Proud to remember
A day of solemn remembrance and commemoration, the Anzac Day service at Berwick High Street was filled with people from all walks of life, their hearts filled with gratitude and honour to those who served the country.
A yearly tradition, the morning began at 10:40am with a march from the Berwick RSL to the cenotaph at High Street.
This time, however, a total of five trucks, two World War-era transport jeeps and three modern-era military utility vehicles accompanied and led the march.
Following them were cadet flag bearers, with their heads held high and then, followed the veterans, RSL members, SES officers and a number of local schools.
Their march continued well into High Street, with the autumn leaves blowing into the wind, and the rounds of applause echoing throughout the buildings.
Rows of veterans took the seats in front of the cenotaph, as members of parliament and local councillors also attended the event.
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Battle for Bruce
By Ethan Benedicto
Both the major parties have been trading blows all throughout the country, and the same can be said in Bruce, as the campaign trails for Julian Hill and Zahid Safi heat up ahead of this weekend.
The current calculated margin, taken from the previous 2022 election race, sits at 5.3 per cent, with Labor’s Hill unleashing a flurry of tactics against the
Liberals’Safi,followingtherecentrevealofhisallegedly defunct small businesses.
The Bruce electorate has been a Labor stronghold since 1996, and Hill’s seat, which he has had a relatively strong grip on since 2016.
Recently, however, boundary changes have given Hill some extra challenges, especially after acquiring the Liberal-dominant areas of Berwick
and Harkaway, which were previously under Jason Wood’s LaTrobe borders.
He also acquired half of Cranbourne North, which would, statistically, prove to be a safe area considering it stemmed from fellow Labor MP Cassandra Fernando’s Holt border.
While other Liberal candidates are making headway throughout the state, Safi’s situation is
more tumultuous, as media outlets have since reported on his small businesses and questioned his reliability as the area’s potential MP.
Set for Saturday, May 3, both major parties are making themselves known at their weaker areas, with Hill down in Berwick at the early voting polls, and Safi treading through Dandenong.
Full stories pages 3-4
An officer wearing an Anzac First World War uniform salutes during the service. (Rob Carew: 473721)
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. Their feedback 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. that you can now view and tell us what you think.
Visit the Casey Conversation website to view the documents and share your feedback until 15 May 2025.
The 2025 Casey Community Awards winners were announced at a gala celebration event at Bunjil Place on Friday, 11 April.
This year, due to the high calibre of the nominees, two residents took out the top honour of Citizen of the Year.
Anthony Hanna and Antonia Arfaras were named joint Citizens of the Year. Both have contributed greatly to Casey through their volunteering efforts.
Cheer on the Dees at the MCG
Don’t miss your opportunity to cheer on the Melbourne Football Club as they take on Hawthorn on Saturday, 10 May, at the home of football – the MCG. To celebrate Casey Round, residents can access up to 4 free tickets. Come along and show your support for the Dees.
Sign up to the Casey Catch Up e-newsletter by scanning the QR code below and keep up to date on how you can redeem your free tickets.
The annual awards have celebrated community contributions for over two decades by recognising the outstanding individuals and groups in the community in eight categories.
Find out more about the winners by scanning the QR code.
Fire Danger Period
The Fire Danger Period for the City of Casey will end on Thursday 1 May.
If you are considering burning off on your property once the fire restrictions are lifted, you will require a permit from Council. Permits are only valid outside of the CFA declared Fire Danger Period, which is usually between the cooler periods of May to November.
To apply for your permit to burn-off, scan the QR code or visit our website.
Casey Conversations
Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.
• Public Art Policy – your opportunity to help shape the future of public art in Casey.
• Nominate a Significant Tree in Casey – help us add to our current list of significant trees to protect them.
Help shape our new Casey Community Local Law
We are reviewing our Local Law, and you’re invited to have your say and help shape what a new Local Law looks like.
• Online Survey: From Monday 21 April, share your views online and go in the draw to win one of five $200 Westfield vouchers.
• Attend a pop-up: Visit one of our 12 pop-ups being held right across Casey and speak directly with our team. Dates and locations are listed on our Casey Conversations website.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Casey Community Awards
Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen congratulated all the winners and nominees for their hard work and dedication.
NEWS Spat over $20m Hazara hub
By Violet Li
A war-of-words has erupted over the Greens’ pledge to push for $20 million to establish a multipurpose Hazara Community Centre in the South East, with a Labor MP labelling the promise as “not real” and a “trick”.
Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May announced during the long weekend that Greens would support the Hazara diaspora, and ensure they are provided places to celebrate their culture, connect and share with their community.
Greens candidate for Bruce Rhonda Garad told Star News that the details for the Hazara Community Centre had not been pinned down, but the Greens would fight very hard for the funding.
“We will sit down with the Hazara community and look at options about whether it’s a new site, whether it’s a refurbishment or another building. So those aspects will be worked out in tandem with the community,” she said.
Ms Garad emphasised that this was a firm commitment without any condition.
“The Greens have a long-term strong relationship with the Hazara community,” she said.
However, Bruce Labor MP Julian Hill said “what the Greens political party says about ‘$20 million’ is not real”.
“It is a trick. There is no land, no plan, no entity and no costings. There is no funding allocated,” he said.
“The Greens party just make things up in their imaginary government and fantasy budget to fool people.”
Mr Hill, who announced a $420,000 election pledge to expand the Hazara community’s Abu Talib Community Centre in Hallam, said he worked with “all parts of the community to support projects that are real”.
“Unlike the Liberals and the Greens political party, I will never seek to exploit differences in our community in a chase for votes,” he said.
Abu Talib Community Centre is a hub for the growing local Hazara community, offering a range of youth and family education programs, classes and a space for gatherings and religious services.
The funding from the Labor will support the centre to finish essential renovations.
According to Mr Hill, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, consistent with past practice.
Greens candidate for Holt Payal Tiwari em-
phasised that the Greens would “push for” and make sure that commitments made during election time or any other time are actually being pushed for and allocated once someone does go into power.
“That’s what we’re saying. We’ll push for it,
anything that any other MP says, we as Greens will be making sure that it actually gets done,” she said.
“We’re not there to just say random things. If you’ve pledged for something, we will be pushing hard for it.”
Ms Tiwari questioned why Mr Hill hadn’t allocated the funding for the Abu Talib community centre any time before this election period.
“If that was something that he could have done back whenever he was a sitting MP, why wasn’t it done previously? Why is it just coming out now?”
Media-shy Bruce candidate in the spotlight
By Ethan Benedicto and Sahar Foladi
As the election looms on Saturday, 3 May, the electorate of Bruce is in the spotlight, with state-wide media outlets bearing down on Liberal candidate Zahid Safi.
Incumbent Labor MP Julian Hill has been more than active against his strongest opponent for the seat, with interviews and social media posts directly targeting Safi’s credibility as a candidate.
On Tuesday, 29 April, at a Dandenong early voting booth, Star News approached Safi walking inside the building and he indicated he was going to the toilets.
After a few minutes, Safi came out, speaking with his phone against his ear and eyes on the ground.
He walked straight out of the building with no sign of interest in speaking with Star News.
He was asked why he had been avoiding the media, if he wanted to give a statement about his businesses, and if he’d like to tell people more about himself.
With a frustrated look, he said, “I’m here to talk with the voters”.
Outside, he stood with his volunteers with his back against the journalist and phone still against his ear before walking to the side of the building and appearing to leave in a car.
Star News asked the volunteers about Safi’s whereabouts and if he would be back, to which one of them said, “your guess is a good as ours”.
This series of events stemmed from a recent article by The Age, which revealed that, alleg-
edly, Safi and his wife’s independent small businesses were either defunct or littered with fake reviews and stock images.
Similarly, The Age journalist also managed to have a short encounter with Safi as he was leaving an event, where they asked “why have you been dodging my media requests”, as well as a series of questions that they had sent through. Safi swerved from answering their questions, instead focusing on responses that highlighted the cost-of-living concerns of residents. Likewise, Hill posted a Facebook reel with Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, highlighting
and featuring the video by the journalist.
He also posted a Sky News interview of Safi. Safi said that “everyone (that) runs a small business struggles, and to the best of their ability, runs a successful business, creates jobs, employment, and I’ve done my best”.
Immediately after, it switches to Hill, who, in the same context, said that “as my mum used to say, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.
The short feature touched on Safi’s overall qualifications, where they showed his LinkedIn profile page, touching on his Monash University
degree that was allegedly finished in 2016, and his name not showing on the university’s graduate search page.
“I haven’t faked any qualification, what we see on LinkedIn, that’s what I put when I started my qualification with Monash and updated that,” Safi said.
“After that, I lost access to my LinkedIn until today.”
Hill also posted a photo of Safi that was captioned as ‘missing’, and stating “please report him to media, he’s got questions to answer’.
Before The Age broke the news, Safi was previously under fire after an article from The Guardian detailed that he was listed as a co-author on a 2021 Senate submission that suggested the Hazara community in Afghanistan was not persecuted on the basis of their ethnicity.
Neighbouring Liberal LaTrobe MP, Jason Wood, came to his defence then, saying that “his input into the report was on a health aspect”.
“There’s no way that he or anyone at the Liberal Party has the same view (as the report on downplaying Hazara genocide),” he said.
The calculated estimate margin for the Bruce electorate currently stands at 5.3 per cent, and despite Safi’s tumultuous situation, it’s still within reach, and could be a threat to Hill, who’s held the seat since 2016.
A social-media meme of Bruce candidate Zahid Safi and Star News reporter Sahar Foladi’s encounter captured more than 49,000 views. (Facebook)
Bruce incumbent and Labor candidate Julian Hill announced that a re-elected Labor government would contribute $420,000 towards the expansion of the Abu Talib Community Centre in Hallam. (Supplied)
Greens candidate for Bruce Rhonda Garad said the Greens would push for $20 million to establish a multipurpose Hazara Community Centre in the South East. (Gary Sissons: 432339)
Greens candidate for Holt Payal Tiwari questioned why Labor Bruce MP Julian Hill hadn’t allocated the funding for the Hazara community’s Abu Talib Community Centre any time before this election period. (Supplied)
Youthquake in the election
By Ethan Benedicto
A recent report from Monash University revealed that the upcoming 2025 Federal Election has Millennial and Gen Z voters outnumbering their Boomer counterparts at the polls.
Published by the university’s Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP), it revealed that younger voters have housing and employment at the forefront of their minds.
