Star Weekly - Brimbank North West - 25th June 2024

Women’s Health Matters

Star Weekly is shining a light on the healthcare issues facing women in the western and northern suburbs.

Over the next 12 months, our ‘Women’s Health Matters’ campaign will focus on the challenges facing women, including access to specialised and preventative healthcare, the availability of culturally appropriate healthcare and the adequacy of mental health services. We hope the campaign will help to raise awareness of critical healthcare issues for women and advocate for underserved communities in the west and north, particularly those in fringe suburbs and from minority communities.

We want to empower women in the north-west to address their healthcare needs.

Included in the campaign will be stories of resilience highlighting personal accounts of women who have overcome health challenges, advocacy initiatives, community engagement and collaborations with healthcare organisations.

We also want to hear from you about your individual healthcare experiences. If you have a story you would like to share, please get in touch via westeditorial@starweekly.com.au

Screening breakthrough

By Hannah Hammoud

A ground-breaking national campaign promoting the HPV self-collection option for cervical screening is helping bring empowerment and choice to women’s health acrossAustralia.

This initiative aims to address health equity by reaching under-screened populations, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD), and patients withdisabilities.

The National Cervical Screening Program

encourages women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 years of age to have a cervical screening test every five years through their healthcare provider, in a bid to reduce illness anddeathfromcervicalcancer.

The Cancer Council details that self-collectioniswhenawomanorpersonwith a cervix takes their own sample for cervical screening. A health care professional provides a cotton swab as well as instructions on how to collect the sample. A private place is also offeredtocollectthesample.

The Department of Health and Aged Care reports that about 800 women are diagnosed

with cervical cancer in Australia each year, and about 70 per cent of these cases occur in women who have never screened or were not up-to-datewiththeirscreening.

GenWest sexual and reproductive health team leader Sarah Lorrimar said the initiative willhelptobridgethegapincervicalscreening participationamongdiversepopulations.

“It’s going to make a huge difference to how many people are accessing a cervical screen,” she said. “Cervical screens can be uncomfortable for anyone. For most people, going and getting a cervical screen isn’t the mostpleasantexperiencebutthenthere’sother

people where the process actually makes them feel unsafe and has emotional and physical effects on them too. There are people that have had medical trauma and sexual trauma that the process of getting a cervical screen can be extremely daunting for them and being able to self-collect means that they’ve got a greater senseofsafety,comfort,andcontrol.”

Ms Lorrimar said for women who have undergone female genital cutting, the traditional cervical screening process can be particularlydaunting.

■ Continued: Page 8.

Highly trained professionals are taking care of women’s health in the west every day. (Picture courtesy: Royal Women’s Hospital)

Brimbank will ‘move forward’

By Gerald Lynch

Brimbank council is set to apologise for events that occurred last October in a step toward getting council back on track, following a report by state government-appointed municipal monitors.

Municipal monitors Janet Dore and Penelope Holloway were appointed to oversee the council and promote good governance, starting February 12.

As reported by StarWeekly , the monitors were appointed after months of tension within the council, with several councillors failing to attend two council meetings late last year,

which led to one meeting not being held at all.

Two councillors, Maria Kerr and Virginia Tachos, highlighted feeling unsafe at the time.

In the recent report, a number of concerns were outlined by the monitors, including failure to give effect to the overarching governance principles in section 9 (2) of the Local Government Act 2020, and failures to take into account the supporting principles in section 9 (3) of the act, this includes public transparency and service performance.

Concerns were also voiced toward councillors’ ability to perform their role in accordance with section 28 of the act, with behaviour that may be inconsistent with

the standards of conduct in the council’s Councillor Code of Conduct.

At a June 18 council meeting, Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said she supports the monitors’ report, and said all councillors are working to understand their obligations.

“There are serious concerns, and I am pleased that councillors have committed to take these matters seriously,” she said.

“Good governance is essential in ensuring council is run properly and effectively.

“I’d like to thank the monitors for their ongoing support throughout this period.”

Councillor Victoria Borg said the council owes the community an apology, after a period

Mitch Tambo leads school singalong

Students from Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Primary School in Sunshine were last week treated to a performance by Mitch Tambo, an indigenous Australian who performs traditional song and dance all over the country.

Tambodescribedhisexperienceattheschool as full of love, joy, happiness, and excitement, as his show got the kids up and about on a cold winter day.

“I always get the kids up on their feet singing along. It often turns into a very fun and safe

version of a mosh pit,” he said.

“It’s been amazing and the kids have loved it. It’s been incredible to travel the country with the tour and share anecdotes about culture, positive vibes and coming together. In between the songs I tell little snippets about my life –such as how I grew up, how I became interested in my culture, and how important it is to have people believe in you – or for you to believe in someone else.”

Culture and sense of pride are a huge part of Tambo’s performances, as he seeks to break

down cultural barriers one song at a time.

“I just make sure I’m authentic and true to myself and celebrate who I am through my celebrationofmusic,songandculture,”hesaid.

“For some kids this is their first experience of being at a pop concert. Seeing a performer like me who sings in both indigenous language and English is really eye opening for kids. It’s howyoubreakbarriersandhelptoshiftcertain ideologies and stereotypes.”

Gerald Lynch

of poor behaviour.

“The people of the Brimbank community entrusted us with the responsibility to abide by the code of conduct and other relevant policies,” she said.

“As a council it’s imperative to honour that responsibilitywithgreatdignityandrespect… I can assure the community that as a council, we are trying our very best with the help of the monitors and we will move forward.”

An official apology will be issued to the community in July.

The municipal monitors will continue overseeing council proceedings until December 31.

A concrete pumping company has been fined $50,000 after a worker was killed by a broken boom pump.

The 40-year-old worker was using a truck-mounted pumping machine to pour a concrete slab at St Albans in May 2021 when he was killed, the court was told.

The 32-metre boom pump suddenly collapsed, striking him on the back of the head and knocking him into the concrete.

Prisbel Concrete Pumping Pty Ltd was sentenced in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide or maintain a safe plant.

ItfollowedaWorkSafeinvestigation, which found the metal fatigue crack that caused the boom to collapse was possibly detectable for at least a year before the incident.

Prisbel had arranged regular inspections of the boom pump since 2010, but none had involved disassembling the unit and testing critical components.

WorkSafe executive director Sam Jenkin said the man’s death could have been prevented.

“A worker has lost his life, leaving behind devastated family and friends whose lives will never be the same,” he said.

“Proper safety testing and maintenance is crucial when working with machinery – it’s just part of doing business and there’s no excuse for failing to test regularly and thoroughly.”

The company was convicted and ordered to pay $8179 in costs.

Thefts from unlocked cars cause crime rise in Brimbank

Theft is up in Brimbank as overall criminal figures remain steady, but still above state average, according to new data released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).

Recorded criminal offences decreased by 0.5 per cent across Brimbank, with 83 fewer offences recorded in the 12 months to March 2024, compared to the previous 12 months, for a total of 17,221 criminal offences.

The suburbs of St Albans (3413 offences recorded) and Sunshine (3267 offences recorded) remain the top two hot spots for crime within the municipality.

Sunshine North had a strong increase in offences recorded, jumping up by 383 offences from 1170 to 1553 in the 12 months to March.

The data revealed that stealing from a motor vehicle (2404 offences recorded), and other theft (1645 offences recorded) remain the top two offences in Brimbank.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the increase in car theft can in part be attributed to unlocked cars.

“Unfortunately, we have seen an 18 per cent rise in car thefts and thefts from cars in the last year,” the spokesperson said.

“That’s why it is so important to always secure your vehicle. If there is less opportunity for theft it is less likely to occur.

“What we know is offenders roam up and down streets until they find an unlocked vehicle.

“Please lock your car at all times, even if it’s in a secure driveway, and always remove items that you wouldn’t want stolen.

“We conduct 24-7 patrols of the area and investigate all thefts thoroughly, however simply locking vehicles is the best thing the community can do to help us help them.”

The spokesperson also said that a growth in population means the numbers are not as bad as they first appear.

“When population growth is considered, overall crime in Brimbank is at its third lowest levels in a decade,” the spokesperson said.

“Overall crime has also dropped by 14 per cent since pre-pandemic years.”

Across Victoria, there were 535,673 criminal offences recorded in the 12 months to March 2024, an increase of 39,261 offences or 7.9 per cent from the previous 12 months.

Gerald Lynch

Mitch Tambo performing in Sunshine. (Damjan Janevski) 413327_01

Fresh start for gambling foundation from July 1

With the dismantling of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF), the state government is starting a new model to deal with gambling harm.

Brimbank has the highest losses to electronic gaming machines of any Victorian local government area, totalling $172.8 million in 2022-23.

VRGF acting chief executive Craig Swift said the 12 years the foundation has run has provided a strong body of knowledge about gambling harm, and that it has served its purpose as a public health approach.

“The foundation’s functions and related activities will be delivered under a new operational model as of July 1,” he said.

“That work will continue to build the gambling harm knowledge base, and

contribute to strategies that minimise gambling-related harm at an individual, community and population level.”

Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, who sits on the board of the VRGF, threw her support behind the decision to close it.

“I have seen the good work that has happened at the VRGF, and I have proudly sat in the board meetings and listened to everyone’s thoughts and the varied debates that have occurred during that time,” she said.

“As I have said before in this place, I absolutely loathe pokie machines and organised gambling because I have seen first-hand the destruction that they cause.

“The government’s new model of prevention and response will mean that gambling harm reduction,preventionandtherapeuticservices

will sit together in health to support a broad public health approach. It would also mean that publicly funded research is connected to and informs improvements to these vital health services.”

Laverton MP Sarah Connolly backed the decision to move onto a new model.

“It is about taking the foundation, which I believe was set up 12 years ago, having a look at it and thinking about: does it reflect what we need today? The answer to that was ‘maybe not’,” she said.

