Star Weekly - Brimbank North West - 28th November 2023

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28 NOVEMBER, 2023

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It’s carols time again

Lawrence, Reverend Carmel, Warden Denise and Jackie from St Luke’s Anglican Church.

St. Luke’s Anglican Church is set to host ’Carols on the Green’, a free community event this Sunday.

Carols on the Green will take place on Sunday, December 3, from 5-8pm, with the event promising an enchanting evening at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 1-3 Eagle Terrace, Taylors Lakes.

The community is invited to bring picnic baskets, blankets, and chairs, to create a cosy atmosphere under the open sky.

Warden Denise said the night is set to be jam-packed with fun for everyone, including a magician and balloon twister, local band Horizon performing loved Christmas songs, a sausage sizzle cooked up the Taylors Lakes Lions Club as well as community carolling from 7pm.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy, and it has all been self-funded by the church. It is our gift to the community,” she said.

(Supplied)

Councillors feel ‘unsafe’

By Hannah Hammoud Two Brimbank councillors say they feel “unsafe” attending council meetings.

Councillors Virginia Tachos and Maria Kerr were absent from the two most recent Brimbank council meetings held on November 21 and 22.

Star Weekly has been told by multiple sources of an incident which has led the councillors to say they feel unsafe, the details of which cannot be published at this time for legal reasons.

At least two letters of complaint have been sent to the Brimbank chief executive Fiona Blair and one resident has sent a letter to the

Local Government Inspectorate asking for an investigation.

The November 21 meeting had to be abandoned when six councillors didn’t attend.

The following day, five councillors were absent from the rescheduled meeting.

The absence of six councillors at the meeting on November 21 resulted in a false start for newly elected mayor Ranka Rasic’s first council meeting as mayor after councillors failed to form a quorum.

Under the Local Government Act, a majority of councillors must be in attendance to form a quorum and allow for the meeting to proceed.

The meeting on November 21 was deemed

to have lapsed after 30 minutes from the scheduled starting time as council failed to have a majority of councillors present.

At the time the meeting lapsed, in attendance were councillors Sarah Branton, Sam David, Jasmine Nguyen, Jae Papalia and Ranka Rasic. An apology was received from councillor Thuy Dang.

However an apology was not submitted for the absence of councillors Virginia Tachos, Maria Kerr, Bruce Lancashire, Thomas O’Reilly, and Victoria Borg.

Another meeting with the same agenda was convened the following day on November 22, taking place again with the absence of councillors - Tachos, Kerr, Lancashire,

O’Reilly and Borg, each submitting an apology. It was the attendance of Cr Dang via livestream which formed the quorum.

Councillor Kerr said she did not attend due to “health reasons related to an unsafe work environment“.

Cr Tachos also cited health reasons and “not feeling safe on council.“ Cr Borg said she had been sick at the time of the reconvened November 22 meeting.

Crs Lancashire and O’Reilly said they were too unwell to attend both meetings.

It’s the second time this year, the council has failed to form a quorum, with the August 15 meeting having to be postponed due to not having enough councillors in attendance.

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Council says no to public forum

By Hannah Hammoud Brimbank council will not introduce a regular public forum meeting, a decision that was reached following discussion at three separate council meetings.

In July this year, councillor Maria Kerr raised a proposal to allow residents to ask live and unscripted questions of councillors at regular public forums that would be open to the community.

At the council meeting on October 17, council said it would not introduce public forums at this time leading to Cr Kerr

raising an alternate motion suggesting that a monthly, one hour, online forum be created.

Before Cr Kerr could speak to her alternate motion, Cr Ranka Rasic put up an amendment to change the forum from monthly to quarterly, and require that submissions be made one week prior to the forum.

As debate ensued among the councillors, Cr Kerr stormed out of the October 17 meeting after she said her motion to introduce a regular public forum meeting was ‘hijacked’.

“My original alternate motion is being hijacked … why does someone else have a

precedence over my original motion?” Cr Kerr asked.

Packing up her things, Cr Kerr said, “I think the community has seen enough”, before walking out of the meeting.

After more than 40 minutes of debate, council reached a resolution that resulted in both Cr Rasic’s amended motion and Cr Kerr’s alternate motion being deferred to the next council meeting.

Fast forward to the meeting on November 22, after council failed to form a quorum the night before, both Cr Kerr’s original motion and Cr Rasic’s amended motion were lost,

resulting in Cr David raising another motion to have the decision revert back to the original officers’ report, wheich recommended that public forums not be introduced at this time.

Cr Kerr was an apology for the meeting on November 22 due to what she told Star Weekly said were “health issues related to an unsafe work environment”.

The officer’s report cited the current profile of community engagement activity in Brimbank and the review process underway for council’s Community Engagement Policy as reasons as to why the public forums would not be introduced.

Vietnamese lessons

Students Lustin, Lynette, Bianca and Hazem surrounding the blackhole in their library. (Jacob Pattison) 373477_02

Intergalactic Outbreak inspires kids Sunshine College, Sunshine North Primary School and 100 Story Building have banded together to reshape the landscape of education and creativity in the local community.

Launched officially on November 21, Sunshine North Story Hubs has created the artfully designed Intergalactic Outbreak in each school library: a “time space tear” connecting to other times and worlds and inspiring stories and curiosity in classrooms.

100 Story Building works with under-resourced schools to develop a unique co-designed Story Hub - built within the school to provide an opportunity for students

and teachers to step outside the boundaries of their classrooms.

Co-designed by students, facilitated by teachers, and brought to life by local artist Jess Wilson, the hubs convey the message that creativity knows no bounds.

“When students are given an opportunity to have a voice, be creative and be imaginative, they own it,” said Sunshine North Primary School principal Nelly Santos.

Placing student voices at the forefront, Story Hubs foster connections between students, teachers, and peers, promoting a sense of agency in learning and contributing to overall well-being. This understanding is

further highlighted as schools continue to see more students adjusting after pandemic lockdowns.

100 Story Building chief executive Susan Kukucka said the hubs transcend traditional learning modes to embrace boundless inspiration.

“Students are guided to lead their own creative adventures and teachers are remembering the joy of learning alongside curiously creative students,” she said.

As concerns of teacher burnout persist, the launch offers a timely creative outlet and a promising model for community-supported education.

Albanvale Community Kindergarten will be one of 11 early learning services across the state that will be offered a place in Victoria’s bilingual kindergarten program next year.

The expansion is part of a $3.7 million investment from the state government to increase the diversity of children’s language skills in Victoria’s kindergartens, build stronger local communities and prepare children for an increasingly connected world.

Albanvale Community Kindergarten will teach Vietnamese as part of its kindergarten program from term one.

About 800 four-year-olds currently attend 10 existing bilingual kindergartens, where they learn in a language other than English for 12 hours of their weekly 15-hour kindergarten program.

This expansion will give more than 400 more children the opportunity to learn in another language.

To help children develop their language skills, qualified language teachers incorporate language learning into fun everyday activities such as singing, dancing, painting and storytelling.

Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said learning another language unlocks many opportunities.

“These bilingual kinders will not only give our kids lifelong skills, they will connect them with communities and cultures from around the world,” she said.

“With languages that reflect the rich cultural diversity of our local communities, these 11 kinders are joining an extraordinary learning program that develops cultural awareness, builds social skills and strengthens identity.”

No more cat trapping while there’s a vaccine shortage Brimbank council has suspended its cat trapping services due to a nationwide cat vaccine shortage which has already had a major impact on shelters.

In an announcement on November 21, the council said it has suspended its cat trapping services in order to reduce the number of cats being sent to animal shelters and the need for vaccinations to place them into new homes.

Council city futures acting director Leanne Deans said the council was notified of the vaccine shortage by Animal Welfare Victoria in a bulletin issued to all councils on November 13.

“We are committed to animal welfare and have made changes to our cat trapping service to respond to this shortage to ensure we don’t place further demands on limited supplies,” she said.

Last financial year, Brimbank council officers trapped 1904 cats and relocated them to animal shelters.

An RSPCA Victoria spokesperson said the shortage of vaccines includes those that prevent illnesses like cat flu and panleukopenia.

“While faced with these delays, we recommend keeping cats indoors and separated from feline visitors until vaccine

2 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

supplies normalise,” they said.

“Cats with a strong vaccine history may have lingering immunity… however, owners are urged to speak to their vet about these delays and their cat’s needs.”

The spokesperson said RSPCA Victoria is actively monitoring the situation, but it has not impacted its ability to admit and care for cats in shelters.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) released a statement saying it has already had a major impact on shelters and some have had to close its doors to new felines. It supply should normalise early next year.

“The key message is to prioritise kittens and delay adult boosters if possible,” AVA said.

Brimbank council said residents struggling should seek support from friends or family members to help take care of their cat or buy pet food or contact local animal rescue groups or organisations if struggling to afford pet food.

The council said for those still needing to surrender their cat to a rescue shelter, ensure the cat’s vaccination certificate is brought in to avoid duplicate vaccines being administered that further reduce limited supplies.

Hannah Hammoud

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Cloudy future for Calder funding The state government has refused to confirm whether its own $50 million investment for Calder Freeway upgrades will go ahead following the federal government’s backflip on previously promised funding.

The federal government released its long-awaited national infrastructure review on November 16, detailing that the Calder Freeway would not be receiving the $50 million funding that was first promised by the previous government. It was one of 50 projects across Australia to have funding withdrawn in the spending review undertaken by Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Now, the future of the entire upgrade

remains unclear, with the state government yet to make any announcements on whether there would be changes to its funding allocation.

The federal government had allocated $50 million in funding in 2019 with the state government announcing it would match that commitment with another $50 million in 2021.

Major Roads Projects Victoria (MRPV) Authority had previously begun investigations and planning for a business case for the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive interchange as part of the upgrades.

The Calder Freeway has been the subject of widespread community concern for more than a decade and was named as one of Victoria’s

top 10 deadliest roads in 2021, with Brimbank council launching a ‘Fix the Calder Campaign’ the same year.

Lead campaigner of council’s ‘Fix the Calder Campaign’, Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic described the federal government’s decision to axe the funding as simply “not good enough”.

“Safety improvements are desperately needed on the Calder. Community safety should always be the priority of government. Brimbank council calls on both levels of government to publicly release the business case and commit to delivering its recommendations,” she said.

“Minister King can and should reinstate the funding according to the safety priorities

identified by the Brimbank community and Victorian Government.”

Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt has penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requesting a “rational explanation” as to why the funding was cut “This news has sent shock waves through the community given that we all have been working towards ‘Fixing the Calder’,” Mr Mowatt wrote. “... the Calder Action Group has campaigned for many years to avoid future congestion on this important link for all north-western Victoria.”

The state government was contacted for comment.

GP fights to practice

It was a celebration of community for the 10 year anniversary of Brimbank Community Hubs. (Damjan Janevski) 365989_04

Milestone for community hubs community, connecting women with schools, each other, and with organisations that can provide health, education, and support.

St Albans Primary School Community Hub leader Hang Bui has been part of the program since its inception 10 years ago.

Over the 10 year history of the hubs, Ms Bui said each year has been a transformation, building on from the years before.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved. The 10 year celebration is about how much we’ve learnt and how many parents have benefited. We have also learned through them, it’s a collaboration of involving parents in the process that leads to good

outcomes,” she said.

“Schools and teachers can be very busy and so we like to offer a place for parents to come talk about their personal life and the difficulties they are going through.

Ms Bui said the hubs have served as the nexus for community engagement, and have been integral in creating spaces where families connect and learn.

“Many afternoons I leave work and I think to myself I have been able to make someone smile, sometimes not by doing much but just being there and listening to people,” she said.

Hannah Hammoud

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It has been a decade of profound connections, shared experiences, and ongoing learning for Brimbank Community Hubs.

The 10 year milestone was celebrated on November 22, and marks the vital contributions of community members, partners, and volunteers.

Over the past ten years, these hubs have been the heart of community engagement, aiming to support culturally diverse families, particularly mothers with young children, to connect, share, and learn.

There are five community hubs based in schools across Brimbank, each designed to bridge the gap between families and the wider

Sunshine North doctor, Dr Mark Hobart, will take his case to have his medical registration reinstated to the High Court of Australia .

Dr Hobart was referred to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in November 2021, in regards to issuing falsified COVID-19 exemptions.

Following investigations by the Medical Board of Australia, Dr Hobart’s registration was suspended that same year.

On December 21, 2021, Dr Hobart issued proceedings seeking judicial review of the board’s decision, an application that was heard in the Supreme Court and subsequently dismissed in November of 2022.

Dr Hobart took to the courts again recently on November 10, where the Court of Appeal rejected his leave to appeal the Supreme Court ruling upholding his ban.

Taking to social media, Dr Hobart wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that his case was “vital” to stopping “medical tyranny”.

“I will appeal to the HCA [High Court of Australia],“ he said. “A win there will cover the nation.

“Last week AHPRA sent me the list of the hundred of patients I gave exemptions to. They are going to table it in court as evidence against me. I bet everyone of those patients would testify for me however. This may backfire,” he wrote in a separate post on X. Mr Hobart stood for the seat of Maribyrnong at the last federal election for the Great Australia Party.

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Residents taken for a ‘free ride’

By Hannah Hammoud Residents in Melbourne’s west are calling the state government’s bluff, demanding urgent reform to the bus route network.

The Sustainable Cities collective has been actively campaigning for better buses in the west for two years. Now armed with a petition of more than 200 signatures, organisers are insisting the state government commit to a pilot reform in the west.

In May this year the state government announced changes to the process for recontracting bus companies, moving away from one-on-one negotiations to instead putting contracts out to a public tender for bus companies to bid on.

Sustainable Cities Collective coordinator Elyse Cunningham said the changes were highlighted by the state government as a way to make reforms to the bus network easier.

“The state government said that something they identified as a blocker to bus reform in the past was the fact that there were so many different bus operators that were running one to two routes across different parts of the network,” she said.

“In some parts of metropolitan Melbourne that was the case and we could see how that could be an issue that might make reform more difficult. But in the western suburbs, one company – CDC Victoria, runs the majority of the bus routes. So now we’re asking, if this one company is dominating most of the network in the west, why can’t the state government work with that contractor to reform routes in the west so that we can get bus reform now?”

Ms Cunningham said the organisation is calling for a “complete overhaul” of the bus network in the west.

“We don’t just want one or two new bus

Sustainable Cities Collective coordinator Elyse Cunningham at the Sunshine bus interchange. (Hannah Hammoud)

routes, we want a complete reconfiguration of the routes so that they will run along logical straight and direct paths and actually connect people to where they need to go.”

Ms Cunningham said for residents in Melbourne’s west, the average bus trip can take twice as long or more in comparison to other parts of Melbourne.

“In our experience the blame is always shifted from the state government, to the department,

to the bus company, and they all just point the finger at each other and really we just think it’s come down to a matter of political will,” she said.

“We think that consecutive Labor governments have taken the west for granted for decades now and it’s getting to a point now where the community in the west are starting to get really frustrated with this and they’re really sick of being taken for granted.

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“That’s why we’re working with communities in the west to build that momentum for better buses and demonstrate to Labor that people aren’t going to let them take advantage of them …they’re sick of being taking them for a free ride.”

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams and former Transport Minister Ben Carroll were contacted for comment.

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LGBTQIA+ action plan adopted

By Hannah Hammoud Brimbank council has adopted its controversial LGBTQIA+ action plan.

Councillors who were present at the council meeting on 22 November, back the plan and for the first time were able to discuss it without the meeting being adjourned because of disruption from the public gallery.

The LGBTQIA+ Action Plan 2024-28 contains a series of strategic actions that will be implemented to ensure the Brimbank LGBTQIA+ community feel included, empowered, safe and supported.

The action plan is the first of its kind for

Brimbank and was informed by a series of community engagements that occurred over a 15-month period.

The draft action plan sets out how council can support, connect and uplift members of Brimbank’s LGBTQIA+ community.

The plan details four key focus areas and 27 key actions to be undertaken by council, including providing opportunities to celebrate, engage with and reflect on the LGBTQIA+ community through events such as the Midsumma Festival and IDAHOBIT Day. The action plan has been an ongoing source of controversy following its initial

endorsement in June, where the council meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes to allow security to escort disruptive residents, who were objecting the plan, out of the gallery.

Again in July, police were present at the council meeting in what council described as a “precautionary measure”.

At the August council meeting, council accepted a petition backed by councillor Maria Kerr, which had 97 signatories objecting to the action plan.

“I do not believe council is the right level of government to involve itself in state, federal and social issues. Subjects like religion, and sexuality should not be included in local

council matters,” Cr Kerr said a the time.

Speaking at the council meeting on November 22, Cr Jasmine Nguyen said council is “dedicated” to making a difference for the LGBTQIA+ community in Brimbank. “... it is important that we as a local council stand together, and put forward this LGBTQIA+ action plan to create a safe, inclusive and empowering place for our Brimbank communities.”

The adoption of the action plan was supported unanimously by all councillors present at the meeting - Cr Jasmine Nguyen, Cr Ranka Rasic, Cr Sam David, Cr Jae Papalia, Cr Thuy Dang and Cr Sarah Branton.

Good suburbs for families

Jeff Barrett and Softball Victoria president Kyle Johnson. (Jacob Pattison) 369492_09

Softball home run after $8.4m works The Sunshine Softball Association (SSA) officially opened its More Park facilities on November 18, following an $8.4 million redevelopment of the space.

The SSA is no stranger to the More Park site, having leased the facility for more than 50 years.

The redevelopment in Ardeer includes a new fully accessible sports pavilion with a community social room, kitchen facilities, four new female friendly change room facilities, along with umpire facilities, first aid, store rooms and an accessible public toilet.

The improvements also feature a new multi-purpose batting cage catering for softball and soccer, with lighting reconstruction of sportsgrounds, including realigning the softball diamonds to allow for two new rectangular pitches, sportsground lighting and a path network.

The carpark which now includes lighting has also been upgraded and expanded.

The association invited the wider softball community along with past and present members to attend the opening and tour the upgraded facility.

SSA president Jodie Lightowler said she was honoured to welcome everyone to the new facility and was proud to be able to share it with the larger softball community.

“The Sunshine Softball Association committee and members are focussed and driven to provide a facility that can be used for players and officials that are striving to play at an elite level, as well as providing a place where we come together as a community,” she said.

“It’s a place where we can get enjoyment whilst engaging in an outdoor team activity that is equally focussed on male and female sport.”

Burnside Heights and Taylors Hill are among Australia’s premier suburbs for family living according to a new report.

The Property Credit report named Burnside Heights the second best suburb to raise a family in Victoria, and Taylors Hill the sixth best.

The report described Taylors Hill as boasting lush landscapes and community amenities within reach of Melbourne’s hub ensuring families have access to nature’s tranquillity and urban sophistication.

According to the report, the average median sale price for houses is $755,500 in Burnside Heights and $891,000 in Taylors Hill.

The report said this research sifted through extensive market data to select 20 standout suburbs that offer the perfect concoction of affordability, community ethos and access to urban amenities, conducive to family dynamics.

According to the report, the chosen suburbs exemplify an ideal mix of suburban tranquillity and urban proximity, ensuring families can enjoy a peaceful lifestyle while remaining connected to the vibrant heart of the city.

Property credit chief executive Giordano Stepancic said electing a family home is a decision that transcends the physical space.

“It’s about choosing a community, investing in a lifestyle, and considering the legacy we leave for our children,” he said.

“Our report is meticulously designed to guide families towards suburbs that are not just places to live but spaces where life’s best moments can unfold.“

Princes Freeway inbound overnight closure in December In early-December 2023

The Princes Freeway inbound between Kororoit Creek Road and the M80 interchange is due to be closed overnight in early-December 2023.

This is so crews can safely remove an overhead gantry. Plan ahead and check the exact closure date and time at bigbuild.vic.gov.au More freeway closures will be happening over the coming months. Stay up to date at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12652347-RR48-23

6 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

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Better learning outcomes push

By Hannah Hammoud Brimbank council adopted its final draft Lifelong learning Strategy 2024-29, aimed at improving learning outcomes across the municipality.

Council will continue to tackle unemployment in Brimbank, with the municipality recording rates well above the Victorian average.

Data from the 2021 census lists the unemployment rate for Brimbank at 7.9 per cent, compared to Victoria’s average of 5 per cent.

Council adopted the strategy at the most recent meeting on November 22, citing shortfalls in learning outcomes among Brimbank residents.

The strategy is a long-term approach taken by council to improve the social and economic outcomes of the community. The strategy recognises learning as a key driver for change.

