Star Weekly - Brimbank North West - 10th December 2024 by Star Weekly

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10 DECEMBER, 2024

Lisa Markovic, Paul Hopper and Lisa Heinrichs from the West Party, a new political party aiming to run candidates in all western suburbs seats at the 2026 state election. (Damjan Janevski) 446633_01

New party for the west By Cade Lucas A new political party in Melbourne’s west could become a home for disgruntled Labor voters, according to a prominent pollster. The West Party has been established by Wyndham businessman Paul Hopper with the aim of running candidates in all western suburbs seats at the 2026 state election. Redbridge Group pollster Kos Samaras said the new party could capitalise on growing discontent with the Labor government in its traditional heartland. “They may provide license for voters who’ve never voted Liberal to vote for something other than the Labor Party,” said Mr Samaras, a former Labor strategist. The ALP has long dominated western suburbs politics and currently holds every

‘‘

None of our founders wake up everyday dreaming of being politicians ... We come to this with a desire to serve and genuine care for the community - Paul Hopper

’’

state and federal lower house seat in the area. But Mr Samaras said after almost a decade in power, cost of living pressures and a growing sense of neglect, that could be about to change. “The Labor brand in the western suburbs of Melbourne is now under possibly the most

extreme levels of pressure since the 1950’s split with the DLP,” he said. “We should expect at least one or two seats in the west to fall at the next state election.” Mr Samaras said it was too early to tell which seats the ALP would lose or who would win them, but West Party founder Paul Hopper agreed the opportunity was there. “The window is opening,” he said of his party’s chances. After failing to be elected as independent candidate at the last state election and the recent council elections, Mr Hopper created the West Party alongside fellow independent candidate, Dr Joe Garra, the Werribee Historical Society’s Lisa Heinrichs, business consultant Brendan Callister and former Wyndham councillor Sahana Ramesh.

“None of our founders wake up everyday dreaming of being politicians,” said Mr Hopper of their motivation for forming the party which still needs 500 members to be formally registered. “We come to this with a desire to serve and genuine care for the community.” Mr Hopper said Labor’s dominance of the west meant it had been taken for granted even as its population exploded. He nominated public safety, public health, schools, roads and jobs as areas of focus for the party which would have a centrist, non-ideological approach to politics. “We’re not left, we’re not right, we’re west,” said Mr Hopper repeating the West Party’s slogan. “Our focus will be on things that matter to the west.”

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NEWS

Brooklyn firm ordered to clean up By Cade Lucas A Brooklyn recycling company recently shut down by the Environmental Protection Authority has been ordered to remove industrial waste from its premises too. Limbourne Group, trading as Apex Waste Control, had its permission to operate revoked by the EPA in October after the company repeatedly failed to abide by regulatory notices issued against it. EPA Victoria has now issued an Environmental Action Notice (EAN) against Limbourne Group, ordering it remove large stockpiles of industrial waste from its facility

on Bunting Road, Brooklyn, EPA officers catalogued nine large stockpiles of mixed industrial waste on the site, with several measuring more than 10 metres by 20 metres and up to 3 metres high, containing soil, mattresses, tyres, rubble, concrete, timber, plastic, metal and broken ceramics. The EAN requires Limbourne Group to cease accepting industrial waste at the premises, remove all waste for disposal, and provide paperwork to prove it was accepted at properly licensed facilities. EPA western metropolitan regional manager Jeremy Settle said EPA licences and

notices come with strict conditions. “An EAN lists what the duty holder must do, gives a clear deadline, and warns that it is backed by potential fines and prosecution,” Mr Settle said. “Most businesses want to do the right thing, many comply with a verbal request, for some the EAN is a helpful document that lists exactly what they need to do, and some others get the message when they see it’s a legal document. For those who don’t, there are penalties,” he said. Limbourne Group had been operating as a skip bin hire and materials recycling business. EPA shutdown the company after

it failed to comply with notices requiring it to prepare an emergency management plan and fire risk assessment, stop accepting waste, provide documents that track the collection and receival of waste, and make its stockpiles of combustible and recyclable waste comply with safety regulations. Company director, Nicholas Limbourne, was also deemed to not be a fit and proper person to run a company with EPA permission. The company had earlier been found guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court of failing to comply with EPA notices and was fined $45,000 when the decision was handed down in May.

Butterfly language help

Protesters from Melbourne’s west outside Parliament House. (Elyse Cunningham)

Rallying for better buses in the west Residents from Melbourne’s west have rallied on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament for better bus services. The rally was organised by Friends of the Earth, on Friday November 27, along with a petition signed more than 3000 times calling for improved services in the west, which the Western Metropolitan MP David Etterhank tabled in parliament. “Nowhere is the need for better buses more apparent than in Melbourne’s western Suburbs,” he said. “Melbourne’s western suburbs have several of the fastest growing populations centres in Australia but also the worst public transport in Melbourne. “In some areas, buses run only every 40-50 minutes, and there are no trains. The dire state

of public transport in the west is the result of underinvestment and bad planning. “First-home buyers are moving to outer western suburbs because homes are affordable, but then they have to pay a higher price for transport, and the lack of public transport like buses leaves them stranded.” Friends of the Earth campaign co-ordinator Elyse Cunningham said people travelled from across western Melbourne to be in parliament for the debate. “It meant a lot to have so many community members from Tarneit, Point Cook, Sunshine, all across the west, sitting in the gallery to watch our government debate the future of transport equity and sustainability in our city,” she said. “In just two months we managed to get 3021 signatures on the petition, which really shows

how important this issue is across all western suburbs.” “Access to public transport is a basic human right that many across the west are being deprived of due to the negligence of successive governments. Third-year university student Afia Khan who lives in Melbourne’s outer west joined the Friends of the Earth Better Buses campaign, because her bus was often late and she frequently missed class as a result. “The first thing most people said to me was about it’s about time the buses were fixed because these people have lived here for years but they don’t think anyone cares about the problem or even tries to fix it,” she said.

Butterfly Foundation, the national charity for Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, has launched a critical resource in Arabic to target multicultural populations. ‘Let’s Talk Eating Disorders: Support and Resources in Arabic’ was developed to increase awareness and encourage help-seeking among local culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Through the new initiative, the organisation is hoping to support communities where risk of developing an eating disorder and access to treatment may be even further impacted by stigma, cultural attitudes and beliefs towards mental health, body image and food, as well as the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities and the pervasive Western body and beauty ideals. “Eating disorders do not discriminate and access to information or support should not be limited by the language someone speaks or their culture,” Butterfly Foundation chief executive Dr Jim Hungerford said. With the resource backed by The Midwinter Ball Committee, Butterfly hopes to secure further funding to produce resources for other multicultural populations. Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact: Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or visit www. butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight.

Gerald Lynch

Luba Grigorovitch MP Member for Kororoit

Further fire truck woes plague Sunshine what to do,” he said. “That’s three consecutive shifts in the case of West Melbourne, and two in the case of Sunshine, where firefighters know that if they are called out to a potentially life threatening emergency they have no usable truck. This is the result of years of negligence and underinvestment in emergency response capability by FRV and emergency services minister Jaclyn Symes.“ Mr Marshall said nearly one in two trucks in the state is past its 15 year use by date, and by the end of 2025 that figure will jump to two in three. An FRV spokesperson said “The safety of our firefighters, other first responders and the community is paramount.“ “At all times, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)

ensures that appropriate equipment is deployed to emergencies to protect firefighters and the community. “There is no single point of dependency. We continually utilise our full fleet across the state to ensure a high level of availability for emergency response.” A spokesperson said the state government had delivered more than $100 million to ensure our firefighters have the trucks, resources and equipment they need. “As part of this year’s budget we delivered more than $15.4 million for five new FRV pumper platforms - this is in addition to the 23 trucks and support vehicles already on their way to FRV.“ Gerald Lynch

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Sunshine has been left without a fire truck as summer kicks off. At about 9.30pm on Sunday, December 1, a 22-year-old fire truck stationed at Sunshine broke down, and no replacement was available. The crew of four who would usually use the truck to respond to emergencies had no truck available if they were called out. One of two pumper trucks based at West Melbourne station also went offline due to a failed low water alarm. United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall called on FRV commissioner Gavin Freeman to deliver a public explanation for the failures. “Two of Melbourne’s busiest stations had key trucks go down last night and Fire Rescue Victoria had no replacement and no plan for

Doing What Matters

2/11 Commercial Road Caroline Springs luba.grigorovitch@parliament.vic.gov.au 03 8361 7133

@lubagrigorovitchmp

Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 3

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Centenary celebration for cairn By Gerald Lynch The Sydenham and District Historical Society has commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the cairn commemorating the Hume and Hovell exploration, and the 200-year anniversary of the exploration itself. On Monday, November 25, the group, along with local councillors, met at the cairn in front of Keilor Plains Station in St Albans, to reflect

on the journey undertaken by Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824. The cairn monument was built in 1924 to mark the centenary of the exploration. Sydenham and District Historical Society member Karen Schmidt, whose ancestors were involved in the exploration, spoke at the event. “The story of their journey is amazing. They were aiming for Westernport but landed at Port Phillip Bay, and they didn’t realise until a couple

of years later,” she said. “Hume and Hovell took three men each on their exploration… the eight of them all made it back alive.” Former mayor and now a member of the historical society Bruce Lancashire also gave a touching tribute to the explorers’ feat. “There’s not too many things we can celebrate for 100 or even 200 years, this is quite a rare treat for us in Brimbank,” he said. “Brimbank has a long history in settlement

and this is a big part of it.” Long standing society member Richard Carthew was the last to speak saying “people may not think this is a big deal… but this is a significant piece of history”. The Sydenham and District Historical Society meets every second Friday of the month at 11am. For more information, contact David Anderson on 9307 6462.

