News - Cranbourne Star News - 17th July 2025

Magic through shadows

Children in Casey discovered the magic of shadow puppetry at three sold-out workshops led by renowned puppeteer Jenny Ellis at Bunjil Place last week.

Using cardboard, cellophane, and light, kids created imaginative characters, like unicorns and lion-serpents, and performed short, improvised shows.

Story page 10

A local girl was performing her shadow puppetry. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 489300)

Dust worry lingers

Residents living near the SBI landfill in Cranbourne remain concerned about dust drifting from the site. Since early 2022, thousands of complaints have been made about odour from the site, linked to hydrogen sulfide, but as the odour had been significantly reduced, attention turned to dust.

Locals report thick grey dust on homes and vehicles and say they’ve seen no public data on the dust monitoring, despite assurances from the EPA Victoria and SBI.

In April 2024, the EPA asked SBI to begin dust monitoring, including respirable silica, following community concerns. Silica dust, produced by concrete crushing at the landfill, is known to cause silicosis.

After reviewing several unsatisfactory versions of the report in May and June, the EPA issued regulatory notices in November, requiring a formal dust management plan and ongoing monitoring. SBI began installing equipment for real-time

Trafficker granted mercy

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A “ham-fisted” trafficker who accidentally shot his girlfriend while “mucking around” with a gun in Clyde North and falsely accused the victim’s brother has been granted “mercy” by a sentencing judge.

Anastassiou Papathanasiou, 44, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to a string of charges including drug trafficking, recklessly causing injury and perjury in 2022.

His attempts to traffick were “ham-fisted” and “completely unsophisticated”, sentencing judge Duncan Allen said.

They reflected an “addled state of mind” and “chaotic lifestyle” at the time, as a result of drug addiction and mental illness.

It was “absolutely inevitable” that authorities intercepted his two mail-ordered packages of 9.9 kilograms of 1,4-butanediol – nearly five

times the commercial traffickable amount.

It was also inevitable that Papathanasiou would be caught, Judge Allen stated.

The parcels were addressed to Papathanasiou’s girlfriend’s brother, and the nominated address was the girlfriend’s home where Papathanasiou was staying at the time.

His close associate’s phone number was listed as a contact number.

Papathanasiou was also charged with similar “unsophisticated” attempts to traffick consignments of methylamphetamine and cocaine.

The packages were addressed to himself, relatives or associates.

Papathanasiou was prohibited from having a gun at the time he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the leg on 17 December 2022.

Judge Allen accepted he had the gun out of fear, after the couple were victims of a serious

aggravated burglary.

But it was no excuse, and another example of his “poor judgement” as a result of drugs and mental illness, the judge said.

As the man drove his girlfriend to hospital, they hatched a false story that her brother accidentally shot her. They later told the lie to police.

In a police raid of their home, officers seized the gun as well as an imitation gun and $11,000 cash.

Methylamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis, fentanyl products, 1,4-butanediol and cocaine were also found.

Police also found dashcam footage showing Papathanasiou driving while disqualified.

About $265,000 cash was discovered stashed in the body of a clothes dryer at another home.

The judge noted Papathanasiou had spiralled into a “raging drug habit” after being

New bin app for City of Casey residents

ing their address, with the user’s future bin collections listed.

Users are also able to schedule a reminder on the day prior to the day of bin collec-

and works by users enter

once active, it also has features that detail what items belong in what bin, a 12-month bin calendar, service changes notifications and waste services near the user’s address.

introduced to opioid medication for chronic, severe pain.

His offending was significantly driven by trying to fund his ice addiction and gambling while in “extremely fragile” mental health.

Since being bailed last year, Papathanasiou had made “positive” progress, including being free of drugs and alcohol. He had complied with a CISP program, including counselling and medical appointments, drug screenings as well as a night curfew, Judge Allen noted.

He had emerged with “very good” rehabilitation prospects. His “profound”, “genuine” remorse warranted a merciful sentence.

Papathanasiou was jailed for three years, three months, and eligible for parole after serving 15 months. He had already served 302 days in pre-sentence remand.

The State Government is expanding battery collection points across the State.

Acting Minister for Environment Gayle Tierney announced $1.7 million on Monday 14 July, in funding through the Circular Economy Hazardous Waste Fund – Round 4 to improve access to battery collection sites.

Funding is available to local councils and registered charities to establish convenient battery drop-off locations, supporting battery recovery rates and keeping batteries out of household bins.

E-waste, one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia, includes embedded batteries in vapes, e-scooters, shavers and toys, and poses an environmental and health and safety risk when not disposed of correctly.

Waste collectors and fire rescue organisations, including Fire Rescue Victoria, have reported an increase in waste truck fires related to batteries being put in kerbside bins.

Local councils and charities are invited to apply for grants of up to $22,000 to support the purchase, installation and promotion of battery drop-off units.

The funded facilities will accept a wide range of battery types, including loose household batteries, batteries from e-cigarettes, embedded batteries in small devices such as electric toothbrushes, and larger batteries weighing up to 60 kg.

Round 3 Hazardous Waste Fund had two projects share in $3.5 million to establish lithium-ion processing and recycling facilities, increasing Victoria’s capacity to process lithium-ion batteries by 19,500 tonnes per year.

For further information and to apply, visit: sustainability.vic.gov.au/ceif-hazardous-

The Bin it Right app is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, with the City of Casey inviting residents in a way to help them easily find out their bin night and which bin to put out. The app is free,

The City of Casey Mayor, Stefan Koomen, with the new Bin It Right app on his phone. (Supplied)

Upgrade for skate park

By Violet Li

Casey Council is inviting community feedback on a proposed upgrade to the Tooradin Skate Park.

The existing concrete Skate Park, located at Tooradin Recreation Reserve, is set to be renewed with a refreshed layout and updated features.

Council shared that when it consulted with the community about the Tooradin Recreation Reserve Master Plan, most of the feedback they received was around the Skate Park and its importance to the local community.

Tooradin Ward councillor Jennifer Dizon said the Skate Park was a key issue raised by residents during her 2023 council election campaign.

“The Skate Park is a much-loved feature of the Tooradin Recreation Reserve, and its upgrade is well overdue,” she said.

“We’ve heard from the community just how important it is that they have a modern and dynamic skate park.”

Cr Dizon is encouraging everyone in the community, especially those who use the skate park, to tell the Council what they think.

Community can provide feedback on the design elements within the Skate Park and the look and feel of the space, but the budget allocation ($400,000) and the project timeline are non-negotiable.

Vice president of Casey Residents and Ratepayer Association Anthony Tassone also welcomed the renewed focus on the Skate Park.

“The feedback we have received from Tooradin locals is that while investment in the recreation reserve is welcomed (including the $2.3 million upgrade to the pavilion), there needs to be a holistic approach taken to how the community will use all of the precinct,” he said.

“For example, with the pavilion upgrade, this could potentially impact the location of the children’s playground. If it is relocated away from the pavilion where parents and spectators typically watch games from or where patrons dine at the Sports club, it will get less use, be less safe and impact the amenities of the reserve.

“The council must listen to locals about how they use their recreation reserve to get the most out of the investment in upgrades.”

Mr Tassone said the consultation of the Skate Park upgrade needs to consider the potential of relocation.

“The recreation reserve can experience a very high demand for car parking, particularly during the football season in the winter, which needs to

be considered,” he said.

“The Master plan is meant to be reviewed every four years and was last reviewed in 2021, so now is the right time to engage closely with the community for an update and review to the plan so that the Council considers all of the facilities in the recreation reserve and how residents will use it as a whole.

“This way, the investment in upgrades gets the best return and benefit for the community.”

To submit your feedback, visit: conversations. casey.vic.gov.au/tooradin-skate-park-upgrade

Crushed rock diverted from landfill and sent to road project

Crushed rock and barriers from the Pakenham Roads Upgrade have been repurposed at the Thompsons Road intersection upgrade, with August the month for official works to begin.

Roughly 4000 tonnes of crushed rock have been saved from going to landfill, in addition to 354 concrete barriers from the Pakenham project being utilised at the new site.

Major Road Projects Victoria program director, Brendan Pauwels, said that the Thompsons and Berwick-Cranbourne Road Intersection Upgrade “has started on a great footing with the site office set up using recycled and reused ma-

terials”.

As of late, crews have commenced early works to remove trees and vegetation in preparation for the relocation of underground utilities.

From late August until January 2026, the westbound leg of the intersection will be closed as crews work to upgrade drainage and build the new carriageway and left turn slip lane.

“Little changes in the way we build these projects have a massive ability to add up; it’s great to see reused and recycled materials continuing to be a major area of focus for the Big Build,” Pauwels said.

These materials have been used as part of the project site compound, which was recently set up on the northeast corner of the intersection ahead of major works that are starting later this year.

This initiative is also part of the Big Build’s Recycled First Policy, which aims to integrate recycling and reuse into all levels of a project’s lifespan, and to help grow domestic recycling capabilities and fuel innovation.

The Intersection Upgrade aims to reduce travel times, improve safety, and cater for the area’s rapidly growing population.

Council also held a pop-up event in the Skate Park on Tuesday 15 July.

Tooradin Ward Councillor Jennifer Dizon and vice president of Casey Residents and Ratepayer Association Anthony Tassone both believed the Tooradin Skate Park upgrade was long overdue. (Stewart Chambers: 489769)

The current condition of Tooradin Skate Park.

The current condition of Tooradin Skate Park.

Concerns over landfill dust

By Violet Li

Three years after the SBI landfill first came to public scrutiny for offensive odours, residents say they are still left in the dark about potentially dangerous dust drifting from the site, citing a lack of public statistics on dust monitoring.

Back in early 2022, residents near the SBI landfill in Cranbourne noted persistent rotten-egg odours linked to hydrogen sulfide gas, prompting thousands of complaints and further EPA action. Over the years, the odour has been significantly reduced, but the surrounding community have become more aware of the other impacts of the landfill activities, including the dust.

Star News first reported the dust concerns in early 2023.

At a community session by the EPA, residents raised strong concerns about respirable crystalline silica from the SBI landfill, which is known to cause silicosis, a disabling or even fatal condition.

Respirable crystalline silica is a very fine form of silica dust that is small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs. It is a common mineral found in materials like sand, stone, concrete, and bricks. It’s often generated when materials containing silica are cut and crushed.

SBI landfill accepts solid inert waste from commercial and industrial, construction and demolition activities, and it conducts concrete crushing activities, which produce silica dust.

At the time, an EPA scientist said it was “highly unlikely,” citing past studies at similar sites and suggesting that if staff aren’t exposed, the community likely isn’t either.

But locals remained unconvinced, pointing to daily dust build-up on cars and homes, and demanded clear evidence that the air was safe.

EPA acknowledged the issue and said it would follow up, while urging residents to report visible dust alongside odour complaints.

Fast forward to July 2025, the community is still unconvinced and concerned, citing a lack of public statistics on dust monitoring, while being told the dust level was safe.

Dust still around

“From what I’ve seen, it (dust) seems to have got worse over the last couple of years,” a resident in the nearby Settlers Run estate, who preferred not to disclose their name, said.

“That is probably because they used to crush dust at the bottom of the old quarry where the landfill now is, so that’s about 60 meters below the surface. Whereas now they do it on top of the ground, so, of course, the dust is more evident.

