News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 28th May 2026

By Corey Everitt

Mental support here

Pakenham now has its own service dedicated to free mental health support, with new satellite posts to operate in Cockatoo and Kooweerup, providing much-needed assistance in the Cardinia area.

On Wednesday 27 May, the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local on Station Street was officially opened by Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, who was joined by Pakenham MP Emma Vulin and Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino.

The service is now part of 22 Locals across Victoria, which provide tailored support by mental health professionals both in-person and via telehealth.

“More than 41,000 Victorians have already accessed free support through our Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals,” Minister Stitt said.

“We’ve delivered Locals just like this one right across Victoria: so more people can access the care they need.”

The service is available for all adults over the age of 26. Access is free, and it does not require a Medicare card or a GP referral.

The Local will begin to build out its operations across Cardinia, with satellite sites to be established in Cockatoo and Kooweerup.

The Local will operate out of the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association at 7-17 McBride Street, Cockatoo.

In the future, they will do the same at a location near the Kooweerup Regional Health Service.

“The Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local will mean our community can access even more care, closer to home,” Vulin said.

Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experienced mental health professionals, wellbeing staff, and peer support workers.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 in 10 Pakenham locals reported living with a mental health condition, including depression or anxiety.

The council has reported in its Health and Wellbeing data that 22 per cent of Cardinia Shire residents reported ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of psychological stress in 2023.

In the same year, almost a quarter (24 per cent) of residents reported experiencing loneliness.

During the short period that the Pakenham Local has operated, it was reported at the opening that residents have presented with a range of factors contributing to their stress, including costof-living and housing insecurity.

Relative to the median income of $1,901 per week in 2021, 46.3 per cent of Cardinia households fell into the category of very low income (50 per cent or less than the median per week) during the 2021 census.

Locals act as a ‘front door’ to the system, making them an important tool in early intervention

equipped to deal with a range of needs, including co-occurring alcohol and drug treatment and care needs.

The network was initiated by the state government in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Services at the Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local are delivered by Mind Australia in partnership with Monash Health. Appointments are available; you can contact the Local on 03 5929 2600.

The Pakenham Local is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm at 16 Station Street, Pakenham. More information and contact details are available at betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth-wellbeing-locals.

From left: Mind Australia Victorian Executive Director Belinda McCullough, Cr Trudi Paton, Cr Jack Kowarzik, Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, Pakenham MP Emma Vulin (below), Mind Australia CEO Gill Callister (above), Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino and Mind Australia Operations Manager Michelle Murray. (Corey Everitt)

Council shut business

By Afraa Kori

A popular Pakenham business has been shut down after council inspectors allegedly uncovered rodent infestations, contaminated food products and widespread hygiene concerns.

Wayne Mack, Acting General Manager, Community and Planning Services, confirmed that Cardinia Shire Council issued a closure order under the Food Act 1984 to Dai Loi Takeaway at 81 Main Street, following an inspection on 19 May.

“The business is currently required to remain closed and Council officers will continue to work with the proprietor to ensure the matter is rectified as quickly as possible,” Mr Mack told Star News.

“As this matter is currently under investigation, Council is unable to provide further details at this stage.”

The closure order, displayed on the store’s window, stated that the council is “satisfied” the premises were “in an unclean or unsanitary condition” and “in a state of disrepair”

It added that their food was prepared, sold or otherwise handled “in a manner that makes it likely the food is unsuitable”

The council report outlined 26 issues relating to pest control, food safety and hygiene, including rodent activity, pest droppings, spider webs, contaminated food ingredients and structural gaps believed to be allowing pests to enter the premises.

Among the alleged findings were flour and spice mixtures contaminated by pests, droppings near food preparation equipment, damaged flyscreens, unsealed food storage, and evidence of infestations across kitchen and storage areas.

Inspectors directed the business owner to carry out major cleaning and sanitisation works, dispose of contaminated food, remove infested equipment, seal entry points and engage a licensed pest controller before the business can reopen.

The council also ordered the removal of unwanted items from the backyard, including supermarket trolleys, tools, ladders, freezers and metal drums, which inspectors said could contribute to pest harbourage.

Under the order, the premises must not prepare, handle or sell food until all requirements have been completed to the satisfaction of an Authorised Officer/Council and a revocation is issued.

The business has been directed to comply with all 26 items listed in the order on or before 30 June 2026.

Failure to comply with the order could result in penalties exceeding $24,000 and further legal action under the Food Act 1984.

Removing the copy of this order that has been affixed to the food premises is an offence under s19(8) of the Act and is subject to a maximum penalty of 60 penalty units (currently $12,211).

The business was contacted for comment.

No response was received at the time of publication.

However, a note was placed at the storefront saying “sorry we’re closed for a few days”

Most bollards now gone in Racecourse Road upgrade

By Corey Everitt

Most bollards are gone along Racecourse Road and Bald Hill Road as the bulk of major works as part of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade appear to be finished.

Over the last week, all new lanes have fully opened along Racecourse Road and at the intersection with Bald Hill Road.

The three-stage project has upgraded the Princes Freeway, McGregor Road, and Racecourse Road over about three years.

Stage three works covered Racecourse Road, widening the bridge over the freeway, signalising the intersection with Bald Hill Road, upgrading the drainage over Pakenham Creek, and

duplicating the road up to Henry Street.

Stage two revamped McGregor Road between the freeway and the railway line.

Extra lanes have been added to the exit and entry ramps of Kooweerup Road and McGregor Road as part of stage one, with the inbound entry ramp signalised for peak hours.

The Pakenham Roads Upgrade is part of a wider investment in recent years into Pakenham’s transport infrastructure. This includes completed projects that installed the new Pakenham and East Pakenham train stations, as well as the upgrade to Kooweerup-Healesville Road.

VIDA Roads, who oversee Big Build Projects, was contacted for comment.

Racecourse Road. (Corey Everitt)

Dai Loi’s newest location in Main Street has been temporarily closed. (Gary Sissons: 555999)

Council closure order displayed on the storefront, while the owner added a note saying they’re closed for ‘a few days’.

‘My heart breaks’, says Emma Vulin

By Corey Everitt

Football great and MND awareness campaigner Neale Daniher AO, has died after a 13-year battle with the disease with Pakenham MP Emma Vulin saying his passing has broken the hearts of so many families facing MND.

Just weeks away from this year’s King’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood to mark the 12th annual Big Freeze by FightMND, Daniher died after an extraordinary 13year battle with motor neurone disease (MND), a terminal illness with an average life expectancy of 27 months after diagnosis.

In a statement, the family of the late player and coach said he passed away at home surrounded by loved ones.

“His wish was simple but powerful: to help create a world where no one has to face this disease. But beyond that, he wanted to leave a legacy that says, ‘No matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to fight, to smile, and to do,’” the statement read.

Tributes and condolences from across the country followed the news of his death.

Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, who is currently battling MND while serving in public office, received a call from Daniher shortly after announcing her diagnosis in 2024.

Vulin said she is grateful for his strength and support in the face of what he termed the “beast.”

“I am absolutely devastated to hear the news of Neale’s passing,” Vulin said.

“Neale reached out to me after I went public with my MND diagnosis. He invited me into his home, even though we had never met before, and offered support, advice, and friendship.

“This is something Neale and his family have done for countless other families faced with MND.

“After 13 years of battling the beast and doing so much to help others like me, I am so grateful to this extraordinary man.”

Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and dedicated the rest of his life to raising awareness and funds for research into the disease, which does not yet have a cure or treatment to ensure an extended life expectancy.

Emerald’s Matt Stickland was diagnosed in

2015 and has led the Hills MND Big Freeze with his family, where it has become one of the largest local fundraisers for the annual event.

Stickland said Daniher set the example that must be followed in the future.

“He ‘paid it forward,’ so now it is incumbent on us to continue his mission so future sufferers can not only have hope, but eventually a world free from MND! Legend,” he said.

Last year, Daniher was named Australian of the Year for his determination in fighting MND.

Ever since FightMND was co-founded by Daniher in 2014, the organisation has invested more than $117 million in MND research and projects caring for those living with MND.

Vulin said the loss of Daniher will be felt strongly by those battling MND, their families, and so many others.

“My love and sincere condolences to his wife Jan, his children, Lauren, Luke, Bec, and Ben, and his family,” Vulin said.

“My heart breaks for the FightMND family and the millions of friends and fans who will be hurting too.”

MP Tim Bull calls time on political career

By Corey Everitt

Longtime Nationals MP Tim Bull has announced his retirement from politics at the end of the current term, ending a 16-year tenure and an unlikely parliamentary friendship.

The Gippsland East MP has been in office since 2010 and announced on Tuesday, 19 May, that he will not recontest the state election.

Bull, also known affectionately as “Bully,” thanked his family, office team and party as he entered his last few months in office.

“East Gippsland is a wonderful place to live and work. While the region faces its share of challenging times through fires, floods and storms, those moments have always highlighted the very best of our community, with people coming together to support one another. It’s a privilege to represent such a resilient and caring region,” he said.

Many MPs, mostly fellow Nationals, paid tribute to Bull, but this was not exclusive to his party room.

Labor MP for Pakenham Emma Vulin also paid tribute to the man she has previously dubbed her “favourite Nat,” as the pair became unlikely friends despite the political gulf between them.

“Although we have different political views,

Tim Bull (known as Bully) became a good friend to me during the 60th Parliament. We often share a laugh, eat cake and discuss our different views,” Vulin said.

“At the end of the day, we both care so much about our local communities and occasionally agree. After many years of serving his community in Gippsland East, I wish him, his wife Kim, and their children a wonderful next chapter in whatever he decides to do. Thank you, Bully, for your years of service to your electorate and the people of Victoria.”

At Parliament’s Big Freeze event in June last year, Bull stole the show by becoming “Vulin’s number one fan,” wearing a custom pyjama set with images of the Pakenham MP in support of her battle with MND. The outfit included an image of himself and Vulin printed on the accompanying shirt and a hat saying “Vote 1 Vulin” in Nationals green and gold.

Bull took the ice bath plunge on the day.

Both Bull and Vulin will depart politics following this term of office. Vulin has chosen not to recontest the next election as she battles MND.

Bull first entered politics when the Coalition formed government in Victoria in 2010. He served as Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal Affairs in 2014 under Denis Nap-

Touching tributes

Tributes are flowing from the local community following the passing of Neale Daniher, remembered as a fighter, inspiration and one of Australia’s most admired sporting figures.

