News - Berwick Star News - 4th September 2025

Premier warmly welcomed

By Ethan Benedicto

The Bring Your Bills event in Hampton Park had a surprise visit from the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, following an early morning interruption by neo-nazi Thomas Sewell.

The event, run by Southeast Community Links (SECL), is known for supporting Casey’s multicultural communities, many of whom are grappling with financial stress.

Speaking to a crowd of SECL volunteers and residents, Allan said that the event is “incredibly powerful”.

Coverage pages 2, 6

IBAC lays charges

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Two people, including a former Casey councillor, have been charged from matters arising from the Operation Sandon corruption inquiry.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) announced it had charged the unnamed ex-councillor with five offences, including one count of receiving secret

commissions and two counts each of misconduct in public office and misuse of position.

A consultant in the “property development industry“ was charged with giving secret commissions.

Both of the accused are scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 25 September.

In July 2023, IBAC released its report on allegations of serious corrupt conduct in relation to

planning and property development decisions at City of Casey.

It followed a five-year investigation of property developers, Casey councillors and state MPs, which spanned 40 days of public hearings and seven private examinations.

The report was damning of several key players – with two councillors accused of accepting more than $1.15 million in payments and in-kind sup-

port for promoting a developer and his clients’ interests on council.

In the midst of the early public hearings, thenLocal Government Minister Adem Somyurek sacked Casey’s councillors and installed a panel of administrators to oversee the council in 2020.

Since several months ago, IBAC “temporarily“ removed the report from its website through an “abundance of caution“, it stated at the time.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan embraces a mother during the Bring Your Bills event in Hampton Park, just hours after neonazi Thomas Sewell interrupted her press conference in West Melbourne. (Stewart Chambers: 497373)

$200,000 in bills wiped

By Ethan Benedicto

The Bring Your Bills event on Tuesday, 2 September, was a resounding success, as just over $200,000 in debt was cleared on the day.

The event, which ran from 10am to 3pm at the Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park, had over 400 residents/clients in attendance, or roughly $2.5 million in debt that came through the centre’s doors.

Peter McNamara, Southeast Community Links (SECL) CEO, said that the event was a “testament” to the effects of open conversations and a safe space to speak about one’s financial struggles.

“It’s a reflection of our diverse community, the inclusive space, and we place-based solutions that were present.

“We had banks, energy companies, government services, and financial services, offering practical support for the community,” he said.

The event also had a surprise visit from the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, who spoke from one resident to another about their struggles, and the importance of community-centred events and their outreach capabilities.

Speaking to a crowd of SECL volunteers and residents, she said that the event is “incredibly powerful”.

“I thank the organisation not just for bringing this together, but for creating the space where people can get assistance in their community when they need it the most,” she said.

Also present during the event was the City of Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen, who, reflecting on seeing the number of people that were in the space, said that “it’s great to have all these services in one place”.

“We know people are doing it tough at the moment and sometimes, your bills get away from you; this is an opportunity to come and find a resolution.

“Whether it be a payment plan or hardship assistance, it’s great to have these support ser-

CITY OF CASEY

vices here to help our people doing it tough,” he said.

Touching on the premier’s visit, Koomen said that having her in the local community and listening to the issues first-hand is impactful.

“It’s great to have her here listening to the problems we’re confronting, and hopefully, she saw today that the cost of living is still top of mind for many people,” he said.

Other MPs were also present to accompany the premier during her visit, with Narre Warren

South MP Gary Maas, as well as Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, also listening in on residents’ concerns.

McNamara, on the event’s impact, said that the $200,000 of debt wiped on the day was symbolic.

“For example, we had someone who had a credit card charge of $1000 in excess, but was also experiencing family violence, so we had it wiped by the bank,” he said.

“We also had $1500 wiped by the ambulance

COMMUNITY NEWS

We have released a new draft Community Local Law, shaped by feedback from more than 1,000 residents.

The draft is now on public exhibition and open for community feedback until Thursday 18 September.

The proposed changes reflect community feedback and have been benchmarked against other councils to ensure they’re fair, consistent and in line with best practice.

Bookings required. Scan the QR code for more information and to register your spot. Have your

Visit Casey Conversations to view the draft and have your say.

Got old clothes not suitable for the op shop, linens, soft plastics, or unwanted electronics cluttering your home?

We are partnering with Textile Recyclers Group, Ewastec, and APR Plastics to make recycling them easy!

Book a spot at our drop-off recycling event on Saturday 22 November and we will take them off your hands for free.

services for a pensioner on the spot; so that outcome changes people’s lives, relieving the stress that they feel.”

Have your say on a number of consultations currently open on our community engagement platform, Casey Conversations. • Business Insights Survey • Wilson Botanic Park proposed overflow car park • Municipal Emergency

Peter, Julia and Maher from SECL at the entrance of the room, greeting residents who came in, but also provided support through information about their services. (Stewart Chambers: 497373_01)

Volunteer interpreters Kanmani and Usha played an integral role during the event, providing support for those who struggled with English as an added language. (Stewart Chambers: 497373_03

Leith from SECL, shows Premier Jacinta Allan data and information about the day’s events, alongside Peter McNamara (middle left) and Gary Maas MP (right) (Stewart Chambers: 497373_15)

Cat curfew in focus

By Ethan Benedicto

The City of Casey has set its sights on tackling the persistent issue of wandering cats, outlining a tougher stance in its new Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026–2029.

The draft plan, currently on public exhibition, recognises cat overpopulation and roaming behaviours as the municipality’s most pressing animal management challenge, linking them to environmental impacts, community complaints, and high euthanasia rates.

Council data shows more than 2,000 cats were impounded in 2024/25, with over 700 euthanised after being unclaimed or unsuitable for rehoming.

At the same time, nuisance complaints involving cats, ranging from trespassing to noise, rose to 519 reports.

“Overpopulation of cats remains a significant challenge,” the document stated.

“This issue arises due to inadequate desexing, irresponsible breeding, and a lack of public awareness about pet care and adoption.”

Casey currently enforces one of the strictest cat orders in the state with a 24-hour curfew requiring cats to be contained to their owners’ properties at all times.

The Plan doubles down on this, pledging new campaigns to educate owners about the curfew, cat confinement, and the impacts of roaming pets on neighbours and native wildlife.

The plan noted that cats at large continue to generate strong community concern, pointing to orders that completely prohibit cat ownership in sensitive states such as Botanic Ridge and Settlers Run, where the species poses a risk to threatened flora and fauna.

Council will also provide cat traps to residents dealing with repeat nuisance issues, issued only after thorough investigation by an authorised officer.

of confinement, for both pets and the community.

The plan also emphasises its reasoning, that roaming cats are not just a neighbourhood nuisance but an environmental threat, preying on birds and wildlife in Casey’s many parks and reserves.

Behind the nuisance problem lies a bigger issue, which is numbers.

Cat impoundments have nearly doubled in four years, and while adoption rates through the Lost Dogs’ Home and local rescues are rising, the document detailed that they are not enough to prevent high euthanasia rates.

To counter this, Casey will continue its partnership with the National Desexing Network, subsidising 50 per cent of the cost for eligible households.

The program includes free microchipping, further ensuring compliance with registration laws.

Council also plans to trial a registration initiative for semi-owned cats, those that residents feed but do not formally claim, encouraging people to take ownership and responsibility.

The plan stated that by addressing semiowned and feral populations, the council hopes to ease the strain on shelters and reduce euthanasia rates.

Alongside enforcement and subsidies, the draft plan emphasises education as its main tool.

Two charged after death

Two men have been charged over the death of a man in Dandenong in August.

Police raided three properties in Doveton, Blackburn South and Endeavour Hills, leading to the arrest of a 27-year-old Doveton man and a 34-year-old Blackburn South man.

Homicide Squad detectives charged the men with murder. They were set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 August. A 33-year-old Endeavour Hills woman was arrested, interviewed and released pending further enquiries.

Police say a man with several stab wounds was located on Princes Highway about 4.50am on 19 August .

Paramedics treated the 39-year-old Dandenong man however he died at the scene. Police say they will allege the parties involved were known to each other.

Body found

A fresh element of the draft plan is its support for DIY cat enclosures; here, Council proposes working with hardware stores to offer workshops and kits, helping residents build safe outdoor spaces where cats can roam without leaving their properties.

A new Responsible Pet Ownership Handbook is being developed, with specific guidance on cat health, behaviour, and legal responsibilities, on the overarching goals of responsible pet ownership, pet registration, training resources and local laws.

Financial incentives for cat owners to construct enclosures will also be explored in 2026, alongside stronger messaging on the benefits

Awareness campaigns will also target school communities, new housing estates, and online platforms, underscoring the message that responsible ownership extends beyond dogs.

The deceased body of a Narre Warren South manwasfoundinIvanhoeonTuesday,2September, after emergency services were called toapropertyonLindenAvenuearound6pm. Police located the body of the 27-year-old at the scene, where the cause of his death is undetermined but is being treated as suspicious. The investigation is currently ongoing under Homicide Squad detectives, with police urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submitanonlineconfidentialreportatwww. crimestoppersvic.com.au

Under the City of Casey’s proposed Domestic Animal Management Plan, the issue of wandering cats takes centre stage, with a tougher stance in the works. (Unsplash: Manja Vitolic)

Incinerators under scrutiny

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A State Parliament inquiry has been launched into waste-to-energy incinerators, with the support of Government MPs.

Meanwhile during a debate on the issue, Upper House MPs found common ground against a proposed waste transfer station in Hampton Park to feed a WTE plant in Maryvale.

The inquiry proposed by Legalise Cannabis Party will look at issues including the impact of waste-to-energy on residents and roads, as well as alternative technologies.

South East Metropolitan MP Rachel Payne noted the State Government was by far the most enthusiastic adopter of WTE in the country.

In Victoria, 11 licences have been issued so far, including a 100,000-tonne a year incinerator in Dandenong South.

“We are very pleased to see this Inquiry get up.

“Future generations should have confidence that the waste decisions we are making today are safe and won’t have devastating consequences on them and their future – we cannot roll the dice on our health and the environment.”

During the debate, Payne said “communities should not be made to live next to these facilities and deal with hundreds of trucks full of waste barrelling down their local roads at all hours of the day”.

“It is a falsehood to say that waste to energy is part of the circular economy when this process creates toxic waste.”

Decades-long contracts between WTE project operators and councils that locked in guaranteed minimum supplies of waste should be examined, she said.

“All this does is incentivize waste generation.

“How are we meant to trust that recycling and organic waste will not just be sent to be burnt at these waste-to-energy incinerations?”

Payne told Parliament about Hampton Park residents fighting against a waste transfer station to “package up rubbish from nine councils and

ship it off to a waste-to-energy plant in Maryvale”.

She said the proposed operator Veolia had already attracted complaints and litigation in its running of the adjoining Hampton Park landfill.

“It is no wonder that these communities have little trust that the operators of waste-to-energy facilities will not fall victim to mismanagement and fail to responsibly deal with toxic by-products.”

Payne said it was “telling” that Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen opposed WTE in their own electorates.

“If it is OK to truck in rubbish from all over Melbourne to Dandenong or Sunbury and burn it, it is OK to do so where they live and work.”

In support of the inquiry, Labor South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Michael Galea said he backed Environment Protection Authority’s recent rejection of the Hampton Park waste transfer station.

“That matter is still before VCAT, and we are all hoping for the very best outcome.

“What is certainly clear is that … the EPA has sent a very strong message about the health risks of this particular proposal.”

Galea described WTE as a “wicked problem”.

“It is not quite so simple as saying that we can just burn everything, but it is also not so simple as saying that we cannot do anything at all - because for too much waste, the alternative is landfill.

“Landfill contributes more (carbon dioxide) than waste to energy.

“The thing that troubles me as well … we are seeing that Victoria’s landfill systems are approaching capacity at a rate far quicker than had been forecast.”

Along with Coalition colleagues, Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans voted against the inquiry – but she also voiced health concerns about the Hampton Park proposal.

“We are not against the concept of turning waste into energy, because we think the idea and the concept of that is good.

“The location is incredibly key, and the reason for that is to do with health.

“Toxins are affecting millions and millions of people in residential areas, and it just simply cannot happen here in Hampton Park.

“You can literally see across (residents’) backyard where this facility is. It really is behind their fence – and it is seen as inappropriate, unfair and unacceptable.”

