AM honour for Christine
By Oscar Parry
Darraweit Guim resident Christine Craik was made a member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the community as a social worker, to tertiary education, and as a volunteer.
Recognised as part of this year’s Australia Day honours, Ms Craik has served a long career as a social worker and university lecturer, also shaping social worker education across Australia.
She said that it has been a “great privilege” to work in the area of social work, where she has worked across several voluntary roles and led significant change.
Ms Craik said that she has done “a lot of work” with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), including a decade on the board and time as national president.
“I got to review the education standards of social workers across Australia and I lobbied really hard and was successful to get family violence … and decolonising subjects
compulsory for all undergrad and post-grad social work students,” Ms Craik said.
“A lot of my work has been in family violence and sexual offending, and I think it’s just so important we train our social workers correctly,” she said.
Ms Craik also worked to introduce a specialist family violence accreditation available for social workers.
Working as a lecturer with RMIT in the areas of social work and human services, she has developed family violence subjects and voluntarily developed training material for social work teams, the Magistrates’ Court, and the Family Court.
“I want all professionals to understand and work well in the family violence area,” she said.
As a chairperson for Project Respect from 2012–18, she supported women who were trafficked, advocating for increased government involvement in combatting trafficking.
Ms Craik is currently part of the lived
experience advisory group for family violence responsecentreSafeSteps,wheresheprovides input into policies and procedures for when victims seek crisis assistance.
She also currently provides pro bono support to family and magistrates’ courts through assisting in the creation of family violence reports, which she said helps to “make it easier for the courts and the police … the health system, and the child protection system to understand what’s going on.”
In her local community, Ms Craik has worked as a committee member of the Darraweit Guim Memorial Hall Committee since 1994 and has been the secretary for about 20 years.
Under the hall committee, she is also a member of a resilience committee that helps local residents to be prepared for before and after natural disasters, such as floods and bushfires.
During the October 2022 floods, Ms Craik was heavily involved with coordinating volunteers and organisations to assist with
cleaning up damaged houses and gardens.
“I think Darrawerit Guim has got a very activecommunity,andtherearealotofpeople that pitch in to do work around the town … I thinkintimesofdisasterandintimesofneed, this community really pulls together, which is great,” she said.
She has also worked as a wildlife rescuer in the region and as a volunteer with the town’s community events for over 30 years –including leadership and performance roles within the annual Christmas carols.
When she was first notified by email of her appointment as a member of the Order of Australia, Ms Craik said she thought it was junk mail.
“It’s fantastic. It feels great, but a little bit surreal,” she said.
“I’ve been doing a lot of community volunteering my whole adult life, but so do a lot of people who don’t get this recognition, so I want to shout out to everyone that’s doing community volunteer work. It’s just so necessary.”
Darraweit Guim resident Christine Craik was made a Member of the Order of Australia as part of this year’s Australia Day honours. (Ljubica Vrankovic). 454429_03
Vineyard safety calls intensify
By Oscar Parry
A Diggers Rest community group is continuing to advocate for duplication of Vineyard Road due to ongoing traffic safety concerns.
As previously reported by Star Weekly, the DREAM Diggers Rest Advocacy group obtained data from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) which showed there were 54 crashes from the intersection of Obeid Drive and Vineyard Road, to the intersection of Diggers Rest – Coimadai Road and Vineyard Road, from 2018 to June, 2023 – resulting in 71 injuries and 22 serious injuries.
On January 18, the group sent a letter to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne, again calling for urgent duplication of 3.5km of the road.
Group member Matt Pearse said that DREAM has been advocating for the road duplication as far back as July 2022.
According to Mr Pearse, the group was recently prompted to reanalyse TAC data following a news report regarding road tolls per Melbourne suburb, with the report showing there had been 10 road deaths in Diggers Rest between 2010-24.
“Sadly this main busy road has had an [alarmingly] high rate of accidents, many of whichhavecontributedtothesestatisticswith
a tragic impact – loss of life in Diggers Rest,”
Mr Pearse said.
“Vineyard Road as the gateway to Diggers Rest has remained a focus for our group due to a range of factors, including the delivery of a Coles supermarket and [a] future council-delivered community centre on this road,” he said.
Mr Pearse said that councils, including Hume, can assist with continued advocacy.
“We need to stop politicising infrastructure and instead rely on the data and [precinct structure plans] that ensure the community has the infrastructure that is needed as the community grows,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of
First day of school for the Hubbards
Teacher Jenna Hubbard is preparing to start her first day of her new teaching role at Killara Primary School in Sunbury this week, and joining her for their first day of prep will be her twin children, Emerson and Jude. With term one beginning at the school on Wednesday, January 29, Ms Hubbard said this week is an “exciting time” for the whole family, and the twins are looking forward to “playing on the playground with their friends … being stimulated in the classroom, and learning new things“.
She said the decision to teach at the same
school her children attend will make life easier in regards to commuting. To all children starting the school year, Ms Hubbard said her advice would be to always put in your best effortandtobeyourselfwhilebeingrespectful.
“Try not to compare yourself to other studentsbecauseweallhaveourownstrengths and weaknesses – we are all different. And, most importantly, have fun and be happy!” Ms Hubbard said.
Killara Primary School principal Sue Muir said other teachers also have children who attend the school, but not twins.
She said starting prep can be a tiring time for children, offering advice to parents.
“Allchildrensettleintothenewenvironment atadifferentpace.It’simportantnottocompare how well your child is adapting to school compared to their classmates. Routines at home and school are very important, including gettingplentyofsleep,asthelongdaysatschool – especially during the summer months – can beverytiringforlittleones,”MsMuirsaid.
“We’re really excited for such a positive year ahead.“
- Oscar Parry
Transport and Planning said that it will continuetoworkwithcouncil,developersand other key stakeholders to review the Vineyard Road corridor.
“Potential upgrades to Vineyard Road will be considered as part of future network planning,” the spokesperson said.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull said that he will “continue to advocate for road improvements that improve safety and reduce congestion in our community.”
“I have raised this road with the Minister and the Department of Transport and Planning and will continue to do so,” he said.
Hume was contacted for comment.
Harvest event on again
Salesian College Sunbury is inviting applications from local businesses for this year’s Rupertswood Harvest event.
The school is encouraging food and beveragevendorsandmarketstallholders to apply for the event, which principal Mark Brockhus said is “a cherished tradition at Salesian College.”
“[Itbrings]togetherourcommunityto celebrate the vibrant spirit and creativity ofourregion.It’saneventthathighlights not only the talent and passion of our local vendors but also the strong bonds that make Sunbury such a special place,” Mr Brockhus said.
“We are proud to open our beautiful grounds to host this much-loved event, which provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses to connect with over 3,000 visitors in a welcoming and family-friendly environment,” he said.
“I encourage all local food, beverage, andmarketstallholderstojoinusforthis incredible celebration. Together, we can make the 2025 Rupertswood Harvest an unforgettable experience for our community.”
The event will run from 4.30pm–7.30pm on Friday, March 28 at Salesian College, 1 Macedon Street, Sunbury.
For further information, contact the college’s development and community manager Ingrid Busuttil on 9744 000. Businesses interested in joining the event are asked to complete an online form before the end of February at the latest.
Details: bit.ly/3BbFyI7 for food or beverage stall registration or bit. ly/3OAMXnC for market stall registration
Designs for the new Hume Tech school released
Designs for the new Hume Tech School have beenunveiled,showcasingthestate-of-the-art facility that will benefit more than 20,000 students.
Set to open in term three of 2026 with Kangan Institute as tertiary partner, Hume Tech School will provide free high-tech, hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs to local secondary school students.
Hume Tech School will bring together schools, industries and TAFE, with programs to focus STEM-related study and career options such as advanced manufacturing, automation, health care, renewable energy, construction, transport and logistics and data analytics.
The school has been designed in
consultation with students, local schools, First Nations Elders, industry and community groups.
It will be accessible to students from all 25 secondary schools in the Hume local government area.
A builder is expected to be appointed in April.
The $15.47 million project is funded by the state government.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll said the school will give Hume students a chance to explore future career pathways like never before, in industries that have never been more important.
“Tech Schools are high-tech STEM centres of excellence that provide hands-on and immersive STEM learning experiences to secondary school students, sparking their aspirations to pursue future pathways and careers,” he said.
“Tech Schools help students stay ahead of the game, giving them access to industry-standard technologies and opportunities for STEM learning that have not been available before.”
Kangan Institute chief executive Sally Curtain said the organisation was thrilled to host the tech school.
“Investing in STEM education today is investing in the leaders, thinkers, and problem-solvers of our future,” she said.
“The Hume Tech School will be an educational and community asset for Melbourne’s growing northern corridor, playing a critical role in training and empowering young people to innovate and think critically, while gaining the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”
The Hume Tech School will open in mid-2026. (Supplied)
Killara Primary School will welcome three members of the same family this year– teacher Jenna Hubbard and her twins Emerson and Jude, 5. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 454110_14
Gisborne church celebrates 150
St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Gisborne is turning 150 this month, with the parish preparing to mark the milestone with an upcoming Sunday mass.
