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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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Major roadworks blitz
Jack Rae on his property in Narre Warren North in 2011. 60690
Mr Rae was born into agricultural life, spending 70 years in the show Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS industry. 53994
Legend’s legacy The legacy of Jack Rae OAM is strongly etched in the earth of showgrounds across Melbourne. His name is proudly plastered on pavilion signs at Berwick’s Akoonah Park and Dandenong Showgrounds, and on countless committee honour rolls across Melbourne. Few people can claim such a long affiliation with the show industry as Mr Rae, whose work in the field spanned more than 70 years. He was a founding member and former president of the Victorian Agricultural Societies Association (VASA), a life member and former president of the Berwick and Dandenong Show societies and councillor and life member of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), just to name a few.
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Yet for many, Mr Rae was much more than the leadership positions he held in the show world. Those closest to him will tell you Jack was a fair minded and pragmatic, always happy to listen to someone’s case and provide a suitable solution. His character, and life’s work, was built upon a strong trait of benevolence, where a life of dedication to the show industry was for the pure betterment of the community. In tribute to Mr Rae, who passed away on 8 December 2022 at the age of 94, he is Star News’ 2022 Person of the Year. A fourth-generation cattle farmer and member of a Narre Warren North pioneering family, Rae’s progression into the agricultural industry was natural.
“I suppose it was just that I had no desire to do anything else other than milk the cows and work the horses,” he told the Melbourne Royal virtual Museum for its ‘Oral Histories’ series. As local historian and personal friend Neil Lucas recounted for his ‘What’s in a Name’ segment of the Pakenham Gazette, Mr Rae’s presence in the show community goes back to 1937, when nine-year-old Rae began showing dairy cows. “With his brother Fred and sister Thelma, Jack entered a Jersey dairy cow in the Narre Warren North State School Young Farmers Club competition,” Mr Lucas said. “The judge, Jack’s father George, had a difficult choice, there being three of his children amongst the seven competitors.” In the following year Jack began his association with the Berwick Show, walking the cows
from the farm in Narre Warren North to a paddock adjacent to Harkaway Road in Berwick for overnighting before they would be shown at Buchanan Park for competition, Mr Lucas said. Rae left school at 13 years old and almost immediately began full time work on his family’s Narre Warren North farm, walking droves of cattle to Dandenong Showgrounds. He joined the agricultural show society’s committee as an 18-year-old following in the footsteps of his father, remaining there for 70plus years helping to organise each annual show. At national show conferences, so many would approach Mr Rae “just to say hello”, according to Dandenong Show president John Follett. Continued page 6
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Intersection shut for works The next stage of the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade has kicked off, with works beginning on the Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road intersection. The intersection at Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road closed at 11.59pm on 11 January and will remain closed in all directions until Wednesday 25 January at 5pm, as crews work to remove the existing asphalt, install drainage, upgrade signal connections for the new traffic lights and safety cameras and lay new asphalt and line markings, authorities said. There will be no through access at the intersection during the two-week period so works can be done to widen the intersection and build new through lanes. There will be lane closures and reduced speed limits down from 60km/h to 40km/hr on Narre Warren North Road throughout the works period, with traffic barriers installed at the Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road intersection in all directions. Detours will be in place via Monash Freeway, Parkhill Drive and Belgrave-Hallam Road. With the intersection closed, bus stops nearest to the intersection and along Kurrajong Road will be closed. PTV will run Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant taxis in place of regular buses for some stops. In order to reduce the closure duration at the Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road intersection, night works will occur and enable crews to complete the required works as quickly and safely as possible. Major Road Projects Victoria program director Brendan Pauwels said the closure had been scheduled for the January school holidays to reduce the impact on the community. Authorities said they would work to reopen the intersection as quickly and safely as possible.
The Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road intersection will be closed to traffic for two weeks in January. 229941 In February, the final stage of building new lanes between Belgrave-Hallam and Fox roads will commence, authorities said. Bollards will be moved around the centre median and both carriageways will be open with one lane operating in each direction to allow crews to build the centre median, install guard rail and the traffic signals at Memorial Drive as well as complete landscaping works. During this stage of works, Memorial Drive will be left in and left out only, with the full intersection due to open by mid-2023. There will
be no change for motorists accessing Brundrett and Crawley roads. The unsignalised U-turn slot north of Brundrett Road will be closed and the signalised U-turn at Belgrave-Hallam Road will remain open. Narre Warren North Road provides vital north-south connectivity in Melbourne’s growing south-eastern suburbs. The road upgrade will build on the State Government’s investment into Melbourne’s arterial road network which includes widen-
ing Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road between Thompsons Road and the South Gippsland Highway. When both projects are complete, the communities of Narre Warren and Cranbourne will be connected by four lanes all the way from Heatherton Road to South Gippsland Highway. Construction on the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
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Don’t travel to bushland on Extreme Fire Danger Rating days. If you plan to travel through Victoria during fire season, it’s important to check the Fire Danger Rating every day. If the rating is Extreme or Catastrophic, avoid travelling to high risk bush or grassfire areas. It’s safer to travel to cities or towns for the day.
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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Youth programs returning Cardinia Shire Council has a wide range of group programs available to young people aged 12 to 24. The group programs encourage young people in the community to connect with likeminded people of a similar age in a safe and supportive environment. The council’s Youth Services team delivers these group programs every term of the school year. The Youth Services team has also introduced a brand-new group for young people aged 10 to 12. Chillout Fridays is an activity-based afterschool program designed to encourage young people to make new friends and learn life skills in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Term 1 programs commence in February and include: Be Ur Self: a weekly safe and inclusive LGBTIQA+ group for young people aged 12 to 17. Catch Up: a weekly social and life skills group for young people aged 17 to 24. Cardinia Pride: a fortnightly group for 17 to 24-year-olds who are passionate about creating change for the LGBTIQA+ community in Cardinia Shire. Switch: a weekly fun, social group with a variety of activities each week for young people aged 12 to 17. All groups have limited numbers, so book early to avoid disappointment. To book your places now and for more information about the youth programs and groups, please call the Youth Services team on 1800 496 884 or visit the council’s website at cardinia.vic.gov.au/youthprograms
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Young people enjoy a game of Jenga at My Place Youth Facility.
Picture: SUPPLIED
Cranbourne man arrested after shots fired during pursuit A Cranbourne man was one of three individuals arrested by Gang Crime Squad detectives following a dangerous car pursuit in Moonee Ponds in December. With the assistance of the Special Operations Group and VIPER Taskforce, warrants were executed at addresses in Carlton, Port Melbourne, Yarraville, Cranbourne and Deer Park in January. A 34-year-old Port Melbourne man was arrested in Geelong at approximately 11am on Thursday 5 January with the assistance of the Special Operations Group. He was charged with a range of firearm offences including prohibited person possess firearm, conduct endanger life, theft of motor vehicle and commit indictable offence whilst on bail. He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January. A 24-year-old from Deer Park was arrested with the assistance of the Special Operations Group and was set to be interviewed by police. The activity follows an incident shortly after 7.20am on Saturday 24 December, when a silver Volkswagen Passat was being pursued by a stolen white Toyota RAV4 through the Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Coburg areas
Dash cam footage of the pursuit shows a Volkswagen Passat running a red light and veering onto the wrong side of the road, police said. Picture: VICTORIA POLICE and witnesses reported hearing gun shots. The Volkswagen, pursued by the Toyota, is captured on dashcam footage running a red light at the intersection of Buckley Street and Pascoe Vale Road in Essendon, veering onto the wrong side of the road, police said. It appears an occupant of the Toyota fired
several shots in the direction of the Volkswagen, which was later located on 31 December with a shattered rear windscreen which police believe was gunshot damage. Just before 7.30am, the stolen Toyota was travelling at high speed on the incorrect side of Bell Street in Coburg and disobeyed a red traffic signal, crashing head on into another motorist and ricocheting into several other vehicles. Four men fled from the scene, running south on Bruce Street in Pascoe Vale. A 23-year-old Cranbourne man was located alone a short time later and was arrested and charged with theft of motor vehicle and possess ammunition. A man from one of the vehicles struck was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Echo Taskforce detective acting inspector Ash Ryan appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact police. This includes a man with two small dogs who was standing at the traffic lights at the intersection of Buckley Street and Pascoe Vale Road in Essendon when it is believed the shots were fired.
Car stolen with toddler inside
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5940 2166 2 Tango Circuit Pakenham (off Commercial Drive) The arrests come after a car was stolen from a grocery store on Sunday, with a toddler inside. 253041
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Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives have arrested two men following the theft of a car with a toddler inside at Chelsea on Sunday 8 January. Detectives have arrested an 18-year-old Narre Warren man and a 20-year-old Clarinda man in a Frankston Shopping Centre just after midday today. Investigators have been told a grey Volkswagen SUV was parked outside a grocery store on Nepean Highway just before 4pm. It’s believed a man parked his car and left it running with his two-year-old boy inside while ducking into the shops before an unknown male got into the car and drove off. Officers were told offender left the child on Bath Street and fled the scene. The two men are currently assisting police with their enquiries and the investigation remains ongoing. The stolen grey Volkswagen SUV is yet to be located. Anyone who sights the car or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au
“These are rare incidents but any indiscriminate use of a firearm and dangerous driving in the presence of innocent civilians going about their morning is concerning,” detective acting inspector Ryan said. “We believe this was a targeted attack, but the danger it poses to the community is immense and we are lucky that other people were not seriously injured. “We will continue to use all available methods at our disposal in an effort to reduce the impact illicit firearms have on the community, remove these weapons from the hands of criminals and place offenders before the courts.” The white Toyota RAV4 was stolen from Thornbury between 19 and 20 November, 2022. If anyone has any information on this vehicle being used in other criminal offending, please speak to police. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information on the men involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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STAR NEWS 3
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NEWSMAKERS
Steps to business success By Shelby Brooks Local entrepreneurial women were inspired to take steps towards establishing their own businesses, thanks to a program held at Living and Learning Pakenham. The first of its kind program on microbusiness was taught to a group of multicultural women from Pakenham and surrounds. Having started in early August, Start, Run and Succeed in Business provides an opportunity for participants to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed as business owners and entrepreneurs. The course has been co-designed by Abiola Abjetombi and LLP for women from culturally diverse and marginalised backgrounds and will explore microbusinesses in Australia, including developing a business plan and understanding the legal requirements of running a business along with the mentor support to succeed. “This course is looking to understand microbusiness in Australia and how they can market their business and align it with Australian context,” Abiola said. “Participants will learn how to turn an idea into a successful business and how to work with other local businesses. “It’s a hands-on program – not only are they in class but they’ll also have field participation to ensure they have the skills and support they need to establish themselves and thrive.” Abiola is facilitating the 10-week program and is passionate about supporting women to increase their economic participation. “I’m very excited. I’m also from a migrant background myself so I’m very passionate about enabling other women to have opportunities,” she said.