MND Victoria

“The passing of Neale Daniher AO is a devastating loss. We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to Jan and the Daniher Family, and all of Neale’s loved ones. MND Victoria, and the MND community, join them in their grief, and thank them for all they’ve done as a family. It is natural that many people will feel a sense of grief and loss at this news, even if they have never met Neale personally. Grief and loss are felt whenever someone you feel connected to dies, and Neale was certainly an inspiration to many. His efforts to raise awareness, fundraise for research, and fight against MND every day has been extraordinary. Vale Neale Daniher AO. He was, and will remain, a fighter and inspiration for this community.“

Have A Little Hope

thine.

He has held numerous positions in the Shadow Cabinet and is currently Shadow Minister for Disability, Ageing, Carers and Volunteers, Racing, and Veterans’ Affairs.

Prior to politics, Bull started his career in local journalism, serving as a reporter and then editor for the Bairnsdale Advertiser.

After journalism, he became a coordinator for the Australian Sports Commission. He was an avid sportsman in cricket and football in the East Gippsland leagues. He also has a 100-goal season to his name.

Leader of the Victorian Nationals Danny O’Brien said Bull’s announcement was a “sad day” for Gippsland East and the party.

“Bully has been a champion for East Gippsland in his 16 years in Parliament, fighting for and standing up for his community whenever it mattered,” O’Brien said.

“Never more so than in times of crisis, especially during the Black Summer bushfires and their aftermath where he was everywhere for everyone.

“One of Parliament’s characters, his larrikin style endeared him to both sides of Parliament, opening doors for his community with Premiers, Ministers and decision-makers.”

Today, the Have Hope family extends our deepest condolences to the Daniher family and all those whose lives were touched by Neale Daniher. Neale was more than an inspiration — he was a symbol of strength, courage, resilience and hope. Despite facing Motor Neurone Disease with unimaginable bravery, he continued to fight tirelessly for awareness, research and others living with this cruel illness. His impact on the Australian community will never be forgotten. A great man, a powerful advocate, and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. Our thoughts, love and prayers are with his family, friends and all who knew and admired him during this incredibly difficult time. Forever inspiring hope.

Federal MP Jason Wood

“We have lost a true legend of Australian football and an even greater human being. Neale Daniher’s courage, humility and determination inspired millions far beyond the game. Through FightMND and the Big Freeze, he turned his battle with motor neurone disease into hope for so many others. His legacy will live on in every life he touched, every dollar raised for research, and every person inspired to never give up. Rest in peace, Neal.“

Cardinia Shire Cr Jack Kowarzik

“Vale to an absolute hero. Tragic news today, but news we sadly knew was coming eventually. How brave to spend his time raising money for a cure and treatment that he wouldn’t benefit from.”

Berwick MP Brad Battin

“Today we pause to reflect on the passing of Neale Daniher and the legacy he leaves in the fight against motor neurone disease and every cause close to his heart. Neale Daniher - you legend.”

Pakenham MP Emma Vulin and Neale Daniher AO at Parliament in 2024 to mark the Big Freeze. (Supplied)

Gippsland East MP Tim Bull in his custom fan attire with Pakenham MP Emma Vulin at State Parliament’s Big Freeze Event in 2025. (File: 483884)

Call for City Loop access

By Violet Li

A new parliamentary petition to restore City Loop and Richmond access for Cranbourne and East Pakenham line commuters has attracted more than 700 signatures.

The petition, launched by Beaconsfield commuter Kylie Robinson and sponsored by Berwick MP Brad Battin, argues that the Metro Tunnel has removed direct access to Richmond, Southern Cross and the other City Loop stations, which increases travel time and creates additional inconvenience for south east commuters who are already travelling long distances from outer suburbs.

Under the Metro Tunnel changes introduced in February, Cranbourne and East Pakenham services were rerouted through the new tunnel and stations, including Town Hall, Anzac, Parkville and Arden, bypassing the City Loop, Richmond, and South Yarra. Transport planners said the changes would create a more reliable and higher-capacity rail network.

But Ms Robinson said many commuters had experienced the opposite.

She said her one-way commute from Beaconsfield to Southern Cross had increased from about one hour and seven minutes to between one hour and 20 minutes and one hour and 30 minutes.

“I feel like obviously for some people, the change has probably been beneficial because maybe they need to get off near Town Hall, or maybe they need to get off near Anzac Station, but when I travel to the city, what I see is people just piling off at either Caulfield or Town Hall and stopping trains. You can’t tell me that people are happy about that…” she said.

“My experience is just that it takes me 13 to 23 minutes longer. I’m stopping at more stations. I have to walk 280 metres (to transit at Town Hall).

“There’s the walk. I’m fully able-bodied, so I can do it, but it’s not the point. What about the people that aren’t? So not only is it a 280-metre walk, but on top of that, you’ve got to go up two flights of escalators.

“For somebody with a disability, it’s not even direct. It would be overwhelming for them.”

Ms Robinson said that the change is not an advancement in public transport, but a step backwards.

“For anybody in the south eastern suburbs who goes to football, or the cricket, tennis or concerts, we can’t even go to Richmond. You have to swap at Caulfield,” she said.

“All those people who were telling me, don’t swap at Caulfield, swap at Town Hall. Well, to get to Richmond, if you swap at Town Hall, you have to go past Richmond, and then you’ve got to go back.

“And then, why shouldn’t we have direct access to go to these things? They’re on our side of the city even, and we have to swap trains to get to them. It’s just not right.”

After sharing the petition in the local Facebook groups, Ms Robinson received mixed comments.

Some said it would not happen, as the whole reason to build the Tunnel was that the city loop

was at capacity.

“If they start adding Pakenham/Cranbourne back into the city loop, you will be taking slots from other lines. You are asking them to backpedal on the promises they’ve made to other metro lines for more frequent services,” one person commented.

“It’s very disheartening to read people saying: ‘What’s the point? Mo change will happen’,” Ms Robinson said.

“Some people told me, surely you’ve got more important things to worry about in your life. I’m like, I do, but this actually means a lot to me. And it’s not for my own benefit.

“I work with people, and they’re all feeling it. And we’re women in our 40s and 50s. We’re tired enough.”

Despite some comments questioning whether changes would ever occur, Ms Robinson said many commuters still supported the campaign.

She said another approach where some services continued through the City Loop would also be good.

“Even if you only have one an hour that goes through the City Loop, I can then plan my day around that,” she said.

Berwick MP Brad Battin said petitions in Parliament are an opportunity for the community to have a say and have their voice heard.

“On this occasion, it is important that the Government answer why they have taken the Pakenham Line out of the loop, and away from the MCG’s closest station Richmond. This has added time to travel for many people,” he said.

“I have committed to working with our Shadow Minister Matt Guy when we have all the available details to ensure we can secure the best deal possible to save time on travel.”

A Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) spokesperson said: “Because we built the Metro Tunnel, we’ve delivered 1,200 extra weekly services on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines, while creating room for more trains right across Melbourne’s rail network.”

“The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of our rail network in more than 40 years, connecting Victorians to hospitals, universities, and jobs never before accessed by rail.

“To travel to Richmond Station, passengers can interchange between the Metro Tunnel and City Loop through connected stations or by transferring at Caulfield.”

DTP has advised that the City Loop was full, which is why the Metro Tunnel was built to untangle Melbourne’s busiest rail corridors and allow more trains to run more often across the network.

The petition remains open until 31 August before being formally presented to Parliament. Once tabled, the State Government can provide an official response.

To sign, visit: parliament.vic.gov.au/getinvolved/petitions/restore-city-loop-and-richmond-access-for-east-pakenham-and-cranbourne-line-commuters/

Casey set to introduce EV waste fleet in Australia-first

By Violet Li

Casey Council will roll out what is believed to be Australia’s first fully electric hard waste truck fleet from July.

Council awarded its new hard waste and dumped rubbish collection contract at the May Council Meeting on 26 May, choosing an option that uses EV fleets and a nominated transfer station for materials recovery and disposal.

The officer report, which recommended the EV option, said that the preferred option proposed six electric compactor trucks supported by tray trucks, including electric vehicles for e-waste collection such as fridges, televisions, and computers. Back-up vehicles would be Euro 6 diesel trucks.

The EV option was estimated to cost around $3 more per household each year compared with the diesel equivalent.

However, officers argued that rising fuel prices after the Middle East war could shrink or eliminate that difference.

The proposal would reduce emissions while increasing the amount of waste diverted from landfill, officers claimed.

Officers also suggested this would be the first full EV hard waste fleet in Australia.

Cr Kim Ross, who moved the recommendation, said it is a prudent financial decision to approve the EV option.

“But it’s more than that, so choosing EV vehicles is a step forward in the circular economy,” she said.

“It’s consistent with community-supported environmental strategy, and it’s future-proof-

ing for a likely increase and a potential difficulty in resourcing diesel fuel due to ongoing geopolitical stability.”

Cr Anthony Walter, who seconded the motion, said the EV option could remove around 650 tonnes of emissions while also reducing noise from diesel engines.

“That would lead our air quality to increase and also benefit community health, as we want to be more active in our community. That means being outside more,” he said.

Not all councillors supported the EV option.

Cr Shane Taylor questioned whether Casey should become the first council to adopt a fully electric waste fleet.

“Being first means that we’re also first in line for the teething problems,” he said.

“These vehicles will work hard, particularly through our hot summer peak periods with heavy loads week after week. If they break down, it’s not just a news headline; it’s rubbish piling up on our streets.

“I’m all for sustainability, I’m all for progress, but progress has to be responsible.”

Cr Michelle Crowther, who also opposed the EV option, argued that the long-term cost difference could become significant over the potential nine-year contract period.

However, City of Casey Manager Sustainability and Waste Michael Jansen later clarified at the meeting that the assessment used consistent assumptions across EV and diesel options and was not intended to predict future diesel or EV costs.

Mayor Stefan Koomen also backed the proposal, saying the EV option offered greater fi-

nancial certainty amid rising fuel costs.

“I’ve seen councils with waste charges going up $40 attributed per household, $40 attributed purely to diesel costs alone this year,” he said.

“So, we know those increases are there; they’re coming.

“I think this option gives us certainty, stability, and it offsets against future rises. And I think that is a key thing for me.”