Council noted there is still work to be done in a number of areas including, addressing the high number of children under five in Brimbank that do not meet developmental milestones as well as addressing the lower literacy and numeracy standards across all

tested year levels in Brimbank compared to the Victorian average (NAPLAN).

Adults in Brimbank were also cited as being more than three times as likely not to have attended formal schooling compared to the Victorian average.

The strategy celebrates improvements achieved during the lifespan of the previous 2018-23 strategy such as a 3.7 per cent increase in residents who have completed year 12, and an additional 3.8 percent of residents now holding a Bachelor degree or higher.

Council received 10 submissions on the draft strategy, which raised matters regarding digital

literacy safety, the need for an increased focus on disability and access support, the need for an increased focus on intercultural learning and the importance of brokering partnerships within the municipality.

Deputy mayor Jae Papalia described the strategy as one that was “extremely important” for the Brimbank community.

“It was really interesting reading the responses from the community and it was also great to see that all respondents felt represented, they agreed with the life stage approach, they agreed with the priority areas and they agreed with the guiding principles,” she said.

Community through art Two Year 12 students passionate about art, have founded a group to exhibit student art at the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre in Altona.

Aidan Doyle and Mak Woltsche both attend Williamstown High School and together founded Pulse Art Collective, aiming to promote community through youth based contemporary art.

“We are in the process of planning and curating our first exhibition at the Louis Joel Gallery in Altona for early next year,” said Aidan. “Anyone between the age of 15 and 25 located in the western suburbs can submit any art form, from digital, paint, installations and more.

“All they need to do is submit their work through the google form link or QR code.”

The boys said they were inspired to create their own exhibition after noticing a gap in the market.

“Compared to the northern and eastern suburbs we noticed that the west doesn’t have much of an art scene,” said Aidan.

“There are a few galleries but nowhere near as much as the north and south.

“In addition to the fact that at school there are a lot of people who feel like their voices and opinions aren’t heard.

“We think art is very powerful and a great way to express your opinions, we thought the best way to do that would be with a community focused exhibition.”

With this exhibition the boys hope to engage with young people and those with an interest in art and expressing their experiences.

All pieces need to be submitted by December 10. The exhibition will run from January 12, to February 1.

Mak Woltsche and Aidan Doyle. (Jacob Pattison) 368159_

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Early childhood support One of Victoria’s oldest charities, Melbourne City Mission (MCM) has partnered with Victoria University (VU) to create a new Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) centre, located at VU’s St Albans campus.

The new centre will provide critical services for the community in Melbourne’s west as well as offer potential employment and placement opportunities for VU students.

The centre will also focus on supporting children as they work towards building confidence, fostering a passion for lifelong learning, alongside helping families with NDIS requests and connecting parents with support services.

MCM offers a range of community services including; youth homelessness and housing, disability services including Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS), family services, mental health and education services.

The St Albans centre, staffed by a team of eight, comprising speech pathologists, occupational therapists and a social worker, is now operational and has created work placements for 10 VU speech pathology students.

MCM clients represent a range of demographics and one of the organisation’s key drivers is to ensure individuals and families have the opportunity to ‘live their life, their way’.

MCM head of disability Sally Moore said the organisation’s Early Childhood Intervention Service has found a home at VU’s St Albans campus. “... we look forward to supplying critical services for children and families in the communities of western Melbourne,” she said.

“We are keen to welcome VU students through placement and employment opportunities,” she said.

Laura Knauer, a fourth-year VU student,

VU student Laura Knauer said the new partnership provides opportunities for emerging and practicing speech pathologists and NDIS participants in the west. (Eko Hermawan)

said the partnership provides opportunities for emerging and practising speech pathologists and NDIS participants in the west.

“We get to be a part of the gradual increase of services across the region that means

more people get to access speech pathology,” she said. “... As an emerging clinician, it’s an invaluable opportunity to be so connected to services like MCM at this point in our careers.”

Police pursuit ends in crash Police have arrested a St Albans woman and a Taylors Lakes man following a pursuit in Diggers Rest on November 20.

It is understood the pair in a white Camry were travelling along Plumpton Road when they allegedly got into an altercation with the driver of a Volkswagen Golf, about 2.25pm.

The male passenger of the Camry allegedly threatened the Volkswagen driver with a firearm before they fled towards Taylors Road.

Officers quickly responded to the incident and initiated a pursuit.

The offending driver allegedly conducted a U-turn heading south on Taylors Road, narrowly missing one of the police vehicles.

The pursuit continued towards the intersection of Leakes Road, where the driver allegedly overtook multiple vehicles and ran a red light.

Officers successfully deployed stop sticks and the driver lost control, narrowly missing another vehicle and hitting a tree on the other side of the road.

The impact forced the car to roll several times, ejecting the male passenger from the vehicle. The 32-year-old St Albans driver and her 35-year-old Taylors Lakes passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital under police guard.

The exact cause of the collision is yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com. au

Community Celebration

THANK YOU DEER PARK AND DERRIMUT

Saturday 9 December, 10am-1pm at the new Deer Park Station Thanks for your patience while we removed the level crossing at Mt Derrimut Road and built the new Deer Park Station.

Bring your family and friends along to celebrate the end of major works with free BBQ, ice cream, coffee, popcorn, face painting, a performance from Deer Park West Primary School students and more!

To find out more visit levelcrossings. vic.gov.au/celebratedeerpark

8 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

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Medical study takes next steps The next stage of the nation-leading Generation Victoria (GenV) research initiative is underway, with more than 110,000 of the littlest Victorians signed up to help inform the future of healthcare.

Medical Research Minister Ben Carroll recently visited the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in St Albans, to mark the next phase of the study as researchers continue Australia’s first and only study of the post-COVID generation.

The Gen V study was first launched in late 2020, with Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s as the first site in Victoria.

While face-to-face recruitment is now complete, the families of babies born during the eligibility period – from October 4, 2021, to October 3, 2023, – are encouraged to sign up as the study moves forward.

GenV is one of the world’s largest birth and cohort studies, and asks families involved to share information about themselves and the health and development of their newborn, via surveys and the collection of samples.

The next phase of the study will see researchers build a data repository and create data linkage to be used in trials and contribute to significant advancements in Victoria’s medical research field.

The study will provide insights into the impacts of the pandemic on the new generation of Victorians, exploring answers to complex health issues such as asthma, allergies, obesity and mental illness in children, and give insights into how genetic, environmental and other factors can influence GenV’s health.

Associate Professor Joanne Said says the study will produce “huge benefits” to the community in Melbourne’s west.

“We will be able to learn more about the long term impacts of conditions like

Associate Professor Joanne Said, mum Jazmin Cruz with daughter Sofia, and senior area manager Simone Quinton at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s hospital. (Damjan Janevski) 375230_01

gestational diabetes, one of the commonest conditions in pregnancy which affects nearly one in four pregnant women who we treat.

And of course, with recruitment occurring over the past two years, we will learn more about the long term health impacts of COVID in pregnancy.

“This study will help us understand much more about the health of mothers and babies and allow us to research medications, treatments and interventions over longer time

periods and with a large group of people.”

Headquartered at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute the research also includes a bank to store biological samples provided by participants, such as breast milk and saliva, for further analysis and to support other research projects that will help better inform antenatal care providers.

Of the total participants, more than one in five are from regional Victoria and more than 7,000 live in a home where a language

other than English is spoken, with more than 70 different languages represented across the study.

Participating families will receive regular communication to ensure they are fully aware of the project’s progression, how data will be used, and they can opt out of the study at any time.

For more information about GenV or to learn how to get involved retrospectively, visit genv.org.au.

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Stabbing in Sunshine West Police are investigating a stabbing in Sunshine West on November 26.

It is believed a man was stabbed outside a venue on Fitzgerald Road, about 12.30am. The 25-year-old Werribee man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Fire at Sunshine Hospital Twenty people were evacuated without injury due to an electrical fire at Sunshine Hospital on November 26.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes and were able to quickly extinguish the fire. Some smoke logging occurred which firefighters were able to ventilate from the area.

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Community consultation

It was an impressive viewing location at the Melbourne Airport Spotter’s Day. (Supplied)

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It is every plane enthusiast’s dream to walk onto an airfield and land what is arguably the best seat in the house for plane-spotting.

Recently, Melbourne Airport hosted a Spotter’s Day, inviting 24 people with a passion for aviation onto the airfield to get up close to aircraft in a rare opportunity.

The 24 lucky spotters were selected after the Melbourne Aircraft Spotter’s group on Facebook ran a competition asking members to provide their favourite photos of aircraft at Melbourne Airport.

Created in 2012, the group has almost 6000 members. The group invites passionate members to post information about upcoming movements as well as any chatter that involves

Have your say Help shape the potential Western Freeway Upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs

Melbourne and surrounding airports, including both military and civil.

The Melbourne Aircraft Spotter’s group is also home to a range of aircraft photography from all aspects of the aviation industry.

The airport and the group’s admin team worked collaboratively to select the winners of the photo competition, granting the 24 spotters exclusive airside opportunity which ran from 8.30am to noon.

During that time there were 48 arrivals and 46 departures, with some of the highlights including catching the landing of the Air New Zealand Boeing 777, Malaysia Airlines’ A330 unique livery and Singapore Airlines’ A380 take-off.

As part of Brimbank council’s community consultation around the new Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy, residents are invited to attend a community drop-in session on November 30, at the Sunshine Library from 5.30pm-7.30pm.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Brimbank & North West Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

We’re planning for a potential upgrade of the Western Freeway to improve safety, freeway access and road capacity to help accommodate growing demand.

Options being explored to upgrade the Western Freeway between Harkness Road and Christies Road include: – additional road lanes – new interchanges and overpasses – upgrades to existing interchanges – upgrades to walking and cycling paths – traffic signal and street lighting improvements – public transport priority facilities.

A business case is currently being developed and our planning work is anticipated to be complete in late 2024.

To help inform our planning and shape the development of project options we’d like to hear from you.

To have your say, scan the QR code or visit engage.vic.gov.au/wfu by Sunday 3 December 2023.

For more information, or to request that a hard copy survey be mailed to you, please contact 1800 105 105 or email contact@bigbuild.vic.gov.au

10 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

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Illegal wildlife trader charged A 20-year-old Caroline Springs man has been charged with 104 offences for his alleged involvement in a cross-border illegal wildlife trade syndicate.