Start, Run and Succeed in Business participants Sabreena Taqi, Jodie James, Lakshina Amith, Bukky Olaluwoye and Neda Khan. 296971 Picture: SHELBY BROOKS
We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building the Metro Tunnel. Taking our busiest train lines through a new tunnel under the city to run more trains to and from our suburbs. The City Loop will also be closed for upgrades. Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions and no City Loop trains City Loop
From 9pm 2 to 15 January
Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament stations closed
Cranbourne and Pakenham lines
4 to 13 January
Flinders St to Dandenong
8.30pm to last train, 8 and 12 January
Flinders St to Cranbourne and Pakenham
14 to 27 January
Flinders St to Westall
9 January to 1 February
Lane closures between Pound Road West and Carter Way
Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne
9 January to mid February
Intersection closed at Thompsons Road
Monash Freeway
11 to 25 January
Daytime lane closures between Warrigal Road and EastLink
15 to 19 January
Closed at Warrigal Road
Narre Warren North Road, Narre Warren North
12 to 25 January
Ernst Wanke Road and Narre Warren North Road intersection closed
Princes Freeway
15 to 24 January
Closed between Princes Highway and Beaconsfield interchange
Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South
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Road disruptions: Closed roads and lanes
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2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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ScoMo spruiks upgrades Hot on the election campaign in May, then prime minister Scott Morrison shared birthday cake and roti with volunteers at an Officer Sikh temple. Mr Morrison visited the Officer Sikh Gurdwara ‘Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (SGND)’ on Saturday 14 May to help La Trobe candidate Jason Wood announce a Liberal election promise of $500,000 for security upgrades to both Officer Gurdwara and Pakenham Gurudwaraand. While at the Gurdwara, Mr Morrison spent time in the community kitchen where he learnt the cultural way to prepare the community meal ‘langar’, especially the Indian bread ‘roti’. The PM was also given a birthday cake to celebrate his 54th birthday the day before. In a Facebook post, Mr Morrison thanked the Gurdwara for the “warm welcome”. “A special thank you as well for the cake to celebrate my birthday, which was yesterday. Great to get some tips on how to make a good roti bread too,” he said. Officer Gurdwara spokesperson Harpreet Kandra said Mr Morrison was able to connect with multicultural communities in the La Trobe electorate during his visit. Mr Kandra described the temple as the “youngest Gurdwara in Victoria”, having opened only three and a half years ago. He spoke of the several social cohesion and community wellbeing activities organised by Officer Sikh Temple. “Many kids welcomed all dignitaries with flowers that had thank you messages attached to the stem,” Mr Kandra said of the visit. “The dignitaries were thanked for Federal funding to realise several projects such as the multipurpose room, kids play area, library and organic farm.”
Then prime minister Scott Morrison visited Officer Gurudwara on Saturday 14 May.
Picture: SUPPLIED
Students bring a splash of colour to construction site ate the imagery and make the areas inclusive and accessible for all.” Level Crossing Removal Project program director Andrew Pepplinkhouse said by building an elevated rail line, the project would create new safe, green open space where there was once a railway line. “The construction team would like to thank the Beaconhills College students for their work in creating this artwork,” he said. “We’ve been really impressed with the level of enthusiasm and understanding the students had of the project.” The level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road are being removed by building an elevated rail bridge over the roads. The 2.5km rail bridge will unlock more than six MCGs’ worth of open space under the rail line, which the community can enjoy for generations to come.
Beaconhills College students Briana, Alliyah, Flynn, Zac, Luka and Daisy with their artwork. Picture: SUPPLIED 12427750-CG39-19
Students at Beaconhills College and the construction team from the Pakenham level crossing removal project joined forces to make artwork. The level crossing project team spoke with around 90 students from Beaconhills College in Pakenham about the project earlier this year and asked them to draw things they like to do in the open space underneath the rail bridges. Since then, the Grade 4 students have put their imaginations to work and came up with some brilliant artwork, which now adorns the Pakenham Station construction site, for all to see. The students came up with creative ideas including skate parks, food trucks, mini-golf, virtual reality rooms and cafes. “Using a real-life example of a project happening in the community made it meaningful to the students,” Beaconhills College Grade 4 coordinator Nicola Grierson said. “They had a lot of fun, collaborating to cre-
Visit OPSM Berwick today Ph: 9707 5556 Work on the Pakenham level crossing removal project is continuing. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
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STAR NEWS 5
2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
Jack Rae sits high in the saddle, pictured in 2008. 20218
Jack with siblings Thelma and Bert.
Jack Rae presents a trophy at the Berwick Show.
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John Follett and Jack Rae at the cattle saleyards preserved in Jack Rae Pavilion at Greaves Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Reserve, Dandenong. 197282
Narre Warren North State School Young Farmers Club competition in 1937, from left, Cr George Rae MBE, Roy Fox, Don Randle, Fred Rae, Jack Rae, Thelma Rae, Robert Allen and Ian Mills. Picture courtesy of Max Thomas, published in the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society book Oak Trees and Hedges.
Legend’s legacy
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
From page 1 He had “exceptional” judgement of animals, and got involved in every section of the show “whether it was horses, sheep, cattle, arts and crafts”. “He encouraged a lot of young people to be part of the show scene and in the community in general. “He was known throughout the community. If he didn’t know of the family, they would know of him.” In 2018, the Dandenong Show Society named its heritage cattle sale ring, the Jack Rae OAM Pavilion. Mr Rae had been instrumental in saving the sale ring, signage and other relics after Dandenong’s stock markets were closed in 1998. Similarly, a new building at the Akoonah Park showgrounds in Berwick was also bestowed Mr Rae’s name in 2021, to recognise his 60 year volunteer effort to establish and vitalise the park. “Jack wasn’t a man to seek glory but the committee convinced him we wanted to name a new building after him that he was heavily involved in establishing,” said Akoonah Park manager Gayle Joyce. “Without the wisdom of Jack and his leadership within the various committees he has chaired, we’d never have seen the development, nor the financial stability to allow the ongoing maintenance of this beautiful reserve.” Mr Rae’s work with Akoonah Park goes back to the 1950s, when the late George Wilson and Berwick Show Society members convinced the State Government to create the area now known as Akoonah Park as a reserve for public purposes and showgrounds, according to Mr Lucas. “A committee of management was formed headed by Narre Warren farmer John Lloyd. The earthworks, tree removal, blackberry removal, building construction and other operations to establish the reserve took more than a decade,” he said. “Jack Rae was heavily involved in these works as a volunteer. As part of the transfer of assets from Buchanan Park to Akoonah Park, Jack drove a truck transporting a shed, over the Berwick Hill to Akoonah Park.”
Jack Rae and local Berwick identity Neil Lucas officially open the new Akoonah Park pavilion. Picture: OSCAR PARRY His commitment to the park was part of his agricultural commitment to seeing the land improve, according to Mrs Joyce. “He was always striving to provide better facilities for the [Berwick] Show and that drove the development of the park,” she said. When the Berwick Show moved from Buchanan Park to its present site, Mr Rae was involved in transporting the show’s rotunda. He was also part of setting up the flourishing Akoonah Park Men’s Shed. Akoonah Park Men’s Shed committee member and former president Lindsay Harding credits Mr Rae, along with former Berwick mayor John Byron, with the success of the shed. “Jack was an unbelievable supporter of the Men’s Shed…[he] was in many ways one of our saviours,” Mr Harding said. “He was very instrumental in the Akoonah Park Committee meetings in pushing the ideas of the Men’s Shed. “When we decided to increase the size of a single shed to two, he was all for it, and when we asked for a third shed he was able to make that happen as well. “For that, we’re forever indebted and we’ll always remember Jack for that.” In July 2022, as the shed celebrated its 10year anniversary, a 94 year-old Rae was in attendance to offer his congratulations and well wishes. “He had a great empathy for the City of
Casey and he gave the community a hell of a big run of his life and we are all the more benefit of that time he spent here,” Mr Harding said. Outside of the City of Casey, Mr Rae’s strong affiliation with the Royal Melbourne Show is not without mentioning. He was ringmaster for close to 11 years, a member of the Feline Control Committee, Pig Committee, Horse Committee, Poultry Committee, Caged Birds Committee, Show Girl Commitee, Heritage Committee and Chief Steward of the Dairy cattle. Speaking to Melbourne Royal virtual Museums, he reflected on his show days, stating: “I started with the Dairy Cattle Committee, and coincidentally, I finished up with the Dairy Cattle Committee. “I’m very pleased, after having been through the various avenues, it was nice to finish up where you started.” In 1992, Mr Rae was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for “service to primary industry, particularly the Royal Agricultural Society”. Other local activities in which Jack has been involved include the Narre Warren North Fire Brigade where he served as both captain and president, president of the South Belgrave Football Club, Justice of the Peace for 46 years, and Life Member of the Honorary Justices Association. He was farewelled at a memorial service in his own Jack Rae Pavilion at Akoonah Park on Saturday 17 December. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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Rubbish plagues lily pond By Shelby Brooks Locals expressed their sadness that a picturesque Pakenham pond had become a “litter infected wasteland” after years of apparent neglect. Duncan Drive’s lily pond was a jewel in Pakenham’s crown when it opened over 30 years ago. But according to passionate local advocate Cheryl Billing Smith, the pond is an “eyesore”. “Once upon a time, the Henty family, one of Victoria’s first families came to Pakenham and in their wisdom they developed this lily pond,” Ms Billing Smith said. “In its hay day it was magnificent, however, as is the usual modus operandum of Cardinia Shire Council it is now a neglected, overgrown, weed and litter infected wasteland.” Ms Billing Smith told Star News she was saddened to visit the pond recently and see the mud, rubbish and weeds. “It could have been a jewel in our crown, it could have been a destination for garden lovers, it could have been a fitting tribute and fitting memorial to Victoria’s first family, the Henty’s that gave so much,” she said. “And what do we do to repay their gift? We neglect it, we mismanage it and we ignore it. “Perhaps in neglecting it and mismanaging it council staff and councillors hope that we won’t notice that they leave it to rot and then fill it in and develop the site with more houses, units and shops.” A Cardinia Shire spokesperson said the lily pond was maintained by the shire. “The council maintains the front nature strip mowing and the vegetated swale that runs parallel along Duncan Drive,” they said. “The council has plans to complete some
The northern end of the lily pond, near Templeton Crescent. 280607 tree works and replanting along the banks in the new financial year. “The council is currently working on a project with Pakenham Secondary College to
beautify the north eastern corner of the lily pond which is the area under their management. The school has scheduled future works and students will be interacting with the lily
pond as part of their curriculum studies.” Previously, the shire had described the pond as being of “continuing historical significance”.
