Star Weekly - Sunbury Macedon Ranges - 6th August 2024

Taking care of the land

Newham and District Landcare Group is playing its part to improve the local environment.

Newham Landcare committee member

Penny Roberts said the group’s main ongoing project is the Cobaw Biolink, where it has created and assisted in the maintenance of several public and private land planting sites between Cobaw State Forest and Macedon Regional Park. She said the Landcare group assists with this project through a range of initiatives, including helping landowners access funding for eligible projects and lending equipment and volunteer support.

“I think people who move to Macedon Ranges, part of it is because of the beauty of the area, and the beauty of the area is because of the fact that you’ve got the bush around you [and] all those natural features,” she said. “Landcare is a way of learning more about it and how you can help improve that.”

Ms Roberts said Landcare plays an important role in the community.

“It’s always about tying into community, and certainly for Newham, it’s built a fairly strong sense of community over the years because of this big project that we all feel a part of.” Details: newhamlandcare.info/

Oscar Parry

Birds are no myna issue

By Oscar Parry

A Hume councillor is waging war on the Common Myna bird in an effort to erdicate the “pests”.

Councillor Jack Medcraft said addressing the Common Myna bird and its impacts has been a goal of his for about 20 years.

“When I see these damn birds … they’ve got the yellow beaks and those spooky eyes,” Cr Medcraft said. “These birds are absolute terrors in the air.”

He said the species’ behaviour posed a threat to native birds.

“What they do is that they’ll invade a nest and they will either kick the eggs out and take over or they’ll attack the young and kill them and then use it for their own,” he said.

“They sit on your fence and they watch you – and if anything happens to one of their mates, they really do get defensive, they’ll attack anything. So, I really want to get these declared as a pest.”

During a recent Hume council meeting, Cr Medcraft urged his colleagues to support his push for a statewide approach in eradicating Common Myna birds and the development a Common Myna community action group.

He asked council to write to Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos to advocate for statewide management of the species.

Cr Medcraft admitted he has also taken mattersintohisownhandsonsomeoccasions.

“I … took it upon myself to grab some traps, and I went out and caught these birds and – see you later alligator – you were gone,” Cr Medcraft said.

Cr Jarrod Bell said he supported the motion and Cr Medcraft’s “war on the mynas” has been going on for as long as he could remember.

“It has been a lifelong goal of mine to second a Cr Medcraft … Common Myna bird motion, and I’m glad that tonight I get to tick this off my bingo card,” Cr Bell said.

Cr Jodi Jackson said while on a personal level she did not object to the idea of a statewide approach to managing the species, she noted the Common Myna is not listed as a noxious species under the Catchment and

Land Protection Act 1994.

Cr Jackson also raised concerns about the cost to ratepayers and how the community action group would operate, saying she would prefer to invest in increasing the council’s biodiversity programs.

Similar views are expressed in a website article by the RSPCA, where the organisation said it encourages increasing the quality of gardens to promote bird diversity and believes that trapping and killing Common Myna birds should only be carried out as part of a government-supervised program with clear guidelines on humane procedures.

When put to a vote, all councillors present were in favour of the motion except Cr Trevor Dance and Cr Jackson.

Anderson Road planting site owner Karen Hunt and Newham and District Landcare committee member Penny Roberts with her 18-month-old grandson, Henry. (Damjan Janevski) 422135_02

Ribs

Cauliflower

Brigade celebrates 140 years

Kyneton Fire Brigade celebrated an anniversary event, marking 140 years since the brigade began serving the community.

The milestone was celebrated with a dinner andawardsnightonSaturday,July27,attended by Kyneton Fire Brigade members, CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan, Macedon Ranges deputy mayor Janet Pearce, and Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas.

Kyneton Fire Brigade captain Greg McIntyre said that the brigade has been operating continuously since it formed in 1884 – where it was located near the former

bluestone police stables.

“Wehaveabout70membersatthemoment, and over half of them are active firefighters. We also have close to 30 per cent female firefighters,” Mr McIntyre said.

He said the brigade is proud of its 140-year history.

“We certainly had a lot of people involved, before my time, in the Ash Wednesday bushfires and we were heavily involved in Black Saturday as well as Black Summer,” he said. “They’ve contributed a lot to the culture and learning at the brigade.”

He said that Kyneton Fire Brigademembers showstrongcommitmenttoworkingtogether to serve their region.

“To see the members working with one another – even though we’re immensely different people, and we come from different backgrounds – we’re all there to carry out the functions of the brigade and help save lives and property.”

Anewplaquewasalsounveiledtomembers at the event, recognising the official naming of an extension of the station completed in 2016.

The extension was named ‘The RG & RB Walker Extension’ – in recognition of members Ronda Beckley Walker and ex-captain Roger Gordon Walker. Mr McIntyre said he felt “honoured” to work with the CFA chief officer in naming the facility after “two members … who have contributed so much to the culture and development of the brigade for many years.”

“This commemorative plaque will serve as a reminder to the future brigade members of the heritage of service on which we build.”

Left: Kyneton Fire Brigade members holding their awards and the new plaque. Right: CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan with Kyneton Fire Brigade

captain Greg McIntyre (top), and with Kyneton Fire Brigade ex-captain Roger Walker, and member Ronda Walker. (Pictures: Uniform Photography)

Club calls for players and coach

By Oscar Parry

Hanging Rock Cricket Club is reminding residents the club is still accepting new members, with a change in venue not expected in the near future.

The Hanging Rock Precinct Master Plan was released by the state government last year, providing a pathway for long-term management of the reserve and protecting its cultural significance.

The master plan was created with contributions from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning,

Macedon Ranges council, Wurundjeri Woi

Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Taungurung Land & Waters Council, and Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation).

The state government also purchased East Paddock at Hanging Rock from Macedon Ranges council.

The master plan will require the Hanging Rock Cricket Club to eventually relocate to a new venue.

Hanging Rock Cricket Club secretary Nick Maxwell said in a recent meeting with council, the club was advised the timing of relocation

could be between seven to 10 years.

“We just want to … [make] the public aware that the cricket club is still in existence and we haven’t gone anywhere – because we do quite often get comments from members of the public … [asking] ‘is the club still running?’ Mr Maxwell said.

“We want to get the point across that, at this point in time for the club, it is still business as usual.”

Mr Maxwell said the club is accepting new members, and when certain age group numbers have dwindled in previous seasons, it has collaborated with other local clubs to fill

Ranges welcomes new Australians

Twenty-nine Macedon Ranges residents received Australian citizenship at a council-led ceremony last month.

The new citizens moved to the Macedon Ranges from a range of countries, including Canada, Germany, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, Thailand, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

On Tuesday, July 30, each adult received an Australian native plant and a badge that depictedtheAustralianflagandagoldenwattle flower, and each child received a small gift. New citizen Katrina Robertson said she, her husband and their firstborn child moved

to Australia in 2009 from Christchurch, New Zealand, with the couple eventually choosing theMacedonRangesastheregiontoraisetheir family.

Ms Robertson and her family all received Australian citizenship this year, apart from her first-born son Elias, who received his last December.

“We loved the country feel of it, but we loved havingMelbournesoclose–havingeverything on your doorstep,” Ms Robertson said.

“[It’s] just a nice … environment for our kids to grow up in.”

Ms Robertson said receiving official

citizenship felt significant.

“It’s also very good for our kids, because two of our children were born here, so it just means everyone’s the same … and we feel like we belong now,” she said.

The Department of Home Affairs processes Australian citizenship applications, inviting successfulapplicantstocitizenshipceremonies.

Duringtheceremony,conductedbyamayor, the applicants must make the ‘Australian Citizen pledge’ as a legal requirement – which for most people, is the final step in becoming a citizen.

Oscar

Parry

Hume backs Australia Day party in the park

Hume council has bucked a growing trend of councils cancelling Australia Day events, opting instead to host an Australia Day party in the park on January 26.

Councils across Melbourne, including neighbouringWhittleseacouncil,havestepped away from hosting celebrations on Australia Day in recent years. But at a council meeting late last month, Hume councillors voted to mark the day with an event in Sunbury and a citizenship ceremony.

Councillor Trevor Dance was behind the push for an Australia Day event in the municipality.

The council held an Australia Day awards

event until 2022.

“Australia Day had been slowly disappearing from Hume council’s acknowledgement of the day,“ Cr Dance said. “It brings the community together and we need to be proud of our national day and not bury it away.

“It is not an illegal day, we celebrate Easter, theAFLgrandfinal,King’sbirthday,Christmas and even car park openings are celebrated, so why not celebrate our nation’s most important day, Australia day?”

Cr Chris Hollow said Australia Day was about uniting the community.

“We need to recognise that this city is a multicultural city. Whilst we also

player gaps.

“Last season we … partnered up with Woodend Cricket Club to ensure we could get an under 17s team across the line … and we’ll be doing similar things this year if that’s what it takes to get as many kids still playing the game,” he said.

The Hanging Rock Cricket Club committee, said the club also has a vacancy for a coach for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

To inquire about memberships and the club coach vacancy, email hangingrockcc@ gmail.com or contact the club on its Facebook page.

Survey names dangerous Ranges roads

An RACV survey named two Macedon Ranges roads as the second and third most-dangerous in the state.

TheRACV’sMyCountryRoadsurvey surveyed more than 7000 Victorians on the safety of their local regional roads across the state.

