentally. “We looked at the GPA assembly line biochemically, structurally, and through altering the strain that actually produces these compounds, to produce our own production pathway,” he said.

“Now that we understand how this works, we can use these design principles ourselves to change these antibiotics to make new compounds to fight antimicrobial resistance.”

Engineering large natural product assembly lines is a key goal of synthetic biology. Professor Cryle said that this would allow scientists to exploit the massive natural diversity in these assembly lines to produce designer molecules in an environmentally friendly way.

“We as a society are badly in need of new antibiotics to overcome resistance,” he said.

“Almost all clinical antibiotics come originally from natural sources, and producing new ones at scale requires us to invest in engineering the complex assembly lines that make these antibiotics.

“Our techniques would allow the production of derivatives of this class that also use current industrial production processes, thus greatly reducing the time it takes to commercialise such molecules.

“While purely synthetic efforts can show the way antibiotic development should go, we are now trying to find ways to take this knowledge and to integrate it effectively into natural production pathways.

“We have identified the multiple methods that nature has used in evolving vancomycintype antibiotics, and we can start to apply these to change the assembly lines to produce new antibiotics.” *World Health Organisation, Antimicrobial Resistance (who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/ detail/antimicrobial-resistance) Read the full paper published in Nature Communications, titled Resurrecting ancestral antibiotics: unveiling the origins of modern lipid II targeting glycopeptides (nature.com/ articles/s41467-023-43451-4)

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STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

IN BRIEF

Successful return

By Violet Li After a three-year break, Gethsemane’s Annual Clyde Carols by Candlelight found its way back to the lawns of Hillcrest Christian College Oval on Saturday 16 December to spread festive cheer.

Organised by Gethsemane Church and Charity, the show staged performance by local celebrities, pastors, charity founders, Kerrigan La-Brooy, the Sola Rimoni Sisters, Studeo, Eddie James, David Zhang, and The Curls.

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando, Narre Warren MP Gary Maas, Clyde CFA and the Cranbourne Lion’s Club were among the special guests for the event.

There were food vendors, craft stalls, raffle prizes, and giveaways, and fun activities for kids on site.

Around 2000 people attended the carols.

Gethsemane Church founder Kerrigan LaBrooy was happy with the turnout as the carols had been regathering momentum.

He said the show once had 8000 attendees at its peak in 2019 and he had confidence to make that happen again.

In addition to the outdoor event, Clyde Carols By Candlelight also had a Television Spectacular Premiers on Channel 31 as well as Gethsemane TV on 18 Monday December, where singers and musicians from America, Canada, Europe and other countries joined the celebration.

Mr La-Brooy said he first started the livestream during Covid and decided to keep the channel due to how popular it became.

“There’s over billions of views,” he said.

“You don’t have to worry about the weather, and you can include so many more people who can’t travel to Casey.”

Currently Gethsemane Charity is focused on wrapping over 1000 Christmas gifts for kids.

Blaze, Tamra, Matilda, Damien, Saydee and Seth from Berwick. 376968 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Christine and Jemery Stork (Band Studeo).

376968

Gethsemane Church founder and carols organiser Kerrigan La-Brooy. 376968

Christine and Jemery Stork with Eddie James (centre). 376968

Tanjil, Sienna and Jasper (The Curls). 376968

Aspire Church band.

Carols by Candlelight spreading cheer

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Police are investigating after a serious collision in Berwick on Sunday 17 December.

Emergency services were called to the outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway near Narre Warren North Road to reports a white Toyota Corolla sedan had collided with a Kia Sportage SUV about 5.05pm.

The Kia rolled as a result of the impact and came to rest on its side, off the edge of the road.

The driver of the Kia, a 30-year-old Clyde woman, was flown to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

Three passengers from the Kia were also taken to hospital. A 31-year-old Clyde man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 54-year-old Berwick woman was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 15-month-old girl from Clyde was not seriously injured and taken to hospital for observation.

The driver of the Toyota, a 16-year-old Clyde North boy, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.

The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to come forward.

Four teens charged with fast-food robberies

Damien Rosario, Kaitlyn Thomas, Pastor Julie Shand, Paster Graham Shand, MC Louise Berkelmans, MC Wayne Smith, Graham Trapnell at 2023 Hampton Park Carols by Candlelight.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Hampton Park embraced its 23rd Annual Carols by Candlelight at Cairns Road Reserve on Friday 15 December.

Hosted by Aspire Church, the event featured country rock singer and songwriter Kaitlyn Thomas, and many local performers, with over 12,000 residents joining the festive cheer.

Fireworks lightened up the sky and wrapped up the celebration towards the end of the night.

Aspire Church Pastor Julie Shand said the Carols by Candlelight had been a gift to the Hampton Park community for 23 years.

“It has become a community tradition that many families look forward to each Christmas,” she said.

Pastor Graham Shand thanked volunteers, supporters, performers, and the community for celebrating with the church.

“Seeing Hampton Park unite in harmony each year is truly a blessing,” he said.

Over 100 volunteers were involved in the event.

The event is supported by Hampton Park Progress Association, City of Casey, Harvest Realty, Grill’d Casey Central, and Lions Club of Casey.

Serious collision

Four boys have been charged over a series of alleged armed robberies at fast-food outlets across Melbourne’s South East.

South Metro Regional Crime Squad detectives laid charges following an aggravated burglary and theft of motor vehicle on Shirley Avenue in Glen Waverley on 9 December; an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Springvale on 15 December; an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Dingley on 15 December; an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Chelsea Heights on 16 December and n attempted armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Keysborough South on 18 December. There were no physical injuries during the incidents, police say.

Two of the teens were arrested last weekend as part of the investigation.

A 15-year-old Springvale South boy was charged with two counts of armed robbery, three counts of theft and three counts of committing an indictable offence on bail.

A 16-year-old Pakenham boy was charged with multiple offences including aggravated burglary and car theft, disqualified driving and committing an indictable offence on bail.

Two more teenage boys were arrested on Monday 18 December.

A 13-year-old Doveton boy was charged with two counts each of armed robbery and car theft as well as aggravated burglary, unlicensed driving and committing an indictable offence on bail.

Another 13-year-old Doveton boy was charged with five counts of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, criminal damage, aggravated burglary and two counts of car theft.

They will all face a children’s court at a later date. The vehicle which was allegedly stolen from Glen Waverley was recovered by police in Springvale South.

Fatal collision in Cranbourne West

Aspire Church choir.

Casey Highway Patrol officers are investigating a fatal collision in Cranbourne West on the afternoon of Friday 15 December.

A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in Cranbourne-Frankston Road just before 5pm.

Paramedics worked on the woman, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The female driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their enquiries. She did not sustain any injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing.

Berwick locals win big

Country rock singer and songwriter Kaitlyn Thomas is performing.

Thursday, 21 December, 2023

Dance school performers.

Four Berwick residents woke up on Friday 15 December as multimillionaires after a more than lucky draw in a recent Powerball draw.

Each Berwick shopper pocketed a share worth $3.7 million after their syndicate scored division one. Called Million Everyday, the fourshare store syndicate held one of the two division one winning entries in Powerball draw 1439 on Thursday 14 December, where each division one winning entry scored $15 million. berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Shed caps off great year

By Emma Xerri The Akoonah Park Men’s Shed has become a second home for the many local men who spend their days there, cooking sausages, working with new tools, and engaging in allimportant conversation.

In celebration of the end of another successful year, the shed has welcomed the members and their families for a celebratory luncheon, recognising the efforts of their members in 2023, and providing an excuse to get together, enjoy a cool beverage and share in a delicious holiday lunch.

For Akoonah Park Men’s Shed president Lindsay Harding, who has been with the organisation since 2012, events like this were a way to say thank you to all involved for helping the club flourish year round.

“We run this event every year,“ he said.

“It’s something to reward the members for what they’ve done during the year, and to repay our sponsors and supporters.“ Mr Harding said the organisation was nearing capacity with 160 members.

“It gets a lot of blokes out of sitting in armchairs and watching TV,“ he said.

“It’s great to be raising funds, organising these kinds of functions and maybe making our members a little bit happier than they were.“ Berwick MP Brad Battin, who showed his support for the club at the luncheon, also noted the importance of organisations like this for the men in the local community.

“I’ve been involved with the Men’s Shed since I was elected, and one of the best things about it is it gives men who may be socially isolated their own community,” he said.

“I know of a man in another shed who joined after losing his wife and it saved him.“ Mr Battin said the goal of the organisation was encouraging community and personal connections.

