News - Berwick Star News - 24th April 2025

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

Casey’s growing spectacle

With buzzing suburban communities, beautiful scenery and coastal towns just a short drive away, what’s not to love about the City of Casey?

While Casey residents are likely to be aware of the many perks and benefits of living in the region, this feature showcases the best aspects of life in Casey. From the great education options and local businesses to leisure services and retail sectors, Casey really has it all.

An estimated 429,000 people call the City of Casey home in 2025. It is the most populous council area in the state, and that number is forecast to hit 614,000 in 2046 (which is 40,000 more than previously forecast).

More than half of this population growth will occur in Clyde and Clyde North.

In 2022, 45 per cent of Casey households were couples with children – compared to 33 per cent in greater Melbourne.

The region has a young demographic – with a median age of just 34 years old and 5540 babies born last year.

The council area is one of the most diverse in Australia with 42 per cent of residents born overseas and spanning more than 150 nationalities. The top three overseas countries of birth are India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

More than three quarters of residents have at least one parent born overseas or were born overseas themselves.

There are more than 100 faiths observed in Casey – the most common being Catholic, Islam and Hindu.

According to state statistics, Casey supports more than 86,600 jobs – topped by 13,719 in health care and social assistance.

Other main areas of employment are construction at 12,323, retail trade at 11,905 and education and training at 11,330.

The region’s Gross Regional Production was estimated at more than $16 billion - – about 3.5 per cent of Victoria’s GRP.

Construction was the most productive industry, generating $6.75 billion in output.

GARDENS AND OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS

The City of Casey has an abundance of parks, playgrounds and open spaces to enjoy.

Whether you visit the 1001 Steps at Bayview Park in Narre Warren South, Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick, Akoonah Park Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne or the Hallam Valley Trail, you’ll have a myriad of options to choose from. From family friendly to physical activities, the City of Casey has all you need.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS CRANBOURNE

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne offers a natural bushland experience alongside the Australian Garden, an award-winning, contemporary botanic garden of over 100,000 Australian plants from 1,900 plant varieties.

The bushland is a precious remnant of the area’s vegetation, with 10 kilometres of walking tracks, six kilometres of cycling tracks, a lookout tower, picturesque shelters, barbecues and playgrounds.

There is a range of visitor programs, as well as self-guided walks available throughout the year. And entry is free.

WILSON BOTANIC PARK BERWICK

In its vast 39 hectares, the park has more than 1000 native and exotic plant species. It attracts 80 different species of birds as well as turtles, frogs, lizards and snakes.

The picnic areas and barbecue facilities, play-

ground and walking tracks make this park a popular attraction.

Bird watchers use the Birdhide on the edge of the Basalt Lake as the perfect cover to see some of the vast array of native wildlife.

EDUCATION

The City of Casey has a network of great education options that include Catholic schools such as St Catherine’s Primary School in Berwick, Mary MacKillop Primary School in Narre Warren and St Paul Apostle North and South Primary Schools in Endeavour Hills.

The City of Casey also has a range of government schools on offer to parents with the catchment area. These include James Cook Primary School, Oatlands Primary School, Berwick Lodge Primary School and Cranbourne Park Primary School.

Other schools include St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Casey Grammar School, St Francis Xavier College Berwick, Beaconhills Christian College, Heritage College, Hampton Park Sec-

ondary College and Alkira Secondary College.

The City of Casey is also fortunate to have Dandenong Valley SDS,a school dedicated to students aged from pre school to 18 years with intellectual disabilities. The purpose-built school caters for every one’s needs, with various play areas including a bike track, sensory rooms and outdoor spaces, multipurpose rooms, paramed offices,a hydrotherapy room and a range of therapists on hand.

Endeavour Hills Specialist School opened in 2022. It caters for up to 288 students with learning neighbourhoods for early years, middle years and senior years, a dry lab for media, drama and physical activities and a wet lab for art, science, home-craft and technology.

The state-of-the-art facility also has a gymnasium, full-size outdoor play court and soccer pitch.

SPORT

The City of Casey has long been a hub of sporting activity in Melbourne’s

Casey Fields is the region’s premier sports and recreation precinct, home to Melbourne City Football Club and the Melbourne Demons AFL/ AFLW teams. It also regularly hosts cricket, rugby, athletics and BMX events televised nationally. Boasting more than 30 fields, tracks and courts across its 87 hectares, there is also a dedicated train station in the works for Casey Fields as a part of the Clyde Rail extension.

Last year, an $18.7 million state-of-the-art soccer academy opened at the precinct. There are also plans for a further mini-stadium with a Women’s Centre of Excellence for soccer, rugby league and rugby union.

In its 2025-’26 draft budget, Casey proposes large-scale works at Springleaf Recreation Reserve, an AFL, cricket and netball facility in Clyde North. It also commits to a new pavilion at Syd Pargeter Reserve and upgrades for pavilions at Tooradin, Strathaird Reserve, Max Pawsey Reserve and Grices Road Recreation Reserve.

‘Globe’ ridden by Ethan Brown (blue cap and shirt) storms to victory in the Cranbourne Cup. (Rob Carew: 445249)

Hampton Park and Doveton footballers clash in SFNL action. (Gary Sissons: 469873)

Roman with a sheep sculpture at Berwick Show. (Gary Sissons: 461701)

southeast.

Avie in a cold bubble pile at Frosted - A Winter Spectacular at Fountain Gate. (Gary Sissons: 416291)

A Devon Meadows batter awaits his chance at Tony Way Recreation Reserve, Cranbourne West. (Stewart Chambers: 451640)

Ava gets a tour of the Cranbourne SES vehicle with volunteer Phil Brentnall on Australia Day. (Gary Sissons: 455452)

Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at Bunyil Place Narre Warren. (Stewart Chambers: 457271)

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

HAVE YOUR SAY on our Council Plan 2025 - 2029, updated Long-Term Community Vision 2035, draft Budget 2025/26 and other key documents

The City of Casey is proud to present our draft Council Plan 2025 - 2029, updated Long-Term Community Vision 2035, proposed Budget 2025/26 and other key documents for community feedback.

Last year, more than 4,600 community members shared their feedback through the 2024 Shape Your City engagement program, which helped us review and update the Community Vision 2031, to ensure it continues to represent the aspirations of the community.

Feedback collected from this also helped us develop several key documents.

Hallam Primary student Salimah with healthy foods prepared in a partnership with the Stephanie Alexander Foundation and VicHealth. (Stewart Chambers: 449743)

Maya riding pony Sapphire at Berwick Show. (Gary Sissons: 461701)

Kiah with a finished Marngrook ball made at a Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne event. (Gary Sissons: 418421)

Paola Linares with her work at an art exhibition at Hampton Park Uniting Church. (Stewart Chambers: 464621)

Connor at a Happy Holi Festival in Narre Warren. (Stewart Chambers: 465253)

Raffan with parents Imtenan and Aysha from Cranbourne at Frosted - A Winter Spectacular. (Gary Sissons: 416291)

A rider launches during a Casey BMX event at Casey Fields. (Gary Sissons: 454261)

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

Casey Hospital Maternity

Unit celebrates 20 years

The maternity unit at Casey Hospital is celebrating 20 years of delivering babies.

There have been more than 37,500 births at the hospital in Berwick since the first baby was delivered there on 22 March 2005.

Original members of the unit’s maternity team recalled establishing the service two decades ago.

“Initially, there were six of us there with no patients and no other midwives, just setting up the unit, buying equipment and looking through new policies and procedures ready for the midwives to start,” Margaret Pickering said, who is the original associate Nurse Unit manager of the maternity unit, now nursing coordinator at Casey Hospital.

The unit’s first birth was highly anticipated.

“Every time the phone rang, a midwife ran to the phone, hoping it would be someone in labor coming in to have a baby!” she recalled.

“I remember the very first lady who did come into birth. Everyone was so excited, and everyone wanted to be part of the birth.

“And they put their names in a hat to draw out the midwife who was going to be the lucky person to be able to deliver the first baby at Casey.”

Ms Pickering is proud of the unit’s record of listening to and responding to the community’s wishes.

“We met with women and listened to what they wanted and put things together, things like water births and water immersion for labor that wasn’t offered at many maternity units back in those days,” she said.

“Later, we offered home birth.”

In the initial planning phase, Casey Hos-

pital’s maternity unit was envisaged as a midwife-led service for low-risk births, with women experiencing any issues to be transferred to Dandenong Hospital for specialist care.

But, as planning progressed, it was decided that specialist obstetricians would be made available to come onsite at any time, allowing more women to safely deliver their babies close to home and their families.

“I was one of the six original obstetricians at Casey from day one. Three of us continue to work there,” Dr Mark Tarrant, head of Obstetrics at Casey Hospital, said.

“I see it as my family. It’s one of those places where it’s nice to come to work. It’s friendly.”

Casey Hospital started with 500 births a year. Its position in a high-growth area has since seen the number of births rise to 2,500 annually.

With more births, complex cases have also increased.

“The hospital has become a premier training site for specialist obstetricians. We now have 16 consultants on staff, of whom at least eight have trained at Casey Hospital. So, we’ve trained our own specialists through,” Dr Tarrant said.

The hospital manages low and high-risk pregnancies. Midwives provide the majority of care, with obstetricians on site Monday to Friday and available outside hours.

“We have developed very much a culture where midwives and doctors work as a team. We make sure we have the right person for the patient at the time they are required, and we work together,” Dr Tarrant said.

Rock ‘n’ roll legends unite

The pioneers of the Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll era have joined together in concert for the first time in 60 years.

“The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is an exciting and memory riddled show presented by Bob McKinnon. From television shows including Johnny O’Keefe’s “Six O’Clock Rock” and Brian Henderson’s “Bandstand”, so many talented performers and recording stars were born. This is not a tribute concert … this is the real deal.

In “The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, audiences will re-live all the fabulous original hits from the hitmakers themselves – Little Pattie, Digger Revell, Jade Hurley, Dinah Lee and Lucky Starr.

Little Pattie debut single “He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy“ / “Stompin” which used the surf music style and a dance style craze that was known as ’The Stomp’. It was released in November 1963 when she was aged 14, and reached No. 2 on the Sydney music charts. Further hits included “We’re Gonna Have a Party Tonight“ (#18 in March 1965), “Pushin’ a Good Thing Too Far“ (#28 in March 1965) and “Dance Puppet Dance“ (#9 in October 1965).

Dinah Lee (the ONE AND ONLY Queen of the MODS) is a New Zealand born superstar with her International Number One Hits “Don’t You Know Yockomo”, “Reet Petite” and “Do the Blue Beat” and is acknowledged as New Zealand’s greatest musical import to Australia.

Jade Hurley dubbed by Johnny O’Keefe as

“Australia’s King of Country Rock” is Australia’s very own “Piano Man” with the unique “record” that every record he has released, has achieved Gold, Platinum or Double Platinum status in both Australia and New Zealand.

Lucky Starr is an Australian pioneer rock and roll, pop and country music singer, guitarist and television presenter. His most popular single, “I’ve Been Everywhere“, appeared in early 1962 and peaked at number one. During the late 1960s Lucky performed as a country musician taking his travelling show around the Australian Bush. He was inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Digger Revell was credited with pioneering Australian Rock ’n’ Roll in Australia. He has performed with some of the greats, including Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and Johnny O’Keefe. He is still performing to this day.

This wonderful review of memories from those days is the “cream of the crop” who has survived over 70 years of continuous performing and who, between them, have recorded dozens of hits which they will perform as only each performer can, taking every member of the audience back in time to where it all started.

In the “Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, you will re-live all the fabulous original hits from the hit makers themselves Little Pattie, Digger Revell, Jade Hurley, Dinah Lee and Lucky Starr. Show is at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren, Sunday 11 May at 2 pm.

In “The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, audiences will re-live all the fabulous original hits from the hitmakers themselves – Little Pattie, Digger Revell, Jade Hurley, Dinah Lee and Lucky Starr.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

A pathway for every child

Welcome to St Francis Xavier College – a vibrant Catholic community committed to nurturing the growth and potential of every young person in our care. Serving the Parishes of Berwick, Iona-Maryknoll, Kooweerup, Narre Warren and Pakenham, and welcoming families from across the municipalities of Cardinia and Casey, our reach is broad – and our mission is clear.

Inspired by the wisdom of St Irenaeus, who taught that “the glory of God is a person fully formed,“ we strive to provide an educational journey that shapes the whole person – intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and socially. At St Francis Xavier College, we partner with families to offer a comprehensive school experience grounded in Gospel values and modelled on Christ’s love. Our differentiated curriculum and wide-ranging programs are designed to create a learning pathway suited to each student. Whether through academic challenge, creative exploration, hands-on learning, or leadership development, every student is encouraged to discover and grow their unique strengths.

We are a college that believes in people – investing in exceptional staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and a school culture built on trust, care and mutual respect. Our students thrive in an environment where high expectations are matched by deep support, where relationships matter, and where success is measured not only in academic results, but in character and contribution.

Throughdiligenceandcourage,webelieveevery child can exceed their own expectations. At St Francis Xavier College, we aim to prepare young peopletostepconfidentlyintotheworld–skilled, compassionate, resilient and ready to make a difference.Theretrulyisapathwayforeverychildat St Francis Xavier College – and we welcome you to be part of it.

