Star Weekly - Wyndham - 29th January 2025

Road cash a ‘huge’ win Calling all radio heads

By Jaidyn Kennedy

Road upgrades in Werribee announced by the federal and state governments are expected to reduce congestion, improve travel times and provide relief to the region’s motorists.

On Thursday January 23, it was announced that $333.5 million will be invested in the Werribee Main Road–Princes Freeway Interchange Upgrade and the Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade.

Wyndham Mayor Mia Shaw said council welcomed the investments, calling it “a huge advocacy win for Wyndham”.

“It will significantly reduce congestion for the150,000residentswhousetheinterchange

each day,” Cr Shaw said.

“Ongoing investment in road networks for our community is essential and helps strengthen connectivity across the city, increases employment opportunities and boosts economic growth.”

She said council appreciates the funding from the federal and state governments.

“Importantly, we look forward to understanding the timelines for delivery of this project.”

The Werribee Main Road–Princes Freeway Interchange Upgrade will add more traffic lights at key intersections, a roundabout at the Princes Freeway exit ramp to Wests Road, a new lane to the Werribee Main Road

Hamfest is back and everyone is invited to learn about the spirit of amateur radio and gain some handy skills in the process.

Hosted by the Wyndham Amateur Radio Club (WARC) on Sunday, February 23 at the Encore Events Centre in Hoppers Crossing, the event is the only one of its kind in the western suburbs.

Amateur radio, also called ham radio, is a popular hobby and service that unites people, electronics and communications.

Through ham radio, many expand into other DIY communications projects that involve solid state, discrete components Arduino, Picaxe or PC.

Younger members of the community are encouraged to try out the hands-on activity and even work towards a foundation licence– which permits them to operate on the airwaves.

The youngest member of the WARC to gain their foundation licence was 10 and is now 15 undertaking further studies in the field.

Last year in September, 11 and 13-year-old members of the WARC passed the exam with 100 per cent,

bridge, and an improved citybound entry ramp.

The state government claims the upgrade will increase traffic capacity and reduce bottlenecks that cause dangerous queuing in peak periods.

The Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade in Wyndham Vale will replace the current roundabout with traffic lights at McGrath, Ballan and Greens roads and install “better” walking and cycling paths.

The state governments said both projects will build on the Ison Road Overpass and Extension, which is expected to be completed next year, and will allow motorists to travel seamlessly in and around Werribee’s town centre.

Lalor MP Joanne Ryan, who attended the announcement, said the federal government is committed to building Wyndham’s future.

“This investment in essential local infrastructure will reduce congestion, ease the travel burden for residents commuting to work, and, most importantly, ensure that they return home safely,” Ms Ryan said.

The two upgrades will be carried out by Major Road Projects Victoria and are expected to create 1624 jobs during the construction phase.

Construction timelines are expected to be confirmedoncedetaileddesignplansprogress further.

Bingo is coming...

Every Wednesday, starting February 5 10:30am in our Bistro

Turn to the back page to see what else is happening this February at

John Forrester, Sam Huang, Danna 12, Cooper 14, Josh Way, Alison Kuzminski, Andrew Sluggett and Robert Buchanan. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 454802_01

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

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re putting the finishing touches on the new West Gate Tunnel, an alternative to the West Gate Bridge. When the tunnel opens in 2025, you can enter on the West Gate Freeway near Williamstown Road, and take advantage of new exits to Footscray Road, Dynon Road or CityLink.

Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions

Sunbury Line

8to9Feb

NorthMelbournetoSunshine 15to16Feb

8.30pmtolasttraineachnight, 17and18Feb

Road disruptions: Road, lanes and ramps closed

West Gate Freeway, Spotswood

Until5am17FebOutboundlanefromWilliamstowntoMillersroads

Until5am17FebOutboundexitrampstoMillersRoadandGrieveParade

Until5am8MarCityboundlanefromMillerstoWilliamstownroads

5am15Febto5am8Mar CityboundexitramptoWilliamstownRoad

Williamstown Road, Spotswood

M80 Ring Road, Laverton North

Princes Freeway, Laverton North

Millers Road, Brooklyn

UntilearlyAprOutboundentryramptoWestGateFreeway

10pmto5ameachnight,3to6Feb Greensborough-boundfromBoundaryRoadtoWesternFreeway

AttimesuntillateMar

10pmto7ameachnight,7and8Feb BoundaryRoadtoWestGateandPrincesfreeways

AttimesuntillateMar

Altona-boundfromWesternFreewaytoBoundaryRoad

AttimesuntillateMar WesternFreewaytoBoundaryRoad

10pm8Febto7am9Feb Greensborough-boundramptoM80RingRoad

AttimesuntillateMar

5am15Febto5am8Mar CityboundentryramptoWestGateFreeway

Grieve Parade, Brooklyn 5am15Febto5am8Mar CityboundentryramptoWestGateFreeway

RAAF announces a new leader

By Jaidyn Kennedy

Wing commander Nikki Clements is the new Commanding Officer of 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron (SQN), taking over from WGCDR Rob Gill.

In her new position, WGCDR Clements will be responsible for the welfare, morale and discipline of the squadron members at RAAF Base Point Cook and RAAF Williams–Laverton.

“It felt a little surreal to be announced as commanding officer, as it was a career goal I have had for a long time,” she said.

“I felt some nerves standing before the people who I had been chosen to lead, but I mostly felt excitement to start working together with them.”

WGCDR Clements joined the Royal AustralianAirForce(RAAF)attheAustralian Defence Force Academy in 2005 where she completed a Bachelor of Business degree, and celebrated 20 years in defence last week.

Throughout her career, she has been posted to RAAF bases all over the country and recently returned from southern Maryland, USA, where she accompanied her husband on his overseas posting with the US Navy.

She outlined her goals as leader of the squadron.

“21SQN has a large number of new members this year, so my first hope is that we can come together to work as a cohesive team who are happy and thriving in our roles, while achieving the outcomes required of us,” she said.

“I would also like to further our connection with the City of Melbourne, and our Air Force neighbour Squadrons in East Sale and Hobart.”

She nominated increased and improved community engagement as one of her goals.

