News - Cranbourne Star News - 29th May 2025 by Star News Group

Breaking stereotypes

Students at St Francis de Sales Primary School in Lynbrook dressed up as their dream jobs on 26 May to challenge gender stereotypes. Part of the Respectful Relationships curriculum, the event encour-

More than 1000 submissions have been received for the City of Casey’s Local Law Review, which Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen praised as a “thoroughly designed” consultation process.

The review, which launched in April, included 12 pop-up sessions across the municipality as well as online survey which closes this weekend.

While many residents welcomed the review, some raised concerns about the wording of the online survey, fearing it might steer responses.

The Mayor defended the survey design, saying it was based on well-established consultation

Mayor Koomen, who attended about half of the pop-ups, said the consultation helped highlight the diverse needs across Casey, from rural to densely populated areas.

methods and included opportunities for residents to write in their own comments.

He emphasised that the real value lay in the detailed feedback gathered, both online and in person.

Hot topics included vehicle storage, temporary structures, and the presentation of private properties,withdenserareasfocusingmoreonneighbour

disputes and noise concerns. Mayor Koomen said community input would guide not only changes to local laws but broader council work.

He encouraged residents to share their views by completing the survey before it closes on Sunday 1 June at: conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/ llreview_25

International Nurses Day

On Wednesday 14 May, we celebrated our local nurses on International Nurses Day.

Every day, our amazing Maternal and Child Health Nurses and their dedicated support teams provide expert care, guidance, and kindness to families across Casey during some of life’s most precious and challenging moments.

From supporting new parents with feeding advice, sleep guidance, and developmental checks to offering emotional reassurance and connecting families with community resources — they make an incredible difference.

Earlier this month, Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen met with our nurses to celebrate International Nurses Day and thank them for the vital work they do.

The planned Hub will provide Casey residents access to much needed outreach support services, on-site in a trusted and safe space.

Congratulations to Transit and their 120 volunteers who provide a fantastic service and do wonderful work in our community.

Event attendance is free. Bookings are essential. Scan the QR code for more information and to register.

As our community grows, so does the need for more compassionate, dedicated professionals to join this inspiring team. If you are interested in a rewarding career or joining our wonderful team, please email talent@casey.vic.gov.au

EOFY Business Breakfast

Kickstart your financial year with confidence and join us on Tuesday 24 June at the EOFY Business Breakfast at Bunjil Place.

Arm your business with crucial insights into tax changes and financial planning from expert speakers, Michelle Beadle from BJT Business Advisors, Helen Tobin-King from Invest Victoria and Trent Wiltshire from Grattan Institute.

Plus, you can network with local business leaders, exchange ideas and ask your pressing questions, all while enjoying a delicious breakfast.

Scan the QR code to book.

Casey Conversations

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY

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

• Doveton Pool in the Park playground design: help shape the design of the new park and open space

• Local Law Review: we are reviewing the Casey Community Local Law and to help our review, we want to know what you believe is reasonable to include in the Local Law to ensure they support the interests, needs and wellbeing of all community members.

• New dog park at Sweeney Reserve, Berwick: we are seeking your feedback on the draft concept design.

• Park and Play Hub: find out which sites are being upgraded in your community and share your feedback.

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

Volunteers’ Michael and Lisa; Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen; Michelle Pinxt; Cr Kim Ross; and Pastor Keith Vethaak.

Nurse of 25 years, Maree and Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen, with Council’s Maternal and Child Health Nurses and support staff.

some renovation but was still in a

Lifeline for co-op

By Sahar Foladi

A key First Nations health and wellbeing organisation has secured its first infrastructure funding in more than 30 years in the 2025 State Budget.

The Dandenong and Districts Aborigines Co-operative Limited (DDACL) finally secured $12.3 million, comprising $9.7 million towards the fit-out of their new accommodation at the Monash Health Integrated Care Centre in Cranbourne and $2.3 million to cover the lease for five years.

This comes after one of its buildings on Stud Road succumbed to age, with exposed asbestos forcing the organisation to evacuate altogether.

DDACL chief executive for the past four years, Jenny Ockwell found herself “speechless” over the exciting times ahead for them after decades of funding requests.

“It’s quite an achievement, not just for the existing staff but all the other staff that have come through those doors over the decades and the ongoing commitment to keep the door open for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“My head is still spinning - I can’t believe it yet that we got this funding. It’s been a whirlwind for me,” she said.

“There’s been no meetings yet, lots of planning to be conducted, leases to be signed, refurbishment to be carried out. We’d like to have it done as soon as possible so there’s no money wasted.

“This is for the ongoing survival of the DDACL and the founding members that made the commitment to make improved outcomes for the community.”

DDACL services nine local government areas from Knox City to Greater Dandenong to Mornington Peninsula, Cardinia and Casey.

The new location in Cranbourne was chosen as it “provides more centralised provision” for community members in the growth corridor.

City of Casey’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (2395) is almost four times more than that of City of Greater Dandenong (615) with 55 per cent of them being under the age of 25 years.

The DDACL is a “one stop shop” with an adjoining clinical building to provide health care through their Bunurong Aboriginal Health Service in Carroll Avenue, Dandenong.

It is one of the 200 Aboriginal health and wellbeing facilities across the state, according to a recent report co-authored by Infrastructure Victoria and The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).

The DDACL has been running its service in a leased office space in Cranbourne since it had to shut its Stud Road building.

The Stud Road space also included a community garden outdoor space which was also utilised for community gatherings, barbecues and face-to-face interaction which is crucial within the Aboriginal community and the organisation that caters to their needs.

All that changed in their very limited capacity of an office space where the staff need to book separate space just to see limited numbers of members.

The biggest challenge was not being able to put up any materials or Aboriginal artefacts in the leased space.

That is all set to change soon through this funding, which is what Ms Ockwell is looking forward to most.

“Where we are at the moment, we can’t even fly the Aboriginal flag.

“To install and instil Aboriginal identity that’s

important to the service delivery and social wellbeing of our community members, because it’s their space.

“The funding will allow us to bring all the services under one roof, at the moment we’re scattered.

“We’ve been scattered for quite a few years which impacts on service delivery, we have the clinic in Dandenong, health services on Thompsons Road Cranbourne, corporate services, family and aged care disability services.”

The plan is to relocate the health clinic in Dandenong as well but that’s up for further consideration.

While the Stud Road building is now cleared of asbestos, there are multiple health and safety risks in operating in that building as reported previously by Star Journal, such as a jammed door, leaking windows, cracked walls near lights, holes in the roof and the entire building structure shifting on stumps.

The facility used to run community programs to drive social engagement and wellbeing –monthly community lunches, and a weekly elders group and mums and bubs group.

There are many more Aboriginal health and wellbeing facilities in dire need of infrastructure funding to be able to continue providing and for the community as revealed by Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) report.

More than half of the 200 facilities are already at the end of their economic life with 82 per cent need to be replaced or require substantial repairs within the next 15 years.

The buildings assessed are 40 years old on average with 17 of them more than 100 years old.

The oldest building is 174 years old.

Teenager charged following crime spree

and aggra-

across the southern suburbs of Melbourne in May.

Police will allege six cars were stolen from residential homes in Waterways, Black Rock, Cranbourne, Lyndhurst, Narre Warren South and Berwick, Armadale between 21 and 25 May.

Alert police spotted an alleged stolen Audi driving on Silver Banksia Boulevard in Cranbourne on Monday 26 May at about 11am.

It is alleged the stolen vehicle travelled at speeds of up to 130km/h in a 80km/h zone, before the driver allegedly dumped the Audi on McDowall Road, Hampton Park.

Officers arrested a boy nearby a short time later. A 13-year-old boy from the Casey area was directly presented to a children’s court to face charges including two counts of home invasion, two counts of aggravated burglary, carjacking, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, attempted theft of motor vehicle, theft of petrol and unlicensed driving.

Ten servos robbed in three hours

Robbers armed with a machete have targeted 10 servos in three hours on the night of Tuesday 20 May, police say.

Southern Metro Crime Squad officers say 4-7 offenders stole cash, cigarettes, confectionery and a car in the heists at Braeside, Dandenong South, Cranbourne North, Narre Warren North, Ringwood, Blackburn and Clayton between 7.10pm and 10.25pm. They arrived at the servos in a stolen grey 2020 Kia Picanto hatch with Queensland registration 298-DFS or a 2007 Toyota Aurion sedan registration 1BQ-1OF. The Aurion was stolen during the robbery at Heatherton Road, Narre Warren North about 8.15pm. The incidents were described by police as follows:

■ Four males entered a service station on Boundary Road near Lower Dandenong Road, Braeside around 7.10pm. Cigarettes were stolen.

■ Four males entered a service station on Greens Road, Dandenong South about 7.15pm and stole cash.

■ Four males attended a service station on Frankston-Dandenong Road, Dandenong South about 7.30pm and stole cash.

■ Five males entered a service station on Thompsons Road, Cranbourne North about 7.40pm and stole cash.

■ Four males attended a service station on Heatherton Road, Narre Warren North about 8.15pm and stole cigarettes, personal items and the Toyota Aurion.

■ Five males attended a service station on Canterbury Road, Ringwood about 9pm and stole cash.

■ Five males entered a service station on Whitehorse Road, Blackburn about 9.20pm and stole cash registers and confectionary.

■ Four males attended a service station on Dandenong Road, Clayton about 9.40pm and stole cash and cigarettes.

■ Five males attended a service station on Heatherton Road, Noble Park about 10pm and stole cigarettes.

■ Five offenders attended a service station on South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne North about 10.25pm and stole cash and cigarettes.

No one was injured in the armed robberies. The Toyota has since been recovered, police say. Police are still investigating.

