Star Weekly - Northern - 3rd May 2022 by Star Weekly

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3 MAY, 2022

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Win a trolley full of groceries!* For your chance to win 1 of 4 trolleys full of groceries valued at $500*, simply complete your details below and place this entry form in the entry barrels located outside of Kmart and outside Big W stores at Craigieburn Central. Entries close 5pm, Sunday 22nd May 2022

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Established in 2003

proudly serving the Northern Suburbs

3 MAY, 2022

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SIG N U P N O W!

Dixon’s stunning comeback Hume City footballer Danny Dixon has made a stunning return to the soccer field just two months after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Dixon noticed something was not right in January when he noticed a lump so he got himself checked by a doctor immediately. Dixon made a return to the soccer field on March 29 and has since played in four consecutive matches for Hume. Dixon, in partnership with the DT38 Foundation and Professional Footballers Australia, hosted an exhibition match on April 3, featuring famous footballers, in hope of raising funds to educate and highlight the importance of self-checking and acting swiftly. The funds went to the DT38 Foundation to help them to continue promoting the message and to help reduce medical costs for Dixon. ■

Story: Pages 10-11

Danny Dixon (centre) with his Hume City teammates after the DT38 Foundation match. (Supplied)

Panel suspends Cr Dance By Elsie Lange Trevor Dance has been suspended as a Hume councillor for “serious misconduct“ in failing to comply with two lawful directions from an arbiter. Mr Dance has been suspended from office for three months from Friday, April 29. He has vowed to appeal the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In July, 2021, council, through its appointed representative, Cr Carly Moore, applied for a Councillor Conduct Panel to examine an

allegation that Mr Dance had engaged in serious misconduct under the Local Government Act. The panel was asked to investigate whether Mr Dance had complied with the council’s internal arbitration process following Mr Dance’s allegation of alleged misconduct by Cr Jack Medcraft. The panel determined that Mr Dance was guilty of “serious misconduct“ in failing to follow a direction that he attend hearings on June 17 and 24, 2021 in-person. The panel rejected Mr Dance’s contention that his mental health made it impossible for him to comply with the directions. “We do not

accept that is so,” the panel said in a report. “He failed to comply with the directions because he chose not to comply. “He said, at the time, that he was too unwell to attend council premises or be in the same room as Cr Medcraft. “Yet on 21 May. 2021, at a time a directions hearing was being attempted to be arranged by the arbiter, Cr Dance attended a function at council premises which was also attended by Cr Medcraft.” Cr Moore said the community expects and deserves the highest standard of conduct from

all elected representatives. “The independent arbitration process is an important part of the councillor conduct framework that supports good governance in local government in Victoria and needs to be respected,” she said. “The sanction is in line with council’s submission and we believe the sanction reflects the importance of respecting the process.” Under the Local Government Act, if a councillor is suspended they cease to be a councillor and they are not entitled to receive an allowance for the term of the suspension, unless the act otherwise provides.

EVERY DAY IS OPEN DAY Please call 9401 3888 to book a personal meeting and tour with our Principal and hear about our new year 7 programs for 2023

Lalor North Secondary College… where EVERY student creates a positive future www.lalornthsc.vic.edu.au

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To understand and to act Enrol Now 2023 Visit our website: colmont.school (formerly The Kilmore International School)

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Airport report ‘misses the point’ By Elsie Lange The Victorian government has released its response to a report on safeguarding Melbourne airport and surrounding areas, but locals say it “misses the point”. Last month, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) published its take on a report by the Melbourne Airport Environs Safeguarding Standing Advisory Committee (MAESSAC) – a group appointed by the government to provide planning advice. Handed down in November, 2021, the report raised key issues including the implementation

of the National Airports Safeguarding Framework (NASF), the role of number above contours (N contours) and planning responses for dealing with concerns beyond aircraft noise. N-above contours indicate the number of noise events exceeding a certain level – a N70 contour shows the noise level of events above 70 decibels. DELWP has now responded to MAESSAC’s 15 recommendations to address those issues, and the only recommendation it did not support in full, part or principle, was to make Melbourne Airport a determining referral authority or recommending referral authority.

That means the airport would still have to submit planning objections to local councils. Melbourne Airport Community Action Group (MACAG) said MAESSAC did not have the scope to tackle locals’ concerns, which is reflected in the report. “We understand the [MAESSAC] panel were restricted by the terms of reference, and appreciate that those terms were drafted by people who were mostly in the dark about the true scale of the impact of Melbourne Airport,” MACAG spokesperson Dr Hannah Robertson said. “We have called for a new survey on community responses to aircraft noise to be

conducted and the MAESSAC supported this call in their interim report, however it is missing from the final report,“ Dr Robertson added. A Melbourne Airport spokesperson said it welcomed the MAESSAC’s report. “As a key enabler of billions of dollars’ worth of economic activity, it is critical that Melbourne Airport be protected from development that could impact its 24-hour operation, but equally that future residents be protected by ensuring inappropriate development does not occur in areas that are known to experience significant aircraft noise,” the spokesperson said.

Childs Road upgrade work

Stephanie O’Connor has changed careers after the care she received at Northern Hospital inspired her to become a nurse. (Supplied)

Hospital stay inspired trainee nurse Stephanie O’Connor was preparing for the delivery of her first child four years ago, when she found out she had a rare genetic heart condition- Long QT syndrome. The news got worse for Stephanie when she found out the condition could be passed on to her children as well. After 38 weeks, Stephanie gave birth to Aubrey and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for cardiac monitoring, while her baby was taken to the neonatal ward. “This distance sounds small, but it was huge at the time. I was hooked onto so many devices and wasn’t able to walk around, and all I wanted was to see my baby. The team from

both wards went above and beyond to ensure I could see my child, at least for a brief moment,” Stephanie said. She spent 10 days in ICU, while her baby was monitored at Northern Hospital’s neonatal ward, as her ECGs showed signs of the same condition. A few weeks later, Aubrey’s tests showed she had inherited the same rare genetic heart condition as her mother. “Having a baby is a happiest time in someone’s life – and I remember thinking, not only did I just discover I had a rare and serious condition, but I have given it to my baby as well,” she said.

Stephanie went on to have a second daughter Ivy, and is now pregnant with her third. Ivy’s genetics test came back negative. After the whole ordeal, the former call centre manager decided to reconsider her career. She now works in the nursing workforce unit at Northern Hospital in Epping and is in her second year of studies. “Nursing is something I’ve always considered, but never actually thought I would go for. After the fantastic experience I had and all the people that I met at Northern Hospital, especially the ICU nurses, I realised I should take the plunge and just go for it,” Stephanie said.

More construction is set to begin as part of the Childs Road upgrade by Major Roads Victoria. Plans are in place to start upgrading Bowman Drive at Childs Road by widening the road and building an extra turning lane. Drivers will then have a designated left and right turning lane to access Childs Road from Bowman Drive. Traffic lights will later be installed at the intersection. From Monday, May 2 access to and from Childs Road to Bowman Drive will be temporarily closed for two weeks. During the closure, vehicles including bus services, will need to detour via Woolnough Drive, Henderson Road and Dalton Road to access Childs Road. However, walking and cyclist access will be maintained. Bus services will be slightly impacted from Monday, May 2 while Bowman Drive is closed. Bus stops will remain open, and a shuttle service will temporarily operate between Epping Station and Bowman Drive, Woolnough Drive, Henderson Road and Cooper Street on an hourly loop in both directions. Darebin Creek trail will remain closed at around 500 metres north of the Childs Road bridge until Wednesday, May 18. Childs Road can be accessed via Narina Way and Bowman Drive. A section of the Hendersons Road drain trail and Darebin Creek trail, nearest to Hawkes and Bowman drives, will remain closed until later this year.

Smile Squad is on its way The Victorian Government is making it easier for our kids to get the dental care they need. Find out more at smilesquad.vic.gov.au

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HUME HUMECITY CITYCOUNCIL COUNCILCOMMUNITY COMMUNITYUPDATE UPDATE

HUME

9205 2200 hume.vic.gov.au hume.vic.gov.au/app @HumeCityCouncil contactus@hume.vic.gov.au

Budget aims to help recovery

The 2022/23 Draft Council Budget recognises and responds to the needs of our growing community through investment across services, facilities and programs.

By Elsie Lange Big spending on infrastructure projects and community services are central to Hume council’s draft 2022-2023 budget. Councillors adopted the draft budget last week, which includes a $101.18 million spend on capital works and an average rate rise of 1.75 per cent, in line with the state government’s cap on rate increases. Mayor Carly Moore said the budget reflects a “renewed focus” on recovering from the pandemic. “As our growing community continues to adapt and thrive in our new normal, we have made significant investment to ensure our services such as libraries, leisure centres, preschools, maternal and child health and aged and disability programs can thrive with us,” Cr Moore said. “This has been complemented with an investment in city infrastructure.” Council is planning to spend $29.92 million to improve, upgrade and develop new buildings, including $5.7 million to complete the Merrifield South Community Centre, $5 million on the construction of the Kalkallo Central Community Hub, $3.75 million to upgrade the former Craigieburn Leisure Centre to an indoor sports facility, and $2 million to complete the Seabrook Reserve

This includes $554 million in new funding for community facilities, roads, footpaths, parks and reserves over the next four years, with $101 million invested in projects in 2022/23. Council will also provide $168.66 million to meet the growing demand for a variety of day-today services such as libraries, leisure centres, preschools, maternal and child health and aged and disability programs. These investments are our commitment to serving our community now and into the future. I encourage you all to view the draft budget and provide your feedback. Scan the QR code below to learn more and share your thoughts. Cr Carly Moore, Mayor of Hume City

Hume Winter Lights Festival Hume Winter Lights is a free festival coming to the heart of Broadmeadows on Saturday 18 June 2022. Experience live music from The Presets (DJ Set) and Sneaky Sound System as well as large scale art projections, ﬁre performers, local food and wine and lots more. Scan the QR code below to learn more and register for ﬁrst access to tickets!

