Celebrating local talent
Hobsons Bay artists are being celebrated in a new exhibition at the civic centre. The Hobsons Bay Artists Society’s (HBAS) ThroughtheArtist’s Eyes exhibition features works by locals in various mediums, including watercolour, oil, pastel, acrylic, mixed media and textiles.
The open-ended theme invited artists to explore various genres, including landscapes, seascapes, vegetation and abstracts.
HBAS curator Sue Groen said the exhibition highlights the artistic talent within Hobsons Bay and reinforces the importance of community support in nurturing and sustaining local arts. Ms Groen said the team is grateful to the artists participating in the current exhibition, which showcases 66 artworks, many of which are for sale.
“It is challenging work, but we are always excited to see the artwork that is presented to us. I love being connected with such creative and talented artists,“ Ms Goren said.
Visitors can view the exhibition in the meeting room foyer at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Anne Prisianne
Backing for truck ban
By Tara Murray
Maribyrnong council has reinforced its position that trucks should be banned on Williamstown Road in a fiery debate on the council’s submission to an updated Victorian Freight Plan.
The submission, which was tabled at last week’scouncilmeeting,welcomedthebanning of large freight trucks on six key roads when the West Gate Tunnel opens, while advocating for enforcement cameras to be installed and operating immediately after the opening. The submission also noted it is important the freight industry is educated on the changed arrangements and compliance is monitored and reported.
It said local roads that support industry are at times narrow with unsealed shoulders, are
deteriorated due to heavy truck traffic, and built to historic road standards that are not always fit for purpose.
It also highlighted concerns with the higher levels of air pollution and that the council had declared a state of climate emergency in 2019.
The drama started when councillor Simon Crawford attempted to raise an amended motion wanting the submission to also call for speed limits to be reduced on state roads, the improvement of safety for all road users at major intersections, and the banning of trucks on Williamstown Road.
Cr Crawford said the additional points were based on community feedback, but admitted he had crafted the wording just before he raised it.
Cr Sarah Carter said the motion had been sprung on councillors without any previous
clarification and said it was very general.
Cr Crawford said he was open to making the amended motion more specific, with the main road on which he wanted to see a reduced speed limit being Geelong Road, while intersections along Geelong, Somerville and Williamstown roads and Barclay Street were of concern.
Cr Jorge Jorquera said he would support the amended motion if it was more specific. There wasalsoconfusionoverwhethertherehadbeen a previously adopted stance on banning trucks on Williamstown Road, which was found to have been to be adopted in 2019.
Cr Crawford said the ban on trucks on Williamstown Road was something the community desperately wants.
Cr Michael Clarke said “he had never seen such a terrific opportunity absolutely turned
into a train wreck” and it “was the greatest example of amateur hour he has seen in this term of council”.
“One hundred per cent there needs to be a banontrucksonWilliamstownRoad,”hesaid.
“I absolutely agree there needs to be a reductions in speed of traffic not just on state roads but a number of local roads.
“If we’re going to do this, for goodness sake can we have a degree of credibility. A considered proposition I think would have gotten through.”
Cr Carter and Cr Anthony Tran also raised concerns with how the amended motion was raised, with Cr Tran saying it was an ‘undercooked’ amendment.
Councillors finally voted to add just the ban of trucks on Williamstown Road to the submission.
Hobsons Bay Artists Society members Sue Groen, Vikki Tyrrell, Sally Bilbao. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 420025_07
Mum thought her boy was dead
By Emily Woods, AAP
A child left with catastrophic injuries after a car ploughed into him says he was trying to save his three-year-old brother.
“I was being a big brother to my little brother, I pushed him out of the way so he doesn’t get hurt like me,” Huseyin Pek, 8, told his mother after the crash.
Thanh Ngoc Vo had arrived in Australia five days before the September 2023 crash and was practising driving around the block in his wife’s car when he hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
The 49-year-old unlicensed driver ran over the young children, who were playing in a puddle behind their grandparents’ home in Braybrook.
Huseyin was seriously injured and has undergone several surgeries but may never walk properly again, while his little brother Burak Pek suffered minor injuries.
The boys’ family said they were relieved “justice is served in our favour” after Vo admitted dangerous driving causing serious injury and was jailed on Wednesday, July 24.
“I’m still angry but I came here for my son and I’ll be here for him on our next court date,” his mother Demet Aydin said outside the County Court. “I don’t accept that he is sorry for what he did to my son.”
Inside the court, a heartbreaking statement from Ms Aydin was read out where she described hearing the crash and fearing the worst.
“Everything went silent, slow motion …
all I could hear was revving and bang, bang, bang,” she said.
“I thought Huseyin must have been dead.”
Vo was pulling into the laneway when he accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes of the Toyota Prado, he told police. He pushed on the accelerator even further and hit the two children and three parked cars.
Vo ran from the scene to his home, near the scene of the crash.
When police arrived shortly after, Vo fell to his knees in a prayer position and was arrested.
Huseyin’snumerousinjuriesweredescribed as “catastrophic” by prosecutors and required emergency surgery and almost two months in hospital.
Whitten Oval redevelopment done
The final stage of redevelopment of the iconic Whitten Oval is now complete.
The home of the Western Bulldogs, the final stage of the redevelopment included an indoor training field, advanced performance centre and new EJ Whitten Stand.
The new stand includes improved seating and facilities for spectators, a new function room, administration offices and space for the club’s community foundation to deliver its programs across the western suburbs.
The new indoor training field provides a world-class, all-weather venue for the Western Bulldogs’ AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW teams to train in all conditions.
He suffered fractures and deep cuts to his head, including a 20cm injury from his left eyebrow to the middle of his head.
“I can’t look at his face because I’m in tears,” Ms Aydin said.
Ms Aydin hoped Vo would receive a lengthy prison term and will be deported to Vietnam after serving it.
Judge Duncan Allen thanked Ms Aydin for her “poignant, tragic” description of what had happened to her child.
Defence barrister Zoe Broughton asked for Vo to be assessed for a community work order but accepted he would serve some time in prison for the tragedy.
The hearing was adjourned to October 28 and Vo, who had been on bail, was taken to prison.
Items stolen from victim
An accused murderer allegedly stole jewellery, cash and personal items from an 85-year-old woman on the same day she killed her.
Court documents released on Wednesday state Milena Bogojevska, 49, allegedly trespassed with an intent to steal at Lolene Whitehand’s West Footscray home on July 12.
She then allegedly stole items valued at $2000 from the 85-year-old, including jewellery, cash, a wallet and personal identification documents.
Bogojevska is accused of murdering Ms Whitehand on the same day. Ms Whitehand’s body was found floating in the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne’s west on July 14. Police allege Bogojevska knew Ms Whitehand. Bogojevska faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 23, where a suppression on her identity was lifted during a closed-court hearing. She was remanded in custody to appear in November for a committal mention hearing.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek allowed prosecutors12weekstocompilethebrief of evidence against the 49-year-old.
Fans from across Victoria and interstate can also enjoy the new match-day pavilion, which features a new function room and extra hospitality vendors to bolster the off-field experience.
Named in honour of club legend Ted Whitten, Whitten Oval has been an iconic landmark in Footscray and home of the Bulldogs since 1883.
Stageoneoftheredevelopmentwasdelivered in 2018.
The expanded advanced performance centre will also support the club’s training and community programs. New broadcast quality sports lighting, a refurbished entry building and club museum are also part of the redevelopment.
Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler said those who attended the ‘Save the Bulldogs’ rally here years ago would have been unable to imagine what Whitten Oval has become.
“We’re proud to provide such an important point of connection for our fans and our neighbours in one of the most dynamic and diverse regions in Victoria with this state-of-the-art venue,” she said.
Footscray MP Katie Hall said that this redevelopment will help the club build on their strong record of supporting the local community through its Daughters and Sons of theWest,NalleiJerring,andAfrican-Australian GOAL mentoring programs.”
The magistrate also noted Bogojevska required steroid injections to manage ongoing nerve damage to her lower back, as well as medication for her anxiety and depression.
Earlier on July 23, Bogojevska pleaded guiltytoseparatetheftandarsoncharges from two incidents in July and August 2023. She admitted stealing a woman’s handbag with items valued at $8000 from a car in West Footscray and setting fire to another person’s car, which also caused damage to a nearby phone tower. Bogojevski was convicted and sentenced to seven days in jail over the 2023 incidents.
Tara
Cosoleto, AAP
Fair access policy to promote gender equality in sports
A new Maribyrnong council policy aims to address barriers experienced by women and girlsinaccessingandusingcommunitysports and recreational infrastructure.
At the July 24 council meeting, councillors endorsed a fair access policy, which had been out for community consultation.
From July 1, all Victorian local government authorities are required to have a gender equitable access and use policy to be considered eligible to receive infrastructure funding.
Maribyrnong’s policy aims to ensure facilities have appropriate infrastructure to support women and girls, by include female-friendlychangefacilitiesandequitable training and competition timetables.
Councillor Michael Clarke said there is a sheer mass volume of women, girls wanting to participate in sports.
