Star Weekly - Sunbury Macedon Ranges - 23rd May 2023

Happy little vegie winners

It’s official. Gisborne’s Corner Boutique Coffee Bar serves some of the edgiest vegies in the Macedon Ranges.

The coffee bar won the award for the best dish for a cafe in the edgy veg competition for its magmour, a baked dish of eggplant, onion, tomato, chilli and chickpeas.

Woodend’s Sizzler Restobar tied with the Flying Pigeon Dumpling Bar in Gisborne for the best dish at a restaurant, while the Social Foundry in Kyneton took out the award for the most veg friendly eatery in the competition. The month-long edgy veg trail returned to the Macedon Ranges for its second year to encourage residents to eat more vegetables and try new local dishes.

■ Story: Page 6.

Green light for Benetas

By Zoe Moffatt

Macedon Ranges council has given Benetas the next tick of approval for a retirement village development in Gisborne.

At a meeting on Wednesday May 10, council voted to commence preparation for the authorisation and exhibition of the planning scheme amendment and permit.

The planning permit seeks to develop the retirement village, remove one tree and alter the access to a principal road network, while the amendment seeks to rezone the land to a generalresidentialzonefromaspecialusezone.

Councillor Dominic Bonanno said the proposed retirement village is a welcomed and needed investment, with Gisborne facing a critical shortage of residential aged care accommodation.

“There is merit in this development and I consider it an appropriate use … of the land,” Cr Bonanno said. “The rezoning of the site will enable Benatas to realise its vision to redevelop the site, provide housing for assisted living units, and a retirement village, including a communal clubhouse facility.

“The application itself indicates that the overall cost of development on the site is

approximately $30 million … [and] economic modelling identifies the development may bring an additional $30 million in flow on effects.”

Cr Rob Guthrie disagreed and said while he recognisesthesiteisnearthecentreofthetown, it would work better at a different location.

“[Another] concern is the … character, it’s just too bulky,” Cr Guthrie said, “It’s an overdevelopment of a constrained site.”

“I believe that relocating it to a Greenfield site, appropriately sized to accommodate what they’re trying to build [is better].”

Cr Anne Moore said she did not want to

rezone the land in case a hospital could be built there in the future.

“I don’t want to be the councillor who’s removed that right for the rest of the Macedon Ranges to have that capability of a hospital in a designated zone,” Cr Moore said.

“I would really like all our councillors to think, do you want to have to travel 40 kilometres away [so family] … can visit you in a hospital because we gave up this land?”

Despitethedifferingopinionsinthemeeting, the motion was carried and councillors said they look forward to hearing from the community.

Edgy veg award winners Sam Deol, Stephen Rocard and Liyi Zhou. (Damjan Janevski) 333350_01

• LANCEFIELD Lancefield Newsagency 18 High Street

• MACEDON United Service Station 313 Black Forest Drive

• MACEDON Black Forest Motel 426 Black Forest Drive

• MACEDON IGA Supermarket 20 Victoria Street

• MACEDON Macedon Newsagency 25 Victoria Street

• MALMSBURY Malmsbury General Store 87 Mollison Street

• MELTON Melton Toyota 137-147 High Street

• MONEGEETA Monegeeta Newsagency 2076 Melbourne-Lancefield Road

• MOUNT MACEDON Mt Macedon Post Office 341 Mt Macedon Road

• RIDDELLS CREEK Riddells Creek Nursery

675 Kilmore Road

• RIDDELLS CREEK Riddells Creek Post Office 80 Main Road

• RIDDELLS CREEK Foodies 86-88 Main Road

• RIDDELLS CREEK Riddells Creek Supermarket 2 Station Street

• ROMSEY Chess Property 102 Main Street

• ROMSEY IGA Supermarket 107 Main Street

• SUNBURY Ray White Real Estate

6 Brook Street

• SUNBURY Sunbury Newsagency 14 Brook Street

• SUNBURY Ferguson Plarre 17 Brook Street

• SUNBURY Raine and Horne Real Estate 20 Brook Street

• SUNBURY The Jolly Miller Cafe Shop 2/2 Brook Street

• SUNBURY The Local Sunbury Bottleshop Shop 2b/15-17 Dornoch Drive

• SUNBURY Goonawarra General Store 23-25 Dornoch Drive

• SUNBURY Sunbury Neighbourhood House 531 Elizabeth Drive

• SUNBURY Brad Teal Real Estate 54 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Barry Plant Sunbury 56 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Reliance Real Estate 11/114-126 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Muffin Break Shop 2/24 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Sunbury Square Shopping Centre Shop 2-28 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Terry White Chemist

83-85 Evans Street

• SUNBURY Gap Road Medical Centre 46 Gap Road

• SUNBURY United Fuel Sunbury 47 Gap Road

• SUNBURY 7-Eleven Sunbury 128 Gap Road

• SUNBURY Asia Finest Shop 4&5, 106-126 Gap Road

• SUNBURY Puma Service Station Sunbury 96 Horne Street

• SUNBURY Woolworths Supermarket

25-47 Horne Street

• SUNBURY Big W 25-47 Horne Street

• SUNBURY BP Service Station

53-55 Horne Street

• SUNBURY Hume Council Offices - Sunbury 44 Macedon Street

• SUNBURY Sunbury Community Health Centre Unit 12-28 Macedon Street

• SUNBURY McKwen Drive Milk Bar Shop 1-3 McEwen Drive

• SUNBURY Foodworks Bottlemart on Melba

16 Melba Avenue

• SUNBURY Foodworks on Melba

16-18 Melba Avenue

• SUNBURY Melba Cafe 22 Melba Avenue

• SUNBURY Mitchells Lane Milk Bar 192 Mitchells Lane

• SUNBURY Just Planet 37 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY An Apple a Day Natural Health Store 49 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY Luckys Bakehouse 79 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY The Spotted Owl 93 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY Cafe Circe 109 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY IGA Supermarket 98-122 O’Shannesy Street

• SUNBURY Killara Family Store 57 Phillip Drive

• SUNBURY Strathearn Glen Corner Store 10 Strathearn Drive

• SUNBURY Sacco & Saba Cafe 2/20-30 Sussex Street

• SUNBURY Rosenthal Shopping Centre 90 Vineyard Road

• TYLDEN Tylden Store 36 Trentham Road

• WOODEND Joan Gladman Real Estate Suite 3, 39 Anslow Street

• WOODEND Keatings Real Estate 83 Calder Highway

• WOODEND Coles Supermarket 61 High Street

• WOODEND II Cafe 66 High Street

• WOODEND Andrews Cafe 77 High Street

• WOODEND Fox in the Chamber 90 High Street

• WOODEND Jellis Craig Real Estate 91 High Street

No new name for Sunbury lake

By Zoe Moffatt

Hume council voted to reject the Sunbury Residents Association’s proposal to rename Spavin Drive Lake to Lake McKerrow at its council meeting on May 8.

In the meeting on Monday night, council decided to reject the proposal to name the lake after John ‘Jack’ McKerrow for his long standing work in the Bulla shire.

In an officer’s report, council said the lake is located in an area of cultural heritage

sensitivity,andanamewithTraditionalOwner languageismoreappropriateshouldafutureor dual name be chosen.

Councilalsosaidthecurrentnamehasahigh level of existing community awareness, and the proposed name did not have an established strong link to the lake.

Councillor Trevor Dance said he reluctantly supported the recommendation to reject the renaming proposal.

“Ihopetheremightbeanothertimedownthe road where it might be resubmitted to council

to consider again … with all the requirements that are needed,” Cr Dance said.

“The application doesn’t have consent of the family so at this stage I’ll support the officers [recommendation].”

Council noted in its report that the proposal did not state if it was supported by Mr McKerrow’sfamily,asthenamingrulesrequire every effort is made to gain consent from the family. Sunbury Residents Association president Graham Williams said he was surprised the council gave such a detailed

reportwithoutreferringbacktotheassociation to let them know they needed permission from Mr McKerrow’s family.

“I would have expected some feedback beforehand, this is the first bit of paperwork we have received since we submitted the letter,” Mr Williams said. “It would have been good to hear about that, [as there] may have been an opportunity to remedy the situation.”

Mr Williams said he does not know at this stage if the association will re-submit the proposal.

Reconciliation

Week activities

Macedon Ranges council will be holding a range of events for Reconciliation Week,onMay27toJune3,tolearnabout the history, culture and achievements of First Nation Peoples’.

This year’s theme for the week is to “Be A Voice for Generations,” and encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in their everyday lives, including; where they live, work and socialise.

Yoorrook Justice Commission assistant director Brent Ryan and community engagement manager Nick Butera will give a presentation on truth telling at a keynote event on May 30 from 7pm, at the Kyneton Town Hall.

Council’s director community Maria Weiss said it was pleasing to be able to host representatives from the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

“The commission’s work to highlight historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria is incredibly important,” Ms Weiss said.

“We’re fortunate to be welcoming representatives back to the shire to hear about how it is progressing.”

Police are breaking down barriers

Local police have connected with more than 550 Macedon Ranges school children at a clinic on May 17, aimed to break down barriers and strengthen community bonds through sport. The program called Sports COPPS stands for choices, opportunities, partnerships, participation, to equal success and was held in Gisborne for children in grades 3 to 6.

Detective Sergeant Vince Manno founded the scheme in 2001 and said the initiative looks to help children build life skills through sport, while providing police role models.

“Generally what happens on the sporting field is replicated in real life,” Detective Sergeant Manno said.

“You need to work with people’s strengths andweaknesses[and]theyneedtobementored, coached, and educated.

“[COPPS] is designed to introduce Victorian police as positive role models and mentors into the community.

“It’s important because we as [Victoria] Police members hold a unique position in society … I’m using that community platform to say to young people, let’s get together.”

Detective Sergeant Manno said the program demystifies and debunks some misconceptions about police and has reached more than 14,300 young people since it was founded.