Libby shines a light on disabilities

Libby Knights has been named Wyndham’s YoungPersonoftheMonthforJanuaryforher commitment to advocating for and tutoring those with intellectual disabilities.

The21-year-oldispassionateaboutfostering learning environments that break down educational barriers as well as empowering individuals living with disability to develop independence.

Ms Knight’s inspiration came about through exposure to a world of which she was scarcely aware.

“Growingup,Iwasn’tsurroundedbypeople with low-functioning intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities, and I was blissfully unaware of the challenges they face daily,” she said.

That changed when babysitting the young daughter of a family friend who presented developmental delays and was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

“I was able to witness first hand the obstacles a child so young could have, but also the amazing qualities she held.

“Her successes are moments I carry near and dear to my heart, especially when she spoke my name for the first time– she continues to inspire me in the work I do for other children.”

She said it is important for young people to engage with and help out those with disabilities.

‘When young people learn to communicate effectively with individuals of all abilities,

it not only broadens their perspective but also helps dismantle stereotypes and misconceptions.”

“By taking an active role in these areas, younger generations can build stronger, more compassionate communities.”

Outside of her advocacy, Ms Knights loves to sing and is part of the ensemble cast for Altona City Theatres’ Pantomime, ‘Hercules’ which performs in March.

Of late, her favourite pastime has been being an auntie to her young nephew.

One Wyndham is open to residents aged 12-25 who positively impact the communitywinners receive a $300 gift card.

Jaidyn Kennedy

Hopper refuses to do a preference deal

Werribee by-election candidate Paul Hopper has doubled down on his decision to boycott the two major parties at the forthcoming state and federal elections.

The local businessman and founder of the unregistered West Party announced on Wednesday, January 22 that he will not do preference deals with other parties.

As part of his announcement, Mr Hopper also said that he will refuse to hand out how-to-vote cards and let his supporters allocate their preferences without his guidance.

“ItrustthepeopleofWerribeetomaketheir own choices,” he said.

“That’s why I am asking them to vote 1 for me and then to put a number in all the other

boxes in the order that they choose.”

According to Mr Hopper, the distribution of how-to-vote cards by political parties in state elections has been a manipulative tactic that he wishes to distance himself from.

“Over the years we have seen major parties and minor parties effectively rigging the preferences system by putting out how to vote cards that are deliberately designed to manipulate voters,” he said.

“Sometimes people can think they are voting one way, but if they follow a party’s way of voting, their vote actually ends up preferencing a party that voters would never support.”

Mr Hopper, whose nascent West Party aims to field candidates in all western suburbs seats

at the 2026 state election, has been critical of the major parties policy in the region.

“Werribee has been neglected by the major parties for way too long. I plan to change that. It’s time for the people of Werribee to get their fair share of government services,” he said.

“I would encourage every candidate to trust voters to choose their own preferences. The rigging of preferences must end.”

He has nominated public safety, public health, schools, roads and boosting jobs in the region as his campaign platform.

Hopper also ran for the Werribee seat as an independent in 2022, finishing fourth with a total of 5.9 per cent of first preferences.

Jaidyn Kennedy

“OneofmyaimsisforRAAFBasePointCook and RAAF Williams – Laverton to be strong members of the local community that engage andparticipatelocallyasmuchaswecan.

“I feel an attachment to Point Cook as it is where I undertook my initial officer training, and I am very interested in working with our history and heritage specialists to ensure that the story of this important piece of military and aviation history is preserved.”

Outside of her defence duties, WGCDR Clements said she likes to crochet, sew and cook and that she tries to do some yoga each day.

Charges over 80s sex attack

A man accused of raping a beloved 82-year-old grandmother more than four decades ago has faced court for the first time.

Michael Martin, 69, briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday after he was charged over the two 1980s sex attacks.

He is facing two counts of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated indecent assault, rape, burglary and common assault.

It’s alleged Martin broke into Jessie Grace Lauder’s Newport home on two separate occasions in September 1981 and July 1983.

He is accused of confronting the elderly woman with a knife while she was either in bed or getting ready to go to sleep, before raping her.

The Hoppers Crossing man remained silent as Magistrate Leon Fluxman remanded him in custody.

He was expected to make an application for bail on Tuesday.

His lawyer told the court it was Martin’s first time in custody and the 69-year-old was in remission for cancer butwasreceivingtreatmentforatumour on his neck.

He was also taking medication for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and prostate issues, the lawyer said.

Earlier on Friday, sexual crime squad detectives thanked media and the public for providing vital information leading to the arrest.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 AAP

Libby Knights advocates for the needs of those living with disabilities (Ljubica Vrankovic) 453945_02

Run for paediatric care

The Wyndham Rotary Fun Run is returning on Sunday, March 2 at Wyndham Park in Werribee, and the community is invited to run– or walk– for a great cause, paediatric mental health care.

The annual event started in 2008 and this year’s focus will be on aiding the Mercy Hospital’s paediatric team to tackle the ongoing issue.

Wyndham Rotary executive secretary Julie Mason has been involved in education for 54 years and has never “seen so many students experiencing anxiety and in some cases depression”.

“It is so difficult for families and teachers when children refuse to come to school and when at school present with challenging behaviour.”

Participants will be able to show their support by joining the 10km and 5km runs,

or the 8km and 4km walks.

The School’s Challenge, which is designed to encourage schools to promote the Fun Run to those students who already love running competitions, will have a trophy waiting for the winner.

Through Australian Rotary Health, importantresearchintoimprovingthemental health of children under 12 is underway, with intervention in improving sleep patterns and diet in foster children and children with autism on the agenda.

Wyndham Rotary and the Mercy Health Foundation are aiming to have 1000 participants join in across the next two years, and are bullish that it can be achieved this year.

For registration and prices: https://www. wyndhamrotaryfunrun.com.au/ Jaidyn Kennedy

Briefs

Woofie is found

After 10 days, Woofie, the beloved 13-year-old white terrier that went missing in Point Cook last week, has been reunited with his overjoyed family. Following a reported sighting of a white dog in the area, his owners Colleen and Hector conducted a dusk search, setting up a trail camera at a food station with recent activity. As Colleen walked their other dog, Arlo, nearby, she heard rustling in bushes. Shining her phone flashlight, she was met with the incredible sight of Woofie. Elated and relieved, Colleen reported that Woofie was in good condition, despite being a bit dirty and damp. After a warm bath, his fur fluffed up, Woofie has been enjoying small, frequent meals according to family friend Nasz Khan.