Potholes and poor road condition were the top issues identified in survey responses, with 64 per cent of participants identifying these as the primary safety issue – up from 46 per cent in 2021.

The RACV said potholes are a major safety risk for drivers, as drivers often swerve around them to avoid damaging their vehicles – posing a risk to others.

The Melba Highway from Coldstream to Yea received the most responses regarding safety concerns, followed by Tylden-Woodend Road from Woodend to Tylden in second place, and Kilmore Road from Monegeetta to Gisborne in third place.

Overall, 14 per cent of participants supported ‘a lower or more appropriate speed limit’ as a measure to improve road safety.

That response rose to 56 per cent on the top 12 worst roads, highlighting that many Victorians believe reducing the speed on highly dangerous roads is an appropriate approach.

RACV head of policy James Williams said that the survey data will help inform all levels of government.

Details: racv.com.au/about-racv/ newsroom/regional-road-safetysurvey-results.html

understand the pain and the hurt that is felt by our Indigenous community, we also need to understand there are other groups and people out there who will respect Australia Day for what it is,” he said.

“I don’t want to go down the path of what date Australia Day should be, however, while it remains January 26, let’s come together and unite as a community and enjoy cultures irrespective of our ancestral history. “Australia Dayshouldbeaboutunitingandnotdividing.”

A report to council said the party in the park would be held in Sunbury and could comprise music performances, face painting and a sausage sizzle.

Andrew, Reuben, Gabriel, Elias and Katrina Robertson with Macedon Ranges mayor Annette Death. (Supplied)

Breastfeeding support for all

By Oscar Parry

WorldBreastfeedingWeekisaglobalcampaign

aiming to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits it provides to mothers, children, and public health.

Running from August 1–7, this year’s theme is ‘breastfeeding for all’ – a vision for increased inclusivity and further efforts in addressing barriers to accessing breastfeeding support. Macedon-based lactation consultant Samantha Turner-Dunne is passionate about breastfeeding and its broad benefits.

“If you had to introduce one public health program to benefit the health and the wellbeing of your community the most and decrease maternal and infant morbidity – and even mortality – the most successful thing you could do is teach, educate, and promote breastfeeding, because the long-term effects on the health and wellbeing for babies and for people is profound,” Ms Turner-Dunne said.

She said language barriers are just one of the challengesmanyfaceinaccessingbreastfeeding support.

She said in many cases, women may avoid seeking support from resources such as lactation consultants because of several other issues that require time and attention.

Ms Turner-Dunne said breastfeeding also has important protective effects on babies.

“The mothers have less chance of breast cancers and … [It also] helps immunise and vaccinate the babies because it hands over all the immunoglobulins,” she said.

“They’ve realised that there [are] stem cells and white blood cells and enzymes … in breast milk and all the different roles that they play … it’s profound.”

Ms Turner-Dunne said that her job is rewarding, and that she enjoys making a positive impact on families and public health.

“I love my job – lactation consultants are reallypassionateaboutbreastfeeding,andthat’s why we go and study and make a specialised career out of it. We try [to] create safe spaces … we just want good emotional attachment between mothers and babies and the best health outcomes for all,” she said.

She said it is important to have widely accessible support, and that while breastfeeding is not an option for many women, lactation consultants will try to help where they can.

“When breastfeeding is successful, it’s one of the most enjoyable bonding experiences of their life … for 30 per cent of women, it is a challenge and they do need support … and we’re here for them. Sometimes it doesn’t work because it can’t.”

“They’ve become refugees, or they’re so busy focussing on trauma that [breastfeeding] is just another challenge that they’ve got to put further down the food chain, [and] because they’ve got other really important things that they’re trying to deal with, they are less likely to get … support,” she said.

Ms Turner-Dunne said lactation consultants sometimes have access to interpreters and interpretive services to help with their consultations, but if these are not available, consultants will still do their best to help through other forms of communication and

performing assessments.

“Part of the way that … women learn to breastfeed, there’s some intuitive basis to it. There are also demonstrative [ways] you can learn things … and there can be no speech. So there’s a lot of demonstrative work that can be done that … is helpful if English is a second language.”

On the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s (ABA) website, it reports that many mothers feel a deep sense of loss, grief, and remorse when they are unable to breastfeed, and that families, friends, and counselling could be forms of support.

Ms Turner-Dunne said other resources provided by the ABA that could assist mothers include online multi-language information flyers and a network of volunteers who can provide peer-to-peer support.

Low milk supply links

Low breast milk supply is being linked with low breast growth during pregnancy in a new study.

LaTrobeUniversityresearchersledasurvey of almost 500 women in Australia, the US, and the UK.

They found that women with low milk supply often did not notice an increase in breast size during pregnancy; could have breast hypoplasia; or might have been overweight as a teenager.

La Trobe PhD candidate and study lead Renee Kam said it had long been suspected by breastfeeding specialists that a lack of breast growth during pregnancy could be associated with low milk supply, but this study was the first to show evidence of this link.

“This study showed that 72 per cent of women with low milk supply reported that their breasts did not change appearance during pregnancy,” Ms Kam said.

“Most pregnant women notice that their breasts increase in size as their pregnancy progresses, so lack of change could now be considered a sign to health professionals that milk supply may become an issue after the baby is born.”

The study, conducted with the universities of Cincinnati and Bristol, also connected high body mass index around the time of puberty and a low milk supply.

Ms Kam said this was the first time such a link was made, and its connection needed to be confirmed in population-based studies.

She said the researchers did not know how many women in the study had breast hypoplasia, but more than two-thirds (about 70 per cent) reported at least one irregular-shaped breast.

Breast hypoplasia is not the same as small breasts, but refers to breast tissue that is underdeveloped and might give the breast a tubular shape or asymmetry between the breasts.

Study participants shared their experience of not being able to produce enough milk for their babies, despite seeing lactation consultants, expressing breast milk, taking lactation cookies, and drinking lactation teas.

Professor Lisa Amir from La Trobe’s Judith Lumley Centre said some women had physical andphysiologicalreasonsthatpreventedthem from producing a full milk supply.

“Like every other organ, the breast may not be fully functional in some people,” Professor Amir said.

“Weneedtosupportwomentoachievetheir optimum milk production, and make sure people don’t equate successful breastfeeding with being a good mother.”

Lactation consultant Samantha Turner-Dunne.

(Damjan Janevski) 411622_02

Tips to keep warm and heating costs low during winter

Saving on heating bills during the winter is important for both your wallet and the environment, especially for those on a pension. Here are several effective strategies to reduce heating costs while keeping your home warm and comfortable:

Optimise Thermostat Settings:

Lower the Temperature: Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting when you’re home. The best temperature setting is 20°C during the day and lower while you sleep or are away.

Programmable Thermostat:

Invest in a programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when you’re not home or asleep. Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and adjust settings for maximum efficiency.

Seal and Insulate:

Seal Drafts: Check for drafts around windows, doors, and other openings. Use weatherstripping, caulking, or draft stoppers to seal gaps and prevent heat loss.

Insulate: Ensure your home is well-insulated, particularly the attic, walls, and floors. Proper insulation helps retain heat and reduces the need for constant heating.

Use Curtains and Blinds Wisely:

Open Curtains During the Day. Take advantage of natural sunlight by opening curtains and blinds during the day to let in warmth.

Close Curtains at Night. Close curtains and blinds at night to provide an extra layer of insulation and reduce heat loss through windows.

Maintain Your Heating System:

Regular Maintenance: Schedule regular maintenance for your heating system to ensure it runs efficiently. Clean or replace filters regularly to maintain optimal airflow.

Upgrade Your System: If your heating system is old and inefficient, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. Modern systems can significantly reduce heating costs.

Use Space Heaters Wisely:

Zone Heating: Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you’re using, rather than heating the entire house. This can be more energy-efficient, especially in larger homes.

Safety First: Ensure space heaters are used safely, following manufacturer instructions, and never leave them unattended.

Maximise Heat Distribution:

Ceiling Fans: Use ceiling fans on a low setting to distribute warm air more evenly throughout the room. Set the fan to rotate clockwise to push warm air down.

Furniture Placement: Ensure furniture is

not blocking heating vents, radiators, or baseboard heaters to allow heat to circulate freely.

Wear Warm Clothing:

Layer Up: Wear warm clothing indoors, such as sweaters, socks, and slippers. This allows you to stay comfortable at a lower thermostat setting.

Use Blankets: Keep blankets handy in living areas and bedrooms for extra warmth without having to increase the heating.

Cook and Bake More:

Use the Oven: Cooking and baking can help warm up your home. After using the oven, leave the door open to let the residual heat warm your kitchen.

Close Unused Rooms:

Room Isolation: Close the doors to unused rooms and vents to focus heating on the areas where you spend the most time. This prevents wasted energy heating empty spaces.

Implement Energy-Efficient Practices: LED Lights: Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs, which produce less heat and consume less energy.

Energy-Efficient Appliances: Use energyefficient appliances and unplug devices when not in use to reduce overall energy consumption.

Use Rugs and Carpets:

Insulate Floors: Place rugs and carpets on bare floors to provide additional insulation and keep rooms warmer.

Humidify Your Home:

Humidifiers: Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, which can make your home feel warmer and more comfortable at lower temperatures. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce your heating bills while maintaining a cosy and comfortable home during the winter months.

Preps celebrate 100 bright days at Kismet Park Primary

Kismet Park Primary School recently celebrated 100 days of school with the theme 100 Days Brighter.

