By AIDAN KNIGHT YOUTHSPACE has less than a year to live, with funding due to run dry by July and only an 11-month roadmap left to keep thousands of vulnerable young people off the streets. Youthspace held it’s 2026 Supporters and Stakeholders dinner last month on its Morwell premises along Princes Drive. The meeting, which attracted 20 of the 200-plus supporters invited, discussed Youthspace’s challenges and successes in recent times, the biggest topic being funding reductions, which will cut them off from the 40 young people walking through its doors each afternoon. “We’re pretty much dead in the water come July,” executive officer Trevor Carstein conceded. Mr Carstein said he is “buying months at a time” to keep the doors open, warning that the short runway leaves “not a lot of time” to secure Youthspaces’ future. Youthspace has more than 2300 young people on its books, for resources, food, and support. Mr Carstein said the pressure on services had grown sharply in recent months. “We have noticed, even in the last couple of months … the demographic of what we are dealing with in this space has pivoted. Mental health is unbelievable,” he said, noting staff were seeing increasing numbers of 14-year-olds who “just cannot get that help” elsewhere. Despite the uncertainty, Youthspace has recently secured state government support for two early intervention officers, who will be based in local schools five days a week. “We have got access funding for two new early-intervention officers within the schools that will come out of staffing from here, which is amazing,” Mr Carstein said. “That means we’ll have one at Kurnai (College) and one at Lowanna (College Newborough), and they will be there five days a week, which is huge.” The running cost of the facility is roughly $50,000 per month. Mr Cartsein has worked to reduce this since his entry to the role last November. Taking up cleaning roles internally, and using his prior connections as a qualified chef, the new executive has transformed the program into one which has avenues to receive everything it can, in-kind, as a community organisation. The whole operation is only possible thanks to the kindness of well-respected local businessman Ray Massaro, who still retains ownership over what was once his dealership showroom. The finances that cannot budge make up that final figure, in wages, power and other utilities, and vehicles and unavoidable running expenses. Much of the food handed out to young people who come through the doors of the Princess Dr site is sourced from local outlets on board. Mr Massaro, as benefactor, urged those in the room to utilise any combined influence they might have to press the state government to restore stable funding. “They have dropped the ball like it was a 10-ton brick, on our toes,” he said. He saw the best chance is in an election year, which the state will be facing this November. Guest speaker, Morwell Senior Sergeant David Fyfe, made a point of thanking Mr Massaro for making it possible to assist the 2400 young people through YouthSpace. Sgt Fyfe reiterated just how much he valued institutions like Youthspace that “intervene with young people at your workplace, so I don’t have to at mine”. He found it to be critical to intercept disadvantaged youth as early as possible to ensure they have a better chance of staying away from the youth justice system. As a law enforcement officer, Sgt Fyfe identifies a cycle of loosening restrictions to keep kids out of court, which then shifts to a governmental “tough on crime” mentality before swinging back, citing it as a failure to address why young people disengage from school and community in the first place. “By the time it hits my station, potentially it’s too late,” he said. “Kids are like clay … if the clay is wet, we can fix it. We’ve got to stop baking into these kids the fact that they’ve been in trouble once or twice, and that’s the end of them.” Mr Carstein said many schools continued to claim attendance funding for children who were not actually engaging in class, while Youthspace was providing the day-to-day support. Mr Carstein said he had lodged 47 grant applications, with 32 knock-backs despite being able to “quantify exactly what we do” with detailed data on outcomes and costs. “I can name four people that we’ve stopped visiting David’s [police] station in the last month,” he said, adding that some young people previously caught stealing food were now in Youthspace programs instead of “over Mid Valley trying to steal food … because they’re hungry.” Mr Carstein argued that every young person kept engaged at Youthspace was a saving for health, justice and education systems. As plates were cleared and the meeting wrapped up, the message from the room was clear: without urgent, long-term backing, Latrobe risks losing a service many see as a frontline defence against youth homelessness, hospitalisation and offending.