Arrest after fatal collision

A Wyndham Vale man, 19, was arrested by police following a fatal collision in Wyndham Vale on Saturday, January 25. It is believed the male driver of a Mitsubishi SUV was travelling along Armstrong Road when his vehicle and cyclist collided at the intersection of Black Forest Road about 11.50pm. The male rider died at the scene. Police said the man will be interviewed and the investigation remains ongoing. FOR

Mercy Health staff launching the Wyndham Fun Run (Damjan Janevski) 446802_01

By Faith Macale

Advocacy group LeadWest is calling on the federal government to invest in Melbourne’s west at the upcoming federal election.

On Thursday, January 23, LeadWest announced its advocacy priorities saying that Melbourne’s west has been left behind and had not received its fair share of funding compared to other regions in Australia.

LeadWest chair Phillip Zada said transport and infrastructure critically needed more government investment.

“We actually have statistics show that the

On a mission to help family violence survivors Calls intensify to invest in west

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is looking to expand its Amplify program to Wyndham and help young people aged 15-19 escape and recover from family violence.

With funding ending in June, MCM is calling for its model to be rolled out across Victoria, with a dedicated team based in Werribee to work with local services and schools and the Werribee Orange Door.

Amplify Advisory Group member Conor Pall has experienced family violence and said he wished such services existed when he was 16.

When he called the first service he could find on Google, he was asked if he was a perpetrator.

“Ididn’tknowwhatthatwordmeant–itwas really isolating and has fuelled my advocacy,“ he said.

east side of Victoria, for example, has been getting more funding than the west in terms of large scale infrastructure projects,” he said.

“We want us to grow.

“There’s a big push for public housing, and housing in general. We’ve got estates popping up left, right and centre, and we need the infrastructure to support that.“

LeadWesthasoutlinedalistofkeypriorities including development of the ‘Sunshine Precinct’ and construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail.

“Greater investment is vital to supporting sustainable growth, easing the cost-of-living

pressures, and breaking the cycle of high unemployment,whichareonlyexacerbatedby traffic congestion and poor public transport options,“ Mr Zada said.

“[It] will provide our residents with improved transport connectivity that will in-turn deliver better access to health care, education, and jobs.“

Mr Zada stressed that Melbourne’s west is one of the more disadvantaged regions in Australia.

“The upcoming election offers an important opportunitytoredressthefundingimbalance, and to invest in Melbourne’s west, an area

“A lot of my advocacy is not necessarily about the abuse I endured, but about what didn’t happen when I reached out.“

Mr Pall said that one of the fundamental flaws of the current approach is the need for

critical to help the federal government achieve its target to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029,” he said.

A federal government infrastructure department spokesperson said they are working closely with the state government to deliver a credible and sustainable pipeline of projects that support transport productivity, resilience, sustainability and liveability. The state and federal governments on Thursday announced that $333.5 million was being invested towards the Werribee Main Road – Princes Freeway Interchange upgrade and the Ballan Road intersection upgrade.

Head of policy and advocacy at MCM Shorna Moore said Amplify had been a “revelation“.

“Interviews with young people found many saying that Amplify was the first time they had felt listened to and validated by any community support service,“ she said.

“80 per cent of the young people were supported to leave violent situations and 97 per cent of those young people have not entered into new violent relationships or returned to violent households.”

Mr Pall said the forthcoming by-election was a nonpartisan opportunity for candidates to listen to young people.

“Unfortunately young people under 18 don’t get a vote, so it’s important to listen to them and their experiences and put their experiences into action.“

Jaidyn Kennedy

minors to be accompanied by a ’protective parent’- which many young victims of family violence do not have.

MCM deputy chair of the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council Conor Pall and head of policy, advocacy and government relations Shorna Moore. (Attie Mohebali) 454945_01

Rotary volunteer is top citizen

By Jaidyn Kennedy

Peter Nichols has been named the 2025 Wyndham Citizen of the Year for his ongoing dedication to volunteering.

Mr Nichols, who has lived in Wyndham for nearly 50 years, is the founder and was the charter president of the Wyndham Rotary Club.

He said the award was pretty special.

“It means the world to me, because of the amazing work that Rotary does and I see it really as an award for all volunteers in the community,” he said.

“I feel very honoured to be selected for this award and proud to think that I’ve made a significant difference in the Wyndham community.”

Through Wyndham Rotary, he has been involved in organising and delivering community outreach programs such as food drives, environmental clean up campaigns and hosting educational workshops.

Presenting the trophy, deputy mayor Josh Gilligan congratulated and commended Mr Nichols.

“I want to acknowledge the profound contribution Peter has made in our community— someone who is community focused and has contributed to Wyndham for the past 40 years,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Nichols thanked his family, friends, fellow Rotarians and the community.

“Volunteering is a gift, not just of time but of kindness, care and generosity,” he said.

‘Bicycle boy’ honoured

Atticus Tan, also known as the ‘the bicycle boy of Point Cook’, has been recognised as Wyndham’s Young Citizen of the Year for 2025.

The 16-year-old has used his knowledge of bicycle repair to salvage and repair more 150 abandoned bicycles since late 2022.

Through his time, labour and donations, many members of the community have been gifted the ability to commute to and from work and school.

“Rescuing, fixing and giving away bikes started as a simple way for me to help the community, but it quickly became something much bigger,” he said

“I am truly honoured to receive this award.”

Atticus also conducts free bicycle repair sessions at Alamanda College, where he teaches students maintenance skills to keep more bicycles on the road and out of landfill, helping people save money and resources.

Through his endeavour, he said he learned that kindness is powerful.

“This effort has taught me that every small act of kindness can make a big difference and impact.”

Outside of his bicycle restoration mission, Atticus is also an elite sailor who represented Australia at the 2023 Optimist Sailing Championships in Morocco.

