Star Weekly - Melton Moorabool - 15th August 2023

Spectacular talent show

A Hillside boy is among 2000 students preparing to wow audiences at the John Cain Arena on September 9 for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS).

The VSSS is a proud tradition in government schools and offers students the opportunity to take part in a performing arts showcase.

This year’s show, Happy Travels, will follow an intrepid group of hapless tourists as they traverse the globe in a cavalcade of circus mayhem.

Aydin, 14, is a year eight student at Copperfield College who will be taking to the stage as a principal dancer for the show, and he said he is feeling pumped about it.

“It is going to be an amazing experience that I will remember forever, I didn’t expect for something this big to happen so early,” he said.

“Practice is going really good for me and the whole team... The whole show just looks super epic. “I love being able to express my feelings and emotions through dance and I really love the art of dance.”

Fears over pool funding

By Liam McNally

The federal government has announced Bacchus Marsh will be eligible to apply for funding for its indoor pool under the new Thriving Suburbs fund, but Moorabool council is concerned it’s still a funding dry-up.

Council has been seeking $15 million in federal government funding for several years, to match its $15 million commitment and $10 million from the state government for the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Taverner Street, Bacchus Marsh.

Moorabool council was a part of what used to be known as the Building Better Regions program, under which council could apply for federal funding for infrastructure projects

like the indoor pool.

This year the program was replaced with the $600 million Growing Regions program, however the new fund considers Bacchus Marsh a part of greater Melbourne and therefore ineligible.

Instead, Bacchus Marsh is eligible for another new fund, the $200 million Thriving Suburbs fund.

Hawke MP Sam Rae said he’s heard “loud and clear” that locals in Bacchus Marsh need an indoor pool.

“This program presents an opportunity for Mooraboolshiretoapplyforfundingfromthe Albanese government for important projects like this,” he said.

However, council has expressed frustration

at the change in zoning for Bacchus Marsh, with Moorabool mayor Rod Ward telling ABCRadioMelbournethat a town competing against larger areas for less funding is “manifestly unfair”.

“IfyouaskedanyoneintheMooraboolshire we’d consider ourselves very much regional … Bacchus Marsh has a population of 8000 and even if you include the surrounding areas of Darley and Maddingley it’s still only less than 20,000,” he said.

“Competing against Parramatta and Hume for funding is not, to use a boxing analogy, fighting in our own weight division.”

A spokeswoman for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said

decisions about eligibility are based on the Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA) as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said council would work with the federal government to ensure funding is received for the pool.

“We feel our project stacks up but it will no doubtbemoredifficultwithinthesmallerpool of funds allocated within the new Thriving Suburbs Fund,” he said.

“Moorabool Shire is proud to be a regional shire and we feel the basis of identifying BacchusMarshasmetroneedstoberevisited.”

Aydin will perform in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular this year.

(Damjan Janevski) 351387_05

Moorabool targets big business

By Liam McNally

Moorabool council has postponed adopting its four-year economic development strategy as it aims to attract bigger businesses to the shire.

In October 2021, the council engaged Urban Enterprise to develop the economic development and visitor economy strategies. Following a council meeting in May, drafts of the two documents were adopted and made available for public consultation.

At a council meeting on August 2, the final visitor economy strategy was adopted, but

the economic development document was knocked back.

The strategy outlined the aims the council has for the local economy the next four years and focuses on employment growth, investment attraction and business development within the shire as it prepares to almost double in population over the next 20 years.

Councillor David Edwards said he wanted an economic plan that targeted more large businesses to promote local employment.

“What I’d like to see us do is rather than target just our small existing businesses and

try to grow more small existing businesses with the growth, I’d like to see us target some big capture,” he said.

Cr Ally Munari initially seconded the motion to adopt the plan, but changed her mind following the discussion.

“These two documents are a massive amount of work and they hold that bowl of work for many years and we need to make sure it’s correct … a little bit more robust discussion in terms of those topics may be where we have to sit and where we have to go,” she said.

Ballan Chamber of Commerce president

Make a difference at your local CFA

Caroline Springs CFA is calling on new volunteers to join the brigade and help prepare for summer.

Volunteeringformorethan10years,Caroline Springs CFA firefighter Ryan Baker said the crew welcomes, “anyone and everyone” to join the team and help serve their local community.

Mr Baker said he first joined the CFA as a wayforhimtogivebackandmakeadifference.

“Volunteering with the CFA is a lot more than just firefighting, we are one big family,” he said.

Operating with 40 members across two

stations in Caroline Springs and Hillside, the crew is looking to expand its volunteer base as it anticipates a particularly hot summer.

Mr Baker said the CFA is looking at the heatwaves occurring across the northern hemisphere, and are preparing for predictions that Australia will experience similar weather conditions during the summer months.

“We are preparing for what we think is going to be a very hot summer, one that will certainly be warmer than the last two or three years,” he said.

“We are always trying to recruit volunteers,

the more hands we have the better and there are a variety of roles where people can help out.”

For those interested in volunteering, the CFA provides full training and support across a range of roles including, fire fighting, road rescue, emergency medical response, fundraising and community engagement and education.

Details: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ volunteers-careers/volunteer-with-cfa

Hannah Hammoud

Michael Ryan said it was surprising that the strategy was rejected at the meeting.

“I would have thought that objections and misgivings would have been addressed well before the strategy was put to council for adoption,” he said.

“This strategy is critical to the economic future and planning for the shire in relation to government funding options and for those businesses, workers and families wanting to build their futures in the Moorabool shire.”

Council officers will revisit the concerns raised by councillors about the strategy and bring it back to the council.

First Nations school name

The official name for the primary school opening in Brookfield in 2024 has been unveiled.

Melton MP Steve McGhie said Brookfield’s newest school will be named Binap Primary School. Binap (pronounced bin-narp) is a Woi-wurrung word of the Wurundjeri people meaning manna gum, according to the Victorian School Building Authority.

Mr McGhie said Binap Primary will be an outstanding school for our community.

“I am proud that our new school name reflects the land that we are on, this will help our primary school students understand the role First Nations’ Victorians play in our heritage and history,“ he said.

The state government has selected Aboriginal language names to be used for all 14 new government schools set to open their doors next year.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins announced the names of the other new schools, as well as the names of four new kindergartens on school sites.

For the first time, the 2024 new school naming process consulted on a short-list of Aboriginal language names, receiving more than 7,000 submissions.

MsHutchinssaidthe14newschools will ensure growing communities have a great local education for their kids and a unique connection to the land through their Indigenous names.

Caroline Springs CFA volunteers Joshua Bokos, Ryan Baker, Jake Busuttil, Brad Nithsdale and Julie Wright. (Damjan Janevski) 352788_01

Aches as public dental sector wait times grow

The wait time to access public dental care in Melton and the west has continued to grow, according to data obtained by the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB).

The ADAVB obtained data under freedom of information from Dental Health Services Victoria shows the wait time to access general dental care at Western Health was 22.7 months in the 12 months from July 2022 – June 2023.

ADAVB president Jonathan Teoh said long waiting times for dental care can lead to worsening problems resulting in the need for emergency care. The ADAVB reports that one

third of all courses of care are for emergency treatment rather than routine and preventive care.

“A lot of dental diseases are progressive in nature, and so we know that the longer people are waiting for care, and the longer you leave it, the worse it is going to get,” Mr Teoh said.

“If you leave a hole in your teeth for a long period of time, it is only going to get bigger. If we get to things earlier, then we might be able to save peoples teeth instead of having to remove them. Losing teeth is going to impact not just peoples dental health, but it will also impact their wellbeing and more broadly their

ability to participate in society.”

Mr Teoh said that without further ongoing investments into the public sector, he predicts that the waiting time for public dental care is only going to rise.

“We had some injection of funding in the public sector post-covid that has certainly been welcome. However, inevitably waitlists are going to creep up after that point as the system does not have enough capacity to meet the needs of the population“ he said.

Western Health prioritises the next available appointment to those needing emergency care or people who are priority clients such as

Teen stuns on The Voice

By Liam McNally

A Caroline Springs teenager has left judges enamoured on season 12 of The Voice Australia, soaring through her live audition that aired on Tuesday, August 8.

Maree Mamalis took to the stage on national TV and performed a rendition of the Billie Eilish ballad, Listen Before I Go.

Within 13 seconds judge Rita Ora spun her chair to audience applause and by the end of the song the other judges, Guy Sebastian, Jason Derulo and Jessica Mauboy had done the same, making it clear her making it clear her powerful vocal performance had impressed. Sebastian called her audition “incredible”.

“What on earth just happened?” he remarked.

“You look so sweet, and then that thing comes out of you that is so big and strong.” Judges clamoured to be selected as the one

to coach Mamalis throughout the show, with Derulo even “blocking” Sebastian , a tool each judge can use once per season.

