News - Berwick Star News - 25th January 2024

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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TAFE success story

Happy 101st birthday!

Rewarding work

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SPORT

Books over pints A book club may not seem like the obvious choice for men looking for a new social activity to add to their roster, but for the men of the Tough Guy Book Club, discussing books with a cold beer in hand has become a cherished part of their monthly schedule.

Tough Guy Book Club members Luke Balson, David Triat, Trevor Watson, Josh King and Tim Coughlan enjoy a beer and a chat about books on the first Wednesday of each month.

For more on the story, turn to page 4

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Cyber guilty plea An Endeavour Hills man has been sentenced over buying stolen information from an online criminal marketplace.

Wangzhen Jiao, 32, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to possessing data with the intent to committing a computer offence.

He had allegedly used an invite-only website Genesis Market which sold log-in credentials, browsing history, autofill form data and other sensitive data.

The man allegedly purchased ‘bots’ containing about 650 compromised credentials.

Such “digital fingerprints” can be used to mimic a victim’s access credentials to access their online accounts.

Jiao’s home was raided by police on 5 April.

He was arrested and his laptop and phone seized.

On 19 January, he was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.

Genesis Market was shut down after an in-

ternational investigation led by the FBI and assisted by Australian Federal Police and state police units including in Victoria.

The website had access to more than 1.5 million compromised computers, according to the AFP. AFP Cyber Command acting assistant commissioner Chris Goldsmid said cybercriminals were constantly looking for ways to exploit the community for financial gain.

“The public should take steps to protect

themselves against this sort of crime including regularly changing passwords, ensuring they are unique to different accounts and enabling two-factor authentication.”

Dutch Police developed a portal to check if your personal details were compromised on Genesis Market.

Visit politie.nl/checkyourhack If you believe you’ve been a victim of cybercrime, report it to police at cyber.gov.au

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A summer of fun at Bunjil Place This summer, get ready for an unforgettable experience as Bunjil Place unveils Summer Stage.

New library lockers at community centres

For six glorious weeks, the outdoor plaza will transform into a buzzing mini festival with a jam-packed program of events and entertainment, and everyone’s invited.

Connected Libraries and the City of Casey are excited to launch 27/7 library lockers at Cranbourne West Community Hub, Manna Gum Family and Community Centre and Orana Community Place.

Imagine a vibrant and lively plaza space, bursting with energy and activities. At the heart of it all, a stage that promises to host incredible performances and events throughout the summer.

Library members can collect holds and return items at the lockers at a time that is convenient for them.

For more information and to view the program, visit the Bunjil Place website.

For more information, visit the Connected Libraries website.

There’s still time to register for Clean Up Australia Day 2024 On Sunday 3 March, thousands of community members across the nation will work together to clean up rubbish from local open spaces and waterways.

You can get involved by joining a registered Clean Up event happening near you or register your own local site and become a site supervisor.

Council Meetings Members of the community are welcome to attend the upcoming Council Meetings which are held in the Bunjil Place Function Room, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.

Council Meetings start at 4.00 pm and are also live streamed through our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

For more information on Council Meetings, or meeting minutes and agendas, please visit our website.

Upcoming Council Meetings: Tuesday 20 February

Registration information is available on our website.

Tuesday 19 March Tuesday 16 April Tuesday 21 May

Catch a Carp Day

Tuesday 18 June

To celebrate World Wetlands Day, residents are invited to River Gum Creek Reserve in Hampton Park to enjoy a fun day of fishing.

Come along on Sunday 4 February between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm and join the fight against invasive carp. By removing these fish, we will improve the water quality and create a healthier environment for our aquatic animals.

Other activities on the day include a live fish display, a water bug activity and a tote bag/badge making activity.

Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.

To participate in the event, you will need to hold a valid fishing licence. BYO fishing rod and net.

Bait will be provided.

•

Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.

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Bookings for this free event are essential. For more information and to book, please scan the QR code.

Casey Community Panel Expressions of Interest

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IN BRIEF

Toll fines hit home

By Matthew Sims Casey-based drivers received the highest number of toll fines across the state during the last 12 months, according to freedom of information (FOI) data obtained by the Peninsula Community Legal Centre.

According to the PCLC, about 40 per cent of the state’s road tolls were issued to South East residents, with Casey-based drivers receiving the most with 35,246 fines, followed

by Frankston with 16,714, Dandenong with 15,434, Mornington Peninsula with 12,754 and Cardinia with 9046.

PCLC chief executive Jackie Galloway said the centre was concerned about the impact the fines would continue to have on vulnerable people who are already struggling due to the ongoing cost of living and housing crisis.

“The areas in our catchment where the highest numbers of fines were issued last year also have some of the most disadvantaged postcodes in the state,” she said.

“This means our fines team is seeing an increase in the number of people who are already struggling to put food on the table and pay their rent who simply don’t have sufficient funds to pay their fines, even though they want to do the right thing.”

In the year to July 2023, more than twothirds of the clients who sought help via PCLC’s fines clinic were experiencing financial disadvantage, while about 50 per cent had a disability and/or mental health issues.

According to PCLC, their clients’ average fine debt was $13,000, while some clients had as much as $70,000 worth of fine debt.

According to Fines Victoria’s data, the value of toll infringements at the enforcement stage in PCLC’s catchment area in the South East for the 2022/23 financial year was close to $30 million.

Ms Galloway said the government needed to look at ways to better support people who were unable to pay off their fines in a timely manner.

“We are particularly concerned about the fact that the fines system is a common entry point into the criminal justice system for vulnerable people who are not trying to avoid their fines, but who simply do not have the means to pay,” she said.

“There is an urgent need for the government to help these people pay off their fines in other ways, rather than crippling them with life-long debt and the threat of criminal sanctions.”

Fines Victoria has operated the Work and Development Permit (WDP) scheme since 2017, which aims to help vulnerable people pay off their fines.

The scheme has allowed people to work off their fine debt via a number of therapeutic programs, including financial counselling, educational and vocational courses, treatment by a health practitioner, volunteering, and drug and alcohol counselling.

PCLC has been supporting the scheme since 2019 with a special project using funding from the Victorian Legal Services Board to make the scheme more accessible.

Narre Warren man charged following fatal hit-run Police have upgraded charges against a 28-year-old Narre Warren man following a fatal hit-run collision in Knoxfield last December.

Police have charged the man with dangerous driving causing death, as well as failing to stop and render assistance and unlicensed driving. Police have alleged a car struck a motorbike on Ferntree Gully Road at about 7.20am on 14 December 2023, with the driver of the car, a 28-year-old Narre Warren man, allegedly fleeing the scene.

The motorbike rider, a 65-year-old Ferntree Gully man, was taken to hospital where he later died.

Police later arrested the man in Frankston on 15 December. The Narre Warren man will next appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday 22 April.

Berwick man arrested following Hampton East death Police have arrested a 28-year-old Berwick man following the death of a man in Hampton East on Sunday 21 January.

Police also arrested a 27-year-old Hampton East man and a 25-year-old woman of no fixed address, with the trio now assisting police with their enquiries.

Emergency services were called to an address on Wickham Road at about 3.45pm on Sunday 21 January, after a 33-year-old Ashburton man was located unresponsive.

The man was then transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died. Police believed the parties were known to each other. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined and the investigation is ongoing.

To report any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au

Mosquito-borne ulcer warning

Peninsula Community Legal Centre chief executive Jackie Galloway.

However, Ms Galloway said they were concerned the scheme was failing to adequately support vulnerable people in the metro South East region.

“In our view, the WDP scheme is at risk of stalling just at the time when it is needed most,” she said.

“A comparison with the system in NSW, which the Victorian system was modelled on, starkly illustrates the problems.

“In the 2021/2022 financial year in NSW there were 29,508 WDPs issued to work off fines to the value of $44,200,000, while in the same period in Victoria, only 1504 WDPs were completed to work off $3,504,758 worth of debt.”

To be eligible for a WDP, one must have, or be experiencing a mental or intellectual disability, disorder or illness; an addiction to drugs, alcohol or a volatile substance; homelessness; family violence; or acute financial hardship.

The WDP scheme allows a person’s spon-

Picture: SUPPLIED

sor to choose the treatment and/or activities which would be best suited to them and keep records of their participation.

Ms Galloway said with the number of accredited sponsors falling severely short of demand, the scheme could not begin to meet the needs of those seeking support.

“The fines enforcement system is ineffective and disproportionately burdensome for vulnerable members of the community who find it impossible to pay their fines,” she said.

“It is also very costly for government.

“We are calling on the Victorian government to invest more resources into the WDP scheme to provide better access for vulnerable Victorians to reduce their fines debt and remove them from the enforcement system, while still maintaining the deterrence and reduction of reoffending.”

For more information, about how to access the WDP scheme through the PCLC fines team, phone 9783 3600.

Victorians, including those living in Casey, are being encouraged to understand the risks of Buruli ulcer and take precautions against mosquito bites this summer, as cases continue to emerge across the state.

New data highlights a growing number of Victorians are presenting with the infection, with 363 cases in 2023 – the highest number recorded since the infection emerged in Victoria in 2004.