Community Hub in Broadmeadows. The draft budget also includes $4.26 million to implement the Seabrook Reserve Master Plan, which includes the construction of the Northern Thunder Rugby pitch and club facilities. Parking in Broadmeadows will be improved, with $4.5 million set aside for the construction of the Broadmeadows Town Centre multi-deck carpark. Crs Jim Overend and Sam Misho voted against the adoption of the draft budget due to the rate increase. Cr Trevor Dance said while it was good to see investments in capital works, the cost of living was “sky high” and the state government’s increased rate cap would make it harder for residents. “It’s great to see new things, but be aware, we’ve got to pay for it – don’t sit back if you don’t like anything there, put your submissions in,” Cr Dance said. The draft budget is open for public feedback until Monday, May 16. Details: participate.hume.vic.gov.au/ proposed-budget-2022-23.

Online reactivation workshop We want to support community groups to re-engage their members and reactivate their programs. Join our online workshop on Saturday 7 May to gain ideas and information, learn more about what support is available to community groups and connect with community group leaders. Scan the QR code below to learn more.

Community gardens are a space that promotes health, wellbeing, sustainability, and friendships. There is a range of upcoming activities including learning to prune fruit trees, exploring worm farms, and making mini-greenhouses. Scan the QR code below for all the details.

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Community Garden events

Homestead weekly community lunch Join the Roxburgh Park Homestead team and members of the commuity for a free, social lunch prepared by the Northern Turkish Women’s Association. Scan the QR code below to register for upcoming community lunches. Elvis impersonator, Andrew Portelli put on a show for seniors at Craigieburn Central for Morning Melodies (Supplied)

Scan to ﬁnd more informaton on our website

Customer Service Centres Open Monday to Friday 9am–4pm Broadmeadows 1079 Pascoe Vale Road

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Craigieburn 75–95 Central Park Avenue Sunbury 44 Macedon Street

Seniors ‘all shook up’ Seniors flocked to Craigieburn Central for a show by Elvis impersonator, Andrew Portelli for Morning Melodies earlier this month. The energetic performance kicked off at 10.30am on April 20 and was followed by light refreshments at Billy’s Boulevard. Salvation Army’s Dianne Morabito said she loves attending and “having a boogie.” “[Portelli] absolutely rocked it, and I’m 77 and I couldn’t keep still when he was playing, and singing. It was just incredible,” she said. Ms Morabito said it was good to see

people coming together again and enjoying themselves. “It’s lifting people’s spirits after we’ve had two years of lockdown and now we’re starting to look back up again and this is really doing it,” Ms Morabito said. “Everybody really gets into it and I’m looking forward to the next one.” Morning Melodies run every month, with the next event on Wednesday, May 18. The theme is rock’n’roll. Details: www.craigieburncentral.com.au/

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Gambling losses cause concern By Helena Abdou Residents in Hume and Whittlesea spent a combined $135 million on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) from July, 2021 to March, 2022. Almost half of that figure was spent in Whittlesea, with $67,057,280.73 lost on pokie machines. Over $12.7 million was spent in March alone in Whittlesea. Hume residents spent $12.6 million on poker machines in March, leaving the council “greatly concerned” by the municipality’s

spending. Recent data released from the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation indicated Hume had lost $68,714,140.05 on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) over the course of seven months. Hume community services director Hector Gaston believes there is a strong correlation between gaming losses and disadvantaged people. “Hume city has a higher-than-average socio-economic disadvantage (socio-economic indexes for areas) index within Victoria, which

acts as an indicator of social and economic stressors within Hume communities,” Mr Gaston said. Craigieburn Residents’ Association President Debra Phippen said the problem was worsening due to the easy availability of EGMs. “The government allows for the increase in poker machines based on greed, and certainly gives no regard to the effect increased availability of these machines will have on the lives of Hume residents,” she said. Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said Victorians lost

nearly $1 billion in the past four months and over $257 million in March alone. “It’s staggering that the Victorian Labor government continues to allow this predatory industry to operate with such reckless disregard for our wellbeing when it is causing so much harm to communities across the state,” Mr Costello said. “Many of the LGAs with the highest losses are also some of the most stressed communities. It’s clear that the industry’s business model is built upon exploiting the most vulnerable among us to inflate their profits.”

Loved nonna turns 102 Italian mother and nonna, Albina Giardossi turned 102-year-old on Sunday, April 24. She celebrated the big milestone with her son, grandchildren and great grandchildren at Bethel Aged Care in Mill Park. Albina was born in Trieste, Italy, and moved to Australia in 1955, working as a dressmaker. She is one of eight children. She lost her husband in 1999, but her son, Claude said she still pushes on. “With everything she’s been through, losing dad and moving into a home, she doesn’t allow it to stop her,” he said. Albina has led a relatively healthy life, not having been affected by any serious illnesses. However, she is now chair bound due to her frail age. “Every time the grandkids said ‘nana you’re going to be 100 soon’, she’d screw up her nose and roll her eyes, but then she turned a hundred and she was looking forward to the next one,” Claude said.

Claude, 79, said mum was always active in the kitchen living up to her Italian nonna stereotype. “She was always in the kitchen cooking and showing her granddaughters how to make stuff,” he said. “One of my daughters is a hairdresser and mum would always look forward to her coming over so she could get her hair done and she’d always have a feast prepared for her and the kids.” The family celebrated with cake and balloons and sang happy birthday and are more than happy she’s still around. “I’m glad she’s still here with us and hopefully she’ll be around for more.”

Albina Giardossi celebrated her 102nd birthday with family. (Supplied)

What’s on

Discover Thomastown in a new light!

Women in business networking event

Walking Thomastown is returning brighter than ever with amazing installations and even more entertainment. Explore themes of Indigenous connection, German farming settlements and contemporary cultural diversity with interactive light shows and performances happening through out the event. Kicking off at 6pm, this free night walk is for people of all ages.

How to use digital marketing to grow and support your business. Hear from Maria Pellicano, who runs a singing and performance training school, and Ange Smith who owns a Digital Marketing Agency. Both women will share insights on how to use digital marketing to support your business.

Saturday 14 May Main Street Reserve, Thomastown

Mawarra Functions, 455 Epping Road, Wollert

For more information and to see the full program visit arts.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Cost $35 Wednesday 11 May, 10am–12pm For more information or to register visit cityofwhittleseawomeninbusiness.eventbrite.com.au

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Labor tipped to hold the north With the federal election looming, residents in Melbourne’s north will head to voting booths on Saturday, May 21 to elect a local representative. Hume and Whittlesea encompass the electorates of Calwell, Scullin and a small fraction of McEwen. The electorate of Calwell covers most of the municipality of Hume, including Craigieburn, Mickleham, Broadmeadows, Kalkallo, Roxburgh Park. Labor’s Maria Vamvakinou has held the seat of Calwell since 2001, and won the

2019 election, securing 68.8 per cent of the two-party preferred vote. Calwell has been deemed a safe Labor seat since it was first contested. It has had only two members since it was created in 1984 – Andrew Theophanous and Ms Vamvakinou. There are six other candidates running for the seat. Mark Preston will run on behalf of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Tim Staker-Gunn will represent the Liberal party, Natalie Abboud for The Greens, Joshua Naim from the United Australia Party, Jerome Small has been put

forward by the Victorian Socialists and Maria Bengtsson from the Australian Federation Party. Bordering Calwell, the electoral division of Scullin covers a number of suburbs in Whittlesea, including Thomastown, Lalor, Epping, Mill Park, South Morang and Mernda. The seat of Scullin has held by Labor’s Andrew Giles since 2013. Scullin has had only four members in the six decades since it was first contested, all representing Labor. Running against Mr Giles will be Patchouli

Paterson (The Greens), Ursula van Bree (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Eric Koelmeyer (Liberal Democratic Party), Yassin Albarri (United Australia Party), Virosh Perera (Liberal Party) and Cameron Rowe (Victorian Socialists). Parts of Whittlesea, such as Donnybrook, parts of Mernda, Doreen and Woodstock, fall within the electorate of McEwen, which is currently held by Labor MP Rob Mitchell. Locals can find out all about early voting, postal voting, and polling day booths on the Australian Electoral College (AEC) website. Details: www.aec.gov.au/election/voting.

Pipeworks Market is reopening in Thomastown. (Damjan Janevski)

Pipeworks Market is back

Leanne Murphy and Vinay Nair, founders of the Whittlesea walk and talk initiative.

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Walk with friends among nature Two years ago, much of the world went into lockdown when COVID broke out. Governments put rules into place to protect their populations, including limits on outdoor exercise. Vinay Nair moved to Epping two weeks before Melbourne’s first lockdown. As a mental health consultant he suddenly found himself spending a lot of time on Zoom calls, so to unwind he started taking walks. Noticing nature in all shapes and forms forced him to pay attention and started to calm his busy brain. The sounds of nature and the new growth helped him stay present and appreciate the beauty of the area, Vinay said.

Vinay reached out to Leanne Murphy, another local who he met through counselling studies, and the idea for a walking group was born. The walking group meets every Saturday at Quarry Hills Bushland Park in Epping, where participants embark on an hour hike, slowly making their way to lookouts offering views of the city. Vinay said the walks were about exploring the local suburb, as well as meeting other locals, rebuilding connections and forming new friendships. “The aim of these weekly walks is to take time from our weekly hustle and bustle to

connect with the local environment and share meaningful moments with others that can in turn improve and sustain our mental and physical wellbeing,” Vinay said. “We have had to overcome challenges we could never have imagined and being indoors or tied to a desk can take its toll – this ‘walk and talk’ brings connection, relief, nature, scenic beauty and safety of being in a group.” “It also supports wellbeing in a variety of ways including improved mental health, reduced loneliness, larger social circles and greater relationship satisfaction.” Details: www.facebook.com/ whittleseawalkandtalk.

