Star Weekly - Melton Moorabool - 20th December 2022 by Star Weekly

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20 DECEMBER, 2022

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As excited kids across the west eagerly countdown the days until Santa visits, three-week-old Hudson experienced the lead up to his first Christmas sleeping soundly in his brother Mason’s arms, inattentive to the rush of last-minute preparations as the holiday draws closer. As we near the end of 2022, the team at Star Weekly would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and safe and happy New Year. We will return for 2023 on January 10.

Tiny home opportunities By Liam McNally A Melton councillor believes tiny homes could help address the municipality’s “issues” with housing availability and affordability. At council’s December 12 meeting, deputy mayor Julie Shannon called for council to document current and potential opportunities to enable the construction of tiny homes and dependent persons units “with a view to supporting appropriate affordable housing and opportunities”. Tiny homes are moveable dwellings up to 50

square metres that are suitable for residential use, often on wheels, on skids or shipping containers. Cr Shannon said Melton had housing problems. “Issues where there are not enough rentals to live in, many are too expensive, and many people live in overcrowded situations. We have people that sleep in cars, and a lot of people are desperate for help in this area,” she said. Owner of Tullamarine tiny home company NJ Tiny, Nick Todd said he has seen demand for tiny homes, which start at about $100,000,

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increase dramatically. “There is a lack of a real alternative for people struggling financially and for those looking to downsize as they get older. Many have stated they have been unable to find cost effective rental options or availability of good accommodation in suburban locations,” he said. Mr Todd firmly believes tiny homes could help ease the affordable housing “crisis”. “I would love to meet with council representatives to discuss solutions to help

get more people living in appropriate tiny homes.” Mr Todd said different councils will have different rules for tiny homes, but they are often categorised as caravans, which means they will often have to be moved after a few months, and cannot be the only dwelling on a property. “There should be clear cut categories within councils for tiny homes built to Australian Standards for use in a suburban environment and said there could be new regulations drawn up,” he said.

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1 day sale specials only available Thursday 22/12/22. Weekly specials available Wednesday 21/12/22 until Tuesday 27/12/22. Pictures used for illustration purposes only. While stocks last. Retail quantities only. No trade supplied. All prices include GST where applicable. Some products or varieties may not be available at all stores. IGA Liquor supports the responsible service of alcohol. Tobacco and alcohol not sold to under 18’s. We reserve the right to correct printing errors. 12532090-HC51-22

2 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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DEPOSIT TODAY! WITH NO MORE TO PAY UNTIL COMPLETION! HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES NOW SELLING SOHO Living are pleased to announce that the Riverside release is now selling at The Avenue, Maddingley.

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4 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

Police pleased with fall in crime By Liam McNally Crime in Melton fell 3.3 per cent in 12 months to September, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data. According to the data, 12,135 offences were recorded in the city of Melton in the year to September, down from 12,548 recorded offences in the year to September, 2021. There were over 100 less recorded thefts, sexual offences and deception offences during the 12-month period, although

robbery increased by almost 30 offences, and abductions, although an uncommon offence, nearly doubled from 23 to 42 offences. Melton recorded the 42nd highest rate of offences in Victoria, and 13th highest in greater Melbourne. Across Victoria, there were 474,446 criminal offences recorded for the year ending September, representing a decrease of 21,373 offences or 4.3 per cent from the same 12-month period in 2021. This represents the lowest number of criminal offences committed in the year

ending September since 2014. Melton Inspector Lisa Prentice-Evans said it’s pleasing to see a reduction in crime in Melton, however police are “continuing to do everything we can to keep crime as low as possible as we anticipate some gradual increases as we move further away from the pandemic”. “Home burglaries and car theft are some of our key priorities, as we know this is likely to gradually increase as a result of the change in people’s lifestyles and working patterns post pandemic,” she said

“We have teams of local uniform police and detectives working to prevent this type of offending and to apprehend offenders – while this strong approach will continue, we also urge the community to ensure they are securing their properties and vehicles at all times, particularly ahead of the summer period when many people will be holidaying or out enjoying the festive season.” In Moorabool, offences dropped by 11.7 per cent, with the largest drops in the theft and miscellaneous subdivisions.

Festive gifts from prisoners on the inside

Liz Wade and her children Alda and Elva Bryan-Wade, from the Blackwood Bush Playgroup, were some of the 70 people gathered to oppose logging the Wombat Forest. (Supplied)

Wombat Forest harvesting concern Environment groups from Moorabool and Ballarat have opposed a proposal for sawlog harvesting and ongoing salvage works in the Wombat Forest. The groups gathered in the forest on December 11 to protest a Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CMFEU) suggestion to supply an east Victoria paper mill with timber from Wombat Forest. Opal Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill is at risk of closure, which Opal said is due to shortage of supply from the Victorian government-owned timber company, VicForests. The CFMEU has raised concerns about the potential job losses that would result from the mills closure, and suggested Wombat Forest, among others, as a “potentially viable

alternative” for alternative timber supply. Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne said it was hard to believe that it could be happening in a forest that is designated to be a national park. “Our iconic threatened species such as the greater glider and powerful owls, already under pressure due to loss of habitat from last year’s storm and current ‘salvage logging’, will be further compromised,” she said. “With Australia having one of the worst extinction rates in the world, do we want these special animals found in the Wombat to join the list?” Timber logging is currently not permitted in the area, but a VicForests spokesperson said the organisation is currently removing debris and treating hazardous trees resulting from

last year’s storm events. “Timber removed through these operations will be going to the highest and best end use. This potentially includes community use, utilisation by Traditional Owners, customers, as well as community firewood,” the spokesperson said. Opal said “suitable alternatives“ to VicForests’ wood supply have not been identified to date. CFMEU was contacted for comment. Liam McNally

Staff and prisoners at the Metropolitan Remand Centre (MRC) in Ravenhall are helping provide toys for underprivileged kids across Victoria this Christmas. Department of Justice and Community Safety staff are working in partnership with charities Melbourne Tautoko Whanau and the Caroline Chisholm Society, to take part in a toy drive at the prison. Staff at the MRC were invited to donate purchased items, and prisoners from the timber Prison Industries program built and decorated a large scale toy box for the items to be held until collection. Approximately 475 items have been donated by staff at an estimated value of $3500, which Tautoko Whanau and the Caroline Chisholm Society will provide to more than 150 families. Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong said staff do important work in their roles all year round “and it’s heart-warming to see their generosity for the community further displayed during the festive season“. “Having a safe and stable home is an important part of diverting people from the justice system and supporting them towards successful futures, and charities like this do amazing work to nurture positive family environments,” she said. Metropolitan Remand Centre general manager Nicholas Selisky it’s been “wonderful” to see staff take part in this “important initiative and really dig deep to support the community.” “Having prisoners get involved by assisting to make the large toy box for the drive has been a great way for them to use their skills to give back and take pride in being a part of this wonderful initiative,” he said.

Melton jobless rate falls, but more jobs are still needed The unemployment rate in Melton dropped more than three per cent in the 12 months to June, however council said there’s work to be done to provide jobs for Melton’s growing population. In June 2021, Melton’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the state at 8.7 per cent, but by June this year, the city’s unemployment rate had dropped to 5.6 per cent, according to recent data from the National Skills Commission. In the same period Moorabool’s unemployment dropped from six to 3.9 per cent, and the Victorian unemployment rate

went from 6.2 to 4.3 per cent. According to council, a large factor in Melton’s unemployment rate is its rapid population growth creating more job opportunities, however there is potential for population growth to outpace job growth. The municipality is the third fastest growing in Australia, set to grow from a population of 216,000 to over 450,000 in the next 30 years. Melton mayor Lara Carli said council has been working to support local businesses and attract good, long-term job opportunities for the community, but there’s still work to be done. “From renewing our town centres, to

working to attract some of Victoria’s biggest fulfilment centres located here, to landmark public works projects like the Melton Hospital and Cobblebank TAFE and five level crossing removals, Council is working to support the delivery of local jobs, growth and opportunities for our residents,” she said. “Whilst we welcome the news of decreased unemployment rates, there’s still so much more work to do. We’re projecting a 100,000 job shortfall by 2051 based on our booming population – and already over 70 per cent of our local workforce have to commute outside the city to work.

“We need urgent investment in long-term job creation projects here, locally. The Outer Metropolitan Ring and Western Interstate Freight Terminal have the potential to turn the City of Melton into Victoria’s freight and logistics capital and start to turn the tide of the local jobs gap.” Liam McNally

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 5

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St Kilda stabbing Police have charged two Melton teens with a number of offences as part of the Homicide Squad investigation into the fatal stabbing in St Kilda earlier this month. A 16-year-old Kurunjang boy and a 17-year-old Taylors Hill boy were arrested and interviewed by police. Both have been charged with affray and violent disorder in relation to the incident.

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Melton Trauma Teddies assistant co-ordinator Norma Murray, Djerriwarrh Lodge social secretary Trevor Rosan, Djerriwarrh Lodge worshipful master Alec Beaton, and Melton Trauma Teddies coordinator Jean Dickson. (Liam McNally) 312018_01

Bears help with trauma A Melton volunteer organisation has been given a holiday season boost with a donation from Djerriwarrh Masonic Lodge. Red Cross Melton Trauma Teddies is a charity that hand-knits bears and donates them to local medical centres, pathology clinics, and police stations to comfort children going through tough times – recently three dozen teddies were donated to flood victims. Djerriwarrh Lodge worshipful master Alec Beaton and social secretary Alec Beaton presented a $700 cheque to Melton Trauma Teddies co-ordinator Jean Dickson at Brookfield Village Leisure Centre on Wednesday, December 7. Djerriwarrh Lodge has partnered with Melton Trauma Teddies for over 30 years. Mr Beaton said he has a “personal connection” to the charity because his two great-grandchildren received trauma teddies when they were at the

Bacchus Marsh Hospital. “They certainly served their purpose,” he said. Ms Dickson said she was “thrilled” at the donation that will go towards materials required to make the teddies. She said by Christmas, the charity will have knitted 1000 teddies for the year, and she is organising an afternoon tea to celebrate the hard work the 18 women involved put in. One of Ms Dickson’s favourite moments was when she gave a teddy to a boy when he was crying outside a pathology unit. “He immediately stopped – it’s just a calming effect when they’re stressed or anxious or sick,” she said. Ms Dickson said Melton Trauma Teddies is currently seeking more volunteers. Details: Jean Dickson, 0412 931 498.