The contractor also proposed installing 50-kilowatt batteries alongside existing solar infrastructure to reduce reliance on grid electricity, according to the officer report.

Collections in Casey have risen from about 63,000 in 2018 to around 88,000 in the 2025-26 financial year, with forecasts suggesting they could exceed 110,000 during the next contract term.

The proposed EV fleet is said to increase collection capacity compared to current operations. The contractor estimates a capacity of approximately 2,250 collections per week (with a peak cap of 3,000 collections per week during December–February).

The contract has an initial term of 5 years commencing 1 July 2026, with two 2-year optional contract extensions that may be granted at Council’s discretion.

The EV option was approved in a 9–3 vote, with Cr Shane Taylor, Cr Michelle Crowther and Cr Jennifer Dizon voting against the proposal.

A parliamentary petition, launched by Beaconsfield commuter Kylie Robinson and sponsored by Berwick MP Brad Battin, argues that the Metro Tunnel has removed direct access to Richmond, Southern Cross and the other City Loop stations, which increases travel time and creates additional inconvenience for south east commuters who are already travelling long distances from outer suburbs. (FILE)

Yakkerboo’s rich history

Pakenham celebrated the 50th anniversary of Yakkerboo once more, with Pakenham Library hosting an exhibition to showcase the festival’s rich history.

From Monday 27 April to Sunday 24 May, the library hosted a collection of memorabilia and historic photos to showcase the many memories Yakkerboo has created for locals and the impact the festival has had on Pakenham.

Parades, costumes, and performances from as far back as the first years in the 1970s were displayed.

On Friday 22 May, Pakenham Library held a morning tea for locals to gather, allowing long-

time residents to reminisce and new residents to hear from Yakkerboo veterans.

It wouldn’t be a Yakkerboo event without Mr Yakkerboo himself, Graeme Moore, who attended to talk about the festival, show off memorabilia, and share many of his stories.

Members of the current committee, who are keeping the festival going strong at 50, attended and spoke. Cardinia Mayor Brett Owen, who has known the festival all his life, also spoke about the cherished local festival.

Cr Jack Kowarzik attended, as he now holds the role of Yakkerboo’s keeper throughout the year, succeeding Moore in this responsibility.

Graeme Moore shared many of his stories.

Rose Hughes (former Yakkerboo princess, President and now on the general committee).

Mr Yakkerboo Graeme Moore. (Stewart Chambers: 554614)

Mayor Brett Owen.Cr Jack Kowarzik and current Yakkerboo keeper.

NEWS Councillors under scrutiny

By Violet Li

Casey councillors who campaigned on keeping rates

are

scrutiny after the Casey Council proposed a second consecutive rates rise under the new council.

Two of the councillors cited the need to balance keeping rates low with continuing to deliver essential services and infrastructures; a third councillor refused to comment.

Casey Council is considering a 2.75 per cent rates increase in its 2026-’27 draft budget, ahead of its June meeting.

Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) has contacted Tooradin Ward Cr Jennifer Dizon and Correa Ward Cr Gary Rowe, who pledged during the 2024 election campaign to reduce rates or cut what they described as wasteful spending, asking how those commitments would be reflected in the current budget process.

In a statement to the organisation on 21 May, Cr Dizon said councillors had participated in budget briefings, workshops and discussions over the last six months, during which she had “consistently advocated for careful spending, operational efficiencies, financial restraint and responsible decision-making to reduce pressure on ratepayers wherever possible”

She noted that Casey had remained within the State Government’s rates cap and had not sought a higher cap variation, as some councils had done.

She also said Council must continue delivering and maintaining essential infrastructure and community services relied upon by residents across Casey, and this was particularly important in the growing communities she represents.

Meanwhile, Cr Rowe did not get back to CRRA. He also declined to comment when contacted by Star News.

CRRA president Anthony Tassone said they appreciated Cr Dizon taking the time to respond to their correspondence, but he did not receive any direct answer to his questions.

“While Cr Dizon spoke generally about financial restraint and operational efficiencies, our original question about how she would advocate for reducing council rates in light of the proposed 2.75 per cent increase was not directly answered,” he said.

“We know residents would appreciate an answer to this question.

“This isn’t about attacking individual councillors. It’s about transparency, accountability and helping residents understand how election commitments align with council decision-making.

“Residents are facing significant cost-of-living pressures, and many people are paying close attention to council spending and rate increases.”

When contacted by Star News, Cr Dizon provided a similar response, saying that while she had always emphasised the importance of keeping rates as low as possible, Council was also facing rising costs.

“While I have always been clear about the importance of keeping rates as low as possible, it is also important to acknowledge that Council, like households and businesses, is facing increasing costs, particularly in areas such as construction, materials and service delivery,” she said.

“This creates real pressure on the Council’s

Kalora Ward Cr Melinda Ambros campaigned on ‘keeping rates: prioritising responsible financial management to deliver better value, ensuring your money is respected and benefits both you and our community’ in the lead-up to the 2024 Casey Council Election.

ability to deliver the infrastructure and services our growing community needs.”

She said she would not be commenting on her final position ahead of the June Council Meeting.

Cr Gary Rowe campaigned on ‘ending wasteful spending to lower rates’ in the lead-up to the 2024

“I will continue to carefully consider the final budget with a focus on striking the right balance between rates, infrastructure, services and investment,” she said.

Kalora Ward Cr Melinda Ambros, who listed keeping council rates low among her priorities during the election campaign, disputed the suggestion that she had committed to reducing rates when contacted by Star News.

Cr Ambros said her position had always focused on responsible financial management and value for money rather than a commitment to a particular rate level.

“They do not commit me to any particular rate level, and they do not predetermine how I will vote on any future rate proposal,” she said.

“My approach remains grounded and reflects a commitment to fairness and responsible financial management, not a commitment to any specific outcome or predetermined decision.”

Cr Ambros also pointed to Casey’s broader responsibilities, saying the council delivered more than 100 services and maintained $8.7 billion worth of infrastructure.

She said Casey remained one of the lower rating councils among growth and adjoining areas and argued that context was essential when discussing rate settings.

Last year, Casey Council lifted the rates by 3 per cent, in line with the State cap. Star News reported then that residents were disappointed and described it as a “bad move”

Cr Jennifer Dizon campaigned on reducing rates in the lead-up to the 2024 Casey Council election. (File)

Casey Council election.

Ex-local police officer dies

By Violet Li

A former Cranbourne police officer has died after a fall while trekking the Inca Trail in Peru.

Victoria Police has confirmed the death of Sergeant Matthew Paton, whose body was found on the morning of Friday 22 May (Australian time).

Victoria Police have been in contact with his wife Jane, who was with him on holiday, and the family are flying to Peru from Australia.

Local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.

The Australian consulate, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Australian Federal Police are assisting. Victoria Police is also providing support.

Matthew, 52, joined Victoria Police in 2009, initially serving at Cranbourne and Rosebud police stations before becoming an instructor at the Victoria Police Academy in 2017.

His passion for teaching recruits led to a number of other roles, including facilitating training for police responding to mental health events.

He was recently selected for a senior sergeant position and was due to commence in the role next month.

A proud Queenslander, he was a passionate follower of the Maroons and Brisbane Lions.

Matthew loved travelling, exploring historic sites and cultures.

He is survived by his wife and three children, Ainsley, Luke and Meg.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said the thoughts of everyone at Victoria Police are with Matt’s family and friends at this time.

“Matt served with distinction for 16 years, most recently as an instructor at the Victoria Police Academy,” he said.

“His colleagues and the entire policing family are devastated at the tragic loss of a wonderful, caring person.

“Matt had the ability to talk to anyone and everyone. The morale and welfare of his friends and

workmates were always his priority.

“He will be remembered for his selflessness, amazing sense of humour, extreme kindness and inclusion of all.”

In a statement issued by Victoria Police on behalf of Matthew’s family, the family said they are

shattered by this loss.

“It seems surreal at the moment. Everyone is bereft,” they said.

“Family was the most important thing to Matt.”

They described Matthew as a family-oriented man devoted to his wife of 31 years and their three

Widow’s compassion inspires

By Sahar Foladi

A grieving widow has found solace in volunteering at a residential aged-care centre where her husband breathed his last.

Beverley McFarland lost her husband David to multiple sclerosis, an auto-immune disease that he fought for 10 months.

He was at Mercy Place in Lynbrook for his care and needs but that didn’t stop his wife, Bev from visiting him every day, to care for him, spend time and stay right beside him.

“When I pass in front of his room, I always stop and say prayers even when there’s someone else there now. It’s a great thing to do.

“We were going to the church, his buttons were undone, he said, ‘Can you do my buttons for me,’ and never had he asked me to do this in the more than 50 years together.

“I said we need to go to the doctors because this is happening for the first time.

“It happened so fast - 10 months and it was all over. He suffered for 10 months, he couldn’t eat, talk, walk, use his hands.

“I would say if it’s a yes, blink your eyes at me.” Over time, the 70-year-old became a familiar face at Mercy Place among staff and other residents, forming a connection like a second family.

In her last visit to her husband, Bev promised him that she’d take care of the other residents.

So two months after her husband passed away, she gathered the courage and the strong determination to fulfill her promise.

Originally from India, Bev has lived in New Zealand and Dubai, spending decades working in care after moving to Australia, including at Dandenong Hospital.

But she says this chapter of her life has been the most meaningful yet.

“I think it’s the best thing I did in my life

“It helped me to get through my grief, I know all the residents so well now.

“I felt a relief, happy in a place my husband breathed his last so I feel close to him.

“Not everyone’s the same, many don’t want to come back where their loved ones passed.

“I suppose you have to have a calling to do it and for me, honouring my promise to my husband.”

She dedicates every Thursday to visit her second home, spending time one-on-one with some of the residents who need it, or in groups, playing games, watching TV and being a listening ear to them.

“The ladies all love me, some of them I can share my grief with because they used to see me push him to the lounge room, the garden.

“They became very familiar with me and my husband so I felt quite comfortable to go back.

“They can’t imagine I would come back after what I went through. They look forward to me coming every Thursday - when I don’t come, they ask why.

“I don’t like to miss a Thursday, I keep Thursday just for that and if I have any appointments, I schedule it on another day.”

David’s first year anniversary was on Sunday 24 May, making the week very emotional for Bev and the family.

children, someone who was always willing to help others.

