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From fasting to feasting

Kidist Solomon Bekele will host a vegetarian cooking workshop. (Damjan Janevski) 322182_01

Kidist Solomon Bekele hopes that anyone who attends her cooking workshop, leaves feeling confident enough to make delicious Ethiopian-inspired vegetarian foods that are easy to cook. “Cooking vegetarian food is very easy,” she said. “I am so passionate about my culture and I’m so interested to let people see [it].” As a follower of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Ms Solomon said she fasts about 180 days over the course of the year, and abstains from eating animal products. “At this time we are fasting for the next 55 days, we’ve already passed one week,” she said. “Especially when we fast, we cook more vegetarian foods.” The event is part of Harmony Day celebrations and attendees should also bring a vegetarian plate to share. The free workshop will take place at the Eco Living Centre, 28 Bridge Drive, Wyndham Vale on March 20, from 6.30-9pm, but bookings are essential. Details: https://bit.ly/3ZhUZ8n Fatima Halloum

Help keep platypus safe You might not think about what happens to your plastic jar of peanut butter after you’ve finished scraping every last bit out from the bottom and thrown it in the trash, but it’s the platypuses that call the Werribee River home that feel the impacts. During a platypus survey conducted by the Australian Platypus Conservancy with assistance from riverkeeper John Forrester, scientists discovered four female platypus near

the Werribee township. One of the platypus had a thin ring caught over its shoulder, and while it was removed so the developing lesion wouldn’t worsen, it’s prompted Mr Forrester to issue a desperate warning. “Platypus use their bills to search for insects in and among rocks, so if they come across a rock with a ring, they are likely to put their beak straight through the ring and that will travel up the top of their head and they’ll scratch and inadvertently cause it go down onto their

Our aim is to take the stress and

shoulders and legs as well, and it becomes very difficult for them to get off,” he said. “If people have plastic rings off Vegemite or peanut butters, cut them before they put them in the rubbish bin so that they’re no longer a ring, they’re just a loose piece of plastic.” Mr Forrester also recommends people cut their hair ties and other similar shaped items. The litter might not kill the animals, but they can make the already threatened platypus sick and subsequently vulnerable to predators like cats and dogs.

Mr Forrester said the survey allows scientists to examine the status of the platypus. “The scientists want to know what the animals have been eating, how healthy they are, and they rate them,“ he said Using microchips, the scientists are then able to compare the results over the next few years. The Werribee River Association attempts to minimise the impacts of litter on the animals in the Werribee River by conducting cleaning blitzes.

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Council ‘soap op era’

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Laverton Ray White Real Estate 6/161 Railway Avenue Manor Lakes Manor Lakes News & Lotto Shop 14, 455 Ballan Road (Manor Lakes Central Shopping Centre) Manor Lakes Manor Lakes Shopping Centre 455 Ballan Road (Manor Lakes Central Shopping Centre) Point Cook Featherbrook Shopping Centre 238 Boardwalk Boulevard Point Cook Wyndham Library Service Unit 1-21 Cheetham Street Point Cook Point Cook Pharmacy Shop 1-11 Dunnings Road Point Cook Jamieson Way Community Centre 59 Jamieson Way Point Cook Direct Chemist Outlet Shop 13, 15 Kenswick Street Point Cook Stockland Point Cook Shopping Centre Murnong Street Point Cook Saltwater Community Centre 153 Saltwater Promenade Point Cook Saltwater Coast Sales Office 261 Saltwater Promenade Point Cook The Brooks 215S neydes Road Point Cook YPA Real Estate Shop 10/46-56 Tom Roberts Parade Point Cook Wyn City 36 Wallace Avenue Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club 70 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Resort 72 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Waterstone Café Sanctuary Lakes 72 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Real Estate 300 Point Cook Road Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre 300 Point Cook Road Tarneit Tarneit Central Shopping Centre 540 Derrimut Road Tarneit NewsXpress - Riverdale Village SC 200 Hummingbird Boulevard Tarneit Penrose Promenade Community Centre 83 Penrose Promenade Tarneit Brian Mark Real Estate Shop 18, 380 Sayers Road Tarneit Wyndham Village Shopping Centre 380 Sayers Road Tarneit Shell Service Station 380 Sayers Road (Wyndham Village

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Shopping Centre) Tarneit Barry Plant Real Estate Shop 9, 380 Sayers Road (Wyndham Village Shopping Centre) Tarneit Community Centre - Tarneit 150 Sunset Views Boulevard Tarneit Serranos Cafe 747 Tarneit Road ( Tarneit Gardens SC ) Truganina Koomail Tardy Community Centre 117 Alcock Road Truganina Palm Lakes Resort 7 Taronga Road Truganina Arndell Park Community Centre 29-49 Federation Boulevard Werribee Eagles Stadium Café 35 Ballan Road Werribee Ison Village 150-168 Bulban Road Werribee Casaccio Egg Farm 170-198 Bulban Road Werribee IGA Supermarket 92-94 Cottrell Street Werribee Mercy Place Wyndham 39 Deutgam Street Werribee Werribee Park Motor Inn 112-124Duncans Road Werribee Italian Sports Club 601 Heaths Road Werribee The Woman’s Hub 236 Hoppers Lane Werribee St Vincent’s Private Hospital 240 Hoppers Lane Werribee St Vincent’s Care Services Werribee 240 Hoppers Lane Werribee Wyndham City Council 45 Princes Highway Werribee Werribee Mercy Hospital Coffee Shop300Princes Highway Werribee SIMS IGAWerribee Village Cnr Shaws & Tarneit Rd Werribee Tatts Lotto16Station Place Werribee Westwoods First National1Synnot Street Werribee Werribee RSL2A Synnot Street (Kelly Park) Werribee Werribee Fersh Market2/57Synnot Street Werribee OBrien Real EstateShop 2/85Synnot Street Werribee Cellarbrations 52-54 Vincent Crescent

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Werribee Professionals Triwest 6a Watton Street Werribee Bendigo Bank 42 Watton Street Werribee P. Di Natale Real Estate 44 Watton Street Werribee Coles Supermarket 143 Watton Street Werribee Wyndham Cultural Centre 177 Watton Street Werribee Hodges Werribee Level 1/1 Watton Street Werribee Raine and HorneShop 4, 1-13 Watton Street Werribee Barry Plant Real Estate 21 Watton Street Werribee YPA Real Estate 1 Werribee Street Werribee Wyndham Private Medical Centre 242 Hoppers Lane Werribee IPEP Clinic University Werribee Campsus Gate 1, Building 12 - 235 Hoppers Lane Werribee South Werribee South General Store 785 Duncans Road Werribee South Wyndham Cache (LT’s Egg Farm)1K Ave Werribee South Anglers Anchorage Take Away 67 O’Connors Road Williams Landing Williams Landing News, Lotto & Tobacco Shop T10, 100 Overton Road (Williams Landing Shopping Centre) Williams Landing Woolworths Supermarket 100 Overton Road (Williams Landing Shopping Centre) Wyndham Vale BP Service Station 210 Ballan Road Wyndham Vale Woolworths 205 Greens Road (Wyndham Vale Square Shopping Centre) Wyndham Vale IGA Wyndham Vale 50 Honour Avenue Wyndham Vale Iramoo Community Centre 84 Honour Avenue Wyndham Vale Manor Lakes Community Learning Centre 86 Manor Lakes Boulevard Wyndham Vale 7 Eleven Wyndham Vale Corner McGrath Road & Ballan Road

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Transport strategy has wheels An accessible transport network, environmentally sustainable travel choices and utilizing technology to solve transport challenges are among the key strategies detailed in the Wyndham Integrated Transport Strategy. Adopted by Wyndham council at an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, February 28, councillor Adele Hegedich said the strategy was focussed on delivering a transport system that connected local and state infrastructure and services in the municipality.

“The aim [is] to insure that the transport infrastructure is not an afterthought of land use planning, but rather part of the action and coordination and the investment between government and the private sector,” Cr Hegedich said. “It is structured around enabling transport systems that compliment land uses to provide access to enable people to live, work, and shop locally. The strategy centers around eight key areas of focus, to ensure Wyndham’s transport system responds to the needs of the community, this

includes integrated transport and land use to invigorate locations and help people to live locally using sustainable transport choices. Provide an active transport network that is accessible, integrated, comfortable, attractive and safer for people of all ages and abilities and strongly advocate for a safer, resilient, more integrated, inclusive public transport system that meets the need of our growing population. The fourth strategy involves optimising freight transport efficiency to maximise economic opportunities for the Western Region of Melbourne, while also minimising

potential impacts on the community. The delivery of an integrated and safer network that is sustainable for current and future generation, encouraging and enabling the use of a range of current and future transport options that contribute to a sustainable and inclusive transport system and the promotion of smarter, healthier, more environmentally sustainable travel choices. The final strategy seeks to explore innovative solutions to transport challenges by utilising technology and data-driven decision making for the benefit of our community and visitors.

Cultural smorgasbord Wyndham council said this year’s program at the Wyndham Cultural Centre will consist of an exciting mix of performances, music and comedy. Council’s creative city portfolio holder Marcel Mahfoud encouraged residents to book a show and enjoy a fantastic night out. “The 2023 program is wonderful and has a wide variety of entertainment on offer with a range of shows and performances to dazzle all members of the community,” Cr Mahfoud said. “We are excited to have such a wide range of performances and events scheduled this year, highlighting our commitment to arts and culture here in Wyndham.” Coming to Werribee as part of the Wyndham Cultural Centre’s 2023

program is the fun and entertaining Mem Fox’s Possum Magic to celebrate its 40th anniversary, along with dazzling performances by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, captivating workshops by The Australian Ballet, Sionnach Rua’s Great Irish Song book, and hilarious stand-up comic Akmal. Details: www.wyncc.com.au

Hamlet Prince of Skidmark performance. (Prudence Upton)

Dr. Oliver Daly, nurse Krystal Penese and physiotherapist Kerry O’Sullivan with new state-of-the-art equipment funded by the Western Health Foundation Women’s Giving Circle. (Supplied)

Clinic helps new mums Western Health has launched a new clinic to expand support for mothers experiencing birth trauma. The Obstetric AnoRectal Studies (OARS) will provide multidisciplinary care and access to diagnostic equipment to mothers who have experienced perineal birthing injuries. The OARS clinic is led by Western Health urogynaecologist Dr Oliver Daly. “I’m incredibly excited about the OARS clinic,” Dr Daly said. “Major tears and other injuries to the perineal area can be devastating for women. Almost two-thirds of women don’t seek medical care, often because they’re too embarrassed, or because of the complication and expense of seeing multiple clinicians who sometimes give quite different advice. “With the OARS clinic, Western Health now offers world-class, multidisciplinary support to women in Melbourne’s west, and we can certainly expect to see improvements

in patient-reported physical health and psychological wellbeing, as well as a much more positive overall experience as mothers.” Perineal birthing injuries are typically associated with vaginal births, with greater risks in assisted births or situations of prolonged labour. These injuries can have lifelong physical and emotional impacts such as incontinence, sexual dysfunction and psychological issues. They often require diagnosis, treatment and support by a range of healthcare professionals including medical, nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy. Seeking treatment can be costly and time-consuming. The OARS clinic, based at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s in the Sunshine Hospital precinct. Women in Melbourne’s west can access the clinic via referral from their health service or GP.