The charges include the unlawful taking of reptiles from the wild and possession of illegally sourced wildlife.

The man was charged following a major investigation by the Conservation Regulator, with assistance from Victoria Police and the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, all part of Operation Pike.

It is alleged the man received reptiles from interstate and stored them at his house, before

the syndicate on-sold them to local and interstate buyers. It is also alleged that the man illegally took reptiles from the wild in Victoria.

The man faces 100 charges under the Wildlife Act 1975, including 70 charges of illegally possessing wildlife, 14 charges of possessing protected wildlife and 16 breaches of his wildlife licence conditions. He is also charged with four offences of failing to maintain entries of transactions in his record book as part of his licence conditions under the Wildlife Regulations 2013.

Authorised Officers searched the man’s house during a warrant in January this year

and seized dozens of native reptiles that were allegedly sourced illegally, including shingleback lizards, eastern blue-tongued lizards, and knob-tailed geckos, and an incubator which contained Boyd’s forest dragon eggs.

Chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said the illegal take and trade of wildlife is “completely unacceptable”.

“The Conservation Regulator is committed to tackling the illegal wildlife trade and will continue to work with other authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible,” she said.

The man will face the Sunshine Magistrates’

Court on November 30.

Native animals, including reptiles, are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975. It is a serious offence to possess wildlife that has been taken or acquired in contravention of that Act, carrying a maximum penalty of $46,154 and/or 24 months imprisonment per charge. Licence holders who fail to meet record-keeping conditions can also be fined up to $3,846 under the Wildlife Regulations 2013.

Anyone with information about illegal wildlife trade or other wildlife crime can make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Phone film snags award A Caroline Springs filmmaker has won an award for his film created entirely on a smartphone at an international film competition in Sydney on November 18.

Ronald James Baculo won the The Luma Touch Finished on Mobile award for his film The Art of Living (with a Mechanical Keyboard) at the ninth annual international Smart Fone Flick Fest (SF3).

Baculo said the awards were an incredible experience.

“I feel so grateful and honoured that my little film was not only selected and screened to an audience that really appreciated it but also won an award,” he said.

“It inspired and motivated me even more to make more films and maybe even a feature-length film shot on mobile.”

SF3 is an Australian film competition that celebrates movies shot entirely on smartphones

which this year attracted 458 entries from 60 countries, competing for more than $50,000 across multiple categories.

The Luma Touch Finished on Mobile award goes to movies that are also edited and completed all on a mobile device without the help of a computer or laptop, which Baculo said he did for the first time with this project.

“I had shot and edited most of the film with my phone on my commute to work everyday and at times even editing in bed in my pyjamas,” he said.

“I’d say there’s no excuse really for anyone not to make their own film or tell their story.”

Baculo’s short film is about finding passion for life through discovering the wonderful hobby of mechanical keyboards, which he said was mostly created during his commute to work, or in his pyjamas.

Ronald James Baculo accepting his award at the gala in Sydney. (Supplied)

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Desperate walk for visa equality Twenty-two refugee women were welcomed home on Sunday, November 19, after walking 640km from Melbourne to Canberra calling for an end to 10 years of visa uncertainty for 10,000 refugees living in Australia. Liam McNally went to the homecoming and heard about their plight and hopes for a permanent future in their adopted home.

H

arini Rathnakumar, spent her formative years in Melbourne’s west - going to school, making friends and working in Sunshine, which she calls home.

It wasn’t until after high school when she attempted to attend university to become a doctor that she learnt the difference between a “normal” Australian citizen, and someone going through the Fast Track visa system.

“That’s the moment that I realised that I’m not a complete Australian,” she said.

“That’s when I came to know that Australia didn’t really want me here.”

Now 21, Harini fled the Sri Lankan civil war with her family when she was just three.

Her Tamil family first sought refuge in India where they were constrained to what Harini called a “limited, poor life” and at 10 years old she left her siblings and mother behind to come to Australia with her father.

She hasn’t seen her mother and siblings since.

Despite having been in Australia for nearly a decade, when she wanted to apply for university she was asked to pay the international student fee of $95,000.

Even with the expensive fee and not having access to loans, Harini managed to enter a biomedical science degree, but due to rising costs and her father falling ill, she fell behind on payments and had to pull out of the course four months before finishing.

“The only thing I had was my education…

I was going to give back to Australia by becoming a doctor but they didn’t give me the opportunity,” she said.

“We want to be a part of this country, it is our home.”

Early this year the federal government announced it would provide a pathway to permanent residency for 10,000 refugees with Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV).

At the time, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said it makes no sense - economically or socially - to keep people who pay taxes, start businesses, employ Australians and build lives in our communities “in limbo”.

However the Resolution of Status (Ros) visas offered to these refugees was not offered to Harini, and about 10,000 others on Bridging Visas and engaged in the ’Fast Track’ visa process.

Once it became clear to Harini her family would not be offered RoS under the change, she found it difficult to speak to her family in India, who were expecting to finally see her.

“That kind of caused a drift between me and my mum because I didn’t want to shatter her hope,” she said.

“I kind of distanced myself from my family.

They would ask me when they can see me. I used to talk to them very often. I used to be very hopeful. I used to give my mum hope that she would be able to see me very soon… I don’t talk to them as often now.”

It was these experiences that inspired Harini to join the Refugee Women’s Action for Visa Equality group, made up of 22 Tamil and Iranian women united by living under the limitations of short term bridging visas, in walking for 27 days from Melbourne to Canberra.

Harini Rathnakumar.

(Barat Ali Batoor)

On September 22 they embarked on the walk because of the desperation they said that they and about 10,000 others affected by Australia’s ’Fast Track’ visa policy feel after waiting for more than a decade for permanent visas.

The group battled blisters, snakes and weather along the way. Harini said that there were days she woke up dreading another 30km walk, but she was determined to finish the journey.

“It was very physically challenging, but my will pushed through all that, I wanted to bring it out into the light, I wanted our voices to be heard,” she said.

On their arrival to Canberra on 18 October, the women met with a number of politicians to express the devastating impacts caused by the lack of permanent visas.

Independent Senator David Pocock spoke about their plight in parliament shortly after meeting them.

“An hour ago I had the privilege of meeting a courageous group of women who’ve just finished an epic 640 km journey on foot from

Refugee Women’s Action for Visa Equality on their 640km walk. (Barat Ali Batoor) 12 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

Melbourne,” Senator Pocock said.

“They have come to this place, parliament house, the people’s house, to ask us for safety, security and certainty to rebuild their lives.

“Here with them are their daughters and granddaughters, many of them born

in Australia. After 10 years living in our communities, working, learning, and growing together with all of us, their home is here. “…so many young people who have grown up here feel like they’re not being appreciated despite wanting to contribute, desperately wanting to be part of Australia and contribute.”

On November 19 a homecoming event was held for the group at Trades Hall in Carlton co-hosted by the Refugee Advocacy Network, Rural Australians for Refugees and the Health and Community Services Union, three of the groups which supported the women.

The evening included speeches from Greens Senator Janet Rice, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil and a discussion around how to continue momentum and advocacy action.

Samira Zadeh, an Iranian refugee from Mill Park, said she came to Australia in 2013 because of the lack of freedom and safety for women in Iran.

“It breaks my heart that I have not been able to see my mother for 10 years. Without permanent visas, my children will never be able to meet their grandmother,” she said.

“We all have such pain in our hearts.

Without permanent visas, none of the 10,000 can ever be reunited with family overseas. We worry every day about whether we will see them again.

“Our three beautiful children were born in Australia but they don’t have access to Medicare. My 4-year-old twins don’t even have bridging visas and can’t attend childcare.”

Harini said she had a message for Andrew Giles.

“We were forced to flee our countries… I have come to call Australia home, and I don’t want to be separated from this country. I want to belong here,” she said.

“This has become our country, we have friends and families and we’re a part of this community. Why does he not see that?

“I want him to step into our shoes for a minute… It just takes him one signature to change all our lives.”

Andrew Giles was contacted for comment.

Below: The 22 women pictured with Senator Janet Rice, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil, HACSU state secretary Paul Healey and Human Rights Law Centre acting director Sanmati Verma.

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NEWS

Drug ‘wholesaler’ behind bars

By Liam McNally A Caroline Springs woman has been sentenced to nine years and two months in prison for trafficking more than two kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine.

County court Judge Carolene Gwynn described the defendant, Thi Loan Ngo, as a “wholesaler” who between September 9 and October 19, 2020 trafficked 1430.1 grams of heroin and 777.7 grams of methamphetamine valued at an estimated $833,000 when sold by the ounce.

The court heard how Ngo, now age 48,

came to Australia as a refugee from Vietnam in 1983 with her adoptive grandparents.

She attended Footscray Primary School and commenced secondary schooling at Melbourne Girls College in Richmond but left after falling pregnant at 14.

Ngo’s involvement in the drug trade began after she developed a gambling addiction – amassing $120,000 in debt to “loan sharks” she’d met at the casino by 2009.

When Ngo could not furnish interest repayments to the loan sharks, she was offered the role of “heroin mule” as a mechanism to pay her debts.

Previous convictions for drug trafficking in 2009, 2012 and 2014 are said to relate to this arrangement.

Ngo instructed her lawyers that in 2014 she told the loan sharks she would no longer traffick on their behalf. In response an arrangement was made for her to pay $500 per month without interest accruing.

The mother of three, who cares for a daughter with an intellectual disability and autism, said in 2020 she had no work due to the pandemic and still owing $140,000, “stupidly accepted the role of getting involved with drugs”.

Judge Gwynn said the explanation provided context but that she found it difficult to accept.

“Your offending demonstrates the ease with which you fell into old habits and a lack of insight of the impact of your offending on the community,” the judge said.

Ngo pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this month over two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence and one charge of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The judge set a non-parole period of six years and two months.

Ambulance times improve

Clinical psychologist and director of Mums Matter Psychology, Frances Bilbao. (Jacob Pattison) 372507_01

Supporting women’s mental health Leading perinatal psychology practice Mums Matter Psychology has been named as one of the winners of the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards, taking out the award for championing health.

Clinical psychologist and director Frances Bilbao created the practice in 2015 with the aim of helping all women experience meaning and fulfilment in motherhood, as well as a positive relationship with their child.

The award acknowledges businesses focused on innovative solutions, improving health outcomes for every Australian. Ms Bilbao said the practice seeks to provide specialised psychological therapy to help support women’s mental health during the transition

to parenthood, with an emphasis on making services both accessible and affordable.