Buruli ulcer is an infection linked to mosquitos which can cause significant skin damage. The condition can be treated with antibiotics, making early diagnosis and treatment vital. Symptoms for the infection include spots which look like insect bites, ulcers, painful lumps, limb swelling, redness of the skin and occasionally people can develop severe pain and fever.

Tips to reduce the risk of contracting Buruli ulcer include covering up by wearing long, loose-fitting clothing, sing insect repellents containing Picaridin or DEET on all exposed skin, limiting outdoor activity if there is a significant uptick in mosquitoes, removing stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around the home or a campsite, making sure windows are fitted with mosquito netting or screens, washing any new scratches or cuts and protecting with a dressing and washing exposed skin contaminated by soil or water after outdoor activities.

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Bringing books to the pub

By Emma Xerri A book club may not seem like the obvious choice for men looking for a new social activity to add to their roster, but for the men of the Tough Guy Book Club, discussing books with a cold beer in hand has become a cherished part of their monthly schedule.

The book club, which springs from the “beer drenched streets of Collingwood,” is an inclusive space where men are encouraged to do something they’re not frequently encouraged to do: discuss literature.

In the humble pub setting, the Tough Guy Book club removes the barriers for men wanting to engage in discussions, inviting them to replace time spent at the pokie machine with a copy of The Great Gatsby and an open mind.

For Josh King, the founder of the club’s Pakenham branch, the club has allowed him to do exactly that, fostering in him a love for books he would not have otherwise stumbled across, and new friendships with men from all walks of life.

“I’m in my 50s now and I reached a point a year or so ago where I realised I wasn’t really doing anything for myself. And that led me to seek out some different activities,” he said.

“I enjoy reading but it was the club’s attitude and ethos that I was most attracted to.

“They have this attitude of ‘you haven’t read the book? Come to the meeting anyway. We get it.’ And I thought, that’s a book club I can get behind.”

Importantly for Mr King and the club’s other members, the club takes the pressure off reading, encouraging an exploration of new texts, but not necessitating members read the whole thing, let alone enjoy it.

“Officially, the book selections come from some nebulous, magic portal that spits out the books,” he said.

“It’s generally not a democratic process, which I think is good.

Tough Guy Book Club, from left, Trevor Watson, Luke Balson, David Triat, Josh King and Tim Coughlan. 381476 “I know if I go and read something on my own, I always fall back on the same genres that I enjoy.

“I’d go so far as to say most of the stuff we’ve read I would never pick up on my own. And I don’t enjoy all of them, which is a big part of the club too, but that leads to some good conversation, so it keeps it interesting.

“Not every book is going to appeal to everyone, an older text especially might be harder to get into for some folks. But again, the great part is you can take a stab at it, and if you get a chapter in and decide you can’t finish, you still come to the meeting and that can be your opinion.

You can still take part in the discussion.”

But aside from the exposure to works from

authors such as Zadie Smith and Jack Kerouac, it is the friendships forged through these monthly pub discussions that make the Tough Guy Book Club so beloved by its members, and which has allowed it to expand both nationwide and internationally.

“There’s just great guys in the club, and not only in the local chapter but in the large network of book clubs,” Mr King added.

“As guys, in particular, we tend to often not look after ourselves, and there’s all the challenges that sometimes you don’t hear about, whether that’s around mental health or community.

“Making sure you keep a friend network, and that you stay busy and have things that en-

gage you mentally is so important, and Tough Guy Book Club is about all of those things. It’s about encouraging reading, building camaraderie, fighting isolation and improving mental health, and it’s done in a way that isn’t intimidating. It’s at the pub, it’s just a bunch of guys getting together and it’s free to join. So, it’s doing all the right things in the right ways, and making a really great opportunity for guys to get out and not be alone.”

All of the Tough Guy Book Club chapters meet at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month, and the Pakenham Branch’s next meeting will be on Wednesday 7 February at Castello’s Cardinia Hotel.

For more information, visit toughguybookclub.com

Bookworms rejoice: New library lounge, locker Connected Libraries (CL) and Casey Council have launched the Cranbourne West Library Lounge with purpose-built lockers at Cranbourne West Community Hub on Monday 22 January.

CL members can borrow, return, and renew items at the new lounge. Free Wi-Fi and public computers are available for use. Storytimes and regular programs will operate from the lounge.

CL chief executive officer Beth Luppino said the library was thrilled to offer a service for the ever-growing Cranbourne West and surrounding community.

New library lockers are located outside at the rear entrance of the building. Libraries members can collect holds and return items at the lockers any time. These lockers are also available at Orana Community Place and Manna Gum Family and Community Centre in Clyde North.

Librarian Himaya Nelson at the new Library Lounge. 383593 Ms Luppino said library lockers were easy to use.

Members can place holds on the CL App or catalogue.

They can select a locker pick-up location and when their item is available at the locker, they will be notified via email to collect the item at a time convenient to them.

Members will also be able to return items using the lockers.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the launch of 24/7 library lockers at various hubs across Casey was a fantastic new way for busy community members to have convenient, round-the-clock access to library borrowing and return services.

“On behalf of council, we’re proud to support CL as they continue to adapt and expand their services to support the community’s needs,” she said.

The Library Lounge will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and will be staffed a few hours each day.

Library lockers are available 24/7.

Marketer Kiara Bingham, Connected Libraries chief executive officer Beth Luppino and librarian Himaya Nelson are at the new Library Lounge. 383593 Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

Head of Campus

Talk & Tour Join us for a Talk and Tour with the Deputy Principal – Head of Campus at our Berwick, Officer and Beaconsfield Campuses

13 February

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Concerning crime trends

By Violet Li Casey has seen a surge in burglaries, thefts and property damage reports in the year to September 2023, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) figures.

The number of property damages recorded has risen by almost 10 per cent to 1820, which exceeded the pre-pandemic level of 1687 cases in 2019.

There were a total of 1630 burglaries in Casey over the past year, a jump of 26 per cent from 1298.

Residential aggravated burglaries have soared by 49 per cent to 427.

Non-aggravated residential burglaries have increased by 21 per cent to 768.

A total of 7642 thefts have been recorded, showing an increase of 44 per cent compared with the previous year and trending back towards the pre-pandemic level.

Motor vehicle thefts have surged by 68 per

cent from 645 to 1081.

The number of offences related to stealing from a motor vehicle is 24 per cent above the 2022 level to 2577.

In Cranbourne, a significant increase in thefts by 30 per cent has been noted with 1002

offences recorded.

In Berwick, the number of thefts recorded has been 885, which represented a 24.8 per cent jump compared to the previous year.

Clyde North has recorded a soar in thefts by 52 per cent to 573.

There were 24,881 home burglaries across Victoria in the twelve months to September 2023 – 4068 more than the year before. Of the 24,881, 12.5 per cent were attempts only.

According to Victoria Police, aggravated residential burglaries, particularly those involving young offenders targeting unlocked properties with the intention of finding keys and stealing cars, are a significant concern for police.

Victoria Police’s deputy commissioner Neil Paterson said one of the most significant concerns for police heading into summer was property crime, specifically home burglaries.

“Summer is traditionally the peak season

for home burglaries and as such, we’re urging Victorians to take some simple steps to help stop opportunistic thieves,” he said.

“Our members will continue to patrol known hotspots across Melbourne every evening until dawn as part of Operation Trinity, however, the community also has a strong role to play.

“This summer, please be extra conscious of unlocked doors and windows. Offenders are telling us across the interview table that they will try multiple homes until they find one where they can simply walk through the door or climb through an open window.”

In Casey, there were a total of 22,519 criminal offences recorded in the year to September 2023, which was a 8.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The number of drug possession has been down from 1123 to 953 - a decrease of 15 per cent.

New beginnings: Ali shines in autobody repair scene

By Sahar Foladi Born in Afghanistan, Ali Akber Rezaie has already worked his way up to earn a National Championships medal after just three years in Australia.

The Hampton Park man migrated in 2019 to join his parents and worked odd jobs wherever available.

He decided to take up studies in autobody repair at TAFE and excelled.

“Coming to Australia, everything was new – new culture, new language, and new people. It was a complex transition for me.

“It can be hard to settle, to find a job or to understand the systems and TAFE helped with that,” he said.

“As soon as I started an apprenticeship, I knew this was for me, this is what I was looking for.”

He began working at an automotive repair company that sponsored him to study his Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology at TAFE. He went on to win a bronze award in autobody repair at World Skills Australia’s 2023 National Championships and credits his positive experience at Tafe.

“Many of the practical skills we learn in class are immediately applied to the job, but the benefit of TAFE is how we also learn the theory that explains how to do it best.

“When I entered the WorldSkills Australia competition, my trainer was one of my teachers.

“He has been a mentor and has guided me through my career. I wouldn’t be where I

am today without him,” he said.

“I am grateful for TAFE in opening my life to meeting such passionate people who have helped me to build my career and life in Australia.”

The opportunity has further inspired Mr Rezaie with an ultimate goal to advance and hone his skills in automotive body repair.

He recommends other new arrivals to strive for qualifications and skills that will help them land a job to avoid repeated rejections.

