The 2025 Cancer Council Relay for Life went ahead in high spirits despite the rain, with more than 550 participants raising over $121,000 for cancer research and support.
Among them were Nicola, Alanah and Kirsten, pictured from left, from the #StrongerThanstats team.
The event at Casey Fields on 25-26 October brought together community members to celebrate survivors, honour loved ones lost, and support those affected by cancer.
More on the story, page 10
(Picture: Rob Carew: 510675)
By Jensy Callimootoo
Julz Nichols was only nine years old when she struggled with homelessness.
Along with her mum and older brother, Julz went from different transitional housing facilities for nearly two years until they were able to find
stable and long-term accommodation.
During those two years however, Julz says her mum tried to maintain a normal upbringing for her and her brother.
“We were actually pretty sheltered,” Julz said.
“It didn’t matter where we were, mum still got us to school,”
“We still maintained some level of normalcy despite everything.”
While they were at school, Julz’s mum would go to various housing providers and sit at different organisations “day in and day out” and insist on support for her and her family.
“She would not leave until she got some kind of support,” she said.
Julz has vivid memories of her time at various housing facilities over those years and despite her mum’s efforts in sheltering the harsh impacts of homelessness, Julz still lives with some repercussions.
More on the story, turn to page 5
Nicki
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Clyde landscaper has been jailed for up to five years over his role at a clandestine meth lab at an Air BnB rental in the Yarra Valley.
Nathan Lowson, 42, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to drug trafficking, as well as possessing substances, materials, documents or equipment for drug trafficking and possessing 1,4-butanediol.
Over several months in 2021, police surveilled Lowson and three others suspected to be making ‘ice’ at their hired, isolated hillside property overlooking the Yarra Glen township.
On 4 October that year, police raided the BnB and found remnants of a clan lab in the garage. They seized 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine - of which 427 grams was ’pure’ methmore than eight times the commercial-traffickable threshold.
Also found were $14,100 cash, six phones and 146 items of clan lab items including scientific glassware, equipment and pre cursor chemicals.
Sentencing judge Patricia Riddell stated on 28 October that Lowson had a close, supportive role in the drug-making syndicate, including obtaining equipment, discussing pricing and distribution.
He was not a “gopher“ or “lackey“ but an enthusiastic and active participant and trusted by the inner sanctum, she said.
Lowson was using multiple vehicles and phones not registered under his name, and took part in the group’s encrypted calls and message chats on the ’Signal’ app.
The hired property’s restricted access and seclusion was indicative of the enterprise’s “highly commercial nature“.
Lowson was not charged with trafficking a commercial amount, due to prosecutors accepting that he wasn’t aware of the quantity of drugs being manufactured.
However Judge Riddell said his close involvement in the manufacturing made him aware that it was not a small amount.
According to a prosecution summary, officers intercepted Lowson and a co-accused man in a hired van driven from the property on the day of the raid.
They were believed to have headed out to obtain glassware for drug manufacture.
Threezip-lockbagsofmethandasmallamount of 1,4-butanediol were inside the van.
On Lowson’s phone, police found a downloaded step-by-step guide Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture by ‘Uncle Fester’.
Judge Riddell stated this was a “serious“ example of trafficking, noting that the manufacture and selling of drugs had a deleterious impact on addicts’ lives and their victims of violent crime.
Lowson’s mature age, and his lengthy history of serious drug-related crime, including two breached CCOs, were also noted.
He had conceded a long-term problematic drug use drove his offending. Judge Riddell inferred that financial gain and supporting his own addiction were drivers in this case.
At the time, he’d relapsed into daily use of meth andamphetamineandfellinwiththeco-offenders while his business suffered from Covid lockdowns.
She rated Lowson’s rehabilitation prospects as “modest”, noting he’d not reoffended since his release on bail in 2022.
“It is your long-standing drug addiction which is your hurdle and a significant one to overcome. If you do not deal with that issue, you’re at risk of reoffending.“
In 2024, one of the co-accused Toni Delahunty – who rented the Air BnB and had a pivotal role in the drug-making enterprise - was sentenced for trafficking in a commercial quantity.
She was jailed for up to five-and-a-half years, withanon-paroleperiodofthree-and-a-halfyears.
Noting a need for parity with Delahunty, Judge Riddell jailed Lowson for five years, with a threeyear non-parole period.
The matters of the two other co-accused are yet to have resolved.
By Violet Li
Casey Council has recorded a $140 million surplus for the 2024/25 financial year, with a $57 million shortfall against its original forecast.
The shortfall was largely due to lower-than-anticipated asset transfers from new estates and subdivisions, largely driven by timing delays in the handover process, which has impacted the recognition of these assets within the current reporting period.
However, according to the Council, when excluding those non-cash items, early State and Federal grants, and project carryforwards, Casey’s underlying result stood at $9.6 million, well above the $0.5 million budgeted.
Officers said the stronger position was driven by savings in capital works delivery and additional grant funding secured during the year.
For the 2024/25 financial year, total operating income was about $630 million, and total operating expenses were about $489 million.
Rates and charges came in $1.2 million higher than forecast, boosted by more new households requiring waste services than originally anticipated, and an increase in additional bin requests.
Statutory fees and fines exceeded the budget by $1.9 million, primarily due to higher-than-anticipated activity in development services, which has resulted in increased revenue from application and engineering fees.
Council also noted that there had been a rise in Local Laws infringements related to parking.
“This increase is linked to a growing number of requests from residents and schools seeking Council support for parking compli-
Get ready to move, laugh, and connect with your community — all for free!
Join us this November for a month of fun, family-friendly activities across the City of Casey. From silent discos to walking football, trampoline fitness, and morethere’s something for every age and ability.
Scan the QR code to check out the calendar of events on our website.
Remembrance Day Services in Casey
Remembrance Day services are being held across Casey to commemorate those who have bravely served our country.
Community members are welcome to attend the services on Tuesday 11 November.
Visit the Council event page to find out more about the events taking place across Casey at: www.casey.vic.gov.au/events
Stay up to date with Councils e-newsletter, the Casey Catch Up
Get the free Casey Catch Up e-newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every month.
In the newsletter you will find regular news and events to help keep you up to date with everyhting happening across Council.
Learn about the issues that affect you, and keep connected to the services and initiatives available in your community and across Casey. Visit casey.vic.gov.au today and sign up.
ance around key sites,” Council stated in the report.
Employee costs rose $16 million, partly due to project reclassifications from capital to operating expenses and increased demand for Maternal Child Health and Kinder programs.
Council delivered approximately $122 million in capital works, $5.9 million more than the previous financial year, and will carry forward about $43 million in unfinished projects and $6.2 million in operational initiatives into 2025/26.
The cash surplus was about $6 million compared to a budget of $0.5 million.
About $5.5 million will be transferred to the Strategic Assets Reserve to fund future infrastructure priorities.
During the October Council Meeting where the budget outcome was presented, several councillors praised the city’s financial management.
Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen, an accountant by profession, said the headline surplus often caused confusion among residents.
“I would also like to thank officers for their contributions, but also today, because I often do get asked by residents that we’ve got a $140 million surplus, and where’s all that money come from? But I think Miss Baker (Casey Council’s CFO) explained it quite well that it’s an accounting treatment,” he said.
“At the end of the day, the cash surplus is this $5.5 million, which we’re being asked as a group to put into a Strategic Assets Reserve, which is in a good place that will hold us in good stead for large projects into the future.
“As councils, we did ask lots of questions about this, and it’s common.”
Environmental Volunteering with Casey Friends
Love nature and have time to spare? Get involved with your local Casey Friends group.
Casey Friends meet monthly and undertake activities like planting, weeding, litter collection and other projects that keep our city beautiful.
Volunteering supports biodiversity and builds community connection. To find out more visit: www.casey.vic.gov.au/enviromental-volunteering
By Jensy Callimootoo
Cranbourne Pigeon Racing Club has taken a financial hit by the State’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy and the club’s managers are now growing increasingly concerned of the possibility of having to shut their doors.
Rod Cook, co-founder and now assistant secretary of the Cranbourne club, has asked for a review from the State Government to waive the $400 levy from the $840 rates bill and reconsider the property’s value and classification; they’ve been told it might take months before a decision is made.
In accordance with the new ESVF levy which replaced the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) in July 2025, the club was valued at $305,000 and classified under a commercial property.
But both of the club’s founders say that it was previously only valued at $30,000 and classified under residential.
Casey Council is believed to have requested a reassessment of the property’s value and its classification as a commercial property.
Casey’s Chief Financial Officer, Melissa Baker, says that the ESVF levy is not a charge from the City of Casey and that the State Government will have to mandate any refund or waiver.
“The Victorian State Government has allocated Councils like the City of Casey as the collection agency of this levy. We are required by law to collect the charges, and any refund or waiver would have to be mandated by the State Government,” Baker said.
David Leishman, co-founder alongside Cook and President of the club, says it’s becoming more difficult to keep the doors to the club open due to the additional costs of lease notices, ground upkeep rates, and power bills.
With the help of the members, they’ve had to fork out nearly $3000 to keep the club going.
Cook says the club, now made up of about 20 members, has become an integral part in the dayto-day lives of a small community of pensioners.
“Their only interaction with the community, a lot of them, is the Pigeon Club,” Cook said.
Both men reminisce about a senior member whose only meals were provided at the club.
“On Friday nights, he would come here to the club, and sometimes he’d have two meals. And we sort of realised, he’s not eating at home.”
For Leishman and Cook who have both invested time and money since the establishment of the club, say with rising costs concerns and age their enthusiasm and energy to fundraise has strained.
“We’re all just tired,” said Cook.
“As our members pass away, the cost burden will be on those who are still alive, extra costs restricting new members’ growth, so what happens when we are down to five members who cannot pay the bills, will the council close the rooms?”
According to Cook and Leishman, the pigeon racing rooms were first established in the early 2000s after a block of unused toilets on the reserve was turned into a community building.
The block of toilets was due to be demolished for $10,000 due to infrastructure damage and safety concerns.
But Cook and Leishman had other ideas for the block and thought it had potential to positively serve the community for the now niche sport.
Since then, as more pigeon racing enthusiasts joined along with some fundraising, the club was able to self- fund two expansions amounting to nearly $60,000.
A few years ago, the membership price was $50 and when they first established the club they charged $20.
