Stage one of the construction works at Doveton Pool in the Park will commence in June marking the beginning of an exciting revitalisation of the much-loved facility was joined by Federal Bruce MP Julian Hill at the facility and said that “locals may start to see some of our contractors on the site in late May” “This is the start of a really exciting project – to see our poll given a well-deserved upgrade” The first stage includes the replacement of the existing 50-metre pool with a new accessibility entry ramp and a reduced depth to enable more accessible swimming programming There will also be an upgrade and an extension of the pool plant room and equipment “Council has contributed $7.91 million for stage one works and we have also received $7.4 million from the Federal Government for stages two and three,” Koomen said I can’t wait to see our cherished pool get the upgrade it really deserves “I can’t wait to see this project fully completed and for our local community to be able to enjoy a fantastic recreation facility in the heart of Doveton.” The works are part of the Doveton Pool in the Park Master Plan to deliver an outdoor facility and a year-round accessible park visit https://conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/doveton-pool-in-the-park Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time And you know that you live in a particularly “real” suburb when a famed YouTuber looking for drama decides to take a walk through holding a selfie stick I guess I can understand why criminal-turned-content-maker Spanian visited Doveton in February during his tour of the world’s “most dangerous and notorious neighbourhoods” My suburb has gone through some difficult times it’s a place with a unique charm and history Doveton is not about flash or pretension; it’s about community and endurance It’s a suburb that has weathered economic storms and emerged with its spirit intact The working-class egalitarian ethos that once defined the factory floor is still alive and well here Located 31 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD Doveton is bound by three major arterial roads – the Monash Freeway the suburb was built almost overnight in the post-war era as part of a bold public housing project to accommodate workers for three international factories (Heinz a place where factory work was a way of life shared between generations the area was left to grapple with the consequences of an unemployment rate that soared well above 20 per cent Many feared Doveton’s best days were behind it largely thanks to targeted government programs and the spirit borne from its halcyon manufacturing glory days Doveton packs a lot in for a suburb that spans less than four square kilometres (five if you include neighbouring Eumemmerring but sought a “divorce” in the 1970s — a story for another day) complete with a splash park and waterslides which the council dared not demolish after a hard-fought public campaign to save it in 2022 There’s the award-winning Myuna Community Farm a free public golf course connected to the neighbouring Workers Club complete with a boutique brewery serving Doveton-named ales One of our proudest points is the annual Doveton Show volunteer-run event is a celebration of the area’s spirit Our town has long been viewed as a rough-around-the-edges The local Prince Mark Hotel hosted the likes of Johnny O’Keefe and Johnny Farnham (as he was known then) Doveton’s reputation has evolved in recent decades Doveton is no different from other lower socio-economic towns – petty crime and other social problems persist including hoarding and squatting among some of the older dilapidated houses that are slowly being replaced by the new and growing housing stock I first moved here in 2012 when l married a Doveton-born-and-bred girl We now live eight doors down from the house she grew up in Our first house in Doveton was one of the original old concrete-block public houses built in the ’60s to last 20 years – though most are still standing to this day but I remember the instant connection with neighbours who shared the same house plan swapping tips on how to fix things and making improvements based on lessons learned by those who had done it all before That sense of shared experience has endured through my years in Doveton thanks to a new wave of migrants who have embraced its sense of community and breathed new life into the town drawn to the affordable housing and public amenities helping to revitalise the area and halve the unemployment rate from its peak The cultural mix is now as diverse as the streets themselves and curries superseding the glut of traditional fish and chips and pizza shops (four of each) that lined the shopping strips for years Doveton’s diversity is adding to our tight-knit community thanks to the many surviving public spaces and attempts at opening standalone coffee shops have yet to froth What matters is the pride we feel in our town and the promise we see in its future which caused some locals to fear for our reputation The YouTuber was given a tour through our streets by Doveton Boxing Club founder and lifelong resident Ryan Wilson He was met outside the Linden Place shops and the Aboriginal Gathering Place by polite kids wanting a selfie and to say “hi” It showed a town that embraces its roots while acknowledging its imperfections Doveton’s story isn’t just about survival – it’s about reinvention And that’s something worth celebrating and putting your roots down for Stefan Koomen is the chair of the Doveton-Eumemmerring Township Association and led the 2022 Save Doveton Pool campaign The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here And you know that you live in a particularly \\u201Creal\\u201D suburb when a famed YouTuber looking for drama decides to take a walk through holding a selfie stick I guess I can understand why criminal-turned-content-maker visited Doveton in February during his tour of the world\\u2019s \\u201Cmost dangerous and notorious neighbourhoods\\u201D it\\u2019s a place with a unique charm and history Doveton is not about flash or pretension; it\\u2019s about community and endurance It\\u2019s a suburb that has weathered economic storms and emerged with its spirit intact Located 31 kilometres south-east of Melbourne\\u2019s CBD Doveton is bound by three major arterial roads \\u2013 the Monash Freeway But when the factories closed in the \\u201990s Many feared Doveton\\u2019s best days were behind it but sought a \\u201Cdivorce\\u201D in the 1970s \\u2014 a story for another day) There\\u2019s the award-winning Myuna Community Farm volunteer-run event is a celebration of the area\\u2019s spirit The local Prince Mark Hotel hosted the likes of Johnny O\\u2019Keefe and Johnny Farnham (as he was known then) Doveton\\u2019s reputation has evolved in recent decades But we\\u2019re still not without our issues Doveton is no different from other lower socio-economic towns \\u2013 petty crime and other social problems persist built in the \\u201960s to last 20 years \\u2013 though most are still standing to this day