Dedicated to providing affordable quality mental health care for pregnant and new mums in Melbourne’s western suburbs, the practice partners with Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong councils to deliver face-to-face services from maternal and child health centres.

“I noticed a gap in the treatment services out there for people who may not be as acutely unwell where they would need high level public service, but also for those not able to afford a private practice setting either,” Ms Bilbao said.

“A pivoting point for the practice came with COVID-19 and the introduction of Telehealth

that allowed for another level of accessibility.

For many women in this perinatal period it is difficult to get to healthcare appointments especially with a new baby.”

Ms Bilbao said it is an honour to have the dedicated efforts of her team be recognised with this award.

“Initially it started as just myself working half a day a week. Now we have grown to a team of 65 clinicians operating across Australia via Telehealth and servicing more than 2000 clients a year,” she said.

“We hope to continue offering services to more and more women.”

Brimbank recorded its quickest response time for urgent care in the past 12 months according to the latest Ambulance Victoria (AV) response statistics.

The latest statistics display Ambulance Victoria’s response times from July 1 to September 30. The average response time for patients requiring urgent care in Brimbank from July to September was 14.23 minutes, an improvement from 15.03 minutes a year ago and 15.29 minutes in the previous quarter.

Ambulance Victoria metropolitan regional and clinical operations director Narelle Capp said Ambulance attended 3063 code 1 cases between July and September in Brimbank – making it the sixth busiest municipality in Victoria.

Code one incidents, those which require urgent paramedic and hospital care and use lights and sirens, are aimed to be responded to within 15 minutes.

Of the 3063 responses in Brimbank, 69 per cent of them had a response time of less than 15 minutes.

“Despite this high demand, ambulances arrived at ‘lights and sirens’ cases in Brimbank on average one minute and six seconds faster than the previous quarter,” Ms Capp said. Response time improvements were said to be aided by more community members accessing alternative and ‘virtual’ care services for less urgent cases, avoiding unnecessary trips to hospitals.

Brimbank residents are also able to access the Priority Primary Care Clinic in Sunshine. “It is also great to see people in Brimbank embracing the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) for non-urgent cases to avoid unnecessary trips to our emergency departments,” Ms Capp said.

Hannah Hammoud

See the Legends in Concert... on us!

The original, largest and widely regarded as the world’s greatest live celebrity tribute show, Legends in Concert is returning to The Palms at Crown Melbourne in January 2024.

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The Legends in Concert tribute artists will sing with pitch-perfect live vocals on The Palms stage at Crown Melbourne as they portray Freddie Mercury, Cher, Adele, Elvis Presley, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John & Shania Twain.

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COMMENT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Rhino opens wide for check-up ‘‘ Stress-free dental checks are a humungous success at Werribee Open Range Zoo with Kifaru the Southern white rhino mastering the skill of voluntarily opening his mouth.

Responding to verbal cues and a tasty treat, the 14-year-old male presents rows of large, impressive teeth for keepers and veterinarians to easily and safely monitor his oral health.

Werribee Open Range Zoo Savannah keeper Resistance Manyepera said that it’s a huge healthcare achievement to be able to check his teeth and gums without any anaesthetic required.

“The first thing we do is ask Kifaru to enter a behind-the-scenes training area that is purpose-built to ensure both the animals’ and keepers’ safety,” he said.

“We then ask him to touch a target, before the clicker sounds and he opens his mouth for some tasty hay and pellets.

“Kifaru is able to leave at any time which aligns with our ethos of choice and control for the animals.”

As herbivores, Southern white Rhinos have a distinctive flat, broad mouth and large teeth designed for grazing short grasses on the savannah.

My Manyepera said Kifaru’s curious and calm personality really shines through during his open-mouth training sessions.

“Kifaru is a fast learner and enthusiastically participates in his own healthcare,” he said.

“He voluntarily keeps his mouth open for a few seconds while we check for fractures, decay or any medical issues, which is an incredible achievement in under a year.

Kifaru is able to leave at any time which aligns with our ethos of choice and control for the animals

’’

- Resistance Manyepera

Male Southern White Rhinoceros, Kifaru. (Jo Howell)

“He has also been trained to participate in voluntary blood draws from his ear and injections in his foot.”

Animals of all shapes and sizes are participating in the open-mouth training program at Werribee Open Range Zoo –from large animals such as giraffes and gorillas, to

smaller species including monkeys, meerkats, reptiles and tortoises.

The animal training program is a Zoos Victoria-wide initiative that also occurs at Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park.

There are fewer than 20,000 Southern

White Rhinoceros remaining in the wild with populations under serious threat from illegal poaching and habitat destruction.

The rhinos at Werribee Open Range Zoo form part of a regional breeding program to maintain an insurance population in the fight against extinction.

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

40 years ago

30 years ago

20 years ago

10 years ago

November 30, 1983

December 1, 1993

November 25, 2003

November 26, 2013

Sunshine council is to clamp down on trail bike riders, the motorised vandals who are ruining many of the city’s parks and reserves.

Three boys aged between 12 and 13 have robbed a 12-year-old boy of his cap at knife-point in Leslie Street, St Albans.

Plans which would see Hillside families benefit from a new million-dollar preschool complex have been overshadowed by news of a delay.

Snake catcher Jarrod Bingham is warning that, with conditions ideal for breeding, Brimbank residents can expect to see large numbers of snakes this summer.

14 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

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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

Festive family fun day Brimbank council is inviting residents to enjoy a day of festive fun on Saturday, December 2 from 11am-3pm at Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs. There will be live musical performances, giant candy cane stilt walkers, kids activities such as face painting, storytime and a meet and greet with Santa.

Carols by Candlelight The Lions Club of Deer Park with the Sunshine Community Brass present Carolsby-Candlelight on Saturday, December 9, at Sasella Park, 119 Station Road Deer Park at 6.30pm. Hosted by Sarah De Bono there will be traditional carols, a wheelbarrow raffle, Santa Claus and a sausage sizzle.

Carols on the Green St. Luke’s Anglican Church presents ‘Carols on the Green’, a special event for the young and young at heart. The event will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 5-8pm at St. Luke’s Church, 1-3 Eagle Terrace (Corner of Bellbird Ave) Taylors Lakes.

Bring your own picnic, blanket and chairs.

Lakers 7s tournament The Caroline Springs Football Club is inviting the community to attend the upcoming Lakers 7s tournament and annual car raffle on Sunday, December 10 at the football club. The tournament will commence at 1pm followed by the raffle night.

■ https://www.facebook.com/CSFC.Lakers/

Community meeting opportunity Councillor Virginia Tachos is inviting residents to meet with her to discuss any local concerns. Cr Tachos will be available by appointment every Friday between 10am-noon at the Keilor Community Hub until December 22.

■ 0428 915 671

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of MaryJane Amos who was awarded a scholarship to help her business, Muvebox - a sustainable alternative to cardboard moving boxes. (Damjan Janevski) 374073_01

7-10pm at the Sunshine RSL offices, 99 Dickson Street, Sunshine.

■ Leisa, 0425 768 808

Come and Try Fencing

Keilor Day View Club

Western Swords are offering free fencing training every Thursday during school terms, from 6.30-8pm, at St Albans Meadows Primary School. Seven and above are welcome and all gear is there to borrow.

■ https://www.westernswords.org/

The Keilor Day View Club meets at 11am on the first Thursday of each month at Green Gully Soccer Club, Green Gully Reserve, Club House Place, Keilor Downs. The club is inviting locals to come along and enjoy a meal and fun with a friendly group of ladies.

■ Robyn, 0425 387 880

Girl Guides Brimbank District Girl Guides is inviting locals to come and try guides before committing to join. Girls aged 5 to 18 and adults 18 and above are invited to enjoy the fun and friendship of guiding.

■ Carolyn, 0418 536 084

Sunshine Repair Cafe Do you enjoy fixing things or have skills in mending clothing and textiles? Kororoit Neighbourhood House is looking for volunteer repairers for the newly launched Repair Cafe in Brimbank. Events happen once a month and are an opportunity to meet others in the community and share your skills while helping fix broken household items.

■ sunshinerepaircafe@kcnh.org.au, or 0413 434 082

Al-Anon Family Groups Al-Anon Family Groups is offering help and hope to anyone living in an unhappy home because a loved one drinks too much. There are no contracts to sign, just a voluntary donation to cover room rental.

Confidentiality is protected. The group meets every Wednesday at Sydenham Neighbourhood House from 1-2.30pm.

New members are welcome.

Card games Love playing the card game 500? Card games are played every Monday from

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

■ Michael, 0417 307 572

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

■ Andrew, 0419 444 620

Caroline Springs Rotary The Rotary Club of Caroline Springs is inviting new guests to join its meetings in person or via zoom. Meetings are held every Wednesday at the Western Emergency Relief Network in Ravenhall from 7pm.

■ rotarycarolinesprings@gmail.com

St Albans senior citizens St Albans Senior Citizens group meet at the centre at the corner of Alfrieda and William streets, St Albans, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9am-2pm.

Annual membership: $10. Cost: $1 entry on attendance day.

■ Roma, 0435 991 064

16 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

Palliative volunteers needed Mercy Palliative Care is looking for volunteers to visit palliative care patients in their homes to offer social support.

■ 9313 5700 or MPCVolunteerCoordinators@mercy.com.au

relaxed, friendly and non-judgemental. The group meets weekly at 1pm on Mondays (except for public holidays) at Djerriwarrh Neighbourhood House, 239 Station Road, Melton. The group can discuss most subjects that may be of help ■ https://ow.ly/QVwJ50Q5g42

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/

Seniors lunch Deer Park Branch of National Seniors Australia hosts a lunch on the third Friday of each month at different venues.

The group also arrange activities each month, sometimes to the Theatre, Morning Melodies, train or bus trip. The group also holds a General Meeting at The Club in Caroline Springs on the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm. Locals are invited to join in for lunch or just attend the meeting and make new friends.

■ Pamela, pcostello46@hotmail.com

Chatty Cafe Melton Are you feeling lonely, isolated or just wanting to make some new friends? If so, Chatty Cafe is for you. The group meets on Friday mornings at 10am for delicious free coffee from Latin foods and wines at 10 Wallace Square, Melton.

■ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/352071857283331

Women’s Support Group Women’s Support Group Melton is for any women who feel they would like to attend a peer support group which is

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 5-8pm 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

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

easy

2

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

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

Defeat (9) External forms of something (6) Copies data (9) Pink, wriggly creature that lives in soil (9) Express regrets (9) Official collection of data on a population (6) Jail (6) Machine for shaping wood (5) Fad (5) Pacifier (5)

8 10

ACROSS Plague insect (6) Coffee (8) Open shoes (7) Engine (7) Direction (11) Hormonal disease (8) Circumvent (5) H2O (5) Valuable hand-me-down (8) Keyboard instrument (11) Creates (7) Athletic ground (7) Extremely hot (8) Cure (6)

1 4 9 11 12 13 15 18 19 22 25 26 27 28

No. 161

13 14 16 17 20 21 23 24

DOWN Looped rope (5) Close friend (9) Country (5) Apex (6) Storyteller (9) Seasoning (5)

1 2 3 5 6 7

DECODER

No. 161

hard

8 7 7 5 6

2

1

8

8

9

10 11 12 13

22

23

24

25

26

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Today’s Aim: 17 words: Good 25 words: Very good

N

E

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

* ( < 6 ( 5 6

ARENA CANON CELLO COCOA COMAS CORDS DENIM DOUSE DRONE ELUDE ENTER IDEAL INCUR ITEMS MEDAL MELTS NAVEL NOVEL OKING PACED

4 LETTERS DAIS DASH DISC EYES HATS SICS STEP STOW TSAR WRAP 5 LETTERS ABIDE ACIDS ADULT ALIBI AORTA AREAS

QUICK QUIZ

1

2

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

3

R E A S

Y

No. 161

H E S S O R T A A R E S

A

3 LETTERS ACE ALL APT ARE ASH ASK BAD BAN CAR CAT DNA EBB END GNP HIM ODE RUE TNT TOO USE WOK YEN PASSE PAVED RISEN ROSES SAGAS SCABS SELLS SENSE SLABS SLEWS SMEAR STEAM SWATS TONNE TRADE TREAT TURNS UNCUT URGES WADED

INGRAIN PATTERN VERSING

WASTE WATER 6 LETTERS ACUMEN CEASES NEARER RIGOUR SCORER SNIPES 7 LETTERS DIARIES GEYSERS GIRDERS

8 LETTERS ALLERGIC AROMATIC VENERATE VETERANS 10 LETTERS PRECEDENTS ROTISSERIE

01-12-23

A

S

S

D D L Y

R

O

O

T

C

N

No. 161

condense, CONDENSED, cone, coned, cones, conned, cons, dense, descend, done, donee, donned, dons, encode, encoded, encodes, ended, ends, need, needs, neon, node, nonce, none, nose, nosed, once, scene, scone, second, seconded, seen, send, sodden

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

S

D

C A C

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

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

E

1

E

D

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

D

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once.

No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

34 words: Excellent

hard

R

21

medium

O

20

9-LETTER WORD

4

easy

O

7

S U 19

1 5

C

6

18

5

C

5

17

4 8

4

5x5

4

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

3

9 2 1 5 8 2

3

XQ T J D K A R H L Y Z G

3 6

2

E P O F I N V WM B C S U

6

16

9

15

5

14

4

WORDFIT

4 5

Pedro Pascal (pictured) and Bella Ramsey star in which TV series adapted from a video game?

What are the two ingredients that form the Italian cheese burrata?

Who is the captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club?

Which radio station hosts the annual Hottest 100?

Who won the 2022 Australian Open Men’s singles title?

What is the heaviest bird in Australia, weighing up to 76 kilograms?

7 The Great Sphinx of Giza has the head of a human and the body of a what?

8 Who plays Saul Goodman in the TV series Breaking Bad? 9 For which US state did Kamala Harris serve as attorney general?

10 In which year was the luxury sunglasses company Ray Bans first released?

6

ANSWERS: 1. The Last of Us 2. Mozzarella and cream 3. Tom Jonas 4. Triple J 5. Rafael Nadal 6. The cassowary 7. A lion 8. Bob Odenkirk 9. California 10. 1937

No. 161

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

SUDOKU

Tuesday, 28 November, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 17

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4. Emma Kearney plays for which AFLW team?

2. Founded in Germany, the IRF is the international federation for which sport?

5. Why are hockey pucks frozen before games?

13. In what year did David Beckham retire from soccer?

14. Who is the current captain of the Gold Coast Suns?

6. At the Cricket World Cup, Virat Kohli broke the record for most ODI centuries; who previously held the record?

3. The Tour Down Under is a cycling race that takes place in which Australian state?

15. LA King Jordan Spence is the first ice hockey player with what citizenship to play in the NHL? 16. Controversially, who won the 2019 Cricket World Cup final?

7. Name the first Australian to play in the NBA. 8. Ginga is the name of the rhythmic sidestepping footwork in which martial art?

9.

17. And why was it controversial?

In board sports, does someone who is goofy-footed lead with their left or right foot?

10. Who was the number one draft pick at the 2022 NAB AFL draft, and which team did he go to?

11. An albatross in golf is how many strokes under par?

12. Travis Head is from which Australian city?

David Beckham

18. What is the nickname of Ottawa’s NHL team?

19. The Jillaroos are which Australian sports team?

20. When did Serena Williams win her first singles title?

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30. In which boxing weight division are Dylan Biggs and Nikita Tszyu set to compete for an Australian national title?

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24. Which young footballer did West Coast select with the number one pick in the 2023 AFL draft?

1. American Football 2. Rafting 3. South Australia 4. North Melbourne 5. To reduce bounce 6. Sachin Tendulkar 7. Luc Longley 8. Capoeira 9. Right foot 10. Aaron Cadman, GWS 11. Three 12. Adelaide 13. 2013 14. Jarrod Witts 15. Japanese citizenship 16. England 17. The winner was decided by the boundary count-back rule after a tie 18. Senators 19. Women’s rugby league 20. 1999 21. Six 22. Travis Head (137 runs) 23. Mitchell Starc (three wickets) 24. Harley Reid 25. 7-0 26. 2025 27. Rugby Australia 28. Illawarra Hawks 29. Five 30. Super welterweight

0112

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Tuesday, 28 November, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

MOTOR STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

It’s a case of carry on, Corolla

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring When the first Corolla made landfall in Australia in 1966, few people would have predicted half a century later the tiny vehicle, through sedan, hatch and wagon, becoming the world’s most popular car.

Former Toyota Australia executive Rex Gilham, one of the men responsible for bringing Corollas Down Under, says just 15 cars were in the first shipment in November 1966, the first vehicles to be exported from Japan.

These went on sale in 1967. A year later, first locally produced models left Australian Motor Industries’ plant in Port Melbourne, which previously had built Standard Triumph and Mercedes-Benz vehicles among others.

Now, along comes a Cross version, a family-friendly small SUV squatting alongside the C-HR between the smaller Yaris Cross and family favourite RAV4. The all-new Corolla Cross comes to market in three grades – GX, GXL, and Atmos – in petrol and petrol/electric hybrid and two- or all-wheel drive.

Prices open at $33,000 for the GX petrol 2WD, with hybrid adding $2500. Then comes three GLXs in petrol and hybrid in two- or all-wheel drive and on to range-topping Atmos, again in petrol and hybrid, signing off at $49,050. All totals are without on-road costs.

On test was the GX hybrid at $35,500, which like all Corolla Crosses, is the first Toyota in Australia to feature the new-generation Toyota multimedia system.

The Corolla Cross is covered by Toyota Warranty Advantage, which offers up to five years unlimited kilometre coverage extending to seven-years on engine and driveline, with capped-price servicing for the first five years/75,000 km and each 12-month/15,000 km service costing $230.

Something old, something new, there’s no stopping the latest Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. (Pictures: Supplied)

Styling The GX is distinguished on the outside by 17-inch alloy wheels, LED head and tail-lights, automatic high beam, daytime running lights, heated and auto retractable door mirrors and a shark fin antenna.

Character lines flow from the bonnet to the taillights. Black wheel arch and sill mouldings denote the vehicle’s SUV intent with a hatch-top spoiler adding a sporty look.

The trapezoidal radiator grille is repeated at the rear with the taillight shape, while the rear fenders present a flared and tapered look, not least to the narrowed roofline and shape of the tailgate around the numberplate. A two-tone black-and-silver bumper completes the rear end.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Corolla Cross GX Petrol: $33,000 Corolla Cross GX Hybrid 2WD: $35,500 Corolla Cross GXL Petrol: $36,750 Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid 2WD: $39,250

Interior The Corolla Cross cabin mostly mirrors the Corolla hatch and sedan, with a roomier and airier space that retains the sharp styling and convenient layout of its siblings.

The GX comes standard with automatic climate control, a 7-inch digital multi-information display, electric park brake, smart entry and start, fabric seats, 60:40 split-folding rear seats and a luggage cover.

The interior offers a wide, spacious feel, thanks to extra headroom and greater vision of the Corolla Cross. Compared to the sedan, the eye level for drivers sits 130mm higher, allowing for excellent visibility all round.

An extra 43mm of front headroom is available compared to the sedan, with an additional 81mm for rear passengers. Corolla Cross offers 436 litres of boot space with the rear seat-backs in place in GX and GXL petrol models. For Atmos petrol, and GX and GXL 2WD hybrid, rear boot space is slightly less at 425 litres.

Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid AWD: $42,250 Corolla Cross Atmos Petrol: $43,550

Through the myToyota Connect app, owners can undertake such things as remotely checking the status of the doors and lights, access information such as the vehicle’s last known location and recent trips, or start the engine or climate control. The first 12 months are complimentary, thereafter a basic connection fee of $9.95 a month or $12.50 including multi-media functions.

Engines/transmissions Hybrid 2WD versions of the Corolla Cross employ a 2-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine teamed with an electric motor on the front axle for a combined maximum power output of 146 kW. The all-wheel drives add a second electric motor on the rear axle, with consumption, according to Toyota, staying as low as 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle test.

Infotainment The Corolla Cross is the first Toyota in Australia to feature the new-generation Toyota multimedia system. This can be controlled via an 8-inch touchscreen display or steering wheel controls, and offers wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio and quality sound reproduction from a six-speaker audio system.

Safety The upgraded Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features new technologies including lane change assist and safe exit assist.