The Melton Courthouse building is open to the public for the first time in three years, this time as a gelatery. Augustus Gelatery is now open in the council-owned heritage building. The store is a part of Melton council and the Victorian government’s Melton Town Centre Revitalisation Project.

Southern Rural Water inspection Southern Rural Water is reviewing private dams in the Moorabool River catchment to ensure they’re compliant with the Water Act 1989. Southern Rural Water has powers and obligations to regulate private dams in southern Victoria. If you see the team out in the community, please know they are authorised to enter and inspect properties to ensure private dams are compliant.

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Courthouse gelato

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6 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

Equity issues with bus network By Liam McNally Melton council and the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) have welcomed a new report stating current bus infrastructure is contributing to a “major equity problem, especially for outer and new growth areas of Melbourne”. The Infrastructure Victoria discussion paper, released last week, said buses were rarely a competitive alternative to other transport due to limited operating hours, and inefficient routes which made buses less appealing to use.

“Bus services in these areas can be infrequent and have limited operating hours. If the bus service is not convenient, families can be forced into car ownership … This lack of choice adds to the cost of living and contributes to locational transport disadvantage,” the report said. PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said Infrastructure Victoria is “spot on in their findings”. “There are cases where the suburbs have been growing fast, in terms of population growth, but the bus network hasn’t kept up,” he said.

“For basic journeys, like getting to the shops or railway station, many of the bus routes are just completely inadequate. If you glance at the bus maps for a lot of these areas, the routes are very confusing. It’s like looking at spaghetti.” Melton council has been calling on the state government for a review of Melton’s bus network. Melton mayor Lara Carli said the west is in “desperate need” of a comprehensive review of its bus networks. “The buses in our city aren’t meeting our growing community’s needs. Whole suburbs

and many other areas in our community have no access to bus services. Frequency is low and unreliable, services are indirect, and travel times are close to twice that of travelling by car,” she said. A state government spokesperson said the government is “deeply invested” in supporting and upgrading Victoria’s bus network. “We are always monitoring and investigating how we can improve our public transport network, right around the state including in Melbourne’s booming western suburbs,” the spokesperson said.

Deeming elected to Parliament

Nathan Furtado at Catholic Regional College Melton.

Melton councillor Moira Deeming has been elected as a Liberal MP for the Western Metropolitan Region in the upper house of state Parliament. The upper house election results were finalised last week, and Ms Deeming was elected to represent the Liberal Party in Western Metropolitan Region alongside Brimbank councillor Trung Luu. According to the Victorian Electoral Commission, councillors elected to the upper house will need to step down from their roles, which for Melton council will mean a countback of previous election results to decide who will replace Ms Deeming. A timeline for when these changes will occur will come in the next 14 days. Ms Deeming celebrated her win on social media. “I would like to thank God for this opportunity to serve my community, as well as thank and congratulate all my fellow Western Metro candidates, supporters and volunteers,” she said. “Without your tireless efforts in the toughest and least resourced seats in Victoria, none of our fantastic swings, nor my victory, nor Trung’s, would have been possible.” In the Western Victoria region Labor’s Jacinta Ermacora and Gayle Tierney were elected, as well as Liberal’s Bev McArhur and Joe McCracken, and the Greens’ Sarah Mansfield.

(Damjan Janevski) 312833_01

Gearing up for engineering post VCE Catholic Regional College Melton student Nathan Furtado described receiving his VCE results as “really surreal”. The school captain received his results last Monday, surrounded by family. He achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 93.7 He now plans to study engineering at university. “It was a lot higher than I thought I would get so I’m really happy with the freedom to get into anywhere I want,” he said.

Nathan said he continued to enjoy his hobbies outside of school during year 12, but they were things that intersected with his engineering interests like LEGO and animation. “It was important to me to find a good balance between work and school. I made sure all of the extra curricular activities I was involved in were things that were pushing me to work harder,” he said. Catholic Regional College Melton Principal Marlene Jorgensen said she’s proud of all

their students. “VCAL students, for setting themselves up with future employment pathways, and the VCE result is reflective of consistent hard work over the two years of year 11 and 12,” she said. “Nathan, especially was the school captain, so well done to him for his time management and balancing all of his responsibilities.”

Liam McNally

Congratulations to the Class of 2022. With hard work, great endeavour, balance, and courage you have achieved academic excellence. We are proud of all you have strived for and the people you have become. We wish you every success and happiness for the next steps on your learning journey. Be of Courage.

Dr Peter Miller

Discover the Geelong College difference at an Open Day.

Be of

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8 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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BEHIND THE NEWS

Djirra leader is making her mark Melburnian of the Year Antoinette Braybrook talks to Liam McNally about growing up in Melton, her work with Djirra and what the award means to her.

hen Djirra chief executive Antoinette Braybrook was named the Melburnian of the Year in November, she said she was “deeply honoured” but it was “hard to believe ’’ she was the first Aboriginal person to receive the accolade in its 20-year existence. “I dedicate this honour to Aboriginal women, recognising the strength and courage of every Aboriginal woman who has put her trust in me and our organisation Djirra for over two decades,” she said. Djirra is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who experience family violence, predominantly women and their children. Ms Braybrook has been leading Djirra since its inception in 2002. Ms Braybrook’s family line is through the Kuku Yalanji, North Queensland, but she was born in Melton, on Wurundjeri country.

‘‘

I tackle it head on. I try not to let it diminish me

’’

- Antionette Braybrook She said she has a “really strong” connection to Melton. Fifty years ago, hers was the only Aboriginal family she knew of in the area. Her family made inroads to connecting with the community through sport – her mother being “instrumental” in setting up what is now the Melton Netball Association and her father and brothers playing for Melton South Football Club. Despite the “many strong friendships” she maintains, she wouldn’t “say it was easy” growing up in Melton. “We experienced racism,” she said. She said this racism was the catalyst for her leaving school at just 15. “I left school with really low self-confidence. I had no self worth, I just felt like I was not valued in any way, and that was difficult to reconcile – at home, my mum and dad always made us feel proud of our culture and identity, but outside of the family home we were made to feel the lesser,” she said. Ms Braybrook “pushed through” these feelings throughout her early working life, with the help of “strong family and support networks,” and at age 30 enrolled in a law degree. “It was overwhelming, and scary. I felt like an

imposter, but I did it, and here we are,” she said. She said the proudest aspect of her career is Djirra’s work and growth, whose staff are 40 per cent Aboriginal women in 101 funded positions spread across nine offices in Victoria. The organisation is working towards opening an office in her home town of Melton next year, which has the third highest rates of family violence in greater Melbourne, and the fastest growing Aboriginal population. Another career highlight was making four interventions at the United Nations 41st session in 2019 around the high removal rates of Aboriginal children, Aboriginal women being the fastest growing prison population in Australia, punitive income management programs and solutions to addressing the high rates of violence against Aboriginal women. Ms Braybrook said the interventions were about “keeping Aboriginal women visible,” which she also intends to do with the Melburnian of the Year award, including by hopefully building the first Aboriginal Women’s Centre in Melbourne. She said violence against Aboriginal women is “continuing to rise”. “In Victoria, Aboriginal women are 45 times more likely to experience family violence and 25 times more likely to die from a violent assault than other women,” she said. “I also want to point out that we know that around 90 per cent of the violence against our women, our people, goes unreported. So these numbers really do not speak the truth.” One of Djirra’s biggest calls nationally is to have a dedicated national plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres

Antionette Braybrook was awarded Melburnian of the Year on November 14, 2022. (Picture s: Supplied/Jesse Spezza)

Antionette Braybrook has been the chief executive of Djirra since its inception in 2002. (Tiffany Garvie)

Strait Islander women and their children, “because we don’t want to be lost and invisible in mainstream plans.” Ms Braybrook said her work is a “lifelong commitment”, both in the family violence sector and wider aspects of racism. “Racism isn’t just isolated to one area, I think that it’s still very much alive and thriving across the country,” she said. “It impacted significantly on my life, but now I tackle it head on. I try not to let it diminish me.” In the current political climate there’s national attention on Aboriginal issues, with the Closing the Gap report, Voice to Parliament, federal laws protecting indigenous sites, and the inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children. Despite the “extremely disappointing”

results in the latest Closing the Gap report, Ms Braybrook is hopeful about “big steps being taken”. “I think that they’re important steps, and I think that to have a new government has been a breath of fresh air, especially to have Linda Burney, an Aboriginal woman be appointed as the minister for Indigenous Australians,” she said. “I feel that we’re starting to see a new way, a different way, because we can’t keep doing things the same old way and expecting a different result.” Ms Braybrook said that even on a social level, for everyday people there’s “so much work to do”. “A good start is for people is to inform themselves of the real history of this country and understand that the past injustices are not just of the past, they are very much present today,” she said. “Colonisation didn’t just happen at a point in time, it’s been an ongoing process, and so it would be really good for people to understand that everyone’s got an individual responsibility in dismantling the oppressive structures which continue to disadvantage our people.” Details: https://djirra.org.au/

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20 December 2022

Mayor’s message Cr Lara Carli The holiday season is a special time of year for me. It is an opportunity to gather with my family and friends to create great memories that last a lifetime.

