Star Weekly - Sunbury Macedon Ranges - 29th November 2022

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Gisborne’s festive cheer Back after a couple of pandemic-thwarted years, the Bendigo Bank Lions Gisborne Festival on Friday, December 9, will bring the community together to celebrate the festive season.

Gisborne and District Lions Club vice president Russell Walker said they were expecting a large crowd to attend this year and he couldn’t wait. “[Attendees] can look forward to [a] street parade, which will include a range of community groups, Santa on a sleigh, a stilt walker, the Bendigo Chinese Lions, local emergency services plus a lot more,” he said.

“There’s a significant social benefit to the community.

“It’s an outdoor event with no entry fee with various free activities to ensure it’s affordable for people to join in and have fun.”

From 4.30pm to 9pm, festival-goers can enjoy live music, free children’s activities, market and food stalls, carnival rides and even fireworks.

The Lions Club said about 5000 people attend the festival each year, which is held on the second Friday in December annually.

Ken and Marilyn Bryce can’t wait to welcome residents to the Bendigo Bank Lions Christmas Festival

(Damjan Janevski) 309219_02

Labor holds onto seats The Sunbury and Macedon electorates have been retained by their sitting Labor MPs Josh Bull and Mary-Anne Thomas, despite a drop in both of the candidates’ primary votes of 14.7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

In Macedon, with 73.6 per cent of votes counted as of 8am on Monday, the health minister led Liberal candidate Dominic Bonanno 42 per cent to 30.3 per cent on two-party-preferred terms.

With 75.3 per cent of votes counted in Sunbury, Mr Bull led Liberal candidate Simmone Cottom 56.6 per cent to 43.4 per cent.

Both Mr Bull and Ms Thomas said they were feeling humbled and thankful to have been re-elected on Saturday, despite swings against their party and votes flowing to independent and minor parties.

“I love what I do, people in this electorate give me enormous energy. Their trust and confidence in me gives me enormous energy and I will work hard for them,” Ms Thomas said.

She said she would rally to ensure her election commitments – including a half a million dollar upgrade at Romsey’s Lions Park reserve and $1.5 million for Kyneton Netball Club – would be funded in the state budget.

Mr Bull also said his priority would

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be delivering his election commitments, including the development of a TAFE campus in Sunbury and $1.3 million for the local aquatic and leisure centre.

“I think we’ve been able to show what we can achieve when we focus on getting things done,” he said.

Addressing the sizable decline in his primary vote, and for both major parties, Mr Bull said there were more independents and minor party candidates at this election than at the last.

“In 2018 there were only three candidates, the Liberals and the Greens … the drop in primary is mathematically expected,” he said.

Ms Thomas said there had been a “relentless campaign” against Labor by elements of the media, right wing groups and extremists, as well as some residual frustration over the pandemic.

“And indeed the decisions that were taken by the government to protect the lives of people were acutely felt by many others in our community,” she said.

Ms Thomas said she would continue to balance her responsibilities as health minister with her role as the member for Macedon.

“You can’t be a minister in a government unless you’re a good local member first, so being a good local member is always my top priority,” she said.

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Valentine’s at Hanging Rock

Celebrate Valentine’s Day under the stars at Hanging Rock with a special movie screening of Peter Weir’s 1975 film, Picnic at Hanging Rock.

The film, which is the 1967 novel by an adaption of the same name

by Joan Lindsay, revolves around the disappearance of several schoolgirls and their teacher during a Rock on Valentine’s picnic to Hanging Day Moviegoers are encour in 1900. aged to bring their own picnic for dinner, a chair, rug and a blanket and get cosy as the drama mystery film is screen ing.

For a bit of fun, come classic 1900’s costum dressed in a The film night is on e.

Saturday, February 13 from 7pm at Hangin g Rock, 139 South Rock Road, Woodend.

Tickets cost $25 for adults, $10 for children or $60 for a family of two adults and two children.

To book: bit.ly/3pzPyji

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Anti-vax leaflet slammed ‘‘

Jessica Micallef

By Jessica Micallef

Let’s not

McEwen MP Rob let false lies Mitchell is urging Sunbury residents to “tear spread as being facts up and throw anti-vaccination leaflets away” . It’s that may appear their letterbox. in dangerou s - Rob Mitchell Mr Mitchell said residen ts had notified him last Monday (Februa leaflets is from ry 1) about anti-vaccinatio American-based leaflets about the n IDoNotComp company, COVID-19 vaccine ly, which labels that had global been dropped in their movement that oppose itself as a letterbox.

The leaflet, seen by s COVID-19 regulations.

Star Weekly, stated should “avoid the people “It’s danger COVID and claims the “vaccin vaccine at all costs” People will ous that people are getting this. read e could this and wonder if potentially be he more deadly than it’s true,” said. “We are seeing the virus”.

Mr Mitchell believe out … it’s all garbage these theories being put s the sender of . Tear the leaflet up the put it in the bin.” and

’’

RADIOLOGY SAVES LIVES

How healthy is

Mr Mitchell said only contacted him about Sunbury residents had be done to combat potenti was concerned peoplethe leaflets so far, but he misinformation ally “deadly in surrounding areas ”. would also receive He said people should them. consult a doctor The leaflet also has or medical address to the organis a QR code and a web vaccinations professional when it came to and medica urged people not to ation’s site. Mr Mitchell “We don’t know who l treatment. scan the code. these people are and “It’s for your own that is why safety,” he said. “It we have medical experts from an American-base comes ,” he said.

“They have decade d organisation which s you’d think wouldn to understand these in training and learning ’t be so callous and things. They are the to make a stateme stupid to talk to. people nt like risk of dying of COVID ‘most people have no “Let’s not let false -19’. lies spread as being “This from a countr It’s dangerous. facts. y where tragica lly more than 440,000 deaths “What we have achieve have been recorded.” d in Victoria …

Mr Mitchell said an amazing job is more work needed to people spreadi and the last thing we need is ng theories.”

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Funding pulled for Martins Road

By Elsie Lange A Macedon Ranges councillor has criticised a decision to redirect funding from previously promised upgrades to Martins Road in Nulla Vale to council’s capital works budget.

At a meeting on Wednesday, November 23, council voted to change the scope of three separate infrastructure projects in the 2022-23 budget, to deliver a $172,260 surplus to cover rapidly rising construction costs.

Instead of carrying forward the funded, yet-to-be completed works including upgrades to Mission Hill Road in Baynton, footbridge construction at Main Road East side in Romsey and a culvert upgrade at Martins Road, council

will instead conduct design and investigation works.

From the $175,000 originally allocated to Martins Road works, $150,000 will be returned to council to cover the costs of other projects.

Cr Geoff Neil said he was most concerned about residents on the road and “their access and egress from the property”, especially during fire season. The dip in the road at the floodway culvert even caused a bus to become stuck there in 2021.

“In the last budget, we gave our residents an expectation that these works would be commenced. Now we’re turning around and virtually saying, they won’t be,” he said.

In a report to council, officers said the

combination of cost increases and contractor availability required a critical review of all projects impacted by these factors.

Council assets and operations director Shane Walden said the projects presented with altered scope “have not been rejected”.

“The project expenditure is recommended for consideration and budget approval in the year of construction,” he said.

Cr Neil suggested that since Martins Road shares a border with Mitchell council, it could be a shared financial responsibility. He feared the investigation works would not guarantee works in the future, despite being in council budgets since 2018-19.

Cr Jennifer Anderson said she suspected that

Understanding the nature of grass

Slashing the grassfire risk

The relationship between grasses and humans is as old as time – a story of understanding land, food production, invasion and ecology.

Macedon Ranges council’s grass identification field day walk happening at Malmsbury Common will give residents the opportunity to better understand native and introduced grassland species in the region.

Council bushland reserves officer Martin Roberts will lead the walk on Sunday, December 11, giving practical, easy to understand demonstrations for identifying the grasses residents have on their properties and in paddocks.

“It’s important to know about the grasses where you are,” Mr Roberts said.

“If you look at it from a fire perspective, [native] kangaroo grass actively grows in summer and whilst everything can grow in a bad season, it doesn’t burn as hot as your introduced grasses. “[Grasses] are really essential for providing a matrix of cover across the ground that provides habitat for small mammals and ground nesting birds, from an insect perspective as well.”

He said because of Malmsbury’s history as an old mining town, the landscape was highly disturbed and contained a weed of national significance – an exotic needle grass.

“I want to encourage people to have a curiosity about this, a curiosity about their local environment as well as the complex nature of our recent history in this space … what might be dominating and why,” Mr Roberts said.

“There’s a relationship between grass and people and it’s been going for millenia.”

The walk runs from 10am to 11.30am at Malmsbury Common.

Register: https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/ See-Do/Events/Whats-on-around-the-shire/ Grass-ID-Field-Day-Malmsbury.

Elsie Lange

because council had committed money for the design and investigation works, it would be “unlikely that [Martins Road] doesn’t come back as a budget bid”.

Vivien Philpotts, a Martins Road resident on the Mitchell side of the Macedon Ranges-managed road, said pushing the works back could be “potentially really dangerous”.

“If there’s a fire … and we’ve had three in the last four or five years, and it’s across Feneys Lane [off Martins Road], there is no other way of getting into that area, the other end of Feneys Lane where the Country Fire Authority shed is,” she said, which was raised as a concern after the 2015 Lancefield-Cobaw fire.

To reduce the risk of future grassfires and to protect the community and environment ahead of summer, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) is conducting slashing across Central Victoria.

Areas to be slashed include Macedon, Avoca, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Cohuna, Maldon, Echuca, Heathcote, Inglewood, Maryborough, Dunolly, Bealiba, Tarnagulla, Rushworth and St Arnaud.

FFMVic senior fuel management officer Jonathan Andrea said it was a culmination of higher-than-average rainfall and flooding which had prompted crews to get cracking and manage increased grass growth.

“We carefully monitor weather conditions and will be initially targeting priority areas for slashing that will have the greatest impact on reducing future bushfire risk to communities and the environment,” Mr Andrea said.

“Even though our crews are assisting with flood recovery and response, it is important slashing still happens to protect the community and environment from bushfires this summer. Therefore, FFMVic have engaged additional contractors to assist with delivery of this fuel reduction work.”

He said reducing bushfire risk was a shared responsibility with private landowners, council and the CFA also playing an important role.