“We need to do something else, and that is what this bill is going to. It is going to transfer thoserolesandresponsibilitiesintootherareas and other departments, which will be able to take a more hands-on approach and hopefully help improve and offer support to people and

Disability can be hidden

By Gerald Lynch

Public transport throughout the city is equipped with priority seating, wheelchair, and walker spaces, ensuring those who need the space the most always have access, but contention often surrounds who is qualified to use it.

For Sunshine’s Catherine Beck, who silently suffers from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, a recent bus trip left her sore and embarrassed after feeling forced to move out of her spot.

“I was on the bus freshly discharged from an overnighter in hospital. I did not have my walker with me but I was wearing my sunflower lanyard to identify a hidden disability,” she said.

The hidden disabilities sunflower lanyard was introduced to subtly display that a person has a disability or condition that may not be apparent to the naked eye.

Ms Beck said she wishes more people understood the lanyard’s importance, and that if you’re unsure; ask.

“When multiple prams, trolleys, and walkers got on the bus and I did not move from the disabled bay right away, [I] copped the dirtiest filthiest looks from people. I was tired, sore and in no state to argue so I eventually caved due to peer pressure and nearly went down like a ton of bricks twice as I relocated seats as the bus moved.

“After a while you grow a thick skin, but some days when you’re unwell it can really be damaging to mental health and hurtful, especially when they don’t even ask, they assume.”

As an ambient walking aid user, Ms Beck has good and bad days.

On her bad days, needing to stand on the bus leaves her with a serious risk of collapsing due to imbalance or weakness.

For other commuters, it is impossible for them to know what physical state she is in on any given day, which is why she said it’s important for people to give others the benefit of the doubt before judging or making

comments when seeing somebody else in the priority area.

“I understand that it is human nature to judge a book by its cover but since when has it become a thing to slander the book and burn it when you never even bothered to read what

it’s about first?” she said.

“A person of any age with a disability should not have to grow a thick skin, ignore the comments and looks or ‘get used to it’.

“Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself … a little kindness goes a long way.”

West artists are invited to show their work

Returning for another year, the Show Your Westside art exhibition will give artists across the west a space to display their art and win prizes generously donated by the community.

The exhibition is by artist Sally Walshe, also known as Lady Mohawk, who said the lack of a community art space sparked the idea for the exhibition.

“I returned this year to run the exhibition because the community has repeatedly asked me to due to the success of last year,” she said.

“We lack non-exclusive art opportunities in the west, and particularly in Maribyrnong, for local artists.

“It’s also important to have free, accessible

and inclusive art exhibitions for the whole community and there really aren’t any at the moment, especially in the inner west.“

This year’s theme is ‘west side stories’, which Walshe said is open to interpretation for all who enter.

The exhibition is free to enter for school aged youths through to adults, for anyone across the western suburbs.

“I have changed the exhibition by having a broader theme, that way people can interpret it whichever way they want,” she said.

“I have also increased the mediums to include anything from audio-visual, paintings to performance art.

also their families that are suffering with gambling harm and having someone in their home that is addicted to gambling.”

Brimbank council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said council encouragesallformsofpreventativemeasures.

“Brimbank council continues to be deeply concerned about the disproportionately high losses from EGMs on the Brimbank community. We look forward to working collaboratively with the newly established Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to keep the gambling industry to account and prevent gambling harm,” she said.

Deer Park station gets green nod

The new Deer Park Train Station has been nominated for an Australasian Rail Industry sustainability award, thanks to the environmentally-focused design of the project.

The elevated station was built during the removal of the level crossing at nearby Mt Derrimut Road in 2023.

When it opened it was the first station to use structural concrete made with recycled plastic, which reduced the carbon footprint of the concrete by 40 per cent.

A further 300 tonnes of carbon have also been saved every year thanks to hundredsofsolarpanelsonthestation’s new bus shelters, which help provide an alternative energy source to power the precinct.

Cooling features were also included in the new station precinct to help reduce heat and create a cooler suburb for locals with more than 500 new and upgraded car parks sealed with CoolSeal, a sealing agent that reduces the heat generated by asphalt surfaces and helps to reduce temperatures.

The precinct also includes Victoria’s first rooftop garden on a station building, and more than 50,000 new trees, shrubs and grasses were planted across the station precinct.

The new station precinct includes lift access to both platforms, an air-conditioned waiting room, new station forecourt, bus interchange and new and upgraded car parks, making it easier than ever for locals to access public transport.

“I already have some wonderful artwork coming in, so I’m super excited.”

“We have over $5300 of prizes available for youth and adults, all donated from local businesses.”

Applications are open until Monday, July 1, or until capacity is reached.

The opening night will be August 2 for a month-long exhibition at 138 Nicholson Street, Footscray. Details: https://form.jotform. com/241310802535849

Sally Walshe. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 409808_05

Jennifer Pittorino

Catherine Beck wearing the hidden disability lanyard. (Damjan Janevski) 414270_04

Gerald Lynch

Going dry for a cure

As winter and rain roll in, Dry July is just around the corner. Gerald Lynch speaks to Werribee’s Zach Thornton about the cause that asks people to give up or give.

More than 160,000 Australians have taken on the challenge of abstaining from alcohol for the month of July, but few would have stronger motivating factors than Werribee’s Zach Thornton.

After losing his father to cancer at a young age, he decided to jump on board and participate in Dry July during lockdown in 2020.

Feeling that alcohol was too easy to give up, Zach also threw in soft drinks and his beloved iced-coffees, as well as a 31-kilometre run at the end of the month, one kilometre for each day.

Less than a year after taking part in Dry July, in April 2021, Zach’s twin sister Zoe was diagnosed with breast cancer.

This spurred Zach to continue the challenge each year, and instead, run a kilometre for every year he and his sister had been around.

In 2021 it was 26, and this year, with Zoe making a full recovery, Zach will run 29 kilometres at the end of July, to celebrate Zoe, and help continue to raise funds.

For Zach, it took some time to get on board with the cause, but he looks back on it as one of the best decisions he’s made.

“I’ve always felt a sense of desire to advocate for causes, but before 2020 I hadn’t quite jumped on that one yet,” he said.

“I probably hadn’t really entirely reconciled my experience with losing my dad to cancer yet, but then I thought what better way to recognise and celebrate him, and do good to raise funds for those who have gone through it and are going through it.

“I know it’s seen as ‘difficult’ but it’s not, in the grand scheme of things. I do it for those aroundmeandobviouslyZoebecameafactor.

“If I can run for a couple of hours at the end of the month, and get off alcohol and sugary stuff, and use that to raise a few thousand, that’s all the fulfilment I could need.”

He said being around a football club and

‘‘ What I have to give up does not compare to what Zoe went through, what Dad went through, and what all the other Zoes and Dads are going through ’’ - Zach Thornton

beingasocialperson,hehasrunintoinstances where abstaining from drinking alcohol has made things slightly less enjoyable, but the sacrifice pales in comparison to that of those battling with cancer.

“Tarneit’s [his football club] mid-season ball has been in July the last two years, and dealing with people when they’re drinking and you’re not can be difficult,” he said.

“Ifyou’reinasettingwherealcoholispartof the fun, it can be a bit hard … but it genuinely doesn’t phase me … because what I have to give up does not compare to what Zoe went through, what dad went through, and what all the other Zoes and Dads are going through.”

In his first four years of participating, Zach has raised $12,218 toward various causes, and this year, he has his sights set on a $3000 goal, going toward the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

To those on the fence about getting involved ahead of this July, he just had one message; do it.

“I think it’d be the easiest decision you could ever make,” he said.

“If you have someone you want to celebrate or raise awareness for, just commit to it … the challenge is worthwhile.”

The cause behind Dry July dates back to the first Dry July in 2008. Three mates, Brett, Kenny, and Phil, wanted to take a break from alcohol, so they decided to abstain for the month of July, coining it their ‘Dry July’. They

also wanted to raise money for a cause very close to their hearts, so they asked family and friends to sponsor them.

Hoping to raise $3000 to buy a TV for their local cancer centre’s waiting room, the campaignwasahugesuccessraising$250,000.

Since 2008, Dry July Foundation has continued to support cancer service organisations and has raised over $90 million for more than 80 organisations across Australia.

Dry July interim chief executive Gillian Odbert sees the cause as a way to raise awareness and give back to a cause that affects so many people.

“Like so many Australians, cancer has impacted many of my family and friends, including my mother, father and some of my uncles, so it has always been a cause close to my heart,” she said.

“For me, Dry July is unique because you can raise funds to support cancer patients with different variants through so many national, regional and local support organisations across Australia.

“It’s a tangible way to pay forward the support those services have given my family over the years.”

She said in her time working with the cause, there has been many great instances of people going above and beyond, but one story of two sons honouring their late father stands out above the rest.

“Last year we had two brothers, Tadgh and Declan Waddington, who raised over $17,000 for their chosen beneficiary, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC),” she said.

“In loving memory of their father, Mark, who passed away in August 2022 from a rare form of cancer, the Waddington brothers set themselves the task of adding to their Dry July bykickingagoal(AFL)foreverydollarraised.

“The donations rolled in, and the boys stuck to their word. In late July, Declan and Tadgh

kicked thousands of goals and successfully wrapped up their Dry July with a bang!

“It is amazing what participants will do to raise funds, knowing the impact the services Dry July Foundation funds have on the lives of people affected by cancer.” Dry July funds support people affected by cancer when they need it most. Funds raised provide invaluable services –whetherit’saridetoalife-savingappointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an information service, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment. Up until the end of June, Werribee business Western Landcare Services, has committed to matching any funds donated to Zach’s fundraiser up to $400.