The Victorian Government is making it easier for families to find a three and four-year old kinder learning program they can count on.
LED BY A QUALIFIED QUA TEACHER TEA The K Kinder Tick recog recognises kinder prog d programs that are led by a qualifi q r. ed teacher.
LOOK FOR THE KINDER TICK
P PLAY-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM L M I highlights kindergartens and It d llong day care centres that o offer play-based programs to h help children learn and grow, b before they start school.
FU FUNDED AND APPROVED BY A THE VICTORIAN TH GOVERNMENT G It a also identifies se services that are ap approved for Victorian G Go Government funding.
Find out more at vic.gov.au/kindertick
12585029-HC02-23
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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STAR NEWS 7
2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
NEWSMAKERS
Locals rebuff landfill plan By Eleanor Wilson The message was simple for a group of about 200 locals who assembled at the entrance to the Hallam Road Landfill on Saturday, 12 November. ‘We say no.’ Signs, banners and passionate voices came out in hundreds to oppose the proposal of the draft Hampton Park Hill Development Plan. The draft plan, which was announced for public consultation by Casey Council in 2022, sets out the future for the land on the site of the Hampton Park Landfill, which is set to reach capacity in coming years. The landfill site was identified by the State Government, through the State-wide Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan (Sustainability Victoria, 2018), as a significant site for waste and resource recovery. Eighty-five hectares of public open space reserve is proposed to replace the tip when it reaches capacity in the next 10 years. But also proposed is a waste transfer station, which according to plans, would operate for up to 18 hours a day, transporting waste out of the site in B-double trucks between 12am and 6pm on weekdays. The proposal came as a shock to local residents, like resident Kim Murphy, who bought her Lynbrook house in 2002, said she was told that the tip would fill in the next five years and would then be repatriated into parkland. Residents have also raised concerns over the 500-metre overlay buffer applied to houses within the buffer zone, potentially impacting house prices and development prospects. “The community has suffered with the smell [of the tip] in the hope we would get this beautiful parkland, but instead what we are getting is 30-plus years of torment,” Mrs Murphy said. “We’re not going to rest until we’ve tried
Protesters outside Hallam Road landfill. 307447 every single avenue to protect the five communities that are impacted by this tip.” She said Saturday’s protest was peaceful, but powerful. “There was a lot of frustration from the community. It was about letting everyone who needs to hear it know that we’ve had enough of living with the tip on our back door steps. “We organised this protest in eight days and the community got 5500 flyers out in that time... I’d love to thank all the people in the community that helped get the word out in
Peter Rabbit
Picture: GARY SISSONS such a short period of time. “I could not be more proud of our community for standing up for their future.” Along with residents from Narre Warren North, Cranbourne North, Hampton Park, Lynbrook and Lyndhurst, local state election candidates from the Liberal Party, Freedom Party, Australian Greens and Liberal Democrats were in attendance to offer their support. “We could not be happier that these candidates actually identified what a massive issue this is for our community,” Mrs Murphy said.
“There was a stand out [party] that was not there, which is really disappointing.” In a statement, a spokesperson from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) said the Victorian Government’s statewide focus is a transition toward waste transfer, resource recovery and recycling in line with circular economy goals. City of Casey council officers recently completed a review of 1068 submissions to its draft plan for the landfill, 99 per cent of which are objections, according to the council.
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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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STAR NEWS 9
2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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Morland’s legacy lives on By Garry Howe
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The legacy of long-serving City of Casey councilor Mick Morland is marked subliminally in many a corner of the municipality. He donned the mayoral robes to officially open the Casey Arc Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Narre Warren and turned the first sod to start the build nearby of Bunjil Place. They are among the bigger ticket projects that carry his name on a plaque if you look hard enough. There would be countless more across the region where the contribution he made might not necessarily be recognised. Now there’s a place where his legacy will live on forever. Mick was lost to his family and the community in June 2017 when struck by a car and killed near his Berwick home. On Saturday 7 May, almost five years after that tragic event, his widow Kay and family members joined former council colleagues, administrators and friends at the official opening of the Mick Morland Legacy Link and Recreation Reserve in Clyde North. The link is a dedicated walkway between the Manna Gum Community Centre, Cardinia Creek and the recreation reserve, home to the Berwick Springs football, netball and cricket clubs and the Melbourne Flash Sports Club. Inscribed on the pathway are the words Community, Participation, Sport and Nature all synonymous with Mick’s contribution over the years. Casey’s chair of administrators, Noelene Duff, said the Mick Morland Reserve, located in the Kilora Park Estate, was an important community hub that celebrated the support he demonstrated throughout his life for
Kay Morland and members of the Morland family with the plaque that will adorn the new Mick Morland Recreation Reserve. Back row, from left, Luke Morland, Stephanie Morland, Kobe Evans, Brett Evans, Logan Evans, middle row Lisa Morland, Damon Evans, Samantha Albrey, Tom Sanders and front row Kay Morland, Max Morland Allison Sanders, Charlotte Morland and Rebecca Sanders. sporting clubs, the community and nature conservation. “The reserve forms part of the council endorsed ‘Mick Morland Legacy Link’, connect-
ing the new community centre, recreation reserve and Cardinia Creek, an important recreation, conservation, and ecologically significant site,” Ms Duff said.
“Located in one of Australia’s fasted growing suburbs, this reserve will be a valuable recreation space that will support community activity and connectedness - ideals that were championed by Mick Morland throughout his life.” Kay Morland said it was a fitting tribute to her late husband and the work he had done in the community. “This precinct encompasses the things Mick was passionate about during his years on council - community, sport and the environment. He would be humbled, and our family is very grateful, that the City of Casey has chosen to honour his contribution in this way,” Kay said. She explained that Mick was actively involved in the community from the time he moved to Narre Warren, before he was elected to council. Like many parents he immersed himself in the kindergarten committee, the school council at Narre Warren Station Primary, the little athletics club as a coach and at the Narre Warren Junior Football Club, where he held the positions of president, secretary and coach over a decade. “In fact, it was his involvement with the Narre Warren Junior Football Club and his concern about their relocation to Sweeney Reserve that triggered his running for council with the City of Berwick in the first place,” she said. “I have absolutely no idea how many community groups and committees Mick served on during his time on council - mind you, if he were here he could tell you exactly how many and I’ve no doubt name each one of them but I do know that he was on the council’s environment committee since its inception.
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Noelene Duff and Kay Morland cut the ribbon to officially open the Mick Morland Legacy Link in Clyde North. 279913 “Mick’s involvement in all of these things is reflected in the Mick Morland Legacy Link by the community centre, the primary school and the recreation reserve linking to the Cardinia Creek Conservation Corridor. All of which makes the naming of this area for him extremely appropriate and very special. “We know how much he cared about the city he lived in and the many communities that
make up that city. He would be very proud to have his commitment and contribution to the quality of life for the citizens of his community recognised in this way.” Kay acknowledged Casey CEO Glenn Patterson, active communities manager Angie Peresso, events manager Vicky Goodwin and other who helped make the tribute a reality. She also acknowledged the Rotary Club
NEWSMAKERS
A bird sculpture is a feature of the Mick Morland Recreation Reserve.
of Berwick - of which Mick was a long-term member - for its generous donation of a seat on the far side of the oval which would eventually be canopied by a native oak tree. Gembrook MP Brad Battin and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale both spoke of Mick’s contribution to the community. Mr Battin said it was a shame the Berwick Springs Titans didn’t wear the yellow and black
of Mick Morland’s beloved Richmond Tigers when gracing the field named in his honour. But he did have a good idea to enhance to the legacy - a yearly clash for the Mick Morland Cup, with proceeds going to the Rotary Club to invest into worthwhile community projects. Mick was first elected to the then City of Berwick in 1992 and served for six terms as a councillor in the Edrington Ward.
FOCUS ON … SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Come and experience Walhalla Goldfields Railway Spend an unforgettable day with the family at Walhalla Goldfields Railway. Relax and take in the breathtaking views as the train winds its way through the spectacular Stringers Gorge on what is considered one of the country’s most picturesque rail journeys. Departing the historic Walhalla Station on your one-hour journey you will travel through the station yards with the sheer, stunning cliff
face on one side and the winding Stringers Creek on the other side. Winding through the gorge past Happy Creek Station on your way towards Thomson Station you cross seven bridges which in themselves are a marvel of engineering before reaching the spectacular Thomson River bridge. Upon arrival at Thomson Station passen-
gers disembark and have the opportunity to peruse the station and surroundings before reboarding for your return journey. For young train buffs, we also offer a Ride in the Cab Experience for a small extra fee. Get up front and experience a different perspective from the vantage point of the locomotive cab. See the amazing track work and bridges and
chat to our knowledgeable crew along the way. Make Walhalla Goldfields Railway your next family day out. Trains depart Walhalla at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday weekly, and daily during school holidays. Bookings can be made at walhallarail.com.au Call 5165 6280 for more information.
See the amazing track work and bridges.