“There are two parts of the dust. There’s the dust in the air, the air emissions and then there’s the dust that gets on the ground and it gets flushed down into the waterways.

“Residents are concerned, and they made a lot of complaints about them getting dust on their cars, on their houses. Grey dust, which is the same sort of colour that you see from the SBI that comes out on the road.”

The resident recalled that in 2023, there was a dust-coated car abandoned on Ballarto Road outside the landfill.

“It was only there for a couple of days, and it was just coated,” they said.

Residents in the local Facebook group noted that they wouldn’t expect much dust to be in the air in winter, but it was the spring-to-autumn season when they typically saw the dust around*. Ongoing Dust Monitoring Program “late” In April 2024, in response to community reports, the EPA requested that SBI conduct dust monitoring, including respirable silica.

A letter from the State’s Environment Minister last month has revealed that in May and June, the EPA reviewed multiple versions of the dust monitoring report and found insufficient information for an accurate public health assessment of risks to the local community. Consequently, the EPA took regulatory action.

In November 2024, the EPA issued notices to SBI requiring them to develop a dust management plan and an ongoing dust monitoring program that considers health risks, including respirable crystalline silica.

EPA received a dust management plan for the site in February this year.

SBI is installing equipment and will start its dust monitoring program, including real-time monitoring, in July this year.

The resident questioned why SBI hadn’t already had a dust management plan and believed the environment watchdog didn’t act quickly enough to enforce the dust management plan and the dust monitoring.

They cited an Environmental Audit Report from December 2022, where the expert observed “significant dust generation from concrete crushing activities occurring near the site entrance” and “minimal dust across the remaining site area” during a visit in November 2022.

The audit report for the period between 1 January 2020 and 31 July 2022 told a different story about dust, which was inspected by SBI infrequently and not daily as required before.

It was noted that dust ranging from ‘very low’ to ‘moderate’ was observed at the northern boundary in June 2020 and September 2021, and ‘low’ dust was observed at locations 7 and 8 onsite (near the landfill and quarry) during June 2020.

Dust sources were noted to be from trucks, the landfill and concrete crushing activities. SBI confirmed to the auditor by email dated 28 November 2022 that no dust complaints were received during the audit period.

The inspection records also showed that dust was not detected during inspections undertaken by SBI in October 2021 to February 2022.

“As the landfilling operations are taking place below the natural ground level, it would be anticipated that dust emissions are minimised in part due to this,” the report noted.

“The dust emissions that were observed appear to be sourced primarily from trucks on the haul road at ground level as well as from concrete crushing activities.”

The audit report recommended that dust inspections be undertaken daily at the required location.

Concerns grow amid withheld report

The resident, who has been highly engaged, also pointed out that the April 2024 dust monitoring report had not been made public, despite plans to release its key findings.

After they learned that the EPA was not satisfied with that undisclosed report and requested a dust management plan later, they found everything suspicious.

They recalled that it was mentioned in an SBI community meeting that respirable silica dust was detected at low levels.

“When I was at the meeting, they said that everything was okay. It was below the workplace threshold, and when I asked for more details, like what the readings meant, what the impact was, and whether it was totally safe, they wouldn’t answer any questions,” they said.

SBI’s May community meeting last year recorded a brief summary of the April 2024 report, including “inhalable dust concentration at 3 locations below Worksafe Australia exposure limits”, and “crystalline silica concentration at 3 locations all under APAC guideline limit”.

According to an EPA answer to a community question in November 2024, the WorkSafe safe work silica limits are based on an 8-hour exposure average, which means that you would need to be exposed to constant silica levels above the limits to be at risk, i.e. standing outside breathing high levels of silica for 8 hours.

EPA Air Pollution Assessment Criteria is based on a 24-hour exposure limit that does consider cumulative impact.

The resident said, however, there is currently no national or state-level regulation in Australia that sets a specific safe limit for respirable crystalline silica in ambient (outdoor) residential air.

“It’s like a big grey area,” they said. They pointed out that a lot of people in the vicinity work from home, which means they could be affected.

“We went through another spring, summer, autumn of dust without what’s showing in the air,” they said.

EPA statement

When inquired, an EPA spokesperson said that while EPA had received only a handful of complaints about dust escaping the SBI site, this year, there was additional action that SBI has committed to so that any dust issues could be identified and addressed as early as possible.

“In March this year, following an inspection, EPA was able to confirm SBI’s compliance with two improvement notices, which also included the development of a dust management plan,” they said.

“This will include the installation of new dust monitoring equipment and a commitment from SBI to share the results of that monitoring with the community.

“We will continue to monitor SBI and act if they become non-compliant and have been actively working in the area recently, testing for noise and odour issues.”

SBI landfill was contacted for comment.

*Reports on dust issues state that dust levels can fluctuate significantly with weather conditions. Wind can carry particles over long distances, dry temperatures increase dust lift-off, and atmospheric pressure can trap pollutants close to the ground.

A truck was watering the Ballarto Road next to the SBI landfill. (Stewart Chambers: 490030)

A car that was abandoned on Ballarto Road outside the landfill, which was full of dust. The photo was taken in early 2023.

Unruly behaviour concerns

By Ethan Benedicto

Residents of Quarry Road in Narre Warren North have been pushing for additional amenities at the popular 1001 Steps.

Signage, speed bumps, and locked gates are what’s on the cards after years of residents experiencing disruptive behaviour at the Bayview Car Park.

1001 Steps at Bayview Park is an officially designated walking track by the City of Casey, one that was inspired by the 1000 Steps at Ferntree Gully, and offers an expansive view of Narre Warren and surrounding areas.

However, its car park, located at the base of the hill and steps, has also been the go-to destination for disruptive behaviour, with residents reporting similar instances and incidents to the Berwick Lookout in Old Coach Road.

Grevillea Ward councillor, Dave Perry, said that 1001 Steps “was built to give more accessible green spaces to our community and encourage an active lifestyle for all Casey residents”.

Instead, he has received personal accounts from locals of vehicles idling in the parking space just after midnight, and more often than

not, also playing loud music.

Residents have said to Cr Perry that installation of signs at the start of Quarry Road is a

must, indicating that there is no entry to the Bayview Park after 8pm, or 9pm during daylight saving.

Another want from locals is two sets of speed bumps, one just after the intersection at Quarry Road and Ernst Wanke Road, with accounts of cars speeding up and down the thoroughfare.

“Gates servicing the 1001 Steps at the Bayview Car Park should be getting locked up at 8pm every night by the security contractor we at council are paying,” Cr Perry said.

“However, even when gates are locked, cars are parking in the space outside the gates just to hang out and socialise.”

The City of Casey, in response to these concerns, has detailed proposed works by Transport Operations on Quarry Road that include on-street parking being banned along a 150-metre section of Quarry Road that leads to the 1001 Steps car park, as well as signs reading “parking restriction enforced” and no stopping signs.

“They are disturbing residents, and these people living around the 1001 Steps deserve the quiet enjoyment of their homes,” Cr Perry said.

The plans’ specific details have also been provided to neighbouring residents, informing them of upcoming works and the installation of signs.

By Violet Li

Cranbourne man facing a criminal charge of cybercrime has had his case delayed, as more charges may be on the way.

Patrick Michael Hric is currently facing a single criminal charge, but the prosecution revealed on Thursday 10 July, that additional alleged offences are likely to be filed.

Between 8 July and 30 July 2024, in Cran-

bourne and elsewhere, Mr Hric allegedly caused unauthorised modification of data held in a computer, knowing that the modification was unauthorised and being reckless as to whether the modification impaired the reliability, security, or operation of the data.

The defence opposed the adjournment, stating they had come prepared to enter a plea to the current charge and expressing frustration over the delay.

“It’s not new facts or circumstances that I understand the charges are coming from. It’s what’s on the brief now,” the defence lawyer told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

The magistrate agreed to postpone the case until 15 August to allow the prosecution time to finalise the charges.

Hric’s bail condition was varied, where the reporting was reduced from three times a week to once a week.

Hric remains on bail under strict conditions, including weekly reporting to Cranbourne Police, a travel ban, and limits on communication devices. He has surrendered his passport. He is not allowed to leave the State. The Cranbourne man could face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty of the charge of ‘unauthorised modification of data to cause impairment’. He is due to return to court on 15 August for a committal mention.

Grevillea Ward councillor Dave Perry has been advocating for local residents along Quarry Road in Narre Warren North after accounts of disruptive behaviour at the 1001 Steps Bayview Carpark. (Supplied)

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Parenting centre a lifeline

By Violet Li

Murrumbek Casey Early Parenting Centre in Clyde North has become a vital lifeline for new families in the growth area.

Since its official opening in January 2024, the free wellness service has already supported more than 1000 families, offering them the care they need during the often-challenging early years of parenthood.

Lauren Savva, the acting nurse manager, recalled the centre’s beginnings and how quickly it had grown into an essential community hub.

“There is quite a demand for the service,” she said.

Ms Savva said what the centre provides is individualised support for families to achieve their goals.

“Families will come in with a huge range of different goals, and that could be from sleep and settling, learning to understand some behaviours. It could be feeding support, and that could be from the baby, like breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or introducing solids,” she said.

“Depending on what the family’s goals are, we will do an individualised plan for that, and then during the week, we support them through achieving that goal.

“We’ll do education sessions with the families as well, and then if there’s any more information they need, we do one-on-one education sessions as well.”

Delivered by the State Government in partnership with Monash Health, the centre provides a range of services including day stays, overnight stays, and telehealth support.

Families can access a range of programs: a residential program, which offers 10 private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a day stay program for

OPINION

three days of the week, which has four separate rooms, each with its own cot, where parents can settle their babies with one-on-one support from staff, a sleep-settling program for babies aged four months to 12 months, a newborn program aimed at infants aged zero to three months, a home visiting program, which is usually an extension of someone who’s attended the residential of the day program, and telehealth if needed.

All programs are free and can be accessed via self-referral or through a GP or maternal child health nurse.

The centre has a team of nurses with different backgrounds, including paediatrics, newborn and mental health, midwifery, maternal and

child health, social work, play therapy, speech therapy and dietetics.

“Depending on the family’s needs or supports there, we can also offer those services to further enhance the patient experience,” Ms Savva said.

Ms Savva said the wait list at the moment for a day program is around five weeks.

For the residential program, it varies between six to 10 weeks depending on certain times of the year when the centre will see an increase in demand. “We’re constantly working on improving the service and how we can reduce the wait times to come into the program,” she said.

“We also collaborate with other early parenting centres to make sure that our families get the

support they need as soon as they can.”

Every month, the centre puts up one of its success stories to share with the community.

This month’s story stands out for Ms Savva.

Written from the perspective of a baby, the story captures the impact of the centre’s work.

“I’ve been co-sleeping with Mum and Dad since I was born. This week, I learned to sleep on my own in a cot, and my parents learned to understand my behaviours and body language. Thank you to the amazing staff for being so patient with me,” the story writes.

Ms Savva said they are constantly reevaluating what the community needs, and how they can support the community the best they can.

To know more about the centre, visit: monashhealth.org/services/child-youth-and-family/ murrumbek-casey-early-parenting-centre/

Steps for a unified Australia: Letter to the editor

I read with interest the recent opinion piece The Fires We Are Not Putting Out (Truth Be Told, Star News, 17 July) and wanted to share a different perspective.