Donate: https://www.dryjuly.com/users/ zach-thornton

Twins Zach and Zoe Thornton. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 413607_04

Dry July interim chief executive Gillian Odbert. (Supplied)

Defib tally ticks to 19

St John Ambulance Victoria is on the hunt for four more viable locations for public defibrillators in Sunshine, as the current total ticks over to 19.

Sunshine has one of the highest rates of out of hospital cardiac arrests in Victoria, but with the help of local residents, we can help improve survival rates.

The Defib In Your Street program aims to create some of the safest places in Australia to have a sudden cardiac arrest, which is one of the deadliest conditions.

Theprogramaimstoinstall30defibrillators so that no resident is more than 400 metres from a 24-7 available AED.

Further, the program aims to train 5000 residents in CPR.

Currently, the program is focused on improved cardiac arrest survival rates throughout Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, and Albion.

Throughout these areas, 78 per cent of people do not know exactly how to use a defibrillator, 74 per cent do not know where their nearest defib is, 55 per cent haven’t received any recent first aid training, and five per cent do not know exactly what to do for someone showing signs of sudden cardiac arrest, according to St John.

In Sunshine, public defibrillators are located at the Sunshine Salvation Army at 42 Devonshire Road, Ascent Media at 11 Ardoyne Street, Duke Street Community House at 27 Duke Street, and 12 Westwood Way.

In Sunshine North, they’re located at the Fire Rescue Victoria, Sunshine Fire Station at 30 McIntyre Road, 3/23 Cumberland Street, 70 Clayton Street, 2 Hammond Street, 91 Wattlebird Court, 1 Davey Street and 1/12 Telford Court.

In Sunshine West, they are at Glengala Primary School at 1-23 Kermeen Street,

Kororoit Street Neighbourhood House hosts a defibrillator. (L-R) Sandie Gonzalez de la Vega Gonzales, Neil Head, Margaret Giudice, Helen Rzesniowiecki and Jessica Kendall. (Supplied)

Ardeer South Primary School at 59-75 Murray Street, 1/24 Ernest Street, 18 Florence Place, Agency Spare Parts at 72 Enterprise Way, 30 Korowa Street, The Sunshine Social at 64 Glengala Road, 14 Beech Court, 18 Rautman Crescent, 79 Fairbairn Road, and 22 Whitesides Avenue.

And, in Albion, they are at 2 Burnewang Street, 66 Adelaide Street, and the Kororoit Creek Neighborhood House at 61 Selwyn Street.

Be a host: https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/ community-programs/defib-in-your-street/ defib-in-your-street-enquiry-form/

Briefs

COVID fraud arrest

A Braybrook man was arrested after allegedly making more than 500 fraudulent applications for COVID-19 isolation payments. The 41-year-old man was arrested at his Braybrook home on Thursday afternoon. He is expected to be charged on summons with numerous deception and fraudulent document related offences. Police seized a card printing machine, a card embossing machine, a number of blank Victorian drivers’ licence cards, numerous false identification documents including proof of age cards, Medicare cards and drivers’ licences, four mobile phone signal jammers and numerous mobile phones, tablets and computers from his address. It will be alleged that more than 500 fraudulent COVID-19 grant applications were successfully submitted under a variety of false names worth almost $60,000 between 2020-2021.

Kings Park house fire

Firefighters were called to a house fire on Mica Court, Kings Park, on Tuesday, June 18. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and stopped it spreading to neighbouring homes. The house was extensively damaged in the fire but firefighters were able to contain the fire to the one house. One occupant was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital.

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West!

We feel reassured and comfortable knowing our parents are safe and happy. It has been a positive change for the entire family.

My 9 year old son said on the day they moved in “Mum, Nannu had such a big smile on his face. I haven’t seen him smile like that in a very long time.”

Getting health right for women

By Associate Professor Ines Rio

Being a woman often feels really tough. It can be hard on your body: periods, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause. It can be hard on your mental health: the load of caring for children, ageing parents, finances, making a happy home and lives for others. And the juggle of it all.

This is all made harder by less pay for the same work, less superannuation, and more unpaid work compared with men. It is expected that we bear the burden of what is needed in a family and shoulder the lion’s share of effort when things go awry.

We have less power, less of a voice. We are less heard. And all of this is exacerbated if you have a disability, don’t speak English, are parenting alone, experience trauma or violence or have a partner who doesn’t respect you as an equal.

We so often eat the burnt toast, take the smaller portion of food, spend money on our kids and forsake our own desires. We pay too little attention to our health needs, leave our cancerscreeningtoolateandputupwithwhat we wouldn’t want our daughters to endure.

There is an overdue conversation about women’s health and wellbeing happening now. It highlights the high prevalence and wide-ranging harm of family violence, and that our health and social system is gendered against women.

It is a system that pays doctors better to have

lots of short consultations rather than fewer longer ones, where they can deeply listen to women’s complex and often multiple health concerns.

Women tell us they often don’t feel listened to, and their health issues are diagnosed late.

YOUR NEW CAREER ... starts here

Research is mainly done on men and only then applied to women.

Women too frequently don’t have financial and housing stability, without which it’s almost impossible to be healthy and properly address illness. And without good, affordable

childcare, work is hard, and finances and independence get even harder. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are often joys to our gender. Think of more and deeper familyandsocialrelationships,thejoyofbeing a mother or daughter, being the lynchpin of a family, and often of a community, and viewing success as much broader than money and career.

And there are some welcome changes happening. There is longer maternity leave, companies are required to report on gender pay gap, and provide greater support for women experiencing violence.

And at last, minimum wages are increasing in some our most feminised workforce, such as aged care.

But to achieve equity for women and improve women’s lot, we need more changes across society, including our health, social, housing, education and work systems. As a doctor, I have loads of ideas about what we need. But the solutions shouldn’t be led by doctors. They need to be driven by all women. Star Weekly is running a series on women’s health – what keeps women well, what makes them unwell, what help they need, what stops them getting this help, and what would work to break down those barriers. When has the right help changed their world?

I applaud the newspaper group for this initiative. For if we get it right for women, we get it right for everyone.

* Associate Professor Ines Rio is a working GP. She is also a member of the National Women’s Health Advisory Council, Chief Medical Officer at Monash University, the Chair of North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network’s Board, the Deputy Chair of Sexual Health Victoria and an advisor to the TherapeuticGoodsAdministration.

Screening breakthrough

■ From page 1.

The GenWest team includes Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) workers who have long advocated for a more sensitive screening method.

Star Weekly seeks an enthusiastic Full or Part Time sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms.

Star Weekly is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future.

The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business.

“Now that there’s the option of a cervical screen that they can self-collect without the speculum that makes it much easier for people and is a much more safer process,” she said.

The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) is playing a pivotal role in the campaign by delivering healthcare provider education. This education focuses on the importance of self-collection and how to support patients through the process.

Ms Lorrimar said it is necessary that healthcare providers are well-informed and proactive.

“Because people don’t know what they don’t know,” she said.

Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance. The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.

Send your application letter and resume to: Advertising Sales Manager, Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

“Being given healthcare information is really important and I think it’s essential for healthcare professionals to provide that information to people so that they can be proactive with their healthcare, to look after their bodies and know what to look out for when things don’t seem right.

“It’s also really important for healthcare professionals – particularly in Melbourne’s west. It’s such a diverse community that I think healthcare professionals also need to keep upskillingandmakingsurethey’refiguringout new ways to best work with all those different communities … it’s really important that healthcare professionals provide a safe space and are forthright with a lot of information around things like screening.”

The federal government reported that more than 315,000 women had self-collected as of March, with 27 per cent of screening tests done that way.

The option to self-screen has been particularly positive for people who have never screened or are overdue, with one in three first-time screeners and 40 per cent of overdue screeners taking up the self-collection option, the government said.

For more information on the National Cervical Screening Program and to access translated resources, visit: https://shorturl.at/ lLDIi

Translated resources can be found at: https:// shorturl.at/DdrNM Healthcare providers can find additional resources and webinars at: https://shorturl.at/ znjnj

Associate Professor Ines Rio. (Supplied)

Sexual and reproductive health team leader Sarah Lorrimar. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 413208_06

MY PLACE

Brimbank local and founder of the Horseshoe Bend Community Group, Cynthia Frain, chats with Hannah Hammoud about her time spent in the area and in environmental stewardship.

What is your connection to Brimbank?

I have always lived in the City of Brimbank –my parents emigrated to Australia in the mid 1950s and settled in what was then the City of Keilor where I was born. The municipality has always been culturally diverse and predominantly working class and I believe the associated values have shaped my beliefs and identity. I continue to live here because my rootsaredeeplyembeddedinthiscommunity, and it will always be home.

What prompted you to create the Horseshoe Bend Community Group?

Horseshoe Bend Farm was a favourite for my and many other young families until its closure in 2010. Its subsequent neglect and deterioration was a constant grievance in the local community. I used to walk through regularly and was saddened by what the site had become. When the opportunity to do something about it presented in late 2020, I knewIhadtomakeagoofdoingjustthat.This opportunityalsocameaboutduringtheheight of COVID’s severe lockdowns when the issues such as social isolation, and the desperate need for families and the community to have access to more open and shared space were highlighted. This was a project that required the vision and drive of a strong community group, and I am proud of the volunteers who have joined me so far, forming a management committee and not-for-profit organisation, the hard work and all we have achieved so far. Preserving the rich history of Horseshoe Bend Reserve alone warrants this appropriate use of thesite.Ourgroupiscommittedtoadvocating for the restoration and productive use of the Reserve. There continues to be huge potential

for the site as a volunteer/community driven long term ongoing project. A project which will engage and involve the Brimbank City community and many other target groups in worthwhile activities, providing a sense of inclusion, achievement and community pride. Perhaps a legacy for future generations.

