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YEAR IN REVIEW... STORIES OF THE YEAR This mural in Footscray was one of several painted in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong. (Damjan Janevski) 357413_01
Painting and petitioning
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As another year ticks over for Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay residents, Star Weekly looks back on a year of community beautification and painting as well frustration and petitioning. Highlights in the region include the celebration of several schools reaching big milestones, including Williamstown Primary School which celebrated its 150th birthday and Footscray Primary School which celebrated its 100th. Murals among murals were painted across both municipalities including a Greek mural in Footscray and around the corner at Footscray High School kids painted one with local artist Heesco. Locals were pleased to hear Moondog Brewery was granted a permit to turn Franco
Cozzo’s old site into a new hangout spot. But with COVID-19 well and truly in the rear view mirror, residents grappled with the cost of living crisis, mass resident evictions, council tension and level crossing removal shock decisions. Maribyrnong council hit the front page with its decision to impose heritage overlays on the unwilling community and declaring a health emergency in May, regarding the municipality’s extreme air pollution. Hobsons Bay council dealt with its own push back from residents following the sudden eviction of Williamstown’s Techno Park residents, leaving the wider community reeling with anguish over the call and the following months of decision making. The state government made its own
impact on the region, with the $10 billion West Gate Tunnel Project getting well and truly underway, as well as the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital. Despite these events, residents rallied to support each other after the devastating 2022 Maribyrnong floods, with one bunch creating the Flood Warriors group to support the still struggling community. Maribyrnong residents asked council to Save Jacks Magazine from private use and improve the safety of the Joseph Road Precinct. Williamstown residents pleaded with council to stop the removal of the Williamstown Lifesaving Club pool as part of its $14 million redevelopment. Altona residents grappled with new parking permits along the esplanade, while enjoying
some old history in a resident compiled book titled, Pier Street Pearls. Footscray remained as artistic as ever, hosting a multitude of art exhibitions from local artist Sally Walshe, while plays wowed audiences put on by locals at the Bluestone theatre. For residents in Spotswood, Maidstone and Newport, Level crossing removals were confirmed with designs including closing off main roads and building road bridges. Local resident Gill Gannon fought hard to, “Keep Champion Road open,” with the debate seeming to continue into the new year. Looking ahead this year, residents can expect further growth in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong as the area continues to develop as part of a changing Victoria.
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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. Between October and December 2023, 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. The second stage of work underneath the bridge will mean Wurundjeri Way will need to be closed in both directions from midJanuary to early March. Also, from midJanuary 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.
Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps West Gate Freeway
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10 Jan to 4 Mar One lane closed in each direction between Millers Road and the M80 Ring Road interchange Wurundjeri Way
12 Jan to 4 Mar Closed between Dudley and Bourke streets
Footscray Road
12 Jan to 4 Mar Reduced to one lane in both directions between Dock Link Road and Waterfront Way
Geelong Road
19 to 22 Jan
Grieve Parade
12 Feb to 4 Mar Inbound entry and outbound exit ramps from the West Gate Freeway closed
Millers Road
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Green light for sports stadium despite mixed reply April 5 Maribyrnong council’s vote on whether or not to approve a controversial master plan for Yarraville’s McIvor Reserve ended in heated scenes and a number of interjections from the public gallery. Council approved the plan with a split vote, with one councillor consequently submitting a notice of rescission. During a special council meeting on Wednesday, March 29, with three votes apiece for and against the motion and with councillor Simon Crawford absent, council passed a motion thanks to chair Cr Sarah Carter’s casting vote to adopt the McIvor Reserve Master Plan 2023. As part of the motion, the council was authorised to start schematic design, necessary site planning and due diligence, as well as to advocate for state and federal funding to support the plan’s implementation. However, Cr Jorge Jorquera has confirmed
with Star Weekly he has submitted a notice of rescission with support from two of his fellow councillors. As outlined in the plan, the indoor sports facility would cover about 6500 square metres or four percent of the 18.5 hectare reserve. The approved master plan included a number of changes from the original draft plan, including the number of trees to be removed being reduced from 163 to 114, with each tree removed replaced by two new trees, an additional 6000 square metres of open space to be redesignated as an off lead dog area and a new signalised intersection and pedestrian crossing to be established at the interextion of Francis Street and Roberts Street and the new McIvor Road. Speaking in support of the motion, Cr Anthony Tran said the plan would allow for necessary upgrades to the reserve to be implemented as soon as possible, while it would take at least two years until any work could start on the construction of a stadium.
“This doesn’t mean the end of us wanting to talk to residents,” he said. “The conversation does not stop.” Maribyrnong deputy mayor Cuc Lam spoke in support of the motion. “Our city is growing and our young people need our support,” she said. The decision followed on from comprehensive engagement with the community to understand the views of neighbours, residents and users. Friends of McIvor Reserve spokesperson Miles Parnell-Gilbert said he was “disappointed” that the plan was endorsed. “We will continue to track the development at McIvor Reserve and represent the interests of the residents that value greenspace and liveability in our group and across our city,” he said. “We certainly don’t view this as the end of the discussion. “The project is a long way from complete and there are still significant hurdles Council needs to negotiate.”
Speaking against the motion, councillor Bernadette Thomas foreshadowed an alternate motion if the original motion was lost calling for a smaller stadium to be placed on the southern side of the reserve. “The case for the indoor stadium to be placed on the northern site, in my view, has not been made by the project plan,” she said. “Consideration should be given to a smaller stadium that has the potential to be accommodated in the space available on the southern site.” Speaking against the motion, Cr Jorquera said while he would continue to vouch for more support for the Westgate Basketball Association, he could not support the construction of the facility on the northern side of McIvor Reserve. Speaking in support of the motion, Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said council does not own any brownfield sites and no brownfield sites were deemed to be suitable for development of this nature.
Petition pleads for pool November 29
Some of the Techno Park community members. (Supplied)
Residents stand strong July 19 “I am not leaving my home and we as a group have no intention to leave our homes.” That is Techno Park resident Lara Week’s message to Hobsons Bay council. Ms Week, who is the Techno Park group’s lead petitioner, resides in one of the 91 households in the affordable housing block in Williamstown that have been faced with immediate eviction of their homes. With so many people facing immediate homelessness, Ms Week said she is in disbelief over the situation. “Moving people from their safe and wonderful homes and dumping them to other services that are completely overwhelmed is ridiculous,” she said. “There is a waiting list for public housing that is 20 years overdue. “Our residents who have wonderful homes that they love would be taking places of the people who need those homes.” Resident John O’Hagan said he was devastated by the council’s eviction letters. “Obviously we are devastated, going from thinking we have secure accommodation to then having it taken away in an instance, and for it to happen to a whole community is devastating,” he said. “All while we are in the worst housing
situation and for no reason, there is no explanation for the immediate and sudden eviction.” Mr O’Hagan and his wife bought their property with their two kids six years ago, because at the time it was cheap and what they could afford. “We own but we will obviously not get our money back if we sell it, it will be like starting all over again if we have to buy something new, and it won’t be in this area” he said. “I feel sorry for the vulnerable people who have been able to get some stable housing that they can afford.” Neighbour Ross Brenan has been a resident at Techno Park for 14 years and was left shocked and rattled to receive the eviction notice on Sunday, May 28. “The notice told us to vacate immediately, If that’s the case what alternative have council provided to us, where do we go?” he said. Mr Brenan feels he is in a position where he will be OK if he needs to move, unlike some of the other residents. “I am 50 and still working, there are a lot of people who are not in the same situation,” he said. “Many of them are elderly, have disabilities, and are migrants who can’t speak English, they have nowhere else to go.” Many residents of Techno Park have openly shared their appreciation for landlord John Link who has been renting out accommodation
4 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
at very low prices. “A lot of the renters live in a block owned by John, we all know and respect him, he goes out of his way to provide low cost housing to people who need it,” Mr O’Hagan said. “He could make more money if he wanted, it’s his way of giving back to the community.” Mr Link has owned properties at Techno Park for more than 25 years, all of which he has rented out at half the price of normal rent. “Techno Park houses some of my offices but all of these residents are our friends, it’s a gated community and it’s safe and we get along very well,” he said. “It’s an extraordinary community where people all look forward to living with each other, Techno Park is a large group of people who are friends as they have done for many years.” Mr Link is one of 800 people who have signed a petition asking council to withdraw the eviction notices and the second to commit to working in partnership with the residents of Techno Park to find a permanent solution that allows them to remain in their homes. Ms Week said she has been open about residing at Techno Park, where she plans to remain. “I have written to counsellors, to Williamstown MP Melissa Horne, we are all speaking to lots of people,” she said. “We have engaged planning lawyers and expect a legal opinion this week.”
A petition has been created in a bid to save the old pool at the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club. The ‘Save Our Pool’ petition, which has 1200 signatures to date, asks Hobsons Bay council to halt plans to remove the outdoor pool, the kiosk and the members’ lawn. The works are part of a $14.3 million redevelopment of the WSLSC which will also involve retention of the pavillion, improved storage areas and amenities, a new café and public toilets, a new observation tower, gym, sauna and meeting spaces and improved landscapes. Club member and lead petitioner Sarah Vincenzini said while the club does need funds for an upgrade of the pool and life saving functions, the council’s current plans would alter the capabilities and culture of the club. “We oppose the new designs which are not fit for life saving purposes, member purposes or swimming purposes which are the core functions of WSLSC,” she said. “I ask that the current funds are retained but the design is fully reconsidered with all of our concerns and extensive knowledge of our club taken into account.” Opened in 1962, Ms Vincenzini said the club has provided the community with a social hub for nearly 60 years. “We strongly oppose the plans to bulldoze the club pool, which has taught generations of local school kids how to swim, and provided an invaluable space for life savers and members to develop their water safety skills for the good of the entire community. “...It is a place for young people to get together and have a positive social outlet and it’s super important because we don’t have any in the area.” Ms Vincenzini said the change.org petition resonates with not only current members but also the wider community. “Many people have an emotional connection to that pool and have great memories and an important relationship with the club. “For this reason we hope the council will listen to their community and live up to their promises. “We are very optimistic because we believe that the council and the committee do want to act in support of the members in the local community.”
