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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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New book celebrates diversity

IBAC inquiry turning up the heat

Pakenham’s new train stations

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Vax clinic pops up at school

Terror at Toomuc By Shelby Brooks

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Toomuc Rec Reserve construction site and damaged netball courts. 253603

Damaged to the junior football club facilities in September. Picture: SALV MILETO

Burn patched and pieces of broken metal at the damaged netball courts at Toomuc Reserve. 253603

Margaret said the only silver lining was that the courts are due to undergo a renovation before the new season. “This is so exciting for us and a game changer for our netty family with a new clubroom, home and away change rooms and a platform on the second floor to view netball- we are super excited about this project,” Margaret said. “But if the courts weren’t being redone in

the new year, we’d have to look at getting them redone which could cost a lot of money. “It’s just disappointing this has happened especially during these challenging times grass roots community sport are all facing.” The club is seeking new players to join for the 2022 season, and those interested can reach out to Margaret via email pakenhamlionsnc@gmail.com.

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Salv Mileto said. “Council will be helping us with reinforced doors and steel framing to make it harder for people to break in. “I get that it’s just kids who are bored. Hopefully when lockdown ends it will deter them.” The Pakenham Lions Netball Club courts at Toomuc Reserve have also been damaged by vandals in recent days. Club president Margaret Jones said she was shocked to learn of the destruction, which is not clear as to when it occurred. Skid marks, burn patches and pieces of metal melted into the court surface are what club members faced on Tuesday 12 October when they discovered the damage. “They have certainly made a mess,” Margaret said. “You just wonder why? It’s so disappointing and just shows a lack of respect. “I understand people are restless and angsty with the Covid situation right now, but don’t take it out on us! “I do feel concerned for the kids that are doing this.”

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Senseless acts of vandalism are plaguing community sport organisations based out of Toomuc Reserve as bored youths repeatedly deface facilities while in lockdown. The Pakenham Football Club and the Pakenham Lions Netball Club are the latest clubs to experience considerable damage to their facilities, following last month’s attacks on the Pakenham Cricket Club’s nets and Pakenham Junior Football Club scoreboard facility room. Pakenham Football Club president Travis Hamilton told Star News he caught about 20 youths inside the construct site of their pavilion at the reserve on 30 September. “I caught them in the act and went in to confront them,” he said. “They were throwing building materials around and kicking in all the plaster wall. “We’ve had enough. This is not the first time damage has been done to facilities. It’s been going on for months.” Travis said Toomuc Reserve was a known hang out for kids from Pakenham and Officer and hoped Cardinia Shire Council and Pakenham Police could support the clubs with better security. “The hardest thing is that we’re all just volunteers,“ he said. “How much do you have to get involved? “We need security down there and help reinforcing the building site and facilities so they can’t be broken into.” Pakenham Police and Cardinia Shire Council have been contacted for comment. In September, the Pakenham Junior Football Club’s scoreboard room was broken into and defaced for the fifth time in as many months. “The first two times they pried the door open and took some footballs and other equipment we had stored there. The third time they kicked the door in, causing big damage. But this fourth and fifth time was the most substantial amount of damage- we’ll have to replace the majority of the walls,” president

NEWS

Council still waves the White Ribbon By Gabriella Payne The Cardinia Shire Council has been working hard over the past few years to prevent and respond to gendered violence both in the workplace and the community - and the organisation’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. The team were thrilled to learn that White Ribbon Australia has awarded the council with workplace accreditation for a further three years, which will help them continue to promote equality and address issues of gendered violence and sexual harassment throughout the shire. The Cardinia Shire Council first became a White Ribbon accredited workplace back in 2016, and Mayor Brett Owen said that it was fantastic to recommit to the program and continue to promote such an important message. “We took part in the re-accreditation process because we wanted to equip our staff with the knowledge and resources to better understand what gendered violence is, how to identify it and what they can do to prevent it,” Cr Owen said. “Whether in the workplace or the broader community, we all have a responsibility to stand up and speak out against behaviours that contribute to gendered violence, and to support women affected by it.” An extensive application and assessment process was independently undertaken by experienced gender equity, health and organisational development specialists in order for the council to achieve this accreditation. As part of the accreditation, council staff will be educated on the many forms of family violence, how to seek assistance if they are ei-

Beatrice Blyth with her Woolworths Gift Cards.

Winner announced Mayor Brett Owen is thrilled that council has been White Ribbon accredited for the next three years. 147306 ther using violence or are the target of it, and how best to support someone in need. The White Ribbon workplace accreditation program is internationally recognised and has reached more than 600,000 employees nationally to date. Cr Owen said that it was great to be involved in such a worthwhile program and the council was looking forward to being able to host more White Ribbon initiatives in the com-

ing months and years. “Council continues to work hard to ensure a safe and respectful workplace, through education and training, improved workplace policies and involvement in initiatives such as Together We Can and White Ribbon Day,” he said. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any form of domestic violence, contact Safe Steps (24/7) on 1800 015 188 or at safesteps@ safesteps.org.au - or in an emergency, dial 000.

Beatrice Blyth couldn’t believe it when she was told she had won $1000 worth of Woolworths Gift Cards. The Berwick woman was the winner of the Star/Woolworths Spring Shopping spree competition, which was run for five weeks across all the Star newspapers. Beatrice said she was excited by her win, saying as a pensioner the prize would make a huge difference to her. As a regular Woolworths shopper and Star reader, Beatrice is looking forward to shopping up big at her local Woolies. She is also an active Probus member. A big thanks to the 4,500 readers who entered our major spring competition.

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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NEWS

Jordan Crugnale MP and Ray Squires, the prinicpal of Pakenham Secondary College, are encouraging community members to come down to the clinic on the weekend. Picture: SUPPLIED

Pop up vax clinic at PSC By Shelby Brooks Pakenham Secondary College will host a popup Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccination clinic this weekend, 16 and 17 October. Appointments are not necessary and vaccines will be available for everyone 12 years and up. It comes as active Covid-19 cases in Cardinia Shire have reached nearly 300 as the LGA is expected to reach 90 per cent first dose vaccinated this week. As of 11 October, first dose vaccination rates sat at 89.9 per cent, while second dose rates sat at 56.9 per cent. Active cases sat at 298 as of 13 October. Neighbouring LGA Casey has been named an area of concern as the area reached 1,487 active cases as of 13 October. Vaccination rates are catching up, with 88.9 per cent of Casey residents first dose vaccinat-

ed and 54.2 per cent double vaccinated. Casey is now has the third-highest rate of infections in the state, behind Hume (3,244) and Whittlesea (1,751) in Melbourne’s north. Figures on Tuesday showed Casey had an increase of 118 cases overnight, the highest increase of any Victorian LGAs. Despite this, only one exposure site has been listed on the Department of Health’s website this week in Casey, that being KingKids Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten Narre Warren. It was listed on 11 October, for an exposure date of 6 October 8.15am to 6.15pm. Before that, the latest exposure sites in Casey date back to 7 October. It comes as the Department of Health website revealed Menarock Life Aged Care McGregor Gardens Pakenham was listed as a cluster site. 11 cases were linked to the aged care fa-

cility, three staff cases, one resident case and seven other cases. There is currently no active cases linked to that site. Menarock and the Department of Health did not response to the Gazette’s enquiries. Last week, HEI Schools Emerald Early Learning Centre and Thornwesten Cabinets Pakenham were also listed as cluster sites. The smaller towns on the edge of Cardinia Shire, including Lang Lang, Garfield and Bunyip, are leading the way in Covid vaccination rates. As of Thursday 7 October, the 3984 postcode which includes Lang Lang, Caldermeade, Monomeith, The Gurdies and Lang Lang East, had reached 90-95 per cent of eligible residents with their first dose and 55-60 per cent double dosed. They reached the 70 per cent target first dose target on 12 September, weeks ahead of

Pakenham which has not achieved 50 per cent double doses yet. For the 45,912 eligible people in the postcode 3810, which includes Pakenham, Pakenham Upper, Pakenham South, Rythdale and Kooweerup North, 75-80 per cent of them have received their first dose and 40-45 per cent their second. They reached the 70 per cent single dose target on 28 September. The postcode lagging behind the most in the shire is 3981- Kooweerup, Yannathan, Catani, Heath Hill and Bayles- with 75-80 per cent of the eligible population first dose vaccinated and only 35-40 per cent double vaccinated. They reached the 70 per cent single dose target on 29 September. Data for Officer and Officer South was not listed due to significant population change since the 2016 census.

Graphic novel celebrates life’s diversity By Shelby Brooks

Jessica Walton is excited for when see can see her book, ‘Stars in their Eyes’ on the shelf in bookstores. 253824 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Inspired to showcase diversity in young adult literature, Pakenham’s Jessica Walton is celebrating the release of her first graphic novel. ‘Stars in their Eyes’ is about a queer amputee teenager Maisie just trying to live her life without falling over, falling in love or accidentally inspiring anyone. Jessica, who also identifies as a queer amputee, grew up not seeing herself represented in books, TV or movies. “The book is partially based on my life,” Jessica said. “I didn’t see myself in books. As a queer disabled person you’re looking for representation and you’re not in anything. “It’s like a big group project for authors these days who are writing themselves in young adult (YA) books because they saw that gap when they were growing up.” Jessica, who is the author of picture book ‘Introducing Teddy’ (Bloomsbury 2016), said she had wanted to get into the YA scene for a while. “I had wanted to have a go at a YA book for some time and was collaborating with some-

one on different idea when Fremantle Press called to say they were interested in turning a short story of mine they had published into a graphic novel,” Jessica said. “I did not expect that at all.” Jessica collaborated with A?ka, a WA based illustrator who she had admired for a long time. “I have no artistic talent what so ever,” Jessica said, laughing. “It was a unique experience because A?ka was in a different state so we emailed and video chatted a lot. “She had me video myself sitting up and down, getting in and out of the car so I could show her how I moved with a prosthetic and she could reference that in her drawings.” The protagonist in Jessica’s novel is Maisie, described as a bisexual amputee with chronic pain and anxiety. “All aspects of me are in the book. I’m like ‘let’s cram it all in there!’ I want see all of me in a book at least once,” Jessica said. “I also wanted to show that someone like me does deserve to be a main character but also just depict her as a normal teen going

about their life. “Maisie is geeky like me too. My partner and I love board games and PC games, and I love going to PAX (big games convention). “I’ve had similar experience to Maisie at one of those, where the crowds and noise made me pretty anxious, and I had to find a quiet space to recover before I could go back out and enjoy it. Also the pain of walking around on a prosthesis all day is in there too! But I still loved it.” Another character in the book is Ollie, a non-binary teenager. Jessica said she has close family and friends who identify as non-binary and transgender. “So I was keen to write about the diversity around me in my family,” she said. ‘Stars in their Eyes’ was launched 9 October through the Pakenham Library, where virtually Jessica shared some of her best writing tips and experience as well as readings from the book. ‘Stars in their Eyes’ is available in book stores and online at fremantlepress.com.au/ products/stars-in-their-eyes.