This is closely followed by climate change, inequality and health when casting their votes.
CYPEP director and Monash School of Education, Culture and Society, Professor Lucas Walsh, said that these findings could help decide the electoral future of many hopeful federal election candidates.
“This election is the first where Gen Z and Millennials will make up a formidable percentage of voters in every Australian state and territory,” he said.
“This is a critical moment in time because such a significant change in the electoral demographic brings with it a shift in the issues we see deciding elections.”
With ‘Five top issues for young voters in the 2025 Federal Election: Insights from the Australian Youth Barometer’ showing that three in four voters aged under 24 want immediate action on affordable housing, 16-year-old Austin Borutta from Berwick could not agree more.
When asked if more youthful voices being heard during the election season is beneficial, Austin said “absolutely”.
“I think that youth councils, whether it’s something that I’m part of or other young voters out there, they get a bit more say in politics now because they’ve reached that age where they can contribute.
“We can start to see that young people are going out and being politically active and getting involved in events, or just trying to make themselves heard.
“Especially with that youth voice because it’s such an important thing, and I think it’s getting to the point now where we have that platform, and
we can kind of have that say,” he said.
As one of the leaders of Casey’s Youth Action Committee, Austin has a fair share of experience when it comes to developing and leading projects that are deemed critical to Casey’s youth, as well as constantly collaborating with like-minded peers.
“The reason I joined the committee is for teen mental health, and it’s the biggest thing that I want to contribute to,” Austin said.
“And of course there are other things that have really impacted me, such as safety and yes, housing, because have you seen the cost of housing? It’s actually worrying.
“I’ve spoken to friends and family, and it’s more common for these houses to be in the millions - and of course, there’s uni debt that I and
others would have to worry about.”
The figures from the ‘Five top issues’ report, which stems from the Australian Youth Barometer, surveyed at least 500 Australians aged 18 to 24 and interviewed 30 more individuals.
In Monash’s report, it was detailed that 31 per cent thought that it was likely, or extremely likely, that they would be able to afford a comfortable place to live in the next 12 months.
While thinking of the future, 60 per cent said that they felt it was likely or very likely for them to live in a comfortable home, but slightly less than half - 48 per cent - thought it very likely that they would be able to purchase a property or home to begin with.
Likewise, 39 per cent thought that there wasn’t enough government support for housing.
“I think there are more younger people who are motivated by their circumstances, whether they’re seeing those problems in the community, or mental health,” Austin said.
“They see people suffering from that, and they also see that when you go to Cole’s and whatnot, and try to get a Big M, it’ll be six bucks upwards.
“And just to see some of the prices - there’s no change for a $50 any more, you know?
“So I think that impacts people to go out and be a part of something, whether that’s voting or getting involved in events that directly affect them, and just to be that voice.”
While still in high school, Austin has his sights set on studying law for higher education and, combined with his time on the committee, is dedicated to making an impact.
Professor Walsh said that the next generation of voters has grown up in a more tumultuous and dynamic political environment as compared to previous generations, therefore resulting in different expectations for their elected representatives.
“Young people today are not the same rustedon, partisan voters their parents and grandparents have been, so the proposition from politicians must be different,” he said.
“Politicians beware: Millennials and Gen Z voters will make their decisions on the issues they are seeing affecting their community, rather than the colour of the shirts the candidates are wearing.”
For Austin, leading the path to being that young voice on bigger platforms means “it’s important to start small”.
“It could just be, you know, being an upstanding person in your community, an upstanding person in your school, going for those leadership roles that places like the council offer - all those little decisions.
“Everything you do in the meantime, leading up to going for those (bigger) positions, whether in parliament or local council, can improve the community, so I think those small steps are important.”
Talking election: Voting cards and Bruce insights
By Ethan Benedicto
With the election just days away, candidates and MPs are out in droves in their electorates, as their party’s how-to-vote cards tell a preferential story.
HTV cards have been a long-known strategy used by parties to influence the people’s voting order to tip in their favour, with preference deals and minor parties using them as a strategic foothold.
According to the Australian Election Study (AES) findings, the 1996 Federal Election saw 56 per cent of voters following the HTV cards, while in the 2022 election, this declined to 31 per cent.
Both major parties have some drastic differences in preferences, which are detailed below.
The Labor Party’s cards in Bruce have the Greens with Rhonda Garad second, Legalise Cannabis third, and the Libertarians fourth.
Liberals are in the fifth spot, Trumpet of Patriots, Family First and One Nation following respectively.
As for the Liberal Party, Family First’s Wendy Birchall takes second preference and the Libertarians’ Christine Skrobo at third.
Legalise Cannabis is fourth, One Nation at fifth, Labor’s Julian Hill at sixth, Trumpet of Pa-
triots at seventh, and the Greens at eighth. Minor parties have Labor positioned either at second - Legalise Cannabis and Greens - or farther below at sixth, seventh and eighth - in order of Liberals, One Nation and Libertarians, and Trumpet of Patriots.
These same minor parties have the Liberals at fifth, except for the Greens, which have the party at eighth, and the Trumpet of Patriots, which has them at seventh.
According to the ABC’s coverage of the 2022 Bruce electorate preferential flow, the Greens, which saw 9.7 per cent of primary votes, had 80.9 per cent of their votes go to Labor, while only 19.1 went to the Liberals.
On the other hand, the parties of United Australia, Liberal Democrats and One Nation, respectively, had 60 per cent, 62.5 per cent, and 60.9 per cent of their votes go to the Liberals.
This is in comparison to - again, respectively - 40 per cent, 37.5 per cent and 39.1 per cent to Labor.
In total, Labor edged the Liberals out with a
53.5 per cent favour, as compared to the Liberals’ 46.5 per cent.
Covered by The Guardian, the seat of Macnamara, which extends as far west as Port Melbourne, north to Docklands and Southbank, and southeast to Caulfield East, is said to be one of the more integral seats for the upcoming election.
In 2022, Labor, Liberal and Greens candidates polled almost the same first-preference votes, which led to another round of counting that saw the Greens come third, which led to Labor winning the seat with a 12.2 per cent margin.
Labor’s Julian Hill has been the electorate’s MP since 2016, and with the area a stronghold since 1996, he remains confident in retaining his seat.
As it stands, Labor holds the seat with a 5.3 per cent margin, with Zahid Safi and the Liberals, despite the candidates’ allegation about his small businesses, looking to topple the area back into their hands.
Accused hit-run driver allegedly already on bail
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man accused of an alleged car theft and hitand-run at Casey Hospital on 23 April had been allegedly on bail at the time, according to police charge sheets.
Adam Barry, 25, of no fixed address, was arrested in Pioneer Bay that afternoon with the allegedly stolen vehicle recovered nearby, police say.
Barry did not apply for bail in a short hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court the following day (24 April).
A defence lawyer told the court that Barry had sustained injuries – a bleeding forehead, a hurt left hand and cut right wrist as well as a headache. He was diagnosed with ADHD, autism and
depression, receiving anti-psychotic medications and was at risk of self-harm, the court heard.
According to police, a 66-year-old woman was accompanying her husband from their Ford Territory to the hospital’s entrance about 11.20am on 23 April.
Barry allegedly got in the vehicle, and struck the woman as she tried to stop him driving away.
She was taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition. The next day her condition improved to stable and serious.
According to police charge sheets, Barry had been on bail and allegedly breached a bail condition not to drive a vehicle at the time of offending.
He faces charges including car theft, dangerous driving causing serious injury, unlicensed
driving, reckless conduct endangering life, failing to render assistance, and disqualified driving.
A police prosecutor told the court he wouldn’t seek to uplift the matter to a higher court.
Barry was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 12 May.
A Monash Health spokesperson said that the incident that occurred outside of Casey Hospital, “a place of care and healing, was horrific and devastating”.
“Our hearts are with the victim and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and we wish her strength and a swift recovery.
“Monash Health continues to support Victoria Police, who have done an outstanding job, in their investigation.”
Austin Borutta, one of the many members of Casey’s Youth Action Committee, sees great importance in having younger voices in the upcoming federal election. (Ethan Benedicto: 474026)
voting still in process as the Federal Election looms in on May 3. (On File)
Casey Hospital - the scene of an alleged car theft and hit-run that left a 66-year-old woman critically injured.
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Casey’s tireless volunteer
By Violet Li
Volunteer Anthony Hanna winning the Casey Citizen of the Year felt almost inevitable, even though he has still been too humble to believe it to this day.
The Cranbourne local received the 2025 award about two weeks ago at a gala celebration at Bunjil Place for his “generosity and dedication through the voluntary work at Vinnies across three locations”, and his “deep commitment to community safety and education in his roles with Neighbour Watch Casey, Merinda Park Learning Centre, and JRN Community Housing”.
For anyone who passes by the Cranbourne Vinnies, Anthony is a familiar face. He’s there from Thursday to Saturday. On the other days of the week, he works hard at other Vinnies across the South East and community organisations. For him, every week is giving back to the community.
“My life changed ever since my father passed away,” he said.
This year is Anthony’s 15th year with Vinnies. He originally started at the Dandenong branch, moved around, and eventually settled in his hometown branch, where he volunteered during high school.
When asked what made him stay and continue, he said it was the love and greatness of the community. Every day, he is awed by how people can come together as one in times of need.
He’s also encouraging people to join him in this demanding time.
“On Saturdays, I do things like wearing a wig. I’ll wear a hat. I’ll wear something funny just to draw the people in,” he said.
“And then when they’re here, I talk to them, it’s an interactive environment and things like that.
“It’s a learning experience.”
“His role was to help the community, and I took that to the next level.
“Just helping the community where possible.”
Anthony recalled how baffled he was at the award ceremony.
“When I got nominated, I’m sitting there thinking, oh, maybe I better write something up
quickly while I was sitting there,” he said.
But he didn’t end up writing anything. He couldn’t think at the time.
In a flash, he decided to speak from the heart, and that was it.
He walked up to the stage and thanked everyone first.
“Just accept this on behalf of all of you guys. You guys are the ones who deserve this nominee,” he addressed the public.
“I’ve always believed that building a strong community starts with showing up, leading hands together as one. We all work together. We all come together. We all make things work together.
“Today, I’m receiving this award on behalf of my father, who passed away since 10 years ago. I do what I do because I love giving back to the community.
“It’s a great time for everybody to unite as one. It’s a great place for everybody to work together.”
