News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 10th July 2025 by Star News Group

Children and families gathered for a special community mural workshop led by acclaimed Australian author and illustrator Alison Lester at Bunjil Place Library on Monday 7 July.

AND MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 6

Lock your doors

Residents of Officer’s Lavender Estate are on high alert after a brazen attempted burglary and a separate report of suspicious behaviour sparked fears of escalating criminal activity in the area.

The incident took place around 3:18am on 29 June, when four individuals targeted a home. CCTV footage shows two of them jumping a fence and attempting to open multiple doors and windows, while a third stood watch from the street. The fourth person was not seen on camera, but is believed to have remained nearby.

Fortunately, the offenders were unable to gain entry, and police were called and arrived promptly at the scene.

The resident highlighted officers attended and collected CCTV evidence.

“Their commitment was genuine, and we could see they are just as frustrated with these ongoing crimes,“ the resident shared.

The parent said the detectives also informed them that attempted break-ins and car thefts had occurred in nearby streets that same night.

In the days that followed, the parent took to social media to share what they’d learned from police, neighbours and personal experience, in hopes of keeping the wider community informed and prepared.

According to the information shared, the offenders attempted to enter all possible access

points—doors, windows, and even external flyscreens, which may be burned through.

“It’s important to remember that these are not petty thieves. There may be 4–5 people or more involved. They may be carrying weapons, so please don’t put yourself. Your life is more valuable than any item they could take,” the parent warned.

FULL STORY PAGE 2

Alison Lester with Vincy and Anna from Cranbourne. (Stewart Chambers: 488508)

Officer estate on edge

By Afraa Kori

Residents of Officer’s Lavender Estate are on high alert after a brazen attempted burglary and a separate report of suspicious behaviour sparked fears of escalating criminal activity in the area.

The incident took place on 29 June, when four individuals targeted a home.

CCTV footage shows two of them jumping a fence and attempting to open multiple doors and windows, while a third stood watch from the street. The fourth person was not seen on camera, but is believed to have remained nearby.

Fortunately, the offenders were unable to gain entry, and police were called and arrived promptly at the scene.

Police confirmed they are investigating the attempted burglary.

It is understood offenders attempted to enter a property on Curved Trunk Road about 3.50am. Officers were told they were unsuccessful, jumped the garden fence and fled on foot.

The resident highlighted officers attended and collected CCTV evidence.

“Their commitment was genuine, and we could see they are just as frustrated with these ongoing crimes,” the resident shared.

The parent noted that detectives informed them that attempted break-ins and car thefts had occurred in nearby streets that same night.

According to the information shared, the offenders attempt entry through all possible access

points—doors, windows, and even external flyscreens, which may be burned through.

“These groups appear to be highly organised and are mainly targeting cars/ any valuables inside the house. Apparently, they often scope out streets during the day to identify potential high-value vehicles.

“Please check in with elderly neighbours, they may still be in the habit of leaving doors unlocked and neighbours who might not yet know.

“Interestingly, we learned that these individuals are often afraid of dogs. Even a small barking dog can act as a powerful deterrent.”

A few days later, the same resident also noticed a manwearingahoodieandafacemaskactingsuspiciously in the afternoon. However, according to the resident, the figure quickly jumped the fence near the railway line after seeing their vehicle approach.

CCTV from the initial burglary attempt has been widely shared online, sparking a strong reaction.

Many residents expressed fear, anger, and calls for a more effective justice system, particularly as families are being targeted while asleep inside their homes.

“We’re not just worried about theft—we’re worried about what might happen if someone comes face-to-face with these people in the middle of the night,” one local told the Gazette in a vox pop.

He is urging the public to stay vigilant, secure their homes, and continue sharing information

Gembrook subdivision divides council

By Afraa Kori

A controversial land subdivision in Gembrook has been approved by Cardinia Shire Council, overturning an officer’s recommendation to refuse the proposal.

The alternate motion was approved with a 6–3 vote, supported by Cr Pomeroy, Roberts, Nickell, Owen, Paton, and Ross. Opposing the motion were Cr Potter, Thomsen, and Kowarzik.

The application proposed subdividing two rural lots on Harewood Park Road and Knight Road into four parcels.

While the land met minimum lot size requirements under the Green Wedge Zone, officers argued the proposal was inconsistent with planning policies aimed at protecting agricultural land and preserving the area’s rural character.

Cr Nickell moved an alternate motion to approve the application, arguing that farming in the district had changed and the subdivision could attract new landowners willing to explore alternative agricultural uses.

“In the past, previous applications on this particular property to subdivide have been

passed by Council on several occasions. This property has had permission to subdivide down to this size in the past on two separate occasions and it’s been approved,” he said.

“We need to remain consistent with that and create the opportunities for landowners to do something different up there, rather than the current state of stagnation that we currently see up there.

“There is an equal chance, possibly a greater chance, that it’s actually also the sweet spot for what the new future of agriculture for Gembrook is going to be. What the new owners might bring in, what new ideas the future owners might bring into the district. It’s a chance to actually start building a different future, an alternative future for Gembrook.”

Cr Pomeroy and Cr Roberts supported the motion, emphasizing the potential to make land more accessible for farming ventures and encouraging new opportunities.

“The land prices and the leasing costs for a larger block could be challenging for someone wanting to expand their farming venture,” Roberts said.

“I do feel that there’s more land that is not be-

ing used and this might provide an opportunity for someone to pick up, one or two of these lots to get activity happening.”

Cr Owen acknowledged the strength of officer arguments but noted any future homes would require separate council approval.

Cr Collin Ross described the alternate motion as “a progressive approach.”

Mayor Jack Kowarzik voted against the motion, expressing concern over the enforceability of the water rights agreement.

“I appreciate that everyone has good intentions but when things get difficult or when things get expensive, voluntary (agreement) seems to fall to the wayside,” he said.

“So I’m not going to support this alter. I’m going to support our planning officers. But that’s not to take away from the intent of what this alter is trying to achieve and what I know you’re very passionate about.”

He also pushed back against the idea that the region’s agricultural decline was caused by planning rules.

that could prevent future crimes.

“At the end of the day, we’re all in this together, regardless of our differences,” the parent said.

“It’s unsettling to feel unsafe in our own homes but sadly, this is the reality we face today.

“Even a small conversation can lead to big improvements in our community safety. Let’s continue to share information, stay alert, and support each other. No one deserves to go through something like this, particularly when you’re asleep in your home with your children, expecting to feel safe.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that the stagnation and the loss of agriculture in the area is a result of the planning laws,” he said. Council meeting.

Alleged offenders walking through the streets before attempting to break in. (Supplied)

Why hope always pays off

By Corey Everitt

The extraordinary efforts of locals have seen

Have Hope’s dreams come true, with their recent comedy night marked by the donation of a vital truck.

The local relief organisation held a recent fundraiser on Friday 27 June, the comedy night at the Pakenham Football Club went from laughs to shock after it was revealed the charity had secured their much-sought-after truck.

Fundraising efforts since the start of the year have been focused on purchasing a new vehicle dedicated to their delivery of food and goods to those doing it tough.

Have Hope had a target of $40,000 to buy the truck, they had so far raised $8,000

Have Hope founder Bobo Davis said she is still in shock at the donation.

“It’s unbelievable, I still can’t believe we own a truck, it will make such a difference for the community,” Bobo said.

A group of businesses, organised by auto-enthusiast and comedy facebook page Aussie Car Bogan, worked together to purchase a refrigerated truck and donate it to Have Hope Inc.

Alongside Pakenham businesses Paceys Garage, Long Haul Restorations and Custom Stainless & Seductive Detail’n, the truck was secured in just two weeks.

Murray, the Pakenham man behind Aussie Car Bogan, has been involved with Have Hope before, playing a role in their annual toy run last year.

He did not inform anyone of the donation and simply booked a table at the comedy night, where he announced it to the shocked audience.

Aussie Car Bogan explained that his inspiration for the donation was due to his personal experience falling on hard times.

The friends who helped him in that time showed the important generosity that many can provide for those doing it tough.

“Not only did these guys show me care, they

gave me hope that everything will be okay,” he said on the night.

“From that day on, I always swore I would pay it forward, and if I was ever in a position to help, I would.”

Now with a platform and many connections in the community, he was able to do that for Have Hope, a group he said amazed him when he first saw the extent of work each volunteer does.