In hopes of collective contribution, the club has now raised fees for existing members to $120, which has added a toll on the paying pensioners,
“We are made up of mostly pensioners, our club is non-profit… all these added costs have only been in force for the past four to six years,” said Cook.
but Cook is worried that this is only a band-aid solution.
In his discussion with council over the last few months, he’s highlighted his concerns about the possibility of members terminating their membership as a result of growing costs and consequently limiting some of their only source of social support.
It wasn’t until five years ago that the council asked the club to sign a lease agreement on the club for insurance cover.
At that point in time, Cook was under the impression the club would not have to pay rates on the property, on top of the additional charges like lease and ground upkeep.
Until a decision is made on the review the club will have to pay the levy in instalments.
By Afraa Kori
An elderly couple has been left injured and traumatised after a stolen ute slammed into their vehicle in Narre Warren, before the driver fled the scene.
Emergency services were called to Saxonwood Drive just after 5pm on 20 October following reports of a collision between a grey Toyota Hilux and a white Toyota Yaris.
The driver of the Toyota Yaris, a 75-year-old man and his 73-year-old passenger both from Casey, were taken to The Alfred hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators later determined the Hilux had been stolen from an address in Craigieburn on 28 August. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
The family’s spokesperson (who requested anonymity) said the crash was so severe that the grandmother became trapped in the vehicle while her grandfather, despite his own injuries, frantically tried to get her out.
Both sustained significant injuries: the grandfather suffered internal bleeding and back injuries, and the grandmother fractured her chest, back, and ribs. They also had visible bruising and burns from the seatbelt on their neck and hips.
The couple received immediate medical attention due to their age and underlying health conditions — the grandmother is diabetic (insulin-dependent) and the grandfather has haemophilia.
The crash has left them fearful of returning to the road. The grandfather experiences flashbacks of the incident, and the grandmother’s ordeal of being trapped underscores the long-lasting psychological impact.
“An innocent drive that they have taken everyday is now tainted with the traumatic memories,” the family spokesperson said.
“Whenever we drive on the street of the accident, we all instantly remember what happened and how it looked in the moment.
“Having to personally search a completely destroyed vehicle for your loved one’s belongings was shocking. It has made us all realise how fast life can take a turn.”
Despite their injuries, the couple is slowly recovering, are in safe hands, and remain in high spirits.
The family’s spokesperson said her grandparents were lucky to survive the terrifying collision,
which they believe was caused by a driver “swerving on the wrong side of the road under the influence”.
“Due to this being a hit and run incident, the offender obviously has no remorse for what he did considering how easy it was for him to leave innocent elderly people after an accident.”
Residents who witnessed the crash tended to the injured couple and tried to stop the fleeing driver.
“The people of our community put their lives at risk to help our family,” the family spokesperson said.
“We’ve received so many beautiful messages, offers of support and evidence from witnesses. It’s restored our faith in the community.”
The Toyota Yaris involved in the crash was a brand-new rental, which the couple had received just hours earlier because their personal car was being serviced.
As the Yaris was a rental, its future now rests with the insurance company, but the family fears they could be liable for the damage if the driver is not caught.
The hit-and-run is part of an alarming trend, with the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reporting sharp rises in vehicle-related offences across Melbourne.
In Casey, stealing from motor vehicle offences (4,353) rose 29 per cent, whereas motor vehicle theft (1,923) surged 54 per cent in the year ending June 2025.
While the family “hopes” the offender will be found, they have little faith in the justice system to deliver accountability.
“It’s unfortunate that our government seems to not take justice seriously and criminals are being favoured, rather than the victims,” the family spokesperson said.
Victims were saved in this damaged rental vehicle.
“It’s ridiculous how far we have to go with safety precautions just to not be victims of theft or abuse.”
The family, who moved to Melbourne more than 20 years ago seeking a fresh start, are now questioning whether they will remain in Victoria amid rising concerns about crime.
The grandparents, originally from Chile, settled in Melbourne more than 20 years ago, while the wider family relocated from Sydney, all seeking a fresh start in life.
Now, the family is questioning whether they will remain in Victoria amid rising concerns about
crime.
“Everyday we wake up and see a new incident on the news or social media,” the spokesperson said.
“Melbourne is no longer the beautiful city it once was and it doesn’t seem like it will get any better.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Violet Li
Upgrade works may have led to dismally-high numbers of mental health patients languishing in Dandenong and Casey hospital emergency departments, according to the State Government.
In April-June, just 4 per cent of adult patients were transferred from Dandenong Hospital ED to a mental health bed within eight hours, according to official state health statistics.
At Casey Hospital, zero per cent of the adult mental-health transfers occurred within eight hours.
These were the lowest rates in the state, and well below the 44 per cent statewide average.
The rates are also a far cry from five years ago at Dandenong Hospital (54 per cent) and Casey (52 per cent).
In the same period, adult mental-health bed occupancy has risen from 94 per cent to 99 per cent in Dandenong, and slightly dipped from 74 per cent to 72 per cent at Casey.
According to the State Government, temporary intensive care area (ICA) closures during upgrade works may have contributed to higher occupancy rates.
Intensive care area beds have been upgraded at Monash Medical Centre to improve gender separation, safety and quality of care, with works underway at Casey Hospital and set to begin at Dandenong Hospital in early 2026.
“We know demand for mental health support continues to grow,” a government spokesperson said.
“That’s why we’re investing in upgrades to in-
tensive care areas across the state and delivering six new Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Hubs in emergency departments, including at Monash Medical Centre.”
The spokesperson said Monash Health delivered the state’s largest mental health service for a “rapidly growing and diverse community across Melbourne’s south-east.”
“We’re expanding mental health services so people can get care sooner and closer to home right across Victoria – including through the new Dandenong Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, the upcoming Cardinia Local and the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) aftercare program at Casey and Dandenong.”
Star News has received reports of patients staying for up to five days at Dandenong Hospital.
Cranbourne resident Ray, whose daughter has been a frequent patient at both hospitals, says they’ve languished up to 36 hours in the Casey Hospital ED.
The issue for him is not whether care starts, but how long it takes for that care to start.
He said Casey Hospital’s emergency department is often overwhelmed, with most of its 25 cubicles occupied.
“You sit in the waiting room for eight hours or so before you even see a doctor, and then they say that we need to sew up your arm or you need to see the mental health people,” he said.
“You have to wait for a few more hours to see the mental health people.
“Then maybe, they won’t come to see you until you’ve got a cubicle. They can’t get you into
By Jensy Callimootoo
As part of Casey Council’s commitment to encouraging faith-led respect and inclusion, various religious communities came together on 20 of October for the Multifaith Network Afternoon Tea at Bunjil Place.
Over the afternoon event, multiple faith leaders and community members from different organisations like — Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Victoria, Holy Trinity Church and the Casey Multifaith Network — had the opportunity to collaborate in active conversations on ways to
strengthen understanding and collaboration.
In attendance, Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen, recognised the crucial role faith communities have in promoting unity and inclusion in the region.
He also said the afternoon was a “wonderful opportunity” for the attendees and council to connect, “share ideas and build new relationships”.
“Casey is home to more than 400,000 people from around 150 different cultural backgrounds and that’s something really special,” he said.
“Our diversity is one of our biggest strengths and something we can all be proud of.”
a cubicle because the emergency department’s full up, and they’ve got nowhere to put medical patients until a bed frees up on the ward.
“You just end up sitting there forever. And if you’re going to be transferred out, you’ve got to get that bed first. You’ve got to get mental health clearance.
“Then they’ll arrange transportation if there’s a bed to transport you to; they don’t have any idea when transportation is going to turn up. And no visibility of any of that stuff.
“You might sit there for a day and a half waiting for a bed….and then you will be transferred.”
Ray said there are not enough beds in the emergency departments at Casey Hospital.
“If you go up there most nights, it’ll be absolutely full in the waiting room with people lined up out of the corridor and up the hallway,” he recalled.
Ray said his daughter was referred to Monash Health’s community mental-health services, first the Early in Life Mental Health Service when she was younger, then the Youth Consultation and Treatment Team (YCTT).
These services offered psychiatric reviews and therapy, but had limited capacity, and she was eventually discharged and told to find a private psychiatrist.
For the daughter, private care proved unaffordable.
“If I said I’d been to the emergency department 300 times in seven years, I wouldn’t be lying. A good proportion of those times, what happens is you get turned around pretty quickly and sent home,” Ray said.
“If you are in the community mental health service, as we were, we would be sent on our way with the promise that somebody from the community mental health service would connect with us within 24 hours or so.
“95 per cent of the time, that never happened. Nobody ever called.”
Monash Health’s catchment covers one of Victoria’s fastest-growing areas, stretching across Casey, Dandenong and Cardinia.
In a statement, a Monash Health spokesperson said that at the EDs, mental health care begins the moment a patient is identified as needing support.
“Our Emergency Psychiatric Service, located within the emergency department, identifies and actively manages patients who need mental health assistance. This ensures patients receive specialist care and support before they transition to a dedicated mental health bed,” they said.
“Monash Health remains committed to working with the Victorian Government to ensure every member of our community receives the care they need to live their best possible life.” Monash Health declined to comment on why such high numbers of Dandenong and Casey mental-health patients were staying in ED for beyond eight hours.
On average, patients stayed nearly a fortnight in Dandenong and Casey mental health beds, marginally longer than the rest of metro Melbourne, according to official statistics.
At Dandenong, 22 per cent of patients occupied beds for 35-plus days. This was more than double the rate of other Melbourne units.
A Dandenong man has been charged after an alleged brawl in Oakleigh East.
Police say they responded to reports of a group of males assaulting each other on Dandenong Road about 9.20pm on 21 October.
A 29-year-old Hallam man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
On 24 October, Monash CIU detectives arrested and charged an 18-year-old Dandenong man.
He was charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, common law assault and assault with a weapon. He was bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on 8 December. Police say the investigation remains ongoing. Any CCTV/dash cam footage or information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
By Jensy Callimootoo
When nine years old, Julz Nichols learnt all too well what it’s like to lose her home at a moment’s notice.
She remembers the freshly mowed lawn her and brother sat on waiting for their grandmother to come pick them up. She even remembers the bright pink of her mum’s hand made jumper, with her cat, Bow, hiding underneath it. At the time though, Julz didn’t realise the world she once knew had shifted.
It was the same moment that her and her family’s homelessness journey began along with the lasting impact it had on her mental health.
But Julz’s story is becoming increasingly prevalent and Victoria’s housing services are struggling to keep up.