But Cr Clarke said the lack of change room facilities, such as in the Yarraville Cricket Club and Yarraville Glory Soccer Club, hampers participation.
“We need facilities, we need infrastructure that is going to allow this to occur. If we’re honest about ensuring that we are inclusive, we need to provide these opportunities,“ he said.
Cr Anthony Tran said he supported the policy, emphasising the importance of upgrading existing facilities and said it should have been done long ago.
“For those in community who may not have the time to go through the entire policy in itself, the actual plan will increase speaks to
the council’s intentions as to how we wish to execute this policy over time.
It’s about ensuring the current facilities are audited and improved to provide the relevant facilities needed by all residents.
Cr Sarah Carter said it’s important to have female leaders in sports.
The council said it will work with local sporting clubs to deliver the policy and action plan.
Anne Parisianne
Footscray MP Katie Hall, Sport Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Western Bulldogs player Isabella Pritchard, Western Bulldogs player Vaomua Laloifi, Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler and Western Bulldogs president chief executive Ameet Bains. (Supplied)
Food insecurity growing ‘severe’
By Anne Parisianne
Fifteen per cent of households in Maribyrnong are impacted by food insecurity, according to a council submission to a state government inquiry on the issue.
In its submission to the inquiry, which was endorsed by councillors during the July 23 council meeting, council called for the government to legislate for the right to food, empower councils with the resources required to lead community food systems strategies and establish a comprehensive food systems monitoring framework.
Council also wants the government to undertake advocacy to reduce cost of living pressures on families, advocate to the federal governmentonraisingtheminimumwageand welfare payments and support First Nations communitiestoadvancetheirfoodsovereignty.
Theinquiryisexaminingtheimpacts,drivers and solutions for food security in Victoria.
The council’s submission said the impacts of food insecurity were particularly severe in Maribyrnong.
“The Maribyrnong Food Inequality Network, recently established and convened by the Maribyrnong City Council, reports
All aboard for train show
The Sunshine Model Railway Club is on track for a big showing this weekend, as it heads to Braybrook for the annual model train show.
Group organiser Joe Saliba said lots of hard work has gone into this year’s display, with the set looking as good as ever.
He said his love of trains got him originally involved, and he finds himself unable to step away.
“I don’t know why I keep coming back, it’s like an addiction,” he laughed.
“The club has been going since September 1996,IjoinedinJanuary1997…Ihavealways liked trains since I was about six.”
The club meets twice a week in Albion, on Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights, and encourages anyone wanting to join to have a chat with members at the show.
The team of more than 25 members buys and builds parts and bring them together to create an impressive model.
To the club it in action, head to the Braybrook Secondary College basketball stadium on Burke Street, from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturday, August 3, and 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday, August 4.
Gerald Lynch
a significant increase in demand for food assistance, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions and support,” the submission stated.
“Member organisations within the network, including food relief agencies, neighbourhood houses, and community centres, are struggling to meet the rising needs of the local community.”
Speaking at the July 23 meeting, councillor Bernadette Thomas said many people queued for free food donated by the community on Monday nights in Footscray.
“The various … emergency food relief
programs … are becoming overwhelmed. Can’t keep up with the demand,” she said.
Cr Michael Clarke said the cost of food was extremely high, exacerbating existing inequalities.
“There was a time in Braybrook when it was easier to get packaged liquor, packaged alcohol than to get fresh food, fresh vegetables,” he said.
“It does have an impact on the mental health of those who are at the pointy end of food insecurity.
“And of that group, it’s the children that I fear for more than anything else.”
Discover premium retirement living at Rivervue
Spend an afternoon with us to see what premium retirement living is all about.
Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready to rock with our special guests “The Treblettes”! This sassy local vocal trio is coming to Rivervue to perform all your favourite, iconic songs from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.
Sing along to The Andrews Sisters, groove to Motown, sway to Elvis, or twirl to Bill Haley and the Comets, and many more.
Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and tour our Village. This is your opportunity to experience luxury living, with unparalleled views of the Maribyrnong River. Find out why our residents say “Life Begins at Rivervue”
Bring a friend and join us for an unforgettable afternoon!
Numbers strictly limited – RSVP today! Call 1300 298 439 or visit www.rivervue.com.au
Date: Wednesday 14th August
Time: 1.00pm
Sunshine Model Railway Club members Neil Marshall, Joe Saliba, Lenn Hunter, Ted Allan. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 420009_09
Inquiry tackles the stigma around menopause
More needs to be done to reduce the stigma aroundmenopause,asenateinquiryintoissues relating to menopause and perimenopause has heard.
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee is conducting the inquiry which is examining the economic consequences of menopause and perimenopause, their physical health impacts, the mental and emotional wellbeing of people experiencing menopause and perimenopause and the impact on caregiving responsibilities.
The inquiry is also considering medical professionals’ awareness of menopause and perimenopause symptoms and treatments and cultural and societal factors influencing perceptions and attitudes.
DuringaninquiryhearinginMelbournelast month, Women’s Health in the North sexual and reproductive health co-ordinator Tilly Mahoney said perimenopause and menopause are often not talked about within society, due in part to the pervasive stigma and taboo that surrounds reproductive health issues.
“Ongoing stigma can lead to isolation, ignorance, delays in seeking help for physical and mental health impacts, reduced workforce participation and discrimination,” she said.
“Normalising menopause and emphasising the positive or neutral aspects of this life stage can combat that narrative of loss or decline, which is tied to the intersection of sexism and ageism.”
Ms Mahoney said that while there has been
plenty of work done to explore the relationship between the experiences of menopause and workforce participation, there is little research on the impact of menopause on participation in arenas other than employment.
She said key contributors to good mental health include social independence, feeling valued, physical activity, good nutrition and having faith and belief, adding that further understanding of whether these areas are impacted by menopausal symptoms could inform approaches to holistic, clinical and social support and the prevention of mental ill health among people experiencing menopause.
“While physical symptoms may contribute in part to this mental ill health for women and gender-diverse people who experience
menopause, we also need to consider the social determinants of mental ill health: social connectedness; freedom from discrimination and violence; and economic participation, which are all influenced by the broader context of gender inequality.
“Attributing mental ill health solely to the biology of the menopausal transition renders this social context irrelevant and risks further entrenching the views of women’s unsuitability for the workforce or lack of resilience due to ‘biological needs’. Interventions focused on improving the mental health of persons experiencing perimenopause and menopause need to be coupled with investment in broader strategies to address gender inequality.
The final report is due on September 17.
Raising awareness of stillbirth
By Casey Neill
Jacki O’Farrell had a cardiac arrest during her first birth and was unable to sit up for her first two weeks of motherhood. Her second baby was stillborn.
The Sunshine mum of three says there’s no silver lining to what she’s been through, but she’s determined to use her experience to support others.
Jacki fell pregnant with her daughter Charlie in2020.Afterfinallybeingadmittedtohospital after three days in labour, monitors meant to beclockingCharlie’sheartratekeptslippingoff her tight tummy.
Medical staff broke her waters, placed a monitoring clip on Charlie’s head, and told her Charlie’s heart rate had dropped.
An anaesthetist performed an epidural and Jacki settled in to get some rest, armed with a button to press every 15 minutes for drug delivery. The second time she pressed the button, her body felt drunk, but not her mind.
Jacki had suffered a dural puncture and was being inundated with drugs.
“My hand started going a bit numb. My mouth and tongue started to feel a bit similar,” she said. “The last thing I remember hearing was ‘she’s turning blue’.”
Medical staff performed CPR on Jacki for 12 minutes. “While that was happening I had an episiotomy and Charlie was forcepped out.
“Luke watched them do CPR for about a minute on her. Then he heard her crying, so his attention focused back on me.
“He was picturing a life without me. He was playing his life out, doing it by himself.”
Jacki woke up with “the worst headache”. “It felt like someone was crushing my skull,”
she said. “My optic nerve was impacted. Everything was really blurry. I thought I was blind.”
Jacki was in ICU while a healthy Charlie was in NICU for monitoring. Jacki was moved to high care and was finally able to hold Charlie –for about 10 minutes, laying horizontally.
“I was leaking spinal fluid from the epidural needle hole every time I sat up,” she said.
“The first two weeks of motherhood were spent laying flat on my back.
“I’m quite maternal. Not being able to care for your baby was a massive hurdle.”
About six months later she was diagnosed with PTSD and medicated.
JackifellpregnantwithOakleywhenCharlie was about 10 months old.
“I was excited but then also terrified at the exact same time,” she said. “I couldn’t have anythingcatastrophichappenagain.Iwouldn’t
have been able to mentally deal with it.”
But at 31 weeks, she noticed a change in Oakley’s movements.
“Wecalledhimthehurricanebaby,”shesaid. “Itwasreallyeasyformetoidentifywhenthe movements had reduced.”
Doctors confirmed there was no heartbeat.
“We just sat in the room wailing,” Jacki said. “We couldn’t cry hard enough.
“It hit me like a shovel to the face, ‘I have to give birth, I still have to have the baby’.
“I was just screaming ‘I don’t want to do it’.
“I never thought that would happen to us, especially after what happened with Charlie.”
