Maternity fears
Greater Dandenong councillors are joining a backlash against plans to cut complex maternity services at Dandenong Hospital.
Monash Health says it is relocating “underutilized” specialist care for higher-risk pregnancies and newborns to Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre.
As a result, neonatal specialist nurses will be redeployed to Casey and Monash, with midwives left to manage the Dandenong Hospital nursery. This will ensure the higher-risk cases are
treated where the “necessary expertise and resources are concentrated to ensure the safest possible outcomes for mothers and babies”, Monash Health stated.
Councillor Rhonda Garad said the removal of critical-care nurses was “outrageous”.
“We want our mothers, sister and our women to have confidence that if they have to go Dandenong Hospital, they will get the care they need and not be in a stressful situation to be shipped off to somewhere else to get care.”
Monash Health say about 250 high-risk births would be diverted.
However, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation estimate the cuts could impact up to 700 women a year.
“Women who were planning to have their baby at Dandenong Hospital will be distressed at the thought of having to relocate further away from home for their birthing needs or to visit their unwell baby who could have been cared for close to home at Dandenong Hospital,” ANMF state
secretary Maddy Harradence said.
In a unanimous decision on 24 November, councillors called for a halt to the plan, pending an impact review being made public.
The council will also advocate for a locally accessible, culturally safe model of care to keep mothers and babies together without reducing the hospital service.
More on the story, turn to page 3
Greater Dandenong councillors Rhonda Garad, third left, and Jim Memeti, fourth right, with concerned members of the public outside Dandenong Hospital. (Stewart Chambers: 520739)
Mosque allowed to expand
By Sahar Foladi
One of Greater Dandenong’s most prominent mosques, Taha Humanity Association of Victoria, has been granted an increase of patrons after a heated debate by Greater Dandenong councillors.
The gallery was packed at the council meeting on Monday 24 November as little children held up placards, senior men and women showed up in support for their permit amendment to allow a maximum of 130 people during normal operations, up from 75 patrons at Taha’s home at 9-11 and 13-15 Patrona Street, Dandenong.
Taha also applied for up to 400 patrons for special events, with a proposed parking reduction of 81 spots.
There are just 39 parking spaces available in the area.
Taha’s member, Sayed Agha says it will work with neighbour Rasul Akram Association located on 8 Plunkett Rd, to utilise their parking for Jumah prayers and other programs.
As part of its amended permit, major events like Ramadan and Muharram would finish at 10.30pm and recreation activities at 11pm.
Nine community objections were received, citing nearby industrial businesses were hampered by the excess overflow parking in surrounding streets.
In favour, Cr Jim Memeti recognised the centre’s essential services like women empowerment, youth programs, religious guidance, support to new arrivals to the country, and long-term social contributions.
“This centre is far more than just a venue, it represents resilience community spirit and hope for many families.
“Involved in this organisation is people who arrived in Australia with little or nothing. Through their hard work and determination they put all their savings together and purchased this centre.
“It stands today because of genuine sacrifice and determination.”
The centre’s popularity among the community was on full display as residents from Dandenong, Casey and neighbouring areas packed out the
meeting’s gallery, with more supporters watching from Harmony Square.
Councillor Sean O’Reilly had been 50/50 before voting in favour of the permit while councillor Bob Milkovic remained opposed,concerned about the parking issues and impact on neighbouring businesses.
Cr Milkovic shared that neighbouring businesses had reached out to him with photographic evidence of current breaches of their permit which allows only 75 patrons at any one time.
He made the trip to the site to see for himself on Friday, when Jumah (Friday) prayers were held, “loosely” counting 130 patrons “without trying to count too hard.”
“The questions poses itself - if neighbouring business are suffering because of the number of visitors onsite at the moment, what would be the impact of a higher number of visitations with the same number of parking spots in the same area?
“While the permit might look good on the paper, and council officers have done their due diligence, none of us except for (council officers)
Mr Manivasagasivam and Mr Stuart have been on the site to inspect.
“It fails to address the heartache that neighbouring businesses go through every single day.”
He mentioned cars parked on kerbs and nature strips that are blocking pedestrian and vehicle access with parking infringements flaring up in the area.
He questioned the rightfulness of impeding businesses’ use of their premises, despite the majority of the mosque programs held after business hours.
The Taha centre has a parking management volunteer team of 20 who stand outdoors to regulate parking and traffic especially during special programs for Ramadan, Muharram and Eid.
They also provide a free bus shuttle pick-up and drop-off to support those without any means of transportation to the mosque, which also reduces traffic in the area.
Councillors Memeti, Rhonda Garad, Phillip Danh and O’Reilly acknowledged the parking issues but argued the item is a planning decision,
separate from breaches which are regulatory issues.
They also argued parking breaches by some of the members doesn’t reflect the conduct of the organisation overall.
“There are no reasons not to (pass the item),” Cr Garad said.
“We have a community here who are very willing to do everything they can to cause the least amount of inconveniences to surrounding business.
“They will work with fellow business, they have the most comprehensive traffic management plan that I’ve seen.
“We should be grateful that we have a community that has generated such a huge and cohesive comm in City of Greater Dandenong.”
Cr Memeti also mentioned that council officers are doing their job, having already booked 90 cars in the street from 1 January, with only three complaints received for the centre in seven years.
Established in 2011, the non-for-profit organisation is built by the community for the community providing mortuary service, religious services, Taha school for the youth and other programs in partnership with Victoria Police and Komak (help) to educate the community on a variety of prevention and engagement activities.
The latest new site 13-15 Patrona St has been established for the past year, accommodating to the community’s needs as the centre saw a huge rise in demand for their services.
Parking squeeze on Patrona Street traders and mosque
By Sahar Foladi
Businesses and a mosque on Patrona Street, Dandenong say they are fed up with the parking issues, citing abandoned cars as one of its major concerns.
A petition is being considered by the businesses and Taha Humanity Association of Victoria for a two-hour parking zone to deter other traders such as car rental, mechanics and panel beater businesses from using the street as storage.
Asghar, a stonemason next to the Taha centre, has been operating for five years. He is frustrated by cars without number plates that are blocking roads and “massive trucks” parked in front of his driveway.
“I don’t have space for my staff to park there.
“If you come 6am you can find a spot. After that it’s hard and even sometimes you can’t because they park overnight.”
Asghar says the mechanic wants to move out of the area within just one year of moving in due to the road being so narrow.
“He says can you find a bigger place like this
in Dandenong South and I’ll move.
“Before this, there was a factory. We never had any issues with him, he was there for 40 years.”
Questions were raised at a Greater Dandenong council meeting on Monday 24 November for the council to consider two-hour parking on the street.
Council’s city futures executive director, Sanjay Manivasagasivam, said council officers are aware of the business concerns relating to unregistered and abandoned vehicles.
“They should be reported to council for enforcement as restrictions do not typically assist in these cases. Council officers are happy to discuss restrictions with business in this area.
“Any restrictions would only be installed after consultation for all affected businesses and if a clear majority of business are in support of the change.”
Jack, who owns a storage facility of trailers, has been operating for 15 years.
“The hire company, they leave their cars and trucks all day. I don’t bother (to talk to the businesses) - it ends up in a fight or argument.
Parking spaces are filled on Patrona Street, Dandenong. (Stewart Chambers: 520666)
“They can do whatever they want.”
He delivers trailers, sometimes arriving back to his storage late at night and finding his driveway blocked.
He says programs held at the nearby Taha Humanity Association of Victoria also adds to the strain.
Asghar disagrees, saying Taha’s Friday prayers go for at least an hour and other programs during Ramadan and Muharram are held after business hours.
Taha’s member, Sayed Agha says the indus-
trial area has suffered these issues even while the centre is not operational.
“We have few mechanics that dump their car in our property - we are sick of it.
“If there weren’t those cars parked there, we wouldn’t have any issues.
“A lot of the time, even when we’re not there, they (businesses) don’t know where to park their own cars.”
Taha Humanity Association of Victoria recently gained a permit amendment which allows a maximum of 130 people during normal operations, up from 75 patrons.
It may also host up to 400 patrons for special events, with a proposed parking reduction of 81 spots.
This sparked a debate at the council meeting over the parking issues.
Sayed says Taha has 50 parking spaces on its land and plans to utilise its neighbour Rasul Akram’s parking during Jumah prayers and other programs.
Up to 20 traffic management volunteers try to ensure minimal disruptions to their neighbours, he says.
Local men find community and resilience in new initiative
By Jensy Callimootoo
Over 100 men of all ages from the region of Casey gathered together at Bunjil Place on Monday night in an initiative aimed to give local men and fathers the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about life experiences, relationships and wellbeing.
The event platformed a range of guest speakers during the panel including AFL premiership and mental health advocate, Tom Boyd.
As well as local panellists, former police officer Gavin Patterson and Melbourne City Football Club’s head of community, Sunil Menon.
According to Cr Shane Taylor in a social media post, the group of panelists “all shared honest stories about resilience, family and the importance of showing up as present dads and father figures.”
Cr Scott Dowling of Akoonah Ward said that the event served as a dynamic and interactive forum.
“It was a great cross section of men, fathers, grandfathers and some with their sons, who in
some cases, initiated their dads attendance,” said Cr Dowling.
“Many deep and honest discussions with shared experiences took place, about strengthening emotional wellbeing, maintaining respectful family relationships and making time to connect and being present in mind and body during family time.”
Throughout the night, attendees also took part in conversations about family violence and the secondary impacts it has on the home and community.
“The enablers tended to be agitated from financial difficulties and increased pressure on the cost of living exacerbated by alcohol abuse and gambling,” explained Cr Dowling.
“Statistically one in four women experience a degree of domestic violence as opposed to one in
every fourteen men. “As the night went on the smiles increased, many new relationships were formed, phone numbers exchanged and a better understanding that it’s ok to say ‘you are not Ok’ and know you are not alone.”
Members of the Taha Humanity Association of Victoria celebrated the increase in patronage numbers in a five-minute break from the council meeting.(Supplied)
The Taha community showed up in support for the 24 November council meeting, with many watching outside in Harmony Square.
Some Casey Councillors with panelists and organisers. (SUPPLIED)
According to Cr Dowling, many came along with their sons and relatives. (SUPPLIED)
Outcry over planned maternity cuts
By Sahar Foladi
Greater Dandenong councillors have strongly opposed Monash Health’s proposed downgrades of critical maternity services at Dandenong Hospital.
Councillor Rhonda Garad, who holds a PhD in public health, authored the motion to the council and said the fight has only just begun against the proposal.
“We want our mothers, sister and our women to have confidence that if they have to go Dandenong Hospital, they will get the care they need and not be in a stressful situation to be shipped off to somewhere else to get care.
“This is not fair. If you’re going to take resources, don’t take it from us,” she said.