The renowned Pipeworks Market is coming back to the northern suburbs at a new location. The market will be located at 5 Dunstans Court, Thomastown, running every Saturday and Sunday. It will be opening up to the public on Saturday, May 21, with a Bananas in Pyjamas show for the kids on the Saturday and ABBA tribute act, BABBA, performing on the Sunday at 1pm. The 10,000 square metre shed will house hundreds of stalls including clothing, takeaway and ready to eat food, fruit and vegetables, plants, homewares and more. There will also be amusements and rides for the kids and cultural, community and children’s stage shows. Locals took to Facebook to reminisce on their time spent at the market and share their excitement for the new one. “Loved the Pipeworks, been far too long. Glad it’s coming back,” one resident said. The old market used to be at Campbellfield before closing its doors in 201. Pipeworks marketing manager Peter Green said the return of the market was going to make “everybody happy.” “We’re excited to think that at last the people and the residents of Thomastown and the entire region have now got a permanent public market that they’ve been denied for many, many years,” he said.

* The original iconic Pipeworks Market operated

from Mahoney’s Rd Campbellfield from 1987 until its closure in 2013. Fast forward to 2022 and a new Pipeworks Market will open on SATURDAY 21ST MAY for 8.30am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday trading. The market consists of hundreds of retail stalls selling a vast range of market goods plus a large food court, fresh fruit and vegetable and trash and treasure markets. All under a large 10,000 square meter shed in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

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5 DUNSTANS CRT THOMASTOWN

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Another cherry on the top of the Kangan cake Kangan Institute Broadmeadows’ baking teacher Ruwan Colombage has been named the southern region winner by the Australian Society of Baking. Mr Colombage was presented the Arthur E Denison trophy at the 2021 Australian Baking Industry National Scholarship Awards last month for his research paper evaluating baking apprenticeships and challenges. He was one of four regional winners of the trophy who will be treated to a five day-four night adventure, including visits to bakeries, production facilities and patisseries. The baking teacher of 17 years said he was proud of his latest achievement. “I feel proud, happy, overwhelmed and delighted,” Mr Colombage said. Kangan Institute chief executive Sally Curtain congratulated him on his success and his teaching efforts. “We are tremendously proud to have Ruwan as part of our Kangan Institute teaching team and we congratulate him on being chosen as the Australian Society of Baking’s 2021 Regional Scholarship recipient for Victoria,” Ms Curtain said. “As a teacher with a wealth of experience, Ruwan has taught at Kangan Institute for the past six years, supporting the training of more than 300 baking students and apprentices, and enabling them to take the next step in their journey as bakers.” His passion for baking and teaching has meant a fulfilling career for Mr Colombage. “Baking is my therapy and I love sharing my knowledge with upcoming bakers and pastry cooks. It’s such a delight to see the happy faces of my students when they create beautiful

Briefs Tullamarine man wins $20 million A Tullamarine man thought he’d won $1 million in the Oz Lotto draw on April 27 but woke up to find out he’d actually won the $20 million prize. He held the only division one winning entry nationally. The winner plans to use his prize to buy a house, help his family, and travel around Australia. The winning entry was purchased at Tullamarine Authorised Newsagency

Pay your bills Craigieburn Central is thanking its customers for their support over the past two years by giving them the chance to win big in an upcoming competition to help ‘pay your bills’. The competition will run from until Sunday, May 22, with a prize pool of $20,000. This includes $10,000 worth of gift vouchers for any store in the centre, $2000 worth of groceries from Woolworths and Coles, gift vouchers from individual retailers, free coffees, and 500 branded tote bags filled with goodies. To be in with a chance to win, all customers need to do is scan the QR codes located throughout the centre when they spend $20 or more in any participating store. Details: www.craigieburncentral.com.au Baking teacher, Ruwan Colombage with his trophy from the Australian Society of Baking. (Supplied)

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bakery products and it’s such a privilege to be part of their journey,” he said. Helena Abdou

Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

The Kilmore International School to be renamed Colmont The Kilmore International School is set to move to a new purpose built campus and will adopt a new name to reflect the change. The new name, ‘Colmont’ is derived from two elements, col, the lowest point between two peaks, and mont, the peak. From Friday, July 1, The Kilmore International School will be officially changed to Colmont School. The name change comes about as the board

of directors introduced a number of changes for the school to thrive and advance. Principal Peter Cooper said the school has not owned the property at White Street, the surrounding boarding houses, or the name as it was granted under a licence agreement. “The name of any institution is its identity, perhaps none more so than a school, as the name of a school holds powerful memories of

childhood, adolescence, friendships, mentors, success, to name but a few. It also provides a focus for the hopes and ambitions of those who seek to join it,” Dr Cooper said. Another change the school will be looking towards implementing includes expanding enrolment to allow for prep to year 2 pupils from the beginning of 2023, as they currently only cater to years 3-12.

Parents, students and staff have been advised of the situation and will continue to be updated as the changes progress. “I can assure our entire school community that our standards of teaching, our quality staff, our approach to learning, our principles and our values are not changing,” Dr Cooper said. Helena Abdou

Bus changes are coming to Craigieburn From Sunday 24 April, there will be major changes to these bus routes to give you better access to shops, schools and Craigieburn Railway Station. Affected routes: 511

525

528

529

530

531

532

533

537

544

Department of Transport

Authorised by the Department of Transport, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne

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Visit ptv.vic.gov.au to plan your trip or scan the QR Code

FEATURING ... MY BUSINESS

Advertising feature

Sales consultant Priti Punia is ready to welcome home buyers to the new Wollert display village. (Damjan Janevski) 277975

Whittlesea’s biggest display village opening at Aurora Lendlease’s Aurora community at Wollert is set to open the largest builder display village in Whittlesea which will showcase over 40 homes by 19 builders. The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the display village at the Aurora Food & Drinks Festival, hosted at Garrong Avenue Wollert this Saturday, May 7 from 3pm to 7pm. Visitors to the free event can experience the new display village which will be one of the biggest in Victoria with over 40 homes from leading Melbourne builders.

The festival will also offer a range of free family-friendly activities including: an Australian reptile display with lizards, bearded dragons, crocodiles; live music from local artists; Bollystar dancers and drummers; tastings from local restaurants, wine and beer producers; photobooths and fun kids’ craft activities. Select builders are now open, with the full village to be open later this year, with a range of local and national builders including Burbank, Metricon, Simonds, Dennis Family, Porter David, Sakoon Homes, Lentini, Arli,

Eight Homes, Bentley, Dulger, Homegroup, Sherridon, Carlisle, JG King, ABN, Orbit Homes, Hamilton and Achieve Homes. Lendlease head of communities Victoria Anne Jolic encouraged the community to explore the display village and enjoy the free entertainment. “The new Aurora display village showcases community living at its best with a range of home designs that provides a one-stop-shop for potential buyers considering purchasing a new home or for those looking for home inspiration ideas,“ Ms Jolic said. “Home buyers looking to

build their dream home can preview the recent land release as well as compare designs, floor plans and lot sizes and ask questions about all aspects of purchasing and designing their new home at Aurora.” The new display village is located next door to the Aurora Sales & Information Centre which is open seven days a week. Contact the builders for opening times of each individual home at the Aurora display village. For more informatio visit https:// communities.lendlease.com/victoria/aurora/

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Dixon goes on the cancer attack Hume City footballer Danny Dixon has made a stunning return to the soccer field just two months after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer as Max Hatzoglou reports.

he English born footballer felt something was not right in late January when he noticed a lump in one testicle so he got himself checked by a doctor immediately. It was a swift decision that may have saved his life. Within 15 days of the initial check up, Dixon went under a surgeon’s knife and had a cancerous growth removed which led to chemotherapy and ultimately a full recovery that has put his life ‘back to normal’. Dixon made a triumphant return to the soccer field on March 29 and has since played four consecutive games for Hume. In 2021, 980 men were diagnosed with testicular cancer in Australia according to the federal government. Of those, 33 died of the disease. Sufferers have a 97 per cent chance of surviving at least five years, with testicular cancer accounting for just 1 per cent of male deaths from cancer in 2021. As one of the lucky ones who beat the disease, Dixon said he was grateful that his return to health has also allowed him to return to the game he loves. “It’s been good since I’ve had the all clear, it’s been hard trying to get fit and obviously getting back in the team, but everyone has been really good,” he said. “I always said to myself ever since I found out that I needed the chemo and I had surgery and stuff, I always said to myself after round six I will be back playing. “I think that was something that helped me as well because I set myself a goal from day one and I was back round seven so I got there. “But ever since day one, never once did I think I wouldn’t play again. I always had it in

Danny Dixon. (Supplied)

my head that I would play again, there were no ifs and buts about it.” Dixon arrived in Perth as a 14-year-old with his family from Middlesbrough in England and later moved to Melbourne where he began

his career in the National Premier League Victorian competition. Dixon, who bagan playing with Hume in 2019, said he was grateful for all the support he received from the football and wider

community, which he says has helped him get through the challenges and understand his circumstances better. “The whole situation was good, obviously, it’s not what you want to hear at 27 but at the same time from the nurses, the doctors, everyone involved in football, everyone who I have spoken to has been amazing,” Dixon said. “So it’s been good. It hasn’t been too hard mentally when you’ve got the support around you that everyone has given me, so it’s been really good in that way.” Dixon drew particular strength from the support of Tracy Tombides, the mother of Australian footballer Dylan Tombides who passed away in 2014, nearly three years after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Tombides progressed his career to represent West Ham in the popular English Premier League and was renowned among Australian soccer fans. “Speaking to Dylan’s mum, Tracy, during the chemo process, obviously she’s helped me through what Dylan went through,” Dixon said. “Speaking to people who have been close to someone who’s had it, unfortunately for Dylan it didn’t work out, but to know people are thinking of you or trying to help you in any way possible, it makes a big difference. “And obviously, my family has been amazing. “They’re over in Perth, but still the support you get from them and from Hume, from everyone, it did help a lot. “People think like they’re just messaging you and saying hope you’re doing well and stuff, but it does help a lot.“

The Victorian Government is making it easier for families to find a three and four-year old kinder learning program they can count on.