“[The program] demystifies and debunks some of the misconceptions young people have about Victoria police [and] that their interaction may be negative,” he said.

“[COPPS does] this through the common passion of sport.”

“This passion for sport provides people longevity and provides so much joy to people, when they can play it and when they can’t.”

“Sports COPPS … [works] to foster a safer community, and the importance of healthy lifestyles. It also means heaps of fun for both kids and officers.”

Zoe Moffatt

Harpers Lane development set to progress

Macedon Ranges council has voted to issue a permit for 85 Harpers Lane, following communitypushbackagainstthedevelopment.

Council voted to progress with the revised planning permit, at its meeting on May 10, following its previous rejection of the plan which was upheld by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The revised development seeks to subdivide the land into 65 lots, remove native vegetation, and remove two electricity supply easements, on the low density residential zoned land.

DeputymayorJenniferAndersonsaiddespite the reduction in number of lots from 87 to 65, she still feels the plan is an overdevelopment of the site.

“Just because a plan can be granted, doesn’t mean that it has to be granted,” Cr Anderson said. “Although our planning staff believe that

this new application takes on board everything that VCAT asked for … our community members do not.

“So I’ve taken what the community has said into consideration.”

CrAndersonsaidshedoesnotthinktheplan respondsenoughtoVCAT’sfindings,primarily about the rural landscape and character of the town.

“For me it’s really important that we keep that rural character and landscape,” she said.

“Even though the size [of] lots around the outside have increased, they are still smaller than… I think would keep this rural and open landscape of the area.”

CrJanetPearcespokeinfavourofthemotion and said while she recognises it is a hard decision, council must work to the current policies.

“This [area] has been zoned low density residential for at least 20 years,” Cr Pearce said.

“Initially it was a 4000 square metre minimum lot subdivision but whether we like it or not, this was changed by the minister back in 2007.

“We must work to the current policy and that is the minimum of 2000 square metres is allowed, because of the sewerage connection.”

Mayor Annette Death agreed with Cr Pearce and said while she struggles with the smaller lot sizes, she would support the motion due to the sound planning decisions.

“I will be voting for the motion due to the process that this has already been through and due to the sound planning decisions [from the] council officers,” Cr Death said.

“Alongside this event … a number of other events [are being held] for us to better understand our Traditional Owner groups.

“I encourage those interested to find out more and book their spot.”

Other key events surrounding Reconciliation Week include; a Malmsbury smoking ceremony and yarning circle on May 21, a Kyneton smoking ceremony and yarning circle on June 1 and a Riddells Creek smoking ceremony and yarning circle on June 4.

Details: https://bit.ly/3NUaDUy

Zoe Moffatt

Detective Sergeant Vince Manno with Gisborne Primary School year 3 pupils Paisley, Lilah and Logan. (Damjan Janevski) 334098_01

Sunbury Asylum Alliance continues the fight

Sunbury Asylum Alliance is calling for a decision on the asylum’s future as it enters its 10thyearoffightingforittobecomeapremium tourist and community hub.

The alliance has been fighting for the asylum to become a tourist hub since about October 2013 after Victoria University and other occupants left the site.

Alliance co-founder Alison Cunningham said she used to go for walks past the asylum withfriendandfellowfounderJulieDavenport.

“We were like, imagine what this could be,” Ms Cunningham said.

“[After having] lunch down at the Abbotsford [convent, we thought] … wouldn’t it be wonderful if it had something like this.”

MsCunninghamsaidtheyfoundoutVictoria

University owned the site and they wanted to make sure it was not sold to developers.

“We were just like no, we’re going to make sure it doesn’t ever get sold to developers … it’s got far too much potential,” she said.

“We devised a plan … and in 2016 we did a petition to the government … our idea was for thegovernmenttobuyitbackbecauseyoucan’t lobby a private owner.

“We’re at this point now [where we are] contacting people and trying to get it up and running.

“[We are] sticking it out, only because we believe in it, we believe it can be this fabulous place.”

Ms Cunningham said they have had people interested in investing over the years but

withoutaleaseorsecurityoftenure,peoplewill not put money in.

“The one thing that we are absolutely certain ofand…that99.9percentofpeopleinSunbury agreed on, was no housing.”

With a masterplan for the site commissioned in 2018, Ms Cunningham said they are hopeful they can see some progress within the next year.

“I can’t imagine it being anything else except this fabulous place where people can come and go to events and have their wedding or have a party, or eat there or just hang out.

“Have a picnic on the lawn on a Sunday, bring the dogs for a walk with the kids.”

Zoe Moffatt

Morning tea fundraiser

The Macedon and Mount Macedon Community House will be holding a biggest morning tea fundraising event on Thursday, May 25, to raise money for cancer.

The event will take place from 10am to noon, with the funds raised going towards cancer research, support and prevention.

Community house president Samara Hodson said the event helps support the work of the Cancer Council and its vision of a cancer free future.

“I wonder how many people know that 162,163 Australians were diagnosed with cancer in 2022,” Ms Hodson said.

“The Biggest Morning Tea is a way of us doing our bit to support the vital work of the Cancer Council.”

Disability service boost

By Zoe Moffatt

Sunburyissettoreceiveanewdisabilityservice

hub to support residents in the north-western suburbs, opening on Sunday, May 28.

Personalised Support Systems is a new hub located on Horne Street and will provide services including; music and art programs, fitness classes, exercise physiology and support co-ordination.

Personalised Support Systems director and localresidentFernandoBerghellasaidSunbury is in desperate need of these services.

“As a local who works in disability support, I realised that this area and community desperately require services like these,” Mr Berghella said.

“Around 190 families are already signed up to our new hub, and with a capacity of 200 we will soon be full and putting people on our waiting list, even before we are open.” Sunbury MP Josh Bull said the vital service will offer invaluable support to Sunbury and he thanked Personalised Support Systems for investing in the area.

“Having visited the Sunbury Hub recently, I understand how important a space like this is,” Mr Bull said. “[It is important] for promoting a sense of belonging, social inclusion and offering opportunities for young people living with a disability.”

PersonalisedSupportSystems’originalhubis located in Nunawading, and operates through empowering participants and giving them the

choice to select their own pathways in life. Mr Berghella said the Sunbury hub will expand these services to the north west and will work to empower participants to reach their goals.

“We are youthful, family orientated and will always be present in times of desperate need,” he said.

Thenewservicehub,whichhascreatedabout 150 jobs for people in the area, will celebrate its opening with a community open day on May 28.

People will be able to do a walkthrough of the facility, and enjoy activities, including; live music, entertainment, a magician, balloon and face painting, food and beverage trucks, marquees and program trials.

Details: https://bit.ly/3MvdyCg

According to the Cancer Council half of all Australians are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85, with prostate, breast, bowel, melanoma and lung cancer among the most common.

For every $150 raised, two people recently diagnosed with cancer can be provided with one on one support, connecting them to a trained Cancer Connect volunteer.

The Macedon Community House morning tea is $5 to enter and will include fundraising games such as tea-rivia and guess the cup with the tea.

Individuals wishing to attend should bring morning tea to share and will need to email to register, with donations also acceptedfromanyonewhocannotattend on the day. Details: https://bit.ly/3IiJXt1, hello@mmmcommunityhouse.org

Zoe Moffatt

Sunbury and surrounds gather to support IDAHOBIT day

The Sunbury community was out in force on Wednesday, May 17, to show its support for the LGBTIQA+ community at the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) flag raising ceremony.

The rainbow flag was raised to mark the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s removal of homosexuality from the classification of diseases and related health problems on May 17, 1990.

Sunbury Cobaw Community Health head of partnerships Emma Shannon said raising the flag is a moment of pride for the LGBTIQA+ community.

“It’s become a day where we celebrate diversity … that pride and inclusion and a

sense of belonging,” Ms Shannon said. “It’s always important to support these events … [it’s a] commitment to increasing visibility and

inclusive … we should be always supporting.”

Ms Shannon said that while there is more awareness and visibility of LGBTIQ+ people in society,manyinthecommunitystillexperience discrimination and harassment.

“This discriminatory behaviour can lead to poorerhealthoutcomesandahigherlikelihood of mental health issues,” she said.

“We have a long-standing and ongoing commitment to LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges [through] providing a number of pride groups and community events.

“Like those organised by our WayOut team are aimed at young people, and then we have other groups organised by our Country LGBTI Inclusion Program that are for adults.”

The ceremony was held at the Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation, with rainbow flags lining the fence and about 100 people in attendance to show support and see the rainbow flag fly high.

Jacksons Creek Ward councillors Jarrod Bell and Jack Medcraft were also in attendance, with speeches from Hume deputy mayor Karen Sherry, Sunbury Cobaw Community Health chief executive Phillip Ripper and 2022 NAIDOC Pride Winner Kitty Obsidian. Sunbury Cobaw community health in conjunction with Macedon Ranges council hosted another flag raising ceremony the same day at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute, with about 100 people turning out.

Zoe Moffatt

The flag raising ceremony at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute. (Supplied)

New disability support service in Sunbury director Fernando Berghella, Thomas Williams, Jamie Hatty, Jo Hatty, Carolyn Hatty and Nataliya Kotova. (Damjan Janevski) 334711_02

Sunbury Asylum Alliance founders Alison Cunningham and Julie Davenport in 2016. (Joe Mastroianni) 333451_01

Safe space to be heard

By Hannah Hammoud

Police stations in Hume have implemented a new family violence measure to help encourage local victim-survivors to report incidents of family violence.

Sunbury, Broadmeadows and Craigieburn police stations have set up the private, child-friendly rooms for victim-survivors to talk to police about family violence concerns. Each station has a special room with information posters in the top five languages spoken in Hume: English, Arabic, Turkish, Punjabi and Hindi.

Hume Inspector Dean Clinton said this new measure seeks to increase the confidence of local victim-survivors to come forward and report family violence to police.