Growing up in multicultural Australia during the 1990s, I remember a community that was genuinely diverse yet united.

Everyone was different—but still the same in the ways that really mattered.

Kids with Lebanese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, and Anglo backgrounds all played footy together, hung out at the same parks, and went to the same schools.

We were more hardened back then, but in a good way—people didn’t walk on eggshells.

You learned to take a joke and to give one

back. There was respect, but also a shared sense of belonging.

One part of the piece talks about the offence people take when asked “Where are you really from?”

I think that’s worth reframing. In my experience, that question wasn’t meant as an insult—it was an invitation to connect.

People were curious about your story, your heritage, your family’s journey.

It sparked real conversations, friendships, and understanding.

I worry that if we train people to see genuine curiosity as aggression, we lose one of the easiest ways to build bridges between cultures.

Another point I’d like to raise is about integra-

tion.

Back in the ‘90s, integration meant joining the same clubs, playing on the same teams, turning up to the same BBQs.

These everyday shared spaces made us neighbours first, regardless of our background.

Today there’s more of a tendency to emphasise separate cultural communities.

While it’s important to celebrate heritage, if we don’t also invest in shared spaces and experiences, we risk isolating ourselves from each other and creating the very divisions we’re trying to avoid.

If we want a more unified Australia, I believe we need to encourage local, grassroots integration:

- Support community sports that mix everyone together.

- Build parks and centres that feel welcoming to all.

- Hold neighbourhood events that invite everyone to bring their favourite dish and story.

- Encourage people to ask questions and share openly without fear of offending if their intent is respectful.

Ultimately, our best hope is not in top-down mandates or carefully managed cultural days, but in everyday, genuine interactions.

That was the strength I remember from my childhood in the 90s—and it’s something I hope we can reclaim.

Ragnarr Rasmusson, Dandenong

Regional news is the canary in the coal mine: CPA president

By Damian Morgan, President Country Press Australia

Recently, I stepped up as President of Country Press Australia (CPA), ostensibly to represent the best interests of independent regional newspaper publishers. But the responsibility is far greater than that.

The future of regional news publishing is inextricably linked to whether regional communities will continue to have a say in shaping the future of regional Australia.

In fact, regional newspapers are the metaphorical canary in the coal mine - their health signals the health of the voice of the communities they serve. And both are under threat.

The toxic combination of ever-expanding corporations and surging city populations dominating our politics is reducing regional communities to branch office status, with their futures determined by powerful elites in our CBDs.

With every small business that’s bought out and “rolled up” into a corporate machine - or shut down to make way for a big-box competitor - a local business owner is replaced by a corporate manager. The profits are siphoned off in the first electronic transfer back to the city, and a small part of the soul of our communities dies.

As our capital cities grow, the weight of our democracy and decision-making drifts further away

from the regions - away from where much of our nation’s wealth is generated, by the way.

Even local government is losing its voice.

Many locally elected councillors now fear speaking out on behalf of their communities, worried they’ll be reported by bureaucratic staff to increasingly powerful, city-based governance bodies. When this happens, our democracy is weakened.

Regional news publishers are among the last lines of defence against these forces.

At our best, we rally and amplify the collective voice of our communities. We stand up to power and fight for a fair go.

There’s a saying that the squeaky wheel gets the grease - but in regional Australia, it’s mostly the silent, hardworking wheels that keep the whole country moving.

That’s why regional newspapers promote local communities and give those doing the heavy lifting a voice.

We unapologetically champion independent regional businesses - the ones who make, grow, and fix things. The ones who only sell what they believe in and are proud of.

We’re also here for the bush cops and single-teacher schools, the nurses and doctors who are always on duty, and the junior sports coaches who drive the bus three hours each way so kids can get a game on the weekend.

We’re up for the fight. But it’s getting harder.

A decade ago, regional newspapers were thriving. Classifieds, display ads, and community notices funded large local newsrooms filled with trained journalists.

But the landscape has changed.

When news went online - and we’re online too - global tech giants like Facebook quickly came to dominate the advertising market, using their monopolistic power to take an overwhelming share of digital ad revenue.

Yet these platforms don’t produce news. They don’t employ journalists. And they certainly don’t hire anyone in regional communities where they glean enormous profits from the attention of local

people while contributing nothing back to local newsrooms or communities.

In fact, they profit from our content, created by local journalists, without paying fairly for it - undermining the very business model that sustains local news.

And big box retail corporations making huge profits from our regional communities are now choosing to advertise with these global tech giants, not with local publishers.

Like frogs in warming water, too many Australians are unaware of the growing danger of letting corporatism control our communities - and the new media platforms and AI systems that (mis) inform them.

My top priority as president of CPA is to fight for the publishers who, in turn, are fighting for their communities.

We’ll be wearing out the boot leather lobbying governments to protect our people from exploitation by tech platforms that profit from harmful content and put our children and democracy at risk. We’ll push back against bureaucracy that strips power from local leaders. We’ll shine a light on the creeping reach of corporatism. We’re proud to take on these battles.

All we ask in return is that you keep buying your local paper — or subscribe online — and support the local businesses that advertise with us.

Team photo of the staff at the centre: (rear) Mel, Andrea, Jaqui, Mel and Tahlia. (front) acting nurse manager Lauren Savva and Helen. (Gary Sissons: 489508)

2-year-old Arlo is a little angel, playing at the centre.

New CPA president Damian Morgan.

Plumbing equality pledge

Bringing together unions, employers and training bodies to sign a Pledge for Change, an official, sector-wide commitment to safer and more inclusive workplaces for women, was passed in Narre Warren.

The Building Futures: Breaking Barriers for Women in the Plumbing Industry was recently held at the Narre Warren centre of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC).

The launch marked the beginning of a threeyear industry-wide initiative that aims to break down the systemic barriers against women and reshape workplace culture.

The Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles MP, was in attendance and said that he was “proud to announce the launch of the program, a transformative initiative designed to dismantle systemic barriers and pave the way for greater gender equity across the Australian trade sector”.

“This project is not just about training, it’s about cultural change.

“Increasing women’s participation is not only a matter of fairness - it’s essential for the future sustainability, innovation, and resilience of the industry,” he said.

The program is backed by the Australian Government’s Building Women’s Careers Program, which looks to open doors for women in plumbing, pipe trades, and fire protection, fields that have long remained dominated by men.

The Pledge for Change was at the core of the launch, where ten key partners committed to creating respectful, inclusive workspaces and also to improving access and advancement for women in trade.

Looking deeper, the pledge includes promises to embed inclusive leadership, develop flexible work environments, and offer education that addresses the structural drivers of inequality.

“It’s about action, we’re not ticking boxes, we’re taking responsibility.

“As the Plumbing Industry’s Centre of Excellence for training, PICAC has seen firsthand what happens when we invest in skills, safety and people.

“Now we’re applying that same focus to cul-

Shayne La Combre, CEO of PICAC, said that the launch, program and the pledge weren’t “about awareness”.

ture; if someone wants to become a plumber, there should be absolutely no impediment, no cultural barriers, no unsafe environments, no outdated assumptions,” he said.

Among the signatories were the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA), National Fire Industry Association (NFIA), Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association (AMCA), Cooke &

Dowsett and Axis Plumbing, to name a few. The program will be rolled out in stages over the next three years, beginning with research to understand the barriers facing women in the plumbing industry. The program will provide practical tools and resources for employers, and it will also deliver targeted support to help implement change on the ground.

Green light for long-awaited Hampton Park redevelopment

By Violet Li

The development at the old site of the Hampton Park Food Market has progressed as the Casey Council granted an amended planning permit earlier this month.

The development is expected to feature more than 100 apartments and retail/office spaces.

The address of 65 Hallam Road, located next to the Hampton Park Shopping Centre, has been sitting empty for over five years.

Star News reported in late January this year that the landowner was frustrated that a “minor” amendment approval held up the development.

Fast forward five months to early July, Sandra Le, the landowner, received the amendment permit.

“The delay has cost us tremendously, but I hope the Council won’t take this long to issue the building permit next,” Ms Le said.

Ms Le received a permit for the site in 2019 and endorsement in late 2022 for a development including basement parking, retail, commercial space, and over 100 apartments.

Man charged

Police have charged a Cranbourne East man following an alleged carjacking and assault in Cranbourne East on Monday 14 July.

Investigators have been told a rideshare driver attended an address near O’Shea Road and Soldiers Road at about 5.15pm.

During the ride, police will allege the man assaulted the 32-year-old driver before stealing his white Toyota Camry and phone.

Officers located the Toyota in the vicinity of Clyde Road and Princes Highway in Berwick about 10.30am on the morning of Tuesday 15 July.

It is understood that the man attempted to flee from the vehicle and was arrested by police nearby.

The 30-year-old Cranbourne East man has since been charged with multiple charges, including carjacking, intentionally causing injury and resisting police. He was remanded to appear before Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 16 July.

Rising construction costs delayed the project for about a year. Ms Le submitted a planning amendment in August last year once the situation stabilised.

Despite a pre-meeting with council support, Ms Le said her amendment application had taken longer than she expected, after the assigned planning officer went on leave in November and a new one had to take over.

Casey Mayor Councillor Stefan Koomen said planning officers had carefully reviewed the planning application and given it the green light.

“I want to thank the local Hampton Park community for your patience while our officers were considering this application. I know that many residents have been waiting to see what would be made of this site,” he said.

“Granting of the amended permit now means the landowner can progress with the staged development of 79 apartments, and 86 serviced apartments in addition to retail/office spaces.

“Once this site is developed, it will be fantastic to have short-stay accommodation offerings in Hampton Park. This will provide accommo-

Top youth

More than 20 students from South East schools have been named among Victoria’s top VCE performers in 2024.

The students were presented with trophies by Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll at the Premiers’ VCE Awards ceremony at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Haileybury and Nossal High School students were prolific awardees.

Joshua Ong from Haileybury and Ruiqi Yao from Nossal High School were among 23 Top All-Round VCE High Achievers who scored 46 or higher out of 50 in at least five VCE subjects.

Fifteen Haileybury students and four Nossal High students also took out individual subject awards.

dation options for workers and visitors and will attract more business into the area.”

According to the Council, the permitted development will also see improvements to the road and drainage infrastructure within the site.

The planning permit requires the construction of a public road immediately south of the McDonald’s restaurant to provide a formal ac-

cessway.

This location has been a pain point for locals over recent years, due to issues related to potholes and flooding.

“Councillors are aware of the ongoing flooding issues related to the Hampton Park Shopping Centre and McDonald’s car park entrance,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.

“Now that officers have approved the amended planning permit, the landowner can take steps towards development of the site. This will include constructing a new road and appropriate drainage.”

River Gum Ward Cr Lynette Pereira said she was pleased to see the community given reassurance on this site.

“I’m really excited for the future of Hampton Park, there are some positive things coming. This development is one step forward in our work to ensure Hampton Park is an attractive and safe place to live, work and play,” she said.

Mayor Cr Koomen noted that as the land is privately owned, council has no role in the construction or timing of development.

Female plumbing apprentices with Andrew Giles MP (suit, middle). (Supplied)

The address of 65 Hallam Road, located next to the Hampton Park Shopping Centre, has been sitting empty for over five years. (FILE)

Lost in one giant garden

Internationally renowned artist Amanda Parer has brought her Lost exhibition to Bunjil Place this winter.