Over half a century of educating, Henry calls time
By Ethan Benedicto
Principal of the Berwick Lodge Primary School for just over 35 years and a stalwart voice in the educational field, Henry Grossek has recently retired, leaving behind him a powerful legacy of knowledge.
Three years prior, in 2022, the Victorian State Government recognised Henry for his 55 years in education, with the field having been his passion for as long as he could remember.
Working and being part of the field for so long, and now stepping away from it, Henry is filled with nothing but “pride and humility”.
“I’m very proud to have been part of the Victorian public education system for over five decades,” he said.
“I believe strongly in public education, and to have been a member of that system of which I was a product myself has been an honour.
“I believe that the strength of Australia, or any country, resides more in its public education system than it does in any other system.”
In a bid to farewell Henry, the primary school held a small yet meaningful send-off that turned out to be “more emotional” than he had originally thought, with some of the children recounting that it was something they would remember him by.
Speaking to parents, staff and the students, Henry felt in the air the essence that “people were both very grateful for the work I’ve done but also sad to see me go”, and it was something that “resonated with me”.
At the age of 76, Henry is looking forward to some downtime, however, this doesn’t mean that education has left the forefront of his mind, if that even were a possibility.
Aside from his role as a principal, he is the host of a podcast talk show called Viewpoints
public education, has retired, after 55 years in the education
with Henry Grossek, where, alongside guests, he engages in conversation and interviews with figures in news, education, publishing, academia and more.
He is also one of three authors of a chil-
dren’s book titled Hettie and Harry’s Forest Adventure, and has another, more adult education-centric project underway.
When asked what he loved most about teaching, he said that there are more things
that he could count, and many cliches that he could touch on, which aren’t necessarily wrong.
“There’s providing children with an opportunity to realise their dreams, working with staff, all of those things - they’re valuable,” he said.
Touching on his own experience of his family’s migration from Europe in the 1950s, the sentiment that had been ingrained in him that “I am a migrant” made it abundantly clear that “education is the key to opportunity” and while it “doesn’t guarantee anything, it gives you hope”.
Henry recalled that back then, and much like today, children preferred playing sports, and he was one of them.
He called athletic proficiency in these sports the “entree to Australian society”, especially in the country town where he grew up.
“But the bottom line that was fed to a lot of us migrant kids was that we’ve got an opportunity in this country, so don’t waste it,” he said.
“Go to school, learn, and that will give you opportunities, and I did that, I went to university, got three degrees, and ended up in the education system.
“Ultimately, this goes back to my public education passion, and for public education, we all need hope; it’s the basis of human survival.”
In the grand scheme of things, according to Henry, two things matter in life: that is love and hope; and for him, there is a great satisfaction in his work in the way that it gives people, especially children, to “live the sort of life which they dream”.
Henry Grossek, long-time principal of Berwick Lodge Primary School, and a strong advocate for
sector. (Stewart Chambers: 206312)
Cranbourne local and volunteer Anthony Hanna won the Casey Citizen of the Year 2025. The assistant manager of Cranbourne Vinnies is always on his way to give back to the community. (Violet Li: 474979)
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Proud day in Berwick
By Ethan Benedicto
A day of solemn remembrance and commemoration, the Anzac Day service at Berwick High Street was filled with people from all walks of life, their hearts filled with gratitude and honour to those who served the country.
A yearly tradition, the morning began at 10:40am with a march from the Berwick RSL to the cenotaph at High Street.
This time, however, a total of five trucks, two World War-era transport jeeps and three modern-era military utility vehicles accompanied and led the march.
Following them were cadet flag bearers, with their heads held high and then, followed the veterans, RSL members, SES officers and a number of local schools.
Their march continued well into High Street, with the autumn leaves blowing into the wind, and the rounds of applause echoing throughout the buildings.
Rows of veterans took the seats in front of the cenotaph, as members of parliament and local councillors also attended the event.
The City of Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen, said that while he has been a regular attendee of Anzac Day services, this was the first as the city’s mayor.
“It’s great to be here in this capacity, on behalf of the City of Casey,” he said.
He added that it was amazing to see “record crowds” in Berwick, and it is a fine example of the level of importance that the day signifies for the local people.
“This is a very important occasion for our community, so to have representatives here, from parliament to council, just shows the strength and importance of this day.
“I think it’s vital that we recognise this day because it’s something that we need to treasure, and it’s important to our values as a country,” he said.
The service began at 11am sharp, and with introductions underway, this was soon followed by a prayer to honour those who gave their lives for the country.
Pam Phillips, president of the Berwick RSL,
delivered a moving speech and addressed the significance of Anzac Day, touching on important coming days such as the 75th anniversary of the Korean War and the coming May 8 anniversary of the end of the European Theatre in World War 2.
After a moment of silence, wreaths were then laid at the base of the cenotaph, which began with Phillips, then followed by relatives of veteran Bill Rogers, then local MPs such as Berwick MP Brad Battin, LaTrobe MP Jason Wood, Bruce MP Julian Hill and Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas.
In addition to Stefan Koomen, Akoonah Ward Councillor Scott Dowling and Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambrose were also present, where after them, came representatives from Victoria Police, SES and the local Berwick fire brigade.
Battin spoke on the significance that a strong community spirit means for a day like Anzac Day, where he said that “every year I come to Berwick, there are new people here, new communities here”.
“It’s just amazing to see everyone getting behind the one message, which is simply about how
proud we are of Australia, the freedoms we have, and how we have to thank those who gave that to us,” he said.
After all the wreaths were laid, Phillips once more took the stage and recited the ode to the fallen, followed soon after by a sombre Last Post and a minute of silence.
Behind the cenotaph, behind the flags that flapped in the dappled sunlight, were five men, dressed in Anzac uniforms and carrying with them Lee Enfield rifles that fired three blank volleys into the air after the silence.
Bruce MP Julian Hill said that there is an incredible importance that the message of Anzac “gets passed from generation to generation”.
“As we see here in community-based services like this right around the country as well, Anzac Day is not about glorifying war, it’s about respecting and honouring the service of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives.
“But it’s also those men and women who’ve worn our nation’s uniforms, be it in times of conflict or in peacekeeping missions around the
world,” he said.
LaTrobe MP, Jason Wood, accompanied by Bruce candidate Zahid Safi, said that one of the best things he has seen throughout the years has been the kids, “singing and of course, the wider, multicultural community who showed up”.
“It means a lot, and in wars gone past, our allies have been from all over the world, so this is a great way of remembering those who have served, died, and their families.”
Safi said that the “sacrifices made by men and women were for our freedom”.
“Today, what we have here is because of them, and I’m glad to see the young generation, the kids, the families here, honouring their sacrifice,” he said.
After the blank shots were fired, both the Australian and New Zealand national anthems were played and sung by the crowd.
Soon after, the service came to a close at 11:30am sharp, with the remaining public, from the veterans to attending MPs and councillors, returning to the RSL for food and refreshments.
Ray Heathcote also brought a wreath to the cenotaph. (Rob Carew: 473721_27)
Berwick MP and State Opposition Leader Brad Battin laid a wreath. (Rob Carew: 473721_09)
Men donning First World War Anzac uniforms also took part in the march, their Mk III Lee Enfield rifles resting on their shoulders. (Rob Carew: 473721_10)
Berwick RSL President Pam Phillips was the first to lay a wreath at the cenotaph. (Rob Carew: 473721_05)
From left to right, Berwick RSL President Pam Phillips, Reverend Elwyn Sparks, and Terry Sparks. (Rob Carew: 473721_23)
The Firing Party fired three blank rounds, as the rest of the crowd stood in solemn silence. (Rob Carew: 473721_01)
Keep local news strong!
Dear readers,
This federal election, more than 240 independent local newspapers across Australia will do what tech giants and capital city media won’t - shine a light on the issues that matter to your town, your family, your future.
Our journalists live in your communities.
They tell your stories, champion your voices, and celebrate what makes your region unique.
But while we work hard to inform anduplift regional Australians, federal government advertising spend in local news has dropped significantly.
Instead, millions are funnelled to tech giants like Google and Facebook — platforms that don’t employ local journalists, don’t publish local stories, and are often home to misinformation and unchecked content.
We’re not asking for more spending.
We’re simply asking for fairness - for regional communities to get their fair share.
In fact, while the government continues to pour its advertising funds into digital and metro platforms, it recently announced just $3 million per year over two years of advertising spend in regional newspapers through the News Map program — a tiny fraction of what was historically spent and far less than what goes to social and digital media.
That money still hasn’tbeen delivered. And even if it is, it falls well short of what’s needed to ensure local news survives and thrives.
Meanwhile, our local newsrooms remain dedicated to reporting during fires, floods, and emergencies; holding councils, candidates, and institutions accountable; covering school events, sports, and community milestones.
Providing accurate, fact-checked journalism — not clickbait or conspiracy theories.
We are the first to show up when your community needs a voice. But we’re being shut out of the conversation.
The Victorian Government has already taken action, mandating at least one page per week of advertising in every local paper - a smart, simple policy that helps protect local jobs, journalism, and democracy.
Now it’s time for Canberra to do the same.
Our independent papers employ hundreds of journalists and publish tens of thousands of stories each year. We hold local candidates to account and ensure every voice has a platform.
This election, stand with local news. Stand with your community. Ask your candidates:
Will you commit to fair, equitable funding for local news? Will you ensure regional voices are not left behind?
Because when you support local journalism, you support a stronger, more connected Australia.
Andrew Schreyer President, CPA
Matthew’s efforts awarded
By Ethan Benedicto
Being active has been a part of Matthew James Young’s daily routine for as long as he can remember, and with that, he thought, why not add a special layer to his activities?
Matthew was recently awarded the City of Casey’s Young Citizen of the Year Award for his dedication to sports and charity, having raised nearly $20,000 for children’s cancer research.
Star News spoke to Matthew, and when asked what led him down the path of giving back, he said it happened during the pandemic lockdowns, and “I wanted something to do”.
“At that point, I just lost my grandfather to cancer, and I wanted to give back to a charity of some sort.
“So, I looked online and I wanted to do something active, and the charity was holding an event in October, and there was a bike riding challenge to raise money for kids with cancer, so I said, yeah, I’ll do that with a friend.”
Matthew rode for the Great Cycle Challenge, an event which he looks forward to, once more, taking part in later this year.
Tracking back to 2024, Matthew, alongside one of his friends, decided that Port Phillip Bay needed to be conquered.