Boy arrested after pursuit in early hours

By Philip Salama-West

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after being pursued by police in the early hours of Tuesday 27 May.

Officers on patrol initially spotted a black Porsche wagon which they believed to be stolen at around 1.30am, travelling along Quarry Road in Langwarrin.

Patrol vehicles and air units followed the Porsche as it turned onto Cranbourne-Frankston Road and headed through Cranbourne, looping back south towards Mornington.

Police deployed stop sticks on Thompsons Road to safely deflate the Porsche’s tyres, and the vehicle came to a stop on Peninsula Link in Moorooduc about 4.10am.

The teenage sole occupant of the car was arrested at the scene.

Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic. com.au

DDACL’s Stud Road office has been shut down for the safety of staff. INSET: The Dandenong building had just gone through

dilapidated state. (Gary Sissons: 472496_01)

Police have arrested a 13-year-old Casey boy following a series of home invasions

vated burglaries

Huge response to review

By Violet Li

Casey’s mayor says the council has received more than 1000 submissions to its Local Law Review, hailing the community consultation process as “thoroughly designed”.

He also addressed the community’s concerns about the way the online survey was designed.

CityofCaseyMayorCouncillorStefanKoomen said he attended about half of the 12 community pop-ups and observed that different parts of Casey have different needs and focuses.

“Some areas have really large properties. They engage in industrial activity and business, and farming. And at the other end, you’ve got very small, more densely populated areas,” he said.

“Our team will be pulling together the feedback to give us a really good cross-section of what people’s interests were. But there was certainly interest, particularly around vehicles, which is understandable given the interest in that topic, which really led to this review.

“And then also around unsightly properties. There was a lot of discussion on both sides about the importance of having presentable and well-presented places in our community, but also respecting the rights of private landholders.”

He said for areas with a denser population, locals’ concerns were around presentable properties.

“Things like hoarding, things like noise and neighbour disputes, because they’re living close to other people. There can be impacts on neighbouring properties from activities that occur on residential land,” he said.

“It (review) has taken us to all parts of Casey, and that’s been a really valuable exercise for us as a new council. It will help us make decisions not only on the local laws, but on all the work that we do as a council.”

Mayor Cr Koomen believed that the community consultation had been a very “thoroughly designed process”.

“This has been a comprehensive engagement,” he said.

But he also noted that the engagement outcome would be complemented by benchmarking against other councils as well as a review of Casey’s Local Law itself.

Back when the Council just launched the online survey in late April, Star News reported that locals were concerned that the online survey was worded in a “preemptive” way that might direct responders to answer in a certain way.

In sessions about the Council’s private land management, respondents are asked whether they think it’s reasonable for the Council to manage issues such as temporary structures, vehicle movement and storage, fire and smoke nuisance, and waste on private land.

They can choose from five options ranging from “very unreasonable“ to “very reasonable,“ and a written comment box is also available alongside.

Such a format was also adapted into a billboard for visual demonstration at the community pop-ups. Residents can place a red dot on the board for “unreasonable”, a green dot for “reasonable”, and an orange dot for “unsure” beside each part of the Local Law.

In response to the residents’ concerns about the way the questionnaire was designed, Mayor Cr Koomen said there’s a lot of science behind the way of these consultations.

“I’m very comfortable that it’s gathered the

information that we need to help us make decisions, and that will be presented to us by a report for the Council with recommendations,” he said.

He also said that the billboard presented at the pop-ups was designed as an entry point to discussion.

“But the real things that matter to us are the experiences of residents and the actual concerns, so within the survey, there are text boxes where people have put down the specific things they want us to address,” he said.

“That was also done at the pop-ups, where they would have seen the post-it notes, where residents could just say an issue, and that’ll be collected and then looked in with greater detail

about where we might need to make changes.

“There are people who said that they thought it wasn’t reasonable, but I think you’ve got to look at it in the context of all of what is being done, and we’ve captured a lot of information.”

The Local Law Review consultation, which started from 21 April, includes an online survey and 12 in-person pop-ups (one in each ward).

The pop-ups wrapped up on 18 May, but the online survey is still open until Sunday 1 June. Mayor Cr Koomen encouraged residents to take the online survey or contact the council with any thoughts they have about our local law. To complete the survey, visit: conversations. casey.vic.gov.au/llreview_25

‘No’ to local bid to join waste transfer station VCAT case

By Violet Li

A local resident and community group have been denied permission to formally join the VCAT case over a development licence for the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station.

The state tribunal has declined applications by local Garry Page and Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) to be joined as parties in the development licence case.

In a VCAT case, to “join as a party” means you become a formal participant in the proceedings. This status gives you specific legal rights and responsibilities, beyond just making a public submission or attending a hearing as an observer.

Earlier in May, Star News reported that the controversial Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station by Veolia is in the hands of the state’s planning tribunal after the approval authority, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria, failed to decide on the license within the required four-month legal timeframe, despite ultimately rejecting it.

Mr Page submitted that his application as a joinder was to “ensure his and other submissions (during the community consultation late last year) are appropriately dealt with and not simply dismissed or overlooked to conform to the statutory timeframes”.

He noted that not all the views and interests of the community had been taken into account by the EPA in forming its view to reject the development licence.

He was concerned that at the August hearing, no party would present arguments challenging

Veolia beyond the EPA’s limited scope.

He also stated that the potential reduction of public open space for enjoyment and recreation close to the site of the proposed waste transfer station might be considered to “unreasonably and adversely affect his physical and personal interests”.

CRRA applied to join to represent the broader community’s concerns about the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed facility.

Veolia opposed to both joinder applications primarily on the basis that “joinder applicants

had not made out a sufficient case for joinder”.

In its decision, the tribunal determined that neither Mr Page nor the CRRA demonstrated a sufficient financial, physical or personal interest to warrant formal participation in the proceedings.

VCAT emphasised that for an individual or group to be joined as a party, they must show that their interests are directly affected by the outcome of the case.

While the Tribunal acknowledged the community’s concerns regarding the proposed facility, it concluded that these could be adequately

addressed through written submissions rather than formal party status.

“I accept that Mr Page’s desire to be involved in this proceeding emanates from a genuine concern about possible impacts that may be occasioned if a development licence for the transfer station is granted, however I am not satisfied that the Tribunal would be sufficiently assisted by the advancement of the matters listed in his statement of grounds as to make it desirable that he be joined as a party to this proceeding…” VCAT senior member S P Djohan stated in the outcome document.

Anthony Tassone, vice president of CRRA, said CRRA was “deeply disappointed” that its application to be a joinder had been rejected by VCAT.

“According to Veolia’s website, they say they ‘remain committed to working with the community’ about the WTS, yet objected to our application to join the proceedings (while EPA Victoria remained neutral and did not object),” he said.

“Talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words.”

Mr Tassone stressed that the role of VCAT was to ‘provide fair, efficient and affordable justice for the Victorian community’.

“We question how VCAT can give the community confidence in giving them ‘justice’ without their voice being heard during the proceedings,” he said.

“Yes, we need a solution to our growing and increasingly challenging waste management needs, but it can’t come at the expense of the health of our residents and environment with noise and odour management.”

Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen attended Doveton’s Local Law Review community pop-up to talk with the locals about their concerns. (Supplied)

A local resident and community group have been denied permission to formally join the VCAT case over a development licence for the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station. (FILE)

Council challenges plans

Two proposed precincts in Casey South are set to resolve key council objections before finalising the land use guidelines, including an $11.7 million funding gap and tree coverage tension.

Casey Council has listed major items for objections in its submission to the draft Casey Fields South Employment and Devon Meadows Precinct Structure Plan (PSP).

It has identified an estimated $11.7 million funding gap for the community facility and a local sports reserve, requesting the deletion of the sports reserve.

The overall construction cost for the sports reserve and the community facility is estimated to be $27.7 million, $17 million of which will be collected via standard levy, leaving Council with a “significant unfunded liability of at least $11.7 million”.

Additional unfunded costs are cited by the Council, including setting up separate areas of the sports reserve on either side of the waterway, building duplicate access roads, car parks, and pavilions, and designing around wildlife corridors for the Southern Brown Bandicoot.

“Council must be open and transparent with the future Devon Meadows community about the significant unfunded liability for the construction of the sports reserve to manage the legitimate expectations of this community that the sports reserve will be delivered,” Council states in its submission.

“The proposed local sports reserve undermines Council’s financial sustainability by imposing an unknown unfunded liability in excess of $11.7 million that must be funded by external grants or rates revenue.

“Opportunities for external grant funding are limited in the current fiscal policy environment.

“The use of rates revenue is constrained by Victorian Government rate capping and must be balanced against competing organisational priorities, including asset renewal.”

Councilalsoclaimsthatthemajorityofthetwo precincts are already well-serviced by the three existing local sports reserves within an 800-metre radius of Devon Meadows, which will support the removal of the proposed sports reserve.

With the advocacy to remove the sports reserve, Council officers have proposed an alternative “optimised and financially sustainable open space network” with nine one-hectare-on-average local parks that are scattered across the two precincts.

They list benefits including enhanced amenities and increased embellishments, centralised spaces to foster a sense of community while offering social interaction and engagement, and improved safety.

An environmentally optimised urban land-

scape is another consideration for Casey Council, as it points out a “significant tension between the aspirations for increased canopy tree coverage within the public realm and increased residential densities” in the draft PSP.

According to the PSP guideline, potential canopy tree coverage within the public realm and open space should be a minimum of 30 per cent.

However, Council is concerned that it will not achieve this target in future streetscapes, as the draft PSP proposes higher housing densities than previous plans: 30 homes per hectare in some areas and 24 on average, compared to the 21-home average in the previous plans.