All together: The Boorun Boys performed cultural dances to mark the start of Reconciliation Week. Photographs: Aidan Knight By AIDAN KNIGHT MORWELL was host to this year’s opening of Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) within Latrobe City. Latrobe City Chief Executive Steve Piasente emceed an official cultural celebration outside council headquarters on Commercial Road, alongside Mayor Sharon Gibson. Valley residents and workers attended, including council staff, local paramedics, representatives from schools and cultural outreach groups, and the First Nations community. The Welcome to Country was performed by Aunty Christie, speaking of her mother’s experiences and the way elders have brought people together to share stories during Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. She also reflected on visiting a Morwell primary school, where Grade 6 students led an Acknowledgement of Country and listened to her read The Land of My Mother’s People. Aunty Christine then led a smoking ceremony, inviting attendees to walk through the smoke as a cleansing practice and a way of thanking ancestors for allowing people onto Country. She explained that smoking has been used for thousands of years for initiations, celebrations, to deter bad spirits and, in her own Monero Ngarigo tradition, to give thanks when leaving Country Flag raising was performed by local primary school students, watched on by councillors, council staff and the community in the forecourt. The standout portion of the event was the performance by the Boorun Boys cultural dance group. Elder leaders described how the group’s dances celebrate culture and keep young people strong and proud, with a space left in the middle of the formation to protect the spirit and future of Kaiden Morgan, a young Morwell man killed near his home last September. The group explained that this open space is held for Kaiden, a key member of the group, acknowledging his ongoing spiritual presence as part of the boys’ cultural journey, and to ensure his memory is continued through the group Boorun Boys manager, Ashleigh Dalton, spoke about the theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week, ‘All in, leading the way’, and urged the community to live reconciliation every day, not just talk about it. She shared her pride in watching the boys grow into young men through dance and culture, and spoke emotionally about Kaiden, saying she feels his presence when the sun breaks through as the boys perform. “Culture and connection are at the heart of breaking that cycle,” she said, adding that seeing the next generation stand strong in culture had been “one of the greatest honours” of her life. The event closed with thanks from Mr Piasente, who acknowledged the importance of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and futures, and invited attendees upstairs to share traditional foods prepared by Troy Brown Bush Tucker. Guests were encouraged to connect with members of Latrobe City’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group to learn more about ongoing reconciliation initiatives within the municipality. Duty: Latrobe City officials assisted students with the flag raising. Practice: Aunty Christy led a smoking ceremony after the Welcome to Country. Ritual: Locals take walking through the smoke as part of the ceremony Story: National Reconciliation Week calls on all Australians to recognise the significance of Indigenous history and tradition. Solemn: Latrobe City Chief Executive Steve Piasente and mayor Sharon Gibson during the smoking ceremony.

BOCCE By LIAM DURKIN UNDERDOGS are common in Australian sport. Think Steven Bradbury, Cliffy Young, or even the Australian cricket team at the 2023 World Cup. All have been celebrated for their improbability and inspiration that the ‘little guy’ can triumph over much more fancied opponents. The Australian bocce team for this year’s World Senior Raffa Championships however might be in a class of its own as far as national representation goes. The entire Australian team for the championships, beginning next week in Brazil, are all from Morwell. A town of 15,000 people is about to compete against a country of 200 million. More than 30 nations will compete at the championships. The Italians are reportedly bringing professional players, a doctor, a trainer and a strength and conditioning expert. Australia is bringing two amateur players and one coach – all from Morwell – and a delegate, Tony Biancacci. Diane Penney and Tina Durbano, along with coach Franco Fava, will take to the courts to see just how well they stack up against the very best. The odds may be high, but the Morwell Bocce Club trio are far from intimidated. “Raffa is very, very competitive. Anybody can win because anybody can throw,” Fava said. Raffa is a modernised format of traditional bocce, where players are permitted to either bowl or throw at a declared ball or jack belonging to the opposing team. Games stay ‘live’ for longer, as there is more objects and therefore more chances of scoring points. The format also allows a more even playing field, because the best players aren’t necessarily those with the most trick shots. Strategy is preferred. Penney compared the game to chess, where players have to constantly think one or two shots