A pathway for every child – St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

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Action on local issues

The southeast had a greater percent of Legalise Cannabis voters at the last state election than anywhere else in Victoria – and in 2022 SE voters elected Rachel Payne to represent them in the Victorian Parliament.

Rachel has played a key role in:

· Convincing a parliamentary committee to review Victoria’s cannabis laws

“A new cross-party report recommended that Victoria follows the ACT which decriminalised possession of small amounts of cannabis in 2020. There was no increased uptake or demand on health services,” Rachel said. “The Allan government should respond by September. If Victoria decriminalises small amounts, it means police

· Securingalawchangethatsavesmedicinalcannabis patients from automatic loss of license if they test positive to at a roadside driving test “I know tradies, pensioners and cancer patients who use medicinal cannabis to manage chronic pain and other health conditions,” Rachel said. “Thanks to Legalise Cannabis you can now appear before a Magistrate, who now has the power to spare you from automatic loss of license if you have a current script and were unimpaired behind the wheel.”

will no longer waste time enforcing a personal possession ban and can focus on stopping assaults, thefts and domestic violence.”

· Campaigning for better bus services in southeastern Melbourne “Buses need to be frequent and take people to where they want to go,” Rachel said. “There are public transport deserts in the southeast which stops parents getting to the part-time jobs, retirees travelling to medical appointments and young people playing sport.”

· Demanding more mental health supports in the southeast

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“Places like Cranbourne have few services for people facing mental health challenges, especially young people,” Rachel said. “I will continue to campaign until adequate care arrives.”

· Imploring the Allan government to stop the Hampton Park waste transport station

“I have spoken on Hampton Park multiple times in Parliament. I stand with the community,” she said. “A mega waste sorting facility does not belong in a suburb.”

Authorised by Rachel Payne MP, 384a Nepean Highway, Chelsea VIC 3196

Authorised by Rachel Payne MP, 384a Nepean Highway, Chelsea

Legalise Cannabis MPs Rachel Payne (southeast metro) and David Ettershank (western metro) secured a law change that spares medicinal cannabis patients from automatic loss of license if they test positive at a roadside drug test.

Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne was elected to the Victorian Parliament in 2022 to represent the southeast after securing 5.15 per cent of the Upper House electorate vote.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

Thrive through movement

Who We Are

Welcome to Melbourne Acrobatic Gymnastics Academy (MAGA), a family-owned gymnastics haven dedicated to inspiring children to thrive through movement. Our thriving community in Cranbourne West has grown to over 500 kids and teens, all benefiting from our inclusive, fun, and safe environment.

We offer professionally crafted gymnastics programs for all ages, including KinderGYM, Ninja, Acrobatic Gymnastics, Gymstar, and Artistic Gymnastics—all designed to ensure ageappropriate learning and personal growth.

What We Offer

At MAGA, we provide educational and competitive pathways that foster physical, emotional, and social development. Whether your child is starting their gymnastics journey or aiming to compete at higher levels, we offer programs that cater to every child’s unique needs. Our curriculum supports holistic growth, empowering kids to learn the art of movement while developing confidence, resilience, and a love for physical activity.

Our Mission

Our mission is clear: to help children learn, develop, and thrive through movement. We’re committed to creating an environment where every child can explore their potential, building not only physical strength but also social skills and emotional competence. We believe in fostering long-term growth over perfection, celebrating each child’s unique journey with us.

Our Values

• Practice Makes Progress: We value growth and effort, encouraging children to focus on continuous improvement and small wins.

• Humans First: We prioritize the well-being of each individual, creating a supportive, respectful environment where every child is seen, valued, and celebrated.

• Movement for Life: Physical activity is not just about health; it’s about mental well-being and cultivating a lifelong love of movement.

• Leadership: We nurture future leaders by empowering children and our team to embrace responsibility, integrity, and resilience.

What Sets Us Apart

At MAGA, gymnastics is a tool for holistic growth. We go beyond teaching physical skills; we guide children towards personal development. As a family-centric, community-driven academy, we understand the importance of making every child feel like they belong. Through our diverse programs, we support educational excellence and ensure that each child is empowered to be their best, both in the gym and in life.

Contact: Melbourne Acrobatic Gymnastics Academy hello@maga.net.au (03) 9789 9697 maga.net.au

2025 Scholarship Program Open for Applications

We have redesigned our scholarship program in 2025 to reflect our 4As, so that we can award talented individuals cross a range of disciplines including academic, sport, art and design, dance and music.

To find out more and to apply please visit our website or use the QR Code.

Melbourne Acrobatic Gymnastics Academy (MAGA), a family-owned gymnastics haven dedicated to inspiring children to thrive through movement.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY Unlocking your potential

Ready to boost your independence, learn new skills, and make lasting friendships? At The Bridge, we are more than just a not-for-profit organisation; we’re your dedicated partner in creating a connected and inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

As your trusted local NDIS provider in Casey, we offer a comprehensive range of services specifically designed to empower individuals with disabilities, whether at home, within the community, or in the workplace.

Explore our services:

· Day Services with engaging group activities tailored to your interests

· Exciting getaways and community recreation, from Friday night socials to weekend adventures

· Personalised support at home and in the community

· Transition to work programs to help you secure and maintain employment

· Supported employment opportunities in our dynamic warehouses and mobile cleaning and gardening crews

· Comprehensive Disability Employment Services for training and job placement

Choosing The Bridge means embarking on a personalised journey aligned with your NDIS goals. You can access a range of services at the same time and move between services as your goals develop.

Need guidance on the best service for you? Our friendly team is ready to assist! Reach out today at 1800 274 343 or email us at enquiries@ thebridgeinc.org.au and start your journey with us!

Free event for parents and carers of primary school children:

Coping and managing anxiety at primary school

Please join us for light refreshments and engaging and useful information from our expert guest speakers:

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia’s most prominent child and adolescent psychologists.

Jessica Homicki- Uniting Vic Tas’s School Attendance Support Program (SASP) Team Leader. Jess is a social worker with over 10 years experience in supporting children and families.

Dr Jodi Richardson- Dr. Jodi Richardson is a renowned speaker, author, and wellbeing expert, specialising in empowering students, educators, parents, and school leaders to manage anxiety, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing.

Our expert panel will answer any of your questions.

Event details

Date: Tuesday 13 th May

2025 Time: 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm

Where: Cranbourne West Community Hub 4 Flicka Blvd, Cranbourne West VIC 3977 Plenty of parking onsite Register: Scan the QR code

Registrations close: Tuesday May 6th 2025

Unlock your potential with The Bridge.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY Under new ownership

Stihl Shop Berwick Village is a one-stop-shop for all outdoor power equipment needs. As a Stihl elite dealer, they stock most available Stihl products. They stock Cox Ride on mowers, Push and self-Propelled mowers, generators, spare parts, as well as all oils and fuels you could need.

As well as stocking the best brands, they offer a full range of service and repair options for most makes and models; from domestic to commercial, they can look after it all. With multiple Stihl gold-trained technicians among

the staff we can look after all of your outdoor equipment.

The newly renovated showroom will impress, with plenty of stock on hand to suit everyone’s needs from the smallest home gardens to professional users. Stihl Shop Berwick Village is situated at Unit 3, 21-23 Enterprise Ave, Berwick, 3806.

Opening hours Monday to Friday 8.30am5.30pm and Saturday 8.30am-1pm. For enquiries, call 9707 2180 or email sales@stihlshopberwickvillage.com.au

Directors and Managers.

Your money supports the local community

Banking with a local community bank in City

Of Casey offers numerous benefits, especially for those who want to support local growth and receive personalised service. Our branches are deeply connected to the region, understanding the unique needs of both residents and local businesses. When you bank with us you’re not just another customer — you’re part of the community.

Our Community Company Ltd which is locally managed by a board of volunteer directors reinvest up to 80 per cent of profits back into local community initiatives. This ensures that your money is supporting the very area in which you live and work. Since 1998 between our six branches we have returned over $14 million in sponsorships, grants, donations and scholarships to our local communities within Cardinia Shire and the City of Casey.

With a commitment to ethical practices

and community values, banking with a local community bank means you’re helping strengthen the area while enjoying a more caring, customer-focused experience. Our team is dedicated to providing personalised financial solutions tailored to the needs of our community.

Choose a bank that truly understands your needs and helps build a stronger, more vibrant City of Casey. Banking locally means investing in your future and the future of your community. Call or pop into your local Community bank branch.

Casey Pearcedale - 5978 7566

Narre Warren South - 8790 3411

Tooradin & Coastal Villages - 5998 3038

Daniel Eerden, Stihl Shop Berwick Village.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

Captains lead the way

At Hampton Park Secondary College, leadership is more than just a title—it’s a commitment to growth, inclusion, and positive change. Our 2025 College Captains — Chandrima Guduru, Zenani Onekon, Minhaj Hussain, and Montanna McGuinness — are proud examples of the values that define our school community.

For Chandrima, Hampton Park is a place that nurtures not only academic success but personal development. “HPSC teaches us how to accept change, be aspirational, and build meaningful connections,” she shares. This year, she and her fellow leaders played a key role in developing a dedicated Year 12 study space, offering students a supportive environment to revise, connect, and thrive together.

Inspired by the school’s strong emphasis on student voice, Chandrima values the opportunity to turn student-led ideas into real solutions.

Zenani highlights the approachability of staff as one of the school’s greatest strengths. “There are no walls between teachers and students,” she says. “You can go to them for help with anything.” Asastudentleader,sheworkscloselywithMr.Antil and the Respectful Relationships team, helping educate peers on key issues affecting inclusivity. Initiatives like International Women’s Day activities are just one example of how she helps create awareness and celebrate diversity.

Montanna reflects on HPSC’s inclusive and empowering culture. “Students are genuinely encouraged to reach their full potential,” she explains. With caring teachers and abundant opportunities for growth, Montanna found herself inspired by past leaders and driven to give back. Her aspirations of becoming a nurse have been shaped by the supportive environment, where leadership, communication, and compassion are part of everyday learning.

For Minhaj, the school’s culture of innovation and support has been deeply motivating. “The

staff and facilities here have inspired me countless times to push my limits,” he says. As a student leader, he sees himself as part of the bridge between student voice and action. His leadership is rooted in the belief that change is possible —and necessary—when it comes from those directly affected by it. His goal is to make a positive impact on the world, no matter how big or small.

Montanna reflects on HPSC’s inclusive and empowering culture. “Students are genuinely encouraged to reach their full potential,” she explains. With caring teachers and abundant opportunities for growth, Montanna found herself inspired by past leaders and driven to give back. Her aspirations of becoming a nurse have been shaped by the supportive environment, where leadership, communication, and compassion are part of everyday learning.

Together, these student leaders are a powerful force in shaping a school culture that values every voice, celebrates diversity, and embraces change.

Easter fun in Berwick

Berwick is a top destination for every Easter weekend with the fair returning once again to delight families.

The popular family-friendly event is held annually over the Easter long weekend at Akoonah Park.

This year attracted thousands of visitors who enjoyed the kids’ Easter egg hunt, a variety of carnival rides and games, and most of all, a visit from the Easter bunny.

The event also featured food trucks, market stalls, showbags, face painting, camel rides, and much more.

The Berwick Easter Festival was an official Good Friday Appeal event with donations collected for the Royal Children’s Hospital.?

Their experiences are a testament to the opportunities that Hampton Park Secondary College provides—and to the bright futures that lie ahead.

“Highest senior school results of local government schools” - Wayne Haworth.

Every Principal is proud of their school community, and I am no exception. The achievement of many of our students is simply remarkable.

Over the past few years, we have implemented many structures, processes and strategies to engage, challenge and enhance learning outcomes. This combined with high expectations has resulted in the college recently achieving its highest senior school results of all local secondary colleges. This is a testament to the hard work of our students, and to the outstanding work of our dedicated teaching and support staff.

Wayne Haworth, Principal, Hampton Park Secondary College

6yo Arthur from Chelsea - Easter Egg Hunt. (Gary Sissons: 472633)

Meet Hampton Park Secondary College’s captains.

FOCUS ON … SHOWCASING CASEY

A Super Club right here...

Anytime Fitness in Clyde North is the suburb’s very first Super Club, providing world-class training facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and a supportive community all in one.

This multi-million dollar fitout incorporates multiple training floors, award-winning design, and state-of-the-art facilities including a huge cardio theatre, Hammer Strength strength zone, and fat-burning functional training zones.

Members will enjoy free group fitness classes, local Elite Coaches, and access to use the Evolt Body Composition Scanner to take fitness tracking to the next level. With 24/7 access and convenient parking, it’s never been easier to fit in your workout.

Of course, it’s not all about the equipment and classes — it’s about creating an environment where everybody feels supported, empowered, and part of something greater.

The staff at Anytime Fitness in Clyde North are committed to making a difference to their members and have been successful in creating a genuine sense of community to the area.

Stop by and see for yourself! Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking to take things to the next level, Anytime Fitness Clyde North offers something for everyone.

As part of the global Anytime Fitness network, members enjoy access to over 5,000 clubs worldwide—a perfect bonus for travellers or those always on the go. Locally owned and operated, this new Super Club is more than a gym - it’s a vibrant, supportive hub designed to inspire healthy living in Clyde North and surrounding areas.

Drop by and check out this fabulous gym in your neighborhood. It’s fitness, community, and convenience—all under the one roof.

St.Germain Central – Home to Clyde North’s Super Club.