The St Brigid’s Parish Gisborne working party has spent 10 months working to recognise the event, with the church’s 150th anniversary falling on January 30. Parish and working party member Trish Armstrong said that part of the recognition included the unveiling of 220 named pavers at the front of the church this month, engraved with the names of past and current parishioners and members of the St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School and Holy Cross
Catholic Primary School communities.
“The pavers … [are] such a wealth of story, both past and present,” Ms Armstrong said.
“It’sbeenaprivilegetobepartoftheworking committee … it’s really offered opportunities for us to get together as a group of people … it’s been lovely,” she said.
“The people who share their stories … it doesn’t just make it one event … it connects them. We’ve got pavers, we’ve got storyboards … we’ve got a special mass celebration.”
As part of the church’s anniversary, a historic gate from the former St Colmcille’s Church at Bullengarook will be installed at the site.
Ms Armstrong said that there have been many additions and alterations made to the church in its 150-year history and that it has been maintained as a “significant place.”
“It’s one of the important landmarks of our town,” she said.
A Sunday mass with memorabilia displays and refreshments will be hosted from 11am–4pm at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, 66 Aitken St, Gisborne on February 9.
All are invited to attend and the event will also be livestreamed.
Details: facebook.com/profile.
php?id=100068049280933
Oscar Parry
Exploring what’s hidden underneath
A Woodend artist is presenting a solo exhibition of his art in Melbourne, with the works examining changing states of being and living with a mental health condition.
Titled What Lies in the Underneath, the exhibition consists of painting, drawing, sculptures, and other artworks from Ned Brook.
Brook said creating art allowed him to express himself at any given time and acts as a “coping mechanism for having a mental health condition.”
Now 37, he received a diagnosis for a mental illness at age 23 and began painting about five years ago.
“When I work, I enter a bit of a meditative state or flow state, so nothing in the work is planned,” Brook said.
“There’s not a lot of language involved and it gives me a bit of a break from … the symptoms of my mental health condition.”
Brook said he feels art is “important for anyone,” but for people with mental health conditions, it can be helpful “expressing stuff that is really difficult to express with words.”
“Everyone’s state of being changes at any given time … it shows what it’s like to be human,” he said.
He hopes to portray a message of hope to others who are diagnosed with a mental health
condition.
“I think it’s important for people to know you can’t really predict life, but if you’ve got a bit of strength and resilience to get through it, then you can end up getting to the other side.”
BrookhasalsoreceivedaGovernorinCouncil appointment for his work as a volunteer within mental health facilities and 10-year service and national emergency medals for his work as a CFA volunteer with the Woodend brigade. What Lies in the Underneath will be presented until February 1 at Fortyfive Downstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
Details: fortyfivedownstairs.com/event/whatlies-in-the-underneath
A Monegeetta resident was fined by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for illegally burning industrial waste in a fire pit.
The CFA responded to a call from residents reporting the incident, with the fire brigade discovering a pit full of burning vehicle batteries, mattresses, car parts, fuel tanks, metal crates, and other scrap material in Monegeetta.
The EPA issued a fine to a Monegeetta woman for the unlawful deposit of the waste, issuing an order to clean it up and a $1976 penalty.
EPA north-west regional manager Paul Ratajczyk said some of the waste could have been recycled and the rest should have gone to landfill.
“Dumping material like this in a roughly constructed pit pollutes the soil and very likely the nearest waterway, which presents a risk to human health andtheenvironment,”MrRatajczyksaid.
“And burning it adds toxic smoke, increasing the risk to members of the public and the firefighters responding to protect the community,” he said.
“Everyone must make sure their waste goes to a place that can lawfully accept it. Dumping like this can be reported by anyone, and EPA doesn’t hesitate to take action.”
Anyone can report pollution by calling EPA’s24-hourhotlineon1300372842or by providing information online.
Details: epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/ repo
Testing begins at the Gisborne water recycling plant
Greater Western Water (GWW) completed construction of its major upgrade to the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant, with testing now underway before it begins operating later this year.
The $55 million upgrade of the plant will double its capacity to treat wastewater from Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon, and Mount Macedon.
According to GWW, the combined population of these towns is expected to grow
by 38 per cent by 2035.
GWW growth and infrastructure general manager Ian Burton said the upgrade is essentialtoaccountforthispopulationgrowth.
“We’re investing in the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant now so we can continue to provide essential services to our community now and for generations to come,” Mr Burton said.
“The upgrade uses energy-efficient technology that will reduce energy usage by 40% when operating at the same
capacity as the old plant, while also reducing plant noise and odour for nearby residents.” The plant produces Class B recycled water for local farmers and recreational grounds, aiming to provide a sustainable water source all-year-roundandreducerelianceondrinking water.
The Gisborne Recycled Water Plant was first constructed in the 1980’s and has undergone several upgrades to improve its capacity and performance.
An aerial photograph of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant. (Supplied)
Woodend artist Ned Brook is presenting an exhibition titled What Lies in the Underneath. (Supplied)
St Brigid’s Parish Gisborne members Gerard Carroll, father Vincent Nguyen, Jenne Wallace, Trish Armstrong, Joe Farrugia and Charles Haber with the recently installed named pavers. (Supplied)
Hints on managing menopause
By Faith Macale
Recently, a video of a woman with her head steaming on a cold night due to a hot flush has gone viral on TikTok.
With over 10 million views, people are learning more about hot flushes and why they happen.
Hot flushes are only one of the many symptoms women might go through during menopause.
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health chief executive Dr Sarah White said the menopause transitionhappenswhenawoman’sbodyruns out of eggs and ovarian function declines.
“You run out of eggs, you have these wildly fluctuating hormones, and as a result, you have symptoms,” she said.
“It’s that period where you have those symptoms is often called perimenopause.
“You go through this perimenopause phase, and then menopause itself is just one day in the calendar.
“It’s 12 months after your final menstrual period, so you don’t even know you’ve gone through menopause until it’s kind of happened already.”
Menopause transition has symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and hormone fluctuations,butnoteverywomanexperiences symptoms.
“For about 25 per cent of women, they’ll
have virtually no symptoms or no symptoms at all,” Dr White said.
“For about another 25 per cent, they’ll have very severe symptoms during the menopause transition, and everybody else that has symptoms range from mildly annoying to really annoying, but they can all be managed.”
Dr White said most Caucasian women have hot flushes and night sweats which can get overwhelming.
“Ifithappensatnight,it’sanightsweat,”she said.
“It can wake you up and interfere with your sleep.
“For some women, it’s just unpleasant, for some annoying, and for some really quite debilitating.”
For some other ethnicities, for example, Asians, it could be joint pains, which are more common than hot flushes and night sweats.
“Your biology impacts, your psychology impacts, and in fact, your social and cultural norms impact how you experience menopause,” Dr White said.
Dr White said being in good health is the best way to prepare for menopause, with women encouraged to give particular thought to their bone and heart health in the their 30s.
“These are two things that once you go through menopause, become problematic,” she said.
“We want women to be exercising, so that’s both weight-bearing exercise, but also doing some lifting of weights.”
“One of the other things that happens during menopause is weight starts to shift on our body. A lot of women put on weight during menopause.
“That’s not inevitable, but the menopause does shift where that weight sits on your body to make it all come to the stomach phase, and that has implications for cardiovascular health later.”
Despite the different experiences, going through menopause is inevitable.
“If you have ovaries, you are going to go through menopause. There’s no avoiding it,” Dr White said.
“I really would like people to understand thateverybody’sexperienceisveryindividual. Some people will sail through, and they’re the lucky ones, some people will have a really difficult time, and we need to make sure that those women have the support they need.”
Details: www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/ menopause
Dr Sarah White, chief executive of Jean Hailes. (Supplied)
Kindred Kyneton spirits
The Kyneton Art Group is hoping to expand its membership, offering an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work and be part of a “like-minded” community.
Art group president Anna McGrath said the group is seeking new members of any age.
“It’s always good when younger people join and keep it going, it’s really important … and as time goes on to take over the president and the secretary and all those jobs that we’ve done for a long time,” Ms McGrath said.
She said that for people who have recently retired, joining the group could be a way of maintaining or improving mental health.
“It’sgoodtohaveaplanwhenyouretireand work towards something that you may not have been able to do when you were younger … art is a very calming practice, because once
you get involved in what you’re doing, you get lost in it,” she said.
Ms McGrath said that making art in a social environment gives you the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from other members.
With the group exhibiting works at the annual Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival in September, she said that now would be a good time to join the group and consider exhibiting work later this year.
The group originally formed in 1977 and now consists of about 30 members.
Members meet each meet each Tuesday between 10am–4pm at the Red Brick Hall, 23 Yaldwyn Street West, Kyneton.
Details: kynetonartgroup.com
Oscar Parry
for a swim without checking the conditions.
But statistics prove that 4 out of 5 drownings are men.
Just remember that no one’s unsinkable.
Sunbury Eco-Hub update
HiQ group is proposing to expand its operations at the Sunbury Eco-Hub site at 570 Sunbury Road, Bulla. In February, the organisation will host two online community information sessions to provide an update. The first will be held from 6–7.30pm on Wednesday, February 5, and the second will be held from 12–1.30pm on Thursday, February 6. It will also host a question and answer pop-up event at Sunbury Square Shopping Centre on Friday, February 7 between 10am–1pm.