STAY INFORMED Quickly and easily connect with us online: melton.vic.gov.au facebook.com/cityofmelton Instagram @cityofmeltonofficial

School, holiday activities

This festive break, I hope you can all enjoy these special moments and celebrate the important things – our loved ones, our health and happiness, the food on our tables, and the place we call home. Summer school holidays will be action-packed for Melton residents with Council delivering an exciting program of dance workshops, art classes and sports activities throughout January. From vacation care to bowling, a trip to the cinema, art workshop, self defence and sport. indoor rock climbing, fishing,

Waste collections There are no changes to your kerbside bin collections this holiday season and bins will still be collected on your regular day. More details about waste collections at melton.vic.gov.au/waste

Coburn Ward with Cr Sophie Ramsey Christmas is a wonderful time for family, friends and community; a time when we can all rejoice in being together and spend time with those we love. Our community is wholeheartedly embracing the Christmas spirit, with decorations and lights brightening up our streets and homes, and the sound of joyous carols filling the air. It’s wonderful to see. It’s also a time when many of you will be heading off on holidays. So, whether you’re travelling near or far, please be safe on our roads, on our beaches and pools, and in rural areas where other risks might lurk. I sincerely hope that each of you enjoys the unmistakable magic the festive season brings. From the bottom of my heart, I hope the new year brings health and prosperity

to you and your family, and I look forward to a fruitful 2023. It is with utmost sadness that I pass on the news that Heather Evans, National President of the Partners of Veterans Association, and long-time Melton local, has passed away after battling illness for some time. Heather was an amazing advocate for Partners of Veterans and used her outstanding skills all the way to the halls of Parliament House. She was a warm, articulate, intelligent, and extremely funny woman who we admired immensely, and will be sorely missed by all those whose lives she touched. LEST WE FORGET. Don’t hesitate to contact me at sophie.ramsey@melton.vic.gov.au or on 0412 584 067. I’d love to hear your thoughts about Coburn Ward.

dodge ball, laser tag, dance and more, there’s something for everyone this holiday season. Many activities are free but almost all have limited spaces, so make sure you book ahead. You can see all the activities on offer at melton.vic.gov.au/schoolholidays

Christmas and New Year opening hours There will be some changes to opening hours at Council facilities this holiday season. CIVIC CENTRE Closed from 12pm on Friday 23 December 2022 until Tuesday 3 January 2023 MELTON LIBRARIES Closed from 12pm on Friday 23 December 2022 until Tuesday 3 January 2023 ANIMAL POUND Reduced hours on 23, 24 and 31 December and 1 January (open from 9:30am to 10:30am), and closed all other days between 25 December and 3 January. An animal ranger will be on call and can be contacted on 9747 7200 MELTON RECYCLING FACILITY Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and open 8am to 4:30pm every other day

Find out more at melton.vic.gov.au/ holidayhours

The holidays are also an opportunity for Council to reflect on what we’ve achieved for our community over the last year. In 2022, Council helped to secure commitments from the Victorian Government to fund a business case on an upgrade to the Western Highway, as well as to rebuild Melton Station and remove six level crossings, and deliver the new Melton Hospital and TAFE. We also supported our sporting community and opened the new MacPherson Park Soccer Pavilion, extended and refurbished the Brookside Recreation Reserve Pavilion, delivered lighting and a scoreboard at Eynesbury Recreation Reserve, and delivered Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve oval rebuild. With so many families growing in our area, I’m also proud that we built an extension to Arnolds Creek Kindergarten in Harkness for the 2022 kinder year, and built the Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park Children’s and Community Centres, ready for the new kindergarten year! On behalf of my fellow councillors, I wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. We look forward to a bigger and brighter 2023 for our whole community. Feel free to contact me about Watts Ward or Council related issues on 0409 951 020 or email at: lara.carli@melton.vic.gov.au or visit my Facebook page at: facebook.com/Cr.LaraCarli

Your Councillors – Visit melton.vic.gov.au/councillors to find your ward Councillors and their contact details

Mayor Cr Lara Carli

Deputy Mayor Cr Julie Shannon

Cr Steve Abboushi

A vibrant, safe and liveable City accessible to all 10 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

Cr Goran Kesic

Cr Kathy Majdlik

Cr Sophie Ramsey

Cr Bob Turner

Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

Planning for a decade of growth By Liam McNally Melton council will need 21 new cricket ovals and nine new football ovals by 2032 to meet an expected growing demand. In the council’s football and cricket strategies which were tabled at the December council meeting, it said it was expected there would be more than 2000 new players across the two sports. The reports said that there would have to be 21 new cricket ovals and nine new football ovals to cater for all those participating in the sports, with many ovals to be used be

multipurpose facilities and used by both sports. The cost to implement the new grounds in the cricket strategy is almost $200 million, and the football strategy more than $60 million. Both sports are set to grow within Melton grow alongside the rest of the municipality during the next decade, with council approving two new strategies which will guide development for the sports. The strategies aim to grow the sport through the provision of high-quality facilities and diverse participation opportunities in the area. Each strategy also recommended spending

more than $13 million upgrading existing facilities. The majority of the new cricket sites are planned for the eastern corridor of Melton, between Plumpton and Mt Atkinson, while the majority of the football sites are planned for the western corridor. The strategies plan for the development of seven new cricket clubs and four new football clubs for the area. The strategy also allows for a range of clubs to create a “model for sustainable participation” to avoid developing a small number of “super clubs” that can lead to uneven competitions and lower

social connection. Melton councillor Steve Abboushi said these strategies are a part of 13 sport development strategies council is working on. “Everyone deserves to take part in sports and playing sports should be accessible, inclusive, affordable, and close to where you live,” he said. “That’s what we’re delivering with these strategies, it’s a vision for sport for everyone. “Our sporting community are the greatest experts when it comes to what we need, the insights and experience local clubs have shared are at the heart of this strategy.”

Primary school poets Arnold’s Creek Primary School pupils have collaborated with author Emma Bowd to publish their very own poetry anthology. The book, Amazing Animal Poems, contains almost 100 poems and digital illustrations authored by more than 130 grade five and six students and was launched at an event at the school on December 15. Ms Bowd came to Arnolds Creek Primary through Ardoch’s Writer In Residence program, and spent a week teaching students about poetry, before helping to edit and compile their works into a book, which will be available to rent at the Melton Library. Ms Bowd said she “enjoyed every minute” of the program, and hopes the children learned skills they “can take with them”. Ms Dowd said she heard that one of the students spoke in front of their class for the first time ever because they wanted to share their poem.

“I like engaging with the kids who are the reluctant readers and the reluctant writers because they’re the most challenging and most rewarding,” she said. Jenna, 11, said she worked on a poem for the book with her friend Rebecca about two otters. “I think it was quite amazing because we got to learn about poetry and about how we use it effectively,” she said. “It was really weird, because I’ve never seen my writing in a full-on printed book.” Classroom teacher Alexander Stokes said he admired the engagement of the lessons, including the way Ms Bowd got the pupils to understand rhyming schemes in their poems by reading them over rap beats. “I was really proud to see how much effort the students put in,” he said. Liam McNally

Author Emma Bowd with some of the pupils that took part in the project. (Damjan Janevski) 311394_01

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202112074237_1-NG52-21

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Advertising feature

Enjoy top burgers and help the community at Grill’d Tasty food, healthy alternative options and incredible service from a team that will make you feel like part of the family, that’s what Grill’d Melton strives for. The Mighty Melbourne burger is Melton Grill’d partner Glenn Baillie’s personal favourite menu item. “It’s our signature, but we like to cater to all tribes- vegan or vegetarian. Our meat free range is massive,” he said, adding the restaurant also offers keto and paleo options. Not only does Grill’d make incredible burgers, the service is outstanding too. Grill’d Melton is ranked second in the country for customer experience. “I’m so grateful for the team I have here. You know if the team is happy then that naturally flows onto the guest experience, which is a testament to the locals,” Mr Baillie said. “Sustainability is also massive for us. Our packaging and restaurants are actively trying to be more sustainable with our products and ingredients.” Located in Woodgrove Shopping Centre, the team can’t wait to see the new outdoor dining precinct open up this week. Mr Baillie said it’ll be a great place for locals and families. “It’s an exciting area where people can bring their families, sit down to eat and have a nice lunch in a nice place to gather.” Grill’d Melton is also pioneering positive growth in the community. Every month, it supports three local community groups by giving away $500. Each guest that purchases a burger receives a token to cast a vote for the winning group. The monthly winner receives $300 with the other two community groups receiving $100 each. “Connection and belonging is really important to us in the community,” Mr Baillie said.

Glenn Bailie casting his vote in the Local Matters Program. Enjoy a burger and vote for yours today.

Since Grill’d launched its Local Matters Program, it has donated over 6 million dollars to local communities and supported over 30, 000 groups nationally. Locally, Grill’d has supported groups like

Melton Dragons Basketball Club, Pentland Calisthenics and, most recently, helped Wolfpack Basketball fundraise $350 at a burger night. The restaurant is on the lookout for more

(Pictures: Supplied)

groups to join the Woodgrove Local Matters community. To apply head to www.grilld.com. au/local-matters Holly McGuinness

HOW IT WORKS You probably know the drill. Order up and you’ll get a token to vote in-restaurant or online. Get to know the local groups in your commmunity and use your token to vote for their cause.