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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NEWS

Fresh food forum on way By Gabriella Payne Looking for some fresh food ideas? Well look no further, because Cardinia Shire residents are in for a treat. On Tuesday 9 November, locals are invited to join in on an exciting online community food forum, which will cover a wide range of topics (from farm to table) and feature many notable guest speakers. The 2021 theme, “our actions are our future: food systems caring for country, a healthy community, farms and food enterprises” will promote a range of healthy discussions and will touch on the importance of maintaining a sustainable food system throughout the shire. To celebrate the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables, the forum will be hosted by well-known fresh produce expert Thanh Truong the ’Fruit Nerd’ and will feature keynote speaker, a passionate advocate for nutrition and food systems transformation, medical doctor and the CEO of VicHealth, Dr Sandro Demaio. With the shire being home to all aspects of the fresh food industry, from farming to food businesses, the Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen said that it was going to be a great event for the local area and he encouraged community members to get involved. “Cardinia is blessed with fertile farmland, innovative famers and food businesses as well as a diversity of food cultures, skills and knowledge,” Cr Owen said. “The theme of this year’s forum is ‘our actions are our future’. That comes down to the food we eat, how it’s grown and produced and how far it travels to get to our table. “We also want to draw attention to, and celebrate, the projects young people are leading and their role in continuing to build a resilient food system in a really challenging environment.

Thanh Truong, aka ‘The Fruit Nerd’ (a fresh produce expert), will be hosting this year’s forum.

Dr Sandro Demaio, CEO of VicHealth, is the keynote speaker at this year’s Food Forum. Pictures: SUPPLIED

“Our young people are taking on the responsibility and stewardship of our food system, so we need to support them to help deliver on our aspirations for a healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair food system for all,” he said. The online forum will include a range of speakers, news updates and panel discussions with Monash University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, as well as young food

we maximise our impact. The online forum is free and open to the public, but ticket numbers are limited. To register your place in the forum, head to https://cardiniafoodforum.eventbrite.com For more information about the Cardinia Food Circles Project and Cardinia Shire’s Community Food Strategy, visit council’s website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/foodforum

leaders, young farmers and local social enterprises of The Lime Box Cafe, Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Urban Farm, Cockatoo Community House Sustainable Food Project and The Community Grocer. The annual forum is organised by Cardinia Food Circles, a collective impact project based on the knowledge that individual actions and efforts are limited - however when we work collectively towards a common goal,

WHEN YOU NEED US , BUT NOT THE SIRENS There’s a new way to contact the police for non-urgent matters. Call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or for online reporting, go to police.vic.gov.au

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A platform unit pumping lots of water on the fire. 253717

The early morning blaze destroyed the building. 253745

Police and firefighters at the front of Officer Childcare Centre after they put the flames out. 253717

Fire guts childcare centre Police have deemed the fire which gutted the Officer Childcare Centre on Tuesday morning, 12 October as not suspicious. A crime scene was established after the fire was extinguished around 6am, but the exact cause of the fire is not yet determined. Calls of a fire on the Princes Highway in Officer came into emergency services around 4.20am. A CFA spokesperson said nine CFA units from Pakenham, Narre Warren, Officer, Beaconsfield and Bayswater brigades and FRV crews attended the scene. They said the structure was fully engulfed upon arrival but crews were able to contain the fire to the one building. The scene was declared safe at around 5.47am and crews remained on scene for some time to mop up. Police said no one was injured during the incident.

Firefighters inside what is left of the centre. 253717

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Officer Childcare Centre on the Princes Freeway. 253717

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

STAR NEWS 5

NEWS

OPINION

Driver arrest

Protection needed as cases rise

A man has been arrested after colliding with two police vehicles in a daytime pursuit in the South East. Police had allegedly found the 28-year-old driver asleep in the car with stolen plates in David Street, Hampton Park about 8.30am on Sunday 10 October. As they approached, he drove off through Narre Warren and Berwick and along the Monash Freeway, police say. The car was followed by Pol Air. The pursuit ended with the crash into police vehicles at Loch Road in Dandenong North. The driver was charged with four counts of car theft, driving offences, deceptions, handling stolen goods, aggravated reckless exposure to an emergency worker and committing an indictable offence on bail. He was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 11 October.

The media states Covid cases have increased by 10 per cent in the City of Casey. I went for a walk to the Berwick Botanic Gardens, where I noticed at least 50 per cent of the people were not wearing masks. I made this disclosure to the City of Casey and their response was it’s not their problem, ring the police. Now this is a public garden run by our local council and they have a responsibility to protect my health and safety while I take a stroll around this beautiful park. Walking into the park I never noticed any information regarding mask wearing. Also, there needs to be clarity on the wording of exercise and walking around the park without a mask. I also noticed if you are holding a cup of coffee it makes you exempt from wearing a mask. Rex Flannery

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The people of the South East deserve real local representatives, not factional stooges who stack branches and manipulate migrant communities for their own profit. That’s why I’m standing as a genuine local Greens candidate for Holt representing the migrant community and Australian voters in the upcoming federal election. Our party would create a genuine Federal ICAC with teeth - because we all know corruption doesn’t stop at state boundaries. Sujit Mathew (Greens candidate for Holt), Clyde North

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The fire season is fast approaching and now is the time for all Victorians to ensure they are prepared and have a plan for those high fire danger days. The latest long-term weather outlook is indicating a wet few months ahead, however, this will also have the effect of rapid growth of grass and scrub fire potential. For our farming communities the Victorian winter crop production forecast is some 7.7million tonnes or 11 per cent above the 10year average. In short, grassfires and crop fires will be a real concern for our CFA members leading into the season across the north west, western and central agricultural regions. Grass fires are a particular risk along the plains of Western and North Western Victoria and around regional cities, while bushfires remain a constant threat in many areas. As such we should never be complacent and let our guard down. Recent climate change research by the CFA and other international bodies found that the number of very high fire danger days each year will significantly increase and our fire seasons will start earlier, last longer, and further strengthen the need for a shared responsibility between hazard owners, communities and emergency services.

To the carers who have helped me out so many times with transport to different places, e.g. medical etc., you’re just the best. Also, big thankyou to MECWA and all the people I have gotten to know. Thank you Darlene, and Jenny, much appreciated.

Thumbs down To Russell Broadbent MP for not rolling up his sleeve for the jab.

Thumbs down To people trying to sell Woolworths brick items for ridiculous prices to those trying to complete sets for their kids. Greedy!

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

Farrier Edward Roberts does the Hot Shoe Shuffle at Narre Warren North. 253687 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS You may have seen a campaign recently outlining the skills of professional firefighters and inviting community members to check if they’re protected by professional firefighters. I want to reassure all Victorians that regardless of whether they live in CFA or FRV response district, they are supported by skilled and experienced firefighters who respond alongside members of all other emergency services right across the state under the mantra ‘we work as one’. Australia has always been well served by its volunteers who have defended this nation during some of its darkest hours. Across the country, volunteer fire services, with more than 150,000 members, make up 91 per cent of total firefighters. Volunteer firefighters have been at the heart of our fire emergencies for decades, supporting and protecting their communities at all times of the day and night. Victorians trust and respect CFA and its volunteers, as well as our other emergency service partners. That’s why the Victorian Government is investing $126 million over five years for CFA to deliver additional equipment, infrastructure, training and leadership skills, in line with the outcomes from the Fire Services Reform which includes building and strengthening CFA as a volunteer organisation. Volunteer firefighters across the country deliver a world-class service and CFA firefighters are trained to the highest national standards – the same standards as our colleagues in other career fire services. You don’t need a pay cheque to be professional. CFA members are more than just firefighters; they are skilled to operate in a wide range of emergency situations and to deal with a variety of hazards in addition to bushfires, house fires and grassfires; hazardous material, road crash rescue and technical rescues (high angle, trench, mine operations). We also prepare communities for fire through planned burning, engagement and education.

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LENSCAPE

Thumbs up To all the community responding to help people who are currently in iso - amazing!

Thumbs down To most doctor’s surgeries only doing telehealth appointments. Covid is not the only illness going around at the moment.

Thumbs up To anti-intellectuals who claim to have done their ‘own research’. Impressive that you’re conducting clinical trials and laboratory studies in addition to full-time work.

Thumbs down

Thumbs up

To mandatory vaccines.

To the sun currently being out.

Thumbs Up Thumbs Down is your chance to have your say. Malicious or defamatory submissions will not be accepted. All submissions must include a full name address and daytime phone number. Contributions over the phone will not be accepted. Contributors will not be identified. The Star News reserves the right to edit submissions. To submit a Thumbs Up Thumbs Down email to dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au fax to 5945 0777 or post to P.O. Box 9 Pakenham 3810.

We have a shared responsibility with other sector agencies to ensure that communities are prepared and ready for the upcoming fire season. As Victorians understand all too well, from the devastating summers of 2009 and 2019/20, there are more houses in extreme and high risk areas than there are fire trucks. That is why Victorian emergency services work as one with government, business, industry and the community building community resilience through the principle of ‘shared responsibility’. Throughout the Covid pandemic, CFA has been working with communities to prepare their properties and plan for the fire season. Do you have a bushfire survival plan? Our brigades are holding online sessions across Victoria and I’d encourage you to look out for those in your area by visiting the CFA website: cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/whats-on These sessions will give you a better understanding of your local fire risk and help you prepare a fire plan. Even if you’re not in a high fire risk area, you should still be practising your fire escape plan as house fires occur all year round. Our 1200 brigades are highly trained and ready; are you? Remember to visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au for advice on how to plan and prepare for the fire season. Stay safe. Jason Heffernan, CFA Chief Officer

SOCIALLY SPEAKING On Friday 8 October, a story was shared to the Star News Facebook page regarding a newly released report recommending a swathe of new infrastructure for the City of Casey. Here’s how our readers responded online: Emma Rolling: All the council is interested in is pumping out housing and new estates and bumping up rates. In 40 years of being a resident, the roads especially Clyde Road through to Cranbourne and surrounds are just an utter joke. How can the council allow developers along Clyde Road build large estates without upgrading roads to accommodate the traffic flow? Also contribute towards telecommunications towers. Deb Bayley: What is needed in Casey is the new paediatric children’s emergency department at Casey Hospital. Barny Rubble: The same argument has been had many times before. As a Casey resident of 24 years, it’s more of the same old argument. Yet again nothing will be done, but guarantee the council get to line their pockets. Peter McKill: Need basic infrastructure, not that the noted are in short supply. Berwick-Cranbourne Road through to Five Ways, Ballarto Road to name a couple. Developers need to contribute more towards basic infrastructure. Sue Baldizoni: Is this news to anybody?! We’re over populated now!! pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