“We are committed to providing victim-survivors with safety, privacy and time to talk to us about their experiences,”

Inspector Clinton said.

“We understand it takes courage, and that it can be difficult to come into a police station and take that first step of reporting the problem.

“Our family-violence reporting rooms provide a safe space away from the public counter; a comfortable and informal space, where victim-survivors can speak in private, and where our staff can take the time to listen to the whole story and make an appropriate assessment of how we can help.”

Inspector Clinton said the initial discussion will take place on couches and will only move

to a desk when a police officer needs to use a computer to take a report.

“The goal of these changes is to provide a more considerate service to victim-survivors and to allow them to build rapport with the

police officer assigned to help them,” he said.

“These are very sensitive matters and privacy makes a difference. It is also safer for complainants that their business is not conducted in a busy foyer.”

Willowbank Road proposal

Macedon Ranges council is inviting community feedback until June 13 for a Willowbank Road planning scheme amendment and planning application.

In an announcement on May 10, council said the amendment and application would see a long-envisaged development of commercial land on Willowbank Road to service the needs of Gisborne’s south residents.

The proponent-led application seeks to rezone the vacant residential land at 101-105 Willowbank Road in Gisborne to a small commercial zone.

This rezoning would provide localised shopping and services to a growth area which council has earmarked for such a development since 2009.

Council’s director for planning and environment Rebecca Stockfeld said the proposed development would reduce car dependency and enable residents to access basic shopping needs more easily.

“A commercial offering has been a long-term strategic vision for this area,” Ms Stockfeld said.

“Having localised options will help service the needs of the growing population, complementing what Gisborne’s town centre currently provides.”

The plans for the site include; a small supermarket, a medical centre, office and cafes, and 57 car parking spaces.

The site will also make use of and include; recycled materials, rooftop solar, storm water and an electric vehicle charging station.

Details: mrsc.vic.gov.au/your-say

Senior Sergeant Laura Woolfe and Inspector Dean Clinton sit inside the new family violence reporting rooms at Broadmeadows police station. (Damjan Janevski) 335049_01

‘‘ These are very sensitive matters and privacy makes a difference ’’ - Dean Clinton

Ashely thankful for help

By Zoe Moffatt

When Ashley Woods first contacted Sunbury Rotary in 2018 about a sponsorship for a leadership camp, she said she did not expect much to come from it.

Ashley said her friend encouraged her to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp and contact Sunbury Rotary about sponsorship opportunities.

“Iwasabithesitant…butthenIgotanemail back from Kerry who was the president at the time and they had decided … to fully sponsor me to go to RYLA,” Ashley said.

Ashley said the camp tested her boundaries and comfort zones, and she learned a lot about how she copes.

“Itwasabigeyeopenertobasicallywheremy levels were at,” she said.

“Who I was then and what I was dealing with, social anxiety, and just kind of finding where to flow, it was a massive challenge.

“[RYLA] played a big part in my journey of healing and becoming who I am today … throwing myself into the most uncomfortable position possible … definitely got me to where I am today.”

Ashley said she kept in contact with Sunbury Rotary when she returned from the camp and received help to achieve her educational goals.

“AllofasuddenIgotacallfromKerrysaying they had received a fund … and they wanted to pay for my education, what I wanted to do and what I wanted to study.

“Iwasveryshocked[whenIwastold],Inever had gotten a chance before and I didn’t expect them to continue to be that support.

“It was definitely a shock to the system.”

Ashley then went on to study a diploma of counselling and a diploma of holistic counselling, which is something she said she did not think she was ever going to do.

“When you get opportunities like this, that you just feel like you’re never going to have or no one’s ever given you an opportunity to expand,toevenfindthatkindofpathwaythat’s possible.

“They opened up my eyes to the possibilities that it is possible and people are there to help and listen.”

Through this experience and her ongoing involvement with Sunbury Rotary, Ashley said local groups are important to help and listen to community members in need.

“The importance of them is being someone that offers that listening ear, but also that

willpower to do something about it.

“It’s so important to have … people that we know behind the scenes doing what they can for others.

“For people like me, who really just didn’t see the possibilities of a life in all truth, and for them to actually give someone that is a lot within itself.

“They are known to make pathways a lot easier and they continue to do that for people every Tuesday when they meet up.

“That dedication is so important because we need it, we live this life together, it’s definitely important.”

New Landcare group meets

The Macedon and Mount Macedon region has welcomed a new Landcare group, with the launch event held on April 30, at the community house.

Aunty Karen Jones opened the launch proceedings with a Welcome to Country, and Mayor Annette Death, and Deputy Mayor Jennifer Anderson also spoke at the event.

Aunty Jones said she would like everyone to walk together on the land, and respect the land they live on.

“Iwouldliketoaskeveryonethatwhen theywalkCountry,WurundjeriCountry, we walk it together,” she said.

“We respect Country, we care for Country and respect our longest living culture, and most importantly, respect each other, because if you care for Country, Country will care for you.”

Thegroup’sfocuswillbeonwaterways, and the president Kate Lawrence highlighted the vital role of waterways in connecting the local ecosystem.

Ms Lawrence referenced how the platypuswasemblematicofthecondition of the region’s waterways.

“My dream is to imagine our waterways fit for the reintroduction of platypus,” she said.

“The magnitude of the task can feel overwhelming, but the history of landcare is one of hope.

“Being in and of community, and taking action through Landcare we have the perfect counterweights to being overwhelmed.”

Details: mmm.landcare@gmail.com

Vegy happy winners

The edgy veg competition has come to a close with the Corner Boutique Coffee Bar, Sizzler Restobar and Flying Pigeon Dumpling Bar announced as the award winners.

The month-long edgy veg trail returned to the Macedon Ranges for its second year to encourage residents to eat more vegetables and try new local dishes.

Gisborne’s Corner Boutique Coffee Bar won the award for the best dish for a cafe, with its eggplant, onions, tomatoes, chillies and chickpeas baked dish called magmour.

Cafe owner Salwa El Amin said she use to cook magmour with her grandma, and was shockedwhenshefoundoutshewontheaward.

“I was shocked but humbled at the same time,” Ms El Amin said. “[Magmour is] something my grandma used to make in the summer … There’s an abundance of eggplant in the villages, it’s delicious, I love eggplant.”

Ms El Amin said her regular customers have enjoyed the dish and offered a lot of support during the competition.

“[Our] customers would say ‘we haven’t tried [magmour], but we’re going to buy it because everything you make is delicious’,” she said.

Woodend’s Sizzler Restobar tied with the Flying Pigeon Dumpling Bar in Gisborne for the best dish at a restaurant.

Restobar owner Sam Deol said it was his first time in the competition, and he decided to enter saag methi mushroom, featuring fresh mushrooms and spinach puree fragrant with fenugreek leaves.

“We’ve been doing this dish for six years, it’s onthemainmenu[and]…is100percentplant based for vegans and vegetarians,” Mr Deol said. “We actually had no idea about the veg awards [before we entered], so I was surprised [the dish won].”

Mr Deol said a lot of his customers who usually eat meat tried the dish and enjoyed it.

“There’s a lot of new customers trying this dish … [who] are the meat eater customers,” he

said. “They don’t [normally] even look at the menu [or] go that far into the veggie section.”

Flying Pigeon owners Stephen Rocard and Liyi Zhou won the award for their fried eggplant, bean sprouts, coriander, sichuan pepper and black bean dish called Yuxiang Eggplant.

Liyi Zhou said the inspiration for the dish came from when they were both living and travelling around China.

“The reason we put this dish on the menu is because … Australian people love their sweet and sours,” Ms Zhou said.

“This [dish] is a different type of sweet and sour and we wanted to introduce authentic Chinese dishes to our clients.”

“We work very hard trying to make very true vegan dishes and … we are very honoured … [to be] recognised.”

Social Foundry in Kyneton took out the award for the most veg friendly eatery in the competition.

Edgy Veg award winner, owner and chef at Corner Boutique Coffee Bar, Salwa El Amin. (Bridget Scott)

Ashley Woods with her diploma. (Damjan Janevski) 330749_02

Club donates kit to PNG

Sunbury Basketball Association (SBA) is helping to dress basketball players in Papua NewGuineabydonatingnewandsecond-hand Sunbury Jets clothing and bags.

Through working closely with FIBA Oceania,SBAisdonatingnineboxesofapparel, including singlets, shorts, tracksuit pants, polo shirts and coaches’ bags.

SBA president Darren Watkins said the idea started when he became president and found storage cabinets full of new and used clothing and bags.

“I went into our storage cabinets and found all this clothing … this led me to have conversations with staff members and with [FIBA],” Mr Watkins said. “We have stuff that’s never been used … [and] we’ve got some clothes that are probably 15 years old.

“It’s pointless to throw it in the bin, we want to spread it out.”

Mr Watkins said members of the club understands how expensive sport can be and they want to help those in a less fortunate position.

“The clothing aspect of any sport isn’t cheap, we didn’t want to throw them away,” he said.

“It fits in to who we want to be as an organisation, which is inclusive, diverse, [and] we want to ensure we cater to as many different backgrounds and cultures as possible.”

Mr Watkins said they have been working on the project for almost eight months and are hoping to have the boxes depart Australia in July.

Briefs

Pool closure Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre’s (SALC) 25-metre pool will be closed for approximately three weeks after a leak was discovered on Friday, May, 12. Hume council said it made the decision to close the pool in order for repairs to the underground pipes to take place. Council said no known cause for the leak has been identified. The warm water pool and gym are not affected by the repair work. Learn to swim classes will be relocated to the warm water pool when possible and families will be credited for the missed lessons that cannot be relocated. Council said all SALC members will not be charged any fees for aquatic use for the duration of the closure, and they will be able to access the pools at Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre free of charge during this time.