The Year 6 students welcomed the prep students to their parade by forming a guard of honour. The Preps were so excited about the community celebrating this exciting achievement.

The Prep students performed songs to a packed house of students and families. Following the performance, the Preps

introduced their Year 6 buddies to their families and carers, while they enjoyed a morning tea picnic.

The celebration concluded with a disco, where students, families, and staff danced and celebrated together.

Acting principal Samuel Carlton thanked the school community for their support and participation, emphasising that such events reinforce the school’s values of resilience, integrity, courage, and kindness.

Staff and students celebrate 100 days of school with a splash of colour. (Pictures: Supplied)

Discover the joy of learning at Global Learning Village

Welcome to Prep at Global Village Learning, where your child’s first formal schooling year is transformed into an edventure of discovery and joy!

The Prep experience is specifically designed to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment that caters to the unique needs of young learners.

Global Village Learning embraces a Montessori-inspired approach, which means your child will engage in learning that is both structured and flexible enough to align with their natural pace and interests. The learning spaces are filled with opportunities for hands-on activities that not only focus on foundationalskillslikeliteracyandnumeracy, but also encourage creativity and critical thinking.

Global Learning Village’s experienced guidesareexpertsinearlychildhoodeducation and are deeply committed to fostering a love of learning in every child. They ensure that each day at GVL is filled with engaging, fun, educational, and authentic activities. From art projects and storytelling to exploration in our outdoor learning spaces, your child will enjoy a varied curriculum that prepares them for the next steps in their educational journey.

Joining Prep at Global Village Learning means becoming part of a caring community that values the active involvement of every family. It’s a place where your child will not only learn but will also build lasting friendships, develop confidence, and grow in a supportive and enriching setting.

Global Learning Village invites you and your family to become a part its community. Be part of a Prep program that is the perfect start to your child’s educational edventure.

Preps at Global Learning Village embark on an education edventure. (Supplied)

Green thumbs up

Newham Primary School is seeing results from several of its sustainability and revegetation projects, which were recently commended through a Landcare partnerships award.

The school was highly commended in the Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award for its collaboration with the Newham and District Landcare Group.

Newham Primary School sustainability teacher Libby Fullard said that projects within the school help increase biodiversity in the region and teach children about native plants and animals.

Projects have included removing large willow trees in waterways to be replaced with native plants, and planting grasses, sedges, and other riparian plants.

“As the children grow, they will watch the plants grow – and there are tangible outcomes in terms of change,” Ms Fullard said.

Ms Fullard said that school has also collaborated with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and used resources on First

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Nations perspectives to guide Indigenous plantings on the school grounds.

“We’ve got six species … on signage with information about the animals, and we’ve also gotsomeFirstNationsperspectiveson[those].”

She said that the projects have also helped students to apply what they’ve learnt at home.

“The children are talking about the fact that they’ve got a creek running through their property and the families are doing the landcare fence off inside of the creeks from cattleand…stock,sothatitcanrevegetateand … improve water quality,” she said.

“They live in such a distinct landscape with Hanging Rock there and the Macedon and Cobaw ranges … everything we do provides a link to the different bio links that are already there, where animals can move throughout the landscape.”

Theschool’splantingsitesandtheAndersons Road revegetation site – a collaboration with Newham and District Landcare Group - are located within the Cobaw Biolink.

Oscar Parry

Briefs

Operation West Connect

Police detected over 130 offences during an ongoing road safety operation across Victoria’s west in July. Operation West Connect saw police in western Victoria targeting high-risk driving behaviour associated with road trauma across major arterials. The Bendigo, Campaspe and the Macedon Ranges division has been the worst road trauma-affected area in the state’s west this year, with 13 lives lost. One hundred and forty one lives have been lost on the state’s roads so far this year, with 44 of those occurring on roads in western Victoria. There have been 11 fatal collisions on roads in western Victoria in July. There were a total of 132 offences detected during Operation West Connect. To more than 10,000 nursing and midwifery students.

Take our survey

StarWeekly wants to hear from you about the health issues affecting women in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs. Our Women’s Health Matters survey will help inform our reporting during our 12-month women’s health campaign. The confidential survey will take less than five minutes to complete and can be found by scanning the QR code.

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Help the Uncle Bob’s Club

The Uncle Bob’s Club is calling for volunteers to join its state committee.

The term is a 12-month position, beginning inOctoberofeachyearandconsistsofmonthly meetings that can be attended remotely. Committemembersalsoparticipateinstrategic planningandcommitteeworkandoccasionally represent UBC at events throughout the year.

Since its founding in 1942, UBC has raised vital funds for children’s hospitals and medical equipment across Victoria with the mission of ensuring no child in Victoria goes without the medical equipment they need.

UBC raises money through hosting events such as garage sales, morning teas and sausage sizzles, while aiming to keep the funds in the area they were raised.

Beingagrassrootscharitywithonlyonepaid staff member and no government funding,

UBC relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue its mission.

Fundraising and volunteer manager Stacey Ramadgedescribedtheidealvolunteerasbeing anyone passionate about raising funds to help the children of Victoria.

“Everything that we fundraise goes directly to children’s health, either through local hospitals or the Good Friday Appeal,“ she said. Despite the abundance of donations that pour in, the shortage of manpower limits the work UBC is able to do.

UBC recently started a new group in the western suburbs, with ambitions to launch two more in the northern and eastern suburbs.

More details: https://ubcvic.org.au/ get-involved/volunteer-2/

Jaidyn Kennedy

Paulm Etherington and Stacey Ramadge with her daughter Sadie, 3. (Damjan Janevski) 420649_03

Newham and District Landcare Group committee member Penny Roberts, Newham Primary School students Quinn, Sabine, Henry, and sustainability teacher Libby Fullard at the state’s Landcare partnerships awards. (Supplied)

Pickleball for all

Invented in the USA, Pickleball is quickly gaining popularity in Australia. Relatively easy to learn and popular across several age groups, Macedon Ranges Badminton Club hosts pickleball matches at the Macedon Community Centre and the Romsey Recreation Centre. Star Weekly’s Damjan Janevski captured some action shots of players at a Wednesday morning session on July 31.

Soccer club seeks lighting

A Sunbury community soccer group is raising funds to install lighting at its home ground as part of an ongoing effort to convert it to a long-term functional soccer facility.

Led by a group of volunteers, Sunbury Community Soccer Club was established in 2019 by president Matula Osborn, who wanted to create an accessible club for local families.

“[The club] was established because of a conversation I had with a neighbour whose children wanted to play soccer – but she couldn’taffordtheregistrationfee,”MrOsborn said.

“The objective was to establish a community soccer club for all children from four to 12 years old, regardless of the economic status of their parents.”

With the help of local sponsors, the club offersfree‘kickabout’sessionsforchildrenwho want to try soccer, free all-ages walking soccer sessions, and a $200 registration fee for a year of membership for children aged four–12 – but only if this fee can be afforded.

Mr Osborn said the club struggled to secure ahomeground,movingfromgroundtoground until the Sunbury Baptist Church allowed it to use a paddock behind the church for training

and competitions.

Since then, the club’s volunteers have maintained the ground to be suitable for play, using portable fog lights to illuminate the pitches.

Now, the club is hoping to secure funding to install permanent overhead lights.

“[The] ground was a paddock, and we have been [using] sponsorships and volunteers to slowly turn [it] into a soccer ground, hence the reason we are appealing to [the] Sunbury community to support our efforts – so that children across Sunbury and surrounding areas can have a choice,” Mr Osborn said.

“We need funding from everywhere, including local government, state government, federal government, businesses, and individuals to make sure all children and young people up to 20 years old have not only a ground, but facilities,” Mr Osborn said.

“With over 45,000 people, Sunbury needs more soccer clubs.”

The club’s training sessions run between January and November, with registration details provided on its Facebook page.

Details:gofundme.com/f/sunburycommunity-soccer-club-ground-lighting

Members and volunteers of the Sunbury Community Soccer Club at a training session. (Supplied)

Pickleball is a sport that appeals to a wide range of ages. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 422504

Homelessness hardships

Amid a cost-of-living crisis, homelessness and poverty is picking up in prevalence, and support services are feeling the demand pinch as much as ever, Gerald Lynch discovers.

It’scloserthanyouthink.That’sthemessage this National Homeless Week, which runs August 5 to 11.

As Australians struggle to afford basic needs, defer crucial healthcare and work extra hours to keep afloat, homelessness support services are reporting a surge in demand for their services.

Recently released research by free mobile laundry and shower service, Orange Sky, revealed that 57 per cent of Australians struggle to make ends meet annually, with 27 per cent struggling as often as monthly.

The new research came as government data indicates household inflation rates have skyrocketed by 3.6 per cent over the past 12 months, with housing, food and health costs climbing by over 3 per cent in the same period of time.

The research reveals three in five (59 per cent) Australians have had to moderately or significantly adjust their lifestyle due to the rising cost-of-living.

Orange Sky St Albans team leader Ben Campbell originally joined the organisation during covid as a way to get out of the house, but four years later he couldn’t imagine not being involved.

“When everyone was locked down, I was like OK, I need to get out of the house, and one of the loopholes essentially, to do that was volunteering,” he said.