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Lunar New Year fun on its way Maribyrnong is ready to bring in the Lunar New Year, with a stack of events being held to celebrate. Footscray Asian Business Association (FABA) member Hai Pham explained the process behind the iconic holiday. “It all depends on the moon’s circulation around the Earth, and this year in 2024 it is on February the 9th,” he said. “Footscray Asian Business Association would like to take this opportunity to organise the festival funded by Maribyrnong council to celebrate with the Footscray traders and businesses on Leeds St Sunday January 14th.” This year’s celebration is called East meets West and will include a stage program
featuring traditional and contemporary performances, lion and dragon dancing, street decorations, food and market stalls and children’s activities. He said there were two more events coming up for anybody who misses out on Sunday or wants to keep the party going. “There are another two more events the Vietnamese community in Maribyrnong has organised,” he said. “The Lunar New Year is at Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook on Friday, February 9, and the Vietnamese Community in Australia - Victoria Chapter is organised on the Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18 at Footscray Park.” - Gerald Lynch
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Williamstown icon Capriccio Gelateria was damaged by fire on Friday morning. Investigations are ongoing into a suspicious fire in Williamstown which occurred at the store on Nelson Place about 3.45am. Police believe offenders damaged the front of the business before setting it alight. The store and apartment above sustained significant damage. The incident is being treated as a targeted attack by police, with links to previous nearby fires being investigated. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Operation roadwise Police detected 120 traffic offences across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay during an 18-day road safety operation during the Christmas and New Year period. Maribyrnong residents were seemingly well behaved, as police detected just 11 traffic offences, including one offence of disobeying signs/signals, two unlicensed drivers, four unregistered vehicles, one drink driver, two disqualified drivers, and one cyclist offence. In Hobsons Bay, police detected a total of 109 traffic offences, including 12 speeding offences, 25 mobile phone offences, four offences of disobeying signs-signals, 11 unlicensed drivers, and 23 unregistered vehicles. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
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Health emergency call May 24 A health emergency has been declared in Maribyrnong, due to the health impacts of air and noise pollution from heavy truck usage in the community. In its meeting on Tuesday, May 16, Maribyrnong council voted unanimously to request the state government take proactive measures to reduce pollution. Councillor Bernadette Thomas moved the motion and said that in addition to the existing curfews, truck numbers need to be reduced immediately. “We have talked about this for a long time, now is the time to take a good hard look at the health impacts, it’s up to the state government to do that and reduce truck numbers,” she said. “We know pollution from the trucks is having an impact on the health of our residents, the adolescent asthma rate is 50% higher than the state average, the inner west has a higher incidence of lung cancer than the general Australian population.” “Plus our hospital admission rate is 70 per cent higher than the Australian average for people ages three to19,” she said. The Maribyrnong municipality experiences over eight million truck movements annually on residential streets as container trucks
service the Port of Melbourne. Council has asked the state government to take immediate action by monitoring and enforcing the current curfews and to immediately begin monitoring the health effects on Maribyrnong as a municipality. Cr Jorge Jorquera said this is a perfect opportunity for the local government to stand with the community. “The local government can take a strong stance to advocate for the community, they have been suffering and there is more than enough evidence showing the levels of pain,” he said. The World Health Organisation said no amount of exposure to the chemicals being released from the heavy vehicles on the streets is safe. Cr Simon Crawford said there is still a lot of work to be done and things immediately need to be changed in the community. “We need to tackle this issue until we solve it, we need to accept that breathing in air pollution is not acceptable, we will not accept industry polluting in the air we breath,” he said. The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) have been campaigning to get trucks of residential streets for years. MTAG is a local community group, active in
Reaching the hospital build halfway mark
Melbourne’s inner west, who are relieved that years of campaigning have paid off. They have campaigned for close to two decades for solutions to the truck crisis in the west calling on the State Government for action. MTAG president Martin Wurt said the declaration is long overdue. “We have been raising the health impacts from truck emissions for 18 years, all we want is cleaner air and less trucks,” he said. The call to the state government is asking to implement low emission zones, install filtration on the West Gate Tunnel vent stacks before it opens and phase out old polluting trucks at the port. “We are hoping the environment and health minister are going to take notice following the council’s motion, it was amazing and means the next steps can be taken,” he said. Recent information shows the emissions coming from the annual 8 million truck movements is dangerous to community health. The health impacts of the trucks on residents in Melbourne’s inner west include: hospitalisation rates due to air pollution that exceed the Australian average, alarming childhood asthma rates and stroke and lung cancer rates way above Australian averages.
February 15 The state government has celebrated the new Footscray Hospital project reaching another milestone, with the first three buildings reaching their maximum height and achieving structural completion. Footscray MP Katie Hall joined Premier Daniel Andrews, Health Infrastructure Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Victoria University representatives at the site on Thursday, February 9, to celebrate the milestone. The milestone also represented the halfway point on the project, which is being delivered via a $1.5 billion commitment through the state government’s Victoria’s Big Build initiative. Located on the corner of Ballarat Road and Geelong Road, the Western Health hospital’s main 10-storey building would include about 500 beds, with the ability to treat about 15,000 patients and see 20,000 people at the emergency department each year, as well as a five-storey sub-acute-care building scheduled for completion in mid to late 2024. One of the three structurally completed buildings would house a new five-storey 5000-square-metre education and research centre for nurse training. Victoria University (VU) would occupy the building for health and medicine training, as well as research and learning across a range of areas such as nursing and midwifery, physiotherapy, speech pathology, dietetics, biomedicine and psychology, with the building connected to Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus via a public-use pedestrian footbridge across Ballarat Road. A commercial building on Tiernan Street will house a health and medical precinct across five storeys, as well as a childcare facility and retail spaces. VU chancellor Steve Bracks said the relationship between VU and the new hospital would be integral to the future growth of Melbourne’s western suburbs. “Through the VU education and research centre ... we will equip the next generation workforce and drive research that will shape the future of Melbourne’s west. Ms Hall said the project was the government’s largest health infrastructure project to date and joined a number of significant investments across the west.
15 years for women’s service body August 16 McAuley community service provider for women and children celebrated 15 years of operating on August 1. The Footscray service works with those who have closely-linked issues of family violence and homelessness. Chief executive Jocelyn Bignold said she has always enjoyed watching the evolution of McAuley. “In the last 15 years I can document clear specific times of change and innovation, which in my view has been progressive,” she said. “These moments have been very innovative and we have another stage of change ahead of us.” McAuley houses in Footscray and Ballarat provide safe and stable longer-term accommodation for women, which Ms Bignold said is only the beginning of the resources they possess. “McAuley works at the intersection of homelessness, family violence and and mental health in particularly,” she said. “We look at the woman or child in front of us, and cater the service we provide to them.” For the 110 staff that work with McAuley, it is about advocating for women that cannot do it themselves.
Fundraising and engagement advisor Hayley Marriott with skills for life leader Paddy McGreal, at the Footscray McAuley house. (Damjan Janevski) 351722_02
“These women are not necessarily in a position to speak directly to the government, we are.” Ms Bignold said the team share different roles and responsibilities, work at different houses and offices, but they all enjoy and share the same success. “When somebody from the team tells me they have had the best day , that is fantastic,”
she said. “When we can share in these people’s successes in finding long term housing and gaining employment and being engaged with education, that is the best part. “If we can actually make a change in the system for the better, that’s a job worth doing.”
HOBSONS BAY YACHT CLUB
NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMIT
10 - 17 years
YOUTH SAILING HOLIDAY COURSES Taylors Development Strategies C/o- Boutique Homes has lodged a planning application to vary the restrictive Covenant 1009085 applicable to Lot 35 on Plan of Subdivision 007275 to allow the construction of a building with external materials other than brick and/or stone. The application and supporting documentation may be inspected via Council’s online permit management system ‘Greenlight’, at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. If you do not have internet access, contact Council on 1300 179 944 between 8.30am and 5.00pm to make other arrangements. Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Council in writing by 2 February 2024, including the reasons for an objection and stating how the objector would be affected. Objectors will be advised of the decision. For further information, please contact Ersin Yuksel on 1300 179 944.
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Wasting no time to save food February 1 Yarraville resident Katy Barfield has been celebrated for her endeavours in reducing how much of Australia’s food goes to waste. Awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Thursday, January 26, the British citizen was a director and founding chief executive of food rescue organisation Second Bite and is the current founder and chief executive of tech-based food rescue platform Yumefood. Ms Barfield said she decided to live in Australia when she met her husband Russell. “It’s a cliche how it all happened,” she said. “I came here with friends and fell in love with it.” Ms Barfield said she used to own a small bar in Melbourne with her husband and
discovered her interest in helping drive down food waste when she saw how much her chef disposed of every day. “He would just throw it in the bin,” she said. “That was sort of a lightbulb moment.” Ms Barfield said the things she had seen and learnt about food waste since were “quite confronting”. “We rescued millions and millions of kilograms of food,” she said. “No one was really rescuing food back then. “Happily, times have changed.” Ms Barfield said while conversations around food waste from an individual standpoint were positive, more change was still needed. “It is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “I think there is a collective understand that this is a pressing issue. “I think we are at a critical junction.”
Ms Barfield said initiatives such as putting imperfect fruit and vegetables back into the market were positive steps forward, but it was essential to stop as much waste as possible ending up in landfill to reduce the amount of toxic methane seeping into the air. “Whatever you do with it, don’t put food in your landfill bin,” she said. Ms Barfield said she was honoured to receive recognition for her work, but said it was a team effort. “I share this award with everybody who’s worked with me,” she said. “I am hopeful for the future.” Ms Barfield said Australia and Yarraville had been a welcoming and open home for her. “I’m proud to call Australia home,” she said. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world to live in this community.”
