AO for Seaholm scientist
By Cade Lucas
RetiredmarinescientistandSeaholmresident, DrHughKirkman,hasbeennamedanOfficer of the Order of Australia (AO) in this year’s Australia Day honours.
Dr Kirkman, who spent 25 years at the CSIRO, received his AO for distinguished service to conservation and the protection, management and sustainability of seagrasses and marine ecosystems.
It’s appropriate recognition given it was Dr Kirkman who discovered that Australia had seagrasses to protect and manage in the first place.
“It was luck,” recalled Dr Kirkman of the moment he made the discovery in Moreton Bay off the coast of Brisbane in 1975.
“I’d just gotten a job as a technician with the CSIRO and where we were supposed to be looking for juvenile commercial prawns.”
They found prawns alright, hundreds, even thousands of them, living in seagrass beds that were thought not to exist in Australia.
“I was the first person in Australia to really make it evident that we have seagrass here and that we have more of it than anywhere in the world and it’s a very important nursery for many commercial fish.”
Dr Kirkman was already a principal research scientist with the CSIRO by this point, but following his discovery, became laser focused on seagrass.
But to learn more he needed to travel overseas, which luckily, he was already planning on doing.
“I’dwantedtorunintheBostonMarathon,” said Dr Kirkman who was also an elite runner at that time, having won the Queensland marathontitleandfinishedsecondinVictoria.
“So I forked out money to pay to go to Boston and then used it as a work trip. I went
all around the states on buses speaking to seagrass experts and they invited me to stay in their houses.”
Fortunately, Dr Kirkman’s 1976 research trip across the US was much more successful than his tilt at the Boston Marathon.
“Terrible, really terrible,” he recalled of his performance in the big race.
“It was 104 degrees (farenheit) on the day and I’m quite a big person and it was too hot for me.”
Dr Kirkland then transferred the stamina he showed as a runner to his scientific career which would last for another 45 years.
He would remain at the CSIRO until 1998, finishing with a three year project mapping theunderwaterfeaturesofsouthernAustralia.
“One of the most spectacular things I did” said Dr Kirkland of the project which took him from Exmouth in Western Australia all the way to Tasmania, hiring small fishing
boats along the way.
He then worked in South East Asia with the United Nations’ environment program before freelancing with various state governments and the private sector and finishing with another spell at the UN in its division for ocean affairs and law of the sea from 2016-21.
These days, Dr Kirkham still occasionally dips his toe in the world of seagrass by writing and reviewing journal papers and recently contributed a chapter to a book on the subject.
He does this from his home in Seaholm, where he and his wife moved after his retirement, despite neither having any connection to Hobsons Bay or Melbourne’s west.
When asked why, Dr Kirkham’s answer made perfect sense.
“I wanted to be near the coast.”
Dr Hugh Kirkman has spent his life researching seagrass. (Attie Mohebali) 455201
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Hobsons Bay chief suspended
By Cade Lucas
Hobsons Bay council chief executive Aaron van Egmond has been suspended from the role effective immediately.
The decision to suspend Mr van Egmond was made at an unscheduled council meeting on January 25, after concerns were raised about workplace safety issues at the council.
“Councillors became aware of concerns about safety in the workplace and the CEO’s fulfilment of his duties more broadly,” Hobsons Bay mayor Daria Kellander said in a statement.
“Councillors take these matters very seriously and have made this decision followingthoroughandcarefulconsideration, pending further investigations. Given the sensitivity of these matters for all concerned,
council can make no further comment at this time.”
Late last year the Australian Services Union (ASU) announced they had received numerous complaints from their members at Hobsons Bay council about the behaviour of certain managers and the toll this took on their health and safety.
The ASU’s statement did not name Mr van Egmond or any other manager, but said the union had raised the concerns of their members with council and that WorkSafe Victoria was investigating.
“To reach the best and safest outcome for workers at Hobsons Bay, we are encouraging members to come forward and contribute to WorkSafe’s investigation,” said ASU organiser Sean McCourt in the statement released on December 20.
“We understand that ASU members
are scared and reluctant to make formal complaints. However, we can assure you that WorkSafe is closely watching Hobsons Bay (as is the ASU).”
Mr van Egmond was appointed Hobsons Bay chief executive in 2018 after serving six years in the same role with Hepburn shire.
Prior to his time at Hepburn, Mr van Egmond spent nine years as development services director at Towong council.
Hobsons Bay council’s sustainable communities director Rachel Lunn has been appointed acting chief executive while Mr Van Egmond is suspended.
Willin women offer free workshop
Williamstown’s women’s choir, Willin Wimmin, is kicking off 2025 on a high note with a free singing workshop on February 5.
Open to all who identify as women, the relaxed and friendly workshop is aimed at anyone who enjoys singing, whether in the shower, the car, or with friends.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to experience groupharmonysinging,”saidWillinWomen’s Louise MacDonald.
“There are no auditions, just beautiful harmonies in a welcoming, supportive environment. Whether you’re unwinding from a busy day, looking for a fun way to connect with your community, want to meet
new people or just share in the joy of music.”
Willin Wimmin has been bringing together women from across the Hobsons Bay and western suburbs to sing as choir for more than 30 years.
The choir meets every Wednesday during school terms and has been led by director Steph Payne for more than 10 years.
Ms Payne said being in a choir was about more than just singing songs, but building connections, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
“Building community is in my nature,” she said.
“When I found a cappella, it made sense
to combine my love for music with fostering supportive networks. Singing is great for your health, and singing in a community is even better!”
Attendees who enjoy the workshop are welcome to return for regular Wednesday sessions and there’s a small fee for ongoing participation.
The free workshop is at the Dennis Reserve, Williamstown from 7:30 PM – 9:30pm on Wednesday, February 5. No bookings are required.
Inquiries: willin.wimmin@gmail.com
Cade Lucas
Artists take over hospital
The former home of the Hobsons Bay Endoscopy Centre and before that the Altona Hospital, will soon play host to a very different set of activities.
The building on the corner of Queen and Sargood streets will soon become the Altona Artisans Studio and serve as the home for a collective of artists.
A soft launch for the new venue will take place on Saturday, February 1, with an open studio event featuring three of its founding artists: Ilona Herreiner, Juan Vasquez and Amanda Neville. Anyone interested in pottery, mosaics, sculpture and other forms of ceramics is encouraged to come along and if inspired, sign up for workshops run by the three artists beginning in March.
“Our workshops go beyond art - they inspire personal growth, creativity, and connection,” said Herreiner, Vasquez and Neville in a joint statement.
“Each session is designed to build confidence and foster a sense of achievement, offering students a space to explore their artistic side, collaborate, or find therapeutic self-expression.”
Fleur Stoios, and Suzie Connelly are the other founding artists at the Altona Artisans Studio which is an initiative of the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre.
For more information about the open studio day and upcoming workshops, visit: www.ljac.com.au
Funding to bring Footscray arts venue to fruition
Footscray could finally be about to get a large-scale performing arts venue as well as a new library and learning hub after the federal government announced funding for the project’s design, planning and business case on Thursday.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was joined by Fraser MP Dr Daniel Mulino and Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari at Footscray Library to announce the $5 million funding package for the Creative West cultural precinct.
The funding, which has been matched by Maribyrnong council, will go towards the planning and design of a 6-star rated, 500 seat performance venue, a contemporary library
and learning hub and open spaces on the site of the current library and adjacent car park on Paisley Street.
