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Snapped out in lockdown

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Local fears humanitarian crisis

Panthers’ bid knocked back

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Lida fears Taliban rise Australia has been a land of opportunity for Cranbourne East woman Lida Hazara, founder and president of Women for Change, an organisation which has spent three years raising money to fund teachers for the community in which she grew up in Afghanistan. Now, Lida and her supporters have watched the return of the Taliban in horror. She shares their story on page 13

Lida Hazara fears for women and children living in Afghanistan. 248128

Pharmacies jab The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is gathering pace with some pharmacies now able to administer the doses. Several pharmacies in Casey have come on board with the rollout in recent days. They include Terry White Chemmart Pharmacy on Clyde. Proprietor Anthony Tassone, who is also

president of the Victorian branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, had advocated strongly for pharmacies to be included in the Australian Government’s vaccine plans. His pharmacy is now giving out AstraZeneca vaccines to patients who want it. Appointments are recommended but some walk-ins are available. The Clyde store is among more than 500

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community pharmacies across Victoria that are providing the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to Mr Tassone. “This is great news to improve access and help our community chart our course on a pathway to recovery lifting vaccination rates as high as possible to navigate out of lockdowns and tight Covid-restrictions,” he said. Already, community pharmacies across

Australia have administered more than 200,000 AstraZeneca doses. The Clyde pharmacy is expecting to receive the Moderna vaccine from mid-September. But Mr Tassone urged customers to speak to their GP or pharmacist as soon as possible about getting vaccinated, rather than delaying for a particular brand. Continued page 8

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NEWS

Fined for dog’s attack By Cam Lucadou-Wells A dog-owner’s partner has faced court after the dog fatally savaged a tabby cat while out on a walk in Endeavour Hills. Cecilia Lay, 45, had been walking the fiveyear-old male Staffordshire Terrier named Bones on a lead on Gleneagles Drive about 10am on Saturday, 17 April. The dog latched onto the cat, shaking and biting her as Lay tried to pull the dog away, according to Casey Council. Despite witnesses’ intervention and being taken to a vet, the cat soon succumbed to internal injuries, several deep puncture wounds and a fractured upper leg.

Casey Council had not seized the dog, which remains with the owner now living in Springvale. The council’s lawyer told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 August that the council would decide on any further action after the hearing. It had also yet to inspect the owner’s fencing and gates at the dog’s new address. In an email to the council five days after the attack, Lay and the owner stated they did not wish to speak to the council about the matter. In court, Lay pleaded guilty to being in control of a ‘non-dangerous’ dog biting an animal causing death.

Her defence lawyer said the dog, on a halfarm’s-length lead, had “reacted badly” when the cat approached in front of them and hissed. The “very, very sorry” accused had written a letter-of-apology to the cat’s owner, offered to pay for a replacement adopted cat and to cover any vet expenses from the incident, the court heard. The accused bank credit-officer had previously received a fine from the council for being “in control” of Bones while he bit and inflicted “minor injuries” on another dog in December. She had no prior convictions. As part of an animal management plan since the fatal attack, Lay had kept Bones on a

muzzle and leash while outside the premises. Magistrate Greg Connellan noted the “seriousness” of a pet being killed in the event. “They’re uncomfortable things to witness and to have happen to your pet.” He said there was “probably very little time or opportunity for you to do anything to prevent what was unfolding”. “I accept that reality – it’s one of the risks of owning a pet dog. Their behaviour can sometimes be very rapid and unpredictable.” “You have responded in an appropriate way that reflects the gravity and seriousness of what took place.” Lay was fined $800, plus $85.70 filing costs, without conviction.

IN BRIEF Four charged after aggravated carjacking Police have charged four male teens following an aggravated carjacking in Narre Warren early on Wednesday 18 August. Police allege a 34-year-old Cranbourne man met up with two males for the sale of his motor vehicle and began a test drive of the vehicle, before three additional males began following in a white Holden Astra. The victim was allegedly threatened with a knife and forced out of his car before two of the offenders drove off in the victim’s vehicle, a silver Holden Commodore. Investigating police located the vehicle on Tamarisk Court, Narre Warren about 9.45am. Three offenders were arrested attempting to flee the scene, and a fourth was arrested a short time later. A 17-year-old Berwick boy has been charged with offences including carjacking, recklessly cause injury, assault in company and robbery and has been remanded to appear at a Children’s Court. A 16-year-old Cranbourne North boy has been charged with offences including carjacking, unlawful assault, evade police, unlicensed driving and theft and has been remanded to appear at a Children’s Court. A 17-year-old Dandenong boy has been charged with carjacking, aggravated burglary and theft of motor vehicle and has been remanded to appear at a Children’s Court. A 17-year-old Eumemmering boy has been charged with carjacking and unlicensed driving and has been bailed to appear at a Children’s Court.

Hoon caught in Hallam

Cristina relaxes with a good book.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Readers share in Book Week Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House yoga teacher Cristina was happy to share her reading habits this Book Week. Who is your favourite author? I read nonfiction and I don’t have a favourite author. I just love reading! What is currently on your reading list? Currently I’m reading Awakening Shakti by Sally Kempton, a book about the feminine

energies represented by the archetypal figures of the Hindu Goddesses. Kindle/e-book or hard copy? Hard copy! I love touching the pages, highlighting a passage. I read e-books too, but I find that reading on a device takes away some of the personality of the book, like its thickness and looking at the cover when I pick it up. Why should people get into reading?

A 21-year-old Noble Park man has been arrested and had his car seized for high risk driving Wednesday 18 August. Casey Highway Patrol officers received reports that a gold Commodore was doing burnouts in Hallam at about 10am. Police said like bread crumbs they were able to follow the burnout trail to the driver changing his rear tyres. The man was charged and bailed for driving related offences.

I would recommend reading because books are like friends that we can have conversations with; we can learn from them and even question them; they can take us in places we haven’t been and make our imagination fly; they can also help us organise what we’ve learnt, and even expand and deepen insights about life! Meet more local readers on page 10

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 3

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Nick Creely

Gazette sports reporter Nick Creely takes some time to answer some tough questions! Olympics in Melbourne. That would have been a really special experience. Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? Jerry Seinfeld, Kerry Packer, Damien Martyn, Gordan Ramsay, Vincent Chase (the character, not the actor who plays him) and Michael Richards. What are you currently listening to/watching or reading? I’m in between about six or seven shows, but Animal Kingdom is a beauty, Entourage is my favourite show of all time, and I have a mild Adam Sandler obsession. I’ve always got Seinfeld on in the background, too! In terms of music, I go through various moods, but I’m currently really enjoying Amber Run. I also got through the Harry Potter book series for the first time last year.

Have you had a pet that has made an impact on your life? Yeah, my Groodle Bailey is a huge part of my life and adore him to pieces. Pets have an incredible ability to teach you a lot of life lessons as you move through adulthood. Where is your dream holiday destination? I’m hoping to go to the US for the first time in the next couple of years. What were you like as a kid? Challenging. I was a bit of a handful. Do you consider yourself an extravert or an introvert? I would say I’m an introvert for the most part, but an extrovert when I need to be, if that makes sense. I’m a pretty private person but definitely a different person around those I’m comfortable with.

Exercise is one of the easiest things you can do to relieve stress. Many people think the gym is the only option, but that’s not true you can get an awesome workout at home through body weight exercises, using things as simple as a dining chair (tricep dips FTW!) and whatever tinned food you have in the cupboard (you use them as weights, of course! Save the eating for after!). Or, make the most of the sunny days and head outside for a long walk, ride or run.

A healthy diet can lessen the impacts of stress. Have a look at what’s on your plate on an average day and think about what you’re using to fuel your body. If you’re feeling stressed, try and reduce the amount of fat and sugar on your plate - your blood pressure will thank you for it!

