Star Weekly - Northern - 13th December 2022 by Star Weekly

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13 DECEMBER, 2022

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(Joe Mastroianni) 310245_04

Christmas wonderland Santa’s helpers at the Whittlesea Agricultural Society have been working away to bring locals a Christmas Tree Extravaganza. Whittlesea Agricultural Society president Erica Hawke said this year’s event will be the biggest yet, with approximately 70 trees on display. Community groups, businesses and locals are encouraged to enter a tree and decorate it in a way that best reflects them. Ms Hawke said the trees will be judged by the community with a winner announced after the exhibition closes. “The winning tree should be out of the ordinary, with a different perspective or interest,” she said. “It should be beautifully decorated too.” Ms Hawke said last year’s winners from Upper Plenty Primary School will be contesting again. “They are trying to come up with an amazing idea, and we’ve heard a few whispers on what they are doing.” In addition to the Christmas Tree Extravaganza, the Agricultural Society will be running a Festival Market and Carols event on Saturday, December 17. The Whittlesea Community Christmas Tree Extravaganza will run between Friday, December 9 - Friday, December 23 and entry is by gold coin donation.

ERICA HAWKE

Clean up ‘Broady Bronx’ plea By Millicent Spencer Hume councillors have called on Homes Victoria to urgently invest in social housing in the Banksia Gardens estate in Broadmeadows. To date it is still unclear whether Banksia Gardens has been prioritised under the state government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build program. Investment can’t come quick enough for residents like Marie who has lived in the estate for six years and is fed up with the conditions. “I sleep with a flamethrower, I’m petrified,”

Marie said, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. “I’m 100 per cent willing to stand up for myself, but we’re standing up against drug dealers and kids on bikes and parents that are druggies that don’t care what their kids are breaking into.” Hume mayor Joseph Haweil has asked councillors for their support in advocating on behalf of the residents of the estate. At a council meeting on Monday, November 28 councillors unanimously passed a motion allowing Cr Haweil to write a

letter to the chief executive of Homes Victoria asking for an update on the plans for the estate. Cr Haweil will also request that the chief executive address the council at the next Strategy and Policy Briefing in February 2023. “The people of this municipality, and particularly the people of Broadmeadows, should not be forgotten anymore,” Cr Haweil said. “The circumstances in which we find ourselves in relation to Homes Victoria are entirely unacceptable.” Supporting the motion, Cr Naim Kurt said

the housing was just not up to standard. “It’s always been referred to as the Broady Bronx and not with a positive spin on that,” Cr Kurt said. “I think it’s time for us to change the nickname for that area.” According to a council agenda from September 27, 2021 Hume was declared a priority local government area for affordable housing, however the municipality is yet to receive any allocation of funding under the Big Housing Build. ■

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2 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

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Hume council passes financial hardship policy More than a year after a statewide investigation found Hume council was one of only two councils not to have a financial hardship policy in place, one has now been adopted. A Victorian Ombudsman report, released in May last year, found a need for better services and stronger laws as “around one in 10 Victorians experienced some form of financial difficulty”. At a meeting last week, Hume council voted to endorse a rates financial hardship policy, based on community feedback, to outline its commitment to helping residents having

a hard time financially, through payment arrangements, or short or long-term deferrals. Speaking at the meeting, councillor Jim Overend said it was great to see the finalised policy after a distressing few years for residents. “With COVID-19 and at the moment with the financial hardship that’s going on with rate increases and so forth, there’s a lot of families who are finding it very tough out there,” Cr Overend said. “As well as some elderly residents, who may have retired, and are finding themselves under stress at the moment. “I think this rates hardship policy is a great

thing, it’s very helpful, but at the same time I think residents have to be aware they need to speak up and let council know if they are suffering and not put their head in the sand, hoping it goes away.” As of September 30, council was owed $21.3 million in old rate debts, and council said the pandemic continued to have a “significant impact” on its ability to collect overdue rates. Cr Sam Misho wanted to remind residents that the burden of proof for applying for assistance under the hardship option had been eased.

Speaking to a report on the level of rate arrears, Cr Misho said council had worked hard in setting up payment plans and abolishing interest on arrangements in the 2022-23 financial year. “At the end of the day, we are focused on public benefits, rates are a massive component of revenue that we get and that’s why we can do all our capital works, so we need to collect it… I highly encourage everybody to set up a payment arrangement,” he said. Elsie Lange

Santa’s mailbox. (Supplied)

Santa comes to Doreen (Joe Mastroianni) 311047_01

Threat to pebble garden By Millicent Spencer Louis Polgar’s award winning front garden is known by locals as the “Doreen Botanical Gardens”, but after Mr Polgar was issued with a notice to comply with local laws, his garden is under threat. Whittlesea council issued Mr Polgar with two notices to comply, demanding the hobby gardener comply with clause 10.10(2) of the local laws which reads a person must not interfere with any surface of the nature strip. Mr Polgar said after winning gold for best front garden in 2013 and bronze in 2017, a notice to comply from Whittlesea council came as a shock. “We are upset and frustrated, why after all these years is the nature strip is a concern,” Mr Polgar said. “The pebbles and native plants have been there since 2009. “I cannot rip up my native plants that I have spent money on and planted.”

In addition to the pebbles, Mr Polgar was also instructed to remove planter boxes which he had placed on the nature strip. “I placed the planter boxes to grow herbs and veggies to provide a free community garden since COVID times are a bit hard so I like to help and assist the local community,” he said. “This hurts me greatly that I have to remove the planter boxes.” Mr Polgar said residents have already asked questions about the modifications he has made to his nature strip. “Last night when removing the last planter box local residents asked, ‘why are they being removed?” “I explained council send me letters to remove them along with my pebbles [and] the residents could not believe this and were a bit angry and bemused. Mr Polgar said he is disappointed that the council has not consulted with him regarding the nature strip. “I am a passionate gardener

and I love native plants,” he said. City of Whittlesea director planning and development Justin O’Meara said the council received a compliant about the Doreen nature strip and when officers inspected it they found items that were not permitted. “We issued a notice to comply which requires the nature strip to be restored back to a grass surface and the removal of all prohibited and dangerous items, including an unregistered box trailer parked unlawfully on the roadway,“ he said. “While council prefers nature strips to consist of grass and/or council provided trees, we do currently support some alternatives providing they are safe. “Pebbles, stones, crushed rock and planter boxes are not permitted for community safety reasons.” Mr O’Meara said the council is about to start a review of the local laws and residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on topics including nature strips.

Millicent Spencer

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Louis Polgar and his pebble nature strip.

Doreen local Deb Stewart is spreading the Christmas cheer, starting a community mailbox outside her home for kids to send their letters to Santa. While Ms Stewart is a mindset coach by day, at night she becomes one of Santa’s helpers writing responses to children’s Christmas letters which she hopes will surprise and delight local kids. “If kids want to send their letter to Santa they can put it in the mailbox [and] I will write a letter back to them,” she said. “It’s nice to get a letter back. “It all adds a little bit of magic to Christmas.” Ms Stewart said she is hoping to help parents out as well. “If parents want to put their mobile number onto the letter I will text them a copy so they can find out what their kids are after,” she said. Ms Stewart said the idea stemmed from her own childhood. “My mum once responded to my sister’s tooth fairy letter and she kept it for years,” she said. “It was something that made an impact.” Kids can drop their letters into Ms Stewart’s mailbox in Turnstone Street, Doreen.

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Youth take a stand against domestic violence Young people in Hume are taking a stand against domestic violence, launching a new resource ‘Change Starts with You’. The resource has been pioneered by the Good People Act Now (GPAN) project – a youth led community group in Broadmeadows which was established in 2014 to address the high rates of gender based violence in the municipality. GPAN member Sumeya Yussuf said she joined the group after experiencing family violence herself. “I personally experienced family violence in my family with my father,” she said. “It was a

very hard time in our lives and seeing how my family was in that situation [made me] want to help other people get out of it. “I want to support the people who need it like I was supported when we needed it.” Hume has some of the highest rates of violence against women in Melbourne. In 2020, more than 3000 victim reports of violence were made to police in Hume compared to the Victorian average of 870.5. GPAN member Alixandra Colafella said having grown up in Hume, she has noticed the way problematic behaviours play out in

relationships. “Growing up you notice how gender inequality seeps into relationships … you realise that the behaviours that you see in relationships around you are inherently disrespectful, and they don’t promote equality between the people,” she said. “That’s why educating people, especially young people, about gender inequality, and how that leads to family violence, [enables them] to educate more people about respectful relationships. “The GPAN program provides an

opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, and also better educate myself on how to counteract and make an active change to prevent family violence.” The ‘Change Starts with You’ resource was developed in partnership with DPV Health, Banksia Gardens Community Services, and the Department of Education and Training. DPV senior health promotion officer Whitney Exposto said “We’ll be promoting [the resource] through schools, our networks, our partners, our family and friends [because] we want to get this resource out there”.

Call for more youth spaces

Gladstone Park Cricket Club.

