Star Weekly - Brimbank North West - 30th January 2024 by Star Weekly

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30 JANUARY, 2024

‘Humbled’ by OAM By Hannah Hammoud Nicole Oborne’s upbringing was similar to many children of first-generation immigrants in Australia. Her Maltese-born parents made the move to Australia in the 1970s, where they built their lives on the foundations of hard work and respect. Like many others, their ambition was to offer their children the best life possible in a country that promised opportunities. It was their strong work ethic that held them in good stead - a quality that has clearly been inherited by their daughter Nicole. With an extensive resume servicing both the community and the financial sector, Nicole has been honoured for her contributions and awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

‘‘

To me this isn’t recognition of a personal accomplishment, it’s a sense of community accomplishment

’’

- Nicole Oborne

Nicole has been volunteering as part of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation since 2007. The Mother’s Day Classic raises vital funds for breast cancer and ovarian cancer research and has become a community-driven tradition for thousands of Australian families who want to show their support. As an accountant by trade, Nicole volunteers as a board member on the foundation, bringing with her governance and finance skills to ensure the funds raised are secure and channelled into the right places. “But I also have quite a big passion for the purpose,” she said. “I lost my aunt when I was 12 years old to breast cancer. I’ve always had a desire to contribute in any way possible, and I am able to do that as a director on the board, but have also fundraised personally over $100,000 for breast cancer research.” Nicole said for her, the classic brings with it a sense of purpose to mark the occasion. “Seeing the way people interact with each other, and survivors crossing the finish line with their family and friends is so special,” she said.

Nicole Oborne with her dog Indigo. (Damjan Janevski) 234071_01

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation had to pivot its events to be community focused, rather than hosting the one large run in Melbourne city. “I took it upon myself to host a community event in Caroline Springs, which has been going for three years now. Last year we were able to fundraise $37,000. “Both the community events and the big event have their own purpose. We have over 100 events across Australia on Mother’s Day, but to actually have one in my hometown is something special. Just getting to see the local community put their arms around it has been fantastic and I think it’s something that will be long standing for the community.”

Nicole’s financial expertise has been employed across a number of roles, including as a partner at PwC Australia, as a member of the association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and as the Chairperson for Retirement Savings Centre of Excellence – CPA Australia, among many others. Nicole said that for her, it is a combination of all her roles from the Mother’s Day Classic, to the CPA and PwC that have come together to enable her to have the impact that she has today. “I’m really humbled by the fact that someone has seen the impact I’ve had, and it is something that I don’t necessarily set out to achieve, I just consider it to be the interactions

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I have on a daily basis,” she said. “I consider myself to be a normal resident of the western suburbs. I’ve lived there all my life, I choose to live there and I’m very proud of how the west has evolved. I was educated there, I grew up there, I drive over the Westgate everyday to come into work in the City and I have a sense of pride going home back over the Westgate and knowing I’m surrounded by a community that cares. “To me this isn’t recognition of a personal accomplishment, it’s a sense of community accomplishment.” ■ More Australia Day honours: Page 4.

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Call to beef up police presence By Hannah Hammoud A spate of arrests in relation to a series of home invasions in Brimbank has led one councillor to call for an increased police presence in the area. On January 20, five people were charged with more than 140 offences following a series of home invasions in Melbourne’s west last year. The home invasions were in Albanvale, Keilor Park, Altona Meadows, Sunshine, Braybrook, King Park, Deer Park, Delahey and St Albans. Following an extensive investigation, five men were charged. Three men, aged 18, were each charged with about 30 offences each including multiple counts of aggravated home invasion, burglary, theft of motor car and intentionally causing

injury. Two teens, aged 16 and 17, were charged with more than 45 offences including aggravated home invasion and theft of motor car. Brimbank councillor Virginia Tachos said the recent attacks, coupled with rising crime statistics, has left the community feeling increasingly unsafe. Crime Statistics Agency data revealed criminal offences increased 3.1 per cent in the 12 months to September. “There is a general feeling of people feeling really afraid,” Cr Tachos said. “The crime statistics are up, but police numbers are down and continuing to fall. When I’ve met with residents in Brimbank they tell me that they’re terrified of home invasions and rising youth crime “People are terrified of home invasions,

especially those living on their own and elderly residents. “It feels as if the police presence in Brimbank is almost non-existent. It’s important for community safety that there’s a presence of police - it’s not to say that they aren’t doing their job, just that we don’t feel the presence.” Brimbank recorded 511 more offences in the 12 months to September 2023, compared to the previous 12 months, with a total of 17,103 criminal offences. The suburbs of St Albans (3571 offences) and Sunshine (3013 offences) remain as the top two hot spots respectively for crime in the municipality. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the risk of a home invasion in Brimbank is “incredibly rare” with 27 recorded in the 12 months to

September 2023. “The frequency of home invasions in Brimbank remains stable to pre-pandemic levels,“ they said. “When home invasions do occur, this is most commonly between parties known or intra-criminal disputes. “Brimbank police work around the clock, seven days a week, to target those responsible for committing serious crimes in our community. “We also have a dedicated offender management team who proactively manage known high risk offenders in the area and keep them accountable. “Offenders are likely to target easy to access, unlocked homes, where they can sneak in, and steal car keys and then cars from the property. The community is urged to stay vigilant and to always secure their property, even while home.“

How to stay safe during a heatwave

The 15th annual Saint Side Show and Shine event will take place at Green Gully Reserve in Keilor Downs this year. (Supplied)

Excitement revs up for annual show Keilor Downs is gearing up for the much-anticipated annual Saint Side Show and Shine, set to rev into action on Sunday, February 4. Each year, the event adopts a unique theme, ranging from Lunar New Year, basketball, bowling, vintage drag racing, to last year’s homage to 90s Video Games. Saint Side’s Mark Gale, said this year’s theme revolves around the world of theme parks, promising a day filled with adventure. “We are back and bigger than last year. Hundreds of show bicycles, cool cars in the

parking lot, a place for kids and adults to cruise around in the bike centre, dragster drag race, market stalls, food trucks, raffle giveaways, DJ all day and this year we have a family friendly attraction with the Cars themed Turbo Tubs ride. There is something happening every minute from 12-6pm,” he said. Gale said the annual event is one that can be enjoyed by all ages, young and old. “The bicycles themselves are loved by everyone, and the different styles mean that nostalgic ones restored to 1970s spec take old timers on a trip down memory lane, and then

cool bikes or show bikes are there to wow all patrons from young and old, and quirky creative ones get people talking,” he said. For those planning to attend, early bird tickets are available for $10 each on the Saint Side website, or $16 at the gate. One hundred per cent of the ticket proceeds will be allocated to three different not-for-profit organisations. Parking in the area is free, and the event is dog-friendly (on lead), while kids under 12 enjoy free admission. Details: saintside.com Hannah Hammoud

As Brimbank forges ahead into summer, heatwaves can pose a health risk. A heatwave is defined as three or more very hot days when the day and night temperature is 30 degrees celsius or more. There are many ways to stay cool during extreme heat, such as: • Check the weather forecast to be prepared. • Call or visiting vulnerable family and friends to check if they are okay. • Stay hydrated, carry a full drink bottle, and take small sips frequently (Remember to also give your pets plenty of fresh water to drink) • Plan ahead by cancelling non-essential outings and scheduling essential activities for the coolest part of the day. • Keep your home cool by closing the blinds and curtains. Heatwaves in Brimbank can be particularly severe due to the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’ since the local landscape has less tree coverage and more paved surfaces compared to other parts of greater Melbourne. This makes the need to stay heatwave safe especially important for local residents. To find out what to do in a heatwave emergency, visit brimbank.vic.gov.au/ emergency-information/heatwaveemergencies To check heat alerts, download the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) app or go to www.bom.gov.au or download the VIC Emergency app or go to emergency.vic.gov.au/respond

The west is still the cheapest place to rent despite record increases Melbourne’s west is the cheapest rental market in any Australian city despite jumping 13.1 per cent in the last year, according to a new report from CoreLogic. Median rent in the west Melbourne statistical area, which encapsulates the area from Footscray out to Little River and Bacchus Marsh, has reached an all-time-high of $491 per week. Despite this, the area is the cheapest capital city area to rent in, and the eighth cheapest area in the country. Most of the areas cheaper than the west were in remote west of Queensland, Victoria and NSW and in the north of South Australia.