Berwick MP Brad Battin showed his continued support for the shed. 379295

Akoonah Park Men’s Shed president Lindsay Harding and his wife Sharon. 379295 Pictures: EMMA XERRI “The guys here sometimes don’t realise it, but what they’re doing is supporting each other,“ he said.

“Some of the guys here will never talk, but you put a tool in their hand and suddenly they won’t stop.

“These men have all brought their partners along today, and they can all see how important it is for them, whether it’s just having a beer or a wind down before Christmas, or organising to stay in contact over the Christmas break.“

Mr Battin said events such as the luncheon were “magnificent“ for the Berwick community.

“We have people here from the Warren Opportunity Shop and Bunnings, and John McGreal, who is one of the biggest community figures in our area,“ he said.

“These are the kinds of people who back up this organisation.“ With continued support from the local community, the club hoped to continue doing

The shed provided a delicious spread of food for the members and their families. 379295 what it has so successfully been doing in the new year.

“Next year we just want to keep the thing going,“ Mr Harding said.

“We’ll probably get a few more activities up but, unlike other clubs, there’s no rule that members have to do anything.

“You can play around with woodworking or do a bit of metalwork, or maybe get involved with projects outside the shed.

“It’s whatever you want to do.”

A place of friendship Christmas songs, friendship and delicious food filled the Living and Learning Inc halls last week, as part of the Pakenham and Berwick Women’s Friendship Cafe’s end of year luncheon.

Held on Thursday 15 December, the event welcomed people from across Pakenham to enjoy a meal and a chat, with a number of club members contributing dishes for the women to enjoy together, with Rana Sadeghian providing Club co-founder Elaine Smith said the aim of the club was to create a place where local women can meet regularly.

“It’s to do with creating a safe space for women where we can make time with everybody in our neighbourhood,” she said.

“We see that personal growth.

“It’s a chance for people to have a place of belonging.”

Pakenham MP Emma Vulin (third from right) enjoyed catching up with the club members.

Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) and Women’s Health in the South East representatives also attended the luncheon.

Running for the past six years, the Women’s Friendship Cafe meets from 9am to noon every Thursday at Living and Learning.

Pakenham and Berwick Women’s Friendship Cafe co-founder Elaine Smith, leader Jolene Stewart, artist Rana Sadeghian, cake maker Pam Archibald and Living and Learning chief executive Miriam Cadwallader.

Pictures: MATTHEW SIMS

Excellence in Learning

99.05 berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Class of 2023 Outstanding Results Eleven students achieved ATARs above 90 We are very proud of your achievements and wish you every success in your future!

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Congratulations to our Dux Callum Ryan who achieved

STAR NEWS 13

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) president Anne Bellavance

Tell us about yourself and your job!

I am a Maths/Science teacher by profession.

However, in my community work, I am the National President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP). An international NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC). I also sit on the WFWP International Board representing our region of Oceania and SE Asia. To date, there are only 143 organisations worldwide with this status.

What do you love the most about your work?

I love working with the WFWP team of volunteers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and in our region. I love the projects and activities that we do to support emerging women leaders and connect with women leaders through the Global Women’s Peace Network. I love our partnerships, especially through the Way2Happiness and Peace Building seminar series. I love our Global Development and Aid projects within the Pacific Islands that change the lives of women and their families. I love the way WFWP is able to connect and make friends with our Pacific Island communities through the Melbourne Pasifika Festival.

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

I don’t see myself as an animal. I see myself as a tree, the beautiful Grey Mountain Gums.

What was your most memorable moment during your current job?

The most memorable experiences I have had in my position as International Vice-President representing our region are my visits to the Pacific Island nations to support the WFWP teams in our sister chapters, and to run the Pasifika Micro-Credit workshops for women entrepreneurs in these nations.

What were you like as a kid?

I guess the best way to answer this is that I was always a good student, I loved learning and saw education as the means to achieve ones dreams.

Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) president Anne Bellavance.

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

I would love to have seen the birth of a star. Unrealistic I know, but the images from the voyagers of Star Trek have always fascinated and inspired my imagination. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could actually witness these cosmic events.

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

Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, my husband, and Dr Sun Myung Moon.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Organised, passionate, happy and positive.

THREE … underrated Christmas movies to watch

1

Klaus This Oscar-nominated animation tells the story of failing postman student Jesper, who befriends local toymaker Klaus when he is stationed at a small frozen village named Smeerensburg.

2

Happiest Season Planning to propose to her girlfriend at her family’s annual Christmas dinner, Abby’s plans are turned upside down when she learns her girlfriend’s family doesn’t know she’s gay.

3

While You Were Sleeping This story about love at second sight follows Lucy, who saves Peter, the man of her one-sided affections, from certain death only to be mistaken for his fiancee at the hospital. Unable to tell the truth to his family, an unforeseen romance with Peter’s brother further complicates matters.

Picture: SUPPLIED

What would you do on your perfect day off?

Go to a Korean style spa.

Where is your happy place?

My garden and in nature, especially on water kayaking with my husband.

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

I don’t really enjoy cooking and I am not a great cook. I do love eating delicate and new dishes, but I don’t have the patience to cook it. I am pretty good at cooking soups from scratch and roasts.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

Australia, a one-year road trip with kayaking in crocodile free waters.

Join our Senior College for VCE Make the most of your VCE years by joining our Senior College. Financial assistance maybe available.

Non-Selective | Non-Denominational Small Classes | Co-Educational ELC and Junior School Dedicated Senior Girls and Boys Schools

Find out more on our website or contact our Admissions Team.

StMargarets.vic.edu.au 12609922-AP33-23

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NEWS

Green Living honour Guilty plea to fatal breach

By Violet Li Abbie Lane is far too modest to shed any spotlight on herself, so her coworker had to break the news in the Green Living Casey Facebook group that the busy bee had just been recognised by Casey Council for her 15 years of valuable contribution.

“Our Facebook group star has been keeping Casey people entertained and informed for 15 years. She truly lives green and we’re proud to work alongside her,” the congratulation post wrote.

“That’s probably why she attracts crowds of adoring acolytes at any event. We’re fans as well.”

Hundreds of members in the group celebrated this milestone and thanked Abbie for her devotion to the green cause.

Serving as Casey’s environmental education officer, Abbie adores and enjoys her job to a certain extent that she did not even notice how time flied.

“It is constantly changing. There’s so much change in this realm with different information and knowledge,” she explained why she disregarded time.

“You’re constantly learning. There are constantly new challenges.”

The biggest change has to be the birth of Green Living Casey Facebook Group in 2018, which started as an experiment and evolved to glue the like-minded people.

Realising they were limited in how much eco-friendly information and education they could put out there, Abbie and her coworkers ventured into more online avenues.

“We run sessions, and we go out to events.

But we were trying to look for other ways that we could potentially get all the messages out there,” she said.

“There’s only so much we can get on the main Casey page. We wanted to create something that was a bit more useful to the community.”

Another driving force was the people.

Approached by a lot of women during the green events she run, Abbie found out they were eager to bond with those who shared the same values.

“Their friends, children, and families just don’t get what they are doing. They are all saying, why are you bothering with this green thing? Why would you bother sorting your recycling?

“These women have this overwhelming feeling that they are surrounded by people who are not interested.”

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Abbie Lane in her work centre. 378860 “That made me wonder how I could find them the right people.”

The start-up phase was hectic for Abbie to juggle with different layers of responsibilities.

She had to make sure members were following the regulatory rules, answer questions with scientific minds, and discover what topics mattered to the community by trial and error.

She recalled grabbing her work laptop in a flurry on a Saturday night after seeing an impolite post.

Five years later, the group has matured into a haven for green conversations with more than 3000 members.

There are all ranges of people active in the space, from those who are just dipping their toe in the water to incredibly eco and green kinds.

Every week Abbie coordinates posts, answers questions, and leads the conversation.

She noted that the most frequent question usually revolved around what could be recycled and what could not.

“When people are questioning things, it’s usually about what’s topical at the time, like soft plastics, waste recycles,” she said.

“They want to know why they can’t do cer-

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS tain behaviour and why they can do the others.

“We provide them with that extra information, and hopefully to change those behaviours.”

Messages are getting across, as Abbie found that many members would volunteer to help with questions with spot-on answers.

“People are understanding the knowledge.

They’re questioning things as opposed to just accepting on face value that something is recyclable or eco-friendly,” she said.

In retrospect, Abbie said the connection with the community motivated her along the road.