Council notes that front-loaded small lot homes, popular in Casey, are likely to dominate new developments, as the market isn’t ready for

apartment-style housing suggested in the draft PSP.

However, if not carefully managed, these increased homes can lead to too many driveways, reducing space for street trees and harming the look and feel of public areas. Unlike previous plans, the draft PSP increases housing density without including rules to protect the public realm.

Council is calling for a new requirement in the PSP: for lots 6 metres wide or less, vehicle access must come from a rear laneway to help ensure quality streetscapes are maintained.

When Casey’s submission was discussed at the May Council Meeting, Councillor Michelle Crowther said she supported the recommendation to maximise the street tree canopy by encouraging rear driveways in the smaller residential lots to allow more street tree planting.

“This councillor group is committed to improving Casey street tree canopy, and improving the design of this PSP will help achieve this goal,” she said.

Apart from these two objections, Council maintains that the State transport department should be the lead agency for the delivery of the relevant intersection projects, citing previous cost blowouts when the Council took on the intersection projects on a State road.

It also advocates for a more appropriately sized waterways and drainage network, believing the proposed one is “larger than necessary”, and “reduces developable land”.

Aside from the objections, Council officers highlight their support for requirements for the earlier delivery of mobile telecommunications infrastructure in the precincts.

The draft Casey Fields South Employment and Devon Meadows PSP is currently under review of submissions. A Planning Panel or Standing Advisory Committee may be required later to resolve the considerations in the submissions.

For more information, visit: vpa.vic.gov.au/ project/casey-fields-south-devon-meadows/

Uniting Church Lang Lang AUCTION: Saturday, 31st May 2025 at 10:00am

Ideally located in the heart of Lang Lang’s main street, this historic red brick church sits on a generous 689m² block and offers a rare

Ideally located in the heart of Lang Lang’s main street, this historic red brick church sits on a generous 689m² block and offers a rare chance to own a piece of local history. Surrounded by a friendly, close-knit community, it’s full of character and potential.

Zoned Neighbourhood Residential Zone 1 (NRZ1) within the Shire of Cardinia, the property supports a variety of possible uses such as Private Dwelling, Professional Office, Medical Centre, Café, Boutique, Retail (STCA).

of Cardinia, the property supports a variety of possible uses such as Private Dwelling, Professional Office, Medical Centre, Café, Boutique, architecture, and development potential, this beloved Lang Lang landmark is ready to be reimagined. Bring your creativity and vision—opportunities like this don’t come along often.

With its unbeatable location, timeless architecture, and broad development potential, this beloved Lang Lang landmark is ready to be reimagined. Bring your creativity and vision—opportunities like this don’t come along often.

Casey Council has identified major items for objections in its submission to the draft Casey Fields South Employment and Devon Meadows Precinct Structure Plan (PSP). (FILE)

By Violet Li

6 Bushy Road, Clyde North

Community market success

Crowds enjoyed a carnival of stalls, booths and food trucks at Casey Community Market in Hampton Park on Saturday.

Jacqui Leeanne, the market’s organiser, said there was a focus on homemade crafts as well as candles, toys and cooking ingredients.

“It’s to give the people who make their own things a place to come and sell them, and show them to the community.”

After hosting three of these markets, Jacqui is looking to foster a place where the local community in Hampton Park, and many others from Casey, can gather and engage with one another.

The event, just like the two before, was held at

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, with a good portion of the stalls run by members of and patrons of said church.

“There weren’t really many things like it going on around the area, and I thought, well, it really needs to happen,” Jacqui said.

“It does help the church, it is a fundraising opportunity, but at the same time, it’s a lot more than that. It’s a place for the community to come together, and have a space to enjoy.”

Despite being the primary organiser, Jacqui isn’t a big fan of calling it ‘her’ market.

While it’s true that she may direct its motion, she tells the stallholders that it’s “our market” and remains adamant that it’s a “place where everybody’s comfortable”.

Suwadee Tan with her Hampton Park Business “Lann Tum Buk Hug”. (Rob Carew: 479829_07)

The “Cassie David and Sarah acoustic trio” from left, Cassie, Sarah, David. (Rob Carew: 479829_03)

Ellen and Laura from “Scared Stitchless” their Hampton Park business. (Rob Carew: 479829_07)

Pakenham based Business “Green Gum Leaf”, Ben and Michael. (Rob Carew: 479829_06)

Jacqui Jacobs, market organiser from the Casey Community Market Association, was more than happy to see the market in full swing. (Rob Carew: 479829_08)

Artist Kathleen Kendall with husband Gordon selling Kathleen’s art on Cards, Mugs and Bags. (Rob Carew: 479829_05)

By Ethan Benedicto

Planning with the people

By Violet Li

Casey Council will prepare a planning report following the Casey Coastal Framework, with community consultation expected to gather input.

Casey Coastal Framework is a strategic plan endorsed by the Council last year to “provide direction, strategic justification, adaptation recommendations, guide change, and inform decision-making on how to respond to increasing coastal hazard risks”.

The Framework looks at future impacts from two directions: increased rainfall from storms and rising sea levels.

The Framework recommends a planning report as the next step, which was confirmed at a community information session by Casey Council in mid-May this year.

According to the Council, a Planning Report will provide important context and support for any future Planning Scheme Amendments to the Casey Planning Scheme, and the Casey coastal community will be engaged in future planning work.

The timeline for the report and the community consultation has not been pinned down yet.

Council notes that as the floodplain manager for the area the City of Casey is in, Melbourne Water is responsible for understanding and managing flood risks, who is a key partner in the planning process for sea level rise for the Westernport Bay, and Council will work closely with Melbourne Water in hazard adaptation and increasing resilience.

The information session, which aims to brief the community on the Framework and answer any relevant questions, attracted about 100 registrations.

At the community information session, a key question was asked several times by the community around the next steps for the Planning Report.

Participants showed strong interest in providing feedback when the proposed planning report came out, as some of them noted there were only 25 responses to an online survey for

the Casey Coastal Framework consultation, largely due to a lack of awareness in the coastal village community.

Anthony

Tassone, vice president of Casey

Residents and Ratepayers Association, said it is essential that the Council undertake an extensive and thorough consultation and engagement process from hereon before any potential planning scheme amendments are considered.

“A proper and genuine consultation needs to ensure good public awareness, sufficient time to participate and multiple ways that the community can provide feedback, both in-person at pop-up events at convenient locations and times, online surveys and the ability to provide written comments,” he said.

“It’s imperative that the Council also provide ongoing communication and updates as the coastal framework project progresses.”

Mr Tassone ran for Tooradin Ward in last year’s Casey Council election, where most of the coastal villages are located.

He talked with Star News back then, saying the Tooradin community felt let down by Casey Council, who he said rushed through the adoption of the framework without having genuine consultation.

He questioned the data sources and modelling used within the Framework, claiming that many locals did not see the perceived high risk in the Framework as credible.

The Framework shows that over 84 per cent of the general residential zone and all commercial areas in Tooradin are at a high risk of temporary inundation by 2100.

It suggests a general principle for planning to avoid new development or assets in coastal hazard areas.

The data and the modelling used in the Framework were another repetitive question asked by the community at the information session. Some residents expressed the wish that more up-to-date models could be used. Some were worried that the model could be conservative. Some asked if the team behind the Framework had measured any sea level rise personally in the area.

Continued Page 9

You’lllovelivingatCaseyGrangeVillage

Enjoyamodernretirementlifestyle,closetoshops,services andamenityinoneofVictoria’sfastestgrowingareas.

Yourbeautifulvillaisonlythebeginning.Asanextensionofyour newhome,ourresidentssharebeautifulcommunityfacilities –fromtheClubhouse,tothepool,tothevegetablegarden–there’senoughspacetoentertainandenjoyyourself.

CRRA vice president Anthony Tassone said it is essential that the Council undertake an extensive and thorough consultation and engagement process from hereon before any potential planning scheme amendments are considered. (Stewart Chambers: 436002)

Hope rises through ranks

By Sally Carruthers

At just 14 years old, Hope Gibson of Hampton Park is already making her mark in the world of Australian rules football.

A proud Year 8 student at Hampton Park Secondary College, Hope is juggling school life with an increasingly demanding football schedule — and excelling at both.

Hope first discovered footy at the age of seven when she joined Auskick.

Inspired by her dad and AFL great Nick Riewoldt, she proudly wore the number 10 while playing for the Hampton Park Junior Football Club — the same number as her idol.

A lifelong St Kilda fan, her passion for the sport was evident from day one and has only grown stronger.

Hope is also a proud young woman of Indigenous heritage, belonging to the Dalrymple tribe in Tasmania.

Her connection to culture and community is an important part of her identity and journey as a young athlete.

Now in her teens, Hope trains multiple days a week, balancing commitments with several teams.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are spent training with Lyndhurst Football Club, Wednesdays with the SEJ Interleague squad, and on her “rest” days, she often trains solo to stay sharp.

It’s a heavy workload for any teenager, especially when factoring in school, but Hope is unfazed. “The hardest part is how many sessions there are in a row,” she says. “But the best part is just playing footy and being around like-minded, passionate people.”

Injuries have added to the challenge — including a hamstring strain and a nagging rotator cuff issue — but she’s continued to show up and give her best.

Her determination is clear to anyone who sees her play.

Hope currently represents multiple teams, including U14 mixed, U16 girls, and SEJ Div 1 U14 girls. She also recently participated in the Next Generation Academy (NGA) and is part of St Kilda’s AFL Indigenous Academy for Girls.

From game-day experiences to media training and even helping design an Indigenous training jersey, the program has been a highlight in her journey so far.

When asked about her favourite position, she lights up: “I usually play fullback and full forward. I love full forward… but I also love taking kickouts from the boundary.”