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STAR NEWS 11
2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ... PAKENHAM OFFICER
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Kids bring book to life
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Work’s tragic toll
for our young people.” Cardinia Shire Council has committed $1.8 million towards this project, in addition to the Victorian Government’s $3 million commitment from the Growing Suburbs Fund and $1.5 million from the Australian Government as part of the Community Health and Hospitals Program. Continued page 3
JASON
alleged criminal act. Of them, 63 were male and three female. The fatality toll was down from 73 in the previous year. Manufacturing was the deadliest industry with 14 fatalities, followed by construction with 13 deaths and agriculture, forestry and fishing with nine. WorkSafe chief executive Colin Radford said these industries would continue to be targeted by WorkSafe inspectors. “It’s simply unacceptable that we are seeing the same industries feature prominently in workplace deaths and serious injuries year after year,” he said. “WorkSafe is committed to working towards a future where no one loses their life at work, including by taking strong enforcement
action against those ignoring their health and safety obligations.” Long-term contact with chemicals or substances was the leading cause of death. Among the 12 fatalities, five related to asbestos and four to crystalline silica. Falls from height led to nine deaths, falling objects killed eight workers and vehicle accidents seven. The deaths of four workers were related to Covid-19. Vehicles and machinery were involved in 21 fatalities and were the most dangerous workplace hazards. More than two-thirds of the workers killed were aged 45 or older. The youngest was an eight-year-old boy – among three members of the public to die in a workplace incident.
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location was ideal for young people as it was close to public transport, local skate parks and shopping areas. “It’s important we plan for the future and in particular for the future of our young people,” she said. “The current youth centre is an absolutely fantastic service but it’s bursting at the seams! We can’t wait to have the new centre available 12497982-JW24-21
shower and laundry facility, recording booth, computers with internet access and a roof-top recreation space. Services and programs will support young people to build resilience, re-engage in education, training and work opportunities, improve relationships, and provide timely access to expert specialist services. Henty Ward Councillor Carol Ryan said the
Four people lost their lives at workplaces within the Cardinia Shire in 2021 - the equal highest toll in the state, according to WorkSafe data. WorkSafe has declared the state’s workplace death toll “unacceptable”, totalling 66 for the year. The Southern Metropolitan Area, which includes Cardinia, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula, also recorded the most workplace deaths (10) in the state. The region had the most WorkSafe injury claims totalling 3877, with 1233 in Greater Dandenong alone. Across Victoria, there were 66 lives lost at work in 2021 – 43 from workplace incidents, 14 from disease, five in transport accidents, three in medical incidents and one in an
Mr Radford urged Victorians to “reflect on the lasting impact of a workplace tragedy”. “Hundreds of families, loved ones and colleagues left devastated by a death that could have been prevented. “It’s difficult to imagine the indescribable pain they are feeling. “Out of respect for those we have lost and their families, it is time we said enough. “There is simply no excuse for cutting corners when it comes to workplace safety.” Mr Radford said many others were dealing with the pain and suffering from serious and often life-changing injuries suffered at work. “We need every workplace to take the time to properly assess their health and safety risks and plan how to eliminate or manage them, because failing to do so can lead to tragedy.”
JASON
Changes are being made to the Casey Cardinia Foundation, which will potentially be known solely as the Cardinia Foundation. The foundation is making the decision to transition to a Cardinia-only body to help strengthen not for profit organisations in the community. Director Paul Thomas said the board has yet to approve the new direction that will transform the foundation. “Throughout the pandemic, like most organisations that are philanthropic, the foundation has had little to no opportunities to carry out fundraising - we have continued our grants process so the funds have been going out, but we haven’t really had monies coming in because our fundraising was mainly through events,” Mr Thomas said. “We took the opportunity to go through a strategic review over the last couple years. “The review indicated we need to fund the organisation properly to ensure we’re able to fundraise to the level we need to, and ultimately give out significant funds to the community. “We will have significant support from the Cardinia Shire.” Cardinia Shire councillor Jack Kowarzik said it was important to continue to provide the foundation with financial support. “By reinvigorating the foundation we can work with philanthropists in the community. “With the completion of this strategic review, it would be short sighted to wrap up the foundation.” Casey joined the foundation in 2013 but is choosing to make an exit as they reevaluate their focus and undergo changes within
The Henty Lily Pond on Duncan Drive. 280607
Lily pond lament By Shelby Brooks Locals have expressed their sadness that a picturesque Pakenham pond has become a “litter infected wasteland” after years of apparent neglect. Duncan Drive’s lily pond was a jewel in Pakenham’s crown when it opened over 30 years ago. But now, according to passionate local advocate Cheryl Billing Smith, the pond is an “eyesore”. “Once upon a time, the Henty family, one of Victoria’s first families came to Pakenham and in their wisdom they developed this lily pond,” Ms Billing Smith said. “In its hay day it was magnificent, however, as is the usual modus operandum of Cardinia Shire Council it is now a neglected, overgrown, weed and litter infected wasteland.” Ms Billing Smith told Star News she was saddened to visit the pond recently and see the mud, rubbish and weeds. “It could have been a jewel in our crown, it could have been a destination for garden lovers, it could have been a fitting tribute and fitting memorial to Victoria’s first family, the Henty’s that gave so much,” she said. “And what do we do to repay their gift? We neglect it, we mismanage it and we ignore it. “Perhaps in neglecting it and mismanaging
Casey Cardinia Foundation director Paul Thomas says the foundation may be shifting its focus to Cardinia only. 198803 their own organisation. The foundation currently has an annual grants process and is required to give back four per cent of its assets. If approved by the board, the foundation will only give out to Cardinia based organisations. Mr Thomas said once the changes are approved, the foundation will be able to operate at a whole new level. “It will mean we can make a difference to Cardinia organisations through our grants process,” Mr Thomas said. “There was an argument that we were spreading ourselves too thin and this will hone us in to a smaller territory. “Cardinia is growing at such a rapid rate so we can concentrate on some significant projects that really can make a difference in the community.” Cardinia Shire Council will provide financial support to the foundation for the first five years, with the goal to grow the foundation to a point where it will be able to run on its own.
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Youth hope grows Cardinia Mayor Jeff Springfield joined Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and La Trobe Federal MP Jason Wood for a sod turning ceremony at the site the new Cardinia Youth Hub in Pakenham on Thursday 27 January. The Hub will offer programs and services for young people aged 12 to 24, with dedicated training/class rooms, counselling rooms, a program/group room, hang out space, a
Picture: ROB CAREW
A dried out area pond. 280607
A dumped scooter. 280607
Beaconhills College student Ruby Thornton-Mackay has been chosen to perform at Top Class for VCE Dance. Picture: SUPPLIED
Dancer takes centre stage Ruby Thornton-Mackay’s 13 years of dance training has paid off, being named one of the best students who undertook VCE Dance in 2021. Ruby has been selected to perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre later this month as part of Top Class VCE Season of Excellence, managed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The season presents 11 concerts by
outstanding VCE performing arts students who have completed; Music Performance, Music Investigation, Music Style and Composition, VCE VET Music Industry, Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies. Ruby said she was grateful to have received the honour of performing her skillsbased dance solo which she choreographed as part of her extermination for the subject last year. Read more on page 2
JASON
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Rosie Hopgood admires works in the What’s On Cardinia Showcase Exhibition. 269490
The What’s On Cardinia Festival is in full swing with many different art, entertainment and business experiences on offer. One of the stand out events is the What’s On Cardinia Showcase held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, which sees local artists’ works on display until 20 March. Exhibitor Wayne Ryan is not only showcasing his sculpture works but also took time to demonstrate his craft on Wednesday 23 February. Read more on page 5
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Students, parents and teachers alike were thrilled to return to the classroom from Monday 31 January for a new school year. Hardly a tear was shed as prep students at Pakenham Hills Primary School began their educational journey, principal Dale Hendricks said. “It’s nice to have them back, remote learning was difficult, so this is lovely,” he said. “The kids are happy to be back. What has come out of remote learning is that kids have become more independent, it’s the new norm.” As part of a plan announced on January 23 to keep education settings open, the Victorian Government delivered more than 14 million rapid antigen tests to schools and early childhood education and care services. Rapid antigen testing will be in place for at least the first four weeks of Term 1. Testing twice-weekly at home will be recommended for all primary and secondary school students and staff, and early childhood education and care staff. Mask wearing will continue, with students in Grade 3 and above required to wear masks indoors. More photos page 7
Patience learnt to build some exciting shapes in prep at Pakenham Hills. 266504
Shift in focus
What’s On Festival in full swing
By Shelby Brooks
Rubbish in the water. 280607 it council staff and councillors hope that we won’t notice that they leave it to rot and then fill it in and develop the site with more houses, units and shops.” A Cardinia Shire spokesperson said the lily pond was maintained by the shire. “The council maintains the front nature strip mowing and the vegetated swale that runs parallel along Duncan Drive,” they said. “The council has plans to complete some tree works and replanting along the banks in
the new financial year. “The council is currently working on a project with Pakenham Secondary College to beautify the north eastern corner of the lily pond which is the area under their management. The school has scheduled future works and students will be interacting with the lily pond as part of their curriculum studies.” Previously, the shire had described the pond as being of “continuing historical significance”.
In 2010, the council’s biodiversity officer Karen Muscat said major attractions of the pond are the lilies that were planted in the early 1900s for commercial harvesting. The same year, Cardinia Shire Council released the Draft Henty Lily Pond Management Plan. Ms Billing Smith is hoping other locals will jump onto the cause to save the lily pond. In a Facebook post she made on the Pakenham Noticeboard, Ms Billing Smith said she was “annoyed, frustrated and angry at the inaction” to save it. “We have a major historical landmark, a beautiful draw card, it could be so beautiful, the environment and the community house has been ignored, neglected and mismanaged,” she said. Others agreed. “This was such a beautiful area, play groups and functions at lily pond house, a lovely place for a walk. It’s a shame the families living in the area and beyond cannot see how lovely it once was,” Ange Reid said. Ranee Maree Gibbs said: “I remember I used to live just a minute walk away from this once beautiful pond. So sad at how the upkeep has been neglected.” “Oh how horrible,” Allison Braden said. “I remember celebrating special events there when it was so beautiful.”
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WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE
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Neighbourhood battery for Cardinia
Voters in droves By Hugh Pearson
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Independent candidate for Pakenham Brett Owen has been handing out his how to vote cards every day since early voting opened on Monday. Pictures: HUGH PEARSON
Labor Party volunteers handing out how to vote cards for Pakenham candidate Emma Vulin.
A volunteer for the Australian Greens in attendance handing out how to vote cards.