Doveton\\u2019s diversity is adding to our tight-knit community but it has produced its share of significant Australians from all walks of life Esteemed political journalist grew up here as did long-standing former Victorian government minister John Pandazopoulos along with renowned actor/singer Michael Cormack Hawthorn footballer made headlines for his unique \\u201C3177\\u201D celebration we\\u2019re not gentrified yet (thankfully) He was met outside the Linden Place shops and the Aboriginal Gathering Place by polite kids wanting a selfie and to say \\u201Chi\\u201D Doveton\\u2019s story isn\\u2019t just about survival \\u2013 it\\u2019s about reinvention And that\\u2019s something worth celebrating and putting your roots down for The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances after a man was shot by police this morning in Doveton Officers were called to a welfare check after neighbours reported an argument between a man and a woman at a residential address on Paperbark Street just before 9am it's believed the pair left the address separately Police were then called to the same address just after 10.30am where officers attempted to speak with a male at the front of the residence aggressively ran at a police officer when a shot was fired by police The 33-year-old man was transported to hospital with minor upper-body injuries and remains under police guard A crime scene has been established while detectives investigate to determine what occurred An investigation into the incident in underway with oversight by Professional Standards Command as is normal practice when a police firearm is discharged with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au A resident has been treated for smoke inhalation after a home was destroyed by a suspicious fire in Ash Street Firefighters got the call-out about 9.13am finding the single-storey brick house “fully involved by fire” Two FRV crews in breathing apparatus doused the fire inside the building and searched for occupants “All occupants were accounted for and one patient was with Ambulance Victoria for smoke inhalation.” The fire was brought under control by 9.32am and deemed suspicious FRV issued a community advisory message warning of smoke in the area The Federal Government funding to save the Doveton Pool has finally been secured locals were treated to a barbecue hosted by Bruce MP Julian Hill and City of Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen In addition to a community-wide celebration it also served as a perfect place for the residents to share their insights and ideas as to what they would like to see upgraded with the pool’s facilities Julian Hill said that the Doveton Pool has been “treasured by our community for generations” “I was really proud that the Federal Government secured the $7.5 million in funding to save and upgrade the pool.” The $7.5 million to fund the upgrades will include an improved outdoor swimming pool with disability access a new kids pool and splash park with slides and other activities as well as a family-friendly play space with a BBQ area and new lighting the pool is nothing less of a generational community landmark a cherished part of the community for over half a century after the community raised funds following public concerns about drownings in Eummemerring Creek said “It’s fantastic to see so many people proud of the community coming together to save this important asset” and it was saved by the community; I’m delighted to be able to celebrate with so many people here today (because) when communities come together which faced closure and demolition in recent years but was saved by the campaigning of local residents said that “it’s one of the best examples in recent years of the local community coming together with elected representatives from all levels of government” A man has been charged after being allegedly shot by police in Doveton on Saturday 29 March Armed Crime Squad detectives charged the 33-year-old Doveton man with four counts of resisting police members and one count each of assaulting police common law assault and reckless conduct endangering serious injury Police say that officers were called to a welfare check at a home on Paperbark Street just before 9am on 29 March it’s alleged the man was armed with a metal pole as he aggressively ran at a police officer The officer deployed OC spray before a shot was fired by police The man was transported to hospital with minor upper-body injuries before being released and subsequently charged He was due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 30 March An investigation with oversight by Professional Standards Command is taking place due to the firing of a police gun Any dashcam/CCTV footage or information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au the Journal’s sports team will be re-sharing some of the most popular stories from over the course of 2024 Thank you for supporting our newspapers over the course of the year We hope you enjoy the selection and have a wonderful holiday period 4000 sirens and countless memories and friendships along the way A who’s who of the Doveton Eagles Football Club flocked to Power Reserve to celebrate the remarkable milestone of the club’s favourite son ‘Merto’ was welcomed to the arena through a guard of honour before charging through a banner held by fellow club legends Steve Chisholm and Tim Evans with a Sherrin tucked under his arm as his mum Dimitra and partner Simone joined the hundreds-strong contingent who made the trip to witness history with Mertis avoiding disaster by shaking off a bout of the flu during the week to put the boots on for the 500th time Having sat-out round 17 in order to play the match at the Eagles’ home ground the milestone man said there was no way he would not take to field for the occasion 34 years in the making serving up a stunning sunny Saturday akin to ensure everything – bar the result of the match – went to script “Someone said ‘we’re going to have to get you in a wheelchair and roll you out’ Mertis’ tenure at the Eagles dates back to 1990 won the leading goal kicker award three times in the reserves Mertis grew up over the road from Power Reserve played junior football at the Doveton Lions and still calls the suburb home 34 years later He thought he had convinced himself to hang up the boots after game 450 but found it too hard to resist the call when the club was short on numbers It wasn’t a case of love at first sight for Mertis who still remembers succumbing to running laps of Indian File in 38 degree weather at his first training session but seeing the club taste senior success for the first time in 1995 solidified what would become a life-long friendship “The seniors won the club’s first premiership and the celebrations that day we’d finally reached the mountain top as a club,” Mertis said to finally win a premiership and get the monkey off our back as a club… all the people there He attributes his success to sticking to the basics; eating well showing resilience and being grateful for every day Club president Mick