Eight airbags and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection adaptive cruise control including curve speed reduction, auto high-beam, lane

20 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

departure warning, lane keep assist and lane trace assist (centring), speed sign assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and reversing camera lead to a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $46,050 Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid AWD: $49,050 OPTION Premium paints $675 SPECIFICATIONS

Driving Family friendly fits the bill here. As mentioned above, driving the Corolla Cross compared to its sibling sedans and hatchbacks takes on a new level of comfort and convenience through extra cabin dimensions and cabin glass. Ease of handling at low speeds adds to the confidence of parking in small spaces.

Pity about the absence of parking sensors and 360-degree camera.

On the road, the Corolla Cross gets under way under electric power, the petrol motor cutting in to lend a hand with any load increase and to help charge the battery, the latter continues under deceleration and braking. Revving hard the motor is noisy. Mated with a CVT, there’s nothing spectacular, just a competent feel.

Fuel consumption of the test GX, with help from only one electric motor, returned values of between 4.3 and 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres over a range of town-and country driving conditions. Needless to say, the maker claims the lower value on the combined urban/

Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol / hybrid, CVT, RWD SUV

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

highway cycle.

The ride is comfortable and there is a lack of surprises in handling capability. The steering is light but accurate in pointing the car in the right direction.

Summary Issues such as the pandemic, semiconductor chip shortages, plus supply chain problems have stopped manufacturers like Toyota keeping cars flowing into Australia. The Corolla Cross is no exception, with wait times from six months for the 2WD petrol, extending to two years for the range-topping Atmos AWD Hybrid. It’s a far cry from the smooth Toyota terrain of the past, more’s the pity.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Bilszta is tough under pressure Rosie Bilszta competes in a sport that is only fed into our lounge rooms every four years.

The 15-year-old competes in artistic swimming, which is formerly known as synchronised swimming, and recently returned from Greece after competing in the 2023 FINA Youth Artistic Swimming Championships where Australia finished 14th out of 36 teams.

“I was one of 12 selected to represent Australia following a series of training camps,” she said.

“It was an amazing experience, one that I will build on to fulfil my dream of representing Australia at the Olympics.”

Bilszta loved gymnastics, dance and swimming as a young girl growing up in West Footscray but wanted to try something different and fell in love with artistic swimming.

She has an infectious tone and is full of passion for her sport. She said that it’s anything but easy.

“Two girls in the championships had to be saved by pool lifeguards after getting into difficulty completing the routine,” she said.

Like aerial skiers, artistic swimmers do most of their training on land with a typical week

consisting of four nights a week.

All of the water routines are practiced on land.

“We are then into the pool for two to three hours of rehearsal and practice,” Bilszta said.

“Once in the water our warmup includes sprint training and then sync based routines called sculling, which is treading water and using your arms to stay afloat making figure eight patterns.”

Bilszta’s strength is her strength with her role in the team to push or lift up the support swimmer with the performer on top of her.

What she doesn’t tell you is for the whole routine her feet cannot touch the bottom of the pool.

“If our feet touch the bottom of the pool we are immediately disqualified,” she said.

“My body strength is required to push others up and out of the water.”

Bilszta is part of a team based at Victoria University run by Anna Nepotacheva.

Bilszta’s success has come off the back of some very hard work and undeniable talent.

In the past two years alone, her team has won state and national titles in the various

forms of artistic swimming, including first place in the free routine 13-15 year old state championships earlier this year.

“My aim is to represent Australia at an Olympic Games, whenever that might be,” she said. “The current Australian team consists of team members who range in age from 18 to 25.”

Bilszta currently attends the Maribyrnong Sports Academy where her coaches work hand in hand with strength and conditioning staff at the college to help her develop her performances.

The Don Deeble Sports Star Award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank, the Deer Park Club, Medway Golf Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers.

If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact wrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.

Peter Howe

Rosie Bilszta. (Supplied)

Ex-president calls out FA

Sports shorts The Sunshine Eagles got back on the winners list in the Baseball Victoria premier league competition on Tuesday night. After losing to the Williamstown Wolves on Sunday, the Eagles bounced back against Blackburn on Tuesday night winning, 8-2. After nine rounds, the Eagles were in third spot. The Eagles were set to play Essendon on Saturday, after deadline.

By Harper Sercombe Melbourne Knights believe being part of the new National Second Tier competition isn’t in their best interests at the current time as the club’s former president lashed out on social media.

Football Australia last week announced the first eight teams of the new competition which is now set to start in 2025, with Avondale FC, South Melbourne and Preston Lions the three Victorian teams included.

The Knights, who won two Australian National Soccer League championships, was among the surprise omissions. Green Gully made it through to the final 26 teams but never disclosed if it had made a final bid.

The Knights released a statement following the announcement.

“Competing in a National Second Tier is an important long-term goal of the club and although our desire to return to the national stage is high, at this point in time, we do not believe it to be in the club’s best interest,” it said.

“During the RFP (request for proposal) phase, the club identified a number of key elements it found to be of concern, which was the main driver for the club electing not to formally complete the RFP. “We will continue to engage with Football Australia over the coming months to work through these concerns, and we remain hopeful of a positive outcome not only for our club, but football in Australia, through our inclusion to the National Second Tier in 2025.

Earlier, former Knights president Pave Jusup took to X, formally known at Twitter, to have his say on the new competition.

He said he had warned Knights members to not expect the Knights to be a foundation club of the NST. Jusup, who was president of the Knights for six years and spent 10 years on the club’s board, said he has been an advocate for a national second division for numerous years and had been in communication with the Association of Australian Football Clubs to advocate the need for it.

He said things had changed since the first serious meeting with Football Australia in August 2022 claiming FA went away from its own projection and began to take power away from the clubs.

“It became clear to me that FA felt that they knew best, that it was time for a competitive process even though the actual criteria around many things were never discussed, developed or agreed upon,” he said.

“Football Australia consistently missed meeting deadlines, had tardy documentation

Baseball

FV Keilor Wolves have announced a new coach for next year’s FV state 4 west season. Slav?e Sokolovski will take on the coaching reins bringing a wealth of experience to the club. He has previously coached Altona Magic’s under-13-16 and under-21s and was assistant coach for the Magic’s senior squad. The Wolves finished fourth last season, having finished runners-up the season before.

WNBL Keilor Thunder’s Grace Graham is continuing to make inroads with her basketball career. Having returned from college this year, Graham, who played with the Thunder in the National Basketball League 1 season, signed as a training partner for the Melbourne Boomers for the Women’s National Basketball League which is currently underway. The Thunder announced on social media that Graham has now been promoted to a development player for the current season and for the 2024-25 season.

Melbourne Knights weren’t named in the National Second Tier competition. (Ljubica Vrankovic)

WRFL

350275_21

St Albans has announced that former North Melbourne and Collingwood player Atu Bosenavulagi will line up for the club for next year’s Essendon District Football League division 1 season. Bosenavulagi signed with the club for this year but didn’t play a match due to other commitments.

The Saints said on social media that Bosenavulagi was committed for next year in a big boost for the club which is hoping to improve on an elimination final performance.

drawn up and continually edited, set arbitrary financial impositions without consultation and I generally found them to be unprofessional and unserious.

“All of these concerns were communicated by me directly to James Johnson (FA chief executive), Peter Filipoulos (FA head of marketing, communications and corporate affairs), Natalie Lutz (FA head of professional football & competitions) and other staff throughout. They just weren’t willing to do what was necessary to get the right model off the ground.”

A Football Australia spokesperson said FA consulted with and sought feedback from the soccer community prior to commencing the National Second Tier application process, which included engaging in a competitive and

confidential tender RFP process.

“Football Australia provided an indicative timeline before commencing this process; with adjustments made to ensure sufficient time for development of club submissions, assessment of club submissions and execution of transaction documents,” they said.

“Football Australia has confirmed that an additional application process will open in early 2024 for the purpose of securing the remaining two to four foundation clubs prior to the commencement of the inaugural National Second Tier season in 2025.

“All future proposal submissions will be considered against the evaluation criteria previously applied to the National Second Tier application process, with more information to be provided in due course.”

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Brimbank & North West Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Tuesday, 28 November, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 21

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

New divisional changes for football league The Western Region Football League is set for divisional changes but not as first thought.

A report commissioned by the league and reported on by Star Weekly in September proposed division 1 change to a 10-team competition.

The report named the Western Region Football Netball Review Draft Recommendations also called for division 3 to be scrapped.

However, Star Weekly understands the report’s recommendations are not going to be fully endorsed by the league, with multiple clubs confirming to this masthead that division 1 will instead be a nine team competition.

Hoppers Crossing coach Jared Polec confirmed his side would remain in division 1 despite finishing bottom this year. Division

2 premiers Parkside will make the jump up, but unlike in the proposal Albion will remain in division 2.

Division 1 teams are set to play 16 matches, with every club playing each other twice, and the top five playing off in finals, up from the top four system that has been in place this year.

For the 2025 season the league is expected to increase the top flight to 10 teams with 2024’s division 2 premiers to make the move up.

The number of teams in division 2 next year is still yet to be determined if it remains two divisions.

Currently there are 13 teams, however there are two teams making a push to enter the league.

Glen Orden is attempting to return to the WRFL after a hiatus in 2023.

Riddell District Football League club the Western Rams have also expressed their interest in having a senior side in the league next season. Current WRFL clubs are set to vote on if the Rams join the league at its annual general meeting on December 5.

As reported by Star Weekly, the report said the WRFL will work closely and provide club development staffing resources to those clubs that may need extra assistance if they are to move from division 3 into division 2.

“It is evident that youth football must be a key area of focus of the league for the future sustainability of clubs of the WRFL,” it said.

“There are some clubs with no pathways from juniors to youth football at all, some that require strengthening of relationships between juniors and seniors and others that require assistance in recruiting

and retaining players.

“There was an overwhelming amount of feedback that the grading for junior grades of football is currently not working as well as it could be.”

As of November the current proposed division 1 teams are, Werribee Districts, Point Cook, Altona, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Caroline Springs, Spotswood, Point Cook Centrals, Hoppers Crossing and Parkside.

Division 2 would consist of Albion, Newport, Sunshine, Wyndhamvale, North Footscray, Braybrook, Suns, Albanvale, Sunshine Heights, West Footscray, Tarneit, Laverton Magpies and North Sunshine.

The WRFL was contacted for comment.

Harper Sercombe

Warriors line up taking shape

Logan Morris. (Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos)

Morris is heading north

By Harper Sercombe Brisbane has added to its forward stocks securing the Western Jets’ Logan Morris at the AFL draft.

