News - Berwick Star News - 25th September 2025

Murray Harding, holding a stunning Cattleya Coccinea (right) and a Cattleya Santa Barbara, is set for the return of Berwick Orchid Club’s spring show this weekend. Overcoming a cold preparation, the blooms have unfurled just in time for the popular event. (Picture: Rob Carew)

“They’re a bit late, because the warmer weather’s sort of been holding off, but they’re also doing very nicely,” Murray said.

“You know, the season feels like it’s dragging its heels by a couple of weeks, but the club is moving and growing in leaps and bounds, I’m proud to say.”

The show will run this coming weekend, from Saturday, 27 September to Sunday, 28 September.

In 2024, there were over 600 people who attended, with Murray saying then that it was “the best show we’ve ever had”, and something he is looking to recreate, or maybe even surpass this year.

More on the story, turn to page 9

Orchids spring to colour Praise for heroes

By Ethan Benedicto

Three years after a horrific accident nearly claimed his life, David Francis has returned to thank the paramedics who kept him alive.

“I broke about 95 bones,” he said.

The 55-year-old motorcyclist suffered devastating injuries in 2021 after colliding with a car, puncturing both lungs, breaking dozens of bones, and spending more than a year in hospitals and rehabilitation.

“If the paramedics didn’t come to my accident, I wouldn’t be here today.”

On Monday, 22 September, Francis, now in a wheelchair, embraced Ambulance Victoria paramedic Amy Grimshaw and her colleagues in an emotional reunion.

Grimshaw, who responded to the crash as her first “heavy job,” recalled how quickly his condition deteriorated at the scene before he was airlifted to The Alfred in critical condition.

For Francis, reconnecting with the crew has been emotional, providing him with the missing pieces of what happened that day.

While his active life has changed dramatically, Franciscontinuestopushforward,eveninvesting in a golfing wheelchair to keep his passion alive.

Together with Grimshaw, he is urging greater road awareness and kindness among drivers.

“We all share the road, and everyone has a family to go home to,” Francis said.

For more on the story, turn to page 2

Survivor thanks saviours

By Ethan Benedicto

After experiencing a life-changing accident that nearly took his life three years ago, David Francis returns to his saviours, giving them thanks and encouraging the message of safety on the road.

Now 55 years old, the last thing Francis could remember on the day of the accident was seeing a car coming at him from the corner of his eye; the next thing he could recall was being in the hospital four weeks later.

Ambulance Victoria paramedic, Amy Grimshaw, was among the emergency services personnel who were present during the incident in March 2022, and on the morning of Monday, 22 September, to greet Francis’ return to say thanks.

It was an emotional reunion, with Francis, in a wheelchair, accompanied by his daughter, came in and hugged the paramedics; they said it was good to see him again, up and well.

Speaking on the day, Grimshaw said that that had been her first “heavy job”, and also one that was unforgettable.

“My partner and I were first on the scene, and when we got there, Dave was lying on the road,” she said.

“He was kind of half under the guard rail, he had his gear on, his helmet, his leathers, he was doing all the right things.

“His bike was 100 metres down the road, and he was conscious, he was alert, he was able to talk to us, but he quickly began to deteriorate with his blood pressure, oxygen levels and conscious state dropping, and his heart rate increasing,” she said.

Grimshaw said that by the time the air ambulance arrived, Francis was almost unconscious.

Mobile intensive care unit ambulance (MICA) and advanced life support (ALS) crews were present on the scene, with Francis being flown out to The Alfred Hospital in critical condition.

“I punctured both lungs, broke all my ribs, nearly every bone in my face, both collarbones, dislocated and fractured my shoulder, broke my scapula and back, and severed my spinal cord; in total, I broke about 95 bones,” Francis said.

Francis underwent 17 surgeries and spent roughly four months in The Alfred, with another year in a rehabilitation hospital.

Six months after that, Francis suffered a stroke, with his blood pressure unstable after the collision; he survived, but it meant more time in the hospital and even more in rehab.

According to Grimshaw and her colleagues, Francis reaching out had been the first time anything like that had happened.

On the other hand, Francis said that it almost felt like he needed to, and ever since he made contact a few months back, “things have been emotional”.

“It’s one of those things where I’ve heard stories of what happened to me, but I don’t actually know until I talk to them.

“I didn’t know if it was possible to reach out and talk to the paramedics, but I’m very, very thankful because they saved my life.

“If they didn’t come to my accident, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

Francis had a passion and love for golf; he was a shareholder of the Drummond Golf branch in Dandenong, and, in addition to the sport, had been an active person.

After the accident, however, things had changed dramatically; he said that the worst part was that everyone had to do things for him, and that it was frustrating.

It was an uphill battle that Francis fought, on both the physical and mental end, lamenting that “I was always active, always in the gym, playing golf, riding my bike, and all of a sudden

you’re 52 and your life’s changed forever”.

“I knew that nothing in my life would be the same; it was all gone; I said to my kids and my parents that it feels like you’re a five-year-old again.

“It’s been a lot of rehab, a lot of care from family, friends, the care workers, and it’s a lot of rough days that you have where you think, ‘is it all worth it?’

“And it’s about honesty, you have to be honest with yourself because some days are tougher than others,” he said.

One of the lighter things that pushed Francis was when his daughter pointed out that during his recovery period, he had never missed a shower, despite being stuck in a wheelchair.

She recalled that there would be others who would talk about not being able to get up, but said that Francis always pushed himself ahead.

Despite being the most difficult part, he said that “you’ve just got to find a different way to live”.

On that note, Francis’ passion for gold hasn’t waned, and now, he’s put his foot down for the purchase of a Paramotion golf-powered wheelchair, a mobility aide that he is more than excited for.

In the grand scheme of things, he and Grimshaw have called for more awareness on roads, with Francis emphasising that “we all share the road, and everyone has a family to go back home to”.

His and his family’s accounts were that the driver who had collided with Francis initially left the scene, but was later brought back by another motorist.

Furthermore, during the court process, Francis recalled that the other party received only a $1000 fine and nothing more.

“We have family, friends, jobs and a home to get back to; I think we just need to be kinder to one another,” he said.

“I can’t say a big enough thank you to all the paramedics, because again, they saved my life.”

To Grimshaw, seeing him on the day served as a reminder of their work as first responders.

“It’s rewarding to see David again and it’s a reminder that we make a difference, knowing that something we did that day contributed to keeping

SE hub for manufacturing

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) is Australia’s manufacturing powerhouse that can drive future economic growth, according to a new report by Deloitte Access Economics.

But “urgent investment” is needed to lead an “economic renaissance”, says GSEM regional alliance’s chair Simon McKeon in response to the report.

The report GSEM: Australia’s Manufacturing Powerhouse was launched in Dandenong on 23 September with GSEM, South East Melbourne Manufacturing Alliance (SEMMA), councils and industry representatives, as well as Federal Industry and Science Minister Tim Ayres and local federal MPs.

Minister Ayres took questions from the floor from industry leaders such as from Ego Pharmaceuticals and Catten Industries on topics such as high energy and other costs, as well as being handed a copy of SEMMA’s Australian Manufacturing Blueprint.

SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker said the blueprint was “not afraid to set targets - like 10 per cent GDP for manufacturing in five years“.

“If our blueprint is implemented it can be achieved.

“Dandenong and the Greater South East of Melbourne has been at the centre of manufacturing in this state for a very long time – and SEMMA will continue to advocate for manufacturers to ensure this region remains front and centre of all things manufacturing in this state.

“We wear this tag with pride – SEMMA represents Australia’s manufacturing powerhouse.“

The Deloittes report found that the GSEM region supports more manufacturing jobs and businesses per capita than other manufacturing centres.

Per capita, the region had overtaken Western Sydney as the nation’s “leading industrial engine room”.

“GSEM [is] the largest and most important manufacturing hub in Victoria and Australia,” the report stated.

“[It is] distinguished by its scale, advanced

manufacturing capabilities, skilled workforce, and proximity to key transport corridors.”

However, the report calls for action on constraints such as limited land availability, skills challenges and freight infrastructure.

It identified available industrial land at Officer South and Port of Hastings but little in “key Inner East and South East regions“.

The limited capacity of Monash Freeway, Princes Highway and Eastlink connections, as well as a lack of direct rail freight links, were also noted.

Major transport projects were required such as the Thompsons Road upgrade, Dandenong South Intermodal Terminal and the proposed South East Airport.

The report also warned of a low share of young workers in the sector, and skills gaps for advanced manufacturing roles.

“If local training and national migration and skills policy do not keep pace, firms may struggle to scale advanced production lines in the region.”

In response, McKeon called for urgent investment in infrastructure, skills and innovation.

“South East Melbourne is uniquely placed to lead Australia’s economic renaissance, with advanced manufacturing at the core.

“If Australia wants to fix its productivity crisis and continue to power economic growth, it will be the workers and businesses across Melbourne’s south-east leading the charge.”

The GSEM region comprises eight local government areas including Greater Dandenong, Monash, Casey and Cardinia.

It is home to 3801 manufacturing businesses, employing more than 75,000 – or 27 per cent of Victoria’s manufacturing workforce.

Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti says the numbers show that the GSEM region was a “big player in the Australian market“, including being home to 1.5 million residents and 500,000 total jobs.

“We’re bigger than Tasmania or Adelaide - we could be a state. It’s time for the South East to lead

Australia now.“

Manufacturing jobs in the GSEM region were projected to have grown 9.3 per cent between 2016 and 2025, defying a shrinkage across Australia (-0.5 per cent) and in western Sydney (-4.7 per cent).