“It really helped open my eyes to appreciate what I had, because of course through the pandemic, we all thought it was an extremely tough time but then on the other side of it, people were living on the streets not having a place to live or living in potentially dangerous situations who were having it a lot worse than I was.

“So it gave me this fresh perspective. It gave me a greater appreciation for what I have and what others have and just trying to help them make it through the weeks.”

Mr Campbell is mainly involved with the Orange Sky’s laundry service, a mobile service that washes people’s clothes and also provides meals.

He said while the service is used less in the winter,justasmanypeoplecomedowntohave a chat and a smile, a service that is intangible yet invaluable.

“Not all the attendees use our service but it doesn’t really matter, they … just come for a conversation where they can feel heard,” he said. “Most of the time the homeless feel invisible, feel like they’re ignored by society and not really appreciated in any way shape or form. So we’re just there to kind of give them that support.

“To give them an ear and just listen to them and just make them feel a bit more normal, because they are normal.”

He said there are misconceptions about homelesspeoplethatmakethemfeelunworthy of interacting with other people sometimes, and he hopes to see further education and change in public perception.

“There’s the whole idea of homelessness, I imagine for the general public, that they’ve put themselves in this situation and they can’t bring themselves out of it,” Mr Campbell said. “The reality is there are so many factors that can contribute (to a person becoming homeless), there is often trauma, domestic violence, mental illnesses and all sorts that can really contribute to people getting into the situation.”

Orange Sky co-founder Nic Marchesi said growing costs and expenses are placing unsustainable pressure on everyday Australians, who are having to make tough sacrifices just to keep up.

“No one deserves to go without essentials, clean clothes, a hot shower and a safe place to sleep,” he said.

“However, rising costs are increasingly forcing everyday Australians to choose between living essentials, bills and rent, and people who may have never thought they would be struggling financially are turning to us for help.

“We have seen a 21 per cent increase in demand for our services since last financial year,andthisincreaseiscomingfromfamilies, retirees,studentsandmiddle-agedwomenand men. Even people with current employment are coming to us for help.

“To support the growing number of Aussies experiencing homelessness and hardship, in the last financial year, we launched services in five new locations. In addition to the brand-new services, we launched 36 new shifts in already existing services.

“Concerningly, escalating costs are seeing Aussies not only struggling to afford the essentials, but also to find safety and security, with the research revealing more than one in 10 have had to forego a meal due to a lack of funds, while over one in six have borrowed money, sold something or taken out a loan just to pay rent or bills.

“Amid a national housing crisis which has seen mortgage prices hit an all-time high in June of this year, weekly rent prices rising by 8 per cent in the past 12 months, and rental vacancy rates sitting at the lowest they’ve been in a decade, it’s no surprise there’s an increase of Australians heading into tough times.

“Homelessness can be much closer than you might think it is. These statistics are people, people that we see each and every day, and people who need our support. Homelessness can impact anyone, and as we see financial hardship escalate, all it could take is one unfortunate circumstance for you or someone you know to fall on tough time.”

Orange Sky receives government funding, but with more and more people being forced to live on the streets, help from those who can afforditisbeingencouragedthisHomelessness week.

Donate at orangesky.org.au

Orange Sky founders Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett. Inset: St Albans volunteers Simon and Ben with a local at a laundry session

Volunteers and users of the service enjoying a chat. (Pictures: Supplied)

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number

ACROSS

1 Quandary (7)

5 Dead body (7)

9 Demolition (11)

10 Bolt or pin (3)

11 Beachgoer’s two-piece (6)

12 Apotheosis (7)

14 Island of Hawaii (4)

15 Personal items (10)

17 Dwarf (10)

19 Occurring before (abbr) (4)

20 Sink (coll) (7)

22 New Delhi native (6)

25 The Peacock Network (1,1,1)

26 Reciprocal (11)

28 Died (7)

29 Potentially guilty party (7)

DOWN

1 Prank (US coll) (4)

2 Languor (9)

3 Festival, – Gras (5)

4 Group of islands (11)

5 Digitally generated imagery (1,1,1)

6 Jogging (7)

7 White person (5)

8 Disruptive (10)

12 Efficiency increasers (11)

13 Significance (10)

16 Account of events (9)

18 Princess Diana’s maiden name (7)

21 Summary (5)

23 Ties (5)

24 Flesh (4)

27 Dowel (3)

7 words: Good 11 words: Very good 15 words: Excellent Today’s

1 Where was Queen Noor of Jordan born?

2 Who directed the 1994 film Muriel'sWedding

Kendo is a Japanese style of: a) fencing, b) boxing or c) dance?

By what name is the animal family Vombatidae better known?

How many teams play at the Hopman Cup tennis tournament?

In

No. 197 No. 197

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

Toastmasters

Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Toastmasters helps its members develop their public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7.20–9.30pm at the Sunbury Community Centre, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. ■ vpm-4185@toastmastersclubs.org

SNH Carers Walk

A free monthly walking group designed especially for carers. The walk starts at 10am each third Thursday of the month, starting and ending at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. The walk, led by Ken, features a gentle 45-minute stroll around the local neighbourhood, finishing with a cuppa and a snack. Get some fresh air, enjoy some great company, and take a well-deserved break.

■ www.sunburyhouse.com.au

Sincerely Yours

The Sincerely Yours event has been designed for members of Hume to access a world-class musical performance, followed by an afternoon tea where they can socialise and access locally provided stalls, social community groups, and services. The event will be held on Friday, August 9, at the Jack McKenzie Community Hall, 11 Green Street, Bulla. Doors open at 12.30pm, with performances beginning at 1pm. The afternoon tea and community stalls will then open after the show at about 2.10pm, with stalls remaining open until 4pm. For further details, visit: https:// www.littlepinetreeproductions.com/ upcoming-events

■ Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/ CTACS

Sunbury Seniors

Sunbury Seniors (55 or older) meets on Mondays and Fridays from 10am–3pm. The group is temporarily relocating to 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. A variety of activities are offered – indoor bowls, cards, snooker, guest speakers, day excursions, subsidised lunches or just a cup of coffee and a chat.

■ 0434 400 754

Pernaperna Women’s Group

The group is currently knitting and crocheting blankets for First Nations peoples in palliative care across Australia. Pernaperna is a friendly group that meets fortnightly at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury, on a Thursday from 1–3pm. It has established a bush tucker garden at Sunbury Neighbourhood House. New members warmly welcomed. If you don’t knit or garden but would just like to drop in for a chat – the group would love to meet you.

■ Joan, 0418 302 676

Hume Men’s Shed

The Hume Men’s Shed (Sunbury) is a non-profit organisation, meeting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 158 Evans Street, Sunbury. The group caters for men across many interest, be it carpentry, welding, metal work, gardening or just to chat.

■ sunburymensshed.com or 0438 677 425

LGBTIQ Social Club

The Sunbury and Surrounds LGBTIQ Social Club has an ongoing catch up every third Saturday at the Brown Cow Café in Rosenthal at 1pm. The group can also be found on Facebook, where it hosts chats, discussions and advertises events.

■ https://shorturl.at/jtAO1

This week’s photographer’s choice is of St Peter’s Catholic Primary School West Sunshine wellbeing dog Tilly, who was celebrating her first birthday. (Damjan Janevski) 421792_01

Sunbury Woodworkers Club

Join the Sunbury Woodworkers Club to learn woodturning. No experience or tools required. The club is a welcoming environment open to men and women who wish to learn. Meetings for new guests are held on the third Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. Circular drive, Jackson’s Hill, Sunbury. Facebook: Sunbury Woodworkers Club.

■ Anita, 0417 402 795

VIEW Club

Sunbury-Macedon Ranges VIEW Club is a friendly women’s organisation and a valued part of The Smith Family. It meets on the third Friday of each month at 11am at Club Sunbury, Riddell Road, Sunbury. New members warmly welcome

■ Lee-anne, 0403 047 909

Sunbury Art Society

The Sunbury Art Society meets every Friday and Saturday, from 10am–3pm, at the Boilerhouse, Jacksons Hill, to paint or draw over a cuppa with other like minded people. New members welcome.

■ Ken, 0407 062 568 or Yvonne, 0429 994 828

Yoga in Sunbury

Yoga classes at Sunbury Neighbourhood House focus on supporting participants to slow down and move well. Special attention is given to mindful awareness of movement that builds strength in a healthy and safe way, Monday mornings, Thursday evenings and Friday mornings.

■ www.sunburyhouse.com.au or 9740 6978

Art group

The Woodend Art Group holds classes and workshops in the studios in the Woodend railway station complex. It also has a social Tuesday where members and interested people can come along in the morning, have a coffee and paint together in a social environment.

■ Colin Robinson, 0407 426 252

Shuttles and pickleballs

Macedon Ranges Badminton Club is inviting residents to come and play badminton, or pickleball, or both at Macedon Community Centre.

Badminton is played on Tuesdays from 7.30pm and Thursdays at 9.30am. Pickleball is played on Mondays at 6.30pm, Wednesdays at 10.15am and on Tuesday from 10am at the Romsey Recreation Centre.

■ David, 0419 589 425, or macedonrangesbadminton@gmail.com

Neighbourhood garden

Become part of Sunbury’s Neighbourhood Garden and grow edible and useful plants in a social group at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. All skill sets are welcome.

■ www.sunburyhouse.com.au or 9740 6978

Scottish country dancing

The Macedon Ranges Scottish Country

Dancing Group meets every Thursday afternoon 1–3pm at Buffalo Stadium, Woodend. The dancing involves social country dancing, and no special clothes needed – just soft flat shoes.

