News - Pakenham Officer Star News - 16th April 2026

Local MP on the up

By Corey Everitt

Local MP Harriet Shing continues her ascent in State Cabinet with a promotion to the Health portfolio, a vital role as this year’s election looms.

Premier Jacinta Allan has reshuffled the cabinet ahead of the November election after three ministers announced their resignation from parliament at the next state poll.

Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing will fill the cabinet vacancy left by Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas, becoming the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services.

Shing will depart her role as Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop and as Minister for Housing and Building. These portfolios will now be taken over by Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos.

These previous roles were significant, but the health portfolio is one of the largest in cabinet and among the most thoroughly scrutinised.

Spending on health and education remains a key focus of the Labor Party’s platform. Shing takes on this portfolio just over a month before Treasurer Jaclyn Symes hands down the final budget for the current term.

Shing’s promotion also strengthens a factional ally of Allan, with both belonging to the party’s left faction, known as Socialist Left.

Shing will also serve as Minister for Water, a position she has previously held in cabinet.

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams has retained the portfolios of Transport Infrastructure and Public and Active Transport. She will also serve as Minister for Women and Girls in the new cabinet.

Thieves’ low blow

By By Afraa Kori

After a long day at work, a devastated carpenter returned home to find thieves had stolen $15,000 worth of belongings, including an irreplaceable family war medals only days before Anzac Day.

Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a burglary in Pakenham, between 6:30am and 8:30pm on Wednesday 8 April.

The offenders allegedly entered via the side gate before smashing the back glass sliding door and damaging wardrobes as they ransacked every room.

Among the items stolen was a coin box full with $500 cash, personal documents, and sentimental items including his grandfather’s World War II pocket watch.

“He was a pilot in World War II, so I haven’t even had the heart to tell my mum that yet,” the tradie said.

“That’s gonna break her heart when she realises that’s gone because it was her dad.”

The thieves also took a collection of watches, a gold cross necklace, spare house and car keys, spare garage remote, tools, and musical equipment. Far beyond financial loss and damage, it has left ongoing safety concerns.

“I didn’t sleep for two nights in a row because it took two days to replace my back door,” the victim said.

He now needs to change his spare house and car keys and reprogram his garage remote, fearing the offenders could return.

The 37-year-old said he was “the perfect target” , noting he lives alone and works over 10 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays.

He is often away from home for work, often requiring him to stay in regional and interstate locations.

While people had suggested he get a dog for security, he chose not to, saying it would not be fair on the animal given his work commitments.

The break-in came during ongoing cost-ofliving pressures and rising fuel costs, leaving him further set back financially.

“It cost me 270 bucks to fill my car with diesel the other day. Because of all these price rises, I’m busting my ass to get ahead,” he said.

“I was nearly above water. We work our absolute asses off to get ahead, and when this shit happens it knocks you straight back.

“The government doesn’t care about us. They’ve popped up the prices so high that Victorians can’t afford to live anywhere.”

A detective reportedly told the tradie that similar break-ins have increased, rising from about once a month to at least once a week.

“He said they had six other burglaries to go to that day after me,” the victim recalled.

“He goes, we do our jobs, we catch these people and they just get sent straight back out again.”

The frustration over crime has also renewed calls for changes to self-defence laws, previously backed by Libertarian MP David Limbrick.

“I said to the cop, (which he didn’t really like to hear) I was lying on my back couch both nights holding a knife in case they tried to come back for my car,” the victim said.

“If I find out who did this and retaliate, I’m the one that will get in trouble and probably go to jail.”

The offenders fled the scene, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Colour fun brings hope

Rain, hail or shine, it is always a day full of hope at the annual Colour Fun by Have Hope, raising money for vital support in the community.

It was cold and rainy on Saturday 11 April, but that did not deter Have Hope Inc. from bringing colour to IYU Reserve in Pakenham, where people ran, walked and laughed for a great cause.

Have Hope is a relief organisation that provides direct support to those facing hardship, with the goal of bringing hope to those in need.

Colour Fun raises funds for the organisation to support its ongoing relief work.

Founder Bobo Davis has said the day is about honouring the stories of lost loved ones. Colour Fun occurs around the time she lost her son, Aaron, to suicide. His tragic loss inspired her commitment to raise awareness and help those in need.

If you wish to contact or seek support from Have Hope, call 0493 661 704 or email halh@ havealittlehope.org. You can see more at www. havealittlehope.org.

If you are in need of assistance for your mental health, talk to your local GP or health professional, or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Troy

Waste station refused

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A waste-to-energy project across nine councilsincluding Casey - is teetering after a waste-transfer station (WTS) in Hampton Park was rejected by VCAT.

The WTS’s operator Veolia Recycling & Recovery had appealed to VCAT after the Environment Protection Authority Victoria refused a development licence last year.

On 10 April, VCAT member Nick Wimbush upheld the EPA refusal, largely because of the potential odour impacts on nearby residents.

The WTS was planned to collect up to 550,000 tonnes of waste a year from nine municipalities, as part of the South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing consortium project.

The waste would then be compressed and bulk-delivered to a waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator in Maryvale.

Cardinia Shire, Casey and Greater Dandenong are among the councils believed to have signed 25-year supply agreements for the WTS.

The SEMAWP was justified by the imminent closure of the Hallam Road landfill at Hampton Park – the region’s only remaining landfill.

The tip is expected to be filled by mid-2027 to 2028.

Veolia argued at VCAT that councils would otherwise dispose of waste in landfills further away, at greater cost and fuel use.

A solution was needed with “some urgency” , Mr Wimbush noted.

He noted Veolia’s attempts to demonstrate “best available techniques and technology” (BATT) to control odour.

This included a ‘negative pressure’ system with rapid-drop doors in the delivery-tipping hall and a 20-metre ventilation stack.

However, Mr Wimbush noted homes were just 170-250 metres to the north and west – significantly less than the 500-metre separation guidelines for putrescible waste.

About 35 per cent of the waste was expected to

be putrescible.

“I am not satisfied that odour risk can be reduced to an acceptable level such that it will not cause harm to human health and the environment,” the member stated.

“This will be a large facility handling a significant amount of odorous waste, and there are uncertainties that make the risk of future odour impacts on the surrounding community unacceptable.”

Waste trucks were expected to peak at 26 per hour, though not expected before 7am.

The WTS was overwhelmingly opposed by neighbours who have long endured putrid odours from the nearby landfill at 290 Hallam Road, Hampton Park.

The EPA had received 711 public objections out of 751 submissions, prior to refusing the licence.

Lynbrook Residents Association treasurer Vernadette Dickson said the VCAT decision was a “defining moment for our community”

“Residents stood up, spoke out, and refused to accept a development that threatened our health, our environment, and our way of life.

“This outcome proves that when a community unites with purpose and determination, it cannot be ignored.”

Ms Dickson praised EPA for “standing firm”.

“This decision sends a clear message — communities matter, and their voices must be heard.

“The LRA will continue to stand strong, advocate fiercely, and protect the place we proudly call home.”

Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association president Anthony Tassone said the outcome highlighted the “critical importance of genuine community consultation” in major infrastructure decisions.

“The community has consistently raised concerns that this proposal progressed without meaningful consultation with the people most affected,” Mr Tassone said.

“There is a big difference between general support for reducing landfill and asking residents to accept a large-scale waste facility near their homes.”

The decision recognised that neighbouring residents should not bear a “disproportionate environmental burden”

“We are not against waste infrastructure,” Mr Tassone said.

“But it must be done properly, with the right planning, clear separation from homes, and genuine engagement with the community from the outset.”

In 2024, the WTS was approved by Casey Council administrators, weeks before councillors were elected.

At a 17 February council meeting this year, Casey city planning and infrastructure director Kathryn Seirlis said Casey and other SEMAWP councils had “clearly and transparently” communicated their intention to pursue advanced waste for several years.

The SEMAWP project also “strongly aligns” with community surveys and research, showing support for less reliance on landfill, she stated.

Ms Seirlis stated that Casey’s issuing of a permit for Veolia’s waste transfer station was a “separate matter” and “not influenced” by the signing of the SEMAWP agreement.

Veolia had been shortlisted during the SEMAWP procurement before acquiring the proposed waste-transfer site, Ms Seirlis said.

VCAT ‘blow’ to South-East’s waste future: Veolia

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

VCAT’s refusal of a Hampton Park waste-transfer station is a “blow to cost-effective waste processing” in the South East, says the project’s proponent.

A Veolia spokesperson said it was “disappointed” in VCAT’s decision on the WTS at 290 Hallam Road on the grounds of odour health impacts.

The verdict would have a “future flow-on effect for a number of councils that will now need to find alternate transfer methods for their waste” , the spokesperson said.

“Declining the development licence for this significant piece of state infrastructure is a blow

to cost-effective waste processing in South East Melbourne.

“We understand this may raise questions and create uncertainty for these councils and we are committed to working through the implications with affected parties as quickly as possible.”

The proposed WTS was a key part of a multi-council consortium South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing’s project, which includes Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong.

With the Hampton Park landfill due to close in the next 18 months, waste from nine councils would instead be collected and compressed at the WTS and delivered to a waste-to-energy in-

Casey reacts to facility refusal

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Casey mayor Stefan Koomen says councils must work together for a “reliable waste solution” after a proposed waste-transfer station at Hampton Park was refused at VCAT last week.

The WTS was to collect up to 550,000 tonnes of landfill waste a year from nine councils including Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong.

Waste would be compressed at the WTS and transported to a waste-to-energy incinerator in Maryvale.

The project, as part of a South Eastern Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP) partnership of the nine councils, was touted as a solution to the impending closure of the South East’s last remaining landfill at Hallam Road, Hampton Park.

The proposed WTS site was to be next to the landfill, which has been subject to putrid-odour complaints from nearby residents as well as enforcement action from Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).

