PAKENHAM OFFICER
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 10 September, 2020
/ p a k e nha m s t a r ne w s
Officer endures more pothole pain
Walking and talking to better mental health
Bid for one-way lake walk rejected
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A Pakenham SES volunteer works to remove a large fallen tree.
SES units began getting calls at 11.30pm on Monday night, 7 September.
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“We’ve had members out since 10pm Monday night. We had two crews overnight, they’ve gone to bed and we had some fresh crews on Tuesday,” Mr Owen said. “We’ve had 96 pages for assistance in the last 24 hours.” Mr Owen said SES crews from Malvern, Monash and Chelsea provided assistance, after fallen trees created numerous traffic hazards and damaged buildings. The damaging winds came less than 12 days after severe weather impacted the region on 27 August. Since 1989
“At times we needed to pull our crews back because it simply wasn’t safe enough to stay and work on trees while others were coming down around,” Mr Honey said. “On a few occasions we needed to clear trees just to get to where we needed.” Mr Honey urged the community to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings and to consider driving alternate routes away from large trees. Emerald SES unit manager Ben Owen said the number of calls for assistance in the Hills region had reached almost 100. 12457238-CG32-20
Pakenham and Emerald SES volunteers endured a sleepless Monday night, forced to respond to over 150 calls for help as wild winds lashed the area. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds on Tuesday morning, 8 September, for people in parts of the city through to Gippsland. The majority of call outs were for fallen trees, according to Pakenham SES spokesperson Shayne Honey.
Mr Honey said the first job came through just after 11.30pm on Monday night, with crews working through the night. “We had a crew of 15 volunteers working throughout the night to 6am and a fresh set of volunteers started at 7am,” he explained. The hardest hit areas were Pakenham, Pakenham Upper, Nar Nar Goon and Nar Nar Goon North. The Pakenham unit had responded to almost 50 jobs, as of 10am, with 30 of the call outs coming between 11.30pm and 5am. 12425088-FA36-19
By Mitchell Clarke
NEWS
Time for a permanent fix By Danielle Kutchel In yet more pothole pain for Officer, a crater has opened up on Brunt Road and is wreaking havoc on unsuspecting vehicles. And it’s not the first time the pothole has appeared. Nearby residents say the problem reoccurs and has done for years, with Cardinia Council workers routinely appearing to patch it up, only for the hole to crumble again with time and bad weather. One neighbour, Selina, said the sound of cars hitting the hole could be heard throughout her house. “I feel for them,” she said of the motorists. “You can imagine the damage it’s causing, not just to little cars but big ones too.” Selina said she’s been lucky and has never hit that particular pothole, but she has hit others along Brunt Road a few times. She said it is high time for the problem for be fixed permanently. “They need to do it properly,” she said. Last week, she watched as council workers put up a warning sign near the latest gap in the road surface and scraped some soil in the ditch next to it. She expected them to do more, but that was it. She added that the pothole was particularly dangerous during bad weather, when rain filled it up and made it impossible for drivers unfamiliar with the road to see and take evasive action. Star News Group is aware of drivers who have had to replace tyres due to damage caused by hitting the pothole. It’s feared the pit will only get worse as more drivers are funnelled onto Brunt Road with intersecting Rix Road closed from Thursday 3 September for a month for drainage works.
Drivers have suffered damage to their vehicles as a result of hitting the crater. In response to questions from Star News Group, a Cardinia Shire Council spokesperson said in a statement that the pothole had been repaired last week and will be moni-
tored by the council. “Council repairs road defects as quickly as possible in accordance with our Road Management Plan,” the spokesperson said.
“If subsequent failures occur a large and more substantial repair will be scheduled once ground conditions are stable enough to allow that work to be completed with good effect.”
HELP PAYING OUR ENERGY BILLS COMES IN 4 WAYS We’re all home more and our energy bills are bigger. The good news is help is there if we need it. Help from your energy company - you can’t be
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Talk and walk for the mind By Danielle Kutchel After experiencing the “lonely road” of mental ill-health, Jetha Devapura decided the time was right to help others navigate their own mental health journey. Sri Lankan-born Mr Devapura says that 20 years ago, stigma stopped him from reaching out to have a chat with his friends and family about his feelings. Mr Devapura helped found Lifeline Sri Lanka 10 years ago and was justifiably proud of the achievement, which provided people with an avenue to open up to. But that begged the question: “why are people calling Lifeline?” “The answer was, people are scared of being judged. They’d rather talk to someone they don’t know or can’t see than their own family and friends,” Mr Devapura said. His solution was simple: to get people to talk to those they love. From this idea, Let’s Talk was born. Let’s Talk is an acronym: it stands for Letting Everyone Talk Safely, and Tell, Acknowledge, Listen and Keep in Touch. Mr Devapura now runs workshops in schools and workplaces, espousing the strategies of TALK. It’s not just about inviting a friend to chat, he stresses: it’s about actively listening to their problems and providing them with a pathway of assistance, including a referral to professional help if necessary. “It’s a make or break situation,” he says. “Once someone opens up, the first words out of your mouth can make or break a conversation.” His vision is to create an environment of psychological safety in homes, schools, universities and workplaces within the community - “where vulnerability is seen as a strength and not necessarily as a weakness” and where people feel empowered to talk about what they’re experiencing. He knows that this will involve a big cultural shift, including removing the stigma around mental health. “I may not see it fully in my lifetime, but it’s definitely something I want to advocate for, almost demand,” he said. With more people experiencing mental distress, he’s begun a campaign to help promote better conversations around mental health: Let’s Talk and Walk. Let’s Talk and Walk doesn’t take place on a specific day, but rather is designed to be incorporated into everyday life - and it’s as simple as just inviting a friend or family member for a walk, and letting them talk. The movement aims to create meaningful connections through what’s discussed, and help people to break down the stigma attached to mental health. While he has similar aims to R U OK Day, Mr Devapura says his movement is more about remaining open-ended and open-minded to the signs and issues that may come out of a conversation about mental health. Mr Devapura would like to see Let’s Talk in-
Jetha, centre, and his wife and children with volunteers from the campaign. corporated into the curriculum and become as normal within any organisation as OH and S. He describes Let’s Talk as a “language solution to a mental health problem”. “If we teach our kids that this is the normal language of asking for help, of approaching someone and asking how they’re doing or acknowledging them, it becomes the language of the future,” he says. With World Suicide Prevention Day approaching on Thursday 10 September, Mr Devapura says these conversations are even more important. He asks anyone who participates on that day to post a video or selfie to social media
with the hashtag #letstalkandwalk, explaining that they’re opening up conversations to support awareness of suicide and mental health. People can visit www.letstalkprogram.org/ letstalk-and-walk/ for more suggestions on how to get involved, and to access resources like podcasts, videos and articles to help foster connections and conversations. Mr Devapura will also host a World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 forum on Thursday 10 September, featuring a panel discussing how conversations can change a life. It will be streamed live on Facebook from 5pm - 6pm AEST: at https://www. facebook.com/105077891146438/videos/262451968059316
“We need to break the stigma,” he says. “We need to come back to the root cause [of suicide], and the root cause is about making people feel safe to talk. “You’ve been given two eyes, two ears, a brain and a heart - use the assets you’ve been given to ask the questions!” For more information about Let’s Talk and Walk, visit www.letstalkprogram.org/letstalkand-walk If this story brings up any issues for you, please contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue. org.au
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STAR NEWS 3
CARDINIA ANY SYMPTOMS GET TESTED It’s important to get tested for coronavirus at the first sign of any symptom and stay home until you get your result.
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For more details visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
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One way, the only way By Mitchell Clarke A controversial suggestion to transform Lakeside into a one-way walking track for the remainder of Stage 4 restrictions has been rejected by Cardinia Shire Council. Lakeside local Dennis Dawson contacted the council on numerous occasions during Stage 3 and Stage 4 restrictions. “To me it seemed like a fairly obvious and quite a reasonable way to make it a less anxious place,” Mr Dawson said. “When people are walking or running in different directions, there are more chances for infection. “It seemed like a simple solution. It’s like a highway, you don’t have cars driving towards you on the road. If you have less people walking your way, even mathematically, it would make sense that the risk would be reduced.” It followed a similar initiative in Canberra, which saw walkers asked to travel in a clockwise direction around Lake Burley Griffin to help with social distancing measures. Mr Dawson’s idea received considerable attention from the Pakenham community, with many divided about the prospect. “Not helpful for those of us that are disabled and can only walk short distances but still like to do small walks at the lake,” one lady said on Facebook. “If you like being dictated to mate,” another person wrote. “Don’t we have enough rules,” a woman added. But according to Mr Dawson, the implementation would only be a recommendation rather than a law. “To me, all that is needed is a couple of signs. If it reduces movement by 70 to 80 percent, it’s achieved its purpose and it’s cost next to nothing. “It just seems a simple solution to find a
There are calls to transform Lakeside into a one-way walking track.
Lakeside has reported a boom in foot traffic during the Covid pandemic. 214878
The suggestion followed a similar initiative in Canberra, which saw walkers asked to travel in a clockwise direction around Lake Burley Griffin to help with social distancing measures. 214878
best possible result but it wasn’t intended to divide the community. “There’s always going to be exceptions to the rule and this idea would only be a temporary thing until we’re out of this nightmare.” Lakeside Residents Group president Wendy Andrews said she supported the idea, adding that common sense would need to be applied.
“Council has received and investigated the suggestion, and confirms the path will not be designated ‘one way’ at this stage,” Ms Jackson said. “This is to maintain adequate access and exercise opportunities for people who may not be able to complete a whole lap or those who have mobility issues. Council will continue to monitor the situation.”
“It would make sense even it’s only during this pandemic. People would keep left when walking and faster users can pass on the right,” Ms Andrews said. Cardinia Shire Council’s pandemic response and emergency management manager Kristen Jackson said the council was aware of the one-way track suggestion.