Talk to people. We’re all going through a tough time right now, and as the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Whether you simply rant to a family member or choose to call a professional, there are people out there who want to listen and help you. Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au

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Tell us a fun fact about yourself! I use a lot of my spare time to study and cook different cuisines from across the world. It’s definitely something I pride myself on. What are you most passionate about? My little family and ensuring I’m savouring every little moment I can with them. Did you always want to become a journalist? I knew I always wanted to work in the media and communications field, I just didn’t know in what capacity until I was probably 17 or 18. I probably decided at the end of Year 12 that’s the path I wanted to go down. What do you love about being a journalist? There’s something so special about having the ability to meet so many fascinating people and have the privilege of telling their stories. It can be challenging at times, in sport especially, as news travels really fast and you have to be at the top of your game, but I love it. What is your favourite sport and why? Cricket, without even hesitation. I grew up surrounded by the game, and I’ve seen first hand the opportunities that the game opens up for so many people. It’s a really special sport for me from a personal point of view, and I adore covering it. What do you consider to be the greatest sporting moment? I’ll go modern times, and Ben Stokes’ match winning century for England to defeat Australia in the Ashes in 2019 was one of the greatest moments in cricket’s illustrious history. The Aussies looked to have had the game, but the English pulled off a miracle. It was sporting tension at its finest, and an iconic moment. What was your most memorable moment? The birth of my first son, Noah this year alongside my wedding is hard to split. Both special for different reasons. What event past or present would you like to witness? I would have loved to have gone to the 1956

THREE … stress busting techniques

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NEWS

Wedded to boom hope By Danielle Kutchel A Pearcedale wedding photographer is looking forward to a bumper season of love once Covid-19 restrictions ease. Former nurse and paramedic Brendan Creaser, who made the leap to full-time wedding photography last year, said he can’t help but be optimistic about where the wedding industry is headed. That’s despite 18 months of lockdowns, which have had a devastating impact on many wedding vendors with events often shrunk down or cancelled completely. “It’s been an absolute roller coaster of boom and bust,” he explained. But the boom times will come again, he said, especially if past trends are anything to go by. Mr Creaser said last summer was particularly busy, as delayed brides and grooms rushed to tie the knot. While the warmer months are usually peak wedding season, he said last season was “really crazy”. But lockdown six has “really rattled the industry”, as vendors and couples look nervously to the north and wonder if what’s happening in New South Wales could also occur here. “Most of the weddings through September have already made the decision to postpone to early next year,” Mr Creaser said. Now, he’s getting bookings for late 2022 and early 2023. His focus, and the focus of many others in the industry right now, is on making sure current clients are well-looked after and coordinating with other vendors to gauge when and where the wedding will eventually happen. In some ways, Covid has fundamentally changed the industry; mid-week weddings have become more popular as vendors race to fit couples in, and there’s a trend towards more

Wedding photographer Brendan Creaser said he’s optimistic about the future of the industry. intimate events and elopements. Covid is the perfect excuse to cut back on the guest list, Mr Creaser joked. While he has seen others stop taking bookings and prepare to leave the industry, he said that’s not his plan. “I transferred from a healthcare position last year and went full time in this during the pandemic, which is an interesting move,

but I’m of the opinion there will be a bounce back,” he explained. “When there’s a lot more stability in what events can run, there will be a boom. “I understand the measures that have been put in place to protect the fragile health system – I think my optimism comes from an appreciation of why we’re doing this.” While we wait for restrictions to ease again,

Picture: SUPPLIED Mr Creaser said he’d encourage couples to begin planning their big day to give them something to look forward to when Covid is over. “I think next year is going to be totally different to this year,” he said. “Get creative and get excited, and still get married – love will always be around.” Find out more at brendancreaserphotography.com/

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

OPINION

Afghans supported

LENSCAPE

Casey and Greater Dandenong’s councils have issued a joint statement of “unwavering support” for its “rich and growing” Afghan communities. “Together, the Local Government Areas of Casey and Greater Dandenong are home to almost three-quarters of Victoria’s Afghan communities,” the statement signed by Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff and Greater Dandenong mayor Angela Long said. “Some were born here, many are well-established community leaders, whilst others are just beginning their lives in a new country.” The councils recognised the communities’ “pride”, “extraordinary resilience” as well as the “heartbreak many are experiencing during this difficult time”. “Over the last few days, we have heard from many leaders and community members about the struggles of loved ones in Afghanistan and the toll and anguish of those here in Australia, supporting family and friends back home. “Casey and Greater Dandenong extend our unwavering support to all members of our communities affected by the unfolding situation in Afghanistan.” The councils were committed to work with Afghan leaders, groups and all levels of governments to “provide and advocate for the needed supports”. “We know that Afghan communities in Casey and Greater Dandenong have strong social support systems, and we join in a spirit of unity and social cohesion to offer our support.” Further supports are available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/mental-health-resources-culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-communities Foundation House, 9389 8900 or foundationhouse.org.au or Family Life SHINE and Connect Programs at familylife.com.au/support/mental-health

Moon rise, as captured by Star News Group editorial coordinator Tracey Matthies. 248385

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To all the people at Wilson Park, Berwick at the weekend who didn’t wear masks or wore them under their chin.

Thumbs down To the self righteous, judgemental people who assume they know other people’s circumstances and take to social media, or even getting in people’s faces, to have a go at them, those assuming people not wearing masks don’t have an exemption, or those in certain areas are out of their 5km zones. So sick of these people.

Thumbs up To the Hawks supporter that was in front of me through the Maccas Officer outbound who paid for my order. Thank you for the thoughtful, kind gesture. Not sure who you are but I hope good things come your way.

On Thursday 19 August, a story was shared to the Star News Facebook page regarding several cases of Legionnaires’ disease that were found in Cranbourne East. Here’s how our readers responded online: Kay Bbk: Why can’t they tells us where about in Cranbourne east? Kylie Mercieca: Why can’t they tell you, its usually in industrial cooling towers. Is it the hunt club? Amanda Lammeretz: Get ya air cons serviced ya tight a*ses. Damo Owen: Meh at least its not Covid. Mandy Magpies Hazledine: Oh my god, what next.

Pfizer eligibility expanded to the youth

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To all the people doing the right thing in lockdown. It’s getting harder each week especially with the great weather we had on the weekend.

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SOCIALLY SPEAKING

Thursday, 26 August, 2021

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that all Victorians aged between 16 - 39 years are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine at state-run vaccination centres. This comes following on from PM Scott Morrison’s announcement on Thursday 19 August that all Australians aged 16 - 39 would be eligible for the Pfizer jab after 30 August, meaning younger Victorians are now eligible for Pfizer a few days ahead of schedule. The change means that from Wednesday 25 August, anyone aged 18 to 59 will be eligible to receive either Pfizer or AstraZeneca – with people aged 16 to 17 able to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Those aged 60 and over will continue to receive AstraZeneca. Over the next four weeks, there will be over 830,000 appointments for Covid-19 vaccines at more than 55 state-run centres operating across Victoria – this includes 450,000 first

dose appointments for the Pfizer vaccine. Mr Andrews said this new expansion would further help Victoria reach its goal of one million doses over five weeks. “We’ve already delivered more than 230,000 doses towards our 1 million jabs target which is a mammoth effort,“ Mr Andrews said at Tuesday morning’s press conference. Approximately 1.7 million Victorians aged 16 to 59 have already been vaccinated across general practice, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, community pharmacy and state vaccination centres. The expansion follows the supply of an additional 175,000 doses of Pfizer from the Commonwealth, recently received from overseas. Anyone aged 18 to 39 who has a current booking for AstraZeneca from Wednesday 25 August who would prefer to receive Pfizer, will not need to cancel or change your book-

ing – you will be offered Pfizer when you arrive for your appointment, unless you would prefer to receive AstraZeneca. However, with the number of Victorians aged 18 to 59 still far outweighing the Pfizer doses available from the Commonwealth, the AstraZeneca vaccine will still be available for those who choose to provide consent and discuss their vaccination with a medical professional. Mr Andrews reiterated the message that the best vaccine you can get is the one that you can get today, and Minister for Health Martin Foley agreed. “Getting vaccinated is our way out of this pandemic,“ Mr Foley said. “This outbreak has reminded us yet again that this virus doesn’t discriminate, not by age or profession. Now is the time to come forward and protect yourself and those you love.” cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

A journo rolls up for jab By Danielle Kutchel When it comes to Covid-19, it looks like vaccination is the key to getting life back on track. The Doherty Institute earlier this month released modelling that showed that high rates of vaccination are our pathway out of the pandemic. But as someone under 30 in a non-frontline role I’ve been languishing at the bottom of the vaccination priority heap for months. Originally I had hoped to have received the ol’ one-two shot by August or September, but as time went on and Australia missed its vaccination targets, that began to look increasingly unlikely. But the health advice stated that as someone so young, I should continue waiting for Pfizer. Now, here’s the thing: I didn’t actually care what vaccine I got. Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer have demonstrated high rates of effectiveness at reducing hospitalisation and death. I’m worried that if I were to be unlucky enough to catch Covid, especially Delta, I’d end up on my stomach on a vent, which isn’t exactly a life goal to say the least. But facing an interminable wait to be Pfully Pfizered, I decided the time was right to take matters into my own hands. I spent a lot of time looking at the numbers: the number of AZ vaccines dosed out overseas, the number of people with Covid both here and in other countries, and of course, the number of people who got the dreaded – and now infamous – AZ-related clots. After satisfying myself as to the incredibly low risk of side effects, I booked in an appointment with my GP to check that there were no red flags in my medical history. They gave me the all-clear too, along with a choice: I could hold out for a bit longer in case Pfizer eligibility was expanded, or I could go now and, with