She recalled meeting a nice lady in the group who had just repainted the kitchen years ago, and in just the blink of an eye, the lady got grandchildren and was now telling her about the stories with the kids.

“I really like talking and having these conversations. I like engaging with people, hearing their stories, and following their journeys,” she said.

“I also get paid to talk to people and write to people about the things that I like to talk and write about.

“It’s a win-win situation for me.”

Beloved truckie killed at level crossing

By Cam Lucadou-Wells A 30-year-old Frankston father of three has been killed after his truck was struck by a train at a level crossing in North Shore last week.

Johnny Stubbs, who worked for Dandenong South-based Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire, was towing a low loader trailer and became stuck on the railway crossing about 12.15pm on Monday 11 December.

WorkSafe is investigating the crash.

Tributes have flowed for Mr Stubbs, including a Go Fund Me page raising more than $31,000 for Mr Stubbs’s bereaved partner Georgie and children.

His youngest son is just weeks old.

“Johnny’s family was his true love that he idolised and adored,” the page stated.

“Tragically we lost the big fella just going about his business at work getting the job done, no doubt just itching to get home and be with his family and brand new baby.

“Tragic is an understatement, life simply can be so cruel and unfair.”

His employer Craig Membrey paid tribute to a “hardworking, loyal, loveable family man”.

“It’s really shocked the Membrey family. It shouldn’t happen – you should go to work and go home to your family.

“What a horrible Christmas… we were having a Christmas party on the Sunday and then who would have known that this happens the next day?

“Life can change that quickly.” berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

A gate repair business has pleaded guilty to a workplace safety charge over a truck driver being fatally crushed by a falling gate in Dandenong South.

Gate Automation Systems Pty Ltd however failed in its submission to face lower penalties by being sentenced in the magistrates’ court.

Instead, magistrate Belinda Franjic ordered on 19 December that the case be heard at the Victorian County Court.

It means GAS faces a potential maximum fine of more than $1.6 million – rather than up to $450,000 in the magistrates’ jurisdiction.

Truck driver Stuart Baker, 59, had been killed while attempting to manually close an automatic gate that was being repaired by GAS at Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire depot in April 2022.

WorkSafe alleged that GAS had left the 12-metre wide sliding gate in an unsafe condition by removing a component without addressing the risk of it falling off the rails and crushing a person.

A GAS worker had removed the gate’s drive-motor to work on off-site. It meant the gate could be opened and closed manually, with the risk of running beyond its stop-close limit and falling off the rails.

Ms Franjic noted that the specialist contractor’s offending was of “high” gravity.

It had not installed an “obvious” control measure - a restraining chain with ‘lock out, tag out’ system to ensure the gate was safe, the court heard.

An expert submitted to the court that this would have been a “standard response” by industry participants.

GAS’s “administrative” control measure to tell the workplace’s general manager to secure the gate with a chain lock and not use the gate was “manifestly inadequate”, Ms Franjic said.

GAS showed a disregard for the unsuspecting workers who would not know of the grave dangers in using the gate.

It was not a “flagrant” disregard but still a serious breach, the judge found.

A defence lawyer submitted that there were doubts whether GAS’s breach directly caused Baker’s death.

The fatal incident occurred three days later and “you don’t know what happened in those 72 hours” that may have broken the chain of causation, the lawyer argued.

Ms Franjic however disagreed, finding there was no evidence of any intervening acts.

She noted GAS’s early plea and lack of prior criminal history.

But given the seriousness, GAS may not be adequately penalised within the magistrates’ court, she found.

GAS pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

It will appear at a plea hearing at the Victorian County Court in March.

Johnny Stubbs, 30, was killed after being struck by a train at a level crossing at North Shore.

It’s been a tragic two years for the company, with a 59-year-old driver fatally crushed by a falling gate in April 2022.

Gate Automation Systems Pty Ltd was charged by WorkSafe with failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

WorkSafe alleges that the repair company left the gate in an unsafe condition by remov-

ing parts so it could only be moved manually and not addressing the risk of the gate falling off its rails.

Gate Automation Systems is scheduled to appear at a committal mention at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 19 December.

The Go Fund Me page is at gofundme. com/f/johnny-stubbs

Stuart Baker, 59, was fatally crushed by a falling gate due to a workplace safety breach by a repair business, a magistrate has found.

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STAR NEWS 15

NEWS

Set for road Cracking down on drivers disruptions The Big Build project is set to continue its extensive works throughout the summer, with the State Government urging local residents to allow for additional travel time.

Hall Road, Cranbourne-Frankston Road and Evans Road intersection will be closed from mid to late January.

There will also be night works from mid-January to early February on Hall Road between Western Port Highway and McCormicks Road.

Healesville-Kooweerup Road will also be undergoing works, with lane closures, road closures and speed reductions between Princes Freeway and Manks Road.

Narre Warren and Cranbourne Road upgrades face the same processes, with road closures, lane closures and additional local access changes.

Cameron Street remains closed at BerwickCranbourne Road until early 2024, and following this, the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road will be closed at Berwick-Cranbourne Road.

South Gippsland Highway will have lane closures until mid-2024, while Rochester Parade remains closed at Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road until early 2024.

Camms Road will also be closed at Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road from early in 2024.

The local road closures and access changes will be continuing along Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road between Thompsons Road and South Gippsland Highway.

Pakenham roads will also be undergoing a similar volume of changes, with freeway closures, road closures and lane closures continuing along the Princes Freeway, HealesvilleKooweerup Road and McGregor Road.

Roadworks are scheduled for the southeast throughout the summer.

Picture: SUPPLIED Healesville-Kooweerup Road will be closed between Southeast Boulevard and the Princes Freeway northern roundabout from 3 to 25 January.

The Princes Freeway southern roundabout entry and exit ramps at Healesville-Kooweerup Road will also be closed during this time.

McGregor Road will be closed between Webster Way/Henry Road and the Princes Freeway southern roundabout from late January to early March.

The Princes Freeway’s outbound exit ramp to McGregor Road will also be closed for the same period.

In addition to these road upgrades, public transport upgrades will be ongoing, including level crossing removal projects.

To see the disruptions map, visit bigbuild. vic.gov.au/disruptions For more general information on the Big Build roads, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/ roads

Police are set to crack down on motorists as part of Operation Roadwise ahead of the “high-risk” Christmas period.

With an extra six days to cover the busy New Year period, major arterial roads and highways will be the focus of the operation.

Alcohol and drug testing will be a focus, with police intelligence showing there is an increase in the number of drivers recording low-range drink driving readings (0.05 – 0.069 BAC) in December.

Detections are around four per cent higher than the typical monthly average.

Police say the increase in low-range drink driving detections is likely due to drivers miscalculating their alcohol intake, suggesting many are prepared to risk having a few drinks at end-of-year social functions before getting behind the wheel.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir said it’s been a “horror year” on the roads.

“We will be focusing heavily on impaired drivers, so expect to be tested, and be prepared to face the consequences if you’re caught over the limit.

“For those who choose to ignore the road rules – you’ll be up for a costly Christmas.

The penalties are significant, and we make no apologies for enforcing the rules – it could save someone’s life.”

Last year, police detected 511 drink driving offences from 201,091 preliminary breath tests and a further 375 drug driving offences from 5122 roadside drug tests.

The operation will be ongoing over 18 days. It started 15 December.

Operation Roadwise will also see police ramp up enforcement around coastal areas and popular holiday hotspots across regional Victoria.

A number of roads around Melbourne will be impacted by construction works throughout December and January, and po-

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir urges drivers to take extra care on the roads. lice will be on the lookout for motorists who do not travel at reduced speed limits.

With Boxing Day one of the busiest days for travel across the state, police are urging those hitting the roads to be patient, avoid distractions and take regular breaks to prevent fatigue.

To avoid a costly Christmas, police are pleading with motorists to obey the road rules with some of the common penalties including: Speeding by more than 10m/h but less than 15km/h – $385 and three demerit points; Failing to wear a seatbelt – $385 and three demerit points; Failing to obey traffic light - $481 and three demerit points; Using mobile phone or device while driving - $577 and four demerit points; BS Drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle with blood alcohol limit between 0.05 and 0.069 (fully licenced and/or over 26 years of age) - $577 and three-month licence suspension or six-month licence suspension if under 26-years of age.

Operation Roadwise commenced at 12.01am on Friday 15 December 2023 and concludes at 23.59pm on Monday 1 January 2024.

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STAR NEWS 17

CHRISTMAS ALL WRAPPED UP

Let there be light . . .