In response, Galea said he was disappointed Coalition MPs didn’t back the inquiry.

“I do think that if you are serious ... about taking a proper look at Hampton Park (and) waste to energy as a whole, you would support this inquiry.”

GreaterDandenong,CaseyandCardiniaShire councils have signed up with six other councils to offload 95 per cent of household waste to the waste-to-energy incinerator in Maryvale for the next 25 years.

It is in response to Hampton Park landfill, currently used by many South East councils, nearing the end of life.

The nearest alternative tips are further away across Melbourne.

South-East Metropolitan MPs Rachel Payne and Ann-Marie Hermans addressed a rally against a proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station to feed an waste-to-energy plant in Maryvale.

No conflict, says council

By Violet Li

Casey Council is denying community claims of a conflict of interest in its approval of a proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station.

Community groups have accused Casey Council of, prior to approving the station, being party to a waste-to-energy supply agreement that made the Hampton Park station a prerequisite to the deal.

However, Casey Council has stated that the planning assessment was conducted independently of the agreements.

City of Casey, along with eight neighbouring South East councils, formed a company South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP).

The alliance entered into contractual agreements with a consortium comprising Veolia, Masdar Tribe and Opal to deliver residual waste to an Energy from Waste facility to be developed by the consortium at Maryvale in Gippsland.

The agreement was signed around July-August 2024.

In mid-May 2025, Mick Cummins, the chair of SEMAWP and the former Bayside Council CEO, stated that an aspect of the agreements is to use a waste transfer facility at Hampton Park to collect and consolidate the waste for transportation to Maryvale.

“The consolidation of the waste for transportation is critical to the viability of the proposal,” the chair stated in a letter to Lynbrook Residents Association (LRA).

“SEMAWP has contracted to the consortium on the basis that the Hampton Park Transfer Station would ... gain a permit for operation.”

Star News has confirmed with Mr Cummins that the information he provided in this letter is accurate.

When asked if there is any alternative location for the proposed waste transfer station in the agreement, Mr Cummins did not respond.

Several months after the agreements were

signed, Casey Council approved a planning permit for the proposed waste transfer station in November, before the elected councillors returned to Bunjil Place.

This year, the newly elected councillor group have moved against the proposed facility. Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen has written letters to Ministers and the EPA, expressing community concerns.

Scott Watson, the president of LRA, said there are serious concerns about Casey Council’s role in SEMAWP and the timing of agreements linked to the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station.

“This agreement sets prerequisites for the

facility and was signed before Council formally approved the development. This raises the perception that the outcome was predetermined or prejudiced, rather than subject to a genuine, transparent planning process,” he said.

“For our community, that looks and feels like a conflict of interest.”

The concern was echoed by the vice president of Casey Residents & Ratepayers Association (CRRA) Anthony Tassone.

He said for residents, the sequence of the two events created a “reasonable perception of conflict, secrecy and raises questions about whether the planning process was truly independent and did not have a pre-determined outcome”.

City of Casey Director City Planning and Infrastructure James Collins said the planning process is independent of any contractual obligations Casey has to Veolia.

“There is not - and cannot be - a contractual requirement for the City of Casey to guarantee the issuing of a permit. The City of Casey assessed the Waste Transfer Station planning permit application in accordance with its obligations as the Responsible Authority,” he said.

“A permit was issued subject to conditions, including providing updated reports to address environmental considerations.

“In addition to a planning approval, Veolia also needs a development licence from the EPA, which is currently being reviewed by VCAT. This process is independent of the Council. Casey is not involved in the VCAT proceedings or liable for any outcomes from the EPA or VCAT decisions.”

Mr Collins also said SEMAWP procurement was led by the State Government through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, on behalf of nine participating councils.

“This process followed strict State Government guidelines, including independent oversight to ensure fairness, transparency, and confidentiality,” he said.

“No City of Casey Planning Officers were involved in the SEMAWP procurement.

“City of Casey officers involved in the SEMAWP procurement declared a potential interest and did not participate in the consideration of a planning permit for the proposed Hampton Park Transfer Station.”

Casey Council refused residents’ Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to access the briefing document given to the administrators at a closed council meeting in July last year to enter into an Advanced Waste procurement agreement with SEMAWP.

The matter has now been referred to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner for further consideration.

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Lynbrook Residents Association president Scott Watson was at a rally against the proposed Hampton Park waste transfer station in front of the Parliament House. (FILE)

Premier in Hampton Park

By Ethan Benedicto

The Bring Your Bills event in Hampton Park had a surprise visit from the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, following an early morning interruption by neo-nazi Thomas Sewell.

The event, run by Southeast Community Links (SECL), is known for supporting Casey’s multicultural communities, many of whom are grappling with financial stress.

Speaking to a crowd of SECL volunteers and residents, Allan said that the event is “incredibly powerful”.

“I thank the organisation (SECL) not just for bringing this together, but for creating the space where people can get assistance in their community when they need it the most,” she said.

Earlier that day, Allan was holding a press conference in Eades Park, West Melbourne, with treasurer Jaclyn Symes, when Sewell and an associate approached the group asking, “why don’t Australians have the right to protest?”. In the video covered by 9News, he can be

Marching backwards

On 31 August 2025, waves of rallies under the banner March for Australia swept through major cities.

From Melbourne to Hobart, from Canberra to Adelaide.

While they painted themselves as protests against “mass immigration,” reality told a different story.

Counter-protests flooded streets, carrying signs like “Go home, racists” and “Diversity is strength”.

No, the rallies weren’t about policy; they were about division - rooted in fear, not facts.

Australia’s true identity is migration. Consider these statistics:

■ 31.5 per cent of Australians were born overseasthe highest share since the 1890s

■ Nearly 48 per cent have at least one parent born overseas

■ More than 30 per cent of doctors and allied health staff are foreign-trained

■ 50.2 per cent of accountants and nearly double the rate of engineers are overseas-born

■ In agriculture, migrant labour is essential - without it, produce rots unattended and supermarkets suffer

The immigrant community is not a burden; they are the backbone of our economy, culture, and progress. So, what exactly was March for Australia marching for - fear, division, or a false narrative?

Politicians and media keep preaching “tolerance,” but tolerance isn’t the goal - it’s the bare minimum. Tolerance means putting up with each other. That’s not unity - that’s disconnection. What we need in Australia is harmony, coexistence, peace, and acceptance - not grudging tolerance.

Neo-Nazism is terrorism - not protest. We cannot sugarcoat this. When people show up dressed to intimidate others, against communities who have migrated to participate, contribute, and co-exist peacefully – it is not protest.

It is terrorism. Terrorism is the use of threats or violence to instil fear for a political or ideological cause. Racism dressed up in khakis and baseball caps is still hate. And Australia has no place for it.

12736473-JV50-24

observed being blocked by plainclothes police, before asking once more, “why do you want to ban us from protesting?”.

The premier left quickly and has since released a statement saying that she is “undeterred”, and has since labelled him and his associates “goons”.

“It comes as no surprise that Nazis oppose me and my government; I wear that with a badge of honour,” she said.

“But this isn’t about me, it’s about all the other people in the community who Nazis target, like multicultural people, LGBTQIA+ people, First Peoples and Jews.

“They’re the Victorians who are on my mind right now, and they’re the Victorians who our anti-hate laws will protect when they come into force later this month.”

During the Bring Your Bills event, which was held in the Arthur Wren Hall on Tuesday, 2 Sep-

The real route forward is Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Australia is changing, and so must we.

Division only increases prices, disrupts systems, and erodes trust. Education, empathy, and CQ offer unity. We should be:

■ Teaching what global migration looks like - not myth, but real numbers and realities

■ Promote CQ in schools, businesses, and media - where empathy, humility, and critical thinking are taught, not just diversity slogans

■ Build inclusive narratives - that acknowledge migration as core to Australian identity, not something to be fought against

■ Expose fear-based politics for what they are: cheap tricks that fracture our society

In Melbourne, when heartfelt Muslims and Jews met in four locations - church halls, art galleries, town halls - they modelled peace. They built bridges where banners fell. That is the vision of multicultural Australia - not marching with fear, but standing for connection. Let’s be clear:

■ Migration is not the problem - fear and ignorance are.

■ Activism without empathy is activism against ourselves.

■ CQ is not optional – it is essential. Let us become a nation of belonging, not just living side-by-side. Let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s lead with intelligence. Sala’am. Shalom. Peace be with you.

March for Australia is un-Australian

Forgive me for my naivety but the people we saw at the March for Australia rallies at the weekend are not the true representation of Australia and the Australian people whom I have interacted with over the years in so many various settings; from workplace, to University, to my place of worship, to going to the footy at the MCG or going shopping at my local shopping centres.

It was sad to see the way that the people conducted themselves at the “so-called March for Australia” at the weekend. I’m appalled by the misrepresentation of the Australian flag at these rallies. These groups may have legitimate concerns but they went about it in a very un-Australian way. Australia is an egalitarian nation and all Australians should stand for equality for all people. Other important values that define the Australian society are: “tolerance”, “fair go” and “compassion for those in need” including those in need of refuge.

The Australia that these people pretend to be representing is not the Australia I took an oath for when I became an Australian citizen more than 15 years ago. The Australian Pledge for Citizenship reads: “From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey”.

None of the actions at the protest at the weekend came anywhere closer to the above pledge. If these people care about this state, the organisers would have called off the protest, particularly in a week when our police community is in mourning and police resources stretched to the limit due to the ongoing manhunt in the North-East of the state. But sadly, they went ahead and not only that, there were grieve-triggering flags being waved at the protest, particularly the one belonging to the “sovereign citizens” which the alleged killer of two police officers, Dezi Freeman is reportedly part of. Also, there was a man holding a placard with an image of Dezi Freeman at the Adelaide march.

tember, Allan spoke to residents about their financial concerns, hearing from SECL’s CEO, Peter McNamara, on the importance of the event’s outreach efforts.

She added that she is aware of many families and people “doing it tough”, and the event is not just a “helping hand, but also giving people the confidence to get the support they need and to help their family”.

Coming just days after anti-immigration rallies in Melbourne where neo-nazi groups led by Sewell were present, the premier’s presence at a multicultural-focused event carried symbolic weight.

“As premier, I’ll always be out and about in public fighting for you, like I am today, I am not afraid,” she said.

“We know how these goons operate; they whip up fear to divide our society, and they will fail.”

Australia has a strong and successful multicultural story which is why so many people from around the world are choosing to come to Australia for whatever reasons. Having a responsible immigration policy is an important part of this successful multicultural story. The federal government has taken steps to manage immigration responsibly as well as putting in place measures, e.g. housing policy to alleviate pressure on local services and resources.

According to an article published on the ABC in March this year, figures show that “Australia’s net migration is actually receding at a rate of 100,000 people per year since peaking at 536,000 in 2022-23. That rate is enough for a swift return to pre-pandemic levels”.

It’s very important to note that we need people to come here because it is good for the Australian economy, whether they are coming to study (with education being one of Australia’s biggest exports – bringing in billions of dollars each year) or fill in vacant jobs in so many areas where there is workforce shortage, particularly in Aged Care, Health Care and some technical roles.

Political leaders, particularly, leaders of the parties at all levels of government need to publicly condemn such movements and their dangerous ideologies which are counter-productive to a society aspiring to be a role model for a socially cohesive society.

To every young Australian who is an immigrant or a child of an immigrant parent/s, you are Australian from the day you took an oath to become Australian citizen or the day you were born in this country.

No one should tell you otherwise.

Being an Australian is not measured by someone’s skin colour or how long someone’s family has been in Australia for.

But it is about living in accordance with the above-mentioned pledge and values.

Australia is better than this. Australian people are better than this. March for Australia groups do not represent who we really are.

Andrew Gai, Cranbourne

Premier Jacinta Allan, right, with South East Community Links’ operations coordinator Christina at a Bring Your Bills event on 2 September. (Stewart Chambers: 497373)

FOCUS ON … SENIORS

Len’s stellar performance

By Steve Williss

Saffron Grove’s Len O’Brien is making his community proud after a stellar performance at the 2025 Blind Bowls Championships in Mandurah, Western Australia. Len’s dedication and skill earned him two bronze medals at the national championships earlier this year, an impressive achievement for any athlete.

