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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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Make this festive season extra special by shopping local for all your gifts, foods and entertainment. Dive into our Christmas in Cranbourne wrap for plenty of ideas to cater to the entire family this year. Remember to support the local businesses you love! Picture: Jessica gets into the festive spirit at Pokerface, an event space in Berwick that has been transformed into a Christmas scene for all to enjoy.
FUN for the Kids at Clyde during January School Holidays ... APPEARING: • • • • • • • • • •
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Mobile ART WORKSHOP with The Paint Pot People
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MON. 25/1 from 11am to 2pm Fly the Aussie Colours on Australia Day
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CHRISTMAS IN … CRANBOURNE
A real treat for beauty The team at LCA Cranbourne extends a warm welcome to all of our existing clients as well as those that are joining us for the first time. After being locked down for six months due to Covid restrictions we are now open back up and can offer our full range of services. We are pleased to advise that all of our staff were kept busy with training during the lockdown so our therapists and nurses are keen to treat you. Relatively new to the clinic is Coolsculpt the world’s number one fat removal for those stubborn pockets of fat including the chin, underarms, bra fat, stomach, flanks, inner/outer thigh and banana roll. It is the only system that
is both FDA and TGA approved with over seven million treatments performed world wide. See our advertisement in this edition for an invitation to our Coolsculpt event. If you have suffered from Mask-ne during Covid come in for a customized Microdermabrasion and add extractions or a take home mask. Other treatments include: antiwrinkle injections, lip/cheek or jaw fillers, chemical peels, pigmentation removal, vascular and acne treatments and many more including our gold standard Laser Hair Removal. We wish you all the best for the festive season and we look forward to seeing you in the clinic soon.
Head to your local bike store to satisfy those Christmas wishes.
Jump in and buy a bike now or Yule miss out
Welcome back to LCA Cranbourne!
The bike boom that began during coronavirus restrictions earlier this year is continuing and those with a bicycle on their list of gifts to buy are being urged to reserve their purchase now or wait until at least 2021. Manufacturers around the world have the pedal to the metal to fulfil larger than usual import orders, but there is a backlog to fill and only weeks until Santa slides down the chimney. Bicycle Network CEO Craig Richards said people should visit their local bike shop as soon as possible. “If you see a new bike at the top of a Christmas wish list, the time to head to the bike shop is now, otherwise you may miss out,” said Mr Richards. “People are used to putting in the early order for the turkey or seafood, but this year you should add a bike to the list of November jobs.
“If you can’t get a new bike for a loved one, you could give them a servicing IOU or gift card to restore their old clunker back to its original glory,” added Mr Richards. As well as increased demand from the Covid boom, global bike manufacturing has also been affected by the USA’s increased tariffs on goods made in China. Bike companies had stopped building bikes in China but are now starting to return, despite the increased cost. Companies that have been able to continue to produce enough bikes have then been stumped by logistics issues, with shipping delays slowing down the flow of products from the factory to shop floors. While it is expected that Santa’s elves are working hard to assist bike companies in making some new bikes, the shipping delays have also made correspondence with the North Pole difficult.
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CHRISTMAS IN … CRANBOURNE
More care ‘4’ less cost One of Australia’s fastest growing chemist chains, Pharmacy 4 Less has celebrated the grand opening of its latest outlet with show bags, fun kid’s characters and prize giveaways. Located next door to Woolworths Cranbourne West and boasting an adjoining medical centre, the new Evans Road location is highly convenient for customers now to drop off scripts to be filled while they complete their grocery shopping. Built on a foundation of professional expertise and outstanding service, Pharmacy 4 Less has been meeting customers’ healthcare needs since 2007. Thanks to their strong focus on care, you get the lowest prices on products everyday with the very best professional advice. In fact, they guarantee to beat any price on stocked items. The team of professional pharmacists, who are bilingual, pride themselves on going above and beyond for their customers and patients. As well as free home delivery, services in-
Pharmacy 4 Less, conveniently located on Evans Road. clude free blood pressure checks, free medication packing, medication checks, diabetes support, baby products, vitamins, cosmetics, perfumes, speciality items and much more. Pharmacy 4 Less Evans Road is open seven days a week until late, both weekdays and weekends for all your pharmacy needs. Make sure not to miss out on all their amazing grand opening specials that kick off on Thursday 3 December! Pharmacy 4 Less is located on Evans Rd, Cranbourne.
Send a letter to Santa! to every letter, so we’re encouraging children and families to aim to get their letters in nice and early. You can also visit the Santa Mail website for helpful templates, and to keep an eye on your letter’s progress with our Santa Mail Tracker.” To take part, letters should be addressed to Santa, North Pole 9999 with a 65c Christmas stamp on the front of the envelope and your name and return address on the back, so Santa knows where to send his reply. Parents and children who have low vision can opt-in to receive a large text reply from Santa by sending their letters to Santa Mail (large text), North Pole 9999. Santa Mail letters can be placed in any red street posting box, or a dedicated Santa Mail box in participating Post Offices, and families are encouraged to post letters before Thursday 26 November, so Santa can reply before loading up his sleigh. This year, Australia Post has also expanded Santa Mail with a new Santa letter kit available for $9.95. This includes an extra special response from Santa, stickers, bookmark and a 32-page activity book that will keep children entertained for hours with puzzles, a word find and many more activities. For further information on Santa Mail, including how to take part, letter writing tips, and the Santa Mail Tracker please visit auspost.com.au/santamail.
Christmas has arrived at Shopping on Clyde.
Stores set a festive mood At Shopping on Clyde we believe it is especially important to bring some joy to what has been a very difficult year. Giving some normality and excitement back to children is particularly important following an extended disruptive period. We are therefore happy to say that Santa will be vis-
iting our Centre for Christmas photos. This can all be done under the appropriate restrictions. Our retail family are also excited to greet you and provide some cheer as we come to the end of a difficult year. Visit www.shoppingonclyde.com.au
ALL NEW MUMS/DADS AND GRANDPARENT
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Like everyone else, the jolly man in red will be finalising his Christmas plans early this year so Australia Post is calling on kids to let him know they’ve been nice before he checks his list for that all important second time. Australia Post is once again helping to connect children directly with their number one hero via the much-loved tradition, Santa Mail and the precious letters will want to be sent early this year, so he has plenty of time to reply before Christmas Eve! Last year, 120,000 children wrote to the North Pole to let Santa know what presents they hoped to see under the tree. Australia Post’s general manager of post office network David McNamara said the postal service is doing everything it can this year to help Australians have the best possible Christmas and is looking forward to getting children and families into the festive spirit. “Santa Mail is one of those Australian traditions that families look forward to every year and it helps add a little touch of excitement at this magical time,” he said. “It’s also the perfect activity to encourage children to think about all the things that make them happy and practice their literacy skills by putting pencil to paper expressing what they are hoping for. “We want to give Santa time to respond
Baby Second Heaven would like to welcome you all back. So come and see us for all your BABY GOODS and repairs.
• Factory seconds and new baby goods • All baby equipment repairs • Installation of child restraints
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Opening Hours 10 am-4 pm Tel: 9769 2366 Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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CHRISTMAS IN … CRANBOURNE
The team at Brian’s Gourmet Meats will bring festive cheer to your table.
Feast with quality meat Brian’s Gourmet Meats is a family owned, quality butcher shop. The team pride themselves on supporting our local farmers so customers can enjoy natural grass fed beef from across the Gippsland region. Brian’s Gourmet Meats has good news for coeliacs too, as they are the first butcher shop in Australia to be accredited with Coeliac Australia by going gluten free in all their crumbing and marinades.
With Christmas fast approaching, hectic schedules mean we are all time poor - but Brian’s Gourmet Meats can certainly help tick off that Christmas menu! The shop has noticed a trend over the past couple of years of traditional roast dinners being replaced with mouth watering spit meat. Fortunately, spits and spit hire including souvlaki, whole roasts and whole lambs are definitely one of their specialities. Popular marinades like gyros, red wine and garlic, double
smoked and herb and garlic are available. Customers with their own spits are invited to bring in their poles and allow Brian’s Gourmet Meats to organise the meat, ready to cook. And because it’s Christmas, of course they have their customary Numurkah free range turkeys, beautiful legs and shoulders of pork and gluten free hams in all the favourite cuts. If you love fresh seafood at Christmas, Brian’s Gourmet Meats are also happy to take orders for prawns, bugs, oysters, fish, New Zealand
salmon and more. All seafood is by order only. They also stock a large range of gluten free condiments, sauces, and a frozen gluten free range of pies, dim sims, meal kits, crumpets, bread and pastry. Don’t be disappointed - plan your Christmas feast now, the order books are open. Brian’s Gourmet Meats is open seven days a week and offers online ordering and home delivery across Melbourne. See website for details www.briansgourmetmeats.com.au.
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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SPECIALS ON SALE FROM 11th NOVEMBER- 25th DECEMBER 2020. ONLY AVAILABLE IN STORE AT HUNT CLUB DISCOUNT DRUG STORE. FAILURE BY SUPPLIER TO DELIVER OR OTHER UNINTENTIONAL CAUSES MAY RESULT IN SOME ITEMS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT BEING UNAVAILABLE. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CORRECT PRINTING ERRORS. ALL PRICES ARE GST INCLUSIVE.
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More than low prices At Hunt Club Discount Drug Store the team believe in not only offering affordable health care, but also in providing a wide range of health services. Owner Maikel Attia believes it is the duty of a pharmacist and easily accessible health care professional to offer services such as sleep apnoea screening, medication packing, asthma inhaler technique checks, blood pressure monitoring and more. Yet many people are not aware that pharmacies offer such a wide range of services. For many the pharmacy is the health destination they visit the most often each year. Services such as sleep apnoea screening are well positioned in pharmacy. With 90 percent of people who have obstructive sleep apnoea unaware they are suffering from it, pharmacists are able help identify patients with multiple risk factors such as obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes for possible screening. Hunt Club Discount Drug Store is able to help make a positive difference to many people in the community with this service and others. Along with offering a large number of services centred around chronic health conditions the pharmacy also is embracing advances in technology. These days we are all busier than ever and time is a precious commodity. At Hunt Club Discount Drug Store the team are working hard to help make your prescription management as simple as possible. Not only can you leave your prescriptions on file so you never misplace them again, but you can also
The team at Hunt Club Discount Drug Store. download the Discount Drug Store app. The app allows you to see what scripts you have on file and when they are due, and it also allows you to order your scripts and any front of shop items you might like ahead of time. So, all you need to do is come by and pick them up! The store has also embraced the recently released electronic prescriptions, which is progressively being rolled out across the country. Be sure to talk to your doctor about electronic prescriptions on your next visit. The team at Hunt Club Discount Drug Store are here for all your health care needs and to help empower you with the knowledge you need to be a healthier you!
They’re bloomin’ beautiful By Danielle Kutchel Floral arrangements are a perfect way to add some colour to your Yule time table. Ensure your house is looking its festive, floral best with these popular blooms: Lilies Lilies and amaryllis are always a popular choice at Christmas in a variety of colours. Many varieties have a beautiful scent that will perfume your home. They can be placed in an arrangement with other flowers or in a vase on their own and prefer to be kept away from direct sunlight in a cool environment. Remember though that lilies are extremely toxic to cats, causing acute renal failure, so think twice before gifting them to your cat-loving friend and keep them out of reach of your own felines. Poinsettia The poinsettia has come to symbolise Christmas, and with its bright red and green foliage it’s not hard to see why. They are commonly found in pots, ready to adorn a table or bench in your house. However, they can be finicky; they don’t like too much water, but take care also to not let them dry out. If the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off, you may not be watering it correctly. They’re native to Mexico, so they also prefer warmth and light, and make sure to protect them from wind and draughts to keep them happy for the Christmas season. Rosemary It might not be the first plant that comes to mind when you think of Christmas, but this Mediterranean herb is actually perfect for an Australian Christmas. It’s easy to grow and care for, and fills the air with a mouthwatering perfume. It can be pruned into a Christmas tree shape if desired, and best of all, pairs deliciously well with the Christmas roast.
Lilies work well on their own or in an arrangement with other festive colours.
Bring some Rosemary inside for your floral arrangement - and the roast!
Poinsettias are an iconic Christmas bloom.
Your Special Gift for Christmas is right here at Drysdale’s Specialising in designing, remodelling of Jewellery
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‘Green’ festivities By Danielle Kutchel The festive season is a time for joy, but peak consumerism can have a harsh impact on our planet. Look outside the concrete box this Christmas and opt for sustainable choices that will be easier on your hip pocket, better for the planet and will still elicit gasps of joy on Christmas morning. DECORATIONS With a bit of creative nous, almost anything around the house can be turned into a decoration. Used coffee pods, for example, make a creative adornment for presents or even the Christmas tree. Simply clean them, cut a hole in the top and thread through some ribbon or twine, and you’ve got yourself some crafty little Christmas bells, ready for hanging on a tree or decorating a gift. Cut-up soft drink bottles can be arranged into a boot shape and covered with Christmas-themed fabric to create standup stockings, ready for filling with presents. Create one-of-a-kind wreaths using the leaves and flowers you pick up at your local park or in the garden - the kids are sure to love getting involved in putting it together, and the majority of the materials used will breakdown naturally in the garden or compost after the season is over. WRAPPING There’s no need to cut corners on your gift wrapping for the sake of the planet, because there are plenty of eco-friendly ways to wrap up a gift in a way that shows your love for both the planet and the recipient. Thinking about the context of the gift can help. Gifts for the kitchen can be wrapped in a Christmas-themed tea-towel; the wrapping then becomes part of the present and can be used over and over again, rather than being
Make your own wreath using plants from the garden or local park. thrown into landfill on Christmas night. Or, try wrapping presents in cloths, like scarves or bandannas. Again, it’s a beautiful way to incorporate the gift into the wrapping. Add some leaves or flowers from the garden under the ribbon for a simple, cheap decoration. Old shoeboxes make terrific gift boxes and are a good way to reuse something you would normally just throw out. Wrap it in newspaper to increase your recycling credentials, or ask the kids to draw their best festive pictures on the box for that personal touch. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can pick up fabric scraps or old clothes from the op shop and
Pet care too
turn them into Santa sacks, ready to fill with presents to gift to the ones you love. GIFTS When purchasing gifts, look for those with minimal packaging to immediately cut the environmental impact. Hit up local op shops or see if there is anything around the house that you can re-gift to a better home. Steer clear of cheap products that are likely to break before Boxing Day and opt for something sturdier, like gifts made of wood or metal. Farmers and craft markets are great places to pick up unique presents with less packaging and plastic - and best of all, they’re handmade, locally sourced and support small businesses. You could also try your hand at making your own gifts for loved ones. Everyone loves homecooked treats like jams, brownies, gingerbread or Christmas-themed slices. Decorate jars with a scrap of vintage fabric and twine for that old-fashioned feel. If you know there is a cause dear to your recipient’s heart, there are plenty of websites that allow you to make donations to causes around the world. From education for girls to goats for villages or tickets to charity lotteries, the options are endless - and it means you’re giving a present to not just one, but two people or potentially a whole village. Or why not opt for the gift of an experience they’ll never forget? A gift voucher for a delicious dinner out, a hot air balloon ride or a glamping trip is sure to bring a smile to your loved one’s face. If you are keen to buy something new, try websites or local shops offering sustainable options. Some, like the Melbourne Zoo gift shop, donate some of their profits towards charitable causes like conservation or assistance for farmers - so your gift goes even further.