The region benefits from high-tech industries such as advanced materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and transport equipment, as well as “world-class industrial clusters” in Clayton and Dandenong.

Greater Dandenong accounts for a third of GSEM’s manufacturing output, including a large transport-equipment sector such as Jayco, Nissan Casting Australia and Alstom.

GSEM was well placed near key transport corridors connecting to Port of Melbourne and Melbourne Airport for international markets, the report found.

Stefan Koomen mulls second run at Casey mayorship

By Ethan Benedicto and Cam Lucadou-Wells

After a “transition“ year, Casey mayor Stefan Koomen is considering a tilt at re-election for a second consecutive mayoral term in November.

Cr Koomen was elected as Casey’s first mayor since councillors were sacked and the council placed under administration during an IBAC inquiry in 2020.

“This year has been one of transition, with monitors overseeing the new council for our first 12 months.

“I believe the continuity of leadership and experience could benefit the group moving forward into our second year.

“While the decision about future leadership rests with councillors, it’s certainly something I will consider as we approach November.“

Cr Koomen said it had been an “incredible

honour” to lead at the start of “this new chapter” for the council and to help “restore democracy and rebuild trust in our community”.

Good governance and transparency were key priorities, with residents telling councillors prior to last year’s elections that trust in the council had been eroded, Koomen said.

Residents had also said during the five-year period without elected councillors that they felt they had “no voice or outlet” to engage with Casey, he said.

“That absence was deeply felt, and I’ve made it a priority to be visible, accessible, and responsive.

“Whether it’s attending community events, hosting forums, or simply chatting with residents at a local cafe, I’ve genuinely enjoyed hearing directly from the people we serve.”

The promises of transparency, community

voice and good governance were tested quickly.

The first public council meeting in February was cut short after heated behaviour in the gallery spilled into the chamber.

Acting on police advice, Koomen shifted subsequent meetings online to “preserve safety and order”, a move criticised by some residents but one he said upheld good governance.

Cr Koomen conceded “this term has not been without its challenges, with many bumps along the way”.

He was proud how councillors had bonded and tackled historical issues “head-on”, such as the Local Law controversy that sparked the February meeting shutdown.

“It was the first time we were tested as a new Council and we rose to the challenge.”

Casey faced unique pressures, such as its urgent need for infrastructure to keep pace with a

rapidly-expanding population, Cr Koomen said. He highlighted the “vital” need for a “reliable transport network” to connect Casey residents.

“I’m proud of the record funding commitments secured for the City of Casey through the Federal election, for major road upgrades and city defining infrastructure like the Women’s Centre of Excellence.

“We continue to advocate strongly to the State Government for investment in roads, public transport, and essential services.”

He also took public stands on wider issues, where, when the State introduced its new emergency services levy, Koomen called the charge “unfair” but acknowledged the city had no choice but to collect it.

In August, Koomen condemned extremist rhetoric at anti-immigration rallies, framing Casey’s diversity as its strength.

Reflecting on tragedies

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Ahead of Blue Ribbon Day, Acting Superintendent Scott Dwyer’s thoughts turn to fresh tragedy – the 11 police employees who have died in the past 12 months.

Some succumbed to illness, others include the tragic loss of Detective Leading Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, who were killed in Porepunkah last month.

As the manhunt for suspect Desi Freeman continues, the shootings are yet another “reality check” of the ever-present dangers of duty.

“When you think on tragedy, police are there to do a service and to keep the community safe –that’s what really drives us,” Dwyer says.

“Unfortunately those risks are ever paramount in what we do.

“But the desire to help and to secure a better community in which we live is a driving motivation for us.”

On Blue Ribbon Day - which coincides with National Police Remembrance Day on 29 September - Dwyer will visit a memorial march and service in Melbourne’s CBD.

He’ll also check-in on friends and collagues from across his 24-year career, and remember the 178 Victoria Police officers who have tragically died serving the community.

Front of mind will be Constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre, and Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller – killed in cold blood in 1988.

Dwyer was formerly working at Prahan police station, which observes an annual memorial for the four fallen officers.

“They - and Neal (Thompson) and Vadim (De Waart) - will be part of what I will reflect upon (on 29 September).”

As police officers “take stock”, it means a lot to see the community pay respects on the day, Dwyer says.

“It’s a reminder that the work we do is of value. It’s a chance for us to reflect on the influence we

have on the community.

“It’s a really good leveller. And it reminds you why you joined in the first place.”

In Porepunkah’s aftershock, police were comforted by the warm embrace of the wider community.

Dwyer noted the massive floral tributes at Dandenong police station – which is 350 kilometres from the Porepunkah region.

“That really demonstrates what the community thinks.

“Every time there’s been a tragedy, the amount

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Dwyer says the policing environment is different but no more risky.

“We live in a really safe area, when you look at Melbourne and Victoria. The vast majority of the community can walk around and remain safe.”

He says what has changed is the depiction of violence and the crime rate on mainstream media.

“With the interaction of social media and Facebook groups, the public have more ways in which to comment and report on it.

“Media outlets have an ability to attract vision, which is such a popular thing to view... Often the vision when you see it is quite confronting.”

There has been a rise in “displayed weapons”, he says. Such as the frequently-seen footage of young people armed with knives.

But that also might entail an element of perception.

As part of its drive to get weapons off the streets, Victoria Police searched 118 people in Dandenong’s CBD and railway station last month.

In eight hours, officers uncovered no knives or other weapons.

“That should give the community a degree of comfort,” Dwyer says.

“Unfortunately the perception of weapons and the reality of weapons can sometimes be a bit different.

“I can understand from a community point of view when they see the posts and the vision, there’s a concern that it’s prevalent and it’s everywhere.

“But what we find is that’s not the case.”

of support you get from the Victorian community is just amazing.”

Across 24 years of policing, Dwyer has worked as a CIU detective, Highway Patrol, as well as managing Box Hill’s Embona armed robbery taskforce and Eastern Region Crime Squad.

In his acting role, Dwyer oversees crime intelligence policing and community engagement across a vast southern and south-east Melbourne region, including Cardinia Shire, Casey and Greater Dandenong.

Despite the alarming crime rates and footage,

Dwyer assures the public that police are proactively “on the streets” and respond quickly “when you need us”. But that everyday “good stuff” doesn’t make the news or the stats.

“You can’t measure the crime that we’ve prevented.”

- National Police Remembrance Day will be marked by a march and service on St Kilda Road, Melbourne on Monday September 29, from 10am.

- An end-of-day service will be held at the police memorial at Springvale Botanical Cemetry, cnr Fifth & Sixth roads on Monday 29 September, 4pm.

Mental toll of police work

By Ethan Benedicto

As Blue Ribbon Day (29 September) fast approaches, a former Joint Counter Terrorism officer has called for respect and awareness of the police force’s struggles, especially on the mental front.

Matthew Lamberth BM, now serving as the not-for-profit Fortem’s ambassador, said that with his lived experience of trauma, being able to speak about it, and having others recognise the journey, circumstances and effort, can go a long way.

“It’s a fantastic day to remember the police who have lost their lives, but also those who continue to serve the community,” he said.

Lamberth said that it’s not an easy job, adding that when the day comes around, officers should be heralded with a likeness to the respect given to those commemorated on Anzac Day.

“It’s not an easy job, and I think that police should be remembered for the service that they continually give to the community,” he said.

Lamberth was stabbed five times at Endeavour Hills police station in 2014, back when he was still a member of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.

Then 43 years old, Lamberth, alongside a Victoria Police officer, went to meet Abdul Numan Haider, who had been identified by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation as a person of interest.

They met Haider at the police station’s car park, and when they told him that they were going to search him, he pulled a knife from his jacket and stabbed the officer twice in his arm.

After, he went for Lamberth, stabbing him twice in the face, twice in the shoulder, and once in the centre of his chest.

Before he could stab him again, Lamberth’s colleague shot Haider and killed him.

Since the incident, Lamberth has been struggling with the impact on his mental well-being.

He has used that experience as a platform to help others, raising awareness for mental health and the impacts of PTSD, a message he would like to be heard during Blue Ribbon Day.

“Mental health is a big thing in policing, and I’m not going to compare it to the defence force because they are different, but it’s always about

the day-to-day toll it has on someone,” he said.

“The 29th of September is a good day to reflect on that and how it affects the lives of police officers.

“We have officers that have been killed, such as those two men in Porepunkah; we remember and honour their deaths, and we also focus on those still with us and making sure that they are as healthy as possible.”

Lamberth said that the importance of the day - which coincides with National Police Remembrance Day - is honouring those who have served and their sacrifices, but also fostering an environment for those who are currently in the field.

He emphasised that it is “okay to say you’re not okay”, and encouraged local communities to push that message, even beyond the day of commemoration.

“When you see an officer, you can just say to them ‘thank you’, and that can go far,” he said.

“I understand that not all in the community have had good experiences with police, and I also understand that not all officers are good people, but for the vast majority of people, it all boils down to kind words.

“‘Thank you, ’ that’s all you need; of course, showing up to the ceremony and seeing everyone show their appreciation, to appreciate what these people go through, it’s nice to see.”

Bringing it from his own experiences, and to many he had spoken to, it’s recognising that police officers are people too, all “doing a job as best as they can”.

“They’re all doing a job to help and protect and serve the community, and at times, they put their lives on the line, and sometimes they lose them.