By Erle Levey Christmas lights … let’s think about the concept.

Why is Australia so big on them?

Most people, if you ask them, mention children when thinking about why they go to the effort of decorating their house with Christmas lights.

Of course, we want our kids to have the wonderland that we remember as a child at Christmas time. But what else lies beneath this Australian tradition?

And is it Australian or, like Halloween, has our culture been influenced by American culture when it comes to Christmas light displays?

When I asked one lights enthusiast how long he’d been working on setting up his display, he said they started about a month ago.

Wow! That’s a lot of time invested in decorating your house for a temporary amount of time only to pack it all away again in a few weeks.

Imagine landscaping a garden for more than a month ... and then after three weeks ripping it all out again.

What makes people do this?

It has to be psychological. A labour of love.

The passion has to come from within - an intrinsic motivation to want to provide an experience - or make something useful out of one’s home, that others can appreciate.

And not just the children.

Does it go back in time and a matter of testing one’s upper limits?

How many lights? How treacherous a position can I place myself in?

Then again, most genuinely want to bring great joy and happiness to their kids.

Vaughan Court, Pakenham. 380302

Waterford Rise, Pakenham. 380302 A colleague confided she did it for that purpose.

“We decorated our house so beautifully for several years ... until Santa delivered new Beagle puppies and they ate all the wiring for the Christmas lights in one afternoon when we left them in the courtyard.

“The cost for replacement made us reflect about the on-going commitment.

Picture: MATT MALE

Merry Christmas to all!

Picture: JAMES WHEELER/UNSPLASH

“Nope. More important things to spend money on ... and the boys were growing up.

“Grinch-like thinking really.’’

And people with Christmas house light displays are the antithesis of The Grinch aren’t they?

They’re showing everyone that they are willing to invest hard-earned cash and many hours of their creative labour to make the

world a better place for a few weeks.

Like an architect friend said on Saturday morning: “It’s so nice to focus on something positive for a change.’’

And that’s his motivation for wanting to decorate his place.

He said that, especially over the past few years, people need this.

We have Christmas is here at Harry’s a winner

Berwick’s Glenda Fisher emerged victorious in the Great Christmas Giveaway competition.

Glenda was visibly shocked and overjoyed at the unexpected win.

This triumph holds special significance for Glenda, who had never before experienced the thrill of winning any contest.

Glenda’s win became a symbol of hope and festive cheer, reminding us all that sometimes, the most unexpected surprises can bring immeasurable joy.

The Great Christmas Giveaway ran for four weeks in the Berwick Star News with local businesses giving a voucher each to join a prize pool of $600 worth of vouchers.

Congratulations Glenda and family from the team at Star News Group.

First real Christmas tree

Get your Christmas gifts here with the best styles for each season selected by hand

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Ph: 9796 2777 • 9 Loveridge Walk, Berwick

Pakenham resident Kahlia Marsh was so excited to pick up her winning Christmas tree from Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm, 336 Brown Road, Officer.

The competition has been running in the South East papers over the recent weeks and through our social media.

With an overwhelming response, Kahlia was so excited to be the lucky winner as she’s never had a real Christmas tree for Christmas.

If you are looking for a real Christmas tree to liven up the holiday season in your home, visit the team at Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm to pick out your very own tree.

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CHRISTMAS ALL WRAPPED UP

Gullquist Way, Pakenham. 380302

Vaughan Court, Pakenham. 380302 We all need something enjoyable and uplifting to experience.

I love the mums and dads that really have done it for their kids though.

One couple with a two-year old was immersed in his experience.

They even brought his dinner outside so they could sit among the fairy lights and get on with life amid the magic.

Picture: MATT MALE And they were working on the lights.

There was another whose wife was away with work, and he told me they set up the display together.

They have been decorating for six to seven years and renewing items over the time, upgrading and developing themes.

All the while they have been doing it for the children and others in the street.

Picture: MATT MALE

It’s Christmas lights galore this time of year.

So it’s also a bonding experience - creating something rewarding and beautiful with your partner or family.

Although I did laugh when we asked one dad if the kids helped.

He laughed and said ’’they try to.’’

Maybe one of the children will become a sparky in the future.

Imagine that - passionate parents inspiring their kids with a career in either design, architecture, electrical ingenuity or theatre and movie set construction, all through building the Christmas light display year after year.

It could spark something deep inside them that they keep coming back to - year and year again.

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STAR NEWS 19

NEWS

Celebrating community

By Ethan Benedicto Oakgrove Community Centre held its celebrating communities event on Saturday 2 December, featuring foods and activities from samosas to face painting and a jumping castle.

With the goal to showcase the diversity of the neighbourhood, families and guests were greeted by interactive workshops, live cultural performances and local businesses showcasing their products and services.

Event coordinator Anu Ravindernath said the day wasn’t just to display their facilities but also to celebrate the heart and soul of their community.

“The aim of delivering a community event is to foster a sense of unity and connection among residents,” she said.

Serving as a platform for social interaction, the event also looked to promote inclusivity and help strengthen community bonds.

Centre manager Mary Amalraj said that it was all about interaction.

“Our main purpose is to engage with the community, learning about their cultures, listening to their needs or wants, and thinking out of the box to provide appropriate solutions,” she said.

Children’s activities were a major focus for the event, with the pony rides that trekked around the park easily being one of the most popular.

Families were also greeted by an ice cream truck, a coffee truck with pastries, a sausage sizzle and a catering service offering foods from samosas to wedges.

Inside the hall were stalls of jewellery, scented candles, clothing and many more that were displayed and made available for purchase by local vendors and small businesses.

“Organising the celebrating community event was rewarding but had its challenges, such as coordinating logistics, obtaining necessary permits and ensuring safety measures,” Ms Ravindernath said.

Planning for the event took roughly six months, with communication through social media, flyers and community bulletin boards being strong factors in spreading the word.

Sourcing volunteers was also another aspect that was important to the event’s success, with Ms Ravindernath saying that “witnessing the community come together was incredibly gratifying”.

“It highlighted the power of communal efforts in creating memorable experiences and strengthening the bonds within the neighbourhood,” she said.

Casey youth services was also present during the day, featuring their own set of activities and spreading awareness of their resources from counselling services to youth events.

The event was also attended by Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas who both spoke to the crowd during the day.

For the members of Oakgrove, the future is clear and it revolves around engaging, building and fostering connections within the local community.

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando and local Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Zumba dancers performing in front of a crowd. 376888

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Helen Gibson from Helen’s Crafts in Pakenham showcasing her work. 376888 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Tatyana after getting her face painted. 376888 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Event volunteer Sandra cooking up the snags.

376888 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Two-year-old Parker, a Narre Warren South boy, going for a pony ride. 376888 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Sala Isu Apulu, a member of VASSI, dancing.

376888 Picture: GARY SISSONS

University open day presents opportunities aplenty

By Ethan Benedicto Prospective students had the opportunity to indulge themselves with the opportunities Federation University had to offer at the institution’s open day.

Held on Tuesday 12 December between 1pm-5pm, the event featured campus tours and presentation sessions, which allowed visitors to gather valuable insight from academics, current students, admissions support and industry guests.

Professor Duncan Bailey, the university’s vice-chancellor and president said that the day allowed future students to take a glance at the courses that they might be interested in.

“Info day was a wonderful opportunity to help prospective students choose the course or pathway that is right for them and gain valuable knowledge about the flexibility, support and scholarships available to them at 20 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

Federation,” Professor Bailey said.

The info day took place across the campuses of Berwick, Mt Helen, Gippsland, and Camp Street, where it served as a good opportunity for those who did not receive the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) that they were aiming for, to explore a wide range of options.

Professor Bailey said that their “students can succeed wherever they start their journey”.

“This is done through a suite of courses designed, developed and delivered in partnership with industry as part of our cooperative education model.”

Cassie Pedersen, Ellie Griffiths (Melbourne City), Tom Sawicki, Amy Patsalis, Josh Lui and Goetz Ottmann 376495 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Save money Energy and water efficiency home audit kits are available for borrowing from the City of Casey’s library branches at Bunjil Place, Cranbourne, Endeavour Hills, Hampton Park and Doveton.

The kits are developed to help residents identify where they can improve the efficiency of their home, saving them money and reducing carbon emissions.

There are 12 kits available for borrowing, with each kit containing an easy-to-read instruction booklet, as well as the following equipment: Power-mate lite: shows how much electricity an appliance is using and what this is costing you.