Fuel price plan
The state government announced a new plan that will require fuel companies to publicly report their fuel price changes the day before they are in effect – and lock in those prices for 24 hours. The Fair Fuel Plan will make it compulsory for the more than 1500 fuel retailers across the state to provide their pricing data in real time. Data will then feed directly into an upcoming fuel finder feature on the Service Victoria app, aiming to help drivers find the best deal when they’re ready to fill up.
The Fair Fuel Plan will be phased in throughout this year, with the Service Victoria fuel finder set to launch later in the year.
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Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Kyneton Art Group president Anna McGrath, treasurer Stephanie Warr, secretary Helen Atherton, and members Judy Dorian, Judy Place, Judy Perfect, Vivian Dellers, and Olive Chase. (Ljubica Vrankovic). 453433_02
Airport plan to expand terminal
Melbourne Airport is planning to expand its international terminal as soaring passenger numbers put pressure on existing facilities.
The airport said it has spent the past 12 months talking to airlines about the need to increase capacity at the international terminal and hoped to formalise its expansion plans by the middle of the year.
The expansion announcement follows the busiest month on record for international travel at Melbourne Airport, with 1.15 million international passengers using the airport in December.
The airport said international seat capacity is at an all-time high, at 113 per cent of
pre-pandemic levels.
Foreign airlines account for 72 per cent of all international seat capacity into Victoria, and major carriers understand the current constraints and the need for expansion, the airport said.
The airport said the completion of its elevated road network in 2026 will allow for an expansion of the international check-in and baggageclaimhalls,whilediscussionscontinue on an expanded international satellite that would increase capacity for airline lounges, retail outlets and passenger waiting areas and up to five new widebody gates.
The airport is midway through a $500
million project to replace the international baggage system with a new, state-of-the-art tote-based system, which will increase capacity byallowingforany-timecheck-inandearlybag storage.
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said the plans were being developed in response to increasing passenger demand, with the existing international terminal often requiring bussing during peak periods.
“We’re setting new records for international passenger numbers and as Melbourne’s population grows, it’s important that our infrastructure grows too,” she said.
“During peak periods we are already
experiencing regular congestion in the international arrivals area, so it’s obvious to us that our passengers and airlines need more space.
“More gates, more aircraft parking stands, more check-in space, and a larger baggage reclaim hall, combined with construction of Melbourne Airport’s third runway, would allow airlines to add more flights during peak times, which would give consumers and Victorian exporters more choice.”
The last expansion of the international terminal was completed in 2011, with the addition of five new gates and 41,000 square metres of extra space
More volunteers with lived experience needed
After recently opening its new Community-Led Safe Space, Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group (MRSPAG) is calling for lived experience volunteers to join its support network.
Group chairperson Sarah Lungu said that the “more people we have trained up, the better,” with the volunteers receiving ongoing training, support, and debriefing opportunities to support people experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation.
The criteria for volunteers is that they must have a lived experience with suicide – including experiencing suicidal ideation themselves, caring for someone close to them in suicidal crisis, or experiencing suicide bereavement from a friend or family member.
“I highly recommend it … you’re around people who understand and get you … MRSPAG has been a massive part of my recovery,” Ms Lungu said.
Volunteers are also able to work at the organisation’s community-led safe space,
MY PLACE
which offers support and a comforting space to those experiencing suicidal ideation or emotional distress outside of a clinical setting.
Ms Lungu said that she encourages anyone experiencing a suicidal crisis or distress to feel welcome in visiting the centre.
“We’ve done our research and we know that there is a need for it … so we just encourage people to spark their interest and see what it’s like,” she said.
“We’re happy for anyone to reach out to us and ask questions. We don’t want anyone to fear coming … we’ve been there, that’s why there’s that lived experience [criteria] – we see you, we understand you. Please let us help [and be] part of your recovery.”
The centre is open from 5.30–8.30pm on Wednesday each week and fortnightly from 1–4pm on Saturday at Woodend Neighbourhood House, 47 Forest Street, Woodend. Details: mrspag.com.au
Oscar Parry
Sunbury resident and Rotary past district governor Terry Grant has a long history with Sunbury. Oscar Parry spoke with Terry about his connection to the town and the Rotary Club of Sunbury.
What is your connection to Sunbury? Gayle and I moved to Sunbury 45 years ago. We moved from Reservoir to Sunbury as we both loved the rural ‘village’ atmosphere of the town. Then, the theme was “city living – country style,“ and that certainly was the case – a very lovely place where we decided to raise a family ... we have raised three sons here with a great lifestyle.
What do you like about where you live? I like the community aspect of involvement with most people. It has been a wonderful to get the best of both worlds – access to a vibrant city, being Melbourne, with the benefit of a country style, relaxed family and community environment.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
If anything, I would like to see a greater involvement in community and service clubs within our town. Over the years we have been here, there was always a heavy level of folk engaged in the activities that benefitted all members of the community. Following Covid and its devastating impact on communities and service groups, such as Rotary ... people no longer seem to want to get involved.
Tell us a bit about your history with Rotary?
The Rotary Club of Sunbury has a proud history of 51 years of service to local, national and international programs. We have provided assistance to local entities through community and international
service by providing an ambulance, sporting equipment to new schools, sending school representatives to a summer science school in Canberra, and youth exchange [with] students from around the world.
As a part of Rotary District 9790 which encompasses 64 clubs in towns from Broadmeadows to Albury, Corryong and Deniliquin – Australia’s Food Bowl region – we have some 1200 members and were honoured to assist communities through Marysville and Kinglake to recover after
the devastating bush fires, this only recently completed. We are holding a Lift The Lid Walk on March 1, where funds raised will be directed to research into family violence as a follow on to the forum we held earlier this year ... all [are] welcome to attend.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering, and what do you believe some of the key benefits are for yourself and society?
During the years since 1989, when I joined Sunbury Rotary, I have been privileged
indeed to meet and work with some wonderful people. The difference a single person can make in assisting those less fortunate is something that cannot be taken for granted. For me it has been a wonderful way to put back into a community that has been so good to us. Sunbury Rotary is always open for new members and ideas that can benefit this wonderful town of ours ... please, if anyone is interested, make contact with us and together see what we can achieve in the future.
Sunbury resident and Rotary Club of Sunbury Past District Governor Terry Grant. (Damjan Janevski). 444561_02
Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group safe space working group members Jessica Fenech, Karla Reardon, Sonia Forouzanfar, Le Gu, Christy Esler, Fiona Lawford, Anthony Montague, Joel Moody, and Melissa Baker. (Supplied)
Back to school craft
Body exhumed in murder probe
Williamstown amateur historian BARB MCNEILL is Star Weekly’s history columnist. This week she revisits the sad tale of Margaret Mould whose body was exhumed when police suspected she had been the victim of a poisoning during an “illegal operation”.
At the Williamstown Magistrates Court in January 1932, Claude William Mould, respected estate agent who had formerly had his office in Pier Street, Altona, was charged with having between 11 May 1931 and 1 September 1931 at Altona converted to his own use over 28 pounds received as an estate agent.
He had been instructed by Green, Dobson & Middleton, Solicitors, to collect the rent of three Altona properties on behalf of the mortgagees, Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, and pay the monies into the solicitors’ account.
ConstableCowdonstatedthatforover three years, Claude Mould had run his Pier Street agency, C.W.Mould & Sons - the sons being Jack and Claude, aged 19 and 16 respectively. The defendant vigorously denied the charge, having discovered, 12 months previously, a cashboxdeficiencyof150pounds.Thishehad paid from his own pocket, and, suspecting that Jack had been helping himself, had tackled him with it. Jack denied it, blamed other members of the family, but was given the sack in May 1931. To Claude Mould’s grief, Jack was now busily getting into trouble in Adelaide and his father was still repaying the missing money.
As devastating as this family trouble was, it was a minor matter compared to a previous court case involving the family, one that shocked Altona in 1930 and led to a murder trial at the Melbourne Criminal Court.
On 6 August that year, a woman who called herselfnurseSylviaCook,orNurseSylvia Koch - there seems to be some doubt as to which was her real name – paid a visit to Claude Mould’s wife, Margaret. Two days later, Mrs Mould, aged 38, was dead in her Pier Street residence. A death certificate was duly issued and the much-loved lady was believed to have died of heart failure.
Her funeral on 11 August 1930 was well attended, her civic spirit honoured by wreaths from The Altona Cycling Club, the Altona branches of the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, the Australian Natives Association, the Altona Baseball Club and the Church of England Ladies’ Guild.
The mourning community accepted the cause of death as misfortune, but the police had a shrewd idea why Mrs Mould had died, and obtained an exhumation order. The post-mortem was carried out by government pathologist, Dr Crawford Mollison on 1 September.
Mrs Mould had not died of heart failure but blood poisoning, following, in the coy language of the times, “an illegal operation”. Senior Detective William Jones hurried to arrest Nurse Cook and seize certain surgical instruments from her premises. She was whiskedtoWilliamstownPoliceStation,where she allegedly confessed to murder, though this she would later vigorously deny. The 44-year-old unregistered nurse was allowed bail of 500 pounds, with two sureties of 250 pounds each, an indication of the seriousness of the charge.
