News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 11th June 2026

Ready for a splash

The Bayles Regional Primary School community came together in spectacular fashion for this year’s Fight MND Big Freeze event, raising vital funds and awareness in support of those affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

PAGE 14

School staff ready for the slide! (Supplied)

Youth crime fury

By Afraa Kori

Frustrated parents are raising alarm over youth joyriding in stolen vehicles and illegal e-bikes.

Speaking at the crime forum in Beaconshills College, Cardinia Highway Patrol Sergeant (Stg) Mike Hanni said their core focus is reducing road trauma through prevention and response.

When Highway Patrol is not responding to collisions, it focuses on enforcement operations targeting the major causes of road trauma, including speeding, impaired driving, distraction, fatigue and seatbelt offences.

Sgt Hannie said the cases he had seen involved young drivers allegedly stealing vehicles themselves or the stolen vehicle being passed around between groups.

“It stands out when someone who looks 13-14 is behind a steering wheel and a car load of their mates,” he said.

“As to why they do it, I don’t know. Obviously a lot of dangers come from that so we obviously respond to that as quickly.”

Concerns over youth driving were highlighted following a recent incident in Pakenham that was difficult to revisit.

It involved a 16-year-old driver charged over a fatal crash, with his 16-year-old friend (in the front passenger) airlifted to hospital and later dying from his injuries.

Another concern was the rising use of electric bikes and scooters, with both youth and adults seen riding them illegally.

E-bikes and e-scooters were contributing to road trauma, but “thankfully” not to the same extent as motorcycles or larger vehicles.

Sgt Hannie said one of the biggest issues with the current laws was that many devices were legal to own and use on private property, but became illegal when ridden on public roads or outside

permitted rules.

During the forum, one mother said e-bike laws were also complex for parents to navigate, with confusion over what was legal and illegal.

“As a parent of a 13-year-old boy who desperately wants one, I just keep saying they’re illegal, you can’t have it,” she said.

“It’s really difficult for parents to even manage, let alone police.”

Casey mayor Cr Stefan Koomen previously acknowledged recent initiatives in New South Wales and Queensland and believes these are “timely and worth assessing for potential application” in Victoria.

Sgt Hannie reassured that police are actively engaging with distributors and sellers on changing their approach to business, but acknowledged “it is a challenge.”

Victoria Police websites, Facebook Eyewatch pages and crime forums are other tools used to

educate parents, young people and the wider community.

“With the wider use of technology, young people are now connected via social media and such apps,” divisional commander Superintendent Shane Cashman said.

“A lot of the messaging has gone to that. We’re going towards that generation that don’t watch TV.”

However, parents were not fully convinced police were successfully communicating with teenagers, arguing that the social media ban and a shift away from TV and newspapers were creating barriers.

On a personal level, Commander Cashman said he understands the challenges parents face communicating to their own children.

“Having children of that age, they do not like (you) to jump into where they want to jump into,” he said.

Reforms offer little hope for traders

By Afraa Kori

Businesses impacted by Big Build roadworks have welcomed proposed anti-corruption reforms, while others dismissed the premier’s announcement as election-driven political “damage control”.

Earlier this year, businesses in Casey and Cardinia said prolonged Big Build roadworks had crippled foot traffic, forced staff cuts, and left many struggling to survive.

Some described it as a “slap in the face” when Big Build handed out $20 tokens “in the name of compensation” , while bureaucracy made it difficult for their petition to be raised in Parliament.

They later called it a “devastating irony” that the State Government would not compensate struggling businesses, but allegedly allow $15 billion in taxpayer funds to be “poured into the hands of criminals and organised crime gangs” linked to Big Build projects.

In a street voxpop with the Gazette, local traders impacted by ongoing roadworks have again voiced mixed reactions following the announcement.

Some welcomed stronger oversight, describing it as “a step in the right direction”

Others believed the timing was politically calculated, arguing the reforms were driven more by the approaching election than a genuine desire for accountability or investigation.

Several traders also believed IBAC would still have “limited powers” , dismissing the reforms as another “fake promise”

Premier Jacinta Allan has repeatedly disputed the $15 billion figure as untested despite the report by barrister Geoffrey Watson.

She has now promised that the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) will be given follow-the-money investigatory powers.

Traders say Big Build irony is “devastating”.

Ms Allan said the reforms would broaden the definition of corrupt conduct and ensure IBAC can fully trace public funds through private contractors and subcontractors on major government contracts and projects.

“I have always had zero-tolerance for criminal behaviour in any workplace, and that remains absolute,” she said.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson accused the

premier of wanting “headlines today and investigations after the election”

“If these powers are needed, they should start now,” she said.

“Instead, Jacinta Allan is asking Victorians to wait at least another 18 months while the coverup continues and taxpayers continue to be rorted.

“Victorians deserve the truth before they vote, not after.”

Green thumbs

A small initiative to grow vegetables has blossomed into a vibrant community garden at Officer Lifestyle Estate.

On Wednesday 3 June, residents and staff of the estate celebrated their thriving community garden alongside sponsor Richgro.

Starting 18 months ago, the initiative encouraged residents to grow their own vegetables. In that time, the project has developed into a large community effort involving many residents.

With several garden beds provided by the estate, a homemade sprinkler system, and murals painted by a talented resident, the community garden has become a thriving project.

Residents have also received support from beyond the estate. Bellevue Orchards donated crates to provide additional space, and garden supplies company Richgro has come on board as a sponsor.

Richgro’s Andrew Briginshaw joined residents and staff on Wednesday to see the garden, which has benefited from the company’s generous supply of materials.

The soil is being rested until August, when residents will undertake a significant round of planting.

Fresh produce from the garden will be available to residents for a gold coin donation.

Ten arrested over alleged drug and firearm syndicate

Ten people have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a syndicate trafficking drugs, firearms and peptides across Melbourne and importing illicit tobacco.

Police from the Eastern Region Crime Squad executed 12 simultaneous search warrants across the CBD, southeastern and northern suburbs from 10am yesterday.

The searches uncovered more than 2kg of cocaine with an estimated potential street value of $500,000, thousands of vials of peptides, as well as steroids, approximately 80 cartons of illicit tobacco, cannabis, approximately $150,000 in cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime, a 3D printer and dozens of weapons.

36 firearms were seized in total, 17 of which are illicit, consisting of longarms, handguns and 3D printed firearms.

Ten people were arrested, six of them charged:

- A 26-year-old Docklands man, charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, possess drug of dependence, prohibited person possess a firearm, possess unregistered handgun, dispose of a handgun, possess prohibited weapon, and possess property suspected of being proceeds of crime.

- A 24-year-old Ferny Creek man, charged with 33 offences including, trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, deal property suspected of being proceeds of crime, as well as extensive firearm offences including possess a traffickable quantity of firearms, prohibited person possess a firearm, possess an unregistered handgun, possess an unregistered longarm and possess ammunition.

- A 58-year-old Ferny Creek man, charged

with 13 offences including, trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine, possess a traffickable quantity of unregistered firearms, possess an unregistered handgun, and possess an unregistered longarm.

- A 23-year-old Officer man, charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, possess a traffickable quantity of firearms, dispose of a traffickable quantity of firearms, deal property suspected of being proceeds of crime, and four counts of prohibited person possess a firearm.

All four were remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

A man and woman – both aged 31 from Berwick – were charged with possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms, prohibited weapons and drugs of dependence. They were bailed to

appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 17 December.

A 53-year-old woman and 54-year-old man –both from Narre Warren North – were interviewed in relation to trafficking a drug of dependence, and manufacturing and trafficking firearms.

Two men aged 41 and 45 from Pakenham and Endeavour Hills respectively were arrested in relation to possessing a drug of dependence. These four were released pending further enquiries.

Further charges are expected to be laid. As investigations continue, anyone with information on drug or firearm trafficking is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Reports can be made anonymously.

From left: Gary Newman, Dennis Fuller, Kathy Green, Mark Green, Norm Clark, Jenny Watson and Andrew Briginshaw. (Gary Sissons: 554626)

Local forests at threat

By Carmela Mendoza

Crime Stoppers Victoria and the Conservation Regulator have launched the Illegal Firewood: The Cost is Wild campaign to address the emerging crime in the state’s forests.

This campaign supports the Conservation Regulator’s ongoing efforts, through its statewide initiative Taskforce Ironbark, to target organised crime syndicates destroying Victoria’s forests and national parks.

Content across Crime Stoppers Victoria’s social media platforms will direct Victorians to a campaign webpage with information on illegal firewood collection and how to report suspicious activity.

Illegal felling of large trees for firewood has been identified at Bow-Worrung State Forest, north of Stratford in eastern Gippsland.

Offenders had driven off the designated tracks and into the forest, targeting mature trees.