The 120-strong crowd was shocked by the announcement, alongside comedians Evan Hockings, Anna Perry and Richard Stubbs.

Before, Have Hope was restricted to renting a truck for two days a week to organise and distribute their relief program.

With this truck, they now have the freedom of transport in their vital work, all with a massively reduced cost and the ability to reach more services.

They raised about $8,000 in their fundraising efforts, now that money can go to maintain the truck and into other endeavours.

“We can now pick up food pretty much any day of the week, before we were restricted to two days a week,” Bobo said.

“We’re able to go and collect more food on more days, we just don’t have that restriction anymore.”

With a refrigerated truck, Have Hope can provide more essential fruit, veg and meat.

Bobo thanked her supporters for the tremendous donation.

“I want to thank Murray from Aussie Car Bogan for instigating it, and all the other businesses who chipped in,” Bobo said.

“It still feels so surreal, I don’t feel like it’s a real thing, it just blows my mind.”

Have Hope Inc is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week from 9am to 1pm at 1A Main Street, Pakenham.

You can see more at www.havealittle hope.org/

South East Water ranks high in the state

By Afraa Kori

Households in Melbourne’s south-east growth corridor are among the most fortunate in Victoria when it comes to reliable and affordable water services, according to a new statewide report on water utilities.

Residents in Casey and Cardinia, serviced by South East Water, are paying an average annual water bill of just $990 — one of the lowest in Victoria and well below the national average of $1,607.

South East Water was ranked 7th among Victorian water providers for having the best overall balance in water supply — factoring in pricing, reliability, and infrastructure performance.

Overall, Victoria ranked 6 nationally among Australian states in the same report for achieving strong performance in water affordability and service consistency. Despite being one of the fastest-growing

regions in the state, the area is holding up well in terms of service reliability. On average, locals experience just 89.3

minutes of unplanned water interruptions per year — far better than the national average of 119.5 minutes.

The study, compiled using data from the Urban National Performance Report, also found that the region sees 28.2 water main breaks and 14.7 sewer main breaks per 100km of infrastructure.

While these figures aren’t the lowest in the state, they remain moderate given the population pressures and ongoing urban development across both municipalities.

Have Hope Inc founder Bobo Davis with the newly donated truck. (Supplied)

Customers pleased with South-East Water. (Supplied)

Bethany’s daring swim

By Violet Li

It is choppier than forecasted in the English Channel, and it is colder than usual at this time of the year, but the French coastline finally comes into view – there is hope.

Bethany Forster speeds up.

The reality soon creeps in. She has been staring at a piece of land for too long.

“I’d forgotten about the whole S shape. I forgot we’re kind of going parallel to the coastline in a way,” she later recalls.

“I was like, man, I’m not getting any closer.”

The doomed destiny comes down to one thing: fuelling. The swimmer accidentally bought low-sugar gels, giving her far less energy than planned.

As her speed drops, she misses the tidal window. With no food left on board to fuel another several hours of swimming, her team has no choice.

The pilots, who are closely monitoring Bethany on a support boat nearby, pull the plug. They tell the swimmer to get out of the water. It’s over.

The Lyndhurst local’s first English Channel attempt: 3 kilometres short of the shore. 48.6 kilometres swum, through hundreds of jellyfish, but avoided being stung. 11.5 hours in the ocean. An odyssey that starts at 2am in the dark water.

It was all fine at the time, but the afterthoughts hurt, Bethany admitted.

“I’m tired. I’m cold, and we’ve been going for a long time. I swam through heaps of jellyfish, so at that point, I had been pretty over it for a long time.

“It was afterwards. It wasn’t really a little bit the same day, but it wasn’t really until the next day that I was like, oh, damn.

“I just cried.”

But she’s far from defeated. She already has her second attempt booked for next year.

Second attempt at the English Channel seems to follow a proud legacy, as nearly a century ago, Gertrude Ederle, the first woman ever to swim the English Channel, succeeded not on her first try, but on her second.

Stories of women undertaking long-distance swims have dominated public eyes in recent years, from iconic crossings like the English Channel to record-breaking swims in remote and challenging waters.

This time, the 23-year-old local swimmer is not hesitant to share her story, a story of failing, she would say, but never mind.

“The thing is, failing this time means that it makes for a better story in the long run,” she said.

The decision came around about two years ago when the swimmer realised it was actually not worth it to climb Mount Everest.

“I went down a Mount Everest rabbit hole. Maybe I can do that. And then I went, the only reason I would do it is to satisfy curiosity. It’s not worth it. I’m not a mountaineer. That’s stupid,” she said when she thought of how this all started.

“Well, what’s my thing? My thing’s swimming. I’ve been swimming competitively for 15 years.”

What’s equivalent to climbing Mount Everest in the swimming field? That’s a question for Bethany.

She had been hearing about channel swimming for a long time. Of course, she wanted to do it, but initially, she was scared of jellyfish. She got over that and learned to deal with whatever animals were out there.

Two associations organise channel swims. Bethany sent out emails in early April this year to ask for a spot in 2026.

“One got back to me, and he goes, I’ve got no space for 2026, but I have a spot in June 2025, if you would like it, let me know quickly because I’m going to offer it to other people,” she recalled.

“I went, well, I was going to do it, but, like, why not do it earlier?

“For the crew, because it was earlier than I’d planned, the people who were originally going to come with me couldn’t.

“I was lucky that my best friend could come and her boyfriend. My mom’s cousin drove down from Nottingham.”

The narrowest point of the channel, if you just go directly across, is 32 kilometres.

When swimmers cross the English Channel, they don’t swim in a straight line from England to France because of strong tid-

al currents. These currents push swimmers sideways, so the actual path taken looks like a stretched-out “S” on a map. It can end up being over 50 kilometres of swimming.

Bethany put aside a window of three weeks for the endeavour, at the mercy of weather conditions, but she got lucky. She swam the very first day of her swim window.

Looking back, she would say the most challenging part is the prolonged cold, and it does kinda get boring.

“I’m definitely ready for the channel because I know how to manage the cold. It was colder in the channel than it would even be normally at that time of the year. But because the temperature stayed the same the whole time, you get used to it,” Bethany said.

“Once I got into French waters, for some reason, it got really patchy, so some bits would be warm, some bits would be cold, which made it so much more uncomfortable…

“Frankly, you look down and you can’t see the bottom. It’s too deep. You’ve just got water in front of you. And when you’re right in the middle, you can’t see England and you can’t see France.

“It’s hard to hear from the boat. Conversation is not going to happen…It gets really boring because you’re all on your own in the middle, and nothing to look at. Sometimes a ship would pass, and that would be fun. Otherwise, it’s like there’s nothing.”

That mental solitude did turn out to be as challenging as the cold.

“In the past, I’ve been really good at zoning out,” Bethany said.

“But this time, I couldn’t switch off.”

She found herself unusually alert the whole way, hyperaware of her body, the cold, the jellyfish, and how long everything was taking.

“It makes it a lot harder when you’re aware of how much it sucks, how much it hurts, and how cold you are,” she said.

So what keeps her coming back to something that she freely admits is, at times, cold, painful, and yes, boring?

“Well, for starters, I’ve got to finish it and tick the box,” Bethany said.

But it runs deeper than just unfinished business.

“It’s a hard thing to explain. When you work for something and you achieve it, that

feeling is so good. It’s almost addictive,” she said.

“It’s satisfying. It’s like that moment of, I did that thing, and just being proud of yourself.

“Competitive swimming and ultra marathon swimming are hard in different ways, but the thing with the channel swimming is I can just keep going until it’s done, and it doesn’t matter how fast I go.”

She cited British open-water legend Ross Edgley, who became the first person to swim all the way around mainland Great Britain in 2018, covering 2860 kilometres in 157 days.

“His thing was naive enough to start, stubborn enough to finish, and that pretty much was me,” she said.

“If I decide I’m doing something, I’m going to do it. No one’s going to stop me. It’s a weird thing, it kind of sucked, but it was kind of fun, and at the end it’s worth it.

“I didn’t get that feeling so much this time around because I didn’t get that moment.

“I’ll go back and do it again, hit land, and I’ll feel good for doing that.”

Bethany Forster at Noble Park Aquatic Centre. (Stewart Chambers: 488268)

Lyndhurst swimmer Bethany Forster is attempting the English Channel. (Supplied)

We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions

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 86 already gone.

