Star Weekly - Wyndham - 6th March 2024

Aiming to be active

More Wyndham students are set to use their school shoes for walking, with another local school joining the Active Travel program.

On Friday March 1, Werribee’s Riverwalk Primary became the latest school to join the program which aims to get more students walking or riding to and from their homes each day.

Riverwalk has joined the Junior Active Travel Leader program which will provide students with confidence and skills to run small events, promote active travel through doing and talking about it at school assemblies.

It joins the likes of Bellbridge

Primary, Wyndham Vale Primary and Saltwater P-9 College in participating in the program which is operated by Wydnham council.

“Wyndham’s Active Travel program is fantastic initiative that has been embraced by the community and local schools,” said Wyndham councillor Susan McIntyre.

“There are a number of schools that are participating in Wyndham, encouraging students, their families and friends to walk, scoot and ride to school. Being active is beneficial for physical as well as mental well being while helping reduce traffic congestion and pollution.”

Wyndham council chaos

By Cade Lucas

Wyndham deputy mayor, Josh Gilligan, has launched an extraordinary attack on his colleagues claiming he feels “sick and embarrassed” to have to serve alongside “such incredibly poor elected officials“.

The criticism, which is likely to further inflame tension on council, came in a letter that Cr Gilligan addressed to the mayor and his fellow councillors in relation to an upcoming VCAT hearing involving himself andCrJasmineHill,whoisappealingagainst her suspension for misconduct.

Cr Hill was found guilty of bullying two council staffers by the Councillor Conduct

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Panel (CCP) in November after a complaint was lodged by Cr Gilligan.

Last week lawyers for Wyndham council notified VCAT that they would not join Cr Gilligan as a party in the upcoming appeal.

AtTuesdaynight’scouncilmeeting,anotice of motion from Cr Gilligan asking that the council fund his legal representation for the appeal, as it had for Cr Hill’s defence before the CCP, was defeated by six votes to two.

In the letter seen by the Star Weekly, Cr Gilligan said that these decisions breached the council’s zero tolerance towards bullying and that in the future it would be used as a case study for how not to handle such matters.

“A majority of my colleagues have chosen

to send a clear message to our workforce this week — the right to a safe and healthy workplace at Wyndham is not a given anymore,” Cr Gilligan wrote in the letter.

“Shame on each and every councillor who has used their authority to create this scenario.”

In response, Wyndham mayor Jennie Barrera said that the matter was still subject to legal proceedings and that any further comment risked being prejudicial to the outcome.

After beginning her four month suspension from council in December, Cr Hill lodged an appeal with VCAT just before Christmas and was reinstated pending the outcome.

Cr Hill’s appeal is set to be heard in June.

Cr Gilligan said in the letter that while Cr Hill had a right to appeal, he was angered by the way she had been welcomed back onto council while he was being left to fight the matter on his own.

“You won’t see me in a photo alongside a bully because I value my integrity and solitary for those workers over Facebook likes. It makes me sick and embarrassed to have to serve alongside such incredibly poor elected officials,” wrote Cr Gilligan, noting there are “some caught up in this who supported strong moral action on this matter all the way“.

■ Continued: Page 2

Riverwalk Primary students (from left) Mahathi, Anoushka, Leila, Rydah and Wyndham councillor Susan McIntyre, step out in support of the Active Travel program. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 392264_02

Apex customers count the cost

By Cade Lucas

Failed home builder Apex Homes received a $100,000 payment from a customer just days before a winding up order was lodged against it over unpaid debts.

The customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims their financial advisor authorised the payment to Apex three weeks ago, after the company signed a statutory declaration that it was debt free.

“They (Apex) advise that they didn’t owe anyone any money and that’s why finance released the money ($100,000) to them,” the customer said.

Just days later, on February 15, Aerolink Pty Ltd lodged a winding up order against Apex

over debts of $46,000.

On Wednesday the Victoria Supreme Court ordered the North Melbourne based builder with projects in Wyndham, Geelong and Melbourne’s north, into liquidation.

A further four creditors, including the State Revenue Officer, had joined Aerolink in seeking to have Apex Homes wound up over more than $200,000 in unpaid debts.

Matthew Blum from insolvency firm BDO has been appointed liquidator and was contacted for comment.

Apex Homes was unable to be contacted.

The anonymous customer, who was seeking to build a home in Geelong with her husband, said Apex Homes was recommended to them by their architect and a check of the company

by their lawyers didn’t uncover any concerns.

She said they don’t know what to do next.

“I didn’t sleep last night. It’s so stressful,” she said on Thursday, the day after Judicial Registrar Claire Gitsham ordered the company into liquidation.

The customer, who is now living with her brother, couldn’t bring herself to watch Wednesday’s hearing, but another owed thousands of dollars by Apex, did.

Co-owner of Point Cook business, Melbourne Wide Demolition, Moira Linton, was awaiting payment of $21,450 from Apex for demolition work when the winding up against the company was lodged.

She said the fact Apex didn’t fight the liquidation or even attend the hearing, added

Greg going for Good Friday record

One of Victoria’s top auctioneers will be charged with extracting as big a price as possible when he presides over the Good Friday Appeal auction at Tarneit’s Alamora estate on March 29.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s (REIV) 2023 senior auctioneer of the year Greg Brydon will be in charge of the bidding as a seven-star, 38-square, two-storey home off Sayers Road goes under the hammer to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Built by Henley Homes on land donated by VillawoodProperties,it’shopedthehomewill fetch more than both last year’s $1.01 million sale and 2022’s record $1.082 million result.

“I’m a competitive man, so we’re chasing records,” said Mr Brydon.

“I’d love to see a record broken in 2024. This isn’t just about a home, even though there’s a great family house and a whole community ready-made and waiting. It’s also a fantastic cause and the auction will be about giving people an understanding of where these funds will be going.”

Mr Brydon has spent years as a colleague of renowned auctioneer, Adrian Butera, and watched up close as he conducted 13 Good Friday Appeal auctions.

After years as a bystander, Mr Brydon can’t wait to be in the thick of the action himself on Good Friday.

“To be able to play just a small part on the day, is a real honour,” he said, adding that his style might be a little more light-hearted than

his predecessors.

“Realistically, I’ll be trying to make it all as fun as possible to all, and that’s including people who might not even be buying. It’s all about creating an atmosphere, that’s very important.”

The four bedroom home is fully fitted out, withfurniture,luxuryfittingsanddecorations included.

Professional landscaping has already been done outside and there’s a backyard with sports equipment and roller door access.

Inside, there’s a grand master suite with two walk-in wardrobes and spacious ensuite and a large study which can be converted into a fifth bedroom.

Details: www.gfacharityhouse.com.au

insult to injury.

“Just having no one show up not at all to defendthecompanyortorepresentthemeven after all those millions they have taken from people for their deposits for their homes, and it’s their homes, it’s not just housing, it’s their building, I was just appalled.”

Moira Linton said she had lodged her company’s debt with the liquidator and even though this process would cost her more money, she would pursue it regardless.

“For me, it’s on principle,” said Ms Linton.

“Yes I’ve absorbed the hit, but I still want to go after those funds, not for us to get the money, but to actually make a point and try and help those that haven’t got their money back.”

Wyndham council chaos

■ From page 1

Cr Hill declined to comment.

Despite introducing the notice of motion to ensure fairness in legal representation, Cr Gilligan, along with Cr Hill, had to leave the chamber while it was debated due to conflict of interest.

Some councillors, including Cr Robert Szatkowski, expressed surprise at the motion, noting that it wasn’t included on the draft agenda for the meeting.

Cr Szatkowski went on to argue against it on the grounds that Cr Gilligan brought the original case against Cr Hill of his own accord and that as council was not a party to it, it shouldn’t spend ratepayers’ money funding the case.

He also noted that as the defendant, Cr Hill had the right to seek council funding for her CCP hearing, but that she was not being funded for her VCAT appeal.

“Neither party has funding for this process and that is procedural fairness,” he said.

Cr Adele Hegeditch added an amendment that any funding to Cr Gilligan be capped at $50,000, close to the amount council is believed to have contributed to Cr Hill’s defence.

Cr Hegedich and mayor Jennie Barrera voted to support Cr Gilligan’s motion.

Cr Mia Shaw was absent.

Western Treatment Plant modernisation works begin

Werribee’s Western Treatment Plant is about to be transformed by a $711 million modernisation program designed to ensure it meets future demands.

On Wednesday Water Minister Harriet Shing announced the start of works on a new Resource Recovery and Re-Use Complex that will enhance sewage treatment, minimise odours, capture carbon, and manage waste sustainably.

Melbourne Water Managing Director Dr. Nerina Di Lorenzo said the start of work on the new complex was an important moment in the plant’s 134 year history.

“The Resource Recovery and Re-Use Complex is a major milestone in the transformation of the Western Treatment Plant and will enable rapid evolution of the site to meet the needs of the next decade and

beyond.”

These and other improvements, including updated treatment methods and waste management facilities, are designed to ensure theplantcancaterforaMelbournepopulation projected to double in size by 2050.

Minister Shing said she was confident the modernisation of the treatment plant would allow it to meet challenges of the future.

“Innovation and efficiency in wastewater treatment has enabled Victoria to lead in adaptation to climate change, our circular economy and delivering large-scale improvements to liveability,” she said.

“And better wastewater treatment means we’re also well-equipped to manage the challenges of population growth.”

Considered a world leader in environmentally-friendly sewage treatment,

the Western Treatment Plant processes more than 182,500 million litres of waste water every year while doubling as a working farm and internationally-recognised bird habitat. More information: melbournewater.com. au/water-and-environment/climate-change/ our-path-net-zero.

From left: Tarneit MP Dylan Wight, Water Minister Harriet Shing, Melbourne Water Managing Director Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo and John Holland Group Executive General Manager Rob Evans turn the first sod of redevelopment works at the Western Treatment Plant. (supplied)

Victoria’s reigning Auctioneer of the Year, Greg Brydon, will preside over his first Good Friday Appeal auction in Tarneit on March 29. (supplied)

Delay frustration builds

By Cade Lucas

Wyndhamcouncilhasbeenaccusedofholding back development in Tarniet by dragging out approval processes and favouring large developers over smaller ones.

Five property developers with landholdings near the corner of Leakes Road and Derrimut Road in Tarneit, including former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan, claim continued delays in the implementation of an urban design framework by Wyndham council has left them in limbo.