More than a dozen have been cut down, leaving large, exposed stumps and scattered wood debris.

The trees found in this forest are stringybark, a hardwood commonly used for firewood.

The cutting and targeting of this specific tree is consistent with illegal firewood collection.

Recent footage captured in the Bow-Worrung State Forest highlights the impact, showing an example of areas of native habitat left degraded.

Stringybark forests in this part of Gippsland provide habitat for a range of species including the greater glider, yellow-bellied glider and powerful owl.

Illegal firewood is impacting forests across the state, particularly parts of eastern Gippsland, north of Shepparton, in the Otways, and the Grampians.

Around 9,000 trees are illegally removed from Victorian forests and national parks each year.

Much of that timber is sold as firewood to unsuspecting buyers.

Since July last year, Taskforce investigations into illegal firewood collection have led to 54 charges heard, with offenders facing court convictions, fines and the seizure of trailers and chainsaws.

Legal firewood is typically sourced from plantations, commercial suppliers or private land with appropriate permits.

Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith is encouraging Victorians to check their firewood has been legally sourced and report any suspicious activity.

“Saving money on cheap firewood is not worth contributing to the destruction of forests and wildlife habitat that should be protected for future generations,” Ms Smith said.

“If you do not know where your firewood has come from, you cannot be sure it has been sourced legally.

“People often think they are simply buying

cheap firewood, but in some cases, they may be unknowingly supporting environmental crime or even organised crime.

“It is important to buy firewood from legal sellers because it ensures that the wood has been sourced legally and sustainably.

“It protects Victoria’s forests and native wildlife and it supports responsible businesses doing the right thing.

“It helps stop illegal operators profiting from environmental damage.”

Victorians are being encouraged to buy from reputable suppliers, ask where the firewood was sourced and request a receipt with a business name and ABN.

Victorian Environment Minister Enver Erdogan said many Victorians may not realise the role they play when purchasing unverified firewood.

“Our forests are home to unique wildlife and ecosystems that have taken generations to grow.

Illegal firewood collection by criminal operators destroys these shared spaces, stripping landscapes of beauty and habitat and impacting the experience for all Victorians,” Mr Erdogan said.

Acting Chief Conservation Regulator Callie Donaldson said community information plays an important role in identifying and disrupting illegal activity.

“We’re targeting criminal networks that are cutting down commercial quantities of trees in our forests,” Ms Donaldson said.

“By reporting suspicious firewood activity and choosing legally sourced firewood, the community can help us stop the damage being caused by illegal firewood operators,” Ms Donaldson said.

“These criminals are driven by profit, at the direct expense of our forests and the wildlife that rely on them.”

Suspicious behaviour, including chainsaws operating in forests late at night, or sellers unable to verify where the wood was sourced, can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

Reports relating the illegal take or sale of firewood can be made at crimestoppersvic.com.au or 1800 333 000

Conservation regulators are investigating illegal activity in state forests.

Conservation regulators are investigating illegal activity in state forests.

Volunteers celebrated

Bayside Health has celebrated the volunteers who give their time and compassion to support patients, residents and communities across its regional sites, with three events held during National Volunteer Week.

Bayside Health is a public healthcare service looking after the metropolitan and regional communities, including Kooweerup and district, South Gippsland and Bass Coast, and is privileged to be supported by 270 volunteers across its regional areas. Their kindness is felt every day – from visiting patients in hospital and supporting aged care activities, to helping people find their way, gardening, and driving patients to medical appointments.

Auxiliary members generously raise funds for essential medical equipment, while other volun-

teers contribute through Community Advisory Panels locally and the broader Bayside Health Community Advisory Committee, helping shape how the health services meet local needs.

A lunch celebration for Bass Coast volunteers at Silverwater Resort, San Remo, acknowledged long-serving volunteers: Penny Manning (five years); Helen Andrews, Nancy Brain, Victoria Huber, Cynthia Walker, Deborah Anglim, Elizabeth Beer, Ann Philpott, Lorraine Seaward and Terrence Shannon (10 years); and Paula Rogers (20 years).

Kooweerup Hospital held a Volunteers Lunch at the Royal Hotel at Koo Wee Rup to celebrate and thank volunteers. Each volunteer received a plant along with a special thank you card made from

recycled seed paper that can be planted at home. Volunteers also enjoyed reading kind messages and positive reflections shared by residents and staff about the difference they make every day.

A Volunteer Appreciation Lunch at Korumburra Golf Club was enjoyed by volunteers who serve Korumburra Hospital and Leongatha Memorial Hospital. They were presented with certificates of appreciation and heard of volunteers’ achievements over the past year.

Bayside Health Regional Chief Executive Officer Louise Sparkes paid tribute to the volunteers.

“Together you help us to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of local people. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our patients, residents and communities,” she said.

Palliative Care

Join us for an information session to learn about how Palliative Care South East supports people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses to live their best possible life.

Learn how to access Palliative Care South East services, where to access support and practical ways you can get involved or support their work The session will highlight the importance of advance care planning, how and when referrals can be made and the vital role volunteers play

It is ideal for residents, community groups, health providers and partners wanting to better understand community-based palliative care and how it can make a meaningful difference at end of life.

Wednesday 24 June, 2 – 3pm

Outlook Community Centre

24 Toomuc Valley Road, Pakenham

Bookings: Contact Outlook on 1300 617 649 (select option 2), email communitycentre@outlookaust.org.au or visit www.outlookaust.org.au

SEMMA launches new group

By Carmela Mendoza

South-East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has launched a new food manufacturers group with founding partners Michaelona Flavours and Phase 9 NPD.

SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker says they are responding to industry demands.

“We have responded to industry calls for a dedicated Food Manufacturers Group to bring professionals and their organisations together to enhance and improve their professional development opportunities and business growth through a dedicated network.”

Michaelona Flavours managing director Mike Weber said, “We knew SEMMA was the right group to take this forward.

“The opportunities for growth in the region are substantial, and the industry needs a dedicated network to continue growth.”

Following other industry groups, SEMMA and Michaelona Flavours, along with Phase 9 NPD, will present professional development opportunities, industry updates and networking opportunities on a continuous basis.

“There are dozens of food manufacturers in the south east, and like most manufacturing, they operate under the radar and just get on

with delivering their delicious local products rain, hail or shine,” said Ms Walker.

“Food manufacturers are an essential service with so many organisations dependent on daily delivery – think hospitals, aged care and of course – supermarkets.

‘The technology to bring our daily necessities to our tables is exciting and we want to support those people and their businesses to continue to grow.”

Volunteers from Kooweerup Hospital caught up at their special lunch. From left, Joy Kay, Joyce Mills, Sue Morgan, Susan Potter, Helen Owen, Rosemary Glyn, Doreen Green and Beryl Maddern.

Kooweerup Hospital’s Manager - Volunteers and Leisure and Lifestyle, Jenny Bayliss, left, was given flowers by Kooweerup Hospital General Manager Aileen Thoms in recognition of her work.

Kooweerup Hospital volunteers chatting at the lunch were, from left, Geoff and Olive Stokes, Learne Eickert, Jane Coupe, Liz Landry, Peter Talty, Chris Bonsall and Gwen Murray. (Supplied)

Rebecca Deighton of Soteria Safety Group, Steve Perera of Phase 9 NPD, Suzanne Marambio of Phase 9 NPD and Honi Walker of SEMMA.

Michaelona CEO Mike Weber and SEMMA CEO Honi Walker launch the food manufacturers group.

You can shape young lives.

Working in early childhood education can shape the lives of young Victorians. And with scholarships and study support, it could shape your life too.

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Creating meaningful community connections

Health benefits of socialising as we age

People in retirement typically think about eating right, exercising and getting enough rest. But there’s something more powerful – staying social. Whether it’s catching up over a cuppa, joining a walking group or chatting to neighbours – staying socially active can benefit your health. At Centennial Living, we?see the benefits of social interaction?every day in our retirement villages. From improving mood to memory, social skills only get better with age.

HERE ARE SOME BENEFITS OF SOCIALISING AS WE AGE

Keeps your brain sharp

Spending time with others—whether through a chat, a game, or a shared hobby—gives your brain a workout. It helps with memory, focus and even problem-solving. Regular social interaction has been linked to a lower risk of dementia, making it one of the best brain boosters around. That’s why our village life programs are full of social activities designed to keep your mind active and engaged.?

Encourages physical activity

Socialising often gets you moving, whether you’re heading out for a group walk, dancing at an event or gardening with neighbours. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep active without even thinking about it. Our villages offer regular activities, such as gentle exercise classes and social outings, to help you stay active and engaged.

Helps you manage stress

Having someone to talk to can help ease worries and take the edge off stressful situations. Add

in some simple relaxation habits like breathing exercises, and you’ve got a great formula for feeling calm and in control.