At the City Court, Sylvia Evelyn Cook, the name under which she was charged, was represented by none other than high profile solicitor, Naphthali Henry Sonnenberg, who had clocked up an impressive 29 homicide cases, the most infamous being the doomed ColinCampbellRoss,wronglyexecutedforthe Gun Alley atrocity.
Sylvia Cook, manageress of the Waverley Private Hospital in Queen Street, Altona, was
committed for trial by the coroner. Many of her patients were new mothers, who gladly gave her their 5 pound baby bonus in return for her care. Where and how she had gained midwifery knowledge is unknown, but she was never a registered nurse, and without a properly qualified person on the premises, her hospital could not be registered.
How she and Mrs Mould came to meet is unknown, and mystery surrounds the case to this day. There is no record of any of the Mould family having fore-knowledge of Margaret Mould’s intentions.
Contraception in the early thirties was limited, abortion unlawful unless warranted by extreme circumstances, the deceased at 38 was considered middle aged, the Depression was creating great hardships for Australians, she had previously suffered the tragedy of a stillborn son, and already had eight children.
Was it economic uncertainty which led her to take this dangerous step? We can speculate, but it seems very likely. She worked for the business, as well as being a home-maker. Was her husband anxious about the market when moneywastight? Didthethoughtofyetanother mouth to feed in such frightening times alarm her? Without the family’s words, we will never know.Likethousandsofwomenwhocouldnot affordtheoutrageousfeesdemandedbysociety doctors, Margaret was forced to risk her life.
The woman charged with murder before Chief Justice Sir William Irvine, was in danger of losing her life on the gallows. The Crown allegedthatMrsCookhadadmittedtopolice,“I knew what I was doing. I knew the law and took therisk…butIdidn’tmakemoneyoutofit.”
This the accused flatly denied, claiming that Detective McGuffy had threatened to pull her tongue out until she confessed. Her feisty response to him had been, “I’ll go to the gallows but I won’t admit to anything.”
On Friday 31 October 1930, the jury took four hours to acquit Sylvia Evelyn Cook, alias Koch, of murder.
The following year, she was fined 5 pounds for being an unregistered proprietress of Altona’s Waverley Private Hospital. In 1945, she was served with a Bankruptcy Notice , after which this mysterious woman disappeared from headlines and died in 1962 at Pearcedale.
Amateur historian Barb McNeill.
Today, Pier Street is a leafy commercial thoroughfare.
Young Muslims using their voice
Conflict in the Middle East is affecting diaspora groups across the world. Jaidyn Kennedy
spoke to two western
suburbs residents who are using their voice to help young Muslims at home and abroad.
The conflict in Gaza has paused, Israel and Hezbollah may have agreed to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon and the Assad political dynasty has been toppled in Syria, but the effects of war still reverberate across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.
While many Muslim members of the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian diasporas face the daily prospect of losing friends, family and property, two young Muslim professionals are advocating to ensure their dignity and identity are not lost.
Twenty-three-year-old lawyer Ghazi Zoghaib and 22-year-old Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) representative Marwan El-Houli differ in profession, but are united by their faith and voice.
Mr Zoghaib first found himself advocating in a civic capacity as a year 6 student at Altona Green Primary School, as a member of the student representative body.
“We would co-ordinate with teachers on things that we thought would be beneficial for the students,” Mr Zoghaib said.
“I enjoyed being able to advocate for others and many suggested that I could be a very good lawyer one day.”
“I gave a speech in my year six graduation and remember telling my peers that after moving onto high school, I would one day become a lawyer.”
The laughter of a few detractors did not deter Mr Zoghaib as he fulfilled the message of his speech.
As he progressed through his studies, the notion of justice within the Australian legal framework became the guiding principle of his legal identity.
Accessibility, one of the defining tenets of Australian justice, can be hindered by a lack of financial resources and a lack of understanding the law itself.
Minimising these potential barriers has become the core of Mr Zoghaib’s professional philosophy and practise.
“My goal was to become a lawyer who is able to provide effective, efficient but most importantly affordable legal advice, in order to be a voice for the voiceless.”
“I truly view being a lawyer as a means to help people.”
“Many think it’s for financial reasons, but personally I genuinely want to play my role in society to help others.”
Mr Zoghaib also advocates through local non-for-profit organisations, co-ordinating youth events and programs, including many initiatives that provide financial aid to those in need overseas.
“Atthemoment,mymaingoalisadvocating fortheinnocentciviliansinbothLebanonand Palestine during the on-going conflict, with a
major focus on advocating for the provision of urgent financial assistance and aid to those in need,” he said.
While his voice and work stretch across the globe, the initial motivation was sourced close to home.
“What drew me to become a community leader was that while I was growing up, I felt that we, as Muslims and in particular Lebanese-Muslims, were not portrayed in the best of light,” he said.
“We faced a lot of unfair criticism.”
“I have therefore been driven to be a tool to show the rest of Australia that there are practicing Australian-Muslims like myself whoareverysuccessfulandwell-educatedina plethora of industries such as law, healthcare, construction and economics.”
“I want other young Muslims to feel that they can reach their dreams and goals while still being true to who they are.”
As the partnerships and stakeholder engagement co-ordinator at the BHF, Mr El-Houli harnesses the power of sport to bridge societal gaps.
“I’ve witnessed first-hand how sport serves as a powerful vehicle for community engagement, social cohesion, and advocacy,” he said.
“Through sport, young people don’t just build physical and leadership skills – they develop important life values like teamwork, respect, and resilience, which are the cornerstones of effective advocacy and bridging the gap between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.”
His work goes beyond the members of his own faith, but seeks to achieve a better society for all Australians.
“One of the most effective ways of bringing Mohammed and William, or Fatima and Emily, together to meaningfully interact is
through sport. In a team setting, individuals from diverse backgrounds unite around a shared goal. Sport has a unique power to break down barriers and establish genuine connections.
“While Australia is generally known for celebrating multiculturalism and religious diversity, some of the biggest issues that young Australian-Muslims currently face are related to identity, discrimination, and rising Islamophobia.”
Citing the particular moral and psychological impact the events in Gaza have had on those aged under 18, Mr El-Houli is striving to help Muslim youth achieve their best.
“The most rewarding part of my work is
helpingtheseyoungpeoplerepairandembrace their identities as Australian-Muslims with pride and confidence, ultimately guiding them toward becoming the best versions of themselves.”
“Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for all Australians to stand together in rejecting discrimination and supporting the inclusion of Muslim communities.”
The values of justice, compassion, humility, and integrity are the tools of Mr El-Houli in his pursuit to craft a better world.
“These teachings inspire me to lead by example, always striving to embody the principles of Islam in my daily actions. My faith drives me to contribute to meaningful change in the community.”
Bachar Houli Foundation’s senior academy. (Supplied)
Marwan El-Houli is the partnerships and stakeholder engagement co-ordinator at the Bachar Houli Foundation. (Damjan Janevski) 441750_02
Lawyer Ghazi Zoghaib. (Damjan Janevski). 439949_02
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication
Repair Cafe Sunbury
Repair Cafe Sunbury is celebrating its 5th birthday on Saturday, February 15, with a birthday cake cut at 11am. Bring along an item that needs repairing and volunteer repairers will do their best to fix it with you – or, just drop in for a cuppa. The event will run from 10am-12.30pm at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive Sunbury. All are welcome. www.sunburyhouse.com.au or 9740 6978.
Neighbourhood Garden
Get your hands dirty learning about the edible, indigenous and useful plants in Sunbury Neighbourhood House’s productive front garden. Visit Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive Sunbury from 10am–12.30pm on Saturday, February 15. All skill sets are welcome. www.sunburyhouse.com.au or 9740 6978.
Sunbury and Surrounds LGBTIQ Social Club
The club has an ongoing catch up every third Saturday at the Brown Cow Cafe in Rosenthal at 1pm. They can also be found on Facebook where they have chats, discussions and other events advertised. https://shorturl.at/jtAO1
Sunbury Woodworkers Club
Join the Sunbury Woodworkers Club to learn woodturning. No experience or tools required. The club is a welcoming environment open to men and women who wish to learn. Meetings for new guests are held on the third Wednesday of every month at 730pm. Circular drive, Jackson’s Hill, Sunbury. Facebook: Sunbury Woodworkers Club. Anita, 0417 402 795
VIEW Club
Sunbury-Macedon Ranges VIEW Club is a friendly women’s organisation and a valued part of The Smith Family. It meets on the third Friday of each month at 11am at Club Sunbury, Riddell Road, Sunbury. New members warmly welcome Lee-anne, 0403 047 909
Sunbury Art Society
The Sunbury Art Society meets every Friday and Saturday, from 10am- 3pm, at the Boilerhouse, Jacksons Hill, to paint or draw over a cuppa with other like minded people. New members welcome. Ken, 0407 062 568, or Yvonne, 0429 994 828
Yoga in Sunbury Yoga classes at Sunbury Neighbourhood House focus on supporting participants to slow down and move well. Special attention is given to mindful awareness of movement that builds strength in a healthy and safe way, Monday mornings, Thursday evenings and Friday mornings www.sunburyhouse.com.au or 9740 6978.