Dynamic duo driving Hobsons Bay February 1 Hobsons Bay council has acknowledged Naserah ‘Nasz’ Khan and Mia Boonen as its Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year award recipients for 2023. Announced at a ceremony on Thursday, January 26, councillors and community members congratulated the pair. Ms Khan moved to Hobsons Bay in 2005 and has since become an integral part of the Seabrook community, including her work in establishing the Seabrook Community Gardens to working with council to develop the Homestead Run Park. Other key initiatives she pioneered included the new mural at the Seabrook shopping centre delivered via council’s Pitch Your Project program, organising the Dawn Service in Seabrook over the past two years and delivering meals to people in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Khan has also been an autism teacher at the Western Autistic School in Laverton for a number of years. She said it was an “incredible honour” to receive the award. “I’ve seen Seabrook change tremendously since I first moved here,” Ms Khan said. “It is just hear-warming to see how Seabrook is now so connected and how everyone comes together. “I am truly blessed to live in a community like this.” At 22 years of age, Ms Boonen has been developing a strong community of youth engagement, access and inclusion through her work as the chief executive of Altona theatre group Dramawerkz, as a disabled woman and as an activist. She also co-hosted the YDAS COVID-19 podcast and has worked in the youth sector across a number of Melbourne-based organisations. While receiving her award, Ms Boonen recognised the sacrifices of a number of First Nations and other discriminated peoples.
Yarraville resident Katy Barfield was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. (Damjan Janevski) 316543_03
Blazing a trail for diversity February 1
Hobsons Bay council’s 2023 Young Citizen of the Year Mia Boonen and 2023 Citizen of the Year Naserah Khan. (Supplied)
“I’m thankful to receive this wonderful honour, and I do so while acknowledging this is a difficult day for First Nations people right across Australia,” she said. “I hope it helps shine a light on the areas of our community that need it.
“If we ensure the considerations and adjustments that were made during the pandemic are continued into recovery and beyond, we can re-emerge from it a more inclusive society.”
Maidstone resident Guy McCrorie has been awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal for more than 35 years of service to fire services within the state’s most diverse communities. He joined the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) in April 1986, was promoted to station officer in 1991, became a senior station officer in 2003 and started in his current role as community safety and emergency management commander in 2010. With a number of years of services in the emergency management sector, Mr McCrorie has also worked as an incident controller at large structural fires and hazmat incidents, attended major campaign fires as an operational firefighter and held senior positions in level three incident control centres. Well known for his approach to develop and distribute home-based fire safety messaging throughout multicultural communities, leaders and other people of influence within these communities, a number of other emergency service agencies have emulated his approach in implementing similar approaches across Melbourne’s growing multicultural communities. Mr McCrorie has also been a representative for the State Prison Fire and Emergency Management Committee and worked with a number of government departments and organisations to ensure they are prepared for an emergency event or implement preventative measures, such as tamper-proof sprinklers in juvenile detention centres.
OAMs recognise valuable work of community members February 1 Seddon resident Gary Lee has been an advocate for international education for 20 years. Awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Thursday, January 26, he said he was “extremely humbled” to receive the recognition. Coming to Australia from Malaysia to study a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) at RMIT University, Mr Lee said he quickly became involved in the international education community. “My speciality lies in the areas of high level
strategic planning; policy development and advice; design and delivery of complex projects including festivals and arts programming, student wellbeing programs and youth consultation,” he said. “In my current role, I lead the international education portfolio at the City of Melbourne and over the years, we have led and supported many high impact programs including the Our Shout food voucher program, The Couch – International Student Centre, the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome, the ‘Act of Translation’ theatre project and the Melbourne International Student Conference.”
8 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
Mr Lee said he was also a keen advocate for more diversity in Australia’s leadership and media landscape. “We’re quite happy to see that is slowly changing,” he said. “Australia is a very inclusive and welcoming community. My goal is to really ensure that they are seen.” Mr Lee said he was looking to broaden his work within the west beyond his support for Foodbank and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. “I am looking forward to working with more organisations and community groups in the
west and help engage CALD communities, including international students in its programs, activities and life,” he said. Mr Lee said his work was a way to return the favour to the country which had given him opportunities. “I truly respect and appreciate the value of giving back, so that drives me,” he said. “More importantly, I want to make sure that no one gets left behind in life.” Also honoured with OAMS were Footscray Returned and Services League (RSL) sub-branch president Long Viet Nguyen, Brooklyn resident Anne Hooker and Seabrook’s Ivo John Havard.
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Moon Dog officially on its way August 16 Maribyrnong council has reversed its earlier planning permit denial for brewery Moon Dog, which had proposed to turn Footscray’s Franco Cozzo furniture showroom into a multi-level bar and music venue. In June, council knocked back the planning permit citing safety concerns. The concerns for surrounding residents regarding noise and amenity impacts have now been solved, following discussions with Moon Dog owners, council said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“Moon Dog has agreed to manage occupancy to mitigate the risks to large numbers of patrons exiting onto the narrow footpath adjacent to a busy road,“ the post said. “This means a slight change to the previously proposed hours of operation, from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and 1am Friday and Saturday, with a gradual reduction in occupancy after 10pm.” Council also said fencing and the footpath adjacent to Shelley Street will be upgraded. A planning permit would be issued shortly, subject to approval by the Victorian Civil
and Administrative Tribunal. Following discussions, the venue’s capacity has been reduced from 900 patrons to 800 and capacity will continue to decrease every hour from 10pm until close. Moon Dog co-founder Karl van Buuren said the team was really happy to be able to come to an agreement with council. “We have come to an agreement on how best to make a that intersection a safer intersection for people coming to the venue,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great addition to that particular area, as well as to the
Footscray community in making sure that we can create a really great environment in a really safe way.” Mr van Buuren said there is no current state date for works, but it is looking like the near future. “We’re really looking forward to getting started as we’ll be able to get started on the construction very soon, hopefully we will have it open before the middle of next year,” he said “We’re looking forward to having some beers with all the local residents and local community.”
Pool petition November 29
Project manager Dean Kotsianis with the community mural in Footscray. (Damjan Janevski) 357413_02
Greek spirit in new Footscray mural September 6 The Footscray community has collaborated to celebrate Greek culture in the west, with the unveiling of a new mural. The team at Greek Youth Generator has been working on ‘Footscray’s Hidden Hellenism’ for the last two years. Project manager Dean Kotsianis said the mural, which was unveiled on Saturday, September 9, celebrates the suburb’s forgotten Greek history.
“We conducted a large- scale community consultation to encapsulate storytelling in a mural,” he said. “This mural uses real photos, real memories and real people to show the realest representation of that story.” The community consultation involved Dean and the team meeting people in their houses, looking at family archives and collecting imagery to then compile into the mural. “We commissioned a design which we
thought celebrated their successes and some of their hardships , things that are undeniably part of Footscray’s Greek history.“ Spanning 250 square metres, the mural represents 10-12 families. “It really is owned by the community, some of the families who donated are incorporated, some were from the broader Greek community, and alot through our personal lives.“ The mural can be found in Yewers Street, Footscray.
A petition has been created in a bid to save the old pool at the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club. The ‘Save Our Pool’ petition, which has 1200 signatures to date, asks Hobsons Bay council to halt plans to remove the outdoor pool, the kiosk and the members’ lawn. The works are part of a $14.3 million redevelopment of the WSLSC which will also involve retention of the pavillion, improved storage areas and amenities, a new cafe and public toilets, a new observation tower, gym, sauna and meeting spaces and improved landscapes. Club member and lead petitioner Sarah Vincenzini said while the club does need funds for an upgrade of the pool and life saving functions, the council’s current plans would alter the capabilities and culture of the club. “We oppose the new designs which are not fit for life saving purposes, member purposes or swimming purposes which are the core functions of WSLSC,” she said. “I ask that the current funds are retained but the design is fully reconsidered with all of our concerns and extensive knowledge of our club taken into account.” Opened in 1962, Ms Vincenzini said the club has provided the community with a social hub for nearly 60 years. “We strongly oppose the plans to bulldoze the club pool, which has taught generations of local school kids how to swim, and provided an invaluable space for life savers and members to develop their water safety skills for the good of the entire community. “...It is a place for young people to get together and have a positive social outlet and it’s super important because we don’t have any in the area.” Jennifer Pittorino
Paint recovery facility proposal gets canned by council December 6 A planning permit for a paint recovery facility in West Footscray has been knocked back by Maribyrnong council. As reported by Star Weekly, there has been community concern about the planning application for 2 and 40-44 Graingers Road for a Paintback facility, with 112 objections made to the council, including a petition with 310 signatures. Wattyl Paints proposed the use of the land for a paint recovery facility which would involve the crushing of paint cans at the site.
In its meeting on Tuesday, November 28, councillors moved an alternate motion for refusal on the grounds that the proposal does not provide a use which is reasonable within the nearby community. The council’s city development delegated committee had recommended that a permit be granted subject to conditions. Councillor Bernadette Thomas’ alternative motion highlighted a number of issues with the proposal that would it unreasonably affect the safety and amenity of adjacent or sensitive land users. She said noted the proposal would result
10 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
in adverse amenity impacts on nearby properties in terms of noise, odour and emissions and that proposal would result in excessive traffic and associated amenity impact on the impacts on nearby roads, She also said the proposal has failed to adequately demonstrate how it would have no unreasonably impact on the quality of the surrounding area. Cr Thomas said while she believes Paintback is a good program she does not believe the West Footscray site is the right location. “We’ve got houses... which are 30 metres
away, we’ve heard very clearly from the surrounding community that this is not the appropriate spot to put this program and I do agree with them,” she said. Cr Thomas said approving a site like this would not improve council’s initiative when declaring a health emergency. Councillor Michael Clarke seconded the motion on the basis that any spare land must be utilised in the housing crisis. A Paintback spokesperson said they are obviously disappointed by the decision and will now regroup to determine where it heads from here.
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Bill Marshall as ’Captain Fish’, who is a producer of a surrealist festival.
Scotty So was part of an exhibition in Footscray.