In the end Mamalis selected American singer-songwriter Derulo to be her coach for the show, who said when he was coming to Australia he was promised there was going to be “amazing talent”.

“I have been blown away so early in the show and I think you are a shining light that needs to be shown all over the world, and I’d just love to be a part of that journey,” he said.

The 17-year-old began singing in 2017.

Mamalis said she has always been a fan of The Voice.

“As a little girl I would pretend I was a coach and I would sit on a swivel chair with my back to the tv and turn for those I wanted on my team so it was a full circle moment when I was approached to audition for the show,” she said.

“I love that singing makes me feel free and

like I can just be myself.”

Mamalis said the response to her performance was gratifying after having her confidence in her abilities shaken by some of her school peers.

“Unfortunately my confidence was brought down by people at school who would bully and would make fun of my singing and mimic me,” she said.

“It really hurt me, but over time I rebuilt my confidence. I wanted to do this and be an example to others who have experienced the same treatment I did, to not listen to others and to follow your dreams and not to give up, it sounds cliche but I am a perfect example of that.

“It has by far been the best experience of my life, to be able to have this opportunity to be able to show Australia my voice and my story, as well as being able to hopefully have a platform to inspire others is such an honour.”

people experiencing homelessness, pregnant women, children and young people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Western Health deputy chief medical officer Associate Professor David Smallwood said despite a 14 per cent increase in presentations at Western Health’s dental clinic, the team has brought down wait times and provided care to more than 9000 patients in the past year.

“Those needing urgent or emergency dental treatment don’t need to join the waitlist and are able to access walk-in care,” he said.

Hannah Hammoud

Police Briefs

Buninyong burglary

Police are investigating after a number of war medals and a soldier’s uniform were stolen during a burglary in Buninyong last month. The burglary occurred at a Scott Street home sometime between July 16 and 30. The victims, aged in their 70’s, returned home and discovered it had been ransacked. World War II medals and a World War II uniform, including a long jacket belonging to the one of the victim’s fathers, had been stolen. A BMW sedan, paintings, jewellery, crystal glassware, even salt and pepper shakers were also stolen. The BMW has been observed near Toorak Road and now bears stolen registration plates ARB069. Detectives believe the offenders have attended the home on several occasions in order to remove the stolen goods and have released images of the stolen items. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Stabbing arrest

A Diggers Rest man has been arrested over an alleged fatal stabbing in Point Cook on Sunday. Police said the alleged altercation took place outside accommodation on Point Cook Road at about 2.45pm on Sunday, August 13. One of the men involved died at the scene. A 28-year-old Diggers Rest man was arrested nearby and is assisting police with their inquiries. It is believed the two men were known to each other and homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Blackwood residents demand more than ‘low hanging fruit’ upgrades

A plan to improve the Blackwood township, that has been in the works for three years, is ready to be delivered by Moorabool council, however some residents say it’s not enough.

The plan includes new footpaths and pedestrian crossings with pram ramps with the priority being an extension along Martin Street and Simmons Reef Road, upgrading retaining walls on Martin Street and the intersection of Byres Road and Golden Point Road, upgrading drainage at the intersection of Golden Point Road and Martin Street, new street parking on both sides of Martin Street, new trees, seats, bin stands and drinking fountain, and a signage audit.

Councillor Ally Munari said the project went through “robust discussion”, receiving a large amount of feedback.

The most common requests were about addressing dangerous roads, using indigenous plants, not planting trees that will obstruct planting, and reconsidering the location of a proposed bus stop.

Blackwood Progress Association president Brendan Hehir said that while any upgrades for the town are welcomed, the plan doesn’t go far enough.

“Blackwood has missed out on infrastructure funding for decades. This improvement project, as good as it is, goes only a very small way to addressing that

problem,” he said.

Mr Hehir said the community have been calling for upgrades to the town centre, the park, and wayfinding but the biggest issue has been the roads and paths, he said the paths that are being upgraded in the new plan are “low hanging fruit”.

“Blackwood can be very busy, especially on holidays and weekends.

“Our roads are very narrow, windy and poorly maintained … shared by not just cars and caravans but many recreational walkers, bicycle riders and children,” he said.

“We have put to the council many times that there are many dangerous

sections of roads in the Blackwood area that need to be upgraded and footpaths created and we’re very disappointed that this project doesn’t address these problems.

“Yes we are a small town, however we are regarded by the shire as one of its premier tourist destinations, so we should be taken very seriously when infrastructure is considered.”

The upgrades are due to be completed by the end of the financial year.

Liam McNally

Maree Mamalis singing in her home studio. (Jacob Pattison) 352253_03

Safeguarding avenue’s future

By Liam McNally

Two plans, which would require 205 trees on Bacchus Marsh’s Avenue of Honour be replaced, have been drafted by Moorabool Council and are being put out for public consultation.

The Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour Management Strategy and the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour Preservation Plan were developed in consultation with expert arborists,heritagepersonnelandstakeholders.

The plans cover 360 trees, 281 of which are the heritage listed elm trees planted in 1918, dedicated to soldiers from the area who lost their lives during World War I.

Another 40 trees date back to 1880.

Moorabool mayor Rod Ward said the purpose of the strategy and the plan was to ensure the avenue was effectively managed as a living memorial and preserved for future generations.

“Council is the custodian of this key historic community asset and responsible for ensuring it upholds its historic and aesthetic significance,” he said.

The plans identify that the original plantings are nearing the end of their natural lives, and the higher levels of traffic in the area pose management challenges.

As a result, it proposes to take a staggered approach to replacing 205 trees over the next 20 years.

“We take the significance of each tree very seriously as they honour someone who has fought for our country, so when a tree needs replacing due to bad health, new trees are

Kerry strikes TV gold

A Bacchus Marsh resident’s unique hobby has led him to television success, with Adventure Gold Diggers due to air on 7mate this October.

AdventureGoldDiggers follows a cast of five adrenaline-fuelled prospecting and mining teams as they search for gold in remote areas of Australia.

Kerry Toner has long spent his weekends abseiling deep into the shafts and tunnels of Victoria’s historical gold mines, including near Blackwood and Castlemaine.

Up to 120 metres underground he documents long-untouched artefacts that date as far back as the 1880s.

He said what began with an impromptu four-wheel-drive trip after an argument with his now-wife, has turned into a life-changing hobby.

propagated from the removed tree, so all trees remain true to type,” Cr Ward said.

Bacchus Marsh RSL president Mick Baxter said The Avenue of Honour remains one of the main symbols of the RSL.

“That’s where our history is coming from, that’s where our ancestors fought to give us the freedom we have today … There’s a lot of history there and the avenue needs to be preserved for the memories of the fallen.

“My personal opinion is the management strategy and preservation plan looks well placed, however we’ve only had one really brief overview, so I would encourage anyone to go to the drop in sessions.”

Information sessions will be held at the LerderdergLibrary,BacchusMarshonAugust 15, noon to 2pm, August 18, 10am to noon, August 21, 1pm to 3pm and August 23, 5pm to 7pm.

“It was amazing, it opened me up to a whole new world underground. Something that was astounding that I knew nothing about,” he said.

The Victorian Facebook group for Mr Toner’s hobby has just 12 members, and between rockfalls, lost ropes and thinning oxygen, he doesn’t recommend it for people who don’t know what they’re doing.

“It is extremely dangerous … We have had some close misses and scary stuff,” he said.

Mr Toner’s four-person group make up the ‘Mineshaft Hunters’ crew on the show.

The group are no strangers to dark, confined and dangerous spaces, but he said getting in front of the camera is what took him out of his comfort zone.

“Doing the show is really cool, we can show more people what is under their feet

thattheydon’tknowabout.There’stunnels and mines everywhere underneath them,” he said.

“We pushed ourselves harder to get the gold and give the viewers more thrill and insight to what we do.”

Kerry Toner. (Damjan Janevski) 352307_08

Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour.

(Damjan Janevski) 353039_01

A splendid place to play

Diggers Rest’s youngest residents will be able to enjoy $75,000 of improvements and new play equipment at Splendour Circuit Reserve.

The upgraded playground was opened on Tuesday, August 8, by Sunbury MP Josh Bull and Melton mayor Lara Carli.

The play equipment installation is designed to encourage exploration and discovery for younger children while providing additional accessible seating and new tree and shrub plantings.

Mr Bull said these precincts help to create a thriving heart for the Diggers Rest community as it continues to grow.

“Theseprecinctshelpourresidentsfeelproud of their community, and create spaces that people want to visit,” he said. “This project is a fabulous example of what we can achieve when state and local governments come together to provide vital infrastructure that genuinely meets the needs of the community.

“These areas will grow significantly, and we are working hard to provide the infrastructure to support our valued community members for years to come.”

Councillor Carli said delivering open spaces that the community needs is a top priority for council.

