News - Cranbourne Star News - 6th August 2026

Enchanted light forest

A survivor’s story

ders, Child Protection involvement and specialist family violence support, Mia said she and her young daughter still have no permanent home they can safely return to. She had been told the wait for public housing could take years.

depend on property availability and demand in the areas an applicant chooses.

her real name) about the abuse she endured and the struggle to find safety, housing and financial support after leaving.

After years of police reports, intervention or-

According to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), the expected waiting time for a priority allocation due to family violence in 2025-26 was 18.1 months. Waiting times

Meanwhile, her estranged husband, who allegedly strangled her with a hammer and poured petrol on himself and her home earlier this year, was released from custody after receiving a 90day prison sentence that had already been served.

Mia’s ordeal comes as the South East continues to confront the devastating consequences of

family violence. Not that far away in Clyde North, mother-of-two Brooke Stephens was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died, with her partner later charged with murder and remanded in custody. Hundreds gathered at a vigil on Sunday 2 August to remember Ms Stephens, where friends declared that no woman should ever feel unsafe in her own home.

Full story pages 12-13

Data centre angst grows

By Violet Li

A petition opposing a proposed $1.1 billion data centre in Clyde North is nearing 1000 signatures.

The petition, launched by Clyde North resident Lee Zelig on 25 July, had attracted more than 880 verified signatures by 31 July.

It calls for the proposed 53.6-hectare development at 585 Berwick-Cranbourne Road to be halted until concerns around noise, electricity and water demand, neighbourhood character and other potential impacts are examined.

Ms Zelig’s son Saar Zelig spoke to Star News on behalf of his mother, who did not wish to speak publicly.

Mr Zelig believed many nearby residents had also been unaware of the proposal.

“My mum said there was no online representation, barely any publicity or public consultation being made,” he said.

“There was no one that had any awareness, which is why we started this petition on Change.org to rally the people.”

He said his family moved to Clyde North because they love the place, the atmosphere, and it’s a good sense of community around here.

“There’s something special about this place, and that’s why we don’t want to see it harmed,” he said.

“We feel that this proposed data centre is in the heart of the community. My house is only a few minutes away.

“I’m scared for myself because as a university student, I like studying at home.

“I like going on morning walks in my local park at Smith Lane, but if I hear this constant humming in the background, this distracting noise of the cooling fans and the HVAC systems that operate when they have these data centres, how will I be impacted?

“It’s almost unfair.”

Mr Zelig said putting an industrialized large infrastructure like a data centre, right in the middle of the residential area ruins not just the property values, but it has a big visual impact.

“It ruins the whole sense of community,” he said.

“People feel that it’s almost like a city. It’s not going to be a friendly suburb anymore.”

Mr Zelig said he was not opposed to data centres or AI technology but questioned whether a development of this scale belonged so close to residential areas.

“One thing I know about a data centre itself is that it takes up a lot of resources beyond any other regular typical industrial building or infrastructure,” he said.

“The traffic and the construction might take months or even years… I’m also talking about how data centres impact the electricity, the water bill, the air pollution, the radiation. That’s something that other industrial infrastructure

typically don’t have as much of an impact in.

“I’m not against having a little bit of industrial infrastructure over there, but I am against something that will cause a massive kind of shock wave of impact to everyone around, and they’re not going to be ready for it.

“They’re not going to be prepared for it because there hasn’t been enough transparency and genuine consultation before this decision is being made.”

Mr Zelig said organisers hoped to eventually attract several thousand signatures and were considering a larger community protest.

Casey Council said no decision had been made on the application, which is the first data centre planning permit application received by the municipality.

Council planning officers are assessing the proposal and have requested further information, while also seeking advice from the EPA and water and power authorities.

The site is within the Urban Growth Zone and, under State planning provisions applying to the land, the application is exempt from standard public notice requirements and third-party appeal rights.

However, Council said it would still consider issues raised through submissions.

Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen told Star News before that councillors would be briefed on the proposal, and it would be inappropriate to form a view before all relevant information was received.

The Clyde North campaign has also become part of a broader Change.org movement titled Halt data centre development Australia/NZ, which currently groups 24 petitions with more than 82,000 supporters.

The movement includes campaigns from communities across Australia and New Zealand opposing data centre and AI infrastructure proposals near homes, waterways and other sensitive areas, with campaigners commonly raising concerns about consultation, noise, heat and energy use.

Planning for Growth, Together.

Website taken down after local concerns

A website promoting a 96-lot housing estate in Cranbourne South’s Green Wedge has been taken down following concerns by residents.

The “Pujya Golden Acres” website promoted allotments ranging from 180 to 250 square metres and described the project as a “low-density, villa-style estate where each family owns their individual plot within a professionally planned township”

It advertised about 96 residential plots, “easy access from Langley Road and Homewood Road” and proximity to the proposed BAPS Melbourne Akshardham temple complex at 1390-1450 Western Port Highway.

The website also featured “Inquiry Now” buttons, residential imagery and signs marked “AVAILABLE”

The website showed that some lots had been “sold“ or “reserved“.

Cranbourne Gardens Ward councillor Michelle Crowther stated on her Facebook that she had been contacted by a number of community members about the proposal.

“To date, council has not received a planning application for the housing development shown on the website,” she said.

“Based on the publicly-available information, the proposed development would not be permitted under the Green Wedge planning controls that apply in the area.”

Some local residents questioned the website in the local Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group.

Star News visited the Homewood Road property listed on the website.

People currently living at the property said the sale had not settled, and they were unaware of the proposed development.

Clyde North local Monil Patel, who is behind the proposed project, said no residential lots were currently for sale.

“No one can buy now,” he told Star News. Mr Patel said the purchase of the property

had not yet settled, and the housing concept was intended as a long-term proposal that could only proceed if planning circumstances changed and relevant government and council approvals were obtained.

He said he hoped the area might potentially be included in a future Precinct Structure Plan, saying the project could be three, four or five years away.

Mr Patel said the website had been built as a demonstration for a possible future project, with the domain name secured in advance.

“This website is not for any particular current project,” he said.

“We want to build this website two years or three years after. The domain name is very expensive, so we bought it three years in advance.”

He said design work had also been undertaken for a proposed future subdivision and maintained the project was not being marketed

as something people could currently buy into.

Mr Patel said: “We didn’t put any misleading marketing information.”

Mr Patel said he had contacted his website developer and asked for the site to be closed.

“We want to do (it) after three, four, five years to get the government permission,” he said.

“We are not selling anything.”

A Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group spokesperson said it would strongly oppose any future application resembling the development advertised online, arguing it would be incompatible with Green Wedge objectives, policy and the planning scheme.

The group also raised concerns that development pressure could grow around the nearby proposed BAPS temple site, including for residential, retail, recreational, education and community uses, and said it would continue lobbying governments for stronger Green Wedge protections.

Casey picked for noisy vehicle camera trial

By Violet Li

More than 3000 noisy vehicle incidents have been reported in Casey over the past five years, as the municipality is chosen for the first phase of an EPA Victoria acoustic camera trial.

Casey is one of four council areas, alongside Port Phillip, Knox and Stonnington, where roadside acoustic cameras will be deployed under a two-year Victorian Government-funded trial.

EPA said Casey was selected after analysis of Victoria Police noisy vehicle reports identified hotspots across the municipality.

The cameras are designed to detect excessively noisy vehicles and capture their registra-

tion details.

EPA can then issue a notice requiring the vehicle owner to submit it for noise testing at an accredited facility.

Failure to present a vehicle for testing, or to bring it into compliance, can attract fines of $1221 for individuals and $6105 for companies.

An EPA spokesperson said exact locations in Casey were yet to be determined and would be selected in consultation with council, taking into account logistical access and the history of noisy vehicle reports.

The agency is still working through the procurement process, with the trial expected to go live later this year. Seven cameras will ultimately be used across the two-year program.

Trust lags despite rise in Casey satisfaction

By Violet Li

Only about one in four Casey residents has ‘high or complete’ trust in the council decisions, according to an independent annual state-coordinated research report.

The 2026 Klein Community Satisfaction Survey found Casey’s overall performance score rose four points to 51 but remained below the Victorian average of 58 and the 53 recorded by comparable interface councils.

The survey identified decision-making in the interest of the community, opportunities to give feedback on key local issues, condition of sealed local streets, and spending public funds as key opportunities for the council to address.

Just 26 per cent of residents reported high or complete trust in Council decisions, while about one-third had little or no trust.

Councilscored47formakingdecisionsinthe community’s interest, five points below the State average, while its score of 46 for spending public funds was the lowest of the headline measures. Opportunities to provide feedback recorded one of the biggest improvements, rising eight points to 48, but remained seven points below the State average of 55, the largest gap among the core measures surveyed.

The survey recommended Council better explain the reasoning behind major decisions anddemonstratehowcommunityfeedbackhad influenced outcomes, with particular attention given to residents aged 35 to 64 and those in Casey’s southern ward.

“This survey is just one of the ways we hear directly from our community. We’re pleased to see our overall performance improve and that residents are recognising improvements across many of our services,” Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said.

“This result reflects the importance of having a Council that is locally led and accountable to the community, with Councillors and Council working together to deliver on the priorities that matter most to Casey residents.

“At the same time, we recognise that there is always more to do, and we’re committed to continuing to listen to our residents and deliver the infrastructure and services our growing community needs.”

Waste management remained Casey’s standout performer, increasing six points to 73, one point above the State average, while customer service scored 66 and sealed local streets improved six points to 52.

President of Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) Anthony Tassone said the overall improvement should be recognised but warned against complacency.

He said residents were also calling for better engagement, clearer evidence of how their feedback influenced decisions and greater confidence that public money was being spent wisely.

“As one of Victoria’s fastest-growing municipalities, Casey’s challenge isn’t simply delivering quality infrastructure and services,” he said,

“As Casey grows, residents also expect transparent decision-making, meaningful consultation and confidence that Council is acting in the community’s best interests.

“This survey should be seen as encouragement to keep improving, not a reason for complacency.

“Listening to residents is important but showing people how their feedback has influenced Council’s decisions is what builds trust.”

EPA chief executive Joss Crawford said the technology could help get noisy vehicles off the road and protect communities from excessive noise.

Noise complaints have been rising across Victoria.

EPA received 5404 noise reports in 2020-21, compared with more than 9100 last year.

Almost 5000 noisy vehicle testing notices and 1222 noisy vehicle infringement notices were issued in 2025.

EPA said vehicle noise limits vary depending on the type and age of the vehicle, with older vehicles regulated under Victoria’s Environment Protection Regulations 2021 and newer vehicles covered by the Australian Design Rules.

Cranbourne races cancelled

Horse racing at Southside Cranbourne racecourse was abandoned on Wednesday 5 August.

Racing Victoria stewards announced at 6.56am that the eight-race meet was cancelled to track conditions after 16 millimetres of rain fell overnight.

A post from Racing Victoria stated there was surface water on the track after “higher than forecast” rainfall.

“Our racing team will review the upcoming racing program today and advise of any changes as a result.”

Case for SRL cancellation

By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Corey Everitt

The State Budget’s bottom line would be improved by $21 billion over the next decade if the Suburban Rail Loop’s stage 1 was cancelled, according to Parliamentary Budget Office figures.

Speculation has mounted that newly installed Premier Ben Carroll might put the brakes on and request a review of the $34.5 billion rail tunnel from Cheltenham to Box Hill.