On 10 April, VCAT upheld the EPA’s refusal of a development licence for the WTS, largely due to odour and human health impacts on neighbours living between 170 and 250 metres away. This was significantly less than the 500-metre separation guidelines for putrescible waste.

“This will be a large facility handling a significant amount of odorous waste, and there are uncertainties that make the risk of future odour impacts on the surrounding community unacceptable,” VCAT member Nick Wimbush stated.

Casey will await whether WTS proponent Veolia lodges a Supreme Court appeal within 28 days, before the council considers “any next steps”, Cr Koomen said.

“The Hampton Park landfill is expected to close in the next year or so, and Council has a responsibility to work with other councils in the region to ensure our residents continue to have access to a reliable waste solution.”

Casey would continue to work with the multi-council consortium (SEMAWP), MaryvaleCo and Veolia to progress the waste-to-energy project, Cr Koomen said.

He acknowledged the “tireless advocacy of local residents who made their voices heard throughout this process, and to those who dedicated their time to represent their community”.

Casey Residents and Ratepayers’ Association has criticised Casey’s earlier approval of a planning permit for the WTS, accusing the council of a lack of meaningful community consultation.

cinerator in Maryvale.

On 10 April, VCAT upheld the EPA’s refusal of a development licence for the WTS, largely due to odour and human health impacts on neighbours living between 170-250 metres away.

This was significantly less than the 500-metre separation guidelines for putrescible waste.

Veolia stated that the length of time taken by EPA Victoria “which ultimately led to the matter proceeding to VCAT” was a “concern”

“Delays like these directly impact the confidence of the private sector when it comes to investing in the sustainable infrastructure needed to affordably meet the state’s ambitious 2030 circular economy targets.”

Approval was granted by Casey’s administrators, weeks before the late-2024 councillor elections.

Casey’s planning and building manager Tania Asper said its officers followed due process when they assessed the WTS planning permit application.

“In its decision, VCAT confirmed that the planning permit and review process by Council was not called into question.

“VCAT also referred to the EPA confirming it consented to the issuing of a planning permit, subject to conditions being met.”

Bringing some fuel relief

By Carmela Mendoza

Free fuel vouchers will be on offer with the return of the popular Bring Your Bills event in Pakenham next week.

Event organiser South East Community Links has allocated $50,000 worth of fuel and emergency vouchers available for people in need (maximum $50 per family) for the event.

This is an additional service to the existing practical supports, including bill and debt relief, as well as financial counselling, housing and social supports.

Bring Your Bills has been staged across the South East since 2024.

The last event in Pakenham in July last year attracted more than 400 attendees, who benefited from $2.4 million in financial impact.

This included $39,000 in debts waived, $43,600 in grants across 79 applications, $11,100 in concessions and $215,600 of debt managed in 46 hardship plans.

Amid the fuel crisis, Peter McNamara, CEO of South East Community Links, said the vouchers were targeted to assist with “cost-of-living pressures, especially food and fuel”

“Every day we see individuals and families doing their best to keep a roof over their head, put food on the table and fuel in the car,“ he said.

“People aren’t ignoring their money problems; they simply don’t have enough left at the end of the week.“

SECL expects more attendees than last year as “75 per cent of people coming to Bring Your Bills are asking for help for the first time”

Mr McNamara said financial pressure had expanded to more than people on Centrelink payments to middle-income families.

With the cost of living and fuel prices rising, Bring Your Bills offers services to those who are experiencing financial hardship.

“More than half of attendees arrive unable to pay their bills,“ Mr McNamara said.

“But we do much more than utilities. We help with mortgages, rent, fines and broader debt issues.”

The event will be held at 6E Henry Street on Tuesday 21 April.

Details: secl.org.au/money/bring-your-bills/

Community spirit trumps crime at Gippsland Jersey

By Corey Everitt

An unfortunate situation turned into a moment of community spirit after a good Samaritan donated a generator to Gippsland Jersey shortly after thieves broke into their Pakenham factory.

Early last week, an individual broke into Gippsland Jersey’s Purton Road premises and stole a generator and jerry cans used for their mobile milkshake truck.

Co-founder Sallie Jones said the incident “stung” , as they were preparing for a big event later that week.

The milk producer posted about the incident

on Wednesday, 8 April, and was shocked when a local, Olly, appeared on their doorstep shortly after with a new generator and jerry cans.

“It was an unbelievable act of kindness, the kind that reminds you just how strong and generous local communities can be,” Sallie said.

Olly’s generosity allowed Gippsland Jersey to continue attending their events over the weekend and showed that community spirit trumped the cruelty of crime.

“This kind of theft doesn’t just ‘cost a business’ , it impacts real people, real families, and the hard work happening behind the scenes every day,” Sallie said.

Most locals don’t think twice when turning on the tap. In the coming months, many households across the South East will receive water that has made a remarkable journey, one that begins not in a mountain catchment but in Bass Strait.

This year, the state government has placed its largest ever desalination order – 150 billion litres. Here’s how it gets from the ocean to your kitchen.

Everything starts at the Victorian Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi. Here, pure water is extracted from seawater drawn from Bass Strait, leaving salt and minerals behind, as part of the treatment process. Minerals are then added back to ensure the flavour and quality match water from Melbourne’s natural catchments, always meeting strict Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Leaving Wonthaggi, the treated water heads north for 84km through a dedicated pipeline that snakes up Bass Coast, then passes under the feet of Lang Lang, Kooweerup and Cardinia, before going into the City of Casey. It then travels past Berwick to its destination at Cardinia Reservoir in Emerald. Once there, it blends with water from natural catchments.

The reservoir acts as a balancing point, absorbing the city’s seasonal fluctuations in demand and maintaining steady pressure throughout the network before water reaches homes and businesses.

From there, gravity handles most of the rest. Water from the reservoir generally flows south and east, supplying households across the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne’s South East suburbs.

“Desalinated water has become an essential part of how we keep Melbourne’s taps flowing,” said Melbourne Water Executive General Manager, Service Futures, Chris Brace.

“As our city grows and our climate changes, it

gives us a reliable supply we can draw on when we need it most.”

Desalinated water has been part of Mel-

a

No matter where the journey begins, the water arriving at your tap meets exactly the same qual-

ity standards. Taste remains consistent. Rigorous testing is assured. Only the journey differs in length.

The weight of two homelands

By Dalal Smiley, chief executive of Wellsprings for Women

Today, my attachment to Lebanon is stronger than ever.

Day and night, my thoughts are consumed by the suffering inflicted on my homeland.

I think of my family, friends, and neighbours, reflecting on their dashed hopes for a life free from violence.

As I watch the news, a sense of hopelessness washes over me; I find myself desperately searching for a glimmer of hope—anywhere.

My journey to Australia began in 1976, a move made necessary by the civil war that had erupted a year earlier.

I was just a teenager then.

I vividly remember a beautiful spring morning in Ain Rumaneh, East Beirut on 13 April 1975. From our fourth-floor balcony, the peace was shattered by gunfire.

We watched, terrified, as gunmen ran through our streets with automatic rifles.

I didn’t know then that this day marked the end of the life we knew.

After 18 months of living in the heart of the conflict, and after local militias attempted to force my 14-year-old brother into the war, my mother decided we had to flee.

We left our home thinking it was temporary.

We didn’t know the war would last 15 years, claiming 150,000 lives and displacing millions.

Australia became a sanctuary for 30,000 Lebanese people during those years, though our history here stretches back to the 1880s.

Today, nearly 250,000 Australians claim Lebanese ancestry.

We have added to the vibrancy of this country, contributing to the arts, politics, and entrepreneurship.

Acceptance often feels conditional—predicated on remaining “agreeable” and leaving our conflicts at the border.

might make my fellow citizens uncomfortable— or worse, lead to legal repercussions.

We are a community of small business owners, artists, public servants and linguists, fiercely preserving our dialect and our traditions at events like the Ramadan Night Market.

Yet, living in a multicultural society carries its own weight.

In Greater Dandenong, our heritage is alive in the scent of fresh manouche from AB Bakery or Baladi on Brady and the gatherings at the Dandenong Mosque or St. Paul’s church.

As I watch Lebanon being bombed, I feel the sting of seeing my adopted country remain silent or issue “carefully curated” statements.

I find myself suppressing my grief and my opinions, fearing that expressing support for the resistance or the protection of my homeland

Sod turned at new Clyde Fire Station

Construction is officially underway on a new fire station for Clyde Fire Brigade.

CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer District 8 Sean Kerr joined brigade members on-site for a ceremonial sod turn on Wednesday 8 April, commemorating the start of the project.

The new station is being developed on 8 Ballarto Road, Clyde, and will replace the existing station at 17 Railway Road in Clyde.

Clyde Fire Brigade Captain Stuart Bluck, who has been serving with the brigade for 15 years, said the upgraded station will better support the brigade’s operations for years to come.

“The new station will allow the Clyde Fire Brigade to continue providing dedicated service to the local area well into the future,” he said.

“It’s a very exciting moment for our brigade, and we are all keen to start turning out of it once it’s all complete.

Sod turning for the new Clyde Fire Station. (Gary Sissons: 545700)

porary building amenity legislation.

CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer District 8 Sean Kerr said the new design reflects CFA’s commitment to volunteer safety, inclusivity and sustainability.

“The station has been designed with sustainability in mind, with a solar panel system, planning in place for future installation of an electric vehicle charging station, rainwater recycling, and water-sensitive designs within the landscaping,” he said.

“It’s also positive to see the inclusion of separate change room spaces for men and women and accessible unisex amenities for our volunteers.”

Clyde Fire Brigade currently has 88 members, including 16 women and 38 operational firefighters.

But I am not giving up on Australia, nor on Lebanon.

I carry both in my heart.

I will continue to advocate for a version of Australia that prioritises human rights and takes effective action to end the wars in Lebanon and Palestine.

road rescues as well as grass, scrub and structure fires.