Sunflowers were coming into bloom at Bolwarrah Springs which were enjoyed by Kiara, 10, and Bridie, 8.
2023 through Star Weekly’s lens Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janveski shares his favourite pictures from 2023. Meditation teacher Ananya Tomar.
Five-year-old Liahona, and organisers Tonya Toi, Vicki Kinai and Jone Temo at the Tarneit community garden. Patrick Blume in front of his Halloween decorated house.
‘Princess on Skates’ Belle Hadiwidjaja ahead of the Winter Community Festival in Yarraville.
Point Cook personal trainer Chevy Lowndes who collects sneakers and gives them to homeless people.
Hume Anglican Grammar is putting on a production of the Addams Family. Students Treesha, Aria, Freddie, Logan, Stephanie, Harriet and Gurleen. 12 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
Max Augoustakis and Zac Main at the radio station where they do a weekly segment called ’Self-Titled’ and they play ‘underground’ music.
Matilda, 8, and Mia, 4, at the Werribee ward set up at Pacific Werribee.
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Cleaning up the mess
Huge turnout
July 26
May 10
A group of Maribyrnong residents and council representatives are striving to help flood-affected residents get back on their feet. The Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee was formed in May and comprises eight residents, Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter and three council representatives. Committee chair Madeleine Serle said the group’s job is to assist residents to lead their own recovery from the October 2022 floods. “We are extremely frustrated with the slow response of service agencies to deliver the help they have been funded to do,” she said. “We are pushing very hard for accountability in everything we do.” Ms Serle said the group has two things it wants to achieve. “First, we want to get people back in their restored homes whether or not they have insurance,” she said. “Secondly, mitigation. The fact that Melbourne Water, state government and the Maribyrnong council have failed over many decades to work out how to mitigate the risk of flooding is a huge problem, we need a solution. “Our agenda is to work with the community, all levels of government, local indigenous organisations and all other stakeholders to stop this happening again.” According to the committee, the October floods were the largest single metropolitan Melbourne disaster in 50 years. “It affected around 1500 people, over 600 houses yet no one is helping as they should,” Ms Serle said. “We are trying to lobby governments to pay proper attention given the scale of the disaster and take action. “We have been effectively ignored.” Ms Serle said Emergency Management
More than 700 people gathered for the annual Melbourne Flynn’s Walk along the Williamstown Bay Trail on Sunday, April 29. Flynn’s Walk is a small and emerging Australian registered charity working to encourage meaningful conversations and spread awareness of the mental health challenges faced by veterinary professionals in their line of work. President Jack Levitt said the need for support has grown and Flynn’s Walk has become the platform for people to get together. “It was awesome, we had a great turnout of people and a huge show of support,” he said. Mr Levitt said people are looking for a space to engage in conversations around mental health and their work struggles, the response has been that it is long overdue. “People have come up to me on the day telling me they really needed this,” he said. Mr Levitt said the turnout is usually around the 500 mark but this was the biggest year since 2019, showing that the issue around veterinary struggles have been amplified since COVID. The event lasted for three hour, the group walked and then headed back to the starting point for the free sausage sizzle and raffle draw. “For a year we have had corporate support from the Petbarn Foundation, they have given us money to allow us to have food and beverages to entice people to come. We also had 25 prizes donated through local businesses, allowing us to raise money and sell tickets that way,” he said.
Members of the flood recovery committee, Madeleine Serle, Angela De Simone, Linh Nguyen and Lee Lanzafame at a house that was flooded in 2022. (Damjan Janevski) 346054_03
Victoria disaster organisations have refused to do a proper analysis. “We are extremely worried that if we flood again the emergency response will again be inadequate,” she said. “The community at this point is exhausted so we are fighting to get them help.” An Emergency Management Victoria spokesperson said a number of multi-agency reviews and inquiries have been established following the October floods.
“As part of our well-established lessons management system in Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria has captured more than 4000 observations through a co-ordinated real time learning approach in response to the flood event,” the spokesperson said. “The co-ordinated real time learning approach was achieved through deployments, debriefs, interviews, observations and submissions, and included data collected at a state, regional and local level.”
Devansh Attrey with his 2023 Premiers Award. (Damjan Janevski) 375019_03
Bright light in Braybrook November 29 One bright student from Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Braybrook, has been awarded the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize (SOAP), in the annual competition open to year 9-12 students. Year 11 student Devansh Attrey is one of only 12 students out of 100 applicants who has been awarded the prize, and will embark on a trip to Turkey to retrace the steps of the Anzacs. Students will go on a journey to explore Australia’s wartime and peacekeeping history, on the fully funded study tour to significant war heritage sites, connect with veterans and the ex-service community. For his application, Devansh wrote an essay for submission, after being notified of the competition through his principal Robert Brennan and teacher Bernard O’Keefe.
At first, Devansh said he was shocked to receive the award but after having time to reflect he was left overwhelmed with joy. “To be considered a winner of this award, means so much to me,” he said. “As it gives me an opportunity to learn so much more than I have already known, in terms of Australia’s peacekeeping and wartime history.” Earlier in November, Devansh had the opportunity to meet his fellow winners at Parliament House which was a a chance to get to know each other before the trip next year. “I am absolutely thrilled to learn and grow further with my fellow prize-winners, as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” In the midst of his exams and other school priorities, Devansh managed to submit the essay for consideration, something he said he could not do without support from his parents, teachers, principal and friends.
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Kon is Melburnian of the year November 22 Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) founder and chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis has been awarded Melburnian of the year by Melbourne council. Mr Karapanagiotidis’ list of accomplishments is large and impressive, in addition to founding the largest independent refugee organisation in Australia, he is also a qualified lawyer, social worker and teacher. The son of Greek migrants and the grandson of Pontian refugees, and a self described activist, Mr Karapanagiotidis said he is proud to stand up for a multicultural Melbourne. “I love our great city and I am proud to
celebrate my work which has been a lifetime spent welcoming refugees,” he said. As well as championing refugee rights, Mr Karapanagiotidis said he is passionate about his three decades worth of work for women’s rights and speaking out about ending male violence against women, survivors and First Nations peoples rights. Mr Karapanagiotidis has volunteered for 26 different charities, spanning more than 30 years of volunteer work in the community. He hopes that this award will bring awareness to the ASRC and continue to encourage Melburnians to work together to be a place that welcomes refugees and migrants. “I hope this brings more awareness to the
continued struggles, challenges and justices that refugees face,” he said. Mr Karapanagiotidis said he will use his platform as Melbournian of the Year to talk about ways to work together to make sure that no one is left behind, ensuring that everyone has compassion, humanity and decency. “As a community I think it’s really important that we don’t forget each other’s humanity, we need to look out for one another and be hopeful, positive, kind and compassionate towards each other.” (L-R) Deputy lord mayor Nicholas Lord, Kon Karapanagiotidis and mayor Sally Capp, Reece. (Supplied)
Bridge doco June 14
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter and chief executive Celia Haddock congratulated 2023 Citizen of the Year award winner Dr John Symons. (Damjan Janevski) 321319_05
Citizens honoured for their service March 15 Maribyrnong citizen of the year 2023 award recipient Dr John Symons said he started his work looking at road and bike safety after he wanted to allow his son to ride his bicycle around the area. “I was really keen for him to ride around independently,“ he said. “They were just so unsafe.“ Dr Symons said since he founded BikeWest in 2017 and the Maribyrnong Active Transport Advisory Committee, there had been an upsurge in conversations around the benefits of active transport. “We still have a long way to go,“ he said. Dr Symons said active transport options, such as cycling, had a lot of benefits for
individuals and entire communities. “It promotes social cohesion and it promotes independence in younger children,“ he said. “Active transport is absolutely vital for our towns and cities.“ In addition to his work within the west, Dr Symons has also worked as a research fellow with Victoria University’s Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, with his work ranging from helping to rebuild the education system in Syria alongside UNICEF to modelling the economic benefits of treating vision loss in collaboration with the Fred Hollows Foundation. He said receiving the award was “very humbling“ and congratulated the other award winners and nominees.
“It’s actually the other people that are nominated that give the award value,“ Dr Symons said. Other award recipients were: ■ Volunteer of the Year - Sanda Aye; ■ Youth Leadership Award - Daniel Melican; ■ Community Strengthening Award - Andy Fithall; ■ Enterprise Maribyrnong Award - Sheridan Rose Shaw (MAMAWEST), Alyshia Clarke (Dance 4 All) and Julian Hills, Restaurant Navi; ■ Active Maribyrnong Sporting Award - West Footscray Football Club; ■ Arts Award - Bernadette Fitzgerald; and ■ Mayoral Award - State Emergency Service Footscray Unit, Inspector Paul Morgan and Flood Warriors.
A group of bright primary school kids are well on their way to becoming the next generation of filmmakers after writing, directing, and producing their own documentary. Two classes of 20 year 5 and 6 kids from St Augustine’s Yarraville along with teacher Loretta Le Boeuf created Through Our Lens’ a documentary that looks back on the 1970 collapse of the West Gate Bridge. The idea for the documentary came to Ms Le Boeuf while she was looking out a window overlooking the bridge. “I told the kids about the collapse and they were stunned, they thought the bridge had always been there,“ she said. “We thought the students could learn about building and constructing bridges as well as engineering, mathematical and financial aspects.“ Mobil offer Bright Future Grants which support maths and science education in local schools. Schools need to submit an ’exceptional idea’ to go in the running to win a $10,000 grant. Winning the grant allowed the students to buy the equipment needed to make the heartfelt documentary. The kids researched, studied script writing, and interviewed seven subjects who all had some relation to the disaster. “The interviews were a learning curve for the kids dealing with adults in a professional setting, the interviews were all very emotional,“ Ms Le Boeuf said. “...The whole time the kids were extremely dedicated, it was a learning experience for us all.” Ms Le Boeuf said it started off as a factual report but it turned out to be a really emotional piece.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication
Musicians welcome Hobsons Bay City Band is seeking musicians to join their community band. Rehearsals are held under the directorship of Wayne Bowden every Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Newport Lakes Primary School, Elizabeth Street, Newport. Visitors and interested musicians any age are most welcome. ■ Hannah Prouse, hbcityband@gmail.com or www.hbcb.org.au
Walking Football (soccer) This is a social activity for fun and a bit of exercise, no experience necessary for people aged 50 and older. Any fitness level is welcome with no running allowed. This is a social activity for fun and a bit of exercise, no experience necessary.. This is a free activity each Wednesday between noon-1pm at the Sports Centre, Andrew Park Drive, Altona. ■ Mike 0423-291-708.