“It can be through violence, through suicide, and there are times when one’s mental health becomes detrimental.”

Since the incident, Lamberth has opened up on his experiences, taking on stages such as the United Nations Global Congress for Victims of Terrorism in 2022, and more recently, at the Frontline Mental Health Conference and the Leaders in Counter-Terrorism Conference.

“It’s not easy, but having members of the public show that kind of appreciation, it can go that distance,” he said.

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OPINION

Subscribe, for facts’ sake

On World News Day (28 September) we are reminded of a truth that cannot be ignored and this is that facts matter.

In an era where misinformation and mistruths are constantly amplified on social media, and where even the President of the United States routinely distorts reality, the role of trusted, independent journalism is more critical than ever.

Local media in Australia is a necessity. We are the eyes and ears of our communities, telling the stories that matter most, celebrating our achievements, challenging injustice, and documenting the everyday triumphs and struggles that define us.

Just as importantly, we act as a watchdog. We hold governments, corporations, and institutions accountable. We ask the questions that others would prefer to avoid. We shine light into dark corners.

When misinformation and half-truths circulate unchecked, the consequences are profound.

Communities lose trust.

Division deepens.

People act on falsehoods rather than facts.

At such times, local newspapers and news sites play a stabilising role, cutting through the noise and confusion with careful reporting, rigorous standards, and a commitment to truth and balanced reporting.

At Today and Star, we believe that journalism is not just a business, it is a vital piece of public infrastructure, a cornerstone of our democracy, and a shared responsibility.

Every story we publish carries the weight of trust our readers place in us, and every headline we write reaffirms our promise to serve the public interest above all else.

Without strong, independent local media, communities risk losing not only their voice but also their connection to one another. The threads that bind us fray when truth is undermined.

That is why, on World News Day, we join with newsrooms across the globe to say clearly: Choose truth, choose facts, choose balance and choose journalism.

Paul Thomas, Managing Director, Star News

Group/Today Group.

They’re saying what we’re thinking - but don’t know how to say it

Is immigration really the villain? Let’s get real!

Everyday Australians are angry.

We hear it loud and clear.

Healthcare queues are growing.

Housing is out of reach.

Jobs feel harder to secure.

And as the pressure builds, the finger is being pointed – again and again - at immigration.

But truth be told, scapegoating immigration isn’t just unfair. It’s inaccurate. And it’s dangerous.

What do the numbers actually say?

Let’s break down the equation:

Net Overseas Migration (NOM) = Permanent migrants + Long-term visa holders (like skilled workers & parents) + Student visa holders.

It’s complex - but not sinister. Yes, NOM added around 446,000 people in 2023–24.

That’s actually down from the previous year’s peak of 536,000 (but let’s also be mindful there was a two-year gap in immigration because of Covid).

The media calls it “mass immigration.” But when you dig into the numbers, you realise we’re counting:

■ Skilled workers we invite to fill shortages (who pay around $10,000 for their visa).

■ Students who can only work limited hours and fill roles many Australians won’t.

■ Parents of citizens who pay up to $50,000 in visa fees and still don’t qualify for Medicare. These aren’t queue jumpers. They’re

not burdening the system. They’re paying into it.

In fact, most long-term and student visa holders are not eligible for Medicare or Centrelink.

So when hospitals and services are overwhelmed - is it really because of them?

Let’s get one thing straight on the housing crisis in the cities: most migrant visas are mandated regional placement conditions.

From skilled migrant pathways (subclass 491) to parent and student visas, many arrivals are required to live and work in regional areas for at least two years.

And that scheme is working.

But it is still not enough.

Regional towns are growing, prospering and revitalising.

Newcomers are picking fruit, working in aged care, rebuilding main streets, and reopening businesses that would otherwise shut.

Meanwhile, in metropolitan cities - where housing costs are driven by developers, zoning delays, investor demand, and a lack of social housing - we blame immigration. Why?

A broken housing system isn’t fixed by blaming migrants.

It’s fixed by investing in infrastructurewhere it is actually needed.

Let’s be honest.

Many Australians don’t want to work in the roles immigrants take up.

■ Fruit won’t pick itself.

■ Aged care centres and health care need carers.

■ Restaurants, hotels, farms, and retail outlets are short-staffed. Many of these jobs are filled by students and skilled migrants - not citizens on JobSeeker/Centrelink.

So maybe it’s time to consider something bold:

If unemployment persists, and jobs remain vacant - perhaps it’s time we ask everyone receiving support to contribute through volunteering or community service, as apposed to creating “generational Centrelinkers”

The system does need fixing - but we can’t fix it by blaming the wrong people. We need:

■ Clearer reporting on visa types, contributions, and capacity.

■ Civic participation and English education pathways that build belonging. No more astronomical taxpayer-funded interpreter services.

■ Political leadership that speaks plainly and honestly - not in fearmongering headlines or say what you need to get votes – enough already! The public needs to demand this to stop. We need to see through the rhetoric.

■ National values education for all -

so “being Australian” means something more than just a passport. We need to clearly identify what it means to be Australian and create pride in everyone that wants to call this amazing country home.

Let’s build a society based on contribution, fairness, and shared identity - not one divided by fear, race, or resentment.

We are proud Australians of colour. We don’t fit into boxes.

We are not Aboriginal, not Anglo, and tired of being tagged as “diverse” or “other.” We don’t want to be tokenised, tolerated or told we’re lucky to be here. We are here. We contribute. We belong. And we’re not going anywhere. We cheer for the Matildas.

We celebrate Australia Day (about time we settled that debate which recurs in January every year)!

We raise our families here. We pay our taxes. And we’re just as invested in this country as anyone else.

Our Final Word:

Let’s stop letting the loudest voices hijack the conversation.

Let’s start listening - and leading - with truth, accountability and courage.

It’s not un-Australian to ask questions. It is un-Australian to spread blame and division.

Immigration is not the enemy. The system - and our response to it … is.

What do you think? Send your thoughts to dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au for a chance to be featured in the paper.

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Crime frustration grows

By Ethan Benedicto

Days after the burglary incident at an IGA in Narre Warren North, its staff and nearby businesses were pushing ahead with business as usual.

On the night of Saturday, 13 September, three male offenders entered the supermarket on Oakview Boulevard around 6:15pm.

One of the males was armed with an axe and demanded cash from the staff member; the group made away with cigarettes and two packs of alcoholic drinks.

While no one was harmed during the incident and the other string of burglaries the group perpetuated, Anthony, a team member of the local IGA branch, said that the incident’s impact “was a lot to take in”.

“There was staff involved, young staff, so it was a lot for them to comprehend, and they’ve dealt with the matter as best as they could.

“They’ve been resilient, and they’ve been good when it comes to moving on,” he said.

As someone who had lived the experience of an armed burglary, Anthony added that he cared little for the politics of the situation of crime.

He acknowledged that when the police came to take statements, they did their jobs to the best of their abilities, but ultimately, “these guys who are doing these crimes need to be dealt with”.

“Police are doing their jobs, they catch them, and then a couple of weeks later they’re back out doing the same thing.

“It’s frustrating for them [police] and for us; we’re not the only store it’s happening to, it seems like it’s happening to everyone in the industry, so something has to give,” he said.

Not long after the incident on the weekend, the branch owner, Marco Ciavarella, announced on Facebook that “crime of this nature” had no place in the community, and that they would “stand against it”.

At the same time, he heralded the customers, locals and staff for their actions to keep one another safe.

However, this statement was soon followed by another, this time with Ciavarella announcing that the IGA branch would stop the sale of cigarettes, a difficult choice, but “the right one”, in a move to protect staff and the community.

To Anthony, he agreed that as a business move, the impact would be felt, but it came after the safety “for our staff and the people”.

When asked if he was worried about a ripple effect in the local and wider areas, he said that breakins and thefts have occurred in the past, “purely around that cigarette factor”.

“So you know, we’re hoping that by not having that component in the business, we could try to eliminate it,” he said.

One staff member from the neighbouring Post office said that despite the store being closed, the incident’s impact is still being felt.

“I mean, it’s terrible, something like that with weapons, coming into the shop; I know people have stolen [shoplifting] before, but this kind of robbery is just all the way out there,” they said.

Fun abounds at annual Doveton Show

Despite the threat of looming rain, crowds flocked to the 20th annual Doveton Show on Sunday 21 September.

The affordable mix of rides, animals and entertainment at Myuna Farm has long been a popular, cost-friendly alternative to the Royal Melbourne Show.

Thousands enjoyed the thrill rides, stage shows, roving entertainers, showbags, farm animals, carnival games, food trucks, market stalls as well as meeting local emergency volunteers.

Show spokesperson Damien Rosario said the milestone marks “two decades of fun, family and local pride”.

“The Doveton Show is more than an event, it’s a celebration of community spirit.”

They also added that they feel similar incidents have become a little too common, but at the same time, they are at a loss for what should be done.

On the same page with Anthony, they said that they didn’t think the surrounding environment invited such acts, especially considering how far away the supermarket is from the general crowd.

“The environment isn’t the problem, to be honest, this area should be a very quiet and safe area because it’s away from everything,” they said.

Anthony, as someone who has lived in the local area for the last 40 years, experiencing an incident that involved a lethal weapon was out of the ordinary.

He said that the area is lush, not just with greenery, but with families and their children.

“The timing when it all happened, there were a lot of kids around and such, and it was disturbing, you know? That’s why we made the decision to go down the path we have,” he said.