Empowering Lives Inspiring Futures

Shiloh - middle - is all smiles, as parents Shaun and Adelyn recount their experience with their daughter’s birth, an experience that was nothing short of a miracle. It was a fight for life, but a defiance of all odds that led to the family’s triumph, and Shiloh’s more than active lifestyle.

Shaun, Shiloh’s father and Adelyn’s husband, said that it had been around midnight when they were discharged from the hospital after unusual pains, however, it was that same night that Adelyn gave birth in their bathroom.

Read their story on page 8

Lining up to vote

By Ethan Benedicto

The electorate of Bruce has seen an eventful first day of early voting, with both the Dandenong and Berwick centres packed to the brim. Star News visited both locations, with Berwick showing a stronger pro-Liberal sentiment. However, current Labor and Bruce MP, Julian Hill, had called otherwise, adding that there were many positive interactions between him and the residents.

Further northwest in Dandenong, a pension-

er-majority and young family dominated centre saw a general distaste for both major parties, with many voting “out of habit”.

Currently, Bruce stands as one of the more marginal seats in the southeast, with recent changes to its boundaries including Berwick, Harkaway and half of Cranbourne North.

Hill has provided a strong presence in Dandenong and neighbouring areas since he took office in 2016, however, Berwick and Harkaway remain two of the more Liberal dominant areas ever since the electorate’s extension.

Liberal candidate Zahid Safi was reported to have spent the majority of the first day at Dandenong, while Hill spent his in Berwick, both operating in each other’s respective heartlands.

The early voting season did not come easily for Safi, however, after The Age recently broke a story about his small businesses.

Multiple addresses linked to his businesses were visited by The Age journalist, revealing that an address in Merribrook Drive in Clyde had a family receiving his mail, and Willow Sup-

port Services was attached to a Sri Lankan restaurant, with homeowners having no clue who Safi was.

It was also revealed that two of his other businesses were deregistered earlier this year, and that the other businesses‘ websites were littered with fake reviews.

Bruce has seen some larger gaps in the last few elections, with Labor winning 2022 with a 6.59 per cent margin and 2019 with a 14.15 per cent margin.

2. 4 AND 5

(Gary Sissons:

Berwick turns up to vote

By Ethan Benedicto

Voters in Berwick told Star News when they attended the polls that Liberal is the way to go, as early voting begins its first day.

Star News attended multiple venues throughout Casey and Dandenong on Tuesday, 22 April, marking the first day of early voting.

In Akoonah Park, the majority of the voters who were willing to share their views were voting for Liberal, all echoing a similar sentiment of theirs and the people’s weariness of Labor’s “inaction and overspending“.

Denise said that she was for the Liberals since she “wants cheap petrol and cheap electricity”.

“I believe that Albanese’s campaign has been based on lies.”

On the other hand, one voter said he was going for Labor, and since there was no standing MP to critique for Bruce, he criticised La Trobe instead.

He added that besides Labor’s policies, there were some unkept promises from Jason Wood, the current Liberal LaTrobe MP, as well as the fact that “he lives in Mount Dandenong”.

“That’s number one, the other thing is he promised to build a 500-space car park in Officer Station, and it’s never happened.

“He just blamed the Labor party and that’s it, but that’s his problem,” he said.

Wood has previously promised $15 million for car parks in the same Officer Station, as part of the broader 2019 Morrison government’s $300 million commitment for enhancing station parking areas.

Other voters weren’t as convinced with the current Labor party, with elderly couple Carol and Phil saying that they’re both “sick of Labor”.

“Look, at this stage of our lives, many of our friends don’t want to be here anymore, and we live in a retirement community,” Carol said.

“The world’s changed so badly, and I’m sick of Labor in the state too, just all of that money going to waste, and then there’s the mental health chal-

lenges that we’re - and our kids - are facing.”

The public’s voice for the Liberals didn’t falter, with another couple saying that they were “sick and tired” of Labor’s “broken promises and overspending”.

“There are no consequences for their actions, and everyone (in Bruce) would think this, because everything’s going backwards right now.”

Another couple, Bailey and Millie, have opted to cast their vote to the Libertarians, highlighting their appreciation of the party’s push for “less government intervention in everyday life”.

“I’m kind of sick of both the major parties, to be fair, and we don’t like any of the independents, so we think the Libertarians are a good in-between,” they said.

Jacob believed that the Liberals were the right choice, and that their policies were going to “do a better job for the economy”.

“They’re spending, but they’re better at saving, so housing will increase, and you’ll probably end up with $500,000 a house, or even $200,000 in the long run after 10 years,” he said.

Current Labor and Bruce MP, Julian Hill, has been at the Akoonah Park voting centre since 8am in the morning, handing out flyers and speaking to residents about the upcoming election.

From his point of view, things have been good and smooth, with ample engagement from the people.

The line for the centre also stretched as far out as the parking lot, with wait times as long as 45 minutes.

“There’s a clear choice, Dutton’s Americanstyle cuts and chaos, with $600 billion of risky nuclear reactors, a promise to raise your income tax, and policies that would push up the cost of housing,” Hill started.

Early voters pack the Dandenong booths

By Sahar Foladi

Early voters rocked up at the Dandenong Stadium in a strong turnout to cast their votes in the Bruce electorate.

Elderly individuals - a majority pensionersand young small families were first in line as the early voter centre opened on 22 April.

The scene at the Dandenong Stadium almost seemed like a preview of Election Day on 3 May.

A pensioner told Star Journal that he felt left out by the major parties and politicians.

“Both parties, all parties have not considered the pensioners. We’ve paid taxes all our lives and all we get is shit,” he said as he walked towards the car park having just voted.

“Everyone who comes to our country we welcome them, they get everything, we get nothing. We paid taxes-they didn’t. It took me six-months to get my pension.

“We worked our arses off since I was 13.”

Cost of living and increase in crime rates are recurring themes amongst the voters, it has impacted everyone from all walks of lives.

Voters said there didn’t seem to be a viable option to the cost of living situation.

None of the voters said they were attracted to any of the election promises made by the parties-particularly the two major parties.

One of the early voters was Milan Kostic, who has been living in Greater Dandenong for more than 30 years saying he voted for whoever he believed to be “best for pensioners.”

Aimee Keily stood in the line to vote with her husband and eight-month-old daughter.

She says she had to get off maternity leave earlier than expected because they can’t afford to keep up with the expenses.

“I wanted at least a year- I should’ve gone back five months ago but stretched it to make it another three months.

“I feel most of the times what you hear, what they promise is not actioned, to me it’s like what’s the point? Ms Keily said.

Anthony Dattolino, a pensioner said he just went with his “heart and mind” at the time of voting.

“We can carry a $100 worth of grocery back home in one hand whereas it used to take the two of us to carry it.

“They’re offering all these things now but where are they getting all the money to do it? We’re short of money now.”

Another voter Rodger Tchung said he voted for the Labor party out of habit but also acknowledged the recurring cost-of-living theme won’t be a quick fix by the next government, whoever that may be.

“Everything’s going up through the roof, what can we do?

“Honestly we can’t do anything else, anyone to take over this government will take a long time to fix this, but they won’t fix it today, next year. Maybe it’ll take four years, you never know.”

So far, the Labor Party has made 19 election promises worth $17 million for the Dandenong region, compared to the Coalition’s five promises worth $10 million.

Both major parties have focused on fixing up sports grounds in the area.

The Labor party has also made more announcements to local organisations such as

Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre (SMRC) ($1.25m), Centre for Multicultural Youth ($600,000) and Wellsprings for Women ($407,000).

Few voters disapproved the overspending by the two major parties saying “so much money is being wasted where there shouldn’t be wasted.”

Asking about which party they would preference, one responded “none of it.”

“I don’t agree with what they’re doing. Both of the major parties are useless.

“It’ll be good to see a party come along that actually looks after the people and all the politicians are doing is looking after themselves.

“Where they are spending it and directing it with each of the campaign-it’s just wrong.”

Another voter shared the same thought. While he approves of the $5 million pledge by the Labor party for Dandenong Hospital ICU, “all this other stuff is too much” referring to the investments like the $1.5 million to the SMRC.

It seems the voters focuses aren’t only on the two major parties anymore and are seeking other options.

A long-term Labor voter said he intended to vote for the Labor party, but preferred to vote for an independent as he no longer felt confident in the Albanese Government.

“Or, Labor’s plan to tackle the cost of living, to cut income taxes, to invest in Medicare and build Australia’s future - don’t risk Dutton.”

Hill has been a staunch supporter of the Future Made in Australia Bill, previously telling Star News, in response to the City of Casey’s 2025-26 commonwealth pre-budget submission of its importance in bolstering a net zero transformation, economic resilience, all the while making things at home.

He also previously touched on housing, mental health and infrastructure for Casey, considering that the entirety of Berwick, Harkaway and half of Cranbourne North had only recently been added to his current electorate.

The official Liberal voice in Berwick was silent, with the party’s volunteers telling Star that Zahid Safi was making his rounds in Dandenong for the first day.

Labor had “abandoned the unions”, but there’s no chance he’d vote for Liberals, he said.

Ayub Muhammad said previously he was open to vote for one of the two major parties but not this time around.

He will instead vote for someone endorsed by the Muslim Votes Matter largely influenced by the war on Gaza at the hands of Israel.

Other long-term Labor (and Liberal) supporters said they would stick with voting for the same parties out of habit.

Rhonda Garad for the Greens handed out pamphlets along with volunteers, and so did Liberals candidate Zahid Safi while Oppositions leader Brad Battin spoke to Star Journal.

Mr Battin arrived after visiting Berwick, Cranbourne and Clyde early voter centres saying “the field’s been really good.”

“People are out very early and I’d say they’re pretty keen for a change.

“Normally you warm up a little bit and the second week gets busier.

“When you get early voters we hope that it’s just more people wanting to get rid of the government quickly so that’s our hope.

“But the reality is people are getting used to early voting and its becoming a norm and I think election day is going to get quieter and quieter.”

The AEC will close booths on Anzac Day this Friday 25 April.

Local early voting centres include:

· Pakenham Uniting Church, 47 James Street, Pakenham.

· Akoonah Park Centre, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick.

· Clyde Public Hall, 30 Railway Road, Clyde.

· 1st Cranbourne Scout Hall, 255-257 South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne.

· Dandenong Stadium, 270 Stud Road, Dandenong North.

On Mondays through to Thursdays, centres will be open from 8.30 am – 5.30 pm.

On Saturday 26 April, centres will be open from 9am – 4pm and from 8.30 am – 6pm on Friday 2 May.

Libertarian Bruce candidate, Christine Skrobo. (Rob Carew: 473412_01)

Current Labor and Bruce MP Julian Hill has been active at the early voting site since 8am on Tuesday, 22 April. (Rob Carew: 473412_02)

Long-term residents of Dandenong, Milan Kostic with his wife while waiting in line to vote. (Sahar Foladi: 473647)

Oppositions leader Brad Battin attended as Zahid Safi worked hard campaigning. (Rob Carew: 473402)

Four-year disability plan

By Ethan Benedicto

A unanimous decision saw a motion on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan fully endorsed during the council meeting, with Casey showing a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive community.

Serving as a four-year roadmap to embed accessibility, inclusion and equity in everyday council services, policy and infrastructure, the DIAP is emphasising the ease of access.

Cr Kim Ross initially moved the motion, and as she was moved to tears, said that “disability affects approximately one in five people, but it doesn’t just impact them”.

“It affects their education, employment, relationships and their ability to fully participate in the community.

“The impact of disability is broad, and the actions in this plan reflect this,” she said.

In summary, the DIAP aims to make buildings, information and other services accessible; support community participation and wellness; stand up for equity and improve quality of life; and foster a safe, respectful and empowering environment.

The DIAP document states that currently, Casey is home to 81,000 people who are living with a disability, with 19,000 people needing assistance.

“The social inclusion model discussed in this document places the responsibility of identifying and removing environmental, attitudinal and institutional barriers on the community,” Cr Ross said.

“It is the shift towards recognising the day-today difficulties of living with a disability, a shift towards helping alleviate some of the frustration, shame and mental anguish that comes from consistently battling barriers.”

Cr Dave Perry seconded the motion, adding that “disability and mental health put a lot of pressure on families in Casey, and anything the

council can do to alleviate that pressure is very welcome”.

The current DIAP has a timeline of 2025-2029, and it was developed from 2023-2025, after the previous plan expired in 2018.

In total, there were five outcome areas with over 70 priority actions; these ranged from council services and leadership, communication and engagement, education, recreation and public spaces, and inclusion, safety and fairness.

Cr Ross looked to amend a part of the motion, where she sought, after receiving extensive community feedback, “more emphasis on empowerment”, as well as the council receiving an annual progress report and plan detailing the delivery of

action priorities.

“Also ensuring that actions undertaken reflect working with people living with disabilities and supporting them to drive action and be directly involved rather than doing things to them, and for them,” she said.

A more in-depth look into the five areas of priorities saw a move to advocate for affordable housing and accessible transport, accessible communications and customer service training.

Also included was a support network for staff withdisability,eventsdesignedtopromoteaccessibility and addressing ableism and unconscious bias in the community, among many others.

Cr Lynette Pereira also spoke on the motion, adding that “there are so many people on disability benefits that can have some meaningful work”.

“I’d love to see that sort of thing encouraged (because) it’s so beneficial to the people with a disability and their families, to have some part in society and to have meaning.”