ahead. Penney has played in a host of international tournaments before, and said Australia has come a long way within bocce circles. “We’ve earnt respect. When I first started it was ‘oh we’re playing Australia (this will be an easy win)’,” she said. Her teammate, Durbano, is also making another overseas venture. “Very proud to be going, very exciting,” she said. The duo qualified following success at the Asia Oceania Championships in late 2024. They will compete in women’s doubles and women’s precision shooting. While a trip to Brazil would ordinarily carry with it connotations of sand, sun and surf at Copacabana, the bocce championships are being held “in the hills” of Garibaldi. The location (around three hours south of Rio de Janeiro by plane) does make sense however: Garibaldi’s population is mostly of Italian descent. The Italians have taken their game across the world. So much so, just about every continent now plays the sport at a very high level. Italy is still viewed as the pinnacle however, and many of its players dedicate up to six hours a day to practise. Despite this, Morwell-Australia believes there is nothing to suggest they can’t give a good account of themselves. “You never underestimate your opponent, just play, sometimes things can turn. The main thing, stay cool, calm, don’t let the nerves get you,” coach Fava said. “Brazil’s strong, Argentinian’s strong, Italy’s the strongest in raffa – world champions, European champions, they dominate the sport, (but) I think we can give them a bit of competition. “It’s how you feel on the day. Some days you point close to the jack, you come in the next day and miss everything.” In preparation for the biennial championships, Penney and Durbano have been training on surfaces akin to what may greet them overseas. While traditionally thought of as a sand-based sport, various climates and access to indoor facilities across the globe means there is often a variety of court surfaces. The Brazilian courts (rather ironically) won’t have sand, but instead be a felt-like surface laid over the top of basketball floorboards. It is described as “a 2.5 mm anti-slip rubber base topped with 3.5 mm of material”. “We will have to adjust differently because it’s very different to playing on the sand that we play here,” Durbano said. “They should play straight, because there’s no bumps from the sand.” Australia played on similar courts in Türkiye, although Fava said they bounced more, equivalating bocce to the old WACA pitch. Travelling to Brazil also requires preparation of a different kind for the players. Disease runs wild in the Amazon, and the Morwell trio has made sure they are fully vaccinated before stepping foot on the plane. Like going back to school, they’ve lined up for their needles. You name it, they’ve had a shot for it: malaria, yellow fever, typhoid etc. Much as team Australia will be running with its underdog status, there is plenty of support from the homeland. “Our athletes carry not only the Australian colours but the support of the entire Australian bocce community,” Bocce Australia President, Frank Funari said. “Representing Australia at a world championship is the culmination of many years of training, competition, commitment, and sacrifice. “I wish all our athletes, coaches, officials, and support personnel every success as they prepare for these championships.” Green and gold: Tina Durbano said she was proud to represent the nation. Photograph: Liam DurkinExperience: Diane Penney has competed in a host of international bocce events. Photograph: Liam DurkinDynamic duo: The Morwell pair make up the entire Australian team. Photograph: Liam DurkinPutting Morwell on the map: Diane Penney, coach Franco Fava and Tina Durbano will travel from the Latrobe Valley to Brazil for the championships. Photograph supplied

CRICKET   THE Express editor and his Morwell equivalent may have met their match for biggest cricket badger. The country’s most prolific sportswriter, Ken Piesse, will visit Traralgon Library and Moe Cricket Club this week to launch his new book 100 Not Out, celebrating a centenary of Victorian bush cricket. Piesse says the feats of the Latrobe Valley’s favourite cricketing son, Peter Siddle may never be equalled. Still playing major league cricket at Big Bash level at the age of 41, Siddle was timed at 140km/h last summer, an extraordinary speed from one of Australia’s most popular and durable cricketers. Work: Cricket author Ken Piesse is bringing his new book to the Latrobe Valley this week. As part of the Gippsland leg of his tour, Piesse will also visit Moe Cricket Club at Ted Summerton. The Lions set an equal Victorian country cricket record by winning eight first grade premierships in a row from 2005/06 to 2012/13. “Cricket people are salt of the earth and Moe’s record of winning eight A Grade flags was no accident,” Piesse said. Piesse’s latest work is his 71st on cricket. His free talk at the Traralgon library will take place this Thursday (October 8) from 1.15pm. Editor’s note: Ken has written some of cricket’s greatest literature. I do however recall a Central Gippsland Cricket Association presentation he was booked at as the guest speaker. Fair to say the CGCA should have also booked an orchestra to get him off stage to stop talking – Liam Durkin.  