“He was the guy who stopped on the side of the road to help people change tyres,” he said.

They said he had strong morals from a young age and excelled academically before beginning a career in accounting and retail.

Later in life, he pursued new challenges, earning a black belt in karate, studying Spanish and eventually joining Victoria Police because he wanted meaningful work that he could be proud of.

“He really thought that he was doing something worthwhile,” the family said.

“We were incredibly proud of him, the work he was doing, including with recruits at the police academy. He loved being an educator.”

The family recalled that even in the last week, Matthew was posting videos of primary school students marching in Peru and telling his recruits here that they could learn a thing or two in a joking manner.

“He was also doing work with officers who had experienced traumatic incidents. He was well respected everywhere he went. He loved his colleagues and had a great rapport,” the family said.

“He was a funny guy. He was witty, he was clever. He would spin an anecdote better than anyone.”

The family said Matthew had always wanted to travel to Peru.

“Part of him learning Spanish was so he could do this trip,” they said.

“He was always up for an adventure, to learn something and to experience something new.

“We are grateful for the support of Matt’s Victoria Police colleagues, the Police Association Victoria and local authorities in Peru at this difficult time.”

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the department is providing consular assistance to the family.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” they said.

Mercy Place Lynbrook lifestyle coordinator

Elaine Balfour described Bev as easy-going with a soft approach, listening without judging, and allowing residents to open up to her.

She says Bev’s decision to volunteer helped her tremendously as part of her grief, allowing her to return to normalcy when she used to visit the place on a daily basis to visit her late husband.

“Her coming here on a daily basis was part of the routine, meeting with other people.

“It was the support she received from staff and other residents - it wasn’t just the passing of her husband, it was that she lost the interaction with others.

“She saw what we do, that’s another reason she decided to eventually volunteer here.”

Ms Balfour recommended a list of names of people that would benefit from Bev’s company and time, but that keeps extending.

“I think because she is easy-going, she’s friendly, compassionate, she gives them the opportunity on that one-on-one level. It gives so much more comfort, allows some of our residents to open up a bit.

“I think it’s a blessing to have any volunteers for our residents, myself and the community in general.

A lot of volunteers feel that they want to give back.

“We have two volunteers who have had family members stay and passed here, for someone to come back into that environment, shows you the strength of that person and resilience.

“It’s important for us as staff not to forget the tough times they’ve all been through and show our support.”

In this year’s National Volunteer Week, the theme is “Your Year to Volunteer,” celebrating volunteers of all shapes, backgrounds, and qualities.

Beverley McFarland volunteers at the aged-care home where her husband David passed away. (Supplied)

Beverley McFarland has dedicated every Thursday to residents of Mercy Place, spending quality time, lending a listening ear and sometimes sharing her own life story.

While playing board games, watching TV and chatting, residents always look forward to Beverley McFarland’s visitations.

Former Cranbourne police officer Matthew Paton has died after a fall while trekking the Inca Trail in Peru. (Supplied)

Golf fundraiser tops $10k

By Violet Li Cranbourne’s

Ranfurlie Golf Club has raised more than $10,000 for a cancer care charity on its golf day.

The golf club was turned into a sea of pink on Wednesday 20 May, as players came together for a Pink Tee Ambrose charity golf day in support of the McGrath Foundation.

About 77 people took part in the fundraising.

The $10,000 raised was significantly up from the $2,500 to $3,000 raised at last year’s event.

Golf and Membership Manager Sahil Sahib said the result exceeded expectations.

“What we did was that the club actually covered a $50 entry fee. Obviously, with that $50 entry fee, you’ve got to cover your food component and the competition format for the prizes,” he said.

“But the club decided that we were going to just cover the $50 fee completely. So, there was going to be no fee towards the members, and for the members and visitors who paid the $50, that money would be given to the charity.

“Then, as a result, the club said, look, because we’ve done so well, we’re going to actually double that amount. So, it was $7,700 the club donated.

“We ran silent auctions on the day as well, and that number ticked over $10,000.”

The event ran from 8.30am until about 2pm and was open to both members and visitors, including women involved in golf clinics run by the club.

Mr Sahib said the cause resonated deeply with many at the club.

“A lot of our members and staff were affected by cancer, and for us to be able to give back was amazing,” he said.

The ‘Pink Tee’ name was inspired by cricket’s Pink Test tradition at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where players and spectators wear pink to raise awareness and support for cancer care.

Founded by former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath following his wife Jane McGrath’s battle with breast cancer, the McGrath Foundation now supports people experiencing all types of cancer through its cancer care nursing services.

Mr Sahib said the club was already looking beyond next year’s fundraiser, with plans to support other causes, including men’s mental health initiatives.

Fundraising still remains open: pinkisthecolour.com.au/fundraisers/RanfurlieLadies

Allison Gillies, Jeanette Kent, Lorenza Bleumink, Michelle Forster and Sahil Sahib.

Belinda Powell.Jennifer Hamilton, Pam Lamattina, Marlene Cochrane and Lisa Kelly.Golf and membership manager Sahil Sahib.

A group shot of Pink Tee Ambrose charity golf day at Cranbourne’s Ranfurlie Golf Club on Wednesday 20 May. (Supplied)

Susan Mongelli, Liby Dehey, Jaydon Vaenuku, Brooke DeWit and Tanya Marshall.

Maureen Tessier.

Club rallies for special kids

By Violet Li

Tooradin Dalmore Junior Football Club held a fundraising day for Very Special Kids, a charity supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families, inspired by the experience of one of its own club families.

The junior football home round against Koo Wee Rup on Sunday 24 May brought together players, parents and supporters in a community effort expected to raise between $2,000 and $3,000 for the charity.

Club president Shaun Tongue said the event was inspired by the Whitnell family within the club, who had experienced first-hand the support provided by Very Special Kids.

“To actually have a day dedicated to it was unbelievable and really, really good for the community and the club,” he said.

The fundraising day combined football with activities designed to mirror Very Special Kids’ annual 24-hour treadmill challenge, one of the charity’s major fundraising events.

Throughout the day, junior players rotated through time slots to keep treadmills running from the first match until the last, while local businesses donated raffle prizes and the CFA joined in with fire trucks and a jumping castle.

For Cranbourne South resident Damien Whitnell, whose son Jett lived with a rare genetic disorder and severe epilepsy, the event carried a much deeper meaning.

Mr Whitnell said Very Special Kids had supported his family for more than a decade through respite care, therapies and counselling.

“Very Special Kids has been a long-time supporter of ours,” he said.

Jett passed away at the Very Special Kids hospice last year.

Mr Whitnell, who coaches Tooradin’s under14s while his two other sons also play at the club, said the support from the football community had helped his family through difficult times.

“We’ve got a lot of close friends that we class as family in Tooradin,” he said.

“They’re a very tight-knit community. We’ve had lots of support.”

Very Special Kids will have its own 24-hour treadmill Treadmill Challenge from Friday 29 May to Saturday 30 May.

Rhylo and Cooper are next to one of the Tooradin CFA fire trucks. (Gary Sissons: 555013)

Shae from Tooradin is checking out her new look after face painting.

Henley on one of the treadmills. (Gary Sissons: 555013)

Blake is inside one of Tooradin’s CFA fire trucks.

Lachie in the Tooradin Seagull’s Mascot outfit on the treadmill.

Masterchefs Rachel, Mia, Dale, Kylie and Jamie.

A group of girls in a frame.

Birds, critters and more

Critters of all kinds from near and far have been captured up close by the lenses of the Hills Photographic Society, and the members have kindly allowed Star Mail a preview of their winning photography from their set subject, Birds and Animals.

The 30-strong all-abilities camera club from Emerald has released their mid-May awards for its members across the Yarra Ranges, and the captures are stunning, with some lovely animal meet-cutes of the animal world on show.

The judge’s choice award was captured this month by Upwey local John Weeks.

An avid bird photographer, John travels to bird hotspots regularly, and his winning capture, Rainbow Lorikeet, was taken in John’s previous backyard, in Belgrave. His garden attracted a lot of birds, as it was next to Borthwick Park.

The highly commended category included shots by photographers Nola Ford, Paul Bianco, Paul Walton and Pauline White.

In the commended category, Paul Bianco was noted for his shot, Very Cocky, taken at Halls Gap, along with photos by Allan Pan, Nola Ford, Trish Carpenter, Steve Bruhn, Pauline White, Paul Walton, Kathie Thomas, Des Lavery, Mike Wharton and Michael Kavanagh.

The camera club is based at the Emerald Hub and meets twice a month. They recently had their annual exhibition showing through April at the Puffing Billy Visitor Centre.

With an all-level approach, the group are now looking forward to a 70’s dress-up night on 28 May and the group will practise posed portrait photography on the night.

Judge’s Choice. Rainbow Lorikeet. (John Weeks)

Little Wattlebird. Spotted at Cranbourne Botanical Gardens, a great spot for birdwatchers. (Kathie Thomas)

Highly Commended. Bug Catcher. The dragonfly was perched on his clothesline, and miraculously sat still long enough for Paul to get a shot of it. (Paul Walton)

Highly Commended. Dog on the run. A rescue dog named Cooper is enjoying a run in the paddock. (Nola Ford)

Digging around near Paul’s pond in Monbulk. (Paul Walton)Highly Commended. Stealth (Pauline White)

Highly Commended, Norfolk Island Booby (Paul Walton)

Highly commended. Dog gone it, how much longer? (Nola Ford)

Highly Commended, Paul Bianco caught this lemur shot at the Melbourne Zoo. (Paul Bianco)

WHAT’S ON

Bake a difference

Help support vital brain cancer research by attending the fundraiser launch held on Saturday, May 30th from 7am-6pm.

100% of all proceeds will go directly to Baking for Brain Cancer. The Baking For Brain Cancer initiative was founded by the Dalton family after Tonie Dalton, co-owner of Phil’s Pies and Pastries, was diagnosed with glioblastoma.

Phil’s Pies and Pastries - 5B, 215-225 Parkhill Plaza, Parkhill Drive, Berwick.

Cardinia Neighbourhood Policing Forum

The Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Forum welcomes local services and community members to talk with police about what issues are important in your community.

The forum will explore topics including: Current crime trends and crime prevention, young people, family violence, road policing, drugs and drug-related crime.