Every burger equals a vote. You’ll get a token to vote with in-restaurant or when you order online.

Place your vote. At the end of the month the jar with the most tokens receives $300, the 2nd and 3rd are given $100 each.

Your votes and involvement helps us hand back over $70,000 a month to local communities.

Woodgrove Shopping Centre Shop Res04/533-555 High St, Melton West VIC 3337 12582271-HC51-22

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 13

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Advertising feature

A lovely outlook and inviting interior, the perfect place to catch up with friends or take five for yourself.

(Supplied)

Eggs Benedict with bacon is a must try.

(Supplied)

Great coffee that will leave an impression at Degani Great coffee has become a part of a morning ritual for so many of us and the wonderful team at Degani Woodgrove make sure to deliver some of the best. The hand-crafted Degani #1 blend is tailor made, originating from the world’s equatorial region highlands, made using the finest grade Arabica beans and roasted in Melbourne for a chocolate undertone and depth of flavour. Degani baristas strive to make a velvety

smooth cup of coffee that will leave you with a lingering warmth to start your day, caffeinated with the best and ready to take on the world. Accompanying the incredible coffee is a vast array of delicious food, with breakfast, lunch and dinner, carefully and lovingly prepared in the Degani kitchen. With everyone’s favourites on the menu, there’s perfectly soft eggs Benedict for breakfast, or if you’re looking for something

different, try the chilli egg croissant. For later in the day, gooey mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes are a must try, with rocket and parmesan salad and harissa aioli. For something more substantial try the twice cooked pork belly with colcannon mash, seasonal vegetables and sensationally spiced apple puree. If you’re after something to accompany a coffee, then the display of delicate pastries and

tasty treats will be sure to catch your eye, and are available all day in-store. As the weather heats up and summer creeps on, there’s fresh frappes in store, so why not treat yourself with an all-new pineapple and coconut or watermelon and lime fruit frappe. Available in store or delivery via Menulog and Uber Eats.

Bookings: 9971 5646 Message only on 0435 521 440 Woodgrove Shopping Centre Shop Res 03 533 555 | High St, Melton West 12582273-HC51-22

14 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Advertising feature

Flavour packs a punch at Melton’s popular Burrito Bar For a modern, fun environment with meals to make you salivate and cocktails to remember, head to Burrito Bar Melton, in Woodgrove Shopping Centre. Giving you a tropical taste of Mexico, the extensive menu will leave you finding it hard to decide what to order. Burrito Bar Melton partner Krishna Adusumilli even struggles picking a favourite, with something for everyone’s taste, but personally loves the pina colada and nachos. The nachos are a delicious, fully packed option, serving corn chips with roasted tomato salsa, black beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and your choice of topping. If you’re after a sweeter option, how about the chocolate tacos? Including two soft chocolate tacos filled with Mexican doughnuts, vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce, cinnamon sugar and cocoa powder, all topped off with fresh strawberries. It’s enough to make your mouth water. There’s great deals on Taco Mondays and Wings Wednesdays too, with 50c wings available on Wednesdays for dine-in with the purchase of any drink per person. “We are very passionate about serving delicious food at reasonable prices to the customers,” Mr Adusumilli said. Putting an emphasis on customer service and satisfaction, the Melton Burrito Bar team strives to achieve a bond with customers. “We moved to Melton a couple of years ago and found the community very warm and welcoming,” Mr Adusumilli said. “The locals have loved our restaurant since our opening in January 2021 and we want to continue serving them our delicious Mexican food.” Being located in Woodgrove, Mr Adusumilli said the centre truly feels like the heart of Melton. “There are various shops and places where

A fun, high energy vibe makes for a fun dining experience. Wash down tasty tacos with a fruity cocktail at Burrito Bar Melton, and there’s also something for the sweet tooth of the family. (Pictures: Supplied)

people could hangout and have fun with their loved ones.” The team is excited to see the new dining precinct open and Mr Adusumilli said it’s

looking very colourful and is a lot more inviting. “With the play area too, we think that a lot of children will be very happy to dine in

our restaurants.” To view the menu, head to www.burritobar.com.au

Ph: (03) 9747 2151 Addr: Woodgrove Shopping Centre, 533-555 High Street, Melton, Victoria 3337

12582274-DL51-22

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 15

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Advertising feature

Woodgrove Shopping Centre unveils outdoor dining Shoppers will soon be able to enjoy a new outdoor dining precinct at Woodgrove Shopping Centre. Opening on Friday, December 23, just in time for the balmy summer days, the precinct features family-friendly eateries and a fun children’s play area. The fresh new surrounds provide a hub for the whole family to gather and dine in comfort. As part of the precinct upgrade, the centre now boasts the brand-new children play area so the little ones can safely play, while parents can kick back and relax. Customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what to eat, with the eateries on offer including Degani, Burrito Bar, La Porchetta, Red Lantern, and Grill’d. Visitors can also soak up the ambience of the fun and laid-back dining area which feature new seating, greenery and lighting. Woodgrove Shopping Centre manager Kylie Robertson said the team can’t wait to see customers make the most of the centre’s upgraded new precinct after work began on the upgrade in July 2022. “We are so proud to see our dining precinct open to the public, especially as the summer holiday period rolls around. The look and feel of the space has been transformed and we know adults and children alike will love spending time here.” The centre thanked the local community and retailers for their patience during the construction phase. Shoppers will also be able to tackle any last-minute Christmas shopping at the centre which features 150 speciality stores including, fashion, homewares, fresh produce, food court dining and so much more, or catch a movie, making the centre the destination for everyone in the Melton community.

A new dining precinct at Woodgrove Shopping Centre will soon be opened.

(Supplied)

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Leave the technical stuff to the professionals - US! Get your FREE business digital health check Contact your advertising representative westads@starweekly.com.au Ph: (03) 8318 5777 16 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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Laying the artistic groundwork By Liam McNally The new crop of Melton artists set to receive professional development through council’s flagship artist development program have been selected. Tess Angala, Ayesha Baktawar Saad, Nanchok Santino Chol, Naomi Leeder and Adelai Van Loggerenberg have all been selected for Groundwork 2023. Artists in the Groundwork program can access mentorship and curatorial advice from

council’s arts and culture team, opportunities to take part in tailored professional development programs, marketing and promotion support for their creative practices, and exhibition space at Melton Library and Melton Civic Centre. Groundwork aims to grow the creative practice of artists living and working within the Melton to enrich the city’s creative ecology and economies. This tailored support is designed to build capacity and develop skills for participants to maintain and grow their

practice long into the future. Leeder is a painter who loves the feeling of “entering another world” when she paints. During the program she wants to continue her study of native birds and bringing them to life on canvas. She said having people guide you in the right direction and give you information on how to do things and realise your skills and talents and passions is a “pretty great opportunity”. “I grew up in Melton, and I’ve witnessed this beautiful community, and the council are

really big supporters of arts and youth and bringing people together and I just love it,” she said. Melton mayor Lara Carli said she’s “excited” to see these artists’ work exhibited in Melton’s public spaces. “Groundwork supports our city’s most exciting emerging artists to grow and thrive – and brings contemporary arts practice to a broader audience,” she said.

Art to get kids talking and the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Honour Book. Clarke said she’s “absolutely thrilled” to be able to exhibit the original illustrations for Fashionista and When we say Black Lives Matter in a diverse community in Melbourne’s west, very close to where they were created. “Although these artworks have now been published as reproductions and critically acclaimed internationally through my picture books, the original artwork has never before been exhibited,” she said. “It’s my hope that in addition to sparking conversations about the value of Black lives, and the strength of communities of colour, the themes of joy, pride, creativity, community, and resistance will resonate with big and little kids from all different backgrounds.” The Wonderful-Strong exhibition is on until Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Cs Gallery, 193-201 Caroline Springs Boulevad, Caroline Springs. Maxine Beneba Clarke’s exhibition, Wonderful-Strong is on at CS gallery until March 16.

(Supplied)

12544962-AV15-22

Award-winning author Maxine Beneba Clarke’s illustrations are on exhibition now as part of the summer exhibition program at CS Gallery. Wonderful-Strong will showcase a vivid array of intimate, hand-drawn watercolour illustrations from Clarke’s popular books, When we say Black Lives Matter and Fashionista, and is the first solo exhibition of Clarke’s work. Carrying a powerful message of Black Love for young African diaspora families, this exhibition provides a gentle visual narrative for all children to understand the Black Lives Matter movement and to revel in joyful freedom of expression in black and inclusive fashion. Clarke’s works have won the Australian Book Industry Award’s Award for Literary Fiction Book of the Year, the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction, Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry, NSW Premier’s Literary Award Multicultural NSW Award

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 17

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

30 years ago

20 years ago

15 years ago

10 years ago

December 18, 1992

December 17, 2002

December 18, 2007

December 18, 2012

Melton’s “Cockatoo Dundee”, William Henry Hirt, has died at the age of 85.

The long-awaited Darley fire station garage is a step closer with Moorabool Shire and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) agreeing to terms for the sale of land on which to build the fire station.

Christmas time has its own eternal magic and fascination. Whether it was 150 years ago, or today the same values hold true.

They wade into ice cold water, crawl through mud, and run through bursts of fire. Angela Valente talks to some who’ve put their grit to the test in the mudder of all challenges.

The Summer Edition of your favourite family magazine is out now... Pick up a printed copy of Kids West Today Magazine from outlets everywhere.

12580178-SN49-22

Or, read the full digital edition as it appears in print now!