Christmas is a time for family - and pets are family too, meaning they too deserve special care and attention over the festive season. It can be a hectic time, with visitors, deliveries, and even time away from home to cope with, along with hotter weather. Changes in routine can be distressing for some animals, and the extra feet in the house, or banging on the door by the postie, can be distressing. Disruption caused by family members going on holidays can compound the stress your fur baby feels at this time of year. RSPCA Victoria has put together a number of tips on how to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe this season. Tips include: Keep decorations up high and out of reach of playful pooches and clever kitties who might see your delicate glass baubles or dangling tinsel as toys. Glass baubles can break into dangerous shards if your pet plays with them, so it’s best to keep them out of harm’s way. Don’t feed your pets cooked bones. If you plan to give your pet some meat scraps, make sure these are given in small quantities and are free of any sauces that might upset their stomachs. Many Christmas plants, like holly, poinsettia, lillies and mistletoe are highly toxic for pets, so keep them out of reach. And don’t buy un-desexed pets from markets, newspapers or online marketplaces.
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YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE! For more than 60 years, Dandenong Christmas Tree Farm has been delighting customers with that most precious of festive traditions: a real, live Christmas tree. Customers are invited to visit the farm and take a wander amongst the rows of green until they find their perfect tree.There is a tree for every family, in different heights to fit any house. Staff will cut the tree and can net it for easy transportation for a small fee. They’re easy to take care of too; just keep them watered and your tree will last the whole Christmas season.
46 years experience in growing Trees
Magnificent trees 1- 3 m (4 to 10ft) Stands available You can come and choose your tree from:
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e l r y t u o S Y n i e r i t New Home Awaits e R Blue Hills Residences, Cranbourne East - Blue Hills Rise, Cranbourne East has a great selection of resale everything you need in the one units available. place. All resales are reinstated which may include a fresh paint, new appliances, carpet, beautiful fittings & furnishings, established gardens & all within walking distance of the amazing Country Club.
Make the most of onsite specialist services including visiting Doctor, Hair Salon, Podiatry & Massage Therapy.
Enjoy a resort lifestyle with amazing onsite facilities including: Heated Indoor Pool & Spa Cinema Sports Bar Restaurant Bowling Green - Full Size Tennis Court - Full Size Onsite Cafe RV Storage & Hair Salon & visiting Specialists
All of this with the peace of mind of onsite 24/7 emergency assistance, security & smoke detector monitoring.
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
A shot at stardom By Mitchell Clarke
Aspiring model Yasith Peiris received a three-year contract, after winning a national search.
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
An aspiring model is set for a career on the runway after he beat out hundreds of budding stars to win in a national search. Clyde North model Yasith Peiris, 18, received the life-changing news that he’d be given a modelling contract while he was stacking shelves at Coles. “I got a call to say that I had won it and I literally screamed in one of the aisles and started crying into my phone,” he laughed. “It was really a proud moment. I was stuttering. It’s such an amazing opportunity and this is something I’m so passionate about.” Being a South Asian and LGBTQ+ model, Mr Peiris told Star News that he was excited to represent a community which was typically under-represented in the media. Mr Peiris grew up in a community where he felt he had to be a “certain way”. He said the way of life he wanted was different to the life his parents had planned for him For the full story, turn to page 22.
Budget winners Schools across Casey have scored big in the handing down of the 2020-21 Victorian Budget. As the state continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Budget, which was released on Tuesday 24 November, delivers the single biggest spend ever in schools, according to the State Government. Strathaird Primary School in Narre Warren South will receive $10 million to upgrade and modernise the school by building a new eco cubby and toilet block, while Hampton Park
Secondary College will receive $7.56 million. The yet-to-be-built Clyde North Station Primary School scored $11.3 million to move forward with the next stage of their new specialist school campus. Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said the investment in schools would ensure kids across Cardinia and Casey were able to attend a “great local school”. She added the projects would also create new jobs and get locals back into work. The school infrastructure build is set to cre-
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Away from schools, the Budget is set to support the booming south east, with the Growing Suburbs Fund to be extended. On top of the $25 million boost earlier this year, an additional $50 million will help build new local facilities, from playgrounds to sporting pavilions. In welcome news on the emergency services front, the Budget has set aside money to acquire land for a brand new CFA station in Clyde. The unprecedented budget has listed an ambitious target of creating 400,000 new jobs by 2025 - with half of those to be filled by 2022.
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ate more than 6400 jobs across the state. “We know getting more people back into work will speed up our recovery from the pandemic,” Ms Crugnale said. “I’m thrilled that investments in health, schools and housing will create jobs, and make our communities even better than they were before.” Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas added: “We’re helping make sure that no worker is left behind by providing dedicated individual support to those that have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.”
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Budget boost for Cranbourne college By Mitchell Clarke A Cranbourne North secondary college will receive a $1 million funding boost in the 2020/21 Victorian Budget. Alkira Secondary College will use the huge sum of money to build a cover, lights and upgraded scoreboard for the school’s outdoor hard courts. The funding was announced by Education Minister James Merlino and Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards on 21 November, who said the school community had done “an incredible job” in supporting students throughout the disrupted year. “Families in Cranbourne North have done a phenomenal job in supporting student to learn from home,” Ms Richards said. “As kids return to their classrooms, we want to make Alkira Secondary College better than before.” Ms Richards added that the funding would contribute to providing a “great education”, it’ll also create new local jobs. The money comes from a greater $1.18 billion investment, which was announced by the State Government earlier this year as part of the Building Works Package. That package is set to create space for more than 21,000 extra students in the state’s education system, while also creating around 1,600 local construction jobs. Across Victoria, the State Government has vowed to deliver 1,460 school upgrades. The upgrades include the building of new classrooms, fixing old buildings and delivering learning spaces.
Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards outside Alkira Secondary College following the budget announcement. Mr Merlino said the package would ensure every child had a “great local school”. “This is an investment in our kids and their future, because every child, no matter where they go to school, deserves access to state-of-
the-art facilities,” he said. “Schools are the heart of our communities, so it makes sense that we’re investing in upgrades to support local jobs to drive our economic recovery.”
Drive-off: Search for stolen scissor lift A Cranbourne West construction site has become the subject of a police investigation, after a costly scissor lift was allegedly stolen. Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a commercial burglary at the construction site earlier this month. Unknown offenders attended the address
in Industrial Circuit about 7.40pm on Sunday 8 November. It’s believed the alleged offenders arrived at the site in a silver Nissan Navara towing a large trailer and a white Holden Commodore utility. A scissor lift, valued at $25,000, was stolen during the burglary.
Cranbourne line upgrade works will ramp up this week with buses replacing trains on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, combined with road closures at the Greens Road level crossing. Buses will replace trains between Dandenong and Cranbourne stations from 8pm on Wednesday 25 November until last service on Wednesday 2 December. Buses replacements will extend from Cranbourne to Caulfield stations from 8pm on Friday 27 November until 4am on Sunday 29 November. Trains will also be replaced between Caulfield and Cranbourne between 8pm and the last train each night from Monday 30 November to Wednesday 2 December. A total of 90 parking spots will close in the Cheltenham Road car park at Dandenong station from 4am on Wednesday 25 November until 4am on Thursday 3 December. Greens Road in Dandenong South will be closed eastbound at the level crossing between Kitchen Road and the South Gippsland Highway from 7am to 7pm on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. There will also be various lane closures across the 700-metre stretch, including single lane closures in each direction from 8pm Wednesday 25 November until 3am on Wednesday 2 December. At Abbotts Road, there will be overnight road closures at the level crossing between National Drive and the South Gippsland Highway from 11.30pm until 5am on Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 and Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 December. During the works, crews will carry out major construction for three rail bridges, continue installing power and signalling along the line, while also starting works to excavate an underpass for the new Merinda Park station. Metro Trains will also undertake maintenance works between Dandenong and Caulfield. To ensure the safety of all workers and the community, all construction and maintenance work undertaken will operate under a High Risk Covid Safe plan. Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app. Travellers are encouraged to plan ahead for their journey, via. www.ptv.vic.gov.au
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A scissor lift, valued at $25,000, was stolen during the burglary.
Investigators have released images of the two vehicles involved in the hope someone may recognise them. Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information about the vehicles is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Week-long train line disruptions
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STAR NEWS 3
NEWS
Award win a ‘team effort’ By Danielle Kutchel A Hampton Park teacher has been named one of the best in the state at this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards. Averil Mitchell, leading teacher student engagement and inclusion at Hampton Park Primary School, was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Primary Teacher Award at a livestreamed ceremony on Friday 20 November. Ms Mitchell was recognised for her “sustained commitment to building positive relationships and expertise across the school and wider community”, with the Awards noting that she “has been instrumental in creating a successful, safe and supportive learning environment for all students”. Ms Mitchell said just being nominated had been humbling enough, let alone being named the winner, and said it was the result of the hard work of a team of educators and staff at the school. “There’s an enormous team of people that goes into creating this school community and the health and wellbeing of our kids,” she said. Ms Mitchell has been a teacher at Hampton Park for 22 years, beginning as a year 5/6 teacher. Her current role has evolved from a part-time position over her time at the school. Her current role encompasses supporting the engagement and wellbeing of students at the school and ensuring the classroom is a positive environment where all children are able to achieve. She leads the Program for Students with Disabilities and the Education Support Inclusion Team, ensuring staff are aware of the adjustments necessary for individual students. Ms Mitchell said after a tricky year, staff were mindful of the impact of Covid on students and would put in place any support services that students might need.
Award winning teacher Averil Mitchell. 222093 Wellbeing was thrown into sharp relief during the pandemic, and Ms Mitchell and the team stepped up to the challenge. Throughout remote learning, the school’s wellbeing team
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS remained in contact with families, checking in to provide advice and support. “It takes a village to support our kids,” Ms Mitchell explained
“It takes all of us working together with the school’s vision to work towards improving student outcomes for every student in our school.”
EVERY TEST HELPS Every test helps us keep on top of this virus. So even if your symptoms are mild, or you’ve been tested before, every test helps.
For testing locations visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12471638-LB48-20
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Violence crisis exposed By Mitchell Clarke The devastating reality of Melbourne’s harsh lockdown has been laid bare in heartbreaking new local family violence figures. With the lockdown lifted, the family violence frontline is anticipating yet another spike in calls for help, as victims begin to seek support more easily. Figures obtained by the Star News from Wayss - an organisation which assists vulnerable women and children experiencing violence and homelessness across Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong - has revealed the seriousness of the systemic problem. Thirty women were on the Wayss waiting list for case management support at the beginning of the year - that number has now reached 135. “That means over 100 women are waiting for support. It’s a bit like hospital waiting lists - they’re always there, but there are acceptable and unacceptable limits. This is an unacceptable limit,” Wayss CEO Liz Thomas said. Ms Thomas said changing the culture around violence against women was paramount in bringing and end to the crisis. “Family violence has never been a greater issue. It’s just not acceptable,” she said. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the enormity of the problem. In March, as the first lockdown began, Wayss recorded an increase of 30.4 per cent of family violence reports referred from Victoria Police, when compared to the same time last year. “In January, the figures are always very high and in February, when kids return to school it tends to drop. But in March, we saw it rise to 751 cases when the pandemic first started to have an impact,” Ms Thomas explained. In April and May, those calls dropped slightly, but were still an increase of 26.6 and 16.3 per cent, respectively, when compared to the same time in 2019. By June, when life returned to some normality, Wayss received 729 calls for help from women across the south east, an increase of 46.4 per cent. As the second wave hit and a stricter lockdown was imposed across August, September and October, the figures again dropped dramatically - just a two per cent, four per cent and one per cent increase, respectively. In October alone, Wayss responded to 351 police reports of family violence from Casey, 99 in Cardinia and 156 in Greater Dandenong. Throughout the last month, 19 people in Casey, one person in Cardinia and nine in Greater Dandenong were currently listed as homeless or at “imminent risk” of becoming homeless due to a violent partner. But the November figures, which are expected to be released in December, are expected to paint an even more harrowing story. “We expect our November figures to be even higher as people come out of this most recent lockdown,” Ms Thomas said. “During lockdown, the figures tend to subside, and as soon as we come out of lockdown, it rises again.”
Figures courtesy of Wayss. The pandemic has also given rise to more serious and complex offending, Ms Thomas said. Different types of family violence have occurred, including adult children being abusive towards their parents, as well as sibling to sibling violence. Ms Thomas said case workers revealed the nature of that violence tended to be “more horrific and sustained”. Another grave concern is the lead up to the festive season, which is a notoriously dangerous time for victims.
Wayss CEO Liz Thomas. “We’re about to go into that peak season. The situation is already volatile and that’s why we’re so concerned,” Ms Thomas said. “There’s alcohol and more time at home which exposes relationship tensions and gives rise to alcohol induced violence.” On Cup Day alone, Wayss received 75 reports of family violence across the three local government areas. Ms Thomas said the focus now was to “get the waitlist under control and start a conversation about what’s going on in our local communities”.
“For something that’s systemic, like family violence, we need to chunk it down to pieces that people can respond to,” she added. “If we talk about the issue of family violence at a federal or state level, it’s of interest, but when you start talking about what’s happening in your own neighbourhood, it makes it all very real.” Support services are available by calling 1800 RESPECT. Anyone concerned about their own behaviour can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.
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STAR NEWS 5
OPINION
IN BRIEF Lesson learned
False statements
A learner driver who was under the impression he could drive unaccompanied whilst doing 60km/h over the speed limit has learnt his lesson the hard way. Police detected the vehicle allegedly travelling at 140km/h in an 80km/h zone on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne North on Saturday, 21 November. Checks revealed he was the holder of a Victorian Learners Permit. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days and he is expected to be charged with dangerous speed, being an unaccompanied learner driver, failure to display L-plates and excessive speed.
On Monday 23 November the Cardinia Shire Council elected the first mayor and deputy mayor to lead them during this council term. I congratulate Cr Brett Owen on his election as mayor and Cr Jeff Springfield on his election as deputy mayor. Both councillors are well deserving of these roles and I wish them all the best for the following 12 months. However I would like to correct some of the false statements regarding gender equality that were made by Cr Carol Ryan during her nomination speech for the deputy mayor position. Cr Ryan stated that it would a first for Cardinia Shire if there was a male/female combination in the two leadership roles. That is incorrect, it has happened twice before. In 2014 I was elected mayor for the 2014/15 year and Cr Graeme Moore served as the deputy mayor during this time. The following year Cr Jodie Owen was elected mayor and I served as the deputy mayor and this truely was a first for Cardinia Shire, having two females in the roles. In 2016 Cr Brett Owen was elected the mayor
Information needed Police are seeking assistance relating to a collision that occurred on 13 September 2020 at around 8pm on Codrington Street, Cranbourne. The victim was riding an electric skateboard north on Codrington Street, Cranbourne. As the victim went through the Lyall Street rounda-bout he was struck by a white vehicle - believed to be a Honda Jazz or similar. The victim received a broken leg as a result of the impact. The female driver stopped briefly to check on the victim, before leaving in her vehicle without exchanging details. Police are seeking any witnesses to the incident. Any information should be directed to Senior Constable Tom Smith at Endeavour Hills police station on 9709 7666 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
for the 2016/17 year and Cr Jodie Owen served as his deputy mayor. She also claimed that in the last five years only male councillors had held the two positions and again that is incorrect as is outlined above. She also made the statement that there was NOW three female councillors. This is the same number of female councillors that served on the previous council with Cr Jodie Owen and myself both retiring at the recent election only a month ago. Whilst I sincerely hope that the female councillors do have the opportunity to serve in these roles it is important that the roles are filled by the councillor that is most deserving of these important leadership roles. Thankfully council made the right decision on Monday night and voted for the councillor who is the most competent for the role and Cr Springfield was elected. Regards, Leticia Wilmot, Leticia Wilmot is a former Cardinia Shire councillor
LENSCAPE
Disaster waiting to happen Members of the Frontline Tactical Unit averted a potential tragedy after they allegedly spotted a red Holden Commodore swerving all over the road on the South Gippsland Freeway in Hampton Park around 11pm on Saturday, 21 November. Checks revealed the 23-year-old driver was the holder of a disqualified Victorian driver licence and had driven all the way from Surrey Hills before being intercepted. She underwent a preliminary breath test which indicated her breath contained alcohol, however she allegedly refused to accompany police to a police station for an evidentiary breath test. The Dandenong woman’s vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1005. Police say she will be charged on summons with refusing to accompany for breath test, driving whilst disqualified and careless driving.