While we work, disruptions could affect your travel

Train disruptions:

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines

First train to 10.30pm, 7 to 8 July

10.30pm to last train each night, 7 to 8 July 9 July to 1.30am 12 July

From 1.30am 12 July to 13 July

9pm 18 July to 3am 21 July

Road disruptions: Closed ramps and roads

Buses replace trains between Parliament, Caulfield and Westall

Buses replace trains between Parliament and Westall

Passengers change at Caulfield station for Frankston Line trains to and from the city

Buses replace trains between Westall, Cranbourne and Berwick

Fowler Road, Dandenong South Until 21 JulyAt the South Gippsland Highway intersection

South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South Until 21 JulyBetween Princes Highway and Dandenong Bypass

Princes Freeway, Berwick Until mid NovemberCitybound exit ramp to Clyde Road

Bald Hill Road, Pakenham 10 July to early October West of Racecourse/HealesvilleKoo Wee Rup Road

Clyde Road, Berwick 28 July to late NovemberWarragul-bound entry ramp to Princes Freeway

Anzac Station

Alison Lester in town

Children and families gathered for a special community mural workshop led by acclaimed Australian author and illustrator Alison Lester at Bunjil Place Library on Monday 7 July.

Inspired by her beloved picture book Imagine, the event invited participants aged five and up to explore fantastical landscapes—from deep jungles to icy tundras—through collaborative wa-

All aboard Puﬃng Billy magic

By Afraa Kori

Puffing Billy Railway’s much-loved Train of Lights is back this winter, transforming the Dandenong Ranges into a spectacular nighttime wonderland. Running from 4-20 July, the illuminated steam train promises a unique blend of nostalgia and sensory delight for passengers of all ages.

Now in its fourth year, the event has become a favourite winter tradition, attracting thousands of locals and tourists eager to shake off the seasonal chill. Departing from Lakeside Station at dusk, the 2.5-hour return journey to Gembrook unfolds against a backdrop of sweeping forest scenery bathed in brilliant colours and moving light projections.

Travellers can admire the dazzling display from open-sided carriages as the train winds along the historic narrow-gauge line. On arrival at Gembrook Station, guests will enjoy a 55-minute stopover complete with crackling fire pits, live music, and plenty of photo opportunities beside the illuminated locomotive.

The Rotary Club of Emerald and District will be on hand with a sausage sizzle, raising funds for community projects. Hot drinks, snacks, and sweet treats will also be available

to warm passengers before the return trip begins.

The ride back offers a fresh perspective on the light show, with the forest taking on a different glow as the train heads home through the crisp night air.

Puffing Billy Railway advises all visitors to dress warmly and bring extra layers, as temperatures can drop significantly after dark. The Train of Lights operates in all weather conditions, ensuring the spectacle shines rain, hail or clear winter sky.

tercolour painting. The two-hour drop-in session was part of the Casey Winter Arts Festival and the Connected Libraries School Holiday Program.

Attendees contributed their imaginative artwork to a collective mural, which will be displayed at the Bunjil Place Library for the community to enjoy.

India-Mae from Endeavour Hills was adding her part to the mural. (Stewart Chambers: 488508) Goldie.

Frankie.

The train of lights all ready for departure at Lakeside. (Supplied: Puffing Billy)

The train of lights crossing the trestle bridge to Gembrook. (Supplied: Puffing Billy)

River from Endeavour Hills.

Filmmaker heads home

By Ethan Benedicto

Renowned director, filmmaker, animator and clayographer, Adam Elliot, is looking to head back home for the Bunjil Place screening of his latest project, Memoir of a Snail.

Scheduled for Sunday, 20 July, Elliot will also be hosting a Q&A session after the movie, and while having been in the limelight of questions for the better part of a decade, he remains eager to hear everyone’s thoughts.

“As a filmmaker, we’re happy for our films to be shown anywhere, and the film has also now been seen by millions of people around the world, but it’s also still being released in other parts of the world like China and Germany,” he said.

“Every audience is different, every screening of the film, the audience reacts differently, and I’m always curious as to how the people respond.

“It seems to be a pretty universal film, and like my other films, I’ve always had the very simple objective of making the audience laugh and cry; and I always say that if you’re not an emotional wreck by the end, then I’ve failed.”

Memoir of a Snail follows the story of Grace Pudel, described as a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and a love for books.

While still young, Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert, and as a result, falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst.

Despite ongoing hardships, inspiration and hope emerged when she struck up a friendship with an elderly eccentric woman named Pinky.

Reflecting on the writing process, Elliot said that he tends to write ‘back to front’, moving from a series of scattered ideas to a cohesive narrative.

From his perspective, it’s the same as either baking a cake or building a house, where “you have a rough plan in the beginning but as you start the journey, things change”.

“I love improvisation and I love spontaneity; animation by its very nature is a very prescribed art form, but I try to allow for organic moments, and I certainly have a whole lot of ingredients I try to cram into each film.

“Then it’s a process of distillation and culling, because you can’t have everything you want in there, it has to make sense, and there’s a balance between the dark and the light, the comedy, tragedy, and so I’m always adjusting things,” he said.

Born in Berwick, Elliot’s first short film was titled Uncle, and made in 1996, ran for six minutes.

It won a series of international awards, including an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Australian Animated Short, due to, but not limited by, traditional filming and stop-motion techniques that involved a now obsolete linear editing system called Steenbeck.

Two movies followed to form a trilogy, titled Cousin in 1998 and Brother in 1999, the former earning Elliot his second AFI Award for Best Australian animation and the latter winning the same, but with the added tick for the best Australian Short Screenplay.

Memoir of a Snail is Elliot’s second feature film, after his first, Mary and Max, in 2009 held its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

His latest piece premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2024, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

In true clayography fashion, Memoir of a Snail was shot in the traditional, and time consuming stop-motion animation form, where every single prop, set, and character is a unique handmade tangible object.

A team of artists spent almost a year making the 7000 objects that were needed to tell Grace Pudel’s tale, and with no single frame of CGI, took over 33 weeks to shoot, over 200 sets, and 135,000 photographs to bring it to life.

For him, seeing his piece back home is an ode to his origins, with Elliot saying that while he has lived in all parts of the world, “I’ve come back to this suburb on and off over my life”.

With friends and family in abundance in the City of Casey, he is looking forward to the Q&A session, adding that he “learns a lot from the audience as well”.

“I learn about what they like about the film, what emotions are triggered, and as a writer, particularly, I’m always learning about the audience.

“I’ve done thousands of Q&As over the last 30 years as a filmmaker, and you never stop learning, and it’s something you never perfect.

“These Q&As are just a reminder that I’m still learning, and I think that if you ever feel complacent and when things may start to fall apart, a bit of self-doubt is quite healthy,” he said.

Grace Pudel, as a character, “suffers a lot”, according to Elliot, but it was also a creative direction to make her resilient.

Elliot deliberately made Grace someone who was not heroic, but still someone who is brave, “in a sense that she just endures the suffering”.

“She learns a lot of lessons but ultimately comes out the other end as a whole person; there are times that I feel guilty about all the things I do to her, but you know, as I said before, I really want the audience to be emotionally exhausted by the end of the film,” he said.

The human condition is the biggest focus when it comes to the narrative of Elliot’s films.

He added that the characters are universal, and their archetypes are a deliberate creative decision.

“Grace is an archetypal underdog, you really empathise with her because all of us have gone through bad luck and suffered loss in our lives,” Elliot said.

“So I wanted her experience to be very relatable, and that’s been a really rewarding part for me as a filmmaker - anyone being able to relate to Grace, that’s what I was really hoping.”

The screening will be held at Bunjil Place’s studio, for a duration of the whole event to last two hours and 20 minutes.

The gates open at 2:20pm, with the film beginning at 3pm, and the Q&A session scheduled for 4:35pm.

For more information and ticketing, visit www.bunjilplace.com.au/events/memoir-ofa-snail

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Adam Elliot is keen for the screening to be held at Bunjil Place, but even more so to hear the audience’s interpretation of his second feature film, Memoir of a Snail. (Wikipedia)

SCAN ME

Old Coach Road a hotspot

Speed mitigation measures are a key factor that has been lingering in residents’ minds in Old Coach Road, following the harrowing incident that left two teenage girls’ car windows smashed by men wielding hammers.

