Humble heroes
Community champions speaking out for refugees and the environment have been lauded in the King’s Birthday Honours List released late on 8 June.
Shabnam Safa and Judith Sise have been awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAMs) for their bold deeds in the South East region.
Fueled by her own forced displacement, Safa has toiled for justice and a better system for refugees and migrants.
Shocked by her OAM accolade, she says she’s been driven by a sense of “moral duty” and “calling” in her work with groups such as Centre for Multicultural Youth, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia and the Australian Refugee Advisory Panel.
She hopes the award spotlights the contributions of people from refugee backgrounds who “do incredible things and achieve major success despite facing structural barriers”.
“When you’re supporting refugees it’s not a feel-good phrase or charity work.
“It’s recognising people’s humanity and building policies and systems that reflect shared humanity regardless of who you are and where you come from.”
Meanwhile, former teacher Sise remains a tireless environmental champion with Friends of Braeside Park, Greater Dandenong Environment Group, Gardens for Wildlife and Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.
“The hardest thing about caring for the en-
vironment is trying to change people’s perceptions,” she said.
“People have to be willing to accept change and to think differently. What we do has repercussions for not just ourselves but our whole community.
“I guess the biggest thing I would like to see is people thinking that we’re part of nature and biodiversity. We’re not above it.”
Receiving an OAM reinforces the value of her work.
“It makes me feel that someone’s seen what I’ve done. They believe in what I’m doing — and they want me to keep going. And I will. Absolutely.”
More on the story, turn to pages 4 and 5
Shabnam Safa OAM says she hopes her award will spotlight the incredible work of refugees.
Judith Sise OAM who helps care for the Braeside Park wetlands. (Stewart Chambers: 482582)
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.
2 June Roll up your sleeve and donate today!
National Blood Donor Week (9 to 15 June) recognises all of Australia’s blood donors who make a life-changing difference to the lives of strangers. City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen recently visited the Narre Warren North Pop Up Blood Donor Centre to roll up his sleeve and donate blood for the first time.
Celebrating
Our community is rich with wisdom and experience, and we want to celebrate our most senior members.
If you, a family member, or a friend has reached the wonderful age of 100 or more, we would love to connect with you.
We are planning a special event later in the year to honour our centenarians and would be delighted for them to attend this memorable celebration.
Please visit our website for more information.
Lifeblood needs more than 1.7 million donations every year to meet the growing demand for blood products in Australia.
Eligible residents can book an appointment today by scanning the QR code or calling 13 14 95.
In partnership with the Melbourne Football Club, we are excited to offer the six-week #CaseyGirlsCan women’s football program.
This social and supportive environment is the perfect way to have a go at footy – for free!
www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1401467
Scan the QR code to book.
Cement your business’ place as a leader in business by applying for the Casey Business Awards 2025.
All applicants receive invaluable, tailored feedback from a panel of expert judges, while winners receive highly-publicised accolades and cash prizes.
Scan the QR code to find out more and begin your application.
Casey Conversations
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.
• New dog park at Sweeney Reserve, Berwick: we are seeking your feedback on the on what the park will look like.
• Park and Play Hub: find out which sites are being upgraded in your community and and tell us what you think.
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen and Chloe at the Narre Warren North Pop Up Blood Donor Centre.
#CaseyGirlsCan 2025 women’s football program
Casey’s Centenarians
Little aths club still in limbo
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The once-doomed Robert Booth Reserve’s athletics facility and its little athletics club may earn a stay of execution, but their fates still hang in the balance.
A council report to be tabled on 10 June proposes a $100,000 masterplan that weighs up the closure of the track which is home to Dandenong Little Athletics Club.
Options include returning the venue to open space or doing remedial repair works to continue the facility.
Prior to the report, the club had been advised by the council to relocate to the recently-upgraded Ross Reserve after the 2024-25 season.
The new report was “a pause, not a lifeline” for the “family club”, says DLAC president David Daff, who has been fighting to retain the facility.
“There’s more hope now than there’s been for a long time.”
Daff says that moving would destroy the club, estimating that half of the families and members would drop out due to not having the time or means to relocate to Ross Reserve.
Many of the kids live close to Booth Reserve, walking and riding their bikes down to the track after school.
Ross Reserve is about a 90-minute round-trip by public transport.
The reserve’s lush grass running track, long jump pits, discus, shot put and javelin fields have been home to DLAC for the past 40 years.
Its membership had more than doubled in the past two years to 69 at present.
Greater Dandenong Council says it’s not feasible to keep the facility, which it notes borders with City of Casey.
It argues that Booth Reserve presents “significant financial, safety and reputational risks” in its current state.
This year, two schools had opted out of holding carnivals at Booth in favour of Ross Reserve.
Future school carnivals would be banned at Booth until a decision was made on the facility’s future, the report stated.
The council estimates about $416,000 is required to fix the “high-risk” areas and $250,000plus to fix the track’s drainage.
A full track reconstruction was estimated to cost $2 million-plus in 2019, according to the council.
Daff says the costs are over-stated, arguing the council’s assessment was based on international adult standards. Requirements such as a 33-metre javelin run-up were not applicable for little aths.
In order to stay at Booth Reserve, the DLAC has offered to help maintain, upgrade and repair the facility, or to share the venue with other sports.
The club will seek sponsors to help fund the repair effort, Daff says.
About $100,000 would fix the most urgent need – the track’s broken sprinklers, which the council had declined to fix, he said.
Last summer, kids and parents made ‘bucket runs’ to water the 100-metre track after training and meets.
According to the council, if the masterplan is approved, it will cost $23,000 to keep the centre
open for another season.
The council’s $240,900 allocated to “decommission” the facility and return it to open space would be diverted towards the masterplan and future maintenance or works.
Last year, Greater Dandenong Council’s community strengthening executive director Peta Gillies said its 2019 athletics development plan found that “it was not feasible to service two athletics facilities in Greater Dandenong”. It also concluded that “the completion of the $6.6 million Ross Reserve Athletics Facility would result in the decommissioning of Robert Booth Reserve Athletics Facility”.
Coach David Daff holding the high jump bar, Joydeep clears this height.
Dandenong Little Athletics Club on the Robert Booth Reserve grass track. (Gary Sissons: 429992)
Dandenong Little Athletics members Mason, Joydeep, Charlie and Nathan on their home track. (Gary Sissons: 429992)
Environmental crusader
By Ava Cashmore
When Judith Lynette Sise received the letter notifying her of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), she was stunned.
“It was a bit of a surprise in lots of ways,” she admits.
“I can think of lots of people who have done probably as much or more than me.
“But it’s also a surprise that’s quite pleasing — to think that somebody has recognised and is aware of what I’m doing.”
For more than two decades, Sise has been an advocate for conservation, the environment, and education.
Her contributions are deeply woven into the natural landscapes of the south-east suburbs, and the minds of young children.
She is the current President and Nursery Coordinator of Friends of Braeside Park, where she has volunteered since 2000.
She is also an active figure in the Greater Dandenong Environmental Group, Gardens for Wildlife, and the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria — just to name a few.
But Judith’s impact stretches far beyond committee meetings and planting days.
For more than 40 years, she inspired generations of children as a primary school teacher, specialising in science from 2013 until her recent retirement.
“To me, I probably did better than [pursuing a career in zoology] because by becoming a teacher, you start to sow little seeds and ideas into children’s heads that hopefully will go through their
whole life,” she said.
Her passion for conservation seeded early in life.
Growing up in central Queensland, she spent days cycling into the bush, raising injured joeys, and observing nature up close.
This grew to become a lifelong journey in education and action.
“I always liked science,” she says. “I had a teacher who opened up the whole world to us... from then on I was hooked.”
Despite her accomplishments — including winning the BHP Billiton Science and Engineer-
ing Teacher of the Year award in 2014 — Judith remains grounded and humble.
“It’s sort of like a pat on the back to keep on going,” she said.
Though Judith’s advocacy is unwavering and admirable, she can’t help but have frustrations with the current state of affairs.
“The hardest thing about caring for the environment is trying to change people’s perceptions,” she said.
“People have to be willing to accept change and to think differently. What we do has repercussions for not just ourselves but our whole community.
Sandon charges still under consideration
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Nearly two years after Victoria’s anti-corruption commission handed down an explosive report on Casey Council, no charges have been laid and the report has temporarily disappeared from the commission’s website.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) released its Operation Sandon report in July 2023 after a five-year investigation of property developers, Casey councillors and state MPs.
The report was damning of several key players – with two councillors accused of accepting more than $1.15 million in payments and in-kind support for promoting a developer and his clients’ interests on council.
Under state law, IBAC is able to refer alleged criminality to the Office of Public Prosecutions, which would decide whether to pursue charges.