By PEACE IJIYERA   NEW Latrobe City councillor Rob Moffat has already experienced the brutal game of politics. Barely a month into his role representing Morwell River Ward, he found himself unwittingly at the centre of unwanted attention at last week’s council meeting. During the September council meeting (held Monday, September 28), a motion was put through to vote on an item (11.1) relating to the 2025/26 End of Year Results and Accumulated Cash Surplus. Putting the motion to a vote, a disagreement ensued when it appeared that Cr Adele Pugsley (Moe Ward), sitting next to Cr Moffatt, whispered to him, resulting in him dropping his hand and changing his vote. Under fire: Moe Ward councillor, Adele Pugsley. Yallourn Ward councillor Steph Morgan immediately called a point of order. “Cr Moffatt has his hand up to vote and then was just spoken to and it looked as though he was forced into lowering his hand,” Cr Morgan said. Mayor Sharon Gibson explained that she had not counted the vote up to where Mr Moffatt was seated. “I hadn’t got to Councillor Moffatt and it is up to him how he votes … when I got to him, he did not have his hand up,” Mayor Gibson asserted. Cr Morgan shook her head in disbelief and turned of her microphone. Cr Leanne Potter (Jeeralang Ward) raised her hand to also issue a point of order and code of conduct due to “interference with another councillor at a vote.” Mayor Gibson maintained that she “did not see” the action as she was “counting the vote”. “If a councillor wishes to talk to another councillor … it happens all the time,” the mayor said. To which Cr Potter questioned, “During a vote?” Mayor Gibson doubled down, saying, “it happens all the time”. “I’ve had it many time happen to me … they’ve been talking to me. So, sorry, I will … dismiss that point of order,” Mayor Gibson said. Speaking with the Express, Cr Morgan said she was “frustrated and shocked” to see what she “perceived as trying to influence someone’s vote”. Not backing down: Yallourn Ward Councillor, Steph Morgan raised a point of order, after believing a vote on a motion was compromised. “If someone’s hand is up and has been while the votes being counted and all of a sudden it’s not, it just doesn’t feel right to me,” she said. “People have elected us into these positions to make decisions for our community, for the future. And if we’re not … following those rules and guidelines, then it kind of falls apart a bit. “We’ve got these things like points of order to rein us back in and … just check each other and be accountable. It’s important to use those especially … calling out behaviour that may not be aligning with those rules, just so we are making the best decisions we can and doing it in the right way.” Not one to back away from ensuring protocol is followed, Cr Morgan said she is “happy to call out behaviour I don’t think is right in the future.” Cr Moffatt explained that he turned to Cr Pugsley first to simply gain clarification on the matter. “I wasn’t quite sure on one of the issues … and I had turned around to [the] councillor beside me and just wanted to verify something,” Morwell Ward Councillor Rob Moffat said, after last week’s controversial Latrobe City Council meeting. He explained that one of the allocations of $250,000 for the Community Connectors Program hadn’t been matched by the state government, and he was clarifying that with Cr Pugsley because of talks of an alternate motion. “The reason that I changed on it was because $250,000 wasn’t going to do what we needed to get the job done”, he said. The job referring to the services needed to support vulnerable individuals at train stations. “We didn’t want a band-aid job,” he said. “I know it probably didn’t look good that I decided at the last minute once I verified with the councillor beside me what it actually meant. “I could’ve … kept faith and just went ahead with it, which wouldn’t have made it an issue.” Cr Moffatt explained that he wouldn’t have been pleased if the vote went through, as he believes more investment needs to be made towards the program. While it appeared as though Moe Ward Cr Adele Pugsley influenced Cr Moffatt’s vote, Cr Pugsley does not believe so. She claimed she said around two words to Cr Moffatt, which she doesn’t believe is “enough to sway anybody’s opinion”. “Councillor Moffatt turned to me because I believe he may have been confused which item we were actually voting on,” she said, explaining that alternate motions and foreshadowed motions can be complicated. Cr Pugsley supported how Mayor Sharon Gibson handled the situation. “At the end of the day, until she’s (Mayor Gibson) called that councillor and noted down their vote … whoever it is can change their vote at any time.” Cr Pugsley maintains that she only wants what is best for the community, echoing Cr Moffatt’s sentiment of allocating sufficient funds that will benefit the community. Latrobe City Council provided a benign statement to the Express: “Council acknowledges the matters observed during consideration of Item 11.1 at the Ordinary Council Meeting on September 28, 2026.” “The mayor conducted the vote on the matter in accordance with the governance rules and the motion in relation to Item 11.1 was carried. “​During that item one point of order was formulated appropriately and it was ruled invalid by the mayor.”  