Art group
The Woodend Art Group holds classes and workshops in the studios in the Woodend railway station complex. It also has a social Tuesday where members and interested people can come along in the morning, have a coffee and paint together in a social environment. Colin Robinson, 0407 426 252
Shuttles and pickleballs
Macedon Ranges Badminton Club is inviting residents to come and play badminton, or pickleball, or both at
Macedon Community Centre. Badminton is played on Tuesdays from 7.30pm and Thursdays at 9.30am. Pickleball is played on Mondays at 6.30pm, Wednesdays at 10.15am and on Tuesday from 10am at the Romsey Recreation Centre. David, 0419 589 425, or macedonrangesbadminton@gmail.com
Scottish country dancing
The Macedon Ranges Scottish Country Dancing Group meets every Thursday,1-3pm, at Buffalo Stadium, Woodend. The dancing involves social country dancing, and no special clothes needed, just soft flat shoes. Meg, 0409 166 783, or Linda, 0408 476 317
Community. Connect. Create. If you are needing support or looking for a social group to join, you can visit Community. Connect. Create, which is an online resource listing support and community groups in the Macedon Ranges. if you would like your group listed or would like to work to help this project grow please email: fiona@ communityconnectcreate.com.au Communityconnectcreate.com.au
Amateur radio club
The Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at the Woodend RSL Hall, 32 Anslow Street, Woodend, at 10am. If you are interested in amateur radio or already have a call sign, this could be for you. http://www.mrarc.org.au
Take off weight naturally Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere?
Come and join TOWN (Take Off Weight Naturally) every Thursday at 9am at the Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. Rhonda, 0409 740 924
Kyneton Badminton Club
Kyneton Badminton Club is a welcoming, fun and social group that plays on Mondays, at 7pm at the Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre, Victoria Street. All skill levels are welcome. kynetonbc@gmail.com
Sunbury Macedon Ranges Masonic Lodge
Meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm, 73 Main Street, Romsey. New members welcome. Paul, 0479 127 476, or Rob, 0428 260 647
Rotary club
The Sunbury Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Ball Court Hotel, 60 Macedon Street, Sunbury, from 7pm. sunburyrotary@gmail.com
Ladies probus
The Woodlands Ladies Probus Club of Sunbury meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Sunbury Bowling Club at 9.45am. Leonie, 0401 764 182
Sunbury Ladies Probus Club
The Sunbury Ladies Probus Club meets at 9.30am on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Sunbury Football Social Club rooms. Pat, 0433 789 754, or Sylvia, 0417 170 142
Sunbury Combined Probus Club
The Sunbury Combined Probus Club meets every fourth Thursday of the month at the Sunbury Bowling Club at 10am. Jo, 0410 834 272
Probus Club Of Sunbury
Join the Probus Club of Sunbury on the first Wednesday of the month at the Sunbury Bowling club at 9.30am. It’s a friendly men’s group open to visitors and new members, with a number of great events held each month.
Greg, 0417 593 035
Breast cancer support group
On the first and third Tuesday of the month breast cancer survivors are invited to head along to the Gisborne Golf Club at 10.30am to take part in a breast cancer support group.
Lesley, 0484 691 226
Village connect
Enjoy free coffee and cake while connecting with fellow Macedon Ranges residents 55 years old and older. Happening on Tuesdays and Thursday at cafes across the municipality. https://bit.ly/3AMUrxm, or 5422 0262
Arts and games night
Get creative at the Sunbury Youth Centre each Wednesday, from 3.30-5.30pm. The free program is for people aged 12 to 18 years old, at 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury. HarmoniX Vocal Company
All-male singing group happening on Thursday, 7-9.30pm, in Sunbury, with a mixed choir, DynamiX Vocal Company, rehearsing Tuesday, 7-9.30pm. Rehearse at Dulap Wilim Hub, Leichardt Street, Sunbury. No auditions required. harmonixvcinc@gmail.com
This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of St Albans Cricket Club’s Mitchell Pittaway ahead of Pink Stumps day on February 1. (Ljubica Vrankovic). 455296_01
Brimbank photographer in powerful exhibition
A Brimbank resident has contributed to a moving showcase depicting the resilience and fortitude of domestic violence survivors.
Photographs taken by Keilor Lodge’s Shannon Meilak form part of the ‘Black and White’ exhibition created by members from Underneath My Umbrella — an agency providing community support for women impacted by domestic, family and sexual abuse.
The exhibition features a collection of stories written by survivors of domestic and family violence.
Each narrators was coupled with an artist, who created a work on canvas to accompany their story.
In addition to these works, each of the narrators had their photographic portrait
taken.
ThesepictureswerecapturedbyMsMeilak, who said being involved in the exhibition was incredibly significant for her.
“The opportunity to participate in this exhibition was for me, more of a call to action,” she said.
“As a woman who has experienced sexual abuse, I wanted to uplift women who had been silenced, by helping them to tell their stories and to be seen.”
Whenpeoplewitnessthesetalesofcourage, Ms Meilak hopes they see the exhibition in a positive and empowering light.
“When women unite, we build inclusive and supportive communities,” she said.
“Whilstmostacknowledgethatmoreneeds to be done to protect women, my hope is that
visitors will recognise the strength required to share these stories, and inspire others to advocate for greater recovery support at the local level.“
Black and White will open at the Coonara Community House, in Upper Ferntree Gully on February 17.
Prealene Khera
Wicked wares at the fair
GetreadytohaveawickedtimeastheWitches Fair lands in Bacchus Marsh for the first time. Organiser Michelle Richards said the event is a journey of “magik” where guests can explore an eclectic mix of stalls, each presenting an assortment of mystical supplies, Tarot readers, physic Mediums and rare treasures.
“It’s always farmer’s markets that come to country towns all the time,” she said. “Doing something like the Witches Fair, which is for the alternative, and curiosities products and crafts, smaller towns tend to be sat on those opportunities.
“That was always the aim. More of a minority product, but all-inclusive.
“It’s a lot of natural herbs and oils, and often a lot of entomology, like butterfly pinning.”
The Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair is free and open to all, but some activities on offer will need bookings made on the day.
“They’ll see a lot of crafts, a lot of handmade items, that’s for sure,” Ms Richards said.
“You can make appointments on the day with the actual tarot (readers), and psychics, as well.
“There’s a bit of everything for everyone.”
The Witches Fair first began in Lancefield,
but Ms Richards said she fell in love with the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall when she opened a stall in a market held at the venue a couple of years ago.
“It’s a great venue. The location is perfect, as well,” she said.
“We took a drive there and met up with one of the committee members, and decided then and there we wanted to try doing a few witch fairs this year, and broaden the location.”
The Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair will be held on Sunday, March 16 at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall.
Faith Macale
Film is a fine romance
Romance will have a green hue that is far from new this Valentine’s Day, and that is because a free outdoor movie screening of Shrek will be held at Wyndham Park on Friday, February 14.
Pre-movie themed entertainment will kick off at 6pm, before the blast from the past with an all star cast begins at 7pm.
Set in a land far away, love proves universal when it defines the adventures of Shrek and Donkey who become believers when they see the faces of Princess Fiona and Dragon.
Despite being a great flick for lovers, it is a full family affair– so you can bring along the kids and enjoy a night out together in celebration of true love, friendship and happy-ever-afters! If you thought love was only true in fairy tales and meant for someone else but not for you, there’s nothing to lose in coming to watch a classic– you might just meet a damsel in distress or a misunderstood introvert with many layers that guard a good heart. For those who might find themselves accidentally in love, it is early enough to go home together and put Shrek 2 on. Picnics are permitted, alcohol is prohibited and movie goers are encouraged to monitor weather conditions, because if Shrek himself lived in Melbourne and was asked about the forecast he might say “You know, sometimes things are more than they appear.”
Tale of animal connection coming to Lancefield
The story of Wilbur and Charlotte is coming to Lancefield this March, with theatre company Gab Theatre preparing to present its production of Charlotte’s Web. Involving a cast of both youth and adult performers, the crew has been learning lines and rehearsing twice a week since November last year.
GabTheatreco-founderBarbSapwell-Benca said that at the heart of the plot is friendship, loyalty and bravery.
“How lucky is Wilbur to have a friendship with Charlotte and Fern, supported by all the farm animals. It is a community in and of itself – very similar to the communities we live in,” Ms Sapwell-Benca said.
ShesaidsheandproductiondirectorGeorge Benca chose the story for the company’s next production because of its relevance to Lancefield – where “the relationship between people, animals and the land is more
prominent in our daily lives“.
“Thereisabitofmagicinthethoughtthatall theanimalsaroundusarehavingconversations. Add in the opportunity to work with talented cast members from Lancefield and the wider communityanditwasaneasychoicetomake,” Ms Sapwell-Benca said. Performances will be hosted at the Lancefield Mechanics Institute from 2pm and 7pm on Saturday, March 1 and from 2pm on Sunday, March 2.