Sailing is another platform in which Atticus uses his skills to serve his community by coaching junior programs at local sailing clubs.

Atticus said that he believed everyone has skills that enrich the Wyndham community.

“I believe every citizen has a gift to this country and that every small skill that one possesses can play a big part in building up the community.”

“Iamgratefultobepartofsuchasupportive community and I hope that you will also step up and make this community the home you want it to be.”

“This award acknowledges and recognises the impact volunteers make on people and in the community.”

According to Mr Nichols, the need for community volunteerism is bigger than ever.

“The need is huge, a lot of people are very fragmented in their family life,” he said.

“So the need arises for them to call out, put their hand up and say ‘look we need some help’ and we [rotary] can step forward.”

MrNicholswasalsorecognisedforabilityto mobilise volunteers and foster collaboration among local organisations, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness.

Australia Day celebrations entertain crowds at Tarneit

It was Tarneit’s turn to host Wyndham’s annual Australia Day celebration this year. Star Weekly reporter Jaidyn Kennedy ventured out to Penrose Place to catch a glimpse of the action.

Lil Tulloch and Rhys Davies of Up, Up and Away on full display.

Alesha Manion and Hayley Hoopla of CirclusLab know how to put a spin on things

Hong De Lion Dance Association continue thousands of years of tradition with the dragon dancers.

Moheet and Artika Kumar celebrate with their young family.

Olivia O’Brien and Evan Jones from Stilt Walkers Australia were very bubbly .

Jaidyn Kennedy 2025 Wyndham Young Citizen of the Year Atticus Tan (Jaidyn Kennedy)

Jaidyn Kennedy

Peter Nichols is the Wyndham Citizen of the Year for 2025 (Jaidyn Kennedy)

Family First enter election fray

By Jaidyn Kennedy

Donald Trump, the Paris Climate Accord and gender fluidity have entered the Werribee by-election as the Family First party nominated local Matt Emerson as its candidate on Thursday, January 23.

Mr Emerson, a father of five who works locally in IT, said he would fight to cut power prices, protect faith-based schools and fight for the reinstatement of two genders at his campaign launch in Werribee.

Among the policy priorities Mr Emerson listed was the freedom for faith-based schools

to control their hiring and curriculum policies.

“As a parent of faith, and local father of school-aged children, I want faith-based schools in Werribee to have the freedom to employ the right staff for their parent communities,” he said.

“I want faith-based schools to be able to simply say ’no’ to adopting agendas that don’t align with a school’s faith-based values.”

Mr Emerson also said he would advocate for the promotion of a two-gender paradigm in education and sports.

“As a father of four girls, their ability to

participate safely in sports is important to me and so I would also fight to ensure girls’ and women’s sports are protected from biological males identifying as female.

“Before President Trump announced a return to the biological reality of two genders, Family First has been fighting the dangerous child-harming gender fluid ideology.”

Citing the cost of living and financial pressure as the biggest cause of family breakdowns, reduced child well-being and increasedcrime,hestatedanintenttopressure policymakers into abandoning the 2015 Paris Agreement,aninternationaltreatyonclimate

change that Australia ratified in 2016.

“The political establishment’s unnecessary Paris premium on electricity bills must be fought so family budgets can get relief,” he said.

Family First will direct preferences to the Liberal candidate Steve Murphy.

Former Liberal MP and Family First senate candidate Bernie Finn said “While Liberal Party policy on gender, power prices and resolve to fight for the freedom of faith- based schools has a long way to go, Steve Murphy is someone Family First is happy to allocate a number two preference.”

Werribee pub pauses for one minute’s silence

Werribee by-election candidate and Whittlesea mayor Aidan McLindon piloted his Australia Day one minute of silence at the Commercial Hotel in Werribee on Sunday, January 26.

Held at 11.59am, Mr McLindon said the one minute of silence was to reflect on the many atrocities that took place against the Indigenous population during the period of European discovery of Australia.

At 12pm, a gold bell, which will be engraved and presented to the pub next week in recognition of it being the first pub in Australia to support the concept, was rung to begin the Australia Day celebrations that followed.

“If we isolate the mourning from the celebration then the division will continue to festerinourcommunitiesandinourcountry,” McLindon said.

“Many people may ignore the mourning and equally many people may ignore the celebration of us as a unified country.” Meanwhile, a Whittlesea resident has

started a petition calling for Mr McLindon to resign as Whittlesea mayor. The petition has more than 500 signatures.

Werribee District State by-election

Early voting

Currently on leave from his position as mayor, the Werribee candidate said he is not abandoning his duties and will return to his mayoral position as normal if his by-election bid is unsuccessful.

“While I am on a leave of absence I still remain the councillor of the Kirrip Ward in which I was elected and as such have continued my duties on a daily basis,” Mr McLindon said.

“The allowance I receive enables me to continue my work as a councillor and thereforeallowsmetocontinuetoputfoodon the table for my family.”

Following the one minute of silence, Kev Carmody’s ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ was played at the venue.

“We don’t need to wait for politicians to tell us how to do this, we can do this ourselves,” Mr McLindon said.

- Jaidyn

Kennedy

If you can’t get to a voting centre on election day, Saturday 8 February, you can vote early. Check your early voting options.

Vote in person

Early voting opens on Wednesday 29 January. Vote between 9 am and 8 pm weekdays, until early voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 7 February at:

• 1st Iramoo Scout Hall

66 Honour Avenue

Wyndham Vale AWA

22 Princes Highway

Werribee IWA

IWA: Independent wheelchair access

AWA: Wheelchair access with assistance

Extended early voting hours apply:

• 9 am – 8 pm Saturday 1 February

You don’t need a reason to vote early.

Vote by post

Complete a postal vote application online at vec.vic.gov.au, or collect a postal vote application from any post office in Werribee District, or from the election office: 22 Princes Highway

Werribee

Apply by 6 pm Wednesday 5 February to have a ballot pack sent to you.

Going away?

Before you leave

Vote early – either in person or by post.

While you’re away

Apply to vote by post at vec.vic.gov.au by 6 pm Wednesday 5 February. You can choose to have your ballot pack emailed to you so you can download, print and post your vote back to us.