CoreLogic Research Australia head Eliza Owen said the price jump in the west is due to a cascade effect with people being priced out of more expensive areas due to the wider rental crisis, as well as the area receiving a high portion of overseas migration to Australia. “It is very concerning to see our cheapest rental markets see such high increases… a lot of the areas that were once thought of as affordable, have now lost that affordability status,” she said. “For a lot of people, after the private rental market, that’s it. They start facing housing insecurity, they start facing homelessness.

“And part of that is because in the background of this rental market upswing, we’ve seen a gradual decline in investment in social housing over decades.” The jump reflects nationwide rental market pressure, with 72 out of 88 statistical areas in the current at record-high median prices. The national median rent rose 8.3 per cent, compared to an average annual increase of two per cent in the 2010s. Ms Owen said she expects the rate of increase to slow down with some bumps in supply but not to stop. “We basically need more dwelling supply, particularly in social and affordable housing,

but the supply of dwellings takes time,” she said. “I think you’ll get the demand side response sooner than the completion of adequate dwellings, and that’s going to look like more share-housing, people moving into cheaper areas… or it could mean more people in insecure housing, crashing on couches, experiencing homelessness. “Renters tend to be on lower incomes. So for the lower income households, this is going to be a really testing time, and it’s a stressful time.” Liam McNally

Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 3

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OAM for former mayor, reporter By Jennifer Pittorino Former Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair, who grew up in Sunshine, was among the hundreds of Australians recognised in the Australia Day Honours List. With an extensive resume serving the community through her journalism and time on Hobsons Bay council, Angela was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). Angela was born and raised in the west. Her parents were Maltese immigrants and she spent her adolescence roaming around Sunshine learning to love her community. From a young age Angela knew what her passions were. Her father, “a die hard Labor man” taught her to love politics, and journalism, something she fell into as a young woman and loved.

‘‘

This is very much an award for the people of Hobsons Bay who reelected me that many times

’’

- Angela Altair “As a journo I could happily combine my twin passions, the printed word and politics,” she said. “I would cover local government, little did I know I would later move to the other side of the desk on council.” Angela was elected to council in 1999 saying her entry into local government was something of a “cliche”. “It was really a chance to try and do some good in the community. The thing about local government is it’s a friendlier political area, particularly for young working mums,” she said. With three children in high school at the time, Angela said she could not have spent more than 20 years on council without the support from her family. “My family were incredibly supportive, they let me pursue it, even though it was tough,” she said. “My husband had a very busy job, but it was so fulfilling. I never regretted the moments where I had the chance to fulfil some of my dreams.”

Angela Altair. (Jacob Pattison) 384171_05

Angela was elected mayor for the first time in 2002, then again in 2012 and one last time in 2017 before retiring in 2020. “This is very much an award for the people of Hobsons Bay who reelected me that many times,” she said when asked about how the OAM made her feel. “And also my colleagues on the council who obviously had confidence in making me mayor three times. “I was completely surprised by this. I am very grateful to those who nominated me but I am sure that there’s more deserving people, the real quiet achievers in the community

who probably will never get recognised.” In combining her love for writing and the community, Angela along with Catherine Ryan and Robin Grove, founded the Williamstown Literary Festival in 2003. “This is still going today and of course I am very proud of that,” she said fondly. In her retirement, Angela has still kept ties with her community, keeping an eye on what’s happening in Hobsons Bay. “I have remained a community activist. Of course I do a lot of reading, I play bridge and I do some hiking,” she said. Reflecting on the honour, Angela said she

wished that her parents were still alive to share this success with her. “This award shows what a great country this is,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what colour your skin is, what your race is, everyone has equal opportunity to achieve their best. “In the 1950s, mum and dad came out on a migrant ship with a couple of crates of our worldly belongings, and I know that we’re very proud of what I have achieved. “It’s been a wonderful time and I’ve never regretted a minute of it.”

AM recipient’s journey from patient to professor When Ngaire Elwood was 15 years old, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. Her journey following this diagnosis consisted of 18 months of chemotherapy, missed school, and an amputation. This life-defining challenge proved to be a circular for Ngaire, leading her back to the children’s hospital. Only this time around, she is an Associate Professor, director of the BMDI Cord Blood Bank, and has spent much of her career working on improved therapies for cancer and leukaemia treatment. She is also a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) after she was among those honoured on Australia Day. “The chemotherapy made me very, very unwell, and it’s a pretty blunt tool for treating cancer,” Ngaire said. “Having said that, it obviously saved my life. I was really impressed by all the work that was going on with clinical trials and really throwing everything at trying to cure kids with cancer. “From that time while I was still at school I really decided that that’s the area I wanted to work in long term. “So everything I’ve done throughout my studies, in my career, has really been focused on improving therapies for people undergoing treatment for cancer. “But I guess it’s even extended beyond that now when we’re looking at heart repair and

brain repairs. “We now have better personalised medicines, we’ve got a whole new way of treating cancer in addition to chemotherapy drugs.” The ex-Sunshine High School student has an impressive resume, and has spent time living and working in London and North Carolina, before returning to establish a leukaemia stem cell research group in the children’s cancer centre at the Children’s Hospital. Now working with cord blood- the blood left in the placenta and umbilical cord after birthNgaire has personally overseen the release of more than 500 cord blood units. “There’s up to 80 different types of diseases that cord blood can be used for… [and] we predominantly store cord blood to be used for bone marrow transplant for the treatment of leukaemia and other blood disorders,” Ngaire said. “It’s helped hundreds of patients, not all of them have survived, but there’s been the hope there that a treatment has been offered for those patients and so that’s very personally satisfying. “I also feel really proud of the role I’ve been able to play in defining what the international standards are for cord blood, banking and cord blood use.” When asked to reflect on the moment she found out she would become a Member of the

4 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 January, 2024

Order of Australia (AM), Ngaire was humble in her answer. She spoke about how the support from many can help lift people up to achieve great things. “There’s been a lot of help in my career along the way. “I missed a lot of schooling when I was having chemotherapy, but my teachers were just fantastic. “In those days, I was at Sunshine High School, my teachers were just really great with helping me catch up. “After I finished my chemotherapy and did my schooling, I was fortunate to obtain a government rehabilitation allowance which allowed me to go to university. Then I got a Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholarship to go to London to do my masters. “All these programmes and all this support of early career people and women in STEM and so on, I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to benefit from that. “I feel very honoured that the accumulation of all the work that I’ve done and what you know what I’ve striven to do has been recognised and had impact. “It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the support of my family both my parents… [and] my husband.” Zoe Moffatt

Order of Australia recipient Ngaire Elwood. (Supplied)

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Changes to bus services

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From January 29, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) will introduce new timetables for several bus routes, including route 400 which services Sunshine and Laverton station via Robinsons Road, route 410 which connects Sunshine station-Footscray via Ballarat Road, the 420 bus which connects Sunshine and Watergardens stations via Deer Park and route 422 which connects Sunshine station and Brimbank Central shopping centre via Deer Park. In addition, from January 30, the Caroline Springs – Deer Park V/Line shuttle service will no longer run. Details: ptv.vic.gov.au, the PTV app or 1800 800 007.

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Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic welcome 180 new Australians into the Brimbank community. (Supplied)

New Aussies welcomed

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Brimbank council kicked off the new year with its first citizenship ceremony for 2024 at the St Albans Community Centre on January 23. The ceremony marked the official welcoming of 180 residents into the Australian fold, hailing from 34 countries that included Vietnam, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Malta, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, and the United Kingdom. The diverse group spanned across all age groups, ranging from those in their eighties to toddlers taking their first steps in the Brimbank community. Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic presided over the ceremony, and led the Australian

Citizenship Affirmation. Following the granting of citizenship, ceremonies usually include the affirmation, which allows everyone present to publicly express their loyalty to Australia, similar to the pledge of new citizens. Also in attendance was Fraser MP Dr Daniel Mulino who read the minister’s message, alongside St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman who took the chance to extended a warm welcome to the new residents. The ceremony served as celebration of Brimbank’s diverse character, with each of the 180 new citizens pledging their commitment to the nation.