Len’s dedication to the sport of lawn bowls and his unwavering commitment to excellence have once again brought pride and inspiration to all who know him. Competing at a national level is no small feat, and Les rose to the occasion with courage and determination.

Len took home medals in both Singles and

Pairs events. He also managed to hold the current Commonwealth Champions to a draw in both the Singles and Pairs competitions. These remarkable results highlight his incredible skill and competitive spirit on the green.

The sport of blind lawn bowls requires immense mental resilience, strategic thinking, and trust. Len O’Brien embodies all these qualities, and his hard work has earned him well-deserved recognition.

On behalf of Saffron Grove and the entire Karidis Retirement Community, congratulations Len!

We’re so proud to have such a dedicated and accomplished sportsman among us, and we’ll be cheering you on in many more competitions to come.

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New First Nations resource

A suite of culturally safe resources is now available through LiveUp to support older First Nations peoples and their families, in staying strong and independent through the use of simple, everyday tools.

LiveUp is a national healthy ageing initiative powered by not-for-profit organisation iLA and funded by the Australian Government.

LiveUp does not provide or sell the products featured in the resources, but rather, is designed to offer guidance and support by making healthy ageing information free and accessible.

The Everyday Tools to Help Mob Guide introduces a range of low-risk, low-cost assistive products that can make daily life easier, like kettle tippers, furniture risers, easy grip gardening tools, and more. These tools help First Nations Elders, older people, and their families, to continue doing the things they love as they age.

The resources were created in partnership by LiveUp, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), an Elder working group, and First Nations creative agency, Little Rocket.

Theresourceswereofficiallylaunchedwith a community celebration at the new VAHS outdoor space in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

“These new resources are all about helping

First Nations peoples gain more choice and control as they age,” said ILA spokesperson Andrea Morris, iLA.

“They’re about making everyday life easier, while keeping First Nations Elders, older people, and their families strong, safe and connected to loved ones.”

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has developed two fact sheets: a new Aged Care Act for the Rights of Older People and Culturally Safe Care for Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. These fact sheets help explain the rights of older people accessing aged care services in residential care homes, in their own home or community.

Community members, health workers and families can now access the Everyday Tools to Help Mob Guide and resources for free online.

To explore and download the resources, including the guide, visit: www.liveup.org.au/ resources/first-nations-resources Elders, older people, and their families can also reach out to an Elder Care Support worker, their local Aboriginal CommunityControlled Organisation, or Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSOs) for trusted support. More information and resources to support quality, culturally appropriate, and safe aged care are available through the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Len O’Brien’s Medal-Winning Performance at National Blind Bowls Championship.

FOCUS ON … SENIORS

Free public transport during Seniors Festival

The much-anticipated Victorian Seniors Festival is just around the corner.

This state-wide event for older residents takes place every October across Victoria.

This year, the theme of the festival is “Connect, Create, Celebrate.” It invites older Victorians to come together, explore new interests, and celebrate their community.

To make the most of this vibrant festival, we encourage older residents to sign up for a Victorian Seniors Card. By becoming a cardholder, you can enjoy eight days of free public transport during the Seniors Festival from 5-12 October, making it easier to attend various events and connect with friends.

The Victorian Seniors Card program is completely free, with no application fees or charges, ensuring that everyone can participate without financial burden.

It is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and enjoy the many activities planned for the festival.

Don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate and connect. Sign up for your Victorian Seniors Card today, and stay tuned for more information about the Victorian Seniors Festival.

For more information about the Victorian Seniors Card program, including eligibility criteria and application details, phone 1300 797 210 or visit www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/seniors-card

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Discover how downsizing can unlock more freedom, more fun, and more time for you. Wednesday 10 September | 10.30am – 11.30am 10 Skylark Boulevard, Clyde North RSVP to 1300 50 55 60 or walk in on the day!

Comparison sparks rebuke

By Ethan Benedicto

Liberal South-eastern Metropolitan MP AnnMarie Hermans has compared former Premier Daniel Andrews to Joseph Stalin during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, 27 August.

This first began with Western Metropolitan MP Moria Deeming’s opposition to a statue of former Premier Daniel Andrews, questioning whether Andrews “earned“ the right to a statue. She spoke on Andrews’ political career, labelling it as a disaster, and also said that statues are often tools of ‘political dominance’, giving examples such as Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong and Saddam Hussein.

Deeming also likened the Nuremberg trials to what she alleged was Andrews’ ignorance of bodily autonomy.

Labor South-eastern Metropolitan MP Micahel Galea interjected, but it was not long before Hermans began her speech by saying that Andrews’ leadership was comparable to Joseph Stalin, a totalitarian leader of the former Soviet Union.

Hermans further added that Stalin’s rule over the USSR was one built on “fear, on violence and on absolute control“, and that tactics such as total state control, over all aspects of life, free press, and political opposition, were comparable to Andrews’ tenure, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

The petition that Hermans and Deeming referred to garnered almost 35,000 signatures against Andrews’ proposed statue, with 12,000 present in paper, and 20,000 in other platforms.

Hermans added that in the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, the additional powers granted to the then State Government, which she described as ones designed for “short-term emergencies“, were over-extended, saying that it was a “permanent blueprint“ for the “suspension of freedoms“.

Galea opposed Deeming’s comparisons, es-

pecially when Deeming revisited a 2013 car crash that involved Andrews’ family and a collision with then 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman, who was seriously injured and airlifted to the hospital.

Deeming alleged that the police response at the time was mishandled, where she included claims that no breath tests were conducted on either driver (Catherine Andrews and Ryan), and that the major crash investigation unit was not called.

Galea rebutted, saying that the “leader of the opposition’s representative“made “outrageous“ comments against VicPol officers, amidst the death of two officers in Porepunkah, but also that

Deeming’s reference to the Nuremberg trials was appalling.

Galea asked if Deeming was indeed serious about her comparisons, and that he was “gravely offended“, and while he did not care for the building of a statue, he wondered why Deeming had decided to “implement these bizarre tests“.

Hermans was also hit with a rebuttal by Eastern Victoria MP Tom McIntosh, who remarked that in three years of tenure, there were times when he could clearly remember that he was “deeply disturbed“ by things that were said, with Hermans’ comments among them.

McIntosh, with the aid of southern metropol-

itan MP John Berger, added that Stalin was the perpetrator and the cause of the murder of millions of people.

He also said that those in parliament should be “very thoughtful“ of the language being used, asking if the parliament wanted to go “down the path… where democracies are being destroyed“. The comparisons to totalitarian figures such as Stalin, Mao, Lenin and Hussein drew criticism from the sitting parliament, with opponents warning that equating Andrews’ premiership with regimes marked by violence and mass killings diminished the weight of historical atrocities.

‘Disrespectful and disgraceful’: MP hits out at comments

By Ethan Benedicto

South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Michael Galea has spoken out against a fellow minister who likened former Premier Daniel Andrews to dictator Joseph Stalin.

During the final sitting week of August, Ann-Marie Hermans spoke in opposition to the proposal of a statue to Andrews, with fellow Liberal MP Moira Deeming previously presenting a petition with nearly 35,000 signatures against said statue.

Galea said that hearing it all in person, and being said in parliament no less, was “shocking”.

“It was more than just disrespectful and disgraceful; it was dangerous. Our democracy is one of the most important things that we have.

“For anyone to be saying such outrageous things that undermine the dignity of the parliament, but also are deeply offensive to many, many people in the southeast community who carry the intergenerational trauma which Stalin perpetrated,” he said.

Understanding the sentiments of not wanting a statue of a former premier, he was asked by Star News if he thought that the Americanisation of political messaging had become more prominent in Australian politics, to which he agreed.

“It’s pandering to a dangerous element, it’s dangerous dog whistling,” he said.

“Even though Ms Hermans brought back some of her comments the next day, she still made equally outrageous comments to try and justify herself.

“She needs to actually give a full apology, not just to the Parliament, but to the community.”

Galea also criticised the state opposition leader, Brad Battin, for not condemning Hermans’ comments, reflecting that Australian politics, with its ministers, “takes its values seriously”, but not in that dimension.

“We are united by a common purpose more than not, but it’s divisive and hateful, rhetoric-driven politics that’s completely not based in reality, used to pander to a specific element, that is posing a very dangerous risk,” he said.

Ann-Marie Hermans MP has compared former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to Joseph Stalin in parliament, receiving criticism from other members. (On File)

Michael Galea MP has criticised Ann-Marie Hermans for her comments on comparing former Premier Daniel Andrews to Joseph Stalin. (On File)

Rallies spark backlash

By Ethan Benedicto

The anti-immigration rallies on 31 August have boiled over to the City of Casey, as a youth outreach event was cancelled a week prior, with fears of safety concerns.

Casey councillor Dave Perry posted on Instagram condemning the rallies over the weekend, labelling them misguided for blaming immigration as the cause for the current cost-of-living crisis and statewide housing constraints.

In its caption, he wrote that it is “important that we try to dispel any myths we see floating around”.

“Immigration is not the cause of high-cost housing and high-cost food at the supermarket,” he said.

Perry, speaking to Star News, said that “the problems we have at the moment are being blamed on the easiest targets, people are punching down and looking for someone or something to blame for all their woes”.

“If anything, if you want a society that’s completely Australian, then I guess we all have to go home, right?

“I think it’s really sad that people are looking for easy scapegoats; do we have unaffordable housing? Yes, but for some reason it’s being blamed on people coming to Australia for a fresh start,” he said.

On the broader conversations of immigration, a study by the Australian Government called ‘The relationship between immigration to Australia and the labour market outcomes of Australian workers’, done in 2016, found no evidence that immigration has harmed, over the decade since

2001, the aggregate labour market outcomes of those born in the country, as well as previous immigrants or natives.

A more recent study in 2023 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that migration has a positive impact on native employment across all skill levels, all the while wages remain unaffected.

Danyal Diallo, one of the organisers of the cancelled community outreach event in Cranbourne North, scheduled for Sunday, 31 August, said that the energy of the rally seemed “projected”.

“It seemed to be projecting rather than really thinking about the solution, which is very dangerous.

“Especially now with tech becoming more advanced, AI becoming more dominant, more information flooding our screens, but it’s just a matter of verifying the information that you see,” he said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) did note in their Statement on Monetary Policy in November 2024 that strong population growth, plus a constrained housing supply, have pushed up housing demand and prices; simply, migration adds renters, and the supply of homes determines the impact.

However, net overseas migration (NOM), according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, peaked in 2022-2023, during the post-border-reopening catch-up.

A Centre for Population analysis of the national, state and territory population publication from the ABS found that population growth has fallen from its peak of 2.5 per cent in the year to the September quarter of 2023, to 1.7 per cent in the year to the December quarter of 2024; this is a result driven by a decline in net overseas migration.

On the rallies, former Casey councillor Rex Flannery drew attention after posting a photo near anti-immigration protesters in Melbourne on Sunday.

The post, which also included an image of counter-protesters, was later taken down follow-

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ing mixed reactions online.

Flannery told Star News the photo was misunderstood, saying he had been in the city to meet friends and stopped only to capture the display of Australian flags.

“I wasn’t there for any protest whatsoever,” he said.

“Now we’ve got people calling me a Nazi, and no one even asked me why I was there.”

One Facebook user who commented on the post told Star News they did not believe his explanation, saying: “He asked people like us to support him when he was running for council 10 years ago, and now he’s there.”

Flannery rejected the criticism, adding that “people can beat it up however they like”, but he was not involved in the rally.

For Cr Perry, he understood the underlying sentiments of frustration, ones that were directed at the wrong party: immigrants.

He said that the ability and ease that the neo-Nazis had in terms of overtaking the rally was concerning, but it was also a display of how “the government hasn’t worked out how to communicate what is really happening”.

“At the moment, people are going for the smaller targets, which are the immigrants, something we can see play out in America at the moment.

“We don’t want to bring those kinds of politics into Australia, and I think it (extremist values) is still a fringe element, but it has the potential to grow.

“We do have systemic issues that we have within the current society at the moment, but it’s being blamed on the wrong party,” he said.

Thankyouforyourdedication,yourcompassion,and yourunwaveringbeliefineachchild’spotential.Thank youforthelaughter,thelearning,andthecountlesslittle momentsthatmakesuchabigdifference. Wetrulyarenothingwithoutoureducators. Today,wecelebrateyou— TheheartofFiRSTEarlyLearningandtheheroesshaping thenextgeneration.