An urban design framework (UDF) is a planning and design document that sets out the long term vision for a particular property and is required before it can be developed.

Mr Khan said the slow progress of a UDF for he and his neighbouring landholders in Tarneit, stood in stark contrast to the treatment given to larger property developers.

“While large corporations seem to enjoy support from the Wyndham City Council, smaller developers find themselves grappling with the challenges posed by skyrocketing land taxes,” he said.

“This dissonance in support has created an uneven playing field, hindering the prosperity and progress of local businesses and initiatives.”

Wyndham council declined to comment.

Another of the group of disgruntled developers, Gilbert Tang from Dreamland Pty Ltd,saidhefirstsubmittedaUDFforapproval in 2020, but that four years on, it is still yet to be approved or declined.

“I have not received any any good response on my application since then,” said Mr Tang who paid $2.8 million for his property at 615 Derrimut Road, Tarneit in 2014.

He hoped to develop the site into a residential estate similar to those Dreamland

has built in Truganina, Point Cook and Deer Park, with 100 homes, 200 apartments, retail and commercial buildings. But whereas those properties had already been subdivided by another, larger developer when Dreamland bought them, Mr Tang’s Tarneit property was a greenfield site and a decade on, it still is.

“It costs me a lot in holding costs every

year. I pay very high land tax,” said Mr Tang of his idle property, which he has engaged commercialrealtor,CBRE,totryandsell,with hopes of it fetching as much as $15 million.

Butaswithanydevelopmentplans,MrTang saidthesaleisonholduntilcouncilprovidesa final decision on the UDF.

“I cannot move.”

Health forum for women

Women’s health will be the topic of an information session at Victoria University’s Werribee campus.

The women’s health information session is a joint initiative of Victoria University and the Wyndham Health Foundation and will cover a range of topicsincludingmenopause,polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and fertility. Wyndham Health Foundation chief executive Leanne Down, expressed her excitement about the upcoming event.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Victoria University and St Vincent’s Private in bringing together such esteemed experts to shed light on crucial matters pertaining to women’s health,“ she said. “This event promises to be informative and insightful, providing attendees with valuable knowledge and practical advice on various aspects of women’s health.”

Victoria University’s Professor Lily Stojanovska will be presenting on menopause.VU’sMsMeniMalamouli, a promising researcher with a personal connection to polycystic ovary syndrome, will share insights from both a scientific and personal perspective. St Vincent’s Private A/ Prof Vinay Rane, an experienced obstetrician and gynaecologist, and St Vincent’s Private Dr Latika Cilly, a specialist in high-risk obstetrics, will also be contributing their expertise.

The session will be held on Tuesday March 19 at 6pm. Entry is free, but registrations are essential.

Frustrated Tarneit property developers Intaj Khan (second left) and Gilbert Tang (centre) with Sher Mohammad, Lucky Kohili and Sanju Kohili. (supplied) 393249_01

Damien’s Dianella show

The work of artist, photographer and urban planner Damien Laing will be on display in Wyndham later this month when his exhibition, ‘Second Nature’ opens at Dianella Community Centre in Tarneit West.

A member of the 16mm film collective Artist Film Workshop, Laing describes his work as reflecting his interest in the way things become normal.

His latest exhibition includes explorations of the anthropocene and is named after the philosophical concept of ‘second nature’ that appearsandismodulatedintheworksofHegel, Lukacs and Adorno. This concept asks what it means that the ‘human world’ nestles on top of nature, supplanting and veiling it. That no image on a wall truly exceeds comprehension, due to the ordering of perception that has been inculcated through education.

The exhibition of darkroom prints displays the adapted nature of the gardens and spaces of Wyndham and is witness to how the new becomesnaturalised.Itspeculatesifitispossible topuncturethissecondnatureandyetrehearses its own defeat producing yet another image that represents and, in that representation, naturalises the unusual object of representation again.Allowingthroughtheartfuldisplay,tobe reunited with the normal. This is the process of reification in which attributes start to appear ‘as if’ they were natural.

Second Nature will run for two months from March 22 to May 22.

Theexhibitionwillbeopendailyfrom9amto 5pm and entry is free.

For more information: https://www. wyndham.vic.gov.au/whats-on/second-naturedamien-laing

Briefs

Home invasion

Police are investigating an aggravated home invasion and car fire in Werribee on Sunday March 3. It is understood six male offenders forced entry into a property on Powlett Street about 11.50pm. Three occupants inside the house were threatened with weapons and one man was assaulted and sustained non-life threatening injuries. He did not require hospital treatment. The offenders are then believed to have set fire to a car parked outside the property before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Tarneit burglary

Police are appealing for information following an aggravated burglary in Tarneit last month where shots were fired. It’s believed two men forced their way into a residential property on Nottingham Crescent about 10.30pm on February 17. The pair then confronted one of the residents, a 33-year-year-old man, and a number of shots were fired. One grazed the man on his lower body, causing a minor injury. The men then left the address by unknown means. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still being determined, however police believe it was a targeted attack.

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An example of Damien Laing’s photography that will be exhibited in Tarneit West from next month.

(Damien Laing) 391124_01

Multilingual parent help

By Cade Lucas

Being a first time parent can be difficult enough without the resources, advice and support services needed to navigate life with a newborn, being in a different language.

Despite Melbourne being one of the most multicultural cities on earth, the language barrierhaslongbeenaproblemfornewparents from non-English speaking backgrounds, especially in the western suburbs.

ButanewprogramlaunchedinSunshineon Thursday is designed to change that.

Developed by Deakin University’s evidenced-basedinfantfeeding,activeplayand nutrition (INFANT) program in partnership with the state government, Western Health andlocalfamilies,asuiteof72newin-language resources designed specifically for culturally and linguistically diverse families are now

available across Victoria.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas launched the program at the Alexandra Avenue Children’s Centre in Sunshine West and said all parents should have easy access to support and advice for their newborn.

“As a parent you want trusted information that’seasytounderstandandthelanguageyou speakshouldn’tbeabarrier,”MinisterThomas said.

Comprising of 48 videos and 24 written booklets, the new resources contain critical health information including infant feeding to active play and nutrition.

It is the first time this type of information has been made available in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, which is a particularly common language in Sunshine, Brimbank and other parts of Melbourne’s west.

Thao Tran from the Vietnamese First Time Parents support group said the new resources will make a big difference to the local Vietnamese community.

“Sometimes if they could not connect with the language the parent would just give up and not get the help they need,” she said.

“So this is a very great opportunity.”

ProfessorKylieHeskethfromtheInstituteof Physical Activity at Deakin University, helped design the INFANT program 15 years ago and said making its nutritional and active play advice more widely available would benefit the broader community.

“We’ve got more than 15 years of evidence that show that families who take part in this program, have children who are eating more healthily, who are engaging in less screen time and that these benefits continue through the child’s life.”

Tree name for training base

Western United’s home ground in Tarneit is set to be named Ironbark Field.

At its first council meeting for the year, Wyndham council voted in favour of the new name for the club’s training base in Tarneit which was previously known as the regional football facility.

Wyndham council unanimously approved the Ironbark name, with deputy mayor and Tarneit resident, councillor Josh Gilligan, saying it would help make the stadium and training facility an “iconic location” and a “transformative precinct” that would “change Tarneit forever.”

Along with Ironbark Field and Wyndham Stadium, once complete the Leakes Road precinct will also feature an 800-lot residential community.

A 30-day public notice period for the new name has started, after which council will consider a final report on the proposal.

Western United’s A-League women’s teamwillplaytheclub’sfirsthomegame at the venue when they host Newcastle JetsonSunday,March17,withthemen’s team set to play games there soon after.

The ground now known as Ironbark Field will serve as Western United’s home ground during construction of the larger, 15,000 seat Wyndham Stadium next door and will revert to being its training facility afterwards.

The name Ironbark, which will apply to both the playing field and the pavilion, was chosen by more than 800 respondents to a public poll.

Health Minister, Mary-Anne Thomas (third from left) with staff, parents and babies at Alexandra Avenue

Children’s Centre in Sunshine West.

Women leading by example

International Women’s Day (IWD) has long been a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also marking a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The theme for IWD 2024 is Inspire Inclusion, which two leading women in the west know all about as Jennifer Pittorino discovered.

As mum to two young girls, Macedon Ranges councillor Annette Death takes pride in being a role model for them and the next generation.

Annette was elected to Macedon Ranges Shire Council in 2020 following a desire to be a “voice for our local community”.

In 2022 she was elected mayor for the first time and was re-elected mayor in 2023.

“I really enjoy being an active member of the community and after talking with different people, I realised these were some real key issues that people were concerned about,” Annette said of her decision to devote herself to local government.

“So I wanted to run for council to be a voice for our local community.”

Her time in local government has allowed Annette to demonstrate that women can succeed in leadership positions.

“I am very fortunate to be in a leadership position as a female because I feel you can lead by example,” she said.

“Being a female, many of my female friends have learned so much about local government through that process, including my children.”

Not many children get to watch their mum at work, but Annette has found bringing her girls, aged seven and 10 to work, a positive experience each time.

“I do think they know a great deal about local government that many other children wouldn’t,” she said.

“They’ve been able to join me at council meetings and come out to events and see me in public speaking positions.

“It’s really motivated them and inspired them to be confident in public speaking and to think about important local issues.”

Finding balance in life can be hard enough as it is, something Annette has experienced being a mum and mayor.

“There are cons that come with being in a leadership position with young children is really the caring responsibility,” she said.

“And also finding the time for my partner, because being mayor many of the events and meetings take place out of hours.

“...So it’s quite a bit of time out of the house in the evenings and on weekends.”

Out of the house at night has come with freedom in other aspects of life. Annette now has flexibility during the day which she has embraced.

“I’ve been available for school drop off and pick up which has been really nice,” said Annette.

“Something I haven’t been able to do in other career roles.”

Annette said the team at Macedon Ranges acknowledge that IWD is an opportunity to raise awareness around gender issues and promote the work that women are doing globally.

“Inclusion is a really important part of the gendered conversation,” she said.

“Particularly around intersectionality and thinking about how we can get people from a variety of different backgrounds and for it and different females from different cultures involved in all elements of our society.”

Annette said she has been fortunate to have been surrounded by many women in leadership roles during her career.

“A highlight for me being mayor, are the other female leaders that I’ve been able to meet,” she said proudly.

“At Macedon Ranges three out of four of our executive leadership team are women and I’ve been empowered by that.”