“Homeowners are encouraged to be prepared for grass and bushfires by cutting long grass regularly, removing leaves and twigs from the yard and clearing space around their house of all flammable materials.”

Macedon Ranges council’s bushlands reserves officer Martin Roberts will lead a grass identification walk through Malmsbury Common. (Damjan Janevski) 309237_02

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Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 3

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Ten-year transport plan released Upgrades to one of Woodend’s most complained about intersections have been listed as a “medium-term” priority in Macedon Ranges council’s new Woodend Integrated Transport Plan.

The plan guides a 10-year program for works to improve existing traffic and transport issues in the town.

The plan, outlined in a report to council, identifies gaps and opportunities between what is currently available and community expectations, providing recommendations based on priority.

At a meeting on Wednesday, November 23,

council assets and operations director Shane Walden said issues raised by the community included the Coles intersection at High and Urquart streets and the availability of connected pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

The Department of Transport has begun design works for upgrading the High and Urquart streets intersection, noted in the transport plan as a “medium term action”.

“Not as it is not important, rather that there are long lead times into the development of an intersection upgrade,” Mr Walden said.

Councillor Janet Pearce said since the opening of Coles in 2018, council had

continually heard from residents regarding concerns at High and Urquart streets.

“I just want to reassure everyone that we have been continually advocating and working on this … and we do understand how important this is,” she said.

The transport plan identified 28 recommendations focusing on various areas and modes of traffic and transport, such as better active transport routes, public transport with train and bus accessibility, and road safety in various locations.

Recommendations were categorised into short (one to three years), medium (four to

seven years) and long-term (seven or more years) goals based on complexity.

The highest short term priority was to undertake an estimated $20,000 review of pedestrian access alongside roads, namely to provide pedestrian refuge and Disability Discrimination Act- compliant pram ramps.

The following four short-term priorities (in order) were related to reviewing speed limits, upgrading High Street service lane to a wombat crossing, creating a pedestrian refuge crossing at the intersection of Romsey Road and Avenue of Honour and creating a pedestrian refuge crossing at Forest and High streets.

Disco show will glitter A Sunbury theatre group is hitting the road to bring their its new, high-energy show to the Bowery Theatre in St Albans this weekend, and it’s guaranteed to make the audience smile.

To coincide with the International Day of People with Disability on Saturday, December 3, BoilOver Performance Ensemble will showcase its production ‘Meet me at the Disco’, a celebration of 1970s music and moves.

BoilOver creative director Carmen Maddison said the show will transport audiences to a world of glitter, gold, vinyl and nylon.

“The production explores the power of self-expression, individuality and being able to come together and share the joys of music and dancing,” Ms Maddison said.

BoilOver is a physical theatre company giving disabled artists rich and diverse

opportunities to explore creativity and artistic skills in a professional theatrical setting.

Tickets for the show even include entry to a community disco, which will be held in between the afternoon and evening performances.

With an illuminated floor and disco balls transforming the theatre into a “disco-lovers paradise”, the audience is invited to join the cast in wearing their best disco outfits too.

The standing event will have seating provided for those who need mobility support.

There will be two performances at 2pm and at 7pm. Tickets are moving fast.

Ms Maddison said recognising International Day of People with Disability gave everyone a chance to “celebrate the contributions and achievements of people with disability and promote inclusion”.

Details: https://creativebrimbank.com.au/ meet-me-at-the-disco

Sarah Ellis will perform as part of BoilOver’s disco production.

(Supplied: Matt Gleeson)

Businesses shine at awards 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM Against Gender-Based Violence

Dec

07

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Businesses were recognised for their outstanding service, innovation, products and professionalism at this year’s Josh’s Rainbow Eggs Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards on Friday, November 18.

Kyneton Dry Stone Walling Centre took out Business of the Year, as well as an award for excellence in the manufacturing, trades, retail and innovation category.

Other award winners included Kyneton’s Pearce Electricians (People’s Choice), Gisborne South’s Millett Road Maker (Champion of Social, Environmental or Sustainability Principles), Woodend’s Fox in the Chamber (COVID-19 Business Adaptability ), Kyneton’s Animus Distillery (Excellence in Agribusiness and Food Manufacturing) and more.

Macedon Ranges deputy mayor Jennifer Anderson said it was great to see the awards

embraced by local businesses.

“We recognise the time and effort it can take to complete nominations so it was great to see so many get involved,“ Cr Anderson said.

“Congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists and to everybody who was part of this fantastic event.

“In 2023 we will be encouraging the community to get involved in rewarding their favourite businesses so look out for these changes. Community support plays such an important role in shaping the success of our local businesses every day.

“The new awards system will allow everybody to demonstrate their appreciation through voting above and beyond being a customer and recommending them to others,” she said.

To check out the full list of winners, go to: mrsc.vic.gov.au/business-awards.

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Empowering Women in Sunbury Come and join us to hear inspiring stories from the community that uplift and empower women and girls in Sunbury 10.30am - 12pm 12-28 Macedon Street Sunbury Refreshments provided REGISTER WITH QR CODE OR LINK http://bit.ly/3ESanAL 12579691-SN48-22

4 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

Kyneton Dry Stone Walling Centre won business of the year award at Josh’s Rainbow Eggs Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards 2022. (Supplied: Macedon Ranges council)

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Producers mount prosecco plea

By Elsie Lange Last week, wine producers made their way to Canberra to brief parliamentarians on why Australian wineries shouldn’t be banned from using the grape variety name ‘prosecco’.

As part of a campaign led by Australian Grape and Wine (AGW), the producers were challenging a push from the European Union for Australian grown prosecco to be named ‘glera’ or labelled ‘Australian prosecco’, as part of a broader free trade agreement between the countries.

With a decision to be made imminently, AGW chief executive Lee McLean said the European Union’s approach to the issue was motivated by a desire to protect Italian producers from competition, and “nothing more”.

Prosecco is a sparkling white wine, originating from the Valdobbiadene region in Veneto, Italy. It’s made from prosecco, or glera grapes. According to AGW, the value of Australian prosecco is about $200 million per annum.

AGW said prosecco had been “a shining

light” in the country’s wine sector as it faced ongoing trading challenges.

“These producers are here [in Canberra] to make sure our politicians understand that decisions relating to prosecco have significant consequences for businesses, regional communities and ultimately people,” Mr McLean said.

“Prosecco isn’t just a bargaining chip for our negotiators.”

Adam Paleg is a winemaker at Mount Macedon’s Mount Towrong Vineyard, where they produce prosecco – he said the name

was a powerful marketing tool with a strong following.

“Hypothetically if we did have to change the name to glera or something else, there is a big unknown about the effect it would have on the sales of Australian prosecco,” he said.

Mr McLean said prosecco was a grape variety name, just like Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, and should be treated that way.

“If we don’t back our producers now, there is a real risk other varieties like Vermentino, Fiano, Nero d’Avola and Montepulciano will be next in the firing line,” he said.

Carols return to Diggers The Diggers Rest Community Christmas Carols are making their return December 8 with an expected turn-out among the thousands, all eager to sing carols and enjoy festive activities.

The community is invited to attend the first Diggers Rest’s first carols night since 2019, hosted by the Lions Club of Diggers Rest in collaboration with Diggers Rest Primary School. The evening will kick off at 5pm on the school’s oval, with emceeing by a past Diggers Rest Primary School pupil who will perform solo and also be joined on stage by pupils and community groups to perform carols and dances.

The event will include balloon artists, face painters, market stalls, refreshment sales, and a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus.

The Lions Club of Diggers Rest President Katherine Skinner said she was thrilled to see this event come to fruition and hopes to see flocks of families attending the free carols night.

“I am a believer that celebrations like these are essential to our individual wellbeing as they build a sense of togetherness. They help us to celebrate the year that was and who we are as a Diggers Rest community.”

The event, sponsored by Melton council and AVID Property Group Bloomdale, will raise funds for the Lions Club, the Country Fire Authority and Diggers Rest Primary School fundraising committee. AVID Property Group Bloomdale project director Danny Boubli said it’s exciting to see the event’s return.

“After years of lockdowns, we’re so pleased the annual carols are making a return and providing a festive, fun space for the community to connect,” he said. “This event is a highlight for many in the area and we are so happy to contribute.”

Grade 1 and 2 pupils rehearsing for the Diggers Rest Community Carols event.

(Damjan Janevski) 309758_01

Respect is choosing not to laugh at jokes that put women down.

Respect women.

Call it out.

To learn more respectvictoria.vic.gov.au

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 5

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Thanking SES Sunbury State Emergency Service (SES) was pleasantly surprised when one of its youth development program squad members, Sam, who has just finished year 12 at Braemar College, got in touch to say the school was donating $800 to the unit in recognition of his service. In a social media post, Sunbury SES said Sam works hard, helps others and is committed to his community.

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Gorgeous Peeky and Perky are ambassador’s of Edgar’s Mission’s Giving Tuesday fundraiser.

(Supplied: Edgar’s Mission)

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No kidding about giving Not-for-profit sanctuary Edgar’s Mission in Lancefield reminds people they goat to give on international Giving Tuesday, aiming to raise $100,000.

It’s the fourth time the sanctuary held its annual fundraiser on November 29, as part of the global movement of generosity.

Its ambassadors, kid goats Peeky and Perky, are adorable additions to the campaign. The sibling goats were rescued after they were orphaned, and soon, they “hopped, skipped and jump”.

Edgar’s Mission operations manager Kyle Behrend said for almost two decades, the sanctuary had seen the power of kindness in both animals and people, and the fundraiser helped them continue their important work. “[The Giving Tuesday fundraiser] represents

half of our annual food and bedding costs for the hundreds of formerly farmed animals who call Edgar’s Mission home,” Mr Behrend said.

The sanctuary’s social media presence is staggering, reaching hundreds of millions each day and spreading the word about what they do.

“With every story told, like that of Perky and Peeky, hearts and minds across the globe are being transformed while we inch ever closer towards a kinder world for animals,” Mr Behrend said.

“The only reason we can do this is because of caring people who share our belief that a kinder world is not only possible, it’s on the way.”

To donate to Edgar’s Mission’s Giving Tuesday fundraiser, visit: www.givesotheycanlive.com. au.

Macedon Ranges council is calling on skaters, BMX and scooter riders, and all residents, to have their say on the Gisborne Skate Park plan, open for community feedback until December 16. The existing facilities are about 20 years old, with the draft concept plan informed by community feedback and designed by experienced local skate park designers Baseplate and EastbyWest.

