Fausto draws
Fausto, a local self-taught artist, draws from a mental library of pop culture, personal experiences, and storytelling to guide his creative process.
For the City of Casey’s Winter Arts Festival, he painted three large vases under the theme “cosy” at the Cranbourne West Community Hub, inspired by the longnosed potoroo, a native Australian marsupial that can be found in the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.
His magical, story-driven work emphasises cultural identity and community inclusion, engaging children in the process.
Page 14
Wedge watchdog
A new community group, Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group (WPGWPG), was formed in March this year to oppose “inappropriate developments” in the Western Port Green Wedge.
The group aims to protect the area from further destruction and fragmentation by challenging legislation and opposing unsuitable developments, in response to a growing number of planning applications for “discretionary urban uses” across the area.
Group leader David Cole said there were many applications submitted for developments and land uses that are not in line with Green Wedge policy, with places of worship being only one category.
“The number of applications for places of worship, in particular, is increasing at an alarming
Over the past few years, the local community has seen a few planning applications for temples and accompanying religious events at their green wedge doorsteps, including multimillion-dollar Hindu temples in Pearcedale and Cranbourne South.
rate,” he said.
“Many of these are very large, in both the number of patrons they attract and the number of acres they occupy.
“Many acres of land zoned as Green Wedge are being targeted by religious organisations,” he said.
WPGWPG argues such developments threaten the green wedge’s environmental, agricultural, and rural character due to infrastructure limitations and wildlife impact.
Mr Cole highlighted that new suburbs often lack designated areas for religious facilities, pushing developers to target green wedge zones.
The group supports a parliamentary recommendation to remove discretionary urban uses by 2027 and stresses the need for legislative reform to ease the burden on local communities as residents currently fundraise and use personal resources to contest applications.
Story Page 3
Stroy
Illustrator Muralist Fausto in the process of crafting some new art. (Gary Sissons: 490512)
Next step in new home for Clyde CFA
By Violet Li
Clyde is a step closer to having a brand-new CFA Station, with a planning permit application lodged with the City of Casey.
The State Government has submitted an application for a nearly $3 million planning permit to develop a new Clyde CFA Station at 8 Ballarto Road.
According to the planning application, the proposed site will replace the existing Clyde CFA facility at 17 Railway Road, 144 metres away, which is no longer considered fit for purpose. The proposed new station is designed for a volunteer brigade of 53 members (33 active operational), with only around 15 volunteers expected on site at any one time.
Volunteer members would only be present on-site during callouts or for meetings, training, and maintenance. There will be no permanent staff or on-site sirens, alarms, or speakers, and visitors generally will attend by appointment only.
The station is proposed to include a threebay motor room, turnout room, offices, a 20-metre hose drying tower, and a multi-purpose room. A detached four-bay shed at the rear of the main building is also proposed.
About 25 on-site car spaces are proposed.
The site has already been cleared in preparation for development, with a 20-metre front setback incorporated to accommodate the future widening of Ballarto Road.
Two vehicle access points are proposed for the site, which include a double-width crossover at the eastern corner of the Ballarto Road frontage for cars entering and exiting the site,
then.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said she is thrilled that Clyde CFA is one step closer to their new station becoming a reality.
“The tender award date can vary depending on the quality of submissions and relevant negotiations, so a sod turn could be happening as early as September or as late as December, but looking at before the end of the year,” she said.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Captain Stuart Bluck and his team, who do an extraordinary job protecting, supporting and informing our community and for all the work they have put in to make sure their new station meets their needs today and into the future.”
plants seized
and a larger crossover located centrally along the site frontage for CFA appliances exiting the site.
The application notes the new site’s proximity to the future Clyde Rail extension.
The existing Clyde CFA station, now about 49 years old, has long been described as “tired” and “falling to bits”, including issues of space shortages, termite infestation, and poor OH&S Standards. It was announced in December 2020 that a new station would be built to replace the outdated facility. The funding aimed to support a modern motor-room layout capable of housing the brigade’s growing fleet and volunteer cohort.
Several potential sites near central Clyde were proposed to improve response times back
A spokesperson from the Department of Justice and Community Safety said the Clyde fire station is now in the design and planning stage, and it was important to ensure suitable land was secured for the new station. “We look forward to this project being delivered for the community, and they will be kept informed of any developments along the way,” they said.
The Clyde Country Fire Authority fire station project was transferred to the Community Safety Building Authority (CSBA) in April 2023.
CSBA expects to release the tender for the construction contract once a development permit from Casey Council is received.
CSBA explored multiple sites and undertook extensive investigations before acquiring suitable land for the new Clyde fire station.
Public submissions on the permit (PA250131) are open until 25 July, with documents viewable via the City of Casey’s planning portal which can be accessed at casey.vic.gov.au/ view-planning-applications
COMMUNITY NEWS
Transparency for our community with Open Data Exchange
A new, interactive insights web page has been created on our website. The Open Data Exchange page includes information on Council decisions, how Councillors voted on a particular issue and Council Meeting information.
Open Data Exchange is easy to use and is an essential platform for fostering openness, accountability and trust between the local government and the community.
By having access to this information, community members will stay informed about Council activities, enabling them to actively participate in local governance.
To find out more, visit our website.
Club Champion Workshop
Series
We are partnering with Proud2Play to deliver a free, five-part Champions workshop series to help sporting clubs create inclusive cultures that are welcoming, friendly and safe for the LGBTIQA+ community.
The workshops start in August, so for your chance to nominate up to two representatives from your club to become sports inclusion heroes, visit the events section of our website.
Police arrested three people after a large cannabis crop house was located in Tooradin last week.
Police executed a search warrant at a rural property on Hardys Road and seized more than 1200 cannabis plants on Wednesday 16 July.
The commercial quantity of the plants has an estimated potential street value of approximately $3.6 million.
It is alleged that the property was illegally hooked up to the electricity supply in the street, which required specialist resources to isolate prior to police entering.
A 39-year-old St Albans man and a 43-year-old man of no fixed address allegedly attempted to flee the property on foot but were arrested with the assistance of the local Drone Unit and the Dog Squad.
They were both charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 July.
A 48-year-old Doncaster man was arrested, interviewed and is expected to be charged on summons. $3.6m in
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY
Provide feedback on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations.
• Draft Sport and Physical Activity Framework 2025-29
• Connecting Communities Living Lab
• Tooradin Skate Park upgrade
Head to the Casey Conversations website to find out more or scan the QR code.
Clyde is a step closer to having a brand-new CFA Station, with a planning permit application lodged with the City of Casey. This photo was taken at the Clyde Township opening with Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen and brigade members. (Supplied)
‘No worship in the Wedge’
By Violet Li
A new community group has been formed to protect the Western Port Green Wedge from “inappropriate land uses”.
Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group (WPGWPG) is working to protect the Western Port Green Wedge from further destruction and fragmentation by challenging legislation and opposing unsuitable developments.
The group was formed in March this year in response to a growing number of planning applications for “discretionary urban uses” across the area.
Over the past few years, the local community has seen a few planning applications for temples and accompanying religious events at their green wedge doorsteps, including a high-profile $4.5 million Hindu temple complex in Pearcedale, a Hindu place of worship at 104 Browns Road in Cranbourne South, which secured the endorsement of Holt MP Cassandra Fernando, and a big-scale three-week Hindu cultural event at the old Five Star Equestrian Center in Cranbourne South.
Locals have formed several community groups to bring the Pearcedale and Browns Road applications to the state tribunal VCAT, and they are now waiting for the outcome.
Another planning permit application for a $3.5 million place of worship at 600 Cranbourne-Frankston Road in Cranbourne South has just been lodged on 11 July.
Group leader David Cole said there were many applications submitted for developments and land uses that are not in line with Green Wedge policy, with places of worship being only one category.
“The number of applications for places of worship, in particular, is increasing at an alarming rate,” he said.
“Many of these are very large, in both the number of patrons they attract and the number of acres they occupy.
“Many acres of land zoned as Green Wedge are being targeted by religious organisations.“
Urban-style developments such as places of worship and educational facilities were prohibited on green wedge land prior to a 2013 statewide planning scheme amendment.
The change gave local councils the power to approve proposals that had previously been automatically refused.
WPGWPG’s group purpose statement says its role is to create community awareness of the threats, and, through the council objection process and VCAT, ensure the permanent protection of the Green Wedge.
“The importance of Green Wedge Zones will only increase as urban growth continues to threaten our open rural and scenic, non-urban landscapes,“ the statement says.
“It is vital to preserve these green spaces for their agricultural role, environmental significance, biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and their historical, recreational, community health and landscape value.”
Mr Cole said the group is not against any religious activity or development, and the group acknowledges people have valid needs for religious activities, but considers green wedge land as an unsuitable place for such development. He cited sewage system constraints on rural lands, lack of accessible public transport, unsafe dirt roads for heavy traffic, the possibility of startling farm animals and the damage to wildlife and their habitats.
Mr Cole pointed out that one of the fundamental reasons behind frequent place of worship applications on the green wedge is the lack of designated space for religious facilities in new suburb planning.
“Many years ago, when I was a child and grew up in Melbourne, new estates used to
have churches built into them. You had blocks of land, and churches would be built in those areas as the suburbs rolled out,” he said.
“But nowadays, they don’t have any provision for a place of worship in the Precinct Structure Plans (PSP).
“You’re bringing all these new people into the country. They have valid needs for their places of worship. You’re rolling out all these suburbs for them to live in, and you don’t make any space for their cultural needs.
“We want to get that changed. Fundamentally, governments are not providing for places of worship within the urban area, to the significant detriment of Melbourne’s Green Wedges.”
The group believed that places of worship should be built in areas with sufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of participants.
“There are plenty of churches and places of worship all across Melbourne, built into the urban area,” Mr Cole said.