“Finding a job is important to people new to Australia, and it can get frustrating when faced with repeated rejection, or if you don’t know where to start.

“Studying a tuition free TAFE course is a fantastic way to do so without additional financial stress.

“There are many services out there ready to help people new to Australia find their feet – all you have to do is have the courage to ask for help and be open to new opportunities!”

Ali Akber Rezaie won the Bronze award in autobody repair at WorldSkills Australia’s National Championship.

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Happy 101st birthday!

By Ethan Benedicto Being a centenarian is no easy milestone, but moving forward from that is another feat entirely.

Rosalina Manantan turned 101 on 15 January 2024, making her a step closer to being a super-centenarian who is typically aged 110 and over.

This also makes Mrs Manantan one of Victoria’s rough estimates of 1432 people who have hit triple digits, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics December 2018 quarterly population report.

Milagros Manantan Reyes, the eldest daughter at 74 years old said during her mother’s party that she’s “just so thankful to the Lord”.

“Because without any medications, without any maintenance, just vitamins and drinking some red wine, there haven’t been any big health concerns,” Mrs Reyes said.

After sisters and relatives laughed at her banter, Mrs Reyes reiterated that she was confident in her mother’s health.

Nanay Rosa, which translates to mother Rosa, is what the 101-year-old has been fondly referred to, and has only ever had one “not so serious problem”.

“The first time she was here it took us six months to clear a calcification in her lungs, but that was not really serious or anything.

“She’d rest here and then have all these pathology tests and then it was all normal, she didn’t have anything,” Mrs Reyes said.

Mrs Reyes came to Australia in 1987 and decided to bring her mother to her home in Hampton Park a few years later in 1993.

When her husband died in 1990, Mrs Manantan received most of her support from her children, all of who were overseas at that point.

“I was providing for her all the time, so I had to bring her here so I could just look after her.

“Everyone wants their parents to come here, for a better life and that was my purpose,” she said.

Instead of continuously sending her mother money, Mrs Reyes felt that bringing her to Melbourne was a more viable option, where she could provide help in many more ways.

Mrs Manantan was more than a welcome presence in her new home, with Mrs Reyes recalling that she had been a boon to the household chores.

“She was able to help me in so many ways, wash our clothes, ironing, cooking, and at that time she was still 70 so she could do that.

“When I’d come home from work there’d be food and all the washing’s done, she was good help to me as well,” Mrs Reyes said.

From 1998, Mrs Manantan also saw continued support from the Australian Filipino Com-

Milagros Manantan Reyes (left) with members from Young Generation watching a video from cousins overseas.

Rosalina Manantan being greeted by Young Generation members during her 101st party.

Pictures: SUPPLIED munity Services, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes Filipino migrants’ wellbeing.

The AFCS also advocates for better economic, cultural and political rights in Australia, all of which Mrs Manantan had access to.

In the same year, she also became part of the Young Generation Senior Citizens cub, or YG for short, which saw the communal gathering of elderly Filipinos who engaged in activities and held gatherings.

For Mrs Reyes, who is also getting older, one of the more difficult things to manage was her mother’s dementia.

“I don’t know how many years it’s been now that she’s got dementia, but that’s it really,” she said.

In response, she sponsored her younger sister Elma to help care for their mother in 2019, as arthritis had caught up to her.

“After I retired I felt old, arthritis here and arthritis there, so my sister’s the one looking after her now,” Mrs Reyes said.

Mrs Manantan has resided in Elma’s and her husband John’s residence since 2019, which so happens to be the same venue of celebration for her 100-year birthday in 2023.

Mrs Reyes’s explanation for her mother’s longevity is familial and genetic, quoting two other family members in the United States who have also hit the centennial milestone.

She had a first cousin in LA who died when she was nearly 102.

OPINION

LENSCAPE

Milagros Manantan Reyes on the left and her mother Rosalina Manantan on the right.

Another first cousin who Mrs Manantan had grown up with is living in Seattle, Washington, and is 100 years old.

Mrs Manantan had always been a strong believer and a frequent churchgoer, but as her age caught up to her, she had been saying her prayers at home.

Mrs Reyes attributes part of her mother’s healthiness to her strong faith, a quality that has essentially become part of Mrs Manantan herself.

As of now, Mrs Manantan resides in her daughter Elma’s and husband John’s home in Cranbourne North and spends most of her day resting and reading the bible.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumb down To Casey Council not mowing the lawn.

Thumb up To Tooradin Tractor Pull & Truck Show.

Thumb up To the old clothes dyeing day at Wilson Botanic Park Berwick!

Thumb down To people who dump batteries in the rubbish bin and cause fire in the recycling trucks.

Thumb down To the upcoming KFC in Berwick.

Ashan Madhushanka Walgamage batting for Beaconsfield Cricket Club has eyes for the ball delivered by Berwick bowler Mitchell Shirt last Picture: ROB CAREW Saturday. 384311

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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NEWS

Study support available

By Matthew Sims Berwick’s Emma Kirschner’s has taken one step closer to achieving her dreams to work in a police lab, thanks to The Smith Family’s Learning For Life education support program.

The former Shepparton High School student joined the program in Year 7 due to her high attendance record and has now transitioned into The Smith Family’s tertiary scholarship program.

The Learning for Life education support program provides financial assistance from a sponsor to help families meet the cost of school essentials like uniforms, books and excursions, support from a Learning for Life Program Coordinator to connect the child and their family to local learning opportunities and other supports and access to The Smith Family’s out-of-school mentoring and educational programs to help children get the most out of their school years.

Now 21, Emma has begun her preparations to tackle a Bachelor of Science at Swinburne University, towards working within forensic science with goals to carry out lab work in a police environment, while also pursuing her art as a side passion.

“It was incredibly helpful,” she said.

“It just allowed me to explore my creative side.

“My family was struggling a bit at the time.”

The program has also been possible thanks to the support of Officeworks’ Back to School appeal.

“It’s been my second home at this point,” Emma said.

The Smith Family chief executive Doug Taylor said they were aiming to increase their sponsorship base from 62,000 to 100,000 by 2027, so even more of the one in six young Australians living below the poverty line today

can receive support.

“Learning for Life, which is enabled by generous Australians, is a game changer; it means that every child we help can access what they need to make the most of their education.

“Our research shows that 85 per cent of students on our support program who were in Year 12 in 2020 were in education, employment, or training two and a half years after leaving school, so we know our program has a long-term positive impact.”

More than 2200 families responded to an annual survey carried out by The Smith Family, with 88.3 per cent of respondents indicating they were worried to some degree about being able to afford all school supplies their children would need in 2024.

Mr Taylor said educational supplies were the first things to fall by the wayside during the increase in the cost of living.

“The families we support make impossible decisions every day about how to prioritise the limited resources they have,” he said.

“Housing, food, and power are top of the list, but the cost of these essentials have all risen rapidly, meaning educational essentials like uniforms, books, a laptop and the internet are increasingly hard to afford.”

“Laptops and the internet are as essential as pens and paper in the 21st-century classroom.

“Every Australian would agree that all children should have the same opportunities as their peers at school, so they can achieve their potential.”

For more information or to support the program, visit thesmithfamily.com.au/programs/learning-for-life Berwick’s Emma Kirschner has been supported in her studies since Year 7 thanks to The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. 384209 Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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STAR NEWS 7

NEWS

Giving back through work Cranbourne engineer Yousef Heidari has shared his meaningful experience working on the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade, a project closer to home for him in more ways than one.

Being part of this project is another way Yousef, working for McConnell-Dowell as a site engineer, can make a difference for the community that gave his family a chance to flourish.

Moving to Australia with his family toescape the ongoing turmoil and conflict in Afghanistan when he was 14 years old,Yousef started a new life in Cranbournethat offered a chance for peace and promise.

With many migrant families calling the southeast home, he felt like he belonged from the start.

“Our time in Australia, specifically in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, has been incredibly positive,” he said.

“The warm and supportive community has been instrumental in our seamless integration, extending a genuine and heartfelt welcome.

“The abundant multiculturalism and diversity in the area have significantly contributed to our sense of belonging, transforming our new surroundings into a true home in Melbourne.”

Yousef completed his schooling at Cranbourne Secondary College and later graduated from RMIT with a degree in civil engineering.

Yousef has still clocked plenty of kilometres as he worked across the city on several Victorian Big Build projects.

From the Monash Freeway Upgrade, Metro Tunnel as well as the Level Crossing Removal Project at Gap Road – Yousef has made his way around Melbourne to bring these road and rail upgrades to life.

When he saw this position become available in his neighbourhood, and by extension allow him to work on this major road for Cranbourne and the greater southeast, he leaped at the opportunity.

“Contributing to the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade is my way of giving back to the community, a gesture that I consider the least I can do in return for the support received,” he said.

“The immeasurable support I’ve been fortunate to receive from both the local community and the school [Cranbourne Secondary College] has been invaluable.”

In addition to helping construct a safer, less-congested Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Yousef also made sure his Afghan community was well across what was going on with this project, as he helped translate at MRPV pop-up events, so no language barriers were stopping his community from understanding what was happening in the area.

“It is brilliant to play a role in advancing road infrastructure close to home to help make our roads safer for the community,” he said.