As there will be table seating, attendees are invited to bring snacks and refreshments.
Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for children and concession.
Details: trybooking.com/CVYOS Oscar Parry
Gab Theatre actor Harriette, 11, who will play the lead role of the production. (Ljubica Vrankovic).
454196_02
Michelle Richards (right) and Guy Walter (left) are bringing the Witches Fair to Bacchus Marsh. (Damjan Janevski) 410897_02
Shannon Meilak from Keilor Lodge is the photographer behind the Black and White exhibition portraits. (Attie Mohebali) 452162_10
SERVICES
SPORTS QUIZ
1. Which new US-based women’s 3-on-3 basketball league includes teams such as Mist, Phantom, and Lunar Owls?
2. Australian swimmer Shayna Jack is taking part in which Network 10 reality series?
3. The Australian leg of the 2024–25 SVNS international rugby sevens tournament
4. Which Network Nine sports presenter’s comments prompted Novak Djokovic to boycott an on-court interview at the 2025 Australian Open?
5. In 2024, which brand showcased their designer shoes in an impressively choreographed synchronised swimming routine?
Which Twenty20 cricket team has won the most BBL titles, with five?
The Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder Twenty20 cricket teams have all won how many WBBL titles each?
Which Swiss road racing cyclist won the 2025 Women’s Tour Down
Which two NFL teams are set to play off in the 2025 AFC Championship game?
10. And which two NFL teams are set to play off in the 2025 NFC Championship game?
11. In which year did Nick Kyrgios first qualify for the Australian Open?
12. And which English tennis player eliminated Nick Kyrgios in straight sets during the first round of the 2024 AO men’s singles tournament?
13. What is the only gold standard World Athletics Continental Tour event held in Australia?
14. Australian international cricketer Kim Garth was born in and previously played international cricket for which other country?
15. What caused the majority of the Magic Millions horse race meeting to be delayed a week?
16. Which English acting Dame owns the racehorse Zenarinda?
17. At which Olympics did Romanian Nadia Comaneci become the first gymnast to score a perfect 10?
18. Which fast food brand sponsors the Big Bash League?
19. Australian Open third-seed Carlos Alcaraz is how old?
20. Australia’s Test tour against Sri Lanka is the first non-Ashes overseas men’s Test tour to be shown on free-to-air TV since which year?
21. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are the most decorated Olympic figure skaters of all time for which country?
22. How many players are on the court for one team during a game of volleyball?
23. Former Australian swimmer Emma McKeon is in a relationship with which fellow swimmer?
24. Paul Heyman is the current right-hand man of which WWE wrestler?
25. The sand-filled holes on golf courses are called what?
26. Sidney Crosby plays for which NHL team?
27. Which two drivers race for Ferrari in Formula 1? 28.
In what year is the next Winter Olympic Games?
29. And where is it being held?
30. What colours are the Tasmania Football Club?
Nick Kyrgios Nick
PUZZLES
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 Eight-legged animal (6)
4 A board game with letter-tiles (8)
9 Mosquito-borne disease (7)
11 Inhabitant of Tel Aviv, say (7)
12 Level of hot or cold (11)
13 Biological blueprint (1,1,1)
14 Food of the Olympian gods (8)
16 Banish (5)
19 Teams (5)
20 A golden anniversary (8)
22 Dazzle (3)
24 English scientist who explained gravity (5,6)
26 Territory ruled by an Islamic monarch (7)
27 Princess Diana’s maiden name (7)
29 Grotesque imitation (8)
30 For blinking (6)
DOWN
1 Total (3)
2 Pakistani capital (9)
3 Spooky (5)
5 Sex (6)
6 Contract (9)
7 Bakery item (5)
8 Period of 17th-century English queen (11)
10 A Middle Eastern language (6)
12 Clear (11)
15 Stubborn (9)
17 Exactly the same (9)
18 Carnival (6)
21 Aptitude (6)
23 Nickname of Eva Perón (5)
25 Dirge (5)
28 Colour of strawberries (3)
1 What colours appear on Norway’s flag?
2 True or false: Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record by diameter?
3 Hilary Duff (pictured) starred as Sophie in which sitcom?
4 Podgorica is the capital of which country?
5 Laurence Tureaud is the birth name of which US actor?
6 Lake Garda is located in which European country?
7 Which 2021 film stars Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler?
8 Which actress stars as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games film series?
9 The Space Needle is in which US state?
10 Who was the Australian prime minister when decimal currency was introduced?
Honda ZR-V is pick of the bunch
By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring
You might think the ZR-V is the smallest of Honda’s SUVs but you’d be wrong because the latecomer actually slots between the HR-V and long-serving CR-V.
It’s taken us a while to catch up with the ZR-V, but it has been worth the wait because ZR-V is the pick of the bunch.
STYLING
ZR-V is a good-looker, in an understated way with its Maserati-inspired grille.
BasedontheCivichatch,ZR-Visafive-seat, mid-sized, front-wheel drive crossover.
It’s available in three petrol-only grades plus a range-topping hybrid, petrol-electric version. Prices start at $39,900 for the VTi X, followed by $43,400 for the VTi L, $49,900 for the VTi LX and $55,400 for the hybrid e:HEV LX.
All prices are driveaway.
Our test vehicle was the ZR-V VTi LX priced at $49,900.
Standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, LED lights front and back, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and push-button start, walk-away door locking, power adjustment for the front seats, heated front and rear seats, plus heated steering wheel.
There’s also rear privacy glass, a frameless, an electric parking brake, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors and a hands-free power tailgate.
A space saver spare is supplied in the event of a flat tyre.
ZR-V comes with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with 24/7 roadside assistance and five years of free access to Honda connected services for what it’s worth.
Service is 12 months/10,000km and capped at $199 per visit.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment is headlined by a smallish 9.0-inchtouchscreen,withbuilt-innavigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth with support for voice control and audio streaming wireless Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto and over-the-air updates.
There are two USB ports in the front, one USB-A the other USB-C, plus two more USB-C ports in the back and 12 volt outlets in the front and luggage area.
Wirelesschargingisstandardonthismodel.
SAFETY
ZR-Vunexpectedlyscoresafour-starsafetyfor Australia,despitehaving11airbags,including front-centre and driver’s knee airbag.
Apparently, a different front bumper beam is fitted to Australian vehicles, which affected test performance in some test impact locations.
While no observable effect on test performance was identified, ANCAP says Honda is yet to provide information as to why the additional beam has been excluded.
Active safety includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speedfollow,driverattentionmonitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, plus tyre pressure monitoring.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine drives the front wheels through a CVT-style continuously variable automatic transmission. It produces 131kW of power at 6000 rpm and 240Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500 rpm.
DRIVING
It’s inoffensive, comfortable and easy to drive,
and provides adequate accommodation for four adults - five at a pinch.
The cabin feels classy with soft-touch surfaces and a full-width mesh grille that hides the normally exposed front air vents. Controls are simple and generally easy to use as we have come to expect from Honda over the years.
Physical buttons are offered to the right side of the touchscreen for oft used functions, with other controls are located lower down for the air conditioning.
The instrument panel can be configured as dials or bars and you can select detailed information to display, but it lacks the bells and whistles of competitor systems.
The transmission supports manual gear changes, with change paddles and six steps or pseudo gears.
Therearealsothreedrivemodesfromwhich to choose: Eco, Normal and Sport, which are self-explanatory.
Fuel consumption for this model is a claimed 7.2L/100km and it takes standard 91 unleaded.
We were getting 8.0L/100km from the 57-litre tank after about 250km of driving, including an enthusiastic spell on our favoured test route.
This is very close to the long-term 8.1L/100km average that the car showed after almost 2000km.
The 1.5-litre turbo feels a little underdone on torque, but plant it and the thing takes off well enough.
Wetriedthisseveraltimesandalthoughthe initial response was a little tardy, it quickly recovered, the revs ramping up to around 5500 rpm where the needle hovered.
We kept waiting for the transmission to change up, but of course that didn’t happenbecause it’s a CVT.
Instead, like a rubber band, the drive ratio changes to optimise response.
Sport mode proved pretty good, but for ultimate control changing gears manually produced the most satisfying result.
Ride and handling are surprisingly good, remembering this is a one-size-fits-all family SUV.
We had to push quite hard to get the car out of shape.
Not unexpectedly, the engine does become a little harsh under hard acceleration.
But engine, wind and road noise are fairly subdued the rest of the time — with the exception of coarse bitumen.
It’s a common theme.
Unlike CarPlay, Android Auto requires a cable to connect your phone to the infotainment system, with a choice of USB-C or older USB-A ports in front.
Having just purchased a new cable for this task, we were disappointed to discover that the USB-C to C port does not support data transfer.
Unlike the X-Trail that we drove recently, however, we were able to maintain a stable USB connection with USB-A.
So, remember to pack one of each sort just in case.
According to the specs, this thing is supposed to have a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system, including a subwoofer.
Not seeing it guys. Where are the badges declaring its existence?
If you’ve got it, flaunt it - that’s what we say.
SUMMING UP
The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety.