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Club feels ‘left behind’ By Millicent Spencer The Gladstone Park Cricket Club is urging Hume council to upgrade the pavilion at the Jack Ginifer Reserve to meet the club’s needs. Gladstone Park Cricket Club president Sam Anastasiou said there has been no funding allocated to upgrade the facilities since the pavilion was built in the ’80s. “There’s no funding that’s been put in it at all – in 40 years,” he said. “The rooms are out of date … and to access the change rooms you’ve got to go through the ladies toilets or males toilets and it’s just not a good look.” “We growing, we’ve probably got just as many sides as Westmeadows [and] Tullamarine, and

it just seems like we’re getting left behind.” The club’s treasurer Marco Castelli said the outdated facilities are holding the club back. “Sporting clubs rely on the canteen and bar and we don’t have the opportunity to do that,” he said. “The kitchen area doesn’t give us the opportunity to actually put on meals [and] we have about 30-35 senior players every Thursday night that come for a meal [which] we have to go and buy and bring in. “We do believe the additional funding is required to get up to a bare minimum.” Meadow Valley ward councillor Naim Kurt said it is necessary for the council to make a quick decision over the investment in the pavilion which has been neglected for too long.

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“The Gladstone Park community has for a long time felt they have missed out on a lot of infrastructure upgrades and community facility upgrades,” he said. “That reserve has had very minimal council investment. “We should put the money in and get the project started.” Cr Kurt said a recent audit of all the pavilions in the municipality showed that the Jack Ginifer Reserve pavilion is not compliant with modern sports standards and is not female friendly. Currently the change rooms are only accessible via the women’s bathrooms. Council was due to vote on an officer’s recommendation to allocate $1.3 million to upgrade the pavilion at its December 12 council meeting, which was after deadline.

Young people in Whittlesea are petitioning the state government to invest in additional youth spaces in the municipality. Currently the City of Whittlesea has one youth space, Innovation Youth Centre in Bundoora, meaning young people in the area have limited access to dedicated services. Youth advisory community member at Whittlesea Community Connections Sophia Ocon, 22, said there is a growing need in the community for additional youth spaces. “We’re growing with a minimum of 45,000 young people taking up our population,” Ms Ocon said. “We don’t have [enough spaces] on offer in comparison to other places such as Hume whose council has five.” The group of young advocates at Whittlesea Community Connections will present a petition to the state government asking it to commit to working with young people to develop new youth led spaces. “We have over 150 signatures but we want to get at least past a thousand,” Ms Ocon said. “We are also starting a social media campaign soon, just to show them (state government) the journey as well as trying to get these hubs in the works.” Ms Ocon said young people in the area would really benefit from having additional spaces offering access to numerous resources. “A youth hub is basically a place for young people to go to in terms of a safe place, supervision and even potential referrals to other things,” she said. “It’s something that’s around all year round that youth can access so easily and everything is just there for them.”

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4 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

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By Millicent Spencer Hume mayor Joseph Haweil is considering upping council fines for dumping rubbish to $10,000. Currently people can be fined $200, but Cr Haweil said he was investigating whether the fine could be increased to $10,000 in a bid to curb rubbish dumping which he said “is on steroids” in Hume. Cr Haweil said illegal dumping of rubbish in the Hume area is at an all time high. “[I] declare a war on dumping in Hume,” he said. “Anyone who is going and dumping in the street, there is absolutely no excuse. “Some people are just selfish and lazy, they may not want to put in a hard waste collection or they don’t want to pay for it to be disposed [of].” Cr Haweil said the council spent $8 million picking up rubbish in the last year. “Sixty-four per cent [of waste] is general household waste that could go into their red bin at home,” he said. “Initially we thought residents weren’t aware of the services available but the reality is we do a lot and try and let people know. “We need to do something quite aggressive on this issue as it keeps growing.” Hume residents are entitled to two, three cubic metre collections at different times of the year or one collection of six cubic metres. Broadmeadows Progress Association’s Sonja Rutherford said while dumping in the municipality is a very big problem, more needs to be done to address the systemic issues around waste.

“We’ve got to take an all round view [and] look at the cause of why people want to throw rubbish out,” Ms Rutherford said. “[There is an] enormous push commercially to buy things they don’t need. “[The rubbish] is predominantly broken poorly built furniture and plastic toys … items that have built in obsolescence.” Ms Rutherford said a series of community discussions should be held to address the issue of rubbish in its entirety. “We need to address the broad aspect of dumping, and punishment is one way to do this but it isn’t addressing the problem,” she said. “If you really want to solve it there is no use in just going out and yelling about it. “We need to have a community forum where we can discuss it together.” Craigieburn Residents Association president Debra Phippen said having lived in the area for 17 years and observed patterns of dumping, the problem seems to be with renters. “People who are renting [and their] landlords don’t tell them they have a tip voucher,” she said. “There needs to be a publicity campaign to let people know how they get rid of rubbish.” Cr Haweil said mass mailout campaign will be conducted over the next few weeks, with residents receiving information in several languages via the form of a letter in their post box. “We’re taking a multicultural support approach to communications so we reach as many people as possible,” he said.

(Joe Mastroianni) 310243_02

Dumping fines could increase

RUSSELL WOOD

Mastering an old art Roxburgh Park resident Russell Wood has taken home the prestigious award of Master of the Year in the Korean martial art, taekwondo. The inaugural award is presented by peak industry body Martial Arts Australia, and recipients must be nominated to be considered. Wood said the award was difficult to win, and put his success down to the mental discipline it takes to train. “It doesn’t matter what sport you play, you need mental discipline,” he said. “I train six days a week and I am up at 5am to train in my area.” At the age of 81, Wood has been performing martial arts for over half a century. “Most guys my age can’t do much, they

are chair bound,” Wood said. “So far I am as fit as a bull.” Wood started boxing when he was 16 and worked his way through a series of martial arts styles. “I tried judo, then karate, then I found taekwondo,” he said. “Taekwondo suited my likings and I stuck with it.” While Wood officially retired at the age 65 after winning the Australian Masters in Canberra, he still competes and teaches out of his home studio. Over his expansive career, he has accumulated a raft of awards including a Sports Medal from Queen Elizabeth II. Wood said he plans to keep competing for as long as he can. Millicent Spencer

What’s on

Artist impression

Gorge Road shopping precinct streetscape concept plan

Community members are invited to have their say on a draft plan to transform Gorge Road shopping precinct into a more attractive retail destination. The draft plan aims to make the overall shopping experience more convenient and enjoyable, while also improving safety for drivers and pedestrians at the busy strip. Consultation closes Sunday 18 December 2022. To view the draft concept plan and provide your feedback, visit engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/gorgeroad

Nominate a local hero or group

Help us recognise and celebrate those people in our local community who dedicate their time to helping others or going above and beyond. Nominate someone who live, work, volunteer or study in the City of Whittlesea following categories: • Citizen of the Year • Young Citizen of the Year • Senior Citizen of the Year • Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year • Sustainable Environment Citizen or Group of the Year Find out more, including how to nominate, at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/communityawards

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Contribute to feasibility study Hume is calling on the community for consultation on reusable sanitary and incontinence aids. The council wants to hear from people who menstruate and/or experience incontinence so they can identify the barriers faced by these groups to using reusable sanitary and incontinence aids. Have your say by visiting: https://participate. hume.vic.gov.au/feasibility-study

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Quarry Hills Parkland plan Inspector Chris Allen, senior sergeant David Magnavacca, principal Anthony Oldmeadow, and judge Helen Taylor with the national record certificate. (Millicent Spencer)

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Students at Mernda Central College have joined forces with Victoria Police and Latrobe Lifeskills to take out the national record for the longest human chain. In a show of solidarity for International Day of Disability, 330 students and officers formed a human chain by patting each other on the back continuously for 30 seconds. Mernda Central College principal Anthony Oldmeadow said this challenge was a great way to mark International Day of Disability and emphasise the school’s inclusive environment. “The tap on the back gesture fits exactly with the school being supportive and inclusive of all students,” Mr Oldmeadow said. “We advocate for a supportive and inclusive environment. “We want to make sure students do everything they can to understand disability.” Senior Sergeant David Magnavacca said he hoped the challenge would assist in forming and building relationships for school students with their local police unit. “It’s an opportunity for Victoria police to connect with a local school,” he said.

Co-founder of the Australian Book of Records Helen Taylor said after judging 93 national records she still gets so much joy out of participating in these challenges. “We get more enjoyment when we get kids involved, there’s incredible meaning behind today,” Ms Taylor said. “We love the fact it’s all about the comradery and inclusivity.” This is not the first tilt at a national record for Whittlesea police, having taken home the record for largest paper chain last year. Ms Taylor said she hopes to see more national records and possibly even world records from the Mernda community. “We’re aiming for a national record, and next time hoping to get the world record,” she said. “This is a good starting point.” Currently the Guiness Book of Records’ world longest human chain is held by the Bangladesh Awami League and involved over five million people to create a chain over 1000 kilometres long. Millicent Spencer

Whittlesea is asking for community feedback on the draft Future Directions Plan for parkland in Quarry Hills. The plan has been developed in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, and is funded through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Provide your feedback here: https://engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/ quarry-hills

Tullamarine road rage Broadmeadows police are calling on the public for assistance after a road rage incident in Tullamarine on Tuesday, November 22 at 8am. Anyone with information can contact Constable Reynolds at Broadmeadows Police Station on 9302 8222 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Blossom Drive residents fear a hoon crash

Karen Robinson with her work. (Joe Mastroianni) 310319_03

Art helps dull the pain By Millicent Spencer After losing her son in a fatal car crash in 2009, Attwood resident Karen Robinson turned to painting and photography to express her emotions. Thirteen years later, Robinson is opening a solo exhibition at the Town Hall Broadmeadows in honour of her son, Ben. Robinson said after her son was killed in a single vehicle car crash, she turned to creative writing, painting, and photography as a way to maintain her mental wellbeing. “When my son was killed I did a lot of paintings, and nine of those paintings are at TAC,” she said. “I found that painting was a solitary endeavour, and it didn’t get me out connecting with people.”