Star News Group journalist Danielle Kutchel gets her vaccine. their blessing, get the AZ. For me, with cases rising around the country, Delta-not-Goodrem demonstrating much easier transmissibility and Victoria back in lockdown, the choice was easy: AZ it was. I’m now almost a week post-vaccine and, touch wood, feeling fine. I’m not going to lie – the first 24 hours, when the full force of those flu-like symptoms barrelled into me, were not pleasant. I highly recommend taking the day off work after your

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

first AZ shot. It wasn’t entirely unexpected of course and the nurse did warn me I would feel sick that night. Cold and flu tabs were very helpful. Speaking of the nurses, they were great. The whole team at the mass vaccination hub at Cranbourne was friendly and informed, and took plenty of time to go through very stringent checks before pulling out the needle. They were happy to answer any questions I had and made sure I knew I had the right to tap out right down to the last second.

They’ve been seeing thousands of young people book in across the Monash Health-run vaccination sites since the State Government opened AZ bookings to under 40s. Nurse Bec McLochlan from the Cranbourne hub told me that, from a healthcare worker’s perspective, vaccinations are essential to protect the entire healthcare system. “We’ve seen overseas healthcare systems that are overrun with all the sick Covid patients,” she said. “We’ve been very lucky in Australia that it hasn’t been that severe. “It would be great if everyone could get vaccinated. The only way we’re going to get back to a normal life is to be vaccinated.” It’s an odd feeling, knowing you’ve got these new antibodies coursing through your system. Think about it; think about what the world’s incredible team of scientists managed to do in the space of a year, confronted with a challenge like none the world has ever faced. What a thing to be a part of, even if my part is just to sit and take on the results of their work. I guess that’s why I get so mad at the antivax and anti-mask types floating around – what a slap in the face for our scientists, their knowledge, their research and the long hours they spent working on this solution for seven billion people who had their lives placed on pause by this virus. But you know what? I don’t want to dwell on them. I’m confident that Australians are comfortable with taking this life-changing vaccination as soon as they can. I’m proud to be among the rapidly growing percentage of Australians who have had a jab. I’m looking forward to getting out of lockdown and getting back into life (and maybe even finally getting married). How about you? For more information on vaccines, visit health.gov.au or coronavirus.vic.gov.au, or speak with your GP.

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 7

NEWS

Battery pole trial

Pharmacy jabs now

By Danielle Kutchel A Federal Government-supported initiative will see Pearcedale take part in a trial of power pole-mounted batteries. Known as ’Electric Avenue’, the community battery project is being rolled out across the United Energy network and will see 30kW (or 66 kWh) community batteries installed on power poles across 40 sites within United Energy’s footprint. The batteries will help sustain 99.99 per cent power reliability for customers and will store energy for customers to share and use when needed, meaning everyone can access renewable energy whether they have solar panels or not. During times when demand for electricity is low or when local rooftop solar systems are exporting power into the network, the batteries will charge up, with power from them to be used later in the day during peak periods when solar systems are no longer generating. The Federal Government has kicked in $4 million for the trial through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said the trial, if successful, could improve the way power networks integrate Australia’s world-leading levels of rooftop solar generation and storage, and strengthen system reliability and security. “Australia is a world leader in renewable energy, with one in four households adopting rooftop solar and over seven gigawatts of new renewable capacity entering the grid in the last year alone,” Mr Taylor said. “As this new capacity comes online, it is absolutely critical that we keep our grid reliable and secure.”

From page 1 “The best vaccine is the one you can get today,” he said. “Don’t hesitate, vaccinate.” The pharmacy rollout comes as Victoria opens Pfizer appointments to 1639 year olds. On Tuesday 24 August, Premier Daniel Andrews announced under-40s would be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine at state-run vaccination hubs. The vaccination booking website was reported to have crashed under the ensuing demand. To find which pharmacies are providing the COVID-19 vaccine, visit findapharmacy.com.au or visit the Commonwealth government eligibility checker at covid-vaccine.healthdirect. gov.au/eligibility The batteries will allow all customers to access renewable energy even if they don’t have solar panels on their own home. Federal Member for Flinders Greg Hunt said the trial by United Energy aimed to help solve the problem of integrating rooftop solar into the network by providing local storage, which will also help them to manage the network during times of extreme demand. “The $11 million project will see 40 batteries installed on power poles at strategic places throughout the network. Each battery is capable of more than two hours of output,” Mr Hunt said. “By managing the batteries, the electricity supplier can reduce the stress on local trans-

formers at peak times, while providing wholesale power at other times. “This will help ensure more reliable, affordable power for Australians.” The batteries are expected to last for 15 years. Customers living on streets supported by the batteries will receive information from their retailer - Simple Energy - about how to draw power from the battery. According to United Energy, customers will not notice any difference in their electricity supply when the battery is operating.

Pharmacist Carolyn Wynen at Pharmacy on Clyde administers the vaccine to Neik. 248363 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

FOCUS ON … TAX TIME

Top 10 simple tax time tips for students If you are a student, lodging an income tax return may seem a bit daunting. Parents who may be helping can also find it challenging. CPA Australia’s tax policy adviser Elinor Kasapidis said that “while studying is probably your highest priority, many students take on part-time work, including small cash jobs, or might receive government payments or scholarships to assist during their studies. You might be more entrepreneurial and have started selling products or investing in financial assets on the side. Many forms of income come with tax consequences so it’s best to get advice if you’re unsure. “You might also find that you have had tax withheld from payments to you, so you’ll need to lodge a tax return to get any amounts

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the tax-free threshold, lodge a return to get those amounts refunded back to you Set up your myGov account to access government services and get your income statement and superannuation information from your employer Identify all your sources of income, such as income from work including tips, investment returns, certain government payments, non-government scholarships, grants and awards, as well as distributions from family trusts or partnerships Report income and claim expenses from gig economy jobs. This can include income from running social media accounts or selling goods and services online Know your deductions, including work related expenses or self-education expenses. Remember self-education must be directly related to your work and that HELP debt repayments are not deductible Remember that income can include payments you receive in tips, cryptocurrency and through barter transactions Report any gains or losses from cryptocurrencies, especially because the ATO is datamatching information received from digital exchanges Get your residency for tax purposes right as the tax rules are different to those used for immigration Check that you are getting your superannuation entitlements if you earn more than $450 per month or, if you are under 18 and you work more than 30 hours per week Consider the special rules related to tax if you are under 18, for income such as trust distributions, interest, dividends, rent and royalties.

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Tasty lockdown treats A Dandenong South online business has the perfect ingredients to send out love – and comfort food – during Covid lockdown. With an array of indulgent chocolate bouquets and edible gift hampers, the times seem to suit Taste Buds and its online deliveries. During the pandemic, it has branched into further similar companies Hampers Galore and Healthy Essentials Australia. Hampers Galore offers luscious gift packages of snacks, chocolates with wine, champagne, beer or Moscato. They target a range of tastes and occasions, with products as lockdown survival kits, tradies’ snack hampers, and Moet Lovers pack. Healthy Essentials Australia delivers 1400 healthy foods and supermarket items including vegan hampers, gluten-free hampers, household cleaning and laundry products, baby food, nappies and wipes. Since buying Taste Buds in 2019, husband and wife Ash and Sasha Hewawasam quickly refined and struck on a thriving formula. Its annual revenue soared from $800,000 to $3 million.

Edible chocolate bouquets are among the Taste Buds’ popular treats. 246286 With 40 per cent market share, it’s the second-largest online food hamper business in Australia. In the process, the savvy couple cut some of the less trendy products, and got a feel for

what was popular. They tinkered with products’ colours, sizes and prices, and spent up on marketing on Google and Facebook. The business was a brave new venture for

held over Zoom and the centre will arrange collection of take-home goodies once centre has re-opened.