IBAC INQUIRY

Rorting inquiry begins The joint IBAC-State Ombudsman investigation Operation Watts looking into alleged rorting of public funds by some Victorian MPs got underway this week. Counsel assisting IBAC, Chris Carr, in his opening statement, said it would explore “serious corrupt conduct by Victorian public officers”. This included MPs directing their taxpayerfunded staff to perform party-political work during work hours. It also investigates state funding to community associations being misused for partypolitical activity. “When corruption occurs in the public sector it hurts all of us. “We expect our public officials to behave responsibly and with integrity, and for public resources to be used for the intended purpose to benefit the Victorian community.” Mr Carr said the Moderate Labor faction of the state ALP would be a “case study”. Faction members include Dandenongbased state MP and former Minister Adem Somyurek, federal MP Anthony Byrne and Narre Warren state MP Luke Donnellan who resigned as a Minister on day one of the hearings. Those three were involved in branch-stacking against party rules as part of the informal group South East Alliance, Mr Byrne has told the inquiry. They allegedly paid for other people’s party memberships and renewals. Mr Carr described branch-stacking as “organising people to join a political party, which they have little genuine interest in joining”. “Of course, few reluctant members would part with their money to join, so an integral aspect of branch-stacking is the payment of membership fees by politicians, aspiring poli-

Counsel Assisting IBAC, Chris Carr, said the inquiry was exploring alleged “serious corrupt conduct” by some Victorian MPs. ticians, their associates, or those seeking to obtain influence.” Mr Byrne confirmed the use of public-paid electorate officers and ministerial staff being used for factional activities during work time, such as filling in blank membership ballots. Some staff were employed at Mr Byrne’s office at the request of Mr Somyurek and never showed up for work for months, Mr Byrne alleged.

Mr Byrne portrayed himself as someone who tried to “de-escalate” branch-stacking in the South East. Meanwhile, Mr Somyurek was “ramping up” branch-stacking in recent years, Mr Byrne told the inquiry. “As Adem was getting more and more power, it was almost becoming an existential threat for the Labor Party.” Mr Somyurek, through his lawyer, asserted in cross-examination that it was Mr Byrne that

“ran the show”. The inquiry will also look at community organisations with “very close ties” to Moderate Labor received government grants. One of the issues was whether the grants were a “reward for recruiting members to the ALP”. The hearing is expected to continue for five weeks. Read more on pages 8, 9 and 18

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

STAR NEWS 7

IBAC INQUIRY

Branch-stacking claims By Cam Lucadou-Wells Holt Federal MP Anthony Byrne has admitted to ALP branch-stacking, including holding a ‘kitty’ for membership funds in his own electorate office. He paid for other people’s ALP memberships and membership renewals since the start of his Parliamentary career in 1999, he told a Operation Watts hearing on October 11. He also told of employing staff who didn’t turn up to work at the request of South East Metropolitan MP and factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek. Mr Byrne reluctantly complied out of fear of “retribution”, he said. He broke off the work arrangements after several months, he told the inquiry. At one stage, Mr Byrne hired Mr Somyurek’s son, the inquiry heard. Again, this was at Mr Somyurek’s suggestion, with the salary used to pay off the father’s debt, Mr Byrne believed. Mr Byrne’s electorate staff were also involved in collecting and filling out blank membership ballots for the election of ALP delegates, and worked on other MPs’ election campaigns, he told the inquiry. He agreed branch-stacking had been “endemic” in the ALP, despite a change in party rules after a critical 1998 report by now-Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus. More recently, the State Government endorsed all recommendations from a Victorian Ombudsman’s report into the ‘Labor red shirts’ affair. Mr Byrne said he took steps to “demilitarise” branch stacking in the South East by “reaching out” to rival faction, the Socialist Left, in 2002. One of the Socialist Left members involved in the “South East Agreement” was an MP, he said. “I believed … that branch stacking is wrong,

Holt MP Anthony Byrne admitted to being a part of branch-stacking at an IBAC inquiry on 11 October. 253542 branch stacking is corrupt, branch stacking rips the soul out of the Labor Party and the community. “And we were quite successful.” Mr Byrne said ALP members in his seat of Holt, as well as Bruce and Isaacs, “dropped substantially” as a result. However, in texts with his former staffer in late 2019, Mr Byrne described Mr Somyurek as a “vandal” trying to “ramp up branch stacking in the South East”. At the time he believed Mr Somyurek was seeking to replace sitting Labor rival-faction MPs Gabrielle Williams (Dandenong) and Pau-

line Richards (Cranbourne) with Moderate Labor members. The party was being taken over by Mr Somyurek “whose sole objective was power and power alone.” “It was the alliances that Adem had cobbled together of different sub-factions within the Right and also within the Industrial Left that he believed gave him control or substantial influence over significant sections of the party.” Mr Byrne was part of an informal South East Alliance, which included Mr Somyurek and state MPs Luke Donnellan and Tim Richardson from the same Right faction ‘Moderate Labor’. He said Moderate Labor was led by “convenor” Mr Somyurek, as well as Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz – all who departed State Cabinet after branch-stacking allegations by 60 Minutes and The Age in 2020. Mr Byrne named Mr Somyurek, Ms Kairouz and state MP Kaushaliya Vaghela as being involved in branch stacking “to my direct knowledge”. He, Mr Donnellan and Mr Somyurek - both Mr Byrne’s former electorate officers – had paid about $2000 a year on other people’s memberships and renewals. The practice was against party rules purportedly to prevent branch-stacking – that prospective members pay for their own memberships. But it was part of a “well-entrenched system” starting from the 1990s, he said. The “multiple hundreds” of membership renewals cost between $30 and $90 each. The funds were kept in a “kitty” in Mr Byrne’s office. Other aspiring MPs paid into the alliance fund, such as prospective Isaacs candidate Steve Michelsen with $5000. Party fundraisers organised by Mr Byrne, Mr Donnellan and Mr Somyurek were also a source of “cash” for the ‘kitty’.

Examples were tabled at IBAC of sit-down dinners for up to $100 a head at a Dandenong restaurant for Labor MPs Richard Marles and Tim Richardson. “Most of the people that would have attended those functions had a pretty good idea that some of the money that was being raised would go to memberships,” Mr Byrne said. This was against party rules that people should pay for their own memberships, he said. “People believed, regardless of what the rules said, that they could game the system.” Mr Byrne conceded that ALP head office was “by and large aware” of the practice. “Factional heavyweights” had helped him win preselection for Holt as an “underdog candidate” in 1999. Mr Byrne “rewarded” his electorate officer Mr Somyurek for “factional loyalty” with preselection in 2002. He didn’t agree that he “trained” Mr Somyurek as a branch-stacker. “He observed,” Mr Byrne said. The two had been “close” but progressively fell out. Mr Byrne blocked Mr Somyurek from his phone in September 2019. He was concerned about reports of Mr Somyurek’s treatment of people, including “berating, ringing all hours of the day and night, pushing people to do things that they didn’t want to do”. “I had really hoped when Adem had become a Minister in 2018 that he would stop the factional activity. “The branch stacking wasn’t stopping … it actually started accelerating, and then started coming towards the South East. “As Adem was getting more and more power, it was almost becoming an existential threat for the Labor Party.”

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Stirring trouble By Mitchell Clarke

Stirring trouble By Mitchell Clarke It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing any-

It was the initiative that dished up smiles during lockdown, but now a decrepit looking Spoonville site in Pakenham is providing anything but joy. During the one hour exercise limit - which is now a distant memory - Spoonville sites across Cardinia Shire were the most popular place to visit. Despite the fad having died down entirely, the Cardinia Lakes community was understandably upset at news their local site appeared to have been targeted by cruel vandals. Estate resident Laksika noticed the destroyed site during her daily walk on Sunday 24 January. “I think someone has just walked over it or kicked them all over. It’s very sad to see it. We always used to stop there and have a look for new ones,” she wrote on Facebook. The reaction from her neighbours was similar. “Absolutely disgusting. The highlight of our walk is our toddler stopping to look and admire the spoons,” one local woman said. “That’s so disappointing. My kids had spoons in there,” another woman added. Pakenham Hills Ward councillor Jack Kowarzik said the news was “really frustrating”. “Spoonville was created by locals for the enjoyment of local children and to see it vandalised is disappointing,” he said. Cardinia Art Society president Jillian Ronald described Spoonville as an “amazing initiative” during Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown. “It’s given joy and positivity in some very dark times and I just think it’s really disappointing that, when the community put together a project to support each other during a difficult time, that someone would take the trouble to destroy it. They’d be better off going home to create a spoon and putting it with

In happier times - Maci, Willow and Aubrey at a Pakenham Spoonville site. 214450 the rest,” she said. “I’d suggest there’s much better things they could do with their time.” The ‘Spoonville’ trend was born out of Winnersh, England, in an attempt to improve mental health by simply making people happy as they were out and about during daily exercise. The quirky saga soon made its way to Cardinia - after Australia’s first ever site was constructed up the highway in Longwarry. Within weeks, the site had spread to Pakenham, Officer, Garfield, Nar Nar Goon, Emerald and Beaconsfield.

Ms Ronald acknowledged the Spoonville craze had now hit a dead end. “They’re getting a little bit tired, so maybe it’s time for the spoons to come home,” she said. Ms Ronald, who commissioned the two local sites at Lakeside in Pakenham, encouraged community members to collect their spoons from their local sites. She added that in mid-February she’d look to clean up all remaining Spoonville’s and relocate any leftover spoons to an “undisclosed location”.

The once popular Spoonville trend appears to have hit a dead end. Picture: FACEBOOK

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IBAC INQUIRY

Donnellan quits role By Cam Lucadou-Wells Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has sensationally quit the State Government Cabinet after being named by his former boss at an IBAC inquiry on 11 October. Mr Donnellan, who was serving as a Disability, Ageing, Carers and Child Protection Minister, was a former electorate officer to Holt Federal MP Anthony Byrne. At the Operation Watts inquiry into alleged ALP branch-stacking, Mr Byrne said his former electorate officers – and now State MPs – Mr Donnellan and Adem Somyurek formed a ‘South East Alliance’. All three bought scores of ALP memberships and membership renewals contrary to party rules, Mr Byrne told the inquiry on Monday. Mr Byrne estimated he spent $2000 a year on the memberships, and that the other two MPs spent the same. They all belonged to the ALP’s ‘Moderate Labor’ faction – of which Mr Somyurek was ‘convenor’, Mr Byrne said. Soon afterwards, Mr Donnellan announced his immediate resignation from the ministry. “I accept that I have previously breached party rules while a Minister. “But let me be very clear: I never misused public funds or resources in any way. And this has absolutely nothing to do with my staff.” Mr Donnellan said it was not “possible or appropriate” to remain a Minister given the rule breaches. “The work to support vulnerable Victorians is too important, especially during the pandemic.”