They had a night at home and returned for induction the following day, with wonderful support from the hospital.
A postmortem was inconclusive.
“He moved around so much, the cord was around his neck when he was born, and there
was a knot in the cord,” Jacki said. “It’s nothing that anyone could have prevented or changed.”
Their families met and held Charlie, and then they went home.
“Thatwasoneofthemostchallengingthings to experience. Saying goodbye,” Jacki said. “You never want to leave your child anywhere alone.
“I left my baby by himself.”
Having to show up for 18-month-old Charlie every day helped Jacki through her grief.
An urn containing Oakley’s ashes and a photo of their lost son are on display at home. They bought a baby oak tree to mark the first anniversary of his birth.
Four months after losing Oakley, she fell pregnant again.
“His due date was four days after Oakley’s first anniversary,” she said. “I just didn’t want tobepregnantonorafterOakley’sanniversary. I wanted them separate.”
She was booked for an induction the week before and was in active labour for three hours before welcoming Conor.
“Icouldnotbelievethedifferenceinrecovery from Charlie,” she said.
Jacki now dedicates her spare time to raising awareness and money for Stillbirth Foundation Australia and Still Aware through her small business BHOOMI Babe. She sells breastfeeding blankets and burp cloths and donates $5 from each purchase to the charities.
“You look for the silver lining and there is no silver lining, so what’s the next best thing I can do?”shesaid.“It’snotgoingtochangeanything for us, but it might help someone else.”
To others who’ve lost a baby, Jacki says “it’s more common than people realise” and “it’s OK to feel what you’re feeling”.
To their friends and family, Jacki says to avoid minimising their experience.
“We did have friends who just came and sat on our kitchen floor and said ‘what happened, howareyoudoing?’andjustbeingcomfortable sitting there watching us cry,” she said.
“Just asking ‘are you happy to talk about it?’ is a good place to start.”
Have your say on women’s health issues in the north-west
Star Weekly is aiming to bring the healthcare issues facing women in Melbourne’s west and north into the spotlight with its new health survey.
The online survey is part of the 12-month Women’s Health Matters campaign, which addresses the systemic obstacles and barriers women must overcome when managing their health.
Topics reported by Star Weekly include access to specialised and preventative healthcare, availability of culturally appropriate healthcare, and adequacy of mental health services.
Thesurvey,whichiscompletelyconfidential, has 16 questions and takes less than five minutes to fill out.
Participants will be asked about what theirtophealthconcernis,iftheyhavetravelled outside their suburb to access healthcare, and if they were happy with the care they have received, among other questions.
Star Weekly news editor Laura Michell said the opportunity to cover these issues was of significant importance to the paper.
“Star Weekly is proud to be able to champion women’s health in the western and northern suburbs over the next 12 months,” she said.
“It is our hope that the Women’s Health Matters campaign will raise awareness of the critical health issues affecting women and advocate for change.”
MrsMichellsaidhearingfromindividualsin
the region about their healthcare experiences would help enrich the reporting of these matters and increase their recognition.
“Results from the survey will better inform our campaign coverage,” she said.
“Star Weekly has created this women’s health survey to help us better understand the healthcare issues affecting women living in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs.”
“We want to hear about your stories of success and resilience to help motivate and empower other women to seek help and support when needed,” she said.
“Women too often pay too little attention to their healthcare needs.”
Scan the QR code right to take the confidential survey.
Jacki and Luke with Conor, Charlie and a photo of baby Oakley. (Supplied)
Plan for the future of transport
Maribyrnong council has taken the next step in developing a new long-term plan to help guide the development of Maribyrnong’s transport system.
At the July 23 council meeting, a discussion paper on the Maribyrnong Integrated Transport Strategy [MITS] 2025 Refresh was revealed.
The original MITS was created back in 2012 and the council is now aiming to refresh that document by mid next year following community consultation.
The new discussion paper considers the current state of transport, challenges, opportunities and six proposed strategic directions.
ItsaidthatthepopulationinMaribyrnongis anticipated to increase by 67 per cent between 2016 and 2041 and without intervention, this will place additional strain on safety and efficiency of the municipality’s transport network, including roads, public transport, and active transport.
The discussion paper highlighted that barriers need to be removed to encourage increased walking and cycling participation.
It said that a booming population will increase demand for parking and create more traffic congestion. It said there could be an opportunity to increase paid parking to collect revenue to fund active transport.
The report said there was an opportunity to align speed limits and all road-transport infrastructure design with the safe system approach and reduce the reliance on vehicles, especially heavy duty vehicles.
It said another opportunity was turning Footscraystationintoahighqualityintegrated multi-modal transport hub, with clear connections between modes and providing priority for public transport services in busy corridors.
CouncillorSarahCartersaidthediscussion paper was an exciting opportunity to have an important discussion with the community.
Shesaidalothadchangedsincetheoriginal
Artists show their west side talent
Western suburbs artists of all ages will be celebrated in a new exhibition opening in Footscray on August 2.
The Show Your West Side Art Prize and Exhibition is produced by Footscray artists Sally Walshe, who is also known as LaDY MoHaWK.
The theme of the exhibition is ‘west side stories’, with artists from Melbourne’s west invited to explore their diverse experiences and stories through art.
Walshe said the exhibition was open to all creatives living, working or studying in Melbourne’s west – including children –
because she wanted to created an inclusive exhibition.
Last year’s Show Your West Side exhibition was only open to Maribyrnong residents.
“I really want the west to be less bound by our municipalities, particularly in regards to arts opportunities,” Walshe said.
“Also, last year, lots of artists from other municipalities wanted to be involved. This year, I have also increased the number of mediums that will be exhibited.
“I wanted the exhibition to be inclusive rather than exclusive.”
Walshe said it’s essential that children feel
theyhaveaspacetoparticipateandcontribute to a community’s culture.
“Last year, well over 100 children participated, and their work was so beautiful and uplifting,” she said.
“There will be twelve prizes, including four student prizes, totalling $5349.”
Show Your West Side will be open from August 2 to August 30 at the Footscray Connectivity Centre, 138 Nicholson Street, Footscray.
Details: ladymohawk.com.au or @Lady. Mohawk on Instagram.
-Anne Parisianne
document in 2012 and they need to include it all in one document.
“We have a whole lot of policy documents that weren’t really talking to each other, we as a group were finding ourselves in conflict,” she said.
Councillor Jorge Jorquera said this was a good starting point but said there were a lot of different views in the community.
Works have also been progressing on the North-South Cycling Options Study.
The study is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and will provide an important input to the MITS.
Details: https://www.yourcityyourvoice. com.au/integrated-transport.
Questions over oval access
Public access to Spurling Reserve and Whitten Oval has been restored after a residentquestionedwhythecommunity could not use the reserve “more than 50 per cent of the time”.
A resident raised concerns about access to the Footscray reserve and oval during the July 23 Maribyrnong council meeting, asking why the Western Bulldogs only allowed “intermittent” publicaccesstothereserve.Theresident said a condition of the council-issued permit for the redevelopment of Whitten Oval stipulated that the oval andSpurlingReservemustremainopen to the public at all times, except for approved match days.
“It is noted, however, that access to WhittenOvalisprovidedintermittently andisrestrictedmorethat50percentof the time. For example on Sunday, June 23, access was fully restricted. Access is also restricted daily between 6pm and 7am,” the resident said.
Council confirmed that the planning permit required the oval and reserve to be open to the public outside of match days.
“The Western Bulldogs have confirmed that, except for match days, the oval is open to the public from 7am daily and closes at 6pm, or at 8pm during daylight saving,” council said.
“Council officers have advised the Western Bulldogs that this arrangementdoesnotcomplywiththeir obligations under the planning permit and are working towards full compliance.”
Artists Diego Pizarro, John Utans, Judy Shelley, Yenny Fervent, Jim Kellam and Sally Walshe aka ‘Lady Mohawk.’ (Damjan Janevski) 420221_01
Helping young people into work
More than 70 exhibitors participated in the Pathways to Work expo at Grazeland. The July 26expowasaimedatconnectingyoungpeople with different pathways to employment. Hobsons Bay mayor Matt Tyler said the council is aware of the many challenges young people face today, including finding a job. Exhibitors included a variety of training and education providers, apprenticeship and trades programs, employment agencies, resume support services, local employers and youth services.
Starting curious conversatations to say thanks
Conversations for the Curious, a community group of senior residents, invited the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, the yacht club Commodore, and a council representative to an event to express the group’s thanks for their support. The July 26 event was held at the Dennis Reserve Centre. In June 2022, the group’s home – the Senior Citizens Centre in Melbourne Road, Williamstown – was closed. The Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, supported by the Hobsons Bay council, welcomed the group to use its lounge, meeting hall, and general facilities. The group is now using the newly opened Dennis Reserve Centre for its activities, including lively weekly discussions, a crafts group, and table tennis activities.