LED BY A QUALIFIED QUA TEACHER TEA The K Kinder Tick recog recognises kinder prog d programs that are led by a qualifi q ed teacher.r.

LOOK FOR THE KINDER TICK

P PLAY-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM L M I highlights kindergartens and It d llong day care centres that o offer play-based programs to h help children learn and grow, b before they start school.

FU FUNDED AND APPROVED BY A THE VICTORIAN TH GOVERNMENT G It also a identifies se services that are ap approved for Victorian G Go Government funding.

Find out more at vic.gov.au/kindertick

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10 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 3 May, 2022

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Dixon in partnership with the DT38 Foundation and Professional Footballers Australia hosted an exhibition match on April 3, featuring famous footballers to raise funds to educate men on the the importance of self-checking for lumps and other anomalies and acting swiftly. The day was a great success with popular football figures on-field alongside Dixon including Thomas Sorensen, Fahid Ben-Kalfallah, Rashid Mahazi, Jai Ingham, Rodrigo Vargas, Michael Zappone, Vince Lia, Alan Davidson, and other NPL and A-League names playing in the friendly match. “The day was really good, we orgainised it in pretty quick time,” Dixon explained. “It was mainly Hegs [Nick Hegarty] that orgainised the whole thing for me really because I was going through the chemo at the time so Hegs and a few of the boys, Hayden Tennant and Mark Ochieng, organised loads and they were amazing. “It ran so smoothly and everyone involved with the game had a good time, had a good laugh, and really enjoyed themselves. “The most important part was we raised a lot of money for the foundation and we also got a lot of awareness out there for people. “The whole day was such a big success and it was really good.” From 100 donations so far, $13,735 has been raised on the gofundme page to support the DT38 Foundation. Go make a donation, visit: www.gofundme. com/f/spreading-awareness-for-our-frienddanny For more on the DT38 Foundation, visit: https://dt38.co.uk/

‘‘

BEHIND THE NEWS

I always had it in my head that I would play again, there were no ifs and buts about it - Danny Dixon

Danny Dixon in action during the DT38 Foundation exhibition match

’’

(Supplied)

Ready for an adventure? Discover Sherwin Rise retirement village in Wollert Sherwin Rise Two bedroom homes now selling from

$505,000* *Price is correct as at 4 April 2022

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Interfaith meal marks Ramadan Al Siraat College in Epping hosted its sixth annual Interfaith Ramadan dinner on Wednesday, April 13 in its newly built auditorium. The dinner was an opportunity for people from other faiths to observe what the holy month is about and break bread together. There was about 120 attendees on the night including different faith and community leaders as well as representatives from City of Whittlesea, Whittlesea Interfaith Network (WIN), Victorian Muslim Association and a number of others. The ceremony was opened with a Qur’an recitation by year 4 pupil Khizar Nauman and the dinner was hosted by college captains Naziihah Hafidi and Ismaeel Ambikapathy. Sculin MP Andrew Giles, Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny, Bundoora MP Colin Brooks and Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio were some of the politicians in attendance. College Imam Sheikh Waseem Khan concluded the ceremony with a closing prayer.

1/ Sana Zia, Rummy Saini, Noori Ahmad, Gurinder Kaur and Imran Khan. 2/ Teacher and interfaith co-ordinator Noori Ahmad with Scullin MP Andrew Giles. 3/ Naveed Mughal, Bundoora MP Colin Brooks, Irfan Sarwar and Noori Ahmad all enjoyed an iftar dinner at Al Siraat College. 4/ Rihana Penitito serving dates to dinner guests as Muslims traditionally break their fast on them. 5/ Sadika, Sadika Kassab, Andrew Hasan Gardiner and Dawoud. 6/ Students Ismaeel, Khaled, Badis, Momin, and Osama with Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio. (Pictures: Supplied)

Works continue near you and there will be transport disruptions As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re removing 85 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 59 already gone. We’re also building the Metro Tunnel and building better roads across our suburbs. Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions Craigieburn Line Mernda Line

3 May

Essendon to Broadmeadows

4 May to 9pm 6 May

Essendon to Craigieburn

8.50pm to last train, 2 to 5 May

Epping to Mernda

8.50pm to last train, 9 to 12 May From 9pm 17 May to 29 May

On sections of the line

18 May to Sep

Bell and Preston stations closed

Glenroy Road, Glenroy

Until 13 May

Level crossing closed

Bulleen Road, Bulleen

Until late May

Lanes closed between Greenaway Street and the Eastern Freeway

Thompsons Road, Bulleen

Until late May

Lanes closed at times between Kampman Street and the Eastern Freeway entry ramp

Watsonia Road, Watsonia

5pm 7 May to 6am 9 May

Closed between Devonshire and Greensborough roads

Fitzsimons Lane

In May

Lanes closed at the Foote Street and Williamsons Road intersection

Until mid Jun

Major delays at the Porter Street roundabout

Some nights in May

Lanes, ramps and freeway closed at times between Sydney Road and Edgars Road

M80 Ring Road

MTIA7440

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Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

12 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 3 May, 2022

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COMMENT

Stop soldiering on and act now By Christopher Carter, CEO of North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network The coronavirus pandemic caused a lot of people to fall ill – but not all of them because they caught COVID-19. Behind the stark statistics of daily case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths there is another story. We could call it the pandemic’s long shadow. When the first wave hit, and every day since, thousands of people across our region decided to put off seeking help for other health matters. Doctors call this sort of thing “deferred care” – the decision to delay seeing a GP about something new, or to opt out of a blood test or an X-ray, or to avoid a prescription renewal. No one knows precisely how many people have done this, but experience overseas suggests it’s a big number – and this could cause trouble down the track, for patients and the health system. There is a single, important message that all GPs, nurses and specialists agree on: don’t put care off any longer. Talk to your doctor, have a chat, act now. As far back as late 2020, US researchers started calling the rise in deferred care the “hidden harm” of COVID-19. The situation has only worsened since then, but by how much is difficult to know. Doctors in general practice and hospitals have seen a drop in presentations for a wide range of non-coronavirus matters. For some conditions, such as flu and some other infectious diseases, the dip was probably because movement restrictions, masking and lockdowns meant that fewer people were getting poorly. It is very unlikely, however, that some other things, such as heart disease, diabetes,

NWMPHN is calling for people to stop putting off visits to the doctor.

digestive disorders, sexually transmitted diseases and cancers have become less common. Far more likely, people have been delaying routine screening, tests,cancelling appointments, or simply trying to tough it out. But why? For many, clinics and hospitals are seen as high-risk environments for catching COVID-19. Others have delayed things because they were isolating, caring for sick family members, couldn’t afford particular

(iStock)

tests or medications – or because the whole damn pandemic experience left them feeling anxious and depressed. If you’ve had any of these experiences, please know that you’re far from alone! One of the big problems with putting off treatment for what seem like minor matters, however, is that they can suddenly escalate into major problems requiring a stay in hospital.

For you, and for the hospitals, it’s a much better idea now to go make an appointment at your general practice,or have those tests you’ve been putting off. If you need an updated plan to manage your asthma, bronchitis or COPD, a GP respiratory clinic can help. Better a doctor’s office, or a telehealth screen, after all, than an emergency department. Do it now, for everybody’s sake – but especially yours.

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School journey starts Twins Avinoor and Parinoor are eagerly counting down the days until school starts. The sisters are among 168 preps starting at Hume Anglican Grammar next week, with 84 enrolled at each of the school’s two campuses at Mt Ridley and Donnybrook. Schools across Hume and Whittlesea will begin welcoming their 2021 prep pupils from Thursday. This week will also mark the opening of three new primary schools in Hume and Whittlesea. Mickleham’s Gaayip-Yagila Primary School, Greenvale’s Keelonith Primary School and Wollert’s Edgars Creek Primary School will all open their doors for the first time. They are among eight new schools to open in Hume and Whittlesea over the next four years, with Kalkallo Commons Primary School, Greenvale Secondary College, Wollert East Primary School and a Catholic primary school in Mickleham scheduled to open in 2022. A Catholic primary school in Greenvale is expected to open in 2023.

School journey starts (Damjan Janevski) 225262_01

Twins Avinoor and Parinoor are eagerly counting down the days until school starts. The sisters are among 168 preps starting at Hume Anglican Grammar next week, with 84 enrolled at each of the school’s two campuses at Mt Ridley and Donnybrook. Schools across Hume and Whittlesea will begin welcoming their 2021 prep pupils from Thursday. This week will also Laura Michell mark the opening of three new By primary

Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance.

