News - Berwick Star News - 12th June 2025

Schools leaders luncheon

MP and Opposition

Brad

students from the 13 schools who attended the School Leaders Lunch on Friday, 6 June. For more on the lunch, turn to page 18

For the veterans

By Ethan Benedicto

Winning an award is always an exciting moment, but this one came as a surprise, with Mrs Helen Louise Comport caught off guard, but honoured to be the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia.

The award was unexpected, however, as Helen never sought any recompense for her work, seeing it as simply a way of showing love and giving back to those who had laid their lives down on the line.

The Quilts of Valour (QOV) has since grown,

Helen was recognised for her contributions to veterans and their families through her work and creation of the Quilts of Valour in Australia.

and with it, its members, and the amount of work that they do to make quilts of all designs to gift to veterans and their families.

Sewing is but a small part of Helen’s work, and as a long-time member of the Inner Wheel Club of Berwick, her volunteer contributions are far and wide.

Her journey to creating QOV was not a light

one, with her son having returned from military service in Afghanistan, and his harrowing experience of warfare, prompting her to take some form of action to embody the sense of warmth and appreciation that everyday Australians can show.

For the full story, turn to pages 4 and 5

Berwick

Leader

Battin with

(Stewart Chambers: 482806)

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 Casey’s Centenarians

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.

#CaseyGirlsCan 2025 women’s football program

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

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.

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.

‘No-shows’ no deterrent

By Ethan Benedicto

In light of the City of Casey’s May meeting having only 10 of the 80 registered attendees, Mayor Stefan Koomen is nevertheless keen to have the council back in person.

“Obviously, there were those who registered and did turn up, and it was good to see some residents there, but there were others who didn’t attend, and that was a bit unfortunate,” Koomen said.

“Overall, though it was a good meeting, it’s good to be back in person and good to have residents in the gallery.”

Looking ahead to the Tuesday, 17 June meeting, he added that the council as a whole is looking at ways to “fine-tune our registration process”.

“It’s to make sure that those who register are valid and legitimate and that they do attend.

“Hopefully, we have better attendance at our next meeting, but we’ll continue to look at ways that we can improve the registration system.

“We did feel it worked quite well in maintaining a good council environment and a way for residents to attend in a safe fashion,” Koomen said.

The first council meeting that was held in February this year was attended by well over 300 people, the gallery brimming with verbal protests, conjectures, and disruptive behaviour that

prompted the early adjournment of the meeting.

For the next two months of March and April, both council meetings were held online, and it was recently introduced prior to the May in-person meeting that an 80-person gallery cap was introduced.

In line with occupational health and safety measures, as well as neighbouring councils’ similar limits to their galleries, the registration tickets sold out almost immediately as they opened.

However, as the night of the meeting approached, with nine police officers and a number of security personnel present, only 10 residents attended.

Touching on the current limit of the gallery, Koomen said that he is confident of the council’s decision, and that it is “consistent with other councils”.

“It’s at the top end of the limit, and it’s also based on safety and risk assessment done by both the [council’s] security, and Victoria Police, so we’re confident that it’s the right way forward,” he said.

The upcoming 17 June meeting will open its online registrations on Thursday, 12 June, by 9am.

For more information on how to attend and register online, visit casey.vic.gov.au/registerattend-council-meeting

Op shop’s donation spree, giving back to the community

By Ethan Benedicto

Beginning in late May of this year, the Berwick Opportunity Shop on the corner of High Street has been on a donation spree, with charitable offerings from local CFA units to childcare services in the City of Casey.

The donations are an annual tradition, originally intended for CFA, SES, and other emergency services, but have since expanded to include other community-based services as well throughout the years.

The volunteer group’s president, Margret, said that they donate to almost 50 organisations throughout Casey, but also neighbouring LGAs such as Cardinia, and other areas in the hills.

When asked how it all began, Margaret said that “it was just from people who donated to us, and they realised that we donate all of it straight back to the community again”.

For Dawn, who is the group’s treasurer, said that “we feel good exactly because we give back to the community”.

Both Margaret and Dawn have been with the volunteer group for a little over 15 years, many other members along the same time frame, and some, even longer.

“We get a lot of support from the commu-

nity with donations, and as mentioned before, I think it’s because they realise that it goes right back to them,” Margaret said.

“And I think this kind of thing, giving back, it’s important these days, particularly with how things are, how expensive they can get - some people just find it hard.”

The donations began up north, with a cheque handed to Captain David Van Loon from the Menzies Creek CFA, with the following on 30 May to the St John of God hospital’s oncology wing, palliative care ward and the recovery trauma unit.

The first day of June marked a trip to Mac-

clesfield CFA to present a donation cheque, then on the following day was a visit to the Wild Days Wildlife Shelter, a family-run volunteer group caring for animal welfare.

The Casey North Community Information and Support Service (CNCISS) was also a recipient, followed by a direct donation to the CFA’s Rehabilitation Support Unit.

Other branches in Casey were also shown some love, from the Hallam CFA, Beaconsfield CFA, Clyde CFA and the nearby Berwick CFA. Dawn, reflecting on the struggles that many of their customers and families they know of face, emphasised the importance on how their donation’s expansion has also included the local Narre Warren Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support, and other similar food drives in Casey, as well as community groups that tackle trauma and domestic violence.

“And with the prices, we try to do the best we can here, and it’s usually something everyone can buy,” Dawn said.

In the future, the volunteers at Berwick Op Shop are looking to continue the donation tradition in the coming years, fuelling the community spirit of nourishment and giving back to the people.

From left to right: David, Rita, Dawn, Margaret and Pam, volunteers of the Berwick Opportunity Shop and some of the many in the group who have travelled to hand out donations. (Ethan Benedicto: 483840)

Casey’s Mayor, Stefan Koomen, said that while it was unfortunate that not all of the 80 registered residents attended the May meeting, he is still looking forward to having the council’s discussions inperson, and with a gallery. (Stewart Chambers: 442356)

OAM for service to 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

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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 opportunity 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 recognising 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.”

‘Stunned’ by OAM honour

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 Engineering 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.

“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.”

Judith Sise OAM volunteering at the Braeside Park nursery. (Stewart Chambers: 482582)

Shabnam Safa OAM has been recognised for her incredible service in the community through refugee organisations. (Supplied)

Shabnam Safa, pictured left, in traditional Hazragi dress and jewellery with her mother. (Abulfazl Zaki)

NEWS Honour via gifts of comfort

By Ethan Benedicto

Kindness, love, and giving back to those in need are attributes that are never questioned, but provide clarity for Mrs Helen Louise Comport, as the King’s Birthday sees her awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Helen was awarded for her service to veterans and their families, and is set to wear the medal in September this year during the official ceremony.

In the meantime, however, Helen, when she first heard the news, “was a bit shocked”.

“This is a recognition of what someone does, because there are a lot of people out there who do a lot of good things and help others.

“But you know, I didn’t really expect any recognition for it, I get my reward from being able to help and give to others,” Helen said.

Recovering from a broken shoulder, it was one of her sons who had opened the letter for her, breaking its news, and both were in a state of disbelief, though it was Helen more than anyone else.

“I couldn’t write properly, you know? It was painful to move it and try to write with my other hand, and I just said, look, could you do it?” she said.

“I said, ‘I don’t even know what this is, I think I need to fill in a form’, and he looked at it, and then we both found out.

“My son, he said, mum, this is bigger than the Margaret Golding Award, and I said, oh, I suppose it is - still very shocked.”

Helen was the founder of the Quilts of Valour (QOV) in Australia in the early 2010s, serving as its first president and secretary, continuing her duties until now.

A sister organisation had existed for some time in the United States, but it was a harrowing and eye-opening personal experience involving one of her sons, who served in Afghanistan, that became Helen’s driving force to find something that expressed love to those who served.

“One of my boys was serving in Afghanistan, and he was badly injured; he was in a really dark place, he’d lost mates, he nearly lost himself,” Helen said.

“Then, when someone gave him a quilt, he cried, thinking that someone did all that work to make one for him.

“When he finally came back home, he said to me, ‘mum, imagine if Australians did this for our veterans’, and I just thought, why not?

“Our main goal was to wrap veterans in the warmth and love of a quilt, to show them that Australia and Australians do appreciate them for putting their lives on the line.”

That was the first step, the second came from Helen asking one of her friends who had introduced her to quilting and told her the story.

