http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/ Read Your Local News Online! http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/ StarNewsGrouphttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/wrOBA45A0hg/158233 JAY Kennedy-Harris added another important entry to his impressive football resume - co-captain of the TAC Cup Oakleigh Chargers this season. Kennedy-Harris, 18, from Endeavour Hills, received an earl http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158233 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158233 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/EStBK_JCIyE/158232 A magical century from master illusionist Tom Hussey (146) and some sleight of hand deception from Steve Hamill (5/32) have seen Tooradin exorcise its demons and win this season’s West Gippsland Crick http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158232 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158232 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/fmQI5FAunqc/158231 THE hits are hard, the skills are often breathtaking, and the love of the game is pure. Cranbourne’s All Abilities football side is the real deal. The team’s jumper presentation at Casey Fields on Tue http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158231 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158231 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/d_y5wtzmp9k/158230 THE region’s councils have rejected State Government’s funding model for a proposed merger of tourism authorities covering the Great Ocean Road. Surf Coast Shire officer Chris Cowley told a council me http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158230 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158230 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/Qqge8ySXWnw/158229 THE region’s councils have rejected State Government’s funding model for a proposed merger of tourism authorities covering the Great Ocean Road. Surf Coast Shire officer Chris Cowley told a council me http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158229 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158229 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/NQrMXyXivi8/158228 A QUICK scan of the audience while taking bows at a recent Melbourne opera show delighted singer and school music director Manfred Pohlenz. Plenty of familiar faces smiled up at him - his music studen http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158228 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158228 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/UQdZl6L-9-Q/158227 SINGER Joe Creighton might have created a Van Morrison tribute show but the Irish-born Melbournian said he has no interest in meeting the blues legend. “I’m not at all interested in Van Morrison as a http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158227 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158227 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/yXVXHAynDkA/158226 JOSEPH Brown is a remarkably happy bloke for someone who has survived two of the world’s bloodiest civil wars. The Liberian refugee breaks out into huge smiles whenever he meets anyone new, something http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158226 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158226 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/vq2Q6Sw-z1M/158225 BOYS will always be boys, but out at North Geelong Football Club, a bunch of girls are also on the ball as well. Geelong’s only senior female footy side is gearing up for 2013 after a successful first http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158225 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158225 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/JdO6SBudxAg/158224 THE most intriguing question of round one is whether Hawthorn can finally break the Kennett curse and defeat Geelong for the first time in nine meetings. The Hawks will hope to catch Geelong on a slow http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158224 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158224 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/kkH0q4geZAA/158223 A CRITICALLY endangered moth that has already stalled several housing developments could stand in the way of Lara’s westward expansion. Developer Dacland has referred its proposed Manzeene Village sub http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158223 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158223 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/UNrPej8BMdY/158222 MILD, dry conditions have driven a “dream harvest” that has Geelong winegrowers saluting their 2013 vintage as one of the best on record. They say the region’s three sub-climates - Bellarine, Mooraboo http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158222 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158222 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/t9ssVi7bmpI/158221 PLANS to refurbish Queenscliff’s Victoria Tavern and add eight apartments to the site are headed to a tribunal after council failed to make a decision on the proponent’s planning permit application. M http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158221 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158221 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/nSMAgPnWijo/158220 GEELONG and the Great Ocean Road region need 3400 more guest rooms to cope with a projected 10 million annual visitors by 2030, according to a report. The Great Ocean Road Destination Management Plan http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158220 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158220 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/CSh1-TTXfIE/158219 NEWTOWN’S Balyang Sanctuary, half its lake reduced to dried and cracked mud, looks like the worst of the drought has returned to savage its wildlife. Pelicans, coots and ducks scramble to splash in wh http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158219 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158219 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/EPA7jBLyYYc/158218 TORQUAY'S residents' association is “confident” Surf Coast Shire’s new chief executive will successfully lead council in its next four-year plan. President of 3228 residents association Sid Pope said http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158218 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158218 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/WImolO3ew8U/158217 LOBBY group G21 is consolidating itself as Geelong’s peak voice while council develops a new Enterprise Geelong agency with a similar role. Overtures to review City Hall’s $400,000 funding of G21, a r http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158217 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158217 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/n1JLaw5Jcik/158216 A LAST ditch meeting between Deakin University staff and management next week will decide whether industrial action goes ahead, according to National Tertiary Education Union. Division secretary Dr Co http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158216 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158216 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/T85T5EoKybw/158215 Modewarre football and cricket clubs will finally see a long-awaited pavilion upgrade after a $1.35 million funding announcement this week. Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty said State Government would m http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158215 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158215 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/SzlfZXsbA_E/158214 MP Ian Trezise has urged State Government in parliament to fund a “very important” master plan to upgrade Geelong High School. The Member for Geelong said the previous Labor government approved fundin http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158214 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158214 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/bYFAKRgFMlw/158213 THE region’s school students will be able to get closer to their Geelong Football Club heroes than ever before with a new education centre in the unfinished Players’ Stand at Simonds Stadium. The new http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158213 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158213 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/iCjGJdH3tZs/158212 FARE evasion on Geelong’s rail line could rise after myki replaces paper tickets later this year, Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has warned. The association raised its fears as Public Trans http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158212 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158212 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/7LNq4Mj4Qxk/158211 GOLFERS have only a few days left to enter a golf day supporting the region’s peak rehabilitation and aged care facility. Organisers have extended McKellar Centre Charity Golf Day entries to midday Th http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158211 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158211 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/S101X1te-Do/158210 GEELONG has received a $2 billion boost with the approval of Armstrong Creek’s west precinct structure, Planning Minister Matthew Guy has announced. He called the approval an investment in Geelong’s b http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158210 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158210 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/XA7c3UICL_o/158209 GERALDINE Gonsalvez believes Lyndhurst needs a strong, vocal, active, local voice in state parliament. “What it does not need is to be used and manipulated by dominant political factions as a stepping http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158209 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158209 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/XdAQSnkbkas/158208 DETECTIVES have made a breakthrough in their seven-year search for a missing Noble Park man, but need the community’s help to complete the puzzle. Mahalingham Sinnathamby, 68, was last seen at a docto http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158208 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158208 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/cFHhSga3hbE/158207 SPRINGVALE commuters’ travel times could be slashed ahead of schedule, with the State Government announcing on Tuesday that work on the Springvale Road level crossing would start early. But the South http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158207 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158207 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/sTMDtQnGpUY/158206 A DANDENONG North family is offering a $500 reward for their bird’s safe return - and searching for the owner of a lookalike cockatiel in their care. Melissa Rankin was cleaning 10-month-old Lelo’s ca http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158206 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158206 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/pTbKBHk3ur4/158205 THREE men from Greater Dandenong are peddling the multicultural message across the country, and in their own backyards. Councillor Jim Memeti, Young Victorian of the Year and City of Greater Dandenong http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158205 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158205 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/RIQGLOXThUc/158204 EVERY face has a place at Dandy West Primary. This is the catchphrase for stage one of Dandenong West Primary School’s KidsMatter journey. The school launched the program and its new friendship seat o http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158204 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158204 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/e_Uypm9cqsI/158203 THIRTY-ONE students from a specialist school in Dandenong were on a bus when it was involved in a crash at Hallam last week. The two vehicles collided on Nettle Drive about 3.50pm on Wednesday 20 Marc http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158203 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158203 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/7sI5D5eVRZg/158202 THE Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association function on Tuesday 2 April will answer the question ‘what’s important in a successful business?’