Mayor Stefan Koomen commented on the importance of the DIAP, acknowledging Cr Ross’ amendment on the regular updates and that it could lead to “improvements throughout this four-year plan”.

The motion, alongside the amendment of regular updates on the DIAP’s progress, was unanimously approved by the council.

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Casuarina Ward councillor, Kim Ross, showed strong support for the Disability Action Plan during the council’s April meeting. (Stewart Chambers: 442141)

NEWS Budget focus for candidate

By Ethan Benedicto

As the election date draws nearer, Liberal Bruce candidate Zahid Safi has spoken on his vision for the City of Casey regarding the council’s 2025-26 commonwealth pre-budget submission.

The submission highlights priority projects in the LGA, as well as initiatives that the council has deemed important in transforming “the way the community connects to jobs, education, recreation, and services they need”.

On housing, Safi echoed the Liberals’ scheme, where he said that an elected government would give first-home-buyers the “choice to access up to $50,000 from their super to buy their first home”.

“The money initially withdrawn from the super would need to be returned when the house is sold to support retirement.

“This will also include supporting older women to overcome the prohibitive challenge of saving for a home deposit by giving them the choice to use a portion of their super savings towards their deposit,” he said.

Furthermore, Safi added that the Liberals would “unlock up to 500,00 new homes” by funding essential infrastructure such as water, power, and sewage at housing development sites.

“We will also implement a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes - this is aimed at increasing housing supply and easing demand, respectively,” he said.

The current Albanese Labor government introduced the same foreign investor ban earlier this year, corresponding with a segment of the Coalition and Peter Dutton’s 2024 call to slash the permanent migration program from 185,000 to 140,000.

Housing remains the biggest concern of Casey residents, and with the LGA currently home to more than 410,000 people, with a population forecast of more than 550,000 by 2041, Safi said

that “we need to invest in our community’s future”.

From the Salvation Army’s social justice stocktake 2025, the report states that in Casey, housing was the top issue, followed by mental health and financial hardship and inclusion.

The Salvos’ statistics stated that 76.2 per cent of residents identified housing affordability and homelessness as an issue in the community, and 34.3 per cent as an issue for themselves.

“Under Labor, funding for community infrastructure has dropped; the Liberals will restore local government funding to levels seen during the previous Coalition government,” Safi said.

In recent months, Safi has announced a swathe of financial commitments for key infrastructure and open space plans in Casey.

These include: $200,000 for Sweeney Reserve’s tennis court renewal, $459,101 for Edwin Flack

Reserve’s athletics pavilion and $295,350 for its athletics terracing/shelter, $85,000 for improvements to the Harkaway Scout Camp, and $691,080 for Max Pawsey Reserve’s footy and cricket pavilion upgrade.

Safi also announced $6.5 million for the Afghan Islamic Community Centre earlier this month during an Eid prayer event in Dandenong.

More on Sweeney Reserve, Safi also announced $210,300 for softball floodlighting, $200,000 for oval fencing renewal, $60,000 for the netball court and $240,000 for a dog park.

The latter commitment was already announced by the Victorian State Government in March.

The document also called for more mental health services, which Safi said was something that the “Liberals are focused on delivering (with) a world-class health system, with better health outcomes in the areas that are in desperate need of investment and reform”.

Major parties funding pledges for Casey

As the Labor and Liberal parties desperately try to win votes in the South-East, they have promised funding to a swathe of community groups, sports and parks, health services and festivals. This is a list of the pledges so far in the City of Casey area, including the seats of Holt and Bruce.

LABOR ROADS

· $100 million to remove and signalise BerwickCranbourne Road, ClydeFive Ways Road, and Pattersons Road roundabout along the boundary of Holt and La Trobe (Clyde)

· $41.75 million to remove and signalise the Thompsons and BerwickCranbourne roundabout (Clyde North)

· $30 million for the duplication of a section of Evans Road (Cranbourne West)

· $10 million for the planning to upgrade Western Port Highway, which runs across Holt, Issacs, and Dunkley

(File)

· $6 million to resurface 5km of Princes Highway between Dandenong and Berwick

· $4 million for black spot improvements in areas in Endeavour Hills

· $14.3 million over five years to fix local roads in Casey COMMUNITY

· $10.68 million for a new stadium at

Casey Fields

· Partnering with Casey on a total $3.75 million project for an upgrade to the Edwin Flack Reserve Oval in Berwick ($1.5 million from the Federal government)

· $10 million for the revival of the Eumemmerring Creek

· $250,000 (last batch) for the Narre Football Netball Club to finish their rooms

· $1.4 million for the Syd Pargeter Reserve in Endeavour Hills

· $7.4 million for the Doveton Pool in the Park Revitalisation Project (2024)

· $9.2 million for the Springleaf Avenue Recreation Reserve in Clyde North (2024) HEALTH

· A new Medicare Mental Health Centre (Cranbourne) LIBERAL COMMUNITY

· $500,000 to Dasmesh Sports Club for security

“That’s why we have already announced we will invest $9 billion into Medicare to boost bulk billing, and ensure all Australians have timely and affordable access to a doctor.

“This will include doubling Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions from 10 to 20 on a permanent basis… and increase training programs to rebuild the GP workforce and encourage junior doctors to become GPs,” he said.

Small businesses have also been a large voice in Casey when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis, with stories of struggling to stay afloat all too common.

Current Bruce Labor MP, Julian Hill, has been an outspoken supporter of the Future Made in Australia Bill, a motion pitched to stimulate growth through domestic manufacturing and deliver long-term economic benefits to areas like Bruce.

Safi, however, said that “for all the talk about Labor’s Future Made in Australia programme, the opposite is actually the fact”.

“Less is being made in Australia, and more is being made abroad; the programme is a lesson that no government can subsidise the economy to success.

“Under Labor, we will continue to see a hollowing out of the economy, and that industries and businesses will continue to collapse in record numbers or simply move operations offshore.”

He added that the Coalition aims to build a stronger economy through incentivising businesses by cutting taxes, red tape and lowering the cost of energy.

“We know the price of electricity and gas is one of the biggest barriers to investment in Victoria and across Australia,” he said.

“We will lower prices and increase supply to reinvigorate manufacturing and support Australian businesses.”

upgrades (Lynbrook)

· A new playground and social place at the Pearcedale Reserve

· $810,300 for Sweeney Reserve upgrade (Berwick), including:

· $200,000 for tennis court renewal

· $240,000 for a dog park (previously announced by the Vic Gvt)

· $60,000 for a netball court

· $100,000 for oval fencing renewal

· $210,300 for softball floodlighting

· $754,451 for Edwin Flack Reserve upgrade (Berwick), including:

· $459,101 for an athletics pavilion

· $295,350 for an athletics terracing/shelter

· $691,080 for Max Pawsey Reserve footy and cricket pavilion upgrade

· $85,000 for improvements to Harkaway Scout Camp

· $1.25 million for charity Manna4Life atriskyouth program

Liberal Bruce candidate, Zahid Safi, has set out his and the Liberals’ vision for Casey ahead of the city’s pre-budget submission. (Supplied)

Business record scrutiny

By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Ethan Benedicto

Liberal candidate Zahid Safi has conceded his paperwork had been “out-of-date” after questions were raised over his multiple small businesses.

The Age reported Safi owned a series of NDIS and training businesses with Casey addresses, some linked to homeowners having no clue who he was.

It was revealed that two of his operations - one in Merribrook Drive in Clyde and a shortstay accommodation for Willow Support Services in Narre Warren South - were home to two families.

The first family told The Age they were receiving constant mail directed to a Safi business, and the second family was running a small Sri Lankan restuarant next door.

A Liberal source said that Safi had lived in both properties, that they were legitimately linked to his businesses at the time but were now out-ofdate.

Until late last year, staff were at the Willow Support Services facility three days a week, the source said.

Some Safi-owned businesses have been struck

off, including NDIS provider Casey Care Services as recently as late March.

His child-care training provider Inspire Training Australia was deregistered in 2021.

Safi, who is contesting Labor MP Julian Hill in the marginal Bruce electorate, was contacted for comment.

La Trobe Liberal MP Jason Wood and the Lib-

eral Party were also contacted.

The Liberal Party stated to The Age that it was “proud to support a candidate whose family fled the violent conflict in Afghanistan and chose to make Australia his home”.

“Like many people in the electorate of Bruce, Zahid runs his own small business while raising a family.

“Like many small business owners, Zahid acknowledges that his administrative paperwork isn’t always up to date and has taken steps with his accountant to rectify.”

Greens candidate for Bruce, Rhonda Garad, said the Liberals had treated voters with contempt – citing a series of controversies involving Safi during the campaign.

These included Safi’s former campaign manager Andrew McNabb standing down after alleged offensive social-media posts, and a past co-authored Parliamentary submission that outraged the Hazara community.

“It makes me extremely angry as a voter and resident in Bruce,” Garad said.

“Either the Liberal Party hasn’t done its due diligence or they don’t care.”

Businesses slam government over easement ‘blockade’

By Violet Li

Local business owners on a greenfields estate are slamming a government body that has tried to close off access to their car park, as part of a long-running easement dispute.

The attempted restriction by the Victorian Desalination Project (VDP) would have meant the business owners and their tenants at 1 Radon Court in Clyde North would not be able to access their carpark at the rear of their property, as the easement remains the only access.

An easement is a legal right to use part of someone else’s land for a specific purpose, without owning it. It allows the VDP access to a nearby Ausnet high-voltage electricity transmission line, which is approximately 48 metres in length and 10 metres in width, bridges the front and the car park at the rear.

The car park serves recently built warehouses at the front of the site.

Warehouse owner Victor Vp was appalled when he was notified by his tenants in the morning of Monday 14 April that a huge crane, visibly about two storeys high, arrived to block the entire easement.

The crane was eventually removed after Victoria Police came that day.

Before the allegedly uninvited crane, Vp had been having back-and-forth discussions with VDP, a body under the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) since March on the usage of the easement, but still, he did not see this coming.

A crowd of more than 20 community members showed up on the Monday to support Vp, a proposed Hindu temple and other business owners in Radon Court and Palladium Circuit, who will also be restricted from building car parks due to the easement.

The Ausnet easement runs through a series of adjoining lots, including Vp’s.

The crane also intended to block access to the rear of those lots.

Vishal Soni, the representative for the proposed Hindu temple next door, was concerned that the temple also would be denied access to a proposed car park due to the easement.

“This used to be farmland. When the farmers sold it to the developer, no one objected to it. When the developer developed this land, no one objected to it. When people bought this land, no one objected to it. When people had already built, no one objected to it,” he said.

“Now, after building and setting up businesses and now people want to park their cars, this is the time to object.

“It’s too late. If you want to object now, buy the land from us. We’re happy. We’ll give it to you based on the market rate.”

DEECA has required the business owners to comply with the easement usage requirements, as shown by an email from last year.

These included no parking within the easement, no vehicles greater than 5 tonnes permit-

ted to cross the easement except with permission, no excavation within the easement, and no stockpiling or storage of materials within the easement.

VDP issued warnings to Vp in March this year, claiming that “apparent” breaches of the requirements occurred.

VDP claimed that new rock fill was placed on the easement, and an excavator appeared to be working there from 19 March. Soil or gravel was placed on the easement, resulting in a crushed rock path laid over it.

On 3 and 4 April, vehicles were observed crossing over the easement to access the rear carpark.

VDP demanded the owner cease any existing and future activity in breach of the easement rights, which included the vehicle crossing to access the rear carpark and justified the dispatching of the crane on Monday.

Vp denied there were encroachments on the easement, and all contractor works had strictly adhered to the conditions imposed by DEECA and Casey Council.

“We hold all necessary permits and have

complied fully with the development approvals granted,” he said.

Vp said the ban on the cross-over on the easement was just ridiculous, as it would render the carpark useless with no alternative access in place or even feasible.

VDP suggested an arrangement with the Casey Council, which might be able to approve access at the other side of the carpark, but Vp said there was no further action following the promise.

“We have independently approached the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), but DTP does not support an alternative access route,” he said.

“The City of Casey also advised against access from Australorp Drive (at the back of the car park).

“As such, no viable alternative access exists.”

When inquired, a DEECA spokesperson said there are strict rules around activities that can be undertaken on top of underground power easements, failure to follow the rules can put individuals and the wider community at risk.

“The unauthorised work is being conducted

is on top of the power connection for the Victorian Desalination Plant, which is critical to delivering affordable, safe and secure drinking water to Victorians,” they said.

The department noted that critical power supply equipment runs underground through an area in Clyde North to deliver electricity to the Victorian Desalination Plant.

It provided written notice to the local landholder on 8 April and the leaseholders on 10 April that AusNet could exercise its right to protect the easement.

The department shared that AusNet Services had tried to work with the landholder for alternatives to working near the easement or avoiding the easement and accessing the back of the property from another without impacting the protected zone.

In response, Vp said: “We have no issue with them (Ausnet and VDP) upgrading or maintaining their assets.

“Our request is solely for access to our properties.

“If we can’t access it, what is the use of buying the land?”

State opposition leader Brad Battin and Bruce Liberal candidate Zahid Safi at a Dandenong early-voter centre on 22 April. (Rob Carew: 473402)

Community members showed up on Monday 14 April to support the business owners for the usage of the easement. They stood in front of the crane that was about to block the easement and refused to move. (Violet Li: 472643)

A Hindu temple will be built next door later this year. A car park will also be constructed at the rear.