A careful local eye will notice the Plaza has been transformed into a wonderland of giant illuminated inflatables of endangered plant species from around the world.

It’s especially magical after dark, when the internal glow of each species casts shifting shadows, creating immersive photo backdrops for families.

Parer, Tasmanian-based, best known for her inflatable artworks that often explore themes of nature and humanity, said the exhibition is called Lost as it refers to Alice in Wonderland and how she enters a giant garden.

“She got a bit lost in the giant garden. Hopefully, when people visit it, they’ll get a similar sensation,” she said.

“The title also refers to the species that have been chosen for the artwork. All the different flowers that are in the artwork are either from endangered or extinct floral species from every continent around the globe.”

An artist coming from a background of exhibiting fine art in galleries, Parer extended out into installation to explore that invisible space between people and the artwork.

“The works (Lost) themselves are designed for people to sit amongst and take photos with, and to sit around them like they would in any other garden,” she said.

“Hopefully, they’ll enjoy themselves, and they’ll sit amongst the artwork and dig a little deeper to get to the more serious themes in the works, which is basically our effect on the natural world.”

Parer’s environmental focus stems from

a trip to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, where she lived among wildlife while her uncle and aunt filmed a nature documentary.

“I spent sort of six months there, and we got to places where tourists aren’t allowed to go, so I got to really be amongst nature and animals in a very special way,” she recalled.

“I felt like they didn’t know man is a threat, so they came up to me and were just as curious about me as I was about them.

“Having that experience has really instilled in me the importance of our role as essentially the apex species on the planet and our role to look after it. That became my theme in my work.

“That’s important, and it’s broad enough for me to explore in my art throughout my career.”

Before arriving at Bunjil Place Plaza, Lost had already stunned audiences worldwide.

The large-scale botanical installation has appeared in countries such as Singapore, the USA, France, Spain, and England.

Parer previously brought her acclaimed giant rabbit installation Intrude to the Bunjil Place about five years ago. That collaboration planted the seeds for Lost to return.

“I had a really great working relationship with the team,” Parer said.

“I really admire how they respect artworks, and they have a great space there, not only with the building, but also the space out front.

“It seems to marry well with my giant installation works.”

The timing was also ideal as Bunjil Place had recently hosted Floribunda, an exhibition developed with the Museums Victoria and National Gallery of Victoria, which explored floral themes in art and culture.

Lost is part of the Casey Winter Arts Festival.

The Plaza has been transformed into a wonderland of giant illuminated inflatables of endangered plant species from around the world.

Wonderland of Lost at Bunjil Place Plaza. (Rob Carew: 489288)

By Violet Li

Teen sentenced over servo clash

By Ethan Benedicto

A Cranbourne North teenager has been sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and a further 15-month community corrections order after pleading guilty to attempted aggravated burglary, affray, and theft offences tied to a violent, gangrelated clash at a Narre Warren service station.

Mai Mut, 19, was sentenced in Melbourne’s County Court on Thursday, 10 July, with Judge Marks acknowledging the severity of the offending while also considering Mut’s young age, history of trauma, and signs of rehabilitation during remand.

“What happened in this period was that a group of six, including yourself [and others] arrived at the Coles Express, wearing hoodies and face coverings,” Judge Marks said.

The offences to which Mut was charged stemmed from a series of escalating events in late May 2024 between two groups of young men known to police as associated youth gangs.

In the background to the offending, between 26 and 27 May 2024, an Audi SUV was stolen from an address in Beaumaris.

The following day, between 27 and 28 May, a second Audi SQ5 SUV was stolen from an address in Hampton East.

On 29 May, Mut and five co-offenders, aged between 15 to 18, were caught on CCTV arriving at a Bunnings Warehouse in Narre Warren North.

Dressed in hoodies and face coverings, they inquired about machetes and left minutes later with a long axe visibly placed in one of the two stolen SUVs.

Roughly 20 minutes later, three members of a different and rival group rushed into the Shell Coles Express nearby on Narre Warren North Road, shouting for staff to lock the doors and to call the police.

All three members of the rival group were armed, including one with a machete and two with gas canisters that were picked up from outside the store.

Shortly after, Mut’s group arrived (a total of six, including the accused) armed with an assortment

of weapons, including a machete in Mut’s hands, as well as hatchets, poles and planks among the others.

“You were armed with various weapons, including a pole, an axe, hatchets, knives, machetes, a wooden plank; you personally were armed with a long machete.

“Your offending was deliberate, involved planning and preparation, and the attack at the Coles Express was a terrifying incident.”

They used the tools to smash the station’s glass doors while taunting those inside, with two in Mut’s group seen to be recording the attack.

CCTV and witness reports detailed the sounds of glass shattering, yelling, and the sight of terrified customers locking themselves in back rooms.

The attack lasted around two and a half minutes.

After initially fleeing, the group returned minutes later and attempted to ram the store with one of the stolen Audis, only to be blocked by a bollard.

The car left the scene again before police arrived and arrested the rival group once they emerged from the service station.

By midday, five African males in similar clothing to the assailants walked from The Strand in Narre Warren South to Casey Central Shopping Centre, where they entered a restaurant called Fat Jak’s.

At 12:25pm on the same day, police officers attended the restaurant and arrested the five assailants, including Mut.

A machete with Mut’s DNA and dried blood on the blade and hilt was found tucked into his pants.

Further weapons and blood traces were recovered from the stolen vehicle parked nearby.

No victim impact statements were submitted to the court, but the prosecution noted the incident had a profound emotional effect on staff and customers.

One staff member was hospitalised with chest pains under stress.

This was Mut’s first time sentenced as an adult.

Together, it’s sport for all

A partnership between the City of Casey and Get Skilled Access is providing greater avenues of access for those living with a disability, as the Sport4All program looks to help local sport clubs improve inclusivity.

The program, led by an Inclusion Coach, is designed to make community sport more inclusive and accessible for people living with disabilities.

Hampton Park Tennis Club is the first local sporting club to complete the Sport4All program, and as a result, developed its own inclusion action plan.

Casey’s Mayor, Stefan Koomen, said that “this is a fantastic achievement for Hampton Park Tennis Club”.

“To take active steps and embrace this inclusive approach, this aligns with the upcoming pavilion redevelopment that is scheduled to start later this year.

“The Sport4All program is giving clubs the tools to be more inclusive, and Hampton Park Tennis Club has really embraced the opportunity to lead from the front,” he said.

As part of the pavilion upgrades, the club has requested wider door frames for entry to the accessible toilet, in order to better accommodate sports chairs, which are wider than a standard wheelchair.

The City of Casey recently adopted the 2025/26 Budget that included continued investment in Sport4All, which will ensure more Casey clubs are equipped to take part in the program and develop their own inclusion plans.

River Gum Ward councillor, Lynette Pereira, said that her children “used to play tennis at Hampton Park Tennis Club when they were younger, and I’m proud to see the club championing inclusion in such a meaningful way”.

River Gum Ward Councillor, Lynette Pereira, said that she was proud to see a local club championing inclusivity. (Supplied)

The judge ordered that, following his release, Mut be placed under strict supervision, undergo drug and alcohol treatment, mental health assessment, and avoid all contact with co-offenders.

ThesentencingprinciplesconsideredbyJudge Marks included deliberate and group-based violence, the use of weapons, public and bystander terror, and a long youth offending history.

Mitigating principles that were considered include an early guilty plea, youthfulness and PTSD, family and community support (including family letters and a letter from the AfriAus Care CEO) and rehabilitation during his remand period.

Mut was 18 years old during the offence, having lived in Cranbourne North with his mother and siblings, with whom he had constant contact during the same remand period.

Mut’s home in Cranbourne North was firebombed by a rival gang, with the Youth Justice Report stating that the nature of his and his group’s offending was retaliatory in nature.

He was also assaulted during his time in youth detention, which, after he was diagnosed with PTSD.

The judge also took into consideration the strong family ties aforementioned during the death of his cousin after a shooting in Melbourne CBD.

Specific conditions of Mut’s CCO include mental health and substance abuse treatment, non-association with the co-accused, supervision by Cranbourne Community Correction, as well as judicial monitoring.

He was also disqualified from driving for three months and formally credited with 407 days already served.

Contest indicated

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

An Officer man has indicated he’ll contest charges of threatening “serious harm” and making a “menacing” social-media post towards Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Dale Byrne, 42, who faces potential jail time if found guilty, appeared briefly at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 10 July.

His defence lawyer Dimitri Osianlis requested a date for a contest mention hearing.

According to charge sheets, Byrne made a post on social-media platform X towards Mr Albanese in “a manner that a reasonable person would regard as menacing” on 7 February.

He was also charged with “threatening to cause serious harm” to a Commonwealth official, namely Mr Albanese on the same day.

The latter charge, laid by an Australian Federal Police officer in Sydney, was “punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment”, according to charge sheets.

In an earlier hearing in June, AAP reported that magistrate Fran Medina approved the charge sheets’ release under the Opens Courts Act and noted the charges were only allegations at this stage.

She asked media to state the two offences were the “subject of negotiation”.

Byrne was bailed to appear at a contest mention at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.

His bail terms remained, which included that he can’t come within 100 metres of state or federal politicians including Mr Albanese, according to an AAP report in June.

For Mayor Koomen, he said that it’s great to see Hampton Park leading the way.

“We’re looking forward to working with even more clubs across Casey to create a sporting community that welcomes everyone,” he said.

“This is a club with a strong community heart, and their leadership in embracing the Sport4All program sets a powerful example for others to follow,” said Cr Pereira.

Shadow puppetry a hit

By Violet Li

A little bit of cardboard. A splash of cellophane. Flick of a light. That’s all it took for about 60 children across Casey to fall in love with the art of shadow puppetry.

Renowned puppeteer Jenny Ellis led three fully booked workshops at Bunjil Place on Friday 11 July, where young participants created their own characters and brought them to life behind the screen.

“Each session had 20 kids in it. It was completely packed out,” Ellis said.

Children were encouraged to design any character they could imagine — animals, mythical beasts like unicorns or dragons, or wild hybrids like a lion-serpent.

After sketching their designs on cardboard, they cut them out, added coloured cellophane to bring vibrancy to the shadows, and mounted them on sticks.

A few detailed cuts, like eyes, were handled with the help of the facilitators.

“They all had a chance to go up to the shadow screen and just do a quick little show that they improvised, which is really fun,” Ellis said.

“They brought their characters to life, often gave them voices, and just explored movement on the shadow screen.”

Ellis said the shadow puppetry continues to resonate with today’s children because it’s so quick that they could create characters and bring them to life within an hour of the workshop.

“The idea of creating something original and bringing it to life, I think, those two ingredients make it really attractive,” she said.

“But also, I think that shadow puppetry is very much related to animation. It’s very two-dimensional. They understand it from watching animation themselves. It’s kind of like they can create almost like a cartoon very quickly.”

Ellis speaks from nearly two decades of experience in the field. She made her first shadow puppet show in 2006 under the mentorship of Australian puppetry legend Richard Bradshaw and has continued to evolve her practice ever since.

“It’s a very visual form of storytelling,” Ellis said.