The Lions picked up the dynamic forward with pick 31 of the draft on Tuesday night.

“It’s pretty surreal to be finally on an AFL list, that’s something I’ve dreamt of my whole life and to finally be on one doesn’t feel real but it’s unbelievable,” he said.

With the first round of the draft wrapping up on Monday night and Morris’ not selected after the 29 picks, it was a long wait in between rounds. Although he did have an inkling the Lions would pounce on him early.

“Not going on the first night and then having to wait another 24 hours, it was the longest 24 hours of my life,” Morris said.

“I didn’t get much sleep that night, but for it now to be finally over, it’s a big relief.

“Going into the draft I knew the Lions were interested, with their first pick being early in the second round, it was on the table that they might pick me.

“I didn’t really think anything of it until they actually read my name and then it kind

of felt real.”

The Werribee Districts product is a 191 centimetre hybrid player who has proved himself at both ends of the ground, showcasing his range of talents and work ethic.

Morris displayed a dominant year for the Jets booting 30 goals from his 10 outings for the club. The 18-year-old also applied his craft for Vic Metro, including a four goal haul against Western Australia, and slotted two in his Victorian Football League debut for Werribee.

Now with a move up north imminent he couldn’t be happier.

“I’m super excited to be up there, I’ve already got my living sorted and all the boys have been getting around me and making me feel welcome, so I can’t wait,” he said.

“We’re flying up on Tuesday and then we come back over the Christmas holidays, but we go up for a couple of weeks and get stuck into pre-season.”

Morris will be moving in with fellow draftee and hybrid forward Luke Lloyd from the Sandringham Dragons.

The Lions have been the attacking

22 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 28 November, 2023

powerhouse of the competition over the last few seasons, with superstar forwards such as Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron, Eric Hipwood and former Western Jet Cameron Rayner.

“To learn off the likes of Hipwood and Daniher, I’ll definitely learn a lot and it’s great to have such experienced forwards to learn off,” Morris said.

“Cam Rayner sent me a text the other day, he was a Jets’ boy and he’s pretty keen that he’s got another Jets’ boy coming up, so I can’t wait to meet him and train with him.

“I’ll be leaning on him for a bit of advice or if I’ve got any questions or anything, it’s good to have people like that at the club.”

Brisbane national recruiting manager Stephen Conole said the club was pleased with securing Morris early in the second round.

“Logan is a competitive young man who adds some versatility to our forward group,” Conole said.

“He is a terrific contested player, strong mark, presents well and reads the drop of the ball well, and is a forward who can play high or deep.”

Former Taylors Lakes junior Hugo Garcia was picked up by St Kilda.

The Western Warriors inaugural Victorian Netball League teams are starting to take shape.

One of three new teams next season, the Melton-based Warriors will have a championship team along with a 23-and-under team in the new-look competition.

The Warriors championship team is being coached by Kim Bailey, who is also head coach, while former Melbourne Vixen goaler Kim Borger will coach the under-23 team.

Players names have stated to appear for teams on the VNL website once they have registered.

The first four players of the championship team revealed are Elly Randall, Georgia Hellyer, Simona Di Filippo and Olivia Ellis.

The first of those three all played under Bailey at the Sunbury Lions in the Ballarat Netball League with Di Filippo winning the league best and fairest.

All four have played in the VNL before.

Randall is a defender, while the other are midcourters.

Brydi Hutchinson, Ella Closter, Iris Bentley, Leona Hristovska, Rosie Todd, Sadie Cheesman and Tara O’Grady are part of the 23-and-under team. It’s the first time there will be a 23-and-under team, with their previously being a division 1 and under-19 team instead.

Hutchison and Hristovska come from the Ariels, Bentley from the Casey Demons, and Todd and Cheesman from the Geelong Cougars as they look to continue their VNL careers.

O’Grady, another who played under Bailey at the Sunbury Lions this year, has played Melbourne University and Boroondara Express.

Ella Closter, who has been playing for Darley in the BNL, will make her VNL debut. Closter and Cheesman have been named in the Victorian under-19 squad for 2024.

Simona Di Fillipo. (Jacob Pattison) 334038_12

Caroline Springs back in a winning position

By Harper Sercombe Following a shaky start Caroline Springs was able to get itself back in a winning position against Maribyrnong Park on Saturday afternoon in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3.

The Falcons were sent in to bat for the first innings of the two day clash and were in trouble early.

Sri Lankan test captain Dimuth Karunarathne was disappointing in his first match for his new club, opening the batting and was caught behind for just two runs.

The wickets kept coming for the Falcons, getting to seven down for around 100 runs.

However, a clutch eighth wicket partnership between Daniel Le-Paez and Gavin McCallum saved the innings, with the Falcons being bowled out for 212 with three overs of play

remaining.

McCallum top scored with 76 while Le-Paez made a 39 from 141 balls.

“From the position that we were in, it wasn’t looking good, but we were fortunate that Gav and Daniel put on a 100 run partnership that has gotten us to 212,” skipper Shiran Rajakaruna said.

“Now we’ve got a good chance of defending that total with our bowling attack.

“This is the second time we’ve shown the level of depth we have in our team, we’ve done it two games in a row.

“When the top order’s failed the bottom order has stabilised and got us into a position where we can definitely try to defend it with the ball.

“The wicket played a lot better than I thought it would.

“It broke up really quickly which we’ll be

mindful of if we end up playing there again.

“At the end of the day I don’t think they expected us to get 212 from the position we were in.

This week the Falcons will be bowling to keep their undefeated streak running, something that Rajakaruna is confident his side can do. As well as finishing the match, the Falcons will play in a one-dayer on Sunday, “We’re going to focus on what we do well and that is just the basics and being consistent with our line and length,” he said.

“We don’t stray away from our game plans, we stick to our gameplans and we execute.

“It’s just the simple things that we focus on, I don’t give complex game plans to my bowlers, just stick to your channels, bowl to your channels and allow them to make a mistake.”

With both sides three and zip to start the season, Saturday’s result could define much of

the season to come.

“This is going to be a measuring stick for the season, playing against the top team,” Rajakaruna said.

“So this will really give us an indication of where we are at.

“I don’t think we’re performing at 100 per cent as a team either, so there is still growth that’s going to come out of the Caroline Springs Cricket Club this year.

“It’s a good part of the journey so far, there’s so much potential that is still untapped.”

But before the second half of the round five clash wraps up, the Falcons will play a T20 against Sunbury on Tuesday evening.

“Any extra time that is spent in the middle of the wicket is what we want, more time for our bats regardless of what the format is, because spending time in the middle builds confidence,” Rajakaruna said.

Lions next gen ready to go

Avishka Chenuka (Jacob Pattison) 369526_01

Crows pile on the runs

By Tara Murray Sunshine continues to shine with the bat in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Isaacs Howarth Shield.

Having won its first three matches, the Crows were again making runs on Saturday, this time against PEGS. After being in trouble early, the Crows finished on 301, bowled out in the 78th over Avishka Chenuka made 114 off 146 balls, while captain Troy Stone made 83 in a big partnership between the two in the middle of the innings.

Stone was more than pleased to walk away from day one with 300 on the board.

“We’ve had a nice positive start to the year,” he said. “We’ve put runs on the board and there’s a lot of confidence about it.

“We were 3-40 yesterday [Saturday] and we were 3-40 against Footscray United in round two. We’ve been able to put together some partnerships to finish off games and innings well.”

Stone said they had looked to change some things in the off season to try and make sure they were getting the most out of their batting.

So far it is working.

“Last season we had some good starts but the middle order was not producing,” he said.

“We changed the way we want to go about it. Avishka made his second 100 for the year and has made big inroads.”

Shakeem Clarke was the pick of the bowlers for PEGS taking 3-85 off 23 overs.

Stone said despite making 280-plus for the third time this season, they weren’t playing their best cricket and would only get better as the year went on.

This weekend presents a big weekend for the Crows and competition, with day two of the round five clash on Saturday and then the rescheduled round one match on Sunday.

He said there was plenty of confidence in the group and the way they are going about things.

“If we could secure both games it will help

set up our season going into the Christmas break,” Stone said.

“We’re not playing our best cricket yet and there’s still room for improvement.”

Stone said while they were hoping to go at least one step further than last season, where they made a disappointing semi finals exit, he said they weren’t talking about finals and focuses for this year at this time of the season.

In senior division, St Albans needs 242 for the win against Yarraville Club, Deer Park is 0-57 in reply to Westmeadows 256 and Sunshine United is in trouble with Sydenham-Hillside 1-43 in reply to 113.

Keilor’s match with Aberfeldie didn’t get underway and will now be a one-dayer this Saturday.

Meanwhile in division 2, Keilor Park has a chase on its hands against Tullamarine.

The Demons made 8-264 off 59 overs, with the Devils to resume on day two at 2-41.

In division 3, Sunshine Heights was bowled out for 184 against Point Cook.

Luke Simpson top scored with 48.

The future is bright for Deer Park and its female program in the Essendon District Football League.

The Lions have the numbers already to field their first girls team next year and if they can get enough, they could even have two.

Junior coordinator Tracey Purcell said the club was excited to have youth girls teams for the first time.

“It’s the first time we’ve had youth girls at the club, we’ve had senior women before,” she said.

“The switch to the EDFL we wanted to grow the whole club. Last year we had four junior [boys-mixed] sides and next year we are looking at seven and our first girls team.”

Purcell said they tried to get a girls team up and going this year without any success but already have the numbers for an under-16 team.

She said the team was a mixture of under-14 and under-16 players and if they could get enough numbers for both teams, they would field teams in both age groups.

She said they would be happy with one team but it would be really good if they could get a second team up and running.

“It is fantastic,” she said. “Hopefully the 16s will keep playing and move up into senior women’s in the future.

“We’ve never had young girls come through and been able to move them into a women’s side.”

Purcell said some of the girls would have the opportunity to be part of a special program which gives players one-on-one coaching of an AFL standard.

The girls side has already started training with former AFL player Bella Ayre attending training on Wednesday night.

Peter Lausch, Luke Jamison and Kon Konstantaras have been appointed coaches of the girls teams.

Purcell said they encourage any girls who are keen on playing to come down and give it a go.

Any interested in playing can contact Tracey on 0410 523 170 or Matt on 0410 523 172.

Tara Murray

Tuesday, 28 November, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 23

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