Star Weekly - Brimbank North West - 12th December 2023 by Star Weekly

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Double fault for toilet By Hannah Hammoud The Keilor Tennis Club is grappling with accessibility issues as members, including people with disabilities, are forced to deal with inadequate toilet facilities. The club’s president, Lisa Mayoh, said she has been advocating for improvements to the club’s toilets for years, and has raised concerns about the current lack of disability-friendly toilets and the cramped restroom spaces with Brimbank council. “We have discussed the issue about not having disabled toilets at our club and also about how small the space is. Even an able-bodied person over the age of 12 would have to squeeze into the door and shut it,” she said.

‘‘

It is embarrassing that we don’t have a toilet that everyone can use

’’

- Lisa Mayoh

Ms Mayoh said the toilets are inaccessible to people with disabilities meaning there are no bathroom facilities for them to use at the club - a basic amenity that should be available to all members of the club. “We need an urgent upgrade if not to the whole clubhouse, then just the toilets. It is embarrassing that we don’t have a toilet that everyone can use,” she said. The club, located on the Old Calder Highway in Keilor, is used by more than 200 members. Ms Mayoh says the club has received little support from Brimbank council. When she wrote to council asking for help to fix the issue, she was told the club was seventh on a list for potential improvements. Council’s short-term suggestion was for members to use facilities at the nearby bowls club. Ms Mayoh said such recommendations are impractical, especially for disabled individuals, making it a considerable challenge to access facilities conveniently. Another proposed solution to install a sliding door was also dismissed as unsuitable. “Council told us that we are seventh on the list, and gave us options to use the bowls club next door – which yes it’s next door, but

Keilor Tennis club member Alexandra Pavlidis squeezes into the club’s bathroom. (Jacob Pattison) 376736_01

for a disabled person it is still a decent walk. Council hasn’t even been out here,” she said. Brimbank council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said council is committed to upgrading facilities to make them inclusive for all, “however there are many facilities that need to be upgraded”. “The recently adopted (October 2023) Sports Facility Development Plan provides

council with the evidence base to prioritise works to enable upgrades to be systematically undertaken. It has a pavilion upgrade program, which involves the full redevelopment of sports pavilions and an Inclusive Facilities upgrade program which focuses on bringing change rooms and social room toilets compliant with the required Disability Discrimination Act and female friendly standards,” she said.

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“The Keilor Tennis Club are listed as priority number seven in the pavilion development program so is a high priority project given there are over 50 sports pavilions occupied by community clubs, however the first six priorities are required to be completed first.” Ms Dumble said council officers are working through short term operational solutions with the club.

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West ‘desperately under-served’ By Hannah Hammoud A faster, fairer and better-connected bus network is needed for Melbourne, especially in under-serviced outer growth areas, according to new research from the state’s independent infrastructure adviser. Infrastructure Victoria acting chief executive Dr Allison Stewart said for those who don’t live in areas near train and tram corridors, most Melburnians must rely on a ‘slow and patchy’ bus network. “Average wait times for buses are about 40 minutes during a typical weekday and 50 minutes on Sundays,” Dr Stewart said. When it comes to suburbs that are underserved by the current bus network, Melbourne’s west is a constant front-runner. The report from Infrastructure Victoria titled, ‘Fast, frequent, fair: how buses can better connect Melbourne’, details how reforms to Melbourne’s bus network would significantly improve access to jobs and recreation for thousands of people. The report lists 10 recommendations for improvements, including increasing the frequency of bus services, beginning with outer

‘‘

It’s a cost of living issue, it’s a social isolation issue, it’s an equity issue

’’

- Chloe Aldenhoven and growth area suburbs as well as optimising the bus network through fast and direct routes. The recommendations echo similar requests from Friends of the Earth Melbourne, long-time campaigners for better buses in the west.

Friends of the Earth Melbourne said reforms would especially serve those in ’chronically underserved’ outer suburbs, and those in newly built estates who currently have minimal to no access to public transport. “This research shows that if there’s a better bus system, Melbournians will use it. But more importantly, that fast growing outer suburbs like those in the west are desperately under-served and need better buses now,” said Friends of the Earth’s campaigns coordinator and better buses spokesperson Chloe Aldenhoven. “Many households in Melbourne’s west have to spend thousands on multiple cars or taxis and Ubers, or otherwise just get stuck at home. It’s a cost of living issue, it’s a social isolation issue, it’s an equity issue.” Friends of the Earth are once again calling for a pilot bus reform to be introduced in the west by reforming the routes under the bus operator CDC’s contract that covers much of the west. “Minister Ben Carroll sat on Victoria’s Bus Plan for years while in the public transport portfolio. Premier Allan presided over big public transport projects proposed for the west

like airport rail falling by the wayside. The west is getting increasingly isolated, and desperate. We need Victorian Labor’s leadership team to take this report seriously, and to start by implementing fast, frequent and direct bus services across Melbourne’s western suburbs,” Ms Aldenhoven said. “The Allan government say they want better buses, the community are calling for it, the business community is calling for it, it’s the advice they are getting from Infrastructure Victoria, but we are still not seeing action.” A state government spokesperson said the state government ‘welcomes’ the research conducted by Infrastructure Victoria. “We know buses play a significant role in our public transport network – particularly across the suburbs, which is why we’re focused on reforming the bus network across the state,” the spokesperson said. “Through a range of initiatives including improving existing routes, adding new bus routes and supporting a transition to zero-emissions buses, we are making sure buses play a stronger role in a transport network critical to growing a more liveable and more connected Victoria.”

Sing along and share the spirit of the season Brimbank Presbyterian Church is gearing up for its much-anticipated annual Christmas carols service this Sunday, and everyone is invited. This year’s carols service promises to be a memorable occasion, marking two decades of joy, unity, and the timeless celebration of Christmas. Pastor Daniel Dixon, a familiar face in the community, said the event has become a cherished tradition for locals. “Our carols service is a fantastic way to connect and celebrate Christmas together. It will provide plenty of opportunities to sing Christmas carols, include an item for children, and remind us of the meaning of Christmas,” he said. The event has stood the test of time, with the carols service running for the past 20 years. “As we flip over our calendars to December the shops get busier, our diaries get fuller, and event planning ramps up. It is a wonderful but often hectic time in the year. However, our carols service provides an opportunity to pause and to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas,” Pastor Dixon said. “The first Christmas was a time when God demonstrated his love towards us in the birth of his son. We enjoy celebrating this as we sing carols together.” Pastor Dixon said the Church welcomes all community members to join for the occasion

Brimbank Presbyterian Church Pastor Daniel Dixon and his wife Melissa. (Damjan Janevski) 376778_02

and experience the true spirit of the season. The carols service will take place from 10am on Sunday, December 17, at the Sydenham Neighbourhood House, 1 Station Street,

Watergardens Shopping Centre. There will also be a Christmas Eve service on December 24, from 10am and a Christmas Day service on December 25, from 9.30am.

Contact the Brimbank Presbyterian Church on (03) 9307 6583 for further details. Hannah Hammoud

West Gate and Princes Freeway overnight closures In mid-December 2023

The West Gate Freeway between the Millers Road ramps and the Princes Freeway inbound between Kororoit Creek Road and the M80 interchange will be closed over two nights in mid-December 2023. This is so crews can safely install an overhead gantry. Plan ahead and check the exact closure dates and times at bigbuild.vic.gov.au More freeway closures will be happening over the coming months. Stay up to date at bigbuild.vic.gov.au /disruptions Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12652362-HC50-23

4 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

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Vapes ‘easily accessible’ to kids In Brimbank vapes are being sold in close proximity to schools and are easily accessible to children and young people, a new study reveals. The Western Public Health Unit’s ‘Out and About: Snapshot of e-cigarette accessibility in Brimbank’ investigation set out to map the number, type and location of retailers selling e-cigarettes in Brimbank. Across 17 field trips in June 2023, 59 retailers in Brimbank were found to be selling e-cigarettes, including tobacco and liquor stores as well as grocery, convenience, fuel, cafe and food stores. The investigation found that 70

per cent of schools were located less than 1km from the nearest retailer selling vapes. Director of the Western Public Health Unit Dr Finn Romanes said that of the retailers identified, only a minority were dedicated tobacco and vaping stores that are restricted to serving adults. The investigation revealed that two-thirds of the stores were non-tobacco stores that are accessible to young people under 18 years, with vapes alongside everyday items on shelves. “Selling e-cigarettes in cafes and grocery stores normalises the sale to children and young people of a potentially addictive and

harmful product that can act as a gateway to smoking tobacco. We found e-cigarettes were on wide display, presented appealingly with enticing flavours on offer like candy and ice cream,” Dr Romanes said. “Although it is illegal to sell nicotine-containing vapes outside of a prescription, young people and their parents may not know that the majority of e-cigarettes on sale in retailers are deliberately mislabelled and actually contain addictive nicotine, as well as hundreds of harmful chemicals. This means that even when the label on the e-cigarette states they don’t contain nicotine, the majority

do.” In response to the findings, Brimbank council said it is working hard to tackle the accessibility of e-cigarettes. Council said it has undertaken inspections and education activities as part of the Municipal Association of Victoria Tobacco Education and Enforcement Program. Under this program, retailers are educated about their obligations to not sell tobacco and e-cigarettes to minors. Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said council will tackle the issue in partnership with state health authorities, as well as state and federal regulators.

Taking centre stage Hillside’s Nicole Missios has been propelled into the national spotlight as a finalist for the coveted title of Miss Galaxy Australia. With her eyes set on the crown, the 22-year-old is gearing up for the national finals set to unfold in Sydney early May. Ms Missios’ journey began when she stumbled upon the opportunity on her Instagram feed, and decided to take a leap and apply for the pageant in 2022. To her surprise, she not only secured a spot but also found a community of friends, turning her into a returning contender for the third consecutive year. “I love being able to build up my confidence, meet new people, and be the best version of myself. Each time I return, I find new ways to grow and improve,” she said. The competition covers five sections including, photogenic, interview, swimwear, evening gown and fashionwear.

Throughout the week-long event, contestants engage in a whirlwind of activities, including photoshoots, workshops, public appearances, and charity fundraising. Behind the scenes, Ms Missios dedicates herself to rigorous daily practice alongside her pageant coach. Together, they fine-tune routines, conduct interview simulations and meticulously curate her image for the week, ensuring every outfit and presentation reflects the most extraordinary version of herself. “The biggest challenge is the length of the week. You don’t realise how much you’ve accomplished by the second and third day. It’s always important to keep pushing through, and remind yourself why you’re there and how much it involves, and being proud of yourself,” Nicole said. “I’m looking forward to going back, meeting new people, and reuniting with old friends.”