■ Meg, 5427 1100, or Linda, 0408 476 317

Community. Connect. Create. If you are needing support or looking for a social group to join, you can visit Community. Connect. Create, which is an online resource listing support and community groups in the Macedon Ranges. if you would like your group listed or would like to work to help this project grow please email: fiona@ communityconnectcreate.com.au ■ communityconnectcreate.com.au

Amateur radio club

The Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at the Woodend RSL Hall, 32 Anslow Street, Woodend, at 10am. If you are interested in amateur radio or already have a call sign, this could be for you.

■ http://www.mrarc.org.au

Take off weight 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 Off Weight Naturally) every Thursday at 9am at the Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. ■ Rhonda, 0409 740 924

Bands to unite for music festival

By Tara Murray

Musicians from across Melbourne’s west will have the chance to shine at the first Western Bands Festival.

ThebrainchildoftheWesternConcertBand, the festival will give concert and brass bands the opportunity to perform locally.

Western Concert Band musical director and conductor Harry Merrifield said he was excited for the festival and hoped it could become an annual event.

“It’s been inspired by a previous festival that had happened but it was only for concert bands only,” he said.

“This time we have expanded the program to include concert and brass bands.”

Five bands will be part of the first festival. The Western Concert Band will be joined by Suzanne Cory High School, Western Brass, Sunshine Community Brass and Westgate Concert Band.

The bands will all perform individually before taking the stage for two combined performances at the end of the festival.

Merrifield said a lot of concert and brass bands don’t get the opportunity to perform at concerts.

“It’s a great opportunity for bands to get critical feedback from a clinical professional and network without being in a competitive environment,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for each of the bands to showoffwhattheycando.Wecannetworkand

there could be opportunities to work together in the future.”

YamahaeducationoutreachclinicianDrRob McWilliams and Haileybury College head of bands Dr Joanne Heaton will assess the bands

Health and wellness at the winery

People in Melbourne’s west who want to take control of their wellbeing are being invited to immersethemselvesintranquillityatStAnne’s Winery.

The Myrniong winery has teamed up with UrbanMarketstoruntheHealthandHarmony Expo on Sunday, August 18. The event will run from 10am to 4pm at 64 Garrards Lane. Iftheexposeemsfamiliar,that’sbecausethis is not the first time St Anne’s has collaborated with Urban Markets to run a wellness event.

Jake Currey, who does a “bit of everything” at St Anne’s, said it was exciting to be “making a comeback after a few years of hiatus”.

Mr Currey said while they were hoping to attract the same crowd, there would be plenty of different things on offer this time around.

“We are trying to make it more of an expo rather than a market where you wander around, there are a few little fun activities for people … to make it more interactive rather than just selling products,’’ he said.

“We’re trying to get a bit of everything – the usual candle and wellness related stalls as well as some tarot card readings.”

Urban Markets owner Felicity Ashman said yoga, meditation, exercise, and natural foods were all on the table for the expo.

“We are looking to promote local businesses that support a balanced lifestyle… and any type of health and wellness,” Ms Ashman said.

MsAshmansaidthecombinationofoutdoor and indoor settings at the winery made it a prime spot for the expo.

“Itisparticularlyexcitingtobebackworking with St Anne’s – it’s such a lovely atmosphere out there and a perfect location to have something like this.”

Details:https://stanneswinery.com.au/event/ health-harmony-expo-myrniong/

Eddie Russell

Show a tribute to the ‘first lady of rock’

Wild Dreamers will put on a show dedicated to Linda Ronstadt at Newport Bowls Club on August 31.

Attendees can enjoy a captivating Saturday night immersed in the timeless classics from Ronstadt’s extraordinary repertoire.

Ronstadt is an American singer who has won 11 Grammy awards and has performed in diverse genres, including rock, country, light opera, and Latin music.

Dubbed the “queen of rock” or “first lady of rock,” Ronstadt was the top-selling female rock artist of the 1970s and one of the most artistically diverse recording artists of the last 50 years.

Wild Dreamers band will perform 20 to 25 Ronstadt chart-toppers, including When Will I Be Loved, You’re No Good, It’s So Easy, Blue Bayou, and Different Drum.

Wild Dreamers vocalist Lisa Mio said the band wants to pay tribute to Ronstadt for her remarkable contributions as a performer and a great musician.

“I don’t want people to forget what an amazing contribution she made as a vocalist and as ... an activist,” Mio said.

“She’s, you know, very politically minded and always wants to stand up for the ones that can’t stand up for themselves.”

Wild Dreamers band members include Lisa Mio on lead vocals, Jo George on backing vocals, Gary Young on lead guitar, Cres Crisp on keyboards, Nigel Davis on drums, and Phil Smith on bass guitar.

Details: .trybooking.com/events/ landing/1236786

Anne Parisianne

and provide them with feedback. The festival is on August 10, from 9am-2pm, at the Suzanne Cory High School auditorium, 225 Hoppers Lane, Werribee. Entry is via gold coin donation.

A Maltese tradition

The Brimbank community will come together for a weekend of festivities to mark the 41st year of the Festa Santa Marija Assunta in Deer Park.

The traditional procession is a part of the Festa Santa Marija Assunta, celebrated on August 15 each year and marks the ascent into heaven by the Virgin Mary.

It will take place on Thursday, August 15, from 6.15pm, and the service in Maltese and English will include a presentation of flowers to Santa Marija and the carrying of the statue, with a celebratory mass accompanied by the M.W.F. Philippine Choir.

Following the service, The MMG Concert Band of Victoria will be playing Marian Hymnal Marches. This will be held at the St Peter Chanel, 800 Ballarat Road, Deer Park.

ThenonSaturday,August17,theLuxor function centre on Sydenham Road will play host to the annual Santa Marija Assunta dinner dance from 6.30pm. MusicwillbeplayedbyDJDominicand traditional Maltese band Philharmonic Society inc.

On Sunday, August 18, the festivities will return to the St Peter Chanel, for a Festa Day service at 2pm, and a procession parade from 3.30pm. Organiser Frank Galea said the celebrations pay tribute to the Maltese culturesomanylocalsfeelgreatnostalgia, with a strong Maltese community in the area.

Forticketstothedinnerdance,contact Frank: galeafrank@ymail.com

Gerald Lynch

Joanne George and Lisa Mio from Wild Dreamers. (Damjan Janevski) 421523_05

The Western Concert Band will perform at the Western Bands Festival. (Supplied)

Jake Currey. (Damjan Janevski) 422618_01

A previous celebration in Deer Park. (Supplied)

Get crafty for Children’s Book Week

Each month, Stephanie Martinez will share an exciting craft project designed to inspire and spark creativity.

Stephanie starred in the first season MakingIt on Network 10, where she discovered and ignited her passion for crafting. Join Stephanie as she explores the endless possibilities of crafting and turn everyday materials into something extraordinary.

This month, Stephanie is creating monster bookmarks in honour of Children’s BookWeek(August17-23). Happy crafting!

Monster bookmarks

Materials: Googly eye

Marker

Coloured cardboard

Coloured yarn 30cm x four pieces

Equipment: Template

Glue stick

Scissors

Hole puncher

1/ Can the QR right to download and print the template for the monster bookmark and nose.

2/ Use the template to cut out the monster and the nose.

3/ Create a hole at the top of the monster. Fold the pieces of yarn in half, thread through the hole and tie a lark’s head knot.

4/ Glue googly eye in place. Fold the top of the nose and glue the folded part to the monster.

5/ Glue some colourful strips at the bottom of the monster.

6/ Draw an eyebrow and a mouth for the monster. Cut out a tooth and glue it in place.

7/ Give the monster some spots by hole punching some cardboard and randomly gluing them.

Get ready for Children’s Book Week by creating your own monster bookmark. (Supplied)

Instagram: Steph It Up with Stephanie Tik Tok: Steph It Up with Stephanie

Is this Honda’s best ever Accord?

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring

Few vehicles can match the Honda Accord for longevity.

On the road in Australia since 1977, the award-winning sedan, now in its 11th generation, shows no sign of going away anytime soon.

Surprisingly, despite it being one of the maker’s most important nameplates, the latest Accord, a petrol-electric hybrid, stands alone in its bid to keep the opposition at bay. In doing so the Accord e:HEV RS – touted as the best Honda Accord ever – claims to deliver an unbeatable combination of style, efficiency, performance and connectivity. But does it?

Hondahasturnedtotweetypeofphilosophy to describe the essence of the new Accord, saying the development team wanted to create a vehicle that allowed the ‘passionate achiever’ to express their status and help them change their mindset as they headed to their next destination.

However, when it comes to choice of models and pricing the sedan comes down to brass tacks: a single model with an eyewatering sticker price of $64,990, far above most of the opposition. The Accord e:HEV RS is covered by Honda’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty with eight years for the battery.

Styling

Honda is at it again, opining that a ‘creative black tie’ concept combines individuality with thebasicsofformalwearatahighlevel,making the driver appear accomplished and appealing. Sorry, Honda, the look is just bland.

Today’sAccordissoyesterdayinappearance, evenwithits‘long,cleanbodylinesandastrong powerfulfrontend,blackedoutheadlights,and wide upright grille flanked by air curtain inlets routing cooling air through the bumper and around the front wheels’.