Learning and growing from other women in leadership roles, Annette has learnt to be kind to herself in her journey.

“Be kind to yourself. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you will make a

‘‘ Being a female, many of my female friends have learned so much about local government through that process, including my children ’’

- Annette Death

difference,” she said.

“We can add layers of expectations when we’re in leadership roles around performing well.

“And then being a parent and being a partner it is really important that you acknowledge the great work that you’re doing because you can feel stretched across all those different roles.”

Passion for her community and helping women is something important to Melton resident and chief executive of Djirra, Antoinette Braybrook AM.

Renowned Aboriginal community controlled organisation Djirra delivers holistic and culturally safe family violence services to Aboriginal people who are experiencing family violence or have experienced it in the past.

“Djirra works with Aboriginal people across Victoria who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing family violence, over 98 per cent are Aboriginal women and their children,” she said.

As an Aboriginal woman leading a specialist service, Antoinette is treating IWD as a time to reflect on the lack of inclusion of Aboriginal women.

“There’s a long history of Aboriginal women not being counted or included through International Women’s Day movements and events,” she said.

“For me, IWD provides an opportunity to bring voice, visibility and amplify our unique experiences when it comes to family

violence, incarceration and child removal.”

For more than two decades Antoinette has dedicated her time to Djirra, her true passion.

“I have been the chief executive for 21 years, this is my life,” she said.

“It’s not work as such. I always say Djirra is in my blood.”

The past year was a big one for Antoinette, with the launch of a new service in Melton, and the defeat of the Voice Referendum left her with a lot to reflect on.

“Since the failed referendum, I have decided that I’m not going to do things the same as I have done previously, this is a new way for me,” she said.

“I am going to focus on the six million people who voted yes for Aboriginal recognition and listening to us. I remain in the yes. Djirra remains in the yes.”

Looking forward, Antoinette has big plans for the future of Djirra and has faith that young women can follow in her footsteps.

“Through my career, I’ve had many incredible Aboriginal and non Aboriginal men and women support me in my journey to Djirra,” she said.

“One bit of advice is make sure you keep those people close to you, that you trust and who you know want to invest in you.

“Be strong in your culture and identity and never doubt that. Set some ambitious goals which will keep driving you forward.”

IWD will be celebrated at a wide range of locations across the west on Friday, March 8.

‘‘ IWD provides an opportunity to bring voice, visibility and amplify our unique experiences when it comes to family violence, incarceration and child removal ’’

- Antoinette Braybrook

Annette Death, and inset, with her daughters Alma and Valda.

Antoinette Braybrook AM.

Wyndham unemployment down

Wyndham experienced a slight drop in unemployment in the last quarter of 2023, but according to one observer jobless figures are no longer as reliable an economic indicator as they used to be.

Data in the quarterly Small Area Labour Market (SALM) report complied by Jobs and Skills Australia showed Wyndham’s unemployment rate dropped by point one of one percent in the three months to September 2023, from 4.6 to 4.5 per cent.

The figure is the equal third lowest in Wyndham since 2010, just point two of a per

cent above the 4.3 per cent unemployment rate achieved in December 2022.

Wyndham’s unemployment rate has been below 5 per cent since March 2022, but with many workers struggling to survive due to cost of living pressures, Jacinta Stafford from the Wyndham Community and Education Centre said the data doesn’t tell the whole story.

“From what we’re seeing clients present with, it’s more around the challenges they’re facing due to the increase in cost of living at the moment being the bigger challenge (than

Donations matched

newborns to 16-year-olds, who have fled domestic violence, are living in kinship care or out of home care, or whose family is struggling to provide the essentials they need to thrive.

employment),” said Ms Stafford.

Wyndham CEC provides community programs, educational opportunities and employment services to local residents.

Ms Stafford said many of their clients are employed, but only in insecure jobs which make it hard for them to budget and pay bills.

“Wehavelotsofpeoplethataredoingcasual roles, particularly here in Wyndham, which is causing a real challenge. They can’t get the stable hours and that consistent income coming through to try and make ends meet,” she said.

As a rapidly growing area where migrants make up a large portion of the new arrivals , Ms Stafford said insecure, casual work was more prevalent in places like Wyndham.

“To get that foot through the door, the casual labor market is the best way to do that,” she said, adding that Wyndham CEC were working with local employers on strategies to upskill employees and provide them with longer term roles.

Wyndham’s unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent was behind neighbouring Hobsons Bay on 3.1 per cent, but ahead of Melton on 5.4.

protect every young person from the adverse effects of disadvantage.

Big Group Hug provides essential items for struggling families such as clothing, formula, cots, prams, car seats and toiletries for newborns to children aged 16 years of age.

The demand for aid is ever-increasing.

In the 2023 financial year, Big Group Hug provided aid for 6002 children, representing a 41 per cent increase on the previous year. Hospitals have been requesting more material aid for newborns, resulting in the need for essentialitemslikeprams,carseats,bouncers, highchairs, and safety gates at an all-time high.

Every dollar raised will help young people,

Pressroom Philanthropy, Mortgage Choice Charity Foundation, The Growth Collective, SCRgroupandElthamRotaryClubareamong those who will match the donations.

“On Double Donation Day, we call on all supporters to give generously and help us make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children,“ Big Group Hug said.

“It’s a tough time for many right now, but every contribution, no matter how small, will gotwiceasfaronMarch20andwillmakeabig difference to children facing disadvantage.”

Details: www.charidy.com/biggrouphug.

Big Group Hug’s donations will be matched for a day. (Supplied)

QUEEN ROCKS show honours the spirit of Queen

Fresh from recent sell-out shows in Queensland, QUEEN ROCKS are set to rock Wyndham Cultural Centre in Werribee this March as part of their 2024 Don’t Stop Me Now tour.

QUEEN ROCKS has been amazing audiences for over 20 years with Australia’s most entertaining Queen tribute show.

Authentically capturing Queen’s unique sound and theatrical stage show, QUEEN ROCKS perform all of Queen’s iconic hits, bringing to life the showmanship, musicianship and majestic power that saw Queen rock stadiums all over the world.

“AQUEENROCKSshowwilltransportyou to a time when Queen were at their live peak, dominating the globe as the world’s number one stadium rock act.” said Jason Hess, the group’s lead singer.

“Imagine yourself in the audience at Live Aid responding to Freddie’s spine-tingling ‘AY-OH’s or watching him strut across the stage in his trademark yellow jacket during Queen’s legendary Magic Tour.

“Our mission is to honour the legacy of Queen by playing their incredible catalogue of songs with the same spirit, energy and sense offunthatFreddieMercury,BrianMay,Roger Taylor and John Deacon brought to the stage in Queen’s extraordinary live performances,“ he added.

QUEEN ROCKS’ attention to detail is unsurpassed, using the same original equipment, exact replica stage costumes and delivering the same incredible musicianship and harmony vocals that made Queen’s sound so unique and unmistakable.

You’ll be treated to all of Queen’s Greatest Hits including We Will Rock You to We Are the Champions, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Somebody to Love, Another One

Bites the Dust, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, the unrivalled epic that is Bohemian Rhapsody and many more iconic hits across their two hour live show.

“We can’t wait to ROCK YOU in Werribee.” said Jason.

“Come along with your dancing shoes, your best sing-along voices and be prepared to enjoy a musical extravaganza like no other!”

QUEENROCKSareappearingatWyndham Cultural Centre in Werribee on Saturday 16 March at 8pm. Tickets are available now – go to wyncc.com.au or call the theatre box office on 03 8734 6023

QUEEN ROCKS are set to rock Wyndham Cultural Centre.

Multicultural Dementia Care and Support Centres

Australian Multicultural Community Service (AMCS) has recently added Dementia Care andSupportCentrestoitsrangeofcommunity support initiatives, with no cost to attendees.

Within a short space of time, the feedback from carers and their loved one is extremely positive and more centres are opening on a demand-basis.

The aim of the centres is to recognise and assist both the carer and their loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia. Appreciating that the carer faces many practical and emotional challenges in their role, the centres assist by empowering carers through education and wellbeing sessions and enabling them to meet other carers and share experiences and ideas. They have the opportunity to meet in a friendly and safe environment and to receive mentoring support from experienced professionals.

The program enables people with dementia to engage in activities that are suited to their abilities in a welcoming group setting.

Christina and Chandra have been attending the program along with their carers, Cooper and Praveena. Together, they have formed a friendshipandareoftenchattingandlaughing during group activities and enjoying their free lunch! Sharing life stories and experienceshas brought a strong connection.

Carer feedback includes,”It’s a great place to meet other carers and share experiences. It’s a safe place where you can learn and laugh. I don’t feel alone anymore”.

The FREE Dementia Care and Support Centre program runs over five sessions.

For further information call AMCS (03) 9689 9170

Chandra attends the Dementia Care and Support Centre program.

Helping Francesca at home

Francesca Catroppa migrated from Italy 70 years ago and met her husband in Melbourne. Now widowed, she lives alone in her own home, with the support of a Home Care Package, provided by Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS).

At 93 years old, Francesca enjoys the company of other people and struggles to cope with social isolation. As part of her Care Plan goals, she wanted to find a regular activity that would meet her social needs.

AMCS is a not-for-profit organisation and has a strong focus on community engagement and social inclusiveness. AMCS organises her transport and support worker to access her social clubs once per month and

Home Care Support & Community Services

supports Francesca during the activity, as the group doesn’t provide this level of support to members through her Home Care Package funds.

Not stopping there, Francesca also wanted to find a music related activity, as she is talentedsingeranddancer.Previously,AMCS assisted Francesca with finding an Italian speaking association that organises monthly functions for its members, celebrating traditional Italian music and dance.

Francesca is absolutely delighted by her musicalactivityandnowhastheopportunity to sing and dance to the songs of her childhood, with the bonus of socialising with other Italian speaking people.

•

Francesca Catroppa.

Every day is International Women’s Day at Laverton

Laverton Community Childrens Centre (LCCC) employs 54 diverse women from all corners of the globe.

Many of these women have been juggling the challenges of raising a family, learning English, study and the daunting challenge of new employment. Their chosen course of employment is not just a job, it’s undertaking the responsibility of nurturing and educating young children. Most of us would have viewed any of these obstacles as barriers too large to overcome. The determination of these women being able to undertake these challenges, encompasses International Women’s Day.

