Thursday, 1 October, 2026
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Clyde connects Clyde has a new market now. The first Gathered in Clyde community market drew an estimated 800 people and about 111 stallholders on Sunday 27 September. Organiser Ebony Kinna said around 85 per cent of stallholders were local, giving local businesses a chance to connect with residents. The self-funded market was created to fill a gap in community events in Clyde and is now planned to run monthly, subject to council approval. Full photos page 18
Cade is selling his 3D printed items. His business is called R-Cade3DPrinting. (Gary Sissons: 580915)
Fuel power hungry By Violet Li Star News’ reporting on the proposed Clyde North data centre has uncovered two major issues around its electricity demand and reliance on diesel backup power. An unpublished Greenhouse Gas Assessment shows that if the development’s full 488-megawatt IT capacity operated continuously, the data centre, including cooling and other facility operations, could consume up to 5475.6 GWh of electricity a year.
That is equivalent to about 13 per cent of Victoria’s 2024–25 operational electricity consumption, although the figure represents a maximum modelling scenario rather than a forecast of actual yearly use. Separately, planning documents reveal the campus proposes 324 diesel backup generators and storage for more than 7.2 million litres of diesel on site. The generators would provide emergency power and undergo regular testing. These detailed electricity and diesel figures
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are not readily available on the developer’s dedicated Casey Data Park website. To examine the full planning documents, a local resident will have to be in person at the Bunjil Place customer services desk. It is noted that photography and photocopying are not allowed. In late July when Star News approached Casey Council for documents disclosure, it did not receive them. Instead, Council advised that officers were still reviewing the application, had requested further information and were consulting the EPA and wa-
ter and power authorities. The paper’s other recent coverage has broadened the debate. Outer Melbourne councils have called for tougher safeguards around energy and water demand, infrastructure, traffic, noise, heat, emergency management and community benefit, while a community opinion piece argued that data centres are part of the future and should not simply be opposed. Full coverage on page 3 and 6
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$40m program working? By Cam Lucadou-Wells A South-East agency has defended its youth crime prevention efforts after the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) found “no evidence” that the state’s $40 million Youth Crime Prevention Program is reducing crime. In its analysis, VAGO found 70 per cent of YCPP participants offended for the first time or reoffended within six months of starting the program. As of April, the program worked with more than 2700 young people in 14 priority areas across Victoria, including Casey and Greater Dandenong. Between 2022-’25, juvenile offender incidents in Victoria increased by 40 per cent. VAGO found that it was unclear whether the YCPP placements reached the “right” people. The report also found data and accountability gaps – with 51 per cent of participants completing the program. Youth Support & Advocacy Service (YSAS), which works with at-risk youth in the South East as part of the YCPP, welcomed the VAGO findings. YSAS chief executive Andrew Bruyn said a “commitment to evidence” should be applied across a “very diverse set of programs”. Some programs intervene early to work with young people at risk, others for those already in the justice system, he said. “Investment in innovation needs to be matched by investment in rigorous evaluation into what works for young people to desist from involvement in crime and invest in positive future that is realistic and achievable.” YSAS received more than $2 million in YCPP funding – the most in the state – to cover Greater Dandenong, Casey and Frankston in 2022-’25. Its cost per participant was $17,599 – compared to $7304 a day per person in youth detention.
YSAS staff based in Melbourne’s South East in 2024. (Stewart Chambers: 410079) On the other hand, 57 per cent of young people in custody will reoffend and return to detention within a year of release. VAGO found that of 146 YSAS participants, 106 were alleged offenders. The other 40 were part of an early-intervention pilot program ePIVOT for young people at “clear risk” of entering the justice system. Bruyn said the pilot was “innovation working as intended”. “It deserves proper evaluation, not exclusion.” YSAS also runs a PIVOT program in partnership with Windana, Jesuit Social Services,
Mission Australia and Kids First Australia in the South East. Bruyn said of the 25 current PIVOT clients, 84 per cent had improved family relationships, 56 per cent hadn’t reoffended and 80 per cent were in education or a job. “For this group, every young person who stops offending is a real gain for community safety,” Bruyn says. Liberal youth justice, crime prevention and victim support opposition spokesperson said the VAGO report confirmed “Labor’s total failure on youth crime”.
“Across ten years, Labor has wasted $40 million of taxpayer money on a crime prevention program that has failed to prevent crime.” Crime Prevention Minister Paul Edbrooke has pointed to reduced youth offending in the past year, as well as giving police the powers to “tackle serious and repeat offending”. In November 2025, the government announced a $27.5 million Violence Reduction Unit, to ‘stop crime before it starts’. Major initiatives so far include $7.7 million for youth mentoring and $5.6 million for early intervention officers in 23 targeted schools.
Crime rising in Casey despite slight statewide decline By Jensy Callimootoo Serious family violence assaults in Casey have jumped 17 per cent in a year, with new Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) figures revealing a rise in violence against family members as overall crime in the municipality also climbs. Going against the statewide trend youth offending in Casey has risen by more than 10 per cent in addition to car theft incidents. New data from the CSA shows 802 family violence-related serious assaults were recorded in Casey in the year to June 2026, up from 676 in the previous year. That represents 126 additional serious assault incidents, an increase of 17 per cent. The figures come as Casey recorded 23,311 criminal incidents, up from 22,291 the previous year — an increase of 4.6 per cent. Offences recorded have increased by 6.1 per cent — up to 31,583. The rise stands in contrast to the broader Victorian trend, with the state’s overall recorded crime rate falling by 3.8 per cent over the same period.
Family violence is emerging as one of the most concerning features of Casey’s latest crime figures, with serious assaults occurring alongside high numbers of breaches of family violence orders. The data paints a picture of family violence continuing to place significant pressure on police and the local community, even as some categories of offending move in the opposite direction. Across Casey, the most frequently recorded offences included theft from motor vehicles, criminal damage, breaches of family violence orders and retail theft. The municipality’s most frequently recorded crime locations included houses, driveways and public areas such as streets, footpaths and lanes, as well as shopping centre complexes. Narre Warren records highest number of incidents The figures also identify the suburbs recording the highest number of criminal incidents. Narre Warren recorded the most, followed by Cranbourne, Berwick, Clyde North and Doveton. Motor vehicle theft has also moved against
(On file) the statewide trend. While motor vehicle theft across Victoria has fallen by more than five per cent, Casey recorded a 6.4 per cent increase. The latest figures highlight a mixed picture of crime across the municipality — with theft and property offending continuing to feature heavily. The 802 serious family violence assault incidents recorded in Casey mean that, on average, more than two such incidents were recorded every day during the year. State and police response Across Victoria, youth offending is down 8.1 per cent. In Casey 1404 alleged incidents were
carried by the 12-17 age group, up 12 per cent from last year. While the state government and Victoria Police have announced some positive trend shifts in the data, it has underscored that crime is still “too high” in Victoria. Victoria Police described the data trends as “encouraging signs”, but said there was more to be done. “Crime levels remain unacceptably high and continue to sit above historical norms,” it said. “Despite the year-on-year reduction, recorded crime remains 13.2% higher than three years ago.” “Victoria Police will continue to focus on prevention where we can, enforcement where we must, and maintaining the visible, proactive policing presence that communities in this state rightly expect and deserve,” said Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill. The CSA data records incidents reported to and recorded by Victoria Police. As with all recorded-crime statistics, the figures represent incidents known to police and do not capture every instance of violence or offending that occurs.
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324 diesel generators, 7 million litres of fuel By Violet Li A proposed Clyde North data centre campus would install 324 diesel backup generators and store more than 7.2 million litres of diesel on site, planning documents has revealed. The generators are intended to provide backup power and would also undergo regular testing. A Preliminary Risk and Hazards Assessment confirms that the development would hold 7,284,000 litres of diesel across generators, day tanks and bulk diesel storage tanks within fuel tank rooms. Generator fuel tanks would be underground beneath the footprint of each data centre. The development would also involve lithium-ion battery storage with a mass of 541,926kg. The report says the quantities of dangerous goods proposed would exceed fire-protection thresholds. The regulatory requirements are triggered for placards, dangerous-goods manifest and written advice from emergency services authorities on fire-protection systems at the premises. Proposed safeguards include separated fuel tanks, two-hour fire compartments, hydrants, flame and heat detection, water-mist suppression, ventilation and an emergency management plan.
Architectural render of the view from the south east. (Galileo) Noise has also been assessed, with the project’s noise report identifying 10 nearby residential properties as sensitive receivers. For routine testing and maintenance, the report says generators would operate only between 7am and 6pm from Monday to Saturday, with no more than two generators tested simultaneously.
The assessment predicts the proposed mitigation measures would keep noise within applicable limits during the modelled testing scenario. According to the Greenhouse Gas Assessment report, the facility would contain 240 2.8MW generators, 72 2.4MW generators and 12 2MW generators, giving a combined installed capacity of
about 868.8MW. Each generator is assumed to be tested at full load for 30 minutes in each of the first three quarters of the year and for 60 minutes in the final quarter, followed by a five-minute cool-down period. That testing regime is estimated to consume about 586,510 litres of diesel each year. In the first year of operation, using projected 2028 emissions factors, the assessment estimates diesel consumed during generator testing would produce about 1594 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The $1.1bn data centre campus is proposed on a 16.24-hectare site within a new 53.15-hectare subdivision in Clyde North, in an area identified for employment and commercial uses under the Croskell Employment Precinct Structure Plan. The development applicant is Galileo Group. Plans show two four-storey data centre buildings, known as DC-A and DC-B, each rated at 244MW and reaching a maximum height of about 30.5 metres. Each building would contain 40 data halls across its ground, first and second floors, with plant rooms, electrical equipment and generators also incorporated throughout the buildings. The facilities are proposed to operate 24 hours a day, with each data centre also including a three-storey front-of-house section accommodating up to 120 operational and tenant staff.