From Melbourne, they cycled to Geelong on the first day, took the ferry and then cycled back up to Melbourne on the second day.
“I had a little backpack of necessities, but I didn’t really train for it, not much,” Matthew said.
“Maybe I went out for a bike or two before, but that was it; but I was like, I’m gonna do this.”
That, however, was simply the start of it.
While the two friends, along the way, got in touch with charities and other families for donations to the charities, Matthew wanted to go bigger.
“I wanted to do something that sounded crazy, something I knew would be a challenge for but also making it worth it,” he said.
“People are going to notice and see that, oh, he’s riding around Cranbourne, that’s good, here’s some money.
“But riding from Melbourne to Adelaide? That’s insane, but that’s why I wanted to do something that people would actually look at.”
His mind was already set, a - give or take - 10hour drive, nearly 1000 kilometres, and over two days of non-stop cycling.
It was a challenge that Matthew took on, something that took him over six and a half days, but something that was ultimately gratifying.
“It took me around six and a half days, I planned for a week, but I got to the last stop and I
just couldn’t,” he said.
“It was a massive (last) day going over the Adelaide Hills, and we got to Adelaide around 10pm.
”My stepdad was with me, he was the support crew in the car, but it was hard - day one was okay since I had some adrenaline, but every single day after that I couldn’t go an hour straight without falling over on the side of the road and having cramps.”
When asked why he wanted to give back, and why he did what he did, all he had to say was, “if we’re doing stuff we enjoy, why can’t we also help other people?”
“I can do something I like, but I can also help someone else, and you do it with the community.
“I do so many different sports and I’ve got so many people I talk to, so it might just motivate one or two people to go out there and maybe raise funds too.”
The most notable memory Matthew held during the trip was the pillow that he duct taped to his bike seat in an attempt to make it more comfortable.
While it did nothing to help, it attracted more
than enough looks and gazes from passersby and locals in the towns he went through.
“I couldn’t have done it without the local communities along the way,” he said.
“Each night, I had people who would sponsor me, my mum reached out to local people, businesses; these people would give us a room for the night, some people made dinners for us.
“The community spirit along the way, the way people were looking after us, was really inspiring.”
More recently, during the night of the awards, Matthew was still reeling from the fact that he had been nominated in the first place.
Recalling the thoughts going through his mind, he didn’t “think I was going to win - I saw so many more people out there that do better than me”.
But his name was called, and when he went on stage, everything “was a blur”.
On the continuous progress of the funds raised, Matthew said that for the first two years, it gradually grew from $700 to $2000, but it was in 2024 when it took a leap, when his trip to Adelaide gained traction.
Chanchal is Casey Woman of the Year
By Violet Li
Chanchal Kumavat, founder and director of the local community organisation Saati MAA, was awarded the 2025 Casey Woman of the Year.
The nomination statement describes her as “a vibrant community leader” whose “dedication to social change” has uplifted thousands and earned multiple awards for volunteerism and empowerment — a fitting tribute to her impact.
Saati, a Hindi word that means “companion”, reflects everything Chanchal wants to give back to her community: support, connection, and socialisation.
MAA stands for Multicultural Association of Australia, but also means “mother” in Hindi, symbolising Chanchal’s beautiful wish to nurture her community and get people come out of the negativity and the unwanted situations.
Initially, the organisation only helped women in need, but after almost a decade of operation, Chanchal realised it was not just about the women. It’s more about the human beings. Now, the organisation has extended its helping hands to men as well. The door opens wide to anyone, no matter age, gender, or culture.
The organisation gives platforms to newcomers, single mothers, domestic violence victims, budding entrepreneurs, and those in need. The first step is always to build trust, then Chanchal and her teams work on resolving the problems pragmatically, doing everything they can to help people stand on their own feet, from finding a shared house to securing a job opportunity.
In addition to offering individualised help, the organisation holds regular get-togethers, including food and tea parties, mental and physi-
cal well-being lectures, speaker sessions, senior citizen programs, and camping trips.
Every component of the organisation hides Chanchal’s lifelong philosophies.
Originally from India, Chanchal came to Australia almost 15 years ago. Before going down under, she lived in the UK for three years and in America for five years. Stepping onto Australia and walking around the neighbourhood, she knew immediately this was the place she wanted to be, a gut feeling.
“I love Australia because it’s cosmopolitan. It gives opportunities to all the communities in the same way, like India. There are always so many religions in India, so many communities. Australia is like one of those,” Chanchal said.
“That’s why I thought, okay, we have to make this home.
“But we have to be healthy.”
By healthy, Chanchal meant both physically and mentally. Having lived overseas for almost a decade, she understood the difficulties facing the migrant communities: food, culture, faith, and socialisation.
While food and faith have found footing, socialisation and cultural belonging remain pressing gaps.
“We are holding the two cultures. One we carried forward from our home countries, and one we are living in. We are caught up with that, so we always teach ‘humanity first’ to our children,” Chanchal said.
“Doesn’t matter who is who. What matters is how you treat them. If you treat them good, you will get good things.
“Humanity is first. Everything is the rest. We humans are the same. Skin is different. Diet is different. Food is different. Culture is different. Worship is different. But one thing is the same, the blood colour.”
“Socialisation is the biggest problem here,” Chanchal said.
“My association is doing small get-togethers. They get socialisation. They make friends. They make another family, a family of friends.
“They started helping each other. They start to believe in each other, and they start to cel-
Throughout October last year, before the trip, Matthew “was reaching out, for countless hours tro companies for donations”.
“I would say that I would promote their page, run their raffles, things like that; I also had my niece and nephew help with selling tickets, and it just went up bit by bit,” Matthew said.
Holly, Matthew’s mum, said that she’s never been more proud.
“The achievements, he inspires me, and it’s not just about the bike rides and the charity and the money, it’s the type of person he’s turned into,” she said.
“He’s a great kid all around, and the charity runs that he does on Saturday mornings, all the things where he’s constantly just putting himself out there and getting recognition.”
The journey to Sydney later this year will also take place in October, and under the same charity and endeavour, where this time, he might just put some thought into training a little bit.
“I’m always motivated to go bigger and better, but the award is a big achievement, and I’m very grateful for it,” Matthew said.
ebrate each other. That’s the good connection within the community.”
The latest Casey Woman of the Year award has given Chanchal more strength to approach and help more people. She felt it was a big responsibility for her to do more community work.
“For me as a finalist, when I entered the Bunjil place for the award night and I saw so many women, so many men, and so many people doing a very good job in their faculty and their community work, I’m very humbled and have very deep gratitude,” Chanchal said.
“I’m one of them. That is also a big achievement. And for me, everyone is an achiever because everybody is doing something for good community work.”
As she embraced greater responsibilities, Chanchal also looked back, believing that volunteerism was in her blood.
“When I was young, in Grade 6, I started to learn the martial arts and horse riding. I came to know most girls were not doing anything like those because thirty-five years back, it was a struggle for the girls to do something like that,” she recalled.
“So, when I was in Grade Ten, I started to give the training to the girls, the martial arts training, free of cost. They can also stand out in the end, and they have the confidence.
“So I’m trying to nurture my community, to get the healthy connections and help them recognise their inner strength.
“We are doing for healing. When I see the smile on their face and when I see they have come out from those bad situations, that heals me as well.”
Chanchal Kumavat, founder and director of the local community organisation Saati MAA, was awarded the 2025 Casey Woman of the Year. (Stewart Chambers: 473993)
Matthew James Young won the City of Casey’s Young Citizen of the Year Award for his efforts and contributions to local sports and charity, raising nearly $20,000 for kids’ cancer research. (Ethan Benedicto: 474792)
Planting in remembrance
By Sahar Foladi
A passionate yet humble Endeavour Hills gardening enthusiast Thi Lien Phan has secured the Best First Year award at the Victoria in Blooms competition 2024-25.
Ms Phan gives credit to her parents who were gardening enthusiast themselves, who taught her the tips and tricks of gardening so she can work independently, before both passed away.
Now her garden has become the remembering place for her parents and where she prays for them.
“In my country Vietnam, my parents had a big garden so when they came here they were sad because there were no garden or flowers.
“They asked me why don’t we plant, I said this is government housing look around none of the house have any flowers but my mum said it’s the government house but we can make the house very beautiful.
“At that time I was young, my parents told me come have a look so you can learn and later you can plant for yourself,” she said.
“Sometimes I pray for my parents and remember my parents because of them I know how to do gardening and continue it.”
The trio would plant flowers, maintain their garden for their hard work to be paid off by complimenting visitors at the house.
She was taught to water the plants early in the morning during summer before the sun shines on the flowers to ensure the water is fully absorbed before it evaporates due to heat and wind.
Ms Phan now in her 70’s is a single mother to three children who sponsored her parents to Australia to help care for her son with autism, psoriasis and diabetes.
Now, she passes on her wealth of knowledge about flowers and gardening down to her daughters who question their mother on the topic.
“Sometimes they come home asking question about something they’re not sure or don’t know and because I learnt from my mum so I teach them as well.”
BUSINESS PROFILE
She has lived in her Endeavour Hills residence for 36 years now, full of memories.
She never imagined to be awarded for something she loves to do so passionately.
“I am very happy because it’s the first time I got appreciation or award from Housing Victoria.
“I never believed that I can get an award.”
The competition recognises and rewards the great works of the likes of Ms Phan living in public and or community housing, a thankful gesture for their hard work caring and maintaining beautiful gardens.
Her passion has also unlocked another rewarding act-a formation of Church goers who take turns to arrange flowers for the altar.
Flower arrangement for the Church is some-
It’s time to unlock the future of AI
Unlocking the Future: Join Steve Sammartino at the Cardinia Business Breakfast
Cardinia Shire Council’s upcoming Business Breakfast “Embracing AI: Small Steps, Big Impact for Your Business” will feature renowned futurist Steve Sammartino. Known for his energy and humour, Steve captivates audiences with his insights into technology’s future and its impact on business and society.
Be part of this transformative event on Wednesday 14 May, 2025 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham!
Steve’s journey into technology began at age 10. Today, he is a globally recognised AI expert, making complex concepts accessible. His latest
venture, Macro3D, has achieved the remarkable feat of 3D printing a house, and he is now working on building the world’s first home constructed entirely by AI.
An accomplished author, Steve has written three best-selling books and hosts the popular TV show “The Rebound” on Channel 9. His viral videos, including the drivable Lego Car, have collected over 100 million views.