The angry crowd was concerned about the money they invested in the businesses.

The crane that showed up to block the easement was visibly more than two stories high.

The crowd was discussing what to do next.

Lily’s award winning film

By Ethan Benedicto

Having that vision for a story is difficult to bring to life, but it came easily for Narre Warren North filmmaker Lily Lunder, whose short film was recently awarded at a Sydney film festival.

Alongside fellow director Koko Crozier, the duo have had a dream of bringing their aspirations to life, and so far, things are looking promising.

Their short film Stonewall gained recognition at the Sony Catchlight festival up north and garnered further traction after it played at the Melbourne Women in Film Festival in March.

According to Lily, for as long as she could remember, she’s “loved storytelling”.

“I was obsessed with writing stories, but I realised that when my dad told me when I was five or six, that my friends didn’t read, but they watched movies.

“So I was like, I have to tell stories in a way that I’m going to reach a lot of people, and I fell in love with it - from making those crappy little iPad films and so on.”

Lily and Koko met at film school, and after bonding through their love for everything film and movies, they began exploring their desire to tell stories.

This desire bloomed, with the duo starting off with smaller festivals and Lily reminiscing about their series of shoots at Lysterfield Lake, to eventually taking part in the Very Short Film Festival in Tasmania.

After their experience grew, they decided to dip their hands into feature films, and hence came The Offing, a coming-of-age psychological thriller about a young woman working on a farm after escaping an abusive cult.

“After The Offing, we did Stonewall, in a way to kind of just like keep the practice up because sometimes we can get really stuck and not move, not make things,” Lily said.

“So, we got our friends Claire and Thomas, and it was just the four of us, and we said, let’s go away for a weekend and make a film.”

Stonewall was based on a wide range of experiences, stemming loosely from both Lily’s

and Koko’s past, and as a medium for the duo to “explore grief and the ideas of losing someone and coming to terms with your relationship with them”.

“We were both really interested in a motherdaughter relationship in the film, and I felt that that was a theme that kept coming up in a lot of our different works.

“We wanted to try something different and explore it (the theme) in a character-oriented way and really get into the psychology of this one specific character,” she said.

The five-minute short film explores the themes of loss, grief and acceptance, the longing for what once was, and navigating complex emotions, of an even more complex relationship.

Combining elements of cinematography to relay silent messages beyond the narration, the short delivered a powerful and gripping tale of a girl and her mother, utilising scenery and setting, lighting and sound, to capture the audience in a trance of sorrow, melancholy and peace.

The team chose the Pebble House in Tarnagulla, and its surrounding environment of a former, bustling mining town, set the perfect scene.

Speaking on conveying emotion, Lily said that

her friend Claire’s “performance and her facial expressions were just so powerful”.

“Being able to discuss the character’s journey with her helped, but it was also the cinematography, and we put a lot of thought into the way it was framed with mirror shots and so on.”

Multiple instances in the film were shots that reflected the character through a mirror, a way that Lily said, was both symbolic and literal as a way of reflecting on her past.

Music also played a big role, the final touch per se, something that both she and Koko felt was missing, until it made itself present.

On the setting and the environment, Lily said that every part and shot was calculated, and that they were “pretty conscious when we were outside”.

“We tried to reflect how big and epic and grand these locations are, and the fact that there’s no one inhabiting them was definitely interesting.

“At its peak, there were thousands of people living there, and now it’s almost abandoned, and it mirrors the journey and feeling of loss that happens to the main character.”

Death was also a very conscious trope that Lily and the team incorporated, central to the charac-

ter, it was the inevitable, the “memento mori” as she said, and a kind of “morbid appreciation of what you did have”.

“You have to always remember that you could lose something and that you could die or someone else could die, and it’s this morbid appreciation of it.

“Thinking about death is really sad, but it’s also weirdly empowering about your present because it allows you to really appreciate everything,” she said.

The title Stonewall itself serves both as a literal and symbolic meaning, with the pebbles in the house, but also the emotional tactic of stonewalling emotions, as a way to represent the character and her relationship with her mother.

“She felt as if there was a stone wall that she couldn’t break down, but also that her mum wasn’t fully letting her in.

“But at the end of the film, and through the character’s process of reflection, that wall has started to break down,” Lily said.

Moving back into real life, she said that the reception for the short was phenomenal, having already screened at two different film festivals, Lily, Koko, and the wider team have had some “really positive feedback” and that people were “quite moved by it”.

Touching on the duo’s techniques, Lily said that for her, the best filmmakers “wear their influence on their sleeves”, and that to encapsulate a wide berth of themes and incorporate them into their media, they too, consume the same wide berth of different media.

“We’re constantly watching movies and a lot of TV as well, I mean a lot of filmmakers are always referencing just films, but we love our TV you know?” she said.

“It’s the visual techniques or an idea that you’ll pull or get inspiration from films and shows; and I have a go-to, which is Mr Robot, but Sam Esmail, the director, just brings everything in a really interesting way.”

As of now, the duo are working on promoting The Offing, a project that has been in the works since their first year of university, with key filming locations that include Narre Warren North.

A cat waits on the crew as they set up for a shot, with the furry animal playing a rather crucial role in the film.

The rest of the crew were in the local cemetery, where the film begins.

Lily Lunder at the set of Stonewall, where her, Koko, Claire and Thomas stayed in Tarnagulla to film the short piece. (Supplied)

A behind-the-scenes shot of the church at Tarnagulla, with Lily and Koko tending to the camera, and Claire, who plays the bereaved daughter, waiting on the side.

The early voting centre in Cranbourne, with signs and placards covering the area. (Rob Carew: 473385)

Community calls out review

By Violet Li

Locals say the recently launched Casey Local Law review is “ineffective”, citing their concerns on a “preemptive” questionnaire.

DevonMeadowsresidentTomKapitany,whohas long-standing beef with Casey Council’s planning team, was quick to jump onto the survey of the Local Law review, which was just launched earlier this week.

He was soon disappointed at the way the survey was worded.

“They basically limited the scope of the review. So, it’s basically ineffective,” he said.

“They’vepreemptedtheanswers,reasonable,unreasonable.”

In sessions relevant to the controversial private land use permits, such as managing the number of temporarystructuresonprivateland,includingshipping containers and temporary dwellings, the same question is posed to the respondents: Do you feel it is reasonable that Council manages the following issues?

Five options are presented: very unreasonable, unreasonable, neutral, reasonable, and very reasonable. Only one option can be selected.

A comment box is followed, where respondents can write down their personal opinions.

Mr Kapitany is not the only one unhappy with the design of the survey. Cranbourne Gardens Ward

Councillor Michelle Crowther and Kowan Ward Cr Shane Taylor shared on their Facebook that a number of residents contacted them to ask who designed the survey.

They noted that the survey was developed by council officers, not councillors. When inquired, the Council noted that the Casey Conversations website, wherethesurveyislaunched,isownedandoperated by the City of Casey.

“The survey questions appear to be worded in a leading way and therefore may not capture your true sentiments about the local laws,” Cr Taylor wrote on his Facebook.

“When you complete the survey, ensure that you take the time to fill in the comments section (text

boxes)tohaveyourviews,suggestions,andconcerns heard.”

Mr Kapitany also said the rural people were missed out in the survey.

“Now the problem is, you’ve got somebody living in suburban Cranbourne and you’re asking him to comment on sea containers and recreational vehicles in rural areas,” he pointed out.

“How do all the questions relate to rural areas? They do put down where you are, but they cannot give a true sense of what’s really going on because they’ve limited the scope of the review.

“It’s not saying, look, let’s put everything on the table and review everything. Let’s review the cars in rural areas and the cars in non-rural areas.

“They just created a very confined number of answers on a very limited range of subjects, which are pointless.

“It’satotalwasteoftime,awasteofmoney.Council just wants to show they’re doing the right thing.”

Anthony Tassone, vice president of Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association (CRRA), said they had received feedback from residents that the online questionnaire for the Local Law review was worded ina“leading”waythatmightdirectresponderstoanswer in a certain way.

“Given the significant public interest in the Casey Local Law that has literally made national news and prompted the councillors to order a review, one would have assumed council staff would have consulted with elected councillors before releasing the survey,” he said.

“Frompubliccommentsbysomecouncillorsthat don’t appear to have happened and should have.

“We strongly encourage residents responding to the survey to use the comments section to convey their views.”

The Local Law review online survey runs from Monday 21 April to Sunday 1 June, a total of 42 days. Visit: conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/llreview_25

The consultation will also include 12 in-person pop-up events (one in each ward), and four 60-minute meetings.

Clarification

A recent story, ‘Casey launches laws review’ on the 17 April edition, referred to the number of Casey Local Law review consultation days as 28 days, from Monday 21 April to 1 June.

The exact consultation dates are correctfrom Monday 21 April to 1 June - but we wish to clarify that it is indeed a total of 42 days, not 28 days.

Devon Meadows landowner Tom Kapitany said the online survey for the Local Law review was badly designed. (Violet Li: 453756)

Shiloh a true miracle

By Ethan Benedicto

Energetic, playful and full of joy, it would be difficult for anyone to say that three-year-old Shiloh was born prematurely at just 23 weeks and one day in her parents’ bathroom.

It was a fight for life, but a defiance of all odds that led to the family’s triumph, and Shiloh’s more than active lifestyle.

Shaun, Shiloh’s father and Adelyn’s husband, said that it had been around midnight when they were discharged from the hospital after unusual pains, however, it was that same night that Adelyn gave birth in their bathroom.

“She gave birth by herself, and then she called out to me and then I ran down the hallway,” Shaun said.

“When I came around the corner, Adelyn and Shiloh were there, she was born, and they were both staring back at me.

“We called triple zero and it was a long wait for help, it was probably half an hour that we were on our own.”

With her new-born daughter in her hands and help still some time away, Adelyn’s expertise as an ICU nurse took over.

“I knew something wasn’t right, Shiloh was breathing but struggling; I kept the umbilical cord attached for perfusion and started performing CPR with one hand while my husband provided breaths - we were desperately needing help,” Adelyn said.

First on the scene was Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic Shannan O’Leary-Colliver, a scene which she recalled was challenging and emotional.

“When we arrived, it was clear that every second mattered, a baby born this prematurely in a home environment faces enormous challenges,” Shannan said.

Shaun, recalling the moment that Shannan and other MICA paramedics arrived, said that “they don’t really know what to do with babies that size, because they just don’t survive”.

Shannon said that from the beginning, it was “apparent that Shiloh needed urgent specialist care”.

“Due to her prematurity, providing pre-hospital care was a significant challenge, so we immediately contacted the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) team, and worked as a team to stabilise her for transport.”

Fire Rescue Victoria crews were also at the scene to assist, with the specialised PIPER team offering critical guidance over the phone before taking over care at Casey Hospital.

Shaun recalled that a switch of hospitals was needed to the Monash Children’s Hospital, but thankfully, Shiloh was intubated and stabilised before the transport.

Shiloh spent the next five months in the neonatal intensive care unit, but before that, Shaun said that when she stabilised at five in the morning, he just “sat there and watched her monitor”.

“At 10am, Adelyn was transferred over, and we were together as a family again.

“It makes me super emotional, and even the smallest things with Shiloh right now are such huge milestones for her because the odds that were given to her on the first night were really bad.”

He said that initially he thought that even if Shiloh were to survive, that her quality of life would have been diminished, but “for her to be perfectly healthy, to be discharged from medical care and just develop, it makes me proud”.

Associate professor and director of PIPER, Michael Stewart, said that “it was an incredible job by the paramedics”.

”We know babies born at 23 weeks can survive, but the circumstances of birth play a huge role in their outcome,” he said.

FRV senior station officer Kevin Ruys recalled the moment when they arrived, saying that they “walked into an incredibly intense situation”.

“Shiloh was so tiny; the paramedics were doing everything they could to keep her alive.

”We ensured the baby was kept warm and assisted paramedics with the medical response, but it was clear how critical this moment was for Shiloh’s survival.”

At three years young, Shiloh is now part of a gymnastics program called Spartan, loves reading books, riding bikes and doing “everything a little girl her age should be doing”.

“Adelyn and I, we do a lot with her, and it’s almost like therapy for us where it would be normal for others.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her, or anything in my life; and I’ve never cried before I had her, you know.

“But the number of times she’s brought me to tears - in a good way - is amazing,” Shaun said.

The family, Shaun, Shiloh and Adelyn, reunited with the paramedics who attended the emergency when Shiloh was born. (Supplied)

Shiloh playing with the paramedics, with big smiles on their faces. (Supplied)

Shiloh was born prematurely at just 23 weeks, but has since made a full recovery as a healthy and active three-year-old. (Gary Sissons: 472909)

FJ Holden roars back to life

By Violet Li

A Cranbourne racer is returning to one of Australia’s most beloved historic motor racing events next month, marking nearly 30 years on the track.

Phillip Barrow will race his family heirloom 1955 FJ Holden, against other historic cars of its era in the N Category at the Historic Winton.

This category sees the likes of Holdens, Mini, Cortinas, Mustangs and even Chargers race.

Since its inception in 1977, Historic Winton has become a celebration of vintage and classic racing cars, motorcycles, and sidecars, attracting fanfares from across the country.

Phillip won the Car of the Meet at the event in 2019-a big moment, but for a true enthusiast like him, the real highlight was racing a Ford Falcon door handle to door handle all weekend.

“And we didn’t touch,” he recalled.