“Our local parks are so important for staying connected with community, maintaining healthy habits and ensuring we all have opportunities to get out of the house and exercise,” she said.

“We have transformed this reserve into a spacethatdeliversfortheever-changingfaceof Diggers Rest.”

This project was equally funded by the state government and Melton council through the living local suburban grants program.

Zoe Moffatt

Briefs

Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants

Applications for the 2023 Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants are now open for wildlife shelter operators and foster carers to access grants of up to $3000. The grants will help volunteer wildlife rehabilitators continue to care for thousands of native animals every year including kangaroos, koalas, possums, wombats, birds and reptiles. Applications close at 3.30pm on September 15. Details: wildlife.vic.gov. au/grants/wildlife-rehabilitator-grants

Draft CCTV policy

Moorabool council is seeking community feedback on the development of a CCTV policy for the use of closed-circuit camera systems across the shire. A draft policy has been developed and the community has a chance to have their say before a final policy is taken back to council for adoption. Anyone wishing to provide feedback can take an online survey or make a submission.

Submissions close September 7.

Details: moorabool.engagementhub. com.au/msc-draft-cctv-policy

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Sunbury MP Josh Bull, Shirley and Solenn Wing, and Melton mayor Lara Carli at Splendour Circuit Reserve playground. (Supplied)

Council wants truck traffic help

By Liam McNally

Melton council is advocating to the state government to address safety concerns regarding truck traffic on Christies Road in Ravenhall.

Christies Road forms part of a north-south corridor within the Melton municipality which connects Caroline Springs train station to the Western Highway, and also services Victoria’s largest landfill site.

AtarecentcouncilmeetingcouncillorGoran Kesic raised concerns about the road, which he said poses a “great safety risk”.

“Residents of Caroline Springs are sick and tired of dumpster trucks coming from all directions since Christies Road was opened,” he said.

“Wehaddozensofnearmisses,somecrashes … and it’s time to take action to improve traffic safety.”

Council voted to write to Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne requesting that the Department of Transport and Planning undertake a safety review, including sight lines and speed zones.

The main concern raised was the number of heavy vehicles using three intersections

Building connections

For six years, the Syriac Seniors Group has been providing a space for people of Syriac and Iraqi backgrounds to socialise, strengthen theirconnectiontocommunityandstrengthen their capacity to overcome impacts of trauma in their lives.

Foundation House community liaison worker Kifarkis Nissan, who facilitates the group, said the Syriac community is still new and emerging in Melbourne’s west and can often lack connection. “… So we try to build that connection,” he said.

Along with social connection, he said the group acts as a platform to “bridge the gap” between the new community and service providers.

The group regularly invites providers across a range of services such as migration, centrelink or parenting to teach the members how to engage, so the members can then go on and teach their extended community about the

services.

Mr Nissan said the group is also keen to establish two way communication and share their experience with service providers.

“I’ve been working with this group for five years, I myself feel a part of it,” he said.

“Some are coming from very high educational backgrounds... They always have a passion to learn, interact, ask questions and provide their knowledge.

“The Syriac community astonish me, their commitment and participation and passion to learn… They want their voice to be heard.”

The group meets every fortnight at the Stevenson House Community Centre in Caroline Springs.

Most recently, the group hosted a representative from IPC Health to provide information on aged care services on July 27.

Details: nissank@foundationhouse.org.au or 0459 596 940

Sizzling snags for schools

The Melton Men’s Group have taken up the Australian tradition of providing Bunnings snags to the local community, using the position to raise money for local schools.

For the past six weeks the men’s group has been running the barbeque between 11am and 4pm, donating half the profits from each day todifferentprimaryschoolsintheMeltonarea.

On Monday, August 7, the group visited Arnolds Creek Primary School to deliver the money raised from the first barbeque.

Melton Men’s Group president Les Chitts said the group are trying to do their little bit to help the community.

“We decided we wanted to help the primary schools out because they’re the ones that are finding it hard,” he said.

“Mum and dad might have big mortgages, kids might want to go on excursions or get some new school clothes.

“We leave it up to the schools to figure out how to use it … Some of the emails we’ve got from the schools have been wonderful.”

Mr Chitts said the group has organised to be there for three months, but will talk to Bunnings about extending it.

“We’d like to help out as many schools in the area as we can,” he said.

“The guys who do it on Friday love it because it’s fun.

“We’d like people to come along and support the men’s group and local schools.”

on Christies Road, one at Ballarat Road, one at Palm Springs, and one at Caroline Springs train station.

Cr Kathy Majdlik agreed that the section of road is “extremely dangerous”.

“Heavy vehicle trucks should not be mixing with regular cars and passenger drivers,” she said.

“We always did mark these concerns when they had opened that extra road to the Ravenhall tip but I hope that the minister will take this seriously and really look at the safety concerns before somebody else gets hurt.”

The Department for Planning and

Transport (DPT) said road and intersection improvements are considered based on various factors, regularly monitors the state’s transport network for potential improvement and takes into account advice from stakeholders.

“The Department of Transport and Planning will continue to work closely with councils, who play an important role in guiding and informing future road planning options,” a DPT spokesperson said.

“We all have a role to play when it comes to road safety and we welcome community feedback about how we can make our road network safer.”

Men’s group members John Cancian and and Wayne McKnight with Arnolds Creek Primary principal Frank Pawlowicz and students. (Supplied)

Kifarkis Nissan with the Syriac Seniors Group. (Damjan Janevski) 350058_01

15 August 2023

STAY INFORMED

Quickly and easily connect with us online: melton.vic.gov.au

facebook.com/cityofmelton

Instagram @cityofmeltonofficial

Fair Go 4 Youth

Our Fair Go 4 Youth program to make extra-curriculars more affordable for more families so every child can learn, grow and reach their full potential. The program covers up to $400 per year in registration costs for someone aged 8 to 16 to attend community activities that enrich their lives and education.

A better place for food waste

Fair Go 4 Youth can be used to help attend clubs like AFL, baseball, Scouts and Guides, dance and martial arts, and even cooking and theatre hobby groups.

An additional $200 per year will be available for someone with a disability.

More details are available at melton.vic.gov.au/fairgo4youth

Coburn Ward with Cr Julie Shannon

The cost of living crisis is hitting everyone hard and lots of people are doing it tough in our city.

If you need help to get food or groceries, please reach out to some of our local food relief agencies at melton.vic.gov.au/food-relief

Council can also help connect you with housing and homelessness services; and considering homelessness week is this month, we are well aware that there is high need in this area. Please also reach out if you need financial counselling, crisis counselling or parenting support services.

We recently adopted the 2023/24 Budget which has a few highlights for Coburn Ward including $10.35 million for construction of Bridge Road; $5.7 million for construction of the Bridge Road Community Hub; $3.75 million to upgrade a section of Bulmans Road; $1.8 million for Synthetic Turf Renewal at Kurunjang Recreation Reserve; and just under

a million dollars for bridge upgrades and to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Exford and Greigs Roads.

To learn about projects being delivered in your neighbourhood, visit budget.melton.vic.gov.au

And just a reminder that you can book a free hard waste collection online at melton.vic.gov.au/ HardWaste. Melton residents are entitled to two free hard waste collections or two visits to the Melton Recycling Facility every year. Don’t forget our City of Melton conversations page, your feedback on our projects is valuable. Sign up for alerts at conversations.melton. vic.gov.au to hear about our latest consultations.

Feel free to contact me regarding Coburn Ward or Council related issues on 0499 801 302; email: Julie.shannon@melton.vic.gov.au or like my Facebook page @ julieshannonformelton

Help reduce landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting food and garden scraps in your green bin.

Fruit and vegetables, eggshells, meat and bones are all accepted in the green bin, as well as grass clippings, small branches and weeds.

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

Imagination Magic

September’s Imagination Magic is our Teddy Bears Picnic and bookings are open now. Come along and bring your teddy bear and join us for our show all about teddy bears. With music, magic, stories, puppets and songs, you’re sure to have a GRRREAT time!

Imagination Magic is a monthly performing arts and literacy program for babies, toddlers and pre-school children, and their parents and caregivers with new performers and activities every month to encourage child interaction and provides children with a fun, creative, stimulating experience filled with music and movement.

Get in quick because bookings are limited: melton.vic.gov.au/ imaginationmagic

Mayor’s message

Cr Lara Carli

Last Tuesday I joined the Honourable Ros Spence, Minister for Suburban Development, for a tour of Melton Town Centre to talk about Council’s important town centre renewal project.

The renewal is having great success, from turning the heritage Melton Courthouse into a bustling icecream café, to the Hot House pop-up shops opening up shopfronts to start-up entrepreneurs.