“There’s a process for doing that. It hasn’t been done yet,” IBAC acting commissioner Stephen Farrow said in July 2023.
“The advice I have is that will be happening very quickly.”
This week, a IBAC spokesperson said it is “continuing to consult with the Office of Public
Prosecutions in respect of what charges (if any) should be filed as a result of Operation Sandon”.
“This process remains ongoing.”
The IBAC spokesperson said: “Through an abundance of caution, reports are temporarily removed from the IBAC website while this process occurs.”
The removal of the Operation Sandon report from the IBAC website was noted by Facebook page Casey Transparency Advocate last week.
Casey mayor Stefan Koomen said he under-
stood the process “takes time” but Casey’s community needed “closure”.
“It’s a police matter and it’s ongoing. We’re hopeful there’s an outcome for residents and that there’s some closure. We want to move on.”
Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association vice-president Anthony Tassone agreed that residents deserved closure.
“Residents paid for poor planning decisions, the appointment of administrators and continue to pay for municipal monitors to oversee the
“I guess the biggest thing I would like to see is people thinking that we’re part of nature and biodiversity. We’re not above it.”
For her, terms like ‘loss of biodiversity’ don’t go far enough. “It’s destruction,” she stressed.
“The habitat hasn’t disappeared and hidden itself under the bed. It’s been destroyed.”
Sise says that a large problem is “Australia has a lot of nice people, but we need more good people”.
“They just want me to do it and not them,” she said.
Though she said it with a chuckle, she made her point clear, that to be good, you have to make hard choices sometimes.
“It takes a good person to stand up and say what they believe and ask for change.
“You don’t have to be argumentative and you don’t have to be rude, but it takes a lot of courage to stand up and say what you believe in.”
She finds hope in the younger generation, who she feels are becoming more environmentally conscious.
She also finds positivity in her tangible conservation work at Braeside Park.
“Most of the trees there have been grown in the last 35 to 40 years. We can make a difference.”
The OAM is just another reinforcement for Sise, that what she has done, and continues to do for the community is nothing short of laudable.
“It makes me feel that someone’s seen what I’ve done. They believe in what I’m doing — and they want me to keep going. And I will. Absolutely.”
newly elected councillors.
“It’s time for IBAC and the Office of Public prosecutions to get on with it and finalise this matter and bring justice against those who did the wrong thing by residents in a position of power.”
During Operation Sandon, Casey councillors were sacked en masse in 2020 – plunging the council under the rule of administrators for nearly five years.
Former mayor Amanda Stapledon took her own life in 2022 after receiving a draft of IBAC’s findings.
It was later confirmed by IBAC that she was not at risk of prosecution. She was not named in the report’s ‘adverse findings’ section.
A State Coroner examining her death recommended that IBAC moves to alleviate witness’s uncertainty about being prosecuted as early as possible during investigations.
Among the IBAC Operation Sandon report’s 34 recommendations was to take land planning decisions out of the hands of councillors.
Starting in 2018, the complex investigation spanned 40 days of public hearings as well as seven private examinations.
Protest signs return in fight against Progress Street
By Sahar Foladi
After their protest banners were recently removed, businesses have double-downed with massive digital billboards in their campaign against the State Government’s level-crossing closure ‘solution’ on Progress Street, Dandenong South.
Months out from the project’s completion, the advertisements depict and address a message to the Premier Jacinta Allan as well as Transport Infrastructure Minister and Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams in bold letters: “Please listen to your community before Fowler Road ends in fatalities.”
With one installed at the corner of Centre and Hallam roads and the other off South Gippsland Highway, the signs are the latest move by impacted businesses against closing the level-crossing to road traffic and diverting heavy transport via a new Fowler Road bridge which is set to open within days.
As part of their ongoing campaign, a long banner is also taped around a fenced property at the corner of Princes and South Gippsland highways.
Accredited Distributors owner and managing director Craig Bain says he has been “fighting this” for two years without success.
“At the end of the day everything we’ve said has fallen on deaf ears, it’s so frustrating.
“We had some hope when we were discussing this back in the early days, they would at least keep Progress Street open.”
These developments come after two protest
boards were recently taken down within 48 hours by City of Greater Dandenong and the Department of Transport.
Collectively, the majority of the businesses on Progress Street, Nathan Road, Fowler Road and also on Hallam Valley Road - where there is a temporary detour - oppose the project.
Among the opposition is Australia Post, located on Nathan Road, which has continuously raised their concerns with the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP).
“The Hallam Valley Road detour is used by Australia Post trucks, vans and cars. We are monitoring this arrangement closely and our drivers have not reported any notable issues or delays.
“We continue to work closely with LXRP around operational and safety concerns relating to future traffic conditions once the project is completed.”
After the works are completed, Australia Post pushbikes and e-bikes would also need to use the new bridge.
The Fowler Road bridge is under construction and set to open to traffic on Monday 16 June.
Progress Street has been closed to traffic from Tuesday 6 May and will permanently close on Monday 16 June when the new bridge opens up.
Stage three will see South Gippsland Highway closed in both directions for two-weeks over the school holidays in July.
During this stage, the Fowler Road intersection will be reconstructed and signalised while Hallam Valley Road will remain in place as a detour.
Australia Post EDVs can travel along Fowler Road and along the path on South Gippsland Highway, according to Victoria’s Big Build with delays to be expected.
Stage four of the works will work on the indented parking on Fowler Road and to minimise the traffic. An access route will be in place on Hallam Valley Road.
Greater Dandenong Council has confirmed footpath construction work is expected to commence in September this year.
Ms Williams, as well as the LXRP, were contacted for comment.
A protest billboard aloft near Centre and Hallam roads, Dandenong South. (Stewart Chambers: 482234)
IBAC acting commissioner Stephen Farrow and deputy commissioner David Wolf release the Operation Sandon report in July 2023. (Cam Lucadou-Wells: 350301)
Judith Sise OAM volunteering at the Braeside Park nursery. (Stewart Chambers: 482582)
Fighting for refugees
By Sahar Foladi
An advocate who has helped shaped the lives of many through her relentless service in refugee support organisations is being recognised on the King’s Birthday Honour list.
The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division was awarded to Shabnam Safa, who has spent more than a decade working to make lives easier for refugees and migrant.
Driven by her own lived experience of forced displacement and hardships, she began to chip away at the systemic limitations faced by refugees and migrants and pave a smoother path for others to come after her.
“I feel shocked, surprised because I would’ve never anticipated this - it’s definitely an honour to receive this recognition,” Safa said on news of her OAM accolade.
“A lot of my work is not really driven to receive recognition - it comes out of responsibility and moral duty and it’s obviously still an honour to be seen and recognised this way.
“The systems are not made for them (forcibly displaced refugees).
“They are not just left out but sometimes punished by the system really.
“I don’t see work as a professional endeavour, it’s more where I feel the calling.
“Personally, I am conflicted about this award because it’s not individual work. I’m part of a major collective effort towards justice, recognition of the systemic barriers for marginalised people.”
The recognition is for a number of roles in refugee organisations, some of which have become a blur for her.
The list is extensive but it started when she was a second year university student. She along with other students like her realised the gaps in the systems didn’t cater to their reality.
“From that time, although I didn’t have official framing for it, that was all from lived experience to create better systems and policies and that just rolled over into other things.
“Fast forward to Centre for Multicultural Youth for young people from refugees and migration backgrounds, highlighting their strength.”
Whilst in university she co-founded Noor Foundation, and became co-founder of ReConnect, a national training lead at Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA), on the board of directors at CMY and is also on the Australian Refugee Advisory Panel.
She has taken a break from her role at CRSA- although so far the highlight of her career - to study Masters in social and public policy. But she remains active with her community advocacy work for refugees and the Hazara community.
The spare time on her hands gave her the op-
portunity to pause and reflect on her personal and career growth.
She says everything she does is shaped by her forced displacement.
“Regardless of what I do in the next year or five years down the track it will be very much led by my principles.”
She embraces the crucial works and impact she has had on lives and communities. But she says there’s so much more that needs to be done to include refugee voices and their lived experiences to create better policies that are not just good but “integral and crucial.”
“When you’re supporting refugees it’s not a feel good phrase or charity work, it’s recognis-
ing people’s humanity and building policies and system that reflect shared humanity regardless of who you are and where you come from.
“I hope this also helps spotlight the different faces and ways of people making change, what leadership is - the contributions of people from refugee backgrounds who continue to do incredible things and continue to achieve major success in life here in Australia despite facing structural barriers here.”
Finally, a message for the unknown person who nominated her.
“I don’t know who has nominated me but I thank them sincerely because I know it takes time and care to put together a nomination application.”