Her friend then suggested that Helen write to a number of quilting magazines and publications, to see if there were others who were interested and willing to help in Helen’s newfound aspiration.

To begin, Helen expected a small reception, thinking that perhaps a dozen or so responses with a number of helping hands.

“I was thinking that would be all, and at least we could give some to veterans and thank them,”

she said.

However, word travelled far and reached the Victorian Quilters Guild, who soon published Helen’s letter of request in their quarterly publication.

Within days, Helen was flooded with emails and contact details, all with messages that read “how can we help?” and “we want to help you”.

The technical hurdle came soon after, with Helen recalling that it initially took her some time to organise a meeting, marking its beginning, and her first time accepting donations.

“I wanted to be sure that people understood that anything they did was going to a cause, so I worked on getting incorporated as an association, then getting an ABN, then getting a charity status,” she said.

“Us quilters, we have our bits and pieces, and that’s originally how quilting started, it was people using bits and pieces of fabric and then putting them together.

“We would join them together in these designs, these patterns and turn them into a quilt.”

When her son came home, there was a massive sense of relief that washed over her, but she also realised that there were parents and mothers who were in her same shoes, who did not get to see their children come back home.

Through her son, Helen was able to get in touch with a colonel in the army, who, in turn, sent Helen’s letter to all the families that had lost loved ones in battle, so that she and the Quilts of Valour would make quilts for them.

“We gave quilts to children of veterans, we

gave them to wives, mums, dads, siblings, whoever was affected by a loss,” she said.

“We wanted to say thank you, and give them something that wasn’t necessarily a medal, that’s the government’s role, but the quilt is us saying thanks for what they did.

“Throughout the years, we’ve had so many amazing responses from veterans who’ve received them.”

Helen recalled the time a veteran said to her that he had thoughts of suicide, but it was that gesture of receiving and being given a quilt that had shifted the trajectory in his mind.

For her, it was a revelation that maybe, “we might have saved a life”.

In addition to the QOV, Helen was also part of the Inner Wheel Club of Berwick and was the president from 2019 to 2020.

As of now, she operates as the club’s media administrator and historian, but was also a former newsletter editor.

In the professional field, Helen is a long-time and, in a sense, a decorated teacher with expertise in science and mathematics.

She taught at Margaret College in Berwick from 1999-2000, then at Haileybury College from 2001-2005, and finally, her longest tenure was at Beaconhills College from 2006-2020.

Throughout this time, Helen was still a very active member of the QOV and the Inner Wheel, being awarded the Margarette Golding Award for her efforts in the latter in 2022.

“It’s just a lovely thing really, helping people out,” Helen said.

“I think, if we all just gave one little thing each day, even a smile to someone, the world would be a better place.

“If people just take a bit of a step back and think, maybe that person’s having a bad day, if I just smile, it might just help.

”I think humans are naturally empathetic and want to help others; we, and I, get rewarded because we’re helping those people.”

Helen added that for many, asking for help is difficult, whereas providing a small helping hand can go a long way.

“You just feel good after helping someone, and I had to sort of tell myself, maybe they will feel good if I let them help me sometimes,” Helen said.

Recalling school teaching, she said she had the same sense of happiness and accomplishment, seeing the young grow and expand their knowledge - it was a fulfilling experience for Helen.

On the more fun side, Helen said that quilting and sewing have, and continue to be, one of her favourite pastimes, and being able to put that effort into something valuable like QOV adds a different layer to it.

“It’s sort of like a meditative thing, but I’ve got my sewing room, which is my happy place,” she said.

Looking ahead, Helen is keen for the official ceremony later in the year, but in the meantime, she has some duties to attend to with more quilts to be made, and responsibilities with both the QOV and Inner Wheel calling for her.

Helen Louise Comport, founder of the Quilts of Valour Australia, has been recognised for her service to veterans and their families, and has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. (Ethan Benedicto: 483187)

Charity’s feeling the pinch

By Violet Li

Cranbourne-based Backpacks 4 VIC Kids (B4VK)

is feeling the pinch as donations drop in a tough economy, but hope remains as it held its Annual Giving Day to support children in crisis.

The charity held its flagship event on Friday 6 June at its Cranbourne West warehouse to thank its major donors, partners, and the community who had been on board with them throughout the year.

The goal for this year is to raise $85,000, and at the time of writing, about $34,000 has been raised.

Major contributions came from the Australian Toy Association ($10,000), Hafele Australia ($5,000), and One Tomorrow Charity Fund through APT Travel Group ($5,000).

Brigitte Stevens, partnerships and fundraising manager, said the number of donors stayed steady, but they noticed a shift: while people are still giving, the dollar amounts are smaller.

“We know that everyone is feeling the pinch right now. Cost-of-living pressures are real, and generosity looks different for everyone,” she said.

“At the same time, the need continues to grow. Orders and deliveries of our essential aid packs are up 37 per cent this year, but donated items have only risen 6 per cent.”

The charity provides essential material aid to displaced children, including those entering foster care, emergency accommodation, or experiencing homelessness. Founded in 2014, it supplies age-appropriate backpacks filled with necessities such as clothing, toiletries, sleepwear, and comfort items.

According to the chief executive officer Sally Beard, the charity has helped over 12,000 babies, children and youth in this financial year, despite the financial hardship.

“We are stretching as much as we can in a very hard climate to raise the funds, but somehow the community gets behind us, and what we need is provided, and all the kids that ask us for help can be supported,” she said.

“Like most nonprofit organisations, we have the same number of people and companies, schools, and clubs who support us, but what they have to give is much less, so our challenge is finding more supporters, more donors who haven’t

Operations manager Wayne Allen was holding a bag-packing competition on B4VK’s Annual Giving

given to us before and would like to come on board and support our mission, support thousands of children by giving what they can.”

To help children, donate via: mycause.com. au/page/365527/b4vk-annual-giving-day

Hope shines in Kat’s ongoing battle against rare cancer

By Ethan Benedicto

Tests, diagnoses, treatments - a rare appendix cancer has been the harrowing battle that Kathryn Berecic has been fighting, but through grit, hope and determination, is one she is looking to win.

When she was 31 years old, Kat underwent what was meant to be a routine surgery for appendicitis.

It was discovered then, however, that her appendix had burst, and doctors told her in 2021 that the mucous-producing tumour cells had spread through her abdomen.

“It was like a cancer bomb going off in my belly,” Kat told Star News in 2022.

Halfway through 2025, Kat’s mettle has been tested, but it has not waned.

She has undergone multiple lengthy surgeries, including heated chemotherapy poured directly into her abdomen, 100 rounds of traditional chemotherapy, and a trip to Japan for adoptive cell therapy - a treatment that has kept her cancer stable for two years.

In the second half of 2024, it again began to spread, prompting another 12-hour surgery in

Kathryn Berecic is all smiles, as she told Star News that it was the support and love from family, friends and others that has kept her going. (Supplied)

January of 2025.

There is no calm in Kat’s waters; initial treatment for her trip to Japan saw her exhaust her Super, selling her home, and sourcing funds through crowdfunding.

Building on her self-determination, it was the

amount of encouragement and support that she received, not just from her family, but from strangers who had come across her story.

“It was just the will to keep on living; I’m a pretty shy person, and so having to put myself out there was the most difficult thing you could ever imagine,” she said.

“But, I knew that it was my only option, that, if I wasn’t able to raise money for these treatments, I was going to die.

“So it was either become vulnerable and put yourself out there, or die, and I know it sounds harsh, but those were my options.”

At the time of writing, Kat’s GoFundMe page is sitting at $200,503, just over halfway to the needed $400,000, and $59,750 to the goal of $250,000 on Rare Cancers Australia, for treatments in the United States, Germany and Japan.

Aside from her desire to keep on living, it’s simply love, love that serves as the fuel for her engine.

“I didn’t know my [initial] prognosis, because I never wanted to know,” Kat said.

“But based on others who have had this cancer, doctors have said I’m doing really well, that I’m truly an outlier.

“They told me to keep doing what I’m doing because it’s clearly working,” she said.

Life for Kat had taken a rather drastic turn in the last four years, where if the days were not filled with treatments and appointments, they were instead with endless hours of research for treatments available around the globe.

Laughing for seemingly sounding like a broken record, and for the lack of a better word, Kat said that there is no escaping the fact that it was, and is, nothing but love that is pushing her to keep going forward.

“I feel like these people have given me so much that I owe it to them to do the absolute best that I can do.”