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Over 50s Resort Living Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 5
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OPINION
Police plea over fraud
LENSCAPE
Police are seeking public assistance to identify a woman after a stolen credit card transaction was attempted in Berwick on Thursday, 9 July. At around 11.30am, the victim was shopping in Berwick when their credit card and an amount of cash was stolen. Just over 20 minutes later, a woman then allegedly attempted to use the victim’s credit card to purchase items from a liquor store nearby. Police have released images of a woman whom they believe may be able to assist in their inquiries. The woman is perceived to be Caucasian in appearance, about 40 - 50 years of age with light brown, shoulder-length, straight hair. She was wearing a black jacket and black sunglasses.
A transformer has turned heads in the Lyndhurst neighbourhood.
SOCIALLY SPEAKING On 4 September the Cranbourne Star News Facebook page shared a story about a Berwick primary school principal saying preps shouldn’t have to repeat their school year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are how our readers reacted online: Nadia Teo: If they did a good job at delivering online learning, I 100 per cent agree with him... sadly some schools haven’t put in as much effort as others, so there is a lot of mixed emotions on this topic. Teresa Adams: It depends on the child! Ben Kerr: What’s wrong with allowing larger class sizes next year and allowing those who need it to repeat and getting Dan Andrew’s to provide valid assistance for the teachers to help them cope with larger numbers? Kat Mann: As with anything to do with school there should be no sweeping rule for everyone. Each child and each family is different. Gaye Guest: All students should have the option of another year at the same level as this year! It should be the family choice not the DET choice. On 8 September the Cranbourne Star News Facebook page shared a story about family violence victims escaping abuse at home and staying for extended periods in motels due to a shortage of housing. Here are how our readers reacted online: Sue Woollard: Why don’t they lock up the perpetrators, so the victims can stay in their homes? Hayley Reed: Because the perpetrators aren’t in breach of the chief health officers directives obviously... but if they do leave the house without a mask on, don’t you worry the cops will definitely pounce on them then
Police hope to identify this woman.
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Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
The case for a budget For those business owners who already have a budget defined for their business, the idea that you can do without one may seem crazy but I still come across many SMEs where this is the case. Maybe it’s because the thinking is that budgets are only required for bigger businesses or perhaps it’s due to the fact that “numbers aren’t the business owner’s thing”, but irrespective, doing without one means missing out on a key way to properly manage the business and at the same time reduce stress. A couple of years ago, I was working with a client who is extremely capable in her field and also has a couple of expensive hobbies requiring on-going financial support. While she is very competent in her professional work, she readily admitted that she didn’t like the financials side of business and since she was not sure how to interpret the monthly financial reports she received, the regular financial commitment to her hobby was causing a level of personal stress. While the thought of doing anything remotely mathematical might have the same appeal as root canal surgery, in reality defining and maintaining a budget is actually very easy to do, makes decision-making easier and will actually alleviate stress. Why is decision-making easier? Well when you define a budget for the business, you specifically allocate a fixed amount to outgoings and for those that are “investments” (i.e. should give you a return on your expenditure) such as personal development, training and marketing, assuming the budget balances, you can assign an appropriate amount of money. Without any such budget, when the opportunity arises to spend money on these items, how do you know whether you can afford it or not? When a budget in place, the question then becomes: “am I going to get a sufficient return on the cash I have allocated for this?”. According to Confucius: “Study the past if you would define the future”, and so an easy way to create a budget from scratch is to simply get a ‘Profit and Loss’ report for the last financial year (this is a standard report from any financial package and your accountant
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IAN ASH will need to produce this for tax purposes) and base your new budget on this. The P&L report will be divided up into Revenue, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), Gross Profit (Revenue – COGS), (detailed) Expenses and Net Operating Profit (Gross Profit – Expenses) and using the figures from the previous financial year, you can simply determine what you believe you expect to happen in the new financial year, i.e. do you expect more sales or less, can you save money on some of your outgoings and what new expenses might you incur? Three key things to keep in mind here: 1. Be conservative – it’s no good doing a “sunny day scenario” budget, you need to expect that you may not sell as much as you had hoped and/or don’t cut expenses unless you have an idea how to actually do this 2. Factor in wages and super for yourself and 3. Ensure that your budget forecasts a positive Net Operating Profit! If it doesn’t, you will need to look at additional revenue possibilities and/or ways to save on expenses. Once you have figures for the entire year, then an easy way to create a monthly budget is to simply divide each total figure by 12 and allocate this amount per month. It won’t be perfect, but it should be close enough. Having done this, you can then compare what you actually achieve each month (by looking at your monthly P&L statement)with your budgeted amount to see if you are on track or not. There are a number of other things that can be done to monitor and predict financial performance of the business, but having a defined budget is the best place to start. Ian Ash is the Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions - www.ombs.com.au
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN
REAL ESTATE Email seren@starnewsgroup.com.au
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
Thumbs Up To the beautiful spring weather.
Thumbs Up To Dan Andrews for putting people ahead of money.
Thumbs Down
Thumbs Up
To Comrade Dan.
Thumbs Up
To my dance school South Eastern Allstars who have kept us all dancing through this entire lockdown.
To Dan Andrews for putting people ahead of money.
Thumbs Down
Thumbs Down Not telling us where the $53 million not swallowed by pokies actually went?
To the selfish idiots who walk around in groups not wearing masks (and I am not talking about people who have a legitimate reason not to wear one). pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
Stranded rider home By Margaret Maccoll A world champion show jumper and his partner whose family is based in Tooradin have expressed relief after finally being granted an exemption to head back to their home in Queensland. After weeks of anxiously waiting for permission Billy Raymont and his partner Tesse Cook were given the go-ahead by the Victorian Chief Health Officer to travel back to their Queensland home with nine of the country’s best showjumping horses. The couple arrived home on Tuesday 8 September after travelling in their self-contained vehicle with a fuel capacity of 6000 litres enabling the trip without the need to stop until they isolate at their home base of Cooran combining the nine horses with 11 on their property. “I thought it was dead in the water,“ Billy said of his attempts to return home,� Billy said. “In the end we just had to do the application. They kept coming back for more information. We were told it wouldn’t happen. Then suddenly they said it was possible.“ Each year Billy travels the east coast of Australia competing and coaching, basing himself in Victoria from the end of September for the summer months during its competition season and returning home to Queensland in April for the winter months and its competition season. But this year they remained in Victoria. They had no purpose to go back to Queensland because Covid-19 restrictions had halted showjumping competitions and
coaching and they had an agreement with people with their own horses who were having a house built to stay at their house and care for all the horses. As fate would have it their house build was delayed with the caretakers moving out on the weekend just prior to the couple’s return. Billy said in addition to the need to care for his horses it had become financially crippling for him paying rent in Victoria, a mortgage at his Cooran property, the expense of the horses and no income from coaching. Returning to Queensland would reduce his expenses and with restrictions lessening in Queensland competitions and coaching were beginning to return.
Billy Raymont in competition
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Rotarians help beat polio By Jessica Anstice For 30 years, Pakenham Rotary Club was among those working to eradicate polio in Africa and on Tuesday 25 August, the continent was declared free of the virus. Pakenham Rotary volunteers were able to celebrate the achievement because it had been four years since the last case of wild poliovirus infection had occurred in Nigeria. Polio generally affects children under the age of five, resulting in one in every 200 having some degree of paralysis for the rest of their lives. The World Health Organisation declared Africa polio free, leaving only two countries in the world, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with poliovirus cases. Alone, the Pakenham Rotary Club donated more than $45,000 USD to the Polio Plus Program, which aims to eliminate the scourge of polio from the world by vaccinating children. To vaccinate a child it costs $3 USD, meaning the Pakenham community has contributed enough funds to vaccinate more than 15,000 people. The Polio Plus Program was launched in 1985 when Rotary joined with the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta and UNICEF. Then in 2005 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined the effort with very substantial funds. Overall, Rotary has donated $2 USD billion to the Polio Plus Program. Pakenham Rotary Club members thanked the local community for contributing to its fundraising. In 2010, Pakenham Rotarians George and Sue Blenkhorn travelled to India for National Immunisation Day to help advocate and educate locals on the disease. During their time on the East coast of India, Mr Blenkhorn was interviewed by local radio stations and visited shire offices to share information on the vaccine.
Pakenham Rotary volunteers were able to celebrate the achievement because it had been four years since the last case of wild poliovirus infection had occurred in Nigeria.
Pakenham Rotary Club member Sue Blenkhorn in India. On National Immunisation Day, the pair attended a shrine in the middle of the town they were staying in to vaccinate children themselves. “After an hour of being there we were taken away by Rotarians and went to various other vaccination sites,” he recalled. “Indian vaccination people were looking at vaccinating 70 million children in one day. “All the children who are vaccinated have a fingernail on their right hand marked with a pencil and if they didn’t have a mark they got vaccinated - there was no choice.” Reflecting on his experience, Mr Blenkhorn said it’s something he and Ms Blenkhorn will never forget. “It made us think how lucky we are to have a vaccine,” he said. “It’s a horrible, horrible disease. Luckily here in Australia it’s been eradicated for probably 30 or 40 years now.”
George Blenkhorn vaccinating children in India. Upon hearing the World Health Organisation declared Africa polio free, Mr Blenkhorn acknowledged that it had been a long and difficult journey but rewarding in the end. “It’s been difficult. There’s been religious
In 2010, Pakenham Rotarians George and Sue Blenkhorn travelled to India for National Immunisation Day. opposition to the vaccine and it’s been a Western blot to sell - that was one of the main ones,” he explained. “But a bit of education works wonders.”
FOCUS ON … TAX TIME
Five ways to avoid scams The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is warning taxpayers to be on high alert for tax-related scams. To protect family and friends, the ATO has released five simple ways to avoid identity crimes.
Individual Tax Returns Property Investors Companies & Trusts Self Managed Super Funds Tax Returns Online
BETTER BUSINESS. BETTER LIFE.