LCCCs leadership team, consists of, Krystle, Michelle, Melanny, Tina, Narelle and Victoria. They contribute endless hours of paperwork and meetings that ensure the centre runs smoothly. Michelle and Krystle say “It is important that our team understand their value, if our educators are happy, the children are happy.”

Jenny, Helene (also known as the baby whisperer), Kerry, and Kylie, are the mentors of LCCC. These women have devoted over 15 years to LCCC, an extremely rare occasion. Newer educators rely on these OGs for guidance and support. They lead with grace, strength and kindness whilst supporting the leadership team with implementations across the building.

Our skilled kindergarten team work tirelessly to ensure that the children in their carearesupportedinallareasofdevelopment. You will often hear them say “It’s about the children and doing what’s right for them and their needs.” Pam, Jen, Cathy and Lynda, collaboratively, bring decades of experience to ensure our programs are including the most current and up to date practices, taking time away from their own families to attend lengthy training to bring back to share with

the team.

LCCC, Laverton Education Centre and the Laverton Community Centre, is part of a broader community, known as Laverton Community Integrated Services. This allows us to take on student placements and volunteers. Stepping forward to

independence, students assisted in the kitchen, early childhood education and care students conduct their required placement hours when possible. Our volunteers from the Laverton Community Centre assist in the office with the endless administration that an early childcare requires. LCCC has had

the privilege of employing students who have developed skills to be an integral part of our team.

LCCC is grateful for our remarkable, independent international women that help shape our future.

Laverton Community Children’s Centre

LCCC prides itself on delivering high quality, educative programs for children and families.

The Laverton Community Centre & Neighborhood House Incorporated is now known as the Laverton Community Integrated Services (LCIS). LCIS is the incorporated association which has three sub branches including the children’s centre. The children’s centre offers a variety of services for children and families in the community and strives to enhance early childhood education and quality care programs at all times.

OFFERS

• Little sports heros

• Music and movement

• Bush Kinder program

• Food pantry

• Yoga program available

• Sustainability

• SunSmart

• Healthy Eating

• 4 Year Old Kindergarten

• 3 Year Old Kindergarten Program

• Integrated Kindergarten Program

Krystle.

Tina.

Michelle.

Melanny.

Narelle.

Victoria.

Isabel’s story of caring with the right support

Isabel’s life changed almost immediately with the birth of her second daughter, Elise. Healthcomplicationsmeantthathernewborn needed round-the-clock care and supervision, and home soon became the hospital.

For many months, taking care of their daughter’s additional needs took up to 20 hours a day for Isabel and her husband. Even the less demanding days had to be planned from start to finish. Juggling numerous health appointments whilst ensuring the children were fed, bathed, engaged outdoors and enjoying themselves left little time for a personal life.

“When you become a carer as well as a parent, it detracts from everyone else,” Isabel shared.

“You can’t spend as much time with your husband or your own parents or your other child; it’s very all- consuming. There’s not much room for the spontaneous. There’s just a lot of planning involved to get through our day”.

But gradually, things started to get better.

Elise excelled in therapies and her curious personality began to shine through.

Isabelalsogainedaclearerunderstandingof her role as carer and started connecting with Carer Gateway and other community support programs. Carer Gateway provides essential support to carers, addressing the common issues of isolation, exhaustion and depression. Its free services, including counselling, emergency respite, and peer support, significantly provide relief and assistance to the carer improving their wellbeing.

For Isabel and her family, small milestones, like being able to make it down to the shops as a family, marked steady progress in Elise’s development.

And with Elise getting stronger, Isabel has got better at finding opportunities to take

little breaks, such as enjoying a quiet meal or catching a coffee with a friend.

“It’s taken a lot of work to kind of get her from where she was a few months ago to

where she is now. I want to keep doing that role up until she’s at the point where she can just go to playgroup or kinder or whatever, without an issue.

“It’s because I know I can give her the best chance at life by pouring in that time to her now and by pouring in that effort, it’s because I know her best.”

Empowering women in dedicated fitness at WynActive

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a higher portion of females than males did not meet the national physical activity guidelines in 2020-21. Engaging in physical activity can be challenging for women for various reasons, withoneprominentbarrierbeingthestruggle to feel included in fitness spaces. Everyone deserves to live an active and healthy lifestyle, so the team at WynActive are always trying to help people feel more included. From group classes to dedicated women’s fitness initiatives, they provide a range of programs

to support women being active.

Group fitness classes at WynActive often foster a sense of belonging through shared enjoyment and are popular among women.

Jess leads the Pound classes at AquaPulse and is one of only a handful of instructors in Victoria.

PoundparticipantKathrynsaidsheis“full of energy“ and “so much fun“. Motivating yourself to workout can be hard, but the atmosphere of group fitness classes like Pound makes it easier. The class leaves participants like Linda praising it as, “the

best fun you can have on a Sunday morning” and encouraging others to come along. “Come and get your endorphins grooving!“

AquaPulseoffersawomen’sonlyswimming session every Thursday from 7:45 pm to 8:45 pm. Roller doors confine the warm water pool into its own space with direct access to the female change rooms. Women come to the sessions for reasons related to culture, religion or simply because it’s where they feel most comfortable.

WynActive staff member Brittany has noticed a lot of mums who, unable to

swim during other times, get to seize this opportunitytojointheirchildreninthewater.

“They’re able to have a good time in an environmentthatfeelssafeforthem,”shesaid.

WynActive will continue to help women feel comfortable and empowered in their fitness journeys this International Women’s Day. They call on their patrons, men and women alike, to encourage the women in their lives to engage in physical activity –whether it’s a walk down the road or a swim with the kids - because it takes a community to inspire inclusion

Looking after women’s wellbeing in the west

IPC Health wishes the women in our communities a wonderful International Women’s Day!

The theme this year is to inspire inclusion and as an organisation, we’re committed to maintaining a barrier-free and welcoming environment for all members of our diverse communities.

As your local community health care provider in the west, we offer a range of integrated services to improve and support your health and wellbeing. We’re all about supporting this generation to bring the next generation up healthy and strong.

Our child and family teams work inclusively withmums,families,andkidsbothindividually and together to strengthen bonds and set them up for a bright future. From mental health services, behavioural support and school readiness to paediatrics, pregnancy and the early years, we’re here for you and your family.

“I advocate for my clients and work to encourage and empower them, in the firm belief that knowledge is the key to unlocking true potential. My role is a commitment to providing the necessary knowledge that enablesthemtomakemeaningfulprogressand positive changes, ultimately transforming and improving their lives,” says family engagement worker Chris from the child and family team

With six campuses across Melbourne’s west, we work with you to identify your individual health and wellbeing goals. Our extensive community partners ensure that you receive the right care tailored to your needs. From mental health and aged care services to volunteering and GP clinics, we also provide outreach, support groups and group classes.

Visit our website at www.ipchealth.com.au for more information and get in touch on 1300 472 432to see how we can move your health and wellbeing journey forward together. Chris

from IPC Health’s child and family team.

New chief at Werribee Mercy

By Cade Lucas

Werribee Mercy has appointed a new chief executive to introduce changes and improve performance at the hospital.

Parent organisation, Mercy Health, last week appointed experienced healthcare leader Michael Krieg as chief executive of health services.

A former executive with Uniting Care and Wesley Hospital, Mr Krieg will be responsible for improving the quality of care and clinical governance at Werribee Mercy following two reviews into the hospital over

the past 12 months.

In May 2023, Mercy Health commenced an organisation-wide review into its overall clinical governance structure, with the hospital already implementing changes it recommended.

In September 2023, a second clinical governance review of Werribee Mercy Hospital and Mercy Mental Health and Wellbeing Services began in partnership with Mercy Health and Safer Care Victoria (SCV).

The findings of this review have also now been received and Mercy Health chief executive Angela Nolan

said the appointment of Mr Krieg meant the workofimprovingthehospitalthewouldnow begin in earnest.

“Over the next 18 months, we will undergo a period of transformation implementing the recommendations which will be supported by robust governance arrangements,” she said.

A steering committee and working groups have been established to oversee the improvementsandMsNolansaidthesewould receive feedback from hospital staff, patients and families during the implementation period.

“We are committed to communicating

Newborns leap into life on Feb 29

Like hospitals across the world last Thursday, Werribee Mercy welcomed newborns who might have to wait a while to celebrate their first birthday.

With 2024 being a leap year, the last day of February was the 29th, a date that only comes around once every four years.

It was appropriate then that when Star WeeklyarrivedatWerribeeMercy’smaternity ward on Friday morning, four was the exact number of babies left that had arrived on the only quadrennial date on the calendar.

Sophie Belle Ginanne, Ryan Sharma, Isa

Isaac and Kiyaan were the names given the quartet who all arrived safely and in good at health at different points between between 12.01am and 11.59pm the day before, though it has since emerged that two others had already departed, meaning a total of six were born on the rarest day of all.

Ritu Sherme, who gave birth to son Ryan, said having a February 29 baby added to what was already a momentous day.

“We are so excited to have had a baby boy born on the leap year. No one else in our family has this birthday so it’s really unique

and special,” said Ms Sherme in a statement.

As for the potentially tricky subject of when to celebrate Ryan’s birthday in non-leap years, his parents already had that sorted out.

“We are planning on celebrating Ryan’s birthday on March 1 each year, and then having a special birthday party every four years for his actual birthday,” Ritua Sherme said.

So rather than one birthday every four years, young Ryan will have five instead.

A lucky leap year baby indeed.

transparently with our staff and the local community throughout this period of change.” she said.

As the only public hospital in Australia’s fastest growing council area, Werribee Mercy has long struggled with staff and bed shortages and excessive delays.

Data released by the Victorian Agency for Health Information last year found less than 40percentofthehospital’semergencypatients were treated within the recommended time, the lowest in the state.

A redevelopment of Werribee Mercy’s emergencydepartmentiscurrentlyunderway.

More kinders

Westgrove Primary School will be home to a new kindergarten in 2026.

A total of 13 kindergartens will open across the state, creating 1600 places for local children, for both three and four-year-old kindergarten, as well as pre-prepprogramsthroughoutVictoria.

Having kindergarten programs integrated into existing primary schools has become a popular trend throughout the state, allowing for a quicker drop off for parents with multiple children, and a more seamless transition for young children into primary school.

Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said that the new spaces will help to ensure as many children as possible have access to kindergarten from as early as possible.

“Connecting kinders with schools offers so many opportunities for our littlest learners – I’m so excited hundreds of children will soon be able to start kinder at their local school.”