Sunbury line disruptions

Brimbank Presbyterian Church event organiser Garry Rintoute and pastor Daniel Dixon. (Damjan Janevski) 448218_04

Tuning up for Christmas carols event The Brimbank Presbyterian Church congregation are warming up their vocal chords ahead of the church’s annual Christmas carols service. This year’s event holds special significance, celebrating 20 years of spreading joy, fostering community spirit, and honouring the timeless traditions of Christmas. Pastor Daniel Dixon shared that the carols service has become a beloved highlight for the community. “Our Christmas carols service offers a wonderful chance to come together and

celebrate the season. There will be plenty of carol singing, a special children’s segment, and reflections on the true meaning of Christmas,” he said. “As December begins, life often gets busier –shops are crowded, schedules are packed, and holiday preparations are in full swing. It’s a joyful yet hectic period. “Our carols service offers a chance to pause, reflect, and celebrate the true essence of Christmas. “The first Christmas was a powerful demonstration of God’s love through the birth of his son. We love commemorating this by

singing carols together.” He invited all members of the community to join the celebration and experience the true spirit of the season. The carols service will be held at 10am on Saturday, December 14, at the Sydenham Neighbourhood House, 1 Station Street, Watergardens Shopping Centre. Additionally, the church will host a Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24 at 10am and a Christmas Day service on Wednesday, December 25 at 9.30am. Details: 9307 6583.

Sunbury train line users are being encouraged to plan for upcoming travel disruptions, as the Metro Tunnel Project begins trial operations in a major step towards completion This new phase of the project will simulate dozens of real-life scenarios inside the twin nine-kilometre tunnels and stations, including station and train evacuations. Workers will also trial services through the tunnel from Sunbury to Cranbourne and Pakenham and between Hawksburn and West Footscray. Buses will replace trains on the Sunbury line between Sunshine and North Melbourne on December 14–15 and then between January 2–11. Normal services will resume in time for the opening day of the Australian Open on Sunday, January 12. Disruptions are expected to continue intermittently throughout the first half of 2025. Travel and Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said it will be a “huge summer of works” as crews prepare to open the Metro Tunnel next year. Once opened, Sunbury line trains will no longer run through the City Loop but instead in the new tunnel. Sunbury passengers will be able to interchange between the Metro Tunnel and City Loop at Town Hall to Flinders Street and State Library to Melbourne Central via underground pedestrian connections. They will also have direct rail access via Parkville Station to Parkville’s hospitals and Melbourne University and to St Kilda Road via Anzac Station. Buses will also replace trains on sections of the Sunbury Line from 8.30pm on December 4 to the last service on December 12 during works relating to removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing.

Upcoming overnight freeway closure 12-13 Dec: between Millers Rd and Williamstown Rd

West Gate Freeway will be closed in both directions from Millers Road to Williamstown Road from 10pm to 5am overnight on wØĞďē¾¡ķ 12 December. Detours will be in place, but please remember to check before you travel and allow extra travel time. Detours will be in place but allow extra travel time. Stay up to date at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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Plane spotting is no light breeze Aircraft spotting has become a fun pastime for many aviation enthusiasts. Gerald Lynch finds out what the buzz is all about.

n the suburb of Cairnlea, where the buzz of planes from Melbourne Airport is part of the daily soundscape causing an annoyance for many residents, Victor Pody finds joy in a niche yet captivating hobby – plane spotting. For many, the roar of a passing aircraft is little more than background noise, a distant reminder of the hustle and bustle of travel, but for Victor, each passing plane tells a story. Victor is member of the Melbourne Aircraft Spotters Group, which began as a modest Facebook community, and has grown into a vibrant hub of more than 6000 aviation enthusiasts. Victor said the group thrives on its collaborative nature, with members sharing their experiences through photographs and videos at every opportunity. “We come from diverse backgrounds but share a common love for aviation,” he said. “It’s more than just a hobby; it’s a community. We support each other, share tips, and celebrate each other’s successes.” Victor’s fascination with aviation took root at the age of four, sparked by the simple act of watching aircraft soar overhead with his parents. “Watching those magnificent machines ignited a fascination that only grew,” he said.

‘‘

We care deeply about the aviation industry and want to protect it. We’re not just observers, we’re - Victor Pody participants

’’

“I was gifted model planes as a child, and those early experiences instilled in me a lifelong appreciation for aviation.” He described the model planes he had as not just toys, but symbols of a world that seemed vast and full of possibilities. “I remember every detail – the sounds, the sights, the feeling of looking up and seeing something so powerful and graceful. It felt like magic.” Those early memories set the stage for a passion that would shape Victor’s life in unexpected ways. Plane spotting, he explained, is far more than a casual pastime. It’s a blend of photography, adventure, and community. “The excitement lies in capturing the sheer beauty of aviation through photography,” he said. “Meeting fellow enthusiasts and industry professionals enriches the experience, and sharing my photos with the community is incredibly rewarding.” His passion has taken him far beyond the familiar flight paths of Melbourne Airport, leading him on journeys across Australia and beyond. Each new location offers a fresh perspective, a different angle, and the thrill of capturing something extraordinary. “Every trip feels like a new adventure. You never know what you might see or who you might meet.” His favourite aircraft wasn’t easy to choose, almost like a parent choosing a favourite child, but he admitted he has “a soft spot for classics like the 727, DC-10, and 747 … Their timeless charm is unmatched. They remind me of the golden age of aviation, a time when flying was a rare and glamorous experience“. “But modern jets fascinate me too; they showcase cutting-edge technology and the incredible progress we’ve made. Each aircraft is unique, and that’s what makes plane spotting so special – you never run out of

Above: Victor Pody with his camera. Inset: Qantas aircraft shots by Victor. (Pictures: Supplied)

things to discover,“ he said. One aircraft, however, holds a particularly special place in his memory – the Antonov 225. “Seeing it in Perth was unforgettable. Its sheer size and unique capabilities made it

6 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 December, 2024

a dream for many enthusiasts. Sadly, its tragic fate during recent conflicts adds a sombre note to its legacy.” The Antonov’s visit to Perth was a rare event, drawing enthusiasts from all across the country. “There was a sense of history being made, and being part of that moment was something I’ll never forget. It’s a reminder of how fleeting these experiences can be,” he said. The camaraderie among the spotters group is strong, especially when a special aircraft is due to arrive. “There’s a buzz of excitement as we prepare to capture those moments,” Victor said. He describes the atmosphere on those days as electric, with spotters gathering at their favourite locations, cameras at the ready. “Everyone has their own technique, their own perspective. It’s amazing to see how different people capture the same moment in completely unique ways.” A beloved tradition within the group is the weekly cover photo change on their Facebook page, giving members a chance to showcase their work and be celebrated by peers. “It’s a small thing, but it means a lot. It’s a way of recognising the talent and passion within our community.”

Despite their dedication, plane spotters often face misconceptions, particularly around security. “Far from being a threat, plane spotters are an asset. We’re often the eyes and ears on the ground, providing valuable information to authorities and media when needed.” He said that on many occasions, spotters have played a crucial role in reporting unusual activity or providing evidence during investigations. “We care deeply about the aviation industry and want to protect it. We’re not just observers, we’re participants.” Victor envisions a bright future for plane spotting, especially with technological advancements and evolving airport policies. “Collaborating with Melbourne Airport could lead to dedicated viewing platforms, enriching the experience for both enthusiasts and the public,” he said. “Imagine a space where families can come and learn about the aircraft they see, where kids can be inspired the way I was. That’s the dream.” For Victor, the true reward lies in sharing his passion. “Seeing new enthusiasts embrace the marvel of flight and connecting with others who share this fascination is deeply fulfilling,” he said. “Every flight tells a story. And being part of that story, even in a small way, is something truly special.”

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Don’t be a holiday road statistic The Amber Community is calling on road users to reflect on their attitudes and actions ahead of another busy Christmas on the roads. In Brimbank, 39 people have died in crashes since 2019, while another 779 were seriously injured between 2019-2023, according to figures from the TAC. The Amber Community is a not-for-profit organisation that provides counselling to those affected by road trauma and aims to prevent further road trauma through education. Amber Community spokesperson Kim

McAliney said that many deaths and life-altering injuries come from a motoring culture that needs to change. “We live in a culture in which we tend to accept people dying on the roads. Many people think it has happened forever … and will keep happening,“ she said. “As a result, many people let their friends drive when drunk, and let their mates use phones while driving. We don’t have a culture of calling out choices which could kill or injure. We must call it out!”

While Christmas should be a time of joy, for those affected by deaths and injuries on the road, it can be one of pain and mourning. Alcohol and drug use, parties and celebrations, and people losing patience amid traffic congestion are just a few things that make the holiday season a high-risk period on the roads. While the Amber Community hosts a series of educational events and facilitates group communication, the conversation about road safety ultimately starts with oneself.

“Ninety-five per cent of car crashes are due to the choices people are making, such as choosing to speed, choosing to text and choosing to drive when drowsy,” Ms McAliney said. “People only need to ask “Could it happen to me?” The Amber Community is always looking for people to share their stories of experiencing road trauma or volunteer their time and resources. Details: https://ambercommunity.org.au/

Ladder safety reminder

Year-9 student Dylan has won multiple science talent search awards for Creekside College. (Damjan Janevski) 447433_03

Dylan wins science talent search Finding something to be passionate about is not easy, but Creekside K-9 College student, Dylan found it when he was in year 4. Dylan, now a year 9 student, has been winning major and minor bursary awards at the school’s science talent search over the years. Now in his last year at the college, he brought home another major bursary award with his project ’Giving bridges room to breathe’. “This year is about bridge expansion,” Dylan said. “It’s about how bridges expand and contract due to heat and cold.” His working model won the major bursary award in the intermediate category. Dylan’s idea came about when he became curious about the “click-clonk” sounds we hear when driving over a bridge.