Cranbourne local Yousef Heidari is proud of his meaningful experience working on the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade.

Picture: SUPPLIED

School cybersecurity boost Centrally managed internet services and improving schools’ cybersecurity governance will be part of a new suite of upgrades for schools across the state designed to keep students and staff, and their data, safe.

The upgrades will monitor school networks and flag suspicious activity by hackers and criminals, while also standardising cybersecurity services across schools as well as doubling internet speeds.

The changes follow on from about 15 schools taking part in a pilot program using three new artificial intelligence-based programs which monitor activity within school networks looking for things like ransomware and hacking during the first half of 2023. The final decision on which of the programs from the successful pilot will be implemented is expected early this year,

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with the new solution working alongside existing technology. The existing technologies have identified and stopped more than 35,700 attempts to access school systems since 2021.

The upgrades are included in the State Government’s Securing Connected Learners program, which is shaping technology and digital services across more than 1500 government schools. The upgrades will include centralising access to Microsoft and Google collaboration programs, moving schools onto centrally managed services for internet, systems access and security monitoring, providing schools with a catalogue of assessed education software to minimize the use of unsafe technologie, doubling the internet speed from one megabits per second (Mbps) to two Mbps per student in primary schools and increase it five-fold to five Mbps per student in secondary schools.

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NEWS

Transport exec behind bars

By Esther Linder, AAP and Cam Lucadou-Wells A former transport executive has been jailed for up to three years for his reckless workplace behaviour in the lead-up to a crash that killed four police officers.

Cris Large was found guilty of failing to follow health and safety standards while working as national operations manager at Connect Logistics before the Victorian officers were killed in a Melbourne truck smash.

Connect driver Mohinder Singh was fatigued and high on drugs when his semi-trailer ploughed into the four officers, who had stopped a speeding Porsche driven by Richard Pusey on the Eastern Freeway in April 2020.

Large had pleaded not guilty to the charge the most serious under NSW work health and safety laws - in the third case brought by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator against Connect executives.

The prosecution sought the maximum punishment of five years in prison for the systemic failures that led to the deaths of Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss on Tuesday ordered Large to serve a non-parole period of 12 months, meaning he will be eligible for release in January 2025.

Prosecutor Jennifer Single SC told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that Large should face the highest possible penalty for his offending given the extent of his wrongful behaviour.

That included completing false timesheets, failing to ensure drivers were managing their fatigue appropriately and systemic failures to ensure safety measures were followed.

“It was so simple to be corrected ... the offender simply had to do his job,” Ms Single said.

A Connect Logistics executive has been jailed over the freeway crash that killed four police.

Picture: SCOTT BARBOUR/AAP PHOTOS The heavy-vehicle regulator alleged the truck company, which is no longer operating, risked public safety and contravened its duties by failing to ensure drivers were assessed and monitored for fatigue, drugs and alcohol.

The prosecution argued Large’s encouragement of manager Simiona Tuteru to “get the job done at all costs” was a contributing factor in Singh getting behind the wheel of the truck that later crashed into the four officers.

“By failing to comply with his duties, (Large) engaged in conduct on a number of occasions that repeatedly exposed drivers and later the

four police officers to a risk of death and serious injury,” Ms Single said.

Concerns were raised in the lead-up to the crash about the number of hours worked by some of the drivers, including cases of staff working up to 20 hours a day.

The prosecution also successfully sought a prohibition order to stop Large working in the transport sector for 12 months after his release.

Large’s lawyers argued his lack of criminal record and the relatively short period covering his offences - which occurred between December 2019 and April 2020 - were mitigating

factors.

But Mr Reiss rejected his claims of remorse, noting the tragic events did not appear to have had much of an impact on the former Connect executive.

He described Large’s actions as “very deceitful and deliberate” with the officers’ deaths the consequence.

Members of the four officers’ families earlier told of their grief in losing their beloved wives, sons and brothers after the hearing moved to a larger courtroom to accommodate those who had travelled from Victoria for the sentence.

Large sat with his head down as Andrew Prestney, the father of 28-year-old Josh Prestney, told the court of the “soul-destroying moment” of finding out his son had been killed.

Large was handcuffed and led from the courtroom after the verdict was read out.

His lawyers indicated he would appeal the sentence.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s director of prosecutions Belinda Hughes said the case showed there was a “shared responsibility for drivers to be fit to drive”.

The duty rests on the company and senior management just as much as the driver,” Ms Hughes said.

“Fatigue isn’t a minor issue; a fatigued driver risks their own lives and the lives of the road users around them.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the four officers. This tragedy serves as a sombre reminder of why we must all work together to uphold the highest standards of road safety.”

NHVR statutory compliance executive director Raymond Hassall said the NHVR challenged companies to “critically review” their fatigue management practices.

“These systems are crucial for ensuring the safety of drivers and the public.”

FOCUS ON … DANCE, MUSIC AND DRAMA

Ballet Scholars at Cathy-Lea Studios Kayla Paturzo and Isabelle Lam are two highperforming Ballet students from Cathy-Lea Studios.

Kayla was presented Cecchetti Excellence Award for achieving 100 per cent in her grade 4 Ballet examinations, and Isabelle received the Cecchetti excellence Award for receiving 100 per cent in her grade 5 Ballet examination.

Both girls were selected for the Cecchetti Ballet Junior Scholars Program in 2023. In the program, they took classes with world class Ballet coaches on Sundays throughout the year.

At the Cecchetti Medal Awards, an elite Ballet competition, Kayla placed second in the

Rose Medal section and Isabelle received an Honourable Mention in the Bronze Medal section.

But their exceptional achievements are not only in Ballet. Kayla and Isabelle also both achieved 100 per cent for their ATOD Jazz exams and Isabelle received 92 per cent for her ATOD Tap exam. Both girls have also won many awards at dance competitions in Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical and Jazz styles.

Cathy-Lea Studios provides exceptional training in Dance and Performing Arts, developing diverse and versatile performers.

Cathy-Lea Studios have been leader in performing arts training in South East Mel-

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Enrolments are now open for 2024 with classes catering for students of all ages and abilities aged 18 months to adult. With more than 150 classes per week in Dance, Music and Drama, Cathy-Lea is sure to have a class that meets your needs. Enrol now or book a free trial at www.cathy-lea.com Isabelle and Kayla at Cecchetti Ballet Medal Awards.

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STAR NEWS 9

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Feet and legs FIT for 2024 4. If prescribed surgery or medications, get a 2nd opinion.

The latest medical research and natural regenerative treatments are helping to make many surgeries, cortisone injections, antiinflammatories and even joint replacements avoidable.

Be aware that in some cases cortisone injections can delay healing and contribute to further tissue damage and procedures like arthroscopes are now considered outdated and ill-advised in most cases, as they often have poor or undesirable outcomes.

5. Always get pain checked by an experienced Musculoskeletal podiatrist, not just a GP or regular podiatrist.

Musculoskeletal podiatrists have the specific knowledge and training to look past symptoms and identify the cause and contributing factors of your condition, to treat it effectively.

The site of the pain is not necessarily where the problem is and what seems like simple soreness can be a symptom of more serious underlying issues.

If you have any foot and leg pain, injuries or arthritic concerns you can get advice from Dr. Dowie at Foot & Leg Pain Clinics in Berwick. Call 1300 328 300.

We rely on our feet and legs for most of our daily activities, so it’s understandable that so many of us suffer from pain and problems in our feet, ankles and knees etc. But what can you do if you have foot or leg pain, problems or injuries? Dr Paul Dowie, one of Australia’s most experienced Musculoskeletal Podiatrists & foot and leg pain experts, advises the following: 1. Evaluate footwear.

Choose activity appropriate shoes for sport & recreational activities.

Whenever possible choose shoes with straps or laces that hold to the feet, especially for prolonged activity, as thongs and slips-on shoes can be very stressful to the feet and legs.

If you need to wear high heels, try lower heels or wedges to help reduce tissue stress.

2. Don’t rely on technological advances in footwear to treat pain & discomfort.

The purpose of good footwear is to provide comfort whilst helping to support foot & leg function, not to treat pain or problems.

Seek advice from an experienced musculoskeletal podiatrist to treat foot and leg problems.

3. Be wary of off-the-shelf foot products like mass produced orthotics, innersoles and arch supports to assist pain.

Only devices individually prescribed by an experienced musculoskeletal podiatrist should be used to ensure effective outcomes.

If you have foot or leg pain, problems or injuries contact Dr Paul Dowie at Foot & Leg Pain Clinics in Berwick.

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FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Crucial role in pandemics The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on the Federal Government to back GPs and practice teams in managing future public health emergencies including pandemics.

It comes following the college’s submission to the government’s COVID-19 Response Inquiry Panel.

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins said GPs and practice teams should never be forgotten. “GPs must be formally recognised as frontline healthcare providers in pandemic preparation, response, and recovery,” she said.

“Anything less will compromise our ability to keep our communities safe. Unfortunately, GPs are not sufficiently embedded in the planning process, and we are, to some extent, treated as an afterthought. To change this, we need cross-jurisdictional and inter-agency collaboration, and for GPs and practice teams to always be front of mind.