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Know what to protect Personal information that could be used by scammers to impersonate someone can include their full name, date of birth, current address, bank account numbers, credit card details, tax file number, drivers licence or pass-
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port details, and any passwords. Remind them to keep their personal information safe and secure If personal information is stolen it can be very difficult to get back. It’s best to store things like a tax file number or birth certificate somewhere safe and secure - don’t carry it around in a wallet or handbag or saved on a phone. Keep passwords in a safe place and keep virus protection current. Warn them if they share too much on social media Scammers can use information published on social networking sites to steal identities. If someone is sharing too much personal information online, remind them that they could be putting themselves at risk of targeted attacks. It’s also a good idea to make sure profiles are set to private, and to be cautious about which friend requests to accept. Be suspicious of requests for personal information If family and friends have received a request for their personal information; tell them to treat the request with caution. Scammers can be believable and will sometimes quote personal information to sound authentic, so if someone is asking for personal information, consider the possibility that it may be a scam. To check if a call, email, SMS is from the ATO call them on 1800 008 540 to confirm. Know legitimate ways to make payments Scammers may use threatening tactics to trick their victims into paying false debts in prepaid gift cards or by sending money to nonATO bank accounts. To check that a payment method is legitimate, visit ato.gov.au/howtopay pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Shire update New food waste service
available in two sizes from 1 October: the standard 240L bin and a new, smaller 120L bin.
If your household has a green waste bin, you’ll soon be able to put food scraps in it, along with your garden waste. From Monday 28 September, all food scraps – including fruit and vegetables, cooked and uncooked meat, dairy products and processed foods – can be placed in your green waste bin to be composted into nutrient-rich soil for Victorian farms and gardens.
To order a new or additional green bin, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/orderbins, phone 1300 787 624 or email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au. Rental tenants will need to contact their property manager or landlord.
If you already have a green waste bin or you place an order for one from now, you’ll receive a free ‘food in green waste bin’ starter kit including a benchtop kitchen caddy, flyer and sticker during the rollout period from 28 September to 19 October. Ratepayers can order a green bin any time of year. Green bins will continue to be collected fortnightly and will be
Learn more about the service at one of two free online information sessions on Thursday 10 September, 7–8pm or Saturday 12 September, 10.30–11.30am. To book your place in a session or for more info about the ‘food in green waste bin’ service: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/greenwaste
Rate notice update Cardinia Shire Council advises ratepayers who pay a waste charge will receive a credit of $4.95 (residential properties) or $5.40 (commercial properties) on their 2020-21 rates due to the reduced state government landfill levy not being reflected in the waste charge amount on council’s annual rates notice. The credit has been immediately applied, and ratepayers will see this reflected as a reduced balance owing on their second instalment notice due to be issued in late October 2020. Council apologises for any inconvenience. For support or further information please call our rates team on 1300 787 624 or visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/rates
COVID-19 update What help is available? Phase 4 of our COVID-19 Community and Business Support Package includes support measures to reduce financial pressures on ratepayers, community groups, sporting clubs and businesses. Initiatives include extension of the interest-free period for unpaid rates, continuing hardship provisions and payment plans for 2020-21 rates and rebates for health care card holders and/or people receiving JobSeeker payments. There is also support for community and sporting groups as well as local businesses. www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Assistance for vulnerable residents COVID-19 testing at home is available for vulnerable community members. More info: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/call-to-test-covid-19 Vulnerable community members can access free face masks via a number of local pharmacies and stores across Cardinia Shire. For DHHS eligibility criteria and collection points: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Support local business
Connecting Cardinia
Show your support for local businesses, or promote your local business, on the new ‘Cardinia Business’ online portal. It includes a Buy Local map, business support and resources, and COVID-19 business and industry restrictions.
Join our online community space and connect with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enjoy some fun and educational activities including the ‘Spoonville’ and ‘Wildlife Watchers’ challenges! www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/connectingcardinia
www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/cardiniabusiness
Victorian Government’s reopening roadmap
For the latest information on testing locations and operating hours: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/getting-tested-coronavirus-covid-19
For information on the Victorian Government’s roadmap to reopening, visit www.vic.gov.au/roadmap
We’re still here to help!
Council services and facilities
Our friendly customer service team is still available to help you by phone or email, or you can access a range of online services via our website.
For updates on Council services and facilities, as well as information and advice on a range of topics, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
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COVID-19 testing locations
The information on this page was correct at the time of print, but for the most up-to-date information:
Cardinia Shire Council Phone: 1300 787 624 Web: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/coronavirus Email: mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Department of Health and Human Services www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus COVID-19 hotline 1800 675 398 www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resourcescoronavirus-disease-covid-19 Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 9
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Preps shouldn’t repeat By Brendan Rees A leading Berwick primary school principal says preps shouldn’t have to repeat a year of school following months of remote learning as it would have negative impacts. Henry Grossek, who has been principal at Berwick Lodge Primary School for 31 years, said remote learning “shouldn’t be a reason” to repeat children, which may contribute to issues of low self-esteem, as well as emotional or social difficulties. “When we repeat kids: Is the benefit of repeating going to worth having them taken away from their age-group peers in the classroom with whom they already have sort of a bond? The answer is you really need something quite drastic for children to repeat,” he said. His comments come as the principal of Dandenong North Primary School, Kevin McKay, believed many preps would need to repeat their school year after losing at least half a year of essential development. Mr Grossek said while Mr McKay raised a “worthwhile topic for public discussion”, he did not believe the “majority of people would agree with him”. “I certainly don’t support that approach. Kevin’s an experienced well-respected principal and he’s probably speaking on behalf of his community,” he said. While Mr Grossek acknowledged the pandemic had presented challenges and that some children and parents were coping with remote learning better than others, he did not anticipate more children repeating in 2021. “Our starting point in the classes is to keep children as best as you can with their agegroup peers,” he said. “What we’ve noticed and it seems to be a trend, is it’s the lack of their peer group friends (that) seems to be having a bigger impact. “The other issue that we sometimes for-
Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek says he doesn’t support the idea of preps repeating their school year. 206312 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS get is that whilst adults make decisions quite rightly on behalf of children, it is the children in this case who would have to repeat and deal with the potential consequences. In this case it more than likely be negative.” This was a sentiment also echoed by Julie Sonnemann, a school education fellow at the Grattan Institute, who said “research clearly shows that repeating a year has a negative effect on students’ learning given the stigma surrounding it”.
She said schools should invest in “catch-up efforts” in term four and early next year, with small group tutoring and targeted literacy and numeracy interventions. “Schools should also modify the curriculum over prep and year one to help as many students continue to move forward.” A spokesperson for the Education Department said it did not expect an increase in the number of prep students repeating in 2021.
“Our teachers and schools are doing an outstanding job identifying students who may need additional support and put in place targeted learning strategies for those who need it,” the spokesperson said. “The Department is also currently considering new ways to support students who have not made as much learning progress as others during the pandemic and will provide schools with advice about the most effective interventions that will support them catch up.”
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Through the government’s 2020-21 Bushfire Preparedness Vegetation Program and Planned Maintenance Program, the college has been handed $45,000.
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By Rowan Forster A lifesaving Pakenham-based venture, spear-
health care system for the entire community. According to government figures, 45 per cent of metropolitan emergency department
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health care system for the entire community. According to government figures, 45 per cent of metropolitan emergency department presentations are non-urgent. Tiny Hearts has also compiled statistics from participants, illustrating the importance of teaching the critical first aid skills. After the course, 98 per cent of parents said they felt more confident to act effectively in an emergency. Almost 50 per cent reported that they had used their acquired infant and child first aid knowledge within six months of undertaking the course. Narre Warren's Shelby Cooke, who performed CPR on her choking two-year-old daughter while paramedics rushed to their home, stressed the importance of first aid training. She believes that had she not received the course through her workplace, her daughter may have suffocated. "I still owe everything to having those skills," she said. "The more people that are equipped with them, the less tragedies we're going to see with children, babies and toddlers. "It's such a frightening thing to go through - so you need to be prepared." The free sessions will be held across the region, including at Beaconhills College, in Pakenham. Topics covered will include choking, fevers, convulsions, burns, drowning, bleeding, caring for an unconscious person, bites and stings and head injuries. Parents or caregivers interested in undertaking the free training can sign up by heading to: www.tinyheartsfirstaid.com/fundedcourse.
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A lifesaving Pakenham-based venture, spearheaded by a paramedic and a teacher, has received a federal cash injection to provide free first aid training throughout Melbourne's south-east. Tiny Hearts - founded by sisters Rachael Waia and Nikki Jurcutz - will arm 1800 local parents and carers with the skillsets required to save their children in the event of an emergency. In a regional first, 300 parents are also set to be trained bilingually, catering for Chinese and Afghan communities. Their journey began in a garage, but Tiny Hearts now has a headquarters in Pakenham's Industrial Park - proving that business success is attainable under the most challenging circumstances. Ms Waia, a former educator and volunteer first responder, was first aid trained when she was just 15 years old. She is determined to share her vital knowledge with as many parents as possible. "I've got two kids of my own and I know what it's like when they choke and when they're really sick," she said. "Because we've got such a good report built with our parents, we get a lot of feedback where they say, hey, you literally saved our babies' lives. "I love what I do - waking up and making a difference." Tiny Hearts worked in conjunction with the South East Melbourne Primary Health Network to secure the federal grant. The organisation also hopes to reduce the number of inappropriate admissions to the emergency department and create a better
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Hearts to help
Pakenham Secondary College has received a share in $15.3 million from the State Government to address important maintenance works. Through the government’s 2020-21 Bushfire Preparedness Vegetation Program and Planned Maintenance Program, the college has been handed $45,000. The funding will give the college the opportunity to address high priority maintenance works, including arborist work, ceiling repair, floor repair, handrail/balustrade repair, lighting repair and painting works. The maintenance works will be completed in time for the upcoming bushfire season. “We are making sure that our schools are well maintained and safe as we head towards the fire season so that every student can learn in the best possible environment,” Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale said.