His model showed that the sound it made by an expansion joint; a mechanical device adapted for sealing an elongated gap formed between two adjacent concrete slabs on a bridge by providing continuous support for vehicles crossing the gap while allowing movement (expansion/contraction) of the concrete slab due to temperature changes. “I’m proud and also surprised,” Dylan said when asked how he felt about winning again. “I’m excited. My parents are happy and proud.” Over the years, Dylan’s projects ranged from a game that navigates a maze with the use of a marble, to showing the impossibility of perpetual motion machines, to making a submarine model to show how it ascends and

descends in water. In the future, he wants to pursue robotics engineering. “It’s mostly knowing that that (robotics) is the future,” Dylan said. “I just like building things.” His dream was also inspired by his mother, Geetha. “My mum is a satellite engineer,” he said. “I learned a bit from her, and then moved on from there.” Dylan encouraged his fellow students to join in and learn about the competition through research or asking their teachers. “I think they should join in because it’s a lot of new things,” he said. “It inspires the future.”

As Victorians prepare to deck their homes with Christmas decorations or complete jobs around the house during the warm weather and upcoming holidays, the state government is urging them to put ladder safety at the top of their to-do list. Data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit showed hospital admissions for ladder falls at home over the past decade have increased by 49 per cent among Victorians aged 55 years and older. Most of those presenting at Victorian hospitals for ladder-related falls are male, and the large majority are aged between 50 and 79 years old. Falling from a ladder can result in serious, and sometimes fatal injuries, including bone fractures and brain and head injuries, and those who are seriously injured can often struggle to fully recover from such physical trauma. Lifelong injuries like these can affect basic everyday functions, such as walking and talking. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said ladder safety awareness is critical during the festive season. “We know Victorians are looking forward to putting up Christmas lights and doing projects around the house this summer. If you’re going to use a ladder, use common sense and take the necessary precautions to prevent falls and serious injuries,” Ms Thomas said. During the holidays and upcoming summer, the rate of people turning up at emergency departments with injuries from jobs at home increases exponentially, but there are simple things we can all do to stay safe at home.

Faith Macale

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We’re building an alternative to the West Gate Bridge and there will be transport disruptions

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, new lanes are open on the West Gate Freeway, work is underway on the road tunnel and we’re building better connections for faster journeys from the west to the city.

Rail and road disruptions in the west Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions Sunbury Line

14 to 15 December

Road disruptions: Closed lanes and ramps West Gate Freeway, Brooklyn

9pm 6 January to 9am 17 Feburary

West Gate Tunnel project progress

Outbound lane between Williamstown and Millers roads Outbound exit ramps to Millers Road and Grieve Parade

New lanes are open on the West Gate Freeway between Millers Road and Grieve Parade. New bridges and connections to the city have been built for quicker journeys between the west and the city. New and upgraded walking and cycling paths around Altona North, Brooklyn and Yarraville are open, while the cycling superhighway above Footscray Road is taking shape.

North Melbourne to Sunshine

West Gate Freeway, Spotswood

9pm 6 January to 5am 8 March

Citybound lane between Williamstown and Millers roads

5am 15 February to 5am 8 March

Citybound entry ramps from Millers Road and Grieve Parade

9pm 6 January to April

Outbound entry ramp to Williamstown Road

5am 15 February to 5am 8 March

Citybound exit ramp from Williamstown Road

1084

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12734324-MC50-24

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BEHIND THE NEWS

Paying it forward this Christmas Melton’s Sonyia Hosherr gets joy out of helping others. She chats to Faith Macale about her work with Pay It Forward and her life as a foster carer.

s the holiday approaches, Melton local Sonyia Hosherr is hard at work putting together shelves in her garage to provide gifts and supplies for people in need around the area. Over two years ago, she started Pay It Forward – Melton, an initiative that provides “buddy bags” filled with essentials like clothes, toiletries, and more that vulnerable kids can have to call their own. “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was a foster carer. Because I couldn’t foster care, I needed to keep busy,” Sonyia said. “I started doing Buddy Bags, collecting things, helping emergency care foster kids, and then I started getting referrals from different agencies like Anglicare and Orange Door. “It’s just gone so big now. People donate so much stuff. “I help people who are starting over again, or just moved to the country, or people that are getting their kids back through the system, or if people are homeless. “People sometimes give a little donation. That’s the best gift.” On a normal day, Sonyia leaves these goods outside her home for anyone to collect. “It makes me feel good that it makes them feel better,” she said. “I just leave it out there and they can take what they want and they don’t have me in their face.” Sonyia said this approach is her way to show them that needing help doesn’t have to be embarrassing. “It is embarrassing having to explain yourself,” she said. This Christmas season, Sonyia has also opened her garage for everyone who is struggling. She said she isn’t alone in helping those in need, with many in the community offering donations of goods. “In this Melton community ... I have come across the kindest, most generous people and it just blows my mind,” she said. Soniya said doing Pay It Forward is not easy, but she knows that there are always people to help, so she encourages others to start their own Pay It Forward. “It’d be good if other people did Pay It Forward,” she said. “Without the donors, I couldn’t do Pay It Forward. “Without the people that are so generous and they just give things, no questions asked, it just blows my mind. “They are absolutely amazing.”

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I can’t change my past, but I can change someone else’s future

Main: Sonyia Hosherr with donations in her garage. Above: Sonyia with volunteer Bianca Novak, and right, clothes, toys, toiletries, and many other essentials are available at Pay it Forward. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 446576_12

Sonyia has always had a passion for helping others and has been a foster carer for a number of years. Her foster kids, Ange Zovaro and Shauna Grammatikos, and her biological daughter Carolina, were there when she was diagnosed with cancer and then started Pay It Forward. “My kids, the older kids really helped me and looked after me and took me to all my treatments,” Sonyia said. But Shauna said she wished she was able to do more. “I felt bad for mum, because as she would probably say herself, she feels like she lost a purpose and what she enjoyed doing,” she said. “She enjoys babysitting and watching over children because she has too much love to give out, and when it stopped, she was devastated.” Shauna said if there’s anything she could

do for Sonyia this Christmas, she’d buy her a house as a way to thank her for taking care of her. Shauna and Ange both found their way to Sonyia through her biological daughter, Carolina. “When I was first placed in the foster system, I bounced to a bunch of homes and I ended up being in Melton,” Ange said. “I met her daughter through netball and we became good friends.” “We hung out a lot, and I went to Sonyia’s house a lot.” When asked why she wanted to keep fostering kids, Sonyia said it’s because she has a connection with them. “I, myself, didn’t have a very nurturing mother,” she said. “I just have a good connection with them so I become their mum.

’’

- Sonyia Hosherr

“I can’t change my past, but I can change someone else’s future.” That’s exactly how Shauna felt having Sonyia as her mother. “I’m grateful for everything because if it wasn’t for mum, I wouldn’t know right from wrong,” she said. “I would probably be homeless on a street with no job. “To be honest, I’m grateful for what Sonyia’s done for me. Ange said, “family isn’t always blood, it’s who you surround yourself with”. As Christmas approaches, their little family has big plans to celebrate the season. “We have a ‘friend-mas’ with just friends a couple of days beforehand,” Ange said, “We have a full on Christmas celebration on Christmas Day where we have a bunch of people come over and hang out.”

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St Albans grassfire

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The team shared bilingual resources on family violence laws and support services, encouraging meaningful conversations on prevention and support. (Supplied)

Sixteen days a success The Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA) took over Errington Reserve in St Albans to celebrate its 16 Days of Activism – White Ribbon Event, part of UN Women’s global campaign against gender-based violence. The event united more than 200 community members in a powerful show of solidarity. In partnership with Brimbank council and InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, the event featured a community march, a writing competition, and educational outreach on family violence support services. Building on a 41-year legacy of empowering the Vietnamese community, the event highlighted the power of unity in addressing family violence. This significant gathering was part of the UN Women’s global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, showcasing how our local Vietnamese community stands

together with communities worldwide in the fight against gender- based violence. AVWA chief executive Nicky Chung said collaboration with other organisations allowed for a stronger event. “Through our Working Together Project with InTouch and our community programs, we are breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers while providing practical support that our community members can trust,” she said. “Domestic violence prevention is a shared responsibility, and AVWA is proud to contribute to the Australian government’s broader efforts. “Most excitingly, we will expand our capacity to work with men, helping them break down gender roles and providing workshops to develop new skills. “Additionally, we will educate our community on understanding coercive control and the law.”

Police are appealing for information following a suspicious grassfire in St Albans on Wednesday, December 4. Emergency Services were called to a grassfire between Denton Avenue and the Western Ring Road about 12.30pm. The grassfire quickly spread toward homes in the area but firefighters were able to contain the blaze, preventing any property damage or injuries. Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who observed suspicious activity in the area prior to the fire. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au

Bank card theft Police are investigating the theft and subsequent use of bank cards in Melbourne’s west during October. Investigators have been told the victim lost their purse at a Taylors Lakes shopping centre on October 16. Bank cards contained in the purse were later used in the South Kingsville, Newport and Spotswood areas. Investigators have released images of man who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com. au

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Teacher Irene Compagnino with community members. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 419403_01

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St John Ambulance Victoria is providing free CPR training to residents of Sunshine as part of the Defib in your Street Community Program. Classes are held every Tuesday at the West Sunshine Community Centre, from 10am to 12.30pm, and every Friday, from 2pm to 4.30pm, at the Visy Cares Hub. Program organiser Marj Devereux implored everybody in the Brimbank area to take advantage of the program and learn a skill that could save a life. “CPR is a really important skill in the chain of survival,” she said. “Early intervention is so important, and learning through this course may help you save a life. “We have this free training available for people to upskill themselves, so why would you not do it?