Looking ahead, Hope has big goals.

In the short term, she’s hoping to step into more leadership roles within her teams.

“Some weeks are harder than others,” she admits, “but having a strong support system really helps.”

That support system starts at home. Hope credits her parents, Uncle Sean, and her coaches — Matt Reed, Luke Boston, Matt Taylor — along with her SEJ and NGA mentors for

Long term, she’s aiming for the Talent League, a spot with the Dandenong Stingrays, and eventually, to play for the St Kilda Women’s Football Team.

helping her stay grounded and motivated.

“My dad has definitely made the biggest impact,” she says. “And 100 per cent my teammates — I couldn’t do it without them.”

As a young woman in footy, Hope knows she’s part of a growing wave of change.

“I once heard a little boy say, ‘Dad, it’s a girl playing with the boys — won’t she get hurt?’ and his dad replied, ‘If she wants to play big boy footy, she can hold herself.’” It’s moments like these that fuel her fire. Hope’s message to other young athletes is simple but powerful: “Football can get really hard — but if you love it, keep pushing. You’ll make someone proud.”

- Sally Carruthers is cultural diversity and community engagement coordinator at Hampton Park Secondary College

Celebrating volunteers and driving in the City of Casey

The City of Casey’s L2P program celebrated National Volunteer Week and the Transport Accident Commission’s state-wide L2P clocking of a million hours on Thursday, 22 May.

The local program is spearheaded by 45 volunteer mentor drivers, having assisted over 300 people in obtaining their probationary license through the 120 hours required from the learner’s permit.

Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen, said that “it was such an honour to join the L2P coordinators and mentor drivers to celebrate National Volunteer Week”.

“The L2P program changes lives, giving young people free access to the supervised driving hours they need to get their license and gain independence,” he said.

State-wide, roughly 7,500 volunteers serve as the heart of the program, which has provided more than 23,000 young drivers across Victoria withtheessentialskillsforsafedrivingsince2009.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said that the program “plays a vital role in empowering and enhancing a young person’s confidence by teaching them to drive safely and reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities among young drivers”.

“Gaining a license also enhances a young person’s confidence and social independence, allowing them to engage with their friends and community, helping them access employment opportunities and education,” she said.

In Casey, the 45 volunteers have donated 3000

hours to provide learners with they key road safety and driving skills, with Mayor Koomen addin that “week after week, the mentors generously share their time”.

“They help learners build not just driving skills, but confidence and trust along the way; thank you to all our volunteers across Casey who make a difference in the lives of young people,” he said.

The L2P program matches learner drivers aged 16 to 21 years old who don’t have access to a car or a supervising driver with a fully licensed volunteer mentor and car to help them get the driving experience they need.

In addition to helping these younger drivers tack hours and skills into their log book, it also allows the volunteers to directly engage with their local community.

Tracey Slatter, TAC CEO, said that “the more

experience learner drivers can gain, the better equipped they will be to become safer solo drivers”.

“The TAC L2P program provides learner

drivers with equal access to driving experience and an opportunity to develop the skills and behaviours necessary for a culture of road safety in Victoria,” she said.

Hope Gibson has been selected in St Kilda’s AFL Indigenous Academy for Girls as well as multiple underage regional squads. (Stewart Chambers: 479812)

The City of Casey’s L2P driver mentor volunteers and young learners were joined by the councillors in celebration of National Volunteer Week. (Supplied)

Casey’s Mayor, Stefan Koomen and deputy mayor Melinda Ambros joined volunteers and learners in their journey to obtaining their probationary licenses. (Supplied)

Jail terms cut on appeal

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A musical-theatre couple from Berwick who collected copious child abuse material and fantasised about inflicting violent, sadistic abuse on children known to them have had their jail terms reduced on appeal.

Tristian Cullinan-Smayle, 38, had been jailed in 2023 by the Victorian County Court for 10 years, with a non-parole period of six years and seven months.

On appeal, his resentencing on 22 May totalled nine years jail with a six-year non-parole period.

Cullinan-Smayle had pleaded guilty to 22 charges against 18 identified child victims including using social media to procure child abuse material from two children under 16.

He possessed more than 3000 images and videos of child abuse material – 85 per cent being the most serious category.

He had also exchanged a large amount of

child abuse images, videos and text with his partner Benjamin Heels.

The couple, who were both part of the South East amateur performing arts scene, had committed much of the offending together.

Cullinan-Smayle was a chef running his own baking business and volunteering for performing arts groups.

Heels was a music teacher at Fountain Gate

Secondary College and a private music tutor for three performing art studios.

Both were without prior convictions and had Working with Children checks at the time.

They had fantasised about inflicting violent, sadistic and “seriously depraved” abuse of children known to them, according to the original sentencing judge.

“It is deeply depraved, confronting, explicit and without exception, provides extreme examples of child abuse,” the original judge said of the couple’s online chats.

“It explicitly describes violence, humiliation, and sadistic acts towards young and very young human beings.”

In the Supreme Court of Appeal on 22 May, judges Rowena Orr and Stephen Kaye noted that there was now a lack of parity with Heels’s sentence, whose jail term was substantially reduced on appeal last year.

“As a consequence of the successful appeal against sentence by Heels, it would not be possible to justify the differentiation that has resulted between the sentences imposed on (Cullinan-Smayle) and the sentences that are now imposed on Heels.”

Heels’ jail term of 11 years with a non-parole period of seven years and three months was found to be “manifestly excessive” by the Court of Appeal.

It was reduced to eight years with a fiveand-a-half year non-parole period.

The court found a sentencing “error” conceded by prosecutors at the Court of Appeal,

in which Heels was originally meted the same jail term for possessing child abuse material as Cullinan-Smayle.

This was despite Heels being found with 820 child abuse images and videos and Cullinan-Smayle with more than 3000.

After both resentencings, Justices Orr and Kaye stated it was “appropriate” that Cullinan-Smayle’s jail term now exceeded Heels’ sentence – despite the reverse in their original sentencings.

This was because his possession and transmission of child abuse material was “significantly graver”, and that he was also the “instigator” of much of the offending.

Heels was also found to have made fuller admissions to police.

On the other hand, Heels was the only one to commit sexual assaults against two children during private music lessons, in which the victims weren’t aware of the offending.

Planning report next step for our coastal communities

From Page 7

The Framework references modelling featured in the Western Port Local Coastal Hazard Assessment (Water Technology, 2014) and its updates (Water4Good, 2021).

According to the Council, this data is the “most sophisticated and fit-for-purpose studies available”. It has been publicly available for almost 10 years and is widely used for assessing coastal hazards.

City of Casey Tooradin Ward Councillor Jennifer Dizon said since being elected, she had learnt more about how the Coastal Framework was developed, and what it looked to address.

“I’ve been part of several discussions and

briefings with council officers about the Framework. I have learnt that this framework references the best available coastal hazard studies and data,” she said.

“I have had a number of Tooradin residents say to me that they’ve lived in the area for many years and during that time they have not seen the tides rise to the extent expressed in the Framework.

“However, a big takeaway for me is that the Coastal Framework doesn’t just look at rising sea levels, but the impacts of increased significant storms, which, combined with high tides, can temporarily flood areas not previously affected.

“As a community, we need to make sure

we’re prepared for storms that cause flooding. How will we respond when storms bring more frequent and severe flooding in our coastal areas? How can we ensure the infrastructure is sturdy enough? Is our community equipped to be resilient? That’s what this framework considers and plans for.”

Mr Tassone said it can’t be overstated how important the following planning process is.

“It cannot be rushed. It must be carefully considered because of what’s at stake for existing investments and livelihoods for residents in the area, and for the Coastal villages to fulfil their potential environmentally, culturally and economically,” he said.

“To inform potential future planning

scheme amendments, councillors will need to consider adaptation options. In the Coastal Framework report, it presents options ranging from: non-intervention, avoidance, retreating and protecting. We believe residents and ratepayers would expect their Council to take the necessary steps and make the necessary investments to protect and defend community, business, agricultural and residential assets in coastal areas.

“What we don’t want to see are unintended and detrimental outcomes that have the Council not wanting to invest in Coastal areas and decommissioning existing assets because of fears of potential climate hazards that could be decades away, if at all.”

Saturday 28th June 2025

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Unlocking hidden sound

By Ethan Benedicto

Local and aspiring artists have the chance to foster their talent and growth as GRID Series looks to open up four slots for its free South-East Melbourne Program in the City of Casey.

An artist development program that focuses on supporting outer suburban emerging musicians, such as those in Casey, GRID looks to provide platforms for music development, mentorship, documentary filmmaking and live performances.

N’fa Forster-Jones, better known as N’fa Jones and for his long list of works in the Australian hip hop scene, is one of GRID’s program managers and is more than keen to be a part of the journey.

“I am super excited, and this is what it’s all about; I was one of those people once, trying to find my way and figure out how to be an artist, looking for opportunities and connections into the industry,” he said.

“When I was young, I grew up in a real outer-suburban park of Western Australia, in Perth, so moving to Melbourne, I tried to find that connection and community.

“So I really love that we can go to these local communities, these areas, these neighbourhoods, and help find and foster some awesome talents.”

GRID looks to provide the four artists with six months and a chance to record a fully produced track with renowned producers Alice Ivy, UNO Stereo and Sensible J, as well as one-on-one mentorship with Jones himself, as well as Hanna Fox, the co-artistic director of Rising Festival.

Expressions of interest opened in April and remain so until 9 June, with Jones encouraging anyone who is interested to fill out the form, since “it might work out and it doesn’t, you’re still on the radar”.

Building on these skills, those chosen will also partake in a short documentary film that profiles each artist, as well as live performance opportunities across Casey.