What is your favourite part of the group? Ilovetoseetheenthusiasmofnewandexisting community members who participate in our working bees. The project has attracted people of all ages, ethnicity, skills and levels of ability. It is particularly heart-warming for me to experience and witness the new friendships, shared goals, and the supportive environment

our volunteers have created. I’m excited and look forward to the ongoing development of this fabulous community space.

How can people join the group?

We need lots of volunteers to ensure that this huge project realises its vision. We run working bees three to four times a month on different days of the week so all who are interested will have an opportunity to attend. To find out more you can visit our Facebook page and send us a message: https:// www.facebook.com/hsbcommunitygroup Or check out our website volunteering page: https://www.horseshoebendcg.org/ volunteer-with-us Or email us on: info@horseshoebendcg.org

What do you like about where you live?

The proximity of Brimbank Park and the Maribyrnong River. The birds and wildlife smack bang in the middle of the suburbs. The local shops in Keilor Village. The sense of community and our passionate, generous volunteers.

What, if anything, would you change about where you live?

The lack of ongoing, consistent maintenance throughout the municipality. Would like to see a more proactive approach by our local governing bodies in the care and maintenance of our community spaces, parks and assets.

Where is your favourite local place to spend time?

Walks through Brimbank Park and Keilor followed by a coffee at one of the many lovely cafes in the area.

VINNIES EXCITING NEW SHOP

Always seeking donations and volunteers

join the Vinnies family today? Sign up on the website or visit

Address: 276-278 Main Rd, St Albans East

Shop Hours: Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 5.00pm

After many years of planning, the time has finally arrived! You’re invited to our grand opening!

This new Vinnies Shop offers a wide range of great value product for the home and whole family, including the four-legged one! You will be able to buy new mattresses and a comprehensive range of new and donated manchester. Vinnies St Albans offers over 8,000 items of clothing including a huge footwear range. You can also find your next great read from the ever-popular book department. Vinnies Victoria is an active supporter of sustainability, ensuring useable product stays in the circular economy – extending its life span.

Great position with parking at rear and two entrances.

Horseshoe Bend Community Group founder Cynthia Frain. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 409492_01

Sipping and painting the afternoon away

Libraries in Brimbank are opening their doors this winter and keeping locals warm and occupied, with a paint and sip program.

Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski was at the St Albans Library for the latest event, as the punch was shared around and art skills were on show. The next session is at the Keilor Library on Thursday, June 27, from 6pm.

Ursula Visevic. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 414370

Anita Cvitkovic and Cathy Jutrasa getting creative.

Tran Le painting an owl.

St Albans Library acting team leader Judy Chandley.

‘Daunting’ 2051 housing target

By Gerald Lynch

A Brimbank councillor has labelled the state government’s draft 2051 housing targets as “a little daunting” .

Lastweek,thestategovernmentannounced that Brimbank will swell by another 72,000 new homes by the middle of the century, as per its proposed 2051 housing target.

Under the draft plan, two million homes would be built in metropolitan Melbourne and another almost 500,000 spread across the regions.

Speaking at a council meeting on June 18, councillor Bruce Lancashire said the situation of housing has become quite complex, and the 2051 proposal looms as a little daunting.

“There’s currently about 72,000 dwellings in Brimbank. It’s taken us about 150 years to get that level of dwellings,” he said.

“We’re being told we’ve got 25 years to double it.

“Just a short time ago we talked about constraints on local government with funding … It looks a bit like shifting the

responsibility to local government.

“Some serious work will need to be done … We will approach this and give it a good crack at trying to achieve these things, but we certainly need a lot more support from the state government.”

Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria has the largest annual population growth of all Australian states and needs more than two million additional homes by the 2050s.

“There are parts of our city that have been locked up for too long,” Ms Allan told said.

The draft council housing targets are

largely based on access to jobs, transport and services, the government said.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto claimed the idea of issuing the projections couldn’t be taken seriously.

“It’s taxing the life out of investment in residential construction,” he said.

The final council housing targets will be released by the end of 2024 following local government consultation.

The DTP was contacted for comment. – with AAP

Caroline Springs firies welcome heavy tanker

Caroline Springs Fire Brigade has a new heavy tanker in operation, enhancing firefighting capabilities and bolstering the safety of volunteer firefighters.

Caroline Springs captain Anthony Jenkins said the new heavy tanker is a next generation tanker and will enhance the brigade’s ability to serve the community.

“It has additional water carrying capacity, it’s higher off the ground and it has better capabilities as far as four wheel drive and off road vehicles,” he said. “It’s much easier for our members to operate and it’s a lot safer with new rollover protection cages.

“We trained tirelessly for weeks so that we’d be ready to use it as soon as it was handed to us.”

The Caroline Springs Fire Brigade has 51 members, 40 male and 11 female, with 28 operational members who respond to more than 450 call outs each year.

The brigade assists with incidents including

grass and scrub fires, bushfires, house fires, road accidents and floods.

The heavy tanker has a modern interface, and is equipped with the latest safety features including a 4000-litre water tank, and rollover

and burn-over protection to ensure volunteers are protected inside the vehicle.

Valued at $460,000, the tanker has an electric rewind hose reel to increase efficiency and reduce volunteer fatigue.

The dual cab capacity means more crew memberscansitinsidethecabin,keepingthem safe from high temperatures.

Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch joined members of the Caroline Springs Fire Brigade and representatives from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to officially hand over the new appliance and thank volunteers for their work.

“It’s a pleasure to officially hand over the heavy tanker to the Caroline Springs Fire Brigade,” she said.

“This deserving brigade is now better equipped to respond to fires and protect the community.”

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said tankers are a vital part of CFA’s fleet.

“The new tankers are state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles and we’re committed to providing our volunteers with the best and safest infrastructure,” he said.

Gerald Lynch

Behind the walls of Victoria’s prisons – what life is really like for the people who work there

Ever wondered what it’s like to work in prison?

Most people have a very particular idea – high walls, long and dark corridors and heavy security. The reality is that working in a prison is so much more.

Unitedbyadesiretoprotectthepublicand change lives for the better, Victoria’s prison officers are as diverse as the communities they serve.

From tradies and teachers to healthcare workers and retail staff – it’s a career that attracts people from all walks of life, but few know what the role of a prison officer actually entails.

Prison Officer Eric shares his story.

“Communicationiseverything,”saysEric, a Prison Officer at Metropolitan Remand Centre.

“Before becoming a prison officer, I thought it would be a physically challenging job. Now I know one of the most important tools we have is our voice.”

Born and raised in China, Eric travelled the world as an international tour guide and visited more than 40 countries including Serbia, Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines, Egypt and Russia.

“After traveling extensively, I thought I had seen all the world has to offer, but being a prison officer is the job I never knew I wanted,” Eric said. “I started a family and needed more stable work and it seemed like a good opportunity.”

Eric was pleasantly surprised to find similarities between being a tour guide and his role as a prison officer.

Prison Officer Eric shares his story.

“The thing I loved most about my job as a tour guide was caring for and working with people from all walks of life. Being a prison officer offers the same opportunity – it’s just a different group of people.”

Lookingforsomethingdifferent?Theskills youalreadyhavecanhelpyoumakeapositive impactasaprisonofficer.Newprisonofficers arenoweligibleforasignonbonusof$5000* and 41 days of paid training are provided

before the first day on the job. Find out how you can be part of a team reshaping lives at: https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/prison-careers. *Conditions apply.

Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch with representatives from Caroline Springs CFA. (Supplied)

More help desperately needed

Humanitarian organisation Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is feeling the brunt of the cost of living crisis, struggling to keep its food bank stocked,

The ASRC is Australia’s largest human rights organisation, providing support to people seeking asylum. Each month the ASRC team supports more than 1000 refugees across its Footscray and Dandenong sites. This is mostly done through providing a realistic shopping experience at its food bank.

Community food services manager Huyen Nguyen-Manh said the unique experience was created to maintain dignity and choice.

“We don’t provide set food baskets, people

come in through the food bank in a shopping style and pick what they like,” she said.

Ms Nguyen-Manh said May was a challenging time for the ASRC, with the centre experiencing the highest number of visits to since reopening post Covid in September 2022.

“With our clients facing challenging times and new families presenting to our centre, we have also seen a steady increase in the number of visits to our food bank,” she said.

“In the last seven months we saw an increase of44percentinthenumberofpeopleaccessing ourfoodbank,andanincreaseof40percentin the number of visits.”

These numbers have left the food bank with

limited stock.

“Thefoodtriageisverylow,itisthelowestthe team has ever seen which is quite concerning.”

MsNguyen-ManhsaidtheASRCpridesitself on providing culturally appropriate foods.

“We often get feedback from what people would like to see, but we have had to restrict that,” she said.

In addition to cutting down on the variety of foods, Ms Nguyen-Manh said they are also having to make “tough decisions” on what are essential and non essential items.

“Essentialitemsarebread,rice,pasta,yogurt, veggies and fruit,” she said. “Deodorant is now an extra item, as well as biscuits, which would

Club serves up new change rooms

The North Sunshine Tennis Club’s ace pavilion upgrades are now complete, as well as a new online court booking system, as part of a $200,000 funding investment from the state government.

St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman and Community Sport Minister Ros Spence visited the venue on June 6, to officially open the new facilities.

The new pavilion features two new female friendly change rooms, new baby change facilities, and a kitchen and kiosk upgrade. With more than 160 club members, the new facilities provide a welcoming new space for more local fans of the game to join in the fun at the North Sunshine Tennis Club.

The club’s new Book-A-Court online system also gives the local Sunshine community the

opportunity to book courts throughout the week.

The upgrades mean the facility can now host more training, development programs including junior Hot Shots Tennis, casual play and tournaments.

The joint project was also contributed to by Brimbank council and the North Sunshine Tennis Club.