The total cost of the Creative West precinct is estimated at over $100 million and is reliant on further federal funding and philanthropic donations being secured before construction can commence.
The design phase is expected to take 18 months and it’s hoped that if funding is secured, construction on the precinct can begin soon after and be finished by the end of the decade.
“Our investment is building better urban spaces for people in Footscray with new arts and community facilities to create a range of
opportunities for locals and visitors,” said Ms King, who added that the new precinct would help revitalise the broader Footscray CBD and hopefully spur further investment.
Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari said the Creative West precinct would fill a glaring void in the inner-west’s otherwise vibrant arts and culture scene.
“Footscray in particular is recognised as a creative hub within the western metropolitan region but we know that our creative spaces are lacking at the moment,” Cr Tiwari said.
There are currently no performing arts venues in Footscray and Maribyrnong capable of seating more than 500 people.
Vice-presidentoftheInner-WestSymphony
Orchestra, Elisa Kelly, said this meant they couldn’t perform in the community in which they are based.
“Currently we’re actually sourcing performance venues outside of this area as we cannot accommodate a full orchestra as well as an audience,” said Ms Kelly, adding that a new venue was more important than just giving them somewhere to perform.
“This is about the community being able to access arts without having to travel to other suburbs or into Melbourne. Everyone should have access to the creative arts, but currently they don’t.”
Cade Lucas
Willin Women members (from left) Jess Heskens, Nora Van Waarden, Steph Payne and Sarah Mccoll are encouraging other women to join their choir at a free workshop on February 5. (supplied)
Aaron van Egmond. (Supplied)
Peter’s long innings recognised
By Cade Lucas
When asked why he’d been made a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Day honours, Geoffrey Collinson struggled to put it succinctly.
“It’s predominantly for the work I’ve done forcricketinthewesternsuburbs,particularly Footscray over the last, what’s it……..48 years.”
No wonder the Council for the Order of Australia chose to honour him.
When it comes to the Footscray Cricket Club, it’s more a case of what Mr Collinson hasn’t done than what he has.
After first representing the club in Dowling Shield as a 15 year old, Mr Collinson played for Footscray for the next 15 years, sharing changerooms with the likes of club legends MervHughesandRayBrightandevenplaying against a very young Shane Warne.
Finally pulling up stumps in 1991 and with a young family and a career at consulting giant PWC well underway, no one would’ve begrudged Mr Collinson if his involvement with the club ended there.
Instead, Mr Collinson went straight onto the committee and has been serving ever since.
He served as vice president from 1993 to 1998, his first term as president from 1998 to 2002 and a second stint from 2012 to the present day.
Mr Collinson was also a member of the club’s Centenary Committee in 1984 and served as the club’s Cricket Victoria delegate from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2013 to the present.
He’s also a member of Western Region Cricket Development Board, co-founder of the Western Region Junior Bulldog Cricket Academy and a supporter of the Cops v Street Kids charity cricket matches.
But as much as he’s given to the club and cricket in the west, Mr Collinson said the club
and the sport had given him much more in return.
“The club has been a tremendous source of friendship for me since I’ve been 15 years old.
A lot of my friends have been involved in the club over the years.”
Mr Collinson said the Footscray Cricket Club was currently in rude health both on and off the field and served as the gateway for young west suburbs cricketers to the top of the sport.
But despite this and receiving an OAM, he
has no plans to step back now.
“I’ll be involved in the club forever,” said Mr Collinson.
“It’s hard to imagine my life without the club.”
Greek migrant honoured by her adopted home
Footscray’s Kleoniki Matziaris-Garay was unsurprisingly thrilled to become a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Day honours.
“I’m a migrant from Greece. I came when I was 18 years old so it’s a big thing for me,” said 74 year old Ms Matziaris-Garay who was honoured for her services to Victoria’s large Greek community, many of whom arrived as young migrants like she did in 1968.
“The first two years I lived in Port Melbourne and then Elwood for a year and then we made the big move the western suburbs because my parents joined us and they wanted to be somewhere with Greeks,” said Ms Matziaris-Garay of her early years in Melbourne and how she ended up to the city’s west, .
Ms Matziaris-Garay has remained in the western suburbs ever since, with most of that time spent in service of other migrants from her homeland through the Australian Greek welfare society PRONIA.
“Because I was in different positions there, PRONIA and the Greek community was like my extended family,” she said, adding that her desire to help the Greek migrant community came from her own struggles upon arrival.
“I felt I’d lost my identity,” said Ms Matziaris-Garay of her difficulties fitting in to her new country, something that was exacerbated by the attitudes of the time.
“The focus was to go to work,” she said of the prevailing view in the Greek migrant community.
“Thefocuswasn’tonestablishingthemselves here, learning the language and improving their lives here.”
Asresult,MsMatziaris-Garaymadehelping Greekmigrantsovercomethelanguagebarrier as well as other practicalities such as how to
access government services and support, the focus of her time at PRONIA.
As she explained, it’s a mission which runs in the family.
“My husband is Chilean. He’s a migrant too and he was president for 10 years of the
South American and Spanish migrant welfare organsation.”
Both Ms Matziaris-Garay and her husband are now happily retired and recently moved to an apartment in Footscray after 30 years living in Williamstown.
Given her decades of work in the area, both feel like home. “For me, the west, I feel like I belong here. It’s like my own village.”
Cade Lucas
Footscray’s Kleoniki Matziaris-Garay received an OAM for services to the Greek community in the Australia Day honours. (Attie Mohebali) 455207_01
Geoffrey Collinson has recieved an OAM for his services to Footscray Cricket Club. (Attie Mohebali) 455211
Techno Park resident top citizen
By Cade Lucas
One of the leading figures in the Save Techno Park campaign has been named Hobsons Bay’s 2025 Citizen of the Year.
Campaign spokesperson and Techno Park resident Lara Week was announced as the winner at an Australia Day ceremony at Williamstown Town Hall on Sunday morning.
Ms Week, who was unable to attend due to feeling unwell, was honoured for her work advocating for the rights of Techno Park residents after attempts by Hobsons Bay council to evict them.
In May 2023, 50 residents of the former migrant camp near the Mobil Oil Refinery were sent eviction notices by council who argued their accommodation on industrial zoned land was unlawful and unsafe.
In response, the Save Techno Park campaign was launched, ultimately forcing the evictions to be paused after the state’s planning laws were amended.
Speaking to Star Weekly, Ms Week said her award demonstrated how quickly things can change.
“Less than two years ago council had written to everyone in our street threatening us with legal action if we didn’t leave our homes immediately and today, we’re still here and being honoured by the community,” she said, adding that the award belonged to everyone who supported the campaign.
“There’s one name on the award but really it recognises the work of so many people who live at techno park and were faced with the most horrible situation and have worked so hard for a just outcome for their neighbours.”
Newport 18 year old Albee Damnics was
named the Young Citizen of the Year for her work advocating for gender equality.
Ms Damnics last year graduated from Bayside College where she ran seminars for teachers on how to combat toxic masculinity in the classroom and support healthy,
Time capsule revealed
Australia Day 2025 had extra significance in HobsonsBayasitmarkedthe25thanniversary and opening of the Millenium Time Capsule.
On January 26, 2000, more than 12,000 messages from local students, residents and organisations were placed in plastic capsules and lowered into a 12 tonne concrete vault beneath the summit of Truganina Park.