Jones was one of the co-founders and the frontman of 1200 Techniques, a homebrewed Australian rap group that was pivotal to bringing the genre to the limelight in the early 2000s, with their hit single Karma ranking fourth in Triple J’s Hottest 100, and their album Choose One winning two ARIA Awards.

While the group was short-lived, going into hiatus roughly around 2005, it allowed members to pursue their personal journeys, with Jones launching his solo career with the album Cause An Effect.

In 2011, he adopted the moniker N’fa Jones and released his EP Babylondon; then in 2018, he co-founded Cool Out Sun, an Afro-funk and hip hop group known for its cultural musical fusion and socially conscious outlook.

Speaking on this experience, and his longevity in the field of music, he said that “it’s important for artists who are on the way up to feel like it’s actually tangible”.

“That it’s real people and they exist, versus just maybe seeing people from a distance and wondering how things work.

“But it’s also about having information on you know, pitfalls as well as the potential right steps.

“I think it’s really good to have information from people who’ve had both success and mistakes, because they can tell you where the mistakes were made, and where the success was,” he said.

Jones recalled that when he was younger, he felt that he needed to be the “first to do everything”, even sometimes not realising that those steps had already been made.

“I think you need people who have been through difficulties and obstacles to help you move forward, because they understand,” he said.

GRID’s focus is not music alone, but also other factors, as mentioned, that revolve around the making of and curating of music; factors that, if delivered with music simultaneously, can alleviate or completely alter its impact.

According to Jones, these aspects are just as important as pouring effort into a song, and that a multi-faceted approach can add to an artist’s forte.

“It’s approached in a high-end independent way, and while it doesn’t always happen, when it does happen to some artists, they can take this release of music and potentially move into a more, let’s say, pop culture environment,” he said.

“That’s the kind of goal here at GRID: to help nurture what people are about and what they’re doing, not tell them what to do, but help them grow.”

Jones knew of GRID and its work for some

time, but only recently joined the team in 2024.

When asked what drew him to the group, he said that it was because he was “inspired”.

“I was inspired by what it is, what it’s trying to do, it’s just so well thought out and holistic,” he said.

Speaking about the founder of GRID, Arik Blum, he recalled the journey of becoming a producer, setting up in Melbourne and experiencing the lack of traffic that his role received.

“Arik noticed there were only certain people who could come to the studio, since they basically had to come from money to be able to work, since he couldn’t give his time for free,” Jones said.

“So he was like, I can’t work with some of these interesting and edgy artists, how do I get access to them, and how do I give them something in return?

“So, that was the idea that built this, to be able to give opportunities to people who just can’t.”

For Jones, he took part in GRID because he saw a vision that gave those aspiring artists a chance to develop and hone their craft, to find their identity in the medium that they love.

Despite his escapades and his decorated career, he said that there are still career successes with music that he longs to have, and at the same

time, understands the struggle that many like him, especially those who are aspiring, encounter when it comes to breaking through.

“It’s sort of like asking a young athlete how to move forward, obviously you’ve got to take the steps,” Jones said.

“You’ve got to believe, and then there’s the element of understanding what you do, to get yourself that inch and fraction ahead.

“For a hundred metre run, everyone trains for that, but for example, one person might know how to lift their foot better, or certain little things like that.

“But at the end of the day, you need to love running, so whether you succeed or not, you’re enjoying it.”

According to Jones, the passion for the craft is what stands out the most, working in tandem with honesty with oneself, and a clear vision of what success would look like down the road.

“If you could do it any way you wanted, what would it look like? What would it sound like?” he said.

“Once you see that, stick to that idea, create your ideals, create your intention and work off that so that at the end of the day, no matter what happens, you’re happy with how you did it.”

Human rights and justice award for Wellsprings for Women

Wellsprings for Women has proudly received the Victorian Civil Justice Award from the Australian Lawyers Alliance in recognition of their commitment.

The South East organisation was nominated by Maurice Blackburn law firm for the award, which recognises individuals or organisations who have displayed an outstanding commitment to the pursuit of justice.

ALA Victorian president Susan Accary said Wellsprings embodies values of civil justice, “promoting human rights, equality and justice for women and enhancing community safety”.

“Notably the organisation has developed a family violence program that provides discreet support to women experiencing coercive control.

“Providing culturally relevant and trauma-informed services including legal support, counselling and housing help can be a lifeline for migrant women who face language, cultural and econom-

ic barriers when seeking assistance.

“This award acknowledges the hard work of all the staff and volunteers at Wellsprings for Women who make a critical difference in these women’s lives.”

For the past 30 years, the female-led organisation provides a wide variety of essential services to women from different walks of life, including new arrivals, those experiencing family violence, homelessness, those seeking new connections,

belonging, and women who are experiencing or who have experienced racism.

More than 350 women participate in a range of programs each week with the support of 80 volunteers, and the demand is expected to rise.

Wellsprings chief executive Dalal Smiley said the recognition was appreciated.

“Our work is amplified by the partnerships we are able to forge with like-minded organisations such as Maurice Blackburn, where more than 30 of their staff will be joining Wellsprings as volunteers to provide English-language tutoring to girls in Afghanistan who are prohibited from accessing education.

“At Wellsprings we have created an environment that nurtures and uplifts women to tap into their inner strength, connect with others, share stories, find their voice, develop their skills, claim their place in society, be safe and lead purposeful and intentional lives.”

N’fa Forster-Jones will be leading the mentorship program, eager to share his experience with those eager to hone their craft. (Supplied)

Wellsprings for Women staff show off the recently received Victorian Civil Justice Award.(Supplied)

Donuts and a fresh start

Come along to our June village open days and find out why so many love life at Summerset Cranbourne North. Grab a complimentary barista made coffee and a hot jam donut before exploring the beautiful open homes.

When you move into a Summerset village you can enjoy living in a warm, vibrant community with the peace of mind that if your needs change, we offer care and support in the village. Our continuum of care means that if your needs change, our dedicated and professional staff can offer a range of care and living options, subject to availability and entry criteria.

Our main building, once completed, is set to offer stunning resort-style facilities including a pool, spa, café, recreational bowling green, plus so much more. # Join your neighbours at the resident bar for happy hour or take advantage of one of our village outings – with so much to choose from, you’ll never be bored.

With a range of homes available now, you could be loving the Summerset life sooner than you thought*.

Love the life you choose.

Coffee, donuts, and village tours

Wednesday 11th & Wednesday 25th June 10am to 2pm

Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au

Creativity, culture on show

Casey Grammar has officially unveiled a new arbour on campus during a special Reconciliation Week event, celebrating student creativity, sustainability and cultural respect.

The arbour, a thoughtfully designed outdoor structure combining seating and artwork, provides a calm, inclusive space for students to gather, reflect and connect.

The School’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee commissioned the Year 11 Product Design and Technology students to design and build the arbour.

Under the guidance of teacher Peter Young, it has been months in the making. Constructed from recycled timber, its wave-like seating was designed to comfortably accommodate both younger and older students, making it a welcoming space for all.

Adding cultural depth to the structure are four artworks created by local Aboriginal artist Sam Richards of Connecting Two Worlds.

Each artwork represents one of the school’s four houses and was developed in collaboration with the Year 6 and Year 12 House Captains, who met with Ms Richards to share the values and messages they wanted expressed through Aboriginal symbolism.

“Our arbour now stands as a symbol of shared learning, creativity and cultural appreciation,” school chaplain Monique Riviere-Pendle said.

“It reflects the way students can contribute meaningfully to physically shaping our school, and our commitment to showing respect for Aboriginal culture in a visible way.”

The project also involved younger students, with a Year 5 class helping to sand the timber slats for the seat after visiting the Product Design and Technology room as part of their preparation for

their Reconciliation Week assembly.

The official opening, held on Monday 26 May, featured performances from the Year 4 Choir, who are participating in Reconciliation Australia’s Voices for Reconciliation program.

They joined choirs across the nation in performing Solid Rock.

The event also included the presence of artist

Ms Richards, the Product Design and Technology studentswhobuiltthearbour,theHouseCaptains who contributed to the design, and the school’s newly appointed RAP Reps - two representatives from each Year 3 to Year 6 class, who will now contribute to initiatives across the school.

Principal Fiona Williams said the arbour was an inspiring example of student-led action.

“This project beautifully weaves together de-

sign thinking, environmental awareness and a deep respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures,” she said.

“It’s a lasting and meaningful addition to our campus that will support reflection and learning for years to come.

“I’m incredibly proud of the students, staff and community members who brought this vision to life.”

Dream big and break stereotypes: Kids look to the future

By Violet Li

Students at St Francis de Sales Primary School in Lynbrook stepped into the shoes of their future selves by dressing up as their dream jobs for a special school event aimed at challenging gender stereotypes.

The “Dress Up as Your Dream Job” day on 26 May was part of the school’s Respectful Relationships curriculum, which encourages students to think critically about how gender roles are shaped in society and how they can impact career choices.

According to Rachel Lenko, the school’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, the day received a “very good” response, and parents also got involved.

“We had quite a few parents as well, either make a video talking about their job or coming in to talk to the kids about their job,” she said.

“We started off the normal part of the day, and then from 12:30pm on, the children did activities all about learning about gender roles and gender stereotypes and talking about what they want to do when they grow up and why.

“We then had lunch, we had parents come in and give a presentation about their job, and students kept asking questions about the job titles.”

Ms Lenko said the main takeaway was that students can choose to do whatever they want to do as a job.