He is the fourth Andrews Government Minister to leave Cabinet in the wake of explosive allegations of branch-stacking by 60 Minutes and The Age in June 2020. The others are Mr Somyurek, who is a person of interest at the inquiry, as well as Marlene Kairouz and Robin Scott. In reference to Mr Somyurek, the ALP had been “basically taken over by one person whose sole objective was power and power alone”, Mr Byrne told the inquiry. The party was “completely out of control” with “branch-stacking” and the “coercion” of taxpayer-funded staff who were “made to do things they didn’t want to do”, Mr Byrne said. He said Mr Somyurek had threatened to get rid of sitting MPs from a rival faction, Dandenong MP and Cabinet Minister Gabrielle Williams and Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards. He named Mr Somyurek and Ms Kairouz as MPs that coerced electorate and ministerial staff into performing factional political activities while on the ‘taxpayer dollar’. After Mr Donnellan’s resignation, Premier Daniel Andrews said Mr Donnellan was a “passionate advocate for vulnerable kids, people with disability and older Victorians”. “He leaves a legacy of reform of which he can be proud. “Luke’s work has seen a transformation of the system for children and families in Victoria, investing in hundreds of dedicated child protection workers and navigators to do their important work supporting families and kids – making sure they have the stable foundation to begin their lives.”

‘Wish to destroy’ texts By Cam Lucadou-Wells Holt MP Anthony Byrne has been quizzed about his alleged texts stating he wanted to ‘destroy’ and ‘kill’ an aspiring Labor MP. At an IBAC hearing into alleged ALP branch-stacking on 12 October, Mr Byrne faced cross-examination from the lawyer of his one-time factional ally and electorate officer Adem Somyurek. He denied that he, rather than now-state MP Mr Somyurek, “ran the show” controlling people within the Moderate Labor faction. “You would have had to have been on the dark side of the moon to not know that Adem Somyurek was in charge of just about everything.” Barrister Remy Van der Wiel read out alleged texts sent by Mr Byrne to Mr Somyurek that “I really do what to kill” aspiring Isaacs’ preselection candidate and ALP staffer Steve Michelson in 2019. “Wish we could destroy him now,” Mr Byrne texted. “I also want to humiliate him at the same time as the preselection so that he is unemployable. “It’s a just punishment for the grief he is causing us. “I really do want to kill him. This is personal for me now.” At the hearing, Mr Byrne said Mr Somyurek in previous conversations had “made it clear to me that he saw Steve Michelson as being a problem”. “I think you would say Mr Somyurek’s feelings, and therefore my feelings, were pretty strong. “But I think the tone of this was that Adem had said to me that Michelson was a threat, that Michelson wasn’t playing a team game and that Michelson needed to be dealt with.”

Anthony Byrne, right, denied he “ran the show” in the Moderate Labor faction. The inquiry heard that Mr Michelson, a former staffer for ex-federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, had been requested to pay $5000. In earlier evidence, Mr Byrne agreed the payment was a way for Mr Michelson to gain factional support to succeed sitting Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus. “I think he would have been led to understand that he would have been favourably looked upon,” Mr Byrne said. The aspiring MP’s money went to “one of my staff members” for the paying of other people’s ALP memberships and renewals, Mr Byrne said. He denied that he would assist Mr Michelson in preselection on that basis. “I would assist him with preselection? I would dispute that, Counsel. “I think that the people by that stage that were determining the preselections is the gentleman sitting next to you, Adem Somyurek. “I think it’s fair to say, Counsel, that Adem Somyurek wanted to destroy Mr Michelson and he wanted my assistance to do so.”

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Helping the community Community Bank Beaconsfield has been returning its profits to the local community for over 12 years. “Thanks to community support, and the hard work of our staff, we have been able to build the business steadily,” said Chair Graeme Taylor Graeme said that the Beaconsfield and district residents, traders and community organisations had all learned the benefits of banking locally. “As our profitability grows, so does our ability to channel our profits into much-needed community infrastructure and services, as well as pay shareholder dividend payments,” he said. “Our branch was set up by the community, for the community, so we are always looking for ways we can help strengthen the Beaconsfield area.” Recently even during Covid-19 Community Bank Beaconsfield has financially supported: Berwick Rotary Club Beaconsfield Football Club Officer Football Club Berwick Montuna and Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Clubs

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Bendigo Bank has over 300 Community Bank branches who not only provide banking and financial services, they have a unique point of difference - they share their profit with their community. To date more than $272 million has been pumped back into Australian communities by Community Bank branches. You may not think who you bank with matters. But it does. Community Bank customers are making a difference. Their home loans are helping to build community infrastructure. Personal loans, business banking and credit cards are funding defibrillators, environmental projects and sports facilities. Community Bank Beaconsfield is located at 6/52-62 Old Princes Highway, and is currently open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm. If you need help with your banking, speak to Branch Manager, Andrew Gardner. He can meet you (restrictions permitting) at the branch, over the phone, or via video call. Together you can talk about your goals and how to make them happen. Community Bank Beaconsfield, Phone 9769 5122 Email beaconsfieldmailbox@bendigoadelaide.com.au

Serving up scoops of joy Pakenham is set to welcome a new gelato store promising to serve up scoops of joy to the community. Augustus Gelatery is gearing up for the opening of its new store in at Pakenham Homemake Centre this week, just in time for the warmer weather. Augustus Gelatery brand manager Amie Surridge said customers could expect 36 delicious flavours and a happy vibe when they enter the store. To celebrate the opening, the store will be running a colouring competition to keep kids entertained, and a special boozy tiramisu gelato for the adults. Ms Surridge said the store would bring a sweet treat to lockdown. “We like to give people a reason to smile and feel joyful” she said. “We all just want something exciting to look forward to and gelato always brings that.” Augustus Gelatery will open at Paken-

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NEWS

Two new train stations

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ly announced for the Pakenham line – at Webb Street in Narre Warren, Station St and Brunt Road in Beaconsfield, Station Street in Officer and Progress Street in South Dandenong. Together with the Metro Tunnel, bigger

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Dir ty on dining

By Gabriella Payne

Pop-up dining spaces sprang up throughout the city last year as Covid safe practices restaurants and forced cafes to turn to the streets for space, and after a successful summer initiative is set to run, the be months - a decisionextended over the coming that has left some munity members comvery unhappy. The pop-up outdoor dining program originally developed was as a way for businesses to adapt to the ever-changing Covid ronment and saw temporary platformsenviseating areas quite and literally “pop up” Cardinia, with seating around spaces in many areas, taking over car parking including in Pakenham’s Main Street. Whilst many people are enjoying making use of the new al fresco spaces, longtime enham local and Pakactive community Jack Mitchell said member that the lack of cleanliness and maintenance of the Main Street was “an absolute disgrace” and neededspaces addressed by the to be council. “I travel all over the state and I have seen a main street never in as bad a shape Street, Pakenham,” as Main Mr Mitchell said. “It’s just dreadful, everywhere, there’s there are cigarette butts bird and the street pavementspoo all over the place Outdoor dining spaces are falling apart. are proving quite “Why anybody divisive along Pakenham’s would want to Main Street now go to the Main Street. is beyond me,” Mr Mitchell said. Picture: CARDINIA The other, less glamorous SHIRE COUNCIL view of the Main Street outdoor dining Mr Mitchell has be going anywhere lived in the area area. anytime soon, as since 2004 dinia Shire and said he has the Carraised Picture: JACK MITCHELL dinia Shire Council this issue with the Car- sions of Council are now calling for expres- dining spaces had proved popular interest for businesses mer and helped over many times, but avail. to support businesses sum- the shops - but it’s to no new, free “parklets” to apply mainly the dirtiness after a the problem,” - hoping to see more for difficult year. that’s “They told me porary outdoor he said. temthat they’ve got seating areas spring “Outdoor dining but it’s just getting big plans, Cardinia. “We have this big, certainly brought up across the worse,” he said. low-hanging tree a buzz to and streets of the shire outside all these parrots following a tough “Taking away the Cardinia Mayor keep coming along year. It’s great to see parking out the Brett Owen said making a mess. of the shops for and the community front a successful summer that after Cardinia some embrace venues and show trial of the parklets, unbelievable - most outdoor seating is just council Yesterday the council them some much the needed love,” were excited of the seats can’t came because she said. used.” complained to even be ing areas installed to see more outdoor dinwe them and they But the owner and throughout the area. said ‘yes, it’s very dirty’, but Mr Mitchell said “We trialled the they told us that Kebabs, Sam Bayraktar operator of Pakenham clean that the council parklet concept we should sending “someone should be mer in it up.” told over Star News that he sum- and other business Pakenham and we’re down there to clean as the council are owners on Main now on the look- that it up” out for new Mr Bayraktar said Street felt “accountable” for the restaurants, cafes that the area had the spaces are worthwhile ensuring the shire ly become “a dumping recentand bars across saster outdoor seating areas had been that would love to “a difor us”. ground” for people and usable if they are going to be taking leave rubbish and host a parklet from to March onwards,” Cr Owen unwanted junk as up car parking spots. “It’s a total mess,” said. that he didn’t have well, and Mr Bayraktar said. However, the pop-up Councillor Tammy the resources or “We can’t even use dining spaces won’t to be cleaning up the time the seating, it’s so highly of the concept, Radford also spoke less. the “ridiculous” point- side. mess outstating that the al fresco First of all we lost “It’s become more our car parks in of a dumping ground front of and an eyesore than something nice,” he said.

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will begin later this year with the level crossings gone in 2023/2024. The new stations and open space will be ready in 2024. Another five crossing removals were recent-

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Designs have today been unveiled for the new Pakenham and East Pakenham stations, being built as part of the fast-tracked project to remove level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road in Pakenham. Plans also include six MCGs of new open space and 450 car spaces. Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project is part of a $15 billion project to upgrade the Pakenham line, which will be boom gate free by 2025. The project is extending the metropolitan rail track by two kilometres and building a new East Pakenham Station in this growth area of Melbourne. With four tracks – including dedicated bypass tracks – the new East Pakenham Station will remove a major V/Line and Metro trains bottleneck, slashing congestion and boosting reliability for regional and metropolitan passengers.. Renowned architecture firm Genton is working to develop the modern stations, with the design of Pakenham Station reflecting the character of the suburb. A new station forecourt, bus interchange and two dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones will provide easier and safer access to the spacious, light-filled station. Lifts and stairs will take passengers to two platforms for regional and metropolitan trains, with upgraded modern facilities and a climatecontrolled waiting room at street level. An additional 450 car parking spaces will be built at Pakenham Station, as well as secure bike storage and new walking and cycling paths alongside the rail line. Building a 2.5 kilometre rail bridge over McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road will create around six MCGs of new open space and locals are invited to have their say on these new areas. Works to remove these three level crossings

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FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES

Discovery Centre delights St Patrick’s School Pakenham, is fortunate to have an excellent Discovery Centre that houses one to one Chrome Books and iPads for each student which amplifies student skills in navigating essential technologies and applications. The Discovery Centre provides opportunities for students to use programmable robots to practice their Coding Skills using Dash, Sphero and Bee Bot Robots. Students have multiple opportunities to experiment with the Coding Language required for each Robot and design pathways for the robots to follow. Students have been creating Stop Motion Animations - Google Slides, Claymation, Flip Books and using Green Screens. The themes for the Stop Motions are drawn from Inquiry units making cross-Curricula links. Students are developing their capacity in problem solving, and trial and error while practising their ICT skills and media arts creativity. The students’ growth in technological know-how and use of Google Suite has allowed a higher level of engagement and learning during our Remote Learning periods.