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Free health initiative Wyndham council is encouraging men aged 18 and over living or working in the west, to take up a free 10-week health program that takes a holistic approach to improving men’s health. Council is partnering with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and Western Leisure Services to deliver the intensive workshop for men at Eagle Stadium and will provide participants with the tools and knowledge to improve their health and wellbeing. Active city portfolio holder councillor Peter Maynard said men of all fitness levels who are seeking to adopt a healthy lifestyle will benefit from the program. “Sons of the West is an invaluable program aimed to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of men in the West through a series of workshops, presentations, and events,“ Cr Maynard said. “Sons of the West makes exercise and healthy eating fun and easily integrated

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into everyday life. “Another positive change men make in their lives following this program, is improved contact with health services. “Many past participants now make visiting doctors, dentists, or specialised services such as counselling or physiotherapy, part of their regular health routine.“ Cr Maynard said he encourages men who want to improve their physical and mental health to join in the sessions. “The two-hour weekly sessions are highly interactive and men who attend will get the chance to hear about a range of interesting topics that affect them and their families,“ he said. “It is a great way to make positive personal change and meet friends along the way.” There are two Sons of the West programs, one in the afternoon from 11am-1.30pm and the other in the evening from 6.30-8.30pm beginning on Wednesday, March 8 and will run for 10 weeks.

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Belinda with new-born son Oliver, and two year-old Arlo. Both boys were born outside of Wyndham, but spent time as patients in Werribee Mercy Hospital’s Special Care Nursery. (Joe Mastroianni) 226335_01

Full house at Mercy By Alesha Capone Demand for birthing suites at Werribee Mercy Hospital has reached capacity. The hospital welcomed 3833 babies in 2020, slightly lower than the 3888 babies delivered there in 2019. Health services chief executive Jason Payne said Werribee Mercy Hospital’s birthing numbers had remained steady over the past two years because the birthing suites were unable to accommodate any more expectant mums. He said some pregnant women within the Werribee Mercy Hospital catchment are

birthing suites, additional post-natal beds, and other ante and post-natal facilities, accompanied by additional midwifery and nursing staff. “Based on demand for existing maternity services, it is projected that Werribee Mercy Hospital would be well placed to meet an anticipated increase in demand of up to 30 per cent more babies in the western metro area.” Mr Payne said Mercy Health has been working with the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority and the Department of Health and Human Services since 2016 to prepare for the future needs of Werribee Mercy.

In November’s state budget, $4.8 million was allocated to finalise planning for the third stage of the hospital’s development. “We have acknowledged publicly the funding was a clear sign the voices of the people of the west of Melbourne are being heard and government is committed to meeting a major upgrade,” Mr Payne said. Mercy Health Group chief executive, Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, said the next stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital’s construction required $300 million in funding “to ensure the people of Wyndham receive the level and quality of health services they deserve and need”.

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being forced to use services at public hospitals outside the area. “The demand exists for Werribee Mercy Hospital to deliver more babies locally but this cannot occur without expanded facilities,” Mr Payne said. “It would be preferable that local families had access to more of the best high quality and safe public birthing services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, so they don’t have to travel.” Mr Payne said planning was under way to boost the capacity of the birthing suites. “A third stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital, which is currently in the final stages of planning, will involve the creation of more

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Healthy message spreads online A group of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds have developed a series of online resources, in an effort to empower other young people to take preventative care of their health. As part of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria’s Multicultural Communications Outreach Program, Young Health Ambassadors developed a series of ideas to respond to common needs and questions related to the healthcare system. The project aimed to provide awareness of mental healthcare, sexual healthcare, and cancer prevention, in both an accessible and

culturally sensitive way. Hoppers Crossing-based young health ambassador Belise Tuyikeze said she wants their work to empower individuals to live their life. “I also understand the importance of wellness, and I am a believer of how health truly matters for all and its life changing benefits,” she said. A number of common barriers were identified including, the stigma surrounding accessing healthcare, a lack of health literacy, wanting better options to incorporate cultural or spiritual practices

into their healthcare and uncertainty around costs. To respond to the concerns, the teams created simplified digital resources and shared them through YACVic’s social media and website. This included info-graphics posted to Instagram which discuss a person’s rights when getting a sexual health check, how to express needs during a doctors appointment, and what types of sexual health issues to talk to your doctor about. To assist with cancer prevention, a flyer was developed to contain information about

how to do routine self-checks, preventative measures, and to provide information about skin health for people of colour. “This project is important as it gives insights, resources and guidance to young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. It also hopes to create awareness while also challenging and breaking stigmatization the society might have towards mental health,” Ms Tuyikeze said. Young translators were also engaged to translate key COVID resources on YACVic’s website into Mandarin, Punjabi, and Arabic.

Dig deep for sick kids The Hoppers Crossing Country Fire Authority is encouraging residents to dig deep and donate for this year’s Good Friday Appeal. Hoppers Crossing firefighter Melissa Cain said the brigade has raised a total of around $190,000 for the Good Friday Appeal, drawing close to the $200,000 milestone. “We’re motivated to raise $10,000 this year to surpass our next big milestone,” she said. “As an expecting mother myself, the cause is important to me because while you hope you never have to use the RCH [Royal Children’s Hospital], it’s important that we help build a fantastic service for the community to help kids in their time of need. “This year, we’re excited to get our junior brigade members involved for the first time by doorknocking in our area.” CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook said he is proud of the CFA’s long-standing relationship with the Good Friday Appeal and

encourages the community to support their brigade’s fundraising efforts this year, if they can. “The remarkable commitment of our volunteers to their community is the reason we see thousands of members giving up their time to raise funds for sick kids,” he said. “This worthy cause is close to the hearts of many of our members – whether they were previous patients at the hospital or have family who have been touched by the RCH’s world-class service. “We are incredibly proud of our members’ continued fundraising efforts and pleased to once again support the Good Friday Appeal in 2023.” Hoppers Crossing CFA members Shripad Date, Alan Pascoe, Melissa Cain and Sean McGregor. (Supplied)

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

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Professor Cory pays a visit

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Fitness and fun in the dark Beat Freakz Fit is a judgement free space that encourages women to work on their fitness goals and celebrate their individuality. You can expect to dance, move, box, squat and burn calories in the dark with epic music pumping and disco lights to add to the fun. As an inclusive, effervescent and diverse group, Beat Freakz Fit invites all women of the west, no matter their shape, size or fitness level. They’ll welcome you as you are, with no judgement. The workout is designed for beginners through to advanced as high and low options are shown. Beat Freakz Fit workouts are designed as a mix of aerobics, boxing and all over body toning with a lively twist of dancing to keep you moving. This is a place for women to come together, to take an hour of “me“ time and to feel amazing about themselves. Moving your body

to music that sets your soul on fire has power. Beat Freakz Fit is a place to release your inner warrior while having a great time and being around other inspiring women. It takes the stress out of going to the gym, where you might feel uncomfortable and is so much more fun than going for a walk. Beat Freakz Fit instructors will work with you and make sure not only are you having fun but getting fit at the same time. There’s different classes to choose from too with BFF.FIIT their original full body workout program, set to music for all ages it’s class that will tone your whole body. The choreography is made up of basic steps too, so you don’t need to be a dancer to keep up, just be ready to get moving. So if you’re ready to get fit and have a world of fun while doing it, visit www.beatfreakzfit. com.au and book in a Beat Freakz Fit class.

In celebration of International Women’s Day this year, Suzanne Cory High School was delighted with a visit from Professor Suzanne Cory herself for an afternoon high tea. The United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code’, which involves embracing the progress of women in STEM fields, where women are severely underrepresented. As a co-educational school filled with many female students with extensive aspirations and interests in science. Hearing from such a renowned molecular biologist was extremely empowering for students. SCHS also had the privilege of hearing from some of their female alumni, with insightful discussions across a wide range of careers and experiences. The high tea was an immense success, and a brilliant way to celebrate the female students

and staff at the school. SCHS would like to thank Professor Cory and our alumni for their time, and their moving words. As a government selective high school catering to students from year 9 to 12, SCHS provides a rigorous curriculum that will challenge students and ensure to support their intellectual and creative gifts throughout their transition to become young adults. The comprehensive curriculum is based upon internationally recognised best practices, ensuring students are able to reach their full potential and pursue their desired pathway in life. Established in 2011 and located within Melbourne’s west, see what Suzanne Corry High School can offer your child, giving them an exceptional start to their future. Visit: www.suzannecoryhs.vic.edu.au

(L to R) Arya (Vice Captain), Carol (School Captain), Professor Suzanne Cory, Charlize (School Captain) and Taha (School Captain)

WORKOUT IN THE DARK IN DISCO LIGHTS TO EPIC MUSIC Beat Freakz Fit is a judgement free space to work on your goals, we dance, move, box, squat & burn calories in the dark with epic music & disco lights. No matter what shape, size or fitness level we welcome you as you are with no judgement. The workout is designed for beginners through to advanced as high & low options are shown, this is a workout is a mix of aerobics, boxing, all over body toning with a twist of dance.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

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A sense of belonging is important at Uniting AgeWell When you find an organisation that ticks all the boxes, you stay. Uniting AgeWell, senior care manager at Kalkee Community Nangatta, Sarita Chaudhary, says what she loves best about the not-for-profit aged care provider is that it feels like a second family to her. “They let me be me,” Sarita says. “I’m here for the long-haul.” Originally from Nepal and now a Registered Nurse, Sarita has been able to embrace and share her culture in the 18-months she’s been in the role. Sarita choreographed a Bollywood dance where she and other staff members donned saris and performed for residents to celebrate Diwali; made dumplings for Chinese New Year and felt supported enough to breast-pump for her baby at work. “I feel like I belong,” said the devout Hindu. “And a sense of belonging is very important, especially for an immigrant.” She’s also proud to be in a career that has meaning. “I enjoy that the residents become part of my life, and that I become part of theirs.” Sarita is ambitious. She moved to Australia for a better life and career and already she’s on an upward trajectory after being selected for Uniting AgeWell’s strategic leadership talent development program. There are a number of diverse career opportunities in residential care and home and community care at Uniting AgeWell, ranging from nursing to personal care, from domestic assistance to food services, from allied health to social support – and more! With 78 per cent of the workforce identifying as female, Uniting AgeWell offers flexible work arrangements to enable staff to work around family commitments. There are opportunities for further education, leadership programs

Sarita Chaudhary and resident Bruce Howard. (Supplied)

and scholarships for professional development and a significant number of women are in leadership roles. Uniting AgeWell is also a partner with WomenCan, a vocational organisation that empowers women.