Ms Suleyman said the new upgrades will allow more members of the St Albans community to play tennis with a new online court booking system.

“Growing communities like ours deserve world-class modern facilities - the new tennis pavilion is not only a win for the club, but for the whole of St Albans,” she said.

North Sunshine Tennis Club president

John Harvey said the club was “tremendously excited” about the recent upgrades.

“We’ve worked for many, many, decades to raise funds to achieve it,” he said,

Mr Harvey said over the past five years the club has invested over a quarter of a million dollars into the facility which included new courts and lights, a redevelopment of the club room and the establishment of a new outdoor shed. “It’s a great reward for decades of work and the club making a substantial contribution towards it … we also want to thank the council and the state government,” he said.

The club recently participated in two grand finals which Mr Harvey described as ”exciting times” for the club, which, coupled with the new facilities, has resulted in success both on and off the court.

have both normally been an essential item.”

Ms Nguyen-Manh said community donations have also dwindled.

“We have seen a significant decrease in donations from the general community which highlights that the community is also struggling. Alongside an increase in people needing support, the decrease in donations is putting a strain on our service and budget.

“Our cohort has no right to work, no Medicare, no income, so the lack of support and extra added barriers makes it harder for them to shop. More than ever we need the community’s help, food can be dropped off at both centres in Footscray and Dandenong.”

Brimbank council’s Reconciliation Action Plan is nearly ready to go, with a long stint of community consultation coming to a close.

At its June 18 meeting, council put forward the final draft of the plan, that stems from 2024 to 2026.

Thedraftactionplanispartofcouncil’s commitment to reconciliation and is said to pave the way for greater respect, inclusion and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community.

It lists the actions council will take to nurture it’s relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, value the knowledge and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, seek ways to enhance the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples to the community, ensure it’s programs and services are accessible and culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and manage and administer the plan over the next two years.

Councillor Victoria Borg said the plan shows how far the community has come in regards to respect and reconciliation.

“It was interesting to read the answers to questions with regards to the plan, they’ve all been noted, and relevant changes have been made,” she said.

“Some changes may be small, but highly significant.

Mayor Ranka Rasic said she is proud of the plan that council has developed, and that council is firmly committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are celebrated for their achievements, culture, and history throughout the municipality.

Tien Nguyen, Anh Pham, Jennifer Vo, Chris Humbert, St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman MP, Community Sport Minister Ros Spence, North Sunshine Tennis Club president John Harvey, Clem Conag, Raymond Portelli, Brendon Dinh. (Supplied)

Mentors helping women succeed

By Narelle Coulter

When Sarah Constable and Nikki* meet for coffee or a walk in St Albans, they look like old friends catching up for a chat.

They talk about movies, television shows, music, their pets and families.

However, the lives of Sarah and Nikki only intersected earlier this year thanks to early intervention program Women And Mentoring (WAM).

WAM supports women and non-binary people who are in contact with the justice system, offering them support and friendship in their local community. Volunteers use their life experiences to empower women to make change in their lives.

‘‘ It is nice to hold that space for someone, to allow them to trust another person in their life ’’

- Sarah Constable

Sarah, who has worked as a mental health nurse and is now a paramedic, became involved with WAM after seeing a Facebook advertisement calling for volunteers.

“I work full time in the ambulance service now and missed working with marginalised populations,” Sarah said.

“Most of WAM’s clients are referred from thejusticesystemandmayhaveconcernswith housing and drug and alcohol addiction. I’ve worked a lot in that space and feel comfortable in that aspect. I wanted to reconnect with someone in that position and see them grow and meet their goals.”

Sarah underwent training provided by

Volunteer mentor Sarah Constable. (Damjan Janevski) 413251_04

WAM before being matched with Nikki and receives ongoing support from fellow mentors through peer supervision. She and Nikki meet weekly or fortnightly in the community.

“We mostly go for a walk or get a coffee and

talk about what is going on in each other’s lives,” Sarah explained.

“I am there to help if she’s struggling. I can link her in with services, I can attend appointments or provide assistance with

collating documents or go to the library with her to print documents.”

Sarah said she is enjoying walking beside Nikki on her journey towards a more positive life.

“Often women don’t have people they can trust. As an outside person with no vested interestitisnicetoholdthatspaceforsomeone to allow them to trust another person in their life and allow them to navigate a healthy relationship and model those behaviours.

“Doing this has helped me understand what other people face and their barriers and by default, that makes you appreciate your own life.”

WAM chief executive Tricia Ciampa said more volunteer mentors are needed in the west.

“Over the past few years we have seen demand for our mentoring service increase across the western suburbs. Approximately 17 per cent of referrals are for women living between Moonee Valley and Melton, and also Wyndham. It would be ideal to recruit 20 wonderful volunteers, women and non-binary folk, from these areas to help us establish a reliable pool of mentors to draw from,” Ms Ciampa said.

“Attracting volunteer mentors from the local area is so critical – you have local knowledge of services, you are comfortable getting about your area on public transport, and you are also helping build the capacity of people in your community to create positive change.”

Ms Ciampa said mentors do not need specialist skills or knowledge but must be available during the week to meet with their participant.

To get involved phone 0403 583 648 or go to www.womenandmentoring.org.au

* not her real name

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

Women’s only conversation English

Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to make friends, learn new skills and practice English in this fun and free women’s social group. Tuesdays during school terms, 9.30am-noon, at Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine.

■ 9311 9973, or dukest@dsch.org.au

Crafternoons

Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to a free adult social opportunity to get together and be creative. Learn a new craft or bring along your own craft projects. Tuesdays during school terms, 12.30-2.30pm, at the Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine.

■ 9311 9973, or dukest@dsch.org.au

Sunshine Heights Junior Soccer Club

The club is on the lookout for more girls to join its junior soccer teams from ages under-8s through to under-14. If you are keen to join, training is held every Tuesday and Thursday at Castley Reserve from 5.30pm – except for under 14 girls who train from 6.30pm.

■ theclub@sunshineheightsjsc.com.au

Girl Guides

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

■ Carolyn, 0418 536 084

Sunshine Repair Cafe

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

■ sunshinerepaircafe@kcnh.org.au, or 0413 434 082

Al-Anon Family Groups

Al-Anon Family Groups is offering help and hope to anyone living in an unhappy home because a loved one drinks too much. There are no contracts to sign, just a voluntary donation to cover room rental. Confidentiality is protected. Confidential meetings held at the Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre (rear of library) every Wednesday, from 1-2:30pm. New members welcome. No appointment necessary. The group is also offering two introductory Alateen meetings in the July school holidays on July 3, and 10, at the same time as the Al-Anon meeting in an adjacent room. Facilitated by two certified (WWCC) and experienced Al-Anon members. Parents are invited to bring their teens and join the adult meeting.

Card games

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

■ Leisa, 0425 768 808

Palliative volunteers needed

Mercy Palliative Care is looking for volunteers to visit palliative care patients in their homes to offer social support.

■ 9313 5700 or MPCVolunteerCoordinators@mercy.com.au

Deer Park Lions Club

Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer

Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park.

■ Michael, 0417 307 572

Keilor Day View Club

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

■ Robyn, 0425 387 880

Sunshine Community Brass

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

■ Andrew, 0419 444 620

St Albans senior citizens

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

■ Roma, 0435 991 064

Seniors lunch

Deer Park Branch of National Seniors Australia hosts a lunch on the third Friday of each month at different venues. The group also arranges activities each

month, sometimes to the theatre, morning melodies, train or bus trip. The group also holds a general meeting at The Club in Caroline Springs on the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm. Locals are invited to join in for lunch or just attend the meeting and make new friends.

■ Pamela, pcostello46@hotmail.com

Caroline Springs Rotary

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

■ rotarycarolinesprings@gmail.com

Women’s Support Group

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

Zonta club meets

Zonta is an international organisation bringing women together to support other women. The Zonta Club of Melton meets on the first Monday of each month at Melton Country Club, Reserve Road, Melton.

■ Janet, 0421 080 923 or info@zontaclubofmelton.org.au

Take weight off naturally

Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere? Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton.

■ Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Melton Men’s Group

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

■ meltonmensgroup.home.blog

Melton Friendship Group

An over-55’s singles friendship group for social engagements, fun outings, dinners, movies, dancing chats and walks. Enrich your life, no more loneliness or isolation. Nothing but fun and friendships.

■ 0406 493 734

U3A Melton

U3A Melton offers among its activities a book group, Australian history and a gentle exercise class for those 55 and older who are retired or semi-retired who wish to stay mentally and physically active.

■ 0419 563 016

This week’s photographer’s choice is of Guy Walter and Michelle Richards from the Lancefield Witches Fair. (Damjan Janevski) 413693_01

Xgenz set to light up Sunshine

By Gerald Lynch

Get set for a night of classic rock hits, as the Xgenz band returns to Sunshine this Friday night.

At the Double Deuce bar in Sunshine North, $10 tickets will be available at the door to experience a show that has been rocking Melbourne’s west for many years.

With drink specials and pool tables, the night is sure to be filled with fun.

Xgenz guitarist and founder Terry Koutsouras said the band loves to play in

Sunshine.

“We are regulars there, we’ve built a great relationship with the venue and the community,” he said.

“We play there every couple of months, we love playing there. We get a crowd of all ages, and we engage with our crowd.

“All our songs are ones you can dance to and sing along to, it’s all about having a good time.”

Xgenz plays exclusively covers of classic rock music, but Terry said no two shows have the same track list

“We are very particular with the songs we

play, and we play to our audience,” he said.

“It’s pointless just playing songs I like, it’s all about what the crowd wants.

“We’re a very energetic group, and we thrive off the crowd. Our music hits you where it counts.”

The band has been around for more than five years, and has seen many personnel changes, but Terry said the current group is among the best ever.