Tyson, Sneha and Amelie. 228312 Students log in to Google Meets with their teachers daily and access their work via the Stream and Classwork pages. St Patrick’s has been able to provide laptops to families who don’t have them at home, promoting further engagement in learning for all students and a smoother transition from school to learning at home.

Guguei and Ernest learning about the Discovery Centre. 228312

Fighting stress and uncertainty during exam time By Elle Cecil As VCE students would be well aware, exams are a time of stress, uncertainty and hard work. It is important to balance this stress with relief, uncertainty with predictability and hard work with relaxation. Studies show that small, regular breaks between study sessions can improve mood and productivity. As you approach your exam period, remember that it is not maintainable to be constantly anxious. You should have time to destress and think about something other than exams and study for a while. Here are some ways to combat feelings of stress during exam time: Positive self-talk: using negative language with yourself is neither beneficial nor deserved. Make an effort to recognise how much work you’re putting in and allow yourself to see how well you’re doing. You have worked hard to get this far, and a few weeks of study and exams won’t undo all of it. Try to think of five things that you’re proud of yourself for doing either in or outside of your school life and reiterate that you’re capable of what you want to achieve. Visualise yourself doing well in your exams and receiving positive news when results are released. Use some tangible grounding tools: have a cup of tea, play with your pet or scribble in an adult colouring book. It’s okay to forget about exams for a while. In fact, it’s beneficial to spend some time after you study to allow the information to consolidate in your brain, so pick up a book or make yourself a snack

It’s important for VCE students to properly manage their stress during exams. and keep your mind occupied for a moment. Move your body: get the blood flowing! Whether you put on your favorite dance playlist and boogie around your room for a while, do some yoga or go for a stroll with a friend, getting active will refresh not only

your body but your mind as well. It will also assist in creating and releasing endorphins to improve your mood and relieve feelings of stress. It’s likely that you’ve heard it plenty of times, but VCE exams are not the be-all and

Picture: ISTOCK end-all of life. Despite the outcome you receive on ATAR day, there are always a variety of ways for you to get into your desired career. Life will go on after high school and it is there to be lived, so make sure you make the most of it. Best of luck to all VCE students!

We pride ourselves on being a Catholic, welcoming school where everyone is valued and respected. Our committed and professional staff provide a safe, caring environment where we aim to engender a love of learning in every student.

ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN Ph: 5943 9000 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au to book a school tour 136 Princes Highway, Pakenham | www.stppakenham.catholic.edu.au | (03) 5943 9000 12496727-HC22-21

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FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES

Future-proofing children Remaining at the forefront of educational thinking is vital for schools that want to deliver the skills students need today, tomorrow and in the months and years ahead. A report from the University of Melbourne last year emphasised that the way in which students are assessed is an essential part of this process and must evolve to ‘future-proof’ students and prepare them for the 21st-century workplace. Haileybury has been focusing on student assessment and feedback for some time, says Sabine Partington, head of teaching and learning (senior school). She says ensuring that assessments are designed to improve learning and provide students with detailed and useful feedback are key. “Any assessment should have the student in mind above all else,” says Ms Partington. “It has to improve student learning and provide information about where a student is at. Assessment is an end point but also a starting point, because it identifies the next key element of learning that needs to happen to make progress.” Creative learning and teaching are also fundamental and should begin within the school’s early learning centres. By the time children transition to junior school, core literacy and numeracy skills should be embedded. During the middle years, Haileybury encourages students to broaden their analytical and problem-solving skills and a broad VCE program in the senior years helps every student find their niche. “Teachers who are experts in their field, an expansive co-curricular program and an unrivalled pastoral care program are also key ele-

ments of a quality school,” says Haileybury chief executive officer and principal, Derek Scott. “A strong social education program also

helps students fulfil their potential and supports individual resilience and the development of independent, motivated and self-assured learners.”

Above: Haileybury focuses on future-proofing today’s students. 253148

haileybury.com.au

More than a shining solo act. Haileybury students are encouraged to chase their dreams — be it in the classroom, or in the community. Like Braya who perfectly balances her schoolwork with National Dance Competitions, leading the Pipes and Drums Band and championing causes close to her heart as our Social Justice Captain. Oh, and she’s only in Year 8! Whatever cause she leaps into next, we’ll be there to support her all the way.

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FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES

Dietitian’s simple advice tomato or tabbouleh comes back uneaten because it’s gone soggy. Put the spread (avocado or butter) on the bread then keep the filling separate so the child can put the sandwich together. For little ones, try drying off the salad ingredients and put the ham on the bread with the salad in the middle to prevent the bread from going soggy. ITEM 2: This should be a piece of fresh fruit with edible skin to provide the child with fibre and important vitamins and minerals. It can be chopped up and put back together as a whole piece, or it can be chopped up into bite-sized pieces. ITEM 3: This item should be a calcium rich dairy food or equivalent such as milk, biscuits and cheese, yoghurt, custard or a smoothie. ITEM 4: A lunchbox should include some sort of vegetable. The last nutrition survey showed an astronomical number of adults who aren’t eating vegetables. Ones that go well in a lunchbox include carrots with hummus, green beans or cherry tomatoes. ITEM 5: Parents should include a fifth lunchbox item if their child is doing an after-school activity. It can be something fun and sweet that doesn’t include a heap of sugar such as a homemade blueberry muffin, cereal slice, muesli slice or fruit balls. DRINKS: It’s important to send your child to school with water. STICKER SYSTEM: For younger children it’s a good idea to use stickers to indicate which lunchbox items should be eaten first. Quite often a parent will put a blueberry muffin in and the child will eat that first and it won’t sustain them. Put a gold sticker on what should be eaten first, put a red sticker on what should be eaten second, etc.

Making school lunchboxes is a task loathed by many parents. Deciding what food to send a child to school with can also be confusing. There’s so much conflicting advice about nutrition, not to mention school bans on certain foods due to allergies. But packing a school lunchbox doesn’t have to be laborious. Kate Di Prima is an accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia. Here, she gives simple advice on what food items should be included in school lunchboxes. A school lunchbox should include 4-5 food items. Quite often you see kids with these huge tackle boxes. Children, especially the preppies, will have no idea what to eat first. A lunchbox with four or five divisions is definitely big enough. I think most parents hate making school lunches. It’s a good idea to get your children involved - keep it simple, do some prep the night before and talk to your kids about what they like. THE MAIN ITEM: The ‘hero feature’ of the lunchbox. It can be last night’s leftovers, a wrap, salad, sandwiches, sushi, soup or pasta. This item should contain the iron-rich protein whether it’s meat, legumes or tofu. Examples included tinned tuna, baked beans and chicken. This item sustains the child throughout the day and should be eaten first. If you are packing a sandwich think about the fillings. Often a sandwich with

“It feels like a community where my child will be nurtured, cared for and known”. Time and time again, this is what parents and guardians tell me is their main reason for choosing Lakeside College. As a Christian College in the Lutheran tradition, we couldn’t be happier that families are experiencing exactly what we set out to provide. Education is all about relationships - between teacher and student, family and staff and school and community. Lakeside College prioritises these critical relationships as we carry out our service to the local community. As a smaller Christian school of 461 students (growing to 650 students) from years prep to 12, there is a richness of relationships and attention to individuals that set the College apart from others. It allows us to ensure that students develop intentionally in mind, body and soul. Students are nurtured across the curriculum, inside and outside the classroom, through innovative learning opportunities in core subjects, a vibrant arts program, technologies and sport. In a nutshell, Lakeside College seeks to sup-

port students to nurture their God-given gifts through a love for learning, which sets them up to go out into the world and make a positive impact. Our highly qualified and committed staff know each child deeply through our intentional pastoral care program and relish in the opportunity to teach students across the different areas of the school. Situated in the beautiful Lakeside precinct, our College boasts excellent facilities on campus, including access to the co-located facilities provided through the Cardinia Cultural Centre, the Toomuc Playing Fields and the Cardinia Life gym. As an open enrolment Christian College, we welcome all families, regardless of their faith tradition, into our community. As principal, I relish taking families on tours each week on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and at other times as needed - please take me up on the offer! It is a joy to show families around our gorgeous campus. Tom Brennen, Principal

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Lakeside school cares

Empowering each learner to thrive, serve and succeed, inspired by the love of Christ

Enrolling now for 2023 and beyond Limited vacancies in 2022 P: 5941 7544 E: enrolments@lakeside.vic.edu.au W: www.lakeside.vic.edu.au 2 Portobello Rd, Pakenham VIC 3810

Principal Tours Tuesday 9am Thursday 5pm * Virtual Tours available

registrar@hillcrest.vic.edu.au

03 9702 2144

www.hillcrest.vic.edu.au 12479614-AV27-21

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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FOCUS ON … EDUCATION CHOICES

St Clare’s ROCKS! St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Officer ROCKS. The acronym ROCKS is used at St Clare’s as a simple yet powerful way to build our school community. The wellbeing of our students directly links to their ability to achieve their potential. St Clare’s staff work with students and families in developing a shared understanding of ROCKS. We are RESPECTFUL. We are OPTIMISTIC. We are COURAGEOUS. We are KIND. We are SAFE. The five key aspects of ROCKS underpin St Clare’s school-wide expectations of all staff, students, families, visitors and the wider St Clare’s Community. At St Clare’s, students continually develop and practise their understanding of ROCKS through scripture, explicit teaching and various learning experiences. Throughout the year we focus on each component of ROCKS, students are taught and develop their knowledge of Respect, Optimism, Courage, Kindness and Safety and how they can enact these in their words and actions. These behaviours are acknowledged by staff and peers and shared with families through our ROCKS cards. The values of ROCKS are embedded into the religious education curriculum, personal and social capabilities and in day-to-day school life.

Growing ROCKS at St Clare’s. 253481

The school ROCKS.

Students and staff embrace ROCKS.

This year students participated in our ‘Jesus calls us to be kind day’. This included a whole school Mass, cross age kindness activities led by our student leaders, a staff performance, shared lunch on the green and a kindness coin line for charity. At St Clare’s we know that a random act of ROCKS can brighten someone’s day. It can be something significant, like donating items to a charity, or something smaller, like holding a door open for someone or listening to a friend. How do you show ROCKS?