“We’re building hundreds of kinders at schools across the state, helping to meetlocaldemandforkindergartenand making life simpler for hard-working parents and carers.”

Through the Best Start, Best Life reforms, the state government ise transformingearlychildhoodeducation to help children thrive, save families money, and support parents and carers toreturntoworkorstudyiftheychoose.

Cade

Lucas

From left: Sophie Belle Ginanne, Ryan Sharma, Isa Isaac and Kiyaan, four of the six newborns at Werribee Mercy Hospital on February 29. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 392085_01

Tarneit cut off after NBN outage

By Cade Lucas

A five day NBN outage in Tarneit left many residents disconnected from the outside world.

It’s understood internet coverage returned to the suburb at about 9.30am on February 28, having been out since the morning of Friday, February 23.

About 1650 premises in Tarneit were affected by the outage which is believed to have began as a scheduled outage, before extending much longer than expected.

An NBN spokesperson confirmed services in Tarneit had resumed.

“The outage has been resolved,” they said. “We’ve had to replace 1.2 kilometres of cable and that is now complete.”

The cable needed to be replaced after it was damaged in multiple sections, though it is unclear as to how the damage occurred. Noise restrictions in residential areas meant the outage took longer to repair as excavation works needed to replace the cable could only be done in daylight hours.

The NBN spokesperson apologised to Tarneit residents for the outage and the length of time taken to fix it.

“We know unplanned outages or inconvenient and frustrating and we

Sad time for Ramadan

Muslims across Wyndham will join nearly two billionworldwideinbeginningtheholymonth of Ramadan this Saturday March 9.

However, with this year’s Ramadan set to take place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and the death of thousands of Palestinian Muslims, it won’t have the same festive feel for followers such as Point Cook’s Benish Chaudhry.

“With the war in Gaza going on for over 150 days by the time we enter Ramadan, and no signsforittoend,Idon’tfindareasonforbeing happy about anything,” said Ms Chaudhry who is from Activate Youth, a not-for-profit organisation for young Muslims.

The current conflict in Gaza was sparked by the killing of an estimated 1200 Israeli citizens by Hamas militants on October 7.

The Israeli military operation launched in response has killed as many as 30,000

Palestinians in Gaza since, the vast majority of them Muslims.

“IamnotaPalestinian,butmymentalhealth has significantly declined since October 7, and Ihonestlydon’thaveameasuretoknowwhere I am standing now,” said Ms Chaudhry of the impact the conflict has had on her despite being half a world away.

Shesaidthisyear’sRamadanwillbedifferent and more difficult as a result.

“This year alongside the usual rites of Ramadan, I intend to see the world without the filter of power, hunger for growth or the pressure to fit in, but for what is right. I intend to value the life of each person regardless of race,” she said.

“I can’t expect my fast to be accepted if I don’t come out of Ramadan as a better human and this Ramadan is going to be my toughest.”

apologise for the inconvenience.”

Among those inconvenienced was software engineer Madhukar Pedagani who lives in Emerald Park Estate, Tarneit.

“I work at home, I need high speed internet and my life revolves around the internet, not just work,” he said.

“The doorbell and CCTV cameras need internet because they’re connected to wifi. The vacuum cleaner is connected because it’s a robo vacuum, my printer as well. I couldn’t use any of it.”

Along with his wife and child, Mr Pedagani shares his home with his mother who he said was particularly inconvenienced.

“My mum doesn’t have a mobile phone, she just uses the internet but she couldn’t use it to contact people.”

A customer of Aussie Broadband, Mr Pedagani said his internet provider kept referring to the outage as a ‘complex issue’, but that otherwise he was kept in the dark.

Aussie Broadband declined to comment.

After getting by using internet from his mobile phone and also spending two days working from an office, Mr Pedagni was grateful to see his coverage return on Wednesday morning.

“I’m very relieved. Absolutely.”

Cade Lucas

Point Cook Muslim leader Benish Chaudhry, has a message for Wyndham’s Islamic community ahead of Ramadan. (Damjan Janevski) 392519_01

West land the most affordable

Melbourne’s western growth corridor has taken the mantle as the city’s most affordable region to buy new land, with a median lot price of $365,000 during the December quarter according to a new report.

RPM Research, Data and Insight’s 2023 Victorian Greenfield Market Report revealed it was the first time in almost five years the west had claimed the title of most affordable of Melbourne’s four growth corridors, with a 5.2 per cent dip in prices seeing it overtake the northern corridor, where values lifted 2.4 per cent to $378,900.

The west accounted for the lions’ ‘share of sales during the quarter, with 723 new lots changing hands, representing 41 per cent of all land sales across the four growth corridors – and eclipsing the north at 531 sales, south east at 379 and Geelong at 137.

Thefigurewasboostedbystrongdemandin Melton, where sales lifted 10 per cent, making it the only Melbourne region to experience growth during what was a tough quarter across the board.

In the broader western growth corridor, sales declined five per cent, significantly lower

Home run for upgrade

Wyndham’s young people can look forward to rolling, dropping in and climbing into actionatLawrieEmminsReserveinLaverton North with upgrades to its youth and skating facility launched this week.

Jointly funded by the state government and Wyndham council, the works will transform the reserve into a recreation precinct for skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes, as well as offering bouldering walls for exercise and climbing and outdoor courts for basketball and netball.

Once completed, the facility will also feature a large plaza with shade and seating, BBQ and picnic facilities, irrigated high-quality lawn areas with landscaping, public toilets, and car parking.

Construction will include service connection points for community events and performances, allowing for large

food trucks to access the reserve and electricity to be provided for festivals and events.

As well as catering for young people, the upgraded reserve will also give access to a large recreation space for residents of all ages in Laverton North and nearby suburbs such as Williams Landing and Truganina.

Laverton MP Sarah Connolly launched the upgrade on Tuesday and said once completed, the 70 hectare facility would be of great benefit to the local community.

“Through projects like this we are helping to build thriving places and connected communities, where people live their best lives in the company of family, friends and neighbours,” she said.

Ms Connolly also acknowledged Wyndham council for its commitment to the project and financial contribution of $2.2 million.

Hub for youth services

Young people in Wyndham and the western suburbs again have a space to come together, networkandlearn,withthenewlyrefurbished Wyndham Youth Services Hub in Hoppers Crossing now open.

Originally closed for refurbishment in June last year, the hub was officially reopened on Friday March 1 by Minister for Youth Natalie Suleyman, with Wyndham mayor Jennie Barrera and local MP’s Dylan Wright and Mathew Hilakari also in attendance for the occasion.

Theupgrade,whichwasfundedby$150,000 from the state government’s 2022/23 Youth Hubs Grant Program, will result in all Wyndham’s youth service providers being housed under the one roof.

Minister Suleyman said this would make life easier for youth in the municipality.

“This upgraded Youth Hub in the western suburbs is a one-stop hub, making services

more accessible to local young people.”

Cr Barrera said the upgrade was an example of state and local government cooperation.

“Wyndham City and the Allan Labor Government have partnered together to fund the refurbishment of this popular youth space, ensuring it is welcoming and engaging for young people in Wyndham.”

Co-designed by young people to ensure the space is safe, appropriate, and tailored to their needs,therefurbishmentincludesupgradesto consulting rooms, the foyer and commercial kitchen and a dedicated multipurpose sensory space.

Wyndham Youth Services has been open since 2003, providing a multi-use space for young people aged 12 to 25 to access counselling, employment support and sport and recreation programs.

Cade Lucas

than the 12 per cent fall in Melbourne’s new land market where a total of 1770 sales were achieved in the three months to December.

Despite the fall in activity, prices remained stable across Melbourne during the quarter, declining just 0.5 per cent to an average $386,900, while the median lot size shrank 1.1 per cent to 350 square metres.

RPM project marketing national managing director Luke Kelly said while overall it had been a tough end to the year, buyers had entered 2024 with renewed confidence.

“Purchasers are recognising they are now

in the box seat to negotiate a good deal, with the sustained period of constrained sales favouring a buyers’ market,” he said.

“Developers are continuing to offer incentives in the order of five to 10 per cent, saving an average of about $30,000, and the selection of titled lots available means purchasers can have their choice of homesite and start building immediately if they desire.

“The combination of expected rate relief with falling inflation is likely to improve affordability and ease cost-of-living pressures for everyday households.”

The upgraded Wyndham Youth Services Hub in Hoppers Crossing is now open. (Supplied)

From left: Wyndham councillor Susan McIntyre, Laverton MP Sarah Connolly, Wyndham mayor Jennie Barrera and councillors Robert Szatkowski, Peter Maynard and Jasmine Hill at Lawrie Emmins Reserve on Tuesday. (Supplied)392120_01

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Healthy living festival

The Wyndham Festival for Healthy Living is a free multi-arts program involving many schools and community groups, which have been exploring positive ideas of community through circus, music, podcasting, dance, drumming and more. There will be free performances, arts and fashion workshops. A world kitchen will demonstrate delicious food from around the globe. There will also be performances by young people, bands, dancing, face painting, market stalls, roving puppets and more. The festival is on Saturday, March 16 at the Youth Resource Centre, 86 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing.

Live Well for Life

Live Well for Life is a free five-week program that provides support and information to Wyndham residents 18 and older, on a number of issues including how to make healthy behaviour changes, heart disease, diabetes and stroke, healthy eating, physical activity and sleep. The program will run at IPC Health, 117-129 Warringa Court, Hoppers Crossing in April and May. Registration is essential and participants must be able to attend all sessions.

■ livingwell@ipchealth.com.au or 1300

472 432

Point Cook VIEW

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

■ Catherine, 0407 726 852.

Watton Group

A support group providing a social space for carers to get together in a safe and compassionate environment. Gives carers an opportunity to connect, share their experiences and offers emotional and practical support. The group meets at the Eco-Living Centre at 10am every fourth Tuesday of the month.

■ Patricia, 0434 487 360 or wattongroup131@gmail.com.

Walking Netball

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

■ Phil, 0437 078 739

Wyndham Rotary

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

■ Julie, 0406 196 630

With One Voice Wyndham Choir

With One Voice Wyndham Choir is a community choir open to all. The community choir welcomes all ages, abilities, faiths, cultures and genders and is directed by a very experienced and friendly professional conductor. Fun weekly rehearsals and amazing performance opportunities are provided. They sing for an hour and then have a cuppa. The first two visits are free; and then payment is by tax-deductible donation. Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm at Wayaperri House ,106 Duncans Road, Werribee.