Help keep the rabbits out

By Ethan Benedicto

A pest management strategy for the City of Casey is in the works, after calls for its development were unanimously passed during the September 16 council meeting.

This issue is not new, however, with residents speaking to Star News in February 2024 and as recently as August 2025, about the rampant issues that pests, specifically rabbits, have caused in the southern fringes of Casey.

Cranbourne Gardens Ward councillor, Michelle Crowther, introduced the additional motion and began by saying that over the last 12 months, she had heard from a number of residents “in southern Casey who have been impacted by the increasing rabbit numbers”.

“From the residents who are constantly replacing their gardens after rabbits have feasted on them, to the farmers whose paddocks and veggie farms are being severely damaged by rabbit holes and warrens,” she said.

She also spoke about natural environments with rabbits causing soil erosion and placing additional pressure on local endangered species, such as the Southern Brown Bandicoot.

Rabbits, while prominent, aren’t the only concern; Cr Crowther called for a report to return to council that outlines the pests “we should be addressing”.

“Whether it’s rabbits, foxes, cats, to give some baseline data and outline the areas of Ca-

sey impacted by these pests, plus a clear action plan of how to address the issue both long term and short term,” she said.

Moving forward, the report is due to be brought back to the council in February 2026 with an interim pest animal action plan, one with a focus on the current outbreak of rabbits in Southern Casey.

Those discussions will also look to outline a scope of work for a Casey-Wide Pest Management Strategy.

This includes the identification of the significant pests impacting Casey and the scope of the strategy, an engagement plan to seek input from other councils, stakeholders and land managers, and a plan to engage with and seek funding from stakeholders; this includes both State and Federal Governments.

Cr Dave Perry initially questioned the clarity of Cr Crowther’s proposed plan on covering the entirety of Casey, with the latter party later confirming that while Casey as a whole should be addressed by the plan, a greater emphasis on quick and immediate action was needed for the southern areas of the city.

Tooradin Ward councillor Jennifer Dizon seconded the motion, and she spoke on similar issues being raised in her ward, citing them as a “real problem”.

Speaking to the Tooradin Foreshore Committee, she said that the group have “raised serious concerns” about the issue, and “as cute as

rabbits are… they’re not good when it comes to damaging the foreshore, the farms, parks, and natural environments”.

“I’ve been in regular contact with council officers on this, and they’ve confirmed extra rabbit control works are planned for Devon Meadows, Pearcedale, Cannons Creek and Tooradin.

“They’ve also made it clear that a broader view of pest management across Casey is a main priority,” she said.

Covered by the Cranbourne Star News in 2024, it was recorded then that Botanic Ridge residents have been urging the council to solve a local rabbit plague after years of what was described as exhausting and futile battles with the species.

Richard Francis, president of the Vertebrate Pest Management Association of Australia, and a zoologist, said to Star that, as someone who works to remove rabbits in the Casey area, with 100 removed at the time of speaking, “you can’t tell the difference”.

Botanic Ridge resident Merv McCormack said that the area was crawling with rabbits in the early mornings and sunsets.

“They’re eating our roses, thorns and all. They’ve ruined a couple of my garden beds; we’ve had to take extra caution to put barricades around our gates,” he told Star.

He further added that through a combination of productive agricultural land and the sand dune systems around Cranbourne and

Botanic Ridge, it heavily contributed to ideal conditions for rabbits to breed.

At the same time, a year later, a Junction Village resident, Marc Noyce, also told Star that the development and subdivision in the area caused rabbits to be forced out of their natural habitat.

As a consequence, Noyce, despite lining his garden beds and front yards with small fences, many of them were tilted, evidence he said of the rabbits’ persistent attempts to push their way through to the plants.

“The thing with rabbits is they’re very habitual, so once one finds something that tastes good, they will keep going back to that same spot until it’s not there anymore,” he told Star.

Back in the council meeting, other councillors weighed in on the issue, such as Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambros, who spoke about the prominence of damage that rabbits do to sporting facilities and grounds in her ward.

She added that rabbits have dug holes sometimesasdeepas20cm,causingchildrenandother users of fields to trip and injure themselves.

“It’s not just impacting the surfaces, it’s also impacting residents, and they’re fed up,” she said.

Another item to be discussed again in February 2026 is the preparation of a cost estimate for the engagement of a consultant to prepare the strategy, and for it to be referred to the mid-year budget review process in December.

Orchids galore as local club to host show this weekend

By Ethan Benedicto

Almost akin to last year, the cold weather tried, yet failed, to hamper the upcoming Berwick Orchids Club’s September spring show, as the flowers bloomed in preparation.

The plants, budding with life, have begun to soak in the warm spring sun, pushing through the recent hail and bouts of rain, as Murray Harding, president of the club, readies himself for a busy weekend.

“They’re a bit late, because the warmer weather’s sort of been holding off, but they’re also doing very nicely,” Murray said.

“You know, the season feels like it’s dragging its heels by a couple of weeks, but the club is moving and growing in leaps and bounds, I’m proud to say.”

The show will run this coming weekend, from Saturday, 27 September to Sunday, 28 September.

In 2024, there were over 600 people who attended, with Murray saying then that it was “the best show we’ve ever had”, and something he is looking to recreate, or maybe even surpass this year.

“Believe it or not, we’re in the top four clubs in the state for membership, we’re pretty close to 100 members, and we’re hoping that this show will attract enough people to join and put us past that number,” he said.

He said previously, having been, and continuing to be, an orchid judge for the event, Murray has heard that while there were other shows that were as big as the club’s, it was difficult to find one with a larger attendance rate.

In the meantime, Murray has surrounded himself with the plants in the greenhouse, watching as each blooms, and hoping that all will do so in time for a more than colourful display on the weekend.

Speaking on the preparation for the event, Murray said that “I don’t want to sound panicked, but I was before”.

“We’ve got hundreds of orchids that have yet to flower, and then there was a show coming up, and they were not quite there yet.

“But the last few days have been warm enough, so as long as we don’t have a cold snap between now and the weekend, it’ll be alright,” he said.

Of course, once the panic subsided, Murray was excited to see so many come along to attend the event, whether it be long-time orchid lovers or just residents who are keen to see some colour and beauty.

“Saturday is our biggest day of attendance, so I’m hoping for a lot of happenings that day,” Murray said.

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Your next voyage awaits...

By Lee Mccarthy

Gaze upon Nordic Splendour with Viking’s 15day ‘Into the Midnight Sun’ voyage from London to Bergen or vice versa.

The cruise will traverse deep-cut fjords along the fabled Norwegian coast, sail across the Arctic Circle where the midnight sun shines 24 hours a day and gives passengers a chance to follow in the footsteps of Vikings between the remote beauty of North Cape and the windswept Shetland and Orkney Islands of Scotland.

Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway and a stroll through the picturesque outdoor fish market, Fisketorget where the fresh catch of the sea awaits from cod and prawns to local caviar and icy oysters is not to be missed

Geiranger is the gateway to some of coastal Norway’s most magnificent natural treasures with the Seven Sisters Waterfall which tumble 1,000 feet into the fjord’s water, while directly across the fjord, the Suitor Waterfall also plunges down a steep face.

Throughout Scandinavia winter shows off pristine landscapes surrounded by snowcapped peaks and the aurora borealis, whose magical lights dance across the nighttime skies.

Sail to the Shetland Islands characterised by dramatic landscapes, this incredibly scenic archipelago is one of Scotland’s most remote island outposts.

Explore the history of the Scottish Orkney Islands where Neolithic remains, including the ancient site of Brodgar, predate Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

There is no capital quite like Edinburgh, with its gorgeous setting on green rocky hillocks and splendid views of the sea. Edinburgh Castle, home of the Scottish Crown Jewels and countless medieval treasures, overlooks the city from Castle Rock.

The Royal Mile unfurls Edinburgh’s architectural gems in all their finery, from the Canongate to St. Giles’s Cathedral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish residence of British royalty.

As the ship sails across the North Sea take advantage of the array of delicious cuisine offered on board. Guests can visit Mamsen’s, Viking’s casual gourmet deli, any time from early morning to late at night for a taste of traditional Norwegian fare. Or dine at Manfredi’s and savour an authentic Italian meal, with options ranging from Milanese risotto to Tuscan inspired classics.

Arrive in Greenwich, home to the Royal Observatory where the world’s longitude is measured from the prime meridian, and Greenwich Mean Time sets the global time standard.

At the port, the clipper ship Cutty Sark, one of Greenwich’s renowned historic landmarks, is preserved as a fascinating museum.

Upriver, London is home to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. In addition, this major economic and cultural hub boasts a long tradition of arts and architectural innovation from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to West End musicals.

Viking Guests have the opportunity to extend the stay in the British Isles with Viking’s four-night Great Homes, Gardens and Gin pre-extension in Oxford from $3,499 per person.

Extension guests will enjoy a flavour of English nobility and experience an exclusive look at several country estates.

Included is a Privileged Access visit to Highclere Castle, the home of TV’s Downton Abbey as well as learn the histories behind the families of

Broughton Castle, recognisable from Wolf Hall, and Chavenage House, best known for its appearance in Poldark and admire the idyllic gardens at Highgrove, home of Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort.

Viking’s inclusive value includes everything guests need with a guided excursion in every port, all onboard meals including alternative dining venues, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, unlimited Wi-Fi, 24-hour specialty tea, coffee, and bottled water, access to the state-of-the-art Nordic spa, self-service laundry and all tipping.