Locals aged between 16-25 and looking for pathways to education and employment are invited to sign up for the next Linked In Real Life session. Linked In Real Life is a program designed for young people aged between 16-25 to forge a pathway towards their education and employment. It is an opportunity to network with peers, gain skills and hear from industry leaders. Details: https://brimbankyouth.com/programs/ linkedirl/

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Council cuts mowing backlog By Hannah Hammoud Brimbank council has warned residents that it is working hard to catch up on delays to its lawn mowing schedules, citing unusually fast grass growth. The council said recent weather, with bouts of wet weather followed by warm intervals, has created challenges in managing parks and open spaces across Melbourne. “Across Brimbank it has wrought havoc on our normal mowing, gardening and planting programs,” council said in a post to Facebook.

“The unusually fast grass growth is keeping our teams busy and, while we may not have cut the grass in your area within our normal four-week cycle, please be assured we will get to you as soon as we can. “Our teams are working hard to catch up with the mowing schedules as we do our best to address this situation promptly.” Some residents have voiced their concerns regarding the high-risk of snakes in the overgrown grass. Star Weekly spoke with resident Darrell Dorgan who said his local park in Taylors Lakes has only just recently been mowed after

‘‘

My wife is scared to take the grandkids out to the park because of snakes

’’

- Darrell Dorgan more than four weeks of no maintenance. “There is a playground in the park that we take our grandchildren to. Last year council didn’t cut the park before Christmas which to me is outrageous,” Mr Dorgan said. “Playground and park maintenance should

84-year-old Brimbank resident, Kusuma Gunarathe.

More school bus services for the west

(Damjan Janevski) 384831_03

Campaign to combat ageism Brimbank council is taking part in a pilot campaign to help tackle the issue of ageism. The #OldisBeautiful project began with a workshop for older residents to explore ageism and what beautiful means to them. During the next few weeks, locals will see photographic portraits of older residents and their statements from the workshop on posters at council libraries and community centres and on social media as part of the initiative. One of those portraits features the face of 84-year-old Brimbank resident, Kusuma Gunarathe. For Kusuma, the idea of ‘beautiful’ is something that comes from within. “Happiness is the most important thing in life. You need a healthy mind and a healthy body. When you are happy on the inside your face becomes very beautiful, your body is relaxed… you can be beautiful at any age,” she

be a priority in the lead up to school holidays. “My wife is scared to take the grandkids out to the park because of snakes. There have been a lot of snake reports this year. I understand the ground has been too wet to mow, but it would be good if council took a whipper snipper to at least cut the walkways.” The council encouraged residents who come across anything hazardous in the parks, to report it to the council Customer Service team. However, for specific mowing requests, the council said the team is working to get to them as soon as they are able.

said. Kusuma said the best piece of advice she can offer on growing old is simply learning to let go. “When you don’t have any worries then your mind is relaxed, and your face then reflects your inner beauty. When you have beautiful thoughts your words become beautiful and so on,” she said. The #OldisBeautiful project is an initiative of Celebrate Ageing, a charity combating ageism and building respect for older people. Pilot coordinator and director of Celebrate Ageing Dr Catherine Barrett said the decision to include Brimbank in the pilot workshops is in part due to the wonderfully diverse’ nature of the municipality. “The project creates an uplifting space for older people to build a positive self-image by exploring what beautiful means to them. We call this ‘hair and make up for the soul’ because

you can feel people’s spirits lift as we reclaim beautiful for all ages – and that influences what they take to the photo shoot,” she said. The Victorian pilot is a partnership with Elder Rights Advocacy, an organisation promoting the human rights of older Victorians, who recognise the role of the campaign in primary prevention of elder abuse. Elder Rights Advocacy chief executive Debra Nicholl said project challenges the messages sent by the fashion and beauty industry that, “we are less beautiful and of less value as we age.” “This is an innovative approach to of building the confidence of older people – and educating the community about valuing older people and valuing our own ageing. These are important steps in primary prevention of elder abuse,” she said. Details: celebrateageing.com/beautiful.

The state government is rolling out new bus services in Melbourne’s west for the school year to support the surging number of students in growth corridors. Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams announced the $25 million investment from the state budget to introduce, modify and extend school bus services across the state on January 24. “Through Victoria’s Bus Plan we’re delivering a modern bus network that encourages more people to take the bus,” she said last week when making the announcement. In Melbourne’s west, students at Springside West Secondary College in Fraser Rise will benefit from an extra Aintree -Springside West Secondary College service, while the new Yarrabing Secondary College in Aintree will receive a return service for students living in Thornhill Park and Rockbank. Six new dedicated services will support the new Bemin Secondary College in Truganina, linking students based in Williams Landing, Truganina and Hoppers Crossing. The start of term one also includes a new morning and afternoon service introduced for students from South Werribee and Wyndham Vale attending Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College in Werribee and another new school opening its doors in 2024. There will also be new services in Greenvale West and Meadow Heights. The extra services will be introduced from the first day of term one on Tuesday, January 30.

Brimbank social housing boost for women at risk of homelessness A new multi-million dollar social housing complex has been officially opened in St Albans to help more women at risk of homelessness. Housing Minister Harriet Shing visited the St Albans site on January 24, to officially open the new $23.6 million social housing complex which will provide stable and long-term housing for women most in need. Once the site of a single three-bedroom home, the redeveloped site now features 53 one, two and three-bedroom homes which will host up to 100 people, including First

Nations women and women fleeing family violence. The new homes are designed to meet the liveable housing design guidelines and each achieve a minimum seven-star energy rating to help residents reduce power consumption and save on bills. St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said, “there’s nothing more important than making sure everyone has a home, so it’s wonderful to be able to deliver housing for women who need it most, right here in St Albans.” The homes will be owned and managed

by Women’s Housing Limited, a community housing agency specialising in providing housing and services to vulnerable women. During construction, the homes helped create more than 210 jobs and are conveniently located near social services such as schools, hospitals and public transport. Meanwhile, Housing Minister Harriet Shing also paid a visit to the ARKit warehouse in Sunshine on January 24, where 25 new modular social homes for regional Victorians are being built in partnership with Haven Home Safe.

Once completed, the homes will be transported to Horsham to house up to 47 people on the Victorian Housing Register. The homes will be modern, energy-efficient, and include heat pump hot water services to make them cheaper to cool in summer and heat in winter. “Through innovative construction models – including modular housing – we’re addressing Victoria’s housing needs quickly and efficiently, while providing jobs across the state to assemble and install the homes,“ said Minister Shing.

Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 9

SECTION STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

30 January 2024

Mayor’s message Cr Kathy Majdlik

STAY INFORMED

Our city is blessed with a generous supply of land that can be used to create local jobs and boost economic growth for our residents.

Quickly and easily connect with us online: melton.vic.gov.au facebook.com/cityofmelton Instagram @cityofmeltonofficial

To make the most of that commercial and industrial land and help meet the future demands of the city we call home, Council has drafted a long-term strategic vision to use and develop the land. Key initiatives from the Melton Employment and Industrial Land Strategy include identifying an economic corridor along the Western Freeway that will support existing and future industrial and employment precincts and activity centres. There is also a municipality-wide framework of employment land use and precinct plans that will guide the future use of employment land. We want your input on the strategy. This is an opportunity for investors, businesses and residents to have a say on a plan designed to drive employment and economic growth that can keep pace with our rapidly growing community.

Help to plan your road trips As Australia’s fastest growing municipality, Melton City Council needs to deliver new roads and upgrades to reduce congestion and boost safety for all road users.

We have a map that shows you where you may experience delays due to planned works or bad weather. You can also see closed or recently reopened roads on the map.