Currently, Kat is self-funding an immunotherapy drug that costs $3000 per three weeks, which would normally be PBS funded for more common cancers.

After speaking to doctors and researchers from around the world, her options moving forward include histotripsy, a recent breakthrough in cancer treatment that was recently approved in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.

Since not widely available, this would see Kat travelling States-bound to De Kevin Burns, a leading interventional radiologist who has the potential to eradicate the liver tumour in Kat’s arteries.

Transarterial chemoembolisation, or TACE for short, is another option, serving as a targeted treatment that delivers chemo directly into the tumour to kill or stop it from moving, and while a version exists here in Australia, a more developed treatment plan is possible in Germany.

The third option is dendritic cell therapy also in Germany, which has since progressed significantly after her last visit.

Recalling the time when Kat and her family decided to do crowdfunding for the initial trip to Japan, she said that she was just “blown away”.

“I was just overwhelmed, and it was the most beautiful, beautiful feeling, it just felt like everyone had my back,” she said.

Having been diagnosed in 2021, there is no question that the ‘norm’ in Kat’s life has been uprooted, and, while she sees herself as mostly a positive person, there are times when it simply catches up to her.

This is especially the case when it comes to Kat’s mental fortitude; there is no questioning her physical prowess, the countless treatments and surgeries she has undergone are a testimony to that.

However, Kat has recognised “how important the mind is in recovery”.

“Once you start going downhill mentally, it’s a really slippery slope that I won’t be able to get back from.

“But honestly, I believed that from day one, I’ve been surrounded by so much love, and just so much support.

“You can see that on the GoFundMe page and my Instagram, I’m constantly showered in love, and I truly, truly believe that that’s what’s gotten me through.

“It’s those times where the fear sets in and the sadness, just, it just comes around, you know?” she said.

“But then again, I get pulled out of that trance so quickly because there is just so much love around me.

“I’m also just so hopeful of those treatments, and I have so much confidence in them because of the research that I’ve done, the people around me, and the other patients who I’ve spoken to who have been on death’s door but had amazing results.

“I have that confidence, and even if they don’t work, there’s going to be something else; there are always options.”

For more information on Kat’s GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/f/for-our-girl-kat

Amelia from Bunnings was acting quickly in a backpack race.

Participants had a great time at the backpacking race.

Day. (Stewart Chambers: 481938)

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

Life after cancer and chemo

By Tracey Matthies

Breast cancer never made me sick, but the treatment certainly did.

My cancer is gone but now I’m left living with the aftermath of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and radiation because cancer isn’t always over when it’s gone and when the treatment ends.

I was diagnosed with a non-specific type, HER2 positive, grade three (fast growing) tumour in my left breast at about 10.30am on Thursday 19 December, 2023. Ladies – just get your mammograms. My tumour was only detected and diagnosed by a regular BreastScreen.

What followed was a flood of information and a maelstrom of tests, treatments and side-effects until I was finally told I was NED – No Evidence of Disease about 13 months later.

My official Health Record for that period shows 24 diagnostic imaging reports, including CT scans, with and without nuclear medicine, bone studies, PET scans, fluoroscopies, a lymphoscintigraphy (sentinel lymph node mapping to check for any spread of the cancer), ultrasounds, echocardiograms and even ordinary, bog-standard X-rays.

There were also 36 pathology reports. I was on a first name basis with the blood collectors.

But that’s a rather dry summary of three different types of chemotherapy, and the innumerable side effects of rashes, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and even just the pain caused by breathing on the back of my hands at times, not to mention all the medications to deal with those side effects.

Forget about hospital in the home. I had my own pharmacy in the home, and we hit the PBS threshold much earlier that year than ever before!

There were countless GP appointments, surgery to place a port for ease of treatment and another for a lumpectomy, not to mention three emergency department admissions along the way.

As well as my amazing GP who was there whenever I needed him - just as he promised immediately after my diagnosis - my medical team exploded to include a medical oncologist, breast surgeon, radiation oncologist, heart specialist, lung specialist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, oncology nurses, radiation techs and nurses, McGrath BreastCare Nurse, and lymphoedema nurse.

My daily life was driven by medical administration, making and attending appointments, treatments, check ups, tests, tests and more tests.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

Fortunately, I found my support community quickly. As well as my husband and our sons, we had other family members and some very close friends who were, and still are, there with us. From phone calls and visits to dropping off meals, they held us up in the tough times.

I was also fortunate enough to have wonderful support from my employer, the Star News Group. They immediately made it possible for me to work

from home and always encouraged me to take the time I needed when I wasn’t well enough to work.

A Facebook support group for Australian women with breast cancer let me know I wasn’t the only person going through whatever that day’s experience was. There are 58 people diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every day so someone else out there has been through it before me.

And the cancer community on X (formerly Twitter) was a bastion of support from people around the world where we got so close that I cried when two of my X friends died.

From day one I was assured that this was a beatable cancer, so I had a good headspace about my outcome.

Sure, I lost my hair to chemo, but it grew back.

In fact, it was just long enough at the time of my twin granddaughters’ fifth birthday party to have their initials shaved into the sides of my head. Yeah, I was the cool grandma that day.

But cancer isn’t necessarily over when it’s

gone and when the treatment ends.

It’s certainly not over for me.

Before my own experience I didn’t know that cancer treatment could leave permanent after-effects. I thought I would just go through the treatment and then go back to life as it was before.

A lot of women in the Facebook support group get frustrated when people in their lives think they should be back to the person they were before cancer.

Most of us live with ongoing fatigue, tiredness beyond tired. We plan our days and weeks to avoid overdoing it because we know how hard that fatigue will hit us.

I have to take hormone blockers for 10 years because my type of cancer, HER-2 positive, feeds on oestrogen, and hormone blockers can have side effects. I’ve already been switched to a second type of hormone blocker because the first one caused such severe joint pain that I could barely walk.

Blocking hormones affects bone density, so

for the next couple of years I have to have infusions every six months to build up my bone density. And scans to check they are working.

But there’s more.

It’s called peripheral neuropathy, basically nerve damage caused by chemotherapy, the very thing saving my life.

It started with tingling fingers and toes and quickly turned into numb hands, fingers and feet. I was dropping things because I couldn’t feel them to grip properly.

Walking took all my concentration. I couldn’t get my car keys out of my pocket and walk at the same time. I stumbled on uneven ground.

Then I had a couple of falls because my feet weren’t feeling the ground properly.

That’s when my medical oncologist called a halt to the chemo. She said the risk of permanent damage was greater than the benefit of more chemo.

Unfortunately, the damage had been done, and she now believes my neuropathy is permanent. So don’t be surprised when you see me moving slowly, sometimes with a walking stick. As if that wasn’t enough, I also have a persistent nighttime cough so bad that it leads to vomiting most nights.

My lung specialist believes it’s also permanent damage caused by radiation – another factor in saving my life. I’m going through testing to rule out other possible causes, but it seems like this is just one more thing I will just have to live with. Am I grateful my cancer was detected early and successfully treated?

Absolutely!

Would I do anything differently if my cancer returns?

No, I would still follow the advice of the experts who have got me through this time. I might ask more questions about side effects and permanent after-effects, but I’d still rather be alive. What I would ask is that the broader community be aware that the end of treatment isn’t necessarily the end of the effects for many people. Don’t be surprised when they have a rough day or week, when they’re frustrated that they will never be the person they were before cancer. Just be there for them, with us.

Blood donations encouraged in national awareness week

By Ethan Benedicto

In light of Blood Donor Week until 15 June, the City of Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen, visited the Narre Warren North pop-up blood donor centre to roll up his sleeve for the first time.

In recognition of Australia’s blood donors who make life-changing differences to those in need, Koomen said that “with more than 1.7 million donations needed every year to meet the growing demand for blood products in Australia, I encourage all eligible residents to book an appointment today”.

Speaking on his first time experience, Koomen said that the staff were welcoming, and ensured that he was comfortable from “Bradley at the front-of-house to Lily and Chloe who looked after me during and after the donation”.

“The whole process was quick and easy, I was in and out within an hour, so it’s easy to go before or after work, or even during your lunch break,” he said.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood recently released a statistic that detailed 9500 extra O positive and O negative blood donors were needed in the next seven days from 2 June, to ensure that Lifeblood can continue to meet the demands of patients across the country.

Lifeblood’s executive director, Stuart Chesneau, said that right now, “we’re seeing the highest rates of people rescheduling or cancelling their appointments since June last year”.