And there, under the watchful gaze of the Time Beacon guardian statue, the time capsule stayed for the next two and a half decades until being recently exhumed ahead of its silver jubilee.
On Sunday, a quarter of a century on, the time capsule was finally opened in the form of 41 mini-capsules, each belonging to a Hobsons Bayschoolandcontainingmessagesfromtheir students, put on display at Central Square shopping centre in Altona Meadows.
“There are over 12000 messages from Hobsons Bay schools,” said Bryan Goodwin from the Altona Rotary Club who organised the display.
He said the re-opening of the time capsule meant those who wrote those messages as students could now get them back as adults.
“They were inaugurated on Australia Day 2000 and we’re displaying them 25 years later today and giving some of the people who put
messagesin,givingthembacktheirenvelopes,”
he said, adding that after getting their envelope back, people could then choose to donate their messages to the Altona Rotary Club for a curated time capsule display.
Mr Goodwin said more than 100 people had stopped by to retrieve their envelopes on Australia Day.
Oneofthepeoplehandingthembackwasthe man whose idea it was to create a millennium time capsule in the first place, Geoff Burnnard.
Mr Burrnard said the purpose behind the time capsule was to unite the community.
“To give everybody an opportunity to express what they’d like to see in the future,” he said of the project which originally began in 1998 and was partly inspired by the forced council amalgamations of the mid-1990s.
“The millennium was coming and we’d already amalgamated a few years before so it was to unite everybody into the one municipality.”
Asked whether it succeeded in that aim, Mr Burnnard was succinct.
“I think so yes.”
Those who wrote messages and want to collect them are urged to contact their former schools. For more information visit: www. altonacityrotary.com.au/timecapsule
respectful relationships. She also advocated for changes to the state’s English curriculum.
“It’s designed with a male gaze,” Ms Damnics said.
“There’s 26 books in the curriculum and
most of them have a male protagonist and if there is a female protagonist they’re in a weak position. That constant repetition of boys being overpowering is what’s driving toxic masculinity.”
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Hobsons Bay millennium time capsule founder Geoff Burnnard (centre) with Barry Hanson (left) and Bryan Goodwin (right) from the Altona Rotary Club at the time capsule’s opening display.
Techno Park campaigner Lara Week (back right) with fellow campaigners Matt Robinson, Bryan Hogan and Helen Sinnema.
2025 Hobsons Bay Young Citizen of the Year, Albee Damnics (third from left) with (from left) her grandparents Lloydd and Liz Jones and mother Melissa Damnics. (Cade Lucas) 455623_01
Man faces court over 80s attack
A man accused of raping a beloved 82-year-old grandmother more than four decades ago has facedcourtforthefirsttime.
Michael Martin, 69, briefly appeared in MelbourneMagistratesCourtonFridayafterhe waschargedoverthetwo1980ssexattacks.
He is facing two counts of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated indecent assault, rape, burglary and commonassault.
It’s alleged Martin broke into Jessie Grace Lauder’s Newport home on two separate occasionsinSeptember1981andJuly1983.
He is accused of confronting the elderly
woman with a knife while she was either in bed orgettingreadytogotosleep,beforerapingher.
The Hoppers Crossing man remained silent as Magistrate Leon Fluxman remanded him in custody.
He is expected to make an application for bail onTuesday.
His lawyer told the court it was Martin’s first time in custody and the 69-year-old was in remissionforcancerbutwasreceivingtreatment foratumouronhisneck.
He was also taking medication for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol andprostateissues,thelawyersaid.
William’s Idol ambition
At just 20, Williamstown singer William Le Brun might seem a bit young to be contesting Australian Idol.
After all, Le Brun wasn’t even alive for Idol’s early 2000’s heyday when it was the biggest show on TV and catapulted the likes of Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Anthony Callea into stardom.
Thenagain,theselfdescribedGenZcrooner who mentions the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley as his heroes, seems to have a taste for nostalgia.
“It was huge. My parents were huge fans of it,” said Le Brun of what he remembers from the latter years of Idol’s first run which ended in 2009.
After a 14 year hiatus the show returned for an eighth season in 2023 and with season 10 about to begin, Le Brun has finally made the jump from viewer to contestant, with his audition to feature in the first episode this Sunday night.
“The experience was incredible,” he said of his audition.
“We had cameras in our faces and nerves were high. It was quite daunting. You’ve
grown up looking at these people on television and now you’re performing for them.”
As for what judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark made of Le Brun’s audition and whether he made it any further, viewers will have to wait until Sunday to find out.
“It was quite an interesting one,” was all Le Brun would give away about his audition, adding that he had no regrets.
“Being on that (audition) stage alone was incredible,” he said.
“I always wanted to be on the big stage, ever since I was a little kid.
“I wanna share my joy for music with other people.”
The 2025 season of Australian Idol premiers at 7pm on Sunday, February 2 on Channel 7.
Cade Lucas
Mrs Lauder died in 1993 but her loved ones issued an emotional plea for information on January14.
“Somebodyhasgoneintothesanctuaryofher ownhomenotonce,buttwice,wheresheshould be the most protected that you should ever feel,” hergrandsonMalcolmLaudertoldreporters.
Earlier on Friday, sexual crime squad detectives thanked media and the public for providing vital information leading to the arrest.
“Though Jessie is sadly no longer with us, this is a momentous day for her family and in particular, her grandson, Malcolm, who have
fought incredibly long and hard for justice for almost 44 years for their beloved Jessie,” Detective Inspector Mark Burnett said.
“This has been a complex, protracted and at times, difficult investigation by members of theSexualCrimeSquad–manyofwhomhave moved to different units over the years – and their determination and perseverance is to be commended.”
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
NationalSexualAbuseandRedressSupport Service 1800 211 028
Hints on managing menopause from Jean Hailes expert
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
Dr Sarah White, chief executive of Jean Hailes. (Supplied)
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 that everybody’s experience is very individual. 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
Twenty year old Williamstown singer William Le Brun during his audition for Australian Idol which airs on Sunday, February 2. (supplied)
Offering a helping hand
The Williamstown Community and Education Centre (WCEC) has been given a helping hand to continue its work supporting the disadvantaged in Hobsons Bay.
The WCEC received a donation of toiletries and essential items to be distributed to those in need throughout the Hobsons Bay community.
The donation came courtesy of the Healthcare Foundation, another local organisation which helps the less fortunate in the inner-west.
TheHealthcareFoundationwasestablished fiveyearsagobypodiatristDrGerardZammit whooperatesachainoffootcareclinicsacross the western suburbs, including in Altona and Altona North.
Dr Zammit’s foundation has regularly donated food to the WCEC which it then distributes via its Food Releif and Pantry Swapinitiatives,butthedonationonMonday, January 20, was the first to contain toiletries
and sanitary products.
WCEC chief executive Dr Mark Brophy said he was extremely appreciative of the Healthcare Foundation’s generosity.
“These donations help our local disadvantaged tremendously, in not only helping them financially, but bringing dignity into their lives,” said Dr Brophy, who pointed out that Hobsons Bay was home to much more disadvantage than many people realised.
“Many locals are unaware of the significant amounts of people doing it tough in local public housing including the high rise Floyd Lodge and Nelson Heights.”