“There’s something a bit magical about it. As

soon as you introduce light and shadow, it becomes a little bit otherworldly, and the kids really get into it.”

Shadow Puppetry workshop is part of the Casey Winter Arts Festival.

IKEA builds cultural diversity at work

By Sahar Foladi

International giant IKEA in Springvale has made a drive to employ refugees and new arrivals who face greater barriers to work.

Twenty-six individuals from seven different cultural backgrounds, speaking 11 languages and aged between 18 and 57 have got a job at the store as part of a Refugee Workforce Inclusion pilot program.

Ziba Rahimi arrived in Australia with basic English in 2019. She worked in several shops in Dandenong with people from the same background as hers.

An opportunity to secure employment in the Sales team at IKEA’s Springvale location so soon was not something she fathomed as she tried to wrap her head around the new environment.

“I was thinking if I secure a job amongst English speaking people it would be difficult because of the differences, given they were born or grew up here.

“But I realised there’s more people just like me, with the same level of English as mine.

“After that I gained confidence that it cannot be such a huge deal.

“They were so excited to work with me, know a lot about me. One of them was studying about human rights so she had some knowledge about people from my background and culture.”

After four years she says IKEA’s diversity tops as the company’s “biggest achievement” in comparison to other workplaces in her experience and the sense of belonging everyone shares in the workplace.

The program nears its fifth anniversary, and that number is set to be increased to 40 recruitments per year across the country.

The pilot program, launched in 2020 in partnership with Community Corporate provided paid work placements to refugees and asylum seekers in a bid to fast-track their confidence, break down barriers such as English language, knowledge of the Australian workforce and most importantly to build their resume work experience making it easier to find employment.

However, 84 per cent of those in the pilot program secured ongoing employment and created a permanent pathway to IKEA’s recruitment process globally.

Leading the program is Harriet Pope who says the program is a “big part of investment” at IKEA.

“This is really an untapped talent pathway for us.

“These are candidates we wouldn’t meet through our normal traditional recruitment channels and we are all about trying to be inclusive and removing barriers but reality is these are people we normally wouldn’t meet through that process.

“It’s just been an incredibly beneficially investment for us in a tight labour market but also for everyone else involved in the program.”

She shares hiring managers speak highly of the individuals for their fresh perspectives, new ideas and experiences into the team.

“They bring with themselves different attributes starting with their diversity.

“Springvale’s local demography is incredibly culturally diverse this is such a huge benefit to us, and big part of investment is that we have people join us who have those shared cultural connection and languages meaning it has positive im-

pact on our customer experience too.

“When refugees and asylums seekers arrive, they bring all of their skills, capability and motivation with them but unfortunately too often that talent and potential goes unrealised due to a lot of barriers and only 22 per cent are in paid employment even after two years of arriving in Australia.

“We really believe that employers, especially large employers like us, play a role in actively welcoming refugee and people seeking asylum to welcome them in our workplace and to let them demonstrate their capabilities and reach their full potential in Australia.”

The international giant has employed 250 people across Australia’s 13 different locations.

Community Corporate, a refugee and migrant employment specialist organisation, were able to attend different locations to engage with the community and raise awareness of the program.

Potential employees also underwent three days of pre-employment training process and were buddied up for at least four to five-weeks post-employment as a “soft landing” to support their learning and growth.

Whilst IKEA’s recruitment process is open once a year, hiring managers have the freedom to employ throughout the year.

Caring for carers win

A South East respite program for multicultural women who are carers has secured State funding. The Wellsprings for Women program annually helps 54 unpaid carers for family members or friends with a disability, chronic illness, mental health condition, or age-related needs.

The Dandenong-based program provides a culturally safe, women-only space for carers to connect with others, share experiences and take a much-needed break from caring responsibilities.

It includes wellbeing sessions, coping strategies, and group excursions designed to reduce isolation, improve emotional health, and affirm the identity of women carers.

“Carers are the silent backbone of our communities, and many women from culturally diverse backgrounds are doing this work without recognition or support,” Wellsprings chief executive Dalal Smiley said. “This program offers not just respite, but connection, validation and empowerment. We are deeply grateful to (Carers and Volunteers) Minister Ros Spence for recognising this need and enabling us to continue this essential support.”

Many of the carers come from migrant, refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds and face additional challenges such as language barriers, social isolation, trauma, or a lack of knowledge about available support services, Ms Smiley said.

In the past, a group of carers recently completed the nationally recognised 12hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course at Wellsprings. They are now certified Mental Health First Aiders, equipped to recognise and respond to mental health challenges in their families and communities.

Renowned puppeteer Jenny Ellis led three fully booked workshops at Bunjil Place on Friday 11 July. (Supplied)

Ziba Rahimi at Springvale IKEA. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 489551)

(Ljubica Vrankovic)

(Ljubica Vrankovic)(Ljubica Vrankovic)

Mark your calendars

Morning tea and tour

Come and envision your life at the vibrant and welcoming Summerset Cranbourne North

Enjoy a complimentary cuppa and morning tea and take the opportunity to explore the beautiful brand-new homes, thoughtfully designed with ease and comfort in mind.

Wednesday 23 July, 10am to 12pm

Join us at our July events

Wednesday 23 & Thursday 31 July

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

Sip and stroll

Get a taste of life at Summerset Cranbourne North. Enjoy a guided tour of our beautifully designed village and available homes before joining our resident happy hour, with drinks and nibbles provided.

Mingle with residents already living in the village and learn why they love their life at Summerset Cranbourne North.

Thursday 31 July, 2pm to 4pm

Something for everyone

By Afraa Kori

Shoppers turned out in droves at the Berwick Farmers Market, held at The Old Cheese Factory on Saturday, 12 July, for a morning filled with fresh produce, artisan goods, and community spirit.

The popular monthly event featured a wide variety of farm-fresh produce and handcrafted treats. Stallholders showcased everything from crisp fruit and vegetables to free-range eggs, ethically sourced meats, and small-batch honey.

Visitors browsed artisan breads, gourmet

baked goods, and dairy delights, including specialty cheeses and locally made yoghurts. The market also offered vegetable seedlings, housemade jams and preserves, and an array of wines, craft beers, and spirits.

Coffee lovers were kept caffeinated with barista-made coffee, while foodies enjoyed an assortment of ready-to-eat meals and snacks.

Held every second Saturday of the month, the Berwick Farmers Market has become a go-to destination for those looking to support local growers, producers, and makers — all set against the charming backdrop of The Old Cheese Factory.

Good governance framework endorsed by Casey councillors

By Ethan Benedicto

The City of Casey’s revised Good Governance Framework was unanimously approved by the councillors following the 15 July council meeting.

Aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and decision-making processes across the council, its adoption reflects the recommendations from the Shape Your City 2024 community consultation period.

It also incorporates governance reforms in the wake of IBAC’s Operation Sandon, which scrutinised decision-making in Casey throughout the years.

Manager of Communications and Corpo-

rate Governance, Chloe Casey, said during the meeting that the framework, originally written in 2021, “has become a key document to support good governance practices across the organisation”.

“Although not legislated, this framework is seen as best practice across the sector and enables our community to better understand the mechanisms and commitment to governance,” she said.

In length, she added that the revised framework includes the following key changes: added leadership and accountability, including the council’s case management function, and added transparency to the framework relating to officers and councillors’ decision-making.

It also included conflicts of interest and publicly available documents, adding internal systems, processes and culture for external and councillor communications.

Community engagement was another highlight, where there was an update to the legislative requirements for publishing personal interest returns to the framework, as well as new reviews of practices such as delegation reviews and authorisation reviews.

Casuarina Ward councillor Kim Ross said that Shape Your City emphasised the fact that transparency was, and is, an integral factor for the community, especially when it comes to improving connection to the council.

Questions and overall discussions were ex-

tensive, with Cr Ross, alongside Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambros, Cr Gary Rowe (mover), Cr Jennifer Dizon (seconder), Cr Carolyn Eaves, and Cr Lynette Pereira speaking to the importance of the motion.

Council officers detailed on the agenda that the goal is to embed good governance in everyday operations, not just through compliance but through fostering a culture of ethical conduct and responsiveness to the community.

Since endorsed, the revised and updated framework will guide the council’s operations through to 2029, receiving regular reviews to ensure legislative adherence and best practice among the whole council group.

Cathy McCulloch from “Thriving Foods Farm” in Kooweerup. (Rob Carew: 489780)

John and Nandi from “Tea by the Bay”.

Michael from Otway Walnuts drove two-and-a-half hours to be at the market.

Kelvin Slade from Willow Zen - a ten-year seller at the market.

Adrian from Yarra Valley Berries, Wandin East.

Rotary governor with many missions

By Sahar Foladi

A new south-east district Rotary Governor has been chosen for the 2025-26 term from the Noble Park-Dingley Club.

Peter Behm was chosen as the new governor of District 9815 at a changeover event on Saturday 12 July.

He has spent 24 years of his life with Rotary and will lead over 2000 Rotarians in his district with a focus on “bringing the district together.”

“I think it’s a great honour,“ he says.

Mr Behm will lead District 9815 - a product of two districts merged into one just last year under the previous governor Colin Byron.

Whilst governors may have changed, Rotary’s mission to work for the local communities remains.

The district will also stay focused on expanding its volunteers and young generations in the clubs.

“Colin was an outstanding leader. We had two districts that needed to be brought together, he was able to bring those together with the help of the district committee.

“He was able to do many of the projects there, which I think were outstanding projects, such as fundraising for Monash Health Children’s Cancer Centre.

“We’re looking at continuing to support Monash Health in the longer term because they’re terrific people doing a great job.

“One of the other things which Colin just started, and we’ll be continuing, is relief for the farmers in Gippsland, where we’re looking at how we can best assist them.

“There’s a number of areas there in which they need assistance, so it’s not just food and water but also there’s all sorts of mental health issues too that we’re looking at.”

A number of grants are being explored to support this aim.

Another major project Mr Behm is passionate about is the partnership with primary schools.

As well as a range of activities including setting up playgrounds locally.

“It makes you feel good to also actually help people who are underprivileged.

“It makes me feel good that we can provide something on value to others that perhaps are doing a little bit tougher or developing as people.

“So, that’s the motivation from myself and I know that’s the motivation for many of us who give up our time as volunteers because we care

about people.”

Rotary International has more than 1.4 million members across more than 200 countries, including members across Rotaract clubs for students and young professionals, Interact clubs for young leaders aged 12 to 18 in high schools and Earlyact clubs for primary school students.

Jennifer Mills coming to Bunjil Place

By Ethan Benedicto

Bunjil Place will soon be home to a major retrospective showcase of the delicate, bold, and quietly powerful works of renowned Australian artist, Jennifer Mills.

Titled, In the echo chamber, and set to open on 9 August, the exhibition brings together more than 100 pieces of work from Mills’ expansive 20year career.

It looks to capture the nuanced depth of her artistic practice and the evolution of her ideas through watercolour, oil pastel, and physical erasure.

Moving from the playful surfaces of cult television shows and costume, to intimate reflections of childhood disability, Mills’ work invited viewers into a space where memory and ambiguity take the centre stage.

Mills is known for starting with found photographic images, and often disrupts the original narrative by obscuring, cutting, or altogether removing elements to shift the focus and meaning.