Around 400 other schools across the state will undergo vital maintenance and safety works to support jobs and local businesses through the coronavirus pandemic, as well as improve facilities for students and staff. Works with contractors will be carried out under Covid-19 advice guidelines to ensure the health and safety of staff and students. If works can’t start immediately due to Stage 4 restrictions, offsite planning of these works and any that are essential for school safety will continue. “These projects will create jobs, boost local businesses and create safer schools for kids across the state,” Education Minister James Merlino said. “Our record investment in school infrastructure is delivering high quality classrooms for our hard-working principals, teachers and students.” pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
New dining experience By Danielle Kutchel
A tempting ruby chocolate dessert. Picture: SUPPLIED
Head chef Michael Gawlik (centre) with owners Andrew and Allin Toma. 214981 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS eral special events lined up: well-known guest chefs from all over Melbourne will be invited to collaborate with him in holding special degustation dinners and events upstairs, including a dessert degustation with matching cocktails. The new chef has an extensive background in the industry. Beginning his hospitality career front-of-house, Michael has been cook-
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ing since 2012 and saw out his apprenticeship in the Yarra Valley before heading to Vue De Monde for a while. He gained experienced elsewhere under Emma Jeffrey and Darren Purchese before taking the reins at Zagames Corporation. “I’ve worked with some good people. You gain a bit of everything from everyone, then
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you make it your own and that’s basically what I’m going to do now in Pakenham,” Michael said. Coming from an Italian background, Michael understands the joy that good food can bring, and hopes his own food will light up the lives of those still in lockdown. “I want to make food people enjoy and want to come back for,” he explained. “Locals are our bread and butter. People will decide the menu going forward - I’ll see what they like and don’t like and adjust it until it’s right. “I want to make a menu that Pakenham’s proud of.” Visit Copper and Fox at 1/38 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham or www.copperandfox.com.au. Follow them on Instagram at copperandfox, or follow Michael Gawlik at mikegawlik.
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There’s a new dining experience on the horizon for residents of Pakenham and surrounds. Lakeside favourite Copper and Fox has a new head chef who is ready to make his mark on the area’s restaurant scene, with a brand new menu that mixes old favourites like parmas and burgers with new twists for brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert. Think Benedict with ham hock terrine, warming ramen, a pumpkin harvest bowl, a vegan burger on a beautiful beetroot bun and a dessert of Campari, grapefruit, ruby chocolate and raspberry. The emphasis is on using seasonal produce (the menu will change every three months to reflect the best the season has to offer) and local suppliers. Each day will host its own specials, like burger night, parma night and date night. Due to Covid-19 restrictions the restaurant is currently only serving takeaway, but that doesn’t mean diners will miss out on the experience of eating in. New head chef Michael Gawlik puts as much care into the takeaway meals as the inhouse meals to recreate the dining-in experience, with every dish that leaves the restaurant looking as good as it would on a plate. “I want it to be visually appealing as well as taste good,” Michael said. Copper and Fox offers Covid-safe delivery for free within a five kilometre radius, with a small charge applying for anything further. Once restrictions ease, Michael has sev-
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STAR NEWS 11
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Stay connected locally! Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and her team are here to help small businesses.
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By Jordan Crugnale MP, State Member for Bass
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By Mitchell Clarke
There are growing calls for a “buddy be implemented system” to for people living alone during the Covid-19 pandemic . Liberal Gembroo called on the State k MP Brad Battin has Government to New Zealand initiative follow which links people a ing by themselve livs. “Many people live alone, are out of and have no social work connection during Mr Battin said. Stage 4,” “The governme nt partners to connect, has allowed intimate and it is only fair person can nominate a single their isolation bubble.” a buddy to allow into That idea has been welcomed by an woman who has Officer lived by herself for the past year. Beth, who didn’t want to use her real name, said the pandemic , strictions, had been in particular Stage 4 rethe most difficult her. time for “Personally, I don’t feel loneliness that ten. I was an only ofchild so I’m used alone, but this has been different,” to being plained. she ex“It’s a different feeling to when your family or friends go away on a time. There’s nothingholidays for months at that separates er than being not legally allowed to us oth- The State Government said it was vital to other.” see each limit physical interaction to slow the spread To make matters In June, calls of the virus. 208185 over 10 kilometre worse, Beth’s parents live July, as Stage were up by 47 percent while in Picture: STEWART s away, so she’s wasn’t the same 3 restrictions were CHAMBERS as physical contact. meet them at a halfway unable to calls again reintroduced, doubled point to exercise. “It’s not quite the same time last year. when compared to the “People with intimate same as seeing someone want to acknowledge just how in person, which difficult it is for partners can travel people’s general gives 20 to 30 kilometre Lakeside Psycholog mental health and s can boost well-bein rise to oxytocin and that in y clinical psycholog wellbeing, particular for those provides emotiona at a time, and I get that, it Michael Tomek g,” he explained ist . l support. I get a said “There really is providing mental health condition already experiencing lot of emo- was tricky, tional support from a need for our but a compassionate exemptions people and my friends and family vulnerable s,” Ms Crugnale it may fall under I can’t see them,” approach was said. but needed. “Whilst many a medical exempshe said. tion, so I would have found new ways of say to people who “It’d be nice if you “The levels of loneliness gling to speak to are strug- connecting, whether through could nominate their doctor or support video calls with person, even if and isolation in family or friends, it was just to catch that one this crisis are just extraordin and get some of discovering new exception or documen service classes or twice a week. ary. The mental up once health impact hobbies or online, or going Most people are tation. from this pandemic “We can’t risk sticking to concernin guidelines and worsening mental is just so so one who lives nearby, for a walk with somearen’t travelling g,” he said. there health, needs further five kilometres or I totally recognise to be some flexibility than “A lot of these people breaching curfew, peounderstanding and my ple who live on their think this would be any different.” so I don’t their own or have been have always lived on job and have is that police are doing a great connection formats own may not have the been single, on hand, or the social quite compassionate but their Calls to Beyond around this time Blue’s support services and about family networks.” has really been tested,coping this.” creased by 66 percent in- ing an increased in April and 60 percent strain on their mental causLabor Bass MP Jordan Beyond Blue’s in May, compared free Coronavirus health.” vital Crugnale said it Mr Tomek said to the same time to limit physical Mental was Wellbeing Service catching up with in 2019. interaction to slow is available 24/7 over the phone friends spread of the by calling the 1800 512 348. or through video virus. platforms 12418633-LN21 “These are such -19 For immediate help, challenging times contact Lifeline and I 11 14. on 13
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Businesses across Victoria have been hit hard by the pandemic. Over the past six months, I’ve spoken with business owners and employees in Cardinia and Casey across so many industries and sectors. They provide for us and keep us going as a community and as a society. Everyone was concerned at how they are going to make it through - so many wanting information, advice referrals, financial and wellbeing support. Navigating through the streams of information across state, federal and local governments can be challenging at the best of times, and when stress levels are up and everything is upside down, it is just that much harder. My team and I are here to help. A great place to start is the Business Support Finder Tool at the www.business.vic.gov. au It has specific categories e.g. sole trader, self employed, apprentices/trainees, company, employee/job seeker and creative workers as well. The website has practical information on financial support, hospitality, commercial tenancies, COVID Safe plans, regional tourism and so much more. We want to get you through this time
healthy and well. So there is also information on support services, mentoring, recovery and resilience, wellbeing and mental health support. To emerge stronger check out: Upskill My Business has a range of free online courses, webinars and resources to help your businesses gain new skills and knowledge: https://upskill.business.vic.gov.au/ Business Victoria workshops Business Recovery and Resilience Mentoring: business owners and sole traders matched with experienced professionals to help you adapt. Partners in Wellbeing is for business owners under stress with free access to business advisers and financial counsellors. Call 1300 375 330 or visit https://www.each.com.au/ piw/ If you are a small business owner, an employee, apprentice or sole trader, send me an email and we can get you specific information and keep you updated as well: jordan.crugnale@parliament.vic.gov.au Support local because our small business community have supported us for years and years through sponsoring your local sporting club, art show, school concert, street parade, volunteer brigades, and activities in your local community hall. We will do this together by supporting you and with community at heart.
· · · ·
Two rushed to hospital By Brendan Rees Two people have been taken to hospital after a house fire in Cranbourne West on Tuesday 8 September. Fire crews were called to a house at Aquatic Drive just after 11.20am, following multiple calls to triple-zero. Fire Rescue Victoria arrived on scene within seven minutes and found a home that was heavily smoke logged, after a fire spread to the roof. Paramedics were also called to the incident just after 11.30am. An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said two occupants of the house including a woman in her 50s was taken to Monash Medical Centre in a stable condition, while a teenager was taken to The Royal Children’s Hospital. Both were in a stable condition. Firefighters worked to bring the fire under control by 11.40am. An FRV spokesperson said firefighters used a ladder platform to check for smoke and fire extension on the second storey of the property.
“At the height of the incident there were three FRV crews on scene from Dandenong, Frankston, and Cranbourne Fire Stations,” the spokesperson said. Country Fire Authority units also supported FRV at the scene.? It is the second house fire in a week in Cranbourne West after flames engulfed a Scarborough Avenue property on 2 September where two people were also rushed to hospital.
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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Spare coins pay big time A pair of Narre Warren mates have turned their spare change into $250,000 after scratching one of the top prizes on a $10 Instant ScratchIts ticket. Sharing his excitement with an official from the Lott today, one half of the duo revealed the series of events that led them to purchase the winning ticket. “I was so excited when we scratched it! I just didn’t believe it,” he said of his winning $10 ticket that was purchased at Narre Warren Newsagency and Lotto in Webb Street. “My friend and I pool our money every week to buy a Powerball ticket, and whatever is left over at the end, we put towards buying an Instant Scratch-Its ticket. “How much is left over depends if we have won anything on Powerball or the previous tickets. “Usually we buy a $5 ticket because that’s what we have left over. “As we were leaving the shop this time, we realised we had more left over than usual, so I turned back around and bought a $10 ticket. “It’s the first time we’ve bought a $10 ticket, and we won. “We scratched it right there in the store, and we couldn’t believe it. We’ve never won anything like this before.