Shari McPhail who works on the frontline of this crisis at Wayss says in her 20 years of experience, she has never seen it this difficult to achieve housing outcomes for people.
At a recent forum aimed at bringing attention to the rising number of homeless women in Casey, McPhail emphasised the fraying safety net and the devastating consequences this has had for women in vulnerable positions.
When women look for safety, “they often flee into homelessness and when they do, the trauma doesn’t stop, it multiplies,” she said.
For Julz’ family, it took nearly two years until they had access to stable housing.
From a dingy motel right opposite the Chadstone Shopping Centre where for only two weeks she indulged in classic Australian TV after school like Water Rats.
To a small Seaford Airbnb where the now youth worker vividly remembers the bunk beds she shared with her brother, and the tiny microwave that marked her now aversion to spaghetti – an affordable and accessible food staple for many struggling with homelessness.
They were then moved to another seaside unit in Chelsea for 12 months, where Julz says she has fond memories of playing on the beach and building sand castles. But while she tenderly looks back on her time as a child, she stresses her mum’s parallel emotions stemmed in instability and the void of the unknown.
“My mum would have found it way worse, because I didn’t know it at the time but it’s not like she was told ‘you have 12 months here’,” Julz said.
“It was week to week, and she didn’t know if it was going to be extended or not.”
Despite the vivid mental images of her time at different accommodations, Julz says her mum maintained a sense of normalcy for her and her brother.
During school hours, Julz’ mum would go to different housing organisations and access points to insist on some sort of assistance for her and her two children.
“She would sit there day in and day out and would not leave until she got some kind of support,” Julz said.
Redefining homelessness
Now, Julz has been working on the frontline of the housing crisis for years in the inner south east and continues to help people struggling to access services.
She says that the definition of what it means to be homeless needs to change in order to address systemic causes.
Homelessness does not only encompass the traditional picture of individuals sleeping on the streets, she says. But also includes individuals who are forced to sleep in their cars or couch surf for an ex-
tended period of time with no accommodation plans in place.
McPhail also says that there are working people and families “doing everything right” yet still falling through the cracks of homelessness.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen a 46 per cent increase in working people entering our services for help with housing,” she said.
Julz calls for greater governmental enforcement of solutions that aims funding for rent in advance and rent arrears capacities that helps people access accommodation options.
A solution that McPhail also championed during the Panel.
“A decade ago 80 per cent of the Housing Establishment Fund helped people stay housed through rent arrears and rent in advance,” she said.
“But today 80 per cent goes to crisis accommodation. That’s not a solution, that’s a bandaid. And it’s a road to nowhere.”
Julz also says there’s a greater need for transparency and accountability from landlords and property managers, ensuring renters are protected from dangerous housing conditions like mould or infrastructure damage.
“At the moment, some of the properties are so unsafe, but people have no choice and they’re stuck living there and that’s going to have a lifelong impact on them,” she said.
Lasting impact
Despite her mum’s efforts in sheltering her children from the adversities of their living conditions, Julz says that looking back, she had to grow up much faster than her peers which brought along insecurity.
“We had to grow up from quite a young age, at times we’d have to cook for ourselves and figure out how to be an adult before we reached an adult age,”
Julz says the lasting impacts of homelessness runs deep, from small ripples like not being able to tolerate spaghetti anymore to bigger entrenched psychological effects like the constant dread of financial instability that may lead her back into the system.
In 2016 at the height of her first year of her science degree to become a vet, which was then her aspiration, Julz’ grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and her mum had just undergone back surgery.
Julz says the responsibility of having to take care of everyone along with the pressure from her studies triggered a period of catatonic depression; it was so bad that she lost the ability to communicate.
“I had taken Nan down to Dandenong for her appointment,” she said.
“Nan asked me something and I started to stutter, and did not matter how much I tried to talk, I just kept stuttering.
“And then I had a full breakdown.”
It took her several months to recover and with the help of her mum she learnt to speak again.
But Julz looks back on it as a turning point. It was the very experience that led to the decision to become a youth worker inspired by her mum who prompted her to consider a career in youth work.
“It’s one of those things I don’t regret, because I can understand people with that lived experience of mental health.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In response to the opinion piece “Forget Guru Nanak Lake – let’s name a suburb Nanakville instead” (Jamel Kaur Singh and Dya Singh, Star News, 23 October), I write to correct the suggestion that community concerns about the renaming of Berwick Springs Lake are racially motivated. That interpretation could not be further from the truth and any suggestion of a racially motivated agenda is honestly offensive to our multicultural, multi faith community.
As someone who lives here and values our increasingly diverse community, I wish to make clear: we fully recognise and respect the contributions of the Sikh community and the legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Our concern has never been with faith or culture — it is with process, fairness, and inclusion.
The Sikh community’s long record of seva — selfless service — through food drives, blood donation campaigns, and charitable support for those in need, has earned deep respect from residents across Casey.
Their generosity and community care embody the best of what makes our city strong.
Our concern lies in how the Victorian Government made the decision to rename a long-rec-
ognised local landmark — widely known for decades as “Berwick Springs Lake” — without any community consultation with local residents.
Many only discovered the change when signage first appeared.
There is no such place as Berwick Springs. It has never been gazetted and is, in reality, Narre Warren South.
Everyone knows Berwick Springs though, the local MP calls it Berwick Springs as do government ministers, just as everyone including the local MP, knows that the lake at the heart of Berwick Springs is called Berwick Springs Lake.
It too was never gazetted.
The Berwick Springs community is multicultural and multifaith, yet the Victorian Premier and local MP have inferred that residents are Neo Nazis because they have called out the lack of consultation over the name change.
Local Jewish residents, as can be imagined, find that utterly disgusting and beyond contempt. All residents are appalled.
The whole process has been an unfunny comedy of errors, from Andrews unilaterally declaring that a landmark would be named after Guru Nanak, to ministers ignoring recommendations from Melbourne Water, Geographic Names Victoria and The City of Casey, through to civil servants failing to grasp that the “unnamed lake” is a much loved landmark, with a name, at the centre of an existing community, and a community that had a reputation for fighting for its rights.
Residents were not invited to the renaming ceremony - and renaming was the term used on the signage, press release and by Minister Stitt. (It took over a week for the various government bodies to make their stories match.)
The two main political parties have rushed to demonstrate their love of all things Sikh in what seems to be an embarrassing, unbecoming scramble to collect what they appear to believe is the “Sikh voting bloc”.
This imagined voting bloc does not exist and the Sikh community must surely find this ap-
proach insulting.
The residents of Berwick Springs (Narre Warren South) have only ever viewed this as an issue with the state government; it is the political parties that have turned it into an issue of race.
In the case of Labor, it might be assumed that they have no defence against the accusation that they failed to follow due process over the issue of consultation.
Was it much easier for them to call those opposed to the change “far right”, “white supremacists” etc., than to answer for their actions?
(There are some amusing online videos of residents from Asian and African backgrounds giving their view on being labelled white supremacists.)
It is only sensible that names for new developments and landmarks reflect the excellent work done by people from all backgrounds, religion and culture. (More recent immigrants may be at a disadvantage in this regard, but the work done by the Sikh community has thrown many names into the ring.)
What is not appropriate is the naming of state and federal landmarks after religious founders, Australia is a secular society, and the renaming of Berwick Springs Lake has created significant religious division.
The Allan government is introducing sectarian politics, perhaps, without realising.
Why would a long-standing name be changed, without consultation, and based upon a technicality?
It is unfair to the local community, and it is a poisoned chalice for the Sikh community.
The only possible outcome is religious division.
Is this really what the government wants?
Malcolm Sharp Berwick Springs
Under the Official Naming Rules for Places in Victoria, section 7, Consultation, the immediate community must be contacted or notified and Naming Authorities must comply with the minimum requirements, yet that essential engage-
ment simply did not occur.
Further, under Principle C, Linking the Name to a Place, the legislation clearly states “with preference given to unofficial names by the immediate community”.
For generations, “The Springs” has been central to the identity and heritage of this suburb, tracing back to the mid-1800s homesteads that gave the area its name, Berwick Springs.
A petition tabled in Parliament, now with over 4,300 signatures from residents ( not including our online petitions nearly 15,000) of many cultural backgrounds (including members of the Sikh community), calls for transparency, the consultation that was simply ignored and a full review of the naming process.
We are not opposed to honouring Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
We simply believe naming public places should be a shared process — done with community consultation and participation, not to it.
Good governance, respect for heritage, and inclusive engagement go hand-in-hand with multicultural recognition.
Country Press Australia (CPA) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s decision to rule out a copyright exemption for AI companies, but says urgent action is required to enforce copyright laws and stop AI platforms from stealing regional journalism.
CPA President Damian Morgan said the damage to regional journalism was no longer hypothetical or distant, it was already occurring.
“AI companies think they are above the law.
“They are harvesting local news stories, paraphrasing them, and delivering them back to users as answers rather than links.
“The public still consumes the journalism, but they never reach the publisher, never subscribe, and never see a local advertiser.
“The reporting is ours, but the commercial benefit is captured by offshore technology companies.”
Regional publishers operate metered or hybrid paywalls to fund journalism, but AI scraping routinely bypasses those protections, Morgan said.
This further threatened the economic base needed to keep local journalists employed, he said.
“The problem is not only training data.
“These platforms are now replacing the publisher in real time.
“They extract our reporting, convert it into their own output, and keep the audience.
“That removes the economic base needed to keep journalists employed in regional Australia.”
Morgan said the policy failure that occurred when Meta walked away from fund-
ing news must not be allowed to repeat itself in the AI era.
“Google has remained engaged with the industry, but Meta walked away while still benefiting from Australian journalism.
“We cannot go through a second cycle where big tech uses regional reporting to drive engagement but refuses to fund the journalism that makes it possible.
“If AI companies want to use Australian news, they must license it and pay for it.”
Country Press Australia is calling for a national framework that ensures licensing covers both training and output.
CPA also wants regional publishers to be explicitly included alongside larger media companies, as well as a low-cost, fast enforcement pathway for small publishers who cannot afford lengthy litigation.
“Regional journalism is not simply a commercial product,” Mr Morgan said.
“It is public infrastructure in democratic life.
“If scraping continues unchecked, local reporting will disappear not because communities don’t value it, but because AI has siphoned away the audience and revenue that sustains it.
“Once a regional newsroom closes, there is no replacing it.”