Read it now Scan the QR CODE

OR VISIT: kidswest.com.au/digital-editions 18 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Deer Park Lions Club Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. ■ Michael, 0417 307 572

Sunshine Community Brass Sunshine Community Brass is looking for trumpet and percussion players to join its vibrant band of musicians. With more than 90 years of history, the band rehearses at 45 Furlong Road, North Sunshine, on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. ■ Andrew, 0419 444 620

St Albans senior citizens St Albans Senior Citizens group meet at the centre at the corner of Alfrieda and William Streets on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9am to 1.30pm. We have Bingo, cards, billiards and other activities. Annual membership $10.00 Entry $1.00 on attendance day all new members welcomed. ■ Roma, 0435 991 064

The Gap on Graham The Gap provides a place for Melton youth to hang out, socialise, play games and learn new skills. The centre holds a night for girls aged 10 to 18 years at 5 Graham Street, Melton, on Wednesday evenings. There is also a drop-in night for anyone aged 12 to 25 years old. ■ Val, 0414 769 605

Melton Men’s Group Melton Men’s Group meets every Thursday from 5-8pm at The Gap on Graham, 5 Graham Street, Melton. Focusing on Senior Men’s mental and physical wellbeing. The group invites new members to come for a cuppa and a chat, listen to guest speakers and participate in activities including carpet bowls, pool and table tennis. ■ https://meltonmensgroup.home.blog/

Photographer Joe Mastroianni caught up with Desley Adams to check out the community-designed Christmas trees on display as part of Christmas in Riddells Creek. (311237_04)

Bacchus Marsh Market

Melton Friendship Group.

Melton Combined Probus Club

Rotary Club of Melton

Bacchus Marsh rejoice! There will be a monthly market at the gorgeous location of Maddingley Park. On the second Saturday of every month there will be a lovely variety of stallholders and food trucks. Bring a picnic blanket and invite your friends and family for a lovely market day out.

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

The Melton Probus Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Melton Dart Club, 63a Reserve Road, from 9.45am. ■ 9746 0271

The Rotary Club of Melton invites new guests to join its meetings, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, 6pm at Tabcorp Park in Melton. ■ meltonrotary@gmail.com, or Greg, 0417 593 035

Take weight off naturally Struggling to lose weight? Are you struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere? Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton. ■ Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Parkinson’s support group The Melton Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the second Thursday of the month 10.30am–12.30pm at Kurunjang Community Centre, 33-35 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang. New members and carers welcome. ■ Helen, 0409 186 576

Melton Bridge Club The Melton Bridge Club has recommenced weekly social Bridge sessions at the Melton Library on Fridays from 10am-noon. Come along to play an exciting, social card game and have loads of fun. Bridge offers the suspense of poker, the cerebral qualities of chess and the excitement of athletic sports, all in a relaxed and social setting. If you like playing cards this is for you. ■ Rosemary, 0407 894 817

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

The Rose Carers meet Wednesdays from 10am-noon at Maddingley Park, corner of Grant and Taverner streets, Bacchus Marsh, to maintain two beautiful rose gardens. New volunteers are always welcome – with or without experience. ■ Elaine Greenhall, 0418 171 119, or 0400 052 857

Melton South Knit & Natter

Melton Cycling Club

Melton Trauma Teddies

All are welcome to join this social crafting group, running at the Melton South Community Centre each Monday from 10am-noon. Bring along any knitting or crochet projects and work on them while sharing tips, learning skills and catching up over a cuppa. ■ 9747 8576

Melton Cycling club meets for regular Sunday rides. There are three different riding groups to cater for different abilities starting at 7.30am. The rides finish at Lazy Moe’s for a cuppa. ■ 0403 057 003

Melton Trauma Teddies are seeking volunteers to assist with knitting, stuffing, or stitching teddy-bears that go to children in their time of need. ■ Jean 0412 931 498

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club

Zonta club meets Zonta is an international organisation bringing women together to support other women. The Zonta Club of Melton meets on the first Monday of each month at Melton Country Club, Reserve Road, Melton. ■ Suzanne, 0417 512 420

U3A Melton U3A Melton offers among its activities a Book Group, Australian History and a gentle exercise class for those 55 and over who are retired or semi-retired who wish to stay mentally and physically active. ■ 0419 563 016

Melton-Moorabool RVAHJ A group of Justices of the Peace (JP’s) are seeking active and retired JP’s from the Melton and Moorabool shires to form a new branch of the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices (RVAHJ). ■ Anne, 0472 561 569

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

Grab a coffee, a picnic and a couple of friends! Come on down to Ballan December 24 and be entertained by some great tunes brought to you by The Nelson Family. Local musicians bringing the Christmas spirit from Gordon. 10.30am-2.30pm. Mclean Reserve, 24 Fisken Street, Ballan.

Community singing group

Summer Sundown

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

Enjoy Summer Sundown at The Youth Junction Inc. Celebrate summer at the Visy Cares Hub with these FREE event’s including: Live Performances, Food Trucks and Games & Prizes ■ 9091 8200 or info@youthjunctioninc.net.au

French and Italian for over 50s

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 19

PUZZLES

1 hard

5 3 2 6 2 3 7

1 4 1

10 11 12 13

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

C D

Today’s Aim: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good

8 1 2 7 6 5 9 3 4

5 4 7 8 9 3 2 1 6

6 2 3 1 7 8 4 5 9

In New Zealand, what is sweet potato known as?

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

Dolly, the world’s first animal cloned from an adult cell, was put down after it was found that she had what disease?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

No. 112

R E S

E A T H

3 7 1 4 8 9 5 6 2

2 6 9 5 1 7 3 4 8

6 3 1 8 2 9 5 4 7

5 2 7 1 6 4 8 3 9

1 5 2 7 4 6 3 9 8

9 6 4 5 3 8 7 2 1

8 7 3 2 9 1 6 5 4

2 4 9 6 7 3 1 8 5

7 1 5 4 8 2 9 6 3

3 8 6 9 1 5 4 7 2

2 6 1 8 3 7 9 4 5

9 3 4 1 5 6 8 7 2

7 1 9 5 2 3 6 8 4

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20 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

H A S M I L L Y R G O T

4 8 5 6 3 2 1 9 7

5 LETTERS ABIDE AFTER ALERT AMEND ASHEN ASIAN

OTTER OVERT PONDS REGAL REGOS REPLY RESIN RUDER SALTS SASSY SEDAN SEEDY SEWER SHUTS SIEGE STAVE STOUT TYRES UPEND URGES

PANSIES RENEWAL TENDERS

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23-12-22

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

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

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QUICK QUIZ

The first female Lord Mayor of Sydney is married to which Australian politician?

What was the name of the youngest brother, also a bushranger, of Ned Kelly?

How many players are there on each team in a game of futsal?

Which hip hop group won a Grammy in 1997 with a cover of the song Killing Me Softly?

Although the fur of the polar bear (pictured) appears white, what is it actually?

The Jodrell Bank Observatory serves as a research and teaching department for the university of which English city?

Are bandicoots generally nocturnal or diurnal?

10 What is the floral emblem of South Australia?

ANSWERS: 1. Kumara 2. Lung cancer 3. Malcolm Turnbull 4. Dan Kelly 5. Five 6. The Fugees 7. Transparent 8. Manchester 9. Nocturnal 10. Sturt’s Desert Pea

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

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Castle ba in busine ck ss

Kryal Castl e chief

executive Bart

Hamilton. (Damj

an Janevs

Highway

ki) 30839

By Liam

6_05

McNally

upgrade

The team at Kryal Cast months durin le spent long g COVID improvem quietly ents with a live-i and practicin making g world cham n skeleton crew their craft that inclu pion joust ded Post-lock er Phill Leitc h. park has down, the medieval boomed theme back into and has been action, with a nom rewarded for its efforts Attraction ination for Best Tourism Tourism in Victoria by the Industry Victo rian Coun chief exec utive Bart cil. Kryal Castle nominati on feels “amHamilton said the “It’s been azing”. coming back quite a long journ ey from from COV been for ID , as it most touri has the team sm has put in entities, but amount of such an incre work dible over the months to last now,” he get us back to wher12 to 18 said. e we are Since 1970 , Kryal Cast to provide le has medieval guests with an imm aimed experienc Within the e for kids ersive the highlightcastle walls you and adults. can witne s of the ss jousting, sword fight middle ages – wizards, ing, potio an n-making dungeon, executioner, a tortu and re The awar a maze. at the Melb ds will be decided Decembe ourne Conventio at a gala n Centre r 1. on Liam McN

ally

pledge

Labor has Melton coun business casepledged $10 milli on federal gove cil has been callin if it wins to upgrade the Wes dollars for a Our Road rnments to help g on state and Novembe the state election tern Highway s’ camp critical need fund in its r 26. State Tran aign. ” on Satur ‘Fix Last week In October for Melton commute day, Jacin sport Infra , the the Liber ta Allan structure announce state al Party rs. said a Minister million to upgrade governme d major arter re-elected commitm it would match Labor party part of a nt will the Western pledged $700 ial ent from and $1.5 billio Labo “More than road to standard. deliver improved federal Laboa $10 million in the year. n west road Highway, as safer road r elected. 5000 peop traffic Melton. “We Fix Our r made earli s package, The busin Melt ’re doing flow for families s er bette if our com Roads petition le have signed the what matt r road in pleas on mayor Lara and I’d like munity for along the ess case would explo ers, delivering Carli ed with Labo to safer,” she s to get Victorians stretch of re the r’s election said council is important to them showing all parti thank hom Melton throu that said. need Western e sooner and there s es what com behind the . Ther High Melt case will is more work need mitment, but The Westerngh to Caroline Sprin way from High on MP Steve McG campaign e’s still time to ’s provide a everyone ed. “A busin gs. get way was Highway hie and I’d said the Wes upgrade and to add their clear ess is one of the a “crit encourag voice “We look tern future-pro direction on how e six roads candidate for Koro ical road link” forward to . of this high to the . Labor of Australia’s faste said the busin roit Luba State and working way in one st growing “While Grig ess case woul closely Fede election d help addrorovitch not deliv we acknowledge areas,” she said. to ensure ral governments after with ess “the this er Melton get key for, it is an the critical upgrades funding will the attention roads in the City the important of they deser first step we’re asking ■ ve.” in bringing More Fix Our Road this s coverage : Page 5

Melton

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22 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

12583010-SN51-22

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. Which country became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals?