“I had only said to my friend a few weeks ago ‘You hear about these winners, I wonder if the stories are true’ and now we know they are because we have won!” When asked how he planned to share his half of the instant windfall, the thrilled winner revealed he was looking forward to being debt-free. “I’ll use my half to pay off some bills and my personal loan,” he declared. “Then I will be debt-free. I’ll use the rest towards saving for a house deposit. “We haven’t been able to do anything to celebrate just yet due to the restrictions, but once we can we’ll go out for a nice meal and a few drinks or something to mark the occasion!” Narre Warren Newsagency and Lotto manager Jennifer Zhu said she was extremely happy for her regular customer. “It was so exciting when they scratched the top prize in store. They started jumping up and down with excitement right here!” she said. “It’s the first top prize we’ve ever sold, so we are absolutely thrilled. “We’ve been telling all of our customers, and they are very excited for us too. It’s great to be able to share the good news at the moment. “We wish our winners all the best with their win!”
For any queries contact 0410 422 541
HELLENIC SNACKPACKS Seasoned chicken or lamb gyro, slow cooked & served on a bed of seasoned fries, finished with our homemade garlic sauce. Let Yanni know if you’d like to add chili or bbq sauce.
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A paw-fect fundraiser By Brendan Rees It’s little surprise that being able to take the cake and eat it has sent Oscar’s tail wagging. RSPCA Victoria is encouraging animal lovers to put their isolation baking skills to the test in October to raise money for furry friends in need. Cupcake Day will officially be held on 26 October however participants can host their own celebration any time that suits them. Ahead of the fundraiser, Star News photographer Stewart Chambers captured Oscar the pooch indulging in the pawfect treat at RSPCA’S Peninsula shelter in Pearcedale.
“No doubt it will look a little different for Victorians this year, with many of us working or studying from home and spending less time with friends or family than usual,” RSPCA’s Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said. “But for many of us, this has meant more time in the kitchen, baking up a storm to beat the isolation blues.“ Those who aren’t inclined to bake, but love food may prefer to host an online foodthemed quiz,. Everyone who registers for RSPCA’s Cupcake Day receives online access to all the resources needed to host a virtual baking event. To register, visit www.rspcacupcakeday. com.au.
YANNI’S MEATBALLS Yanni loves his balls! Beef Meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce served with our famous lemon & herb fried Potatoes and a greek salad $25.
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 13
NEWS
Visitors away, animals play Creatures big and small have been enjoying some quiet time at the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. From spotted pardalotes, one of Australia’s smallest birds, to short-beaked echidnas and plenty of other species, conservation officer Ollie Sherlock has confirmed there’s a buzz of activity behind the scenes. Staff have been delighted to enjoy rare sightings of common wombats, koalas, and southern brown bandicoots tentatively venturing out of their comfort zones, while black ducks and wood ducks have been building nests and incubating eggs. Large flocks of yellow-tailed black cockatoos have been spotted tearing apart the timber on some of the older black wattles. They use their powerful beaks to tear apart the timber in search of wood-boring grubs, which are a favoured source of protein during the winter months when seed is less available. “Without visitors around, they have been spotted low to the ground with the opportunity to observe them up nice and close,” Mr Sherlock said. Masked lapwings, a large ground-dwelling bird, have also been observed with cute little chicks in the Australian Garden and Southern Grasslands. “The birds can get quite stressed when they have young around ... with the site closed they have had a much more relaxed time raising the young this year.“ One of the most exciting sightings, Mr Sherlock said, has been a lone male glossy black cockatoo - which is a “real rarity in this area” as it is listed as endangered at a federal level and vulnerable in Victoria. “There is some speculation that this bird may have been displaced from either Kangaroo Island or East Gippsland by the catastrophic fires we had earlier in the year.”
Cranbourne Gardens conservation officer Ollie Sherlock has been keeping a close eye on wildlife during the lockdown.
One of the most exciting sightings has been a lone male glossy black cockatoo.
Short-beaked echidnas have been observed seeking out ant nests, digging them up with their powerful claws.
Black ducks and wood ducks are currently building nests and incubating eggs.
Large flocks of yellow-tailed black cockatoos have been spotted tearing apart the timber on some of the older black wattles.
Koaloas venture out in the quiet space.
Staff have been delighted to enjoy sightings of common wombats.
Swamp wallabies gather in numbers.
Masked lapwings have been observed with cute little chicks.
Spotted pardalotes have been busy digging and lining their underground nests.
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
Spotlight on child safety By Mitchell Clarke A number of schools across the Cardinia Shire will reinforce the importance of child safety as part of the National Child Protection Week. Under this year’s theme - ‘putting children first’ - school communities are encouraged to look at how they can prioritise children and their lives. Child Protection Minister Luke Donnellan said families had been under immense stress learning to cope with the impacts of coronavirus. “It’s more important than ever that everyone in the community plays their part to keep our child safe,” Mr Donnellan said. “Supporting children at risk and working to ensure their safety and wellbeing is one of the biggest challenges in our community.” The week will also provide a timely opportunity to reiterate the importance of online safety, especially given all Cardinia Shire students are learning online from home. Catholic schools under the Diocese of Sale will reinforce the message to teachers, parents and students, Catholic Education director Maria Kirkwood said. “Our aim is to keep our students safe, regardless of where they are learning,” Ms Kirkwood said. “We provide a range of resources and training for our staff, along with age-appropriate
Catholic schools under the Diocese of Sale will reinforce the message of putting children first to teachers, parents and students. Picture: SUPPLIED lessons for children about personal safety strategies. “During National Child Protection Week, I encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about child safety through free resources like the eSafety Commissioner’s website.”
The objective of the week is to raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection. Ms Kirkwood said the theme of putting children first aligned strongly with the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd’s (DOSCEL) child
safety commitment. “We have experienced an incredibly fast shift towards remote schooling, which has created some challenges, but I’m very proud of the way our schools and families have adapted,” she said. “We are constantly working to improve our practices and facilities to ensure that we create a safe and nurturing culture for all children and young people in Catholic schools.” Beaconhills College head of wellbeing Yvonne Ashmore said the school community continued to challenge students to positively contribute to an environment of respect, compassion and integrity. “In a time of increased online engagement and interaction it is important that families openly discuss cyber safety and online bullying,” Ms Ashmore said. “Remember, young people struggle to manage bullying when it emerges and often feel too embarrassed or ashamed to tell anyone, nor are they able to identify predatory behaviours on online gaming sites. “Open communication at home - such as awareness of sites that your adolescents access - is critically important to their safety. As the adults, we need to be aware and step in if problems emerge.” National Child Protection Week runs from 6 to 12 September.
Tech giants ‘must talk’ Recent threats and disingenuous claims by global tech giants Google and Facebook provide a stark and compelling reminder of why government intervention is necessary to force these two global behemoths to the table to negotiate with news media businesses; the subject of their current posturing, Country Press Australia president, Bruce Ellen said. Mr Ellen said the negotiating framework outlined in the ACCC’s Mandatory Code exposure draft proposes, like any sensible commercial business arrangement where parties have equal bargaining power, appropriate recognition and recompense is exchanged for the costs incurred by one party in producing a product, then used by another for commercial benefit. “But of course, the power imbalance between two of the most powerful businesses ever seen, and news media businesses, particularly small independent publishers, is immense,” he said. “The core of this matter is that the significant cost of producing independent and objective news and journalism by news media businesses vital to our democracy, is being used by the global tech giants to drive increased audiences and engagement, and build trust in their platforms, providing them with both a direct and indirect commercial benefit.
ed Publish y ursda
CPA president Bruce Ellen. est journalism, were largely being ignored by those outside the industry.” Country Press Australia applauds the Federal Government and ACCC for their de-
termination to bring the global tech giants to the table to address a serious matter that should be of vital concern to all Australians, Mr Ellen said.
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“This is primarily in the form of paid advertising on the tech giants’ various platforms that is leveraged by the size and engagement of their audience, all contributed to by the content taken from news media businesses. “The fact that this commercial benefit to the tech giants, has been at the expense of advertising revenue that previously supported the provision of public interest journalism in news media businesses, massively compounds the challenges facing our democracy in sustaining independent and objective reporting, analysis and investigation.” Mr Ellen said this concern was particularly acute for regional, rural and small publishers, where the economies of scale available to large corporate media conglomerates do not exist. He said the recent closures of regional newspapers and local broadcasting newsrooms highlighted the challenges. “Regional and rural communities should not be excluded from this vital part of our democracy, that holds those in power to account, and sheds a light on injustices in those local communities,” he said. “Until the Australian Government leads the world in December 2017, by directing the ACCC to investigate competition in the media and advertising services market, escalating concerns about the future of public inter-
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 15
NEWS
Series two stars unveiled By Tania Phillips The Masked Singer’s Wizard Isaiah Firebrace has starred in the opening episode of the new series of Art Centre Melbourne’s Big Night In With John Foreman. The new series is part of the centre’s digital program Together With You and goes up online each Wednesday from 7pm. Debuting earlier this year, and hosted by musical maestro John Foreman, the series is then available to re-watch online through the Arts Centre. The first two episodes of the series, which started on Wednesday (9 September) featured Firebrace, The X Factor 2016 and Eurovision contestant along with crooner and winner of The Voice 2013 Harrison Craig; and opera singer and ABC Classic broadcaster Greta Bradman. Firebrace treated audiences to two songs including ‘What Happened To Us’ and his latest single ‘Know Me Better’ in episode one while Craig will tear at the heart strings with ‘Unchained Melody’ and Bradman will spellbind audiences with her rendition of ‘Last Rose of Summer’ in the second episode to go up on-line on 16 September. Regular guest Gretel Killeen will return for all six episodes as social commentator and guests from Victoria Together’s The Standup Sessions and Celebrity Sandwich will drop by including comedian Denise Scott and the king of Italian cooking Guy Grossi. The six new episodes of the show, which premiered earlier this year, will see John Foreman and the Aussie Pops Orchestra join the artists and musicians live in their own homes to make music, which has been integral to the joyful experience Big Night In offers to online audiences. “I am super excited to be a part of Big Night In! I’ve had such a great time working with John Foreman and the Aussie Pops Orchestra and it’s so great that we can all come together
John Foreman.