Book sale Friends of Altona Library hold a monthly book sale on the first Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of each month at the rear of Altona Library 123 Queen Street Altona. access via Coles car park, from 10am-1pm. ■ https://libraries.hobsonsbay. This week’s photographers choice photo is of sisters Emily and Sally Anglin getting their car ready for shitbox rally this year. (Damjan Janevski) 371717_01
Altona Girl Guides Altona Girl Guides currently have vacancies for girls aged five-plus who would like to learn new skills, gain confidence,and expand their friendship circle while having fun. ■ hobsonsbay@guidesvic.org.au
month at Altona Sports Club. Includes a speaker, organised trips and outings, and a friendly atmosphere. ■ Lesley, 0414 481 442
Computers, crafts, conversation
Friendship group
Whatever your learning interests and needs, Outlets Newport Community Education Centre has hands-on, face-to-face classes for you or a friend. Contact the centre today to find something for you. ■ 9391 8504, or outlets@outletsco-op. com.au
Altona Day Voice Interest and Education of Women [VIEW] Club meets at 11am on the third Wednesday of the month at Altona RSL. ■ Janet, 9394 6522 or 0412 010 176
Walking group The Altona Meadows and Newport Heart Foundation Walking Group is a local community of men and women committed to walking and socialising together with a post-walk coffee and chat and enjoying the natural beauty and birdlife that is to be found throughout Hobsons Bay together. Anyone is welcome to join the group on Mondays 10am at Altona Beach, Wednesdays 10am at Altona Meadows (Jolly Miller Cafe) or on Fridays 10am at Newport Lakes. ■ Ian Watson, 0411 566 862 or https:// ow.ly/TQ3j50PP1Ap
Diabetes support group The Westgate Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the Altona Bowling Club at 10am. ■ Elaine, 0415 030 996
Willin Wimmin choir Williamstown-based women’s community choir Willin Wimmin is currently welcoming new members. The group meets each Wednesday evening in school terms in the Church of Christ hall at the corner of John Street and Douglas Parade, Williamstown from 7.30-9.30pm. There are no auditions and you don’t need to be able to read music. ■ willin.wimmin@gmail.com
Altona North Combined Probus The Altona North Combined Probus Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each
Altona Day View Club The Altona Day View Club meets on the third Wednesday each Month at 11am, at the Altona RSL 31 Sargood Street., Altona.. ■ Marion, 9394 6557
AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club Would you like to develop confidence in communicating, competence with language and clarity in writing? AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club would like to invite any and all residents to join them on the first and third Thursday of every month to help develop public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets at the Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton from 7-9.30pm. ■Vimi Gaoneadry, 0411 530 944
West Footscray Rotary The Rotary Club of West Footscray meets at the Medway Golf Club in Maidstone for lunch, fellowship and guest speakers each Wednesday from 12.30-2pm. ■ Mike 0417 622 372
Cherry Lake Market Set between Millers Road and the stunning Cherry Lake in Altona, this market has something for everyone. The market hosts more than 60 stalls, selling plants, bric-a-brac, handcrafts, hot jam donuts,
16 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
Free community morning tea A free community meeting tea occurs every Wednesday at 11am in Joan Kirner House foyer, 14 Thompson Street, Williamstown. ■ Tahlia, 9397 6168
Heritage walks
The woodcarving workshop meets on Tuesdays at 9.30am-noon at Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed, 280 Queens Street, Altona. All levels of ability in this ancient, international craft are welcome, women included, starter tools and timber available. ■ jah2802rot@gmail.com
Drop in chess, cards and Scrabble
Women Talk – Conversational English
If you love playing chess, cards or a game of Scrabble in an informal and fun setting, visit Braybrook Community Centre on Tuesdays, from noon-2.30pm.
The Women Talk Group will be held on Mondays at 10am for women to learn and practice speaking English in the classroom and the local area and make new friends in an all-women class. ■ 9391 8504, email outlets@ outletsco-op.com.au
Art workshops The Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre presents MonArt, workshops for people of all abilities facilitated by community art specialist Amanda Neville, Mondays 10-11.30am. Cost is $5 casual fee. ■ admin@ljac.com.au, or 9398 2511
and are looking for a welcoming place to play enjoyable and challenging music? The Westgate Concert Band is seeking new members. Rehearsals are held Saturdays during school terms, 9am-noon at Braybrook College. ■ westgateconcertband@gmail.com
Enjoy a leisurely one-and-a-half hour walk around historic Williamstown and nearby suburbs with guide John. Walks start at 9.20am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Place. Each week is a different week with a printed sheet with the route and points of interest provided each week. Walks are leisurely and usually end at a cafe for a tea-coffee. ■ John, 0418 377 336
Woodcarving workshop
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
tools, clothing and much more. There is live music every month from the Cherry Lake Cultural Series, showcasing local musicians from across Hobsons Bay. From 9am-1pm on the first Sunday of every month. ■ www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/ Whats-On/Altona or cherrylakemarket@ gmail.com
Alcoholics Anonymous – Williamstown Regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous are held at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Williamstown, Wednesday at 7pm and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Newport, Thursday 6.30pm and Saturday 8.30am. All welcome including friends and family of people with drinking problems. ■ 1300 22 22 22, or www.aatimes.org.au
Wednesday walking group The Williamstown Community Centre offers a regular Wednesday walking group that walks the local area, 10.15-11am. New members are welcome. This activity is free and includes morning tea. ■ 9397 6168
Musicians Wanted Do you play woodwind, brass or percussion
Altona Repair Cafe The Altona Repair Cafe are looking for more repairers to help meet community demand for repairs at their monthly repair events! We are particularly looking for people with skills in repairing electricals and textiles! Repair cafes happen on the first Saturday of the month, noon-3pm. ■ Danielle 0413 434 082
Social card games Interested in playing social card games? Canasta, poker and/or others. Weekday mornings or afternoons at 43 Mason St, Newport. ■ 9391 8504, email outlets@ outletsco-op.com.au
PUZZLES No. 167
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
3 7 8 9
8 4 3
5 4 5 1
8 2
2 4
3 4 9
5 6
2 6 8
2 3 8
9 5 5 7
4
9 3 7 2 1 5 8 4 4 2
1 6 3 9
8 7 5 6 9 8 7 4
DOWN
26 27
Courier (9) North African country (7) Delete (5) Approximately (10) Blemishes (4) Sudden violent invasion (9) Fantasise (7) Sibling’s daughter (5) Process of turning on (10) Specify (9) Athlete (9) Cyclone (7) An addition (7) Crawl (5) EU currency units (5) Historical alcoholic drink (4)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 15 16 18 19 20 22 23
Mother (3) Deportation (11) Family name (7) Deliver commentary (7) Abstained from (8) Positive aspect (6) Earth (prefix) (3) Members (11) Punishment (10) State of agitation (3) Body (6) Shoeless (8) Exude (7) Arabic derivative of Abraham (7) Series of events (11) Sprinted (3)
9 medium
7
ACROSS 1 3 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 19 20 21 24 25
No. 167
3
DECODER
No. 167
7 hard
9
7 4
3 9
9 1 6 3
6 7
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
W L
3 LETTERS AGE ANT AWE DOE EBB ERA FBI FUN ILL INN IRE LEE LEG NOD OKS ONE PEN RAT SOB TEN UPS UTE
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
ARMED AROMA AVAIL BELOW CIDER CREPE DETER DITTO DOONA ENVOY ERODE GLOVE HERDS INERT LOCAL MACED MESSY NOBLE NOOSE OATHS OMEGA
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Today’s Aim: 12 words: Good 18 words: Very good
D
C
No. 167 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible
L O S
B A R D S A W A R E S A L O N
E
I
O
5 LETTERS ADORE AFOOT ALIBI ALONE ALTER
QUICK QUIZ
1
Marmosets are native to which continent?
WOMEN 6 LETTERS BAMBOO CAGIER INHALE KOALAS RELAYS SILENT 7 LETTERS AMMONIA ATLASES BLISTER
BRITTLE LIAISON RENEWAL 8 LETTERS CLEAVERS CLENCHED CRITERIA TORTILLA 10 LETTERS DISPENSING HINTERLAND
2
7
True or false: Kevin Costner (pictured) has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Which country led the medal tally at the 2012 London Olympic Games?
8
Walt Whitman died during which century?
3
Harissa is what type of food?
9
4
The mausoleum of Madghacen is located in which African country?
Actor Andy Griffith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from which US president?
5
Does Ben or Fred Savage play Cory Matthews in Boy Meets World?
6
Manama is the capital of which country?