By KATRINA BRANDON   LEADERSHIP often comes from unexpected places. After years on Latrobe City Council, fighting to change legislation for firefighters health, and volunteering her time at Morwell Neighbourhood House, Tracie Lund is heading for a leadership position with more punch. Ms Lund officially launched her campaign as the Labor candidate for Morwell last week. Close to 100 people attended last Wednesday night’s event at MOMO Traralgon. The theme of the night was ‘Leading with heart’. Every good event has a good moderator and emcee, and for the campaign launch, it was Gippsland Climate Change Network Chief Executive, Darren McCubbin. Gippsland Climate Change Network Chief Executive, Darren McCubbin. Photograph: Katrina Brandon “(Tonight) we’re going to hear some stories; the good bits, the hard bits, what makes people step up, what keeps them going, and perhaps half of the topics that communities don’t talk about,” he said. “Tracie’s story didn’t start with politics. For more than a decade, she has been right in the thick of the community, working alongside people, listening, asking the hard questions, and often challenging the way things have always been done. “Her own experience has shaped that influence, chasing … what it feels like to experience disadvantage and to feel like you don’t have any power, and that has driven a previous belief that people deserve to be heard, treated with dignity and included in the decisions that affect their lives.” Mr McCubbin went on to talk about Ms Lund’s advocacy following the death of her husband, Simon. Mr Lund died from esophageal cancer caused by occupational exposure while working with the CFA. Tracie and Simon fought for change to presumptive rights legislation, which would see all frontline workers, regardless of job title, given the same compensation rights. Ms Lund has continued that fight, and said it inspired part of her decision to run in this election. As her late husband would say whenever she was in doubt as to whether or not she could do something: “Of course you bloody can!”. “Leadership often comes from unexpected places,” she said. Official: Former Latrobe City deputy mayor, Tracie Lund, is running for Labor at this year’s state election. Photographs: Katrina Brandon “It doesn’t always come from the person with the loudest voice. We never set out to become leaders; we never think we’re anything particularly special, but we’ve seen something that needed to be done, someone who needed support, something that wasn’t shared, or something in our community that needed someone to step up.” During her speech, Ms Lund said she stands for a safe and secure community; women’s health; pride in locals (such as the LGBTQIA+ community); investment in Latrobe healthcare, energy, transportation, SEC and housing supply. Mr McCubbin recalled a story of Ms Lund going out of her way to help someone in need, providing them with support from the local foodbank and Morwell Neighbourhood House. Special guests at the campaign launch included retiring Labor Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, and fellow upper house MP, Member for Northern Metropolitan, Sheena Watt. Insightful: Labor candidate for Morwell, Tracie Lund, alongside EMILY’s List Australia Chief Executive, Pamela Anderson and Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing. Ms Shing spoke about creating space for women in leadership, and shared her experience as the first upper house woman of Chinese-Australian descent. Other guests were EMILY’s List Australia Chief Executive, Pamela Anderson, United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley President Afra Khan, and local OAM recipient Maree McPherson, who dedicated her life to supporting women in Gippsland. Ms Shing, the Member for Eastern Victoria, is stepping down after 12 years in parliament. Speaking on leadership, Ms Shing spoke about creating space for women in leadership, and shared her experience as the first upper house Victorian politicians of Chinese-Australian descent, and the first openly lesbian member of state parliament. With parliament moving toward a more diverse cabinet, she said that a push had to come to make things more inclusive, not just for herself, but for other women to step up in years to come. The push for inclusiveness wasn’t just about facilities appropriate for all genders, but also about the language used. She highlighted that women are often called hysterical, and joked that she would occasionally turn it around by calling men hysterical too (respectfully), making a broader point about inclusive leadership. Ms Shing also talked about the multiculturalism part of her experience, where people label migration as “good” or “bad” migrants. “I think that the question of migration is something that is being weaponised to talk about a fundamental shortfall and an unmet demand in services and in housing and in access to intergenerational wealth,” Ms Shing said. “You look at the recent reports on forecast growth to the population by the 2040s. Without migration, our population will be going backwards, and the aging population and demographic means that we actually need people in those sectors to be working to provide everything from healthcare to education, early childcare, aged care.” Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing. Photograph: Katrina Brandon Ms Shing highlighted the need to open up the conversation on migration inclusiveness and breaking stereotypes about migrants. Ms Lund noted conversations on mental health and supporting others also needs to be brought forward, as the cost-of-living gets increasingly difficult, and to break other stereotypes such as those on welfare gambling money away. She said that rather than let assumptions grow, lending a hand or offering support would be more productive. Ms Shing talked about her time in office and her experience as someone who grew up in Warragul and overcame challenges from life to her career. When she was elected in 2014, she said she deliberately chose to have her office in Morwell, because she felt there was a distinct leadership absence. She recalled walking down the streets in 2014, when smoke from the Hazelwood mine fire settled over Morwell. She said people could only walk 15 minutes without getting headaches from the smoke, so they stopped at local businesses for a break. She said the Liberal government at the time responded by telling the community to go to a holiday house elsewhere rather than fix the immediate problem. And that was when the Latrobe Valley Health Innovation Zone was declared, bringing funding and health policies to the area, which later led to the creation of Latrobe Health Assembly. Upper house MP, Sheena Watt. Photograph: Katrina Brandon Fellow upper house MP, Sheena Watt was also present at Ms Lund’s campaign launch. As an Aboriginal Australian in parliament, Ms Watt said leadership meant letting people know you’re in the room and making sure your voice is heard, which can help make a difference. Growing up disadvantaged, she found that speaking up at school helped her push her way into different opportunities. EMILY’s List Australia Chief Executive, Pamela Anderson, shared part of the panel discussion with the MPs. Ms Anderson’s main message for the night is that leadership isn’t just about holding a position, but showing up and making room for others. Ms Anderson highlighted her connection to the Gippsland area, mentioning her father was born in Orbost, and her nanna gave birth to her children at Lake Tyers. She also highlighted that she only wanted to talk about one thing: women supporting women. “That’s what leadership is really about for us,” Ms Anderson said. “It’s not just telling women that they can do something, but it’s actually standing beside them, picking up the phone, supporting them, making a call, giving them an opportunity, and sometimes it is simply saying, ‘I believe in you’.” Ms Anderson said that just by supporting someone is how you can create change. Cultural: Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing (the first Chine-Australian elected to Victorian parliament) and United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley president, Arfa Sarfaraz Khan. Photograph: Katrina Brandon Looking at women supporting women, Ms Anderson told a story about the Victorian Labor Movement and the Victorian Women’s Policy Committee, which looked around Parliament almost 30 years ago at a chamber filled with only male voices. She also mentioned Leonie Morgan, a passionate advocate for equal representation of women in political decision-making, and said changes were needed. She also mentioned a few who believed in her vision and helped create Emily’s List Australia. “They understood something really important: getting women elected wasn’t just about changing the rules; it was also about changing the culture,” Ms Anderson said. “Emily List has supported more than 700 Labor women candidates, with 380 having been through federal parliament – 380 women supporting women.” Trio: Arfa Sarfaraz Khan, Maree McPherson OAM and Member for North Metro Region, Sheena Watt. Photograph: Katrina Brandon Because of Emily’s List Australia, Ms Anderson said women’s voices have been heard more and more on women’s health and gender-related issues than ever before. Linking in leadership in supporting others, she highlighted that good leadership can change multiple generations. Leadership doesn’t stop with the person who leads; it continues to flow on. “Leadership is about leaving the community a little better than how you found it,” Ms Anderson said. “It is about giving something of yourself to make the life of someone else better. “Don’t underestimate the importance of putting your hand up. You might think you’re just putting your hand up, but you don’t know who’s watching. You don’t know a young woman may be looking at you thinking, ‘maybe I can do that too’.” Local leaders Arfa Sarfaraz Khan and Maree McPherson OAM also spoke. Ms Khan’s touched on her move from Pakistan to the Latrobe Valley, leading local multicultural events and groups. Ms McPherson (from Traralgon) has spent 40 years connecting with the local community as a coach, leadership advisor and author.