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the couple. Mr Hewawasam, a former accountant and Dulux chief financial officer, said his wife suggested they make a change and carry out their own business. “She said why should you work seven days a week making other people rich. “Why don’t we work for ourselves?” Brokers presented a few options for businesses to take on. They latched onto Taste Buds because they “loved the idea” and thought they could “take it to the next level”. Gift hampers are tailored for ’him’ and ’her’, with Father’s Day offerings including combos of chocolates and snacks with tawny port, beer, bourbon or Scotch. Peak times are the indulgent events on the calendar such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Christmas. Half-metre chocolate Christmas trees are particularly sought. To order, call 1300 733 968 or got to tastebuds.com.au, hampersgalore.com.au or healthyessentialsaustralia.com.au

WHAT’S ON Science Week at Balla Balla Saturday 28 August - Science Behind Cooking and Composting and Recycling 9.30am -1.45pm. Science Behind Cooking: hands on interactive demonstration to make Greek yoghurt to take home, participate in making sauerkraut on the day and taste some sauerkraut that has had time to ferment. Tastings will include sauerkraut, kombucha, yoghurt and a variety of cheeses. Take home a compost caddy to get you started. Phone 5990 0900 or email admin@ ballaballa.com.au to book in. The event will be

Book Week at Casey Cardinia Libraries Casey Cardinia Libraries is running a series of competitions to help kids get into the spirit of Book Week! Dress up as your favourite literary character or design your own bookmark for the chance to win some amazing prizes. Competitions close Saturday 4 September. For more information, follow Casey Cardinia

Join your community choir Voices of Casey are continuing to rehearse throughout the lockdown. When lockdowns restrict in-person meetings, the choir rehearses over Zoom. On Zoom the choir is split into two ’rooms’ to make rehearsing easier and allow ongoing interaction. If you’re looking for a new hobby, a chance to practise your singing or a place to make new friends, why not join Voices of Casey - it’s Covid-safe! Rehearsals are held on Mondays from 7pm till 9.30pm at Fiddlers

Green in Berwick (when allowed in-person), or otherwise over Zoom. For more information contact Paulien on 0412 741 195 or maritimes.1@hotmail.com

TedX comes to Casey TEDxYouth@Casey 2021 will take place at Federation University in Berwick. This is the first live event for some time and will be a dedicated youth event with a range of guest speakers. The event will be held on a yet-to-be-confirmed date in September. Cost is free but bookings will be required. For more information or updates, visit tedxcasey.com/

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 9

NEWS

Luciano, Jordan Crugnale and Augustus, reading Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.

Chris O’Hara with a poignant and personal book.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Getting into Book Week By Danielle Kutchel Thanks to Covid-19 restrictions Book Week looks a little different this year - so we put the call out to members of the community to tell us about their reading habits. And they were only too happy to share! BASS MP JORDAN CRUGNALE Who is your favourite author? That’s like asking who is your favourite child! Impossible to choose just one. I do have a few authors whose books I reread all the time, there are poets and short story authors from around the world I love and I guess the books my kids are into and we read together. What is currently on your reading list? Rereading Jitter bug Perfume by Tom Robbins. Royal Commission Mental Health Services Victoria Report. Fire County by Victor Stef-

fensen. Phosphorescence by Julia Baird. Looking through travel and art books including The Artist’s Lunch – At home with Australia’s most celebrated artists. Kindle/e-book or hard copy? Hard copy. Why should people get into reading? Books have the power to take us somewhere, to imagine, to dive into journeys, to learn, give us insight into how others see the world. They can make us think and reflect, teach us about our own selves, and how we move around the world. Sky’s the limit really. In a world that is fast-paced and so electronic, it makes my heart sing to see my kids read for hours on end and it is good for them to see me read too. SUE MATHIESON, BUSINESS MANAGER AT FOUNDATION LEARNING CENTRE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT LEXPLORE Who is your favourite author? I don’t have one

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favorite author – a few include Dr Joe Dispenza, Dr Bruce Lipton and Brene Brown. What is currently on your reading list? Currently re-reading “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown. Kindle/e-book or hard copy? I love the flexibility of Kindle that allows me to read when travelling but otherwise there is nothing better than getting engrossed in the pages of a book (hardcopy). Why should people get into reading? Having experienced severe depression, reading was a key factor in me being able to find resources in my journey of recovery; it has helped me to learn new skills, increase my knowledge and expand my opportunities; it is also a means of self-care, I love being able to sit in a comfy chair, get engrossed and allow the book to take me to other places. I recommend reading to every one for all these reasons – to learn, to gain understanding and to relax. It doesn’t matter what level you are at, just start somewhere. Make a commitment to read a few pages every day. You will be amazed at how much you can read in a year. CRANBOURNE MP PAULINE RICHARDS Who is your favourite author? My favourite author is Colm Tóibín. I first discovered him because I read one of my daughter’s school books; Brooklyn. After I finished Brooklyn, I started working my way through whatever of his I could find including Nora Webster, The Heather Blazing and The Blackwater Lightship. I enjoy the way he describes the environment that the characters live in and the effect of their place in history. What’s currently on your reading list? I’ve got two books going at the moment; I’m just at the end of Jill Hennessy’s essay Respect. It explores, with some optimism, the need to be conscious of how we interact with each other and the need to respond to people’s views in a way that is considerate of humanity. I worked for Jill for four years so it’s lovely to hear her voice come through very clearly in her writing. I’m also enjoying Did ye Hear Mammy Died by Seamas O’Reilly. It’s a memoir set in Ireland

Sue Mathieson recommends reading a few pages each day. and – despite its title – is really funny, warming and captures a loving family responding to the grief of the loss of a beloved mother. I enjoy everything Tim Winton wrote and love Liane Moriarty. Why should people get into reading? Reading is really important to me; I can’t sleep without reading (even if just a couple of pages) and I am often guilty of staying up way later than is healthy if I have a page-turner. Reading is excellent for stress reduction and at a time when we can’t travel, it takes me to other places in my mind. I find it a complete escape. CHRIS O’HARA, TEACHER, ST PETER’S COLLEGE CRANBOURNE Current read: Life After by Evonne Madden. A collection of true stories written by my friend’s wife, Evonne after the passing of my mate Paul. She interviewed a range of people that experienced tragedy of losing someone they love. Best ever read: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. A great read that has a positive message about living for each day. Meet more local readers next week.

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Casey names its top citizens

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OAMs for a couple of proud Aussies

Rex name shame By Mitchell Clarke Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name. Former Springfield Ward councillor Rex Flannery, who resigned as deputy mayor just days before the State Government sensationally sacked the entire council in February 2020, says the events of the past 12 months are still “eating” him up. He has now officially requested that his name is removed from both a councillor honour board in the customer service centre and a wall plaque in Bunjil Place. “I have never had any involvement into this alleged corruption scandal and therefore I do not wish to have my name associated with past or former councillors who may have brought our City of Casey into disrepute,” he told Star News. “People look at your name and they see that you’re from Casey Council and immediately they put you in that same mould, which couldn’t be further than the truth. “It’s just horrible to have been a councillor in that term. It gives you a sickening feeling in your gut and now I have to live with that.“ Mr Flannery argues his name should never have been placed on the plaque celebrating the $126 million Bunjil development because at the time he didn’t support the project. “I guess I’ve eaten a little bit of humble pie with Bunjil Place. I’ve been able to see the value that place brings to the community but at the time I was against the development and I wasn’t once consulted (about having my name included),” he said. He also claims former ex-ward partner, Sam Aziz, stated to him that he “wished he never had my name added to the plaque”. “That was the only time I agreed with him,” Mr Flannery said. While Mr Flannery hasn’t accused any former councillor of committing wrongdoing, he said anyone found guilty from the IBAC hearing should immediately have their honours stripped. “They need to have their plaques removed

Rex name shame

Final Stage

Rex Flannery, pictured in late 2015, wants his name stripped from council. 148005 from anywhere within the City of Casey ... whether it’s a plaque in the botanical gardens or in Bunjil Place, I want them removed so they have absolutely no recognition anymore,” he said. “They’ve disgraced themselves and they’ve disgraced the council. They’ve taken something away from me that I totally enjoyed. I loved serving the Casey community. I just want some clarity as to what way it’s going to go.” Since his resignation, Mr Flannery has been working in an operating theatre at a local hospital. He said he has every intention to run for council again in 2024.

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

Bunjil Place. associated with the 2016-20 term.” Casey’s governance manager Rhys Matulis said: “Given the IBAC investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on that matter. Council has received and will consider Mr Flannery’s request in due course.”