‘We are also aiming to destigmatise the skill level people think it requires … you can be fully trained up after a two and a half hour course.” There have already been 402 people in Sunshine trained through the program, and there are opportunities for hundreds more, with the program set to stick around well into next year. Registration is essential, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. The course topics include the DRSABCD action plan and responding to emergency situations, managing unconscious casualties, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using a defibrillator (AED). Register: defibinyourstreet.org.au Gerald Lynch

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Tick off your health checklist for summer peace of mind Ready to switch off and relax this summer? Have a healthier start to the new year by ticking off this easy checklist and help lower your risk of cancer. As we enter the countdown to the new year, many of us look forward to switching off from work or school to spend time with family and friends. Have peace of mind that your health is taken care of by doing these simple steps to make sure your 2025 has a healthy kick start. Data released by the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) at Cancer Council Victoria shows that in 2022, 35,656 Victorians were diagnosed with cancer - that’s an average of 98 people diagnosed every day, with a significant number of these cancers being preventable. Before the end of the year, make sure you: 1/ Complete your cancer screening – if you’re due for bowel, breast or cervical cancer screening, tick these off your list and spend your summer relaxing. In most cases, you need to screen every two years for bowel and breast cancer, and every five years for cervical cancer. 2/ Get that lingering health symptom checked – we know some people may put off seeing a GP if they notice an unusual change, including to their skin, as they wait for other reasons to see a GP. Don’t delay - if you notice anything unusual speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Remember, they want to see you. 3/ Chat to Quitline– experience the freedom of quitting smoking or vaping. Join some friends and pledge to free yourselves from nicotine addiction. Visit quit.org.au, call Quitline on 13 7848 or contact Quitline through Facebook Messager via @quitvic. 4/ Refresh your meal plan – now’s the time to switch up your cooking routine and aim for

yummy, healthy, summer recipes. To help you, LiveLighter has online recipes to help you get cooking. 5/ Add all five forms of sun protection to your daily routine including wearing protective clothing, a wide brim hat, sunglasses, as well as using SPF50+ sunscreen and seeking shade. Now is also the time to check that your sunscreen is in date, and put your hat and sunglasses near the door so you’re protected

each time you head outdoors. Cancer Council Victoria head of screening, early detection and immunisation Kate Broun said doing cancer screening and taking preventative measures could reduce your risk of many cancers, including bowel, cervical and lung. “As we get closer to the summer period, we know life gets busy with activities. That means people often put off health checks or screening to the new year,” Ms Broun said. “We want to reinforce the importance of

cancer screening and taking action if you notice anything unusual. This way you can enjoy summer knowing you’re in the best possible health.” If you or a loved one are experiencing cancer, our cancer nurses are available to answer your questions and offer emotional or practical support. Call 13 11 20 for free, confidential support. For further information and resources on cancer prevention, please visit cancervic. org.au

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down and enjoy the spectacle. Held in the car park of the Kealba Milkbar Convenience and Cafe, 29 Driscolls Road, from noon to 2pm, with the next meeting on Sunday, January 5.

Christmas Celebrations You are invited to come and celebrate Christmas at Sydenham Neighbourhood House on Saturday, December 14 at 5pm. Celebrations will include carols, games, Christmas meaning for children and adults and light refreshments.  www.brimbank.church

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

National seniors meeting On the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm, the metro west branch of national seniors meets at The Club in Caroline Springs, with meals available to purchase. They also hold lunches on different Fridays each month, as well as activities such as theatre visits, bus trips and more.  0425 713 004 or lesley1.collins@outlook.com

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

Learn to Relax Group IPC Health’s Living Well team is running a free Learn to Relax Group at IPC Health Deer Park, 106 Station Road, every Tuesday at 11am. This group is for people over 18 years who are interested in learning how to relax and finding ways to effectively manage their stress. Registration is required to attend this group.  livingwell@ipchealth.com.au or 1300 472 432

Palliative volunteers needed Mercy Palliative Care is looking for volunteers to visit palliative care patients in their homes to offer social support.  9313 5700 or MPCVolunteerCoordinators@mercy.com.au

Deer Park Lions Club

Women’s only conversation English Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to make friends, learn new skills and practice English in this fun and free women’s social group. Tuesdays during school terms, 9.30am-noon, at Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine.  9311 9973, or dukest@dsch.org.au

Crafternoons Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to a free adult social opportunity to get together and be creative. Learn a new craft or bring along your own craft projects. Tuesdays during school terms, 12.30-2.30pm, at the Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine.  9311 9973, or dukest@dsch.org.au

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

Musicians wanted Westgate Concert Band is seeking new members. Do you play Woodwind, Brass or

This week’s photographer’s choice is of Beena Jutarat Phetmeeka and Rachael Dawson ahead of the Werribee Cup. (Damjan Janevski) 447179_01

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

Sunshine Community Brass Percussion and are looking for a welcoming place to play enjoyable and challenging music? Rehearsals held Saturday mornings during school terms, 9am to noon, at Braybrook College.  westgateconcertband@gmail.com

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

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

Al-Anon Family Groups Sunshine Heights Junior Soccer Club The club is on the lookout for more girls to join its junior soccer teams from ages under-8s through to under-14. If you are keen to join, training is held every Tuesday and Thursday at Castley Reserve from 5.30pm – except for under 14 girls who train from 6.30pm.  theclub@sunshineheightsjsc.com.au

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

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

Kealba Car Meet A typical first Sunday of each month in Kealba is a coffee and a car meet. The event has a strict no hooning policy, with car lovers of all ages encouraged to come

St Albans senior citizens St Albans Senior Citizens group meet at the centre at the corner of Alfrieda and William streets, St Albans, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9am-2pm. Annual membership: $10. Cost: $1 entry on attendance day.  Roma, 0435 991 064

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

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WOMEN’S HEALTH MATTERS

Relief for pelvic organ prolapse By Oscar Parry Pelvic Organ Prolapse refers to any dropping or bulging of the pelvic organs – the bladder, uterus, or bowel – happening when there is a weakening in the supporting tissues and pelvic floor muscles that usually hold these organs in place. Between 20–40 per cent of women will experience pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or urinary incontinence (UI) in their lifetime. The first of its kind in an Australian public hospital, Sunshine Hospital recently opened the POPPY pessary clinic, where a physiotherapist-led team fits pessaries and manages patients’ ongoing care. Hospital senior women’s health physiotherapist Kerry O’Sullivan was a driving force behind opening this clinic, and said that pelvic organ prolapses can happen across a wide range of ages. “Generally, prolapse occurs when women get older after menopause, but it can occur in younger women after childbirth,” Ms O’Sullivan said. She said the condition can be improved with conservative management, such as pelvic floor muscle exercise and lifestyle advice. The condition is categorised by stages of advancement, but Ms O’Sullivan said it often does not follow a set pattern of progression. “A lot of women worry that it’s just going to progress and get worse, but there are treatments and advice that can help so it doesn’t follow that

Sunshine Hospital women’s health physiotherapists Chennelle Mendoza, Kerry O’Sullivan, Obstetrics and Gynaecology staff specialist, Dr Rebecca McDonald, and women’s health physiotherapist Caitlin Abbey. (Supplied)

pattern,” she said. She said one of the barriers preventing women from seeking medical attention is a feeling of embarrassment about their symptoms. “It’s such an intimate area of the body and women … find it quite uncomfortable to talk about or to make that appointment to see their GP to have an examination to have it checked,” she said. “I think often women are just so busy caring for everyone else that they often put themselves last and put up with mild symptoms. It’s only when things get really uncomfortable that they’ll finally make that appointment.” Ms O’Sullivan said she recommends visiting

a GP as a “first port of call” for a check-up and diagnosis. “The GP may then refer to a women’s health physiotherapist who provides expert advice on pelvic floor exercises and check that they are being performed correctly. A physiotherapist will also give advice around managing lifting, safe ways to exercise so that symptoms don’t get worse, and other good bladder and bowel habits to reduce bothersome symptoms,” she said. “It’s important to see a women’s health physiotherapist who has extra training and skills in managing this condition and who can check the prolapse, rather than a general

physiotherapist.” The team of three women’s health physiotherapists at the POPPY clinic at Sunshine Hospital fit and provide ongoing management and review of pessaries – small silicon devices that provides structural and instant support for the pelvic organs. The clinic received a government grant towards training staff in fitting and reviewing pessaries. Ms O’Sullivan said this public clinic has sped up the process of providing this treatment to women, as there was previously a larger waiting list, and increased affordability and accessibility of the treatment. “Previously, this type of care was only provided by … gynaecologists, and women had to wait to access care. Our new clinic has improved access to pessary fitting,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “Care in the private system is unaffordable for many women in the west,” she said. She said a lot of the treatment is around providing support in using the devices. “They take some time to get used to the idea that a foreign body’s inside the vagina. It can be fairly daunting and scary, but they can be so effective for women. Women do need support, time to ask questions, time to understand what a pessary involves, to understand the follow up – what’s normal and what’s not normal in terms of looking after it” she said. The team developed pessary education information in the five most common languages other than English spoken among those who are treated at Western Health Hospitals – Vietnamese, Macedonian, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, and Arabic. The clinic was selected as a finalist in the Department of Health’s Victorian Public Healthcare Awards’ Excellence in Women’s Health category.

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No holiday from family violence For many people the holiday period is a time of celebration and joy, but for others it can be a nightmare. In 2024, a record number of women were murdered in Australia. In the majority of cases the person subsequently convicted (or who was charged and is still awaiting trial) was a current or former intimate partner. A report released earlier this year by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that in 2022-23 homicides increased by 4 per cent. However, the number of women killed by an intimate partner rose by a staggering 28 per cent. That trend has increased again this year. Assaults and killings by partners are part of a broader category of crimes called family violence. It happens in every community. The number of cases reported to police is high, but it is very likely an underestimate. And, sad to say, the pressures often associated with this time of year – including family gatherings, exhaustion, mounting bills and, sometimes, over-use of alcohol – often combine to produce a spike in assaults. “While we often think of family violence as being committed by a person’s partner, this isn’t always the case,” says North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) program officer Nicki Moseby. “Sometimes the aggressor is a former partner. Sometimes too the violence can be perpetrated by a sibling, or a child, or a parent or an in-law. And it’s not just an issue within heterosexual relationships. People in same sex couples and families can also commit, or be victims of, family violence.” Ms Moseby oversees a program called Primary Care Pathways to Safety, which helps doctors, nurses and other staff in general practices ask patients about family violence – and to respond appropriately when told that is happening. This year NWMPHN also set up a hotline for GPs which connects them directly with family violence experts so they can make sure victim-survivors get all the help they need. And this is important, because research shows that very often it is to trusted doctors and nurses that people first admit that they are

being subjected to violence in the home. But at this time of year, many general practices take a well-earned break, or limit operating hours. That’s entirely understandable, but it means that at the time when family violence incidents increase, the opportunity for victims to safely seek help is reduced.