Jonathan Fryer and Roger Pope. (Damjan Janevski) 421303 (Supplied)
Pamela, Dorothy, Jill, Marise, Maree and Hilma. (Damjan Janevski) 421303
Conversations for the Curious president Roger Pope presented a certificate of appreciation to the Commodore of the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club Jonathan Fryer. (Supplied)
Austin and Barry Mitchell. (Damjan Janevski) 421303
Gianna Lucas and Antonella Dalla-Vecchia from Happow. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
RMIT student ambassador Ebony Lampard. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
Guests speakers: Grant Powell, Jacqui Dunbar and Nicole Brudenall. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
The expo featured a variety of employers, training organisations and employment support services. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
Rodrigo Melendez and Michelle Boyall from Hobson Bay Youth Services. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
Hobsons Bay mayor Matt Tyler speaks at the expo. (Damjan Janevski) 421173
Be part of new advisory group
By Cr Diana Grima
Everyone has a role to play in making sure our community is a safe environment where everyone has the same opportunities.
I’d really like to encourage women in Hobsons Bay to put their hand up to be part of council’s new women’s advisory group.
This group is being set up as part of our commitment to addressing gender inequity, and it will help council design and plan a suite of initiatives that address issues affecting women in Hobsons Bay.
In May, council voted unanimously to support a motion that called for urgent action to reduce violence against women.
It included writing to the premier, Jacinta Allan, asking for urgent action from the state government to reduce the number of women killed by violence each day.
You can express interest in joining the group at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.
Applications close on Tuesday, August 6.
There are some exciting works coming up in my ward that are going to be a great benefit to the community.
Works are underway at the Laverton Swim and Fitness Centre. More than $2 million in works will include upgrades to the building, change rooms, pool plant and fire services, and an internal fit out.
These works will make sure we have a pool in the area that meets modern standards.
Works have also started at Alma Reserve in Altona Meadows with Stage 1 of a project that is part of the Better Places Seabrook and Altona Meadows program.
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Task:
Hours:
Requirements:
Own a small van or good size car
Reliable and punctual
Strong knowledge of local area
The first stage involves upgrading the reserve,includinganewplayspace,community gathering space, shelter, landscaping and new park furniture. Council has allocated $360,000 for this first stage.
Council’s budget for this financial year includes $700,000 for the second stage of works, which had its masterplan finalised after an incredible 2,400 responses and ideas from the local community.
I’m always so proud to see that level of enthusiasm in my community because it means people are passionate about where they live.
The Alma Avenue shopping precinct works will include improvements to the car park, the pedestrian crossing to the reserve, and the streetscape.
Briefs
Watch Celeste Mucci
Williamstown Athletics Club invites community members to an evening celebrating Celeste Mucci’s Olympic debut. The watch and celebrate event will be held at Williamstown Little Athletic Centre on Wednesday, July 31, from 5.30-6.30 pm. The club asks attendees to wear blue and yellow or green and gold to show support. Details: facebook.com/ events/393183663309892.
Sewer works resume in Yarraville Work on restoring the North Yarra main sewer in Yarraville resumes this week, which will impact riders using Somerville Road. The on-road bike lane on Somerville Road will be closed from Whitehall Street to Hyde Street. Riders and pedestrians can still use the shared-user path on either side of Somerville Road. Works will be underway 24 hours, seven days a week, at the junction of Whitehall Street and Somerville Road, until August 11, at 5am. These works will not permit the use of the pedestrian crossing that crosses Somerville Road on the west side of Whitehall Street. There will still be access to cross Whitehall Street and Somerville Road on the east side of Whitehall Street.
FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au
Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Discover the universe
Children and adults can discover and understand details about the universe through the National Science Week exhibition at Scienceworks.
The programs will run from Saturday, August 10, to Sunday, August 18.
This year’s theme, Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability, invites visitors to delve deeper into the critical issues facing Earth’s biodiversity and explore innovative solutions for the survival and prosperity of diverse species in a rapidly changing world.
Museums Victoria chief executive and director Lynley Crosswell said the program would spark discussions on life’s big questions.
In the Journey Beyond: Australia’s first astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, will kick off the week with an exclusive interview.
InFromMelbournetoMars:TheHuntforLife in Space, deputy program scientist on NASA’s perseverance mission to Mars Dr Adrian Brown will join the Melbourne Planetarium live from NASA headquarters in Washington
DCforaconversationwithMuseums Victoria’s senior curator of astronomy, Dr Tanya Hill.
On Planetarium Nights, the Melbourne Planetarium reawakens after hours for adults with a stellar line-up of full-dome film screenings.
In the Lightning Theatre, a 30-minute live science show explores the science of glow and luminosity and culminates in a spectacular finale with a giant Tesla coil producing lightning using over two million volts of electricity.
In The Martian Garden, visitors can meet researchers from Latrobe University and experiment with vertical farm robots and future foods - like Martian spinach cheeseto measure psychological responses to space food.
In the Energy is a Superpower, visitors can join a half-day STEM workshop to explore the many forms of energy. Details: museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/ whats-on/.
Cr Diana Grima.
Planetarium Nights at Scienceworks. (Supplied)
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 Immune system organ (6)
4 Clearly demonstrate; prove (6)
10 Was (5)
11 Gaseous fuel (9)
12 Binding agreements (9)
13 Port city in Belgium (5)
14 A counting number (6)
15 Cicatrix (4)
19 Greeting (Ital) (4)
20 Overseas (6)
24 Dollars (coll) (5)
25 The common people (3,6)
27 Training (9)
28 Sharp protrusion (5)
29 Restraint (6)
30 Commands (6) DOWN
1 Chosen (8)
2 Plant yielding fragrant oil (8)
3 Declare one’s approval (7)
5 Traveller (7)
6 Family members (6)
7 Forces out (6)
8 Fashion designer, – Jacobs (4)
9 Ill from ocean movement (7)
16 Northern Indian state, Jammu and – (7)
17 Fuel pit (8)
18 Consultants (8)
19 Gush (7)
21 Software (7)
22 The best at (6)
23 Discharge (6)
26 Scottish island (4)
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.
9 words: Good 13 words: Very good 18 words: Excellent Today’s Aim:
3
1 What was the name of the boat in the movie Jaws?
2 Dan Brown’s 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code opens with a murder in which museum?
3 What type of reptiles are leatherbacks and ridleys?
4 Janus is the ancient Roman god of what?
5 In which city are the Spanish Steps located?
6 Who, alongside Jordan Peele (pictured), created the sketch comedy series Key&Peele
7 The Palace of Versailles was built in which 17th-century architectural style? 8 In carpentry, what is a plumb bob used for? 9 Lydia Deetz, Barbara Maitland and Otho are characters in which Tim Burton film?
10 Goulash is the national dish of which European country?
No. 196
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Musicians welcome
Do you play any percussion, brass or woodwind instruments? The Hobsons Bay City Band is seeking musicians to join their community band. Please note that rehearsals are held under the directorship of Wayne Bowden every Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Spotswood South Kingsville RSL, 59 The Avenue, Spotswood.
■ Hannah Prouse, hbcityband@gmail.com or hbcb.org.au
Point Gellibrand Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand meets at a local Williamstown restaurant on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6pm for a 6.30pm dinner meeting.
The club has some great speakers and needs new, energic, enthusiastic members who want to make a difference in their community to join the fun club.
■ rotarypointgellibrand.com.au, or facebook.com/pointgellibrandrotary, or call Pam, 0418 347 691 or rotarypointgellibrand@gmail.com
Fiddle group
The Newport Folk and Fiddle Beginner Play Along Group is a great place for beginners or those with some experience, to play music in a safe, casual and welcoming environment.
Come on down, have some fun, make new friends, have a cuppa and maybe even learn something new.
All instruments and levels of expertise are welcomed where the main aim is to enjoy music and have fun. Children are also most welcome.
The third Saturday of the month, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, at 2nd Newport Scouts, 6 Market Street, Newport. ■ nffc.org.au/beginner-playalong
Willin Wimmin Community choir, Discover the joy of group singing with the friendly women at WiIlin Wimmin choir in Williamstown.
New members are always welcome, no audition. We sing contemporary, folk, choral and world repertoire in acapella style.
The group meets on Wednesdays during school term, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, at The Bridge Church hall, 119 Douglas Parade, Williamstown. The first two evenings of attendance are free. ■ willinwimmin.org.au or willin.wimmin@ gmail.com
Prep for employment course
Seeking a change in career or how to improve your employability? Receive face-to-face help with job searches, resumes, interviews, upskilling and more in a prep for employment course. Register today. At 43 Mason Street, Newport.
■ 9391 8504, outlets@outletsco-op.com.
au
Intro to computers course
For beginners and those looking to refresh skills. The computer lab is fully equipped for interactive and hands-on learning. Accessing information, resources, file management, emails, Microsoft Office, AI and online safety. At 43 Mason Street, Newport.
■ 9391 8504, outlets@outletsco-op.com.
au
Laverton Community Choir
The choir is welcoming new members, especially male voices. If you love singing and would like to be part of a choir, come along and try out your vocal cords with this fun and welcoming group of singers. There are no auditions and you don’t need to be able to read music. The group
meets on Thursday evenings during school terms at Laverton P12 College, 91 Bladin Street, Laverton, from 7-9pm.