Cr Dave Perry has criticised the anti-immigration rallies, saying that their blame is misplaced. (Supplied)

Stepping up for a cause

By Violet Li

Cranbourne radio host and producer Daz Smith will take on The Long Run this September, walking 72km to raise awareness and funds for men affected by prostate cancer.

The event, led by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), encourages Australians to cover at least 72km throughout Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a symbolic distance honouring the 72 men diagnosed with the disease each day.

Daz was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June this year after a routine blood test during a visit to his GP for a flu shot revealed a high PSA level.

Following a biopsy in late May, Daz’s specialist recommended active surveillance.

“At this stage, I’m on active surveillance for six months before my next PSA test. My specialist wanted to ensure quality of life while we monitor things closely,” he said.

“It’s been a bit of a battle. There are moments when I have that realisation that you have cancer, and I have some dark moments, but I’m a very positive person.

“I have very good support around me as well through my fiancee and my family, and my friends. They’ve just been so supportive.

“And, of course, the wonderful guys at PCFA have just been so supportive. Everybody has been so supportive, and that makes it easier to deal with it.”

Daz said the most important message that he wants to share now is for guys to start getting checks.

“I had and still have no symptoms whatsoever,” he said.

“On our radio show, we spoke to Anne Savage, the CEO of PCFA. She said something that completely resonated with me, that guys should be starting to get their blood levels checked at 40.

“Look, I would never have thought about prostate cancer at 40 years old. I wasn’t even thinking about it at 55.

“My message is, guys, go to your GP from forty

years on, and request some bloods. Get your PSA levels checked because you can catch it nice and early and get it get ahead of this nasty thing.”

After all this, Daz believed that you just have to listen to your body.

“Pay attention to anything that’s changing,” he said.

“If there’s nothing changing, go and be checked anyway, it’s not going to hurt a bit of blood, and it just might save your life.”

PCFA CEO Anne Savage encouraged the community to get on board.

“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. While survival rates are drastically improving, around 4,000 men are still dying from the disease each year,” she said.

Ms Savage said that taking part in The Long Run was a practical way for everyday Australians to help join the fight to save more lives.

“We’re on a mission to defeat this disease, but we can’t do it alone,” she said.

“Every Australian has the power to play a part in this fight, whether you raise funds or raise awareness about the disease this September, it all makes a difference.”

Daz said he is going to walk three or four kilometres every day in September over the span of 30 days.

“There might be some days when I feel a little bit off, and I don’t feel like going,” he said.

“But whatever happens, I’m getting the 72 kilometres done.

“I’ll probably try and spread out just so I’m finishing my last one on the last day.

“It’s just getting it done, and I just feel like there’ll be a massive sense of fulfilment and achievement by doing that.”

For more information about prostate cancer and to find a local support group, call 1800 22 00 99 or visit: prostate.org.au

Cranbourne radio host and producer Daz Smith will take on The Long Run this September, walking 72km to raise awareness and funds for men affected by the disease. (Supplied)

FOCUS ON … FURTHER EDUCATION

Put you first with Federation University

Choosing the right course preferences is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make – so why not put yourself first? At Federation University, everything we do is about supporting you, from your first steps into study through to launching your career. It’s your ticket to a future that’s already looking bright. With Federation, you don’t need to choose between staying close to home and experiencing everything uni life has to offer. Our campuses across Victoria give you the best of both worlds, staying connected to your community while chasing something new.

One of the biggest advantages Federation

offers is our Co-operative education model. This innovative approach lets you earn while you learn, with paid placements and internships that count towards your degree. You’ll graduate with realworld experience, industry connections, and the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve already “been there, done that.” Best of all, we back you every step of the way – preparing, placing, and supporting you throughout.

Still deciding on your path? Whether you’re passionate about helping others, solving problems, creating or collaborating, Federation has a course that can get you there. And if your ATAR

isn’t what you hoped, our pathway options open the door to your dream degree.

We also know student support makes all the difference. Our team genuinely cares about your success, guiding you through preferences, helping with course selection, and making sure you never feel lost in the crowd.

On top of that, our range of scholarships and government funding can make university more affordable than you think, easing day-to-day pressures so you can focus on what matters most – your future.

Find out more: federation.edu.au/preferences

Trips to the country

Spring into Queensland Country for a season of colour, flavour, and celebration. Rolling hills, blooming gardens, and vibrant landscapes set the stage for festivals, farmers’ markets, and outdoor adventures. Families and friends gather to enjoy fresh local produce, live music, artisan crafts, and unique cultural events across the region. Wildlife awakens, rivers sparkle, and country roads invite exploration. Whether it’s a hot air balloon ride over scenic valleys, a lively street parade, or a laid-back picnic in a blossoming park, spring in Queensland Country is pure joy.

Rotary Gourmet in Gundy, Goondiwindi Region

5 – 7 September

Set on the lawns of the Goondiwindi Cultural Centre beside the Macintyre River, Rotary Gourmet in Gundy is a springtime favourite. Enjoy local produce, fine wines, boutique beers, and live music in a relaxed country setting. Celebrity chef Clarissa Feildel will host cooking classes on Saturday and join Sunday’s main event, while Mondello the Magician keeps the little ones entertained. With great food, music, and warm hospitality, it’s a day not to be missed.

Laidley Spring Festival, Lockyer Valley

12 – 14 September

Eachyear,theLockyerValleyburstsintobloom fortheLaidleySpringFestival-athree-daycelebration of colour, creativity, and community spirit. Enjoy the much-loved Street Parade, Twilight Feast and Fest, Spring Garden Fair, Orchid Show, Quilt and Craft Expo, and Bee Happy Day. With more than 60 years of history, this vibrant festival captures the charm of spring in the country!

Miles Back to the Bush Festival, Western Downs 11 – 14 September

This festival is Miles from ordinary! Step back in time and celebrate country life with a vintage twist at the Miles Historical Village. This much-loved September festival is packed with bush fun. From the street parade, tractor pull, and markets, to quirky challenges like billy boiling and obstacle races. You will find live entertainment, hearty hospitality, and the charm of the Historical Village as its backdrop. It’s a weekend that captures the true spirit of the bush!

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba Region

12 September – 6 October

For 76 years, each spring, Toowoomba bursts into bloom with four spectacular weekends of flowers, flavours and entertainment. From award-winning parks and private garden tours to the iconic floral street parade, live music, and delicious foodie experiences, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is the perfect

way to celebrate the season in Queensland’s garden city.

Blackbutt Avocado Festival, South Burnett 13 September

Celebrate the cream of the crop at the Blackbutt Avocado Festival, a family-friendly event bursting with quirky fun, delicious food, and country charm. Enjoy avocado-themed games and activities, and sample local treats. With live music, homemade goodies, and a chance to explore historic Blackbutt, it’s a festive way to support local farmers and savour the best of country life.

Murphy’s Creek Chilli and Craft Carnival, Toowoomba Region 21 September

Spice up your spring with the Murphys Creek Chilli, Craft & Cake Carnival. Sample over

350 chilli sauces, local jerky, cakes, crafts, and international street food, all while enjoying live music and family-friendly fun. With quirky competitions, chilli challenges, and a festive country atmosphere, it’s a flavoursome day out supporting local producers and charities in the scenic Lockyer Valley.

CelticFest, Southern Downs and Granite Belt

3 – 5 October

Celebrate Scottish and Irish heritage in the heart of the Southern Downs at CelticFest in Warwick. Held over the King’s Birthday weekend in October, at the Warwick Showgrounds. The festival features Highland Games, pipe bands, Celtic markets, traditional food and drink, and even Highland cows. With live music, medieval encampments, and community-

Warwick Rodeo, Southern Downs and Granite Belt

20 – 26 October

Experience the thrill of Warwick’s iconic rodeo and campdraft, celebrating the skill and determination of riders since 1928. Watch bulls and horses fly out of the gate, admire the bond between rider and steed, and enjoy a week-long festival of country food, trades, live music, and local stories. With opportunities to meet rodeo stars, shop for authentic gear, and soak up true Aussie country spirit, it’s a high-energy event you wont want to miss!

run CelticFringe events across Warwick, it’s a weekend of culture, fun, and heritage not to be missed.

Waiting for the train -Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

Laidley Spring Fest Twilight Feast and Fest.Miles Back to the Bush Festival.

The Gathering are returning to Warwick for Celticfest.

Gourmet in Gundy.

Festval of flowers grand parade.

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Full-Board River Cruise

3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray Princess with all meals and sightseeing

Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse

Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat

Taste Riverland food and wine

Dragon-Fly flat-bottomed boat wildlife tour

Hotel Stays

3 nights four-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast

1 night four-star hotel stay in Kangaroo Island with breakfast, lunch and dinner

Fully Escorted Barossa Valley Tours

Full day Barossa Valley tour with lunch and wine tastings including:

Saltram wine estate, lunch and wine tasting at Lambert Estate, visit to Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, photo stop at Menglers Hill Lookout, vineyard tour & wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek visitor centre, stop at Beerenberg Farm, and free time in Hahndorf to explore the historic German settlement

Fully Escorted Kangaroo Island Tours

2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and Flinders Chase National Park

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Caring for women locally

This Women’s Health Week, the St Germain Health & Wellness Precinct in Clyde North highlights the importance of accessible, communitybased care tailored to women’s needs. With three complementary providers working side by side, the precinct offers a complete approach to women’s health — from prevention and screening to diagnosis and lifestyle support.

The St Germain Superclinic provides a wide range of general practice services, including cervical screening, pregnancy and fertility consultations, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and skin cancer checks. With ten consulting rooms, three treatment bays, a procedure room, and on-site pathology, the clinic ensures women can access timely, high-quality care in one location.

Supporting these services is Marina Radiology, which delivers diagnostic imaging central to women’s health. The clinic offers ultrasound for pregnancy and gynaecological assessments, alongside X-ray, CT, & OPG. Having these services locally makes it easier for women to stay on top of essential screenings and follow-up care.

Completing the picture is Anytime Fitness, where women can focus on preventative wellness through exercise. With 24/7 access and a supportive environment, the gym empowers women to improve cardiovascular health, build strength, and support mental wellbeing through regular physical activity.

Together, the precinct creates a holistic ecosystem that helps women prioritise their health at every stage of life. This Women’s Health Week is the perfect time to make that commitment. Women’s Health Week is the perfect time to make that commitment.

Maintaining a healthy life

Absolutely, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for women’s overall well-being.

Here are some general women’s health tips for a healthier life:

Balanced Diet: Consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Be mindful of portion sizes and avoid excessive sugar, saturated fats, and processed foods.

Regular Exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week, along with strength training exercises at least twice a week. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, improve mood, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain proper hydration. Water is essential for overall bodily functions.

Adequate Sleep: Prioritize quality sleep, aiming for 7-9 hours per night. Good sleep supports physical and mental health.

Stress Management: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness to cope with daily stressors effectively.

Regular Check-ups: Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider for preventive care, screenings, and vaccinations. This includes mammograms, Pap smears, blood pressure checks, and immunizations.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Limit Alcohol: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For most women, this means up to one drink per day.

Quit Smoking: If you smoke, seek assistance to quit. Smoking is a significant risk factor for various health issues, including lung cancer and heart disease.

Bone Health: Ensure an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to support strong bones. Weight-bearing exercises also help maintain bone density.

Heart Health: Monitor cholesterol levels,

blood pressure, and heart disease risk factors. Adopt heart-healthy habits like a low-sodium diet and regular exercise.

Breast Health: Perform regular breast selfexams and follow recommended mammogram guidelines. Report any breast changes or concerns promptly.

Pelvic Health: Undergo regular pelvic exams and screenings for conditions like cervical cancer, uterine fibroids, or ovarian cysts.

Mental Health: Prioritize your mental health by seeking support when needed. Mental health is essential for overall well-being.

Educate Yourself: Stay informed about women’s health issues, including menopause, sexual health, and gynecological conditions. Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions.

Preventive Care: Stay up-to-date with preventive care measures, such as regular dental check-ups and eye exams.

Safety: Be aware of safety measures, including seatbelt use, helmet use for activities like biking, and taking precautions to prevent accidents and injuries.

Remember that individual health needs can vary, so it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and recommendations based on your specific health history and circumstances.