He said the government had taken the right first step by rejecting a copyright carveout for AI, but the next stage – licensing and enforcement – will determine whether regional publishing can remain viable.
“Australia solved this problem once through the News Media Bargaining Code.
“We now need the AI equivalent before the harm becomes irreversible.”
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By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A locally formed Afghan Locally Engaged Employee (LEE) Association is still fighting for their endangered families to join them in Australia.
Its president Nisar worked as an interpreter with American and Australian forces in Afghanistan until he migrated under Australia’s LEE resettlement program in 2014.
He formed Afghan LEE Association (ALA), representing 50 interpreters, contractors, partner organisations and drivers who assisted Australian military and diplomatic missions.
With their deep knowledge of Afghan cultures, languages and localities, the LEE were key liasions for visiting forces.
But because of their work, LEE families remain very much in danger and stranded overseas.
“While our interpreters were protected by (the ADF) with ammunition, our families were without weapons,” Nisar says of the families’ sacrifices.
“At the moment we have families in Pakistan. Police can knock on the door, take everything from you and tell you to go back to Afghanistan.
“You have to bribe them to stay in Pakistan.”
Australia’s LEE resettlement program officially closed in 2023 and later extended to mid-2024, with more than 2500 visas granted to Afghan LEE and their close relatives since 2012.
However, an estimated 1000 LEE and family members remained stranded at the time of closure.
The Federal Government continues to process existing LEE applications in the meantime.
Afghan LEEs and families are still able to apply under an expanded humanitarian and family visa program for 26,500 Afghans through to 2025-‘26.
Currently, only immediate family such as a spouse and dependent children under 18 are prioritized for resettlement.
A Government-commissioned review found
this concept of family was incompatible in Afghanistan, which includes strong ties to siblings and extended family members.
As Nisar says: “In Afghanistan, if they can’t get the (LEE) they will get their brother or sister.”
The review found that if the program was open to extended family, the resettled LEE could be at the expense of UNHCR refugees.
Naval veteran Peter Erson, who worked closely with LEE interpreters in Afghanistan, regards them as “our guardian angels”.
He has written several letters on behalf of Afghan LEEs, requesting resettlement for their fam-
ilies hiding in Pakistan
So far, he’s had a success with a LEE’s sister and her kids gaining visa-entry and a safe home in Hallam.
But he’s disappointed that after more than a decade, there still remains a large backlog.
“This is not a backlog, this is just people sitting on their a***s.”
His former LEE interpreter Raz, who was awarded an ADF Bronze Commendation Badge for his service, says “we never felt safe for a second” .
“We were waiting – when are we getting killed?
When will we get shot, or will they kidnap us, kill our families.”
Meanwhile, Raz’s family members remain stranded in Afghanistan despite applying for entry to Australia. ADF veteran Bruno Bertucci, the RSL’s welfare advocate, says he’d worked closely with LEE interpreters.
“We are quite upset. We become family over there, our brothers-in-arms. A lot of them and their families made sacrifices.
“If it was up to us, they’d all be here because that’s what was promised.”
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
It was an unlikely reunion after 18 long years.
Raz Mohammad and Peter Erson formed a bond of brotherhood in the Afghanistan war zone in 2007.
Raz was an Afghan Locally Engaged Employee (LEE), putting his and his family’s lives on the line as an interpreter and cultural guide for Australian forces.
He worked side by side with Peter, who was the ADF’s only investigator of non-combatant or civilian deaths.
In a role akin to NCIS, they examined scenes of unimaginable horror and peril.
In the aftermath of suicide bombings and IUD explosions, they searched for fingers in body bags in order to identify victims.
Yet after their work together ended, they had not seen each other for 18 years and had little idea of their whereabouts.
That was until the two spotted each other over a table at Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL this
month.
It was at an Afghan veterans and interpreters thank-you dinner organised by the RSL, which followed a successful thank-you lunch for Iraqi interpreters in June.
Both get-togethers are believed to be a first of a kind in Australia. They are co-sponsored with Berwick RSL.
On his way to the reunion, Peter was skeptical about the Australian Government “keeping its word” about resettling LEEs in this country.
“In the back of my mind, I’m asking did the government bring them out. When I was invited to the dinner here, the first thing I wondered was if Raz was going to be there.
“Then across at the end of the table, lo and behold, there he is. Eighteen years later.
“I’m just so glad because he looked after us.”
Raz’s local insights were invaluable on the job. Such as advising the ADF not to trust a local police commander who promised to return a victim’s car to their family.
He showed conspicuous bravery when he ran
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in the line of fire to protect a motorcyclist who was shot after breaching an ADF checkpoint.
The rider in front of the wounded victim however was shot dead.
“Our soldiers told them to stop, stop. But they probably didn’t listen to the command, and our guys started shooting them.
“The one who was injured said please don’t shoot me. I hugged him and said no one will shoot you, I am here with you.”
He further de-escalated the situation, imploring local police to stop firing at the ADF in retaliation.
“I yelled at them to stop this shooting because this incident happened by mistake, the Australian forces didn’t intentionally shoot him. It happened accidentally.”
Raz later mediated with the dead rider’s grieving family, to resolve the incident in a “traditional Afghan way”.
He was awarded an ADF Bronze Commendation Badge for his actions.
Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL veterans support services manager Vladimir Nagorny said the aim of the thank-you events was to formerly recognise the interpreters’ service.
“These men and women were the eyes, ears, and advisers of the Australian Defence Force during the mission — often putting their own lives, and the safety of their families, at great risk.
“It has taken considerable time and effort to have their service properly recognised within the RSL community.”
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By Violet Li
The 2025 Relay for Life went ahead in high spirits despite the rain, bringing together hundreds of participants who helped raise more than $121,000 for cancer research and support.
More than 550 locals participated in the event from the night of Saturday 25 October to the morning of Sunday 26 October, relaying overnight.
Among them was Pakenham local Rhonda Luxford, who has been part of the event for 22 years and had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open this year’s program at Casey Fields.
Rhonda’s journey with Relay for Life began after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2002 and endured seven months of chemotherapy.
About two years later, she joined her first Relay and never stopped.
“Being a survivor gave me the determination to fight back, to do the best I can, to help others, and pay back,” she said.
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop, because it means so much to me.
“I just want to raise money for research and hope that we can help others.”
Over two decades, Rhonda has raised tens of thousands of dollars and seen the event evolve from a small walk into one of the region’s most anticipated fundraisers.
“People are so kind,” she said. Rhonda hoped to see the event continue to grow, as she noted that things slowed down after Covid.
“Everybody’s life goes on, and their life has changed,” she said.
“We’ve got to build it back up now, and I’ll keep going till either it stops or I can’t do it anymore.”
A pair of South East leaders have made the shortlist of Victoria’s Australian of the Year nominees.
Springvale Indochinese Mutual Assistance Association (SICMAA) president Be Ha, 75, is among the four nominees for the Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria.
Meanwhile, youth leader Abraham Kuol, of Narre Warren, was among the nominees for Young Australian of the Year for Victoria.
Ms Ha, who arrived from Vietnam as a refugee in 1979, has been recognised for turning her adversity into a lifelong commitment to support refugee and migrant communities.
She co-founded SICMAA, which delivers vital services to tens of thousands. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in refugee settlement, multicultural advocacy and community development.
Ms Ha continues to volunteer for SICMAA and to advocate for cultural inclusion, aged care reform and community health.
A criminology PhD student, Mr Kuol has used sport and his knowledge to help young people in his community.
He co-founded the Black Rhinos soccer and basketball club for at-risk youth and is a director of Sandown Lions Football Club.
The 28-year-old has helped raise more than $3.5 million for programs to support African-Australian families and justice-involved youth.
As a popular public speaker, Mr Kuol has been actively inspiring genuine social change.
The Victorian award recipients will be announced on Thursday 6 November.
They will join other state and territory recipients as finalists for national awards on 25 January.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser said the Victorian nominees reflected the power of an individual to make a positive impact.
Relay for Life is a Cancer Council community fundraising challenge raising vital funds for Cancer Council’s prevention, research, information and support services.
It’s also an opportunity to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, including those going through a cancer experience and their carers; honour and remember loved ones lost; and fight back against cancer.
“The nominees for the Victorian awards share a sense of passion and purpose,” Fraser said.
“From lives spent advocating for others, selflessly giving to care for those in need, finding new ways to solve problems or create change, they are all driven by a sense of caring.”
THE Australian Outback will sing again in 2026 with the return of two iconic camping-based music festivals, The Big Red Bash which is renowned as the world’s most remote music event, and Australia’s Biggest Outback Music Festival the Mundi Mundi Bash.
Each features three days of music and unique outback entertainment - from world record attempts and charity fun runs to camel rides, comedy and outdoor film nights.
The Birdsville Big Red Bash will return to the Simpson Desert across July 7-9 next year, while the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash will return to the Mundi Mundi Plains across August 20-22 with both blockbuster Outback music events putting tickets on-sale this week.
The 2026 festival line-ups are a roll call of Australian music royalty with Missy Higgins (Big Red Bash only), The Teskey Brothers, Hoodoo Gurus (Big Red Bash only), Jon Stevens (Mundi Mundi Bash only), John Butler (Mundi Mundi Bash only), The Living End (Big Red Bash only), Birds of Tokyo (Big Red Bash only), Jessica Mauboy and other legendary acts set to hit two of the most extraordinary stages on earth.
THE FULL EVENT LINE-UPS INCLUDE:
Birdsville Big Red Bash: Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, The Whitlams, Tim Finn, Troy CassarDaley, Chocolate Starfish, Ross Wilson, Furnace and the Fundamentals, ‘50 Years of Fleetwood Mac’, Shane Howard, Wes Carr, Jem Cassar-Daley, Tom Busby and Gypsy Lee.
The 2026 event will see Gypsy Lee join her mother and Bash regular Kate Ceberano for the first time in Birdsville, while Jem Cassar-Daley will also join her father Troy at the event for another familial moment on the edge of the Simpson Desert.
Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash: The Teskey Brothers, Jon Stevens, John Butler, Boy & Bear, Baby Animals, Jessica Mauboy, The Whitlams, Leo Sayer, Tim Finn, Richard Clapton, Troy Cassar-Daley, Chocolate Starfish, Furnace and the Fundamentals, Wendy Matthews, The Radiators, Shane Howard, Fanny Lumsden, ‘50 Years of Fleetwood Mac’, Hot Potato Band, Tom Busby and Wes Carr.