Supports healthy habits

Surrounding yourself with people who care about their health often encourages you to do the same. Whether it’s eating better, drinking more water, or getting outside for fresh air, your social circle can be a big motivator.

In retirement villages, many residents say they feel more motivated to stay healthy thanks to

their community’s support.

Encourages lifelong learning

Joining a group or club is a great way to keep learning. Whether it’s trying a new hobby or taking a class, learning together makes it more enjoyable —a nd easier to stick with.

At Centennial Living, our village life calendar is full of opportunities to try something new, meet others, and keep growing.

At Centennial Living, we believe life is better

when shared. That’s why our retirement villages are designed to make connecting with others easy and enjoyable.

Whether you’re looking to enjoy the social health benefits of group fitness, community gardening, trivia nights or art classes, you’ll find a warm welcome at our retirement village communities.

If you’d like to learn more about living in a retirement village, visit www.centennialliving. com.au or call 1300 098 000 to speak to one of our lovely team members!

Thousands of backpacks

By Violet Li

Backpacks 4 VIC Kids has raised almost $100,000 through its third Annual Giving Day appeal.

As of Tuesday 9 June, the Cranbourne Westbased charity raised $99,636, and it has a $200,000 target this year to support vulnerable babies, children and young people across Victoria.

Founder and CEO Sally Beard shared that the charity had already raised $32,825 more than last year.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed by this community coming together to support our programs and so very grateful,” she said.

Ms Beard thanked the Phil Taylor Foundation ($30,000), APT Travel Group’s OneTomorrow Foundation ($10,000), which pledged to match the donation.

On the day, Ms Beard told supporters at the Giving Day event that demand for its crisis packs and material aid continued to grow, while costs were also rising sharply.

“That ($200,000 fundraising goal) is about one quarter of what we need to reach for the coming year’s targets and to be able to respond to all requests,” she said.

Backpacks 4 VIC Kids provides crisis packs and gift packs to children and young people in out-ofhome care, emergency accommodation, domestic violence situations, homelessness and other crisis settings. Ms Beard said the charity had come a long way since she started filling backpacks from her home in 2014.

“When I started filling backpacks at my home in February 2014, I truly thought I’d be packing around five or six of these a month,” she said.

“In the first year of delivery, with help from family and friends, we delivered 732 filled backpacks, wheelie suitcases and sports bags.”

Sincethen,theorganisationhasdeliveredmore than 72,000 packs, along with 35,000 additional items such as portacots, car restraints and nappies.

Ms Beard said the total retail value of the items delivered to date was $15.5 million, with about 80

per cent donated, mostly by families and individuals in the community.

However, she said keeping up with demand was becoming increasingly difficult.

“The cost of doing exactly the same thing as we’ve done this year has risen by about 16 per cent,” she said.

“And then because we want to do more, help more kids feel better, we need to raise that expenditure target even more.”

Ms Beard said the charity had also seen a change in the ages and clothing sizes being requested, with a growing number of teenagers needing support.

She said girls’ size 14 packs had increased by 46.7 per cent this year, while boys’ size 14 packs had increased by 29 per cent.

A recent conversation with an out-of-home care provider had also indicated more teenagers were entering care for the first time, compared

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK

with the usual higher number of toddlers and five to 10-year-olds.

“We can’t say for certain what is causing this, but we can say yes to all the requests to support these young people with both our My Essentials packs and our Youth Outreach packs,” Ms Beard said.

She also raised concerns about the financial pressure on foster and kinship carers.

“Payments are insufficient to cover not just the cost of the child but also the loss in income potential of the carers,” she said.

“Kinship carers are officially living below the poverty line in order to provide a safe home for their kin.”

Ms Beard said the charity was looking at new ways to meet rising need, including developing a hub-and-spoke model with five mini depots around Victoria.

The refurbished shipping containers would

provide more accessible material aid, not only from Backpacks 4 VIC Kids but also from other charities in local areas.

Support for men ready to face the pain and change

An Australian online service is giving men more than one way to do the hard work of changing how they think, feel, and behave — and meeting them where they are.

For many men, the hardest part isn’t the anger, the silence, or the regret. It’s admitting that something needs to change at all. This Men’s Health Week, one Australian practitioner is highlighting a group that often gets overlooked: men who genuinely want to change but can’t find support that fits their lives, or that goes deep enough to last.

That practitioner is David Nugent, who runs Heavy M.E.T.A.L (Men’s Education Towards Anger and Life). With years of experience in men’s behaviour change work, Nugent built the service around a simple belief: real change takes more than a single short course, and men need a clear path to keep going once they’ve started. A gap worth closing Government-funded behaviour change programs play an important role. For many men, they’re a valuable first step that opens the door to honest self-reflection.

But Nugent argues that some men want more once that door opens. As a man begins to under-

stand himself, he can become hungry for deeper work — and there’s often little available to support him beyond that initial stage. Heavy M.E.T.A.L is designed to meet that ongoing need, not to replace what already exists.

One starting point, with room to grow Every man begins at the same place. There are no shortcuts or separate entry levels; everyone starts with the foundational work.

From there, the program can continue through deeper levels over time, following each man’s readiness and commitment. The structure is built for the man who finishes a standard program and realises he’s only scratched the surface — giving him somewhere to keep doing the work rather than leaving him without a next step.

Weekly or self-paced

A common barrier is simple logistics. Shift work, regional locations, and family commitments can all make regular attendance hard. So Heavy M.E.T.A.L offers two clear pathways:

· Weekly program: live sessions with structure, accountability, and the support of doing the work alongside others.

· Self-paced option: private and flexible, for men

who can’t commit to set times and prefer to work through the material at their own speed.

Both run online via Zoom, so men across Australia — including those in rural and remote areas — can take part without long travel or local waitlists.

Changing for the people who matter

Much of Nugent’s work centres on motivation. Many of the men who reach out aren’t only trying to manage their own behaviour — they want to be better fathers, partners, and family members.

That drive matters. Men who want to change for the people who depend on them often bring the commitment that deeper work requires. The tone throughout is compassionate but honest: facing the pain, fear, or shame behind certain be-

haviours isn’t easy, and the program offers a structured, respectful way to do it.

Why it matters this Men’s Health Week

Men’s Health Week is a reminder that emotional health is health. When men avoid dealing with anger, stress, or unresolved pain, the effects ripple outward to partners, children, and communities.

Services like Heavy M.E.T.A.L matter because they keep men engaged for as long as they’re willing to do the work. The message is clear: change is possible, and there is support for men willing to begin the work.

Men ready to take that first step can learn more about the weekly and self-paced programs at www.heavymetalgroup.com.au

David Nugent. (558616)

Sarah (centre) with Yvonne Simpson and Carolyn Such from Mt Eliza Rotary and their $1000 cheque, which they donated to Backpacks 4 VIC Kids.

Casey Cr Melinda Ambros, Cr Jennifer Dizon, Sally Beard and Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen.

Councillors Carolyn Eaves, Melinda Ambros, Jennifer Dizon and Stefan Koomen are packing a backpack.

Narelle, Sarah and Bronwyn.

Clyde rail inches closer

By Jensy Callimootoo

A motion has passed in the upper house to release all available documents related to the extension of the Cranbourne train line to Clyde, with support from Labor MPs.

Libertarian MP, David Limbrick moved the motion on Wednesday June 3, motioning for any prior documents between the state and commonwealth government to be tabled within eight weeks.

This includes information extending to all business cases and proposals, funding agreement, cost-benefit analysis, economic assessments and feasibility studies.

Limbrick said the proposed rail extension had been discussed for decades and argued that residents of Melbourne’s rapidly growing south-east deserved access to information underpinning decisions about the project.

“For nearly 30 years there has been discussion of extending the Cranbourne train line to Clyde,” he told Parliament.

“Deciding whether or not this is a project that should proceed is a discussion that would be better informed by seeing the actual work that has apparently been done to understand the costs, benefits and possible cost of the project.”

The motion is another endeavour to propel the developments of the Clyde rail extension. A service highly and long requested by Casey residents living in the growing outer corridors of the region.

The government did not oppose the documents request with South-Eastern Metro Labor MP, Michael Galea supporting the motion.

Galea highlighted the backing from his constituents for this rail extension project.

“At the outset I state that I am very pleased to be speaking in favour of this document’s motion and I very much look forward to the conversations that will ensue as a result,” Galea said.

He noted that the duplication of the Cranbourne line, completed in recent years, had been identified as a prerequisite for any future extension to Clyde.

Mr Galea highlighted recent investments in the region, including the Metro Tunnel project, level crossing removals and expanded bus ser-

vices, while acknowledging ongoing community interest in the rail extension.

But Limbrick told Star News that the recent metro tunnel developments are “no use to anybody” if locals have to use other forms of transport to utilise these services.