Although Uniting AgeWell is an inclusive organisation championing diversity in all its forms, it’s different in one sense. One of the prerequisites in hiring people is that they share the organisation’s values of kindness, respect,

integrity, innovation and inclusion. For career opportunities visit unitingagewell.org/careers or call 1300 783 435.

WORK LOCAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Work in the community you love and support older people to live well with choice and peace of mind. Why work for Uniting AgeWell? 12592574-AI10-23

 Permanent part-time and casual roles in nursing, personal care and domestic assistance  Family friendly, ﬂexible hours

Apply now for a rewarding career.

 Competitive salary and beneﬁts  Career development and training

View current vacancies unitingagewell.org/careers

Get in touch recruitment@unitingagewell.org 1300 783 435 Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 7

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU Briefs

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Fatal Crash Police are investigating a fatal crash in Point Cook on Thursday, March 2. A car was observed driving erratically on the Princes Freeway about 1pm and when officers attempted to intercept the vehicle, it sped away. The intercept was called off when officers lost sight of the vehicle. Shortly afterwards, the car crashed into a barrier on Forsyth Road. The female passenger died at the scene. The driver, a 35-year-old Wyndham Vale man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is under police guard. Investigations into the crash remain ongoing.

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Garden is set to bloom

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The Parks Victoria horticulture team has planted zinnias, marigolds and petunias from more than 3000 seedlings in the parterre garden at Werribee Park. A spokesperson for Werribee Park said the staff had conducted the project in partnership with a “passionate group of volunteers”, including the genU Werribee Park gardening program. “This work supports our summer/autumn display, with the colour of the flowers bringing a hot/warm theme to the park,” the spokesperson said. “Our volunteers have provided support and partnership through all stages of this project, from seed collection, to propagation

and planting, and continued upkeep.” The spokesperson said that with the display currently at its best, local staff are encouraging visitors to explore the park. “The colours are very photogenic and are proving popular with visitors,” the spokesperson said. “This planting provides a complete transformation at the front of Werribee Mansion, replacing the rainbow chard planted in the cooler months.” Residents wanting to volunteer at the park are encouraged to get in touch, volunteers also assist with activities, sch as heritage days, easter egg hunts and various other functions. Details: friendsofwerribeepark@gmail.com

Wyndham council is encouraging all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – First Nations Community members who live, work or visit Wyndham, as well as the general Wyndham Community to read Wyndham’s Reconciliation Action Plan and provide their feedback.

Scam warning Police warn people to be wary of scammers attending their house purporting to have been called to fix the roof and clean gutters. Police say scammers have previously convinced homeowners that they need repair work done to their roof, when this is not the case. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Help to shape Werribee’s future Wyndham council is calling for new ideas to refresh the Werribee City Centre Plan to help shape Werribee’s future. Council said the Werribee City Centre and surrounds contain an estimated 4522 jobs and has an estimated economic output of $1.15 billion. The industry sectors which drive the city’s economy include, public administrative and regulatory services, professional, scientific and technical services, food and beverage services and retail trade. Wyndham’s city design portfolio holder councillor Josh Gilligan said the plan developed in 2013 for the Werribee City Centre aimed to

‘‘

We’d like to hear our community’s thoughts on what our City Centre should look like in the next 10 years - Josh Gilligan

’’

grow the centre, ensuring that it was a focal point of economic, cultural and environmental excellence. “Werribee is acknowledged as a major activity centre and part of the Werribee

National Employment and Innovation Cluster by the State Government, and as such we’ve seen some fantastic infrastructure investment,” he said. “Now, we’d like to hear our community’s thoughts on what our City Centre should look like in the next 10 years, this could include views on streetscapes, the height of buildings, movement, the kinds of activations we deliver, or the developments and services we aim to attract to the area. “We’re fortunate to have wonderful natural attractions like the Werribee River in the heart of our city and annual events that are well supported by the community such as

‘LIT’. Part of our consultation aims to ‘sense check’ the activations we’re delivering and gain community feedback.” Councillor Gilligan encouraged everyone in the community to get involved and share their thoughts on how the council should shape the Werribee City Centre over the next 10 years. “The ideas shared will help inform the preparation of a refreshed Werribee City Centre Plan, which the community will be able to provide feedback on once it is drafted,” Cr Gilligan said. Feedback closes March 26. Details: https://theloop.wyndham.vic.gov. au/werribee-city-centre-plan-refresh.

‘Magnificent’ exhibition Wyndham Art Gallery has announced its newest exhibition will be The Uncanny and the Magnificent by artist Wãni Toaishara in collaboration with Wominjeka Djeembana research Lab at Monash University. The solo exhibition will feature prominent works of the artist’s career to date and provides a glimpse into his vision and perspective. Creating what he describes as “confronting the realisation that a mundane life is a privilege only available to those who are not under constant threat”. The artist explores and challenges conventional representations of black life through poetry, photography and moving image. “From his early participation in exhibitions such as WAR 2015 and RACE 2016, he went on to win the Wyndham Art Prize in 2019 followed by many other accolades across the

nation such as the 2022 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award,“ Wyndham council’s creative city portfolio holder, Marcel Mahfoud said. “Our program at Wyndham Art Gallery has a unique role to play in story telling and celebrating perspectives that support the ongoing creation of an inclusive and diverse community.” “Art exhibitions are collaborative initiatives which help to make Wyndham a more vibrant and liveable place.” The exhibition opens on March 29 and runs until May 28. Details: https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/ venues/wyndham-art-gallery The exhibition will open in March. (Wãni Toaishara)

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NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Grants to help girls in sport

Karen and Danny Ellis mending an old TV. (Supplied)

Testing ways to reuse By Liam McNally A couple from Melbourne’s north-west who are on the forefront of Australia’s “right to repair” movement have launched a new Facebook group to test a new way to address electrical waste and promote recycling. Karen and Danny Ellis are self-described “travelling tinkerers” behind Mend It, Australia. The pair has been travelling to community repair events around Victoria to volunteer their skills since 2017. Now, they have started a Facebook group,

Electronic/Electrical Giveaway Group – Hume, Melton and Wyndham, which allows people to claim, and give away electronic and electrical appliances and parts for free. For more than a decade, the couple have been vocal advocates for the right to repair, a movement that advocates for legislation that prevents manufacturers imposing barriers that deny consumers the ability to repair and modify consumer products, especially in the electronics and electrical industry. Ms Ellis, who is also on the steering committee of Griffith University’s Australian

Repair Network, said the inspiration for the new group came after being prevented from accessing piles of e-waste she saw at local recycling facilities. “It was a real concern knowing it would all be shredded,” she said. “There’s certainly a big need for all these parts that you can’t get these days unless you go cannibalising [items]. “Manufacturers, even if they make these parts they don’t want to sell them to you, they want you to buy new.” Details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ eitems

Applications have opened for the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program, seeking to encourage more women and girls in Werribee to get involved in community sport and recreation. Werribee MP Tim Pallas the program is important to many people. “I encourage eligible clubs and organisations across Werribee to consider applying for grants, and I look forward to seeing them taking positive action to make community sport accessible and inclusive for more women and girls in our local community,” Mr Pallas said. “Sport and recreation organisations are a big part of our local community, bringing us together, and driving positive change.” Offered through the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, the grants help local sport clubs and eligible organisations run initiatives that promote participation by women and girls. “The Office for Women and Sport and Recreation is ensuring more women and girls can access, participate in and enjoy community sport and recreation whether it’s on the field, volunteering or umpiring,” Office for Women in Sport and Recreation head Sarah Styles said. “Community sport and recreation brings people together and fosters respect and inclusiveness, and with the Fair Access Policy Roadmap, will be the frontier of advancing equality in sport in the coming years.” Details: changeourgame.vic.gov.au.

Order now on www.aussietoysonline.com.au 12593408-JC10-23

10 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

FEATURING ... SENIORS

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Questions to ask when making decisions on aged care

Resident Michael Hannah going for a spin. (Supplied)

Idelma Cogo and Pauline Nicol on a lovely day out (Supplied)

Lesley Verity and a dazzling bouquet to match her cardigan. (Supplied)

Manor Court Werribee Aged Care 24/7 on-site nursing | permanent | respite | newly refurbished garden rooms | dementia care e: office@manorcourt.org.au p: 9742 0699

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Moving into a Care Home can seem a daunting proposition, there are certainly a lot of horror stories out there, which even those who work in the sector are horrified by. Positive stories and experiences are much less newsworthy, but for many living in a care home, that is their reality as they have a fulfilling and comfortable life. Places like Manor Court in Werribee think of themselves as a caring community where people are supported in their health needs but also provide opportunities for residents to socialise and participate in a variety of activities. So how do you choose a good home for yourself or a loved one? There are a few things to consider such as location, registered nurse coverage (24-7), the feel of the place and individual preferences – for example do you prefera large hotel like experience or one which has a homely-vibe? What activities are available? What additional costs are there? Are you allowed to bring in your own furniture and hang pictures on the wall? Are GPs available etc. There is a lot of very helpful resources available for home care as well as residential care on the My Aged Care website Find a Provider (myagedcare.gov.au) where you can also find the star ratings for any care home that you are considering. These ratings consider compliance with regulations, resident feedback, quality indicators and staffing levels. But most importantly, it really is a case of going in, having a look, and talking to staff and observing residents. If you can, try and prepare prior to any medical event that potentially leads to a residential admission from a hospital stay. Probably most people want to stay a home, but having a plan B and an Aged Care Home lined up just in case won’t hurt.