“Our O-type blood supplies are at their lowest level since October 2023; every day we issue

close to 10,000 blood transfusions and medications to hospitals around the country to meet patient demand, and we can’t do it without people donating,” he said.

Chesneau added that O-positive and Onegative are the blood types most frequently

ordered by hospitals and can both be used in emergency situations.

O negative is considered the ‘universal’ blood type, and is often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters so “it can be used to treat patients when their blood type is unknown”.

“Such as in times of trauma when large quantities of blood are needed in a short amount of time,” Chesneau said.

Fewer than seven per cent of the Australian population is O negative, making it one of the rarer blood types; however, its versatility means it makes up 16 per cent of the blood ordered by hospitals.

“What many people don’t know is that O positive is as safe as O negative for the majority of emergency transfusions,” Chesneau said.

“Some 40 per cent of people in Australia have O positive blood, meaning they too can help save lives in emergencies.”

Mayor Koomen has urged residents to take the time to donate, with centres located in Cranbourne West, Narre Warren North, Pakenham, Frankston, and Dandenong.

To book a donation, call 131 495, book online at www.lifeblood.com.au/ or via the DonateBlood app.

Casey’s Mayor, Stefan Koomen and Chloe at the Narre Warren North Pop Up Blood Donor Centre. (Supplied)

Star News editorial coordinator Tracey Matthies underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer. (Supplied)

Tracey Matthies was immunocompromised during treatment and had to protect herself from possible infection on an outing with husband, Colin.

Understanding Climate Change with

Dr. Paul Fraser

FTSE FRACI

Join us at Summerset Cranbourne North for an enlightening seminar with renowned climate scientist Dr. Paul Fraser, as he explores the science behind climate change and its global impact.

Dr. Fraser is an award-winning researcher who has been at the forefront of climate science since the mid-1970s. A key figure at the CSIRO and an honorary Research Fellow, he was instrumental in founding the internationally acclaimed Cape Grim Atmospheric Observatory on Tasmania’s west coast (pictured).

Throughout his career, Dr. Fraser has pioneered methods for measuring atmospheric greenhouse gases. His research confirmed that 60% of climate change is driven by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, with the remaining 40% attributed to other greenhouse gases.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most respected voices in climate science.

Light refreshments will be served following the seminar.

Love the life you choose.

Free Climate Change Seminar

Friday 20th June followed by light refreshments RSVP today to secure your spot

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

Bingo!: A full house of fun

By Violet Li

night was held at

According to City of Casey Manager Connected Communities Callum Pattie, more than 100 people of all ages attended the evening on Saturday 7 June.

“There were three rounds of number Bingo and two rounds of Music Bingo,” he said.

“There were lots of laughs had by all, and the feedback from attendees has been wonderful, with many asking when we will be hosting our next event!

“It was fantastic to see so many people having a great time with their friends and family and showing their support for the Casey rainbow community.”

Additional Maternal and Child sessions

City of Casey is expanding access to its Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service by offering additional sessions to support families who missed important child development checks.

Fortnightly Saturday sessions are now available at various locations across Casey, aimed at families whose children have missed their scheduled 2-year-old or 3.5-year-old Key Ages and Stages Assessments.

These assessments are critical for monitoring a child’s growth, development and wellbeing.

Councillors Michelle Crowther and Anthony Walter recently visited one of the sessions at Manna Gum Community Centre in Clyde North, where they spoke with attending fami-

lies, including the Mamidi family, who brought their daughter Maya for her assessment.

Cr Crowther said improving access to the MCH service was one of her priorities since being elected.

“These vital assessments provide families with an opportunity to check their child’s growth, development, and overall well-being, helping to identify and address any concerns early,” she said.

“I encourage all families to take advantage of these additional MCH sessions to support their child’s development and well-being.”

Each assessment will include:

· Growth and development checks: height, weight, speech, motor skills, social and emo-

tional development.

· Oral health guidance and referrals (if required).

· Hearing and vision screening referrals (if required.

· Immunisation status review and referral (if required)

· Parenting support on feeding, sleep, toilet training, and behaviour.

· Referrals to specialists or early childhood services (where appropriate).

· To make an appointment, contact 9705 5590, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

· For more information, visit: casey.vic.gov.au/ maternal-child-health-services

Hallam hub added for food rescue

A new OzHarvest food rescue hub, set to open in the City of Casey today (12 June), aims to deliver 6000 extra meals each week.

The SE Hub in Hallam will alleviate pressure from 12 local charities on the waitlist for hard-hit communities across Casey, Cardinia, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Monash, and the Mornington Peninsula.

The OzHarvest manager for Melbourne, Christine Crowley, said that “food insecurity isn’t just about hunger - it’s about dignity, health and the impossible decisions people face every day just to survive”.

The Hallam site is part of OzHarvest’s wider expansion plan to better support people in need, and has been made possible through funding from the Victorian Government’s Community Food Relief program.

Woolworths is also a national partner with OzHarvest, with dozens of stores across Victoria donating surplus food daily to help feed local communities.

According to OzHarvest’s 2025 Community Needs Survey, it revealed that there is a national hunger emergency, with a 54 per cent increase in people being turned away by the 1500 charities OzHarvest serves across Australia.

“This is the toughest it’s ever been, and more than a third are reaching out for help for the first time in their lives,” Crowley said.

“Every meal we rescue gives someone the strength to get through the day, and with winter approaching, this new hub means we can reach more people faster, and in the communities that need it most.”

In Victoria alone, 81 per cent of the charities OzHarvest supports saw an increase in demand for food relief, with 77 per cent of charities needing more food to meet demand.

Nearly one third - 29 per cent - of people seeking food relief are also doing so for the first time ever.

Maya, Dinesh, Yashil and Kavi Mamidi; City of Casey Manager Child Youth and Family Bronwyn Saffron; MCH nurses Kimberley and Claudia; Cr Anthony Walter; and Cr Michelle Crowther. (Supplied)

Event MC “Della Katessen” performed the song “Dancing Queen” by Abba.

Two Bingo winners with trophies and prizes, Lara (left) and Val (right).

Rainbow flags, sparkling wine and Bingo cards made for a fantastic night.

A Drag Bingo

Lynbrook Community Centre over the past weekend, as Casey Council celebrates Pride Month.

City of Casey Rainbow Advisory Committee Members Ren, Elsa and Kris (middle) with LGBTIQA+ Advisor Miranda (left) and the outrageous MC “Della Katessen”.

Event MC “Della Katessen”. A surprise birthday cake for Nevelda.

Forty-eight hours in Amsterdam

By Kylie Mitchell-Smith Pr/ Travel Writer/ podcaster Www.travellingsenorita.com

Landing in Amsterdam after a long haul from Australia- it strikes us that it’s 30-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 lesser known MOCO Museum, adjacent to Van

Soakinginthepast,presentandfuture.

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 capture the cities 360’ panoramic views. Taking the

Wherethebicycleisstillking.

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

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12 DAYS | 4 COUNTRIES | 10 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: JUN-NOV 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; 2027

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Paris to Prague or vice versa

12 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 10 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: JUN-NOV 2025; MAR-NOV 2026; 2027

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From $5,995pp in Veranda Stateroom

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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

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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

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Clyde Road progressing

The Clyde Road Upgrade has reached another major milestone following the completion of the foundations for the extra lanes being built on the Clyde Road overpass, allowing crews to commence centre median piling.

Crews have finished up these works on the outside of the overpass needed to support four extra lanes, which involved drilling 24 holes up to 17 metres deep and filling them with steel and concrete piles to create the foundations.

“The Clyde Road Upgrade is making great progress on the new-look bridge, with crews completing the piling on either side of the overpass,” Major Road Projects Victoria Program Director Brendan Pauwels said.

“You’ll now see crews working in the middle of the freeway to get the foundations ready for the centre median wall that will hold up the new lanes.”

Work has now shifted onto the Princes Free-

way centre median, with 11 more foundations up to 1.5 metres wide being built to support the centre of the widened bridge and ensure long-term stability.

The centre median wall holding up the expanded bridge will be the largest piece of substructure formwork, standing at 5.6m tall and weighing over 570 tonnes once completed with the foundations being built for the wall that will hold up the expanded bridge.

While works continue on the Clyde Road overpass, crews have closed the Princes Freeway citybound exit ramp at Clyde Road until Friday 15 November to undertake widening works. This includes extensive asphalt and drainage works, and construction of a 180-metre-long retaining wall which will also act as a safety barrier.