■ wyndham@withonevoice.org.au

Adult community garden group

The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month 10-11.30am at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Ave, Wyndham Vale. Head down and join them as we maintain their rejuvenated community garden. Planting and harvesting produce that they grow.

■ 8742 3688

International Women’s Day

Join the celebrations at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Ave, Wyndham Vale on Friday, March 8 at 10.30-11.30am for a morning tea and guest speaker from Wyndham Women’s Support Group as it celebrates International Women’s Day.

■ 8742 3688

Young Achievers Foundation

The Young Achievers Foundation is a non-profit foundation that supports high performance young people living in Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Maribyrnong who are aspiring to be elite in their chosen sport or the arts. The Foundation’s major fundraising event, its Golf Day, will be held at the Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club on Friday, March 15. You can book as an individual player and the foundation will put you in a team of four or gather your own group to make your own 4-ball. The day will finish with dinner, entertainment, auctions and raffles. The cost is $150 per person and golf carts may be available for an additional $50 (two golfers per cart).

■ Sam 0438 423 425, Alan 0417 512 742 or yaf3030@gmail.com

Seniors House of Fun

The Grange Community Centre invites seniors of Wyndham to its weekly Seniors House of Fun. This is a free program running every Friday 11am-12.30pm, at The Grange Community Centre, 260-280 Hogans Road, Hoppers Crossing.

■ Vanessa, 8742 8000 or enquires@ grangecommunity.org.au

Seniors club

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

■ 0403 041 499

Diabetes Support Group

The Werribee Diabetes support provides an opportunity to hear from experts on how to manage your diabetes, to share information on diabetes and to engage with other diabetics Meetings are at the old council shire buildings at 10am every second Friday of the month.

■ Bob, 0409 252872.

Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus

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

■ 0408 123 669

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/

U3A Werribee

The group is a not-for-profit community organisation for semi-retired and retired Wyndham residents. They hold a variety of classes-activities specifically designed for seniors, including, light physical and mental wellbeing sessions, arts, games and craft, and general classes such as current affairs, history and lunch groups. Most classes-activities are held at Wyndham community centres.

■ Rick, 0402 299 220.

Lions Club

Lions Club of Werribee meets at the RSL Club, 2a Synnot Street, Werribee on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm.

■ Jorge, 0433 566 575

Bingo for all

The Werribee RSL hosts Bingo every Monday between 12.30-2.30pm.

■ 9741 5525

Western Budgerigar Club

The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee.

■ Don, 0414 975 862

Wyndham Ladies Probus

Looking for fun, fellowship and to increase your social networks. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Hotel520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, and normally has an outing or event on the third Wednesday of each month.

■ Rosa Sanderson, 0410 303 046

Wyn FM

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

■ 9919 8089 wynfm.org.au

Wyndham Combined Probus Club

Wyndham Combined Probus Club has been providing friendship and fun for retired people for 22 years. They have recently moved to a new home at Iramoo Community Centre in Wyndham Vale and offer speakers, lunches, brunches, shows, trips and tours. Newcomers are welcome on the second Tuesday of the month at 1.30pm.

■ Judy 0411 034 311

Laverton Community Choir

The choir is open to new members. New male voices are particularly welcome. There are no auditions and you don’t need to be able to read music. If you enjoy singing, and are curious about joining a choir, come along and try out your vocal cords with this fun and inclusive group. Supper is included. The choir meets on Thursday during school terms at Laverton P12 College, 91 Bladin Street, Laverton from 7-9pm.

■ Sue 0418386147 or email

lavertoncommunitychoir@gmail.com

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

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of science teacher Sharelle Brownbill, who has been given a $10,000 grant to further her STEM studies.

(Damjan Janevski) 391167_01

ACROSS

1, 19-down Author of Alice'sAdventuresin Wonderland (5,7)

4 Practical (9)

9 Controller of meeting (5)

10 Ship’s petty officer (9)

11 Birds of prey (6)

12 Severe or harmful (8)

14 Makes a good point (10)

15 – de toilette (3)

17 Extraterrestrial craft (1.1.1)

19 Black and white (10)

23 Period of instruction (8)

24 Protozoan (6)

26 Music-makers (9)

27 Soldier of Hebrew Bible (5)

28 Replicated (9)

29 Sham (5)

DECODER

DOWN

1 Cabinet (6)

2 Argue noisily and angrily (7)

3 Waitstaff (7)

4 Bars (4)

5 Extremely greedy (10)

6 Govern incompetently (7)

7 Acrobatic apparatus (7)

8 Interpret (8)

13 Group of owls (10)

16 Rump (8)

18 Perfect (7)

19 See 1-across

20 Member of ancient Germanic tribe (7)

21 Breastbone (7)

22 Somewhat (6)

25 Utilised (4)

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

Today’s Aim:

19 words: Good

28 words: Very good

38 words: Excellent

No. 175

WORDFIT

3 LETTERS AID AIM AVO EEL EGO ERA EWE HER INN IOU LIE NEE NEW PRO PUT SKI TEE TIE TNT TOT UGH WRY YET

4 LETTERS ARIA BIRD BYES COST DEEM FEDS HEAD PEWS PROD SEEP SLUM SPED STUD TSAR WETS

5 LETTERS ACUTE AGREE AORTA ATONE AWAIT AWARE AZURE CARAT COMET DENIM DETER DOZEN EASED EDGES

aims, farm,

1 Who is the creator of comic strip CalvinandHobbes?

2 Myocardial infarction is the medical name for what bodily occurance?

3 Quentin Tarantino’s (pictured) 2021 debut fiction book is a novelisation of which of his films?

4 Belmopan is the capital city of which Central American country?

5 In which decade was the Rubik’s Cube invented?

6 Lion’s mane is one of the largest species of which marine animal?

7 The geometric shape torus can be colloquially described as what kind of shape?

8 The annual music festival Coachella is held in which US state?

9 What is the main flavour of the sweet spread kaya?

10 Novelist and poet James Joyce was born in which country?

No.

No. 175

No.

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Name the five sports that make up the modern pentathlon.

2. Which two golfers have won the most PGA Tour wins, with 82 each?

3. Hayley Raso was shortlisted for which international soccer award in 2023?

4. What are the three disciplines of fencing, which share their name with the type of blade used?

5. The cork centre of a baseball is known as a what?

6. Which Melbourne Demons star was recently forced into retirement following a concussion?

Name the ATP tennis tournament hosted annually in Doha.

Which country did retired gymnast Nadia Comaneci represent?

Australian Isaac Cooper won gold at the World Aquatic Championships for which event?

Which former AFLW player is set to join Channel 7’s 2024 commentary team?

How many goals did the Matildas score in their first Olympic qualifier against Uzbekistan?

WWE recently made its return to Australia with its Elimination Chamber event held in which city?

13. Actor Tom Selleck was originally offered what kind of sporting scholarship to Montana State University?

14. What colour are the laces on an AFL football?

15. A set of golf clubs is limited to a maximum of how many?

16. What sport is played by the central characters in the US TV series Yellowjackets?

17. Which Norwegian figure skater and actor holds the women’s record for the most Olympic and World Titles?

18. What is the title of tennis star Andre Agassi’s 2009 memoir?

19. Who is the coach of Manchester United FC?

20. What sport is set to premiere at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

21. Which stadium hosted the recent Matildas Olympic qualifier against Uzbekistan?

22. NRL star Adam Reynolds recently signed a contract extension with which club?

23. Jordin Canada won the WNBL MVP award after playing with which team during the 2023/24 season?

24. The LIV Golf League is returning to which Australian city in April?

25. Which NBL team has a mascot known as Birdman?

26. Cricketer Nathan Lyon recently called for an end to Test Series of what length?

27. Competitors from which two countries will compete under the banner of Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

28. The Winnipeg Jets are a team in which sporting competition?

29. In what year did Essendon last win an AFL final?

30. Darcy Moore is the captain of which AFL club?

1. Fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross country running 2. Sam Snead, Tiger Woods 3. Ballon d'Or Féminin 4. Foil, épée and sabre 5. Pill 6. Angus Brayshaw 7.

Toyota coupe in race to catch up

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring

It has taken more than a decade but the Toyota 86 has finally been given the boost it has deserved, with the third iteration joining the GR Supra and GR Yaris to benefit directly from Toyota’s multi-championship-winning involvement in international motorsport with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

It has some catching up to do.

Evolving from the original 86, launched in Australia in 2012 signalling Toyota’s renewed commitment to sports-car engineering –remembertheSupra,MR2andCelicaGT-Four - the classic front-engine/rear drive coupe has picked up the pace of the past 10 years.

The GR86, says Toyota, builds on this heritage with improved performance, dynamics, technology and styling, while retaining the affordability and usability of its predecessor. There’s no doubting the engineering advances over the original. The GR86autowillhit100km/hinbetween6.3and 6.8 secs, depending on the model, according to the maker.

However, there are some question marks against the pricing and comfort and convenience of the new car. The GR86 comes in two grades GT and GTS in manual and automatic versions. The new GR86 is priced at $43,240,pluson-roadcosts,fortheGTwiththe GTS (the test vehicle) costing $45,390, more than $8000 over the previous model (from $32,180).

As for comfort and convenience, getting in and out of the car can be fraught. Not only is the vehicle close to the ground, the two doors, on the wide side to allow entry to the back seats,havelimitedopeningintightspotsfound in modern public parking, requiring a degree of suppleness. On the plus side, there’s enough space to take four specialist wheels for a day at the track.

The GR86 is covered by Toyota Warranty Advantage, offering five-year unlimited

kilometre coverage extending to seven-years on engine and driveline, with capped-price servicing for the first five years or 75,000km and each 12-month/15,000m service costing $280.

Styling

On the outside, the GR86 retains the outgoing model’s sporty shape and proportions, while Toyota Gazoo Racing’s global motorsport input has added cooling and aerodynamic improvements with a 0.276 coefficient of drag.

Longer and lower than the previous 86, the new GR86 features a long bonnet, sloping rooflineandtaperedrearendwithaprominent lip spoiler, giving the vehicle a low, planted stance. GR badging front and rear.

The GTS has the advantage of intelligent adaptive LED headlights with auto-levelling and headlamp cleaner, LED daytime running lights and rear fog lights. Dual exhaust pipes and GR badging front and rear, plus 18-inch black alloy wheels with 215/40R18 tyres, complete the sporty look.