So what can be done? Professor Kelsey Hegarty heads up the University of Melbourne’s Safer Families Centre, and worked with NWMPHN to design the Pathways to Safety program. “If you are feeling unsafe or afraid of a partner or family member, remember help is available,” she said. “Connecting with someone you can talk to is the first step on a pathway to safety. This might be a phone line such as 1800 RESPECT, your GP, or a friend. If things are escalating, then the police are your first port of call.” Other family members, too, can be a great source of help and support, but often they are

reluctant to get involved, or unsure what to do. “We suggest that family members offer to listen to the person about what is happening in the relationship, inquire about their needs and validate their experience,” said Professor Hegarty. “For example, they might say, ‘No one deserves to be hurt or feel afraid. Help is available’.” Ms Moseby also pointed out that it was important to acknowledge that there is more than one form of family violence. “It’s not always about physical assault,” she said. “There are other kinds of family violence, which are equally harmful. “These include sexual, emotional and financial aggression and abuse – which can be more difficult to see, but are every bit as devastating.” If you or someone you know are suffering any form of violence at the hands of partners or other family members, here are some immediate first steps to take:

If there is immediate danger, call 000 and ask for police and ambulance assistance. For other help and support, these services are open for extended hours over the end-of-year period: • Safe Steps: 1800 015 188 • 1800 RESPECT national helpline: 1800 737 732 • Lifeline: 131 114 • To find support in your local area, see orangedoor.vic.gov.au • For dedicated LGBTIQ+ family violence assistance: Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367 • For help for women from non-Englishspeaking backgrounds: InTouch: 1800 755 988 • For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people: Djirra: 1800 105 303 • If you are concerned that you may commit an act of violence against a family member, contact No to Violence: 1300 766 491. This article was provided by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.

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Above: Harry, 6 and Esha Lal (left), and Thompson, 16 and Pharez, 7 (right).

Ivy, 4 and Nhu, 17.

Reading buddies helping out The Reading Buddies program at Brimbank Libraries has been running for over a decade and helps support young children in their reading skills, encouraging them to grow their confidence and enjoyment of reading. Student volunteers buddy up with the young readers to help them choose a book, listen to them read, help them keep track of the books or chapters they’ve read and hand out rewards

along the way. The hour long sessions run all across Brimbank, at the Sydenham Library on Mondays from 3.45pm, the St Albans Library on Tuesdays from 3.30pm, Sunshine Library on Wednesdays from 4pm, and Deer Park Library on Thursdays from 4pm. Star Weekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic quietly captured an afternoon in St Albans.

14 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 December, 2024

Ivy, 6 and library staff Jaqui Cohen-Rosen. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 445735

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ENTERTAINMENT

Festival marks 10 years of cheer As the warm nights settle in, Bacchus Marsh is feeling the Christmas joy. Bacchus Marsh’s annual Christmas Festival is right around the corner with big things planned as the event celebrates its 10 year anniversary. Christmas Festival vice president Emma Dwyer said the team wouldn’t be able to continue delivering the festival for 10 years without the support of the community and dedicated volunteers. “We’re very, very lucky,” she said. “We’ve got great community support and a great volunteer team behind us, and noting that we’re always looking for extra volunteers to join our committee.” Christmas Festival chairperson Daniel Webb

said the committee has a “crazy set” prepared for the festival. Kicking off with local talents on the main stage on Saturday, December 14 at 3pm, then a screening of the Christmas movie classic, Elf. Throughout the day, activities for kids are available such as arts and crafts, kiddie rides, and writing letters to Santa. Of course, the free yearly gingerbread activity is also something not to miss. “Children come and decorate their own gingerbread man,” Ms Dwyer said. There will also be characters coming in for the kids to meet and greet. “We confirmed that they are coming,” Ms Dwyer said. “It’s a secret mystery though.” And Santa won’t be coming alone to this

year’s festival. “We’re very lucky we got Mrs Claus this year too,” Ms Dwyer said. This year also features a market with over 90 local vendors. “We’ve also got a food park area for the afternoon dinner for people to come down and have a feed,” Mr Webb said. “We’re also encouraging the idea of a family picnic, and family quality time to celebrate Christmas. “Just have a simple picnic with the family, enjoying some great local talent.” As the night settles, Carols by Candlelight will set the mood after dark. The night finishes with a fireworks display at 9pm for the whole family to enjoy. Faith Macale

(Damjan Janevski.) 444887_01

Brimbank gets into the festive spirit characters, promises to captivate all ages and infuse the community with holiday spirit. The excitement continues in St Albans Town Centre on Saturday, December 14, from 11 am to 2 pm at the Library Reserve. Enjoy free photos with Santa and his elf, face painting, and carols by a multicultural choir. The following Thursday, December 14, from 11 am to 1 pm, groove to the nostalgic sounds of Now and Then, a dynamic acoustic trio performing hits from the ’60s to the ’90s. On Monday, December 16, Adam the Spaceman will entertain audiences from 11

am to 1 pm. Known for his cosmic comedy and musical talent, Adam promises an unforgettable, high-energy experience tailored to the crowd’s vibe. Don’t miss another appearance by The Singing Gardener on Wednesday, December 17, from 11 am to 1 pm. Finally, wrap up the festivities on Wednesday, December 18, from 1 pm to 3 pm, with the Pass-the-Parcel team in St Albans, featuring children’s crafts, face painting, balloon sculptures, and glitter tattoos. For more information and events, visit events.brimbank.vic.gov.au

All set for Christmas at the Lakes take two The joy of Christmas will not be stopped with the 18th annual Christmas at the Lakes rescheduled for Saturday, December 21 at Breezewater Reserve in Point Cook. Originally set for for Saturday December 7, organisers decided to reschedule because of the weather forecast. Between 4pm-10.30pm, guests will be treated to a series of performers, carols and a fierce display of fireworks, as local residents, businesses and groups gather for one of the area’s biggest events of the year. Those who want to be taken for a ride – in the good way – will be spoilt for choice with a series of amusement rides on offer for all ages and excitement thresholds. Among the stars will be Point Cook’s own magnificent and multi-talented Taysha Farrugia, who is riding the momentum of her

448117_04

Ballard brings laughs bayside

Elzette Bester, Santa, Brimbank mayor Thuy Dang and Lukas Kasper.

Brimbank council is spreading holiday cheer with a vibrant lineup of Christmas events as part of its Think. Shop. Buy. Dine – and Enjoy Local campaign. Residents and visitors can look forward to a series of lively activations across local shopping strips, packed with music, entertainment, and family fun. Kick off the festivities on Friday, December 13, from 11 am to 1 pm with The Singing Gardener bringing his unique blend of educational entertainment and musical flair to the heart of Brimbank. This performance, featuring themed

Santa, Sarah Barnewall with son Liam, 4, and Gin Edgar with baby Baylen, 1. (Damjan Janevski)

The Cross Culture Choir will lead the charge this year. (Supplied).

debut single ‘Fearless’. The Cross Culture Choir will lead the carols because Christmas would not be Christmas without a choir, so have your singing voices ready.

It will be gastronomy galore with food trucks and stalls treating taste buds to a variety of multicultural cuisines. The sweet tooths in attendance will certainly not be neglected, with showbags available at the admin marquee. Anyone who wants to help spread the holiday spirit and join the committee are invited to message Christmas at the Lakes on Facebook. Entry is a gold coin donation, which helps ensure that Christmas at the Lakes can be enjoyed for years to come. On-site parking will be available for $5 per car, with cash and card both being accepted. The Grinch was contacted for comment about his alleged involvement in trying to stop the event. He declined to comment.

One of Australian comedy’s biggest stars will headline a night of laughs at the Altona Sports Club on December 18. Award-winning stand up comedian, actor, writer and broadcaster Tom Ballard will perform alongside three other renowned comedians in the latest in a series of live comedy events at the Altona venue presented by Comedy House AU. Well known for his role hosting ’Reality Check’ and ’Tonightly with Tom Ballard’ on ABC TV, Ballard also appeared in the Amazon Prime comedy crime series Deadloch and is a former host of Triple J breakfast. His biting political and social comedy has resulted in invites to major comedy festivals abroad, including Montreal Just For Laughs, while he’s also guest hosted the ABC discussion show ’Q&A’, interviewed all sorts of political figures on his popular podcast ’Like I’m A Six-Year-Old.’ Joining Ballard on the bill will be comedian and an international touring professional acrobat Andrea Augustus who will open the show. Following Augustus will be Melbourne international comedy festival regular Katie Wainhouse who is fresh from performing to 4-5000 people at Hamer Hall. Keeping it in the family, Katie’s husband and 30 year veteran of the Australian comedy circuit Chris Wainhouse will then perform, before Ballard takes to the stage for his headline set. Altona local and star of Channel 10 reality show ‘Hunted Million Dollar Heist’ Joe White, will MC the evening. The event is strictly adults only with photo ID required for venue entry. Pre-show dinner is available at the Altona Sports Club Bistro, but bookings are essential. Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1324614 Cade Lucas.

Tom Ballard headlines a night of comedy at the Altona Sports Club on December 18. (Supplied)

Jaidyn Kennedy Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 15

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. Scoring a try in his debut against Scotland, which Wallabies player shares a name with a literary character? 2. What is the name of a racing bet that selects the first and second place finishers, without specifying the order of finishing?

4. The McLaren Formula One logo originally featured a minimalist depiction of what animal?

13. Which automotive manufacturer will enter Formula One in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team?

5. AFLW Best and Fairest winner Ebony Marinoff plays for which team?

14. The most capped Australian footballer, which soccer player recently retired after 18 years with the Matildas?

6. In what sport did the fictional Tune Squad play against the Monstars?

15. Which other Matildas star has taken a break from playing, citing physical and mental fatigue?

7. Which retired tennis star recently became Novak Djokovic's coach?

3. What sport is Alex Honnold known for?

16. Which AFL coach has stepped down, despite having a year to run on his contract?

8. Which AFL team’s mascot is nicknamed One Eye? 9. How many international caps did Caitlin Bassett earn with the Diamonds?