We had an opportunity to look at the construction site for the future Kids Zone, a new playspace in Melton Town Centre on the corner of High Street and Palmerston Street. By creating an engaging and unique play space within the Melton Town Centre, we will encourage more visitors to the area and support local community connection and businesses.

That afternoon, I joined Josh Bull, MP for Sunbury, to open the new playground upgrades at Splendour Circuit Reserve in Diggers Rest.

The $75,000 upgrades included the installation of play equipment designed to encourage exploration and discovery for younger children as well as the inclusion of additional accessible seating and new tree and shrub plantings.

All of these projects were delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government and are just some of the hundreds of projects Council is doing around our city to make it better every single day.

Upgrades like this help deliver walkable, liveable suburbs for everyone.

Feel free to contact me about Watts Ward or Council related issues on 0409 951 020 or email at: lara.carli@melton.vic.gov.au or visit my Facebook page at: facebook.com/Cr.LaraCarli

Mayor Cr Lara Carli

Deputy Mayor Cr Julie Shannon

Cr Steve Abboushi

Cr Justine Farrugia

Cr Goran Kesic

Cr Kathy Majdlik

Cr Sophie Ramsey Cr Bob Turner Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg

Melton East open space culled

The Melton East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) will be designed with 20 hectares less open space than originally planned for by Melton council, following guidance from the Victorian Building Authority (VPA).

The Melton East PSP is set to become home toapproximately34,000peopleandisbounded by Kororoit Creek to the north-east, Western Freeway to the south, Leakes Road to the east and the Melton Highway to the north-west.

A PSP is a land use and infrastructure plan to guide the development of an area over time developed by the Victorian Planning

Authority and council.

Council originally planned for the area to have 75 hectares of open space at Melton East, based on its open space strategy guideline of 2.2 hectares of open space per 1000 people.

The VPA uses an area based methodology, reserving 10 per cent of an area for open space, leaving Melton East with 55 hectares.

Council chose to accept the VPAs method for Melton East and all future PSPs at a meeting on July 31.

Council and the VPA have also planned for additional 30 hectares of regional open space.

On a mission to help

The Humble Mission is calling for food donations from Melbourne’s west to help meet demand for those who are experiencing disadvantage.

The Humble Mission was established in 2020 as a not-for-profit charity to provide support to individuals and families in crisis with the daily essentials of life.

The Humble Mission founder Shaymaa Elkadisaidthefoodreliefserviceis100percent reliant on donations. As the cost of living crisis continues to hurt families across the country, Ms Elkadi said her charity is continuing to see growing numbers of people seeking food relief. “We try to make sure every donation goes as far as it can,” she said.

“We are seeing an increase in numbers and that’s why we are calling out for help. We want this to be a grassroots initiative and we want people to donate and see where their donations are going.”

The charity accepts fresh food donations

along with non-perishable items that can be dropped off on Fridays from 5-8pm at 24 City Vista Court, Fraser Rise.

Ms Elkadi said the charity strives to operate inawaythatempowerspeople.Fooddonations are collected and distributed at a weekly Saturdaymarketwherepeoplecanchoosefrom the foods available.

“Weencouragepeopletohavechoice,andwe wanttogivethemdignity…beinginaposition of disadvantage shouldn’t mean you don’t have choice,” she said.

“There is no dignity in waiting in a line for food, so we try to make the experience as least intimidatingaspossible.Wewantpeopletofeel welcome to come back if they need to.”

Ms Elkadi is also putting the pitch out to businesses who would like to get involved and are willing to provide regular donations.

Details: https://www.thehumblemission. com/

The30hectaresofregionalactiveopenspace will be split into two 15 hectare reserves in the Melton East and Warrensbrook PSPs.

The PSPs are split by Kororoit Creek, however the Warrenbrook PSP is yet to be developed.

Both of the reserves will be provided with car parking, pavilions and infrastructure required for recreation and the spaces should be used entirely for local use which would benefit the community.

All critical infrastructure such as pavilions, netball courts, lighting, car parking and

fencing will be located outside of floodplains as part of these changes.

Councillor Kathy Majdlik asked officers if there would be sufficient open space to meet the needs of the local community in this PSP and was told there was.

CrJulieShannonsaidthedecisionisthebest outcome for the area.

“And the fact that there’s nothing going to be built on any 50 or 100 year flood event plain is a great idea,” she said.The Melton East PSP is expected to be released for community consultation in late 2023.

Hannah Hammoud

The Humble Mission provides people enduring disadvantage with access to essentials like meals, groceries and toiletries, every Saturday at Batman Park in the CBD. (Supplied)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

Fundraiser for Exford families

Bacchus Marsh Anglican Social Team is holding a Devonshire Tea on Saturday, August 26, to raise money for families affected by the Exford Road bus crash. From 2pm to 4pm in the Anglican Church Hall at 19a Gisborne Road, Bacchus Marsh. There will be a trading stall. Admission: $10 for adults or $5 for children.

■ Heather, 04107 73 280

Darley Neighbourhood House

DNHLC has a range of upcoming events and classes including a Marsh Mender Repair Cafe on Sunday, August 27, from 10am to noon, with a bike puncture workshop on the same day at 10.30am. There’ll be a wire sculpture light feature workshop on Sunday, September 10, from noon to 2.30pm, and a buttercream icing on cupcakes session on September 13, from 10am to noon. Prices vary.

■ https://darleylearning.com/ term-3-4-dnh-2023/

Free tax help

In partnership with the ATO, Melton South Community Centre is offering free Tax Help to individuals looking for help completing their personal 2022-23 tax return. Forty-five-minute appointments are available on Thursdays until October. Eligibility criteria apply. Call the centre to find out more or book an appointment with our volunteer.

■ 9747 8576

First aid courses

Melton South Community Centre offers a range of First Aid courses, including HLTAID009, HLTAID011 and HLTAID012, and is now taking enrolments for Saturday, August 19. Call the centre for information or to enrol.

■ 9747 8576

Melton Ladies Probus

Meets from 10am on the second Wednesday of each month at Melton Country Club on Reserve Road, Melton. All visitors are welcome.

■ Dianne, 9743 7446

The Gap on Graham

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

■ Val, 0414 769 605.

Melton Men’s Group

Melton Men’s Group meets every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm at Arnolds Creek Children’s and Community Centre, 19 Claret Ash Boulevard, Harkness. Focusing on Senior Men’s mental and physical wellbeing. Join the group for a cuppa and a chat, listen to guest speakers and participate in activities including carpet bowls, pool or table tennis.

■ meltonmensgroup.home.blog

Take weight off naturally

Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere?

Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton.

■ Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Parkinson’s support group

The Melton Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the second Thursday of the month 10.30am–12.30pm at Kurunjang

Community Centre, 33-35 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang. New members and carers welcome.

■ Helen, 0409 186 576

Melton Bridge Club

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

■ Rosemary, 0407 894 817

Melton Friendship Group.

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

■ 0406 493 734

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club

The Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10am at Melton Country Club. New members welcome.

■ Ann 0425705150

Melton South Knit & Natter

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

■ 9747 8576

Zonta club meets

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

■ Suzanne, 0417 512 420

U3A Melton

U3A Melton offers among its activities a book group, Australian history and a gentle exercise class for those 55 and older who are retired or semi-retired who wish to stay mentally and physically active.

■ 0419 563 016

Melton Combined Probus Club

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

■ 9746 0271

Rose Carers Of Maddingley Park

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

■ Elaine Greenhall, 0418 171 119, or 0400 052 857

Melton Cycling Club

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

■ 0403 057 003

Community singing group

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

■ Val, 0418 667 150

Rotary Club of Melton

The Rotary Club of Melton invites new guests to join its meetings, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, 6pm at Tabcorp Park, Melton.

■ meltonrotary@gmail.com

Melton Trauma Teddies

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

■ Jean 0412 931 498

Boomerang Bags Bacchus Marsh

Boomerang Bags Bacchus Marsh make reusable shopping bags from rescued fabric. They need people to cut, sew, iron and market our bags. The group meets on the first Sunday each month at Darley Neighbourhood House 2pm-5pm.

■ https://63ec55b8628d6.site123.me/

Bacchus Marsh and District Garden

Club

The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month except January, from 7.30pm, at The Laurels, 229 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh. Guest speakers and supper provided. Yearly membership $15. New members welcome.

■ Michelle, 0421 106 268

Community Band

Greater Western Community Band, (founded 1991) is based in Melton. Rehearsals are on Thursdays, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, at Blackwood Drive Hall, Melton South. The group welcomes musicians young and old to come along and join in with the band. Also available for performance at events and festivals.

■ Sally Hamond, 0401 474 582

Over 50s Social Group

A friendly group of people aged over 50 who enjoy each other’s company while attending events and outings such as dinners, shows, dancing, cinemas and more. If you live in the Melton area and would like to meet new friends, in a welcoming group environment, this is for you.