This year, he’s confident of another triumph.

“I started racing in 1998. That was when I first took over the car from my dad. Dad retired from racing that year,” Phillip retraced the origin of his racing roots.

Racing runs in Phillip’s family, and it’s his turn—his brother isn’t interested. Next in line could be Phillip’s son, already obsessed with Formula One, but still too young for a licence.

The 70-year-old FJ Holden is now patiently waiting for her next race. She’s all Phillip talks about.

“It’s got all the original parts in it that have all been modified,” Phillip said.

“On certain tracks, it can outperform some of the cars made in 1972 with a 1955 model car. She never ceases to do a mace. It’s only got three gears. It’s got very small brakes. They’re drum brakes. That’s all that stops the car.

“Up until two years ago, it still had the original seat out of it, but they told me with all the new safety regulations that I have to run the new seats.”

The 1955 girl sports a shiny Toyota Yellow Green, a specific colour code used by Toyota for some of their vehicles, but at the local paint shop, the colour is known as ABES FJ, just like her number plate, named after Phillip’s father.

Many racers race in multiple cars. Phillip races with only one car. He bought another car before he got married, and then finished it and sold it.

That was twenty years ago.

“I am not that rich,” he joked.

“I just really love what I have. It’s awesome to drive. People love it. We’ve got a group of guys coming down to Winton from Sydney. They’re all fans of my dad. They followed the car for sixty years.

“They used to show up no matter where you raced in the country. So, whether it be South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, at least one of them shows up.

“This will probably be the last time they last time they come to an event because they’re all getting too old.”

What does it feel like driving a vintage race car? Phillip gave out his answers.

“You just can’t drive a car like this on the street and drive flat out,” he said.

“The feel of the grip, the power, the noise, the smells. You don’t get that from driving a road car.

“It all paints a picture, and all your senses are aroused by it.

“Most race cars, the brakes don’t work when they’re cold. You gotta warm them up before they work. You feel everything the car is doing while you drive it. They give you lots of feedback. In a road car, you feel nothing because they’re all designed so that you don’t feel any.”

The last feedback Phillip received was that the 1955 girl was happy.

The 48th Historic Winton is to be held on 24 and 25 May 2025 at Winton Motor Raceway near Benalla in Victoria.

Casey moves motion on Vic’s draft infrastructure

By Ethan Benedicto

A motion of support, but also a call for enhancements to Victoria’s Draft Infrastructure Strategy, was passed at the April 15 meeting, highlighting supporting amenities for Casey’s rapid growth.

Casey’s manager of city and asset planning, Keri New, delivered a breakdown of the motion, which saw the Clyde Rail extension, kindergarten infrastructure investment, libraries and aquatic centres, and the shared use of school grounds as key advocacy points in the submission.

Cr Anthony Walter initially moved the motion, saying that “my ward is in full support of the Clyde Rail extension”.

“If anyone has seen Clyde Road during rush hour, you know it’s needed; any wya to alleviate the traffic is very welcome.”

The council is looking to make the initially state-proposed ‘future option’ of extension into a formal government commitment, due to ongoing public transport gaps.

Cr Gary Rowe seconded the motion, adding to the Clyde Rail extension argument as something that “has been needed for so long”.

“It’s criminal that it’s not in; it started off in 2000 or even before, and the need to get Clyde onto the lines is growing.

“Successive governments, particularly in recent times, have ignored it and decided that it was all too hard… so thank you for the officers that put this together.

“So hopefully this will see the beginning of some action of not only the electrification of the line, but also the infrastructure required for the roads,” he said.

In detail, the Strategy sets out 43 draft recommendations and seven future options, all aiming to address housing, transport, education, climate and equity.

It provides a roadmap for action over the next 30 years, according to the council’s agenda, across a wide range of public policy areas.

As for Casey and the council, they wanted to see a bigger focus on the mentioned areas after the Clyde Rail extension, where Cr Michelle Crowther emphasised the need for updated and better infrastructure.

“All of our identified key priorities are really addressing the challenge of our ever-increasing population,” she said.

“We’re on the growth boundary here, and housing targets we need to achieve, but this submission shows that we need the infrastructure to support this growing population.

“The libraries, the aquatic centre, and the kinder; as it’s outlined here, we have 302 Casey

kids on a waitlist for kinder, which is not okay.”

In Casey’s summary of the submission, it was detailed that in addition to the 302 children on the waitlist as of March 2025, it is estimated that by 2036, there will be a ‘shortfall of more than 6000 kinder places’ within Casey.

Cr and deputy mayor Melinda Ambrose touched on the importance of shared grounds for government schools, which promotes funding that would support these schools to have their facilities for out-of-hours use.

“I know there’s been some concerns in the community around basketball in particular, and I believe that this could support that growth,” she said.

“I do encourage this, to see the support that it gives to those community members, and give them that opportunity to use facilities outside school hours.”

The advocacy for libraries and aquatic centres in growing communities sees it as an essential aspect to improving ‘health and wellbeing’ of ‘young and diverse growth communities’, according to the agenda.

It also recommends that the state government contribute up to $25 million for aquatic and recreation centres, and up to $10 million for libraries, with the remainder being sourced from the council.

Cr Lynette Pereira, touching on amenities’ importance, spoke on the housing crisis, saying that there are a lot of people “sleeping rough”, which in turn is related to “mental health and drug issues”.

“I’d really like to emphasise more social housing, I would like to see the government work with the council to make this happen and not just be lip service.

“To give direction that we need thousands and thousands more houses, and I sincerely hope that we’ll get support and have some tangible results.”

Cr Dave Perry also backed Cr Pereira’s highlight of the need for social housing, and touched on the essentiality of climate-proof infrastructure, and praised environmentally sustainable initiatives like LED streetlight upgrades and solar panels.

Mayor Stefan Koomen closed the conversation, doubling down on all the points made, saying that “as a municipality, we’re certainly doing our bit of heavy lifting”.

The motion was carried unanimously, with consultation of a draft Strategy open between 4 March and 28 April 2025.

Cranbourne man Phillip Barrow will race at the Historic Winton with his beloved 1955 FJ Holden next month. (Violet Li: 473726)

Unique nomadic adventure

Scrolling Facebook in the middle of the night, I came across the profile of a lady with an eagle on her arm. She was mounted on a horse. The post said, “If you can’t stop thinking about something, it’s a sign from the universe you should do it…”

The following morning, I woke and wondered if I had imagined the horse-riding-eagle-lady. I found her. “We still have a place or two available on The Great Noman Expedition starting First of July in Mongolia. -Come ride with us from the bottom to the top by camel, horse, yak and reindeer…”

No way, it was seriously 19 June! I hadn’t ridden a horse in about four years.

My mum lives in Melbourne, I called her. “Only you would be crazy enough to ride a reindeer from China to Russia right about now, Amelia!” Laughing, I reassured her, “It’s ok mum, the Russians are looking the other way!”

As a last-minute wild card entry, I joined the expedition.

Ten ladies from across the world met in Ulaanbaatar, ready for the trip of a life time!

Three Aussies, five Kiwis, a Canadian and Yank. I know it sounds like the start of a joke, but these women had the grit to ride over 1200kms across the desert, the steppe country, mountains, valleys and up into the snow where we stayed in a tee-pee near the Russian border.

Ten Mongolian men were hired to put up our ‘ger’, cook our food, catch and saddle our animals and help us across the countryside. Every 30-40kms we would change animals, the dozen or so horses we were riding would be herded back to their family and we would ride on.

Over three weeks, we camped in beautiful places and stayed with nomadic families. At the end of another 100km day in the saddle, we rolled out our little mattresses in their circular tents tied up with horse hair and lined with animal skins and blankets for insulation. Stacked in like sardines, us riders were warm and cosy in homes that are full of love.

The families showed us their best hospitality, blessed us with their home-made vodka and shared their meat and milk products. They entertained us with displays of horse racing, archery and a group of local dancers performed a concert for us is in the desert.

They shared their double clotted cream on bread, rhubarb jam and milk tea. They sacrificed goats for us and we were blessed in their country. Our translator, relayed back to us their words of kindness, “We wish you gold and silver and we hope you live until you are one hundred years old,” followed by the jokes and laughter, they added, “Not even Mongolians are crazy enough to ride four different types of

animals across our country!”

We survived saddle sores, sprains, strains, squat toilets and minimal showers for three weeks on the trip of a lifetime.

We have a new appreciation for the stamina and striking beauty of everything Mongolian. The gentleness of their Bactrian two humped camels, their spectacular yaks which were like riding big hairy cows who would shy every time they caught a glimpse of their rider on their back. The horses were fast paced and phenomenal endurance animals, trotting and

cantering non-stop for 2.5 to 3 hours at a time.

And finally, the reindeer who would graze the snow as we walked along, listening to the clicking of their tendons making a snaping noise over the sesamoid bones in their feet, which was an amazing adaptation to hear where the rest of their herd are in a blizzard.

For me, The Great Nomad Expedition was a soul-searching experience where music is like medicine. Mongolians sing for the baby camels until they drink from their mothers, they

sing to bless the last horse in a race. One of the most beautiful experiences was listening to a dad hum in the middle of the night to put his baby girl back to sleep so she wouldn’t wake us up as we slept on the floor of their tent.

Nearly a whole year later, it really does feel like a fairy tale…and my goodness as a culture, we have so much to learn.

For further information please visit The Great Nomad Expedition at thegreatnomadexpedition.squarespace.com

Three Aussies, five Kiwis, a Canadian and Yank booked a spot on the adventure.

AMELIA OLSEN

A journey on camel, reindeer and horse.

Traditional Mongolian dress.

The Great Nomad Expedition guests travelled 100km each day.

Your next journey awaits

LEE MCCARTHY

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Visit stunning Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city on route to Antarctica. (Supplied)

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WHAT’S ON

Dandenong Cranbourne RSL Anzac Day

On behalf of Dandenong Cranbourne RSL, we would like to invite you and others from Star News to attend this year’s ANZAC Day Service in Cranbourne to honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans. We are expecting a great turnout this year with over 20 local schools confirming participation along with City of Casey council members, Cassandra Fernando and Pauline Richards and many other local community groups.

ANZAC Day is a time for our community to come together in remembrance and respect for those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. Your involvement on the day would be a meaningful way to show support for our veterans, their families, and the wider community.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, 25 April 2025

• Location: Greg Clydesdale Cenotaph - Cranbourne

• Dawn Service Start Time: arrive at 5:45am for 6:00am start

• March Start Time: arrive at 10:30am for 10:45am

• Service Start Time: 11:00am

Men’s Shed Junction Village Inc.

The Men’s Shed provides a facility for men’s mental health where men can come and enjoy each other’s company in a non-judgemental environment. Men are able to share ideas and life experienc-es plus learn new skills which benefit themselves and the local community.

Our members are proud of their efforts in producing wooden toys to donate to the Salvation Army Toy Fund. However, making wooden toys is not a requirement of membership and you can make your own projects, if you prefer.

Retired men are most welcome to visit the Shed and have a chat/cuppa to check-out our fully equipped Shed (lots of “toys” to play with!) and see what we do for the community.They do not need any woodwork experience as Shed members are happy to pass on their experience in an enjoy-able and friendly atmosphere.

Shed members can also be seen cooking a sausage at Bunnings, displaying our projects at Botanic Ridge Village, or heading off to visit other sheds around the state (All good fun!)

We are located at 41 Craig Road, Junction Village and open on Mondays from 9.00 am to 11.30 am and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 2.30 pm.

• For more information and a tour of our Shed, contact Garry on 0408 141 734.

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club meets weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls.

Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.

• Weekly activity times - Line Dancing Mon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.

• For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590.

• Find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ groups/487808127399953

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

Fridays from March 7th - 10-12:30 - Hazaragi Computer Classes - Learn basic digital skills in Hazaragi from a native-speaking computer skills teacher - Free during term 1

Thursdays during school terms 1-4pm - Intermediate Computers for Work - Build on your current computer skills and learn workplace apps such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook email.

Every Monday - 9.30-11am - during school termsCome and sew tote bags - For sewists who want to meet new friends and practice their sewing skills making tote bags - we supply the sewing machines and fabric - Free

Every Friday - 11am-2pm - Thee Coffee Table - Welcoming women’s community group - Free

Volunteers are welcome to come and help to maintain our community garden

Fridays 9.30am-11.30am during school terms - Conversational English Classes at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre - Come along to practice and improve your English skills in a relaxed environment comfortable, casual classes with a friendly, patient tutor - $5 per class.

Call 03 5996 9056 to enrol in Conversational English or come along to Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre during class times. The Cranbourne Park Community Hub is conveniently located in Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, in the space behind Target, next to Pacific Smiles Dental and opposite Centre Management, and the nearest entrance is next to Australia Post.

LOCALPLUMBER

U3A Cranbourne

20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne

We are a social group for people over 50 with many interesting and creative activities. We have recently started a garden group as we have lovely gardens where we can plant vegetables, herbs and flowers and enjoy tea or coffee outdoors when the weather is nice. New members would be very welcome to join us. We also have lots of arts and crafts groups, calligraphy, quilling, resin making and card making are popular classes.

We run the beginner ukulele and guitar group, Ray leads the ukulele group and Maurie assists our beginner guitar group on Monday mornings.

We are a not-for-profit group, assisted by Casey Council to run our programs. Our membership fee of $50 per year entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.