It was this realisation that led Robinson to explore the medium of photography further. “Photography became a family endeavour, and helped rebuild the family after the tragedy,” she said. “I have been able to include my husband, daughter, and granddaughter on my photography adventures, and I’ve reengaged with them by being out enjoying nature and taking photos.” Robinson’s exhibition will showcase a collection of limited edition archival prints featuring landscapes, seascapes, woodlands, autumn images, birds, and flowers. “I hope to inspire the viewer to experience and appreciate the natural wonders within the Melbourne Metropolitan region and throughout country Victoria,” she said.

Robinson said she hopes the works serve as a reminder that we are caretakers and nurturers of the natural world, and we owe it to future generations to come to preserve it. All of Robinson’s prints will be available to purchase and proceeds will be donated in full to Amber Community, a not-for-profit organisation contributing to the safety and wellbeing of road users. Robinson’s exhibition, ‘Portraits of Nature’ runs until Sunday, February 5 at the Town Hall Broadmeadows Gallery. Details: https://www.hume.vic.gov. au / R e s id e nt s / T h i n g s -t o - S e e - a nd-D o/ Arts-and-Culture/Galleries/PhotographicPortraits-of-Nature-Karen-Robinson

Greenvale resident Dorothy Zanhra has called Blossom Drive home for six years, however the influx of hoons is making her street a “terrifying” place to live. Ms Zanhra said she is concerned for the safety of both the residents and school children nearby. “I hear these cars and motorbikes, and it’s just an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “I’m going to have my 14-year-old adopted daughter move in and I don’t want her to be at risk. “I don’t feel safe.” Ms Zanhra said the problem seems to be coming from Somerton Road, with hoons flying around the roundabout before ending up in Blossom Drive. “It’s like a speedway for all the hoons down there,” she said. “Anytime these speedsters come past they could crash into someone’s house.” Hume Inspector Dean Clinton said hooning is the number one issue on the tasking teams annual community plan. “[We have] significant tasking against hoon driving,” he said. At present Blossom Drive is not on the community register but Mr Clinton said he encourages the residents to contact the station and provide more information.

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Tuesday, 13 December, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 7

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High hopes for Yoorrook inquiry By Millicent Spencer Last week, the Yoorrook Justice Commision started public hearings to examine the child protection and criminal justice systems. The first week of the hearings saw evidence presented from 21 witnesses who provided insights into the child protection system. Whittlesea Community Connections Aboriginal engagement and caseworker Sharna Brown said she hoped the inquiry would help change the narrative around Aboriginal communities in Whittlesea and beyond. “It is embedded in people that we are not warriors but that we are thieves when we

are actually beautiful people helping our community,” she said. “I am a good mother with a good job but I worry that if I do one thing wrong child services could be involved.” Ms Brown said just this year she worked on a case in Whittlesea where a child was going to be removed due to family violence. “Child services rocked up to her house to try and remove her child,” she said. “The striking thing is I did a case report back to my colleagues and they said if it was a non-Aborginal woman it would have taken much longer to send child protection.” Ms Brown said she hopes the inquiry will give power back to Aboriginal communities

to allow them to keep their children in the community. “The truth needs to be told so that way we can start changing the system so our families can heal,” she said. “Our connection with our child is not just physical, it is a spiritual connection too. “Yes, if a child is in an unsafe environment they should be removed but they should stay within their family.” Yoorrook Truth Receiver Joseph Saunders said we’re hearing from witnesses that there needs to be a change of processes and perspectives within the child protection system.

Grant will help stem pet surrenders Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) has secured a $1500 community grant to support its pet outreach program. Since opening in 2008, the Craigieburn shelter has rescued and rehomed over 12,000 cats and dogs. Chief executive and founder of SCAR Marisa Debattista said the grant will help the shelter support community members with pets before they choose to surrender them. “Our program addresses some of the deeper social issues leading to the increasing number of homeless animals in our community and keeps families together and pets happy and healthy in their homes,” she said. “SCAR has always aspired to take a preventative approach to pet homelessness in Victoria rather than the band aid approach of rescuing and rehoming, a cycle which is difficult to break.” Ms Debattista said with the cost of living rising, the shelter has seen an increased number of surrenders. “We rescue 60-100 animals every month (but) more at the moment due to the kitten season,” she said. “There have been more surrenders lately as more people are struggling to survive due to financial, accommodation and other hardships.” SCAR is one of the 15 not-for-profit groups in Donnybrook and Craigieburn awarded financial grants from the Donnybrae Community Fund. Dennis Family Corporation, the developer of Donnybrae estate, executive general manager Peter Ryan said the corporation was proud to support local communities. “We believe their efforts greatly contribute towards the liveability of our estates,” he said.

“We’re hearing from the community that they want to see more control over what happens to their kids,” he said. “They have told Yoorrook their kids should be staying within their families, not being put outside of their kinship. “If you lose your family your at risk of losing your identity.” Mr Saunders said the inquiry will hear injustices from the start of colonisation in 1788 through to today. “We have to think about the future, we’re only caretakers of the country and if the country is not healthy, then we’re not going to be healthy,” he said.

Living Legends wins bronze Greenvale’s Living Legends has run home strong, taking out two bronze medals at the Victorian Tourism Awards which were announced on Thursday, December 1. The local tourist attraction is home to champion race horses and the famous Homestead Cafe. Living Legends chief executive Dr Andrew Clarke said he couldn’t be happier to round out the year by winning bronze in the Cultural Tourism and Tourist Attraction categories. “We’ve had a fantastic end to the year,” Dr Clarke said. “We won business of the Year in Hume [and] the two Victorian Tourism awards is the icing on the cake.” Dr Clarke said he puts the success of his business down to his small but committed team. “The magic trick for us is our team,” he said. “Our determination [is] to give people the best possible experience.” Dr Clarke said in addition to his hard working team, the residents of Hume have played a role in the continued success of the farm. “Over the last two years we’ve had great support from the residents of Hume,” he said. “We’ve become a family destination.” Front of house staff member at the Homestead Annie Benedetti has worked at Living Legends for 15 years. Ms Benedetti said she was over the moon to have won the award. “It is just amazing that we actually won something,” Ms Benedetti said. “This is just a beautiful and magical place. “A lot of people find out about us [and] once they come here they are amazed.” Millicent Spencer

Marisa Debattista with Lexi. (Joe Mastroianni) 310588_03

Clean up ‘Broady Bronx’ plea from councillors, residents ■

From page 1.

Senior officials from Homes Victoria attended a council briefing session on July 19, 2021. “[They] made a number of assurances to us, none of which have come to fruition,” Cr Haweil said. “It’s important we have some answers provided to us by Homes Victoria.” Marie said between people breaking into houses, the drug deals, and the syringes around the estate- Banksia Gardens is not a safe place to live. “I don’t care how other people live but when it starts to affect my life something needs to 8 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

be done, and nothing’s getting done,” she said. “I don’t want to go back to hiding in a corner rotting away, I shouldn’t have to.” Marie said the conditions of the flats were also a concern with moldy walls, rotted wood, and asbestos laden roofs. “I’ve got a great big crack through the floor from the last earthquake,” she said. “I haven’t got carpet because we made an agreement that the carpet would go in after the renovations that have not been done, so I still have not got carpet.” “Then there’s the taps that are leaking, which is causing a gas bill, and that’s been over eight months.” Cr Haweil said the council has been waiting

patiently for two years now yet Broadmeadows continues to be neglected by successive governments over time. “The state of Banksia Gardens is an absolutely unacceptable form of housing in this day and age,” he said. “Money gets spent very very quickly, and we have seen projects in other municipalities prioritised. “There is no greater need and no worse housing development than Banksia Gardens in the state of Victoria.” Cr Haweil said this project must be fast tracked and until the money comes through he will continue to pursue a very strong and active advocacy campaign. A Homes Victoria spokesperson

acknowledged the need for social and affordable housing in Broadmeadows. “[This is] why we are delivering the landmark Big Housing Build to provide the safety, security and dignity of a home to those who need it most,” the spokesperson said. “Homes Victoria will continue to work with Hume City Council, community organisations and partner agencies on future investment in housing at Banksia Gardens as part of the Big Housing Build.” Homes Victoria confirmed it received a $50,000 contribution from the Suburban Revitalisation program to assist in the master planning process for the Banksia Gardens neighbourhood and surrounding precinct.

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NEWS

Youths encouraged to reach out By Millicent Spencer New research has found seven in 10 young Australians aged between 12-25 do not ask for help when they are experiencing difficult times. The research by harm prevention charity R U OK? shows that a major barrier for young people accessing help is the fear of appearing weak and vulnerable. R U OK? chief executive Katherine Newton said the research highlights the importance of checking in with young people.