Miss Galaxy Australia national finalist Nicole Missios. (Damjan Janevski) 377875_01

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We’re building an alternative to the West Gate Bridge and there will be disruptions As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building an alternative to the West Gate Bridge. We’ve finished tunnelling for the West Gate Tunnel, which will create better connections across our city and make it quicker and easier to get to and from the west. As works continue, there will be road disruptions. West Gate Tunnel Project Footscray Shepherd Bridge

Nearly nine hectares of new parks and wetlands and 17,000 new trees

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Seddon

Widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes

Altona North

West Gate Fwy

South Kingsville

To find out more about disruptions in the west scan the QR code or visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/innerwest 12655547-HC50-23

6 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

Yarraville

Maribyrnong River

New 4km outbound tunnel

town Rd Williams

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New 2.8km citybound tunnel

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STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Works progress in the west

While we work, road disruptions could affect your travel

Major works are progressing on the West Gate Tunnel Project. The vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge will give drivers a choice – the tunnel or the bridge – and provide direct port access for the freight industry, taking thousands of trucks off local roads.

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps

Between October and December, we completed the first stage of extending Wurundjeri Way over Dudley Street to create a new city bypass with the construction of the foundations for a new bridge.

West Gate Bridge

26 December to 4 January

Lanes closed

West Gate Freeway

Mid-January to early March

Lanes and ramps closed

Wurundjeri Way

Mid-January to early March

Between Dudley and Bourke streets

M80

West Gate Freeway to M80 Ring Road outbound ramp closed

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Also, from mid-January to early March lanes and ramps will be closed on the West Gate Freeway between Millers Road and the M80 Interchange for asphalting and gantry installation, bringing us one step closer to delivering four extra freeway lanes. Significant delays are expected.

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Over 14km of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths including a new 2.5km elevated veloway

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The second stage of work underneath the bridge will mean Wurundjeri Way will need to be closed in both directions from mid-January to early March.

The Department of Transport and Planning will also be carrying out important maintenance work on the West Gate Bridge from Boxing Day.

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Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 7

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Planned burn A planned burn of grasslands near Christies Road, Ravenhall, is scheduled to happen this week. It is recommended that residents and visitors to Ravenhall, Deer Park, Derrimut, Truganina and Caroline Springs think about how smoke from this burn may affect them and what precautions to take to reduce exposure. Temperature, wind speed and direction, and humidity are all closely monitored.

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Doutta Galla Aged Services helped spread the joy of the season with its annual Christmas lunch.

EDITORIAL

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Serving holiday cheer

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Published by MMP Star Pty Ltd ACN 168 220 399 Head Office Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042 Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas All material is copyright to MMP Star Pty Ltd. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Paul Thomas. All significant errors will be corrected as quickly as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For our terms and conditions please visit starweekly.com.au

Doutta Galla Aged Services in Sunshine recently welcomed the holiday season with open arms, hosting the highly anticipated Woornack Family and Friends Christmas lunch. The residential facility was transformed into a festive haven, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere for residents, their families, and guests. Among the delighted residents was Elaine Dalli, who described the annual Christmas lunch as a ‘beautiful tradition.’ “It brings so many of us together at a very special time of year,“ Mrs Dalli said. Doutta Galla Aged Services alliances and partnerships general manager Maria Dimitriadis emphasised the significance of the cherished tradition in fostering a sense

of belonging and happiness throughout the home. “It’s a day filled with laughter, love, and the joy of shared moments,” she said. As the festive decorations adorned the facility and cheerful conversations filled the air, the Woornack Family and Friends Christmas lunch received an added layer of community spirit with the presence of Brimbank councillors Sam David and Thomas O’Reilly, along with Maribyrnong mayor Cuc Lam. Their participation was said to have added a special touch to the event, underlining the community’s shared commitment to spreading holiday cheer and supporting Doutta Galla’s elderly residents.

Head down to 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine on December 15, from 6-9pm to join in for Brimbank Youth Services’ LGBTQIA+ Youth Soiree. The LGBTQIA+ Youth Soiree is a life-affirming, identity-celebrating night for LGBTQIA+ young people aged between 14-20, to make friends, connect to community, dance the night away, and be their true selves.

Traffic light upgrades VicRoads has completed traffic light upgrades at the intersection of McIntyre Road and Phoenix Street in Sunshine North, and outside the Sunshine Fire Station on McIntyre Road. The upgrades has improved the visibility of traffic lights for drivers and helped ensure unrestricted access for fire truck exiting the Sunshine Fire Station tonto McIntyre Road. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Brimbank & North West Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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8 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

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Handyman convicted of murder By Karen Sweeny, AAP A Victorian handyman has been found guilty by a jury of brutally beating his 77-year-old neighbour to death. Stuart Paul Anderson denied any involvement in the murder of Vicki Ramadan, after finding her body inside her home at Sydenham in March 2019. He told media in television interviews that she seemed like a lovely lady and that he hoped “the cops catch the son of a bitch” who did it. A jury on Thursday found it was him who had murdered her. Prosecutors had alleged Anderson killed Mrs

Ramadan between March 23 and 25, 2019. The pair met when the widowed Mrs Ramadan knocked on Anderson’s door and asked for his help with some odd jobs around her home, including building flat pack furniture. Witnesses claimed to have heard multiple arguments between the pair in the days before Mrs Ramadan was killed. On the morning of March 23 a taxi driver said he saw Mrs Ramadan and Anderson arguing about him arriving late to help her with some work. About 3.30pm a witness heard Anderson aggressively yelling at Mrs Ramadan, telling

her “f*** you, fix it yourself”. He left and arrived home “scary” angry, a woman living with him at the time said. At 6pm Anderson was back working at Mrs Ramadan’s. There were signs of life until lunchtime on March 25, including a call from one of her phones to another and an electricity spike consistent with a hotplate, and then nothing. The jury that convicted Anderson was the third he faced over the allegations. One jury was discharged after being unable to reach a verdict and a second trial was discontinued before deliberations were reached. In those hearings jurors in the Victorian

Supreme Court were told Anderson told his partner he was going to check on Ms Ramadan about 9am on April 6, 2019 and to pick up some tools he had left at her house. He said he found her body after going through the back door, which had been kicked open. When police became suspicious about his involvement he confessed he had actually discovered her body between 1.30am and 2am on April 6 after he himself knocked in the back door. Prosecutor Neil Hutton described the story as a sham and a charade. Anderson will face a pre-sentence hearing at a later date.

Centre is a better place A new Changing Places accessible changing facility has been opened at Caroline Springs Leisure Centre. Coinciding with International Day of People with Disability, which is observed around the globe on December 3, Melton mayor Cr Kathy Majdlik officially launched the new facility. The $280,000 upgrade will help people with high support needs by providing a welcoming and inclusive place to change and use the bathroom. Changing Places facilities are larger than standard toilets and feature a height adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, a tracking hoist system and space for two people either side of the toilet. They meet strict design standards and are a key part of Universal Design Principles. It is the fourth Changing Place to arrive in Melton, with others at Melton Waves, Cobblebank Stadium and the Melton Library

and Learning Hub. This project was supported by a $110,000 grant from the Victorian government. Mayor Majdlik said Changing Places makes sure everyone has facilities that give them dignity and support. “This wonderful new space is one of many projects Council has delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government. It is designed to provide access to people with a disability, and ensure they can attend, and participate in, community activities,” she said. “More than 326,000 Victorians rely on Changing Places toilets and Council is proud to have today opened the fourth in our community. “The City of Melton is a vibrant, safe and liveable community that celebrates diversity and is inclusive for everyone living with a disability.”

(Back) Melton council Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) community representative Hayley Sayers, Cr Lara Carli, DAC Service Provider representative Monica Sidhu and community care and active living manager Coral Crameri. (Front) DAC community representative Linda Campbell, Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik, Community Wellbeing and Inclusion acting director Nicole Migani-Robert and chief executive Roslyn Wai. (Supplied)

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Questions over creche closure By Hannah Hammoud More than a year on from the permanent closure of the creche at the Sunshine Leisure Centre, residents are calling for it to be reopened to cater for expected population growth. Albion and Ardeer Community Club vice president Neil Head described the closure as “distressing” to the community. In a letter penned to Brimbank chief executive Fiona Blair, Mr Head said the decision made by council officers to permanently close the Sunshine Leisure Centre creche was an administrative action not supported by the community. “With the future population growth projected for the Sunshine area, as part of ’Sunshine Superhub’ and related proposals,

it is surely more relevant to retain part-time creche services at the local pool, possibly on a shared-space basis, than to provide one-usage-only gym space, which is of course also readily available nearby on commercial premises,” Mr Head wrote. Mr Head said the community is calling on the decision to be reconsidered by council, at a formal council meeting. Brimbank council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said the creche had been significantly ‘underutilised’ for a number of years. “Its operation comes at a significant cost to council for a service with minimal use and therefore limited community benefit,” she said. “Since the leisure centre re-opened post-COVID lockdown, the creche

experienced a drop in demand while the leisure centre has experienced an increase in demand for its group fitness so it makes sense to re-purpose the space for this use. “A survey of Sunshine Leisure Centre members previously conducted by council with over 800 responses indicated less than 1 per cent of respondents used the crèche while it also identified a large unmet demand for additional group fitness and gym programs.” Ms Dumble said the decision to permanently close the crèche was made after community consultation was undertaken in July last year. However Mr Head said the decision is one that is ‘short-sighted’ given the population demand expected for Sunshine in the coming years. Council’s own ‘Transforming Brimbank

Vision’ highlights that Brimbank and Melbourne’s west is expecting billion-dollar investments in infrastructure in the next 10 years. “Most of this will be in Sunshine Precinct, which may see up to 43,000 additional residents and an additional 29,000 jobs created by 2051,” reads council’s vision. Mr Head said it seems ‘contradictory’ that council is touting Sunshine as the CBD of Melbourne’s west at the same time creche services are being closed. “Council’s contemplating Sunshine’s population to grow extraordinarily in the coming years. That growing population will include a lot of families and babies which would mean that creche services is something you would plan for and want to grow and sustain - not close and desist,” he said.