The toiletries and sanitary products will be distributed from the WCEC’s base at Joan Kirner House where its sponsored programs, training courses, morning teas and other events and initiatives take place.
For more information, email: manager@ wcec.com.au
Briefs
Altona grass fire
Firefighting planes were needed to bring a large grass fire under control in Altona on Sunday afternoon. Crews arrived at the Laverton Grasslands on Purnell Street at about 3.49pm on January 26 to find the fire spread over a 2km radius and threatening houses located less than 50 metres away. A Watch and Act message was issued for residents of Altona and Altona Meadow as the grass fire travelled north towards Kororoit Creek Road and then came close to Westona Train Station on the Werribee train line. After four firefighting planes were deployed, the fire was brought under control by about 6.15pm having burnt 23 hectares of grassland. The fire is being treated as suspicious and an investigation is underway.
Maribyrnong grass fire
Detectives are investigating a large grass fire on La Scala Avenue, Maribyrnong which occurred at about 12am on January 26 . Police were told a group of youths were setting off fireworks shortly before the fire started and then fled the scene on foot. There were no injuries and several hectares of grassland were burnt.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT
Web: starweekly.com.au
Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Williamstown Community and Education Centre chief executive Dr Mark Brophy (left) with Dr Gerard Zammit from the Healthcare Foundation who donated toiletries to be distributed to disadvantaged people throughout Hobsons Bay. (supplied)
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
Walking group
The Mighty West Heart Foundation Community Walking Group meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am. Walk at your own pace for up to 60 minutes. Discover the many health benefits (physical and psychological) of walking together. All welcome.
0411 566 862
Art prize
Artists residing in Melbourne’s western are invited to participate in the 5X7 Art Prize 2025. Register to enter the 11th annual prize by attending in person at Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre, 5 Sargood St, Altona on Wednesday, February 5 from 7-9pm (art room) or Saturday, February 8 from 10am - 12 noon (foyer area). Artists in Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham municipalities can take part.
Inquiries & Info: hbas@y7mail.com, www. hobsonsbayartssociety.org.au
Nurses Reunion
An opportunity for past trainee nurses to renew acquaintances and connections from their time at the hospital. The function includes lunch ( pre-ordered & paid in advance ) morning and afternoon teas inclusive of price. The reunion will be held
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
on Saturday, February 22 at The Customs House Hotel , Nelson Place Williamstown, from 11 am - 4pm.
For further details contact Kerry 0401 924 132 devenishk@hotmail.com
Willin Wimmin choir
Join the wonderful women at Willin Wimmin choir in Williamstown for some singing fun! Term 1 begins on Wednesday January 29 and goes through to April 2. Try us out for free for two weeks to see if it’s your thing. The group is all about the joy of group singing, and we welcome new members.
There are no auditions required. Members sing a mix of contemporary, folk, choral, and world music in acapella style. The choir meets on Wednesday evenings during school terms from 7:30pm to 9:30 pm at The Dennis Reserve, 109 Ferguson Street, corner Melbourne Road, Williamstown.
willinwimmin.org.au or email willin. wimmin@gmail.com
Women Working Together
A program connecting women aged 50 and above and in need of assistance, with mentors and mentees. Open to women across the western suburbs, including Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay.
9655 2131, EmploymentSupport@ cotavic.org.au, or https://cotavic.org.au/ our-programs/employment-support/
Musicians Wanted Westgate Concert Band, established in 1979, is seeking new members. Rehearsals are held on Saturday mornings during school terms, 9am to 12noon at Braybrook College.
For more information email westgateconcertband@gmail.com
Williamstown Bridge Club.
The club has bridge sessions each week on Wednesdays at 7.25pm, Fridays at
1.25pm for experienced players, and a supervised session on Fridays at 9.50am at Hobsons Bay Sport & Game Fishing Club, 17 Altona Road, Altona. Beginners lessons begin in May. All levels welcome and partners can be provided.
Carol, 0401731260, Alan,0430 309 255, or www.bridgewebs.com/ williamstown
Volunteers needed
Join the Hobsons Bay Community Fund (HBCF) as a committee member to support and strengthen your local community. It is seeking to fill the executive office role, (secretarial, governance and event management skills) as well as other voluntary positions. eo@hbcommunityfund.org.au
Musicians welcome
Do you play any percussion, brass or woodwind instruments? The Hobsons Bay City Band is seeking musicians to join their community band. Please note that rehearsals are held under the directorship of Wayne Bowden OAM every Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Spotswood South Kingsville RSL, 59 The Avenue, Spotswood.
Hannah Prouse, hbcityband@gmail.com or check URL www.hbcb.org.au
The art of Moana on display
Altona resident Jade Hadfield and the Pacific Sisters from New Zealand have collaborated for an exhibition titled FROCK A WHANAUNGATANGA.
Ms Hadfield is a conservator and curator with more than 12 years’ experience at leading cultural organisations, including Te Papa, ICCROM, The Koorie Heritage Trust, and State Library Victoria, and is currently curator, Moana Wan-Solwara Collection at Museums Victoria. She is committed to Indigenous museum practices and elevating the art of the Moana.
Pacific Sisters is a Tagata Moana art collective that emerged from the fringes of mainstream arts and culture in Aotearoa NewZealandin1991.Theyarenowcelebrated for their multi-disciplinary practice that blends Moana heritage art and contemporary forms to create fashion activism. Through ceremony, art, adornment and performance, they embrace and assert their urban M?ori, Pacific, and Queer identities, unique to Aotearoa New Zealand.
This exhbition, at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren, marks the Pacific Sisters’ first Australian solo exhibition and showcases their vibrant legacy through fashion, performance, film, and music, exploring ancestral connections and kinship, bringing to life the artistic traditions of the Moana.
“It celebrates our deep connection across the Moana, bridging time and space. This exhibition offers Pasifika communities in Victoria the opportunity to see themselves reflected and honoured on the exhibition and workshop series,“ Jade said.
“By inviting audiences to engage with these themes through interactive elements and evocative displays, the exhibition fosters a shared sense of connection and celebrates the enduring importance of kinship in sustaining cultural identity.“
As visitors move through the exhibition, they will encounter niu aitu (new ancestors) avatars adorned in the Sisters’ intricate handmade garments alongside ancestral taonga and measina (treasured cultural items) drawn from the collections of Museums Victoria and National Gallery of
Victoria, and new works from the Sisters. The exhibition also offers visitors a dynamic Pasifika lounge to engage with archivalfootageandimageryfromthePacific Sisters’ 30 years of pioneering work.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors will also be able to immerse themselves in making practices of the Moana with a series of adornment-making workshops, exploring textile techniques and chatting with the
PacificSistersaboutMoanamakingpractices, kinship, ritual and activism through art and adornment. The exhibition is on until 9 March.
Jade ( in red) with the exhibition team.
Fashion on display.
Colourful dress was the order of the day. (Picture: Tiffany Garvie)
Treasured cultural items on display. (Picture: Tiffany Garvie)
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.”
Footscray set to host fabulous First Nations showcase
Midsumma, Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural festival, is underway for 2025 and so too is its spin-off event, Midsumma Westside, with a number of events and performances being held across the western suburbs.
Among them is the upcoming Blak and Fabulous Performer Showcase at Pride of our Footscray Community Bar on Barkly Street.
Billed as an intimate but upbeat evening of First Nations performance and discussion, Blak and Fabulous will take place on Friday, January 31, at 8pm.