“They’re built in more suitable places with access to public transport, car parking around
them and with general urban infrastructure already on hand.”
In terms of other policy changes, the group is also rooting for a recommendation from a Victorian parliamentary committee on removing all discretionary Section 2 uses in the green wedge, such as places of worship, schools, and exhibition centres, by March 2027.
The recommendation came from an inquiry report into securing the Victorian food supply in late 2024, and the State Government hasn’t responded to it.
Though locals have remained determined in scrutinising individual planning applications through VCAT, WPGWPG members admitted that this case-by-case approach could be costly, time-consuming, and ultimately unsustainable.
Without meaningful legislative reform, they argued, the burden of defending green wedge land will continue to fall on community volunteers, many of whom must fundraise or pay out-of-pocket to navigate complex planning systems and legal processes.
“We don’t want the residents to have to go around to raise $50,000 plus every time one of these applications is lodged. It’s very costly,” WPGWPG member Jenny Dalgleish said.
“We’ve seen all the documents the planning lawyers produce. There’s no way we, as residents, would be able to put that sort of stuff together. It’s very complicated.
“And we all used our annual leave just to run these campaigns and donated our savings to fund them.”
There are many facets to running a community campaign, as explained by Mr Cole.
“In addition to compiling our cases to explain why we are opposing an application, we have created a Facebook page for our members to stay informed,” he said.
“We have a petition for people to sign. We have various avenues set up for fundraising, including a GoFundMe campaign and a registered container deposit scheme so that people can collect and donate containers, cans and bottles.
“It’s very time-consuming, but it’s necessary.”
Mr Cole said that time is running out for the Western Port Green Wedge.
“Each application that is approved paves the way for further inappropriate development,” he said.
“Our group is focusing on raising awareness, getting to know more people who are passionate about protecting the Green Wedge, building our network and opposing applications as they arise.
“The Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group Facebook page is the ideal place to connect with our group. All are welcome, and we encourage respectful and inclusive discussion. Working together as a community will result in better outcomes for all.”
Western Port Green Wedge, stretching from the City of Casey into parts of Cardinia Shire, is one of 12 designated green wedges encircling metropolitan Melbourne, non-urban areas protected by planning policy since the 1970s to limit urban sprawl. It incorporates many suburbs in the rural areas, including Cranbourne South, Pearcedale, Devon Meadows, Cannons Creek, Warneet, Blind Bight, Tooradin, Cardinia, Koo Wee Rup, Bayles, Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Garfield, Bunyip, Heath Hill, and Lang Lang.
To join the group: facebook.com/ groups/680700307958173
New planning rules tighten Green Wedge protections
By Violet Li
A recently gazetted amendment to the Casey Planning Scheme has introduced tighter controls to protect the Western Port Green Wedge from inappropriate development. Planning Scheme Amendment C284case, which adds a new local policy, now applies to all land within the Western Port Green Wedge area, excluding Pearcedale township. The amendment sets clear objectives to “pro-
tect the Western Port Green Wedge from use or development that would compromise its agricultural, environmental, cultural, visual and scenic significance and values”.
Under the new rules, non-rural developments such as primary and secondary schools and places of worship are discouraged across most of the area, with limited support for urban uses only in a small part near the Urban Growth Boundary, bounded by Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Pearcedale Road and Browns Road. Ac-
cording to the new rules, the exception is due to already fragmented smaller parcel sizes within the part.
Across all of Casey’s portion of Western Port Green Wedge, the new policy reinforces the need to connect developments to reticulated water, sewerage, power, and stormwater, where available, ensure that wastewater systems (both septic and sewer) are designed and maintained to protect the Western Port environment, including that of the Ramsar wetlands, and design
development to respect the environmental, cultural, visual and scenic significance of the green wedge.
Western Port Green Wedge is one of 12 designated green wedges encircling metropolitan Melbourne, non-urban areas protected by planning policy since the 1970s to limit urban sprawl. Casey Council adopted the amendment in September last year, and the State’s Planning Minister gazetted the amendment into the Casey Planning Scheme on 19 June this year.
Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group (WPGWPG) member David Cole and Jenny Dalgleish. (Stewart Chambers: 489263)
Western Port Green Wedge incorporates many rural areas across the south of the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire. (State Government website)
Study looks at crime page
By Ethan Benedicto
The popular and ever-growing community group called Casey Crime Page is in the limelight, as researchers from Monash University have called out for members to take part in a new study.
Sociologist lecturer Claire Moran, alongside senior lecturer in criminology Kathryn Benier, published a post on the Facebook page on 15 July, calling for willing users to share how they use the page to engage in topics of crime.
The two researchers said that the main focus of the interviewing process is to understand how people interact with the page, the topics discussed, and an overall understanding of how people get their information on crime.
Claire, who spoke on her extensive experience in digital sociology and social media, said that the sheer size of the group had been one of the factors that drew both their attention.
“There are over 90,000 people in it, and it’s growing,” she said.
“To my knowledge, it means that it’s the largest neighbourhood-based crime-focused page that we have in Victoria.”
She added that while there are other pages that are similar in nature, such as those specifically for stolen vehicles or booze buses, there was nothing in terms of “a focused crime page that the Casey Crime Page offers”.
“It’s a very unique sort of page, and it’s something that I’ve been following for a while.
“So it’s not only the membership and the growth of the page, but also the significant amount of engagement from users.”
Kathryn, with her background in criminology and work through neighbourhood interactions, said that she, too, had her eyes on the page.
She reflected that she had been working with the City of Casey for the last few years with the LGA’s safer community projects, and that for her, “it’s interesting to see this crowdsourcing of information”.
“For a lot of these people, that’s their sort of
main source of info when it comes to crime in their community.
“So being able to follow that and follow the growth on it has been interesting for us,” she said.
Before reaching this stage of reaching out to members, both Claire and Kathryn had been working on the project for almost a year, and both are keen to finally put their work on the road, where the people’s voices become heard.
The project’s interests lie in several topics, with both saying that they were led to where the project is at now through other research.
However, according to Claire, “it really is an unexplored frontier”.
“Particularly with the context of Casey, there are very interesting things happening within the community that are contributing to this page.
“What we know from research so far suggests that these neighbourhood-based social media groups offer an opportunity for people to come together to share and support each other.
“The kind of benefits that that might have for residents, you know, this collective action that they can have in contributing to this page, and whether they perceive those benefits to be there through participation,” she said.
Kathryn said she is on the same page, with the ultimate goal of understanding how people are using the page and why they are using it to
begin with.
Residing close to the municipality boundary of Casey, she said that most of the people she has spoken to are members of the page.
“It’s about understanding how these kinds of neighbourhood crime pages have become a kind of vehicle for information for local residents,” she said.
“There seems to be a strong outreach on the page, so it’s about understanding what it is about this page in particular, but also broadly how these pages can be used.”
For now, the focus is gathering information, first-hand accounts, data, analytics and more.
Looking back at the work they’ve both done in the last year, both are more than eager to reach the practical stage, where speaking to people is something that they are “very, very excited about”.
For more information on the project, visit forms.gle/gZEHQgwbB8Z8wzUJ8
‘You’ll face jail if you do anything like this again’:
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Cranbourne woman has been spared jail after being convicted of drug trafficking and possessing explosives in her home garage.
Zarna Barbar, 26, pleaded guilty to a series of charges at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 18 July after a sentence indication of a twoyear community corrections order with 300 hours of unpaid work.
Her charges arose from two police raids of her home in November 2024 and May this year.
After the first raid, she was charged with trafficking 1870 millilitres of 1,4-butanediol, as well as possessing meth, cartridge ammunition, an imitation handgun, a shotgun barrel, handling stolen goods and the proceeds of crime.
Upon the second raid on 28 May, she was charged with possessing 30 kilograms of ‘Powergel’ explosive found in her garage – which police argued had the capacity to destroy the
front half of Barbar’s house and garage and kill passers-by.
She also pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, stolen property and ammo seized during the raid.
Arguing against a jail term, defence lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson told the court that Barbar claimed the goods seized during the first raid were “the co-accused’s (Drew Patrick Moran’s) items”.
Ms Garde-Wilson told the court that Moran, who was renting a room in Barbar’s home, had extremely serious priors for violence, firearms and drugs.
There was no evidence linking Barbar to possessing or knowing of the items, other than living at the address, the lawyer argued.
On the second raid, a separate male was present at the home when the explosives were seized from the garage.
Barbar was a qualified nurse who had bought her own home. She’d then become an
RACHEL PAYNE MP
escort, which “led her to where she is in court”, Ms Garde-Wilson said.
A police prosecutor told the court that a jail term should be a “starting point”, given that the firearm and explosives were a danger to the community.
After her arrest in May, Barbar spent 38 days in remand until bailed by the Victorian Supreme Court.
She was then released into a 90-day stay at a residential drug-rehab facility.
Magistrate David Starvaggi said a custodial sentence was “within range” but Barbar’s age, lack of priors and her rehab placement persuaded him to impose a work-only CCO.
After announcing his sentence, he told Barbar not to smile – though noting she may have just been nervous.
“You’ll face jail if you do anything like this again.”
Soon afterwards, in a separate hearing, Moran faced the same magistrate.
Judge
His lawyer indicated that Moran would contest the raid charges, arguing he too didn’t have knowledge or possession of most items seized from the first police raid.
Only one of the items – a stolen Virgin Money card – was found in his bedroom.
The rest were either in Barbar’s bedroom or communal areas of the house, which had a “difference in cleanliness” to Moran’s quarters, the lawyer said.
Moran’s fingerprint was allegedly found on a PVC pipe of 1,4-butanediol seized by police, the court heard.
But there was no way to date the print or prove he didn’t handle the pipe for a previous purpose, the lawyer said.