K
N
M
4 LETTERS BEEF ENDS GAIT GOSH MOTH PEWS SLAP STEM THUS TRIM
PASTY PIANO PLATE PURSE REAPS REEDS RINSE ROSES SCENE SCRAP SCRUB SLAIN SNEER STABS STALE SWATS SWEET TAPED TASTE TESTS WADES
12-01-24
E
L
H
T Y L
R
L
O
clod, coal, coda, coil, cola, cold, coma, domicil, halo, hold, holm, HOMICIDAL, idiom, idol, lido, load, loam, loch, loci, macho, milo, mocha, modal, moil
2 6 9 3 7 1 8 4 5 5 3 8 6 4 2 9 7 1 7 4 1 9 5 8 6 3 2 9 2 6 7 8 4 1 5 3 4 1 5 2 6 3 7 8 9 8 7 3 1 9 5 2 6 4 3 8 7 5 1 9 4 2 6 1 5 4 8 2 6 3 9 7 6 9 2 4 3 7 5 1 8
S
I
S
9 1 3 7 4 6 2 8 5 6 7 8 9 5 2 1 4 3 5 4 2 8 1 3 6 9 7 7 9 5 1 2 4 8 3 6 8 6 1 3 9 7 4 5 2 3 2 4 5 6 8 9 7 1 4 5 9 2 7 1 3 6 8 2 3 7 6 8 9 5 1 4 1 8 6 4 3 5 7 2 9
2 6 3 1 7 8 5 4 9 4 8 1 5 9 3 7 6 2 9 5 7 4 6 2 8 3 1 3 9 6 7 2 5 1 8 4 1 2 5 3 8 4 9 7 6 8 7 4 9 1 6 2 5 3 5 1 2 6 3 7 4 9 8 6 4 9 8 5 1 3 2 7 7 3 8 2 4 9 6 1 5
R
Y
4
S
I
A
Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
I
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”.
24 words: Excellent
hard
S
3
medium
W
2
9-LETTER WORD
5
B
1
9
No. 167
* $ , 7
T O R XN P CMF DH E Z
2 3 easy
5x5
16
8 7 1 4
15
4
14
5 2
Y V B G J K U Q S I AW L
1
WORDFIT
10 A coati is what type of animal?
ANSWERS: 1. South America 2. True 3. Chilli paste 4. Algeria 5. Ben 6. Bahrain 7. The US 8. 19th 9. George W. Bush 10. Mammal
9
QUICK CROSSWORD
7 $ 3 ( ' 6 & 5 8 % & , ' ( 5 & 5 ( 3 ( $ / 2 1 ( $ / , % , 6 7 $ % 6 5 , 1 6 ( * / 2 9 ( 7 ( 1 3 / $ 7 ( ) % , 1 2 ' 3 ( : 6 5 ( / $ < 6 ( 5 2 ' ( , 1 1 5 $ 7 , 5 ( 6 : $ 7 6 6 , / ( 1 7 * 2 6 + 7 2 5 7 , / / $ 0 2 7 + $: ( % / , 6 7 ( 5 $ 0 0 2 1 , $ / ( ( * $ , 7 & / ( 1 & + ( ' ( 1 ' 6 , 1 + $ / ( 7 ( 6 7 6 2 . 6 8 7 ( 3 ( 1 % $ 0 % 2 2 6 / $ 3 5 ( $ 3 6 ( 5 $ $ 1 7 $ 9 $ , / ) 8 1 / 2 & $ / 5 2 6 ( 6 $ ' 2 5 ( , 1 ( 5 7 1 2 2 6 ( 2 0 ( * $ 0 ( 6 6 < ' ( 7 ( 5 : $ ' ( 6
SUDOKU
Wednesday, 10 January, 2024 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 17
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18 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
SPORTS QUIZ 1. How many Grand Slam singles titles has former world No.1 Boris Becker won?
4. Which basketball legend might be making a career return to the Opals at the Paris Olympics?
2. How many NBA teams currently don't have a team mascot?
5. Which Melbourne venue is set to host an AFC Champions League game?
3. Brisbane AFLW star Ally Anderson won which accolade for the third time?
Jessica Fox
13. Who is the current captain of the England Test cricket team? 14. The Barton Oval is the home of which AFL team?
6. The terms gutter, frame and foul line can be applied to which sport? 7. In which Australian state does the annual Santos Tour Down Under take place? 8. Renowned springboard diver Greg Louganis represented which country in competition? 9. Which arena in Melbourne Park was formerly known as Hisense Arena and Vodafone Arena? 10. What is the national sport of Germany? 11. The Stoke Mandeville Games were a precursor to which event?
David Warner
12. The Sharks play which sport for Australia?
15. How many legs are there in a darts set? 16. In which year did canoeist Jessica Fox make her Olympics debut? 17. And how old was she? 18. In which sport would you find a Michigan goal? 19. What is the nickname of the team that plays NFL out of Tennessee? 20. How many AFL games did Brent Harvey play for North Melbourne? 21. What is the only NRL team nickname not to end with an S?
24. Who won Man of the Match in the second test in the current Australia v Pakistan series? 25. In what year did David Warner make his international cricketing debut for Australia?
29. The 2024 Dakar Rally will be held in which country? 30. What famous Australian yacht race was first held in 1945?
26. AFLW player Monique Conti also plays in what other major Australian sporting league?
22. Which US city’s four major sporting teams all use the same colours?
27. Kelly Ryan resigned as chief executive of which sporting body in December?
23. What was the nickname of the NBL team that was based on the Gold Coast in the 1990s?
28. What sport will make a return to the Olympics after only previously featuring once in 1900?
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Taskmaster of huge proportions By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring Question: does the Navara PRO-4X Warrior, a latecomer to the ranks, have enough to take on the army of talent in one of the most closely fought contests in the Aussie automobile market? With fully armed dual cab pick-ups the likes of the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota HiLux Rugged, Mazda BT50 Thunder, Isuzu’s D-Max and the US Ram holding the line, the Navara Warrior has its work cut out. Not that Nissan isn’t out to giving things a shake, calling on input from local specialist engineer Premcar, to light the fuse. The result is the range topping Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar, tipping the scales at $68,265, plus on-road costs. Premcar has put in its bob’s worth with up-specced suspension, wider track and greater ground clearance, plus a 100kg addition to gross vehicle mass and aggressive new exterior. All were tested in Victoria to meet demands of real off-roading in varied bush, beach, desert and mountain terrain. Premcar has also matched Nissan’s five-year warranty, the latter featuring capped price servicing at 12-month 20,000 kilometre intervals, whichever comes first. Styling Tough guy trappings are not only for show. They are worn to take on the harshest driving conditions, featuring unique Warrior 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in larger, wider Cooper Discoverer All Terrain tyres. A redesigned towbar is built to carry a full-size spare, and a premium body coloured bulbar with integrated LED light bar, plus tub liner go beyond their good looks with premium practicality.
The Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar has had the benefit of input by some of the best Aussie engineers in the business.
Interior With upgrades to chassis and suspension weighing in with ride comfort in the toughest going, it’s only natural to complement this with an eight-way power driver’s seat, with lumbar support, and heated front seats. With space for five adults, premium leather accented PRO-4X seats sport Warrior stitching on the front headrests. Dual zone climate control incorporates rear air vents. The back seat base folds up to expose storage spaces underneath. The Navara is well-equipped to carry loads up the back, with four robust tie-down loops low in each corner of the tub and adjustable Utili-Tracks running lengthways along the upper tray. A plastic tub liner completes the cargo carrying set-up. Infotainment The Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar is equipped with an 8-inch colour touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in situ for connectivity to a smartphone. Bluetooth hands free is on tap too via steering wheel controls. AM/FM radio with AUX and USB connectivity is run through a six-speaker sound system. There’s one USB-A in console tray, one USB-A and USB-C in the centre console, one USB-A in the rear of the centre console, which is charge Only, plus two 12V Outlets in the console tray and centre console. A 7-inch instrument cluster display includes instant and average fuel economy, distance to empty and average speed. Engines/transmissions Under the bonnet of the PRO-4X Warrior is the 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine found in all 4x4 models in the Navara range, producing 140 kW of power at 3750 rpm and 450 Nm of torque between 1500 and 2500 rpm. The Renault common-rail motor is mated either with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic, driving through a part-time four-wheel drive system with low-range gearing and a locking rear differential. Our test was the latter.
Safety There’s a full suite of Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology with off-road innovation creating a 360-degree ‘shield’ that detects, warns, and intervenes in potential danger in varied driving conditions. Advanced safety systems include blind spot warning and Intelligent blind spot intervention, which alerts of any detected vehicles and actively guides the Navara back into its lane to help prevent a collision. An all-round view monitor with moving object detection presents a 360-degree view of the vehicle when reversing and rear parking sensors pick up any problems in tight spots. Seven airbags - front side seat, curtain and driver’s knee - are fitted. Driving Remote keyless entry and practically placed grab handles make access to the cabin comfortable, while cruise control, high beam assist, rain sensing wipers and a UV and heat rejecting windscreen ease the stress of everyday driving. Needless to say, the performance of the 2.3-litre, four-cylinder twin turbo-diesel motor mated with its seven-speed automatic transmission was more than able to carry the ute’s aggressive appearance, turning heads
20 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Nissan Navara 2.3 SL $47,350 Nissan Navara 2.3 ST $52,455 Nissan Navara 2.3 ST-X $55,945 Nissan Navara SL Warrior $58,750 Nissan Navara PRO-4X $58,905 Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior $68,265
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Nissan dealer for drive-away prices.
