Star Weekly - Wyndham - 6th December 2023 by Star Weekly

Established in 1902 as the

proudly serving Wyndham

6 DECEMBER, 2023

p u y d gid it’s the

WERR IBEE CUP

SUN 10TH DEC

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JAN

DEC

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CHERYL BORASTON

EJAZ ALI

Visitor Information Centre

MAR

State Emergency Service

Thank you to Wyndham volunteers who were recognised this year through Council’s social media campaign, ‘Spotlight a Volunteer’, and to everyone who volunteered this year.

KARTHICK THANIGAIMANI

APR

Country Fire Authority

To celebrate International Volunteer Day on 5 December, join Wyndham City in thanking all volunteers in our community who contribute their time and effort to make Wyndham a better place. This year’s theme ‘If Everyone Did’, centres on the power of everyone giving some time to volunteer – whether formally through a community group or not-for-profit organisation – or informally showing kindness and support to others.

MUSARRAT SAIYED Pulse with Purpose

OCT

GERRY GREENWOOD

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY!

HEATHER CURTIS Council Volunteer

SEP

FEB

NOV

Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour

If you would like to help your community, visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/volunteering RADHA SUNDARAKUMAR

DANIEL SMITH

Featherbrook Community Centre

AUG

JUL

MAY

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The Grange Community Centre

SHIRLEY HARSLEY

GRAEME PRENTICE

RUTU SHAH

SAMARA GRACIAS

EdConnect

Country Fire Authority

Wyndham Park Tool Library

Wyndham Youth Resource Centre

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2W WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

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TAB WERRIBEE CUP

An exciting day of country racing The TAB Werribee Cup is back for 2023! Join us at Werribee Racing Club on Sunday, December 10 for the perfect opportunity to gather your friends, family and colleagues together to celebrate Christmas and a great day of country racing. Entertain clients, reward your staff or just enjoy an exciting day of country racing at Werribee. There will be fun and entertainment on the day to suit everyone, so bring the whole family along! Steeped in tradition, Werribee district racing commenced in the 1850s and is still going strong. Werribee Racing Club general manager, Adam Wilkinson said it’s one of the biggest sporting events to take place in Wyndham and a fantastic place for the community to come together right before Christmas. “It’s a really important community event and as a club we are proud to showcase this. Country Racing is a part of the fabric of the local community, and the TAB Werribee Cup 2023 will provide something for everyone,” Mr Wilkinson said. Gates open on the day at 11.30am, check your local guides for race times. There will be plenty of public parking facilities available via Bulban Road or Ballan Road entries, however, if you prefer not to drive, there are FREE shuttle buses running from 11am with pick up from the Park Hotel and Bridge Hotel returning to both hotels from 5pm. Aside from the excitement of the country racing spirit that race goers near and far know and love, there will be plenty to do trackside for the young and old. There’s live music across the course, open bars and food trucks and a range of activities for the kids including face painting, a mobile jungle gym, jumping castle, horse racing games and appearance from the man himself Santa.

The cup is the perfect excuse to get dressed up and enjoy a day of racing action with friends.

With most of the hospitality packages completely sold out, only General Admission tickets will be available to pre-purchase

through the website or at the gate on the day. Adult GA tickets are $25, with children under 17 years FREE (must be accompanied

by an adult). We look forward to seeing you trackside at Werribee on Sunday, December 10!

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Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 3W

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Left: Fashion is a highlight of the day at the Werribee Cup. Centre: Last year’s fashion competition finalist Daniel and winner Jacob. Top right: Even little race goers are encouraged to put their best fashion feet forward.

Fashion lovers shine at Werribee It’s almost time to dust off the frocks and straighten out the millinery, with the TAB Werribee Cup just around the corner. Online registrations are open now for Fashions on the Field. Spring racing and fashion go hand-in-hand and with no better excuse to get dressed to the nines, it presents a great opportunity to bring out your beautiful trackside fashion. Werribee Racing Club is very excited to be

running its annual Pacific Werribee Fashion on the Field at the TAB Werribee Cup on the December 10. For those fashionistas out there, dust off your best frock or suit and take the stage for a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Entries for Pacific Werribee Fashions on the Field will open at 11am and close at 1pm on course, however you can preregister online prior to the day as well. This year’s

event will be MC’d again by the fabulous Casey Bruce and judges will be announced via social media in the lead up to the big day. There are a range of categories this year to ensure everyone can step on stage and be involved! Strut your stuff in the Little Lady of Day, Little Gent of the Day, Local Lady of the Day, Local Gent of the Day, Lady of the Day or Gent of the Day events. Each category will include fabulous prizes, with a $500 Pacific

Werribee voucher for kids, $1000 Pacific Werribee voucher for adults plus flowers, a sash, and goodie bag for winners and place getters. Judging will start around 1pm. If stepping on stage isn’t quite for you, come down and enjoy the 360-degree photo booth, sponsored by Pacific Werribee, live music or the Brookvale Bar on hand to serve Brookvale Ginger Beer.

Opening in 2024 Offering kinder to 3-4 year olds Wrap around care is also available

Apply Now

580 Tarneit Road, Tarneit VIC

FREE Kinder in 2024

Growing Little Learners 12654209-ET49-23

4W WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

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TAB WERRIBEE CUP

Vardani hopes to run again in cup By Harper Sercombe It’s an exciting time for the Werribee racing community with its main day just around the corner. The Werribee Cup is set to run on Sunday with $150,000 prize money up for grabs. The 2000 metre race has been won by famous horses in the past such as Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva. The mare won the race in 2002 before going on to win a three-peat of Melbourne Cups. While last year’s winner, Vardani, may not be living up to the heights of Makybe Diva, trainer Archie Alexander said the cup was a great race to win. “He’s been a horse we’d always liked and respected and had a good opinion of but he’s been a little bit out of form and he needed drier tracks and that’s what he got,” he said. “Those country cups, whether it’s Werribee, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, they’re all feature cups that people want to win and you remember them and owners remember them, the prize money’s good. “It was a special win and as a trainer one day you’d like to tick off every cup in the countryside at least.” Alexander said Vardani won’t be featuring at Werribee this weekend to defend his cup win but he is hoping Vardani or one of his stablemates can head back down the highway in the years to come. “I know there’s a fair history with every cup but you just try to find the most suitable race for your horse. It’s got to be worth the while for your owners to be investing in horses to go into a race and the Werribee Cup is certainly a race where the prize money on offer is good enough. “The Werribee Cup is very appealing to be aiming a horse at and it’s even better if you can pull it off and win it.

Jockey Declan Bates rides Vardani to victory in the 2022 Werribee Cup. (Joe Mastroianni) 311054_30

“It’s certainly a race in the next few years that we’d like to come back and try to win it again.” It’s been tough going for Vardani since last year’s win, with him failing to register another one in his four runs this year. Most recently he ran second last in the Victorian Country Cups

Final at Caulfield on November 18. “He hasn’t had the luck of the draw this year. He started his prep well, then he got a little bit sick he had a high temperature and hasn’t been at his best but hopefully he can find his form back and he’s probably a length or two off

a Werribee Cup this year the ways he’s going but hopefully he finds his winning form again,” Alexander said. “He’s a very handy horse, he’s been a good horse to the stable and he’s won at Moonee Valley, he’s obviously won a Werribee Cup and he’s not finished yet.”

FRESH TURKEYS AVAILABLE

CASACCIO EGG FARMS Farm fresh eggs direct to the public. Primary producers of Free Range Eggs. Come and visit our farm produce store or order your eggs online at www.farmeggsonline.com.au to have your farm fresh eggs delivered straight to your doorstep. A variety of foods available at our shop in Werribee: poultry, chicken fillets, chicken pieces, quail, mulch, spatchcock, turkey, rabbit, fresh pasta, pastizzi, cheese, ricotta, deli products, milk, drinks, pies, cakes, gelati, lollies, nuts, Italian biscuits, panettone, finger foods, a selection of honey including Manuka honey and much more! Fresh fruit and Werribee South vegetables and a selection of fresh herbs and seasonal veggies grown in our veggie patch on the farm are also available! We sell live chickens, point of lay pullets, chicken feed, chicken cow & sheep manure, potting mix & gypsum. Come down to Casaccio Egg Farm, it’s been Wyndham’s “best kept secret” since 1966.

WE NOW DELIVER TO YOU! 170-198 Bulban Rd, Werribee VIC 3030 (03) 9741 0185 | www.farmeggsonline.com.au 12650122-RR49-23

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With love, from our family farm to your family table xx

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 5W

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fun holiday programs for all ages AFTERNOON TEA AND A CHAT Come and meet our team, learn more about our programs and talk to us about how we can support you Wednesday 13th December 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Our Social Summer

191 Watton St. Werribee

activities oﬀer people of all ages the opportunity to connect with their community, make friends and experience

LEARN MORE

scan t he QR co de

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new things in a small group setting. CONTACT US:

phone 1300 561 802

email assist@leisurenetworks.org

web www.leisurenetworks.org

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TAB WERRIBEE CUP

Enjoy a fabulous day out with family and friends at the Werribee Cup.

Entertainment on and off course Werribee Cup Day showcases everything that the club, the town and the region represents, where the community and visitors are always stronger together. The Werribee Cup is a perfect opportunity to make a weekend of it and explore the Wyndham region with the whole family! Get up close to all the racing action and excitement the cup day has to offer, with

food, fashion, live entertainment, kids’ activities and a fabulous day out that this event is famous for. Bring the whole family along for a relaxed day of country spirit, with a plethora of activities onsite to keep everyone entertained! There will be a range of food trucks available around the grounds, plenty of picnic table seating, live music, face painting,

mobile jungle gym, and jumping castle plus a visit from someone very special directly from the North Pole, SANTA! Make sure you get down to visit Werribee Racing Club on Sunday, December 10.

Park Hotel Village The Park Hotel is the naming rights partner to the Park Hotel Marquee Village

on TAB Werribee Cup Day, Sunday December 10. But this year will be slightly different, with access to the area provided to the general public! This will be a fabulous space to relax and enjoy the day, with live music including MadzGotRich playing in the beer Garden, a big screen displaying the racing action a tab outlet and public bar.

ONEWyndham Young Person of the Month July Winner

Emily Leahy

October Winner

Deepshika Adhinarayanan

August Winner

Keerthana Karthik

November Winner

Alexavier Sigurdur

September Winner

Atticus Tan

December Winner

Ruth Tangbauv

Congratulations to the following Wyndham residents for being awarded the One Wyndham Young Person of the Month for July, August, September, October, November and December. The award aims to build the profile of young people who are positively contributing to the Wyndham community and thank them for their dedication.

Learn more: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/onewyndham 12654033-RR49-23

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 7W

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Established in 1902 as the

proudly serving Wyndham

6 DECEMBER, 2023

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FREE DIGITAL EDITION

SIG N U P N O W!