Laura Michell

Melbourne Airport has asked the state government to give it more power to intervene in developments which could impact aircraft operations or lead to noise complaints. Airport operators Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) has made a submission to the state government’s Melbourne Airport Environs Safeguarding Committee, which was set up to advise the planning minister on improvements to the planning provisions safeguarding the airport. In its submission, Melbourne Airport called for the government to designate it as a referral authority, meaning applicants would formally be required to consult with the airport on any

developments in the surrounding area. The submission stated that the airport is currently notified of planning permit applications as though it were a “third-party objector”. “Unlike a determining or even recommending referral authority, its position on any application has no statutory significance,” the submission stated. The submission cited recent applications and approvals which had the potential to generate a large number of noise complaints or impact on aircraft operations, including housing development in Phillip Street, Dallas, and a waste to energy facility proposed for Craigieburn. It stated the airport receives about 20 noise complaints per month – a figure the airport says will rise in the coming years given the

number of people now living in areas impacted by aircraft noise. Operators fear that if they are not granted a greater say in nearby developments, the airport could face constraints on its operations, such as a curfew or a reduction in airspace. “Constraints such as restrictions on flight paths, aircraft volumes (even during daylight hours) and aircraft types are all potential risks to the flexibility that Melbourne Airport’s operations presently enjoy,” the submission states. “The introduction of any such restrictions would have significant and far-reaching consequences for both Melbourne Airport, and its contribution to the state economy.” Melbourne Airport chief financial officer Grant Devonport said that if approved, referral

authority status would ensure the airport is consulted from the outset on developments subject to noise impacts, and those that have the potential to impact on aircraft operations. A Hume council submission to the inquiry stated the council “remains committed to protecting Melbourne Airport’s 24-hour curfew free operation”. It said meeting the needs of the general population growth of Melbourne, Hume and other aircraft noise-affected municipalities, has been a source of tension at the planning permit stage. “How to strike an appropriate balance between facilitating community needs and expectations against protecting the operations of Melbourne Airport is a difficult question that needs to be given very careful consideration.”

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Airport bid for more power

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COMMENT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Healthcare boost for the north By Danielle Green, Yan Yean MP

Yan Yean MP Danielle Green. (Supplied)

Repatriation Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Sandringham Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and one in regional Victoria with details to be confirmed shortly. Locals in the north will also be soon able to access more comprehensive healthcare services closer to home; The Labor government is investing $675 million to build 10 community hospitals in major growth areas, including brand-new community hospitals in Mernda and Craigieburn. The Community Hospital based Mernda Town Centre will be a small public hospital providing a range of services including chronic disease management, chemotherapy, social support, and women’s health. The Craigieburn Community Hospital will

be a small public hospital providing a range of day hospital, outpatient, and community health services. Community input and feedback received up to June 2020 has shaped the service design and early service planning phases of these projects. Community feedback has further helped toinform the next phases of planning, and the Community Reference Group for the Mernda Community Hospital recently concluded a design workshop in early April. These investments will give locals the confidence that they have access to the best possible care, close to home – while also creating new jobs. Further, alongside the pandemic, mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing Victorians right now. The Labor government

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What a busy year it’s been so far, and we’re finally getting back to our pre-COVID routines and community activities. Melbourne is springing back to life, with fantastic music, sporting and cultural events returning to our beautiful city, regions and suburbs – including the Grand Prix, Hamilton the Musical, Queer at the NGV, Elvis at the Bendigo Art Gallery, and of course footy has returned to the MCG. There’s still much work to do as we continue to recover from COVID-19, which is why the Andrews Labor government isn’t wasting a minute on improving healthcare and growing jobs, close to home. A record number of Victorians, especially in Melbourne’s north, will receive surgery under the Victorian government’s COVID Catch-Up Plan, designed to catch up on deferred care and get more people into theatres and off the waiting list. The plan includes a $1.5 billion investment that will see more than 240,000 public patients receive surgery each year by 2024 – more than 40,000 additional procedures per year than pre-pandemic levels. The three-year investment will also: expand activity in our public hospitals, increase same-day surgeries, extend twilight and after-hours work and theatre improvements to increase efficiency. Rapid Access Hubs – which exclusively perform specific surgeries such as hernia repairs, cataract surgeries and joint replacements – will be established across metropolitan public hospitals allowing surgical theatres, equipment and staffing to be streamlined. The first eight hubs will be established in the next year at St Vincent’s on the Park, Broadmeadows Hospital, Heidelberg

is determined to build a mental health system that will support all of us – now and into the future. Establishing new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services is a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. These services will help Victorians access help in the community earlier, before they need to access a hospital or when they reach a crisis point. Whittlesea is one of the priority regions for the rollout of mental health sites across the state – Whittlesea has one of the highest levels of community mental health contacts per capita, as well as significant evidence surrounding ongoing mental health issues related to the Black Saturday bushfires. The first of these local services is scheduled to open from mid-2022, with all six of the initial priority services open by the end of 2022. When casting your vote at the May 21 federal election, it’s important that Victorians know which party supports them when it comes to healthcare and mental health funding. The Morrison coalition government cut health funding to Victoria in its recent budget and its contribution to mental health funding has been abysmal. Shockingly pre-pandemic the Morrison government removed medical workforce support funding to Doreen, Whittlesea and Wallan that is needed to address our local doctor shortage. Locals are waiting up to a week, even for urgent appointments. This is simply not good enough and is forcing patients to attend hospital emergency departments for non emergency health issues. As the creators of Medicare only Labor can be trusted to fund and support health. My Team and I are always ready to help you – please feel free to contact me on 9432 9782 or via email, at danielle.green@parliament.vic. gov.au

14 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 3 May, 2022

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COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Craigieburn Support and Exercise Group is hosting a morning tea at Craigieburn Tennis Club on Saturday, May 28, from 11am. Come along for some tasty treats, games and prizes to help those impacted by cancer. Tickets are $10. ■ sec.cseg@yahoo.com.au

Craft and Conversation Craigieburn library is hosting a Wednesday weekly craft group from 1-3pm and everyone is welcome. Join the craft and conversation group and share your love of all things crafty. Bring your current project and make new friends.

Angler Ut Ngo fishes off Williamstown. (Damjan Janevski) 278022

Re-engage, Re-activate, Resilience! Hume City Council is running an interactive workshop to support community group leaders to re-engage with the community, re-activate programs and build resilience in your organisations and groups. You will be provided with ideas and information to share with your community group, learn from other community group leaders and find out about the supports available to local community groups. Tuesday, May 3, 6-8pm – Broadmeadows Community Hub, 182 Widford Street, Broadmeadows. ■ https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ re-engage-re-activate-resiliencetickets-315905731547 Wednesday, May 4, 6-8pm – Newbury Child and Community Centre, 440 Grand Boulevard, Craigieburn. ■ https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ re-engage-re-activate-resiliencetickets-315913905997 Saturday, May 7, 10am-12pm – Online Workshop (Zoom) ■ https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ re-engage-re-activate-resilience-onlineworkshop-tickets-317313702827

you to your group, with opportunities to learn what support is available. ■ https://bit.ly/3vcvSpK

Comedy in Kyneton If you’re up for a bit of a belly laugh, the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow happening in Kyneton on May 11 is for you. There’ll be a range of great comedians on the night. ■ https://bit.ly/3EzUEV9

Family History and Heritage Society Community lunch in Roxburgh Park Join the Homestead Team, along with members of the community for a free lunch and make some new friends whilst you’re at it. Lunch will be prepared by the Northern Turkish Women’s Association. The lunch will be held every Wednesday from 11.30am-1pm at Homestead Community and Learning Centre, 30 Whiltshire Road, Roxburgh Park. ■ www.hume.vic.gov.au/Eventbrite/ Roxburgh-Park-Homestead-Communityand-Learning-CentreWeekly-CommunityLunch-317411976767.

Community Farmers’ Market It’s the first Saturday of the month coming up again, which means you can enjoy a delightful day at the Woodend Community Farmers’ Market. Packed with heaps of local produce, live music and even a bit of face painting. The event at High and Forest streets in Woodend is plastic bag free and starts at 9am. ■ https://bit.ly/3Lscg89

If you’ve got a hankering to learn more about Sunbury and even your own family history, why not check out the Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society, meeting at 1.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Sunbury Senior Citizens Centre, 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury. ■ https://bit.ly/3jvM6oJ

Sunbury Seniors Sunbury Seniors meet on Mondays and Fridays at 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury from 10am-3pm. A variety of activities are offered – indoor bowls, cards, snooker, guest speakers, day excursions, subsidised lunches or just a cup of coffee and a chat. If you’re 55 or older and would like to make some new friends. ■ 0493 408 890

The Keilor Combined Probus Club is back in business. The group meets the third Monday of every month at Keilor Pub. New members welcome. ■ Steve, 0408 193 793, or Keith, 0409 494 801

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club The Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets at 10am on the second Tuesday of each month at the Melton Country Club. The group is open to everyone, new and old members, to get together and discover the social aspects of the group. ■ Ann, 0425 705 150

Melton South Knit & Natter All are welcome to join this social crafting group, running at the Melton South Community Centre each Monday from 10am-noon. Bring along any knitting or crochet projects and work on them while sharing tips, learning skills and catching up over a cuppa. ■ 9747 8576 Interested in learning to play Mahjong? The game is a tile-based game that is derived from China where it was developed in the 19th century. U3A Melton has a group who play on Tuesdays at 10am. ■ u3amelton.com or 0419 563 016

French and Italian for over 50s Over 50, retired, or semi-retired and wanting to learn a language? U3A Melton offers French and Italian classes for beginners and those with more advanced skills. ■ www.u3amelton.com or 0419 563 016

Ladies probus The Woodlands Ladies Probus Club of Sunbury meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Sunbury Bowling Club at 9.45 am. The club is based on fun, friendship and fellowship and enjoys monthly outings, an annual trip away and a lot of fun meetings. ■ Val, 0418 138 214

Garden club The Sunbury Garden Club meets on the first Tuesday of every month. There is a guest speaker at each meeting, which starts at 7.30pm at the Sunbury Football Club. ■ Cheryl, 9744 1663

Women’s group Duke Street Community Centre has set up a women’s social group to give people a place to interact. The group will run every second Friday, from 1pm, as a way to connect with other women in the community in a safe, fun and social way. It will be developed to suit the needs of the participants and will be in a casual setting. ■ 9311 9973

U3A Werribee U3A Werribee Region is a not-for-profit organisation consisting of semi-retired and retired residents of Wyndham. It conducts a variety of weekly classes run by volunteers. ■ Rick, 0402 299 220

Mahjong group

The Sunbury Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Sunbury Bowling Club from 7pm. ■ sunburyrotary@gmail.com

Re-engage, Re-activate, Resilience! Hume council invites the community to take part in this interactive workshop to support organisations to build resilience and re-activate programs. On Thursday, May 5, 10am-noon at the Goonawarra Community Centre, 20 Dornoch Drive, Sunbury, the workshop will provide insights to take with

Keilor probus

Join the Melton Friendship Group for singles 55 and older. Meet fortnightly for coffee and chat nights and organised affordable outings and events. ■ 0406 493 734

Rotary club

Plant, produce and recipe Swap Calling Sunbury’s green thumbs! Bring your plants, your cuttings and seedlings, your herbs, veggies and fruit from your garden, even a recipe to swap with other locals. Head along on Saturday, May 14, 10am-noon at Sunbury Library, 44 Macedon Street. The event is free. ■ https://bit.ly/3KyOsOI

Melton Friendship Group.