Police confirmed that they received a call around 10pm on 21 June, reporting that a car had been damaged by two men with hammers on the hilly road in Berwick.

Two young women were sitting in their car when two men, hammers in hand, began to smash the windows of the vehicle.

While no one was harmed during the incident, residents of the street were left uneasy, with Jonathan saying that they “didn’t dare to step onto the road when it’s late”.

Despite not living towards the top of the hill, they were still able to hear the incident unfold; despite its occurrence, however, they said non-violent, but still unruly behaviour was all too commonplace.

“Look, this neighbourhood is great, it’s very good, it’s quiet and peaceful during the day, but the view is the problem, and anyone can go up there,” they said.

“It was a long time ago when up there was vacant land, but still people go up there and they linger.

“At that point, there’s rubbish everywhere, and who really knows what happens up there,” they said.

Speed humps, additional cameras and even a boom gate were the propositions that Jonathan had in mind to be placed on the road, saying that the amount of people that come through and their unruly behaviour has been a significant security concern.

“Look, there aren’t any speed cameras on the road,

The height of the hill that Old Coach Road, roughly 600 odd metres before it transitions to Baker Road, is a well-known hot spot for a panoramic view of Berwick and its surrounding areas.

Dubbed the Berwick Lookout, it serves as a popular spot for many to gather, mostly in vehicles during sunset and at night, to take in the lights and view of Berwick Village and the stretch of Clyde Road.

The peak of the hill also gives a good view of

the hillside towards the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.

To Jonathan, however, “it’s not fair for us to live here, and have to put up with that during the night”.

Allegedly, there are one too many times where “people go up there with their cars and race down the hill”.

“The people that come to the hill aren’t necessarily just from around here, they come from all over the place, and they choose it because of the nice view,” they said.

Another resident who lives on neighbouring Casey Drive, but takes frequent walks that go down Old Coach Road, said that they felt the same way.

Safety remained a priority, with the resident adding that “we don’t do those walks any more, especially at night”.

“We used to go around from the back of our house, which would go to the top of the hill, then back down, but we avoid doing that now because of the cars there, so if we see cars, we don’t go.

“It’s a popular spot, the views are good too, but then again, you can’t really tell if things like

Woolworths unveils new look store at Arena

Woolworths relaunched its Arena shopping centre on Thursday 3 July, with an expanded fresh food experience and new checkout facilities to help shoppers get in and out of the supermarket quicker.

Woolworths Officer has undergone a multi million renewal over the last four months, upgrading the store layout and installing new fixtures and facilities to give the store a fresh new look.

There has been an extensive upgrade in the bakery and deli departments, an expanded range of Australian fresh fruit and vegetables and electronic ticketing has been installed throughout the store. Ten new self scanning checkouts have also been added to fast track customers leaving the store.

Local shoppers will find 100% Australian beef from Aussie farmers in the newly installed energy efficient refrigerators, plus an array of fresh, local seafood from the fish department. Customers will also see increased shelf sizes across the store, allowing more stock to be available for a better shopping experience.

The Officer Store Manager, David Grylls, who has had 25 years experience at Woolworths, said: “We’re incredibly excited to deliver a contemporary fresh food offering for the Officer communi-

ty, including a more extensive range of groceries to choose from, across all departments in the store. “We’d like to thank our customers as we have gone through the store redevelopment over the last few months. We have listened to their requests for more self-serving checkouts and hope-

fully they will love all the other store improvements. Supporting local groups is at the centre of the store’s commitment to the community, as the store is proud to partner with the Mini Woolies at the Officer Specialist School, helping the students to practice their customer service skills.

that happen again,” they said.

The most recent data in the year ending March 2025 from the Crime Statistics Agency listed Berwick as third in Casey for criminal incidents and offences recorded.

The suburb recorded a total of 3015 incidents of the latter, a 10 per cent increase from 2024’s figure of 2718.

This is a gradual increase throughout the years, and the highest figure since 2016.

However, like the other suburbs in Casey, when it comes to the top five, property and deception offences remain the highest, with 1784 recorded offences in Berwick for the year ending March 2025.

In relation to the incident on Old Coach Road, crimes against a person tallied at 584 recorded offences, a small increase from the previous year’s 546 figure; this is also a gradual increase from 2019.

Deeper in this category, assault and related offences saw the highest number, with 323, but is lower than 2024’s number of 336.

This story is developing, and the police investigation remains ongoing.

Woolworths Officer will also continue to support a number of other local community and sporting groups. Opening hours for Officer Arena Woolworths are 7:00am - 10:00pm, 7 days a week.

The view from Old Coach Road, also known as Berwick Lookout, in Berwick. (Ethan Benedicto: 488485_01)

By Ethan Benedicto

Long serving team members Nicole Lester and Michelle Barbour cutting the cake at the Woolworths Officer store relaunch ceremony.

The Woolworths Officer store team celebrating the new look store.

FOCUS ON … FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

Family tradition lives on

Our story begins in a small town in southern Italy, where our grandparents made the brave journey to Australia in search of a better life. Like so many families, they brought with them traditions, hard work, and a deep love for food.

In 1956, our family began working in primary produce — and that’s where the passion truly started. For years, we served locals with fresh fruit and veggies at Akoonah Park Market. But when we lost our beloved Dad (Nonno), everything shifted.

Wededicatedafoodtruckinhishonour,serving the coffee he loved and the home-cooked meals he used to share with us around the table.

That little truck was just the beginning.

We finally found our home in Pakenham, where Mamma Maria’s Deli & Cafe was born.

A real treat

The Bakery Store is Sophie Petoud’s very own patisserie, a dream that she’s had for 20 years.

The mum of three has worked in the industry for 24 years and uses simple, high-quality ingredients to create a traditional, rustic, homely space where customers can enjoy the flavours of her Swiss and French heritage.

“My dad took me back to Switzerland when I was 10. We travelled the countryside. My uncle was a chocolatier and had so much passion in his shop that I fell in love with the idea of having my own slice of Switzerland to show people at home,“ Sophie said.

Top quality

— From our family to yours, benvenuti a Mamma Maria’s. From Southern Italy to Pakenham: A family tradition of food and love - Caterina Gargiso, Maria Stanganelli, Tyla Christian and Gisella Tripodi. (487090)

A place full of heart, stories, tradition — and of course, great food.

“We produce breads, pastries, desserts, baguettes, pies, sausage rolls, quiche, toasties, bagels as well as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, milk shakes etc. with a Swiss-French theme to create a cafe bakery space where our customers feel welcome, receive beautiful service and high quality food and beverage each time they visit.“

Just in time for the school holidays, they have DIY cupcake kits and also offer a lunchbox combo deal for kids’ school lunches for $15.

They also create custom cake orders for all occasions and offer catering for functions.

They will be having their official grand opening across July 19-20. Situated at 1/141 Windermere Blvd, Pakenham, phone: (03) 5918 0111.

Since 2011, Sproutwell Greenhouses has proudly supported home gardeners and commercial growers across Australia. As the nation’s largest supplier of backyard greenhouses, we offer exceptional quality and variety to suit all spaces and budgets — from compact hobby greenhouses to large outdoor glass rooms. We also supply Foodcube Systems, popular with backyard growers, community gardens, and schools.

In 2017, we expanded to include Cedar Hot Tubs Australia, bringing a luxurious outdoor wellness experience to our customers. Our premium saunas, hot tubs, and ice tubs are crafted from A-Grade Canadian Cedar — loved for their durability and distinctive cedar aroma.

To complement these offerings, Sproutwell Decor was born. Our decor range includes beautiful ceramic pots, homewares, rustic garden pieces, wind spinners, and more — ideal for enhancing your home or garden. Whether you’re

browsing in-store or online, you’re sure to find the perfect piece.

Visit us at one of our three locations: Pakenham Showroom – Open Tuesday to Friday, 9am–2:30pm. Featuring selected Greenhouses, Cedar Hot Tub, and Garden Decor. Geelong (Breakwater) – Head to 55 Leather St to view our Greenhouses, Glasshouses, Cedar Saunas and Hot Tubs and Accessories. Open Monday to Friday.

Just down the road at 35 Leather St, visit our stunning Sproutwell Decor store, open Tuesday to Saturday.