Shabnam Safa, pictured left, in traditional Hazragi dress and jewellery with her mother. (Abulfazl Zaki)
Shabnam Safa OAM has been recognised for her incredible service in the community through refugee organisations. (Supplied)
LOOKING BACK
100 years ago
11 June 1925
A Callous Department
Dr Taylor, health officer for the Shire of Dandenong reported that there was a very serious outbreak of measles at Springvale, and he strongly recommended that the Springvale State School be closed for three weeks, to allow the epidemic to die out. The all-wise Education Department refused to close the school, on grounds that its medical officer had said that it was not necessary. Springvale residents declare that no proper inspection or enquiry was made by the department which is stated to be given the decision in the most off-hand manner, with no apparent regard for the opinion or feelings of the people most concerned. Residents will no doubt take the law into their own hands, treat the Department’s decision with contempt and keep their children away from school until all danger is over.
50 years ago
10 June 1975
Expulsion threat claimed RESIDENT LASHES MEMBERS!
A scathing attack has been made on certain members of Dandenong’s top club, the Dandenong Club. The attack on a certain section of the club’s members came from the Club President Mr Peter Aubin in his half-yearly report. Mr Aubin said in his report “Your committee has been most conscious of expressed dissatisfaction of apparent problems of general service to members and indeed of alleged slackness
On July 9 2023, Lunar Drive in closed its gates permanently, paying tribute to its history by showing classics like Grease, Dirty Dancing and Austin Powers before closing for good. The site was sold to the construction giant Pellicano Group.
from within the committee. In the interest of the great majority who desire to enjoy fellowship and such facilities that are available, I personally appeal to them to exercise greater understanding and discontinue damaging the confi-
Keysborough golf gaffe
The only things Kingswood, Rossdale and Keysborough golf courses have in common are being targets of profiteer developers and places where you hit balls.
The synergies claimed last week (Golf-housing projects’ ‘synergies’ claim, Star Journal, 2 June 2025) are a myth.
Kingswood is in the Urban area and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is simply exercising powers held by all our planning ministers. That doesn’t affect Greater Dandenong.
Keysborough Golf Club is in the Greater Dandenong Green Wedge Zone where residential developments are prohibited; no windfall sales there.
The hare-brained scheme of trying to get both
Houses of Parliament to move the UGB for a developer to build some houses is just a developer’s dream.
dence in your elected committee.” Mr Aubin’s report, which has gone to all 650 members, went on to say that members must decide at the half-yearly meeting on the future in relation to its present site.
INTERFAITH
20 years ago
13 June 2005
Bike gang premises raided
Police raided premises of motorcycle gang the Coffin Cheaters in Noble Park, Narre Warren and other locations last Friday. Five people were arrested. Detectives seized a cache of items including weapons, ammunition, drugs, child pornography and alcohol. Baw Baw District Inspector Keith Cantle said the two-month operation was part of an ongoing investigation into serious criminal offences by members of the Coffin Cheaters. “As a result of the raids we’ve seized a quantity of drugs of various sorts, firearms, including a machine gun, multiple loaded pistols and an assault rifle: a large quantity of ammunition: child pornography and a large amount of alcohol.”
5 years ago
9 June 2020
Driving in to movie nights
After 10 weeks of closed gates, Dandenong’s Lunar Drive-In has become a lone beacon for film buffs. On June 1, the spacious four-screen complex was the only Victorian cinema reopened for business as part of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. With social distancing still in force, the drive-in initially capped visitors to 600. In the meantime, Covid-19 has dried up the supply of new film releases. In response, Lunar Drive-In is offering classics like Grease sing-a-long and the first Fast and Furious instalment as well as recent works like The Invisible Man and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Joy is an act of resilience
MESSAGE OF HOPE
To pull this off a developer would have to move the club to our Green Wedge zone in Bangholme which would take valuable farming land out of Melbourne’s food bowl area.
Protection of agriculture in the Green Wedge zones was enshrined into our Planning Scheme regulations in 2023.
One slip in any of this and the whole scheme becomes a messy collapse.
We commend Minister Kilkenny for steadfastly rejecting inappropriate development which is detrimental to our farming areas.
Alan Hood, Bangholme Rural Land Holders Association president
It’s a feeling many of us know well: a warm ray of sunshine on your face, a delicious meal, a moment of laughter with friends.
Then, a pang of guilt.
“It feels wrong that I’m sitting outside enjoying the sun when there’s so much misery and suffering in the world,” a friend recently confessed.
This raises a profound question.
Let’s be clear: there is no time, and there will be no time, when misery and suffering are absent from the world.
They are, indeed, our constant companions throughout life, an undeniable facet of our shared world.
From geopolitical conflicts to personal hardships, evidence of struggle is always just a headline or a story away.
To deny this reality would be naive and perhaps even callous.
someone else’s suffering.
In fact, our capacity for compassion and effective action often depends on our ability to maintain a healthy inner state.
Think of it like this: an empty well cannot water a parched field.
If we allow the weight of the world’s suffering to completely deplete our inner well-being, we risk becoming ineffective and emotionally exhausted.
Embracing moments of joy isn’t an act of indifference: it’s an act of resilience.
However, just as constant as suffering is the potential for joy, for beauty, for connection.
The sun continues to shine, laughter continues to echo, and small moments of pleasure continue to present themselves.
To reject these moments out of a sense of global solidarity is to misunderstand the intricate “collaborative dance” between our inner and outer worlds.
Inwardly, we process and interpret the vast influx of information from our world.
When confronted with suffering, our internal response is often empathy, sorrow, and a desire to help.
This is a healthy, compassionate reaction.
But sometimes, this internal processing can lead to a sense of overwhelm or guilt, making us feel that our personal joy is somehow disrespectful or frivolous in the face of widespread pain.
But, here’s where the critical distinction lies: our ability to experience joy is not to neglect
Those small reservoirs of happiness replenish our spirits, offering the strength and perspective needed to engage with the world’s challenges. When our inner world is nourished by positive experiences, we are better equipped to respond with clarity and purpose, sustain empathy without burnout, and inspire hope.
Our joy doesn’t diminish another’s sorrow; it fortifies our ability to connect, contribute, and compassionately navigate the world’s complexities.
Instead of being paralysed by guilt or despair, we can approach external problems with renewed energy and creative solutions.
So, when the sun shines, allow yourself to enjoy it. It’s not a luxury.
It’s a necessity for living a full, engaged, and ultimately, more helpful life.
Enquiries regarding the Interfaith Network, City of Greater Dandenong: administration@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.
• Visit interfaithnetwork.org.au/
A render of the proposed Hutton Road estate on the site of Keysborough Golf Course. (Intrapac)
By David Moffat of Swedenborg Community Victoria
David Moffat says when the sun shines, allow yourself to enjoy it.
As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building the Metro Tunnel and its five new underground stations, with three stations now complete. Work is continuing on two stations, and we’re testing trains through the tunnel to make sure they operate smoothly and safely. We’re also removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 85 already gone and easing congestion by building better roads in Melbourne’s south east.
While we work, disruptions could affect your travel
Train disruptions:
Pakenham Line 9pm 13 June to 3am 16 June Buses replace trains between Dandenong and East Pakenham
Cranbourne and Pakenham lines 20 to 22 JuneThere will be changes to the way you travel on sections of the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines
Road disruptions: Closed roads and ramp
Princes Freeway, Berwick 11 June to 14 November Princes Freeway Citybound exit ramp to Clyde Road
Fowler Road, Dandenong South 20 June to 21 July At the South Gippsland Highway intersection
South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South 5 to 21 JulyBetween Princes Highway and Dandenong Bypass
NEWS Progress St peril predicted
By Sahar Foladi
Since State Government plans were announced to close a level crossing at Progress Street in Dandenong South, businesses have been pleading for what they say are safer options.
After the closure, traffic will be diverted onto Fowler Road.
With 38 active driveways, businesses say the road is too narrow and dangerous to handle the almost 8000 vehicles a day, including A & B Doubles, trucks, cars, Australia Post e-bikes, semitrailers and pedestrians.
They have been raising safety concerns for their staff as well as massive impacts to business operations if forced down what they have termed a “goat track.”
Another concern is the project doesn’t include a footpath along the bridge on Fowler Road. Instead it will finish works and leave it up to the City of Greater Dandenong Council to install a footpath after the bridge is open to traffic.
Accredited Distributors owner and managing director Craig Bain says the entire thing is a “nightmare.”
Based at Nathan Road, they have been operating in the area for 22 years with around 170 staff employed.
He says the company hasn’t heard of one fatality at the level-crossing, this is also confirmed by Andrew Hamer from Pakaflex located right next to the crossing.
Mr Bain says the current detour down Hallam Valley Road and the foreseeable traffic congestion on Fowler Road after works have completed will add significant time - about 30 minutes - to his suppliers’ delivery times, which may result in an increase in delivery charges.