“This is outrageous that they are stripping from us the critical care nurses which means, many midwives might go from our hospital because they don’t want to risk their registration to deal with situations they can’t cope with.
“When Monash thought they could do this, they did not know how strong push-back is going to be from the staff. They didn’t count on us who will not stand for this.”
Monash Health says it is relocating “under-utilised” services at Dandenong to Casey Hospital.
Higher-risk pregnancies and newborns will be instead managed under specialist care at Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre where the “necessary expertise and resources are concentrated to ensure the safest possible outcomes for mothers and babies”.
According to Monash Health’s Change of Impact Statement 2025, there would be cuts to beds to the birth suite and maternity ward at Dandenong, with three special care nursery cots integrated into the maternity ward.
Neonatal specialist nurses will be replaced by midwives in managing the nursery, and the maternity capability will be downgraded from level three to two, which means the hospital won’t look after complex pregnancies and newborns.
Dandenong Hospital’s neonatal specialists will be redeployed to Casey and Monash.
Separately, in case of an emergency in Dandenong, vulnerable mothers will have to be rushed to Casey or Clayton locations (based on capacity) in an ambulance.
In an unanimous motion on 24 November, the council calls to cease or halt the possible implementation of the downgrades pending an impact review including an Options and Impact Assessment being made public.
The council will also advocate for a locally
accessible, culturally safe model of care to keep mothers and babies together without reducing the hospital service.
Cr Garad shared she had her fourth child at Dandenong Hospital, similarly councillors Jim Memeti and Bob Milkovic also shared the birth of their children at the hospital was a “fantastic” and “wonderful experience.”
“This to me is very concerning that if somebody goes to Dandenong Hospital to deliver a baby and unfortunately if something goes wrong, they have to go somewhere,” Cr Memeti said.
“As somebody who has lived in the community for 50 years I actually couldn’t believe they can think of doing this to a community that won’t be able to deal with it if they have to be relocated somewhere in Victoria.”
Both Crs Memeti and Milkovic had been surprised by the proposed cuts and were quick to back the council’s opposition.
“To have this done by Monash Health, while I understand that we don’t have the power to compel Monash Health (on what to do)… this is not the right move to do,” Cr Milkovic said.
“There should not be any cuts at all. This is a very important hospital for the residents of Greater Dandenong and wider.
“Everybody that I know and spoken to have had a wonderful experience.
“The birth might not always go according to plan but the staff was always there to support residents and wider and to have Monash Health cuts services in any way shape or form I think is a very, very bad move.
“Our community deserves as good as care as possible.”
The cuts will displace up to 700 women a year according to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) state secretary Maddy Harradence. However, Monash Health estimate about 250 high-risk births would be diverted.
“This proposed change could lead to significant and unsafe capacity and demand issues at Casey Hospital and reduced service provision and increased clinical risk for a large population of women in one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Victoria,” Harradence says.
“Women who were planning to have their baby at Dandenong Hospital will be distressed at the thought of having to relocate further away from home for their birthing needs or to visit their unwell baby who could have been cared for close to home at Dandenong Hospital.”
A Monash Health spokesperson says birth rates at Dandenong Hospital have “remained
Dandenong Hospital staff fear further cuts
By Sahar Foladi
In the wake of proposed cuts, staff members say they fear that maternity services may be gradually shut down altogether at Dandenong Hospital.
Speaking to Star Journal, a staff member has slammed Monash Health’s statement that the proposed relocation of high-risk pregnancies and specialist neo-natal nurses to Casey Hospital and Monash Medical Centre “enhances patient outcomes”
“I’m not sure how patient care will be improved when those highly skilled nurses, trained in the area, are redeployed and replaced by staff who are not as experienced in that clinical field. It’s very stressful. This has been brought up in consultation meetings with Monash Health. The staff are concerned and distressed with the notion of this proposal.”
The staff say they have heightened concerns on the ground due to Monash Health’s proposal to downgrade Dandenong Hospital’s maternity capability from level three to two, which means the hospital won’t look after complex pregnancies and newborns.
steady” whilst in Casey it continues to rise.
They say they are placing services where “demand is highest.”
They also claim 10 per cent of the 2,500 births every year in Dandenong are high risk and planned for Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre.
“Under our proposal, higher-risk pregnancies and newborns who require specialist care will be managed at Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre and Monash Children’s Hospital, where the necessary expertise and resources are concentrated to ensure the safest possible outcomes for mothers and babies.
“The reconfiguration will strengthen midwife-led bedside care, backed by our medical teams, as the cornerstone of maternity and newborn services at Dandenong Hospital.
“We are also expanding our culturally safe model of care, with additional translation support and culturally appropriate services to better meet the needs of our diverse community in Dandenong.
“There will be no job losses as a result of these changes.
A Victorian Government spokesperson says the proposals are supported by Safer Care Victoria and “involve full consultation”.
“Monash Health’s proposed changes come from clinical experts and respond to shifting demand in Melbourne’s south-east, to make sure care is delivered where it’s needed most.”
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams says health services structures should always be clinically-led.
“It is important that maternity and newborn care continue to be available locally, and that complex cases be handled at the most clinically appropriate location with the best available expertise - this is what will ensure the strongest health outcomes for both mother and baby.”
Concerns are also raised on whether Casey has the ability to absorb extra births from Dandenong via ambulance.
A Monash Health internal document shows Casey’s special care nursery has been at capacity and over for most days with its birth suite at a limit, according to ANMF analysis.
Greater Dandenong council officers will also write to MPs Julian Hill, Gabrielle Williams, Lee Tarlamis and Ann-Marie Hermans, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier, as well as Monash Health’s board and chief executive to request a suspension of the cuts, pending full community consultation and impact review.
Neonatal specialist nurses provide specialised medical care to newborns especially those born prematurely or with health problems. They are trained to resuscitate newborns, provide emergency interventions, monitor vital signs, provide emotional and educational support to the family of the newborn amongst other routine works. Their redeployment to Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre leaves extra strain on midwives to manage the nursery, potentially risking their license should anything go wrong, staff say.
Concerns are also being raised on the impact on vulnerable mothers, newborns and their families.
“I think it will be a challenge and it’s the staff’s preference to have the special care nurses remain so they are able to provide that advanced skill in the times that are needed,” a staff member said. “The community is vulnerable in they sense they utilise public transport to access pregnancy care appointments, and coming to hospital for labour and births. They are culturally and linguistically diverse, many non-English speaking - that contributes to the vulnerability we are concerned about.
“It will be challenging for their family if neonatal care is required at another hospital. They would have to travel at distance to receive that care. They are able to receive care currently at Dandenong and that wouldn’t necessarily be the case in clinical conditions if they need to transfer to another hospital.
“That mother infant bond is very important right from the time of birth and because infant care may not be delivered at Dandenong under that proposal, that bond separated from a very early time is very challenging.”
According to staff members, however, midwives who would rather stay at Dandenong Hospital are seeking a “supportive work environment” elsewhere, according to staff members.
“The general consensus among staff is that the overall intention of the Monash Health service is to close the maternity services (at Dandenong) - reducing part of the services, to make it smaller and smaller, until it’s no longer a feasible maternity service.”
The staff referenced the similar move back in 2022, reported by Star Journal, to relocate maternity, special care nursery and paediatric services to Casey Hospital in Berwick and Monash Childrens Hospital and Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, according to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
“It’s important the community are aware of the intention of Monash Health and it should remain in the public eyes,” the staffer said.
Greater Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad, fourth left, with community members at Dandenong Hospital. (Stewart Chambers: 520739).
Locals take a powerful stand
A keynote speaker at this year’s Walk Against Family Violence has urged City of Greater Dandenong to set up a local advisory committee against family and domestic violence . Multi-award winning international speaker, Elvis Martin delivered a powerful speech after more than 1000 walkers marched to Harmony Square on 25 November.
Sharing his journey as a survivor, his speech was a powerful call to action also for members of parliament to advocate for long-term “real funding” and for men and the wider community to take shared responsibility and care towards human beings.
“This is not a political debate. This is not an ideological debate. This is a human rights crisis.
“People are dying every single day at the hand of their partners and family members. You must speak up about this consistently.
“Family violence is not a private issue, it’s a community issue, it’s a human rights issue.
“If we stand together, speak together, and act together, lives will be saved.”
As a survivor, he said he will advocate for the council to establish an advisory committee on the issue, to help shape policies and programs made up of diverse community members.
He also advocated for the council to create local programs for awareness and dedicate a yearly funding pool to local organisations that provide crucial survivor support services.
“Your job is to represent your local communities, and that does not stop at road, rates, and rubbish.
“You must speak up and represent diverse challenges faced by the community. That means talking about crisis of family and domestic violence.
“It is important to have diverse perspectives if you really want the programs to work,” he said in his speech.
“Not a symbolic gesture - real structure, real investment, and real impact.”
Martin came to Australia at the age of 17 as an international student, hoping to pursue his career back in his home country.
That dream was short-lived after he came out about his sexuality to his family.
Coming from a country where being gay is punishable by death, he was reported by his own father to the area council.
A death letter was issued which stated he will be publicly killed within 24 hours upon his return.
“The home I thought was very safe became the most dangerous place,” he told the Harmony Square audience.
“I found myself experiencing severe family violence, everyday life threats.
“My family disowned me. (I went) from a safe roof over my head to experiencing homelessness.
“Everything felt out of control. I felt like I had no future. I felt like I had no place in this world. I reached to a point where I believed the only way
out was ending my own life.
“I survived because someone cared enough to intervene. But I want to be very clear: many people in my situation do not get that support. Many don’t survive.”
He attempted to take his own life multiple times, on one occasion it left him hospitalised for six months.
His message also focused on men not to blame them but to remind them of their responsibility. He also urged the community that speaking up on the topic doesn’t mean advocating with politicians, it means to call out violence when they see it.
“There is another most important role community play in providing support to victim and survivors of family and domestic violence, supporting local organisations, raising awareness, educating your loved ones, and building an inclusive culture where people feel seen, heard, and supported.
“Community plays a far bigger role than people realize.
“If you hear jokes that normalise violence against women and children, you must shut them down.
“If you see behaviours that harms, you must not look away. You are not powerless, you are powerful.
“Use that power to protect, not destroy.”
Greater Dandenong strategy and corporate services executive cirector Marjan Hajjari said the council would take Martin’s suggestions “very seriously” and consider them at its next review of advisory committees.
“Advisory committees are created to bring together interested or expert community members to advise Council on important topics.
“We already work very closely with experts and interested parties across the community on family violence prevention.
As previously reported by Star Journal, City of Greater Dandenong Council invested $553,000 in grants to help local organisations fighting violence in the year to November 2025.
“Our important work in family violence prevention is a responsibility of every department across Council, and we are satisfied that our current funding models work successfully,” Hajjari said.