Register your burn-offs Heading into summer, the Victoria Country Fire Authority (CFA) is reminding residents to register their burn-offs. The Fire Permits Victoria website is a the place to go for Victorians to register burn-offs with authorities prior to the fire danger period (FDP) commencing, or apply for a permit once the FDP has started.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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6 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Cr Death the new mayor

Landcare under review

By Elsie Lange Macedon Ranges council has elected East Ward councillor Annette Death to serve as mayor for a one-year term.

Cr Death said as a first-term mayor she had a lot to learn, but the depth of knowledge on council of both local issues and government would be an asset.

“I welcome the opportunity to grow into the role with each of you and as a team,” Cr Death said.

“With our [chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan] in the role for about 18 months, and a fully staffed executive leadership team, we are in a good position to onboard a first term mayor.”

She said for her, the role of mayor was about bringing people together, “to encourage diversity of opinion and robust conversation“.

She said collaboration and community were important elements for doing so.

“As mayor, that’s where my focus will be. Forward looking, solutions oriented and working together with everyone in a constructive and supportive approach to being in the best position we can be to govern in the best interests of the community,” Cr Death said.

“My partner has been very supportive of this decision, because as we all know being a councillor is time demanding, so the support and encouragement from family and friends enables us to do these roles.”

Cr Death thanked outgoing mayor, West Ward councillor Jennifer Anderson, for her commitment to the role over the last two years, and during her five terms as mayor. Cr Anderson was elected deputy mayor at the meeting.

“I would like to note again that in [her] time there was a significant program of work due to legislative requirements under the 2020 Local

Cr Annette Death in the new Macedon Ranges mayor.

(Supplied: Macedon Ranges council)

Government Act … the recruitment of a new [chief executive] and onboarding a new cohort of councillors with varied levels of experience,” she said.

“This was further compounded by COVID-19 lockdowns and extreme weather and storm events.

“All through that, Cr Anderson has

NEWS

demonstrated experience and thoughtful leadership throughout the two mayoral terms.”

Cr Death said there was “still much work to do” over the next 12 months.

“From strategic planning projects, budgetary implications with inflation and rising costs, ongoing storm recovery and environment impacts, just to name a few,” she said.

A community-led planning process is driving a review of Victoria’s landcare movement.

A statement from Landcare Victoria said the review will deliver a new Landcare Plan to establish directions for the landcare movement over the next decade and beyond.

Consultancy firm Projectura has been engaged to develop the plan, using a series of community engagement workshops to be held between December 5 to 9.

Landcare Victoria chief executive Andrew Maclean said the aspirations and ideas of the landcare community to central to the plan’s development.

“This is the first time a movement– wide strategic plan for landcare has been attempted, using a community–driven consultative approach. Essentially, this process will allow the landcare community to design its own future,” Mr Maclean said.

“We want to engage with as many people involved in the landcare movement that we can so that this Plan best reflects the needs of our community.

“If you are a member of a Landcare Group or work in the landcare space and want to have a say in the future of the movement, we would encourage you to attend one of our workshops.”

Landcare Victoria said the workshops will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing landcare.

The final plan is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

Funding was provided by the state government.

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THE ROAD TO RESPECT

Be bold and call out violence On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner, as unveiled by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. Global organisation White Ribbon seeks to prevent the behaviours that lead to violent acts against women. Fatima Halloum learns from volunteers the best ways men can support the movement.

A

jay Ramdas doesn’t believe you need to have witnessed or experienced family violence to be a passionate advocate for change.

In 2015, the Melton resident began co-ordinating a support group for women on a journey to heal from the effects of abuse.

“They come in, have a good time, laugh, and create friendships,” he said.

“You can find family violence across all classes of people.

“There’s no barrier whatsoever, we can see it in every community.”

By 2016, Mr Ramdas took his commitment to be a role model further, when he joined the White Ribbon organisation as a volunteer.

The group says it strives for an Australian society where all women and children are safe.

“The purpose of the White Ribbon Campaign as a primary prevention, is to educate predominantly men but also women,” he said.

“For the women [we want them to] know [when] what they’re going through could be violence or abuse and to be able distinguish between what is genuine love and controlling behaviour.

“On the other side we want to educate men, a lot of perpetrators are not aware that they are engaging in violence or abuse because that is how they’ve grown up, they think that [controlling women] is just the way a family should be run.”

Mr Ramdas believes a key element of the campaign is to encourage people to take more notice of their own behaviour and their

spouse’s behaviour too.

“People think ‘I’m not hitting my wife, there is no physical hitting, hence I am not engaged in family violence’, that is wrong because abuse comes in various forms,” he said.

“It could be emotional abuse where you are controlling their emotions, it could be financial abuse where you are controlling all the money and you’re not letting her have her own accounts.

“It could be spiritual abuse or it could be social abuse, and you control who she meets, what she does and who are her friends.

“Abuse is when there is predominantly fear in the relationship.“ After looking internally at their own behaviours, Mr Ramdas suggests people look at their households and workplaces and scrutinise the conversations that are often overlooked under the guise of humour.

“During get togethers and catch ups, they can have these kinds of discussions,” he said.

A survey conducted by White Ribbon revealed one in two employees considered it acceptable to tell a sexist joke in the workplace.

“If you hear something put across as a joke that’s demeaning to women, be bold enough to stand up, of course provided it is safe enough to do so, and call it out, you can say ‘you’re much better than that mate’,” Mr Ramdas said.

White Ribbon director Allan Ball believes most men are not violent, and many are aware that violence against women is not OK. “We want to encourage Australian men to take action,” he said.

8 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

‘‘

You can find family violence across all classes of people. There’s no barrier whatsoever, we can see it in every community

’’

- Ajay Ramadas

“I’m passionate about really disrupting and really breaking down what a man should be, this idea of a strong, brave, stoic, almost emotionless being that is upheld by notions like ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘treat her mean, keep her keen’.

“We need to understand what’s going on for guys, how do we offer support for you as well, and how do we stop this before it even begins.”

Mr Ball said there are number of complicated reasons people engage in violent behaviours, underpinned by power, control, and privilege, whether it’s conscious or unconscious.

“It’s the environment, the cultures and the systems that men are surrounded in and the behaviours that they choose and are influenced by, that drive the problem,” he said.

“Men are not just the problem or the underpinning problem of violence against women, they’re also part of the solution.

“So we need to call men in, rather than call them out, and say ‘we need you to be part of the action’.”

For men wanting to participate in more structured advocacy, Mr Ramdas encourages them to consider becoming a White Ribbon volunteer and helping to spread the message amongst their own family and friends.

“To the victim whether they are a man or woman, please gather your strength to seek help, don’t be ashamed, it is better to seek help than to suffer in silence,“ he said.

“If there is a physical or immediate threat, do not hesitate to call triple-0, for non-emergency threats, there are lots of supports available.”

Individuals seeking assistance are encouraged to call 1800 737 732, a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line.

Details: https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/ Find-Help/Help-Lines

THE ROAD TO RESPECT

‘No excuses’: Time to act

By Danielle Galvin In the first few pages of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, there is a profound statement from victim-survivors.

The plan has been described across the sector as bold, ambitious, and world-leading - a line in the sand moment.

“It is time to transform our pain into action.

There can be no more excuses – that it is too hard, we don’t know what to do, it’s too complex,” the statement from members of the Independent Collective of Survivors reads.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to end the perpetration of violence against women and children, and all victims of gendered violence.”

On 17 October, the Federal Government released the blueprint providing a broad snapshot of the domestic violence scourge in Australian society, as well as committing to a nation free from gender-based violence within a generation.

The plan will be implemented through two, five-year action plans which will detail specific state government actions and investment to implement the objectives across each of the four domains: prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing.

The plan commits to 10 years of “sustained action, effort and partnership across sectors and levels of government”.

“To achieve this, we must listen to and be guided by victim-survivors and people with lived experience,” the plan states.

It’s well documented that in Australia one woman dies every 10 days at the hands of their former or current partner.

One in three women have experienced physical violence, since the age of 15, and one in five have experienced sexual violence.

The plan was developed with state and territory governments, victim-survivors, advocacy groups, specialised services, researchers as well as key stakeholders from the health, law, justice sectors, business and community groups.

Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said it gives a clear blueprint for the next decade.

“Current rates of family, domestic and sexual violence are unacceptable. We want to make these changes now so the next generation of women and children can live in a society free from violence,” she said.

“We need sustained and collective action across society. This includes providing better support and protection to victim-survivors and holding people who choose to use violence to account,” Professor Kate FitzGibbon, the director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence

The National Plan includes a focus on: Survivor advocate Lula Dembele speaks to media during the launch of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 at Monash College in Melbourne, on 17 October. (Joel Carrett, AAP)

Prevention Centre, said domestic, family and sexual violence is a national crisis.

“This is world leading,” she said.

“It sets the ambition to create a whole of system response that not only supports victim-survivors to survive but to thrive beyond their experience of violence.

“This National Plan represents the outcome of significant consultation and advocacy nationally and sets an ambitious framework for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence. Now is the time to translate these commitments into meaningful actions.”

While the plan is broad in nature, there are some specific, important threads.

One includes the need to increase response indicators, such as increasing the proportion

of victim-survivors receiving suitable housing, increasing capacity of frontline services, as well as increasing the proportion of perpetrators held accountable through the justice system.

Victoria’s Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Ros Spence, welcomed the plan.

“We’re proud to support the National Plan and we’re proud to be working alongside all Australian governments to ensure we end family violence and all forms of violence against women in a generation.

“We’re pleased to have a genuine partner in equality in the Albanese Labor Government and we look forward to working constructively with all governments to advance gender equality and end all forms of violence against women and children.”

• Advancing gender equality and addressing other forms of discrimination that create the social context in which violence against women and children occurs • The critical role of changing attitudes to stop violence from happening before it starts through national prevention efforts • Embedding effective early intervention approaches across the whole of society • Building the frontline sector workforce and ensuring women and children can access support no matter where they live • Making sure tailored and culturally-safe support is available and accessible to all women and children experiencing violence, and • The need for person-centred services and better coordination and integration across systems.

Inspiring and empowering women in Sunbury To commemorate the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, people in Sunbury will have the chance to hear from those who inspire other women and girls to feel empowered, motivated and valued members of the community.