Ballistics and chemists’ reports were still outstanding, the court heard.
Moran was scheduled to appear at a special mention at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 20 November, ahead of a contest hearing on 3 December.
Kathryn Benier, who specialises in criminology, is on the same boat, eager to see a multitude of viewpoints when it comes to communication around crime in Casey. (Supplied)
Claire Moran, with a background in sociology, youth and digital cultures, and more, is keen to speak to members and to hear their accounts and interactions with the page. (Supplied)
Waiting for hospital to open
By Violet Li
Almost eight months after the main construction works wrapped up, the Cranbourne Community Hospital is still sitting unopened with no official opening date.
The new community hospital at 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road in Cranbourne East was first proposed in 2018 as an election promise to help take pressure off nearby major hospitals, including Casey Hospital, and enable more people to manage their health needs closer to home.
Managed by Monash Health, the Cranbourne Community Hospital will be an expansion of services currently offered at the Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre on a new site.
It is expected to offer a range of everyday health services, such as day surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy, dental, allied health and mental health.
According to the Victorian Health Building, the main works of the construction finished late last year.
When inquired, a Department of Health Spokesperson said the State Budget 2025/26 invested $634 million to open and operationalise nine new or expanded hospitals across our state, and this includes the new Cranbourne Community Hospital.
“Work is now underway to open the hospital, with final testing, equipment installation and training taking place,” they said.
The Department shared that moving into a new or upgraded hospital is a complex process that takes time and careful planning.
Though no official date was shared by the Department, Premier Jacinta Allan announced on her Facebook on 11 July, saying the hospital is set to open “later this year”, after she toured the site with Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards.
Vice president of Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association (CRRA) Anthony Tassone said residents had been kept in the dark as to when the Cranbourne Community Hospital would open.
“There’s been a lack of detail from the State Government on when we can expect it to be open to the public and providing care,” he said.
“The external building looks to have been
finished for months, but it’s a case of ‘the lights are on but nobody is home’, as it’s still not open to patients.
“The Cranbourne and surrounding community have felt like we’ve been playing catch-up with development in infrastructure, transport and health services for too long.
“It really isn’t too much to ask, by residents who fund these services through their taxes, that we are kept informed of when it will actually open.”
Mr Tassone said the location of the hospital and associated parking for it had prompted
moves to relocate the Cranbourne community hub by the City of Casey to Lyall St in central Cranbourne.
“Residents have expressed concern about the challenges already faced with car parking in Cranbourne even before the hub is built there,” he said.
Star News reported in late August last year that the soon-to-open Cranbourne Community Hospital was facing concerns over a significant parking shortfall, with a planned minimum of 300 on-site spaces expected to fall well below future demand, particularly if Monash Health
introduces paid parking.
Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier said: “How can a hospital still be sitting empty eight months after construction has supposedly finished?
“Either the Cranbourne Community Hospital isn’t actually complete and the State Government is hiding delays and cost blowouts, or they have failed to provide the frontline health workers to staff it.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage the health system, and it’s Victorians who are paying the price.”
‘Groundbreaking initiative’: Indigenous VET program launched
A first-of-its-kind VET program launched this week at the Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve is giving Indigenous secondary school students a culturally grounded pathway into careers in conservation and land management.
The six-month pilot, based across southern Melbourne, offers a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management and is tailored specifically to support Indigenous youth through a blend of traditional knowledge and Western science.
The program is being delivered in partnership with local schools, Indigenous leaders, and environmental experts; and features a mix of in-classroom learning, on-Country experiences, fieldwork and hands-on workshops.
Mentorship from Elders and Indigenous professionals is also built into the curriculum, placing cultural identity and connection to land at the heart of the program.
Debbie Edwards, Student Services Leader at Hampton Park Secondary College, said that “this is more than a pathway into conservation and land management, it’s about creating opportunities, building confidence, and valuing Indigenous knowledge in working on Country”.
Hampton Park Secondary College is one of the participating schools in the program, with principal Wayne Haworth saying the initiative reflects a strong commitment to meaningful and culturally inclusive education.
“This groundbreaking initiative benefits Indigenous youth both locally and more broadly,” Haworth said.
“I am incredibly proud that we are continuously striving to offer exciting new learning opportunities and pathways to benefit our students.”
If successful, the pilot program is expected to expand to more schools in the coming years, offering even more students the chance to learn, grow, and walk in both worlds, environmental science and cultural heritage.
Fences around Cranbourne Community Hospital.
From left to right: Stewart Detez (The Hub Learning), Adelina Carnevale (The Hub Learning), Mariah (student), Debbie Edwards (Student Services Leader), Maddie (student), Kylie Robertson (Eco Skills) and Wayne Haworth (Principal). (Stewart Chambers: 490612_10)
Students took part in the smoking ceremony during the official announcement. (Stewart Chambers: 490612_05)
Kelly Krieg (Assistant Principal), Wayne Haworth (Principal) and Katrina Amon were also in attendance. (Stewart Chambers: 490612_08)
Josh West, the Traditional Custodian of Bunurong Palawa, during the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. (Stewart Chambers: 490612_02)
Josh West addressed the group of students before the ceremony began. (Stewart Chambers: 490612_03)
Balancing AI in learning
By Ethan Benedicto
Researchers from CQ University recently published that artificial intelligence is transforming Australian classrooms, rewiring young people’s brains, which could impact cognitive learning.
Dr Ragnar Purje and Professor Ken Purnell have been exploring the neurological impacts of AI use in education, where they uncovered a complex picture.
While AI tools can support students, especially those with additional learning needs, they may also hinder the development of vital cognitive skills.
“AI systems can adjust content to match a student’s needs, interests and learning pace, which is incredibly powerful,” Dr Purje explained.
“But if students become passive recipients rather than active participants in their learning, we risk weakening the very brain networks they need for critical thinking and memory.”
The CQUniversity team claimed that students using AI to generate essays showed a 47per cent drop in active neural connections, from an average of 79 to just 42 per cent.
Daine, a 17-year-old high school student in Clyde North, said that the use of AI has become more normalised in school settings, especially when Google recently introduced their AI summary feature.
“A lot of students use AI these days, because it does make things much easier,” she said.
“You can ask ChatGPT to write you an essay on anything, and it’s done; but the teachers do ask us to rely on AI more for ideas, not our entire work.
“Obviously, we have to do our own work, but I know a lot of students who just use it to do their work [for them,] and it’s definitely impacting their grades.”
Another statistic from CQUniversity expanded that 83 per cent of those students who use AI for generating essays could not recall the content they had written just minutes earlier, a phenomenon they described as ‘cognitive debt’ or ‘digital amnesia’.
“Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt, is strongest during childhood and adolescence,”
Professor Purnell said.
“But that same plasticity means young brains may be rewired by over-reliance on AI, potential-
ly compromising executive function, self-motivation and decision-making skills,” they said.
For Daine, her personal observations during school were that she felt that the use of AI “is not even learning, it’s just a shortcut to get something done”.
“I know people who rely on AI a lot, such as for average questions, day-to-day things, such as workouts and so on,” she said.
Further findings from CQUniversity suggest that students using large language models like
ChatGPT often develop shallower knowledge compared to those who research and synthesise information manually, even when both groups access the same content.
The research also highlighted the importance of physical play and unstructured learning, where countries like Finland, which emphasise outdoor play and limited screen time in early education, consistently rank high in academic performance.
“Cognitive development doesn’t happen in isolation, it’s shaped by movement, interaction and challenge,” Dr Purje said.
“When students lose opportunities to play, solve problems, and struggle a little in their learning, we miss a chance to strengthen essential brain pathways.”
The unreliability of AI was also another concern for Daine, and something that she thinks should be highlighted, especially when used in educational and contextual settings.
“I think when we search for answers, it can be unreliable, especially with AI.
“There are heaps of times that it’s given us wrong information and everything, and we don’t even realise it,” she said.
Despite these concerns, the researchers are not calling for a rejection of AI, but more so a balance of it in education.
They are urging educators and policymakers to strike a balance, leveraging the advantages of personalised learning tools without undermining core cognitive development.
“AI is here to stay, the challenge is to use it wisely, encouraging students to remain actively engaged, think deeply, and still do the hard work with learning,” Professor Purnell said.
“That’s how we build not just knowledge, but also capability.”
Respect deficit in our schools and comparing it to others
Recently, while driving through Noble Park immediately after school, we witnessed a troubling scene.
Students darting across roads without heed, ignoring the lollipop lady, and showing blatant disregard for traffic rules and drivers, even hitting the cars and scowling at drivers.
In contrast, at Carwatha College, where we pick up our grandson/nephew, there is a palpable sense of order.
Students and parents greet the crossing guard, teachers are present, and respect is evident.
In Japan, children bow to drivers after crossing the road - a gesture of respect and gratitude.
The contrast is startling.
What we are witnessing is not just poor behaviour.
It is a social shift.
Etiquette, manners, and basic decency - once expected in every home and classroom - seem to be vanishing from both.
The word “respect” has become optional.
And when teachers attempt to uphold it, they are often met not with support, but with complaint.
Teachers across Australia are expressing deep frustration.
It is not just about lesson planning or work-
loads – it is about dignity.
Many speak of being disrespected by students and, more concerningly, undermined by parents.
Social media groups for educators are filled with desperate posts: “How do I deal with a student who screams at me?”, “A parent just emailed the principal because I gave homework”, “My leadership team won’t back me up.”
This is not sustainable.
A 2024 survey reveals that nearly half of all teachers are considering leaving the profession within a year, citing burnout, disrespect, and lack of support as top reasons. (bowerplace. com.au, blackdoginstitute.org.au).
What is going wrong?
The erosion of respect in schools is not solely a student issue - it is a societal one.