With no kids, no casinos, fewer than 1,000 guests, and all veranda staterooms, Viking’s award-winning ships take travellers as close as possible to each destination.

Viking’s ‘Into the Midnight Sun’ trip of a lifetime is priced from $13,395 per person, departing 17 June 2026, in a Veranda Stateroom with companion fly free saving up to AU$2,500 per booking.

For further information please visit www.viking.com or phone 138 747.

Spring is a season of renewal and the perfect time to plan your next unforgettable journey. With exclusive airfare offers, you can experience the world The Viking Way —in comfort and with more included.

Book a river voyage and fly free, or book an ocean or expedition voyage and your companion flies free. Be quick, offers end 1 December 2025*.

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2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and Flinders Chase National Park

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Comp claim knocked back

By Ethan Benedicto

A Cranbourne North service station has failed in its attempt to be compensated for lost trade during major roadworks, after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found its case had no legal foundation.

APCO Service Stations Pty Ltd, which operates at 315 Narre Warren Road, lodged an application in December 2024 seeking compensation of $413,202 for reduced sales during upgrades at the Hall Road and Thompsons Road intersection.

The works, part of the Suburban Road Upgrades project, began in early 2024 and involved lane closures and traffic diversions around the site.

The company argued that restricted access to its site between January and February 2024 caused a drop in both fuel and retail sales.

Initially, APCO sought compensation under both the Road Management Act 2004 (RM Act) and the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 (MTPF Act).

By February 2025, it abandoned its Road

Management Act claim and pursued the matter solely under section 191A of the MTPF Act.

That section entitles landholders to compensation if access to their property is denied as a direct result of the project authority exercising powers to temporarily deviate a road or divert traffic onto a “temporary roadway” or “temporarily deviated road”.

APCO claimed that the contraflow traffic arrangement near its service station amounted to a diversion onto a temporary roadway, triggering the compensation pathway.

It said the effect of the works was to deny customers proper access, resulting in a significant loss of profit.

The Department of Transport and Planning, acting as project authority, rejected this position.

It argued that all detours used existing arterial roads within the network, and that no new or temporary roadway was created.

It also noted that no Government Gazette notice, which the Act requires if a road is temporarily deviated or a temporary roadway established, had been issued.

The Tribunal agreed with the Department’s interpretation, with Senior Member Justine Jacono and Member Sarah Porritt saying the works did not involve a temporary roadway or temporarily deviated road, and therefore the legal trigger for compensation was never engaged.

“There was not a temporary deviation of any roadway or road,” the members wrote.

“The temporary diversion of traffic onto an existing road that is part of the declared arterial road network does not fall within the scope of subsection 186D(1)(c) because there was no diversion of traffic ‘onto a temporary roadway’.”

The Tribunal also dismissed APCO’s suggestion that simply lodging and processing a claim under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act was enough to enliven its jurisdiction.

It stressed that VCAT can only determine a claim if an enabling provision in other legislation first grants a right to compensation.

“There must be a proper basis for any application to the Tribunal, which requires … identification of an enabling enactment,” the decision stated.

VCAT ultimately concluded the claim was

“misconceived and doomed to fail” and dismissed it summarily under section 75 of the VCAT Act.

That provision allows the Tribunal to strike out matters that are bound to fail without the need for a full hearing.

Because the statutory preconditions were not met, the Tribunal did not consider questions of actual financial loss, adequacy of alternative access, or the scale of APCO’s claimed damages.

The decision highlights the narrow scope of compensation available to businesses affected by major road projects.

Unless authorities formally exercise powers to create a temporary roadway or deviated road, traders inconvenienced by construction works may struggle to pursue compensation through the Tribunal.

For APCO, the outcome ends a year-long attempt to recover losses it says were caused by the upgrade; and for other businesses along the Narre Warren–Cranbourne Road corridor, the ruling may serve as a reminder of the limits of state law when it comes to recouping the costs of disruption.

No weapons found in recent Dandenong search operation

No knives were found during Victoria Police’s weapons search operation in Dandenong on Thursday 18 September.

Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Guy, of the police’s Transit Safety Division, said the clean sheet was a “positive” after 118 people were searched in the eight-hour Operation Omni in the CBD and railway station precinct.

“These operations are all about deterrence,” he said.

“When no weapons are located – we see it as a positive.

“Prevention is key. We hope it’s a sign that people are getting the message: carrying weapons won’t be tolerated and you will be caught.”

Nine people were arrested, including those wanted on warrants and possessing drugs.

This included a 40-year-old woman who was wanted on 10 outstanding warrants.

Officers also detected a driver allegedly riding a modified quadbike.

The man was issued with two penalty notices for using an unregistered motor vehicle and using a vehicle not complying with the standards

of registration. He also had his bike impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1120.

The operation – led by transit police – was supported by specialist police from the Public Order Response Team and Mounted Branch.

Metro Trains authorised officers, based at Dandenong train station, also detected 78 ticketing offences.

Omni operations are conducted across the state to detect weapons and deter offending.

They are authorised under the Control of Weapons Act.

WHAT’S ON

Come and try baseball

Fun baseball activities with a pitching machine and training activities for all skill levels. Finishes with an

and a free sausage sizzle and drink for all participants. For ages 4-17 years.

– Sunday 28 September, 10am-12pm at Police Paddocks Baseball/Softball Precinct, 250 Brady Road, Endeavour Hills. Free event.

Canva masterclass

Learn to design and create your own invitations, posters and flyers with a Canva masterclass. This is a two hour session led by a digital expert.

- Wednesday 1 October, 10am-12pm at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, 141-147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North; free event. Bookings required.

• Details: 9705 5200 or PositiveAgeing@casey. vic.gov.au

Walking netball

Walking netball is a modified version of netball that is slower and more inclusive. Play is at a walking pace. Running and jumping are not allowed.

- Wednesday 1 October, 11am-12.30pm at Olive Road Sporting Complex, 2-8 Frawley Road, Eumemmerring; free event.

• Details: 9705 5200 or PositiveAgeing@casey. vic.gov.au

Sequence in-line dancing

Our popular ‘Twinkle Toes’ event features beautiful ballroom music, perfect for sitting back and enjoying. You may like to join in our unique Sequence In-line dancing. No partner required.

- Thursday 2 October 2025, 2pm-4.15pm at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21a Bemersyde Drive, Berwick.

• Details: 9705 5200 or PositiveAgeing@casey. vic.gov.au

Mid-Autumn Festival

Families can enjoy traditional mooncakes, Chinese foods, cultural performances, and lantern displays, fostering connection and cultural appreciation. Presented by the Casey Friendship Association.

- Friday 3 October, 11am-3pm at 76 Power Road, Doveton; free event.

• Details: 9705 5200 or PositiveAgeing@casey. vic.gov.au

Multicultural Family Day

This free event features Welcome and Smoking Ceremony, emergency services vehicles on display, cultural performances, food trucks, a free sausage sizzle (10.30–11.30 am), market stalls, face painting, temporary tattoos, a petting zoo, popcorn, fairy floss and plenty more activities for the whole family.

- Saturday 4 October 2025, 10.30am-1.30pm at Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, 141–147 Endeavour Drive, Cranbourne North. Free entry, all welcome.

Save the Date - Halloween 2025

Get your scariest costumes ready and come along to the Old Cheese Factory for a night of spooky, kids fun.

- Friday 31 October, 5pm-9pm at Old Cheese Factory, Homestead Road, Berwick. Tickets on sale early October.

U3A Casey – Pyrographic Art

Calling all seniors to try this unique craft. Also known as Woodburning Art, Pokerwork or Wood Burning, this artistic craft can be done on wood, leather, cork, canvas. Wood is provided for free, and a pyrography tool is available for use during the first session. After your first try out, U3A membership is $30 (July to Dec) to continue with Pyrographic Art, or to take part in any of our other 75 classes.

- Mondays 10am to 12noon at Lynbrook Community Centre, 2 Harris St, Lynbrook.

• Details: u3acasey.org.au or 0493 280 458 Scrabble in Berwick

Fridays 9.30am-12.00pm at Berwick Neighbourhood Centre, 112 High Street, Berwick.

• Details: David, 0433 566 456.

U3A Casey – Activities for Seniors

With over 580 members and 75 different classes, U3A Casey offers you a wide range of activities including Arts & Crafts, Music, Book Clubs, Social Clubs, Low-Impact Sports, Fitness, Cooking … and many more.

You can attend up to three classes for free to see if you like the classes before registering to join U3A Casey.

Membership from January to December is $60, or from July to December is $30, which allows you to choose to join any of our classes (subject to available vacancies).

• Details: u3acasey.org.au, 0493 280 458 or caseyu3a@gmail.com

Morning Melodies

Join us at Morning Melodies for heartwarming performances filled with the songs you know and love!

- 2nd Tuesday each month at Balla Balla Community Centre: Bookings: balla.balla.com.au or 5990 0900.

U3A Cranbourne

Social group for people over 50 with many interesting and creative activities. Gardens group, art and craft groups, calligraphy, scrabble, singing for fun, quilling, resin making, and card making, beginner ukuele and guitar, line dancing. Our membership fee of $50 per year entitles you to join as many classes as you wish.

• Details: www.u3acranbourne.org.au or 0493 991 919

Men’s Shed Junction Village Inc.

The Men’s Shed provides a facility for men’s mental health where men can come and enjoy each other’s company in a non-judgmental environment.