By LIAM DURKIN   “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” – Romeo and Juliet (Act 2, Scene 3) THEY might not make as much noise as their opponents, but the Greens are still very active on the run to November’s state election. Greens candidate for Morwell Rochelle Hine has maintained from the outset that “it’s a marathon, not a sprint”. Dr Hine has been campaigning quietly but surely, using her career in social work and academia to help advocate for the region. She recently made a somewhat ironic visit to Traralgon Men’s Shed, touring the timber-heavy facility that is still in need of flood-proofing. The shed sits at the very forefront of flood potential, as its location within Traralgon Showgrounds is right along a dip that turns the road into a lake whenever there is severe rainfall. This was the case back in 2021, when the town was hit by some of the worst floods on record. It took months to clean and repair not only the men’s shed, but Traralgon Football-Netball Club, Gippsland Roller Derby, and the local pigeon and agricultural sheds. The football-netball club finally welcomed a new flood-proof facility this year, after some five years of stalled negotiations with Latrobe City Council and the state government. Roller derby has moved to Churchill. The men’s shed is yet to receive any upgrade, something Dr Hine is pushing for. In correspondence seen by the Express, Traralgon Men’s Shed has said “our strategic positions are clear”. It reads: The Traralgon Men’s Shed must be relocated to a safe, flood-free facility as a matter of urgency; Latrobe City Council must commit to a relocation pathway and actively pursue available grant opportunities; TMS is ready to proceed, with $120,000 committed and an $80,000 government grant secured; Current conditions are unsafe, unsuitable and unacceptable for older men, retirees and vulnerable community members, and; Government partnership is essential to protect community wellbeing and maintain vital services. The shed requires members’ endorsement in order to proceed. Plans were in place for a new community facility to be built just up the road at Glenview Park (Traralgon racecourse), yet such a move seems to have been placed in development hell. Out and about: Greens candidate for Morwell, Rochelle Hine on the campaign trail, talking to Traralgon Men’s Shed Secretary Lyn Matthews. Photograph: Liam Durkin Glenview Park currently houses horse and greyhound racing, and Traralgon Croquet Club. Greyhound racing is banned in the ACT, while Tasmania is planning a phase-out by 2029. Locally, the proposed Kilmany track is currently up in the air. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has returned the proposal to Wellington Shire Council for reassessment of the project’s potential bushfire risk. Sale & District Greyhound Racing Club remains committed to the project, which was originally given a planning approval by council in April 2025. Dr Hine, who owns a rescue greyhound ‘Molly’, wants to see the project scrapped. “With thousands of objections submitted to Wellington Shire Council by community members, this project has no social licence,” she said. “To build a greyhound track on prime agricultural land with inadequate water and sewage facilities shows limited foresight. “The Greens are calling for an end to the inhumane greyhound racing industry, which sees approximately 17,000 healthy dogs killed each year. “More harm is caused through gambling addiction and loss.” The Greens have had a bit on their plate recently (no pun intended), following the resignation of party leader Larissa Waters due to illness. This comes little more than a year after Adam Bandt lost his inner Melbourne seat. Monash University (coincidentally where Dr Hine works) Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Dr Zareh Ghazarian said the party is facing an uphill battle, as momentum seems to be shifting toward the right. “Australian politics has changed since Larissa Waters took the helm of the Greens in 2025. Back then, the party could have been considered the third force in national politics. Now, however, the party appears to have been overshadowed by a resurgent One Nation party,” Dr Ghazarian said. “Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bob Brown became a focal point for Green politics in Australia. Leaders since then have had shorter stints in the top job, reflecting the broader fragility of Australian political leaders in the contemporary period. “To say that the Australian Greens in 2026 are facing a challenging moment is an understatement. “The party lost federal parliamentary representation in 2025, and their primary vote appears to be stagnating.” Dr Hine ran for the Greens at the 2022 state election, attracting four per cent of the vote. Away from politics, she can usually be found in the garden, or as the ‘basketball mum’ scoring at her son’s games.  

Intricate: LEGO models are pieced together to bring famous figures to life. By KATRINA BRANDON MASTER builders came to Morwell last month, showcasing collections of LEGO works presented in brick form. The LEGO exhibition was held at Kurnai College’s Bridle Road campus. People could explore the world of LEGO, with themes ranging from Pokémon, Titanic, Star Wars and the Marvel universe. There was a little something for everyone. Organisers Rachel and Graham Hughes, from Wollongong, shared pieces from all childhoods. The LEGO brand was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen in Denmark. The name Lego is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. The Kirk Kristiansen family still runs the LEGO enterprise, which has spread across the globe for many generations. “It (LEGO) has changed a lot over the years and has become more prominent,” Mr Hughes told the Express. “LEGO is adaptable. If you want to build from the instructions, you can. If you just want to go crazy and build whatever is in your imagination, you can do that too. There’s no right or wrong; there’s just creativity.” Mr Hughes explained that LEGO is designed to be a simple, basic playtime adventure and a creative exploration. Since COVID, Mr Hughes said there has been a massive resurgence in adult-oriented LEGO, and that they are starting to create sets that, in the past, could have been $30 or so, to collections costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Some collections are aimed at millennials, and others at today’s youth. “At the core of LEGO is creativity, and you could be 45-years-old and creative, or you can be five-years-old and be creative,” he said. LEGO has also recently launched a program called LEGO Smart Play, which extends into the digital world, merging the two. LEGO Smart Play is an interactive, screen-free building system that brings physical creations to life with dynamic lights, audio, and motion-sensing reactions. At the Morwell LEGO exhibition, people were able to browse the couple’s collection, with tables also available for building. According to Ms Hughes, the collection on display took about four hours to set up. Playwell Events is a touring exhibition showcasing custom brick-built LEGO models. The Hughes travel around regional communities in Victoria and New South Wales with their LEGO, sharing the fun along the way. Mr Hughes said the event was well received, with the interactive LEGO mosaic build a distinct highlight among attendees. Technic: LEGO has a range of brick types for all ages.   Recreate: LEGO sets take in a variety of pop culture, including Star Wars. Pictured is a Millennium Falcon set. Delicate: LEGO 3D mosaics are among the most stunning created using the famous toy bricks.

