Established in 2003
proudly serving the Northern Suburbs
13 JULY, 2021
12496406-SN23-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
Chasing the big breaks
(Damjan Janevski) 242039_01
A Tullamarine business owner wants to “revitalise” the nation’s interest in the sport of pool. Titus Raihman owns Pockets pool hall and nightclub in Tullamarine, and has set a “mission” to “put pool back on the calendar,” he said. “We want to create a series, derived with ideas and themes from other sports like AFL … to reignite the sport. “We’re trying to … take it mainstream.” Mr Raihman has created the Pockets 8 ball championship as a way to peak interest in the sport. “It will be an eight-man competition,” he said. “There will be six championships throughout the year, with one qualifier at the end. “My end goal is to get the players paid. “The guys who play are at such a high level … [they] should be getting paid for this.” Mr Raihman said he hopes to hold the first competition at the end of the year. Details: www.facebook.com/ pocketsprosports Michaela Meade
Jobless rate tops state By Michaela Meade Broadmeadows and surrounding suburbs continue to have the highest jobless rates in Victoria, four years after the state government announced funding to tackle the area’s soaring unemployment. National Skills Commission data reveals Meadow Heights (26.5), Broadmeadows (24.4) and Campbellfield-Coolaroo (24.3) have the highest unemployment rates in the state as of March this year. The data also reveals that Hume had the highest unemployment rate in Victoria, increasing from 8.7 per cent as of March, 2020, to 13.4 per cent as of March, 2021.
Victoria’s overall unemployment rate is 4.8 per cent as of March, 2021. Hume council planning and development director Michael Sharp said the city’s unemployment rate has been an “ongoing concern… for well over a decade”. In 2017, the state government gave Hume council $1 million to help more people in Broadmeadows find work, as the suburb tackled its December 2016 unemployment rate – 24.4 per cent – the highest in the state at the time. Meadow Heights and Campbellfield had a rate of 22 per cent each as of December, 2016. “Unemployment in Broadmeadows, Campbellfield and Meadow Heights is particularly concerning, making up more than
7 per cent of Hume City’s total unemployment rate,” Mr Sharp said last week. “Council has a long-term and continued commitment to support residents to find and retain employment. “We work with the Victorian and commonwealth governments, employers, education providers and community service providers and have several initiatives that focus on skills development, capacity building and linking people to local jobs and businesses to employees.” Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network executive officer for Hume Nicky Leitch said, “despite our best efforts”, the COVID-19 pandemic had a heavy impact on the jobless rate in Hume.
TAX RETURNS $125.00 Call us on: 9404 2737
“Something affecting our rate in our community are [COVID] impacts on the airport,” she said. “In our area, Melbourne Airport is a major employer… it was severely impacted last year, and a lot of people lost their jobs.” Ms Leitch said it was “not all doom and gloom”. “It’s important to highlight the disadvantage, but to also highlight that there is hope,” she said. Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire said the state government had established Jobs Victoria to help connect people with work. Hume residents looking for work can send their resumes to joblink@hume.vic.gov.au
STUDENTS $77.00
Julius: 0404 038 796 • Winsley: 0433 514 628
*Our team of Professionals are dedicated to help you with all your Tax needs this season 12499857-LB27-21
For Maximum Refund Make an appointment today!!! We are open 9AM-9PM Mon-Saturday
www.northcityaccountants.com.au
Shop 7/545 McDonalds Rd, South Morang, VIC 3752 ( In front of South Morang Toyota) Julius@accountantsandtaxagents.com.au
WE CAN COME TO YOU!!!