Parents defending misbehaviour, children emboldened by social media attitudes, inconsistent discipline policies, and a system more focused on appeasement than accountability all contribute.
Meanwhile, when you ask Google why teachers are leaving, the answers are clinical: workload, lack of work-life balance, desire for career change.
These are not lies - but they are only part of the truth.
And what is the government’s response?
The Victorian Government is currently trialling “Teach Today, Teach Tomorrow” and other employment-based fast-track pathways to bring new people into teaching.
While these initiatives may help address shortages, they ignore the bigger issue: Why are good teachers leaving in the first place?
We don’t need more rushed pathways into classrooms.
We need to hold on to the passionate, qualified teachers we already have, by supporting them, training them, and backing them when they uphold values.
The root cause
At the heart of this issue lies a lack of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and values-based education.
Without teaching young people how to behave with respect - for themselves, for others,
and for those guiding them, we risk growing a generation that refuses to listen and a system too fragile to withstand them.
Let us propose what teachers are really asking for:
■ Respect-Based Curriculum: Build emotional literacy and values education into every year level.
■ Parent-Educator Partnership: Shift the culture from blame to collaboration - parents must support teachers, not sabotage them.
■ Professional Dignity: Create policies that empower school leadership to uphold teacher authority without fear of backlash.
■ CQ in Classrooms: Embed Cultural Intelligence training so students and staff alike understand diverse behaviours, expectations and respectful engagement. There is still hope.
The teachers who remain do so out of love, not for the paycheque.
But love alone cannot sustain a broken system. Teachers need respect. Students need guidance. And parents need to be reminded: partnership is not permission – it is responsibility.
Truth be told… if we lose our teachers, we lose our future.
What do you think? Let us know at dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au
Police have charged a Cranbourne West man after he allegedly rammed a police vehicle in Cranbourne.
Police spotted an orange Holden Commodore driving erratically near Golf Links Road at about 11.10am on Tuesday 15 July.
Officers attempted to intercept the car, which allegedly continued to do burnouts aroundapolicevehicle.TheHoldenthenfled south on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road. It was followed by police and located in a carpark on Linsell Boulevard, a short time later, where a police vehicle pulled in behind it.
The driver allegedly rammed the police car several times before driving away. The Holden then crashed into two other parked vehicles as it fled. Police located the vehicle on Monahans Road in Cranbourne, where the male driver was arrested.
Officers searched the vehicle, which was
allegedly stolen from Dandenong Road in Malvern East on 7 July, and located stolen items, drugs and firearm ammunition. The 21-year-old Cranbourne West man was interviewed by detectives and has been charged with:
■ aggravated reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving
■ intentionally expose emergency worker to risk by driving
■ damage emergency services vehicle by reckless driving
■ drive whilst exceeding prescribed concentration of drugs
■ drive whilst disqualified
■ theft of motor vehicle
■ negligently deal with proceeds of crime
■ possess drug of dependence
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday 16 July.
Researchers from CQUniversity said that the extensive use of AI could impact development in cognitive function in youths, calling for a balance of its use in educational fields. (Igor Omilaev: Unsplash)
We’re building the Metro Tunnel and there will be disruptions
As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building the Metro Tunnel and its five new underground stations, with three stations now complete. Work is continuing on two stations, and we’re testing trains through the tunnel to make sure they operate smoothly and safely.
While we work, disruptions could affect your travel
Train disruptions:
Cranbourne and Pakenham lines
From 8.30pm 1 August to 3 August
4 August to 8.30pm 8 August
From 8.30pm 8 August to 10 August
Buses replace trains between Westall, Cranbourne and Berwick
Buses replace trains between Dandenong, Cranbourne and Berwick
Buses replace trains between Westall, Cranbourne and East Pakenham
11 to 13 AugustBuses replace trains between Westall, Cranbourne and Berwick
16 August Passengers change at Caulfield station for Frankston Line trains to and from the city
Road disruptions: Closed ramps and road
Town Hall Station
Pakenham
Princes Freeway, Berwick
Clyde Road
Road, Berwick
Freeway
BUSINESS IN FOCUS
Discover medical precinct at St. Germain Central
If you haven’t yet explored the medical precinct at St. Germain Central, now is the perfect time. Quietly becoming a cornerstone of community health, this well-established hub brings together essential medical, diagnostic, and fitness services in one convenient location—right here in your neighbourhood.
At the heart of the precinct is the trusted St. Germain Superclinic, offering a wide range of healthcare services for all ages. From general check-ups and chronic disease management to women’s and men’s health, immunisations, and paediatrics, the clinic delivers quality, accessible care. Backed by a dedicated team of GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals, St. Germain Superclinic is committed to personalised, longterm support—with bulk billing and same-day appointments available for added convenience.
Next door, Marina Radiology provides advanced imaging services such as X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. With expert staff and modern facilities, patients can access the diagnostic care they need—without the travel or long waits. Bulk billing is available for eligible services, making it an affordable option for many.
Completing the health and wellbeing experience is Anytime Fitness. Open 24/7, this fully equipped gym offers flexible access, personal training, and group classes to help you stay active on your terms—whether that’s before work, after school drop-off, or late at night.
Together, these services make up a robust and reliable destination for everyday health. Whether you’re booking an appointment, getting a scan, or starting a new fitness routine, St.
Germain Central is ready to support you at every stage of your wellness journey. If you live in Clyde North or surrounding
areas, make St. Germain Central’s medical precinct your first stop for quality care close to home.
learn more about our health and
vices.
Discover the Medical Precinct at St. Germain Central – your local hub for health and wellness.
Sip and stroll at Summerset Cranbourne North
Join us for a sip and stroll afternoon and get a taste of what your life could be like at Summerset Cranbourne North
Start with a guided tour of our beautifully designed village and available homes. Discover the spacious layouts, modern finishes, and thoughtful features that make this village a truly special place to live.
After the tour, unwind at our resident happy hour and enjoy complimentary drinks and nibbles.
Sip and stroll
Thursday 31 July, 2pm to 4pm
Drinks and nibbles provided RSVP today
Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au
Take the opportunity to mingle with residents already living in the village and learn why they love their life at Summerset Cranbourne North.
Whether you’re actively looking for your next home or just curious about village life, this is a chance to find out what we’re all about—no pressure, just friendly faces and good company.
Love the life you choose.
Popular push for kids’ pool
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 2100-strong petition is pushing for a kids’ shallow pool and other children’s water facilities to be reinstated at Casey Council’s revamped Doveton Pool in the Park.
Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association’s online petition was tabled at a council meeting on 15 June, railing against the council’s preferred water-free stage-2 design.
Councillors unanimously voted for the petition to be considered by Casey’s chief executive Glenn Patterson.
Last year, the council fully funded the $7.92 million stage-1 of the project to rebuild the 50-metre pool and splash pad and shut down the waterslides and toddler pools.
In a recent public survey, the council pitched a largely hydrophobic stage-2 including a district-level playground, “kick-about grass” areas, sand/water play, nature play, picnic facilities and toilets.
DETA chair Joshua Oostwoud was disappointed that a kids’ pool, upgraded splash pad and waterslides were not even listed as options.
The pool would be less attractive to families, as a result, he says.
“The kids’ (water) options need to be present to make the pool a viable option.”
Mr Ooostwoud says the petition with more than 2000 signatures shows overwhelming local support for the cause.
It carries weight, as does having Doveton resident and former DETA chair Stefan Koomen as mayor, he says.
“The feedback is he’s very supportive and wants to respect the community’s wishes.”
In 2021, DETA’s ‘Save Doveton Pool’ campaign forced Casey to reverse plans to shut down the 50-metre and childrens pools and retain the area as parkland only.
Mayor Koomen has personally campaigned to regain kids aqua facilities including a shallow pool at Doveton.
He says the presented stage-2 options had been based on a masterplan backed by Casey’s former administrators.
But the public’s “strong voice” would be “taken on board”, he said.
“(The community consultation) will come
back to Council, as well as the petition that the community has done will be considered in the report by Council.
“We want to make sure that the upgrades will be of benefit to the community for the next five decades.
“We want to make sure that it’s a sustainable and family-friendly facility.”
In the recent Casey 2025-’26 budget, $9.8 million was committed to the project.
The Federal Government has pitched in $7.5 million for stage-2.
Jailed for home-invasion
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Two home-invaders have been jailed after holding a resident at knifepoint while looting his family home and garage in Mulgrave.
Jal Luak, 20, and Tietdong Chuol, 21, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to home invasion and armed robbery for the break-in about 3am on 7 June 2024.
Within an hour, they were arrested by police in one of the stolen vehicles in Cranbourne North.
At the time of the invasion, the victim, his partner and two children, as well as his mother were sleeping.
Since then, the children have woken crying and afflicted with nightmares.
The family have moved out, with their sense of security shattered, the victim stated to the court.
“No one should suffer what they have suffered,” Judge Peter Rozen stated in sentencing on 17 July.
On the night, a masked Luak and an unknown offender entered, each armed with a serrated knife up to 15 centimetres, while Chuol waited in a getaway car.
They set off a motion sensor, which activated an alert on the victim’s phone.
Awoken, he turned on the hallway light and called out ‘Who’s there?’
Luak pointed his knife at the man, demanding his keys. “Don’t move or I’ll stab you,” he allegedly said.
With a blade pressed against his neck, the man led the intruders to a keys cabinet.
The pair stole keys for a BMW M6 wagon and an Audi RS e-tron GT coupe, as well as two Hermes wallets, two Bvlgari wedding bands and a VCA-branded bracelet.
A Porsche 911 coupe was parked in the garage. The unknown offender made stabbing motions as he demanded the keys.
The victim insisted it was his friend’s car and he didn’t have the keys.
In the driveway, the victim was pushed to ground, while a balaclava-clad Chuol and the unknown offender threatened the victim with stabbing motions.