Crews are also working hard behind barriers on Clyde Road, constructing the new southbound lanes that will help reduce congestion and improve travel times.

Tiny Art Show returns

Connected Libraries announced the return of the Tiny Art Show in 2025, a free art competition for members aged 16 and over.

“The Tiny Art Show is a great way to spend a few cosy hours during the winter months,” Courtney Rushton, Branch and Adult Program manager, said.

“It’s open to all Connected Libraries members aged 16 and above, and there are great prizes to be won.”

Participants can collect a free mini canvas from any Connected Libraries location — Bunjil Place, Cranbourne, Cranbourne West, Doveton, Endeavour Hills or Hampton Park Library — then take it home and create a mas-

terpiece using any art style or materials they like.

Finished artworks are returned to the library to be displayed and judged.

“The 2024 Tiny Art Show saw over 100 incredible entries, and we’re confident 2025 will be even bigger. There is so much creativity in our community,” Courtney said.

There will be two winners per library, one winner will be decided based on a public voting system, and a Connected Libraries staff member will choose the other.

Entries close Friday 11 July.

For more information, visit: connectedlibraries.org.au/tinyartshow/

Tiny Art Show is a free art competition for Connected Libraries members aged 16 and over. (Supplied)

Clyde Road centre median works commence. (Supplied)

Expulsions: Expert opinion

By Ethan Benedicto

Expert opinion is in support of the announcement following the State Government declaring that school principals now have the power to expel or suspend students for behaviour outside of school.

Federation University professor Jenene Burke, who is also the deputy dean of the Institute of Education, Arts and Community, said that while the specifications of what this new power entails are not yet readily available, she thinks “it could be quite helpful to principals”.

“I know that as far as schools are involved, things happen outside of school gates that impact the school community directly.

“I think that there is a grey area there as to whether principals can actually deal with the fallout or the way students are reacting or things that students have done, but if it becomes clearer, then it’s going to be helpful for everyone,” she said.

Shadow Minister for Education, Jess Wilson, commented on the lack of parameters around what this new development has in store for principals.

Prof Burke touched on how these newfound powers could potentially impact or ‘exclude’, instead of supporting students with complex behavioural or social needs, adding that “it’s a thin wedge”.

“We’re talking about extreme behaviour that students might be engaging in after school, which I think could be a social problem, or a law and order problem, more than a school problem.

“All children have the right to education, but there’s also a right to protect the school community, the people within it and ensure that these people feel safe and secure.

‘Fantastic

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

“If that is compromised by the behaviour of certain students, then principals are obliged to act,” she said.

However, Prof Burke said that she is not in favour of expelling students, and that students, at times, do need that form of suspension to “cool their heels” and to let things settle down.

While principals and teachers might implement these strategies, she also added that there needs to be care around vulnerable children, and children who are behaving in antisocial ways, since they “need more support”.

“Perhaps there needs to be additional support to what schools can typically offer, because these are big social problems with kids who are troubled, which need to be managed in a range of different ways,” she said.

She also added that there has been an array of media coverage, not current, but consistent, when it comes to antisocial behaviour, and that if it were to happen on school grounds or outside,

then the result delivered by a principal would remain the same.

“You can’t let kids behave like that around other kids; there is a whole lot of learning that needs to happen for them, and schools are in the business of learning,” she said.

“If kids are doing the wrong thing, the idea is to try to teach them to get it right next time, and I think it’s helpful if schools can respond to those things.”

Early intervention on what could potentially signal antisocial behaviour remains integral, so that the plausibility of expulsion remains thin down the line.

Prof Burke said that “principals don’t actually expel or suspend a lot of children, it’s only in really extreme cases”.

She highlighted that, by the same token of early preventative measures, the recent announcement by the State Government of the Positive Behaviour Support Program and other similar

approaches can help provide students that space to address possible antisocial, or potentially dangerous behaviours or habits.

“There are also restorative processes, which have been in schools roughly 20 to 30 years, where you sit down with children, you talk through what has happened, and you get them to try and think about why they behave in certain ways,” Prof Burke said.

“Think about how they have been harmed or have harmed, and what needs to happen for them to feel better about what happened, then to have an undertaking to move forward in some way, together - that can be really powerful.”

Schools around Victoria use these strategies to address children involved in incidents in schools, with Prof Burke also coining school counsellors as a present form of help for those in need.

She said that trauma-informed practices have become prevalent in the last five years, and that schools as a whole have been working with students in terms of “developing trauma-informed practices that they can use”.

“The things that we teach students are to identify potential issues before they occur; what are the signs leading up to, maybe an incident that’s about to escalate, and how they can diffuse these difficult situations.

“Relationship-building exercises, communitybuilding exercises in-school, classroom exercises, these are places where people learn to treat each other decently,” she said.

Prof Burke believes that the development of powers for principals to address outside-ofschool behaviour is important, but so are the endeavours that schools must take to address these behaviours in-house, before it reaches that critical stage.

journey’: Journeyman pens his epic life’s tale

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 embarked 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 0435 786 736.

Well-travelled Dandenong author Peter Jerijian with his memoir Bouncing Back. (Gary Sissons: 482305)

Professor Jenene Burke from Federation University has supported the new powers of principals, but has also stressed the measures to be taken before expulsion becomes an option. (On file)

SEMMA urges premium review

By Philip Salama-West

The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has called for an immediate review of WorkSafe’s and says that the Victorian Government’s recent decision to maintain a hold on WorkCover premiums at 1.8 per cent doesn’t do enough to aid struggling Victorian manufacturers.

Honi Walker, CEO of the industry body, said “Manufacturers have seen significant premium increases despite not making any claims. Holding the rate isn’t enough - we need a full review of WorkSafe now, not in 2027.”

SEMMA argues that the hold does not go far enough to aid manufacturers and has called for an immediate review on WorkCover, rather than waiting for the independent statutory review currently scheduled to take place in 2027.

Honi Walker argues that the financial strain being placed on manufacturers warrants immediate action.

“That’s still two years away – what can we expect to pay in 2026-27 if the review hasn’t started? We are not responsible for the financial issues of WorkCover – but we are being made to pay for it,” said Ms Walker.

This is the latest of several disputes that SEMMA has had with the state government this year, with the body most recently calling for a cap on land tax rates which it labelled ‘gouging’ and ‘an unjustified cash grab’.

SEMMA also argued in its pre-Budget submission in February that the Federal Government should halve the company tax rate for manufacturers.

Honi Walker has called for more cooperation from the Victorian Government in developing policy that won’t have an adverse impact on manufacturers.

“While we understand that WorkSafe is experiencing financial instability, manufacturers are once again the cash cow for government to fill

their coffers,” said Ms Walker. “We’d like to see transparency in the calculation process and we invite the Minister for WorkSafe & TAC Ben Carroll to join us for an Industry Roundtable,” she said.

SEMMA has released its Australian Manufacturing Blueprint – 2025 & Beyond, which details a number of strategies including capping business tax rates and reducing business loan rates, as part of its overarching policy objective to enable economic growth in manufacturing from 5.9 per cent (currently) to 10 per cent GDP by 2030.

SEMMA President Peter Angelico has argued for a business-led approach, saying “Let industry

lead our policy makers to successful economic evolution, ensuring we retain our Sovereign Capability across all sectors, encourage capital investment and grow wages, boost skilled careers, and lift our standard of living.”

This is the third year in which the Allen Labor Government has kept average premiums at 1.8 per cent. The government noted that last financial year, WorkSafe provided $3.4 billion in tailored support to more than 104,000 injured workers while helping more than 26,000 injured workers to return to safe and sustainable work.

Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll has stated that the gov-

ernment has consulted with employers, unions, mental and occupational health experts in creating its policy.

Bridget Vallence, MP for Evelyn and Shadow Minister for Finance, has voiced criticism of the Victorian Government’s handling of WorkSafe, arguing that the government has failed to respond to key recommendations of the Inquiry into the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Bill 2023, claiming that employers, unions, and injured workers are being ignored, and that businesses are still struggling from the 2023-24 increase in WorkCover premiums of 42 per cent.

“The Liberals and Nationals call on the Allan Labor Government to immediately respond to the WorkCover Bill inquiry and extend the freeze on WorkCover premiums for 24 months. Labor can’t manage money and can’t manage the WorkCover scheme, and it’s Victorian businesses and injured workers who are paying the price,” said Ms Vallence prior to the release of the 2025-2026 state budget.