Prefer to shop from home? Explore our full product range and check opening hours at: · www.sproutwellgreenhouses.com.au · www.sproutwelldecor.com.au

We look forward to welcoming you in-store or online!

Mamma Maria’s Deli and Café is an Italian family run business that has been serving fresh, homely food and produce for over 67 years. Featuring Nonna and Nonno’s time honoured recipes, our deli offers a wide selection of Italian inspired Panini and ready made meals.

Visit Sproutwell Greenhouses - the nation’s largest supplier of backyard greenhouses.

Owner Sophie and Jo showcase their amazing sweets. (Stewart Chambers)

WinterFest brings harmony

Hampton Park-based Melbourne Youth Chorale held its first-ever WinterFest concert on Wednesday 2 July, bringing joyful harmonies and heartfelt performances.

“We had a number of families there. We had a nice vibe. We had decorations up around the place,” the choir’s executive manager Kerry Alexander said.

“It was festive and fun. We had food for sale. We had a little mini market. We raised nearly $800.

“This was the first time we’ve done it. In March, we normally run an international food festivalforHarmonyWeek,whichisreallynice. People just bring food that relates to their culture. It’s a nice fundraiser, and kids perform.

“We just thought we’d try something like it again.”

Ms Alexander said the best moment that stood out in her mind was when all the little kids, the Poco Choir, performed for the first time.

Choir members: Theo, Daniel and Claire. (Gary Sissons: 485281)

Group 5.

Group 6.

Group 7.

Group 1 performance.

Group 2.

Colour and culture dazzle

BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Cranbourne South brought vibrant colours and community spirit to Akoonah Park during its Rath Yatra, Festival of Chariots celebration on Saturday 28 June.

Amid a sea of bright decorations and joyful faces, children from local primary schools helped pull beautifully decorated chariots through the park, marking the start of festivities that drew a large number of community members together.

Rath Yatra, originating from Jagannath Puri, India, is a Hindu festival symbolising devotion, humility, inclusiveness, and the belief that the divine connects with everyone, beyond temple walls and into community hearts.

Participants enjoyed traditional dances, devotional music, and heartfelt prayers.

Local residents praised the event for its welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful planning.

Many community onlookers, including residents from Akoonah Caravan Park, enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere.

“There are so many colours, beautiful music, and wonderful festivities. This kind of event really brings people together like we see today,” one onlooker noted.

Environmental responsibility was another highlight of the festival.

Organisers confirmed that 85 per cent of event waste was successfully recycled or composted, thanks to the use of recyclable cardboard plates for food service, with leftover food also being composted, and clearly marked recycling and general waste stations.

Opposition leader Brad Battin attended the celebration, who emphasised the value of cultural events in building community relationships and mutual understanding.

The organisation’s spokesperson, Het Patel, said: “BAPS continues to make a meaningful impact in Casey through youth empowerment, cultural enrichment, and humanitarian efforts.

“With open doors to all, it fosters ongoing dialogue and connection across Victoria’s vibrant and diverse community.“

An inspiring celebration of harmony and spirituality in Victoria’s multicultural landscape. (Gary Sissons: 486160)

Bringing people together through tradition, seva, and devotion.

Opposition leader Brad Battin and Ann-Marie Hermans, Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, with Guest with BAPS volunteers.

Melbourne comes together in a beautiful expression of culture, community, and faith.

New president welcomed

On Saturday 5 July, the Rotary Club of Casey held its annual Changeover Dinner at Beaconhills Golf Club, formally inducting Jean Harrison as its 15th President. The evening was a celebration of the club’s achievements over the past year, with members and guests gathering to mark the occasion.

DignitariesinattendanceincludedAnn-Marie Hermans MP, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region; Deputy Mayor Cr Melinda Ambros; Past District Governor of District 9815, Colin Byron and his wife Leanne; and District Governor Elect for District 9815, Emma Clark from the Emerald Rotary Club.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award to Berwick RSL’s Ray Heathcote, recognising his outstanding service to the welfare of RSL members. A veteran with active service, Ray has shown unwavering commitment to supporting fellow veterans and the broader community.

Incoming President Jean Harrison, a longtime Berwick resident and committed Rotarian of 13 years, previously served as President of the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills in 2017–18. She joined the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills shortly after moving to the area, drawn by its strong community reputation and active ser-

vice ethos.

“I’m honoured to be leading a club that’s not only passionate but genuinely connected to both local and global causes,” Jean said. “I look forward to building on the fantastic work done by Immediate Past President Alan Foster and our dedicated members.”

This year, President Harrison and the club will focus on youth engagement, homelessness, and preventing domestic violence—causes that are increasingly relevant to the Casey region.

Although a relatively young club by Rotary standards, the Rotary Club of Casey is known for its inclusive, informal culture and a mem-

bership that reflects a rich diversity of ages and cultural backgrounds.

Regular community events such as the Holland Festival, Charity Long Lunch, Annual Charity Golf Day for Prostate Cancer, and the Pakenham Antique Fair are just some of the initiatives the club supports to raise funds and awareness for important causes.

If you’re curious about Rotary or considering ways to give back to your community, the Rotary Club of Casey warmly invites you to join them for dinner and a chat. Meetings are held every Monday night at 6.30pm at The Hill Restaurant, Parkhill Drive, Berwick.

New President Jean Harrison.

L-R Jenny Robson and David Rowlands.

Judy Berends, Ann-Marie Hermans and Jenny Robson.

Judy Berends, Ann-Marie Hermans, Jenny Robson and Mark Hermans.

L-R Jenny Robson, Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambros and John.

Past President Ben Plunkett speaking at the event. He also sang later in the evening.

Jean Harrison and family members.

Emmah Welsh and David Rowlands. Changeover event at Beacon Hills Golf Club.

Paul Harris Fellow - Ray Heathcote.

Terminal debate heats up

By Violet Li

A modified proposal for a renewable energy terminal at the Port of Hastings has reignited debate over whether economic growth should come at the expense of the environment.

Nearly 2,700 pages of planning and scientific documents were released recently by the State Government, with just 10 business days for public feedback.

The modified proposal, which includes five months of 24/7 dredging and the construction of a massive terminal on reclaimed seabed at the Port of Hastings, has drawn sharply divided responses from across the community.

Steve Beardon, a former Casey councillor and long-time proponent of industrial development in the south east, believed the terminal is critical to revitalising the region’s economy.

“The environment cannot take precedent over jobs, export dollars, hospitals, airports, much-needed housing and lifestyle needs of the majority,” he said.

“We’re a very large country. We’ve got plenty of environmental areas for people to visit, but this is an industrial area. It’s already industrialised, so let’s take a further look and let’s capitalise upon it.”

Apart from the Terminal, Mr Beardon has long been advocating for a freight rail link from Dandenong South through to the Port of Hastings, and an airport down in the south, which altogether would put Casey South as an industrial hub on the map.

“If the Port of Hastings (Terminal) actually goes ahead, then an airport will get the green light. And then from there on, Casey’s going to be rolling in money,” he said.

“It needs to happen. We need to have the courage to go ahead and build these things. Otherwise, we’re going to go backwards as a country, especially down south.

“Casey has probably one of the largest populations of young people coming through anywhere in Australia, and they need jobs.”

Casey Councillor Lynette Pereira, who spoke in a personal capacity as the founding member of the former Western Port Action Group, offered a different view.

She said that every couple of years, a new development would be proposed down at the Western Port.

“I just feel so sad because I feel like one day, when the community just hasn’t got the will to keep fighting it, the government will just override and do whatever they want to do,” she said.

Ms Pereira said Western Port is a “really precious” bay.

She shared her “strongest possible objection” on her Facebook, claiming that the modified proposal remained “deeply flawed” and “environmentally reckless”.

“The changes made since the 2023 version are superficial, and the overall impacts remain unacceptable,” she stated.

Ms Pereira especially warned that dredging the bay’s muddy, narrow channels would stir up sediments repeatedly, permanently damaging fish nurseries, mangroves, and migratory bird habitats.

“I’m not convinced that this can be done without permanent damage to the bay,” she said.

“They’ve got an alternative. They can do it at Geelong Port. I don’t know why they won’t put it there. I wish they would just leave Western Port alone.“

Ms Pereira listed the advantages of Geelong Port, namely being already industrialised, having deep-water access, fewer ecological sensitivities, and existing community and government support.