Cannabis in conversation

By Rachel Payne, MP

Cannabis has been used recreationally for millennia. It was once viewed much like alcohol is today and was common in socialising. It was also used medicinally. Ancient Hindu, Chinese, Greek, Roman and Assyrian cultures believed Cannabis to have healing properties for conditions as varied as arthritis, depression, pain, and lack of appetite. Today, Medicinal Cannabis is legal in Australia and is increasingly seen as an option in the treatment for many conditions - including conditions like endometriosis and menopause, as well as those that affect women disproportionately such as chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia.

I think it’s time to put the misinformation aside and talk about both the science and the lived experience of women who use cannabis.

Cannabis wasn’t always illegal or taboo. In Western countries it was only criminalised nearly 100 years ago, and we traditionally associate it with young men. The reality is that older people and women consume cannabis. In fact, what is called the “gender cannabis gap” is changing. A recent University of Michigan study found that young women reported using cannabis more than men. The same study found the top reason women consume cannabis is for improving sleep quality and the second is for pain management.

The shame and stigma around cannabis use needs to end.

Cannabis laws in Australia vary from state to state and are outdated. They put cannabis consumers at risk – both in terms of coming into contact with illegal drug dealers and, of getting in trouble with the law. I use medicinal cannabis for managing pelvic pain and anxiety and I would much prefer to use it than other addictive

and stronger medications. I also prefer cannabis over a glass of wine to wind down!

The truth is women have been using cannabis for thousands of years and we’re finally getting back to a point where we can be honest about it. In early October, we are holding an evening women’s health forum, and I encourage you to contact our office to register your interest. To register for In Conversation: Exploring Women’s Health and Cannabis Forum: Email: rachel.payne.mp@parliament.vic.gov.au Ph: (03) 9651 8972. For more information about my work and advocacy see: https://rachelpayne.com.au/

Authorised by Rachel Payne MP, 384a Nepean Highway, Chelsea VIC 3196

Rachel Payne, MP

ADVERTORIAL

Spring in full bloom

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is putting on a spectacular show this spring, with wattles and orchids bursting into bloom.

“We have approximately 87 species of wattle growing at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and 92 species on display at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne,” Tim Sansom, executive director Living Collections and Environment at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, said.

“We have several must-see, unique and rare varieties, including Acacia leprosa ‘Scarlet Blaze’.”

This unusual cultivar was found in 1995 deep in the Black Range State Park.

Like virtually all species of wattle, Acacia leprosa usually flowers in yellow, so when bushwalkers stumbled upon a bright red specimen, they took cuttings and passed them on to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

There, botanists worked with the nursery team to conserve the spectacular cultivar by propagating new plants from the original cuttings.

As a result, Acacia leprosa ‘Scarlet Blaze’ was born.

To this day, all ‘Scarlet Blaze’ plants are clones that descend from the cuttings propagated at the Melbourne Gardens nursery.

There are approximately 1,100 known species of Acacia, but the vast majority occur naturally in Australia, with Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) officially proclaimed the national floral emblem in 1988.

For more than 25 million years, wattles have grown on the Australian continent. They have adapted to Australia’s extreme environments, and many species have evolved resistance to fire, salinity, drought, alkalinity and disease.

“This genus has evolved various shapes and

textures, sizes, bark and leaf forms due to the environments that they are adapted to. They can range from tall trees to small shrubs and are fascinating to explore,” Mr Sansom said.

Some highlights include: a unique red cultivar called Acacia leprosa ‘Scarlet Blaze’, Acacia denticulosa (Sandpaper Wattle), which is nicknamed the ‘twisties’ wattle due to its flowers’ resemblance to the snack, Acacia aphylla (Leafless Rock Wattle), a Western Australian species that evolved without leaves due to environmental selection pressures; and Acacia cultriformis (Knifeleaf Wattle), which has been grafted to look as though it is growing upside down.

The science team at Royal Botanic Gardens

Victoria was also part of the team that recently sequenced the genome of Acacia pycnantha

Waiting for action

By Violet Li

A Hampton Park resident says he has been left “beyond frustrated” after waiting nearly 18 months and making six calls to VicRoads for the overgrown grass on a median strip on a road to be cut.

The overgrown median strip is located between Warana Drive and Somerville Road in the suburb.

Local resident Dennis Luke first rang VicRoads in February 2024 to request more regularmowingofthemedianstripbetween Coral and Fordham Roads and Pound Road.

According to Dennis, what followed has been a series of half-done jobs and outright misinformation.

“After Christmas in February, I decided to ring VicRoads. I said that the grass hadn’t been mowed for quite a while between Coral Fordham and Pound Road. They said that it’ll get completed within the next couple of months,” he recalled.

“When it did get done, it was November.

“To their credit, VicRoads mowed the two long sections, between Warana Drive and Pound Road, and again between Somerville Road and Coral Fordham Drive. But the middle stretch, the small section between Warana Drive and Somerville Road, has been ignored ever since.

“Since then, I’ve made five phone calls to various VicRoads staff, all without results.”

To make matters worse, Dennis said Transport Victoria recently texted him claiming the strip between Coral Fordham and Pound Road was mowed in April this year, which is true, but again, the middle section was left untouched.

The resident said the lack of transparency around subcontractors added to his frustration.

“I haven’t been able to find out who the subcontractor is. VicRoads won’t tell me,” he said.

Dennis described his experience dealing with VicRoads as “frustrating”.

“Probably worse than frustrating. Have a look at synonyms and find a word that’s worse than frustrating,” he said.

“Another failure of the State Government.

“Local residents are just as frustrated. They’ve given up.

“Not only does the neglected strip look terrible, but the last time it was touched, the mowing tore straight through young trees, leaving a mangled mess.”

The persistent local also believed that for a growing community like Hampton Park, there should be more frequent mowing.

“They now say it’ll only be mowed ‘every couple of months’, meaning just two or three times a year,” Dennis said.

“For a growing community like Hampton Park, that’s unacceptable.”

(Golden Wattle), which will help support conservation of the rarer species in the genus.

This spring, the Cranbourne garden also unveils the Orchid Conservation Tour, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world’s largest endangered orchid rewilding effort.

Running from 2 to 18 September, the tour invites nature enthusiasts into the shadehouses of the RBGV Orchid Conservation Program, where Victoria’s precious native orchids, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth, are being carefully nurtured and reintroduced into the wild.

Orchids are among the state’s most enigmatic wildflowers, with over 400 native species gracing Victoria’s landscapes, but half are threatened with extinction in the wild.

When inquired, a Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) spokesperson said: “Our crews will inspect roadside areas across Hampton Park in the coming days, with mowing expected to ramp up across Victoria this month as part of our $976 million Better Roads Blitz.”

According to DTP, they work alongside councils and emergency services to plan their mowing and vegetation management programs. Their crews mow, slash, and spray around 45,000 kilometres of roadside grass and weeds each year, and they prioritise the work that will have the greatest impact on public safety and assess all public reports accordingly.

John Woodward, Technical Assistant, Orchid Conservation, in the Orchid Conservation shadehouse. (Stewart Chambers: 500091)

Acacia stictophylla (Dandenong Range cinnamon wattle). Grevillea petrophiloides subsp magnifica.

Acacia denticulosa (Sandpaper wattle).

Hampton Park Dennis Luke was standing in the overgrown median strip on Hallam Road. The photo was taken on 26 August. (Stewart Chambers: 498726)

NEWS Club fights shed lock-out

By Ethan Benedicto

Berwick Basketball Club has found itself at the centre of a dispute with Casey Council over its long-standing use of a storeroom at the Berwick Leisure Centre, after being told to vacate despite spending more than $30,000 on the room.

The club’s president, Matthew Loukas, said that they have effectively been evicted from the shed, despite assurances from the council that the move is linked to maintenance works rather than a termination of access.

“We’ve spent about $30,000, and they’re going to rip the whole thing out, and we’ve been booted and haven’t been told what’s going on after that,” Loukas said.

“We don’t know what maintenance they’re doing, but as far as we know, they’re planning to pull things down for it to look like what it was before we did anything.”

However, Akoonah Ward councillor Scott Dowling, on behalf of the council, said that the club “is not being evicted”.

“Recently, the council let Berwick College know that some maintenance work needed to be done at the Leisure Centre.

“This includes works on a storeroom that has been used by the club, and as part of the works, Berwick College asked the club to remove their belongings from the storeroom so work could go ahead,” he said.

At issue is a formal hire agreement between the club and Berwick College, which, as the primary tenant of the leisure centre, granted the club access to the shed and permission to undertake upgrades.

Under that arrangement, the basketball club spent around $30,000 fitting out the room, turning it into a club hub and storage space for members’ jerseys, sports equipment and more.

Loukas said the whole situation has been “hard for us” and that the club has “done nothing wrong”.

“It’s a storage space, that’s fine, just don’t touch what we’ve done; that’s not our money, that’s members’ money.

“Everything was in that room, and we’re a community club, you know? We understand the building is old, but it would be great to have somewhere to go that’s easy to access.

“We’re the biggest club in the Casey area, and that space was great for the club and its members,” he said.

While the school council had authority to hire out parts of the centre, the facility itself is owned by the City of Casey, which has intervened to car-

ry out works that will return the room to its prior condition.

Dowling added that the college has the responsibility to liaise with the club to “determine how access to the centre is managed”.

The council maintains that the club’s stadium access remains unaffected and that responsibility for liaising with the club rests with Berwick College as site manager.

Loukas, however, argued that the sudden removal and loss of its investment amounts to an eviction in practice, particularly as no written assurance has been provided that the space will be returned once works are complete.

Loukas said that the club had been “locked out” of the storeroom since June this year, and when the school told him to “get everything out”, it was all “verbal”.

“We had a meeting on 7 August, then I received an email on 19 August saying that everything had to be out of the room by the 22nd.

“They gave us the opportunity between the 7th and the 19th to get stuff out, but we couldn’t even do that because we didn’t have the key; so we only had it for three hours on Friday the 22nd, and then we had it all day on Sunday the 24th to remove everything,” Loukas said.

In the meantime, uniforms and merchandise worth tens of thousands of dollars have been shifted into private garages and temporary rooms, while volunteers have scrambled to keep the club’s operations running.

The shed had become more than just storage for the club’s members, Loukas said that it was used as a clubhouse, hosting major events, including presentation days that drew over a thousand attendees.

The hire agreement contract itself states that the school council may terminate the arrangement without cause, but must give reasonable notice and reimburse unavoidable direct costs.

The club contends that neither requirement

has been met, pointing to the short timeframe and the lack of compensation for the upgrades carried out in good faith.

Dowling added that he understood how “important it is for a club to have a dedicated space when they’re not on the court”.

“With that in mind, I’ve suggested three other venues where the club could both play and have access to a club room; unfortunately, none of those have met the club’s needs so far.

“I’m committed to supporting the club where I can, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding while the works are being carried out,” he said. For Loukas, though, he just wants to see some “common sense”.

“I want to have an actual discussion, and if there are things that need to be done to that room that we can do, to be able to get back into that space, let us know and we’ll do it,” he said. Berwick College was contacted for a comment, but Star News have not received a reply.

Prevention and intervention, crime discussions in Casey

By Ethan Benedicto

Youth crime was a close second among residents’ prime concerns during the Neighbourhood Crime Forum at Bunjil Place, with questions around safety and what police are doing about rising statistics.

Victoria Police officials acknowledged that while official stats show youth crime has trended down across the past five years, residents remain deeply concerned about repeat offending, aggravated burglaries, and car thefts that continue to hit local neighbourhoods.

Christian, the tasking and coordination manager for the local area, said that the graphical line is visibly going down, “but if you’re a person that’s been affected by these crimes, then you won’t care that it’s going down”.

“It’s well-documented that a small cohort of our community is committing a lot of our offences.

“That in turn, for us police, is giving us more work, and in addressing that, we’re trying to make sure that we can alleviate our frontline members so that these people are not going to be offending as often as they are,” he said.

He, alongside other officials throughout the night, stressed that much of the serious offending is done by a persistent cohort of repeat youth offenders, and that the same names are turning up time and time again in crimes such as aggravated burglaries, high-risk driving and theft.

“On a local level, we rely on the local police, we rely on our local community to feed in that

information,” he said.