Greta Bradman. for this incredible initiative.” Firebrace said. “It’s been super hard to be away from family and friends whilst in lockdown but doing things like this and making incredible music have kept lots of us going during this time.” The two Encore Episodes recently broadcast via Together With You and the upcoming second season of Big Night In were made possible through funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), as part of Victoria Together.
By Maeve Bannister
CHEESECAKE BITES By Tania Phillips
Avocado-yoghurt cheesecake bites with muesli crust Prep time 20 mins (plus setting) Makes about 20 bites 2 Hass avocados, halved, stones removed, flesh scooped out and coarsely chopped ¼ cup lime juice 500 gm Greek-style natural yoghurt 1/3 cup honey, plus extra to drizzle 3½ gelatine leaves (titanium strength), softened in cold water for 5 minutes Diced Hass avocado, optional, to serve
· · · · · · Muesli crust · 300 gm granola muesli · 100 gm melted coconut oil
Created by Australian Avocados 16 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
The government is using Victoria Together to keep people connected to art, learning and entertainment while they can’t experience it live. The DPC is not a content producer and as such is providing funding to organisations that can produce interesting content and programming that talks to a diversity of audiences and experiences. Arts Centre Melbourne announced it had postponed welcoming visitors back to its venues in accordance with the most recent Victo-
rian Government guidelines on COVID-19. The ghost lights will stay on a little longer as Arts Centre Melbourne focuses on finding new ways to engage with audiences, including the digital online hub - Together With You. For more information including; bookings for free and ticketed events, Arts Centre Melbourne’s health and safety policies, as well as additional digital content and experiences visit artscentremelbourne.com.au
New life in art of everyday
Avocado and Yoghurt aren’t your usual go-to ingredients for cheesecake but they work in this healthier take on the classic.
These cheesecake bites are given the smoothest texture from the Hass avocado, while a muesli crust is a lighter alternative to the traditional biscuit crumb. Guilt-free dessert? Yes please.
Isiah Firebrace.
Method 1. Lightly oil a 20cm cake tin, then line with baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the sides by a few centimetres (this will make it easier to lift the cheesecake from the tin). 2. To make the muesli crust, pulse ingredients and a pinch of salt in a food processor until crumbs form and mixture just comes together. Press evenly into prepared tin and place in freezer for 15 minutes to set. 3. Heat honey gently in a saucepan over medium heat until honey melts. Squeeze excess water from gelatine, add to honey and stir until gelatine melts. Add yoghurt and whisk until smooth and combined. Remove from the heat. 4. Process Hass avocado and lime juice in a food processor until smooth. Whisk into yoghurt mixture to combine, pour over prepared muesli crust and refrigerate overnight to set. 5. Use the paper to lift the cheesecake from the tin, cut into bites and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Serve topped with a little extra diced Hass avocado, drizzled with honey.
As the pandemic keeps us social distancing and in lockdown restrictions, diary-keeping is having a resurgence as people grapple with this uncertain time. Academics from RMIT university say that journaling continues to be a popular way to process the events happening around the world and can help people cope with troubling situations. Dr Peta Murray, an RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s post-doctoral research fellow, says that with everyone experiencing different consequences of Covid-19 depending on their personal circumstances, diary entries help to paint a picture of how the world copes with a crisis. “Keeping a diary has extra value in a time like this because it allows people to pay attention to the little joys and small beauties of this day as opposed to yesterday or tomorrow,” she says. “There is great value in having a receptacle into which you can share or pour difficult feelings, uncomfortable feelings, distress even, because it can alleviate some of the emotional and psychological pressure that we’re living under at the moment.” Some of the most famous diarists in western literature were not award winning or famous authors at the time of writing their own diaries, proving that all anyone needs to start journaling are their own experiences. “You don’t have to be an accomplished writer, you just have to be somebody who wants to keep an eye on the world, somebody who is interested in how your own inner life tracks against the world and sees where the discordances are,” Dr Murray says. Dr Murray is a founding member of The Symphony of Awkward, a collaborative research collective, along with RMIT university academics Dr Kim Munro and Dr Stayci Taylor. The collective studies the diarological sciences, a term they coined to explore the many manifestations of diary-keeping. Social media is a modern version of journaling, as people use it to document their lives
publicly rather than in the traditional way of keeping a private journal. “People don’t actually realise that they are journaling with social media by inscribing themselves in time and space,” Dr Murray says. “That becomes more evident when there’s something that’s repeated or rhythmical, those are the ingredients that distinguish diarising from just sharing or sometimes over-sharing your life with other people.” It’s not only individuals who are seeking to document this remarkable period of our lives. The State Libraries of Victoria and New South Wales are encouraging people to share little memories and glimpses of their daily life that are then collated as a communal diary. In August, Australia Post teamed up with the National Archives to create the “Dear Australia” campaign, which encouraged people to write a letter about their experiences this year. The letters will be preserved at the National Archive where future generations can learn about everything worth remembering from 2020. “There is a great value in cultivating an eye for the extraordinary in the ordinary and I think there’s also great value in hearing many different ordinary life views,” Dr Murray says. “I think we tend to privilege certain voices in our society and this kind of endeavour can expand our sense of who we are as a nation, as a community, as a family, and I’m really interested in the polyphony of voices that these practices cultivate, not just the individual record of a life lived.” Dr Murray, Dr Munro and Dr Taylor will host an online lunchtime forum called What Can the Diary Offer (in Troubled Times) on Thursday, 24 September. The collective will be joined by three panellists who have some unusual diaristic practices and will explore the value of diary-keeping in uncertain times. The event is free, but make sure to register at eventbrite.com.au/e/what-can-the-diaryoffer-in-troubled-times-tickets-117480823305 to secure a place. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
FOCUS ON … REAL ESTATE
MAKE THAT LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR GOOD ONE reflection shared throughout Covid-19 lockdown, is that we humans are truly social beings. We’re missing coffee (or wine!) catch-ups with the girls, live footy with other fans in the stands, and a quiet beer at the pub with a mate. Interactions over Facebook and waving from a distance does not quite compensate for the social isolation felt by many. However, homeowners at Lifestyle Communities are reporting far lower feelings of isolation throughout social restrictions. Each secure, gated community provides a vibrant environment, offering rich social connections with like-minded neighbours, serviced by on-site community managers who tend to a range of maintenance and administrative needs. Lifestyle Kaduna Park promises luxury living for over-50s at an affordable price. With display homes ready and waiting for your visit as soon as Victoria’s lockdown restrictions ease, now could be the perfect moment to consider a change of lifestyle for the better. The state-of-the-art clubhouse is set to open early in the new year and promises the perfect space for a vibrant, active social life. Come February, the community will be bursting with 5-star facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, gym, cinema, bowling green and pickleball court. Homes are selling fast, however a range of affordable 2-bedroom, 2-bedroom plus study and 3-bedroom homes are still available at prices ranging from $360,000 to $535,000. Why not arrange a virtual tour appointment today? You can also register your interest to be first to see the display homes when restrictions ease. Simply call 1300 50 55 60 or visit lifestylekadunapark. com.au for more information. ●
Take advantage of the $20,000* first home
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Lampard
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| Drouin
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Inclusions • Carpet to remaining • Flush panel • Vinyl wrap kitchen areas from builders internal doors with stone benchtops range • Internal door handles • Stainless steel electric • Stainless steel sink • 50mm Scotia cornice oven and flick mixer throughout • Stainless steel gas hot to kitchenTOWN • White glo tub plates • Chrome mixer tops to laundry • Stainless steel range from builders range • Weathertough acrylic hood • Mirrors with polished to all exterior • Ducted heating edge to bathroom • Sewer power, • Ceramic floor and wall • Exhaust fans to drainage, gas and tiles as per floor plans bathrooms water connections as *Subject to developers final approval, statutory regulations & builders preferred sitting. from subject to change without notice. • Roller *Pricing & inclusions Pictures door for illustration purposes only. per plans builders range to garage • Outdoor water taps pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
FOR SALE - 18 Stunning Units Nestled amongst the open space of Bellbird Park, Drouin. First home buyers grant of $20,000 available to eligible purchasers. BUY NOW AND SAVE THOUSANDS ON STAMP DUTY!
For more information, contact: Dale Atkin: 0402 717 891
Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase a unit in a great part of Drouin, surrounded by open space and parklands. With 2 & 3 bedroom and single & double garage options, these quility built units feature open plan kitchen/meals/living area, and high quality finishes throughout. 96 Lampard Road is located just 1.5kms from Drouin’s main shopping precinct, schools, train station and recreation facilities. Take a leisurely bike ride along the ‘Two Towns Trail’ from Drouin to Warragul, enjoy the town’s restaurants and cafe’s, take the kids to the local skate park, or make the most of the array of sporting facilities offered in Drouin including golf course and basketball stadium.
12452901-SG27-20 12451848-NG25-20 12452901-SG27-20
* Images are for illustration purposes only.
Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 17
FOCUS ON … REAL ESTATE
REIV CONDEMNS FURTHER RESTRICTIONS THE Real Estate Institute of Victoria has slammed the Victorian Government’s decision to effectively keep the property market shut down for an uncertain period. The continuation of the ban on inspections means that people who desperately need to buy or lease a property will have to make that decision ‘sight unseen’. Before the introduction of Stage 4 restrictions, people could visit a property one-on-one with the agent. Private inspections were done with all safety measures including requirements for surface cleaning, gloves, masks, and contact details and are 100 per cent supervised. REIV members took these extensive precautions long before they were recommended by government including turning on lights and
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46 PRINCESS STREET WARRAGUL This 4 BR home on a large block will not disappoint! Perfectly planned from front garden, quaint private entrance & veranda through impressive entrance hall with display niches for your treasures & loads of storage throughout!! A very large master suite plus 3 additional bedrooms. Beautiful & light filled open living with wrap around deck & elevated to take in the distant mountain views. Extra shedding, chook pen, strawberry patch, fruit & ornamental trees. Maintained to perfection in most ideal location! $530,000 - $565,000 Internet ID: 22294171 View property and more details at www.sej.com.au
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opening cupboards and internal doors prior to the inspection. The REIV has criticised the lack of genuine consultation by government with business. The initial “consultation” the body was invited to amounted to a roundtable with over 35 industries, all at one time, meaning only a handful had an opportunity to put their case forward. The REIV was stunned to be advised that it had been invited to the wrong meeting. While the REIV had a separate briefing later and provided alternatives and solutions to ensure that people can buy, sell and lease safely, all these suggestions have been ignored in Sunday’s announcement. The real estate sector has been delivered a ‘double-whammy’ with the extension of the
rental moratorium for a further six months. While this was not unexpected, landlords have virtually no relief while tenants get substantial support. With many reduced rental agreements due for renegotiation this month, the REIV is advising its members to refuse to negotiate rent reductions, forcing every request into the dispute system, a system that has already failed to cope with the caseload. A survey of property managers conducted by the REIV shows that about three quarters of reduced rent agreements have been achieved outside of the dispute system. With a backlog of over 4000 cases, VCAT is not equipped to resolve disputes. The lack of understanding by the Victorian Government regarding the operations of the
real estate sector is evidenced in almost every facet of the way which it has handled the restrictions and the moratorium. In its efforts to protect the most vulnerable of tenants, the government has not only caused them long-term harm but has also allowed many who are not suffering Covidrelated financial stress to profit from the moratorium. The REIV is calling on government to allow one-on-one private appointment inspections of property so that people can physically see the property before they commit to a huge investment. Without inspections, buying and leasing cannot proceed, keeping many people out of appropriate shelter and pushing many vendors and investors to the brink. ●
THE ESSENCE OF GOOD LIVING THERE’S no doubting Essence is the perfect place to set down roots and watch your family thrive and grow. Over the past few years, Officer has exploded from traditional farmland to an up and coming metropolis. It’s a suburb-on-the-rise that hasn’t forgotten its country sensibilities—and that means you get the best of all worlds. Located a short walk to the proposed new town centre which has been designed to create more than just another neighbourhood shopping complex, there’s an indelible sense of excitement around the Essence Estate in Officer. Grand plans are coming to fruition with easy access to quality schools, transport, medical facilities, recreation and entertainment. It’s a hive of activity. For more contact Janine Scott Rule on 1300 377 362 or go to essenceofficer.com.au ●
Take advantage of the $10,000* first home owners grant and even better…. Receive up to $25,000* for the new builders scheme. Now is the time to buy! *eligibility criteria must be met
Pakenham
Inclusions • Vinyl wrap kitchen with stone benchtops • Stainless steel electric oven • Stainless steel gas hot plates • Stainless steel range hood • Ducted heating • Ceramic floor and wall tiles as per floor plans from builders range
• Carpet to remaining areas from builders range • Stainless steel sink and flick mixer to kitchen • Chrome mixer tops from builders range • Mirrors with polished edge to bathroom • Exhaust fans to bathrooms • Roller door to garage
• Flush panel internal doors • Internal door handles • 50mm Scotia cornice throughout • White glo tub to laundry • Weathertough acrylic to all exterior • Sewer power, drainage, gas and water connections as per plans • Outdoor water taps
Whether you’re looking to downsize and keep the caravan or boat, a first home buyer looking to enter the market or savvy investor, this development has a little something for everyone. Located in an established part of Pakenham, opposite parklands and open space, the fresh air and neighbourhood vibes will have you feeling at home in no time! With close access to all the amenities such as shopping, schools, restaurants and more throughout Pakenham and surrounding towns, you’ll have everything you need. With easy access to the M1. 2 bedroom townhouses $369,000–399,000. 3 bedroom townhouses $409,000–$449,000. First Home Owner Grant $10,000 (to eligible applicants) Prices subject to change 12452900-LB26-20
18 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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PRE-BOOK A PRIVATE INSPECTION
OFFICER 6 Captain Street
Buyer Enquiry Range $780,000 - 840,000
CLYDE 9 Unison Drive
For Sale $557,000
OFFICER 29 Rosina Drive
Buyer Enquiry Range $570,000 - 610,000
PAKENHAM 12 Rembrandt Court
Buyer Enquiry Range $450,000 - 490,000
OFFICER 6 Bevington Crescent
Buyer Enquiry Range $550,000 - 600,000
PAKENHAM 7 Rockies Ridge
For Sale $555,000
OFFICER 6 Sabina Road
Buyer Enquiry Range $620,000 - 670,000
SKYE 4/38A Lily Way
For Sale $525,000
If you have been considering selling, now may be the right time. We have registered buyers waiting.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TODAY?
Ian Harris 0420 533 871
Anil Jayalath 0420 220 779
Janine Scott-Rule 0417 160 423
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P 5943 1111 #wecare
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STAR NEWS 19
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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NEWS
Art inspires memories By Danielle Kutchel It’s been a milestone year for Blind Bight stilllife painter Sam Michelle. 2020 marks the year when she has lived half her life here in Australia, and half in New Zealand. It’s that duality that she’s exploring in a new exhibition at Gallerysmith, titled Dual Citizen. Covid restrictions have made her painting a little more difficult this time around as in some cases she’s been unable to source the flowers that are the inspiration for her work. The resourceful artist has put shout outs in the Blind Bight community group asking for help to gather what she needs, and has been rewarded by people’s support. But she says in a way the restrictions have helped her painting, providing her with “ample time” to pursue her creative outlet. “I’ve had more flow with the painting, which means a better exhibition,” Sam explains. “It’s felt like having extra time and no interruptions - the change of routine has been good for that.” The exhibition considers Sam’s heritage she’s originally from New Zealand - and her life here in Australia, depicted through the iconic flora of the two countries. Unable to travel back home during Covid to gather inspiration and materials for the Kiwibased paintings, Sam says she was forced to be adaptable. A Zoom call was set up with family in the Land of the Long White Cloud and she interviewed her granddad about his life. “Some of the stories he told are within the New Zealand paintings,” she says. “They’re childhood stories that I think New Zealanders could relate to and are really personal and meaningful to me.” The Australian paintings double as a celebration of local flora.
‘NZ Cyclamen’ by Sam Michelle. Picture: SUZI APPEL
‘NZ and Australian Natives’ by Sam Michelle. Picture: SUZI APPEL
Growing up, Sam was surrounded by creativity: her grandparents on both sides were artists in various mediums, from jewellery making to China-doll painting, illustration and sculpting. Her aunties taught her how to sew and embroider, while her mother works with multimedia. Sam herself is largely self-taught and began her artistic career as a hobby before taking the plunge and going full time six years ago. Now, she often finds herself working on multiple projects depending on what’s happening in the world. She worked on some landscape studies after the East Gippsland bushfires, and travelled to Christchurch shortly after the 2019 mosque
attack to complete a series that showed the beautiful parts of the city. Sam hopes that Dual Citizen will “spark a memory” for her Kiwi viewers. She’s received feedback from some through Instagram who have told her how her paintings remind them of moments in their life, even things as simple as walking to school as a child. “I want to help ignite memories and pinpoint a time in their history,” Sam says. The exhibition is currently running online at www.gallerysmith.com.au View more of Sam’s work at https://www. instagram.com/sammichellepaintings/?hl=en or https://www.sammichellepaintings.com
Sam at work in her studio. Picture: SUZI APPEL
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 21
SPORT
Clubs set to go it alone? By sports editor Russell Bennett A number of West Gippsland’s footy and netball clubs aren’t bluffing when it comes to exploring their own collective path forwards from 2021 onwards. And they may yet choose to go it alone - out from under the Morwell-based Gippsland Regional Administration Centre. The Star News understands that, on 15 June through Consumer Affairs Victoria, the business name ‘West Gippsland Football Netball Competition Incorporated’ was registered on their behalf, with three current WGFNC club presidents nominated as executive officers. That raises the fascinating prospect that the West Gippsland entity wasn’t already registered since its first season in 2017. To this point, it’s unclear as to how or why. But, it’s an intriguing development that shows a number of the WGFNC’s clubs really are taking their destinies into their own hands. Nar Nar Goon’s Mick Keane is one of three club presidents connected to the newly-registered name as executive officers, and a constitution has already been legally prepared and lodged to Consumer Affairs. The affiliation agreements of some local leagues and competitions are due to expire at the end of October this year, and the new development raises the question of which body legally controls the WGFNC. The deadline for club transfer applications is on 31 October, and the Star News understands that the WGFNC clubs have been issued three options moving forward: continue with the status quo for 2021 and beyond; continue in the current structure but have some administration fees offset by a player levy; or incorporate as part of a new entity. That entity could then seek affiliation with AFL Gippsland. The clubs and WGFNC are currently regarded as affiliates under the AFL Vic Country Handbook, but the waters seem muddied
Three current WGFNC club presidents are listed as directors for ‘West Gippsland Football Netball Competition Incorporated’. 198697 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS by the fact that the WGFNC - itself - is newly registered with three current club presidents as directors. The AFL Gippsland commission was effectively ousted in May 2019, and the AFL’s general counsel and its general manager of AFL game development Andrew Dillon is on the interim commission. In the AFL Gippsland 2019 Annual Report, the directors of Gippsland Australian Football Commission Limited (AFL Gippsland) were listed as Steven Reaper, Jennifer Loughnan, and Dillon. The Star News understands Reaper is no
longer in that role, while Rob Auld and Sam Graham were appointed as directors earlier this year and AFL Victoria’s current head of South Eastern Victoria, Richard Black, is the secretary. In speaking with the Star News, Keane was scathing on AFL Gippsland’s handling of the competition. “This is an organisation that’s trying to tell us we’re better off staying with them - where there’s no real administration, guidance, and no understanding of the clubs’ positions,” he said. “They’re trying to keep us with them with-
out any real structure.” Keane said it’s imperative the clubs control their own futures now, before - he feels - it’s too late. “If we apply in 12 months’ time to get out, they can knock it back, and then it’ll go to appeal to AFL Victoria and that’ll get knocked back too, and then you can’t apply again for two years. “We could still be dealing with this three years from now.” AFL House was forwarded a series of questions on this story but did not comment prior to deadline.