5. What is the England cricket team commonly known as by rivals?

2. How many points does an AFL team get after they win a game?

6. The TV series Friday Night Lights depicts which sport?

3. Which tennis legend was refused entry into Wimbledon, after forgetting his members pass?

7. Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury will be stepping down as captain after how many seasons in the role?

4. Which Australian surfer went viral in 2015 for fighting off a shark during a competition?

14. Australian professional boxer Ebanie Bridges most recently won fighting in which boxing weight division?

Scott Pendlebury

15. A consortium, led by US businessman Bill Foley, owns Premier League team Bournemouth and which NHL team? 16. Which African nation’s soccer team goes by the nickname The Atlas Lions?

8. How old is soccer star Lionel Messi? 9. Which Australian sporting body announced they were changing their uniforms to be more inclusive? 10. Which artist performed the song Together We Are One at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne?

17. The A-League Grand Final is set to be staged for the next three years in which Australian city? 18. Who is the captain of the England men’s national football team? 19. Which team did Argentina defeat 3-0 in their semifinal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

11. Before debuting in 1995, which NBA team considered the names Beavers, Dragons and Towers?

20. US professional basketballer Brittney Griner last played for which WNBA team? 21. Which Australian swimmer notched a time of under 50 seconds in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)?

12. English professional mixed martial arts figure Patrick Pimblett is known by what nickname? 13. Which European nation’s soccer team is known as The Blazers and The Checkered Ones?

22. Which tennis player recently won a fifth consecutive Newcombe Medal?

28. Which Australian cricketer was recently criticised for the poor condition of his baggy green cap?

23. Who was named man of the match in the recent second test between Australia and the West Indies?

29. The 2000 movie Remember the Titans revolves around which sport?

24. Former NSW premier Mike Baird recently took over as the chair of which sporting body? 25. How many times did Julian Alvarez score for Argentina in their 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Croatia?

30. The WNBL team based in Townsville is known by what nickname?

26. What former English cricketer was recently hospitalised after a crash on the set of TV series Top Gear? 27. American basketballer Derrick Walton Jr plays for which NBL team?

Brittney Griner 1. Morocco 2. Four points 3. Roger Federer 4. Mick Fanning 5. The ‘poms’ 6. American football 7. Nine 8. 35 years old 9. Netball Australia 10. Delta Goodrem 11. Toronto Raptors 12. Paddy The Baddy 13. Croatia 14. Bantamweight 15. Vegas Golden Knights 16. Morocco 17. Sydney 18. Harry Kane 19. Croatia 20. Phoenix Mercury 21. Emma McKeon 22. Ash Barty 23. Travis Head 24. Cricket Australia 25. Twice 26. Andrew Flintoff 27. Sydney Kings 28. Steve Smith 29. American football/Gridiron 30. Fire

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NEW STAFF?

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The Cardinia Foundation was established in 2004 with the vision of building strong, healthy and diverse communities. In partnership with the Cardinia Shire Council, the Foundation primarily supports local NFP groups in the provision of Grants including older persons, disability, disadvantaged, youth, arts, environment and men’s health across the Cardinia Shire region.

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Positions Vacant

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OPERATORS/DRIVERS WANTED FOR 2023

Fundraising Manager

Executive Ofﬁcer

Reporting to the Chair, the Fundraising Manager is a highly inﬂuential role and will be the face of the organisation. The appointee will create comprehensive campaigns and build brand awareness across the community.

Reporting to the Chair and working closely with the Fundraising Manager, the Executive Ofﬁcer will provide administrative and ﬁnancial stewardship, risk and governance advice, and secretariat service to the Board.

The aim is to generate revenue and a signiﬁcant corpus through liaising with key stakeholders and leveraging strategic partnerships to produce sustainable contributions for the community.

Responsibilities include policy and procedure compliance,IT and database systems,general administration regular reporting and advising on Foundation outcomes and revenue generating activities.

If you are interested either of these exciting roles, please contact Peter Dakin on 0408 330 046 for a conﬁdential discussion, visit our website www.dakinpartners.com.au/job board for the full job advert and to apply.

Professional

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL

12583145-JC50-22

Employment

Positions Vacant

NEED

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

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RELAXATION MASSAGE 7 days, 10am - 8pm. St Albans. Phone 0458 891 066 or 0438 842 866.

Employment

The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

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Motoring

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Compass .... it’s got the Jeep name but what does that mean? (Pictures: Supplied)

A Jeep for ‘pragmatic dreamers’ By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Compass is the smallest and cheapest of Jeep’s off-roaders and looks very much like a smaller version of Grand Cherokee. Introduced in 2007, Compass and its rebadged sibling Patriot were the first of Jeep’s softer offerings, pitched at an entirely new customer. Compass was rounder, cuddlier and generally more city-focused, while the Patriot which was dropped in 2016 was squarer, chunkier and more macho. The current model, launched in 2020, has changed significantly, with enhanced tech, redesigned dashboard, a refined cabin and an extensive list of driver-assist systems. Jeep describes the car as built for pragmatic dreamers who spend their weekdays in comfort and style, and weekends escaping from the daily routine. Compass comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and lifetime roadside assistance for vehicles serviced by Jeep. Capped-price servicing means you’ll pay $349 per visit for the first five services, with intervals set at 12 months or 12,000km.

Engines / transmissions With a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, Compass produces 129kW of power at 6400 revs and 229Nm of torque from 3900 revs.

It’s multipoint rather than direct injection with drive is to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission and torque on demand. That means it operates in front wheel drive most of the time, with the rear wheels engaging when traction is required.

Driving Weighing in at 1503kg, fuel consumption is a claimed 9.7L/100km and it produces 230gm of CO2 per kilometre. In the US the latest model comes with a more sophisticated 2.0-litre direct injection engine that produces 149kW and 300Nm. A hybrid version, called 4xe, is also offered overseas, but is not available from the Indian factory where our cars are built. Although Compass looks terrific and draws plenty of admiring glances, its performance doesn’t quite live up to those looks. The dash from 0-100km/h takes a leisurely 10.1 seconds and factor in some passengers, and it will take considerably longer. Compass can seat four adults in reasonable comfort, but keep in mind it sits on the smaller side of the spectrum, so rear legroom is limited and it has a smallish boot. Inside the decor is a big step up from previous offerings, with better fit and trim, and plenty of eye candy. The driver gets a wheel that can be adjusted for height and reach, power-adjustment for the

24 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE 2.4 Night Eagle petrol: $39,950 2.4 Limited petrol: $46,700 2.4 S-Limited petrol: $49,700 2.0 Trailhawk diesel: $54,000

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

driver’s seat and a token footrest -- the size and placement of which are not ideal. And, by the way, the foot-operated boot opener refused to cooperate. Throttle response off the line is good and the engine likes to rev. But at other times it takes a full two seconds to respond and the transmission tends to hunt on anything but flat terrain. Ride and handling are pretty good, with the car refusing to break traction even when pushed hard through corners. But the lane keeping assistance system is downright annoying and like me, you’ll probably end up switching it off. Turning circle is relatively large at 11.07 metres which means you’ll find yourself doing plenty of three-point turns. When it comes to going off road, this model

boasts the same Jeep Active Drive Low 4x4 system as the Trailhawk. The big difference is that it doesn’t have off-road suspension, or any underbody protection. At 212mm it has 13mm less ground clearance than Trailhawk too. Although there’s a 4WD LOW option, neither model have a two-speed transfer case and therefore no low range gearing. All this button does is keep the transmission in first gear, which is possible with most automatics. Another button is labelled as 4WD LOCK. What this does is transmit torque equally to both the front and rear wheels. None of the above suggests the S-Limited is up to more than ’roughish’ dirt roads. In terms of fuel consumption, it has a 60-litre tank and takes standard unleaded. We were getting 9.4L/100km after more than 400km -- less than the 9.7L claimed -- but still too much for what it is.