Mills said that she was thrilled when the curator from Bunjil, Penny Teale, first approached her about the survey exhibition.

“It will be my first opportunity to see my working dialogue with one another in one space,” Mills said.

“This is a privilege that I will share with my son, Darcy Luker, who has collaborated on many works with me over the past few years.”

Born in 1966, Mills was born in and also currently works in Naarm (Melbourne), with the upcoming exhibition marking a significant moment in her artistic venture.

A finalist in this year’s Dobell Drawing Prize, Mills’ accolades include being a consistent presence in prestigious awards.

While being a regular exhibitor with the Dar-

ren Knight Gallery since 1997, she was also a finalist in the Paul Guest Drawing Prize at Bendigo Art Gallery in 2024; a regular finalist in the Geelong Art Prize, Jacaranda Art Prize, and Mornington Peninsula National Works on Paper Prize.

In 2018, Mills won the Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award; in 2012, she was included in Contemporary Australia: Women, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. Mills’ work has also been included in group

Whether you dream of exploring medieval castles, strolling cobbled streets, or indulging in regional cuisine, this is more than a holiday – it’s a journey of a lifetime.

Set sail on a journey of a lifetime with Viking

Imagine gliding through Europe’s most iconic landscapes, surrounded by history, culture, and luxury. Thanks to Viking and your local newspaper, one lucky reader will have the chance to do just that – by winning an eight-day “Rhine Getaway” river voyage for two, valued at $16,190, including return airfares.

Departing Basel, Switzerland on 22 November 2026, this unforgettable voyage visits four beautiful countries – Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Enjoy six guided tours, all onboard meals with beer and wine, and a host of cultural experiences, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

You’ll relax in a stylish Category F Stateroom, with all port charges, Wi-Fi and gratuities included – making this a truly seamless and elegant European escape.

Whether you dream of exploring medieval castles, strolling cobbled streets, or indulging in regional cuisine, this is more than a holiday – it’s a journey of a lifetime.

Have you entered yet?

Entries close at noon, Thursday 14 August 2025.

For details and to enter, go to starnewsgroup.secondstreetapp.com/Win-a-European-river-voyage-with-Viking

exhibitions, including Contemporary Australian Drawings 1; RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (2010); Magnetic Islands and more.

A series of public programs will run alongside In the echo chamber, giving local art lovers the opportunity to explore the themes of identity, presence, and the fragmented nature of meaning through an artist’s lens.

The exhibition will run for three months, ending on 16 November.

competition.

Peter Behm outlines help for farmers, students and the underprivileged. (Ljubica Vrankovic: 489325)

Jennifer Mills’ In the echo chamber piece called Falling. Circa 2013, created by watercolour, gouache, ink, pencil and oil pastel on paper; it measures at 38 x 52 cm. (Supplied)

WHAT’S ON

U3A Casey - Ballroom Dancing

When: Wednesdays, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Where: Main Hall, Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21A Bemersyde Drive, Berwick. Keep fit and improve brain function with ballroom dancing.

Have an enjoyable cardiovascular workout to the beat of the Quickstep, Jive and Cha Cha Cha. Immerse yourself in the graceful Waltz. Glide across the floor dancing the Slow Fox Trot. Awaken your sensuous self to the rhythm of Rhumba. Learn to wriggle your hips to the Samba.

The aim of the ballroom dance class is that everyone enjoys themselves. We are teaching basic dance steps and technique before we start sequences or figures.

No need to bring a partner, just bring yourself and keep those happy feet dancing.

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

• Phone our office on 0493 280 458 Narre Warren & District Family

Group July Guest Speaker: Patricia Dennis

From the age of seven Patricia Dennis was held in a prisoner of war camp at the Santo Tomas University in Manila, Philippines, for three and a half years. She was one of the lucky ones to survive the horrors of the camp and adopted a philosophy that ‘life meant a lot and she couldn’t waste a minute’. Patricia went on to become an international model, working in film and television, all while farming at a cattle and dairy farm in Beaconsfield.

When: Saturday, 19 July, 2pm

Where: 110 High Street, Berwick, behind the Guides building.

Price: admission $5, visitors always welcome.

• For more information, contact Jane at 0412 084 671 or president@nwfhg.org.au

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

Imagine the Magic at Westfield Bundle up and step into a FROZEN-themed world alongside beloved characters Elsa, Anna and Olaf to enjoy an immersive Sing-A-Long Experience.

Featuring iconic FROZEN songs Let it Go, Do You Want To Build a Snowman, and Into the Unknown; fans of all ages can sing their hearts out and become part of the magic.

• Westfield Fountain Gate: Monday 14 July until Friday 18 July from 11am – 2pm daily, 4pm –7pm Friday 18 July, Saturday 19 July & Sunday 20 July 11am – 3pm daily. Located on Level 1, near Sephora.

Wilson Goes Wild - Casey Winter Arts Festival

Where: Basalt Lake, Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick

When: Friday 4 July - Sunday 13 July, sessional throughout the day; 9am - 3:30pm, every hour.

Ages: 1-10 years old and their grown-ups

Cost: $12.50 | Family ticket: $45

For a limited time, Basalt Lake will transform into a vibrant mini safari, complete with life-sized elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, lions and tigers popping up along the lakeside.

• At this family-friendly event, kids can unleash their creativity with a range of nature-inspired craft activities and snap memorable photos alongside their favourite wild animals.

Sky of Flowers, an AR interactive experience - Casey Winter Arts Festival

Where: Outdoor Screen, Bunjil Place, Narre War-

ren

When: Friday 4 July - Sunday 20 July; daily from 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm

Cost: Free, no bookings required.

Step into Sky of Flowers, an Augmented Reality experience that drifts all around you, as you float from one field to another.

As the audience moves through the space, plants bloom from the ground, petals swirl in the air, and

Trades & Services General Notices

a breathtaking sky of flowers unfolds above.

• Each interaction shapes the ever-evolving landscape, making every moment unique.

Imagine Live - Casey Winter Arts Festival

Where: Bunjil Place, Narre Warren, Theatre

When: Thursday, 17 July, 10am (AUSLAN and RP) and 12pm.

Ages: 4 - 12 years old and their grown-ups

Cost: $19

Bookings: bunjilplace.com.au

Magical and meaningful, IMAGINE LIVE is a celebration of creativity, friendship and our precious natural world.

With the audience’s help, performers play and sing their way through the pages of Alison Lester’s iconic best-selling book, and quickly discover there is WAY more to these pages than they first thought.

Spot a leopard, dive with a dolphin or dig up a dinosaur as this iconic book springs into life before your eyes.

Live action and animation combine with digital puppetry in this interactive musical performance for families… Nannas are especially welcome!

Step into a world of wonder at Bunjil Place - Casey Winter Arts Festival

Where: Plaza, Bunjil Place, Narre Warren

When: Friday 11 July - Sunday 27 July, 10am10pm daily

Cost: Free

This winter, immerse yourself in the magic of Lost

— a breathtaking, larger-than-life art installation that transforms nature into an unforgettable experience.

Created by internationally acclaimed Australian artist Amanda Parer, Lost brings endangered botanical species from around the globe to stunning life through towering, illuminated sculptures of flowers and foliage.

These glowing giants, delicately coloured and artfully lit, invite you to wander among them like Alice in her own Wonderland.

South East Music Student Showcase - Casey Winter Arts Festival

Where: Studio, Bunjil Place, Narre Warren

When: Monday 23 June, from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Cost: $8

Bookings: bunjilplace.com.au

From Soul to Pop to Rock, each performance will reflect the students’ unique voices and style, offering a glimpse into their musical journeys. This exciting event features performances from talented students across Narre Warren South P-12 College, Alkira Secondary College, Monterey Secondary College, Fountain Gate Secondary College, and Cranbourne West Secondary College. Cranbourne Shire Historical Society

Annual Luncheon

Where: Tooradin and District Sports Club Recreation Reserve, Tooradin

When: Sunday, 20 July, 12pm

Cost: $30 per head, drinks at bar prices

Topic: Balla Balla Homestead; guest speaker: Judy Rand, owner of the homestead.

The Balla Balla Homestead was built by Dr. James Smith Adams and later Alexander Hunter from the mid-1850s to the early 1880s. Today, Balla Balla is architecturally significant in the City of Casey. The homestead is located in Cannons Creek and has magnificent views over Quail Island and Westernport Bay.

Ms. Judy Rand is the owner.

• RSVP including any special dietary requirements by 11 July, to either Barry Freeman at pauline.freeman2@bigpond.com or Sue Tobin at sustantobin@bigpond.com

Balla Balla Community Centre

Health & Wellbeing at Balla Balla

Feel good this winter! Join us at Balla Balla Community Centre for Term 3 Health & Wellbeing classes starting in July. Choose from:

Yoga/Pilates/Zumba/Mindfulness Meditation & Compassion/Music & Guided Imagery Workshop

• Move, relax, and recharge – all in your local community! Term 3 enrolments open 30 June online https://ballaballa.com.au/health-wellbeing/ or phone 5990 0900.

Morning Melodies

• 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

Redbacks crawl to the top

By Blair Burns

Hampton Park has reclaimed its spot at the top of the ladder after a 77-point victory over Doveton in the only Southern League match played on the weekend.

The round-nine clash between the Redbacks and Doves had been rescheduled for this weekend after both teams came to an agreement earlier in the season.

There were no other matches across Divisions 1 and 2 due to a league-wide bye as all teams prepare for the final six rounds of the 2025 season.

It was the second time Hampton Park has pumped the Doves this season, after a 120-point victory back in round one.

The Redbacks kicked three goals in the first seven minutes, adding another two later in the first term, all before the home side could register its first major.

After establishing a 28-point lead at quarter time, the game was perfectly set up for Hampton Park to cruise home and register its 10th victory of the year.

Coach Luke Bull said it was important for his side to get off to a good start – something the Redbacks have struggled with this season.

“We addressed that our starts weren’t very good recently, so we wanted to start well, and the boys did that,” he said.

“We managed to kick five in a row before they kicked one … it was the perfect start.

“We played a really good game, our forward pressure was unbelievable and we have played really well against Doveton both times now.”

Hampton Park continued to put the helpless Doves to the sword as the game progressed, with Makaio Haywood and Jye King dominating in the midfield.

With some wayward kicking, the Redbacks ended up winning 15.19(109) to 4.8(32), as Trent Thomas (four goals) led the way in the forward line.

One of the main strengths of the formidable

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE REVIEW - DOVETON V HAMPTON PARK

Hampton Park outfit are the many avenues to goal at the side’s disposal – a different player can stand up on any given day.

Liam Scott (28 goals), Liam Myatt (23 goals), Trent Thomas (22 goals) and Myles Wareham (19 goals) have all contributed to the potent offence this year.

“If you have five or six blokes who can get a hold of a side on a day from an individual perspective, it’s going to be hard for opposition coaches to match up on,” Bull said.

Tristan Fernandez-Phillips was named best on ground for Hampton Park, while Doveton defender Jake Ingaliso continues to perform each week for the Doves.

“I kind of put it on Tristan with the pre-game speech and said this is a huge ground for you and now is the time for you to have a day out, and he did,” Bull said.

“I think he’s one of the fittest and quickest players in the league; he would’ve had anywhere from

25 touches onwards and a goal, it was a breakout game for him.”