At St Clare’s our aim is to have each child reach their potential - to be a well-rounded individual - within a supportive and caring learning environment. Unfortunately, current restrictions do not allow for school tours but we are taking enquiries and, as soon as we can, we will contact you to arrange a school tour. For all enquires or to receive our enrolment documentation, please phone 5940 6777 or email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic. edu.au

Religious education embodies the school’s values.

Introducing your

School Principals Pete Wells, Chairo Christian School Pete Wells is excited about the innovation and development that he experiences each day at Chairo’s Pakenham Campus, but is equally committed to honouring the school’s longstanding mission: to provide excellence in Christ-centred education, in partnership with families, within a caring Christian community. He explained: ‘We provide Kinder to Year 12 education within a genuinely Christian school culture. Our values, curriculum and programs are all delivered from a Christian worldview perspective. It’s our desire to see boys and girls experience care and challenge that helps them develop into young men and women of great character, who are able to positively impact the world around them. ‘We hope and pray that each Chairo student feels safe and welcomed, as they participate in a strong, healthy, friendly and uplifting community that values the unique capabilities and character of every child.’ Pete holds a degree in Psychology and a Master of Educational Leadership. Prior to becoming Principal in 2017, he taught for many years at Chairo before taking on the role of Head of School in an International Baccalaureate school in Indonesia. For more information visit www.chairo.vic.edu.au

Koo Wee Rup Secondary College is acknowledged as an excellent educational facility within a caring school environment. We are committed to providing an inclusive and sustainable learning culture in which all our students develop the skills and personal qualities necessary to participate positively and confidently in a changing global community. Our ability to tailor programs to meet the individual needs of students in achieving their personal best is underpinned by our pursuit of excellence in education and is reflected by our college values: • Respect • Responsibility • Honesty and Integrity • Personal Best Resilience

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Haileybury provides a warm, engaging and supportive environment in which every student matters. Renowned for our outstanding academic results, extensive co-curricular and extra-curricular programs and our brilliant teachers who work with each student as they strive to reach their full potential. Berwick is an inclusive and forward-thinking campus with a commitment to community and strong values. Our students learn within our acclaimed Parallel Education model which sees students in ELC (Reception and Pre-Prep) and Junior School (Prep to Year 4) learn together in a co-educational environment, while students in Middle School and Senior School (Years 5 to 12) have single-gender classes while also doing many activities together on the same campus. It is the very best of both worlds. With modern classrooms and sporting facilities, students have access to a wide range of subjects and a Sport program with more than 30 seasonal sports to choose from. Our Pastoral Care approach is second to none, tailored to each schooling stage with a true commitment to wellbeing. At Haileybury, our students are innately aware of their community and our Social Justice program encourages them to think beyond themselves to become young people of character and integrity. Haileybury Berwick is a community where each child has every opportunity to succeed, and where parents and families feel welcome.

Felix Patton

Pete Wells

In choosing to be part of the Koo Wee Rup Secondary College community, students are committing to six years of secondary education and to demonstrating behaviours which are conducive to learning and reflect a commitment to the college values. The subjects on offer encourage all students to do their best and are complemented by a diverse range of programs in music, drama, photography, sport and many other co curricular activities. Pastoral care encompasses all activities and develops strong relationships between staff and students. “To inspire a passion for lifelong learning and excellence in a community which provides all students with the opportunity to achieve their personal best”

Haileybury Berwick

Chairo Christian School

Koo Wee Rup Secondary College

138 High Street, Berwick VIC 3806 Phone 9904 6006 www.haileybury.com.au

Pakenham Campus, 585 Bald Hill Road NAR NAR GOON Phone 5942 5632

Rossiter Road KOO WEE RUP Phone 5997 1444

16 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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Mrs Jeanette Rawlings

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Oﬃcer Our Faith leads to Wisdom and Courage.

Enrol Now!

’s has developed providing a quality schooling experience, developing

Our faith leads to wisdom and courage. St Clare’s and is embedded in the ethos of the school,

12507317-AV34-21

parent, guardian or family, I invite you to visit us at St Clare’s and discover this dynamic learning environment and start the beginning of, what I hope will be, a life-long learning partnership.

Helen Staindl School Principal

Enrolment Enquiries email enrolments@stclaresoﬃcer.catholic.edu.au pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

St Clare’s Primary School Oﬃcer Oﬃcer 3809 Phone 03 5940 6777 Thursday, 14 October, 2021

STAR NEWS 17

IBAC INQUIRY

MP ‘lobbied’ mayor vote By Cam Lucadou-Wells The then-Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek allegedly lobbied councillors and ‘did in’ a candidate at a Greater Dandenong Council mayoral election, an IBAC inquiry has heard. Holt federal MP Anthony Byrne, in texts to a staffer, described Cr Loi Truong as being promised the mayoralty by Mr Somyurek in November 2019. “I was in a room with him and Loi where he said (Loi) should be given an opportunity to be mayor. “Then he did him in using the Cambodians.” The “lie” was made in a meeting at Mr Byrne’s office between him, Cr Truong and Mr Somyurek, Mr Byrne told the Operation Watts inquiry on 11 October. Mr Somyurek told Cr Truong that he’d do what he could to assist his mayoral election but was limited by his role as Local Government Minister, Mr Byrne said. However, Mr Somyurek instead “lobbied” Greater Dandenong councillors Youhorn Chea and Sophie Tan – both of “Cambodian background” - to vote for victorious candidate Cr Jim Memeti. Mr Byrne’s staff members told him that soon after the meeting Mr Somyurek met with Cr Memeti at a McDonald’s outlet “not far from my office” for two-and-a-half hours. “So that led me to surmise something like that happened.” Mr Byrne agreed with IBAC Counsel Assisting Chris Carr that there was a “relationship” between Mr Somyurek and Cr Memeti. He said that with “some exceptions”, Greater Dandenong mayors had been Labor-aligned for years. Cr Truong believed if he had been given a “clear run” that Crs Chea and Tan would have voted for him, Mr Byrne said. “He was asking Adem not to intervene (against him).” IBAC Commissioner Richard Redlich asked Mr Byrne if he’d experienced any other Local Government Ministers seeking to influence mayoral elections. “No I don’t,” Mr Byrne replied. Cr Truong believed Mr Somyurek had “enormous power” over Crs Chea and Tan, Mr Byrne said. “Cr Chea and Cr Tan, I think through the

Holt MP Anthony Byrne at the Operation Watts inquiry on 11 October.

Adem Somyurek, pictured, allegedly lobbied councillors to vote for mayor Jim Memeti in 2019, according to federal MP Anthony Byrne. Cambodian Association, worked fairly closely with Adem Somyurek.” The then-Local Government Minister also had a “close relationship” with former Cambodian-community MP Hong Lim and Mr Lim’s successor Meng Heang Tak. Mr Somyurek had been “fairly instrumental” in ensuring Mr Tak - a former Greater Dandenong mayor - was preselected in Mr Lim’s seat. Mr Tak also shares the same Moderate Labor faction as Mr Somyurek, Mr Byrne told the inquiry. Last year, Cr Memeti told Star News he had known Mr Somyurek since 2005, when the mayor was first elected to Greater Dandenong Council. He had found Mr Somyurek to be “pretty business-as-usual” as a Minister, he said. After the IBAC hearing, Cr Memeti reiterat-

Jim Memeti soon after being narrowly voted in as Greater Dandenong Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS mayor in 2019. 200886

ed his comments last year to Star News that Mr Somyurek had no direct influence in Greater Dandenong mayoral elections. He said “I can’t recall” his alleged meeting with Mr Somyurek at McDonald’s. He’d never stayed at a McDonald’s for two-and-a-half hours, he said. “I’ve never spoken to Mr Somyurek regarding elections. I’ve never heard of Mr Somyurek influencing the mayoral election - nor any other MPs. “It’s all done with councillors. All the councillors try to lobby their colleagues” Cr Memeti said he had a “relationship” with “all local MPs”. “You’d catch me having a coffee and a lunch with all the MPs in the area. “I try to work with the MPs as much as possible to advocate on things in the community.” The mayoral vote in 2019 was “hotly con-

tested” between Crs Chea, Memeti, Truong and Maria Sampey, Cr Memeti said. On first count, Cr Chea was eliminated. In the next round, Crs Sampey and Truong were tied for second. The latter was eliminated when he drew the ‘defeated’ ball from a pink hat. Only on the third round did a councillor gain a narrow 6-5 majority – Cr Memeti with the backing of Crs Chea, Tan, Angela Long, Zaynoun Melham and Tim Dark. Cr Sampey was supported by Crs Truong, Peter Brown, Sean O’Reilly and Matthew Kirwan. Nine of the 11 Greater Dandenong councillors were Labor members, except for Crs Dark (Liberal) and Kirwan (Greens). Cr Truong, who was admitted to ICU with Covid last week, could not be contacted for comment.

Son hired to pay off heavyweight Somyurek’s ‘debt’ By Cam Lucadou-Wells Factional heavyweight and MP Adem Somyurek allegedly requested for his son to be employed at an electorate office, with the MP pocketing his son’s salary, an anti-corruption hearing was told. Mr Somyurek’s one-time factional ally Anthony Byrne told the IBAC Operation Watts hearing on 11 October that he hired the son on taxpayer-funded wages because “Adem asked me to employ him”. The son turned up to work, his salary went to Mr Somyurek, he said. Mr Byrne believed the money was used to pay off a “debt” owed by Mr Somyurek. “It was put to me that that would be the purpose, but also, as Adem put to me, to help develop his son’s skills and to give him some work experience.” Mr Byrne said it was “very unlikely” he would have employed the son on his merits, though adding he was “very well liked in my office and he did work”. Electorate office positions were also used to reward people assisting in factional work, including those who didn’t turn up to work, the Holt MP said. He claimed Mr Somyurek requested him to hire two staff Burhan Yigit and Hakki Suleyman for months without expecting them to show up at the office. Mr Yigit was a long-standing ALP member with control of a large number of members and based in Melbourne’s West. He was Mr 18 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 14 October, 2021

Adem Somyurek, whose son was allegedly hired at a federal electorate office partly to help a debt owed by the MP, an IBAC hearing was told. 201398 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS Somyurek’s “extremely close” friend, Mr Byrne said. “I was not happy with the request. “The alternative was to have a lot more requests from different people that I’d sort of get a relatively regular basis about putting people on to my staff that were factional. “I tried to reduce the number of people that were on my staff that had any direct connections to factions.” Mr Suleyman’s hiring was part of a “deal” to bring his family over from another ALP faction to Mr Somyurek’s faction Moderate Labor. He couldn’t work for a state MP because of an “adverse finding” as part of an investigation into Brimbank Council. “Why did I do it? Because the conse-

quences of not doing it would be that I probably wouldn’t be sitting here before you today as a Member of Parliament.” He eventually ceased Mr Suleyman’s role. “I said I can’t do it anymore, I just can’t keep on doing it“. Mr Byrne said he implicitly understood that refusing the requests would jeopardise his preselection. “I had assumed that someone like Adem would, as is his wont, get particularly upset and initiate some form of retribution. “It could be abusing my staff. “It could be - God knows. It could be arranging for my political execution.” Under cross-examination, Mr Byrne was questioned about staff appointments Adam Sullivan, Nick McLennan and the son of former Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea. “These are all people who you specifically asked Somyurek to employ, right?“ Mr Somyurek’s lawyer Remy Van der Wiel asked. “I was trying to minimise as much as possible those people that I guess you’d say were involved in factional activity,“ Mr Byrne replied. “So I may well have, on that basis, asked Adem to take those people on.“ In earlier evidence, Mr Byrne said his former staffer Mr McLennan was later being directed to do “factional activity” by Mr Somyurek as part of his day-to-day work as ministerial adviser for State Minister and factional ally Marlene Kairouz.