“Practices must also be properly resourced so that we can do our jobs properly. At various times in 2020 and 2021 we felt like we were doing all we could with one arm tied behind our backs. Access and supply of personal protective equipment was an ongoing headache, and provisions should have been made to recognise GPs and practice teams as frontline healthcare workers to ensure we were protected with adequate supplies. In the years ahead, planning must include distribution channels for PPE that are responsive to local requirements.” Dr Higgins also warned of the impact of onerous compliance campaigns.

“Compliance activity at the peak of the pandemic was the last thing hardworking GPs and practice teams needed during a stressful and desperate time,” she said. “First, in early 2021, we were hit by a compliance campaign relating to new COVID-19 telehealth items,

and then we were whacked with further compliance activity concerning COVID-19 vaccine administration. The fact sheet on the vaccine items was 27 pages long, and we were genuinely doing our best to understand the billing requirements and make sure we were claiming correctly. Yet the Department didn’t seem to care about any of this, and instead of focussing on education and the development of accessible, easy-to-understand resources that are widely promoted, we were targeted for potential compliance breaches.

“I call on government to give us a break. As we stressed in our submission to the Australian National Audit Office in June last year, this was very disruptive and placed undue pressure on GPs operating in a tense and uncertain environment. We were doing all we could to adapt and change our practice processes so that we could continue providing care to patients in our communities, and the timing and nature of the compliance activities was unnecessary and unhelpful. So, in future, please cut us some slack, and focus on education rather than officious compliance crackdowns.”

The RACGP president also said important lessons could be learnt about information campaigns and targeting particular populations. “Let’s learn from COVID-19 and make sure we are doing all we can to enhance public health knowledge,” she said.

“Governments should consider all populations, with no patients left behind. So, for example, at least initially, there was minimal accessible information for pregnant people about the risks if they or their baby contracted the virus. In future, we must make sure there are mechanisms to better target responses to the needs of people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,

refugees and asylum seekers, people in rural and remote areas, aged care residents, pregnant people, and patients with a disability.

“Misinformation about the virus and vaccine rollout, especially on social media, was a huge problem. We consistently called for the government to fill the information vacuum and boost public awareness campaign efforts and this must be a priority for future public health events. The college stands ready to work with government and apply the lessons learned from this pandemic to best protect our communities in the years ahead.”

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins.

Picture: RACGP.ORG.AU

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

Fundraiser launched Film festival at Bunjil after tragic loss

By Violet Li A fundraising campaign has been launched to support the funeral expenses of a Cranbourne East man who drowned on Friday 12 January.

Sahil Panwar, a 25-year-old man originally from Haryana in North India, was swept out to sea in the vicinity of the Bourne Creek Trestle Bridge at Kilcunda Surf Beach at about 8.30pm when he was trying to retrieve his sunglasses in the water.

He was found unresponsive on the beach about an hour later.

Coming to Australia in 2016 as a student, Mr Panwar was a hard-working cabinet maker before the tragedy.

He was also a beloved husband, son, brother, and friend, known for his infectious laughter, warm spirit, and zest for life, according to his cousin Sunil Kumar who launched the GoFundMe fundraising page.

“His absence has left a void that can never be filled, but together, we can alleviate the financial strain that has descended upon his family,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Mr Kumar said Mr Panwar’s wife was shattered learning about the sudden death of her husband.

He set up the fundraising campaign to assist the family in covering funeral costs, memorial services, and other unforeseen expenses.

“Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful impact and show his family that they are not alone during this difficult time,” he said.

“The pain of losing a loved one is immeasurable, but our collective compassion and support can make a tangible difference.”

Sahil Panwar at the Yarra River.

The campaign has a target of $55,000 and the family has received around $53,000 after seven days of fundraising.

Mr Panwar’s body has been transported

Picture: SUPPLIED back to India. Mr Kumar said his family would go back to India soon for the funeral.

To help, go to gofundme.com/f/help-sahils-family-in-the-wake-of-tragic-loss

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will return to Bunjil Place in February to present some of the best from the recent film program on the big screen.

Presented over four nights under the stars, this event will screen some of the most popular films from MIFF 2023, which you can enjoy alongside live performances, Q&As with filmmakers, and drinks and food. Running from 1 to 4 February, the program will kick off with the MIFF Shorts Program showcasing four short films each influenced by the life and cultural experiences of the filmmakers.

The next three nights will screen a feature film each from 8pm, following live music performances from 7pm. City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said the council was proud to be able to offer unique cultural experiences to local audiences through our world-class entertainment precinct Bunjil Place.

“The MIFF Summer Screening Program promises to be a great local night out for film lovers or those just wanting a unique summer experience,” she said.

“With live music performances, filmmaker Q&A sessions, a delectable menu, and refreshing drinks, all complemented by an outstanding lineup of Australian and international films, you don’t want to miss this cinematic celebration at Bunjil Place. Join us for a mesmerising experience under the stars, where film, culture, and entertainment converge.”

Tickets are $10 per night, or $35 for all four nights – and include a complimentary drink on arrival. To know more about the film program, visit bunjilplace.com. au/news/miff-summer-screenings-2024

Soak in the atmosphere as artist creates work live on stage Melbourne-based contemporary artist Ash Keating will paint live on stage to a 12-piece ensemble by internationally acclaimed composer and producer Ryan Ritchie at Bunjil Place on Saturday 10 February.

The performance LIVE PRESSURE is part of his new exhibition PRESSURE at Bunjil Place.

Mr Keating and Mr Richie have collaborated on numerous projects since 2003; this will be their most ambitious undertaking to date, according to the two of them.

LIVE PRESSURE is said to widen the sensory experience through lighting and the dynamic music improvisations of Mr Ritchie’s 12-piece ensemble.

Mr Keating works within an expanded contemporary field through painting, performance, sculpture, video, and intervention.

His large outdoor murals, created with paint-filled fire extinguishers, can be found across Melbourne.

Over the past decade, he has cultivated a

Ash Keating is using paint-filled fire extinguishers to make large-scale outdoor paintings.

Picture: SUPPLIED studio-based practice, working on canvases that allow for greater experimentation within the controlled conditions of an indoor space.

Presented as one work in nine parts, PRESSURE is a sequence of paintings scaled to encompass and invite the viewer into a field of

shifting colour and exuberant gesture.

Drawing on the tradition of action painting that welcomes spontaneity and improvisation, Mr Keating has refined a distinct methodology of intuitive actions and mark-making using varying propulsion and gravity-based techniques.

Looking back to the raw energy of his sitespecific outdoor paintings of the early 2000s, he has approached PRESSURE as a testing ground – a new body of work created as a celebration of experimentation, that draws upon 20 years of practice and the memories deeply held in body and mind. Ryan Richie is a Melbourne-based composer performer and producer. He is the founding member of orchestral jazz electro ensemble The Raah Project and the artist behind live hip hop/jazz ensemble True Live.

His original work draws influence from the traditions of contemporary jazz, minimalism, hip-hop, and dance.

Ash Keating’s exhibition PRESSURE has been ongoing until 17 March 2024 at Bunjil Place.

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STAR NEWS 13

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You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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WHAT’S ON Hampton Park Australia Day

·

The Hampton Park Progress Association is hosting its free annual Family Friendly Fun Day on Australia Day. FREE: Rock climbing, Jumping castle, Fairy floss, Face painting, Hot dogs, Slushies, Music performers, Children’s play activities, Vendors (henna tattoo, books, flight simulator, Berwick Air League, radio broadcast simulator), Emergency services trucks and displays (Ambulance Victoria, Hampton Park Fire Brigade, State Emergency Service, Victoria Police, Neighbourhood Watch Casey) 26 January 9am-12pm, 16-20 Stuart Ave, Hampton Park, Formalities at 10am

Seated Movement Sessions (Chair Dancing)

·

Balla Balla Community Centre The centre has vacancies in the following classes in 2024: Introduction to Creative Writing: Thursday mornings commencing 8th February for 8 weeks Conversational English- small friendly class each week Computers for the Home and Workplace: Friday mornings 10.00am -12.30pm commencing 2nd February for 8 weeks Yoga: Beginner classes available on Thursday afternoons and Thursday evenings Pilates: Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings Zumba: Tuesday evenings Playgroup (1-4 years) Balla Balla Bubs (0-12 months) Get Your Art On – Children’s Art: Monday afternoons after school Morning Melodies is back!: The first session is Tuesday 13 February and the following ones will be held on the second Tuesday of each month.

Enrolments can be made online https://ballaballa.com.au/programs/ or by phoning 5990 0900

·

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

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities such as weekly social/ chat activities with low-key in line dancing if you want to tap your feet and enjoy an afternoon tea.

Picture: DENISE JANS ON UNSPLASH

MIFF Summer Screenings at Bunjil Place The program will kick off with the MIFF Shorts Program showcasing four short films each influenced by the life and cultural experiences of the filmmakers. The next three nights will screen a feature film each from 8pm, following live music performances from 7pm.

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.