Luak drove away the BMW in convoy with the unknown offender in the Audi and Chuol in
the getaway car.
Within 40 minutes, police tracked the BMW using an app on the victim’s phone as well as the Air Wing helicopter.
Learner-driver Luak, with passenger Chuol, drove over police stop-sticks on Thompsons Road, Cranbourne North.
They continued travelling dangerously on damaged tyres on the wrong side of William Thwaites Boulevard. Within minutes, Luak lost control of the wagon and crashed into a home’s front garden on Brolin Terrace.
Both men fled and were arrested nearby.
Luak pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and being a learner driver without a valid supervising driver, and Chuol also pled to possessing cannabis. Since their arrest, both had been remanded in adult custody.
Luak successfully argued for being sentenced to a youth justice centre partly to maximise his rehabilitation chances.
In adult jail, he wouldn’t have access to Youth Justice’s adolescent violence intervention program, Judge Rozen noted.
“To exclude him from that is to effectively give up.”
Luak was a late-onset offender, who was at a critical point of his life when impressions matter, he said.
Born in Egypt, Luak had regularly used cannabis, Xanax and other drugs up till his arrest. His criminal history was limited. But he had previously been sentenced to a community corrections order for burglary and car theft, and failed to attend the required judicial monitoring and Corrections appointments, Judge Rozen noted.
The South-Sudan born Chuol had PTSD from growing up in an abusive household. He abused drugs and alcohol but was in a five-year relationship with a law-abiding girlfriend, the court heard. He had a “limited” history of car theft and attempted robbery, with “reasonable” rehabilitation prospects, it was heard.
Luak was sentenced to a youth justice centre for three years and two months.
Too old for youth detention, Chuol was sentenced to two years and three months in adult prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 16 months.
Their sentences include 396 days in pre-sentence custody.
Joshua Oostwoud, chair of Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association, says locals want a kids pool at Doveton Pool in the Park. (Supplied)
EDUCATION CHOICES
Growing young minds
Schools across Australia are being encouraged to take learning outside on Friday, 25 July for Schools Tree Day, the nation’s largest tree-planting and nature care event for students.
Schools Tree Day is part of the National Tree Day program and provides young Australians from early learning to high school with a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on environmental learning while gaining significant health and wellbeing benefits.
Research published in MDPI’s Education Sciences journal in January highlighted the powerful impact of outdoor learning on students’ development, showing nature-based activities signifi-
cantly enhance psychological well-being, social connectivity, and environmental awareness among children and adolescents. By participating in Schools Tree Day, students can experience these benefits firsthand while contributing to a greener future.
Planet Ark, the organisation behind Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day, is calling on teachers and students to get their hands dirty and plant trees in their school grounds or local communities. Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling says that Schools Tree Day is more than just an environmental initiative—it’s an opportunity to support student learning in a meaningful and engaging way.
St Therese’s Primary School
“Do all that you do with love” St Therese of Lisieux
“Outdoor learning has been proven to boost students’ cognitive and emotional development and Schools Tree Day provides the perfect chance for educators to integrate nature into their curriculum, helping students connect with their environment while improving their overall wellbeing,” Ms Gilling said.
Since its inception, Schools Tree Day has seen thousands of schools across the country take part, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious students. Educators, parents and students interested in taking part in Schools Tree Day can sign up, access educational resources, and share their experiences by visiting treeday.planetark. org/get-involved/schools
Getting back to university
After years of decline, the number of Australians getting a crack at university are bouncing back.
When you take out the two Covid years, this year looks set to be the biggest year for Australians commencing an undergraduate or postgraduate university degree on record.
Preliminary data for 2024 shows around 390,000 domestic students began a degree – a 3.7 per cent increase on 2023.
This includes more than 20,000 new starters in nursing degrees (a 3 per cent increase) and more than 25,000 new starters in teaching degrees (a 9 per cent increase).
Early, year to date figures for 2025 suggest that growth is continuing with commencements up another 3 per cent compared to the same time in 2024.
This reverses the trend seen since 2017, excluding the Covid years, where the number of domestic students commencing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree have been steadily falling.
In addition, over 14,000 students have taken up Fee-Free Uni Ready courses this year. Fee-Free Uni Ready courses are short courses that help prepare people for university, acting as a bridge between school or work and higher education.
Principal: Felicity Broughton
St Therese’s Catholic Primary School is a welcomingand happy place where children are nurtured to become independent and responsible learners.
To learn more about what St Therese’s has to offer,contact the school on 5996 7525 to book a personalised tour, or visit the school’s website: www.sttcbourne.catholic.edu.au
We look forward to welcoming you and yourfamily to St Therese’s Primary School.
Thousands of students around the country will get their hands dirty to do something good for the environment on Schools Tree Day. (Planet Ark)
DIY car spotted in Cranbourne North
A Narre Warren South man has been left without a vehicle after he was caught driving with no bonnet in Cranbourne North earlier this week.
Police thought they were seeing things when they first spotted the topless burgundy BMW on Greaves Road about 3.15pm on Monday 21 July.
They pulled the male driver over and saw the bonnet was gone, completely exposing the engine.
With no idea where he’d popped the hood, police took a closer inspection of the vehicle.
They noticed strange seat cushions, and soon realised the front seats had been removed and he was sitting on a plastic garden chair.
The driver, a 64-year-old Narre Warren South man, claimed he was heading to get some parts and knew the car was not roadworthy.
He was issued with a defect notice and is expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences.
CFA responded to reports of a truck fire at around 12:09am on Dandenong Hastings Rd in Pearcedale on Saturday 19 July. (FILE)
Midnight
truck fire in Pearcedale
CFA responded to reports of a truck fire at around 12:09am on Dandenong Hastings Rd in Pearcedale on Saturday 19 July.
Five CFA units from Pearcedale, Cranbourne, Langwarrin and Baxter attended the scene alongside FRV, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police.
Upon arrival, crews found a prime mover extensively involved with fire and immediately began suppression efforts.
The incident was deemed under control at 12:54am
Heavy Haulage was contacted to remove the vehicle.
The incident was deemed safe at 4:51am.
Mastering lower limb pain: Expert help is available
Treating foot, knee, and leg pain is often complex and multifaceted. That’s why it’s essential to consult with a musculoskeletal specialist who can perform a thorough lower limb assessment and develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Dr. Paul Dowie, Musculoskeletal Podiatrist and lower limb pain and injury expert at Foot and Leg Pain Clinics, shares valuable insights into the key factors involved in effectively managing these conditions:
Identifying the Root Cause
Pain in the foot or leg can result from many sources — including injury, overuse, arthritis, nerve impingement, or vascular issues. Accurate diagnosis of both the primary cause and contributing
factors is critical to achieving lasting relief.
Individual Variability
What works well for one person may be ineffective for another.
That’s why personalising treatment based on the patient’s condition, lifestyle, and pain tolerance is essential.
Conservative vs Surgical Care
While some conditions may require surgical input, most cases benefit greatly from non-surgical, regenerative, and drug-free approaches.
Strategies such as biomechanical correction, structured rest or activity management, targeted strengthening programs, and natural regenerative injection therapies (e.g., Prolotherapy or PRP) often provide excellent outcomes while
helping avoid surgery.
Orthotics & Assistive Devices
Custom orthotics, braces, and other assistive devices can improve gait, reduce pressure, enhance mobility, and increase comfort to assist recovery.
Multidisciplinary Support
Complex cases may benefit from a team-based approach, involving collaboration between a range of health professionals to deliver comprehensive care.
Rehabilitation & Recovery
Rehabilitation is vital for restoring strength, function, and mobility. Tailored conditioning programs are often key to preventing recurrence and supporting long-term recovery.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Modifying daily habits — such as footwear choices, activity levels, or movement patterns — can significantly reduce strain on affected areas and support healing.
Patient Education
Empowering patients with knowledge about their condition, its causes, and available treatment options fosters better outcomes. Education around self-care and prevention strategies is also crucial for long-term health and mobility.
If you’re dealing with foot, knee, or leg pain, injury, or arthritis, expert help is available locally. Dr. Paul Dowie consults at Foot and Leg Pain Clinics in Berwick. Call 1300 328 300 to book an appointment.
FOOT & LEG PAIN CLINICS
A Narre Warren South man was caught driving with no bonnet in Cranbourne North earlier this week.
(Victoria Police)
Stories shine through art
By Ethan Benedicto
Fausto sat on the spinning chair, a grin on his face as he spoke about his inspirations.
He talked about a little library tucked in the back of his mind, a place where he pulled ideas from, ideas that would influence his next stroke, or his entire work.
Being an artist, a self-taught one at that, has never been easy, but it was damn fun.
Above all, however, telling a story was most important for Fausto; not just for himself, but for artists and people as a whole.
“Having that story is really, really important; I think to me, most art, if it doesn’t have a message, it’s kind of just, well, something that anyone can make,” he said.
“If I want a soulless piece, I can just look at something and copy it.
“Still life, for example, it’s the colours and what people physically see, but to me, [artists] aren’t painting that art, they’re painting the story of themselves onto it.”
Bridging influences from media, especially pop culture, movies, TV shows, anime and others, Fausto boasts an arsenal of works, many if not all, a direct representation of himself.
“I think that’s why I’m not really attached to my pieces, because it’s got that soul to it, you know?” he said.
“I don’t sign it, or usually put my name on it, because my pieces are supposed to be out there.
“The permanence of art doesn’t really matter; it’s the story behind it that does.”
Three large vases. Those were the pieces Fausto was given to paint under the theme of ‘cosy’, for the City of Casey’s winter art festival.
His live painting sessions, which patrons and guests of the hub could watch him work during, were held from 16 to 17 July, and are to be displayed at the Cranbourne West Community Hub.