Childcare boost for Brimbank

Joe and Claudia outside their home in St Albans. (Damjan Janevski) 378079_01

Christmas de-lights in Kings Park For Kings Park locals Claudia and Joe, setting up their Christmas lights display has become a labour of love. What first started as a modest project has now blossomed into a massive Christmas display, featuring an impressive array of more than 20,000 LED lights. After three years of hard work, the result is nothing short of magical. “We love decorating our house for Christmas because it brings so much joy and excitement to the neighbourhood. It’s like a magical wonderland that instantly puts everyone in the holiday spirit. Plus, it gives us a chance to showcase our creativity and spread some cheer,” says Claudia. “The best part of doing this is seeing the reactions of people who

come by to check it out. It’s heart-warming to see the smiles on their faces and hear their exclamations of delight. It makes all the hard work and late nights worth it.” Claudia and Joe’s Christmas display has transformed into a local attraction, drawing in a stream of visitors every year. “... We are always thrilled to see new faces every year. It’s become a tradition for families to come by and take pictures, and we are more than happy to accommodate them,” she says. Setting up the outdoor decorations is no small feat, but Claudia promises it’s all part of the fun. “It involves a lot of planning, organising, and of course, climbing ladders … We start by mapping out the design, then gather all the

lights, ornaments, and inflatables. It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, but once everything is in place, it’s a sight to behold.” While Claudia humbly denies being a Christmas fanatic, she admits to having a decent stash of decorations stored throughout the year. “I mean, you never know when you might need an extra reindeer or a few more strands of lights, right? It’s like having a secret stash of holiday magic waiting to be unleashed.” Locals can visit the pair’s magical display at 24 Browne Avenue, St Albans. The lights are on from 7pm-midnight every day, and on Christmas Eve the lights will remain switched on all night. Hannah Hammoud

Kings Park Primary School has been announced as the site for one of 10 new childcare centres that will open in Victoria in 2026. Creating more than 950 new places for kids across childcare and three- and four-year-old kinder, the 10 centres set to open in 2026 will be co-located with existing government schools where there is a need for more childcare – and will have space for facilities for critical services like Maternal and Child Health and Allied Health where possible. The first four government-owned childcare centres are set to open in 2025 at Sunshine Primary School, Moomba Park Primary School, as well as Eaglehawk North Primary School and Murtoa College As part of early childhood education reforms, the state government has also announced that a further 20 new locations will open in 2027 and 2028. Premier Jacinta Allan said the new centres will give more families childcare options that are closer to home. “We’re making sure more Victorian parents can get back to work when they want to, removing the stress they face in constantly searching for childcare – and most importantly, making sure kids are getting the critical early education they need for the best start in life,” she said. Details: schoolbuildings.vic.gov. au/50-childcare-centres-victoria.

Fraser Rise battery will be one of the biggest in world Construction has begun on one of the world’s biggest battery facilities for storing renewable energy in Fraser Rise. Premier Jacinta Allan and State Electricity Commission (SEC) Minister Lily D’Ambrosio turned the first sod on the $1 billion Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub on Thursday, November 30. The hub on Holden Road will comprise three battery components totalling 600 megawatts in size, and is being developed in partnership with renewable energy investor Equis Australia. Once complete, the hub will provide 1.6 gigawatt hours of energy storage, enough

to power up to 200,000 homes during peak periods, which Ms Allan said is roughly around the size of Geelong and Ballarat combined. It will be the largest system in the southern hemisphere and third largest in the world. The hub is expected to be operational by 2025, when it will start storing excess rooftop solar and surplus energy from the grid, providing extra power to meet Victoria’s growing demand. The state government is targeting 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035. Ms D’Ambrosio said the hub will meet a quarter of Victoria’s target of 2.6 gigawatts of

10 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

energy storage capacity by 2030. Victoria’s state-owned electricity assets were privatised in the 1990s, before last year’s Victorian state election, Labor promised to bring back the SEC if it secured a third term. It earmarked an initial investment of $1 billion towards renewable energy projects overseen by the commission to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of power to replace the state’s aging coal-fired power stations. Ms D’Ambrosio said the commission, which received more than 100 registrations of interest for its first investment, would own 38.5 per cent of the battery project.

“We’ve made a commitment that across the entire 4.5 gigawatt portfolio... The SEC would have majority control that is 51 per cent,” she said. “That will grow as new projects are in.” A press release from when Labor announced the return of the SEC said “the government will own a majority in each new project”. Opposition Leader John Pesutto said it amounted to a broken promise. “This is not a government-owned project,” he said. Liam McNally with AAP

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Train pain for commuters

The level crossing removal team will plant more than 50,000 trees, shrubs and grasses in the station precinct when works are completed. (Supplied)

Fresh look for station when works are completed. The Mt Derrimut Road level crossing was removed via a 1.2 kilometre rail bridge and a new, elevated Deer Park station opened with an air-conditioned waiting room for commuters, secure bicycle parking and a V/Line ticketing office. Since then, construction crews have been working to complete the station precinct, including a new bus interchange, station forecourts, new and upgraded car parks, and landscaping works. Ramps are now open to

both platforms and lift access is available at both platforms. Works on the station precinct will continue following the planting of the rooftop garden. The project team will then complete works on the southern car park and finish off the new bus interchange over the coming weeks, providing additional car parking for commuters and increasing access to public transport services. There will be 150 new and upgraded car parks in the station precinct when the works are completed later this year.

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Deer Park’s new station is the first in Victoria with a rooftop garden as part of works to deliver a greener, more sustainable station precinct for commuters in Melbourne’s west. Following the removal of the Mt Derrimut Road level crossing in April, the project team has started planting more than 5500 native grasses and wildflowers on top of the station buildings, which are visible from the station forecourt and the Melbourne-bound platforms. More than 50,000 trees, shrubs and grasses will have been planted in the station precinct

Commuters in Melbourne’s outer west are being warned to brace for disruptions to the V/Line network on Wednesday as workers plan to walk off the job. The Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) notified V/Line of its intention to take industrial action involving a full network closure between 3-7am on Wednesday, December 13. V/Line said it is currently working to finalise a plan for replacement coaches. The industrial action will affect commuters across the network including the Bendigo, Seymour, Traralgon, Geelong and Ballarat lines. Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) spokesperson Daniel Bowen said while the strike action will only last four hours, it is likely there will be disruptions throughout the rest of the morning as crews and trains will be out of position when services resume “The stop work will have big impacts for residents in Melbourne’s west, given some areas such as Wyndham Vale, Tarneit, Caroline Springs and Deer Park rely on V/Line for their suburban train service,” Mr Bowen said. “We’re expecting that residual delays will continue for some hours afterwards, and may even impact the afternoon and evening.” Mr Bowen said the PTUA is hopeful that the RTBU will reach an agreement with V/Line management and avoid this disruption. Information about service changes will be published on the V/Line website, mobile app and social media.

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that the voices of her community resonate in the corridors of power. Her unwavering commitment to social justice, education, and community empowerment reflects a profound understanding of the issues that matter. Luba Grigorovitch MP stands as a beacon of positive change, inspiring confidence in her ability to navigate the complexities of governance and shape a brighter future for those she serves. Moira Deeming MP Working as an MP and juggling being a mum of four in the west means I’m serious about lobbying for our rights. That doesn’t just mean getting our fair share of investment in roads, transport, schools and healthcare. It means restoring the rights of parents, and basic safeguards for women and children in schools and public facilities. Reducing energy bills with clean gas and nuclear options! Reducing taxes! Changing laws that incentivise bad behaviour! Making local government focus on issues like rates and rubbish! It means making the government at all levels, work for individuals and families instead of the other way around. We need positive change in Victoria!

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Study reveals COVID’s lasting toll The COVID-19 pandemic extracted a profound toll on the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers. Now, an Australianfirst study undertaken by Western Health and Deakin University reveals the significant and persistent negative impact on the wellbeing of health professionals over a 22-month period. Hannah Hammoud explains.

he research, led by senior research fellow Dr Sara Holton from the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Western Health Partnership, delves into the experiences of 1,470 Australian clinicians. Through a series of surveys conducted at three critical junctures during the pandemic, the study measured feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. Staff were asked to complete surveys across three timepoints during the pandemic (May-June 2020, October-December 2020 and November 2021-January 2022). Key findings expose a stark reality – the proportion of healthcare workers reporting moderate to extreme symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress surged from just more than one in 10 to approximately a third as the pandemic unfolded. Dr Sara Holton noted that nurses, midwives and allied health staff bore a particularly heavy burden, reporting significantly worse psychological wellbeing than their doctor counterparts. The intensified stress experienced by nurses and midwives could be attributed to their constant bedside presence, managing high-stress situations and prolonged exposure to patients infected with COVID-19. “We think that this might be the case because these are the staff who are at the bedside all the time, and they are having the most contact with patients, whereas doctors have more limited face-to-face contact with patients,” explained Dr Holton. “Nurses also had to wear a lot of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, which also had an impact on them being able to communicate with patients. Things such as wearing a mask sometimes made it really hard to communicate with patients – and Western Health has a high proportion of patients who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, English is not always their first language, and so the nurses spoke about their experience of having to try smile with their eyes and do a bit of pointing and gesturing to try get their messages across.”

Senior Research Fellow Dr Sara Holton, and Adjunct Profesor Shane Crowe. (Damjan Janevski) 378148

The study also highlighted the disproportionate impact on allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, psychologists, and social workers. As the hospital halted services, many staff were redeployed to unfamiliar areas, leading to increased feelings of anxiety and stress. Yet, amidst the challenges, a positive insight emerged. The study revealed that healthcare workers living with school-aged children exhibited lower levels of depression and anxiety, suggesting that familial support acted as a protective factor for psychological wellbeing. Dr Holton attributed this finding to the social support within households during a time of heightened stress. “We think in fact it’s about social isolation, you weren’t living by yourself and there were other people at home. Perhaps that was an opportunity to debrief, talk about it, or an opportunity to hang out together when everyone was isolated,” she said. Dr Holton said the study also underscored the persistent challenges faced by healthcare workers on the frontlines, at a time where many in the wider community consider the pandemic to be in the past. “Lots of people in the general community think that COVID-19 is over, but we’re still having high levels of patients in the hospital, and staff are still having to care for COVID-19 patients – for them the pandemic hasn’t really stopped yet,” she said.