Libertarian Party leader David Limbrick, who requested the PBO report, says the costings show it is “absolutely not too late to cancel the SRL”

“The sooner we stop it, the better.”

SRL East is the first of four sections of a 90-kilometre orbital railway line stretching to Melbourne Airport and the Werribee line.

Major works have begun across six future stations on SRL East, with tunnelling set to begin in coming months.

In its recent State Budget papers, the Government stated that $13 billion of construction contracts had been awarded for SRL, with station works contracts to be awarded in 2026 and 2027.

Limbrick said it would be “irresponsible” to proceed with the project while there was a Royal Commission into the construction sector.

“I speak to a lot of people in the South East, and absolutely nobody is pining a direct train trip from Cheltenham to Box Hill.

“However there are plenty of people in Heatherton with very valid concerns about the rail yards and plenty of people across the electorate concerned about links to organised crime.”

The PBO costings estimate $33 billion in savings on project works and interest expenses, if SRL East is cancelled.

This is offset by about $12 billion in contract terminations, worker retrenchments, foregone tax revenue as well as the loss of the SRL’s federal funding.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated the $6 billion federal funds can only be used for the SRL.

The PBO costings assumed the project was being delivered on budget and on time to open in 2035.

Premier Ben Carroll, in response to questions on the SRL’s cancellation, told Parliament on 29 July that “we will not be cancelling contracts”

“That era is over.”

The day before, in his first question time, he said he would be “addressing all these matters through a cabinet process”

“Like all of our projects, we are accountable through the budget process, and I am very clear that I will do everything I can to ensure every dol-

How to ‘maximise’ benefits

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Better bus services and road connections are needed to better realise the controversial Suburban Rail Loop’s benefits, says the Greater South East Melbourne advocacy group.

The up to $34.5 billion SRL East project between Cheltenham and Box Hill had “the potential” to improve connections between key employment, education and activity centres, a GSEM spokesperson said.

But it needed to be supported by local transport infrastructure that “helps people get where they need to go”

“Our election platform makes it clear that the region needs better bus services, improved road connections and stronger links between communities and activity centres.

“Many residents still rely on cars because local bus services are infrequent, indirect or do not connect effectively with the wider public transport network.”

In its state election platform, GSEM calls for $100 million to boost bus services across the South East, as well as a Thompsons Road upgrade to Officer South and a Westall Road extension to Monash Freeway.

Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen agreed that more frequent train and bus connections were needed in the South East.

“Many people at the moment have no viable choice but to drive, meaning huge impacts on household budgets, and inevitable daily traffic snarls across Melbourne.”

The SRL was required to provide more cross-suburban trip options and “fast, frequent” connections to some of Melbourne’s busiest destinations.

He said the key to getting “maximum benefit” out of the SRL was ensuring new precincts were well designed with provision for future additional stations such as at Moorabbin East.

Bus, walking and cycling networks needed to feed people efficiently into the new stations, he said.

Liberal South Eastern Metro MP Ann-Marie Hermans said many in the South East had told her they prefer the long-awaited rail extension to Clyde and Cranbourne East, instead of the SRL.

“Some locals still hope for an airport in the South East in the future, and others mention how difficult it is not being able to take a train directly to the airport.”

lar spent by our government is treated with the respect and the dignity that it deserves.”

The Government has previously argued the SRL will deliver an extra 11.8 million daily trips and help manage an 80 per cent increase in private vehicle trips by 2056.

Last year it estimated travel savings of up to 30 minutes, such as Dandenong-Box Hill or Narre Warren-Burwood.

Labor MPs in the South East attributed their emphatic 2022 state election wins to SRL East’s popularity.

South Eastern Metro MP Michael Galea remains supportive of the SRL.

“The Suburban Rail Loop is a really important project for Victoria as a whole, but in particular the South East,” he said.

“Where we are in the South East, we won’t have the Suburban Rail Loop running through our area, of course, but we will actually benefit greatly from that connectivity on our lines.

“That’s really critical and that’s a project that we are committed to, and I look forward to seeing that continue.”

Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak also continued to back SRL. “It is vital for our constituents,” he said.

Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson did not respond to Star News’s enquiry.

In 2023, the State Opposition called for a pause on the SRL East works, with funds instead diverted to the Airport Rail project.

Greater Dandenong mayor Sophie Tan said the SRL and other major infrastructure initiatives were “decisions for the Victorian Government”. She said the council’s transport priorities included a significant upgrade to Dandenong railway station, improved bus services and improvements to the Jacksons, Elonera and Chandler roads corridor.

Third teacher’s strike will take place this month. (Supplied)

New Premier faces threat of third teachers’ strike

By Afraa Kori

Despite a new premier, Victoria’s public school teachers, principals and education support staff will walk off the job for a third time this year.

The teacher’s pay dispute has now stretched across two premiers. Former premier Jacinta Allan oversaw two rounds of industrial action before resigning last week following internal Labor pressure.

Now, just days into the top job, Premier Ben Carroll faces the challenge of resolving the dispute before another statewide strike goes ahead on Wednesday 19 August.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) previously rejected the Allan Labor Government’s pay andconditionsoffer,arguingitfailedtoadequately address excessive workloads, staff shortages and the resources needed to support students.

AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly said it was unacceptable that after more than a year of bargaining, the concerns of AEU members were still not adequately addressed.

“Premier Ben Carroll must answer the question, how can you call Victoria ‘the education

state’ when Victoria’s public schools are the lowest funded in the country?,” Mr Mullaly said.

“How can you call Victoria ‘the education state’ when our teachers, principals and education support staff are overworked and undervalued? The answer is you can’t.”

AEU members will continue their campaign until the Carroll Labor Government signs a deal with the Federal Government to fully fund Victorian public schools and deliver a pay and conditions offer that “values” and “respects” their work.

Mr Mullaly warned that, in the absence of a revised offer acceptable to AEU members working in public schools across Victoria, there would be a 24-hour stop-work action this month.

Victorian Government spokesperson said families are already juggling a lot and any further disruption is disappointing.

“The most recent offer would have made Victorian teachers and education support staff the best paid in the country together with the best conditions,” the spokesperson said.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to reach an agreement that values our teachers and strengthens our public education system.”

Pound Rd safety bid

By Jensy Callimootoo

A community campaign sparked by the tragic death of a Narre Warren South teenager has reached the Victorian Parliament, with an 859-signature petition calling for urgent safety improvements along Pound Road.

South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Ann-Marie Hermans presented the petition to the Upper House on 29 July, urging the Victorian Government to act on long-standing concerns about pedestrian safety on the busy arterial road.

The petition follows the death of 16-yearold student Chris Rua Antony, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while walking home from school along Pound Road in February.

His death prompted an outpouring of grief

Man, 20, charged

Police have charged a Cranbourne West man following an alleged affray on a train near Parliament Railway Station on Saturday 1 August.

Emergency services were called to reports of an altercation on the Frankston line train shortly after midnight.

A 20-year-old man was located on the platform of Parliament Railway Station with life-threatening injuries and transported to hospital. Police quickly responded, arresting a 26-year-old man in Hardwood Place.

The Cranbourne West man, who is not believed to be known to the victim, has been charged with intentionally cause serious injury and affray.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday 2 August.

Detectives believe there were several people in the train carriage and on the platform at the time who are yet to speak with police and are urging them to come forward.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has footage or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Trio arrested after ute allegedly stolen twice

Three men have been arrested in Narre Warren after a utility was stolen twice within two days in Melbourne’s south-east.

Police say the men – a 29-year-old from Dandenong, a 27-year-old from Rawson and a 23-year-old from Narre Warren – will be interviewed in relation to alleged car thefts and dangerous driving.

The Nissan Patrol was originally stolen from a multi-storey car park in Windsor on Sunday 2 August.

Police soon located the vehicle parked in South Melbourne and contacted the owner to reunite him with his vehicle.

The owner attended but while awaiting the arrival of a locksmith to access their vehicle, the alleged thief returned and took off with it for a second time shortly after 1am on 3 August.

The vehicle was spotted by patrolling police on High Street in Windsor, with the Air Wing called in when the vehicle started driving erratically.

The utility was dumped in Fisher Street, Malvern East, where the driver was picked up by a second stolen vehicle, police say.

It’s alleged the Subaru Levorg began travelling at speeds of up to 170km/h on Monash Freeway.

The vehicle stopped in a Narre Warren shopping centre car park where the three occupants were arrested about 2am. Triple the limit alleged

A male driver has allegedly blown more than three times the limit after he was spotted crashing into roadworks signage in Pakenham early this morning.

Members of the public spotted the Toyota corolla weaving across lanes while travelling through roadworks on Clyde Road, taking out numerous bollards just before 3am.

Pakenham uniform members responded and attempted to pull over the vehicle, which allegedly failed to stop.

Officers followed the 47-year-old Pakenham man to his front doorstep where they took him into custody.

He underwent a breath test, returning an alleged reading of .171.

Police impounded his vehicle and he was charged with fail to stop for police and drink driving offences.

across the Casey community and inspired a grassroots campaign by his family and local residents to improve safety along the road.

The petition presented to Parliament states that Chris was walking on an unpaved footpath immediately adjacent to high-speed traffic, with no protective barriers separating pedestrians from the roadway.

Outlining that residents have repeatedly raised concerns about vulnerable sections of Pound Road, particularly for school students travelling to and from school.

Petitioners are calling on the Victorian Government to install appropriate safety barriers along the most dangerous sections of the road, relocate the footpath further away from passing traffic where possible and reduce the speed

limit to 60 km/h through the predominantly residential area.

The community is also seeking a comprehensive road safety review of Pound Road to identify further improvements and has called for the Government to consider changes to legislation or design standards requiring footpaths to be set back at least one metre from high-traffic roads.

Pound Road is one of Casey’s busiest eastwest transport corridors, carrying significant traffic between Narre Warren South, Cranbourne North and surrounding suburbs.

While residential development has expanded rapidly along the route in recent years, many residents believe pedestrian infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the area’s growth.

Alleged lewd act

Police are investigating a reported incident of a man performing a lewd act in Narre Warren on 26 July at about 11am.

According to a social media outreach post a woman noticed a man watching her during a morning run. The man proceeded to expose himself and began touching himself.

Police officers were told the man performed the act directed at women jogging and is believed to have fled on his bicycle.

He is described as aged in his 60s, balding and wearing a red flannel top and dark pants.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Every answer matters

Rail funds front of mind

By Violet Li

Casey Council has stopped short of calling for Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) funding to be redirected to the long-awaited Clyde rail extension, while warning the mega-project will do little to shorten CBD commutes for many local residents.

The comments come as new Premier Ben Carroll considers the future of SRL East, which will be expected to cost $30 to $34.5 billion, and has not ruled out redirecting funding to other projects.

His reshaped frontbench has also abolished the standalone SRL and transport infrastructure portfolios, although Mr Carroll has denied the change signals the project will be cancelled.

Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said SRL East would improve access to employment, education and health precincts in Melbourne’s middle suburbs.

However, he said it was “unlikely to significantly reduce travel times to Melbourne’s CBD” for Casey residents relying on the Cranbourne rail corridor.

There are no SRL construction sites within Casey, but commuters would be able to connect to the loop at Clayton.