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 11

FEATURING ... EDUCATION

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Study calls for extra support for substitute teachers According to Media Centre for Education Research Australia, on average a child will spend 8 per cent, or one year of their education taught by a casual teacher, but the essential demographic is experiencing a lack of support. In a recent article titled “An Exploration of the Experiences of Substitute Teachers: A Systematic Review” several Australian universities researched recurring themes experienced by substitute teachers. Lead author from Monash University, Professor Andrea Reupert explained the casual teaching cohort is an “important component in the teaching workforce,” yet described their working conditions and experiences as worrying. Professor Reupert said this has been exacerbated by a lack of targeted support and this latest research dives into better understanding their requirements and will assist in developing policies and practices to improve conditions They found casual teachers experience stress, anxiety and lower levels of job satisfaction when compared to full time teachers. “Around the world, we are seeing teacher shortages as more and more people move away from the profession – discussions about teacher shortages can’t just focus on the permanent workforce. We need to look wider,” Professor Reupert said The research discovered many substitute teachers have concerns over lack of authority, future job security, difficulty in building connections in the workplace and a lack of access to professional development. Co-author, Professor Michele Simons said that for teachers to effectively undertake their

Calling on more support for substitute teachers.

work they need the right resources. “This review has found that the temporary nature of their employment means that professional development opportunities and mentoring that are integral to developing practice are inaccessible for these teachers,” Professor Simons said.

“They need a proper induction into the school, and they need access to professional learning and mentoring.” The paper also found a disparity in voicing their opinion on school decision making processes, leaving them feeling undervalued and with a feeling of marginalisation in

schools they aren’t familiar with. The research team also found that schools with higher suspension rates and lower average student achievements were less likely to find substitute teachers,with student behaviour and lack of administrative support from the school big contributing factors.

Handy ideas to help pack clean, green school lunches 4. Use what you’ve got – save money by digging out pens, pencils and other consumables from drawers, cupboards and bags, rather than buying new ones. Many stationery makers also have a range of notebooks made from recycled paper.

Sustainability is a focus of many schools these days, with students often encouraged to engage in practices such as packing ‘nude’ lunches, recycling and switching off lights when not in use. How can parents help encourage their kids to be sustainable students? Here are eight tips from Sustainability Victoria: 1. Lunches – get the kids to make their own lunch and use containers suited to nude food, eliminating the need for disposable wrapping. If you do need to wrap, reusable beeswax wraps can be used. Find out about them online or do a course on making them at your local neighborhood house or community arts centre. 2. Make your own snacks – despite what they say, many kids have plenty of time on their hands. Teach them to make their own

muesli bars and other snacks. Be patient, it’s a great life skill. They will learn to be more independent and have fun doing it!

5. Textbooks and uniforms – most schools have secondhand book and uniform shops, but your local op shop is also worth trying. Many high school English and literature books are available for free on Kindle. For other subjects, ask teachers what the difference is with this year’s version of a textbook compared with last year’s, as the older edition may still be suitable.

3. Get more value – use the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ website to get great recipes to use last night’s leftovers in exciting ways for school (and work) lunches.

6. Walking or riding to school is a great way to stay fit. It saves fuel and reduces vehicle pollution and traffic jams at the school gate. Otherwise, park a short distance from the

Teaching your kids about sustainable food choices is an important life skill. (iStock)

school and walk with the kids and use it as an opportunity to teach road rules. Catching the bus may also be an option. 7. Buying a desk, bookcase or filing cabinet? Second-hand office furniture shops often have very modern goods at a much better price than new and they will last. It is also worth checking out Facebook Marketplace for some great quality bargains. 8. Ask your school to join the ResourceSmart Schools program offered by Sustainability Victoria. Supporting schools within the state to embed sustainability measures across the school facilities, community and curriculum, once a school joins the program, it will have access to an online portal to learn and practice ways of integrating sustainability while also saving resources and money for the school.

Invicta Is Opening Its Doors To The Youngest Of Aspirational Athletes with our Mini-Stars Physical Literacy Program Operating out of Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee, the program is specifically designed to target the social, physical, and emotional wellbeing of children aged 3-6 years.

Mini-Stars covers basic sporting skills such as: Throwing • Catching • Kicking • Running • Jumping • Balance Mini-Stars is a pilot project for Invicta Education and thanks to a grant from Wyndham City Council, the 6-week program cost has been reduced to a very affordable $50pp for all registered participants. To register your interest visit www.invictaperformance.com.au/education

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12 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

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FEATURING ... EDUCATION

Experience all that Thomas Carr College has to offer Thomas Carr College is a Catholic secondary school providing education for students in the western suburbs of Melbourne since 1997. A proud and welcoming multicultural community, the college prides itselves as a place of learning, striving to motivate the current generation of young people to embrace all the opportunities provided at a Catholic college. The college is situated on over 10 hectares of spacious grounds incorporating modern, state-of-the-art facilities including a performing arts centre, gymnasium, trade trading centre and a first class oval. Thomas Carr College welcomes the community to its open day to meet the friendly staff and students, and experience all the college has to offer. At Thomas Carr College staff understand that the choice of a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. The open day is a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and parents to gain insights into the facilities, programs, opportunities and services that Thomas Carr College offers. Visit different learning area displays and have the opportunity to talk to staff and students and ask any questions about their Thomas Carr College experiences. The open day will include regular student led college tours, the chance to meet the principal Jamie Madigan , as well as musical performances, a sausage sizzle and free coffee and tea. Thomas Carr College open day, is on Sunday, March, 19, from 10.30am – 2pm

Thomas Carr teachers aim to inspire the next generation of young learners.

OPEN DAY Sunday 19 March 2023 10.30am – 2.00pm

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 13

FEATURING ... EDUCATION

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Starting early education at Heathdale Christian College Heathdale Christian College’s newly opened year 1 and 2 building completes a significant stage of the college’s masterplan, including newly built and refurbished prep classrooms, a new multi-purpose room, and four expansive playgrounds catering for students up to year 2. This new building also completes the connection of the kinder to year 2 precinct, creating a seamless experience for children and families as they start their journey with the college in those crucial early years. Starting at four-year-old kinder, Heathdale students enter a nurturing Christian learning community where they’re empowered to discover the world around them through a play-based learning approach. The college kindergarten program is shaped around students’ voices, individual needs, interests and abilities. Seeking to inspire and encourage them to direct their own learning while learning to work together in groups. This group socialisation is vital for students at this early stage, as Heathdale’s educators help create and foster meaningful friendships to instil a sense of belonging among their classmates and teachers. While safe in their own space and outdoor play areas, kinder students are able to develop an early familiarity with the next stages of their educational journey with prep-year 2 students now just across the new playgrounds. Setting them up for success as they graduate to prep. Heathdale’s kindergarten co-ordinator, Kemi Aibinu, said, “Heathdale holds firmly to the belief that partnership with parents is essential to the development and education of children, Heathdale has an open-door policy that welcomes family involvement, participation and feedback. By having a culture that embraces parents as each child’s

Heathdale Christian College is looking better than ever with a number of new play areas. (Supplied)

first educators, Heathdale hopes to prepare its students for life-long learning with their family’s support and under the guidance of Biblical principles.” Celebrating its 40th year last year, Heathdale Christian College is as committed as ever to continuing the original vision found Reverend Joe Westlake had for the

Kinder & Prep Open Night Wednesday, 15 March 2023 Open between 5.30 - 7PM 175 Derrimut Road, Werribee Register online now at

heathdale.vic.edu.au

college all those years ago, to serve families of the west through Christian education. While the college is very excited to have a new facility to serve its students and bring the kinder-year 2 precinct together, according to executive principal, Ross Grace, the Biblical foundations of Heathdale remain strong, as the focus remains on, “helping each and every

student grow in the purpose that God has created them with.” Enrolment applications are now open for 2024 and you can head to Heathdale’s open evenings on either Wednesday, March 15 (Werribee Campus) or Thursday, March 16. Register now at heathdale.vic.edu.au.

CREATED WITH A PURPOSE 12592168-AA09-23

14 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

FEATURING ... EDUCATION

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Haileybury’s City Campus offers unique opportunities On any day of the week, city workers and tourists enjoying the sights of Melbourne will see the familiar black and magenta uniforms of Haileybury students as they explore the streets, laneways, parks and museums. Whether focusing on social justice and community service, learning the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, or striving for academic excellence, a typical day for students at Haileybury’s City campus is a diverse and interesting experience. Located in King Street in the busy CBD, the 12-storey vertical campus includes 1,500 sqm of outdoor recreation space spread over three terraces, 1,000 sqm of indoor sporting facilities and an expansive music, art and drama space. There are also state-of-the-art science facilities. The campus is home to approximately 700 students from ELC to Senior School who are all part of a tight-knit community that makes the most of the learning opportunities that come with being close to Melbourne’s best cultural, historic and sporting precincts. But it is what happens within these spaces and the relationships that are built between students and their teachers that have most impact, according to Melissa Allen, Head of Teaching & Learning (Middle School). “Relationships are the foundation of quality teaching,” says Ms Allen. “Once you have a solid relationship built on trust and on honest and critical feedback, then students can engage in their learning and get the most from the teachers who are experts in their field.” Year 8 students at the City campus take part in the Haileybury Startup program to develop entrepreneurial flair and skills like digital literacy, critical thinking, design thinking and teamwork. Students might alsovolunteer with The Smith Family student2student reading

Haileybury’s City Campus offers some unique spaces that bring learning to life. (Supplied)

program, helping a ‘buddy’ from another school to improve their reading skills. Senior School students at City campus balance their VCE studies with a range of co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities including sport, the arts and STEM and LEAP activities (Literature,

Entrepreneurship, Arts and Politics). From learning how to help alleviate poverty and disadvantage and taking part in creative projects like ‘writing a book in a day’ and painting portraits for the ‘City Bald Prize’, the City campus provides students with plenty of opportunities to try new experiences, to learn,

reflect and be curious. “Every student matters every day at our City campus,” says Caroline Merrick, Head of Haileybury City. “Our students leave school with the capacity to solve problems, to think critically, to take the initiative and to be innovative.”

haileybury.com.au

20 MARCH 2023

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Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15

BEHIND THE NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Women making it work their way For this year’s International Women’s Day, March 8, Fatima Halloum hears from women working in male dominated industries.

hen Jennifer Horgan confided in her mother that she wanted to change careers, she was met with deep

concern. Ms Horgan had completed a law degree and was working as a court registrar, when she decided to make the switch. “I remember seeing the police bring in all their cases, and listening to the interesting work that they were doing, so I decided to join the police after seeing that,” she said. “[My mum] was very happy with my nice, safe job, it was a bit of a shock to [her] because I didn’t grow up wanting to be a police officer.” The young woman who graduated the police academy in 2001, worked in the surveillance unit, and the prosecutions division, is now the station commander at Bacchus Marsh police station. “I’m at my happiest … I like being in charge of eight sergeants and 40 other ranks,” she said. “And being able to support them to do the front-line policing work that they do. “Community safety is my priority, I want people to feel like … if they come to the police with a problem, they will be heard.”