Line dancing and ballroom dancing are run at another site, a gold coin donation covers the hire of the hall for these groups.

• Check out all our classes at www.u3acranbourne. org.au or phone 0493 991 919 for more information

AWCC Tai Chi

Join us for a free trial class in Wudang Martial Arts, featuring Adult Tai Chi or Teen Kung Fu. Limited spots available—first come, first served! Trial classes will be held on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Teen Kung Fu) and 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM (Adult Tai Chi) at Timbarra Community Centre, 26 Parkhill Drive, Berwick.

• To register your interest, please call 0467-597080 or email ad@awcc.com.au.

Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre

If you are over 55 years, newly retired or new to the City of Casey and looking forward for something to do, come and join us. The Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre is a friendly seniors Club and we can offer you many activities. Our main Club Day is on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 3:00pm. On the first Wednesday of the month we enjoy socialising with our many members and, on the next three (3) Wednesdays we have live entertainment wherein you can do some dancing or line dancing and if you wish, with an afternoon cup of tea and biscuits. We also hold weekly activities on other days during the week which include the Garden Group, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Gentle Exercises and friendly Card Games.

We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station.

• Phone us on 9783 7112 or on Mobile 0426 736 467 or you can email us at: narrewarrenseniors@ gmail.com for more information

Blind Bight Community Centre Craft gift making for adults from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesdays.

Join in the craft gift making class and bring along your own craft to complete.

A variety of techniques and skills are shared including mosaics, macrame, sewing and painting at $3 per class.

Playgroup from 10.30am to noon on Wednesdays. The program provides fun play activities and craft for children at $5 per family.

Free knit and crochet from noon to 2pm on Wednesdays.

Line dancing from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesdays. All ages, and abilities welcome at $10 per class.

• For more information and for bookings, visit www. blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

Are you new newly retired, or new to the area, or just wanting to enjoy your freedom as a senior or expand your social life?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities and friendship.

The club hosts weekly social activities with dance to low-key in-line dancing if you want to tap your feet, great music, a chat, and then afternoon tea. Day, short and long trips away via coach, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly Tuesday dine-outs, a weekly walking group, a weekly table tennis group, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, entertainment function days and more.

Anyone interested can visit on Thursdays at 2pm for socialising and low-key dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House at 21A Bemersyde Drive or join the club for a coffee and a chat every Wednesday from 10am at the new François cafe in front of Myer in Fountain Gate.

• For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.

Berwick have Bulls in sights

By David Nagel

It’s still only early days in the Eastern Premier Division season but Noble Park and Berwick will be desperate for the four premiership points when the Bulls and Wickers collide at Pat Wright Oval on Saturday.

Both teams began their seasons with similar losses, being overrun in the second half after promising starts to their first-up outings.

The Bulls were powerless to stop a rampant Rowville at Seebeck Oval in round one, going down by 66 points.

Noble looked slightly impotent up forward compared to years gone by with Tom Nelson its only multiple goal scorer with two, while its defence was constantly under pressure with Rowville having 37 scoring shots at goal.

The Hawks midfield got right on top of their Bulls counterparts and its an area that Noble will need to improve on against the Wickers.

Fortunately for the Bulls, the Hawks were inaccurate in front of goal, kicking 20 points, or the margin could have been much greater.

The Hawks were dominant in the stifling conditions after the main break, kicking 13.10 to 6.1 to race away with the contest.

The Bulls are a proud football club and coach Steve Hughes will have his troops primed for a big result on the weekend.

Hughes will be relying on his leaders to stand tall, with skipper Ben Marson, Lachie McDonnell, Jordan Marson and Harley Fairbank set to rise to the challenge.

This a big game for both clubs, with Berwick an improved outfit from last year and going into this contest with more confidence than they have against the Bulls in the past.

The Wickers played some terrific football in the first half against Doncaster East in round one, kicking 10 goals across the opening two quarters of the season to lead by a straight kick at the major break.

The promise of new coach Andrew Williams to play exciting and free-flowing football was clearly evident in the first half, the Wickers kicking 10.4 to 9.4, with Daniel Pinter, Noah Cannon, Jesse Cirulis and Braedyn Bowden all showcasing their natural assets.

The second half was a different story for Ber-

wick, who were subdued by the Lions, who allowed the Wickers just six scoring shots after half time.

Williams came into the season expecting his young team to experience some great highs and extreme lows this season…and he got to see the full extremities of that prediction in just four

quarters of football.

But things look promising for Berwick, with room for improvement from round one clear to see.

Dangerous forwards Jordy Andrews and Jai Neal contributed just one goal between them against the Lions, and improved output from those two will go a long way towards winning this contest.

You get the feeling this is the best chance Berwick has of beating the Bulls for the first time since entering Eastern, and we’ll go for the Wickers to pull a surprise and win by 11 points.

In other games this week, Balwyn host Rowville in a hot contest between two of this year’s genuine premiership contenders.

Balwyn, the reigning premiers, had a surprise loss to Blackburn on Good Friday, while Rowville looked quick and sharp against Noble Park.

Lachie Wynd and Kyle Stainthorpe look set for big seasons for the Hawks, after five and three goals respectively, while Mav Taylor and Lachie McDonald were others to shine up forward.

This one will be a ripper, but we’ll go for the Hawks to win a thriller.

Vermont will expect to get the four points against Doncaster East, while round two will begin with two games on Anzac Day on Friday.

East Ringwood should be too strong for competition newcomers Mitcham, while South Croydon host Blackburn with the home-town Bulldogs looking to bank their first win for the season at Cheong Park.

But Blackburn was super impressive in round one and should enjoy the rest of the Anzac weekend festivities after a comfortable victory.

EASTERN PREMIER - ROUND 2 TIPS

Friday 25 April: South Croydon v BLACKBURN, EAST RINGWOOD v Mitcham. Saturday 26 April: VERMONT v Doncaster East, Balwyn v ROWVILLE, Noble Park v BERWICK.

Saints and Eagles set for a blockbuster Anzac Day clash

By David Nagel

The pain of a straight-sets exit has not sat comfortably on the shoulders of the South Belgrave Football Club over the last six months.

The Saints finished second on the ladder last year, but lost to eventual premiers Mitcham by 26 points in the qualifying final; after trailing by 50 points at three-quarter time.

South Belgrave was expected to bounce back strongly in the first semi-final against Beaconsfield, but had to pack its bags quickly after a three-point loss to the Eagles after a grandstand finish for the ages.

Fast-forward those six months, and the Saints get their first shot at redemption this week when they host Beaconsfield in a blockbuster round-three clash in Eastern Division 1 football on Anzac Day.

The Saints could not have been more impressive as they begin their premiership push this season, with a 42-point victory over last year’s grand finalist Park Orchard followed by a 91-point thumping of Norwood.

Proven key forward Taylor Garner has already strutted his stuff in grand style, booting 13 goals in those two games, while some fresh faces have added excitement and stability around the ground.

Clay Tucker has been a key addition from VFL club Box Hill, while Calvin Daraio has slotted in nicely after his move to the Saints from Vermont.

Kane Young is a huge asset for South, and an equally big loss for Premier Division club Rowville, while Sam Muirhead is a big-body addition from Doveton that can play at either end of the ground.

Declan Smith was a South Belgrave junior last year that also slotted into the team nicely, while former St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan played an important role in the round-one victory over Park Orchards.

Beaconsfield was also impressive in round one, steamrolling North Ringwood with a 5.2 to 0.1 final term.

The Eagles have also added strongly to their list, with former Richmond half-forward Jake

EASTERN FOOTBALL

(Rob Carew: 469881)

Aarts slotting into the midfield like a hand into a glove, while youngster Marley Appleyard and classy left-footer Ali Zijai have added speed and grunt around the ground.

Travis Stewart was also important in the opening round victory, playing a key role in the ruck.

The big question for Eagles coach Mick Fogarty this week is; what does he do with his skipper and most versatile player Jake Bowd?

The tall and classy left-footer is a star at either end of the ground, with his impressive haul

of six goals against North Ringwood leading his side to victory.

But with South Belgrave possessing a string of tall key forwards, Fogarty might have to start his skipper down back!

The other question for Fogarty is; how will the Eagles begin the contest after two weeks sitting on the sidelines.

The Eagles had the round-two bye, followed by the Easter break, so will not have pulled on the guernsey for 20 days when they do so on Anzac Day.

We’ll go for South Belgrave to win a close one.

The remaining three games all take place on Saturday this week, with last year’s runners up Park Orchards looking to bank its first points of the season against Bayswater.

With Lewis Downie and Michael Prosenak in dangerous form up forward; Park Orchards should be too good at home.

Montrose should be a touch too strong for Boronia, while North Ringwood will look to make it back-to-back wins against Norwood.

The Saints fell short against Beaconsfield in round one but bounced back with a 14-point victory over Mooroolbark in round two.

Look for Xavier Borg and Jackson Braunthal to get busy and get North Ringwood across the line.

EASTERN DIVISION 1 ROUND 3 TIPS

Friday 25 April: SOUTH BELGRAVE v Beaconsfield. Saturday 26 April: PARK ORCHARDS v Bayswater, Boronia v MONTROSE, NORTH RINGWOOD v Norwood. Bye: Mooroolbark

Beaconsfield is set for a huge visit to South Belgrave on Anzac Day in Eastern Division 1 football.

Beaconsfield ruck Travis Stewart had a big impact in his first game for the club against North Ringwood. (469881)

Noble Park’s Scott McInerney and Berwick’s Jesse Cirulis will be key players when the Bulls and Wickers collide at Pat Wright Oval on Saturday. (Rob Carew: 403696)

Let’s Talk Sport

WITH DAVE NAGEL, JUSTIN SCHWARZE, BLAIR BURNS AND DYLAN BEAUMONT

Stars, stats...selling stocks

BLAIR: Hi boys, welcome back to another week of Let’s Talk Sport; my first in the hot seat. It was a big weekend with some local sport and plenty of upsets at AFL level. There are a few happy fans in the room and one unhappy fan (gestures towards Dylan). We will start the way we always do with best action, or a match you’re looking forward to this weekend. We will kick it off with Dave. BEST ACTION/UPCOMING GAMES

DAVE: It was a great game of footy at Phillip Island. What happens in the West Gippy footy league is there are two towns which are holiday towns, Phillip Island and Inverloch. The league schedules a game on Easter weekend for those two clubs to cash in, and there were about 5,000 people at Phillip Island on the weekend. Warragul Industrials were 34 points behind in the second quarter and they got over the line with three goals in the last five minutes. Jack Taylor (Phillip Island captain) channelled his inner Ronaldo as he kicked a soccer goal from the pocket in the second quarter. But Best Action goes to Luke Walker, who has played at Pakenham and Kooweerup and is a superstar of local footy. With Warragul six points behind at the 29-minute mark of the final quarter, Tex decided to run forward from half back and ended up free in the goal square, kicking an open goal and tying the game up. Goy Lok then kicked the winner and the Dusties were home.

BLAIR: That’s awesome, sounds like you were spoilt for choice; what about you Justin?

JUSTIN: I will just keep it short and sweet and say my best action was Richmond on the weekend, how good was that? But a game I’m looking forward to is a massive clash between Emerald and Gembrook Cockatoo (Outer East Prem), they are fierce rivals from what I’ve been told and are both winless so there is a lot riding on this game. The RSL do a great job and the clubs make it a big day, hopefully it’s a great game of football with both clubs trying to get their first win of the season. Gembrook get Aaron Firrito back in a massive boost to their midfield. They’re looking forward to having him back and hopefully getting their first win of the season, but Emerald is hungry at the moment.

DAVE: Dylan’s best action would have to be from the Bulldogs smashing his Saints, wouldn’t it Dylan (boys laugh)?

DYLAN: I have short-term memory loss and don’t know what you’re talking about Dave. A game that I am looking forward to is definitely the early top of the table clash between Trafalgar and Neerim South (Ellinbank league) this weekend. At the moment, Trafalgar’s percentage is 900 and Neerim’s is about 500, they are both 2-0 to start the season with some mammoth victories under their belt and they will face each other at Trafalgar this week.

BLAIR: I went home (Hamilton) to see the family for Easter so obviously didn’t see any local matches, but I am looking forward to Keysborough v Caulfield Bears. Similar to what Justin said, they are both 0-2, it will be a big occasion as they are playing under lights on Anzac Day, there is also a rivalry there. I spoke to Keysborough coach Chris Smith last week and he told me that the boys were going to have a huge week on the track, and he would “flog them”, those were his words (boys laugh), so let’s see how they come out.

STAT SHEET STARS

BLAIR: In light of having the Local Footy Hub this season and being able to access stats across a lot of our leagues, I thought it would be good to chat about a couple of the standout performances we have seen. We will start with you Justin, who has stuffed the stat sheet in the leagues you’ve been covering?

JUSTIN: I’ve actually gone with a pretty simple one. It’s Taylor Gibson (Woori Yallock) and Aaron Mullett (Wandin) who are goalkicking machines. It looks like they will go down to the wire for the league goalkicking and after two rounds Gibson has 17 and Mullett 16. Last season Gibson won the title with 65 goals in 19 games, but Mullett kicked 59 in 17 games so that is the exact same rate of 3.4 per game. Last week, they played each other which I think will be a grand final preview; Mullett kicked seven and Gibson six. But it doesn’t

stop there, with score involvements too, Mullett leads the league with 30 and can you guess how many Gibson has?

DAVE: 29?