At the business breakfast, Steve will share thought-provoking quotes like, “We now all have a PhD in every subject” and “AI favours the small – those who can move fast and experiment.” He encourages embracing AI, stating, “Don’t be scared, be involved and you’ll see
Head
how easy it is.”
Steve’s vision is a future where AI and humans work together seamlessly, transforming our capabilities. As he puts it, “We are about to go from Search Engines to Creation Engines.”
The Cardinia Business Breakfast with Steve Sammartino is an unmissable opportunity to glimpse the future and harness the power of AI in your ventures.
The event is proudly supported by Star News Group as the media partner, and the Cardinia Foundation is the charity of choice.
Secure your tickets at https://www.trybooking.com/CZKYC
Now, the group of five take weekly turns to do the job.
Ms Phan has a variety of different flowers depending on the season, currently Begonia, red and green dragon flowers, Christmas cactus and Begonia Foliosa can be found.
9:30am - 11:00am | Berwick, Officer and
Unlocking the Future: Join Steve Sammartino at the Cardinia Business Breakfast.
thing Ms Phan says she has been doing for three decades when she found out the Church had no flowers placed on the altar.
A very delicate Begonia Foliosa from Ms Phan’s garden. (ROB CAREW: 473401)
A beautiful two coloured Christmas Cactus shown by the planter Thi Lien Phan. (ROB CAREW: 473401)
The Best First Year garden award winner at Victoria in Bloom, Thi Lien Phan stands next to her Begonia flower. (ROB CAREW: 473401)
Give mum the taste of Italy as a Mother’s Day treat Some gift ideas
The team at Lazy Frog Gifts have a beautiful range of gifts for you to choose from this Mother’s Day.
Now stocking women’s fashions. Prices to suit all budgets, with beautiful Mother’s Day cards also available.
Find us at: lazyfroggifts.com.au Lazy Frog is located at 109 Main Street, Pakenham (next to the post office) and is open Monday to Friday 9am till 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 3pm.
If you have any queries phone 5941 2225 we are here to help. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
may not be able to
Give mum a gift from the heart this Mother’s Day, with a homemade treat she’ll remember forever! You may not be able to fly your mum to Italy for Mother’s Day, but you can bake her up a treat that’s the next best thing!
After you’ve treated mum to a day out in one of the Yarra Valley’s exceptional restraunts, cafes or hotels, serve up these traditional almond-flavoured Amaretti biscuits with a sweet desert or bowl of ice-cream and show mum just how much you love her ... and she’ll love you for saying ‘ti amo Mamma’ - Italian for ‘I love you Mum’ in your own special way!
Amaretti ingredients:
· 125g ground almonds
· 1 cup sugar
· 2 egg whites
· 1/2 tsp vanilla
· 2 drops almond essence
· 20 blanched almonds
Method:
1. Combine ground almonds, sugar, egg
whites, vanilla and almond essence in a mixing bowl.
2. Beat mixture with electric whisk on medium speed for about three minutes.
3. Let mixture rest for five minutes while you prepare baking trays with nonstick baking paper and pre-heat oven to 180C.
4. Spoon mixture into a piping bag with a 1cm plain tube.
5. Pipe mixture onto the baking paper in a circular motion to form a biscuit.
6. Place one blanched almond on top of each biscuit and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until tops are lightly brown.
7. Remove from the oven, leave to cool for a few minutes before placing on a wire rack for further cooling.
Makes 20 biscuits.
Recipe courtesy of the Australian Egg Corporation
Lazy Frog we have you
and browse through our great selection. Something for every budget.
Choose the ideal gift for Mother’s Day at Lazy Frog Gifts.
You
fly your mum to Italy for Mother’s Day, but you can bake her up Amaretti biscuits and that’s the next best thing!
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.
re-live all the fabulous
from
hitmakers themselves – Little
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.
Spoil mum with her favourite treats on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to show your appreciation by treating your mum to something truly special — and what better way than with delicious food?
Whether you opt for breakfast in bed, a luxurious brunch, an elegant afternoon tea, or a beautifully prepared dinner, the effort and love you put into creating a memorable meal will mean the world to her.
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Breakfast in Bed
Start her day with a tray full of her favourite breakfast items. Freshly baked croissants or pastries, a bowl of mixed berries, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice make for a light but indulgent option. If she prefers something heartier, homemade pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries, or a classic eggs Benedict, would be a real treat. Don’t forget a good cup of coffee or a pot of her favorite tea to complete the experience.
Elegant Brunch
If a late morning meal suits your plans, an elegant brunch can be a wonderful way to cele-
brate. Think smoked salmon bagels with cream cheese and dill, a colorful frittata loaded with vegetables, or a fluffy quiche Lorraine. Fresh fruit salads, yogurt parfaits with granola, and freshly baked muffins can add variety and color to the table. A Mimosa or Bellini (or a non-alcoholic sparkling juice) makes a festive touch that feels extra special.
Afternoon Tea
Spoil your mum with a homemade afternoon tea. Arrange a selection of delicate finger sandwiches — such as cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon and dill, or egg mayonnaise. Serve alongside scones with clotted cream and jam, mini cakes, macarons, and dainty pastries.
Brewing a pot of high-quality tea (Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or her favorite blend) and presenting everything on a pretty tiered stand will make it feel just like a luxury hotel experience at home.
Homemade Dinner
For a truly memorable evening, prepare a homemade dinner featuring her favorite dishes. Start with a light appetizer like a fresh Cap-
rese salad or a creamy mushroom soup. For the main course, dishes like roast chicken with garlic and herbs, pan-seared salmon with lemon butter sauce, or a rich vegetarian lasagna can be showstoppers. Pair the meal with a good wine if she enjoys it. Finish with a decadent dessert such as a chocolate lava cake, lemon tart, or a classic pavlova topped with fresh fruits.
Sweet Treats and Extras
Don’t forget the power of homemade sweet treats. Baking a batch of her favorite cookies, a moist carrot cake, or a luscious cheesecake can be the icing on the cake (literally). You could also create a small box of homemade truffles or chocolate-dipped strawberries as a gift.
No matter what you cook or bake, the key is to tailor the meal to what your mum loves most. Add thoughtful touches like a handwritten menu, a vase of fresh flowers, or a heartfelt card to make the meal even more special.
When it comes to spoiling Mum, it’s the love, time, and effort that truly count — and nothing says “I love you“ like a meal made with care.
In “The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, audiences will
original hits
the
Pattie, Digger Revell, Jade Hurley, Dinah Lee and Lucky Starr.
One of the appeals of an Asian holiday is an almost obligatory day trip to an island, even if the place you are staying at is actually on an island.
Such is the case in Bali where the islands of Nusa Penida, Lembongan and the Gillies are only a relatively short distance away.
Our holiday resort in Candidasa offered a great view of Nusa Penida so after several days of fine weather, we decide to book a day trip which would incorporate transfers from our resort to the boat, passage to the island, swimming with manta rays, lunch and some sight-seeing on the island – it sounded wonderful.
However, the best laid plans do often go astray and if there is one thing you should realise, never bank on the weather.
The day we booked, the weather was fine and hot, and our anticipation for the following day was high.
However, waking up on our trip day, we were confronted by rain and winds and rather than letting common sense prevail, we decided that “things might be better on the island” and went ahead.
Right from the outset, we should have realised this wasn’t going to be our day.
The man we booked with, Smiley, rang to apologise that he wouldn’t be able to be our guide as the winds had brought down trees near his house and he was sending his son, Putu along instead.
It rained the entire trip to the boat, a howling gale greeted us at the port and Putu was nowhere to be found at first but once located he and his girlfriend, who had never been to Penida, ushered us onto the boat and to our covered seats. This was Putu’s first time as a tour guide.
Despite the weather and choppy seas, the journey to Penida wasn’t too bad and things improved slightly when we arrived - but not for long. After we were transferred to the dive centre/resort for the mantra ray boat we were told the seas were too rough but we could go snorkelling near Nusa Lembongan.
Not ideal but we thought “OK let’s go” – that was until we saw the boat.
It was about seven metres long, only had a cover over the driver and about 20 people were being crammed on board. Add to that choppy water, driving rain and no shelter.
One look at my wife and I said “we’re not going on this”.
While disembarking, a wave lifted the back of the boat and I immediately lost my footing and fell backways into the water, only just managing to keep our backpack with our phones and wallets out of the briny.
I was drenched.
Fortunately, I had packed another T-shirt and after scrounging around the dive centre/resort, I found a towel and proceeded to dry myself as best I could, having to suffer the indignity of wearing wet shorts.
A phone call to Putu, via his dad, saw them return to pick us up – totally not on the planned schedule.
However, all was not lost and they suggested we head to some of the more famed tourist locations on Penida.
This is where our day started to come good.
Not only did we get to appreciate the skill of our driver negotiating roads that were essentially single lane being shared by multiple vehicles in both directions, but we saw a lot of the island’s interior, passing small villages, seeing agape farms providing the basic ingredient for tequila, and the eastern coastline featuring some fantastic scenery.
One of the stops was Broken Beach, where boats normally take people to see the manta rays off the coastline.
The seas were boiling and we completely understood why they had cancelled the trip.
It was fascinating to see so many tourists queuing up to have their guides take photos of them in key vantage spots.
The next stop was even more spectacular – Kelingking Beach – where a virtual goat track takes you from a cliff hundreds of metres above the beach to the water, if you are game
or fit enough.
What made this more challenging was quasicyclonic winds (actually the tail end of a cyclone that was near Australia) driving people to seek shelter wherever.
However, the sky cleared, allowing us to get some great shots of the headline and coast.
Having seen these attractions and feeling a little drier, we stopped for lunch (part of the package) before heading back to the port.
Arriving ahead of schedule, we had time to talk to Putu and his girlfriend over a few decent cocktails.
Another choppy boat trip back to Bali and then onto Smiley’s restaurant to sort things out.
He apologised profusely about the day and how it didn’t work out as planned and reduced the price while offering us free drinks.
The food at his restaurant (Wayung) was excellent and his hospitality and company was great way to end a mixed bag of a day.
Making the best of bad situation adds to the challenges of travelling and turning a negative into a positive makes it even more rewarding.
Just check the weather before you book anything.
BOB ANTHONY
The spectacular east coast of Nusa Penida near Kelingking Beach.