“Buses are better than nothing, but anyone

Australian businesses urged to seize AI opportunity

Artificial intelligence is already helping Australian businesses improve customer service, lift productivity and support workers, but leaders say success depends on building confidence in how the technology is used.

At CommBank’s Accelerate AI event in Sydney, CEOs and founders said AI was moving from experimentation to practical use, with benefits emerging across retail, technology and professional services.

Bunnings is one example. Earlier this year, the retailer launched Buddy, an AI shopping assistant that helped 25,000 customers with DIY projects in a single week. It has also rolled out an AI chatbot for 50,000 staff across 400 stores nationwide.

Chief customer officer Rachael McVitty said Bunnings had taken a simple approach to building trust: customers always know when they are interacting with AI, the tool uses verified information, and people can still speak to a team member when needed.

At Canva, co-founder Cliff Obrecht gave ChatGPT an unorthodox test shortly after it launched: plan a global camel delivery service, including logistics, routing and turnaround times.

The model produced a complete operational

plan, despite the abstract challenge Obrecht expected would break the technology. At that moment, he knew what needed doing.

“If we weren’t going to disrupt ourselves, we were going to be disrupted,” he said of Canva’s approach to implementing AI into its operations.

While speakers pointed to growing use of AI across Australia, some noted the technology remains in its infancy.

“If the ultimate measure is impact, we are less than one per cent of the way in,” Seek founder and technology investor Paul Bassat said.

But that doesn’t mean people should wait for the technology to mature before adopting it.

“If you don’t adopt AI, almost certainly you will lose market share. And ultimately, you will go out of business.”

Read the full story at CommBank Newsroom.

https://www.commbank.com.au/articles/newsroom/2026/05/australias-ai-moment-opportunity-in-front-of-us.html?utm_ term=External&utm_medium=Native&utm_ source=Star&utm_campaign=weekone&utm_ content=accelerate

who commutes knows that when buses replace trains, you are about to have a bad time,” he said.

The motion comes amid continued population growth in Clyde and Clyde North, among the fastest-growing communities in the City of Casey.

Local campaigners have long argued that public transport infrastructure has failed to keep pace with residential development in the area.

Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans and MP Renee Heath also backed the motion, noting the government’s failed promises to extend the rail link.

Attention will now turn to whether previously undisclosed business cases or feasibility studies are released when the response is due later this year.

“These particular documents are from a federal report supplied to the state government, so it should be pretty easy for them to hand them over,” said Limbrick.

SPONSORED CONTENT

CommBank Accelerate AI: Mel Silva, Vice President and Managing Director, Google ANZ; Dr Nicole Gillespie, Chair of Trust and Professor of Management, University of Melbourne; Rachael McVitty, Chief Customer Officer, Bunnings; and Stephanie Crowe, Head Australian Cyber Security Centre

Canva CEO Cliff Obrecht at Accelerate AI 2026.

A motion to release documents related to the Clyde rail extension has been moved by David Limbrick MP. (On file)

Labor MP Michael Galea supported the motion.

OUR COMMUNITY

A proud family tradition

Our story begins in a small town in southern Italy, where our grandparents made the brave journey to Australia in search of a better life. Like so many families, they brought with them traditions, hard work, and a deep love for food.

In 1956, our family began working in primary produce — and that’s where the passion truly started. For years, we served locals with fresh fruit and veggies at Akoonah Park Market. But when we lost our beloved Dad (Nonno), everything shifted.

We dedicated a food truck in his honour, serving the coffee he loved and the home-cooked meals he used to share with us around the table. That little truck was just the beginning.

We finally found our home in Pakenham, where Mamma Maria’s Deli & Cafe was born. A place full of heart, stories, tradition — and of course, great food.

From hot coffee and panini to deli treats and take-home recipes, everything we make is a little piece of home. What we love most is the connection we share with our customers — from all walks of life. Many have become like family.

Fresh cannelloni Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Home cooked meals now available. Orders in Monday and Tuesday for end of week pick uplasagne, pasta bake (Italian style), meatballs, casseroles and arancini balls. Online ordering also available.

— From our family to yours, benvenuti a Mamma Maria’s.

Mamma Maria’s Deli and Cafe, 18-36 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham, Phone: 1300 208 844.

It’s time to power up

Power up your world with our extensive range of batteries.From Automotive,camping & caravans, home office,marine and leisure to power sports, we have the perfect battery for every need.

Battery Zone stores now offers Hybrid battery replacements, we offer both brand new and reconditioned batteries, our batteries come with market leading 3 years/200,000km warranty.

Battery Zone located at Shop 3/206 Princes Highway, Pakenham, phone 5940 1364.

Battery Zone located at Shop 3/206 Princes Highway, Pakenham.

Fresh Cannelloni

cooked meals

pick up. Lasagne,Pasta Bake (Italian style). Meatballs, Casseroles and Arancini Balls. Online ordering also

“The Friendy Team at Mamma Marias”. (487090)

Trusted and locally owned

Your trusted, locally-owned healthcare partner, Priceline Pharmacy Pakenham. We provide personalised prescription dispensing, expert medication advice, and professional health services. Located right in the heart of the community, we are dedicated to making health care accessible, affordable, and tailored to your family’s needs every single day.

We offer a wide range of services to ensure you and your family stay healthy, including:

· Prompt Prescription Filling: Fast, accurate dispensing and medication management.

· Expert Consultations: One-on-one advice about dosage, side effects, and drug interactions.

· Flu, RSV, Shingles and COVID vaccinations, along with whooping cough and some travel vaccinations

· Certificates for Leave

· UTI Consultations

· BIG BRAND VITAMINS: come in now to get your winter health on track with our Big Brand Vitamin sale.

A curated selection of everyday wellness and first-aid products.

Our pharmacy’s beauty services are designed to help you look and feel your best every day. Whether you need professional makeup applications, tailored skincare, or expert beauty advice, our highly trained advisors are always here to assist you. You can even book a skilled beauty advisor to apply a natural everyday glow or full-glam application for your next special event.

If you want to know more about our services or need help managing your prescriptions, drop in and let us know:

Priceline Pharmacy Pakenham, Shops 10-15, 55 John Street, Pakenham. Ph: 5941 1933.

Firsthand experience to guide your trip

Jessica Hernadi has been part of the travel industry for 28 years, beginning her journey at just 16 years old, spending Saturday mornings stamping brochures long before the days of online bookings and digital itineraries. From manually pricing airfares using thick fare manuals to creating seamless travel experiences today, Jessica has witnessed—and embraced—the incredible evolution of travel.

Having explored more than 30 countries, Jessica’s greatest travel passion is Africa, inspired by an unforgettable three-month journey across

the continent. More recently, she fell in love with Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast during a European adventure that reinforced her passion for creating memorable travel experiences.

Jessica specialises in both ocean and river cruising, with particular expertise in luxury ocean voyages aboard Cunard and European river cruises along iconic waterways such as the Danube. Her firsthand travel knowledge, attention to detail, and genuine enthusiasm help clients discover destinations beyond the guidebooks.

Your Winter Health Starts Here

Known for her bubbly personality and passion for travel, Jessica loves working with clients to design holidays that are tailored to their interests, creating unforgettable adventures and lifelong memories along the way!

Contact Helloworld Pakenham, 156 Main Street, Pakenham. Phone (03) 5940 0611 or email Pakenham@helloworld.com.au

Jessica Hernadi - Helloworld Pakenham. (558589)

In a world of online bookings and endless travel websites, nothing compares to the confidence of expert advice and personalised service.

At Helloworld Travel Pakenham, our experienced team is passionate about helping travellers create unforgettable holidays and seamless business travel solutions. With years of industry knowledge and trusted travel partnerships, we provide personalised service and support every step of the way — before, during and after your journey. Our team proudly speaks fluent Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, allowing us to assist a diverse range of travellers with comfort and confidence. Travel is more than simply reaching a destination — it’s about creating memories and experiences that matter. That’s why so many local travellers and businesses continue to trust Helloworld Travel Pakenham.

The team at Priceline Pharmacy Pakenham. (558606)

As communities continue to grow, so does the need for high-quality early childhood education that supports both children and families. The opening of Story House Early Learning Thewlis Road, Pakenham marks an exciting addition to the local area, offering families a welcoming new space where children can learn, grow and feel a strong sense of belonging.

Designed with children’s curiosity and development in mind, Story House Early Learning Thewlis Road will provide an inquiry-based

learning approach that encourages exploration, creativity, and confidence from an early age. Families today are looking for more than just childcare — they are seeking environments where children are nurtured, supported and inspired by experienced educators who genuinely care about each child’s individual journey.

The new service aims to create exactly that. With thoughtfully designed learning environments, a focus on meaningful relationships and a strong connection to the local community, Thew-

lis Road will offer children opportunities to build important social, emotional, and educational foundations in a safe and engaging setting.