Accredited Distributors’ supplies come from multinational companies such as Nestle, Mars Wrigley and Arnott’s.
“We have no choice - the only way in and out
to our business is that one way (Fowler Road).
“I’m saying if their drivers are complaining to send it to (Transport Infrastructure Minister
and Dandenong MP) Gabrielle Williams’s office. Hopefully these multinational companies may have more clout with the MP than we do.
“If it costs more to deliver it, we have to pass those costs onto retailers who will pass it onto the people.
“This is a glaring problem. We never had to incur that problem before, we had easy access to our business.”
Before, staff commuting by bus would alight at the top of Progress Street and walk down to the work site. But now Bain can’t imagine his staff walking on Fowler Road to get to work alongside the traffic.
“In the long term it’s not a safe and viable option for them to go down Fowler rd- which is a nightmare anyway when it opens.
“Staff and the warehouse manager give them a lift at the moment to where they can get on the bus.”
In response to concerns, the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) added measures to their final design which includes widening Fowler Road from 8 metres to 10 metres.
Despite this, Colin Smith from JDN Monocrane on Progress Street says their longest load of oversize and over-mass (OSOM) vehicles still wouldn’t get onto the bridge.
“We can get small trucks on the bridge but of course they’ve only designed it around A and B Doubles. They have not considered us.
“We’ve had multiple meetings which have been terrible, totally inconclusive, very problematical.”
He says the LXRP have suggested “ridiculous” swept paths to manoeuvre onto the bridge and South Gippsland Highway.
Some of the proposed options would potentially stop traffic on both sides of Fowler Road as they navigate the turns.
Another option shows them turning on the wrong side of the road at traffic lights at South Gippsland Highway and over the median strip.
JDN Monocrane has designed, manufactured, installed and serviced cranes, hoists and parts for almost 35 years.
It requires delivery of those cranes and parts on oversized and over-mass permit vehicles to operate on the road at 3am on South Gippsland Hwy.
Despite raising these concerns with the project team, Mr Smith says no solution has been provided.
“They’ve said things like, ‘that’ll be okay’, I don’t understand how professionals can say that!
“It shows our vehicles driving over the other
of the
cars. I said what are you doing here, can’t you see the risk you’re multiplying?
“Your own information shows this, ‘oh no, it’ll be okay, it’ll be at three in the morning.’
“If there’s a death - which we’re predictingit’s just a matter of when.”
Mr Smith says whether it’s in the middle of the night or during the day, there’s always vehicles on South Gippsland Highway.
According to the State Government, Progress Street accommodates around 5200 traffic movements daily which will be diverted down the bridge on Fowler Rd which has an existing daily traffic level of 2700 vehicles.
Fowler Road consists of about 40 manufacturing businesses with 38 active driveways. Out of them, 34 driveways are narrow and require trucks to reverse in and out of the driveway or to make right and left manoeuvres that interfere with the traffic on Fowler Road.
Despite a report from the National Safety Regulator – discovered under Freedom of information (FOI) – that stated the crossing has negligible risks, the State Government remains committed to “remove the dangerous and congested” levelcrossing.
According to the LXRP, “dangerous interactions” between trains and vehicles were set to increase, with more services to come on the railway line.
“More trains mean longer periods of boom gates being down, which can fuel risky driver behaviour and ultimately risks lives.”
The project’s design was chosen because it permits future rail upgrades, minimises impacts to utilities and local businesses and is less disruptive to commuters.
Other options were ruled out because they would have caused significant disruption to the rail network and required extensive compulsory land acquisition.
“The new Fowler Road bridge provides a safer way for traffic to travel through the area and will provide a more direct way for many local businesses to access South Gippsland Highway, which will have a new signalised intersection at Fowler Road for improved safety,” an LXRP spokesperson said.
“The Progress Street project has been independently assessed by safety auditors, and includes additional safety measures such as indented parking on Fowler Road to increase the driveable width, a new pedestrian footpath on the south side of the road, and a new signalised intersection at South Gippsland Highway to keep traffic flowing.”
Andrew Hamer from Pakaflex and Colin Smith from JDN Monocrane in 2023 warn of oncoming dangers
Progress Street level-crossing removal. (Stewart Chambers: 376364)
Forty-eight hours in Amsterdam
By Kylie Mitchell-Smith Pr/ Travel Writer/podcaster Www.travellingsenorita.com
Landing in Amsterdam after a long haul fromAustralia-itstrikesusthatit’s30-years since our last visit.
We’re keen to uncover a different side to the city, far from the red-light district, space cake cafes and Van Gough Museum -all worth a look but not this time around.
This time we discover there’s more to Amsterdam than meets the tourist’s eye, as we go underground in a city that lays claim to being one of the most ‘livable and happiest cities in the world’ (Source-Conde Nast and Mercer).
The hotel we chose is on the south side of the city in Overamstel (close to Spaklerweg metro station), the newly appointed Mercure City Hotel. It’s modern in design, with architectural lines and striking super imposed artworks, with large windows that capture dreamy views across the city.
A ground floor a garden terrace invites the outside in. The staff there is eager to talk about their city as we sip on a welcome cocktail in the lounge bar.
The ever-changing neighborhood of De Pijp (The Pipe) is just across the Amstel River, with a long high street that twists and turns around the canals.
Along the way we stop off at one of the many Italian eateries and devour a house-made cannoli and takeaway gnocchi.
A skip up the road we happen upon a Sicilian bakery and join in a free Panettone cooking class. There is an edgy hole in the wall cafe next door where we take our coffee and fruit stand across the street where we order our juice - this is my kind of neighborhood.
De Pijp is a leisurely 30-minute walk to the Museumkwartier (Central Museum Precinct) and we meander though a weekly vintage market along the way, adorned by artisan boutiques, flower stalls and thrift shops. De Pijp is where the locals live and work and tourists flock to, coming together at the many street food vendors that line the streets. The city is thawing out from winter, large tulip pots are beginning to sprout around the many parks and garden.
Walking through the majestic sandstone entrance that opens up to the Rijksmuseum, horse and carts pass by with smiling folk aboard, seamlessly dodging the many cyclists on their daily commute through the city.
It feels like we’ve stepped back to a simpler time, where young people ride push bikes to social cafes, like ‘The School of Life’. This cafe is a meeting place to read, learn and eat wholesome food, a place where phones are barely seen. The city recently opened up a public library space for strangers to meet, phones placed at the door and face-to-face conversations had.
There is an array of museums and art galleries to choose from, the most popular and longest line is at the Van Gough Museum along with Anne Frank’s house, this time we choose the
Soakinginthepast,presentandfuture.
lesser known MOCO Museum, adjacent to Van Gough. The stately, multi-level heritage building is owned by a local couple who wanted to gift the city a space to create. We peruse a touring street art exhibition showcasing the likes of Banksy, Robbie Williams (the pop star), Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yahoo Kusama and Australia’s own Damien Hirst -it’s edgy, affordable and a place to indulge in independent artists.
Sleeping is optional on our ’48 hours in Amsterdam’ tour and so we head to the newest addition of the cities burgeoning landscape, A’dam lookout. A short ferry ride to the other side of the river, A’dam Lookout is a modern build set on the banks of the river, built high into the sky to cap-
Wherethebicycleisstillking.
ture the cities 360’ panoramic views. Taking the lift to the rooftop observation deck, we ride the ‘Over the Edge Swing’ where you literally swing into space from the 21st floor.
Dinner is served at Restaurant NEL, sitting in a comfy booth, with good food and wine sourced locally, soaking in the best views the city has to offer. Adjacent is a lively rooftop bar with DJ beats, a virtual reality ride- where you digitally zoom through the city and a red sculptured horse, to hop on for a dreamy photo across the city.
From there we head to the metro we happen upon the swarms of tourists walking the red light district. Chatting to the locals we find out there is a bid to move the district to the outskirts
of the city, allowing the many cafes and bars to thrive. There is a change in the Amsterdam air. Walking back to the hotel, it appears the city never sleeps.
People young and old are playing bocce in the boules sandpits and children kicking soccer balls as party revelers ride the many saloon boats along the pretty canals.
As the the sun sets into the night, we sense that summer is fast approaching and it’s then in that moment, we get it, we understand why Amsterdam is not only one of the most livable cities in the world-but also one of the happiest places we’ve been.
Amsterdamasspringbreaks. (Supplied - Greg Smith)
Cruising down the Rhine
Imagine cruising for eight days down one of Europe’s best-loved rivers – the Rhine – from Switzerland’s historic and vibrant Basel – recent host of Eurovision to the livable and lively Amsterdam.
Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and spectacular scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. Savour the various culinary traditions of Alsace. From Amsterdam and Cologne to Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.