Retired men are most welcome to visit the Shed and have a chat/cuppa to check out our fully equipped Shed (lots of “toys” to play with!) and see what we do for the community. They do not need any woodwork experience as Shed members are happy to pass on their experience in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere.

Shed members can also be seen cooking a sausage at Bunnings, displaying our projects at Botanic Ridge Village, or heading off to visit other sheds around the state (All good fun!)

We are located at 41 Craig Road, Junction Village and open on Mondays from 9.00 am to 11.30 am and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 2.30 pm.

• For more information and a tour of our Shed, contact Garry on 0408 141 734.

Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club

We meet weekly for a range of different events, including bus trips, community days, games, coffee and chat, bingo, dancing and carpet bowls.

Not a member? Doesn’t matter, come along and join the fun.

Weekly activity times - Line Dancing Mon.10am12pm, New Vogue and Old Time Dance Tue. 1pm3:30pm, Carpet Bowls Wed. & Sat. 11:30am2:30pm, Bingo Thur. 11am-2pm.

For all enquiries or bookings contact Marilyn mobile 0432 107 590.

• Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/ groups/487808127399953

Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre

The Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre is a friendly seniors Club and we can offer you many activities. Our main Club Day is on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 3:00pm. On the first Wednesday of the month, we enjoy socialising with our many members and, on the next three (3) Wednesdays, we have live entertainment wherein you can do some dancing or line dancing and if you wish, with an afternoon cup of tea and biscuits. We also hold weekly activities on other days during the week, which include the Garden Group, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Gentle Exercises and friendly Card Games.

• We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station. Phone us on 9783 7112 or on Mobile 0426 736 467, or you can email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information

Blind Bight Community Centre Craft gift making for adults from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesdays.

Join in the craft gift making class and bring along your own craft to complete.

A variety of techniques and skills are shared, including mosaics, macrame, sewing and painting at $3 per class.

Playgroup from 10.30am to noon on Wednesdays.

The program provides fun play activities and craft for children at $5 per family.

Free knit and crochet from noon to 2pm on Wednesdays.

Line dancing from 1pm to 2pm on Wednesdays. All ages, and abilities welcome at $10 per class.

• For more information and for bookings, visit www.blindbightcommunitycentre.com.au

Narre’s sweet redemption

By Blair Burns

Feelings of hurt, frustration and disappointment drove Narre Warren’s Under-19 side to a premiership this season, successfully achieving redemption on last year’s heartbreaking finals exit.

While the move to the Southern League turned over a new leaf, memories of going undefeated in 2024 and exiting finals in straight sets sat at the back of the players’ minds.

This made celebrations even sweeter on the weekend as the Magpies defeated Murrumbeena by 14 points to win the Under-19s Division 1 grand final.

After finishing as minor premiers this season with a 15-3 record, the stage was set and it was fourth-placed Murrumbeena who was the challenger.

Coach Mark “Normy” Kristalyn said last year’s finals exit made him and the entire playing group even hungrier this season.

“Personally that drove me and a fair chunk of our group which was good, we didn’t want to let that happen again,” he said.

“The boys worked their asses off to get there, but we weren’t just happy to get there, we wanted to win and fortunately we got the job done.”

Kristalyn said there was no complacency, with a few losses keeping the players grounded.

“Being 15-3, we obviously got beaten a few times this year, Bentleigh (second), Port Melbourne (third) and Frankston (fifth) knocked us over late in the season,” he said.

“It was good to lose that one because it gave us a bit of a reminder that we had to stay on our game.”

Despite the Lions controlling the first half of the opening quarter, Narre Warren made the most of its forward entries to kick three straight goals, establishing a 15-point lead at the first break.

The goals came through Luca Pascuzzi, Toby Griffiths and Austin Fardell, all in the space of seven or eight minutes.

“We steadied and found some composure and once we got one goal, we soon added another two, which was a pleasing way to start the game,” Kristalyn said.

The Lion drew first blood in the second quarter, before ruckman Liam McGuinness, who was playing a blinder; hit the scoreboard to extend the margin back to 15 points.

The arm-wrestle continued with both sides missing chances, until Dakotah Maxwell put the Magpies up by 23 points at the main break.

But Murrumbeena added two goals in the third quarter and it was anyone’s game, with the

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Lions coming home strong.

“At three quarter time, we might’ve been a couple of goals up, but I wasn’t happy with how we were going,” Kristalyn said.

“We were just going through the motions, so I gave them a fair bit of a spray.”

The game opened up a bit in the fourth quarter and when Narre Warren kicked the first two goals of the quarter, it appeared as though the Magpies were home, leading 51-26 … but Murrumbeena had one last effort.

The Lions piled on the next three goals of the game to bring the margin back to just seven points, making for a tense final 10 minutes.

“We steadied and kicked the next goal (through Austin Fardell) which broke their hearts a bit,” Kristalyn said.

Narre Warren held on to win by 14 points, tasting premiership glory for the second time in three years after they also won back in 2023.

After a combined 30 senior games throughout the season, captain Jimmy Dwyer, Ethan Kennedy and Julian Goerlitz were instrumental in the victory, Kennedy earning the best on ground medal for his dominant performance.

“Jules and Ethan were among the best in most games they played in the seniors as well, Jules is actually still eligible for 19s next year, but I don’t think we will see much of him,” Kristalyn said.

It was hard work which created the success, with the players hitting the track straight after last year’s devastating preliminary final loss to Officer by three points.

“Within two weeks, led by our co-captains Jimmy Dwyer and Riley Curran, the boys started training one night a week before the seniors even did,” Kristalyn said.

“It was mid-October when we started training, and it was all driven by the leaders which was awesome.

“Jimmy is like another coach, he is a really composed fella and a great footballer who leads from the front – he has a big future.”

From the bottom to the top...Falcons incredible season

By Blair Burns

Endeavour Hills was unbeatable in the second half of the Southern Division 2 Under-19s season, winning 13 consecutive games to taste the ultimate success and return to Division 1.

The Falcons were too strong for Hampton last week to win a thrilling grand final by 15 points, 7.11 (53) to 4.14 (38).

Coach George Kountourogiannis was “ecstatic” with the victory, crediting the players and his coaching staff for their support and commitment throughout the year.

“I was really thrilled for the boys, they have had a huge buy-in … they got together at the last minute and nobody really knew each other as we only had about six or seven players from 2024,” he said.

“It was really pleasing to see all of the effort they put in, and the reward was a premiership at the end of the day.”

It has been a meteoric rise for the Falcons in the space of six short months, who at the start of the year were no certainty to even have a team.

“It was a difficult and challenging period, I wasn’t even sure if we would have an Under19s team, we were trying to negotiate with Narre Warren at that stage, because we knew they had around 60 players,” Kountourogiannis said.

To set the scene a little more, the Falcons had just been relegated from Division 1, they won two games last year and had been smashed with injury.

The culture wasn’t great and there had been issues with player behaviour last season, two

things that Kountourogiannis was determined to fix quickly.

“Priority number one was our behaviour, there were a lot of internal punishments, game suspensions and actual fines as well – we tried to nip that in the bud quickly,” he said.

“We fixed those things up from day one and there was a big tick there. Then we built the bond and connection between the players and coaches, which went a long way.”

The team found players from near, far and everywhere to form a team which would go on to achieve something special.

Kountourogiannis is a big believer in statistics, analytics and video analysis to help the de-

velopment of the players, and when Hampton “flogged” the Falcons by 84 points in round 3, he and his three coaching assistants got to work.

On top of that, they also lost three of their first four matches, before going on a ridiculous 13-game winning streak to finish the year with a flag.

“We started to really gel together, get the buyin, and focus on what we needed to do to bridge the gap against Hampton, looking at things we weren’t getting right,” Kountourogiannis said.

“The mindset was; regardless of where we are on the ladder or scoreboard, let’s have a crack and try to get the best out of each other.

“Hampton hadn’t lost to anyone until we

beat them in round 10, we had them in the last round of the year and got them again.”

Then finals rolled around and the Falcons did it again … winning by two points against the Hammers to advance to the season decider.

After winning the toss, Endeavour Hills elected to kick against the wind with the knowledge that Hampton always outscored them in the final quarters, hoping to rewrite that narrative and come home strong.

But the Falcons were convincingly beaten early and Hampton had seven shots from 16 entries, numbers that concerned the coaches.

“Thank goodness they couldn’t kick straight at first, otherwise it could’ve been a different story – but credit also goes to our boys for the pressure which made their shots on goal challenging,” Kountourogiannis said.

The second term was better for the Falcons, locking down Hampton star Noah Green and getting some good looks at goal thanks to Mitch Grant’s midfield dominance.

At half time, they had taken their chances to lead 3.3 (21) to 0.8 (8), but the Hammers began to surge, kicking three goals in the third and another one in the fourth.

Despite this, Endeavour Hills held on by 15 points with Grant receiving the best on ground medal for a brilliant performance.

Nikolas Christodoulou led the way for the Falcons up forward, booting three goals in the low scoring contest, while the open grade also won the grand final, capping off a brilliant day for the club.

Triple Nelson hits Berwick

By Jonty Ralphsmith

The Nelson family has returned to Eastern Football Netball League Premier club Berwick.

Former Carlton VFL-listed Luke, Frankston VFL-listed Matt and 23-year-old Tom will line up for the Wickers in 2026.

It follows extended stints at Noble Park for the trio with Luke crossing from Berwick to the Bulls in 2017 before spending 2025 playing for VAFA club Collegians, while Matt and Tom have been at the Bulls for three and two seasons respectively.