Odgers said he can’t imagine the football club without him “He’s been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and he’s still kicking through he says to them ‘If I can get out there then you blokes can’ “Turning up to training is his biggest thing… if he’s not here it means he’s sick.” he has no plans to stop playing any time soon with the competitive fire still burning inside he’s busy documenting the history of the football club The humble hero said he hopes to be remembered as “a little battler who was determined to get a kick” who always strives to get the best out of himself “I love football and I’ll keep playing until I physically can’t,” he said I’ve always enjoyed the competition and being competitive Keysborough will be searching for its first win of the season in Southern Division 2 when it takes on rival Caulfield Bears in an Anzac Day blockbuster The Bears are also winless in 2025 but this game promises to be an exciting clash and there will be no love lost between the two rivals Caulfield’s coach Lynden Dunn will be watching on from the sidelines after the ex-Collingwood player got a three-week suspension in round one against Endeavour Hills Chris Smith and his troops will be determined to put together four quarters and make amends after a half-time lead slipped away in round two against the Frankston Dolphins Young gun Kyden Vella has impressed for the Burra this year and will again be looking to have an impact inside the forward 50 while Michael Casey has been in some fine form for the Bears It is a crucial game as one of the sides will get its first win of the season and some momentum Action kicks off at 7pm and this clash will be the only one of the Division 2 competition scheduled for Anzac Day with the other games to follow on Saturday Endeavour Hills will travel to Darling Park the following day for a big test against East Malvern who look to be one of the most formidable sides again this season The Panthers are 2-0 and sitting in second position on the ladder with a huge percentage while the Falcons are 1-1 and fell short in their round two match against Doveton last Friday Endeavour Hills’ defenders will be on high alert as Panthers’ Isaac Morrisby looms as a huge attacking threat Morrisby leads the league with 12 goals from his two matches and showed just how damaging he can be when he slotted eight against Chelsea Heights in round two Highett are 0-2 and things will not get any easier when they battle against Hampton Park this weekend as the Redbacks continue to ride a huge wave of momentum Hampton Park looks like an early premiership favourite and will be hungry to dismantle the Bulldogs and start its season 3-0 If Highett is any chance to get the upper hand in this contest it will need to control the midfield and nullify Hampton Park players like Makaio Haywood who are so influential in the contest After a disappointing round-one loss which saw them thumped by 120 points Doveton bounced back last week as it narrowly defeated Endeavour Hills The Bloods have won both of their matches and this clash against the Doves will be a great opportunity to jump even higher up the ladder and start the season well at 3-0 but they are yet to have played any of the top sides Whereas Doveton needs to win this game if it is going to play finals again this season looking to coach Matt Stapleton to set the tone Frankston Dolphins will go into their game against Chelsea Heights as favourites with the Dolphins searching for their third consecutive win The Demons are coming off a tough match against East Malvern in round two but are embracing the challenge against another top side as they search for their first victory of the season Archie Zarb has been in the best both weeks for the Dolphins with five goals to his name and will be looking to have another big day out Fixture R3: Friday 25 April: Keysborough v Caulfield (7pm) Saturday 26 April: East Malvern v Endeavour Hills Armed Crime Squad detectives have charged a man after a police shooting in Doveton yesterday The 33-year-old man has been charged with four counts of resisting police members and one count each of assaulting police common law assault and reckless conduct endanger serious injury The Doveton man is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' court today Officers were called to a welfare check at a residential address on Paperbark Street just before 9am yesterday aggressively ran at a police officer who deployed OC spray before a shot was fired by police He was transported to hospital with minor upper-body injuries before being released and subsequently charged An investigation remains underway with oversight by Professional Standards Command as is normal practice when a police firearm is discharged This is probably not the page you’re looking for Learn the facts about Endeavour Hills Hallam Doveton Star Journal including delivery areas, suburbs, publishing dates, demographics and key product details. Download the printable PDF media kit fact sheet. Advertising and content engagement options for every advertiser with our award winning newspapers, magazines and online portals. Know what you want to achieve with your advertising or have more questions about our products? Just tap the button, give us a few details and we'll call you back. Throughout its more than 100 years history Star News Group has always connected with people and communities and is proud of its commitment to both clients and readers. Star News Group has always been committed to the communities it serves; reflecting the opinions, lifestyles, aspirations, concerns and personalities of the community and helping to grow the businesses of its many advertisers. Just give us a few details and we’ll get right back to you! AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE! Former Melbourne Next Generation Academy selection and Doveton junior Deakyn Smith will take the reigns as Casey Demons skipper for […] Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription Get an all access pass to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription © 2025 Star News Group Pty Ltd. All rights reserved Doveton will come into its round 17 clash against likely qualifying final opponents East Malvern brimming with confidence following back-to-back 100-point victories. The Doves have won 11 on the bounce and are viewed by some in the competition as the premiership favourites in the Southern Football Netball League Division 2 competition, having defeated the table-topping Murrumbeena during that stretch. It’s the first major challenge Doveton has faced since defeating Murrumbeena five weeks ago, with several players hitting strong form during that stretch. Matt Clarke has established himself as one of the premier players of the competition, while Lochie Conboy, Hayden Speirings, Brodie Howie and Deekon Stapleton have all played strong footy. The forward line is humming, having had at least 25 scoring shots in each of the last four weeks, the defence hasn’t conceded more than nine goals all year and the midfield was bolstered by the