The year’s showcase will be headlined by the current reigning Miss First Nations Supreme Queen, Cerulean.
Joining Cerulean will be Stone Motherless Cold and event host 2JOOCEE, with each doing live performances as well as sharing their experiences of being queer First Nations creatives during question and answer sessions.
“The black and fabulous show is an amazing event,”saidPrideofourFootscrayCommunity Bar manager, Matthew O’Keefe.
“It’s the third year that it’s running. It used to be called the first nation’s drag festival and it was renamed to include a broader range of artists so it’s still first nations based, but includes singers and dancers rather than just drag queens,” he said.
Tickets are still available for the one hour showcase, one of a number of Midsummer Westside events Pride of our Footscray are hosting throughout the festival.
The night before, the Queer Comedy Gala willbeheldatthevenue,aswillABCDComedy on February 6, Magic Men of Summer Risque Revue on February 1 and All-Star Pride Drag Bingo on February 7.
Details: www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/
Queer First Nations performer, Cerulean, will be appearing at the Blak and Fabulous showcase in Footscray on January 31. (Kyle Archie Knight)
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
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.
Cruising to historic Riga
I’ve always wanted to visit Riga - I even considered naming my first child after the historic Latvian centre to give the family a compelling reason to go there.
Personally, I blame my love of Eurovision, medieval times and too many viewings of Sean Connery’s Hunt for Red October for my interest in that part of the world – a love of the Art Nouveau movement hasn’t helped either.
TheLatviancapitalbillsitselfasit’scountry’s crown jewel and the absolute must-see for anyone wanting to go to the Baltic region.
The city has more than 600 000 inhabitants, making it the largest in the Baltic States and is also known as an architectural jewel – a city where you can see churches from the city’s origins, medieval buildings in the Old Town, unique examples of Art Nouveau, as well as wooden architecture that has survived the centuries and modern architectural jewels.
I haven’t got there yet – it’s not a place you see on every European tour itinerary, but the UNESCO-listed city is one of twelve new recurring ports in the Viking cruise line’s ten new ocean itineraries in the Mediterranean, United Kingdom, Ireland and Northern Europe now booking for cruises in 2026 and 2027.
The new itineraries range from eight to twenty-two days and along with Riga, the additional recurring ports for the Viking ocean voyages include Fowey, England; Bordeaux, France; Limerick (Foynes), Ireland; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Londonderry, Northern Ireland; Haugesund, Norway; Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao, Spain; Fort William and Tobermory, Scotland; and Karlskrona, Sweden.
“As our award-winning fleet of small ocean ships continues to grow, we are pleased to introduce new voyages that have been thoughtfully planned for curious travellers,” Viking Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen said.
“Every Viking itinerary is focused on the destination, and our state-of-the-art ships, with no children and no casinos, allow guests to explore the world in elegant Viking comfort.”
With a fleet of small sister ships, Viking offersmorethan100differentitinerariesacross all five oceans. Viking’s new ocean voyages visit iconic cities—as well as lesser-known destinations—throughoutEuropeandinclude the following, with additional combination voyages also available.
How to see Riga through the new Viking itineraries
New for 2027: Baltic Discovery: (eight days;
between Stockholm – Copenhagen): Discover amyriadofculturesasyoucircumnavigatethe Baltic Sea. Explore the UNESCO-listed cities of Tallinn and Riga, medieval gems of the HanseaticLeague.CallatKlaipeda,Lithuania’s historic port city on the Curonian coast, and immerse yourself in its contemporary art and cultural treasures. Overnight in Copenhagen to experience more of the “City of Spires” and indulge in the many eateries that celebrate its trending Nordic cuisine.
New for 2027: Scandinavia and Baltic Capitals: (15 days; between Oslo –Copenhagen): Trace the shores of the Baltic Sea to discover magnificent fjords and bustling cities. Call at UNESCO-listed cities and get a glimpse into the area’s medieval past in the old towns of Tallinn and Riga, and Karlskrona’s historicport.Witnessthenaturalsplendour of the Aland Islands, an archipelago of more than 6,500 isles. With overnights in the vibrant capitals of Sweden and Denmark, delve deeper into the region’s rich heritage and Viking legacy.
New for 2027: Scenic Scandinavia and Baltic Jewels: (15 days; between Bergen –Stockholm)–Delveintothemaritimeheritage
of Scandinavia as you trace the dramatic coastlines of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Witness stunning natural landscapes sailing amid pristine fjords and the Åland Islands, an archipelago of 6,700 isles. Explore more of Oslo and Stockholm with overnight stays, allowing passengers to fully experience two of Europe’s capitals. Sample new Nordic cuisine and stroll historic towns as you spend time mingling with friendly locals.
New for 2027: Icons of the Viking Age: (22 days; between Bergen – Copenhagen): CircumnavigatetheBalticSeasailingthrough
the homelands of the Vikings. Explore the deep-rooted cultural ties of Scandinavia, calling at iconic capitals in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Sail the picturesque Åland Islands,anarchipelagoof6,700isles.Immerse in the customs, traditions and fascinating history of the Baltic states, home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the old town of Tallinn and the historical centre of Riga. For additional information, contact Viking on 138 747 (AU) / 0800 447 913 (NZ) or visit www.viking.com.ForViking’saward-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.
TANIA PHILLIPS
Street cafes in the OId Town of Riga. The beautiful and historic capital of Latvia is set to become a Viking Cruise destination in 2027. (Latvia.travel)
The rooftops of historic Tallinn. The beautiful Estonian capital is part of Viking’s Balkan tours and is soon to be joined by Riga, the capital of neighbouring country Latvia. Both capitals are steeped in history. (Viking)
Enjoy a 15 day scenic Scandinavia and Baltic Jewels tour from Bergen (pictured) to Stockholm on Viking. (Viking)
Be one of the first to book the new Baltic Discovery Cruise on Viking in 2027; eight days cruising between Stockholm (pictured) and Copenhagen with a visit to Riga. (Viking)
Tallinn is the capital and most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. (Viking)
Dreaming of Mediterranean
The magnificent Mediterranean is a divine destination for travellers wishing to dip their toes into a European adventure.
Those who have been before always find something new to excite and those new to the region are taken aback by the richness of their experience.
The ‘Med’ is always a popular choice for Australian travellers who love the architecture,sceneryandthesumptuousfresh food and beverage opportunities on shore and if you are with Viking, on board.
No matter where you wish to visit in the world, there is a Viking ship to take you there and the reality is just as good as the photos. It is a breathtaking experience and the view from the ship as it enters each port will be etched in your mind forever.
From Barcelona to Venice, Deputy Editor of ‘Explore’, Akash Arora, discovered the most marvellous Mediterranean on cruise ship Viking Sky, visiting some of the most romantic, stunning ports in the world.
The 228 metres long Viking Sky has 465 cabins and sails with only 930 guests - all over eighteen years of age.
Akash equally enjoyed time on the ship as well as the organised walking tours and shore excursions on his Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Venice and said it fulfilled his dreams of exploring this part of the world.
“IwentstraightfortheMed,whichhadbeen on my bucket list for donkey’s years,” he said.
“It was a 15-day cruise from Barcelona to Venice and it ticked every box - Spain, France, Italy and even Croatia. I travelled at the peak of summer - in the month of August. But the weather gods were kind to us: we got great conditions. Clear skies every day. Lots of sun. Warm, but never too hot.