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Event election promise
Trending art show in Pakenham The latest trends in the art world are on display in Cardinia Art Society’s current exhibition. The Trending Art Show, currently being held at Cardinia Cultural Centre, is an exhibition of contemporary art that highlights the latest trends and gives artists an opportunity to display their most creative works. The gift shop also also proved popular, with 1500 items for sale. About 90 artists, including many new artists, are exhibiting about 270 works in the exhibition, showcasing trends like sculpture, flow art, resin and mixed media.
Families across Cardinia Shire are relishing the remaining days left of school holidays before the return to Term 3 and a free digital art interactive display at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham has been a hit. Titled Creature, the immersive experience tells a tale of the Australian bush and is a wondrous play space for both young and old audiences to educate and rediscover their natural surroundings. STORY PAGE 2
Jillian Ronald with her artwork Woolen Tails. 300688 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Plea for parkland Cardinia Shire councillors have slammed the Department of Environment Land Water Planning (DELWP) for not committing funding to link 600Ha of parkland between Beaconsfield and Clyde. Located on the traditional Country of the Bunurong land, the Cardinia Creek Regional Parklands would link much-loved existing parks including Cardinia Creek Regional Park
and Grasmere Wetlands, Akoonah Park, Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve, Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve, Beaconsfield Park, Manna Gum Park, Mick Morland and Bob Burgess Reserve. The parklands have been gradually established over the past 20 years, with hopes to acquire additional land by 2040 to link the parks that weave along Cardinia Creek in both Cardinia and Casey municipalities. It would see the parklands stretch along
more than 18km on both sides of the Cardinia Creek and provide a continuous chain of parks and reserves with ecological, cultural and community benefits for the region In a Cardinia Shire meeting on Monday 26 September, councillors endorsed the future directions plan for the parkland but expressed their disappointment the plan did not include a funding commitment from project lead, DELWP. Councillor Collin Ross was among those
who noted the absence of funding from DELWP. “This isn’t cheap if you do things properly,” he said. “[DELWP] have pointed out everything we need to do, and we would love to do them and we’ve been in partnership with them in forming this plan, but it appears without the funding commitment written into the final plan we could get left holding the booty on this.” Continued page 2
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By Shelby Brooks and Eleanor Wilson
INTRODUCING OUR NEW DOCTOR
Genevieve and Sarra from Pakenham have fun at the digital art display at the Cardinia Cultural Centre. 288628 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
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Racing to beat cancer
ScoMo Sikhs in By Shelby Brooks Hot on the election campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shared birthday cake and roti with volunteers at an Officer Sikh temple. The PM visited the Officer Sikh Gurdwara ‘Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (SGND)’ on Saturday 14 May to help La Trobe candidate Jason Wood announce a Liberal election promise of $500,000 for security upgrades to both Officer Gurdwara and Pakenham Gurudwaraand. If elected, the funding will ensure the temples are safer for all users by upgrading new lighting, fencing and ensuring there is CCTV as well as improving overall accessibility. La Trobe MP Jason Wood said he was proud to have secured the funding promise. “The Prime Minister has been very clear about our government’s commitment to protecting places of worship in Australia, particularly after the tragic events in Christchurch,“ he said. “In my capacity as the Federal Member but also the Assistant Minister for Community Safety, I want to thank the entire Gurudwara for their support of our wider Australian community, these upgrades will be welcome by many!” While at the Gurdwara, the PM spent time in the community kitchen where he learnt the cultural way to prepare the community meal ‘langar’, especially the Indian bread ‘roti’. The PM was also given a birthday cake to celebrate his 54th birthday the day before. In a Facebook post, Mr Morrison thanked the Gurdwara for the “warm welcome”. “A special thank you as well for the cake to celebrate my birthday, which was yesterday. Great to get some tips on how to make a good roti bread too,” he said. Officer Gurdwara spokesperson Harpreet Kandra said the PM was able to connect with multicultural communities in the La Trobe electorate during his visit. Mr Kandra described the temple as the
Upkar Singh presents ‘Sacred siropa of honour’ to Alex Hawke.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Officer Gurudwara on Saturday 14 May.
Mr Morrison gave a speech at the temple.
“youngest Gurdwara in Victoria”, having opened only three and a half years ago. He spoke of the several social cohesion and community wellbeing activities organised by Officer Sikh Temple. “Many kids welcomed all dignitaries with flowers that had thank you messages attached to the stem,” Mr Kandra said of the visit. “The dignitaries were thanked for Federal funding to realise several projects such as the multipurpose room, kids play area, library and organic farm.” Scott Morrison celebrates his birthday with cake alongside Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke and Sikh volunteer Raj Pahwa.
Mr Morrison prepares roti in the community kitchen.
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Rates hike pain By Jamie Salter The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is lifting interest rates for the second time in weeks, placing more strain on home owners and renters alike. The big four banks are following suit, with Commonwealth Bank lifting its mortgage rates by 1.4 percent points and NAB by hiking fixed rates by up to 1.10 percentage points. RateCity research director Sally Tindall said CBA and NAB were not hiking in isolation. “ANZ, Macquarie and HSBC have all made
WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest
sizeable fixed rate hikes in the last fortnight and we expect others will follow,” Ms Tindall said. “The banks are responding to the rising cost of fixed-rate funding, but they’re also factoring in market expectations the cash rate will go beyond the RBA suggested neutral cash rate of 2.50 per cent.” Casey North CISS executive officer Susan Magee has noticed an increase in people seeking support and said it won’t just be home owners who will be struggling. “The cost of food, fuel and utility bills has
gone up and we’re seeing people who cannot afford to cover rent and there’s no alternative for them,” she said. “If mortgage rates go up then that’s going to flow on to the tenant.” Ms Magee said there continues to be insufficient public and social housing in the City of Casey and surrounding suburbs. “Mortgage interest rates wouldn’t affect those people because they’d be in government or public housing,” she said. After more than two years of Covid-19, CISS has found people of an older age group con12552371-AI23-22
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One Nation candidate Angela Siladji was in Officer handing out her how to vote cards for the state election.
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Thousands of Cardinia residents have made their way to Officer to cast their votes for the state election. Early voting commenced on Monday 14 November after the ballot paper orders were confirmed last Friday. In the first two days of early voting, approximately 3000 people in the Cardinia Shire had cast their vote. Pakenham candidates and volunteers were out in force to hand out their how to vote cards in hopes to be elected to the seat of Pakenham. Independent candidate Brett Owen has been at the Officer early voting centre handing out his how to vote every day since Monday. “What I’m trying to do with this whole prepolling is be here myself and speak to people and explain why I’m standing from Pakenham,” Mr Owen said. “I think people want to see their candidate and who they’re voting for and have those conversations so I think it’s really important for candidates to be here.” One Nation candidate Angela Siladji was also in attendance handing out her how to vote cards. Like Mr Owen, Ms Siladji has been handing out her how to vote cards from morning to night. “This is day three and I have been here from the moment it opens to the moment it closes,” Ms Siladji said. “As a candidate I believe it’s important I get to meet all they locals and they know who is here as a representative for One Nation. “I think it’s important to put a face to a name and that way if they have any questions in regards to our policies or things like that, I’m able to answer and it also shows my commitment to do the hard work.” Previously, voters were only allowed to vote early if they had reasons for why they weren’t able to on election day, such as if they were travelling out of state. However, the Victorian Electoral Commission has changed who can vote early, allowing anyone to vote before election day if they would like to.
tinue to struggle to get reemployed. A single adult who receives JobSeeker support will get a maximum fortnightly payment of $642.70, a single parent is entitled to $691 while partners will earn$585.30. With the rising cost of rent and energy costs during winter, the payments are not enough for many struggling families. In March 2022, the Victorian Housing Register received a total of 64,304 applications for social housing. About 19 per cent of priority applicants can wait up to two years for public housing.
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2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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Bunjil welcomes Archibald By Marcus Uhe Bunjil Place Gallery opened its doors to art lovers on 3 September for the prestigious and popular Archibald Prize, with 52 portraits on display of featuring figures and cultural identities from all walks of life. The Archibald Prize is recognised as Australia’s favourite and most significant art award with more than 800 portraits judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in the long-running prize established in 1921. The display at Bunjil Place Gallery featured 2022 Archibald Prize winner Blak Douglas with his portrait of Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens, titled ‘Moby Dickens’, along with Packing Room Prize winner Claus Stangl with his portrait of director, writer, actor and producer Taika Waititi. Mr Blak’s portrait of Ms Dickens, who he described as a ‘tidda’ (Indigenous term for sister) to him on the back of a long-term friendship, depicts her in the flood waters that ravaged her home town of Lismore in Northern New South Wales earlier this year.
“She’s one of the pre-eminent female firstnations artists today,” Mr Blak said. “We have known each other for a long time. I admire her work as much as she admires mine. “She lives in northern part of Lismore on top of a hill. “While she was safe from the immediate effect, she watched all the waters rise around her.” The piece, which took seven days for the artist to create, is a broader critique on what he believed to be a failure of the Federal Government in response to climate change catastrophes. The ‘layered’ design allows Ms Dickens to “pop” off the canvas, Mr Blak said, with her striking, angry facial expression catching the eye of the viewer. “I had this three-by-two metre canvas, which is the absolute extremities on the criteria acceptable for the Archibald,” Mr Blak said. “What that enabled me to achieve was the effect of the flood waters. That’s two metres of
water on this canvas, so it’s a good way of representing the 16 metres of water that affected the area.” The 2022 crown is Mr Blak’s first victory in the Archibald competition from his fifth submission. The Indigenous self-taught artist begun producing work in Western Sydney in the late ‘90s, with many pieces underscored by political commentary. “I was planning on taking a leisurely walk around Centennial Park in Sydney, which was where the image was taken, and I nearly crashed the car into the tree when I got the phone call,” Mr Blak said upon learning of his victory. “As I’ve been colloquially stating, I walk taller, and those who never paid me the time of day now have to look up to me.” As the first stop on the Archibald Prize 2022 regional tour and the only Victorian location, the Bunjil Place Gallery hosted the popular prize from Saturday 3 September to Sunday 16 October.
Archibald Prize 2022 winner Blak Douglas with his winning portrait Moby Dickens. 296976 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
FOCUS ON … DANCE, MUSIC AND DRAMA
Train with me in 2023
Fun times on the dance floor at Rockn’ Suzies.