Summing up While the Jeep Compass is a head turner, its performance unfortunately doesn’t match these looks, nor does it have any real off-road capability. Given the unavailability of the hybrid, we’d be waiting at the very least for the new 2.0-litre direct injection engine to make an appearance in Australia.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

EDFL releases fixture for three men’s divisions A top five finals series and two years of two teams relegated from division 1 are among the details revealed by the Essendon District Football League as part of it’s fixture for next year. The league revealed the fixtures for the three men’s divisions on Tuesday, with two new clubs, Deer Park and St Albans in the mix for the first time. As previously reported by Star Weekly, both clubs which are crossing from the Western Region Football League, will be in division 1. With a 12-team division 1 competition next year, the division 1 competition will have a top five final series which will be played across four weeks. Premier division and division 2 will have the normal top four final series played across three weeks. There will be a bye in the premier division between round 18 and the semi final weekend to ensure the grand finals are held on three

consecutive Saturdays, September 9, 16 and 23. In a league statement it revealed that at the end of the division 1 season, the bottom two teams on the ladder will be relegated to division 2. This will occur in both 2023 and 2024, eventually resulting in a 10-team competition for both premier division and division one by 2025. The premier division season will kick off with the traditional Good Friday clash between Keilor and Strathmore. In division 1, Hillside and the newly promoted Keilor Park, which have played on Good Friday in recent years against different opponents, will face each other. Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park will play each other on Good Friday for the first time. The three Good Friday matches are classified as round three matches, with round one to kick off the following week. New clubs Deer Park and St Albans start

their EDFL lives with matches against Westmeadows and Glenroy respectively in division 1. The two new clubs will face each other in round two. East Sunbury, which didn’t field teams this year, returns to action against Taylors Lakes on April 15 in division 2. Also in division 2, Burnside Heights and Coburg Districts will face each other in an Anzac Day eve clash. The following day Glenroy will host West Coburg and Westmeadows plays Tullamarine in division 1 and Aberfeldie plays Avondale Heights in premier division. The Sunbury derby between the Sunbury Kangaroos and the Thunder is on April 29. The first premier division grand final rematch will be on the King’s Birthday Monday. Tara Murray

Lake embraces new role By Tara Murray New Caroline Springs coach Brian Lake had always planned on stepping into a senior coaching role, it just came sooner than expected. Having called the Lakers home since finishing his AFL career, Lake has always given back to the club how he could. With Brodie Holland leaving the Lakers late in the piece after getting the senior role at the Northern Bullants, the club turned to Lake to take over. He had no hesitation in putting his hand up to take the role at the Western Region Football League division 1 club. “It was going to happen, but it was 12 months earlier than expected,“ he said. “I still wanted to play next year. “Pretty much I thought this year I would finish, but my body held up well and I played every game so I wanted to give it a crack. “Brodie got the VFL job which is fantastic. With the late notice it was hard for the club to find someone else, so it just worked for both of us. “There was no hesitation.” Lake, who still plans to play in some capacity next year, said it had been a busy time since his appointment getting everything organised for the pre-season and next year. He said with the core group from this year returning, there was already a good base in place for the group to move forward. Lake takes over coaching a side that won the minor premiership, before exiting the finals in straight sets. “We exceeded expectations by finishing the regular season with a 17-1 record,” he said. “We set goals along the way and one of those goals was to play finals, which was the case. “We wanted to push for the top three. For the first time in the club’s history we finished on top. When we won in 2016 we weren’t able to achieve that.” Lake said with plenty of youth in the side they were expecting to see plenty of growth from the existing playing group. There were six or seven 19 to 20 year olds part of their squad and keen to push even further. Lake said finals would be the expectation for the group next season. The club has announced the signing of Cooper Pepi, who crosses from St Albans, with Lake saying more announcements will come in the next few weeks. Lake said they believed they would have a stronger side than last season. “We’ll have the natural development of the group,” he said. “We’ve got the guys who were in the reserves, who played in the preliminary final, pushing for spots too. “Someone like Will Young will be like a new recruit. He’s had a shoulder issue the last couple

(Jamie Morey Photography)

Standalone opener for RDFNL The Riddell District Football Netball League will kick off its season with a standalone match between the Western Rams and Melton Centrals. The league announced its senior men’s football and netball fixtures on Tuesday, with the season set to start on April 1. Pending ground availability the Rams will host the Centrals on April 1 to start the season with the rest of round one on April 15, with a week off for Easter in between the two. Woodend-Hesket will again face Riddell on Good Friday in another early marquee game. The two teams will have a bye in round three, with the Good Friday match been classified as their match for that round. Grand final day is set down for September 17. Highlights of the fixture include Riddell hosting Puka Up Cup against Macedon in round one, the A-grade netball grand final rematch between Diggers Rest and Woodend-Hesket on April 15 and the senior football grand final rematch between Riddell and Diggers Rest on May 13. There is also several night matches scheduled. Football operations manager Aaron McLean was pleased with how the fixture had come together. “The RDFNL are pleased to have met requests where possible with several highlights throughout the season including Western Rams in a stand-alone game against Melton Centrals on April 1, Woodend-Hesket hosting Riddell on Good Friday and Macedon hosting Diggers Rest on Anzac Day. “Lancefield will celebrate their 150th year when they host rivals Romsey on May 27.“ The under-19.5 football fixture and the under-19 netball fixture have yet to be finalised, while a fixture for the new women’s competition is still to come.

Caroline Springs president Terry Azzopardi and Brian Lake

of years and finally hard surgery. “He had played some good games, but his shoulder kept popping out. He helps our forward line and provides good experience for our young guys.” The Lakers will train until next week, before a break over the Christmas break. Lake said

(Supplied)

there was plenty of motivation in the group. “We wanted to get one more session in before the break,” he said. “With a young group we want to get them into good habits. We’ve got a few training with Brodie to get on a VFL list and the under-18s training with us too. “There’s a lot of self motivation in the group.”

(Joe Mastroianni) 298018_01

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 25

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Top seeds dominate at the Vicbred Super Series Top seeds dominated the heats of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-olds at Melton on Friday night, whetting the appetitie for the December 23 semi-finals and spectacular New Year’s Eve finals to follow. Comeback pacer Idyllic was a standout in the entries and geldings’ division, producing a stomping run from near last to swamp his rivals, covering the 2240 metres from the mobile at a 1:53.9 rating – a full three seconds faster than ID22 placegetter Act Now (1:56.9) in the final heat. Idyllic, runner-up in the two-year-old Vicbred final in 2020, was sidelined for 19 months owing to a pastern injury after winning the Bathurst Gold Chalice. He has won 11 of his 24 starts to date and $200,290 in stakes. Act Now led from the outset and was untroubled to hold out the late bid of Better Eclipse, who powered home from worse than midfield through final fractions of 27.6 and 26.8 seconds. His win completed a sweep of the male division for the powerful Emma Stewart

Idyllic (Stuart McCormick)

stable with Major Moth defeating stablemate Narutac Prince in the opening heat. Act Now and Idyllic were both bred by Ballarat identities Bruce and Vicki Edward and both are sons of supersire Somebeachsomewhere. The three mares’ heats were taken out as

expected by the highly fancied runners Tough Tilly, Soho Broadway and Tay Tay. The trio each led virtually throughout to win with something in hand. Tough Tilly, who lifted her stake tally to $530,833 with her effortless 3.6 metres win, is shooting for a second Vicbred title having

won the two-year-old final defeating Ladies In Red, while Soho Broadway, who recently returned from Western Australia, was a heat winner and finalist in 2020. Tay Tay, a member of Alex Ashwood’s Bendigo team, put up the fastest time of the three heats at 1:56.7. The heats for the two-year-olds were held at Shepparton. A stunning final 800 metres in 55.4 seconds paved the way for the commanding win of brilliant Ballarat youngster The Lost Storm in the opening heat, while Dougs Platter, Perfect Class, Sweet Bella and Vee Em Gee Macray all won their heats. In the three-year-old heats, which were held at Kilmore, Catch A Wave made a welcome return to the winners’ list in his heat. Roarforroscoe, Interest. Free Encipher, Jo An Jo, Petillante and Beach Life all won their heats. Peter Wharton

Sports shorts CBL A pair of Melton Thoroughbreds stars and a Bacchus Marsh Lion gun were named in the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League all-star five teams. Melton’s Blake Allison was named in the men’s north-west all-star five team, while Jessica Kivimets was named in the women’s team. Bacchus Marsh’s Jordan Wilson was also named in the women’s north-west team. Melton’s Jackson Jones was named the north-west defensive player of the year.

WRFL The Western Region Football League has revealed its structure for its men’s competitions next season. With the departure of division 1 clubs, St Albans and Deer Park, the division 1 competition is down to eight teams. Point Cook Centrals have been promoted into division 1, while the Sunshine Kangaroos will play in division 2. Joining the Kangaroos in division 2 is Braybrook that won the division 3 premiership this year, with it to be an eight team competition. West Footscray will play in division 3 as part of a seven team competition.

VTCA Melton’s Jason Hibbert.

(Joe Mastroianni). 307768_03

Lions look at new goals By Tara Murray Melton will reassess its Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west goals over the Christmas break, having already matched its pre-season goal. Coming off a win less season, the Lions had set the target of winning three matches this season as the growth continued at the club. The side has already achieved that, winning a second successive match on Saturday, beating Taylors Lakes. Coach Mitchell Stephens said they were thrilled with how things were going at this part of the season. “We got two in a row, it’s the first time that’s happened in a few years,” he said. “It’s going through all the sides. All of our sides have won matches and our thirds and fourths are both in the top four. “All I can ask for is the group to buy into what myself and Joel [Mitchener] are doing and the boys are buying in. “There is a really good attitude across

the whole club.” Stephens said on Saturday they were confident of beating Taylors Lakes, which was coming off its first win of the season. He said they have a period of matches against sides near them on the ladder, with the boys up for the challenge. On Saturday against Taylors Lakes, in the battle of the Lions, Melton won the toss and elected to bat. Melton made 8-212 from its 45 overs. Stephens said they were starting to find some consistency with the bat. “We’re batting lots of time and Ben [MacRae] and Jason [Hibbert] have done that for us all season,” he said. “We’re starting to put some good scores on the board. It was a really hard wicket to get in on. “It was a good score, but we didn’t finish it off. We left 20 to 30 runs out there.” Hibbert top scored with 79, while MacRae made 77. Taylors Lakes started well and was in front

26 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

at 0-68. It all started to go wrong, with Taylors Lakes restricted to 177. Stephens said they had started to bowl really well in partnerships and that along with their fielding had really improved. “They got away from us early,” he said. “We got a couple of wickets and were holding our chances. “In round one against Werribee we dropped four or five catches. We set a really high standard of fielding on Saturday, it’s something we’ve been working on.” Andrew Reid-Dick took three wickets for Melton. Melton sits in 11th spot as the competition breaks for Christmas. Stephens said they would reassess their goals in the break, having already exceeded expectations. “We’ll get away for a week or two and then regroup just before we start the next block,” he said. “We’ll come back stronger.” Werribee, Altona, Croydon, Spotswood, Mt Waverley, Box Hill and Noble Park were the other winners on Saturday.