Ben Carroll has noted that though the average rate remains stable at 1.8 per cent, individual WorkCover premium rates do fluctuate on a case by case basis, determined by specific factors such as worker wages and the frequency of safety incidents in a given workplace, and are also influenced by 500 separate rates for specific industries. WorkCover, the state government points out, has provided invaluable care and relief for Victorian workers.

“WorkCover is about standing by people –giving workers peace of mind and helping businesses through tough times. We’ve strengthened the scheme so it can continue to deliver on that promise. We are taking a balanced approach to ensuring the long-term viability of Victoria’s workers compensation scheme and passing on the benefits directly to workers and employers,” said Mr Caroll.

SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker.

Fees ‘out of control’

By Violet Li

Local real estate agents in Casey said the advertising costs on realestate.com.au had surged over the years, with one describing the pricing as “ridiculous and out of control”.

They acknowledged the market reach of the platform but said its pricing model of advertising costs had little flexibility and transparency, with costs now reaching over $2,500 per property in suburbs like Cranbourne.

Some agents are also encouraging vendors to consider alternative platforms to break out of the cost surge.

The claims came amid the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s recent investigation into digital property advertising company REA Group, which is best known for operating the realestate.com.au platform.

The $32 billion ASX-listed giant confirmed to its shareholders on 27 May that it was being investigated by the ACCC. The consumer watchdog required REA to provide information regarding certain subscription offerings.

A spokesperson of ACCC said the investigation is at an early stage, and they’re yet to form a view.

John Deo, chief executive officer of LJ Hooker Casey, said REA put their prices up every year, and there was nothing they could do about it.

“It’s just getting ridiculous and getting out of control. The premier listing in our area (Hampton Park) is nearly $2,600. It’s the biggest thing on our marketing budget,” he said.

“Everything else is all a couple of $100. Our average marketing campaign is nearly $4,500. But our commission is only like $8,000 to $10,000. The advertising is nearly at 45 per cent.

“It’s going up in July. It’s going to be close to $2,800 or $2,900.

“And I don’t understand how their cost goes up because it’s purely Internet.”

Jo Mooney, director of Mooney & Co Estate Agents in Cranbourne, noted that the advertising costs on the platform increased about seven to eight per cent a year.

“They quote their market strengths,” she said. She also noted that they were getting fewer inquiries now through the platform than they had in a very long time.

“And vendors are paying more to be on there,” she said.

Both Mr Deo and Ms Mooney pointed out the lack of transparency on the pricing model of its advertising fees. They tried to figure it out, but still, they had no idea.

Realestate.com.au offers different subscription tiers for agencies, which influence the base cost of listings. According to Ms Mooney, most agencies are on the Premiere +, which provides the biggest ads, to remain competitive.

It is understood that the cost for a real estate agency to list a property on realestate.com.au varies based on several factors, including the agency’s subscription tier and the property’s location, but the final numbers showed up, the agents found it difficult to pin down a coherent pattern.

“It’s postcode pricing, to a degree, but if it’s postcode pricing, should all be the same for one postcode, but it’s not,” Ms Mooney said.

For example, the cost of a Premiere for Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, North, and South is about $2,500, but Botanic Ridge, with the same postcode, is a little bit cheaper, which doesn’t make sense to Ms Mooney because the median house price there is higher than Cranbourne.

Clyde, the abutting suburb with a different postcode, has a very similar median housing price to Cranbourne, but the advertising cost on a Premiere is about $1,200.

The pricing model bewildered Mr Deo as he discovered Hampton Park and Berwick share the same price for advertising, but the median house price in Berwick is nearly double that of Hampton Park.

“You can go five kilometres in towards the city, and the prices are averaging $ 1 million, and they’re paying the same price as us,” he said.

“It’s a very unfair system, the way they do the pricing.”

Ms Mooney said sellers don’t feel like they have an option not to go to realestate.com.au, and the surging price was putting pressure on the agencies to lower commissions to offset the cost of the marketing.

“We used to pay for the marketing. We can’t afford to now because it’s such a substantial amount for each property,” she said.

“If you’re carrying multiple properties at all times, that’s a hell of a lot of money.”

She also said part of the problem was that agencies were locked in one tier of marketing subscription for twelve months, which lacked flexibility.

“What we should be able to do, and that would give home sellers control over what they actually invest and spend in marketing their property, is to take different-sized ads available on realestate. com.au and say to homeowners, how would you like your property to be marketed? Do you just want a standard ad? Do you want a feature? Do you want a highlight? Do you want Premiere? What do you want to do?” she said.

“Because that way, they’ve got some sort of control.”

Dean Tucker, the director of First National Real Estate Finning in Cranbourne, said there should be a conversation to educate people into choosing alternative property advertising.

“I always say it’s a two-pronged conversation. There’s the conversation about trying to sell the

house, and then there’s the conversation about promoting the office or the agent. They’re two totally different things,” he said.

“The big ads are really about promoting the office and the agent. Selling the house is a totally different thing because you can sell the house with the smallest ad if the price is right, and the house looks nice, and it’s in the spot where people want to buy it.”

He said there was no bottom end for the price surge because the desire to get more exposure will lead to more varied and expensive packages.

“Look, at the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong, I suppose, with capitalism and that everybody wants to jump onto the same platform and then that they can effectively charge what they want,” he said.

“I think the deal has to be trying to educate people into choosing alternatives.”

Speaking about the ACCC’s investigation into the group, Mr Tucker said he was interested to see how the watchdog was going to do.

“I’d love it for them to go put some regulation on that market,” he said.

Ms Mooney said every business deserves to make money, but there is a real issue here with the group.

“The issue is that they are strangling the market. And the market is numb and bad,” she said.

REA was contacted for comments.

In its announcement to the shareholders, it says the group is committed to “providing choice, value and flexibility to its customers and consumers, and remains focused on delivering products and services that improve the property experience of buyers, sellers and renters”.

“The value that REA provides is underpinned by the 12.3 million people who visited realestate. com.au each month on average in the March quarter, with 6.4 million exclusively using realestate. com.au1.

“REA is cooperating fully with the ACCC and is unable to comment further for confidentiality reasons. REA will continue to comply with its disclosure obligations and will update the market on this matter as appropriate.”

The spokesperson of ACCC said the watchdog does not normally make comments on its ongoing investigations, noting that it conducts such work on a confidential basis.

“Naturally, the ACCC is concerned to ensure there is strong competition in the important real estate sector,” they said.

“As the investigation is ongoing, the ACCC won’t comment further at this time.”

Generally speaking, businesses are free to independently set their own prices as they wish.

The ACCC has no role in setting or regulating the prices of real estate ads.

Dandy Little Aths rescue-bid deferred

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Greater Dandenong councillors have deferred a motion to save the home of Dandenong Little Athletics Club as well as $200,000 of council funds earmarked for possible destruction.

On 10 June, Cleeland Ward councillor Rhonda Garad tabled the alternative motion to secure little athletics at Robert Booth Reserve, which is walking distance for neighbouring Casey suburbs Doveton and Eumemmerring as well as Dandenong.

The motion was designed to counter a council report proposing the 53-year-old club stays for one more summer while a $100,000 masterplan weighs up the closure of the grass track-and-field facilities.

The masterplan funding would come from $240,900 originally allocated by Greater Dandenong to decommission the Robert Booth facility this year.

Under a 2019 athletics development plan, the council had planned to relocate DLAC to the upgraded $6.6 million Ross Reserve athletics centre in Noble Park after 2024-’25.

In front of a gallery of DLAC children, parents and volunteers, Cr Garad instead proposed to keep the club at Robert Booth, spend $40,000 to repair the track’s sprinkler system and to reinstate the club’s public signage.

The reamining $200,000 would be returned to council general revenue.

Cr Garad paid tribute to the “extraordinary impact” made by club president David Daff and the club for the community.

She pointed out that during last summer, children were regularly doing “bucket runs” to water the track last summer due to broken sprinklers that should be repaired “without delay”.

Backed by a majority, Cr Sean O’Reilly moved to defer the item so it can be “fully considered” at a future council meeting.

“It’s more diligent that the council takes time to consider all the issues and come up with a motion that’s not drafted in a rush, but properly.

“(It) will absolutely touch on all of the points ... for the good of the club and all involved.”