Mr Somyurek appointed Mr McLennan as Ms Kairouz’s ministerial adviser, Mr Byrne said. Mr McLennan also worked on “factional matters” during his working day as Mr Byrne’s electorate officer. Other members of Mr Byrne’s paid staff did the same, Mr Byrne said. “If I’d felt that I’d had a choice it wouldn’t have happened,” Mr Byrne said. Mr Byrne had told the inquiry his electorate staff were also inappropriately tasked to assist other ALP candidate’s election campaigns such as Tim Richardson and in the seat of La Trobe. His staff were also involved in collecting and filling out blank membership ballots from “stacked“ members to elect delegates for the ALP national executive. This task was done during the staff’s day to day work as well as weekends, and may have occurred at his office, Mr Byrne said. On occasions, “stacked” members had filled out their own ballots and sent them to head office. They were then told to sign a letter to head office and say they “made a mistake” and request a fresh ballot paper – which would be then filled out by “factional operatives”. Mr Byrne believed pro-forma letters and signatures were forged. According to IBAC, about 40 per cent of ballots were reissued in Holt. Mr Byrne agreed that ALP’s head office was “willfully blind” to what was going on behind the scenes. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Birthday surprise package By Gabriella Payne As our days in lockdown drag on, many families have had to get creative and think outside the box in order to celebrate milestones together - and one local family had the surprise of their lives recently when an unexpected visitor dropped in to their Zoom call. Having turned 30 and celebrated the birth of his third child during Melbourne’s lockdown, Narre Warren father Greg McLeish had been unable to get together with his wider family to celebrate (like many of us) due to Covid restrictions. When his brother organised a family Zoom catch up to hold some virtual celebrations for Greg, he happily jumped in the call - but unbeknown to him, his brother had a few tricks up his sleeve. Being big fans of the classic Aussie TV show, Packed to the Rafters, Greg’s brother had secretly entered the family in a competition and while they were all virtually celebrating that evening - they were joined by a very special unexpected guest. “It was quite normal for a Wednesday, my brother asked me to jump on a Zoom which these days, isn’t too out of character,“ Greg explained. “So I said ’yeah no worries’, and then next thing all these presents started popping up and balloons were being delivered, I even got a six pack of beer delivered as well and I thought, something’s going on here. “So we were all having a chat and then all these people started popping up like two of my cousins were there, my brother and his partner and my aunty and uncle, and then the next person to drop into the call was George who plays Carbo on Packed to the Rafters, and I think my initial response after he wished me a happy birthday was kind of like, thank you, but I had to look again and say, hang on, is that Carbo?“ Greg said, describing his bewilderment.

The McLeish family organised an amazing surprise for Greg’s birthday - and he was blown away when ‘Carbo’ joined their virtual celebrations. Picture: SUPPLIED “It was just awesome! I definitely didn’t expect anything like that, whatever I was thinking might have been going on… it was so far left of field from what actually happened.“ Having “grown up watching the show“ together, Greg said that he and his brother had always connected to the program and during this lockdown, he had been getting back into it as he had heard about the exciting reprisal, Back to the Rafters, which hit screens this month. “Lockdown, as you know, can get a bit monotonous and I saw that Packed to the Rafters had come back on Amazon Prime so I started watching it again, and then heard that they were bringing out the new season so I thought, oh well even more reason to keep watching!“ he said. “I think the show really resonates differently now, you know when I was growing up

I felt like I had more in common with Ben and Carbo’s characters, but as you get older, you know I have three kids of my own now so there are different things that I resonate with - and what they do for fun is having a barbecue and a drink and socialising with each other, which is definitely what our family likes to do.“ Greg said that actor George Houvardas (who plays Carbo) had been incredibly “approachable“ and down to earth during their chat, and the whole experience had just made his day. “I would just like to thank everyone who helped pull it together, you know I had a cake delivered, a gift pack delivered and people from all over Australia have been messaging me about it,“ Greg said, after the drop-in surprise was featured on the Today Show. “It’s been unbelievable and I’m extremely grateful for the experience.“

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Greg said that his family couldn’t wait for restrictions to ease so that they could all get together for a barbecue and some much-anticipated hugs, and he hoped to be able to pay his brother back one day for this kind gesture. “It’s been a really tough time this year but we’ve made the best of it and I think there are better things to come!“

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down now, r 200 days in lock Having spent ove mental health professionals psychologists and and more concerned about re are growing mo s’ mental health, of Melburnian that needs to the “dire” state invisible “crisis” labelling it as an ly. ent urg ed be address chologist and psy ical clin a Michael Tomek, logy in PakenLakeside Psycho ming to see the director of ly alar it was incredib to cope ham, said that ple struggling peo l loca of the amount moment. midthe mentally at the in ally g, I’m actu “It’s really alarmin to our local MP’s about a letter t dle of writing in the area righ lth hea tal men the dire state of so concerning,” Mr Tomek it’s now because said. STORY PAGE 5

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There’s nothing like brotherly love! Here’s Tom and Greg back when they were kids.

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

with Sountharam Chidambaram, Casey resident and participant in Truth to Power Cafe

Tell us a fun fact about yourself. If I see a slide and a swing I start running and screaming like a little girl to play on it. What is your favourite cuisine? Asian cuisine - Nasi lemak with ikan billis sambal. Nasi lemak cooked in coconut milk, lemon grass and ginger served with yummy spicy ikan billis (anchovies) cooked in dried red chilli, tamarind along with onion and tomato. It goes well with a boiled egg and cucumber salad.

THREE … ways to prepare your property for fire season

Remove fuel for a fire. Prune tree branches so they are not overhanging the roof or touching walls. Replace mulch near the house with less flammable alternatives like pebbles. Keep grass shorter than 10cm and regularly remove leaves and twigs from around the house. Don’t have large shrubs in front of windows or glass doors.

Before leaving early, make sure you remove all flammable items from around your home – including the doormat!

Check that your home and contents insurance is current and includes a level of cover in line with current building standards and regulations.

What has been your most memorable moment? My graduation for my bachelor’s degree. It was my first degree and I received it in Sydney with my family. My neighbors and my family celebrated the happiness with me. Who is your biggest inspiration? My mummy is my biggest inspiration - my lucky charm, my strength, my driver etc - the list isn’t exhaustive. If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook? The Polish dish pierogi. I love to cook for my God mum and my well-wisher Barbara B. If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would be the first thing you would do? I want the multichant prayers and country’s acknowledgement in different languages. Meet Sountharam Chidambaram!

Picture: GRAHAM DENHOLM

What is your favourite holiday destination? Nigeria Falls in Canada and to travel locally on the Ghan.

lunch. Me and my bestie go to the movies to sleep!

What are you most looking forward to when lockdown ends? Meeting my bestie Lynn B for a movie and

What do you love about the Casey community? It’s a dynamic, bubbling, harmonious multi-

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Thursday, 14 October, 2021

STAR NEWS 21

SPORT

Eagles to nest in Eastern By Nick Creely It’s official: the Beaconsfield Football Club has joined the Eastern Football Netball League for season 2022, with the Eagles’ transfer across from the Outer East Football Netball League confirmed on Thursday. After a strong majority vote at the league’s recent SGM, which saw the Eagles voted in by clubs with 87 per cent in favour of the move, AFL Victoria ticked off the massive transfer last week with the Eagles to becoming Eastern’s 47th senior club. After a strong 2021 season, which saw the Eagles go through undefeated and clinch the minor premiership under master coach Mick Fogarty, the club will compete in Division One in 2022, making it a 10-team competition. The Eagles have become the second club from Outer East after their great rivals, Berwick last season, to cross over to the Eastern Football Netball League as football across the region continues to seeing sweeping changes. It has been confirmed that the Eagles will field senior women’s, senior men’s, reserves and under 19s, with the netball club to remain in Outer East, however the two clubs are working closely to ensure they maintain a strong and thriving relationship moving forward. The Eagles have won 10 flags in their history, with the last coming in 2014 and are regarded as one of the most powerful destination clubs anywhere in the south-east with its facilities at Holm Park seen as a massive drawcard for talented male and female footballers. Beaconsfield president Troy Robinson issued a statement last Wednesday explaining that the move for his club to the Eastern league was based on a range of factors. “Over recent months the Beaconsfield Football Club has reviewed our strategic position within the current football competition of AFLOE,” Robinson said. “Our review included the number of times

Beaconsfield has officially joined the Eastern Football League. 242705 we have moved leagues, the level of competition and the competition balance between the Under 19s through to the seniors. “We have reviewed the best possible solution to ensure we can commit to this obligation whilst ensuring our club becomes stronger, more resilient to the adapting changes and the ability to set pathways for the players

to pursue. We now look forward to a long and healthy competition (in the Eastern Football Netball League).” Robinson said there was still work to be done to ensure the Netball Club continues to work diligently and maintain a relationship with the Football Club into the future. “(We) would also like to ensure that the

Picture: ROB CAREW long-term survival of the Beaconsfield Netball Club remains strong and competitive and supported by the Football Club as a result of these changes,” Robinson said. “A delegation from both the football club and netball club are working closely to ensure this is a high priority.”