The Neighbourhood Policing Forum will be run by a Victoria Police panel and questions will be taken from the audience throughout the event.

•Date: Thursday 4 June

•Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm (Doors open 5:15pm)

•Location: Beaconhills College Pakenham - Year 9 Centre 30-34 Toomuc Valley Rd, Pakenham VIC 3810 *enter via Pakenham Road

•Registration is a must. To attend, please register by sending your details to: Cardinia-CECMGR@police.vic.gov.au.

Pakenham Garden Club

Meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month, except in January and November.

In November, we meet on the 2nd Tuesday.

We visit Gardens, Nurseries, Places of Interest, we have 3-4 Meetings a year, at the Cardinia Club in Pakenham, with a speaker, Raffle, and Plant Share.

After the meeting, we have lunch at the Cardinia Club. New members most welcome.

Contact Mary - 0437 474 452

Cranbourne Seniors Club

Morning Melodies with Gavin Chatelier, first Friday of the month, 11am-3pm; $15 lunch included. Details: Marilyn, 0432 107 590 or facebook. com/groups/487808127399953

Probus Club of Pakenham East

The Probus Club of Pakenham East warmly invites retired and semi-retired members of our community to join us.

We offer a variety of enjoyable activities to suit all interests, including dine-outs, ten-pin bowling, craft groups, walking groups, theatre outings, and gardening—just to name a few.

Our meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cardinia Club, 71 Racecourse Road, commencing at 10:30am.

Each meeting begins with a short general session, followed by a break for morning tea. This provides a great opportunity to chat and get to know fellow members.

The meeting then resumes with the introduction of a guest speaker.

At the conclusion of the meeting, members are invited to stay and enjoy lunch together.

•For more information or to express your interest in joining, please contact:

•President John: 0420 936 240

•Secretary Dorothy: probuspakeast@gmail.com

Pakenham Seniors

People interested in a happy, social atmosphere and meeting new friends are invited to visit Pakenham Senior Citizens Clubrooms at 38 James Street on any Monday morning.

The club has regular activities. Rooms are available to rent. Telephone 5941 1297.

Singers wanted

Cranbourne Chorale is recruiting for its nonauditioned adult community choir for mixed voices. Our repertoire is a mix of uplifting songs. Feel free to visit us without obligation; the first four sessions are free of charge. Wednesday rehearsals 7.30pm at The Factory, Building 5, 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East. Details: Jenny, 0438 358 032.

Fight Parkinson’s Support Group Pakenham

Do you, or someone near and dear to you. Have Parkinson’s?

We invite those with Parkinson’s and their carers to join us for a cuppa and a chat.

We meet between 10am and 12 noon on the third Wednesday each month at Officer Football Club at 20 Starling Road, Officer. For further information call Tracey on 0494 562 509.

Pakenham Probus

The Original Club in Pakenham for over 30 years. Pakenham Probus welcomes retired people from

the community for fun and friendship.

They meet at the Cardinia Club on the first Thursday of the month at 10am. They have the meeting, followed by morning tea and a chat.

Then a guest speaker is welcomed to enlighten or entertain. The group then stays at the venue for a pay yourself lunch and chat.

During the month, the group provides at minimal costs 10-pin bowling, craft activities, book club, tours, yearly holiday, 2 coffee mornings, dine out and a walking group.

You can take part in whichever activities you want. Join and have a great time. Contact John Stitt: 0407766494

Inner Wheel Pakenham

If you are interested in building cherished friendships, serving our communities whilst making a difference in this world, come and see how the largest world wide womens organisation works together.

Inner Wheel of Pakenham are looking for more members to join for a new schedule of events this year.

Events included talks from guest speakers, movie days, coffee mornings, craft days and other special events.

Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday morning of each month.

Please check out the Inner Wheel Australia website for more information, nnerwheelaustralia.org.au and contact the local Club at iiw. au.pakenham@gmail.com if you are interested in joining.

Learn to play bridge

Berwick Bridge Club is looking for new members. There are two free beginners’ courses. One starting on Friday morning 6thth February 2026 from 10:00-12 noon and the second one on Monday night starting 2nd February 2026 from 7-9pm. Both courses run for 10/12 weeks. Lessons are held at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21A Bemersyde drive Berwick. No partner is required.

To reserve your place, please phone Maree on 97022348.

Little learner’s playgroup

Join Aspire Pakenham centre every Friday morning from 10:30-11:30am for free playgroup sessions for your little one. It’s the perfect opportunity for children to play, explore and make new friends, with a new theme every week. Hosted by Anglicare Victoria, the event will be held at the

community centre, 75 Army Rd in Pakenham. Cardinia Prostate Cancer Support Group

Meeting on the first Thursday of each month at Outlook Community Centre, 24 Toomuc Valley Road, Pakenham

All are welcome. For more information please contact Span Hanna on 0422917386 or email spanetc@hotmail.com

Berwick Bridge Club

Enjoy playing cards? Are you looking for some exercise for your brain that is both fun and challenging?

Berwick Bridge Club is looking for new members. For more info please phone Maree on 9702 2348.

Get Involved with Pakenham Central Probus

If you are retired or semi retired Pakenham Central Probus offers you a vibrant and friendly club. Come along and try us out.

Visitors welcome, just give us a call.

Activities include Dine Outs, Happy Hour, Coffee Mornings, Outings, Coffee mornings, Walking Group, Garden Group, Craft Group, Ten Pin Bowling , Trips as well as Concerts and Theatre outings.

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

There’s never a dull moment—good company, great experiences, and memories to cherish. Come along for a visit to see if the Club suits your needs.

•Contact our Jan 0417 371 004 or email pakenhamcentralprobus@gmail.com

Garfield Exercise Group

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

Garfield Sewing Club

Come along with your sewing machine or use one of ours and join a group of sewers creating clothes, quilts, crafts, repairing and upcycling. All skill levels welcome but a gold coin donation. This event is held every Tuesday during the school term at Garfield Scout Hall. Food Relief with Vegetables

and Fruit

Available every second Wednesday at 2pm at MoyYan Neighbourhood House in Garfield. Inner Wheel Club of Berwick

The Inner Wheel Club (IW) Berwick is a ladies international friendship club which raises funds to support local charities and other worthwhile causes.

They have a dinner meeting on the first Monday of the month and enjoy a range of activities including guest speakers, morning teas, book club and craft afternoons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

Weekly social activities with dancing, trips away via coach, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly Tuesday dine-outs, a weekly walking group, a weekly table tennis group, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, entertainment function days and more.

•Thursdays 2pm for socialising and low-key dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood Houseat 21A Bemersyde Drive or Wednesdays 10am for coffee and chats at the new François cafe in front of Myer in Fountain Gate. Details: Garry - 0409 785 400

Nathan, Phil, Lauren, Tonie and Filip Tibos. (Stewart Chambers: 546774)

Comedy course in Casey

By Violet Li

A comedy workshop designed to help women of colour find their voice, with past participants progressing to state finals in Australia’s largest open mic comedy competition, is coming to Bunjil Place in July.

The eight-week stand-up comedy course, Brown Women Comedy Workshop, created and delivered by the Australian South Asian Centre (ASAC), will cover joke writing, storytelling, comedic structure, improvisation, stage presence and managing performance nerves.

Participants will also receive one-on-one script coaching, peer feedback opportunities and a chance to perform in front of a live audience in September.

Producer Daizy Maan, who is also the founder of ASAC, said the initiative was created after discovering a lack of representation among performers at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF).

“A few years ago, we did research on this, and we went through every single listing on MICF to find how many women of colour were performing,” she said.

“Specifically, we looked at South Asian artists at the time, and we found out of 650 listings, there were only two local South Asian women performing solo shows.

“Where is this diversity?”

Unlike traditional comedy pathways that often involve performing late at night in bars, Ms Maan

said the workshops were designed as a supportive space where participants could learn comedy as a craft.

“A lot of people think that comedy is something you’re just naturally good at, that you just are good at it or you’re not good at it. And what they don’t realise is that it is something you can learn. It’s a skill,” she said.

“There’s a craft. But unlike dance, theatre and acting, people don’t just expect you to become an actor in your spare time. People don’t say, why don’t you go try acting on the streets, and then you will see if you’re any good. But for comedy, that’s what people say.

“They’re like, oh, why don’t you just go try a bar and you’ll see if you’re any good? So, we wanted to create a supportive, fun environment where women felt safe to practice comedy to learn it, rather than them having to practice at 11pm in a bar.”

The program first ran in 2024 with City of Melbourne support, with about 15 students completing the course.

Past participant Devni Vihara, a lawyer with no prior comedy experience, said she initially joined to challenge herself.

“I was very excited in the first session because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. But I was also nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. That initial nervousness just disappeared in the first ten minutes of the class because everyone was just so welcoming, and everyone was new. Everyone hadn’t done this before,” she said.

“Being in a room where everyone has a similar shared identity was really nice.

“It was all women of colour. Jokes weren’t about being a woman of colour. It was about all the different things that we each have beyond just being a person of colour.

“The punchlines weren’t about our identity or our heritage. It was about having kids or our sex lives or working or endometriosis, so many different things…I’d be laughing so much for three hours (each session) because it’s so funny.”

Devni recalled that the course culminated in a public stand-up comedy night in front of about 150 to 200 people, where every participant performed for five minutes.

“I was so nervous doing it, but I had felt so supported over the eight weeks. I had already done a little bit of performing in front of my own group,” she said.

“It was such an amazing night, and I think everyone who left that comedy showcase all said that it was excellent comedy. Everyone was laughing.”

Ms Maan said the past program had many success stories with former participants gaining confidence beyond comedy in public speaking, podcasting and their professional lives, while others had continued pursuing stand-up. Some progressed to become state finalists in RAW Comedy, the country’s largest and most celebrated open mic comedy competition.

“It was great to see so many diverse and different applicants. I feel like, South Asian women,

Asian women, we have so many funny stories from our upbringing, from our families, relationships that we often don’t tell anyone, but when we’re in friend circles, we share them,” Ms Maan said.

“It’s about how we do the art of turning your experiences into comedy.”

Growing up in an Indian household, Ms Maan said girls were often expected to avoid behaviour considered ‘besharam’ (which means shameless), a standard she believed was rarely applied to boys.

“If you laugh too loud, if you talk too much, if you’re too confident, people just call you ‘besharam’ , and so for us, this process is like a reclamation of shame,” she said.