Water rebates

Kyneton and Malmsbury community groups will be able to apply for one of two $5000 rebates made available after the water supply was interrupted in April. Coliban Water announced the rebates on May 11, following the outage which resulted in a boil water advisory from April 11 to April 16. A credit has been applied for customers who experienced the interruption.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT

Web: starweekly.com.au

Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Zoe Moffatt

Basketball Victoria Association Development Officer Chris Gorrie, SBA President Darren Watkins and SBA General Manager Chris Tighe. (Supplied)

Job fair takes off at Tullamarine

By Zoe Moffatt

Melbourne Airport held its job fair on May 18, with thousands of residents across Victoria attending to learn about the businesses and positions on offer.

With more than 40 airport-based businesses on the lookout for staff, approximately 1500 job seekers flooded to the airport with their sights set on employment in customer service, cabin crew, transport, security, hospitality and retail.

Nikki Ala lives in Bacchus Marsh and attendedthejobfairwithherfather,whoisalso on the hunt for work.

“I worked in the ground crew at the Avalon Airshow … [and] I’m training to be a commercial pilot,” Ms Ala said.

“I’m looking to expand my aviation career.”

Not-for-profit organisation Settlement Services International (SSI) attended the event togatherinformationandjobopportunitiesfor refugees.

SSI employment solutions officer Frank Genel said he found the fair helpful.

“I am here to listen to the employers and wherevertheyneedhelp…andaskalltheright questions,” Mr Genel said.

“I will take all this information to the office and find the right employees for them and the right services.

“We have clients in the west and the north [of Melbourne] as well … [with experience in] food handling, packaging [for example].”

Two siblings from the northern suburbs attended the job fair together to see what positions were available.

Hirdesh Chand said he recently finished his degree, while his sister Shiveshni Chand said she was looking for part-time work while she completed her studies.

“I just finished a bachelor of space science [and] I want to see what’s out there,”

Mr Chand said. “[I want to] find opportunities and see where I want to land.”

Craigieburn local Tristen Kaman also came to the job fair with his father and said the

airport was in a convenient location from his house.

“[I am] looking for a career change and … Dad dragged me along,” Mr Kaman said. “I’m open to anything … [and] there’s lots of

different opportunities here.”

As the second largest employment precinct in the state, Melbourne Airport lists ongoing jobs on its joblink website.

Details: https://bit.ly/3MiVsCd

WOW, what a great way to thank Sunbuy SES

Sunbury celebrated its State Emergency Service (SES) unit on May 17, for the national day of thanks to Australian volunteers.

Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW) is celebrated annually during national volunteer week, to thank and acknowledge the invaluable contributions and commitments SES volunteers make.

During the last 12 months Hume SES volunteers have responded to 6343 requests for assistance, with VICSES volunteers responding to more than 35,000 requests throughout Victoria.

VICSES chief executive Stephen Griffin said he admires the efforts of all VICSES volunteers, and encourages the public to thank their local SES volunteers.

“I continue to admire the remarkable and relentless efforts of our VICSES volunteers and thank you for your time and dedication,” Mr Griffin said.

“Many of you go over and beyond and it is truly inspiring … Whether it’s a one in one-hundred year flood event, or deployment to another part of the country to help local communities.

“[WOW] is an opportunity for the public to say thank you, to all the volunteers who sacrifice their time… to help the community rain, hail or shine.”

VICSES has seen three of its busiest years in history, following three consecutive years of La Nina, which brought severe storms and major flooding.

During major flooding throughout the state last year, VICSES volunteers responded to 13,700 requests for assistance in October, which is its busiest calendar month on record.

VICSES volunteers also respond to an average of 900 to 1000 jobs assisting police each year, and more than 1300 road crash rescues on average each year.

In celebration on WOW day Victorian landmarks including; Melbourne Town Hall and AAMI Park were flooded in orange.

The public is encouraged to show their support through sharing messages of thanks to SES volunteers on Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #ThankYouSES.

Details: https://bit.ly/3Ms7wlI

ZoeMoffatt

Main: Qantas employees Maddie Psaila, Ben Hallam and Christina Michelin at the Melbourne Airport Job Fair. Right top: AFP Inspector Judy Goldsmith. Right centre: Frank Genel works with the not-for-profit organisation Settlement Services International. Above, left to right: Programmed Skilled Workforce staff member Lili Pham; Nikki Ala attended the job fair with her father; Client Yashika Khattar chats with Rex Airlines airport manager Joanne Fletcher; Delaware North Operations Manager Nicole Child talking with client Henry Chan. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski and Zoe Moffatt) 335676

Left to right: Year 5 student Mason with SES’ Troy Cannon; Year 4 students Olivia and Bonnie with SES’ Michelle Ulm-Lovell; Year 6 student Mason with SES’ Joe Pinto; Year 6 student Olivia with SES’ Anthony White and Katie Timmons. Below: SES at a Lady of Mount Carmel primary School, Sunbury for WOW day. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 334674

MY PLACE

Local sculptor and Fungi Town artist Kathy Holowko tells Zoe Moffatt about her work in the community and connection to Macedon Ranges.

I am a sculptor and work on all sorts of art forms including public art and installations for galleries or events. I also enjoy creating and running environmentally informed creative learning workshops for children and families.

What’s your connection to the Macedon Ranges?

I live in nearby Blackwood and have been lucky enough to create community engaged artworks for the shire over a number of years. I have previously delivered the ‘Wild City’ art workshop in the Kyenton Kids program, and this year I brought ‘Fungi Town’ to the program.

Tell us a bit about the Fungi Town Caravan?

Fungi Town was developed with the storm recovery team at Macedon Ranges council and we have brought this artwork-on-wheels to community events throughout the shire. The work is a celebration of the amazing lifeforms that are a feature of the natural landscape, and exploring fungi was a way for us to engage children that may have been frightened by the storms. By highlighting and learning about fungi’s role in ecology we hoped to provide a new focus, and provide positive experiences.

What do you like about where you live?

I enjoy living by the forest edge with the animal visitors, exploring the forest and discovering things like fungi, playing in the river, the sense of space, the sounds, and

the quiet. I love knowing my neighbours, having room to grow veggies, and exploring the region’s natural places and beautiful townships.

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

I’d have better light and insulation in my house to get through the winters, and I would like a place where the community could gather and meet in Blackwood.

Where is your favourite local place to spend time?

I really like spending time in the forests, waterways and in my garden, listening to birds and frogs, harvesting organic veggies or making artwork in my studio. I also like visiting Trentham for yummy bread, the markets and driving the country roads.

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

I guess a lot of people would not have a clue that I’m an artist or that I get to take it to amazing places like the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, or the State Library, they just see me tinkering around in the yard.

Tell us a bit about your connection to art? I studied fine art as an adult and it opened up a whole new world to me, I really love it. I use art as a way to connect people to ecological cycles and create a deeper connection to our understanding of our natural world in the hope we can build a positive future together.

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Kathy Holowko enjoys living by the forest edge and discovering things like fungi (Daniel Williams/ Mossy Rock Photography).

Whistle blows on ump shortage

Sporting contests from the grassroots to the elite can’t happen with umpires and referees. But with both in short supply across many sporting codes, Cade Lucas took a closer look at what is turning people off officiating matches .

Like many migrant families who arrive in Melbourne looking to meet people and make friends, the Lush family were recommended to give the local religion of Aussie rules football a try.

“My daughter and son started doing it and then after a month or so my wife started and then maybe a couple of weeks to a month later, I got in and started doing it,” said Wayne Lush of how his family became hooked on the sport soon after relocating from New Zealand at the beginning of 2022.

“It started last year and then by the end of last season we were all doing it.”

This rapid conversion of rugby mad Kiwi’s to Australia’s Indigenous code is even more remarkable considering Wayne, wife Jacinda and children Chaise and Ezabella don’t actually play footy.

They umpire it.

AllfourLushfamilymembersareboundary umpires in the Western Region Football League, the result of a Facebook post asking for recommendations on nearby sports clubs and activities.

“They’re fantastic for us,” said WRFL umpiring director Steve Keating of the Lush family before adding this telling observation: “We’d love to have more of them.”

While grateful for the unexpected boost, Keating knows it doesn’t change the reality that he has less whistle-blowers than he needs.

“It’s not getting worse but still at a critical stage,” Keating said.

“We haven’t reached critical mass to fill all our games,” said Keating of the shortage which is particularly prevalent among field umpires, resulting in many reserves games being officiated by club volunteers.

A minor consolation for the WRFL is that it is hardly Robinson Crusoe in this regard. The entiresportisaffected,withtheAFLreporting a shortage of 5000 umpires nationwide and outgoing chief executive Gil McLachlan admitting the issue had ‘gotten away from us.’

And while AFL’s popularity in Victoria and the sheer number of umpires it requires for each game (anywhere from six to 10 depending on level) makes it the most notable example, finding people to officiate any sport has become a problem whether they’re called umpires, referees or whatever else.

“Numbers were around 500 which was leaving a lot of games without a referee,” said Football Victoria’s referring director Tony Peart of the situation he inherited when he took on the role two years ago.

Numbers have since doubled to more than 1200, with Peart hopeful of reaching 2000 in the near future.

While a vast improvement, it’s still well short of the ideal amount for the state’s largest participation sport.

“We’d like it to be around the 5000 figure, that’s the dream figure,” Peart said.

Proving cold weather isn’t the reason, cricket is also affected.

Mercantile Cricket Association Umpires president Paul Grant said the shortage had increased the burden on existing umpires.

“Some older umpires are finding it challenging to double up on Saturday and Sunday,” said Grant, who also umpires Aussie Rules.

The reasons are many and varied and as

Keating points out, aren’t new.

“It’s always been a challenge attracting senior field umpires, ” he said of a role where the reward for a good performance is being ignored, but a bad one can bring torrents of abuse and worse.

As with most issues in 2023 though, the spectre of COVID-19 looms large.