The new fit-for-purpose station will include a motor room with three drive-through bays, storage space, operation areas and a multipurpose room.

The design incorporates private change facilities for volunteers, both men and women, and accessible unisex ablutions to align with contem-

“Clyde is growing, and we have had a significant number of new members join the brigade in recent years, so we’re really pleased to have a space to grow the brigade further. We will be going from the original station built in the 1940’s to a nice new modern station that will serve us well.”

Brigade members have attended numerous significant incidents and campaign fires, including the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, 2019-20 summer bushfires and more recently the 2026 Walwa Complex Fires.

Over the last three years, the brigade has responded to 310 callouts annually. This includes

Bass MP Jordan Crugnale, who was at the sod-turn, said: “Clyde continues to grow with energy and momentum, and the need for strong, well-supported emergency services grows alongside it.

“This new station will stand as a place of connection, readiness, and community pride.”

Construction of the new station is expected to be complete in late 2026.

Jail for ‘horrific’ office attack

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

An Endeavour Hills man who smashed his way through an office’s locked glass-door and used a broken shard to inflict a “horrific” attack on a security guard has been jailed.

Ubill Kojan, 26, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to aggravated burglary, theft, assault with a weapon and assault by kicking at a State Trustees office in Dandenong.

In August 2024, the State Trustees client, who had been banned from the Lonsdale Street office due to previous poor behaviour, was refused entry by the guard.

Kojan had been in dispute with the office over its administration of his finances, claiming they were not giving him enough to live on.

He was further enraged when he rang a State Trustees employee, who ended the call due to Kojan’s “demeanour”

He kicked in the entrance’s glass panels, creating a hole large enough for him to get inside.

Picking up a large glass shard from the broken door, Kojan entered with intent to assault the guard, sentencing judge Gabriele Cannon said

on 14 April.

Kojan climbed on top of a raised desk and over a glass barrier in a bid to get to the guard, who escaped through a side security door and rang triple-0 outside on Foster Street.

The office was locked down but Kojan was able to exit through the broken door.

Still with the shard in hand, Kojan grabbed the guard by the back of the neck – telling him “words to the effect of ‘give me my f***ing money’”

Kojan kicked the victim to ground, and kicked him again in the back.

When the victim regained his footing, Kojan held the shard to the victim’s neck.

As he did so, he knocked the guard’s phone from his hand.

Kojan grabbed the phone and walked away shortly before police arrested him.

In a police interview, Kojan told police that “to be honest I was going to kill (the guard) today”

“Karma is a b***h and today, that’s what happened. I left a statement.”

He said that with the shard of glass, he was “going to put it through his f***ing mouth, I don’t

f***ing care”

Kojan admitted to police that the incident had demonstrated his anger management issues. He had intended to visit State Trustees to negotiate his finances “logically”

Judge Cannon said Kojan “knew very well” he was not permitted to go inside the office.

“However you did so, and behaved in a most terrifying manner towards the victim who was doing no more than trying to make an honest living.”

Kojan’s anger at State Trustees in no way justified his “horrific” and “utterly dreadful” attack, followed by “extremely concerning” comments to police, the court heard.

Judge Cannon noted the “dreadful impact” on the guard, who suffered a laceration to his arm.

The victim stated that he’d felt helpless during the assault and feared he’d never see his family again.

In 25 years in the security industry, he’d never been in such a situation, he said. It was “unbelievable” that someone would attack him like that for doing his job.

He’d since felt apprehensive returning to

Mother sounds alarm over school incident

By Violet Li

A Clyde mother has alleged Clyde Secondary College failed to call police and emergency services after her daughter was violently attacked on campus during school hours, forcing her to dial triple-zero herself.

The student was assaulted about 1.30pm on 1 April by a group of girls while on the phone with her mother.

“My daughter called me at school, and she said to me, ‘Mum, I’m going to get bashed,’ and I said to her, ‘Why? What’s going on?’” the distressed mother recalled.

“And then I could just hear a lot of yelling in the background. I told her to try to find help.”

Her daughter told her that there were no teachers around.

“I asked her to try to get to the office, and then I unfortunately had to hear them attack her while I was still on the phone with her.

“I could hear them hitting her, kicking her to the ground. I could hear her screaming and her friends screaming her name. And that went on for maybe 60 seconds.”

When the mother arrived at the school, she found her daughter disoriented, unable to recall her locker combination and struggling to form sentences. These were symptoms that raised immediate medical concerns for her.

“I asked the school team if they had called emergency services, given that she had been quite brutally attacked. And they said no. They wanted to get a statement from her first, which is obviously not appropriate at all when she needed to have medical treatment,” the mother said.

“I kept asking over and over again, can you please call the police? Can you please call her an ambulance? And no one did…

“I had to call 000 myself in the school office, and I had to file the police report myself, and

I had to drive my daughter to the emergency myself.”

Victoria Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.

They said the female victim was allegedly assaulted by between four and five other students.

The victim sustained minor injuries and reported the incident to the police on 7 April. No arrests have been made, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The mother further alleged that the situation has escalated since the attack, with videos of the incident shared online and the girl subjected to ongoing threats.

“When she was in the hospital, these girls created a group chat that they added my daughter to. (They were) telling her that they’re going to come for Round Two, asking her how the concrete tasted,” the mother said.

“They think it’s funny, they were laughing about it. They were saying all sorts of horrible things to her, like that next time they’re going to destroy her face.

“My daughter kept trying to leave the group and they kept adding her back. In the end, she just blocked them all but they were continuing to message my daughter’s friends.

“One of them even created a fake account and actually sent the video to me, with laughing faces saying, is this your daughter getting her ass beat?”

The mother also raised broader concerns about safety at the school, claiming multiple violent incidents had occurred over the past 18 months, including weapons being reportedly brought on campus and an alleged rape threat against her daughter.

The mother claimed the school’s response after the incident was inadequate.

She said staff did not contact her immediately following the assault and only called later

work, fearful of upsetting anyone in case they might attack him.

Judge Cannon outlined Kojan’s history of violent offending, including breaching family-violence intervention orders.

The Sudanese-born refugee had long-standing drug and complex mental health issues, including schizophrenia – a diagnosis rejected by Kojan.

He’d smoked cannabis on the day of the attack, and wasn’t complying with his medication regime. He was subject to a community treatment order at the time.

In sentencing, Judge Cannon said she’d try to maximise Kojan’s “guarded” rehabilitation prospects, given he was fairly young. But he had a “good way to go”

She rejected a defence submission for a sentence combining jail and a community correction order.

Kojan was jailed for three years and eight months, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.

The term includes 615 days in pre-sentence detention.

Detectives have released images of two men they believe can assist with their enquiries.

that night while she was at the hospital. They asked whether the mother would still attend a pre-arranged meeting and if her daughter would return to school the next day.

“It just seems like they just did not comprehend the extent of what had happened,” she said.

“They didn’t tell me anything about following up. They didn’t give us any reassurance about taking any action against those children.

“Obviously, it was only two days out from the end of term anyway.”

The concerned family is now considering transferring schools or homeschooling.

“I can’t send her back there. I’m too worried about her,” the mother said.

“She said to me when we walked out of that school office, she was just broken. She just looked at me, and she said, mum, I just got bashed in front of the whole school. Please don’t make me go back there.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said student safety was the priority and the incident was under investigation.

“The safety of students and staff is our priority,” the spokesperson said.

“The school is investigating the incident and taking appropriate action, including making support available for impacted students.”

In November last year, concerned parents also raised alarm on radio station 3AW after the school was placed into lockdown when a student brought what was believed to be a firearm onto campus, later confirmed by police to be a cap gun.

Parents told the radio that they were not informed of the lockdown at the time, with some only learning of the situation from their children while they were hiding in classrooms.

Another parent said they received routine school notifications during the lockdown, but no alert about the incident itself.

Victoria Police seek public assistance on home invasion

Southern Metro Region Crime Squad detectives are appealing for public assistance following a home invasion in Hallam earlier this month.

Investigators have been told two unknown men entered a property on Princes Highway about 7.25am on Good Friday, 3 April.

The pair kicked into the garage door before going upstairs in the property according to Victoria Police.

The offenders confronted a 76-year-old occupant of the home who was making his breakfast, making demands for his keys.

The man was threatened by the offenders with a taser before the duo fled, last seen on foot heading towards Harmer Road.

Nothing was stolen from the property and there were no physical injuries.

Detectives have released images of two men they believe can assist with their enquiries.

The first man is perceived to be Caucasian, aged in his late 20s, medium build, approximately 185cm tall with light brown hair.

He was wearing a light grey hooded jumper, black tracksuit pants and a cream-coloured baseball cap.

The second man is perceived to be Caucasian, aged in his late 40s to early 50s, solid build, approximately 180cm tall and grey facial hair.

He was seen wearing a navy-blue puffer jacket, black shorts with white stripes down the sides, a grey baseball cap and sunglasses.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Downsizing and savings

Stamp Duty Savings - A Major Benefit of Retirement Village Living in Victoria.

For many older Victorians, moving into a retirement village represents more than just a lifestyle change—it can unlock meaningful financial benefits, with stamp duty savings among the most tangible.

Stamp duty (officially called land transfer duty) is one of the largest upfront costs when purchasing residential property in Victoria.

However, for those downsizing into a retirement village under loan/lease type contracts, the way duty is calculated can often lead to significant savings compared with buying a traditional home at the same price.

How Stamp Duty Works in Victoria

In Victoria, land transfer duty is calculated on a sliding scale based on the purchase price (or “dutiable value”) of the property. The presence of certain concessions—like principal place of residence (PPR) rates for homes up to $550,000—can reduce this amount, but above that threshold the standard general rates apply. Illustratively, based on current rates:

· A $500,000 property attracts approximately $21,970 in stamp duty.

· A $600,000 property attracts around $31,070.