Hosted by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health (SCCH), a morning tea on Thursday, December 8, from 10.30am to noon, will feature a number of guest speakers, who are helping to process gender equality at a local level.

Organiser of the 16 Days activities for the health service, Lisa Richards, said there were many opportunities in the region for women of any age to get involved in their community, to share their expertise and knowledge, and learn new skills.

“We invite people to join us to reflect on the importance of striving for gender equality and women’s empowerment,” she said.

Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Matt Gleeson and Lisa Richards holding ‘Respect is...’ signs. (Damjan Janevski) 309553_02

“We know that respecting, uplifting, and empowering women is a crucial step towards a world without gender-based violence.”

The international campaign runs from

November 25 to December 10, raising awareness while exploring and challenging why gender-based violence exists.

Speakers at the Sunbury event include

Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Raquel Stewart, Goonawarra Neighbourhood House manager Isabella Rosinksy, financial counsellor Nel Staite and local youth leader and allergy awareness advocate Kara Gifford.

Strong visual displays and the opportunity to create a ‘Respect is …’ sign, to highlight what ending gender-based violence means to them.

“We want to pay tribute to the many survivors of gender-based violence,” Ms Richards said.

“Their bravery, experience and stories inform how health and community services such as ours respond to and support survivors of family violence.”

The event will take place at SCCH, 12-28 Macedon Street, Sunbury.

Details: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ SunburyRespectMorningTea Elsie Lange

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 9

16 Days of Activism Commencing annually on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and running until 10 December (Human Rights Day), the 16 Days of Activism campaign was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by UN Women. It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

16 ways to call it out Be an active bystander 1. Don’t laugh at sexist jokes.

Give a disapproving look to show a behaviour or statement is not okay.

9. Challenge the logic: “That’s not my experience.” or “What makes you think that?”

Bystanders may observe gendered violence in any of these environments and have the capacity to act.

2. Shake your head or roll your eyes.

10. Stand up for the person affected: “Michelle was saying something, and you cut her off again.”

Bystander action refers to ‘how’ a bystander calls out, or engages others in responding to incidences of violence, sexism, harassment, or discrimination.

3. Leave a pointed and uncomfortable silence.

4. Make a light-hearted comment: “What century are you living in?”

5. Check in with the person affected: “I heard what he just said – are you okay?”

11. Make eye contact with the person affected – let them know you’re an ally.

12. Show your emotion: “It actually makes me sad/uncomfortable when you say that.”

6. Privately let them know the behaviour is not 13. Support others when they call it out: okay: “The joke you made in yesterday’s “I agree, that’s not funny.” meeting was not funny, and actually not okay.”

14.

Appeal to their better self: 7. Calmly disagree and state that the “Come on, you’re better than that.” comment is wrong or unacceptable: “I know you probably didn’t mean it, but I found what you said to be offensive.”

8. Speak up and educate by explaining why you disagree: “Actually evidence shows the vast majority of women do not make up false claims of sexual assault” (you could use the Key Facts in this toolkit).

15. Report the behaviour to management, or via incident reporting systems if available.

16. Disrupt or distract the situation to redirect focus from the incident to something else.

10 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

There is no ‘right way’ to be an active bystander.

Depending on the situation at hand, various forms of intervention can be deployed, and a bystander should consider their own comfort and safety above all else.

Fact Sheet

• choosing not to laugh at jokes that put women down

• valuing older women’s experiences

• sharing the housework

• calling out degrading language in sports

• challenging what it means to be a man

• is being an ally to trans women

• treating girls and boys as equal

• promoting women’s financial independence

• calling out harmful comments towards women

• making home a safe place

• amplifying the voices of women with disabilities

• supporting everyone to express their identities

• upholding women’s control over their own bodies

• upholding women’s independence

• upholding Aboriginal women’s voices and experiences

• making sure every women feels safe at work

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 11

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Hopes for a busy tourist season Members of the Macedon Ranges Accommodation Association (MRAA) are feeling good about the upcoming holiday season, despite an easing of demand since lockdowns ended.

MRAA president Mariel Sloane said accommodation providers were planning for a busy season, but would remain flexible and “adjust to changing conditions”.

She said a slow down in visitor numbers were more likely due to uncertain economic conditions and an easing of the post-lockdown travel boom, rather than the resumption of international travel taking visitors away from

the region.

“Since the lockdowns many Victorians have been introduced to the Macedon Ranges and our fantastic food and wine, beautiful natural surroundings and excellent accommodation, and we feel this will continue to attract visitors throughout the summer season,” she said.

“While the gardens of the region have enjoyed the unseasonably high rainfall we hope this stabilises and we receive some magnificent summer weather so visitors can enjoy the great outdoors our many great walks, cycling trails and natural attractions.”

Daylesford Macedon Tourism chief executive

Steve Wroe said it would be hard to predict what visitation would be like these holidays.

“On one hand, we have enjoyed solid and high yielding visitation since lockdowns ended, thanks to our proximity to Melbourne and strong regional brand,” he said.

“What our region offers aligns with what the research tells us people are looking for: great food and wine, easy access to beautiful nature, scenic drives, and a bit of rejuvenation: whether that’s a massage, great meal, bush walk, or splurge on some lovely accommodation.

“On the other hand, we are seeing a bit of a softening of demand.”

He said while peoples’ savings, as well as their annual leave, had accumulated during lockdowns, the build-up of time-off was starting to stablise.

“People are clearly starting to worry about the economy. Of course, the possible weakening of demand might just be a short-term thing attributable to the lousy weather that we have had,” Mr Wroe said. “Either way, I think that the attributes of our region: great product … the green landscape and the fact that we’re an hour away mean we’ll be fine.

“It’s the further flung regions that I think might do it tougher over summer.”

Fungi farmer a scholar

Liam Parkinson overcame educational barriers to help other students on the spectrum to thrive at school.

(Damjan Janevski) 308488_01

Liam learns while lighting the way It’s Liam Parkinson’s goal to help students with autism and other learning difficulties navigate the school system with ease and support – to create a space he never had.

The 24-year-old Sunbury special education teacher felt left behind and unsupported when he was at school. Ultimately, he made the choice not to complete his high school certificate, and it put him off pursuing further education for a time.

But he didn’t want other students on the spectrum to have the experience he did.

He took action, and entered vocational education to complete a certificate IV in education support.

“I was bullied a lot and the teachers couldn’t understand why I didn’t like being around other children. Due to being bullied I was transferred to three different primary schools … [when I went into] high school I was bullied more and only lasted a term,” he said.

His grandmother homeschooled him for three years before he returned to a high school he enjoyed – and then it closed down.

He entered four different courses before he realised what he wanted to do. “[I thought about] what I liked to do, which was working with children with additional needs … That is when I came across the

certificate IV in education support … Now I am looking to the future to start my diploma in teaching preparation [at RMIT],” he said.

“The reason these courses were important for me to study is because I believe that … having an additional need and not receiving the help I needed, I could give the children who have different additional needs the help they need to achieve their goals.

“What I want people to take away from my story is that even though things can be rough at first, never give up on following your dreams and goals in life.”

Owner of Diggers Rests’ Bulla Park organic mushroom farm, Georgie Beattie, was one of 20 Australian farmers to score a Farmers for Climate Action (FFCA) farming scholarship, valued at more than $3000.

She was chosen from more than 200 farmers, in a record number of applications received by FFCA. “I believe Australian leaders have a responsibility to understand what is required to reach our climate goals and the exciting opportunities that will be a consequence of the positive shift,” she said.

FFCA outreach co-ordinator Ellen Litchfield said there had been huge interest from farmers interested in learning about building resilience and reducing their carbon footprints.

“Farmers are on the front lines of climate impacts, including drought, bushfires and recent floods. They are ready to act to protect their farms for the future and they are keen to learn more,” she said.

From November this year until March 2023, scholarship recipients will “gain the knowledge needed to succeed in a changing climate, to enable them to come leaders in climate-smart agriculture and “increasing the resilience of their farms”.

The training is set to be delivered by Nobel Prize winners and experts from the country’s leading universities, which will then culminate in a three-day trip to Canberra.

Here, the scholars will meet their peers, industry experts and politicians.

The farmers hail from each state and territory, with a diverse range of farming operations represented across sectors, including sheep, cattle, cropping and horticulture.

Elsie Lange

Draft plan endorsed for Hume community infrastructure With Hume’s population expected to grow to about 397,000 over the next five to 20 years, Hume council has developed a draft community infrastructure plan (CIP) to cater for the diverse and changing needs of its residents.

At a meeting on Monday, November 14, council endorsed its plan to provide infrastructure for libraries, early years, youth and seniors or aged care services, creative arts and community meeting, gathering and activity spaces for community engagement.

The draft CIP proposes 52 changes to community facilities, spaces and places over the next 15 years.

Councillor Carly Moore described the document as a very important piece of work.

“It is really our plan for the delivery of infrastructure throughout the city, so it is a very important document and I strongly encourage all members of our community to have a good look at it and to provide their feedback,” she said. “As much as we think we know what you’re thinking, we don’t actually know unless you tell us.”

Taking into consideration the varied geography and requirements of residents, the CIP splits the municipality into 13 precincts, and evaluates needs based on the different characteristics of each.

For example, Sunbury Central is identified as a precinct where there is “a significantly older population ageing in place with most of the housing targeted at families”.

12 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

“An additional community centre will be required to support the services required for the population growth in the identified Sunbury West [precinct structure plan] that will begin to be planned over the next 10 years,” the draft CIP says.

“There is a range of priorities for this precinct, from investing in ageing infrastructure which is becoming or is [no] longer fit for purpose, [to] enhancing facilities to expand existing services. “[As well as] optimising facilities by introducing new services to support the varying needs and expectations of older people ageing in place, lone households, high numbers of disengaged youth and more culturally diverse households.”

Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jarrod Bell said the CIP was “unique” in its approach.

“Our officers have taken an innovative approach, they’ve taken a brave approach, they’ve taken an approach that looks at our entire organisation, our entire community as a whole and says where are the needs, what are the needs and how can we work together across the various branches of this council, across governments and across communities to deliver the facilities, spaces and places communities need where they need them,” he said. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to shape not only the provision of community infrastructure in their local communities today, but also across our entire city for the foreseeable future.”

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

‘Tis the season to spread cheer Christmas is back in Hume with full force, with council embracing the festive season after two years of Christmas looking a little different.