Grant said the flow on effects of border closures were still being felt in cricket umpiring.

“We rely on international students and while they’re filtering back, there’s still not as many as before,” said Grant of students from the Indian subcontinent whose passion for cricket leads them to officiate it as well as play.

He said a broader problem though was the way the pandemic had altered people’s interests and outlook..

“The overriding issue is people have moved on post-COVID.

People have just thought “I’ve had enough of umpiring, I’m onto something else.”

“I think we lead busier lives as well” added Steve Keating, pointing to issues of work life-balance that saw people walk away from umpiring pre-pandemic but which have been exacerbated since.

For Peart, the post-COVID environment had exacerbated the other long-time scourges of umpires and referees: abuse and even

violence.

“That’s what the overall global studies show,” said Peart of what refereeing bodies overseas had found and what is considered a societal problem not just a sporting one.

Recent months have seen a number of ugly incidents involving umpires and referees make the news, with last month’s assault on a football referee in Sydney that left him with a broken jaw and the perpetrator remanded in custody, the nadir.

While concerning, Peart said the problem wasn’t so much the isolated incidents of violence, but the long-term build up of abuse and disrespect.

“If someone does six games a weekend and in every one of those games the players have a go at the ref, are they going to wanna come back the next weekend?” he said.

Football Victoria is trying to counteract this by investing in welfare and support for referees, including an app where they can rate their interactions with both teams and identify those more likely to cause problems.

“It (the app) allows us to target the problem and work positively with the club,” Peart said.

Keating said while violence and misbehaviourmakesithardtoretainumpires, on odd occasions it can aid recruitment too.

He said after recently witnessing an assault onaplayerinareservesgame,anex-footballer

contacted the WRFL and has since become an umpire.

“Through all the chaos, we got a recruit out of that,” Keating said.

As for long-term solutions, all point to something that in the short-term has been considered a problem: the rise of women’s sport.

While the extra fixtures have stretched resources even further, women’s sport also presents a huge source of new umpires and referees for both female and male sport.

Keating said 50 female women umpires had joined the WRFL, while for Football Victoria, the upcoming FiFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand presents an unprecedented recruiting tool, with two Victorians Kate Jacewicz and Joanna Charaktis among those officiating.

It’sachancePeartisdeterminednottomiss.

“We’re looking forward to building on their legacy.”

To become a football referee visit: https:// www.footballvictoria.com.au/resources/ referees/become-a-referee

To become a WRFL umpire visit:https:// www.wrfl.com.au/umpires/

To become a cricket umpire with the Mercantile Cricket Association go to: http://www.mca.asn.au/content. aspx?file=2%7C10094v

‘‘ If someone does six games a weekend and in every one of those games the players have a go at the ref, are they going to wanna come back the next weekend ’’ - Tony Peart

Main: A young Football Victoria referee being mentored. Above: WRFL boundary umpires Jacinda Lush and daughter Ezabella. (Pictures: Supplied)

Right: WRFL umpires training at Hamner Reserve in Seddon (top), and the WRFL umpire club rooms at Hamner Reserve. (Pictures: Cade Lucas)

New help for dementia patients

By Christopher Carter, Chief Executive, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

There is a well known saying about how it takes a village to raise a child.

We could suggest that it also takes a village to properly care for people affected by dementia, but while everyone is happy to talk about looking after the young, the realities of taking care of older people are all too often spoken of, if at all, in a whisper.

Dementia is a progressively devastating condition that affects more than 400,000 Australians.LatestfiguresfromtheAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare reveal that it is the leading cause of death for women and the second leading cause for men (after heart disease).

As the condition develops, people with dementia need many different types of care and support to ensure that their lives continue to be comfortable and dignified.

Only about one-third of people with the condition are looked after in an aged care facility, or by professional carers in their own home. The remainder rely almost totally on the support and help of family members and friends.

These are acts of love – of course they are – but they can also be exhausting, frustrating and saddening, extracting a huge toll on the carers as well as the cared.

Help, for people with dementia and those who love them, is available from many different organisations, in many different ways – but finding it, even knowing where to look, is often difficult.

Recognising this, North Western Melbourne PrimaryHealthNetworkhasbuiltMelbourne’s first Dementia Directory – an easy-to-use online resource with which carers can find all

sorts of help and local community support.

The directory is designed to complement information available through My Aged Care and the NDIS.

This might be social groups or outings for people with dementia, support groups from particular faiths or among communities united by common languages. It contains information translated into Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese.

Importantly too the Dementia Directory

lists organisations that provide help, respite and support for carers – so the people who spend so much time looking after people they love can get a short break, find some help or even just swap stories with others doing the same thing.

The Dementia Directory covers almost all of Melbourne. It is a joint venture between us and our colleagues over at Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. Over the next while, we hope to see it grow to cover services

and supports in even more areas. The directory can be found at dementiadirectory.org.au

Andmoreresourcesandinformationcanbe foundonPreciousTime,ourwebsitededicated to people with life-limiting conditions, their families, friends, and carers. You can find it at precioustime.org.au

Because, indeed, it takes a village to care for people with dementia – and now it’s just a bit easier to find some of those villagers.

Dementia Directory is an online resource where carers cna find help and local community support. (iStock)

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,

Open day

Personalised Support Systems is a new disability service hub opening in Sunbury on Sunday, May 28 at 1/57-59 Horne Stree. Activities such as live music and entertainment, a magician, balloon and face painting, food and beverage trucks, marquees and program trials will be available on the day.

■ https://bit.ly/3MukyPL

What’s Going on With Boys?

An information session for parents, carers and mentors of young people in the Macedon Ranges. Thursday, June 8, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Macedon Woodend Scout Hall, 118 Railway Place, Macedon, Light supper provided.

■ healthpromotionsunbury@scchc.org.au, 0493 683 023.

Malmsbury Flea Market

Flea Market is in the Malmsbury Town Hall 91 Mollison Street, Malmsbury, Sunday, June 11.

Kyneton Badminton Club

Kyneton Badminton Club is a welcoming, fun and social group that play on Mondays, at 7pm at the Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre in Victoria Street. With players of all skill levels welcome.

■ kynetonbc@gmail.com

Macedon Ranges Masonic Lodge

MRML meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm, 72 Main Street, Romsey. New members welcome.

■ Wayne, 0404 034 737 or Ian, 0438 240 402

Sunbury Art Society

The Sunbury Art Society meets each Friday and Saturday from 10am-3pm at the Boilerhouse, Jacksons Hill, to paint or draw over a cuppa with other like minded people.

■ Ken, 0407 062 568 or Robyn, 0438 383 639.

LEGO Club

Drop in sessions for primary school age children, Wednesdays, 3.30pm-5pm during school term. Children must have a caregiver with them at all times. LEGO, tea and coffee are provided. Gold coin appreciated. Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury.

■ www.sunburyhouse.com.au

Music and Singalong

Bring your instrument or your voice to a social group for adults, all skill sets welcome. Wednesdays 9am-noon, at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury.

■ www.sunburyhouse.com.au

Local camera club

The Macedon Ranges Photographic Society is your local camera club for friendship, photographic outings, workshops, guest presenters, competitions and more.

Meetings on the first Tuesday of the month, followed by the next Monday. Doors open at 7pm, meeting starts at 7.30pm at Dromkeen 1012 Kilmore Road, Riddells Creek.

■ https://bit.ly/41j5BEw

Breast cancer support group

On the first and third Tuesday of the month breast cancer survivors are invited to head along to the Gisborne Golf Club at 10.30am to take part in a breast cancer support group.

■ Lesley, 0484 691 226

Village connect

Enjoy free coffee and cake while connecting with fellow Macedon Ranges residents

55 years-old and olde.. Happening on Tuesdays and Thursday at cafes across the municipality.

■ https://bit.ly/3AMUrxm or 5422 0262

Arts and games night

Get creative at the Sunbury Youth Centre each Wednesday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. The free program is for people aged 12 to 18 years old, at 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury.

Carer connect chat

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

■ 0491 174 550, or rebecca.lees@scchc.org.au

HarmoniX Vocal Company

All-male singing group happening on Thursday, 7- 9.30pm in Sunbury, with a mixed choir, DynamiX Vocal Company, rehearsing Tuesday. 7-9.30pm.

Rehearse at Dulap Wilim Hub, 11 Leichardt Street, Sunbury. No auditions required.

■ harmonixvcinc@gmail.com

Jacksons Creek Combined Probus

Visit or join the club which gathers on the second Monday of each month at the Sunbury Football Club at 10am. Enjoy outings, meetings and trips away.

■ Doug, 5428 3317, or Teresa, 9746 3402

Craft and conversation

Head down to the Sunbury Library on Mondays at noon for the craft and conversation group. The program is free and open to people aged 15 years and older.

■ https://bit.ly/39BIu2O

Chill Out Sunbury

Chill Out Sunbury is a free event for 12

and 18 years old to participate in activities such as trivia, games, and more. Happening every Wednesday, 3.30-5.30pm at the Sunbury Youth Centre, 51-53 Evans Street.

■ https://bit.ly/3lmVgVhv

Sunbury Ladies Badminton Club

Come along and be part of Sunbury Ladies Badminton Club and enjoy the benefits of physical activity. Social games are on Mondays, 9.30am to noon, and team competitions are on Thursdays, 9.30am-12.30pm at Eric Boardman Stadium, Wilsons Lane.

■ sunburylbc@gmail.com

Come have a chat

Delve into deeper topics and enjoy intriguing conversations by joining the Table 8 Discussion Group. Chats every Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am at Macedon Lounge, 40 Victoria Street, Macedon.

■ Carol, 0431 186 575

Family History and Heritage Society

If you’ve got a hankering to learn more about Sunbury and your own family history, come along to meetings at 1.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Sunbury Senior Citizens Centre, 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury.

■ https://bit.ly/3jvM6oJ

Rotary club

The Sunbury Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Ball Court Hotel, 60 Macedon Street, Sunbury from 7pm.