This requires the partial or temporary closure of roads. Please note, every effort is made to reduce the impacts these works have on our community.

Plan your travel around our city at melton.vic.gov.au/roadworks

Lakeside alive is back Grab your family and friends and enjoy roving performers, great live music and delicious food at Lake Caroline. Lakeside Alive returns, weather permitting, on 10 February from 12pm to 8.30pm and is the perfect way to spend a Saturday. Other highlights include a special Puppy Pit Stop for your pooch, free arts and crafts activities and face painting for the kids, and an African Drumming Space.

To have your say visit conversations.melton.vic.gov.au/ MEILS

To find out more, visit melton.vic.gov.au/lakesidealive

Lakeside Alive is one of our community’s most popular festivals and it’s back on Saturday 10 February. Grab your family and friends and enjoy this free, fun-filled day around Lake Caroline.

Watts Ward with Cr Lara Carli

It was fantastic to see nearly 1,200 residents from our amazing community sworn in as new Australians on Thursday 25 January and Friday 26 January at three citizenship ceremonies across the municipality during the Australia Day celebrations. You’re welcome to contact me regarding Council matters at Kathy.majdlik@melton.vic.gov.au or on 0412 584 058.

Firstly, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy New Year. There’s lots going on in Watts Ward now, not least of which is the duplication of Hume Drive between Gourlay Road and Calder Park Drive. This much-needed project will increase the existing two lanes to four lanes and add a new road median that will improve traffic flow and enhance safety. The project includes works to widen and realign the road, construction of shared paths and footpath links, installation of new public lighting, and new landscaping.

Naturally, works of this scale will have an impact on pedestrian access, speed limits and traffic in the area, so I encourage everyone who travels along Hume Drive to visit conversations.melton.vic.gov.au/ humedrive for full updates, so you can plan your journey in advance. Lake Caroline will come to life on Saturday 10 February as we once again bring you Lakeside Alive. This family-friendly, fun-filled day features something for everyone; from a Puppy Pit Stop, featuring Puppy Portrait caricature artist, Anthony Pascoe, to an exciting African Drumming Space.

Atherstone Traffic School Kids in the City of Melton have the green light to use Atherstone Traffic School any day of the week – and it’s free. The traffic school is now a public park, so grab your helmet and bike or scooter and give it a go. Children are never too young to learn road safety skills that can reduce the risk of serious injury. The park has intersections and signs that mimic real traffic experiences and is a fun place for children to develop road awareness and gain confidence on bicycles and scooters. The traffic school is at 266 Bridge Road, Strathtulloh.

Our Kiddie Korner will keep little ones happy with face painting, craft activities, and giant bubbles; while roving performers and food trucks are perfect for the grown-ups. There will be a car show and fireworks (weather permitting) and a mainstage featuring great live music. Visit melton.vic.gov.au/lakesidealive for all event day details. Feel free to contact me about Watts Ward or Council related issues on 0409 951 020 or email at: lara.carli@melton.vic.gov.au or visit my Facebook page at: facebook. com/Cr.LaraCarli

Your Councillors – Visit melton.vic.gov.au/councillors to find your ward Councillors and their contact details

Mayor Cr Kathy Majdlik

Deputy Mayor Cr Steve Abboushi

Cr Lara Carli

Cr Justine Farrugia

Cr Goran Kesic

Cr Sophie Ramsey

Cr Julie Shannon

Cr Bob Turner

Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg

A vibrant, safe and liveable City accessible to all 12659482-JB05-24

10 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 January, 2024

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

St John mission to save lives In the 3021 postcode suburbs of St Albans, Kealba, Kings Park, Albanvale, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) claims more lives than in that of any other postcode in Victoria. Many locals in Brimbank suffer from heart issues, making residents more likely than others in greater Melbourne to experience sudden cardiac arrest. ‘From July 2017 to June 2022, the 3021 postcode recorded 285 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the highest in the state. The statistics are frightening, but St John Ambulance is on a mission to make 3021 the safest postcode to have a sudden cardiac arrest. The Defib in Your Street project set out to save hundreds of lives each year and has now reached an important milestone at mid-way through the one-year project. The project, operating in the 3021 postcode, aims to raise survival rates by strategically placing defibrillators, ensuring no resident is more than 400 metres away from a defibrillator and trained community members. Sudden cardiac arrest claims more than 30,000 lives annually in Australia, with survival rates dwindling in recent years. St John Ambulance reports that out of the more than 7000 Victorians who suffered a SCA last year, only 4.9 per cent survived. One local who has taken up the offer to become a defibrillator host is Kanwaldeep Singh. A decision he made after experiencing his own SCA scare. “One day [I] suddenly experienced unbearable pain in my chest to the right side

while I was at work,” he said. “Luckily the staff rang triple-0, then paramedics arrived [and] performed CPR and [I] went for testing in the hospital and found out that I was at dangerous levels of cholesterol. “If I was alone at home that day which I was initially thinking because I was not well then, I would have passed away without anyone knowing what had happened to me. Then it flicked into my mind that I should [get] this device and install it outside of my house… so I can save someone’s life.” St John Ambulance reports SCA’s occur most often at home (79 per cent), meaning it is vital that all community members are ready to assist someone before an ambulance arrives. This Australia-first program makes Brimbank the most concentrated area for the number of public defibrillators, while 5000 residents are trained in CPR. Beforehand, the 3021 postcode did not have access to a single defibrillator that was available all hours of the day or night. So far, St John Ambulance has trained more than 4000 local residents in free CPR and have installed 17 defibrillators. As part of the program, St John is providing all residents of Brimbank the opportunity to participate in a free CPR class. Details: defibinyourstreet.org.au or 0484 926 027.

Proud defib host, Kanwaldeep Singh. (Supplied)

Have Your Say Draft Melton Employment and Industrial Land Strategy

There will be something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s Keilor Gift Carnival. (Supplied)

The draft Melton Employment and Industrial Land Strategy sets a strategic vision, directions and a framework to guide the long-term use and development of industrial and commercial land in the City of Melton. This is essential for supporting Melton’s ongoing population growth, fostering local employment and driving economic development. Council invites feedback on the draft Strategy until Thursday 29 February, 2024.

“It’s a great community event, and we normally see lots of families out there enjoying themselves,” he said. “Anybody who’s interested in having a good day, or enjoys athletics is welcome to come down. Focusing on fostering community spirit, Kelly said the gift is all about bringing the community together for a good time. “Locals come and continue to enjoy the day every year. It is one of the longest, if not the longest running community events in Brimbank,” he said. “We can usually expect up to 3000 people to come down on the day. Family tickets are priced at $20 and can be purchased at the gate on the day of the event.

Scan the code to find out more or you can call the the City Strategy Team on 9747 7200 or visit us at the Civic Centre, 232 High Street Melton

A vibrant, safe and liveable City accessible to all

12665765-SN05-24

Keilor Gift Carnival sprints into 2024 The Keilor Gift carnival is warming up for an exciting day of community fun as it races towards its return for the new year. Locals are being encouraged to mark their calendars for Saturday, February 17, when the festivities will kick off at 2pm and continue until 9.30pm at Joe Brown Oval, Keilor. Committee chairperson Hayden Kelly shared some of the highlights of the event. “On the day we will have running athletics for kids and adults,” he said. “There is also a carnival and rolling entertainment for kids to enjoy and the day will finish with a fireworks display. Dating back to 1939, Kelly said the gift has become a cherished tradition for the Keilor Village community.

Melton Council’s draft Employment and Industrial Land Strategy is out for comment

Hannah Hammoud Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 11

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Annual Show Off Locals are invited to enjoy the 15th annual Show Off, a bicycle and car show in conjunction with the Brimbank Bicycle Education centre to provide a family day out, and also promote bicycling, upcycling bicycles and bike maintenance, with music by DJ Rod G, food and entertainment. The event will take place on February 4, from noon-6pm at the Bicycle Education Centre, 7 Clubhouse Place, Keilor Downs. ■ https://www.saintside.com/

Learn to Relax IPC Health is inviting locals to attend a free six-week program offering an introduction into different aspects of relaxation. Learn to Relax provides free support for people aged 18 and who are interested in learning how to relax and ways to effectively manage their stress. Location is IPC Health Deer Park, 106 Station Road, Deer Park 3023, 1-2pm, every Thursday from February 15, to March 21. Registration is essential. ■ livingwell@ipchealth.com.au or 1300 472 432 and ask to speak to the Living Well team.