returns of Jake Basa and Shannon Henwood on Saturday. That pair have had a major say in big games for Doveton in recent years, so their return will sound an ominous warning for clubs: however good the Doves have been, there is another level to go to. The exposure of several younger players through the midfield during their absence will also give coach Matt Stapleton plenty of confidence to flip the magnets to keep the on-ball brigade fresh. The final push starts on Saturday for Doveton. After East Malvern is a clash with Caulfield at a Koornang Park venue the Bears have made a fortress before finals. Isaac Morrisby will be the player to stop on Saturday, a contested marking forward who has scored 72 goals in 15 games in 2024. Matthew Jameson or Jake Ingaliso will likely get that matchup and will be aided by an organised back unit and a midfield which hasn’t allowed any opponent sustained period of control. The Doves, locked in the top two, will also have half an eye on Endeavour Hills’ clash with Murrumbeena, hoping the Falcons can cause an upset after coming close last time. Outside of an out-of-character 110-point loss to Doveton two weeks ago, the Falcons have fought hard in the last six weeks after a midseason slump, with star midfielders John Rafferty and Liam Hasler in strong form, along with interceptor Luke Peters and ruck Tyler Studd. Hampton Park, meanwhile, will be barracking for Doveton as it vies to move in to the top three, which will start with a win over Keysborough. The first home and away clash between the two sides was a scrappy slug, but Hampton Park will be hoping to get it done more easily. In Division 1, Cranbourne needs to defeat eighth-placed Bentleigh to keep its finals hopes alive. Sitting two games and percentage outside the top five with three rounds remaining in the regular season, the Eagles could go undefeated and still miss finals. The Eagles will be barracking for Dingley to defeat Port Melbourne and St Paul’s McKinnon to take care of East Brighton, with whom they’re jostling for fifth spot. A pro-Doveton Pool sticker campaign has been launched to press for funding the complete $14.7 million upgrade of the site. Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association chair Stefan Koomen was pleased that Casey Council’s early works were going ahead as planned. The council has allocated $4.26 million to the works in 2024-’25. However, without federal and state funding, the revamp has been scaled down from a $21 million revamp to $14.7 million. The project is staggered across three stages, with the council funding the $7.91 million stage 1 rebuild of the outdoor 50-metre pool. Future stages will be subject to funding from state and federal governments as well as community feedback, according to a council report in March. “Our campaign is still continuing for funding and delivering the next stage of the upgrades so that the pool remains a great destination for families,” Koomen said. “We are giving away free stickers so people can get behind the campaign.” Casey Council confirmed at a public question time on 16 July that preliminary works had started onsite, with pool replacement works to start after the 2024-’25 season. “We do not anticipate any major disruptions to the pool operation and opening times this summer,” Casey city design and construction manager Mick Barrett stated. Meanwhile, the relocatable building at Doveton Pool at the Park is set to be relocated to Webb Street, Narre Warren. It had previously provided a temporary kindergarten and been leased as office space. Doveton College were seeking to lease it for adult education, according to Koomen. “With the adoption of the (pool) master plan and the intention to provide public open space for the community it is time for this building to be relocated and the land vacated for public use,” Barrett stated. The building will provide a home for Casey North Information and Support Service, which assists vulnerable clients and families, he stated. After a fierce community campaign in 2021, Casey Council reversed its plans to replace all of the pools with parkland. However DETA has criticised Casey’s plans to remove the childrens shallow pool and slides. According to an earlier council report, the rebuilt pool may include environmentally sustainable design features, such as energy capture and recovery, more efficient electric services, and water use and capture systems. Stage 2 could include a beach sand pit, plaza, canopy tree planting, upgraded splash pad, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, barbecue and toilets. The stickers are available via savedovetonpool.com or 0403 033 243. Two men from Doveton have been charged over an alleged armed robbery in which a shot was fired in Dandenong in April. Armed Crime Squad detectives arrested the men, aged 22 and 27, at their home on the morning of 19 June. They were charged with armed robbery and assault-related offences. They were set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that afternoon. Their arrests follow an alleged incident involving a shot fired into the air from a vehicle as a 32-year-old man was walking along Scott Street about 5.30am on Friday, 12 April. The man was assaulted by two people, and later treated in hospital for serious injuries, police say. Two other people were charged on 13 April over the incident. A 30-year-old Burwood man was charged with armed robbery, being a prohibited person possessing a firearm, being a prohibited person using a firearm, intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury. A 29-year-old Burwood woman was charged with armed robbery, intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury. The duo will next appear at court on 8 August. Long time local footy powerhouse Doveton celebrated a golden era of success on Saturday in a reunion of its 1982-1984 premiership threepeat. Playing in the now defunct South West Gippsland Football League, the 1980s was a decade of Doves dominance, with five grand finals in the 10 years between 1979-1988. As multiple past players referenced at Saturday’s gathering, any non-premiership year was viewed as a failed season. “They had a massive will to win,” said 1983 recruit Brian Tibballs. Imagine then the frustration following the 1981 season, one where Doveton didn’t qualify for finals. The youth of ’81 was complemented the following year by an injection of experience, including several Doves returning to their home clubs from other leagues. Led by coach Frank ‘Rocky’ Clifford, the Doves responded in an enormous way across the next three seasons, restoring their fearsome reputation. “It was us against them and Doveton played it up,” said 1983-84 premiership player Doug Henwood. “People would come here and call Doveton a ‘concrete jungle’ because of the homes. “It was a lower-middle class area and the club had a huge following: it was the hub of the community.” The Pakenham Gazette at the time reported that the 1983 side had “a confidence bordering on arrogance” going into their 88-point grand final win over Dingley. The Doves