Simply unpack once, let the dedicated Viking crew do the rest, and relax on board their award-winning Viking Longships.
Local guides are there to immerse passengers in the history and culture of each destination with their “enriching excursions”. Enjoy all onboard meals with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Add in endless specialty tea, coffee and bottled water, unlimited Wi-Fi and all onboard gratuities, port charges and taxes.
Viking currently have a special to explore castles and cathedrals with Viking’s eight-day Rhine Getaway voyage from Basel to Amsterdam or vice versa. Book now through to 30 June (or until sold out) from $3,095 per person in a Veranda Stateroom, with savings of up to $5,800 per couple on select October to November 2025 sailings.
And if the Rhine doesn’t float the boat why not try the River - Danube Waltz - Budapest to Passau or reverse.
Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Savour Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Witness daily life in an abbey on an exclusive visit to Göttweig. This eight-day itinerary reveals the best of these places while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.
Explore enchanting destinations on Viking’s 8-day Danube Waltz journey from Budapest to Passau or vice versa priced from $3,095 per person in a Veranda Stateroom, with savings of up to $5,400 per couple on select October to November 2025 sailings. Available to book now through 30 June 2025 or until sold out.
For additional information, contact Viking on 138 747 (AU) / 0800 447 913 (NZ) or visit www.viking.com
Stolzenfels Castle from the Rhine River, Koblenz.
The arches of City Hall, Loggia, Cologne.
Sunset on the Longship.
A windmill at sunset: Kinderdijk.
Amsterdam at dusk.
Time is running out to save on your next Viking voyage. Book by 30 June 2025 to save up to 30% on selected river and ocean voyages*. With everything you need included, there’s never been a better time to discover more for less.
LONDON, PARIS & D-DAY
London to Paris
12 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES | 8 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: JUN-NOV 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; 2027
From $6,595pp in Standard Stateroom
From $9,095pp in Veranda Stateroom
PARIS TO THE SWISS ALPS
Paris to Zurich or vice versa
12 DAYS | 4 COUNTRIES | 10 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: JUN-NOV 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; 2027
From $3,995pp in Standard Stateroom
From $5,995pp in Veranda Stateroom
CITIES OF LIGHT
Paris to Prague or vice versa
12 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 10 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: JUN-NOV 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; 2027
From $3,995pp in Standard Stateroom
From $5,995pp in Veranda Stateroom
R
Full-Board River Cruise
3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray Princess with all meals and sightseeing
Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse
Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat
Taste Riverland food and wine
Dragon-Fly flat-bottomed boat wildlife tour
Hotel Stays
3 nights four-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast
1 night four-star hotel stay in Kangaroo Island with breakfast, lunch and dinner
Fully Escorted
Barossa Valley Tours
Full day Barossa Valley tour with
lunch and wine tastings including: Saltram wine estate, lunch and wine tasting at Lambert Estate, visit to Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, photo stop at Menglers Hill Lookout and Vineyard tour & wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek visitor centre
Fully Escorted Kangaroo Island Tours
2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park and Flinders Chase National Park
All Flights, Taxes & Transfers
DV early intervention crucial
By Ethan Benedicto
Early intervention remains a key process, as a new study found that one in three men report using intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
A media release by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) report, Ten to Men, found that 35 per cent of Australian men aged 18 to 65 years have used intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
It also estimated that 120,000 men nationally, each year, are starting to use it for the first time.
The project, an AIFS longitudinal study of boys and men, is the first national estimate of male intimate partner violence perpetration in Australia.
David Nugent, founder of Heavy M.E.T.A.L, said that as the numbers grow, so does awareness, but “one of the things that a lot of programs and services are not doing is that they are not empowering men to be better men”.
”They’re taking a position of judgement, and trying to push the point for the man to acknowledge that he’s a perpetrator of family violencethat does not empower men to want to change,” he said.
Heavy Men’s Education Towards Anger and Life has its core values rooted in early intervention, addressing behaviours, habits and emotions that have the potential to lead men to become part of the statistics.
There is no dismissing the certain facts and numbers, but Nugent is adamant that while there are facts, there are few to no support services that can properly address the root cause.
The AIFS report detailed that when it was first surveyed in 2013-2014, around one in four men reported ever having used intimate partner violence.
This has since increased to one in three men, with the same cohort as of 2022.
The director of AIFS, Liz Neville, said that the data set, which follows men over a ten-year period, “confirms the extent of the problem”.
“With an estimated 120,000 men starting to use intimate partner violence each year across Australia, we can see more clearly how delays in effective intervention can have devastating consequences.
“We hope these disturbing numbers provide impetus for further action by governments at all levels, underpinned by evidence,” she said.
Emotional-type abuse was the most common form of intimate partner violence, with 32 per cent of men in 2022 reporting they ever made an intimate partner feel “frightened or anxious”.
Nine per cent admitted ever “hitting, slapping, kicking, or otherwise physically hurting” an intimate partner when they were angry.
However, the study also found that high levels of social support and high levels of paternal affection both reduced the likelihood of men using intimate partner violence.
To Nugent, his goal, since the 20-plus years he began with the group, was to “answer why (statistics) doesn’t bring change”.
“It’s a good thing that they have these statis-
tics, saying that they can own their behaviour, but what are we going to do about it?
“We want men to reach out for help before police get involved, before courts get involved, before child protection gets involved, before she says, I need to take an intervention order, before she feels scared,” he said.
Nugent said that the success Heavy M.E.T.A.L. sees is from the duration of the courses, where he is “holding on to men”, and allowing them that space to be open, to express themselves, their frustrations, worries, wrongs and everything in between, in a judgement-free place.
Vulnerability is also a big factor, where men, constricted by their own rules set in bygone years by a patriarchal society, are seeing themselves chained to dated characteristics of what a ‘true man’ is.
Dandenong South Nissan plant celebrates
By Philip Salama-West
The Nissan Casting Australia Plant, which is located in Dandenong South and employs 192 staff and contractors, has officially earned Australian Made status.
To achieve the famous Australian Made certification, the majority of a manufacturer’s products must undergo a significant ‘final transformation’ within Australia, such as turning a raw material into a finished product, ready for sale.
All of the products produced by the plant are now officially marked as Australian Made.
The plant creates a multitude of automotive components within Australia for export to countries across the world such as the United States, Mexico and especially Japan.
The Nissan Casting Plant has been operating in Dandenong South since 1982 and has proven one of the area’s most significant automotive manufacturers, operating five days a week.
The continued success of the automotive exporter is notable, given the closures of several nearly century-old plants such as Toyota, Ford and General Motors, which devastated Australia’s domestic car industry across 2016-2018.
The Nissan Casting Plant is still going strong, with contracts firmly in place to continue exporting to both Australian and foreign markets until at least 2035.
Apart from its tow bars, the plant produces over 1.2 million die-cast aluminium parts each year and over 25 different car components - including EV and hybrid components - and collects an export revenue of over $82 million per year.
The plant also has exclusive contracts to produce complex parts for advanced electric motors and hybrid power trains.
Andrew Humberstone, Managing Director of Nissan Oceania, was proud to note that each of the 16,000 towbars produced by the plant each year would be leaving with the Australian Made symbol on them.
Nugent reflected that these notions and teachings were given to men since they were young, and that he still comes across the same messages.
“I hear it from older people, where those ideas about not crying, telling men not to cry, to not be a sook, to grow some balls, to be real men,” he said.
“What happens in those messages while men are growing up is that it layers shame, and that shame is what we don’t know how to deal with.”
Likewise, men who felt strongly that they had a quality relationship with a father or a father figure during childhood, marked with affection, were 48 per cent less likely to report ever having used intimate partner violence.
The opposite is severe, where men with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence by 2022, compared to men without these symptoms.
The AIFS program lead for Ten to Men, Dr Sean Martin, said that the data provides “a set of risk factors to help support the development of effective policies and programs for young men”.
Martin added that “depressive symptoms and a lack of social connection are not an excuse” and that “violence is always a choice”.
A present issue Nugent has found in men is that men tend not to speak of their feelings or share their emotional experiences, since there is a chance peers, including themselves, will find it awkward.
Communication responding styles are a key strategic implementation at Heavy M.E.T.A.L., where Nugent said it is essential when it comes to delivering understanding from all parties involved.
Spearheading the work he has been doing for over two decades, Nugent remains steadfast that those uncomfortable situations amongst men need to be addressed at earlier stages.
“There are many signs that men want to do this, there are men out there that are hurting, and they don’t want to be in that position,” he said.
“They want to be good husbands, good partners, friends, fathers, they want to be good role models.”
AFP member charged
An Australian Federal Police employee has been charged with driving while suspended and driving an unregistered vehicle.
The AFP announced on 6 June that the member was set to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court that day.
They had been charged by Victoria Police on 5 March.