“Western Port is a treasure, not a terminal. Once it is dredged, filled and industrialised, it is gone forever,” she said.

Chief executive officer of the non-profit or-

ganisation Western Port Biosphere Mel Barker said it was too early to form a view on the acceptability of the Terminal.

She pointed out that there are definitely some irreversible consequences because of the proposed reclamation.

She acknowledged the project’s potential benefits but stressed the need for further research and proper community engagement.

“We are concerned because for us, these Ramsar Wetlands are really internationally significant habitat for lots of species, so we’d really

need to see that more comprehensive science being completed before we could form a definitive view on that.”

Ms Barker explained that the documents released by the Port of Hastings included only limited preliminary impact assessments.

“So should Minister Watt (Federal Environment Minister) says, I’m happy for this to go through a regulatory process, the Port of Hastings will then engage on a whole range of more studies and more science to do final impact assessments,” she said.

“It’s those impact assessments that really tell you what the impact of this proposal will be. And then that goes back out for community consultation. And then that goes to both the State and Commonwealth ministers to determine whether they think the proposed project should proceed to construction.

“We strongly support accelerated transition towards renewables away from fossil fuels, and want to make sure that there’s a science-based process to make sure there are informed decisions before it would be allowed to commence or not.”

The Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council echoed these concerns, saying the region’s ecosystem is “precious and fragile.”

“Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council Inc are against dredging for new infrastructure in Westernport Bay. We agree with the Federal Government that the ecosystem is precious and fragile,” a spokesperson said.

“We have asked for the analysis of different sites for the wind energy terminal. Tasmania is building one in Port Bell, and we believe that cooperation with them, rather than duplication, would save energy and resources.”

The Terminal project, known as the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, was proposed back in 2023 to “develop and operate a facility to serve as a base for the assembly of offshore wind farms” at the Port of Hastings.

Then-Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected the proposal publicly in January 2024, citing environmental concerns.

The State Government then modified the proposal based on the concerns, mainly reducing the size of reclamation and dredging.

To access all the supporting documents and provide your feedback, visit: https://epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/open-forcomments/project-decision/?id=17e2d2688951-f011-877a-000d3a6b1fdf

Submissions closed on Wednesday 9 July.

Join Connected Libraries for a chance to win $200

Connected Libraries is calling all kids and teens to join in July for a chance to win a $200 voucher of their choice, plus receive a free library bag just for signing up.

From Tuesday 1 July to Thursday 31 July, anyone aged 0–17 who becomes a new library member will be automatically entered into the prize draw.

It’s free to join, and you can sign up online at connectedlibraries.org.au/join or by visiting any Connected Libraries location.

“This is a fun way to welcome new young readers into our library community,” said Beth Luppino, chief executive officer of Connected Libraries.

“We know how powerful it can be when a child or teen discovers the joy of reading and learning

through the library, so we’re making it easy and exciting to get started.”

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 4 August.

In the meantime, all new members can start borrowing books, exploring digital collections, and joining in on fantastic school holiday programs.

“We’re proud to offer free membership and a welcoming space for kids and teens across Casey,” Ms Luppino said. “Join in July is all about opening doors—to stories, creativity, learning, and connection.”

To find out more and view full terms and conditions, visit: connectedlibraries.org.au/competitions

The State Government has submitted a modified proposal for the Port of Hastings Terminal for Federal approval. (Gary Sissons: 487066)

Mangroves in the Stony Point - Crib Point area.

Shawn is a double finalist

We are proud to share some incredible news from Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2025 – our Principal Solicitor, Shawn Mendis, has been named a finalist in not just one, but two prestigious national categories.

· Wills and Estates Partner of the Year

· New Partner of the Year (SME Law)

This is a significant milestone for both Shawn and the entire Shawn Mendis Lawyers team. To be recognised on a national stage, in front of Australia’s top legal minds, is an honour in itself — but what makes this moment even more special is the journey that brought us here.

Shawn’s nomination in the Wills and Estates Partner of the Year category marks his third consecutive year being recognised for his commitment and excellence in this highly personal and important area of law. His consistency over the years highlights not just expertise, but a deep trust built with clients and families during life’s most delicate transitions.

The New Partner of the Year (SME Law) finalist recognition celebrates outstanding legal professionals with less than three years’ experience as a Partner. This category acknowledges bold leadership, entrepreneurial vision, and meaningful impact – all qualities that de-

WHAT’S ON

Pakenham Antique & Collectables Fair

Browse treasures and unique ﬁnds at the Pakenham Antique & Collectables Fair on July 19 from 9 am to 3:30pm at Lakeside Blvd. The event is presented by the Pakenham Antique and Collectables Fair and Rotary Club of Casey.

• Don’t miss this chance to explore antiques, collectables, and more.

Get Involved with Pakenham Central Probus

Looking to stay social, active, and connected in retirement? Pakenham Central Probus is a vibrant and welcoming club for retired or semi-retired locals seeking fun, friendship, and fresh experiences.

Enjoy a wide range of activities including Dine Outs, day trips, coffee mornings, a walking group, craft group, ten pin bowling, concerts, and theatre outings.

Monthly meetings are held in Pakenham on Thursdays with reports on the Club’s activities, interesting speakers and opportunities to socialise and sign up for any of the activities that interest you.

• For more info contact membership ofﬁcer, Jenny on 0419 421 950 or email pakenhamcentralprobus@gmail.com

Pakenham Girl Guides turns 100

Calling all past members and families of the Pakenham Girl Guides to save the date for the unit’s 100th birthday celebration.

When: May 3 2026 with an Open Day of Memorabilia from 10am-3pm and Ofﬁcial Cutting of the Birthday Cake at 2pm.

• Location: Pakenham Girl Guides Hall, 31 Henry St Pakenham.

Bunyip Sanctuary Walk

Many Bunyip residents don’t realise that there is a ﬂora and fauna sanctuary in Bunyip. This is an opportunity to join a guided tour and learn the history of this precious remnant of swampland.

• Hosted by Bunyip Landcare Group, the walk will be held on Sunday 13 July at 10am, meeting at the end of Doran Road in Bunyip.

Garfield Exercise Group

As part of the Bunyip Friendship Hub, they meet at the Garﬁeld Football Club rooms on Tuesdays at 10am.

Garfield Sewing Club

Come along with your sewing machine or use one of ours and join a group of sewers creating clothes, quilts, crafts, repairing and upcycling. All skill levels welcome but a gold coin donation.

• This event is held every Tuesday during the school term at Garﬁeld Scout Hall.

Food Relief with Vegetables and Fruit

Available every second Wednesday at 2pm at MoyYan Neighbourhood House in Garﬁeld.

fine Shawn’s approach and the foundation of this firm.

What makes these accolades truly remarkable is that they come during our first year of operation as a boutique law firm right here in Pakenham. In just over 12 months, we’ve grown from a vision into a recognised name in the legal community – and this moment proves what’s possible with passion, persistence, and purpose.

We are incredibly proud to serve our clients with heart and clarity, and we’re even more excited for what’s ahead. To everyone who has supported us on this journey – thank you. This is not just a win for Shawn, but for our entire team, our clients, and our local community.

We look forward to continuing our mission of providing high-quality, client-focused legal services across Wills and Estates, Property, and Family Law.

The Team at Shawn Mendis Lawyers, 198 Henry Rd, Pakenham, Phone: (03) 8774 9663.

Pakenham’s trusted legal team – now nationally recognised.

Inner Wheel Club of Berwick

The Inner Wheel Club (IW) Berwick is a ladies international friendship club which raises funds to support local charities and other worthwhile causes. They have a dinner meeting on the ﬁrst Monday of the month and enjoy a range of activities including guest speakers, morning teas, book club and craft afternoons

• For more information, visit their Facebook page or contact iiw.au.berwick@gmail.com

Berwick Springs VIEW Club

Afﬁliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not-for-proﬁt organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.

The club currently supports 10 students of varying ages with their education expenses.

The club meets on the ﬁrst Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.15am, where members enjoy a lunch and then host a guest speaker.

Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies.

The club is always looking for new members in all age groups.

• For more information, contact Shirley on 0438 191 759 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com

Probus Club of Pakenham East

The Probus Club of Pakenham East is encouraging new members to join the Club. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cardinia Club, 71 Racecourse Road Pakenham. Meeting commences at 10:30am.