Energy saving thermometer: shows the appropriate operating temperature for heating, cooling, hot water service, fridge and freezer.

Water flow measuring cup: tells you the flow of your shower and taps in litres per minute.

Thermal imaging camera: highlights areas where draughts, water leaks and missing insulation might be present.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM said the kits were designed to support and empower the community to help reduce their energy and water use.

“After completing your audit using the kit, you may be eligible to apply for a rebate from council of up to $200 to draught-proof your home.”

To check the availability of the kits, visit connectedlibraries.org.au and search ‘water and energy efficiency audit kit’ or drop into a City of Casey library and speak to the staff.

For more information about the kits and how to apply for the rebate, visit casey.vic.gov.au/reduce-energy-use

· · · ·

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Oakleigh MP Steve Dimopoulos visit Radio Lollipop at Monash Medical Centre on 6 December.

The Radio Lollipop broadcast centre, which received $150,000 to upgrade ageing equipment

Sounds of healing An in-house radio station is helping to brighten the days of kids at Monash Children’s Hospital.

The State Government delivered on its election pledge for $150,000 to the charity Radio Lollipop to update its ageing studio and equipment.

With its fun segments, games, activities and songs, the radio station believes in the healing

power of play, smiles and laughter.

Kids can request songs, win prizes and even host segments during the broadcast.

“A long stay in hospital can be really challenging for kids and Radio Lollipop does an amazing job brightening up their lives while they get the care they need,” Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said on a visit on 6 December.

Matrix dives into skill and will of team members IAN ASH

Low Will and Low Skill Staff here are typically new to the role or may have been in it for a while but not performing.

Their attitude will be negative and the objective would be to improve their performance by being very clear about what’s required, potentially even micro-managing or else they will need to move on.

Low Will and High Skill Staff here are capable of performing in the role but for whatever reason their morale or berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Founded in the United Kingdom before spreading across the globe, Radio Lollipop is staffed entirely by volunteers.

WIN BIG BASH TICKETS

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Ask any group of business owners what their greatest challenge is today and chances are one or more of them will say something to do with staff management.

Little wonder really since when it comes to getting the best out of your team members, there is simply no one-size-fits-all solution that works.

In practice, we are all motivated by different things and so applying a ‘standard’ approach to managing staff is not only likely to be ineffective, in some cases, it can actually be harmful to the relationship.

Our ability to perform is very much a function of our attitude and our experience/expertise and so recognising this, the “Skill/Will Matrix” (developed by Max Landsberg and first described in his 2003 book, “The Tao of Coaching”) can provide useful insights for a manager as to which approach might work best according to the combination that best fits the team member.

“By offering a range of activities and ways to get involved in the broadcast, Radio Lollipop is helping kids in hospital get their minds off their illnesses and injuries and giving them a chance to have some fun.”

The Skill/Will Matrix - developed by Max Landsberg and first described in his 2003 book, “The Tao of Coaching” - can provide useful insights for a manager as to which approach might work best according to the combination that best fits the team member. attitude is poor. These members need to be motivated by understanding the value of they do.

V

Find out how

High Will and Low Skill Staff in this quadrant are keen to get on and perform but simply don’t have the necessary skills yet. Since motivation is high, they will respond well to training and mentoring to improve here.

High Will and High Skill People with these characteristics are your star performers. They certainly don’t require micro-management (likely to demotivate) and will respond well to coaching and clear direction. They will need to be kept challenged and will be keen to develop their skills still further.

Ian Ash ACC, AInstIB Managing director OrgMent Business Solutions - ombs.com.au What business topics would you like to learn more about? Email your suggestions and feedback to ianash@ombs.com.au

Or visit: starcommunity.com.au/competitions 12656373-FC50-23

Thursday, 21 December, 2023

|

STAR NEWS 21

NEWS

Micky G performs a night time set at the 2023 World Fare at Night.

Phat fried ice cream.

World food sizzles at night The Dandenong Market ‘World Fare at Night’ returns this January offering a vibrant hub of culinary activity and entertainment.

Running over three consecutive Thursdays from 11 January, the Market will transform into a foodie and live entertainment paradise, celebrating an amazing patchwork of nationalities all under the one roof.

Visitors can delight in freshly-cooked hawker options from around the world including South East Asian street food, Columbian, Polynesian, European, Tibetan and

African to name a few, along with a great selection of sweet treats and desserts.

Visiting stall-holders include St Gerry’s Greek Doughnuts, Little Yarra Creperie, Flamin’ Cambodian Skewers, The Juicy Momo Dumplings and Phat fried ice cream.

The free all-inclusive entertainment has something to keep everyone in a great mood - African dance (Soukous), Japanese Pop, Bollywood, Scottish Highland dancing with the popular Afghan-born Nasheet Brothers set to bring their high energy to conclude the fi-

nal night. There’ll be face painting and giant games including larger-than-life Connect 4, Jenga, and Noughts and Crosses to entertain children of all ages.

Must-try Market trader dishes include Piqnic Hut’s Sri Lankan Kottu Roti, made of shredded roti bread, vegetables, egg and choice of curry.

There’s also Sansan’s Dumpling House’s mouth-watering selection of daily handmade Chinese dumplings by owner Xian Lan Chen.

The Market’s newest trader Peanut Market

Roasting Room will also be on-hand to treat visitors to on-site freshly-roasted Aussie nuts topped with a range of add-ons.

Dishes on the night start at $6 and can be paired with a selection of beverages from pop-up bars including The Prosecco Van, and bubble tea from Black Pearl Melbourne, along with cold brews and wine from The Tavern.

The World Fare @ Night is on Thursday 11, 18 and 25 January, 5pm-9.30pm at Dandenong Market, corner Clow and Cleeland streets, Dandenong. Free entry.

SUMMER 2023

Pump it up!

12655768-JC50-23

Clyde’s new park

Why Hamish Blake is

Our top dad

22 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

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• After your advertisement has run for 13 weeks you must call us each fortnight to renew it for a further 2 week period AND reduce the price of your item by a minimum 5% for items in the “For Sale” section or 3% for items in the “Motoring” section. This process may continue until you have sold your item. If we do not hear from you we will assume you have sold your item and your advertisement will not appear.

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

|

STAR NEWS 23

WHAT’S ON Cranbourne U3A Cranbourne U3A has commenced Term 4 with lots of fun activities planned for its members.

The club recently had a busy Open Day and have welcomed some new friends to its Tai Chi and Art classes.

New members are welcome to come along from 10am to 2.30pm on weekdays for lots of fun and laughter.

Classes in calligraphy, art, chess, sewing, knitting and card making are also running.

Members and tutors will be available to show attendees through the rooms and assist you.

Light refreshments, tea and coffee will be served.

Cranbourne U3A’s rooms are in the admin building of the Cranbourne Library, entering from the Casey Radio entrance.

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

Picture: PRISCILLA DU PREEZ/UNSPLASH

·

Craft Classes

·

Seated Movement Sessions (Chair Dancing)

·Berwick Springs VIEW Club

Would you enjoy exercising from the comfort of your chair?

Join the Berwick Activities Group for some seated movement sessions including fun and uplifting songs and different styles and eras of music. An opportunity to get moving and enjoy the company of others.

Timbarra Community Centre, 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick. $8 per session.

Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.

Wednesdays from 10.45am to 11.30am.

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.

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

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Weekly badminton Badminton for ladies or retired.

All welcome.

Mondays 7pm-9pm and Wednesdays 12pm2.30pm at Hallam Badminton Club, Frawley Road Recreation Reserve; $5.

·

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.

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.

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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).

The South Eastern Predators Gridiron Club is welcoming people of all ages to come and learn a new sport in an inclusive and friendly environment.

No experience necessary.

1 Newport Road, Clayton South. For more information, visit sepredatorsgridiron.com.au

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

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

For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au

Find local work with an advert in the

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ESCORT LINDA

Rainbow Club

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$110/ 30mins Open 7 days 48 Davies Avenue, Sunshine North 0468 693 833

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Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is an inclusive tabletop, fantasy, role playing game.

Participants work together with other players to go on adventures in the DnD world.

You can act, explore, instigate, solve problems, and tell stories as you bring their chosen character to life within the game world.

Second Saturday of each month, 1pm to 9pm, Orana Community Place, 16/18 Playwright St, Clyde North.

For enquiries and to book a spot at the table, reach out to Jonathan Whelan at thestoryweaver.dnd@gmail.com

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DnD at Orana

Hall 2, Balla Balla Community Centre, Selandra Blvd, Clyde North on Tuesdays 1pm2pm and Wednesdays 7.30pm-8.30pm.