Hang out with history Military, aviation and history buffs are being urged to visit Werribee’s B24 Liberator Memorial before it closes for the Christmas and New Year period. The memorial, which features the only B24 Liberator aircraft remaining in the Southern Hemisphere, will close from December 14 through to January 16, but president Lyn Gorman said were plenty of opportunities to visit before then. “It’s open Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 3.30pm,” said Ms Gorman, adding that the memorial wasn’t just a museum but a workshop too. “Anything that we’re working on in the hangar people can come and see. Every day that we’re open for volunteers to come and work visitors are also welcome to come and visit the hangar and explore what we have in the museum.” With the extra planes, space in the memorial hangar has become scarce, but Ms Gorman said a solution was on its way. “Currently at the end of the airfield there’s a bigger World War II hangar which will be disassembled and relocated and restored next door to our current hangar and that will more than double the size of our museum precinct.” B24 Liberator Memorial member Norm Morris stands beneath the WWII bomber in its hangar in Werribee. (Damjan Janevski) 375502_04

Rods robbed in ram raid By Cade Lucas A Hoppers Crossing tackle shop owner says a second ram raid on his business in the last three months has left him “feeling sick in the guts.” Thieves drove through the front doors of Hooked On Bait and Tackle in Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing about 5.40am on Sunday December 3, stealing fishing equipment estimated to be worth in the $10,000s. The vehicle involved in the ram raid was

found burnt out on Industrial Avenue, Hoppers Crossing, a short time later. Shop owner Michael Felsovary said he knew exactly what had happened when he was alerted by an alarm early on Sunday. “A soon as it goes off you just get that sick feeling in the guts, it’s a terrible feeling,” said Mr Felsovary, who believes the incident is linked to a similar ram raid in September that also resulted in $1000s worth of equipment being stolen and which itself followed two unsuccessful attempts. “It’s the same M.O so it appears to be

connected. “It’s not just us, there’s been a number of other stores done. It’s not a personal thing.” Police are investigating if the incident is linked to burglaries at other tackle shops in recent months, including in Sunshine and Mt Derrimut. Hooked on Bait and Tackle stocks high end, premium fishing equipment such as rods, lures and teasers. Mr Felsovary believes this is one of the reasons he’s been targeted. “You’re not gonna do a ram raid and destroy

a $40,000 vehicle for a two dollar item,” he said. Mr Felsovary said the incident will impact his family owned business and its eight employees and urged locals to keep businesses like his in mind at this time of year. “Coming up to Christmas, whatever industry it is, shop local and support your local stores. We all work hard to provide a service.” Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Tarneit Discount Drug Store 2 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

Tarneit Central Shopping Centre, 14/540 Derrimut Road, Tarneit 3029 Phone: (03) 9039 6571 tarneit@discountdrugstores.com.au

@TarneitDDS

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SPECIALS ON SALE UNTIL THE 17TH DECEMBER 2023 OR UNTIL STOCK SOLD OUT. FAILURE BY SUPPLIER TO DELIVER OR OTHER UNINTENTIONAL CAUSES MAY RESULT IN SOME ITEMS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT BEING UNAVAILABLE. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CORRECT PRINTING ERRORS. ALL PRICES ARE GST INCLUSIVE. SELECT LINES ONLY INCLUDED IN SALE. ^ SAVINGS CALCULATED BASED ON SUPPLIER SUGGESTED RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE AND NOT NECESSARILY PREVIOUS IN STORE PRICE.

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Marcus commits after walkout By Cade Lucas A veteran Wyndham councillor has declared she’s committed to the role, despite storming out of last Tuesday night’s council meeting. Councillor Heather Marcus abruptly left the November 28 meeting after what she claimed was unfair treatment. The 80-year-old former mayor, who has served on council for 18 years, was speaking against the Draft Advocacy Strategy 2024-2026 during the meeting, which was later passed, when fellow councillor Mia Shaw interjected on a point of order. Cr Shaw said that in criticising the way the

council communicated with the public, Cr Marcus was not speaking to the motion on advocacy strategy, an argument accepted by mayor Jennie Barrera. Presiding over her first meeting following her election as mayor, Cr Barrera was asking Cr Marcus to speak to the motion when the councillor snapped. “I am being cut off madam mayor and it’s not fair” said an emotional Cr Marcus who continued to argue that council wasn’t properly engaging with the public while Cr Barrera again asked her to speak to the motion. Despite the mayor’s urging, Cr Marcus had

clearly had enough. “Sorry, I’m leaving. I’m going home again. I’m sick and tired of this council,” Cr Marcus said as she left the chamber. Speaking the next day, Cr Marcus said it wasn’t an isolated incident. “I believe that I’m not being heard and it’s been going on all of this year,” she said. “I’m shut down so often I just felt it was better to leave the council chamber. But then the phone rang for two hours to see that I was OK.” Despite her frustrations, Cr Marcus offered an emphatic ‘yes’ when asked if she would remain on council and seek re-election.

“I just love it,” she said. “I love the people. I believe it’s the people that make our city.” Cr Marcus argued councillors should be afforded more leeway when debating important matters. “It’s all very well to have the governance rules, but there’s no discretion. The way everything’s governed now with the governance rules, I don’t think it’s conducive to a good council meeting.” In a statement, mayor Jennie Barrera said council meeting rules were applied equally. “Council meetings operate according to governance rules and all councillors are required to abide by these rules.”

Seniors get a workout Wyndham’s seniors exercise park will be getting a workout in 2024 with newly trained volunteer buddies ready to help seniors get active. The Central Park Seniors Exercise Park in Hoppers Crossing is free to access and open seven days a week during daylight hours and has a range of fit for purpose equipment for seniors to exercise with others and make new friends. Starting in February, eight volunteer buddies will guide and show older residents how to use the equipment in come and try sessions that will run once to twice a week. It’s hoped they will eventually form groups who regularly meet, exercise and socialise together. Wyndham councillor Adele Hegedich said with International Volunteer Day on December 5, it was an opportune time to

recognise and acknowledge volunteers in Wyndham. “Volunteers play a vital role in our community,” she said. “The volunteers are currently completing a five-week training course finishing on Friday 10 December by the National Ageing Research Institute so they can support and buddy up with older residents to be active and get the most out of life. Training for the first group of exercise buddies has started and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.” The park was built in partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and Wyndham council and funded through Gandel Philanthropy. Details: wyndham.vic.gov.au/seniorsep Volunteer Paul Caminiti helping David Fairclough use equipment at Wyndham’s seniors exercise park. (Damjan Janevski) 376250_01 FLOATING CHRISTMAS TREE SOUND AND LIGHT SHOWS

Christmas in Geelong

Lara Milvain chats with Employment Minister Vicki Ward. (Supplied)

CHRISTMAS PROJECTIONS

GIANT SELFIE TRAIL

Nightly from 8.30pm to 11.30pm until 7 January.

Capture precious memories at one or all of the 20 locations.

Nightly from 8.30pm to midnight until 7 January.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SOUND AND LIGHT SHOWS

SANTA LETTERS

Pet owners and your furry friends, this one is for you!

Same great show in a special earlier timeslot, Saturdays in December.

Six mailboxes across our region, he’d love to hear from you!

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS TREES

COMPETITIONS

SANTA PET PHOTOS

A life saving program schools. “Thanks to the new teachers from SWIM Jobs, we’ve added about 150 new classes in the past year,” she said. “This means around 500 more kids, especially those critical age groups from six months to five years, are now learning to swim - this is vital for preventing drownings and ensuring our kids are safe in the water.” “The usual hiring process can be lengthy and costly but the candidates from SWIM Jobs Victoria were well-vetted, eager, and have become invaluable members of our team. The time and money we saved from this program are immeasurable.” SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia president Joanne Love said the initiative surpassed all expectations. “SWIM Jobs Victoria significantly revitalised the aquatic sector after Covid-19 impacted the industry so heavily.”

CHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENS

Vote for your favourite decorated tree Feeling lucky? Win some great prizes, to help the school win a $500 voucher. just in time for the festive season!

Scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/Christmas for the full Christmas in Geelong program

Free family event! Saturday 16 Dec Geelong Botanic Gardens.

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A new government-funded program is providing Victoria with a much-needed boost in swim teachers, just in time for peak swimming season The program has already seen 446 new swim teacher qualifications gained in the past year, placing 369 people in employment in swim schools and creating 14,478 new swim lessons. A partnership program is a partnership between SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia and Jobs Victoria. There were 59 drowning deaths in Victoria last year, a 26 per cent increase on the year before, but with nearly 500 people gaining swim teacher qualifications over the past year, thousands more children now have places in more than 100 swim schools in Victoria. Salt Water Swim School- Point Cook manager Kirsty Plicer said the program enabled the business to fast track finding staff and led to the rapid expansion of the swim

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 3

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Inquest probes death in custody By Esther Linder, AAP A Noongar man who died in police custody was handcuffed as he lost consciousness, came to and then collapsed again before a cancelled ambulance was called again. A directions hearing into the death of Jeffrey Winmar, a 28-year-old Aboriginal man who died after being arrested in Melbourne’s west last month, began on Tuesday before Coroner Sarah Gebert. Mr Winmar was wanted on burglary offences and was believed to be at a property in Werribee, where police, including a dog handler were sent on November 9.

He was seen leaving the house after police knocked at the front door and climbed over several fences before being found in a clump of trees to the rear of a nearby property. Counsel assisting the coroner Lindsay Spence said bodyworn camera footage from the dog handler showed Mr Winmar saying “please don’t let the dog bite me - please don’t let him bite me“ before kneeling on the ground, collapsing and losing consciousness. The court heard police handcuffed Mr Winmar and placed him in the recovery position before calling an ambulance. The request was cancelled when he came to. A short time later Mr Winmar again lost

consciousness and stopped breathing, as police requested another ambulance and did CPR until paramedics arrived. He was admitted to Box Hill Hospital’s intensive care unit and died two days later on November 11. Mr Spence said the cause of his death was a suspected cardiac arrest. He said Mr Winmar had a laceration to his liver that “nothing apparent on the footage“ explained given the only use of police force was when he was handcuffed. Sarah Schwartz, a principal lawyer at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, said there were significant concerns that only one

bodyworn camera was in use despite multiple police officers taking part in the planned arrest. “I want the police to account for what happened under their watch,“ Mr Winmar’s mother, Ursulla Winmar said in a statement that noted “inconsistent information“ given to them about his pursuit and arrest. “I’ve been robbed of a son, he had so much left to give to us, and we still need him,“ she said describing Mr Winmar’s dedication to his family and son. The matter will return in June for another directions hearing. 13YARN 13 92 76 Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905

Tobacco raid charges laid

Wyndham librarian Tiffany conducting Rhyme Time at Werribee Outdoor Pool. (Damjan Janevski) 375261_02

Rhyme Time in the summer time Books and water normally don’t mix, but they will this summer at Rhyme Time at Werribee Outdoor Pool. Held at Werribee Outdoor Pool at Chirnside Park, Rhyme Time at the Pool is a free event for families with children aged 1 to 5 years old. The next session is on Monday December 11 from 10am to 11am and parents are encouraged bring their children and stay all day at the pool. The Wyndham Pop-Up Library Van will be there so people can borrow or return books in

between having a swim. “It’s a fun way for our youngest residents to get involved in learning by participating in sessions featuring songs, stories and rhymes, designed to develop early language, numeracy and literacy skills,” said a Wyndham council spokesperson. “Make the most of the warm weather and have a splash in the pool. Swimming is free for children and one accompanying adult who come along to Rhyme Time. Bookings are not required.”