Keilor Gift Carnival The Keilor Gift Carnival runs on February 17, at Joe Brown Oval from 2-9.30pm. Join for athletics, men’s and ladies woodchopping, children’s races, carnival rides, food and drink with fireworks to finish the day. Family ticket $15. ■ 0418 350 857, or Hkelly546@outlook.com

This weeks photographer’s choice picture is of Broadmeadows auctioneer, Martin Evans. (Damjan Janevski) 384484_01

Paper Stories collage workshops Paper stories encourages and inspires community members to create new stories by weaving together existing images from books and magazines. Participants will be guided through collage techniques by Augustine, a collage artist and masters of therapeutic arts student. Suitable for people of all ages, and anyone who has an interest in exploring art making through paper. The workshop is free and will run on February 24, from 1.30-4.30pm at the Sunshine Library. Registration is required. ■ https://shorturl.at/gBU28

Homework club volunteers wanted The Kororoit Creek Neighbourhood House is on the lookout for volunteers to join its homework club. Do you have a passion for helping kids learn and build confidence? The team are looking for volunteers who can read with students, help with their homework and run games or activities. Classes run every Tuesday from 3.15-5pm during the school term at Albion Primary School. ■ homeworkclub@kcnh.org.au, or 0408 797 776

to meet others in the community and share your skills while helping fix broken household items. ■ sunshinerepaircafe@kcnh.org.au, or 0413 434 082

Al-Anon Family Groups Al-Anon Family Groups is offering help and hope to anyone living in an unhappy home because a loved one drinks too much. There are no contracts to sign, just a voluntary donation to cover room rental. Confidentiality is protected. Confidential meetings held at the Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre (rear of library) every Wednesday from 1-2:30pm. New members welcome. No appointment necessary.

Annual membership: $10. Cost: $1 entry on attendance day. ■ Roma, 0435 991 064

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

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

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

Sunrise Social Groups GenWest Sunrise Social Groups are currently seeking new members for their Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham programs. The free groups are organised by Genwest and provide a social space for women, gender diverse and nonbinary people, who have a disability, chronic health issues and/ or mental health challenges. ■ https://genwest.org.au/what-we-do/ health-wellbeing-programs/

Girl Guides

Deer Park Lions Club

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

Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. ■ Michael, 0417 307 572

Card games

Sunshine Community Brass

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

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

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

St Albans senior citizens

Chatty Cafe Melton

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

Are you feeling lonely, isolated or just wanting to make some new friends? If so, Chatty Cafe is for you. The group meets on Friday mornings at 10am for delicious free

Sunshine Repair Cafe Do you enjoy fixing things or have skills in mending clothing and textiles? Kororoit Neighbourhood House is looking for volunteer repairers for the newly launched Repair Cafe in Brimbank. Events happen once a month and are an opportunity

coffee from Latin foods and wines at 10 Wallace Square, Melton. ■ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/352071857283331

Seniors lunch

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

Melton Bridge Club The Melton Bridge Club has weekly social bridge sessions at the Melton Library on Fridays from 10am-noon. Come along to play an exciting, social card game and have loads of fun. Bridge offers the suspense of poker, the cerebral qualities of chess and the excitement of athletic sports, all in a relaxed and social setting. If you like playing cards this is for you. ■ Rosemary, 0407 894 817

Melton Friendship Group. Join the Melton Friendship Group for singles 55 and older. Meet fortnightly for coffee and chat nights and organised affordable outings and events. ■ 0406 493 734

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club

12 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 January, 2024

The Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10am at Melton Country Club. New members welcome. ■ Ann, 0425 705 150

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 170

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

easy

3 6 7 9 2 5 6 7

9 6

2 4 5 7 6 2 3

3 5

7 9

DOWN

Heavenly girdle (6) Ancient Irish language (6) 'Not on your –' (5) Grant (9) Belonging to a thing by its very nature (9) Whinny (5) Concurred (6) Border (4) Give for temporary use (4) Designate (6) Fish (5) Midwestern US city (9) Device used to increase volume (9) Wild dog (5) Sibling (6) Interfere (6)

1 4 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 24 25 27 28 29 30

No. 170

Semi-autonomous region of Tanzania (8) Tardy (8) Whenever (7) Better (7) Boy’s name (6) People of the Czech Republic (6) Video storage discs (abbr) (4) Candied citrus peel (7) Waitress who serves drinks (7) Revulsed (8) African deer (8) Network of crossed strips (7) Wrap a baby tightly (7) Takes by theft (6) Body (Lat) (6) Fat (4)

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 26

4 5

3 7 4

DECODER

No. 170

6 3 1 5

2 6 7

6 1

8 6

8 2

1 8 5 hard

10 11 12 13

N Y 22

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

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

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

30 words: Very good

S V

HEEDS HELPS INANE IRATE LASER LOATH MAXIM NOTED PERIL PROVE RAVEL REAMS REGAL RESET SABRE SASSY SEEDS SIDES SLEWS SNOBS SONES

QUICK QUIZ

1 What is the softest rock mineral?

3 What is the name of Sam Smith’s 2023 studio album?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

4 Who is the premier of Western Australia?

C H E

P L I T E A C E A T I N

S P L

ADAGE ADEPT ADORE AGAIN ALONE AORTA ARISE BABES CRANE DIETS DITTO DOTES EATEN EAVES EDGES ERATO ERROR EVADE EXTRA GENUS GROSS

2 Is the Nile river northflowing or south-flowing?

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

No. 170

H E R E

6 2 / ' , ( 5

SPEAR TENET TORSO TRACE TRIOS WADED WELTS

7 LETTERS DENSEST EARBASH LEERIER NEEDING RUMMAGE SOLDIER

6 LETTERS EBBING OBSESS RESALE SENILE

8 LETTERS DISASTER ENTITLES REPAIRED SILVERED

02-02-24

No. 170

airs, also, lours, lousy, oils, rails, rays, rivals, roils, rosily, rosy, sail, sailor, salvo, salvor, sari, saviour, savour, savoury, savoy, silo, slay, slur, soar, soil, sola, solar, soli, soul, sour, sourly, soya, surly, various, VARIOUSLY, virus, visa, visor, visual, yours

T C

Today’s Aim: 20 words: Good

4 LETTERS ACHE ARCS CESS DEBT HATS INTO LAPS LAWS MASS MELT SECT URNS UTES WETS 5 LETTERS ABETS

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

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”.

40 words: Excellent

hard

9-LETTER WORD

medium

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

1 5 4 7

easy

5x5

3 LETTERS ADS ALE ATE BAR CAP CUB DEN DEW EEL EGO ERA EVE EYE IDS IOU MRS NOR ODE PUN ROE SUE TEA TOP TOT

L WI U G Z PM J K C HX

6 2

F D B A S OQ T V R E N Y

8 1

1 3

6 9

1 7 8 3

WORDFIT

5 Is a feather star a type of calligraphy pen, a marine animal or an astrology term? 6 Ljubljana is the capital of which country?

7 Sam Heughan (pictured) is best known for his main role in which drama series? 8 What is an exonym? 9 True or false: nail polish was invented as early as 3000 BC? 10 Which animal is the closest living relative to the koala? ANSWERS: 1. Talc 2. North-flowing 3. Gloria 4. Roger Cook 5. A marine animal 6. Slovenia 7. Outlander 8. An established, non-native name for a geographical place or group 9. True 10. Wombat

medium

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Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 13

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. Who is the captain of the West Indies test cricket team? 2. Which team won the inaugural NRL premiership in 1998? 3. Who was Australia’s second-highest ranked male tennis player at the beginning of the 2024 Australian Open, following Alex de Minaur?