. Many DRTA retailers are sole or small business operators an http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158202 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158202 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/AgEwylgtKJI/158201 A DANDENONG North man was reading his laptop on the loo when he discovered he’d won more than $1.47 million. He checked the Tatts Lotto results during a trip to the toilet on Sunday morning (24 March) http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158201 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158201 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/mC6cB-x2QX8/158200 ISAACS MP Mark Dreyfus gained two new portfolios in this week’s Federal Government ministry reshuffle. He picked up the Attorney-General and Emergency Management Minister titles in February following http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158200 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158200 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/fkVysFLlMxo/158199 A SHORT film about life in Springvale won the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Greater Dandenong Film Festival on 22 March. Face to Face: Springvale Stories also tied with Happy Country for the http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158199 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158199 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/zl4B3wvtC-s/158198 GREATER Dandenong CIU detectives are appealing for witnesses to two deliberately lit fires and have charged a man over a third. CFA crews extinguished a blaze that gutted a Holden Commodore sedan in T http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158198 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158198 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/PnTjkC5u4ok/158197 POLICE would like to speak to this man about fraudulently using a credit card to withdraw cash from ATMs in Dandenong, Narre Warren, Berwick and Clayton in mid-October last year. Call Greater Dandenon http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158197 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158197 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/2_JEjNKoGzs/158196 A PROPOSED three-storey, 44-unit development in Keysborough failed to respect neighbourhood character and overdeveloped the 362 Cheltenham Road site. This was the word from City of Greater Dandenong c http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158196 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158196 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/pJwVDFTPkvQ/158195 AFTER the problems of last weekend’s washout, DDCA Turf premierships concluded with Buckley Ridges, Lyndale, Mordialloc and Narre North claiming premierships. TURF 1 The champion of Turf 1 in one sens http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158195 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158195 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/jHQxbScXVYs/158194 DANDENONG Women’s Cricket Club brought home their 10th VWCA first XI premiership with an amazing fight-back from Sarah Elliott guiding the Lions to victory. Box Hill won the toss on Saturday and elect http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158194 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158194 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/Wx2keKuqQWg/158193 THERE was no shortage of inspiration at the Narre Warren Civic Centre last week. In its 17th year, the annual Mentor Breakfast hosted by the City of Casey was attended by a group of Year 11 girls as w http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158193 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158193 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/q9RNYDXKGS4/158192 CITY of Casey residents are at a loss because of limited taxi parking at Narre Warren Train Station. State Narre Warren South Labor MP Judith Graley said taxi parking was removed and replaced with dis http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158192 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158192 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/F1wlVgOrNoU/158191 A SNAPPED power cable getting caught under a passing car carrying a mother and daughter, an airborne trampoline, and trees falling on houses were just some of the perils facing Casey residents during http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158191 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158191 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/LCl9a9_8SRw/158190 A CASEY councillor will run for the senate, alongside a man who strongly opposed a controversial planning decision for a mosque in Doveton. Cr Rosalie Crestani said she waited until the council made i http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158190 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158190 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/XOH07sJbiqw/158189 Strap: They'll be the poster boys for beating family violence A NEW program has been launched in Casey to challenge the problem of family violence with supportive attitudes and positive role models. http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158189 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158189 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/bEEDJrSNQqw/158188 SOMETHING big is going on at Myuna Farm in Doveton. A large Atlantic pumpkin weighing 191 kilograms has been grown at the popular farm and will be on display until then end of April. The pumpkin was p http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158188 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158188 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/3C9PB-yS9V0/158187 AT LEAST 35 fire trucks and air units from Berwick and surrounds battled a large grass fire covering at least 90 hectares in Officer yesterday (Wednesday). Emergency crews were called at 2.30pm. The http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158187 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158187 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/vuOzNJn5zC8/158186 THE Cougars roared into life following a lacklustre first quarter in their 76-57 win over Keilor Thunder. Squaring off for round two in the Big V Division 2 Men’s basketball season, the Cougars and Th http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158186 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158186 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/zJoUK4e-LFc/158185 HALTED at the last hurdle, Dandenong (191) won’t get a chance to avenge its 2011/12 grand final defeat after Melbourne (2/193) comfortably strolled into the big dance. Starts from the Panthers weren’t http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158185 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158185 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StarNewsGroup/~3/qJI1XCDKtN4/158184 IT TOOK eight police, two protective services officers and plenty of capsicum spray to subdue a mentally ill man on a violent nudie run in Dandenong’s CBD. A video of his rampage posted online yesterd http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158184 http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/158184