Luke played in Berwick’s most recent senior premiership in 2015, and, while Matt and Tom have never played for Berwick, both have vivid memories of celebrating the club’s four 2015 flags as bright-eyed kids.

The passage of time has given Matt and Tom an appreciation of the milestone and they hope to contribute with Luke to future success.

“We saw it as an opportunity to get the family name back to Berwick and help this young team push for finals,” Luke said.

“Berwick had a lot of promising results this year so the big drawing card was hearing about the trajectory they’re on and youth they have.

“They have a big home ground at Edwin Flack so being full of energy and run and adding experience to the mix hopefully helps give us a chance to play finals.”

Frankston VFL-listed Matt is viewed as a likely successor to retired star Tom Brennan in Berwick’s midfield given his contested ball-winning, kicking and speed.

He showed off those traits for Noble Park this year, playing 15 games and named in the best seven times as a hard working midfielder-forward.

“When you get a chance to replace a player who has been in the team for many years is a compliment and a task to deliver,” Matt said.

“He understood his role and was a contested ball winner and drove the standards with his pressure. Ben Todd and Ashton Williamson are others who are freaks in there so learning from those boys in there will be big.

“That task is something I’ll remember throughout the year; no matter what happens at Frankston, when I’m at local I’ll have in the back of my head that I’m replacing Tommy and I’ll try and contribute the way he contributed.”

Matt also played two VFL games, one of those coming against Luke, who played 16 VFL games for Carlton this year, with that night helping cement Luke’s decision to step away from the state league following 2025, having achieved a goal of sharing the field with Matt at the level.

“It was one of the best moments of my life,” Matt said.

“I wanted to showcase to the coaches and the fans that I belong at Frankston and make my parents proud.

“It was my first game of the year and (Luke and I) manned up on each other most times and I got my first stat line against him, a tackle, so that was pretty cool.

“There were moments in the game, Luke would just say to me ‘how good’s this?’ and it was unreal.

“The atmosphere of Frankston with the crowd and the drums going was unbelievable.”

Matt’s pair of VFL games follows four in his first year on Frankston’s list, currently stuck behind a conga-line of talent off the halfback line including potential future AFL player Jackson Voss and established VFL duo Taine Barlow and Joe Lloyd.

Matt has gained plenty from his time at state league level which he’ll look to build on in 2026 and brother Tom has absorbed plenty of lessons from

both of his brothers who have VFL experience.

Tom is coming off a season interrupted by an ankle injury and is hoping to take his footy to the next level in 2025.

“Us three grew up together and we’re all very competitive,” Tom said.

“Matt trains his heart out and when I see that it helps me.

“He goes about it the right way and Luke does the same and his dedication to go to Coburg in the VFL where I got to do some training sessions is enormous.

“At some stage I’d love to play at that level as well.

“I hope Matt keeps doing what he’s doing and obviously Luke has had a good VFL career.

“The three of us playing together will be special and even though me and Matt haven’t played for the club, they’ve welcomed us in.”

While 20-year-old Matt and 23-year-old Tom fit Berwick’s demographic perfectly, Luke will add

valuable experience, with his acquisition a full circle moment for many at the club who have been keen to get the family back for some time.

As well as Luke, older brother Aidan, now at Berwick Springs, was also at the club for three seasons as a reserves player, and was part of the 2015 reserves flag.

Berwick finished ninth on the table in 2025 with a 5-13 record but is viewed as a side which could rise quickly in 2026, having consistently challenged the best sides in the competition.

A defence high in pressure and discipline, emerging talents in the midfield and Jai Neal’s breakthrough season as a powerful forward provides optimism for next year.

“I know personally a lot of them through (Dandenong) Stingrays or other ways,” Matt said.

“They’re setting a high mark this year especially and what’s better than adding three Nelsons?

“They’re building and they’re slowly going up every year.”

Foxes trio among Dandenong Stingrays V/Line Cup squad

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Powerhouse junior girls program Narre North Foxes had three girls make Dandenong Stingrays 2025 V/Line Cup squad.

Tiffany Boswell, Sienna Roden and Isabella Krause will all represent the region at the Under15s tournament which brings together the best talent from country regions in that age group.

It is an annual three-day showcase taking place this week at Ballarat.

As well as that trio, Leila Hyland is in the squad as an emergency.

The Foxes won the Under-12s, Under-14s and Under-16s girls premierships, with the aforementioned quartet all playing key roles in the Under-16s flag.

“A lot of it comes down to us jumping on the front foot early when girls footy took off,” Under16s coach Greg Brittain said.

“We want to try and develop them and give them the best possible opportunity to take their footy further by putting good strategies and coaches in place.

“We’re continually growing it and putting the effort in skills wise.

“We’re teaching them game awareness and where to be rather than playing a contested style but they’re coming along well.

“The age groups all have a lot of depth so it’s coming along well for us.”

Boswell’s selection follows her taking part in the 2025 National Medleys Program, an AFL initiative which provides a platform tor multicultural females to develop footy and leadership.

“She’s finding her way and is starting to understand her game better and uses her drive and

power well,” Brittain said.

“I played her on the back flank and she’s got good pace and skill so her run off the back flank was handy and we utilised her as a tagger in the grand final.

“She has a lot of potential.”

Krause kicked four goals in a standout qualifying final, while Roden is another viewed as having plenty of upside.

“Issy has game smarts and knows how to find the goals,” Brittain said.

“She could be something pretty special around the goals.

Sienna is a winger who is very fast and has really nice skills.

“One of her biggest features is probably her speed.

“She has come a long way this year develop-

ing under the older girls.

Hyland, meanwhile, got midfield minutes for the Foxes alongside Lily Brittain and Ella Bologa, both of whom represented Vic Country at the Under-16s National Development Championships this year.

“She knows how to find the footy and has all the skills and attributes you’d want,” Brittain said.

Full Dandenong Stingrays V/Line Cup squads

Girls: Luna Kovac (Edithvale-Aspendale), Ruby Wilson (Dromana), Tiffany Boswell (Narre North Foxes), Jess Gray (Crib Point), Mali Roberts (Frankston Dolphins), Ivy Ward (Frankston Dolphins), Lucy Malcomson (Bonbeach), Mazmine Malloy (Pearcedale-Baxter), Khaliah Turner (Langwarrin), Shae Anderson (Officer), Bridie Campbell (Langwarrin), Eden Bruynen (Crib Point), Sophie Hussey (Frankston YCW), Hailey Wallis (Frankston YCW), Ava Collett (Dromana),

Isabelle Litchfield (Balnarring), Misha Simmons (Frankston YCW), Izzy Simmons (Dromana), Charlotte Hili (Officer), Hayley parrant (Cranbourne), Apiel Dhor (Officer), Isabelle Krause (Narre North Foxes), Sienna Roden (Narre North Foxes)

Boys Division 1: (Hamish Kunjaraman (Crib Point), Kai Parsons (Langwarrin), Andrew Fitzgerald (Devon Meadows), Harry Gallagher (Langwarrin), Hudson Brown (Berwick), Harper Murray (Edithvale-Aspendale), Zac O’Connor (Berwick), Zen Blythe (Mt Eliza), Aidan Farr (Carrum Patterson Lakes), Ashton Harrison (Langwarrin), Logan Stockx (Berwick0, Sebastian Bayard (Berwick), Cuan Roberts (Carrum Patterson Lakes), Makai Veidreyaki (Mt Martha), Angus Jones (Mt Eliza), Darcy Irving (Somerville), Declan Maling (Berwick), Brandon Ellis (Pearcedale-Baxter), Kai Benstead (Berwick Springs), Sebastian Coghlan (Mt Martha), Leon Noble (Somerville), Maxwell Davies (Cranbourne), Hudson Seal (Mt Eliza)

Boys Division 2: Jack Plunkett (Officer), Archie Campbell (Mt Martha), Cole Thickens (Mt Martha), Douie Williams (Officer), Fletcher Wilson (Mt Martha), Mony Jur Nyok (Berwick Springs), Marley Smart (Sorrento), Juzzy Delphine (Berwick), Taj Davey (Frankston YCW), Cooper Bruce (Edithvale-Aspendale), Jordan Guest (Crib Point), Kayden Anderson (Bonbeach), Cooper Wood (Officer), Charlie Lovich (Somerville), Toby Gomme (Mt Martha), Tate Bourchier (Mt Martha), Sebastian Collins (Mt Martha), Cohen Beauchamp (South Mornington), Josh Slater (Berwick), Jack Duggan (Somerville), Ethan Rogers (Langwarrin), Declan Kennedy (Officer), Rafael Merchan (South Mornington).

Let’s Talk Sport

WITH DAVE NAGEL, JONTY RALPHSMITH, JUSTIN SCHWARZE AND BLAIR BURNS

Zac, Nate and Norm Smith

Well lads, welcome back to another week of LTS, footy is almost in the background, we have a couple of sad Collingwood supporters in the room and there was plenty happening over the weekend with the West Gippsland grand finals. We will kick if off with best action, and start with you Dave.