■ sunburyrotary@gmail.com

Ladies probus

The Woodlands Ladies Probus Club of Sunbury meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Sunbury Bowling Club at 9.45 am.

■ Leonie, 0401 764 182

Sunbury Ladies Probus Club

The Sunbury Ladies Probus Club meets at

9.30am on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Sunbury Football Social Club rooms.

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

Sunbury Combined Probus Club

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

■ Carmel, 0416 477 271

Toastmasters

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

■ vpm-4185@toastmastersclubs.org

Sunbury Seniors

Sunbury Seniors (55 or older) meet on Mondays and Fridays at 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury, from 10am-3pm. A variety of activities are offered – indoor bowls, cards, snooker, guest speakers, day excursions, subsidised lunches or just a cup of coffee and a chat.

■ 0434 400 754

Probus Club Of Sunbury

Join the Probus Club of Sunbury on the first Wednesday of the month at the Sunbury Football club at 9.30am. It’s a friendly men’s group open to visitors and new members, with a number of great events held each month.

■ Greg, 0417 593 035

CWA Woodend Eves

The CWA Woodend Eves Branch is part of the Central Highlands group and meets every third Tuesday at 7pm at the Woodend Neighbourhood house. All women are welcome.

■ cwawoodendeves@gmail.com.

Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Steven Szrenko who found a “rare and unique” (round) chicken egg. (Damjan Janevski) 334759_01

PUZZLES

SUDOKU

No. 7 954 9 125 684 17

QUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Husks of corn (5)

4 Workers

9 Support (7)

10 Of sufficient quality (2,2,3)

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2 Closest galaxy (9)

3 Public assembly (5)

4 Voter (7)

5 Former German state (7)

6 Social exclusion (9)

7 Discharge in disgrace (5)

11 Those sharing a house (9)

12 Edgar – Poe (5)

13 Exclamation of surprise (3)

14 Body of water to the East of Italy (8,3)

16 Not belonging to a time period (11)

19 Male sheep or goat (3)

20 Follow as consequence (5)

22 Speed of pulse (9)

25 Avoiding contact with others (7)

26 Print process

27 Complementary item (9)

28 Mystics (5)

DOWN

1 Understandable (5)

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easy 35 2 48 7

8 Bully (9)

DECODER WORDFIT

71 5 8 264 1832

hard

65 82 17 9 64 8

medium 37 6 29 4

28 3 54 2 91 85

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1415 1617181920212223242526 M Y W D V P C B K Z X N O H I E S U J L G T F Q A R 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

disgust, DISGUSTED, disuse, disused, duet, dust, dusted, dusts, etui,

No. 134

B K D B V S A N E L E A E B A K E D A B O V E S L A I N T E L L S E R A S E U

HEAVE HOSTS INANE INLET ISLES IVORY MATTE MOTHS NOTES OOZED OPTIC OZONE RIVET SCOPE SEEDS SLATE SNORE SOAKS SPEAR SPEED

STEPS SWEAT TONIC TYING VENUE 6 LETTERS CEDARS DETACH EDGIER STEREO 7 LETTERS COMFORT DECLINE ROOMIER

SEARING SEASIDE TROOPER 8 LETTERS ARMOURED DISALLOW DISEASED HAMPERED 11 LETTERS COMMISERATE VACATIONING

26-05-23 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

7 The name of which Adelaide suburb is a palindrome?

8 Scampi is a dish prepared from the tails of what?

9 What is the world's driest continent after Antarctica?

3 Joan of Arc lived in which century?

4 Which Chinese city is further north: Beijing or Shanghai?

5 In what year did the West Coast Eagles play their first AFL match?

6 What is the most abundant metallic element found on Earth?

10 Jada Pinkett Smith (pictured) provides the voice of which character in the Madagascar film franchise?

13 26 QR ANSWERS: 1. b) baseball player 2. Whatever NotI’mWhatThat’sAm,ISayPeople 3. 15th 4. Beijing 5. 1987 6. Aluminium 7. Glenelg 8. Langoustine (lobster) 9. Australia 10. Gloria

No. 134

No. 134

No. 134

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SPORTS QUIZ

1. Which children’s entertainer revealed their hopes to buy their favourite NRL club, the Balmain Tigers?

2. Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad-Maia recently won which title in Madrid?

3. Which continent will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup in August: a) Asia, b) Europe or c) North America?

4. Carlos Alcaraz became the first teenager to do what at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid?

5. In which year did New Zealand last win the Rugby World Cup?

6. Sports journalist Caroline Wilson is a regular panellist on which channel Nine AFL program?

7. In which year did Pat Cummins become the captain of the Australian men’s Test cricket team?

The 2016 Netflix docoLast Chance U centres around what

In boxing, what is a dive? Which billionaire CEO won a gold medal in a jiu-jitsu tournmament?

Synchronised swimming has been part of the Summer Olympics since what year?

Where in Australia is TIO Stadium?

13. Who was the last Collingwood football player to win a Brownlow Medal?

14. And in what year?

15. Which F1 car brand does Valtteri Bottas race for?

16. How many international Test centuries does Steve Smith have?

17. Richmond recruited which two players from the GWS Giants in last year’s off-season?

18. English netball star Geva Mentor plays for which Suncorp Super Netball team?

19. In what year did the first season of the Netflix cheerleading show Cheer air?

20. In which year did the State of Origin series begin?

21. Who did Sam Kerr’s Chelsea team beat in the recent FA Cup Final?

22. What regional Victorian city do the Western Bulldogs occasionally play home matches in?

23. Which African country were swimmers Cate and Bronte Campbell born in?

24. What weight class does Australian boxer Jason Moloney compete in?

25. Jayson Tatum plays for which NBA team?

26. Which capital city will host the Australian World Swimming Trials in June?

27. Which NRL team plays home games at Moreton Daily Stadium?

28. Manchester, Leeds and which other English city will host an Ashes test in the 2023 series?

29. What Australian sporting competition recently held its first Inclusion Round?

30. The Gold Coast Suns recently recorded their biggest interstate win against which AFL team?

Cate Campbell

308 GT 1.2-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $43,990

308 GT Premium 1.2-litre turbo-petrol five-door hatch: $48,990

308 GT Premium 1.2-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $48,990

308 GT Sport PHEV: 1.6-litre turbo-petrol/ electric hybrid five-door hatch: $64,990

SPECIFICATIONS

Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV: 1.6-litre turbo-petrol/electric hybrid five-door hatch

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

Plug-in for a sharp performance

By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring

Peugeot’s GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

hatchback has become the fourth model to join the French carmaker’s 308 compact range. It joins the GT hatch, GT Premium hatch and GT Premium wagon petrol variants.

First sold here in 2008, the 308 has never seriously challenged comparable models from Japan or South Korea for sales, but those loyal to the French brand have always loved it for its style, comfort and handling.

The new 308 PHEV is Peugeot’s third plug-in petrol-electric hybrid, joining the 3008 GT SportSUVand508FastbackGTwithtwomore settoarrivelaterthisyear-the2008smallSUV and 508 Sportwagon.

Also coming later in 2023 will be Peugeot’s first fully electric vehicles, the e-Partner small van and e-2008 compact SUV.

Styling

We love the looks of the latest 308 starting at the front where a large, intricate grille flanked by LED Matrix headlights and claw-shaped daytime running lights.

The 308 is the first Peugeot model to feature the latest iteration of the iconic Peugeot lion badge sitting in the centre of the grille as well as on the front side panels, boot lid and in the centre of the eye-catching black alloy 18-inch wheels.

The rear has also been given a serious makeover with tri-segment tail lights on either side and the lion-claw in the centre of each.

The battery charging socket is at the rear of the passenger side.

Powertrain

308 GT Sport PHEV combines a 1.6-litre 132 kW/250Nm 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an 81kW electric motor for combined power and torque outputs of 165kW and 360Nm.

Itisintegratedwithane-EAT8transmission,

which for this application has the traditional torqueconverterreplacedwithawet,multi-disc clutch.

As with the other 308 variants the GT Sport PHEV is front-wheel-drive.

The 12.4kWh Li-ion battery with 100kW of battery power and 3.7 kW onboard charger provides a WLTP test range of 60km in electric-only driving. Fuel tank capacity is 40 litres.

Three driving modes are available: Electric, Hybrid and Sport.

The 308 GT Sport PHEV comes as standard with a mode two charging cable, supplied with the vehicle at time of delivery. The on-board charger unit restricts the accepted charger to a capacity of 3.7kW.

Using a domestic power socket with a 2.3kW single-phase 10A charger, the battery will be charged in around 5.5 hours. With a home

charging station such as a Wallbox this will reduce to about 3.5 hours.

Safety

There’s a comprehensive list of safety features across the entire 308 range. Highlights include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active cruise control with Stop & Go function, forward collision warning, long-range blind spot detection,rearcrosstrafficalert,lanedeparture warning with unmarked road edge detection, advanced driver inattention alert, speed limiter function, tyre pressure warning and two Isofix child seat mounts.

GT Premium and GT Sport PHEV add active lane positioning assist while the PHEV gets Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) which generates sound when the car is travelling at low speed to alert pedestrians.

When tested by ANCAP in November 2022 the absence of a front centre airbag, which is a relatively new feature, led to 308 getting a four-star rating.

Infotainment

The infotainment system features satellite navigation, wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two front and two rear USB sockets, wireless phone mirroring, voice recognition, with Peugeot iConnect and the myPeugeot app.

Like so many recent new vehicles, far too many features, including climate control, need to be accessed through the touchscreen with the driver’s attention inevitably being taken away from the road ahead.

There is a power and volume knob for the audio system and there are short-cuts through a smaller horizontal screen called i-Toggles - but drivers will need to spend a lot of time learning how to access the various features.