King and Haywood were also among the best, as the dynamic duo combined beautifully in the midfield to give their forwards some good looks on goal.

“Jye King is dominating, he would have to be the in-form player of the competition,” Bull said.

“Makaio is super clean and poised with ball in hand; he has great skills and is turning into a really dominant clearance player for us.”

Doveton sits second last on the ladder with five wins this season, a big slide from its 2024 campaign where the Doves finished second with a 14-4 record.

The Redbacks will take some real confidence into this weekend’s huge top-of-the-table clash against East Malvern.

Other divisions of Southern will return this weekend with plenty of crucial match-ups which could shape the race for finals.

Doveton Goals: Matthew Rogers 2, Jake Calvert, Justyn Kennewell. Best: Jake Ingaliso, Matthew Rogers, Matt Stapleton, Ryan Hall, Max Sheppard. Hampton Park Goals: TrentThomas4,LiamScott 3, Myles Wareham 2, Tristan Fernandez-Phillips, Kai McMinimee, Liam Myatt, Brian Plapp, Luke Sloan, Jayden Weichard. Best: Tristan Fernandez-Phillips, Makaio Haywood, Jye King. Ladder: Hampton Park 40, East Malvern 36, Chelsea Heights, Mordialloc 32, Highett 28, Caulfield Bears 24, Frankston Dolphins, Keysborough, Doveton 20, Endeavour Hills 8.

Fixture - R14: Doveton (9) v Chelsea Heights (3), Hampton Park (1) v East Malvern (2), Caulfield Bears (6) v Highett (5), Frankston Dolphins (7) v Mordialloc (4), Endeavour Hills (10) v Keysborough (8).

Somerville comes from the clouds to sink sorry Panthers

By Blair Burns

It was one of the greatest local footy matches of the year as Somerville stormed home to kick the final four goals of the game and defeat Devon Meadows at Glover Reserve on Saturday.

The game had it all - clutch goals, game-saving tackles, huge intercept marks, a late controversial deliberate call and plenty of feeling as the game went down to the wire.

It was 23 minutes into the fourth quarter and the scoreboard in deadlock at 70-70; as an eerie silence fell across the crowd, both sides desperately trying to clear the ball at all costs.

The Eagles stood up through Jai Triep, who had a set shot, and while it missed, the score gave his side a one-point lead in the dying stages of the match.

But it was some brilliance in the middle of the ground from Somerville’s Lachlan Gill-Renouf which was the difference, winning a 50-50 contest and releasing the ball to space.

Corey Battams ran on and gathered it calmly, before running to his left side and slotting home the winning goal as Eagles teammates swarmed him.

The Panthers had some forward entries in the final two minutes but couldn’t manage to convert as they fell short to Somerville by seven points – a 49-point turnaround from last time the sides met.

Mitch Mantell looked like prime Jeremy McGovern, taking intercept marks for fun to earn best-on-ground honours, with 25 disposals (all kicks), 17 marks and a game-high 178 ranking points.

Devon Meadows co-captain Joel Hillis gave everything, finishing with 27 disposals, one goal and 135 ranking points, while Dean Kent (23 disposals, one goal, six marks) was solid in defence.

Panthers’ ruckman Arnold Kirby also had a day out, with 20 disposals, eight tackles and 41 hitouts to be named as Devon Meadows’ best player.

The loss means Devon Meadows is just clinging onto fifth spot on the ladder, with Somerville and Bonbeach behind by only percentage.

In other games across the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 competition, Pearcedale continued its dominance to win comfortably against Hastings.

But things could’ve been different if the Blues kicked straighter, with 7.23 costing them a shot at bringing down one of the best teams in the competition.

Dominant forward pair Brett Eddy (seven goals) and Cruiz West (five goals, 27 disposals, 10 marks, 169 ranking points) led the way for the Dales.

Ben Dalgleish was named as Pearcedale’s best player in the victory, while Thomas Muscillo was impressive for Hastings.

Chelsea kicked seven goals in the second quarter to win by 33 points against Bonbeach as Shaun Foster (six goals) produced a huge game to help his side to victory.

It was an important win for the Seagulls to maintain third position on the ladder, while the Sharks are looking to scrape into fifth spot.

As you can expect from a top team playing a bottom team, Frankston Bombers defeated

Karingal 18.13(121) to 6.1(37).

Bombers’ Jai Block was on fire in the forward line with eight goals, while Tyson Barry slotted four majors – Zachery Holton (three goals) did his best for the Bulls and was their standout performer.

Tyabb kicked triple figures for the first time in season 2025, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Seaford in a high-scoring affair, losing 19.17(131) to 16.9(105).

The Yabbies were in front by two points at half time thanks to some brilliance from Matthew Clark who booted seven goals in the loss.

But Harry Bould (34 disposals, one goal) and Seth Kelly (four goals) did enough to help the Tigers cruise to victory.

After a slow first quarter where Rye trailed 28-6, the Demons bounced back to cause an upset to defeat Crib Point by 14 points.

Four goals from Ed Greene helped Rye to victory, while some other Demons stuffed the stat sheet in the win.

Taj Campbell-Farrell (37 disposals, one goal, nine tackles), Campbell Robbins (35 disposals, eight tackles) and Justin Barnes (29 disposals, two goals, 10 tackles).

Max Coughlin (31 disposals, one goal, nine marks) was a standout player for the Magpies, as well as Liam Tyrrell.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA DIVISION 2 Results – R13: Somerville 11.11(77) def Devon Meadows 10.10(70), Pearcedale 16.10(106) def Hastings 7.23(65), Chelsea 14.12(96) def Bonbeach 9.9(63), Frankston Bombers 18.13(121) def Karingal 6.1(37), Rye 12.7(79) def Crib Point 9.11(65), Seaford 19.17(131) def Tyabb 16.9(105).

Ladder: Frankston Bombers 52, Pearcedale 48, Chelsea 36, Crib Point 32, Devon Meadows, Somerville, Bonbeach 28, Seaford, Rye 20, Hastings 12, Tyabb 8, Karingal 0. Fixture – R14: Crib Point (4) v Tyabb (11), Devon Meadows (5) v Rye (9), Karingal (12) v Hastings (10), Pearcedale (2) v Frankston Bombers (1), Seaford (8) v Chelsea

v Bonbeach (7).

(3), Somerville (6)

Devon Meadows has lost three out of its past four matches and will need to bounce back against Rye this weekend. (Stewart Chambers: 469868)

MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 REVIEW - ROUND 13

Hampton Park’s Jye King is one of the in-form players in Southern Division 2. (Gary Sissons: 489624)

Tensions boiled over at Robinson Reserve with no love lost, as the umpire gives Doveton’s Matt Parker a yellow card. (489624)

Triep leads charge for Rays

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dandenong forward Kiara Triep has continued her strong form in the Stingrays 16.7(103) to 0.2(2) thumping of Sandringham at Belvedere Reserve, Seaford, on Saturday.

Having showcased her positional flexibility early in the season, Triep has kicked multiples in five of her past six matches, with her effort of 3.2 from 16 disposals arguably her most complete of the season.

She has settled in attack and looked comfortable, with her forward craft shining through to consistently hit the scoreboard and link up in offensive chains at critical times.

Alice Cunnington also kicked three goals, while Evelyn Connolly and Lily Snow managed two apiece, with Matilda Argus the leading possession winner with 26.

The ‘Rays broke the back of the Dragons with three goals in the last five minutes off the first quarter to open up a handy buffer, and never surrendered ascendancy thereafter.

Meanwhile, the boys were upstaged 12.11(83) to 9.9(63) against the same opponent.

In his return game from a repeat hand injury, highly-rated inside midfielder Sam Lewis gathered 22 possessions and was well-aided by tenacious bottom-ager Gus Kennedy who continues to look comfortable at the level.

Run-and-gun player Jasper Russell backed up his maiden Vic Country appearance with 32 disposals, while skipper Max Lee had 14 touches as he vies for a return for Vic Country’s last game of the National Championships on Sunday against Vic Metro.

Marcus Prasad (two goals, 17 disposals), JayDe Varlet (16 disposals) and Toby Sinnema were other Vic Country squad members in action for the hosts.

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves and Tairon Ah-Mu were both rested ahead of that clash, while Jack Lawrence and Louis Hodder each had important moments.

Dees notch critical victory

By Jonty Ralphsmith

A blistering third quarter lifted Casey to a crucial 16.15(111) to 5.5(35) victory over Werribee at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday night.

Four goals to Mitch Hardie continued a stellar month of form as the Dees broke the game open after halftime, kicking six goals to one in the third term, four of those coming in stoppage time as Casey covered the ground better and were cleaner.

The third term lift was due reward for Harry Sharp and Jack Billings’ work around stoppage, which had the Dees on top in contested ball, clearance and tackle numbers at the main break, but leading by just 16 points.

AFL-listed Blake Howes and Jed Adams led a brilliant backline effort which kept the Bees to just two goals after halftime.

The victory lifts Casey to 10th on the table, keeping alive the club’s finals hopes ahead of a must-win clash against Carlton VFL, 13th on the table but just half a win behind the Dees.

Meanwhile, Casey’s women were overpowered by Collingwood, going down 8.9(57) to 1.5(11) despite Meg MacDonald continuing her strong season.

OOZING IMPROVEMENT

Goal kicking accuracy was the only thing holding back Casey’s Noah Yze from a breakout performance on Saturday night.

He finished with 1.3 and three further score assists in what was probably his best game at the level.

The son of Richmond coach Adem took two contested marks and presented well all game, with his selflessness at times costing him good looks at the big sticks.

After playing the first three games of the season as 23rd player, opportunities have been spasmodic, but he looks to have earned at least another game.

HOW GOOD’S HARDIE?

Mitch Hardie was recruited by Casey from Geelong to add experience and class to a young VFL on-ball brigade.

That’s exactly what he has done, becoming a bankable asset all season, averaging 28 disposals, showing a wide skillset and consistently making good decisions and adding maturity

Noah Yze was important on Saturday night. (Rob Carew: 466727)

forward of centre.

He’s kicked four goals in each of his last two games and also leads the league in goal assists.

IRELAND GETS THE CALLUP

He’s becoming the Saturday night specialist.

After making his debut against Collingwood VFL in the Demons’ last Saturday night fixture, Patrick Ireland was recalled for his second game against Werribee.

It follows bags of 12 and nine across the past two games for Gippsland League club Leongatha, with hauls of two and five also coming in the games since his last callup.

He took a big contested mark in the goal square and kicked a goal on Saturday night and will be hoping to hold his place as 23rd player.

O’Keefe leads Power charge

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Gippsland midfielder Zach O’Keefe pressed his case for a return to the Vic Country setup with a clinical midfield performance on Saturday.

O’Keefe’s clean hands, silky skills and clearance-winning was crucial for his team, as he looked a class above his teammates and opponents in the engine room.

He finished with 27 disposals as he vies for a Vic Country return, having played in the first two games before being rotated out of the team for the third match in a Vic Country lineup that has taken a squad mentality throughout the Under-18s National Championships.

Gippsland went down 10.10(70) to 15.11(101) in a surprise loss to Calder, but both teams were missing several first choice players, with three Calder players lining up for Vic Metro on Sunday and the Power resting Vic Country pair Willem Duursma and Brodie Atkins.