Rockin’ the night away Rockn’ Suzies dance classes are starting their 20th year. The teacher is Sue Dodson who danced and taught with Starr Belle dance studio for 19 years before starting a rock and roll class which originally started in Nar Nar Goon. This is now the start of her 20th year of teaching rock and roll. She has run classes in Nar Nar Goon, Berwick, Cranbourne, Morwell and Pakenham. “And I still love teaching people how to dance,” Sue said. “I believe that Rock and Roll is one of the easiest of the dance styles to master as it allows for lots of individuality. “The classes are designed to be fun and easy to follow for those aged 10 upwards. Dancing is great for fitness, co-ordination, balance and memory, and many people form great friendships through the classes. “I am now only teaching at Pakenham and Cranbourne.” The Pakenham Class is held in the hall where the library is - corner of John and Henry Streets. The Cranbourne class is held at the Senior Citizens Hall - corner of Codrington Street and the South Gippsland Highway. Both of the nights have beginner and advanced rock ‘n’ roll classes open to all with no partner required. They also include a special class at the end of the night for partners only to learn some of the different styles associated with rock ‘n’ roll which include swing, west coast, jive, triples, line and partner dances and cha cha. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Rockn’ Suzies also runs a monthly charity dance at the Pakenham Hall which has been running for 17 years now. A different band plays each month which everyone in the community is welcome and encouraged to attend. For information call Sue on 5940 9791 or 0400 216 670.
Meet Kayla. She is 10 years old and has been training at Cathy-Lea Studios for eight years. Her favourite classes are Ballet and Lyrical. Kayla takes classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Commercial Jazz, Acrobatics and Ballet Variations. She trains in the studio’s Elite Training Program which includes conditioning and skills classes. Kayla received 100% for her Cecchetti International Grade 4 Ballet examination and 100% for her Bronze Star Jazz examination in 2022. She was awarded the Noelle Aitken Junior Encouragement Award from Cecchetti Ballet and she was selected for the elite Cecchetti Junior Scholars program. Kayla is currently rehearsing with for State Youth Ballet Company’s production of “Alice in Wonderland”. Kayla says the things he likes most about Cathy-Lea are that “The teachers challenge me and push me to be my best. I’m always learning new things.” She wants to let people know that “classes are fun and everyone is really nice” and it is better than other studios in the area because it “offers a lot of different styles and
Kayla is currently rehearsing with for State Youth Ballet Company’s production of “Alice in Wonderland”. you can pick what you like”. Kayla’s favourite event is the annual Cathy-Lea concert which is presented as a fully themed production with acting, singing and dancing. Kayla hopes you will come and dance with her at Cathy-Lea in 2023. Visit cathy-lea.com to register for a free trial class and find out how you can dance with Kayla in 2023.
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2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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Footy unites communities By Marcus Uhe For two long years, the end of year beers stayed undisturbed in the fridge. Honour boards gathered dust and gained asterisks to explain the awkward chronological gap in the years after 2019. Ice, used for both cooling drinks or filling plastic bags before being strapped or stuck to wounds in feats of amateur engineering, melted. Centre-wicket areas didn’t become mud heaps that lurched between swamp and pavement, depending on the previous week’s weather patterns. There was no kick-to-kick at the breaks, no listening to the three-quarter-time rev-up from coaches like Steve O’Brien looking for a spark from his chargers for the last half hour. No hum of chatter in the grandstands, punctuated by the piercing crack of a beer can served by a local club volunteer in a fading club polo shirt or jacket from yesteryear, making sure everything is in order. Sport can band a community together on so many levels. In a country where professional soccer struggles for a foothold in the Australian sporting culture, Federation Square was bursting at the seams at ridiculous hours as fans crammed in to watch the Socceroos take it up to global heavyweights at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On a smaller scale, it was replicated at the grassroots – with the bright red embers emanating from flares replaced by car horns from fans clutching a thermo of piping-hot instant coffee, parked around the ovals like Fox Road in Narre Warren North on chilly winter afternoons. As devotees gathered under awnings and rusting tin roofs in puffer jackets and beanies, a wave of deep heat wafts across the outer, followed by the rattle of moulded studs on
Tooradin Seagulls: 2022 Premiers. 298231
The victorious Cranbourne Eagles with their 2022 Premiership flag. 299098 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS concrete and the slow rumble of cheers as the suburban gladiators made their way from backstage to the arena, in what was for almost everyone involved, the highlight of their week. As Mike Brady reminds us every September, football’s such a part of this old town. And in 2022, the return of a full season of local footy for the first time since 2019 was a reminder that life, as much as we could recall it, was returning to the norm. In the outer South East of Melbourne, a trio of clubs marked their return to competition in the best way possible: an elusive grand final triumph.
The Eagles of Cranbourne went from kings of the sky to kings of division one of the Southern Football Netball League with a narrow sixpoint win over Cheltenham. Champion full-forward Marc Holt has seen and felt a lot on the footy field across his 250game career in blue and gold, but this year’s flag had that something extra. When he kicked his third major of the Grand Final late in the third term, few would have anticipated that that would go on to be the sealer, and deliver the 38-year-old a second premiership. “Personally it was probably the best feeling
I’ve had in footy,” Mr Holt said of the victory. “In 2011 we went undefeated and we were going to win that premiership, we didn’t really have a choice. In 2016 I broke my leg and missed out on that flag. “I was going to retire maybe two years ago but I stuck at it. When the siren went it was a feeling I hadn’t felt before.” When asked at what point he felt things had returned to ‘normal’, he pinpointed off-field events, such as club functions and Thursday night training sessions, rather than anything on-field. “The first function, getting back to that side of it,” he said. “I remember we had a really good turnout and from there got that feeling back. You got to see all the old boys who hadn’t been there for a couple of years, who might not have that much going on because they’re retired form work but they want to come down and watch the footy, so it was good to see the old heads down there this year who hadn’t been there for a while.
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figures, such as former midfielder Beau Miller, who passed away in 2016 aged 34. Earlier in the year, Mr Miller was recognised as the club’s best player from the last 25 years, in an emotional ceremony at the Tooradin Sports Club, where Mr Gillespie described him to Star News’ sports editor David Nagel as “a great human being more so than a great footballer” – high praise for a player who won two league medals during his time at the Seagulls. The importance of family and community was on show throughout the year, with partners, parents, kids and more all welcome in the rooms post-game to soak in the celebrations after a win. “When you play community sport it’s lovely to have all the connections with family and history,” Mr Gillespie said. “From my point-of-view, having those connections, it was definitely more than just us out there on game day. “I knew that they were going to support us and when we walked into those rooms, there was an energy and it was lovely to hear that. “It’s not just about the 22 running around,
Picture: ROB CAREW
it’s the whole community.” At a sodden Gembrook Recreation Reserve for the Outer East Football Netball League Grand Final, it was Shane Dwyer tasked with steeling his Narre Warren warriors for a final foray. Trailing by 21 points late in the third quarter, they cut the margin to two points at the last change, hitting the final term with the wind in their sales against Woori Yallock. The Magpies had to overcome multiple obstacles on their way to a historic premiership, including an hour-long delay for lightning and thunder, on top of the three-quarter-time deficit. For Club President Stuart Stephenson, it was the perfect way to cap the season that meant so much to so many. “There were lots of easy excuses the players could have made, but they all got behind the coach and were able to wear-down Woori Yallock,” Mr Stephenson said. “It was a great thrill because Shane Dwyer and most of administration staff had been in-
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Exhibitors, volunteers, sponsors and spectators were Changes are being thrilled to be back made to the Casey at P.B Ronald Reserve Foundation, which Cardinia for klea Pakenham Show the 111th Parsolely as the Cardiniawill potentially be known on Saturday. Foundation. Spoiled with sunny The foundation weather, the is making the show was the first to transition to decision a Cardinia-only Covid-19 shutdownsone back since body to strengthen not for in 2020 and profit organisations help 2021. community. in the It was a bumper Director Paul Thomas tainment with plenty day of entersaid the board yet to approve has of high qualthe new direction ity poultry, sheep transform the foundation. that will and exhibits, reminiscent horticulture “Throughout the of the district’s pandemic, like rural roots. Casey Cardinia Foundation ganisations that director Paul Thomas are philanthropic, most or- says the foundation dation has had the founmay be shifting its little focus to carry out fundraising to no opportunities to Cardinia only. 198803 COVERAGE PAGES - we have continued 16-17 grants process so our the out, but we haven’t funds have been going their own organisation. really had monies ing in because The foundation comJunior Ambassador our fundraising was mainly grants process and currently has an annual through events,” of the Parklea Mr Thomas Pakenham Show is Sheridan Venables per cent of its assets. required to give back four “We took the opportunitysaid. (left) with Senior Ambassador Indi to go strategic review If approved by the Skehan. 