Who can vote in this by-election?

Voting is compulsory for everyone on the State electoral roll for Werribee District as at 8 pm on Monday 13 January. Visit vec.vic.gov.au to check your enrolment.

You can also enrol and vote on the spot. Just bring one of these documents when you visit an early voting centre or a voting centre on election day:

• an Australian passport, driver licence or learner permit

• a council rates notice in your name

• an electricity bill in your name for your current home address.

Werribee by-election candidate Aidan McLindon at the Commerical Hotel in Werribee.

(Ljubica Vrankovic) 455284

Hints on managing menopause

By Faith Macale

Recently, a video of a woman with her head steaming on a cold night due to a hot flush has gone viral on TikTok.

With over 10 million views, people are learning more about hot flushes and why they happen.

Hot flushes are only one of the many symptoms women might go through during menopause.

Jean Hailes for Women’s Health chief executive Dr Sarah White said the menopause transitionhappenswhenawoman’sbodyruns out of eggs and ovarian function declines.

“You run out of eggs, you have these wildly fluctuating hormones, and as a result, you have symptoms,” she said.

“It’s that period where you have those symptoms is often called perimenopause.

“You go through this perimenopause phase, and then menopause itself is just one day in the calendar.

“It’s 12 months after your final menstrual period, so you don’t even know you’ve gone through menopause until it’s kind of happened already.”

Menopause transition has symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and hormone fluctuations,butnoteverywomanexperiences symptoms.

“For about 25 per cent of women, they’ll

have virtually no symptoms or no symptoms at all,” Dr White said.

“For about another 25 per cent, they’ll have very severe symptoms during the menopause transition, and everybody else that has symptoms range from mildly annoying to reallyannoying,buttheycanallbemanaged.”

Dr White said most Caucasian women have hot flushes and night sweats which can get overwhelming.

“Ifithappensatnight,it’sanightsweat,”she said.

“It can wake you up and interfere with your sleep.

“For some women, it’s just unpleasant, for some annoying, and for some really quite debilitating.”

For some other ethnicities, for example, Asians, it could be joint pains, which are more common than hot flushes and night sweats.

“Your biology impacts, your psychology impacts, and in fact, your social and cultural norms impact how you experience menopause,” Dr White said.

Dr White said being in good health is the best way to prepare for menopause, with women encouraged to give particular thought to their bone and heart health in the their 30s.

“These are two things that once you go through menopause, become problematic,” she said.

“We want women to be exercising, so that’s both weight-bearing exercise, but also doing some lifting of weights.”

“One of the other things that happens during menopause is weight starts to shift on our body. A lot of women put on weight during menopause.

“That’s not inevitable, but the menopause does shift where that weight sits on your body to make it all come to the stomach phase, and that has implications for cardiovascular health later.”

Despite the different experiences, going through menopause is inevitable.

“If you have ovaries, you are going to go through menopause. There’s no avoiding it,” Dr White said.

“I really would like people to understand thateverybody’sexperienceisveryindividual. Some people will sail through, and they’re the lucky ones, some people will have a really difficult time, and we need to make sure that those women have the support they need.”

Details: www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/ menopause

113 Hummingbird Boulevard

Tarneit

This contemporary residence offers easy living for families and professionals alike. With an abundance of space throughout, it includes two living zones, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, low maintenance gardens and secure parking for two vehicles. Perfectly positioned for lifestyle convenience, this property is within walking distance of local shops, quality schools and leafy parklands.

1 Kardak Street Tarneit

The growing suburb of Tarneit offers a range of amenities and facilities, with easy access to beaches and waterways, lovely lifestyle perks, fantastic opportunities for professionals and students, as well as not being located too far from Melbourne City itself. This block is quite close to everything this welcoming suburb and surrounding areas have to offer, providing a peaceful and convenient lifestyle for potential residents.

Dr Sarah White, chief executive of Jean Hailes. (Supplied)

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)

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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

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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

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ï All hotel stays include breakfast Fully Escorted Tour

ï Lake Como tour

Rail Journey

ï Scenic rail journey on board the Centovalli Railway

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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

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

Wyndham Rotary

If you have an hour or two to volunteer in a local project Wyndham Rotary would love to hear from you. If you have an idea and you want some help taking the idea to action, contact us. If you want to connect with friendly, like-minded people, come and chat to us. Meeting locally each week, you will be made welcome.

 Julie, 0406 196 630.

Women Working Together

Are you 50-plus and want assistance from someone who understands? Employment Support strives to connect mentors and mentees to make this happen. Reach out to learn more

 9655 2131, or EmploymentSupport@ cotavic.org.au

Point Cook Combined Probus Club

Retired or semi-retired people are invited to join this active social group. Enjoy an impressive and interesting monthly guest speaker. Interesting monthly outings, and fortnightly lunches where the development of friendships are encouraged. The Point Cook Combined Probus Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at The Brook Point Cook, 215 Sneydes Road, Point Cook.

 Cathy Guiterrez, 0421 188 129, or cathyguiterrez@tpg.com.au

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

Lions Club

The Lions Club of Point Cook meets at the Featherbrook Community Centre on the third Monday of the month at 7.30 pm. The club is seeking to grow the Lions free vision screening in schools team. Volunteers needed to work with the region’s schools in combating undiagnosed children’s vision issues. You do not have to be a Lions member but must obtain a working with children check.

 Robert Eyton, 0417 549 684, or robeyton@bigpond.com

Adult drumming classes

If you ever wanted to try out your rhythmic skills, the first class is free and concessions apply for other classes. All hand drums supplied or BYO. No experience required, just bring an open heart and mind and enjoy making some great rhythms together. The class is friendly and welcoming to everyone. Thursdays, 7.30-8.30pm, during school terms, at Saltwater Community Centre, 153 Saltwater Parade, Point Cook.

 0411 028 077 or bfmusic15@gmail. com

Wyndham Ladies Probus Retired or semi-retired ladies are invited to join this very active social group. Enjoy impressive monthly guest speakers, interesting monthly outings and many lunches where the development of friendships is encouraged. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each

month at Hotel 520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, at 10am.