Standing at a metre tall, Fausto began by sanding the three pots down before priming and prepping them for another round of painting.
While reflecting on it, he scrolled through his tablet, going through his own creative process, one that involved delving into his little mental library, and putting it all to paper.
Storyboards, drafts, and countless experiments with colours, lighting and angles were flicked through; then he touched on the overall theme of the hub, and how he matched the final product with the motto of connection, learning and play.
“Most of my work is story-based artwork, and I think they should always say something,” he said.
“Even if the story is just for me, it helps me develop the piece and to stay on track, and to make sure that they all feel and look the same.”
The feature piece is Fausto’s magical and mystical take on the long-nosed potoroo, a native Australian marsupial that can be found in the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.
Speaking with the Moonlight Sanctuary in Pearcedale, he said that the group had been working with Melbourne Zoo and the State Government in repopulating the gardens with the potoroos.
“Since we’re doing that, we’re going for the theme of cosy, and I just thought about a story of the potoroo trying to find that cosy place,” Fausto said.
“So I started to wonder, what would be cosy for a potoroo mouse? You know, from their perspective, and I was like, oh, somewhere underground.”
The biggest inspiration came from The Secret World of Arrietty, which in turn was also an adaptation of the children’s book called The Borrowers.
Building on his personal experience from those pieces of media, Fausto said that he was able to visualise the character and the other elements around it.
He laughed suddenly, saying that once the idea came to mind, his love for high fantasy couldn’t be waned, leading to the creation of the magical mouse.
“It became a magical potoroo mouse that’s going through all these magical spaces underneath the community hub,” he said.
Pointing at the sketch he did, he said, “the mouse has a staff, and there are all these books
flying around it because the hub’s attached to the library”.
“I also tried to make it more relatable to my culture, so I gave him a traditional Colombian poncho and a mountaineer’s hat.
“So it’s a story for myself, but also a consideration of the story that the potoroos are probably going through, breaking through the elements to find their cosy space,” he said.
The art is one thing, but Fausto also wanted to incorporate a sense of inclusion when it came to taking in his piece, especially for the younger audiences.
Before the open viewing period, Fausto created small characters that children could paint, doing so alongside him.
He said that it was a way for the younger ones to feel connected, not just to the piece, but also to the art of creation.
“It’s for the kids to colour while I’m also colouring things, you know?” he said.
“At the end of the day, I take pictures of what they’ve created, and when they’re finished, they can put their pieces up on a tree for display.
“So it’s not just me doing my thing, I aimed for that community focus, to do something that the people, the kids, can be like, ‘oh I remember when’ and so on.”
He placed a strong emphasis on the story part, about how every piece always tells someone something.
“Stories are important because we’re stars, and if someone were to break humans down, we’re just specks of dust floating on a rock,” he said.
“If we go back to basics, there’s really nothing to it, basically insignificant to the universe.
“But our stories, individually, mean the world; someone’s story of their life means the most to them because they’re living through it.
“That’s why I think stories matter, why they’re important in art, so it’ll be a disservice for me if I don’t put anything in it.”
While it was easy for Fausto to speak on the process, the most difficult question was when it came time to speak on his inspirations.
It was something that racked his brain, something that made him slouch on the seat and stare into the ceiling.
For the first time since the conversion began, he grew quiet.
Astro Boy; Princess Mononoke; Night Of The Living Dead (also Train to Busan); Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon; Scrubs and Xena: Warrior Princess.
Those were what came to mind, though there were times when he was unsure if he had made the right choice, rifling through the swathe of other titles that spilled over from his mental library.
“Oh man, that’s massive, I could give you [more] of my inspirations when it comes to every single genre,” he said.
“Astro Boy has that whole thing of - is he a boy, is he even human? The disparity between those, then Princess Mononoke has that high fantasy aspect, and it just grabbed you, you know?”
He spoke about comedy in horror, and how it resonated with him, especially as someone who grew up in a third-world country where joking about one’s plight was a common coping mechanism.
He added that it influenced him to make characters in darker settings, but at the same time are equipped with the mental
fortitude to adapt, and “to think of ways to make things better”.
Action movies served a similar purpose, where the characters are driven by this insatiable need to accomplish the goal set in front of them, and where nothing, no matter the obstacle or hurdle, will stand in their way.
Fausto said the same about romantic comedies, where Xena: Warrior Princess left such a strong impression on him because of the female lead in an action setting; and of course, as a child, her battles with monsters.
“South America as a whole is rather misogynistic, a part of it has to do with religion, but it all really goes back to my mum,” he said.
“She’s a strong woman, she’s a tank, in one of those ways that there is no way anyone is f***ing with her.
“There were seven of us [children], and she raised us mostly by herself since my dad wasn’t really in the picture, and let me say, we weren’t the easiest kids.”
Fausto spoke at length about his personal history, his family, and gave a more in-depth breakdown of how these different pieces of media influenced not just his day-to-day life, but the stories he had to tell through his art.
“Look, all these things impacted me as a person, and it all just kinda flows into my artwork,” he said.
The three pieces are to be displayed at the Cranbourne West Community Hub, one in the foyer and the remaining two in a designated open space.
Moving forward, Fausto is looking to create more pieces, his own interpretations of the world, telling stories of yore and now through the lead of pencils and the tips of brushes.
Fausto working away at one of the three large vases set for display, a soft purple base already set. (Gary Sissons: 490512)
You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.
New president for Rotary
The Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills has kicked off its 2025/26 year with a fresh leadership team, a bold vision, and a nod to nearly a century of service.
John Ternel was officially installed as Club President during the Changeover Dinner held at Stella’s Kitchen in Lysterfield in early July. He succeeds outgoing President John Peck, who was thanked for his contribution and will remain involved in the club as Immediate Past President.
Mr Ternel, a long-standing member with over a decade of service, reflected on his Rotary journey and the values that have guided him.
“Family first, work second, and Rotary third, a distant third,” he said.
Ternel also shared in his address, acknowledging the support of his wife Selina and the trust of fellow members for leading the club.
He also delved into the club’s legacy, which traces back 90 years to the original Rotary Club of Dandenong and has since evolved through several mergers, culminating in the current formation in 2019.
With that history in mind, the club will be marking its 90th centenary in October this year, a celebration of community, continuity, and service.
Among its calendar highlights is the return of the Dandenong All Holden Car Show, scheduled for April 2026.
Organisers hope to capitalise on the milder autumn weather, aiming for a more comfortable experience for visitors and volunteers alike.
Ternel is backed by a new executive team, including Leanne Byron as President-Elect, Alan Collier as Executive Secretary, Joe Lellamo as Treasurer, and multiple directors heading key service portfolios.
He also said that if there are those who are passionate about “making a tangible difference and building meaningful connections,
Rotary offers an unmatched opportunity to contribute, grow and lead”.
“If you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, to give back and grow as a leader, Rotary is where you belong,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills meets every Tuesday night at
7pm at the Dandenong Club, with newcomers encouraged to come along, meet the team. With a passionate team at the helm and a proud legacy behind them, the Club is setting its sights on a year of growth, service, and community spirit.
New president, John Ternel, speaking to the crowd at Stella’s Kitchen during his official inauguration on Saturday, 19 July. (Supplied)
Immediate Past President, John Peck (bottom right), was also in attendance and was among many members who were there for the changeover. (Supplied)
Peck pinned a new lapel on Ternel, before he addressed the crowd as the new president. (Supplied)
Demons spiflicate Eagles
By Blair Burns
Bentleigh remains in fourth position on the Southern Division 1 ladder as it recorded its best win of the season, a percentage-boosting 94-point victory over struggling Cranbourne.
The Demons dominated with the wind in the first quarter with 18 scoring shots to one as they took a 57-point lead into the first break.
But the margin could’ve been much greater had they kicked straighter, generating a wayward 8.10 from their first quarter dominance.
The Eagles matched the home side on the scoreboard in the second quarter with one goal apiece but 6.6 from Bentleigh in the third term blew the margin out to triple figures.
Cranbourne kicked four of its five goals in the final term, but it remained the team’s worst loss of the season as Demons’ Thomas Dowsing (six goals) produced a best-on-ground performance.
The Eagles sit on the bottom of the ladder with a 2-11 record and will be looking to get back on the winners’ list this weekend in a bottom-ofthe-ladder clash against Murrumbeena.
As expected, Dingley was too strong for East Brighton thanks to a four-goal performance from Mitchell Cook as he helped his side to a comfortable 36-point victory.
The Dingoes led by only five points at half time, but came home strong to win and maintain their spot on top of the ladder – two wins clear of St Paul’s McKinnon.
In other games, Port Melbourne cost itself a real opportunity to upset the formidable St Paul’s McKinnon after leading at half time and finishing with just one scoring shot less.
But the Colts’ forwards couldn’t find the middle of the big sticks, kicking 3.16 for the game, which included 0.8 in the second quarter as they failed to capitalise on the wind, going down by 26 points at the final siren.
Sam Hilton-Joyce was a standout for the Bulldogs with three goals, while key forward Brayden O’Toole finished the game with two majors.
A four-goal-to-zero final term helped Cheltenham to a come-from-behind victory over Narre Warren, overturning a three-point deficit at the final break to win by 22 points.
Nobody kicked more than two goals on the day with Jesse Davies (Narre Warren) and Rex Kilburn (Cheltenham) being named their team’s best players.
Despite Murrumbeena’s best effort against Springvale Districts, the Lions fell short by 23 points as Springy remains in fifth position on the ladder.
Josh Bradley kicked four goals in the victory, while Hudson Thomas and Adam Read also impressed for Springvale Districts.
The five matches all produced somewhat expected results as the top half of the ladder played against the bottom half of the ladder.