271091 over the last couple through a board, the foundation Picture: ROB CAREW years. only give out to Cardinia “The review indicated will based organisations. we need to fund organisation properly Beaconhills College Mr Thomas said the to ensure we’re once the changes fundraise to the Class for VCE Dance.student Ruby Thornton-Mackay has able to proved, the foundation are aplevel we need to, been chosen will and ultimate- at a whole be able to operate to perform at Top ly give out significant new level. funds Picture: SUPPLIED “We will have significantto the community. “It will mean we support from the Cardinia can make a difference Cardinia Shire.” to organisations through Cardinia Shire our grants process,” Mr Thomas councillor Jack said. said it was important Kowarzik “There was an By Jonty Ralphsmith to continue to provide Ruby Thornton-Mac the foundation spreading ourselves argument that we were with financial support. too thin and this Casey also recorded training has paid kay’s 13 years of dance outstanding The“By City reinvigorating us in will hone of Casey recorded off, to a smaller territory. the the foundation of the best students being named one who have VCE performing arts students the third we work withofphilanthropist with 5174 – 231 fewer most family incinumber highest can dents Houses criminal offences completed; who undertook “Cardinia than in 2020. the s in the is growing at such Dance inwere VCE Music Investigation, Music Performance, incommunity. 2021 of any we In better news, Victorian 2021. top location for offences “With the a rapid rate so with 5833 offences localcompletion governmentofarea. deception offences, Music Style can concentratethe number occurring in the of criminal this strategic re- cidents view, Ruby has been some significant public order and position, VCE household. offences, it would inThe the City ofon ects thatinreally Criminal and Combe short Stealing selected to perform VET Music Industry, security Casey was sighted to wrap from a motor Statistics can make the Melbourne down 17.2projfoundation.” vehicle was the most at Drama justice procedures Dance, cent from 2020 to a difference up the community.” its released 2021 data on Thursday Agency Recital in per the common 2021. Centre later this fences. and Theatre Studies. - except drug ofmonth offence, 17 March, revealingCasey as part followed by breach family Caseyjoined Ruby said she was of Top Class The highest number recorded violence order, Cardinia the 19,680 foundation Shire Council Hampton of Excellence, criminal Season ceived offences, of will in 2013 offences only is choosing Park (1868grateful damage,VCE have rebehind Greaterto but cial occurred managed in Cranbourne provide in 2020tocompared Geelong honour make an support to the finan- andCurriculum theft 1453 inthe by theother common assault. (20,018) withfoundation performing exit as Victorian 1863, followed and they 2021), Narreof Melbourne (1629), (33,597). ate their focus her skills- to based dance and by first for the Warren (2627 in Berwick and undergo changesreevalu- years, solo which Narre with five theWarren In Berwick, total Assessment Authority as 2020, 2123 she in 2021), (VCAA). goal to grow (1533), within (1022) theHampton part ofNarre offences were down Warren Northchoreographed foundation a pointand her extermination Park where to to 2157 (352 Cranbourne it will be able 2475 last 2020, 323 in 2021) for withseason theinsubject The North a decrease in all to (999). year.and Narre Warren South run on its own. offence 11 concerts divisions – crimes against presents also recorded the person, property by decreases in the annual number Read moreof and oncrimes. page 2 Continued page 3
Crime concerns
Dancer takes centre stage
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Narre Warren Magpies with their Premiership Flag. 299107
volved for a long time. It was the result of a lot of hard work over the last three years.” While Mr Stephenson said there was never a stage where there was genuine concern or the future of the club during the lockdowns, it was not knowing what was coming next that was the hardest aspect. “We were in a good position and hopeful that when footy and netball came back, if we treated our people well, they would come back,” he said. “Normally a club brings people together and is a great outlet for young people and the centre of a community. “We had to keep them involved even though they couldn’t see each other in-person. We had some people really proactive in doing things though socials to stay involved, things like picking best-ever teams and trivia sessions, I think helped keep connections.” Volunteers like Mr Stephenson are the backbone of any local sporting club and there are a few at the Magpies that have firmly ensconced themselves within their nest. Two that immediately came to mind for the President of the last six years were canteen manager Maree Parnall and the club’s secretary, Sonya Alexander. “For a lot of (our volunteers), they were suffering the same issues that the players were. They were missing being part of the club and the community. “Maree does a mountain of work and Sonya organises the social functions and the hard administration work while other roles get on with the business of football. She does the jobs no one else wants to do. “We’ve had similar volunteers for a number of years particularly in canteen and bar, which are critical areas. Those people there mean so much to club.” The sentiment was echoed by Mr Gillespie. “People need to understand how critical (local sport) is. When it’s taken away from you, the sport comes second but community aspect is primary, and there are so many volunteers who give up so much time. “They all care and they’re all passionate and
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“I’ve been playing local footy for 20 years and Thursday nights with the boys, to break up the week is always a really good thing to have when you’re working hard. “Some of your best mates are out there and if they’re not your best mates, they’re your good mates and you’ve known them for a while. We’re lucky that we retain most of our players every year.” An icon of the game in the South East, Mr Holt accepted his premiership medallion to a chorus of “Holty” being chanted in the stands. It would prove to ultimately be his final game, having made the decision to retire and spend more time with his young family. “I’ve stepped back, I’m going to take a year off in 2023 and then in 2024 I’m looking at going into a proper coaching role.” The Seagulls of Tooradin flew higher than anyone in the West Gippsland Football Netball League, ending a 25-year drought that carried more emotion than most. Seagulls coach Lachie Gillespie played in a losing Grand Final for Tooradin back in 1999 as a 17-year-old but played a key role in ending the drought this year through more than just moving the magnets on the whiteboard. While footy was at the mercy of the pandemic, he worked tirelessly to keep the squad connected and upbeat as possible in during a trying time on all levels. “Some of the trades kept working, some couldn’t,” Mr Gillespie said. “Some boys couldn’t see family members. “We tried to keep the tribe together and as positive as we could. “It was hard work but very fulfilling that we all stuck-fat and I think that helped to galvanise the group when we came back. “To go and see the players and give them a hug, we’re a pretty loving footy club. It was nice to have that human touch and give them a hug, have a laugh, make sure they’re okay.” Those who have been involved with the club over the years will know that the Seagulls have suffered a great deal off the field with regards to the sad passing of a number of influential
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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2022 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...
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Dogs find their way home By Eleanor Wilson A Narre Warren woman had the local community to thank for the safe return of her two dogs from the Princes Highway on-ramp at Narre Warren in April 2022. Abbey Keys’ two rescue dogs Zues and Zena went missing in the early hours of Sunday 3 April; escaping after the back gate to her property was left open. Ms Keys said she immediately launched a call-out on her social media pages, hoping locals may be able to help locate the dogs. Thanks to the Facebook and Instagram posts, locals found Zues about 7am the same day, at the on-ramp to the Princes Highway inbound at Narre Warren, near the Mercedes Benz Berwick dealership. “It was a relief to get Zues back, but I was also frantic because I had hoped they would have stayed together,” Ms Keys said. Zena remained lost for the next seven days, but Ms Keys said online support continued to grow, giving her hope she would be reunited with the Rhodesion Ridgeback. “I found all through the week [the posts] kept getting shared more and more. “On Facebook every morning and night I’d comment a massive update about where I’d been looking and any sightings of her, and by the Monday or Tuesday we’d put out flyers around the neighbourhood,“ she said. “By that point complete strangers were sharing my posts and I actually met someone who had seen my post and was also out looking for Zena. “He suggested making a group chat so I could put out instant updates about the search,” she said.
Ms Keys the group chat grew to about 80 group members, all actively searching for her missing dog. “Throughout the week we actually ended up finding about six or seven dogs that weren’t Zena but were also lost,” she said. After several sightings, Zena was eventually reunited with her emotional owner on the morning of Sunday 10 April. “All morning from 5am until 9:30am we were in the area Zues was found, on car and on foot and eventually we just thought let’s just sit here and hope for the best,” she said. “Zeus’ ears pricked up at around 10am and I heard some movement and I looked to my left and I called ‘Zena’ really softly and she just naturally came toward me.” Ms Keys said she was “overwhelmed with relief” to be reunited with her canine friend, after spending over 12 hours each day for the last week looking for her. “The week has just been a blur and I’ve just been in adrenaline mode so the relief to see her and have her in my arms, you can’t put a price on it,” she said. With both dogs’ health given the tick of approval from vets, Ms Keys said she hopes to organise a meet and greet to thank community members who helped over the seven day search. “I’ve had hundreds of messages from people who have been searching for Zena, or just wishing us well, it’s been really heart warming,” she said. “We want to do a little picnic so the people who have been so dedicated to finding Zena can actually meet her. It’s the least I can do, there’s nothing I can do or say to repay them.”
Abbey with Zena and Zues after the dogs were found on the on-ramp to the Princes Highway inbound at Narre Warren.