Wellsprings for Women has previously called for investment in existing culturally responsive and trauma-informed services after their reports revealed serious systemic gaps in protecting migrant and refugee women.
Wellsprings reported a significant rise in complex cases amongst many other alarming findings over the past financial year, reported by Star Journal.
Reported family violence incidents in Greater Dandenong have soared 20 per cent since 2022’23, according to Crime Statistics Agency data. More than 3000 were reported in the past financial year.
If you or someone else you know needs help, call 1800RESPECT
Lifeline Australia can be contacted on 13 11
State MP Tim Richardson, Emma from City of Greater Dandenong Youth and Family Services, MPs Lee Tarlamis, Eden Foster MP, Belinda Wilson and victim-survivor Fran. (Stewart Chambers: 519345_16)
Community member Dawn Vernon and Cr Rhonda Garad attended in support.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_11)
A herd from Good Shepherd joined the walk. (Stewart Chambers:519345_14)
Carolyn, Alecia and Fiona in support of the annual walk.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_17)
Greater Dandenong mayor Sophie Tan, guest speaker Elvis Martin and Greater Dandenong Council CEO, Jacqui Weatherill. (Stewart Chambers: 519345_18)
A large crowd attended the speeches in Harmony Square.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_19)
Gunditjmara man Uncle Mark Brown.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_20)
Greater Dandenong Council CEO, Jacqui Weatherill addresses Harmony Square.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_01)
Emma from City of Greater Dandenong Youth and Family Services and Fran (victim survivor) lead the march through the Dandenong Market. (Stewart Chambers: 519345_05)
A crowd of walkers gather at Dandenong Market before marching to Harmony Square.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_02)
Mayor Sophie Tan and MP Belinda Wilson were joined by other MPs and councillors on the march.(Stewart Chambers: 519345_08)
Local community came out in large numbers. (Stewart Chambers: 519345_03)
By Sahar Foladi
Stepping up on supports
By Sahar Foladi
South East Community Links is empowering Greater Dandenong support services on responding to sexual violence disclosures.
The City of Greater Dandenong is ranked third in numbers of sexual violence victim reports in the state last year with 307 female reports while City of Casey topped the figures with 579 female reports, above the state average of 70 according to Crime Statistics Agency Victoria.
In a two-way partnership, South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA) will train SECL staff and organisations for diverse communities on how to deal with victim survivor disclosure.
Meanwhile, SECL will provide SECASA and interested organisations with training and upskilling to work with multicultural communities.
More than 100 community members and organisations registered for an associated forum, ‘Supports after sexual violence: Responses from specialist, hospital, and police services in the South-East’ on Friday 28 November.
Held within the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the event hosted SECASA guest speakers, a forensic nurse from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, and detectives from Victoria Police’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (Dandenong).
Up to 20 organisations attended, including Family Safety Victoria, Monash Health, AMES, Orange Door, Victoria Police and Department of Education.
The event aimed to raise awareness around disclosures of sexual abuse and violence especially when working with and supporting women from multicultural and multi-faith backgrounds.
SECL’s head of housing and financial wellbeing, Rachna Bowman says this project also aims to drive the conversations on sexual abuse and allow for more victim survivors to share their stories.
“It’s a topic that is full of shame, stigma, and then you add the cultural overlays on top of that,
“For us to be able to do that, it is really important to collaborate, to work with other community stakeholders. Because then we can strengthen our service and reach out to every section of the community or society.”
The partnership will also see SECL operate community focus groups and training sessions, prepare in-language resources for organisations like SECASA when working with multicultural communities through co-designed resources and to have more community events.
it just becomes really difficult to talk about it.
“From my perspective, a lot of the agencies, organisations or community service workers are working with multicultural communities.
“So, how do you best support multicultural communities when you put all the additional overlays on top of the trauma that they may have experienced?
“There’s nothing like community connection where you can speak to someone and share this has happened, what do I do?”
SECASA, is the largest sexual assault and family violence service providers in the South East with services like 24/7 sexual assault crisis response, therapeutic interventions and counselling after sexual assault/ family violence, community education and prevention works including in school settings and much more.
Acting manager partnerships and innova-
tions, Vanessa Jones leads the prevention team saying disclosing a sexual assault is difficult for many, even after many years.
She says the project builds on momentum to influence bigger change.
“It’s not an easy task after experiencing sexual assault, to know what to do or where to get help. It’s not easy.
“Sometimes it takes years and years for someone to build the courage and strength to be able to disclose a sexual assault.
“Sometimes there are very many, many barriers towards either how a victim-survivor feels following a sexual assault, and many barriers to them disclosing as well.
“Effective primary prevention requires developing strong foundations to ensure that our efforts are successful or lead to long-term change,” she says.
“Even within the community sector there’s not a lot of information and knowledge that’s available at this stage and this is what our project is trying to do,” Ms Bowman said.
“It’s also trying to connect with community members, community leaders and organisations so that we can start having this conversation.
“Also understanding, when you’re working with multicultural communities, especially refugees and migrants, there are barriers around language, the fear of police, coercion around visa abuse, financial abuse, economic abuse.
“All of those factors, when you put it into perspective, makes it harder for someone to go this is not OK. So it’s about creating pathways for someone to go seek help.”
Both SECL and SECASA list language and the lack of knowledge about support services available to the community as major barriers for multicultural communities in the South East.
(L-R) Guest speakers at the forum were Victoria Police’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT), SECL Family Violence Prevention and Capacity Building practitioner Emily, a nurse from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine FVIM and SECL’s head of housing and financial wellbeing
Rachna Bowman, Vanessa and Katherine from SECASA and Laura from Family Safety Victoria. (Supplied)
Speakers at the SECL forum, aimed to empower organisations in response to victim survivor disclosure from multicultural community across south east region.(Supplied)
Plea over pet adoptions
By Sahar Foladi
As the holiday season comes at a speed, Keysbor-
animals shelter urge people to adopt cats and dogs responsibly.
Mandy Warrick started to volunteer from the age of 13 at the Australian Animal Protection Society at Keysborough, now a manager at the animal shelter says they see more than 30 pet surrenders every day.
There are no more holiday trends, pets are instead surrendered all year round she says.
“Pre Covid there were trends, winter would be a big trend for lots of dogs because it’s muddy, Christmas hasn’t been so much of a trend but certainly post covid there’s no trends, it just all year around.
“We get strays, surrenders, take a lot of dogs from breeding establishments, from other shelters that are overflowing because it’s the worst we’ve seen, the amount of animals coming through the system is out of control, it’s like a human Tetris game at time.
“It’s always important for people to support adoption to bust the perception that shelter animals is here because there’s a problem, in fact it’s the people who’ve brought them in and let them down are the problem.”
Cost of living, cost of vet, rentals that don’t allow pets, elderly people moving into aged care or retirement villages that don’t allow pets are some of the main reasons people surrender their pets.
“I just had a surrender request for a 9-yearold dog, the person had the dog from the age of 9 weeks old.
“The dog needs urgent care, and he can’t afford vet fees, so he asked us to take the dog so he can get the treatment.”
pacity to care for 70 cats, up to 20 dogs and 150 out in foster care.
To avoid gifting trends especially around Christmas, the shelter require the whole family of the person adopting the pet to attend in person, being “selective” on where animals are rehomed.
Their experience has taught the important skills of seeing through fibs.
Ms Warrick says they are in peak kitten season but even before then they’ve had increased numbers of pregnant mums come through the shelter.
She urges cat desexing prices to be made cheap to take control of the overpopulation of cats especially in Greater Dandenong.
“People call us that they’ve had cats having babies in their backyard and garages, asking what they can do.
“Council gets so many of these calls that they
Light another candle of hope
MESSAGE OF HOPE
By Roz Blades AM, of Jewish faith
Chanukah (which can be spelt Hannukah) was first celebrated after the Maccabees reclaimed and rededicated the Second Temple in Jerusalem 164 BC.
The festival commemorates this rededication
The Festival of Lights begins at sundown on 14 December, ending on 22 December.
The core message of hope comes from its historical context; the triumph of a small group of Jewish fighters to rededicate their temple.
The message of hope is symbolized by the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil burning for
eight days by the lighting of candles on a menorah nightly.
The messages of hope are:
Triumph over adversity
Miracle of light, which is the central symbol Perseverance of faith
The message is expressed by the lighting of an additional candle on a nine-branched candelabra, symbolizing the spreading of light and love.
Symbolic Foods, potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly doughnuts commemorate the miracle of the oil. These are delicious.
Chanukah is celebrated with family and community gathering reinforcing renewed hope for the future.
Together at this time of the year as we light the candles of hope, let us tolerate and love once more.
Enquiries regarding the Interfaith Network, City of Greater Dandenong administration@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 8774 7662.
• Visit interfaithnetwork.org.au
refer people to us.
“Council needs to step up a lot more and really help their community.”
Keysborough’s animal shelter charge $160 for cat desexing with microchip as a shelter, however costs can vary and go up to $500.
Ms Warrick remembers when it used to cost just $50.
As reported previously by Star Journal in 2022, stray cats and dogs and unregistered animals have been identified as major challenges in the council’s draft domestic animal management plan 2021-2025.
As of January 2021, there were about 3500 registered cats – but that’s estimated to be only 15 per cent of the cat population in Greater Dandenong.
Council had passed a night time curfew for cats, from dusk till dawn from April last year to
LOOKING BACK
100 years ago
3 December 1925
POLICE PADDOCKS
Inspected by Minister
Mr F Richardson, Minister for Forests, accompanied by others, inspected the Police Paddocks on Stud Road, Dandenong last Friday.
The visitors were introduced to lovely wilderness of blackberries , briars, ti-tree, gorse, watsonia and other weeds which have taken possession of most of the 1600 acres, which is also a nursery for rabbits and snakes. The party moved through various parts of the land and arrived at the higher timbered portions, where a large quantity of peppermint, sheok and other timber is being cut for timber, and unsightly stumps left. The minister could not help regretting that that the Government had allowed the land to get in such a state and strongly favoured the Forestry and Education Departments taking areas for the planting of suitable trees. He understood that if the Police Department gave up the land, it expected to receive land on the Healesville Reserve and that the blacks and half-castes remaining there be sent to Lake Tyers.
50 years ago
1 December 1975
SO, HERE’S HOW WE SPENT $121m
Dandenong had a retail turnover of more than $121m in 1973-4.
This staggering figure was announced to Dandenong Council by Councillor Warren Titcher, who said an average of $181,147 was spent in each of the city’s 436 retail stores. There was a turnover of almost $79m in “true retail “establishments and just over $42m in new / used cars, petrol and such. Councillor Titcher said that excluding sales of new cars the biggest business with the biggest turnover in Dandenong in 1973-4 was clothing and drapery ($22.5m) followed by groceries ($13.1m) petrol, oil, spares ($11m) used cars ($8.4m) household electrical ($5.6m) food apart from confectionery and fresh meat ($5m) meat ($4.9m) radio TV etc ($4.4m) and furniture ($4.2m).