 Pat 0411 316 795

All Abilities Netball

All Abilities Netball for 10-to-25-year-olds is run by Wyndham Netball Association every Saturday morning during school terms, from 10.30am, on outside court 14 at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Intellectual, physical and social disabilities are catered for in a fun and supported group. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2.

 Phil, 0437 078 739

Walking Netball

Walking Netball is a low impact, no running, no jumping version for those that love the fun, friendship and activity of a weekly game of netball. Sessions are run every Thursday during school terms, from 8pm, at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2.

 Phil, 0437 078 739

Wyndham Rotary Wyndham Rotary welcomes people interested in helping people in need in the community. Interested in finding out more, come to the Italian Sports Club each Wednesday at 6.30pm for a meal, to share ideas and to work for a common cause.

 Julie, 0406 196 630

With One Voice Wyndham Choir

With One Voice Wyndham Choir is a community choir open to all. The community choir welcomes all ages, abilities, faiths, cultures and genders and

is directed by a very experienced and friendly professional conductor. Fun weekly rehearsals and amazing performance opportunities are provided. They sing for an hour and then have a cuppa. The first two visits are free; and then payment is by tax-deductible donation. Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm, at Wayaperri House, 106 Duncans Road, Werribee.  wyndham@withonevoice.org.au

Adult community garden group

The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 10-11am, at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale. Head down and join them as they maintain their rejuvenated community garden. Planting and harvesting produce that they grow.

 8742 3688

Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus

The friendly and vibrant group meet at Hotel 520 on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am. They have a guest speaker each month as well as social lunches, outings and theatre trips.

 0408 123 669

U3A Werribee

The group is a not-for-profit community organisation for semi-retired and retired Wyndham residents. They hold a variety of classes-activities specifically designed for seniors, including, light physical and mental wellbeing sessions, arts, games and craft, and general classes such as current affairs, history and lunch groups. Most classes-activities are held at Wyndham community centres.

 Rick, 0402 299 220.

Lions Club

Lions Club of Werribee meets at the RSL Club, 2a Synnot Street, Werribee on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm.

 Jorge, 0433 566 575

Western Melbourne Men’s Chorus Do you like to sing? The Western Melbourne Men’s Chorus wants you! Be part of a rewarding fraternity of fellow amateur musicians serving the community, sharing comradery and having fun. Rehearsals at 7pm Tuesday evenings at St. James Church, Hoppers Crossing.

 Chris, 0400 414 215

Dementia Carers Group

IPC Health Dementia Carers Group is held on the first Tuesday of the month, from 12.30-2.30pm. The group is for people who care for someone with dementia or a similar condition associated with memory loss. It empowers carers through education, social connectedness and emotional support while socialising and meeting people in similar situations. Registration is essential.

 Leah Hewitt or Joyce Chan, 1300 472 432 or https://bit.ly/48QFwBa

Werribee River Association

New volunteers to support Landcare work along the Werribee River. A great way to give back, get outdoors and work at your own pace.

 Lisa Field, 0433 559 530, admin@ werribeeriver.org.au, or www.werribeeriver. org.au

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of St Albans Cricket Club’s Mitchell Pittaway ahead of Pink Stumps day on February 1. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 455296_01

Brimbank photographer in powerful exhibition

A Brimbank resident has contributed to a moving showcase depicting the resilience and fortitude of domestic violence survivors.

Photographs taken by Keilor Lodge’s Shannon Meilak form part of the ‘Black and White’ exhibition created by members from Underneath My Umbrella — an agency providing community support for women impacted by domestic, family and sexual abuse.

The exhibition features a collection of stories written by survivors of domestic and family violence.

Each narrators was coupled with an artist, who created a work on canvas to accompany their story.

In addition to these works, each of the narrators had their photographic portrait

taken.

ThesepictureswerecapturedbyMsMeilak, who said being involved in the exhibition was incredibly significant for her.

“The opportunity to participate in this exhibition was for me, more of a call to action,” she said.

“As a woman who has experienced sexual abuse, I wanted to uplift women who had been silenced, by helping them to tell their stories and to be seen.”

Whenpeoplewitnessthesetalesofcourage, Ms Meilak hopes they see the exhibition in a positive and empowering light.

“When women unite, we build inclusive and supportive communities,” she said.

“Whilstmostacknowledgethatmoreneeds to be done to protect women, my hope is that

visitors will recognise the strength required to share these stories, and inspire others to advocate for greater recovery support at the local level.“

Black and White will open at the Coonara Community House, in Upper Ferntree Gully on February 17.

Prealene Khera

Wicked wares at the fair

GetreadytohaveawickedtimeastheWitches Fair lands in Bacchus Marsh for the first time.

Organiser Michelle Richards said the event is a journey of “magik” where guests can explore an eclectic mix of stalls, each presenting an assortment of mystical supplies, Tarot readers, physic Mediums and rare treasures.

“It’s always farmer’s markets that come to country towns all the time,” she said.

“Doing something like the Witches Fair, which is for the alternative, and curiosities products and crafts, smaller towns tend to be sat on those opportunities.

“That was always the aim. More of a

minority product, but all-inclusive.

“It’s a lot of natural herbs and oils, and often a lot of entomology, like butterfly pinning.”

The Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair is free and open to all, but some activities on offer will need bookings made on the day.

“They’ll see a lot of crafts, a lot of handmade items, that’s for sure,” Ms Richards said.

“You can make appointments on the day with the actual tarot (readers), and psychics, as well.

“There’s a bit of everything for everyone.”

The Witches Fair first began in Lancefield, but Ms Richards said she fell in love with the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall when she opened

a stall in a market held at the venue a couple of years ago.

“It’s a great venue. The location is perfect, as well,” she said.

“We took a drive there and met up with one of the committee members, and decided then and there we wanted to try doing a few witch fairs this year, and broaden the location.”

The Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair will be held on Sunday, March 16 at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall.

Faith Macale

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

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?