only loss of that season, coached by club great Steve Henwood, came to Dingley in the first month of the season. “We would have won most games by about 10 goals,” Doug Henwood recalled. They inflicted that sort of pain on Dingley to qualify directly for the grand final, with the coach’s biggest challenge of that finals series being to prevent complacency during the two week build up. “We were up and about that day,” ruck Mick Jolly recalled. Gun on-baller Barry Frazer kicked six goals in a brutal affair where there were seven reports, but a four goal first quarter set up a lead which Doveton built on all day. The premierships either side of that were much trickier. The 1982 grand final was labelled one of the great grand finals of the generation by the Gazette at the time. There were 47 goals kicked with Doveton winning 25.15 165 against Beaconsfield’s 22.10 152. Jolly won some crucial hitouts to advantage and clearances when the game was on the line to stave off one of Beaconsfield’s many flurries of momentum in the last quarter. Clifford was strong in the midfield while Jack McGougan and Trevor Boorar were courageous in defence. “All I remember was the ball going down the middle both ways – I felt like a spectator,” said Graham Downe, one of only two players – alongside Jolly – to line up in all three premierships. “Mick Wilson kicked a torpedo from the wing and Mick (Jolly) took a speccy in the goal square in time on in the last quarter which was crucial.” The telling storyline of the 1984 premiership was that of the enigmatic Darren Mullarvey, an inclusion for the grand final who was named best afield in a tense win over Keysborough, despite the margin blowing out ate to 33 points. “He was not only a good player with his athleticism and skills, he was a very good mark and terrific tackler – he crunched a lot of Keysborough blokes and took the confidence out of them,” coach Steve Henwood said. “There was nothing in it and Darren was probably the difference between the sides.” Doveton went into that grand final as underdogs, having lost its two home and away meetings against the Burras, but a brilliant midfield effort was crucial. Of course, 1984 wasn’t the end of the golden years: Doveton would exact revenge on Cranbourne by winning the 1988 premiership after losing the previous three grand finals to the same opposition. While the threepeat was the focal point of the day, the club extended an invite to all past players, who shared in memories of a bygone era. One where change rooms were the size of a garage; where cold showers were the best available cleansing agent of players, muddied and brutalised week after week; where players took as much joy in representing their home club as in playing VFL. “You came into the rooms after a game of footy and you couldn’t move. “You’d walk in and there would be supporters waiting to give you a beer.” The tight culture and playing success was set up by Doveton’s feed of junior players, from both Doveton Lions and Doveton Junior Football Club by the club representing the most populous suburb in the region. “I couldn’t believe how many people were here; I had come from a country club where there 30 people on the track, to 70 some nights here – that was the strength of the club,” said Tibballs. It’s a long throw from the present-day struggles Doveton face, lacking an aligned junior club and playing against teams in much more populated areas. Kevin Sheedy, who himself experienced great success through the 1980s, was a guest speaker on the day, sharing memories of his playing and coaching days at Richmond and Essendon. The reunion was deliberately scheduled during a clash with traditional rivals Hampton Park, with the present-day Doves well supported by the old brigade in its 23-point victory over the Redbacks. 1982: Doveton 25.15 165 defeated Beaconsfield 22.10 152 1983: Doveton 21.14 140 defeated Dingley 7.10 52 1984: Doveton 15.26 116 defeated Keysborough 12.11 83 To use this website, cookies must be enabled in your browser. To enable cookies, follow the instructions for your browser below. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced A man shot by police in Melbourne’s southeast after allegedly running at officers with a metal pole was a former immigration detainee on five sets of bail Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535. Monday to Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) HomeTributes & FuneralsFuneral NoticesBEATTIE Glenys Merle Beattie are advised that her Funeral Service is appointed to take place at the Doveton Park Funeral Centre Glenys' Funeral Service will be live-streamed via the Peter Tobin Funerals webpage A “no questions asked” defender and a “classy” ex-AFL Demon were centre stage in Doveton’s brilliant win over the previously-undefeated Murrumbeena but the Doves’ coach says his side is still building It has gone on to produce resources for academics students and educators in Sociology and Criminology Anthropology and History – in particular lesson plans suited to A level or early undergraduate classes reading lists and video lectures engage with global colonial histories and their significance in developing a fuller picture of the emergence of modernity and the West The project started life as a book by its founder, Professor Gurminder K. Bhambra. In Connected Sociologies (2014) Bhambra argues for the reintegration of fragmented sociologies ‘connecting up’ histories made remote by the hegemony of Western Central to this is an interdisciplinary sociology that is engaged with politics In a British context this means challenging insular narratives of nation which look away from the empire Professor Bhambra points to Britain’s colonial and imperial past as inextricable from how we think about British society today the Social Science curricula in schools fails to directly address the history of colonialism and modernity in a truly ‘joined up’ way Each lecture draws on histories of colonial domination and expansion with an emphasis on the influence these processes have had on the modern world Dr Palmer’s lecture explores how racialisation and dehumanisation under colonialism engaged with social constructions of gender (in particular womanhood and femininity) The ‘ungendering’ of those held captive on slave ships is presented as a counterpart to the ‘gendering’ of white women in the domestic sphere Palmer draws a connection between the Western imposition of categories of gender and race on colonised peoples and the racialised and gendered sexual violence that Black women continue to face today Dr Kaladeen’s lecture discusses the displacement of two million indentured labourers from India between 1834 and 1920 Kaladeen argues that the history of indenture constitutes a ‘hidden history’ one that may contradict preferred tellings of the history of abolition She leads us to reflect on the nature of ‘social facts’ encouraging us to interrogate the tension between how history is written and how it was experienced The video concludes with Kaladeen referring viewers to contemporary novels short stories