14 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

‘‘

We were able to adapt our strategies ... what we weren’t able to stop was the unrelenting demand that occurred on our staff

’’

- Shane Crowe Western Health executive director of nursing and midwifery Adjunct Professor Shane Crowe, who was also on the research team, said at the time Western Health managers were “very cognisant” that it was the staff at bedsides that were the ones who were most affected. “It wasn’t just because of their life at work, but these people also were as impacted as the rest of the population in terms of lockdown, restrictions, and the uncertainty of everything else that was occurring,” professor Crowe said. “These were the people who were at the frontlines who had huge amounts of uncertainty about the dangers associated with COVID-19, and whether they were going to be putting themselves at risk. But also, what a lot of our staff said was that they were most worried about bringing it home to their loved ones.” This awareness informed wellness strategies and interventions to support

frontline staff in managing their fears and frustrations. Professor Crowe detailed efforts to help staff positively navigate the challenges, acknowledging that despite ongoing efforts, the toll on the workforce persists with unresolved issues and lingering fatigue from the past few years. “At the start, what we knew is that we didn’t know a lot about it. There was a mixture of good information and misinformation with COVID-19, particularly earlier on, and so we were trying to filter out what was good quality information versus what wasn’t,” Professor Crowe explained, reflecting on the initial stages of the pandemic. “In the beginning we knew that we needed to over communicate, so we did that. We set up robust communication channels for people to have things in writing to keep people abreast and on top of what was happening and why we’re doing what we’re doing.” As the situation evolved, strategies were adapted to provide on-site psychologists, group debriefing sessions, and other support mechanisms. However, Professor Crowe acknowledged the unrelenting demand on staff. “As things got harder as time went on, we were able to adapt our strategies, but that being said, what we weren’t able to stop was the unrelenting demand that occurred on our staff at the time.” Professor Crowe said longitudinal studies were a crucial tool for engaging with the workforce. “The findings of the research have been used to directly inform the way health services support staff now and into the future,” he said. The latest paper from the research team, which was published in the Australian Health Review Journal, found that hospital clinical staff would benefit from ongoing and continued wellbeing support during and after pandemic waves. And the research team is not resting on its laurels. Plans are underway to continue collecting data in an effort to help unravel the long-term impacts of the pandemic on healthcare workers.

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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.

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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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Taman Grill House Taman Grill House feast December is a time to feast at Taman Grill House. Join the friendly team at Taman for all your festive gatherings. Head chef Tarkan will be cooking up a storm including traditional Christmas roasts and seasonal Australian seafood. Let the team at Taman Grill House help you create special festive memories. The grill house is now taking bookings for Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24, from

12pm lunch onwards through to dinner service. Be sure to book in fast as special guest Santa will be very busy preparing for his busy night ahead. The team is also taking bookings for the whole month of December for all your festive gatherings. Contact Taman Grill House on 03 7032 6421 or at tamangrillhouse@gmail.com regarding all the set menu options available.

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Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 15

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Left: Linda works on her mosaic masterpiece. Centre: Poonam (top), and Ashlee and Emma get creative. Right: Natalie and Filomena exploring the art of mosaic, one tile at a time. (Jacob Pattison) 376760

Mesmerising mosaic workshops By Hannah Hammoud Duke Street Community House (DSCH) is bringing people together through the world of mosaic art with its engaging workshops aimed at fostering creativity, connection, and community spirit. As an introduction to the craft, DSCH hosted two sessions for the year, with plans to expand its programs in 2024. The mosaic workshops play a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by many women in the community, who often find

themselves isolated and encounter barriers to participation. DSCH manager Emma Price said in the wake of the pandemic and escalating living costs, affordable social activities have become increasingly scarce. “This program gives women an opportunity to come together, to learn a new skill, make friends and for many, to practise their English skills in a social and fun environment,” she said. “We hope it supports good mental health and creates new friendships. We also hope

that more people discover the fantastic opportunities we have on offer at Duke Street Community House.” The artistic creations born from these workshops will find a permanent home in the house’s art garden Installation, alongside the newly planted vegetable plots. “Mosaics is a beautiful artform that allows for creativity and personal expression,” Ms Price said. “It’s amazing how many different patterns and designs can be made from using just these small shapes and pieces,”

Looking ahead to 2024, DSCH is set to launch a new women’s social English group. Supported by dedicated volunteers, the group will meet on Tuesday mornings during term times, providing women with a platform to practise and learn English, connect with local women, and engage in various creative projects and programs. “We also offer free English and digital skills classes as well as a range of other fun, creative and social programs.” Details: dukest@dsch.org.au or 9311 9973.

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FEATURING ... HEALTHY LIVING

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Fasting diet reduces risk markers of type 2 diabetes A fasting diet which focuses on eating early in the day could be the key to reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Adelaide and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) compared two different diets: a time restricted, intermittent fasting diet and a reduced calorie diet to see which one was more beneficial for people who were prone to developing type 2 diabetes. “Following a time restricted, intermittent fasting diet could help lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes,” said senior author the University of Adelaide’s professor Leonie Heilbronn. “People who fasted for three days during the week, only eating between 8am and 12pm on those days, showed a greater tolerance to glucose after 6 months than those on a daily, low-calorie diet,” she said. “Participants who followed the intermittent fasting diet were more sensitive to insulin and also experienced a greater reduction in blood lipids than those on the low-calorie diet.” Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells don’t respond effectively to insulin and it loses its ability to produce the hormone, which is responsible for controlling glucose in blood. It’s estimated that nearly 60 per cent of type 2 diabetes cases could be delayed or prevented with changes to diet and lifestyle. Almost 1.3 million Australians are currently living with the condition, for which there is no cure. There were more than 200 participants recruited from South Australia in the 18-month study, which was published in scientific journal, Nature Medicine. Participants on both the time restricted, intermittent fasting diet and the low-calorie diet experienced similar amounts of weight loss.

“This is the largest study in the world to date and the first powered to assess how the body processes and uses glucose after eating a meal, which is a better indicator of diabetes risk than a fasting test,” said first author Xiao Tong Teong, a PhD student at the University

of Adelaide. “The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence to indicate that meal timing and fasting advice extends the health benefits of a restricted calorie diet, independently from weight loss, and this may be influential

in clinical practice.” Further research is needed to investigate if the same benefits are experienced with a slightly longer eating window, which could make the diet more sustainable in the long term.

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Better access to life-saving drug By Hannah Hammoud The state government has rolled out the Take-Home Naloxone Program in an effort to make it easier for those experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose to access the reversal drug. Previously naloxone could only be collected with a prescription from a pharmacy. Now the changes will allow naloxone to be accessed for free from selected drug and alcohol services in Victoria without a prescription. The program will support naloxone to be made available at 48 Victorian Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) providers, including cohealth Braybrook and IPC Health St Albans. The Victorian Coroner released the state’s

overdose deaths report on November 8, which showed Brimbank had the state’s second-highest number of overdose deaths in Victoria in 2023. The report revealed 29 people in Brimbank died of overdoses in 2022, the highest figure in the municipality in the past 10 years. The figure was up from 16 in 2021 and was only second behind the Melbourne local government area, which had 32 deaths last year. Brimbank was also second for the number of heroin overdoses in 2022. According to cohealth expanding access to naloxone for people who are at risk of, or who are likely to witness, an opioid overdose is a key step in preventing overdose deaths. “This is life-saving medicine, it is

easy-to-administer and has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system. There is no downside to making this medicine more available,” said cohealth addiction medicine specialist Dr Dean Membrey. “We know that when naloxone is easier to get, that people will use it. Among the clients that we support there is a great sense of community. People want to look after each other, and carrying naloxone is part of that.” However cohealth also warns that naloxone is not a ‘silver bullet’, and is calling on the state government to introduce a system-wide response to drug use in the community. “To save lives we need a broad range of responses including prevention, greater access to naloxone, a second supervised

injecting service and more investment in pharmacotherapy treatment for people who want to stop using drugs,” said Dr Membrey. The program will also support naloxone to be made available at the Medically Supervised Injecting Room, as well as existing channels including over the counter at pharmacies or via prescription from a medical or nurse practitioner. If you or someone you know is seeking help or support with alcohol or drug use, call DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or visit directline. org.au for information and support to access treatment. To find a NSP provider, visit health.vic. gov.au/aod-treatment-services/needle-andsyringe-program

New partnership is ready to take-off and fly Jobs and internships for students alongside significant research projects are at the heart of a new partnership between Victoria University (VU) and Melbourne Airport. In the first ever university partnership for the airport, students in the west will have the chance to contribute to one of the biggest economic drivers in the state. VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker acknowledged the opportunities expected to stem from the partnership. “Airports are where global ideas intersect, acting as a vibrant crossroads where diverse cultures, perspectives and innovations converge. This partnership sets a new standard by aligning Victoria University’s research expertise and education programs with Melbourne Airport’s vision for the

region,” he said. “It goes beyond enhancing opportunities for VU students and researchers to emphasise our shared commitment to protect country by prioritising First Nations knowledge and sustainability across all our endeavours. “We are excited about the meaningful contributions we can make together in advancing education, research, and community engagement. In addition to job and placement opportunities for VU students, the three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will seek to enrich the visitor experience to the airport through a First Nations education framework, and research and advocacy projects around the proposed third runway. Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie

Argus said the partnership with VU would enable student placements, job and tertiary learning opportunities each year. “We’re excited to create formal education and training pathways with Victoria University, giving local students exposure to our staff and aviation specialists which could lead to exciting careers in aviation,” she said. “The projects delivered under the MOU will help guide our future planning and we look forward to working with young people in the community under the three-year agreement.”

Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus and VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker. (Supplied)

Cairnlea Park students build solar-lights to brighten lives in PNG. (Ray Messner Photography)

Students’ solar solutions 6 Caleb Way, Fraser Rise 3

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18 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

To help address energy poverty on a global scale, 96 students from Cairnlea Park Primary School have been busy building solar-powered lights for remote Papua New Guinean communities living without electricity. Teaming up with the Origin Energy Foundation and Australian charity SolarBuddy, grade 6 students participated in the Lights for Learning Program, building approximately 50 solar lights. The aim is to create new opportunities for children living in energy poverty in Papua New Guinea, where only 13 per cent of the population has reliable access to electricity as reported by SolarBuddy. The lack of electricity in PNG has severe consequences, with 38 per cent of children under the age of eight unable to read or write, largely because of a lack of lighting after dark, hindering their education opportunities. Cairnlea Park Primary School engagement and transition coordinator Natalie Roach said the partnership allows students to learn from Origin Energy employees while also learning about electricity as part of their science unit.