“The AFP is committed to transparency,” the AFP stated.
“No further comment will be made.”
Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro congratulated Nissan Casting Australia.
“It’s great to see Nissan Casting Plant Australia strengthen its commitment to local manufactur-
“The Nissan Casting Australia Plant is a true local automotive manufacturing success story, and it’s one we’re incredibly proud of. Earning official Australian Made certification is recognition of the team’s hard work over a long period in producing world-class componentry that appears in Nissan vehicles around the world.“
ing and begin stamping their aluminium castings and towbars with the iconic kangaroo.” Mr Lazzaro noted.
“There is a growing demand for Australian products, with country-of-origin increasingly influencing purchasing decisions. As we know, Aussie products are manufactured to some of the highest standards in the world, making them trusted and known for their safety and quality,”
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court. (Gary Sissons: 244718)
A car component produced in Dandenong South, marked with a Kangaroo symbol (Supplied)
A die casting machine at the plant (Supplied)
A local worker assembling an EV invertor water jacket
David Nugent, founder of the Heavy M.E.T.A.L. Group, said that early intervention and providing those safe, comfortable spaces to have uncomfortable conversations about men’s behaviour is essential to quell the rising statistics on men committing intimate partner violence. (Stewart Chambers: 132948)
Tea-ing up some cash
About 40 morning-tea goers attended Noble Park Community Centre for an annual Cancer Council Australia fundraiser on Friday 30 May.
The Australia’s Biggest Morning tea event was attended by Greater Dandenong deputy mayor Sophie Tan as well as Mulgrave MP Eden Foster, who has had a widely-publicised battle with stage 1 lymphoma.
The tea organised by the community centre’s manager Grissel Walmaggia and events coordinator Shelly Kemp, raising $365.50.
The national event raises funds to support people with cancer as well as cancer research and prevention campaigns.
Last year, $14.6 million was raised at more than 25,000 morning teas.
Memories flow from the Oasis
There’s a call for residents to share their memories of the Dandenong Oasis pool as it’s set to be superceded by the new $122 million Dandenong Wellbeing Centre.
Greater Dandenong Council has launched an online page where people can share photos and comments.
It has also established a giant memory board at Dandenong Oasis to collect stories and photos.
“For nearly half a century, Dandenong Oasis has been more than just a swimming pool,” mayor Jim Memeti said.
“Let’s celebrate what we’ve loved about Dandenong Oasis for nearly 50 years and call out what we’re looking forward to in the new Wellbeing Centre, due to open in 2027.”
Dandenong Oasis first opened its doors in 1976, and has been a place where families gathered, children took their first nervous strokes in swimming lessons, and where lifelong friendships have formed in the warmth of the spa and hustle of the gym.
The Dandenong Wellbeing Centre is expected to open at the adjoining Mills Reserve in 2027.
The project includes a a 50-metre pool, a 25-metre 10 lane pool, two warm water pools, an integrated hockey pavilion, a new forecourt, landscaping, a car park, spa and sauna.
Share your memories of Dandenong Oasis at yoursay.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au
Snigdha and Harshika at the Biggest Morning Tea event at Noble Park Community Centre. (Stewart Chambers: 481312)
Elise Logan, Greater Dandenong deputy mayor Sophie Tan, Grissel Walmaggia, Mulgrave MP Eden Foster and Shelly Kemp. (481312)
Patricia, Thomas, Grissel, Sophie, Raul and Josie at the Cancer Council fundraiser. (481312)
Journeyman pens life tale
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Peter Jerijian was inspired by the Beatles when he landed in London in the late 1960s, leaving behind his Armenian family in Lebanon who viewed the budding bass guitarist’s long hair with disdain.
Six decades later in Dandenong, the grandfather reflects on a worldly, well-travelled life in his self-published memoir Bouncing Back: Tales From a Passionately Lived Life.
He recounts the words of Beatles frontman John Lennon who said that people can tell their story through lyrics or music.
“Everyone has a different way of telling their story,” Jerijian says.
His book started as a Covid-19 project, a way of filling in the quiet nights at home.
Writing in English – which is not his first language – was a challenge. But he stuck at it for five years, unearthing surprisingly vivid memories as far back as his childhood.
“Some say Armenians are resilient. When I start something and I believe in something, I don’t stop until I finish it.”
Bouncing Back spans 77 years of a life well lived in Lebanon, London, Melbourne and South Korea.
Ever resourceful, Jerijian been a bass guitarist in a pop band, etcher, machine engraver, screen printer and English-language teacher.
All the while mastering several languages including Armenia, Arabic, English, French, Turkish and Korean.
He grew up in a “riches to rags” situation, after his parents and cousins fled the 1915 Armenian genocide to take refuge in Lebanon.
Finances were modest but he was enriched by a loving community in Bourj Hamoud, a town near the vibrant capital Beirut that was then known as “Petit Paris”.
“We can’t thank enough the Lebanese who at the time took as in. You later realise how lucky
you were.”
After landing in London as a young man, he discovered the haunts of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles – “my dream places” like Abbey Road studios, St John’s Wood and the Bull and Bush pub.
He lived in a bedsitter and played in nightclubs with pop bands The Conquerors and later The Lords.
“It was fantastic. It was like a dream for us singing on the stage, playing music with all the bands in London.”
Holding a work permit, he was also focused on survival and began carving his career as a machine engraver.
There he met his Ethiopian fiancee. Together they moved to Melbourne where she had family in the mid-1970s.
Jerijian enjoyed married life in Melbourne –which he viewed as a similar but tidier version of London.
However in the 1990s, life turned cruelly and he fell to his lowest point. He divorced, as well as lost his screenprinting business during the national recession.
He met close friend Rosemarie, boarding with her in a place opposite Chisholm Tafe.
They took in overseas students as boarders, and became steeped in new cultures and foods.
In the early 2000s, an inspired Rosemarie em-
barked on teaching in Japan and South Korea.
Jerijian followed, quitting his job, learning how to teach as a volunteer at AMES in Noble Park and finding plentiful work teaching English to children and parents.
Now back in Dandenong, he reflects on his “fantastic journey”.
“There are sad parts of this story - I had to cry sometimes. The best part was in those years when I was in a band and a drama group, and I started becoming a man.”
Bouncing Back will be launched at Armenian Community Centre, 8-14 Police Road, Springvale on Saturday 21 June, 4.30pm. Details: peterj313@ hotmail.com or 04035 786 736.
Well-travelled Dandenong author Peter Jerijian with his memoir Bouncing Back. (Gary Sissons: 482305)
WHAT’S ON
Sustainability Saturdays
Come along and join our Mend It workshop to learn tips and tricks for mending your own garments, including how to reattach a button and fix
a hem. Hosted by Jodie from A Fitting Connection. No previous sewing skills are required. For ages 16+.
• Saturday 14 June, 2pm-4pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event, bookings required at eventbrite. com.au/e/sustainability-saturdays-mend-ittickets-1333590748829?aff=oddtdtcreator
Perc.U.lations
A regular poetry and spoken word event including an open mic and a featured poet. Committed to featuring at least 50 per cent poets who identify as women or gender-diverse throughout the year.
• Second Saturday of the month (next 14 June), 2pm- 3pm (poetry workshop), 3pm-5pm (open mic) at Kafe on Hemmings, 86 Hemmings Street, Dandenong; pay as you feel. Details: thesandandthefrog@gmail.com
Springvale Urban Harvest
Come along to swap excess homegrown produce and gardening extras and meet like-minded growers in the area. Supported by The Greater Dandenong Seed Library and the Springvale Community Hub Clothes Swap.
• Second Saturday of the month (next 14 June) 1pm-3pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Clothes swap Community members are invited to contribute up to 10 items of clothing, shoes and/or accessories. All items must be clean, in good condition and ready to display on the day.
• Saturday 14 June, 1pm-3pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Details: Zoe, mohlz@icloud.com
Refugee Week at Springvale
Join Sisterworks at Springvale City Hall at this family friendly event, including welcoming ceremony, live performances, cultural experiences, stalls and food vendors.
• Sunday 15 June, 10am-3pm at Springvale Town Hall, 18 Grace Park Avenue, Springvale. Free event.
Garden Makers Group
Relaxed and friendly gardening sessions for 65+
community. Prepare, plant and harvest crops, share gardening tips, with light refreshments.
• Monday 16 June, 10am-12pm at Mackie Road Neighbourhood House, 36-42 Mackie Road, Mulgrave. Details: 9590 5700 World Refugee Day at Dandenong
Celebration featuring Muzafar Ali, a former refugee, humanitarian, and education advocate, who is cycling 4,000 km to raise funds for refugee and women’s education. Organised by Cisarua Learning and supported by Greater Dandenong Council.