“We even market our main professional show as Australia’s most ‘besharam’ women.”

This year’s program in the City of Casey will be led by award-winning Chinese Australian comedian Annie Louey, who has appeared on television and will guide participants through joke writing, storytelling and stage performance techniques.

Ms Maan said bringing the program to Casey was particularly important because opportunities of this kind often stayed in the Melbourne CBD.

“It’s so good that Bunjil Place is supporting this eight-week-long program,” she said. To sign up, visit: bunjilplace.com.au/events/ brown-women-comedy-workshops

lack of representation among performers at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. (Supplied)

Devni Vihara at Brown Women Comedy Up-andComers Showcase in 2024.

Nayo is making a splash

By Sahar Foladi

A young public-school student and swimmer has won a hard-earned right to compete in an upcoming national and international championships.

Year 11 student Nayonika Niranjan represented Cranbourne East Secondary College in the State championship in April.

While she placed seventh in her squad, she achieved a well-deserved personal best time of 34.91 seconds - down from 35.12.

“There’s not a lot of competitive swimmers at my school but there’s the opportunity to participate in school swimming,” Nayo says.

“Swimming is arguably one of the hardest sports, it’s very difficult compared to other sports, and sometimes it feels like we don’t get much recognition or knowledge about that.”

Like the majority of children in schools, she started swimming as a survival skill but it wasn’t long before her parents realised her potential.

Both her parents work hard to keep Nayo in the pool, including her membership at the TigerShark Swimming Club at Casey Race. They help her to enter as many competitions as possible.

“It was a matter of picking which sport to excel at and it happened to be swimming.

“It was never planned, it just happened and I’m so grateful because it changed my life completely. The connections I made, the life lessons are all very valuable.”

Competitively swimming for the past 10 years, Nayo has set herself a rigorous schedule to balance school academics and swimming, training twice a day.

Her day starts at 4.30am, she’s at the pool at 5.30am, back home and then school after 7.30am and back to training later in the evening. She has been keeping this up for more than two years.

This is all while studying Year 12 level psychology and a VET course in sports, along with her Year 11 subjects.

The school’s head of sports, Madeleine Henderson, says the school is proud of her performance, highlighting the potential of their students.

“She demonstrates outstanding academic performance, is highly respected by her peers, and consistently shows strong leadership, having held several leadership roles at CESC.

“Her achievement at the state championship reflects her dedication and commitment to excellence.

“Looking ahead, Nayo is determined to continue improving.

“She narrowly missed qualifying for three additional events at regionals this year, and I am confident she will work hard to qualify for more events at state next year.”

She says the school will focus on increasing participation especially among female students and to develop programs to “build skills, confidence and engagement in sports”

While Nayo may not have it all planned, she is aiming for the nationals and to potentially perform at the Commonwealth Games before she can take on a pathway in psychology and sport.

Swimming remains one of the school’s significant challenges, with a large number of students

either unable to swim or lacking the confidence to participate particularly in front of their peers.

As a result, the school says they have seen traditionally low attendance at their swimming car-

nivals.

To address this, the school’s Health and Physical Education leader will embed structured swimming lessons and water safety units in the junior

curriculum.

“The aim is to build foundational skills early, while also developing confidence and a sense of comfort in the water,” Ms Henderson says.

“Over time, we hope this targeted approach will not only improve student capability but also lead to increased participation and a more positive experience at our school swimming events.

“Being in a low socioeconomic area also has a big impact. A lot of our students aren’t playing community sport outside of school like we used to see, mainly because it’s becoming too expensive.

“As a result, many students come into Year 7 without the basic skills or experience in team sports, which puts them at a disadvantage early on.”

The school’s increasing enrolment numbers mean a lot of students miss out on representing the school in division-level sport, as more students want to be involved in sports than there are spots available.

It has also struggled with female participation in sport, running free after-school training sessions to allow more opportunity to play sport, improve their skills and feel connected to the school.

In 2023, the school’s enrolment increased from 1965 to 2135 students according to its Strategic Plan 2023-27.

Nayonika Niranjan has dedicated her life to a rigorous training twice a day six days a week along with academics. (Supplied)

Nayonika Niranjan representing her school at the 2026 State Championships.

Split weekend for Warriors

By Justin Schwarze

Stella O’Loughlin showed composure past her years on Saturday night as her go-ahead driving layup proved to be the difference in Pakenham’s thrilling overtime win over Bellarine in round eight of the Big V Championship.

O’Loughlin was trusted with the ball off a hand-off and given space to attack in the dying seconds, and she blew by her defender to finish with her right hand to put the Warriors in front for good 70-68.

“I called a play that we’ve run 1000 times and I knew Stella could get to the basket on her right side, so we went with it,” Pakenham head coach Elli Gibson said.

“I didn’t want to give Bellarine an opportunity to set up their defence or change anything so that’s why I didn’t call a timeout.

“I knew the girls on the floor could execute that set, and credit to them, they executed really well and Stella was able to finish for us.”

The fact that the Warriors were even in that position was impressive, rallying from down eight in the fourth, with Tazsa Garrett-Hammett using elite physicality on the low block to spin and muscle her way for two at the basket to send it to the extra five minutes.

A complete defensive effort when it mattered most boosted the win, as Pakenham held the Storm to just 11 points across the final 15 minutes of basketball, with seven in the fourth and four in overtime.

Limiting star Bellarine players Courtney Strait and Shayla Golden was also a target in the key moments.

“Being down eight going into the fourth quarter and being able to grind that one out is extremely pleasing, and I told the girls pregame it was going to be a grind, they’re a fantastic team,” Gibson explained.

“You learn so much and grow so much in those sort of games so from a coach’s perspective, that was a massive win for us.

“The confidence, the improvement as a team, being able to deal with adversity and being composed at times where it was really challenging is invaluable for a group I believe.

“I’m really, really happy with how they went about it on the weekend.

“It was a lot of urgency and shutting down Courtney Strait, who’s an elite shooter in this league, she was our main priority.

“Shayla Golden had shot the ball really well so it was also about making sure she didn’t get any open looks.

“It was also if the shot goes up, we needed to box out and come up with the ball because their bigs are excellent at rebounding so it was a lot of urgency.

“The girls were excellent at it, they worked hard and spoke, they boxed out and got their hands in there when it got physical.

“We put a big emphasis on desperation and urgency when we were down eight, we knew we weren’t going to get it back straight away, we wanted to stack up defensive plays and get good looks down on offence and it’ll happen for us.”

O’Loughlin finished with 12 points and the

game winner, while Garrett-Hammett played over 40 minutes and dominated to post 27 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals on efficient 11/18 shooting.

The star forward is fifth in the league in scoring for players who have played at least five games, averaging over 17 points per game on 51 percent shooting.

“She is so reliable,” Gibson said of GarrettHammett.

“Game in, game out she puts up points, she rebounds and she generally gets the opposition’s best big.

“She just continues to show up, she’s got great leadership.

“She’s a pleasure to coach, she wants to win, she understands the game really well and she goes about it in her own way.

“She’s a jet in this league, she’s strong and de-

ceptively quick while playing a three to five.

“She makes big plays when we need them.”

On Sunday, the Warriors matched up with top-of-the-league McKinnon and welcomed back Grace Graham for her first game of the season after returning from the UK, scoring 11 points off the bench.

But the Cougars shot Pakenham out of the gym, blazing the nets for 16/29 shooting from deep and they also owned the rebound count 4536.

“McKinnon is elite this year, there’s no doubt about it,” Gibson admitted.

“We spoke about not giving up second chance points and they killed us in that area.

“We took a little bit to settle into the game.

“We walk away with some learnings for sure, the girls worked hard and challenged them, we

just got beaten by an elite group.”

Pakenham remains in the top four in fourth with a record of 7-3.

The Pakenham Men had an opposite weekend, going down to Bellarine at Cardinia Life before rolling McKinnon on Sunday.

The Storm took control from the opening tip on Saturday night, setting the tone with 16 points in the paint in the first quarter.

From there, poor shooting and turnovers from the Warriors saw the visitors extend their margin.

Bellarine led by 10 at halftime and 15 at threequarter time, holding on for a 94-67 triumph.

Atien Acuel led the scoring front for Pakenham as he scored 17 points and hauled in eight rebounds.

A massive second quarter the following day was ultimately the difference in a 93-75 bounce back win over McKinnon at GESAC.

The Cougars headed into the quarter time huddle with their noses in front 28-26, before Pakenham had the entire second on its own terms. Four turnovers and sub-40 percent shooting saw the hosts score just 11 in the period as the Warriors started cooking offensively.

Pakenham outscored the Cougars by 19 in the frame, suddenly taking a 17-point lead into the half.

And it continued to flourish in the third, putting the game out of reach with efficient and productive offence.

Jamie Blanchard popped for 26 points, six rebounds and six assists on 9/16 shooting while Ryan Batte provided 19 points and five steals.

Nae Hightower was effective down low with 11 points and five boards.

The split weekend saw the Warriors slip to fifth with a record of 5-4.

In round nine, both outfits host Sunbury on Saturday at Cardinia Life.

Pakenham thrilled to acquire experienced leader Camac

By Justin Schwarze

The Pakenham Warriors Championship Women have received a massive boost with experienced NBL1 star Clare Camac joining the team midseason.

Camac comes across from Dandenong in the NBL1 South, and her resume speaks for itself.

She has amassed over 400 games at NBL1/ SEABL and WNBL level, and won seven championships across the respective levels.

Camac and Warriors head coach Elli Gibson have had a close relationship over the years, and Gibson was absolutely thrilled about the inclusion.

“We’re over the moon to have someone of her class at our club,” Gibson said of Camac.

“She’s invaluable, she has so many facets to her game, she’s an on and off court leader.

“She loves to teach the game.

“She’s a defensive mindset first and so am I so I know I’m putting her on the floor and she’ll get it done defensively.

“She understands the game so well, her IQ is elite.

“Because I’ve got such a young group, her ability to coach on the floor and direct players is just second to none.

“We are so thrilled to have her and she will get better the more she trains with us.”

Camac made her debut on Saturday in Pakenham’s nailbiting two-point overtime victory over Bellarine.

And she made her impact felt immediately despite struggling shooting from the floor.