Additional Rhyme Time sessions will also be held in the new year, on Monday January 8, Monday January 15 and Monday January 22. For more information visit: https://www. wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/libraries The Seed Library is also on the Wyndham Pop-Up Library this summer. To pick up some seeds while borrowing books from the pop-up library van, check out the seed library website for details: https:// www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/seedlibrary

A Hoppers Crossing man has been charged and a significant amount of illicit tobacco products seized after police executed search warrants on multiple properties on Tuesday. Police from the Viper Taskforce investigating links between organised crime syndicates and the illicit tobacco trade, raided a home in Hoppers Crossing, two storage facilities and a tobacco store in Korumburra and a storage facility in Highett on November 28. Police had earlier been tipped off that the properties were allegedly being used to store illicit tobacco supplied to tobacconists on a daily basis. More than 528,000 cigarettes worth an estimated $656,000 in duty excise were seized during the search warrants, along with 25 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco worth in excess of $46,000 in evaded duties and more than 600 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of at least $48,000. The 48-year-old Hoppers Crossing man, who police will allege was the supplier, was arrested and charged overnight with the Commonwealth offence of possessing-conveying tobacco with intent to defraud the revenue. He was bailed to appear at Werribee Magistrates’ Court on July 1. Detective Inspector Craig Darlow urged anyone involved in, or with knowledge of, the illicit tobacco trade, to speak to police. “Any piece of information could be key in bringing this dispute to an end,” he said. “It is critical that anyone purchasing illicit tobacco understands the ramifications of doing so.“ Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Developers seeking bump in land sales for Christmas Developers are boosting buyer incentives in the western growth corridor as they look to shift stock in the lead up to Christmas according to RPM Group. The move follows new RPM figures showing sales in the western corridor, which includes the local government areas of Melton and Wyndham, falling by 6 per cent in the September quarter to 765 lots, a 33 per cent decline from the same quarter last year. The median lot price rose slightly by 0.6 per cent to $385,000 while the median lot size was stable at 350sqm. 4 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

The decline in sales mirrored that of the broader Melbourne and Geelong growth areas where sales fell 6 per cent to 2,023 lots in the September quarter, as prospective buyers faced a multitude of hurdles from reduced borrowing capacity through to stubborn inflation and cost of living pressures. New supply in the western corridor fell sharply by 22 per cent to just 611 new lots, which is the lowest figure since the third quarter of 2013. RPM project marketing national managing director Luke Kelly, said the slowing rate of lot

absorption had pushed developers to hold off releasing new land. “New supply is now at a low, which is concerning for the future as there won’t be a pipeline of land ready to go when the market turns,” he said. “Owner occupiers made up just 59 per cent of purchasers in the west – the equal lowest proportion of the four growth areas and indicative of the challenges buyers are facing in the current market. “However, on a positive note first-home buyers made up 68 per cent of all owner

occupier buyers, demonstrating there are still opportunities for buyers to take that first step on the property ladder.” Mr Kelly said developers in the western corridor were focused on shifting titled stock and doing deals in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a positive for qualified buyers. “Developers have less than two months to shift the titled stock on their books which has led to a significant increase in incentives being offered to buy now, which are sitting in the range of 5 to 10 per cent off the headline price,” he said.

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NEWS

Firefighters free Pepper Feedback sought By Cade Lucas

While cats are known to have nine lives, the exact number for dogs is less clear, but judging by the recent travails of Werribee labrador-staffordshire terrier cross, Pepper, it’s certainly more than one. On the afternoon of Saturday November 18 , Pepper’s young life looked about to end after her owner Kim Tunstall returned to their home in Slattery Street to find the one year old family dog impaled on a gate. Ms Tunstall immediately called triple zero and members of the Werribee Fire Brigade soon responded, but optimism for Pepper’s survival wasn’t high. “The situation for the dog was very serious at the time and a lot of us thought it probably wouldn’t make it to the vet let alone back to the family,” said Lieutenant Rowan Rizzoli who was among the 12 firefighters who arrived on the scene. “On arrival our rescue team got to work straight away formatting a plan to extricate the dog from the fence using a variety of tools from our rescue truck. We cut the gate in a number of places and then freed the dog but it was still impaled by a part of the fence.” Having rung ahead to alert staff at the nearby Green Cross Vet Hospital that an emergency patient was on the way, Pepper was whisked in for an x-ray which fortunately showed no damage to major organs. However, with the spike impaled so deep into Pepper’s groin that it was almost protruding the other side, her survival was still far from assured. “We then cut away more of the fence at the vet to allow the surgeon to come in and remove the spike from the dog,” said Lieutenant Rizzoli who estimated that the entire rescue process, from their arrival at the Tunstall’s

Pepper the dog with (from left) owner Kim Tunstall and firefighters, John Lister, Jeremy Morley and Joshua Redman. (supplied)

“Often for us in our role in road crash rescue the outcome for the people we serve is not positive and leaves long lasting effects, so this was a really good moment for us. We often don’t find out what happens to patients either, so it was nice be reunited and see a positive out of a negative.”

home to the end of the surgery, took less than an hour. After three days of recovery, Pepper was well enough to stop by the Werribee fire station to thanks while on her way back home. “Yeah it was a great moment, the whole crew was there,” said Lieutenant Rizzoli of Pepper’s visit on the evening of Tuesday November 21.

Wyndham council is seeking feedback on the future of aged care services in the municipality. Wyndham council is currently the primary provider of the Commonwealth Regional Assessments for entry into aged care for Wyndham residents. As a result, council is the first point of contact for those entering aged care funded programs, but with the federal government set to introduce aged care reforms in the coming months, the role of council is expected to change. Wyndham mayor Cr Jennie Barrera said council committed in 2019 to provide aged care services that would not otherwise be available to the community. “We want to hear what the community values about aged care services currently delivered or what they would like to see changed, to help us shape the future of these services,” she said. “We are finding that council is replicating aged care services that are available by community providers, which is not in keeping with our commitment. There’s more than 120 aged care service providers in Wyndham delivering the services council historically offered. These providers enable residents to have choice, quality and affordability when it comes to aged care services and programs.” She urged members of the public to have their say too. For further information and to provide feedback by January 7, visit: https:// theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/aged-careservices-wyndham

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Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 5

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU Briefs

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Fatal crash Police are investigating a fatal crash in Williams Landing on Monday. It is believed a 26-year-old male driver was travelling along Palmers Road when he crossed the median strip and rolled the vehicle several times at about 11.15pm on December 4. Emergency services arrived but the Hoppers Crossing man died at the scene. The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined however fatigue may be a contributing factor. Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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Werribee Rotary Club President Kim Deneys (left) with firefighters John Lister, ‘Ned’, Daniel May and Rohan Rizzoli. (supplied)

Ned to fire up brigade The Werribee Fire Brigade has scored a gun new recruit ahead of the summer fire season. ’Ned’ the mannequin will be used by the brigade’s training team as a realistic patient in car accidents, farm accidents, industrial accidents, cliff falls and smoke filled rooms. A strapping lad with remarkable pain tolerance, Ned weighs 85 kilos and has a number of locations on his body where items can be impaled and various injuries simulated. Werribee Fire Brigade’s Darryl Wells said Ned will help transform training scenarios for both rescue operators and firefighters. “Prior to Ned’s arrival old overalls were stuffed with various items and used as patients for training,” Mr Wells said.

Ned’s arrival has come courtesy of a $2,400 donation from Werribee Rotary Club who Mr Wells said had been longstanding supporter of the brigade, providing both firefighting and rescue equipment over many years. “When Werribee Fire Brigade commenced road crash rescue in 1969 the rotary club was one of the first community groups to provide funding for rescue equipment at that time and have continued to do so right up to the present day,” he said. “The Werribee Fire Brigade is most appreciative of the generous support it receives from the members of Werribee Rotary and thanks them most gratefully.” Cade Lucas

Police are investigating an assault that occurred in Point Cook on October 26. It is believed two men attended an address in Flatbush Avenue about 8.30pm, turned off the power and waited until the victim, a 44-year-old man, came outside to check the power box. It believed the two men assaulted the victim before producing a handgun and pointing it at him. They left the property and were last seen getting into a white sedan driving east on Flatbush Avenue. The victim received minor facial injuries during the incident which police believe was targeted. Anyone with information is can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Wyndham rate arrears increase By Cade Lucas Wyndham council is being called upon to provide more relief to rate payers suffering financial stress, as rate arrears in the municipality continue to rise. Wyndham council’s quarterly financial statement tabled at last week’s meeting, showed rate arrears of $34.9 million to June 30 2023, an 85 per cent increase since 2019 and the second highest in Melbourne after Hume’s $37.9 million in unpaid rates. According to the legal director at Mortgage Stress Victoria, Matthew Martin, the figures show interest rate rises are hitting council areas like Wyndham and Hume especially hard.

“The fact that Wyndham is showing higher numbers of council rates debts is a tell tale sign of mortgage stress in the area,” said Mr Martin who is based in Wyndham and provides financial advice to many struggling mortgage holders in the area. “When someone is in mortgage stress the chances of them being behind on their rates higher.” Mortgage stress is when a homeowner spends at least 30 per cent of their pre-tax income on mortgage repayments. Mr Martin said because Wyndham was a growth area on the urban fringe that attracts a lot of first home buyers, it has always been more susceptible to mortgage stress and highlighted Point Cook, Truganina and Werribee as

suburbs where it was most common. He said the impact of repeated interest rate rises had really hit home since the middle of the year and that Wyndham and other councils needed to be more proactive in providing relief. “We certainly see that generally local councils are less willing to provide hardship assistance to people compared to other industries such as banking,” Mr Martin said. “There’s still more that could be done in terms of putting people on affordable payment plans and offering waivers of rates debts where appropriate.” In a statement Wyndham council said the number of people seeking assistance has actually dropped since 2019, but that help was

still readily available. “Wyndham City offers a number of hardship plans to assist residents paying their rates. This includes payment plans, extensions and other hardship considerations, including deferrals and interest fee waivers.” The council acknowledged the rise in rate arrears, but said this was partly the result of halting repayments from 2019 to 2022 because of COVID and that figures were ever changing. “It is also important to note that the above figures represent amounts at the time of reporting for the annual report, and these can change significantly over time as repayments are continuously made and debt is collected.”