■ Marlene, 0498329290

BusyFeet Hillside

BusyFeet is a dance and movement class for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. Classes create a fun and inclusive environment for kids aged 6 to 16 to try new things and build social skills, as well as giving a chance for parents’ respite. 11am, to 11.45am Saturday mornings.

■ Ross, 0411 228 311

Sunrise Social Groups

GenWest Sunrise Social Groups are currently seeking new members for their Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham programs. The free groups are organised by Genwest and provide a social space for women, gender diverse and nonbinary people, who have a disability, chronic health issues and/ or mental health challenges.

■ https://genwest.org.au/what-we-do/ health-wellbeing-programs/

This weeks photographer’s choice picture is of dancers Lily, Liana, Saoirse, Jada, Hannah, Sienna and Fifi preparing for the Exford Primary Charity Gala. (Damjan Janevski) 351231

PUZZLES

SUDOKU

No. 62 7 8132 5 68

QUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Contract part (6)

4 Thick cable (6)

10 Excel (5)

11 Journeyed (9)

12 Tropical fruit (9)

8 Straddling (4)

9 Victorian mountain range (7)

16 Had a small piece broken off (7)

17 Plant yielding fragrant oil (8)

57 6 5817 92 3

13 Donor (5)

14 Figure (6) 15 Impoverished (4)

19 Wan (4)

18 Archipelago off the coast of Scotland (8) 19

1 Cutting very short (9)

2 Self-government (8)

3 Retention (7)

5 One who evens the score (7)

6 Drivel (6)

7 Horsemen (6)

easy 78 6 73 29 6

DECODER WORDFIT

2 347 2 8 276 9

5 317 8 4 215 6

hard

21 7 29 4 65

medium 75 1 1639 81 2

84 26 4 58 6

1 14

2 15

3 16

4 17

5 18

6 19

7 20

8 21

9 22

10 23

11 24

12 25

12 345678910111213

481327659

752169843

675813294 346295781

234976518 598731426

963458172

127684935

183276459

742861395

915723648

257194863 526317984

694538217 839645172

easy medium hard

368459721

471982536

14 words: Good 21 words: Very good 29 words: Excellent Today’s Aim:

3 TIMED TRIPE TROTS TYRES UNITE WANNA WEEDS 6 LETTERS CAMERA DRONED ORDERS TESTER

691432587

387921645

146578329

819542367 764895231

452786193 935214876

873159462 218367954

529643718

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

7 LETTERS BRITTLE DEPRIVE MURDERS PRECEDE UNNERVE WOWSERS 8 LETTERS CAUTIONS DESERTED DETAINED EXCERPTS

emir, firm, firmer, form, former, forming, frogmen, from, germ, gnome, grim, grime, inform, informer, merino, mien, mine, miner, minor, mire, monger, more, morn, nome, norm, omen, reform, REFORMING, rime

18-08-23 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

No. 146

G O S A E A A E E V D Y R G R O S S R A V E N A W A R E N E R V E D R Y E R M

1 In what year will Halley’s Comet return to the solar system?

2 The comet’s namesake, Edmund Halley, was from which country?

3 The White Cliffs of Dover (pictured) are primarily what kind of rock?

4 On which continent is the pink river dolphin found?

5 What is the mineral predominantly mined in Coober Pedy?

6 Who starred as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films?

7 How many European countries are members of the openborders Schengen Area?

8 The River Lagan runs through which European capital?

9 Who was the other co-founder of Apple Inc., apart from Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs?

10 In which California suburb is Apple Park, the headquarters for Apple Inc.?

13 26 GZ ANSWERS: 1. 2061 2. England 3. Chalk 4. South America 5. Opal 6. Ian McKellen 7. 27w 8. Belfast 9. Ronald Wayne 10. Cupertino.

No. 146

No. 146

$

•All advertisements must be pre-paid. For $29.00 you get a 4 line, ONE ITEM ONLY advertisement, restricted to “For Sale” or “Motoring” items only for private advertisers, run initially for 13 weeks or until sold. Additional lines will be charged at $3 per line per publication.

•After your advertisement has run for 13 weeks you must call us each fortnight to renew it for a further 2 week period AND reduce the price of your item by a minimum 5% for items in the “For Sale” section or 3% for items in the “Motoring” section. This process may continue until you have sold your item. If we do not hear from you we will assume you have sold your item and your advertisement will not appear.

• The sale price must be included in the advertisement and the only alterations you may make are to the PRICE of your item.

• Business advertisements, rental hire, pets & livestock and real estate are not included in the offer.

• The publisher reserves the right to decline any booking for the purpose of ongoing gain.

SPORTS QUIZ

1. How much was Port Adelaide fined for not following proper concussion protocols in their recent AFL match against Adelaide?

2. Who was named player of the series in

3. What kind of animal is the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup mascot Tazuni?

4. How many minutes did the longest point in a professional tennis match last for?

5. The upcoming movie Challengers revolves around which sport?

Which African nation is playing Australia, Brazil and Venezuela in a series of basketball friendlies in August?

Which NBA team was Michael Jordan part-owner of from 2006 to 2023?

Who did Samantha Stosur defeat to win the US Open tennis title in 2011?

In which year was the Monaco Grand Prix first held?

How many Formula 1 Grand Prix victories does Daniel Ricciardo have?

Who captained Australia at the 2023 Netball World Cup?

Which national team did Australia defeat 61-45 to win the 2023 Netball World Cup?

13. Which national team did Jamaica defeat 52-45 to win bronze at the 2023 Netball World Cup?

14. Which Rugby League legend was the inaugural captain of the Brisbane Broncos?

15. Which country in Central Europe is hosting the 2023 World Athletics Championships?

16. Which cricketer is captain of Australia's Twenty20 team?

17. Nathan Lyon is set to play the next Big Bash League season for which Victoria-based team?

18. Which national team knocked the US out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

19. Which NFL team was sold in July 2023 to a group of investors including former NBA legend Magic Johnson?

20. Which country is set to host the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup?

21. The Dodgers and the Angels are MLB teams from which US city?

22. In which year did Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis win the Men’s Double’s title in the Australian Open?

23. Who is the captain of the Australian women’s national cricket team?

24. Current Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey once captained which AFL team?

25. Sam Kerr missed the first two matches of the FIFA Women's World Cup due to what injury?

26. And against which team did she make her first appearance after recovering?

27. As of July, Max Verstappen and which other driver have won Grands Prix in the 2023 Formula One World Championship?

28. What nickname is Australia’s tennis Fed Cup team called?

29. Excluding 2023, how many World Cups has the Australian netball team won?

30. Liam Stocker has played for which two AFL teams?

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The Big Apple Cafe Bacchus Marsh

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7/11 Service Station Bacchus Marsh

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Bacchus Mart Indian Grosery Store Bacchus Marsh

Bacchus Marsh Village UFS Pharmacy Bacchus Marsh

Australia Post Bacchus Marsh

Milk Bar the Avenue Bacchus Marsh

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My Little Mates Convenience Store Darley

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Real Estate Agents Everywhere

Price an electric shock from Kia

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring

Not before time, it’s a chance to dip a toe into theexpandingpoolofKiaelectricvehicleswith a stint in the Niro compact sports utility, albeit the top-of-the-range GT-Line.

And there looms the first obstacle: where the EV models open their account at $44,380, plus on-road costs, for the petrol / electric hybrid Niro HEV S, the full electric GT-Line sets back the buyer $72,100. That’s a big pile of dosh to step over.

And what do you receive in return?

The second-generation Niro has landed with a new look, new advanced technology, reworked powertrains, for the first time Kia Connect connected services, and what Kia claims is a 460-kilometre range.

Kia Connect is an intelligent remote-control app with functions including remote engine start, door lock control and remote climate control, as well as innovative in-car services such as destination and vehicle tracking and system status, valet parking mode, local points of interest and emergency call feature.

Kia Connect is covered over the full Kia seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty and is fully transferable.

The Niro EV has extended Kia’s vehicle bidirectional charging ability whereby the vehicle can not only receive power but supply it from its high-voltage battery. In this case the so-called vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability can be used to charge external devices such as laptops.

Damien Meredith, chief operating officer of Kia Australia, said the Niro represented a sizeable improvement over its predecessor, helping to bolster the Korean manufacturer’s local line-up of electrified vehicles.

Styling

There is no mistaking the new-look Niro EV GT-Line with its striking colours. The test car, for example, was Snow White Pearl with contrasting Steel Grey panels on both sides between the C-Pillar and rear.

Underpinning this post-modern patterning were unique jazzy 17-inch alloy wheels. Up front a compact LED light set-up combines headlamp, daytime running lights and turn indicators, while rear lights include an integrated aerodynamic design that cleans airflow to help improve illumination.

The styling is regular SUV stuff and in GT-Line is topped off with a panoramic sunroof and powered tailgate.