She hauled in 12 rebounds to go along with five points, but she made one of the most important plays of the day when she denied Shayla

Golden’s game-tying floater attempt in overtime to seal the win.

“Her rebounds were amazing, she made some big plays down the stretch and gave us extra possessions from o-boards,” Gibson said of Camac’s performance on Saturday.

“She was able to collect nine defensive rebounds as well and got the last block of the game to allow us to win.”

Camac also coaches the Dandenong Youth Championship Women’s team, so her basketball mind and ability to lead from the front will bring serious impact for the Warriors.

Dandenong legend Clare Camac has signed at Pakenham for the rest of the season in a big recruitment boost for the club. (Feilong001 Sports)

Nae Hightower gets to the cup amongst the traffic at McKinnon. (Tash Warden)

Pakenham pummel Eagles

By Justin Schwarze

A ruthless and prolific Pakenham attack led the Lions to a demolition job of Yarra Junction in round seven of Outer East Division 1.

The day marked a special occasion for the Eagles, who were playing in their 1000th senior football match, and the clubrooms and ground was filled with former players who watched the Lions produce 53 scoring shots and show no mercy.

Pakenham booted eight first quarter goals, starting in the first minute when Sam Cachia marked an offline Matt Ryan shot and snapped home.

Mason Hall then found Tanner Stanton on the chest in the forward 50 and Stanton buried his shot.

Josh Trembath got the Lions’ third with a mark and another set shot goal, followed by Aden Quirk running into space and putting it through.

Quirk then fired a handpass to Hall in the open and Hall capitalised by guiding it home on his right boot.

Hall made it two in 90 seconds when an errant kick-in from Yarra Junction was picked off and Stanton just punched a short kick forward, where Hall collected it on the half volley and turned and goaled.

And the small forward soon looked to make it three as he lined up for a shot, but he unselfishly spotted and hit up Ryan right in front of goal.

Ryan rewarded him by belting his attempt over the goal umpire’s head, but Hall ended up getting his third from the next centre clearance when he was taken too high in the goalsquare.

At quarter time, Pakenham had created massive scoreboard separation at 8.4 (54) to no score.

Ryan and Cachia each booted their second on the other side of the break, followed by majors to Ryan Martini and James Lee, until the Eagles managed their first score of the afternoon, a behind, at the 13-minute mark of the second.

But the ball continued to live at the other end with Cachia nailing number three, Stanton slotting his second and Ryan then getting his third.

Hall then collected the footy and snapped around his shoulder perfectly to tip the margin over 100 before halftime, which he followed by kicking his fifth by intercepting a poor switch kick from Yarra Junction and running in to put it through.

At halftime, the Lions held an imposing 17.9 (111) to 0.2 (2) lead.

And they picked up right where they left off in the second half, with Ryan and Cachia each notching their fourth within a minute of each other.

A scary moment occurred shortly after, with Eagles mid Aleck Beck being put on report and yellow carded for leaving his feet and laying out a late, high and dangerous bump on Martini after he kicked the football forward.

Josh Haggar marked the kick and goaled after a short delay to make it 20 majors in a row for the visitors.

And the streak ended at 20, with Yarra Junction ruckman Caleb Lee drawing a free kick and converting from distance for the Eagles’ only goal of the afternoon.

Rhys Clacy and Ryan added one more each before three-quarter time and when the siren went, Pakenham led 22.18 (150) to 1.3 (9).

The fourth was the Matt Ryan show as he booted four majors to bring his game tally to nine and the Lions ran out to the 31.22 (208) to 1.4 (10) result.

Ryan also reeled in 15 marks for the game and collected 20 disposals.

Hall was everywhere with 31 disposals and seven goals, while Stanton recorded 35 touches and a pair of majors.

“We made sure we kept high standards in the way we want to play and move the football,” Pakenham senior coach Justin Stanton said.

“Our accountability in certain areas of the ground, we want to make sure that those standards are still in place over the next two weeks, so we ticked that off this week and we want to continue it again.

“We wanted to try and win all the small things you can control like our pressure acts and tackles and team-first focusses, those things were really good on the weekend which was good.

“It was a positive approach that we took into the game and we got the result that we were looking for.

“A number of guys got their hands on the footy

and used it well but we were mindful the pressure wasn’t as high as what it would be from other teams.

“We spoke all week about what we could control, and that was our attitude and our effort around the football.

“Our attitude was really good, we didn’t come in complacent, we realised there was an opportunity to have a solid win but we wanted to make sure we left knowing that we played in the manner that we are focussing on, so that aspect was really pleasing.”

The Lions had 10 players hit the scoreboard, with Ryan (nine), Hall (seven), Cachia (five), Stanton (two), Martini (two) and Trembath (two) all managing multiple.

It was a refreshing sight for coach Stanton as it showed the way he wants his side to play.

“We feel that last year when we were playing our best football, in parts it was on the back of

having a spread of multiple goalkickers,” he said.

“On the weekend, when you put a big score up you’re bound to get a spread which we did.

“It wasn’t all anchored towards one or two, it was spread amongst multiple players.

“We had midfielders kicking goals and a mixture of forwards.

“That’s when we know we’re playing at our best, when we don’t put all of our eggs in one basket.”

AROUND THE GROUNDS Emerald also brought up the double-ton in a rout of Powelltown at Chandler Reserve, 32.18 (210) to 1.2 (8).

The Bombers slotted an astounding 12 firstquarter goals to lead by 70 points at the first change, setting up the massive result.

Jack McGough and Isaac Seskis booted seven goals apiece, while coach David Johnson man-

aged a bag of four and Lawson Cocks kicked three.

Skipper Jake Pedder produced video game numbers with 56 disposals and three goals and Ewan Wadsworth had the ball on a string as he posted 46 touches and a goal.

Seville comfortably disposed of Yea at home 13.19 (97) to 4.6 (30) thanks to four goals from Nathan O’Keefe.

Alexandra rolled impressively in the fourth quarter to overrun Yarra Glen in a highly-entertaining game at the Alexandra Showgrounds.

The River Pigs led by less than a goal at quarter time (five points), halftime (three points) and three-quarter time (two points) before the Rebels owned the last term with 5.7 to 3.0.

Justin Coventry and Sam

Belgrave had the

Critchley managed four goals each for Alexandra in the 17.14 (116) to 16.3 (99) result.

bye.

Sam Cachia tackles Matthew Moreton on a day where he booted five goals. (554989)

Rhys Clacy marks and slots a goal in Pakenham’s huge win over Yarra Junction. (Rob Carew: 554989)

for the afternoon. (554989)

Tanner Stanton gets a handball away in traffic. (554989)

Lions are “nasty right now”

By Justin Schwarze

Pakenham banked another strong win against finals contender Yarra Junction on Saturday in round seven of the Outer East Division 1 A Grade netball competition.

The Lions came out of the gates on fire, immediately jumping out to a double-digit lead at quarter time 16-5.

And they continued to strangle the Eagles, holding them to nine goals in the second while scoring 15 themselves to open up an imposing 31-14 halftime buffer.

Pakenham’s quality defence turned into a brick wall in the third, generating a number of Yarra Junction turnovers and allowing just two scores to put the game completely to bed with a 41-16 advantage at the final change.

The Lions rolled in the last to take it 18-9, holding the Eagles to single-digit scoring every quarter, while winning 59-25 on the road.

Charlize Reid and Caitlin Cooke set the tone in defence, dominating the tempo and restricting all of Yarra Junction’s avenues, while Charlotte Hudolin was impactful in front of goal.

The defence, led by Cooke, Reid and Eliza Molino has been the driving force of Pakenham’s 5-1 start this year, but there’s still room for the Lions to improve.

“Those back three are just really nasty right now in terms of locking down teams,” Pakenham coach Matt Cooke said.

“The turnover numbers are really good.

“There was a quarter where they only scored two goals on the weekend, that was pretty tight and Caitlin had the ball on a string.

“We threw our defensive elements at Yarra Junction this week and against Belgrave the week before we threw the offensive element to it and it was a really high score.

“We can see those two elements now so we’ve got to put it together.

“Our centre pass conversion is high because we’re in a fully controlled space and they can control that element of our gamestyle well now.

“But the conversion from turnover isn’t where we need it to be.”

Emerald bagged a massive win over Powelltown at home 75-18.

The Bombers allowed just nine goals in each half while scoring prolifically at the other end to fuel the huge result.

Casey Rhodes-Anderson, Cate Anderson and

Outer East Netball Scoreboard

PREMIERDIVISION

AGRADE

MtEvelyn110defUpweyTecoma12,WarburtonMillgrove 57defROC47,OlindaFernyCreek68defHealesville34, GembrookCockatoo30defbyWooriYallock77,Wandin64 defMonbulk45.

BGRADE

MtEvelyn66defUpweyTecoma19,WarburtonMillgrove 28defbyROC56,OlindaFernyCreek57defHealesville38, GembrookCockatoo43defbyWooriYallock91,Wandin60 defMonbulk44.

CGRADE

WarburtonMillgrove38defbyROC49,OlindaFernyCreek 35defHealesville23,GembrookCockatoo29defbyWoori Yallock48,Wandin46defMonbulk18.Bye:MtEvelyn. DGRADE

WarburtonMillgrove12defbyROC29,OlindaFernyCreek 49defHealesville22,GembrookCockatoo19defbyWoori Yallock45,Wandin44defMonbulk32.Bye:MtEvelyn.

17UNDER

WarburtonMillgrove12defbyROCBlue51,MtEvelyn48def ROCWhite19,OlindaFernyCreek11defbyMonbulkMaroon 50,GembrookCockatoo13defbyWooriYallock64,Wandin 30defbyMonbulkGold40.

15UNDER

WandinBlue33defMonbulkMaroon29,WandinRed19def byMonbulkGold48,WooriYallock23defbyPakenhamGold 24,PakenhamMaroon50defROCWhite12.Bye:ROCBlue.

DIVISION1

AGRADE Emerald75defPowelltown18,Alexandra48defbyYarra Glen60,Seville100defYea33,YarraJunction25defby Pakenham59.Bye:Belgrave.

BGRADE

Emerald70defPowelltown26,Alexandra27defbyYarra Glen49,Seville80defYea20,YarraJunction37defby Pakenham71.Bye:Belgrave.

CGRADE

Emerald58defPowelltown13,Alexandra25defbyYarra Glen52,Seville61defYea21,YarraJunction11defby Pakenham54.Bye:Belgrave.