Clyde North data centres’ power demand revealed By Violet Li A proposed Clyde North data centre campus could consume up to 13 per cent of Victoria’s total operational electricity use in 2024-25. The proposed two data centres at 585 Berwick-Cranbourne Road could consume up to 5476 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity a year when fully operating, according to a Greenhouse Gas Assessment that models a maximum scenario rather than the project’s expected year-byyear power use. A Greenhouse Gas Assessment Report by engineering consultant HDR shows the site’s maximum 488-megawatt (MW) IT capacity could consume about 4278 GWh a year through tenants’ servers and other computing equipment alone. A further 1198 GWh a year could be required for building operations, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, internal and external lighting, and ancillary building services. The number was calculated by using a proposed Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.28, which means for every unit of electricity consumed by IT equipment, another 0.28 units would be required for the infrastructure supporting it. Together, the two sources of electricity demand would bring the maximum annual consumption to almost 5476 GWh. The figure is a maximum estimate for when the data centre is fully operating at 488 MW continuously, 24 hours a day for an entire year, rather than what it is expected to use when it first opens. For comparison, Victoria recorded about 41,087 GWh of operational electricity consumption in 2024-25, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator. The data centre’s maximum annual consumption would therefore be equivalent to about 13 per cent of that statewide figure. The total figure would also be equivalent to annual electricity consumptions of about 1.2 million average Victorian households. For a data centre, most of the electricity consumption would come from tenants’ computing equipment rather than from running the building itself. A data centre provides the buildings, electricity, cooling, backup power and internet connections needed to keep large numbers of computers running. Its tenants, such as cloud providers and technology companies, use the site to run the servers and other computer equipment that store and process data The same greenhouse assessment also mod-
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A drone shot of the northern end of the 585 Berwick-Cranbourne Road site for the proposed data centres. (Gary Sissons)
A drone shot of the southern end of the 585 Berwick-Cranbourne Road site for the proposed data centres. (Gary Sissons) els a more typical operating scenario based on 90 per cent occupancy and a 60 per cent IT equipment loading factor. Combined, those assumptions mean the data centre would be using about 54 per cent of its maximum IT capacity once the entire campus was available. While the report calculates greenhouse emissions under that operational scenario, it
does not state the corresponding electricity consumption. The greenhouse assessment report also presents a table that shows the data centre’s IT capacity would be added gradually rather than reaching its full 488 MW from the start. The report shows 125 MW of IT capacity in 2028, with further capacity added each year until the site reaches its maximum 488 MW by 2034. That staged ramp-up means the data centre’s electricity use would also be expected to grow over time rather than immediately reaching the maximum consumption figure. The greenhouse assessment report states Galileo intends to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity through GreenPower-accredited retailer agreements for electricity under its operational control. However, Galileo does not have control over the electricity consumed by tenants’ IT equipment, the largest component of the site’s potential demand. For tenant IT electricity, the report says
Galileo would engage with tenants to support renewable electricity procurement and notes that many prospective tenants have their own renewable-energy targets through mechanisms such as large-scale generation certificates and power purchase agreements. Galileo has said the development would fund its own grid connection and a new terminal station, with the company’s website stating the station would have 1000 MVA of capacity, of which about 720 MVA would be required for the data centre. Galileo has not publicly disclosed any number in relation to the proposed Clyde North data centres’ expected annual electricity consumption. *The Greenhouse Gas Assessment Report establishes the theoretical upper limit but does not provide a year-by-year forecast of the electricity Galileo expects the proposed data centres to actually consume as the staged development comes online. The project’s ultimate electricity use would depend on how quickly tenants occupy the cam-
Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 3
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Drug mix-up tragedy By Afraa Kori A 69-year-old woman’s death after she was given another resident’s medication at an aged care home was preventable, a coroner has found. The elderly resident was mistakenly given 300mg of the antipsychotic drug clozapine at Monash Health’s Mooraleigh Hostel in Bentleigh East on 4 August 2024. She died at Casey Hospital in Berwick 11 days later. Coroner Ingrid Giles found the medication triggered the resident deterioration and ultimately contributed to her death. “I find that (resident’s) death was preventable,” she said. The error happened during an evening medication round when a psychiatric services officer became distracted and placed clozapine from another resident’s medication pack into the victim’s
pill cup. She noticed an unfamiliar tablet after taking it and alerted the staff member, who reported the mistake. A doctor examined her later that night, and staff continued to monitor her at the hostel. She was found beside her bed after an unwitnessed fall early the next morning. About an hour later, her level of consciousness had fallen sharply and staff called an ambulance. Coroner Giles found that Mooraleigh Hostel “failed” to appropriately escalate her care, and that ‘000’ should have been called “immediately” following the misadministration of clozapine. “The failure to do so meant that the treatment she needed to address the effects of the clozapine – in relation to which she had a known adverse reaction – was unnecessarily delayed.” The facility’s medication records also failed to flag that the resident had previously experienced
myocarditis related to clozapine. An alert might have prompted an earlier transfer to hospital, the coroner said. The resident had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was being investigated for ischaemic heart disease. The coroner accepted the pathologist’s finding that she died from a worsening of those conditions in the setting of clozapine administration. She found the resident’s care at Casey Hospital was reasonable and appropriate, but that at that stage, “her clinical trajectory was sadly irreversible”. Monash Health told the court it had implemented changes across its residential aged care facilities following a review of the death. Only registered nurses now administer clozapine, staff receive medication training, and changes have been made to reduce distractions
during medication rounds. Mooraleigh Hostel has since closed. Coroner Giles investigated three deaths in 2024 and 2025 involving aged care residents who had been given another resident’s medication. She grouped the cases as the “RACF Medication Error Cluster” and found the errors preceding all three deaths were preventable. “The fact that these fatal medication errors occurred in relation to a cohort of older persons, in the twilight of their lives, does not lessen the seriousness of the outcome; given their dependence on others for their care, it amplifies it.” Coroner Giles called for the Federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to urgently develop national medication safety standards specific to residential aged care, including clear rules for emergency responses and reporting after an error.
Adam Barry drives off, holding the victim’s hand and dragging her alongside the car. (County Court of Victoria).
Monash Casey Hospital.
Emergency departments record contrasting results Adam Barry in Casey Hospital, shortly before stealing a car in front of the emergency department on 23 April 2025. (County Court of Victoria)
The victim rushes to her vehicle as Adam Barry opens the driver’s side door. (County Court of
Jail for car thief who ran over victim at Casey Hospital By Cam Lucadou-Wells A car thief who sped off after running over the car’s owner outside Casey Hospital’s emergency department has been jailed. Adam Barry, a 25-year-old disqualified driver on bail and homeless at the time, stole the victim’s Ford Territory on the morning of 23 April 2025. She had left keys in the ignition as she pushed her ailing husband in a wheelchair into the ED. She returned to find Barry climbing into the drivers’ seat and she tried to grab the ignition keys through the open driver’s-side door. Barry tightly grabbed her hand and accelerated, dragging her several metres until he let her go at speed. She fell forcefully on the bitumen, and was run over by the car’s rear tyre – which narrowly missed her head. Barry then made the “completely selfish” and “morally reprehensible” decision to drive away, abandoning a victim that he ought to have known was seriously injured, Judge Anthony Lewis said in sentencing. Later that day, Barry found the victim’s bank card in the car and used it to buy cigarettes and McDonald’s food. He stole some petrol and was found hiding in a shed in Pioneer Bay by police that evening. Police deemed him as unfit for interview. The victim was taken to The Alfred hospital ICU with critical injuries, including a collapsed lung, multiple rib and facial fractures, and a torn shoulder.
4 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
The victim lies on the roadway as Adam Barry drives off in her Ford Territory outside Casey Hospital. She was run over by the right rear tyre, which narrowly missed her head. (County Court of Victoria) She required life-saving treatment - a drain inserted in her rib cage as well as blood transfusions to correct her plummeting blood pressure. She underwent facial surgery, including an inserted metal plate and screws that are likely to remain for life. A medical expert declared she was at high risk of spontaneous lung collapse, her fractures failing to heal and to suffer ongoing shoulder pain. In her victim impact statement, she told of being unable to perform day-to-day tasks without pain or assistance. She endures significant stress and anxiety, with ongoing psychological treatment. Barry, now 26, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury, failing to render assistance, as well as two counts of theft and three counts of obtaining property by deception. In sentencing on 29 September, Judge Anthony Lewis noted Barry was on a community cor-
rections order and under a bail condition not to drive at the time. Two days before the theft, Barry had arrived by ambulance at Casey Hospital after people called triple-zero due to his erratic behaviour. He complained of chest pain, short breath, blurred vision and dizziness. Clinicians thought that Barry’s goal was to remain in hospital due to his homelessness, and so he was discharged. Shortly before the victim and her husband parked their car, Barry was escorted outside by hospital staff. He later claimed he was frustrated by his discharge and stole the victim’s car in order to have somewhere to sleep. Barry has been diagnosed with PTSD stemming from a traumatic upbringing, likely ADHD and major depression. Judge Lewis noted Barry’s extensive drug and mental health issues, with a long criminal history, including driving offences and breaching court orders. It was clear that Barry’s lack of community supports and stable housing was a “criminogenic” risk, the judge said. He would need supervision and help in housing and employment when released on parole. Barry was jailed for three years and nine months, including a non-parole period of twoand-a-half years. His term includes 524 days in pre-sentence remand. He was disqualified from driving for eight years.
Patients arriving at Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department were significantly more likely to be treated within their required timeframe than those at Casey Hospital with the latest figures revealing a 10 per cent gap. Figures for the April to June 2026 quarter show 93.2 per cent of patients at Dandenong Hospital were treated within the timeframe required for their triage category, compared with 83.2 per cent at Casey Hospital. The Victorian Agency of Health Information figures come as both hospitals continue to manage thousands of emergency presentations each quarter. Patients arriving at Victorian emergency departments are assessed and assigned a triage category from one to five according to the urgency of their condition. Category 1 patients require immediate treatment, while Category 5 patients are classified as non-urgent and should be treated within two hours. At Casey Hospital, 19,914 patients were treated in the latest quarter, with 16,567 receiving treatment within their applicable timeframe. That compares with 20,144 patients treated in April to June 2025, when 16,851 were treated within time — a rate of 83.7 per cent. Casey’s emergency department activity dipped to 19,459 patients in January to March 2026 before recovering in the latest quarter. Despite the fluctuations in patient numbers, the proportion treated within time has remained relatively steady. Dandenong, meanwhile, recorded 17,474 patients treated between April and June, up from 17,262 in the same period last year. Of those patients, 16,278 were treated within their required timeframe, compared with 15,884 a year earlier. The latest figures highlight the pressure facing busy emergency departments, with the opposition blaming the Labor government. “Victorians deserve a government that works. It’s time for a fresh start in November to fix the problems in our health system,” said Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier.