Council will be spreading Christmas cheer across the municipality in many ways in an effort to make Hume a jolly place to be.

Christmas in Hume’s flagship event Carols

by Candlelight is making a comeback for the first time in-person since 2019.

Craigieburn’s ANZAC Park will come alive on Saturday, December 3 from 5–9.30pm with carols, activities for all ages, a visit from Santa,

a fireworks extravaganza and more.

The event will be hosted by actor Hugh Sheridan, while main acts and performers will include PAW Patrol, Garth Ploog, Michaela Jayde, Kathy Hinch, Chantelle Defina and Jack Lyall.

Council is also has $6000 in giveaways as part of the Make Hume Shine Christmas lights competition residents and businesses and a 30 days of Christmas pop-up events calendar including pool parties, concerts and festive arts and craft.

Immersive LED light have been installed at Craigieburn’s Anzac Park, Sunbury’s Village Green and Broadmeadows’ Civic Plaza, giant Christmas trees are taking pride of place in Sunbury, Broadmeadows and Craigieburn, and a variety of street decorations will be displayed across the suburbs of Hume.

Mayor Joseph Haweil said he couldn’t wait to celebrate Christmas with the community.

“Christmas in Hume is all about celebrating alongside our wonderful community and I can’t wait to share the festive spirit with locals

right across our great city,” he said.

“This Christmas season is a chance for all of us to enjoy the best of Hume celebrating, relaxing and enjoying the warmer weather with family and friends.

“To say we are excited about having our first in-person Carols by Candlelight event in Hume City since 2019 is a massive understatement!”

Residents are encouraged to share their Christmas pictures with council on social media by tagging @HumeCityCouncil and using the hashtag #ChristmasinHume.

Men’s shed clearance The Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury is doing a clear out and residents are invited to come and buy their wares, just in time for the holiday season.

On Saturday, December 3, from 8am until 2pm, the guys at the shed will be selling a mixture of items made by members, as they do every six months or so.

“Such as things like bread boards, wooden toys, chairs and tables for kids, and a selection of other things,” shed president Dale Wilkes said.

He said it would be the second sale since lockdown ended, in their ongoing efforts to self-fund their activities where they can.

“Any money we make goes towards the operational costs, because our fees are quite low,” he said.

People go to the men’s shed because of a sense of community and activity and members have a wide skill set, which gets shown off at their garage sales.

“They come down and they enjoy their time, when they are pottering around and making

something useful.

They get some joy out of that,” Mr Wilkes said. “The things that are actually quite good are the bread boards.

There’s a number of coat racks and they are made out of various things including all railway spikes and billiard balls.

“One of the guys creates artworks, which is basically timber with a pattern burnt onto it.”

He said for the many years they’ve been doing the sales, it’s not been about charging a lot of money for the creations.

“We just try to create some value, make things people will enjoy for a reasonable price.”

The Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury will take both card and cash on the day at 158 Evans Street, Sunbury.

Elsie Lange Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury president Dale Wilkes with some items to be sold at the clearance sale. (Damjan Janevski) 309421_02

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aussietoysonline.com.au Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 13

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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Clever crafters at Woodend

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Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski went down to the Woodend Neighbourhood House to catch up with some local crafters.

The social craft group gathers on Wednesdays, from 10am to noon, bringing together like-minded knitters, quilters, embroiderers and lovers of crochet, encouraging connection and creativity.

To explore the range of programs available at the neighbourhood house, head to: www. woodendnh.org.au/ 1/ Rosemary Frose showing off her work at the social craft group. 2/ Vicki Maquignaz and her quilting. 3/ Maxine Perry doing some knitting. 4/ Beth Davies with a bright red creation. 5/ Allison Marriott’s quilt coming along. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 308394

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5

MY PLACE Artist and president of The Gallery Mt Macedon, Jo Hoyne, tells Elsie Lange about her connection to the town water we’ve had in our backyard.

I would change the amount of water that flows down the golf course. When we get very heavy rains, like we’ve had over the last two weeks, we have a huge flood of water that comes down and there is four properties that have an awful lot of water that comes through into the backyards and front yards. We all have channels dug, but in heavy rain they are not enough.

Tell us a bit about you and what you do?

What’s your connection to Mt Macedon?

I’ve lived in Mt Macedon for 13 years, after raising our children in a suburb in Melbourne.

I must admit I always wanted to live in the country, but for work reasons we were unable to do that until my husband retired. We fell in love with this area when we started visiting open gardens up here.

We realised that we could buy a property with our own beautiful garden. We found he perfect house and garden, just after the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires. We were very nervous about moving up into a place that could burn, but we did it anyway and never look back.

Where is your favourite local place to spend time?

I love my studio, its set in our lovely garden and people visit when we have the open studio, which is pretty good.

I also love the Trading Post, which is my hangout spot. It’s a coffee shop, general store and post office up on Mt Macedon and it’s fabulous. It’s a real hub for the community, especially during lockdowns, when there were was nothing else open.

I love the Mt Macedon Cross, as well. As a local you can get there very early in the morning on a foggy day and it’s amazing.

(Damjan Janevski) 299458_01

I’m an artist, living in Mt Macedon. I specialise in detailed pencil portraits. I [recently had] an exhibition up at The Gallery Mt Macedon featuring people with tattoos. I’m a retired secondary school teacher and I’m currently working in the Macedon Ranges Secondary School in a government-funded program to assist students affected by COVID-19 – which is basically all of them. I’ve got family who live not too away, so I get to take my grandchildren to school most day, and I’ve got four chickens who are running around the backyard at the moment.

I’m also president of The Gallery Mt Macedon and I participate in the Open Studios Mt Macedon program as well.

What do you like about where you live?

I love all the gardens, mine and everyone else’s.

The natural settings and the fact that you can walk in just beautiful places every single day. I love the seasons, the weather, even the cold winters are pretty stimulating. I love the community, particularly the art community up here. It’s very vibrant and active. I love

14 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

the fact that it’s close enough to the city that you can hop on the train and be in the city in under an hour and catch up with city friends.

What, if anything, would you change about where you live?

I couldn’t think of anything, and then I thought about the floods and the amount of

Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.

I’ve been learning French on and off since my school days. I am really bad at it, I’m hopeless at learning a language, but every now and then I do it again. I love watching French movies or series, such as Call My Agent.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

FROM THE ARCHIVES Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors

35 years ago

30 years ago

25 years ago

20 years ago

December 1, 1987

November 24, 1992

December 2, 1997

December 3, 2002

A female trainee pilot and her instructor narrowly escaped death on Sunday, November 22 after the gyrocopter in which they were flying failed to gain altitude, its blades striking the ground and forcing the copter nose first into long grass at the centre of Penfield Airfield.

The five rural schools from Hesket to Clarkefield known as the Romsey “cluster“ have all escaped closure under the savage cuts announced on Friday by the Education Minister, Don Hayward.

Residents are preparing to return to battle to prevent the development of a quarry in Gisborne.

Sunbury voters have resoundingly endorsed the ALP and its candidate for Macedon, Joanne Duncan, with big swings to Labor across local booths at Saturday’s election.

CPM - SEM - SEO Algorithms Bounce Rates Digital Jargon - Some things you don’t need to understand.

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Leave the technical stuff to the professionals - US! Get your FREE business digital health check Contact your advertising representative westads@starweekly.com.au Ph: 03 8318 5777

facebook.com/wyndhamstarweekly wyndham.starweekly.com.au/ 12578842-JC48-22

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 15

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Clearance sale

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

Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury is holding a clearance sale on Saturday, December 3, from 8am to 2pm at 158 Evans Street, Sunbury. The shedders have been busy making a range of different Christmas gifts for the whole family. Second hand tools and bric-a-brac will also be available.

Come have a chat

Gisborne community carols Gisborne community carols by candlelight is taking place on Sunday, December 4 at Dixon Field, Robertson Street, Gisborne, from 6pm. There will be a sausage sizzle, donut van and ice cream van.

This week’s photographer’s picture is of Daniel Vilar from Silvers Circus.

(Damjan Janevski) 309041_01

Delve into deeper topics and enjoy intriguing conversations by joining the Table 8 Discussion Group. The key theme for the coming months will be kindness.

The chats take place every Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am at Macedon Lounge, 40 Victoria Street, Macedon.

■ Carol, 0431 186 575

Candles by candlelight

Rotary club

Gisborne carols by candlelight by Webb’s Event Group is taking place on Saturday, December 3, at the Gisborne Steam Park in New Gisborne, 2 Webb Street. Gold coin entry. 2pm to 9pm. Carols at 7.30pm to 9pm. There will be kids rides, live music, market stalls, food, rides, a workshop for the kids, Santa, and much more.

The Sunbury Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Sunbury Bowling Club from 7pm.

■ sunburyrotary@gmail.com

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.

■ Leonie, 0401 764 182

Birds of a feather Former Australian of the Year, Rodney Croome will be the guest speaker at the December Birds of a Feather lunch in Kyneton. Friday, December 9, Kyneton Bowls Club, noon to 2pm. Call or register at the link below.

■ https://bit.ly/3UMZx4C or 5421 1666

Sunbury Ladies Probus Club The Sunbury Ladies Probus Club meets at 9.30am on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Sunbury Football Social Club rooms. The friendly group of women enjoy outings, film mornings, speakers and presenters, as well as special events like holidays and bus trips. New members are warmly welcomed.

■ Pat, 0433 789 754, or Sylvia, 0417 170 142

Sunbury carols Carols in Sunbury will be held on the grounds of Rupertswood on Saturday, December 10th. There will be food and drink trucks, and childrens’ activities on site from 5pm, with carols starting at 7pm.

■ www.sunburychurches.com.au

Sunbury Police Community Register Volunteer for the Sunbury Police Community Register. Formed in 2010 as a result of the 2009 Black Friday bushfires in Victoria, the group’s mission is to make regular contact, and provide reassurance and wellbeing checks to elderly or vulnerable residents living in the Sunbury area, including those without friends or relatives. Volunteers head to the Sunbury Police Station to chat with clients. Contact the station to find out more.

■ 9744 8111

Breast cancer support group On the first and third Tuesday of the month breast cancer survivors are invited to head along to the Gisborne Golf Club at 10.30am to take part in a breast cancer support group. There they discuss experiences, find connections and improve mental health.