A short meeting is followed by morning tea and the opportunity to get to know members prior to the introduction of the guest speaker. Various activities are held throughout the month

• For more information, please contact President Pamela on 0418584913 or contact SecretaryDorothy on probuspakenhameast@gmail.com

U3A Casey

Did you know that U3A Casey now has 471 members and operates out of multiple venues acrossthe Casey area?

It offers 65 different classes, ranging from exercise/movement/dance groups to literature, crafts,music, discussion groups and more.

• If you want to keep both your mind and bodyactive after retirement, then visit u3acasey.org.au

Shawn Mendis named Double Finalist at 2025 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards.

Scrappy Lions triumphant

By Justin Schwarze

The youth movement is in full swing at Pakenham as the young Lions clawed out a gritty victory against Alexandra in round 12 of Outer East Division 1.

At Toomuc Reserve, the visitors jumped out of the gates, booting a goal inside the first minute when Ryan Lucas found space to run in and drill it home.

Josh Haggar then got Pakenham’s first, nailing a set shot from a difficult angle to get the Lions off the mark in his 50th game.

Following that, a looping handball travelled over the defence and into the hands of Haggar, who had space to kick truly from 35 metres and get his second of the afternoon.

Pakenham also grabbed the next two majors, with Zak De Bono slotting a set shot and James Ahern bending through a snap.

Just before quarter time, star forward William Stewart marked 40 out for the Rebels, but Rhys Clacy inadvertently entered the protected area and was penalised with a 25 metre penalty, turning it into a certain goal.

Stewart made no mistake; the Lions leading 4.1(25) to 2.0(12) at quarter time.

The second term was a grind as both teams struggled to hit the scoreboard or find major goalscoring opportunities.

Haggar still managed to break through and snag his third in the period and Finn Nicholas kicked the only other goal of the quarter for Pakenham.

As the siren echoed around the ground for halftime, the Lions had a 6.2(38) to 2.4(16) advantage.

Alexandra was far from done, booting the first two goals out of halftime to trim the deficit back to inside two goals.

The Rebels controlled the third, claiming four of the frame’s six majors to be within 11 points at three-quarter time, 8.4(52) to 6.5(41).

In the fourth, Pakenham wrestled back momentum through goals from Bailey Stiles and Sam Cachia.

Cachia’s first and only goal for the day came midway through the final period, ending his seven-week run of games with multiple goals.

The goals pushed the margin back out to 22 points and the Lions never looked back.

At full time, Pakenham was crowned 10.5(65) to 7.7(49) victors.

OUTER

“The conditions were perfect, it was just low-scoring and a real dour contest,” Pakenham senior coach Justin Stanton said.

“In the second half there were turnovers and skill errors at times so there was a lot of pressure and both teams struggled to score as a result of that.

“They put some numbers behind the footy which made it challenging for us to score, but then that in turn made it challenging for them as they didn’t have enough targets forward of centre.”

The Lions have fielded a side of young guys every week, but the outfit was at its youngest this

season on Saturday.

Another young talent in Lewis Davies made his senior debut, marking five debutants in four games for Stanton’s side.

“The oldest player we had in our team on Saturday was 23,” he admitted.

“Against a big-bodied side in Alexandra, it made it difficult at times but I was really proud of the way the guys adapted.

“Once again the way our backline worked together was great.

“There was a lot of inside 50s that Alexandra generated but our backs as a collective group

worked really well.

“To keep a good team like Alexandra, who are fourth on the ladder, to only seven goals was really pleasing.

“A couple of our leaders really stood up yesterday in the absence of others, Bailey Stiles, Ben Green and Rhys Clacy, those three in particular were really good.

“Young fella Ryan Martini also played really well, that was his best game for the past couple weeks and it was pleasing to get him back into some form as well.

“We were the better team on the day but it was low-scoring which made for a good contest.”

Pakenham welcomes back premiership stars to Toomuc

By Justin Schwarze

Some familiar faces appeared down at the Pakenham Football Club on Saturday as the club held its Past Players Day.

It was also a 20-year reunion for the 2005 reserves premiership and centenary celebration for the 1925 senior flag.

Past players and officials of the Lions were invited to join in the celebrations during the club’s games against Alexandra.

Committee member and Pakenham player Jackson Hillard outlined how important the day is for the club.

“It’s our way of giving back because we wouldn’t be here without those people,” he said.

“If you’ve pulled on the jumper for Pakenham, you’re part of the history.

“It’s not until you have these days that you realise how many legends there are at the club.

“The day itself served as a bit of a history lesson for those who are a little bit unfamiliar with the legacy that the club has.

“The beauty of having guys back there, whether they played two years or 20 years, is that everyone’s got a story to tell and it’s usually that has the football club in the limelight.

“It was great.

“It was a good meshing to have the old and the new come together and embrace one another.

“In turn, we strengthened our ties with our past players and the people that were before us but at the same time give the people that are new to the club a better appreciation and understanding of just how rich the legacy is there.”

L-R Travis McQualter, Ben Kitchen, Craig Gordon, Ryan McQualter, Scott Webster, Sam Paynter, Justin ‘Judge’ Pearson, Beau Wheeler, Michael Hicks, Brian Cook, Mark Handley, Chad Ambrose, Salv Mileto. (488307)

Former Pakenham players Mark Handley, Ben Kitchen, Sam Paynter, Beau Wheeler and Scott Webster. (Gary Sissons: 488307)

L-R Graeme Wheeler, Graham Treloar, Andy McKelvie, Darren Sidebottom, Jeff Barclay, Darren ‘Lockey’ Hillard, Barbara Murphy, Mark Sikora, Bev Harmon, Lorraine Simpson, Dick Sikora, Graham Cassidy, Peter ‘China’ Holland, Salv Mileto. (488307)

President Salv Mileto and Bev Harman pictured with a Pakenham Football Club Guitar that is being raffled. (488307)

The leadership of Bailey Stiles impressed Justin Stanton on Saturday as the star midfielder booted two goals and was among the Lions’ best. (Gary Sissons: 488308)

Bombers down arch rivals

By Justin Schwarze

Emerald completely owns the bragging rights this season in the fierce rivalry between it and Gembrook Cockatoo.

The Bombers were clinical in securing four premiership points against their old enemies in round 12 of the Outer East Premier A Grade Netball competition.

At Gembrook Reserve, the visitors tripled the Brookers on the scoreboard in the opening quarter, leading 6-18 at the first break.

The second term was pure dominance from Emerald as it extended its advantage and put the clamps on the Gembrook attack.

At halftime, the Bombers were in front 11-40. The second half followed the same recipe with the visitors well in control and cruising to a 29-73 victory.

ROC fought hard at home to try and climb back into the contest against Woori Yallock, but the Tigers were able to hold off the push and claim victory 43-45.

The Kangaroos trailed for nearly the entire match but cut the lead to two with over a minute remaining.

However, the visitors stood up when they were under pressure, seeing out the result and surviving to keep their finals chances alive.

Mitzi Henry, Jade McGuire and Courtney Davey were all valiant and sparked the comeback that just fell short for ROC.

A top-four clash between Monbulk and Wandin went the way of the Bulldogs as they comfortably handled business at home 69-51.

League-leading goalscorer Emmalia Blake was stellar as usual, shooting 63 goals in a beston-court showing.

Mount Evelyn stayed firm on top of the table by routing Healesville 41-88 away on an indoor court.

The Rovers imposed themselves from the opening whistle, leading 24-46 at halftime against the seventh-placed Bloods.

Upwey Tecoma snatched its third win of 2025 by outlasting Olinda Ferny Creek 54-50 at Thompson Reserve.

PREMIER

A GRADE Gembrook

Cockatoo 29 v Emerald 73, Healesville 41 v Mt Evelyn 88, Upwey Tecoma 54 v Olinda Ferny Creek 50, Wandin 69 v Monbulk 51, ROC 43 v Woori Yallock 45.

B GRADE

Gembrook Cockatoo 37 v Emerald 41, Healesville 13 v Mt Evelyn 97, Upwey Tecoma 38 v Olinda Ferny Creek 53, Wandin 53 v Monbulk 50, ROC 67 v Woori Yallock 55.