Longerthanitspredecessor,afactemphasised by a ‘sharp upper character line’ and swoopy roof culminating in a fastback rear with distinctive LED flush tail lamps highlighting a wide stance. Machined matte black 18-inch wheels aim for a sporty appearance but fail to elevate it to the ‘black tie’ level.

The most modern feature up front is out of sight. The active shutter system behind the upper grille, commonplace on EVs these days, opens and shuts to control the amount of air flowing through the engine radiator and air-con condenser. Keeping shutters closed cuts aerodynamic drag, hence energy consumption.

Interior

While reasons for the Accord’s exterior is obscure, the cabin, happily, comes down to reality with up-to-date design using premium materials, highlighted by a honeycomb metal mesh strip across the dashboard separating audio and information displays and climate controls, while concealing the air vents.

Front seats are designed to stabilise the body, especially in spirited driving, enhance comfort and reduce fatigue on long journeys. Bigger exterior dimensions than before ensure more rear leg room and make space for 570 litres of luggage with the single rear seatback (no 60:40 split) up.

However, head room is limited by the sunroof and steeply sloping rear, and because of the hybrid set-up, there’s only room out back for a tyre repair kit.

Infotainment

The driver is the focus of the 10.2-inch instrument display with a new interface, which includes an energy flow meter in place of the tacho.TheupdatedHondaSensingisoneofthe user-selectable features.

A 12.3-inch touchscreen gives access to a revamped range of menus including audio and air-con. Honda says fewer embedded menus are easier to access. There’s still room for improvement here.

One nice touch, however, is the ‘Experience Selection Dial’, which has a circular display

defaulting to a digital clock, providing quick controlsofair-conditioninganddriverprofiles.

The new Accord features Honda’s first application of Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play, plus satellite navigation and live traffic updates at the spoken request ‘Hey, Google’.

New-generation Honda Connect features a refreshed app interface, improved response time and other new features. Over The Air software updates are a feature of the audio/ connectivity ECU.

An 11.5-inch windscreen head-up display incorporates speedo, navigation and driver assist features. A dial under the screen allows the driver to call up pre-selected mood profiles while driving.

Quality sound comes from the standard Bose 12-speaker audio system developed by engineers working closely with Honda from early in the design process, while Dynamic Speed Compensation automatically adjusts volume and tone based on vehicle speed.

Engines/transmissions

A fourth-generation dual-motor hybrid system is made up of a refined two-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine developing 108kW of power mated with a pair of more powerful electric motors mounted side by side. The E-CVT traction motor puts out 135kW of power and 335Nm of torque, while the generatormotorchargesthebatterypack.Total power output is 152kW. The E-CVT features

high and low speed lock-up for direct drive, a help on steep inclines.

Fuel consumption is claimed by the maker to be 4.3 litres per hundred kilometres on the combined urban/highway cycle. The test car recorded five litres per 100 kilometres in city and suburbs and 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the motorway. With a 48 litre fuel tank this adds up to around 1000 kilometres range, depending on driving style.

Safety

The Accord features the latest iteration of Honda’s ACE body structure through the use of high-strength steel and structure designed to dissipate crash energy efficiently around the cabin.

Honda Sensing safety and driver assistance has been made possible by updated front camera and radar. Four-wheel disc brakes incorporate a four-channel anti-lock system, electronic brake distribution and brake assist.

Eight airbags include driver and front seat passenger, driver and front passenger knee airbag, front side airbag and side curtain airbags.Anouterlapbeltpretensionerisusedon front seats, with a load limiter to prevent chest injuries. In the rear, outboard pretensioners are used, along with load limiters.

Driving

The hybrid system features a shift control which apes the gear shifting on a conventional drivetrainwhentheacceleratorisfullypressed.

Half a dozen levels of slowing are available through the shift paddles on the steering column.

Thevehicleautomaticallyswitchesseamlessly between EV, Hybrid and Engine drive modes optimising performance and efficiency. An ‘e’ button has the driver switching between Auto from to EV mode for pure electric driving and Charge mode which keeps the engine running longer to keep the battery fully charged.

New drive modes include Normal for balanced fuel efficiency and performance; Econ, which shifts to lower fuel consumption; Sport, for sharper throttle response with additionalsportysound;andIndividual,driver choosing the settings.

The new petrol-electric hybrid system has pushed the Accord top speed up to 200km/h. There’s no doubt much work has been done on the suspension and steering, combining a more engaging, yet comfortably smooth and quiet drive, while NVH is complemented by a quietened exhaust note.

New soundproofing and active noise control keep out intrusive cabin noise and construct ideal surroundings for the audio and passenger conversation.

Summary

There’s no denying the new Accord has a laundrylistofthelatestautomotivetechnology, driver aids and safety systems but do they add up to the $65K asking price? I’ll leave the potential buyer to make that decision.

Accord e:HEV RS is touted as the best Honda Accord ever, but it will cost you. (Pictures: Supplied)

Local results at Olympics so far

Here’s how the locals went at the Olympics during the last week.

Archery

After shooting the highest individual ranking round by an Australian since the current 72 arrow ranking, Laura Paeglis was drawn to face Caroline Lopez in the round of 32 elimination round. Paeglis led early with four points from the first two sets, but it was all Lopez after that taking the win 6-4.

Athletics

LongjumperChrisMitrevskicouldn’treplicate his form of the Australian championships at hisfirstOlympics.Havingjumpedajumpthat would have medalled in every Olympics since 1992, Mitrevski could only jump 7.79 metres in the qualifying rounds to miss the final. Amy Cashin was also in action in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She finished ninth in her heat, which included two runners breaking national records and another two getting personal bests.

Basketball

Both the Boomers and Opals are through to finals of the basketball competition. The Boomers had to rely on other results for them to qualify after losing to Greece in their final pool match.

In that match against Greece, Josh Giddey had nine points and Dante Exum had six. The Aussies now face Serbia in the quarter finals. The Opals had to win their final match with France to play finals, which they did 79-72. Tess Madgen led the way with 18 points, while Ezi Magbegor has 14 points.

Beach Volleyball

Thomas Hodges and his partner Zachery Schubert made it through to the lucky loser round of the men’s volleyball before losing to Americans Miles Evans and Chase Budinger 2-0 on Sunday, Australian time.

SPORTS QUIZ

1. How many Australians have won Formula 1 grand prix races?

2. Australian NBA player Josh Green was recently traded to which team?

3. How many points did New South Wales beat Queensland by in Game 3 of the 2024 State of Origin series?

Boxing Marissa Williamson was knocked out in the round of 16 in the women’s 66 kilogram competition. Anna Luca Hamori won 5-0.

Cycling Road cyclist Lucas Plapp withdrew from the road race on medical grounds after undergoing abdominal surgery for injuries he sustained in the individual time trial. In the women’s road race, Lauretta Hanson was the best of the Australian’s finishing in 22nd. Judo

4. Which Australian boxer recently announced his next fight would be held in September 2024?

5. What is the only sport to have ever been played on the moon?

6. Who topped the medal tally at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games?

Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar hails from which country?

Mitch Creek recently announced he would be leaving which NBL team?

How many medals did swimmer Cody Simpson win at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games?

Australian runner Jessica Hull recently recorded a world record in which distance race?

UAE Team Emirates won which major recent event in the team classification category?

Aussie McLaren F1 driver Oscar Piastri won his maiden Grand Prix in Hungary at what age?

Aoife Coughlan won her round of 32 match with a golden score before taking on Germany’s Miriam Butkereit in the round of 16. It came down to a golden score again, with Butkereit scoring an Ippon, the highest score in judo, to claim the final and move through to the quarter finals. Katherina Haecker was knocked out of the judo women’s 63 kilogram event in the opening round. Haecker faced Great Britain’s Lucy Renshall losing 11-1.

Shooting James Willett made the final of the trap men’s

13. Which US pop star has been announced as part of the pre-game entertainment for the AFL Grand Final?

14. Which three-time Grand Slam tennis champion will retire from singles tournaments after the Paris Olympics?

15. Which Aussie batsman scored five consecutive half-centuries for Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket T20 competition?

16. Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden performed what duty at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony?

17. Which Australian city is the favourite to enter the NRL as the league’s 18th team in 2027?

18. Which former cyclist is the chef de mission for Australia’s Olympic team at Paris 2024?

19. Which African country qualified for the Men’s Olympic Basketball for the first time at the Paris Olympic Games?

final but couldn’t match it with the medal winners. Willett finished sixth in the six personfinalwith19pointsandwaseliminated on the second stage of the final. Great Britain’s Nathan Hales’ won with 48 points.

Swimming Johann Stickland finished in 66th spot in the men’s 100 metres freestyle heats. The Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre staff member was competing for Samoa. He finished eighth in his heat with a time of 52.94.

20. The Nurburgring motor racing circuit is located in which European country?

21. Which nation did the Matildas defeat 6-5 at the Paris Olympic Games?

22. Isaac Heeney plays for which AFL team?

23. In which year did Roger Bannister break the four-minute mile?

24. Which English bowler recently retired after a 21-year career and 704 Test wickets?

25. Which singer performed on the Eiffel Tower for the 2024 Olympic Opening ceremony?

The coaches of

team recently received a ban because of a drone spying scandal?