• Friday 20 June, 11.30am-1.30pm at Harmony Square, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Free event.
HOME 25 opening
Launch of HOME 25: Invisible Cities - a new roving exhibition, coming to the streets and sites of Dandenong, showcasing works of a selection of refugee, asylum seeker, First Nations and migrant artists.
• Saturday 21 June, 2pm-5.30pm at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, cnr Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Free event, bookings required at greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/ home-25-invisible-cities-opening
Broadway Legends concert
Cranbourne Chorale presents “Broadway Legends” with guest artists Teresa Ingrilli and Stephen Coutts. Afternoon tea included and served after the performance.
• Sunday 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.
Free hearing checks
Take a free 15-minute hearing check, offered by the experts at Hearing Australia.
• Monday 23 June, 10am-2pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. No bookings required.
Probus Club closure
Public notice: Waverley Gardens Combined Probus Club has voted to discontinue from 30 June.
Soccer meet-up
Keen for a kick after school? Come down to the Dandenong City In The Community (CITC) Blue Pitch to improve your skills, make new friends and
have fun. Free program from South East Community Links and CITC Melbourne City FC.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays 3.30pm-6pm until 5 July at corner Cadel and George streets, Dandenong
Free mental health support
Mental Health and Wellbeing Local are offering free support at the Springvale Community Hub if you would like to talk to someone about your mental health and wellbeing. For people aged 26 years and over. You don’t need a referral, Medicare card or visa. Interpreters available. Walk-ins welcome.
• Mondays, 10am to 2pm at Springvale Community Hub (Meeting Room 2), 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Free event. Details: 8908 1800 or dandenonglocal@mindaustralia.org.au
Online banking for beginners Workshop designed to help learners understand how to make online payments and manage your bank accounts through apps and websites.
• Mondays 6.30pm-8.30pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $20 per term.
Homeschool Enrichment Class
This class is designed to provide additional learning experiences outside of the standard homeschooling curriculum, with a focus on specific subjects and skills.
• Tuesdays 11.30am-1pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $5/session.
Citizenship Test Preparation
We will help you to improve your English and understand the questions and answers in the citizenship test.
• Thursdays 6.30pm-8.30pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive, Noble Park; $20/term.
“WE” - Women’s Empowerment Workshops
Developed for disadvantaged women in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Dandenong. The workshops are designed to enhance social cohesion and self-advocacy in a fun and supportive environment. Topics around personal welbeing such as fitness, nutrition, finance, mindfulness, and creative art.
• Wednesdays 10.30am-12.30pm at Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-34 Buckley Street,
Noble Park. Free event. Details: Rachel, 0491 144 836 or rachelw@adec.org.au
• Register at greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/ greater-dandenong-council/events/we-womens-empowerment-workshops
Multicultural Anxiety Support Group
Inclusive and confidential space for people of varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds who experience persistent anxiety. Regular meetings held online on Zoom, with friendly volunteers.
• First Monday of each month, 6pm-7.30pm. Free event, register at greaterdandenong.vic. gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/ multicultural-anxiety-support-group
Conversation Corner
The Conversation Corner is a safe space to share stories and build new connections. Anyone is welcome to join, no bookings required, and newcomers are welcome anytime.
• Wednesdays 1pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive. Free event.
All Abilities Garden
Become a part of the team that cultivates our brand new All Abilities Garden. You will plan, grow, and take care of the wonderful garden designed by members of the disability community for people of all abilities.
• Tuesdays 1pm at Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive. Free event.
Sandown Probus
Are you retired or semi-retired and would like to stay engaged and connected with others? Come along and see if you would like to join Sandown Probus Club. Enjoy the opportunity to make new friends, expand your interests, participate in the variety of activities and hear guest speakers on a wide range of subjects.
• 2nd Monday of each month at Club Noble, Moodemere Street, Noble Park. Details: probussouthpacific.org/microsites/sandown or Marion, 0458 660 016.
Soccer registrations open
Expressions of interest open for new players across all age groups at Springvale City Soccer Club - Miniroos 7-12, Juniors 13-16, Boys and Girls Youth 17-23, as well as mens and womens’ thirds, reserves and seniors. Miniroos and juniors training powered by No Limits Aquila Academy. Details: springvalecitysc.com.au/
Hibbins-Hargreaves shines
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong Stingrays co-captain Noah HibbinsHargreaves was the star of the show for Vic Country in its first game of the Under-18s National Championships.
Vic Country lost with the last kick of the game as WA’s Hudson Walker converted a set shot from 40 metres out on a slight angle to give the Sandgropers a 12.9(81) to 11.12(78) victory.
But Hibbins-Hargreaves was the player who gave Vic Country a sniff of causing an upset over their highly fancied opponents, kicking back-toback goals in the last quarter.
His first was from 40 metres out deep in the pocket and second came from a coolly converted set shot from a similar distance.
It continues a trend of Hibbins-Hargreaves kicking clutch goals across the past 18 months, always standing up for the Stingrays at their time of need, most recently by kicking the sealer last week.
In 2024, he kicked 11.2 in last quarters, winning several games off his own boot.
The smooth-moving, strong-marking forward finished with a game-high four goals, particularly influential in the second half.
Other strong players for Vic Country were topfive prospect Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons), Gippsland’s Willem Duursma and Carlton fatherson prospect Harry Dean, an intercept defender from Murray Bushrangers.
Hibbins-Hargreaves headlined six locals in action for Vic Country.
PLAYER BY PLAYER BREAKDOWN
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves: Has well and truly put his name on the map as a bona fide top-20 prospect. His four goals all came in different ways and showcased various skills, including his brave marking, opportunism at stoppage, clean hands,
forward craft and most tellingly, his clutch finishing. He’s laid the platform for an excellent championships.
Toby Sinnema: The Melbourne Next Generation Academy winger from Devon Meadows was a touch quieter but still ran his lanes well on the wing, getting forward to have a shot on goal and providing an option in transition play, to finish with 10 disposals.
Darcy Szerszyn: The bottom-aged Dandenong defender showed some glimpses which franked his selection in the squad. Took a huge intercept mark in the middle of the ground in the third quarter and had composure against a WA forward line which applied pressure throughout.
Callum Smith: After a strong month of footy leading Dandenong’s midfield, Smith was one of Vic Country’s best, getting an opportunity in the engine room and taking it with both hands. Finished with a team-high five clearances, with his contested ball-winning a feature. Like many on the day, 14 disposals belied his impact, with his morning highlighted by a terrific running goal from 45.
Max Lee: The Dandenong co-captain had a huge first quarter, playing his preferred halfback position, which helped Vic Country counterattack and set up a quarter time lead. Was quieter as the game went on but a huge spoil in the dying stages prevented a WA shot on goal.
Tairon Ah-Mu: The strong Dandenong key forward took a big mark and kicked a critical goal midway through the fourth quarter to get Vic Country back within touching distance. That was one of two goals he kicked, but, like Malady, he threatened all day and anchored the forward line with his strength. Also played the second ruck role well, finishing with seven hitouts and looking dangerous when he took it out of the ruck on multiple occasions.
City unable to capitalise as Hume claims the prize
By Justin Schwarze
The Dandy Derby may have caused some confidence issues for Dandenong City as the squad lost 0-3 away at Hume City in round 17 of the NPL.
Both teams were unable to create a major scoring opportunity in the majority of the first half and it seemed the scoreline would be deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the break.
However, in the first half added injury time, Hume found the back of the net through a lovely Lloyd Isgrove shot.
When he received the ball, he was far on the left of the box, but he displayed unbelievable shot placement to fire his attempt across goal and sneak it into the bottom right corner.
The shot put the hosts in front with basically the last kick of the half.
In the first half, City had had one shot on target to four from Hume.
Dandenong received a boost in the second half when a very poor tackle from Joseph Forde earned him his second yellow, resulting in a red and the hosts going down to 10 men.
But this only seemed to motivate Hume, as it found a second just two minutes later.
On the counterattack, a through ball was passed and then a grounded cross came into the box.
Waiting on the other side was Robert Harker, who made no mistakes putting it away to make it 2-0.
Dandenong failed to muster up any goalscoring chances despite having the man advantage and in the 92nd minute, Hume well and truly put the game to bed.
City were playing high trying to score and lost possession of the football, leaving a paddock of space for Mehmet Uysal to run onto the ball and take his time with his shot.
He carefully aimed for the bottom left corner and found it to extend the margin to 3-0
and end any chance of a comeback.
The loss means Dandenong remains in seventh, with Green Gully inching slightly closer after picking up a point.
In round 18, City will welcome Green Gully to Frank Holohan Soccer Complex, with the winner taking firm grasp of seventh in the table.