time and time again. The maker’s fuel consumption claim is 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the combined urban/highway cycle. Over a week of non-stressed testing on the bitumen the PRO-4X Warrior averaged 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres. It’s not the best in class, but it’s worth remembering the vehicle’s raised ride height and larger, heavier light truck tyres fitted to improve off-road performance, will be detrimental to fuel consumption. A Drive Mode selector allows easy switching
between four modes – normal, sport, off road and towing, while off road, hill descent control and hill start assist adjusts speed on steep inclines, the rear diff lock provides extra traction in challenging going. The innovative Off-Road Monitor presents a clear view of each wheel when taking on tough terrain. The Warrior turns in a towing capacity of 3500kg braked and 750kg unbraked. Off-road stats include 260mm ground clearance and a wading depth of 600mm. Summary The Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar puts me in mind of HSV and Tickford who raised the popular Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, respectively, to iconic status. Say no more. Ratings ■ Looks: 8/10 ■ Performance: 6/10 ■ Safety: 8/10 ■ Thirst: 5/10 ■ Practicality: 8/10 ■ Comfort: 7/10 ■ Tech: 8/10 ■ Value: 5/10
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Gators are the champions August 23 The Altona Gators held their nerve late to come away with their first senior Big V men’s title. Just four points total separated the Gators and the Whittlesea Pacers in their last two meetings in division 2 and Saturday’s grand final didn’t disappoint. The Pacers started the better of the two sides and led by double figures on multiple occasions in the first half. The second half a different Gators came out onto the court. The first five minutes they kept the Pacers to just one field goal and were able to go on a run themselves to take the lead. Not for the first time there was another twist. After the margin got out to double figures in the favour of the Gators, the Pacers went on a run to bring the margin back to one point with less than a minute to go. In the end, the Pacers would need a three pointer on the final possession to send the game into overtime. They failed to get a shot off, with the Gators holding on to win 97-94. Gators coach Josh Turton was still in disbelief half hour after the game. “I think I blanked out the last two minutes of the game,” he said. “We didn’t play very well today [Saturday] I thought. “We found a way to get it done and they are a hell of a basketball team, they pushed us right to the end like we knew they would. “We never felt like it was going to be out of reach and it worked out the way I thought it would.” Playing in front of a massive loud crowd, Turton said at times the noise meant that the players couldn’t hear what he was saying for much of the game. Turton said the game went to script early on with the Pacers coming out fast. The Gators had a few early turnovers, appearing to be a bit nervous. “The last four times we’ve played them, they’ve jumped us in the first quarter,” he said. “We tried to be better than they are, they were
The Altona Gators. (Jacob Pattison) 352944_39
really good in that first half and I think we just found a way. “The start of the third quarter was great, but that is basketball, it’s a game of runs. “We’ve been in the situation where we’ve been well down and we’ve spoken about just finding a way.” Turton said at half time they didn’t really focus on what they were doing right or wrong and that they had been in this situation before. He said it was about going back to why they all play basketball. “The biggest message was to start having fun,” he said. “I don’t think we were having fun in the first half and it’s why the hell you play basketball.
“The other thing was everyone was probably writing us off at half time. “We knew there were a few people out there that knew that we could come back and win the game. “We had to play for each other.” Turton said the final quarter had nothing with them on the court, but back to the work they had been doing since November. “Credit to the guys, they’re a fantastic group. Adam Anderson was the clear best player on the court, scoring 41 points, having nine rebounds and four assists. He had from 50 per cent from beyond the arc, with half his points coming in the important third quarter. “He is just a gun,” Turton said. “I’m thankful
that he gave us a chance and came down and be part of our group. “He is a special guy, a great person which is why we wanted him.” For Nick Formosa, Thomas Georgiadis and Samson Rocker, it’s their second Big V championship with the Gators. All three were part of the Gators youth league men’s championship in 2016, which also came against the Pacers. While the season has just come to an end, Turton was already thinking of next year. “I can’t wait to go up to d1 and do some damage, I’m looking forward to that challenge already,” he said. “I think we’ve built something and I’m excited to keep building now.”
Magpies swoop premiership in Western Region September 13 Parkside has finally got the premiership it was so desperate for after a thriller in the Western Region Football League division 2 grand final. The Magpies faced Albion on Sunday afternoon at Yarraville Oval with the tension palpable about the ground, with the crowd piling in for the big game, and it lived up to the expectations. After losing last year’s grand final to the undefeated Point Cook Centrals, the Magpies were determined to do what they felt they were deserving of, however, it didn’t come without a fight from the Cats. The Cats jumped out to a great start, putting the Magpies on the back foot early, kicking five first term goals to two. Although they were down by 22 points the Magpies got away with it lightly, with the Cats also kicking six behinds in the first term. With the game seemingly on the line early in the second term, the Magpies showed they were up for the battle, throwing inspirational skipper Shaun Campbell into the guts to give them some much needed grunt around the ball. From there the Magpies were able to hit the scoreboard, however inaccuracy hurt them too, kicking two goals and five behinds in the second term to cut the margin back to just one straight kick at the main break. In the premiership quarter the game was as even as could be, taking 23 minutes for the first goal to hit the scoreboard. The Magpies went bang, bang, and stole the lead back before the Cats replied with two of their own, taking a four point lead into three
Parkside celebrate their premiership win. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 359359_88
quarter time. At three quarter time the plan was simple from Magpies coach Chris Muratore, in what was an all time great speech. “It’s about execution, as soon as we open them up we look dangerous, if our forwards grab one or two early, game over,” he said. “Let’s have a little breath here, let’s have five, 10 seconds to suck it in. The stage is set now, have a look at this. “We know we are good enough. ’m that excited to watch this now. “I’m that excited to sit in that room in 30 minutes time with medals around our necks.” Cats’ coach Blake Richards was singing to a similar tune at the three quarter time huddle.
“I guarantee you, us as a group, the Albion Football Club, the way we’ve been over the last 10 years is a hundred times hungrier than them,” he said. “We need this more than them, we are hungrier, we deserve it more than them, get that in your head. “This is all about hunger. At the end of a grand final it’s about who wants to work harder, who wants to get to more contests, who wants to put their head over the ball. “There’s no system, there’s no structure… it’s 100 per cent about who wants the ball more.” In the last term it was ferocious, contest after contest, players smashing into each other like they had been all day. The Magpies were able to get the first of the
term and put their noses in front. With the crowd really starting to get into it now, the Cats returned serve with only minutes left on the clock, as Ashton Muir put one through from a set shot with the Magpies fans giving him some advice from the side lines. With about a minute left in the game and the Magpies down by four, there was only one thing skipper Campbell could do as he was kicking out from full back. His torpedo punt somehow found the chest of a team mate, he rolled and went sending the ball down to half forward and Jy Lambley. Lambley wound up from just inside the centre square, the ball trickled through and the Magpies were four points up with just seconds remaining on the clock. The siren sounded and the crowd erupted as the Magpies were premiers, winning 8.13 (61)-8.11 (59). Shaun Campbell was given best on ground honours as he dominated wherever Muratore put him, from full back, into the middle and even kicking a long range goal during the second term. Intercepting defender Jonah Vraca was another of the Magpies best, alongside ruckman Bradley Graham. It was emotional scenes after the match as the celebrations began. Straight after the match, Muratore was lost for words. “I don’t really know what to say or think,” he said. “I’m proud… it’s been a whole club effort.” The Magpies are now on their way to division 1, while the Cats will have a shot at redemption in 2024.
Wednesday, 10 January, 2024 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 21
YEAR IN REVIEW ... SPORT
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Seagals are flying high September 6 For the first time in its brief history Williamstown CYMS women’s team are premiers. The Seagals were the team to beat throughout the entirety of the Victorian Amateur Football Association division 2 season, which no team was able to do. The CYs’ boasted a perfect record of 17 wins and no losses, with a massive percentage of 737.5, at an average winning margin of 60 points. On Sunday, it was more of what the competition had come to expect from the Seagals, a confident and controlled win. While the match was an arm wrestle in the first half, when Parkdale had its turn with the wind the stingy defence of the CYs’ allowed the Vultures just one scoring opportunity as they took a 13 point lead into half time. In the third, with the wind favouring the Seagals the game began to break open, booting seven goals and shutting the door on the Vultures premiership aspirations. The Vultures had their opportunities in the final term but it was all too little too late, with the CYs’ winning 10.9 (69)-2.11 (23). It is the Seagals sixth year in the VAFA and coach Lawrence Henry has been at the club from the start.
“We’re all so thrilled… it’s super exciting,” he said. “I’m so proud, it’s amazing. It’s hard to put into words actually. “So many feelings, a bit of relief and excitement and joy and satisfaction, feeling just so happy for the players and all the players that have come through over the last six years. “They’ve all had a part of it and a little piece of contributing to get it to this point and it’s just thrilling for them that they got to have their moment and enjoy something that the men in our community have been enjoying for 130 years and now it’s their turn which is just amazing.” Amongst the CYs best were Sofi-Kristin Georgas, Alessia Acquaro and Camryn Tyrrell who all hit the scoreboard and had massive influences on the game. “Georgas, kicked four goals, she was absolutely outstanding and she really broke the game open for us early with good kicking in the first quarter,” Henry said. “Acquaro who kicked 49 goals for the season, she kicked three and brought high pressure to the game when it was low scoring early, she was bringing the ball to ground and then tackling and keeping it in our forward line. “When the game eventually broke open it went her way and she was able to kick a few herself.
“Tyrrell who kicked two goals, she ended up winning best on field [medal], and the goals were just the beginning of it for her. She was just amazing through the midfield, just a clearance machine all day.” The senior women’s side flag to go with the junior clubs three girls premierships in 2023 demonstrates the power of work that goes into women’s football within the bayside suburb, which has opened the door for another female side to join the VAFA in 2024. “We just want to keep Williamstown girls in Williamstown jumpers,” Henry said. “The community team won a premiership and the VFLW team made it to the finals for the first time, so footy for girls and women in Williamstown is booming and we just want to provide more opportunities for girls to be able to play. “Just keep building on the success and excitement and enthusiasm for the girls.” The challenge doesn’t get any easier for the CYs with not only a jump into division 1 a certainty but the possibility of a jump straight into the premier B division is on the cards. “It’s exciting, it’s kind of like a double jump, it’s really exciting our men’s team plays in premier B and it’s a really high level of footy so we’re super pumped to be going up,” Henry said.