Broken Beach at Nusa Penida.
Kelingking Beach.
Not a great day for a boat trip.
Boarding the boat to Nusa Penida in a howling wind. (Bob Anthony)
The Angel Billabong near Broken Beach on Nusa Penida off Bali.
Cairo and the call of the Nile
The newest Nile River ship in the Viking family is almost ready to take its place in the fleet looking after guests who seek adventure on the magnificent Nile River in 2025.
The Viking Amun was ‘floated out’ earlier this month, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
It is due to sail in September 2025 and will join the company’s growing fleet of state-ofthe-art ships for the Nile River and will sail the cruise lines iconic 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary.
Viking CEO and chairman, Torstein Hagen said they were “very proud of our growing fleet in Egypt, which we consider to be by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile”.
“Egypt is one of the world’s most captivating destinations, and we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to this extraordinary region in the coming years,” he said.
It has been said of Egypt’s exhilarating capital, “he who has not seen Cairo has not seen the world”.
During the 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings.
Also included are excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colourful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school.
The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
Hosting only 82 guests in 41 staterooms, Viking Amun is inspired by the company’s award-winning river and ocean ships, with the signature Scandinavian design for which the ships are known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, Aton, Sobek and the Hathor, the Amun features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in Viking’s Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares.
In addition to the Amun, the company plans to welcome five new ships in Egypt in the next two years, which will bring the fleet to 12 vessels on the Nile River by 2027.
The traditional float-out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo and is significant because it marks the ship moving into its final stage of construction.
She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior buildout. For more information, please visit www. viking.com or call 138 747.
The Viking Amun will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River.
Staff readying the Viking Amun to join its sister ships on the Nile.
Discover More of Asia FOR LESS IN 2025
Are you planning your next 2025 ocean voyage? Explore Asia’s magnificent temples, immerse yourself in ancient cultural traditions and enjoy authentic regional cuisine. Sail with us and gain insights from knowledgeable local guides as you discover iconic cities and breathtaking natural wonders.Wherever it is that sparks your curiosity, you can enjoy savings of up to $15,800 per couple on selected 2025 Asia Viking voyages. Hurry, these offers are available on new bookings from 1 April 2025 until 30 June 2025
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Beijing (Tianjin) to Tokyo or vice versa
15 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 9 GUIDED TOURS
Hong
Surrounded by UNESCO-listed wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns is a haven for divers and explorers. Teeming with exotic fish and indigenous marine life, visiting the Great Barrier Reef whilst in port in Cairns is an unforgettable experience.
atmosphere welcomes you with open arms, exquisite personal service, divine cuisine, and unparalleled amenities, so all you have to do is sit back and relax.
21 Nights | 3 March 2026 | Prices fr $8,299pp
Experience Sydney’s views and embrace the warm Filipino hospitality with this Australasia and Pacific Islands voyage.
Your journey begins in Sydney, where you’ll embark Azamara’s newest ship, Azamara Onward. During an overnight in port, explore Sydney’s iconic landmarks, such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, before cruising around Australasia and the Pacific Islands. Highlights of your voyage include the UNESCO sites of Cairns and the breathtaking scenery of Palau.
Calling at both Alotau and Madang, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the lush rainforests, turquoise waters, and picturesque islands that Papua New Guinea is famous for. During an overnight in port in the bustling capital of the Philippines, explore the walled city of Intramuros, the San Agustin church and the bustling Divisoria markets. You’ll finish your holiday in Hong Kong, where you will disembark ready for your flight home.
Your holiday includes
All-Inclusive Cruise
21 night all-inclusive luxury cruise on board Azamara Onward
Visiting: Sydney (overnight in port), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight in port), Alotau, Madang, Koror, Manila (overnight in port), Hong Kong (overnight in port)
Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages including house spirits, wine and international beers
Pre-paid gratuities and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event
Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
Complimentary Inbound Flight, Taxes & Transfers
Sydney (overnight in port), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight in port), Alotau, Madang, Koror, Manila (overnight in port), Hong Kong (overnight in port)
Azamara Onward’s intimate
Mooloolaba
Airlie Beach
Madang
Koror
Cairns
TIP-STARS
WHAT’S ON
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.10am-12pm, New Vogue and Old Time
Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am-2:30pm, 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
Trades & Services
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 terms - Come 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 termsConversational 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.
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 0467-597-080 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 in-
cluding 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 dineouts, 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.
Cavaliers build confidence
By Justin Schwarze
Despite the NBL1 South season only being four rounds in the Casey Cavaliers are already one of the stories of the year with a fantastic start to its campaign - winning four out of six to open 2025.
The four wins already surpasses last season’s total of three, an inspiring turnaround that is a testament to the club and coaching staff’s resilience and determination.
The record of 4-2 becomes even more impressive when examining the opponents; Casey has played most of the top teams in the conference.
The squad got by a struggling Dandenong team in the opening fixture, before handing Mount Gambier its only loss to date so far this season.
The Pioneers were minor champions in 2024 and a formidable opponent who had never lost to the Cavaliers, taking victory in their last three matchups.
Casey’s first loss was a 75-78 thriller against Hobart, another tough side that is currently fourth on the table.
In round three, the Cavaliers handled business against Nunawading, so they headed into the latest chapter of the season with supreme confidence.
Over the Anzac Round, Casey overran powerhouse club and contender Knox for the club’s first loss of 2025, led by Tyler Robertson’s 30 points.
The Cavaliers controlled the course of the game, outscoring the Raiders in three out of four quarters to take an 85-73 result on the road.
The defensive unit and structure greatly spearheaded Luke Kendall’s men, holding Knox’s talented lineup to 34 percent shooting from the field and just 25 percent from beyond the arc.
“As far as the Knox games goes, I’m really happy with how we executed the game plan and the way we went about our business against the stronger teams and held our cool to get over them in the end,” head coach Kendall said.
“We played really good team basketball, we played at our pace, we were in control, we didn’t let anything get to us in any regard, and a couple of the big guys in our team stepped up and hit some big shots.
“When you knock off some of the top teams, it’s a really good feeling.
“The really pleasing thing with this team this season is we’ve been really competitive with teams that we see as really strong within the league, we’ve rose to the occasion.”
Starting centre Nate Roberts continued his outstanding season, flirting with a triple double and ending with figures of 17 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Robertson got hot from deep, knocking down
6/12 threes and he was awarded the Anzac Medal for his performance.
“Tyler played the game we wanted him to and brought him in for,” head coach Kendall said of Robertson.
“He’s got super basketball IQ that’s through the roof; he’s also a really good teammate and a local to the area.
“When you have home-grown talent in your program the culture tends to be a lot better.
“For him to step up in that big moment and big game, it was nice to see some transition threes go down and for him to loosen up and get into the game.”
Roberts has been imposing so far this season, averaging 12 rebounds per contest, good enough for second in the league.
His presence and size on the interior deters opponent drives and his ability to contest looks at the rim is extremely valuable.
“He just gives the confidence in all the players knowing that he’s behind and anchoring our defence,” Kendall said.
“He’s a huge communicator, and he’s super likeable on the team and that’s what it’s all about.
“We couldn’t be happier with the guys we’ve brought in so far in what they do and how they’re performing and also what they’re giving to the team.
“The best thing about Nate is he never asks for the ball, he goes about his business, when he’s got a flow going we go to him but he has the confidence in me and us to get what he needs out this team and situation.
“It was good to see him put in a really well-rounded game in as he filled up the stat sheet.”
The returning core has also done an excellent job, with Preston Bungei as skipper having some major performances, including 24 points and eight rebounds in the earlier triumph over Nunawading.
Trendon Hankerson has provided tremendous two-way impact, averaging 15.5 points and 1.5 steals per game.
The squad is deep and rounded out by young guns and rising stars Ben Waller and Truman Byrne, both of which were elevated from Youth League to permanent NBL1 spots for 2025.
“I’m pleasantly happy with how Ben is progressing,” Kendall said.
“He’s one of those guys that trusts the process and trusts the coaching staff to take his opportunities when they come and he’s developed into a really nice role.
“He can play multiple positions, he’s super athletic and he can do a lot of different things, he can shoot the three, he can get to the rack so I’m really enjoying his development.
“Truman Byrne has been progressing really
well too, against Diamond Valley he played a really good set of minutes and he did really well.
“As the season progresses, there will be different opportunities for different guys at different times.”
After the major result over Knox, Casey dropped the second leg of its back-to-back in an overtime loss to Diamond Valley.
The Cavaliers led early in the game and held a five point buffer in the extra period, but the Eagles rallied down the stretch to overpower them.
“I was happy with our defensive effort in the overtime, we just went away from what was working and went for the dagger shot,” Kendall admit-
ted.
“We did that four or five times trying to break their back instead of going through the process and that’s just a learning thing for us as a coaching staff but also as a playing unit.”
But for Casey, to be in this position is unbelievably encouraging after a turbulent 2024.
The rebound for the team has been a massive highlight, but there’s still plenty of basketball to play in the season.
“Each game whether we win or lose, we’re always learning,” Kendall noted.
“We’ll learn from each experience not just from when we lose, but when we win as well.”
Misses proving costly on a mixed weekend for Cannons
By Blair Burns
It was a tough weekend for the Casey Cannons Hockey Club that managed to win just two of its eight matches with the teams looking to bounce back next week.
However, the fighting spirit was on display as the men salvaged two draws to split the points and keep themselves in the hunt.
The Men’s Vic League (MVL) 2 side produced a special performance to claim a big 5-3 win over Brunswick.
After a draw against Knox, the Cannons bounced back and controlled the game from the outset.
The MVL 2 Men’s Cannons are firming as a serious contender, now sitting in second position behind Werribee; the only side with a 3-0 record.
Cannons star Tristan Chaffey has started the year in fine form netting six goals in the first three games, including two on the weekend.
Captain Craig Moore also scored an important goal, while David Noney and Bryan Young also had moments of brilliance to find the back of the net.
The MVL 2 Reserves didn’t have everything go their way and were challenged by Brunswick with the game ending in a draw 1-1.
It was the team’s number 20, Rhylee Johnson, who scored the equaliser to tie things up and give the Cannons a chance at glory.
It was a similar story in the Men’s Pennant D South East competition as the Cannons drew with the Greater Dandenong Warriors at one
goal apiece.
Matthew Robson scored the goal for the Cannons while his team worked hard to create opportunities and get ahead in the contest, but the battle ended in a draw.