Driving Peugeos have always been among our favourite

drivingcarsandtheinstanttorquefromthe308 PHEV further enhances that enjoyment. It’s great fun to drive both around town and in the hilly terrain segment of our rural drive route while it cruises effortlessly on the motorway.

While the PHEV’s battery adds around 230kg to overall weight over its petrol-only siblings it can still get from zero to 100km/h more than two seconds faster at 7.5 seconds. The ride is relatively firm but not uncomfortable while steering is light and direct.

Using the outdated NEDC test procedure Peugeot lists fuel consumption at 1.3L/100km forthe308PHEV.Theresultisbasedonstarting with the battery fully charged, travelling the claimed maximum distance in EV mode (60km) before automatically switching to hybrid mode for the remainder of the 100km trip.

The anomaly in the system is that, after travelling 100km the only way to repeat such low fuel usage would be to stop and fully recharge the battery before continuing.

During three separate tests the best battery-only distance we could achieve was 52km.

With the battery fully-charged we covered 100km using 3.4L/100km. Although that’s nearly double the listed figure it’s still pretty good. However, once the battery is flat, and running in normal hybrid mode including battery regeneration, we averaged a less-impressive 5.6L/100km.

Summing up

As enjoyable as the Peugeot 308 PHEV is to drivethebiggestproblemisitsprice.At$64,990 plus on-roads it’s between $16,000 and $23,000 dearer than its petrol-only siblings.

Do the sums and it’s very hard to financially justify spending that sort of money, but no doubt dyed-in-the wool environmentallyfocused Peugeot enthusiasts will be willing to do so.

Peugeot 308 PHEV combines great looks with sharp performance. (Pictures: Supplied)

Bulldogs take heart from some positive signs

Reigning premier Gisborne might be outside the top five in the Bendigo Football League at the competition-wide bye, but the Bulldogs aren’t that far off.

With a number of personnel changes through both departures and injuries, the Bulldogs sit 2-3 after the first round of matches.

While not where they want to be results wise, coach Brad Fox said there had been some positive signs.

“This season hasn’t gone to script with the win-losses,” he said.

“We’re 14 points from being 4-1 instead of 2-3. We had a 12 point loss in round one and a two point loss last week.

“It’s a very close competition this year. I expect what we’ve seen in the first five rounds will continue throughout the season.”

Fox said the biggest area for improvement for the group is the connection with the attacking end.

He said a bit of that was a lack of experience factor.

“The difference has been skill execution,”

he said. “We’ve been playing a good game of footy in the back two-thirds, but inside 50 we haven’t been as good as we should be.

“We’re not capitalising on the insides 50s. There is no substitute for experience.

“Most of the guys would not have played anywhere near 20 games together. They’re learning each other.”

The Bulldogs forward line received a boost in their loss to Kyneton, with skipper Pat McKenna playing his first game of the season.

He kicked the Bulldogs first four goals of the game and finished with five.

Fox said while McKenna was their highest profile forward, it takes the whole forward six to get the job done.

With a number of younger guys getting their opportunity there has been plenty of good signs for the future.

Fox said he hadn’t been surprised by the performances of the young guys, but had been pleased.

“Harry Luxmoore has had a good start in his first year out of under-18s,” he said. “Shane Clough is still able to play under-18s

“Jed Denahy is only 19 and has enormous upside and his brother Zac is another one. It’s pretty exciting.”

Fox said the break would give them the chance to reflect on the first part of the season and where they can improve.

The Bulldogs this week face Golden Square.

Harry Thomas and premiership player Seb Bell-Bartels are set to be available for selection in a boost for the Bulldogs.

“We’ve got three games against sides in the top five sides,” Fox said. “How we perform will set up our season.”

Tara Murray

Sports shorts

EDFL

Gisborne returned to the winners list in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 competition. Facing the Sunbury Lions, the Bulldogs jumped out of the blocks with three goals to none in the first quarter, with only a point scored in the second quarter. The Bulldogs kicked two goals in the third quarter to seal the result and in the end winning 6.5 (41)-1.3 (9). Charlotte Noonan kicked five goals for the Bulldogs. In division 2, the Sunbury Kangaroos lost to Moonee Valley 2, 7.11 (53)-0.1 (1).

NRL Vic

The Sunbury Tigers had a big win against the Werribee Bears in the NRL Vic Storm Premiership first grade competition on Saturday. The Tigers scored in the eighth minute and had eight tries before the Bears got on the scoreboard. The Tigers eventually won 64-12. The Tigers sit third on the ladder with four wins from six games. The Tigers this week face the Altona Roosters.

Sam Medland (Jacob Pattison)329132_12

Hawks continue to fire

By Tara Murray

Woodend-Hesket continues to tick the boxes as it aims to break its finals drought in the Riddell District Football League. Having knocked off one of last season’s finalists in the opening five rounds, the Hawks made it a second one, accounting for Romsey on Saturday.

The Redbacks started the better of the two sides before the Hawks settled and took the lead.

The Hawks were able to stay in front for the rest of the day, winning 10.8 (68)-7.9 (51).

Hawks coach Josh Pound said they knew how important getting that win at Romsey Park was in the context of their season.

“It was an important game and to knock off one of the stronger clubs in the competition, I couldn’t be happier with the group.

“The quality of the game given the conditions were quite wet and slippery, both teams did quite well.

“The standard of footy was good and we were happy with that.”

Pound said they thought that they might

have been in for a long day after the Redbacks kicked the first couple of goals.

He said it was pleasing to see the side settle and be able to maintain their momentum throughout.

“Every time they looked like getting momentum, we were able to wrestle back the game in our favour.

“Another thing supporters approached me saying potentially might not have been the case in the past.”

Pound and Jack Arceri kicked two goals for the Hawks, while Dan Toman received the best on ground medal.

Pound highlighted a few others that he thought had stood out.

“They have Nathan Hoy, who is one of the premier rucks in the competition,” he said.

“Tim Martin rucked 100 per cent of the match and allowed the mids to get first use.

“It makes a huge difference to our team with his leadership role and ruck craft.

‘“Sam Medland in the midfield had a big impact and Alistair Rae had the job on Jack Jedwab and kept him goal less.”

For the Redbacks, it was all single goal

kickers. Matthew Burkett was named their best.

The win moves the Hawks to 5-1 with only a loss to Diggers Rest so far.

Pound said they were only scratching the surface of what they can do. He said they were hoping to see that in the second half of the season.

“It was always going to take some time to get the continuity with a relatively new group,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to say to the boys to be patient with the connection. I’ve been selling the message that winning ugly is okay and that is what we have done well.

“Winning ugly you gain the opportunity to build those connections and you’re still getting results.”

The Hawks this week face Macedon, which has won its last two matches.

Pound said for the Hawks it was one of their biggest rivalries and one they always get up for.

On Saturday, the Cats beat Melton Centrals, 11.12 (78)-10.7 (67).

Wallan and Diggers Rest were the other winners.

RDFL

Kyneton remains undefeated in the Riddell District Football League women’s competition. Facing Macedon which had put together a couple of good performances, the Tigers were way too strong, winning 11.11 (77)-0.0 (0). It was a similar score line between Woodend-Hesket and Romsey, with the Hawks winning 11.11 (77)-0.2 (2). Melton beat Mount Alexander in the other match.

AFL

Gisborne’s Rye Penny is among 12 footballers invited to undergo medical testing ahead of the AFL mid-season draft. Penny, who was overlooked last season after missing most of the year through injury, has had a strong season so far for the Calder Cannons and has been part of the AFL young gun series. The AFL mid-season draft is on My 31.

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web:

Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews

@star_weekly

Shane Clough (Jacob Pattison)334031_03

United relieved to be back on the winners list

Sunbury United finally got some reward for effort as it returned to the winners list for the first time since round two in the FV state league 3 north-west.

It’s been a challenging period for United in recent weeks, unable to capitalise on the hard work it had been doing.

That changed on Saturday, as United accounted for Williamstown.

United coach Danny Moore was a relieved man after the match.

“It was a bit of a miserable weekend the weekend before, conceding so late and to get nothing from it.

“The league is so close and it looks like anyone can beat anyone,

“The last three games before yesterday we had lost 1-0 in three consecutive games and we didn’t think we deserved to lose.

“It was nice to get what we deserve.”

Moore said despite the tough round of

results the group had remained really positive and upbeat as they sought to turn their season away.

On Saturday, the win against Williamstown didn’t come easily. This time United was on the right end of a 1-0 score line.

“Sometimes you have to make your luck,” he said.

“We had to stick with the principles and process and believe in what we’re doing.

“It was a great performance from the boys. It was fairly even and both teams didn’t really test each other as much as they would have liked to.

“There weren’t a lot of clear cut chances and the ball spent a lot of time in the middle of the ground.”

United hit the front in the first half through Daniel Adamo in the 31st minute

When Nam Pham received a red card in the 76th minute, United needed to hold on for dear life.

Moore said his side just willed themselves over the line.

“The boys really wanted it and deserved it with their commitment,” he said. “It really came to the fore, we needed that shot in the arm to turn things around.”

United now sit eighth on the table.

This week United faces Uni Hill Eagles on Saturday.

WiththeEaglessittingsecondontheladder, it’s another big test for United.

“The win gives everyone a boost,” Moore said.

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league. When you’re at the top everyone wants to beat them.

“We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the top sides.”

Meanwhile,instateleague4west,Gisborne lost to Surf Coast, 8-2. Pharrez Ali and Tyson Lopez were the goal scorers for the Sky Blues/ Tara Murray

Hawks come from behind

Woodend-Hesket had to fight hard to overcome a determined Romsey in the Riddell District Netball League on Saturday.

The Redbacks looked like they could cause an upset for much of the match at Romsey Park.

The Redbacks led by five goals at quarter time and two goals at the main break.

The Hawks got going in the second half and took the lead heading into the final break. A 13 to nine goal final quarter sealed the 50-41 win.