Interior

The new GR86 is offered in two trim levels, the GT featuring black fabric upholstery, while the GTS wears two-tone Ultrasuede and leather-accented upholstery in black/silver or black/red. While offering four sports-style deep-set seats, the coupe is strictly a 2+2, with rear leg room something of a myth, even with average-size adults in the front.

The 237 litres of luggage space is enough, Toyotaclaims,tocarrythefore-mentionedfour spare wheels for a day of circuit driving, when the rear seats are folded, or to take luggage for a weekend away.

Infotainment

All variants feature an upgraded 8-inch multimedia infotainment system with DAB+ digital radio and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen is

Toyota GR86 GT Manual and Automatic: $43,240

Toyota GR86 GTS Manual and Automatic: $45,390

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

mated with a configurable 7-inch TFT colour

LCDdisplaywithaTrackMode,designedwith help from Toyota Gazoo Racing’s professional drivers, to provide real-time readouts for circuit driving.

The six-speaker audio system is boosted by Active Sound Control for quality sound reproduction, hence occupant enjoyment.

Engines/transmissions

Powering the GR86 is a new 2.4-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine producing a maximum of 174 kW and 250 Nm, at least 22 kW and 38 Nm over the 2-litre motor it takes over from. Pairing with the unit are either a six-speed manual or six-speed torque-converter automatic, with the latter featuring paddle shifters and a range of drive modes to tailor performance to driver preferences.

Straight-line acceleration is also improved, with the GR86 automatic able to sprint from zero to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

Safety

Standard equipment across the range includes seven airbags, reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, ABS brakes, vehicle stability control, tyre pressure warning and front/rear seatbelt warnings.

Automatic models add more active safety equipment including pre-collision braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection,

parking support brake with rear parking sensors, active cruise control, and lane departure alert. GTS grades further add rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitor.

Driving

The naturally aspirated boxer engine provides linear throttle response and the ability to rev effortlessly up scale, with technologies including optimised D4-S direct injection helpingtoprovidesignificantlymoretorquefor better mid-range response.

With pleasant memories of the original 86, frankly, I would have traded in the auto transmissionofthetestvehicleforthesix-speed manual any day. More fun.

Toyota advises premium unleaded fuel and claims a combined urban/highway consumption of 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The test car recorded 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres in city traffic and 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the motorway.

Multiple advances have been made under the skin, including revisions to the suspension and steering, with larger-diameter front brakes and chassis reinforcements that significantly improve torsional and lateral rigidity.

A focus on weight reduction and a lower centre of gravity result in sharper agility, handling and responsiveness. A limited-slip Torsen differential on the rear axle is designed to maximise handling.

Those wanting to take their GR86 to the trackcanalsochoosefromfivedifferentvehicle stability control settings ranging from full on to being completely switched off.

Summary

The GR(-ed) Toyota 86, from the beginning, presented a few challenges. For a start there was the wallet-stripping price increase, then the need for human contortions to get in and out of the extra-low slung seating and finally, a smooth, if uninspiring, automatic driving experience. However, it’s getting there.

After a decade, Toyota is finally a serious sports car contender with its GR86 sports coupe. (Supplied)

Bees fall short in pennant title bid

Werribee’s quest for the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant division 2, section 1 title fell short on Saturday.

Having won through to the decider with a thrilling win against Bacchus Marsh in the semi finals, the Bees faced Deer Park 2 in the decider.

The Parkers had beaten Keilor and Bacchus Marsh in the first week of finals to get through to the grand final.

The Parkers continued that momentum into the grand final, winning 76 (17)-64 (1) on Saturday.

Bees skip chairman of selectors’ Mick O’Neil said in the end they were beaten by a better team on the day.

“It wasn’t to be, unfortunately,” he said. “ We didn’t get off to a good start and we were 15 shots down pretty early on.

“We chased all day and made a few runs and every time we did they responded. It’s a bit disappointing, but the guys gave it a crack.”

O’Neil said when you’re chasing there’s only so long your runs will last and it’s always hard to get back into the game and you need a bit of luck to get back into it.

He said the Parkers just had all the answers in the end.

Brendan Barker’s rink was the only one to come away with any points, drawing 18-all.

O’Neil’s rink lost 20-19, Robert Panton’s rink last 16-11 and Robert Smith’s rink lost 22-16.

The Bees 3 side also played their grand final at Altona on Saturday, meaning a big crowd to support the two sides which were playing side-by-side.

Unfortunately they fell short to Newport in the division 4 section 1 competition after being even midway through the match.

Newport winning 106 (16)-89 (2). Alan Taylor was the winning skip for the Bees.

With their top side having gone one better than last season, O’Neil said there was still plenty to take out of this season.

He’s hoping they can go one better next season and get back into division 1.

“We made improvements from last year to this year and we will improve heading into next year,’ he said.

“We have a few younger guys who keep improving, hopefully we will get there next year. We still did make a grand final and many others didn’t, we have to look at the positives.”

TaraMurray

Underdog Warriors ready for finals action

By Harper Sercombe

Point Cook is heading back to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 finals.

The Warriors needed to win on Saturday against Pascoe Vale Hadfield to secure a spot within the top four.

While it wasn’t always looking promising for the Warriors a strong bowling performance was able to take them to a 34 run victory.

After winning the toss and batting the Warriors weren’t able to see out their overs, being dismissed for 163 in the 38th over.

Mayank Sharma was the only Warrior who was able to make a significant contribution making 53 off 72 deliveries.

Coach Carmine Conte said it was an impressive knock from his number four.

“He’s quite an aggressive player but he read the situation and batted very sensibly which was very good to see,” he said.

WiththeballtheWarriorsweremuchbetter, with both Panthers openers gone in the first five overs.

From that point, wickets fell throughout the Panthers’ innings with none of the batters able

to put together a significant partnership until it was too late with the Panthers falling for 129 after 39 overs.

Sharma, Harvinder Singh and Vishay Ramchander all took two wickets for the Warriors.

Conte said he was pleased with the performances across the board.

“It was good conditions for cricket and the boys played well,” he said.

“We probably left a few runs out there, we didn’t bat out our overs but our bowling effort was pretty good.”

Last season the Warriors finished as minor premiers but lost to Sunbury in a semi final.

This season, Conte said he is looking forward to going into this weekend’s Saturday-Sunday clash as the underdog, facing top team the Williamstown Imperials.

“Thisyearwegoinastheunderdog,lastyear we went in as favourites,” he said. “It’s just one game at a time and we’ll see what happens.

“I tipped this to be a semi before the start of the season and that’s the way it panned out which is unbelievable.”

Conte said playing away at Fearon Reserve is

Sports shorts

Nike FC Cup

The first two rounds of the 2024 Nike F.C Cup with 74 teams learning their fate. Round one will be played on the weekend of March 17 and round two is set to be played on the weekend of March 24. The entrants for round one women’s state league 3, 4 and 5 as well as regional and metropolitan clubs. In round one West Point will play the Frankston Pines.

Big V

The fixtures for the upcoming Big V season have been released, with the championship men’s and women’s competitions kicking off on April 6. The top flight competitions are starting later than usual with division 1 and 2 starting on March 16. In round one, Wyndham’s men’s side will face Shepparton on the April 6 The women’s Wyndham outfit will begin its season on the same day against the Bellarine Storm.

VFL

Werribee came away with the win in the Victorian Football League standalone pre-season tournament on Saturday. Werribee faced the Coburg Lions, Werribee won 13.6 (84)-6.8 (44) Jay Dahlhaus was on fire up forward with three goals, while Cooper Whyte and Riley Bice both had strong games in the win.

Baseball

notabadthingfortheWarriors,withitbeinga good batting wicket in Williamstown.

“At their ground which is a great batting deck,”hesaid.“Sowe’reconfidentthere,welike the ground and they are a great opposition.”

Off the back of a one day match to finish the home and away season, Conte said he was also happy to be returning to the longer format of the game.

“We’re definitely a two day team so we’re looking forward to a two day game,” he said.

Inotherdivision3results,WerribeeCentrals finished its season with its first win of the season.

Despite a final round win the Centrals were unable to avoid relegation.

On Saturday, the Centrals defeated Kingsville, which also finished the season with just one win.

The Centrals batted first and posted 8-197 from its 40 overs. Waqar Shah top scored with a quick fire 45 batting at eight.

In reply Kingsville could only reach 142 before it was bowled out in the 39th over.

Shah,UsmanAshrafandRishanHettiHewa took two wickets each.

The Werribee Giants suffered a shock loss on Saturday in the Baseball Victoria men’s state league first competition. Sitting in top spot, the Giants lost in the final round to Mulgrave 13-7. Mulgrave took the lead in the first winning and were able to build on that, leaning 12-1 after five innings. The Giants reduced to to 12-5 after six innings, but weren’t able to close the gap, losing 13-7. The Giants face Essendon on Sunday in the second last round of the regular season.

CVWCCC

Point Cook Centrals finished their Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition shield division 3 season with a loss to Craigieburn. The Sharks made 7-125 with the Eagles finishing 6-126 in reply. The Sharks finished the season bottom of the table.

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Robert Smith (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Karandeep Singh (Jacob Pattison)386776_03

Werribee Giants women primed for finals

The Werribee Giants are preparing for a big final series as they hope to go one better than last season in the Baseball Victorian women’s summer league.

Having made a surprise grand final last season,theGiantstopwomen’ssidesitsontop of the women’s metro north-west ladder.

Giants coach Bronwyn Gell said they had been thrilled with how the season has gone so far.

“It is nice,” she said. “We have one more game left for the season.

“It’s my first year coaching at Werribee this year and I didn’t know what to expect from the playing group and the competition.

“The Werribee girls made finals last year and made the grand final. It’s nice to be back up there again.”

Gell said the playing group was definitely keen to go one step further than last season.

They currently sit four games clear on top of the ladder.

With a finals appearance for their top side, the White side, on the horizon, the club has also had success in fielding a second side this season, the Blue side.

Both teams play in the same competition.

Gell said it had been a bit different having two sides this season.

“It has had its challenges,” she said. “It’s been good to grow the program.

“It has been challenging with playing numbers and trying to fill two sides every week. We have a good crew of fill in players, friends, sisters and cousins and it’s been lots of fun.

“We’ve only had to forfeit the second team once for the season, which is pretty good for the whole program.”

Gell said she believed the experience of last

season and making a grand final. She said they’d had a number of young players also come up and bring some energy on the field.