“Traditionally, police would just arrest, but we can’t arrest our way out of this situation, so we’ve got to look more broadly, and this is how the community can help us.

“This is a community problem, so how do we engage the community to help us on that pathway?”

While intervention was important, Christian highlighted that prevention was also integral, adding that police will put these offenders “in front of the courts”, but the question of “how do we stop them from recommitting” remains.

“It’s a broader issue than just justice, it could be health issues, could be welfare issues, and it’s what our teams are looking into,” he said.

“How can we assist and support those offenders, their families and the community to find a solution so they don’t end up in the same cycle?”

Officers highlighted programs already in place to try to steer young people away from reoffending.

An example provided by the acting senior sergeant for the Proactive Policing Unit, Kylie White, is the current Blue Edge Program that partners with schools each term.

This involves partnering police with these schools through sports, breakfast, and open conversations designed to break down barriers.

“It’s breaking down barriers and giving opportunity for kids to discuss different issues that are important to them,” White said.

Another example that was provided was the

Embedded Youth Outreach Program, which runs on a daily basis from 3pm to 11pm, providing a “hot response” for young people caught offending, as well as working alongside youth advocates to assess needs and connect them with services.

“This is a joint, after-hours service aimed at reducing youth offending by engaging with a young person in real time, assessing their needs, and referring them to youth support services,” White said.

White added that work with culturally sensitive community groups is also important, noting that different cultures have had “bad experiences with police”, with officers keeping in contact for up to three months in terms of support.

“We want to minimise victimisation, as well as offending, and minimise harm; we have a wonderful community here and it takes a whole community effort to make change,” she said.

On the conversation of intervention and prevention, the gallery’s concerns on scope remained, with questions around the limited number of patrol cars in Casey at night, as well as the lack of mobile CCTV trailers in known hotspots being raised.

Police, in response, said that broader visibility was being supported by Operation Trinity’s additional resources, while negotiations with the council over CCTV funding were ongoing.

Star News, which attended the event, asked whether police were confident that operations such as Trinity and Alliance were dismantling the cycle of repeat offenders, and if prevention

played a role in the process.

Officers said that while it is “very hard to break the cycle”, the process is ongoing.

“We know who these kids are, the vast majority of them, and we work with them; we have tried a two-pronged approach.

“It’s quite technical how we’re scoring them, but once we’re provided with a list of offenders, we reach out to their families, and we work collaboratively with the justice system.

“Again, we can’t arrest our way out of this problem; no one ever asks what happens after they go to court.

“They go to Parkville, they’re in custody, what happens next? During that period, we’re doing work with their family, youth justice, child protection and their schools,” they said.

In light of this, bail laws also drew a heated discussion, where audiences asked why repeat offenders continued to be released back into the community.

Police then noted that bail is determined by magistrates, but also pointed to recent changes to Victoria’s Bail Act that prioritise community safety and tighten conditions for serious or repeat offenders.

Ultimately, police, as well as councillors and other present community leaders, agreed that tackling youth crime will require a comprehensive, whole-of-community approach, from reporting suspicious activity and securing property, to supporting young people and their families before the problem escalates.

Cr Scott Dowling has said that the club is not being evicted, and that maintenance works are required for the storeroom. (Supplied)

A photo taken by Matthew Loukas of the inside of the storeroom, with jerseys, tables, and other ornaments and equipment that needed to be removed. (Supplied)

St Agatha’s loves Book Week

St Agatha’s Primary School in Cranbourne celebrated Book Week with a week full of stories, creativity, and fun activities for students of all ages.

Students and staff dressed up as their favourite book characters, bringing beloved stories to life around the school.

Star News photographer GARY SISSONS captured beautiful moments on the day.

Weed work allows Casey’s coastal bush to breathe anew

By Violet Li

In one section of Warneet Natural Features Reserve, the bush is beginning to breathe again.

Just a few years ago, Sallow Wattle strangled the understorey, blocking out the sunlight and leaving little room for native plants to grow. After three years of weed management, that corner now tells a different story: orchids, acacia, and native grass plants are pushing through the soil, a glimpse of what restoration can achieve.

Showing the Star News the efforts of weed management, City of Casey senior Natural Resource Management officer Stuart Boardman explained that weeds like Sallow Wattle can take over the mid-story and start to really dominate areas.

“It actually grows up so thickly that it will shade out and compete with the native plants and indigenous plants on the ground,” he said.

“It can change the structure of the ecosystem. It can make it easier for things like foxes to prey on small marsupials.

“It just really changes the whole dynamic.”

Stuart went on to say that they had had funding for this site for the last three years.

“There’s been a lot of work in this reserve. We’ll keep working for the next two years as well with the new ones.”

Casey Peri-urban Weed Partnership Project now hopes to replicate on a larger scale.

With $144,000 in funding over two years from the State’s Peri-urban Weed Management Partnership Program, the City of Casey, Parks

Victoria, and local community groups are working together to restore biodiversity.

Council and Parks Victoria are contributing staff hours and pest control programs, ensuring the project tackles not only invasive weeds but also the broader threats posed by foxes and cats.

The work stretches across four connected reserves.

At Warneet, follow-up efforts will continue against Boneseed, Bridal Creeper and Cape Broom, while cat trapping helps protect wildlife.

Blind Bight Bushland Reserve is seeing infestations of Sallow Wattle and Bluebell Creeper tackled, supported by fox control.

Offshore, Quail Island faces one of the most ambitious tasks: 200 hectares of invasive growth to be cleared, protecting critical habitat for the Southern Brown Bandicoot. Chinaman Island will also see 16 hectares of weed control in its northern section, with more in year two.

During another site visit, Stuart took Star News to walk through a section of Blind Bight Bushland Reserve. All around, young Sallow Wattles were popping up, their yellow blooms bright against the tea-tree.

While attractive at first glance, the plants were spreading thickly, competing with native groundcover and altering the structure

of the bush.

“You can imagine in five to ten years, they’ll get up to four or five metres high, so they’ll just start taking over,” Stuart said.

On the ground, the work is slow and methodical, ringbarking, cutting and carefully removing plants without stripping the bush bare.

Measuring success goes beyond what’s seen on the ground. According to Stuart, contractors provide detailed reports, and before-and-after photographs are taken to document changes.

Aerial imagery is also used, with programs like Nearmap making it possible to track the spread, or retreat, of weeds across entire reserves.

“For example, in Warneet Natural Features Reserve, you can really see that last year and the year before, you had a lot of yellow flowers. And then with the new aerials, it’s kind of all gone,” Stuart said.

Stuart said a big part of the weed management project is community engagement.

“We’ve got a really active friends’ group in Warneet who help with our Warneet site, which is great,” he said.

“We’ll be trying to get as much interest as possible in getting new volunteers into our group.

“We’re also going to do some work with some other local agencies and organisations.

“Casey is going to try and organise some workshops to get people interested in weed management and pest animal control. That’s going to be part of the projects.”

Hannah Petrie (Parks Vic) and Stuart Boardman (Casey Council) were amongst some of the Sallow Wattle in the Blind Bight Bushland Reserve. (Gary Sissons: 495074)

Seeking the Westall truth

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A researcher is leading calls for a federal inquiry to finally shed light on Australia’s best-known UFO mystery, Westall 1966.

More than 200 students and teachers at Westall primary and secondary schools were said to have witnessed up to three unidentified flying objects in broad daylight on 6 April 1966.

Multiple witnesses describe fast-moving, shimmering, silver objects that flew over the schools and disappeared behind pine trees in The Grange Reserve.

Army, Air Force, Department of Supply and police officers swarmed the scene, with students and staff saying they were ordered to never speak of what they saw.

Nearly 60 years on, there remains no official account from the authorities.

Grant Lavac, a Melbourne researcher, has initiated a petition for an independent inquiry to “uncover the truth”.

“It continues to be a fascinating unsolved cold case that has people asking questions.

“As a researcher I feel for the witnesses - for those who were children on the day - and want to know what they saw in the skies and why they were told to shut up about it.”

In the decades since, the federal defence department has resisted FOI requests to release its file on Westall 1966.

Three years ago, Lavac interviewed ex-students for his documentary The Westall Witnesses, and was struck by how genuine they were and how vivid their descriptions.

“I certainly believe that what they saw was what they were telling me.

“Obviously memories fade, but nearly 60 years later they regather every year to keep alive their memories and recollections.

“It was incredibly compelling.”

Lavac says witnesses dismissed therories that the UFOs were everyday objects like weather balloons.

“They say it wasn’t a weather balloon or hot-

air balloon. It was like nothing that they’d seen before and moving in ways they couldn’t understand.”

Recently, an academic suggested they were high-tech, top-secret devices used to measure atmospheric radiation from Pacific nuclear tests.

Lavac hopes an inquiry could lead to the Department of Defence again handling reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).

The RAAF ceased reporting protocols for UAP in 1996.

“If it’s just something as prosaic as a balloon, then why not now give the witnesses the truth?

“If it’s not prosaic, then it’s a compelling reason for the RAAF to devote resources to investigate (UAPs) in our air space which could present a national flight risk or national security risk.”

At the time, Dandenong Journal was the only newspaper to cover the event, under headlines Flying Saucer Mystery: School Silent and What was it?

The coverage featured a student’s hand drawn sketch of a round object with “a hump on top and round things underneath”, as well as interviews with students and teacher Andrew Greenwood.

It remains one of the Journal’s most soughtafter stories, with requests from across the world to republish the 1966 report.

Academic and researcher Shane Ryan, who gathered more than 140 eyewitness accounts over the past two decades, has signed Lavac’s petition.

He says there is perhaps more interest than ever in what occurred that day, as well as in uncovering files at the National Archives of Australia or the relevant government departments.

“Given that most surviving witnesses involved in the incident are now in their 70s and older, it is time for a concerted effort to be made to bring the truth of the incident, whatever it was, out into the open.”

The petition can be accessed at aph.gov.au/epetitions/petition/EN7396

Stepping up for Schools Spectacular

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A cast of thousands of young singers, dancers, circus artists and musicians are set to mark the 30th anniversary of the Victorian State Schools Spectacular.

For the past seven months, 2500 performers from 200 government schools have been rehearsing the massive showcase.

This year’s theme On Air celebrating air with a repertoire of more than 40 musical works.

Performed by a 1100-strong mass choir, 1200 mass dance students and a 75-piece orchestra.

Among the excited performers are Hamsini from Lyndale Secondary College and Ozkar from Keysborough Secondary College.

Hamsini, of Doveton, is looking forward to expressing her talent as a principal dancer in her

second Spectacular.

Dancing since she was 3, she has performed ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and acrobatics – such as aerial ‘no hands’ cartwheels.

“We’ve put a lot of hard work into it, and I’m just excited to show it on stage.

“Last year’s performance was something I remember and cherish. I was really nervous, I’d never been in front of such a big crowd.

“But when I performed – it was the best moment of my life.”

Reuniting with her Spectacular friends, the upcoming highlight is a mass dance to the 1980s upbeat tune 99 Red Balloons as balloons hover above.

Meanwhile, Ozkar has felt the power of being part of a mass choir. Now in his fourth Spectacular, he has previously had stints in the choir and

the mass dance.

“Being the 30th anniversary, they’ve introduced a bunch of new elements. When it comes to the finale, all the cast goes together on stage.”

His personal highlight is performing Ulysses on the Wind – using lyrics by cast member Riley and original music from Kai Chen Lim.

As well as the strong friendships made along the way.

Then will come the rare opportunity for the choir to make a studio recording with Kai.

Inspired by artists such as Laufey, Ozcar hopes to be a soloist in the Spectacular in future.

“It’s an amazing experience. You get to go on the big stage and sing our hearts out.”

The Victorian State Schools Spectacular is at John Cain Arena on 13 September, 1pm and 6.30pm. Bookings: ticketek.com.au/spectacular

WIN TICKETS WIN TICKETS

We’re giving away 2 x family passes (4 tickets each) to the 2.30pm show on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025.

Join ARIA award-winning children’s entertainer Emma Memma for a joyful afternoon of dance, music, sign language and fun – celebrating movement, creativity and friendship!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this magical experience! Emma Memma’s Dance Island Party at The Drum

Theatre in Dandenong!

Keysborough student Ozkar is part of the mass choirs at the Schools Spectacular.

(Nadia Tornese)

Coverage by the Journal of the Westall UFO mystery 1966.