· A $750,000 property generally attracts about $40,070.

These estimates are broad guides and may vary depending on specific eligibility for concessions.

Downsizing and Stamp Duty Savings

When retirees move into a Centennial Living retirement village via a loan/lease contract, the upfront payment for the retirement village unit reflects a license or lease payment rather than a freehold purchase, and this means stamp duty may not be payable at the same level as a conventional property purchase.

These savings can be significant when weighed against ongoing fees like deferred management fees (DMFs)—the periodic charges many retirement villages apply when exiting. While some prospects are wary of DMFs, the reductions in stamp duty alone may offset a portion of these costs over time, freeing up funds for lifestyle, care, or travel. Proper financial advice is recommended to model individual

circumstances accurately.

What This Means for Downsizers

For older Victorians considering a move into a Centennial Living retirement village, the prospect of lowering upfront costs through stamp duty savings—coupled with the lifestyle and support benefits of retirement villages—can

make downsizing more financially viable. While DMFs should always be factored into any retirement village decision, the stamp duty advantage offers a real, immediate cash-flow benefit. Find out more about Centennial Living retirement villages by going to the website and filling in the form on the Contact Us page at www.centennialliving.com.au or call 1300 098 000.

Crime sparks forum

By Jensy Callimootoo

Rising crime concerns have brought Casey residents and traders together, as fears grow over safety in the region.

Hosted by Mush Rahaman, owner of La Baguette cafe and longtime trader in High Street, Berwick, the event spotlighted small business safety.

Attendees were split into four groups, allowing them to share concerns directly with local police, community safety officers from Casey Council, Neighbourhood Watch Casey, and Crime Stoppers representatives.

Several MPs were also in attendance, including Federal Member for Bruce Julian Hill, Member for Berwick and Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections Brad Battin, and Libertarian MP David Limbrick.

The forum was sparked by a violent incident in February 2026, when Berwick jeweller Johny Toros was assaulted during an attempted robbery.

Masked offenders armed with hammers stormed his High Street store in the middle of the day, carrying empty backpacks in an attempt to steal valuables. Mr Toros was taken to Casey Hospital following the attack.

The incident has left many traders shaken, with one local business owner saying her sense of safety has deteriorated, particularly when walking alone at night.

Many traders voiced frustration over what they perceive as slow or insufficient police responses to incidents.

Some said this has discouraged them from reporting crimes altogether; a concern strongly addressed by law enforcement at the forum.

growth expected.

For longtime trader Harry Hutchinson, the forum provided a rare opportunity to share experiences and connect with others facing similar challenges.

Mr Hutchinson’s own store was broken into nine times over a one year period at his previous location on Loveridge Walk.

Speaking after the forum, he said the event left him feeling cautiously optimistic.

“You feel less lonely when you’re able to speak to other people about it,” he said.

He added that in all his years working in Berwick, he had never seen a forum dedicated to addressing trader safety concerns.

Two critically injured on freeway

A woman and a child have been critically injured in a five-car crash on Monash Freeway in Dandenong North on Sunday 12 April. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the collision in the freeway’s out-bound lanes near the Stud Road off-ramp just after 2pm.

The woman and child, who were travelling in a Mazda 3, were taken to hospital with critical injuries, police say.

Another child in the Mazda was hospitalised with minor injuries.

Three of the four occupants of a blue Mitsubishi were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The occupants of a BMW, a Volkswagen Tiguan and a white Mitsubishi were not injured. The driver of Volkswagen, a 34-yearold Berwick man, was interviewed by police and released. He was “assisting with enquiries” , police say.

All out-bound lanes and one in-bound lane of the Monash Freeway were closed for several hours.

Investigations into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing. Any dashcam footage or information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com. au

Driver dies in fiery crash

A driver has died in a fiery crash in Narre Warren East early on Sunday 12 April.

Emergency services were initially called to the scene following reports of a fire on the side of Wellington Road, near Muddy Creek Road, just after 4am.

A vehicle, believed to have been travelling north along Wellington Road, was found on fire and crashed into a tree.

The driver and only occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Any footage or information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

Police underscored the importance of reporting every incident, urging residents and business owners to call triple 000 in any emergencies.

“If you keep calling triple 000, it’s going to help us help you,” a senior constable told attendees, noting that reporting plays a key role in securing additional resources and funding for the area.

A community safety officer from Casey Council highlighted that the perception of crime in Casey is changing.

And while the majority of people still feel safe in Casey, a 2025 survey conducted by the council found that 36 per cent feel safe, while 34 per cent feel unsafe in Casey.

Further, 35 per cent of those surveyed experienced crime in the 12 months prior — an increase of eight per cent since 2023.

While Casey comes out on top for the number of reported crimes and offences, it is one of the biggest municipalities in Victoria with a population of over 300,000 with continuous

Amid the calls for change from locals, many gained clarity on how they can do their part to deter crime. Here’s a few highlights from the night.

According to police and Crime Stoppers, a heightened number of property burglaries are opportunistic. Specifically, over the last six months, 86 per cent of all theft in Casey has not been targeted offences.

Meaning offenders are typically checking for unlocked doors or vehicles as well as skimming for valuables left in cars. Law enforcement reiterated the need to triple- check doors ensuring they’re locked.

All four institutions involved in the forum emphasised the need in reporting crime. According to police, this will in turn help them understand the need for resources and funding.

Stay connected with your neighbours, including local businesses. A campaign by Neighbourhood Watch Casey has emphasised the importance of staying connected to build a safer community.

Lynbrook

Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the theft of an ATM from a shopping centre in Lynbrook in the early hours of Sunday 12 April.

Police were called to the scene following reports three men in a silver 4WD had smashed into the entrance of the Lynbrook Boulevard centre and made off with the machine about 4.10am.

Attending police located the stolen ATM at a construction site in Aylmer Road shortly after.

The ATM has been seized by police and will be forensically examined.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

Snags sizzling for a cause

Pakenham CFA held a sausage sizzle at Bunnings on Saturday 11 April, raising funds for the local brigade. Bunnings provided the venue for the community event, which brought residents together in support of local firefighters. Funds raised will be reinvested into brigade resources and volunteer training programs to maintain operational readiness. The event is one of several community-led initiatives that help support CFA operations across the region. Local residents attended throughout the day, contributing to a steady flow of sales and engagement with volunteers on site.

FOCUS ON … MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Schools get two new treatment options for anaphylaxis

Two new emergency treatment options will become available in Victorian schools to support students at risk of anaphylaxis.

Education Minister Ben Carroll announced the two new services will soon become available in Victoria, including Australia’s first needlefree adrenaline nasal spray, giving families and schools more choice when managing severe allergic reactions.

“Every parent deserves to know that when they drop their child off at a Victorian government school, they will be safe and supported,” Mr Carroll said.

The new training will give parents peace of mind that school staff are prepared to respond quickly and safely in the event of an anaphylaxis emergency.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate emergency treatment with adrenaline and can be triggered by insect stings and foods such as nuts, dairy and seafood.

Currently, two injection-based adrenaline treatment options, Epipen and Anapen, are available in Victoria.

From 2026, two additional treatment options will be introduced - the Neffy adrenaline nasal spray device and the Jext adrenaline autoinjector, expanding the range of life-saving treatments available to families and schools.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s approval of the first adrenaline nasal spray marks a

significant advancement in the treatment of anaphylaxis,particularlyforchildrenwhomaybeanxious about needles.

Victorian schools with an enrolled student at risk of anaphylaxis must ensure staff are appropriately trained in anaphylaxis management.

Training workshops will run in term one and term two to upskill school staff in the use of all four emergency treatment options, ensuring schools are fully prepared ahead of the new devices becoming available. School staff in the independent andCatholicschoolsectorswillalsobeabletoregister.

This training will support schools to update their anaphylaxis policies and procedures and continue to safely manage students during an ana-

phylaxis emergency.

“Anaphylaxis symptoms can appear suddenly and deteriorate extremely quickly, which is why it is critical that teachers and school staff know how to administer these life-saving emergency treatments to children,” Mr Caroll said.

“We are ensuring our workforce is equipped to manage whatever treatment option families decide is best for their child.”

Families wanting to learn more about the new anaphylaxis treatment options, including when they’ll be available, should speak to their GP or visittheAllergyandAnaphylaxisAustraliawebsite.

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Ridgelea’s community grows

If you’ve driven past Ridgelea recently, you will notice that what was once an empty stretch of land is now a place people are calling home, and a community finding its rhythm.

From open land to a lived-in community

Ridgelea has sold almost 300 residential lots, with more than 100 sold in 2025 alone. It’s a clear sign that families are choosing to put down roots in Melbourne’s south-east.

With over 10 stages either complete or under development, the estate is moving confidently from vision to reality. Roads and traffic lights are in, landscaping is underway, homes are rising, and residents are beginning to shape everyday life within the neighbourhood.

The Display Village is now open

A major milestone has arrived with the opening of the Ridgelea Display Village, now welcoming visitors exploring their home-building journey.

Featuring 37 display homes, the village brings together a wide range of builders, from established names such as Metricon and Carlisle to architecturally driven designs by Roseleigh and Kialla. It offers a practical way for future homeowners to walk through different layouts, compare styles and start forming a clearer vision for what’s next.

A launch that brought the community together

The Display Village officially opened with a largescale community event, welcoming an estimated 800 visitors across the afternoon.

Families from across the Casey Cardinia region explored the homes while enjoying a relaxed, festival-like atmosphere. Children lined up for ferris wheel rides, reptile encounters sparked plenty of excitement, and live music from a fivepiece band carried throughout the estate.

For many, it was their first experience of Ridgelea: and one designed to feel welcoming from the outset. Visitors moved between homes with food, drinks and activities woven throughout the day, turning what can often feel like a practical exercise into something far more memorable.