Community singing group If you love to sing, come join the Melton Singers. The group rehearses regularly and also performs at aged care facilities. The group is very relaxed and sings songs mainly from the 60’s and 70’s. It meets Tuesdays at 10am. ■ Val, 0418 667 150

Bingo for all The Werribee RSL hosts Bingo every Monday, except public holidays. Eyes down at 12.30-2.30pm. ■ 9741 5525

Musicians wanted Sunshine Community Brass is looking for new members to join its vibrant band of musicians. With over 90 years of history, the band is looking to grow for the future. Sunshine Community Brass is currently looking for trumpet and percussion players. It rehearses Tuesdays from 7.30pm, 45 Furlong Road, North Sunshine. ■ Andrew Wilson, 0419 444 620

All Aboard Club The All Aboard Club has been going for 85 years. It is a social club which works for charities, with speakers, theatre and trips. It meets in the chambers at Williamstown Town Hall at 1.30pm on the first and third Tuesday of the month. New members welcome. ■ Wendy, 0421 747 040

Women’s Choir Willin Wimmin choir welcomes new members. They meet every Wednesday in term time from 7.30-9.30 pm at the Church of Christ Hall in Douglas Parade, Williamstown. There are no auditions and members don’t need to be able to read music. Come along for a free try out. ■ willin.wimmin@gmail.com Tuesday, 3 May, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 15

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Hopes for a pet ‘miracle’

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Second Chance Animal is appealing for support Rescue (SCAR) House for Pets program to keep its Safe The program provides running. for the pets of owners temporary care as victims of domesti facing challenges c and family violence. SCAR chief executiv Debattista said the e Marisa program allowed owners to find safe, permanent housing without worrying about their animals. “We safely house the escaping violent situationpets of people s and look after these animals while their owners seek safe refuge,” she said. “Once they have secured permane nt safe housing we reunite “The tears and look them. owners’ faces when of pure joy on they are reunited with their pets again time is just incredib after a traumatic le.” Ms Debattista said SCAR received calls daily asking for struggling to make help, but that it was ends the program’s continua meet, putting She said SCAR was tion at risk. “looking for a miracle” to keep the refuge Details: secondchancean open. imarescue. com.au

50-metre pool a reality

Michaela Meade

By Michaela Meade

issue in the commun ity, with plans presente The Whittlesea to the former council community will Financial forecasti multiple times in 2019. d be able to dive into a ng at the time revealed Councillors initially 50-metr god-awful political opted to develop the centre would cost $80.3 million, with Whittlesea council e pool from 2025, business nonsense, it’s glorious including see our cases for a centre a $55.7 million 50-metr finally endorsing to with and without group of competition-leng th e pool, compared a 25-metre pool. a $75.6 million, pool to inside two years appointed administrators – including a $51 million for the Mernda Sports as its preferred option – do exactly what the The decision resulted 25-metre elected pool. Hub. previous council couldn’t in in community After numerous reports backlash, with residents 10 years.” A report tabled at council Mr Hogan said calling for a 50-metr last two years, Whittles to council over the pool to be last Tuesday stated e the overall leisure, included. ea’s administrators development” to have it was an “amazing voted last Tuesday aquatics and sports At the time, the the night to include a facility court would cost over $113 council said it couldn’t Chair administrator project promised. 50-metre afford pool in the new sports million. Lydia Wilson said a 50-metre pool. Extend the Pool in precinct. it was the “most Mernda The Mernda Sports significa campaig Then, in Decemb nt” infrastructure n leader project Ryan Hogan said Hub on Plenty Road the administrators he would “believe will house leisure, council’s administratorser, 2020, Whittlesea can swim it when I upon. would ever resolve aquatics and sports it”. resolved to investiga facilities. court two new te designs for “Build it and they “It is a legacy will swim,” he said. The aquatic centre 25-metre pool and the centre – one with a “After years upon has been a contenti the other with a 50-metr importance to the project of paramount ous pool. Whittlesea commun e Whittlesea demand years of the people of Ms ity,” Wilson said. “This proposal … will be and being told ‘we’ll ing this development benefit a to children, families look into it’ and and older people some of all backgro unds.”

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Campbellfield Chris and Marie’s 1477 Sydney Road Campbellfield Barry Road Milk Bar 331 Barry Road Coolaroo Meadow Heights Newsagency Shop 16, 55 Paringa Boulevard Coolaroo Melba Vale Country Club 1390 Pascoe Vale Road Craigieburn Craigieburn Convenience Store 19 Bank Street Craigieburn Hume City Council 75-95 Central Park Avenue Craigieburn Coles Service Station 42-44 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Connections - Craigieburn 59 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre 340 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Harry Brown Liquor G03/420-440 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn The Foodary Caltex 420-440 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Freshplus Craigieburn 420-440 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Woolworths Supermarket 10 Craigieburn Road Craigieburn Coles Supermarket Cnr Craigieburn Rd & Windrock Craigieburn Woolworths Supermarket Cnr Craigieburn Rd & Aitken Rd Craigieburn Quality Food Store Cnr Craigieburn Rd & Aitken Rd Craigieburn Milk Bar Store 100 Fairways Boulevard Craigieburn Nanak Indian Grocery Highlands SC 300 Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Woolworths Supermarket 300 Highlands SC Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Highlands News & Lotto 300 HighlandsSC Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Hothlyn Drive Milk Bar Hothlyn Drive Craigieburn Foodworks 130-132 Hothlyn Drive Craigieburn Caltex 315 Hume Highway Craigieburn Metro Petroluem 330 Hume Highway Craigieburn IGA Xpress Grand Boulevard 27-29 Princes Circuit Craigieburn Moey’s Milk Bar 2 Smeaton Court Doreen TSG Riverstone Convenience Cafe Shop 1/121 Elation Boulevard Doreen Laurimar Centre Newsagency Shop 8, 95 Hazel Glen Drive Doreen Woolworths Supermarket 95 95 Hazel Glen Drive

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Doreen Doreen General Store 920 Yan Yean Road Epping Foodworks 10/351 Dalton Road Epping Pacific Epping Shopping Centre 571583 High Street Epping The Groove Train 571-583 High Street Epping IGA Plus Liquor 1/53 McDonalds Road Epping Greenbrook Milk Bar 2/53 McDonalds Road Gladstone Park Gladstone Park SC 8-34 Gladstone Park Drive Glenroy Pascoe Vale Road Market 815 Pascoe Vale Road Glenroy Glenroy Newsagency 773 Pascoe Vale Drive Greenvale Coles Supermarket 1-11 Greenvale Drive Greenvale Greenvale Newsagency Shop 4, 1 -11 Greenvale Drive Lalor Woolworths Supermarket Hurtle Street Lalor Lalor Library 2A May Road Lalor Dandy Mart 17-19 May Road Lalor No 1 Fruit Market 37 May Road Lalor Coles Supermarket 47-71 May Road Lalor Lalor Plaza Newsagency Shop 22, 17 McKimmies Road Lalor Lalor Plaza Shopping Centre McKimmies Road Lalor Coles Supermarket Lalor SC Cnr McKimmies Road & Darebin Drive Lalor Santino Continental Grocery 296 Station Street Lalor Afghan Supermarket 322 Station Street Lalor Everfresh Fruit Market 346 Station Street Mernda Coles Mernda Mernda Junction SC Cnr Plenty Rd & Bridge Inn Rd Mernda Riverdale General Store 33 Riverdale Boulevard Mernda Mernda Post Office 50 Mernda Village Drive & Galloway Drive Mernda Woolworths Supermarket Mernda Village Drive & Galloway Drive Mill Park Centenary Drive Milk Bar 147 Centenary Drive Mill Park 7 - Eleven Mill Park 252 Childs Rd & Morang Dr Mill Park The Stables Shopping Centre Childs Road Mill Park Grenda Milk Bar Grenda Drive Mill Park Coles Supermarket McDonalds Road Mill Park Westfield Plenty Valley 415 McDonalds Road Mill Park Shriji Supermarket 522 Plenty Road Mill Park Woolworths Shop 8/538 Plenty Road

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16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 3 May, 2022

PUZZLES

25 27 28 29 30

18 21 22 23 26

DECODER

No. 079

hard

10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

S D K Y H U V X N MW B F 16

Today’s Aim: 15 words: Good 22 words: Very good

1 3 5 4 6 7 8 2 9

8 9 4 5 1 2 6 3 7

2 7 3 9 8 1 4 5 6

5 LETTERS ABOUT ADOPT

IMBUE LEONE LLANO MAKER MARIO OCCUR OLDEN OLDER ONPAR PAIRS PANSY PRIMA PURGE RESIT SENSE SMITH SPARE

7 LETTERS AKIHITO ARREARS COLOURS ESCORTS SALLIES STUDENT

SPURT STEPS STRIP SUPER TASTY TEENS TORSO TSARS UPSET YOUSE 6 LETTERS LENSES LUSTER OYSTER SELENE

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

Which singer was born Robyn Fenty in Saint Michael, Barbados?