Sydenham-Hillside enters the Christmas break on top of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 ladder. The Storm made it a 7-1 record with victory against Airport West St Christophers on Saturday. The Storm made 6-127 from its overs, with Airport West falling well short, finishing 9-130. The Storm are 12 points clear on the ladder. In division 3, Caroline Springs lost to Sunshine Heights, while in division 5 Burnside Springs and Melton Centrals both got wins.

GDCA The Central Highlands under-16 team is through to a second successive Youth Premier League grand final. After winning last season, the Highlanders have backed it up with another strong carnival. The Highlanders were set to face the Metropolitan South East Bayside Breakers in the grand final on Monday, after deadline. FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Rising stars take on the world By Tara Murray Ten elite young western suburbs athletes will be vying for the prestigious 2022 Don Deeble Sports Star award next month. The Deeble committee will reveal the name of this year’s champion athlete at an awards dinner on the last Wednesday in January. The first nominee was rising football star Charlotte Baskaran. The former junior running star made the switch to football in recent years and it paid off. The Caroline Springs resident captained the Western Jets to their first NAB League premiership, before being drafted by Hawthorn, making her AFL debut in the recently completed season. Volleyball rising star Isabella Maticevski was the second nominee for the year. The Maribyrnong Sports Academy student thrived when she joined the school representing her state on a number of occasions. After the disappointment of COVID-19, stepped into the senior ranks and had big goals

for 2022 and 2023. Another MSA student, Louise Baliton was nominated in April for her achievements on the golf greens. Baliton spent the year juggling school and spending time on the green as she continued to push towards her goal of making it into the American College system. It’s been a big year for Truganina Rabbitohs’ Suliasi Prescott. The rising rugby league star was sports captain at The Grange P-12 Secondary College. On field, he was part of the Melbourne Storm development squad and was recently announced as part of Melbourne Storm’s new academy. The hard work continues to pay off for Point Cook’s Charlotte Morey. After missing out on making the Australian under-17 netball team, Morey came back 12 months later and made the team. Juggling netball and training most nights a week, Morey has since been selected in more state squads as her talents on the court are

recognised. The next nominee again shines the light on different sports being recognised with taekwondo young gun Jake Buhagiar nominated in July. Buhagiar is a three-time national taekwondo champion, with his ambitions clearly set on representing Australia at the 2024 Olympics. Buhagiar, who is part of the Australian Performance Pathway Program, had been hoping to make it four national titles in a row this year and competed internationally for the first time this year. August nominee Lucas Impey was always destined to be on the basketball court. Following in the footsteps of both his parents, the Melton teen stands out on the court at nearly 200 centimetres tall. Another Maribyrnong Sports Academy student, Impey was recently named in the state team for next year’s under-20 championships, having been part of the under-18 team previously. September nominee Om Neelam has had to overcome adversity to have success

on the badminton court. Neelam’s resilience and single-minded focus belies his age. He turned 13 in February. His quiet demeanor and inner strength are two of the reasons he was ranked the number one under-13 player in Victoria in 2021 and ranked number two in the under-15s. October nominee national School under-70 kilogram class judo champion Ruby Gojevic is very quietly understated in her demeanour. Gojevic became a student of Maribyrnong Sports Academy in 2021 and has immersed herself in the program. She trains six days a week, three pre-school morning sessions with the judo coach and her other judo team mates where they focus on technique. November nominee Jayden Kim has been in a spin since he arrived in Australia in December last year with his parents to begin the next phase of his life. He dreams of following in his father’s footsteps and has already been selected to represent Australia at the World Baseball Softball Confederation under-18 World Cup in Florida in September.

Introducing the 2022 Don Deeble Sports Star finalists

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Charlotte Baskaran (football)

Jake Buhagiar (taekwondo)

Club: Western Jets Achievements: •฀Western฀Jets฀premiership฀captain •฀NAB฀League฀All-Australian฀team •฀Runner-up฀NAB฀League฀Girls฀best฀and฀fairest •฀Drafted฀to฀Hawthorn Quote: “Enjoy฀what฀you฀are฀doing,฀have฀fun฀because฀if฀you฀ don’t฀you฀will฀never฀perform฀at฀your฀best.”

Club:฀Hall’s฀Taekwondo Achievements: •฀Three-time฀national฀taekwondo฀champion •฀Australian฀Performance฀Pathway฀Program •฀Silver฀medal฀in฀first฀international฀ tournament฀ Quote: “I฀have฀put฀all฀my฀trust฀in฀them฀to฀help฀me฀ achieve฀my฀ambition.”

JULY

Isabella Maticevski (volleyball)

Lucas Impey (basketball)

School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy Achievements: •฀฀Represented฀Victoria฀at฀under-15,฀16,฀17฀and 18฀levels. •฀Played฀for฀Australia฀at฀under-16฀level •฀Played฀for฀a฀Volleyball฀Australia฀youth฀women’s฀team •฀An฀integral฀part฀of฀the฀MSA฀beach฀volleyball฀program฀ Quote: “If฀they฀can฀do฀it,฀so฀can฀I.”

School: Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy Achievements: •฀Ballarat฀Miners฀NBL1฀team •฀Vic฀Country฀team฀under-18s฀2022 •฀Vic฀state฀team฀selection฀2023 •฀Basketball฀Victoria’s฀National฀Pathway฀Program฀ Quote: “My฀earliest฀memories฀are฀watching฀mum฀play฀and฀ dad฀coach.฀I฀was฀always฀destined฀to฀follow฀in฀their฀ footsteps.”

Louise Baliton (golf) School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy฀ Achievements: •฀Victorian฀School฀Sports฀award฀ •฀Won฀the฀Victorian฀Junior฀Masters •฀฀Back-to-back฀ladies฀championships฀at฀her฀home฀golf฀ club •฀2021฀Golf฀Victoria฀Future฀Champions฀Trophy •฀20121฀runner-up฀girls฀Victorian฀Junior฀Open. Quote:฀“Dad฀asked฀if฀I฀would฀like฀to฀learn฀and฀so฀when฀ I฀was฀seven,฀I฀attended฀some฀golf฀clinics฀and฀I฀fell฀in฀ love฀with฀the฀game.”

AUGUST

Om Neelam (badminton)

SEPTEMBER

Suliasi Prescott (rugby league)

Ruby Gojevic (judo)

School: The฀Grange฀P-12฀Secondary฀College Achievements: •฀School฀sports฀captain •฀Made฀the฀Melbourne฀Storm฀development฀squad •฀Made฀the฀Melbourne฀Storm฀Academy฀ •฀Captain฀of฀an฀under-15฀tournament฀in฀Queensland.฀ •฀Named฀as฀the฀tournament฀most฀valuable฀player฀and฀ made฀the฀Australian฀squad. Quote:฀“[I’m]฀loud฀and฀supportive฀when฀I฀need฀to฀be฀or฀ working฀in฀the฀background฀urging฀my฀teammates฀and฀ school฀colleagues฀on฀if฀that฀is฀required.”

School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy฀ Achievements: •฀2019฀state฀champion •฀Competed฀at฀the฀Oceania฀Championships •฀Part฀of฀the฀a฀second฀national฀junior฀team Quote:฀“I฀often฀fight฀older฀and฀heavier฀opponents฀so฀ my฀balance฀and฀speed฀is฀critical฀to฀get฀my฀stronger฀ opponents฀off฀balance฀because฀I฀don’t฀have฀the฀same฀ strength.” OCTOBER

Jayden Kim (baseball)

Charlotte Morey (netball)

JUNE

School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy Achievements: •฀฀Ranked฀the฀number฀one฀under-13฀player฀in฀Victoria฀in฀ 2021฀and฀ranked฀number฀two฀in฀the฀under-15s. •฀Part฀of฀the฀under-17฀Victorian฀state฀team •฀Victorian฀School฀Sport฀Award฀–฀“Sporting฀Blue” •฀฀He฀has฀won฀more฀than฀60฀titles฀in฀various฀age groups. Quote:฀“I฀love฀challenges.฀I฀am฀not฀overwhelmed฀by฀the฀ aim฀I฀have฀set฀for฀myself;฀I฀am฀just฀enjoying฀it.”

School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy Achievements: •฀Under-17฀Australian฀team฀ •฀Under-17฀Victorian฀team฀2022 •฀Under-19฀Victorian฀squad฀2023 •฀Geelong฀Cougars฀Victorian฀Netball฀League฀squad Quote:฀“My฀mindset฀was฀simple,฀do฀everything฀the฀ coaches฀ask,฀leave฀nothing฀on฀the฀court฀because฀it฀ could฀be฀my฀last฀state฀team.”

NOVEMBER

School:฀Maribyrnong฀Sports฀Academy฀ Achievements: •฀Victorian฀under-16฀state฀team •฀฀Represented฀Australia฀at฀the฀World฀Baseball฀Softball฀ Confederation฀under-18฀World฀Cup฀ •฀฀Selected฀by฀the฀MLB฀to฀join฀a฀world฀select฀team฀to฀ play฀various฀professional฀and฀university฀teams฀in฀ Arizona. Quote: “I฀began฀playing฀when฀I฀was฀10฀years฀old฀after฀ a฀short฀stint฀playing฀soccer฀and฀tennis.฀I฀like฀them฀both฀ but฀I฀love฀baseball.” Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 27

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