Colourful Cardinia Waters Bowls Club. 222351
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN Thumbs Down! To plant pot thieves. Another one out of the yard gone walkabout last week.
Arrests over knife attack Six thugs have been arrested after they allegedly pulled a knife on a 15-year-old boy before stealing his hat. The incident, which occurred at about 3.40pm on Monday 23 November, unfolded at the Narre Warren train station. Police allege the group approached the 15-year-old boy and produced a knife before making demands for his hat. It’s then believed the group stole the victim’s hat, before alleging fleeing on foot and boarding a bus towards Cranbourne. Police, who had been notified of the attack, were able to track down the thugs on board. The alleged offenders were searched and officers were able to locate the stolen hat. The six males were all arrested. They were said to be “assisting police with their enquiries”. The investigation remains ongoing.
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Thumbs Up! To Kelly’s shaved ham parma! Will revolutionise parmas.
Thumbs Down!
Thumbs Up! To all my family and friends for helping me with a Christmas pudding drive for Bk 2 Basics. One week in, and with their generosity I’ve made my four week goal of 100 puddings collected. The adjusted goal is now 200 puddings.
Thumbs Up!
To my sister’s partner.
To no more active cases of Covid-19 in Casey!
Thumbs Up!
Thumbs Up!
To all the checkout operators who have looked after us all year. Also to everyone returning to work with smiles in their eyes despite the masks, extra cleaning, and safety measures.
Thumbs Up! To a decent Christmas with family.
To the kitten rescue story in Berwick, published on 19 November. I just loved it. A much needed feel good story. Wonder where mumma puss is?
Thumbs Down! To everyone who complains about traffic.
SOCIALLY SPEAKING On Friday 20 November, a story was published to the Berwick Star News Facebook page about Clyde Road in Berwick ranking as one of Victoria’s crash hotspots. Here is how our readers reacted online: Maria Ascenzo: Gee what a surprise this is ... Avoid this road between 8-9am and 3-5pm. Amy Bentley: Cause everyone sits up your back and never keeps a safe distance. Paul Wilson: As far as I can see, the intersection has traffic lights, so how can the intersection be “dangerous”. Follow the lights = no accidents, what it does show is that this area has a high number of d***head drivers that don’t comprehend red/green. Laura Gagatsis: No surprise it’s the worst. Caroline Giuliano: Try Kooweerup-Pakenham Road. Worst I have seen it in 35 years. Annette Jean Knight: Berwick Road and Wellington Road ... so dangerous. Ian Venables: Data says most accidents are nose to tail ... How can the road be blamed for these types of accidents? Gail Page: l would agree, l do not like that intersection. Krystal Bevan: Exactly what I said the other day ... So many people run red lights here at all times of the day. I even saw a truck turn right from the going straight lane just to beat the other eight cars waiting. The other cars already in the intersection didn’t see him coming, and yes it was a Friday. People are too impatient! Tony Kruzicevic: Stop blaming the roads! Place the blame where it belongs and that’s with the t***s incapable of driving. Anna Pajewska Logan: The reason why it’s so dangerous is all to do with the drivers and not the road. Garry Salomons: Have a look at Racecourse Road what a joke ... trucks, trucks and trains, trains ... should have been fixed at least 20 years ago. Johnny Spicuzza: Like a rat race down here what a joke the roads are. Gary Hughes: Would like to know the real stats on these so called accidents and how many drivers were reading/sending texts in those nose to tail collisions. Matthew Cox: Pretty simple fix is put red light cameras in with speed cameras built in. That will stop the speeding through on amber light. The scary part is the amount of tradies I see flying through this intersection. Franco Pinto: Clyde Road urgently needs an underpass or flyover. The intersection is accident prone due to traffic frustrations. Also, people don’t understand the signal when turning right from Greaves or O’Shea. They turn right onto oncoming traffic which has priority.
Local libraries reopen By Jessica Anstice
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All libraries across Casey and Cardinia have reopened their doors to the community, after several months spent closed through the coronavirus lockdown. As things return to a new kind of normal, Casey Cardinia Libraries (CCL) are delighted to welcome community members back into their libraries. From Monday 23 November, all CCL Libraries will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Bunjil Place Library will be open on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm for click and collect only. The Cardinia Mobile Library will continue to run its regular route and will be at Bunyip every second Saturday, starting Saturday 21 November. Other services available from CCL include click and collect of holds and Binge Bags, free home delivery to Casey and Cardinia residents and return chutes open 24/7. “We are so happy to see people back in our
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
libraries again,” CCL CEO Chris Buckingham said. “Our staff have truly missed seeing the community in our branches. Behind all the face masks there are lots of smiles.” Summer What’s On events for adults, kids and teens launches on Tuesday 24 November and is jam packed with online events to keep the community entertained over summer. For now, all events will be run online but this will be reviewed in early 2021. “We really appreciate the way people are acting responsibly by wearing face masks, practicing good hygiene and maintaining social distancing,” Mr Buckingham added. “When everyone does the right thing, we are all safer for it. “We hope to extend our opening hours further as government restrictions ease and everyone gets used to being back in the libraries again.” For more information to the CCL website www.ccl.vic.gov.au or call customer care, 1800 577 548.
Pakenham Library ranch manager Bec Mitchem, outreach officer Donna Ratten and customer experience officer Chris Owen. 221800
Pakenham Library outreach officer Donna Ratten with her butterfly installation. 221800 cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
Cigarette smuggler jailed By Jessica Anstice
MP Pauline Richards at Lynbrook Station.
The announcement will come as a big relief for commuters.
New parking at Lynbrook By Mitchell Clarke More than 100 new car parking spaces have now opened at Lynbrook Station, providing relief for commuters preparing to use public transport again. The new carpark, which can fit 374 vehicles, officially opened on Monday 23 November and is the most recent project to be carried out as part of the State Government’s Cranbourne Line upgrade. The increase of 135 new carparks, as part of the ‘Car Parks for Commuters Program’, has boosted capacity at Lynbrook by more than 50 per cent. The new and improved space will also feature improved lighting and CCTV. It follows the removal of the level crossing and reopening of the nearby Evans Road at Lyndhurst in October.
Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards said the “massive improvements” around the south east would provide “faster, more reliable and safer journeys” for tens of thousands of local people. “Building more car parking at local stations together with the recently removed level crossing, and reopening of Evans Road after fifteen years, are making travel more convenient for the Lyndhurst, Cranbourne West and Lynbrook communities,” she said. The $1 billion Cranbourne Line upgrade will see every single crossing removed between Cranbourne and the city by 2025. So far, 12 level crossings have already been removed, with three more to go. A new station at Merinda Park is also being built.
A Melbourne man has been sentenced to jail for two years after pleading guilty in the Victorian County Court for laundering more than $1.8 million. Chin Hong Soh, a 25-year-old originally from Malaysia, admitted to his involvement in a large scale criminal syndicate which operated a money laundering and tobacco operation between May and July last year. Along with two co-accused, Soh collected significant amounts of cash using a black bag from people in Hallam ($410k), Narre Warren ($220k) and Sunbury ($1.3m) in exchange for tobacco products, the court heard. The cigarette smuggling trio rented storage units in Caroline Springs and Deer Park before illegally importing 560,000 tobacco sticks in May and a further 182,592 cigarettes in July. Australian Federal Police (AFP) members conducted a search warrant at an apartment in Melbourne on 24 July and as a result, discovered $1.8 million in Australian and foreign currency. That same day, Soh was arrested by the AFP. The court heard that after moving to Australia in 2013, Soh was expected by his conservative Malaysian family to secure a high paying job to support his parents, however when this did not eventuate, he turned to an “easy way to make money”. In sentencing, Judge Anne Hassan said Soh’s prospects were “good”, however he will be deported back to Malaysia after serving his sentence. “This offending is not victimless. The revenue must be protected to enable the government to provide for the community,” she said. “The person who launders money is an important cog in the wheel of organised
Chin Hong Soh, a 25-year-old originally from Malaysia, admitted to his involvement in a large scale criminal syndicate which operated a money laundering and tobacco operation between May and July last year. crime and such conduct warrants severe punishment.” In conducting the crime, Soh took on an organisation role to recruit and provide instructions, telephone intercept material obtained by the AFP revealed. Judge Hassan said his position was “far from lowly”. “You directed the actions of others here in Australia and it is clear from the telephone intercepts and from items from your home ... that you had organisational responsibility as well as a hands on role of the distribution of money within the syndicate,” she stated in the hearing. “Your money laundering activity was over a relatively short period of time but it was not a one off occurrence and it involved a significant amount of money. “Your offending was vital to the viability and ongoing operations of the criminal syndicate.” Soh was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, with 16 months to be served before he is to be released on a recognisance for eight months.
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Casey’s beauty awarded Three City of Casey projects have been recognised at this year’s Keep Victoria Beautiful 2020 Sustainable Cities Awards. The City of Casey won the Energy Award for the Casey ARC Energy Savers program, the Litter Award for its Bollard Camera initiative and was highly commended in the Environment Awards category for its Integrated Water Management program. The awards recognise and celebrate positive actions taken by communities in urban areas to protect and enhance their local environments. They encompass initiatives as diverse as litter prevention, recycling, protection of the environment, preserving heritage, community action, and social wellbeing programs.
Casey’s chair of administrators Noelene Duff said it was a fantastic result that highlighted the many and varied projects undertaken by the council to enhance the City of Casey. “These projects demonstrate council’s commitment to delivering innovative projects that will provide environmental benefits, cost savings and enhance our city today and into the future,” Ms Duff said. The Casey ARC Energy Savers program recognises the suite of energy saving initiatives that have been undertaken at the leisure facility since it opened in 2000, which have helped to reduce energy bills by 35 percent and has delivered an approximate 30 percent reduc-
tion in water consumption between 20172020. This has been achieved through a combination of solar panels, improved monitoring and management of equipment and lighting to achieve savings outside of opening hours and updating infrastructure to more energy efficient models. Casey’s Integrated Water Management Plan endeavours to build a water efficient city through a series of stormwater harvesting projects that help to reduce the amount of drinking water used on sporting reserves and open spaces and address seasonal flooding issues. Three stormwater harvesting projects have
already been delivered in Berwick saving 39 million litres of potable water and five others have been identified in Narre Warren, including the planned stormwater treatment and storage system for Max Pawsey Reserve. The Bollard Camera program, used by Council’s litter prevention team, helps to reduce rubbish dumping in isolated reserves and sporting grounds and new housing estates. The relatively low-cost initiative, where cameras are retrofitted into existing bollards, has helped to identify areas where illegal dumping has occurred and provided evidence used to identify offenders.
Fundraiser a big charity hit By Jessica Anstice An iconic golf day, hosted by Facey, took to the tee online this year to raise vital funds for Make-A-Wish Australia and support critically ill young people in need. Australian PGA champion Nick O’Hern helped attendees perfect their putt from home as he shared his top tips and tales from his time on tour. The real estate agency raised close to $23,000 for the charity - an impressive result for the very first virtual adaption in the event’s 26-year history. Every year, the golf day generates substantial funds from supporters and sponsors in the community. In addition to previous fundraising efforts throughout the past two decades, this year’s
new format brings the company’s total contributions to more than $550,000. “It was an extremely satisfying result and the Casey Cardinia Make-A-Wish Branch are delighted with the generosity in these difficult times,” Facey director Josh Kendall said. Make-A-Wish Australia brings joy to the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families by granting life-changing wishes. To get involved and to donate to Make-AWish Australia, visit: www.makeawish.org.au
Australian PGA champion Nick O’Hern helped attendees perfect their putt from home as he shared his top tips and tales from his time on tour.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
New Kmart a Casey boost By Danielle Kutchel Casey residents and those from further afield now have more choice when shopping for their family, with the opening of Kmart Casey Central. The new Kmart replaces the Target store that had previously occupied the site. Socially distanced shoppers respected queuing rules to enter the new store on Thursday 19 November, and trolleys were loaded with Christmas goodies, clothes, toys and homewares as customers grabbed themselves a bargain. Just 15 days ago, the store was empty of products: now, the 5000-square space has been filled with the products customers know and love, from pie makers and air fryers to bicycles and shoes. John Gualtieri , Retail Director Kmart’s Australia & New Zealand said: “We are so excited to be welcoming Kmart Casey into the family and open our doors to the local community just in time for Christmas. “Our team have been working hard to bring this new store to life and it’s stocked full of great value, on-trend products that we know our customers are going to absolutely love.” The majority of staff from the old Target have been retained and retrained; according to Mr Gualtieri, 47 Target team members transferred across. An additional 104 team members have been recruited from the local community, in a much-needed jobs boost for the area. Continuing the focus on community, the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is already up and running. The Wishing Tree Appeal supports The Salvation Army and is Australia’s largest and longest-running Christmas gift collection appeal, delivering more than eight million gifts to date. With so many people struggling after the devastation of 2020, donations of gifts and money are most welcome. Customers can leave a gift beneath the tree, donate in collection boxes at registers or add a donation to their transaction at self-service checkouts, or even donate online by scanning a Wishing Tree QR code that can be found in store. The opening of Kmart fills a gap at Casey Central Shopping Centre, offering children’s clothes and homewares so that now the whole family’s needs can be picked up in one trip. Louise Hurley, Casey Central Centre Manager said the rebrand of Target to Kmart has been eagerly awaited by the Casey Central community. “It is something that our customers have
Kmart Casey Central is now open for business. been wanting for a long time, it’s come not a moment too soon! Kmart will be a great addition to the Casey Central retail mix, offering families another local place to shop for their daily household needs.” Click and collect is still available, with Target orders also able to be collected from Kmart Casey Central. From next year, customers will even be able to pick up their Catch orders from the store. The store is operating under a Covid-safe plan to keep all staff, customers and contractors safe. Shoppers can opt to skip the queue by booking a shop with Kmart online. If the store reaches capacity, customers can join the virtual queue service and carry on shopping elsewhere until they can be safely welcomed back into Kmart. Kmart Casey Central will be trading 8am to midnight every day until Christmas.