■ Sue, 0418 386 147, or lavertoncommunitychoir@gmail.com
Alcoholics Anonymous
Regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous are held at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Williamstown, Wednesdays at 7pm, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Newport, Thursdays at 6.30pm and Saturdays at 8.30am. All welcome including friends and family of people with drinking problems.
■ 1300 22 22 22, or aatimes.org.au
Laverton Community Education Centre
Laverton Community Education Centre has started free AMEP classes in Williamstown Community Education Centre at the Joan Kirner House, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am-3pm. Participants can build English, digital and employability skills with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
■ 9369 2726
Computers, crafts, conversation
Whatever your learning interests and needs, Outlets Newport Community Education Centre has hands-on, face-to-face classes for you or a friend. Contact the centre today to find something for you.
■ 9391 8504, or outlets@outletsco-op. com.au
Diabetes support group
The Westgate Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 am at the Altona Bowling Club.
■ Elaine, 0415 030 996
Altona Day View Club
The Altona Day View Club meets on the third Wednesday each Month at 11am, at the Altona RSL 31 Sargood Street., Altona.
■ Jan, 0419 159 783
Walking Football (Soccer)
For anyone aged 50 and over, any fitness level – no running allowed. This is a social activity for fun and a bit of exercise, no experience necessary. Supported by Hobsons Bay council and Football Victoria, this is a free activity each Wednesday from 10am to 11am indoors at the Sports Centre, Andrew Park Drive (Queens Road), Altona.
■ Mike, 0423 291 708
Keeping up with technology Scams, MyGov, software, online shopping, banking, email, whatever. We all need to keep up with the internet, IT, computers, and changing technology. Join one our Computer classes, we cover the basics. Classes every day of the week , mornings and afternoons, in Williamstown and Altona North.
■ Lynne, 9397-6168
Community morning tea
A free community meeting tea occurs every Wednesday at 11am in Joan Kirner House foyer, 14 Thompson Street, Williamstown.
■ Tahlia, 9397 6168
Woodcarving workshop
The woodcarving workshop meets on Tuesdays at 9.30am-noon at Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed, 280 Queens Street, Altona. All
levels of ability in this ancient, international craft are welcome, women included, starter tools and timber available.
■ jah2802rot@gmail.com
Women Talk – Conversational English
The Women Talk Group will be held on Mondays at 10am for women to learn and practice speaking English in the classroom and the local area and make new friends in an all-women class.
■ 9391 8504 or outlets@outletsco-op. com.au
Altona Repair Cafe
The Altona Repair Cafe is looking for more repairers to help meet community demand for repairs at their monthly repair events. Repair cafes happen on the first Saturday of the month, noon-3pm.
■ Danielle, 0413 434 082
Book sale
Friends of Altona Library hold a monthly book sale on the first Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of each month at the rear of Altona Library 123 Queen Street Altona. access via Coles car park, from 10am-1pm.
■ https://libraries.hobsonsbay.
Mouth Organ Band
Yarraville Mouth Organ Band is looking for new members. Band practice is held on Friday evenings at 8pm in the band hall at 203 Williamstown Road, Yarraville. For great music in a friendly atmosphere feel free to call in one Friday evening.
■ Heather 9399 2190 or ymob1933@ yahoo.com.au
This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Wyndham Theatre Company actress Katrina Gauci. (Damjan Janevski) 420441_01
Display four years in the making
By Eddie Russell
Artist Britt Salt loves that her latest exhibition has found its home in the “community hub thoroughfare” that is the CS Gallery.
She said seeing kids, adults and staff interact with SpatialMurmuration, which is now available to view at the Caroline Springs Library, is awesome.
Viewers can enjoy five tapestries and eight drawings of Salt’s, who spent the last four years working on the display.
Salt said the pieces, a variety of large scale public artwork and small intricate ink
Brett Lee aka Pirritu, and right, Lamine Sonko.
(Pictures: Supplied)
drawings, are often compared to ‘op art’ – the use of black and white geometrical shapes to create images of optical illusions.
“Across all the work there’s a bit of a trick of the eye happening … people say it looks like [prominent op art trailblazer] Bridget Riley,” she said.
“People say at first glance it looks computer generated but I have to say it’s all by hand.”
However, Salt said her work differs from this style because of her fascination with order.
“Unlike modernism and other historical, 60s-based art movements … I tend to use
Show combines culture and music
Preparetobesweptawayonaculturaljourney as the Altona Theatre hosts an extraordinary performance featuring composer and multi-instrumentalist Lamine Sonko and Ngiyampaa singer-songwriter Pirritu on August 16.
This event will feature music that combines traditional cultural knowledge and contemporary styles, creating a rich and diverse musical experience.
Sonko said he’s looking forward to sharing his music and culture.
“Both of us come from a very rich cultural background, so the evening will be full of storytelling,” Sonko said.
“From my said, I’ll be sharing music from
Senegal, from my heritage.”
He said his performances are deeply rooted in his heritage as a guewel (cultural role) of the Sing Sing clan and Korings of Kaabu, and a member of the Serer, Wolof and Mandinko cultural communities of Senegal.
With his distinctive traditional vocal style, alongside kora, sabar percussion, and guitar, he defines new ways to re-imagine traditional African, contemporary synthesis in music.
“it’s going to be an evening, a combination of Senegalese music infusion with Western classical music,” he said.
Pirritu, meaning ’Brett’ in the Ngiyampaa language,offersadeeplypersonalandmelodic journey through his music.
Adopted by a non-Aboriginal couple as a newborn, Pirritu was raised to be proud of his Aboriginality and began his cultural journey at the age of 14.
His music is driven by his love for his daughter and his passion for reconnecting with his heritage.
With two albums to his name, Pirritu’s work weaves folk instrumentation with his unique vocals, echoing the gentle winds and waters of his ancestral lands.
This captivating show is set to take place at Altona Theatre on Friday, August 16, from 7.30pm.
Anne Parisianne
geometry and architecture as foundations to explore that,” she said.
However, Salt loves that human nature triumphs over order – something that is evident in both the process and end result.
“The fact these are by hand and take long stretches of time to make means you inevitably get these slippages or glitches were you see the human and the hand behind the process,” she said.
“I don’t call them mistakes because I see themaspositivethings– Ireallyrelishthem.”
SpatialMurmurationsis available in the CS Gallery until October 14.
Drag Bingo at the castle
Keilor’s Overnewton Castle is set to host its famous dinner show once again, n with the return of the Drag Queen Bingo Night.
The event, back by popular demand, promises an evening filled with laughter and unforgettable performances by Melbourne’s boldest drag queens, Lady Lou Bricant and Spencer Street.
On Friday, August 9, from 7pm to 11pm, guests can indulge in a night of comedy and entertainment.
A ticket includes six exciting rounds of bingo, complete with bingo pads and pens, alongside seven dazzling live drag performances.
The drag queens will bring their signature style and humor, keeping attendees on the edge of their seats.
Attendees will also have the chance to snap photos with the performers and win prizes throughout the night.
Drinks will be available at bar prices after the initial cocktail.
Don’t miss out on this night full of entertainment at Overnewton Castle, 51 Overnewton Road, Keilor.
Tickets: shorturl.at/iMcth
Explore Werribee’s public art on self-guided walking tour
Explore Werribee’s most iconic street art murals with a self-guided trail and free audio tour.
Starting at the Wyndham Cultural Centre andfinishingatKellyPark,thekilometre-long walking tour through the city centre will take about an hour to complete.
The trail takes in works by artists including Ash Keating, Tom Gerard, Ghost Patrol, Minna Leunig and Makatron.
ThetourbeginsinthecarparkofWyndham Cultural Centre where a large-scale mural was created by Keating using paint-filled fire extinguishers in 2006. From there, participants move on to the opposite side of
the centre to view an abstract mural by Drez, painted in 2022. Head along Watton Street to the Coles wall toviewGhostPatrol’screation,beforemaking your way to the Coffee Pot laneway on Watton Street to view a piece created by Tom Gerrard in 2018.
Other stops include David Lee Pereira’s 110-metre floral mural in the Station Place laneway, created in 2022, Makatron’s 2018 artwork on the laneway beside the Twigg Family Law building, Minna Leunig’s 2019 piece on the Kelly Park toilet block, Hayden Dewar’s mural on the Werribee Water Tank – which can be seen from Kelly
Park – and Mooroop Yarkeen by Tommy Day / Jirri Jirri, represented by MAMAM – a 41-metre-tall mural.
At each stop, you can listen to the artist talk about their work – no apps required. All you need is your mobile phone and headphones to listen to the audio recordings.
At each site, you’ll also find a QR code and website link to the audio recording.
The tour is suitable for all ages and each bite-sized interview includes a conversation with the artist who created the work – it’s like having your own personal guide.
Details: shorturl.at/c6Dua
Drag Bingo has become an Overnewton Castle staple. (Supplied)
David Lee Pereira painting his mural in Station Place in 2022. (Damjan Janevski) 278761_02
Artist Britt Salt. (Janelle Low).
Taking the chess world by storm
Nine-year-old Point Cook boy, Rheyansh Reddy, will compete in a world chess championship in Italy later this year, Cade Lucas reports.