Cranbourne move to Southern after being on the outer By Nick Creely Cranbourne will officially depart the Outer East Football Netball League next season, with the league opting to formally clear the Eagles out of the competition in a huge development in local football. In a letter to clubs seen by the Gazette on Thursday, the Outer East has written to Cranbourne, informing the club that the position of the Commission is that they cannot continue to have disruptions, and that the league is no longer an option for them in 2022, informing them that they will clear them to the Southern Football Netball League. The decision, according to the Outer East, relates to the desire to create more stability for its clubs and the competition’s future beyond 2022. The Southern league has been informed of this decision, who have already accepted Doveton into the competition next season. The Doves are entering Division 2 of Southern.This comes after the Eagles’ long and extensive application process with the MPNFL, and after informing the league that they intend on meeting with Southern, but essentially the Outer East has taken the decision out of Cranbourne’s hands. The Eagles had initially intended to apply to join the MPNFL once again, but withdrew the application before it went to a vote. There will now be 23 senior football clubs in 2022, while the Outer East continues to work with both Berwick and Beaconsfield’s netball clubs regarding next year and beyond. Outer East plans to provide some clarity in coming weeks to clubs, but remain adamant the decision was made to settle the league into the future and are confident in what the competitions look like from a competitive balance perspective. However, it has been confirmed that Outer East is planning on retaining three divisions next season, though two will be supported if 22 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 14 October, 2021

Cranbourne has been informed to look for a new home. 241982 that is the view of clubs. Concerns surrounding the gap between sides in divisions is being considered. From a fixturing perspective, 10, nine and seven-team divisions are the most equitable, according to the letter. Outer East has sent clubs a competition survey for the structure of next season, with the results and official position to be released in coming weeks. Cranbourne president Shane Baker said the club met on Thursday night, and said

there was overwhelming support for the move to Southern. “They reserve the right to do it as much as we deserve the right to do our due diligence, so it is what it is now,” he said. “We’ve made it clear that our future lies elsewhere, and that’s what we’re focused on now - we’ll make sure we do what’s right for the club.” The club sent the application off on Friday and the league met on Monday, where it should be a seamless approval. The Eagles

Picture: GARY SISSONS are hoping to enter Division 1 in 2022. Baker said there was no bad blood with the Outer East, and wants to move forward for what’s best for the Cranbourne Football Club. “It’s always been about getting the best fit - we’ve spoken to some leagues because if we don’t do the full research then we never know what’s out there,” he said. “It’s nothing against Outer East, they’ve been great to deal with, and wish them well. We just need to find an area that suits us.” pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Rivals face growing divide By David Nagel I have a confession to make. While thoroughly enjoying and totally immersed in a first season of covering the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC)… at this stage it’s impossible for this new found love to surpass the memories of the glory days of the Casey Cardinia/South East Football Netball League. As a Pakenham resident I clearly remember being in awe of my local heroes, like our leader and coach Michael ‘Jock’ Holland, Luke Walker, Daniel Fry, Cory Lenders, Nathan Brown, Dan and Tommy O’Loughlin, and the toughas-nails Trent ‘Yardy’ Fairclough, as they went head-to-head with the powerhouse teams of the day in Beaconsfield, Doveton and Narre Warren. There were great battles… and apologies to Jock for giving ill-considered and alcoholfuelled coaching advice over a cold beer late on a winter-Saturday afternoon! Back then, my mates Bill Connolly, Dave Power and I loved nothing better that meeting on a Saturday afternoon – home or away – sinking a few tins and watching our beloved Lions play. Then having the absolute privilege of covering this league - when first beginning at the Pakenham Gazette in 2011 – and watching the battles between Cranbourne and Narre Warren, the Battles of the Creek between Beaconsfield and Berwick, and the hard-hitting contests at Robinson Reserve in Doveton was a great experience… one not to be forgotten. The premiership reunion days were particularly special, watching the players and coaches of days gone by – from opposition clubs reminisce about their battles. The Cranbourne – Doveton days were great! Through both experiences, as a spectator and particularly as a journo, it was great to learn about the great rivalries of the old South West Gippsland Football League (SWGFL), where Beaconsfield, Berwick, Cranbourne, Doveton and Narre Warren were the heart and soul of the competition since the mid to late 1950’s. With all this in mind it’s incredibly sad and very difficult to get your head around the fact that none of these five great rivals will play football against each other in 2022. It’s absolutely staggering to think that we’ve got to the point where these five iconic clubs will not be walking through each other’s gate next season. None of them! Apart from a few short eras in their history, these clubs have been connected at the hip bone for the best part of 70 years! Doveton didn’t join the SWGFL until 1959, and had a brief dalliance with the Federal League from 1972 to 1976, but has always been a regular foe. Berwick was a founding SWGFL club in 1954 and only went missing with a five-year stint in the VFA from 1983 to 1987. Beaconsfield, who was also there when the whips first started cracking in 1954, spent nine

It’s sad that epic battles between great rivals Cranbourne and Narre Warren are now a thing of the past. 106294 years in the West Gippsland Football League (WGFL) from 1993 to 2001, but reconnected in 2002. And Cranbourne and Narre Warren have only spent five seasons apart in that 68-year journey since 1954, when they spent time in different divisions of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) from 1996 to 2000. The history these clubs have with each other is incredible. In a historical sense – this most recent demise has been rapid since 12 clubs came together to form the Casey Cardinia Football League (CCFL) in 2005. Those teams were Beaconsfield, Berwick, Cranbourne, Devon Meadows, Dingley, Doveton, Hampton Park, Keysborough, Narre Warren, Pakenham, ROC (now Officer) and Tooradin-Dalmore. Dingley was first to go, lasting just two seasons, heading to the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) in 2007, with Devon Meadows playing seven seasons in the CCFL before joining the MPNFL in 2012. That left 10. Keysborough joined Southern in 2015, with Hampton Park doing likewise for the beginning of the 2018 season. Just eight teams remained at the conclusion of 2018 with a clear division between the powerhouse clubs – Beaconsfield, Berwick, Cranbourne and Narre Warren – and the remainder led by Doveton, Officer, Pakenham and Tooradin-Dalmore. Tooradin-Dalmore found a new home – a perfect fit – in the WGFNC in 2019, with the remaining seven clubs moving to AFL Outer East. Beaconsfield, Berwick, Cranbourne and Narre Warren were locked in to Premier Division, with Doveton, Officer and Pakenham earning their stripes in the secondary-tier Di-

vision One competition. But the demise since the move to AFL Outer East has been even more rapid. Berwick got the ball moving by transferring to the Eastern Football League (EFL) Premier Division in August 2020, competing for the first time in 2021 in that competition. Just last week, Doveton was accepted into Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) Division Two, while just a few days later – Thursday, 7 October - both Beaconsfield and the EFL confirmed that the Eagles will play in Division One of that competition next year. And now Cranbourne has made the decision, endorsed by AFL Outer East, to make the switch to the SFNL competition – likely division one - for the 2022 season. Of those seven great clubs – that all held hands and joined AFL Outer East in 2019 – only Narre Warren, Officer and Pakenham remain. All clubs, except Officer and Pakenham, have been like a cat on a hot-tin roof in recent times, all assessing their options when it comes to a suitable league to house their football clubs in. It’s incredible to think that as late as August 10 this year, that MPNFL clubs were asked to fill in a survey to assess the viability of accepting Beaconsfield, Cranbourne, Doveton and Narre Warren into their competition. At that point in time – just two months ago – those four clubs had all officially expressed interest in joining the MPNFL in 2022. Now, just a short time later, three of those four clubs have a different home. But more importantly – if things go as expected and Cranbourne is admitted into division one of Southern for 2022 – none of these clubs will play against each other next year. Beaconsfield (EFL Div 1), Berwick (EFL Premier), Cranbourne (SFNL Div 1), Doveton (SFNL Div 2) and Narre Warren (AFLOE Premier) will all have different homes.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Cranbourne’s likely new home – SFNL Division One – last year housed (in ladder order) Dingley, Cheltenham, St Kilda City, Port Melbourne Colts, East Malvern, St Paul’s McKinnon, Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Oakleigh District and Highett. Oakleigh District has since moved to the EFL, but Cranbourne will now play against clubs that it has little or no history with. This is not an exercise in pin-pointing clubs or leagues for allowing this to happen, but surely something has gone horribly wrong when those five great clubs, with incredible history, are all playing in different competitions or divisions next year. How do we fix it? It would take a collaborative and open approach from all leagues in the region, and clubs, to draw a line in the sand, allow a blank canvas, and move forward from there. This is an impossible task, and Cranbourne’s recent aspiration of joining the MPNFL – which appears the ideal fit for the club - gives a clear indication of the difficulties involved. The MPNFL has 22 clubs, with a change to competition structure requiring 75 per cent of those clubs to agree before any change can take place. Even a clear majority vote of 16 to 6 (72 per cent) would not be enough to see Cranbourne included in the MPNFL for next year. The MPNFL clubs have the power there… not their governing body AFL South East! And that’s just one hurdle of many that would hinder any type of common-sense approach to fixing a problem that now sees five great clubs – with incredible history - all waving to each from a distance for the 2022 season. And to Cranbourne… I love you as a club… but good luck finding a suitable opponent when you host one of your many premiership reunions over the next few years!

Long-standing tradition The Pakenham Racing Club (PRC) has a long and proud history of jumps racing and is delighted to announce a three-year extension of its partnership with Ecycle Solutions firmly committing to the success of jumps racing in Victoria. Pakenham Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Blair Odgers said the PRC is excited to extend the partnership. “PRC has a long and valued history of jumps racing and we are committed to the long-term success of jumps racing in Victoria,” Odgers said. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Ecycle Solutions and look forward to welcoming its guests, members and jumps racing fans back trackside in 2022 and beyond.” Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA) General Manager Marlee Horobin shares Mr Odgers excitement. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au

“We look forward to working with the Pakenham Racing Club on its jumps racing days over the next three years,” Horobin said. “The Mosstrooper Jumps Day has been a great success and once we get back on track, great viewing and hospitality for participants will be in demand. “We are eager to engage AJRA members with what Pakenham has to offer.” Chair of the ARJA, Sandy McGregor, was also thrilled with the announcement. “Ecycle Solutions look forward to continuing the partnership with the Pakenham Racing Club,” she said. “It is a great pleasure to do so and we hope racegoers will be seen trackside enjoying first-class facilities in the near future.” The PRC will host the Ecycle Solutions Jumps Race Day on Sunday, 24 April, 2022 and the Ecycle Solutions Mosstrooper Jumps Race Day will follow on Sunday, 17 July.

Mawaany Machine wins the Ecycle Solutions BenchMark 120 Hurdle at Pakenham in July this Picture: ROSS HOLBURT/RACING PHOTOS year. 253592 Thursday, 14 October, 2021

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VISIT OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOUR TODAY Our virtual school tour allows you to experience Berwick Lodge Primary School spaces as though you are physically there. Using emerging technology, we have mapped spaces across the school to create 3D tours and 360-degree walkthroughs. Immerse yourself in the spaces, move around, explore and look out for LODGIE BEAR along the way. For more details visit: www.berwicklodgeeps.vic.edu.au

Kevin Heinze Best School Garden Award 2018 P: 9709 6700 F: 9796 2198 E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Visit our website to check out the virtual tour www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au 12479820-CG42-21

24 STAR NEWS

Thursday, 14 October, 2021

pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au