State Government modelling has projected benefits for cross-suburban journeys, including cutting a Cranbourne-to-Deakin University trip to 43 minutes, 27 minutes faster than existing public transport.

A Narre Warren student travelling to Deakin could save 24 minutes.

Cr Koomen said upgrades to the Cranbourne Line, including the Clyde Rail Link, remained a key priority.

The rail extension is also one of the flagship projects in Council’s Building a Better Casey advocacy campaign ahead of the November state election.

Casey Council is seeking funding from both the Federal and State governments for the duplicated rail extension from Cranbourne to Clyde to connect the growing communities of Cranbourne East, Clyde North and Clyde.

The project will require new stations at Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Casey Fields and Clyde.

It will also include and expanded bus interchange at Cranbourne, and future train stabling in Clyde.

The estimated cost is about $3 billion.

“We continue to advocate for investment in these critical projects and would welcome

Readers back SRL

A strong majority of respondents in a Star News readers’ poll backed the continuation of the Suburban Rail Loop project.

SHOULD SRL BE CANCELLED?

to significantly reduce travel times to Melbourne’s CBD” for Casey residents relying on the Cranbourne rail corridor.

additional State or Federal funding should it become available,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.

Cr Koomen said transport investment was

essential

population grew from more than 430,000 residents to a projected 610,000-plus by 2046.

He did not directly support diverting committed SRL funding to the Clyde Rail Link.

Cranbourne and Berwick Star News readers responded to our Facebook poll on the question: Should the Suburban Rail Loop be cancelled?

Here are some of your viewpoints:

Guy Bassett

Build it to the value of the cancellation cost, then at least we have something to extend on, rather than just a cost.

Gavin Hayes

No that would be a LNP or ON thing to do, as they don’t believe in investing in our future or infrastructure… keep it going!

Travis Hill

Yes, with data centers

Mick Kablar

Try keeping to budget. That would help.

Eileen Ahsong

No you have to think about the people over this side of city. Why should you have to go to the city to go on other lines?

Kevin Tuyau

There should be a station at Moorabbin Airport (which includes DFO and various other businesses). It is strange that there are no other stations between Clayton and Cheltenham. I also think there should be a station on Tootal Rd in Dingley (near the new football stadium) but that would be too much of a diversion.

Stephen McGrath

I wonder why it is underground. Surely some can be above and cheaper

Phillip Boelen

Yes. Pay the $10 billion if that’s correct, because the $34.5 billion will at least quadruple and that’s only the 1st section.

Phillip Peacock

Postponed until we can afford it

Suellen Millward-Gregory

Keep going as we need the infrastructure

Matthew Vining

I wouldn’t use it, would you?

Jean Del-Mac

No, money spent, work so far completed. Then that would be a total waste of money. Let’s think long term and not today.

Ben Kerr

The Libs have been guilty of total inaction to upgrade our metro train system right through their history. We would still have all level crossings & the old red rattlers jf we let them back in!

Zabi Berat

It’s the single worst project in not only Victorian but Australian history.

Snezana Sigeti-Leporis

No, you’ve started it, now finish it. What’s going to happen now that the project has created so much damage to the land? Is it usable, stable, safe or will it lay there with big open gaps waiting for something drastic to happen, and what’s the penalty for cancelling? How many jobs will be lost because of this? Aren’t we already paying hefty fines for cancelled projects?

Merilyn Voigt

Reprioritised to go on hold with no contractual penalties until the end of the Royal Commission. After which real assessments of fair and reasonable costs can be determined and the scope far reduced to transport only, as this was the original mandate. Jim Givan

What happens to all the holes already dug?

Hold on: Banner raises questions

By Jensy Callimootoo

A sign bearing One Nation branding that appeared on a busy Clyde North road has raised questions of whether it was authorised by the party.

The banner, attached to the railings of a building near the intersection of Clyde Road and Glasscocks Road, reads, “Hold on Berwick, One Nation is coming,” and features the party’s logo on either side.

A One Nation source says the sign was likely not authorised by the party and may not form part of its official election campaign.

Another source also told Star News that the sign received no authorisation.

It is yet unclear who organised or displayed the sign.

Members of the community say it has been up for “days” including over the weekend.

Casey Council says under the Victorian Planning Scheme, a permit exemption exists allowing for political signs under five square metres to be displayed for a maximum period of three months, or 14 days after the election without a permit; whichever is sooner.

The sign has attracted attention in one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing regions, where political parties are increasingly focusing their campaigns ahead of the November poll.

Some Casey residents have welcomed the sentiment of the banner, with many stating they

“welcome One Nation to Casey” . Others, however, have expressed their discontent.

Casey’s rapidly expanding suburbs, including Berwick, are expected to feature prominently in the election as voters grapple with crime, rising living costs and housing affordability.

The appearance of the sign coincides with One Nation’s push to expand its Victorian presence.

Earlier this week, One Nation leader, Senator Pauline Hanson launched the party’s state election campaign in Melbourne, unveiling eight candidates and confirming One Nation intends to contest almost every lower house seat.

sign has not yet been confirmed to have been authorised by the

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The party says its campaign will focus on costof-living pressures, crime, housing and government spending, issues it believes are resonating in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Clyde Road upgrade set to finish in October

Major construction on the Clyde Road Upgrade in Berwick is expected to finish in October.

The project had originally been scheduled for completion in May 2027 and is intended to ease congestion around the busy Clyde Road and Princes Freeway interchange.

As part of the upgrade, the Clyde Road overpass across the Princes Freeway is being widened from six lanes to 10.

The intersections at Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard and Kangan Drive are also being upgraded to accommodate increasing traffic volumes and improve access to the freeway.

Construction crews have installed 14 bridge beams and 232 precast concrete panels to form the foundation of the additional lanes.

The Federal Government has provided $277.7

million for the project, which is being delivered by the Victorian Government.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said the upgrade would help people in the south east travel more quickly and safely.

“This upgrade is a major investment for the people of Melbourne’s southeast and will help locals move around quicker and safer,” she said.

Bruce MP Julian Hill said Clyde Road had long been a bottleneck for motorists trying to access the Princes Freeway.

“This upgrade, including the overpass widening, will improve connectivity and reduce congestion,” he said.

“These works will help futureproof us for projected population growth through the outer

southeastern growth corridor.”

The project is also expected to improve access to Berwick Station, nearby hospitals, education facilities, employment and other services.

New shared-use paths will be provided to make it safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel through the area.

The government said more than 1300 jobs had been created through the project.

South Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis said the upgrade would deliver “smoother and safer journeys for families in the south east”

Although major construction is expected to finish in October, landscaping, lighting, final asphalting and other finishing works will continue until the end of 2026.

The project follows other road upgrades in the

Although One Nation has traditionally performed more strongly in regional Victoria than metropolitan Melbourne, it is increasingly targeting growth areas such as Casey and Cardinia.

Warren Pickering, One Nation’s Victorian leader was also announced as the Pakenham candidate.

One Nation has been contacted for comment, no response has been received at the time of publication.

south east, including works at the Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road intersection and the Pakenham Roads Upgrade.

Summerset Cranbourne North is more than a retirement village. It’s a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who value comfort, connection, and independence.

“It’s just good interaction with everybody, and that really can change your life.” ANASTASIA OAKES, CRANBOURNE NORTH RESIDENT

Designed for today’s retirees, the village offers a range of resort-style facilities to suit every lifestyle. Start the day with a coffee at the popular Divine Café, stay active in the gym, or enjoy a friendly game of lawn bowls or pool. Plus, have peace of mind that if your needs change, our continuum of care means you can get the care you need.^

With a range of homes available now,* there has never been a better time to discover Summerset Cranbourne North. Book an appointment with our friendly team or drop by for a visit, we’d love to show you around.

Love the life you choose.

Book an appointment

Open 7 days, 9am to 5pm Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au

Organ donor registrations drop

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Parts of the South East have among the lowest rate of registered organ and tissue donors in the state, according to recent stats.

A paltry 17 per cent of the eligible population in Casey have registered to give the ‘gift of life’ – well below Victoria’s average of 23 per cent and a national average of 36 per cent.

Greater Dandenong’s registration rate is the state’s lowest at a dismal 10 per cent, with Cardinia at 25 per cent.

In 2025, new registrations dropped in Greater Dandenong by 29 per cent, Casey by 17 per cent and Cardinia by 23 per cent.

This is despite community surveys showing most Victorians were in favour of organ donation - which can save the lives of up to seven people.

And many more people’s lives are changed through eye and tissue donation.

DonateLife specialist nursing coordinator

Erin East says sadly the lagging registrations create longer delays for critically unwell patients, with some dying without a transplant.

In her role, East is often leading difficult, important conversations with bereaved families about whether they will donate the organs of loved-ones.

She says it’s a job she’s “incredibly honoured” to perform. To give some meaning to a devastating, terrible event for a family.

“We meet them on the worst day of their life

“To this day, I am still in awe of how families can consider supporting other people in the community, with a feel for the greater good.

“Our role is not to coerce them. We provide them with the information and guide them to what they want to do – and what their loved one would want to do.”

Nearly all families (90 per cent) consent to their loved one’s organ donation if they are a registered donor.

But if the person is not registered, about 40 per cent say ‘no’

lies with diverse backgrounds. It can be hard to meet their needs in those times.

“That said, no family is the same even if they have the same beliefs or faith.”

She thinks the overall drop-off in organ donation registrations may be linked to the Covid pandemic.

“People don’t have the same headspace. It’s almost like a fatigue with hospitals.

“I feel people used to be more curious about it – but now they get the information and just politely decline.”

She’s supportive of people opting in as donors, rather than an opt-out system - because the choice needs to be altruistic, she says.

DonateLife Victoria state medical director

Dr Rohit D’Costa said nearly all of surveyed Victorians support organ donation, yet less than a quarter are registered as a donor.

‘A recent community survey shows 90 per cent of Victorians support organ donation, but less than one quarter have registered to be a donor.’

“It doesn’t matter how old or healthy you are – you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.”

D’Costa urged Victorians to register as an organ and tissue donor, and then tell their families that they’re a donor.

“Someone’s life depends on it.”

You can check if you’re registered at donatelife.gov.au or through Medicare.

Australian organ and tissue transplant donors - new registrations

Greater Dandenong

■2024: 449

donation over time, receiving updates on how their loved one has helped others live on.

■2025: 319 (down 29 per cent)

■Total: 13280 (10 per cent of eligible population)

“When their loved ones come into the emergency department, all the medical decisions have been made by the hospital for the families.

“This decision (on organ donation) is an opportunity for them to advocate for what their loved one would want to do. It’s really empowering for the families.”

East says families draw comfort from organ

“It’s always an easier decision if the donor is registered. We let them know it’s their loved one’s wishes.

“It’s important to talk about the potential benefits, what they were like as a person and what was important to them.“

She says Dandenong’s cultural diversity presents a challenge for communication, despite in-language pamphlets and interpreters available.

“It can be tricky meeting the needs of fami-

Casey

■2024: 1595

■2025: 1322 (down 17 per cent)

■Total: 46,945 (17 per cent of eligible population)

Cardinia

■2024: 694

■2025: 536 (down 23 per cent)

■Total: 22,185 (25 per cent of eligible population)

Housing emerges as Australia’s biggest economic challenge

Australia’s economic growth is expected to slow as lower house price growth weighs on consumer spending and broader economic activity, with CommBank economists saying housing is now expected to be a bigger drag on the economy than higher oil prices.