and poems by descendents of indentured labourers which “function as a challenge to [the] dehumanising language” found in archival histories of Indian indenture Other modules include: “British Citizenship, Race and Rights”, “Policing ‘Crime’ and ‘Violence’” and “The Environment and Climate Change”. We completed the curriculum with the “Empires and Colonialism” module which illuminates processes of domination and expansion Professor Bhambra opens the module by problematising the distinction between ‘empires’ and ‘nation states’ often conceptualised as ‘pre-modern’ and ‘modern’ societies Bhambra challenges the notion that modern nation states come to replace or develop out of pre-modern empires She posits that many of these so-called ‘nation states’ are in fact nations that have empires and should be reconceptualised as ‘colonial states’ This lecture encapsulates Bhambra’s insistence throughout the project that colonial processes should be theorised as central to histories of modernity Central to this is understanding the distinction between substantively different types of empire and reasserting connections between histories of ‘colonised’ and ‘colonial’ entities Fellow Brunel doctoral researcher, Izzy Sykes, shares my passion for teaching and social justice. She joined the project to convert these lectures into brilliant PDF lesson plans for use by A level or Undergraduate teachers looking to ‘decolonise’ existing curricula (available here) we have heard from teachers who have integrated these lectures into their teaching as supplementary material The lesson plans link lectures to topics within Social Sciences A level curricula as well as the Revise Sociology online curriculum reframing and connecting up familiar and ‘hidden’ histories and perspectives The lectures and reading lists may be of particular interest to curious A level students who wish to expand their learning before they move on to a Social Sciences degree Undergraduate students may find the resources overlap with and supplement theories and histories of colonialism taught in the first year of a Social Sciences degree Students at Brunel may find the materials provide a background to topics covered in Economics; International Development and Humanitarianism; Global Challenges; Children Youth and International Development; Global Public Health & Social Justice Those considering participating in Brunel’s READY programme may find these resources useful in grappling with the colonial implications of such an enterprise I’m pleased to share that we’ve compiled these resources into a short booklet which is available in PDF and hard copy If you’d like to download this booklet in PDF form, it’s available on the Connected Sociologies webpage here  If you’d like a larger delivery for a class or event contact the Sociological Review Foundation here. Please share this resource with school students, teachers, university students, academics, and members of the public interested in a reconceptualisation of the grand narratives that underpin the Social Sciences. Picture by Lachlan BenceThe Midland Highway was briefly blocked in the middle of Ballarat's CBD after a minor crash All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAbout 2pm on August 7 it's understood a car was parked on the north-bound side of Doveton Street just past Dana Street before pulling out and crashing into a roller door on the other side of the road Police at the scene couldn't comment on the cause of the crash Two people were inside the car at the time with paramedics seen attending to both of them Police temporarily blocked off Doveton Street South from the Sturt Street traffic lights as the scene was cleared with long lines of cars seen banked up in the south-bound lane Picture by Lachlan BenceAn Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said one person was taken to St John of God Hospital Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords The stocks of Pakenham Boxing prodigy Riek Chuol continue to soar on the back of a successful trip to the Australian Club Championships with the Doveton Boxing Club culminating in silverware and the potential for something even bigger Chuol headed to Adelaide with a goal of coming home with a belt around his waist and he did just that by winning the final of the 57-kilogram Elite Open category Nicolas Geracitano in the semi final before dominating professional boxer James Winter in the final with the fight stopped after just 90 seconds and the kid didn’t recover,” Chuol’s coach but he landed a really nice left hook early that rattled his opponent and went on came in again (and there was) another standing eight count straight away “He didn’t give his opponent a chance to really have a look.” Chuol said the adjustment to fighting men for the first time was one that took some time to wrap his head around before finishing the weekend with the coveted championship belt around his waist “There were some nerves going into the fights because now I’m fighting grown men,” he said “I had to adjust and not try to bully too much and these (fighters) know what they’re doing not stress too much about it and overthink it “I always dreamed about actually winning a belt and in the future I want to win more belts “I really hope a world belt is around my waist.” Adding to the occasion was the support of Hawthorn footballers Connor MacDonald Changkuoth Jiath and Nick Watson in the crowd to watch the fight MacDonald is a product of the Doveton Football Club and his father was a former amatuer boxer himself “They all came and supported and that really motivated me for my final fight,” Chuol said As a result of all his successes in the last 24 months since first stepping into the ring Chuol has been invited to the Australian Institute of Sport to participate in a training camp at the combat sports high performance centre in late June He said the prospect of going to Canberra excites him but I understand that I really put the work in “I think it’s a really good opportunity and I’m happy to go and represent Doveton Wilson said he’s made an irresistible case for his selection “They can’t ignore him now because he’s winning all the time and winning quite easily now too,” Wilson said Doveton’s other competitors impressed at the championships to maintain the club’s strong reputation in the Australian Boxing community Mehrab Aghajanzadeh lost a semi final in the heavily-contested 75-kilogram Elite Open category on a narrow points decision and Barham Mohammadi won a silver medal in the 54 kilogram junior novice category “In (Mohammadi)’s first bout he lost the first two rounds and we called on him to stop the kid and he did in the third round,” Wilson said “In the final he fought another local kid and there was probably only one or two punches in it “The kid he fought was quite decent so he did really well to get a silver medal on his third fight.” Wilson was proud of what his young talents displayed on a big stage and hopes the club can come back even stronger in 2025 “We’re always very competitive and wherever we go in Australia