■ Lesley, 0484 691 226

Sunbury Combined Probus Club Wednesday at the Sunbury Youth Centre, 3.30pm to 5.30pm. There’s a range of arts and crafts to try, and if art isn’t your thing, there’s a wide variety of games.

The program is for people aged 12 to 18 years old and is free. 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury.

participate in activities such as trivia, games, art, music, competitions, personal development and more? Chill Out Sunbury is for you. It’s free and happens every Wednesday, 3.30-5.30pm at the Sunbury Youth Centre, 51-53 Evans Street.

■ https://bit.ly/3lmVgVh

HarmoniX Vocal Company

Carer connect chat

Get involved with an all-male, auditioned singing group happening on Thursday, 79.30pm in Sunbury. The group is inviting new members to join. The group also has a mixed choir, DynamiX Vocal Company, rehearsing Tuesday. 7-9.30pm. Both groups rehearse at Dulap Wilim Hub, 11 Leichardt Street, Sunbury. No auditions required, just bring your love of music.

■ harmonixvcinc@gmail.com

Are you caring for someone close to you?

Go and connect with other carers in your local area, share a light lunch, have a chat at noon on the first Wednesday of the month. Head to Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, 1 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton.

■ 9744 9267, or deb.mccallum@scchc.org.au

The Phoenix exhibition The Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Group exhibition and sale is happening on December 3 (10am to 4pm) and 4 (9am to 4pm). The Sunday exhibit will coincide with the Gisborne Olde Time Market. Head along to see the group’s exquisite art and chat with the artists.

■ https://www.facebook.com/phoenixmrac/

Village connect A new service for older people and carers provided by Macedon Ranges council for residents over 55 years old to stay socially connected, chat with others in the community and enjoy some free coffee and cake. Happening on Tuesdays and Thursday at cafes across the municipality, there’s sure to be one near you.

■ https://bit.ly/3AMUrxm, or 5422 0262

Sunbury Ladies Badminton Club Jacksons Creek Combined Probus Visit or become a new member of the Jackson’s Creek Combined Probus Club, gathering on the second Monday of each month at the Sunbury Football Club at 10am. Enjoy outings and meetings each month with a friendly group of men and women, and twice yearly trips away staying in cabins and caravans.

■ Doug, 5428 3317, or Teresa, 9746 3402

Craft and conversation If you’re a passionate crafter and want some company, why not head down to the Sunbury Library on Mondays at noon for the craft and conversation group. The program is free and open to people aged 15 years and older.

■ https://bit.ly/39BIu2O

Arts and games night

Chill Out Sunbury

Get creative at the Sunbury Youth Centre as part of an art and games night each

Are you between 12 and 18 years old and want to engage with other young people,

16 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

Get involved with a welcoming, fun, social group of women who have spread the word of ladies badminton since 1999. Social games are on Mondays, 9.30am-noon, and team competitions are on Thursdays, 9.30am-12.30pm at Eric Boardman Stadium, Wilsons Lane.

■ sunburylbc@gmail.com

Sunbury badminton fun The Sunbury Badminton Club has a new extra playing time on Wednesdays, 10am-noon. All are welcome to attend at Clarke Oval Stadium, 49 Riddell Road, with equipment provided and coaching available.

Playing for the first time is free.

■ sunburybc@gmail.com

Family History and Heritage Society 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,

The Sunbury Combined Probus Club meets every fourth Thursday of the month at the Sunbury Football Social Club at 10am.

■ Carmel, 0416 477 271

Toastmasters Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Toastmasters helps its members develop their public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, from 7.20-9.30pm, at the Sunbury Senior Citizens Hall.

■ vpm-4185@toastmastersclubs.org

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

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.

■ 0434 400 754

Probus Club Of Sunbury Join the Probus Club of Sunbury on the first Wednesday of the month at the Sunbury Football club at 9.30am. It’s a friendly men’s group open to all retired and semi-retired men. Enjoy morning tea and a guest speaker. Visitors and new members are welcome with a number of great events held each month.

■ Greg, 0417 593 035

PUZZLES

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2 9 4 7 3 5 8 1 6

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9 1 5 6 3 8 4 7 2

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

N E R T

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B B O T R O V E I D E S

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A G A

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

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QUICK QUIZ

1

What is the only mammal that can achieve sustained level flight?

2

In which country did the kiwi fruit originate?

3

Australian singer Vance Joy came to prominence with what 2013 single?

4

The game of snakes and ladders originated in which country?

5

Piedmontese, Herefordshire and Angus are all what?

6

In Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, who captains the Pequod?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

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No. 109

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7 LETTERS BRACKET IDEALLY LECTURE OUTSIDE ROUTINE TORPEDO

6 LETTERS BEDBUG RUDEST SPINAL WAGERS

8 LETTERS ENTAILED ESTEEMED HEARTILY PHARMACY

02-12-22

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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”.

23 words: Excellent

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6 7 2 5 4 3 1 9 8

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Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

A

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medium

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easy

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The famous Little Mermaid statue is located in which city?

8

The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx (pictured) and which other author?

9

What is the sum of the interior angles of a triangle?

10 Out of poplar, walnut and oak, what wood is least suitable for staining?

ANSWERS: 1. Bat 2. China 3. Riptide 4. India 5. Cattle breeds 6. Ahab 7. Copenhagen, Denmark 8. Friedrich Engels 9. 180 degrees 10. Poplar

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No. 109

, 5 $ 7 (

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

3 ( 1 $ /

No. 109

6 3 , ( 6

SUDOKU

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 17

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. In which year did Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei become the first woman to climb Mount Everest?

2. Which talented soccer player is nicknamed ‘O Fen’meno’(The Phenomenon)?

3. Which cricket star’s contract was temintated with The Perth Scorchers, after he tested positive for a banned substance?

4. Which two teams played in the AFLW November Grand Final?

5. Who did the Socceroos defeat to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?

6. What is an alpinist?

7. True of false: Body building is a sport?

8. How many Grand Slam tournaments did Billie Jean King win in her career?

9. Which tennis player will not be competing for Australia in the Davis Cup tournament? a) Nick Kyrgios b) Alex de Minaur c) Max Purcell 10. Which NBA team does Stephen Curry play for?

11. Which national team (ranked second-lowest in the tournament) upset Argentina 2-1 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup? 12. AFL Women’s league best and fairest award winner Ally Anderson plays for which club?

Stephen Curry

13. Which national team did Australia defeat 54-4 in the 2021 Women’s Rugby League World Cup Final?

14. Manchester United terminated the contract of which Portuguese soccer player following a 2022 television interview?

Billie Jean King

15. Retired Geelong footballer Joel Selwood is set to join which NRL club as a leadership coach?

16. Which Socceroo scored for Australia in their 4-1 loss to France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup? 17. The AFL has reached an in-principle agreement on commercial terms with which state for a 19th licence to establish an AFL team?

18. NBA G-League basketball team the Capitanes are based in which city?

19. In what place did Daniel Ricciardo finish in his final race for the McLaren motor racing team?

20. Which nation’s football team goes by the nickname The Maroon (one of the colours on their national flag)?

21. The record for the lowest-ever One Day International crowd was recently achieved at what Australian ground?

22. What former Australian cricket coach has recently lashed former players and the Cricket Australia board?

23. AFL draftee Will Ashcroft will play for which team in 2023 under the fatherson rule?

24. What team was runner-up in the recent Rugby League World Cup?

28. What three nations will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup? 29. The 2004 film Miracle is about which sport?

30. Australian Women’s Twenty20 International squad member Kim Garth previously played for which nation?

25. Which sporting great’s recent autobiography is titled My Dream Time?

26. What was the first African nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup? 27. What NBA team sometimes goes by the nickname Rip City?

0212

1. 1975 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Laurie Evans 4. Brisbane Lions vs Melbourne Demons 5. Peru 6. A climber of high mountains, specifically in the Alps. 7. False 8. 39 9. a) Nick Kyrgios 10. Golden State Warriors 11. Saudi Arabia 12. Brisbane Lions 13. New Zealand 14. Cristiano Ronaldo 15. Melbourne Storm 16. Craig Goodwin 17. Tasmania 18. Mexico City 19. Ninth 20. Qatar 21. The MCG 22. Justin Langer 23. Brisbane Lions 24. Samoa 25. Ash Barty 26. Egypt 27. Portland Trail Blazers 28. Canada, the US and Mexico 29. Ice Hockey 30. Ireland 12536910-CG08-22

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Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 19

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The latest Toyota Kluger continues to plough a large furrow through the top paddock of family SUVs.

(Pictures: Supplied)

Kluger, always a popular choice

By Derek Ogden, Marque News First released at the turn of the century, the Toyota Kluger over the years has grown in size and stature to become one of Toyota’s most popular products. The fourth generation of the seven-seat SUV is no exception, continuing to climb the ladder of sales success.

The name Kluger is derived from the German word ‘Klug’ meaning clever and, according to the maker, the all-new model comes with a smart sculpted look, upgraded safety features, improved driving dynamics, and for the first time in Australia, a hybrid powertrain.

The all-new model is available in three trim levels - GX, GXL and Grande - in petrol two-wheel drive format, or hybrid or petrol all-wheel drive configuration. The 218 kW / 350 Nm V6 petrol engine relies on the same performance as its predecessor, with engineers coaxing improved fuel economy out of the unit.

Built on Toyota’s New Global Architecture platform, the latest Kluger delivers a balance of ride and handling, resulting in a premium feel on the road. The cabin, with a blend of soft touch materials, clever design and more space, is aimed at comfortably carrying seven people.

Occupants enjoy the benefits of the latest in Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance features including pre-collision safety with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, emergency steering assist and intersection turn assist on every model. Also on tap are active cruise control - with curve speed reduction function - lane trace assist, blind spot monitor, reversing camera and seven airbags.

Standard equipment includes smart entry and start, manual front and rear dual-zone air-conditioning, rain sensing wipers and automatic lights, and five USB ports.

Styling At almost five metres long (76 mm longer than before), overall width has increased by a minimal 5 mm to, while 20 mm wider flared wheel arches give the car a planted street presence. Large stacked trapezoidal grilles are split by the front bumper. The wider front end is complemented by slimline LED light clusters with integrated daytime running lights housed atop deep-recessed LED fog lights.

In profile, the longer body, tapered roofline

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE GX FWD petrol $47,650 GXL FWD petrol $56,850

with integrated rear spoiler, rising beltline and windows with blacked-out B-pillars convey forward movement when the car is stationary.