Cutting the ribbon on the new store. 12 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
The store caters to the whole family’s needs.
Covid-safe policies will keep staff, customers and contractors safe.
Shoppers are spoilt for choice. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
RCA Villages is pleased to announce our tenth village in Victoria. Located in Cranbourne on the former Amstel Golf Club site, Tree Tops will offer spacious contemporary homes for discerning retirees.
Coming in 2021 To register your interest please call Madelin or Andrea on Freecall 1800 255 500 rcavillagestreetops.com.au OR COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW
Information Request I wish to receive (Please tick): A phone call from a Tree Tops representative. Join our mailing list for further updates.
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Ms (Please tick)
First Name ...........................................Surname .............................................................. Address................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................Postcode ...................... Telephone ............................................Email ....................................................................
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For more information about our range of retirement communities visit rcavillages.com.au 12465214-NG48-20
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STAR NEWS 13
NEWS
IBAC INQUIRY
Offer would ‘lead to jail’ By Cam Lucadou-Wells Sam Aziz failed to declare a $200,000 cache of shares in a tech company that he introduced to Casey Council, an IBAC inquiry has heard. Its proponent Joseph Ghaly stated in an email that he’d discuss with Mr Aziz a “revenue share model” from Lodex’s proposed digital wallet platform for Casey Council. Mr Aziz was described as “championing” the proposal. “That email you sent me would actually land me in jail,” Mr Aziz told Mr Ghaly in a tapped phone call on 29 November 2018. “I’ve deleted it but I would appreciate it if you can send me another email which is proper ... “ An apologetic Mr Ghaly says “I obviously took too much liberty ... as if I was talking to you directly”. The pair discuss reframing the email that puts Mr Aziz at “complete arms-length” since Mr Aziz was an investor. Mr Aziz would then forward the email to Casey’s administrators to consider the proposal. “My role is to open the door and get him in before the Council, to make the presentation and then other people will have to make the decision,” he tells Mr Ghaly. At the Operation Sandon inquiry on 24 November, Mr Aziz said it was “absolutely not true” that he was being offered a kickback. Counsel assisting IBAC Michael Tovey asserted: “That’s why you were so upset because you had in writing a record of your previous arrangement, which you knew once recorded in an email was likely to end up with you being jailed for it.” Mr Aziz said he advised Mr Ghaly that the email was “inappropriate” and that Mr Aziz had to “play by the rules”. Conflict of interest provisions didn’t apply
when councillors introduced proposals to officers, he told the inquiry. “The only inappropriateness would be if this had then proceeded and I didn’t declare a conflict of interest at the time the council was making the decision.” The IBAC inquiry heard that Lodex briefed Casey officers in March 2018. The following month, Mr Aziz discussed a proposal to join Lodex’s board, and to receive 0.05 per cent of Lodex’s raised capital, Mr Tovey said. It was also proposed that Mr Aziz got 5 per cent of capital raised from individuals that Mr Aziz introduced. Mr Aziz said he couldn’t recall who initiated the proposal. He declined the invitation to join the board. In June 2018, he paid $50,000 in digital currency for Lodex shares with a “face value” of $200,000 - a 75 per cent discount. “There was no profit of $150,000. I’m even not sure if I can get my initial $50,000 back,” Mr Aziz told the inquiry. “Anyone would have gotten the same deal as me, and indeed a lot of investors got exactly the same deal.” He didn’t declare his financial interest to councillors or council officers because “no one had an interest beyond that initial meeting”. On Casey councillors’ register of interests in July 2018, Mr Aziz wrote ‘N/A’ rather than declaring the shares. “It didn’t enter my mind because to me it was an investment and in the ether. “It hadn’t materialised into anything.” IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich asked if Mr Aziz saw an “inappropriate” pattern of commercial interests “where you sought to derive a benefit which involved the council”. “No,” Mr Aziz replied. “The only pattern that exists is the fact that
Then Cr Aziz at a ’Smart Cities’ dinner in Casey in 2017. I was introducing innovation and ideas to the officers. “If an opportunity comes across my desk, I always wanted to bring it to the forefront of thinking in the City of Casey because it’s all about innovation.” The digital wallet platform was touted as an opportunity for Casey Council to be paid in cryptocurrencies. Mr Aziz said he introduced Lodex’s representatives to Casey officers because their technology fit Casey’s Smart Cities strategy. Casey Council ultimately chose not to accept Lodex’s proposal.
Friendly chat: Investor’s ‘kick’ offer in sales talk with Sam By Cam Lucadou-Wells A property investor offered Casey ex-mayor Sam Aziz a “bit of a kick” during discussions over a land sale in Narre Warren, an IBAC inquiry has heard. In a secret phone tap on 21 December 2018, Mr Aziz asks his “friend” and Action Group Australia director Andrew Nehme for a personal loan of about $500,000. Mr Nehme offers to contact a potential private lender ‘Kevin’. He then requests Mr Aziz to “have a look” at the council providing “comfort” to Action Group’s hopes to sell Casey Lifestyle Centre and nearby offices in Regency Drive. “Nothing’s going to happen between now and the obvious time but you know where I’m coming from where I’m thinking you could get a bit of a kick out of (the) deposit on the house,” Mr Nehme says. The purchaser was a “very wealthy mob” Newmark who wanted to relocate Bunnings “out the back”, he says. There were also plans to open a Kaufland supermarket on the Regency Drive office site. Three weeks later on a covertly-recorded phone call, Mr Aziz arranges for Casey planning director Peter Fitchett to meet with Newmark. “I’ve been approached by Andrew (Nehme) because the entire sale is contingent on what might happen in the future in terms of what Council’s contemplation might be.” Mr Aziz says he wants to “stay at complete arm’s length” but offered to support the proposal with a notice of motion on what’s the best future use of the site. On the same day, Mr Aziz tells Mr Nehme on a surveilled phone call that Mr Fitchett appeared a “lot more receptive” to the idea of “giving some sort of comfort”. “It’s probably because of the fact that we’ve currently got a planning review ... (we are) putting on hold the renewal of employment contracts for many of our senior planning officers. “So we’re using this opportunity basically 14 STAR NEWS
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Sam Aziz at the IBAC hearing on 18 November. to get the right outcome.” Mr Aziz says he’s keeping at “arms length” but would be “in the background fighting for the right outcome all the way through”. “I just want everything to happen in a very clinical fashion as everything that’s happened before.” At the IBAC Operation Sandon hearing on 18 November, Mr Aziz said he wasn’t sure what the “kick” was. “I think he was referring to the deposit that he wanted to arrange to help my private refinance go through a lot quicker. “It was something that was never pursued ... I wasn’t comfortable with the whole pro-
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
cess of how it’s going.” Mr Aziz said he instead secured finance from a public lender. IBAC heard that finance was secured on 11 January 2019 - two days after the tapped calls with Mr Fitchett and Mr Nehme. IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich asked if Mr Aziz regarded Mr Nehme’s approach as an “improper inducement”. “The answer is no,” Mr Aziz replied. “And the reason it’s no is because there was no decision making in my hands. Why would someone offer someone a bribe...” There was no conflict of interest repre-
senting Mr Nehme’s request because he was conducting “advocacy” to council officers who make the decision, Mr Aziz said. He said that he was highlighting “job creation” as an objective to Mr Fitchett. “Nobody was going to lose their job” in the planning review - “and that’s not a decision for a councillor to make”. He knew Mr Fitchett was months from retiring at the time, he told the inquiry. Mr Aziz was not ‘fighting in the background’ for comfort given to the purchaser, but for “global issues to do with the future of planning and strategic planning in the City of Casey”, he said. Action Group bought the lifestyle centre and nearby offices in Regency Drive from Casey Council for $28 million in 2016. The sell-off was supported by Mr Aziz through council motions over several years. He denies that he assisted Mr Nehme because councillors were kept away from the sale tender process. Mr Aziz told the IBAC inquiry he became friends with Mr Neime after the sale in July 2016. In September that year, Mr Nehme transferred $21,000 into Mr Aziz’s then-wife’s account. Mr Nehme allegedly lent a further $230,000 to Mr Aziz via his wife’s account in October and November - what IBAC’s counsel-assisting claimed was a “fabrication” to defraud his ex-wife in divorce proceedings. In 2013, Mr Nehme wrote to Action Group’s Kuwait parent company’s Sheik Mubarak Al-Sabah that Mr Aziz “feels compelled to respond with a favour to me”. Mr Aziz told the inquiry the “favour” was “definitely an overstatement”. He said he had no relationship with Mr Nehme at the time. “There was no expectation that there will be a return favour. “The process was going to be a long and highly regulated exercise on the part of the City of Casey and I have no power to compel or force the sale of the property.” cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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STAR NEWS 15
NEWS
IBAC INQUIRY
Aziz rebutts ‘ratbag’ tag By Cam Lucadou-Wells Jim’s Mowing founder Jim Penman paid more than $12,000 to Casey ex-mayor Sam Aziz to help ‘take over’ Yarra Ranges Council, IBAC has heard. Mr Aziz told the Operation Sandon inquiry on 24 November that he was on a $1000-plusGST-a-month retainer for more than a year to advise on installing a like-minded group of councillors in 2020. Mr Penman was happy to spend between $80,000-$100,000 on the election campaign, Mr Aziz told the inquiry. “I said to him that the best way to go ... is for good quality candidates to actually undertake their own fundraising,” Mr Aziz said. “That way they’ve got a stake in the campaign.” Mr Aziz restated that he wasn’t aware of allegedly corrupt developer John Woodman paying about $90,000 towards Mr Aziz’s centrally-managed election campaign for about 20 candidates in Casey in 2016. He also denied that the candidates were chosen for their perceived support of Mr Woodman’s push to rezone industrial land in Cranbourne West - otherwise known as Amendment C219. Mr Aziz couldn’t recall whether he told the proposed Yarra Ranges campaign manager Janet Halsall that Mr Penman would finance the entire campaign like “we’ve had campaigns in Casey”. “It was different with Mr Penman because he was looking at putting wholesale funds up to support a number of candidates,” he told the inquiry. “But when it came to Casey, because the campaigns were hotly contested, I focused on the strategy. “So however the funds were raised was not something that I got involved in.”
Jim Penman at a business breakfast in 2014. 116732 Mr Aziz had told the inquiry he was an “expert” in getting candidates elected to council. He was approached by Mr Penman who was “very frustrated” with the council’s administration, he said. He was unaware at the time of Mr Penman’s plans for a sporting complex reportedly being rebuffed by Yarra Ranges Council. At the inquiry, Mr Aziz sought to correct Mr Penman’s reported claims about him in an “absolutely abhorrent” media interview. “I don’t know how he could get the impression that I was a disgusting ratbag who conned him when that was never the nature of our interactions,” Mr Aziz said.
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
“I’ve actually obliged with everything he asked me to do.” He denied Mr Penman’s allegation that Mr Aziz was paid $1000-a-week. The retainer was $1000-a-month plus GST. Mr Aziz’s “assignment” was interrupted by an overseas travel break. “I stopped billing him from that point forward”. Mr Penman wanted to consult with Mr Aziz on other projects such as a “Jim’s Bank”, and invited him on the Jim’s Group board, Mr Aziz told the inquiry. “He was clearly happy with the work and services I was providing him.” Mr Aziz had bought a “family franchise” from
Jim’s Group. He later “got out” of it because the business model “wasn’t working for us”. The pair were introduced by Mr Aziz’s “friend” and then-Jim’s Group chief executive Tino Grossi. In 2016, Mr Aziz instigated an election campaign to elect like-minded councillors on Casey Council. He enlisted Casey ex-mayor Janet Halsall to manage the re-election campaigns of Mr Aziz, Geoff Ablett, Damien Rosario, Wayne Smith and Amanda Stapledon, he said. A new candidate - whose name has been suppressed by the inquiry - was also successfully elected. Mr Woodman and Ms Wreford have told IBAC that Mr Woodman bankrolled the Casey election campaign with between $50,000 and $90,000. Candidates were allegedly supported on whether they were “friendly” towards Mr Woodman’s push for Amendment C219. False invoices for the campaign were allegedly funnelled through Ms Halsall’s mattress shop. According to Ms Wreford, Mr Aziz pitched the scheme to Mr Woodman over lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Dandenong. Mr Aziz told IBAC that Mr Woodman and Ms Wreford weren’t “decision makers” on the campaign. “I supported people that Mr Woodman didn’t even know were coming forward to contest the election. “He was not consulted about the candidates.” Mr Aziz said he organised “strategy and policy that they put forward” and oversaw pamphlet designs. Every candidate was responsible for their own campaign expenses. All held a fundraiser, he said.
Hearing suspended: Aziz ‘heartburn’ scare at IBAC By Cam Lucadou-Wells Casey ex-mayor Sam Aziz has had a medical scare while under heavy questioning at an IBAC inquiry over fresh claims of an alleged side-deal with a council contractor. The inquiry’s live-stream broadcast - on 15 minutes delay - was shut down suddenly early in the afternoon session on Tuesday 24 November. On resumption shortly after 3pm, Mr Aziz’s screen was blank as IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich announced that the hearings would be adjourned. Mr Redlich said Mr Aziz had indicated that he’d suffered heartburn and wanted to resume. But given Mr Aziz’s medical history, the hearings wouldn’t resume until the witness was granted medical clearance, Mr Redlich said. Prior to the scare, Mr Aziz was coming to the end of his sixth and final day of gruelling evidence at the anti-corruption inquiry. Mr Redlich had just taken issue with Mr Aziz’s denials of a perceived conflict of interest over artificial-intelligence company IPsoft’s contract negotiations with Casey Council. Mr Aziz had introduced IPsoft to Casey officers and moved motions to support their interests. At the same time, he was allegedly negotiating a personal financial side-deal, the IBAC hearing heard. IPsoft paid Mr Aziz $30,800 soon after Casey paid $42,705 to trial IPsoft’s AI robot, Amelia, the IBAC inquiry heard. On covert phone recordings in November 2018, Mr Aziz was heard requesting the sidedeal no longer be termed a ‘referring agreement’. He says it should be a “generic consulting agreement that talks broadly about the local government sector”. He told IPsoft senior sales executive Hany Ayad that he’d sign his contract after Casey awarded the Amelia contract. Mr Ayad asks Mr Aziz if IPsoft was suc16 STAR NEWS
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Sam Aziz at the IBAC hearing, shortly before a medical episode on 24 November. cessful, “would we still contract directly with Casey, or with you, and you contract with Casey?” “You contract directly with Casey,” Mr Aziz says. “I basically have nothing to do with it.” Mr Aziz says he has to inform Casey’s chief executive of the deal. Otherwise it should be kept “confidential - just strictly between you and I”. At the IBAC inquiry, Mr Aziz said the agreement was designed to avoid a conflict of interest.
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
He denied there was a “kickback”. “The work they wanted me to do was totally unrelated to the City of Casey.” Counsel assisting IBAC, Michael Tovey accused him of wanting to amend the agreement so it wasn’t so obviously linked to City of Casey’s contract. “All these other concepts you’re talking about is just stuff you’re making up to make the intolerable marginally tolerable, isn’t it Mr Aziz? “I disagree entirely,” Mr Aziz said.