Ollie Wilson was another to impress, with his intercepting a feature throughout the game, particularly late as he regularly won one-on-ones by outmanoeuvring

his opponents.

A Caulfield Grammarian, Wilson got a trial for Vic Country and has impressed when he’s played at Coates League level, averaging 22 disposals and six marks for the Power this year.

Jobe Scapin was acting skipper for the days and kicked two goals, as did fellow winger Max Woodall, who arguably played his best game at the level.

Inside 50, bottom-aged Vic Country squad member Wil Malady was the main threat, kicking back-to-back goals in the third term to keep Gippsland alive.

The athletic marking forward finished with three goals from nine

Defender Liam Masters and midfield pair Luke Cheffers and Cody Templeton were also typically reliable.

Meanwhile, Gippsland’s girls were beaten by GWV 8.10(58) to 8.3(51) at Shepley Oval on a windy Sunday.

Abby Hobson and Acacia Sutton kicked three goals apiece, while Baia Pugh continued her sterling form with 17 disposals and 12 tackles.

Kiara Triep is in red-hot form for Dandenong. (Gary Sissons: 489622)

Toby Sinnema receives a handball from Max Lee.

Matilda Argus advances it forward.

Max Woodall was one of Gippsland’s best. (Gary Sissons: 489623)

Let’s Talk Sport

WITH DAVE NAGEL, JONTY RALPHSMITH, JUSTIN SCHWARZE AND BLAIR BURNS

Cruiz, Cam and Cranbourne

JUSTIN: Alright boys, welcome back to another week of LTS and it has been a grisly few days around the region with the rain and cold weather. But on the other hand, the footy season is heating up so we’ll go to best action first and we’ll start with you Dave.

DAVE: Boys I saw the precursor to Richmond v Essendon on Saturday night which Jonty has described as…

JONTY: …the worst game of AFL football I’ve ever seen.

DAVE: Kilcunda-Bass and Inverloch-Kongwak rivalled that on Saturday afternoon. It was a deplorable contest and turnover city. However, it was saved like the aforementioned game by a very tight finish. In a game that had no skill level at all, Lewis Rankin, who’s one of my favourite players in West Gippy, had my best action. Lewis was born with no right arm below his elbow and it hasn’t stopped him doing anything. He’s made multiple WGFNC team of the years as a defender and he’s captain of the club. On Saturday, things were going that bad for Inverloch that they had to push him forward. In the last quarter at the 15-minute mark, he takes a diving mark on the boundary line 30 out. I don’t know how he did it, but he kicked this banana from the boundary line to put his team a goal in front. Things didn’t end well for Inverloch; Kilcunda-Bass kicked the last seven points of the match to win by a point but the best piece of pure action goes to Lewis Rankin.

BLAIR: This is one I’ve seen on the footage, with Pearcedale cruising…

JONTY: …you did that deliberately!

BLAIR: I didn’t, that was my go-to word! But Cruiz West is having a career-best year with 43 goals, being second in the league. The best action came when he sat on a head in the goalsquare as he’s done very often this year. The ball was coming in, the Hastings defender looked uncertain and then Cruiz just came from nowhere and sat on his head.

JONTY: I thought I had the lead to my story perfectly written when Jake Bowd and Marley Appleyard kicked Beaconsfield clear early in the last quarter against Boronia. I thought it was going to be the old and the new combining to propel Beaconsfield’s premiership charge. I was going to take that angle with it, because there were some old boys but also some of the young guys that I’ve written about last week that performed really well, on what was an up-and-down day of momentum shifts. But then, Boronia kicked a goal in the last minute of the game to give them the win. But my best action was in the first five minutes of the game when Beaconsfield kicked three goals off four consecutive centre clearances and they had three goals on the board before Boronia had even had a possession forward of centre.

JUSTIN: I made the trip to Emerald to go and watch Aaron Mullett play live. I’ve seen all the numbers and highlights but I haven’t seen him in the flesh. My first thought was ‘wow’, he is on a different level to everyone else on the ground. He did not leave the forward 50 at all but he was still the most dangerous player on the ground for the entire game. The speed and burst he has while being man-marked the entire game is insane. The best action came after his three early goals. So, Emerald put young defender Patrick McKimmie on him who was trying to stick with him, and the boys were hyping him up. McKimmie nearly took a mark going back to get one back at Mullett, the ball came to ground and within two seconds Mullett had picked up the footy, fended off and snapped it through for his fourth goal of the first quarter. I just couldn’t believe how quick and skilful he is…plus he does not miss.

JONTY: Who speaks more passionately, me about Joel Hillis or Justin about Aaron Mullett? (Boys laugh)

THE KEY

JUSTIN: We’re almost a quarter of the way through the footy season, which is crazy to say, but with the finals quickly approaching, I’m calling this topic ‘The Key’. For a team of your choice, what is the key to unlocking their season and finals hopes?

BLAIR: I’ll go with Hampton Park; I’ve made some bold calls earlier in the year about them but they’re going well and on top with 153 percent and a record of 10-3. I think the key for them, and it’s not necessarily to unlock them, but to become unbeatable is their kicking at goal. I’ve crunched the numbers and they’ve kicked 175.170 this year and they’ve had some games where they really could’ve piled it on and boosted the percentage. They’ve got a fair few threats in the forward line, so if they can kick straight in the backend of the season and in finals they’re going to be incredibly hard to stop.

JONTY: Mine revolves around the forward line too. For Beaconsfield, out of the six teams vying for the five finals spots, they have the worst offensive potency in the league. They have the least points-for in the league and out of the top 25 goalkickers in the league, they only have two in there, everyone else has at least three. They’ve only got two players who average more than a goal a game and it really showed on Saturday.

DAVE: They’re really missing Charlie Muley.

JONTY: Absolutely, but they need someone to stand up and change the momentum because through the second and third quarters, no one was able to kick any goals. They went from 5.0 to 5.12 and no one was able to seize their moments forward of centre. No one was able to take any big, contested marks either so that’s the one thing that I think is holding them back.

DAVE: Look, Nar Nar Goon has got more keys than a car salesman in a car yard. They’ve got a cupboard full of keys, so they’re probably going to win the premiership and they’re realistically five or six goals better than any other team in the competition as it sits right now. But Phillip Island is an interesting one for me. Cam Pedersen did his ACL on grand final day in 2023 and it’s been a long recovery for him. He came back to finals last year but he wasn’t mobile and he wasn’t the player he can be. So, Pedersen’s fitness is massive, he is the sort of bloke that could take the game away from Nar Nar Goon because he’s so good around the ground. They’ve also had Kai Mackenzie return from Balwyn; he’s a massive inclusion. Brendan Kimber is one of the absolute superstars of West Gippsland football, but he only returned two or three weeks ago. Mark Collison was a big recruit and was injured for the first part of the season, and he’s now back. I think Phillip Island is building nicely to being the main threat towards Nar Nar Goon.

JUSTIN: My key is for Pakenham to unlock their ability to win the ball in the contest. Their stoppage game can be a little bit shaky at times, es-

pecially when they’re playing on the tiny grounds where stoppage play is extremely prevalent and a big part of the game. They need to use that and find their plethora of forward options. They have a number of threats down forward, but their ability to get it down there is going to be the key to unlocking them. They’ve been missing their experienced mids in Jake Barclay, Tanner Stanton and Luke Ryan.

JONTY: Shoutout to Luke Ryan, getting a second win with the Northern Bullants in the VFL.

THE BEST STORYLINES

JUSTIN: Well, that’s a good way to segue into the next topic, which is the storyline of the season. We’re at the three-quarter mark so now we’ve got a lot of solidified opinions. We’ll start with you Jonty, what’s been the storyline of the year for you?

JONTY: The storyline of the year in the VFL has been the Bullants going back-to-back in the recent weeks, but I want to put Casey on the map as well. I don’t think anyone expected them to be as strong as they’ve been this season. I didn’t think they would be competing for a finals spot after a down year last year and the list turnover that they had, and then also the AFL team also hasn’t necessarily been shining. They’ve got a really good core that’s pushing them into finals contention with a massive game this week against Carlton. To highlight some of those players, Mitch Hardie has averaged 23 disposals and three goals as a VFL-listed player across the last month and leads the competition all year for goal assists. When he gets the ball, he is very good at making the most of his opportunities or setting up teammates. Riley Baldi is an important defensive midfielder and then Riley Bonner and Deakyn Smith both are important defenders of different types. Also, what’s been impressive from a Casey point of view has been the youngsters they’ve unlocked that are all from the region, making them more likely to stick around and give them success in the long term. They’ve got Mitch Kirkwood-Scott from Old Haileybury, Noah Yze from the region, Tyson Sruk from Rowville, Wardell Lual from Noble Park and Jesse Craven from Tooradin. All of that gives them some long-term stability, but the fact that they’ve all shown that they’re up to the level this year means they could make the top-10 which would be enormous for them as a team to hopefully launchpad them into some consistent success under coach Taylor Whitford.

DAVE: Alrightboys,mystoryoftheyearisaboutto play out. Now, I’ve brought a prop with me (holds up Competition Research and Recommendation Finding for WGFNC 2024 report). In there, it says

there was a large amount of feedback through both the workshops and surveys that indicate a transition to a two-division promotion-relegation model of football/netball would benefit the clubs. So that is the feedback the clubs gave Travis Switzer, who did this report. On July 23, these clubs have the chance to put their words into action. What is written in this document is going to mean absolutely nothing unless these clubs have the balls and put their self-interest aside and think about the betterment of West Gippsland football moving forward. There are 11 clubs in the league at the moment with Drouin, Officer and Pakenham applying to go into that league and the clubs hold the key to that with a vote on July 23. If they vote ‘no’ for those clubs to come into the league, I seriously don’t want to write about that league next year. Because if so, they are going to show they just want to stay in their own little bubble with their own little self-interest and don’t let bigger towns in because “oh we’re scared we’re going to drop from first to third.” But all the benefits that these towns would bring to that league, the amount of sponsorship you could get out of Pakenham and Officer is a lot. So, these clubs are on a real big watch for me on July 23; how do they get to the promotion-relegation model if they keep knocking clubs back. If they vote to not to let these teams in, this competition just wants to be a little country league that never wants to grow up. A lot of leagues would love the opportunity to have three clubs come in. They’d be up to 14, only two away from a divisional model, which is what they want. Self-interest is the one thing that is ruining football, and has done for many years. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again…but it will.

BLAIR: The storyline of the leagues I’ve been covering is Cranbourne’s decline from last season to now facing relegation. They’re a big, proud club with a first-time senior coach and they’d need an absolute miracle to avoid relegation at this point. They’ve got six games left and four of them are against first, third, fourth and fifth. It’s been a disappointing year for them and it’s been something we didn’t really see coming.

JUSTIN: I’ll go to Pakenham and their youth this season. On multiple occasions this season, they’ve fielded sides with their oldest player being 23. They’ve brought in so many players from the under-18s that are doing well and they’re holding their spots. I think the culture has completely flipped from a year ago. I know they’re in a lower standard of footy but at the same time, I think the club is in a much better position than 12 months ago. Thanks for the chat boys, we’ll reconvene next week!

Aaron Mullett has booted 98 goals this season and wins Justin’s best action this week. (Rob Carew: 489625)