Behind the scenes, the event reflects a broader

focus from developer Parklea on creating genuine communities, not just land releases. As General Manager Corporate Jarod Mills explains, the goal is to shape places where people feel a sense of connection from the very beginning.

Art inspired by the landscape

Visitors are also welcomed by a striking entry artwork by Australian artist Anderson Hunt.

Inspired by leaves, seed pods and natural forms collected locally, the piece reflects the

character of the surrounding environment and reinforces Ridgelea’s connection to its landscape.

A new park for everyday family life

Ridgelea’s first park is also officially open. Featuring play areas, BBQ facilities, shaded seating and basketball courts, it’s designed to grow with the community and cater to a range of ages and activities.

Looking ahead

With lot sizes ranging from 385m² to 730m² and

land priced between $382,000 and $615,000, Ridgelea presents an appealing opportunity to secure a place in one of the region’s most exciting new neighbourhoods.

With the display village now open and Stage 17 selling, Ridgelea continues to build momentum as both a destination for homebuyers and a place to call home.

To learn more, visit in person or head to ridgeleaestate.com.au

Lengthy pay dispute

By Jensy Callimootoo

As the dust settles following consecutive union strikes involving the education sector, kindergarten teachers continue to call on the state government for fairer pay and better work conditions.

Union members are seeking for a 35 per cent pay increase spanned over four years, to ensure salaries of preschool educators are competitive with school staff.

It also demands improved conditions that will address an already excessive workload and “burdensome administrative requirements”

It’s been over one month since the 24 hour stop-work action took place, yet no progress has been made, says the Australian Education Union (AEU).

It marked the second state-wide industrial action in just five months, following the first strike in September 2025 and has now exceeded 20-months of negotiations.

Guided by the AEU, since 9 March, educators have also implemented a ban on unpaid overtime work.

Jay White, long-time director and teacher at Woodbine Preschool in Cranbourne North, tells Star News that the combination of rising expectations and insufficient paid time, is creating an unsustainable workload across the sector.

Marching alongside her team to Parliament last September and February, she says that the workload that is placed on early childhood workers is “exorbitant”

“At the moment that pile of work is getting bigger and bigger with no recognition,” Jay said.

In the background of fighting for better working conditions, the government’s kinder reforms have added on to the already mounting pressure.

These changes include free kinder for threeyear-olds for up to 15 hours a week by 2029.

As well as the transition of four-year-old kind-

er to a 30 hour a week pre-prep program by 2036.

Jay says the added hours are simply unrealistic at their current award level.

“At the moment teachers can’t teach that many hours a week, so that needs to be recognised in the new award,” she said.

With the introduction of free kindergarten, class sizes are expected to increase while staffing levels are unlikely to sufficiently meet this demand.

“Kindergarten classes often have 30 to 33 children with three staff,” she said.

“Which makes for a very busy environment and also increases the workload of teachers supporting and planning for these children.”

The educator of over a decade, says that the introduction of free kinder has effectively made the Department of Education the sole source of income for sessional kindergartens.

Previously, centres could supplement funding by charging families rates that help to support wages and operations, but with these fees removed, that financial flexibility has disappeared.

As a result, kindergartens now rely entirely on government funding not only to run their programs but also to pay staff wages, raising concerns about funding control and financial sustainability.

Mounting administrative demands and new compliance requirements are also significantly increasing the workloads, with no additional time or pay to compensate for this, says Jay.

While educators have long been required to complete annual mandatory reporting training through the Victorian government, a new national training model has been introduced.

Jay says the new program largely duplicates existing material but must still be completed in full, adding up to an estimated 10 additional hours of training each year on top of the existing two-hour requirement.

She reiterates that there is no capacity to complete this within paid non-contact hours, forcing many staff members to undertake unpaid overtime to remain compliant.

Beyond training, kindergarten teachers are responsible for a broad range of administrative and support tasks typically handled by dedicated staff in schools.

From managing enrolments, preparing medical plans, writing referrals to NDIS applications, liaising with therapists, and coordinating transitions to primary school.

At their current award rate, a teacher delivering 15 hours of classroom instruction receives just 7.5 hours of non-contact time to manage planning, documentation, communication, and operational duties, but this allotted time is often absorbed by basic setup and pack-down tasks.

Since April 2024, staff have not had a pay increase.

But with the state’s new kinder policy, Jay says that in addition to an adequate wage, Early Learning Association Australia and the Department of Education need to make appropriate accommodations in the new award to address the excessive workload.

In early March, Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas, who connected with Jay to hear her concerns first-hand, said he would discuss these concerns with Victoria’s treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations and Regional Development, Jaclyn Symes.

“I know the hard work of our early childhood educators and staff. I am hopeful that there will be a resolution soon,” he said.

“Her (Jay) union, the AEU, are seeking better pay and conditions for our early childhood teachers, educators and pre-school field officers.

“I share Jay’s view that they must all be supported, recognised and valued.”

At the time of writing, Jay has not yet received an update from Mr Maas.

Staff strike in hope of a better pay deal

By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Afraa Kori

State Parliament steps were swathed in orange as medical staff walked out on strike from hospitals including Dandenong and Casey this month.

On 1 April, more than 1000 medical scientists, hospital pharmacists, psychologists and dietitians from Monash Health and across the state rallied in Melbourne’s CBD for a 28 per cent wage rise over four years and improved conditions.

The Health Services Union Vic No. 4 Branch members included Dandenong Hospital’s community-health dietician Rhiannan Cheng and medical scientist Iszac Lenne.

Their hospital hallways are currently covered in orange union posters to promote their industrial campaign.

Lenne says their actions are designed to hit the hospital’s bottom line, not patient outcomes.

“I joined (the industrial action) because I’m proud of what I do, though most people haven’t heard of us.

“If your own health journey started with a blood test, you can be sure a medical scientist was working with you.”

Lenne is part of a laboratory that operates 24/7. He was the only member able to stop work to represent the lab at the march because of the nature of their work.

“What we do changes hourly, if not faster,” Lenne says.

“It can’t stop and we are barely staffed to provide this essential care.”

There’s just one person rostered to cover blood transfusion needs, including emergencies, he said.

“If they need help? Then we’re pulling someone away from something else.

“It’s just another thing we’re fighting for, we need funding for more specialists in the lab so that both us and our patients are being looked after.”

During Covid, every swab went through a pathology lab; meanwhile every cancer diagnosis involves lab pathology.

His message to Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas was to “come visit Dandenong Pathology”

“Whenever you’re free, we’re quite literally always open. I’d love to show you the work you could be supporting.”

As a dietician, Cheng helps young people including those with iron deficiencies and irregular eating patterns.

She gives personalised recommendations on diet, meals and budgeting to help them grow in independence, she says.

“The type of work bans we have been implementing has really highlighted how much administrative work I am doing alongside direct client care work.”

Another attendee at the rally was pharmacist and union delegate Chris Sharp, who has worked at Monash Health since 2019 and at Casey Hospital since March 2025.

Sharp currently helps patients understand the risks and benefits of medicines, providing doctors with detailed medication histories, and supporting safer prescribing decisions during admission and discharge.

Before coming to Casey, he led work to strengthen support for people who smoke or vape, which he claims was cut following the 2024 State Budget.

Unlike broader union messaging focused on wage negotiations, Sharp said the profession had also been shaped by cuts to preventative health programs and a lack of professional development opportunities.

He pointed to structural issues affecting health professions, including what he described as long-standing gender-based undervaluation.

“The Fair Work Commission has reviewed this gender-based undervaluation, as it did for nurses and midwives, and said it must be corrected,” he said.

“Our Union played a vital part in this decision with several of our members providing their expert testimony to a full bench at the Fair Work Commission as part of the process.”

Sharp said more than half of his colleagues attended the rally, while others took part in dif-

Over 35,000 people attended the March state-wide stop action. (Facebook/ Australia Education Union)

Industrial action set

By Jensy Callimootoo

Victorian public school staff will yet again take part in industrial action as they continue their calls for better pay and work conditions.

Beginning in Term 2, teachers, principals and support staff will stop work for a half day, which according to the union, will roll on through a region- by-region basis.

It marks the next step following the March state-wide strike action which saw more than 35,000 public school staff rally to Parliament House on Spring Street.

Despite the government’s plans for no interruption to classes and schooling on the day of the strike, many schools had to amend classes schedules, while other students were told not to attend altogether.

It was the first stop-action to effect the public school sector in over a decade with union members demanding a 35 per cent pay salary increase to be spanned over four years.

It also called for improved conditions in the next Victoria Government Schools Agreement (VGSA).

ferent stop-work actions, which had increased pressure at the bargaining table.

“For most of us, it was our first time participating in a stop-work rally and the energy was incredible,” he said.

“The stop-work gave us credibility. Until then, Monash Health hadn’t taken us seriously, and Union leadership were invited to meet the Health Minister just hours before the rally.

“The stop work action impacted internal services on the day, with no known impacts on patient care. We’re very clear: we will not take action that risks patient harm. That’s fundamental to who we are as health professionals.”

In joining the rally, Sharp and Cheng both wanted to show the State Government that “we are serious about getting the offer we deserve” Enterprise bargaining negotiations with the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association have continued for 12 months.

The union’s call for a 28 per cent pay rise over four years is the same as the wage deal struck by the Government with Victorian public nurses and midwives in 2025.

In real terms, the state’s offer of a three per cent wage rise a year was a pay cut, Cheng says.

She also called for reproductive health leave, better career progression and access to professional development.

“I have not been able to attend any conferences in seven years.

“The last one I did attend, I had to pay for this and received no reimbursement from my employer despite the entitlement in our current EBA.”

Union branch secretary Matt Hammond said the rally on April Fools Day was to send a message that “we won’t be taken for granted”

He said the members would escalate the industrial action, if necessary.

“These people are incredibly skilled health professionals without whom, just like doctors and nurses, the health system would fall apart.