Greg Donovan, Bash event founder/owner and Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group who stage both events said 2026 marks a joyful return to form.
“We’re stoked to be bringing back the full Birdsville Big Red Bash after taking a breather this year,” he said.
“Our team are recharged and ready to give festival-goers an unforgettable outback adventure. Tickets are already selling fast, we’re so grateful for the ongoing support of our festival goers.
“After the first hour of on sale tickets are already 40 per cent sold for the Big Red Bash and we’re hoping for an equally great response when the Mundi Mundi Bash tickets go on-sale.”
For Donovan, the Bash festivals are about
more than music - they’re about moments.
“Watching families dance in the shadow of the 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune as the sun sets behind it, or seeing thousands on the Mundi Mundi Plains under that endless sky with the Barrier Ranges behind them is pure magic,” he said.
Missy Higgins is looking forward to headlining the Big Red Bash’s return.
“My band and I absolutely love playing in the desert for The Big Red Bash,” she said.
“Surrounded by giant sand dunes and people having travelled miles in their dusty caravans to get there… it’s so unique and so Australian. There is an incredible line-up set for 2026 and we’re all thrilled to be invited back to play again.”
Meanwhile, The Teskey Brothers are eager to make their Bash debut.
“We’ve heard a lot about these desert shows from our friends and we can’t wait to get out there in the red dust and see what it’s all about,” Josh Teskey added.
“Very excited for these shows.”
The 2026 edition of the Big Red Bash will also mark the return of crowd favourites Hoodoo Gurus.
“We’re psyched to be making a return visit to The Big Red Bash next year,” frontman Dave Faulkner said.
“Our first-and only-time there in 2023 was one of the most memorable gigs of our lives. What an insane idea: gather a motley crew of merry misfits and savvy self-starters and headout to the backof-beyond to enjoy a few days of music, mirth and merriment?! Whoever thought of that is a genius because it was amazing and I can’t wait to experience it again.”
Event organisers are working on a new activity to replace the world-record breaking Nutbush dance-offs at both Bash events with further announcements to come.
Both events are all-ages, dog-friendly and BYO and offer a rare kind of freedom where thousands
of campers share songs, stories and sunrise views that stretch on forever. Heavily reduced ticket prices for kids under 18-years-old are available.
The festivals offer up uniquely Australian destination adventures for families, grey nomads, camping and caravanning enthusiasts and intrepid travelers alike with around 10,000 expected to converge on Big Red outside of Birdsville and close to 15,000 on the Mundi Mundi Plains. More information head to: www.bigredbash.com.au and www.mundimundibash.com.au.
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Full-Board River Cruise
3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray Princess with all meals and sightseeing
Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse
Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat
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Hotel Stays
3 nights five-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast
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Local residents rolled up to Marriott Waters Shopping Centre on Saturday 25 October for another successful Safe Plate Day, an event aimed at tackling the growing issue of licence plate thefts.
Run in partnership with the Hampton Park Fire Brigade, the initiative offered one-way screw fittings for licence plates in exchange for a gold coin donation.
Firefighters also fired up the barbecue for a sausage sizzle fundraiser.
All proceeds from the day went directly to support the Hampton Park Fire Brigade’s community efforts.
3. And which horse won in that year?
which year?
2. The highest Melbourne Cup Day attendance of
4. This year the annual Melbourne Cup Trophy Tour commenced with a visit to which city?
The winning strapper is presented with what trophy?
What is the type and colour of the traditional buttonhole flower worn on Cup Day?
Bart Cummings holds the record for winning the Melbourne Cup how many times?
The silk colours of which famous Cupwinner featured the stars of the Southern Cross?
Sheila Laxon, joint trainer of 2024 winner Knight’s Choice also prepared which other Melbourne Cup winner?
10. Which owner was represented by six runners in the 2013 Cup?
11. Which Melbourne Cupwinning horse originally raced in New Zealand under the name Flash Guy?
12. The 2024 Cup winner Knight’s Choice was bred near which NSW country town?
13. In 1965 famous British supermodel Jean Shrimpton sparked controversy by wearing what at Flemington?
14. Which Melbourne Cup winner was trained in Germany?
15. Which famous Cup winner carried 66kg to victory?
16. Runners in the 2025 Melbourne Cup will compete for how much prize money?
17. What percentage of the prize money does the winning jockey receive?
18. A popular cocktail served at Flemington on Cup day is called what?
19. Which country did 2006 Cup winner Delta Blues represent?
20. Which champion Australian jockey of the modern era fell off at his first ride in the Melbourne Cup?
21. How many female jockeys have ridden in the Cup?
22. What has been the most successful barrier in Melbourne Cup history?
23. And who is the only horse to have won the Melbourne Cup from barrier 18?
24. Who was the last grey horse to win the Melbourne Cup?
25. The race is now run on the first Tuesday in November, but originally it was run on which day of the week?
26. Which horse was the first and only to win the ‘Spring Grand Slam’, winning the Caufield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup in the same year?
27. And which country did that horse come from?
28. Queen Elizabeth II’s only attempt at capturing Australia’s crown for stayers was with which horse?
29. Who was the last favourite to win the Cup?
30. Winning connections of the first Melbourne Cup received what?
As part of the City of Casey’s Aging Positively Festival during October, Casey’s U3A showcased a range of activities able to be enjoyed by senior residents over the weekend.
The event aimed to demonstrate what activities and hobbies U3A Casey offers their seniors, with more than 600 members already participating.
Throughout the day, the event saw more than 200 participants taking part in a wide selection of nearly 75 recreational hobbies, among them include dancing, pickleball and Zumba and mindful
hobbies like crosswords and art crafts.
President of Casey’s U3A, Christine Trimnell , says that there’s something for everyone.
Honing in on different mental and physical skills, Rosalee and Kanthi took part in the technical and strategic game of chess.
While other participants joined in a class of tai chi and activated the controlled bodily movements needed for the sport.
Residents, Mr and Mrs Labberton even took to the floor, showcasing their brilliant ballroom danc-
By Jensy Callimootoo
Have you recently fallen for artificial-intelligence-generated content? Or maybe you’re finding it harder to spot a scam online?
You’re not alone — new research from Good Things Australia points to a growing lack of digital literacy in the age of AI.
The research reveals that nearly 48 per cent of Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to spot scams, while 29 per cent say they can’t always tell if something online is AI-generated.
For people aged over 65, the risk of falling for scams is intensified.
In line with the report, nearly 60 per cent of older people are worried about getting scammed online, the report also suggests that it’s getting increasingly hard to tell what’s real or not on the digital spheres.
As part of tackling these issues and teaching the critical skills involved in spotting a scam before it’s too late, Good Things Australia’s ‘Get Online Week’ aimed to make it easier for attendees of the event to learn practical digital skills and to close the digital divide.
The organisation held several classes across the south east last week, including in Narre Warren and Berwick.
Jess Wilson, Chief Executive at Good Things, says there are a range of skills that help people protect themselves online.
“Simple steps make a big difference… avoid clicking links in suspicious emails, go directly to the official website instead, never share PINs or passwords, and never send money or personal details to unfamiliar contacts,” she said.
Already, across Australia, Get Online Week reached hundreds of people wanting to build on their digital literacy skills.
Nearly 32 per cent of Australians say that with the right support, they’re keen to get education about the characteristics and world of AI and equally, excited to gain skills and confidence to adapt to online environments.
ing skills.
Also in attendance was Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen, who presented the award for U3A’s Tutor Recognition to Noel Barlow for his contribution to the facility over the last 20 years. Barlow has shared his expertise and knowledge of tech and genealogy to other members over the years.
Anyone interested in finding out more about what U3A Casey has to offer can go to u3acasey. org.au
“Get Online Week is a chance to connect with your community, learn something new and leave feeling more confident,” she said.
Wilson says that the fast-paced nature of the digital landscape can be overwhelming, but also considers education as the “foundation of online safety”.
The former operator of a Hallam servo has been accused of underpaying a migrant worker. It’s part of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s legal action against six United Petroleum outlets for underpayments.
Satarupa Patel, a sole trader and the former commission agent of a United Petroleum outlet on Princes Highway, Hallam had allegedly underpaid an employee a total of $9271 between October 2020-March 2021.
The employee was an Indian national who was on a temporary resident visa at the time and was allegedly paid unlawfully low flat rates of no more than $15 an hour.
FWO alleges that the worker was entitled to be paid minimum hourly rates of at least
$28.38, and additional payments of at least $15.81 per hour of overtime worked.
There are no allegations levelled against the Hallam servo’s current operator.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the nature of the alleged contraventions meant that litigation was the appropriate response.
“Any employer who allegedly significantly undercuts the legal rates risks facing legal action,” Ms Booth said.
“We allege the employer here was paying flat hourly rates that were only barely above half the worker’s owed minimum rates for ordinary hours, and about one-third of their total owed rates for overtime hours.
“These levels of underpayments will never
be tolerated.”
Ms Booth said protecting migrant workers was an “enduring priority” for the FWO.
“We applaud the worker in this case for assisting the Fair Work Ombudsman’s investigation.
“Migrant workers have the same workplace rights in Australia as any other worker, and protections for their visas exist if they call out any exploitation.”
The FWO is seeking penalties in court of up to $13,320 per contravention.
The regulator is also seeking an order requiring Ms Patel to rectify the alleged underpayment in full, plus superannuation and interest.
A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne on 3 December.
The proceedings are the latest legal action by the Fair Work Ombudsman against former operators of United Petroleum-branded outlets, which follow audits of 20 outlets across five Australian states.
Total penalties from concluded litigations have exceeded $230,000 to date.
The Fair Work Ombudsman filed 146 litigations against employers involving visa holder workers, and secured nearly $23 million in penalties in cases that have included visa holder workers, in the seven financial years to June 2024.
By Sahar Foladi
Monash University research has backed a Wellsprings For Women report into the systemic challenges for refugee and migrant women experiencing family violence.
Lack of cultural understanding, a rise in complex cases, cultural abuses like dowry related violence and forced marriages, women wrongly identified as the aggressor, and lack of interpreters are just some of the gaps identified by the Wellsprings report.
This is further backed by Monash University PhD candidate in criminology, Isabel Dunn, at Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre.
Her research focuses on how women from refugee backgrounds in Tasmania who have experienced domestic and family violence are supported by local services.