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878 481 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com 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.

12565959-HC35-22

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre is a not-for-profit community managed centre, with a volunteer Committee of Management that provides strategic direction and oversight.

For more than 30 years, the centre has provided a range of high-quality childcare, community services, educational classes and spaces for hire.

Explore diverse activities and engage with fellow community members at their open day this weekend. Lots of free family fun, sausage sizzle, animal nursery, popcorn, and fairy floss.

For more details, visit merindapark.com.au or facebook.com/MPLandCC

Do you enjoy craft making?

Join Berwick Activities Group’s Elizabeth to discover the world of papercraft and have a chat with like minded people.

You will be introduced to a range of papercraft techniques through a new project each week.

Casual attendance is welcome.

Timbarra Community Centre 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick $5 per class, all materials supplied.

Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.

Tuesdays from 10am to noon.

12644936-SM44-23

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

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 enjoy an afternoon tea.

Day, short and long trips away via coach and flights, a 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.

The club is also hosting a formal Christmas lunch on Tuesday 5 December at Dandenong Club.

Come along and get to know us by visiting us 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 on 0468 363 616.

Professional

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

THE CLASSIFIEDS DEPARTMENT WILL BE CLOSING ON FRIDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2023 AND WILL RE -OPEN TUESDAY 2ND JANUARY 2024.

24 STAR NEWS

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Thursday, 21 December, 2023

12657944-JB51-23

Management and Staff at Network Classifieds would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Local load in AFLW Draft

By Jonty Ralphsmith Berwick junior Meg Robertson headlined four local girls to have their dreams realised on Monday night at the AFLW Draft.

Carlton snaffled the father-daughter prospect at pick 31 after a consistent 2023 in the talent pathway, representing Dandenong Stingrays and Vic Country.

The contested ball-winner will play for the same club her Dad, Ben, played three games for in 1992.

“We’re delighted to welcome Meg as a Blue, making her our second father-daughter selection,” Head of AFLW Ash Naulty said.

“Meg was in great form consistently throughout season 2023, and that was on the back of her fundamentals: she’s clean, she’s quick and she gets the role done for her team on a weekly basis.

“Meg has already developed a high-level work ethic which will help her easily slot into our program.

“She’s going to really benefit from working closely with the likes of Mimi Hill, Abbie McKay and Keeley Sherar at Carlton.”

Robertson was one of three Dandenong Stingrays selected, with Mikayla Williamson and Sophie Butterworth both heading to Hawthorn, at pick 17 and 45 respectively, while Gippsland’s Amber Schutte was taken by Collingwood at pick 32.

Nominating for the state draft only, Williamson slipped further than some expected, having been linked to Melbourne’s pick 5, but was rapt to find an AFLW home.

The Vic Country co-captain was invited to the draft at Marvel Stadium, watching on with those closest to her, and Dandenong coach Josh Moore and talent lead Toby Jedwab.

“It means so much,” Williamson said on the AFL livestream.

“I get it’s everyone’s dream here, but it was a big shock to me.

“I play more of an outside role and (my running) has a massive impact on my game and it’s my strength and my style.

“I probably (see myself) on the wing, that’s

Mikayla Williamson poses with Stingrays coach Josh Moore in her new colours. 380669 Picture: MICHAELA ADAIR where my strengths help the team the most.”

She was presented with her Hawthorn guernsey by skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

An athletic midfielder who covers the ground excellently, the AFLW Academy member shone at every level she played at in 2023.

She topped it off with a fine showing at the

AFLW Draft Combine, breaking the time trial record with a run of 7:09 minutes and also recording top five finishes in the agility and standing vertical jump.

Butterworth, meanwhile, watched the event from home and was visited by Hawk Mackenzie Eardley following her selection.

Eardley skippered Dandenong last year and was a development coach at the Stingrays in 2023.

A key forward, Butterworth’s production this season was exceptional, averaging more than two goals per game for the Stingrays as a physical forward.

The key-position Vic Country representative battled bilateral popliteal entrapment syndrome all year, initially misdiagnosed as compartment syndrome, but is now back training at 100 per cent and ready for the challenge of the next level.

“We’re so excited to see what Mikayla and Sophie can produce in the brown and gold,” AFLW list manager Mitchell Cashion said.

“Both players have unique strengths and fill positional needs for us as a club, which will only enhance our young and developing list come 2024.

“In the midfield, Mikayla is set to provide explosiveness and impressive running power while with Sophie, we can expect to see some strong marks and scoreboard impact come 2024. “ Schutte will boost the Pies athletic stocks, shining at the AFLW Draft combine with her speed and leap.

A competitive defender with composure and a long kick, those who have seen her in the talent pathway system note that her preparation will hold her in good stead in a professional environment.

Like Williamson and Butterworth, Schutte nominated for the state draft only.

The Vic Country representative averaged 17 disposals, three tackles and four rebound 50s for Gippsland in 2023.

Meanwhile, Rays skipper Jemma Ramsdale, linked with a move west after a stellar finish to the season as an intercepting defender, and athletic AFLW Academy player Bianca Lyne were both overlooked despite strong interest.

Others to miss out included Stingrays Ruby Murdoch, Felicity Crank and Abbey Tregellis and Gippslanders Charlotte Waller, Lydia Gudgin, Indiana Makai, Emily McGovern, Ahlee Penry and Taylor Sowden.

Titan in scintillating touch as Marie’s season marches on

By Jonty Ralphsmith The latest iteration of Berwick Springs opener Jackson Marie’s fine season was - without argument - his best yet.

Playing against Coomoora in the last game of the year, a game his side needed to win to stay within touching distance of the top four, Marie stepped up to smash 148 off 118 balls.

It was an innings which mixed sweet timing with maturity, guiding the Titans to 7/298 at 6.6 runs per over.

The Roos never looked like chasing it down after losing early wickets.

Marie brought up three figures with a perfectly struck pull for six, one of seven maximums he smoked through his innings.

He dominated a 107-run partnership with coach Shalika Karunanayake before sharing an even more stylish 139-run partnership with Chirath Uralagamage.

A feature of the knock was the understanding of his role.

When wickets fell, he stabilised, while at times during the Uralagamage partnership, Marie was content to play second fiddle.

“I just felt like I couldn’t do anything wrong,” Marie said.

“It was just one of those days where everything just comes out of the middle and a (short) boundary on one side helps.

“Even mishits were going over the fence – it was just one of those days.”

Berwick Springs now sit in fifth, three points behind Coomoora and ahead of them on net run rate; a loss would have had the club nine points adrift, possibly behind on net run rate.

“I’ve seen a lot of good knocks and that was as important and as good a knock as I’ve berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Jackson Marie has lit it up so far this season in Turf 3 of the DDCA. 380774 seen,” Marie’s skipper Braydon Hillman said.

“It was smart batting, he knew when to go for it and when to consolidate.

“Coomoora can be a tricky little ground but he was clearing the big boundary, the short boundary, he didn’t really care.

“He’s just full of confidence at the minute.”

It was against the Roos, in Marie’s first

Picture: SUPPLIED

game of the season, that he announced himself with a well-made 76 to help the Titans to a competitive, and ultimately match-winning 168.

That set the tone for the lefty’s season.

He has two centuries and two 50s, as well as a 46 – the only innings he has missed out was Berwick Springs’ first innings against Lynbrook when he was dismissed for 14.

Marie leads the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 3 run-scoring – 150 runs clear of second placed Hasindu Waduge.

It’s been built on punishing the bad balls and finding the boundary with more ease than previous years, with his newfound killer straight drive wreaking havoc for opponents.

“I personally needed that just to know I belong here,” Marie said, reflecting on his first hit against the Roos.

“It was nice to finally get over 50 and go on with it this year.

“I love being the guy who can be the difference maker personally but it’s not always on me.

“I’ve matured a bit with my skillset and I feel like my technique has just come together this year which has helped.

“I’m not overthinking it too much now, I just know that everything is set up nicely for me.

“There were times last year where I was overthinking everything in terms of my technique and wondering why these scores weren’t happening.”

After taking a break from First XI cricket, the youngster showed glimmers of promise last season with a procession of starts but never went big in an inconsistent batting lineup.

The inclusions of Karunanayake, Uralagamage and Springvale hitter Radomir Badzoka have added sturdiness to the lineup which has liberated Marie.

“For me it comes down to the 10 other blokes we’ve got on the team,” he said.

“I’ve got absolute confidence that they will make runs if I go out so it gives me the opportunity to play with no fear.”