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“I want to get back into serving the community again. I want to run again and I want to get my name back on the honour board for the right reasons. At the moment it’s a dishonour board,” he said. Star News understands Mr Flannery has put forward his request to be heard by the administrators at the next council meeting, slated for Tuesday 2 February.“It’s up to them now but a year later, this is still eating at me. I need closure and this is one way that I can get it,“ he said. “I played no part in any downturn or sacking of the council and I feel it’s my duty to say that I don’t want to be a part of or in any way

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Almost one year since alleged corruption was exposed within the City of Casey, a former councillor is still fighting to clear his name.

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By Mitchell Clarke

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NEWS

Organisation in business What do you think of when you hear the word “architecture”? For most of us, we tend to think of buildings, well-built, structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing and fit-for-purpose. In practice, there is a lot more behind this since the term ‘architecture’ can be applied to many things such as software systems, cars and even organizational structures. There are also terms connected with the word ‘architecture’ that hint at separates a good one from a bad one, such as ‘form follows function’ (the building or system is constructed in a way that is both logical and enables a result to be readily and easily achieved) and ‘high internal cohesion and loose coupling’ which means that the internal components of the system each have their own defined role and set of synergistic actions such that there is a low level of dependence between each of these (i.e. the interfaces are simple). Why is this important? Well when you come to extend a well-architected structure, it is relatively easy to do since changing a few components will tend to have little impact on the rest of the system whereas in a poorly architected equivalent, changing something in one area may often turn out to have unexpected or even unfortunate consequences elsewhere. In business, an organizational architecture separates out the different roles that need to be undertaken and the better defined each role is, the clearer the differentiation between these, the better people understand what is expected of them and the lower the chance that things get missed or fall through the cracks. You may remember a few months I mentioned one of my favourite business books, “The EMyth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber. In this book, Gerber identifies three key roles which need to be exercised: 1. The Technician - the expert in the technical work on which the business is founded, e.g. accounting, electrician, fashion design, software development etc 2. The Manager - the person responsible for

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IAN ASH making sure things are done correctly, e.g. orders are captured, quality results produced, deliveries are on-time, invoices are sent etc 3. The Entrepreneur - the visionary who determines where the business is going, how and why it is different to the competition, level of investment to be made etc You can see that each of the above roles is distinct and clear (well architected). However, I like to take this further and identify the following as what I see as the key distinct roles in any business, namely: The CEO (similar to the ‘Entrepreneur’) Sales Manager Marketing Manager Operations Manager (similar to the ‘Manager’ above) Financial Controller HR Manager Customer Service Manager While I believe each of the above roles need to be distinguished in every business, the amount of time devoted to each will vary according to the nature of the business. It is important to note that this list holds true for sole proprietors as well so if you have less than seven staff in your business, then one or more of them will need to be responsible for multiple roles. The trick here is to think about this in terms of wearing the hat with the role and note you cannot be wearing two hats at the same time! Using an ‘organisational architecture’ such as this will enable your business to scale with minimal pain. Ian Ash ACC, AInstIB Managing Director OrgMent Business Solutions

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FOCUS ON … FATHER’S DAY

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Lang Lang is a semi private golf course that welcomes visitors from all calibres of skill level: from those who like to take their golf seriously to those who enjoy a social hit with friends, all are welcome. The Club has 20 motorized ride on golf carts for hire. Bookings are required on all days and a driver must be over 18 years old. The Green fee prices can be subject to change on seasons and holidays, and are currently as follows: Unlimited Play: unlimited play after 3:00

pm on any day = $20 Weekdays: 18 Holes = $30, 9 Holes = $20 Weekends: 18 Holes = $45, 9 Holes = $30 18 Holes cart hire = $40, 9 Holes cart hire = $25. Only a 25 minute drive from Cranbourne or Pakenham, Lang Lang Golf Club is guaranteed to provide an enjoyable and memorable golfing experience. Lang Lang Golf Course is located at 90 Golf Club Road, Lang Lang. Phone 5659 6284.

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Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 11

NEWS

A family of evacuees from Kabul, Afghanistan arrive at Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East on board a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster. Picture: LACW JACQUELINE FORRESTER / AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Heartbroken for Afghan By Danielle Kutchel The local Afghan community is hurting in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Many of those living in Casey have loved ones stuck in the country, unable to leave and get to safety. Mothers, brothers, cousins, friends – regardless of the relationship, the story of heartbreak and worry is the same. Members of Casey’s Afghan diaspora met with community leaders and politicians on Wednesday 18 August via Zoom to air their grievances and discuss ways to get their families and friends out of the country.

The meeting was organised by the Bakhtar Cultural Association. MPs Julian Hill and Pauline Richards attended, along with a representative for Holt MP Anthony Byrne. Steve Demopoulos, Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health, Vivienne Nguyen, chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Hafiz Mayar from Victoria Police and representatives of other community organisations joined the call. They fielded questions on evacuations and visa processing, while members of Casey’s Afghan community spoke of their terror at what

might happen to their loved ones if they are left behind in Afghanistan. They also discussed the impact of the horrific news on their own mental health and how to help each other cope. For many who have fled the country, the Taliban’s takeover is bringing up memories of past trauma. Federal MP for Bruce, Julian Hill, told the call that Afghan visa applications are being escalated and said he was pushing for as many visas to be processed as possible. The Federal Government has pledged to take an extra 3000 refugees from Afghanistan,

with families on the call urged to submit urgent visa applications including as much information about their loved one’s situation as possible. The community agreed to push for an increase to the number of additional refugees the Federal Government would accept. So far the Australian government has rescued 1700 people from Kabul, with a priority on dual citizens. For assistance with visa matters, contact your local MP and for more Afghan community information or support, contact the Bakhtar Cultural Association via bakhtar.org.au/

Urgent pleas for families caught up in looming crisis By Cam Lucadou-Wells Afghan-Australians in the South East are fearing for their loved-ones under the Taliban’s take-over of Afghanistan. Barat Batoor, a photo-journalist who fled for his life from Afghanistan in 2012, works as an organiser for Asylum Seeker Resouce Centre. He said the looming humanitarian crisis was devastating for Australian Hazaras – the fourth largest diaspora in the world with many of them in Melbourne’s South East. “There are thousands of people in the Australian community who have family members at grave risk right now from the Taliban. “The news came as a big shock. I haven’t slept properly for the last couple of nights. “That stress and anxiety in the Hazara community is at unprecedented levels.” Kabul’s international airport has been swarmed by desparate masses pleading to be saved by foreign governments. According to one of Mr Batoor’s friends on the ground in Kabul, people were feeling afraid. They were not placated by the Taliban’s declaration that it would not harm anyone, Mr Batoor said. “I think this announcement was just a mask that will come off in the next days and weeks. “They have started searching houses looking for people like political figures, social activists and pilots. “This is the calm before the storm.” The overthrow has sparked painful mem12 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 26 August, 2021

Former refugee Barat Batoor has called for Australia to urgently issue 20,000 humanitarian visas for people to escape a Taliban-run Afghanistan. ories of the Taliban rule in the 1990s, Mr Batoor said. Many Afghan Australians themselves had fled past “unimaginable” massacres and genocides inflicted on Hazara, Hindus and Sikhs. Visa applications for partners and family to unite with Afghans in Australia have lan-

guished for up to a decade. This is due to a 2010 ministerial direction that applications from ‘illegal boat arrivals’ later found to be genuine refugees and granted permanent residency - were to be given the “lowest priority”. Their family members are now trapped in Afghanistan at the mercy of the Taliban. “We have a moral obligation and practical obligation to help these people,” Mr Batoor said. “Australia should play a bigger role to at least open 20,000 extra places for re-settlement.” On 18 August, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said about 3000 humanitarian visas would be offered to Afghan nationals this year. It was nearly double the number last year, he said. About 1800 Afghan nationals who had helped the government have been resettled with their families in Australia – including 430 since April. “You would have heard other countries talk about figures of 5000, I note that some are talking about figures of 20,000 but can I tell you there are no clear plans about that. “Australia is not going into that territory.” Mr Morrison said the first RAAF evacuation on 18 August rescued 26 Australian citizens and Afghan nationals, with more to come. “We will be supporting Afghans who have legitimate claims through our official and legitimate processes,” Mr Morrison said. “We will not be providing that pathway to those who would seek to come any other way to come any other way.”