everyone knows our club’s there to fight,” he said “Hopefully we can attack this with a bigger team.” Casey Council’s chief administrator has challenged local MPs to “put your money where your mouth is” to complete the long-awaited Doveton Pool in the Park upgrade the council has gone it alone and announced $7.91 million for Stage 1 works to rebuild the outdoor 50-metre pool The parkland and splash pad will be accessible all year water slide and Gambetta Room will also be removed the council stated that the $21 million project was contingent on 50 per cent state and federal funding The project will now be staggered across three stages with stage 1 funded by the council across 2024-’25 and 2025-’26 Its total cost has been estimated down to $14.7 million Chair of administrators Noelene Duff told a council meeting on 19 March that it was time for state and federal governments to get behind the project “We remind those federal and state members that here is an opportunity to support this community I think it’s ‘put your money where your mouth is’ time “We’ve done that here and seek the support of state and federal governments to finalise this into the future.” Local MPs had backed a fierce public campaign to ‘Save Doveton Pool’ that led Casey to abandon its 2021 plans to replace the pool with parkland Bruce federal Labor MP Julian Hill pledged that he was “very confident” that the pool upgrade would receive federal funding “Progress in saving the pool is incredibly welcome,” he said in reaction to the council’s committed funding “I’ve been proud to stand with the community in opposing Council’s efforts to close the pool Mr Hill urged the council to submit a “high quality application” to an upcoming federal grants program “While this is ultimately a local project funding for a metropolitan sporting and community infrastructure grants program was allocated in the Federal Budget and program arrangements are currently being finalised “Of course our Doveton Pool in the Park project will have to compete against all other potential projects nationally as the era of Scott Morrison style rorts where Governments just hand out money to individual projects is over “But we’ll give it a red hot go as soon as applications open.” A spokesperson for Dandenong state Labor MP Gabrielle Williams said: “Any state contribution will be subject to state budget rounds and Gabrielle has been actively discussing this with Council “Gabrielle will continue working with Council over the coming years in what we understand may be a multi-stage proposal.“ Doveton-Eumemmerring Township Association member Sean Balfour said the project was now “finally coming to fruition” – with the group hoping to learn further details on the design “We don’t need a ‘Mercedes’ that no one wants to use We just want a ‘Ford’ that everyone wants to use.” Construction of the project’s first stage will be timed during the pool’s off-season The rebuilt pool may include environmentally sustainable design features Future stages will be subject to funding from state and federal governments as well as community feedback The latter stages’ combined estimated cost is $6.84 million the outdoor pools has opened on days 25 degrees Celsius and hotter – a reduction from the previous 30-degree temperature trigger there were 5836 visitations – thought to be due to the lack of extreme heat days The Doveton Pool was developed in 1968 after a long campaign of community fundraising in response to drownings in Eumemmerring Creek Ms Duff said the pool was an “excellent example of the challenges with respect to infrastructure maintenance and ongoing development that the city faces” “So the community engagement process has been a significant part of the decision making … advocating to us as a council for the facility to remain accessible to the community.” cash and jewellery were allegedly stolen in an aggravated burglary in Doveton The burglar forced entry into a home on Hakea Street where seven people including three children were sleeping about 4am on Monday 29 April The man allegedly stole car keys and a white Holden Maloo utility with registration DOMNNT an unknown man and the ute were captured on CCTV at a service station on Princes Highway Officer where he stole petrol about 5.28am He was described as African appearance and wearing all black clothing Police have released a photo of the stolen ute and an image of a man wanted for questioning Any information or dashcam/CCTV footage to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au A residents group says young families may be left ‘high and dry’ if toddler pools and water slides are removed from a redeveloped Doveton Pool in the Park Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association chair Stefan Koomen said “many local families believe that at least one slide and shallow pool need to be kept for younger children” “If you don’t have anything fun for little ones “This will impact the long-term viability of the pool’s operations.” Casey Council committed to $7.91 million of stage 1 funding to retain the 50-metre pool and splash pad facilities only It is awaiting state and federal funding to help fund further stages including a possible beach sand pit Mr Koomen welcomed the funding to save the historic pool but raised his concerns at a recent meeting with the council “We’ve asked the Council to reconsider the removal of all slides and smaller pools and are eager to work with them to ensure the design and investment align with community needs “It’s vital to have a shallow area for little swimmers to get confident with water in a safe controlled environment He said it would also be “such a shame” to remove the slides which were “notstalgic” for residents who “grew up spending their childhood summers at Doveton Pool” Casey Council reversed its plans to replace all of the pools with parkland Casey’s city and asset planning manager Keri New said community feedback in 2021 showed a “strong sentiment to retain the pool whilst supporting year-round elements such as a park and water play” “Doveton Pool in the Park annual visits identify that school carnival users make up approximately 75 per cent of the annual visitation with the remaining visitation being community visits.” Ms New said several “activations and programs” would be offered to ensure the 50 metre pool would be used by people of all ages and abilities had been engaged during a public exhibition of the site’s masterplan in mid-2022 “In light of Councils recent endorsement to stage the delivery of the master plan and fund stage 1 Council will be informing the community of this decision and will continue to advocate to State and Federal Governments seeking funding commitment to deliver future stages.” Southern Football Netball League Division 2 club Doveton has unveiled well-known club figure Matt Stapleton as its coach for the 2024 season Stapleton has played more than 200 games for Doveton captaining the senior side to a premiership with his playing career also taking in time at Coates League and VFL level where he learned under a series