While the Men’s Metro South 2 side was actually the only Casey Cannons men’s side to lose last weekend, but in saying that, there were plenty of positives.
The Greater Dandenong Warriors proved too strong, but it wasn’t one-way traffic as the Cannons gave themselves every chance to win the game, losing the thriller 2-1.
Spencer Stephens was the goal scorer for Casey Hockey Club and was rewarded for a consistent game, while other players continue to take strides in their development.
With the loss, the side has slipped to ninth on the ladder and the task won’t get any easier as they prepare to take on the top side Southern United next week, who is undefeated after three rounds.
The Women’s Pennant E South East side was the only female team to secure victory on the weekend, and what a huge win it was as they smashed Greater Dandenong 7-0.
The formidable side is looming as one of the teams to beat as it sits second on the ladder, yet to lose and with a huge 12 goals scored for.
Three players had outstanding games at the attacking end of the court as Jane Gipp (three goals), Lauren Symmons (two goals) and captain Fiona Young (two goals) scored heavily.
The trio made sure the Casey Cannons would record a huge win as they troubled the
Dandenong goalkeeper time and time again.
In other women’s matches, the Women’s Vic League (WVL) side fell to Melbourne Uni 3-2, as Mikayla McDonald and Charlotte Smith scored the goals.
While the WVL 1 Reserves suffered a narrow 1-0 loss, also at the hands of Melbourne University.
To round out the matches, the Women’s Metro 1 side was outclassed by Cardinia Storm as it conceded four goals but couldn’t put any on the board in reply. The Casey Hockey Club will welcome back all past players for a special lunch at the clubrooms this Saturday May 3 as former legends watch the future of the club in action.
Nate Roberts has been superb for Casey, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game this season. (In2Action Photography: 474989)
David Noney scored a goal for the Cannons in the MVL 2 Men’s 5-3 victory over Brunswick. (Rob Carew: 469891)
Berwick brave against Bulls
By David Nagel
The famous words of the Noble Park theme song echoed through the rooms at Pat Wright Oval on Saturday after the Bulls recorded a hardfought 12.7(79) to 9.11(65) victory over Berwick.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Bulls, who fell asleep early after both clubs lined up for a moving service to honour the Anzacs.
This was a big game for both clubs, who came into the contest after opening round losses prior to Easter.
Berwick bounced out of the blocks in spectacular fashion, booting the first three goals of the match – in the space of five minutes – to have the Bulls firmly on the back foot.
Jai Neal began proceedings with an easy mark in the goal-square, kicking the first of his five goals for the match unopposed just two metres out from goal.
Denzel Toland then took a great mark and kicked truly, and when Neal outmanoeuvred Bulls’ defender Dean Jones and kicked a ripper on the run…the Wickers were off to a flyer.
Berwick had all the momentum; but missed chances from Ben Todd and Harrison Canning let the home-town Bulls off the hook.
Those missed chances were the only downside of a great opening burst from Berwick, who looked quicker and sharper all over the ground.
But the Bulls showed typical resilience, with six pointers to Mason Torrance and Jack Murray cutting the margin to just eight points at quarter time.
The Bulls then kicked the opening goal of the second term before Berwick took control once again, with back-to-back goals to key-forward Daniel Pinter kicking the gap back out to 14.
The battle between both midfields was intense, with Ashton Williamson, Tahj De La Rue and Todd in the thick of the action for Berwick, while Lachie McDonnell, Harry Broderick and skipper Jordan Marson were up for the challenge for the Bulls.
Noble finished off the second quarter strongly, with the lively Liam O’Rourke kicking three goals in 11 minutes to give the home side a fivepoint lead at the major interval.
O’Rourke kicked two goals in a minute, from right on the goal-line, before being given far too much latitude from an unfocussed Berwick defence.
O’Rourke had no one within 10 metres of him when he accepted a mark and kicked his
third for the afternoon just prior to the half-time siren.
Berwick then had the better of the third term, with Neal kicking two of their goals in a highlight reel performance.
The classy forward kicked two right-foot snaps, the first from close range after reading the play beautifully and the second a standout choice as goal-of-the-day.
Neal gathered a bouncing ball with ease, before snapping it through from 35-metres out off one step.
Jaylan Atton kicked the last of the third quarter off his left to give Berwick a four-point lead at the final change.
Noble then showed grit and determination in the last quarter, kicking the opening four goals to lock away the four premiership points.
Sam Pascuzzi kicked things off with a mark on the lead before Marson kicked a true captain’s goal after a free-kick for head-high contact.
O’Rourke then snagged his fourth; holding off Blake Westra with his left hand and taking a one-hander with his right, before nailing his set shot for goal.
Any hopes of a Berwick comeback were then lost after Bulls’ ruck Daniel Knapper converted a free-kick after a ruck-infringement from his opposite number Jesse Cirulis.
A late-goal to Neal, his fifth for the afternoon, cut the margin to 14 points at the final siren.
O’Rourke was Noble’s only multiple goal-kicker, ending the day with four, while McDonnell, Marson Kevin Kean and Matt Nelson were reliable figures throughout the full four quarters of football.
Berwick will consider this one as the one that got away, with the Wickers just falling away when it mattered most in the final term.
There were encouraging signs for new coach Andrew Williams, with Neal and Pinter providing solid contributions in the front half, while Anthony Clarke, skipper Will Arthurson and Brandon Cunningham held firm in defence.
Things don’t get any easier for the Bulls and Wickers this week, with Noble hitting the road to take on undefeated Blackburn, while Berwick returns home to Edwin Flack Reserve to host top-of-the-table East Ringwood.
In other games this week, Blackburn came from 11 points down at three-quarter time to score an 18-point win over South Croydon, while East Ringwood held on by six points at
home against recently-promoted Mitcham.
Zac Thiessen kicked three goals and Angus Strachan was best in Vermont’s 15-point win over Doncaster East, while Rowville kept its perfect start to the season intact with a 30point victory over reigning-premier Balwyn.
The first half was an arm-wrestle before the Hawks blew the game apart with a highly-impressive 6.6 to 1.0 third stanza.
Skipper Anthomy Brolic was superb for the Hawks all day, kicking two goals in a standout performance, while key-forward Lachlan Wynd kicked four goals to be the leading scorer on the ground.
The Hawks host Vermont this week in the Eastern Premier Division match of the round.
NOBLEPARK
NobleParkGoals: Liam O’Rourke 4, Kevin Kean,
Daniel Knapper, Jordan Marson, Jack Murray, Thomas Nelson, Samuel Pascuzzi, Joshua Stern, Mason Torrance. Best: Lachlan McDonnell, Jordan Marson, Kevin Kean, Liam O’Rourke, Matthew Nelson, Mason Torrance. BerwickGoals: Jai Neal 5, Daniel Pinter 2, Jaylan Atton, Denzel Toland. Best: Jai Neal, Benzhamen Todd, Anthony Clarke, Samuel Frangalas, William Arthurson, Jesse Cirulis.
Other Games: South Croydon 9.10(64) def by Blackburn 12.10(82), East Ringwood 10.10(70) def Mitcham 10.4(64), Vermont 13.11(89) def Doncaster East 10.14(74), Balwyn 6.8(44) def by Rowville 10.14(74).
Ladder: East Ringwood, Rowville, Blackburn, Vermont 8, Doncaster East, Noble Park 4, Mitcham, Berwick, Balwyn, South Croydon. Fixture R3: Blackburn (3) v Noble Park (6), Rowville (2) v Vermont (4), Mitcham (7) v Balwyn (9), Doncaster East (5) v South Croydon (10), Berwick (8) v East Ringwood (1).
South sow seeds of success with redemption win over Eagles
By David Nagel
South Belgrave has confirmed itself as the team to beat in Eastern Division 1 football after the Saints rode a strong second half to a 22-point victory - 14.11(95) to 11.7(73) - over Beaconsfield on Anzac Day.
The home-ground Saints continued their faultless start to their 2025 premiership assault after commanding victories over Park Orchards and Norwood in the opening two rounds of the season.
Beaconsfield, meanwhile, was playing its first game since April 5, with a bye in round two and the league-wide Easter break a week later making it 20 days between outings.
But there was certainly no need for WD40 to be applied in the opening term, with the Eagles having the better of a ruthless and rustfree first quarter.
South Belgrave kicked two of the opening three goals of the contest before Beaconsfield turned things around heading into the quarter-time break.
The Eagles applied great pressure to the Saints in an extremely hot start to the game, with three unanswered goals leading to an 11-point lead at the first change.
The Eagles then struck an early blow in the second term, racing out to a 17-point lead, before the Saints shook off the visitors’ best punch and regained control of the contest.
The Saints narrowed the margin with two quick answers and then dominated forward-50 control for the next 20 minutes of play.
The home side had nine shots at goal to nil, from the three-minute mark to 23 minutes into the second term, but wasted opportunities; kicking 1.6 after those initial two accurate shots at goal.
The Eagles had dodged a bullet - six in fact
- and squared things away at half time after a late goal in the second quarter.
The third term was a real arm-wrestle, with both teams having their time in the sun.
Beaconsfield kicked the first of the second half, but South then answered with three straight conversions to take a 13-point lead during the middle stages of the third quarter.
But the Eagles weren’t ready to raise the white flag on Anzac Day just yet, kicking two of their own to cut the margin to a solitary point heading into the red-zone.
And it was a red-zone that would prove costly for Mick Fogarty and his Eagles, with South Belgrave kicking the final two goals of the premiership quarter to take a 13-point lead to the final change of ends.
The Saints kicked out to a 25-point lead, early in the final term, before Beaconsfield responded, making it 16 points the difference at the 18-minute mark.
South Belgrave then staved off the Eagles latest challenge, kicking two of the last three goals to claim the four points; and the Rik Crook Cup, in a high-standard game of football played in wet and greasy conditions.
The Saints had several avenues to goal, with Taylor Garner booting three, and Riccardo Daraio, Damian Garner and Blake Simondson two each, while former Melbourne and St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan was among the better players on the ground.
Jake Aarts, Hayden Brough and co-captain Damien Johnston slotted two each for Beaconsfield, who had Brandon White in super form in defence.
Jack Docherty was also influential for the Eagles, while Finn Devine and Devon Smith were hard workers on the day.