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Panda Mart fined $80K By Cam Lucadou-Wells Cranbourne budget-retailer Panda Mart has been fined $80,000 after stocking hundreds of defective electrical products, including dangerous lamps that put shoppers at risk of electric shock. The company pleaded guilty at Frankston Magistrates’ Court to 15 charges of offering to supply electrical equipment that didn’t meet mandatory safety requirements. An Energy Safe Victoria investigation uncovered portable lamps with inadequate insulation and exposed electrical parts that could deliver an electric shock if touched. Nine lamp models were deemed as unsafe. A lawyer for ESV told the court that AC voltages of up to 240V were detected – which were potentially lethal. Other defective products included adaptors, power boards, extension cords, USB chargers,
LED globes and powered recliners. Some equipment did not display the required Regulatory Compliance Mark. The investigation in March 2025 came days after the store first opened in Cranbourne. It was prompted by a tip-off from a New Zealand regulator, the court heard. ESV officers seized suspected non-compliant electrical products from its Cranbourne store and Dandenong warehouse, including more than 900 lamps across 52 models. Panda Mart’s lawyer argued that the store’s locally-based owner-operator was unaware of the safety requirements at the time. But they had cooperated with the investigation, and thereafter acted to ensure safety compliance, the lawyer told the court. A recall notice was issued for the defective products, but no customers returned the items, the court heard.
Magistrate Charles Tan said there was “no justification to say ‘I only know what I know’. The retailer should have sought help if it wasn’t in the know, he noted. He said the offending was “serious in nature” given the risk of “death or physical harm” to consumers. The court must “send a message that there has to be a level of diligence because people’s safety is at risk”. Mr Tan noted Panda Mart had no relevant prior convictions. Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson said the outcome should serve as a reminder to retailers to take their electrical safety obligations seriously. “Electrical safety isn’t optional. Every retailer has a responsibility to make sure the electrical products they sell meet Australia’s safety requirements before they reach consumers,” Ms Hughson said.
A defective downlight was found to deliver a potentially lethal voltage of 240V. (Energy Safe Victoria) “Those requirements help protect people from electric shock, burns and house fires, and Victorians should be able to trust that the electrical products they bring into their homes are safe.” Ms Hughson advised shoppers to check for the Regulatory Compliance Mark, which indicates that an electrical product meets Australian standards.
Man dies after multi-vehicle crash
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The SES were preparing to put the gazebo over and tarp the walls. online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The crash happened on Sladen Street Cranbourne towards Stevensons Road. (Gary Sissons: 581209)
12896757-RV39-26
A man died following a multi-vehicle collision in Cranbourne on Sunday 27 September. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. It is understood three vehicles collided on Sladen Street near Stevensons Road just after 10am. Emergency services worked on one of the drivers. However, he died at the scene. It is believed the man died due to a medical episode. Another driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The third driver sustained minor injuries and was assessed at the scene. Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dash cam, vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or
Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 5
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Councils seek safeguards By Ethan Henson Outer Melbourne councils, including Casey and Cardinia, are calling for clear rules on data centres’ energy and water demand, traffic, noise, heat, emergency management and community benefit. Outer Melbourne Councils (OMC), which represents municipalities including the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council, welcomed parts of the State Government’s new Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan but said stronger safeguards and earlier council involvement were needed. OMC states that data centres could place major demands on land, electricity, water, roads and council resources, particularly in outer suburbs where industrial areas often sit close to fast-growing residential communities. OMC said the plan needs clear rules on energy and water demand, infrastructure, traffic, noise, heat, emergency management and community benefit. OMC acting chair Cr Naomi Joiner said OMC is not opposed to data centres, but they must be in the right places on the right terms with the right safeguards. “Councils must be involved early before sites are selected, fast-track pathways are triggered and communities are left reacting to decisions already well advanced,” she said. “Community benefit cannot be a vague promise. It should mean local jobs, skills, infrastructure, open space, energy resilience or environmental improvements, “Data centres should pay their way. Network upgrades, road works, planning, compliance and engagement costs should not be shifted onto councils, households or small businesses.” OMC said they’re also seeking protections for valuable environmental, green wedge and agricultural land, with similar requirements for Battery Energy Storage System proposals. They added the Local Investment Guarantee must be developed with councils and host com-
The proposed site on Berwick-Cranbourne Road. (Stewart Chambers) munities, so benefits are meaningful, locally directed and enforceable. The data centre issue has become particularly relevant in Casey, where a major data centre has been proposed in Clyde North and has prompted community concern about issues including noise, energy and water use, traffic and consultation. Cardinia Council has not received a proposal but is expecting one to cross its desk in the future. It recently unanimously agreed to move a mo-
tion, to plan its stance on the matter, along with requesting more transparency on the topic with residents and other community members. The State Government set a list of new rules for data centres on 22 September. However, the new rules will not apply retrospectively to the proposed $1.1 billion Clyde North data centre. Under the new rules, data centres will be prohibited on residentially zoned land, and a 150-metre buffer must separate a residential
building from a proposed data centre building. Developers must also ensure comprehensive community notification. New data centres will also be expected to offset their operational electricity consumption through investment in new renewable generation and storage, while paying for connection costs and network upgrades caused by their projects. Facilities using water-intensive cooling will be expected to use recycled or other non-drinking water.
Data centres: Stop fighting the future Opinion by Dr Jamel Kaur Singh, Saffal Dhillon and Dya Singh Apparently data centres are the latest thing we’re supposed to be frightened of. They’ll drink all our water. They’ll steal all our electricity. They’ll take our tradies. They’ll hum. AI will take our jobs. And, presumably, somewhere inside one of those giant buildings, a robot is plotting the end of humanity. Meanwhile, we’ll lodge these complaints on Facebook, from a smartphone, using cloud storage, internet banking, Google Maps and perhaps a little ChatGPT to make the complaint sound better. Where exactly did we think “the cloud” lives? The proposed data centre in Clyde North has understandably generated debate. Good. Ask questions. Challenge the developer. Demand evidence. But let’s distinguish between a legitimate concern and a reason to be pessimistic. Australia’s next gold rush may not be gold at all. It may be computing and data. CommBank estimates Australia’s data-centre pipeline could generate around $150 billion in investment by 2030. Victoria already has more than 50 data centres. Australian-born AirTrunk has become an Asia-Pacific data-centre powerhouse and plans billions more in Victorian investment. These companies create construction, engineering, electricals, cybersecurity, technology and ongoing operational jobs. In short they create infrastructure. They attract capital. Most importantly, they put Australia within an industry the entire world increasingly depends upon. So, let’s look at what we’re frightened of. ‘But they’ll use all of our water!’ Yes, some data-centre cooling systems use substantial amounts of water. Modern data centres can use closed-loop liquid cooling, air cooling, recycled water and increasingly sophisticated technologies that dramatically reduce potable-water consumption. Australia’s most water-efficient facilities are already demonstrating extremely low water usage.
6 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
This isn’t 1995. Technology evolves. Set stringent water-efficiency requirements. Protect drinking water. Encourage closed-loop systems. Reward innovation. Then let the engineers do their jobs. “But they’ll break the electricity grid!” Now this one deserves a serious conversation. Data centres use enormous amounts of electricity. Nationally they accounted for around two per cent of electricity supplied through the National Electricity Market in 2024, with demand expected to increase significantly. Our response? Why not turn the problem on its head? If you’re building a hyperscale data centre, don’t simply take from the grid. Help build the grid. Create incentives for operators that bring additional generation and battery storage with them. Encourage development around existing high-capacity transmission infrastructure. Explore partnerships with hydroelectricity and pumped hydro. Saffal loves his electrical engineering and has co-authored this article. He has written an entire white paper exploring this problem, including hydro-integrated free-cooling architecture. His proposition is essentially: stop treating enormous energy demand purely as a burden and use private investment to help finance the energy infrastructure Australia needs anyway. There’s a novel idea. Solve the problem. ‘But they’ll take all of our electricians’ This one makes us chuckle. If an electrician can earn considerably more working on a data centre, what exactly do we want them to do? Say: “No thanks, I’d rather earn less for the good of the nation”? Good luck to that. The problem isn’t that electricians are earning too much. We don’t have enough electricians. We’re trying to build hundreds of thousands of houses, transform the electricity network, build renewables, expand transmission and construct data centres using overlapping skilled workforces.
So train more people. Government already provides substantial incentives for housing apprenticeships. Great. If taxpayers subsidise an apprenticeship specifically because we desperately need residential tradies, perhaps attach an appropriate residential-service period to that particular incentive. Two years? Three? Let government and industry work it out. Then let that electrician go wherever opportunity takes them and earn as much as their skills command. And while we’re at it, stop telling every 16-year-old that university is the definition of success. For the right young person, an electrical apprenticeship can lead to an exceptional career. ‘But they hum!’ Seriously? Set a noise limit. Measure it. If the development exceeds it, make them fix it. We’re capable of regulating noise from factories, roads, shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment venues. Surely the technological sophistication required to measure a humming building hasn’t escaped us. Which brings us to the real issue. We increasingly seem to confuse consultation with leadership. Consultation means listening to people. It doesn’t mean that whoever becomes angriest on Facebook gets veto power. A government should listen to the concern, obtain the evidence, determine whether the risk is real, establish an appropriate standard and make a decision in the broader public interest, not motivated by voters’ fear. Water problem? Solve it. Energy problem? Solve it. Noise problem? Solve it.
Skills shortage? Train people. Infrastructure problem? Make the development contribute to it. But if the objection eventually becomes simply “I don’t like it”, the government has to be capable of saying: we’ve heard you, we’ve investigated it, we’ve addressed the legitimate risks, and we’re moving forward because… That’s leadership. And here’s what worries us. Capital doesn’t have feelings. AirTrunk, NEXTDC and international operators don’t have to build their next facility here. Singapore wants investment. Malaysia wants it. India wants it. Queensland wants it. New South Wales wants it. If Victoria becomes too difficult, too expensive and too unpredictable, capital doesn’t organise a protest march. It just leaves. Then we’ll hold another inquiry into why investment is falling, why talented Australians are moving overseas and why productivity isn’t growing. Good luck trying to pay down our ever-increasing debts. Perhaps we’ll even commission a very expensive report about it. Casey and Cardinia have an opportunity to think differently. We don’t want our future to be endless rooftops, longer commutes and our brightest young people leaving the south-east every morning to find opportunity somewhere else. Why shouldn’t we produce electricians, programmers, technicians, entrepreneurs and cybersecurity specialists? Why shouldn’t serious technology businesses want to locate here? And why shouldn’t major developments be expected to leave behind better energy infrastructure, better skills and better opportunities than existed before them? That’s the deal we should be negotiating. Not development at any cost. And certainly not no development because somebody frightened us on Facebook. Responsible development. Set the rules. Protect the community. Demand something in return. Then let people build.