20 years ago
5 December 2005
Brown gets mayor’s job
The election of Peter Brown as Greater Dandenong Mayor was a political appointment,
tackle cat overpopulation as a significant issues in the municipality.
Council impounds an average of 700 cats per year and only seven per cent of them are reclaimed by the owner, leaving 651 cats without legal owner with the council to bear the costs of the animals care.
These costs can equate to approximately $216,000 per year.
For over 20 years AAPS has been fundraising with Entertainment to provide exclusive dining, experiences, travel perks, and shopping savings all year long to supporters whilst supporting their cause.
Memberships can be bought this Christmas and help even more animals this holiday season.
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Dandenong Creek flowing through Police Paddocks Reserve. (Gary Sissons: 215643)
defeated mayoral candidate John Kelly said. The only Liberal on the council, Cr Kelly lost the election 8 – 3. Despite being a councillor for over a decade, he is yet to be given the chance of the top job. Cr Kelly said he was disappointed by the margin after receiving assurances of support from councillors Paul Donovan and Maria Sampey. The only two votes he received were from independent councillors Jim Memeti and Yvonne Herring. Cr Brown said party politics played no part in his election as mayor and that he was chosen on performance.
“I’ve contested eight elections. I’ve been on the council for 10 years. I wasn’t jumping any queues.”
5 years ago
1 December 2020
Santa Claus Zooms in It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Only this year there’s a sprinkling of social distancing in the air and to adhere to the new COVID normal, the Dandenong Market has organised a “very 2020” Christmas surprise for children of all ages. For the first time ever, Santa, Mrs Claus and the elves will be making their annual festive appearance in a very twenty-first century way – dialling in from the North Pole on Zoom! Dandenong Market general manager Jennifer Hibbs said: “We believe it could be a world first for Santa to be “Zoomed” in to discuss your Christmas wish list and admit to being naughty or nice.”
Compiled by Dandenong & District Historical Society
Members of the Australian Animal Protection Society Sam Hawkins, Lisa Hauck, Georgia (English Bulldog), Jaquelyn Thatcher-Brady, Mandy Warrick and (Chad). (Gary Sissons: 517169)
Blanca the cat is up for adoption and adored by AAPS members. (517169)
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90th birthday tees off!
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A sprightly Les Abrehart has celebrated his 90th birthday with 100 family and friends on Sunday 16 November.
“They seem to come out of the woodwork when free food is available,” he jokes.
By his side were his three children Linda, Gary and Karen – with seven grandkids and seven great-grand kids – at the celebration at Hillview Bunyip Aged Care.
The former greenskeeper at Keysborough and Cranbourne golf courses remains an active and independent Mr Fix It. He’s still driving and has close to 20:20 vision.
He’s an active part of Garfield-Bunyip Probus, tinkers on a family farm in Bunyip and mends bikes from hard rubbish and donates them for op shops.
“I’ve been a scrounger all my life. I hate seeing those bikes go to waste.”
The Abrehart family has been part of the South East for about 140 years, he says.
The surname is scribed on signs across the region - Abrehart Street in Doveton, named after Les’s father, and Abrehart Road in Pakenham where his relatives farmed for about 120 years.
He recalls him and his now-late wife Heather once visiting the 200-acre homestead, which was home to his Nanna, great-aunts and great-uncles.
They were greeted by Nanna on the porch, with a shotgun under her arm, enquiring what they were doing there. All was later sorted out over a cup of tea, Les says.
Three decades ago, the homestead sold for about $490,000. The undeveloped tract was prob-
ably worth about $40 million now, Les says.
Most of his formative years were in what is now Doveton’s Abrehart Street.
His father Carl and mother Edith had moved down from Nar Nar Goon – where there lived off a road “not much more than a two-wheel track through the trees”.
The hope was that Les and his nine siblings could get an education at Hallam. They moved into a four-acre place in Doveton, just before the farmlands were carved into sub-divisions.
Les used to set rabbit traps in the paddocks later claimed by big industries such as General Motors Holden and Heinz. There was no such thing as a freeway in those days, he says.
While his brothers and sisters knuckled down
at high school, Les left after grade 6 and got to work.
At 14, he landed a job at Keysborough Golf Club, which at the time was just being built on the site of a cattle farm off Hutton and Chapel roads.
Les and his father were hired to pull out the old barbed-wire fences, with his father exploding gelignite to remove trees and stumps.
“You’d be locked up for that these days,” Les mused.
When he turned 18, he was being paid junior wages while doing more work than some of the men. He thought he deserved more, and so accepted a job on the fairways and greens at Cranbourne Golf Club.
Les and wife Heather settled briefly in Yal-
lourn, where Les became superintendent of the golf club, before they built a new home back in Doveton.
He returned to work at Keysborough Golf Club for 25 years – until he had a “run-in” with a club member one day.
“He said ‘I’ll get you Les’. Then he got on the committee and I got sacked on the spot.
“But it had a bit of karma in it. He ended up getting done for embezzlement.”
Meanwhile, Les joined his son Gary in driving Browns Grain dairy trucks across Gippsland. It took some convincing for Les to get a truck licence, after being unable to reverse the truck around a corner.
Evidently the instructor was happy that Les would mainly be reversing around farms.
Now 65, Gary runs Abrehart Transport based in Livestock Way, Pakenham near the former livestock exchange.
And Les drove trucks for about 20 years, earning a well-deserved gold watch on his formal retirement.
Councillor calls for toxic waste group backflip
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Greater Dandenong councillor has called for councillors to rejoin a community reference group (CRG) for the controversial Lyndhurst toxic waste landfill.
The potential backflip comes after councillors controversially voted to end their representation on the Taylors Road CRG, which meets four times a year.
Instead a council officer, on behalf of the council, was to continue to attend the meetings.
The move seemed at odds with Greater Dandenong’s long-held opposition to the landfill on health grounds.
At a 24 November council meeting, CRG community member Thelma Wakelam questioned if the council was ceasing to represent its ratepayers on the issue.
The landfill accepts all of Victoria’s prescribed industrial waste as well as the highest categories of hazardous materials, she stated.
“For this reason, the landfill is of state significance but it is situated near where many thousands of people live and work around Dandenong South.
“In 2025, this facility would never be approved to operate as it cannot meet best practice guidelines for buffer zones.”
Cr Rhonda Garad volunteered to join the CRG in an attempt to reverse the council’s position.
She had been listed as the nominated councillor for the group in 2024-’25, but says she
wasn’t made aware of the posting or provided CRG meeting dates or minutes.
She said councillors had a different perspective than council officers, calling for an end date for the landfill.
“We should not have to take the toxic rubbish for the whole of Melbourne and people should not have to live next door to it.”
Chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said council officers had suggested withdrawing councillors from the CRG due to the group’s focus on “operational issues”.
If councillors wanted to restore their CRG representation, it wouldn’t cause concern to officers, she said.
“It’s about the fact that our councillors are very busy.
“It’s not changing our focus on the landfill in question and our concern about the landfill in question. We have had ongoing issues with the operator of that facility.”
Weatherill later told Star News that she was referring to the council’s “ongoing discussions with Veolia as the site operators”.
“Our understanding from these discussions is that Veolia has resolved previous EPA compliance matters. Officers will bring a report to Council with more detail on this, early next year.”
In recent years, the tip’s operator Veolia has been subject to EPA fines and improvement notices for non-compliances at Taylors Road.
Veolia was also ordered by the Victorian Supreme Court to pay $1 million for breaches at its
nearby Hallam Road landfill.
Cr Jim Memeti, who has campaigned against the landfill for 20 years, demanded to know how many times Veolia had been fined.
“We know Veolia should not be trusted. There should not be any breaches.
“When (the community) sees in the newspapers they’ve breached their conditions, they just do not feel safe.”
Wakelam raised concerns that Veolia may successfully apply to dispose toxic waste, instead of putrescible waste, in the last remaining cell at Lyndhurst landfill.
If successful, this could further extend the lifetime of the toxic-waste landfill, she stated.
A previous Labor State Government pledged to stop allowing toxic waste at Lyndhurst by 2020, but its time line is now being left to Veolia.
The tip has a potential to remain open beyond 2046, then-Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio told Parliament in 2019.
According to CRG minutes, Veolia stated it does not have a “sunset clause” for Lyndhurst landfill, and it depended on the market and what people sent to the landfill.
The site was taking markedly less waste than in the 1990s and that “the State Government has concerns about the site closing”, a Veolia representative told the meeting.
“Veolia is in discussions with the government regarding the need to build the final cell, Cell 21, because the state needs it for the reportable priority waste,” the minutes recorded.
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The view of Lyndhurst toxic-waste landfill from the nearby industrial precinct in National Drive, Dandenong South. (Gary Sissons: 228738)
Les Abrehart, second left, with his children Karen, Gary and Linda at his 90th birthday party. (Supplied) Les Abrehart.
FOCUS ON … SENIORS Bringing heart and harmony
Belvedere Aged Care proudly recognises the remarkable contribution of local schools, cultural organisations, religious groups, families and dedicated individuals who continue to enrich the lives of our residents and reflecting the true spirit of community connection.
Throughout 2025, Belvedere has welcomed student volunteers, multicultural groups, parish visitors, and families who generously give their time, creativity and companionship.
These acts of kindness bring warmth, joy and meaning to everyday life, strengthening the social bonds that sit at the heart of our person-centred care approach.
“Our community partners help us create a home filled with dignity, comfort and belonging,” said Karin Blavo, Belvedere’s Lifestyle Manager. “Their presence complements our quality lifestyle program, which celebrates individual interests, cultural heritage and the simple pleasures that make life beautiful.”
From festive celebrations to language-based activities, music, shared meals and intergenerational conversations, Belvedere’s lifestyle program thrives because of these valued community connections. Together, they help us honour the stories, traditions and identities of every resident.
Belvedere Aged Care extends heartfelt gratitude to all who support our mission. Your generosity continues to inspire us to ensure a safe and welcoming home where residents feel valued and part of a vibrant, caring community.
Amongst Friends
Annette as Ms Claus.
Belvedere Resident Maureen Hussey, volunteers Annette Heyhurst, Susan Arnott and Donna Freeman.
Crucial reforms underway
By Jensy Callimootoo
A ground-breaking retrospective bill to improve access to compensation in cases of institutional sexual abuse has been introduced by the Victorian Government.
It garnered the support of South Eastern Metro MP, Rachel Payne, who had introduced a similar bill that was voted down by the Government.
The new bill would reform vicarious liability laws and remove legal loopholes that inhibit reparations for victim-survivors.