And her findings echo the report from Wellsprings.
“Some of the preliminary findings gathered so far, eats to the issues that Wellsprings has identified like interpreter issues, not enough funding in the sector as well as cultural competency being identified for workers under the pressure to understand it.”
While educational training into family violence may be available to Victorian Police officers across all fields, it’s not a compulsory training component.
Ms Dunn says her research has identified police officers and their cultural understanding plays a crucial role.
“In my research, individuals expressed whether a police officer will be helpful or be able to understand the impact of culture is really based on which police officer arrives at the scene.
“As a generalised force, there are issues with the police inadequately intervening in the situation - unless you’re lucky to have an officer who has received or taken on board the training to understand the nuances.
“Most on-the-ground police officers are not family violence specialists. That’s why we’re seeing women misidentified as aggressors across many backgrounds.”
Ms Dunn says a family violence specialist
attending alongside police officers is crucial to “adequately support” them as an institution. Training and education alone is just not good enough to understand the dynamics, she says.
“Often we see police officers respond, they do pro criminal justice response as they are meant to, and there’s not a lot of further support,” she says.
“If a police officer is aware of other services in communities, they may make a referral, but some do the criminal justice area and they don’t loop in with the community leaders in the area.
“The police culture as whole is highly misogynistic, often masculine, very pro-intervention and that cause issues when a police officer responds to what is a highly gendered, nuanced situation…”
Both Dalal Smiley, CEO of Wellsprings
for Women and Ms Dunn call for crucial and ongoing investment in existing culturally responsive and trauma-informed services as demand rises and specialist services remain severely under-resourced.
“Family violence is not just about individual acts of harm. It is shaped by systemic failures, cultural misunderstandings and structural inequities. Addressing these barriers is a matter of justice and safety,” Dr Smiley said.
Wellsprings family violence manager Oula Ibrahim says their team have to manage both emotional weight of the crisis as well as large caseloads with “very limited housing options.”
Ms Dunn also emphasises on the need to
change as a society.
“In our wider social structures, we are creating situations and system that allow structural vulnerabilities to increase the rates of family violence in these communities because family violence is not accidental- it’s shaped by a system that privileges men and masculinity over women.
“That means even if we train these people (police officers), family violence will still happen because we know people are in high stress and are experiencing external tensionwhether from lack of adequate housing, ready access to gambling, drugs, alcohol.
“The issues will remain hidden in the houses.”
By Jensy Callimootoo
Year 9 and 10 students from Cranbourne Secondary College have had the opportunity to showcase their vibrant and colourful artwork through Gobo lights at Clydesdale Square in Cranbourne.
Assisted by artist-in-resident at Emerging Arts
Hub, their assorted paintings of different concepts like a burger and flower vase have been displayed through a ray of lights, paraded across buildings.
This new initiative aims to improve public safety and develop the ongoing work of Casey’s Community Safety and Visual Arts endeavours.
City of Casey Mayor, Stefan Koomen said the
student-made artwork is an essential contribution to maintaining the quality and character of the community in Cranbourne, “allowing them to connect, thrive and feel proud of where they live”.
“Projects like the revitalisation of Clydesdale Square reflect our commitment to building a city that is safe, inclusive, and where everyone feels a
The
co-principal Nalini Naidu.
School captains Sumana Rudresh and Aleesha Cornford represented the student body on stage.
A highlight of the day was the series of energetic student and teacher performances that filled the hall with music and movement.
School captain Sumana Rudresh performed the classical Indian dance Bharatnatyam, while Year 7 Hindi students blended traditional and modern styles to express the spirit of Diwali.
Teachers joined in with a group dance symbolising unity and shared joy.
The program was coordinated by Sonali Pendurkar, Alkira’s leading teacher for the Beacon Hindi Language Initiative.
The celebration also coincided with a visit from the Department of Education Languages Team, who oversee the Beacon Hindi and Punjabi Language Programs.
“The evening truly reflected Alkira’s commitment to multiculturalism, language education, and celebrating Diwali as a festival of light, unity, and shared happiness,” a spokesperson of the school said.
sense of belonging,” he said.
“From Casey Fields to Bunjil Place, and now here in Cranbourne, we’re delivering on our Council Plan and long-term community vision to be a connected, innovative and resilient city.”
The Gobo light installations will be available to the public from 30 October at 6.30pm each evening.
Connected Libraries is inviting the Casey community to have their say on the future of local libraries through its Your Library, Your Say survey. (Supplied)
Connected Libraries is inviting the Casey community to have their say on the future of local libraries through its Your Library, Your Say survey.
The survey includes questions like what you would like to see more of at the library, what services you use most at the library, which library you visit most, and how the library can improve its services and programs.
Connected Libraries chief executive officer (CEO) Beth Luppino said that they want to make sure they provide what the community needs and values.
“This survey is an opportunity for both members and non-members to share their thoughts and help shape the future of library services in Casey,” she said.
The survey is open from Friday 24 October until Saturday 8 November and takes just a few minutes to complete.
Participants can also go into the draw to win one of five $50 gift vouchers. To complete the survey, visit: connectedlibraries.org.au
Finger food feast
Come together for a finger food feast and enjoy Hoffmanns Duo performing covers of the classics.
• Thursday 30 October 12pm-2pm at Reveal Church, 2-8 Gleneagles Drive, Endeavour Hills; $10. Details: casey.vic.gov.au/ageing-positivelyfestival
Dad’s group Halloween BBQ
For all fathers, grandfathers, father figures and their children. Wear Halloween fancy dress and come along for a free sausage sizzle. Prizes for the best family fancy dress (to win children and adults must be in fancy dress).
• Thursday 30 October 6.30pm-8pm at Casey Fields Playground BBQ (between the lake and the playground), Cranbourne East. Bookings: trybooking.com/DFZRR
Community lunch for carers
Hosted by the Lynbrook Friendly Carers Group, this free lunch brings carers together for good food, great company, and a few fun games. Bookings are essential.
• Friday 31 October 11am-2pm at Lynbrook Community Centre, 2 Harris Street,Lynbrook; free event. Details: casey.vic.gov.au/ageing-positively-festival
Halloween 2025
Get your scariest costumes ready and come along to the Old Cheese Factory for a night of spooky, kids fun.
• Friday 31 October, 5pm-9pm at Old Cheese Factory, Homestead Road, Berwick. Tickets: tickets.bunjilplace.com.au/10752
Music in the Park
• Spend a relaxing evening with the King of Swing – Frankie Davis Junior in the beautiful surrounds of Wilson Botanic Park. Sausage sizzle, icecream and donut trucks, or bring a picnic and drinks.
• Saturday 1 November 6pm-9pm at Lakeside Lawn, Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick; $5 donation pp (children under 2 free).
Outdoor bootcamp
Work through different stations and exercises in this outdoor bootcamp to improve your strength and fitness, all while having fun. Suitable for all fitness levels.
• Weekly, Fridays from 7-28 November 10am11am at Banjo Park, Grazing Way, Clyde North. Register at trybooking.com/events/landing/1475166
Bargain bazaar
Lots of bargains and treasures. Clothing, cakes, toys, books, plants, craft, sausage sizzle, tea and coffee. Fundraising for Casey Choir.
• Saturday 8 November 10am-2pm at Arthur Wren Hall, Stuart Avenue, Hampton Park.
Casey African Food and Music Festival
African food stalls, music, dance, and storytelling. Live performances such as Mbira, drumming, dance, and musical showcases with DJs on rotation. Arts, crafts, fashion and kids’ interactive activities.
• Sunday 9 November 12pm-5pm at Old Cheese Factory, Homestead Road, Berwick; free event. Wiser driver program
New for all seniors over the age of 55. Refresher on road rules and road safety issues. Improve your confidence, independence and road safety skills.
• Mondays 10 November-1 December (participants must attend all four sessions) at Timbarra Community Centre, Parkhill Drive, Berwick. Booking essential: trybooking.com/DFOUT
Meditation workshop
Guided mindfulness and music-based sessions promoting rest, healing, and insight. Bring a mat, cushion, blanket, and comfy clothes.
• starts Monday 10 November for three fortnightly sessions at Balla Balla Community Centre. Bookings: balla.balla.com.au or 5990 0900
Remembrance Day
• Services at Arthur Wren Hall, Pearcedale Public Hall, Berwick memorial and Greg Clydesdale Square, Cranbourne.
Pollinator Night
Learn about and take a close-up look at our pollinators, big and small. Includes a Myuna Farm train ride to the grey-headed flying fox wetland colony, planting a seed and making an insect hotel. Optional dress code - dress up as a pollinator such as a bee, bird, butterfly, bat, possum and lorikeet.
• Thursday 13 November 4.30pm-6.30pm at
Myuna Farm, Kidds Road Doveton; free event. Register: trybooking.com/DGQCU Indoor Pickleball
Casual, indoor pickleball sessions. All equipment provided during this coach-free session.
• Mondays 7pm-8pm and Wednesdays 10am11am at Olive Road Sporting Complex, 2 Frawley Road, Eumemmerring; free cost, or Sundays 12.30pm-2.30pm at Vickerman Building, Casey Stadium, Cranbourne; $6.20 for two hours. Bookings: trybooking.com/events/landing/1343237 (Olive Road) or 5996 6052 (Casey Stadium). Christmas Sweets with Chef Jodie Create festive treats to share or gift. Week 1: Strawberry and Almond Tart. Week 2: Profiterole Wreath. Contains dairy, nuts, eggs, gluten and sugar. BYO apron & container.
• Wednesday 19 and 26 November 7pm-9pm at Balla Balla Community Centre. Bookings: balla.balla.com.au or 5990 0900. Scrabble in Berwick Fridays 9.30am-12.00pm at Berwick Neighbourhood Centre, 112 High Street, Berwick. Details: David, 0433 566 456.
U3A Casey – Activities for Seniors
With over 580 members and 75 different classes, U3A Casey offers you a wide range of activities including Arts & Crafts, Music, Book Clubs, Social Clubs, Low-Impact Sports, Fitness, Cooking … and many more.
You can attend up to three classes for free to see if you like the classes before registering to join U3A Casey.
Membership from January to December is $60, or from July to December is $30, which allows you to choose to join any of our classes (subject to available vacancies).
• Details: u3acasey.org.au, 0493 280 458 or caseyu3a@gmail.com
Morning Melodies
Join us at Morning Melodies for heartwarming performances filled with the songs you know and love!