of coaches including Brett Lovett Stapleton initially retired at the end of 2022 before deciding to play the last 12 games of the 2023 season while filling the role as football manager which he said gave him an insight into some off-field workings The first time senior coach succeeds Michael Cardamone at the helm for the previous two seasons when the Doves made a grand final and preliminary final “Our vision as a football club is to play at the top level of the Southern footy league and there’s a lot of work we have to do before then but we won’t shy away as a club from the fact that we want to get there,” Stapleton declared “We want to play our footy a little bit differently and bring a huge work rate and apply ourselves in everything we do to make sure we’re putting in all our efforts to be there at the pointy end of the year “We want to be a much higher scoring team and play a brand of footy that really excites “We want to add more leg-speed and take full advantage of who I see as the best ruck in the competition (Dylan Chapman) “We were only the fifth highest scoring team this year and that’s not good enough for a team that finishes top three so we will make a concerted effort around moving the ball better “We’ll get to work on training those things “I’ll look to keep things as simple as possible but the players will be really clear on what the expectations are “The most important thing to me is that we’re competitive week-in week-out and that’s something we’ve always prided ourselves on as a footy club and it’s something I want to continue to focus on.” The club started advertising for the position in mid-August and said it received a strong field of candidates Club legend Steve Henwood senior was the chairperson of the coaching subcommittee stepping aside to prevent a conflict of interest John revealed he pondered stepping down as president with his son assuming the coaching role but was encouraged to stay in the position “If you’re going to say that he got it because I’m president you don’t know what’s going on within the club “I’m not going to be able to stop people saying that but people will make their own comments about that and I said to Matt you need to worry about the job at hand and what you want to achieve and the job you do will silence any of the knockers.” esteemed training standards and established respect within the group all stood out during the interview process Henwood provided an insight into what the club was looking for in its coach Cardamone was a playing coach in 2022 and early in 2023 before taking up the role from the sidelines Appointing a coach who would put an emphasis on fitness in preseason and have a strong plan for training match-day were considerations After being plagued by late omissions between Thursday night training and game-day in 2023 player selection was also a key discussion point during the two-hour meeting last week Stapleton found out he got the job on the weekend Steve Henwood junior will be part of Stapleton’s panel with further announcements to be made in due course The Doveton and Eumemmerring Township Association is planting 95 new trees across five public park areas The trees are expected to grow well over two metres once mature which will help offset the loss of green space on private property DETA received a $20,000 grant from the federal government as part of the ‘Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee program’ run earlier in 2022 It comes after community members raised concerns about the loss of tree canopy as urban development continues around Doveton with the project due to finish ahead of summer Trees were selected to be fitting to Doveton’s history matching its flora and fauna named streets including the planting of Jacarandas DETA and Casey Council will work closely to maintain the trees and both liaised to identify and approve the following suitable sites: Any residents interested in getting involved in DETA or with ideas to improve the Doveton community can contact Stefan Koomen by email at deta3177@gmail.com Residents in the City of Casey are concerned their heritage listed Captain Doveton house may end up in developer hands The 24 Doveton Avenue in Eumemmerring is still up for sale for a maximum $850,000 The Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association (DETA) chairperson Stefan Koomen said they will keep their advocacy going after City of Casey Council declined purchasing the house “They said they know the house is important and it’s one of only two properties in that whole area that has significance but it’s not something they’re exploring at this time,” he said there has been no close offer to satisfy the current owner’s $850,000 mark “We’ve been approached by developers interested,” he said “It’s really up to the price so it doesn’t matter who the owner sells it to.” Mr Koomen said that was a concern for the community and has planned a meeting to discuss and make plans on their next course of action as they desperately try to avoid the Captain Doveton house slip in private hands “Council should find out the value of the property If a homeowner and investor can buy house and make money out of it “I want to show there are more residents than just me that is supportive to maintain the Captain Doveton house,” Mr Koomen said “As long as the house is there we’ll keep pushing council.” As reported previously by Star Journal on 26 March City of Casey Manager Planning and Building Tania Asper had said the property is protected and doesn’t require council to acquire the land “The property located at 24 Doveton Avenue in Eumemmerring (Doveton Height) is currently protected by a Heritage Overlay in the Casey Planning Scheme Council has no plan to acquire the property “The current Casey Planning Scheme includes Clause 15.03 Heritage Clause 21.07 Built Environment and Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay “These controls recognise the heritage significance of the property ensures that the building cannot be demolished without permission and discourages any inappropriate demolition and/or development to occur on the land.” The group had also approached Bruce MP Julian Hill who said he “fully support” their campaign to save the house “Captain Doveton’s house is the only remaining Victorian-era property of its time and has a direct link to Doveton’s name and history,” he said “A property of such historical significance should not be lost and I urge Council to reconsider their position Doveton and the older most established areas of Casey were too often overlooked in favour of shovelling money into Cranbourne and newer areas especially under the former Council which was sacked for corruption “The Doveton Eumemmering Township Association should be congratulated for their community campaign on this local issue which I fully support.” The spacious 960m vintage Captain Doveton house is named after Captain John and Margaret Doveton who bought the house in 1894 lived almost a decade before the house was sold on August 1903 in 1954 the area was named after Captain John Doveton.