Speaking on the latest episode of the CommBank View: Economics & Markets podcast, CommBank Head of Australian Economics Belinda Allen said the shape of Australia’s slowdown had changed over recent months.

“We’ve certainly seen a shift in what’s going to cause the Australian economy to slow,” Allen said.

“We still think that’s going to happen, but it’s really the housing market that’s going to create that slowdown in the Australian economy, rather than higher oil prices.”

The slowdown in home price growth that emerged in late 2025 has now spread across Australia’s housing market, with weaker conditions for sellers evident in most major capitals.

Allen said higher interest rates and policy changes had weighed on sentiment and prices.

“That combination of factors has seen the housing market pull back, and we’ve seen in past cycles that does impact the consumer through what economists call the wealth effect,” she said.

Falling home values typically make households feel less financially secure, encouraging them to save more and spend less. Allen said

that dynamic was now expected to be a key drag on economic growth throughout 2026.

Consumer spending is also showing signs of moderation.

Allen said CBA’s internal data suggested endof-financial-year sales activity had softened compared with the same period last year.

“There are signs that consumers are pulling back,” she said.

While household savings remain relatively healthy overall, Allen said weak sentiment and softer home prices were likely to keep consumers cautious through the remainder of the year.

Commonwealth Bank forecasts Australia’s economic growth will slow from 2.5 per cent in late 2025 to 1.5 per cent by late 2026, before improving to about 2 per cent by late 2027.

Despite the housing-led slowdown, Allen

said data centre development to fuel AI compute investment was creating important longer-term opportunities for the Australian economy. She cautioned that growth would be constrained by energy availability, water use and the time required to build new facilities, and that while it would help Australia’s economy, it was not going to fully make up for the slowdown in the consumer sector.

Ode to Wellsprings’ founding dream

By Jensy Callimootoo

As South East-based Wellsprings for Women celebrated its 32nd anniversary, laughter, tears and pride resounded through the room with many reflecting on its journey to what it has become and what it strives to be.

The event hosted over 50 community members, local politicians and key employees within the organisation, as they also welcomed their Strategic Plan for 2026-30.

The crowd heard from those with first-hand experiences, who have used Wellsprings’ services throughout its 30 decades of providing fundamental support — including Kawsar Nazari.

Kawsar is originally from Afghanistan. She fled to India where she faced extreme hardship, telling her story of how she spent three days on the side of a road without food.

Upon her move to Australia, she describes the help she received from Wellsprings as a “mother’s hug”

A warm, receiving and loving relationship in which she’s been able to develop her English and enriched her dream of one day becoming a police officer.

As Chairperson Janet Cribbes touched on, what started off as a dream at a kitchen table, became an ever-growing safe haven for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Sister Ann Halpin first started Wellspings as a drop-in centre for women, after noticing how many were suffering from loneliness, poverty, mental illness, family violence or lack of english.

“Ann believed they deserved more than services, they deserved a place where they would be welcomed, where they belonged, where they could learn, connect and rediscover their confidence,” said Cribbes, recounting her inner purpose that catapulted a movement.

“That dream began around a kitchen table with a small group who affectionately called themselves ‘The Dreaming Group’

“Together they imagined a place run by wom-

en for women, a place inspired by the timeless tradition of women gathering around a well to share stories, wisdom and encouragement.

“The well symbolised life, resilience and hope, and those qualities became the foundation of everything Wellsprings would become.”

Since then, the organisation has grown now helping women across the South-East, including Casey and Cardinia.

As the event drew to a close, CEO Dalal Smiley echoed a poignant remark; referencing the politically-rocky realm that many Victorians are bracing for as funding and support for key services such as Wellsprings grows increasingly vulnerable.

“We are all experiencing moments in our

Enchanted forest brings school art to life

Casey Fields Primary School transformed into an Enchanted Forest for two nights, showcasing a semester of artwork created by students from Prep to Year 6.

Assistant principal Jessica Mills said art teachers Nelly Simpson and Casey Howard worked with students across the school to create the display, which featured fairy houses, rooms inside a giant tree, potion bottles, glowing mushrooms, fairy doors, butterflies and lily pads.

Hundreds of families walked through the gallery over the two nights on 28 and 29 July, with Ms Mills describing the display as a whole-school effort.

She said the teachers were already beginning to think about what they could create for next year’s gallery.

country where we just shake our heads, pinch ourselves and just say, is this really happening?” said Smiley.

Looking to the future, the organisation’s four year plan will be rooted in the same values it was founded on including courage, hospitality, hope, compassion, justice and wonder.

But its five main strategies aim to go further with its reach, focusing on factors such as community development, education and capacity building, safety and wellbeing and research and impact.

It also plans to expand its funding capacities, aiming to grow and optimise its services through local councils to better help women, youth and children who face isolation and violence.

FOCUS ON ... DENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Guide to understanding costs

For many Casey residents, the question is not whether dental care is important, but whether they can afford it. A trip to the dentist can be expensive, and for some people, the cost is enough to delay treatment altogether. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says around 3 in 10 Australians delayed or avoided a dental visit and 2 in 10 was because of cost. Transparent pricing isn’t just knowing about the cost- it’s about giving you the information you need to make confident decisions about your oral health.

According to the Australian Dental Association’s 2024 Dental Fees Survey, the average cost of a routine dental check-up, scale and clean, and fluoride treatment is about $229, based on item numbers 012, 114 and 121. But that figure is only a starting point. Dental costs can vary widely depending on the procedure, the clinic, and where you live.

What common dental procedures cost

The table pictured shows the average cost and price range of common dental procedures based on the Australian Dental Association’s 2024 fee survey.

Preventive treatments such as check-ups and cleanings are generally far cheaper than restorative work such as crowns, dentures and orthodontic treatment.

A single-tooth implant can also cost about $5,500 to $7,500 all-in in Australia, with simpler cases usually closer to the lower end and more complex cases costing more. Why prices vary

Dental fees are not the same everywhere. The final bill can depend on the complexity of the treatment, the location of the clinic, and the experience of the dentist.

More complex procedures often cost more because they may require extra scans, bone treatment or grafting. As per the ADA survey, location also matters, with fees generally lower in South Australia and Queensland and higher in the ACT and Tasmania.

Private health insurance, child dental ben-

efits schedule, or a health care card may also affect what patients pay out of pocket.

How to keep costs down

There are ways to reduce the financial shock of dental treatment.

■Ask for a quote before treatment begins.

■Compare prices at more than one clinic.

■Ask whether payment plans are available.

■Check whether your treatment is covered by insurance or a public dental scheme.

■Look out for new-patient offers or bundled pricing for multiple treatments.

■Ask if treatment can be staged over more than one appointment.

Many Australians continue to struggle to access dental care, and poor oral health is a strong indicator of poverty and disadvantage.

So dental practitioners are advocating to include dental services into Medicare to make it more accessible and affordable.

References:

■https://ada.org.au/dental-fees-survey-2024

■https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oralhealth/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/about

■Hopcraft, M. S., & Holden, A. C. L. (2025). Australian dental practitioner attitudes to expanding Medicare to include more dental services. Australian Dental Journal. https://doi. org/10.1111/adj.13073pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih

How you can help your children look after their teeth

1. Teach your children how to brush their teeth

Children do not have the dexterity to be able to brush their own teeth efficiently until they can tie their own shoe laces.

Teach your child the right technique with circular motions at a 45-degree angle, brush with small back and forth strokes and up and down strokes.

2. Set a timer

Set a timer when your child is ready to start brushing on their own!

It’s recommended that we brush our teeth for a full three minutes!

By setting a timer, it shows your child how long is left to go.

3. Start early

Children should start having their teeth brushed as soon as their first baby tooth appears – about six months of age.

This should also be when they first visit

the dentist.

To brush your baby’s teeth, lean your child against your lap or arms, use a small toothbrush, take a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, and gently brush the child’s teeth.

You’ll find that a lot of babies love chewing on toothbrushes!

4. Brush their teeth twice a day – but especially before bed!

Ideally, you should brush your teeth twice a day, and brushing before bed is crucial.

Saliva helps fight cavity-causing bacteria, but you don’t produce much saliva while you are sleeping.

Cleaning your teeth before bed prevents acids from eating through the enamel on your teeth, which can lead to tooth decay.

Try not to let your child have anything to eat or drink (except water) after brushing their teeth before bed.

5. Floss!

Yes, even our children need to floss their teeth!

Not only will it teach them excellent habits for the future, but this is the only way to effectively clean in between our teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach.

There is a technique to flossing that can be tricky to master – if you are unsure, please get your oral health professional to show you how.

6. Don’t forget to brush your tongue

Brushing your tongue often gets forgotten but brushing your tongue will help remove bacteria and prevent bad breath.

7. A fun thing to try at home is called disclosing tablets/ liquid

This is a purple tablet or liquid that stains plaque purple and makes it easier to see.

Get your child to brush their teeth first, then “surprise” them with the disclosing tablet!

Everywhere plaque still remains will show up bright purple.

It’s a simple and easy way to show your child (and us) where they are missing with their brushing.

The stain is easily removed – by brushing.

8. Dental exam and clean every six months

This is one of the most important parts of keeping your child’s mouth healthy and clean. No matter how hard we try at home, a visit and professional cleaning from your oral health therapists will keep your child’s smile on the right track. How many of the above items are you able to tick off?

If you are unsure of the best way to care for your child’s teeth, please discuss it with your caring oral health therapist at your next dental check-up.

Teaching and maintaining good oral health skills now will help protect your kids’ teeth well into the future.

‘Nowhere’s safe’: Little

By Violet Li

After years of police reports, intervention orders, Child Protection involvement and specialist family violence support, a South East family violence survivor said she and her young daughter still have no permanent home they can safely return to.

Days ago, her estranged husband, who allegedly strangled her with a hammer and poured petrol on himself and her home earlier this year, was released from custody after receiving a 90day prison sentence that had already been served.

“I’m absolutely disgusted and angry (with the sentencing). How he can be out after what my daughter told the police and what happened in May?” Mia (*not her real name) said.

Mia said the justice and support systems repeatedly recognised the danger around her but failed to provide the practical things she needed most: secure housing, enough financial help to rebuild her life and confidence that intervention orders would keep her safe.

“If it is deemed unsafe for me and my child to live at home, then why is it safe for him to be let out?” she said.

The estranged husband was also placed on an 18-month community correction order requiring supervision, drug-dependency testing, mentalhealth assessment and treatment, and participation in offending-behaviour programs.

Her housing situation had already been identified as a serious risk months before the latest court outcome.

In a November 2025 support letter, a Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Child Protection practitioner confirmed Mia’s daughter was in her full-time care and said the department was concerned about violence occurring at their accommodation and being witnessed by the child.

The practitioner warned that if Mia’s priority public-housing application was not approved, it would likely result in further harm and place the child at an “unacceptable risk”

The Department strongly advocated for safe, stable housing to be allocated “without delay”

At the time of her interview, however, Mia said she and her daughter still had no permanent safe accommodation. She had been told the wait for public housing could take years.

“They expect you to just be able to get a private rental. I can’t get accepted. I’ve tried. So where am I supposed to go?” she said.

According to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), the expected waiting time for a priority allocation due to family violence in 2025-26 was 18.1 months.