Giving tree appeal “We kindly welcome contributions of toiletries, sleeping bags/blankets, non-perishable (easy-to-open) food items, toys (select a gift tag from the tree and return the gift tag for accurate distribution) and grocery and food gift cards (Woolworths, Coles, BP, and Ampol),” said Ms Clark who encouraged those making contributions to add some kind words too. “To add a personal touch, we suggest including an anonymous message of encouragement for the gift recipient,” she said. All donations will be directed to Bolton Clarke and Cohealth, partners of the Health, Housing, and Homelessness (H3) Alliance. Cade Lucas

Danni Camillo from Wyn Active which has launched a giving tree appeal for Christmas. (Damjan Janevski) 377064_01

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Wyn Active is normally associated with sport, recreation and helping people get fit and have fun. But with Christmas coming, the body charged with running sporting and leisure facilities for Wyndham council is reaching out to help those less fortunate in the municipality. Wyn Active is a running a Christmas giving tree donation drive to provide gifts, food and basic necessities to people doing it tough. Running from December 1 through to December 22, Wyn Active is accepting donations at giving trees located at AquaPulse aquatics centre in Hoppers Crossing and Eagle Stadium in Werribee. Wyn Active’s Sue Clark encouraged locals to spread joy and kindness this Christmas by donating at either of the two sites.

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 7

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Barbs traded in housing debate By Cade Lucas An motion on affordable housing sparked heated debate between two councillors at last week’s Wyndham council meeting. A report on using council owned land for affordable housing and a recommendation that it be a guiding principle of any future discussions that Wyndham council has about its landholdings, was presented to council after originally being proposed by councillor Robert Szatkowski in April. The report found that using council owned land for affordable housing could attract state and federal investment, expedite housing

developments and that having it as a guiding principle would demonstrate council’s commitment to addressing the problem. Cr Szatkowski said the affordable housing report was more than just a normal council document. “Let us continue to work towards the Wyndham where every resident has access to safe affordable and dignified housing,” he added before closing with a minute’s silence for the victims of domestic violence, an issue he said was exacerbated by the shortage of affordable housing and crisis accommodation. Once the minute’s silence was observed, councillor Josh Gilligan began his argument

against by congratulating Cr Stakowski on his ‘theatrical performance.’ Cr Gilligan then proceeded to tear into the motion, arguing that using council land for housing would come at the cost of core council services. “I will never trade off housing for social infrastructure in the city,” he said. “We have kids that cannot get into kinders. We have a majority of families not able to get through the doors to get immunization done for certain age groups. We don’t have enough aquatic facilities. We don’t have enough sporting facilities.” “It is not our job to solve this problem. We

don’t tax for it, we don’t regulate it, therefore we should not enter into it.” Cr Szatkowski fired back. “Not having a community centre is not a crisis, not having an aquatic centre is not a crisis,” he said. The motion was passed with only Cr Gilligan and councillor Mia Shaw voting against it. Meanwhile, residents have started moving into a $19 million social housing development funded by the state government in Point Cook. The 50 social housing homes have been allocated to people on the Victorian Housing Register and are being managed by community housing provider Baptcare.

Dine in for Palestine Some $11,000 in aid is on its way to Gaza thanks to fundraising dinner in Hoppers Crossing last month. More than 300 residents from Wyndham and surrounding areas attended the ‘Dine-in for Palestine’ event at Central Park Community Hall on November 18. Organised by Auslanka, a local Wyndham community group which represents Sri Lankan Muslims in Australia, the dinner raised funds for food, water, medicine and fuel to be sent to Gaza by charity organisation, Islamic Relief. A humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Gaza since the October 7 terrorist attacks where Hamas militants killed 1200 Israeli civilians. Israeli air strikes and ground operations launched in retaliation have killed an estimated 15,000 people in the Hamas controlled territory since.

Along with fundraising, the event also included a recap of the historical context preceding the current conflict, such as the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1948 Nakba or ‘catastrophe’. The UN has reported that in 2023 alone, 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced, equating to approximately three quarters of Gazan population. More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7 and 60 per cent of buildings in Gaza, including residential buildings, schools and hospitals, have been targeted,” said an Auslanka spokesperson. Auslanka is calling for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after a temporary truce came to an end on the weekend. Attendees at the recent ‘Dine-in for Palestine’ fundraiser in Wyndham, pray for peace in Gaza. (supplied)

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Quake shaped career Ten-year-old Abdul Khan couldn’t have known while watching RAAF cargo planes deliver assistance to survivors of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, that 15 years later he’d be doing the same thing. Young Fight Lieutenant Khan and family were among those affected by the earthquake, which killed at least 80,000 people and displaced millions more when it hit the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan. “Our houses were made of mud so when the water came through everything just collapsed and we had to start again,” remembered Flight Lieutenant Khan of when the earthquake hit. Another of his memories is the international response to the disaster, including from Australians. “I remember seeing then Prime Minister John Howard on the news,“ he recalls. “I had no idea what he was saying but the Urdu translation told me about how people from all over the world had come to help our community.” It was a formative experience for the engineer currently posted to Chief Information Officer Group at RAAF Base Williams in Laverton. When his family later immigrated to Melbourne, Khan dreamt of joining the Air Force before he knew the English word for plane. However a high school teacher set him on a different course. “He told me it would be hard to join the military as a Muslim and that put me off a career in defence,” Flight Lieutenant Khan said. Instead, he enrolled in electrical engineering at RMIT, but seeing an air force ad during his second year rekindled his dream. He enrolled in officer training school in Victoria where any fears about acceptance were soon put to rest. “During the field exercise, while I slept a mate kindly prepared warm water for me as

Air force officer, Pakistani immigrant and keen cricketer, Flight Lieutenant Abdul Khan, is based at RAAF Base Williams in Laverton. (CPL Jacob Joseph)

they knew I would need to wash before prayer,” Flight Lieutenant Khan said. “This is when I knew joining defence was the right decision for me.” Flight Lieutenant Khan has also found diversity on the cricket pitch, where he can be found playing opening batsman every summer. “Sport is a way to get to know everyone, especially cricket where you have different cultures all out there playing together,” he said. The memory of Australia helping Pakistan stayed with the flight lieutenant, when he

joined Operation COVID Assist in Papua New Guinea where he was now the one in uniform helping others. Now he’s helping other Muslim Australians join defence, recently speaking at a recruitment event at the Melbourne Grand Mosque where he related his experiences as a Muslim in uniform. “Seeing a Muslim speaking about defence creates a positive image,” he said. “I want to help the next generation and change perceptions of defence in the Muslim community and beyond.”

NEWS

Upgrades contract let The expansion of Point Cook’s Jamieson Way Community Centre and Reserve is a step closer with Wyndham council awarding the construction contract for the project. Melbcon Pty Ltd will build the $5 million first stage of the project, including a new kindergarten room, kitchen and meeting spaces, with construction set to begin before the end of the year. Wyndham deputy mayor Josh Gilligan said these works would be delivered in line with the Jamieson Way Community Centre and Reserve Master Plan that council adopted in April 2022. “This Wyndham city project will redevelop one of Wyndham’s longest running and popular community centres and will create a fit-for-purpose facility to better meet the needs of the growing Point Cook community,” Cr Gilligan said. “This includes an additional kindergarten room that will increase capacity for local three and four-year-old kindergarten children.” Jamieson Way Kindergarten and Maternal and Child Health Services will continue to operate on-site throughout construction, and Jamieson Way Community Centre Inc will run limited services and activities at the centre in 2024, including the Food Relief Program. Stage two of the project, which includes construction of a compact sports venue and outdoor sports courts, is subject to funding in line with council’s long-term financial plan.

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Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 9

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Taking action for a safer future As this year’s 16 Days of Activism wraps up, Zoe Moffatt dives into the world of footy and the work being done in the outer north-west to improve gender equality and inclusivity.

n Friday, November 24, thousands of Victorians swarmed the steps of parliament house. Bathed in sunshine, a sea of orange swelled for the annual Walk Against Family Violence, the kick start to the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The marchers were united by disturbing Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data that revealed more than one in four Australian women experienced partner violence or abuse. The statistics released on November 22, found that one in six women experienced partner violence and partner economic abuse, while almost one in four experienced partner emotional abuse. For filmmaker and Castlemaine footy player Mitch Nivalis, these figures aren’t a surprise. “It’s far more widespread than I think most people realise,” Mitch said. “I feel like potentially [those] statistics are underreported, because you know, those are the stats that have been reported and I think there’s far more challenging and horrible things going on behind closed doors.” Data from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety found that most Australians do not believe violence against women is a problem in their communities. The analysis found that while 91 per cent of Australians recognise violence against women as an issue at a national level, only 47 per cent admit it could be a problem in their own suburb or town. These telling statistics highlight the need for further localised education, and for Mitch, this is the place where local footy clubs can step up and lead on inclusion and activism. “Sporting clubs are connected in so many different ways to a large part of our community,” Mitch said. “Most people will have kids that will be involved in sporting clubs, adults are involved in sporting clubs, and then all those networks, friends and family that those people are connected to. “So if we’re having these kinds of conversations within sporting clubs, and we’re creating cultures in sporting clubs that are inclusive and equitable for everyone, then that automatically starts to seep out into the broader community and change happens quicker.” Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, Mitch’s short film about the Mount Alexander Falcons was streamed at locations in Melbourne’s outer north-west. The film, Equal the Contest, follows the formation in 2021 of the Castlemaine based football club for women and gender diverse people and their fight for inclusion in the AFL. Despite fulfilling all the necessary conditions to form a new club, the Falcons initially had their application rejected by AFL Central Victoria. The club members then embarked on a campaign to gather support from the community to overturn the decision, challenging age-old sporting traditions and joining the wider movement for gender equality. Speaking about gender equality in sport and rates of violence against women and children, Mitch said while things are changing, they need to happen faster. “Sometimes I think we’re moving way too slow and sometimes I feel like we’ve got such momentum that things are changing quickly,” they said. “When I was a kid there wasn’t even such a thing of girls playing soccer, and now we’ve just had the phenomenon of the Women’s World Cup. “That’s my lifetime, things are changing, but the rates of violence against women and children are still at epic proportions. In that sense, we’ve got so much work to do still.” For growth areas in Melbourne’s outer north-west, like Melton and Wyndham, high levels of family violence is an ongoing issue. 10 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

Equal the Contest film creator and Falcons player Mitch Nivalis. (Supplied)

‘‘

So if ... we’re creating cultures in sporting clubs that are inclusive and equitable for everyone, then that automatically starts to seep out into the broader community

’’

The walk kick started to the 16 Days of Activism campaign. (Respect Victoria)

- Mitch Nivalis

In 2020, the Melton LGA had the highest rate of family violence per 10,000 people in metropolitan Melbourne, and in 2020 Wyndham ranked fourth highest in Victoria for reported incidents of family violence. Family violence support service GenWest is pushing change with a series of community footy club workshops on how clubs can be inclusive, the importance of gender equality and its link to preventing gender-based violence. Former Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd will be speaking at the workshops as part of the Champions of the West program. Tom said community sporting clubs are in many ways a cornerstone of communities. “With that, they are uniquely placed to bring forth topics to focus on that will improve our society,” he said. “At the end of the day, we want our clubs to be places that can unlock the potential of as many people as possible, and help them thrive. “These sessions are a great opportunity to bring people together to talk on things that are of grave importance, and bring it to the forefront of people’s minds leading into a great

year of football.” The program engages local community football club leaders and players to increase understanding of the links between gender inequality and gender-based violence. The sessions will be delivered early next year, and clubs in the Western Region Football League and Sports Central can sign up for a free session during 16 Days of Activism. Interested clubs should email GenWest for more information. Respect Victoria chair Dr Kate Fitz-Gibbon said while family violence and violence against women is a national crisis, it is preventable. “We are calling on all Australians to take action to prevent violence and to learn what drives it,” Dr Fitz-Gibbon said. “Everyone has a role to play if we are ever going to see safe relationships, safe workplaces and a safe community for all women. “Violence is happening in every town and suburb in the country, and we all have an opportunity to be part of the solution. We’re better than this, and we must all strive for a safer future for women and girls.” Looking towards the future, Mitch said they