Thursday, 21 December, 2023

|

STAR NEWS 25

SPORT

Fitzpatrick’s familiar faces

By Marcus Uhe Among the fans glued to the action at Greaves Reserve on Tuesday night for the final of the inaugural DDCA Women’s T20 competition was an ICC Hall of Fame member and all-time great of the sport.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Cathryn Fitzpatrick terrorised batters with her frightening speeds and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.

A two-time World Cup winner, in 1997 and 2005, and with a combined 240 wickets to her name across Test Matches and One Day Internationals, there were few bigger names in Women’s cricket than Fitzpatrick.

Before the likes of Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry were winning World Cups in front of 80,000 people at the MCG, and celebrating on stage with musical megastar Katy Perry, or earning hundreds of thousands of dollars to play in the Women’s Premier League in India, there were the Fitzpatrick’s, Mel Jones’, Belinda Clark’s and Sarah Elliott’s of the world, who all found their feet at grassroots level and, in her case, at Buckley Ridges.

But from being one of the more recognisable people in the sport in a previous generation, Fitzpatrick was content as simply a face in the crowd on Tuesday, watching her former club side fight its way back into the contest against Springvale South to claim victory, and reminiscing on her time at Park Oval alongside former teammate Kylie Dickie and longtime club supporters such as Gerry Carman.

That was, until the post-match presentation, when she presented a medal named in her honour to Buckley Ridges batter Karina Diaz, as the best player in the grand final for her important 31 at the top of the order.

“I think there’s quite a few people that played for Buckley along the way that it could have easily been named after,” Fitzpatrick said of having the medal named after her.

Cathryn Fitzpatrick (left) presented Karina Diaz with the Cathryn Fitzpatrick medal as the best Picture: MARCUS UHE player in the grand final of the DDCA’s Women’s T20 competition. 380005 “I was very chuffed when I found out about it.

“It’s lovely, but I don’t think that whoever wins it will have any idea who I am.”

While this season was the competition’s debut, Fitzpatrick’s mind drifted back to a competition that drew many parallels back when she was on her way through the ranks.

She felt it benefited her cricket immensely, and can forecast similar for modern-day Fitzpatrick’s early in their cricketing journey.

“Interestingly enough, we played in a T20 competition, and I can’t tell you the year, out at Mitcham, under lights, on synthetic, and it was so much fun,” she said.

“Instead of training, we got to play, which was the best thing; you learn more by playing the game than you do in the nets.

“This competition brought back memories of that.”

In what was her first time viewing a match in this competition there was plenty that impressed her; from the atmosphere, the commitment and enthusiasm of the participants, to the access to Turf wickets, the support of those watching and the standard of play in the middle.

Of upmost importance, however, was the warmth and appreciation of club cricket.

“I said as I drove in to a friend, some of

these girls wouldn’t have played in front of this many people, which is great to see,” she said.

“There’s a great community feel, and that’s what cricket is about; if you go on and play for Australia, all those things are fun, but it’s around where your base is.

“I played more club cricket than I did international cricket.

“I was talking to people that I’ve known for 40/50 years, whereas nowadays, current day players, because of scheduling, don’t get to play a lot of club cricket.

“They have the connection within their side, but not the connection with their club, (things like) putting the covers down on a Friday night, pulling them up Saturday morning, all those things that you don’t like doing, but it builds your community.

“I’ve been fortunate to have played around the world in World Cups, but winning club premierships with my mates, they’re irreplaceable moments.

“It’s the community and the friendships that last.”

Among those who took the field on Tuesday night included teenagers Limansa Thilakarathne (Buckley Ridges), the daughter of former Sri Lankan all rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan, Grace Barnes (Buckley Ridges) and Indigo Noble (Springvale South), each of which have been identified as players of promise, and will represent Victoria Country Under 16 Female National Championships in January.

Maybe one day, they will play the role of interested spectators cheering on their club side and thinking back to playing the DDCA’s first women’s T20 competition, when they were the community’s newest trailblazers.

Where their cricketing journey takes them remains to be seen, but with players like Fitzpatrick having paved the way, the future looks bright.

It’s all about dedication and persistence for Panthers NARRE WARREN BOWLS The 2023/24 Pennant Season has so far been a very successful one for the Narre Warren Bowls Club.

Nine sides are inside the top four and one is currently fifth.

With less than half a season to go, it’s all about commitment, dedication and persistence by all sides to play their best each week and strive for finals contention.

Saturday saw five wins and one loss in round nine, and midweek round eight ended with three wins and one loss.

There were two instances of great persistence by two separate teams last week in the midweek competition.

One effort resulted in a team win, while the other team did not win but made their score very respectable.

Division 2 team of Les Clement, Joe Selfridge, Paul Stevenson and Peter Wills were having a tough time from the start of their match.

At the break Wills’ team was trailing 2-14 at the conclusion of the ninth end.

After the break, through sheer persistence, the team outscored their opponents 21-3 for a final score of 23-17.

This also helped the side win by 10 shots.

In Division 5, the team of Pam Uren, Stella Ellis, Noel Hawthorn and Denise Ferguson trailed 1-14 after seven ends.

From there they rallied and scored 22-11

There is no mistaking your whereabouts when playing at Narre Warren. 380961 Picture: SUPPLIED over the final 14 ends…the final score being 23-25.

By being persistent and dedicated, they helped their side to win the match.

These two instances prove that you should never give up.

Behind the scenes, clubs need people with dedication and persistence and Narre

Warren is very fortunate to have many people who have the club at heart.

Effie Kyriacopoulos is one of these members.

Her tireless work, primarily in the catering area, includes the preparation of 100-plus bread rolls filled with delicious fillings for afternoon tea on Saturday Pennant days.

Her efforts are extremely welcomed by all Narre Warren players and visiting clubs who play Pennant at the ‘Panther Dome’.

SATURDAY PENNANT – ROUND 9 Side 1: (Away) defeated Edithvale 85-72 Points: 16. Ladder: 1st Best rink: Lyn Wood; Jim Stewart; Alan Hilton and Chris Johnson: +10 Side 2: (Home) defeated Mulgrave CC 95-82 Points: 14. Ladder: 3rd Best Rink: Michael Black; Fernando Mateos; David Wood and Wilma Stevenson: +10 (Including an “8” on end 4).

Side 3: (Home) defeated Sandringham 85-80 Points: 15. Ladder: 2nd Best rink: Ash Suhr; Peter Groom; Alan Meyer and Steven Roy: +16 Side 4: (Away) lost to Noble Park 97-69 Points: 2 Ladder: 4th Best rink: Luka Klarica; Joe McGuire; Lorraine Marsden and Eric Marsden: +11 Side 5: (Away) defeated Burden Park 80-72 Points: 14. Ladder: 4th Best rink: Kery Cadman; Denise Cole; Dean

SUMMER HAS BEGUN

George and Tom O’Loughlin: +11 Side 6: (Home) defeated Keysborough 92-71 Points: 16. Ladder: 3rd Best rink: Tom Wright; Peter Castricum; Arthur Scheurer and Michael Walther: +18 RINK OF THE ROUND: Side 6: Skip M. Walther: +18 (Div 7 Sect 5) MIDWEEK PENNANT – ROUND 8 Side 1: (Away) defeated Clayton 66-57 Points: 12. Ladder: 1st Best rink: Isobel Partington; Craig Lineham; Fernando Mateos and Zak Storm: +15 Side 2: (Home) defeated Dandenong Club 65-55 Points: 14. Ladder: 4th Best rink(s): Judith Naughton; Lorraine Marsden; Eric Marsden and Wilma Stevenson: +6, and Les Clement; Joe Selfridge; Paul Stevenson and Peter Wills; +6 Side 3: (Away) lost to Mulgrave CC 52-68 Points: 2. Ladder: 5th Best rink: Michael Nelson; Pauline Kempf; David Inifer and Lindsay Gibson: +9 Side 4: (Home) defeated Mulgrave CC 78-53 Points: 13. Ladder: 2nd Best rink: Brian Nicholls; Wendy Henkel; Arthur Scheurer and Michael Walther: +27 RINK OF THE ROUND: Side 4: Skip M. Walther +27 (Div 5 Sec 7) -Lindsay Gibson

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SPORT

Gameplan works for Hawks

By Marcus Uhe Hallam Kalora Park captain Jordan Hammond praised his side’s ability to stick to prearranged tactics in Saturday’s tight five-wicket win over Berwick in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 competition.