Which of the three Barrett brothers currently playing for the All Blacks is the youngest?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

Was the Watchmen comic published by DC or Marvel?

Which writer’s books include Guess What? and Ducks Away?

Flowers in the Pavement is the debut album by which Australian hip hop group?

No. 079

E R S

U D E R

E A S T N N U I D O R E

ALARM ALIEN ALLIE AMEND AMPLE APART ASCII ASIAN BELIE DELTA DONOR EERIE ELOPE ENDED ERASE GALAH HARSH

8 LETTERS CELIBATE PARASITE REDOLENT RESPONSE 11 LETTERS ACCUMULATES REPRESENTED

06-05-22

5 4 1 7 2 6 9 8 3

7 1 9 6 3 8 2 4 5 3 8 6 1 4 9 7 5 2

4 LETTERS EASE ERAS MEET OOPS OURS RASH SAFE SUSE TANG TARO TERM TRAP TSAR WATT

deed, delve, delved, devote, devoted, DEVOTEDLY, dole, doled, dote, doted, dove, dyed, eddy, eyed, leet, levy, lode, love, loved, teddy, teed, toddle, toed, toyed, veldt, veto, vetoed, vole, vote, voted

9 6 8 3 5 4 1 7 2

2 5 4 6 7 8 3 1 9

F E A

8 3 1 5 4 7 9 6 2

6 2 7 8 9 3 5 1 4

4 5 2 1 7 9 3 6 8

3 8 6 2 4 5 7 9 1

1 9 7 3 5 2 4 8 6

6 3 5 9 1 7 8 2 4

9 1 8 4 2 5 6 3 7

O E

2 4 7 1 6 9 8 3 5

9 6 5 2 3 8 4 1 7

4 1 3 6 8 5 7 2 9

4 7 2 8 6 3 5 9 1

7 2 9 5 8 6 1 4 3

8 6 1 2 3 4 9 7 5

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

30 words: Excellent

A N

medium

easy 6 8 9 7 2 4 3 5 1

7 5 2 9 1 3 6 8 4

1 2 4 8 7 6 5 9 3

5 7 8 3 9 1 2 4 6

3 9 6 4 5 2 1 7 8

5 4 3 7 9 1 2 6 8

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

C T P Z OAGQ E I J L R

9-LETTER WORD

3 5

hard

5x5

4 6 1 5 8 2 4

A L I E N

QUICK QUIZ

Who won the 2020 London Marathon elite women’s race?

The mountain bongo is native to which continent?

The Celsius and Fahrenheit scales are the same at what temperature?

Lily Collins (pictured) plays the title role in which 2020 TV series?

10 What three countries are on the Scandinavian Peninsula? ANSWERS: 1. Rihanna 2. Jordie Barrett 3. DC 4. Mem Fox 5. Bliss n Eso 6. Brigid Kosgei 7. Africa 8. -40 9. Emily in Paris 10. Sweden, Norway and Finland

3 LETTERS AIM ALA APP ARM BEN BRO CAM CRY FAD GAR ITA LEA LYE MEN NOT NSW PET PIE REM RIP SPA TAT UNI UTE

O L D E R

4 7 2 6 4 8 9 7 1 2 6 3

No. 079

B E L I E

3 1

WORDFIT

A D O P T

7 6 4 1 8 7 1 2 8 4 9 1 8 2 7 6 9 5 8 4 7 1 3 5 7 7 8

A L L I E

14 15 19 20

6 7 8 13 16

L E O N E

medium

9 10 11 12

O N P A R Y O U S E S T R I P E T G A R S E L E N E C R Y S O E A S E R S M E N T U D E N T S P O N S E E N D E D B R O E R A S H N O S P A O C C U R P A I R S S M I T H

9 4 7 1 4 6 1 2 7 9 5 1 7 3 2 7 4 1 2 3 2 1 8 9 4 7 9 4 3 8

Time of the year (6) Carved wooden watercraft (6) Ocean (8) Cicatrix (4) District governed by a prefect (10) Open (6) Curved sword (8) Semi-precious stone (8) Exercises (10) Contradictory or incongruous phrase (8) One who shares accomodation (8) Fierce storms (8) Bondman (6) Small rodent (6) Sternutation (6) Allege as a fact (4)

1 2 3 4 5

A P A R T M A K E R P R I M A A L A H P R E S I T M I T A T O R S O U A T E S R S R A S R E E R A S E A F A D R E L O P S W L L A A L I E N T E E N S T A S T Y

DOWN

Those who derive pleasure from inflicting pain (7) Former kingdom in northern Germany (7) Worsen (9) Refrain from enforcing (5) Of the eye (6) Prehistoric stone monument (8) A poetic unit of three lines (6) Admirers (4) Game console (4) Republic established in 1948 (6) Indian term for a woman in a position of authority (8) Internal organ (6) Fosters (5) Incapable of being seen (9) Heckles (7) Determination (7)

U T T A E N G M A I R M I B O U E T A L T E N R S I E P S

easy

ACROSS 1

No. 079

S P A R E

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

QUICK CROSSWORD

U P S E T

No. 079

A C C U M U L A T E S

SUDOKU

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. At which venue will the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League final be held on 28 May?

4. Which former Australian cricketer, and current Netherlands coach, suffered a heart attack in the UK in April?

2. Which Collingwood player won the Anzac medal for kicking five goals against Essendon in their Anzac Day AFL clash?

5. Emma Raducanu, the Canadian-born tennis sensation of Romanian and Chinese descent, plays under which flag?

3. At the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games, Australia competed with New Zealand under which name?

6. Game two of this year’s State of Origin series will be held at which venue outside New South Wales and Queensland? 7. Media broadcaster Eddie McGuire has called for a bold overhaul of which part of the AFL competition? 8. Tennis players from Russia and which other country will not be allowed to compete at this year’s Wimbledon championships? 9. Which cricketer, who recently stood down from his role as Test captain, was named Wisden’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021? 10. The sporting teams of US city Pittsburgh are famously associated with which two colours?

11. Australian snooker player Neil Robertson recently made a World Championship maximum break worth how many points?

Carissa Moore

12. Three-time Adelaide premiership player Erin Phillips has announced she will be joining which expansion AFLW club? 13. Which Australian surfer recently defeated world number one Carissa Moore on day one of the Margaret River Pro? 14. Former St Kilda footballer Paddy McCartin last played for which AFL club? 15. Tina Rahimi is set to compete in the 57kg division of what sport at the 2022 Commonwealth Games? 16. How many games did the Brooklyn Nets win in their recent first-to-four-wins playoff series versus the Boston Celtics? 17. Corey Horsburgh last played for which NRL club? 18. What did Matthew Dellavedova recently have removed via surgery just before the start of the 2022 NBL playoffs? 19. Blundstone Arena is a sporting stadium located in which state?

20. In what round of their recent heavyweight boxing match did Tyson Fury defeat Dillian Whyte by technical knockout? 21. Carlton AFLW stars Maddy Prespakis and Georgia Gee are set to join which rival team for next season?

25. Which NBL team’s streak of 35 consecutive Playoff appearances was broken this season? 26. Fred Fanning holds the AFL/VFL record for most goals in a match with how many goals?

22. The HBO series Winning Time revolves around which NBA team?

27. What country is the Australian cricket team scheduled to tour in June 2022?

23. Which former Wimbledon champion was recently announced as being able to compete at this year’s tournament?

28. How many points did the Melbourne Storm defeat the New Zealand Warriors by in their round 7 Anzac Day clash?

24. Brisbane Lightning and Central Coast Rhinos are set to play exhibition games in which Australian semi-professional league this season?

29. Which team won the 202122 WNBL championship? 30. What golfing identity recently announced plans to start a rival golf tour?

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Go cross country with Volvo By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring I have fond memories of Volvo’s XC70. Designed along the same lines as the Subaru Outback, Passat Alltrack and Audi Allroad, the XC70 went missing in 2016, a victim of the SUV revolution. But small practical wagons still enjoy a loyal, if modest, following and the spirit of XC lives on in the V60 and V90 Cross Country. And we’re glad to say the V60 Cross Country is offered here.

Styling There’s just the one model, priced from $64,990. It’s available in a choice of 10 colours, with Denim blue and Pine grey available at no extra cost. The Cross Country makeover adds a different radiator grille, grey plastic cladding, aluminium roof rails and a differently designed wheel, along with a wider track and more ground clearance. It’s powered by a 2.0 Litre mild hybrid four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle was optioned with Lifestyle Pack: Panoramic Sunroof, Tinted Rear Windows, Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound ($5700), Perforated Nappa Leather Accented Charcoal/Charcoal Interior ($3000); Advanced Air Cleaner ($500) and Metallic Paint (no cost option). They take the price to $74,190 plus on-road costs. Standard kit includes 19-inch alloys, four-zone climate air, with humidity sensor and CleanZone air quality system, plus Driftwood decor inlays and leather accent upholstery, heated front seats, power adjust driver and passenger seat with memory, four-way lumbar support and power cushion extension and power foldable rear backrest. There’s also keyless entry and start, automatic lights, wipers, dimming interior mirror, 360-degree camera, self-parking, head-up display, front and rear park sensors, active bending LED headlights with high pressure cleaning; and hands-free tailgate opening.

Infotainment Infotainment consists of 10-speaker ‘High Performance’ audio, 9.0-inch vertical touchscreen, Bluetooth (including audio streaming), DAB digital radio, Apple CarPlay 20 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 3 May, 2022

and Android Auto Android, wireless device charging and two USB ports. There’s satellite navigation with road sign recognition. There’s a large, physical volume control knob, but most features are adjusted with a prod or swipe of the screen.