At $49,000 it’s pretty steep for what is a smallish SUV, especially when you line it up against the cheaper and larger Chinese offerings. And therein lies the problem, not just for Honda but all the established brands in the Australian new car market.
At least Honda has a strategy.
The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety. (Supplied)
It may have been a long weekend but it didn’t stop local sporting competitions from making the most of the sunny weather. Star Weekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting the action.
Long weekend sporting hits
Tarneit Central’s Gurjeet Singh Manes. 55344_01
Tarneit Central. 455344_16
Werribee’s Matthew Burton. 455343_08
Spotswood’s Jakson Knight. 455340_01
Spotswood’s Declan O’Brien. 455340_05
Taylors Lakes’ Saihaj Jaspal. 455343_01 Druids’ Samuel Hall. 455342_01
PEGS’ Omar Phillips. 455337_01
Altona Roosters’ Dishnaka Manoj. 455337_04
Altona North’s Asela Aluthge. 455342_18
Roar makes it two in a row with one-dayer win
Sunbury made it two in a row as it continues to build in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Steve McNamara Shield.
The Roar was at home on Saturday against Newport-Digman in a one-dayer.
Both sides were missing players with the long weekend and it was the Roar that came out on top after a strong bowling display.
TheRoar’sMartyKelderssaiditwasanother good day for the club.
“It was a really solid win,” he said. “We had a couple of younger fellows step up with players away.
“It bodes well for the future to see them come up.”
The Roar sent the Bulls in and it proved to be the right decision, with the bowlers getting the job done in 34 overs.
The Bulls were bowled out for 99.
Zac Corcoran, who was one of the players to come up from the second XI, took four wickets, while the skipper Ashan Ranaweera took three wickets.
“Our bowlers did a really good job,” Kelders
said.
Kelders said while needing 100 was one of those difficult total to chase, it was never enough to put real pressure on them.
The Roar got the runs in the 34th over, finishing 6-100.
“Our ground is not a high scoring ground,” Kelders said. “Our batsmen were able to get the job done.
“Two young fellows Virosh Wijesinghe and Sandil Wijesooriya batted well late in the innings.”
Wijesinghe top scored with 32 not out.
The win has the Roar in sixth spot, only three points outside the top four.
Kelders said they had a really settled squad now and that things were starting to look up.
“We are in a very good place,” he said.
The challenges continue for the Roar which faces fourth placed Maribyrnong Park St Marys.
The Lions would have been higher had they not been deducted points.
“They have the best bowler and the best
batter statistically,” Kelders said. “It will be a challenge as they are one of the teams to beat this season.”
Beforethen,theRoarisinactiononTuesday night in the T20 competition.
TheclubwillhostitsfirsteverT20matchon turf against Sydenham-Hillside.
Kelders said the competition was about continuing to grow.
“We play a senior division side,” he said. “We played St Albans earlier and they had a good win against us.
“There’s a lot gained out of those games and the younger players get a lot out of it.
“We enjoy the T20s irrespective of who we play.”
Tara Murray
Rupertswood finds form
By Tara Murray
It was a return to form for Rupertswood in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup on Saturday.
After a hot start to the season, Rupo had cooled down a bit and dropped a few matches that had put them back with the pack.
On Saturday as it returned to the longer format, Rupo showed its power with the bat against the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Rupo president Peter Kavanagh said it was nice to find some of their early season form again.
“It was good to get back to two-day cricket,” he said. “We were going alright until the one-dayers.
“It seems to filter sides out.”
OnSaturday,RupowonthetossatBoardman Reserve and put 328 as it was bowled out in the 79th over.
Kavanagh said talking to some of the players they would have liked a few more runs on the board, but it’s a good total for them to defend.
“I think it runs on the board,” he said.
“When Matt [Twentyman] makes runs, we make runs.
“Daniel [Kavanagh] made runs and Ned Crotty made some runs as well. We shuffled around the batting line with going back to the one-dayers.”
Twentyman top scored with 76, while Crotty finished 69 not out.
Simon Barry and Amandeep Singh took three wickets each for the Kangaroos.
A win would help in Rupo’s battle for a spot in the top four.
The side currently sits in fourth spot, only 0.6 points ahead of Sunbury United making every result important in the run home.
Kavanagh said the aim was to finish in the top four.
“We are looking good right across the board,” he said. “We’ve had some funny losses but are in some good positions to set up a good second half of the season.”
Kavanagh said one of the biggest things they were excited for was the youth that is
continuing to come through the ranks.
One of those is Jake Howell, who made a 100, for the GDCA under-17 side during the week.
“It is fantastic,” he said. “Him playing at the top level means when he goes back to his age, he has that confidence.
“Ithelpsplayingatahigherlevel.Hopefully he will be around for a long time.”
Kavanagh said Ben Trainor, who was part of the GDCA under-15 Barwon Central Highlands championships team was another they were excited about.
In other McIntyre Cup matches, Sunbury United is 2-73 in reply to Broadford’s 169. Senura Perera took for wickets for the Bees.
Gisborne made 286 against Romsey in a battle with top two ramifications on the line.
In other match, Woodend is 0-14 in reply to Macedon’s 202. Youngster Henry Bobetic top scored with 59 at the top of the order for the Cats.
Football
Kyneton Women’s Football Club has continued to announce signings for its new club. The club has announced the signings of Jordan Savoia, Teagan Ainslie, Heidi Erasmus, Bee Hateley, Skye Sinclair, Marnie Love, Mairead Murphy. and Bridie Kinghorn who have all crossed from Kyneton. Kareena Jacobsen-Logan has also joined the club, making the move from Melton.
FV
Sunbury United has started to unveil its squad for this year’s FV state league 3 north-west season. Goalkeeper Kieron Sharratt has crossed from Melton Phoenix and is the club’s first new signings. Nathaniel Fox, Damian Rastocic, Jake Zomaya, Harry Thompson and Ryan Davies are among the players that have re-signed. Jason Hayne will coach the side this year after stepping up from being a player, replacing Danny Moore.
RDFL
Lancefield has re-signed James Falcone for the Riddell District Football League season. Falcone finished runner up in the club’s best and fairest last year and brings a wealth of experience and class. “He is one of our prime movers through the midfield and has the added potential to hit the scoreboard,” the club said. The Tigers have also announced the re-signing of Leroy Ristevski, while his brother Jerome has returned to the club from Macedon after playing juniors at the Tigers.
GDCA
The Gisborne and District Cricket Association under-17 has qualified for the Central Highlands region’s Kirton Shield final on February 2. The GDCA won through to the final with a big win against Castlemaine in round three. Jake Howell made 102 as the GDCA made 9-254 before restricting Castlemaine to, 139. The GDCA will face Ballarat in the final. The GDCA under-15 Barwon-Central Highlands Championships team fell short in the grand final on January 19.
Virosh Wijesinghe. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 449516_05
Rupertswood is keen to play finals. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 435782_18
Age proves to be no barrier for Sunbury masters
Ever thought that you were too old to still be playing football, but have the itch to still get out on the field?
The Sunbury Masters Football Club could be the place for you then.
The club has over 35 and over 45 teams and is searching for more players for both sides for the upcoming AFL Masters Vic Country season.
Lions president Adam McKenzie said they always had a few changes each year and were looking to top up their list.
“We’re looking for some players for both teams,” he said. “A few players have gone off to play for points in different competitions.
“We don’t know how many players we have until training starts. Normally if we can pick up one or two players, we get three, four or five as their friends join as well.”
The club plays in the country league which includes matches against Gisborne, Woodend and Melton.
is searching for players. (Supplied)
Matches are every second weekend, which means players don’t need to commit every week.
McKenzie said anyone was welcome to come down and play if they fit into those age groups.
“It’s only 10 rounds for the year,” he said.
“We start in late March and finish in August.
“We will take anyone. We’ve got quite a few take on footy after turning 35.
“They are as keen as anyone and they keep the blokes that have been around really keen.
“It’s a really good footy club and we work around everyone at the club. A lot of guys have kids playing juniors and we try to arrange
Romsey faces a big test
By Tara Murray
A top two spot is on the line for Romsey as it heads into day two of its match with Gisborne in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.
The Redbacks are sitting third in the ladder with three and half matches remaining.
A loss to the Dragons, who sit atop the table, would make the Redbacks hopes of a top two spot get even harder.
Captain-coach Ben Way knows that the match, which is also a repeat of last season’s grand final, is a massive one.
“It could decide where we finish to a certain degree,” he said. “If we can get the runs we’ve in line for a top two spot.
“If we aren’t able to, we’ll likely be in the bottom part of the top four. For us, we want to be at the top end, so it’s massive for us.”
On Saturday, Romsey won the toss and decided to send Gisborne in at Romsey Park.
The Dragons finished the day at 286 after being bowled out in the last over.
HarryLuxmooretopscoredfortheDragons with 61. The Dragons were without skipper Jarryd Vernon.
Taylor Stevenson took 6-69 for Romsey as it used nine different bowlers to try and get the wickets.
While Way said the match was evenly poised, they weren’t completely happy with the Dragons score.
“They batted quite well and it’s a decent score,” he said. “We will need to beat well to get close to that total.
“Half way through we were hoping for less than that. It can get away from you in the end.