Addressing the club’s members, mayor Jim Memeti said the deferral meant that the DLAC was “at the table” to make decisions with the mayor, chief executive and council directors.

A leaders’ meeting

By Ethan Benedicto

School leaders from across the City of Casey gathered at the Akoonah Park Centre on the cool morning of Friday, 6 June, as Berwick MP and Opposition leader Brad Battin spoke to them about leadership.

There were 13 schools in attendance, with tables in the open space filled with eager youth as Battin delivered a seminarstyle course on what it means to be a leader.

“Being a leader is not thinking about yourself, but instead thinking about things you can do to improve others,” he said.

“This includes others around you, and to pass it on to these kids, I just think it’s important to have that generational change of leadership in Victoria.”

Akin to the everyday school classroom, the conversations began lightly, touching on sport, the children’s favourite teams, and their hobbies.

But soon it became clear that the children were there to learn when Battin spoke of the qualities of a leader, and hands were quick to shoot up in the air.

Students spoke of resilience, perseverance, and determination, but many also spoke of kindness, consideration, and teamwork, as not many were shy about letting their voices be heard.

Schools present were Brentwood Park Primary School, Mirniyan Primary School, Beaconsfield Primary School, Clyde Creek Primary School, Harkaway Primary School and St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar.

Also in attendance were students from Topirum Primary School, Turrun Primary School, St. Michael’s Primary School, Haileybury College, Ramlegh Park Primary School, Hillcrest Christian College, and Berwick Fields Primary School.

The council would ensure the proposal was “what (the club was) happy with”.

“We really appreciate what you do for the kids of Dandenong.”

DLAC president David Daff had addressed the meeting, asking them why the council was trying to shut down a “local, accessible, budget-friendly activity”.

He argued that relocation would destroy the club, estimating that half of the families and members would drop out due to not having the time or means to travel 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.

Since the 2019 council plan to close Robert Booth, the club’s membership had more than doubled in the past two years to 69 at present.

Community strengthening director Peta Gillies told the meeting that the 2019 plan was to invest in Ross Reserve to bring it “up to standard” and amalgamate DLAC with Springvale Little Athletics Club.

Keeping a second facility at Robert Booth was “difficult to justify” at the time due to its lower usage rates, ageing assets and not having a female and junior-friendly pavilion, Gillies said.

Battin began the conversation by saying that there is “no such thing as a natural leader” and that, like many skills, it can be achieved through hard work and by anyone.

When asked on the way he delivered the message to the children, Battin emphasised that there is a balance struck between recognising their youth, but also their potential.

“These conversations, I would say, are not in a soft way; it’s letting the kids understand that the things they can do are sometimes going to take courage,” Battin said.

“It’s going to take passion, and giving these kids the permission that sometimes, things can go wrong as well.

“But as long as you can learn from that, you can be a great leader in the future.”

School teachers were also present during lunch, as pizza and fruit were served for the young ones during the event.

Brad Battin with St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar students. (Stewart Chambers: 482806)

Students were listening eagerly, and many took turns expressing their opinions on leadership. (Ethan Benedicto: 483020)

Coach David Daff holding the high jump bar, Joydeep clears this height. (Gary Sissons: 429992)

Balla Balla Community Centre

Deep Release & Relax – Winter Solstice Sessions

Take time out to unwind and reset with calming group sessions in the lead-up to the Winter Solstice.

These music and imagery experiences include gentle relaxation, guided themes, and music to support personal reflection. Each session ends with creative expression through drawing and discussion.

Please bring a yoga mat, cushion, blanket, and wear comfortable clothing.

Suitable for adults.

• Monday 16th and 23rd June 7.00pm -8.30pm

• Bookings essential – book online www.balla. balla.com.au or phone 5990 0900.

Morning Melodies

Are you young at heart, looking for some company, or just want to enjoy a lovely morning out? Join us at Morning Melodies for heartwarming performances filled with the songs you know and love! Enjoy live entertainment, a cuppa, and a freshly baked scone with jam and cream - all while making new friends along the way.

Book early to secure your spot! You won’t want to miss this uplifting morning of music and connection. Morning Melodies is held on 2nd Tuesday each month and bookings can be made online www.balla.balla.com.au or by phoning 5990 0900

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

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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

U3A Cranbourne

20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne

We are a social group for people over 50 with many interesting and creative activities. We have recently started a garden group as we have lovely gardens where we can plant vegetables, herbs and flowers and enjoy a tea or coffee outdoors when the weather is nice.

We also have lots of art and craft groups, calligraphy, scrabble, quilling, resin making and card making are popular classes.

On Thursday afternoons from 1 - 3pm we have a lively group of table tennis players. New players welcome, no past experience needed, come along and join in the fun.

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

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

Line dancing is held at Clyde Public Hall on Monday mornings,, a gold coin donation covers hire of this venue.

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

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 – Chair Yoga

Seniors are invited to try out this new gentle exercise, stretching and breath control class, provided by U3A Casey. Chair Yoga improves your flexibility, posture and strength.

No equipment is needed – just you and a bottle of water!

After a first try-out, U3A membership to continue with Chair Yoga, or any of the other 75 classes, is $60 (Jan to Dec) or $30 (July to Dec).

A small additional weekly class fee will be required, which will reduce depending on numbers enrolled.

• When: Mondays from 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm

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

Enquiries:

• Visit our website at www.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.

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

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

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

Hibbins-Hargreaves stars

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dandenong Stingrays co-captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves and top Gippsland prospect

Willem Duursma were the stars 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.

The smooth-moving, strong-marking forward finished with a game-high four goals, particularly influential in the second half.

Duursma, meanwhile, was influential through the midfield, finishing with 26 disposals, four tackles and four clearances.

Other strong players for Vic Country were topfive prospect Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons) and Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean, an intercept defender from Murray Bushrangers.

Hibbins-Hargreaves headlined 12 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.

• Zach O’Keefe: The utility finished with 12 disposals and four tackles, and he was particularly prominent early, with his clean ball-handling, attack on the footy and kicking efficiency impressive. Nearly kicked a critical goal from the arc in the last quarter, but it was touched on the line.

• Willem Duursma: Worked hard and showed his toughness and aerial capacity at various stages, with a 50-metre darting pass inside 50 to set up a Jesse Mellor shot on goal highlighting an exceptional third quarter. As well as his flashiness in open play, he showed off elements of his game that have been questioned.

• Marlon Neocleous: The bottom-aged small for-

ward who played in Traralgon’s 2024 premiership was promoted to the squad following injuries/illness to teammate Tom Matthews and

GWV’s Harley Hicks. Finished with 1.1 from eight disposals and had some dangerous moments when the ball hit the deck inside 50 and

worked up the ground to be a link player.

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.

Jobe Scapin: The slightly-built Gippslander played well above his weight class, finishing with a game-high six tackles, five of which came in the first half. Threw his weight around against bigger bodies and got rewarded by effecting some turnovers. Only found the 10 disposals but felt far more influential.

• Mitch Stevens: The Adelaide father-son prospect won most of his 19 disposals in the first half, providing run and getting some overlap handballs, while taking some intercept marks. Always looked to set the game up with his kicking and pressured a WA opponent late in the game to save a crucial goal to keep his side in front.

Darcy Szerszyn: The bottom-aged Dandenong defender showed 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.

• Wil Malady: Was the star of the show early, with two goals in the first quarter and causing real problems for the WA defence with his contested marking. Would only kick one more behind for the rest of the day, and finished with just six disposals, but all of those were marks and he was never outmarked.

• 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.

Ireland breaks ice on debut as Casey hold on against Pies

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Desperate, superior, stronger in the contest, but woefully inaccurate.

That was the story for Casey on Saturday night as it held on for a 7.15(57) to 7.6(48) victory at Mission Whitten Oval against a Collingwood VFL side it should have put away by halftime.

Collingwood’s only two goals to the break came via free kicks to tall ruck/forwards Iliro Smit and Mason Cox, yet Casey kicked just three goals itself to lead by 10 points at the main break.

Underlining their first half dominance, led by AFL-listed Jack Billings, the Dees were plus12 in contested possessions and plus-eight in tackles, while only allowing the Pies three uncontested marks in their forward half to the main break.

Billings was well supported by VFL-listed Mitch Hardie and consistent youngster Bailey Laurie in the midfield, the latter scoring the only first quarter goal.

A holding the ball tackle by teenaged halfback Mitch Kirkwood-Scott late in the second quarter was symbolic of the intensity and defensive application the Dees brought.