Point Cook’s Sasirekha Reddy can recall the moment she knew her youngest son Rheyansh was no ordinary boy.
“When he was around four and half one day he came to me and asked how a knight moves on the chess board, ” said Ms Reddy, who wasn’t aware that Rheyansh even knew what chess was let alone had any interest in it.
“I was surprised and asked him ‘do you know you know the other pieces on the chess board ?’ and he showed me all the other pieces and how they moved. I was shocked.”
Chess was hardly foreign in the Reddy household.
Ms Reddy plays herself and her elder son, Druthin, had recently taken it up too, something Rheyansh, unbeknownst to her, had been keeping a close eye on.
Proving he could put theory into practice, in the space of three months Rheyansh went from never having played before to easily beating his older brother.
It was rapid progress that only continued when his mother took him to his first competition in 2018.
“Before he turned five took him to a small tournament at the Wyndham chess club and he won four rounds in the under-16 category in the first tournament in his life. We took him to another tournament he played so confidently and he beat more experienced kids. I could see his confidence and joy when he was playing. He was not thinking ‘I’m going to win this game’, he was enjoying it. Even now he just enjoys the game.”
Now Rheyansh is nine years old and firmly entrenched as one of global chess’ great young prodigy’s, the type of generational talent that has him bestowed with titles like ‘CandidateMaster’andhaspeopleinthechess
community referring to him as a ‘superstar’ and ‘Queens Gambit’ after the Netflix show about an orphaned chess prodigy. They might need to come up with even grander monikers later this year after Rheyansh competes at the world age group championships in Italy in November.
In order to help get him there, the Hobsons Bay Chess Club is holding fundraising event on August 6, where Rheyansh will play a simultaneous exhibition match or ‘simul’
Mr Goh has witnessed Rheyansh’s ability on chess board up close and said he’s every bit as good as advertised.
“Rheyansh started playing in our club when was about five years old and he actually beat me when he was six so that was very impressive,” he said.
“He is very very good. Very, very good.”
against multiple players at once.
Far from showing off, simul’s are a popular way for chess masters to demonstrate their skills and for amateur players to gain valuable experience by playing against a higher-level opponent.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our juniors to challenge themselves and play against our own junior master,” said Hobsons Bay Chess Club instructor Casey Goh of the fundraising event.
November’s world cadet championships in Montisalvano won’t be Rheyansh’s first time on the world stage.
Last year he became the first Australian in 35 years to win an Asian age group title when he took out the under-8’s category at a tournament in Bali.
Earlier in 2023 he competed in his first world championships in Batumi, Georgia, finishing 10th.
To register for the exhibition or donate, visit: https://shorturl.at/W1L8Q
Rheyansh Reddy is a chess champion. Above: Rheyansh with some of his trophies. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 420043
Local results at Olympic so far
By Tara Murray
Here’s a quick look at how athletes from Melbourne’s north-west have gone in the first two days of competition.
Cycling
It was heartbreak for Lucas Plapp in the men’s cycling time trial. After Grace Brown won gold for the Aussies, Plapp was hoping to make it an even better day one. Plapp was sitting in fourth spot at the first check point, butfellinthewetandtrickyconditions.Plapp reportedly slid under a barrier fence shortly after passing the first checkpoint. He was taken to hospital and was waiting on scans. Australian Cycling later released a statement saying Plapp underwent abdominal surgery in a Paris hospital. His parents and an Australian team doctor were at the hospital with him. Further medical details are not available at this time. Plapp was set to be part of the Australian road team later in the competition.
Basketball
The Australian Boomers got off to the perfect start with a win against Spain. The Boomers led for much of the night and were able to fight back after Spain took the lead in the third quarter. It would be a 92-80 win for the Boomers. Josh Giddy scored 17 points and had eight rebounds. Dante Exum didn’t play as he recovers from a dislocated finger. The Australian team was back in action on Tuesday against Canada. South Sudan won its first ever Olympic basketball game. The side beat Puerto Rico on Sunday night, Australian time, 90-79. Keilor Thunder’s Kuany Kuany didn’t take to the court.
Basketball
The Opals displayed one of their most
SPORTS QUIZ
1. In ice hockey, each team has how many positions?
2. Who was the captain of Manchester United in 2015?
3. In 1999, which team won the AFL grand final?
disappointingOlympicsperformanceseveron Monday night, Australian time, in their loss to Nigeria. The Opals were comprehensively beaten in the 75-62 in a performance riddled with turnovers and missed free throws. Ezi Magbegor scored nine points for the Aussies, while skipper Tess Madgen scored two points.
Shooting
James Willett sits second after day two of qualification for the men’s trap event. He shot two rounds of 25 and one of 24, the same as
5. Mike Tyson experienced his first loss to which boxer?
6. In NBA history, how many games have been played on Christmas Eve?
7. In baseball, how many feet are between each
What is the maximum amount of points you can score in curling?
Which ball in snooker is worth seven points?
What are Baltimore known as in the NFL?
Who was appointed caretaker coach of West Coast for the remainder of the 2024 AFL season after Adam Simpson’s sacking?
What colour is associated with the West Coast Fever netball team?
Japanese Paralympian Shingo Kunieda has won three gold medals and dozens of titles in which racquet sport?
the top ranked Rickard Levin-Andersson. Swimming Sunshine College student Alan Uhi made his Olympics debut on Sunday night Australian time in the 100 metres backstroke. Representing Tonga, the year 12 student finished sixth in his heat with a time of 1:00.62. He finished in 46th place overall. Archery Laura Paeglis was in action before the Games kickedoffproperlyonSaturday.Competingin
14. Which country not usually associated with the sport won the first women’s rugby union World Cup in 1991?
15. How many Test wickets did James Anderson finish up with after his recently-ended long cricketing career?
16. And which English fast bowler took 12 wickets on debut against the West Indies, which was Anderson’s final Test?
17. Which nation enters the stadium first during Olympic opening ceremonies?
18. 2024 Wimbledon ladies’ singles tennis champion Barbora Krejcikova represents which country?
19. AFL player Lance Collard was banned from playing for how many weeks for using homophobic language?
20. Which Sydney Roosters second-rower was named player of the series in the 2024 edition of State of Origin?
theindividualrankinground,Paeglisfinished in 44th spot after shooting the highest individual ranking round by an Australian since the current 72 arrow ranking. She will face Caroline Lopez in the 1-32 knockout round.Australiawon’tfeatureintheknockout rounds of the teams event with the combined score between Paeglis and Peter Boukouvalas not high enough. PaegliswillbebackinactiononWednesday in the knockout competition.
21. Robert Murphy was the captain of which AFL team from 2015–2017?
22. In snooker, how much is the pink ball worth?
23. Kelvin Kiptum won which 2023 marathon with a time of 2:01:25?
24. Which is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament to use a clay court?
25. In golf, how many strokes under par on an individual hole is a condor?
26. How long is Canberra’s current premiership drought, the secondlongest active in the NRL
27. Which well-known AFL umpire announced he will be retiring at the end of the season?
28. And which team holds the longest active drought?
29. Which national women's team is known as the Australian Jillaroos?
30. Former Olympian Shane Heal captained which team at his last game at 2004 Athens?
Barbora Krejcikova
Mike
Alan Uhi. (Supplied)
Laura Paeglis. (Supplied)
Yarraville Clubbers set to field a women’s side
Yarraville Club’s foray into women’s cricket is off to a flying start.
The Clubbers announced two weeks ago that they would be aiming to field a women’s side for the first time and the appointment of Caetlyn Grossett as coach.
Within days the Clubbers had nearly enough players express interest in playing to field a whole team.
Clubbers president David Brown said they felt now was the time to introduce women’s cricket to the club.
“We’ve been talking about it for a couple of years, but we’ve instead focused on juniors,” he said.
“It’s a big ask to bring in a women’s side and we’ve got to the point and it’s the right time.
“We’ve seen the women’s program across the whole association has slowed down, so there’s no better time to jump in now.”
The club approached Grossett to come on board as coach.
She’s played with both Westmeadows and Sydenham-Hillside and is a three-time
premiership player and a premiership captain.
Grossett, whose brother Kane Twentyman is already at the Clubbers, is an experienced coach in both cricket and football.
Brown said a key component of getting the women’s team off the ground was having a leader at the top.
“Caetlyn was more than happy to come on board,” he said. “We felt she was the right person for us.
“She’s been around women’s cricket for 10 years. She’s accomplished as a player and the lastfewyearsshe’sgottenmoreintocoaching.”
Brown said the club already had 10 players interested in coming across and playing for the club.
“It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “Having a quick chat with Caetlyn we already have 10 players in four to five days.
“It goes to show the interest in the women’s competition. If we get enough numbers we could have two teams.”
Brown said they weren’t sure what competition they would play in yet.
It’s likely to be either the Victorian Turf or NorthWestMetropolitancricketassociations.
“We don’t have to decide just yet,” he said. “We want to be in a competition that is best for the ladies and have a bit of competition and a bit of participation as well.
“We’re flexible.”
Brown said the club was really proud to be putting together a women’s side and bringing more people in to be part of the Yarraville Club community.”