17. Golden Slipper favourite King Kirk died in a training accident at Randwick by what method?

10. Who won the 2023 men’s field hockey World Cup? 11. The AFL Women’s Grand Final took place at which venue in Melbourne? 12. Cyclist Matthew Richardson has been banned from representing Australia after defecting to compete for which country?

Cody Simpson

21. Which two states did Sir Don Bradman play domestic cricket for?

26. What medal did freestyle skier Jakara Anthony win at the 2022 Winter Olympics?

22. And what regional town is home to the Bradman Museum?

27. NRL star Ben Hunt will play for which team in 2025?

18. Which Indian cricket player was Player of the Match in Australia’s defeat in the first Test?

23. Who was the last Australian golfer to win the Women’s Australian Open?

19. Which tennis player won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for the fifth time in 2024?

24. Which famous sporting event took place in October 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire?

20. Swimmer and entertainer Cody Simpson won which competition show in 2019?

25. The Prime Minister’s XI cricket team plays matches in which capital city?

28. Which Sydney Swans star was criticised for recently meeting with officials from rival club West Coast? 29. A bonspiel is a tournament for what sport? 30. Which nation has won the most equestrian medals in Olympic history?

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Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 17

PUZZLES ACROSS

easy

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

medium

DECODER 18

3 5

18 3

4 9 2 8 4

hard

7 7

16 2

10 11 12 13

Today’s Aim: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good

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

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

U R

aunt, aura, aural, input, lunar, lupin, natural, nuptial, nutria, pilau, punt, puritan, purl, ritual, ruin, runt, TARPAULIN, tulip, tuna, turn, turnip, ulan, ulna, ultra, unapt, unit, unlit, until, urinal

T G R

18 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 December, 2024

17 18

25 26 28

WORDFIT 3 LETTERS ANT ASK COP EGO EWE FEN GAS HAY INN ITS LOW MRS NIL ODE ONE OWN RAN RAY SHE SUB TEE TON USE UTE

No. 215

C E N T

ADOBE AFTOS AGONY AIRED ALIAS APPAL APRIL ARMED ARRAY AWFUL CEASE CRAFT CRASS DRINK EDGES ELDER ELUDE HOOTS INANE INLET ITEMS METED

4 LETTERS ARIA ARTS CENT DAMS KEGS LESS NETS SEED SODA SUMS TEST THIN TOYS YANK 5 LETTERS ACUTE ADEPT

MILES MODAL NEEDS OMITS PESTS PHASE PREEN PRESS ROCKS RODEO ROGUE SEDAN SHOES SLEDS SMOTE SNAPS SPELL STUNS SUEDE SWELL TENET TOTAL

PACKAGE SAUSAGE TADPOLE

UNCLE USING VISIT VISOR 6 LETTERS CAMERA ERASER SAUNAS WAISTS

8 LETTERS ASSAILED ASSERTED INTERACT PHONIEST

7 LETTERS AGAINST HERNIAS MANACLE

13-12-24

319 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

F L A R E R E M A N A G E N T M A N G E E L D E R

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

E D

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”.

7 21

29 words: Excellent

hard

medium

9-LETTER WORD

easy

5x5

X P

11 4

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

4 5

2 1 4

1 3

5 7 8

QD F K J WI H L S C O Y

Z UNA E V G T B RMX P

3 4

1 5 8 7 3 5

No. 216 17

2 4

Show sullenness (4) Laziness (9) Of the tide (5) Book of the Hebrew Bible (8) Small axe (8) Resembling (5) Crisis (9) Sham (4) Pleasure (9) Carnivals (9) Leads an orchestra (8) Related (7) Fierce animals (5) Den (4) Illustrious (5) Accustomed (to) (4)

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 25 26

9 6 4 2 4 9

27 28 29 30

5 2 9 1 3

18 20 21 24

DOWN

Sending to press (8) Bank order (6) Disconnected (5) Speed of pulse (5,4) Downhill ski race (6) Repeating (7) Large Australian spider (8) Former prime minister of Sweden, – Löfven (6) Knife (6) Gleefully (8) Against the law (7) Comic character, – the Menace (6) Pathological self-admirer (9) Watercrafts (5) English county (6) Appraised (8)

1 5 10 11 12 13 14 15

No. 215

QUICK QUIZ

3 4

Charlie Brown first starred in the Peanuts comic strip in what year? The Parish Boy’s Progress is the subtitle for which Charles Dickens novel? What object features on the Arsenal soccer team shield? How did the Wright brothers decide which of them would be the first to fly their plane? Clarke Griffin, played by Eliza Taylor (pictured), is the lead character in which sci-fi TV series? What colour is the L in the Google logo?

True or false: the Monopoly man has a monocle? 8 Salvia rosmarinus is a herb more commonly known as what? 9 Snare, bass and tom-tom are all types of what? 10 Which famous actress created frequency hopping technology and is known as ‘The Mother of Wi-Fi’? 7

ANSWERS: 1. 1950 2. Oliver Twist 3. A cannon 4. Coin toss 5. The 100 6. Green 7. False 8. Rosemary 9. Drums 10. Hedy Lamarr

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

C R A F T V I S I T S M O T E R O D E O I N A N E A R M E D S T U N S U S I N G A G O N Y S U B S H O E S T O N T E E S E E D A R R A Y W A I S T S R A Y A G A I N S T A P R I L C E N T S U M S P H O N I E S T K E G S N I L P A C K A G E M A N A C L E S O D A A S S A I L E D A S K L E S S A R T S P R E S S H E R N I A S U S E C A M E R A A D E P T D A M S E W E A N T P R E E N C O P A F T O S H O O T S E L U D E I N L E T T O T A L S U E D E E L D E R N E E D S S W E L L

No. 215

P R I N T I N G C H E Q U E N I E F A U M O H E A R T R A T E U N D I D T O A E K C S R S L A L O M E C H O I N G E I E E H U N T S M A N S T E F A N C H C E C A J O Y O U S L Y P I E R C E P O N T I L L E G A L D E N N I S N I N A U O V U E G O M A N I A C B O A T S N T R T L L E S A S S E S S E D S U S S E X

SUDOKU

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

MOTOR

RATINGS Looks: 7/10 Performance: 7/10 Safety: 8/10 Thirst: 8/10 Practicality: 7/10 Comfort: 7/10 Tech: 6/10 Value: 8/10

Kia blends style with substance By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring Kia Stonic is the smallest of the Korean carmaker’s four conventional SUV range, sitting below the Seltos, Sportage and Sorento. There are also three fully electric SUVs: EV5, EV6 and EV9. Stonic was released in 2017 and arrived in Australia in 2020. It was upgraded in May 2024 with a more powerful three-cylinder turbo engine, added safety and tech features and a price hike. Stonic is built on the same platform as the now discontinued Rio hatchback. It competes against vehicles such as its Hyundai Venue sibling as well as the class-leading Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross. Three variants are available: S, Sport and GT-Line. Prices, before on-road costs, are $25,460, $28,590 and $31,780 respectively.

Styling The MY2025 Stonic lags behind most recent Kia models in terms of its relatively conservative appearance. All variants get Kia’s traditional ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, with the GT-Line getting chrome surrounds as well as a body kit that adds chrome beltline, gloss black radiator fill, chrome side mirror surrounds, rear diffuser, and a tilt and slide sunroof. The S and Sport variants have halogen headlights and daytime running lights. GT-Line steps up to LED headlights, DRLs, front fog lights and rear brake lights. The MY2025 upgrade also switched wheels from steel to alloy, 15-inch in the S and 17-inch brushed chrome on the Sport and GT-Line. There are eight exterior colour options. Only one, Clear White, is standard, the others are $520 options.

There are two cupholders in the centre console and bottle holders for each of the doors. Stonic S has key-in-ignition start, Sport and GT-Line have a push button smart key. The driver’s seat is height adjustable and the steering wheel has both reach and height adjustment but there is no power adjustment in any model. The gear lever is an old-style T-Bar shifter that takes up much of the space in the centre console with two drink holders behind it. One big plus is that there are four physical knobs below the screen, two for audio controls and another two for the air conditioning. They are within easy reach of the driver and can be operated with minimal distraction from the road ahead. So much safer than the worrying, and dangerous, trend towards all features being accessible only through touchscreens. Rear seat legroom is quite restricted for anyone from 1.8 metres upwards. Headroom is reasonable while a slight transmission tunnel intrusion will cause a problem for passengers in the centre seat. So not recommended for three adults. There are 352 litres of boot space with the rear seatbacks in place expanding to 1155 litres with them folded. A space saver spare wheel is located under the boot floor.

Engines/transmissions All three variants are powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that delivers 74kW at 4500 rpm and 172Nm from 1500 to 4000 rpm paired with a seven-speed dual clutch style automatic transmission. A previous six-speed manual gearbox was dropped with the latest upgrade. All models are front wheel drive.

Safety Interior Inside, it’s functional and neat without much of the bling of its competitors. There are the usual twin screens, an 8.0-inch colour infotainment touch screen in the centre of the dash and a neat sculpted instrument screen in front of the driver accessed through controls on the steering wheel.

Stonic hasn’t been tested by ANCAP since 2017 when, as Rio, it did receive the maximum five stars. Although the test criteria has been tightened since then, so has the Stonic’s safety equipment so it should retain that top rating. Standard across the range now includes six airbags, autonomous emergency braking

All models have USB ports in the front and centre consoles and another in the rear, together with a 12-volt outlet in the centre console.

Driving

This little Kia SUV has an excellent range of safety and tech equipment. (Pictures: Supplied)

(AEB) that includes car, pedestrian and cyclist detection. cornering brake control, front and rear parking sensors, driver attention alert, lead vehicle departure alert with lane keeping assist, lane following assist, rear occupant alert, blind spot alert and collision avoidance and hill start assist. There are three child restraint anchor points as well as two ISOFIX mounts in the rear.