The application number is: WYP14907/24

The applicant for the application is: Wyndham City Council

Responsible Authority: Wyndham City Council Telephone: 8376 5503

28. In what year is the next Winter Olympic Games?

29. And where is it being held?

30. What colours are the Tasmania Football Club?

Nick Kyrgios Nick

PUZZLES

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

ACROSS

1 Eight-legged animal (6)

4 A board game with letter-tiles (8)

9 Mosquito-borne disease (7)

11 Inhabitant of Tel Aviv, say (7)

12 Level of hot or cold (11)

13 Biological blueprint (1,1,1)

14 Food of the Olympian gods (8)

16 Banish (5)

19 Teams (5)

20 A golden anniversary (8)

22 Dazzle (3)

24 English scientist who explained gravity (5,6)

26 Territory ruled by an Islamic monarch (7)

27 Princess Diana’s maiden name (7)

29 Grotesque imitation (8)

30 For blinking (6)

DOWN

1 Total (3)

2 Pakistani capital (9)

3 Spooky (5)

5 Sex (6)

6 Contract (9)

7 Bakery item (5)

8 Period of 17th-century English queen (11)

10 A Middle Eastern language (6)

12 Clear (11)

15 Stubborn (9)

17 Exactly the same (9)

18 Carnival (6)

21 Aptitude (6)

23 Nickname of Eva Perón (5)

25 Dirge (5)

28 Colour of strawberries (3)

1 What colours appear on Norway’s flag?

2 True or false: Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record by diameter?

3 Hilary Duff (pictured) starred as Sophie in which sitcom?

4 Podgorica is the capital of which country?

5 Laurence Tureaud is the birth name of which US actor?

6 Lake Garda is located in which European country?

7 Which 2021 film stars Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler?

8 Which actress stars as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games film series?

9 The Space Needle is in which US state?

10 Who was the Australian prime minister when decimal currency was introduced?

Honda ZR-V is pick of the bunch

By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring

You might think the ZR-V is the smallest of Honda’s SUVs but you’d be wrong because the latecomer actually slots between the HR-V and long-serving CR-V.

It’s taken us a while to catch up with the ZR-V, but it has been worth the wait because ZR-V is the pick of the bunch.

STYLING

ZR-V is a good-looker, in an understated way with its Maserati-inspired grille.

BasedontheCivichatch,ZR-Visafive-seat, mid-sized, front-wheel drive crossover.

It’s available in three petrol-only grades plus a range-topping hybrid, petrol-electric version. Prices start at $39,900 for the VTi X, followed by $43,400 for the VTi L, $49,900 for the VTi LX and $55,400 for the hybrid e:HEV LX.

All prices are driveaway.

Our test vehicle was the ZR-V VTi LX priced at $49,900.

Standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, LED lights front and back, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and push-button start, walk-away door locking, power adjustment for the front seats, heated front and rear seats, plus heated steering wheel.

There’s also rear privacy glass, a frameless, an electric parking brake, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors and a hands-free power tailgate.

A space saver spare is supplied in the event of a flat tyre.

ZR-V comes with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with 24/7 roadside assistance and five years of free access to Honda connected services for what it’s worth.

Service is 12 months/10,000km and capped at $199 per visit.

INFOTAINMENT

Infotainment is headlined by a smallish 9.0-inchtouchscreen,withbuilt-innavigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth with support for voice control and audio streaming wireless Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto and over-the-air updates.

There are two USB ports in the front, one USB-A the other USB-C, plus two more USB-C ports in the back and 12 volt outlets in the front and luggage area.

Wirelesschargingisstandardonthismodel.

SAFETY

ZR-Vunexpectedlyscoresafour-starsafetyfor Australia,despitehaving11airbags,including front-centre and driver’s knee airbag.

Apparently, a different front bumper beam is fitted to Australian vehicles, which affected test performance in some test impact locations.

While no observable effect on test performance was identified, ANCAP says Honda is yet to provide information as to why the additional beam has been excluded.

Active safety includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speedfollow,driverattentionmonitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, plus tyre pressure monitoring.

ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS

The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine drives the front wheels through a CVT-style continuously variable automatic transmission. It produces 131kW of power at 6000 rpm and 240Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500 rpm.

DRIVING

It’s inoffensive, comfortable and easy to drive,

and provides adequate accommodation for four adults - five at a pinch.

The cabin feels classy with soft-touch surfaces and a full-width mesh grille that hides the normally exposed front air vents.

Controls are simple and generally easy to use as we have come to expect from Honda over the years.

Physical buttons are offered to the right side of the touchscreen for oft used functions, with other controls are located lower down for the air conditioning.

The instrument panel can be configured as dials or bars and you can select detailed information to display, but it lacks the bells and whistles of competitor systems.

The transmission supports manual gear changes, with change paddles and six steps or pseudo gears.

Therearealsothreedrivemodesfromwhich to choose: Eco, Normal and Sport, which are self-explanatory.

Fuel consumption for this model is a claimed 7.2L/100km and it takes standard 91 unleaded.

We were getting 8.0L/100km from the 57-litre tank after about 250km of driving, including an enthusiastic spell on our favoured test route.

This is very close to the long-term 8.1L/100km average that the car showed after almost 2000km.

The 1.5-litre turbo feels a little underdone on torque, but plant it and the thing takes off well enough.

Wetriedthisseveraltimesandalthoughthe initial response was a little tardy, it quickly recovered, the revs ramping up to around 5500 rpm where the needle hovered.

We kept waiting for the transmission to change up, but of course that didn’t happenbecause it’s a CVT.

Instead, like a rubber band, the drive ratio changes to optimise response.

Sport mode proved pretty good, but for ultimate control changing gears manually produced the most satisfying result.

Ride and handling are surprisingly good, remembering this is a one-size-fits-all family SUV.

We had to push quite hard to get the car out of shape.

Not unexpectedly, the engine does become a little harsh under hard acceleration.

But engine, wind and road noise are fairly subdued the rest of the time — with the exception of coarse bitumen.

It’s a common theme.

Unlike CarPlay, Android Auto requires a cable to connect your phone to the infotainment system, with a choice of USB-C or older USB-A ports in front.

Having just purchased a new cable for this task, we were disappointed to discover that the USB-C to C port does not support data transfer.

Unlike the X-Trail that we drove recently, however, we were able to maintain a stable USB connection with USB-A.

So, remember to pack one of each sort just in case.

According to the specs, this thing is supposed to have a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system, including a subwoofer.