Anyone interested in playing can contact David on 0407 608 559.
Cleveland has big goals
By Peter Howe
It was a Thursday night in March and the last Victorian Milers Club meet for the season.
Organisers have put up a $2000 Olympic qualifying bonus to any athlete that can win the race and hit the Olympic qualification standard.
In the women’s A 1500 metres race, fifteen-year-old Lucy Cleveland, lined up on the start line with then Australian record holder Linden Hall, Australian 800 metre record holder Catriona Bisset and world championship representative among others. Cleveland knew the race would be fast and she ensured she remained in control.
Holding her form, Cleveland finished strongly for fourth place, in a time of 4.24.83, a qualifying standard for the World under-20 Track and Field Championships.
It was a coming of age for Cleveland, who now knew she could hold her own.
“Standing on the starting line of that event I realised how incredible that opportunity was, I was one of the youngest in the field,” she said. “Running against Olympic athletes gave me the confidence to know I can compete at that level and be successful.”
Cleveland has displayed a resilience beyond her years and just loves to run.
She tried many sports, but nothing was like the thrill and the challenge that running did. Cleveland joined little athletics as an under-six athlete.
“You’ve got to give every event a go. I loved the social aspect and I didn’t care where I finished,“ she said. “When I first started out, I wanted to be a hurdler, much to my coach’s dismay.”
Cleveland is coached by Stu Macaulay and competes with Western Athletics.
Her first Victorian Track and Field Championship was as an under-14 athlete and she surprised herself.
It was here that she achieved both the 800 metres and 1500 metres qualifying standards for the Australian Track and Field championships, winning silver in both events.
In achieving the 800m national qualifying standard, Cleveland also broke former Australian Olympian, Morgan Mitchell’s Western Athletics under-14 800 metres club record which she had been chasing all season. Cleveland is now the holder of more than 30 Western Athletics club records.
She then competed at the national championships.
“In my first nationals, I finished 15th in the 1500metres. Iwastherefortheexperienceand I learnt what was required to compete at the level.”
Cleveland has a rigorous training regime that sees her running up to 50 kilometres per
week along with srength and conditioning sessions,andpilatesaspartofherrehabilitation following a sacral stress fracture that stopped her from competing in her under-15 season.
Being injured and not being able to do what she loved became a light bulb moment for Cleveland,
“When you have something taken away from you, you realise how much you love it and it makes you even more determined,“ she said. “I really learnt the importance of the one percenters which has made a huge difference to my running now.”
Cleveland’s return to the track in under-16s was a sign of things to come, winning gold in the 800 metres and silver in the 1500 metres at the 2023 Victorian Track and Field Championships.
She again represented Victoria at the Australian championships, finishing sixth in theunder-161500metreandhadastrongcross country season, winning silver at state and national level.
Her first national medal wasn’t without its challenges for Cleveland, who battled significant mental health issues. Her running played a pivotal role in her recovery.
Earlier this year, Cleveland won gold at the
Victorian championships in the 3000 metres, 1500 metres and 800 metres in the under-17 age group.
She followed it up at the national championships finishing with a personal best andsilvermedalinthe800metresandabronze medal in the 1500 metres.
Cleveland said her heroes are Jess Hull, Abbey Caldwell and Amy Cashin.
Cleveland is in year 10 at Emmanuel College in Point Coo and wants to become a physiotherapist.
On the track she has big goals.
“My athletics dream is to represent Australia at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics,” she said.
“Maybe, even at the 2028 Olympic Games; I will only be 19, but who knows? My first goal, however, is to wear the green and gold at the 2026 under20 World Athletics Championships or the World Cross Country Championships.”
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If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.
Promotion hopes dashed
Altona City’s promotion hopes are over in the Victorian Premier League 2 competition.
After a loss last week to North Sunshine Eagles, Altona City needed to get a win on the weekend and hope that the Eagles had a loss. The Eagles were in action first on Saturday against Boroondara-Carey Eagles. It was a goal filled match with the Eagles coming away with a 4-3 win to take one step further to promotion.
Altona needed to come away with the win to keep any chance of jumping into the top two. It was a big day for the clubastheclubofficiallyopeneditsnew rooms and grounds at Kim Reserve.
On the pitch, Altona City had a disappointingdayagainsttheEssendon Royals.
The Royals scored three second half goals and saved a penalty to come away with a 4-1 win.
It leaves Altona City eight points outside the top two with two rounds remaining in its first season in this division.
In the National Premier League, Altona Magic came away with the points against Moreland City.
Young guns Filip Jovcevski and Gavin Tasevski both got their first starts for the Magic.
Scores were locked at 1-1 with Daniel Fabrizio the goal scorer for the Magic. The second half became a goal feast with the Magic winning 6-3.
Bul Juach scored a hat-trick in the win for the Magic.
The win has the Magic four points outside the top six with two rounds remaining in eighth spot.
There is no action this weekend for the NPL competition. The action faces Hume City the following week on the Saturday night before finishing off the regular season against Manningham United.
Lucy Cleveland. (Supplied)
Luis Covarrubias. (Stewart Chambers)
Tara Murray
Caetlyn Grossett and David Brown. (Supplied)
Yarraville Seddon stuns the Werribee Centrals
Yarraville Seddon felt for much of the Western Football League women’s season that the results hadn’t reflected its games, it changed on Saturday.
The Eagles pulled off an upset win against Werribee Centrals, their best win of the season so far.
Eagles coach Emily Fox said they went in super confident they could claim the win despite the two sides’ ladder positions.
“We knew we were going to win,” she said. “We have felt all year that the results haven’t reflected our efforts.
“We haven’t had the reward for effort. We were more than confident that we could win the game.
“The players have put a lot of hard work in. If not for a couple of close results we would be up there with the top sides.”
The Eagles took an early lead and were able to maintain it through the first three quarters.
They were able to kick the only goal of the final quarter to seal the 5.5 (35)-3.3 (21) win.
Fox said being able to beat the top side on
their home deck was massive for the club of their club.
“It was tough, hard footy and we knew they would come.
“We played them on their home ground earlier in the year and they showed us. We wanted to show that it wasn’t easy coming to our place.
“It was really good. Lahne Scrivener, who kicked the final goal, is in her second year of footy.
“She has been great and kicks difficult goals. It’s pretty special the future we are building and we can base it around players like Lahne.”
The Eagles are set to finish the season in fifth spot, one spot outside the top four no matter the results in the last two rounds.
Fox, who is in her first season as coach of the side, said this season was a good starting point for next year.
“We’re already looking to strengthen our program,” she said. “We can’t look too far ahead.
“We’re looking forward to having North
Sunshine in the final round on a Saturday night.
“We want to give them the respect as they are everything that community footy is about. We are all in it together.
“We’ll look to book some bands and have a party atmosphere and everyone in the league can come and celebrate what women’s footy is about.”
In other matches, the Suns beat West Footscray, 10.17 (77)-0.0 (0) to move to the top of the table.
Caroline Springs won a hard fought match against the Parkside Spurs, 5.6 (36)-2.7 (19) while Wyndhamvale beat North Sunshine, 17.17 (119)-0.0 (0).
Tara Murray
Vikings knock off Tigers
By Tara Murray
Altona became the first side to knock off reigning premiers Werribee Districts in the Western Football League division 1 on Saturday.
The Tigers have had two draws this season, but on Saturday the Vikings put in a strong quarter performance to claim the points and inflict the Tigers first loss, 5.10 (40)-3.11 (29).
After a poor performance in the previous round, Vikings coach Travis Varcoe was thrilled with how they had bounced back.
“It was a really good team effort,” he said. “To be honest from our crew, I’m not sure whether the weather helped us or not.
“With the amount of outs we have for the day, it was a solid consistent effort on the day. You do want your full strength side on the park to play but we were able to manufacture a way to find a win.
“It was a really nice effort of the boys to dig inanddowhatIaskedofthemandimplement.
Varcoe said the five outs they had were key players and it gave other players an opportunity to stand up and have their shot at the senior level.
He said the result showed that their brand of footy was able to stack up against the top sides.
The Tigers led at quarter time by six points. They didn’t kick a goal after the first quarter in a strong defensive effort by the Vikings.
Varcoe said they returned to what they know they can do defensively.
“We felt like we’d had a good block to build off apart from the last game against Spotty where we were off.
“Credit to Spotty they put a score on us. Not too many sides have been able to do that.
“It reaffirmed that we are a good defensive side. Werribee is a formidable side and can score quickly and kick a large amount of goals.”
James Salder was the only multiple goal kicker on the ground, kicking two goals for the Vikings.
Colby Redpath, Kosta Arapidis and Jay Hansen were the Vikings best.
The Vikings remain in fifth spot, percentage ahead of Spotswood.
Varcoe said every clash in the run home is important.
ThisweektheyfaceHoppersCrossingwhich sits two points above them in fourth spot.
The beauty of the competition is quite close,” he said. “We would love to be in a better position..
“If you have an off week you are potentially out of it. We set ourselves for a five week period and that was week one.
“We narrow our focus and give the boys
things week to week stuff.