Attorney General, Sonya Kilkenny introduced the bill in the Lower house on 18 November.
The reforms have been long discussed over the past year, after a controversial High Court ruling in the Bird v DP case.
In this matter, the High Court overturned the ruling of the Victorian Supreme court and found the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat was not vicariously liable for the alleged abuse of a plaintiff, DP (pseudonym).
“Our message to survivors of child abuse has always been clear; we stand with you in your fight for justice – and we always will,” Kilkenny told Star News.
“We acknowledge the impact that the High Court’s decision in Bird v DP has had on many victim-survivors.
“That’s why we have introduced landmark legislation into Parliament this year to address the implications of this decision – because it is the right thing to do.”
In Bird v DP, the High Court unanimously ruled that vicarious liability cannot be imposed without a genuine employer and employee relationship.
As a result, churches cannot be held vicariously liable for abuse committed by priests - who are not considered employees but office holders or ministers of religion.
The new bill would change this by including individuals ‘akin to an employee’ if their work is
central to the institution’s activities.
In May, Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne introduced a similar bill.
While it was debated then, it ultimately was not put to the vote due to the lack of support, including from the State Government.
Payne says that she is pleased to see that the legislation put forward by the government is similar to what she put forward, specifically retrospective aspects as well as the inconsistencies of what it means to be ‘akin to employment’.
“That is, it won’t exclude volunteers or certain types of organisations like sporting clubs or the scouts for example,” explained the MP.
“There was concern initially that the govern-
ment may limit vicarious liability to churches or religious institutions, but that did not eventuate thankfully.
“The government’s Bill includes the ability to set aside judgements or settlements impacted by Bird v DP that occurred between the High Court case and the Bill’s passage, which provides a huge relief to survivors that were forced to settle in the interim.”
Karen Walker, a stern advocate for survivors and victims of abuse and who worked with Payne back in May, says that the retrospective aspect of the government’s bill will allow victims and survivors to “regroup with legal teams”.
“To take the time needed to work towards ob-
BUSINESS IN FOCUS
taining a just outcome for being a victim of one of the most serious crimes,” she said.
“That will not only enable them to move forward with their lives but contribute to healing and improved quality of life.
“For them, and their families.”
For Walker, this bill is personal.
Walker’s brother, Ian, was a victim of institutional abuse by a volunteer coach at St Kilda Little League and says that often, child sex offenders “seek out employment that creates access to children”.
The debate on the bill is expected to take place in the following few weeks in the Upper House.
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One and free, yet divided
‘Australians all let us rejoice, for we are one and free’. These are the first few words of our National Anthem, binding us together and reminding us that despite our different backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths, we are one people living in a free nation.
Yet, with the Statewide Treaty in force, Victoria risks becoming divided.
Treaties are primarily instruments of foreign affairs, governing relations between sovereign nations, rather than within them. By enshrining a treaty between groups of Victorians, we have legislated the idea that we are separate peoples with different political rights.
Indigenous Australians have endured profound loss, injustice, and dispossession. They deserve respect, their history deserves recognition, and the gap they face must be closed. But the idea that progress could be achieved through the newly created Aboriginal Representative Body, Gellung Warl is misguided.
Indigenous communities are extraordinarily diverse with many political opinions, communities, cultures, language groups and dialects. Gellung Warl could never credibly claim to speak for all of them. Its very name was objected to by some Kurnai elders who did not want their language being used for a political body.
Gellung Warl has the form of a shadow government with vast resources at its disposal and minimal ministerial oversight. It will hold significant influence: shaping legislation, questioning ministers and public servants, holding costly inquiries, wielding and spending vast sums of taxpayer money, and much more. These are substantial powers, exercised without the same level of accountability expected of other public institutions.
If the Voice to Parliament referendum was a sign of the public’s mood, I am confident that this treaty would have been rejected by Victorians - if it were properly explained and put to a referendum.
I am resolutely committed to closing the gap by continuing to pursue practical measures that improve health, education, housing, and economic outcomes for Indigenous Victorians. I remain committed to a unified Victoria, where reconciliation is built upon shared opportunity and respectful dialogue with all Victorians, rather than through government-initiated, institutional division.
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• Suite 1 / 31 Princes Highway Dandenong VIC 3175
Rachel Payne (second left) back in May with victim-survivors and advocates, urging for legislative changes. (Joel Carrett/AAP)
Ann-Marie Hermans State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region.
Lost WWII relic uncovered
By Violet Li
Clyde North Salvos has uncovered and returned a long-lost World War II flag that originally belonged to the 2/2nd Field Regiment, and the historic artefact will be displayed at the Shrine of Remembrance next year.
On Friday 21 November, a donation ceremony was held at the store, where the flag was officially handed over to the 2/2nd Field Regiment Association.
The fragile flag, covered in 28 handwritten signatures believed to be signed by Australian soldiers who served for the 2/2nd Field Regiment during World War II, was discovered by store staff member Kylie Baker.
While routinely sorting through donations, she noticed the flag and immediately recognised it was not a normal flag, an instinct from someone whose parents are RSL members.
Kylie’s parents, Denis Holland and Sue Holland, members of Springvale RSL, helped investigate the origin of the flag.
“I think when you look at the flag itself, you see that it’s full of signatures. 28 people have signed it. You don’t normally see a flag like that, unless it belongs to a group or a battalion,” Denis said.
“Kylie just thought that it must be of some significance. She’s not sure how it actually arrived at the Salvos. It was just donated.
“It’s not something that you would sell either. You couldn’t sell it to anybody. It’s too precious.”
On the bottom edge of the flag, the couple spotted the words ‘2/2 FLD REG”, a reference to the 2/2nd Field Regiment of the Australian Army, an artillery regiment that served in the Middle East and New Guinea during the Second World War.
Sue soon found the recently rebuilt website of the 2/2nd Field Regiment Association, where she found the contact details for its president, Malcolm Fallon.
“It was just a series of coincidences, and the
timing of it is just incredible,” Malcolm said.
“They (Denis and Sue) got on our website, which we’ve just spent hundreds and hundreds of hours building, and they found my name and email and contacted me.
“If we hadn’t rebuilt that, they would never have found us.”
He began his own research after the couple sent through some detailed images. He individually examined each signature and soldier number, many beginning with “VX”, indicating enlistment in Victoria. Malcolm cross-referenced the names through the National Archives to confirm their deployment history. His research pointed to the flag being signed in 1940 or 1941, most likely from the Middle East, but he still needs to find out whether the flag was signed going to or from the Middle East.
“It makes it 80 to 85 years old. It’s very fragile. We’ve got to work out now what we’re going to do with it, how we frame it or how we preserve it, so
we’re going to get some expert advice on what’s the best thing to do to make sure that it’s preserved forever,” Malcolm said.
Another coincidence is that the regiment had been working for a couple of years with the Shrine of Remembrance to curate a major exhibition in April next year. One of the missing artefacts was an original wartime flag signed by unit members.
“This flag will form part of the original memorabilia to be displayed at the Shrine, which may have ended up in a rubbish bin and never to be seen again,” Malcolm said.
“It is of historical significance not only to us but to Australia.”
Malcolm praised and thanked Salvos for the way they handled and looked after the flag.
“Everything the Salvos did was textbook preserving and looking after it, and we’ll be forever grateful,” he said.
Salvos regional manager Leigh Murphy de-
scribed the donation as “incredibly rare” and a testament to the diligence of the Clyde North team.
“We presented it to the president of 2/2nd Field Regiment, and they’re actually in the midst of preparing an exhibition for the Shrine of Remembrance in April next year, and the one thing they didn’t have was the original flag from their field regiment. And using the words from them, this is one of the most prized possessions that they have to showcase at the Shrine,” he said.
“That’s really significant in our nation’s history, of military personnel who served overseas in World War II.
“We certainly don’t get this type of donation every day, but the team did the research and made sure it went back to the right hands and where it belongs.
“I think for our community, please continue to come and donate your pre-loved goods at any one of our Salvos stores around the area… Our team will take the right care for those donations and pre-loved goods that you do give to us and ensure that they’re respected.”
Malcolm said they still need to find out who actually held the flag.
“We believe the owner of the flag got to live somewhere in the eastern corridor,” he said.
“We’re sort of at a loss to know any more history, and there are no soldiers alive now; they’ve all passed away, so a little bit of the histories or unknown history is gone with those men, and most probably never be able to be retrieved unless we could find a descendant that the father had told the story.
“That’s why we’d like to find the person who actually owned the flag. We’d love to hear from any family that knows any of the history of it.”
Denis recalled the day of the official donation ceremony.
“We had other people there, but me handing it over to Malcolm brought tears to my eyes and to his eyes because of the significance,” he said.
Mobile Stroke Unit rushes to save Cockatoo man
A Cockatoo father is back home and recovering well after Victoria’s second Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU), operating out of Dandenong, delivered life-saving stroke care on the roadside.
Shane Allan, 50, collapsed at his home earlier this year.
His wife Michelle immediately suspected a stroke after recognising the symptoms.
“Every Sunday night, I watch Inside the Ambulance and all those medical shows. I looked at Shane and I knew what was happening straight away, so I rang an ambulance,” Michelle recalled.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Australia’s second MSU had begun operating out of Dandenong only three months earlier and was dispatched to meet Shane’s ambulance en route to the hospital.
A hospital-grade CT scanner onboard the unit allowed specialists to diagnose an ischemic stroke within minutes, confirming a blockage in one of Shane’s arteries.
The team administered clot-busting medication immediately, before transferring Shane to Monash Medical Centre in Clayton for emergency clot-retrieval surgery.
“Not every hospital can do this procedure. You’re potentially preventing hours of delays if you can get a patient to a stroke service straight away,” Professor Henry Ma, director of Neurology at Monash Health, said.
“Every minute you lose about two million brain cells. So, every minute you save helps a patient.”
Doctors at Monash Medical Centre were notified of Shane’s diagnosis before his arrival, allowing surgical teams to prepare in advance.
“The result of his care was very good,” Monash Health neurologist Dr Michael Valente said.
“Being able to restore blood flow quickly means Shane’s now back to independent function and home again.”
Shane has since returned to work, with only minor weakness remaining in his left side.
Operating Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, the Dandenong-based MSU services a
20-kilometre radius. At times, it can rendezvous outside that catchment area.
It is dispatched by Ambulance Victoria to patients with suspected stroke.
Monash Medical Centre is the primary receiving hospital, serving as a major stroke-retrieval hub for the south east and across Victoria.
“We are thrilled to have Australia’s second Mobile Stroke Unit operating in our catchment,” Professor Ma said.
“We believe it will improve functional outcomes for stroke patients in our community.
“We are already seeing excellent patient outcomes.
“With the MSU, we are getting a lot more in-
formation about patients before they arrive at the hospital. So, our team can be ready for patients when they arrive, and some are even able to go directly to our angio suite to have the clot removed.”