“Young people in our world won’t always tell us they need support, so it’s up to us to make asking how they’re really going and knowing how to support them an everyday part of our relationships,” Ms Newton said. “We want to ensure young Australians feel confident to start having a meaningful conversation and help their friends better navigate life’s ups and downs.” The survey also found that a corresponding 70 per cent of young people were willing to engage in meaningful conversations with a

close friend but they preferred to have these conversations in person. Whittlesea Community Connections children and young people team leader Dean Marando said he has found young people are very willing to talk with the youth workers at the centre. “Mental health is really prevalent for a lot of young people,” he said. “Young people don’t necessarily just come to us for mental health interventions. “They come to us [when they want] rather than in a crisis which means they can keep

coming back to the same person which is really important to them.” Whittlesea Community Connections facilitates the EMPOWER project which is a multidisciplinary program to engage vulnerable young people and provide pathways to social, civic and economic participation opportunities. “I think the multidisciplinary approach is super important, where youth workers and social workers can be part of the system,” Mr Marando said. “It’s about building trusted relationships.”

Pupils rally for creek Thomastown Primary School pupils have written a letter to Whittlesea council expressing their concern about the condition of Edgars Creek. Mya was one of the 13 pupils who wrote to the council about the condition of the creek near her school. Mya said she wanted to write a letter to make others notice the problems with the creek. “We noticed the large amount of rubbish dumped along the creek bed and the dirty water that was more disgusting than toilet water,” she said. “We wrote to the council because we wanted others to notice the problems along the creek, such as the pollution and lack of bins.” Fellow pupil, Kavin, said he was worried about the creek after seeing it on his walk. “People can’t enjoy the area for a morning walk because of the way it looks,” he said. “There were no bins along our walk and we didn’t spot many native animals.

“If we leave it as it is, the small number of animals that are there will disappear and die.” Teacher Bruna Pipolo said she was proud of the pupils for writing the letters to the council. “The children showed a real interest in learning about the history of our local area, in particular how Edgars Creek has changed over time as a result of natural processes and human activity,” she said. “Students showed a real passion in their writing by voicing their concerns about the state of Edgars Creek. “Making suggestions to the Whittlesea council, to improve the health of Edgars Creek, was a way that they could not only share their concerns but also be active citizens.” Whittlesea council’s administrators voted at the November 21 council meeting to refer the letter to a community consultation process for the Lalor and Thomastown master plan and for council to receive a report on the pupils’ requests at the March 2023 council meeting.

Pupils from Thomastown Primary School took matters into their own hands.

(Millicent Spencer)

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Gingerbread spreads sweet joy Hume locals came together and embraced the Christmas spirit at a gingerbread decorating workshop on Tuesday, December 6. The group had fun decorating gingerbread people with icing, sprinkles, and smarties. Star Weekly photographer Joe Mastroianni headed down to snap the budding chefs in action. Left: Saahas having a great time decorating a ginger bread. Right: Saahas and his mum Sanju with their finished ginger bread. Below: Eesa is hard at work. Below right: Mum Kate and Archer embracing the Christmas spirit.

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How to ward off mozzie nasties By Christopher Carter, chief executive, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network No one needs reminding that spring this year was a wet and wild affair, or that forecasts suggest the summer might also be a bit damp. And while it’s a Melbourne hobby to complain about the weather, the combination of rain and brief periods of sun means that we would do well to take precautions against an old but resurgent health risk. Warmth and water provide ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, and populations of these flying nuisances are exploding. Mozzie bites are annoying at the best of times, but we need to be especially on guard now, because there’s a risk that a bite might end up as something more serious than an itchy little lump. There are almost 300 species of mosquito found in Australia, but only a few of them feast on humans. Those that do, however, sometimes carry germs that can infect us and occasionally cause severe illness. In Victoria we are spared two of the world’s most common mosquito-linked diseases – malaria and dengue fever – but there are some others that can potentially cause us harm. Mosquito-borne nasties that might be circulating around where you live are Ross River virus disease, Barmah Forest virus disease, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Buruli ulcer. It’s important to note that here these diseases are rare and in most cases don’t produce any symptoms. In the small percentage that do result in illness, however, an even smaller percentage can develop very serious problems. The first symptoms of mosquito-borne illnesses are often fevers that don’t show for days or weeks after being bitten. Another

Safeguard yourself against mosquitoes this summer. (iStock)

warning sign is a bite-lump that shows no signs of going away. Whatever the cause, if you or a family member start to feel ill, you should follow your usual action plan – depending on severity, ring Nurse-on-call on 1300 60 60 24, make an appointment with a GP, go to a Priority Primary Care Centre, a GP Respiratory Clinic (if breathing or lungs are affected), or call triple-0 and ask for an ambulance.

All mosquito-borne diseases can be detected through testing, so even if you don’t remember being bitten, the medical professionals will figure it out. What you can do right now, though, is take some easy steps to reduce your chances of being bitten by the blighters. If you’ve got flyscreens on your doors and windows, make sure they are closed and patch up any holes. Empty out any old containers. Mozzies

don’t need much water to lay eggs in. Remember to refresh pet water bowls every day or two. Wear loose long sleeves outside, and use an effective insect repellent on exposed skin. There are many from which to choose. There is no foolproof way to escape a mozzie bite at this time of year, but these tips and tricks will help you have an itch-free summer.

Wombat waddles back to health thanks to vets

An orphaned wild wombat joey with a life-threatening stomach condition is back waddling through grass again following treatment by Werribee Open Range Zoo veterinarians and a remarkable recovery with a wildlife carer. The female common wombat – affectionately named Fern – was found alone and weak by a member of the public near Beechworth in north-east Victoria and taken to a local wildlife carer in May. The joey, weighing a slight 1.77 kilograms, was promptly transported to Werribee Open Range Zoo for critical medical assessment. Upon arrival, Fern immediately underwent a series of tests including X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests, which revealed a problematic bacterial infection requiring life-saving medical treatment. Werribee Open Range Zoo veterinarian Dr Jen O’Dwyer said the sick marsupial had not been drinking milk – an important source of energy, calcium and protein to support growth during early life development – and had also developed severe diarrhoea. “We don’t like to see these kinds of issues in younger wombats, but they can occur because of stress, inappropriate diet and other factors,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “To commence her recovery, we provided antibiotics for the bacterial infection, and intravenous fluids and oral rehydration therapy to assist with dehydration.” As Fern’s health began to improve, her diet included specialised supplementary milk and 12 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

Wild orphaned wombat joey, Fern receiving treatment. Fern’s recovery is going “beautifully”. (Pictures: Werribee Open Range Zoo)

fresh grass, dirt, roots, and bark. “One of our vet nurses acted as a foster mum, providing Fern with daily milk feeds from a bottle,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “Fern was also taken outside regularly into a grassy rehabilitation enclosure to roam and forage with the nurse’s guidance.” Following Fern’s rehabilitation at the zoo, she has spent six months being nurtured by a wildlife carer from Reach Out Wildlife Australia (ROWA). This period included two return visits to the zoo to support Fern’s ongoing recovery.

“Fern is tracking beautifully at the moment and has moved to a pre-release enclosure with her wildlife carer, so we’re really optimistic for her future,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “Health permitting, she will be released back to where she was originally found once she is old enough to be able to fend for herself in the wild in the coming months.” Dr O’Dwyer said there are some simple actions the community can take if they encounter a wombat in distress in the wild. “There’s been a lot of rain throughout the past few weeks and wombats are a burrowing

species, so it’s possible members of the public may come across displaced adult and juvenile wombats,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “If you’re seeing wombats under the size of the football, I would be concerned if there’s no mum or burrow around. “Wildlife can become highly stressed with human approach, especially wombats, so it’s always important to keep your distance. Please contact Wildlife Victoria or your local wildlife carer who will be able to provide expert advice about the best course of action to take.”

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BEHIND THE NEWS

Shearing survives despite blows It’s considered one of the hardest, most physically demanding jobs in the world. Like many labour-intensive industries, there is a shortage of sheep shearers across the country – Elsie Lange takes a dive into its woolly underbelly.

n Tom Roberts’ iconic painting ‘Shearing the Rams’, finished in 1890, a man to the left of the frame hugs a male sheep to his chest, the enormous, heavy creature up to the height of his shoulder. And next to him, in the foreground, is a shearer bent over another ram, his back straightened and arm outstretched with the force of taking off the animal’s coat – a testament to the complete physicality of the task. Hailed as a great portrayal of pastoral life, this painting was and is considered a masterpiece of Australian impressionism. It’s also been described as perhaps too nostalgic, as only a year later, newly unionised shearers and squatters would take part in the 1891 Australian shearers strike. According to the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre, this strike was a “watershed” in the history of working conditions in this country, and a catalyst in the growth of the Australian Labor Party. Now, 130 years later, the industry is still facing concerns over conditions, wages and most crucially, attracting young people into their workforce.