JUSTIN: Yep, that’s right. These guys are the two best forwards in the league and on the exact same level.

DYLAN: The league I cover, Ellinbank, unfortunately doesn’t have the whiz-bang statistics that you blokes have. But looking at the goalkicking, last year the winner of the award was Patrick Ireland with 111, he’s not there this year. At the moment we have Danny Brewster and Isaac Caroleo (both Trafalgar) leading with 13 across two games. We have a more competitive pool this year. Jason Wells kicked 91 last year; he also has 13 at the moment. It’s going to be a closer goalkicking battle which will be good to see rather than a one-man race.

DAVE: My stats sheet player is Dusties playing-coach and ruckman Bobby McCallum who kicked five on the weekend. He’s heading towards 40 years of age but is a really well-respected figure in local footy. He coached Buln Buln to back-toback flags over the last two years. So far this season, big Bobby has had 108 ranking points (v Garfield), 121 (v Kilcunda Bass) and 144 in a massive encounter against Phillip Island on the weekend. For a bloke to be doing that, at that age, is incredible, he is a superstar and really impactful player. He has got his team off to a 3-0 start and is having a huge impact; probably my number one player in the competition at this stage.

JUSTIN: He must really know his footy. Did you say ruck, captain and coach?

DAVE: Yep, he is the ruckman and is captain/ coach, he’s a freak.

BLAIR: Sounds like a star, I am looking forward to reading his section of The Coaching Roller Coaster this week. I have followed a similar ruck trend. Back in Hamilton, there is a ruckman by the name of Levi Dare who is probably mid 30’s. He made headlines in the Hampden league last year with 91 hitouts in a game and used to play VFL back in his younger days. In round one he had 21 disposals, eight marks, 77 hitouts and seven clearances, which is a fair day out for the big man. It’s a tough task coming up against big Bobby or big Darey. The other one I had was Hampton Park’s Makaio Haywood. The kid is a star; he is a big-bodied mid who has been tearing it up in both rounds. In round one he had 30 disposals, three goals and eight tackles for 176 ranking points. He followed it up with 25 and a goal in round two for 119 ranking points, he is contributing in a big way down there.

DAVE: I think Jonty will be happy to hear that because Haywood is his favourite player in local footy, he actually played for Ellinbank last year too.

DYLAN: We’ve actually just had a message sent in for Jonty (in Las Vegas) who wants to mention some best action for the week. He wants to give a shout-out to Nar Nar Goon’s Oscar Henwood who caught some eyes at Vic Country’s Under-16 trials last Thursday.

BLAIR: Thanks for that Jonty; despite being all the way over in Vegas he doesn’t miss any of the local action. Jonty says Henwood is a precise lefty and a name to bookmark for coming years.

THE STOCK MARKET

BLAIR: I was racking the brain on Saturday night while watching Richmond play the Suns and came up with The Stock Market. Buy is for a team or player that is on the rise and trending upwards, hold means uncertain, and sell, a team which may not have started the year well. We will start with Dylan.

DYLAN: I am going to buy Longwarry, they are 2-0 and their percentage isn’t as dear as Neerim South, Trafalgar or Catani ahead of them, but the recruits that they’ve brought in are good. I think Longwarry will be a true contender this season and I’m all in on them. I’m going to hold fire on Yarragon, they played their first “contender” in Lang Lang last week and lost by 12 points, but former AFL player Brayden Preuss kicked 0.5 so if he was to kick straight, I think they are to win that. And I’m going to sell the reigning premiers Buln Buln, they looked lost last week, they didn’t kick a goal for the game, couldn’t win many clearances and will have to bounce back this week. I never thought I would say that, but I am selling the reigning premiers.

JUSTIN: Buying stock, I’m probably a bit late to this but Healesville. They have been promoted from Division 1 to the Premier Division of Outer East and are 2-0 after they smashed Emerald last week and had a pretty surprising win against Upwey Tecoma in the first round. Holding, this is tough because the three teams I have kept an eye on have not looked good, but I’ll say Officer, they’ve got a nice young team. Mark Seedsman was their leading goalkicker and was fantastic last year. Sell, unfortunately the Emerald Bombers, they have really struggled to score this season and despite having three players in the top five for disposals, they are just burning the football. They have only kicked 12 goals in two games and if they lose to Gembrook this week, it’s looking really rough for the Bombers. Just quickly I would

like to switch codes and give a basketball take. I said this to Dave last week and you can put it in the book, the Pakenham Warriors Championship women are going to win the championship this year. It will be an expensive stock price because they are undefeated, but they look fantastic. DAVE: Justin is doing a Trump and buying stocks when they are at their most expensive (boys laugh). I am buying Warragul Industrials, the Dusties, for reasons we spoke about earlier with big Bobby leading the way. They’ve also got two blokes, Kuiy Jiath and Goy Lok. Lok is a player from the SANFL last year and reeks of class. The Dusties have previously been a high possession, chip, mark team, but these two guys have brought in a real excitement to their footy. Also buying Kilcunda Bass, I am holding on Garfield and Kooweerup, they both have the potential to maybe sneak into the top six but also the potential to maybe finish second last. And I’m selling Inverloch-Kongwak, who has been a powerhouse in the last five years, but the signs are not good. They have really struggled to beat the bottom team Korumburra Bena last week and got their pants pulled down by Kilcunda Bass on the weekend…IK sold.

BLAIR: On the buying side of things, I am going to be buying a lot of stock down at Pearcedale in the MPFNL Div 2. They have started the year in great form, had a massive pre-season and I really feel like it’s this year for them. And, while we’re there, I will also buy Cruiz West, who has kicked nine goals across the first two games. Another player who I want to buy stocks in is Ethan Campbell at Cranbourne. I have watched him play both weeks and have been really impressed. He has good burst and came into the seniors this year. He takes the game on which I love. I think I will hold Cranbourne. I am going to give them a chance. They’ve had a tough start to the year 0-2 and have East Brighton this week. But they need to bounce back, they need to have a crack this week then start banking some wins. I am going to sell the Caulfield Bears; they played finals last year but have started the season 0-2, their playing coach Lynden Dunn is suspended for another week or two. They have that Anzac Day clash that we talked about, if they don’t win that, they will be in some serious trouble.

JUSTIN: Yeah, that is definitely a game they will need to win.

BLAIR: That’s all for Let’s Talk Sport this week, we’ve got a big weekend of sport coming up so looking forward to chatting again next week. We will also have Dylan in the hot seat and running the show which will be good.

Dusties’ star Luke Walker gets Dave’s best action this week for his last-quarter goal against Phillip Island. (Stewart Chambers: 473045)

Dingoes set Southern scene

By Blair Burns

After a weekend off for most sides in the Southern Football Netball League teams have shifted their focus towards this weekend with some important matches scheduled.

In Division 1, round three matches began last weekend as Dingley held off a late Springvale Districts surge to win by 15 points and go 3-0.

The game was perhaps closer than many thought it would be, and credit must go to the Dogs for fighting it out, but the Dingoes will be happy to bank another win.

Ex-St Kilda pair Nathan Freeman (39 disposals, one goal, 10 marks) and Arryn Siposs (28 disposals, seven marks) were instrumental in the victory, while Tom Morecroft kicked five goals.

Kyle Martin was the best player for Springvale Districts, collecting 24 disposals to go along with his six tackles.

Dingley remains the team to beat this season and has some sides in the league worried after their dominance over reigning premiers Cheltenham in the first round.

This week, Bentleigh and Cheltenham will battle it out as both sides search for their second win of the season.

The Demons knocked off Murrumbeena last week but still conceded 101 points, while the Rosellas bounced back in a big way smashing Springvale.

Bentleigh spearhead Matthew Colak has started the season well with eight goals (second in league) in his first two outings, while Andrew Walker is averaging 33.5 disposals per game.

Cheltenham will be looking towards ex-St Kilda player Jack Lonie to deliver in front of goal once again – the small forward is coming off a bag of four.

St Pauls McKinnon has a great opportunity to start the year 3-0 when it takes on Murrumbeena who are yet to win a game despite showing good signs.

Tom Buckley and Nathan Scollo have been impressive for the Lions this season and if the pair can perform again, it will go a long way towards causing an upset.

Players like Sam Hilton-Joyce and Matthew O’Brien have been the difference between St Pauls McKinnon being 0-2 or 2-0, both have been impressive through the midfield.

The Bulldogs have found a way to win getting over the line by just two points in both matches,

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION 1 PREVIEW - ROUND 3

but the Lions will be hungry for their first win.

After a tough outing against East Brighton, Narre Warren needs to respond against Port Melbourne this weekend, but the Colts will not give in without a fight.

The Magpies will be looking to fly high in what is an important game for them at this point in the season.

Will Howe had a huge impact for Narre Warren in the round-one win against Cranbourne but was kept to just one goal against the Vampires last week.

He will be looking to have a day out in front of the big sticks.

The Magpies will have to lock down Colts’ Mitchell Clarke if they are to win as the forward has kicked seven goals in the first two matches.

All of these games will be on Anzac Day, with the exception of Cranbourne vs East Brighton which will go ahead on Saturday at Livingston Rec Reserve.

After getting knocked out in finals last season, the Eagles haven’t had the ideal start to 2025 with losses to Narre Warren and St Pauls McKinnon.

The team, led by Angelo Soldatos, has done a lot of things right and played some impressive patches of football this season, but the Eagles are now staring down the barrel of 0-3.

The Vampires are firming as serious flag contenders and will take some beating, but anything can happen.

SOUTHERNDIVISION1

Ladder: Dingley 12, East Brighton, St Paul’s McKinnon 8, Bentleigh, Cheltenham, Narre warren, Port Melbourne Colts 4, Cranbourne, Murrumbeena, Springvale Districts 0.

Fixture Round 3: Friday 18 April: Dingley 13.9(87) def Springvale Districts 10.12(72). Friday 25 April: Bentleigh v Cheltenham, St Paul’s McKinnon v Murrumbeena, Port Melbourne Colts v Narre Warren (6.30pm).Saturday26April: Cranbourne v East Brighton.

Lights, cameras, action...Burra takes primetime credits

By Blair Burns

Keysborough will be searching for its first win of the season in Southern Division 2 when it takes on rival Caulfield Bears in an Anzac Day blockbuster.

The Bears are also winless in 2025 but this game, under lights at Rowley Allen Reserve, promises to be an exciting clash and there will be no love lost between the two rivals.

Caulfield’s coach Lynden Dunn will be watching on from the sidelines after the ex-Collingwood player got a three-week suspension in round one against Endeavour Hills.

Chris Smith and his troops will be determined to put together four quarters and make amends after a half-time lead slipped away in round two against the Frankston Dolphins.

Young gun Kyden Vella has impressed for the Burra this year and will again be looking to have an impact inside the forward 50, while Michael Casey has been in some fine form for the Bears.

It is a crucial game as one of the sides will get its first win of the season and some momentum, but the other will fall to 0-3.

Action kicks off at 7pm and this clash will be the only one of the Division 2 competition scheduled for Anzac Day with the other games to follow on Saturday.

Endeavour Hills will travel to Darling Park the following day for a big test against East Malvern who look to be one of the most formidable sides again this season.

The Panthers are 2-0 and sitting in second position on the ladder with a huge percentage while the Falcons are 1-1 and fell short in their round two match against Doveton last Friday.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 PREVIEW - ROUND 3

One thing is for sure, Endeavour Hills’ defenders will be on high alert as Panthers’ Isaac Morrisby looms as a huge attacking threat.

Morrisby leads the league with 12 goals from his two matches and showed just how damaging he can be when he slotted eight against Chelsea Heights in round two.

Highett are 0-2 and things will not get any easier when they battle against Hampton Park

this weekend, as the Redbacks continue to ride a huge wave of momentum.

Hampton Park looks like an early premiership favourite and will be hungry to dismantle the Bulldogs and start its season 3-0.

If Highett is any chance to get the upper hand in this contest, it will need to control the midfield and nullify Hampton Park players like Makaio Haywood who are so influential

in the contest.

After a disappointing round-one loss which saw them thumped by 120 points, Doveton bounced back last week as it narrowly defeated Endeavour Hills, but this week it’ll take on Mordialloc.

The Bloods have won both of their matches and this clash against the Doves will be a great opportunity to jump even higher up the ladder and start the season well at 3-0, but they are yet to have played any of the top sides.

Whereas Doveton needs to win this game if it is going to play finals again this season, looking to coach Matt Stapleton to set the tone.

Frankston Dolphins will go into their game against Chelsea Heights as favourites, with the Dolphins searching for their third consecutive win.

The Demons are coming off a tough match against East Malvern in round two but are embracing the challenge against another top side, as they search for their first victory of the season.

Archie Zarb has been in the best both weeks for the Dolphins with five goals to his name, and will be looking to have another big day out.

SOUTHERNDIVISION2

Ladder: Hampton Park, East Malvern, Frankston Dolphins, Mordialloc 8, Endeavour Hills 4, Highett, Chelsea Heights, Caulfield, Keysborough, Doveton 0.

Fixture R3: Friday 25 April: Keysborough v Caulfield (7pm). Saturday 26 April: East Malvern v Endeavour Hills, Chelsea Heights v Frankston Dolphins, Highett v Hampton Park, Doveton v Mordialloc.

Carew: 469859)

Doveton has a good opportunity to put another win on the board when it takes on Mordialloc this weekend. (Gary Sissons: 469873)