Mr Tovey noted at that stage Mr Aziz’s fee appeared unknown. “So you’re saying to him - we can’t work out how much he has to pay you until we know how much Casey Council is paying him.” Mr Aziz said they were waiting to finalise his consulting fee because the Casey pilot would be modelled in other environments. They didn’t yet know the cost of the trial. Mr Aziz said a Casey’s governance director advised he didn’t have a conflict of interest because the IPsoft contract decision was being made by a council officer. “The advice I was giving them wasn’t anything to do with the City of Casey.” Mr Redlich told Mr Aziz that the “flaw in your thinking” was that if there was no contract and only pre-contractual discussions, then there was no conflict of interest. “Do you not see that by these machinations of yours you were simply playing with the rules to avoid disclosure of the fact that a significant contract that is about to be entered into with the council is being made at a time when you, a prime mover in persuading the council and the council officers to adopt this proposal, are in the course of securing for yourself a significant financial benefit?” A second tapped phone call was about to be played when Mr Redlich asked if Mr Aziz was “feeling all right”. “No, Commissioner, I’m not. I’m not at the moment.” Mr Redlich adjourned, as he requested that Mr Aziz get assistance. Earlier that day, Mr Aziz told the inquiry that he’d suffered heart failure while on a council-funded trip to address an IPsoft artificial intelligence summit in New York in May 2018. He was hospitalised then for five days, and missed the summit, Mr Aziz said. At the time, Casey was negotiating with IPsoft about the Amelia pilot. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
NEWS
IBAC INQUIRY
‘Mockery of the truth’ By Cam Lucadou-Wells Embattled ex-mayor Sam Aziz has been told he’s making a “mockery of the truth” by denying he knew developer John Woodman paid him in a ‘sham’ Spicer Thoroughbreds venture. In evidence to IBAC’s Operation Sandon inquiry, Mr Woodman and his lobbyist Lorraine Wreford said the payments were a vehicle to “funnel money” from Mr Woodman to Mr Aziz. Mr Aziz claimed he’d thought at the time he was being paid by Spicer Thoroughbreds for helping set up an overseas equine investment fund. “I think (Mr Woodman and Ms Wreford) had an expectation that I would not return to Australia,” Mr Aziz responded on 23 November. “So they could have pretty much said anything they wanted to incriminate me and relieve themselves.” Mr Aziz received up to $3500 a month from Spicer Thoroughbreds between June-November 2018 - which was “mirror funded” by Mr Woodman, the inquiry has heard. Before and after those payments, Mr Aziz was receiving payments from Mr Woodman. Up to that point, he had been receiving up to $15,000 “interest” instalments from $600,000 that he presented to Mr Woodman in a suitcase. A month after the Spicer deal ended, Mr Woodman started paying Mr Aziz $25,000 monthly ‘Smart Cities’ consultant fees for a Little River development. The two arrangements were “totally unrelated in my mind”, Mr Aziz told the hearings. He said he never met with Mr Woodman in relation to the Spicer payments. It was Spicer marketing manager Bernard Lee who approached him with the idea of the equine investment fund. He knew Mr Lee was the domestic partner of Woodman lobbyist Ms Wreford. But he didn’t suspect Mr Woodman to be paying his fees, he said. In communications captured by IBAC, Mr Aziz chased up his Spicer payments with Ms Wreford. But that was because “I couldn’t get in touch with her boyfriend”, Mr Aziz said. IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich said Mr Aziz’s “incredulous” explanation was making a “mockery ... of the truth”. “You say you never had a conversation with Mr Woodman about Spicer Thoroughbreds and you were never aware that he was paying your fees under the Spicer Thoroughbreds contract.
Lorraine Wreford and Sam Aziz at Higher Ground cafe, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne on 25 October 2018. Picture: IBAC “Do you just see how ridiculous that explanation is?” Mr Aziz replied: “It may be ridiculous from your point of view. I’m just trying to relay what I do remember about those arrangements.” Mr Aziz also denied IBAC’s counsel assisting, Michael Tovey’s assertion that it was a “stopgap” while Mr Woodman was seeking ways to pay a “bribe” of more than $600,000. The Spicer fund’s host company Showdown
Racing Club Pty Ltd was not incorporated. It was effectively “non-existent”, counsel assisting IBAC, Michael Tovey said. In two separate documents, Showdown had different purported ABNs. One was the ABN for Spicer Thoroughbreds and the other was Mr Lee’s as a sole trader. Commissioner Redlich noted Mr Aziz signed an agreement that named Mr Aziz as executive chairman of Showdown’s board of directors.
“If the entity Showdown Racing Club is non-existent then this document was a sham.” Mr Aziz said he wasn’t aware of the nonincorporation. He was the executive director of the fund, not Showdown, he said. “I thought you told me you had done some special study as a company director, is that right?” Mr Tovey told Mr Aziz. “Why is that funny?” Mr Aziz replied. “I’m sorry Commissioner, I find the sarcasm in this quite insulting. “I would really appreciate it if you could direct Mr Tovey to stop laughing at me because I’m not making things up.” The Spicer fund was set up to buy yearlings from Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and the US, Mr Aziz said. Mr Aziz had been working on an investment prospectus, undertaken “a lot of research” and met several times with Mr Lee and the firm’s owner Brad Spicer. But the “short-lived” consultancy didn’t progress beyond Mr Aziz putting the idea out to his contact network. No investors were secured. “(Spicer Thoroughbreds) got busy with the Spring Racing Carnival, and the information that I was seeking ... . to complete areas of lack of knowledge in my research wasn’t forthcoming. “I don’t think they were investment-ready themselves.” Mr Aziz said he’d thought Ms Wreford was his friend “until I read in the media the ridiculous evidence that she gave to your last hearing”. He denied her evidence that he had told her to lie to IBAC about the $600,000 amount in a suitcase that he’d paid Mr Woodman. “I can’t speak for her, but I’m disappointed in what she has said; extremely disappointed.” Mr Aziz “conceded” that he’d falsely told IBAC in private evidence last year that he’d paid Mr Woodman only $370,000 - the same falsehood that Ms Wreford claims he urged her to collaborate. Ms Wreford had told the inquiry that the Spicer consultancy was Mr Aziz’s idea for getting money from Mr Woodman. “No it wasn’t my idea,” Mr Aziz responded. Mr Aziz and Mr Woodman are being investigated by the IBAC inquiry into allegedly corrupt land deals involving Casey councillors, state MPs and developers.
Developer nicknamed for blood, not money: Aziz By Cam Lucadou-Wells Developer John Woodman’s nick-name ‘Blood Donor’ had no connotation with vampires, sucking blood, or being paid by him, former Casey councillor Sam Aziz told an IBAC inquiry. Mr Aziz said he instigated the nickname for Mr Woodman - who is being investigated for alleged corrupt payments to Casey councillors including Mr Aziz and ex-mayor Geoff Ablett. It started when Mr Woodman and himself worked on a charity project with Monash Children’s Hospital and Casey Hospital in 2016, Mr Aziz said. “He approached me and asked me if Council was willing to commit to some funds for this charity project. “I said, ‘John, what makes you interested in this? I mean, this is a side of health that I wasn’t aware that you would be interested in.’ “He said, ‘No, I think about health all the time.’ “And then he jokingly said, ‘I sometimes think about donating blood as well.’” Mr Aziz was asked whether ‘Blood Donor’ alluded to vampires sucking blood or being paid by him. “It had nothing of the certain nature that you suggest,” Mr Aziz replied. In 2018, Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon had allegedly approached Mr Woodman cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
for support for her mayoral tilt. In a covertly-surveilled call on 29 October 2018, Mr Aziz asks Ms Wreford if the “BD is happy” in relation to Ms Stapledon’s mayoral victory. “Very,” Ms Wreford says. “Good,” Mr Aziz replies. “She deserves it more than anybody,” Ms Wreford says. “I just can’t say it enough that ... greed finally hasn’t won out.” Michael Tovey, IBAC’s counsel assisting, asserted that Mr Aziz had been recorded three times asking whether the ‘Blood Donor’ was happy with aspects of the mayoral election. Mr Aziz told the inquiry his statement was “pure banter” after a “bitterly fought” election. “I said, ’Is the Blood Donor happy,’ because I’m sure everybody was watching the election, including the Blood Donor.” The next day, 30 October 2018, Ms Wreford asks Mr Aziz whether “the Blood Donor can sleep at night” in relation to the council’s upcoming vote on a Woodman-linked issue the H3 intersection in Cranbourne West. “Of course he can,” Mr Aziz replied. Mr Aziz told IBAC that he was “simply entertaining hubris”. “If I had to correct Wreford on every conversation our conversations would have gone on for days.
Sam Aziz and John Woodman in a Subway outlet in Skye. “Our interest was always the best outcomes for the Casey community.” IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich asserted it was inappropriate for a serving councillor to convey such information to Mr
Picture: IBAC
Woodman via his lobbyist Ms Wreford. “I would have to give a qualified yes, Commissioner,” Mr Aziz said. “It’s not just me, Commissioner, but unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast.”
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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STAR NEWS 17
FOCUS ON … DISABILITY
NEWS
Education Minister James Merlino.
Helping kids be their best Hampton Park Secondary College principal Wayne Haworth with students and Narre Warren North Member Gary Maas. 222426
Millions to HP school By Jessica Anstice
what students can achieve, rather than what they can’t. For students, this will mean more opportunities to promote their own strengths, interests and learning needs, and the support they need at school. With additional funding, schools will be able to better plan and adjust support for students throughout all stages of their schooling. New facilitator roles will be established to help schools and families work together through this new approach. Included in the amount is $102.8 million to deliver new resources and support to build the skills and knowledge of school staff in delivering inclusive education for every student. This will include more than 100 extra staff to provide on-the-ground implementation support and program delivery for schools. “This is the biggest change in disability support in our schools Victoria has ever seen, and it will make a difference in classrooms and to kids across the state,” said Education Minister James Merlino.
The college is set to receive more than $7.5 million as part of the 2020/21 State Budget to upgrade and modernise its facilities. 222426 The funding will enable the college to begin planning for the third stage of its upgrade, which will see a wellness centre built for students to access when needed. Stage one and two of the upgrade will be undertaken next year, with classrooms converted into double storey buildings and the old technology wing transformed into a 21st century STEM and arts facility. This investment builds on the $1.18 billion as part of the Building Works Package announced earlier this year, which is creating space for more than 21,000 extra students in the state’s education system and creating around 1600 local construction jobs. Mr Maas said families in Hampton Park have done an “incredible” job in supporting students to learn from home. “Now they’re back in their classrooms, we want to make Hampton Park Secondary College even better than before,” he said. “Not only will this funding make sure our kids are getting a great education - it will create new local jobs.”
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Some good news has come out of a challenging year for the Hampton Park Secondary College community. The college is set to receive more than $7.5 million as part of the 2020/21 State Budget to upgrade and modernise its facilities. Education Minister James Merlino and Narre Warren South Member Gary Maas made the announcement last week, following the $563,000 announced through the Infrastructure Planning and Acceleration Fund. “This is an investment in our kids and their future,” Mr Merlino said. “Because every child, no matter where they go to school, deserves access to state-of-theart facilities. “Schools are the heart of our communities, so it makes sense that we’re investing in upgrades to support local jobs to drive our economic recovery.” Hampton Park Secondary College principal Wayne Haworth expressed his gratitude towards Mr Maas for his continued support to help transform learning at the college. With just under 1200 students enrolled, he said he is feeling “incredibly excited” about the upgrades. “We’re very excited. This community deserves it and it’s going to enable us to further transform our learning spaces. “I arrived at the school two years ago and I’m just really excited to bring a new vision to the school around empowering students with their learning whereby learning is done with the students and not to students.
Students with disabilities are set to be big winners thanks to a funding boost in the upcoming State budget. The budget, due to be handed down on Tuesday 24 November, will provide nearly $1.6 billion to make sure students with disability are supported in the classroom through an Australian-first Disability Inclusion package. The funding will double the number of students receiving extra support in the classroom to 55,000. It’s also expected to create up to 1,730 jobs across the state by 2025. All schools will benefit from the change, enabling them to better support students who may have previously been ineligible for targeted support - such as those with autism, dyslexia or complex behaviours. A world-leading pilot in more than 100 schools will now be rolled out across the state, to identify and respond to the needs of students with disability. The funding is slated to shift the focus to
NDIS Plan Management
By Mitchell Clarke More than 100 new car parking spaces have now opened at Lynbrook Station, providing relief for commuters preparing to use public transport again. The new carpark, which can fit 374 vehicles, officially opened on Monday 23 November and is the most recent project to be carried out as part of the State Government’s Cranbourne Line upgrade. The increase of 135 new carparks, as part of the ‘Car Parks for Commuters Program’, has boosted capacity at Lynbrook by more than 50 per cent. The new and improved space will also feature improved lighting and CCTV. It follows the removal of the level crossing and reopening of the nearby Evans Road at 18 STAR NEWS
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Lyndhurst in October. Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards said the “massive improvements” around the south east would provide “faster, more reliable and safer journeys” for tens of thousands of local people. “Building more car parking at local stations together with the recently removed level crossing, and reopening of Evans Road after fifteen years, are making travel more convenient for the Lyndhurst, Cranbourne West and Lynbrook communities,” she said. The $1 billion Cranbourne Line upgrade will see every single crossing removed between Cranbourne and the city by 2025. So far, 12 level crossings have already been removed, with three more to go. A new station at Merinda Park is also being built.
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
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Day gives opportunity to celebrate ability At DVJS we are passionate about promoting the Ability in Disability. We believe that the International Day of People with Disability is an important opportunity for us to celebrate the skills and resilience that people living with disability have to offer. DVJS is a not-for-profit Disability employment service (DES) that has been operating since 1993 and now has seven sites: Cranbourne, Dandenong, Glen Waverley,
Moorabbin, Narre Warren, Oakleigh and Pakenham. Our mission is to promote and place people with disabilities into award-waged mainstream employment with positive and supportive companies. We are proud to work with our job seekers to assist them in reaching their full potential and achieving their life and employment goals. We have an amazing network of over 1000
supportive employers proving meaningful ongoing employment opportunities. The possibilities are endless! Once employment is achieved DVJS continue to provide tailored support to both the worker and the employer. Let’s celebrate International Day of Disability Thursday December 3 2020 If you would like to know more about our service, please give us a call on 1300 385 738 .
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We are here to help. Our free Disability Employment Services support people living with disability, injury or health condition to find sustainable work, and employers to access great talent and hire a diverse workforce. Find out more today! 1300 080 856 atworkaustralia.com.au/register VISIT US at our offices in: Cranbourne and Frankston, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Endeavour Hills, Carrum Downs, Frankston North, Seaford, Hastings and Rosebud
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Berwick road among worst By Mitchell Clarke Clyde Road in Berwick has been dubbed one of Melbourne’s most dangerous crash hotspots, according to new data. Figures released by insurance company AAMI’s 2020 Crash Index, identified Melbourne as the country’s crash capital, after 350,000 accident insurance claims were analysed nationally from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. The bustling Clyde Road was one of six new roads across Victoria to be feature in the state’s top 10 most dangerous roads. It was ranked the ninth most dangerous road and the only listed road within the Casey or Cardinia local government areas. AAMI spokesperson Paul Sofronoff said the crash hotspots were generally major arterial roads that intersect with local streets through high traffic industrial and shopping precincts. He said the Crash Index was a real-time reminder for drivers to remain alert when behind the wheel. “The fact that we have so many new entries this year, just goes to show that accidents really can happen anywhere at any time - so it pays to follow the road rules, drive to the speed limit and always be vigilant,” Mr Sofronoff said. “Regardless of the day or time, or whether you’re driving through one of the identified hotspots or just down to the local shops, every time you get behind the wheel we urge drivers to maintain focus on the task at hand, follow the speed limit and abide by all road rules.” The data also revealed the most common type of crash were nose to tail collisions. “Driver distraction is a leading cause of nose to tail collisions, and to avoid them, drivers need to concentrate more on what’s happening in front of them and less on multitasking,” Mr Sofronoff added.