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Cranbourne U3A We are resuming our classes next week with some exciting new programs this year. We will be continuing with Tai Chi which proved very popular last year and our Line Dancing class will resume next week also. We plan to com-

· · ··

Thicker Than Water-Cultural ConnectionsMIFF Shorts Program: Thursday 1 February, 6.30pm - 9.30pm Australia’s Open: Friday 2 February, 7pm 9.35pm Shayda: Saturday 3 February, 7pm - 10pm Ego-The Michael Gudinski Story: Sunday 4 February, 7pm - 10pm

mence some new craft classes, Resin making, Mixed media, and Ballroom dancing – (no partner required). Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library building, entry is from the Casey Radio entrance.

Our usual art, music, calligraphy, knitting sewing/patchwor, table tennis, chess, and Italian classes will also be running.

New members will be welcome to join us. We are open Monday to Friday from 10am – 3pm.

Our website is u3acranbourne.org.au for more information.

·

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre 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.

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

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· · Craft Classes

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.

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

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

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

The club is always looking for new members in all age groups. For more information, contact Shirley on 0419 878 481 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@gmail.com 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.

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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.

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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.

Receptionist A career close to home!

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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STAR NEWS 15

NEWS

A fresh start Skating for a cause

By Sahar Foladi It’s true what they say that you only get one chance to make a first impression and so it is vitally important that any new starter with an organisation gets a positive impression right from the start and feels that they have made the correct choice. In practice, this actually begins at the interview stage when the hiring manager describes what it’s like to work in the business (warts ‘n all) since you don’t want anyone getting nasty surprises on day one.

One key consideration when thinking about how to successfully integrate a new employee is to develop what’s known as an ‘Induction Plan’. This is usually a short document or checklist that defines all the things that need to be done up front and over the first few weeks to make a new start’s entry into the new organisation as seamless as possible.

Some key elements may include: Introduction to all or key members of staff (dependent upon on the role and size of company); Provision of key documentation such as company policies and procedures, employment contract (if not already signed); Organisation chart and relevant Position Description(s); Tools of the trade (such as computer, mobile phone, keys, physical equipment etc); Technical documentation required for the role; Training plan for role-specific and company training.

It is of course important that new starters are not overwhelmed so the Induction Plan needs to be realistic in terms of timeframes and it should be ensured that key staff listed in the plan are available. Finally, there is nothing worse than a new start turning up on day one only to feel that they were not expected or adequately planned for so the hiring manager should ensure that the location for the new start has been properly resourced and configured any necessary equipment is readily available. Equally, when a member of staff leaves an organisation, there is a right and a wrong way to go about handling this as well. Irrespective of the reason for the employee leaving, it

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH is always desirable that people leave on good terms and that no bridges are burnt, you never know they may want to come back! These days the workforce is far more transient than in previous years (the national average tenure in a job in Australia is generally thought to be around 3 years and 4 months), so staff turnover is a quite natural and sometimes even desirable state of affairs.

Prior to anyone leaving, it is important that a ‘Transition Plan’ be developed to ensure that nothing significant is lost when the employee finally departs. A Transition Plan may include things like the list below and should also contain the names of individuals involved along with dates and times to occur: Names and contact details of key staff picking up the former incumbent’s work; Documentation of key knowledge and contacts that the individual has Location of stored information; Dates and times of training and transition activities.

Finally, it is always good practice to arrange what is known as an ‘Exit Interview’ just prior to the staff member leaving. This is usually conducted by HR or another senior member of staff and not the departing employee’s boss since the intent is to get as much information as possible about what was good working in the company and what was not so great.

A meeting with the boss on this may inhibit some potentially valuable feedback here.

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

A skating enthusiast, Adam Morrow is set to skate for 16 hours passing through Greater Dandenong from Dockland to Phillip Island.

The more than 160km skate is set on March 14 from 10pm, as Mr Morrow hopes to make it to Phillip Island by 2pm the next day.

“All of the night skating will be on bike paths and around Dandenong I will be on back streets and footpaths.

“Nothing I haven’t done before, so I’m confident skating that sort of terrain.”

Although it all started because of his love for adventure and skating, this project sets itself apart as Mr Morrow will be raising funds for charities close to him, Love Your Sister and the Heart Lung Transplant Trust Victoria.

Besides having a double lung transplant himself, he has also had few friends pass away due to cancer.

“A friend of my wife had a double lung transplant which gave her many years of life with family and friends.

“Later she battled with cancer (unrelated to the transplant) and passed away.”

After he met with Sam Johnson, founder of Love Your Sister charity, and found that he’d unicycled around Australia as a fundraiser, Mr Morrow says he knew it was the right cancer charity “for his crazy skate.”

He has already raised more than $1000 with an ultimate goal of raising as much as possible.

He is backed by a few skate centres and on his trip to Phillip Island.

Mr Morrow’s journey can be followed on his social media pages, on Facebook Epic Inline Maintenance and Instagram

Adam Morrow.

Picture: SUPPLIED

epic_inline_maintenance as he regularly posts his training.

To donate, https://www.mycause.com. au/p/317641/adams-epic-skate

Silvers Circus is coming to Pakenham from 9 Feb - 3 Mar, 2024 and Star News has 4 family tickets (5 tickets) to experience this spectacular show!

The show has the cherished and timeless Globe of Death and Wonder Dogs, but this year the audacious Wheel of Steel has returned.

PAKENHAM silverscircus.com.au

Scan the QR CODE OR VISIT: starcommunity.com.au/competitions

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Premiership glory lives on

By Marcus Uhe They say a picture writes a thousand words.

But what about a cricket scorecard?

The 1988/89 Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) grand final scorecard will tell you only a sliver of what you need to know about Berwick’s first ever DDCA premiership.

35 years removed from one of the more remarkable grand finals you’re likely to encounter, Berwick’s heroes of the 1988/89 DDCA Turf 1 premiership gathered at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday, still with a sense of disbelief in the circumstances behind the remarkable result.

The all-conquering side, led by captaincoach Brian Lambert, met fierce rivals Cranbourne at Shepley Oval, the centrepiece venue for cricket in the region.

Berwick, carrying with it an aura of invincibility, was desperate to cash-in on a golden era of cricketers and breakthrough for a maiden flag since joining the DDCA. Lambert was a prized recruit early in his tenure at Arch Brown Reserve, having tied for the first-ever Wookey medal back in 1984/85 while playing for St Mary’s, and claimed his second in 1987/88, now at Berwick.

A washed-out first day saw the game stretch into a third; the rules at the time allowing for the use of a reserve day for such circumstances.

Lambert won the toss and opted to bat, with star opener Gavan Wills and Tom Crebbin eager to get their side off to an ideal start and capture some precious silverware.

At 0/31, things were looking good for the Bears, the play largely following the script for the minor premiers.

Within a handful of overs, however, the score read 4/35.

Wills and Crebbin were both run out for scores in the teens, before Jamie McDonnell and Mark Page both departed in quick succession.

Lambert, a key cog with the willow himself at number three, had been demoted to number eight, his hand injured in a car crash in the week before the game.

Just a few hours into what was shaping up to be one of the best days of these men’s lives, it was quickly descending into a nightmare.

“We were in terrible strife,” Lambert recalled.

The heroes of the 1988/89 Berwick premiership side. Back row from left: Rod Allan and Cam McDonnell. Middle Row: Allan Aurish, Mark Page, Rohan Nancarrow and Derrick Brown. Front row: Picture: ROB CAREW Tom Crebbin, Andrew Henry, Brian Lambert and Gavan Wills. 384311 “We needed to get a good start and things didn’t turn out well.

“Everything went well for them, and everything went badly for us.

“But two blokes, ‘Pip’ (Derrick Brown) and Andrew Henry got us back in the game, and got us enough runs to be competitive.”

Brown and Henry settled in for the long haul, their patience crucial given the circumstances in the game.

The Bears settled on batting for as long as they could to chew into the available overs their opponents would have to chase what was shaping as a below-par score.

Brown fell for a valuable 55, but his 111-run stand with Henry lifted their side to 5/146, a considerable improvement from a few hours earlier.

Henry would top score with 65, while valuable contributions from Rohan Nancarrow (33), an emerging Cameron McDonnell (32 not out) and Allan Aurisch (15) pushed the team score to 257.

The decision to bat for as long as possible saw the Bears dig in for a whopping 119 overs, their resilience and mental fortitude on full display against a quality Cranbourne attack.

As a result, the Eagles were left with just 66 overs available to reach the target.

“We definitely used the rules to our advantage,” Lambert said.

“Because we had such a bad start, we ended up playing out the overs and really killed them, so they had to make a certain amount in a certain time.

“Everything was in our favour, if we could bat-out time, which we did.”

Three strikes at the top of the order from Wills prevented any partnerships of significance from forming for Cranbourne, with two wickets falling with the score on 88.

From 4/88, Cranbourne’s middle order added 97 for the fifth wicket until Lambert, broken hand and all, struck in his third over to break the stand.

With overs ticking away, Berwick were looking comfortable, but Cranbourne refused to lay down.

The match somehow reached an epic 66th and final over with each result a possibility, tension palpable among the throng at Shepley Oval.

Cranbourne needed 20 runs to pull off a remarkable upset, Berwick a further four wickets.