Former Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd will speak at Champions of the West program workshops. (Supplied)

are hopeful things will continue to change, but people need to continue pushing these important conversations. “There’s so much happening and it’s a bit of a numbers game. We need more women and gender diverse people in key roles in organisations. “We need more learning and education happening particularly for young boys in school. There’s so many conversations that we need to keep pushing forward and progressing in order to make that change. “But I definitely feel hopeful, I think we’re moving in the right direction.” Details: comms@genwest.org.au

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Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 11

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Take care this festive season By Christopher Carter, chief executive officer, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network The end of 2023 is fast approaching, and with it, for many, the opportunity for a bit of break from work and the prospect of catching up with friends and family for shared meals and celebrations. However, as the old schoolyard saying reminds us, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. For some people the annual holiday period – which includes significant holy days for several faiths – can be difficult. This is one of the reasons mental health crisis services stay open across these weeks and, indeed, often see a spike in people needing help. A big focus of the next month or so is family get-togethers. Extensive plans are made to organise everyone to gather in a single place for at least a few hours. For some this can feel less like a lovely prospect and more like a daunting task. Despite the common picture of families as essentially strong, supportive and happy groupings, we all know that sometimes this is not the reality. Some families may contain toxic relationships – there can be arguments, fights and feuds that rise to the surface and spoil the day. Many people feel obliged to ignore these prospects and turn up anyway, hoping, perhaps, that this time things will be ok (or, more practically, that so-and-so won’t be there). But you know what? Spending time with people you dislike – even if they are blood – can significantly impact your mental health. Sometimes the safest and the strongest option might be to decline the family feast and stay home, warm and cosy, or go to visit friends.

Sometimes too the absence of individuals can also be difficult to bear. For lots of people this year’s annual family gathering, or faith service, will be the first following the death of a loved one. This can make it a very challenging experience, full of memories and grief. For any reason, when holiday fun turns to holiday harm, some people feel that they should hide what they are feeling and soldier on. But this doesn’t have to be the case. It’s not a measure of weakness to seek a bit of help. If it all gets a bit much for you this year, remember you can always visit Head to Health – a service funded by the Australian Government that can be found at headtohealth.

gov.au. Head to Health makes it easier to find the most suitable care options for you, whether that’s face-to-face, by phone, or online. Between 8.30am and 5pm on weekdays (except public holidays) you can make a free call on 1800 595 212 for gentle, expert and confidential mental health guidance and advice. Information is available in multiple languages, and is tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, LGBTIQ+ folk and other groups. Another good option is a service called CAREinMIND, which provides free phone counselling for people living, working or

studying in Melbourne’s northern, central and western suburbs. You can reach the team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 096 269, or visit the website at careinmind.com.au Here at North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network we play a big role in running both these services, and I can tell you that they will be operational throughout the holiday period. They are staffed by amazing people – and I thank them for their care and dedication. Of course, if you need immediate assistance, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for crisis support, or an ambulance on 000 if it’s an emergency. These wonderful folks don’t stop for the holidays either!

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New protection for homebuilders Victorians who are building or renovating their homes will be covered with a new building legislation amendment which will ensure consumers are covered by insurance before providing any money to a builder under a contract for domestic building work costing more than $16,000. The new legislation follows the collapse of Porter Davis Homes and other domestic volume builders which exposed several concerning practices, including companies not taking out the required insurance before

accepting deposits under a Major Domestic Building Contract. New offences will be introduced into the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 – if a builder receives money under a major domestic building contract without holding the required domestic building insurance – with a penalty of up to $96,000 in place for an individual or $480,000 for a company. The new offences are first in a suite of reforms to better protect Victorians building or renovating their home, including a review of the act, with consultation

now open on measures to improve safeguards for consumers when they enter into a domestic building contract. The stage two report of the expert panel reviewing Victoria’s building system was released last week, providing 14 recommendations to deliver greater accountability, strengthen compliance and enforcement and improve insurance coverage in the home building sector. These reforms build on the improvements made to culture and governance at the

Victorian Building Authority (VBA) under the guidance of new chief executive officer Anna Cronin. A refresh to the regulator’s approach to improving consumer protections has been announced today, with the release of its new Regulatory Policy Statement. Premier Jacinta Allan said, “we said we’d reform our building system to better protect Victorians, and that’s exactly what we’re doing – protecting Victorian families’ hard-earned savings as well as their dreams of building a house to call their own.”

Council admits to trees error

The St Albans Lunar Festival, 2022. (Supplied)

Summer activities bring west to life December is here and with it comes the holiday season and a plethora of activities and events for people to get involved in across Melbourne’s west this December and January. Western Melbourne Tourism executive officer Richard Ponsford said as summer warms up, Melbourne’s west is coming to life with a fantastic array of events and experiences. “There is a great energy across the west,” he said. “The region is set to offer a relaxed and enjoyable summer holiday season for everyone. Outdoor cinema, bars are buzzing or simply enjoy the beautiful twilight evenings along the rivers, or at the beach. “The west really kicks into life in early 2024

with the Lunar New Year events, particularly the St Albans Lunar Year festival in early January.“ ALWAYS LIVE and Metro Trains kick off the action with End of The Line in Williamstown on December 9. The free family-friendly festival brings together the best local talent together with performances from Alex Lahey, Eliott, Meghna and Philly at Commonwealth Reserve. Also on the 9th is Wyndham’s Carols By Candlelight at the beautiful Werribee Mansion, and later on Christmas Eve is the Eynesbury December Christmas Market. Footscray’s Night Market is on Fridays throughout December, and then you can

bring in the new year at Footscray Park with carnival rides and stellar performances including Regurgitator. Moving into January, SO FRENCHY SO CHIC hits Werribee Park on the 14th. The event connects France to Australia through French contemporary music, gastronomy, fashion and lots of Champagne. On January 21 Melbourne’s largest and longest-running Lunar New Year Festival, is back to usher in the Year of the Dragon. The St Albans Lunar Festival, which began in 1998, has grown into a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, attracting over 80,000 guests and showcasing the rich multicultural tapestry of the St Albans community.

Wyndham council has apologised to residents of a Tarneit street for mistakenly cutting down trees along their nature strips. In a question from the public gallery at last Tuesday night’s council meeting, Tarneit resident Monica Dewhurst asked why the council had lopped trees along Prominence Boulevard, despite previously threatening to fine anyone who touched them. Ms Dewhurst said residents had earlier written to the council asking for the trees to be trimmed as their leaves and branches hung at eye level and poked pedestrians walking on the footpath, in the eye. She wanted to how the council could go from warning residents not to touch the trees, to then completely removing them. “Please explain why the council has now cut down those very trees thereby removing all the shade these trees offered, dislocating the bees and now residents have nothing but concrete which does nothing to mitigate the high temperature, it actually increases the heat,” Ms Dewhurst asked. In response, Wyndham council chief executive Stephen Wall admitted fault. “The trees were absolutely lopped in error,” he told the meeting. “All I can do tonight is apologise for the impact that it’s had on local residents.” Mr Wall said a review of the process leading up to the tree lopping was underway to ensure the error wasn’t repeated. Cade Lucas

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14 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

SCAN TO FIND YOUR OUTLET

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COMMENT

Aromatic plants spark interest In a horticultural twist at Werribee Open Range Zoo, aromatic plants have become the catalysts for captivating sensory and cognitive challenges for the animals. African and Australian natives, including giraffe, camels, wallabies and servals, are receiving a selection of herbaceous plants from zookeepers to spark their curiosity and an array of intriguing natural behaviours. The design and establishment of a new purpose-built herb garden at the zoo, which has the capacity to grow up to 200 fragrant and scented plants, is providing a self-sustainable source of flora to engage with the animals’ sight, smell and touch. Zoos Victoria animal behaviour specialist Sue Jaensch said zookeepers are witnessing a range of behaviours that are helping determine animal preferences. “Fresh herbs have amazing fragrances and flavours,” she said. “But each individual animal and species response and preference can vary. Our goal is to provide experiences that are beneficial for each animal, so understanding individual preferences helps to inform how we can specially tailor these experiences. “Just like in the wild, these experiences offer the animals at the zoo the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of herbs that they can choose to eat, anoint themselves with or simply enjoy the smell of.” The camels and giraffes were given a herb pesto, a mix of intensely scented herbs that

A serval at Werribee Open Range Zoo rubs herself in catnip. (Zoo Victoria)

invoked two very different but equally curious behaviours. One of the giraffes spent plenty of time investigating his herbs, approaching, leaning down, and balancing on three legs as he extended his tongue to taste. This was followed with copious amounts of chewing and tongue flicking. Meantime, a taste from the camels was met with plenty of head shaking as their prehensile, flexible lips flung around.

A serval was provided with catnip, rolling around to douse itself in the mint-like pungent scent. The wallabies chose to consume their rosemary and mint. One of the rhinos chose not to engage with his assortment of fresh herbs. Zoo horticulture manager Craig Shalders said the herb garden is planted with thoughtfully selected herbs to meet the animals’ specific needs and has been sustainably designed.

“Raised garden beds provide the prime advantage of harvesting,” he said. “We’re also utilising water from existing tanks as a water source, while a careful selection of plant species means we have availability all year.” Ms Jaensch said planting herbs at home can have some great benefits. “Planting umbels, a family of herbs including parsley, coriander and dill, is a fantastic way to encourage to attract pollinators and insects into your backyard.”