The day before, Mr Morrison ruled out Afghan temporary visa holders in Australia being granted permanent residency and citizenship. “We have no plans to be returning people back to those places where there’s such terrible unrest and they’ll be able to remain here under those circumstances, under the visas they’re currently on.” Bruce Labor MP Julian Hill accused Mr Morrison of “lethal negligence” for his “deliberate delays”. He said Afghans in Australia waited on average 43.6 months for a partner visa compared to up to 9 months for people from Western Europe or the USA. “This is effective discrimination, and Australians are now legitimately worried that their families will die because of what the Liberals have done.” He called for the urgent evacuation and fast-tracking of visas for Australian citizens, family members of Australians and those who worked with Defence forces. “We are already seeing extraordinary scenes of horror reappear, reports of women being married, forced out of work and education, having women’s faces painted over on billboards, random executions and people fleeing. “Everyone is at risk, especially those from persecuted minority groups such as Hazaras, as well as Sikhs, Hindus and other small groups who must be prioritised for refugee visas. “Let’s hope there is still a small window of time to act and bring some of these people with a connection to Australia to safety.” cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Picture: WOMEN FOR CHANGE

Women making change By Shelby Brooks Tucked away high in the mountain region of central Afghanistan, Hazara women and girls were learning to read and write thanks to a Cranbourne East woman. Lida Hazara, founder and president of Women for Change, together with the many organisation members has spent the last three years raising money to fund teachers for the community in which she grew up. “Women for Change, it means women can bring change too,” Lida said. “In Afghanistan, until the Americans came, we didn’t have authority to study. Hazaras, maybe they did in their small village, but no one let us go to university. “My charity that we have run, it was in the middle of the mountains. “For those girls, they had never seen education before. They were so excited, so motivated. Their dreams were to be a doctor, a lawyer, someone. But now, all their dreams are gone.” Lida, along with Mariam Madadi, Zakia Hasan, Nasima Kakai, Zakia Baig, Nazifa Saifi, Fahima Saifi and Shukria Alami have also been working hard since 2019 to raise money for carpet-weaving workshops for women to “learn and earn” back home in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Taliban forces overthrew the current government and began persecuting the Hazara minority. “That’s my pain. At the same time the education that we have provided for 266 girls, they all have vanished. They are also hiding to save their lives,” Lida said. “My teachers are all hiding. I don’t know until when.” Unfortunately, it’s something the Hazaras are all too familiar with. For at least a century, the Hazara people of Afghanistan have been persecuted and killed, yet their pride and determination has never wavered. “100 years ago a king of Afghanistan killed 63 per cent of Hazaras because we are different race and different belief to them,” Lida explained. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

The women from the Women for Change charity.

Picture: SUPPLIED

“They are thinking we are from Mongolia but we are not. We have been here before the Mongol came to Afghanistan. “We cannot hide our appearance. We have small eyes and flat nose. Wherever we go, they know who we are. “That’s why I think this time the Taliban came, we are going to witness another genocide of Hazaras.” One of the first things the Taliban did since taking over was to explode a statue of the Hazaras’ leader, Lida said. “That was a huge message for the world,” Lida said. “It’s not just about our leader, it’s a message about all Hazaras.” Lida moved to Australia 10 years ago with her husband, children, brother, sister, mum and dad.

“But my people are still there and the work that I have done in Afghanistan, my colleagues, my coordinator, are like my family members,” Lida said. “Last week [the coordinator] has been escaping from one place to another place because I think someone told the Taliban he worked with an Australian organisation. “That’s why he is at risk. It is hurting me a lot. I told him at the beginning, if you work with us, they will never leave you alone.” Through the charity, Lida also helps Hazara women living in Australia learn skills that could lead them to gain employment. “Most of the ladies who come to Australia are illiterate, so one of our organisation’s goals is to motivate these ladies that they can learn to read and write and speak English,” Lida said. “Since we established the charity in 2019, at least 10 to 12 ladies have found a job.

“They are happy with high confidence, they say ‘yes we can!’” Lida’s love and gratitude for Australia is palpable and she hopes the Australian Government will extend their support to her Hazara community in Afghanistan during this difficult time. “Australia is a great, great, beautiful country,” she said. “When someone tells you Australia is a land of opportunity, it is a land of opportunity- it is a heaven if you make it for yourself. “First, I am so grateful we have a leader like Scott Morrison, I like him, I am proud of him, he is a strong man. He released 3000 visas which is also very good. We appreciate even 3000. But Australia is a big country and Scott Morrison has a big heart, bigger than Australia. “This land is opportunity for many, this land is plentiful for many people. Now is the time that Mr Morrison show his big heart and how brave he is to settle at least 10,000.” Lida said all Hazaras currently in Australia were hard working contributors of our society. “If the Australian government released more visas for minorities, we promise the Australian government we will be loyal citizens of this country,” Lida said. “Since the Hazara came here, we know every society has good and bad but I have not seen a serious criminal who is a Hazara. “Hazara men are waking up at 5am and coming home 7pm - most working in construction, seven days a week. “That’s why I say we are building this country. We are loyal citizens, we love Australia we feel a part of this country.” On Thursday 19 August, Lida appeared on the ABC television program Q and A, recording a video to ask a question to the panel about the Australian Government accepting more emergency humanitarian visas. “Unfortunately, I only had 30 seconds to ask the question so I was in a hurry and my video cut off a little bit,” Lida said. “Still, I am happy at least I have said something. Otherwise my people’s voice is dead.” Thursday, 26 August, 2021

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Work with us and enjoy a positive and supportive culture, training opportunities and rewarding work. In this role, you’ll support young people who are living in out of home care at Uniting Residential Care houses in Traralgon and Moe. About You A relevant qualiﬁcation (minimum Cert IV) in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Residential and Out of Home Care) or equivalent, or a willingness to undertake top up training. We are looking for mature, motivated, empathetic and resilient workers with a commitment to working with and caring for children and young people in the Gippsland region.

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Panthers’ MPCA bid fails By Nick Creely Devon Meadows’ bid to enter the ranks of the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has fallen at the final hurdle, with the Panthers knocked back from joining the competition this season. The clubs went to a vote last week with a deadline until Friday close of business after asking for more clarity regarding fixturing and byes, with the application rejected after 75 per cent of votes or more from the 37 member clubs was not achieved. “We would like to thank the Devon Meadows Cricket Club, the WGCA and all MPCA clubs for the time, effort and thought they put into this process,” the MPCA said in a statement. “The MPCA will continue to work with any club wishing to join our association to further build the MPCA competition, in consultation with our existing clubs, in the most fair and equitable way for all.” It was touted that the Panthers would enter the MPCA’s Sub-District Division this season after making the assessment it was the best fit for the long term future of the club, however it’s believed to have fallen over mostly due to the prospect of a bye in that grade. It now means that the Panthers will once

Devon Meadows will remain in the WGCA this season. 231917 again play in the West Gippsland Cricket Association this season, where their first XI will compete in the District Division. Devon Meadows president Mick Floyd said the club was certainly disappointed with the decision, but is looking forward to moving

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

on and steering its focus towards the season ahead. “It was (disappointing), no question,” Floyd told the News. “We thought it was a good case - we were given the opportunity to present, so no qualms

in that regard, and we put forward a good case.” Floyd said the decision from the MPCA clubs came down to the potential creation of a bye in the Sub-District division, and the implications that could flow on from there for clubs. “Ultimately that’s what it came down to - a few clubs had some small issues, but the main one was the bye and implications it could have for clubs, especially through the grades,” he said. “I can understand (the decision) - we’ve missed a lot of cricket, and sport generally, so if we had byes it has implications across the board. “It wasn’t voting against the Devon Meadows Cricket Club, it ultimately came down to fixturing issues.” Floyd said it was too early to know whether the club would look at a potential move in the future, and said the club’s focus is now on preparing for the WGCA season ahead. “We need some time to digest it all, and the reasons why, and whether there’s appetite in 12 months time to have another look,” he said. “With covid we haven’t been able to catch up, it’s all been between lockdowns, but once we catch up and a debrief we’ll maybe have another look then.”