“I basically signed up for all the included excursions at each port. It was my first time at most of these destinations and a simple walking or bus tour is a great way to get a good overview of the place.”
“I have to say, all the guides were so well-informed. And they all had a great sense of humour. The only tour I paid for was a cooking class in a Tuscan castle conducted by a chef who looked like Santa in an apron. It was worth every cent.”
“Marseille in France, and Naples, Messina, Crotone and Bari in Italy, all offer delights of their own, not to mention heavy hitters like Rome and Florence that also feature along the way.”
“There’s an included excursion at every port and I joined almost all of them.”
He said of the many tasting delights in his
fifteen days, a bowl of bouillabaisse comes to mind in the city of Marseille, where it is believed to have originated. I also had some incredible gelati on the island of Sicily. It was a warmdaysoitwasaracetogobbleitupbefore it melted away.”
“The most memorable dish of the journey, however, was Bistecca alla Fiorentina on the ship’s Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant. I don’t like to repeat restaurants and dishes on a cruise if I can help it - but I went back to this restaurant and this dish three times: it was that good.”
Akash said while onboard he loved the sophisticated interiors saying every Viking ship has very chic Scandi touches.
“Someofmyfavouritememoriesarespending time in the Explorer’s Lounge, which is at the front of the ship, so a perfect vantage point when the vessel is nearing a gorgeous European port.”
“I loved my Kir Royales in the ship’s Atrium, too, as the pianist tinkled up Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. And don’t evengetmestartedonthedrop-deadgorgeous Wintergarden. I went there for afternoon tea, but it’s so photogenic, I spent all my time taking pictures.”
“I loved the fact that there were no kids or casinos. This elimination of those two things (sorry, families) immediately turns a cruise into an utterly sophisticated, grown-up experience.”
We asked Akash if he had any suggestions for travellers about to embark on a Viking cruise to ensure a seamless and enjoyable trip that makes the most of their time?
“Book everything as soon as you can, including your cruise, as well as the dining and shore excursions,” he said
“If you can’t get into every restaurant you want, go to the help desk as soon as you board the ship.
“Cancellations happen all the time and they’ll be able to help you. If you’re going in summer,signupforearly-morningexcursions. That’s when the weather is at its most pleasant and crowds are not too overbearing.”
Don’t miss this truly exciting adventure on Viking. For a chance to learn more on this and other Viking Cruises please call Reservations (AU) 138 747 or visit website vikingcruises.com.
Enjoy the delights of Barcelona and the mosaic park benches and stunning architecture. (Supplied, Viking).
Take in the ancient history of Rome on one of your organised shore excursions with Viking. (Supplied, Viking)
LEE MCCARTHY
AMALFI COAST, AFRICA & IBERIA
Rome to Barcelona
8 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 5 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: OCT, DEC 2026; JAN, FEB, MAR 2027
From $5,995pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $7,195pp in Penthouse Veranda
COMPANION FLY
Lisbon to Barcelona or vice versa
8 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 6 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: OCT, NOV 2026; FEB, APR, MAY, JUN, SEP 2027
From $5,995pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $7,195pp in Penthouse Veranda
Enjoy free flight offers with selected river, ocean or expedition voyages, valued up to AU$2,400 per person. Plus AU$500 shipboard credit with any ocean and expedition booking. Available for a limited time only, offers end 31 March 2025.
Lisbon to London or vice versa
12 DAYS | 4 COUNTRIES | 8 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL: SEP 2026; APR 2027
From $9,195pp in Veranda Stateroom From $10,695pp in Penthouse Veranda
Atlantic Ocean
SPAIN PORTUGAL
Seville (Cádiz)
(Málaga)
(Cartagena)
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Luxury Mediterranean Cunard Voyage, Duo of Italian Lakes & Scenic Swiss Rail
Discover the enchanting Mediterranean, from the breathtaking Italian Lakes and the spectacular Swiss Alps to the remarkable treasures scattered along its coastline.
Following an overnight hotel stay in Rome, you will board Cunard’s elegant Queen Victoria for a luxurious 14-night Mediterranean cruise. The voyage will take you to stunning destinations, including Toulon, Alghero, and Messina, before continuing to Naples and Civitavecchia. You will also explore the idyllic islands of Cephalonia and Corfu, followed by the scenic beauty of Kotor and historic Dubrovnik.
Disembarking in Trieste, you will transfer to the serene Lake Maggiore for a five-night escape. Here, you’ll experience the beauty of the surrounding mountains and tranquil waters, including a scenic Centovalli Railway journey that offers breathtaking views and a tour of nearby Lake Como, known for its picturesque villages and stunning villas.
Queen Victoria
From her elegantly decorated public rooms and opulent lounge venues to her gourmet fine dining and luxurious, spacious cabins, Cunard’s illustrious vessel exudes class with the splendour evocative of great cruise liners past.
Your holiday includes Full-Board Cruise
ï 14 night full-board cruise on board
Queen Victoria
ï Visiting: Rome, Toulon, Alghero, Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia, Cephalonia, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Trieste
Hotel Stays
ï 1 night four-star stay in Rome at the Starhotels Metropole
ï 5 night four-star stay in Lake Maggiore at the Zacchera Hotels Collection
ï All hotel stays include breakfast Fully Escorted Tour
ï Lake Como tour
Rail Journey
ï Scenic rail journey on board the Centovalli Railway
All Flights, Taxes and Transfers
ï Overnight flights
Journey on board the Centovalli Railway
This panoramic train journey from Domodossola in Italy to Locarno in Switzerland travels through the picturesque Centovalli “One Hundred Valleys”. It traverses the foothills of the Lepontine Alps, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Pass deep gorges and crevices with glittering cascading waterfalls. Glide across colourful alpine wildflower meadows, over numerous bridges and through vineyards and forests of chestnut trees. This scenic rail journey through a timeless landscape is unmissable.
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
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?
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, despite having 11 airbags, 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.
We tried this several times and although the 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
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
Spotswood’s Declan O’Brien on Saturday. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 455340_06
Altona move into top six
Altona moved back into the top six, while Yarravillecausedoneoftheupsetsoftheseason as the race for Victorian Sub-District Cricket Associations south-west finals spots heats up. After 11 rounds, just 15 points separates the top nine teams meaning every result in the run home is important.
Altona did its hopes no harm with a win against Melton.
It was a must win game for the A’s against one of the bottom sides of the competition.
TheA’swonthetossatMacphersonParkand decided to have a bat. They put on 176 as they were bowled out with one ball remaining.
Luke Medlock top scored with 71.
Melton had set a steady platform at 2-89 before the A’s bowlers got on top.
The A’s took 7-35 to bowl the Lions out for 124 in the 43rd over.
Adam Yates took 5-28 to be the pick of the bowlers for the A’s.
The win moves Altona into sixth spot.
Yarraville made it two wins in a row with victory against top side Brighton.
In one of their best performances for the season, the Eagles showed they can match it with the top sides.
Batting first, they made 9-189 from their overs. Skipper Josh Hahnel top scored with 62.
Brightonwasontrackat1-99beforeitstarted to lose wickets in clumps.
TheEaglesbowlersmanagedtodoenoughto bowl Brighton out for 176 in the last over.
Wickets were shared around for the Eagles, with three players taking two each.
The Eagles now sit in 13th spot.