‘‘

We have to learn for ourselves that we can do things that we were told are - Edel Doyle not for us

’’

Ms Horgan said she would like to see a day when it isn’t remarkable that a woman is in charge of a police station. “I’d like it to be normal, not a big deal,” she said. “There are a lot of women in leadership roles in Victoria Police and we are more visible now, so I think that’s really positive.” While Ms Horgan never expected to become a police officer, she said 20 years on, she still loves her job. “Unfortunately we do spend time with people who have been having a really hard day,” she said. “But the flip side is that there is nothing better than driving past a little kid, waving at them, and just seeing their face light up.” THere’s about 3300 kilometres between Vanautu and Melbourne, and edel Doyle has sailed all of them. After moving from Dublin, Ireland, to Australia in 2013, Ms Doyle joined the Wyndham Yacht Club to learn to sail. “I love being on the water,” she said. “I am proactive … about getting more and more women involved cause we have to learn for ourselves that we can do things that we were told are not for us.” Ms Doyle said she often encounters men who aren’t even aware of the bias’ towards women that they carry. “Were expected to work in the galley or in the kitchen, we’re expected to work on the floor deck, cause you’re smaller and lighter usually than the men,” she said. “I navigate, because I don’t want to be on the floor deck you get wet up there, and it’s safer for everyone if I’m not cooking.” Ms Doyle spent six weeks sailing around the islands near Vanuatu, delivering school supplies like blackboard paint, chalk, and paper to remote islands. she and another companion sailed to Brisbane, and along the east coast back to Melbourne. “[Being on the ocean is] it’s amazing, it’s quiet, it’s calm, it’s peaceful just listening to the water, it’s mesmerising,” she said. It was through being a sailor that Ms Doyle heard about the Werribee Coast Guard a while out on the water doing rescues, Ms Doyle said she “doesn’t personally think” gender is ever an issue. “sometimes there’s a physical difference, 16 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

Senior Sergeant Jennifer Horgan. (Damjan Janevski) 321809_03

Left: Edel Doyle loves being on the water. (Supplied) Right: Safa Hablas runs her own gardening business. (Louise Beaumont)

where the men are stronger, [but] because we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, you just do it and nobody and bats an eyelid,“ she said. In honour of International Women’s Day, the Werribee Coast Guard will lead an all women’s boat crew in March. “The people in that flotilla are just amazing,” she said. IT WAs using her father in-law’s trailer, her brother in-law’s lawn mower and her husband’s four-wheel-drive that safa Hablas brought her gardening business to life. The Tarneit resident said the years dragged on while working in the childcare industry, especially being cooped indoors as someone who enjoys being outside. “I just became really tired of it,” she said. “My husband is a police officer, so I had to

think of a business where I could work my own hours because my son didn’t want to go to childcare. “I took six months off to decide what I wanted to do and I thought, ‘what can I do?’.” Growing up, Ms Hablas spent lots of her time in the garden with her dad. “I know a lot about the garden, trees, grass and weeds,” she said. Ms Hablas said that although there isn’t a lot of women in the industry, her experience has been relatively good. “If I’m at a job site, [people aren’t] going to be looking at me first to get a job done, [but] don’t think a woman isn’t up to a job because of her gender, give them a go and see how it goes,” she said. “There’s never been a time, especially as a covered woman, where someone asks me what I do and I’ll be like ‘I’m a gardener’ and they’ll

be like, ‘oh I like gardening too,’. “Then I’ll say, ‘no, no, I’m a gardener’ and they’re like, ‘what, you?’, they freak out, and think that it’s awesome.” While it can be tiring, Ms Hablas said she loves her job. “It is an amazing feeling going into someone’s house, cleaning it all up, and then getting the client outside and saying ‘what do you think?’ and seeing their face, it’s just leaves you speechless,” she said. “Going from four years ago, and fast forwarding until now, I bought my first four wheel drive, with my own work trailer and all brand new gear that I owned debt free, just from a year of work. “The lawnmower I was borrowing I gave it back to my brother in law, the trailer I gave it back to my father in law, and the four wheel drive, I gave it back to my husband.”

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

plan for Tarneit battery unveiled Help kindergartens One of the state’s first neighbourhood batteries set to store solar energy for use by the local community has been established in Tarneit. The completion of the battery was celebrated Tuesday, February 28, at Gleneagles Reserve in Tarneit, where Powercor installed the battery, which will store 120kW (or 360kWh) of power to directly service an estimated 170 customers. Wyndham council said the the installation of this neighbourhood battery will help Wyndham grow as a smart, sustainable and liveable city.

‘

Providing a battery like this for the community to share takes the burden off individual households

’

- Susan McIntyre

Councillor Peter Maynard, energy and resources minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Tarneit MP Dylan Wight. (Supplied)

across the state, with almost 14,000 solar households making up about 42 per cent of all Powercor’s customers. Council said artist 23rd Key was commissioned to paint a mural on the battery and an existing transformer on site. The artwork depicts flora, local animals

and wildlife. “There are many new families moving to Tarneit and having access to a neighbourhood battery will help to lower emissions and reduce power bills,” Tarneit MP Dylan Wight said. Details: https://bit.ly/3EKGvFO

12544962-AV15-22

“Not everyone who wants to use solar power can afford a personal battery. Providing a battery like this for the community to share takes the burden off individual households and allows more people to take part in using renewable energy for a sustainable future,” Wyndham mayor Susan McIntyre said. A neighbourhood battery is a large battery that is connected to the same powerlines as the ones used for a home. The battery stores energy produced by the sun during the day to be available at night when residents need it. Neighbourhood batteries play an important role in more evenly distributing energy generated by solar so that once it is captured, it can be used by the community. Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing and Truganina, have the highest penetration of rooftop solar

With Wyndham’s population of three and four-year-old children set to increase by 43 per cent by 2040, Wyndham council says it is planning for the future of kindergarten services and is seeking feedback from the municipality’s families. Wyndham mayor Susan McIntyre said the number of changes taking place relating to kindergarten programs provides an opportunity for council to review how Early Years Services are being delivered and accessed by the community. “We will use the information to plan for future kindergarten programs and childcare services and work in partnership with the Victorian government on the rollout to ensure our community needs are being met,” she said. “Given the scope of what we need to do to prepare for the increase of kindergarten- aged children, we want to hear from those who have a child aged up to five years old or those who plan to have a family within the next 10 years. “This will help us to support Wyndham children being able to access the right services in the right locations and to help us work with non-council kindergarten service providers.” The state government also announced that one of their new early learning centres will be built in Wyndham. Residents must provide feedback by April 2. Council said that families who complete the survey can go into the draw to win one of five $200 gift cards.

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 17

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Darcy Newport and Kordell Opetha. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_08

Wyndham player Tyrese Kuridu with ball. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_14

Wyndham player Emmanuel Majak. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_15

Slam dunk for the west The west’s best basketball talent took to the court over the weekend. Co-produced by the NBL and local trader Yours Truly Barber Shop and supported by Maribyrnong council, the Westside Slam event hosted three-a-side or 3×3 tournaments across juniors and open men and women on Saturday, March 4 at Footscray’s Nicholson Street Mall. Star Weekly photographer Joe Mastroianni was courtside to capture the action.

Wyndham player Riak Akhuar lays up. (Joe

Colts’ Darcy Newport rebounds. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_05

Mastroianni) 319514_11

Event co-organiser Chris Tabone joined players Sean Mchale, Darcy Newport and Ottis Berry at the Westside Slam event. (Joe Mastroianni) Harvey James and Sean McHale. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_04

319514_01

Wyndham player Tyrese Kuridu looks to shoot. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_13

Patrick and Liz Mendoza waiting for their son to play. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_10

18 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

Seanus McHale and Diego Nuque-Bautista. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_07

Under-14 Silencer’s Kordell Opetha and Colts Ottis Berry. (Joe Mastroianni) 319514_03

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

MY PLACE Shemsiya Waritu is an author who prides herself on being involved in many areas of the community. She chats to Fatima Halloum about her favourite places to visit and what she would change about Wyndham.

What do you like about where you live? I like the quietness and the fact that I live close to everything. I definitely like the people, and how diverse it is. I have a lot of friends from my background, and other backgrounds too. I’m very connected with diverse groups. What, if anything, would you change about where you live? I would add activities in parks for older children. What prompted you to decide to write a book? The motivation behind my decision to write my book was to help others, particularly those in the migrant community, understand the importance of education

and the transformative power of meeting and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Throughout my personal journey of stepping out of my comfort zone, I came to realize how much fear can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential. My hope is that my book will inspire and encourage readers to overcome their fears, embrace new experiences and opportunities, and pursue their dreams Tell us about some of the community work you do in Wyndham. I do a lot of volunteering, coaching and mentoring. Where is your favourite local place to spend time? My favourite place to spend time is the shopping centre nearby.