It’s time to cut the cord on winter sport this season By David Nagel As a massive lover of community sport it almost feels like a betrayal to write these words…but the time is right for local sporting leagues to cut the cord and call a halt to their 2021 football and netball seasons. There is uncertainty and ambiguity in all aspects of our lives at the moment, but the one thing that is as obvious as the nose on your face is that the heart and soul of the community sporting season has been damaged beyond repair. This Saturday, 28 August, will mark the seventh weekend where no community sport has been played and - with our current lockdown scheduled to end at 11.59pm on Thursday, 2 September – this rules out any form of competition until Saturday, 4 September. Add to this, under AFL Victoria’s Covid Functional Framework, the season can only recommence after a minimum 14-day training period if more than six-consecutive rounds have been lost. If adhered to correctly, that 14-day training period would mean that no play would be possible until Saturday, 18 September. That scenario alone makes it 10-weeks without sport…it doesn’t even feel like the same season! And while some of our sporting leagues have left nothing off the table - it’s time to ask ourselves…what are the realities of the current situation that the State of Victoria finds itself in? And what are the repercussions for our local games? The ultimate repercussion could be that the decision is taken out of the hands of our local leagues if the State Government extends the lockdown beyond its current September 2 end date. With current cases (as of Tuesday 24 August) still sitting at 50, it would appear a long shot that case numbers will ease sufficiently to prevent a further extension from taking place. Even a week extension would push a likely start date back to the AFL Grand Final weekend of Saturday, 25 September…the unofficial, but historical, end date for football in Victoria. Surely that’s too late to get things under way…one more extension and we’re cooked! And the playing of finals is one thing, but doing so in front of empty venues – which would definitely be the case - goes against the grain of what community-sport finals are really all about. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Community winter sport in 2021 has been damaged beyond repair. 197395 They’re about bringing the community together and enjoying each other’s company while watching the best of the best – who have toiled hard through natural attrition to be there at the pointy end of the season. This season will not be decided by the natural attrition of injuries and improvement as the season rolls – but more the attrition of how many weeks are left when we finally head back to the sporting fields after lockdown. Take the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) as an example. Teams like Garfield (6th) and Cora Lynn (5th) are basically already eliminated, without playing a final, while a further week’s extension would likely rule out the chances of Nar Nar Goon (4th) and Tooradin-Dalmore (3rd). It’s just not the usual process of elimination and quite frankly…it doesn’t feel right. The understandable self-interest of clubs, who are hanging on to the hope of being involved in a one-or-two-week finals series

– well those self-interests would suddenly disappear if they were no longer a part of the action. With self-interest removed – those clubs would quickly realise that calling the season now is the right decision! So how do we salvage a satisfactory and meaningful conclusion to the 2021 season? Through good planning, the WGFNC and neighbouring Ellinbank and District Football League (EDFL) are in the enviable position of already having some integrity to their competitions this year. In both leagues, every team has played each other once, meaning there could be absolutely no complaints if a premiership winner was decided based on the final composition of the league ladder as it currently stands. Philip Island would be deserving premiers in the WGFNC, being one game and massive percentage points clear of their nearest opponent Inverloch-Kongwak, while Ellinbank is two games clear of its

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS nearest pursuer in the EDFL. Our Aussie Rules traditions are unique, and we should aim to keep it that way, but maybe just for this year our premiers are decided in the same manner as the major soccer leagues around the world. It’s a huge achievement to finish on top of the ladder…maybe this year it just means more. Other leagues – such as AFL Outer East – are not in such an enviable position, with a fair and equitable season still weeks away from completion. Decisions on relegation, promotion, and whether a title is awarded at all…that’s for that league to consider. The unique and unpredictable journey of a season, the trials and tribulations, the storylines that make winning grand finals so special…they’ve been taken away from us this year. Let’s call it now – end the uncertainty and avoid a hollow and unnecessary end to the season! Thursday, 26 August, 2021

STAR NEWS 17

SPORT

Inspirational Stott returns By Nick Creely

Lala Kiwi with handler Haydn Wilkinson after winning the Cranbourne Classic on Saturday night. 248190

Picture: SUPPLIED

Classic Cranbourne win for Lala Kiwi By Gerard Guthrie The heavily-supported Lala Kiwi - one of Andrea Dailly’s four finalists - upstaged star kennelmate Qwara Bale to complete an impressive clean-sweep of the Group 3 Cranbourne Classic (520m) series on Saturday night. ‘Team Dailly’ supplied half the field for the $25,000 to-the-winner Classic, with dual Group-1 winner and fastest qualifier Qwara Bale sent out the $2.20 favourite from box one. Lala Kiwi had upset brilliant speedster Koblenz in her 30.04 heat victory at her Cranbourne debut a week earlier, but was as much as $16 in early markets before the scratching of recent Group-3 Warragul St. Leger winner Aston Fastnet. Some smart late money saw her odds trim significantly to start the $4.10 second elect. The other two Dailly contenders were Shima Classic from box eight, and Lala Ivory from box two - an Aussie Infrared/Lala Shim litter sister to Lala Kiwi – who was sent out a despised outsider. David Geall’s Koblenz, the winner of 17 from 26, started from box seven and loomed as a potential ‘fly in the ointment’ for the Dailly quartet being well found in the market. Lala Kiwi was best to begin from box four,

before being headed by Shima Classic rounding the first corner, with Koblenz in third, while Qwara Bale was a distant fourth heading into the back straight. Lala Kiwi levelled up to Shima Classic turning for home and powered clear to score a commanding five-length victory in a best-ofthe-night 29.85 seconds. Koblenz was third with Qwara Bale winding up in fifth place. Lala Kiwi has now won 11 of her 25 starts, with the winner’s purse taking her career earnings past $85,000. “Once Lala Kiwi was sitting on Shima Classic I thought she would win the race because she’s stronger than Shima Classic,” said cotrainer Tom Dailly. “Lala Kiwi can run when she gets a clear run and when she was second on her own I thought she had a great chance. “Koblenz is a very good dog and if he was in front of Lala Kiwi she’d be in trouble, but when she was in front of him, I didn’t think he could run her down. It was the same story in the heat when she was able to hold Koblenz out. “Lala Kiwi can be hit-or-miss out of the boxes but she can fly out and she’s come out really well in both runs at Cranbourne. “She’s only had 20-odd starts, which I know

is a few runs, but sometimes it takes them a few runs to put it altogether and I think her best is ahead of her. “Qwara Bale came out a bit ordinary tonight, which she can do at times, so we were lucky we had a couple of others in the race.” While the Dailly kennel are certainly no strangers to Group glory, Lala Kiwi’s victory had extra meaning as she was bred and raced by Dailly Greyhound Farms, who purchased her mother Lala Shim as a pup from successful breeders David Gleeson and Bob Cummings. The Dailly’s have combined with Gleeson and Cummings and their potent ‘Shima’ line for many feature successes, most notably with the recently-retired superstar Shima Shine. Shima Shine and Lala Kiwi are closely related through their mothers, being litter sisters by 2011 Melbourne Cup hero Dyna Tron out of Group-winning stayer Shimaguni. David Geall missed out with Koblenz in the Classic, but he received some consolation by landing the GRV Vic Bred Series final (520m) with $1.20 favourite Fernando Mick. Fernando Mick, runner-up to Qwara Bale in last month’s G1 Maturity Classic, defeated the strong-closing Rufiano ($10) by a length in 29.94, his tenth win from 36 starts.

Melbourne City FC has announced the inspirational return of Rebekah Stott, with the 28-year-old to make her return to the WLeague this season after successfully battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The much-loved and inspirational Stott was a member of the club’s inaugural W-League squad and has pulled on the City shirt on 62 occasions, tied with Steph Catley at the top of the appearance list. A true fan favourite of both the club and the league, she won four championships and two premierships in her time at City from 2015 to 2020. She returned to Australia in February this year for treatment and is now in complete remission - her comeback to W-League football providing an inspiration during a tough period. On March 29 2021, Stott participated in the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave to raise awareness and much-needed funds for cancer research. She raised a huge $38,900 for charity - smashing her target of $25,000. Head coach Rado Vidosic said the club was delighted to welcome Stott back to the squad as it begins to settle into their new home at Casey Fields. “It’s exciting to be announcing our squad for the new season and we are thrilled to have Stotty returning,” Vidosic said. “Most importantly, it’s great to see her happy and healthy, but I also can’t wait to see her back on the pitch doing what she loves. “Our squad this season will be a mix of experience and youth so to have a player of her quality and leadership back amongst the group will be a huge benefit as we look to improve on last season.” Stott will return to City’s defensive unit and will provide the squad with plenty of experience and leadership, with the star - who has 71 caps for New Zealand - expected to significantly bolster the side. She made her return to the football pitch in July with Bulleen Lions in the NPL and is excited about the opening weekend of the WLeague on Saturday 13 November. “It’s an incredible feeling for me to have football back and I definitely didn’t realise how much I’d missed it until I got back on the pitch,” she said. “Dr. Nick (club doctor) has been with me from the very first appointment to the last and the club has always been behind me and supported me, so it’s great to be back. “The W-League is such an amazing league that I always have a great time playing in and I can’t wait to pull on a City shirt again.”