Spotswood’s finals hopes suffered a setback with a loss to Oakleigh.
The Woodsmen made 9-171 from their overs after winning the toss and deciding.
Lachie McKenna top scored with 55 at the top of the order.
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.
United signing makes history
Western United has added another explosive young talent to its A-League Men roster, securing goalkeeper Alex Nassiep to the longest contract in the club’s history.
The18-year-oldhascommitteduntil June 2028, seeing him spend the next three-and-a-half years developing his trade at Ironbark Fields.
Standing at 194 centimetre tall, Nassiep has been in the Western United Academy since 2023 and risen through the ranks.
Hisheightandspeedoffhislinemake him a terrifying sight for opposition strikers while his distribution skills suit the exciting, attacking brand of football that United wishes to play.
Prior to that, Nassiep has also represented Australia at under-17 level having made his name at home in Queensland.
Having impressed United goalkeeper coach Michael Theo and first team staff in training over a numberofmonths,Nassiephasearned a senior contract and is ready to take the next step.
“Signing my first contract means everything to me. I’ve been working my whole life to get to where I am today,” he said.
“I feel very privileged that the coaching staff and the club have put plenty of faith in me. No I just need to give back to them.
Oakleigh made hard work of the run chase, but managed to get the job done in the 43rd over, finishing 8-175.
McKenna took four wickets for the Woodsmen.
Spotswood now sits in ninth spot, three points outside the top six.
Williamstownalsogotaconfidenceboosting win on the board, accounting for Caulfield.
The Seagulls bowlers set the win up as they bowled Caulfield out for 120.
Sean Sturrock took three wickets, with Mason King, Daniel Popa and Fraser Hay taking two each and doing some early damage. Itdidn’tlookgoodearlyfortheSeagulls,who were in trouble at 2-1.
They were able to steady and get the runs with ease, finishing 4-122.
Matthew Dervan top scored with 58 not out.
Williamstown sits 12th on the ladder.
“I’m very lucky to be able to work day in, day out with Michael Theo – he has been a big impact on where I’ve gotten to today. Obviously,John Aloisi is one of the biggest names in Australian football, so it is an honour to be coached under him as well.”
Western United football general manager Mal Impiombato said the club had extremely high hopes for Nassiep’s development.
“Alex is someone that we have been incredibly impressed with since he joined our Academy and we are delighted to be able to offer him a scholarship contract,” he said.
“He has performed superbly in the NPLspacewhilealsohavinganimpact in first team training opportunities with his quality as well as his work ethic and character.”
Jin Woodman. (Tennis Victoria)
Williamstown Congs are on the board after win
There were plenty of smiles on faces at the Williamstown Congs on Saturday, as they broke through for their first win of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield season.
It’s been tough going for the Congs this season which included putting a call to arms to help the club rebuild and find more players.
On Saturday, the Congs were able to beat Jacana in a one-day match to finally have a win on the board.
“It’s about time we got a win,” coach Reg Mustafa said. “It’s a bit of a relief.
“It’s the first club win of the season and it was hard work. “We’ve been working hard on a few things in the previous games and it came to fruition at the end.”
On Saturday, it was a battle between the bottom two sides.
The Congs won the toss and decided to bat. They were able to put on 6-237. Vishal Attan was the star as he made 108 not out as he batted through the innings.
Mustafa said there had been a number of
contributions throughout the order to push the score past 200.
While it seemed it would be enough, the Jaguars came out attacking to try and get their second win of the season.
“They were scoring freely early on,” Mustafa said. “Rinku Singh came on and took 2-12 off eight overs and took back control of the game.”
The Jaguars were bowled out for 172 in the
Roosters continue on
By Tara Murray
The Altona Roosters have exceeded their expectations so far for the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Isaacs Howarth Shield. In their first season back up in division 1, the Roosters sit atop the table after nine rounds.
Vice-president Nathan Moon said they were really happy with how the season was tracking so far.
“We’re going well above expectations at the minute,” he said. “We definitely didn’t think we would be where we are this year.
“We’ve seen that the competition is really even and it’s one of the most even competitions I’ve seen in a while.
“We’ve done a lot of things right which is pleasing.”
Moon said despite sitting top they aren’t getting ahead of themselves. He said they will continue to take it week by week.
He said they wanted to keep ticking off the results and lock in a top four spot.
“Then we want to secure a home final,” he said. “We’re trying not to over complicate
things, there’s still four or five games to go.”
On Saturday, the Roosters accounted for PEGS.
PEGS batted first on their home deck and made 8-212.
Moon said chatting with some of the first XI players, they believed that PEGS had left 30 to 40 runs out there.
Captain Ash Peters was the pick of the bowlers with 3-16 off six overs.
The Roosters made the runs in the second last over, finishing 4-213.
Nadeera Thuppahi continued his good form, top scoring with 67 not out.
Moon said they had a lot of different options that could stand up with the bat.
“Thuppy has made almost 500 runs and we have three or four players around the 300-400 mark.
“A couple might stand out one week, but we are not relying on too few, which is good.
“We’ve got some guys putting on some good scores.”
The Roosters face the Druids in their next match, in a two-dayer starting on Saturday.
The club already has one eye on the future,
40th over. Praveen Munigala took 3-31.
Mustafa said having a win on the board would take the pressure off the group.
“We have a bit more self belief and have a bit more confidence,” he said.
“We are up to standard and up to the level.
Brandon Mifsud is captain this year and it’s great for him to get his first win on the board.
“He’s been going really well.”
The Congs this week face Donnybrook, which sits inside the top four and will be a good test.
Mustafa said since they put the call out, they were in a better position than they had been.
“We’ve added a few more players to the club, across both grades, which has added more depth,” he said. “It’s great.”
In other matches, Barkly Street Uniting had a tough day against Burnside Springs United.
Burnside made 8-152 from its 40 overs, with the Dragons finishing 9-62.
With the loss, the Dragons have slipped to second.
Tara Murray
Sports shorts
VFL
Hamish Murphy has moved to Williamstown for this year’s Victorian Football League season.
The 24-year-old, 193 centimetre defender joins the club from North Melbourne’s VFL program, where he made 24 appearances over the past four seasons. He also starred for North Heidelberg in the Northern Football League last year, playing 14 games. “A born-to-be Seagull, Hamish came up through the Williamstown Juniors and Western Jets pathways,” the club said.
Coates Talent League
The Western Jets have appointed Christian Stagliano as their Coates Talent League boys coach. Stagliano takes over from Trent Dennis-Lane who has returned to the AFL system. Stagliano has been involved at both Collingwood and the Gold Coast Suns and coached Northern Football League sides, Banyule and Macleod.
WSCCCA
with the club advertising for a coach for next season.
It hasn’t had a coach this season.
“We haven’t got any nibbles yet,” Moon said. “Hopefully these positive results show where we are and we can attract someone.
“We are open to playing or non-playing, we’ll see who comes up in the expression of interest.”
In other Isaacs Howarth Shield results, Altona North continues on its way with a win against the Druids.
Altona North made 248 before restricting the Wizards to just 103.
Asela Aluthge top scored for Altona North with 62.
FootscrayUnitedandSeddonbothsuffered losses to Sunshine and Haig Fawkner respectively.
In the senior division, Yarraville Club beat St Albans with one ball remaining.
Chasing 8-179, the Clubbers finished 8-180.