Waiting times depend on property availability and demand in the areas an applicant chooses.

DFFH encourages applicants to consider a wider range of areas and supports such as the Private Renters Assistance Program.

Mia praised individual family violence workers who had supported her, describing one case worker as “absolutely amazing” , but her criticism is that workers could provide only what limited funding and housing availability allowed.

A letter from a support organisation confirms Mia and her daughter had received family violence case-management support since August 2025, including risk assessment, safety planning and assistance aimed at keeping them safe.

“The whole reason why I can’t receive help is no one has got funding. Even the urgent response team, they don’t have funding. No one’s got funding because there’s so much domestic violence or family violence,” Mia said.

“It’s the justice system that fails you.

“There is no way on earth he should be allowed to walk free doing that to a child, let alone me.”

Mia said requests for practical help such as security measures, emergency accommodation, food and transport often ran into a lack of funding.

At one stage, she received a $50 voucher.

“You’re just on your own,” she said.

The financial consequences began long before she left.

Mia said she once ran a successful cleaning business but gave it up after her husband lost his driver’s licence and expected her to drive him for work.

Looking back, she saw the loss of her income and independence as another form of control.

Her experience also illustrated why reporting

family violence is rarely as simple as leaving after the first assault.

“I look back now and I wish I left. I wish I left so much sooner. But when you come from such a traumatic, vulnerable experience, someone actually has that power and you don’t get looked at as a victim anymore,” Mia said.

“You get looked at as (a victim), well, you put this on yourself. You should have left as soon as someone put their hands on your butt. It is so much more than that.”

Mia said she met her husband at a highly vulnerable point in her life after surviving serious sexual violence as a teenager.

At first, she saw him as the person who made her feel safe. And they were together for about a decade.

“I felt sad when I felt loved for the first time even after such a horrific experience. I felt someone love me even being broken. And I felt comfort in that. The first two years were like a honeymoon. Were just absolute head over heels in love. And then I think the true colours really started to show,” Mia recalled.

“I was very, I guess, submissive. I did what I was told. There was no way I would speak back. Thought that was just normal and he was kind of the man of the house.

“I think after that trauma, it just stuck that I really wasn’t worth anything. And then it would slowly get worse and worse from there. One anger spurt would be he would just smash my head into a wall or into the ground, and then it would slowly escalate to him choking me or strangling me.

“It was never really that bad, though. I guess enough to scare because I was used to it. So, I didn’t really have that level of risk radar in my life, which I wish I did. And it was in the last four years

that it got really, really bad.”

Mia said the relationship repeatedly moved through the same cycle: violence, separation and intervention orders, apologies and behaviourchange programs, apparent improvement, then reconciliation and renewed abuse.

She stayed, she said, because she was isolated and dependent on him, because she believed his promises to change and because she desperately wanted her daughter to have a father.

“I craved that love. I just wanted him to love me, and he definitely had a charm about him. He can charm anyone. And he knew that I didn’t have any friends, I didn’t have anyone else,” Mia said.

“I was very dependent on him. He was my first relationship from when I was held against my will.

“I just wanted to feel safe, and even though he was attacking me, I just thought I’m already used to that pain, so it’s okay, and my daughter can have a dad.”

She now believes keeping the relationship together exposed her daughter to more harm. What happened in court?

In the recent hearing, the estranged husband pleaded guilty to four criminal-damage offences and an assault-with-a-weapon offence arising from a separate September 2025 incident involving another victim, as well as a recent persistent breach of a family violence intervention order that lasted for more than a week from April to May.

The September 2025 incident recorded that the husband and the co-accused approached a male victim while he was inside his car. They attempted to open the doors and then used a baseball bat and golf club to damage the vehicle.

At sentencing, prosecutors withdrew a group of individual intervention-order charges and proceeded with the broader persistent-contravention charge covering the one-week period.

The original charge sheets included an aggravated intervention-order contravention alleging that the protected person was assaulted and petrol was poured on the property.

The sentencing did not explain why the individual aggravated charge was not separately pursued.

According to the original charge sheet, on one occasion, the husband breached the order by allegedly assaulting her and pouring petrol on her properties.

According to a police brief released by the court, he viewed footage showing other men attending the property and an argument followed.

Mia alleged he then followed her to a car and strangled her with a hammer until she began to black out, while a friend nearby called Triple Zero.

The police brief alleges that he poured petrol on himself and the front entrance of the home and that he began looking for a lighter. Officers later seized a five-litre petrol container, a lighter, clothing and towels that appeared to have petrol on them, and a hammer from the vehicle.

The brief stated he admitted pouring petrol over himself and intending to set himself alight but denied strangling the woman. He was arrested and remanded following the incident.

The original charge sheet also alleged that the estranged husband threatened to kill his wife by writing “I WILL KILL YOU” on the police cell wall with his blood.

NEWS support for survivors

From page 12

For Mia, the 90-day outcome reinforced a fear that had followed her throughout the court process: after finally speaking up, she would be the person forced to leave, hide and start again.

“I just don’t see why they tell you to speak up and have a voice when you do, and you’re left in a worse, more vulnerable, dangerous situation than beforehand,” she said.

Not ‘safe’ despite intervention orders

The first clearly documented police intervention occurred in February 2022.

A family violence safety notice records allegations that, during an argument, the respondent obtained a kitchen knife, approached Mia and threatened her before stabbing her phone.

Police recorded concern for the safety of Mia and her child because of what they described as an extreme escalation of aggression.

A final intervention order protecting both mother and daughter followed in April 2022.

Mia said there were periods when her husband completed required programs and appeared to have changed.

Contact was also sometimes permitted for coparenting, making the boundary between separation and reconciliation harder to maintain.

The husband was granted another full intervention order in late August 2025, which will expire in August 2027.

By the most recent week-long breach across April and May this year, it was the 6th recorded family violence between Mia and her estranged husband.

The husband also breached the second intervention order before the April and May incidents.

Mia said intervention orders didn’t do anything anymore.

It is revealed that the husband, with an intervention order, lived in the same apartment complex as Mia’s at one point.

Court documents show the order prohibited her husband from approaching or residing near her, yet the charge sheets alleged repeated proximity breaches in the days leading to May.

Since her husband entered custody, Mia said her daughter had become happier and was doing better at school. But now his release has returned the family to uncertainty.

What she still does not have is the outcome those systems were supposed to produce: a safe place where she and her daughter can live.

“I don’t want this life,” she said.

“I just want a safe home.”

When contacted, a Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) spokesperson said they understand how urgent safe housing is

for family violence victim-survivors, and they’re working to house people as quickly as they can amid significant demand.

“Social housing allocations for victim-survivors have risen 121 per cent since 2020-21, backed by more than $8 billion in social and affordable housing investment, including the Big Housing Build,” they said.

“If we receive an application from her, it will be eligible for priority access.”

As of 31 March 2026, 3,544 new applications and 1,359 transfer applications for family violence priority types were approved on the Victorian Housing Register.

* The names of the woman and her child have been withheld, and some identifying details changed, for their safety. She is referred to as Mia.

*Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188

‘No woman should ever feel unsafe in their home’

By Jensy Callimootoo

Thousands attended a vigil to honour Brooke Stephens in Clyde North on Sunday, marking exactly one week since her alleged murder.

The public vigil invited the community to come and show support for Brooke’s family, including her two young boys who she leaves behind.

Brooke died on Sunday 26 July from lifethreatening injuries allegedly sustained from her partner who has been charged with murder and is expected to be back in court in November.

Brooke’s death marks the 42nd woman murdered this calendar year alone.

The organiser of the event and dear friend of Brooke, Em Ross, had only one message and a dire community appeal — more was needed to prevent violence against women in Australia.

“Brooke’s death has brought in to focus the

devastating and ongoing impact of violence against women and family violence,” Em said.

“Domestic violence is a crisis and we do not have enough resources or support in place for women to leave safely and to be able to rebuild.

“We need change.

“I won’t stop advocating for Brooke and every other victim who deserves their stories told and protect anyone else having to endure the same horrific experience that Brooke’s family and loved ones are currently facing.

“No woman should ever feel unsafe in their own home, in a relationship or within the community.

“No family should ever experience a loss like this.”

Em ended her speech with a call for change, asking the community to educate themselves on the signs of coercive, emotional and physical abuse and to challenge threatening language or behaviours.

Hundred days on and life is bright for Clyde schoolkikds

By Jensy Callimootoo

The first 100 days of school means a special celebration at Clyde Grammar, especially for Foundation students who have just begun their journey in primary school.

Marked by bright colours and smiling faces, children and educators wore their most colourful clothes for a day filled with fun activities.

The event has been dubbed as ‘100 Days Brighter’

From preparing special ‘100s’ biscuits to mark their milestone to crown making before their disco-themed party.

School staff Deanne Williams said the day combined fun with pupil recognition.

“We all enjoy this very special day,” Williams said.

“We had so much fun celebrating all the learning that we have already achieved.

“Everybody across the Foundation level went to great lengths to shine, which added to the atmosphere.

“Their very creative outfits featured all the colours of the rainbow and more.”

Principal Leanne Evans, says the event is a great way to “showcase” how the students have settled in their primary education and their ability to adjust to their new environment.

“Its amazing how quickly they have become part of our school community.”

WHAT’S ON

3D Print Your Own Earrings

Learn how to make your own custom jewellery with 3D printing. Design up to two sets of earrings which you can wear. For ages 15-plus. Best suited for those who are confident navigating a laptop.

• Thursday 6 August, 2.30pm at Bunjil Place Library, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries.org.au/event?id=220540

Morning Melodies

With Andrew Portelli (7 August). Also other activities that are available weekly include Monday line dancing, Tuesday dance with Eileen Hams, Wednesday indoor bowls, Thursday bingo, Saturday indoor bowls.

• Friday 7 August 11am-3.30pm (Morning Melodies) at Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club, 1 Codrington St Cranbourne; $15 including lunch. Details/bookings: Marilyn, 0466 623 210. Berwick Half-Marathon

The Berwick Half features a flat 5.25-kilometre circuit with distances for the entire family - a halfmarathon run/walk, 10-kilometre run/walk, fun 5-kilometre run/walk, kids mile (1.6 km, 7-13 year olds), junior jog (400m, under 7s).

• Sunday 9 August, 7am-12pm at Berwick Springs Park, 46 Berwick Springs Promenade, Narre Warren South; $30-$85. Bookings: berwickhalf.com.au

Cranbourne Dads’ Group: Plant a Tree

Join the Cranbourne Dads’ Group for a fun morning. Plant trees and native plants with your children. Enjoy a morning outdoors, create memories with your children and help nature.

• Sunday 9 August 10am-11.30am at Scarborough Avenue Reserve, 40 Scarborough Avenue, Cranbourne West; free event. Bookings: trybooking.com/DKACP

Craft & Watch

Bring your latest project, settle in with a cozy film, and craft away in a relaxed and friendly setting. Feel free to bring snacks (hot food not permitted).

• Tuesday 11 August, 6pm at Bunjil Place Library, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries.org.au/event?id=223863

Fed Uni open day

Live music, food stalls, campus tours and expert course advice on courses such as Business, IT, Speech Pathology, Exercise and Sport Science, Education, Nursing, Midwifery, Psychology, the Melbourne City Football Club Diploma of Business and Sports Management, Science, Arts, Social Work and Criminology.