With just five rounds remaining in the 2025
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION 1 REVIEW - ROUND 13
season, there is a lot at stake in coming weeks as some teams look to stake their claim as premiership contenders and others attempt to avoid relegation.
In the Southern Netball competition, Narre Warren made it six consecutive wins with a thrilling one-goal victory over Cheltenham, 39-38.
The Magpies and Rosellas match up well across the court and their three encounters this season have all been worth the watch, with two of them being decided by just one goal.
Last time the side’s met in round eight, Cheltenham won by nine goals and Narre Warren was out to turn that around and get one back on the fourth-placed Rosellas.
Grace Loelu once again delivered under the ring with 36 goals - the Magpies will now shift their focus to a big clash this weekend against firstplaced Dingley.
SOUTHERN DIVISION 1
BENTLEIGH
8.10 9.14 15.20 18.21(129)
CRANBOURNE
Bentleigh Goals: Thomas Dowsing 6, Callum Dooley 3, Ross Barlas, Spencer Daly 2, Ben Cooper, Kayne O’Brien, Charlie Parkin, Castan Racunica, Finn Sharp. Best: Thomas Dowsing, Finn Sharp, Andrew Walker, Caleb Sheahan, Ben Cooper, Thomas Smith.
Cranbourne Goals: Zak Roscoe 2, Jake Cowburn, Shaun Keenan, Adrian Russo.
NARRE WARREN
2.5
CHELTENHAM
Narre Warren Goals: Hayden Dwyer, Sam Toner, Hamish West 2, Will Howe, Jett Kearney, Jake Rich-
ardson. Best: Jesse Davies, Pete Gentile, Ethan Kennedy, Hayden Dwyer, Will Howe, Thomas Russell.
Cheltenham Goals: Max Davis, Jack Lonie, Dylan Weickhardt 2, Jacob Edwards, Luke Garnaut, Austin Johnson, Sean Lai, Sam Lonie, Luke Verma. Best: Rex Kilburn, Harrison Edwards, Jack Lonie, Cameron Blitsas, Cade Dorrofield, Luke Verma. Other Results - R13: Dingley 13.7(85) def East Brighton 7.7(49), St Paul’s McKinnon 8.12(60) def Port Melbourne 3.16(34), Springvale Districts 15.13(103) def Murrumbeena 11.14(80). Ladder: Dingley 48, St Paul’s McKinnon 40, Cheltenham 34, Bentleigh 30, Springvale Districts 28, EastBrighton24,NarreWarren18,PortMelbourne 16, Murrumbeena 14, Cranbourne 8. Fixture - R14: East Brighton (6) v Bentleigh (4), Cranbourne (10) v Murrumbeena (9), Dingley (1) v Narre Warren (7), Cheltenham (3) v Port Melbourne (8), Springvale Districts (5) v St Paul’s McKinnon (2).
Kidd re-appointed to lead Magpies in 2026 campaign
By Blair Burns
Narre Warren has locked in coach Steve Kidd for a third season, confident he’s the man to take the Magpies from the middle of the road to the promised land in Southern League Division 1.
This year has thrown plenty of challenges at the premiership coach, but two recent consecutive wins have Kidd and the club optimistic about the end of the season, and into 2026.
It is currently his second season at the helm after he took the side to premiership glory in the Outer East League in 2024 – his first year in the role.
“I’m feeling excited, we have learned a lot from this year and are looking to build on that,” Kidd said.
“It’s a privilege and an honour, to get the opportunity to coach has been awesome … we are hoping to be bigger and better in 2026.”
The move to Southern has presented its fair share of challenges and only a few short weeks ago, there were even fears of relegation for Narre Warren.
But with two consecutive wins, followed by
a competitive performance against third-placed Cheltenham on Saturday, the Magpies are now in seventh position and safe from the relegation zone.
“(The role) probably comes with a bit more pressure to do well, from myself, and I was feel-
ing it a bit up until a couple of weeks ago,” Kidd said.
“But to be reassured by the club is great … for them to come and ask me to do it again was awesome and made me feel like I’m on the right track.
“The club has been fantastic, Pete (Lindsay) has been there to support me all the way through … when we aren’t going well, it’s people asking how can I help rather than criticism.”
Kidd said it would’ve been nice to have some greater on-field success so far this season but hoped to continue building, with a few areas of focus for 2026.
“From a coaching perspective, (this season) gives us more to work around what we need to do to be better and match it against some of these top sides in the Southern competition,” he said.
“Hopefully we can add a couple of players, get the list fitter and more conditioned, also improve the video analysis and give players more reinforcement and better feedback.”
The former Narre Warren star, who played 259 senior games and won three premierships,
said his aim was to build the next premiership team.
“I’m really excited for the challenge again and the players are as well … we are a good side, but we want to become a great side,” he said.
“We probably knew at the start of last year with the sort of players that we lost, that it was going to take a little bit of time to build what we thought was the next great Narre Warren side.
“We are halfway down that path and want to continue building and get there.”
President Peter Lindsay said there was no doubt that Kidd is the “right man for the job”, as they back him in for another year as coach.
“We are pleased with ‘Skidder’ and what he has brought, and continues to bring to the club,” he said.
“It has been a challenging year thus far, but we just see him as the ideal leader moving forward to consolidate this year and looking towards a big year next year.
“He’s got all of the players with him and just what he does around the place, he draws respect from everyone.”
Cranbourne’s Jake Cowburn kicked a goal and was one of the Eagles’ best in the heavy loss to Bentleigh. (Stewart Chambers: 488310)
Narre Warren has re-appointed senior coach Steve Kidd for 2026. (Rob Carew: 469859)
Pressing case for AFL draft
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Vic Country clinched a 14.10(94) to 9.10(64) victory against Vic Metro at RSEA Park, Moorabbin on Sunday afternoon, lifting its carnival record to 2-2.
Gippslander Willem Duursma was awarded the squad’s MVP, while Brodie Atkins and Tairon Ah-Mu were other locals who played key roles throughout the four games.
Star News Group spoke to Vic Country coach Rhett McLennan, who provided insight into the performances of every squad member.
WILLEM DUURSMA
Gippsland Power, utility Games: 4
Standout stat: 24 disposals
“He showed ability as a midfielder but it’s fairly unlikely he’ll start at the middle in round one so it’s about showing what else you can do to stretch an opposition and cause headaches. We see him as a guy who can do that down back and be accountable, but also run off and be creative and also go forward and stretch an opposition.”
BRODIE ATKINS
Gippsland Power, midfielder Games: 3
Standout stat: 7 tackles
“If you talk to Brodie, it’s just another game of footy. He attacks every game the same way whether it’s in the ones for Drouin, for Vic Country or Gippy Power, he hunts the footy and hunts the man and is incredibly difficult to play against which is his weapon. He’s a good midfielder and developing run and spread from the contest.”
JOBE SCAPIN
Gippsland Power, utility Games: 3
Standout stat: 4 tackles
“I thought his defensive pressure was really good for a winger and his ability to get to the outside and show his acceleration, speed and ball use by foot was pleasing.”
ZACH O’KEEFE
Gippsland Power, utility Games: 3
Standout stat: 4.7 marks
“Zach’s understanding of the game is really really high so wherever he plays, he finds a way to get involved. I think he continues to find a way to get better. He hasn’t had a heap of continuity this year but he was influential.”
DARCY SZERSZYN
Dandenong Stingrays, defender Games: 3
Standout stat: 12 disposals
Bottom-aged
“I really liked Darcy’s form and as a coach he’s a player you love because he’s really good athletically, he can play taller and smaller than he is so I think he’s got a lot of benefits as a footballer to an AFL list.”
CAL SMITH
Dandenong Stingrays, midfielder Games: 4
Standout stat: 16 disposals
“Cal’s hands and decision making is really sure. His work output is steady and once he found his feet in the forward position yesterday, he showed he has something else too so I’m really happy for him.”
TAIRON AH-MU
Dandenong Stingrays, forward/ruck Games: 4
Standout stat: 1.8 goals per game
“His ability to provide ruck relief and be a presence was really good - if he does make it to AFL level, that’s where people see him: someone who can go forward, but also provide presence, espe-
cially his around the ground stuff. He competes, he’s explosive off the mark and beautiful kick and his middle two games were really good so I’m excited by what the future holds for Tairon.”
TOBY SINNEMA
Dandenong Stingrays, winger Games: 4
Standout stat: 13 disposals
Melbourne Next Generation Academy
“He’s neat by foot and had some moments in the different games. He showed he had some defensive aspects to his game and showed what he could do against Metro’s small forwards and played to his strengths when he got the ball which was his run, carry and left foot.”
MITCH STEVENS
Gippsland Power, halfback Games: 3
Standout stat: 6 marks Adelaide father-son
“‘Stevo’s’ going well. His ability to be hard to play against is his strength. He wants to win every contest or halve ones he isn’t favoured to win.”
WIL MALADY
Gippsland Power, key forward Games: 2
Standout stat: 1 goal
Bottom-aged
“He’s an exciting player; I think we’re only scratching the surface of what Wil can do. He can play higher up with his speed and agility and his willing to defend, tackle and get contested footy. It’s not only nice marks and goals for Wil, I think there is more to his football ability.”
NOAH HIBBINS-HARGREAVES
Dandenong Stingrays, wing/half forward Games: 4
Standout stat: 1.5 goals
“I think Noah’s ability to stand up and produce in pressure moments is excellent and he had some moments in all of his games.”
Dandenong trio Jasper Russell, Max Lee and Jay-De Varlet and bottom-aged smalls Marlon Neocleous (Gippsland) and Marcus Prasad (Dandenong) were also rotated through the squad throughout the carnival.
Best 16-year-olds on show at National Championships
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Nine locals were in action for Vic Country on the Gold Coast last week at the Under-16 National Development Championships.