DGRADE

Emerald46defPowelltown26,Seville63defYea12,Yarra Junction14defbyPakenham65.Bye:BelgraveandYarra Glen. 17UNDER

PakenhamMaroon8defbySevilleBlue69,Emerald38def SevilleWhite22,YarraJunction2defbyPakenhamGold73. Bye:Alexandra.

Alexis Gibson were all outstanding in securing the four points for Emerald.

Seville brought up the ton and blew away Yea 100-33.

A solid four-quarter effort from Yarra Glen saw the River Pigs get past Alexandra 60-48 on the road.

Belgrave had the bye.

In the top flight, ROC was downed by an allaround performance from Warburton Millgrove at home.

The Burras established a six-goal lead in the first, before both teams netted 13 goals apiece in the second to leave the score at 30-24 at halftime in favour of the hosts.

Warburton Millgrove narrowly took the third term to extend the difference to 10 entering the last, before the two teams broke even again in the last, resulting in a 57-47 Burras victory.

Gembrook Cockatoo was no match for a professional Woori Yallock display away from home.

The Brookers trailed by just six at quarter time,

but a clinical 21-3 second from the Tigers sparked the convincing 77-30 triumph. Carla Crowley, Brylee O’Neil and Mia Cole were the best for Gembrook in defeat. Wandin pushed past Monbulk to secure a 6445 win and firmly hold onto second spot on the table.

Mount Evelyn showed no mercy to Upwey Tecoma, torching the Tigers 110-12 at home. Olinda Ferny Creek doubled up on Healesville 68-34 to stay well and truly in the top four.

Mitzi Henry throws a long pass in ROC’s defeat to Warburton Millgrove. (Rob Carew: 554988)

Preliminaries are now done

By David Nagel

Predators, Cheers, Snipers and Just Social will battle it out for the biggest prize in the South West Gippsland Dart League over the next three weeks after an intriguing last round of the season.

The Summer Season Premiership race looks as open as it has ever been, with third-placed Snipers proving that point with a 9-6 win over Cheers.

It was the Snipers two big guns that helped knock Cheers from the top of the ladder with Chris Richardson showing her class with nine tons for the evening, while Dean Gibbs landed six triple-figure scores to take his total to an incredible 89 for the season.

Liam Edwards and Shane Barnett were terrific for Cheers, throwing six and five tons respectively, with Edwards also producing a brilliant pegout of 120.

Predators finished the season on top after an impressive 11-4 win over Mud Rats.

Steve Powell was in ominous form for Predators, striking six tons, while Jack Mazurek kept things hopeful for the Rats.

The Mud Rats, who began the final round in fourth position, now drop to fifth place on the ladder.

The Rats will start favourites for the Don Brown Memorial Shield; a finals series for teams that finish from fifth to eighth on the ladder.

In other games this week, Just Social grabbed hold of fourth place with a 9-6 win over Fight Club, while Dart Devils jumped from the bottom of the ladder with a 13-2 success over Bullseyes.

Doug Amos was brilliant for the Devils in the big win.

Dart Vaders finished sixth after a 10-5 win over Dart Attack, while Gembrook also qualified for the Don Brown Memorial Shield with a 10-5 victory over Generals.

And AAA Dartz was almost the biggest winner of all, jumping from 11th to eighth place after a 9-6 win over Any Excuse.

Ted Jordan threw multiple tons for AAA, who now take on Gembrook in the first round of finals in the Don Brown Shield.

• SWGDLSUMMARY–ROUND13

RESULTS

Snipers def Cheers 9-6, AAA Dartz def Any Excuse

Six goalscorers sizzle as Cannons claim the points

By Blair Burns

A team performance helped Casey Cannons to a 6-2 win against Monash University in the Men’s Vic League (MVL1) competition.

In previous seasons, the Cannons have heavily relied on the likes of Tristan Chaffey in the attacking half, but they are most dangerous when they have different avenues to goal.

Casey had six individual goalscorers in the victory as they cruised to a comfortable win over Monash.

It was a comprehensive win for the Cannons who have struggled at times this season in the top level of competition.

Players to score in the win were Tristan Chaffey, Harry Coster, Craig Moore, Adam Shilliday, Elliot Stephens and Joshua Watson.

The Cannons will be looking to make it two in a row when they take on Craigieburn this Saturday.

The MVL1 Reserves were no match for Monash as they went down 4-1, with Xavier Davis producing one of the few highlights on the day.

The Men’s Metro 2 South side also fell short against the same quality opposition, with the final scoreboard reading 4-2.

Clinton Fisk and Prateek Patange were dan-

gerous around goals and each made the most of their opportunities with one each.

In the women’s matches, the WVL1 Reserves were the biggest winners of the weekend as they made light work of Monash to win 5-1.

It was a brilliant performance from Casey as they gelled together and put the pressure on the visitors from the outset.

Jessica Rowland starred with four goals, while Emma Harris scored the other.

Bayside Powerhouse didn’t live up to their name in the Women’s Pennant D South East competition as the Cannons fired to win 3-0.

Ellis Gallus, Jane Gipp and Emily Harris were the best performers in attack for Casey.

The Women’s Pennant E South East side won by forfeit 5-0 against Croydon while the Women’s Metro 1 South lost 2-1 against Southern UnitedKayleigh Looby continued her goalscoring form.

The WVL1 Cannons were no match for Monash as they fell short 5-2.

It was a more even match than those scores reflect, but the Monash defence held up well for the entire game.

Samantha Dobrich was brilliant and scored a classy goal, while Mikayla McDonald also had some big plays.

9-6, Dart Vaders def Dart Attack 10-5, Dart Devils def Bullseyes 13-2, Gembrook def Generals 10-5, Just Social def Fight Club 9-6, Predators def Mud Rats 11-4.

LADDER(FINAL)

Predators 48, Cheers 44, Snipers 44, Just Social 40, Mud Rats 40, Dart Vaders 28, Gembrook 20, AAA Dartz 20, Fight Club 16, Dart Attack 16, Any Excuse 16, Generals 16, Dart Devils 8, Bullseyes 8.

FIXTURE–SEMI-FINALS

PREMIERSHIP FINALS: Predators (1) v Cheers (2). Snipers (3) v Just Social (4).

DON BROWN MEMORIAL FINALS: Mud Rats (5)

v Dart Vaders (6). Gembrook (7) v AAA Dartz (8).

• SEASONHIGHLIGHTS

MOSTTONS

Dean Gibbs (Snipers) 89, Liam Edwards (Cheers) 74, Brendan S (Any Excuse) 65, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 64, Shane Barnett (Cheers) 49, Terry King (Just Social) 47, 4X4 (Just Social) 43, Steve Powell (Predators) 42, Jack M (Mud Rats) 40, Ant (Cheers) 38, Bill Richardson (Snipers) 38, Nathan Button (Predators) 37, Doug Amos (Dart Devils) 37, Tony Bundy (Just Social) 37, Ted Jordan (AAA) 36.

180s

Chris Richardson (Snipers) 6, Dean Gibbs (Snipers) 3, Brendan Simmonds (Any Excuse) 2, Bill Richardson (Snipers) 2, Jamie W (Cheers) 2, 4X4 (Just Social) 2, David S (Dart Vaders), Hank (Cheers), Michael Tuck (Mud Rats), Jordan Gray, Fred Dewart, Nathan Button, Steve Powell, Ryan Russell, Charlie Kruger, Patto, Chris Shannon, Tony Bundy (Just Social), Scott Dale (Mud Rats), Liam Edwards (Cheers), Chris Burke, Warwick Drayton, Tim Williams, Doug Amos (Dart Devils), Hoss (Dart Devils), Shane Barnett (Cheers), Nugget, Nicole Owen.

BESTTEAMPEGOUTS

Charlie (Dart Vaders) 160, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 152, Steve P (Predators) 131, Doug Amos (Dart Devils) 130, Liam (Cheers) 120, Tye (Any Excuse) 112, Brad (Fight Club) 111, Jack M (Mud Rats) 104, Wombat (Gembrook) 104, Jai M (Dart Attack) 103, 4X4 (Just Social) 98, Ted Jordan (AAA) 96, Stephen B (Bullseyes) 91, Mateo/Hachi (Generals) 74.

Stormy skies as Cardinia surges into the top four

By Blair Burns

Cardinia Storm is back after a successful weekend which saw both the men’s and women’s teams register strong wins and jump into the top four.

The Women’s Metro 1 South competition led the way in round seven with a thrilling 6-5 victory against Glen Eira in what was a tight tussle.

From the first whistle, the Storm girls were up and about in front of a home crowd.

It was Alana Nancarrow who turned it on early in the contest as she went to another level and scored the first two goals of the game in quick succession.

Despite Nancarrow almost scoring a third goal in the second quarter, the next big play belonged to Annabelle Fallu.

She found herself in some space on the baseline and found the back of the net to put Cardinia up 3-0.

Glen Eira managed to get its first goal before the main break and then continued to work back into the game in the second half.

Scarlett Hawkins and Lilly Kelly each scored goals to keep the Storm in front as the

game approached a big finish.

When Glen Eira scored the equaliser late in the fourth to take the game to 5-5, a draw looked likely.

But the hero of the day once again stood up with Fallu scoring a short-corner goal to bring up her hat-trick and secure a brilliant 6-5 win.

Cardinia faced Southern United at home in the Men’s Metro 1 South competition and with a full-strength forward line, the Storm were fired up and ready to go.

The home side opened the scoring as Gareth Ventom opened proceedings with a sliding goal - a scoring chance created by young guns Sammy Albrecht and William Gregory up the field.

Southern tied the score at 1-1 and were pushing hard, but the defensive work from Adam Welcome and Daniel Albrecht managed to keep them at bay.

Enter Gary Singh to score two goals and give the Storm a healthy lead as the game drew to a close.

Unfortunately, Ventom was injured and the game was called early with the score sitting at 3-1 in favour of Cardinia.

Elliot Stephens had some crucial moments for Casey Hockey Club on the weekend. (Rob Carew: 499259)

Sam Albrecht had some big moments in Cardinia Storm’s win. (Rob Carew: 547415)

AAA Dartz were the big winners in the final round of the South West Gippsland Dart League; qualifying for finals after beginning the round in 11th place. (Supplied: 553863)