“We were keen to participate in the Lights for Learning Program as it is hands-on meaningful learning that allows our students to be global citizens and help others not in our local community,” she said. “Normally we just turn on a switch and light appears, now our students are understanding the science behind it. They also find it purposeful that something they are building will help someone less privileged to have their ability to use this light because of something they have made themselves.” Head of the Origin Energy Foundation Michelle Zahra said since this initiative began five years ago, more than 9,000 Australian students and their teachers have helped deliver more than 10,000 lights. “With the introduction of SolarBuddy lights, children in PNG are studying 78 per cent longer and reliance on kerosene and other dangerous fuels has been reduced by 8 per cent,” she said. “Since these fuels are also the single biggest expenditure for households, that money can now be spent on food, health and education.

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COMMUNITY

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

Celebrating Christmas Sydenham Neighbourhood House are welcoming everyone to attend their Christmas celebration services at 1 Station Street, Watergardens Shopping Centre. A carol service will take place from 10am on Sunday, December 17. There will also be a Christmas Eve service on December 24 from 10am and a Christmas Day service on December 25 from 9.30am. Contact the Brimbank Presbyterian Church for further details.

Community meeting opportunity Councillor Virginia Tachos is inviting residents to meet with her to discuss any local concerns. Cr Tachos will be available by appointment every Friday between 10am-noon at the Keilor Community Hub until December 22. ■ 0428 915 671

Come and Try Fencing Western Swords are offering free fencing training every Thursday during school terms, from 6.30-8pm, at St Albans Meadows Primary School. Seven and above are welcome and all gear is there to borrow. ■ https://www.westernswords.org/

Girl Guides Brimbank District Girl Guides is inviting locals to come and try guides before committing to join. Girls aged 5-18 and adults are invited to enjoy the fun and friendship of guiding. ■ Carolyn, 0418 536 084

Sunshine Repair Cafe Do you enjoy fixing things or have skills in mending clothing and textiles? Kororoit Neighbourhood House is looking for volunteer repairers for the newly launched Repair Café in Brimbank. Events happen once a month and are an opportunity to meet others in the community and share your skills while helping fix broken household items. ■ sunshinerepaircafe@kcnh.org.au, or 0413 434 082

Al-Anon Family Groups Al-Anon Family Groups is offering help and hope to anyone living in an unhappy home because a loved one drinks too much. There are no contracts to sign, just a voluntary donation to cover room rental. Confidentiality is protected. The group meets every Wednesday at Sydenham Neighbourhood House from 1-2.30pm. New members are welcome.

Card games Love playing the card game 500? Card games are played every Monday from 7-10pm at the Sunshine RSL offices, 99 Dickson Street, Sunshine. ■ Leisa, 0425 768 808

Keilor Day View Club The Keilor Day View Club meets at 11am on the first Thursday of each month at Green Gully Soccer Club, Green Gully Reserve, Club House Place, Keilor Downs. The club is inviting locals to come along and enjoy a meal and fun with a friendly group of ladies. ■ Robyn, 0425 387 880

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

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of players Bronwyn Gell, Connor Wilson and Jessica Curnow from the Werribee Giants Baseball Club ahead of their Pride game. (Damjan Janevski) 377219_01

the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. ■ Michael, 0417 307 572

Sunshine Community Brass Sunshine Community Brass is looking for trumpet and percussion players to join its vibrant band of musicians. With more than 90 years of history, the band rehearses at 45 Furlong Road, North Sunshine, on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. ■ Andrew, 0419 444 620

Australia hosts a lunch on the third Friday of each month at different venues. The group also arrange activities each month, sometimes to the theatre, morning melodies, train or bus trip. The group also holds a general meeting at The Club in Caroline Springs on the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm. Locals are invited to join in for lunch or just attend the meeting and make new friends. ■ Pamela, pcostello46@hotmail.com

BusyFeet Hillside

St Albans Senior Citizens group meet at the centre at the corner of Alfrieda and William streets, St Albans, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9am-2pm. Annual membership: $10. Cost: $1 entry on attendance day. ■ Roma, 0435 991 064

BusyFeet is a dance and movement class for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. Classes create a fun and inclusive environment for kids aged six to 16 to try new things and build social skills, as well as giving a chance for parents’ respite. It’s held from 11-11.45am Saturday. ■ Ross, 0411 228 311

Caroline Springs Rotary

Chatty Cafe Melton

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

Are you feeling lonely, isolated or just wanting to make some new friends? If so, Chatty Cafe is for you. The group meets on Friday mornings at 10am for delicious free coffee from Latin foods and wines at 10 Wallace Square, Melton. ■ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/352071857283331

St Albans senior citizens

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/

Women’s Support Group

Seniors lunch

Melton Ladies Probus

Deer Park Branch of National Seniors

Meets from 10am on the second

Women’s Support Group Melton is for any women who feel they would like to attend a peer support group which is relaxed, friendly and non-judgemental. The group meets weekly at 1pm on Mondays (except for public holidays) at Djerriwarrh Neighbourhood House, 239 Station Road, Melton. The group can discuss most subjects that may be of help ■ https://ow.ly/QVwJ50Q5g42

Deer Park Lions Club Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on

Wednesday of each month at Melton Country Club on Reserve Road, Melton. All visitors are welcome. ■ Dianne, 9743 7446

The Gap on Graham The Gap provides a place for Melton youth to hang out, socialise, play games and learn new skills. The centre holds a night for girls aged 10 to 18 years at 5 Graham Street, Melton, on Wednesday evenings. There is also a drop-in night for anyone aged 12-25 years old. ■ Val, 0414 769 605

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

Take weight off naturally Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere? Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton. ■ Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Mens Fella-ship Men from all walks of life are invited to connect with their community and catch up over a cuppa at the weekly Fella-ship social group, meeting on Wednesday afternoons between 1-3pm at the Melton South Community Centre. The catch ups are free and no bookings are required. ■ 9747 8576

Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

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

1 6 7

4 5 8 8 2 3

9 4

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

1 8

QUICK CROSSWORD Messages sent on holiday (9) Matured (4) Organ used to hear (3) Thing found disgusting or vile (11) Words of the same meaning (8) Rupture (6) Naked (4) Post (7) Rubeola (7) Thunder god (4) Voice box (6) A doctor’s customers (8) Acknowledgement (11) Centre (3) Edible rootstock (4) Question and answer session (9)

12 13 14 15 20 21 25 26 28 29 30 31

Those sharing a house (9) Send (4) A stringed musical instrument (6) Small rowboat (6) Dead and putrefying flesh (7) Psychiatrist (9) 13 to 19 (7) Chinese east coast city (8) Medieval weapon (8) A red wine (6) Food retailer (6) Meal (6) South Pacific island (4)

4 5 7

ACROSS 1 6 10 11

No. 163

8 9 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 27

DOWN Game bird (8) Love song (8) Bondage (6)

1 2 3

DECODER

No. 163

5 7

4 3 8 9 4 4 1 5 8 7 8 7 6 9 7 9 3 1 2 7 5 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: 21 words: Good 32 words: Very good

G A

abiding, aiding, ailing, algid, align, aligns, bailing, balding, baling, bang, bangs, basing, biasing, biding, digs, ding, dings, DISABLING, gain, gains, gild, gilds, gins, glad, gland, glib, idling, lading, lags, lang, nags, sailing, sang, sibling, siding, sidling, sign, sing, slag, slang, sliding, sling, snag

No. 163

ALONG APRIL ARENA ARISE AURAS AWOKE BESET CARGO CEDED CHOSE DAZED DEBUG DELTA EIGHT ELEGY ENTER ESSAY ETHER EVICT FERNS FORGE GRAPE

4 LETTERS BULB EARN EGGS GROW LATE LOTS MYTH REEF RIFT SALT SELL SKIM SONG UNTO 5 LETTERS ADORE

HORDE HORSE IRONY ISLES LEECH LUNGE MADAM MAINS MERGE METER ONION OPENS PANEL RATIO REINS ROBOT SCORE SHARP SHOES SORES SPEAR TOKEN

QUICK QUIZ

Of the 2023 Academy Award Best Picture nominees, which film did Frances McDormand (pictured) produce and star in?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

Laos, Thailand and Vietnam surround the borders of which other country?

Originating from a collection of fables, The Boy Who Cried Wolf is credited to which ancient Greek storyteller?

E N S

A N A S

R I S P U N A R R A T E

20 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

* $ 5 / , &

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

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

3 LETTERS ACE AGO APE ASK ATE BOA DUO EGO ERA FBI GEL GNU INS KEG OAF OFF ROW RUE SEA SEE TEE URN UTE WEB

No. 163

TOYED TWEED USING WALTZ WEDGE 6 LETTERS CAWING GARLIC LIKELY ONWARD

7 LETTERS ELASTIC ENEMIES EROSION FOOTAGE ORIENTS RIVETED 8 LETTERS HANDRAIL INCITING INSTANCE POWERFUL

15-12-23

C L I

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

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

E A

10 11 12 13

9-LETTER WORD

G M 17

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

I U

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

43 words: Excellent

hard

5x5

F I D V ZWX U K T H Y J

medium

easy

C O E B L S N R P AQ GM

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

WORDFIT

True or false: Earth is the only known planet where a fire can burn?

What are Nepalese dumplings more commonly known as?

Chopine, opanak and plimsoll are all what type of apparel?

Which noble gas has the capacity to work against gravity?

Charlie Mackesy's bestselling illustrated book features a mole, a fox and what other animal?

Which cosmetics brand was founded in 1984 by two Canadian men named Frank?

10 'Radii' is the plural form of what? ANSWERS: 1. Women Talking 2. True 3. Cambodia 4. Aesop 5. Momos 6. Shoes 7. Helium 8. A horse 9. MAC Cosmetics 10. Radius

No. 163

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

SUDOKU

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Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 21

SPORTS QUIZ 1. Unai Emery has managed which two English Premier League clubs?

12. The Australian tennis team is nicknamed what when playing the Fed Cup?

4. Name the 2023 film about the Boomers’ journey to achieving their first international medal.

2. Italy defeated Australia in the 2023 Davis Cup final; which country did the same in 2022?

13. How many overs is each player allowed to bowl in a cricket ODI?

5. Tom Brady’s 2015 four-game suspension was due to his alleged involvement in which NFL ball-tampering controversy?

3. Australian baseballer Curtis Mead was promoted to which major league team in August 2023?

14. Anze Kopitar recently surpassed the most games-played record for which NHL team?

6. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a lawsuit for his involvement in which controversial company?

15. In which year did North Melbourne last win an AFL grand final? 16. And who did they beat?

7. The Matildas took out which prestigious award after their iconic FIFA World Cup run?

17. Chicago Fire are a team that plays which sport? 18. Which two players have been announced as the West Coast Eagles’ co-captains for the 2024 AFL season?