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 7
NEWS
Key intersection upgrade done early The much-awaited and needed Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road Intersection Upgrade is now open to traffic. The “biggest traffic bottleneck” has been replaced with a new intersection with traffic lights, additional lanes and new walking and cycling paths seven months ahead of schedule. It will improve safety for the booming Clyde suburb and neighbouring residents and is said to improve traffic flow for around 47,000 drivers each day. Federal Member for Holt Cassandra Fernando MP says she constantly heard from families about the frustration of the roundabout during her first term. “The biggest traffic bottleneck in our community is now a thing of the past.” Federal Member for Bruce Julian Hill says it was one of South East’s “worst intersections.” “Local residents have highlighted this unsafe choke point for years, and this smooth new road is another example of the Federal Labor Government treating Victoria fairly after years of being screwed over by the Liberals.” There’ll be lane closures and speed reductions at times as finishing touches are added to the new intersection. The project has also delivered additional approach lanes and upgraded bus infrastructure, providing safer travel options for pedestrians and cyclists. The upgrade saw more than 120 direct jobs and 297 indirect jobs created during construction. The $83.5 million project is equally funded by the Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments.
Allied health workers rallied again outside Cranbourne Community Hospital on Wednesday 23 September as their long-running pay dispute with the State Government continues. (Gary Sissons: 579704)
Cranbourne allied health workers rally By Violet Li
The Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road Intersection Upgrade is now open to traffic – seven months ahead of schedule. (Supplied) The nearby Clyde Road Upgrade is also on track to also seven months ahead of schedule. It will widen the Princes Freeway overpass from six to 10 lanes, easing travel for 30,000 vehicles using the road each day.
The upgrade adds to a run of completed projects across Melbourne’s south east, including O’Shea Road, Thompsons Road, Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Hall Road and Western Port Highway.
One Nation pledges to rebuild Devon Meadows CFA Station By Violet Li One Nation has pledged to rebuild the Devon Meadows CFA station if elected at the November State Election. The election commitment came weeks after concerns were raised about the ageing facility and a mechanical failure that temporarily affected access to the brigade’s fire truck. Bass candidate Nikole Schellekens said the party was committing to a rebuild, rather than a smaller upgrade, to make the station “more fit for purpose” and able to meet growing demand in the area. The project is estimated to cost about $4 million, including roughly $3.5 million for construction and the cost of acquiring lands. The party has advised that they planned to speak with Casey Council directly n the coming weeks regarding acquiring neighbouring lands. Ms Schellekens said the party had spoken with people connected to the brigade and believed an upgrade had been needed for years. “Their location, in particular, doesn’t have any shower. That’s just an example. If they come back covered in any contaminant matter, they can’t shower that off,” she said. “They have to get in their personal car, go home in their personal house with young children and a family and then shower there. “For us, that’s just not good enough. “When we’re talking about our volunteer and any of the volunteer workforce, we really want to look after them and make sure they’re well protected.” CFA Volunteers Group vice president Brad Marson said the need for improved stations extended well beyond Devon Meadows. “We need a lot of stations rebuilt,” he said. Mr Marson said CFA brigades regularly travelled outside their own districts to support other communities during emergencies, meaning station funding should not be viewed solely as a local electorate issue. “The CFA very much isn’t just an electorate issue. It’s a statewide issue,” he said. One Nation’s pledge follows concerns over the Devon Meadows station, which was built in 1946. CFA Deputy Chief Officer South East Trevor Owen previously told Star News that a new sta-
8 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
One Nation Bass candidate Nikole Schellekens said the party was committing to a rebuild, rather than a smaller upgrade, to make the Devon Meadows CFA station “more fit for purpose” and able to meet growing demand in the area. (Supplied)
One Nation Bass candidate Nikole Schellekens, One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering, and Devon Meadows brigade captain Mark Unwin at a site tour. tion at Devon Meadows was “not currently funded”. The station came under scrutiny after a me-
chanical issue with its engine bay door required repairs, while brigade members have also raised concerns about the ageing facility and its amenities. Ms Schellekens said there was no firm construction timeline attached to One Nation’s commitment but indicated the project would likely not progress until after the coming fire season. “This fire season is going to hit us pretty hard from what we’re expecting, and all our resources will probably need to go wherever the outbreaks of those bushfires are,” she said. “And after that is when we can refocus on what we’re doing. We know the books are cooked in Victoria. “We’ve got to get in there and do a complete transition audit. Figure out where the money’s going and where it’s hiding, and then we need to focus on our essential services as a priority.”
Allied health workers have rallied again outside Cranbourne Community Hospital as their long-running pay dispute with the State Government continues. About 25 to 30 workers joined the lunchtime rally on Wednesday 23 September, according to Cranbourne Community Hospital allied health worker Sandra Campbell, a noticeably larger turnout than at a similar Cranbourne rally in August. Ms Campbell said about 10 members of her team at Cranbourne Community Hospital attended the latest rally, alongside workers from community rehabilitation and other adult health teams. She said members were seeking a 36.18 per cent pay increase over next three years and had still not received a pay offer from the government. “We still have nothing,” she said. She said the claim reflected workers falling further behind after receiving only a two per cent increase under their previous enterprise agreement. The Cranbourne lunchtime rally is the latest in months of industrial campaigning by members of the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA), part of Health Services Union (HSU) Victoria No. 3. Thousands of Victorian allied health professionals have participated in stop-work action this year, with the union arguing wages have failed to keep pace with increasing workloads, workforce shortages and salaries in comparable jurisdictions. The dispute is set to escalate again on Thursday 1 October, when HSU No. 3 members are due to undertake a 24-hour strike. Ms Campbell and other paediatric workers will not participate because their services are exempt from the strike, but community rehabilitation teams and allied health professionals working in hospitals are expected to take part. Ms Campbell said the lack of an agreement was increasingly frustrating because other health-sector unions had already resolved their claims. HSU Victoria No. 4 members secured a deal in late August, including a 28 per cent pay rise over three-and-a-half years. Ms Campbell said HSU No. 3 members were now among the remaining allied health workers still waiting for an outcome. “We haven’t got much time,” she said. “The State Government will go into caretaker mode soon, and it will make it very difficult and make it much harder.”
Another group of allied health workers at Cranbourne Community Hospital took their lunchtime break to rally outside the hospital.
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BUSINESS IN FOCUS
Anytime takes challenge Global fitness franchise Anytime Fitness has backed the future of Thompsons Corner in Cranbourne East by purchasing a site for a purposebuilt 1000sqm facility, as the emerging commercial precinct continues to attract established operators. The investment represents a strong vote of confidence in the precinct, with Anytime Fitness choosing to own and develop its premises rather than lease an existing tenancy. The fitness operator has identified Melbourne’s south-east as a key growth market, with Cranbourne East’s population growth, residential development and increasing commercial investment making it a natural fit for expansion. Stelios Anastasiou, Anytime Fitness Project Manager, said the greenfield site would give it greater control over the design of its new facility. “It gives us a really good say in how we lay out the facility and allows us greater control over what we ultimately create.” The prominent position at the intersection of Thompsons and Narre Warren roads was another drawcard. “We already have a number of gyms throughout the south-east and understand the area well.” “There’s a lot of expansion going on in terms of new housing, Costco’s moving in, and it’s a real growth area for us.” The site was first identified while the team was visiting existing gyms in the area. “We were driving past while touring our existing gyms in the area and saw the billboard on the corner.” “We made an enquiry from there, and it all happened quite quickly. It was the right opportunity at the right time.” Building from scratch will allow Anytime Fitness to incorporate insights from across its existing network into a purpose-built facility designed around member needs. “When you’re acquiring a tenancy through a lease, there are always compromises involved,” “We’re hoping to take all the learnings we’ve
National fitness brand backs Thompsons Corner with major Cranbourne East investment. had from our existing sites and consolidate those with our architects to come up with a floorplan that’s functional for members.”
With plans progressing, Anastasiou said the team was looking forward to becoming part of the Thompsons Corner community.
“The support and collaboration throughout the process has been a real positive, and we’re excited to see how the development evolves.”
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 9
CONNECT • CREATE • CELEBRATE
202609027582_1-JO36-26
Victorian Seniors Festival 2026
Live life your way at Clyde North Terrace Community Experience, creativity and sustainability take centre-stage at Regis.
Bringing joy At Regis, residents are supported to continue pursuing any activities that bring them fulfilment. Through lifestyle programs tailored to individual interests and experiences, residents are encouraged to build social connections, keep active and continue doing the things that bring them joy. At Regis Cranbourne, the lifestyle program encourages residents to explore existing and new interests. Residents recently took part in a months-long sustainable fashion project, working together to design, source materials for and create a dress. Drawing on years of experience in sewing and design, they transformed preloved materials and repurposed fabrics sourced locally and from Indonesia. Their efforts were celebrated in a runway show alongside residents from two other Regis aged care homes. For many residents, seeing months of work showcased on the runway was an emotional and rewarding experience.
Glenys Lace, who lives at Regis Cranbourne said, “The fashion show was fantastic, absolutely marvellous and when I saw our creation come out onto the catwalk I just cried, tears just came out of my eyes. It was just marvellous and I felt very proud and would love to do it again.” The project forms part of Regis Aged Care’s collaboration with Eco Fashion Week Australia, a nationwide initiative celebrating sustainable fashion through handmade clothing and runway shows. The best-scoring 30 dresses from Regis fashion shows across Australia will be showcased at Eco Fashion Week. Regis is proudly Australian-owned and supports residents and clients through more than 70 Residential Aged Care Homes, as well as Home Care and Day Therapy services. Across Regis, residents are supported to maintain the connections and routines that matter to them while receiving respectful, personalised care.