‘

New workers are coming in, but they are leaving at a faster rate than we can keep them in

’

- Jason Letchford

Four years ago, it wasn’t as hard for hobby farm owner Catherine Cruikshank to find a shearer to rid her Corriedale sheep of their woolly coats before summer. The New Gisborne resident said it had become “almost impossible”, and she was paying double compared to three years ago. “I was actually going to have my sheep transported to another paddock, but I was scared to have them on another property with the cold coming through … that’s when I reached out on social media [and] I finally secured a shearer to get it done,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s just a dying skill, there’s so much work out there. It’s a real employee’s market, and no one wants to do small packs either.” Bendigo-based shearer Shane Dunne described a day’s worth of shearing as like “playing four games of AFL in a row”. He used to work on larger flocks before deciding to concentrate on shearing alpacas and pet sheep on hobby farms, because getting paid as little as $3.80 to $4 a sheep didn’t seem worth it anymore. Mr Dunne has worked in shearing for two decades, and said to bring more people into the industry, wages will “have to double”. “Shearing is the hardest physical job on earth – if you’re not going to get paid much, why on earth are you going to do the hardest job in the world,” he said. He said the work was skilful but unfathomably tiring – “We are expected to drag a 100 kilogram sheep, shear it [while] the animal kicks you for the five minutes it takes to shear it. You get very good at getting your feet right”. Shearing Contractors Association of Australia secretary Jason Letchford said there were 2800 shearers in the country until 2016, with an extra 500 seasonal workers coming over from New Zealand to get the annual shearing done. Then the pandemic hit, and not only did those seasonal workers struggle to get into the country, other industries were also looking internally for labour. “Between 2006 and 2016 we lost 32 per cent of our workforce. That trend of losing 3.2 per cent through the year has been quite consistent,” Mr Letchford explained. “New workers are coming

Ballarat-based shearer Shane Dunne travels across the state to shear alpacas and pet sheep. (Supplied)

in, but they are leaving at a faster rate than we can keep them in.” He said until the drought broke in 2019, the Australian sheep flock numbers had fallen at about the same rate as the number of shearers. But when the rain came, flocks grew again – from about 65 million to about 74 million. “We haven’t been able to replace the shearers or skilled labour at the same rate as the flock has rebounded,” he said. Australian Workers Union (AWU) regional and pastoral organiser Ross Kenna said the award rate was too low, about “$3 less than we would like to see” and could be why retention was low. “Sheds are 150 years old, and [people] are expecting modern shearing to occur in turn of the century sheds,” Mr Kenna said. “The other big issue is we see a lot of contractors asking for industrial shearers to have their own Australian Business Number – they’ll pay the award but they won’t pay for superannuation and work cover. “We’re finding shearers who are turning 30 who have no superannuation at all.” Mr Letchford said the solution to the issue was multifaceted, and broader than pay – it included compensating for the difficulty of the labour with better “manmade conditions” – such as ventilation, accommodation and air conditioning. While he believed pay could be lucrative, it was the increase in the Australian sheep size which had become too difficult for workers. “They roughly have gone up 15 kilograms in size, the size of the Australian sheep has gone from being a manageable animal to shear that is almost unmanageable to shear… we need to understand that smaller animals can be more profitable,” he said. Kilmore shearing trainer, Tom Kelly, described shearing as a “tough industry”, but didn’t believe it was a dying one. “It’s piecework so you get paid for what you do,” he said. “And it’s not for everyone, but there’s a lot of people who love it and thrive on it. You have generations of shearing families, the ability to make money quick, the opportunity to travel, the challenge of it.” But Mr Dunne said it had been a terrible year for wet sheep – the ongoing rains and flooding preventing shearers from working. He wanted to see government farming grants flow on to industries like shearing. “There’s no such thing as a full-time shearer,” he said.

Top: Tom Roberts’ 1890 painting ’Shearing the Rams’. (National Gallery of Victoria) Above: Catherine Cruickshank’s woolly sheep before they were recently shorn. (Supplied) Tuesday, 13 December, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 13

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

10 years ago

7 years ago

5 years ago

1 year ago

December 11, 2012

December 15, 2015

December 12, 2017

December 14, 2021

Angry Roxburgh Park residents are putting pen to paper to voice their opposition to a potential housing development that they fear will lead to overcrowding.

Descendants of one of Mernda’s pioneering families fear an historic Mayfield home is being left to rot as Woolworths stalls on plans for Mernda’s town centre.

Whittlesea council has been revealed as one of Melbourne’s most secretive councils for the second year in a row, with more than one quarter of its decisions made behind closed doors.

The Whittlesea community will be able to dive into a 50-metre pool from 2025, with Whittlesea council finally endorsing acompetition-length pool as its preferred option for the Mernda Sports Hub.

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COMMUNITY

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

Whittlesea Christmas Festival

group. There they discuss experiences, find connections and improve mental health. ■ Lesley, 0484 691 226

A fun filled afternoon with family fun and entertainment including food, market stalls, music, and carols. Taking place at the Whittlesea Showgrounds on Saturday, December 17 between 4pm to 9.30pm. Entry to the event is free. ■ Brett, 0411 351 921

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

Christmas Tree Extravaganza Trees, lights and decorations a plenty await you at The Whittlesea Agricultural Society’s Community Christmas Tree Extravaganza. Drop by the Whittlesea Agricultural Society Administration Building (Gate 1, McPhees Road, Whittlesea) between midday to 9pm daily until Friday, December 23. Gold coin entry per person. ■ Erica, 9716 2835

Arts and games night Get creative at the Sunbury Youth Centre as part of an art and games night each Wednesday at the Sunbury Youth Centre, 3.30- 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. It’s at 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury.

Sunbury’s Christmas in the Park A free, family event with festive activities held in the Sunbury Village Green. Sunday, December 17 at Sunbury Village Green located in Stawell Street. ■ events@hume.vic.gov.au

Carer connect chat Making the Marker

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

Making the Marker: The Story of Hume Stolen Generations Marker. Hume Galleries present Making the Marker, an exhibition displaying the works of Gunnai/Waradjurie/ Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmarra artist, Robert Young. Visit the exhibition until Monday, February 13 at the Hume Galleries. Entry is free. ■ 9205 2200

HarmoniX Vocal Company Complimentary Colours A group exhibition of Hume-based artists who use colour to explore the complex dimensions of their observed and inner worlds. Visit the exhibition until Sunday, January 29 at the Gallery at Sunbury Hume Global Learning Centre. Entry is free. ■ https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/ Things-to-See-and-Do/Arts-and-Culture/ Galleries/Complimentary-Colours

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

Photographic Portraits of Nature

Jacksons Creek Combined Probus

Karen Robinson presents her prints that she hopes will serve as a reminder that we are caretakers and nurturers of the natural world, and we owe it to future generations to come to preserve it. Visit the exhibition until Sunday, February 5 at the Hume Galleries. Entry is free. ■ https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/ Things-to-See-and-Do/Arts-and-Culture/ Galleries/Photographic-Portraits-of-NatureKaren-Robinson

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

Farmers and makers market The South Morang Farmers and Makers Market, which supports local farmers, artisans and businesses, is on at the Civic Centre car park, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang, on the third Saturday of the month, from 9am to 1pm. ■ 9217 2346

Creative arts and fitness Banksia Gardens Community Services is running yoga and jewellery making classes every Tuesday. ■ 9309 8531

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

Joe Mastroianni caught up with Santa and his elf in Sunshine last week.

it. Lunch will be prepared by the n Turkish Women’s Association.The lunch will be held every Wednesday from 11.30am-1pm at Homestead Community and Learning Centre, 30 Whiltshire Road, Roxburgh Park. ■ www.hume.vic.gov.au/Eventbrite/ Roxburgh-Park-Homestead-Communityand-Learning-CentreWeekly-CommunityLunch-317411976767

Tai Chi for health Come along to Homestead Community and Learning Centre in Roxburgh Park for a lesson in tai chi, a low impact exercise program to build strength. Everyone is welcome. It’ll be held every Monday from 10.30-11.30am. ■ https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Eventbrite/ Tai-Chi-for-Health-317365848797

Adult education Banksia Gardens Community Services is running adult education courses including an introduction to computers and brushing up on English skills. ■ 9309 8531

coroner of Carrick and Elmhurst drives, Gladstone Park. ■ Beulah, 0411 422 398

Christmas crafts Make your way to Romsey Library on Thursday, December 15, 7pm to 8.30pm. Make magical things for fun, and make connections in a friendly and inclusive setting. This event is for adults and refreshments are provided. Free. ■ https://bit.ly/3XNSMkF

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. ■ 9744 8111

Breast cancer support group Community lunch in Roxburgh Park

Senior citizens meet

Join the Homestead Team, along with members of the community for a free lunch and make some new friends whilst you’re at

The Gladstone Park Senior Citizens Club regularly meets for games of bingo, carpet bowls and a chat over a cuppa, at the

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

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

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

Sunbury Ladies Badminton Club 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 Tuesday, 13 December, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 15

PUZZLES

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Today’s Aim: 17 words: Good 26 words: Very good

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16-12-22

Who wrote the 1958 novella on which the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s is based?

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

How many limestone pillars currently make up the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria?

Is limestone an igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rock?

Who played James Bond in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

In which US city is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located?

From which part of the UK is singer Dame Shirley Bassey (pictured)?

Which river connects the Great Lakes of North America to the Atlantic Ocean?

What was the full name of T.E. Lawrence, known famously as Lawrence of Arabia?

Which Islamic holiday is celebrated earlier in the year, Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha?