Order now on aussietoysonline.com.au 12654930-AP49-23

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Point Cook VIEW The Point Cook Day VIEW Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Point Cook Library 1-21 Cheetham Street, Point Cook. New members welcome. ■ Catherine, 0407 726 852

Watton Group A support group providing a social space for carers to get together in a safe and compassionate environment. Gives carers an opportunity to connect, share their experiences and offers emotional and practical support. The group meets at the Eco-Living Centre at 10am every fourth Tuesday of the month. ■ Patricia, 0434 487 360 or wattongroup131@gmail.com

All Abilities Netball All Abilities Netball for 10 to 25-year–olds is run by Wyndham Netball Association every Saturday morning during school terms from 10.30am on outside court 14 at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Intellectual, physical and social disabilities are catered for in a fun and supported group. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2. ■ Phil, 0437 078 739

Walking Netball Walking Netball is a low impact, no running, no jumping version for those that love the fun, friendship and activity of a weekly game of netball. Sessions are run every Thursday during school terms from 8pm at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2. ■ Phil, 0437 078 739

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Norm Morris in a B24 Liberator bomber restoration hanger in Werribee. (Damjan Janevski) 375758_01

Wyndham Rotary Wyndham Rotary welcomes people interested in helping people in need in the community. Interested in finding out more, come to the Italian Sports Club each Wednesday at 6.30pm for a meal, to share ideas and to work for a common cause. ■ Julie, 0406 196 630

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

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

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

and to engage with other diabetics Meetings are at the old council shire buildings at 10am every second Friday of the month. ■ Bob, 0409 252 872

Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus The friendly and vibrant group meet at Hotel 520 on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am. They have a guest speaker each month as well as social lunches, outings and theatre trips. ■ 0408 123 669

The Werribee Diabetes support group has been active in our community for more than 18 years providing advice, information and support for members of the group. The support group provides an opportunity to hear from experts on how to manage your diabetes, to share information on diabetes 16 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

Wyndham Ladies Probus Are you recently retired or semi-retired? Looking for fun, fellowship and to increase your social networks. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Hotel520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, and normally has an outing or event on the third Wednesday of each month. ■ Rosa Sanderson, 0410 303 046

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/

Wyn FM Wyn FM is Wyndham’s community radio station, broadcasting on 88.9 and online from its studios at the Victoria University campus in Werribee. It offers a wide range of programming including music, sport, news and lifestyle shows as well as broadcasts in languages other than English. New broadcasters, volunteers, members and sponsors are always welcome. ■ 9919 8089 or wynfm.org.au

The group is a not-for-profit community organisation for semi-retired and retired Wyndham residents. They hold a variety of classes-activities specifically designed for seniors, including, light physical and mental wellbeing sessions, arts, games and craft, and general classes such as current affairs, history and lunch groups. Most classes-activities are held at Wyndham community centres. ■ Rick, 0402 299 220 Lions Club of Werribee meets at the RSL Club, 2a Synnot Street, Werribee on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm. ■ Jorge, 0433 566 575

Bingo for all The Werribee RSL hosts Bingo every

Western Budgerigar Club The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee. Meet other members who are also passionate about breeding Budgerigars. ■ Don, 0414 975 862

Musicians welcome Hobsons Bay City Band is seeking musicians to join their community band. Rehearsals are held under the directorship of Wayne Bowden OAM every Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Newport Lakes Primary School, Elizabeth Street, Newport. Visitors and interested musicians any age most welcome. ■ Hannah Prouse, hbcityband@gmail.com or www.hbcb.org.au

Boxing

Christchurch Newport is hosting their Christmas event for all to enjoy. Come along and soak up some Christmas cheer with live music, Christmas Choir, Barista coffee, fruit mince pies, gingerbread, sausage sizzle, kids crafts, on Saturday, 16 December, 9.30am-1pm, at Christ Church, 61 Mason Street, Newport ■ steve@christchurchnewport.org.au

Maribyrnong Boxing Club has reopened. New and former members of the Maribyrnong Community Youth Club are welcome to attend training sessions on Monday 6pm-8pm, Thursday 6.45-7.45pm and Sunday, 10-11am. Boxing for fitness classes, beginners, youth, adults and also competition available. The club premises are located under the Grandstand on Maribyrnong Reserve, on the corner of Hortense Street and Middle Road, Maribyrnong ■ nugara.david@hotmail.com or 0413 495 836

Carols By The Bay

Laverton Community Choir

Altona Sports Club are Hosting “Carols By The Bay” on December 14, 2023 starting at 7.00pm. The free event will be headed up with the great Australian musician “Mr Rick Charles“ along with the “Glee West Choir” and the “Ringwood Pipe Band”. There will also be a fireworks display at 9.30pm. 11 Altona Road, Altona. ■ 9398 2283

Laverton Community Choir is looking for people to join them as they start rehearsing Christmas Carols, as well as other popular songs in their repertoire. No experience necessary and no auditions. The group meets on Thursday evenings during school term from 7-9 pm at Laverton P12 College, Gate 1-91 Bladin Street, Laverton. ■ Sue, 0418 386 147

U3A Werribee

Lions Club Diabetes Support Group

Monday. Eyes down from 12.30-2.30pm. ■ 9741 5525

Christmas On The Lawn

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

8 5 2

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

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

Present to someone new (9) Meet requirements (7) Land measure (imp) (4) Independent official who investigates citizens’ complaints (9) Wandering from place to place (7) Destructive insects (7) Surgery chamber (7) Break into pieces (7) Motor (6) Untruths (4) Subject (5)

7 8 9 15

ACROSS Church officer (6) Wages (8) Poem (5) Criticism (7) Impeached US president (5) Teachers (9) Darling (8) Excellent (6) Astronomical cloud (6) Female server (8) With healing properties (9) In addition (5) Launched weapon (7) Luxury (5) Box (8) Finish (6)

1 4 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 19 23 25 27 28 29 30

No. 162

17 18 20 21 22 24 26

DOWN Vast Sudanese grasslands (7) Copy (5) South-West Pacific region (7) Metal body protection (6) Mean (7)

1 2 3 5 6

DECODER

No. 162

hard

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

Today’s Aim: 19 words: Good 29 words: Very good

H T

bash, bath, bathe, bathes, bathos, baths, BOATHOUSE, booth, bosh, both, bush, ethos, haste, hate, hates, haute, heat, heats, hoes, hoot, hoots, hose, host, house, HOUSEBOAT, oath, shea, shoat, shoe, shoo, shoot, shot, shout, shut, sooth, soothe, south, those, thou, thus

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

No. 162

6 7 $ 0 3

ALTER ALTOS APART ARENA AROSE ATONE CANAL CRANE CRATE DOILY EATEN EDGES FRETS GENIE HALER ISSUE LODGE MANIA NESTS OASES OVERS PARSE PEDAL

4 LETTERS APED EELS EVIL EYES HIRE HOUR PAID POND RANT RENT SARI SEWS SPAS TOES TUNE 5 LETTERS ABATE ACORN ALARM

LLAMAS PREFAB TOMCAT

PEEPS PURER RADIO RASPS REAPS RENEW SCARF SEATS SELLS SHAFT SLEDS SLEET SNIDE SNOOP STAMP TABOO THERE TWIRL USUAL VIRAL

TATTOOED TRESTLES

7 LETTERS ABSTAIN COOPING DESPAIR OUTSIDE RUNNIER SECULAR

11 LETTERS NECESSITATE PESTILENCES

8 LETTERS INTERNET SHRAPNEL

6 LETTERS ELECTS

08-12-23

No. 162 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

O N G S O R N E

T A F F A D L E B O U T

S L A

9-LETTER WORD

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

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

10 11 12 13

S 20

O N

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

F L

A A

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

40 words: Excellent

hard

5x5

medium

easy

3 LETTERS APE ARE AWE CAD CUT DAD EKE ERA EVE FIT FOR ICE ILK ITS LIE MET NEE NIT PAL PET SET TAN TOE

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

D VMP K T F OH Z Q J X

9 5 7

G R E I C A NWU Y L S B

6 7

WORDFIT

QUICK QUIZ

A person suffering from friggatriskaidekaphobia is afraid of what?

Which award-winning singer was born Natalie McIntyre?

In the Star Wars universe, what ‘forest moon’ is home to the Ewoks?

Vesak is a holy day observed in which religion?

The Round House in Western Australia was originally built for what purpose?

Lead singer of Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl (pictured), was once the drummer for which iconic ‘90s band?

What is the name of the largest island of Fiji?

In which month of 1666 did the Great Fire of London occur?

Which great classical composer died of a suspected stroke in 1750 in Leipzig, Germany?

10 Sadie Madison and Sunny Madeline are the children of which US actor and comedian?

ANSWERS: 1. Friday the 13th 2. Macy Gray 3. Endor 4. Buddhism 5. A prison 6. Nirvana 7. Viti Levu 8. September 9. Johann Sebastian Bach 10. Adam Sandler

No. 162

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

SUDOKU

Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 17

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SPORTS QUIZ 13. Who was captain of the Australian men’s ODI cricket team before Pat Cummins?

4. Which NFL team won the 2016 Super Bowl?

1. The father of which NBA star has landed a fulltime coaching job at the Illawarra Hawks?

5. Five low-ranking tennis players have been banned by the ITA for committing what offence?

2. Nick Kyrgios called which tennis star ‘superhuman’ after winning the ATP Finals for the seventh time?

14. Chicago has how many MLB teams? 15. And what are their names?

6. Who is highest-paid female athlete in the world?

3. At their recent show in Perth, Coldplay made a heartfelt tribute to which late sports star?

16. Who scored the only goal in Australia’s game against Denmark in the group stage of 2022’s FIFA World Cup?

7. Which WBBL player hit a six with a broken bat in a recent match at North Sydney Oval?

17. How many players are in a curling team?

8. How many times has Stephanie Gilmore won the Women’s WSL World Tour Championship?

23. Shamera Sterling, winner of the 2023 Super Netball player of the year award, plays for which Super Netball club?

18. Which team won the Stanley Cup in 2022?

9. Mckenna Grace played the younger version of which figure skater in a 2017 film?

19. WWE wrestler Becky Lynch is married to which fellow wrestler?

24. Which Perth-born Australian golf professional won the 2023 Australian PGA Championship?

20. In what year did the Carlton Football Club last win an AFL premiership?

10. How many times have the Socceroos placed in the top four at a FIFA World Cup?

21. Courtney Bruce, winner of the 2023 Liz Ellis Diamond award, plays for which Super Netball club?

11. Which two countries are co-hosting the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup?

22. Which national men’'s tennis team defeated Australia in the final of the 2023 Davis Cup?

12. How many Australians have won the Tour de France?

Becky Lynch

Stephanie Gilmore

25. Which two teams qualified to play off in the 2023 AFLW Grand Final?

28. Which team did Brisbane Blaze defeat to win the final of the 2023 Women’s Hockey One competition? 29. Monique Conti, winner of the 2023 AFLW best and fairest award, plays for which club? 30. The 2023 film Next Goal Wins is based on a documentary focused on which national soccer team?

26. The 2023 LA Bowl college football game is sponsored by which former NFL star? 27. Which team did Brisbane Blaze defeat to win the final of the 2023 Men’s Hockey One competition?

0812

1. Jayson Tatum 2. Novak Djokovic 3. Shane Warne 4. The Broncos 5. Match-fixing 6. Serena Williams 7. Grace Harris 8. Eight 9. Tonya Harding 10. None 11. West Indies and America 12. One (Cadel Evans) 13. Aaron Finch 14. Two 15. The Cubs and the White Sox 16. Mathew Leckie 17. Four 18. Colorado Avalanche 19. Seth Rollins 20. 1995 21. West Coast Fever 22. Italy 23. Adelaide Thunderbirds 24. Min Woo Lee 25. Brisbane Lion and North Melbourne 26. Rob Gronkowski 27. NSW Pride 28. Canberra Chill 29. Richmond 30. American Samoa V

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X-Trail roots in ‘enemy territory’ By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring In one of the most competitive segments of the automobile industry one company has called on rivals for one of its most important products. Nissan has put together its fourth generation X-Trail with parts from the Mitsubishi Outlander on a Nissan-Renault Alliance CMC-F platform. Weighing in with six petrol-powered variants in front or all-wheel drive – there are two e-Power hybrid electric vehicles on the horizon – the bitser takes on the task of making up ground on well-established rivals such as Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson. The new X-Trail comes with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in front-wheel drive, or optional Intelligent 4x4, with all four grades – ST, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L, with a mix of five or seven seats – fitted with an Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission. Well-equipped from the entry-level ST front-wheel drive at $36,750, plus on-road costs, to the range-leading Ti-L AWD, $52,990, on test was the ST-L AWD 7 seat priced at $46,290. All X-Trails are covered by Nissan’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance over the same period. Service packages are available.