“Hoppers Crossing is an eight point game. I think it will be a ripping game to be honest.”
Druids sign imports
The Druids hopes of a strong bounce back season in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association have received a couple of big boosts.
The Wizards, who are set to drop to division 1 after finishing at the bottom of senior division last season, have announced two import signings.
English all-rounder Declan Clerkin is making the move out to Australia for the summer.
“Dec is a frontline off spin bowler and strong middle order batsman capable of clearing the longest boundaries,” the Druids said on social media.
“Declan is the 1st XI captain of his home club - Fleetwood CC who play in the Northern Premier League.
“At the halfway stage of this season, Declan heads the league averages with an impressive 35 wickets.
“Having represented Lancashire at junior level, Dec is an ECB Level 2 qualified coach and has previously worked for the German national cricket team as their strength and conditioning coach.”
Tom Hazell-Evans is also coming out from England to play for the Wizards.
The22-year-oldisatoporderbatsman from Somerset.
“A product of the Somerset County Cricket Club age group system, Tom is a top-order hard hitting right handed batsman,” the Wizards said.
“While completing his final year at Newcastle University, Tom is currently playing his cricket for Burnopfield Cricket Club, in the strong North East Premier League, where he is averaging over 60 in the 1st XI.
“Tom attended the famous Queens College, Taunton and is one of the youngest ever players to score a hundred against the MCC scoring 105 as a 15-year-old.”
Lachie Brodie is also joining the Wizards for this season.
He joins the club from Mt Clear in the Ballarat Cricket Association, the same club new coach Steve Nicholson has played most of his cricket.
Jacob Wescott and Darcy Mcpherson are other new signings.
Lenny Fitcher, Sam Hall, Sonara Karunathunga, Darcy Roach, Oscar Wolfe, Ben Murphy, Lachlan Anderson, Eshan Potnis and Luke Shoesmith have all re-signed at the club.
Khayle Forsyth taking down Gabby Menabue. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 421569_03
Spotswood also had a win on Saturday
beating Point Cook, 8.15 (63)-4.5 (29).
Yarraville Seddon won a thriller against Parkside, 9.15 (69)-9.4 (58).
Colby Redpath. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 410694_23
Pellissier excited for a second Paralympics
Making the Paralympics the second time round is more exciting for Williamstown’s Nathan Pellissier.
Pellissier, who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Games, will represent Australia in the para-table tennis events.
The 28-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, saidhewasexcitedtogetanotheropportunity.
“I’m very fortunate,” he said. “It’s a bit more exciting this time with friends and family getting to come.
“I’m really excited for this one. Mum and dad and four friends are coming and it will be a bit of fun.
“It’s especially good my parents can come, they have supported me throughout my teenage years.”
Pellissier, who is ranked number one in Oceania in his category, felt that he had done enough to be selected.
But said it was still a relief when he heard that his name was called out.
He’s part of a 12 person Australian table tennis team, the largest team since 1968 and the second biggest ever for Australia.
Pellissier said it shows that Australia is becoming more competitive in the sport.
Pellissier said his focus was trying to get the best out of himself at the Games.
Hewonsilveratthe2020Gamesinthemen’s team event with Lin Ma and Joel Coughlan.
“There’s so many experienced players heading over,” he said. “For myself, if I can string a few results together, anything can happen .
“I want to keep my mind on the small task
at hand at every point the bigger tasks will hopefully fall my way.”
Pellissier will compete in the singles, men’s team and mixed doubles events.
He and Ma won bronze at the world championships last year and take some good form into that event.
“It will be tough,” Pellissier said. “We don’t take in too high expectations, hopefully we
Falcons are into decider
By Tara Murray
The City West Falcons took another step towards their championship dream with victory against the Boroondara Express on Wednesday night in the Victorian Netball League championship.
The three-time reigning champions, with Covid in middle, won the semi final between the top two teams to win through to the grand final.
The Falcons started slow and it was game on for the first quarter with the Falcons leading by one goal.
After the first break it was all the Falcons who were able to run away with a 77-54 win.
Falcons coach Marg Lind was thrilled they were back in the final game of the season.
“I think the team has been solid this year and I think they really deserved to be there to contest the grand final,” she said.
“We’re very pleased. I think tonight [Wednesday] the experience really showed. I thought Cookie [Jane Cook], Maggie [Lind], Mon [Montana Holmes] in particular, that attack end were really super calm when it was tight.
“Then the defence end came good in the second half when it counted. We’re starting to show they’ve been there before and they know what to do.”
Lind said the Express cheer squad put a bit of pressure on their girls early, but said once they got over that they were able to settle.
She said defensively they’d put a lot of time into preparing for Melbourne Vixens training partner Ruby Barkmeyer, who ended up missing the game with illness.
Lind said the switch of bringing Mel Oloamanu onto the court in goalkeeper and Sophie Hanrahan out into goal difference really worked for them.
“That’s a big out for them,” she said of Barkmeyer. “All of a sudden we were faced with a team that doesn’t have her and are a lot quicker, a different attack end.
“It took us a quarter to work that out. The switch definitely worked and I think Soli [Ropati] improved her one-on-one and shut down the centre pass the goal attack was forced to come over.
Jane Cook shot 65 goals at 100 per cent to continue her dominance for the Falcons.
Uneeq Palavi got more minutes back in the side having returned from national and Suncorp Super Netball commitments.
Lind said she had some good moments, while Olivia Cameron was solid in attack as well.
With the margin blowing out the Falcons were able to give Chelsea Imanisani and Genna Ogier some court time.
‘That’s really important and they’ve been there the whole year,” Lind said “They’re two very committed players.
“They don’t have that experience and haven’t been in a grand final before. We have to reward them as well.”
The Falcons will have the week off and face the winner of the Hawks and Express preliminary final.
Lind said they were hoping they would
can perform really well.”
Paris is a long way for Pellissier from a Paralympic talent day in 2011 when he first picked up a bat.
Table tennis wasn’t his first choice.
“I wanted to play basketball,” he said. “It was wheelchair only so I couldn’t play.
“Table tennis was an option and I never looked back.
“I thought it was to be just a bit of fun and it’s taken over my life and took me all over the world.”
One key piece of Pellissier’s development was getting a scholarship at Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
He said they allowed him opportunities to travel overseas and allow him to be part of a high performance environment at such an early age.
“It has helped my development and results in the last seven years.”
Pellissier will take part in a training camp in the lead up to the Games in Melbourne. He said he’d work hard the next four weeks, before heading to Paris.
Tara Murray
Briefs
VTCA
Simpson Obed has joined West Newport for the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season. Obed is a talented leg spinning all rounder who has played cricket at the international level for Vanuatu, with an international five wicket haul under his belt and a ton against Canada in the under-19 World Cup qualifier.
FV
Altona East Phoenix’s hopes of promotion has received another set back after a loss on Friday night in FV state league 2 north-west. The Phoenix faced the Albion Rovers and it was a high scoring affair. Scores were locked at 2-2 at half time before the Rovers won 5-3. The Phoenix slip to sixth spot behind the Rovers.
Big V
The Altona Gators have secured their Big V women’s division 1 finals berth. The Gators just needed to beat top side Warrandyte Venom on Saturday night if it was to lock up a finals spot with one round remaining. The Gators came from behind at half time to win, 79-71. Maya Ganzon top scored with 18 points off the bench. In men’s division 1, the Gators lost their final round match to the Bulleen Boomers, 95-84. The Gators finish the regular season in fifth and will face the Boomers in the first week of finals.
VAFA
have Lucia Fauonuku back from injury for the grand final.
It was heartbreak for the Falcons under-23s, who were knocked out by the North East Blaze.
The Falcons trailed by 12 goals at three quarter time before getting it back to one goal late in the final quarter.
The Blaze steadied to win 51-49.
Lind said there was a lot of potential in the side and they would continue to build around that core.
Williamstown CYMS was pushed by Fitzroy in the Victorian Amateur Football Association premier B women’s competition. The undefeated CYs led by just one point heading into the final quarter. They kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to come away with a 4.4 (28)-2.6 (18) win. Sarah Thomas and Holly Naden were named the CYs best. The CYs have now secured the minor premiership, sitting three games clear on top with two rounds remaining. In the men’s premier B, the CYs had a 9.8 (62) draw with top side Old Haileybury. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Nathan Pellissier. (Supplied)
Montana Holmes. (Robbab Photography)
The wet weather was back on Saturday and with it came some cracker football and soccer matches. StarWeeklyphotographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting some of the action.
Weekend of wet weather sport
Peter Modafferi. (421579_04)
Thom Jonkerman. (421570_02)
Newport’s Mohamed Fofana and Braybrook’s Patrick Farrelly. (421550_12)
Yarraville Seddon upset Werribee Centrals. (421569_04) Paige Cook. (421569_10)Albion’s Brandyn Di Sisto takes down Sunshine’s Stuart Purves. (418791_05)
Rin Takagi. (421570_16)
Albion’s Joshua Michetti and Sunshine’s Declan Moloney. (418791_01)
Some smiles on the boundary line. (421550_32)
Abdu Zuberi. (421579_09)