Outside his work at Monash Health, Dr Valente also serves as a virtual neurologist for the MSU, linking in from the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“It’s extremely satisfying and humbling to be able to help the patient from their house.
You’re shifting the dynamics of their care dramatically,’ he said.
“Sometimes you can see the effect of the drugs that you’re giving straight away, you can see the stroke resolving before your eyes. It’s incredibly rewarding to see.”
A former stroke clinical nurse consultant at Monash Health, Jodie Rabaut, said reaching patients within the crucial “golden hour” could dramatically change outcomes.
She is now a stroke nurse practitioner on the MSU, enjoying applying the same skills she uses in the hospital setting, but in a very different environment.
“Being out in the elements, rain, hail or shine and providing imaging and treatment on the street is a rawer experience,” she said.
“In the hospital environment, the patient arrives with paramedics on a stretcher with all the required information. With the MSU, you are entering people’s homes, where they may be stuck between furniture, and you are sourcing as much information as you can, all the while trying to comfort family members during such a confronting time.
“Working with such a tight-knit team on the MSU, including paramedics, radiographers and doctors, knowing that you are helping people in the community, is definitely satisfying and rewarding.”
TheMSUprogramisacollaborationbetween Ambulance Victoria, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash Health, the Stroke Foundation, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the RMH Neuroscience Foundation, the State Government and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Mobile Stroke Unit was visiting Monash Medical Centre during National Stroke Week. (Supplied)
2/2nd Field Regiment historian Terry Cole, Yvonne Ross, Denis Holland, Sue Holland, 2/2nd Field Regiment president Malcolm Fallon, Clyde North Salvos staff member Kylie Baker and Bronwyn Bethell were at the official donation ceremony. (Gary Sissons: 519454)
ECG campus on the move
ECG Secondary College (ECG) is excited to announce that its Dandenong campus has relocated to a
modern facility on Level 3, 126 Walker Street, featuring upgraded classrooms and learning spaces designed to better support Year 9-12 students.
ECG caters to young people who have found traditional school settings stressful or overwhelming, struggled to keep up in large classrooms, or felt disconnected from learning. The new campus provides a supportive, flexible environment where students can feel safe, build confidence, and reconnect with education.
“Our Walker Street campus has been designed with our students in mind,” said Russel Praetz, Principal of ECG. “We understand some students face anxiety or challenges in mainstream schools, and our smaller, nurturing classrooms allow them to learn at their own pace, feel supported, and regain their interest in learning.”
ECG is now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Year 9 students starting in Term 2, 2026. Families interested in exploring the opportunities at the new campus are encouraged to submit an EOI to organise a tour and connect with our team to learn more about the programs tailored to their child’s needs.
At ECG, we focus on each student as a person, not just a learner. Our T.H.R.I.V.E. program provides a therapeutic, holistic, and vocationally-focused environment where students can:
• Learn Your Way with personalised programs that suit their interests and goals
• Build Confidence & Resilience in a supportive setting
• Gain Practical Life Skills for everyday life and future work
• Develop Positive Relationships with staff and peers who genuinely care
Hands-on, practical life skills programs are part of a broader approach to education that values wellbeing, connection, and engagement as the foundation for personal growth and longterm success. ECG is proud to support initiatives that empower students to find strength not just in
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Keen
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their bodies, but in their character, mindset, and relationships.
ECG Dandenong campus currently offers programs for Years 10-12, including the VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate, as well as project-based learning and applied
learning opportunities designed to help students re-engage with school and prepare for further education or future careers.
If you’re looking for a school that understands your teen and helps them thrive, visit https://ecg. vic.edu.au/enrol-with-us/ or call 03 5622 6000.
ECG Secondary College Dandenong Campus moves to new location with Expanded Facilities to welcome Year 9 students.
Christmas Cheer
Harmony Square will sparkle with festive cheer on Friday 5 December as the Greater Dandenong City Council welcomes back its beloved Carols in Harmony Square. Starting at 6pm, this free community event promises an evening filled with music, laughter, and the magic of the season. Families, friends, and neighbours are invited to gather beneath the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree to sing along to classic carols and enjoy a vibrant lineup of live performances by talented local artists. From soulful soloists to dynamic choirs, the stage will come alive with the rich cultural diversity that defines our city. There’s something for everyone—children
can enjoy festive activities and a special visit from Santa, while adults can soak in the joyful atmosphere and connect with others in the heart of our city. Whether you’re bringing the kids, catching up with friends, or simply passing through after work, Carols in Harmony Square is a celebration for all.
More than just a musical event, it’s a night to reflect on the year, share smiles, and celebrate the spirit of community. It’s about what brings us together—our stories, our songs, and our shared hope for the season ahead.
Join us for a night to remember. Come sing, celebrate, and be part of something truly special.
Create your festive touch Carols in Harmony Square
Household items or trinkets that mean something to your family could make for some spectacular Christmas decorations in 2025.
Getting into the festive spirit need not be very expensive or labour intensive with a few ideas to help you create your own decorations to wow your guests.
Give your guests a dramatic welcome: A pair of inexpensive plastic urns from the garden centre instantly dress up a front doorway. Place a tall foam cone in each urn, anchor it with sand, then use florist sticks and wire to attach greenery and Christmas balls.
Make an easy table topper centrepiece by buying a garland of greenery available at garden centres to run down the length of your table.
Send your kids out to collect pine cones, and use them as rustic toppers. You can also buy pinecones at garden or craft stores.
Another festive idea could be to load a simple glass jar or bowl with multiples of the same fruit, nut, or monochromatic ornament. Trifle bowls filled with red apples and green baby artichokes - the colours of Christmas and wal-
nuts look especially festive. Or you could try bowls of lemons and limes as an alternative.
For a subtle outdoor decoration, gather pine cones of various sizes and arrange them in a window box or in pots on your porch, sprinkling the tiniest ones on top. The weatherproof display should last until next season.
Instead of the traditional evergreen, try a homemade wreath of citrus fruits. Start with a circular piece of florist’s foam, then use wooden florist’s picks to secure large items, such as oranges, first. Continue with smaller fruit -persimmons, clementines, limes and tie with a thick velvet ribbon.
Personalised place setting adds a very nice touch to Christmas lunch.
Serve holiday dinner buffet style and wrap each dish in a sheet of parchment paper and tie with a length of ribbon before stacking it. Guests will be rewarded with a pretty presentation not to mention a little gift-opening practice.
Get creative this Christmas and make the most of the material around you to make your house sparkle for the festive season.
Tahlia Rielly and Elias Salas - Miles from Dandenong North who attended last year’s Carols.
Santa and Caleb from Carrum Downs at last year’s Carols.
Bethel New Life Christian Fellowship who performed at last year’s carols. (447005)
Tech steps up in crises
Images of devastated property are becoming an increasing feature of news outlets in communities across the country.
Uprooted trees on buildings, carparks with rows of battered vehicles, smashed windows, flooded local shops and homes – even loss of life is increasingly common.
Last month, it was NSW and southern Queensland battered by huge hail, severe hail and thunderstorms through northern parts of Melbourne and what was described as the most significant storm event on record in Port Pirie in South Australia.
In Sydney and the Central Coast, the hottest October on record was punctuated by sudden and record-breaking wind, rain and hail.
All over Australia, what were once one in 50 years weather events – or even the type of event usually associated with in the tropic – have become more and more commonplace.
Fortunately, technology has progressed as climate uncertainty has increased. It is now possible, for example, to have such a detailed and granular view of all the assets and infrastructure in a community that the individual trees at highest risk of falling can be identified in minutes after a storm warning.
And, furthermore, to get individual messages to the residents most likely to be affected.
So why is not every council doing this?
Firstly, budgets are desperately tight. An aging community putting pressure on the cost of services and rate capping constraining revenue have them in a fiscal pincer.
Secondly, the cost of keeping alive the old, legacy technology running their operations is growing more and more, and delivering less and less of the services residents have a right to now expect.
Some, however, are showing there is a path through.
Central Coast Council in NSW recently partnered with Australian tech giant TechnologyOne to completely replace business systems it had re-
lied on for more than 20 years.
The new systems will not only deliver huge internal operational savings – automating processes that today take hours of council staff time – it will support the citizen focused services communities increasingly will not be able to do without.
But the icing on the cake is that the Council
will pay less for the technology than it is presently paying for its outdated and inadequate mishmash of overseas software products.
Not just save a small amount – it believes it will save $2.4 million of precious ratepayers’ money.
The combination of TechnologyOne’s unique pricing model which does not charge separately
for implementation – the heart of the tech wreck horror stories councils so desperately need to avoid – and the reality that system modernisation can save money from day one, is changing the game for councils considering digital transform. And not a moment too soon for residents. TechnologyOne www.technology1.com
Gem festival will be back
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
After a dazzling debut, the good news is that the Hidden Gem Festival and Market with further lustre next year.
Across 22-23 November, the stellar program of live music, record fair, beer garden, food trucks and craft market emblazoned Hemmings Street car park in Dandenong West.
The inner-city style festival was a sight and sound rarely experienced in the locale, attracting an array of feel-good acts including the recentlyARIA-awarded Tim Rogers and his daughter.
It was the brainchild of a group of local residents, business owners and artists known as West Alchemy Collective.
They raised the event’s funding and hired experienced street-festival director Jessica Robinett to bring the event together.
A Hidden Gem highlight for Robinett was the hoardes of neighbours drawn from their homes and porches to join the fun.
“A neighbour Nancy had just turned 68 and been living here since 1970.
“She was fed up with going to the inner city for gigs and said it was a treat to have it in her own neighbourhood for once.”
The overwhelming sentiment, including from police, was this was the type of event the community needed, Robinett said.
“This one was really special.”
Next year’s event will potentially showcase more food trucks, a different mix of market stalls, a bigger music stage and more kids events.
“There’ll be some little adjustments but we’ll keep the same formula going.
“I would be pushing for it to be an annual thing.
“It would be a shame if it doesn’t go on beyond two years – because that’s when the crowds really start showing up.”
At a 24 November council meeting, mayor Sophie Tan called for the council to potentially sup-
WHAT’S ON
12 Days of Christmas
Free workshops and entertainment for kids of all ages. Christmas crafts and card making, cookie decorating, face painting and hair braiding, music circles and sing-alongs as well as online DIY tutorials for at-home fun. Meet Santa for photos.
• Tuesday 2 December - 21 Sunday December (market days only) 10am-2pm at Dandenong Market, cnr Clow and Cleeland streets, Dandenong; free event.