Looking for an aged care experience that’s truly special? With district views stretching to the horizon, Clyde North Terrace Care Community offers a warm, welcoming environment nurtured by our dedicated team. Clyde North Terrace Care Community provides high-quality residential aged care, but not as you know it. We take the time to understand the big and the little details about how our residents like to live, so you can enjoy your day, your way. And registered nurses are on duty 24/7, providing compassionate, personalised care tailored to each resident’s individual needs. Our contemporary living spaces are designed to help residents live with meaning where you’re free to folow familiar routines, pursue your interests and discover new ones, surrounded by care, comfort and companionship. The Nest cafe is a social hub, with indoor and outdoor seating where residents, friends and family can enjoy barista-style coffee and freshly baked treats. Our two Men’s Sheds are for making, mending and enjoying good company. Our hair salon, The Canopy, is popular for pampering so you can look and feel your best. And our green-thumbed residents wil love tending to our raised garden beds, including spaces for growing fresh produce. Residents enjoy nutritious, tasty meals created by our inhouse chefs every day and a
Live your day, your way at Clyde North Terrace Care Community. lifestyle that encourages independence, welbeing, and participation in activities and pursuits that matter to them. Clyde North Terrace Care Community is a warm, family-oriented environment, designed to encourage a sense of kinship. We encourage residents to keep the connections they’ve built within their local community, as wel as making new friends. Book a tour to learn why living at Clyde North Terrace could be your best move yet, or visit opalhealthcare.com.au/clydenorthterrace. Clyde North Terrace Care Community 1300 247 061 13-17 Selandra Boulevard, Clyde North, VIC 3978
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RS 2026 TISEMENT
arie Hermans MP
outh Eastern Metropolitan Region tant Minister for Community Safety y Ar-Man Hermans Mute 1/31 Proces Highway Dandenong MC 3175
.gov.au
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 11
CONNECT • CREATE • CELEBRATE
202609027582_1-JO36-26
Victorian Seniors Festival 2026
Love your life For Anastasia Oakes, choosing Summerset Cranbourne North was a “no brainer”. As a brand-new retirement village, it offered something she valued straight away - homes that feel fresh, bright and beautifully designed, set within a safe and secure community. Today, her beautifully appointed villa is ideally positioned within the village, with easy access to the village centre and all the resort-style facilities. Since moving in, life has opened up in all the right ways. With fewer worries and more freedom, she now spends her time doing the things she truly enjoys. “I love the gym, because I like keeping fit. Happy hour is very inviting… there’s a lot of laughing!” The cafe is another favourite, where residents gather most mornings for a coffee and conversation, a simple pleasure that has quickly become part of daily life. One of the biggest changes Anastasia has noticed since moving into the village is the sense of connection that comes from being surrounded by like-minded people.
When asked what she would say to someone considering retirement living at Summerset, Anastasia doesn’t hesitate. “I would invite anybody to come in,” she says. “Just do it!” Looking around at the life she has built since moving in, it’s easy to understand why. With a beautiful new home, a welcoming community, modern facilities and the freedom to spend her time doing what she enjoys most, Anastasia feels she has found exactly where she belongs. “I love Summerset,” she says. “It’s absolutely lovely to live here.” Enquire today and find out why Anastasia and so many others love living at Summerset Cranbourne North.
Summerset Cranbourne North.
It’s the people and sense of connection that make the biggest difference.
Discover lifestyle you’ll love One Day. 25 Communities. Discover a lifestyle you’ll love. On Saturday, 17 October from 10am to 2pm, Lifestyle Communities will open the doors to all 25 communities across Victoria, inviting visitors to experience firsthand what life in a community designed for over-50s is really like. While display homes and resort-style amenities often capture attention, many homeowners say it’s the people and sense of connection that make the biggest difference. The statewide Open Day offers an opportunity to step beyond the brochure and hear directly from those who have already made the move. Whether they were looking to downsize, free up time for travel, build new friendships or enjoy a more connected way of living, every homeowner has a story to share. Explore low-maintenance homes, including brand-new display homes at Lifestyle Commu-
nities’ newest locations, while also discovering established communities across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Along the way, they can meet the team, ask questions, and gain an authentic perspective on everyday life at Lifestyle Communities. Visitors can also experience the amenities that help bring communities to life, including clubhouses, swimming pools, gyms, wellness spaces, bowling greens, cinemas and social hubs designed to support an active lifestyle. A complimentary barbecue will be available throughout the day, providing an opportunity to relax, connect with homeowners and learn more about the homes, locations and communities across Victoria. Register online for updates and information or simply walk in on the day. Visit lifestylecommunities.com.au or call 1300 50 55 60 for more information.
At Summerset Cranbourne North, we believe your retirement years should be filled with the things that bring you joy. That’s why we’ve designed our villages to make everyday living easier, so you can spend less time worrying and more time doing what you love. Our brand-new village centre is the heart of the community, offering resort-style facilities that make it easy to connect, stay active and enjoy life. Start your morning with a swim in the indoor pool, meet friends for coffee at the café, relax in the spa, or enjoy a social game of lawn bowls or pool. Don’t just take our word for it - book an appointment with our friendly team, or join us at one of our free upcoming events and experience life here for yourself. With independent living villas, assisted living apartments, and residential aged care available now,* there has never been a better time to visit Summerset Cranbourne North. Love the life you choose.
Book an appointment today Open 7 days, 9am to 5pm Summerset Cranbourne North 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North 03 7068 5642 | cranbourne.sales@summerset.com.au
*Homes are secured by purchase of the licence to occupy and are subject to availability and entry criteria. Rental options not available. Care is subject to availability and entry criteria.
12 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
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Think more time for what you love
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CONNECT • CREATE • CELEBRATE
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Victorian Seniors Festival 2026
A new era is taking shape Have you heard the news? A new era is taking shape at Palm Lake Resort Willow Lodge. Across the grounds of this long-established over-50s lifestyle resort community, a new generation of homes is taking shape, bringing contemporary design, quality finishes and a fresh new look to an address that has been part of the local landscape for almost 50 years. At the heart of this exciting transformation, older, original homes are making way for an increasingly impressive collection of modern abodes, thoughtfully designed for the way today’s over-50s want to live. Offering smart floorplans, stylish interiors, quality fixtures and finishes, established landscaping and low maintenance, these bespoke new homes are helping to write an exciting new chapter in the Willow Lodge story. Importantly, while the resort’s homes may be increasingly modern, the things that homeowners already love about life at Palm Lake Resort Willow Lodge remain exactly the same. There’s the warm and welcoming community. The friendships that develop over coffee, creative pursuits and shared interests. The busy calendar of social gatherings and activities. And, of course, The Lodge Country Club – a truly exceptional facility that sits at the heart of community life. Here, at The Lodge, homeowners enjoy a heated indoor swimming pool, exclusive Milon Gymnasium, gold-class Cinema, art and craft studio, coffee lounge, dining hall, dancefloor, darts, billiards and more. The resort grounds also host an onsite medical centre and hairdressing salon, adding another layer of everyday convenience. Whether you enjoy filling your days with social activities and sporting pursuits or prefer a quieter pace, Willow Lodge offers the freedom to live life
Explore the latest collection of new homes at Palm Lake Resort Willow Lodge. your way – it’s always your choice. Australian owned and operated by the Elliott family since 1977, Palm Lake Resort Willow Lodge combines the confidence and connection of an established community with the excitement of a resort that is clearly moving forward. The result is a lifestyle address with history, heart and an increasingly contemporary future. To discover the exciting changes underway and explore the latest collection of new homes at Palm Lake Resort Willow Lodge, phone 1800 974 981 to book your private inspection or visit palmlakeresort.com.au
Clyde North Terrace Care Community
Come by and visit us anytime, call 1300 362 481 or visit opalhealthcare.com.au 12891766-EB34-26
13-17 Selandra Boulevard, Clyde North, VIC 3978
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 13
AFL PREMIERS ADVERTIS
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 15
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16 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
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NEWS
Network overhaul proposed By Violet Li A major overhaul of Casey’s bus network is undergoing community consultation, with new routes, more frequent services and extensions into the municipality’s fast-growing estates. Transport Victoria has opened consultation on changes to routes 795, 796, 836, 846, 888, 897 and 899, as well as a new Route 896. The aim of the proposed overhaul is to provide faster, more direct and frequent bus services; improve public transport access for more than 130,000 people; bring buses to new estates in parts of Cranbourne East and Clyde for the first time; and make it easier to connect to trains, jobs, education, health services and shopping. The project is funded by the Growth Area Infrastructure Contributions (GAIC) program. Lynbrook, Cranbourne, Clyde One of the biggest changes would be the introduction of Route 896, connecting Lynbrook Station, Merinda Park Station, Cranbourne Station, via Lyndhurst Boulevard. The route would replace a section of the existing Route 897 between Lynbrook and Cranbourne Station and would primarily operate through local streets. Route 896 would have a frequency of every 30 minutes on daytime peaks, and every 40 to 60 minutes all other times. Route 897 would instead operate between Cranbourne Station and Clyde via Patterson Road. It would extend by 2.5km along Riverland Road in Clyde, giving residents of the Bella and Evergreen estates access to bus services for the
first time. It would no longer travel between Lynbrook and Cranbourne Station, and instead Route 896 would serve the section. Route 897 frequency would be similar to the current timetable, with services running every 20 minutes seven days a week. The Department of Transport and Planning may review and increase the frequency of Route 896 over time if patronage supports it. Route 888 would become a more frequent service along the Clyde Road corridor and be extended further south. Greenfield and costal suburbs in the south Routes 795 and 796 would also be reshaped to provide a more direct network through Casey’s southern suburbs. The current service attempts to cover Cannons Creek, Warneet, Blind Bight and Tooradin within a single service, which Casey Council has advised that it creates a less direct route and inconsistent service frequency. The proposal would split the route into two services operating at what is intended to be a more usable frequency. The redesigned services would continue to connect areas including Botanic Ridge, Junction Village and Devon Meadows with Cranbourne and communities further south. The coastal villages would also see their services reorganised. Instead of one route attempting to serve Cannons Creek, Warneet, Blind Bight and Tooradin, the network would be divided between routes 795 and 796.