Styling Nissan says the new CMF-C platform, from its alliance with Renault, allows for 27 per cent greater torsional stiffness than before, while the use of ultra high-tensile steel in the body has almost doubled over the old car. Weight savings have been found by using composite material for the rear tailgate, and aluminium for the front and rear doors, front fenders, and bonnet. The test car paint job turned out to be something of a work of art, the basic white with black highlights really holding the redesigned rear together, giving the vehicle a unique, sharper look than before. The signature V-Motion grille and double-decker headlamps add to the Nissan(ness) of the MY23 model, while two-tone body colours – white and black here – make their Nissan debut. The ST-L rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels.

Interior A spacious cabin is versatile, with sliding second row seats to allow for passable access to the optional third row, maximising seating for up to seven. Rear doors open wide, allowing ease of loading. Despite retaining the same 2705mm wheelbase as the previous X-Trail, there’s more space in the second row, with generous leg and knee room. There’s no skimping on headroom. The big let-down, however, is the lack of legroom in a third row only suitable to take children. Synthetic leather seats, heated at the front, include power-adjustable driver’s seat. There’s dual-zone climate control, 360-degree parking camera view, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and leather-accented steering wheel. Inside, the vehicle is dominated by black surrounds. However, brown inserts scattered around the cabin, plus white contrasting stitching surprisingly give the gloom a lift. Storage includes generous cup holders up front, room for big bottles in the doors and a huge central bin. Under the console is another large tray. The boot floor is split into two removable panels that lift and slot in vertically to separate and hide items. It also includes limited under-floor storage for slimmer items. The X-Trail has a temporary spare wheel.

Infotainment The ST-L is fitted with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and AM, FM and DAB+ digital radio. 20 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

The new Nissan X-Trail puts on a face to challenge any of its mid-size SUV opponents. (Pictures: Supplied)

There’s a USB-A and C port up front – two more USB ports (one USB-C and one USB-A) in the back – and a wireless charger. One blessing is the air-conditioning controls are left out of the touchscreen, instead in the form of a row of dials and buttons that are easy to use when driving. The driver also can take advantage of an instrument display consisting of twin analogue dials flanking a 7-inch screen with important info such as speed, fuel economy, safety systems and tyre pressures.

Engines/transmissions Launching on a brand-new platform, the new X-Trail is offered with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – the same unit as in the Outlander – producing 135 kW of power and 244 Nm of torque. In front-wheel drive or optional Intelligent 4x4, all grades are fitted with an Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission. Maximum braked towing capacity has been increased to 2000kg.

Safety Advanced safety tech earned the X-Trail a five-star ANCAP rating in 2022. On hand is lane keeping assist, lane centring assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, front

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE ST 2WD $36,750 ST AWD 7 seat $37,790 ST-L 2WD $43,190 ST-L AWD 7 seat $46,290 Ti AWD $49,990 Ti AWD ePower hybrid $54,190 Ti-L AWD $52,990 Ti-L AWD ePower hybrid $57,190 SPECIFICATIONS Nissan X-Trail ST-L AWD 2.5L 4-cylinder petrol, CVT automatic, AWD SUV

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

and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree vehicle view and door exit warning. Forward autonomous emergency braking, with pedestrian and cyclist detection, while low-speed reverse AEB is handy when parking, the latter producing a shock to the driver’s system when first introduced to it in the test vehicle without forewarning.

Driving Performance has seen the benefit of extensive engineering work, with the ST-L skipping along nicely on the bitumen. An upgraded (9 kW / 18 Nm) 135 kW/244 Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivers more pep with little noise, vibration and harshness making their way into the cabin. Fuel consumption on test rose as high as 11.5 litres per 100 kilometres in town traffic, while the best recorded was 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres on a motorway run, averaging within the 7.8 combined urban/highway consumption claimed by Nissan. Following a full overhaul of chassis and suspension tuning, the new X-Trail has improved on-road ride and handling considerably. With the new Intelligent 4x4 system designed to react quicker than before, power off road is seamlessly transferred from front to rear wheels to help with stability and traction. As well as hill descent control, the X-Trail ST-L offers five drive and terrain modes – Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow and Off-Road – accessed by a rotator on the centre console.

Summary It’s anyone’s guess how the Nissan will compete on the congested mid-size SUV sales trail. The well-specced ST-L could hold the key.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Werribee sign quartet to replace onball stars Werribee has addressed the loss of star onballers Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Shaun Mannagh with five midfield additions for the next Victorian Football League season. Ex-Geelong AFL-listed player Copper Whyte headlines the incoming signings and is joined by former Williamstown duo Daly Andrews and Corey Preston and youngsters Jaelen Pavlidis and Jake Smith who both have family ties to the club. Whyte, the penultimate pick in the 2021 AFL draft spent two years at Geelong and following an injury interrupted first season earned an AFL debut in 2023. Daly Andrews, who played his junior football in Werribee and has almost 50 games of state league experience under his belt including a stint with South Adelaide when Covid cancelled the 2020 VFL season. Arriving with Andrews is 20-year-old Corey Preston who played every game for the Seagulls over the past two campaigns after graduating from the Eastern Ranges. Jaelen Pavlidis also crosses from a rival

Jake Smith (left) and Jaelen Pavlidis (centre) during preseason training (Werribee FC)

VFL club Greater Western Sydney and joins Werribee almost three decades after his father John Pavlidis played at the club. Meanwhile, Western Jets best and fairest winner Jake Smith follows in the footsteps of his father Karl and grandfather Brian Smith

who both pulled on the black and gold during their playing days. Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said the club was thrilled to have all five players on board. “Cooper is an exciting addition having

spent two years on an AFL list. We see him playing a number of different roles with his burst of speed and kicking ability, he’s got a really nice left foot,” he said. “Daly is a midfielder with good speed and the ability to play both inside and outside. He joins the club after statistically his best year of state league footy and will be important for us with his experience. “CJ (Corey) is one of the top young players in the VFL with the ability to play multiple positions. He’s a nice kick of the football, takes the game on and plays with attacking flair. “We’ve tracked Jaelen for a couple of years now and are delighted to have secured his services after a solid season up in Sydney. He’s a hard running midfielder who can play a variety of roles. “Jake is a big-bodied midfielder who had a fantastic year in the Coates League and comes in with knowledge of our program having trained with us last season through our relationship with the Jets.”

Sports shorts VTCA Point Cook Centrals claimed the points against Wyndhmvale in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association T20 competition on Tuesday night. The Vales made 8-89 from their overs with Jake Rippon top scoring with 15 not at number 10. The Sharks got the winning runs in the 18th over, finishing 6-92. Joshua Cowell top scored with 37. It was one of just three matches to go ahead due to wet grounds after heavy rain fell in the lead up to matches.

Coates Talent League Western Jets Lucca Grego has been named in the Vic Metro boys summer hub training squad. The squad contains 24 players and will take one in two high performance training camps over the summer months to further assist players in their preparation for the 2024 Coates Talent League season.

Cricket

Westbourne Grammarians are restarting their women’s program. (Supplied)

Grammarians relaunch By Tara Murray Westbourne Grammarians’ relaunch of their women’s program is off to the perfect start, securing a premiership-winning duo to lead the way. The Grammarians, who didn’t field a senior side at all in 2023, announced they were relaunching their women’s program on social media. The Victorian Amateur Football Association club last had a women’s side in 2019 and it made finals that year after winning a premiership in 2018. To lead the new phase of the program, the club has appointed Ian Allan and former Bulldogs star Chris Grant as co-coaches. The pair coached at Spotswood the past eight seasons, including winning two senior premierships, including this year. They started coaching in under-16s before moving up to under-18s and seniors. Allan said while they leave Spotswood with mixed feelings, they are keen to get started at Westbourne.

He said they reflect back on their time at Spotswood proudly with what they had achieved and the club would always be close to his heart, but they were now focused on the future. “We are looking forward to the next challenge,” he said. “We’re pretty excited to get the opportunity and be part of the competition. “It’s the best local women’s competition in Victoria and pretty much in Australia as well. “It’s the next phase for us. We’ve seen this as a really good opportunity with a club with a really good history.” Allan said there was a lot of unknown about joining a new club and competition and it was something that was exciting. Several of the Spotswood playing group and off field team have also made the decision to move across to Westbourne as well. He said having not lost many games in their time in the senior competition, it could be a different challenge from what they were used to but one they were ready for.

“We didn’t force anyone to come across with us,” he said. “The exciting part of it is the unknown and the challenge for the girls to take their footy to the next level. “There will be unknown teams that we have never experienced before and it will help the girls really grow.” Allan said they were hoping that some of the players who were part of it before COVID-19 hit hard would return the club, but knows it’s been a few years since that and things have changed. He said that anyone who was interested could come on down and they had put their aim at getting two sides together. Training started last week with more than 20 girls at the first session. “We’re building the foundations and we’ll see how it goes from there,” he said. “Our main focus is having fun and helping the players better themselves. “Being a team sport the girls will have visions and we will look to give it a good hard crack.”

It was a complete washout on Saturday for cricket in Wyndham. The Victorian Turf, Victoria Sub-District, North West Metropolitan and Western Suburbs Churches and Community cricket associations all cancelled play due to heavy rain falling in the lead up to game day and continuing on Saturday morning. The VSDCA and NWMCA matches that were set to start Saturday, are now one-day matches starting this week, while the majority of the VTCA matches ended in draws, having gotten underway the previous weekend.

FV Point Cook has announced its coaches for next year’s FV state league 3 north-west season. Anthony (Nino) Comegna has been appointed coach and will be accompanied by the addition of Danial Cassar as his senior assistant.” With a wealth of knowledge and experience, both Anthony and Danial enhance the coaching team at Point Cook, promising an exciting season ahead,” the club said on social media. FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 21

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Wyndham juniors snare the state pennant title Sanctuary Lakes’ junior pennant team took out the Victorian State Championships 2023 on November 26. Across the state six teams of six players from six separate regions competed across spring to play off for the championship which came to its climax last Sunday. Quan Liu, Max Peterson, Zane Nicholas, Sakura Yoshizawa, Yifan Wang and captain Luke Keenan made up the winning Sanctuary Lakes team. After winning the region, the team went to the Southern Golf Club to take on Riversdale in the quarter finals. Last year the teams came across each other and Sanctuary Lakes lost by just a point. In the quarter finals the sides tied three games each, forcing a play off hole. Sanctuary Lakes’ skipper Keenan was sent out and won the game, progressing his team into the semi finals. In the semi against Medway at home, Sanctuary Lakes breezed into the final winning five games to one. Then it was back to Sandhurst for the final

Moments after success (Golf Australia)

against Woodlands. It was a familiar story for Sanctuary Lakes having to head back to a play off hole. “We’d won three and we’d lost three and thought who are we going to send out for the play off hole, well there’s only probably one player that we would send out based on who won the quarter final for us,” team manager Greg Keenan said. “So we sent Luke out for the sudden death play off and he monstered it.