What sets Story House Early Learning Thewlis Road apart is its commitment to creating a homeaway-from-home atmosphere for families. The service places a strong emphasis on collaboration between educators and parents, recognising that strong partnerships help children thrive. From play-based experiences to community engagement and personalised learning opportunities,

High-quality education

every aspect of the service has been designed to support children’s wellbeing and development.

As more local families seek flexible, highquality early learning options, the arrival of Story House Early Learning Thewlis Road, Pakenham is a welcome addition to the community. The team looks forward to welcoming families through the doors and supporting local children as they begin their learning journey.

www.shel.edu.au/service/coming-soon-story-house-early-learning-thewlis-road/

Story House Early Learning Thewlis Road, Pakenham is a welcome addition to the community.

The state of our State...

By Dr Jamel Kaur Singh and Dya Singh

As some of you know, I ran for Casey Council elections as part of the research component of my doctorate.

What began as an academic exercise quickly became something much deeper.

It gave me a genuine sense of what everyday Victorians are worried about and, more importantly, what they feel politicians are no longer listening to. To this day, people still stop me in shopping centres, community events and cafes wanting to talk politics.

Interestingly, during the council elections, most of the concerns people raised were not actually council issues at all. They were State Government issues.

Crime. Housing. Health. Education. Cost of living. And truth be told… people are worried. Not just financially. Emotionally and socially too.

Victoria’s debt is now projected to push toward $200 billion in coming years. Put simply, that is roughly the equivalent of close to a million dollars an hour in interest and debt servicing.

Regardless of whether you are Labor, Liberal or somewhere in between, that should concern all of us. Especially when Victorians are already among the most heavily taxed in the country.

At the same time, our hospitals are overwhelmed, ambulance wait times remain under pressure, housing affordability is worsening and communities across Melbourne’s outer suburbs increasingly talk about feeling unsafe.

Crime statistics tell part of the story. Social media pages in local communities are now flooded daily with CCTV footage, break-ins and neighbourhood alerts.

But perhaps the bigger issue is not simply crime itself. It is the lack of accountability. It is the feeling of instability.

Because when people stop feeling safe - economically, socially or physically - fear begins shaping public behaviour and political decisions.

And fear changes democracies.

At the same time, Australia’s migration debate

has become far too simplistic and emotionally charged.

We keep lumping all migrants into one category as though they are all arriving under the same circumstances, with the same obligations and the same contributions. That is simply not true.

International students, skilled migrants, refugees and asylum seekers all enter under completely different frameworks.

Most skilled migrants and international students receive very little government support.

They pay taxes, contribute economically, often pay significantly higher education fees and help sustain critical sectors of the economy.

Many work in healthcare, engineering, IT, aged care, construction and hospitality - industries Australia desperately needs.

Yet Australia lost hundreds of thousands of residents overseas in recent years, including highly skilled professionals relocating to places like Dubai, Singapore and elsewhere across Asia where taxes are lower, housing is more affordable and social cohesion often feels stronger.

Why? Because talented people have options.

And if Australia becomes too expensive, too divided and too unstable, they leave.

That should concern us enormously.

Contrary to political slogans, migration itself is not the problem. Poor planning is.

Weak infrastructure planning. Weak housing policy. Weak integration policy. Weak long-term thinking.

Citizenship and English fluency, however, should always be prominent criteria.

Not just access to Australia - commitment to

Australia. Work hard. Pay taxes. Participate. Integrate. Belong.

That social contract matters deeply because successful multicultural societies only work when people feel they are contributing to something larger than themselves.

This is where politics becomes complicated. Many Victorians feel politically homeless.

They are frustrated with the Government and Victoria’s growing debt, exhausted by bureaucracy and worried about crime and infrastructure pressure. But they are equally uncomfortable with divisive grievance politics and simplistic blame narratives. And this is where parties like One Nation gain traction.

Truth be told… Pauline Hanson taps into real frustrations many Australians are genuinely feeling around housing, cost of living, migration and social cohesion.

Ignoring those concerns entirely would be intellectually dishonest.

But there is also an enormous difference between rhetoric and voting records. When you actually examine parliamentary voting behaviour, the contradictions become harder to ignore.

Despite presenting itself as the voice of “ordinary Australians,” One Nation has repeatedly voted against policies relating to housing affordability measures, workers’ protections and industrial reforms. Hanson opposed aspects of the Help to Buy housing scheme aimed at assisting first-home buyers.

One Nation has also voted against legislation relating to casual workers transitioning to permanency, industrial manslaughter protections and various workplace reforms designed to strengthen worker security.

Yet much of the public narrative suggests they are uniquely defending “working Australians”

That contradiction matters. Because politics today has become increasingly performative.

Strong sound bites. Viral social media clips. Outrage-driven headlines.

But far less public attention is paid to how politicians actually vote when legislation reaches

Real connection requires us to confront real bias

By Dalal Smiley, chief executive of Wellsprings for Women

Australians have just experienced and participated in a National Reconciliation Week.

Wellsprings for Women staff, its board and volunteers were involved in learning about our role in reconciliation guided by our Reconciliation Action Plan - Reflect.

The article “Are we teaching cultural safety… or cultural fear?” (published in Star News) on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient engagement argues that specialised cultural training fosters “social anxiety” and “fear of offence” among non-Indigenous health practitioners.

They advocate for replacing distinct First Nations cultural safety frameworks with universal emotional intelligence and communication skills.

The core argument of the article shifts the focus of healthcare delivery from the safety of vulnerable patients to the emotional comfort of the dominant workforce.

Through an anti-racist lens, this framing prioritises white fragility over clinical safety.

In a colonised healthcare system, the discomfort of learning about privilege is a necessary part of unlearning bias.

Equating the discomfort of the practitioner with the structural harms experienced by First Nations patients minimises ongoing racial trauma.

True reconciliation requires strong relationship-building based on trust.

Trust cannot be established if practitioners refuse to confront the power imbalances and racial biases that directly impact patient care.

The article suggests that specialised First Nations healthcare training should be replaced by generic, universal life skills.

This argument relies on a colourblind approach that erases the unique political, historical, and legal status of First Nations people.

Treating cultural safety as generic communication overlooks specific issues such as intergenerational trauma, stolen generations, and institutional distrust caused by colonisation.

Universalism assumes an equal playing

field, which directly undermines the concept of equity — providing specific resources and tailored care to meet specific needs.

The article argues that cultural safety training is an unnecessary barrier to human connection.

By advocating for a universalist approach, minimising documented institutional bias, and prioritising practitioner comfort, the article protects existing colonial structures.

Authentic reconciliation requires moving past universal “niceness” to actively dismantle institutional racism through specific, accountable, and self-determined First Nations cultural frameworks.

Effective healthcare requires recognising that intergenerational trauma, stemming from historical institutional control, profoundly im-

pacts current patient experiences and health outcomes.

A universal approach to communication is insufficient, as specialised training is necessary to prevent re-traumatisation and address the systemic distrust caused by historical injustices.

Owning our history as a nation, regardless of how long we have been in this country, means acknowledging past injustices and how they continue to impact on the present as evidenced in the disparity of health outcomes for First Nation people.

Reconciliation Week is an invitation to all of us to pause and think about what is still happening in this country at a community and institutional level that is hampering the equitable health outcomes for communities at risk of exclusion. And why?

parliament. And perhaps that is one of the biggest failures in modern democracy.

People are increasingly voting emotionally rather than structurally. The increase in independent candidates reflects this frustration too.

Many Australians are searching for alternatives outside the major parties.

We are now even seeing discussions about independent “teal” MPs potentially banding together more formally because isolated independents often struggle to influence systemic change alone.

That is the reality of parliamentary politics.

An independent can advocate strongly, but without broader party support, they often become negotiators rather than decision-makers.

Policy becomes transactional - “you support this, and we support that” . Real structural reform usually requires numbers, organisation and influence within government itself. Which is why many good people avoid politics altogether.

They do not want the scrutiny. The racism. The judgement. The toxicity. So instead, they sit at dinner tables and complain while poorer-quality leadership fills the vacuum.

And perhaps that is the real danger.

Dad often says healthy societies are built when ordinary people still feel responsibility toward the collective whole.

That idea feels increasingly rare today.

Modern politics has become deeply individualistic. My taxes. My mortgage. My grievance. My identity. My fear.

But democracy cannot survive long-term if everyone votes purely for self-preservation.

Strong societies require something larger. Shared responsibility. Shared values. Shared belonging. Not blind nationalism. Not identity politics. Not endless outrage.

Just competent leadership, honest conversations and a genuine commitment to building a safer, fairer and more cohesive Victoria for everyone. Because truth be told… the state of our State will not improve until politics becomes less about performance and more about stewardship.