Casey continued to flex its muscle after the break, with Bailey Laurie helping Casey win 10 consecutive clearances at one point in the third quarter.

Taj Woewodin missed two gettable shots in quick succession to continue the frustrating lack of polish in front of goals, before a deliberate rushed behind by Pies defender Sam Glover gifted Luker Kentfield a straight forward goal.

First year AFL rookie Ricky Mentha’s sustained forward half pressure was then rewarded in stoppage time of the second quarter, with his major extending the margin to 25 points.

But the Pies went on to kick the next three either side of the last break, trimming the margin to just seven.

The Dees were able to neuter the Pies mo-

mentum, though, with Billings extending the margin beyond two goals at the 22-minute-mark of the last quarter, with a set shot deep in the pocket.

Flashy Nar Nar Goon local Paddy Cross then kicked the sealer, an accidental soccer off the ground in the goal square that dribbled through.

The victory lifts Casey into the top 10 ahead of a winnable clash against Essendon this Saturday night at ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne.

IRELAND DEBUTS

Buln Buln junior and first year Casey Demon Patrick Ireland broke through for a debut on Saturday night.

It follows five goals in his past two games in the Gippsland League, and he has been named emergency multiple times in 2025.

The medium forward kicked a second quarter goal in the low-scoring affair, taking a mark and converting the set shot from 40 metres out.

The Gippsland Power graduate made the list following his fabled 111-goal season for 2024 Ellinbank premiers Buln Buln last year.

The debut came on a weekend of great significance for Ireland’s 2025 local club, Leongatha.

Parrots junior and former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell played his first game back at his home club since retiring from the AFL, with his VFL club Port Melbourne having a bye.

Ireland made the move to the Gippsland footy powerhouse for the betterment of his

footy.

BALDI PLAYS HIS ROLE

Riley Baldi’s brilliant season back in the VFL continued on Saturday, containing Collingwood Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell. Mitchell finished with 25 disposals but had his impact nullified, with the hard-nosed Baldi playing well to contain him at stoppages.

Baldi had just 15 disposals, his lowest possession tally of the year, but laid 14 tackles to deny Mitchell first hands on the footy and the ability to feed the Pies ball users with his usual work at the coalface.

FORMER DEE PERFORMS

Speaking to the Pakenham Gazette last week, Dees coach Taylor Whitford spoke glowingly of 2023 and 2024 runner up best and fairest Roan Steele’s rise to the AFL via May’s Mid-Season Draft.

But he also quipped that he hoped for a quiet performance from the newly-listed Pie when Casey faced them the following week.

He would’ve been nervous when Steele got Collingwood within seven points midway through the final term, giving the Pies a chance of sniffing victory of a game they trailed in all the key metrics.

Casey went on to win, but the former Casey Demon ran hard and had some important moments across his 20 disposals.

Ricky Mentha applied pressure in the forward half. (Rob Carew: 466727)

Dandenong’s Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves celebrates one of his four goals with Gippslander Jobe Scapin. (Paul Kane/AFL Photos)

Will Eagles soar and Lions lift to level?

By Jonty Ralphsmith and Justin Schwarze BEACONSFIELD SET FOR LITMUS TEST IN EASTERN DIV 1

Beaconsfield will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss against Bayswater when it faces Park Orchards on Saturday at Domenay Reserve.

Park Orchards sit second on the ladder, a game and percentage ahead of the Eagles, and haven’t lost since round one.

Mick Fogarty’s men appeared to have established themselves as one of the pacesetters of the competition - alongside Park Orchards and South Belgrave - until a hiccup before the league-wide King’s Birthday bye.

Key defender Finn Devine looks set to play a critical role with former Coburg VFL-listed Lewis Downie his likely matchup, with the 23-yearold Park Orchards player having kicked multiple goals in every game this season.

Ball magnet Damien Johnston has been in strong form in recent weeks and will be looking to continue it against a Park Orchards midfield with plenty of weapons, while Jake Aarts has added star-power in 2025 and will be a player the opponents will be hoping to neutralise.

It’s set to be a clash of styles, with Beaconsfield’s 2025 success built on the back of strangling defence across the ground, conceding the least points of any team in the league, but the Eagles are also the lowest scoring team of any side outside the bottom three.

The scoring issues could be exacerbated by leading goal kicker Jake Bowd missing through injury – particularly given Park Orchards’ propensity to put big scores on the board as the second best offence of 2025.

Park Orchards has passed 90 in all but one of its wins in 2025, compared to Beaconsfield which has reached that figure just once.

While they’re the form team of the competition, alongside the undefeated premiership favourites South Belgrave, Park Orchards have had the last two weeks off, which the Eagles will hope can stymie their momentum.

A win for Beaconsfield would sure up their status among the top three, with a big win set to lift them to second above Park Orchards, but a loss would see fourth-placed Boronia draw level with it on points if it beats Mooroolbark.

BERWICK LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK IN EASTERN PREMIER

What happened against South Croydon?

That’s what Andrew Williams and his troops must have been pondering after a round seven loss to a middle-of-the-table side by 58 points.

After coming so close and being reliably competitive in the first third of the season, Berwick

broke through for its first win of 2025 against Rowville, heralding hopes of more rewards to come.

But they came crashing back down to earth and the challenge gets stiffer this Saturday at Edwin Flack Oval against an in-form Blackburn which is contending for the premiership.

Several current and former VFL-listed players headline Blackburn’s lineup including Box Hill pair Billy Hicks and Nathan Philactides and Ryley Stoddart, who has 48 games of VFL experience to his name.

With the winless Mitcham on the horizon next week, Berwick will hope to get back towards something resembling their best footy to give themselves the best chance of claiming another scalp.

LIONS CREDENTIALS ON THE LINE

The biggest test of the year awaits Pakenham after its week off in Outer East Division 1 with undefeated Seville visiting Toomuc Reserve.

However, the Blues are even more rested, having not played in a fortnight with their bye coinciding with the holiday.

The Lions will need to move the ball quickly and generate high quality inside 50s as a slow, defensive minded game favours Seville.

Pakenham has scored the second most points in the league, but the Blues have allowed the fewest.

Seville wears down its opposition by grinding out games and playing at its own tempo.

The midfield is where this battle will be decided, as the Lions need to take advantage of the big deck to create space and find leading targets.

Goal-scoring spread will prove to be important with Sam Cachia the only Lions’ forward to pose a massive threat in the recent loss to Warburton Millgrove.

Depth and versatility have been strengths this season for Pakenham going forward, but the Blues may quickly adjust and play the gaps to create an advantage.

It will be on the mids to ensure Seville can’t transition the ball and launch out of the backline.

The Blues managed to edge out Warburton Millgrove earlier in the season in a reasonably low-scoring affair, showcasing their defensive tools and midfield prowess.

This will be a similar occasion, with Seville’s class a touch too strong for the Lions, especially through the backline.

The Blues will methodically work the game and get in front, claiming a 16-point triumph.

Girl Power continues for Gippy

By Jonty Ralphsmith

A consistent four-quarter effort has lifted Gippsland’s girls to a 7.6(48) to 5.5(35) victory over Northern Knights.

The Power pulled away by 20 points midway through the last quarter when speedy winger Baia Pugh found the big sticks which was enough despite the Knights kicking the last two goals.

It was Pugh’s second goal of the match and fourth shot as she continues to press her case for Vic Country selection with some strong form, combining 22 disposals and eight tackles.

Tough midfielder Rebecca Fitzpatrick led the way for Gippsland with a gamehigh 26 disposals alongside a goal.

In her first game back from an extended layoff, Lilly Leighton provided Fitzpatrick with great support in the clinches with 18 disposals and six tackles.

Double bottom-ager Jessica Grimstead’s relentless defensive intensity and Maya Crestani’s ruck dominance were other key features of the victory.

The win comes despite Gippsland having eight fewer inside 50s, with their ability to capitalise on 24 entries with seven goals decisive in giving them a win.

The Power, which sit fifth with a 5-2 record, will face the 1-5 Western Jets this Sunday, 11am, at Morwell Recreation Reserve.

Scintillating six-goals leaves Stingray 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.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick continued her solid form in the middle. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 414858)

Alice Cunnington kicked six goals for Dandenong. (Rob Carew: 430152)

Finn Devine is excellent at neutralising his opponent aerially. (Rob Carew: 481278)

BERWICK

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