• Sunday, 16 August 9.30am-2pm at Federation University, 100 Clyde Road, Berwick. Registrations: federation.edu.au/openday

Email basics

Join us for a beginner-friendly email workshop on how to send emails, attach documents, organise them into folders, and more.

• Wednesday 19 August, 11am-12pm at Cranbourne Library, Casey Complex, 65 BerwickCranbourne Road, Cranbourne; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries. org.au/event?id=220096

Twisted Science

Fun, laughter, a little bit of learning and plenty of Science. For ages 4-plus.

• Thursday 20 August 4pm-5pm at Cranbourne Library, Casey Complex, 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries.org. au/event?id=243372

Breakfast & kick-a-ball

Join the Coastal Villages Dads’ Group for a free breakfast and kick-a-ball morning. Catch-up with other dads, father figures and their kids. Have something to eat and then grab a ball to kick around with your child.

• Friday 21 August 9am-11am at Warneet Recreation Reserve, Rutherford Reserve, Warneet; free event.

The Travelling Fruit & Vegetable Show (3-5 years)

Through music, puppets, storytelling, and sensory exploration, the event introduces children to a variety of fruits and vegetables in a fun and engaging way.

• Friday 21 August, 11.30am-12.15pm at Balla Balla Community Centre, 7–9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North. Bookings in person or 5990 0900 between 9am-3pm.

Mens Shed open day

Learn about Endeavour Hills Mens Shed with

HAMPTON PARK VIC 3976

1. Optus and Vodafone are proposing to upgrade the mobile phone base station on the existing tower at the above address.

2.In summary, this upgrade will comprise of:

• Replacement of three (3) existing Optus/Vodafone panel antennas with three (3) new Optus/Vodafone panel antennas (each not more than 2.8m in length);

• Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment, including mast head amplifiers (MHAs),GPS antennas, mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and

• Works within the existing equipment shelter.

3. We invite you to provide your feedback or request further information by contacting: Russell Carman, Planning Consultant Optus.submissions@servicestream.com.au, 0447 240 015 or by post to: Service Stream (Wireless) Level 5, 655 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008 by 5pm Monday 24 August 2026.

For more information, please visit www.rfnsa.com.au/3976007.

woodworking, music, copper work, free giveaways for kids, face painting. Donations accepted for items on display. Sausage sizzle, soft drinks available. Free tea and coffee.

• Saturday 22 August, 10am at Endeavour Hills Mens Shed, 289 Power Road, Endeavour Hills. Details: ehms.org.au

Book Week

Maestro Flipper with Carp Productions presents his Symphony of Stories, bringing Book Week books to life with music. For ages 3-12.

• Saturday 22 August 2pm at Hampton Park Library, 26 Stuart Ave, Hampton Park; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries. org.au/event?id=242868

Spotting scams

Join this interactive session to learn about common scams and try to spot them with some fun quizzes. For ages 15-plus.

• Tuesday 25 August 2pm at Bunjil Place Library, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren; free event. Bookings: events.connectedlibraries. org.au/event?id=243672

Adaptation Game

Try TAG – a cooperative climate resilience board game created by the City of Casey. Using maps of hypothetical floods, heatwaves and bushfires, players work together to respond to real-world challenges and explore how communities can prepare and protect their homes and neighbours. No gaming experience required.

• Monday 7 September, 1pm-2pm at Autumn Place Community Hub, Autumn Place, Doveton; free event. Bookings required: (03) 9792 7382 or autumnplacech@casey.vic.gov.au

Pilates, Yoga, Zumba

Regular exercise has been shown to help boost energy levels and enhance your mood. It may also be associated with many other health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic disease.

• Various days and times at Balla Balla Community Centre, 7–9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North. Enrolments/bookings: in person, 5990 0900 between 9am-3pm or ballaballa.com.au/ health-wellbeing/ Morning Melodies

Our featured entertainers will sing the songs you know and love. Enjoy a cuppa, scone with jam and cream, make friends and have some fun.

• 2nd Tuesday each month at Balla Balla Community Centre, 7–9 Selandra Blvd, Clyde North. Bookings/enrolments: in person or phone 5990 0900 between 9am-3pm.

U3A Casey

Live, laugh, learn with 745 members and 100 classes on offer. Two new classes (recorder playing, Tuesdays) and (Casey Transition Street - environmental awareness, monthly on a Thursday). For seniors, retired or semi-retired.

• 19 Beldale Court, Berwick; membership $60/ year or $30/now-December. Details: u3aCasey.org.au

Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed Just retired? Learn new skills and meet new people. Improve mental wellbeing. Have fun and enjoy good company.

• Mondays-Saturdays 10am-3pm at Sydney Pargeter Reserve, 289 Power Road, Endeavour Hills. Details: John, 9700 1810.

Games Days

Mahjong, whist and darts on second and fourth Fridays of the month (11am-2pm), line dancing on Thursdays (10am-12pm), carpet bowls on Mondays and Thursdays (1pm-3pm), garden group on Mondays (10am-12pm), cards on Saturdays (1pm), bingo first Wednesday of the month (1pm2pm) and table tennis on Saturdays (9.30am12pm). Social days are held every Wednesday 10am-2pm with a live entertainer from 1pm.

• Narre Warren Senior Citizens Club, 192/196 Centre Road, Narre Warren.

Singers wanted

Cranbourne Chorale is recruiting for its non-auditioned adult community choir for mixed voices. Our repertoire is a mix of uplifting songs. Feel free to visit us without obligation, the first four sessions are free of charge.

• Wednesday rehearsals 7.30pm at The Factory, Building 5, 65 Berwick-Cranbourne Rd, Cranbourne East. Details: Jenny, 0438 358 032. U3A Cranbourne

Three new classes for 2026 - mosaics with talented artist Tony Shannon (Tuesdays 12pm), beginner Italian with tutor Jan (Wednesdays 10am12pm) and Italian study group with tutor Jan (Thursdays 12.30pm-2.30pm). New members over 50 welcome.

• Details: u3acranbourne.org.au

PRINT & DIGITAL SALES

About

This is an exciting opportunity to manage an established client portfolio while actively developing new business opportunities across our diverse media platforms. The successful applicant will work with local businesses to create effective advertising campaigns incorporating:

• Newspaper advertising• Digital display advertising

• Sponsored online content• Email marketing campaigns

Key Responsibilities :

•

• Identify and secure new business opportunities.

• Develop tailored advertising and marketing solutions for clients.

• Prepare proposals, presentations and campaign recommendations.

• Work collaboratively with editorial, design and digital teams to deliver outstanding client outcomes.

About You:

You will possess:

• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

• Strong organisational and time management abilities.

• A positive attitude and a passion for helping local businesses succeed.

• A current driver’s license and reliable vehicle. What We Offer :

• An established territory with existing clients.

• Competitive salary package including base salary and commission.

• Supportive team environment.

• The opportunity to work with a respected and trusted community media brand.

• If you are passionate about sales, enjoy working within your local community and thrive in a fast-paced media environment, we’d love to hear from you.

The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.

Send your application letter and resume to:

Advertising Sales Manager

Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

Toner tricks not the tonic

By Blair Burns

Bentleigh has done it again with the visitors beating Narre Warren for the second time this season in a thrilling match at Kalora Park on Saturday, the Demons holding on to win 15.11 (101) to 15.9 (99).

The last quarter went goal-for-goal, but it was ultimately three consecutive goals for Bentleigh late in the third quarter which gave the Demons a six-point lead at three-quarter time and broke the Magpies’ spirit.

A goal from Bentleigh’s Ross Barlas 20 minutes into the fourth term put his side up by seven points and it looked like they were home, soon adding another behind to make the score 101-93.

But Narre Warren had the quick reply through Sam Toner, who earned a fortunate high free kick 10 metres out from goal, raced back and slotted it to cut the margin to two points and make Bentleigh nervous.

The Demons did well to get to the fall of the ruck tap and create repeat stoppages, taking enough time off the clock, with the siren sounding as the loose ball bounced around at half forward for Narre Warren.

Steve Kidd’s side has now lost three of its past four matches and has encountered a bit of a slump at this point of the year, now at risk of missing out on a top two spot and dropping to as low as fourth if Narre Warren does not win against Cheltenham this weekend.

It was a disappointing loss which stemmed from a poor first half, which lacked pressure, intent and the polish we are used to seeing from the black and white.

“It was a bit of a frustrating loss for us, they just kept coming and we couldn’t put a buffer on them,” Kidd said.

“Every time we got a little bit of control in the game, we made some errors which cost us, so it was sort of one that got away - that was the feeling at the end of it.”

The home side was without captain Joel Zietsman and Dan Toner, who were both serving oneweek suspensions, while Tom Toner and Julian Goerlitz remain sidelined with injury.

However, they welcomed Richmond VFL player Sam Toner for the week and he was a standout, gathering 18 disposals and booting four goals.

Ben Hempel was causing problems at the other end to boot five goals and lead the way for the Demons.

Despite leading 26-20 at quarter time, Narre Warren hadn’t scratched the surface of its best football, struggling to match the pressure that Bentleigh had brought.

Bentleigh led by five points at half time and then six points at the final break, thanks to a few late goals, eventually holding on.

“We are really disappointed with the way it went on the weekend and the way our last few weeks have gone,” Kidd said.

“We’ve been sort of close, but we have to find another five per cent from somewhere, some of it is discipline, and some of it is our polish.”

Tom Miller has been spending some more time through the midfield as he continues to build his match fitness, finishing with 22 disposals and a goal.

Callum Porter was paid a fair bit of attention by Bentleigh skipper Andrew Walker, but still managed 23 disposals and 12 tackles.

Hayden Dwyer and Jake Richardson shared the ruck duties and competed well against Demons big man Mitch Smart, getting the job done around the ground.

“We had good numbers in clearance and across the board really,” Kidd said.

“At the end of the day, it was about our turnovers; we gave away 84 points on turnover and that was our biggest score we’ve conceded this year.

“We just didn’t defend well enough and they spread hard from the contest, which was hard to stop.”

Narre Warren will travel to Jack Barker Oval this weekend and the side will be keen to atone for Saturday’s performance.

SOUTHERNDIVISION1

Narre Warren Goals: Sam Toner 4, Will Howe, Jett Kearney 3, Jake Richardson 2, Tom Miller, Kurt Mutimer, Thomas Russell. Best: Hayden Dwyer, Jake Richardson, Sam Toner, Thomas Russell, Tom Miller, Callum Porter.

Bentleigh Goals: Ben Hempel 5, Ben Cavarra, Jacob Curry 2, Ross Barlas, Connor Brown, Thomas Dowsing, Brayden Kirk, Caleb Sheahan, Enrique Soria. Best: Caleb Sheahan, Ben Cavarra, Ben Hempel, Andrew Walker, Connor Brown, Alex Lvovsky.

Holt kicks milestone goal in huge Cranbourne win at home

By Blair Burns

Cranbourne made it two huge victories in a row as the Eagles thumped Springvale Districts at home by 82 points in round 15 at Amstel Reserve, winning 22.10 (142) to 9.6 (60).

The Eagles still remain just two points out of the top five as Murrumbeena won once again to keep its spot in fifth.

Cranbourne has some tough matches coming up against Bentleigh this weekend, before Dingley and Hampton Park to finish the season.