C GRADE

Gembrook Cockatoo 34 v Emerald 25, Upwey Tecoma 39 v Olinda Ferny Creek 33, Wandin 45 v Monbulk 22, ROC 43 v Woori Yallock 19. Bye: Mt Evelyn.

D GRADE

Gembrook Cockatoo 24 v Emerald 22, Upwey Tecoma

23 v Olinda Ferny Creek 28, Wandin 28 v Monbulk 30, ROC 33 v Woori Yallock 19. Bye: Mt Evelyn.

17 UNDER

ROC White 38 v Emerald 19, Wandin 28 v Monbulk 21, ROC Blue 37 v Woori Yallock 25. Bye: Mt Evelyn. 15 UNDER Pakenham Maroon 30 v Woori Yallock 16, Monbulk Maroon 15 v ROC Blue 42, Pakenham Gold 15 v ROC White 31. Bye: Monbulk Gold.

DIVISION

The Tigers trailed at quarter time and halftime before swinging into the lead in the third.

A strong retaliation saw the Bloods back in front early in the final period, before the hosts locked in and got the game on their terms.

In the grade below, Pakenham’s second half willed it to a big victory against Alexandra at Toomuc Reserve.

The Lions grasped an 11-goal buffer at halftime 29-18 before piling on 18 goals in the third term alone.

A monstrous 25-goal fourth from Pakenham blew the game wide open as the hosts crushed the Rebels 72-33.

Caitlin Green, Evie Drake and Caitlin Cooke were all outstanding in the result, pushing the Lions to their third straight victory. Seville showed why it’s nearly unbeatable at home as the Blues rolled Belgrave 82-38. Yarra Glen got the chocolates at the Showgrounds, getting the job done against Yea 82-30. Warburton Millgrove fended off Yarra Junction on the road, resisting Eagles advances to secure an important 43-54 win.

Evie Drake played a great game for Pakenham as it worked its way past Alexandra. (Gary Sissons: 488308)

Hayley Melsen has some spring in her step for Pakenham. (488308)

Shackled Storm all tied up

By Blair Burns

Cardinia Storm hosted Collegians in a highly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash in the Men’s Metro 1 South competition and neither side was able to come away with the points, as the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

It was dejà vu from the last time the sides met back in Round 5 which ended in a 2-2 draw, as they were again tied on the scoreboard after the match.

Storm made some positional changes coming into the match, shifting players around to create some different looks and combinations on the field.

It was hoped that the strategy would increase player versatility, but unfortunately it wasn’t going to plan in the first half as Cardinia struggled to generate any good scoring opportunities.

As a result, Collegians looked the better side in the first half and managed to put a bit of scoreboard pressure on the home side, taking a 2-0 lead into half time with two deflection goals.

But the second half belonged to the Storm as they came out with energy and enthusiasm, determined to get themselves back into the game.

The side quickly transitioned the ball from a defensive short corner to a coast-to-coast attack, getting its first goal of the day.

Another was soon to follow, tying the scores at 2-2, before Collegians responded with a goal of its own to reclaim the lead 3-2.

In the dying stages of the game and just five minutes remaining, Cardinia Storm netted its third goal of the day to secure a draw in the thrilling contest.

Taylor Rae (two goals) produced a brilliant individual performance for the Storm, while Scott Burnett also found the back of the net.

In the Men’s Metro 2 South competition, Southern Hockey Club forfeited the match to hand the Storm a 5-0 victory.

In the women’s game, Cardinia went down 1-0 but gave it their all as the team took it up to a strong Casey side.

The Storm moved the ball with speed and took control of the contest, linking up well and effectively switching the play.

The dominant possession continued in favour of the home side, however, Casey’s goalkeeper was a fortress and let nothing past.

Lilly Kelly was a standout for the Storm as she provided plenty of drive and carried the ball well, troubling her opponents.

Casey scored the only goal of the game in the third quarter, which proved to be the match-winning moment despite both sides battling hard to score until the final whistle.

Cannons women blast through to make it four from four

By Blair Burns

It was a huge weekend for Casey Hockey Club as the Cannons won all four women’s matches and two men’s matches to continue their strong form this season.

There were plenty of close matches but the Cannons found a way to get over the line and secure victory in six of the eight senior games.

The Women’s Vic League (WVL1) side defeated Mornington Peninsula 2-0 in an even contest with Chantelle Calado and Samantha Wagg standing up to score one goal each and help win the game.

Goalkeeper Sarah Sutton-McLellan was impressive, keeping every attacking play at bay to keep the visitors scoreless.

The Cannons sit in fourth place in the WVL1 competition and will be looking for a strong end to the season.

The WVL1 Reserves also got the better of Mornington Peninsula to win a 1-0 thriller thanks to a sole goal from Mia Joiner.

Although Casey is fifth on the ladder and the visitors are sitting 10th, Mornington brought the intensity - but the Cannons prevailed.

The Women’s Pennant E South East team is cruising with an 8-3-1 record and hold down third position on the ladder.

The Cannons were too strong for bottom-placed Greater Dandenong to win 3-0, led by a great performance from captain Fiona Young (one goal).

By Dylan Beaumont

Last week’s suspended game between Pakenham Eels and Casey Warriors proved to be detrimental for both sides on the weekend in NRL Victoria’s Second Grade Men’s competition.

The Eels slipped up in a game they were heavily favoured in, losing poorly in the end 28-10 to Doveton Steelers.

The Steelers scored five times before Pakenham managed one try through Damascus Lota, with the Steelers ending the day with a healthy six-try-to-two advantage.

Abraham Netzler scored the second try for the Eels while Cyrus Perenise and John Esera were among the scorers for the Steelers.

The Eels receded to fifth on the ladder, exceeded by Altona.

Casey experienced a similar fall following their 36-4 embarrassment at the hands of Werribee.

The Bears passed Casey and created additional distance as the home-and-away season creeps closer to its end.

The Warriors’ sole try came at the 11-minute

Other goal scorers in the victory were Jane Gipp and Hilary Doulton who each netted brilliant goals for Casey.

The Women’s Metro 1 South side had argu-

ably the win of the weekend as it upset Cardinia Storm to win just its third game of the season 1-0.

Some brilliance from Jessica Hogan ended

up being the sole goal scored on the day, handing the Cannons a crucial nail-biting victory.

In the men’s fixture, the dominant Casey Cannons Men’s Vic League (MVL2) and MVL2 Reserves didn’t get it all their own way against Brunswick, but managed to register two wins.

The Cannons would’ve been hoping for and expecting a win in the top grade, sitting on top of the ladder with 11 wins and just one draw.

However, the visiting side brought the intensity and made things difficult for the formidable Casey outfit.

Captain Craig Moore and Tristan Chaffey scored one goal each and were at their reliable best to help their side to a 2-1 victory.

The MVL2 Reserves cruised to a 3-1 victory also over Brunswick to retain its spot inside the top four.

Ryan Pruscino was on fire, netting two goals in the win, while Tadhg McCurran also impacted the scoreboard.

The Men’s Pennant D South East went down in a thriller against Greater Dandenong 3-2, as Spencer Stephens and Jujhar Singh scored one goal apiece.

Frankston was far too strong for the Cannons in the Men’s Metro 2 South competition, controlling the play to win 5-0.

The leagues will have a bye this weekend, but Casey’s teams will resume after that, looking to continue their solid form and push deep into finals.

Week off ruins Eels’ momentum while Casey stuck in rut

mark through Faafouina Taleo to knot the scores at 4-4.

Casey then gave up six straight tries to end the match on a rude note.

In other news, Melton defended stoutly to put Truganina to the sword 46-8.

Sunshine tested the North West Wolves but were outclassed in the end, defeated 24-14.

Altona had a massive win for their ladder positioning over the superior Eastern Raptors 36-22. WIth a week off now before more action awaits, Melton has a significant advantage over the other sides.

The Broncos are four points ahead of second place and look ominous.

NRL VICTORIA - SECOND GRADE MEN’S

Results R11: Doveton 28 def Pakenham 10, Werribee 36 def Casey 4, Melton 46 def Truganina 8, Sunshine 14 def North West 24, Eastern 22 def by Altona 36.

Ladder: Melton 19, Eastern 15, North West 13, Altona 10, Pakenham 10, Werribee 9, Doveton 8, Casey 8, Truganina, 6, Sunshine -2.