• 2nd Tuesday each month at Balla Balla Community Centre: Bookings: balla.balla.com.au or 5990 0900.
U3A Cranbourne
Social group for people over 50 with many inter-
esting and creative activities. Gardens group, art and craft groups, calligraphy, scrabble, singing for fun, quilling, resin making, and card making, beginner ukuele and guitar, line dancing. Our membership fee of $50 per year entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.
• Details: www.u3acranbourne.org.au or 0493 991 919
Men’s Shed Junction Village Inc. Retired men are most welcome to visit the Shed and have a chat/cuppa to check out our fully equipped Shed (lots of “toys” to play with!) and see what we do for the community. They do not need any woodwork experience as Shed members are happy to pass on their experience in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere.
• Mondays 9am-11.30am and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-2.30pm at 41 Craig Road, Junction Village. Details: Garry, 0408 141 734. Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club
We meet weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls. Weekly activity times - Line Dancing Mon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.
• 1 Codrington St, Cranbourne. Details: Marilyn, 0432 107 590 or facebook.com/ groups/487808127399953
Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre
A friendly seniors Club offering many activities, including dancing, garden group, indoor carpet bowls, table tennis, gentle exercises and friendly card games.
• main club day on Wednesdays, 9.30am-3pm at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Details: 9783 7112, 0426 736 467, or narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com
Blind Bight Community Centre
Craft gift making for adults, Tuesdays 12.30pm to 2.30pm; $3 per class. Playgroup, Wednesdays 10.30am-noon; $5 per family. Knit and crochet, Wednesdays 12pm-2pm. Line dancing, Wednesdays 1pm-2pm; $10 per class.
• 42 Anchorage Dr, Blind Bight. Bookings: blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au
By Blair Burns
After 14 years of coaching at Narre Warren, Michelle Mashado is excited for a new opportunity at Mornington as head coach of the netball program.
Mashado is a life member, hall of famer and a much-loved figure at Kalora Park and will continue to support the club from afar, while serving her Mornington and Casey netball commitments.
Mashado has a brilliant coaching CV and has tasted the ultimate success, also receiving higher honours throughout her time at the club.
The new opportunity presented itself after a strong year with Narre Warren which saw the A1 netball side make a preliminary final after coming across to the Southern League.
Mashado said it was a really tough decision, but felt it was the right move for her coaching future.
“With the league (Southern) not disclosing what the netball format would look like for 2026, there was a real sense of uncertainty about what was ahead,” she said.
“Mornington were very professional, incredibly patient and very genuine when they approached me.
“It started with an informal phone call, which was followed up by a few more phone calls once the season was finished.”
A new direction and challenge
Mashado is a Narre Warren person and will always have deep love and care for the club but sensed a new challenge would be beneficial for her coaching.
“What appealed most wasn’t anything to do with money – anyone who knows me knows that’s the furthest thing from my motivation,” she said.
“It was about a new challenge, a fresh environment and bringing a different perspective to my coaching.
“It felt like the right time to step outside my comfort zone and grow as a coach.”
Mashado said that there were lots of “mixed emotions” about the new opportunity, adding that it was “bittersweet”.
“There’s been plenty of tears about leaving Narre because it’s been such a big part of my life for so long, and the people there mean so much to me,” she said.
“But at the same time, I’m really excited about the new challenges ahead and what’s to come at Mornington.
“I wish Narre all the very best. I know the club will continue to go from strength to strength, so stay on board and keep supporting the black and white.”
A lifetime at Narre Warren
Not only has Mashado coached at Narre Warren for the past 14 years, but she has been an active member of the club for more than four decades.
“The club will always be a place I can call
home, I’ve been part of Narre since I was 18, originally coming down to support my husband Dean,” she said.
“Over the years, we’ve watched all seven of our children take either the court or the field in the black and white.”
Mashado’s coaching first began in the junior ranks, working her way up to the seniors to become one of the most highly regarded coaches in the region.
Developing young talent at Casey in the Victorian Netball League has also been a huge part of her coaching experience, thanking the club and association for all they’d done for her.
“I actually started my coaching journey at Narre with my good friend Sue, we had to do an interview that felt like we were applying to coach the Vixens,” she said.
“I came in as a fresh new coach with some crazy ideas, but I’ve loved every minute of it … I’ve loved every team I’ve coached in the black and white.
“Between Narre and Casey, I’ve been surrounded by incredible people who have helped shape me into the coach and person I am today, and for that, I’ll always be thankful.”
Watching the club’s culture continue to grow and making many lifelong friends are the most special parts of her tenure at the Magpies.
“I’ve always tried to bring fresh ideas and be a bit innovative and creative with my approach as
a coach and committee member,” Mashado said.
“For me, it’s never just been about winning premierships, it’s been about playing the game with that fun feeling and the lifelong friendships and relationships built along the way – that’s the most rewarding part.”
Final season at the helm
Mashado said she was pleased with the way the team performed throughout this year, to finish second on the ladder with a 12-3 record.
“I honestly think we played some outstanding netball … I couldn’t be prouder of the group, every single one of them gave it their all – it was a season I’ll always remember,” she said.
Chelsea Tonna and Gabrielle Dwyer played for Mashado in the Under-13s the first time she ever coached, and they were also out on the court in the final game she coached.
Mashado thanked all of the club presidents both past and present, as well as the hardworking committees over the years.
“To the Narre families, I’ve truly valued my time and the incredible friendships that have come from my 40 years being affiliated with the club,” she said.
“A special mention to all of the athletes who have supported me through my journey – you all hold such special memories in my heart.
“And to Kimmy T, my person at the club, thank you for always being there.”
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Berwick-based football coach Darren Roe is set to join Box Hill’s VFL program as a development coach.
Roe’s appointment follows a six year stint at talent pathway club Dandenong Stingrays, including 2022 and 2024 where he led the V/Line Cup Under-15s program.
He started his coaching journey in the now defunct VFL Development League at Casey Scorpions in 2014, where he spent four seasons, while he has also been involved at St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy and Hallam Secondary College’s footy program.
“I enjoy the relationships, I understand the importance of individualised coaching and how to identify and nurture talent,” Roe told Pakenham Gazette following the appointment.
“That’s what I’ve learned from my time at the Stingrays and I’ve built some strong relationships.
“I’m player-centred and like creating an environment where they feel valued, supported and challenged.
“Trust is important so they know I want what is best for them.
“I’m balanced, approachable and like to support the players, but give them ownership.
“I want them to still maintain standards and culture.
“I think Box Hill is an excellent program to come into.”
The role of development coach is the same title Roe held at the Stingrays, giving him a skillset he believes is clearly transferrable to an AFL-
aligned VFL club.
“Development coaching gives an opportunity to get to know the players really well from a personal aspect,” Roe said.
“Leadership to me is not just leading people; it’s instilling leadership in players.
“I want to encourage players to do extra craft so I always make myself available before and after training.
“That development is a bit unique because it’s something head coaches don’t always have the time to do.”
The level 3 accredited coach has had several opportunities coaching at showpiece events in recent times, most recently coaching the AFL Victoria Young Guns squad in 2025, which included now Gold Coast AFL-listed Caleb Lewis.
“I’m lucky to have some good mentors who are or have been in the AFL space,” Roe said.
“The coaching space has become very player-centric which is really positive.
“Coaching is very team-oriented which is a great thing because it brings out leadership in players and gives them ownership in their development.”
One of those mentors who has helped guide Roe is former Adelaide coach Neil Craig.
Highly respected in the AFL industry, Craig coached Adelaide from 2004-2011 after a distinguished SANFL career.
“(Neil’s) really big on leadership and creating opportunities for yourself and leading yourself as well as leading others,” Roe said.
“He’s been instrumental in bouncing ideas and giving me areas to develop and improve.
“I’ve developed a lot since I’ve started and a lot of that has been learning from his expertise.
“He puts confidence in me and he’s big on helping me (have faith) in myself.
“His direction around how the game has changed and filling gaps in my knowledge has been important.”
Roe believes he is well positioned to take on a role at Box Hill given his grounding in the AFL talent pathway.
Among the Stingrays drafted during Roe’s time at the club were Hayden Young, Cody Weightman, Mac Andrew, Cooper Simpson, Billy Wilson, and now AFL Hawk Noah Mraz. He enters the highly respected VFL club which reached the 2025 preliminary finals at a time of coaching change, with esteemed mentor Zane Littlejohn taking a role at North Melbourne, replaced at the Hawks by David Mirra.
“I’ve had lots of experiences at different levels which have been invaluable in preparing to go into the VFL system,” Roe said.
“I want to take my coaching as far as I possibly can.
“That’s always been the plan so I’ll go as high as possible.”
By Blair Burns
Buckley Ridges couldn’t have started the season any better, with the side posting big scores in the first two rounds and banking two early wins in the DDCA Turf 1 competition.
The formidable Bucks are not planning on stopping short in their three-peat quest, with plans to continue their dynasty beyond the 2025/26 season.
Led by captain Jayson Hobbs, the side registered a convincing win against Dandenong West after bowling the Bulls out for 190 on day two, well short of their 278 target.
The Bucks posted 278 last week, as Ben Wright (69)and Ishan Jayarathna (59) went big, making it look easy.
While there were plenty of other contributors across the board with Troy Aust (42), Michael Davies (33), Ayush Patel (25) and Dale Tormey (23) all making starts.
Being bowled out with around 10 overs remaining on day one was the perfect scenario for Buckley Ridges, as it challenged Dandenong West to survive nine overs late in the day.
After claiming the early wickets of Nipunaka Fonseka and Nathan Power (both ducks) late on day one, the Bulls were in some strife at 2/26.
And as the second week approached, the equation for Riley Siwes and his team was tough, 253 runs needed and eight wickets in hand.
Despite walking out to the crease on day two with the scoreboard reading 2/26, Bulls opener Shaun Weir was not deterred.
He and Madushanka Perera went about their business as usual in a bid to dig their team out of trouble and pull off what would be a remarkable comeback victory.
The pair added 50 runs for the third wicket and things were looking positive, before the worst possible scenario, a run out.
Perera cut hard forward of point and beat the fielder at cover, taking off down the pitch before he was sent back by Weir.
He attempted to turn around, sprint back towards safety and dive, but some clean fielding from Triyan De Silva and brilliant glovework had Perera short of his ground – run out for 21.