Thanks bail justices

Congratulations and thanks to Wayne Smith and his unpaid job as a Bail Justice. It’s good to get an idea how the bail system works, considering all the negative reports.

Hard to believe that such an important job is unpaid.

A good interview by Afraa Kori. John Webb, Berwick

Bad drivers

More than 200 speeding drivers and 43 drug or drink drivers were nabbed in the South East during a police blitz on the King’s Birthday long weekend.

During Operation Regal, police officers detected 3311 speeding offences, 249 drink drivers and 144 drug drivers across Victoria.

The South East’s detection of 23 drug drivers, 20 drink drivers and 223 speeding drivers was roughly a tenth of the statewide totals. There were also 11 seatbelt offences and 25 drivers using mobile phones in the region.

Police recorded seven serious injury collisions during the 5-8 June operation, but no fatalities in the South East.

The crashes were caused by speeding, impaired drivers and disobeying traffic signals, according to police.

Elsewhere in Victoria, there were two fatal collisions – a 30-year-old female passenger in a collision at Stanhope and a 72-year-old male motorcyclist in a collision at Wangaratta South on Saturday 6 June.

A 17-year-old male motorcyclist was also killed in an off-road collision at Jeparit on Sunday afternoon.

Dr Dalal Smiley, CEO of Wellsprings for Women. (Stewart Chambers: 553490)

Big Freeze raises $60k

More than 1,500 people braved the cold and wet conditions on Wednesday night to support the Officer Football Club’s Big Freeze Night, helping raise more than $60,000 for FightMND and cementing the club’s place among Australia’s leading community fundraisers for 2026.

Co-hosted by the Officer Senior and Junior Football Clubs and made possible thanks to Event Partner Berwick Toyota, the event saw 40 community sliders take the plunge down a giant 22-metre slide into a pool filled with more than 600 kilograms of ice. In true Big Freeze fashion, the rain arrived just as the sliding began, adding an extra layer of challenge for participants.

The colourful lineup of sliders included past Rythdale-Officer Cardinia (ROC) legends, current AFLW St Kilda player Abby Hobson, Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen, coaches, volunteers and players from across the football and netball clubs. Participants embraced the fun by dressing as their favourite sporting stars, television and cartoon characters, with costumes ranging from The Grinch and SpongeBob SquarePants to Donald Trump, to Bailey Smith and Dustin Martin.

A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt address from FightMND CEO Matt Tilley, who spoke about the recent passing of FightMND cofounder and patron Neale Daniher and his lasting legacy. Tilley also won over the younger members of the crowd by jokingly giving all children wearing beanies permission to take the next day off school.

The event also featured special appearances from AFL stars Will Hayward from Carlton, Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey and Melbourne’s Changkuoth “CJ“ Jiath, who delighted fans by signing autographs and posing for photos throughout the evening.

With strong support from local businesses, a community raffle and donations to individual

sliders, fundraising efforts have exceeded expectations. The club has already raised more than $40,000 through donations, while sales of Big Freeze merchandise have surpassed $22,000, taking the total raised to more than $62,000.

“To see more than 1,500 people come together on a cold and rainy night to support FightMND was simply incredible. The enthusiasm of our sliders, volunteers, sponsors and supporters was overwhelming, and the atmosphere was very special,” Event Coordinator, Vicky Gwin, said.

“Neale Daniher inspired communities right across Australia to take action and make a difference. To see the local community embrace that

challenge so wholeheartedly and raise more than $62,000 is something everyone involved should be enormously proud of. This event belongs to the entire Officer community.“

The result places Officer Football Club third nationally on the FightMND Sports Club leaderboard and in the top ten overall among all Big Freeze fundraisers across Australia.

Lucky raffle winners also walked away with tickets to the annual Big Freeze King’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG, capping off a memorable night that showcased the generosity and spirit of the Officer community and surrounds.

Coming together to fight MND at Bayles Primary School

the spirit of the day, demonstrating the generosity, compassion and strong sense of community that Bayles is renowned for.

erously to this worthy cause.

their ongoing support.

by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Despite the wintry weather, students, staff, families and community members embraced

The event was filled with excitement, laughter and icy challenges, with students enthusiastically participating in a range of activities while families and local supporters contributed gen-

A special thank you to Southern Blue and the Bayles Fire Brigade CFA for helping make the day such a success. Southern Blue raised additional funds through the sale of popcorn and slushies, while the Bayles Fire Brigade added to the excitement with flashing lights, sirens and

The outstanding result of more than $7,500 raised through the sale of Fight MND beanies, sausages and community donations is a testament to the generosity of our school community and the many individuals who donated, volunteered and participated throughout the event.

Officer Football Club’s Big Freeze raised over $60k.

The Big Freeze was held on Wednesday 3 June.

FightMND CEO Matt Tilley. (Supplied: Mark Walker)

Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey meeting fans.

The Bayles Regional Primary School community came together in spectacular fashion for this year’s Fight MND Big Freeze event, raising vital funds and awareness in support of those affected

Dalton sliding down into the icy water.

Luke diving across the slip and slide. (Supplied)

Edie and Lacie watching on.

WHAT’S ON

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 non-auditioned 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

CHURCH

Pakenham Regional

Mission Area

“Our vision as a Christian community is to honour each individual’s experience of God, while sharing the love of Jesus

Sunday we welcomed Rev. Charles Sundaresan to the pulpit for our communion service. He told us the story of Jesus of Matthew who was called by Jesus. Matthew a tax collector so was not liked by the population was walking along and Jesus said to him “follow me” which he did.

necting them with local services, community groups, sporting clubs, and businesses that

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

Matthew was looked down on by the community because like today we do not like the tax man. Jesus however just saw a person. Jesus sees us differently than the world does. We are often defined by our job and the mistakes we make. Jesus sees who we are and who we can become. He simply said follow me. Matthew didn’t know he would become a disciple as we are all the same. We do not see the end just the destination. We can conquer our fears and come face to face with God. We need to be with God. In church we get healing and are together. Jesus came for

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 dynamic and friendly club. Activities include dine outs, outings, coffee mornings, walking 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

those who needed help. Today many have issues and Jesus meets people in difficult situations – he sees, listens and heals in a physical, emotional and spiritual sense. We need to be open to Jesus just as Matthew was.

· Homework Hub Each Tuesday 3.30-5.30pm

· Playgroup Wednesday mornings. 9.30am

· Elders gathering June 18th 1.30pm

· Church Council June 18th 3.00pm

· Friendship Group July 1st 1.30pm

for

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

U3A Casey

Did you know that U3A Casey now has 471 members and operates out of multiple venues across the Casey area?

It offers 65 different classes, ranging from exercise/movement/dance groups to literature, crafts, music, discussion groups and more.

• If you want to keep both your mind and body active after retirement, then visit u3acasey.org.au

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: Garry0409 785 400

· Sunday 14th June. Church AGM”

· Safe Church training 28th June at Cranbourne. Please ensure that the doors are locked when you leave the building and the heating/cooling and lights are off.

Please continue to contribute to the Lazarus Food Relief which is being run by the COPTIC church who are providing hampers for the community which they distribute each Saturday at 2.00pm. A box is in the foyer for donations. Psalm 8 V1 “O Lord our sovereign, how majestic your name in all the earth”

Pakenham Hall will be hosting the Cardinia Men’s Health Expo. (File)

Cardinia Men’s Health Expo

This free community event aims to support men in improving their health and wellbeing by con-

can provide information, support, and opportunities

engagement.

• The expo will be held on Friday, 19 June at the Pakenham Hall.

NEWS Ray’s coming to town

He may not be a firefighter, paramedic, or police officer, but Ray O’Leary certainly has an important role to play in society… putting a smile on your dial, after all laughter is the best medicine.

Ray was able to spare some time from his busy tour schedule to chat with reporter Nick Sinis (a big fan of Ray’s) about his upcoming show at Bunjil Place, as well as the ins and outs of being a comedian.

After almost a decade of being in the industry, Ray had quite an unlikely start.

“I used to work for New Zealand’s Department of Corrections. I had a day job and I was just very… I guess unfulfilled or frustrated,” he said.

“I didn’t enjoy waking up early in the morning to an alarm and going and doing this job. I did always harbour the dream to do it and eventually I got to try at some point and I signed up for an open mic and have been gigging nonstop since then.”

Ray described his journey as a ‘career like anything else’, starting out in open mics throughout Wellington and New Zealand.

Moving to Auckland would further solidify his rise, leading to an award and TV appearances.

But Australia would become home to much bigger opportunities.

“It’s a lot easier to tour around Australia, there’s just a lot more cities you can go to,” he said.

“I’ve also recently started to do more in the UK as well, I toured there earlier this year which was fun.”

As a nosey reporter, Ray was asked how he comes up with material and inspiration for his shows.

“I guess the answer is you sort of go around and live your life; someone will say something to you or you’ll see something and you get a spark of an idea,” he said.