“Tailgating is another behaviour that can lead to nose to tail collisions - especially during peak hour traffic. Maintaining a good distance between you and the car in front is one of the most effective ways of keeping yourself and others safe and allows additional time to stop if the car in front suddenly brakes.” Claims data also identified Fridays to be the most dangerous day of the week for crashes across the country, with afternoon peak hour being the worst time.
Federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood, whose office is based in Berwick, said he wasn’t shocked with the findings, labelling Clyde Road “a notorious stretch”. “It’s a major issue when it comes to congestion. It just drives me nuts,” he said. In 2019, Mr Wood announced he had secured $40 million in Federal funding to add a third lane in both directions of Clyde Road. But he’s calling for the project, which is be-
ing carried out by the State Government, to be fast-tracked. “The money is on the table, we’re just waiting for the works to begin. Residents are getting frustrated, we just want to know when the works will start,” he said. “We’ve got the fastest growing electorate in the country, they have to fast track these things. There’s really no excuse to drag this out and I can’t for the life of me see why it would take two years to carry out scoping works.”
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Clyde Road in Berwick has been dubbed one of Melbourne’s most dangerous crash hotspots, according to new data.
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Outgoing president Harry Hutchinson and life member Kay Drysdale present Wilma Barron with flowers upon becoming a life member of the chamber in 2010.
Lifelong love of Berwick Wilma Amelia Barron 9 September 1938 to 15 October 2020 Wilma Barron was born on 9 September 1938 to Bill and Florence Parkhill. They lived in Dandenong with twin sisters Margret and Roslyn. Following secondary education at Dandenong High School and business college Wilma secured a position as a Ledger Machine Operator at A.Nobles & Son in South Melbourne in January 1957. One morning on the train to the city a young man Eddie Barron caught Wilma’s eye and deep love quickly developed. Wilma and Eddie were married on 21 April 1963 at St James Church in Dandenong. Initially they lived in a small unit in Noble Park while working several jobs and saving feverishly for their first home at 5 Anne Street Berwick. Their son Bruce was born in May 1970 and in the same year Eddie and Wilma opened their first business Berwick Drafting and Design Service, which commenced its humble beginnings from the spare bedroom. As Berwick grew so too did their new business, moving to offices in Blackburne Square and later to the Berwick Village Arcade. By 1976 business had grown so fast and had been so prosperous that they were able to commence construction on their new home a few doors down the street at 1 Anne Street where they lived together for the next 17 years. Over the years they ventured into residential construction and later commercial construction, residential subdivision, commercial property development and later beef farming. During these golden years of the 1970s and ‘8os Wilma managed the books and the purse strings while Eddie was the front of house meeting clients and quickly providing practical design solutions with flare which are still evident in many of the buildings around Berwick to this day. In 1981 Eddie was elected as a councillor representing Berwick Township on the council of the City of Berwick and in 1986 was elected as mayor. During his term as mayor Wilma took on the role of mayoress and enjoyed a wonderful year in that role. Wilma initiated a free “Chilcranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
Mayor Eddie Barron and mayoress Wilma Barron with librarian Michelle Cooper at the official opening of the Endeavour Hills Library in 1987. dren’s Day” at the Campbelltown Railway in Narre Warren North. For all of Eddie’s successes Wilma was by his side providing support, encouragement and stability. She was truly the wind beneath Eddie’s wings. Together they formed a formidable partnership built on a deep profound love for each other. On the weekends and summer holidays while Eddie took Bruce sailing, Wilma found peace in the garden, a passion that she enjoyed throughout the years. Wilma was an active member of the Berwick community for some 57 years, watching it grow in population more than a hundredfold. She was actively involved in the Berwick Show Society, becoming president in the 150th anniversary year in 1998, a role which chal-
lenged her and one that she was particularly proud of. She was also an active member of the Berwick Liberal Party and the committee of the Berwick Ranges 500 Club and was a life member of the Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce. Eventually Wilma sold Berwick Drafting in 1999 and retired to her newly completed home in Quarry Hills Drive - a striking home which Eddie had designed for her in his final days. During this period Wilma found friendship and later companionship with the then current mayor Cr John Hastie. Wilma and John where eventually married in 2008. Together they would travel the world by air, sea and rail visiting many of the world’s major tourist attractions. Despite their ups
and downs they remained together until John’s passing last year. Recent Covid-19 restrictions had put an abrupt halt to Wilma’s regular lunch and coffee catch ups with her closet and dearest friends however she kept up regular daily contact on the phone. Wilma passed away unexpectedly from complications immediately following a heart stent procedure on 15 October. She died without fear, pain or suffering and maintaining her dignity through to the end. Wilma was a faithful, genuine friend and confidant to many, adoring grandmother to Emese and Eddie Jr, mother in-law to Ilona and Bruce’s loving mother. Adapted from eulogy given by Bruce Barron on 6 November 2020.
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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STAR NEWS 21
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South east to the runway By Mitchell Clarke A Clyde North man is ready to walk down the runway after he was selected as the winner of a national modelling competition. Yasith Peiris, 18, won the ‘Bella Unsigned Model Search’, which this year focused on the topic of inclusivity. “Inclusivity is about including those who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio- economic status, age, physical abilities and religion,” Bella Management founder Chelsea Bonner explained. “We were overwhelmed with the calibre of applicants across the country and it was a very difficult decision to make however we’re thrilled with our state winners who represent inclusivity and have the X factor that we’re looking for to create a successful modelling career.” The search, which made its debut at last year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, unearthed some “wonderfully diverse talent” and reinforced a commitment to diversity. This year, Mr Peiris was recognised for his diversity. He built up the courage to enter the competition after having wanted to apply since he was a teenager. He was eventually shortlisted as one of three finalists to be chosen across Victoria. “I was fortunate enough to be in the running with two extremely talented girls. I might have stalked their Instagram pages, I’m not going to lie,” he laughed. But on Tuesday 24 November, Mr Peiris was officially declared the male national winner of the search. He was told the life-changing news while stacking shelves at his part-time job at Coles. “I got a call to say that I had won it and I literally screamed in one of the aisles and started crying into my phone,” he told the Gazette.
He was told the life-changing news while stacking shelves at Coles. 221839 “It was really a proud moment. I was stuttering. It’s such an amazing opportunity and this is something I’m so passionate about.” Mr Peiris grew up in a community where he felt he had to be a “certain way”. He said the way of life he wanted was different to the life his parents had planned for him. “Since high school, I’ve started to figure out my identity more and I came out which was very scary. Little by little, I gained a lot more self-confidence, which kind of inspired me to do modelling,” he said. “Modelling, to me, is all about giving ideas and inspiration through art and expressing yourself.
“After I came out, I had people reach out to me and say that I was so brave. I had the spotlight for a bit and I got to tell people how I wanted to live. I want to inspire people to live the way they want to live. Life is too short to look back and have ‘what ifs’.” Being a South Asian and LGBTQ+ model, Mr Peiris said he was excited to represent a community which was typically under-represented in the media. “This is all about redefining modelling and what it takes to be a model,” he said. “It’s okay to be a guy and a model. It’s okay to be able to redefine what it means to be beautiful. The world is changing and there’s no
On Tuesday, Mr Peiris was officially declared the male national winner of the search. one definition as to what happiness is.” The Deakin University student, who is currently studying nursing and psychology, hopes his win will help fulfil his dream modelling career. “I want to walk the runway in Paris and New York during Fashion Week ... I want to have that moment,” he laughed. “I’m still so young so I’m going to make sure I grab every opportunity that makes me feel happy and strong.” Mr Peiris will get a three-year contract with Bella Management and will also walk in the Melbourne Fashion Week popup runway on Thursday 26 November.
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Bridget O'Toole has tried to block out the painful memory the day her husband was tragically killed by two stab wounds to the upper chest. "I've got to be kinder to myself because you torture yourself thinking could've done more," says Mrs O'Toole. "Survivor guilt isn't good." It was 5pm on 12 July 2013 when a man wielding a 20-centimetre carving knife entered Bridget and Dermot O'Toole's jewellery store in Hastings. "I thought it was a customer coming in and I just got up to serve him," she said.
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She’s our hero By Brendan Rees Bridget O'Toole has tried to block out the painful memory the day her husband was tragically killed by two stab wounds to the upper chest. "I've got to be kinder to myself because you torture yourself thinking could've done more," says Mrs O'Toole. "Survivor guilt isn't good." It was 5pm on 12 July 2013 when a man wielding a 20-centimetre carving knife entered Bridget and Dermot O'Toole's jewellery store in Hastings. "I thought it was a customer coming in and I just got up to serve him," she said. However Mrs O'Toole, of Lyndhurst, was attacked by the armed assailant who pushed her into a glass cabinet and stabbed her several times. "He was screaming like a lunatic," she recalled. During the attack Mr O'Toole, who suffered from Parkinson's Disease, came out from the workshop to defend his wife and began wrestling with the assailant. "We were just trying to fight him off ... Dermot was desperately trying to save me." "Dermot fell over, he tripped over and he turned on him and stabbed him to death," she said. Mrs O'Toole attempted to pull the offender away from her husband and in doing so she was
further assaulted. The assailant then ran out of the shop. Mr O'Toole, 64, was fatally wounded and tragically died at the scene. Mrs O'Toole was taken to hospital where she had to undergo plastic surgery for the extensive serious stab and slash wounds and the glass shards that were embedded in her back. For her actions, Mrs O'Toole was awarded the 2018 Gold Clarke Medal during a presentation at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday 23 August. "It was a beautiful day," says Mrs O'Toole. "I was totally humbled and to be deemed worthy
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further assaulted. The assailant then ran out of the shop. Mr O'Toole, 64, was fatally wounded and tragically died at the scene. Mrs O'Toole was taken to hospital where she had to undergo plastic surgery for the extensive serious stab and slash wounds and the glass shards that were embedded in her back. For her actions, Mrs O'Toole was awarded the 2018 Gold Clarke Medal during a presentation at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday 23 August. "It was a beautiful day," says Mrs O'Toole. "I was totally humbled and to be deemed worthy of such a prestigious award I couldn't believe it." The medal is an award of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia and is the Society's highest award for the most outstanding case of bravery. Mr O'Toole was posthumously awarded the Star of Courage in 2017 - Australia's highest bravery accolades which recognises "acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril". The robber, Gavin Perry, 27, was high after taking ice and on parole at the time of the murder. He was jailed for 27 years in 2014 for the crime. Mrs O'Toole remembers her husband of 41 years as a wonderful man who was a funny, kind and loyal man."I had the best husband and we had a great life together," she said. "Life has just been horrible since."
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp presents the 2018 Gold Clarke Medal to Bridget O’Toole. 184550 Picture: FIONA BASILE
Bridget O’Toole with her 2018 Gold Clarke Medal.
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STAR NEWS 23
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FOCUS ON … REAL ESTATE
DOOR OPEN TO LIFE OF AFFORDABLE LUXURY MORE than ever before, living a happy, healthy lifestyle with the promise of safety, has become a priority. For residents at Lifestyle Kaduna Park, a happy, healthy and carefree lifestyle is a reality that can be celebrated. Victorian-based developer and operator, Lifestyle Communities, has opened its 15th display village at Lifestyle Kaduna Park, boasting a life of luxury at a truly affordable price for over 50s. “Since we began in 2003, we’ve always wanted to ensure our homeowners have the freedom to enjoy new possibilities, with greater peace of mind, in a secure community setting”, said James Kelly, Managing Director.
Six luxuriously appointed homes are open for inspection in the display alley precinct, with varying floorplans to suit different lifestyles and budgets. Immaculately styled with modern finishes, the affordability of the homes may surprise baby boomers. With homes starting from $360,000, baby boomers looking to rid themselves of home maintenance and transition into retirement from work but not from life, will enjoy the added benefits of accessing equity tied up in their old family homes. Lifestyle Kaduna Park homeowners, Irene and Frank, enjoyed the benefits of community living, despite the isolation endured by many during the metro lockdown.
“It’s the best decision we ever made,” said Irene. “There’s so much to smile about when you live in a Lifestyle Community”, she said. “It’s the best decision you’ll ever make to join us at this friendly and caring community.” And with the exclusive homeowners’ clubhouse opening in the new year, there will be even more to smile about with the heated indoor pool and spa, cinema, and bowling green putting a happy and healthy lifestyle within easy reach. The community is excited to open its doors to invite you to see the display homes at Lifestyle Kaduna Park, 45 Heytesbury
Drive, Officer South, with an official grand opening on the 5th of December. Call 1300 50 55 60 for more information or to book a private tour at a time that suits you. ●
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STAR NEWS 25
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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SAXON FENCING 12367795-LB41-17
Palings, Pickets, Colorbond Fences & Gates Prompt and Reliable Service
Phone 0419 775 259 or 8751 4016
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9707 5700, 9768 9153
9796 8621 0418 367 017 NEAT PLUMBING SERVICE Lic. Number 27186 Hot Water Specialists Blocked Drains
1144857-KC29-14
The application is for a permit to:
C695870-JM11-9
Lic 24754 • New Houses • Factories • Blockages/Machine and Camera • Same Day Hot Water Services • Domestic and Commercial Maintenance • 3.5 Ton & 12 Ton Excavator • Bobcat and Tipper
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SAME DAY SERVICE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS ANTENNA SERVICE ALL AREAS
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12469374-CG46-20
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ECONOMY TILING All Bathroom Renovations • Bathrooms • Toilets • Kitchens • Decks • Water proofing • Walls and Floors
0417 382 700 12450404-AM23-20
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The land affected by the application is located at:
ANTENNA MAN
1172347-DJ07-15
C62885-BG24-8
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NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT
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Removals/pruning Hedging/shaping Line clearing/Palm work Tight access stump grinding Fully Insured/Qualified
Specialise in: - Kitchens, vanities, laundries, wardrobes, storages Glass: Splashback, shower screen, mirrors, glass. For free quote call Mob: 0423 595 388 Email: sales@lnkitchens.com.au Showroom: 24 Berkshire Rd, North Sunshine
12367852-ACM41-17
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ESTABLISHED 30 YEARS STANDARD RATES ON WEEKENDS gjlawplumbing.com.au 7 DAYS 0419 136 181 - 0419 136 151
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MIKE 0415 524 280 0415
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Toilet, Tap, Burst Pipe Repairs Blocked Drains Machine Cleared Gas Installations Roofing And Spouting
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ANTHONY’S PAINTING
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NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT
The application is for a permit to:
WINDOWS 1 Window Replacement Service Timber or Aluminium Windows Free Measure and quote
Professional Services
16 Cheshunt Drive HALLAM VIC 3803 Lot 2 PS 615192K
Removal of Restrictive Covenant PS615192K
The applicant for the permit is:
M M Rahmann & J A Rahman C/- Z Alom
The application reference number is:
PA20-0821 - (Dana Foster)
You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.