Doors open at 6pm at the Double Deuce bar at 264 McIntyre Road, Sunshine North, on Friday, June 28.

Eynesbury rugs up for a cool festival

The Eynesbury Winter Festival is returning for this year’s school holidays.

HeldattheEynesburyEstateHomestead,the all-ages festival will span from Thursday, June 27, to Sunday, July 14, and boast a variety of activities and special guests.

This includes DJ Lenny Pearce, former Olympic gold medalist Steve Hooker, and players from Western United Football Club.

Pearce will play a special opening weekend set at Winter Solstice, which takes place on Saturday, June 29.

Pearce said on a personal level, the occasion had a particular sentiment attached to it.

“I create a lot of my music right here at home

in Eynesbury, and there’s something so unique and special about launching my new album where it all began,” he said.

His debut album, The Wiggles Sound System: Rave of Innocence, is a reimagining of classic Wiggles hits in the form of electronic dance music.

Pearce is not the only one bringing the heat for the Winter Solstice Night – there will also be a fireworks display and giant bonfire.

Kids’ Fun Day, on Saturday, July 6, will be hosted by Hooker and Western United players will engage in a penalty shootout with attendees.

Festival-goers can also expect to enjoy an ice

rink, carnival zone, night market, ice hockey exhibition match, and food trucks.

Resimax Group founder and managing director Ozzie Kheir said the occasion would be a highlight for families and showcase life in the area.

“The Eynesbury Winter Festival is an opportunity for us to share Eynesbury’s unique nature with people across Melbourne and celebrate the growing community we have helped to build here,” he said.

Details: https://eynesbury.com.au/ winter-festival/

Chilly street party to warm up Wyndham

The arrival of winter means a drop in temperatures, but also a spike in fun and entertainment in central Werribee, with Wyndham’s annual Winter Street Party returning on Friday, June 28.

Running from 4pm to 9pm, the 2024 Winter Street Party will take over Watton Street with fire shows, street performers, interactive art installations, marshmallow toasting, live entertainment, kids’ activities and much more. Local creatives will be given a platform to show off their skills, with a winter market featuring 30 local Wyndham artists and

makers and two live music stages featuring Wyndham musicians and performers

A highlight of this year’s event will be Leor, a 4 metre tall marionette that is set to steal the show.Witnessingthismagnificentgiantpuppet come to life is likely to build an appetite, but fortunately hungry patrons won’t have to look hard for a place to eat.

Whether you’re up for a cosy dinner, or prefer to grab a bite on the go, businesses will be open late with special offers and delicious winter dishes to indulge.

To accommodate the wintery fun, there

Winter fun in Williamstown

Winter is coming to Williamstown.

From Friday, June 28 to Sunday, July 14, Commonwealth Reserve and Nelson Place will be the ideal location for a wintry family trip.

With an ice-skating rink and an unmissable view of Melbourne as your background, Commonwealth Reserve will be a sight to behold.

Also at the reserve there will be the HMAS Castlemaine, captivating roving light installations and a DJ for music to set the scene as you skate the night away. Light displays will transform three landmark buildings across Nelson Place every day from 5pm until 10pm. For a bit more extra weekend fun there will be interactive light painting from 7.30pm to 9.30pm each Friday and Saturday for the duration of Winter in Williamstown.

HobsonsBaymayorMattTylersaidthe eventshowcasehowmuchWilliamstown has to offer.

“Williamstown is such a beautiful place at any time of year, but I can’t wait toseeittransformedthiswinter,”hesaid.

“There’s so much to do in Williamstown, from great places to eat and drink and plenty of historic places to visit and explore, and this event is going to shine a new light on what is already one of our city’s most popular places.“So get rugged up and come and explore the beauty of winter in Williamstown.”

Details: experiencehobsonsbay.com

Max Westwood

will be some rolling road closures and traffic management in the run up to the event.

Station Place and sections of Watton Street will be closed to traffic from 6am on Friday, June 28, until 2am on Saturday, June 29.

Access between Bridge Street and Comben Drive will remain open with traffic management in place, while the designated taxi zone in Station Place will be relocated to Comben Drive.

As a result of these road closures, patrons are encouraged to get public transport to the event.

Eddie Russell

Melbourne and the HMAS Castlemaine will provide the perfect backdrop to Winter in Williamstown. (Supplied)

A young girl captivated by the entertainment at last year’s Wyndham Winter Street Party. (Supplied)

Xgenz will play in Sunshine on Friday, June 28. (Supplied)

DJ Lenny Pearce with Chelsea, 4, Mila, 1, Matteo, 1, and Mason, 10, at Eynesbury Homestead. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 413826_01

BRIMBANK PLANNING SCHEME NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL

The land affected by the application is located at: LOT(S): 2, 1, 1D, 3D, 1B, 1A, 99 PLAN OF SUBDIVISION: 331541, 9999

ADDRESS: 765 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 755 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 751 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 751A BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 751B BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 759 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 757 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK, 753 BALLARAT ROAD DEER PARK

The application is for: APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT PLAN UNDER DEVELOPMENT PLAN OVERLAY SCHEDULE 16

The applicant is: HB+B PROPERTY

The application reference number is: P392/2023

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at:

YARDHAND CARDEALERSHIP

CentralMotorAuctionsis aUsedVehicleWholesaler inSunhsineNorth,VIC.

Performingdutiessuchas carwashing,transporting vehiclesandassistingwith variouslightduties. Lookingforsomeonewho hasaVictorianDriver's Licence.Fulltimeposition workingMondayto Friday.

Idealforalocalperson wantinganimmediate start!

Toapply,pleaseemail yourresumeto: accounts@centralmotor auctions.com.au CentralMotorAuctions 0392749999 centralmotorauctions. com.au

•WWW.BRIMBANK.VIC. GOV.AU/BUILDINGDEVELOPMENT/PLANNING/ ADVERTISED-PLANS

•CONTACT CITY PLANNING ON 9249 4606 OR EMAIL info@brimbank.vic.gov.au, FOR A COPY TO BE POSTED

•BRIMBANK COMMUNITY AND CIVIC CENTRE, 301 HAMPSHIRE ROAD, SUNSHINE (Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5:00pm)

The responsible authority will not decide on the application before: 17/07/2024

The Contact Officer is:

Dhiraj Joti, (9249 4112)

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the responsible authority. Any comments received will be placed on the electronic file associated with this application and will be available for inspection.

An objection must be in writing and sent to the Brimbank City Council either:

•Online at www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/buildingdevelopment/planning/planning-permit-applications/ planning-permit-support-or-objection

• Email info@brimbank.vic.gov.au

• By post to PO Box 70, Sunshine, Vic, 3020

•In person at Brimbank Community and Civic Centre, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine Objections must include details of the application you are objecting to, your contact details and the reasons for the objection. If you do object, the responsible authority will tell you its decision.

Planning & Environment Regulations 2015 (Form 2)

PUZZLES

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

ACROSS

1 Expend (3)

3 Choice (10)

10 Applaud (7)

11 Southern Pacific region (7)

12 Facilities of a building (9)

13 Ancient South American civilisation (4)

15 Florida fort (10)

17 Large jug (4)

19 Accepted standard (4)

20 Child of one’s child (10)

23 Keyboard error (4)

25 Insipid (9)

27 Members of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan (7)

28 Hub for military planes (7)

29 They protect the eyes from the glare (10)

30 Charter (3)

DOWN

1 Ineffectual (10)

2 The British Treasury (9)

4 Rest (9)

5 Moves steadily (5)

6 Watery (6)

7 Babysitter (5)

8 Web auction site (4)

9 Acting with ease (6)

14 Rainbow-coloured (10)

16 Painting of the countryside (9)

18 British civil service (coll) (9)

21 Said when raising a glass (6)

22 Light reddish brown (6)

24 Arab state (5)

25 Counterparts (5)

26 Egyptian goddess (4)

Using the nine letters

be included and each letter may only be used

No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

1 Colloquially, what is a cakewalk?

2 Where is the Bredikhin crater located?

3 For which three films has Daniel Day-Lewis won an Academy Award for Best Actor?

4 In which city was Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja born?

5 To which continent is the kangaroo rat native?

6 In which year was X (formerly Twitter) created and launched?

7 Maleficent is the main antagonist in which animated Disney film?

8 Which motor company makes the vehicle X-Trail?

9 Matt Damon (pictured) stars as a former criminal named Max in which 2013 sci-fi action film?

10 What is a female moose called?

No. 191

No. 191

Lexus LBX is small but stylish

By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring

LBX is the Lexus equivalent of the Toyota Yaris Cross, but is it more than that?

With a truncated, low-riding version of the Lexus ‘spindle’ grille, the letters apparently stand for ‘Lexus Breakthrough X(cross)-over’. It’s a Lexus, yes and a crossover, but we’re not sure what makes it a breakthrough.

Sitting below the UX, it is the smallest Lexus to date and only the second model to carry a three-letter name, instead of the usual two letters, after the halo LFA supercar from 2011.

L was reportedly added to the combination to avoid a clash with Citroen which owns the rights to BX, a model the French marque produced from 1982 to 1994 – when it was replaced by the Xantia.

Styling

There are three grades from which to choose, withpricesstartingfrom$47,550pluson-roads for the LBX Luxury 2WD, $52,990 for LBX Sports Luxury 2WD or $56,990 for LBX Sports Luxury AWD.

Our test vehicle was the entry level Luxury grade finished in pearlescent white. It can be identified by 18-inch alloy wheels with a dark grey and bright machined finish, LED headlights with adaptive high beam, rear spoiler and privacy glass and a two-tone finish.

Inside, the LBX Luxury has black NuLuxe upholstery for the seats, steering wheel, door and instrument panel trim, with contrasting red stitching, front and rear carpet floor mats, heated front seats, two-zone climate air with remote function, wireless phone charging, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, ambient interior lighting, smart entry and start and a powered tailgate.