Charge points are not easy to find on some EVs. Not so here: access is via an instantly recognisableflapsituatedinthecentreofwhere an ICE radiator would normally live.

Interior

The new SUV platform translates to ample space inside the cabin, capable of taking up to five occupants in relative comfort. Faux leather trim extends to front heated and ventilated seats and two-spoke heated steering wheel.

Bigger than before, with every dimension but height increasing, seat and steering wheel adjustment are adequate for comfortable driving, while the rear bench is flat and can be firmonlongerjourneys.Legandheadroomare good.

The rotary transmission controller and push button motor start / stop switch share the centre console.

Boot space, accessed via a power tailgate, has taken a jump to 475 litres but with the seats down, 1392 litres is thirteen fewer than the old car.

An under-bonnet boot holds 20 litres and is home to the battery charging lead in a dedicated compartment, while the V2L plug is located in the base of the rear seat at hand for running laptops or other small appliances.

Infotainment

Two 10.25-inch screens take pride of place in the GT-Line’s digital dash - to the left speedo and the right a power metre. The other media and entertainment screen is packed with

features including an innovative display showing the power flow and the charge state of the battery.

There’s also a 10-inch colour head-up windscreen display, while an eight-speaker harman / kardon audio delivers quality DAB+ radio and also has USB Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a wireless phone charging point up front

Powertrain

The Niro EV 150 kW electric motor is carried over from the existing car, Kia stating it now develops 255Nm - 140 Nm shy of the outgoing model without performance being compromised but range being improved. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a single reduction gear transmission, with the 64.8 kWh battery pack enabling a driving range of up to 460 kilometres, five kilometres more than the car it replaces.

Safety

ANCAP is yet to assess and crash-test the Niro so it does not yet have a rating. Eight airbags (dual front, dual side, dual curtain, driver’s knee and centre) feature across the Niro range. Active safety includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, forward collision warning, forward Autonomous emergency braking with junction collision avoidance,

AT

RANGE

Kia Niro HEV GT-Line: $50,030

Kia Niro EV S: $65,300

Kia Niro EV GT-Line: $72,100

SPECIFICATIONS

Kia Niro EV GT-Line single electric motor, single speed, FWD SUV

reverse AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, reversing camera, forward and reverse cross-traffic alert, exit and rear seat occupant warning.

Driving

First impressions are the quietness of the car – from engine and wind to road surface noise – the result of advanced sound deadening material.

One of three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – can be called up by means of a steering wheel-mounted button. Eco is largely forgettable, Sport is firmer but less economical,

while Normal is relaxed and in keeping with the car’s character.

With a factory claimed 16.3 kWh per 100-kilometre average fuel consumption, the test car recorded an accumulated figure of 14.1 kWh per 100 kilometres average over a week of mixed driving.

A top-up battery charge of around 20 per cent, to 80 pc on a public fast charger, took 40 minutes, pushing the car’s range to 300-plus kilometres. Cost was less than $6.

Kia conducted a full ride and handling tune for the second-generation Niro in Australia, making it the first vehicle from the Korean brand to receive steering map changes since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Steeringwheelpaddlescanbeusedtochoose between three levels of braking regeneration. The strongest is good in traffic and delivers a pretty good one-pedal driving experience.

The turning circle is a solid 10.6 metres and thoughtfully Kia has kicked in with a remote parking feature where the key fob can be used to start the car and roll it forward and back to fit in tight garages or shopping centre spots.

Summary

The Kia Niro EV GT-Line is fine on fuel economy, comfort, range and charging convenience. However, $70K-plus is a lot to step over before getting into the car.

Generational changes inside and out for Kia Niro electric SUV. (Pictures: Supplied)

Jason Orr steps up to lead the Saints as coach

New St Anthonys coach Jason Orr is hoping a familiar face in charge will help get people back to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association club.

It’s been a tough few years for the Saints on and off the field, but with a new committee and new coach they are keen to turn things around.

Orr said he was excited for the new opportunity.

“I guess I’m probably not that young now, there won’t be too many opportunities to do it,” he said.

“The opportunity arose and I always wanted to do it, so I thought I would take it on this year.

“I’ve been captain, vice-captain and I’ve always helped out with the coaching and I coached juniors many years ago.

“I’ve had plenty of experience and this is probably as good a time as ever to do it.”

Orr joined the club back in 2014 from Bacchus Marsh and has been there ever since. He’s been part of premiership sides and seen the club rise to the top grade.

The last few seasons they have dropped back down grades. Last season the Saints finished eighth in the Jensen Shield.

Orr said they weren’t sure what grade they would be in this season, but said he was focused on making sure the club is there for a long time to come.

He said bringing the fun back was one of the main things he was looking to do.

“It is tough for St Anthonys and we go through a lot of players,” he said.

“The kids go off to bigger clubs to play on turf.

“We have a relaxed and social vice and we want people to come and play cricket and enjoy themselves.

‘Hopefully with me being named coach we can get a few people back, and people can see we are on the right track.”

Orr said the new committee was also keen to turn things around. He said the group was full of passionate people happy to give up their time to see it succeed.

The club had put out a call to arms in the off season for new committee members.

“They want the best for the club going forward,” he said. “They want the club to be there for a long time.”

The Saints will start training this Sunday before the season kicking off in October.

Tara Murray Jason Orr. (Shawn Smits)

Falcons celebrate seventh title

By Tara Murray

It’s seventh heaven for the City West Falcons with the club winning its seventh Victorian Netball League championship title on Wednesday night.

Having won the last two championships in 2019 and 2022, the Falcons made it a hat-trick of wins with a hard fought win against the Boroondara Express.

The Falcons led by six goals at quarter time, before the Express started to take control of the game and led by two goals at half time.

For much of the third and early in the fourth quarter, it was goal for goal.

The Falcons regained the lead three minutes into the last quarter and they didn’t let it go. A strong defensive finish sealed a 60-54 win for the Falcons.

Falcons coach Marg Lind said they had to put everything out there to come away with the win.

“I think Boroondara really took it to us,” she said. “They obviously had nothing to lose and they had a great finals series.

“We justhadalittlebufferinthelastquarter.”

Lind said Boroondara changed things up in the middle quarters defensively to try and shut down Maggie Lind and Montana Holmes.

She said it worked really well, but they were able to adjust and get the game back on their terms.

“I think once we were able to free it up a bit, just let the ball go,” she said.

“We had Maggie coming long which helped and Montana getting a bit of ball deeper, where we were probably sitting in the pocket early in the second quarter that hurt.

“I thought Lucia [Fauonuku] made a really good difference in the last two quarters, pushing them up the court a bit and adding that transverse option and we swung the ball a little bit which put them off guard.”

Lind said defensively they did a really good job with everyone on court making a contribution.

Holmes was awarded the best on court medal.

Jane Cook shot 51 goals for the Falcons in a solid performance at goal shooter.

Sophie Hanrahan was another one of the stars in defence, particularly in the second half when she moved back into goal keeper.

Her performance wasn’t nearly to be though.

“There is a broken finger,” Lind said of Hanrahan.

“It was 50-50 for her to even play, the finger was looking pretty good and splinted pretty well.

“Good on her. It was gutsy and that is what it takes to win finals.”

For the Falcons this is one of their hardest championships to win. While they didn’t lose after round one, there were many nervous moments with making sure they had all bases covered for finals.

Lind said she still doesn’t know how they did it.

“It was tough and there was a lot of pressure thisseason,makingsurewehadenoughplayers qualified,” she said.

“Kids like Molly Kennedy making the drive down from Shepparton to give us that extra midcourt, she didn’t get on tonight bit did a really good job.

“Credit to all the girls, It was hard concentrating on the World Cup, having to come back to the Falcons. It must have felt a bit surreal for some of them.

“Kim [Borger] was actually injured and probably couldn’t have played tonight anyhow,

but her presence and support was fantastic.”

FortheFalconsitwasn’talljoyonWednesday night, with their under-19 side falling short of defending their title losing to Melbourne University, 45-32.

Lind said the side was a bit wasteful and a bit nervous, but with many of them still 15, 16, they have a few years to come before they hit their straps.

Overall, Lind said it had been a successful season for them with all three teams making finals and walking away with one premiership.

“Great club effort for the western suburbs,” she said.

With the competition format changing after

this season, it’s an end of the era for the VNL as it is known.

Lind said that was something that they had reallyfocusedon.Co-captainMaggieLindalso made mention of it in her post game speech.

“We saw this as the last VNL game as is,” Marg Lind said.

“It was important to us and really important to me. I felt like we won the first one and we wantedtowinthelastone,notsomuchworried about back to back, more like the book ends, so we got there.”

“Up until tonight we had more premierships than all the clubs together, so we’re probably about square now which was a big effort.”