City of Casey Bunjil Place 2 Patrick Northeast Drive NARRE WARREN This can be done during office hours and is free of charge. Documents can also be viewed on Council’s website: https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/viewplanning-applications
Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority. An objection must: • be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to, Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805 or emailed to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au • include the application number and site address • include the reasons for the objection, and • state how the objector would be affected. The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.
Domestic Commercial nterior
10 December 2020
Public Notice
The land affected by the application is located at:
Call Lucas 0419 259 266 Jack 0400 895 945
Call DOUG AMOS Receive 10% off
Documents can also be viewed on Council’s website: https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/viewplanning-applications
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CAMERON HEATH PLUMBING
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This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.
FREE CLEAN FILL, Wanted clean fill site, south eastern area. Dams, gullies, paddocks, filled and levelled, no charge. Phone: 0418 356 583.
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12354089-PB23-17
General Notices
City of Casey Bunjil Place 2 Patrick Northeast Drive
12471535-JW48-20
1238899-CG33-16
Ź Carpentry Ź Painting Ź Plaster Repairs Ź Gutter Cleaning Ź Pressure Cleaning Ź Flat Packs Assembled Ź Police Check Ź Free Quotes
You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.
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12449547-FA21-20
12447103-SN16-20
HANDYMAN & HOME MAINTENANCE
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PlnA00599/20 - (Durga Viswanathan)
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g All Pricinnt Up-Fro
The application reference number is:
The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:
Cranbourne Plumbers
Call Jeff on
0411 314 104
SJ Design
The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.
Lic No. 116785
12450635-NG23-20
Exterior Window Cleaning
The applicant for the permit is:
An objection must: • be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to, Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805 or emailed to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au • include the application number and site address • include the reasons for the objection, and • state how the objector would be affected.
GUTTER CLEANING
30% off
Alterations and Additions to the existing Dwelling, Development of a Second Dwelling and Removal of Covenant K694832
Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.
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V Guttering
34 Jeffrey Street HAMPTON PARK VIC 3976 Lot 100 LP 140356
cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:
10 December 2020
If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of its decision.
12471867-LB48-20
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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STAR NEWS 27
NEWS
Dad’s grooming sentence By Mitchell Clarke
Benjamin Robert, 40, was sentenced in the County Court on 23 November, after pleading guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to procure a person believed to be under 16 years of age. On the day of the meeting, Robert was seen driving in the area. Police swooped and arrested him at a nearby petrol station, after he’d just purchased a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. He claimed the chocolates were for his family, telling police he thought he’d “be a good dad and buy some chocolates”. The court heard Robert was emotional dur-
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Public Notices and Event
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For Sale
KEYBOARD Genos 76 note, digital work station. 3 months old. Reason for sale too complicated. Price 4,300, Ph 5996 6370.
Public Notice
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The application is for a permit to:
ADVERTISERS, in this section are qualified practitioners and offer non-sexual services.
42 Garnet Close NARRE WARREN VIC 3805 Lot 126 LP 218740J Alterations to the existing Dwelling to facilitate the Creation of Two Dwellings and Variation of Covenant R704025L
V The applicant for the permit is:
Strait - Line Builders & Drafters Pty Ltd
The application reference number is:
PlnA00620/20 - (Vanessa Carson)
Pets & Services
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ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE
Sun Force Solar is a Family Run, installation company servicing Solar Hot Water Dealer network across Metro Melbourne and surrounding areas.
Applicant will pose skill sets from working with copper pipe, Air conditioning, house rough ins, roofing, gas and water. Experience in these areas preferred but not essential, as on the job, training will be provided.
Garage Sales
Applicants must have and pose; manual car preferred. write applicant.
The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:
7 December 2020
If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of its decision.
12470633-DL47-20
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Employment Positions Vacant
CLEANERS Experienced cleaners are required for display homes in the Cranbourne area. Must have transport & ABN. Please call Paula on 0414 546 186
Matthew Partridge 0400 580 849 Email; sunforcesolar@hotmail.com
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If the Solar Hot Water industry interest you, please enquire;
12400545-LB38-19
The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.
Tractor Drivers wanted ASAP! Do you want to be a part of a Certified Social Enterprise? Enviro Management provides horticultural services across a large geographical area, and we are seeking two independent, motivated Tractor Drivers to drive tractors and other machinery. You will also operate a tractor for spraying and performing other grounds maintenance work as required.
Sun force solar specializes in the field of installing Solar Hot Water systems, and also caters for other aspects of the plumbing industry.
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
All applicants, please email: lcoombs@dandypremix.com
If you’re an apprentice, we are currently seeking 2nd, 3rd or 4th year apprentice plumbers.
https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/view-planningapplications
An objection must: • be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to, Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805 or emailed to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au • include the application number and site address • include the reasons for the objection, and • state how the objector would be affected
Dandy Pre-mix has a position available for a diverse job which includes painting, refurbishing and labouring. The successful applicant must be a team player and willing to learn.
Sun Force Solar Has positions available for; Registered and Apprentice plumbers.
This can be done during office hours and is free of charge. Documents can also be viewed on Council’s website:
Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.
Positions Vacant
Painter / Refurbisher/ Labourer
SOLAR HOT WATER
PLACE YOUR City of Casey Bunjil Place 2 Patrick Northeast Drive NARRE WARREN
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Positions Vacant
PLUMBING POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au
12400498-CG38-18
You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the Responsible Authority.
Massage Therapists
Employment
12423634-SN31-19
NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT The land affected by the application is located at:
ing his arrest and said: “I wasn’t gunna (sic) do anything, I wasn’t gunna do anything, please” and “This is not who I am ... I thought this was all just a complete joke ... my life is ruined”. In sentencing, Judge Martine Marich said Robert’s offending was “objectively serious and grave”. “You were told from the outset of your con-
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The successful candidate will have: • Tractor or forklift experience • An interest in working outdoors and with machinery • Some experience operating farming equipment • A willingness to start early mornings • A Victorian drivers license and own reliable transport
12472067-LB48-20
A “fun loving” Clyde father who planned to meet up with what he believed was a 14-yearold girl at McDonald’s to engage in sexual activity has been jailed. Benjamin Robert, 40, was sentenced in the County Court on 23 November, after pleading guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to procure a person believed to be under 16 years of age. Between 13 February and 27 February 2020, Robert sent lewd messages and images on social media to a Victoria Police undercover operative (UCO) purporting to be a 14-year-old girl. The court heard the UCO told the offender she was 14, to which he replied that he “felt bad because she was young, but from looking at her profile picture, she was gorgeous”. After receiving an image from the UCO, Robert said she had “kissable lips”. The father of three described himself as “very passionate and sensual” and outlined in detail how he would perform oral sex on the girl. After sending a lewd image and explicit messages, which are too graphic to report, Robert attempted to reassure the victim that he didn’t want to pressure her into anything as he was “conscious she was younger than him”. He proceeded to call her “gorgeous” and said he would treat her like a princess. The court also heard Robert said he was trying to give the victim a “sensual experience”, but when she told him she hadn’t had sex before, he said he would “leave that part for now”. The pair arranged to meet up at a McDonald’s in Frankston on 27 February, where the offender again outlined in detail how he wanted to perform oral sex on her. He asked her what she’d like him to bring and she asked for chocolate and phone credit.
versation with (UCO) that she was 14 years old and in year 8 but you proceeded with an intimate and sexualised conversation with her,” she said. “Four days later you were proposing meeting this person. You were suggesting very explicitly performing oral sex on her. The deeply explicit conversations continued and you requested she sent intimate images to you ... You were 39-years-old.” Judge Marich said Robert’s actions led to a “profound fall from grace” and believed he had good prospects of rehabilitation. The court heard he had the support from his family and friends, who provided glowing character references. The court also heard a media article, which was published after the plea hearing, labelled Robert as a “sicko” and a “child sex fiend”. Robert’s counsel argued the “unflattering description” and the article itself presented a “special burden” and served as a partial deterrent from further criminal action. The counsel called on the judge to take this into account when sentencing. The prosecution said the article was a “natural consequence” of open justice and said it was not uncommon for the media to report the offender’s suburb. Judge Marich said while most of the article was unobjectionable, the use of the “sicko” and “child sex fiend” terms were “gratuitous and unnecessary”. “I allow some modest mitigation of sentence in the exercise of my discretion to accommodate this fact,” she said. Robert was sentenced to two years in prison but will be released after nine months to enter into a $1000 recognisance to be of good behaviour for two years. He won’t be required to pay the sum of money if he remains of good behaviour.
For enquiries contact David on 0429 949 537 To apply email your resume and a brief cover letter to David.Lennon@marriott.org.au Applications close Monday 30th November 2020
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Professional
DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.
cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
SPORT
Phoenix rises in the heartland By Lance Jenkinson
Craig Barnett wants Berwick City to aspire to play finals this summer.
South East Melbourne Phoenix has launched its NBL21 membership campaign under the banner ‘Heartland Strong’. It has been a challenging year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer was impressed with how the south-east community has stuck together and will hopefully come out stronger for the experience. “Heartland Strong represents our hard working community who look out for one another in good times and bad and rise and fall as one,” he said. “We pride ourselves on toughness, perseverance and commitment. “2020 was an immense challenge for all Victorians. “We were pushed down again and again, but we continued to get up - that’s how your team will play.” Greer looks back on South East Melbourne’s first season with tremendous pride. The Phoenix fans set NBL records for the largest crowd on a home debut and the highest first-year average attendance. With brand familiarity and an improved squad, the Phoenix is hoping the heartland can grow next season. “Our first season was a crazy journey and we simply can’t wait to see what our next step has in store for us with a new roster and growing support,” Greer said. The NBL21 fixture is likely to be revealed next week, with the season expected to tip-off in January. Meanwhile, South East Melbourne unveiled its slick new Champion home and away jerseys at a launch at premier partner Mountain Goat Brewery last week. The home jersey will be predominantly black with a splash of green, while the away jersey is predominantly white with a splash of green.
Picture: SUPPLIED
He’s stepping up By Lance Jenkinson Berwick City Cougars ace Craig Barnett is itching to throw down the first pitch of the Baseball Victoria Summer League Division 1 season. The 26-year-old’s motivation is overflowing because of the potential the season could hold, on both a personal and a team level. There was no off switch over the winter for Barnett, who got creative during the Melbourne lockdown to remain sharp. Some players around the league might have cheated during the break, taking sessions off here and there, potentially days and weeks at a time. But Barnett remained focused. That kind of dedication is why he was recently crowned the Cougars’ most valuable player for a third year running. If Barnett was not repeatedly throwing the ball against a fence, he was taking over the nets at the Clyde Cricket Club hitting the ball off a tee. His gym equipment at home did not sit idle for too long either. “I’ve tried my best to take advantage of it,” he said. “I’ve been training three or four days a week. “You weren’t allowed to see anyone for a long time there, so there was a lot of throwing into a fence, and when it came to hitting, I went down to the Clyde Cricket Club and had a hit in their cricket nets just by myself off with a bucket of balls. “I’m very excited for the season to start now because I feel like I’m sort of ahead of everyone.” Barnett’s latest MVP award came in a typically strange 2020 style. The 2019-20 season was the furthest thing from his mind when he was scrolling social media to find the Cougars’ club awards would still be handed out six months after the last pitch.
It is an important award, one that Barnett cherishes, so it did not matter to him how he received it. “I completely forgot about it until they mentioned it on Facebook that we’re having our awards night,” he said. “The last season was completely gone from my mind and then all of a sudden it came back. “Always very humbling, very proud. “It’s just great to have the recognition from my peers and the coaching staff.” Barnett has won two Division 2 league MVPs and you would not put it past him taking out the highest honour in Division 1 this summer. His craftiness on the mound - a mishmash of curveballs, sliders and off-speed pitches make him difficult to counter for the batters. He is a quality batter himself, too, as well as a good leader in the clubhouse, so he brings so much to the table for the Cougars. Entering the prime of his career, Barnett has not given up hope of one day playing for the Melbourne Aces, but he concedes the dream is slowly slipping away. “I’d love to play for the Melbourne Aces one day if the opportunity ever came up,” he said. “I’ve been down to a few sessions with the Aces and played in a practice game or two, but nothing more than that. “If it came up, I’d absolutely jump at it. “If there was ever a chance, I guess it would be now, wouldn’t it? “Being realistic with myself, I’m loving my time at Berwick and I’m really all about Berwick winning baseball games.” Barnett is excited about Berwick City’s prospects this season. The Cougars narrowly missed out on the finals last summer, something that will drive the team entering the new season. “We were knocked out of finals contention with two games to go in a 27-game season last year,” Barnett lamented.
“There’s no reason why we can’t be playing finals baseball this year if we get it all together. “The guys are all in.” The moment Barnett saw his teammates back in training, he could tell how much they wanted to atone for last season. His teammates came back in tip top shape and ready to impress recently extended coach Shaun Surtees. “A few of the guys have come back in the best shape of their lives,” Barnett enthused. “It’s not only great for their baseball, but it’s great for them as people too. “We’ve had a couple of guys lose a considerable amount of weight and really trim up and make their body great. “Those guys are going to be the ones where you say ‘wow’ when you see them this season. “I think we’re in a very good position.” A big advantage Berwick City will have over some rivals is its home-grown pitching roster. Barnett is working closely with young and talented pitchers Cameron Gibbens, a Melbourne Aces and LA Dodgers contracted player, and Matthew West, a promising teenager. Barnett predicts rival teams with a heavy reliance on import pitchers could be in for a difficult summer. “A lot of clubs will be found out,” he said. “There’s clubs out there who rely solely on imports to do all their pitching. “They score a couple of runs off their own bat and that’s how they’ve scraped across the line. “(For) teams like ourselves - and I can think of another couple who rely heavily on homegrown talent - it’s definitely going to be an advantage. “The clubs that are stealing wins from them are coming back to the pack now because they don’t have an import they can rely on.” Berwick City’s first game in a shortened 16game season will be on 6 December away to the Malvern Braves.
Kyle Adnam, Cam Gliddon and Mitch Creek model the new South East Melbourne Phoenix home jerseys. Picture: SUPPLIED
Two steps forward, one back as slow progress is made By Lance Jenkinson It has been a consistent two steps forward and one step back for Southside Flyers over the first two weeks of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season. Just like their first week in the Queensland hub, the Flyers have backed up with two wins and a loss in week two. While it is not perfect, a 4-2 record has the star-studded Flyers among the leading pack. Last Thursday night, Southside found a way past a tough opponent in local side Townsville Fire, winning 101-89. The Flyers dominated the middle two periods of the game. Liz Cambage was incredible for the Flyers, registering 31 points, 14 rebounds, four assists cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
and six blocks. Captain Jenna O’Hea left her fingerprints on the victory with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. The feature of the Flyers on the night was their total contribution from the starting five with all five starters hitting double figure points. Southside took the league to dizzying offensive heights in a 117-71 win over Perth Lynx on Saturday. The Flyers produced the biggest score of the season as they totally dismantled the Lynx defence. An even contribution from player one through to 12 was the highlight of this win. Cambage (21 points and seven rebounds), Rebecca Cole (20 points and five assists) and
Sara Blicavs (19 points and six rebounds) were the standouts in the starting five, while Monique Conti (11 points) and Rebecca Pizzey (10 points and four assists) made an impact off the bench. Southside was understandably buzzing after that result, but came back down to earth with a thud on Monday. The Flyers were soundly beaten 95-72 by defending champions University of Canberra Capitals in the grand final re-match. Cambage, with 26 points, six rebounds and three blocks, and Blicavs, with 21 points and six rebounds, fought hard for the Flyers, but did not have enough help from elsewhere as the Capitals did as they pleased for most of the game. With the regular season shortened to just
over a month, the next week could sort out the contenders from the pretenders. WNBL RESULTS Thursday: Southside Flyers 101 v Townsville Fire 89. Saturday: Southside Flyers 117 v Perth Lynx 71. Monday: Southside Flyers 72 v UC Capitals 95. UPCOMING 28 November, 2.05pm: Townsville Fire v Southside Flyers (Cairns). 29 November, 12.05pm: Adelaide Lightning v Southside Flyers (Cairns). 2 December, 6.05pm: Southside Flyers v Adelaide Lightning (Cairns).