4. The first turn of Mount Panorama Circuit, home of the Bathurst 1000, has what imposing nickname?

12. True or false: National Hockey League players were not allowed to play in the Olympics until 1988?

5. What colour shirt does Tiger Woods famously prefer to wear in the final round of a golf tournament?

13. How many players are in a handball team?

6. Which water-based sport is known as Octopush in the UK?

15. Abbey Holmes played for which AFL team?

7. Ji Wallace became the first and only Australian to ever win an Olympic gymnastics medal at the Sydney 2000 Games, when he claimed a silver medal in which event? 8. In which month will this year’s Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series begin?

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14. Who is the captain of the Matildas?

16. The Los Angeles Rams last won the Super Bowl in which year?

28. How many kilometres is a marathon run over?

23. Welshman Stephen Williams recently won what Australian cycling race?

17. Which country won the Asian Cup in 2014? 18. How many points is a goal worth in Gaelic football?

24. Who won the ‘player of the match’ award in the first test between Australia and the West Indies?

19. Out of which city do The Wizards play basketball?

25. Which US city will host 2024's NFL Super Bowl LVIII?

9. Similar in style to polo, what is the national sport of Afghanistan?

20. The 2023 film The Boys in the Boat revolves around which sport?

10. Two-seam, fosh and screwball are all examples of what?

21. The Diamonds represent Australia in which sport?

11. Which NBL team plays out of the WIN Entertainment Centre?

Alex de Minaur

22. Which Australian Olympic champion swimmer recently announced his retirement at age 27?

29. Which Australian city has recently submitted a bid to Cricket Australia for a new Big Bash League franchise? 30. Which sport do the Canberra Cavalry play?

26. Which city were the Los Angeles Lakers based in before moving to their current home? 27. The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games were held in which country?

0202

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Honda sneaks in hybrid SUV

The new CR-V e:HEV RS brings fuel economy to the Honda flagship. (Pictures: Supplied)

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring Honda has electrified its most popular vehicle. And who would know? One of the world’s biggest makers of internal combustion engines has been very quiet about the coming of the CR-V e:HEV RS. The Honda CR-V has long been an SUV staple for families around the world. Some 13.5 million units have been sold globally since the nameplate launched back in 1997. Two decades on, in its sixth generation, it is still the brand’s top-selling model in Australia. A late-comer to the petrol/electric generation in Australia, the five-seater e:HEV RS features a two-litre direct injection engine mated with a two-motor hybrid system putting out a combined 152 kW of power and 335 Nm of torque via an electronic Continuously Variable Transmission to the front wheels. Honda says e:HEV RS, elevates the CR-V with a dynamic edge. Its sporty appeal is amplified by body-coloured lower bumper and wheel arch trims, while piano black accents on mirror covers rear spoiler, B and C-pillar trims further enhance its sophistication. Inside, red stitching accents across the cabin, coupled with a distinctive black headliner, creates an ambiance of exclusivity and style. Surprisingly, with running-cost economy to the fore – a key step in Honda’s electrification strategy to realise carbon neutrality for all Honda products and corporate activities by 2050 - the hybrid system is limited to the flagship (most expensive) model. Some compensation comes with the RS coming well equipped compared to the rest of the range. Talking of cost, Honda Australia has adopted an agency sales model with fixed pricing that eliminates purchase-price haggling and shopping around, something Honda says it has received positive customer feedback on. The 2024 Honda CR-V range straddles $44,500 to $59,900 drive-away. The latter – the flagship Honda CR-V e:HEV RS hybrid – was on test. The SUV comes under Honda’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with 24/7 roadside assist. Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000 kilometres and capped.

Styling A more powerful, sporty silhouette is achieved by pulling the front pillars back, increasing both the nose length and the wheelbase adding to the overall length. The ‘nose job’, however, seems a bit over the top but the maker says it provides functional contributions including visibility and aerodynamic performance. VTi LX and e:HEV RS get Honda hallmark Berlina Black 19-inch five-circle spoke alloys, over the standard 17 or 18s, for added sporty flair.

Interior Honda says the interior of the all-new CR-V has more cabin and cargo space with seating to suit ‘a broader range of customer lifestyles’ (fatter folk). Lateral support is the loss here, together with flatter and firmer seating. On the upside, all CR-V models now come with rear seat sliders, allowing 190 mm of movement forwards and backwards. This makes children easier to manoeuvre into position, or fit longer items in the cargo area. Rear seat reclining offers 16 positions with an additional reclining angle of 10.5 degrees, helping prevent rear passengers from getting fatigued on long drives. Access to the 589 litres of boot space comes via a power tailgate operated from an external switch. Fold the 60/40 seat backs and 1636 litres becomes available.

Infotainment Focus is on a digital instrument display, nine-inch touchscreen audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, plus front and rear illuminated USB charging ports for the driver and passengers.

Engine and transmission The all-new CR-V features a new more powerful two-motor hybrid system, mated with Honda’s 2.0-litre direct injection Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine. The motors are now mounted side-by-side rather than in-line with the engine crankshaft as in previous generations. The all-new E-CVT motor spins at 14,500 rpm and produces 135 kW peak power with 335 Nm of torque. The generator motor, which

16 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 January, 2024

spins at 17,000 rpm, puts out 120 kW, and is dedicated to charging the battery pack. The system’s combined output is 152 kW.

Safety The all-new CR-V maintains its position as a leader in active and passive safety technology, including improved Honda Sensing driver-assistance technology with a new front camera and radar system. An updated Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure is designed to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front, side, and rear of the vehicle. The CR-V gets 11 airbags all up, including a centre airbag to prevent front seat occupants’ heads from crashing.

Driving There is no argument with the treatment of the driver when it comes to getting behind the wheel of the CR-V e:HEV RS. The front of the cabin has been designed with the driver front and centre, by improving the range of vision and adjusting how objects are viewed in the driver’s frame. Bonnet character lines run along the top of the inner sides of the front tyres, to enable the driver to easily discover the tyre positions. The A-pillar inner surfaces have been designed to run parallel to the direction of travel so the driver’s line of sight is drawn to this. To further improve forward vision when turning, side mirrors have been moved to create a wider gap between the mirror and the front side corner garnish. Under way, the car is no ‘bitumen burner’ but is programmed to get the best out of the petrol/electric hybrid combination. There is little obvious switch in systems, which includes the CVT. Cabin noise is far from intrusive and a 12-speaker Bose sound system makes the best of cabin architecture. Honda claims the hybrid CR-V returns 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres of fuel in the combined urban/highway, which turned out to be spot on for the test car in real time. A bonus is the requirement of 91RON petrol. The e:HEV is equipped with a toggle Drive Mode selector, which switches between

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Honda CR-V VTi X $44,500 Honda CR-V VTi L $48,800 Honda CR-V Ti X7 $46,800 Honda CR-V Ti L7 $53,000 Honda CR-V VTi L AWD $51,300 Honda CR-V LX AWD $57,000 Honda CR-V e:HEV RS $59,900 SPECIFICATIONS Honda CR-V e:HEV RS 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol, 2-motor hybrid, CVT automatic, FWD

Note: These prices are drive-away.

Economy, through Normal to Sport, the last chipping in with Active Sound Control to match the sporty characteristics.