No. 111

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16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

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Hopes for a pet ‘miracle’

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ISTA WITH LEXINGT

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

50-metre pool a reality

Michaela Meade

By Michaela Meade

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

Find us on Faceboo k www.westgartht own.org.au

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This local gem tells the story of the establish 1850s, now Thomast ment of Westgar own and Lalor. See thtown in the along with 70 more, our ﬁrst rose planted many other plants, in the 1860s heritage buildings and exhibitions. Cnr Gardenia Drive & Ainwick Cres, Thomastown Sunday 11.30 am–3 pm Tuesday 11:30 am–2 pm Adults $3 Children 50 cents

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Broadmeadows Country Supermarket 7 Olsen Place Broadmeadows IGA Friendly Supermarket 10 Olsen Place Broadmeadows Broadmeadows Newsagency 21 Olsen Place Broadmeadows Milk Bar - Broadmeadows 23 Olsen Place Broadmeadows Broadmeadows Central SC 1099 Pascoe Vale Road Broadmeadows Coles Supermarket 1099-1169 Pascoe Vale Road Broadmeadows Woolworths Supermarket 1099-1169 Pascoe Vale Road Broadmeadows Phil - Asian Grocery Business 16 Railway Crescent Bundoora Foodworks Bundoora 1 Andrew Place Bundoora Andrews Place Milk Bar 4 Andrew Place Bundoora Frank Milk Bar 19 Balaka Place Bundoora Good & More Asian Grocery 6/42 Copernicus Crescent Bundoora Bundoora Fruit Market, Uni Hill Town Centre, Janefield Drive Bundoora Mr Asian Grocer 1 Janefield Drive Bundoora Uni Factory Outlets 2 Janefield Drive Bundoora Uni Hill Town Centre 5 Janefield Drive Bundoora RMIT Campus Store Building 202 Level 2, Plenty Road Bundoora Gugu Asian Grocery 3803/43 Plenty Road Bundoora Woolworths Supermarket 69-85 Plenty Road Bunndora Shell Service Station 127-133 Plenty Road Bundoora Coles Supermarket Summerhill 850 Plenty Road Bundoora Caltex Woolworths Service Station 959-969 Plenty Road Bundoora BP Service Station 1050 Plenty Road Bundoora Polaris 3083 Shopping Centre 1056 Plenty Road Bundoora Woolworths Polaris Cnr Plenty Rd & Nain Drive Bundoora Coles Supermarket Bundoora Sq SC Settlement Rd

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

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

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

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

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Mill Park Rivergum Village Shopping Centre 538 Plenty Road Mill Park Woolworths Supermarket Cnr Redleap Ave & Childs Rd Roxburgh Park Woolworths Supermarket Somerton Road Roxburgh Park Coles @ Roxburgh Village SC 250 Somerton Rd Roxburgh Park South Morang South Morang Milk Bar 15 Gorge Road South Morang Westfield Plenty Valley SC 415 McDonalds Road South Morang North City Accountants 7/545 McDonalds Road South Morang Coles Supermarket Mill Park Lakes, The Lakes Boulevard Thomastown Foodworks 126 Alexander Ave Thomastown Caltex Thomastown Cnr Dalton Road & Wood St Thomastown Thomastown News & Lotto 223 High Street Thomastown Thomastown Library 52 Main Street Thomastown BP Service Station 72 Keon Parade Thomastown APCO Service Station 228-234 Settlement Road Thomastown Shell Service Station 27 Cnr Spencer St & Dalton Rd West Meadows Shell Petrol Station West Meadows 36 Fawkner Street West Meadows The Old Broadie Milkbar 40 Fawkner Street West Meadows Claudio’s IGA Supermarket 12-23 Fawkner Street West Meadows Caltex Petrol Station - West Meadows 227 Mickleham Road Whittlesea Whittlesea Bakery 34 Church Street Whittlesea NewsXpress Whittlesea 45 Church Street Whittlesea Whittlesea Courthouse Information Centre 74 Church Street Whittlesea IGA Supermarket - Whittlesea Shop 2, 22 Church Street University Hill Coles Supermarket Uni Hill 224 Plenty Road University Hill Wollert Wollert Post Office 491 Epping Road Also available from Real Estate Agents everywhere

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ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identiﬁcation number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identiﬁcation number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au

18 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. Former England cricketer Isa Guha currently commentates for which sports channel?

4. Which former fighter is suing UFC great Conor McGregor for unpaid proceeds?

2. Which country faced a major upset at the World Cup against Morrocco?

5. The Parramatta Eels rugby club offered which player 1 million dollars to resign with them?

3. Prior to Ash Barty’s Wimbledon win, who was the last Australian woman to win the tournament?

6. Which former gymnastics veteran had competed in every olympics from 1992–2000? 7. Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis sported a $6 t-shirt from which brand at the 2021 Australian Open? 8. What is the nickname for the US women’s national soccer team? 9. Who is the coach for the Collingwood football club? 10. Kayo stadium was recently announced as the new venue for which sport?

13. Craig Goodwin captains which A-League Men’s club?

Ash Barty

14. Which African nation’s soccer team goes by the nickname The Black Stars? 15. NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield signed with which team after being released by the Carolina Panthers? 16. Before debuting in 1989, which NBA team considered the names Heat, Tropics, and Juice? 17. Which South American nation’s soccer team goes by the nickname The White And Sky Blues? 18. Featuring teams such as the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks, is which professional sports league? 19. Which Polish golf professional won the 2022 Australian Open? 20. Which South African golf professional won the 2022 Women’s Australian Open?

11. Soccer is played with two teams of how many players on the field at the one time?

21. How many goals did Portugal score in their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against Switzerland?

12. Olivier Giroud is the alltime leading goalscorer for which national soccer team?

22. Eddie Jones was recently sacked as the coach of which nation’s Rugby Union team?

23. Which team was recently announced as North Melbourne’s opponent in the 2023 AFL Good Friday match? 24. Which two NBL teams will play a match on Christmas day against each other? 25. The WNBL’s Southside Flyers recently announced the signing of which AFLW star to their roster?

28. What position did Australian golfer Hannah Green finish in the recent Australian Open? 29. Australian basketballer Dyson Daniels plays for which NBA team? 30. Which Australian regional city will host the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships?

26. Which English rugby league club team will compete in the 2023 NRL Pre-Season competition? 27. The 1989 movie Major League revolves around which a real-life baseball team from which US city?

Olivier Giroud 1. Fox Cricket 2. Spain 3. Evonne Goolagong Cawley 4. Artem Lobov 5. Mitchell Moses 6. Oksana Chusovitina 7. Kmart 8. The Stars and Stripes 9. Craig McRae 10. NRL 11. 11 12. France 13. Adelaide United 14. Ghana 15. Los Angeles Rams 16. Orlando Magic 17. Argentina 18. Canadian Football League 19. Adrian Meronk 20. Ashleigh Buhai 21. Six 22. England 23. Carlton 24. Sydney Kings and Melbourne United 25. Monique Conti 26. St Helens 27. Cleveland 28. Third 29. New Orleans Pelicans 30. Bathurst

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EV6 . . . they’ll see you coming.

(Pictures: Supplied)

A statement of what’s possible By Chris Riley Back in the ‘60s Gerry Anderson created the puppet phenomena Thunderbirds. The puppets or marionettes later grew into real life actors in shows like UFO and Space: 1999, complete with space-age clothing, architecture and futuristic cars that made a buzzing, turbine-like sound. I suspect many car designers have spent too much time watching sci-fi shows because most seem to think EVs should come in a futuristic package, with form taking precedence over functionality. Kia’s first dedicated, fully electric vehicle, EV6, is an example. It looks and feels more like a statement of what is possible rather than a real car, one ready to take on the demands of the weekly grind or occasional trip to the tip on Saturday with a back full of crap. EV6 may be Wheels’ Car of the Year and there are certainly many things to like about the car, but it’s not the most practical thing we’ve driven -- not by a long shot.

Engines / transmissions Air is the more range focused of the trio, with 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque and a range of 528km, while RWD GT-Line with the same powertrain is good for 504km. GT-Line with AWD adds a second electric motor and produces a combined output of 239kW and 605Nm, along with a range of 484km. All are powered by the same 77.4kWh battery pack, which is located under the floor and weighs 477kg, with a single speed reduction gear transmission. Moving through the grades, energy consumption ranges from 16.5 to 17.2 to 18.0 kWh/100km.

Safety Five-star safety starts with seven airbags, a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines, plus Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection (and junction turn assist). There’s also Blind Spot (including rear cross traffic assist), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning 20 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

with lead vehicle departure alert (DAW+), Multi-Collision Braking (MCB) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). EV6 provides three top tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors.