Side mirrors have been moved lower on the door panel to improve forward visibility and reduce blind spots.

Filling the pumped GXL wheel arches are new 18-inch alloys with a dark grey metallic machine finish designed for visual appeal and to aid brake cooling through optimal airflow.

The rear follows through with a wide stance, slim LED taillights and large lower skid plate.

The rear hatch offers easy access to the expanded luggage space with power operation for GXL and a ‘kick sensor’ for the Grande that allows the hatch to be opened and closed hands-free.

Safety

Infotainment

Driving

Petrol models offer traditional tacho and speedo in the instrument cluster that, in GXL, offers a 7-inch MID to provide better visibility of vehicle functions and settings.

Phone call, cruise control, audio and some driver assistance features are easily accessed via fingertip controls on the leather-accented steering wheel.

All models feature the latest generation multimedia system with AM / FM / DAB+ radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility and myToyota apps including Waze and Stitcher (IOS) and WebEx (Android™4).

The GXL adds satellite navigation.

Compared with the previous generation Kluger, the new model offers a substantial improvement in driving stability, roadholding and comfort on all surfaces thanks to newly developed front and rear suspension set-ups that provide responsive, smooth handling.

Ride comfort is also enhanced by a new Body Control with Torque Demand system that controls drive torque to minimise vehicle pitching due to road surface irregularities. The system is also able to suppress acceleration and deceleration pitching to minimise up and down movement and improve stability without having to increase suspension damping.

20 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

As befits Australia’s favourite family SUV, occupant safety is front and centre, with the latest-generation Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance features on hand. Such a system is autonomous emergency braking pre-collision safety that is able to detect pedestrians day and night, cyclists during the day, oncoming vehicles and pedestrians at intersections when making turns, and assist taking evasive action if there is potential for a collision.

All models are fitted with a reversing camera that includes a camera cleaning system activated via the rear screen washer switch. In GXL versions, the camera display offers normal and wide-angle images and incorporates active guidelines.

Grande FWD petrol $68,900 GX AWD petrol $51,650 GXL AWD petrol $60,850 Grande AWD petrol $72,900 GX AWD hybrid $54,150 GXL AWD hybrid $63,350 Grande AWD hybrid $75,400 OPTIONS Premium paint $675 Rear Entertainment System $1500 (Grande only) SPECIFICATIONS Toyota Kluger GXL FWD 3.5L 6-cylinder petrol, 8sp automatic, FWD SUV

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Toyota dealer for drive-away prices.

Responsive steering with ample feedback is provided by an electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion system that has also been improved for noise, vibration and harshness with a larger diameter steering shaft for increased rigidity and a new electric motor for power assistance.

Summary The family favourite Kluger sticks firmly to the middle of the road when it comes to choice in performance and price.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Bristow steps up after Moore departs Gisborne Glen Bristow will take on the coaching responsibilities at Gisborne for next year’s FV state league 4 west season.

The Sky Blues announced on Thursday that Bairstow would take on the role after the departure of Danny Moore.

“Glen brings with him a wealth of football experience as a player, head coach and technical director,” the club said in its announcement.

“Glen also has a passion for community football. He has held multiple roles coaching seniors and juniors simultaneously; along with heading an academy program.

“With his proactive football philosophy, Glen will provide a pathway for our Gisborne SC members who aspire to play senior football.”

Bristow currently holds Asian Football Confederation A, B and C licenses, while he’s currently undertaking his AFC pro coaching license.

Among Bristow’s previous roles includes technical director at Watsonia Heights, Bundoora and the Casey Comets, while head coach at Thornbury and the Casey Comets.

The announcement of Bristow comes after the club announced Moore wouldn’t be back next season.

“Danny joined us midway through 2019 when wins were few and far between,” a club post said.

“The change in atmosphere around the club was immediately noticeable. Performances on field slowly improved, albeit without the

results reflecting this.

“There was a memorable performance and win against the eventual league winners late in the season, giving a sure sign the tide was starting to turn and better days were ahead.”

After the 2020 season was cancelled, the Sky Blues were sitting fifth in 2021 when the season ended prematurely due to COVID-19.

Moore led the side to its best ever finish this year, finishing in fourth spot with 45 points.

They drew against the top side twice and beat the second placed team twice.

“We’d like to thank Danny for his hard work, professionalism, passion, energy and attention to detail over the past three and a half years. You came to us at an extremely challenging time for the club and then

endured two pandemic ruined seasons, to say you leave us in better shape is a massive understatement.

“Thanks Gaff and all the best for your next chapter.”

The Sky Blues start trials this week for their senior men’s program.

The club is trialling for the seniors, reserves, thirds and under-17 or under-18 side for next season.

Trials are running on November 29, December 1, 6, 8, 13 and 15 at Dixon Field in Gisborne.

Details: https://docs.google. com/.../1FAIpQLSfgkR6US43JTx.../viewform Tara Murray

Rockies finish season with derby win

Macedon Rockies women’s team.

(Basketball Victoria)

Rockies’ bright future

By Tara Murray The Macedon Rockies first Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League women’s season has been a success despite what the scoreboard says.

While the scoreboard will show that the side went through the north-west season without a win, the season was about much more than that.

Coach Tina Duff admitted before the final game of the season that it was challenging at times.

“It’s been up and down,” she said. “There has been good and bad, but I’ve enjoyed it.

“There’s been cancelled games and change of venues amongst it.

“Yes we haven’t won a game but the improvement from them has been really good.”

Duff said the whole playing group has impressed her with how they had adapted to the competition and playing against some more experienced players.

It’s also the first time that Duff has coached in the CBL, meaning it has been a learning curve for her too,

“A few of the young girls, who are 14 and 15, have really developed,” she said.

“At the start they were anxious and nervous to get on the court, now they want to get on and get out there.

“They can’t wait to get out there and they’ve all taken on board everything that Deb [Ogston] and I have said with no hesitation.

“They’ve just taken it on board.”

Duff said the club was really proud of the side as it further develops their representative program.

The Rockies have Victorian Junior Basketball League teams for the first time this season, including one girls team.

Duff said this was only the beginning for the side and program.

“This season has been the first season for this senior group playing together,” she said.

“I don’t think it’ll be exactly the same group next season, but hopefully we have more players wanting to play.

“Hopefully we can get together a team that wants to play together and go out and have some fun.”

The Rockies finished off their season on Sunday, in one of their biggest

games of the season.

The Rockies hosted their local rivals, the Kyneton Tigers, for the first time.

Speaking before the game, Duff said this was one match they would really love to win.

It wasn’t the case, with the finals bound Tigers too strong, winning 88-53.

The Tigers set to the tone in the opening quarter, opening up a 25-7 lead at quarter time.

The Rockies managed to stem the flow in the second and third quarters, with the Tigers winning both quarters by two points.

Not for the first time, the Tigers were able to run out the game strongly, winning the final quarter 26-13.

Molly Garrahan top scored with the Rockies with 15 points, while Cara Beattie and Molly Greetham scored eight points each.

For the Tigers, Adele Rogers top scored with 19 points as five players reached double figures.

The win means the Tigers finish the regular season in second spot with seven wins and one loss.

Finals start this week.

While finals were off the agenda, there was still plenty on the line in the final round match between the Macedon Rockies and Kyneton Tigers in the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League north-west men’s competition.

The two teams had to wait until the final day of the regular season to face off in the local derby, a match highly anticipated by both sides.

It was the Rockies who again came away with the points and the bragging rights, winning 92-66.

It was an even first quarter, with the two sides scoring 25 points each.

The Rockies turned it up a level in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers, 29-9 to open up a 20 point lead.

The lead was extended in the third quarter, with the Rockies winning the quarter 21-14.

With both sides playing their final 10 minutes of the season, both teams continued to push.

The Tigers got some small bragging rights, finishing on a high, winning the final quarter 18-17.

Thomas Scott top scored for the Rockies with 20 points, while Josh O’Connell finished with 18 points For the Tigers, Kyle Bravo-Cripps top scored with 18 points for the Tigers, with Brendan McCarthy scoring 15 points.

The Rockies finish the season with a 4-4 record, finishing in sixth spot.

It was a tough season for the Tigers, who failed to win a match.

The Melton Thoroughbreds, the Mildura Heat, the Castlemaine Cannons and the Bendigo Braves will play finals.

Matthew Quinn (Basketball Victoria)

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 21

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Scot Alex Marshall to turn out for Club Sunbury Arguably the world’s greatest bowler will be on the green for Club Sunbury this Sunday.

Scot Alex Marshall will be part of Club Sunbury’s Bowls Victorian weekend pennant, division 1, section 1 team on Sunday against Ivanhoe.

Marshall needs no introduction to Australia, having been a regular visitor and playing in most of the major events in Australia such as the Bowls Premier League Ultimate Bowls Championship and other national events for many years.

Marshall has won 21 world titles, is a gold medallist on five occasions at Commonwealth Games level and is Scotland’s most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history.and calls Australia his second home.

Marshall told Star Weekly last year that playing in Australia had kept him wanting to continue to play bowls.

“I love the fierce competition,” he said.

“You always have a good game and there’s a good standard of competition and there isn’t that drop off.

“It’s always really high and if you don’t play

Alex Marshall (left) is playing for Club Sunbury on Sunday.

well, you don’t win.

“I have to be at the top of my game. The competition in Australia has helped me a lot and the competition in Australia has helped me keep going and playing at the highest level.”

Club Sunbury’s bowls director Marc Bullows said it was an opportunity of a lifetime to have

(AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)

one of the legends of the game joining them to share his knowledge and skills on the green.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Club Sunbury suffered its first loss of the season, losing to Blackburn 89 (16)-83 (2) on the road.

Marc Bullows rink was the only winning rink for Club Sunbury, winning 24-14.

Lions strengthen squad

By Tara Murray The Sunbury Lions have looked to add some more experience as it aims to return to the Ballarat Football League top six.

After losing a number of close games last season, which proved costly, the Lions have looked to reinforce their squad.

Lions coach Travis Hodgson said they believed they would have a stronger squad in 2023.

“We were a little bit inexperienced in that area and we’ve targeted that,” he said. “We lost five of our games in close ones, which was the story of our season.

“We had a couple of players around 30-odd and then a big gap. We didn’t have many in the mid-20s range.