“Boys

“We actually had a mum and a dad who were

“At school, we don’t ever use gender as a putdown with people or say that you can’t play be-

police officers. That was really good to see a male and a female in that job.

cause girls can’t play footy or boys can’t

Standing: Noah, Aarav, Rithu, Lincoln, Jeremiah, Rose, and Logan. Sitting: Allegra, Mina and Siona. (Stewart Chambers: 478415)

Noah (hotel business person), Siona (pilot) and Lincoln (electrician).

Students were unveiling the artworks at the new arbour.

A choir.

Casey Grammar principal Fiona Williams cut the ribbon.

Students were unveiling the artworks at the new arbour.

Artist Sam Richards addressed the students at the unveiling ceremony.

Students were unveiling the artworks at the new arbour.

Timber donations for groups

The Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills has provided the local Men’s Shed and a clearing centre with timber donations, adding to the local groups’ reserves for their projects.

John Ternel, president of the Rotary Club, said that as the recent president-elect, in light of the official handover, it was a move that supports “two local organisations doing fantastic work on the ground”.

“We’re proud TO back organisations that support our most vulnerable, from retirees and isolated individuals to new learners finding their feet,” he said.

The timber was sourced from Just Woods Australia Pty Ltd, with the donated wood going towards the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed and the Dandenong Community Learning Centre.

A Men’s Shed spokesperson said that “this kind of support makes a real difference”.

“Timber is expensive, and this gives us freedom to keep creating and sharing,” they said.

In addition to the donations, Ternal also announced that both organisations will be recipients of monthly donations from the Rotary to assist with their operations and programs.

Recognising their critical roles in fostering social connection, learning and wellbeing, Ternel also thanked Just Woods and owner Trevor Blake.

He added that “we’re grateful to Just Woods for stepping up as a business and doing their bit for the community”.

Accused hit-run driver bailed due to lack of evidence

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A Beaconsfield man charged over an alleged hit-run crash in Noble Park on Thursday 22 May has been bailed due to a lack of evidence that he was the driver, a magistrate has found.

Joshua Saunders, 27, denied he was the driver at a bail hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, where he faced charges such as dangerous driving causing serious injury and bail offences.

He and a 22-year-old Melton woman were arrested after a grey Ford hatchback and a grey Volkswagen Golf were allegedly ‘racing’ on Princes Highway and ran a red light at the Eastlink on-ramp intersection about 2.30pm, police say.

The Ford struck a male motorcyclist, resulting in him being hospitalised with a fractured lower leg. The “full extent” of his injuries were unknown, a police prosecutor told the court.

A witness parked her truck near the rider to protect him and gave first aid, the court heard.

Eyewitnesses say occupants including Saunders were in the Ford, but couldn’t confirm who the driver was.

Three or four of the occupants fled the scene, the court heard.

Saunders allegedly stayed, offloading

items from the Ford into the Golf. He was arrested with his co-accused girlfriend standing nearby.

Police claim that Saunders was found with cannabis and the Ford car keys – which he said he put in his pocket after the collision.

“I wasn’t driving, Your Honour,” Saunders told magistrate Gregory McNamara.

After his arrest, Saunders tested positive for meth during an oral-fluid test but allegedly refused to offer a blood sample.

Saunders’ other charges included recklessly causing serious injury, committing an indictable offence on bail, failing to answer bail, possessing cannabis, failing to assist at a serious-injury accident, refusing to provide a blood sample, cannabis possession, running a red light and negligently dealing with proceeds of crime.

Police opposed bail, arguing there was no compelling reason for Saunders’ release and that he was an unacceptable risk to public safety.

Senior Constable Kerrie Adams, of Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol, said she was concerned by his history of driving suspended and his “tendency to be in stolen vehicles and propensity for drug taking and possession”.

At the time, there were five outstanding

warrants for contravening community correction orders and failing to appear at court on 13 May.

He allegedly told police that he’d been given the wrong court date, the court heard.

Saunders was on bail at the time on charges of threatening serious injury during a group’s aggravated carjacking of an Uber Eats driver, drug possession, driving while suspended, and theft of two motorcycles and two cars.

Sen Const Adams said Saunders’ priors included driving while suspended or disqualified, drug driving, breaching CCOs and intervention orders, drug possession, indictable offences on bail and threatening to kill.

Police were still doing checks on who owned the Ford, which had no rego plates.

“At this stage we believe the vehicle was not stolen.”

Saunders’ defence lawyer said the prosecution case was “inherently week” with “a paucity of information to substantiate some of these serious charges”.

He had a valid probationary licence at the time, with a “good commitment to bail” having complied with appointments on the CISP bail program.

He had one prior for failing to answer bail and one missed court date in the past six years, she argued.

The “exceedingly vulnerable young man” had an “incredibly tragic” and profoundly disadvantaged upbringing of “considerable tumult and trauma”.

Since February, he was being treated for serious mental health issues such as ADHD, borderline personality disorder, PTSD and reactive attachment disorder.

The lawyer said he had a stable home with a friend in Hallam but couldn’t remember the street number. He also had access to three nights’ emergency accommodation through a support service.

Magistrate Gregory McNamara said the alleged driving was “outrageous” and “extraordinarily reckless and irresponsible”.

It was difficult to imagine the pain and upset for the victim, he said.

Saunders had considerable driving priors, including drug driving, but not of speeding or of the type of reckless behaviour in the current matter.

Ultimately, Mr McNamara said he granted bail due to the insufficient evidence that Saunders was driving.

Saunders was bailed to appear at a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 30 May. His bail conditions include weekly reporting to police, 24-hours to report any change of address, not to associate with his co-accused girl friend and not to drive.

Jon Ternel at the timber handover with the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed. (Supplied)

Storytime across the nation

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Libraries and a host of other venues across Australia hosted simultaneous readings of children’s book The Truck Cat readings.

The 25th annual National Simultaneous Storytime at 12pm on Wednesday 21 May included Casey mayor and dad Stefan Koomen reading for kids at Myuna Farm, Doveton.

He was joined by fellow reader, Sunny Lesionek from Connected Libraries as well as some of the farm’s resident reptiles and animals.

“It was great to see so many Casey families getting involved and sticking around to enjoy the animals and sunshine,” Koomen later posted on social media.

Meanwhile, more than 2.2 million tuned online to a national live-streaming of The Truck Cat at Springvale Library.

The author Deborah Frenkel read her work to a captive audience of about 100 students seated in the library – as well as many more on YouTube.

The book’s illustrator Danny Snell demon-

strated how to draw the

She was struck how the cat started purring, with her partner commenting that the

was like it belonged to a truck driver. And so the story was born.

‘truck cat’. Frenkel spoke of how she wrote the book after nursing

injured cat as her husband drove them to the vet.

feline

Kalina with a cat puppet and Connected Libraries childrens and youth officer Sunny Lesionek during the storytime at Myuna Farm. (Gary Sissons: 476727)

Casey mayor Stefan Koomen reading the Truck Cat with Connected Libraries’ Sunny Lesionek and young Kalina. (Gary Sissons: 476727)

Saleha loved the cat puppet and the animal signs. (Gary Sissons: 476727)

WHAT’S ON

City of Casey’s National Reconciliation Week free community event

Join us in the Bunjil Place Plaza for a free community event today, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The event will include:

A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at 4:00 pm

A Flag Raising Ceremony at 4:45 pm.

Storytime at Bunjil Place Library at 5:00 pm. Places are limited and bookings are required. Visit: events.connectedlibraries.org.au/ event?id=143622

Live music by Charlie Needs Braces at 5:30 pm - enjoy an energetic and engaging musical performance.

A screening of The Last Daughter at 6:45 pm. Bookings are required. Visit: events.connectedlibraries.org.au/event?id=141778

A variety of hands-on cultural activities - get creative and make something to take home as a reminder of the meaningful evening.

• Everyone is welcome. We invite you to come together, connect, and celebrate.

Bakhtar Community Organisation

Bakhtar Community Organisation is pleased to introduce Becoming Whole Again, a 6 – 10 week psychoeducational group program designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria.

Commencing on Thursday, 13 June at 11AM, the program will take place at Bakhtar Community Organisation, 23–47 Gunns Road, Hallam VIC 3803.

Facilitated by experienced practitioners Kellie King and Matthew Shires, this trauma-informed initiative creates a safe, inclusive space to explore identity, healing, and belonging through storytelling, art, movement, and community connection. The program is designed to be fully accessible, requiring no reading or writing skills, and includes the use of easy English, visual aids, and interpreters or translated materials where available. Each participant will be guided in creating a personal Living Book, a visual journal reﬂecting their unique journey.

• For registration, please contact the organisation. M: (03) 9703 2555 Email: info@bakhtar.org. au

Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce

Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Frankston Business Collective, are proud to announce that the Victorian Small Business Commissioner, Lynda McAlary-Smith, is coming to Cranbourne on 19 June 2025!

The presentation will cover the role of the Victorian Small Business Commission in assisting small businesses, including: Helping small businesses know their rights and obligations to resolve disputes; Pre-mediation and low-cost mediation; Guidance for small businesses in areas such as retail leasing rights.

• Date: Thursday 19 June 2025 Doors open 6.30pm

• 7pm Presentation by Lynda McAlary-Smith, Victorian Small Business Commissioner

• VENUE: Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre, Cranbourne North

• FREE for Members, $20 for Non-Members

Casey Winter Arts Festival

Time: 20 June - 20 July

In 2025, we are inviting you to “Cozy up” at the Winter Arts Festival and get to know the talented local artists who make our community shine. Whether it’s exploring exhibitions and demonstrations, enjoying a live show, or participating in hands-on workshops, this festival invites you to experience the rich variety of artistic expressions that make our local arts scene so unique.

Theatre companies, artists, crafters, dancers, community groups, venues and libraries are hosting an exciting range of events and activities for people of all ages, so join us and discover the diverse voices shaping our creative landscape.