AT A GLANCE

Driving

EV6 GT-Line AWD: $87,590

There are four selectable drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow which also change the look of the instruments. Adding some drama to the drive experience is Active Sound Design (ASD) with a choice of artificial engine sounds and custom setting. They’re unique electronica rather than engine noise emulations. With this much power and torque under foot and all that torque available in a flash, EV6 has plenty of get up and go, with 0-100km/h in the AWD taking a rapid 5.2 seconds. With a burst of speed, overtaking can be accomplished virtually at will, but it’s a weighty device and wants to run wide in corners. Steering is heavy and uncommunicative. EV6 has powerful braking too, perhaps too strong at times, or more specifically -irritatingly abrupt. It pulls up with a jerk and releases with a lurch, and can be difficult to control in close manoeuvring. One way to avoid this happening is one-pedal driving, using the regenerative brake system that is controlled by the steering wheel paddles normally devoted to gears. In this way, the car slows when you lift off the

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL RANGE EV6 Air RWD: $72,590 EV6 GT-Line RWD: $79,590

Kia EV6 GT-Line electric SUV

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

accelerator -- to a complete stop if necessary. An electric parking brake is provided, but instead of being located close to hand in the centre console, it’s relegated to a position to the right and below the dash. More jerkiness follows. Try releasing the brake and moving off in reverse if you’re parked on a slope. A dab on the accelerator pedal is required and is liable to result in an intake of breath as the car shoots backwards. EV6’s space-age look is polarising. Some people love it, others hate it. Most annoying was the location of the charge port. In Niro it is sensibly located at the front, but in EV6 it is cleverly concealed near the driver side tail light. The location necessitates backing the car in to access power. Charging can take a looong time with a standard powerpoint, down to as little as 18

minutes for 80 per cent with a 350kW DC commercial charger. Even fully charged the system reported a distance to empty range of 412km -- some 70km less than claimed. Stranger still, after travelling a few kilometres to do some shopping, the range actually went up a few kilometres rather than down, even though the battery dropped to 97 per cent. At the end of the day, we were getting 17.0kWh/100km after about 400km of mixed driving. After all the EV6 hype, it’s a mixed bag and something of a let-down. Until now Kia’s ergonomics have been a shining example of simplicity. Who let the nerds out?

Summing up It’s a halo model for the brand, pure and simple. Cashed up nerds will want one. Lesser so, user-choosers, who will be drawn to the usual line-up of Euro suspects. Who then does that leave? It’s a fairly short, exclusive list at $90K by the time you put it on the road. Just over 500 EV6s have found homes in Australia this year. Over the same period, Kia has sold four times as many Stingers (and they reckon its days are numbered). No doubt, the arrival of the EV6 GT will give the figures a bit of a bump -- but after that, who knows?

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SPORT

Northern FL releases kick off date

Harry Rowston playing for the Calder Cannons. (AFL Photos)

Swans bid for Rowston By Tara Murray Harry Rowston was still confident that he would be heading to Greater Western Sydney in the AFL draft despite a surprise bid from Sydney. Rowston, who has been part of the Giants academy due to living in rural New South Wales, had been told by the Giants that they would most likely match any bid from other clubs under the academy process. But when the Swans bid on him at pick 16, it was a shock to everyone. “It was unexpected to be honest,” he said. “No one at the Giants were expecting it. “I was sitting at home and not paying attention as I didn’t think my name would pop up. “I was confident they would match it. They said they would likely match it, no matter where the bid came. “It was nice to know where I was going to pop up.” Rowston said it was a dream come true to be

on an AFL list, and a couple of days after the draft it was starting to settle in. The teenager has been connected to the Giants for more than five years as part of the academy. He said that it had been a really good experience. “I’ve been in the academy for five or six years and been around the club,” he said. “I know the club pretty well. “They do a really good job with the academy. There’s a lot of Giants players who have gone through there.” While Rowston is from New South Wales, he has spent much of the past years based in Victoria, going to school at Assumption College in Kilmore. With Kilmore part of the Calder Cannons region, Rowston has also called the Calder Cannons home. “I’ve been with them for long enough, it was nice to enjoy playing a few games with them,” he said. “I trained with them for three years before I played any games. They let me come

to training. “After the last three years I felt like playing a few games was like paying them back. It was nice to play a few games late in the year.” Rowston said he had hoped to play a few games for the Cannons earlier on, but it hadn’t worked out. In fact, he actually played against the Cannons earlier this year. “The Giants played in a few NAB League games,” he said. “It was very cool at the backend of the year to play for Cannons. “In round one of the NAB League, the Giants played the Cannons. I went to training on the Thursday at the Cannons and then rolled up and played against them on the Saturday. “It was a very weird week.” Having been happy with his draft year, Rowston is keen to get to work at the Giants. He was set to get to the club on Thursday. “I want to get in and get started and meet everyone,” he said. “I want to get on the training track and work hard. My goals are to play that first game and develop into a good footballer.”

Senior action in the Northern Football League will kick off on April 7 next year. The league released its schedule for next year for the senior men and women’s competitions, along with the netball and juniors. The senior men’s competition will start with a split round in all three divisions on the weekends of April 7 and 15. There will be no games on the Queen’s Birthday weekend. The fixtures for the men’s competitions was also released. In division 1, last season’s runners-up Bundoora will face Banyule in its opening match of the season on April 15. Whittlesea will be on the road on the same day, playing Montmorency. The first grand final rematch between Bundoora and Heidelberg is on May 13 in round five. In division 2, Epping and Thomastown will face off on Good Friday in one of two Good Friday clashes in that division. The newly promoted South Morang kicks off its season against St Mary’s the following week. There’s no Good Friday clashes in division 3, with the season kicking off on April 15. Laurimar faces Kilmore, Mernda plays Old Eltham Collegians and Lalor faces the FItzroy Stars. Finals will start on August 26 in division 2 and 3 and the following week in division 1. The division 3 grand final is scheduled for September 9 and the division 2 grand final on September 16. The division 1 grand final is set down for September 23. The official fixture is set to be released in the coming weeks. The women’s season will start on April 16, with byes on the Queen’s Birthday weekend and July 2. Each division will see 14 rounds being played, which includes four grading rounds, before a four-week finals series will take place throughout August, culminating with grand final week on August 27. Tara Murray

Cooper Harvey follows in dad’s famous footsteps The moment Cooper Harvey has dreamed of for years has finally come true, drafted to North Melbourne. The son of AFL games record holder Brent Harvey, Cooper spent much of his childhood around the club. Now having formed his own pathway through Yarrambat and the Northern Knights, Cooper was taken at pick 56 as a father-son pick. Speaking on Wednesday along with his dad, Cooper was thrilled to get the opportunity to follow in his dad’s footsteps. “I’m super excited and I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming of that moment since I was a little boy. “Obviously to play for the great club my old man played for, carry on his legacy. I’m making a path for myself hopefully, it’s my journey now. Cooper said that he and his dad were similar in a lot of ways on the football field, with Cooper a mid-forward. His missed a bit of football this year with two broken arms. He said his dad had given him plenty of advice along the way. “Create my own path,” Cooper said. “What he has done is obviously amazing, but I just have to be myself. “I’m my own player and I want to create

something for myself.” Brent joked that he still had his son covered for pace, as the competitive juices in both showed through. Brent said overall, he was just proud of his son and said that it was up there with his best football moments. “I can tell you one thing, it’s exciting for me just as a dad to see your kid grow up and see just above achieving his dream,” he said. “We had a chat last night and I told him it’s a journey and getting drafted is just a small part of the hard work that starts now. “I’m super excited for him. I’ll help him out as much as I can.” Cooper said he was keen to get down to work, knowing that he has to improve all parts of this game to step up to the next level. Harvey wasn’t the only player with a Northern Football League connection to get drafted. Tylar Young, who joined the Bulls at the end of 2020, was taken at pick 26 by Richmond in the rookie draft. Young played four games with the Bulls last season, but didn’t play any this year. Tara Murray

Cooper Harvey

(AFL Photos) Tuesday, 13 December, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 21

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Moorcroft stages comeback with South Morang One of the Northern Football League’s most influential players in recent times is returning to the field, this time with South Morang. The Lions announced that former AFL player Gary Moorcroft was making a shock comeback alongside his son Beau Moorcroft, who has also joined the club. Lions coach Gary Hall said Gary Moorcroft hadn’t missed a beat. “He brings a lot of experience with him obviously,” Hall said. “Beau is good friends with a couple of boys and decided to come over. “Gaz is a bonus. He’s still fit and in good condition and hasn’t missed a training session.” Hall said Gary would play a key role on ground, proving plenty of leadership in the Lions forward line and help directing play. Gary played 98 games for Essendon and Melbourne, including the 2000 premiership, before joining Bundoora. He kicked more than 600 goals and played

in three premierships as well as coaching a women’s premiership, before retiring at the end of the 2019 season. The inclusion of Moorcroft gives the Lions some more experience as they make the move back up to division 2 after winning the division 3 premiership this year. Hall said they hadn’t lost any players from this season’s squad but had added a number of players, many who were returning to the club after going to play elsewhere. Lachie Potter, Josh D’intinosante and James Traianou are among those to return to the club. D’intinosante is still on Coburg’s Victorian Football League list. “We’ve gained a few boys who were juniors at the club and still good mates with the boys,” Hall said. “They’ve got a strong bond off the field and they’ve come back to play together, it just makes sense. “We found it very hard to keep players in division 3, now we have a new lease on life.”