8. Which AFLW team faced their first ever Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions? 9. Which of these AFL teams did TV host Tony Armstrong not play at during his career: a) Adelaide, b) Sydney or c) St Kilda?

28. Golfer Lachlan Wood, winner of the 2023 Australian All Abilities Championship, is from which country?

24. Which women’s national rugby sevens team did Australia defeat to win the 2023 Dubai Sevens?

29. Which medal did aerial skiier Danielle Scott win at the Freestyle Ski World Cup event in Ruka, Finland?

26. Golfer Joaquín Niemann, winner of the 2023 Australian Open, hails from which South American country?

20. In which year was karate introduced at the Olympics? 21. Which team won the 2023 AFLW Grand Final?

11. Which US soccer player is Matildas captain Sam Kerr engaged to?

23. Which men’s national rugby sevens team did South Africa defeat to win the 2023 Dubai Sevens?

25. Adam Doueihi last played for which NRL club?

19. Matthew Farrelly is the real name of which Australian professional wrestler?

10. What nationality is professional golfer Connor Syme?

Ashleigh Buhai

Cristiano Ronaldo

30. Which medal did snowboarder Belle Brockhoff win at the Snowboard World Cup event in Ruka, Finland?

27. Golfer Ashleigh Buhai, winner of the 2023 Women’s Australian Open, is from which African country?

22. Name the sisters who play for the Brisbane Lions AFLW team?

1512

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Ford Everest reaches a new high By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Some of Ford Ranger’s magic must have rubbed off on Everest because it’s now one of the top 10 best-selling cars in Australia, second only to the Toyota Prado in its segment. The last time we drove Everest we were pleasantly surprised by the wagon and the latest, third generation model is no exception, in keeping with the market response. It’s ironic because sometimes we critics can bag the crap out of a car, then stand back amazed as it sells its socks off. Go figure.

Styling Everest adopts the same ‘tough’ look as the Ranger, bluff and squared off where the previous model was rounded. It’s more muscular in appearance and targeted at blokes, and is light years from the Ford Territory that pioneered this segment for the brand 20 years ago. The rear is obviously different, with broad, strong horizontal lines. The Sport grade has proved popular and is now available with a choice of 3.0-litre V6 or 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesels, together with rear- or all-wheel drive. Sport is readily identified by the black treatment that everyone seems to want these days, with black trim, black wheels and black raised lettering for the badges. And it’s the only grade available in the exclusive colour Blue Lightning, as pictured. Inside there’s two-zone climate air, with part-leather, Sport-embossed front seats that are heated and cooled. The driver seat is 10-way power adjustable with memory setting while the front passenger seat is eight-way power-adjustable. All grades apart from Ambiente come with three rows of seats. Standard kit includes 20-inch alloys, side steps, LED head, tail and daytime running lights, electric parking brake, keyless entry and start, auto lights and wipers, auto high beam, speed sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, auto dimming rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors. Prices start from $53,490 for the 2.0-litre rear-drive Ambiente. Trend is priced from $60,990, Sport from $62,990, Wildtrak from $72,804 and Platinum from $77,000, all before on road costs. Our test vehicle was the rear drive Sport with the 2.0-litre engine. If you want all wheel drive, it’s packaged with the V6 and comes at a cost of $70,590. Prestige paint adds $700 (everything but white) and the tow pack is $1700. Everest is covered by a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, roadside assistance if you get it serviced by Ford and a pre-paid service plan is available at a cost of $1200 for the first four general services for up to four years or 60,000km.

Infotainment Pride of place in the cabin goes to the SYNC4A infotainment system with voice activation and a huge 12.0-inch Tesla-like vertical touchscreen with 10-speaker audio. The system features Bluetooth, built-in satnav with one year of connected navigation services, DAB+ digital radio, both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging. There are two USB ports in front (USB-A and USB-C), two in the back (USB-A and USB-C) plus a 12-volt outlet in the front console box and another unlabeled outlet in the luggage area. The FordPass app allows you to view vehicle status. You can also remotely unlock the vehicle, activate zone lighting where fitted, and start the vehicle to activate the climate control.

Engines/transmissions The four produces 154kW of power at 3750 rpm and 500Nm of torque from 1750-2000 rpm, while the larger 3.0-litre V6 delivers 184kW at 3250 rpm and 600Nm from 1750-2250 rpm.

Best buy – rear-wheel drive Sport. (Pictures: Supplied)

Both are paired with a 10-speed auto, with four drive modes in the rear-drive Sport: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE 2.0 Ambiente RWD: $53,490

Safety ANCAP says Everest’s five-star safety rating is based mainly on test results for the Ford Ranger utility on which it is based, with supplementary information from Ford (not sure why). It has nine airbags, including driver and passenger knee airbags along with the latest centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard. There’s also a rear-view camera, Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction Assist and AEB Backover) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS) are standard. There are five top tether child seat anchors and another two Isofix anchors.

Driving Everest is big, at 4914mm long and 1842mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2900mm. It has 230mm of ground clearance whether it’s the 4x4 version or not and this model tips the scales at 2295kg. The dimensions are roughly the same as before, with a 50mm increase in track and wheelbase. The changes have been made to accommodate the V6 and the new hybrid when it finally arrives. The longer wheelbase means more space inside, but the height of the vehicle also means getting in and out could be problematic for short people, particularly less athletic ones. There are only 259 litres of space behind the third row of seats, rising to a healthy 898 litres with the third row stowed. Everest comes with a choice of engines depending on the grade. There’s also rear and all-wheel drive to factor in. Ambiente and Trend kick off the range with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel, while Wildtrak and Platinum bring a Ford-sourced 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel. Mid-range Sport can be had with either – RWD with the four, AWD with the six. This model is fitted with 255/55 series Goodyear Wrangler Territory HT road tyres. A full-size alloy spare is provided. Whichever model you choose, it can tow a 3500kg load, but there’s a thing called gross combined mass to consider and the V6 is probably the better option for towing. Like most cars these days starting Everest is accomplished via a button that takes the place

2.0 Ambiente 4WD: $58,490 2.0 Trend RWD: $60,990 2.0 Trend 4WD: $65,990 2.0 Sport RWD: $62,990 3.0 Sport 4WD: $70,590 3.0 Wildtrak 4WD: $72,804 3.0 Platinum 4WD: $77,000 SPECIFICATIONS Ford Everest 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon

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

of a key. In Everest that button literally takes the place of the key mechanism in the barrel on the steering column. It’s a bit of an oddity and had us looking for a button each and every time we started the wagon – either in the console or to the left or right of the wheel. The instrument cluster is part digital in this model with a rather unimaginative 8.0-inch squared off display that sits between traditional analogue gauges. It’s not until you get to the top of the line Platinum that it’s flashier and all digital, with a 12.3-inch screen. Looking and running your hands over surfaces in the cabin reveals plenty of hard, cheap, generic plastic trim, detracting from the ambience. The honeycomb air vents are a case in point. But most eyes will be focused on the Tesla-like touchscreen which provides plenty of real estate for satnav and secondary controls, although we’re not sure why it is necessary to have both physical and electronic controls for the aircon. The system can be slow to boot and at one point the screen blacked out for 30 seconds during which it remained unresponsive. Wireless Android Auto worked flawlessly. The four-cylinder twin turbo diesel is basically the same unit that powered the Raptor five years ago with a little tweaking. In that context and producing 500Nm of torque from a low 1750 rpm, it is anything but disappointing. The V6 is just icing on the cake. Unlike most diesels, the four feels smooth and quiet, with a real spring to its step. Changes are smooth and those 10 speeds make sure the engine is always where it needs

to be, but it feels a little busy at times. Adaptive cruise control works all the way down to a dead stop, before going again, and with intelligent speed assist active will automatically change to the current speed limit. Rear suspension is different to that in the ute, more sophisticated to make things more comfortable for rear seat occupants. But our passengers still complained about ride quality in the back and the ride quality is generally a little jiggly and not as good as a sedan. It’s good to see plenty of rear air outlets, located in the roof, which will stop the kids from getting sick. Auto engine stop-start is fitted and cycles down the aircon with the engine. The result can be stifling on a hot day and freezing when it’s cold, but can probably be turned off. Try as we may, we couldn’t get hot air into the back on a brisk Canberra day. The cabin is a nice, quiet place to be on the road, thanks to an acoustic windscreen and well sound-proofed engine – but there’s no mention of noise cancelling technology this time around. There are no gear change paddles. Instead, a thumb-controlled rocker switch at the top of the shift lever performs the same function. It’s okay for occasional changes, but no good for long term use. The steering has gone from light to hard work, mainly because of the lane-centreing assistance. Take your hands off the wheel and the car will steer itself for a good few seconds, including bends, before you’re warned to put your hands back on the wheel. It wants to do the work and the trick is to let it do most of the work instead of fighting the wheel which can become tiring – or simply turn it off with a switch conveniently located on the wheel. With an 80-litre fuel tank, combined fuel consumption for this model is a claimed 7.1L/100km. We were getting as little as 7.8L/100km after almost 1200km of mixed driving. That’s pretty good for a vehicle this size.

Summing up Women may not like the styling and the heavy steering made my wife’s arms ache, but overall, it’s pretty good. The rear-wheel drive 2.0-litre Sport could be the one to get, because it’s visually appealing and comes with everything you want and nothing you can’t do without. It represents a considerable savings over the off-road version which the majority of people will never use anyway.

Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 23

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Saints add experience By Tara Murray St Albans is ready to go full tilt into the Essendon District Football League division 1 season. After a slow start to things 12 months ago with uncertainty where the team was going to play in 2023, things have been a lot smoother this off season. Coach Zammy Muhtari said things were looking good early in the pre-season. “Numbers have been great, we’re averaging 60 on the track that has been really good,” he said. “Obviously this time last year we didn’t know where we were bowling and it made it hard in terms of recruiting. “It all worked out in the first year and we really enjoyed it. It’s a good competition and we expect the competition to get better this season.” The Saints finished fifth in their first year in the competition, knocked out in an elimination final having led at half time, as injuries took a toll. Muhtari said they wanted to make finals in their first season. “We set the goal to play finals and we didn’t know what that looked like,” he said. “We came in with Deer Park and we knew Deer Park was going to be the benchmark come finals time for us. “It was a pass mark. It was our first time playing finals in 10 years.” The Saints have been busy on the recruiting front to add some more experience to their list.