• To see the programs, visit: casey.vic.gov.au/ winter-arts-festival

Broadway Legends concert

Cranbourne Chorale presents “Broadway Legends” with guest artists Teresa Ingrilli and Stephen Coutts. Afternoon tea is included and served after the performance.

• 22 June, 2.30pm at Cranbourne Community Theatre, Brunt Street, Cranbourne. Tickets: cranbournechorale.com.au/events, 0438 358 032 or at the door; $25/$20/under 12 $5.

U3A Casey – Funky Dance Class

Seniors are invited to try out this new movement to music class, provided by U3A Casey. No formal

dance steps or partners required, as you move a whole range of body parts to many different types of music, including 50’s & 60’s, pop, country, jazz, Latin-American, etc. Includes 10 minutes of meditation. Some moves will be free-standing while others are done from the safety of a chair. After your ﬁrst try-out, U3A membership is $60 to continue with Funky Dance or to take part in any of our other 75 classes.

• When: Mondays from 1.15 pm to 2.15 pm

• Where: Hunt Club Family Community Centre, 40 Broad Oak Drive, Cranbourne East.

• Enquiries: Visit our website: u3acasey.org.au

• Phone our ofﬁce on 0493 280 458

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-judgmental environment. Men are able to share ideas and life experiences, 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 enjoyable 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.

• Weeklyactivitytimes-LineDancingMon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.

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

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

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

• Sewing Classes – Thursdays during school terms- 9:30-11:30am - Learn the basics of sewing and make bags and simple garments. Sew for charity. - $5 per session.

• Conversational English Classes – Thursdays 9.30am-11.30am during school terms - Come along to practice and improve your English skills in a relaxed environment comfortable, casual classes with a friendly, patient tutor - $5 per class.

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

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

• Career & Employment Counselling for Job Seekers – alternate Wednesdays starting 7th May 9:00 am – 1:00 pm - Career counsellors from Chisholm Skills and Jobs Centre are available to work with you on writing your resume, support you to apply for jobs or help you identify your next steps in looking for work. Fortnightly by appointment – Free

• New Day Care Hours - NOW OPEN - 9am until 3pm. We have spots available in our nurturing and fun Day Care, which prioritises the well-being and growth of every child. Children from 2 months to 5 years can now attend from 9am until 3pm up to 5 days a week.

• Call 03 5996 9056 or email mpcs@merindapark.com.au for more information or to register your child.

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

• All the above are held at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, 141 - 147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North 3977

• For more information and bookings, call - 5996 9056

of this notice.

BETWEEN: IAN JOHN DAVIS of 622 Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. APPLICANT

AND:ESETA SOOONAWAI of 147 Merryland Road, Merryland, Australia. RESPONDENT NOTICE

TO:ESETA SOQONAWAI of 147 Merryland Road, Merryland, Australia.

TAKE NOTICE that the Applicant IAN JOHN DAVIS of 622 Ryde, New South Wales, Australia has now lodged a Form 1 Application with the Family Court of Fiji Islands at Suva seeking Dissolution of Marriage. AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Application for Dissolution of Marriage is fixed for Mention on the 3rd DAY OF June 2025 at 9:30o'clock in the forenoon.

AND that it has been ordered that service on you of Form 1 be effective by this advertisement. If you desire to be heard then you must attend the Family Court, Suva at Government Buildings on the date and time mentioned above, failing which the Application may be heard in you absence.

A copy of the said Application with a Notice containing information for you may be obtained from the Applicant; IAN JOHN DAVIS of 622 Ryde, New South Wales, Australia, the Family Court Registry, Government Buildings, Suva.

AND any person Knowing of the whereabout of ESETA SOOONAWAI of 147 Merryland Road, Merryland, Australia, and is able to read this notice can contact the Family Court Registry, Government Buildings, Suva

Write Signed And Stamped 5.05.2025

IN THE MAGISTRATE COURT OF FIJI AT SUVA FAMILY JURISDICTION

Family Case No. 25/SUV/0051

AND: IAN JOHN DAVIS APPLICANT AND: ESETA SOQONAWAI

Eagles wings clipped again

By Blair Burns

Cranbourne conceded six unanswered goals in the first quarter against Springvale Districts and never managed to find its way back into the contest as it lost its sixth consecutive game.

The Eagles remain the only team yet to win a game in the Southern Division 1 competition after the 62-point loss at Springvale Reserve last weekend.

The Demons, at their home ground, got the jump on Cranbourne and kicked their first goal just two minutes into the match with some fast end-to-end ball movement.

Eagles’ Jake Stephens earned some early free kicks in the ruck as the Lewis Robbins replacement and was performing well, before he conceded two quick goals in a bad couple of minutes.

After earning a free kick in a ruck contest in the defensive 50, he turned the ball over across halfback which resulted in a Matt Wetering goal, and then gave away a free kick and a 50 metre penalty at the next centre bounce, resulting in another goal.

Wetering kicked another for Springy shortly after and Cranbourne was already behind 24-0 after just nine minutes of play.

Coach Angelo Soldatos said the past three weeks had been disappointing and acknowledged that there was no easy fix to turn the season around.

“This isn’t a click the fingers and everything is going to be okay situation, we need to get to work and get better,” he said.

“It’s a similar story (to previous weeks), we are just killing ourselves with our ball use … some of our turnovers were horrific.

“Everyone turns it over but they were not ones you can defend, we literally handed them the ball in spots where they could have a shot on goal.”

The Cranbourne team, which was without Bailey Buntine, Matt Alister and Glenn Osborne (away at a wedding), needed to lift and it did.

Captain Zak Roscoe had plenty of the ball in the opening quarter and was clean in heavy traffic to kick the Eagles’ first goal for the day.

Mitchell Tharle and Ryan Jones kicked goals late in the term for Cranbourne and reduced the margin back to 17 points, but they were still playing catch-up footy.

Springvale Districts went on to score 5.4 in the second term with the wind, keeping the visitors to just 0.1 and the game was all but over.

Despite some resistance in the third quarter, the Demons dominated the final quarter to turn a 36-point three-quarter time margin, into 62 points at the final siren.

Jarryd Barker (22 disposals, 11 marks) was named Cranbourne’s best player, while Andrew Green (30 disposals, 12 marks) and Roscoe (20 disposals, one goal) worked hard.

Romeo Bellinvia made his senior debut for the Eagles and provided plenty of energy.

“I thought he was good and looked pretty comfortable at the level, he is quick and has played some really good footy in the Under-19s and Reserves,” Soldatos said.

Former Collingwood and Noble Park star Kyle Martin was dominant with 38 disposals and two goals, leading the way for Springvale Districts.

In a season where it has been hard to find positives at times, Cranbourne’s Tom Freyer has been a shining light, as he relishes a pre-season positional change.

The key defender produced one of the best five-disposal performances that you’ll see and was named as one of the Eagles’ best players.

“He has been a ruckman throughout his career, but we have played him as a key defender all season and he’s barely had a goal kicked on him,” Soldatos said.

“I sat down with him in the pre-season and asked if he’d want to have a crack at playing as a key back and he was really open to it … I don’t think he’s been beaten yet.”

But unfortunately for Cranbourne, the losses continue to mount up, which is putting more and more pressure on the young team as it tries to get the monkey off the back.

And the team may not get a better opportunity for a win than this weekend as the side takes on Port Melbourne.

Much like the Eagles, the Colts have also been hit with injury this season and have struggled onfield as a result, with a 1-5 season record.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 REVIEW - ROUND 6

“All of the games are pretty important for us now, given where the win-loss sits and what the season is sort of looking like,” Soldatos said.

“It’s a big game and both sides are sort of in a similar boat … neither of us are in the position we probably wanted to be in, or thought we were going to be in.”

In other games across Division 1, Murrumbeena caused an upset against Narre Warren to win by 23 points at the Lions’ den.

After winning their first three matches of the season, the Magpies have now lost three in a row and have another tough task against Bentleigh this weekend.

While it is not panic stations for Narre Warren just yet, the side cannot afford to drop games like this if it is to play finals later in the season.

The Magpies had the upper hand in the first quarter kicking six goals to two, to take a handy 24-point buffer into the first break, but the clash tightened up after the first break.

Murrumbeena led by six points at half time and five points at three-quarter time, before putting the visitors away in the final quarter to get its second win of the year.

The two big forwards who teamed up last weekend in the interleague clash, Ed Standish (10 disposals, three goals) and Jake Richardson (18 disposals, four goals, eight marks) led the way at each end.

Another interleague representative and Narre Warren captain Joel Zietsman (16 disposals, one goal) was named best on ground for the Magpies,

while Pete Gentile (30 disposals, four marks) had the footy on a string.

Dingley continues to pass every challenge that is thrown at it, defeating St Paul’s McKinnon by 49 points as the Bulldogs coughed up a 16-point half-time lead.

Brayden O’Toole , Sam Hilton-Joyce (two goals each) and Matthew O’Brien (26 disposals, one goal) were best for the Bulldogs, while Jack Ferraro and Tom Morecroft kicked four goals each for the Dingoes.

After thumping Cranbourne last week, Bentleigh sent a message to the rest of the competition as it defeated East Brighton by 31 points.

Caleb Sheahan (32 disposals, one goal, 13 tackles) was impressive, along with Andrew Walker (27 disposals, nine tackles) and Mitchell Smart (10 disposals, 10 tackles, 51 hitouts).

While Cheltenham defeated Port Melbourne by 42 points thanks to outstanding performances from Alec McComb (four goals) and ex-Saint Jack Lonie.

Riley Stafford battled hard for the Colts with three goals, but the side will now shift its focus to Cranbourne next week, with a win in its sights.