Summary Honda has produced a winner with the CR-V e:HEV RS, taking out the Car of the Year award of a prominent Australian print and online media member for 2023, so it has the hand of experts at its back.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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Saints continuing to build under coach McGuffie St Albans Saints are hoping to build in Ryan McGuffie’s second season in charge in the National Premier League. McGuffie, a former star player at the club, made the transition into a senior coaching role last season. The Saints managed to finish 11th on the ladder, with six wins from their 26 games. Football operations manager Jason Xerri said things had gone nicely in the pre-season so far. “We’re in the deep end of the pre-season and the squad is shaping up quite well,” he said. “We have almost finalised the squad. “We have one or two more players to confirm to settle the squad. We’re giving five players from last year’s under-23 team a chance and we’ve retained some players from last year.” Xerri said they would have a real mix of youth and experience this season and believed they had the right balance on the park. He said it was exciting to have so many young players step up into the senior team. “It’s an exciting transition,” he said. “It’s nice to have some new blood. They’ve worked hard and four of the five have played most of their football at the club,

since they were seven and now into the senior ranks. “It’s a testament to them and the pathway.” Joining the young players stepping up in the senior squad, is a number of recruits. James Riccobene joins the club from powerhouse, Avondale, while Max King comes down from Queensland. Striker import Scott Bakkor and Alan Gerez from Green Gully have also joined the club. Josh Divin is an exciting prospect who has crossed from Western United, while Nick Mori comes from the Bendigo Soccer League. Joseph Colina, captain Michael Grgic, James Kapuranovski are among the players who are returning. “We’ve retained a bit of the list,” he said. “There’s a nice even balance and the boys have worked hard in the pre-season on the game plan and contingences for the new season. “There’s some new faces in the coaching staff, so they’re adding stuff as well and bringing fresh ideas to the table.” Xerri said McGuffie would benefit from having a year in the coaching chair. In the appointment of his reappointment, “We will be focusing on improving in all

Ryan McGuffie. (St Albans Saints)

aspects during these matches, ahead of next month’s kick-off of the NPL Victoria season.” “It was his first year last year and he did a great job considering it was his first season as senior coach,” Xerri said.

“He transitioned well from being a player.” The Saints open their season on February 10 on the road against Port Melbourne. Tara Murray

Eagles still in hunt for finals

Caroline Springs George Cross. (Mark Avellino)

Georgies ready to play By Harper Sercombe Caroline Springs George Cross is hoping to make it three in a row as it begins to wind up for the Victorian Premier League 1 season. The club has been promoted rapidly over the last three years, from state league 1 in 2021, to the tier of soccer below the top flight National Premier League for the upcoming season. While the bar, stakes and challenges are set to rise again when the club takes to the pitch on February 10, coach Eric Vassiliadis said he is ready to go. “I’m looking forward to what’s going to be another challenging season, coming off a couple of really successful ones,” he said. “But this is now one step further, there’s definitely been some changes to the squad so we’re working really hard in the preseason to embed some of the new boys we’ve signed but also to think about readjusting what we have to do to make sure we’re successful this year. “I think it’s important that we continue to

reflect on the things that we’ve done well and bring more of those and the things that have caused us harm or risk to try and continue to reduce those things. “But importantly we’ve had a core group of players that have been together for some time, so I think they’re well and truly on board, it’s just about making sure that we bring some freshness, some new ideas, some new energy into the group on and off the park, that includes coaching staff and players. “That’s been the focus, to try and refresh the squad a little bit, continue to build some hunger but making sure that we’re not really going to change our DNA too much.” Some of the players that Vassiliadis is excited to see in the red and white stripes include Nikola Jurkovic, Liam O’Connel, Russ Currie and Ko Sawada. He said there are more players that the club are talking to that could be in the squad by the time match day one rolls around. “There’s definitely some really experienced high quality players that have come in,” he said.

“But I also think through this pre-season we’ve really unearthed some good young talent that’s played a big role through the pre-season. “That being said we definitely want to make sure we’re still moving forward in terms of the pipeline of players coming through.” While a promotion into the NPL would be a fairy tale finish to the Georgies’ campaign over the recent years, Vassiliadis said he knows fairy tales don’t always come true. “We are just working with all of our resources, with all of our people to try to maximise the opportunities of winning the next game,” he said. “If we could achieve something magical like a back-to-back-to-back we would etch our names into some sort of folk law, that is an amazing aspiration. But I’m pretty sure that there’s 13 other clubs looking at doing something similar. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, I know that much, we’re going to enjoy it and hopefully things fall our way.”

While it hasn’t been a dream return for the Sunshine Eagles in the Victorian Baseball premier league the hunt for finals remains alive. The Eagles took part in the summer season’s first draw of the year last Tuesday against Blackburn, with the sides tying at 2-2. “With the fine weather, and no wind we thought the ball would travel last night but both pitchers were dominant,” coach Stuart Clayton said. “We pitched really well and the defence was solid. It was a tight game, we had our chances. But we’re pretty happy to come away with a draw. “Jai (Pouaka-Grego) threw four innings and he gave up one run and then Jamie Young came in and threw four innings and he gave up one run as well.” Young had another fantastic game last night, pitching well and hitting a home run. “It went miles,” Clayton said. “He was really good, he’s been swinging the bat hard and just not making contact but last night he got a hold of one and it went miles, he’s got some confidence back which is good.” Clayton said he was happy to walk away with a draw but was disappointed that his side couldn’t make the most of their opportunities. “We’re probably a little bit disappointed because we two runs up with a couple of innings to go,” he said. “Then they got a couple of hits, we gave them a walk and they just manufactured to get the game tied. “We had a couple of chances, we had a chance in the last innings with a runner on second base to win the game but we just weren’t able to get that hit right at the end.” On Sunday (after deadline), the Eagles again faced Blackburn, this time at Billabong Park. “It’s always a tough trip out there, they’re a pretty good side,” Clayton said. “But we’re pretty confident after Tuesday night. We’ll leave Jamie on the hill on Sunday, he’s been our number one pretty much all year so he’ll give us the best chance.”

Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 17

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George hits himself into history By Harper Sercombe Sunshine Eagles’ Darryl George has etched his name in the Melbourne Aces’ history books, as one of the clubs most prolific run scorers. The power hitter nailed his 39th career home run for the Australian Baseball League club against the Perth Heat earlier this month, tying with club legend Brad Harman. George played his first game for the Altona-based club back in 2011 and while the record was never a goal of his, he said it is something he is proud of. “I’m very humbled. It’s been a long journey with the Aces, I’ve played there since I was 18, I pretty much grew up around the club,” he said. “You don’t really realise it, I guess you just take it one game at a time then you look up and you’re there. “Everyone’s making a big deal out of it now but it hadn’t been on my radar and I don’t think it will be once I reach the milestone. I’m just going to get back to playing the game and having fun. “It’ll be awesome. It’ll give myself and the boys something to cheer and smile about. But for me I definitely don’t focus on to be honest. I just want to play for the enjoyment.” The 30-year-old said he wasn’t particularly close to Harman during the time they spent together at the Aces, yet he was someone he watched closely. George said working with Baseball Victoria’s talent development manager Damian Shanahan had a lot to do with the record he now holds. “Brad played in the major league, so growing up he was definitely someone that you look up to for that reason,” he said. “I think big props goes to Damian Shanahan for a lot of the work that he did. When I came back from the US and my stint with the Tampa Bay Rays we reconfigured and redesigned my swing and that’s definitely when the results started to flow.” More importantly for George is the success of the Aces who are set to venture into a best-of-three semi-final series against the Adelaide Giants. The first of the three games was scheduled for Friday, after deadline. “We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “We’ve got a really talented roster and we match up well against Adelaide. “We only need to win two games. It could go either way really so we’re feeling pretty confident. “When you’re on the road there are

Darryl George. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

definitely less distractions, you’ve got less to worry about, you’re there just for the baseball. “I’m looking forward to just getting away and playing some baseball in Adelaide and hopefully enjoying some really nice weather.” Following the ABL season, the Australian national team is set to take to Melbourne Ballpark for a two-game series against Korean baseball team the Hanwha Eagles. February 17 will be the first time the national team has played on home soil since 2020. George has been a part of the Australian outfit since 2015. “That’s definitely what keeps you playing and keeps you in the game, for me anyway,” he said.