Demons on the search for netball talent Casey Demons Netball is looking to play a key role in the personal on-and-off court development of talented netballers in the region in an exciting new partnership with the Chisholm Sports Academy. Government restrictions pending, the Demons – who play in the elite-level Victorian Netball League (VNL) – will open up the doors of their home courts at Casey Stadium on Sunday, 19 September, from 4 to 6pm, for the Chisholm Sports Academy Screening Day. The Demons, and Chisholm, are hoping to unlock the potential of some fine netball talent but at the same time provide an educational platform as well. The Chisholm Sports Academy provides a structured athletic development program designed to take sporting performance to the next level while achieving educational goals. The academy encompasses multiple study options including VCE and VCAL Rising Stars program, Certificate III in Fitness, Certificate IV in Fitness and the combined 18 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 26 August, 2021

Casey Demons will be looking to spot some exciting netball talent at Casey Stadium on Sunday 19 September. 196284 Picture: SUPPLIED Dual Diploma of Sport and Recreation Management and Diploma of Sport (Development and Coaching). The program also provides senior secondary qualifications in VCAL Intermediate and Senior and VCE Year 11 and 12 or, for those who have completed Year 12, offers

a dual Diploma program in Sport Development and Coaching and Sport and Recreation Management. The program provides holistic, individual athlete development programs catering for aspiring high performance athletes and coaches and developmental athletes in Football, Basketball and Netball. Casey Demons and Chisholm take your future, and the investment you make in your education, seriously. Chisholm provides a supportive, professional, high performance learning and training environment, designed to harness a student’s passion and help them achieve their goals. The course is perfect for students who have the talent to perform at a higher level and have the drive to succeed. To book a place at the Casey Demons and Chisolm Sports Academy Screening Day, visit https://www.trybooking.com/BTPRC to register you place. Applicants must be 16 by 31 January 2022. All participants must pre-register to trial.

Rebekah Stott will call Casey Fields home this season as she makes her return to the W-League. Picture: MELBOURNE CITY FC cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Demons now finals bound By Nick Creely

Netball great Sharelle McMahon has a new job for Cricket Victoria.

Netball great joins Cricket Victoria By Nick Creely One of Australia’s most successful sporting icons, Sharelle McMahon, is set to take on a new role in sport with Cricket Victoria confirming the appointment of the netball great as the new Head of Female Cricket. In her new role, the Commonwealth Games two-time gold medalist, two-time silver medalist winner, and dual Netball World Cup winner will oversee all aspects of Victorian cricket’s female performance pathway, Premier Club promotion and support, preparation environments and engagement through secondary schools in what is a huge boost for the richly-talented local south-east region, which hosts the reigning Women’s Premier Cricket premiers, Dandenong. McMahon joins Cricket Victoria having most recently been Assistant Netball Coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport and a specialist coach with the Australian Diamonds.Cricket Victoria Interim CEO Nick Cummins welcomed McMahon’s appointment, believing her decades of experience at the highest level of her sport will only benefit the game moving forward.

“It’s great news for Victorian cricket to have someone of Sharelle’s calibre and experience coming into the game,“ he said. “There are some who may be surprised that we have looked outside cricket for a leader of the women’s program. However, we were looking for a dynamic presence to lead and enhance our entire female cricket environment, rather than a coach, and I know Sharelle will have a wonderful impact on our system. “We’ve got deep cricket experience across our organisation and Sharelle will be well supported in her transition. Sharelle understands high performance and understands what it takes to be the best in the world. “There is a lot that Victorian cricket will benefit from with the fresh perspective Sharelle brings.” McMahon said she was ready to take on the new challenge. “I’m pretty excited - and I’ll admit nervous - about making the move into cricket. I’ve always prided myself on new challenges and new learning and this is a fantastic opportuni-

ty to bring my knowledge of high performance and elite women’s sport to Cricket Victoria,” McMahon said. “I’ve spent a lot of my career so far bringing women and girls to netball and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work on what cricket does well, where it can improve and how we drive a new era of female engagement in cricket.“ Melbourne Vixens Head Coach Simone McKinnis OAM thanked McMahon for her contribution to the Vixens. “Sharelle McMahon is one of the most iconic names in female sport, and it has been an honour to have witnessed her contribution to netball over the last 25 years as a player and in her coaching roles,” McKinnis said. “Sharelle will be missed by the players and staff not only for her guidance on the court, but also the mentor and friend she is away from it. We wish her all the best in her new role, as she continues to contribute to the growth of women’s sport.” McMahon is scheduled to commence with Cricket Victoria in September.

The Casey Demons will officially play finals football in the VFL this season, with the AFL announcing last week that the home-andaway season has finished due to Melbourne’s extended lockdown. The league has confirmed the match ratio system has determined the final ladder positions ahead of the 2021 VFL Finals Series, which is starting on Saturday 4 September. The finals will retain the top eight clubs but in an elimination format should they be able to start on the weekend of September 4. The AFL has put a contingency in place should there be any further delays. AFL Head of Talent Pathways and State League Competitions Tristan Salter said the VFL community continues to navigate its way through a challenging year for sport and although the conclusion to the season looks different, it was the only system to reward a Premier. “The 2021 season has been a challenge to everyone connected to football. The AFL is very proud of how all VFL clubs, players, officials, supporters and corporate partners managed through a difficult year and kept their communities connected,” Salter said. “All 22 clubs continue to play a vital role in keeping their suburban and regional networks engaged. We acknowledge the importance they have played as pillars of their local communities and remain so important to growing and nurturing our national code.” With the 2021 VFL Finals Series now to revert to a full knockout competition, the Mark Corrigan-coached Casey Demons finished fifth on the ladder and will tackle Geelong (fourth) away in its knockout final barring any further restrictions or delays. The Demons had a highly successful homeand-away season, navigating their way beautifully through the challenges of Covid and being aligned with Melbourne in the AFL, posting seven wins from nine matches with a healthy percentage of 166.6. The club has also seen many locals make a significant impact this season at VFL level, with gun on-baller and Beaconsfield product Jimmy Munro enjoying another stellar season, averaging 21.3 touches a game as well as 8.6 tackles, Cranbourne emerging star Corey Ellison booted six in a match against Werribee as he continues to rise through the ranks, while the likes of Corey MacHaya and Jaxon Briggs have also impressed in a handful of matches. VFL Finals Games will continue to be shown with broadcast partners the Seven Network, Foxtel and Kayo. As the only team currently based outside of Victoria, the AFL is continuing to work with Southport to explore all possible arrangements to have them play in the 2021 VFL Finals after finishing second.

Doves part ways with celebrated premiership coach By Nick Creely The Doveton Football Netball Club is on the hunt for a new senior coach, with the Doves parting ways with club great and 2019 premiership coach Daniel Charles. The decision was made after undertaking a mid-year coaching review in what was a tough 2021 season on-field where the Doves finished bottom of the table in the AFL Outer East Premier Division with just the one win. Charles coached the Doves to stunning premiership glory in 2019 in the inaugural season of AFL Outer East, taking the club from a winless 2018 to the ultimate prize in one of the most memorable years in the club’s illustrious history. On that golden day, 22 September 2019, the Doves defeated great rivals Pakenham at the Woori Yallock Football Ground in an absorbing grand final, 9.7 (61) to 8.7 (55). He coached the club for four seasons having been a champion player for the club. In the aftermath of that famous day in 2019, an emotional Charles told the Gazette cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au

Doveton coach Daniel Charles addresses his side at quarter time during a clash in 2019. about the culture he’s worked so hard to instill in his group. “We set out to try and get as many young kids to the club, and good quality senior play-

ers that were great people, and that’s what we did,” he said. “The tightness of this group is a credit to the people we got down to the club, because

they actually care about their teammates, and that was the message we’ve pushed since I’ve got here.” But the Doves will now look for a new face to lead the club moving forward, with the club beginning the process of searching for their new coach. “Parting company with Daniel in his senior coaching tenure after his long and distinguished association with the Doveton FNC was never going to be an easy choice for either party,” the club said in a statement. “Daniel has always been keen to promote and develop the youth of the club and we thank him for this and for his guidance and leadership from 2018 until now. “The Club would like to thank Daniel on behalf of everyone associated with the Doveton FNC for his contribution to the Doves over the past four seasons as the head coach. Daniel will forever be entrenched in Doveton Club history as a senior premiership coach. “We wish Daniel the very best in his future endeavours.” Thursday, 26 August, 2021

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