Engines / transmissions If the V60 has a B5 on the back that means it’s a mild hybrid, a B6 means it’s also a hybrid (but a more powerful one) and Recharge means it’s either fully electric or a plug-in hybrid). Our Cross Country B5 on review is powered by a 2.0-litre mild hybrid with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and a small 10kW electric motor. The combination kicks out a handy 183kW of power and 350Nm of torque, with power to all-four wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

Safety Safety extends to dual front, side and curtain airbags. There is Autonomous emergency braking (City, Interurban & Vulnerable Road User) as well as lane keep assist with lane departure warning. Adaptive cruise control including Pilot Assist, Driver Alert; Lane Keeping Aid; Adjustable Speed Limiter function; Oncoming Lane Mitigation; Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Alert Front and Rear Collision Warning with mitigation support; Run-off road Mitigation; Hill start assist; Hill Descent Control. Pilot Assist system supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130km/h.

Driving Dynamic, Eco, Comfort and Off-Road modes are accessed via the touchscreen. The dash to 100km/h takes 6.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 180km/h. Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.4L/100km (we were getting 8.0L/100km after close to 600km). At 1499mm the wagon sits 67mm higher than a standard V60 and at 197mm has 55mm more clearance between the lowest point and the ground. It can drive safely through water to a depth of 300mm. Hill descent control and an ’off-road’ drive mode have also been added. In Off Road mode, steering is light and all-wheel drive and hill descent control are

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD, $64,990 SPECIFICATIONS Volvo V60 B5 Cross Country, 2.0L four-cylinder petrol turbo, 48-volt mild hybrid, 8sp automatic, AWD

Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Volvo dealer for drive-away prices.

activated. But it can only be activated at low speeds and the speedometer shows the range available. Start-stop is deactivated. In Off Road mode the driver info display changes to a compass between the speedometer and tachometer. It’s all very impressive, but a bit meaningless because no one in their right mind is going to take a car like this off road. To the beach yes, down to the snow probably and up to the farm maybe -- but off road? I mean, who wants to scratch the paint or damage the wheels of their nice new car. The styling is attractive and bang on for the times, with an inside that matches, finished in Nappa charcoal leather and shades of grey, with grey coloured wood inlays and some stainless steel trim pieces. Interestingly (at least I find it interesting), the

tailgate does not boast that it’s a hybrid and one gets the feeling the wheel has turned, and it is more about performance than economy. V60 Cross Country goes pretty well too, with punchy acceleration, reassuring braking and the ability to thread corners flat and at a reasonable rate of knots. There’s no gear change paddles but you can use the shifter to change gears -- left to change down, right to change up. Punt it hard and the engine develops a dry, audible rasp, but not an unwelcome one. Leave the transmission to its own devices and it has a habit of changing down unexpectedly, on hills particularly. Ride quality is firm, but not what we’d describe as crash bang uncomfortable and it’s nice and quiet inside (music to the ears of this deaf head). The brakes are excellent too, but have a tendency to pull the car up with a jerk -- a lot. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but even Eco mode proved impressive. Although it dulls the throttle, with 90km left to go on the computer we switched to Eco mode and it pushed this figure as high as 180km on the motorway before it finally turned south. The infotainment system in this model is a step behind the Google transformation that has taken place with the release of XC40 and XC60. On the plus side, however, it sees the return of iPhone support - and speed camera warnings -- yay! The Lifestyle pack is worth considering because it brings a huge sunroof and the fantastic Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Most people spend most of their listening time in the car, so it’s worth the investment -trust me you can tell the difference. With 15 speakers and 1100 watts of power it includes metal speaker grilles as well as a cute dash top tweeter. Four room modes including ’Concert hall’ and ’Jazz club’ allow you to recreate the acoustics of a specific room inside the car. Servicing is every 15,000km or 12 months and two pre-paid service plans are available: three years/45,000km for $1500 or five years/75,000km for $2500.

Summing up I like the idea of this car. It looks cool and is a punchy performer. It mightn’t meet off-road expectations, but it certainly won’t disappoint the rest of the time.

New Hume coach says he’s up for the challenge Hume City new coach Petr Tichy says big results are “just around the corner” despite its eight-game losing streak in the National Premier League. Hume drew its first two games of the season 0-0 and 3-3 and have since lost every game to round 10. Following its round eight loss to St Albans at home, former coach Nick Hegarty announced he was stepping down from the job, in which Tichy has now taken over after assistant coaching the team for the past three seasons. Tichy believes their Australia Cup 1-0 win over fellow National Premier League team Dandenong City on Tuesday, April 26 has given his side confidence to turnaround their winless 10-game start to the season. “Even though I gave chances to some youngsters and players that don’t always play, it’s still NPL opposition, they are in the same bubble as us, so it’s important that we went 1-0 up and held it quite comfortably until the end,” Tichy said. “It was a boost for the confidence and even

Hume City’s new head coach Petr Tichy. (Supplied)

the players that don’t normally get much game time, they showed me that they can play and they can contribute to good defence and going forward, so I will have big decisions to make over the next few days. “That’s what I want to have, tough decisions to make instead of knowing who’s going to play, who’s going to be on the bench so that’s part of the job I enjoy. “I really like to see the 21 players competing

for each other’s spot and that brings the best out of everyone.” Hume finished fourth last season, winning nine games before the season was cut short at 18 matches due to COVID. Tichy says he would like to get his team out of the bottom two relegation situation and push towards a mid-table finish this season. “Of course we want to get out of the relegation bottle as soon as possible, don’t leave anything last minute and I know that the group is strong enough that we can really steer it up and get closer to even the top six,” he said. “I feel if we have a good winning streak, the group is strong enough to make a few wins in a row and the league is so competitive that other teams will beat each other. “So we can definitely move up, but the goal is one game at a time, Eastern Lions this week to move us off the bottom. “One game at a time we move up.” Tichy said his side are on track to fix their defensive struggles from earlier in the season which he believes will bring their team together

with their attacking game already in good shape. “I feel like we’re on the right track there [defensively] and the group feels much more secure and better when it comes to defending,” he said. “I have seen a good response and I know there will be some big results for us and it’s just around the corner. “At training it is so positive, you wouldn’t think we’re on the bottom. “Some clubs would be a mess in this situation, but it hasn’t been like that for us.” Hume had a big opportunity to begin its season turnaround in round 11 on Saturday night as they faced a second last Eastern Lions who were two points ahead of Hume before the game. A win would be Hume’s first for the season, putting them one point ahead of the Lions and off the bottom of the ladder. Results: https://northern.starweekly.com.au/ sport/ Max Hatzoglou

United aim for top ladder spot

Max Busuttil on the podium.

(Supplied)

Back on medal podium By Max Hatzoglou Greenvale resident Max Busuttil was ecstatic to find himself back on a podium with a medal around his neck after years without a top three finish and challenges along the way. Busuttil had been through several injuries and hours of isolated training through COVID to get his moment of winning silver in the 100 metre sprint at the recent under-17 National Championships on April 27. Bustuttil was happy to gain a medal after years without a podium finish since he previously did it in 2019 for the 200 metre sprint and 2018 for the 100 metre sprint. “I felt ecstatic, I love the fact that I finally secured a solo medal after two years of nothing but relay medals,” Bustuttil said. “It really made me happy. The 16-year-old claimed second with a time of 11.20 on the big stage at the Sydney Olympic

Park Athletics Centre. In the lead up to the event Bustuttil had been dealing with injuries for the past three years, including his knee and dysfunctions with different parts of his body, some of which are still present to this day. “It’s been a very long journey getting back to second position,” he said. “Although I still have a fair few injuries, it’s never gonna leave me and I feel like as much as I may work on it, I may never fully remove it.” Like many, Bustuttil had also been through difficult periods through COVID having to train on his own at times. “This is not so much an injury but when COVID hit I was in a really bad position because our training was stopped for some time, and I kind of had to do it by myself,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think it works too well without my coach being there because I

feel like he helped me a lot with pushing me through the session and getting the most out of it. Bustuttil has been pleased to have Darren Clark as his coach since getting him in 2019. “Darren’s been all over the place with me during the last couple of years I’ve been with him,” he said. “He’s been really good with diagnosing problems, going through starts, telling me where I can improve or where I should stay the same.” Bustuttil goal is to make it to the Olympics. “My dream is to one day make the Olympics,” he said. “I sort of had a goal for the 2024 Olympics but I don’t think that’s going to happen but I heard the 2026 Commonwealth games is going to be in Country Victoria and that’s going to be my aim for now. “At the moment, I’m waiting to see if I have made the Australian team for June.”

Western United will look to jump Melbourne City on top of the A-League ladder to win its first minor premiership in its remaining three matches of the season. Coach John Aloisi revealed the club would likely be without star midfielder Alessandro Diamanti in its aspirations this season as he deals with an injury to his right knee. “It’s gonna be touch and go for him to get back,” Aloisi said. United’s remaining three games will occur over an eight-day period from Saturday, April 30 to Sunday, May 8 featuring the Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United all away from home. United currently sits second on the ladder, two points behind City with a game in hand. Three wins would secure the minor premiership for United, while a few losses could put them below Melbourne Victory, who are two points below United in third position. Aloisi said that he hasn’t discussed the prospect of a minor premiership with the group, as he elects to keep his focus on their next game before thinking too far ahead. The former Socceroo also said his players are prepared for the workload of three matches in eight-days following a 10-day break. “It’s been something that we’ve prepared all season for because we’ve had to deal with it all season when we’ve had those short turnarounds and certain amount of games in a short period. “Some players can deal with it better than other players and back it up quickly and we had the luxury of taking players off against Perth. “Whether it’s going to be the same this week, I don’t know because you don’t know how the games will go but we’ve trained really well and we’ve been able to give the boys some good recovery but also some hard sessions so they will be ready to go.” United played the Mariners on Saturday and face Newcastle on Wednesday. Tuesday, 3 May, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 21

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