“I like to work on a laptop and try write out as many thoughts on this idea you just had.

“A lot of it comes from real-world observations and situations, but then you have to hone it and go on stage and present it and see if they find it funny.”

Ray is also very meticulous about how he analyses his material, keeping it all in a spreadsheet and ‘rating’ how well each joke did.

“I record it and listen back. I keep the strong ones and cut the weak ones, so you sort of do a performance review and see which jokes are hitting the KPIs,” he said.

“A friend of mine once said it was good because I was trying to be as scientific as I could about art or I was taking as much of the art out as I could of doing an art.

“You do have to be a tough critic of yourself if you want to be a successful comedian.”

Ray is a familiar face on – Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, and Cheap Seats (which he also writes for).

He is looking forward to his upcoming show at Bunjil Place on June 26, which will be his third time performing at the venue.

Ray O’Leary will be performing at Bunjil Place in late June. (Supplied)

Council invests over $600K to upgrade playgrounds

Locals will be able to enjoy four additional upgraded local play spaces in the City of Casey following more than $600,000 of investment.

These upgrades form part of the council’s commitment to deliver 26 playground renewals across the region.

These playgrounds aim to deliver safer, greater accessibility and more engaging spaces for the community to play.

Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen said that these upgrades reflect the council’s promise of providing quality recreational areas for locals.

“By investing in our local playgrounds, we’re

creating spaces where children can play, explore and thrive while also providing welcoming spaces for families and the broader community to come together,” he said.

The four upgraded playgrounds include:

Barton Mews Playground in Berwick

$150,000 invested for landscape works, new swing sets, two rockwalls and a tube slide.

Terrace Reserve in Narre Warren South

$170,000 invested for new accessible play elements, a cubby house, a nature play feature and a junior and senior slide.

Central Parkway Playground in Cranbourne West

$165,000 invested for caterpillar slide, firepole and a multi-age challenge course.

Singleton Playground in Endeavour Hills

$150,000 invested for a climbing cube, spiral spinner and a freestanding pentatonic chime panel.

Upgrades to four playgrounds in Casey have been completed. (Supplied)

Panda Mart to plead guilty over unsafe products

By Violet Li Cranbourne’s

international discount retailer

Panda Mart has indicated it will plead guilty to 10 criminal charges over unsafe products allegedly offered for sale to consumers.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) confirmed the plea position after previously alleging Panda Mart Trading Pty Ltd, which operates the Cranbourne store, had offered multiple products that did not comply with mandatory safety and information standards.

The company was originally facing 147 charges.

CAV has advised that Panda Mart had indicated it would plead guilty to 10 charges in total.

Those include four of the initial charges and six “rolled up” charges, where the conduct behind the remaining 143 charges is reflected in six consolidated charges.

A CAV spokesperson said the regulator welcomed the guilty pleas but could not comment further while the matter remained before the courts.

“CAV will continue to take strong action wherever required to remove unsafe consumer products from sale and protect Victorians,” the spokesperson said.

The maximum penalty under the Australian Consumer Law at the time of the alleged offend-

ing was $50 million per breach for companies and $2.5 million for individuals.

The matter is still before the courts, with the next date at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court scheduled for 5 November 2026.

CAV Inspectors seized thousands of products

days after its first store in Cranbourne opened in late February last year, including toys and baby rattles containing button batteries that were inadequately secured or labelled.

The action escalated in December as CAV obtained an urgent injunction to close the retailer’s

Cranbourne and Preston stores for three days and charged Panda Mart with 147 criminal offences in January this year.

CAH has repeatedly warned shoppers who are looking for bargains at Panda about dangerous items being sold ever since its first store in Cranbourne opened in late February.

In a March 2026 media release, CAV stated that recent inspections had uncovered more unsafe products, including flammable candle holders that are banned in Australia because they can cause serious burns or fires.

Other items found included keychains with button batteries, which can kill or seriously injure a child if swallowed, and a range of portable pools and floatation devices that did not include mandatory warning labels, and these pose risks of drowning and brain injury if misused.

Energy Safe Victoria also charged Panda Mart in January this year with 130 electrical safety offences over allegedly unsafe electrical products, including lamps, power boards, adaptors, USB chargers and furniture with built-in power supplies.

The CAV case is separate from the prosecution brought by Energy Safe Victoria.

The next hearing between Panda Mart and Energy Safe Victoria is listed for 18 June 2026 at Frankston Magistrates’ Court.

Cranbourne’s international discount retailer Panda Mart has indicated it will plead guilty to 10 criminal charges in its court case against Consumer Affairs Victoria. (File)

Success for humble Howell

By Justin Schwarze

Local paratriathlete and Paralympian Jack Howell has enjoyed a strong career to date with incredible results...but one of his biggest achievements has come off the track.

Howell recently won the Young Athlete of the Year at the VicSport awards for his efforts during 2025.

Whilst he was in Japan competing and couldn’t be there on the night, Howell reflected humbly on the accomplishment.

“The previous award winners are a whole range of people but there’s the likes of Dylan Alcott and a few people of that stature as well,” he said.

“To be chucked into the hat amongst those sorts of names is pretty cool I would say.

“Additionally to that, as athletes we see medals and results as a good way to be recognised for our work, but an award like this just shows us that it’s not always about how well we do on the field of play.

“We can also impact the community in other ways and get recognised for it as well, it’s really great to get recognition.

“Every time you come across something that’s as special as this award you have to at least try and take a moment to try and reflect on what it actually means.”

His 2025 was about as dominant as it gets coming off his first Paralympic appearance in Paris in 2024.

Howell won two World Triathlon Para Series events in the year, one in Devonport and one in Italy.

He also collected a silver at a race in Japan, before rising to the moment at a home World Championships in Wollongong, securing a silver behind Chris Hammer, the 2024 Paris gold medallist.

These strong series of results ranked him as the number one athlete in his class, PTS5, by the time the year concluded.

Howell competes in this category due to being born with an absence of the hand and a shortening of the left arm, also known as symbrachydactyly.

But he wasn’t always competing in that classification, as it took a lengthy and frustrating process to even be able to compete.

“When I first put my name down and went to get internationally classified, I actually got NE which is not eligible,” Howell remembered.

“I had to wait two years through COVID and a lot of organisation to actually get classified again.

“Fortunately I did get through the process and now I’m racing internationally but from there, many para-athletes have gone through similar processes and we can’t control what that looks like.”

That, partnered with the low financial incentives in para-sport, forged a tricky path for Howell.

But now, the 22-year-old is one of the most respected athletes in his sport and a growing list of achievements is just the beginning.

And there’s been plenty of motivating factors for him to keep going.

“In my career I’ve spent a lot of time training with able-bodied triathletes so I really get a good understanding of what it takes, not only from their perspective but also from a para perspective,” he said.

“The triathlon community is what started the enjoyment and love for my sport.

“More recently, people like my coach Brendan (Sexton) are huge in my trajectory towards the bigger events.

“Him being an Olympic triathlete was crucial going into the Paris games and having his insight was pretty cool.”

Being named winner of the award brought some reflection upon Howell, and he looked back fondly on his journey so far.

There are many moments that he noted as defining in his career.

“The most prestigious among households is the Paralympics and making an Australian Paralympic team,” he reflected on his biggest achievement.

“Although at the race in Paris I was left just a bit short of a result I thought I was capable of doing, I still had an absolute ball and the experience was irreplaceable; my first Paralympics is something I’ll hold close to my heart.

“I was just happy enough that I got to spend

that time enjoying that process.

“Luckily for me, four weeks after the Paris race we had the World Championships and I managed to convert it into a second in Spain in 2024.

“That was a really good bounce back and it helped me mentally re-check in and realise that you’re allowed to have a bad race every now and then.

“It was good to prove to myself that I was capable of a good race.

“That really started the momentum for the past 18 months, which has been a few podiums, mostly on Australian soil, but then a few internationally.

“A major highlight of my career was at the World Championships last year in Australia, taking second place to the Paralympic champ of 2024.

“I was really happy with that and the cherry on top was I had lots of support and people came to watch from my extended family and friends that might not get to see me race at a world standard, so that was really amazing.”

With all of his success, there are two letters and two numbers stuck in his mind and at the forefront of his future thoughts as his next goal.

“The big one that stands forward is LA28,” Howell said.

“I’ve just got to stay hot-footed and keep rolling with the momentum that I’ve built and hopefully be able to produce a good result in LA.”

But for now, this award is some well-deserved recognition that hasn’t come in the form of a medal or ribbon.

It’s something that Howell noted as integral in reflecting on who he is as a person.

“Just being part of a group of awardees that has prior recognition and a lot of them have gone on to be very successful athletes or people in general, I’m extremely proud of that,” he reflected.