A pair of boundaries got Cranbourne off to a perfect start in the crescendo, but they ultimately fell 10 runs short, cueing ecstasy for

the Bears, having capped a brilliant season in a diabolical manner.

For Lambert, the inner belief the squad had harnessed over the years was crucial in keeping the faith when the pressure was on.

“With the recruits that we brought in to the club, we really gelled with the core players that were here,” Lambert said.

“We quickly developed this… you know how when you want to win? That’s one thing, but every game, we expected to win; a loss was not in our minds.

“We thought we were that good, that we would win every game we played.

“When we had our backs to the wall, we just dug deep, but we had to think strategically to win the game.

“That’s why it was such a good victory; we all look back and think, ‘can we have that game over again?’ things would have been so different.

“But that’s not the way it is, that’s what happened on that day. “’Flukey’ things happen, but it turned out to be a great win for the club.”

10 of the 11 heroes of 1988/89 were in attendance for a special presentation at Tea in Berwick’s clash with Beaconsfield, with one even flying in from Europe for the occasion, Jamie McDonnell the only absentee at the time.

“We had a good year and it’s fantastic to see them all,” Lambert continued.

“We’re still all alive, which is great.

“It’s good to see everyone.

“Pip Brown was a superstar, Rohan Nancarrow was a sensational player.

“It’s really great to see them again.

“They all had their times at the club and as we go on, in another hour’s time, we’ll all be hanging shit on one-another.”

As all premiership reunions between old mates should.

1988/89 DDCA TURF 1 GRAND FINAL Berwick 257 (Andrew Henry 65, Derrick Brown 55) defeated Cranbourne 6/248 (Gavan Wills 3/49).

Berwick Premiership XI: Gavan Wills, Tom Crebbin, Jamie McDonnell, Mark Page, Derrick Brown, Andrew Henry, Rohan Nancarrow, Brian Lambert, Cameron McDonnell, Allan Aurisch, Rod Allan.

· ·

Local athletics clubs join forces to relay the message

By Jonty Ralphsmith Berwick and Cranbourne Little Athletics Centres have announced a strategic partnership during the resurfacing of Casey Fields – the traditional home of Cranbourne athletics.

Both centres individually have more than 400 members, putting both in the top 10 across Victoria in regards to participation numbers, with the partnership set to see up to 920 junior athletes descend on Edwin Flack each Saturday from 27 January.

The full dates for the Edwin Flack Reserve extravaganza are on back-to-back Saturdays - 27 January and 3 February - then Saturday 17 and 24 February.

The decision to combine efforts aims to ensure uninterrupted competition opportunities for all athletes during the Casey Fields resurfacing, ahead of upcoming regional and state competition period.

Athletes from both Berwick and Cranbourne will now benefit from an increased level of competition, contributing to their growth and development in the sport.

The amalgamation of these two prime athletics centres will not only foster healthy competition but will also play a pivotal role in cultivating stronger friendships among athletes.

Cranbourne will provide Berwick with prominent training times leading up to the Little Athletics Victoria State Championships, which will be hosted at Casey Fields.

This collaborative training initiative aims to familiarise athletes with the upgraded berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

A partnership between Berwick and Cranbourne is set to see up to 900 athletes descend on Pictures: CENTRE SUPPLIED Edwin Flack Reserve during the early weeks of February. 384788 track, providing them with the invaluable opportunity to train where they will compete.

Both centres emphasise the positive impact the partnership will have for the success of athletics in the region.

The decision to join forces has been endorsed and signed off by the committees of

both centres, reflecting their shared vision for the future of athletics in the region.

“We wanted to keep all the kids in the local area, so the only way forward was to reach out and work together,” said Berwick Competition Manager Steve Woolfe.

“You don’t want to be forcing parents to

Berwick and Cranbourne Little Athletics Centres will work together for the next few weeks. get up early on a Saturday morning to drive 45 minutes and find an athletics centre to compete at.

“It brings in a stronger competitive streak to each week, creates a greater atmosphere, and there will be the opportunity for newfound friendships and so forth.”

Thursday, 25 January, 2024

|

STAR NEWS 17

SPORT

Netball leagues join forces

By Marcus Uhe Junior netball in the South East is set to be the biggest beneficiary of the partnership between the developing South East Premier Netball League (SEPNL) and Outer East Football Netball (OEFN).

In a joint statement from representatives of both organisations on Tuesday 16 January, including OEFN Chief Executive Brett Connell and Netball Coordinator Matt Blanchard, and Lani Mannays and Dean Ziesler from the SEPNL, it was announced that a junior competition would be formed featuring teams from both competitions.

This would allow for “stronger competition and pathways into the relative senior club grades,” the statement read.

“South East Premier Netball League (SEPNL) and Outer East Football Netball (OEFN) are pleased to announce that following a number of productive meetings, they will be joining forces in 2024 and partnering to support and develop community netball further in the South East region of Melbourne,” the statement said.

“This junior competition will be provided competition management and administrative support by OEFN, in partnership with SEPNL. “While a number of details still need to be worked through, both parties agree that work-

South East Premier Netball League club Beaconsfield will have its junior sides compete in a combined competition with Outer East Football Netball clubs. 357890 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS ing together, in good faith and for the good of the game, it will bring longer term benefits to community netball in the region.”

Junior netball fixtures for 2024 are yet to be released.

Clubs that fielded junior sides in 2023 included Narre Warren, Pakenham, ROC, Beaconsfield, Berwick and Hampton Park in the U13s and U15s, while the U17 Blue competition included clubs from the Yarra Valley such

as Wandin, Mt Evelyn, Olinda Ferny Creek and Seville.

Beaconsfield, Hampton Park, Berwick, Cranbourne and Berwick Springs have all committed to playing in the SEPNL in 2024, with Beaconsfield and Berwick departing OEFN’s senior netball competition.

Further affirmation of the new league’s emergence came on Tuesday when it announced it had secured affiliation with Netball Victoria.

The decision was made after “careful consideration of the benefits and opportunities” affiliation will bring to stakeholders, such as players, supporters and clubs, the SEPNL Board said in a statement.

Key benefits of affiliation for the league include accessing more support and resources from Netball Victoria, increased exposure through participation in state-wide competitions, and fostering collaboration amongst other netball competitions.

“We believe that this affiliation will be beneficial for all parties involved; our league members, clubs, players and supporters; Netball Victoria; other state-wide associations; local media outlets; schools; businesses; community organisations; etc,” the SEPNL Board’s statement said.

Netball Victoria declined to comment.

Clinical Cooper digs in on a tough day at the crease

By Marcus Uhe Yet another fighting half-century from Beaconsfield’s Mark Cooper has given his Tigers a glimmer of hope against Berwick, but his Tigers are up against it yet again after the first day of play at Berwick.

Play was delayed by nearly 90 minutes due to concerns over the safety of the playing surface, with the extra time in the sun before play allowing for the absorption of moisture.

Sent in by Jarrod Goodes, Cooper was up for the challenge, welcoming the heat of the contest with typical determination and resolve.

Anything on a straight line to the lefthander was punished with whips off his pads, while width outside the off stump was attacked, a handful of boundaries in the early overs belying concerns over the pitch, despite Berwick deploying a fielder under the lid at short leg.

Cooper described his innings as one of the most challenging he’s endured this season, with the plan of attack evolving throughout the stay. “(The approach was) trying to read the situation and trying to work out what the best plan was,” Copper said.

“I think it was, to try and score, and put them at least under some scoreboard pressure, in case we did lose some early wickets, at least we’re not under too much pressure, if we’re still scoring.

“In those conditions, if a bowler is allowed to bowl on a spot, they dominate the day.

“I think that was a little bit of the mindset out there; if you got a good one, you got a good one, and if you didn’t, then could you score or at least attempt to score, was the mindset.”

Cooper lost his opening partner in Tyler Clark and number three Yohan Arumadura in the space of one Corey Bevan over, the Tigers slipping from 0/34 to 2/34 in the blink of an eye.

Ashan Madhushanka joined Cooper to get

Beaconsfield captain-coach Mark Cooper led the way for his side again on Saturday with 62 Picture: ROB CAREW against Berwick. 372550 the Tigers through to the tea-break, part of a 58-run partnership before Cooper’s innings came to an end on 62, the first of Mitch Shirt’s four victims.

Shirt made the Beaconsfield middle order his own, taking the wickets of Madhushanka (33), Kevin Seth (eight) and Jesse Busacca (zero) in a lethal spell of 4/16.

Wicketkeeper Michael Dunstan offered an important 33 late in the card as the Tigers reached 188, bowled in the 68th and final available over of the innings, due to the late start to play.

Berwick will have 68 overs to chase 189 next week.

“Because we’re a developing team, you

don’t really want to have scoreboard pressure on top of what their mindset might be when they’re trying to go out there and implement their own game plan,” Cooper said.

“Once we saw the conditions after we lost the toss and then it was reduced to 68 overs, and knowing we lost a couple of early wickets with Tyler (Clark) and Yohan (Arumadura), you would have taken 188 at the end of the day, for sure.

“Whether that’s enough when they have probably better conditions next week, we’ll have to wait and see, but I never really set par scores throughout the season.”