What might’ve been for Pakenham United in 2020 By Lance Jenkinson Pakenham United is left to ponder what might have been after Covid-19 wiped out the whole Football Victoria State League season. United was scheduled to play its final round game against Aspendale last Saturday, but it marked the 22nd abandoned match to put a harsh exclamation point on a miserable winter. Pakenham United president Chris Gomez was understandably flat when reflecting on the season that never was. “It’s rather upsetting that we’re not playing at the minute,” he said. “It’s a shame that we haven’t had a season.” There was an air of expectation for Pakenham United heading into 2020. Gomez ushered in a new era with a host of changes on the committee. There was a belief that men’s coach Peter Natsis and women’s coach Kat Carmody could lead United to on-field success. “We do look back on what we missed out on,” Gomez said. “We’ve gone through a lot of changes over the past 12 to 14 months, had a new president come in, had a new coach come in, and a lot of changes behind the scenes. “We were building towards what I think would’ve been a very good season. “Now it’s a case of trying to keep those people in the place and move on to next season.” Moving on is not going to be as simple as hitting the reset button for Pakenham United. Momentum stemming from the club’s positive lead up to the 2020 season has all but evaporated and the impending off-season is filled with uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. Timelines on a season start date are blurry 22 STAR NEWS
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Pakenham United coach Peter Natsis. and a key issue from last season is yet to be resolved. Gomez is waiting on Football Victoria to make a call on how much of its league fees are returned from this lost year. Only then can Pakenham United, a notfor-profit club, return some of its fees back to its members.
Thursday, 10 September, 2020
Picture: SUPPLIED “The problem we’ve got at the moment with Football Victoria is we don’t know what refund we’re getting,” Gomez said. “Everybody has paid full fees for this season, the senior players have paid $540 to play, and at the minute we can’t give anything back to them because we don’t know what Football Victoria is going to give back to us.”
Gomez explained some of the costs that a local FV club can incur, which will be taken into account when issuing refunds to members. “The fees that the players have paid, a lot of that has been paid out by the club on equipment, ground rental, electricity - things like that,” Gomez said. “We rent all our kitchen equipment, which we’re still paying for now because we can’t get into the kitchen to send it back. “A match ball costs us about $130 for one ball and we have to have six of them per team. “Then you’ve got training tops and goal nets - it’s all expense. “When I work out the fees at the beginning of the season, we break everything down and we spread it between all the players, from the junior players to the senior players. “Without knowing what Football Victoria is going to give back, we don’t know what we can start charging for next season, so we’re stuck in a hard place.” Despite all the challenges, Pakenham United plans to forge ahead and build for a bright future. Gomez excitedly talks about bolstering the club’s female ranks, starting with a planned under-13 girls team next season. Though Gomez concedes the next 12 months are going to be “very hard for us”. “I think people will be struggling with money and some people might say ‘I’ve paid all my fees and seen nothing for it’, so are they going to be as committed next season to start paying?” he said. “That’s the worry I’ve got about the season. “Whether we’ve got one team or 20 teams, we’ll still be there next season.” pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
SPORT
History-making day awaits By Lance Jenkinson Pakenham Warriors coach Simo Pajdic fancied his team to contend for a title in what would have been a historic first season at Big V basketball women’s Division 1 level this year. After his players did the hard yards over a full preseason, those hopes were dashed when Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the season. “We felt we were really in that championship contention (conversation), so it is a bit frustrating to kind of have it all washed away,” Pajdic said. “(It was the) first time in club history we’ve had a team outside of Division 2, or the old Division 3. “With that, it attracted a lot of new talent, a lot of high calibre athletes, both from higher leagues and some from interstate as well, so it was a little bit unfortunate for it to kind of turn the way it did and everyone had to go their own way.” The focus for Pakenham has now shifted from what might have been, to preparations for what will hopefully be an uninterrupted 2021 season. The silver lining is that the Warriors have the bulk of their foundations in place. The core of the Warriors squad that finished runner-up in 2019 has re-committed, including stars Steph Pal and Keeley Patterson. The recruits lined up to bolster the Warriors squad in a higher division have extended their contracts. Sarah Slater, a forward out of NBL1 side Nunawading Spectres; Tarryn Wilkin, a centre from the neighbouring Casey Cavaliers in the Big V women’s Championship; and interstate signing Taylor Jones, a guard from the Hills Hornets in New South Wales, will make their long-awaited debuts once the green light is given for basketball to return.
Simo Pajdic is looking forward to seeing the Warriors return to the Big V court. 191986 Picture: ROB CAREW “We’ve re-signed the majority of our squad,” Pajdic said. “There’s just a couple of girls going into Year 12 and are unsure whether they can commit
to Year 12, to basketball, to part-time work or whatever else. “The pointy end of the squad, the recruits - they’ve all re-committed, which is fantastic.
“Our interstate player has also re-committed, so our core is certainly coming back.” Pajdic is adamant 2020 will not be remembered as a wasted year for the Warriors. With high-volume turnover in the playing ranks, the chance to get a pre-season in before the pandemic will help bolster team chemistry. “They all kind of know each other now,” Pajdic said. After so long without competitive basketball, there will also be an eagerness for Pakenham’s players to return to the court, and they should be fitter than ever. “In some ways the break’s been good,” Pajdic said. “Some of the players had little niggles going into the season, so there’s been a lot of getting their bodies right. “Hopefully the players have missed it and they’ll come back ready to go.” Pakenham’s first game in Division 1 will represent a key landmark for its women’s program. The Warriors are hoping it will be the catalyst to a strong, long-term future for the female arm of the club. “We had a senior women’s team previously, but it might not have gone to plan and that got pulled out, so a Youth Girls team was put in and we’ve had that for a couple of years, but we really needed somewhere for those girls to progress to,” Pajdic said. “Now we’ve got the senior women and the Youth League girls and we all train together, so there’s a real pathway now from under-12s through to senior women that we’ve kind of been striving for, for a couple of years and trying to make happen. “We want to make sure we’ve got that continuity and there’s no massive lapses in anything that we do.”
QUIZ NUMBER 1730
By Nick Creely Key outcomes have been achieved in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL), with AFL South East confirming the base Total Player Points (TPP) cap for the 2021 season will be 42 points. MPNFL club presidents met on 2 September to discuss and resolve their position on the TPP for 2021, following a recommendation from the AFL South East advisory board that a TPP cap of 45 points should be set across both divisions of the competition. With the maximum TPP cap allowable by AFL Victoria set at 47 points, MPNFL clubs worked to a base cap of 40 points in 2019/20. After club feedback to the recommendation, half of the clubs agreed to raise the TPP base cap to 45 points, with others wishing to keep it at 40. However a majority position has been reached to implement a base TPP cap of 42 points from next season. “It was very pleasing to see the group work together in such a constructive fashpakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
ion, acknowledging the position of others and ultimately coming to a considered final position, to be reviewed ahead of 2022,” said MPNFL football operations manager Haydn Parsons. The final position was based upon club concerns surrounding a restriction on junior development if the cap was too high, while also taking into consideration clubs who felt detrimentally impacted by the higher points caps in neighbouring leagues, particularly towards the northern end of the MPNFL. MPNFL clubs also expressed a strong motivation to implement a ‘season of service’ reduction to the player-point grading of players who remained registered at their clubs during the Covid-19 crisis. “It was quite evident that there was a strong will to reward those players who had put in the hard yards during the pre-season and remained loyal to their clubs, but ultimately - through no fault of their own missed out on a season of football,” Parsons said.
TO which famous Australian athlete did Czech Emil Zatopek give one of his gold medals?
3.
WHICH golfer has won the most major world titles?
4.
WHAT was the host country for the 2006 World Cup soccer finals?
5.
WHICH two famous pacers hailed from the NSW country town of Temora?
6.
WHAT is the traditional venue for the United States Open tennis titles?
7.
WHICH country boasts hurling as its national sport?
8.
WHICH well known international yacht race is held in British waters?
9.
WHO took the most wickets in the Ashes cricket series in 2017-18?
10. IN which sport did Malcolm Milne become Australia’s first international champion? 11. WHERE was Phar Lap placed in his only race in America? 12. WHICH two English soccer clubs play annually in the Merseyside local derby? 13. WHAT question is asked as a tennis racquet is spun to decide who serves before a match? 14. WHICH British import won the 1986 Sydney Cup? 15. WHO is the only Australian golfer to win the British Amateur title? 16. WHICH male swimmer collected the most medals by an Australian at a single Olympics prior to Ian Thorpe? 17. WHICH sport uses the terms ‘glass back’, ‘foot fault’ and ‘boast’? 18. WHICH NSW and former Test batsman faced the first ball for the breakaway World Series Cricket? 19. AFTER how many games in a tennis set is a tie break introduced?
12460088-SN37-20
Player points cap is set
WHO scored the most runs in cricket’s 2015 World Cup?
2.
20. WHAT sport is played by the Sydney Kings?
ANSWERS: 1. Martin Guptill 2. Ron Clarke 3. Jack Nicklaus 4. Germany 5. Paleface Adios and Just Too Good 6. Flushing Meadow 7. Ireland 8. The Admiral’s Cup 9. Pat Cummins 10. Snow skiing 11. First 12. Liverpool and Everton 13. ‘Rough or Smooth’ 14. Marooned 15. Doug Bachli 16. Mike Wenden 17. Squash 18. Rick McCosker 19. Twelve 20. Basketball
MPNFL clubs have agreed to a TPP cap of 42 points for 2021. 195322 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
1.
Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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STAR NEWS 23
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24 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 10 September, 2020
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