Left: Sophie Hanrahan takes an important intercept in the final quarter. Right: Montana Holmes was named best on court. (Pictures: Tara Murray)

The City West Falcons celebrate with their fans.

Denaro to finish up at Sharks at end of season

Hillside coach Charlie Denaro believes the time is right for a new voice to leave the Essendon District Football League division 1 club forward.

The Sharks announced on Wednesday that Denaro had informed the club he wasn’t seeking reappointment as senior coach next year due to work and other commitments.

Denaro took on the senior coaching role in late 2019, having previously been an assistant coach to Steve Burns.

Denaro said the timing was right for him to step away.

“I think that I’ve had a good run,” he said. “I think it’s time for a bit of a different direction and a new voice.

“The decision was made quite a while ago and I spoke to the club about my intentions.

“It was really hard as I love the club, but I believe it is the right thing to do.”

Denaro first started at the club in 2005 and has been a player, an assistant coach, a junior coach, a senior coach, senior vice president, president and was awarded life membership in 2022.

He said he had seen many of the footballers at the club grow from kids through to senior footballers.

“A lot of the boys I have coached since under-14s,” he said.

“Tristian Rudic, Bailey Ryan are some that I’ve coached almost their whole careers. I’ve

worked with the playing group a long time and seen them through the ranks.

“Seeing them develop and watch them grow asfootballersandpeoplehasbeenahighlight.”

Denaro said after challenges the first couple of years when they lost a number of players and COVID-19, the club was now in

Season over for Bears

By Tara Murray

Burnside Heights season came to an end on Saturday against a red hot Essendon Doutta Stars in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 preliminary final.

After being seconds away from making the grand final in its semi final, the Bears had to back it up against the Stars on Saturday.

For a second straight week, the Stars put the game to bed in the first half as they piled on the scoreboard pressure.

The Bears were able to finish the game strongly, but the Stars had done enough to win, 8.6 (54)-3.3 (21) and make it through to the grand final.

Bears president Justin Peagam said they were beaten by a better team on the day.

“The feeling out of the camp was that they were a little bit more deflated from the weekend before than showed during the week,” he said.

“They started flat and things just didn’t happen. The last quarter they were able to go out with some pride.”

Peagram said the impact of Victorian Football League Women’s players returning for finals hadn’t helped his side come the

pointy end of the season.

He said across both the men’s and women’s competitions, it can have a big impact.

“We don’t have those players in the mix,” he said.

“In the home and away season we were able to mix it with everyone, but we couldn’t yesterday [Saturday].”

While disappointed to go out of the finals in straight sets, Peagram said the group had taken a lot from this season.

The side dropped back to division 1 from premier division for 2023, after finishing bottom in premier division last year.

“The last couple of years we’ve struggled with injuries and they’ve been able to come back.

“We had a good mix and we’re really proud of them, but they didn’t achieve what they wanted this year.”

The match was the last one for coach Jeff Stevens in charge, as he announced after the game that he was standing down.

Peagram said Stevens leaves the role on a good note.

“After five years he thinks he has done as much as he can,” he said. “He thinks they need a change of voice.

“He will still be around the club. We are now hunting for a new coach.”

It was a tough weekend all round for the Bears, with their division 2 men’s side now officially out of the finals race.

The Bears lost to the Sunbury Kangaroos, 19.15 (129)-7.13 (55), with the Kangaroos moving into the top four heading into the final round.

Peagram said the long season had taken its toll on the group.

“Injuries and overseas holidays have taken a toll,” he said.

“It was hard with a young team as it was and we’re now looking at some 16-year-olds, who have earned their dues.

“The young boys started to feel the pinch towards the end. Some of our guys are starting to feel the riggers of season football.

“The Sunbury Kangaroos were a bit more physical and ran over the top of us.”

The Bears were hit with some more injuries as well, making it hard with rotations in the second half.

Peagram said they were hoping to finish the season on a high against Coburg Districts, which needs a win to play finals.

a good place.

“Whoever takes on the role, the club is set up with a good list,” he said.

“We lost a lot of players and were able to stay resilient and progressed the last two years with our list with a couple of full seasons.

“We’re likely to get a little bit of reward with a crack at finals. I’ve started this journey and while there is still some unfinished business, we have ticked a lot of boxes.”

The Sharks locked in their finals spot on Saturday despite losing to Deer Park, 23.23 (161)-5.4 (34).

Denaro said before the match he is looking forward to the back part of the season and what it might bring.

“We want to win every game, nothing changes in that respect,” he said.

“We’ve got two massive challenges and we potentially have the same time in the last game and in the first final.

“We’ll continue to play footy for minimum two weeks. Hopefully, its three, four, five or six weeks.”

Tara Murray

Sports shorts

Ballarat FNL

Maddingley Park will host some Ballarat Football Netball League senior finals. The league had hoped to host finals at Darley Park, but after consultation with Moorabool council and the BFNL board a decision was made that Maddingley Park would be used as a final’s venue instead of Darley Park, due to facilities not being ready for use.

BFL

Darley destroyed the winless Melton South side in its round 16 clash of the Ballarat Football League season. The Devils won by 212 points in the clash, with the Panthers held goalless until the last quarter. The Devil’s Will Johnson and Billy Myers booted seven goals each. While captain Brent Bewley had three for himself and was again named amongst the best players. Bacchus Marsh also celebrated a big victory, beating Lake Wendouree by 92 points. The Cobras’ Isaac Nixon kicked six, while Melton had a bye.

RDFL

Top of the table Diggers Rest won its round 17 clash in the Riddell District Football League against Romsey. The Burras were 22 point victors cementing their spot at the top of the table. Macedon crushed the Western Rams by 133 points, with the Cats now sitting a game clear in fifth spot ahead of Romsey. Lancefield got its fourth win of the season, with the Tigers getting over the line by only one point, in the day’s biggest upset. Wallan won the other match against Woodend-Hesket.

FV

Melton Phoenix did its promotion hopes no harm with a big win in the FV state league 5 west competition on Friday night. Facing top side Balmoral, the Phoenix came away with a 2-1 win to keep in touch with the top two sides. The Phoenix are now four points behind Balmoral and three points behind West Point, which has played one extra match. There are two rounds left in the season.

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Charlie Denaro (left) will stand down at the end of the season (Supplied)

Anj Singh (Ljubica Vrankovic) 350281_40

Catch A Wave on target after winning at Melton

Catch A Wave showed he is right on target for next month’s TAB Eureka by returning to winning ways at Melton Park on Saturday night.

The Andy Gath-trained Miracle Mile and Chariots of Fire champ was beaten in his return to the track on July 22, but put up a brilliant run to claim a convincing, albeit narrow, victory in the My Lightning Blue Free For All.

Catch A Wave let the early dust settle from his outside back row draw and then came with a three-wide charge in the last lap to surge past leader Bulletproof Boy entering the home straight. He got a length clear on that rival, but had his advantage whittled away as Scott Ewen’s star kicked back strongly and closed the margin to a neck on the line.

The closing quarters of 27.4 and 27.7 contributed to a sharp mile rate of 1:51.7 over the 1720m trip.

“It never felt like it was going to get me, thank God. So it wasn’t as scary out there as what the start before was and he was holding him just there on the line,” driver Kate Gath

said.

“He’s just knocking off a little bit more than what I’d like, so I just have to work on that a little bit.”

Andy Gath says that is likely to be Catch A Wave’s last start before the TAB Eureka

on September 2, but a public trial is still on the cards before the $2.1million slot race at Menangle.

Half an hour after Catch A Wave’s success, one of his main Eureka rivals added to his picket fence formline with a dominant

performance in the TAB Download The App 3YO Pace.

Emma Stewart-trained The Lost Storm capitalised on a strong tempo set up front by stablemate Techys Watching and top Kiwi Son Of Mac, and came with a withering finishing burst to score by 5m over Final Collect.

It continued a flawless preparation for the three-year-old, who is now unbeaten from his past seven trips to the races as he heads towards the Eureka.

“I give him a big chance,” regular driver Mark Pitt said.

“I personally think that he’s right in with a big show.”

Mastertrainer-driverChrisLanghasalways had a big opinion of his squaregaiter Ollivici and the five-year-old returned from a spell with great win in the Maori’s Idol Trotters Free For All.

He led and dominated the sprint trip battle to prevail at his first start since February’s Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

Lakers secure a vital win

Caroline Springs got a vital win in the race for the Western Region Football League division 1 finals.

Currently sitting outside the top four. the Lakers need luck to go their way in the run home to seal a second straight finals spot.

On Saturday, the Lakers snuck home against Point Cook Centrals.

The Sharks, who beat ladder leaders Werribee Districts the week before, started the better of the two teams and led by 16 points at half time.

They were still in front by 10 points at the last change.

The Lakers were able to kick four goals to two in the final quarter to sneak home for an 11.11 (77)-11.6 (72) win.