(Damjan Janevski) 320392_04

What’s your connection to Wyndham? I live in Wyndham. I first moved to Wyndham about 11 years ago. Wyndham is where my journey with writing began. All my support to be where I am today, is through the support of Wyndham people.

Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you... Something people would be surprised to know about me is that I love sweets.

YOUR NEW CAREER ... starts here PRINT AND ONLINE SALES EXECUTIVE

REQUIRED

Star Weekly seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms. Star Weekly is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future. The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business. Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance. The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme. Send your application letter and resume to: Advertising Sales Manager, Mandy Clark salescareers@starnewsgroup.com.au

12570945-JC40-22

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 19

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Learning to relax IPC Health Hoppers Crossing campus will hold free workshops dedicated to teaching attendees how to effectively manage their stress. The group meets every Monday at 117-129 Warringa Crescent, Hoppers Crossing, from 1-2pm. ■ Sarah or Brodie, 1300 472 432

Friends of Presidents Park The Friends of Presidents Park meets from 10am to noon on the first Thursday of the month, to undertake Landcare activities along the Werribee River through the park and surrounding areas. Bring your own gloves and water. Morning tea provided. Meeting at the carpark near the Shaws Road Bridge, Heaths Road, near the fenced dog park. ■ admin@werribeeriver.org.au

Seniors House of Fun The Grange Community Centre would like to invite the seniors of Wyndham to its weekly Seniors House of Fun. This is a free program running every Friday 11am-12.30pm, at The Grange Community Centre, 260-280 Hogans Road, Hoppers Crossing. ■ Vanessa, 8742 8000 or enquires@grangecommunity.org.au

Seniors club The Werribee Senior Citizens Club Inc meets at 80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing. The group is open to all people 55-plus, and it runs on Wednesdays, 10am- noon. Entry: $2, includes morning tea. ■ 0403 041 499

Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus The friendly and vibrant group meet at Hotel 520 on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am. They have a guest speaker each month as well as social lunches, outings and theatre trips. ■ 0407 856 519

U3A Werribee

This week’s photographer’s choice picture Jasmina ‘Princess Jasmina of Melbourne’, who will be part of pink charity fundraiser.

The group is a not-for-profit community organisation for semi-retired and retired Wyndham residents. They hold a variety of classes/activities specifically designed for Seniors, including, light physical and mental wellbeing sessions, arts, games and craft, and general classes such as current affairs, history and lunch groups. Most classes/activities are held at Wyndham Community Centres. ■ Rick, 0402 299 220

Sayers Road, Tarneit, and normally has an outing or event on the third Wednesday of each month. ■ Rosa Sanderson, 0410 303 046

Lions Club

Palliative volunteers needed

Lions Club of Werribee meets at the RSL Club 2a Synnot Street Werribee on the first and third Wednesday of the month 6.30pm for a 7pm dinner meeting. ■ Lou, 0409 331 271

Mercy Palliative Care is looking for volunteers to visit palliative care patients in their homes to offer social support. ■ 9313 5700 or MPCVolunteerCoordinators@mercy.com.au

Bingo for all

AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club

The Werribee RSL hosts Bingo every Monday, except public holidays. Eyes down from 12.30-2.30pm. ■ 9741 5525 The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee. Meet other members who are also passionate about breeding Budgerigars. ■ Don, 0414 975 862

Would you like to develop confidence in communicating, competence with language and clarity in writing? AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club would like to invite any and all residents to join them on the first and third Thursday of every month to help develop public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets at the Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton from 7-9.30pm. ■ Vimi Gaoneadry, 0411 530 944

Wyndham Ladies Probus

Cherry Lake Market

Are you recently retired or semi-retired? Looking for fun, fellowship and to increase your social networks. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Hotel520,

Set between Millers Road and the stunning Cherry Lake in Altona, this market has something for everyone. The market hosts more than 60 stalls selling plants, bric-a-brac, handcrafts, hot jam donuts,

Western Budgerigar Club

20 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

(Damjan Janevski). 321342_01

tools, clothing and much more. There is live music every month from the Cherry Lake Cultural Series, showcasing local musicians from across Hobsons Bay. From 9am to 1pm on the first Sunday of every month. Cherry Lake, Millers Road, Altona. ■ www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/ Whats-On/Altona Lions Club Cherry Lake Market or cherrylakemarket@gmail.com

Art workshops The Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre presents MonArt. Workshops for people of all abilities facilitated by community art specialist Amanda Neville, Mondays 10am-11.30am. Cost: $5 casual fee each week. ■ admin@ljac.com.au, or 9398 2511

Woodcarving workshop Aimed at all levels of ability in the ancient and international craft of woodcarving. Women are welcome. Bring your own tools and projects if possible. Or do you have Grandpa’s old gouges to donate? On Tuesdays, 9.30am to noon, at 280 Queen Street, Altona. ■ jah2802rot@gmail.com

Heritage walks Enjoy a leisurely walk around historic Williamstown and nearby suburbs with

guide John. Walks start at 9.20 am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre, Nelson Place. ■ John, 0418 377 336

Williamstown book sale Friends of Williamstown and Newport Libraries hold a book sale every second Saturday of each month 9.30-12.30. The book sale is held in Friends’ Room entrance from deck on Ferguson street. Cash only sales. ■ libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

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

Rose Carers Of Maddingley Park 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

PUZZLES 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.

easy

6 2

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

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

Cuff (4) Intersection (10) Accumulated (7) On (7) Inscriptions (8) Whinny (5) Widespread reputation (4) Disposal of waste (10) Signifying (10) Small island (4) Daughter of Zeus (5) Series of meetings (8) Declare one’s approval of (7) Heavy material to provide stability (7) Shades (10) Non-permanent staff member (coll) (abb) (4)

1 3 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 20 21 23 26 27 28 29

No. 123

Cicatrix (4) Celebrated (9) Unnecessary (9) Fraudulent schemes (5) Domed building (7) Reason for innocence (5) Female name (9) Hogwash (4) Without trust or belief (9) Incapable of being seen (9) Numb (9) Jurisdiction (7) Packed (5) Prophets (5) Misfortunes (4) Perched (4)

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 24 25

DECODER

No. 123

8 4 5

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

1 6

1 4 9 2 6 8 9

10 11 12 13

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”.

Today’s Aim: 18 words: Good 27 words: Very good

No. 123 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

AVERT AWARE CHAFF CLEAT CLOTH CORED CRASH CRYPT EARNS EASED EDICT ELUDE EXERT FORGE HALED HEADS HOSTS IMAGE IOTAS LEAST

4 LETTERS BITE DEEM DENS ETCH FLED MA’AM RAPS SLID SOFT TOTS 5 LETTERS AORTA AREAS ARGUE ARSON ASPEN ASSES

QUICK QUIZ

TIGER TRACT

LOCAL MEETS MULCH OGLED OPTIC ORALS PANDA RAVEL ROUGE SECTS SINEW SLEDS SPLIT STAKE STALL STATE STEAL STEAM STINT THERE

LUSTIER STORAGE WOOMERA

6 LETTERS CAREER CASTER ERASES SAFARI STOWED TENSED 7 LETTERS ACUTELY ELASTIC ITERATE

Who became the secondrichest person in the world as of November 24?

Who was Australia’s first Labour prime minister, as well as leading the world’s first Labour government?

F C H E

A R E

R U S H E L L O N T E R

3 $ 1 ' $

8 LETTERS GORILLAS HOLSTERS TEENAGER TEXTURED 10 LETTERS MONARCHIES NEWSLETTER

10-03-23

L A T E

No. 123

ache, aches, arch, arches, cash, char, chars, chase, chaser, crash, each, hack, hacker, hacks, hake, hare, hark, harks, have, HAVERSACK, hear, hears, heck, hers, rash, reach, rhea, search, shack, shake, shaker, share, shark, shave, shaver, shea, shear

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

3 LETTERS ACE ATE DNA EEL EGO EKE END ERA FAD FOX HOE IRE LEE MIX NAB NET NUT ODE PRO ROT SIT TWO

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

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

T W 19

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

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

37 words: Excellent

hard

medium

9-LETTER WORD

easy

5x5

9 2

P S HMAG Y K J V E L D

2 7 8

8 2 8

QN Z F I XO R C B U TW

7 6

4 8

7 1 6 9 3 6

WORDFIT

Containing the busts of past prime ministers, where in Australia is Prime Ministers Avenue?

In what year did the Victorian gold rush begin?

What is the most populous state in the US?

Who recorded Manic Monday in 1986?

Siddhartha Gautama is the name of which sacred figure?

Sully Prudhomme (pictured) was the first person to win which award?

Which Scandinavian capital’s name means ‘islet of logs’?

10 What is the largest species of rodent in the world? ANSWERS: 1. Elon Musk 2. Chris Watson 3. Ballarat 4. 1851 5. California 6. The Bangles 7. The Buddha 8. The Nobel Prize for Literature 9. Stockholm 10. Capybara

No. 123

$ 6 6 ( 6 & + $ ) ) 6 7 ( $ 0 6 7 , 1 7 / 2 & $ / $: $ 5 ( 3 $ 1 ' $ ( / 8 ' ( ) 2 5 * ( ( . ( / ( $ 6 7 ' 1 $ 1 8 7 ( 5 $ 6 ( 6 1 ( : 6 / ( 7 7 ( 5 3 / ( / $ 6 7 , & 2 5 $ / 6 & 5 < 3 7 ( 7 & + 6 2 ) 7 + 2 ( * 2 5 , / / $ 6 :2 2 0 ( 5 $ / 8 6 7 , ( 5 ' ( ( 0 7 ( ; 7 8 5 ( ' ( * 2 ' ( 1 6 ( $ 6 ( ' 6 / ( ' 6 , 7 ( 5 $ 7 ( , & & $ 6 7 ( 5 0 2 1 $ 5 & + , ( 6 5 2 7 1 $ % 5 $ 9 ( / 2 ' ( $ 5 ( $ 6 , 0 $ * ( 2 3 7 , & 7 , * ( 5 7 5 $ & 7 6 7 $ 7 ( ( ; ( 5 7 + 2 6 7 6 + $ / ( '

SUDOKU

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 21

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Nissan Leaf e+ adds extra range to this long-serving EV. (Pictures: Supplied)

Nissan turns a new leaf in 2023 By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring Although it’s no longer a major player in the electric vehicle scene, Nissan Leaf holds an important role in automotive history, being the first mass-production vehicle of its type when it was launched worldwide back in 2010.