27. Which nation has the second biggest team at the Paris Olympic Games behind the US?

28. Which US city was announced as host of the 2034 Winter Olympics?

29. Emily Bates will captain which AFL Women’s team in 2024?

30. Mitch Creek recently announced he would be leaving which NBL team?

26.

which women’s national football

Jessica Hull

Cody Simpson

Tess Madgen. (Basketball Australia)

Sunbury Jets keep their Big V finals dream alive

Sunbury Jets coach Monique Caparell had the fixtures and ladders out ahead of the final round of the Big V women’s championship season.

The Jets were sitting outside the top five heading into the final round of the season and were keen to return to finals action this year.

“I did a map two to three weeks ago to see how we get to finals,” Caparello said. “I’m really nerdy with basketball stats.

“If we get one win this weekend, it’s a gridlock with Warrnambool and Pakenham.

“If we win both games this weekend we finish in fourth spot, ahead of Sherbrooke. We’re aiming to win both games this weekend and hopefully pull off a finals run.”

The past few years the women’s competition has had a top four, but it has been expanded to a top five this year, the same as the men’s. It has opened the door for a thrilling end to

the season.

Caparello said it was nice that their finals hopes were in their own hands.

The Jets didn’t have to rely on other results, winning both their games to seal a finals spot.

On Saturday night the Jets beat the Camberwell Dragons, 74-65.

The Jets had to come from behind, winning the final quarter 28-10 to get the win.

Chloe Angove top scored with 23 points.

On Sunday, the Jets backed it up with an 85-71 win against the Sherbrooke Suns.

ChloeHildebrandtopscoredwith19points.

Caparello said no matter what the result was this season, she was proud of the group.

She was appointed head coach late in the processandhadtoquicklyputateamtogether.

Both their imports didn’t arrive until late, with the Jets down the bottom part of the ladder for the early part of the season.

Caparello said she was hoping to be reappointed for next season to continue the growth of the side.

“From what transpired at the start of the season until now, we have improved massively,” she said.

“I couldn’t be prouder and I’m excited for the future if the playing group is retained for next year.

“I come in late and didn’t get a pre-season and chucked in offence and defence structure straight away.

“We didn’t get into finer details and fundamentals. I want to focus on those and I have plans going forward if I’m reappointed.”

The Jets men finished their season splitting their two matches.

They beat the Dragons 100-90 before losing to Melbourne University, 108-105.

Tara Murray

Lions keen to regroup

By Tara Murray

The Sunbury Lions will look to bounce back after a first up loss in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 finals.

The minor premiers faced Coburg Districts on Saturday for a spot in the grand final. The two sides had played in some really good matches during the season, splitting the results.

Coburg Districts got the jump on the Lions and led by 20 points at quarter time.

That would be the difference in the game with not much between the teams for the rest of the day.

Coburg Districts won through to its first women’s grand final, 5.6 (36)-1.6 (12).

Lions coach Matt Tremellen said it was a hard one but they reset and go again.

For many in the group it was their first final, having last played finals in 2018.

“There was some nervous energy around the place,” Tremellen said. “Coburg Districts started really well and they caught us on the

back foot a little bit.

“Liv Woods was really dominant early in the game. They were able to find space inside 50 and that really hurt us in the first quarter.”

Tremellen said his side were able to peg them back and it was a tightly contested game with not much free space.

He said the first quarter ended up costing them.

“It was hard to beat the congestion,” he said. “Their conversion early set them up for the rest of the match.”

Emily Taylor was the goal kicker for the Lions.

Tremellen said Karla Tentonello and Jorja McKenna were their best, with the pair shutting Woods out of the game in the second half.

Jacinta Lee at half back was the other standout.

The Lions will now face Roxburgh Park in the preliminary final for a spot in the grand final.

The Magpies beat the Lions the last time the

two teams met, with the Lions entering that match undefeated.

Tremellen said they would put the work together on the track to try and turn things around.

“We’ll reset and work on some contested stuff,” he said. “The loss will drive us into next time and we’ll come prepared for another great contest.

“They are a side with confidence.”

The Magpies ended the Sunbury Kangaroos finals run.

It was the first quarter that set up that match as well, with the Magpies winning 7.12 (54)-5.3 (33).

The Magpies had seven scoring shots to two in the first quarter before putting the dominance on the scoreboard in the middle two quarters.

The Kangaroos won the final quarter, but the game was already over.

It was a tough weekend for the Lions under-18.5 girls who lost by seven points to be knocked out by Craigieburn.

Three Northern Knights and two Calder Cannons players have been invited to the AFL draft combine, while several others and a couple of Western Jets have been invited to the state combine.

The AFL has selected 65 draft prospects to attend thethree-day testing in Melbourne in early October.

The selections were based on nominations from AFL recruiters, with each clubs nominating players they would like to see do the draft testing. Those with fewer nominations are likely to be invited to respective state draft combines, with the first 25 of that group also notified.

There were 18 players from Vic Metro selected for the national combine. That includes the Knights’ Jesse Dattoli, Thomas Sims, Gabriel Stumpf and the Cannons’ Isaac Kako and Harry O’Farrell.

Kako, who was one of the standouts for Vic Metro at the under-18 championships, is aligned with Essendon through the Next Generation Academy.

BacchusMarsh’sSamLalor,whoplays for Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Vic Country, was also invited to the national combine. He has been spoken about as a top 10 pick despite having an injury riddled year.

The Victorian state combine will be held on October 6, the same day the national combine finishes.

Jets pair Lucca Grego and Lucas Impey,CannonscaptainDamonHollow and teammates Nash king and Jayden Nguyen, and Northern Knights’ Zak Johnson are among the state combine invitees so far.

Gabriel Stumpf. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 410527_19

Veronika Mirkovic. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 403555_11

Emily Taylor. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 422897_07

Hawks move clear, Centrals big win in Riddell

Woodend-Hesket moved a game clear on top of the Riddell District Netball League ladder, while Melton Centrals went a step further to seal a finals spot.

The Hawks have started to find some form in the back part of the season as they’ve got their whole team on the court.

On Saturday, they faced Macedon, a side they could face come finals time.

The Hawks led by five goals at quarter time and the margin increased to 12 goals at the main break.

The Cats responded in the third quarter but couldn’t reduce the margin. The Hawks finished strongly to win 59-34.

Charlee Duff-tytler scored 36 goals for the Hawks, with defenders Tayissa Coppinger and Georgia Bowkett named their best.

For the Cats, Hetty Donoghue scored 17 goals, while Bronte Green and Taylah Chamra were named their best.

The Cats remain in fourth spot.

Wallan remains in second spot despite a

loss to Melton Centrals.

Centrals upset the Magpies earlier in the season and they did it again on Saturday, winning 50-40.

Centrals started well and led by five points before the margin was reduced to one at the main break.

A 15 to 9 goal third quarter put the game back in Centrals control and they were able to run away with the win.

HelenAumuashot24goalsforCentralsand Chloe Eyre shot 16 goals in a best on court performance.

Dakota Lister was the Magpies best.

The Magpies are now a game behind the Hawks but have played one less game.

Centrals remain in fifth but are six points clear of Romsey in the fight for the last finals spot.

Riddell got an important win against Romsey.

It was a dominant performance by the Bombers, who won 56-41. The Bombers led by

four goals at quarter time before increasing it to 11 at half time.

It stayed that way in the third quarter before the Bombers won the final quarter.

Shelby Holter shot 23 goals for the Bombers, while Fionnula McKeagney-Stubbs was named their best along with Ellen Close.

For the Redbacks, Maddison Thompson shot 27 goals. Mikaela Minns was their best.

In the remaining game, Kyneton moved ahead of Lancefield and Diggers Rest in the battle to avoid last.

Kyneton faced Lancefield in the battle of the Tigers.

Lancefield led by a goal at quarter time before Kyneton led by two goals at half time. The margin increased to four goals at the last break.

Kyneton continued the momentum in the final quarter to win, 40-31.

Manaia Vanderlee shot 23 goals for Kyneton, while Tarnee Hammond shot 18 goals for Lancefield

Tigers proud in defeat

By Tara Murray

Lancefield’s effort can’t be questioned as it again just fell short of getting a win on the boardintheRiddellDistrictFootballLeague.

Lancefield, which is winless, continues to push each week and fell agonisingly short against Kyneton on Saturday.

It was another low scoring affair, with Kyneton leading at each of the first three breaks.

The margin was 14 points at the final break.

Lancefield kicked two goals to one in the final quarter but it wasn’t enough with Kyneton winning the battle of the Tigers, 6.10 (46)-6.6 (42).

Lancefield co-coach Andrew McTrusty said he couldn’t be prouder of the group.

“The efforts the last four to five weeks have been really good,” he said. “Yesterday [Saturday] it was a super effort.

“We had six changes from last week and five of them were injuries and we had a couple more during the game on Saturday as well.

“We can not fault the effort.”

McTrusty said they decided to go head-to-head with the Kyneton instead of looking at tagging or shutting down players.

He said they were thinking what might have been had there been a little bit more time on the clock.

“The ball was 35 metres out in a congested situation,” he said. “An extra five to 10 seconds who knows what might have happened.

“Itwasagoodperformancewithoutgetting the win.”

Lachlan Giles was the only multiple goal kicker with two goals. McTrusty said they had a number of contributors across the board.

He highlighted Lachlan and Darcy Giles and Riley O’Meara were the standouts.

For Kyneton, James Gaff and Angus Strawhorn were named its best.