Researcher Grant Lavac, who is petitioning for an independent inquiry into the 1966 Westall UFO mystery. (Supplied)

Researcher Shane Ryan at the flying-saucer playground at The Grange in 2013. (Rob Carew: 111571)

Berwick Bridge Club

Berwick Bridge Club is looking for new members.

There are two free beginner’s courses.

One starting Friday morning 5 September from 10am to 12pm and the second one on Monday night starting 8 September from 7 to 9pm.

Both courses run for 10 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 9702 2348.

Scrabble in Berwick

Fridays 9.30am-12.00pm at Berwick Neighbourhood Centre, 112 High Street, Berwick.

• Details: David, 0433 566 456.

U3A Casey – Activities for Seniors

U3A Casey offers you a wide range of activities including Arts & Crafts, Music, Book Clubs, Social Clubs, Low-Impact Sports, Fitness, Cooking … and many more.

You can attend up to three classes for free to see if you like the classes before registering to join U3A Casey.

Membership from January to December is $60, or from July to December is $30, which allows you to choose to join any of our classes (subject to available vacancies).

• For more information on classes, or to join using the online enrolment form, visit our website: u3acasey.org.au

• Phone our office – 0493 280 458. Email uscaseyu3a@gmail.com

Balla Balla Community Centre

Health & Wellbeing at Balla Balla

Join us at Balla Balla Community Centre for Term 3 Health & Wellbeing classes starting in July. Choose from: Yoga/Pilates/Zumba/Mindfulness Meditation & Compassion/Music & Guided Imagery Workshop

• Term 3 enrolments open 30 June online https://ballaballa.com.au/health-wellbeing/ or phone 5990 0900.

Morning Melodies

Book early to secure your spot! You won’t want to miss this uplifting morning of music and connection. Morning Melodies is held on the 2nd Tuesday each month and bookings can be made online: balla.balla.com.au or by phoning 5990 0900

Trades & Services

U3A Cranbourne

20 - 22 Bowen Street, Cranbourne

We have lots of art and craft groups, calligraphy, scrabble, singing for fun, quilling, resin making, and card making are popular classes.

On Thursday afternoons from 1 - 3pm we have a lively group of table tennis players. New players welcome, no past experience needed, come along and join in the fun.

We run a beginner ukulele and guitar group. Ray leads the ukulele group, and Maurie assists our beginner guitar group on Monday mornings.

We are a not-for-profit group, assisted by Casey Council to run our programs. Our membership fee of $50 per year entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.

Line dancing is held at Clyde Public Hall on Monday mornings, and a gold coin donation covers hire of this venue.

• Check out all our classes at www.u3acranbourne.org.au or phone 0493 991 919 for more information

Men’s Shed Junction Village Inc.

Retired men are most welcome to visit the Shed and have a chat/cuppa to check out our fully equipped Shed (lots of “toys” to play with!) and see what we do for the community. They do not need any woodwork experience, as Shed members are happy to pass on their experience in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere.

Shed members can also be seen cooking a sausage at Bunnings, displaying our projects at Botanic Ridge Village, or heading off to visit other sheds around the state (All good fun!)

We are located at 41 Craig Road, Junction Village and open on Mondays from 9.00 am to 11.30 am and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 2.30 pm.

• For more information and a tour of our Shed, contact Garry on 0408 141 734.

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club

We meet weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls. Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.

• Weekly activity times - Line Dancing Mon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm-3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat.

11:30am-2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.

• For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590.

• Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/ groups/487808127399953

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

Sewing Classes – Thursdays during school terms9:30-11:30am - Learn the basics of sewing and make bags and simple garments. Sew for charity.

- $5 per session.

Conversational English Classes – Thursdays 9.30am-11.30am during school terms - Come along to practice and improve your English skills in a relaxed environment comfortable, casual classes with a friendly, patient tutor - $5 per class.

Intermediate Computers for Work - Thursdays during school terms 1-4pm - Build on your current computer skills and learn workplace apps such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook email – Contact us for fee information.

Thee Coffee Table - Welcoming women’s community group - Every Friday - 11am-2pm - Free Career & Employment Counselling for Job Seekers – alternate Wednesdays starting 7th May 9:00 am – 1:00 pm - Career counsellors from Chisholm Skills and Jobs Centre are available to work with you on writing your resume, support you to apply for jobs or help you identify your next steps in looking for work. Fortnightly by appointment – Free New Day Care Hours - NOW OPEN - 9am until 3pm. We have spots available in our nurturing and fun Day Care, which prioritises the well-being and growth of every child. Children from 2 months to 5 years can now attend from 9am until 3pm up to 5 days a week.

• Call 03 5996 9056 or email mpcs@merindapark.com.au for more information or to register your child.

• Volunteers are welcome to come and help maintain our community garden

• All the above are held at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, 141 - 147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North 3977

• For more information and bookings, call - 5996 9056

Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre

Our main Club Day is on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 3:00pm. On the first Wednesday of the month,

we enjoy socialising with our many members and, on the next three (3) Wednesdays, we have live entertainment wherein you can do some dancing or line dancing and if you wish, with an afternoon cup of tea and biscuits. We also hold weekly activities on other days during the week, which include the Garden Group, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Gentle Exercises and friendly Card Games.

• We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Phone us on 9783 7112 or on Mobile 0426 736 467, or you can email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information

Blind Bight Community Centre Craft gift making for adults from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesdays.

Join in the craft gift-making class and bring along your own craft to complete.

A variety of techniques and skills are shared, including mosaics, macrame, sewing and painting at $3 per class.

Playgroup from 10.30am to noon on Wednesdays. The program provides fun play activities and craft for children at $5 per family.

Free knit and crochet from noon to 2pm on Wednesdays.

Line dancing from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesdays.

All ages, and abilities welcome at $10 per class.

• For more information and for bookings, visit www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

The club hosts weekly social activities with dance, to low-key in-line dancing if you want to tap your feet, great music, a chat, and then afternoon tea. Day, short and long 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.

Anyone interested can visit on Thursdays at 2pm for socialising and low-key dancing at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House at 21A Bemersyde Drive or join the club for a coffee and a chat every Wednesday from 10am at the new François cafe in front of Myer in Fountain Gate.

• For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.

Attractive

Ready

Too easy for seven-goal Yze

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Casey Demons youngster Noah Yze announced himself to the VFL on Saturday, kicking seven goals to lead his side to a 20.12(132) to 8.8(56) elimination final victory over Williamstown.

The breakout game was remarkable given the teenager has missed the past six weeks with a hamstring injury, and it’s great reward for Casey’s extraordinary show of faith to bring him straight back into the lineup.

It was just his eighth game at the level and having kicked at least one goal in his first seven games and teasing a big performance, it came to fruition on Saturday at Casey Fields.

Yze kicked the first goal of the game and had four to halftime, helping his side open up a 44-point halftime lead.

“It definitely did all come together,” Yze said.

“I think a lot of the training I’ve been doing has helped.

“Playing on the older boys, some people like to play in front, some people are more physical, some are more intercept marking.

“Wardell (Lual) for example does everything, he can come across and intercept, he’s quick so I need to work around and find weaknesses so that helps me improve in my forward craft and leading patterns.

“I try to get into their blind spots and force them to turn around and then they won’t see the ball so I’ve improved my forward craft.”

The 191cm forward spoke to this masthead earlier in the year about his desire to improve his consistency within games rather than fading in and out, with Saturday’s goal-kicking spree a clear example of his growth.

As the son of Melbourne great and Richmond coach Adem, there has naturally been a spotlight on Yze for much of his career, but he’s on his way to forging a strong legacy of his own – one of great skill, power, and most importantly, a team-first attitude.

One component of his game that close watchers will note of Yze is a sizeable exhale before taking set shots at goal – it’s part of a grander focus he has on getting himself in the right frame of mind to execute.

“I just want to get my heart rate down,” Yze said.

“If I’ve just sprinted for a lead or big pack mark, I’m a bit excited, so making sure I have two deep

breaths and have a feel of the ball, make sure everything’s right and go in, do my usual seven steps, eight jogging and end up having a set shot.”

While Yze has played different roles in Casey’s attack – a deep target, key forward and hybrid –developing consistency in his line has allowed him to chase those marginal gains, having played across the ground last year.

“Being a forward, I know my way around it and

have played it all my life, so I can bring in all my skills I’ve learned to perform and it’s easier on the mind to just dial down on that role rather than thinking about too many different things,” he said.

A Jai Culley run down tackle early in proceedings set the scene for Casey’s hot four-quarter performance.

Bailey Laurie and Mitch Hardie were immense through the midfield, Tom Campbell got on top in the ruck, while Nar Nar Goon local Paddy Cross contributed an equal season-high four goals.

The only negative of the game was a seasonending shoulder injury to Charlie Spargo.

Yze was at pains to point to the evenness of the team performance, particularly praising Cross, a member of the leadership group who provides xfactor inside 50.

““He’s been an absolute ripper,” Yze said of Cross.

“It’s my first (full) year in the program but doing all the pre-season with him, I’ve learned that much off him already and he’s had an unreal year.

“We know how each other play so we can help each other out with how we lead and that sort of thing.”

Casey is set to take on Frankston at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday at 7.35pm for a spot in the VFL preliminary finals against Southport.

The Demons won’t have the crowd behind them but they’ll have a six-match win streak to draw on and Yze will enter the game filled with self-belief.

“I love to play with a smile and when I watched the game back I had a smile on my face the whole time,” the youngster said.

“I do feel confident but it’s only one game.

“I want to perform like that again but it’s obviously not going to pop up.

“I just want to continue working on my game and hopefully get another win next week.”

Westerners in big dance for first time in over three decades

By Justin Schwarze

Dandenong West is through to its first senior grand final in 33 years after knocking off Lyndale in the Southern Football Netball League Division 3 preliminary final.

The Westerners extended their lead every quarter, holding a one-point advantage at quarter time before jumping out to a seven-point buffer at the main break.

After the intermission, a three-to-two goal third term in favour of Dandenong West brought the margin out to 15 points at the final change.

From there, Mick Lawrence’s men saw out a drought-breaking 10.9(69) to 7.4(46) victory.

“For them to put pressure on us and for us to control it and have good ball movement, that was a really good test,” Westerners senior coach Lawrence said.

“Every time they came at it, we went better and it was really good.

“The pressure definitely impressed me.

“The other week against Hallam we stood back and watched them but this week we had to go and get it.

“We kept talking about mental pressure and making sure we’re switched on for the whole 120 minutes.

“Mentally after losing (last week) I thought they came out very, very switched on.

“They way they hit the ball and didn’t wait was really good.

“When we’re doing what we do, we’ve got a good brand.

“We took Lyndale on and went for it.”

The young core led the way for Dandenong West, with former Dandenong Stingray Coren Giliam booting four goals and Harry Lees bagging three.

Both are new to the club this season but have had an almighty impact.

“We were happy, we were up and about because we’re all mates,” Lawrence said of his young side.

“They enjoyed the moment, they enjoyed the energy, they enjoyed the crowd.”

The club officially rebranded back to Dande-

nong West in late 2023.

The Westerners then fell just short of finals in 2024 and are now reaping the benefits of a positive environment.

Lawrence noted the culture as the area that has got the club to this position.

“I think Dandy West lost its identity for a few years,” he said.

“Getting back to the old school morals and reestablishing our identity was important.

“A lot of the guys I haven’t seen for a very long time are back.

“It’s about coming back to where we were, the soul of what we were.

“I’ve built a strategy around a mateship culture.

“That’s what Dandy West is about, the mates.

“This is about bringing it back to the old school culture, the grassroots.”

Now the club is back in the big dance for the

first time in over three decades, where it will face the formidable and undefeated Hallam.

But regardless of the result, the achievement of reaching the final day of the season has the club reflecting extremely proudly.

“It’s history, they can’t take it away,” Lawrence said of reaching the grand final.

“We want to own that culture and build it up.”

On a sombre note for Lyndale, senior playing coach Brendon Groenendyk pulled on the Pumas guernsey for the last time.

The club announced he will be departing the club after leading Lyndale to back-to-back preliminary finals.

Dandenong West and Hallam will clash in the Division 4 grand final at Hampton Park on Saturday.