Thunder fires home six in stunning victory over Altona
By Justin Schwarze
Dandenong Thunder sent a strong message to the NPL after battering Altona 6-0 at home in round 17.
At a cold and wet George Andrews Reserve, the scoring was opened just before the 10 minute mark by Kyle Taylor when his shot took a wicked deflection and skied into the bottom right corner.
The Magic keeper could only watch in disbelief as the completely unpredictable ball raced into his own net.
Just eight minutes later, a strong attack down the right hand side saw the ball played into the dangerous Yuki Uchida.
Uchida’s shot was powerful but kept out by the keeper, but Hassan Jalloh was lurking to score the rebound and double the hosts’ scoreboard advantage.
The Altona defence seemed utterly rattled, as it then cheaply gave the ball away in the back half to launch yet another Dandenong offensive charge.
Uchida quickly slipped in Jay Romanovski who finished clinically to provide Thunder with their third before the clock had even reached 20 minutes.
The Magic managed to pull together and not concede for the remainder of the half, heading to the dressing room down 0-3.
Dandenong had scored three of its four shots on target in the first half.
If Altona had any hopes of coming back in the second half, they were completely dashed when Thunder executed a brilliant attack right off the kickoff.
Uchida chipped the defence and found Ali Sulemani streaking down the right wing.
Sulemani’s cross was impressively precise, landing right on the forehead of Daniel Clark who was free to header it home for Dandenong’s fourth 20 seconds into the second half.
Thunder’s fifth was the best of the night, as Clark brought down a cross and laid it off to Mersim Memeti who rocketed one off the post and in from long range.
cake for the home side.
The win puts Dandenong back into third momentarily, while still awaiting for Oakleigh’s result.
A massive challenge and potential seasondefining clash awaits in round 18, with Thunder travelling to face first-placed Heidelberg.
City manager Nick Tolios will have some things to change after losing 0-3 to Hume. (459721)
The sixth came in the 70th minute through a textbook counterattack, as Taylor played a fabulous through ball into Muamet Selimovski. Selimovski just had the keeper to beat and tucked it away nicely to put the icing on the
Daniel Clark was important for Dandenong, grabbing a goal and an assist. (459720)
Dandenong’s Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves celebrates one of his four goals with Gippslander Jobe Scapin. (Paul Kane/AFL Photos)
Dingley downs bold Eagles
By Blair Burns
Cranbourne gave it everything against an undefeated Dingley side but it wasn’t quite enough as the Eagles fell 25 points short in Southern Division 1.
The Eagles had the Dingoes under real pressure and at one point in the final quarter, the margin was just 13 points, but the visitors did enough to keep their unblemished record intact.
Glenn Osborne and Jake Cowburn played great games in defence while Bailey Buntine was impressive through the middle in the absence of captain Zak Roscoe.
Narre Warren remains winless since Round 3 and continues to struggle against the level of competition that Southern has to offer.
Springvale Districts dominated from the first bounce to establish a 28-point lead at the first break, and from there, the Magpies were playing catch-up.
Narre Warren ended up losing the match by 63 points while Springy have won five consecutive games, after they dropped the opening three.
East Brighton has now lost four of its past five matches as Port Melbourne caused an almighty upset to win just its second game of the season.
The Colts held a 28-point lead at three-quarter time but limped to the line as the Vampires flew home, tying scores late in the fourth.
But it was former Bulldogs player Charlie Clarke who stood up for Port Melbourne late and kicked the sealer, as they held on by eight points.
Murrumbeena and Cheltenham battled hard all day, but no side was able to come out on top as they finished in a draw.
The Lions got an early jump on the Rosellas, but the match tightened up in the second half and inaccuracy got the better of Cheltenham with 8.16 on the board.
St Paul’s McKinnon is up to second spot on the ladder after it convincingly knocked off Bentleigh by 41 points.
The Dogs are in some impressive form and are
looking like a serious threat come the end of the season.
In Southern Division 2, Keysborough recorded one of its best wins this season as the young side held firm to defeat one of the premiership favourites in East Malvern.
It was a three-point thriller and despite the Burra taking a 38-0 lead into the first break, the Panthers were always going to come home strong, and they did.
East Malvern hit the front by two points in the dying stages of the final quarter, before Ethan Bakes slotted his seventh goal of the game to ulti-
Stingrays forward kicks six leaving Alice in wonderland
By Jonty Ralphsmith
A stunning six-goal haul to Dandenong Stingrays forward Alice Cunnington has led Dandenong to a 15.7(97) to 4.2(26) victory over Bendigo at Shepley Oval on Saturday.
It continues a trend of improving performances at the level for Cunnington, who juggles her footballing commitments with netball.
The bottom-ager had 11 goals from just four games coming into the match, after averaging a goal per game in eight outings last year.
“She was fantastic, playing the game as a deep forward,” Dandenong coach Nathan Boyd said.
“She looked super clean and evasive in the forward line.
“As well as finishing with 6.2, she gave three or four off, so she had one of those games where she was in a bit of everything.
“She’s almost a complete package – she does it on the ground, she does it aerially, she has a beautiful kick and she has clean hands.
“She does a lot of things right so she’s pretty exciting.”
Cunnington kicked 3.1 in a 41-0 first quarter which put the ‘Rays in a commanding position to run away with the game.
Having spent time in defence this year, Kiara Triep had a breakthrough performance, kicking 3.2 and laying seven tackles to play a major part in Dandenong’s dominance.
Marlee Black and Nikita Harris helped the Stingrays win it out of the middle, with the pair both recording a team-high 19 disposals.
“Marlee had a neat game as an inside mid so it was cool to see her in that role, Nikita Harris was strong defensively for us as well which was important,” Boyd said.
“Bridget Koczek as a key defender had
some important moments and looked nice and composed.”
Debutant Frankie Shepard also caught the eye despite having just four disposals, competing well in the ruck against Bendigo’s Sasha Pearce who has 32 games of Coates League experience under her belt.
mately win the game for Keysborough.
After a slow start to the season, Chelsea Heights has announced itself as a team to beat after defeating Highett by 30 points to take its winning streak to five.
The Demons are up to second on the ladder and handed Highett its second loss in as many weeks after an eight-goal first quarter set up the crucial win.
Mordialloc finds itself in fourth position on the ladder after the side thumped bottom-placed Endeavour Hills by 85 points.
William Avery led the side with four goals, but
it was a consistent performance across the board as the Bloods boosted their percentage.
Frankston Dolphins started the season well as the side won three of its first four matches but has since fallen back to the pack, with its most recent loss coming against Caulfield Bears by 23 points.
After a couple of losses against top sides, the Bears bounced back in a big way as coach Lynden Dunn booted five goals to set the tone in the victory.
The match between Doveton and Hampton Park will be played at a later date when the rest of the league has a bye between Rounds 13 and 14.
Bulls outlasted by Balwyn
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Noble Park’s difficult 2025 continued on Saturday with a fourth quarter fadeout stinging as it went down 16.10(106) to 9.9(63) against Balwyn.
The match was a standalone game in the Eastern Football Netball League Premier Division, with the rest of the competition having a bye given the long weekend.
The Bulls, which now have a 2-5 season record, were kept without a goal in the first quarter, before coming to life through the middle of the game, trailing by just a point at the main break.
A seven-goal-to-two last term ultimately cost the visitors at Balwyn Park against their thirdplaced opponents.
Former VFL-listed Josh Stern was the only multiple goal kicker, with Josh Tour continuing his strong form.
Former Frankston VFL player Lachie McDon-
nell and current Frankston-listed youngster Jacob Noble were also in the best, alongside Kane Marshall, Thomas Taborsky and Daniel Knapper. The Bulls will face fifth-placed Doncaster East at Zerbes Reserve on Saturday.
Results - R7: (June 7) Balwyn 16.10(106) def Noble Park 9.9(63). (May 31) Rowville 8.10(58) def by Doncaster East 13.8(86), Vermont 9.7(61) def by East Ringwood 13.14(92), Blackburn 16.15(111) def Mitcham 9.7(61), South Croydon 15.15(105) def Berwick 6.11(47).
Ladder: East Ringwood 28, Blackburn 24, Balwyn 20, Rowville 16, Doncaster East 16, Vermont 16, South Croydon 8, Noble Park 8, Berwick 4, Mitcham 0.
Fixture R8: East Ringwood (1) v Balwyn (3), Mitcham (10) v Rowville (4), Doncaster East (5) v Noble Park (8), South Croydon (7) v Vermont (6), Berwick (9) v Blackburn (2).
Lachie McDonnell was one of Noble Park’s best. (Rob Carew: 403696)
Alice Cunnington kicked six goals for Dandenong. (Rob Carew: 430152)
Cranbourne’s Jake Cowburn lays a crunching tackle against Dingley on Saturday. (Gary Sissons: 482705)