Perera lay motionless on the ground for a few seconds, before slowly getting to his feet and walking off, looking more disappointed than angry.
Was there a run there? Probably if Weir also went straight away, but hesitation is the last thing you want when running with a partner and it cost Perera from turning his start into a big score.
What made the dismissal sting even more was the fact that the Bulls lost a couple more wickets shortly after with Malinga Bandara (four) and Riley Siwes (five) both falling victim to the same shot.
The dismissals of the pair looked like an exact replay, both flicking the ball off the pads directly to square leg as Harry Snowden and Jayarathna honed in on the stumps.
Weir finally found the partner he was longing for when Nuwan Kulasekara strolled out to the crease.
The pair looked comfortable and quickly began to get the run rate ticking, putting on 63 runs and breathing some life back into the run chase, getting the score past 150.
That was until the Bucks’ new recruit Snowden got the breakthrough wicket, removing Weir for 87 with a short ball that apparently found the edge of the bat or a tickle of glove – whether it did or not is another story.
It was Weir’s best innings since he made the move into Turf 1 at the beginning of last season, scoring 87 off 142 deliveries as he kept the fire of hope burning.
Kulasekara (30) and Matthew Collett (17) did their best late in the innings, but the team was bowled out for 190 off 59.5 overs.
Ultimately, losing both Fonseka and Power for ducks late on day one came back to really hurt the side, which needed just a few more wickets in hand and a better platform to build upon.
Ishan Jayarathna revisited his Wookey Medallist form, scoring a damaging 59 off 53 balls and taking 4/47 with the new ball, while Snowden also took four wickets in the victory.
In other games, Berwick is on top of the ladder after an outright victory over last year’s grand finalist Hallam Kalora Park.
Where there is a will, there is a way and where there are two Wills, there are even more ways to achieve success.
The Wills brothers performed beautifully in round 2, Toby taking 10/48 off 17 overs to go with the 28 with the bat, while Jarryd belted 53 and 23 not out.
The Bears batted first in the match and scrapped together 171, before bowling the Hawks out for 54, and sending them back in.
Prior to the season, Berwick captain Michael Wallace said Toby Wills was the surprise packet to watch down at the Cave, and that is a call that aged beautifully in round 2.
He has now taken 11 wickets at 6.45 which has him four wickets clear of Harry Snowden (Buckley Ridges) and Jarryd Straker (Springvale South).
Wills produced a remarkable spell of bowling in the first innings, taking 5/9 and a broken stump with him as he terrorised the Hawks late in the day.
There was no doubt that it was quite a difficult wicket to bat on, especially on day one, with 23 wickets falling for the day, but Hallam Kalora Park didn’t even throw a punch in the first half of the match.
It wasn’t until Saturday in the Hawks’ second innings where the middle order got going a bit and managed to return fire through Jawid Khan
(73) and Damith Perera (43).
But after such a poor first innings, the outright was always going to be hard to avoid.
The Hawks were bowled out for 171 in their second innings – the exact same total that the Bears managed the previous week.
Berwick had 54 runs to chase and did it with ease, as Lachlan Brown (29 not out) and Jarryd Wills (23 not out) reached the target in the ninth over.
Wills took another three wickets on day two to finish the match with figures of 10/48 off his 17 overs.
Despite a rocky start to the run chase where Springvale South lost 2/16 on day one, the Bloods successfully chased down Narre South’s target of 210.
Mitch Forsyth (63) and Chaturanga De Silva (66) were pivotal in the chase, while Jordy Wyatt (36 not out from 19 balls) provided some late fireworks helping the side win by five wickets.
Lions captain Jeevan Mendis took 3/61 from 17 overs and was the pick of the bowlers in the loss.
After an unbeaten knock of 136 from Beacons-
field’s Ashan Walgamage, the Tigers bowled out Parkmore for 193 to win by 85 runs.
The Pirates started the day 3/16, so some credit has to go their way for digging in almost reaching 200.
Batting at number eight and nine, Jack Farrington (75) and Ankit Saxena (60) put some respect on Parkmore’s name with a brilliant partnership, but there wasn’t much else to smile about.
It was a strong win for Beaconsfield and a confidence-boosting win after a tough season opener against Buckley Ridges.
Tigers bowling pair Alex Nice (3/46 off 18 overs) and Sam Read (4/48 off 18 overs) were brilliant with the ball and made life hard for the Pirates.
LADDER: Berwick 16, Springvale South, Buckley Ridges 12, Dandenong West, Beaconsfield 6, Narre South, Parkmore Pirates, Hallam Kalora Park.
R3 FIXTURE (One-Day): Springvale South
v Berwick
By Blair Burns
HSD bounced back from its shock loss against Silverton in round 1 of the DDCA Turf 2 competition to beat Cranbourne by 103 runs.
Despite struggling early in its batting innings, the Cobras managed to make 222 thanks to lower order performances from Anuda Akmeemana (61) and Ryan Patterson (59).
In reply, Cranbourne was bowled out for 119 with Harsaroup Singh (58) the only player to score more than 20.
HSD recruit Brayden Lambden was brilliant with the new ball, taking 3/34 off 15 overs, while Sakuntha Liyanage gave the Cranbourne batters all sorts of problems, taking 6/44 off 19.4 overs.
Having already won on the first innings result, HSD sent Cranbourne back out to the middle in search of an outright victory.
But Cranbourne dug deep through Bailey Paroissien (46 not out) and Prasaanth Krishnamoorthy (42) to post 3/112 and avoid an outright loss.
Cobras’ Brett Hookey was brilliant with the ball, taking all three wickets to finish with tidy figures of 3/29 off 11 overs.
In other games, Coomoora made light work of Lyndale to win by 191 runs after a dominant batting innings set them up for an easy victory.
The Roos made 309 with the bat on day one, with Jarrod Munday (107 not out), Dean Krelle (95 not out) and Joel Robertson (60) all making big scores.
Malan Madusanka (4/16) and Sam Wetering (3/23) ripped through the Lyndale batting order to give Coomoora a chance at an outright victory after bowling them out for just 118.
Faraz Rahman and Rajika Fernando (both 29) were the top scorers and battled hard, but their team was still in trouble, and they soon found themselves back out there.
Joel Robertson took the new ball and quickly removed Lyndale’s Satnam Singh (four) and Girish Chopra (one).
The middle order batted for survival as it attempted to hold off the outright victory, which seemed inevitable at that point.
Brendan Ash (25), Aditya Hettiarachchi (39) and Himesh Galhenage Don (33) all got the ball moving and scored with ease.
After Madusanka took two quick wickets to leave the score at 6/90, the outright victory was on its way, but the lower order batted out the overs to finish 7/132.
North Dandenong fell 30 runs short of Parkfield’s 235, bowled out for 205 – a solid effort considering they were 2/0.
Syed Masood Mehmood (80) was the standout performer for North Dandenong and batted through most of the innings to help give his team
By Jonty Ralphsmith
He did it with the ball for Victoria’s Second XI and on Saturday, Casey-South Melbourne’s Harry Hoekstra showed off his talent with the blade.
Coming off a six-wicket haul on Second XI debut, the disciplined left armer came to the middle at 6/170 and scored 94 off just 88 deliveries to fire the Swans to a total of 306 from as spot of bother after being sent in.
His entertaining and unbeaten knock contained 11 boundaries and five maximums, with Nathan Lambden and Ashvin Adihetty both occupying the crease with him down the order.
Earlier, skipper Ash Chandrasinghe scored 54, backing up his Round 2 ton, while Daud Malik contributed a valuable 43.
In the 11 overs remaining in the day following
Casey’s 10th wicket falling, Lambden claimed two wickets including state wicket keeper Sam Harper to put Casey-South Melbourne in a commanding position.
Melbourne sits 266 runs behind with eight wickets in hand going into Day 2.
Half centuries to Jaskbeer Singh and Lenny Wilton fired Casey’s Second XI to 326, with Melbourne 0/12 in response.
Opener Aaron D’Souza and wicket-keeper Will Halton combined for a 135 run partnership to help Casey’s Third XI to 4/234.
D’Souza scored 103 while Halton was unbeaten on 73.
The Fourth XI will be chasing 336 on Day 2as Melbourne had the upper hand for much of the day.
a shot at victory.
But the best performance of the day went to the player who eventually dismissed Mehmood, Parkfield’s Madusha Croos.
The opening bowler took 7/64 off 23 overs including the top four batters, even getting a run out to dismiss the fifth.
Croos then came back into the attack at a crucial time to rip through the tail order and destroy any hope that North Dandenong may have had, with a historic bowling performance.
Narre Warren defended its score of 207 against Silverton, bowling the Bakers out for 186 in a thrilling contest.
Despite losing Anmol Zakhmi (duck) before Silverton could even register a score, the side re-
covered well through Robert North, who scored a classy half century.
Varinder Virk (32) and Hemal Ratnayake (40) continued on and helped to put the Bakers in a winning position, but Magpies captain Ted Kahandawala said no.
The experienced campaigner put Narre Warren on his back and single-handedly won the game, taking 7/40 off 22 overs, including five of the last six wickets.
With 8.2 overs remaining and only 22 runs to get, Silverton was all out for 186 after a memorable performance from the Narre Warren skipper.
Hennadige Fernando also bowled well, finishing with 2/45 off 14.4 overs which included the final wicket as he sealed the win.
By Jonty Ralphsmith
Lynbrook won a thrilling match against Berwick Springs on Saturday, headlining Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 3 action.
Defending 168 at home, Lynbrook was on the back foot early with Jackson Marie and Lachie Marie combining to fire Berwick Springs to a position of strength, sitting at 1/77.
But Lynbrook was then able to neutralise by not allowing the Titans’ middle-order bats to capitalise on starts.
With Berwick Springs having inched to 6/150, Lynbrook was then able to take 4/14 to get an important win which they will hope can kick start their season.
Opening bowler Jacob Stephens and first change bowler Jesse Walia took two each at the death, with the latter leading the attack with 4/46 off 18 overs.
Elsewhere, Keysborough proved far too good for Fountain Gate, with a stunning haul of 7/48 of 21 overs to James Wright helping the Knights bowl Fountain Gate out for 111 after making 234 on Day 1.
Keysborough sent Fountain Gate back in searching for an outright win, but fell three wickets short.
A century to Suren Ekanayake helped Buckley Ridges chase Narre North’s 221 while St Mary’s staved off an outright by two wickets, but still lost comprehensively to Springvale South.