Styling The profile of the Leaf hasn’t changed significantly during its decade on the road. It comes with the same semi-coupe / SUV body that many of its competitors have adopted. Its lines are clean and simple with a sloping roofline, flowing headlights and blacked-out B and C pillars. Changes for MY23 include new badging, revised front faux grille, darkened headlight trims, new rear diffuser and spoiler. Likely to be the most noticeable change are a new design for the 17-inch alloy wheels which seem to polarise opinions. We love them, but others that have seen them immediately cringe.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Nissan LEAF: $50,990 Nissan LEAF e+: $61,490 SPECIFICATIONS Nissan Leaf 59-kWh lithium-ion 350V battery, five-door wagon

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

Interior At around $60,000 plus on-roads Nissan Leaf sits at the more affordable level of EV pricing and it shows with a relatively bland interior when compared with the spectacular presentation of newer, but more expensive, cars like the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. There is no powered seat option and height-only steering wheel adjustment. Having said that the dashboard is neat and functional with most controls logically placed and easy to reach. One of our pet hates are functions that need constant tapping on small keys on the touchscreen. By contrast Leaf uses four large round knobs – two for audio volume / channel change on the sides of the screen and two below for air conditioning temperature / fan speed. So much more sensible with much less driver distraction. One new feature for the 2023 upgrade is the intelligent rearview mirror which doubles as a standard mirror but with a flick of a control becomes a built-in LCD monitor which displays images from a camera mounted on the rear of 24 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

the vehicle for an unobstructed view. Rear seat space is acceptable with enough leg and headroom for two taller occupants. A third adult in the centre would be wedged between the other two, made worse with a tall transmission tunnel on the floor. There’s no folding armrest in the rear, nor air vents or USB ports. Boot space is a pretty good 405 litres although the two charging cables and Bose audio located there. The loading lip is high with quite a big drop down to the cargo floor. The 60/40 split rear seatbacks can be folded down to extend storage to 1776 litres.

Driving Composed is the perfect description of the Leaf’s performance. To match the improved output of the electric motor and converter, engineers enhanced the car’s chassis to improve stability. The electric power steering is responsive with a nice linear feel. Noise, vibration and harshness have been

moderated with aerodynamic upgrades and structural rigidity, while the electric motor has been made quieter, despite generating more power and torque. Leaf has what is called an e-Pedal, which at the flick of a switch on the centre console, allows the vehicle to be driven using the accelerator alone. The car comes to a smooth, gradual halt and is held stationary without the use of the brake pedal. Unfortunately, on the Leaf the e-Pedal is either on or off unlike many competitors where the level of braking can be adjusted to suit conditions. We found that, in motorway conditions, the extra pressure needed to maintain traffic speed negated the benefit of the e-Pedal and we tended to use it only on downhill running. Out on the open road ride handling proved to be excellent and the torque pick up will appeal to keen drivers. The absence of any engine sound combined with good external noise suppression and much less range anxiety adds further to the driving enjoyment.

Nissan lists a 385-kilometre range for the Leaf e+ although it showed up as 427 km when we picked up our test vehicle. During the week we did a couple of 3-hour top-up charges with our Wallbox home charger. In total we covered 352 kilometres and still showed a range of just over 200 km when we returned the car. So that projected 385 km range seems to be quite achievable. There is tyre noise on rough road surfaces. But why wouldn’t there be with little or no sound from under the bonnet?

Summing up The enhancements added to the MY23 Leaf come at price with an increase of $1000 over the previous models taking the e+ to $61,490 and $50,990 for the standard 39 kWh Leaf at. On-road costs need to be added. Premium purchase prices and refuelling convenience continue to be major hurdles for electric vehicles. But for those wishing to give it a go, the Nissan Leaf is as good as any petrol-powered close rival.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Hoppers left to rue their missed opportunities Hoppers Crossing is left thinking what might have been in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west. Having been in the top six for most of the season, a final round loss to Altona put an end to the Cats finals hopes. For Cats captain-coach Simon Lambert it’s a bitter pill to swallow. “The match sums up the season,” he said. “We lost five games where we were in winning positions . “Sport is ruthless and if you don’t stay on your A-game for the whole time it can cost you. We were good for 75 per cent of the time, but it was the other 25 per cent that cost us. “Another season we get those breaks and we play finals. Hopefully we’ll learn from those mistakes and carry them into next year.” On top of the five games they lost from winnable positions, two games were called off half way through due to the weather, with the Cats on top. An appeal against the draw of the Werribee match was dismissed last match, with the teams splitting the points.

On Saturday, the Cats needed to beat Altona to finish in sixth spot. Altona won the toss and decided to bat, making 142 as it was bowled out in the 43rd over. Sai Surapaneni took four wickets for the Cats. Lambert said they were happy to be chasing that, but it could have been less with the A’s 9-100 at one stage. “It was a tough pitch to bat on and it was a slow outfield,” he said. It was hard to score on but we backed ourselves in to knock that off.” The Cats innings didn’t start well and at 5-41 they were in trouble. They were able to get back into the game. “We were in a winning position,” Lambert said. “We needed 17 runs with three wickets left. “We also had 15 overs left. It was the pattern of the innings we had soft dismissals towards the end. “It was disappointing after being on top for a large portion of the match.” Sanka Abeyruwan played a lone hand for

the Cats with 60 before being run out with the win in sight. The Cats second XI, which also needed to win in the final round to play finals, lost to Altona. The club’s third and fourth XIs will both play finals. Meanwhile, Werribee warmed up for finals with a big win against Mt Waverley. The Tigers bowled Mt Waverley, before making 1-132 in reply. Werribee will play Box Hill in the opening round of finals. Tara Murray

Hoppers Crossing’s Simon Lambert (Jacob Pattison) 317175_06

Sports shorts Australia Cup Hoppers Crossing’s Australia Cup run is over after one game after losing to Upfield on Saturday. Both sides entered the competition in the third round, having already played a practice match against each other. Upfield proved too strong winning 5-0 after leading 3-0 at half time. Truganina Hornets’ run is also over after losing to Keilor Wolves, 3-0. The two sides face each other on March 18 in the opening round of the FV state league 4 west season.

A-League Western United has signed Tiana Jaber for the rest of the A-League Women’s season. Jaber joins the club on a replacement deal following a serious knee injury to Aimee Medwin. Formerly of Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers, Jaber brings ready-made Liberty A-League experience with a desire to make an impact at the top level again. She joined the squad immediately.

VFL Sanctuary Lakes is set for a big finals series. (Supplied)

Sharks cruise into finals Tara Murray Sanctuary Lakes’ first XI will play finals for the first time in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association competition. After slipping up the last couple of weeks, the Sharks needed to beat Wyndhamvale in the final round to have any chance of making the division 5 finals. While the Sharks got the win, there were some nervous few minutes with Melton Centrals looking like they could get an outright win for a while and over take them. Seabrook showed some resistance against Centrals, meaning the Sharks would finish fourth. Sharks skipper Brett Talbot said for the side on Saturday it was about getting back to basics. “The last couple of weeks we’ve had opportunities, but we haven’t taken them,” he said. “Yesterday [Saturday] was a good effort from the boys, nice that everything worked out.” The Sharks were bowled out for just 107 against the Vales, who have struggled for most

of the season. The ball continued to do things in the Vales innings with rain falling. The Vales resumed at 4-43. The Sharks got going early on day two and had Wyndhamvale bowled out for 77. Jay Dolliver top scored with 77. Wade Kirkwood was the star for the Sharks, taking 7-38 off 18.1 overs. Talbot said they just backed their bowlers in to do the job. He said the way the whole side had prepared for the second day, had shown they were really switched on and how much it meant to them. “We went back to what was working,” he said. “We have two excellent opening bowlers, so we went back to them and they did it again for us. “It was fantastic.” The win means the Sharks will enjoy playing finals for the first time in a number of years. “It’s the first time in the VTCA that the first XI has been in finals,” he said. “Our seconds won it last year. We’re really happy with what we have achieved, it’s been a gradual step and pathway.

“We’ve been in the competition for four or five years and this is the most games the first team has won and the highest points scored, there’s good signs.” The Sharks now face Footscray Angliss which claimed the minor premiership after an outright win against Donnybrook. Talbot said they know that they’re the underdog heading into the finals. “We have not played them this season,” he said. “They are an unbelievable team and finished first for a reason. “We’ve got so much belief and we’re going to go out there and give it our best shot. We’re going to enjoy the moment and produce what we can.” In more excitement for the club it’s the first time all four of its senior sides have made finals. Point Cook claimed the minor premiership in division 3 after an outright win against Glenroy. Point Cook will face Sunbury in a knockout semi final.

Werribee put out a dominant performance against Frankston in Saturday’s Victorian Football League standalone day. The six Victorian stand alone teams went head-to-head as the season gets closer. Werribee was never troubled by Frankston, winning 8.9 (57)-1.3 (9). It’s the first of three practice matches the side will have before the season kicks off against the Brisbane Lions on March 25.

A-League Western United made it two in a row in the A-League men’s competition on Saturday. Facing Perth Glory, Tongo Doumbia and then Noah Botic scored just before half time to give their side a 2-1 lead at the break. Neither team scored in the second half, with United winning 2-1. United is up to eighth on the table, six points behind sixth. United next faces Melbourne Victory on March 13.

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 25

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Werribee Giants win through to the grand final The Werribee Giants have come a long way in the space of two seasons in the Baseball Victoria summer league division 3 west women’s competition. Last season the Giants won just two games and finished in the bottom half of the table. With the same squad back this season, the group has massively improved and will play off in this week’s grand final. Coach Jacob Sigismondi said it was pretty exciting for the group. “The girls are just rapt,” he said. “It’s a big change from last year, only winning two games for the season. “It’s a big turnaround with the same group of girls. The big difference is experience. For a lot of them it was their first year playing baseball last year. “They’ve got a better understanding of the game and how to play.” Sigismondi said he realised early in the season that the group could be in for a special season. He said it took the playing group a little longer to believe him. “About week two or three I thought we have

Werribee Giants women’s side. (Supplied)

something here,” he said. “I was telling them then that we should be playing finals. “There was a bit of a laugh at the start, but they started to realise more and more each week.”