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STAR NEWS 17
SPORT
Pain barrier pushed By Jonty Ralphsmith Go outside and cover a kilometre on your feet in 12 minutes. Sound easy enough? Trying doing that 120 consecutive times in a 24-hour period. That’s how Nar Nar Goon resident Tyler Joosten saw out 2022. Your feet will start to blister and swell-up, and muscles will start to cramp, ache and throb. The legs will feel numb. Inevitably, dark thoughts will soon follow. “Why am I doing this?“ “I can’t do this.“ “I need to rest.“ “I hate running.“ “Just stop.“ “It’s not healthy.“ “I’m tired.“ “I’m sore.“ And that’s just scratching agony’s surface. You’ll want to give in to your screaming body. And you will, because unlike Joosten, you haven’t had an eight-month preparation to condition you for the event. During that time, Joosten ran a half-marathon and a full marathon - the Melbourne Marathon - in the lead-up. Initially, the Melbourne Marathon was his big event, but he liked the taste of that and wanted a bigger serve. He went much bigger. Unofficial marathons were also inserted into his routine as a regular Sunday run for several weeks and he blended some midnight runs under fatigue with some under the sweltering Melbourne sun. Priming himself for the run had to fit in around his work as a cabinet-maker at his Pakenham family business, so many of his long runs were done on weekends. Sundays in late 2022 often meant a fivehour-or-longer run for Joosten. Hill sprints, cycling and gym-work were the common mid-week regimes. With a fitness base more so slanted towards strength than endurance, the former Nar Nar Goon and Gembrook footballer enlisted Iron Ryan coach Ryan Brennan-Coulthard to condition him for his marathon and subsequent New Year’s Eve run. As much as the physical preparation, though, much of the lead-up involved equipping himself with the mental strength to replace the pessimism that would come during the run with positivity. “No matter what the distance, when you take the body into the unknown, your body goes from feeling fine to not knowing where you are,“ Brennan-Coulthard said. “It sneaks up on you every now and then. “Being able to overcome it comes from putting yourself in that situation and doing it at training, “You find yourself there and sometimes in the past you might have let that mindset take over as well. “Practice makes perfect so the longer you spend in that mindset of wanting to give up and not, the better prepared he became. “Sitting in that hurt is what you need to do. “Setting small goals when times get tough and you have nothing left is important. “Aim for five minutes, another kilometre, so you have things to look forward to. “You have to play little games with yourself. “If you look too far ahead, you will be overwhelmed.“ Ambitiously, Joosten set a target of 150 kilometres. After drafting plans to run 100 kilometres with his coach, he was ‘concerned’ that would be too ‘easy’ so upped the challenge. Worse than missing the mark would be finishing with hours to spare. Most important to Joosten was sticking at it for 24 hours. Falling 30 kilometres short was a by-product of inexorable hiccups, such as heat and blisters, rather than a failure. Having never previously run beyond 42 kilometres, it was difficult to predict how much distance he could cover. The immediate lead-up weeks saw him covering 50 kilometres, and he was often beyond 100 kilometres before that. He would have to cover that and more in18 STAR NEWS
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
Tyler Joosten ran 120 kilometres to raise money and awareness for mental health. Pictures: SUPPLIED side one day to achieve his goal. “I have never really been a runner but the mental side has always fascinated me,“ Joosten said. “I’ve got that attitude that when I do something, I will do it all in, so that is where I got to for here. “I thought I have nothing to lose, I can only try so the brain has always fascinated me with how far we can push ourselves and the selfdevelopment – how much can you grow yourself.” THE RUN Joosten completed his 120th kilometre just before the stroke of midnight, the boom of nearby fireworks giving a cathartic voice and physical symbol to his burning pain as much as their shimmering beauty that saluted his achievement. Triple digits were reached after 17 hours as Joosten spent the hot of the day winding his way through a 13 kilometre loop of the Pakenham streets around his mother-in-law’s home. After covering the first four hours alone, several people did parts of the run with Joosten, their support ensuring he got in two litres of water every two hours plus electrolytes and food, and didn’t get consumed by the pain. Just 20 minutes of the first 17 hours were spent not moving, intermittent stops at his mother-in-law’s house to refill his pack with water, gels and the other necessary equipment. At that point, he was struggling to walk alongside the road gutters as the hard, hot black bitumen bit his feet. After stopping for an hour to assess and rest his blistered feet for the first time, and get massaged, Joosten needed to change up the run. The loop was getting repetitive and passing his mother-in-law’s house every so often would be dangerously tempting. So he finished up the run by going up and back to Beaconsfield, pacing himself perfectly to arrive in the dying minute of 2022. Brennan-Coulthard said it would have been horrible trying to go again after stopping. “His body would have wanted to shut down,“ Brennan-Coulthard said. “His feet would have swelled up, more once he took his shoes off, so for him to go again would not have been easy.“
At that point he considered, but decided against listening to music. “I wanted to be present and see how far we physically can push ourselves once our body shuts down and gives in, can our mind still override and allow us to go?“ he said. “At one stage I wanted to literally stop, but then when you’re thinking about pulling the pin you’re like ‘no way I’m not stopping’ so you’re mind plays tricks on you when you start shutting down in certain aspects. “It’s cool and I wanted to experience that so I can tell others you can do extreme things. “I was like I can keep going and going and going, your body won’t stop you, you just have to keep pushing a lot further than what you can physically go. “You just zone out and use it as meditation in a way and sort of enjoy it and I was fortunate enough to be able to run because not everybody is able to run.” By the time his head hit his pillow, he had been awake at 27 hours and counting. Typically an attention-deflector, Joosten has spent the last week appreciating the milestone and absorbing the love from within and beyond his entourage as he has worn the slowly subsiding residual pain like a souvenir. “The day was the big grand final to celebrate myself,” Joosten said. “It was a long prep over the eight months. I had to (train) my mind to not think of it as something I had to do and move on to what’s next: the last week or so I had to sit in the moment more - and I have struggled to soak it in because it is such a big achievement.“ SPEAK AND SHARE The community return for Joosten’s run is the so far $10,000 he has raised for not-for-profit mental health organisation Speak and Share. The Mornington Peninsula-based organisation promotes itself as one which encourages tough conversations and challenges the stigma associated with mental health through a preventative, proactive approach. Speak and Share has regular community events and sports and school programs and has a strong social media community with more than 12,000 Instagram followers. Joosten has always had an interest in the mental health space, facilitating a safe culture and portraying vulnerability. Having been victim to some difficult times in the schoolyard himself before finishing in year nine, Joosten places high currency on the work that the organisation does and noted their locality. Co-founders Nathan Scagliarini, Ben Farish and Mason De Wit are all schoolteachers. “I’m really big on what they’re about and thought I would make some noise about it and do a fundraiser rather than just going out and doing it for myself, try to involve other people,” Joosten said. “They’re not a big charity they’re just trying to bring the voice around to what they’re about and give everyone a better understanding.” Providing awareness and money for something bigger than himself also doubled as keeping him accountable during the trying preparation and taxing run. Speak and Share goes by the motto: “a problem shared is a problem halved” and cofounder Scagliarini encourages people who are struggling to open up. “We’re trying to change the culture around mental health and normalise these conversations,“ Scagliarini said. “We’ve always been big on being vulnerable to lead the way for others to follow, because we don’t want others to go through what we’ve been through – no one should have to go through difficult times alone because the power of the community plays such an important part in our lives. “No-one has to walk alone or feel like they can’t speak and share.“ Click the following link to donate to Joosten’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme. com/f/walking-towards-greatness
Joosten running during the summer heat.
Destanee Aiava will again be in action on the blue hard courts of Melbourne Park this January. Picture: SUPPLIED
Destanee’s wildcard By Jonty Ralphsmith Pakenham tennis prodigy Destanee Aiava has secured a wildcard for the 2023 Australian Open qualifying draw. The right-hander won her first match of qualifying on Monday, and has two more to go if she is to make a fifth Australian Open main draw appearance. Aiava is currently ranked 311 in the world in singles after making 13 main draw appearances last year, the most she has played in a calendar year since 2019. Among those, she made four finals on the second-tier ITF tour, in back-to-back weeks in Caloundra in July and six weeks later she reached the Darwin final. In November she broke her finals duck, winning the Traralgon 3 tournament with a win over reputable Aussie Lizette Cabrera. Her 33-13 win-loss record in 2022 has given her a platform to make her mark on the tour again this season, having been as high as 147 as an emerging talent in 2017. Now 22-years old, Aiava took some time away from the sport throughout 2020-21 as she endured personal difficulty. Aiava is still hunting her first grand slam singles main draw win. She is also ranked 246 in the world in doubles. pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
SPORT
Warriors’ Red Roo action By Jonty Ralphsmith The Pakenham Warriors are kicking off the new year with the Red Roo Showcase game this Saturday 14 January at Cardinia Life. The Youth League men will be in action this weekend for the first time since their grand final loss to Keysborough in 2022, with the Under 16s, ‘18s and ‘21s all in action as well. The Warriors will be fielding a full-strength line-up, with Jackson Grey and Dylan Jenkinson among the names involved from last year’s grand final line-up. Last season’s MVP Michael Johns will be an absentee as he has graduated into the men’s program, as has Josh Norton, but the coaching staff are excited about the talent that has come in via recruiting and internal development. Luke Rawiri has come across from Casey and will play in Pakenham colours for the first time, and Aaron Small will join his brothers Jarred and Ethan in the Youth League team. The Red Roo is a South Sudanese basketball team based in Keysborough, with many exWarriors involved in the club, among a host of players that play either Big V or VJBL that will be involved for the Red Roo. Youth League coach Braden Venning is expecting a hot contest and some high-quality basketball, with several Red Roo players having experience in college and other high-level basketball. “They’ve got lots of great ballers,” Venning said. “They’ll be super-athletic, fast-paced and high tempo – it’s the way I like to play in my team. “They’re long, they’re athletic and play hard defence and if there is a chance for any air space, they will take it. “They play hard-nosed basketball and run the lanes and attack the rim, so it will be entertaining, “If we can expose our players to bigger play-
The Red Roo is coming to Pakenham. 314946 Picture: SUPPLIED
Jarred Small will get the opportunity to play with both his brothers. 295034 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS
Jackson Grey will be among the players for the Warriors. 295034
ers, that can only be a positive. “It’s a really good opportunity for both clubs.” Red Roo coach Tot Jok was similarly glowing of Pakenham, noting it would be a good test for his players against one of the strongest teams in the region. “We’re trying to ramp everything up this year and play major clubs,” Jok said. “I’m expecting a very competitive game in all
Underlining the talent of the squad, several are unavailable for the Showcase because they are playing basketball in America: nine past and present players have played in the states. There are hopes that the Showcase will become an annual event. Entry is free at Cardinia Life on Saturday, with the ‘16s kicking off the action at noon, followed by the ‘18s and the ‘21s, before the Youth League men take to the court at 4.30pm.
the age groups – they’re the representative club and we’re the pioneer club so they’ll try to make a statement. “We want to make a statement to everybody that we’re here – that’s the point of the Showcase. “Red Roo is coming – it’s the first of many big games against us.” The Red Roo will also go in close to fullstrength.
Mobile Legend with trainer Darryl Brennan after their runaway win in the Warragul Cup heats Picture: SUPPLIED on Friday. 314950
Legend fires at Warragul The stage is set for a cracking finale to the Group-2 Warragul Cup after one ‘legend’ starred and another suffered a shock defeat in Friday night’s heats. Mobile Legend will be tough to beat in Friday night’s final after setting the pace with a runaway 25.46sec heat win at his Warragul debut. However, the undisputed headline act in the eight ‘must win’ heats was champion Wow She’s Fast. She began well but was unable to cross Money Owes, trained by Greg Berry, which kicked clear entering the home straight to upset the series favourite. As part of the Warragul club’s community engagement program the greyhounds in Friday night’s Viatek Warragul Cup heats had been allocated to 64 community clubs and groups. A total prize pool of $11,000 is up for grabs and the community group aligned to each wining greyhound from each heat has gone through to the finals. The winning club/group will take home a first-place prize of $5000. The runner-up will receive $3000, third placegetter $2000 and the club connected to fourth past the post will walk away with $1000. The Warragul Cup on Friday night is sure to be a great night of racing with free entry and a special guest, AFL great Gary Ablett, on track.
Excitement is building as the Group 2 Warragul Cup goes up for grabs this Friday 13 January. 314950 Gary will socialise with the crowd and is happy to have photos taken and sign autographs with those on track. Dining packages are available and can be booked via https://www.trybooking.com/CELOA GROUP-2 WARRAGUL CUP (460m) BOX DRAW 1. Landyn Bale Cora Lynn FC 2. Titan Blazer Yea FNC 3. Mobile Legend Tooradin-Dal FNC 4. Dynamic Prince Fountain Gate JFC 5. Panadero Warrior Phillip Island FC 6. Money OwesNorth Gippsland FNL 7. High Tribe Rico Korumburra Gun Club 8. Matt’s Hope Bunyip FC 9. Quinlan Bale 10. Aston Lira 12580491-JC51-22
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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STAR NEWS 19
St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Officer
Our faith leads to wisdom and courage. ’s and is embedded in the ethos of the school, the curriculum we offer and the
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Thursday, 12 January, 2023
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