“I don’t think I spend enough time recognising maybe the impact that it’ll have or the person I could be, I think I’m caught up in the moment for good and bad reasons.

“I think I’d like to have a bit of humility and I don’t really change the way I am as a person and I think that’s worked over the years.

“To get recognition that I’m becoming a bit more of a mature athlete, I’d like to think that I’m a bit of a role model in the paratriathlete space, hopefully setting a really good example for everyone else.

“I pride myself in being a bit of a role model and showing people that

is

para-sport

cool.”

Berwick paratriathlete Jack Howell was named Young Athlete of the Year for 2025. (World Triathlon)

Howell finished second in the World Championships last year, behind Chris Hammer (middle) and in front of Martin Schulz (right). (World Triathlon)

Jack Howell in action in a test event at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. (Supplied)

Howell ended 2025 as the number one ranked athlete in the PTS5 classification. (World Triathlon)

Feedback works for Crows

By David Nagel

An old-fashioned ‘quarter-time’ spray from assistant-coach Tye Holland has ignited a spark in Longwarry with the Crows running rampant through the middle stages of their EDFL match against Bunyip on Saturday.

The Crows were largely outplayed in the opening term, but kicked a combined 11.5 to 0.4 in the second and third quarters to race away with a commanding 17.11(113) to 6.7(43) victory.

Bunyip caught the Crows napping, with Dean Smith kicking the opening major of the afternoon.

Longwarry responded with two goals of their own, including a set shot from superstar Jason Wells that pierced the big sticks perfectly from 40 metres out.

Smith soon gave the Bulldogs back the lead, and when livewire Kai Jones made the most of a difficult opportunity ‘off the ground’…the home side was up and about.

It could have better for Bunyip, with Jones missing an easy set shot from 20-metres out, directly in front, after being awarded a secondary shot at goal after an undisciplined act from the Crows’ defence.

Bunyip led 3.4 to 2.2 at quarter time; Holland and playing-coach Darren Granger were not impressed.

Holland began providing the feedback as Granger crouched in the background, making notes and adjustments on his whiteboard.

“If you don’t want to be out there; get off the ground and give someone else a go,” Holland began.

“That sort of effort is not good enough; you’ve got seven minutes to show me something or you’re off.”

We’ve deleted the expletives that gave Holland’s rev-up its true character…but hopefully you get the picture!

Granger then pointed and glared at this whiteboard, then back at his players, before looking at his whiteboard again.

“Not terrible, but not good enough…I want more,” Granger said with feeling, addressing a clearance count that added up to minus-one for the ladder leaders.

Granger then flipped his board around; with DISCIPLINE AND ACCOUNTABILITY the top two words on his list; that was being prepared as Holland delivered his tough appraisal.

“Discipline and accountability, we gave them a free shot at goal and thank God they missed; we need to clean that up,” Granger said with a furrowed brow.

“And we’re showing no accountability or respect; they’re running the length of the ground and no-one seems to care.

“Man up, one-on-one; let’s get our hands dirty

and get ourselves into the contest.”

Wells, the leading full-forward in the competition, left the field limping in the first quarter but did return after quarter time.

He ended with two goals for the game; partly through his movement being restricted via his ankle injury, but mainly through the fantastic defensive efforts of Bunyip gun Jack Blakey.

The Crows needed someone to stand up in the second term and, not for the first time; Jedd Serong was the man to deliver.

With their ears still bleeding, Longwarry kicked six goals to none in the second term to end the game as a contest.

Serong kicked the first of those, a long set shot, after Kane Oldham found him loose inside 50.

Brayden Chandler then nailed another a min-

ute later, giving the Crows back the lead; a lead they would never relinquish.

Riley Rundell then slammed home a set shot against one of his former clubs, before Serong made it 17 points the difference after kicking truly after taking a very strong grab.

Luke Clarkson then slotted another; the Crows taking a 29-point lead to the major interval.

We’re guessing the decibel levels were a lot lower than quarter time as the players gathered in the sheds.

The Crows then kicked 5.3 to 0.2 in the third stanza to take a 10-goal lead to the final break.

Longwarry threatened a 100-point thrashing, with the opening two goals of the last; before consecutive majors to Jack Grist, Jeb McLeod and Jones gave the huge home-crowd something to cheer about for the first time since

the opening term.

Serong ended the game with four goals for the winners, while two each to Clarkson, Rundell, Wells, Fintan Fox and Lachlan Willis proved the Crows are certainly no one-man band up forward.

Defenders Brandon Allen and Jack Muirhead were terrific for the Crows down back, while Clarkson and Willis dominated the big-man department.

Blakey was superb for the Bulldogs down back, while Brad Cavalot and emerging talents Clancy Cunningham and Ned Ashton stuck to their guns for four quarters.

Longwarry should continue its winning form with a home game against Nyora this week, while the fifth-placed Bulldogs face another tough contest on a visit to fourth-placed Buln Buln.

Back-to-back bags of 10 makes Mounsey talk of the town

By David Nagel

Neerim South youngster Kai Mounsey is emerging as a key player in the Cats quest for back-toback premierships after continuing his stunning run of form against Catani at Taplins Road on Saturday.

The 191cm key forward once again delivered a double-figure haul, kicking 10 goals in the Cats dominant 19.20(134) to 1.4(10) victory over the Blues; backing up his bag of 10 against Nyora last week.

And there could be huge numbers on the way for a third-consecutive week with the in-form Cats hosting bottom-placed Poowong on Saturday.

The talented 19-year-old left-footer played in last year’s senior flag for the Cats while also playing five games for Gippsland Power.

He booted 28 goals for Neerim South last year, with Mason McGarrity (112 goals) and Lachie Bambridge (57) doing the majority of damage throughout the season.

But with McGarrity and Bambridge both returning to Warragul Industrials in the off-season, the Cats required some serious rejigging of their forward line.

Mounsey had been well held in the opening seven rounds of the season, apart from a six-goal haul against Ellinbank in round five. But he has exploded over the last fortnight;

making it three 10-goal games in his career after doing it previously in 2023 in an Under-16 game against Longwarry.

Tyler Pratt, Ash Lockett, Kody Wilson, Lachlan French and Dean Stringer were also impressive for the Cats on the weekend, while Bailey George provided valuable assistance up forward with three goals.

After a competitive beginning, Catani’s season is rapidly sliding downhill.

The Blues have now suffered back-to-back losses of 162 and 124 points to Longwarry and Neerim South respectively.

Ryan Smith kicked the only goal for the Blues; eight minutes into the final term.

In other games in Ellinbank this week, Brayde Bosman, Danny Brewster and Blake Slater kicked five goals each in Trafalgar’s 21.10(136) to 1.2(8) thumping of Poowong.

The Bloods kicked 15 of their 21 goals to one end in the first and third quarters.

Charles Kilmartin kicked five and Zach McMillan four in Buln Buln’s 16.11(107) to 5.4(34) success over Yarragon, while Darcy Walls slotted six goals and Jackson Ventura four in Lang Lang’s 14.13(97) to 8.7(55) victory over NilmaDarnum.

Hard-nut Troy Dolan was terrific for the Tigers all day, while Josh Bradley kicked four goals for the Bombers who fought hard through the

middle stages of the match after a poor beginning to the contest.

And Nyora has made it two wins from its last three games with a 13-point triumph over Ellinbank.

The Saints trailed by a point at three-quarter time, but two final-term goals to Paul Delaroche and another to Travis Stewart gave the home side the advantage it was looking for.

Delaroche ended the day with four, while Liam Anderson, Rory Pattison and Cal McNiff were other key players in the 11.12(78) to 9.11(65) triumph.

• ELLINBANK

RESULTS R9: Poowong 1.2(8) def by Trafalgar 21.10(136), Bunyip 6.7(43) def by Longwarry 17.11(113), Catani 1.4(10) def by Neerim South 19.20(134), Yarragon 5.4(34) def by Buln Buln 16.11(107), Nyora 11.12(78) def Ellinbank 9.11(65), Nilma Darnum 8.7(55) def by Lang Lang 14.13(97).

LADDER: Longwarry 32, Trafalgar 32, Neerim South 28, Buln Buln 28, Bunyip 20, Lang Lang 16, Ellinbank 12, Catani 12, Yarragon 12, Nilma Darnum 8, Nyora 8, Poowong 8.

FIXTURE R10: Neerim South (3) v Poowong (12), Longwarry (1) v Nyora (11), Trafalgar (2) v Nilma Darnum (10), Lang Lang (6) v Catani (8), Ellinbank (7) v Yarragon (9), Buln Buln (4) v Bunyip (5).

Kai Mounsey made it back-to-back hauls of 10 goals against Catani on Saturday. (Stewart Chambers: 499242)

Jedd Serong led a second-quarter charge for Longwarry against Bunyip on Saturday. (Stewart Chambers: 557689)