SOUTHERNDIVISION1

SPRINGVALEDISTRICTS

Springvale Goals: Matt Wetering 3, Josh Bradley, Daniel Helmore, Ricky Johnson, Kyle Martin 2, Liam Giove, Kyle Hendy, Brody Ledder, Jamie Nguyen, Jackson Sketcher. Best: Zane Merdanovic, Kyle Martin, Xavier Woodland,

Cory Hutchinson, Josh Bradley, Ricky Johnson. Cranbourne Goals: Kyle Lanham 2, Nicholas Darbyshire, Ryan Jones, Zak Roscoe, Mitchell Tharle. Best: Jarryd Barker, Andrew Green, Tom Freyer, Jake Stephens, Jake Cowburn, Damon Krake.

MURRUMBEENA

NARREWARREN

MurrumbeenaGoals: Ed Standish, Byron Wright 3, Pat Bannister, Blake Meadows 2, Lucas Cloke, James Corboy, Louis Nousis, Thomas Rigby, Dareo Rogers, Mitch Virtue. Best: Samuel Michael, Nicholas Minchin, Pat Bannister, Nathan Scollo, Louis Nousis, Ed Standish. Narre Warren Goals: Jake Richardson 4, Jesse Davies, Hamish West 2, Julian Goerlitz, Jett Kearney, Brayden Sharp, Joel Zietsman. Best: Joel Zietsman, Trent Papworth, Jake Richardson, Peter Gentile, Hayden Dwyer, Riley Siwes.

OTHER GAMES – Rd 6: Bentleigh 13.11(89) def East Brighton 8.10(58), Cheltenham 13.15(93) def Port Melbourne 7.9(51), Dingley 18.10(118) def 10.9(69).

LADDER: Dingley 24, East Brighton, Bentleigh, Cheltenham, St Paul’s McKinnon 16, Springvale Districts 12, Narre Warren, Murrumbeena 8, Port Melbourne 4, Cranbourne 0. FIXTURE – Rd 7:

Dingley (1) v Murrumbeena (8), Cranbourne (10) v Port Melbourne (9), East Brighton (2) v Springvale Districts (6), Cheltenham (4) v St Paul’s McKinnon (5), Narre Warren (7) v Bentleigh (3).

Cranbourne’s Adrian Russo get’s a handball away against Springvale Districts. (Blair Burns: 480625)

Tom Freyer was one of the Eagles’ best in defence.Coach Angelo Soldatos gives his team directions at three-quarter time.

Local girls fired up

By Jonty Ralphsmith

There were 24 local girls in action for Vic Country in a pair of U18s trial matches against Vic Metro at La Trobe University, Bundoora on Sunday.

A total of 14 Dandenong Stingrays girls and 10 Gippsland Power players took the field in a match which assists with the selection of the national championships squad, with Vic Country winning the first game, before being defeated in the second clash with Vic Metro.

Dandenong AFL Academy member Mizuki Brothwell and twin sister Nalu were among the standouts for the Stingrays.

Mizukistartedasadefenderbeforemovinginto the midfield and showing her class, while Nalu was a reliable marking option forward of the ball.

Matilda Argus was another Stingray to have nice moments while the smooth-moving, silkyskilled bottom-aged Alice Cunnington’s grit and competitiveness in a second game that went against Vic Country was impressive.

From a Gippsland Power perspective, Pakenham’s Abby Hobson continued her terrific start to the season and mounted a strong case for inclusion in Vic Country’s final squad.

Hobson’ willingness to fly for the footy and crash packs made her a likely target all day and she finished with two goals to go with two direct goal assists.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick was at her combative best, while her smarts and composure in the backline rounded off her game well.

AFL Academy member Ella Stoddart started on Oakleigh’s Bailee Martin, who has 27.15 from just five games this season, and did an excellent job clamping down on her.

Baia Pugh was also among the standouts, continuing her rapid rise in 2025.

The winger/halfback had not previously been

exposed to Coates League footy prior to 2025, but athleticism, explosive speed and goal sense have put her on the map this year and all her attributes were on show on Sunday.

LOCAL GIRLS AT TRIALS

DANDENONG STINGRAYS: Nikita Harris, Indi Sherritt, Zoe Zach, Nalu Brothwell, Mizuki Broth-

GIPPSLAND POWER: Acacia Sutton, Baia Pugh, Lily

Grace

Classy Casey Demons crushing Bullants

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Casey is back on the VFL winners’ list brushing aside the Northern Bullants 17.19(121) to 7.8(50) at Genis Steel Oval, Preston, on Saturday.

The Dees had 13 scoring shots to two in the first quarter as the class difference was immediately clear.

Bailey Laurie had 2.2 by quarter time, and finished with 27 disposals to continue to press his case for an AFL return, having averaged 30 disposals across the past three rounds.

Jack Billings and Mitch Hardie were alongside him to help Casey win the clearances 51-26 and inside 50s 69-36.

Matt Jefferson led the way up forward with five goals, while Jacob Van Rooyen took a game-high 13 marks for a return of 2.3 as he tries to return to his best form.

A 100-point victory looked likely at threequarter-time, as the Dees led by 86 points and held the Bullants to just one goal, before the hosts kicked six goals to four in the last term.

Rays of hope

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Jasper Russell and Callum Smith have led Dandenong to a comfortable 13.11(89) to 8.8(56) victory over Bendigo at Shepley Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Missing starting midfielder Sam Lewis to a hand injury, winger Toby Sinnema to suspension and several others through school football commitments, Russell and Smith stood up against a Pioneers outfit shouldered by 2026 Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker.

The hard-running Russell finished with 29 disposals, while Smith, the grandson of footballing royalty Kevin Bartlett, got the opportunity to shine in the midfield, combining 26 disposals with a goal.

The pair won plenty of the footy in the first half, to help the Stingrays set up a match-winning 29-point halftime lead.

Considered an outside chance to be selected for the Mid-Season Draft on Wednesday, lockdown defender Adrian Cole did his chances no harm with 15 disposals and eight marks in a strong aerial showing.

At the other end, Tom Hose was the pick of the forwards kicking four goals, three of those coming in the first 30 minutes of game time.

The 192cm forward had just one goal from four games entering the fixture and showed his strength overhead with some strong grabs.

2027 Port Adelaide father-son eligible selection Louis Salopek was Dandenong’s only other multiple goal kicker, slotting two in his second game at the level, while Vic Country trialist Jay-De Varlet also looked dangerous, finishing with 1.3.

With Brighton Grammar having a bye, Vic Country summer hub member Josh Granger was also in action and played as a forward/ruck, having been showcased in defence to start the season.

The result against the struggling, bottomof-the-table Ants takes Casey to 13th on the ladder, drawing them within two points of the finals-bound top 10 ahead of a bout with Sydney at Tramway Oval on Saturday, at 1.35pm. Meanwhile, Casey’s VFLW winless streak continued, going down to Darebin 8.10(58) to 2.2(14).

quarter and fell 23 points behind before Zoe Mitchell put through their first major midway through the second quarter.

The Demons conceded two goals in each

The Dees have Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday, 12.05pm.

Drouin’s Atkins makes his announcement

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Gippsland midfielder Brodie Atkins led a monumental effort by the Power on Saturday with his 35 disposalshelpinghisteamtoa13.14(92)to2.14(26) victory over Oakleigh at Morwell.

Unbelievably, Gippsland did not concede a goal until the five-minute mark of the last quarter.

Leaning on his typical hard-nosed, ball-winning ways, Atkins helped his team dominate contested possession and clearances, consistently feeding the best ball-users.

With Vic Country having fewer pure midfielders than most years, Atkins will hope to find his way into the squad for the under-18s national championships.

The Drouin local has averaged 24 disposals and seven tackles in 2025, underlining his consistency.

Fighting alongside the acting skipper in the clinches was Moe’s Luke Cheffers, who finished with 28 disposals and two goals to continue a rich vein of form, while Warragul Industrials’ Cody Templeton was also tough.

That trio’s dominance allowed Adelaide father-son prospect Mitch Stevens and pick one contender Willem Duursma to show off their strengths, finishing with 53 disposals between them.

The standout forward was Jobe Scapin, who has found form at the right time, with the championships being less than a fortnight away.

The utility’s past two games have been his best,

with Scapin combining 22 disposals and two goals as a half forward.

Swung down back in the absence of interceptor Zac Walker due to concussion, namesake Jonah Walker was another standout for the Power.

A strong pre-season and enormous practice game as the anchor of the Power’s forward line provided cause for optimism that a big year beckoned.

Despite winning a Vic Country trial, Walker hadn’t shown his potential until Saturday, where he took a game-high 12 games, using his strong 191cm frame to his advantage.

The 5-1 Power take on GWV on Sunday 11am at Windy Hill, with the girls game to follow against Bendigo Pioneers.

The Stingrays boys take on Tasmania at Shepley Oval at 11am on Saturday, with the girls game to follow at 1.30pm.

It will be the girls’ first game under new coach Nathan Boyd, who crosses to the program after more than two years as Gippsland Power girls head coach.

Acting skipper Brodie Atkins staked his claim for Vic Country selection on Saturday. (AFL Photos)

Jacob Van Rooyen took a game-high 13 marks for Casey. (Rob Carew: 478111)

Jasper Russell’s overlap run was excellent on Saturday. (Black Boot Photography: 480262)

well, Sophie White, Marlee Black, Molly Reimers, Scarlett Marsh, Alice Cunnington, Charlotte Gilmore, Lily Snow, Evelyn Connolly.

Milner,

Dillow, Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Abby Hobson, Chelsea Sutton, Ella Stoddart, Maya Crestani, Addison Howe.

Evelyn Connolly was among the Vic Country girls trialists. (Rob Carew: 430152).