“Sent a 305 yard drive down the fairway so it was an easy little chip on to the green for him. “His opponent put his drive into a fairway bunker, so couldn’t get on to the green for two shots, he had to chip on, because the wind was behind him he blew it 10 feet behind the flag. “Luke then had a pretty easy two-putt to close out the match and then there were absolute scenes.

“Luke was the only player in the state that went through the finals series undefeated and we call him captain clutch.” With the Australian Open taking place on the weekend the timing couldn’t have been better for the young golfers. “They all love Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith obviously, it’s just a shame the open’s not in Melbourne this year all the kids went last year and it was a phenomenal event,” Greg Keenan said. “It’s a golden era for Australian golf.” Keenan said the success of the junior team would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the support systems put in place by the club. “There’s a young achievers foundation that supports them financially in terms of coaching and chips in for their membership fees,” he said. “That’s a volunteer organisation that does fundraisers throughout the year, we wouldn’t be able to do it without the club and the young achievers foundation.”

Clash of the titans on big track night

Robert Smith (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Bees bounce back well By Tara Murray Werribee bounced back in the perfect way in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant division 2, section 2 on Saturday. After losing a top of the table clash against Bacchus Marsh the previous week, the Bees were in fine form on Saturday against Club Sunbury 2. The Bees won three of the four rinks on the way to a 84 (16)-68 (2) win. Brendan Barker’s rink continued its good form winning 29-12, with the rink remaining undefeated this season. Robert Smith’s rink had a one shot win, 16-15, while Robert Panton’s rink won 22-21. Mick O’Neil was the losing rink, losing a close one 20-17. The Bees Steve Weston said things had been going really well early in the season. “The top side is sitting third on the ladder,” he said. “They are doing really well. They were second until they lost to Bacchus Marsh and Deer Park got one up on us. 22 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 6 December, 2023

“Snowy [Barker] has not lost all year and is tracking along nicely and we have a couple of new guys doing well.” Weston said Nick Alderson, who had returned to the club this season after a couple of seasons off, and Dean Taylor, who had crossed from Hoppers, had fitted in well. The depth of the side meant the other new players were biding their time in the division 3 team. “The remainder of the side is pretty similar,” said Weston, who is set to return to playing this week after being away for the first part of the season. “It adds extra pressure and we have really good players in the third side [division 3] and they are pushing for spots. “There’s someone like Trent Milne, who has now been at the club for three years, who has come on leaps and bounds.” Now half way through the season, the top three sides have made a break on the rest of the competition. Bacchus Marsh sits on top undefeated on

109 points, with Deer Park second on 94 and the Bees on 86. Keilor sits in fourth spot, 29 points behind the Bees. Weston said getting in that top four was their first aim for the season. “Bacchus Marsh has not lost a game and are out in front,” he said. “Us, Deer Park and Bacchus Marsh look like we will play for the premiership, the fourth side it up and down. “The top three have cemented their spots.” In division 3, section 1, rain played a big part on Saturday, with only one match going ahead. Palm Lake weren’t able to come away with the points, as Yarraville-Seddon 3 got the win, 91 (17)-55 (1). Werribee 2 and Hoppers’ matches against Altona Sports and Williamstown respectively were washed out. In division 4, section 1, Point Cook’s match with Newport was washed out, as was Werribee 3’s with Deer Park 4.

It was a stunning night for Western Athletics athletes at the On Track Nights Zatopek:10 event. Jack Rayner won his third Australian title in the 10,000 metres event in a race that provided plenty of drama. Spectators witnessed a clash of titans as Rayner, Patrick Tiernan and Irish challenger Andrew Coscoran, who stole the spotlight in the later stages. The trio maintained a hot pace, distancing themselves from the pack over the last three laps and setting the stage for a grandstand finish. Front runner Tiernan dictated the tempo until the final 600 metres, when Rayner made a push, appearing poised to claim the victory. The narrative took a turn when in the last bend, the Irishman unleashed. While Coscoran powered through the finish line first, Rayner, as the first Australian across the line, grabbed onto his third consecutive title over the distance. Rayner said the result was a step in the right direction for him. “To be honest the first half of this year was pretty crap for me, I went to Europe and wasn’t able to race anywhere near my best which was disheartening,” he said. “I probably should have gone a few laps earlier, but I was still feeling the sting because Pat [Tiernan] was picking it up. If I was racing it again, I would try to run the legs out of him [Coscoran] a little bit more. I would have loved to have won the actual race, but I’m still happy with the Australian title.” There was more joy for the Western Athletics squad, with their women’s 4x400 metre relay squad claiming gold. Soumeya Biao, Honour Tobin, Morgan Mitchell and Ella Tobin finished in a time of 3.47.21 to win by more than one second. Other Western Athletics athletes, Rochelle Kennedy, Lucy Cleveland, Aliyah Canepa and Liam Cashin also competed on the night.

Strong start for Werribee Giants continues Amid wet weather on the weekend the sun is still shining bright on the Werribee Giants. The Giants’ first team remains undefeated in Baseball Victoria women’s metro north-west summer league season after the weekend’s round nine matches were abandoned due to wet weather. The Giant’s second team, which is in the same competition as the firsts, currently has four wins and four losses. The decision to run two sides in the one competition was made late in pre-season, as was the decision to make the ‘white’ team “more competitive” and the ‘blue’ team “focused more on development and the social aspect.” “We had too many numbers for one team and then we wanted to make sure there was plenty of participation and not too many players sitting on the bench every week, so that was a tough decision that we decided to make but I think it’s been really, really great,” coach of the women’s program Bronwyn Gell

said. “It’s the best decision we’ve made. “Initially it was a struggle at the start of the season the blue team had some really tough games playing against some really competitive teams but they’re on a winning streak at the moment, so it shows the development and cohesiveness of the program is playing off at the moment.” The white side has been going from strength to strength, with a massive 158 runs to their name, while only conceding 43, showing their dominance in the competition. “The girls are on fire at the moment with their batting, it’s a credit to them, they’ve all been working really hard and training really hard,” Gell said. “They all want to learn and develop, it’s a credit to each and every one of them. “The way I coach and the way we’re trying to run the program is just to be really aggressive, we’re not watching any strikes over, we’re not

really looking for walks, we want to hit the ball hard. “I think that’s probably showing in the score.” The goal for the Gell and the Giants will be to have the white team promoted into the premier first competition next year and have a clear firsts and seconds team for the next summer season. With the way the association is set up, each team is made to select a core seven players who can’t move once the season has begun. “[With sides in separate competitions] you can really reward players for training hard and performing and if they develop late in the season they have opportunities to move up,” Gell said. “I think that would be the ultimate goal.” With a bye coming up on the weekend for the white team, its next match will be against the blue team on December 16. Harper Sercombe

Werribee Giants was set to play its pride round over the weekend. Bronwyn Gell, Connor Wilson and Jessica Curnow. (Damjan Janevski) 375506_06

Western United go down again

Mark Torcaso

Torcaso departs United Western United women’s coach Mark Torcaso has made the decision to leave the club effective immediately. Torcaso made the decision to resign from his position in order to focus fully on his role as coach of the Philippines women’s national team. This decision came in consultation with the Philippine Football Federation and with Western United, with the club saying it gives its full support to Torcaso in pursuing this international opportunity. While he departs as head coach, Torcaso will remain connected to Western United in an advisory role, continuing to facilitate the club’s development pathway for talented players in the west. Torcaso said it had been an honour to represent Western United as a head coach, affirming his anticipation at seeing the team continue to grow. “The club has meant everything to me, the players, the staff and everyone involved in it. To be part of this is something so special and unique,” he said. “I cannot wait to continue watching this team evolve – this team has the capabilities to go all the way. My connection with the women’s team will remain, just in a different

way. I am looking forward to this and helping in whatever way I can.” In light of these changes, United has appointed Kat Smith as the club’s new head coach. One of the leading minds in Australian women’s football, Smith becomes United’s first ever female head coach and will continue the growth of the program which Torcaso started. Smith guided Western Sydney Wanderers to their second-best ever points tally in the A-League last season and boasts a breadth of experience in the Australian national team set-up. Smith has worked in assistant coach and analyst positions across youth and senior national teams, including a key analyst role during the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup. Returning to the A-League, Smith said she is ready to write the next chapter in Western United’s short history. “This is a great opportunity. Building on the foundations and aiming for the next level is an exciting challenge,” she said. “Our key focus will involve meticulous planning and preparation, effective communication and continuous improvement. “Collectively, we will strive for excellence

and take a collaborative approach to achieving success. I acknowledge the challenge that the season brings and will endeavour to create a winning culture and an enjoyable environment for all involved.” Football general manager Mal Impiombato added his delight at securing Smith to continue developing the future of United’s women’s program. “We are thrilled to welcome Kat to our football club. Kat is an extremely talented coach with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we are buoyant about the impact she will have at Western United,” he said. “We welcome Kat to the club and look forward to seeing her continue to build on the foundations that have been set in our women’s department.” Alongside Smith, Chelsea Noonan will continue in her role as assistant coach and extend her already outstanding work with the team. Noonan has previously worked as an assistant coach with the Republic of Ireland under-17 women’s national team. Smith was set take her first session as United coach on Monday as the team begins preparation for the round seven clash against Adelaide United.

Western United’s winless streak has continued this time going down to an in-form Wellington Phoenix outfit. Attacking midfielder Ben Old helped steer Phoenix to the top of the A-League Men table with a late winner in a 1-0 victory in Ballarat. Both sides struggled to break the deadlock deep into Saturday’s clash, Old settled the tie with a sweeping right-foot strike that flew past goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle in the 79th minute. However, it wasn’t without an extra layer of drama with the video assistant referee (VAR) needing to run its eye over the goal. The goal was cleared for off side and the goal stood, giving United its fifth straight loss following its victory against Melbourne City in round one. “It was a bit of a sucker-punch that the goal got allowed because it looked offside,” United coach John Aloisi said after the match. “The camera angles aren’t that good here because of the way the stadium is and there’s not as many cameras as normal. “You can’t change the decision, so there’s no use in me getting angry. “You just have to get on with it and make sure that the players aren’t getting too down.” Yet Phoenix may have been lucky to escape with a victory, as United had the upper hand in many of the major stats. United had an extra five shots on goal and three on target than their counterparts and had marginally more possession. “Our general play and performances have been better than the oppositions in the last four games, but we’re coming away with zero points in those four games,” he said. Western United will hope to get back on the winners list when they face the Central Coast Mariners on Friday night up north. The women will return from international break and play Adelaide United on Saturday.

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