Social Cohesion workshops
A facilitated, safe space to help define what social cohesion means for our community today – and the role each of us plays in shaping a stronger, fairer future. Open to residents in Melbourne’s South East. Part of a social cohesion initiative being developed by Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia councils, the Australian Government’s Office for Social Cohesion, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
• Tuesdays 2 December and 9 December 1pm - 4pm at Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Registrations essential at eventbrite.com.au/e/connectionsthat-matter-social-cohesion-workshop-tickets-1972895823517
VIEW Club
Final meeting of the year will be a Christmas dinner.
• Tuesday 2 December, 6.30pm for a 7pm start at Dandenong RSL; $25pp. Details and bookings: Rosemarie, 0430 443 065.
Heritage Hill tour
Take a free tour of Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens with our expert heritage staff. Includes two historic houses, Laurel Lodge and Benga and the surrounding gardens. Tea and coffee provided. Numbers limited.
• first Thursday of each month (next 4 December), 10am-12pm at Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong; $5pp. Bookings required at greaterdandenong-events.bookable.net.au/#!/eventdetail/ev_b2f59a112335431fb258216bb51 fe327
Silver Smithing
Join Nerea for a hands-on workshop where you’ll craft your own dangly metal earrings using basic
port an expanded Hidden Gem for next year.
Deputy mayor Phillip Danh praised the organisers for giving Dandenong West its deserved “moment in the sun”.
“Hopefully it will be the first of many.”
Councillor Jim Memeti said the car park’s
silver smithing tools and techniques. Note: As hammering can be loud, those sensitive to noise are advised to bring ear protection.
• Thursday 4 December, 6.30pm-8pm at Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong; free event. Registration required at greaterdandenong-events.bookable.net. au/#!/event-detail/ev_ef0262024e894987b92c940acbf37ada
Christmas market
Lexington Gardens Retirement Village Christmas Market Day features homemade Christmas ornaments/gifts, baked goods, jams and relishes, jewellery, knitwear, wooden toys made by our own men’s shed, handstitched items, bags and purses and much more. Some stalls cash-only.
• Friday 5 December 10am-1pm at Lexington Gardens Retirement Village, 114 Westall Road, Springvale; free entry and parking.
Carols in Harmony Square
A wonderful evening of carols-singing and entertainment with a special visit from Santa, free face painting. gingerbread cookie decoration station, photobooth, sausage sizzle and more.
• Friday 5 December, 6pm-9pm at Harmony Square, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong; free event.
Lying Down in Public Places
Gareth Hart has spent 25 years exploring complex relationships between the body and place - often resulting in striking, immersive and poignant performances in public spaces - including car parks, alleyways, warehouses, park and civic squares.
• Saturday 6 December, 12pm-1pm at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, cnr Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong; free event. Bookings essential at greaterdandenongevents.bookable.net.au/#!/event-detail/ev_ ad89102c1aab4b0099f78a694a0f439f
Grand Festival
Melbourne’s biggest celebration of culture, faith and community. Two days filled with 40 food and retail stalls, over 15 massive rides for all ages, camel and horse riding, face painting, and a huge fireworks display.
• Saturday 6 December and Sunday 7 December, 12.30pm-late at Keysborough Turkish Islamic & Cultural Centre, 396 Greens Rd, Keysborough; free entry.
transformation was “unbelievable”.
He noted the State Government and council’s “millions and millions of dollars” to beautify and improve perceived safety in the precinct in recent years.
“It’s now attracting lots of customers. There’s
Chistmas Market Fun Day
Annual festive event for Australian Animal Protection Society. Market stalls, featuring gifts, crafts, and all things festive. Santa Photos from Snoot Photography (book at aaps.org.au/events), food, coffee, kids play centre and find four-legged presents for loved ones.
• Sunday 7 December, 10am-1.30pm at AAPS, 26 Aegean Court, Keysborough; gold coin donation entry.
Children’s Remembrance Service
For many families, attending this service has become a cherished tradition to commemorate their beloved children.
• Sunday 7 December, 5pm-7pm at Bunurong Memorial Park, 790 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Dandenong South; free event. Bookings: smct. org.au/events/childrens-remembrance-service
Carols by Kingston
Kings of Christmas – Bobby Fox and Rob Mills – as MCs. Performers include Marina Prior, Bernard Curry, Alinta Chidzey, CC Dewar, Nina Ferro and Kathleen Halloran, Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra. The Australian Girls Choir performs a special kids show kicking off at 6pm. Santa’s Workshop Kids Zone, filled with free activities. Food stalls, BBQ and fireworks.
• Sunday 7 December 5pm-9.30pm at Bicentennial Park, Chelsea.
3D Christmas Tree Ornaments
Michelle from Paperazzi Designs will spark your child’s creativity with fun and easy 3D Christmas crafts. Drop-in session - no bookings required.
• Tuesday 9 December, 4.30pm-5.30pm at Springvale Community Hub, Community Rooms 2 and 3, 5 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale; free event.
Remember Dandenong Town Hall
Hear and share amazing Dandenong Town Hall stories about the events, performances and people as told by Dandenong and District Historical Society
President Chris Keys. Bring any Dandenong Town Hall event memorabilia to tell your story. Delicious afternoon tea included.
• Thursday 11 December, 1.30pm at Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens (Benga House), 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong; free event. Bookings required at greaterdandenong-events.bookable.net.au/#!/event-detail/ev_5ebf5fc68af049 4c8968b83734b91315
Helping Hand Day
not one vacant shop.”
Cr Rhonda Garad said it was the best music she’d heard for a long time, with food and stalls from the local community.
“Thanks for showcasing local talent and uplifting Dandenong West.”
Free event providing poultry, fresh produce, pantry items, selfcare hampers, BBQ and family-friendly activities to anyone in need. Children’s entertainment and refreshments. The aim is to support local families andprovideessentialstothoseinneed.HostedbyWe Care Community Services.
• Friday 12 December 4pm-7pm at 307 Gladstone Road, Dandenong; free event.
Endeavour Hills Community Carols Free event for the whole family. Local schools and music groups including gospel music group, Urban Praise. Food trucks, carnival games, children activities and fireworks.
• Saturday 13 December 5.30pm-9.30pm at Reveal Church, 2-8 Gleneagles Drive, Endeavour Hills; free event.
Narre Warren North Carols Family-friendly traditional carols. Relaxed picnic atmosphere without vendors or fireworks. Free sausage sizzle, tea and coffee. No dogs or other pets, except service animals.
• Saturday 13 December 6.30pm-10.30pm at A’Beckett Road Reserve, Narre Warren North; $10 family of four or $5pp.
Festive mini-wreaths
Learn how to make a small Christmas wreath embellishedwithdriedflowerstodecorateyourhomeforthe holidays, with Domenica from Lupin Botanical. Ages 16-plus.
• Tuesday 16 December, 6pm-7.30pm at Keysborough Community Hub, Community Room 1, 10 Villiers Road, Keysborough; free event. Bookings required at greaterdandenong-events.bookable.net. au/#!/event-detail/ev_e27ae3e4b54f40688d0802cfb3dc3604
History of Dandenong Town Hall
The Place To Be: Dandenong Town Hall exhibition is celebrating 135 years of the iconic venue —now cherished as the Drum Theatre— which has stood as a cornerstone of local life. Explore its remarkable journey through photographs, fashion, stories, and shared memories.
• Mondays to Fridays, 10am-4pm until 20 February at Drum Theatre, 226 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong and Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-2pm at Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens (Benga), 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong; free event.
Face painter Azura Star with Maryrose from Noble Park. (518516)
Dani Mo on vocals, accompanying saxophonist Max Konig. (518516)
Max Konig on soprano saxophone. (518516)
Max Konig and Dani Mo performing on the Hidden Gem stage. (Gary Sissons: 518516)
•
Christmas spirit embraced
By Sahar Foladi
Cornerstone Centre have kicked off Christmas vibes early with their Christmas Market Fete.
The event held on Saturday 22 November was filled with kids’ activities, market stalls, sausage sizzle, artisan Christmas gifts, food and more.
Janik Joshua, cross cultural worker at the centre says the aim is to raise funds for the crucial services Cornerstone provides to the community.
While Cornerstone provide services like shower, food parcels, nurse services, medic services and much more to support the homeless and vulnerable in the community, the Christmas market is another opportunity to mingle with the wider community.
“Majority of the market stalls have said they’d like to contribute some amount to the centre, we’re expected to raise $6000.
‘A lot of it is being visible to the community who don’t always know what services we have.
“Part of it is for community members who would like to be involved to have that opportunity to support, a space where people from all backgrounds can support and be part of it centre.”
Last year despite the rain, they had a real good turnout.
Carolyn Fox at her stall. (517160)
BBQ guys Andrew Cumming, Joseph Srilal, Elish Goudar and Matt Patterson. (517160)
Nick Sousamlis at his stall outdoors, the event provided many options for the community to help choose gifts. (517160)
Members all dressed up in Christmas spirit. Gloria Anderson, Dave Boon, Stephanie Price, Janik Joshua and Chris Charalampidis. (Gary Sissons: 517160)
Jamie Maddaford ran the raffle at the event. (517160)
Young Ace has won some of the prizes while fishing for a duck with lucky numbers underneath them. (517160)
Harley hits his sweet spot
By David Nagel
The daily commute from Pakenham to the Team Hatton Gym in Dandenong is paying dividends for hard-hitting featherweight Harley Stanway.
The recently-turned 17-year-old had already had a huge year in his burgeoning boxing career, representing the Australian team that fought in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the Kokoda Cup.
And the second half of the year has only got bigger and better.
His successful venture to PNG kept Stanway’s name in the spotlight; earning him Victorian representation at the Bass Strait Titles at the Q Room in Thomastown in early September.
Stanway scored a unanimous points win; in a fight that tested his craft against a much-bigger opponent.
His points win over Tasmanian Zane Hales was one of the fights of the tournament, with the large crowd showing their appreciation at the final bell.
“I normally fight at 57kg, and this guy normally fights at 67kg, but we agreed to set the weight at 59 and it was a great fight, I learned so much from it,” Stanway said.
“It was all different to me; I’m an orthodox fighter and he’s a southpaw fighter and it was the first time I had fought a southpaw in my career.
“He was also taller than me, so we changed things up a bit for the fight and the adjustments were perfect.
“I normally move right against orthodox fighters, but I moved left in that fight to stay away from the heavier blows.
“I watched some video of his previous fights and worked out that he dropped his hands when he went to throw a jab; and my left hook landed really well that night.
“I’ve still got a lot of things to work on; but I’m listening to my coaches and trying to get better all the time.
“The last six months have been great, I’ve been working hard, cutting weight and learning a lot about my boxing as well.”
Fresh off his Bass Strait title win, Stanway was next on a trip to the Gold Coast to fight in the Australian Amateur Boxing League national titles.
The national titles are a three-day event where boxers are eliminated as the tournament goes on; with the two finalists to battle it out for the title on Saturday 22 November.