SOUTHERN 3

Berwick Springs’ finals campaign came to a crashing end as the Titans were eliminated in straight sets with a 13.11(89) to 11.10(76) defeat at the hands of Hampton.

Berwick Springs led at quarter time but the Hammers controlled most of the contest from then on, getting out to a 27-point lead in the fourth.

The Titans rallied to get within seven but it wasn’t enough as Hampton advanced.

In the other semi, St Kilda City was far too good for Carrum Patterson Lakes as the Saints punched their ticket to the grand final with a 13.14(92) to 6.7(43) triumph.

Carrum Patterson Lakes and Hampton will meet in Saturday’s prelim.

SOUTHERN 3

FW2 Results: St Kilda City 13.14(92) def Carrum Patterson Lakes 6.7(43), Berwick Springs 11.10(76) def by Hampton 13.11(89).

Saturday - Preliminary Final at Ben Kavanagh Reserve: Carrum Patterson Lakes (2) v Hampton (5), St Kilda City (1) Week’s rest.

SOUTHERN 4

PF Results: Dandenong West 10.9(69) def Lyndale 7.4(46).

Saturday - Grand Final at Robert Booth Reserve: Hallam (1) v Dandenong West (2).

Dandenong West young gun Harry Lees celebrates one of his three goals against Lyndale. (Rob Carew: 499261)

Casey’s Noah Yze was the star of the show in the VFL on Saturday. (Gary Sissons: 499252)

Shootout win for Cannons

By Blair Burns

It was another successful weekend for Casey Hockey Club as the Men’s Vic League (MVL2) team progressed to the grand final in a dramatic fashion.

Despite beating Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation (ECHO) twice throughout the season and finishing on top of the ladder, this game went down to the wire.

When the final whistle sounded, the scores were level at 5-5 and the game was to be decided by a shootout.

Cannons’ goalkeeper Matthew Hollway stood up when it mattered most, helping his side through to the grand final with Casey winning 3-1 in the shootout.

Tristan Chaffey was at his best for Casey, netting four goals for the game as the star led the way for his side.

Other scorers on the day were Bryan Young, Elliot Stephens, Matthew Light and Charlie Coster.

Adam Shilliday led the way for the MVL2 reserves as his team defeated Melbourne High School Old Boys (MHSOB) 4-2 in an elimination final.

The most recent outing against MHSOB finished in a draw, but this time the Cannons were firing.

Shilliday scored two goals to give the team the lead, while Matt Guastella and Tadhg McCurran also impacted the scoreboard.

The Cannons will take on Werribee Hockey Club in a preliminary final this Sunday at Elgar Park.

The Women’s Vic League (WVL1) Cannons were far too good for Yarra Hockey Club, winning 4-1.

Casey’s usual stars were at their best, with Samantha Wagg, Charlotte Smith, Samantha Dobrich and Mikaela Davis all scoring one goal.

The win and goal was made even more special for Davis, who was playing her 250th game for the club.

The Cannons will look ahead to Saturday when they take on Greensborough in second semi-final at State Sport Centres in Parkville.

The WVL1 reserves were the only team last weekend to fall short, with their season coming to an end at the hands of Melbourne University, 2-1.

Courtney McDonald was the sole goalscorer for the Cannons, who will look back on the year with pride after finishing fourth and winning 10 games.

In the Women’s Pennant E South competition, Casey Cannons went down 2-0 against firstplaced Southern United in a penalty shootout, after the regular time finished at 0-0.

The games between these top-two sides have been ultra-competitive this season, entering this game with a 1-1 record.

While United were too good on the day, that doesn’t mean the Cannons’ season is over yet, with a preliminary final against Bayside Powerhouse set for this Sunday at Elgar Park.

All four of the Casey junior teams had wins last weekend and will take the field for their grand finals this weekend.

The Under-16 teams both defeated MCC last weekend, while the Under-12 teams defeated Southern and Hawthorn respectively.

Cardinia Storm fall short in elimination final thrillers

By Blair Burns

Cardinia Storm’s seniors are out of the finals now after two narrow losses ended their grand final dreams.

The Men’s Metro 1 South side went down against Monash University in a 5-4 thriller, which was decided by a penalty shootout.

There were some close matches between the two sides throughout the season, and this was another one of those, with both sides bringing their best.

While Storm came away with a one-goal loss, Taylor Rae was a shining light for the side, scoring two goals.

Other scorers in the elimination final were Kieran McLellan and Ayush Wahi with one each.

Storm gave it their all in the Women’s Metro 1 South final against Mornington Peninsula, but fell short by the barest of margins, 2-1.

The teams were 1-1 head-to-head coming into this elimination final and a tough match was expected.

Despite a brilliant goal from Annabelle Fallu, it wasn’t enough as they ultimately went down by one goal.

Cardinia will come back next season with the hunger and drive to make finals again and push further.

There was still plenty to smile about for Cardinia Storm’s women’s team, after a strong season.

(Rob Carew: 499254)

Teejay Peterson passes to Zena Nicholas during the final. (499254)

Matthew Light celebrates a goal for the Cannons in the thrilling win over ECHO. (Rob Carew: 499259)

Mikaela Davis was one of the standouts in her 250th game for Casey. (499258)

Spiders grand final bound

By Blair Burns

Hampton Park is through to the grand final in Southern Division 2 after defeating Highett in the second semi-final by 24 points.

Midway through the second quarter, the scoreboard read 32-0 and it looked as though Hampton Park would walk out of Springvale Reserve and into the grand final.

But Highett kicked into action and got the margin back to just 11 points midway through the final term.

There were nerves … but the minor premiers kicked away late to hold on.

“Our first half was fantastic, but we just went into preservation mode a bit in the second half and tried to protect a score a bit – you can’t do that in a big final,” Hampton Park coach Luke Bull said.

“They came back and got within 11 points which gave us a little bit of a fright there, but we were lucky enough to peg a few back when they did get close.

“We are pretty pumped with the result and keen to have a week off.”

It was a big day for Hampton Park, with its reserves team setting the tone beforehand, progressing to the grand final.

The seniors followed suit, looking a class above in the opening quarter and while they had a slight breeze, they were dominant.

But inaccuracy hurt the Redbacks’ ability to establish a healthy margin as they kicked 1.6 (12) to no score.

Despite some chances going begging, Bull was full of positivity at quarter time with a measured speech.

He was happy with the pressure and the ball use and said the scoreboard would look after itself if they continued to play that way.

Despite Liam Scott’s influence being quelled by two defenders, Bull said Trent Thomas wasn’t getting enough respect and foreshadowed the

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION 2 REVIEW - SECOND SEMI-FINAL

damage he could cause

“It was a really impressive start, I really put it on the midfield group throughout the week to lock it in,” he said.

“We watched a lot of tape and studied them pretty well, we nullified their good players who liked to spread which was huge for us.”

Redbacks started capitalising on their midfield ascendancy in the second term, kicking three goals before Highett could even get it past halfway.

Loud crowds rode the momentum waves, desperately trying to lift their respective teams.

With Mason Hawkins out injured, Jye King took the sole ruck duties and did brilliantly, as Scott started to fire.

Last quarter fadeout costs Gippsland in quarterfinal

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Gippsland Power’s girls season is over after an 11.5(71) to 8.4(52) loss to Murray Bushrangers at Shepley Oval on Sunday.

The Bushrangers led for the whole first half before a five-goal third quarter for the Power flipped the game on its head.

Pakenham’s Abby Hobson was the clear best afield with 13 disposals, 10 marks and three goals, and two of her majors came in quick succession to give the Power the lead for the first time all day at the 17-minute-mark of the third term.

Minutes later, Acacia Sutton cleverly won a free kick for a deliberate rushed behind and converted the goal, giving Gippsland an 11-point lead at the last break.

It was an incredible turn around, having trailed by as much as 14 points and forced to absorb an avalanche of pressure at different times in the first half.

But it was short lived.

Murray kicked six goals to one in an excellent

last quarter to overrun the Power and end their season.

It was an incredible 50th match in Gippsland colours for star halfback Ella Stoddart.

After playing two Under-16s games for the Power, Stoddart has played 10, 10, 15 and 13 games for the program across the 2022-2025 seasons respectively.

She averaged 18 disposals and three tackles in 2025 and is one of Gippsland’s leading prospects, with a booming goal from outside the 50-metre arc in the third term a showcase of the excitement, dash and kicking penetration she’s offered Gippsland during her time involved.

Other strong performers on Sunday included ruck Maya Crestani and bottom-aged duo Grace Dillow and Lily Milner.

Meanwhile, Gippsland’s boys enjoyed a light training run on Sunday morning, having earned the week off after a top-placed finish in the Coates League.

The Power will face Geelong Falcons this weekend.

Highett’s first highlight didn’t come until late in the second quarter when Hampton Park turned it over in defence.

This resulted in Jacob Apted, Highett’s most damaging player, running to 50 and launching home a goal – a turning point for the Bulldogs … they were inspired.

They kicked two early goals after the break, before the Redbacks bounced back with three in reply.

The three-quarter time margin was 29 points, but when the Bulldogs booted the first three of the final quarter, a hush crept over the sea of red and black.

Enter Trent Thomas for the moment of the game.

A loose kick out of Highett’s defence missed the target and was coming back inside 50 through Thomas, who beat his opponent with a handball along the ground.

Tucked up against the right boundary line, he gathered it before doing the same thing to evade another opponent.

He looked inboard and hit Jackson Dalton on the chest directly in front, who went back and slotted it – it felt like they were home.

“Trent has serious X-Factor and if you don’t pay any respect to him, he will turn the game on its head, which he did,” Bull said.

“He kicked goals at very crucial times for us.”

Thomas finished with four goals in a best-onground performance, while Makaio Haywood and Scott kicked two each – Jayden Weichard and Dylan Morris also impressed.

“Liam Scott has been our best forward all year and got well held today with two guys on him, but that is the beauty of it, five other guys can go bananas in the forward line,” Bull said.

“It’s all coming together at the right time of year for us now.”

Highett’s Jacob Apted and Sam Jackson combined for five of the team’s eight goals, while Bailey Searle was their best.

In the other game, Chelsea Heights was too good for Mordialloc, winning by 43 points to set up a preliminary final clash against Highett.

Despite a slow start where the Demons trailed 23-7 at quarter time, they bounced back to win easily as Declan Lee, Nathan Wright and Erishmiilan Uthayakumar each kicked three goals – Zachary Kercheval was the Bloods’ best player.

SOUTHERN DIVISION 2

Results – Semi-Finals: Hampton Park 11.13 (79) def Highett 8.7 (55), Chelsea Heights 13.11 (89) def Mordialloc 6.10 (46).

Fixture: Preliminary Final – Highett v Chelsea Heights at Springvale Reserve.

Stunning Stingrays still alive in Coates League

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dandenong Stingrays’ girls have progressed to the preliminary finals of the Coates League following a comprehensive 9.18(72) to 2.2(14) victory over Geelong.

The Stingrays kept Geelong scoreless until the four-minute-mark of the last quarter, with Charlotte Gilmore kicking a goal inside 40 seconds to lay the foundation for a sensational day.

Midfielder Matilda Argus was the Stingrays leading ball-winner with 27 disposals, while Ruby Geurts kicked three goals.

Lily Snow backed up an excellent Round 18 showing with 18 disposals and two goals, while Molly Reimers, Scarlett Marsh and Nikita Harris were also among Dandenong’s best.

The girls will face Oakleigh Chargers for a

place in the Coates League girls grand final. The boys, meanwhile, progressed to the quarter finals courtesy of a 7.9(51) to 4.3(27) victory over Murray Bushrangers at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn, on Saturday. In wet conditions, Dandenong was more consistent across the four quarters, with the Bushrangers managing just two goals after a strong opening quarter.

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves continued his consistent patch of form with 29 disposals, Cal Smith had 22 disposals two goals and 10 tackles, while Haileybury College duo Louis Hodder and Jack Lawrence and halfbacks Max lee and Darcy Szerszyn were also named among the best.

The Stingrays will face the GWV Rebels this week for a spot in the Coates League preliminary finals.

Dandenong’s boys and girls won through. (Gary Sissons: 481255)

Trent Thomas was the best player on the ground, kicking four goals and leading the Redbacks to the grand final. (Gary Sissons: 499251)

Ella Stoddart played her 50th game for Gippsland on Sunday. (Rob Carew: 496411)