It was another impressive performance from the Eagles on Saturday and they would’ve been determined to turn things around after a disappointing two-point loss to Springvale Districts earlier this season.

It was a game that Cranbourne just had to win if it was to keep the dream of finals alive, and the Eagles won big.

A seven-goal final quarter capped off another great day for the club as they kicked more than 140 points for the second consecutive week.

In good conditions, the first quarter kicked off and it was the visitors who struck first through key forward Erishmiilan Uthayakumar who got two early goals.

The Demons had three of the first four goals and had the home team slightly on the back foot.

However, they began to get going around the middle of the ground led by Zak Roscoe, Jake Hill and Bailey Buntine who delivered the ball nicely inside 50 to Trent Marotta.

Marotta was looking ominous every time the ball went inside 50, but the fans also wanted some Marc Holt action, with the big fella just one goal away from 1500 career goals.

After a slow start, Cranbourne began to dominate the midfield battle and get some repeat entries inside 50, but to their credit, the Springy defenders held up really well with plenty of intercept marks.

Despite this, the Eagles did enough to pinch the lead before the quarter-time break, heading into the first change of ends with a 25-18 lead.

But Angelo Soldatos and his side found some form in the second term and quickly started to take the game away from the Demons.

Andrew Green was clinical off half-back, as

was Will Nisbet with the two left-footers combining to create plays, while the likes of Brandon Osborne and Matt Alister were also impressive.

The Eagles booted six goals in the second term with Roscoe getting busy forward of centre, and Marotta firing on all cylinders - the lead was out to 30 points at half time but Holt was still to get his elusive goal.

It came in the third quarter where he took a strong chest mark on his opponent and wheeled around to snap his 1500th, as the Cranbourne supporters ran onto the ground and swarmed him.

It was a special scene as he embraced his two young kids and lifted them up to celebrate the moment with him.

Cranbourne extended the margin to 48 points by three-quarter time, before running away with the result in style to win by 82 points.

Marotta was too difficult a match-up for the Springy defenders, booting six goals while Holt got five in the second half, with Roscoe also finishing with a handful.

Green had 28 disposals and 11 marks to be the highest rated player on the ground, while Roscoe (27 disposals, five goals), Hill (27 disposals, one goal) and Marotta (19 disposals, six goals) were not far behind him.

Ryan Jones also had one of his better games of the season with 27 disposals and a goal, making things happen every time he got the ball.

The challenge that lies ahead for Cranbourne is Bentleigh away from home, a team which they lost to by less than a kick the first time around.

SOUTHERNDIVISION1 CRANBOURNE

Districts

Power list is fully charged

By Blair Burns

Gippsland Power has been quietly going about its business in the Talent League Boys competition and has now won five games in a row after defeating Sandringham Dragons by 32 points at Morwell on Saturday, 13.11 (89) to 8.9 (57).

Since its heartbreaking loss to Gold Coast Suns Academy earlier this season, Kris Pendlebury’s side has not put a foot wrong.

The Power laid the foundation for victory with a dominant opening quarter, kicking five goals to one to lead by 26 points at the first break.

While the remainder of the contest was relatively even, Gippsland remained in control throughout.

The home side extended its advantage to 45 points by the final break after keeping the reigning grand finalists goalless in the third quarter, before Sandringham kicked the final four goals to trim the margin late.

Inverloch-Kongwak’s Augustus Finsterer was a key target inside 50, kicking four goals from 18 disposals and five marks.

It continued an impressive season for the tall

forward, who has now kicked 18 goals, including at least one in each of his past nine games.

Judd Burgiel was outstanding through the midfield with 27 disposals, nine marks and seven inside-50s.

The win lifted Gippsland to fifth on the Talent League ladder as it eyes another deep finals campaign after last year’s preliminary final appearance.

The Power will take on Murray Bushrangers, Oakleigh Chargers and Northern Knights in the final three rounds of the home-and-away season.

After showing positive signs in recent weeks, Gippsland Power’s girls team went down to Sandringham Dragons 8.5 (53) to 3.3 (21).

The Power led by four points at quarter time and six at half time before the Dragons edged ahead by a point at the final break.

Sandringham then dominated the final quarter, kicking five unanswered goals to seal victory.

Olivia Holmes (25 disposals, 10 tackles) and Lily Milner (25 disposals, eight tackles) were Gippsland’s standout performers. DANDENONG STINGRAYS

Dandenong Stingrays recorded their secondbiggest win of the Talent League Girls season, defeating Northern Knights 17.12 (114) to 5.3 (33) at Shepley Oval.

The Stingrays effectively ended the contest in the opening quarter, piling on seven goals to establish a 40-point lead at the first change.

While the Knights fought harder through the middle stages, Dandenong’s class shone through as it finished strongly with five final-quarter goals to secure an 81-point victory.

Jasmine Whitten was outstanding with 20 disposals and four goals, while Misha Simmons, Annie Clish and Scarlett Marsh each added two majors.

The Stingrays sit second on the ladder with 11 wins and a draw from 12 matches as they continue their premiership push.

They travel to face Tasmania Devils before finishing the home-and-away season against Sandringham Dragons.

In the boys competition, Dandenong’s fourgame winning streak came to an end with a 16.12 (108) to 11.4 (70) loss to the formidable Northern Knights.

The Knights set the tone with a 33-12 opening quarter and, despite the Stingrays’ accurate kicking, the visitors controlled the contest for most of the afternoon.

Vic Country representatives Wil Antrobus, Gus Kennedy and Darcy Szerszyn were among Dandenong’s best, while all eyes were on Marcus Prasad in his first game for four months after injury ruled him out of the Under-18 Championships.

Prasad impressed immediately with 24 disposals and a goal, while Port Adelaide father-son prospect Louis Salopek continued his strong form with 17 disposals and two goals following his recent return from injury.

Antrobus finished with 25 disposals, seven marks and six rebound-50s, while Noah Wisken kicked a team-high three goals.

Northern Knights were well served by potential number one draft prospect Harry Van Hattum (16 disposals, one goal, 26 hitouts) and Harrison Leeder, who booted four goals.

The Stingrays will host Bendigo Pioneers at Shepley Oval on Saturday, with action kicking off at 12.45pm.

Losses mount for Casey despite duo’s impressive form

By Blair Burns

Nine goals between Casey Demons forward duo Luker Kentfield (five goals) and Kalani White (four goals) wasn’t enough for a win as bottomplaced Gold Coast Suns snapped a seven-game losing streak to win by nine points, 15.11 (101) to 14.8 (92).

It was a disappointing round 19 result for the Demons, who led at every break at People First Stadium, even leading by as much as 30 points midway through the second term.

The Demons have now lost five of their last six games as they prepare for the final game of their season against Box Hill Hawks, with finals out of reach.

Casey looked up to the challenge early as the side kicked six goals in the opening term to lead 6.3 (39) to 4.1 (25) at quarter time.

It was former number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan who kicked the first goal of the day to put the Suns in front 6-0, before the Demons went bang, bang, bang.

Some brilliant forward pressure from Jake Melksham saw him earn a free kick for holding the ball, with Xavier Lindsay taking the advantage and kicking truly.

Kentfield delivered a perfect snap goal just 90 seconds later, with some fast ball movement allowing White to stroll into a vacant goal square and put the side up 18-6 after 10 minutes of play.

The quarter was dictated by Kentfield and White inside 50, with the pair causing all sorts of problems early for the Suns defenders – Kent-

field with three majors at quarter time, and White with two.

White took his tally to four early in the second, with the Demons getting out to a 30-point lead before Gold Coast came crawling back within four points at half time.

After being down by 30, the Suns kicked six unanswered goals to take back the lead and put the visitors under real pressure.

Casey still held a narrow two-point lead at the final change of ends, 12.5 (77) to 11.9 (75), but the Suns were up and about and were des-

perate to feel that winning feeling once more.

Caleb Lewis capped of a strong game for Gold Coast to boot his fourth in the final term as the Suns marched home to win their third game of the year, by just nine points.

Riley Bonner racked up the footy with 34 disposals and eight marks, while Xavier Taylor and Ricky Mentha were also lively.

The Demons will have this week off, before they take on the Hawks in round 21.

BLUES TOO STRONG IN VFLW

Casey was outclassed by an in-form Carlton side despite the Blues not fully making them pay in front of goal, winning 4.12 (36) to 1.2 (8).

There were only two behinds scored in the opening term with plenty of stoppages as both teams struggled to get their games up and going.

In the second quarter, the Demons got on the board through Tylah Burn, after she was awarded a free kick and 50-metre penalty.

At half time, Carlton was beginning to get on top at Casey Fields with a 2.3 (15) to 1.0 (6) lead.

But it was goals to Octavia Di Donato and Harriet Bingley in the third term which put the win well out of reach as the Blues stormed home to a strong victory, sitting fourth on the ladder with four consecutive wins.

Meg Macdonald was the Demons’ best with 20 disposals and 11 tackles, while former Hastings star Zoe Mitchell worked hard in the midfield with 27 disposals and five clearances.

Great escape from Devon

By Blair Burns

It was described as the “great escape” by Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy as his side pulled off a brilliant come-from-behind victory to sink Pines and keep its finals hopes alive, winning 10.15 (75) to 9.8 (62).

The win saw Devon Meadows jump into fifth spot on the ladder, as the side now hopes to knock off Sorrento, before big games against Mt Eliza and Dromana to finish off the year.

The final margin was 13 points but that did not tell the full story of the match, with the Pythons leading for most of the game before the Panthers stormed home in the fourth term.

After trailing by 18 points at half time and 12 points at three-quarter time, Pines had come out and booted the first two goals of the final term, but there was still a pulse … belief that the Panthers could find a way.

Devon Meadows was down by 24 points 10 minutes into the last quarter, with a mountain the size of Kosciuszko left to climb.

A 6-6-6 infringement led to a goal for the Panthers and the final-quarter surge had begun.

Hendy moved the magnets around with Dean Kent and Arnold Kirby drifting forward to present strong targets, while captain Joel Hillis also played as a deep forward.

Throw caution to the wind … that was the message to the players.

“We took some risks, every time we got the ball we wanted to play on and get it moving fast,” Hendy said.

“Once we got a bit of momentum going, we were really hard to stop.”

Devon Meadows finished the game with five straight goals, as the home side’s pressure, mixed with the energetic crowd, overwhelmed Pines.

Turnovers out of the Pythons’ backline resulted in goals to Kent and Kye Quirk.

But the best goal of them all was from clutch young gun Jack Wilson when the scores were tied 62-62 and just minutes remaining.

After gathering the ball, Wilson kicked a dribbler from 50 metres out, and there was nobody home to guard the vacant goal square.

The ball bounced all the way through the big sticks to give Wilson a second goal for the game and the Panthers were in front, the comeback was almost complete.

Kirby and Hillis stood up late and helped their side get another late goal to push the margin out to 13 points and seal the result.

“They came to play and really threw a good challenge at us early,” Hendy said.

“We were up against it all day, but we kept chipping away and pulled of a great escape, so emotions were high after the game.

“We have the belief that we can win from any position now and probably took some learnings out of the previous games where we have lost in tight ones.”

SPRAYSOLVESSLOWSTART

Coming into the clash, it was a game that Devon Meadows could ill afford to lose against bottom of the ladder Pines, who has won just two games for the season.