The Hawks are back on the winner’s list for only the second time in the 2023/24 season, chasing Berwick’s total of 5/149 in the 44th over to secure a much-needed result, and head into the Christmas break with some crucial momentum under their belt.

While 150 was not a huge total to reach, the relentless accuracy and pressure applied by the Berwick attack made scoring difficult with the bat, while the lower order for the Bears dug them out of trouble after the depleted top order failed to fire.

Hammond said the intentions outlined before the game were well executed, and hopes the result can kick-start the season.

“We put a plan in place at the start of the day of things we wanted to do and we think we covered, pretty much, most of them, which was good,” he said. “(The tactics were) bowling one side of the wicket and bowling to a plan, and with the bat, being a bit more aggressive.

“Obviously the total today, didn’t really allow us to put our foot down at any stage, but ‘Boothy’ (Leigh Booth) and Mahela’s (Udewatte) quick singles, it was really good by them today.

“In the last few weeks we’ve just been bunting balls to fielders.”

Berwick’s defence got off to an excellent start through the dismissal of Jagveer Hayer for one in Corey Bevan’s opening over.

Booth and Udawatte then put on 76 for the second wicket, looking comfortable without the pressure to accelerate.

Berwick had its chances to break the partnership earlier but dropped catches from both players; Bevan shelling a return catch from Booth on 22 and Jarrod Goodes dropping Udawatte at square leg for the same score.

A full toss from Lachlan Brown ultimately brought Udawatte’s downfall, hitting a catch to the man patrolling the boundary at cover for 42, much to the Sri Lankan’s frustration.

When Booth fell shortly after to an excellent diving catch from Bevan, the threat of an upset was emerging.

Hallam Kalora Park captain Jordan Hammond played a key role for his side in Satuday’s win over Picture: GARY SISSONS Berwick. 323332 Berwick’s spinners, in Elliot Matthews and Lachlan Brown, were at their strangulating best, with Matthews bowling his 12 overs unchanged from the Frawley Road end of the ground.

Ben Hillard needed 15 balls to get off the mark, such was the pressure and tension in the middle, the Bears bowling well to their field and limiting scoring opportunities.

When Hillard and Gregson departed in quick succession, exposing a lower order for Hallam that has seldom batted this season, the chance of a Berwick win was looking more and more likely.

At the other end of the wicket watching his teammates perish, however, was Hammond.

Following Booth and Udawatte’s depar-

tures, the former Wookey Medal winner became the key wicket, with plenty riding on his shoulders for the brown and gold.

He took his time and rode a few bumps, but with Kevin Kean he ultimately ensured his team made it to safety in the penultimate over, finishing with 33 not out.

Matthews’ marathon spell netted him 2/31, and Bevan conceded 19 runs from his seven overs, in a display of immense dot-ball pressure. “‘Goodesy’ and that are smart bowlers; they bowl good areas, and if you want to go through (the field), there’s not much pace there, (so) you’ve got to go over (the field) and take a risk,” Hammond said of the Berwick bowlers.

“But luckily our bowlers gave us a total

where, we didn’t have to, at any stage, take a massive risk.

“It was tense at times, but one thing we try to tell the boys is, not to panic, and I thought we did that pretty well today.”

Earlier in the day, Bears opener Matthew Hague was forced to retire hurt after suffering a calf injury, in a side already missing top-order lynch-pins Jake Hancock, Jarryd Wills and Jordan Cleland.

Matt Robertson’s departure saw the score fall to 3/40 and Mitch Shirt’s reduced them to 5/80, before important late runs from Ash Henry and Toby Wills pushed the score to 5/149 at the innings’ closure.

Henry finished unbeaten on 50, his second impressive knock after coming into the side last week for his first Turf 1 game of the season.

Like many sides, Hallam’s season has been full of stops and starts, compounded by injuries and personal commitments hindering player’s ability make training sessions.

Continuity and stability has taken a hit as a consequence, reflected in the results column.

“We’re trying to do indoor (training) but you struggle to get much rhythm with the indoor nets,” Hammond said.

“A few of the boys have been working away so they haven’t been getting to training, and a lot of boys haven’t been getting hits.

“The best thing to do is bowl and bat in the middle and we haven’t had much of that, but all you can do is do what you can do.

“We’ve had a few hits in the last few weeks and hopefully we’ve found a rhythm now, so hopefully it’s upwards from here.”

He conceded that his side’s approach may change in the back half of season, with the competition in a tight squeeze between second and seventh.

“We haven’t played much two day cricket so it is hard,” Hammond explained.

“We tried a few things against St Mary’s to try and get an outright.

“Extra points and stuff might play a part come the end of the season, because it is so close.

“Taking risks to potentially get the extra four points or boost your percentage, there’s definitely a thought there.”

The undefeated Springvale South await in the Hawks’ opening game back, while Berwick will host St Mary’s.

Buckley bounce Beaconsfield in ultimate reality check

By Marcus Uhe Buckley Ridges gave Beaconsfield a reality check in a thumping 126-run win at Park Oval in round eight of the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 competition.

Batting first on their home pitch, Buckley hit the highest Turf 1 one-day innings total for the season to date, posting 6/296, before keeping Beaconsfield to 8/170 in reply.

The leadership duo of Jayson Hobbs and Ishan Jayarathna were the architects of the innings with boundary-laden knocks that both fell short of the three-figures.

Opening the batting, Hobbs hit 83 to top score, with nine fours and three sixes; Jayarathna not far behind with a five-four, seven-six knock of 78.

A late cameo from Michael Davies pushed the total to just shy of the daunting 300 barrier for Beaconsfield, who didn’t enjoy the same success against Buckley as they did in their first meeting, despite the early dismissal of Jake Cronin.

Trishane De Silva’s six overs yielded 64 runs, but he did have success as the only multiple wicket-taker for the Tigers.

If not for Mark Cooper’s leg spin and Jake Cutting’s nagging accuracy, the total could have been far worse, the two conceding only 30 and 29 respectively from their seven overs each.

Beaconsfield lost Tyler Clark early to the speed of Hussain Ali, caught behind by the returning Troy Aust for one, and never fully recovered.

In a side that has been heavily reliant berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

Yoshan Kumara helped guide Springvale South to safety against St Mary’s. 319027 Picture: ROB CAREW on Clark and Cooper to score runs, the two could only offer a combined 13 between them, spelling trouble for the remainder of the chase.

Jesse Busacca’s wicket reduced the visitors to 5/40, before defiant knocks from the lower order batters ensured the margin of victory was not detrimental to their percentage or net run rate.

Michael Dunstan top scored with 36, with Joel Matthews (27) and Mitchell Tielen (28) also offering valuable contributions in a 56run stand for the eighth wicket.

Davies returned to form with 3/33 as

Buckley Ridges’ most successful bowler, but it was Jayarathna and Hussain Ali who orchestrated the collapse, combining for three of the four wickets at the top of the order.

Springvale South’s five-wicket win over lowly St Mary’s ensured they finished the calendar year atop the Turf 1 table but it wasn’t without drama at Carroll Reserve.

St Mary’s batting woes came to the fore once again, bowled out for just 66 in 32 overs batting first in windy conditions on their home deck.

Wendyl Pires did his best to stave off the charge, with 19 off 60 deliveries, but no other

batter reached double figures in a dismal display.

Nearly all batters were dismissed through hitting catches, while Yoshan Kumara’s direct hit run out of Deeshan Umagiliyage from the cover boundary reflected the professionalism and the approach of the Springvale South fielders to the contest.

Wickets were shared evenly among Kumara, Blade Baxter, Jarryd Straker and Adam Read, who each took two.

A short chase looked in the offing for the reigning champions, but they had not accounted for a brilliant opening spell from Umagiliyage, who has been a shining light in what has been a sorry year for the Saints.

The right-arm quick trapped Ryan Quirk in front of his stumps on the Bloods skipper’s first ball, and got through the defences of Jordan Wyatt for only six, to have the Bloods’ two premier batters back in the sheds at 2/13.

Mitch Forysth was the next to go at 3/19 and Blade Baxter became Umagiliyage’s third, the Bloods finding themselves at 4/26 in the ninth over.

It was up to Kumara and Jordan Mackenzie to steer the Bloods to safer waters, a 26run stand for the fourth wicket ensuring they avoided disaster.

Springvale South reached the target of 67 in the 16th over.

Turf 1 returns on Saturday 6 January, with North Dandenong v Buckley Ridges and Springvale South v Hallam Kalora Park, the standout matches on the fixture.

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