Hall said now was perfect timing for the side to go back up a division with the core group of players between 20 and 25 and having played 70 to 80 senior games. He said the playing group had been eager to get back to business. “We’ve had five weeks and they’re all in pretty good nick,” he said. “After three to four weeks after the grand final they were asking when we were starting again. “It is good, it’s not like the old days and we had to drag them from the pub. They’re really self motivated, which is a good bonus.” Tara Murray

Gary Moorcroft is coming out of retirement. (Shawn Smits)

Local young guns attend metro camp

South Morang premiers (Supplied)

Lions win their first title By Tara Murray The South Morang is celebrating its first women’s premiership claiming victory on the final ball in the North Metro Cricket Association Heather Baillie Shield- spring. In just their second season, the Lions surprised themselves by claiming the title against Heidelberg on Sunday. Lions president Paul Martin said it’s a pretty amazing feeling to have tasted success. “It’s a really good effort considering where we have come from,” he said. “A year and half ago we had only two players who had played cricket before. We had another five or six brand new women this year. “We made the semi final this last year and we’ve gone one better this year. It’s a bit of a surprise, it’s a nice surprise.” Martin said they had a squad of about 17 or 18 players with everyone getting their opportunity throughout the season. Many of the team are partners, wives and daughters of those already at the club. “We got them together and it was see what 22 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 13 December, 2022

happens,” Martin said. Heidelberg was the favourites heading into the match having finished on top of the table, one win clear of the Lions. The Lions were sent in and made 4-104 from their overs. Skipper Jessica Parker led from the front making 32 at the top of the order before being run out. Martin said he wasn’t sure they had enough runs on the board. “They bowled and fielded brilliantly,” he said. “They stopped 20 to 30 runs in the field and they were the better bowling and fielding side.” While Heidelberg was on top, the Lions clawed their way back into the game in the last 10 overs. It would come down to the final ball of the match. “They needed a four off the final ball for a tie,” Martin said. “They ended up getting two, so it was pretty close.” Heidelberg finished 7-102. Kylie Kreuzer-Pierce and Sarah Watson took two

wickets each for the Lions. Martin said there weren’t many nerves on the side lines in the final overs, knowing the side was giving everything they had. He was full of praise for the leadership of Parker. The Lions will be back in action after Christmas for the summer season. Martin said the group was looking forward to it. “They are excited for it,” he said. “We missed the first 2-3 rounds with weather and now we get straight back into it. “Hopefully we’ll defend our title.” Martin said they were hoping to further develop their female program, which started last season. He said if they could get enough numbers they would look to have two teams. The club is also starting to focus on setting up program for junior girls. He said they had about 10 to 12 girls in the Woolworths Blast program and were keen to see them progress through the ranks.

Players from the Calder Cannons, Western Jets and Northern Knights were among those who took part in a training camp in preparation for the 2023 AFL under-18 national championships. The camp, which was held at the Hangar in Tullamarine featured a host of talented 16 and 17-year-old boys and girls who feature as part of the Victoria Metro regions that compete in the NAB League. The girls squad participated in the training camp across Friday and Saturday, while a camp for the boys squad was run on Saturday and Sunday. Six players in the 2023 NAB AFLW Academy have been named in the girls’ squad, including the Cannons’ Amy Gaylor and Jets’ duo Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner and Kiera Whiley. AFL Academy representatives including the Knights’ Nate Caddy have been named in the boys squad, along with the Calder Cannons’ Mahmoud Taha, who is a member of the Bachar Houli Academy. Cannons’ Jordan Croft, who is the son of former Western Bulldogs player Matthew Croft, who played 186 games for the Bulldogs, is in the squad. Jets’ Logan Morris, who plays with Werribee Districts, and Tamara Henry, who is from Darley, Knights’ William Green and Ava Jordan and the Cannons’ Kyla Forbes also took part in the camps. All players attending this weekend’s training hub were to be given an induction into high-performance and wellbeing programs The introductory camp will be followed by another training camp early in 2023, with the boys squad to reconvene in January and the girls squad to come together again in February. Additional players will be added to both squads in preparation for trial matches ahead of the national championships. Northern Knights girls coach Allana Dickie has been appointed coach of the Victoria Metro girls team, while Jason Davenport will continue as coach of the boys’ team.

Relief as Stars get on the board Lalor Stars’ young guns have been rewarded for their work with the side claiming their first win of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield. It has been a tough start for a different looking Stars line up, but they were able to hold their nerve with the bat on Saturday to beat Bundoora in a two-dayer. Stars co-coach Wayne Dow said they had taken a different approach this season. “It was good to get on the board,” he said. “We lost a few players in the off season, so we’re running with a really young team this year. “We’re slowly building and working with these guys to give them more experience.” Dow said a lot of the younger players had been given a taste of first XI cricket last season, but had spent the majority of the season in the second XI. This season they’re getting a better run of it

and starting to show some good signs. Jackson Hayse, Joseph Perretta and Patrick Taylor were among the young ones in the side for the match against the Bulls. “It’s a reward for all their hard work,” Dow said. “They’re doing the job so far.” After a strong bowling performance on day one, led by Josh Nixon who took eight wickets, the Stars had to knuckle down with the bat on Saturday. The Stars resumed at 3-29 in reply to the Bulls’ 118. They were able to get the job done, finishing 6-122. Dow said they were thrilled to get the job done. “They were second on the ladder, so it’s good to knock them off,” he said. “Had we lost an early wicket, the outcome could have changed. The skipper Mitch Hayse, who is 21, batted really well with his brother [Jackson] for the first 10 overs.”

Jackson Hayse top scored with 46. Dow said the younger players are starting to show their confidence at this level. The Stars finish the first part of the season against Bundoora Park this Saturday in a one-dayer. Dow said it would be another good challenge for them. “They have been our nemesis,” he said. “We have not been able to get a win against them yet. “We’re up for the challenge and hopefully it’s a good game.” In other matches on Saturday, Plenty easily accounted for Bundoora Park, Montmorency fell well short against Lower Eltham, Eltham beat Bundoora United and Laurimar got its first win of the season against Mernda. In the Barclay Shield, Epping beat Banyule to remain on top of the ladder. Tara Murray

Lalor Stars’ Preet Gill.

(Joe Mastroianni). 311961

Sports shorts Premier Footscray opened its Vic Super Slam account with a big win against the Greenvale Kangaroos last Tuesday night. The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to bat, and put on more than 100 for the opening partnership. The Bulldogs finished with 2-164 from their overs. William Dundon was the only wicket taker for the Kangaroos, taking one. The Kangaroos lost an early wicket and were soon in trouble at 3-31. T In the end they fell well short, finishing 7-125. Jordan Kosteas top scored with 28 not out off 18 balls.

NAB League

Epping Pingettes’ premiership side. (Supplied)

Pingettes claim shield By Tara Murray For the Epping Pingettes this season was meant to be a development year in the North Metro Cricket Association women’s competition. Having gone from two teams down to one after some departures, the Pingettes were looking to regroup this season. But the group exceeded all expectations and claimed the Lorraine Ireland Shield spring title on Sunday. Pingettes women’s co-ordinator and player Tanae Creek said the group was very excited to have won the title. “We thought this year was more of a development year,” she said. “ We had played with A-grade and B-grade sides the last couple of years. “We thought that it would be too hard to field two sides, so we decided to have one side and have extra players. “It was really good.” The Pingettes made 5-132 from their 20 overs. Mel Durdin was the standout with 42, while Alicia Gorman made 29. Tara Chetcuti took two wickets for the Power.c Creek said they

would have liked another 15 runs on the board, but said the score was defendable. She said they backed their bowlers in. “Their bowlers were amazing,” she said. “If we had 15 more runs we would have been a bit more comfortable. “Our bowlers very much so, were able to keep us in matches. At least two occasions bowled teams out including Lauirmar during the season for a small score as well. Set 133 to win, Laurimar opened strongly with Tracy Ashby, who made 50 not out, and Elyse Scheuermann. It was cruising at 0-50, before 14-year-old Naomee Hoeboer struck with a game changing run out The Pingettes then took control of the game with the match coming down to the final over of the day. Pingettes playing-coach Kristy Carbis used her experience to seal the win. The Power finished 4-130. Hoeber took 2-12 off her five overs and was named best on ground. Creek said it was really exciting to see one of their youngest players really step up and have an impact.

“Kristy has come in and this year as coach and has really focused on developing the younger girls and giving them confidence. “We have players from 14 to 59, there’s a nice range of players.” The premiership continues the Pingettes run of success in the NMCA T20 competition, having won the 20-21 spring season in the Lorraine Ireland Shield and the 20-21 spring season of the Lenore Smith Shield. Creek said the program was about developing players of all ages and they wanted to continue to grow. “We rotated players through and gave players who normally wouldn’t get a bowl a shot,” she said. “We had two players take their first ever wicket. “We will work towards having two teams again for next year’s summer season. We want to get a few more girls across. “Women who may not have played sports before and thought it may be boring. “They’ll see it’s an environment which is encouraging and supportive.”

The Northern Knights next generation of female players will get to learn first hand from former Knights players who are stepping into coaching. The Knights announced their five future girls coaches for next year, with all five having come through the Knights system. Former number one draft Gabby Newton, Carlton’s Maddy Guerin, AFL umpire Brent Wallace, Collingwood’s Sarah Sansonetti and the Bulldogs’ Jess Fitzgerald, make up the panel.

VTCA Keilor kicked off its Victorian Turf Cricket Association T20 competition with a big win against Tullamarine on Tuesday night. After being sent in, the Blues lost an early wicket the Blues set about getting the innings going and eventually finished 4-171. It was all single wicket takers for the Demons. The Demons were in trouble at 4-17 and never recovered, restricted to 8-88 from their 20 overs.

EDFL St Albans and Deer Park are officially Essendon District Football League clubs. The EDFL announced on Friday that AFL Victoria had confirmed the outcome of a final appeal hearing with the Western Region Football League, with the appeal dismissed. Both teams will play in the division 1 competition, making it a 12 team competition. FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly Tuesday, 13 December, 2022 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY 23

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