Infotainment Infotainment consists of an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth with audio streaming and multi-connection functionality for phone and media streaming. Only Stonic Sport and GT-Line come with embedded satellite navigation which means that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are standard in all models, is wireless in the S but wired in the Sport and GT-Line. There are no wireless chargers in any model.

The previous Stonic S and Sport models came with a fairly sluggish 1.4-litre petrol engine that’s now been replaced by the 1.0-litre turbocharged unit that was only available in the GT-Line. That engine has now been re-tuned and it has made a noticeable difference to the performance of the little SUV. It’s still not sporty by any means but more than enough especially for routine urban conditions. Its compact dimensions together with front and rear sensors make for easy parking. The steering is nicely weighted, not too light and it locks down on centre without constant need for adjustment. On the motorway Stonic cruised comfortably and handled the hilly terrain at the northern end of our drive route without too much effort. Stonic comes with three drive modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco rather than Normal is the default setting which is a bit presumptuous. We’d prefer it to start in Normal and then switch up or down depending on conditions. As is the case with most Kia/Hyundai vehicles, the Stonic’s ride and handling are excellent. Fuel consumption is listed at 5.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, 6.2 L/100km around town where most will spend most of their time. We averaged 7.2 L/100km over our usual mix of urban, rural and motorway roads – disappointing for such a small vehicle although regular unleaded fuel does soften the blow.

Summing up It’s hard to fault this little Kia SUV. It has an excellent range of safety and tech equipment, is easy to drive and park and is very competitively priced. Add the seven-year standard warranty and it will tick most boxes for singles, young families or seniors.

Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

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Rain holds off and players shine Local sports relished the opportunity to get out on the field and play the sports they loved on Saturday. Star Weekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting some of the action.

East Sunbury’s Blake Watson. 448425_07

The crowd watches Bacchus Marsh. 448426_08

Kealba-Green Gully’s Daniel Patrick. 448431_13

Werribee’s Matthew Burton. 448423_06

Diggers Rest Bulla’s Rhys Berry. 448425_05

Bacchus Marsh’s Sam Crea. 448426_02

Bacchus Marsh’s Glenn Sargent. 448428_01 20 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 December, 2024

Yarraville’s William Sheffield. 448424_04

Taylors Lakes’ Benjamin Soeradinata. 448424_01

Keilor’s John Armstead. 448428_04

Melton’s Joshua Luca. 448423_01

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Tigers are slowly building into the VTCA season Sunshine United is hoping the hard work on the training track will start to reflect in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division. The Tigers were without a win after five rounds, but rain meant only two rounds had been completed. Tigers coach James Muirhead said unfortunately the wet start to the season wasn’t a surprise having been the same in recent years. “It’s nothing new to people playing club cricket in Melbourne,” he said. “It is frustrating cause we all want to have a full and decent day of cricket and not be rain affected.” Muirhead said they had performed how they would have liked so far this season. He said the group was still working into the season. “Definitely disappointing in certain areas,” he said. “A few of our players are starting to find their feet still at this level. “I feel like we’ve got a young mature squad, We’re doing all the right things at training and

we’re definitely training harder than everyone else. “I can only see this paying dividends towards the back end of the season and I have confidence in all our players. “Everyone is capable enough to perform and to beat any side that we come across.” Muirhead said they didn’t necessarily aim to have a young side but that was the way it played out. He said there were always opportunities for any player as long as they were playing well. “I just look at the present,” he said. “Guys need to keep putting their hands up.” Muirhead made the move to the Tigers in the off season as he wanted to step back into the coaching ranks. He said he was enjoying his time at the club. “It has been brilliant,” he said. “It’s a very good family oriented club and it’s very proud of its history which I do relate for in a club,

“It has been a very easy transition.” The Tigers were set to face Westmeadows on the weekend in a two-day clash, after deadline. Muirhead had been hoping for a non-rain affected game. With one more game left before the Christmas break, Muirhead was hoping they would keep building. “What we’ve been focusing on all year is players taking ownership in their game and wanting to be the man to win the game for the team,“ he said. “I think if we keep taking on that mentality in the games, we’ll be OK. “It’s more so players believing themselves that they are good enough at this level and that takes time. “Performances and success takes a little bit of time but when it clicks it can be quite dangerous.” Shehriyar Cuttlerywala.

Tara Murray

(Ljubica Vrankovic) 443951_08

Rain holds off

Mick Allen. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 442422_10

The Blues keen to play By Tara Murray It’s been a frustrating start to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season for Keilor. The Blues were without a win after five rounds, with just two matches completed in that time. Rain has meant some games were called off completely and others called off half way through. The Blues bowlers have bowled just twice in the first nine days of play. Blues coach Duncan Harrison said there wasn’t much they could do about it. “It hasn’t gone to script so far,” he said. “Our bowlers are fresh as we’ve had a lot of half games. “The ones that have been washed out have been in a reasonable position, which makes it more frustrating.” Harrison said they’d had some solid performances with the bat but as a coach he always want more. The team has scored more than 200 in all

but one innings. One of their losses came in the final over against Westmeadows. “It has been pretty solid,” he said. “We have a couple of guys that have started well and had some consistency with the bat.” The Blues lack of play has also fallen into the T20 competition. They had a bye in round one, before round two was postponed. Their rescheduled round two match was played on Tuesday night, with the side losing to Sunshine. The Crows made 6-122 before the Blues were restricted to 8-104. Matthew Gaskett was the pick of the bowlers for Keilor with three, while Robert Clements top scored with 22 at the top of the order. Harrison said they try to keep it as interesting as possible with the lack of play. “You can’t control it,” he said. “You have to prepare as you are playing. “The guys have been pretty good. We have a young bloke in the seconds that has batted once.

“He hasn’t batted since the Sydenham game. “It’s hard to keep him interested after 10-12 weeks. It’s about making training fun as much as we can and varying things up.” The Blues were set to face Craigieburn in a Saturday-Sunday clash, after deadline. The Eagles also entered the match without a win and keen to get on the board. Harrison said the task for them was just simple. “It would have been nice to have got a couple of wins,” he said. “Looking at the season you definitely want it in our own hands. “We need to start winning, hopefully we can get some wins.” While the men’s side has struggled to get on the side, the women’s side has had a bit more luck. The side was in fifth spot in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association Georgie McElligott Shield after eight rounds. Harrison said it was more of a mature side this season after losing another lot of young players to Victorian Premier Cricket.

Predicted thunderstorms held off on Tuesday night to allow the Victorian Turf Cricket Association T20 competition continue. After being washed out the Tuesday before, a number of postponed matches got underway. In the Bradman group, East Coburg beat Footscray United. East Coburg made 9-95 off its 20 overs with Joseph Conlin top scoring with 22. Gishan Sapukotana and Shoury Eerla took two wickets each. The Bulldogs were unable to get any partnerships going in the run chase and finished 8-87. Dulan Pabasara Waduge top scored with 24 as just two batters reached double figures. In the Hassett group, Westmeadows was too strong for Oak Park St Francis de Sales. The Warriors made 6-116 with all their top order getting starts. Pawan Wickramasinghe top scored with 34. The Warriors bowlers then got the job done, bowling Oak Park St Francis de Sales out for 68. Donovan Pell took three wickets. Jacana forfeited its match with Haig Fawkner having pulled out of the competition. In the Taylor group, the Druids got a confidence boosting win against Burnside Springs United. The Wizards made 5-147 from their overs with Tom Hazell-Evans top scoring with 51 at the top of the order. he opening pair put on 90 to take control of the game. Mathew Sanders took 2-21 for Burnside. Burnside struggled to get going and finished 8-93. Shohan Rangika top scored with 20. Lachlan Anderson took three wickets. Sunshine got its second win of the competition, beating Keilor. The Crows made 6-122 with Pramud Hettiwatte top scoring with 31. The Blues were restricted to 8-104 in reply. In the Waugh group, Altona North beat Point Cook in the last of the second round matches. Point Cook made 5-120 from its overs with Bhavesh Seth top scoring with 38. Connor Smith took two wickets for Altona North. Altona North hit the winning runs with 10 balls remaining, finishing 5-122. In the Benaud group. PEGS round two match against Airport West St Christophers was set to be played on Thursday night, after deadline.

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Cats ready to reload and go again in season ‘25 Things are slowly starting to heat up at Albion in the Western Football League division 1 pre-season. After two straight division 2 grand final losses, the Cats have taken a bit more time to get into the pre-season. Coach Blake Richards said things were slowly starting to step up. “It’s nice to be back out there,” he said. “After two grand finals the past couple of years we haven’t had a lot of break. “It does take a fair bit out of you. “We came back a week later than usual. The numbers aren’t where I want them to be, but they are getting there. “It will build quite quickly.” Richards said this year’s grand final defeat hurt more than the one in 2023. In 2023, they nearly snatched the win from Parkside. This year, they were undefeated heading into the grand final against Sunshine. Richards said they had tried to let the group process the loss before focusing on the new challenge of going back into division 1. The Cats, Sunshine and Newport were all guaranteed promotion into division 1 before the finals series.