Success continues for Falcons August 16 It’s seventh heaven for the City West Falcons with the club winning its seventh Victorian Netball League championship title on Wednesday night. Having won the last two championships in 2019 and 2022, the Falcons made it a hat-trick of wins with a hard fought win against the Boroondara Express. The Falcons led by six goals at quarter time, before the Express started to take control of the game and led by two goals at half time. For much of the third and early in the fourth quarter, it was goal for goal. The Falcons regained the lead three minutes into the last quarter and they didn’t let it go. A strong defensive finish sealed a 60-54 win for the Falcons. Falcons coach Marg Lind said they had to put everything out there to come away with the win. “I think Boroondara really took it to us,” she said. “They obviously had nothing to lose and they had a great finals series. “We just had a little buffer in the last quarter.” Lind said Boroondara changed things up in the middle quarters defensively to try and shut down Maggie Lind and Montana Holmes. She said it worked really well, but they were able to adjust and get the game back on their terms. “I think once we were able to free it up a bit, just let the ball go,” she said. “We had Maggie coming long which helped and Montana getting a bit of ball deeper, where we were probably sitting in the pocket early in the second quarter that hurt. “I thought Lucia [Fauonuku] made a really good difference in the last two quarters, pushing them up the court a bit and adding that transverse option and we swung the ball a little bit which put them off guard.” Lind said defensively they did a really good job with everyone on court making a contribution. Holmes was awarded the best on court medal. Jane Cook shot 51 goals for the Falcons in a solid performance at goal shooter. Sophie Hanrahan was another one of the stars in defence, particularly in the second half when she moved back into goal keeper.
The City West Falcons celebrate with their fans. (Tara Murray)
Her performance wasn’t nearly to be though. “There is a broken finger,” Lind said of Hanrahan. “It was 50-50 for her to even play, the finger was looking pretty good and splinted pretty well. “Good on her. It was gutsy and that is what it takes to win finals.” For the Falcons this is one of their hardest championships to win. While they didn’t lose after round one, there were many nervous moments with making sure they had all bases covered for finals. Lind said she still doesn’t know how they did it. “It was tough and there was a lot of pressure this season, making sure we had enough players qualified,” she said.
22 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 10 January, 2024
“Kids like Molly Kennedy making the drive down from Shepparton to give us that extra midcourt, she didn’t get on tonight bit did a really good job. “Credit to all the girls, It was hard concentrating on the World Cup, having to come back to the Falcons. It must have felt a bit surreal for some of them. “Kim [Borger] was actually injured and probably couldn’t have played tonight anyhow, but her presence and support was fantastic.” For the Falcons it wasn’t all joy on Wednesday night, with their under-19 side falling short of defending their title losing to Melbourne University, 45-32. Overall, Lind said it had been a successful season for them with all three teams making finals and walking away with one premiership.
Olivia Burrow. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 359360_05
Wolves hang on to regain title September 13 It took everything, but it matters little now, with Spotswood regaining its title as the best team in the Western Region Football League women’s division 1 competition. After losing last season’s grand final to Caroline Springs, the Wolves have been out for redemption this season. On Sunday, it was their old rival in Caroline Springs that stood before them and another premiership. The Wolves led by one point at quarter time, then the Lakers led by the same margin at half time. Two goals to one in the third quarter gave the Wolves a five point lead heading into the final quarter. The Lakers kicked the first goal of the final quarter to lead by one point. The Wolves levelled the scores and then managed to get an all important behind to take the front. It was a nervous last few minutes with the Wolves having a number of repeat inside 50s. The Lakers managed to get it forward in the last minute and got the ball right to the goal line. The siren would go with the ball deep in the Lakers forward line. The Wolves had done enough to wipe away the disappointment of last year’s grand final loss, with a 5.5 (35)-5.4 (34) win. Speaking after the game, the realisation of what they had done was still sinking in for co-coach Ian Allan. “To be honest, we knew that Caroline Springs was really going to give us a tough battle, we wouldn’t want it any other way to be honest,” he said. “We have a good rivalry between each other and it could have gone either way. Credit to our girls they really just grinded away and for the great season they’ve had as well, it’s a really fitting finish for them. “We’re thrilled and over the moon about it, all the hard work that these girls have actually put in. “Now we can really enjoy the moment, that’s for sure.” Allan said the rivalry between the two teams only added to the day. “This has been going on since the youth girls, back to 2016, there’s always a contest that really pushes our girls to become better in themselves, “Last year Caroline Springs got the better of us, this year, our girls’ vision was to work hard if we want to get that premiership, we’re so happy about it.”
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Yarraville Club back on top in senior turf cricket March 29 Yarraville Club is back on top in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division competition. A powerhouse of the competition, the Clubbers have rebuilt their side since their last premiership in 2017-18. Just James Damjanovski remains of that premiership side, while Allister Powell, who was the substitute in the grand final is part of this season’s team. All the hard work of the last few years, rebuilding the side paid off as on Sunday they beat Deer Park in the grand final. Clubbers captain-coach Mitch Johnstone was thrilled for the club. “It’s incredible,” he said. “Our club has come from a long way back. We were seventh a couple of years ago, and fourth last year. “At stages after Christmas, relegation was a possibility. Then to sneak in and then play two
Yarraville Club premiership side.
really good finals, very proud of the cricket club.” Johnstone said in ways they ’pinched’ the flag, with a very different mix to the side. He said he had always been told they were a better two-day side and it came to fruition. “That two-day stuff is our one-wood and that proved to be the case and once the two
days came around, we hit our steps for us to essentially pinch a flag, it is exciting,“ he said. “This group has a really different profile form teams that have won flag previously. Previous teams have had lots of experience, this team has three teenagers, two guys in their early 20s and a 45-year-old. “There has been a massive turnover across the whole club and a very different list, some really good kids coming through underneath. “Here and now we celebrate. The Clubbers took control of the game on day one, bowling the Lions out for 138. Johnstone said they would have taken that any day of the week. “We knew that the wicket would get better as well, which it certainly did,” he said. “Ash Sweet bowled the house down and got us the early breakthroughs and then I was able to apply some pressure and we were able to bowl well in tandem, to keep to 140.” Sweet and Johnstone took four wickets each
for the Clubbers. The Clubbers got through 22 overs on day one unscathed and at 0-71. The Clubbers faltered a bit to loss four quick wickets to give the Lions some hope. Johnstone and Damjanovski managed to steady the side. They got their side across the line, finishing 4-140. Damjanovski top scored with 52 not out, while Johnstone made 32 not out. “James played a really tight and calm knock,” he said. “He certainly likes to take his time James, he is cool in a crisis. Had a hit and miss season but to come good, a testament to him.” Johnstone was named player of the match. For the captain-coach, who has gone so close to premiership success in the past, it was nice to finally win one, in the end comfortably. “Ten years of captain-coaching, 20 years of senior cricket, I’ve been bridesmaid a lot and bombed out in finals,“ he said. “I don’t know what to do now.”
Back-to-back for the Bulldogs March 22
Spotswood’s premiership winning team. (Supplied)
Spotswood wins stunner March 29 More than 12 hours in the field and after 160 overs bowled, Spotswood finally prevailed on the final ball of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west grand final. The Woodsmen and Werribee produced an all time classic in the grand final, which resulted in the Woodsmen winning their first Subbies premiership, in just their second season in the competition. Woodsmen coach Dan Schuppan said it was an unbelievable game of cricket. “I don’t say this lightly as I’ve been around a fair while, I can confidently say this is the best game of cricket I’ve played in. “Twelve hours of play and it comes down to the last ball in a grand final, just wow.” There were plenty of heroes for both sides. The Woodsmen made 6-251 on day one of the match. Ross Horkings made his third century of the season, making 116 after him and Taylor Tatterson put on 102 for the first wicket
partnership. Schuppan said he deserved anything that he got. “I can not speak on his behalf, but I would think he would say that is the best innings of his life. He’s Spotswood through and through and been part of the plan for the last five years. “He deserves everything that comes his way.” Schuppan said they were happy with 251 on the board with the wicket a hard one to get in on. In front of a big crowd on day two, the Tigers were in trouble early on. At 5-118 and behind the run rate, the Tigers had work to do. Shaun Dean showed his class to keep his side in it, before James Freeman and Jonathon Burton came together. They put on 62 for the seventh wicket partnership to take the score past 200. The match came down to the final over. Schuppan had the responsibility of bowling the final over. The Tigers needed 12 runs for
the win. “It was a bit of a mixed bag,” he said. “I thought it was going to be really hard to get 12 off the last over, but all it takes is one hit and credit to Burton who hit a six. “Six off four balls is really achievable.” Horkings would be the hero again for the Woodsmen. The wicketkeeper took a diving catch to dismiss Burton. Schuppan said had that not gone to hand, it would have been game over and the Tigers would have won. It came down to the final ball with the Tigers needing three runs. They could only manage one. Not surprisingly, Horkings was named player of the match. Schuppan said the premiership was special for everyone involved. “Everyone involved at the club has put in a lot of hard work,” he said. “All we wanted was respect in our first year, to get a premiership in our second year is just unfathomable. “Words can’t describe it.”
Footscray United has a habit of making things harder than it should, but it means little now with a Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 2 premiership in its possession. The Bulldogs had to fight hard in their grand final against St Andrews Pascoe Vale on the weekend. For much of the second day of the match, St Andrews looked on track to upset the Bulldogs. But the class shone through late, with the Bulldogs sneaking home. Bulldogs captain-coach Shafraz Mohamed said it was a pretty awesome feeling. “It was a bit of a raffle about the 60 over mark [on Sunday],” he said. “We stopped up and got back to the level we do best and were able to get the job done. “It wouldn’t be us if we didn’t win a close one.” The Bulldogs batted on day one after winning the toss, making 9-248 from their 80 overs. Praveen Warnakulasuriya top scored with 75 in an innings which included nine fours. Mohamed said the pitch played better on day two than they had expected, which benefited St Andrews. At 3-174, St Andrews were in front in the game, probably favourites to get the job done. But once one wicket fell, the momentum shifted. St Andrews were eventually bowled out for 212 in the 74th over. Mohamed said their strong bowling line up stepped up and got them over the line. “I came on from one end and got the two set batsmen out,” he said. “As soon as we got through the two good bats, we knew that it would be game over. We had dropped one of them on zero and he had gone on to make 80. “We just bowled tight and had faith in all our bowlers.” Frank Hoang was awarded player of the match for his 3-25. Mohamed also took three wickets, while Lahiru Kumara took four wickets. “Frankie is a home grown talent,” he said. “It is a great achievement. Daniel Melican got player of the series last year. “To have our home grown talent come on and have a really strong performance it’s not just good for him, but also for the club.”
Wednesday, 10 January, 2024 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 23
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