BEST ACTION

DAVE: On the weekend, the footy was fantastic. For Tooradin to win they had to keep it to a very low scoring game, which they did. They didn’t win, but full credit to Jordy Kelly and his team for the tactics that they employed. Nar Nar Goon chains the ball out of stoppage so well and they did in the first quarter. It’s like hands, hands, hands and then they have two left-footed halfbacks who lace out their forwards with 50m kicks. They did it once in the first quarter, but Tooradin defended the ground really well, so well done to Jordy. It got back to eight points, 19 minutes into the last quarter when Adam Oxley kicked a goal, but the best action for me goes to Jonty’s number one pick in the top 50 this year, Nate Pipicelli. It comes down to the 19 minute mark of the last quarter, eight points the difference … you’re thinking Nar Nar Goon could lose this. What happens? Nate Pipicelli in the ruck, he wins the ball out of the ruck, kicks it deep into the forward line and Cooper Pursell takes a mark, quick answer, game over. That stoppage win, he just changed the game in an instant. Nate Pipicelli, well played. Also Jake Blackwood, one of the Blackwood’s who missed out last year, he took a mark half a second before the siren went at the end, so that was fitting that he had the ball in his hands. And just a special mention to Elisha Nicholas from Korumburra Bena. The A grade grand final was 43-43 with just a second or two left on the clock and she nailed the match-winner and her teammates went wild, so she is in the best action this week. But I will give it to Nate Pipicelli for his match-winning clearance when the game was on the line.

JONTY: I was a little bit pressed for local stuff but I did have one yesterday. The loudest reaction when the players were receiving their VFL premiership medallions was reserved for Zac Walker. The Phillip Island natives came down in droves to support one of their own and probably had to travel further than anyone else on Footscray’s VFL list to get there. He had a quieter day yesterday, but eight goals in the first two finals to help Footscray get to the grand final. A great storyline and what dreams are made of, you grow up supporting the Dogs and now he has got, albeit at VFL level, a premiership with those colours.

DAVE: Briefly remind us of the story, the rise of Zac Walker.

JONTY: He wasn’t on a Coates League list in January, was overlooked as a result of his kicking, believed to not be good enough to make Coates level, let alone AFL level. So, basically he applied himself last year playing for Phillip Island, he got an opportunity in January as an over-ager, then picked up in the mid-season draft by the Western Bulldogs. He was only picked up because the Bulldogs’ other preferences were already off the board. Had that mid-season draft fallen the way it was expected to, he doesn’t get picked up, so line in the sand moments everywhere.

DAVE: We could be looking at a Shaun Mannaghtype rise from the VFL, but just a younger version.

JUSTIN: I have got two pieces of best action. My first one, I was absolutely enthralled by eight games of netball on Saturday in the West Gippsland League, I spent eight hours court-side chatting to fans.

DAVE: What...your fans?

JUSTIN: No Dave; netball fans. It was a great day of action in the 17-under grand final between Cora Lynn and Phillip Island, it was right down to the wire. Phillip Island came back and took the lead and then Cora Lynn wrestled it back to hit the front by one. Phillip Island had the centre pass, but Sienna McPherson, the goal defence for Cora Lynn, intercepted the pass at a crucial moment. Cora Lynn got it forward from there and scored a goal to widen the gap to two goals – that was a game-breaking play and won the premiership for Cora Lynn. It was the club’s fourth premiership of

the day, going on to win five. My other one was from the MPFNL Division 1 grand final, which was low scoring and wet. Rosebud was coming home hard with the wind in the fourth quarter and a kick came into the forward 50 but no-one could hold it. Liam Tidd came out of nowhere, picked up the footy and off one step, belted it home from 50m to put Rosebud in front by three points and win the game.

BLAIR: I actually got down to the VFL grand final at Ikon Park. I had a near miss with a tram and braved the heavy rain, but we got there. Best action, I am going to give it to Jedd Busslinger, a key defender who went forward for Footscray late in the game. This came after Southport had really got back into the match and it was anyone’s game. Busslinger bursts out on a lead, takes the mark about 40m out on the boundary before going back and slotting a huge goal. There were Footscray fans around me who groaned and said this could go anywhere. I was perfectly right behind the goals and had a beautiful angle to watch it bend back. I haven’t seen a crowd erupt like that in a long time, a huge moment.

JONTY: It was his second goal at VFL/AFL level in 54 games.

BLAIR: What a time to do it.

JONTY: It was a really long last quarter which went 37 minutes. You wouldn’t have heard it being there, but over the effects mic, at about the 32 minute mark, a Footscray fan screams, “wake the bloody timekeeper up” (boys laugh).

BLAIR: It was a bit like that, there were even Footscray fans behind the goals chanting ‘SIREN’ for a number of minutes. But yeah, shoutout to Jedd.

LOCAL FOOTY RIVALRIES

BLAIR: What local footy rivalry are you looking

forward to, or one you enjoyed this year?

JONTY: It is worth noting that three of the great rivalries in the region won’t happen next year. Cranbourne won’t play Narre Warren, which we got for one season. Doveton won’t play Hampton Park, because Hampton Park has been promoted, and Devon Meadows won’t play Pearcedale as a result of Devon Meadows winning the flag. But Buln Buln and Neerim South, they have been the two powerhouse clubs of the Ellinbank region and I think they are seven or eight minutes from each other. Every time those two teams play each other, it is really tight and anything can happen – I always look forward to it.

DAVE: I sort of got spoilt when I started doing this job, Cranbourne and Narre Warren was just the best rivalry ever. There were only two teams that could win the flag each year and they just used to belt the crap out of each other. Nar Nar Goon and Tooradin is not a fierce rivalry, but is probably the rivalry that West Gippsland football needed this year, because Nar Nar Goon was so superior to everyone else. For next year, the local rivalry in Southern is going to be Narre Warren and Hampton Park. It used to be massive.

JONTY: What, back in the 50s? (Jonty laughs, happy with his own work)

DAVE: Yeah, they started playing together in the South West Gippsland Football League in 1954. Hampton Park was part of that and Narre, or Narre Hallam as they were called back in the day, were also part of that.

JONTY: I was exaggerating when I said the 50s; I didn’t know it actually was.

DAVE: They have been rivals for a very long time, but the last time they played each other, Narre was so superior to Hampton Park. I don’t know

Luke Bull and have never spoken to him, but I can tell by reading Blair’s articles that some blokes are just winners and they won’t accept anything else.

BLAIR: Yeah, I agree. He has been great for Hampton Park this year and is driven to succeed.

JUSTIN: Both of mine have a big asterisk next to them, because we have to wait and see how things play out in Outer East with some reshuffling. It’s hard to beat Cranbourne and Narre Warren, but Emerald and Gembrook Cockatoo is a wonderful rivalry. Our good friend Jonty Ralphsmith has unofficially named it the “Puffing Billy Cup” (boys laugh). This year, both games were absolute classics, especially with the goal after the siren game earlier in the year, on Anzac Day. You can’t get better than that, but we may not see it because Emerald may go down, but that is yet to be confirmed. The other one is Officer and Pakenham, again as asterisk, because Pakenham may go up due to restructuring and they didn’t win the grand final. If that rivalry was to happen next year, I would really look forward to it, both won the Under-18s flags this season, both were in the Under-19s last year and are young and upcoming teams which will beat the crap out of each other. The Princes Highway Cup I will call it.

BLAIR: Cranbourne v Narre Warren was a really enjoyable rivalry while we had it. Like we said, Hampton Park going into Division 1 and playing Narre Warren will be interesting. Also Cranbourne back into Division 2 against Doveton.

DAVE: Cranbourne and Doveton is a massive rivalry, that will be huge.

AFL GRAND FINAL PREDICTIONS

JUSTIN: I am notoriously bad at grand final predictions, along with a couple of mates on our radio show, last year we all picked Sydney by three or four goals, so that was not a good look. I have been on Geelong all year, they have been the best team for a while so I have tipped them by 23 points. Norm Smith, this was a coin toss for me between Gryan Miers and Max Holmes, but I have gone with the speedster Holmes. Missing out in 2022 with the hamstring injury, he’s got a lot of fire in the belly and so much to play for. First goal I have Zac Bailey, he brings energy and is going to come right out of half forward and get the first one of the game.

JONTY: I am really happy that Max Holmes will hopefully get to play in a premiership, that is the really positive storyline if Geelong wins.

BLAIR: Then you have the other side with Oscar McInerney for Brisbane.

DAVE: My grand final predictions are … and boys I’m coming off two years ago where I had 10 bucks on Bobby Hill to win the Norm Smith at 100-1 and won $1000, so that was pretty cool. Geelong by 18 points, I reckon it will be a really close one and Geelong might kick a couple of goals late and I reckon the guy that will kick them is going to be my Norm Smith prediction, Shaun Mannagh. I think he will kick five and win the Norm, he will fly under the radar. First goal; Jonty’s boy, Logan Morris.

JONTY: Geelong by three goals, with Patrick Dangerfield to back up his preliminary final heroics and get best on ground, Josh Dunkley to kick the first goal. I would love to see him win a flag. He flies under the radar but god, he is an absolute superstar. I will be barracking hard for Brisbane on Saturday, that is for sure.

DAVE: Because you dislike Geelong or you like Brisbane?

JONTY: More the latter.

BLAIR: Given my history, listen at your own risk. Cats by 37 points, Hugh McCluggage to get absolutely locked up again like he did in the first final. And my boy Shauny Mannagh for Norm, he is the only reason I ever support Geelong, he is one of the nicest and most humble blokes you will meet and his story is the best. He already has a Norm, a Norm Goss Medal, now it’s time for a Norm Smith. Three goals and 23 disposals for him. I am a Shaun Mannagh cheersquad, it’s an infatuation. and is definitely on the same level as Tom Toner. Also Jezza Cameron to kick the first of the game. That is another week of Let’s Talk Sport with cricket approaching next week, so it’ll be a bit of a different chat. See you then.