All but one player from the Cats grand final side has returned for 2025. Amar Elnour has made the move to St Albans. Most of the squad had re-signed before the grand final, while their reserves also made the grand final. “A lot of sides that go up after not winning a flag lose a few players,” he said. “Our players are loyal to the club. “With most of the list signed before the off season. We’ve been able to recruit well because of it. “The list was settled and we could get recruits in who we’re really happy about.“ Richards said they had looked to target the 18-28 age group for their recruits. They’ve announced 10 so far with a couple more to come. “We don’t have any under-18s so we need to get some younger guys through the doors,” he said. “We’ve managed to get a few one-pointers back in the doors. We got two from Sunshine including Kane Holden won the competition medal and had played a lot of junior football at the club. “His family is pretty happy.” Other signings include Jack Bettin, whose

Darcy McPherson. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 431491_18

father played at the club, Blake Taylor who crosses from Essendon Doutta Stars, Victorian Football League-listed Heath Ollington, Tyler

Draft a Field of dreams

Black, experienced forward Judd Brewster and Maysen Murgov. Tara Murray

Set back for brave Logarzo

By Tara Murray Western Jets’ Lou-Lou Field had no hesitation when she had to pick to continue playing football or cricket. Field was a talented junior in both sports. She has long been part of the football pathways, while was named in 2021-22 Cricket Victoria emerging players program. It was football that won out for Field. “In the end when I started playing high level cricket, I kind of realised it wasn’t something that I wanted to pursue further,” she said. “In the end it was a decision that was kind of no-brainer. “I think it was the community and group of girls that I had met along the way and it pushes in a different way that experience in other aspects of my life [why she picked football]. Field has played football all through her life. When she first started there was no AFLW, so she dreamed of playing in the AFL competition with the boys. AFLW later became the dream and that could become a reality on December 16 when the AFLW draft happens. “It’s very nerve-wracking,” she said. “I have to kind of sit and wait at the moment until my name gets called out. “It is crazy. I’ve played footy my whole life and the next level is literally just around the corner.” Field started her football career with Werribee Districts before moving to Yarraville Seddon. She’s also spent the past three years at the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League. “It has been such a delight experiencing so many different things and meeting so many different people with the all-stars games and the draft combine, it has been a great experience,“ she said. Field said she had a couple of setbacks earlier this year but felt she ended the season well and put herself in a good position for the draft. She made the Vic Metro squad for a third year, playing three games and helping the side claim the national title. Field said there was more pressure this year as part of the squad. “It was such an honor to represent my state and having done it three years in a row, it’s great,” she said. “Each year is different, especially with the new girls coming through and the stakes get a little bit higher. “These games mean a lot as it’s the draft this year, there’s a little bit more pressure when

Lou-Lou Field. (Scott Sidley/AFL Photos)

you’re putting your jersey on.” Field, who says her game is similar to North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney, said she thought she set herself up well at the draft combine. She said it was pretty surreal speaking to AFLW clubs. “You hear heaps about it and it’s finally happening to you and you have this interest in the clubs,” she said. “It kind of becomes real and that this could become my life in the next couple of weeks.” Field said that she would try and keep her

22 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 December, 2024

mind occupied in the lead up to the draft and try not to worry about it too much. She is one of two Yarraville Seddon and Western Jets players on the draft radar, along with Sierra Grieves. “We’ve grown up and pretty much done everything that has got to do with footy together,” Field said. “Through interleague, we played a couple of seasons of local together, then the Western Jets and Vic Metro. “It would be so good to be able to be drafted and also experience that with her.”

It was a night of mixed emotions for Western United captain Chloe Logarzo as she returned the Matildas line up on Wednesday. The luckless midfielder was playing her first Matildas game since tearing her ACL against Ireland in October 2022 and it was her first start since 2021. She was in tears before the game as she made an emotional return. Unfortunately, Logarzo was forced off inside the first half-hour after a head clash in the 3-1 win. The 29-year-old pleaded with Australia’s medical staff to allow her to play on and was in tears when she was replaced by Alex Chidiac. Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni didn’t know yet whether a “devastated“ Logarzo was concussed - which would also rule her out of the Matildas’ second match against Taiwan on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium - with the doctors still looking at the midfielder after the match. “She’s got the old egg on the side of her head at the moment. She feels good,“ he said straight after Wednesday night’s game. “Hopefully it’s not too bad and hopefully she might come into discussions for the next game.“ Speaking to Star Weekly before the series, Logarzo said it was an unique opportunity to get back into the side. “We’re playing four games outside the window,” she said. “I’m coming in for the second portion of it. I’m just here to enjoy myself and have a good time, find the love of the game again. “I’m loving aspects and thoroughly enjoying and challenging myself. I find myself here at Western and giving back to the game as much as I can. “Through that I am finding enjoyment back in it. The national team and getting back in camp, I think will definitely give me a kick in the right direction, let me feel all the things that I used to feel.” - with Anna Harrington, AAP

Lions’ solid day in the field against Yarraville Taylors Lakes finds itself in a solid position heading into day two of its clash with Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west. Looking to cement their spot in the top six heading into the Christmas break, the Lions have two matches to go. The first is a two-dayer against Yarraville which started on Saturday. They then face Caulfield in a T20 match for points on the Saturday before Christmas. Day one against the Eagles on Saturday, the Lions took the honours. The Eagles, who have struggled to put it together so far this season, were bowled out on the final ball of the day for 218. Senad Jahic top scored for the Eagles. Lions coach Peter Brasher said there were mixed feelings about the day. He said the effort was there from the group, but it wasn’t

their best day nor their worst. “The feedback from the boys was that the pitch was flat and not a lot in it for them” he said. “They would have been happy to keep them to 218 at the start of the day. “We had them at 5-90 so we would have liked to have kept them to 160-170 would have been nice. “We were disappointed not to keep them to under 200. Overall it was a pretty steady day.” Brasher said they didn’t help themselves in the field as they dropped five catches that they should have taken and would have reduced the target. Melisha Deshapriya took four wickets for the Lions, while Dhanushka Lahiru Kumara and George Sakkas took three each. Brasher said the two spinners bowled really well, while Sakkas came on first change and

got three crucial wickets to help get rid of the Eagles top order. The Lions will now have to bat well to get the win this Saturday. The Lions are searching for their fourth win of the season and are currently in third position. Brasher said it would be a good test for their batters. The Lions have already chased down three totals this season, while in their round five match which ended in a draw they made 6-333. “It’s not a massive score and the likelihood of decent weather during the week will favour us,” he said. “They’ve got a steady bowling line up. Our form has stood up so far, so hopefully we’ll have a good chance of getting the runs.” Tara Murray

Mixed results in VTCA

Melisha Deshapriya. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 448424_19

Sports shorts NBL1 Keilor Thunder has signed Adetomi Ayilara for the 2025 National Basketball League 1 South season. The Thunder described him as a dynamic post player that excels at playing above the rim while also showcasing his ability to stretch the floor, making him a well-rounded offensive weapon. He averaged 14.48 points, 8.32 rebounds and 1.6 blocks this season with Wyndham in the Big V state championship competition.

By Tara Murray Keilor is on the board in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division, while Deer Park and St Albans both suffered their first losses. It was Saturday-Sunday in round six and the weather gods ensured that every game got a result. Keilor got its first win of the season as it accounted for Craigieburn. The Blues made 9-212 with Malith Cooray top scoring with 69. The Eagles were bowled out for 201 in reply. St Albans got its second win of the season with a big win against Aberfeldie. The Saints were bowled out for 261 on the final ball of its innings. James Meggitt top scored with 69. Aberfeldie fell well short, bowled out for 111. The Saints sent Abers back in seeking an outright win. Abers finished 6-88 in their second innings. It was a tougher weekend for Sydenham-Hillside, Deer Park and Sunshine United. The Storm lost to Yarraville Club in a high scoring affair. The Clubbers were in trouble at 2-0 early on day one before recovering to make 9-362 from their overs. Sanka Abeyruwan took three wickets for the Storm. On Sunday, the Storm openers got off to a strong start and it was in control at 1-111. The Clubbers bowlers kept plugging away and were able to bowl the Storm out for 222. Ishan Peiris top scored with 64. Deer Park’s winning start ended at the hands of Airport West St Christophers. The Eagles made 272 on day one of the match as they were bowled out in the final over. Deer Park skipper Dean Russ took 5-22 to be the pick of the bowlers. The Lions started well on Sunday and at 1-103 seemed on track for another win. But the batting line up crumbled and they were all out for 192. Daniel Sartori top scored with 54. Sunshine United’s match with Westmeadows became a one-dayer on Sunday with the ground not ready on Saturday. The Warriors made 3-232 from its overs with Thomas O’Brien the only multiple wicket taker for the Tigers with two. The Tigers batters never got going and they were bowled out for 118. In the Isaacs Howarth Shield, Sunshine had a big win against Haig Fawkner. The Crows made 228 with Shiraz Mohamed

NBL1 Keilor Thunder has announced the re-signing of Maddi Puli for the 2025 National Basketball League 1 South season. An Australian junior representative winning a gold medal at the under-17 Oceania Championships and a past WNBL development player in the WNBL, Puli brings plenty of leadership and experience to the side. She played a key role off the bench in the side’s grand final round this season.

Bowls Deer Park got some revenge against Moonee Valley in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant premier division. After losing the round one match up between the teams, it was the Parkers that won on Saturday, 76 (14)-67 (4). Matthew Baus and Mark Casey were the winning skips. After eight rounds, the Parkers sit in second spot, 16 points behind Yarraville Footscray. The top two sides face off this week.

Bowls

St Albans’ Arosh Janoda. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 440861_05

Munas Mohamed top scoring with 41. Haig was in trouble early at 4-44. They managed to put together a 41 run partnership, but once that was broken the wickets started to fall. Haig was bowled out for 137. After six rounds, the Crows sit top of the ladder undefeated. In the Steve McNamara Shield, Grand United got the win against Newport-Digman.

Sunshine Heights and Caroline Springs both came away with wins in the Roy Picone Shield, while in the Evans-Clark Shield, Sunshine YCW was too good for Footscray Angliss. In the Russell Pollock Shield, Burnside Springs United got its first win of the season beating Melton Centrals outright. It was Burnside’s first time playing on turf at its home deck.

It was a tough day for Keilor against Bacchus Marsh in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant, division 2, section 1 competition. Bacchus Marsh managed to overcome Keilor and a bit of rain to win, 73 (15)-67 (3). Steven Bellino was the winning skip for Keilor while Jason Silverii’s rink shared the points. The loss has Keilor slip outside the top four for the first time this season. It now sits five points behind Bacchus Marsh which moved into the top four. In round nine, Keilor hosts Yarraville Footscray 3 at Keilor Bowls Club. FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Brimbank & North West Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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