The front seats are heated with eight-way power adjustment for the driver with two-way lumbar support and memory function.

Sports Luxury adds unique 18-inch wheels and a unique finish on the rear pillar which combines thin strips of gloss and non-gloss finish to create a stylish geometric expression.

Inside, it gains a combination of artificial NuLuxe and Ultrasuede upholstery, suede cloth trim for the door, instrument panel, and console box, and a premium leather shift knob and heated steering wheel.

The higher grade also gains Head-Up Display (HUD) with touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, multi-colour ambient interior lightinganda13-speakerMarkLevinsonaudio and active noise control.

Lexus Teammate advanced park is also included to make parking even easier.

LBX comes standard with a five-year/ unlimited kilometre warranty, plus a three-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Encore which provides exclusive offers withluxuryhotelpartners,invitestoeventsand experiences and fuel discounts at participating Ampol servos.

Infotainment

Multimedia is supported by a 9.8-inch touchscreen display with satellite navigation, paired with a six-speaker Panasonic audio system compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

Up to three users can save their personal settings for the multimedia, vehicle settings and active safety parameters.

There’s wireless charging, three front and two rear USB-C ports, as well as front and rear 12V accessory sockets.

But bear in mind the charge sockets are USB-C, so that old USB-A to -C cable is not going to work.

Engines/transmissions

Thehybridsysteminfront-driveLBXcombines a1.5-litrethree-cylinder,AtkinsonCyclepetrol engine that produces 69kW/185Nm, with a single electric motor that generates a combined output of 100kW.

In comparison, the donor Yaris Cross has a smaller electric motor and delivers

67kW/120Nm, with a peak output of 85kW.

A CVT-style continuously variable auto offers two modes: Eco and Normal.

Safety

As yet the LBX has not been rated for safety by ANCAP.

Lexus Safety System+ provides a comprehensive suite of safety features, including eight airbags, which is designed to help provide protection for drivers, passengers, and other road users.

It’s equipped with the Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pre-collision Braking (PB), which may be able to detect preceding vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists in the daytime, as well as oncoming vehicles and motorcycles in the daytime.

A camera mounted on the steering column monitors driver attention.

If, like me, you often drive one-handed, with that hand in the 12 o’clock position, you’ll get in trouble from the system because the camera cannot see your face.

We kid you not. The system may even shut down the car if it becomes really concerned.

Driving

We didn’t get off to a good start with the LBX.

Although the key was in the cabin, it somehow managed to lock itself. Good thing there’s a secret button that can be used to release the doors.

After that hiccup LBX refused to start, as in the electrical system played totally dead - no lights, no nothing.

After jumpering the car, it was finally coaxed into life, but then did the exact same thing a couple of days later. Grrr . . .

It may have been a failing 12-volt battery, but deciding to take no chances we treated the LBX as a plug-in hybrid, connecting it to a trickle charger each time we returned home.

While the 12-volt battery is located under the back seat like my old Beetle, it is possible to charge the car from the fuse box under the bonnet.

Thankfully, there were no further recurrences.

Although the car reports the current state of the hybrid system, the instrumentation does not extend to a monitor for the secondary battery as it has done in many other cars over the years.

The project lead engineer Kunihiko Endo said engineering the car to provide the level of refinement expected from a Lexus was a challenge.

Beingasmallervehiclespacewaslimitedand they had to adopt a different approach to the traditional use of sound insulation.

Does it work? Yes and no.

Back in the day, the V8-powered Lexus LS 400 was the quietest car we had ever driven.

Itwassoquietthatitwasoftendifficulttotell whether the engine was running and we kept double-starting it.

Fast forward and the LBX is not that car.

You cannot escape the fact that this is a small vehicle with a short wheelbase, and the ride tends to be choppy on our second rate roads.

Engine noise is also very apparent under hard acceleration.

The front suspension features a new MacPhersonstrutsetupwithupdatedgeometry to ensure straight-line stability and minimal understeer.

At the rear, front-drive variants use a rigid torsion beam while the AWD variant employs a trailing arm, double wishbone set-up to accommodate the rear motor.

The chassis has been strengthened with multiple braces, short pitch welding techniques and more than 19 metres of structural adhesive to maximise torsional rigidity.

Thebonnetmeanwhileismadeofaluminium to save weight.

The dash from 0-100km/h takes 9.2 seconds and it has a top speed of 170km/h.

Combined fuel consumption from the 36-litre tank is a claimed 3.8L/100km, using standard 91 RON unleaded, with CO2 emissions of 85g/km.

LBX features a bi-polar nickel-metal hydride battery, which Lexus reckons offers much greaterpowerdensityandthroughputpotential than traditional lithium-ion cells.

The nickel-metal hydride battery is

positioned underneath the rear seat. Aside from electrical problems, LBX feels like a definite step up from Yaris Cross. The drive experience is generally satisfying, but performance is adequate rather than exhilarating.

Theleather-accentedsteeringwheelisamong the best we’ve used, smooth, chunky and easy on the fingers.

Fuel consumption is good, but higher than expected, at 4.9L/100km after 420km, compared to the manufacturer’s claim of 3.8L/100km.

Two Isofix child seat anchors are offered in the rear, but rear legroom is pretty much non-existent.

The boot however has a larger capacity than expected.

A puncture repair kit is provided in lieu of a spare tyre and wheel.

Of note the infotainment system needs a bit of work.

There’s no home button and no facility to connect to Android Auto if your phone does not automatically re-establish a connection upon re-entering the vehicle.

Wefoundtheoverhead360degreecameraso annoying that we opted to turn it off.

As soon as vehicle speed drops to a crawl, it switchesonobscuringthemaporwhateverelse is on screen. Grrr . . .

The satnav is second rate, offering very little information in regard to street signs and upcoming turns.

We switched to Waze instead. Grrr . . .

Summing up

Sorry, but that’s a no from us. LBX is too small and has too many annoying traits.

In fact, apart from growing its market share, we’re left wondering whether models like the UX and LBX risk eroding the reputation that Lexushasbattledtobuildoverthepast30years or so. Then again younger drivers recognise and find the styling appealing, so maybe we are just not part of the demographic that Lexus has in its sights.

Chris Riley says LBX is too small and has too many annoying traits. (Pictures: Supplied)

The weather might be getting cooler, but the action is heating up on the courts and fields. StarWeeklyphotographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting some of the action on Saturday.

Action from around the grounds

1/ Borbor Sam and Nathan Talevski. 414027_02

Melton Phoenix’s Deng Shan_(Ljubica Vrankovic)_414042_15

Muaki Kuradate. 414042_06

North Sunshine’s Alex Gould. 413385_05

Riddell’s Dylan Podolczak. 414039_18 6/ Riddell’s Maddison Brown. 414038_1 7/ Wallan’s Matthew Perri. 414039_17

Wallan’s Rebekah Konstantopoulos and Riddell’s Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs. 414038_02

Western Rams’ Michael Walsh. 413385_01 10/ Westgate’s Melvin Becket. 414027_16

Chan makes a name for herself in volleyball

Taylors Hill’s Denise Chan is still in the early stages of her volleyball career, but she’s already having a big impact.

Chan discovered volleyball when she was in grade 6 in 2020, but due to COVID-19 she only started club training late in 2021.

Since then it’s been a quick progression, making a couple of state teams before making the Australian team for the Thailand Junior Volleyball Championships earlier this year.

Chan said she’s still stunned by what she has achieved so far.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I was really surprised when I got the invitation for the Australian team.

“It sort of came out of nowhere, I was so shocked.

Chan was identified at an Australian camp late last year. She didn’t realise they were scouting for a team.

When she was in Thailand she had to show her flexibility on the court.

“The whole team really bonded because we all come from different parts of Australia,” she

said. “We just helped each other get through training and all the games as it was so hot and really different to Australia.

“I had to play a different position to what I normally did. I had to play setter as one of the setters pulled out late.

“It was definitely challenging having to adapt to a different role, but I think I did pretty well as I had a bit of experience setting before.”

Chan said having to play a different role shows her flexibility on the court but she did want to show her skill that she had been working on in her normal position.

The teenager didn’t have much time to rest after getting back from representing Australia, she was in action for Victoria at the School Sports Australia Volleyball Championships earlier this month, with the team winning gold.

She played despite currently carrying an injury.

“It was really fun,” she said. “I was named in the all-Australian team.

“All the coaches chose 12 players in the girls

and in the boy desperately announced at the end of the tournament.

“After each game they would take notes. It was good.”

Still new in her volleyball career, Chan is stunned at how quick she’s been able to progress through the ranks.

She said the move to Maribyrnong Sports Academy had made a big difference.

“Just the last year was crazy,” she said. “I never thought I would play for Australia so fast.

“That [moving to MSA] helped a lot. Going intoanenvironmentwheresportwasapriority as well as school, after school I have training and I have to learn how to balance my time with study and sport.”

Chan said as a kid she always wanted to take a sport pretty far and had done multiple sports growing up.

She said with volleyball she had really found a connection and wants to take it to the highest level possible.

Tara Murray

Grego steps up a notch

By Tara Murray

Western Jets star Lucca Grego is using the lessons he learned last year to take his game to the next level.

Grego was part of the Vic Metro squad last season as a bottom ager and is again part of the squad this year.

He said he has helped massively for him as he looks to put out some good performances in his draft year.

“Coming in this year, I think it helps with leadership,” he said. “There’s a few kids in the side this year that didn’t play 16s, didn’t play 18s as a bottom ager, to already be there and come up to help these kids just starting their football journey through the talent pathway at metro.

“Playing metro last year has built me up for this year. I’ve done all the building blocks last year and done all the hard work for me to go out and enjoy it last year.”