McTrusty said the impact of having so many injuries throughout the season had hurt them but it wasn’t an excuse.

“We’ve had lots of changes throughout the year which makes it difficult,” he said. “They’re all training hard and they’re a great bunch of guys.

“The club is in good shape and we’re not that far off. We pushed Romsey and lost by a few points to Melton

“Against Macedon we outscored them after the first 10 minutes.”

The Tigers end to the season doesn’t get much tougher facing the top two sides, Wallan and Riddell.

McTrusty said they aren’t complaining instead relishing the opportunity.

“We get to face the top two sides in

the competition,” he said. “I texted one of the players and I said there’s no better opportunity in the last two weeks of the season “We’ve got Wallan and then Riddell, which is also our 2004 premiership reunion. We’re really excited.”

In other matches, Romsey failed the top of the table clash against Riddell, losing 19.9

Bombers eye female footy

It’s full steam ahead for Riddell as it aims to field a women’s football team in the Riddell District Football League in 2025.

With the growth of female football in the region, the Bombers are the latest team to decide to put a team together.

Bombersvice-presidentLaurenNolan said it was an exciting time for the club and they were looking for people to get involved.

“We’ve been getting our strategic business plan together and we’re going to have an upgrade of the lights and potential for the Riddell Creek Recreation Reserve masterplan to be included in next year’s budget,” she said.

“We thought we would start aligning football and netball and we wanted to make it more a sporting club and decided to look at women’s football.

“We want to do this properly and we have a budget and the support from the committee, so we’re working out the best way to do it.”

Nolan said initial interest had been strong and they’d been surprised how many people were keen to get involved. She said there had been junior girls football at the club previously before Covid.

She said several of their netballers wantedtogetoutandhaveakickaswell.

“The interest has been amazing,” she said.

“I think it is great having teams playing after the senior sides.

“We stay and watch the women’s games as well. It’s a great atmosphere. A heap of netballers want to play and it should work well on the same day and you can transition from one sport to the other.”

The Bombers have already put a call out for a coach and had a couple of people get in touch to see where things are at.

Nolan said they were hoping to appoint a coach in the next few weeks and have a come and meet the coach not long afterwards.

(123)-5.10 (40).

Macedon had a convincing win against Woodend-Hesket, 12.9 (81)-4.5 (29), while Wallan smashed Melton Centrals, 25.12 (162)-5.7 (37).

The results mean that Wallan is up to second on the ladder.

The battle for fifth is still alive with Macedon percentage ahead of Kyneton.

She said the RDFL had been really supportive in helping them get things in place and with some of the start up costs.

Nolan said anyone who wanted to play no matter their ability was welcome to get in touch.

Details: lclose@hotmail.com

Tara Murray

Samantha Coppinger. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 420262_07

Lachlan Giles. (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Woodend-Hesket fights back in semi final thriller

A few nerves soon became joy for Woodend-Hesket in the Riddell District Football League women’s knockout semi final with Melton.

Bothsidesweresearchingfortheirfirstfinals win in the RDFL and it came down to the final kick of the day on Saturday night at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.

Melton was awarded a free kick as the siren went in their forward line. They trailed by four points with its season on the line.

ChelseaLapsleyhadtheballontheboundary line with the opportunity to be the hero for the Bloods.

Lapsley’s kick went left leaving her side heartbroken and giving the Hawks a hard fought 1.7 (13)-.1.4 (10) win.

Hawks coach Scott Caton said it was pretty special to get the win.

“It was heart in chest while we were out there,” he said. “The last kick fell our way.

“It was a pretty hard shot. I have coached Chelsea at interleague and she’s a good player.. I was never confident it would miss.

“I think the pressure got to her.”

Bothteamsstruggledtohitthescoreboardin the low scoring affair,

The Hawks kicked the only two points in the

first quarter before the Bloods kicked the first goal of the game in the second quarter.

The margin was four points heading into the

Macedon into decider

By Tara Murray

Macedon is a step closer to its first Riddell DistrictFootballLeaguewomen’spremiership after winning through to the grand final.

The team to beat this season, the Cats’ were too strong for reigning premiers Kyneton in a semi final on Saturday night.

The Cats led by eight points at quarter time with the margin blowing up to 26 points at the main break.

The second half was a lot closer, but the damage had already been done, with the Cats winning 6.4 (40)-1.3 (9).

Cats defender Tamara Collins said it was really exciting.

“It was a really good game,” she said. “We thoughtitwaschallengingasKynetonisreally strong with silky skills.

“We were able to hold them off.”

Collinssaidafterthelearningsoflastseason’s finals series when they had no expectations, the group took plenty of confidence into the game in this year’s finals series.

She said while there were some nerves

knowing what Kyneton can do, they stuck to the plan.

“We still have a lot left in the tank and we will have to be on our toes,” she said.

“We felt like we had a lot of ball in the first quarter but after half time they really challenged us. Our backline did a really brilliant job in holding them off.”

Collins said the half back line of Scarlett Lynch, Ninna Harbinson and Hannah Beasley had done an outstanding job all season.

Charlotte Noonan kicked five goals in a best on ground performance.

Collins said it helps having someone who can kick big bags of goals.

“She makes a massive difference,” Collins said. “It’s really hard to score goals so having a focal point is important.

“We’ve also got some great kicks around her.”

Tamsin Muller, Stephanie Jones and Ruby Watts were the other standouts for the Cats.

For Kyneton, Jorja Bennett was the goal kicker.

final quarter. Caton said they had a lot of the ballbutweren’tabletoputitonthescoreboard.

“We had fought back hard to get the lead,” Caton said. “We kicked truly in the last quarter.”

Katrina Bau was the goal kicker for the Hawks.MollyConnell,BauandMariamHabib were named their best.

Caton said they know they can improve heading into the preliminary final with Kyneton.

The Hawks have never beaten the Tigers, who lost the other semi final to Macedon.

“It’s a big test,” he said. “We didn’t play our best and we have confidence in our best football.

“It’s never as good or as bad as it seems. We’ll look to do what we do well.

“The first time we played them this year it was seven points and we were able to match them on the day.

“We’ll look to go head to head and look to playourbestfootball.Ihavenodoubtthatifwe can do that we can beat them.”

Tara Murray

Sports shorts

RDFNL

Finals venues have been announced for the Riddell District Football Netball League finals. Romsey Park and Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve will host the first week of senior men’s and netball finals on the weekend of August 24, with matches in the second week to be held at Romsey Park and Gilbert Gordon Reserve. Kyneton Showgrounds will host the preliminary final weekend, with the grand final again to be held at Romsey Park. The women’s football grand final will be held at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.

Ballarat FL

The Sunbury Lions had a day out against Melton South in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday. Coming off a bye, the Lions were able to put out a strong four quarter performance on the way to a 30.20 (200)-1.6 (12) win. Jake Sutton kicked 12 goals in a best on ground performance for the Lions. Leigh Brennan chipped in with five goals. The Lions sit in third spot. The Lions this week face Darley. Ballarat NL

Teagan Ainslie, Mairead Murphy and Bridie Kinghorn were named the Tigers best.

The Cats now have a week off before the grand final, while Kyneton will play Woodend-Hesket in the preliminary final this Saturday for a spot in the grand final.

Collins said they would work with the junior club the next couple of weeks in accessing ovals, with the state of some ovals in the Macedon Ranges restricting the use of the grounds and limiting training.

“We want to get on the track and get lots of ball in hand,” she said. “We’ll work hard the next couple of weeks.”

Collins said a premiership would be pretty special in the second season of having a women’s side.

Last season they made the grand final and gave Kyneton the biggest test it had for the season after taking no expectations into the season.

“We wanted to improve on last year, so that is going one better,” Collins said.

“It would be a great achievement.”

The Sunbury Lions won a high scoring affair against Melton South in the Ballarat Netball League on Saturday. After leading by six goals at quarter time, the Lions blew the margin out to 17 at half time. That margin got blown out to 28 goals at the last break before even last quarter winning 79-51. Rebecca Hicks shot 58 goals for the Lions. The Lions remain on top of the ladder.

Bendigo FL

Gisborne has moved to the top of the Bendigo Football League ladder with a solid win against Eaglehawk. The Bulldogs set the win up in the first quarter with seven goals to two. The Bulldogs continued to build on the lead to come away with a 19.12 (126)-10.14 (74) win. Flynn Lakey continued his good form and was named best on ground. With Sandhurst losing to Golden Square, the Bulldogs sit a game clear on top.

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au

Maisy Crowther. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 422913_06

Lilli Collins. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 413374_24

Weekend finals action kicks off

Finals action hit several football and basketball competitions at the weekend. Star Weeklyphotographer Ljubica Vrankovic shot some finals action and a couple of key matches in the lead up to finals.

Woodend-Hesket’s Mariam Habib. 422913_17 Greenvale’s Haylea Cooke. 422916_08

Roxburgh Park’s Dakotta Liddy takes down Aislinn-jayd Taiaroa. 422902_21 Sunbury Lions’ Taylah Brady. 422897_13

Sunbury Kangaroos’ Kelsie Gill. 422902_01

Taylors Lakes and Westmeadows fly for the mark. 422890_01

Burnside Heights. 422916_33

Taylors Lakes’ Lachlan Rayner. 422890_09 Melton’s Chelsea Lapsley. 422913_01

Some supporters enjoying Coburg Districts and Sunbury Lions. 422897_03