“They’re tired of waiting for the Allan government to make an offer that recognises their contribution to public health.”

A Victorian Government spokesperson said the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association continued to negotiate in good faith with the Health Services Union.

“We will always back our dedicated healthcare workforce and the extraordinary care they provide to Victorians who need it most.”

Monash Health was contacted for a comment.

This would see smaller class sizes, increased allied health and classroom support for students, modern and flexible working arrangements and a reduction of workload and unnecessary administration requirements.

Next stages of Industrial action will also see bans on attending meetings and writing comments in school reports.

Additionally, union actions will also see staff not responding to emails from the Department of the Education or implementing any new programs or initiatives from the department.

Justin Mullaly, the branch’s president, said that the government was undervaluing public school staff, reiterating that Victoria teachers, support staff and principals were the lowest paid in the nation.

“Public school staff are sick and tired of being overworked and undervalued,” said the union boss.

“They are being taken for granted by the Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll and will raise their voices around Victoria and significantly escalate their industrial action.

“The Allan Labor Government – employer of the nation’s lowest paid public school teachers and underpaid education support staff and principals – needs to start respecting public schools and the hardworking people who educate Victoria’s children and young people.

“They have cut $2.4 billion from Victoria’s public schools, meaning we have the lowest funded public schools in the country. And right now, every state Labor MP should be ashamed of the fact that they think they can call Victoria ‘the education state’.” A stark contrast remains in salaries for public school teachers across Victoria in comparison to other states across the country.

According to the AEU, the minimum wage for entry level teachers in Victoria sits just short of $80,000 rising incrementally to about $118,000.

While other state’s minimum wage stacks above $80,000, with NSW’s minimum wage starting at $90,000 for a graduate and incrementally increasing to above $133,000 as of 2026.

In Victoria’s neighbouring state, salaries for ACT teachers start at approximately $91,000 for a graduate and rise incrementallywithanannualincreasetoabout$126,000.

Long road to opening day

After more than a decade of planning, New Life Presbyterian Church has officially opened its long-awaited building in Officer, marking a major milestone for the growing congregation and local families.

The church’s new home sits on a four-hectare former farmland site and has recently received its occupancy permit, allowing members to finally gather, worship and run programs in a permanent space.

Pastor David Martin said the opening represented years of persistence and faith.

New Life Presbyterian Church will celebrate its grand opening weekend from 10–12 April, with services, a community festival and a formal opening ceremony.

UFO mystery lingers

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

The elusive silver disc that danced in the blue sky over Westall in 1966 still sears in observers’ memories.

Joy Clarke, a former Westall High School student at the time, bristles at those who dismiss what she and more than 300 others saw in broad daylight 60 years ago.

“I have nothing to lie about. I ask them one question: Were you there?

“Well, I was and so were 300 other people, I say. End of story.”

She joins the chorus of witnesses and researchers calling for the long-awaited release of Government files to shine more light on the incident.

“We just want some verification that something unusual happened on that day.

“If they have evidence that it was an experimental craft, fine. But otherwise we’re not going to accept this ‘fact’ they keep flagging – that it was just a weather balloon.

“If that was the case, why was the army there? The dark suits, police, fire brigade? The area cordoned off, the roads closed?”

On 6 April 1966, she was in science class about 10.30am when a girl raced in from the corridor to say there were flying saucers in the sky. Her teacher Andrew Greenwood, who was later interviewed by Dandenong Journal, wouldn’t let the students out until the recess break.

“(At recess) we bolted out to the school oval and there were the flying saucers.”

She describes three metallic saucer-shaped objects with lights around the bottom.

“Five little aircraft from Moorabbin Airport played a game of cat and mouse with them.

“The (UFOs) would zoom up in the air, then be over there, then over there. Their speed was amazing.

“At the same time, the little planes would have to do a big circle to get anywhere near them.”

Some of her peers were in “massive hysteria” , a chaos of yelling, screaming, running, crying and excitement.

“I was absolutely in awe. Some of the kids were scared, I was transfixed – I thought, what in the hell was this?

“They were trying to get kids back into class. It took three hours to do it because no one wanted to.”

Army jeeps rolled down Rosebank Avenue that afternoon. Joy remembers guys with clipboards, and soldiers wearing camouflage.

Students were pulled into the principal’s office and met “men in dark suits” . Residents were visited door-to-door and told to “shut their mouths” , she says.

Joy remembers speaking with three members of the Victorian UFO Society at her family’s table. They took her photo in one of the grass circles, which by that time had been burnt out by authorities.

She was one of the students who defied a stern ban against going to The Grange reserve after the incident.

It was where many had spotted the flying object behind trees and where a large circle of flattened grass was reportedly found.

She and her sister spied on two soldiers at

Secret files

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Sixty years on, the Government remains silent on the famous Westall UFO event, to the frustration of surviving witnesses.

Primary and high-school students, teachers and market gardeners were awestruck as they watched up to three fast-moving silver objects in clear skies on a mid-morning just before Easter on 6 April 1966.

They say a giant circle of flattened grass at The Grange reserve was swarmed by military jeeps and troops that day.

Schools were reportedly visited by “men in dark suits” while witnesses were slapped with a media ban.

It remains one of the few daytime UFO sightings by scores of witnesses – many of whom are calling for the Department of Defence to release its report on the event.

Who can say what was seen that daywere they alien ‘flying saucers’? Or top-secret military technology? Weather balloons?

A petition was tabled at Federal Parliament last year, calling for an independent inquiry into the event.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has yet to respond with the 90-day deadline, and his office didn’t answer an inquiry from Star News last week.

“It’s a slap in the face to the witnesses who have lived with this for 60 years,” the lead petitioner Grant Lavac says.

“Why have the authorities not been transparent? That’s the burning and enduring question that sits in the mind of so many people.”

Shane Ryan, an academic who’s interviewed more than 330 witnesses of the UFO and grass circle since 2005, says there’s a growing desperation for answers.

“Everyone is getting on – including me. There’s that sense of urgency because lots of people have passed away.”

Recently, “the door has been opened” as US departments have been directed to release files on alien and extraterrestrial life, Ryan said.

such a circle, digging soil and “keeping an eye out”

Joy also ignored a media ban issued by the school principal while “people in uniforms” hovered behind him.

She stepped up for an interview with a Channel 9 reporter outside the school that day, until a police officer put a hand on her shoulder and told her to “stop talking” . The news service was also directed to stop filming and leave.

There’s reportedly no record of the news report in the TV station’s archives.

Another eyewitness was Marilyn Smith, who was interviewed by Dandenong Journal in 1966, and provided a sketch of what she saw.

At the time, she was 14-year-old Westall High student Marilyn Greenwood.

The object was “round, with a hump on top and round things underneath,” she told the newspaper.

The Journal wrote: “Her sketch closely resembles sketches and photographs of other unidentified flying objects reported from many parts of the world.”

Today she remembers being awestruck by what she saw and what happened.

“We were all kids and dealt with it differently. The hysteria was huge, we went off in different directions.

“My jaw was touching the ground – I just couldn’t believe it, am I imagining this?

“Its shape was like two saucers on top of each other. It had a distorting vapour around it.

“It wasn’t even there for a minute – it turned on its side and it disappeared.

“Even though it was incredible and impressive, it was also terrifying. We didn’t know what was going to happen.”

She remembers bolting across to find flattened grass at The Grange at lunchtime, and after school being interviewed by the waiting Channel 9 news crew.

“I thought, ‘the hell with it, I’ll do it’ . I got a detention but it was worth it.”

At the Grange, she didn’t dare to touch the circles in the long grass.

“We didn’t know if it was radioactive. We just sat behind the logs about 15 feet away.”

Smith says it’s incredible how the tale has endured. But what she craves is an explanation.

“The US Government now says that they saw UFOs. To find out the truth would be really good.”

Westall witnesses are continuing to speak out for the first time, having remained silent out of fear for their reputations and careers.

“There’s been a shift in society that people are more open to talking about things,” Ryan says.

“Not necessarily coming to definite conclusions, but that something did happen and there was a sense of a covering-up of it.

“Someone in the government may have known more than what the witnesses knew.”

Only weeks ago, Ryan spoke with the child of a high-ranking, well-credentialled Department of Supply official, who investigated the incident and wrote a report at the kitchen table.

The official kept a personal copy of his report. But upon his instructions, his wife incinerated the copy upon his death in 1970.

Ryan hopes that the official copy of the report exists in Government archives, that it might “break open” what had happened. Dandenong Journal was the only media outlet raising questions at the time.

A week after the incident, its front page was splashed with the headline: FLYING SAUCER MYSTERY: SCHOOL SILENT.

That month, it tried to “penetrate the wall of secrecy which was hastily thrown up” after the sighting (WHO WERE 5 PILOTS: Flying saucer mystery deepens, 21 April 1966).

Despite a media ban on staff and students, Westall High School teacher Andrew Greenwood told the Journal that five light aircraft circled and followed the object in a “cat and mouse” game.

The object was “like a thin beam of light, about half the length of a light aircraft” , he said.

Decades later, Greenwood said he was reprimanded and threatened with charges under the Official Secrets Act. He was also threatened with being labelled a drunk and the loss of his career.

Yet, that question on the five pilots remains unanswered, Ryan says.

“I’ve never given up hope that the mystery would be solved.”

Gardens mark 20th year

Despite the autumn weather settling in with rain and brisk air on Sunday afternoon, many Casey locals braved the cold to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens. With loads of fun lined up, scores of children were able to enjoy various programs and performanc-

es. From a theatre ensemble of the Big Bandicoot Backyard from Born in a Taxi performers to a Wild Cities interactive program and exhibition. A spokesperson said that with the fuel prices soaring, many are choosing to take advantage of closer local spaces in the region.