Route 795 would no longer travel to Tooradin. Route 796 would serve Tooradin residents instead. Route 795 would no longer travel to Cannons Creek. This section of the route is currently used by fewer passengers than other parts of the network. The savings from no longer running to Cannons Creek would be reinvested into routes 795 and 796, helping to improve services in Warneet and Tooradin where the demand is higher. Berwick and Clyde North Another major restructure would affect routes 836, 846 and 899. Under the proposal, routes 836 and 899 would be discontinued, while Route 846 would be extended to cover more of Clyde North. The expanded Route 846 would take over parts of the areas currently served by the two routes, with other nearby services also covering some existing stops. The change would consolidate the three routes into a simpler network centred around the extended Route 846, while providing services deeper into newer residential areas of Clyde North. Council backs broader direction City of Casey Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther said the proposed routes broadly aligned with Council’s priorities for more frequent and direct bus services. “The current consultation is an opportunity for the community to influence the final network design,” she said. Cr Crowther said council officers were in-
volved during the planning phase and would continue working with the Department of Transport and Planning if further changes were required following community feedback. Council would also continue pushing for further extensions and improvements as Casey’s growth areas developed and more road connections became available. Direct routes welcomed, but frequency crucial Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen welcomed the review, saying public transport networks could not be “set and forget”, particularly in a fast-growing municipality such as Casey. He said making routes more direct could make the network easier to understand and reduce travel times, with similar reforms elsewhere in Melbourne attracting more passengers. However, Mr Bowen said authorities also needed to ensure residents retained easy access to bus stops. “This might include providing upgrades to footpaths and crossings close to stops, and including short detours for buses to directly serve shopping centres, schools, and other major destinations,” he said. “Adequate bus frequency also needs to be provided. The government must ensure that sufficient funding is provided to provide more frequent more usable bus services to keep people moving.” Consultation is open until 19 October. To submit your feedback, visit: engage.vic. gov.au/casey-bus
AFCS celebrates 35 years By Jensy Callimootoo The Australian-Filipino Community Services (AFCS), based in Casey, celebrated its 35th anniversary on 18 September, marking more than three decades of service, connection and support for the community. Over the past 35 years, AFCS has grown into an important community hub in Casey, providing a range of services for older members of the Filipino community while creating opportunities and pathways for young people across the Filipino-Australian diaspora. The milestone celebration brought together members of the community, along with local and state politicians, government officials, service partners, volunteers and supporters, to reflect on the organisation’s journey and the impact it has had since its establishment in 1991. Former Casey Deputy Mayor and long-time friend of the Filipino community, Damien Rosario, delivered the keynote address, sharing a message that captured the heart of AFCS and the community it serves. “There’s something deeply special about the Filipino heart,” Rosario said as he began his speech. He reflected on the history of AFCS and its beginnings, when the organisation was established to support women escaping family violence and experiencing serious hardship. While AFCS has since grown to provide a much broader range of services, Rosario highlighted that its founding purpose remains at the heart of the organisation — supporting those who need it most. Across its many programs, it now has over 70 staff and over 50 regular volunteers reaching across Victoria and recently, NSW.
Attendees of the event marking the 35th anniversary of AFCS.
Philippine Consul Gary Domingo, CEO Corina Dutlow, Silva Renda OAM, SMRC’s Perla Mazie, SBS Filipino’s Maridel Martinez-Andanar, AFCS’ Maria Smith, Doveton Show’s Jenny Robson, Demetria Reyes, Damien Rosario and AFCS’ Baljit Dhillon.
Monash Mayor Stuart James, CEO Corina Dutlow, Cardina Shire Mayor Brett Owen, Casey Mayor Michelle Crowther, AFCS’ chairperson Gerry Ocampo, Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan and Phillippine Consul General Gary Domingo. (Supplied)
The evening also provided an opportunity to recognise the people who have helped shape AFCS over the years. Certificates and acknowledgements were presented to founding members, past and present board members, staff, volunteers, community leaders, service partners and friends of AFCS.
The recognition highlighted the decades of dedication, collaboration and community spirit that have contributed to the organisation’s growth and its continued role in supporting the Casey community. Closing the celebration, AFCS Chief Executive and Casey’s Citizen of the Year, Corina Dutlow,
addressed the organisation’s future and the opportunities that lie ahead. “We’ve only just begun,” she said. The message reflected AFCS’ ambition to continue growing its services and expanding its impact, with its sights set on supporting communities across Australia for years to come.
It’s a Southside kind of Christmas BUSINESS PROFILE The end of the year calls for a proper celebration – and Southside Racing is ready to host yours. Whether you’re organising the office Christmas party, thanking your team for a big year, bringing clients and colleagues together or simply gathering your favourite people for a festive night out, Christmas on the Southside has an experience to match. Across four Friday nights at Southside Pakenham and Southside Cranbourne, Christmas on the Southside brings together night racing, festive dining, live entertainment and a range of experiences designed for groups big and small. The celebrations begin at Southside Pakenham on Friday, 27 November before heading to South-
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side Cranbourne on Fridays 4, 11 and 18 December. From premium trackside dining and private spaces to relaxed group celebrations and lively cocktail-style experiences, there are plenty of ways to make the night your own. Whether it’s the whole office, a smaller team, clients, friends or family, simply choose your experience, gather your group and let the celebrations begin. With live racing adding to the atmosphere throughout the evening, there’s always something happening – giving everyone a reason to dress for the occasion, stay a little longer and raise a glass to the year that was. So, send the calendar invite, start the group chat and give everyone something to look forward to.
Make Merry, Make Mischief. It’s a Southside kind of Christmas. MAKE MERRY. MAKE MISCHIEF. It’s a Southside kind of Christmas. Explore Christmas on the Southside and book your end-of-year celebration at www. southsideracing.com.au
Explore Christmas on the Southside and book your end-of-year celebration.
Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 17
NEWS
Crowds embrace market By Violet Li Hundreds of residents turned out for the first Gathered in Clyde community market on Sunday 27 September. Organiser Ebony Kinna estimated at least 800 people attended the market between 9am and 2pm at Eliston District Park Playground in Clyde North, with more than 100 stallholders taking part. She said about 85 per cent of the stallholders were local, giving their businesses an opportunity to showcase their products to their own community. Ms Kinna said she launched the market after seeing what she described as a gap in community events in the growing Clyde area. “We wanted all the community to come out. We wanted to meet our neighbours. We wanted to meet local businesses. And they all responded
really well, which is amazing,” she said. Ms Kinna said the turnout exceeded her expectations, particularly because the market was self-funded and she had organised most of it herself, with help from family members on the day. Planning began around April, followed by the council permit process from about June. Following the response to the first event, Ms Kinna plans to make Gathered in Clyde a monthly market. The next market is scheduled for Sunday 25 October, with further events planned for November and 13 December. “(I want to say) thank you for showing up. I think it was amazing. We all deserve a pat on the back and supporting each other,” Ms Kinna said. “There are hundreds of businesses in our backyard that we’re not aware of, and it really gave them an opportunity to showcase what they’re doing.”
Bidya and Atiya with some of food on offer in the food truck area. (Gary Sissons: 580915)
Shiner Wright Music is supplying some live music at the market.
A family friendly market: Rear James and Jessica. Front: Cordelia and Sabrina.
580915 30Local artist Jocelyn L Robert with some of his work. He is from Clyde.
Local author Elissa Savage.
Magan Barclay with some samples of her repurposed books that are turned into various other items. These are rebound and are notebooks, they still have the story in them but it’s also a notebook. The company is Paper Hearth.
Tavish and organiser Ebony Kinna
Darcie is driving an electric Mercedes and having a great time.
Tavish is having fun on the electric cars.
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18 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
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WHAT’S ON
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Saturday 3 September, 11am at Casey Fields Playspace and Village Green, 160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East; free event. Registrations required at https://www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1443443
Summerset Showcase Learn the basics of lawn bowls with U3A, get creative in a watercolour workshop with local artist Jessie Ford, and enjoy live music. Grandkids are welcome too, with a movie and popcorn in the theatre. Thursday 1 October, 10am-12pm at Summerset, 98 Mannavue Boulevard, Cranbourne North; free event.
In conversation with Michael Robotham
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Michael Robotham will chat about his 20th published novel, Tell Me Something True, set in a small Australian town (his first Australian-set novel). Saturday 3 October, 2pm-3pm at Bunjil Place Library, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren; free event. Bookings required: https://events.connectedlibraries.org.au/event?id=244068
Little Chefs
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Learn easy, tasty recipes, explore new flavours and make delicious dishes to take home. Suitable for primary-school ages. Parents and siblings welcome to join. Thursday 1 October 11am-12pm at Autumn Place Community Hub, Autumn Place, Doveton; free event. Bookings required: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1597313
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Harmony Sessions Join MUAH for a gathering for multicultural seniors. Gentle wellness activities such as line dancing and Tai Chi, along with cultural music, karaoke, and live entertainment. Culturally-appropriate lunch provided. Sunday 4 October 10am-3pm at Autumn Place Community Hub, Doveton; free event. Bookings required: 0450 003 025
U3A Cranbourne Open Day Meet tutors, group leaders and members, view all of our beautiful work and learn about the fun activities that we enjoy on and off the premises. Refreshments provided. Friday 2 October, 10am-1.30pm at Cranbourne U3A, 20-22 Bowen Street Cranbourne; free event. No bookings required. Details: admin@u3acranbourne.org.au or 0493 991 919.
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Open Studios sneak peak
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Connection, Movement & Wellbeing Enjoy gentle seated movement with a physiotherapist, practical everyday tips from an occupational therapist, an informal Health & Wellbeing Hub offering non-clinical information and advice, and the opportunity to meet new people over complimentary morning tea and light refreshments. For ages 55 and over. Friday 2 October, 10am-2pm at Cranbourne West Community Hub, 4 Flicka Blvd, Cranbourne West; free event. Bookings essential: info@caringheartsinhomehelp.com.au or 5993 5999.
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Free Pickleball - Seniors Festival Free drop-in sessions during October. No bookings required. Equipment supplied. Fridays 10am-11.30am and Sundays 10.30am-11.30am at Olive Road sporting complex, Eumemmerring.
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Zine-making workshop for teens Create your own zine (pronounced zeen) - a small self-published book or mini magazine that can be
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Slim, non smoker, social drinker. No family. Lost partner several years ago. Seeking retired lady for friendship and outings. Bryan 0407 800 612
Free ‘Under the Sea’ kids activities - a different activity each day. daily until Friday 2 October, 11am – 2pm at Kmart mall, Endeavour Hills shopping centre, cnr Matthew Flinders Avenue and Heatherton Road, Endeavour Hills; free event. No bookings required.
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Art of Conversation: Blind Bight For older adults to connect, share stories and build new friendships. Meaningful conversations guided by experienced facilitators. Morning tea provided.
Tamil Musical and Dance Concert Tamil music and dance items staged by professional artists. Morning tea and special Tamil traditional lunch served. Saturday 3 October, 10.30am-1.30pm at Berwick Senior Citizens Centre, 112 High Street, Berwick; $10. Bookings required by 1 October: info@ caseytamilmanram.org.au or 0491 149 113.
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Walktober family fun day Walkers will complete the 4km loop of the Casey Fields fitness trail, with exercise zones and interactive signage along the way. The event is wheelchair, pram and dog friendly. Music, food, stalls, activities, giveaways and prizes.
Afternoon Melodies Live entertainment and afternoon tea. Part of Ageing Positively Festival. Sunday 4 October 1.30pm-3.30pm at Cranbourne Senior Citizens Club, 1 Codrington Street, Cranbourne; free event. Bookings required: 0466 623 210
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SEWA Festival Day Join other Sri Lankan elders at a Sri Lankan Elders Welfare Association (SEWA) social community day. Open to anyone. Join us for entertainment, refreshments and the chance to meet new people. Part of Ageing Positively Festival. Monday 5 October, 10am-2pm at John Pandazopoulos Hall, 78 Power Road, Doveton; free event. Bookings required at sewa.78pwr@gmail. com or 0401 287 475.