But a different-looking Pythons side had stepped out at Glover Reserve and put the home side under the pump from the outset.

After 30 odd minutes of action, it was nine scoring shots to zero and a 29-0 lead to Pines at quarter time … Devon Meadows had been outplayed and the dreams of playing finals were slipping away.

A Hendy spray followed and kicked the boys into gear.

It needed to start with the Panthers’ midfield, which had been second to the ball and were getting beaten by Pines, who had been impressive from the first ball-up.

Contest, intent and pressure needed to be better.

“I was very, very verbal and that is putting it nicely,” Hendy said.

“Once we got in at quarter time, we needed to regroup, settle down, get our structures and team defence right.

“We needed to start cracking in a bit more and

to the boys’ credit, we chipped away after that and our midfield was very resilient – it was a nice way to respond after a bit of a spray.”

RESILIENTRESPONSE

The Panthers kicked five of the next six goals after quarter time and managed to get the scores back to 37-37 before the Pythons kicked away again.

The second quarter was impressive from Devon Meadows as they had nine scoring shots to three, using the slight breeze, but they managed just 2.7 as wayward shots hurt them.

The third quarter was an arm-wrestle as the Panthers edged closer, before they dominated the fourth term to kick 5.7 to Pines’ 2.0.

The growth and maturity within the group this year has Hendy and everyone at Devon Meadows daring to dream, but also not looking any further than this week’s clash against Sorrento.

“After what happened with us last year, we’ve fully got that belief in our group and always have the motto of ‘why not us’ every week,” he said.

“We believe we are good enough and anyone that we come up against, we can more than challenge them … footy is a funny game and if we can make top five, anything can happen.

“But we just have to take it week by week at the moment; we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Sorrento away from home is the next box for Devon Meadows to tick this Saturday. MPFNLDIVISION1 DEVONMEADOWS 0.0 2.7 5.8 10.15(75) PINES 4.5 5.7

Devon Meadows Goals: Brady Dixon, Joel Hillis, Jack Wilson 2, Alex Canal, Dean Kent, Arnold Kirby, Kye Quirk. Best: Joel Hillis, Kye Quirk, Jack Wilson, Levi Churchill, Dean Kent. Pines Goals: Luke Dalmau, Guy Hendry 2, Russell Gabriel, Beau Hendry, Lachlan Jackson, Jake Klein, Kai Sommer. Best: Kane McKenzie, Russell Gabriel, Jacob Boyle, Guy Hendry, Jonathan Haidon.

OTHER RESULTS R15: Mt Eliza 12.4 (76) drew Dromana 11.10 (76), Edithvale-Aspendale 21.21 (147) def Sorrento 13.12 (90), Langwarrin 17.16 (118) def Frankston YCW 13.10 (88), Rosebud 24.22 (166) def 14.9 (93).

LADDER: Rosebud 56, Langwarrin 48, Dromana 34, Frankston YCW, Devon Meadows 32, Mt Eliza 30, Edithvale-Aspendale 28, Mornington 20, Sorrento 12, Pines 8.

FIXTURE R16: Sorrento v Devon Meadows, Pines v Dromana, Mornington v Edithvale-Aspendale, Frankston YCW v Mt Eliza, Rosebud v Langwarrin.

Pearcedale’s dominant run comes to an end at 10 wins

By Blair Burns

Pearcedale’s dream run has finally come to an end in Mornington Peninsula Division 2 football after the Dales were beaten comprehensively against ladder-leader Chelsea, 15.12 (102) to 8.8 (56).

After 10 consecutive wins, including one against Chelsea the first time around, Peter Bastinac’s troops were riding a huge wave of momentum and confidence as they ventured to Chelsea Recreation Reserve.

And the brilliant form has breathed life back into Pearcedale’s season as they attempt to fight for a spot in finals.

The Dales currently occupy fifth position and the challenge is now to stay there for a couple more weeks.

They will be expecting to bank the four points against winless Tyabb away from home this weekend, but their season will likely come down to the final home and away match against Frankston Bombers, with both sides vying for fifth spot.

Chelsea is the premiership favourite for a reason and it was a strong opening half which ulti-

mately set up the victory for the Seagulls.

They came out of the blocks with a bang and before the visitors knew it, they were down 30-0 just 18 minutes into the opening term, and facing an uphill battle.

Sean Downie and Jack Wallace were causing problems for the Dales, who trailed by 38 points at the main break.

Led by Robbie Arnott and Luke Settineri, Pearcedale was determined to chip away at the margin, and they slowly got their game up and running.

The second half was a much more even contest, but it was always the Dales who were chasing and they never got close enough, falling short by 46 points at the final siren.

Cruiz West was kept goalless, and the impact of Pearcedale’s strong midfield was reduced apart from Huw Jones who was at his best in the ruck.

Not only must Bastinac’s side win this weekend against the Yabbies, but they must win big.

With a percentage of 119.03, which is considerably lower than the other top five teams, they need to close the gap and win by triple figures in an emphatic display on the weekend.

MPFNLDIVISION2

CHELSEA 6.2 9.6 14.9 15.12(102)

PEARCEDALE 2.0 3.4 4.7 8.8(56)

Chelsea Goals: Sean Downie, Jack Wallace 3, Brendan Lord, John Simson 2, Josh Cowan, Jack Francis, Todd Gardiner, Brett O’Hanlon, Nicholas Stamatis. Best: Sean Downie, Jack Wallace, Jordan Kelly, Kyle Harrison, Todd Gardiner. Pearcedale Goals: Luke Daniel, Kye Harris, Luke Jennings 2, Mitch Davis, Connor Georgakopoulos. Best: Robbie Arnott, Luke Settineri, Huw Jones, Ethan Vagg, Kye Harris.

OTHER RESULTS R16: Bonbeach 20.9 (129) def Crib Point 12.10 (82), Frankston Bombers 13.6 (84) def Red Hill 7.12 (54), Rye 13.18 (96) def Hastings 12.7 (79), Somerville 20.17 (137) def Karingal 5.6 (36), Seaford 18.12 (120) def Tyabb 6.10 (46).

LADDER: Chelsea 56, Somerville 48, Seaford, Red Hill, Pearcedale 44, Frankston Bombers 40, Rye 36, Bonbeach 28, Crib Point 20, Hastings 16, Karingal 8, Tyabb 0.

FIXTURE R17: Bonbeach v Red Hill, Chelsea v Crib Point, Frankston Bombers v Hastings, Karingal v Seaford, Tyabb v Pearcedale, Somerville v Rye.

Draw enough to Storm clear

By Blair Burns

Cardinia Storm produced a spirited performance in the Women’s Metro 1 South competition despite going down 2-0 to Southern United in an entertaining contest played in sunny conditions.

The match was closely fought throughout, with Storm creating several promising opportunities.

Scarlett Hawkins came closest to opening the scoring, threatening on multiple occasions but was unable to find the back of the net.

Teagan Peterson and Lilly Kelly provided plenty of drive through the midfield to help generate attacking opportunities.

Alana Nancarrow was outstanding in defence, making several crucial saves during Southern United penalty corners.

Goalkeeper Sarah Dunlop was once again a calming presence at the back with her communication, while Thanusha Gunasinghe delivered another disciplined defensive performance to restrict the visitors’ attacking chances.

Despite the defeat, Cardinia can take plenty of positives from a competitive display against quality opposition.

Cardinia Storm’s men climbed back into the

top four after earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Monash.

It was a strong effort from the Storm, who improved from last week to almost steal the victory from Monash.

It was an even contest, with both sides battling for control through the midfield. Teagan Peterson provided plenty of pace in attack, while Sammy Albrecht worked hard through the middle.

Cardinia’s goal came courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Troy White, who intercepted the ball from a 16 restart before lifting it over the goalkeeper.

Monash created most of its chances from penalty corners, but Cardinia’s defence held firm, with goalkeeper Darren Rowe producing several important saves.

The result sets up a finals-like clash against Glen Eira, with both teams fighting for a place in the top four.

Currently sitting inside the top four, the goal for Cardinia is to stay there and the Men’s Metro 1 South side will be determined to solidify its spot this weekend.

With both teams currently on the same number of wins, losses and draws, games don’t get any bigger than this.

Finals can’t come fast enough for in-form Casey Cannons

By Blair Burns

Casey Hockey Club had a quieter weekend with both the Women’s Vic League (WVL1) and reserves teams having the bye, but there were some exciting wins across the other women’s matches.

The Cannons are second on the ladder in the Women’s Pennant D South East competition after a strong 3-0 win against Old Haileyburians.

The offensive attacks from Casey were exceptional, with the midfield driving the ball forward and providing different scoring options for the side.

The Cannons had three individual goal scorers in the win, with Jane Gipp and Jenna

McLauchlan finding the back of the net, while captain Lizzy Maciulaitis hit the scoreboard for a third consecutive week.

It was the home side’s 10th win of the season as Casey Cannons charges towards finals with great momentum.

Also collecting their 10th win of the year was Casey in the Pennant E South East competition as the Cannons delivered a 2-0 victory against Greater Dandenong.

And it was a couple of familiar faces who scored goals in the win, with Kayleigh Looby and Emily Noney continuing their brilliant individual seasons with a goal each.

The Cannons are holding onto third position on the ladder and will look to register three wins

in the remaining three home and away matches.

The only loss of the weekend was a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Collegians-X at home, despite a strong effort to stay right in the contest until the end.

Men’s matches produced three losses as the MVL1 side was beaten easily against Old Xaverians 4-1, with Joshua Watson scoring the sole goal for Casey Cannons.

A Ryan Pruscino goal was the highlight of the MVL1 Reserves loss, also to Old Xaverians with the final scoreboard reading 6-1.

The Men’s Metro 2 South side also fell short against an impressive Frankston side 4-2 despite some good performances from Dilara Changis and Lochlan Gillespie.

Elliott’s afternoon surge warms up his day at Lang Lang

A bitterly cold winters’ day failed to deter 35 members of the South West Gippsland Midweek Bowls Group from turning up at Lang Lang Bowls Club for another exciting edition of the weekly challenge.

The weekly social competition provides a great mix for the members, who arrive each week and get put into different teams; therefore enjoying the company of varying members of the group.

As usual the players were signed in by President John Nicholson while Bev and Vern Elliott completed the all-important task of arranging the teams for the day.

Play continued throughout the day despite the intermittent showers being an annoyance for the players.

Due to the trying conditions a number of wrong-bias bowls were rolled down, resulting in some welcome funds being deposited into the Royal Children’s Hospital Tin.

It was noted throughout the group that the three successful teams on the day were comprised of only three players.

This week’s winners with a score of 35 points were Vern Elliott (S), Marg McConville (L) and Laurie Bell (3).

A massive winning score of 30 to 3 for the afternoon session certainly helped their cause.

Runners up on a score of 34 points were Michael Dady (S), Julian Colmegna (L) and John Williams (3).

Best One Game winners with 19 points - winning nine ends out of 12 – were Ron Hughes (L), Jim Kirk (S) and Luke Monckton (3).

Special thanks today go to Andy Proud for setting up the green and to Marianne and Colin Scales for manning the bar and former press correspondent Laurie Bell for his duties in the kitchen.

This week’s game on Thursday 6 August will be held at Loch and District Bowling Club.

Please be on site by 10am to allow time to prepare the teams.

- David Talbot