“We’ve looked to find a better balance.”

The Lions have already announced three full-time signings with Victorian Football League experience, while have signed another former VFL player full time that they’re yet to announce.

Hodgson said they were hopeful of signing another player as well, who fits in the age demographic they’re looking to fill.

While excited about all the signings, that of former Essendon AFL listed player Cody Brand is the big signing.

The Sunbury Lions junior, who made his senior debut for the club before being drafted, is returning full time after being delisted.

“Cody Brand is a good get,” Hodgson said.

“There’s not too many 195 centimetre key position players running around in local footy.

“He’s a point of difference whether he plays back or forward and is quite unique. He’s playing Sunbury this year and whether you’ll look to pursue another track later on, I’m not sure but he wanted to play local footy this year.”

Another with an Essendon connection is Josiah Garisto, who has been on the Bombers’ VFL list.

He joins the Lions from Avondale Heights.

Hodgson said Garisto would add some more flexibility in the back line.

“He played at Essendon with Jake Sutton a couple of seasons ago,” he said. “He has been at Avondale Heights the last two years and will now be at Sunbury full time.

“He ticks a lot of boxes at 27. We see him at half back and allows us to release [Harrison] Minton-Connell, which we couldn’t do that year.

Rivva Karpany is the other signing already announced by the Lions. Hodgson said Karpany was someone that could play all over the ground.

“He’s a really exciting player and an elite

Cody Brand is returning home to the Sunbury Lions. (Gary Sissons) 275029_42

kick,” he said. “We’ll likely use him and Brand forward.

“Our defence was strong, but we weren’t able to score enough.

The Lions have lost skipper Daniel Toman and ruck Jayden Eales.

Hodgson said they believed they were strong in the ruck department and would be

22 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 29 November, 2022

able to cover Eales departure.

He said Toman had been a very good player for them but understood him wanting to return to his home club for the back end of his career.

Hodgson said they had managed to keep everyone else.

Mark Cowan’s rink lost 27-20, Ray Pretty’s rink lost 25-19 and Lee Welsey’s rink lost 23-20, Club Sunbury’s David Glennon said it wasn’t the easiest conditions to play in.

“It was very difficult conditions to play in,” he said. “There was the synethic green and a wind there as well.

“Sunbury led at the interval, but that got pegged back and we ended up losing by six shots.”

Sophie Kurzman, who is in Marc Bullows rink, and Bullows were the two standards in the loss.

Despite the loss, Club Sunbury remains on top of the table, one point ahead of Blackburn after seven six rounds.

Glennon said they were still very happy with the position they are in at this point of the season.

It’s a double header this weekend, with both of Club Sunbury’s matches at home.

On Saturday, Club Sunbury faces Middle Park, while it faces Ivanhoe on Sunday.

Tara Murray

Sisters make All-Australian The Prespakis sisters made history on Tuesday night as they were both named in the AFLW All-Australian.

Maddy and Georgie were both named in the All Australian team, on the half forward flank and wing respectively, the first time sisters have been named in the same AFLW All-Australian team in the same season.

It’s the third time Maddy has been named in the All-Australian team of the year and her first with Essendon having made the move to the expansion club this year.

She averaged 23 possessions a game.

Georgie, who was playing in just her second season, averaged nearly 23 possessions for the Cats, was named in the team for the first time.

It was pretty special for the pair who grew up in Romsey, before moving to Sunbury where they both starred for the Sunbury Lions.

“Honestly, I’m so excited to be in the team,” Georgie said on the broadcast.

“It’s such an honour, let alone with my sister, I feel really privileged.”

Maddy said on the broadcast she was super proud of her younger sister.

“How good is it to be alongside your sister in the same team” she said.

“If only we could play in the All-Australian team together, it would be awesome. “[I’m] super proud of her, the work she has put in, in the off season has really shown in her season this year and I’m excited what she can do in 2023.”

The two had earlier in the week been named in the under-22 All Australian team. Maddy, who has been named in the team all four years, was named vice-captain.

They finished equal second [Georgie] and fourth [Maddy] in the AFLW coaches award as well.

Both Prespakis sisters polled well in the AFLW league best and fairest on Tuesday night, which was won by the Brisbane Lions Ally Anderson.

Maddy, a former winner of the award, finished in fourth spot on 17 votes, four votes behind Anderson.

Georgie, who was ineligible after being suspended for two games, finished with 15 votes.

Tara Murray

Sunbury Roar finally on the board Sunbury was able to put it all together for the first time this Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 season on Saturday and reaped the rewards.

Having had a disappointing start to the season, the Roar put out a strong performance against Pascoe Vale Hadfield.

It was a big occasion for the Roar as the first XI played on the turf wicket at Clarke Oval for the first time.

Roar playing coach Jace Carton said it was good to see the side put it all together.

“It’s the first game they’ve played well for the whole day,” he said. “The games we’ve lost we’ve been right in those games, we just haven’t played for 100 per cent of the game.

“It’s nice to finally get the win and all the boys did their part which was really good.”

Carton said they spoke about the occasion and finally getting to play on Clarke Oval before the match, with most of the group

having made the trek to Progress Reserve the last couple of seasons.

Pascoe Vale Hadfield won the toss and elected to bat. With neither side having played on the wicket before, it was going to be a test.

The Roar bowled Pascoe Vale Hadfield out for just 97 in the 39th over.

Stephen Treweek took four wickets, while Michael Treweek, Isaac Carton and Jason McGowan took three wickets each.

Carton said they were happy with that performance.

“Our bowlers bowled exceptionally well and we also fielded really well,” he said. “Everyone played their role and knew what their role was.”

Carton said despite chasing a low total, they were still weary of not making the runs.

“Chasing scores like that you can lose quick wickets,” he said. “To reach the score one down was really good.

“ Lachie Treweek and Sajith Kalumpriya (60 not out) had a good opening partnership with Kevin Barker making 20 not out.

“They did really well.”

The win has Sunbury sitting in eighth spot, three points outside the top four.

Carton said they hoped that this would kick start their season.

“We spoke about that after the game,” he said. “We’ve now got a win on the board and confidence and hopefully we can take that into this weekend playing Saturday and Sunday.

“We want to get back in the pack and be in the mix for the top four. We need four or five wins going into Christmas.”

Meanwhile, the VTCA T20 competition gets underway on Wednesday night. The Roar, which is in a pool group with Melton South Royals and Burnside Springs, will face Burnside at Clarke Oval.

Jason McGowan took two wickets on Saturday.

(Shawn Smits)

Thunder tastes victory

Sports shorts Bowls

By Tara Murray East Sunbury got a confidence boosting win against Diggers Rest Bulla in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup. After a tough start to the season, the young Thunder team took it up to the more experienced Burras and came away with the points.

Thunder president Mark Wilkins said it was a really good game of cricket.

“The whole game, the standard of cricket was really good,” he said.

“It was a hard fought match by both sides and both sides had good opportunities and were in the positions to win.

“I think our youth and our fitness was the difference in the end.”

After only 10 overs were bowled on day one of the match, the match was restarted and played as a one-dayer on Saturday.

It wasn’t an ideal start for the Thunder, but it kept at it going on to make 8-129.

“At 4-14 I thought we were in big trouble,” Wilkins said.

“Blake Watson has come back to the club and has finally played a couple of games for us.

“He made 71 and batted brilliantly and was the difference as he batted throughout.

“It was amazing to see and we’re happy he could provide some positives and had another opportunity to go out and bat.”

Mulkapuge Lakshan took three wickets for the Burras.

The Burras started well with the bat and at 3-88 were in control. The wickets then started to fall and the match became close.

Wilkins said they thought they had blown their chance to get the points.

“They started really well and we were in trouble bowling in the first 15 overs,” he said.

“When they needed 15 runs we had two guys collide while going for a catch and I thought we might have blown it.

“Josh Lanyon has come to the club and we’re thrown him in at the death in both games and he’s done really well.

“He took three wickets.”

The Burras were bowled out for 121.

Burras skipper Rasika Batepola top scored with 37 at the top of the order.

Wilkins said the group’s ability in the field and their fitness really showed off late in the game when they needed a spark. He said it was exciting watching such a young group.

“We have one guy over the age of 23,” he said. “We’re basically playing a junior side in the McIntyre Cup. “The boys want to make the top six. We

Club Sunbury’s Carla Krizanic comes home with a silver medal from the World Champion of Champions event in New Zealand. Krizanic, who was representing Australia, won through to the final having lost just one game in the round matches. New Zealand’s Tayla Bruce proved too strong in the final, winning 8-6 10-9, despite a late comeback from Krizanic, who had to settle for silver.

Netball The Sunbury Lions have added another piece to their A-grade squad for next year’s Ballarat Netball League. The club announced last week that goaler Tara O’Grady would be joining the club. O’Grady, who has previously played at Riddell, has played in the Victorian Netball League for Melbourne University Lightning.

She’s the sixth player announced by the Lions, with former Melbourne Vixens midcourter Tayla Honey the biggest name so far.

CHBD There were a number of big wins on Saturday as the Central Highlands Bowls Division returned to the green after a week off. In division 1, Lancefield smashed Kilmore 93 (16)-33 (0), while Romsey beat Trentham 73 (16)-36 (0). Gisborne came away with the win against Kyneton, while Kyneton Golf beat Broadford 69 (14)-52 (2). After seven rounds, Romsey sits atop the table, 21 points clear of Lancefield with Gisborne in third and Kyneton Golf on fourth.

GDCA

East Sunbury’s Lachlan Wilkins. (Shawn Smits). 200650_12

probably won’t be competing for a premiership, but the effort they put into training is massive.

“When they miss out it hurts. They’re a good group of players. It doesn’t matter who we play it on, which is great.”

In other matches, Rupertswood also got its first win of the season beating Bacchus Marsh.

Having bowled the Bulls out for 122 on day one, Rupo piled on the runs on Saturday,

bowled out for 301.

Trent Hayes finished 111 not out.

In another upset, Wallan beat Romsey. The Magpies made 5-220 before bowling Romsey out for 112.

Gisborne and Sunbury United beat Woodend and the Sunbury Kangaroos, respectively.

Hanging Rock had a big win against Malmsbury in the first of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Jensen Shield two-day matches. Having made 8-227 on day one of the match, Hanging Rock restricted Malmsbury to 7-130 on day two of the match on Saturday.

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Tuesday, 29 November, 2022 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 23

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