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ADVERTISERS, in this section are qualified practitioners and offer nonsexual services.
PETS & SERVICES ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au
Call or visit us online! networkclassifieds.com.au 20 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
With a proud history of delivering trusted local news across print, digital, newsletters and social media platforms, Star News Group connects businesses with highly engaged audiences throughout Melbourne’s south-east and regional Victoria. About the Role : 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 • Digital Newsletter Key Responsibilities : • Maintain and grow an existing client base. • 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 Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.
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Kids craft workshops
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Saturday 3 October, 9am-12.30pm at Blind Bight Community Centre, Anchorage Drive, Blind Bight; free event. Bookings required at cindy@ kintsugiheroes.com.au
Join one of Victoria’s leading independent community media organisations. Star News Group is seeking an enthusiastic, results-driven and customer-focused Print & Digital Sales Representative to join our dynamic sales team.
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about poetry, art, music, books, gaming, fashion, your favourite fandom, latest obsession or anything in between. For ages 13-17. All materials provided. Friday 2 October 2pm at Hampton Park Library, 26 Stuart Ave, Hampton Park; free event. Bookings: https://events.connectedlibraries.org.au/ event?id=242369
Family activities such as fastest serve, target boards, coaching, free play, as well as live music. All invited, equipment provided. Sunday 4 October 12pm-4pm at Hampton Park Tennis Club, 87 Somerville Road, Hampton Park (Robert Bruce Reserve); free event. No bookings required.
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See works from the South East artists, creatives and makers who will be opening their doors to the public for the Open Studios Weekend 2026 on 17-18 October. Thursday 1 October - Wednesday 28 October (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm and Open Studios Weekend, 10am-4pm) at Bunjil Place customer service centre, Narre Warren. Details: https:// www.casey.vic.gov.au/events/open-studios-weekend-2026-0
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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
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SPORT
Jimmy bursts back to form By David Nagel Sprint-sensation Jimmysstar returned to his barnstorming and unbeatable best on Sunday; coming from the clouds to win the $2m Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Just when Pakenham-trained Extragalactic poked up on the fence and looked the winner, the Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old gelding unleashed a typical burst down the outside to collar the leaders in the shadows of the post. Such was the velocity at which he finished; Jimmysstar ended up winning by almost a length on the line. Jimmysstar gave Cranbourne-trainer Maher a remarkable fifth win for the day; backing up his winning-treble from a week earlier. Jockey Ethan Brown said Jimmysstar was back to his best; winning his first race since the CF Orr Stakes in November last year. “Not many horses can do that,” Brown said post-race. “His sectionals would be off the chart; I think that feeling he gives you, you can’t compare it to much. “It is unreal…it would be like winning a grand final in footy terms. “I’m quite speechless. “I’m so proud of this horse and I’m glad he got the job done today. “What a thrill for the owners. “He’s back to his best; thank you so much for their support. “Blinkers probably switched him on a little bit but he’s a genuine as they come. “The race set up well and he was presented in great order by Ciaron.” Maher said the blinkers may have made the difference, but Jimmysstar was also showing promising signs in the lead up to Sunday’s Group 1 feature. “He was going the same with or without them,” Maher explained. “I think it was just the run he likes to have. “Browny was very confident that he wanted to ride him like the Oakleigh Plate…just let the speed go. “He jumped terribly and he rode him confidently and went at the right time. “When he lets rip, there’s no better horse. “He’s such a little ripper of a horse.
Ethan Brown punches the air with delight after Jimmysstar’s brilliant win in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. (George Sal/Racing Photos: 581215) “To have him out of form or not quite at his best is a hard pill to swallow but that was pretty special. “God, he was electric then.” The victory of Jimmysstar capped off a great day for Maher, with his champion mare Pride of Jenni earlier leading from barrier to box to win the $500,000 Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m). “He is such a cool horse, Jimmy, and there is nothing better to have a day like this where you’ve got a horse like Jenni who goes along from the front and a horse like Jimmy who is electric, it is a very special day. “I could not be prouder of the team…we’ve got an amazing team.” Maher also showed appreciation for the support of his family…particularly his wife Alice. “It means everything; I think as a human being you like to do your best and to be your absolute best, that comes with sacrifice. “Alice, she’s amazing and we’ve got two wonderful daughters…love you all a lot.”
Cranbourne-trainer Ciaron Maher can’t contain his excitement after Jimmysstar’s memorable win on Sunday. (George Sal/Racing Photos: 581215)
Three Feehan’s on the trot as Jenni leaves them gasping By David Nagel Age may be catching up with Pride Of Jenni on paper…but the extraordinary nine-year-old mare continues to leave her rivals gasping for air on the racetrack. One of Australian racing’s most distinctive stars produced another trademark front-running exhibition at Caulfield on Sunday, capturing the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) for an incredible third year running. Pride Of Jenni ($1.85 favourite) simply did what Pride Of Jenni does; she ran, she sustained, and ultimately broke the hearts of those brave enough to chase her. Trainer Ciaron Maher’s champion mare controlled the weight-for-age contest under regular jockey Declan Bates, defeating Treasure The Moment ($8) by a length and a half, with $71 outsider Pounding another length and three-quarters away in third. It was another significant chapter in a remarkable career that now stands at 49 starts for 14 wins, 11 seconds and four thirds, with prizemoney of more than $12.8 million. And, remarkably, there appears to be plenty of life left in those famous legs. “She’s just phenomenal; she’s such a great mare,” Maher said. “To have her back at this age and arguably in as good a form as ever, it is quite remarkable.” Pride Of Jenni has built her reputation through a racing style that is as spectacular as it is intimidating. Rather than relying on a short, explosive burst of acceleration, she uses sustained speed as a weapon, stretching races out and challenging her opposition to remain in their comfort zone while she seemingly operates outside hers. Time and again, quality horses have tried to absorb that pressure. And time and again, Jenni has broken their hearts.
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Three happy campers. Trainer Ciaron Maher, owner Tony Ottobre and jockey Declan Bates after Pride of Jenni’s easy win at Caulfield. (George Sal/Racing Photos: 581315)
Pride of Jenni and jockey Declan Bates stroll away from some high-class opposition in Sunday’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Caulfield. (George Sal/Racing Photos: 581315) Sunday was another example, although Maher felt there was something particularly encouraging about how comfortably his champion travelled. “She looked comfortable, even more comfortable in the run,” he said. “She must have felt good underneath him because he hadn’t gone for her before the turn, which normally he would have.” Maher said the performance came as no surprise to a stable that had been delighted with the mare since her successful winter campaign. “We were very rapt with her since the winter,” he said. “Tony (Ottobre - Owner) and his team manage her well and our team certainly know her very, very well. “Can’t thank the whole team at Cranbourne enough.
“That’s where she spends most of her time, but she went to Ballarat for a gallop this prep which all the staff were happy about.” Few understand Pride Of Jenni better than Bates, whose association with the mare has developed into one of Australian racing’s most recognisable horse-and-jockey partnerships. “Dec understands her so well and does a lot of kilometres up the highway to gallop her,” Maher said. That familiarity was evident again on Sunday. Bates never appeared anxious aboard the freerunning mare and was so confident approaching the finish that he never needed to reach for the whip. “She’s just made of different stuff…we know it now,” Bates said. “All the signs at home were that she’s as good as ever.
“I really came here full of confidence at how well she was going. “Once again, it’s about Ciaron Maher producing her on the day and I just sit and steer and enjoy the ride.” Bates said the most remarkable quality of Pride Of Jenni remained her willingness to keep producing when most horses would have reached their limit. “I didn’t even go for the whip in the end,” he said. “I could feel her; she was giving me everything. “I felt like I was always winning, but for a horse to race the way she does, time and time again she finds more which most horses simply don’t have.” Already a four-time Group 1 winner and successful at the elite level from 1600 to 2000 metres, Pride Of Jenni has nothing left to prove. But at nine years of age, she continues to add to her extraordinary story. That’s three Feehan Stakes in three years and in the same devastating fashion. Get to the front, keep running - and dare them to catch her.
Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 21
SPORT
Redbacks lock in big ones By Blair Burns Hampton Park is looking to make a splash in Southern Division 1 next season after a tough debut year which was riddled with injuries. Through the Mitch Cox Williamstown connection, the Redbacks recently signed former North Melbourne AFL player Aiden Bonar. The 27-year-old comes straight from the VFL and will be a dominant force in the Southern League. The strong-bodied defender will join Hampton Park playing coach Luke Bull in defence and at 188cm, he will cause some problems for opposition forwards. Bonar’s talent is undeniable, having been a first-round selection in 2011, picked by the GWS Giants. “He will probably go through the backline, but he can play anywhere,” Bull said. “He has great leadership, just with the way he speaks and conducts himself and is a big size…he is going to be a problem in the division. “We got him through that Williamstown connection with Coxy, because they are good mates.” Jaxon Briggs will add some speed to the midfield as he comes across from Cora Lynn, joining his brother Heath at Robert Booth Reserve. The West Gippsland star was captain at the Cobras last season and had another strong season with 22 goals from his 18 matches. Briggs will bolster the engine room and also add some synergy alongside his brother and Lachlyn Peluso who has also come across from Cora Lynn and signed with Hampton Park. Peluso is a small defender but has elite strength and speed in the contest - he will have the job on some of the best small forwards in the Southern League next year. “We almost got Jaxon and Lachie last year, but they decided to go one more year,” Bull said. “They are both former captains at Cora Lynn, so will add some great leadership and I’m looking forward to seeing them do their thing. “We’ve also got a few other big names that we are not too far away from signing, including a couple of guys from Eastern Premier and ex-AFL players.” Cox himself will also be like a new recruit in 2027, having only managed a handful of matches before suffering a serious quad injury which required surgery. The exciting midfielder spent a lot of time forward and while his accuracy in front of the big sticks wasn’t great, he was dangerous. At 190cm, he is the perfect modern midfielder, he can break tackles and sit on heads - he was a
Former Cora Lynn captain Jaxon Briggs has landed at Hampton Park for 2027, joining his brother Heath. (Stewart Chambers: 546223) star in the VFL and even spent time on Brisbane’s AFL list. “Before Coxy got injured, he had about 20 shots on goal in the first few games, and he missed a lot of those as well,” Bull said. “If he settles early on, he will be in for a monster year because he is just so hard to play on. “Our forward line will be very potent with Trent Thomas coming off a career-best year and Liam (Scott) fully fit.” The Redbacks finished this season with a grim 3-15 record and avoided relegation by one win as they rolled 44 players through the senior side.