Vic Country did not win any of its three games at the annual event, but exposed plenty of bright talent including Dandenong Stingrays
James Goerlitz, Louis Salopek (Port Adelaide father-son-eligible), Corey Ah-Mu and Ethan Wood and Gippsland’s Cohen Dent, Charlie Fischer (Hawthorn Next Generation Academy), Leo Stephenson and Macauli Pendergast.
Meanwhile, Beaconsfield’s Harper McCullough was a key player in Vic Metro’s midfield, with his power and pressure helping his side claim the title.
It was the players’ first opportunity to compete in front of AFL recruiters, giving them a sense for performing under the spotlight while immersing them in a professional environment
Coach David Loader provided an insight into each of the locals.
Charlie Fischer (Gippsland Power): “He had some good, high-end moments and showed a level of talent that’s exciting going forward.”
Cohen Dent (Gippsland Power): “He showed some good signs in the second half of the last game when he took contested marks and went forward and kicked a goal. He’ll take some time but will be a big boy, he’s already 208cm.”
Leo Stephenson (Gippsland Power): “He got better as the carnival went. He played as an inside mid and was really good in the second half of the third game.”
Macauli Pendergast (Gippsland Power): “He
had a terrific second game against South Australia and had a solid carnival. He learned a lot about playing different roles and has a bright future.”
Louis Salopek (Dandenong Stingrays): “He’s a really good player, Louis, and got to play in a few different positions going forward. We all know he can play as an inside midfielder but he showed he could play as an outside midfielder and off halfback so it was good.”
Corey Ah-Mu (Dandenong Stingrays): “He was great in the first half of games two and three. He’s a powerful big boy who can catch it and kick it well.”
Jayden Gourley (Dandenong Stingrays): “He has great speed, is really athletic, a terrific kick and has it all in front of him so I’m looking forward to watching him grow.”
Ethan Wood (Dandenong Stingrays): “He had a really consistent carnival across all games. He played well in all three games in terms of how hard-nosed he is and how much he wants to work for his teammates.”
VIC COUNTRY RESULTS
Vic Country 13.5(83) def by Vic Metro 14.8(92), Vic Country 11.10(76) def by South Australia 11.15(81), Western Australia 11.10(76) def Vic Country 8.5(53).
Leo Stephenson improved as the carnival progressed. (Craig Dooley/AFL Photos)
Macauli Pendergast runs out for the Vics
Jobe Scapin’s toughness was on show in Vic Country’s last game on Sunday. (Riley Lockett/AFL Photos)
Cannons firing up for finals
By Blair Burns
Casey Cannons were firing last weekend as the club won six of a possible eight senior matches, along with one draw and one loss.
In the women’s competition, Casey recorded two hard fought wins against North West in the Women’s Vic League (WVL1) and WVL1 Reserves, winning 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
The Cannons bounced back from last round in a big way and set the tone through Samantha Wagg and Chantelle Calado who both found the back of the net in the WVL1 match.
Sarah McLellan-Sutton defended well in goalkeeper and didn’t let anything through all day, helping the side to an important 2-0 victory.
While the WVL1 Reserves followed suit thanks to some brilliance from Mia Joiner to get her team in front and score what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
The Pennant E South East team are cruising with nine wins and sit third on the ladder, after adding a thrilling 1-0 victory to their season record.
The Cannons took on Southern United and gave it their all, generating some good looks at goal.
However, just one of those came through as Courtney McDonald produced a great play to score the team’s only goal and guide them to a win.
The only women’s team to fall short in Round 13 was the Metro 1 South side, narrowly losing to Southern United 1-0.
Despite being right in the contest on many occasions this season, the team has suffered multiple heartbreaking defeats.
Casey is battling away on three wins for the year but will hope to cause some upsets on the run home.
It was also a successful round for Casey’s men’s teams, led by the dominant MVL2 side, which made light work of Eastern Christian Hockey Association (ECHO) to win 5-1.
Tristan Chaffey continued his sublime season to score four of his team’s five goals and singlehandedly control the attacking half of the field.
Matthew Light was the other goal scorer as he made something out of nothing, capitalising on an opportunity to find the back of the net.
Considering this was a top-of-the-table clash and the Cannons have now beaten their closest opponent comfortably both times, they are shaping as firm favourites for the premiership.
While the MVL2 Reserves team also dominated against ECHO scoring 4-1 to bridge the gap and cement itself inside the top four.
The potent attack had many different scoring options with four individual goal scorers including Jordan Oellermann, Ryan Pruscino, Tadhg McCurran and Sean Dack.
After what has been a tough season, the Men’s Metro 2 South team won its third game of the year, knocking off Croydon Ranges 3-2 in a tight contest.
Jesse Towart led the way for the Cannons with two goals, while Jovel Hunt also got in on the action to score one goal.
It was the confidence that Casey needed as it approaches a tough challenge against Greater Dandenong this weekend.
The Pennant D South East team was the only men’s side not to win, but it didn’t lose either, registering a 2-2 draw against Southern United.
The Cannons actually won 3-1 last time the sides met, but this match-up was closer with both teams determined to get an elusive victory.
Scott Daly and Matt Guastella were the goal scorers for Casey and both performed well to salvage a draw.
Juniors creating a Storm as pathway for talent begins
By Blair Burns
Cardinia Storm had another strong weekend after resuming their hockey competitions after a short break, with two wins and a draw.
The week off saw multiple Cardinia players and coaches represent the Southern Sharks over five days at the Junior State Championships, recording some good results across the board.
Some players even had the opportunity to compete for medals and the experience for juniors like Lilly Kelly was invaluable – she earned selection into the Hockey Vic Junior Academy Squad.
As regular competition returned, the Women’s Metro 1 South side recorded a 5-0 win over Monash due to them having an insufficient number of players.
The Men’s Metro 2 South side played a thrilling draw against top-four opponent Collegians, with the final result reading 1-1.
Cardinia drew first blood early in the match when Harkeerat Oberoi found himself in a great spot to score an easy tap-in goal.
But Collegians soon responded with an equaliser,courtesyofarocketonapenaltycornerwhich narrowly got past goalkeeper Darren Rowe.
It was a coming-of-age performance for young gun Sammy Albrecht, who let his skills do the talking.
His development in the men’s hockey competition has been significant this season, and the Collegians had no answers for his impressive output
The draw keeps Cardinia Storm within reach of the top four, as it looks to continue picking up
momentum towards the end of the season.
On Sunday, the Men’s Metro 1 South team faced Southern United and despite the Storm going into the clash as favourites, the lowly United side gave it their all.
Storm controlled the clash from the outset, but some strong defensive efforts meant they were unable to put a score on the board.
The only goal of the match came in the third quarter when Scott Burnett found the back of the net.
Itwasagoodrewardforthemanychancesand opportunities that Cardinia had created early in the match.
The victory provided a much-needed three points and helped Storm close the gap on Collegians who sit one spot above them, in first place.
Referee shortage has frustrated Eels once again sitting idle
By David Nagel
For the second time in three rounds the Pakenham Eels Second Grade Men’s team has had its scheduled game postponed due to a referee shortage at Rugby League Victoria.
The Eels Under-16 Girls and Under-18 Boys also felt the pinch on Saturday, with the three late-afternoon games scheduled for Comely Banks Recreation Reserve in Officer all postponed for the same reason.
The Eels senior team also had its round-10 clash against near-neighbour Casey Warriors postponed for their encounter at Casey Fields on June 28.
At this stage, dates are being confirmed in order for the unplayed games from the weekend to take place.
In games that were played, teams from the South East fared well, with Casey Warriors recording a strong 42-16 victory over Altona Roosters at Casey Fields.
The Warriors were all over the Roosters from the outset with Chad Bristow, Jesse Pokia, Deeken Barber, Kaiya Kaiwai-Rangikauhata, Jacob Edwards and Faafouina Taleo among the try scorers. Kaiwai-Rangikauhata was almost perfect with conversion, sending six of seven attempts sailing
490843)
Meanwhile, at Betula Reserve, seventh-placed Doveton Steelers kept their finals hopes alive with
a grinding 22-18 victory over third-placed Eastern Raptors.
The Steelers took control of the contest early,
scoring all four tries before the Raptors got on the board.
The wind made scoring difficult at one end, with the Raptors closing fast but unable to close the gap.
In other games this week, North West Wolves defeated top-of-the-ladder Melton Broncos 32-10 at home, while Werribee Bears stayed in touch of the top four with a 30-8 success over Truganina Rabbitohs.
NRL VICTORIA MEN’S SECOND GRADE
Results R12: North West Wolves 32 def Melton Broncos 10, Doveton Steelers 22 def Eastern Raptors 18, Werribee Bears 30 def Truganina Rabbitohs 8, Casey Warriors 42 def Altona Roosters 16, Pakenham Eels v Sunshine Cowboys (Match postponed due to referee shortage).
Ladder: Melton Broncos 19, North West Wolves 15, Eastern Raptors 15, Pakenham Eels 11, Casey Warriors 11, Werribee Bears 11, Doveton Steelers 10, Altona Roosters 10, Truganina Rabbitohs 6, Sunshine Cowboys -2.
over the cross bar.
Fixture R13: North West Wolves v Casey Warriors, Sunshine Cowboys v Werribee Bears, Altona Roosters v Melton Broncos, Eastern Raptors v Pakenham Eels, Truganina Rabbitohs v Doveton Steelers.
Casey Warriors look to probe to find a way through a well-organised Altona defence. (Gary Sissons:
Cardinia Storm young gun Lilly Kelly made the Hockey Vic Junior Academy Squad recently. (Stewart Chambers: 486753)
A goal from Jordan Oellermann helped the MVL2 Reserves to a 4-1 victory. (Rob Carew: 488314)
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