‘‘

Being able to play for Australia at the elite level is incredibly fulfilling

’’

- Darryl George “Being able to play for Australia at the elite level is incredibly fulfilling, so I’m looking forward to that. “Getting to do it in front of a home crowd as well will be really cool, so I’ll have some friends and family that will get to see me wear the jersey so I think they’re more excited about it than I am. “There’s definitely a lot of interest there and if we get a bit of promotion behind it, I think we’ll be pretty stoked with the turnout. “We want to be able to put our best foot forward and continue to beat some of the powerhouse teams and hopefully start making a good push at the Olympics in LA.” When George is not dominating with the Aces or Australia he is hitting homers with the Sunshine Eagles. While he has a busy period of baseball coming up, he said he loves heading down to Barclay Reserve. “The boys have been playing pretty well without me to be honest, I might dampen their chances by coming down, might be better off to let them keep dominating,” he said with a laugh. “’Once the ABL season is finished up, I’ll be heading back down there and it’ll be good to get around the club and just being around the younger guys and helping them get better but also hanging out with old friends as well and being able to take the field wit them, it’s just a bit of fun that I really enjoy.”

The Parkers continue to strive for improvement The hard work is only just beginning for Deer Park in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant premier division competition. The Parkers sit atop the table after 10 rounds with just one loss among those results, backing on from winning the title last season. Head of bowls operations Mark Casey said they were pretty happy with how things were tracking. “We’re delighted with how we are placed with just four rounds before finals,” he said. “The pleasing thing is there is still plenty of room for improvement which is driving our guys on. “There have been many positives this year, but I feel our team has been able to dig deep when needed. “There have been a few games where we have looked down and out, but the team has found a way to win which is an encouraging sign heading towards finals.” Casey said there was still plenty of room for improvement, He said their match against second placed Moonee Valley this round would be a good test for them. “We have second placed Moonee Valley next round, who defeated us in our first loss

Deer Park sits atop the table. (Supplied)

at home in three years so we are really keen to put forward a good team performance. “We still have some players who can go “to the next level, which I’m confident will

18 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 January, 2024

be the case.” Casey said they were having a strong season across the board, particularly with their division 2 and 3 teams which are in the

hunt for finals berths. “As a club, we certainly have a focus on getting our second team into division 1 so we are looking forward to them having a great finals series.” While the Parkers have their sights firmly on trying to go back-to-back, a lot of work has been done behind the scenes to lock in key players beyond this season. Chris Ball, Nathan Bush, Matt Baus, Ellie Dixon and Jay Bye-Norris have all signed on for next season. Casey has also signed on for another five years as head of bowls operations. “We have signed the majority of our group to long term agreements which has been fantastic,” Casey said. “The club couldn’t be in a better place, so it’s great to see the players wanting to commit long term. “We have many exciting plans for the year ahead, ultimately the redevelopment of our bowls facility will be incredible but also the start of our new Youth Bowls Academy which will kick off in the middle of the year.” Tara Murray

Lions bowl themselves into a winning position Taylors Lakes is in a winning position against Kew at the end of day one of the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association north-west clash. The Lions made the decision to have a bowl first, which paid dividends for the club, dismissing Kew for just 124. Kew, which sat in second position at the beginning of the round, only lasted 49.3 overs on Saturday. Taylors Lakes’ George Pritchard had his best bowling figures of the season taking 4-26. Captain-coach Aamir Raza also continued to take wickets, collecting 3-19, taking his season tally to 18 wickets. “If you win the toss and bowl first I don’t think you plan to spend eighty overs in the field,” Raza said. “So if you do win the toss and bowl first your job is to bowl the other team out. So that was our aim and that’s what we did in the end.

“It showed his (Pritchard) value, he’s settled in now. With the red ball we could be very boring and just bash away but we didn’t and we reaped the rewards yesterday.” After dismissing Kew, Taylors Lakes went in to bat. The Lions lost a couple of wickets but will continue at 2-28 on Saturday, needing 97 runs to win. “It’s probably the worst 20 overs to ever bat. In the end it was 23 overs,” Raza said. “If you were offered at the beginning of the day to bowl them out for 124 when they are sitting second on the ladder and then be two for 28, I think it was a good day for us. “It’s only half the job, there’s no point of yesterday being a good day if next week is going to be a bad day. We told the boys it’s only half the job done and we have to complete the job next week. “If we bat time, and spend time out there

and runs will come and we will score the runs and that will win us the game in the end.” Raza said if his side was able to claim a victory on Saturday it would fill them with plenty of confidence heading into the final few rounds where every result will be crucial. Just 13 points separates second placed Kew and the Lions, who are in ninth spot. “It doesn’t matter if you win last week, you’ve got to keep winning,” he said. “Now we’re worried about Tuesday in the T20 against Spotswood in the quarter final and then we’re going back to focusing on Saturday.” Harper Sercombe Luke Denny was out for nine (Jacob Pattison)_374057_01

Sports shorts Super Netball New City West Falcons shooter Shimona Jok has signed with the Mavericks for the Suncorp Super Netball Season. Jok, formerly Nelson, joined the Falcons after not being awarded a contract at the end of last season, having spent the past few seasons at the Collingwood Magpies. The Mavericks announced on social media that Jok would be joining the Mavericks, with her new husband Buay Jok breaking the news.

VSDCA Taylors Lakes made it two from two to seal its spot in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association T20 finals. The Lions made 9-111 from their overs with Steffan Roberts top scoring with 34. Brett Smith took three wickets for the Cats. The Cats never recovered after being in trouble at 6-35 and were bowled out for 92. Arafat Bhuiyan took three wickets for the Lions. The Lions finished seventh after the pool matches.

Australia Cup The Western Eagles have drawn St Albans Gospic Bears in the opening round of the Australia Cup. Teams from the state league 3, 4 and 5 along with regional teams were in the first round draw. In other matches, Spring Hills drew Tullamarine, Keilor Wolves will travel to face Sebastopol Vikings and Westside Strikers drew Mentone. Balmoral received a first up bye.

Sunshine will be hoping for runs from Ramesh Lakshitha next week. (Jacob Pattison) 369526_09

Crows face run chase By Tara Murray Sunshine’s batters will have to be on again if it is to claim victory against West Coburg St Andrews in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 competition. The division has turned into a batter paradise this season, with big scores becoming the norm across the competition. It was again the case on Saturday, with the Redbacks making 6-277 from their overs on day one of the two-day clash. Crows captain-coach Troy Stone was disappointed to have conceded that many runs. “We started off really well and they were only 20 off the first 14-15 overs,” he said. “After tea they picked up the runs. “It was disappointing. They always had wickets in the shed and we didn’t get enough wickets early on.” Charith Fernando was the pick of the bowlers for the Crows, taking three wickets, as eight different bowlers were used to try and get break throughs.

Having passed that total on more than one occasion this season, Stone said they were confident they could get the runs. “It will be a massive task again and the boys will be up for the challenge and hopefully we’re up to it. “We want to get off to a positive start and have wickets in hand at tea. They made 200 after tea. “If we are in that situation we will be happy. We have players in form but who knows what the conditions are going to be, hopefully they are favourable for us.” Stone said the bowlers have had to do a lot of hard work this season in the division, as the runs have been piled on. The Crows lost their previous match after making more than 300. “You don’t want to be chasing big scores every week,” he said. “The batting has taken over the competition. “If you can’t make these scores in the big games and the close, then it’s going to be tough.” While staring down another big run chase,

Stone said they were happy with how the season had gone so far. Just two points separate the top five teams, with the other teams well off the pace. Stone said every match is important in the run home with only four finals spots. “There’s sides that have won one or two games and this is one of them,” he said. “Each week you have to be on your game. “So far, so good, but that can change pretty quickly.” In other matches, PEGS was bowled out for 174 against the Doutta Stars. The Stars will resume at 1-59. In senior division, Deer Park will have to bat well again after Aberfeldie made 253 in their clash. Keilor made 8-223 from its overs against Westmeadows, while St Albans is 3-60 in reply to Sydenham-Hillside’s 129. Sunshine United had a game to forget bowled out for just 64 against Craigieburn. Craigieburn is 8-83 in reply having already claimed first innings points.

NPL Melbourne Knights have announced their first new signing for the National Premier League season. Defender Tom Woerndel joins the club having previously been part of the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy, before playing in England. He has spent the past three seasons with Altona Magic, playing more than 50 games for the club. Woerndel said the Knights are a massive club with a lot of history and big ambitions and he’s really looking forward to the new challenge ahead.

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Tuesday, 30 January, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

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