Hawks goaler Abby Gilmore, who shot 28 goals, was named the player of the match. Charlee Duff-Tytler shot 22 goals.

Hawks playing coach Meg Grbac and Laura Carland were the other standouts for their side.

For the Redbacks, Uneeq Palavi, who came into the side, shot 30 goals and was named their best.

ShewasoneofthreeCityWestFalcons players in the Redbacks side.

Lancefield took it up to Wallan in its match at Greenhill Reserve.

State selection for Jets

By Tara Murray

Representing your state is an honour in itself, imagine getting the opportunity to do it with three of your best mates.

For four Sunbury Jets players that is the reality as part of the Vic Country under-16 national team that will compete in Perth in July.

Sonny Maxwell, Alex Gray, Sam Hasslett and Finn McGinty make up nearly half of the 10 player squad.

All four started basketball in the Macedon Ranges and represented the Macedon Ranges at the under-16 Country Championships earlier this year.

For Maxwell, it’s second time lucky having been named an emergency for the side last year.

Maxwell started playing basketball at Sunbury in the under-12 following in his father’s footsteps, who played representative basketball growing up.

“It feels really great and a huge honour to represent Vic country at this campaign and such a privilege to be playing at this level,” he said.

“The process was having a try out at the end of last year for a tournament.

“Then play that tournament which pretty

much selects you into the selection process, then a day of playing basketball against Vic metro and then the teams get picked.”

Gray’s basketball journey started in Woodend. He said a lot of hard work had been put in on the court to get to this point.

“I began Aussie Hoops in Woodend when I wasfive-years-oldbeforeplayingforWoodend Hawks in the Sunbury domestic comp,” he said.

“I have been playing VJBL [Victorian Junior Basketball League] for Sunbury Jets since under-12s and have also been fortunate enough to be selected to represent MRBA [Macedon Ranges Basketball Association] at six Country Championships in which we have now won twice.

“Over the last 8 months, there have been numerous try outs, camps and games to get to this point. I felt very excited and very privileged to make it as a lot of good players missed out.”

Sam Hasslett said for him to get to this level it was about getting out in the backyard every day, giving it his all at every training session.

Hasslett started playing basketball at under-12 at the Gisborne Bulldogs before joining the Sunbury Jets. This year he had the privilege of being selected for the National Performance Pathway on a scholarship.

“It feels really, really good,” he said. “Getting to play with the best and against the best players from around the country is such an honour.

To represent Vic Country and be coached by the best coaches in country Victoria is a tremendous opportunity.”

Finn McGinty said selection in the state team meant he was one step closer to his goal of playing professional basketball.

He started playing basketball in 2018 with the Gisborne Bulldogs, while he since joined the Jets representative program.

He has since had a number of achievements including being part of two MRBA Country Championship wins.

“It’s exciting,” he said.

“[There’s been] tryouts, training with the state development squad, commitment, focus and just playing as much basketball as I can.

“John Maxwell was my first coach and he spent a lot of time on skills & development, helping me improve my game.”

All four said it was exciting to be in the team together having played with each other since under-12s and said it was special to play with their mates at this level.

Hawke MP Sam Rae spoke about all four boys in parliament, with each presented with a copy of the speech.

After a slow start, the Tigers were able to stay within touching distance of the Magpies. The margin was just five goals at the final break, the same as what it was at quarter time.

The Magpies finished strongly to seal a 41-30 win.

Darcee Ellard, who shot 14 goals, was the Tigers best.

Macedon continued its good form with a strong win against Melton Centrals.

The Cats winning 54-27.

Chloe Williams shot 41 goals for the Cats.

The Cats remain the only undefeated team, sitting on top of the ladder with five wins.

The Western Rams solid form continued with a 60-32 win against Diggers Rest.

Malia Seumanutafa shot 35 goals for the Rams.

For the Burras, Alicija Marko Rawlings was their best, shooting 20 goals.

It was the Rams second win for the season and they are now a game outside the top five.

Tara Murray

Sunbury United’s Danny Moore. (Jacob Pattison) 326659_22

Four Sunbury Jets players are keen to make it on the big stage. (Supplied)

Coach happy with the Lions’ performance so far

The Sunbury Lions’ Ballarat Football League season so far gets a pass mark from coach Travis Hodgson.

The Lions sit 3-2 having had their first bye of the season at the weekend.

Hodgson said they would have taken those results at the start of the season. He said they were traveling along OK.

“We set out the season in blocks and we aimed to win three of the first four games,” he said.

“To be 3-2 we will take it. After being 1-4 the last two years there is plenty of upside.

“The next block is Darley, Bacchus Marsh, Redan at Clarke Oval and Ballarat at Ballarat. “We’ve got a chance with some really winnable games. We need to win at least half of them.

“At the halfway mark we want to be ahead of the draw and we have 5-3 as a pass mark and hope to exceed that.”

Hodgson said with a tough back part of the season, they needed to bank wins to play finals, which was their aim.

Hodgson said for the most part they had been happy with how they had played the

opening rounds.

He said their most recent performance against Darley, had been really disappointing.

“We were pretty disappointing and Darley was pretty good,” he said.

“We were outplayed for most of the day and the game blew open in the last quarter. It was disappointing to be put to the sword.

“There wasn’t enough resilience against a side that will play finals. I think the top three

Sharks stun the Lions

By Tara Murray

Rupertswood has a habit of knocking off the top sides and it did it again on Saturday against Deer Park in the Essendon District Football League division 1.

The Sharks were able to hold their nerve in the last quarter as the Lions came late to hold on to win, 13.5 (83)-12.10 (82).

Sharks coach Arron Bray said he was really happy with that performance.

“We are always up for the big matches,” he said. “We played for quarters of football and that is a positive for us.

“We knew we were around the mark, we just needed to put four quarters together and we were able to do that.

“We played really well and stuck to the structures.”

Bray said they made a few moves that worked, which the Lions didn’t pick up quickly enough.

He said it was a really good contest and that their work as a team was a key to getting the win.

“We didn’t get outworked at the contest,” he said. “They have some good players on every line, but I think we’re underrated as we have some players on every line as well.”

Bray said the Lions had the chance to steal the match at the end, the side was able to hold strong.

He said many of the missed goal kicking opportunities for the Lions hadn’t been at easy angles and higher up the ground.

Zac Saad kicked three goals for the Sharks along with Fraser Phelan-Smith.

Bray said Jackson Cardillo, Dylan Podolczak, Brent Swallow and Ben Borg had really good performances.

He also highlighted the work of Daniel Kavanagh, who has come into the side the last two weeks,

“He won the reserves best and fairest a couple of years ago,” he said.

“We brought him up for his leadership around the ground. He has a really good defensive side and he sets up defensively without needing that direction.”

The win had the Sharks in fifth spot, but they only percentage behind Deer Park and Roxburgh Park.

Bray said they had set themselves to get a scalp to move back into the top bracket.

“We lost to Keilor Park after leading by 30

points, so we needed to get a scalp and we set ourselves for this one,” he said.

“Playing at Rupo more of a chance, so being at Deer Park having not seen the ground and didn’t know the opponent, it was like an eight point game.”

The Sharks this week face St Albans, which had its game against Hillside called off at three quarter time.

The match is under investigation following a scuffle involving players and spectators.

In division 2, the Sunbury Kangaroos and East Sunbury both remain without win.

The Kangaroos lost to Taylor Lakes, 16.6 (102)-12.7 (79), while the Thunder lost to Burnside Heights, 15.19 (109)-3.2 (20).

The two Sunbury teams face each other this Saturday.

sides will be Melton, Darley and Sebastopol.

“We’ve played two of those teams and failed in both games.”

The Lions entered the match with Darley without key defenders Harrison Minton-Connell and Tyson Lever.

Minton-Connell made his Victorian Football League debut for Essendon.

Lever missed the game through injury and was in a moon boot on game day.

“Once we lost Lever and Minton-Connell during the week up against it,” Hodgson said.

“He has some appointments this week [last week] to find out the extent of damage and could be in a bit of trouble.

“We will know more by the end of the week. He’s a big loss for us, our captain. He’s an outstanding player and his leadership and setting up from behind is really important.

“It’s a big blow for us, but every club has got to deal with injuries though.”

The Lions this week are on the road against Bacchus Marsh.

Tara Murray

Jets get their second win

The Sunbury Jets women got their second win of the season, while the men’s side had a big win in Big V state championship on Sunday.

The Jets women’s had a double header with matches against the Bulleen Boomers and the Camberwell Dragons.

On Saturday night against the Boomers, the Jets started the better of the two sides and lead throughout the first half

The Boomers outscored the Jets in the third quarter 29-20 to lead by six points heading into the final quarter.

The Boomers did enough to hold on and win, 70-62.

Ida Andersson top scored with 20 points. The Jets overcame their disappointment to bounce back the next day against the Dragons.

The Dragons were full of energy in the first quarter and opened up a 15 points lead.

They maintained that in the second quarter, with the Jets able to reduce it to 11 points heading into the final quarter.

The Jets found another gear late, completely dominating the contest to win the quarter 28-15 and snatch the win 74-72.

The two teams traded the lead for the last five minutes for the game.

Dimitra Gkizani top scored with 17 points for the Jets.

The Jets remain on the bottom of the ladder, but are now only a game behind Camberwell.

The Jets face the Hume City Broncos on Sunday.

The men’s side had a successful road trip to face the Western Port Steelers.

The Jets jumped out of the blocks and led by 10 points at the first break and doubled the lead in the second quarter.

The Jets continued to put the scoreboard pressure on and extended the lead to 34 points at the last break.

With a lead in hand, the Jets rotated their bench and were able to still extend the lead further, to win 119-88.

Every Jets player hit the scoreboard, led by Ish Sanders with 24 points.

Harry Power (Jacob Pattison)334037_12

Brent Swallow (Ljubica Vrankovic) _333186_78