A disappointing result given the high hopes which the club came in with and the amazing premiership-winning season in Division 2 the season prior. However, the Redbacks are still there in the top division and that is half the battle as they prepare for a big 2027 campaign. But with some better fortune and some big names locked in for next season, Bull hopes his team can shock some opposition sides. “I had bigger plans for this year, but if you want to go up and make some noise in the division, you need to stay injury free,” he said. “We found out the hard way and just managed
to survive up there which wasn’t a good situation to be in. “But we move on now and we are putting the season behind us.” Despite the injuries, Bull found a silver lining in getting to expose a lot of younger players to Division 1 footy, with guys like Liam Hasler making the most of their opportunity. “A lot of the guys had never tasted Division 1 footy or hadn’t for a very long time, so it was a bit of a wake-up call in a sense,” he said. “We know we need to dig deep and lift internally rather than just go out and recruit quality there has to be a balance there.”
Challengers lining up but Gulls remain the benchmark
By Justin Schwarze TOORADIN Coach: Cal O’Hare Captain: Russell Lehman Key Ins: None Key Outs: Bailey Lownds (Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll), Praveen Perera Last Year’s Finish: PREMIERS (First) The silverware, class and talent of Tooradin is undeniable, but this year is going to be one of the greatest tests for the Seagulls. The depth of the Tooradin unit will need to cover some key losses in the lineup; despite the top-end of the Gulls’ list being first rate in the competition. Bailey Lownds has headed to Nar Nar Goon-
22 STAR NEWS | Thursday, 1 October, 2026
Tooradin is expecting big things from Jack Mannix. (Stewart Chambers: 525917) Maryknoll, and the departure of Praveen Perera leaves a hole in the middle order. To add further concern, a serious injury to Brad Butler during the footy season means he will have a delayed start to bowling, leaving the Gulls short of options in their attack. But there’s one man that coach Cal O’Hare pointed out as the key.
“Russ (Lehman) has had the best preseason I think he’s ever had,” O’Hare said. “He’s doing a bit more running than he’s ever done, I think he really wants to have a really good year. “Obviously we know what he’s capable of, so he’ll have another good year being a bit fitter.”
The batting order will be just as lethal, with O’Hare, Josh Lownds and Lahiru Jayakody set at the top, while Jack Mannix will be looking to have a productive year. Mannix is going to step into a bigger role this season with higher responsibility as he will have more opportunity with the bat and ball. “Jack is a guy who’s had a big preseason and hasn’t missed a session,” O’Hare said. “He’d be the one we hope steps up a little bit and gets a bit more opportunity and goes well. “It’ll be exciting to see guys like that have an opportunity. “Our game is around setting it up at the top and cashing in down the bottom which is what’s worked for us in the past. “We want to have good partnerships and put the foot down later in the innings because we’ve got some power in the middle order with the bat. “We’re normally pretty attacking. “With the ball we need to be as tight as we can. “Our spinners over the past few years have helped us tighten things up, made it harder to score and put the pressure on. “It’s going to be a big part of it again. “Losing Bailey doesn’t help, but it gives guys like Jack more of a chance to bowl more overs.” Tyler Evans is fresh off a campaign in the UK, and Ben Parrott remains the keeper for the Gulls. The batting will hold its own, but the question will be the bowling and how Tooradin can manage pressure with the ball.
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SPORT
Open with Bears and Bucks By Blair Burns Can you hear that? The beautiful sound of a leather cricket ball kissing off the surface of an English willow blade…the 2026/27 season of cricket is here. The Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) is ready to go and there are some big two-day clashes to headline the round one action in Turf 1. Berwick’s brilliance in the finals last year shocked the rest of the competition and sent a statement, and all eyes will be on the Bears’ huge preliminary final rematch against Buckley Ridges. Berwick skipper Michael Wallace and his side got the last laugh when the teams last met, but with a rejuvenated line-up, the Bucks want redemption. Wallace said his team was looking forward to the clash which gets underway on Saturday at Park Oval. Wallace said his side was preparing for a big test as it ventured to the home of the Bucks. “Buckley away is always a tough challenge no matter their changes, they pose a tough task,” he said. The Bucks come into the clash with plenty of new signings, and it will be interesting to see how they match up against the reigning premier. “The unknown of their team makes it harder to prepare for and we are sure they will have a lot of talent in the line-up with the inclusions they have signed,” Wallace said. “We have to stick to our skill set regardless of what the game throws at us.” The DDCA season will kick off with two rounds of two-day matches and the focus for Berwick will be playing to its strengths, and playing smart cricket. “It is riding out patches where they have momentum and stretching the patches we’re on top for as long as possible,” Wallace said. When the teams last met, it was Bears opening batter Jarryd Wills who produced a spectacular innings to score 134 off 123 balls, with 15 fours and six maximums. It was one of the few times that Jake Hancock missed out with the bat as he played a cut shot in the air, gone for 10. But half centuries from Wallace and Jordan Cleland helped Berwick post 385, before bowling Buckley Ridges out for 175 - Ben Wright remarkably scoring 102 of those.
DDCA
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
TURF 1 PREVIEW - ROUND 1
Buckley Ridges star Ishan Jayarathna will once again be a player to watch when the season kicks off on Saturday. (Gary Sissons: 540533) When asked about Hancock’s blistering form, Wallace said it was his hard work and dedication which yielded results. “Jake is a professional and we know he will turn up, work hard and score some runs,” he said. “We all loved batting around him throughout the season and this season is no different…we get to enjoy the stability of having him at three again.” In other round one matches, the task for an improved Narre South list doesn’t get any tougher than facing Springvale South, hosting the Bloods at Strathaird Recreation Reserve.
All games kick off at 12:30pm on Saturday… bring along a chair, an esky...and enjoy the sweet sound of bat on ball. TURF 1 FIXTURE Round 1: Saturday 3 October (two-day) Narre South v Springvale South at Strathaird Recreation Reserve Hallam Kalora Park v Dandenong West at Hallam Recreation Reserve Buckley Ridges v Berwick at Park Oval Coomoora v Beaconsfield at Coomoora Turf
Eyes will be on Damith Perera to see if the star recruit can help the Lions start the season on a high, while you can back the Forsyth brothers to put value on their wicket for the Bloods. Hallam Kalora Park will hope to start this season better than the last as it takes on Dandenong West at Hallam Recreation Reserve. Coomoora will host Beaconsfield for its first game in Turf 1 since being promoted last season. It is a crucial game for the Tigers and one they will need to win if they are going to play finals this year.
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Huge pre-season has Cobras poised and ready to strike By Blair Burns HSD has got a huge pre-season under the belt and is ready to start season 2026/27 with a bang in the DDCA Turf 2 competition, set to take on Parkmore this weekend. The Cobras put together a strong season last year and managed to finish third on the ladder, bowing out to Parkfield in a semi-final. And while the goal is always to get that premiership flag, HSD coach Craig Hookey was very pleased with last season. “It was really positive for us, given the calibre of players we lost after that grand final (in 2024/25), to still finish third was really good,” he said. “In my time at the club, this pre-season would’ve been the best we’ve had, we are ready to go.” Retention has been strong and the Cobras have welcomed some new recruits to ‘The Snakepit’ this season, headlined by an English import. “We managed to retain everyone from last year and we’ve been able to add some really big recruits to have a red-hot crack at getting back into Turf 1,” Hookey said. “Charlie Sharland…he’s our superstar. “He was at training the other day and looked like he is going to have a really big year - it’s always good when they’re even better than what you could’ve expected.” The injection of youth is one of the most exciting things for HSD, with the club even set to add another senior side this season. “When I first got to the club six years ago, we filled six teams but struggled, and now we are going to add a fifth side,” Hookey said.
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DDCA
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
TURF 2 PREVIEW - ROUND 1
HSD batter Jude Owen will form a key part of his team’s charge towards a grand final this season. (Rob Carew: 533973) “It’s really good, a lot of the juniors are coming through and getting to that age where they want to play senior cricket - it’s a really good social atmosphere.” HSD has rejuvenated its list and brought in plenty of players aged 25 and younger. Ryan Patterson will lead the charge again in the First XI as captain for the second consecutive year. He is HSD born and bred, and Hookey couldn’t speak highly enough of his club’s lead-
er, while he balances the roles of head coach and Second XI captain. “Ryan is a HSD boy and has a great relationship with everyone, he commands respect from everyone at the club,” Hookey said. “Hopefully he can continue that and we can build on what we’re building.” Parkmore is the first obstacle in the way of the Cobras, and given the most recent encounter was a thrilling Turf 2 grand final, this game promises to be a good battle. “It’s always a good match-up against Parkmore, we used to call it the Parkmore curse back in my day,” Hookey said. “We played them many times and I think we may have only beaten them once or twice since I was captain. “We have a lot of respect for them and hopefully it’s a good game, but hopefully we smash ‘em.” Across the other teams in Turf 2, Parkmore will look to put together another strong year after being relegated straight away from Turf 1. Captain Niranjen Kumar fought hard last season to score 265 runs and take nine wickets, but he needed some more help. The Pirates will be hoping they can be really competitive and push their way back into Turf 1. Parkfield fell short last year at the final hurdle, as Coomoora won a tightly-contested grand final. But the Bandits made their name as the best bowling team in the competition, having taken
134 wickets, but they unfortunately lost more wickets than any other side. Parkfield had just two players inside the top 20 run-scorers, but the Bandits had Madusha Croos, and will have him again this season. Croos finished the season with four fivewicket hauls including a brilliant spell of bowling against North Dandenong, which saw him take 7/64 off 23 overs. He also took 9/50 off 24 overs in a win over HSD, spinning a web around all of the batters, taking another 5/32 against the Cobras the second time around. Parkfield will expect to be around the top end of the table while Narre Warren will look to back up its eight-win season and make finals again after a fourth-place finish in 2025/26. North Dandenong (fifth), Silverton (sixth), Cranbourne (seventh) and Lyndale (eighth) form the chasing pack. The Maroons and the Bakers finished with five wins last season - three wins away from making the top four. While the Eagles and Dales will need to turn things around if they are to rise up the ladder and play finals after three-win seasons. Springvale South will look to compete in Turf 2 after getting promoted following an entertaining grand final victory over Lynbrook in Turf 3. TURF 2 FIXTURE Saturday 3 October (two-day) Parkfield v Narre Warren at Parkfield Reserve Silverton v Cranbourne at Springvale Reserve HSD v Parkmore at K.M. Reedy Recreation Reserve Springvale South v North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Turf
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Thursday, 1 October, 2026 | STAR NEWS 23
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