Ash Sweet was the key down the order, finishing with 25 not out off 28 balls.
The Clubbers remain on top.
Altona Sports had no troubles at all in its one-day match with Point Cook in the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association A.E Lowe Shield on Saturday. The Warriors were bowled out for just 66. Khush Talati took five wickets for Altona Sports. Altona Sports needed just 11.5 overs to get the runs, finishing 0-68. Sports had a 22 point gap at the top of the table after 10 rounds, currently sitting undefeated.
VTCA
Seabrook got an important win against Werribee Centrals in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield. Seabrook was able to bowl Werribee Centrals out for 102 in the 22nd over. Seabrook made hard work of the chase, but got the job done, finishing 8-104. Seabrook sits third on the ladder. In other results, St Andrew’s Footscray lost to Bellbridge, Laverton fell just short against Sunshine YCW, and Footscray Angliss lost to East Coburg. In the Roy Picone Shield, Kingsville beat Sunshine Heights and Gellibrand was too strong top side Point Cook Centrals.
& Hobsons Bay Star Weekly
Joshua Lanciana. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 454171_01
Leigh Lewis. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 455337_10
Taranto relishing return to football
By Tara Murray
It hasn’t been the season that Western United women had been after so far, but one of the highlights has been the return of Adriana Taranto to the field.
OneofWestern’sinauguralplayers,Taranto injured her knee in March requiring her to have a knee reconstruction.
After months on the sidelines, Taranto made her return as a substitute in United’s first match of 2025.
“It was so exciting,” she said. “It had been a pretty long year, a different year.
“I was so happy to be out there again. It’s something you can’t take for granted.
“You want to get back out there and help get the win and get some consistency and hopefully get two wins in a row.”
Taranto said while she was disappointed to be on the sidelines, the break away from the field was kind of a blessing in disguise.
She said you see a different side of things on the sidelines.
“You don’t know how long you are going
to be playing at a professional level,” she said.
“There’s a lot of credit to the girls and myself that have gone through this, it takes a lot to go through it.
“There’s so many people that threw their support around me.”
Taranto said she was lucky much of her recovery time was in the off season.
“There was a lot of club support,’ she said. “It ended up being a smooth process in the terms of an ACL.
“You hear stories and different things about setbacks. I was able to hit my benchmarks and worked really hard as well.
“Ihadtherightpeoplearoundme.Iwentoff how I felt and I felt good and got used to it.”
Taranto said when she went down injured, she didn’t set a concrete date that she had targeted as her return.
Round10wasthegameshehadbeenhoping for, which is what she achieved.
Taranto’s first game was an extra special game, with her twin sister Mel becoming the second United women’s player to play 50 games for the club.
Adriana said it just happened to be luck that it turned out that way.
“Ididn’tplanthat,”shesaid.“Iwasumming and arring about the week before, but we decided to leave it one more week.
“It just happened to be her 50th which was pretty special. I came on in the 75th minute and she said it gave her an extra boost.”
Having played all their soccer together, Adriana said Mel had felt weird without her sister being there with her.
Adriana had been through that situation when Mel did her ACL a number of years ago.
Now back on the field, Taranto is keen to continue on building. She has come back into the starting line up the past two games.
“I’m trying to find that balance and not putting pressure on myself,” she said. “I want to get my minutes up and get my fitness up.
“It’s important to get the little things right.”
As a team Taranto said they wanted to find that consistency which they know that they have and win some more games to put them into finals contention again.
Neal gets another shot
By Tara Murray
Williamstown Wolves’ Dennis Neal didn’t think he would ever get another shot playing in the Australian Baseball League.
The pitcher played for Canberra in 2020 and it didn’t go the way that he had wanted it to.
“After the way that I played at Canberra, I thought I was no shot at playing in the ABL again,” he said.
“I thought it was one and done. I had a blast though.”
Neal didn’t think much more about playing in the top competition in the country and focused on his time with the Wolves.
That was until a phone call before the final round of the ABL season changed everything.
‘I was at work and my club coach for Willy called me and I missed the call,” he said. “He said to call him back urgently.
“I took a break and he told me the Aces are trying to call me to play on the weekend. I was tentative as I didn’t want to let the club [Williamstown]downaswe’retryingtoclinch
a play off spot.
“It was a great opportunity and it’s not going to come around much as I’m a bit older.
I thought I would do it, one last hurrah.”
Neal said the Aces were so welcoming to him and it was very special to be part of the club for a short time.
Neal managed to play in two of the Aces four games in the final round.
It was a different feeling to the last time he played in the ABL.
“I was proud of myself,” he said. “I think I did what was wanted of me and even did a little bit more.
“I learned from my mistakes and turned up.”
Neal said he would look to take that form back to Williamstown. He said his teammates were thoroughly excited for him to have that opportunity.
The Wolves are in a battle for a finals spot in the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1st nine competition.
Neal said it will be interesting now with all the “studs” from the ABL returning to their
Finals spots go begging
A win on Tuesday night wasn’t enough for Yarraville to sneak through to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association T20 competition finals.
The top six teams won both their matches, with the last two finals spots coming down to percentage, Teams from seventh through to 26th all won one match.
The Eagles, Spotswood and Williamstown all had one win for the competition, but finished in 11th, 10th and 23rd respectively.
Yarraville gave itself a chance of finals with its first win of the competition, beating Spotswood on Tuesday night.
The Eagles made 6-169 from their overs with Alexander Wood top scoring with 55 at the top of the order.
Spotswood fell short in the final over, as it finished 7-166. Guest player Jay Vine top scored with 51.
Taylors Lakes also got on the board, beating Williamstown.
The Seagulls were restricted to 9-90 from their 20 overs with Jarrod Flood Bauce top scoring with 32 not out.
Aidan Brasher took four wickets for the Lions.
local clubs in the run home.
The Wolves on Tuesday night, beating Upwey FTG, 12-11 before losing to Blackburn on Saturday, 15-3.
Williamstown sits in eighth spot.
The Wolves have several younger players coming through the ranks which is exciting for Neal, who has done some junior coaching at the club.
“I’m so ready to see them come up and take our jobs,” he said. “They work hard and I’ve got to coach a couple in juniors and pushed them to see their limits, they don’t limits.”
Neal, an Oakland native and former college and independent professional baseballer from the US, has been part of the Wolves side for a number of years.
He said Williamstown instantly became home.
“I saw the field and the club was right on the water and thought this is where I’m setting up camp.
“It is pretty good
“I think about these guys a lot, I wan tot do right by them.”
After the loss of an early wicket, the Lions got going and finished 4-94 with more than two overs remaining.
Captain Steffan Roberts top scored with 43 not out.
Altona finished the competition without a win, losing to Hoppers Crossing. The A’s batted first and made 7-120 from their overs. Adam Williamson top scored with 38. Shijit Chandran Poovathingal took three wickets for the Cats.
The Cats were able to chase the runs down in 17.2 overs, finishing 3-123. Chandran Poovathingal top scored with 37 not out.
Elsewhere, Werribee opened its account with a final over win against Coburg. Coburg was bowled out for 138 with three balls remaining. The Tigers hit the winning runs with one ball remaining, making 5-139. Jacob Knight top scored with 26 not out off 22 balls. It was enough to seal a finals spot.
Adriana Taranto. (Supplied)
Dennis Neal. (Shawn Smits)