The Giants faced minor premiers Port Melbourne in their semi final on Saturday. While they could have been easily daunted by the task of facing a side that won by 19 runs the previous week, the Giants took it on.

They claimed the win 9-6. Sigismondi said he thought that the girls could get the job done. “I thought for the last six or seven weeks that the girls could beat any team on their day if they go out there and do their best. “The girls went out there and batted really well and hit the bases and moved on and stole bases to get the runs.” The Giants will now face Fitzroy in the grand final. Fitzroy beat the Geelong Baycats in the other semi final. The two teams split their regular season matches with the Giants winning the most recent one. Sigismondi said he was unsure of the history of the women’s side in the club winning premierships, but said the most recent program had yet to win one. The Giants men’s season came to an end of Saturday against the Newport Rams. The Rams won 14-4. The Giants finished the season in eighth. Tara Murray

Bees score their first win

Amanda Paschal is back for another season. (Supplied)

Wyndham plays it cool Wyndham might be the defending champions, but its focus is one week at a time in the Big V men’s state championship competition. With the core group of last season’s squad returning, Wyndham will again have a strong side out on the court., Wyndham coach Gerard Hillier said they had continued to stick with the processes they put in place last season. “Title defence is one thing, but for us we’ve got a few new kids coming in and our focus is on making those young kids comfortable with the group,” he said. “Making them part of a senior environment, round one against Hume City is the focus and anything past that is irrelevant now.” With the club having a strong junior program, most of the new additions to the team have come through the clubs’ pathway. Hillier said they wanted to reward those younger players who are coming through and give them opportunities in both the senior women and youth league sides. “They did a really good job last year, the youth league women,” he said. “We’ve had a number of our junior, under-16s and 26 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

under-18s really maximise their opportunity to train with us last year, as a reward, as pathway we’ve promoted three of four to the senior program full time now. “They’ll still drop back and play youth league when there’s no clash, so with the new ones in to reinvigorate our senior squad, we’ll have an even more youthful look. “Holly Dolny is now now full time with the women’s team. Maisie Corcoran has been promoted from our juniors up to our seniors, Admira Ali that has been promoted from our juniors up to the seniors and Nyapath Machot another one.” Several of the younger players have been part of pathways and state side’s in the off season, which Hillier said would benefit the team, especially later in the season. Wyndham’s biggest signing is American Sarah Bennett. Hillier said while they were looking forward to seeing what Bennett could do, it was how she would help the structure of the side that would be really important. “We don’t really have traditional post players,” he said. “We’re a really fast sort of team and like to get out and run both ways. “Sarah is a 5’11 under size post who can

shoot the three, but has a really high IQ and uses her body really well, against bigger players. “Essentially what it does for us is allow our younger players to play their natural position and instead of playing them out of position. “Sarah not only produces defensive pressure and obviously offence with her shooting ability and IQ and she’ll take on some of those tough assignments so then free us up to play the younger kids in their natural positions.” Wyndham is in the middle of its pre-season games ahead of the season kicking off on March 18. Hillier said they didn’t sense any pressure on them being the defending champions. “We don’t really talk about winning and losing,” he said. “For us it’s about getting better each week. “We did a really good job last year focusing on the next round, improvement on from the previous round. It’s the same this year. Each week about getting little bit better, working some of those young kids through to get a bit of exposure. Hopefully a by product of that is enough wins to make finals and when you make finals, anyone’s game.”

Werribee City still has a long way to go, but it has its first win on the board in the National Premier League 2 competition. The Bees opened their winning account on Saturday, beating Kingston City 1-0 at Galvin Park. Bees coach Domenic Barba said it was nice to get some points on the board early in the season. “We are just grinding our performances out so far,” he said. “It’s great to get three points early in what is a long season. “We’ll keep improving and hopefully provide more complete performances. Twenty of our 23 players are new players and they are still getting to know each other. “We’re getting some pleasing results and there’s certainly big improvement for us.’ Barba said on Saturday against Kingston City they showed glimpses of what they can do. He said the key now was to be able to do that for longer. He said they were still letting teams dictate the play too much. He said that it comes down to an understanding of playing with each other and playing to their strengths not weaknesses. “We had a glimpse of what we can play when we play free flowing football,” he said. “We can open teams up. “We have to do that more consistently and we’ll look more dangerous and teams will fear us. “Our defensive game is good and we’re hard to play against. We now need to complement the other side.” The Bees have a win, draw and loss from their first three matches and they face Dandenong City this week. Barba said it had been a tricky start facing three of the four supposed contenders in the competition. “We know what we are going to be up against,” he said. “We’ll work hard and put out some honest performances which is what we have been doing.” Western United suffered its first loss of the season, losing to Pascoe Vale, 3-0. Tara Murray

Tigers bow out, but are proud of their season Werribee’s first Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition finals series ended in defeat, but the season was a win for the Tigers. After winning a premiership in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association last season, the Tigers moved across to the community competition in the shield 3. After just missing out on finals in the T20 competition, the Tigers made the semi finals of the one-day competition. Facing a more experienced Melton Centrals, the Tigers weren’t able to come away with the win on Sunday. Centrals made 3-172 from their 35 overs, with it all single wicket takers for the Tigers. The Tigers started slowly, before a partnership in the middle order gave them some hope. It wasn’t to be as they finished 7-145. Yashika Batra top scored with 60, while

Ananya Mahajan made 58. Tigers coach Ivo Havard said that the difference was a couple of Centrals’ experienced players, who both played key roles with the bat and ball. Despite the loss, Harvard was thrilled with how the side had gone this season. “They are very good,” he said. “We’re a really young team playing against some full women’s sides. “There’s some really talented girls who will have pretty successful careers.” Harvard highlighted some of the stars in the side, who had really good seasons. Wicketkeeper Lisa Larcombe, who is one of the side’s bigger hitters, is deaf. Harvard said she was a really high achiever in the team. April Chaudhary is just 11 and is going to be a player for the future. Gurveer Padam was the side’s highest run

scorer and Mahajan is an allrounder coming through. Nikita Sharma is a fast bowler and another who is doing really good things. Harvard said the challenge of playing 36 overs was something that did take a while to get used to. “We’re a highly talented young group playing some really strong female sides. “Playing 36 overs [innings] was a tough gig for the young kids, going up from 20 overs to 36 overs. “It teaches them so much and how to bat for longer periods of time, rather than wham bam for 20 overs.” Harvard said they planned to continue playing the longer format to help the players develop. He said the success of the side was a real positive for the Werribee senior and junior

cricket clubs. “We expect to see many of these names at higher levels.” Melton Centrals will play Keilor in the grand final. Tara Murray

Werribee’s women’s side (Supplied)

Falcons ready to fly in VNL

Kahli Johnson (Supplied)

Values drew new recruit By Tara Murray When Kahli Johnson decided to join Western United, it wasn’t just about getting more game time in the A-League Women’s competition. Having made three A-League appearances last season for Sydney FC, Johnson decided to make the move down to Melbourne and United. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to move to a different city,” she said. “To move away from home for the first time was exciting. “The club has been really welcoming and family orientated. It was about the opportunity to come to a club that has such strong values. “You want to get game time wherever you are, but nothing was promised and I had to work hard for my spot. “It has really paid off.” Johnson has played in 13 games for United this season, starting in seven of them. In the most recent game against the Newcastle Jets, she scored not only her first

goal, but her second for United. Johnson said she had been really happy with her season. “I’m someone who is really focused on improving myself and the team,” she said. “I want to keep improving on things and work really hard in developing certain areas of my game. “The first goal has been a while coming, it was really good for myself. To get a second one was good, hopefully it’ll kick start a few more.” It’ll be a couple of weeks between games for Johnson as she heads to the Kyrgyz Republic with the Young Matildas for the first round of qualification for the 2024 AFC under-20 Asian Cup. Johnson has been part of the Young Matildas side for a couple of years and she’s excited to get another opportunity. “I’m really happy to get the call up,” she said. “It’s a new group of girls that have not played many games together. “It will be a great experience to go overseas with the girls.” The Young Matildas have just come off

a training camp, held in Western United’s backyard in Wyndham. Johnson said it was good to see local soccer fans, many who are Western United fans, come out and interact with the side. The camp also included a match against Western United. “I enjoyed that,” Johnson said. “It was pretty cool to play against my friends. “You’re a bit more competitive on the field. I really enjoyed it.” While Johnson is focused on her Australian commitments, she’s also focused on helping United concert their strong form into something else. United in their first season sit atop the table. Johnson, like many of her other teammates, wanted to make a point that they weren’t just making up the numbers this season. “We want to win,” she said. “We’ll do everything we can to make that happen. It’s exciting for the rest of the season.”

The City West Falcons are confident they will again be in the mix again in the Victorian Netball League. Coming off the championship title, the Falcons have managed to keep their core group together for another tilt. Falcons coach Marg Lind things had been going well in the off season. “We’re in match play at the moment,” she said. “We’re getting some games into the legs right now. The championship side is pretty consistent. We’re confident in them, but we’ll see what they do. It’s hard to come back after winning a championship. It can be a little bit of a grind.” The defensive end is where the Falcons have seen the changes in the off season. Sarah Szczykulski has headed to Boroondara Express, while Mel Oloamanu will miss the season after doing her ACL. Sienna Allan, who has been a training partner for the Collingwood Magpies in Super Netball, joins the Falcons defence. Lind said Allan had provided some fresh ideas “She comes from North East Blaze,” she said. “She’s had a couple of years ruined with injury. “She’s got a conditioning team around her and she’s looking really good.” Lind said they could have a combination of players playing that third defender role. Sophie Hanrahan, who won the competition division 1 most valuable player last season, young rising start Charli Nicol and Achel Yout have been rolling through the defensive end through the pre-season. Lind said Hanrahan brings a bit more experience than the other two, with them aware that Nicol needs consistent game time to help her development. The Falcons midcourt has also received a boost with Maggie Lind back with the side full time. The two-time league most valuable player, only played games last season in between her Super Netball commitments. While Lind is confident about the championship side, she said the division 1 and under-19 sides were unknown quantities. The Falcons start their season on March 19 against the Geelong Cougars.

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 27

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