“At lunch hoping a bit less sometimes cricket doesn’t work that way and luck doesn’t go your way.”
Romsey has a massive weekend coming, in action on both Saturday and Sunday.
As well as day two of its match with Gisborne, Romsey will play off in the first one-day title grand final against Woodend. Romsey will host the match after finishing on top of the one day ladder.
Way said anytime they had the chance to play for a trophy was a big occasion.
“We are excited,” he said. “Whether it’s a one-day or two-day grand final, they don’t come around often so we’re pretty keen to put our best forward.
“It’s at home as well. It should be a good day for the club and hopefully we can get a big crowd down.”
Elsewhere in the club, Way said things were going really well with their other sides both in the finals mix.
Hesaidtheywerestartingtoseesomeyouth coming through, with a lot of the kids coming through into the senior sides and getting an opportunity. Aaron Paterson. (Jacob Pattison)382206_04
games around them.”
Excitingly for the club, it is aiming to add women’s masters football to the club in 2026.
McKenzie said they had been approached about putting in a team this season, but decided to hold off a year.
“It will be a big thing for the club,” he said. “It would help the club develop even further.
“Women’s footy has grown astronomically and they came to us at the end of September and said would be interested to do it this year,
“We decided on next year to develop and get the numbers to join the club. We’re keen to support them.”
Pre-season training starts February 3 and will be on Monday and Wednesday nights at Clarke Oval from 6pm, with training only on Wednesday nights during the season.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/555748794500418 or 0409 082 369.
Tara Murray
Thunder and Eagles in a close battle
It’s evenly poised after day one of the match between Eynesbury and East Sunbury in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Johnstone Shield.
The Thunder won the toss and decided to bat at Eynesbury Recreation Reserve in sunny conditions on Saturday.
The Thunder top order failed to fire and it was in trouble early on.
Some contributions down the order saw the Thunder finish the day at 9-150 and set the bottom placed Eagles a competitive target.
Hammad Rashid, who came in at number 10, finished 30 not out off 55 balls.
Evan Wilkins, who batted at number nine, made handy runs, finishing with 28.
For the Eagles, Gurpreet Singh and Ryan Cran took three wickets each. In other matches, Aintree made 175 before being bowled out in the 72nd over against Kilmore.
Charandeep Kalsi played a lone hand for Aintree, finishing 86 not out. The next highest score with 21.
Elliot Frendo took three wickets for Kilmore, which is hoping to put a gap onEynesburyatthebottomofthetable.
In the other match, Eastern Hill has set Wallan a good chase on day two.
Eastern Hill had a lot of contributors throughout the innings, as it went on to make 9-192.
Benjamin Bryant top scored with 44. StevieBelltook5-64fortheMagpies.
Diggers Rest Bulla has a bye.
All the lower grades had the weekend off due to the long weekend and will resume this week.
Sunbury Masters
SPORT Woodman secures slam victory
By Tara Murray
Sunbury’s Jin Woodman made history even being on the court in the Australian Open, let alone coming away with a win.
At 15, Woodman is the youngest ever wheelchair player to play in a senior Grand Slam event.
The teenager, who entered the men’s singles quad event ranked number 20, received a wildcard into the event.
It would be a week to remember, as he claimed a win in both the singles and doubles.
Woodman said it was pretty special.
“ItfeelsgreattoplaytheAustralianOpen,it’s my very first grand slam match, playing in the quads,” he said.
“When I saw the draw playing another Aussie I was a bit nervous at first.
“My plan was to get a few games off one of the top players, my expectation went wild after winning the first set.
“Actually winning a match, 15 years old, against a Paralympian and gold medallist, wow.”
Woodman was drawn against Heath
Davidson in the opening round of the singles. Woodman first met Davidson when he was six.
Since then, Davidson has become a mentor toWoodmanandagoodfriend.Thetwoplayed each other two weeks ago, with Davidson getting the win.
This time round, Woodman got the win, 7-6 2-6 6-3.
“I was a bit nervous, my friends and family
were all going to watch me play,” he said. “I started to give my best, when it got to the first set, it got really intense.
“Butwhentheumpiresaidgameset,match,I was really happy with myself.”
Woodman was knocked out in the next round by Ahmet Kaplan, 2-6 4-6.
He was then in action in the doubles with fellow Aussie Finn Broadbent.
The pair, who have played a lot of tennis together, won their opening round match before being knocked out by the number one seeds.
“I felt really happy playing in the doubles with another Aussie,” Woodman said. “Both of us have never won a Grand Slam doubles, once we won it, we gave a hug straight away, we couldn’t believe it
“Our coaches told us to have fun [in their second match]. You already have won a first round match they said.”
Woodman, who had more than 100 people come and watch him, said it was really cool to see people he didn’t know come out and support them.
He said he didn’t want to let his friends and
Club Sunbury still getting job done
Club Sunbury managed to get the job down despite a late push from Melton in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant, division 1, section 1 competition on Saturday.
Sunbury was at home against Melton in the second match after break, with the Mustangs containing a few former Sunbury players as part of its team.
Sunbury was in control all day and never seemed likely to drop the game, but the match ended with not much between the two teams. Sunbury came away an 80 (14)-75 (4) win. Sunbury’s David Glennon said it was a good win for the team.
He said while the ladder doesn’t reflect it, Melton has a really good team that is hard to beat with some good players who fly down from interstate.
“It was pretty close in the end, five shots,” he
said. “In all honesty, it should have been more.
“We were always in front and led by 15 to 20 shots three quarters for the way through.”
Lauchlin Davies’ rink had an 18-13 win, while Mark Cowan’s rink was the big winner for Sunbury, winning 28-19.
In the other two rinks, Marc Bullows’ rink lost 20-15, while Mark Armstrong’s rink lost 23-19.
Glennon said there were a number of standouts for Sunbury, including Armstrong and Davies, while Bailey Moffatt had a strong game as a lead.
The win keeps Sunbury in second place, where it remains 21 points clear of third placed Deer Park 2. Sunbury sits 25 points behind runaway leader Glenroy, which seems set to claim the minor premiership.
family down.
It’s been a big January for Woodman. He competed at the Victorian Open and the Melbourne Wheelchair Open which were held at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre, where Woodman trains.
He made the quarter finals at the Victorian Open after beating number three seed Andy Lapthorne.
At the Melbourne Wheelchair Open, Woodman made the second round of the quad singles and the quarter finals of the doubles. He also finished runners-up in the junior boys event.
Woodman said the result against Lapthorne was a massive one.
“I played him two years ago in Hume and I think it was my very first quad tournament,” he said. “I was nervous, and lost love and love. Two years have changed a lot and it has changed my life.”
The Maribyrnong Sports Academy student will head back to school before looking ahead to the rest of his season.
Playing in more Grand Slams is the dream for Woodman.
The top four remain close
Kyneton Golf won a thriller against Kilmore in the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Highlands division 1 competition on Saturday.
The match went down to the wire with Golf getting over the line, 56 (14)-53 (2).
Peter Linehan’s rink had a 20-14 shotwinforGolf,whileTroyWilliams’ rink had an 18-15 win to make sure of the overall win.
The win moved Golf above Kilmore on the ladder into third spot, with just one point separating the two teams.
The two sides are chasing the top two sides in Kyneton and Romsey, with just 15 points between the top four after 14 rounds.
On Saturday, Kyneton defeated Broadford, 76 (14)-45 (2) to keep its spot at the top of the table.
John O’Donnell’s rink won 30-12, while Gregory Podesta’s rink won 28-11 for Kyneton.
Romsey claimed a solid win against Gisborne to remain in the top two, winning 56 (14)-47 (2). For Romsey, Cameron Austin’s rink had a 22-18 win, while Matt Brundell\s rink had a 20-7 win.
Alan Higgins was the winning skip for Gisborne, winning 22-14.
With three rounds remaining, every game is vital in the run home for Sunbury as it aims for a top two spot.
None are bigger than this Saturday when it is on the road against Deer Park 2.
“They only lost to Glenroy by one shot,” he said. “They are a good side.
“It doesn’t get any easier for Sunbury. If we win it will basically guarantee second spot heading into finals and a home final.”
“It’s a huge game in the context of the season.”
It was a mixed weekend for Sunbury, with three sides coming away with wins and three sides suffering losses.
Glennon said five of its six teams are still in finals contention heading into the last few rounds.
Tara Murray
In the other match, Trentham dentedDiggersRest’sfinalshopeswith a 63 (14)-55 (2) win.
Phil Robinson was the winning skip for Diggers Rest, winning a thriller 19-18.
DiggersRestisnow30pointsbehind fourth spot.
Kyneton Golf 2, Kyneton 2, Woodend and Macedon were the winners in division 2 on Saturday. After 14 rounds, Woodend is on top of the table, nine points ahead of Kyneton Golf 2 with a big gap to the rest of the sides.
Kilmore 3, Trentham 2, Kyneton 3, Mt Cottrell and Gisborne all had wins in division 3.
Kilmore 3 is atop the table with a 12 point gap on Mt Cottrell.
Tara Murray
Bailey Moffat. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 445373_14
Jin Woodman. (Tennis Victoria)