The Tigers will need to bowl at their best to have any chance at securing a third win

SUMMER HAS BEGUN

for the year, which would do their chances of avoiding relegation back to Turf 2, wonders.

The relegation battle is not the be-all and end-all for Cooper and his side, but will form an element of the assessment criteria when reviewing the season upon its completion.

Cooper and his bowling attack had some success earlier in the season against the Bears in a rain-affected One Day contest, which will act as an element of inspiration for the young attack, feeling the pinch of a gruelling season in the competition’s top flight.

“I think the longevity of the season and the effort you have to put in each training session, and on game day, and I think the stress or anxiety of competing and overall enormity of it, is quite draining, especially for a young team,” Cooper said.

“To be given those challenging conditions on the weekend, I didn’t know how we were going to respond, to be honest.

“I think we held in there and then hopefully that gives us a little bit of a push to keep working towards the end of the season, in terms of finishing off the Turf 1 season.

“Having two wins and being in the game for a couple of those games, when little things could have gone our way or we had a bit more game sense, a bit of luck might have gone our way and we might have ended up with four wins for the season, which overall would have looked alright on the ladder, as well as compared to other teams.

“There’s a lot of variables there, but just staying up is a big achievement, and then getting the development and game time into players is really valuable.

“It’s what you do with that, though, which is the next step; you can pat yourself on the back for staying up, but it’s only a small step of the journey if you’re looking at that perspective.

“It’s now, what’s the next step, once we finish the season, however that finishes off.

What did we learn from it? How do we set up better to be more competitive the following year? I think is really important.”

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Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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SPORT

25 wickets and 191 runs

By Marcus Uhe Narre South skipper Kyle Hardy said he struggled to think of a comparable day of cricket like it.

His side’s clash with St Mary’s on Saturday at Carroll Reserve saw 25 wickets fall, the Lions eyeing off a critical 10 points for an outright win that will completely revive their finals hopes, should things go to plan for Hardy’s side next week.

Narre South leads by 21 runs after day one, the Saints well and truly on the ropes in their second innings.

Rolled for 37 in just 18.1 overs, the Saints then dismissed the Lions for 106, before losing five wickets of their own before stumps in the second innings for 48 runs.

“It was pretty ridiculous,” Hardy said.

Hardy won the toss and chose to bowl on what he described as a “soft” wicket, much to the delight of his bowlers.

His opening pair cashed in on a bowlerfriendly deck, running through the St Mary’s top order with ruthless effect.

When Susantha Pradeep became Callan Tout’s third victim, the score read 5/11 in the seventh over, the wheels well and truly removed on a vehicle crashing to an embarrassing scoreline.

The hero of last Tuesday night’s T20, Saveen Nanayakkara, was the first to go in the opening over, and the Saints simply never recovered.

Raveen Nanayakkara’s 12 was the only score in double figures for the likely relegationbound St Mary’s, the wickets shared between the bowling group of Tout (3/13), Alex Cruickshank (2/11), Ruween Wijesinghe (3/11) and Jawed Hussaini (1/2).

“I think everyone was pretty switched-on and they weren’t getting carried-away, they weren’t getting too greedy, but they were continuing to hit their spots, and obviously that was working out for us,” Hardy said of his bowlers.

“There wasn’t really a period where I thought we were getting too over-zealous and trying to take a wicket, it was just happening for us.

“There was obviously a couple of shots that didn’t come off, which is going to happen, but I think that was due to the areas that we were bowling, in particular at the start with ‘Touty’ bowling good areas and so was Alex (Cruickshank).

“They started us off and then from there, I think it was going to be pretty hard for any batter that was coming in.”

Delighted by what he had just witnessed, Hardy then had the daunting task of putting on the pads and preparing to face a quality seam attack, led by Deeshan Umagiliyage and Susantha Pradeep.

As he and Vineth Jayasuriya contemplated the path ahead, they settled on a plan of attack to extract what they could from the surface and maximise their opportunities.

“The mindset that ‘Vinnie’ (Jayasuriya) and I went in with was ‘If there’s one in our area, or if there was one we thought we could hit, we were going to try and hit it’.

Jawed Hussaini and the Narre South bowling attack had a day out against St Mary’s on Saturday. 379818 “If it was really short, we were going to go for it, or if it was really full, we were going to go for it, because eventually on those sorts of pitches, you’re going to go out; just trying to survive wasn’t going to work.

“So we thought we’d try to knock-off the runs as quickly as we could, trying to play good cricket shots, and then see what happens from there.”

Jayasuriya matched the home side’s total on his own, hitting a 37 that was worth “80 or 90” in the eyes of his skipper and opening partner.

With the lead secured early, Lions batters played with an aggressive mindset for the remainder of the innings, but without major success.

Outside of Jayasuriya’s 37, none of his teammates could add scores of significance to press-home their advantage after a dominant opening session with the ball.

Scores of 17 from Hardy and Jeevan Mendis were as good as it got for the Lions as Pradeep led his side’s fightback into the contest.

The captain-coach took 4/28 from his 12 overs with the key middle-order wickets of Callum Nicholls, Harsha de Silva and Jeevan Mendis for just 28 combined runs.

Dimuth Umagiliyage continued his excel-

lent season with the ball for St Mary’s, keeping his name in the upper echelon of the wickettaker’s list with 3/33 from his 16 overs.

With a lead of 69 after the first innings, Narre South had its nose in front of the contest having secured first innings points, but the game was still up for grabs when Saveen Nanayyakara and Wendyl Pires walked out to open the batting for the second time in the day.

By the time stumps was called, however, the game seemed to be the Lions’ for the taking.

The openers both secured pairs with their second ducks of the day, as did number four Safaras Moahomad.

St Mary’s was 3/2 after the opening 17 deliveries, Tout and Cruickshank rising to the challenge once again with a blistering opening display.

Chameera Fernando offered the strongest opposition, digging in for a gritty seven off 63 balls, to stave-off the humiliation of an outright victory completed in a single day.

St Mary’s will resume the second day at 5/48, a further 21 runs away from making the visitors bat again. “’Touty’ set the standard from the start,” Hardy said.

“The pitch got a bit better towards the end

Picture: ROB CAREW

when the sun came out, but that was probably only for the last 10 overs or so.

“But because we didn’t have any sun throughout the day, I think it pretty much stayed the same throughout the whole match.

“But all bowlers that were bowling, were bowling their areas, so it would have been tough to be facing.”

Second-last, but card-carrying members of the middle-table logjam, 10 points for a likely outright win could catapult the Lions into third place, depending on other results around Turf 1.

It’s a fact not lost on Hardy’s men, needing to make the most of their final handful of opportunities after a frustrating campaign to date.

The Lions face one of the tougher runs home of any side in Turf 1, with Berwick, Springvale South and Buckley Ridges all on the docket to wrap up the home-and-away season.

“If we can get 10 points, it’s obviously going to go towards setting up our season, which is what we want to be doing,” Hardy said.

“There was a little discussion, but it wasn’t a huge talking point, we were just going out there to try and get a win first and foremost, then see what happens after that.”

Gregson puts the Hawks in the box seat

By Marcus Uhe A five-wicket haul to Hallam Kalora Park seamer Lauchlan Gregson helped keep the Hawks’ finals chances alive in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 competition, leaving his side in a winnable position against Buckley Ridges after the first day.

Gregson’s 5/56 helped keep Buckley Ridges to just 190 on a slow batting day at Hallam Recreation Reserve, after Buckley skipper Jayson Hobbs bucked the trend of all other Turf 1 captains on Saturday and opted to bat.

Buckley Ridges found scoring difficult at the top of the order, kept to under two runs per over for much of the first half of the batting innings.

Hobbs and his opening partner Jake Cronin struck at 4.5 (1 off 22) and 20 (18 off 86) berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au

respectively in the face of a Hawks attack playing for their season.

Only Roshane Silva raised his bat for a half-century for the visitors, hitting a patient 62 off 166 deliveries to keep the bowling attack at bay.

He eventually became one of Gregson’s five victims, joining Cronin and last week’s hero Michael Davies as having fallen to the right-arm quick.

Davies’ 36 was the second-best score for the visitors, who will need to bowl at their best next week.

In a promising sign for the Hawks, Jordan Hammond took only one wicket, as his fellow bowlers stepped-up to shoulder some responsibility.

Spinner Lee Brown took 2/31, Charith Keerthisinghe and William Whyte each

taking one each.

The result of the clash will say plenty about both side’s finals chances, with the Hawks sitting fifth and Buckley Ridges third.

Play at Springvale South’s clash with North Dandenong was paused after just eight deliveries due to concerns over the playing surface at Alex Nelson Reserve.

The second ball of Sushant Gupta’s opening over for the Maroons to Ryan Quirk, on a decent length around the left-hander’s off stump, removed a significant divot in the pitch, leading to a discussion between umpires Rory Ludowyk and Peter Cramphorn.

Players from both sides then left the field of play, not returning for the remainder of the afternoon.

The two sides will play a one-day clash this week.

Lauchlan Gregson took 5/56 for Hallam Kalora Park against Buckley Ridges. 384315 Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC Thursday, 25 January, 2024

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