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WHAT’S ON

Active Autumn

City of Casey presents a full month of free or lowcost activities designed to suit a wide range of ages, abilities and fitness levels. Includes body attack, body balance, body pump, Bollywood dance, casual pickleball, chair yoga, lawn bowls, Les Mills Shapes, Les Mills Thrive, line dancing, park runs, walking football (soccer).

• Runs until 30 April at various locations. Details: casey.vic.gov.au/active-autumn

Melbourne International Film Festival

MIFF films at discounted prices, with panel discussions and Q&As with filmmakers. Featured films are The Bad Guys 2 (PG) (17 April, 12.30pm), The President’s Cake (M) (17 April, 6.30pm), But Also John Clarke (M) (18 April, 4.30pm) and Journey Home, David Gulpilil (M) (19 April, 4.30pm)

• Friday 17 April - Sunday 19 April at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren. Tickets: bunjilplace.com.au

Active Autumn Amazing Race

In this exciting and inclusive event, teams travel on foot through Wilson Botanic Park and into the centre of Berwick, following a map and solving clues along the way. At each checkpoint, participants will complete a variety of challenges, including cryptic puzzles, photo challenges and construction tasks.

• Sunday 19 April 1pm at Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick; $5 entry fee. To register, visit tickets.bunjilplace.com.au/11257

Playdaze for Nature Play Week

Interactive wildlife display by Wildlife Xposure, and fun activities for children 0-5 years.

• Thursday 23 April 9.30am-11.30am at Wilson Botanic Park Berwick; free event.

Anzac Day Endeavour Hills

A day to reflect and commemorate the lives lost in the service of Australia hosted by DandenongCranbourne RSL.

• Thursday 23 April 11am at Endeavour Hills Peace Memorial, Heatherton Road, Endeavour Hills.

Visible Mending Workshop

Mend your moth-chomped or ropped garments and give them new life. Bring woollen clothing, stretchy clothing and woven clothing (eg jeans), plus take a look at sashiko, embroidery, and weaving mends. Light refreshments provided.

• Friday 24 April 9.30am-12pm at Good Food Emporium, Unit 15/430-440 Princes Hwy, Narre Warren; free event. Bookings required at events. humanitix.com/visible-mending-workshop-24-4

Anzac Day services

March and services are being held by community groups across City of Casey on Anzac Day.

• Saturday 25 April at Berwick: march (10.40am) and service (11am) at cenotaph, High Street; Bunjil Place: dawn service (6am); Cranbourne: dawn service (6am) at Greg Clydesdale Square, High Street; Hampton Park: dawn service (6am) at Arthur Wren Hall, 16-20 Stuart Avenue; Narre Warren North: service (9.30am) at cenotaph, Memorial Drive; Pearcedale: dawn service (6am) at public hall, 45 Pearcedale Road; Tooradin: service (10am) at Memorial Reserve, South Gippsland Highway and Skye (6am, hosted by Dogs Victoria, dogs welcome) at KCC Park, 655 Westernport Highway.

Marvellous Mangroves walk

Coastal Villages Dads’ Group presents a free activity and walk for all dads, grandfathers, father figures and their children. Look for mud crabs and shorebirds as you learn about the mangroves’ amazing ecosystem. Bring hats, sunscreen & drinking water for you and your children. Wear suitable walking shoes and bring insect repellent (for the friendly mosquitoes). Supported by the City of Casey’s Sustainability & Environment team.

• Sunday 26 April 9am-11am. Meet at Blind Bight Boat Ramp car park, 28 Anchorage Drive, Blind Bight; free event. Bookings: trybooking.com/DITYD

Melbourne City Football Club tour

Cranbourne Dads’ Group presents an evening behind-the-scenes at Melbourne City Football Club for all dads, grandfathers, father figures and their children.

• Monday 27 April 6.30pm-8pm at Melbourne City Football Club, 369 Casey Fields Blvd, Cranbourne East; free event. Bookings: trybooking. com/events/landing/1558181

Come and try Lawn Bowls

Suitable for all ages, however children need to be accompanied by an adult. Friendly members to assist all participants. Flat-soled shoes or barefeet required on the playing surfaces. Refreshments available to purchase.

• Thursday 30 April 5pm-6.30pm at Narre Warren Bowls Club, 1 Majid Drive, Narre Warren; free event.

Bookings: trybooking.com/DKMKQ

Detox Your Home

Free drop-off for household chemicals such as bleach, pesticides, weed killers and cleaning products, which should never be put in your rubbish bins or poured down the drain.

• Saturday 2 May 9am–3pm at Chisholm Tafe, 2 New Holland Drive, Cranbourne East. Bookings required: eventbrite.com.au/e/detox-your-homecranbourne-tickets-1983835063077?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utmmedium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utmsource=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Car boot sale

Turn your car boot into a mini-market stall for preloved items at this Pinoy Casey Community Inc (PCCI) fundraiser. Now accepting stallholders.

• Sunday 3 May 10am-4pm at 4/260-276 Abbotts Road, Dandenong South; free visitor entry. Stall bookings: Josiah/Kim, 0468 884 003 or pinoycaseycommunity@gmail.com

Ageing Well at Home Expo

For older adults, families, and caregivers. Explore smart solutions for living well at home - with stalls and expert presentations on assistive technology, social connection, aged care, health and wellness, and in-home services. Morning tea, door prizes.

• Tuesday 5 May 10am-12.30pm at Bunjil Place; free event. Register at tickets.bunjilplace.com.au/ overview/11198

Diversity and Inclusion Workshop

Explore how diversity and inclusion can strengthen community groups. Learn the value of inclusive practices, how to recognise different types of bias and simple strategies to create positive change.

• Tuesday 5 May 6pm-8pm at Bunjil Place, Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri room; free event. Register at forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id =QimgRFtOCkKLxPYLkSgfLgG35tGJyC1PibohyteL0 KZUMlAwSEU3RkRQUzZLTENUMDBGQ0pCOVAwR y4u&route=shorturl

Berwick Mechanics Institute talk

A talk on The Social History of Mechanics Institutes will be presented by Heather Arnold, a history enthusiast and former local-history librarian. Heather will speak about the 180-plus years of mechanics institutes -  in buildings from the humble to the splendid. Light refreshments to follow.

• Wednesday 6 May 2pm-4pm, 15 High

Street, Berwick.

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

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

Three new classes for 2026 - mosaics with talented artist Tony Shannon (Tuesdays 12pm), beginner Italian with tutor Jan (Wednesdays 10am-12pm) and Italian study group with tutor Jan (Thursdays 12.30pm-2.30pm). New members over 50 welcome. Our membership fee is $55 per annum and you can join in as many classes as you wish.

• Details: u3acranbourne.org.au

Casual pickleball

Just turn up early to secure your place. All equipment supplied.

• Fridays 10am-11.30am and Sundays 10.30am11.30am at Olive Road sporting complex, Eumemmerring. All equipment supplied, $5.40 per session.

Weekly badminton

Adults welcome (Mondays 7pm-9pm) and ladies and retired (Wednesdays 12pm-2.30pm).

• Hallam Badminton Club, Frawley Road Recreation Reserve; $5.

Meditation and positive thinking

Learn how to make your mind your best friend through open-eyed meditation. Led by Bhavani Padmanabhan, these free sessions are open to all. Presented by Bakhtar Community Organisation and The Brahma Kumaris Organisation.

• Saturdays 2pm at 23-47 Gunns Road, Hallam. Registrations: 9703 2555 or 0403 551 596. DnD at Orana

Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is an inclusive tabletop, fantasy, role-playing game.

• Second Saturday of each month, 1pm-9pm at Orana Community Place, 16/18 Playwright St, Clyde North. Details: Jonathan Whelan, thestoryweaver.dnd@gmail.com

Lions bring down Bombers

By Justin Schwarze

It wasn’t pretty by any means but Pakenham kickstarted its season and picked up four precious premiership points against local enemies Emerald in round one of Outer East Division One.

In an absolute scrap-fest at Chandler Oval, it was the hosts that got the early jump, starting with Jordan Donadel kicking an absolute ripper from the right pocket on the boundary line.

Ewan Wadsworth then intercepted an errant Pakenham handball at half forward, before wheeling onto his right boot and putting it through for the Bombers’ second.

Emerald owned the first term but let some chances go begging, but it still led 2.2 (14) to 0.2 (2) at the quarter-time huddle.

Mason Hall had his say early in the second, when he patiently waited at the back of a marking pack and collected the footy once it landed in his lap after getting through a pair of hands.

It only took him a couple of steps before he bent his snap home in a textbook crumb from the tricky small forward.

Tanner Stanton then rushed forward and found new recruit Matt Ryan on the lead with his strong hands, and Ryan went back and slotted his first in his former colours.

And one of Pakenham’s other marquee signings, Aden Quirk, had his moment when he picked off a Bomber kick before lacing out Sam Cachia.

Cachia made no mistakes on his shot from 25 metres, and the Lions had managed the only three goals of the quarter.

Pakenham took a 3.9 (27) to 2.5 (17) advantage into the main intermission, but it should’ve been more after kicking 3.7 and dominating around the ground in the second.

The Lions were keen on putting away the game in the second half, and youngster Tom Burke goaled on debut when he slotted a nice snap.

Hall was then up to his usual tricks, scooping up the loose footy in the forward 50 before throwing it on the boot in a split second to make it five consecutive majors for the visitors.

It seemed the dam wall had burst when captain Luke Ryan pounced on a spilled mark from an Emerald defender, before snapping truly from the right pocket to join his brother Matt on the goalkicker’s list.

It marked six straight goals for the Lions and suddenly they were out to a game-high 29-point cushion.

The game was slipping away quickly for the Bombers and they needed a spark - and who better to provide it than playing coach David Johnson.

Johnson reeled in a diving mark and belted a set shot over the goal umpire’s head from 50, before Wadsworth hit his coach on the chest sliding in the right pocket three minutes later.