Tyler Bell joins the club from the Shepparton Bears. Former Hillside captain Jackson Volpato has joined the club, as has his former teammate Brandon Coletta, who has been playing at East Keilor. Young Western Jets gun Alex Tsia has made his way across as has Reece Tompkins who joins the club from Deer Park. The biggest signing though is former AFL player Atu Bosenavulagim, who signed with the club last season but didn’t end up playing a game. “We were keen to get some guys in in their mid-20s with good senior experience to help some of the younger guys,” Muhtari said. “They will complement each other. With a few younger guys the experienced guys can help nurture them. “Atu was fortunate to have an little call up for something that he wanted to do. He will be great for us next season. His knowledge will help everyone at the club.” The Saints have also boosted their off field ranks. Former Deer Park president and assistant coach Matthew Pratt is one who has signed on as an assistant coach. Shaun Thompson moves into an assistant coach position having been the club’s reserves coach the past three years. The Saints have hit the training track as pre-season kicks off with a few sessions before Christmas, with the club to also host its annual Christmas party. St Albans is hoping to build on this season. (Jacob Pattison)329464_01

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Westgate locks in Schwellinger as coach After a couple of years away from coaching, Peter Schwellinger is keen to get back into it at Westgate in the FV state league 1 north-west competition Schwellinger, who has coached a number of club’s in the old Victorian Premier League and FV state leagues, replaces Jim Gacovski as coach. Schwellinger said Westgate had been in touch with him the past couple of years to come on board and the timing was now right. ‘I’ve been around a few different clubs,” he said. “I ended up coaching in the south-east due to family reasons. “COVID then caused everything not to finish. Westgate is a big club, has a great fan base and I’ve coached against them. “The last two years they’ve called me twice [to coach]... I saw the coach had left [end of this year] and I applied for it. “It’s close to home which is a bonus and I was able to get the job.” Schwellinger comes into the club after a number of strong seasons. The club finished third in state league 1 north-west this year, finishing second in state league 2 north-west and earning promotion the year before. The incoming coach knows it won’t be easy to top the past couple of seasons. “Third last [this] year, it’s going to be hard to do that again,” he said. “We will be aiming for top two. “Maybe I’ll change things a bit. I hope they take on board what I’m teaching.” While Schwellinger only met the players last week, a lot of hard work had been going on behind the scenes. The squad will look very similar to what took to the park this year. “I think we’re going to do well,” he said.

Peter Schwellinger.

“The main squad will stay and we’ve a couple of additions “The club’s technical director has talked to all the players and only one has left to play NPL [National Premier League] which is a good thing. “We have one or two others trialling.” With work being conducted on its ground, Schwellinger said pre-season training before Christmas would be hard, but they were keen to get into it. The club said it was excited for the appointment of Schwellinger. “Despite taking a hiatus from coaching in the past two years due to travel and family commitments, Peter’s return signals a promising new era for Westgate FC,” the club said on social media. “His wealth of experience and proven track record in elevating teams to higher levels fills us with anticipation for the success and growth he’ll bring to our club.” Tara Murray

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The Rams join Western Region Football League The Western Rams are the Western Region Football League’s newest side. WRFL clubs voted at its annual general meeting on Tuesday night to decide the fate of the struggling Rockbank-based team. Member clubs of the league officially voted in the Rams which will enter both their football and netball operations into the league. The club hasn’t won a senior football game since 2018 which prompted decision makers at the club to question whether it should seek an exit from the Riddell District Football League in October. Rams’ president Stephan Lalli-Cafini said to be officially a part of the WRFL is a relief. “It was a late decision to go but it was still two to three months of really, really hard work and close work with the WRFL,” he said.

“As soon as we got that nod it was certainly a weight of the shoulders. “We’re super excited, we’ve been preparing as if we were going into the WRFL, we were uncertain about our future in the RDFL, player wise. “So we went out and went hard to retain as many players as possible, but in saying that when speaking to new recruits it was based on going to the WRFL because it wasn’t worth saying we might go. “It was here’s your contract, it’s a WRFL contract, if it doesn’t work out then you’re free to go and explore options elsewhere. “So it’s definitely a lot less stressful now knowing that all the players are locked in.” Lalli-Cafini said it is a bonus that the club has been able to gather enough numbers for

two football sides for next year, something that he said they were confident of being able to do. “We were confident that we would gather interest if we moved to the WRFL, now we’re there we’re confident that two teams and two really competitive teams, is what we’re after this year,” he said. “It’s a year to build and a year to see where we’re at in our first year of divisional football since 1999. “It’ll give us an opportunity to see where we are at as a club and where we need to improve going forward.” Not only has the club locked in a lot of its playing list but it has also secured a senior and reserves coach. Experienced coach Ash Pritchard was announced as senior coach last month. “We’re stoked with Ash, he’s got in and he’s

Smith back with United

started smashing his work out,” Lalli-Cafini said. “Him and our ressies’ coach, Chris Arnold, working together is definitely going to be something to watch through the year, to see how our guys develop and develop under different coaches. “Even with Christian Azzopardi jumping on board, he’s an osteopath and he’s jumped on board with our fitness side of things and injury management. “We’re looking to make sure that their fit, strong and healthy next year as well.” RDFNL chief executive Jordan Doyle said he was pleased to see the club find a new home and continue their club’s rich history. The WRFL was contacted for comment. Harper Sercombe

Mixed results first up

By Harper Sercombe Kat Smith has been appointed as the replacement for Western United inaugural coach Mark Torcaso. Torcaso made the decision to resign from his position in order to focus fully on his role with the Philippines women’s national team. Returning to the A-League, Smith said she is champing at the bit to be back home in Melbourne and coaching once again. Smith joins United as just its second women’s coach and first female to be at the helm. Smith brings a wealth of knowledge on a majority of the playing squad having come up against United while leading the Western Sydney Wanderers side last season and also coaching Alamein FC and Geelong Galaxy in the women’s National Premier League. It’s a full circle moment for Smith to return to the Western United environment after she was a part of the first ever Western United women’s development squad. “I’m really excited, the weather has been turned on in Melbourne and I’m back at home doing what I love, being on the grass coaching,” she said. “I’m really stoked to get this opportunity to work with this group, obviously some strong foundations have been laid. Commencing in 2021, the women’s development squad was the precursor to Western United’s A-League team, bringing professional training standards to a select group of talented players in Victoria. That group featured the likes of Alana Cerne, Adriana and Melissa Taranto and Natasha Dakic, all of whom went on to secure A-League contracts. Smith said she is now eager to reunite with familiar faces. “That’s the drive you get from coaching, seeing players progressing and reaching their dreams and helping them with their ambition,” she said. “To have the opportunity to work with the club prior to moving to Sydney I think coming back and being able to reconnect with those players again and help them on their journey here.” Smith coached her first match at United on the weekend, talking before the game she said fans shouldn’t be expecting massive changes. “The group’s got a really good foundation,” she said. “We are obviously going to put a bit of my flavour on things that we’ll tweak but I think the real focus and priority will be for players to have clarity in terms of their roles and responsibilities. “I don’t want to change too much because like I said there’s a good foundation and good principals… it’s just redefining a little bit of the language and a little bit of the purpose and intent for the ball. “Our style of play is going to start with the ball, every team likes to control possession, we’ll be like that but also really aggressive

Kat Smith. (Western United)

about how we play forward. “We’ve got some really good technical players in this group and their strengths and their dominant qualities are going to come.

“And of course we’ve got to have a good work ethic and desire of every player to make sure that we can support each other around the ball.”

Keilor is through to the next round of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association T20, while Grand United opened its account. The Blues played both their matches last week, producing wins against Pascoe Vale Hadfield and Airport West St Christophers. Last Tuesday, Keilor faced Pascoe Vale Hadfield. The Blues made 3-161 after winning the toss with Rob Clements top scoring with 56 not out. The Panthers never got close, restricted to 8-94. On Thursday night, the Blues made 9-102 from their overs before restricting the Eagles to 9-91. Grand United proved too strong for Doutta Stars in its opening match of the campaign. The Stars made 4-94 from their overs with the Gorillas sharing the wickets around. The Gorillas made the runs with more than five overs remaining, finishing 4-99. Vishesh Malhotra top scored with 46. The winner of the remaining pool match between Sydenham-Hillside and the Gorillas will top the group. It was disappointment for PEGS and Keilor Park in their opening matches. Westmeadows bowlers got the job down easily against Keilor Park. The Warriors made 8-162 with several contributions throughout the order. The Devils struggled to get going and were bowled out for 59 on the final ball of their 20 overs. Brock Lee top scored with 11. Babar Aziz and Billy Kosteas took three wickets each. Sunbury got its first win of the VTCA season, beating PEGS in its T20 clash last Tuesday night. PEGS made 9-128 from their 20 overs, with skipper Jordan Cook top scoring with 38. Gayan Welikalage took 3-18 for the Roar. The Roar timed their run chase perfectly, hitting the winning runs with three balls remaining. The Roar finished 4-129. Sunshine face Sunshine United on Thursday night, with the result not available at deadline. In other matches, Point Cook Centrals beat Werribee Centrals to be the first team through to the next round. Moonee Valley was too strong for Royal Park Brunswick, Yarraville Club also opened its account with a good win against Seddon, the Druids beat St Andrew’s Footscray and Point Cook was too strong for Gellibrand..

Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 25

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The Eagles regain form and their winning ways After a couple of disappointing games, the Sunshine Eagles are back on the winner’s list in the Baseball Victoria summer premier league season. The Eagles lost back-to-back games against fellow top eight sides Essendon and Upwey FTG in rounds 10 and 11, before regaining their early season form defeating Fitzroy 11-2 on Tuesday night. “On Tuesday we hit the ball really well and we actually played defence really well for once,” Eagles coach Stuart Clayton said. “The defence was fantastic, the young pitcher Jai [Pouaka-Grego] had a really good night, he threw plenty of strikes for us. “We had 18 hits for the game which is a fair bit, you don’t normally get 18 hits in a game, we just swung the bat really well and played some good defence. “[Prior to the Fitzroy game] we had a couple of off weeks with our defence. I think we were just a bit flat for a couple of weeks. “We just came up against a couple of good

sides in Essendon and Upwey, they’ve both played finals for the last four or five years, so they are both quality sides and they hit the ball really well and we just didn’t. “We just weren’t able to get over the top of them, they hit the ball when it counted with runners on base and they were just a bit better than us on the day. “It was a good win on Tuesday and we’ve got a big one coming up on Saturday against the top team.” With most weeks having both midweek and weekend matches, Clayton said his side is ready for a couple of weeks off. There are just two games to go before the break and the competition splits into a top and bottom eight for the second half of the season. “The midweek games take a fair bit out of you when you’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday,” he said. “Everyone’s got their work commitments and their family commitments and their schooling commitments because we’ve got

three 17-year-olds in the team. So it takes a fair bit out of them by the end of the week so it’ll be good to have a break. “I think we’re pretty much safe to say that we’ll stay in the top eight but at the end of the day you want to keep winning because when we come back you stay in that position with your wins and losses so you don’t want to be dropping games and then putting pressure on yourself towards the end of the year. “You want to keep winning, once the feeling is good then everyone seems to enjoy it more.” On Saturday, played after deadline, the Eagles were set to face Waverley at Barclay Reserve. Waverley was coming off a strong 5-1 win against Port Melbourne. “We haven’t played them on our home deck for a few years. We normally play them in Waverly, so it’s good to get them on our home deck and it’ll be a good test to see how we go for the rest of the season,” Clayton said. Jai Pouaka-Grego. (Lee Dare/Sunshine Baseball)

Sports shorts EDFL The Essendon District Football League women’s premier division competition will remain at eight teams next season. The league revealed the structure of the top flight and the fixture, which isn’t normally released until the new years. Last season’s division 1 winners, Essendon Doutta Stars, move into the top division, while Strathmore, which finished bottom of premier division, has been relegated. The women’s season kicks off on April 13 and each team will play each other twice. Grand final day is slated for August 24.

NBL1

Sarah Grunden (left). (Ljubica Vrankovic) 338826_07

Big draft week ahead By Harper Sercombe The AFLW draft is less than a week away and after bursting onto the scene, Calder Cannons’ Sarah Grunden is ready to hit the big time. The draft is set to take place on Monday, December 18. The 18-year-old debuted in the Coates Talent League in round three of this season and had an immediate impact after moving across from the Western Jets. Now with the draft imminent, tension and anticipation is rising for the Keilor local. “Feeling a bit of the nerves at the moment just in the lead up to it but it’s just a wait and see process I think but it’s exciting as well,” Grunden said. “Not playing last year in the Coates season, being drafted wasn’t really on my mind, going in towards the season I just came in playing for a bit of fun and seeing where it would take me. “It got to mid way through the season and I could really see myself as a chance of getting drafted, so I really started to put in the effort. “It was always about enjoying my footy a lot but I also think my confidence grew a bit this season and it gave me a little bit more drive to work my best and be able to get drafted.” Moving Talent League clubs has helped

boost Grunden’s footy she said especially being able to train and play with fellow draft likely Kayley Kavanagh and Essendon’s latest AFLW recruit Amy Gaylor. Gaylor was selected as an expansion club pre-signing in November. “The environment at the Cannons, knowing a few more people there helped my self confidence and to be able to play every game really helped,” Grunden said. “Having those two people who are in the same position you can always reach out to them on how you’re feeling and it really helps with nervousness.” Prior to her debut with the Cannons, Grunden played at her local club Keilor in the Essendon District Football League, where she was a trailblazer of women’s football. Grunden was one of just two girls playing with the boys at the Blues in under-10s, from there she was able to play in an all girls side from under-13s. She played four senior games this season, named in the best twice. This season, she added another string to her bow playing for Essendon in the Victorian Football League against Geelong in round nine. “It was a really good experience being able to see what it looks like at the higher level, knowing how the training works and how

26 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 12 December, 2023

the game prep works so that was a really good insight,” she said. “There were a few girls from Keilor that I knew, they really helped me adjust, but playing the game against the Geelong Cats was a really good insight of what the next level was and the skills that are required.” One of Grunden’s major strengths is her versatility, with her having the ability to play within the midfield and forward line, however, she sees her best footy played across the half forward line. “Being able to lock it inside 50, set up teammates as well as working up the ground and working the ball back into our 50,” she said. “My vision kicking towards someone is one of my biggest strengths I think. I always try to put that on show because that’s something that I love to do, helping other people out and getting them on the scoreboard.” A lot could change for Grunden on Monday night as any of 18 teams in the competition are free to select her, however, she said regardless of where she ends up it will be a dream come true. “It would mean the absolute world, growing up being surrounded by footy, to be able to make my parents and family and friends proud of me would be really good,” she said.

Keilor Thunder will kick off its National Basketball League 1 South season on April 5. The Thunder will kick off its season on the Friday night against the Frankston Blues, before again being on the road against the Diamond Valley Eagles on April 9. The Thunder’s first home games are on April 14, their fourth matches for the season.

NAB League Western Jets Lou Lou Field and Sierra Grieves are among those named in the Vic Metro girls summer training squad. The squad 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.

VPL Fixtures for the Victorian Premier League competitions have been released. The VPL1 and 2 have replaced the National Premier League 2 and 3 competitions. The VPL1 will get underway on the weekend of February 9, while the VPL2 will start a month later. In VPL1, Caroline Springs George, which has been promoted twice in two years, will play Melbourne City in round one on February 10. In VPL2, North Sunshine Eagles will start their season against Doverton on March.9. Fixtures for the VPL women’s competition have not been released.

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

Guicas stands down as coach at the Devils Keilor Park premiership coach Paul Guicas says standing down as the club’s senior coach is one of the hardest decisions of his life. The Essendon District Football League division 1 club announced on Friday that Guicas had decided to step away from the role. In a post on the club’s social media, Guicas thanked everyone at the club for the past four years. “The decision to step down as senior coach has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my entire life, but it was super important that I did,” he said. “I love the club, the people who work tirelessly each and every day in order to keep this club going, and most of all each and every player that has put on the orange and green jumper with pride. “What a journey we have had, rejuvenating the whole football program, sticking together

through COVID, and reaching the ultimate goal of a senior premiership. “We may fight above our weight, but we have proven to the entire EDFL community that having a great culture, working hard and truly caring for one another creates success.” Guicas was appointed senior coach for 2020 with the season later cancelled. In 2021, the club finished with four wins, their first wins since being in recess for the 2018 season due to a lack of players. It was the stuff dreams were made of in 2022, with the club rising up the ladder to finish a fairy tale season with senior and reserves premierships. The club managed to win enough games in 2023 to stay in division 1 for next year, defying many people’s expectations. There was plenty of love for Guicas in comments on the Devils post with many

highlighting how he put the club back on the map and The club has already started advertising for a new coach. “The senior club is in a strong position with 60 senior players already attended pre-season training and a young developing list with a number of new recruits already training with the club,” the post said. The club is seeking someone to be part of the club’s recruiting, work with the senior and reserves coaching group, develop a game plan and develop senior players and continue to grow the current club culture. Applications close December 18. - Tara Murray

Paul Guicas. (Joe Mastroianni). 279826_08

New divisions confirmed

Josh Honey. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Honey returns to Keilor By Tara Murray Raise them right and they come back is continuing to pay off for Keilor in the Essendon District Football League premier division. The Blues announced last week that former junior Josh Honey had committed to the club full time next season. Honey played his junior football at the club before being drafted by Carlton, playing six games before being delisted at the end of this year. He didn’t play a senior match the past two seasons. Keilor coach Mick McGuane said they were thrilled to have Honey back at the club. “It’s really exciting and shows what we do in the individual’s journey to where they want to go,” he said. “They don’t forget what you have done for them and where they wanted to go.” McGuane said Honey was starting a new phase of his life which played a role in him deciding to just play local football and not play in the Victorian Football League. He said Honey took plenty of time to figure

out his football future. “In discussions with him it was more about his career now,” he said. “He’s a first year apprentice and is focusing on that and his education. “Trying to do that and overlaying time commitments after work with VFL can be quite a heavy schedule. “In Josh’s case, he had think, if I don’t think there’s an opportunity to get redrafted and can’t dedicate time 100 per cent, there’s no point doing it.” McGuane has never coached Honey before, with him only playing juniors previously, but recalls seeing him about the club as a junior, recalling him to be very humble and never forgetting where he came from. The addition of Honey is a big inclusion for the Blues, who are coming off a perfect season in 2023. The majority of the squad is locked in again for next year. “Matthew Clark is the notable omission he said. “He’s been at Keilor for the last six years. “Time for a life change geographically and

he decided to make that decision to play at the local level there. “He goes with our blessing and as a two-time premiership player. He’s the only premiership player not continuing on.” “Stefan Fadovanovic is another home grown talent who will be back after his travel and Josh is back into the fold. McGuane said they were continuing to push those at the club to play at higher levels. A significant number of players are involved in the Coates Talent Pathways, while a number of others are trying to get VFL contracts. “They will be better for the experience,” McGuane said. “They want to live the dream and we never compromise that and it bodes well with experience “We don’t hinder the process. Corey Ellis, Damien Cavka, Nick O’Kearney and Josh Honey have all come back.” McGuane said there would be pressure on for spots again, with nearly 100 players at their first training session and another 40 either at the pathways or VFL or have rehab or work commitments.

The Western Region Football League has confirmed its divisional changes for the 2024 season. Following the WRFL review into the structure of its senior football program, and the successful application from the Western Rams to join the WRFL, the league’s board has ratified changes for the upcoming season. As reported by Star Weekly, 2023’s division 2 premiers Parkside is moving to division 1 to make that a nine-team competition. This will be stage one of a two-year process to form a division 1 ten-team competition. Next year’s division 2 premiers will be promoted into division 1 with no relegation out of division 1 to happen next season. All division 3 clubs and the Western Rams will be moved into division 2. WRFL clubs voted at its annual general meeting on December 5 to decide the fate of the former Riddell District Football Netball League club. Member clubs of the WRFL officially voted in the Rams which will enter both their football and netball operations into the league. WRFL chief executive David Jennings welcomed the Western Rams and thanked the RDFNL and AFL Victoria for their collaboration and support in the application. “We have worked closely with the RDFNL and diligently with the Western Rams over the past two months on their application to join the WRFL and we are now delighted to welcome the Club to League,” he said in a statement. Glen Orden is also set to make its return to the WRFL with the league revealing them as one of 15 teams in its division 2 for 2024. The Hawks will return to the competition after failing to put out a senior or reserves side for the 2023 season. Next season’s division 1 teams will be Werribee Districts, Point Cook, Altona, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Caroline Springs, Spotswood, Point Cook Centrals, Hoppers Crossing and Parkside. While division 2 will consist of Albion, Newport, Sunshine, Wyndhamvale, North Footscray, Braybrook, Suns, Albanvale, Sunshine Heights, West Footscray, Tarneit, Laverton Magpies, Glen Orden, North Sunshine and Western Rams.

Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 27

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