South Belgrave stay at home in round four, hosting North Ringwood, while the Eagles
Beaconsfield’s Jack Docherty is surrounded by Saints during the Anzac Day clash between the Eagles and South Belgrave. (Rob Carew: 473715)
host second-placed Boronia in a litmus test at Holm Park Reserve.
EASTERNDIVISION1
SOUTHBELGRAVE
SouthBelgraveGoals: Taylor Garner 3, Riccardo Daraio 2, Damian Garner 2, Blake Simondson 2, Sean Bartels, Calvin Daraio, Mitchell Garner, Roger Mazzone, Brayden Ryan. Best: Luke Dunstan, Blake Simondson, Clay Tucker, Roger Mazzone, Calvin Daraio, Tim Smith.
BeaconsfieldGoals: Jake Aarts 2, Hayden Brough 2, Damien Johnston 2, Marley Appleyard, Jake
Bowd,CharlieMuley,TylahStokoe,AliZijai. Best: Brandon White, Jack Docherty, Finn Devine, Devon Smith, Damien Johnston, Jake Aarts.
OtherGames: Park Orchards 17.19(121) def Bayswater 6.9(45), Boronia 17.10(112) def Montrose 6.8(44), North Ringwood 21.27(153) def Norwood 8.8(56). Bye: Mooroolbark. Ladder: South Belgrave 12, Boronia 8, North Ringwood 8, Park Orchards 8, Mooroolbark 4, Beaconsfield 4, Montrose 4, Bayswater 0, Norwood 0. FixtureR4-Saturday3May: Norwood (9) v Bayswater (8), Beaconsfield (6) v Boronia (2), South Belgrave (1) v North Ringwood (3), Mooroolbark (5) v Park Orchards (4). Bye: Montrose (7).
Midfielder Ashton Williamson was a key figure in a strong start for Berwick against Noble Park on Saturday. (Rob Carew: 413414)
‘Richo Show’ in full flight
By Blair Burns
After a reality check against East Brighton in round two Narre Warren bounced back to record a morale-boosting 29-point Anzac Day victory over a challenging Port Melbourne side under lights at JL Murphy Reserve.
Despite being on the back foot and trailing by 21 points at half time, the Magpies responded in the second half, kicking 10 goals to two as they found their way back on the winners’ list.
The wet conditions didn’t stop the ball from moving quickly with 29 goals being scored; Narre Warren winning 17.13 (115) to 12.14 (86).
Magpies coach Steven Kidd was impressed with the response from his side.
“We were just glad to get the win, it was probably one of our best home and away wins for a few years,” he said.
“If we had have gone down on Friday night, it probably would’ve knocked the players’ confidence around a bit, but this gives them a bit of credit that they can compete against the better sides.
“The young guys in the team are probably learning what they need to do to be able to compete and what level of intensity they need to bring to be able to do that.”
It was clear from the outset that Port Melbourne played their smaller ground well, but it was in the midfield where the Colts really took control of the game.
The home side forced repeat entries inside 50 forcing the Narre Warren defenders to resort to dump kicks out of defence.
Kurt Mutimer was a notable absence for Narre Warren and his lack of presence was felt, particularly in the first half as ex-Melbourne footballer Michael Hibberd and Justin Taylor dominated the contested ball.
This allowed players like Charlie Clarke to get some great looks at goal, with the ex-Bulldog putting through an impressive snap for the first score of the game.
“When we rocked up, we were a little bit out of our comfort zone with what we are used to, in terms of the ground size and the metropolitan nature of the ground,” Kidd said.
“But they came out, (they are) big bodies and obviously dominated the first half … they were too good in the clearance and contest.”
The first goal for Narre Warren was important to settle a few nerves and get one against the grain with a nice passage of play, in what was the opening scene of the ‘Richo’ show.
It started with a long kick from defence as Mitchell Tonna gathered the ball cleanly, copped one high which wasn’t called, before finding his ruckman Hayden Dwyer streaming past who went long and direct.
Jake Richardson took the chest mark just outside the square and went back to slot his first of the game, and the Magpies’ first.
He soon had his second major from a set shot after Riley Siwes laced him out on the lead, and then his third with a classy checkside from the left pocket, the big man was on fire with three early goals.
Dwyer was dominating the ruck battle and some crucial umpiring decisions had went the way of Narre Warren, but Hibberd and Taylor were controlling the narrative from the engine room.
The second quarter began and Port Melbourne picked up where they left off with their star Clarke in fine form, kicking a goal on both the left and right early in the term before Richardson replied with his fourth.
The Colts were firing shots at goal as Narre Warren tried to keep itself in the game with the half time scores 71-50.
Something had to change and Kidd decided to move some magnets around, which was a move that really paid off.
“We gave the players some ideas about what they could do better rather than what we were doing wrong and we made a couple of positional changes,” Kidd said.
“We moved Pete Gentile to half back and put Jesse Davies on the ball, and just asked the guys to focus on the contested ball and win it when it was their turn, and to the guys’ credit, that’s what we did.
“With the conditions the way they were, we wanted to try and get the ball in quick and we did that a bit better after half time.”
Narre Warren’s pressure had lifted, the ball use was better; players were sticking tackles and the
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION 1 REVIEW - ROUND 3
side had found better structure behind the ball.
Tom Toner’s burst from stoppage and halfback was hugely influential, Siwes was a bull in the contest, and captain Joel Zietsman was rarely beaten, despite the tough task on Hibberd who had drifted forward.
Goals to Toner, Hamish West and Jett Kearney saw the Magpies wrestle back momentum, as well as the margin, trailing by three points at the final break.
Toner broke away from Justin Taylor at the next centre bounce with elite burst, ran his distance and went for home as fans began to erupt, only for the ball to smash into the left post for a minor score.
Shortly after, a Colts defender kicked a clearing ball out of defence along the boundary line, but the ball hit a tree branch and fell short into Jimmy Dwyer’s lap as the umpire shouted “play on”.
The youngster kicked the ball inside 50 and found Howe on the chest, narrowly beating the siren, but he couldn’t convert and the Colts had been spared a couple of late daggers.
The Magpies held Port Melbourne to just 0.3 for the quarter, while scoring 3.3 themselves.
“The message (at three-quarter time) was to keep doing what we are doing and the dam wall will break, we played a really good third quarter,” Kidd said.
“Our defenders were proactive rather than reactive and we put that message through, to win the contested ball and work harder in there … and we were able to run away with it.”
The last quarter was one-way traffic as Narre Warren kicked seven goals to two, as the side claimed its second win of the season.
Davies only had 14 disposals but impacted the contest every time he got the ball, while Gentile (24 disposals, five marks) took the sting out of the game in defence.
Corey Bader gave his all around the stoppage with seven tackles, while Siwes (30 disposals, four
tackles) had a game for the ages.
“We are still trying to find a midfield balance so I think we can probably run more guys through there, Riley Siwes probably had his best game for the club, Jesse Davies was also good in there,” Kidd said.
“Our forward pressure was huge and the backline probably needed that little bit of confidence to take the game on a little bit, they’ve probably been a bit conservative in the first few weeks.”
Richardson (20 disposals, six goals, five tackles, 12 hitouts) was best on ground for Narre Warren, playing a bit deeper, with Howe moving into a higher forward role.
Dwyer (13 disposals, one goal, 56 hitouts) was brilliant all night and Toner (20 disposals, two goals) provided the spark.
For Port Melbourne, Taylor (35 disposals, nine tackles), Hibberd (31 disposals, two goals), Clarke (26 disposals, three goals) and Robbie McComb (33 disposals, five tackles) were all ball magnets.
In other games across Division 1, Cranbourne has fallen to a 0-3 start to the season after East Brighton took the Eagles down by 48 points.
Captain Zak Roscoe and Kyle Lanham (two goals each) worked hard, but Alex Keath dominated for the Vampires with three goals.
The road to finals now looks a bit bumpier for Cranbourne who will need to turn the tides and get a win against Murrumbeena this weekend.
There was no shortage of stars for Cheltenham as the reigning premiers thumped Bentleigh by 41 points with Austin Johnson leading the way with 33 disposals and five goals.
Teammates Jack Lonie (35 disposals and three goals) and Sam Hayes (30 disposals, one goal, 12 marks) also had huge outings for the Rosellas.
St Pauls McKinnon continued its unbeaten run as it knocked off Murrumbeena by 51 points, with Will McCartney (33 disposals, one goal) and Matthew O’Brien (27 disposals, two goals) leading the way in a strong team performance.
(115)
PortMelbourneGoals: Charlie Clarke, Riley Stafford 3, Michael Hibberd, Rikki Newton 2, Tyler Bell, Amani Karauria-Lunt.
Best: Tyler Bell, Jordan Maloney, Rikki Newton, Tyler Jones, Charlie Clarke, Riley Stafford. NarreWarrenGoals: Jake Richardson 6, Will Howe, Tom Toner, Hamish West 2, Jesse Davies, Hayden Dwyer, Jett Kearney, Brayden Sharp, Riley Siwes.
Best: Jake Richardson, Riley Siwes, Hayden Dwyer, Joel Zietsman, Mitchell Tonna, Tom Toner. CRANBOURNE
(42) EASTBRIGHTON
(90) CranbourneGoals: Kyle Lanham, Zak Roscoe 2, Callum Pola.
Best: N/A.
EastBrightonGoals: Alex Keath 3, Sean Downie, Declan Joyce-Lawford, Jacob Sandman 2, Blake Cochrane, Kyle Cooper, Michael Giles, Thomas Lamb.
Best: Alex Keath, Sean Downie, Henry McLorinan, Kyle Cooper, Andrew Denoon, Tom Bracher. OtherGames–Rd3: Dingley 13.9 (87) def Springvale Districts 10.12 (72), Cheltenham 17.8 (110) def Bentleigh 10.9 (69), St Pauls McKinnon 14.12 (96) def Murrumbeena 6.9 (45).
Ladder: East Brighton, Dingley, St Pauls McKinnon 12, Cheltenham, Narre Warren 8, Bentleigh, Port Melbourne 4, Cranbourne, Springvale Districts, Murrumbeena 0. Fixture–Rd4: Dingley (2) v East Brighton (1), Cheltenham (4) v Narre Warren (5), Bentleigh (6) v Port Melbourne (7), St Pauls McKinnon (3) v Springvale Districts (9), Murrumbeena (10) v Cranbourne (8).
Narre Warren captain Joel Zietsman led from the front as the Magpies came back to defeat Port Melbourne. (Rob Carew: 469859)
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