TheWhitesidefinishedtheirregularseason against Preston, while the Blue side finishes against second placed Research.

“The Blue team is hoping to go out on a win and the White team we’re trying to get confidence in positions ahead of finals,” Gell said before the matches..

The White side claimed a 15-7 win against Preston, hitting 13 runs in the first two innings.

The Blue side finished the season with a 0-0 drawwithResearch.Thesidefinishedinninth spot for the season.

Tara Murray

Cats full of confidence

By Tara Murray

Hoppers Crossing got the perfect preparation foritsreturntoVictorianSub-DistrictCricket Association north-west finals, beating arch rival Werribee on Saturday.

For much of the season, the final round clash between the two Wyndham teams seemed like it would decide who would play finals.

But as luck would have it, both teams qualified for finals in the second last round, meaning the final round was for position only.

It was the Cats that would take bragging rights into the final, winning quite easily.

The Cats made 7-204 from their overs with Sanka Ramesh Abeyruwan top scoring with 80 in the middle of the order.

Finlay Cowell was the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers, taking 4-46.

The Tigers batters never got going and were bowled out for 108 with Jonathan Burton top scoring with 25 not out.

Fawad Ahmed and Brett Smith took three wickets for the Cats.

Cats captain-coach Simon Lambert said they were starting to put some of their best cricket together at the right end of the season.

He said like many others thought their finals fate would come down to the final game of the season.

“The last couple of weeks could have gone either of two ways,” he said. “ We’ve won three or four of our last five games and come into finals with some good form and it was a good win yesterday.

”We’re starting to hit our straps at the right time of the season.”

Lambert said the side was looking for to the challenge against the Tigers, a side he said was always up for it.”

Lambert said their total was decent and they had backed their bowlers to do the job to get the win.

He said for them, it’s their betting that usually determines the result.

The win ensure the Cats finished in fourth spot, with the Tigers in fifth..

The Cats face Kew in the semi finals, with Lambert saying a top four spot was crucial

Hawks seniors grounded

Glen Orden will not field a senior men’s team for the upcoming Western Region Football League season.

The Hawks were unable to take the field in 2023 for the second time in six seasons and said in November it was aimingtohaveateamfortheupcoming season.

Star Weekly understands the Hawks were unable to field both a seniors and reserves side and will instead just have a ‘thirds’ side that will play in a new WRFL competition.

Late last year Hawks’ president Peter MacDonald said he was confident his club would have two sides for 2024. The club was contacted last week for comment.

“We’re certainly more than confident that we’ll lead a team on the park next year, with the feedback we’ve got, the communication we’ve had from new and old players from around the area,” he said last year.

“We’re looking at having two competitive teams next year in what’s going to be a joint second division competition.

“We’ve got 30 odd on the books already, there’s still a long way to go to get those two teams.”

Via social media the club announced Rod Williams as its coach for the next two seasons in February.

come finals.

Lambert and several of his teammates have never played at Kew before.

“It gives you the chance of possibility getting the second chance, but hopefully we don’t need it,” he said.

“We’re pretty happy to play anywhere in the top six. We back ourselves to beat anyone.

“They’ve got a couple of off pace bowlers who have taken 30-40 wickets each and a couple of really good bats it’ll be interesting to see the depth around them,.

“We’ve got two leg spinners who we think can cover them and we’ve got three off spinners as well.

“If it’s better for the slower bowlers, it plays into our hands.”

Werribee will face Spotswood in its first final, a rematch of last season’s grand final.

The Tigers won the last time the two teams met.

Altona will face St Bernards in the other final.

The post also stated that the club is reporting “good” numbers at training as a team in the senior competition of the league remaining the goal for the club.

“Training has commenced on Wednesdays from 6pm sharp with some good numbers starting to appear on the track,” it said.

Previously some WRFL clubs have fielded their thirds sides in the Riddell District Football League Club 18 competition.

Last season, WRFL clubs such as Wyndhamvale, Yarraville Seddon, Caroline Springs, Albion and Point Cook played in the RDFL thirds comp.

It’s expected that these clubs along with Glen Orden will make up six of 12 teams in the new competition.

The WRFL division 2 fixture has been removed from the league’s website and an amended fixture without Glen Orden is expected to be released in the coming days.

Werribee Giants women. (Supplied)

Sharks sneak into finals with last round victory

Point Cook Centrals held their nerve to win through to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 4 finals on Saturday.

A spot in the top four was on the line for the Sharks and Bellbridge in their final round match, with the winner to play finals and the loser to miss out.

TheSharksbattedfirstandmade9-148from their overs.

Skipper Brett Talbot top scored with 30 in the middle. Andrew Wilks took three wickets for Bears.

Bellbridge was on top early in its run chase and seemed headed for finals. The Sharks fought back late and were able to bowl the Bears out with two overs remaining.

Themarginwasjustsixruns,withtheBears bowled out for 142.

Daniel Spencer top scored in the chase with 64, while Owen Doolan took three wickets for the Sharks.

Sharks captain Brett Talbot said it was a good feeling to play finals in their first season in division 4.

“We’ve been on a journey for a few years now,” he said. “We’ve gone up from division 5 into division 4 and we thought we’d have a chance to be in a finals position at the end of the season before the season began.”

Talbot said they started well with the bat on Saturday before falling away in the middle order to let Bellbridge back into the game.

He said while they would have liked more runs,theoldrunsontheboardcameintoplay.

“Our bowlers did a fantastic job, they bowledsupertight,”hesaid.“Theyweresuper aheadofthegameanditdoesgothroughyour mind.

“We’re a pretty positive team and believe we can win from anywhere.”

With the Sharks top side making finals, their top three teams will all feature in finals.

All three have gone up grades this season.

“Our seconds are third,” he said. “They had won two in a row in division 5 and have had a really good year.

“Our thirds have done up a couple of grades and are playing in another finals series. It’s very encouraging and exciting for everyone.

“Our women’s second team is also in finals and our under-17s were knocked out in the semifinal,there’sstillgrowthpotentialthere.”

The Sharks first XI side will face Gellibrand in a knock out semi final on Saturday and Sunday.

Talbot knows they are underdogs.

“We’ve had four straight winning performances,” he said. “We’ve been putting everything together to be in a finals position.

“Last year we felt like we’d played our finals beforewegottofinals,thisyarwe’restillreally energised.”

Making his mark again

By Tara Murray

torn up the track on his return.

A personal best in the 100 metres in Canberrainhisfirsteventbackshowedhehad lost none of his pace.

He followed it up with his best run representing Australia in the under-20 team at the Cathy Freeman Shield in Brisbane.

The team of Newah-Jarfoi, Cody Hasler, Sebastian Sultana and Gout Gout left their rivals stunned, not only winning the race, but breaking the under-20 Australian and Oceania records.

Newah-Jarfoi said it was kind of surreal to have broken that record.

“I think it’s kind of got more to do with my journey that I’ve been on,” he said. “I had my hamstring injury not too long ago.

“Coming back and obviously getting an Australian record is insane.

“We had been training the whole week beforehand,wewereprettyconfidentthinking we were good throughout the week…It was

not a complete shock.

“It’s a record, not always going to go in and think we’re going to get a record today, when in with the mindset to try and do our best.”

For the team it was the first time that they had all raced together which made the feat more remarkable.

For Newah-Jarfoi the fact that he’s running faster than ever has shocked him after his hamstring injury.

His first competition he broke his personal best time, running 10.427.

“My first race back was the Canberra ACT championships, a few weeks back,” he said.

“Coming back from my hamstring injury, I was still a bit sceptical, still conscious in my head that’ll I’ll not run as fast.

“I had a good opener and my coach said to me between the heats and finals… You’ve got the capability to run a 10.4, don’t know if you’re going to do it today, you’ve got to be consistent and keep working towards it.

“Iendeduprunning10.4inthefinal.Icalled him afterwards and he was like, I didn’t know you were going to run it today it was definitely a big shoot and good confidence boost.”

Werribee adds another forward

In the week leading up to the Victorian Football League standalone carnival and Werribee’s second preseason practice match, the club has signed promising small forward Mitch Chafer.

The talented 24-year-old spent two seasonshoninghiscraftwiththeGeelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League. Following his stint with the Falcons, he moved on to play in the Geelong Football League with Grovedale, where his standout performances in the 2022 and 2023 seasons earned him VFL experience with Geelong in both years.

In Chafer’s 2022 breakout season, he featured in 13 games for Grovedale and booted 32 goals, with his 2.5 goal a game average securing him a spot in the GFL team of the year. This solid performance also earned him a VFL debut, where he made an impression with three appearances for the Cats in the back end of the season, kicking four goals.

In 2023, Chafer took his game to another level, dominating with 42 goals in just 15 games for Grovedale. These performances, once again, earned him a spot in the team of the year, and saw him feature in a handful of games for Geelong to end the season.

Newah-Jarfoi said his relay race was his best race so far and was hoping that he would continue to step it up in the coming months.

While 100 metres is his main focus, he will alsoagainstartracing200metreseventsinthe coming weeks to help with his preparation.

“Everythingisgoingtoplanatthemoment,” he said. “We’ve set out the next five weeks of racing, leading up to nationals in Adelaide.

“Hopefully get the world junior qualifier for Peru this year. I’ve got a few races coming up.

“I’m making sure on my mind, that I’ve got a clear mindset going to run.

“My motto this season has been run for fun and that is when the performances have come.

For Newah-Jarfoi, who did think about focusing on other sports a few years ago, running is where his heart is now.

“I had rugby and other sports,” he said. “Track and field is the one I’ll stick with at the moment.

“It’s been a long journey. How far I’ve come and with my teammates around me, the passion of mine that has grown.

“I think I will definitely stay in sport for a long time.”

Werribee football manager Ash Collins said he was excited about Chafer’s arrival, lauding his talent and work ethic.

“Mitch has impressed all pre-season, from being a standout in October’s trials to making an impact on Friday night against Williamstown at Deakin,” he said.

“Mitch has consistently demonstrated a really good goal sense, hitting the scoreboard at all levels he’s played at, as we’ve seen during his stints at both Grovedale and Geelong VFL.”

Mitch Chafer (Werribee Football Club)

Tara Murray Rasanjana Jayarathna (Jacob Pattison)392482_01

Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi (second from left) with his relay teammates. (Supplied)

A hamstring injury to Western Athletics Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi hasn’t derailed his form as he has