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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STAR NEWS 29
SPORT
The world’s greatest race Simon Told Helen will start favourite in what is shaping as one of the great editions of the TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park this Friday night. Australia’s top ranked greyhound, Simon Told Helen, was at his brilliant best in his heat, showing his trademark acceleration and unparalleled mid-race pace to win in 29.260 and charge into his 15th group race final. “He deserves a chance to win this race,” said trainer David Burnett. “It’s the way he does it. He got a bump or two early but worked to the front and then put six or seven lengths on them down the back. It’s a credit to the dog.” A win in the final would see Simon Told Helen become the eighth greyhound to pass $1,000,000 in prize money, and his chances of a fifth Group 1 title were enhanced after drawing suitably in Box 2. “He should get a bit of room to get rolling early. Hopefully he can use the box to get to the rail and hold it through the first turn,” Burnett said. “The pressure is on again, being favourite, but if he does everything right he can show what sort of champion he is and hopefully he can do that.” As impressive as Simon Told Helen was, it was Tiggerlong Tonk who claimed the time honours with an eye-catching 29.162 victory. The pair will meet for the seventh time on Friday night - the fifth time at group level - with Simon Told Helen leading the head-tohead 6-0. However, Tiggerlong Tonk enters the final in career-best form having broken the Group 3 Shootout race record at his previous outing, and with a clear run from Box 8 will have the opportunity to turn the tables on his great rival. Pre-series favourite Shima Shine also made it safely through to the $630,000 decider, as did Western Australian sprinter Tommy Shel-
Simon Told Helen will be one to watch in the race to stop them all - the TAB Melbourne Cup. Pictures: SANDOWN GREYHOUNDS by who is in the care of Pearcedale’s Kel Greenough during his Victorian campaign. Fellow Pearcedale-based trainer Luckie Karabitsakos will rug his first Cup finalist with Hard Style Rico, a greyhound he bred, owns and trains. Zipping Sullivan, Lucy’s Milo and Tough Tears round out the field that boasts a combined 19 group race titles and almost $2.25m in prize money. In the night’s other Group 1 final, Houdi-
ni Boy is the odds-on favourite to win the $150,000 Bold Trease over 715 metres. After just 20 career starts, Houdini Boy has become one of the country’s most popular greyhounds due to his last-to-first racing pattern, however he flipped the script in his heat, leading all of the way on his debut over the distance. Meanwhile, Greyhound Clubs Victoria, in conjunction with Greyhound Racing Victoria
and the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club, launched a statewide community sports clubs’ sweep for the Melbourne Cup. The community sports clubs’ sweep provides regional greyhound racing clubs an opportunity to partner with their local community sports clubs to provide an engaging and exciting linkage to the world’s greatest greyhound race. Clubs whose greyhounds have progressed to the final have the chance of winning a share in the $10,000 prize pool (1st $5,000, 2nd $1500, 3rd $1000, and 4th to 8th $500). Tommy Shelby will represent the Ellinbank and District Football League. The Melbourne Cup will be shown live on 7TWO from 8.30pm this Friday, or can be streamed free on the Watchdog app.
Storm is set to hit Beacy The Gippsland Storm Elite Development Netball Club will this weekend host the last round of training sessions at Holm Park Reserve in Beaconsfield. After the Covid-19 lockdowns, everybody wants to get back into their sport. So, the idea was to give the current 2020 squads a few runs prior to their annual tryouts, which start on Sunday, 29 November and continue on the following Sunday, 6 December. The Gippsland Storm offers a great opportunity for netballers of all ages to get involved with one of the most successful, elite development netball clubs in Victoria.
The Officer Community Hub at 2 Parker Street, Officer is now available and will host the two weeks of tryouts beginning on Sunday. As a collective, the Storm’s players, coaches, and administration are so pleased that things are starting to move again after an incredibly challenging 2020. So, the Storm now looks forward to the official tryouts over the next few weeks, and also the upcoming 2021 season and the annual fitness camp early next year. Tryout pre-registration is required. Go to the Storm website and follow the registration links at: www.gippslandstorm.com.au
Some of the 15-and-under Storm squad just prior to their afternoon training sessions.
Berwick netball resumes with pre-season training
Nicole Westmorland and her team mates have a blast on the court at Berwick. Picture: SUPPLIED 30 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 26 November, 2020
Berwick Netball Club is inviting existing and interested players back to pre-season training, following the easing of the Covid restrictions which saw a premature end to this year’s season. Senior players have committed to improving their game fitness and team morale every Thursday from 6.30pm and Saturday from 8am, following Victoria’s move into Stage 3 restrictions, which allows outdoor training of non-contact community sport. “We’re overjoyed to welcome players back to Berwick Netball Club” said club president, Steve Santamaria. “We’ve missed watching what was shaping up to be a strong season for the club, as well as the social aspect of the sport, which is valued by our coaches and players.” The club is also excited to announce that trials for the AFL Outer East’s junior and senior 2021 competition will be taking place in early December. Senior division trials for those born in, and prior to, 2003 will be held on Thursday, 3 De-
cember from 6-8.30pm and Saturday, 5 December from 8.30 to 10.30am. Junior trials are set to take place on Tuesday, 8 December for the 13 and under, 15 and under, and 17 and under squads. The 13 and under trials will run from 4.15-5.45pm, 15 and under from 5.15-7pm, and 17 and under from 6.30-8pm. Berwick Netball Club is taking every precaution to ensure that pre-season training and trials are safe for players, coaches and officials. “We’ve put many measures in place to keep everybody safe,” said Santamaria. “Players, coaches and officials are encouraged to physically distance and maintain personal hygiene, using provided sanitising stations. “We ask that all visitors sign in and out when training with us so that we are able to contact trace if necessary.” For more information about pre-season training and upcoming trials, visit the Berwick Netball Club website at www.berwicknetballclub.com.au cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
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Can these Swans soar? By Nick Creely VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET SEASON PREVIEW - CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB President: Shaun Petrie Coach: Brian Keogh Assistant Coaches: Will Carr, Thilan Samaraweera (batting consultant), Bathiya Perera, Damien Fleming (high performance), Nathan Pilon, Brett Lewis Captain: Michael Wallace Last Year: 15th Most Runs: Luke Wells (773 runs at 70.27); Nathan Freitag (405 runs at 31.15) Most Wickets: Josh Dowling (16 wickets at 30.88); Nathan Lambden (15 wickets at 34.07) Ins: Callum Dodson (Aspendale), Isaiah Jassal (Berwick), Kasun Suriaratchie (Baccus Marsh), Harrish Kannan (Ringwood) Outs: Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park), Josh Dowling (Narre South), Luke Wells (overseas), Aaron Fernando (Dandenong), James Maxwell (Dandenong), Nathan Freitag (Glengarry), Joel Mitchell (Moe) Home Base: Casey Fields, Cranbourne FIRST FIVE GAMES: Round 1: vs Kingston Hawthorn, Saturday 28 November, Casey Fields, 11.00am Round 2: vs Richmond, Saturday 5 December, Central Reserve, 11.00am Round 3: vs Frankston Peninsula, Saturday 12 December, AH Butler Oval, 11.00am Round 4: vs Melbourne, Saturday 19 December, Casey Fields, 11.00am Round 5: vs Dandenong, Saturday 9 January, Casey Fields, 11.00am WHAT THE CAPTAIN SAYS: On the challenge of the season... “Everyone’s really excited - coming out of this year, a lot of the excitement is just seeing each other, and to get around each other again, and get competitive and try and win games, and enjoy each other’s success. “You get to play everyone once, so it’s probably the most even draw we’ve had, and we’re just really excited about it.” The ability for the bowling group to adapt... “In terms of our bowlers, we’ve got a lot of spin options as well that we think can play a really important role in bogging down batsmen in the middle-overs, and with Cal Dodson coming in, he’s looking really good too so hopefully he’ll get his opportunities and play a role. “But we’ll go with what is working at the time - if that’s more spinners than quicks, or more quicks than spinners then we’ll back them in, and roll with whatever mix works. “We’ve got a great mix of bowlers that can play a role in this format. With our attack we should be able to build a lot of pressure. “With our quicks we’ve got a couple of lefties - Jackson Fry, Evan Allway looks good, Julian
New Casey-South Melbourne skipper Michael Wallace. Packer who is pushing to come up - and then we’ve got the right arm quicks, left arm orthodox, offies and leggies, so it’ll be dependent on whose up for the challenge on the weekend.” The experience in the batting and some shift in the order... “With our batting attack, a lot of our batsmen have played a lot of games and hopefully they can work together and get the job done. “Because of the one-day format, we can probably play around with our batting line-up a little bit “But we’re still working on that (shifts to the batting order) - in the one-day format, the ball probably doesn’t do as much, so you can play around with having more aggression at the top in this format unlike the two-day game. “Ash Chandrasinghe looks amazing, so he’ll be a lock at top, and he did really well up at Darwin. He looks ready to go and doesn’t look like he’s had any time off, so we’re excited by what he can do this season.” More: Like all clubs in what is set to be a different looking Victorian Premier Cricket season, adaptability, innovation and consistency will form part of what will be a successful campaign with the potential for plenty of silverware. For Casey-South Melbourne, who are en-
Picture: COURTESY OF CHRIS THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY
tering the season with plenty of energy, some new faces and some role changes to its established squad, it will look to do some damage and return to the finals for the first time since 2016/17. It was an almost season for the club in 2019/20, snaring three wins and eight losses with five draws, with impressive wins against Dandenong, Fitzroy Doncaster and Frankston Peninsula showcasing the very best of the Swans, but the side will be looking to bridge the gap between its best and worse this season. The white-ball format is an area in which the Swans are confident - with players such as Lachie Sperling, Jordan Wyatt, skipper Michael Wallace, Dylan Hadfield, Nathan Lambden and many more so well suited to the one-day game, there’s reason to think that the club can push itself back up the table. The Swans have a big chance in the opening month of the season, too, with all games aside from Melbourne against teams that didn’t feature in finals action last season, providing a golden opportunity to get ahead of the ledger and bank some early wins, which will be crucial as the season goes on. With a strong coaching panel, led once again by Brian Keogh in his final season before handing the baton over to Will Carr, the ex-Victorian quick and Berwick’s Turf 1 premiership
coach of last season, as well as another former state cricketer Nathan Pilon and the expert assistance of Australian great Damien Fleming and ex-Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera, the Swans are well set for success now and into the future. From an on-field perspective, there’s no shying away from the fact that a lot of quality has come out of the door, none other than County batsman Luke Wells, who has taken the competition by storm over the past two seasons, gun batsman Nathan Freitag and handy bowlers Jordan Hammond and Josh Dowling. But the Swans, under the leadership of a new skipper in Michael Wallace, a dedicated and admired clubman, won’t those losses get in their way of the quest of returning to finals, and in fact will use that to its advantage to unearth more players and place more faith in its senior core, which has played plenty of cricket together and is looking to continue to take the next step. And part of that next step is continuing to foster a strong and welcoming culture, where players, coaches and volunteers all genuinely love being part of the journey, and embracing what’s to come in a season like no other.
Mixed results in the VSDCA Ready to roll on the greens at Cranbourne... By Lance Jenkinson
Noble Park hardly put a foot wrong in a resounding six-wicket victory over Elsternwick on the road in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (VSDCA) south-east group season opener at Elsternwick Park on Saturday. The Parkers were dominant with the ball, routing the Wickers for just 101 in 36.2 overs. All six Parkers bowlers took at least a wicket. Janaka Liyanabadalge (3/23) and Issy Perera (3/13), the only two bowlers used for their full eight overs, led the way with three wickets apiece. Noble Park’s response got off to a slow start. The Parkers were 2/15 with both openers back in the pavilion. However, there was nothing slow about the rest of the Parkers innings, with Amal Athulathmudali providing the fireworks from that point forward. Athulathmudali freed the arms to make a blink-and-you-miss 66 not out off 33 balls. He smacked 10 boundaries in his knock, including five fours and five sixes. Once Athulathmudali got going, with a bit of help from Liyanabadalge (16), there was no stopping the Parkers. Noble Park will play at home for the first
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time this summer when it entertains Oakleigh in a one-day game at Noble Park Reserve on Saturday. Meanwhile, all that could go wrong did go wrong for Endeavour Hills in its season opening 10-wicket loss to Brighton away at Brighton Beach Oval. The Eagles left a lot to be desired with the bat, all out for just 81 in 25.5 overs. Aside from Chris Ryan (21) and Danish Khokal (18), there were single figure scores strewn throughout the Eagles scoreboard. The next top scorer for the Eagles was extras with 15. Brighton only needed 10 overs to pass the target - thanks to a batting clinic put on by Ricky Damiano. Damiano made 75 not out in just 27 balls for the hosts, including nine fours and three sixes. He featured in an 83-run stand with Brenton Murphy, who only had to contribute five runs. Eagles coach Nick Bole-Brown spoke of the depth throughout his club. While it is way too early for the Eagles to begin scouring for players in the lower grades to step up to the ones, the first XI would not want a repeat performance against Malvern at Sydney Pargeter Recreation Reserve this Saturday, otherwise the pressure will be well and truly on.
CRANBOURNE BOWLS With the AGM and opening day officially held on Sunday, 22 November, newly-elected chairman Tony Collins was happy to take charge and get the club up and running for the new bowls season. With the preliminary tasks undertaken including new Covid pandemic regulations, the club is now raring to go for season 20202021. After a good run into finals last year head coach Lyn Quigg is determined this year to go one better with the main prize of getting a Cranbourne side back into Division 1. The club has maintained four top sides in Division 2, with two sides in the Saturday competition and two sides in the mid-week comp. Games start on Saturday against Mentone and Berwick and mid-week against Dandenong Club and Burden Park.
Head selector Doug Boggie was pleased with the recent pre-season practice games’ form and is confident of a very competitive year. Mid-week head selector Lois Brock is looking forward to continuing on the great work the club achieved last year. Cranbourne has entered four teams in the mid-week open competition, with two teams in Division 2 and two teams in Division 4. Cranbourne has also entered five teams in the Saturday competition, including two teams in Division 2; one team in Division 4; one team in Division 6; and one team in the six-a-side competition.
Thursday, 26 November, 2020
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