Ryan Allan kicked five goals for the Lakers, while veteran Stephen Brewer was named best on ground alongside Billy Crofts.

The Lakers move up a position with Spotswood losing to Altona, now sitting in fifth spot.

Western United celebrating Wednesday’s win (supplied) 353248_01

United’s hot start to Australia Cup campaign

By Harper Sercombe

Western United entered the Australia Cup with a bang as it seeks to venture deep into the competition.

On Wednesday night, United won in a dominant 4-0 display against New South Wales’, National Premier League side Edgeworth Eagles.

United advanced to the round of 16 stage where its next challenger is not yet known, with the match to be played later in August.

Western United started with a flurry of goals, being 3-0 up after the first 31 minutes of the game, with goals to Noah Botic, Michael Ruhs and Lachlan Wales, who went on to score a brace in the second half. The Eagles didn’t get an on target shot on goal and had only 31 per cent of the possession.

Star left back Ben Garuccio said it was nice to get some goals on the board early.

“It’s always good to get that first one out of

the way,” he said.

“These cup games can be tricky sometimes, so it was a good performance from the boys.”

United coach John Aloisi named four debutants in the starting line-up with goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle, defender James Donachie as well as midfielders Angus Thurgate and Riku Danzaki making their first competitive appearances for the club.

After failing to make finals last season, off the back of a championship season in 2021-22, Garuccio said he thought the side was in need of some new talent and players.

He said it was good to see some fresh faces on the pitch.

“We bought quite a lot of younger players in as well which is I think really important for us, and then also bought in some good experienced players as well,” he said.

Brazilian star Daniel Penha was also signed by United in the offseason, via a one-year loan deal from Brazilian giants and parent club

Atletico Mineiro after departing Daegu FC last season, where he made 11 appearances for the Korean outfit.

With the season only about two months from kick off, Garuccio said preparations have been good with the new additions to the squad as they hope to launch back into the finals.

“There’s a lot of learning to do, a lot of gelling to do,” he said.

“I think it’s about just getting everyone on board and getting everyone to buy into what we want to do here as a club, but also for the way that we want to play.

“As a club that’s (finals) is where we want to be, that’s where we see ourselves.

“That’s what we need to be aiming for every year and I think definitely our team is more than good and capable enough to do that.

“The hard part is translating that onto the pitch and making sure that we are doing the right things that the coach wants us to do to get the results that we want.”

The fourth placed Yarraville-Seddon Eagles, the Lakers and Spotswood all sit on the same amount of points.

The Eagles have a narrow percentage lead on the Lakers, while Spotswood’s percentage is nearly 20 per cent behind the other two teams.

The Lakers this week face bottom side Hoppers Crossing in the second last round, while the Eagles and Spotswood face each other.

Inthewomen’sdivision1competition, the Lakers came away with the win after Parkside Spurs forfeited. The Lakers sit in third spot.

In division 2, the Lakers moved into the top four with a big win against Braybrook.

The regular season concludes for the women’s competitions this weekend.

Billy Crofts (Jacob Pattison)330728_07

Tim O’Connor

Catch A Wave (Stuart McCormick)

Bessell gets her century after kicking ten goals

An incredible season for Darley star player Kim Bessell continues as she notched up 100 goals to conclude the Ballarat Football League home and away season.

Bessell needed five goals to reach triple figures and was able to do so in the second quarter as she finished the day with 10. Amazingly her fourth goal of the day, or 99th for the season, was also her 200th career goal which added to the day’s celebrations.

Darley dominated Carisbrook on Sunday winning 21.10 (136)-0.0 (0) to give the Devils a top two spot for the finals series.

Bessell said the day was epic and one of the most special things that she has been a part of.

“The support I’ve had from the club is amazing, it’s something that I’ll never forget,” she said. “I’ve got an incredible team. So the delivery I get is very, very special.”

Devils president Mark Shelly said Bessell’s 105 goals came in 15 games, whilst also spending parts of the year as a defender was a phenomenal achievement.

“Unbelievable,” he said.

“From our juniors’ perspective, I thought it was absolutely sensational, because a lot of younger kids, younger females would probably aspire to be the next female to kick 100 goals in country football.”

Lilli Condon and Madison Lister were named the best for the Devils in the win.

However, with finals beginning on Sunday both Bessell and Shelly have eyes on silverware.

“[I’m]definitelylookingforwardtothefinals series,” Bessell said. “We’ve got something to prove this year and we want to go one better than last year. That’s for sure.”

With Darley and Redan the top two sides,

after only losing a game each for the year. It seems likely the two will meet deep into the finals after playing each other in last year’s grand final too.

“The coaches and support staff around the women have been fantastic this year,” Shelly said.

“We’d like to think that we’re clearly a chance of going all the way.

“Redan has been the benchmark for women’s footy for a period of time now, but we think our best is well and truly up with them.”

Darley will play Redan in a qualifying final onSundaywherethewinnerwillheadstraight into a preliminary final.

Bacchus Marsh will play East Point in an elimination final, after losing to Lake Wendouree in the final round of the season.

Devils lock in McCormack

Darley has locked in Di McCormack as coach for another two Ballarat Netball League seasons.

The Devils announced that McCormack would be on board until the end of the 2025 season to lead the club’s netball program.

McCormack, who joined the club before the cancelled 2020 season, has helped turn the club’s fortunes around.

The club made two grand finals last year, while they have four teams sitting in the top three this season.

McCormack said she was excited to continue coaching a great group of players, “at a club that makes you feeI that you are part of a family”.

“It has been fantastic that over the last four years we have built our netball sides up to be competitive, playing finals and offering the juniors the opportunity to keep developing through the senior sides,” she said.

“Our players have got the fire, and I’m here to fan those flames, on and off the court.”

Devils president Mark Shelly said they were excited to have McCormack locked in for two more years.

‘Pretty special’: Coach

By Tara Murray

Three seasons of hard work has resulted in a second championship in as many years for Caroline Springs George Cross.

The Georgies were the dominant side in the FV state league 1 north-west competition before COVID-19 ended the season early in 2021.

They backed it up last year claiming the title and promotion into the National Premier League 3 competition for this season.

On Saturday, having already secured promotion into NPL2 for next year, the Georgies claimed the title with one round remaining.

Coach Eric Vasiliadis said it had been a remarkable feat for the club.

“It is pretty cool,” he said. “Obviously it is pretty special.

“I was reliving it the other day … You had the COVID season, so it’s been almost three seasons in a row that we have been winning games of footy of bringing happiness to the community.

“It has been a wonderful journey.”

The Georgies secured the championship in stunning fashion on the road against Ballarat City on Saturday afternoon.

The Georgies led 1-0 at half time after Josh Whiteley scored to put his side ahead.

Ballarat, which is seeking survival in the competition, was able to level the scores.

The game was headed for a draw with neither team able to find a second goal in regular time.

Enter Whiteley again to be the hero.

“It was immense circumstances,” Vasiliadis said. “We were missing four or five guys that have played a lot of football for us.

“To win in the 93rd minute is truly special. We try to think positive and control what you can control.

“The last five to 10 minutes we took into account the ladder and the risk-reward factor and we rolled the dice with five minutes to go.

“We only had three defenders on the field … Josh Whiteley capped it off with a goal in the last minute.”

The win was the Georgies 14th in a row and their 16th for the season, to have them on 49 points heading into the final round.

Vasiliadis said they couldn’t have imagined this type of season at the start of the year.

“We controlled the controllables and we are so happy,” he said. “Every team comes out and tries and wants to achieve this.

“We were able to shrug off challenge after challenge and stay disciplined and stay together and we went on a roll.

“We will enjoy it, but I wouldn’t mind going back-to-back-to-back, that sounds pretty cool, but we’ll worry about it later on.”

The Georgies finish off their season on Saturday at home against Essendon Royals. The Royals, who were also promoted with the Georgies this season, have done enough to stay in NPL3 for next season.

Vasiliadis said this match was a really good opportunity to pay tribute to their supporters and the local community for their support.

“We just want to enjoy it,” he said. “You’re not often in these situations.

“You have to celebrate the good times.”

“Di has been an invaluable asset to our netball program, and we are thrilled to have secured her commitment for the next two years,” he said.

“Herexpertise,passion,anddedication have significantly contributed to the growth and success of our players.

“We look forward to the continued development of our players and we’re ready to take on new challenges and celebrate more wins together.”

Darley’s A-grade sits on top of the ladder undefeated with three rounds remaining.

On Saturday, the Devils defeated Melton South, 76-40.

Rebecca Hicks shot 48 goals for the Devils.

Di McCormack has been reappointed at Darley. (Darley FNC)

Caroline Springs George Cross celebrate the championship (Mark Avellino)

Harper Sercombe Kim Bessell (supplied) 353584_01