But Stanway’s plans for the tournament changed dramatically, with the reputation gained from his Bass Strait win over Hales seeing his expected opponents pulling out prior to the early rounds of the competition.
Stanway progressed directly to the final, where he claimed the national title with a strong performance over fellow Victorian Ansar Khankil.
The emerging talent had mixed feelings after the event.
“It’s actually pretty exciting because not only does it feel good, but it’s pretty helpful for later on having a national title on my record,” he said.
“It was disappointing that I didn’t have multiple fights and get the whole experience of the national titles, which is a three-day event, but it was nice to walk away with the win.
“Hopefully I get to taste the full experience next year.”
In the meantime, Stanway will continue to work on his craft at Peter Hatton’s Gym under the guidance of his coach, Yusuf, from Uzbekistan.
“My skills have gone through the roof and my current coach has trained Olympians from China, Russia and his home country Uzbekistan,” Stanway said.
“My head movement has got better; I’m always on my toes and just getting more and more
sharper as a boxer.
“It’s exciting that I’m getting better as a boxer.
“I’ll keep working hard and hopefully get more opportunities to show what I’ve got next year.”
Team Hatton had a brilliant tournament, returning from the Gold Coast with six national titles on board.
The Dandenong gym provides a great environment for the boxers to produce their best.
“I want to thank all the boys at the boxing gym for the sparring and their dedication to boxing, and I want to thank Peter Hatton who has been there with me from day one,” Stanway said.
“He saw something in me and brought me in to his gym and I can’t thank him enough for that.
“And my coach Yusuf has been amazing.
“There are no words for it; it’s meant to be and I’m so glad I left Karate to take up boxing…it’s already been a lovely journey.
“I want to be a professional boxer one day and see how far I can go.
“People are in there to hurt you; there’s no room for mercy.”
Premierships on the line as guns fire up for grand finals
By David Nagel
Noble Park 1 will take on reigning champion
High 5’s in the Division 1 grand final of the Mountain Dart League after a spectacular 11-6 victory over The Chiefs on Friday night.
Noble set the tone early in the preliminary final, leading 2-1 after the doubles.
In singles, Stewie Bell and Bill Richardson each claimed two legs over Rod Olsen and Jack Pearce respectively, pushing Noble Park further ahead.
The Chiefs rallied briefly through Harry Pearce, who struck back with two legs against Chris Richardson, but the comeback was shortlived.
David Putt steadied the ship for Noble Park with a 2-1 win over Stewart Taylor, before Noel Beasy sealed the deal with the final two legs against Tennessee Kell.
In a high-quality outing from both teams, a dozen 140s were scored on the night while a 92-pegout from Beasy also provided a highlight.
Noble Park 1, who finished fourth and now have wins over Bullseyes and The Chiefs in finals, will start a massive underdog this Friday after High 5’s won both ties during the homeand-away season. Noble has gone two steps further to reach the big dance this season and will be hungry to prove they belong on the biggest stage.
In Division 2, third-placed The Night Trawlers (TNT) edged out second-placed Spectrum
11-9 in a true heavyweight clash.
The Trawlers exploded out of the gates, racing to a 7-2 lead after doubles and two singles ties, with TNT’s Paul Quinn adding two legs over Tyde Preis, and Aaron Kirkmoe dominating with three legs over Brian Birties.
But Spectrum weren’t done; Mick Bellette fought back with three legs against Mitch Kirkmoe, while Chris Riddle added two against David Kirkmoe to close the gap to 7–8.
TNT’s Darcy Paterson then stepped up with
two legs over Kevin Frost, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
It came down to Kylie Zahra vs Andrew Sherriff, with Kylie needing all three legs to steal the win for Spectrum.
She pegged out the first, but Andrew held his nerve to take the second, securing The Night Trawlers’ passage to the grand final.
TNT now take on Division 2 benchmark
The Bandits in this week’s grand final and will to turn around a 0-3 record this season to take
home the biggest prize.
And the top-two teams, The Goodies and Madarras, will battle it out for Division 3 glory after Madarras scored an 11-5 victory over Stingrays in the prelim.
The doubles dominance of Madarras set the tone, racing to a 3-0 lead before singles began.
The Stingrays fought back with Brett Dykes and Tony Ciantar stealing two legs, and Ethan Dykes adding another, but it wasn’t enough.
The Madarras’ firepower shone through with Dave Caddell (3 legs) and Steve Clarke (2 legs) leading the way and contributions from Michael Bignell, Brent Wright, and Terry Faragher; with Faragher striking the fatal blow to seal the win.
Caddell was on fire for Madarras, landing a magnificent 128-pegout.
The Goodies will enter the grand final confident, having won two of the three home-andaway clashes this season as well as their week one preliminary final.
But the Madarras carry invaluable experience, knowing exactly what it takes to play on the biggest stage after narrowly losing 11–10 to Redbacks 2 in last season’s grand final.
MDL GRAND FINALS
Friday 5 December
Elliott Road, Dandenong
• DIVISION 1: High 5’s v Noble Park 1
• DIVISION 2: The Bandits v The Night Trawlers
• DIVISION 3: The Goodies v Madarras
Dave Caddell was magnificent for Madarras, landing a peg of 128 on the bull during the preliminary final win over Stingrays in Division 3. (Supplied: 521208)
From left, Harley Stanway, Peter Hatton and Ansar Khankil after the title fight on the Gold Coast. (Supplied)
Pakenham-based and Dandenong-trained Harley Stanway is a young gun on the rise. (Rob Carew: 475808)
Hopkins living out a dream
By David Nagel
The tiny town of Junction Village and its surrounds were jumping for joy on Saturday night after Canya Mayhem scored an emphatic victory in the time-honoured $1m Group 1 Melbourne Cup (515m) at Sandown Park.
Trainer Jess Hopkins lived out a childhood dream by winning the biggest race on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, becoming just the tenth female trainer to win the classic.
Jumping from box two, Canya Mayhem pinged handsomely once the lids went up, leading all the way in a time of 29.15.
The win was Hopkins’ second Group 1 success in just 12 months, following her Topgun Stayers triumph with Canya All Class last year.
Hopkins is heavily involved in both greyhound and thoroughbred racing, working for Grand Syndicates during the day and training a small team of five dogs from her Junction Village headquarters.
Hopkins was still shaking when interviewed after the race, recalling an interview that great jockey Damien Oliver had with John Letts after his first Melbourne Cup win aboard Doriemus in 1995.
“As a kid, fully into horse racing and dog racing, my earliest memory is Ollie saying ‘Lettsy, I’ve just won the cup’; and now I’ve just won the cup…it’s something I’ve always wanted to say,” Hopkins said with a beaming smile.
“He’s just a dream this dog, he’s no fuss, he’s no frills; there’s not that hype that there was with (Canya) All Class, and the pressure with him, he just does everything right.
“Tonight, we were walking out and he was just wagging his tail…I was like, ‘it is a pretty serious thing we’re about to do Sammy’.
“He got it done though.”
Hopkins said the dream result was the product of a lifetime engagement in the sport.
She had been dreaming of this before she could walk or talk.
“Since I was born, I was born into greyhound racing; I was in hospital for the first two weeks of my life and then I think I was at the track the next day,” she said.
“There’s a photo of me up in the
about a year old.”
Rangers secure big fish with Harry Froling to join Dandy
By Justin Schwarze
Dandenong Rangers have retooled and reloaded for the 2026 NBL1 South Season.
The Rangers have secured the massive signature of star big man Harry Froling in a major boost to the squad’s frontcourt.
Froling has been a dominant force in the competition, being a two-time NBL1 champion, including a flag in the South conference in 2022 with the Hobart Chargers.
He has also spent time as a contributor in the NBL as a member of the Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks, where he plays currently.
Froling was awarded the 2019 NBL Rookie of the Year, while also being named in the AllStar Five for 2021 NBL1 North season and 2022 NBL1 South season.
The 6’11 centre joins from Melbourne in the NBL1 South, where he was one of the key pieces of a Tigers team that went on a historic run to the South grand final.
He’s no stranger to the big moments as a lastsecond game-winning layup from Froling gave
Melbourne a win over Kilsyth in the semi-final before he went on to record a monster stat-line of 21 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in the grand final loss to Sandringham.
Overall, Froling averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season for the Tigers.
In a big fortnight for the club, Dandenong also announced the re-signing of crafty guard Ryan Rapp and offensive threat Sam Davidson.
Rapp put up fantastic numbers last season of 13.3 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting a very respectable 38 percent from deep.
Davidson averaged 14.8 points per game for the Rangers in 2025, who look to take the next step under returning head coach Samantha Woosnam.
Dandenong finished 14th in the 2025 season with an 8-14 record but finished the season strongly by winning four out of its last five games.
Skillful guard Ryan Rapp is back with the Dandenong Rangers for 2026. (Supplied)
Peter Presutto pressure valve released Without A Trace
By David Nagel
An emotional pressure valve was released for trainer Peter Presutto after his star stayer Without A Trace gave nothing else a chance in the Group 1 Sportsbet Bold Trease (715m) at Sandown Park on Saturday night. Without A Trace sprung the lids from box eight and produced a stunning display of elite endurance; holding off a quality field to add the Bold Trease to her terrific recent win in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers.
The win enhanced her growing reputation in the sport and confirmed her star status in the 2025 Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival.
Presutto did well to hold back the tears after Without A Trace led all the way to stop the clock in 41.49 seconds.
“I’m going to try not to cry again tonight; it’s close, you feel the pressure every week, they’ve got to perform, and she performed again,” an emotional Presutto said post-race.
“I can’t believe how good she goes; she doesn’t let us down…. doesn’t let us down.”
Without A Trace opened up a good break early in the staying test, but was challenged midway through the race by the talented Ayden’s Warrior.
But Presutto was confident in his girl as they ran past the starting boxes and began the chase for home.
“When she got past us, back here (at the boxes) again, I thought that was it, I didn’t think he’d (Ayden’s Warrior) get her,” he said.
“When he couldn’t get her around this bend (a lap to go) here, I thought once she comes past us here, she just sort of kicked again and towards the
end she really did kick again.
“She opened up; what a marvel.”
It was Presutto’s second win of the evening after On The Prowl won the Super VICGreys Series Final earlier in the night.
But winning the Bold Trease definitely took top billing.
“All the years you’re in dogs, you see this race; Bold Trease was a superstar and I hope she does him proud as a stayer,” he said.
“It’s a night we probably won’t forget; one to remember.”
kennels,
Female trainers dominated the great race, with the Kayla Cottrell-trained Dashing Slay finishing powerfully into second place.
The Jeff Britton-trained Valenzuela used boxone to advantage; earning a nice pay cheque in third place.
Jess Hopkins celebrates with Canya Mayhem after the all-the-way win in Saturday night’s $1m Melbourne Cup. (Clint Anderson: 521211)