Game one of the national championships is already under Grego’s belt, where he had 17 possessions.

The teenager said it was very quick in not the best footy conditions.

“It was a lot of fun and I’m keen to play the next three.”

While football is the dream now for Grego, it wasn’t his main focus when he was growing up.

Grego actually made the under-12 Victorian rugbyleagueteamfortheSchoolSportnational championships in 2018.

He told StarWeekly back then, that one of his dreams was to become a professional rugby league player.

“We lived in Queensland for about seven or eight years,” Grego said. “I started playing up there, and definitely was the dream from an early age.

“Being around Melbourne was definitely one reason, my grandfather was a big footy player. He played under-19s for South Melbourne back in the day and was a really good footballer.

“He kind of coaxed me into playing a couple of games for Altona Vikings and then I fell in love with it.”

Grego moved his football out to Bacchus Marsh where he now lives. He was at the Cobras until this year, when he decided to join Essendon District Football League premier side, Keilor.

He is yet to play a game with the Blues due to Coates Talent League and Vic Metro commitments, but Blues coach Mick McGuane is having a big influence on his career.

“He is probably one of the best coaches

Sports shorts

EDFL

The winning streaks of Taylors Lakes and Burnside Heights came to an end in the Essendon District Football League division 2 competition on Saturday. Coburg Districts, which has lost a lot of close games, finally had one go its way, beating the Lions, 17.10 (112)-15.14 (104). The Bears fell short against Westmeadows, losing 13.10 (88)-11.6 (72). Despite the losses the Bears and Lions remain the top two teams. They face each other this Saturday.

WFL

The battle between the battlers was won by the Western Rams on Saturday in the Western Football League division 2 competition. The Rams hosted North Sunshine as both teams not only looked for their first win of the season, but first win in a number of years. It was the Rams that came away with a big win, winning 31.12 (198)-3.3 (21). In other division 2 results, Albanvale, Braybrook, Sunshine and Albion were the winners.

NPL

that I’ve ever had,” he said. “The way he communicates to all the players and the way he breaks down the game of footy is just unbelievable.

“He is already mentoring me and helping me along the way, what he has done for me know, helpedimmenselyandcankeeponproviding.”’

Grego said he doesn’t model his game on anyone and tries to play like himself. Some people have said he plays like Collingwood premiership player Isaac Quaynor.

Grego is hoping to continue his strong form this season to hear his name called out at the end of the year.

He is currently also juggling year 12, which means he schedules his week every Sunday to make sure he’s got everything planned.

Grego said getting drafted would mean a lot to him. “It would mean everything to me,” he said.“I’veputallthishardworkinthelastthree years and to get drafted would be icing on the cake.

“I’m just focusing on school and footy. I’ve got exams in about 14 weeks, really knuckle down in school and continue to play the good footy I’m playing at the moment.

“Just have fun with it and not take it too seriously. I think everything should fall into place.”

Melbourne Knights had a night out on Friday night against Moreland City in the National Premier League competition. The Knight came away with a 6-0 win after leading 5-0 at half time. Gian Albano scored twice for the Knights. The Knights have now moved to seventh on the ladder, only six points outside the top six. Green Gully had a 4-2 win against the Oakleigh Cannons, while St Albans played on Sunday, after deadline.

NBL1

Keilor Thunder had a big win against the Bendigo Braves in the National Basketball League 1 South competition on Saturday night. The Thunder took control of the game in the second quarter and were able to maintain that lead throughout, winning 111-85. Deng Acuoth top scored with 21 points. The Thunder women also won, beating the Braves, 79-65.

Denise Chan. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 412070_05

Lucca Grego. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 410527_24

Slow start proves costly for Warrior

A fast-finishing Western Warriors left it too late to get the points in their Victorian Netball League championship match against Boroondara Express on Wednesday.

The loss kept the Warriors in 10th place and coach Kim Bailey was left to lament another sluggish start.

For a second straight week, the Warriors come late from a big deficit but were unable to chase it back. Against the Express, the Warriors lost 66-63.

“Close yet again, we just can’t give teams that big of a start,” she said.

“So yeah, disappointing. You know, the good thing is we know we can come back, (we) just can’t get that far down. We were flat to start, it looked like we were flat.

“It took us a while to work into the game, but we tried a few different combinations and justgivingthemtimetocomeoffthecourtlike Simona (Di Philippo), for example, came off the court, had a look at what’s going on, then goes back on and she had a great second-half.

“Same with Ruby (Shannon), was a little bit behind the play, came back on and probably had the best defensive game for the season.”

The Warriors were down by 12 goals at one stage, but outscored Boroondara 19 to 12 in the final term.

The Warriors will be without goal defence

Natalie Tommasini for a few weeks.

“It’ll be a little bit difficult, but we’ll live,” Bailey said.

“With Elly (Randall) stepping up tonight,

we’ve got Georgia Berry, and we might bring Eliza Gollant up.”

The Warriors under-23s defeated Boroondara by 10 goals, 56-46 which Bailey said “would give them the world of confidence”.

“They played tonight like we thought they could play the whole season so (it was) really pleasing. We’re coming to the back end of the season and they can finish off positively hopefully. The smiles on their faces when they get a win was worth a million bucks.”

The Warriors were headed to Bendigo on Sunday, after deadline to face the Strikers and will front up again this Sunday against Melbourne University Lightning in Ballarat.

Ragheb keen to improve

By Peter Howe

Taye Ragheb has a lot to be excited about over the next couple of months.

The rising taekwondo star will watch on with anticipation as two of his coaches Leon SejranovicandStaceyHymeralongwithBailey Lewis will represent Australia at the Olympics.

“I am absolutely over the moon with excitement, my adrenaline is pumping,” he said.“Itrainwiththesepeopleeveryweek,they are so amazing.

“They are my sporting heroes.”

The teenager is hoping that will be him one day.

Ragheb started taekwondo when he was just six. His mum wanted him to do a sport. He tried soccer, footy and even gymnastics but it was only when he tried martial arts that he became an instant fan.

“As a six-year-old I loved the challenge of getting better and being able to show my strength,” he said.

“I was very competitive and loved being able to improve. When I started winning medals in competitions I liked it even more.”

Ragheb, like all youngsters, was initiated into taekwondo and had to learn Poomsae first. Poomsae is the non-combative arm of

taekwondo where you learn the movements that you take into the combat arm.

He was eager to put the pads on and fight someone.

Ragheb was seven when won a silver medal at his first fight at the Victorian state competition. From there he went on to win his first Victorian state title and has medalled at every competition in Australia since.

He is currently the 2023 senior under-68 kilogram bronze medallist, having won the 2022 under-73 kilogram gold medal.

Ragheb attends the Maribyrnong Sports Academy coached by Sejranovic where he spends six hours a week training.

He then heads to the Victorian Institute of Sport three times per week for his performance pathway training and then his club training at Notorious Taekwondo a further three nights per week.

“Notorious is my second home and my coaches and fellow athletes are my family,” he said. “I spend up to 15 hours a week training and honing my skills. Taekwondo has taught methevaluesofrespect,discipline,gratefulness and humility.”

Combinehisrigoroustrainingschedulewith year 12 study, there’s a high commitment and and discipline required to sustain high levels of

performance.

“I have Sunday off where I catch up on my studyandmyrest,otherwiseitisjustgo,gogo,” he said.

“But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Ragheb has travelled to two overseas competitions.Thefirsthetookplentyoflessons outofit,fightingsomeexperiencedfighters,the second he won his first international fight.

Ragheb said he is unsure what he wants to do at the end of year 12 in terms of a career, but one thing is clear.

“I do know it will need to fit in with my goal of representing Australia at the next Olympics in the USA in 2028 and then Brisbane in 2032,” he said. “I am looking forward to the national championships later this year. Many overseas competitors travel to the tournament, and I get another opportunity to improve my skills and hopefully medal.

Ragheb is this month’s Don Deeble sports award nominee.

The award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and StarWeekly

If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.

Spring Hills bowed out of the Nike F.C Cup after losing in extra time to Preston Lions in the quarter-finals at Springside Recreational Reserve on Tuesday/

Spring Hills was hoping to make it through to the final four of the first time and coach Tom Markovski said he was proud of his team.

The side’s run included knocking out six-time defending champion Calder United.

“I think the girls learned that on our day (that) we can beat anybody,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter who you play, it’s eleven against eleven and I couldn’t be more proud.

I think the girls learned that it just shows that we can match it with the NPL and hopefully if we keep going the way we’re going, we could be there next year.

I’m super proud of the girls and the way they played. We pushed them to 120 minutes.”

The Lions scored inside the first minute when Meba Tanaka found the left corner, beating Hills goalkeeper Jenna Ibrahim.

However, Spring Hills settled into a rhythm and netted three goals of their own before 20 minutes to lead 3-1 at the break.

Kate Spiteri produced a stunning header in the eighth minute and then capitalised in the box from a strong cross just minutes later to have the big Caroline Springs crowd in full voice. An own goal in the 20th minute gave Spring Hills a 3-1 lead and the visitors were in shock.

The Lions then scored twice in the second half to even it up after 90 minutes.

In extra time, what looked like an attempted cross by Jamilla Rankin somehow found the net and the Lions went in front in the 104th minute.

Rasamee Phonsongkham controlled the ball beautifully before putting the ball away in the left-hand corner in the 110th minute and Preston was all but into the semi-final.

However, less than two minutes later Erii Yamashita almost found a goal from a set-piece but the loose ball was seized upon by Yukina Tamamura and all of sudden it was game on, but the Lions held on.

Justin Flynn

Brave Spring Hills bow out

Taye Ragheb in action at the 2022 Australian National Championships in Queensland. (Australian Taekwondo)

Kim Borger (Grant Treeby/NV)

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