By LIAM DURKIN   ONE Nation has announced its candidate for the seat of Morwell. Casey Murphy will run against Nationals incumbent Martin Cameron for the lower house at November’s state election. The Latrobe Valley local is by no means a One Nation bandwagoner, having been with the party for a number of years. She previously ran for the seat of Narracan at the 2022 state election, achieving a six per cent swing. Her result was arguably a precursor to what One Nation is currently experiencing nationally, as more and more people who traditionally side with the major parties have switch allegiances. Ms Murphy was one of them, and felt compelled to get involved after becoming disillusioned with the direction Australia was going in federally under Scott Morrison’s then Coalition government, and as a state under the Dan Andrews Labor machine. For Ms Murphy, she can see the writing on the wall for the Latrobe Valley’s future, and is running again to try and do something about it. As the famous saying goes: It’s the economy, stupid! “The Valley has powered Victoria for generations, our workers and families can’t really be left behind. Labor has locked in the closure dates for Yallourn and Loy Yang A – that’s one of the biggest pushes for me – I’ll push for this region to have genuine investment, secure local jobs and new industries so our workers aren’t left carrying the cost,” she said. “I understand a lot about what our families here are dealing with. I’ve previously worked four jobs at once to keep up. When families are under pressure, our whole community feels it.” Ms Murphy said securing long-term local jobs would lead to a range of benefits. “Real jobs for our young people so fewer end up on the wrong path,” she said. “We have one of the highest crime rates in regional Victoria – nearly double the state average – so I think we need to get in early and support mental health services.” Ms Murphy backed One Nation’s commitment to keep coal-fired power stations open, and to scrap the national moratorium banning nuclear energy. The announcement of Ms Murphy’s candidacy was delayed due to a severe health issue involving fellow local party member, Greg Hansford. Mr Hansford, from Newborough, was set to run (and likely win) an upper house seat in Eastern Victoria. “I’ve known Greg for a number of years. I truly appreciate Greg, he’s been really supportive of me and generous with his advice over the time,” Ms Murphy said. “He’s given so much to our community. I was very upset when I was told that he is unwell. He just needs to focus on getting better, being with his family.” One Nation state leader Warren Pickering has also faced battles of a different kind in recent weeks, after fronting the cameras to admit to a previous life of drug and substance abuse. His confessional sparked equal praise and condemnation. Ms Murphy felt it reflected the fact One Nation has nothing to hide, and that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. “Warren acknowledged his mistakes, and I feel like every single one of us in our teens and early 20s probably made a lot of mistakes, but he acknowledged them, took responsibility for them, and I think a lot of people here in the Valley understand what it means to turn your life around,” she said. “I believe that he’ll be a really strong leader for Victoria.” Any conversation with a One Nation member wouldn’t be complete without asking: “have you met Pauline?” Ms Murphy has, and said what you see is what you get with the Queensland senator and party leader. “She’s open to be challenged, which I appreciate a lot about her,” she said. “We had a number of conversations back in 2022 in the previous election and then the following supplementary election for Narracan (the election was rescheduled following the death of Nationals candidate Shaun Gilchrist). “I’m looking forward to being able to catch up with her a bit more as the campaign progresses.” Away from politics, Ms Murphy has had a varied career with stints in the media, health and people management. The 36-year-old is also the typical ‘sports mum’ for her child’s extra-curricular activities.  

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