Johnson’s set shot was centimetre perfect on a relatively tricky angle, splitting the big sticks for back-to-back majors.

It inspired his troops, who then got their third in a row when Jack McGough crashed the pack and brought the ball to ground, which was collected by Ethan Grose.

Grose flicked a hand-pass to new running machine Hori Jury in space, who put a brilliant checkside through to wrestle the momentum back.

At the final change, Emerald had clawed its way back, but Pakenham still held a 6.12 (48) to 5.6 (36) buffer.

But in the big moments, it was the experience for the Lions that shone through, with Jaiden Camenzuli slotting a pearler on the run from his right boot, bending it home from long range.

After a number of behinds for both sides, Johnson bagged his third major of the second half from a set shot, followed by Matt Ryan putting the nail in the coffin with a solid grab and going back to kick his second.

The wet and wild conditions led to a low-scoring arm-wrestle, which Pakenham had come out victorious in with an 8.15(63) to 6.9(45) result.

“It was a nice feeling playing round one and getting four points,” Lions senior coach Justin Stanton said.

“Having a really tough hit out against a formidable opponent was pleasing.

“They’re a terrific team, they’ve got really good players in all parts of the ground, their playing coach Dave Johnson was terrific up forward so we expect that they’re going to be a handful for opposition teams this year.

“Our takeaway is just the confidence that we’ve been able to beat a team that’s certainly going to contend this year at their home, and now we get an opportunity to review the game and take some learnings from it.

“I liked the way that our forward line, which is relatively new and is still finding their positions, worked well.

“That’s only going to get better.

“We saw some positive signs on Saturday, in particular our forward pressure was really high which was one of the really big takeaways.

“I thought the way we rotated our mids to ensure we had good representation and good flexibility in that area at centre bounces and around the ground was great.

“The other thing is having an additional couple of talls in the backline just gave us a little bit of protection for high balls that were coming in.

“Last year we got a little bit out bodied by some of the bigger teams.

“On Saturday, we were able to hold our ground and compete aerially better than what we did last year.”

Despite Emerald emphatically winning the clearance count 47-34, Pakenham used the footy much more effectively and adapted to the horrid conditions better by going plus-nine in inside 50s, 47-38.

Defensively, especially across half back, the Lions were clinical in transitioning the ball but also being patient and waiting for the right option to present itself.

“I liked the way our guys controlled the tempo at times, sometimes we have a tendency to try and move the ball a bit quicker than what is required,” Stanton noted.

“We certainly had that issue at times last year.

“On Saturday, we slowed down a little bit, which was dictated by the composure that the backs created when bringing the ball out of defence.

“We moved the football pretty well.

“There were times where our skills were really good considering the conditions, and then there were other times where it was a little bit poor.

“I liked the way that we didn’t just default into a long down the line, gain territory style of play, which is conducive for wet weather football but it’s not the way we want to play.

“It was good that we didn’t default into that, we persevered with the way we wanted to move it and we managed to hit the scoreboard at different stages.”

The engine room fired up for Pakenham, with Tanner Stanton, Luke Ryan and Quirk all posting 22-plus disposals, while Hall was brilliant up forward with 16 touches and two goals.

Matt Ryan was the only other multiple-goalkicker for the Lions, finishing with a pair. Wadsworth’s class was clear, the inside mid recording 31 disposals, 22 of which were contested, six clearances and a goal.

Jake Pedder was the number-one rated player on the ground for the hosts, collecting 26 possessions, 11 clearances and seven tackles. Johnson was the best up forward, booting three for the afternoon.

In round two, Pakenham will have the week off with a bye, while Emerald will make the 105-kilometre journey north to face Alexandra. Former AFL Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell is set to pull on the Rebels jumper, making it an intriguing contest for the Bombers who will look to secure their first scalp.

At Seville Recreation Reserve, the Blues got the job done comfortably against Alexandra as three-goal hauls from Domenic Aloi and Nathan O’Keefe boosted the hosts to a 12.17 (89) to 3.12 (30) triumph.

Nathan Power booted five for Belgrave and the Magpies started perfectly with a 10.15 (75) to 6.7 (43) win away at Yea.

And Powelltown got its first win in the postBen Wratten era, getting the chocolates 6.15 (51) to 5.10 (40) over Yarra Junction.

United with a 5-0 thumping

By David Nagel

The season of Pakenham United is back on track in Men’s State League 6 after a dominant 5-0 victory over Mentone at IYU Reserve on Friday night.

United was coming off losses in its opening two games of the season, but those defeats came against Old St Kevins and Mt Eliza; who remained undefeated after two rounds.

United went down to Old St Kevins 3-5 in a high-scoring start to this year’s campaign, before a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mt Eliza did not provide a true reflection of how the game was played.

United wasted no time gaining the ascendency against Mentone, having two on the board after seven minutes of play.

Hamza Ahmed opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock before Lado Suliman doubled the advantage just two minutes later.

Mentone settled into its work after the early shock to its system, keeping United locked away until the 50-minute mark.

But United’s relentless pressure soon took its toll on the visitors, with the home team scoring two goals in 15 minutes to secure the winning points.

Andabati Derick basically guaranteed the win with a clinical finish to make it 3-0 before Ahmed put his second in the back of the net to make it 4-0.

Both Derick and Ahmed were then substituted, by Malcolm Passanise and Ahmad Wafa respectively, as United took a professional approach to the last 30 minutes of play.

Suliman also made way for Liam McCafferty with 10 minutes left on the clock, with Wafa

rounding out a terrific performance from United with a goal with just a minute left in regulation time.

United will look to continue its winning form when it hits the road to take on Knox United this Saturday at 3pm.

Bunyip Strikers, meanwhile, has picked up its first point for the season after a 1-1 away draw with Frankston Pines.

The Strikers silenced the home crowd with a James Wilson goal just before half time, with keeper Kieran Lenders keeping a clean sheet for the visitors until well into the second half.

Pines then found a way through a sturdy Strikers’ defence, with Jaden Taberner levelling the scores with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Both teams created chances in the dying stages but had to settle with splitting the points.

The Strikers host Old St Kevins this Saturday, under lights, in the 7pm timeslot.

RESULTS – ROUND 3

Pakenham def Mentone 5-0, Old St Kevins def Whitehorse United 4-1, Mt Eliza def Knox United 3-1, Brighton def by Old Ivanhoe 0-2, Frankston Pined drew Bunyip Strikers 1-1.

LADDER

Old St Kevins 9, Mt Eliza 9, Old Ivanhoe 6, Brighton 6, Whitehorse United 6, Frankston Pines 4, Casey Panthers 3, Pakenham United 3, Old Melburnians 3, Bunyip Strikers 1, Knox United 0, Mentone 0.

FIXTURE R4

Knox v Pakenham, Mt Eliza v Brighton, Old Melburnians v Frankston Pines, Whitehorse v Mentone, Old Ivanhoe v Casey Panthers, Bunyip v Old St Kevins.

Positive signs despite tough opening round for Storm

By Blair Burns

Cardinia Storm was back for its first matches of the season and despite going down in both the senior women’s and men’s fixtures there were plenty of positive signs.

The Men’s Metro 1 side went down 3-0 against a strong Monash team in a gritty contest.

Excitingly, there were four debutants who instantly injected fresh energy and inspired their teammates.

Troy White was impressive after adapting to a new position up forward, providing relentless pressure and creating opportunities for Cardinia.

The first half of the match was a tight contest and both Monash and the Storm battled for ascendancy.

Cardinia created some chances, but some great saves from the Monash goalkeeper prevented the Storm from getting on the board.

At the final whistle, the game went to Monash 3-0, but it was a much closer game than the scoreboard showed.

In the Women’s Metro 1 competition, Cardinia also fell to a 2-0 loss against Southern United but some new players excelled.

The threatening storm clouds held off just long enough for play to go ahead without rain.

Four new players took to the field, with two of them making their hockey debut and adapting well to the pace of the game.

Sarah Dunlop was outstanding as goalkeeper, making crucial saves and denying scoring opportunities.

Heidi Considine was player of the week for the Storm, making an immediate impact in her new sport.

She adapted well at the level and embraced different roles throughout the day.

It will be a big weekend approaching for Cardinia Storm, with the club celebrating a 50-game milestone for men’s goalie Cam Watts, as well as the first lot of home games.

The women’s side will take on Casey Hockey Club to battle it out for bragging rights, while the men’s team hosts Glen Eira.

Casey Cannons no match for formidable Sharks

By Blair Burns

It was a tough week for the Casey Cannons across the Men’s and Women’s Vic League 1 competitions, going down in all four matches against a formidable Geelong Sharks outfit.

It was always going to be a test travelling to Geelong to take on the Sharks, and despite the best efforts from the Cannons players they returned with empty pockets.

In the WVL1 competition, the Cannons went down 4-0 while the reserves performance was exactly the same scoreline, also 4-0.

In the Women’s Pennant D South East division, Casey had a strong 2-1 win against OHA.

Karen Alarcon and Sophie Kimm were the goalscorers for the Cannons with brilliant attacking plays.

The Women’s Pennant E South East side also tasted success in the opening game of the season with a convincing 3-0 victory over MCC.

Kelly McLauchlan was on fire for the Cannons, finding the back of the net on two occasions, while Kayleigh Looby was the other scorer.

The Women’s Metro South team played out a thrilling draw with Collegians, with both sides unable to register a goal in the contest.

A week is a long time in hockey and after celebrating the promotion with a win last week, the men’s Cannons fell short in all three matches.

The MVL1 team went down 5-2 against Geelong, with familiar goalscorers in Tristan Chaffey and Joshua Watson.

The MVL1 Reserves went the same way, a 5-2 result with goals to Spencer Stephens and Thomas Jelavic.

While the Men’s Metro South team had a nil-all draw against Mornington capping off what was a tough week.

The Casey Cannons will look to bounce back across the grades this weekend.

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