Not seeing it guys. Where are the badges declaring its existence?

If you’ve got it, flaunt it - that’s what we say.

SUMMING UP

The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety.

At $49,000 it’s pretty steep for what is a smallish SUV, especially when you line it up against the cheaper and larger Chinese offerings. And therein lies the problem, not just for Honda but all the established brands in the Australian new car market.

At least Honda has a strategy.

The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety. (Supplied)

It may have been a long weekend but it didn’t stop local sporting competitions from making the most of the sunny weather. Star Weekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting the action.

Long weekend sporting hits

Tarneit Central’s Gurjeet Singh Manes. 55344_01

Tarneit Central. 455344_16

Werribee’s Matthew Burton. 455343_08

Spotswood’s Jakson Knight. 455340_01

Spotswood’s Declan O’Brien. 455340_05

Taylors Lakes’ Saihaj Jaspal. 455343_01 Druids’ Samuel Hall. 455342_01

PEGS’ Omar Phillips. 455337_01

Altona Roosters’ Dishnaka Manoj. 455337_04

Altona North’s Asela Aluthge. 455342_18

Tough day’s play for the two Point Cook sides

Point Cook fell just short of victory against Moonee Valley, while Point Cook Centrals

Victoria Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield top two hits took a hit on Saturday. It was back to one-day cricket on Saturday and it wasn’t the day either of the Point Cook sides were after.

The Warriors weren’t able to come away with the points against Moonee Valley. Moonee Valley made 8-190 from its overs.

Max Rouvray, Nicholas Peacock and Kade Clowes took two wickets each for the Warriors.

The Warriors in their innings had lots of small contributions without anyone going on with it.

It proved costly, with the Warriors bowled

out with two balls remaining for 179.

George Wells top scored with 34.

The Warriors sit in seventh spot, 12 points outside the top four.

Point Cook Centrals slipped to fourth with a loss to Gellibrand.

Like the Sharks, Gellibrand is pushing for a top two spot and home final.

On Saturday, the Sharks made 8-191 from their overs after being sent in by Gellibrand.

Mayank Sharma top scored with 72 not out.

At 3-162, Gellibrand seemed on track for victory. The loss of five quick wickets gave the Sharks some hope.

It wasn’t enough with Gellibrand getting home in the third last over. It finished 8-193.

The Sharks shared the wickets around. Bellbridge is keeping the pressure on the top four in the Evans-Clark Shield with a big win against St Andrew’s Footscray.

The Bears decided to bowl first and bowled St Andrew’s Footscray out for 106.

Christopher Armstrong took 4-11 for the Bears.

The Bears made light work of the run chase, finishing 2-108. Chris Henry finished 60 not out.

The Bears sit one point outside the top four.

Werribee Centrals wasn’t able to back up its win against then ladder leaders Sunshine YCW on Saturday against Seabrook.

It was a tough day with the bat for the Centurions who were bowled out for 102 in

New Tiger ready to play

By Tara Murray

WerribeerecruitJeddLongmiredidn’thaveto look far to seek feedback as he contemplated a move to the Tigers for 2025.

Having been with Collingwood’s Victorian Football League side the last two seasons, Longmire decided he wanted to seek more opportunities.

Werribee was one of those clubs interested.

“My housemate Raymond Murphy was on Werribee’s list last year,” he said. “He lived with me last year.

“He told me what they were about and he really enjoyed his time there. He didn’t get a good run of it with injuries

“He told me what the environment was like and they were so successful.”

A country boy from Corowa Rutherglen, Longmire said the club’s big contingent of country boys was another thing which attracted him to the club.

He said the group was really close along with

the guys from Geelong.

“Jay Dahlhaus is one that I am close to, Flynn Young is another,” he said. “Those guys are really welcoming.

“They get it and it’s a good program down here and they get what it takes.

“Ryan Eyers, who has joined the club, is also back home from Corowa.”

Longmire played 16 games for Collingwood in two seasons as a tough inside midfielder

He played 13 local games last season along with seven VFL games and was named in the Ovens and Murray representative team.

“It was more about getting opportunity,” he said about making the move. “When I first got into the VFL I had to consider whether to go to an aligned club or unaligned club.

“I loved my time at Collingwood and I wouldn’t change my time there. There was competition to compete against the AFL guys, it’s really hard to own a role or position.

“It won’t be easy at Werribee though.”

While Longmire has joined an unaligned

the 22nd over. Seabrook was made hard to get the runs, but made them with plenty of overs in hand, finishing 8-104.

The Centurions sit seventh on the ladder. In the Russell Pollock Shield, Wyndham Vale fell well short of Donnybrook’s total. Donnybrook made 8-269 from its overs. Anoop Mohanty took 4-56 for the Vales. While the Vales were able to put some partnerships together, they never looked likely to get the runs.

They were restricted to 5-180. Jay Dolliver top scored with 46. The Vales remain outside the top four, 10 points behind Burnside Springs United.

Cousins, Eyers join Werribee

Werribee has announced its first new signings of the new year with talented youngsters Mace Cousins and Ryan Eyers joining the club.

The two defenders, who spent the past two seasons together at Geelong’s Victorian Football League side, will make the move to Avalon Airport Oval for the 2025 campaign.

The pair are the 11th and 12th confirmednewsigningstothesquadthat won last year’s VFL premiership.

Cousins brings exciting potential after being named Geelong’s best first-year player in 2023. The 22-year-old arrives at Werribee having played 12 VFL games, with the dashing defender averaging more than 13 disposals and five marks per game.

AgraduateoftheWesternJets,Cousins is the second player out of Darley to join Werribee this off-season, following promising key forward Brady Wright.

Cousins has shown his ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively as a part of that back six.

In his first full season of senior footy with Darley in 2023, Cousins ranked top ten in the league for both intercept possessions and intercept marks, with his strong local form earning him a spot in the BFNL interleague squad and ultimately securing a VFL position with the Cats.

Teammates for the previous two seasons, Eyers had nine games for the Cats across 2023 and 2024.

The 21-year-old key defender joined Geelong’sVFLlistafterabest-and-fairest winning season with the Murray Bushrangers.

club, he joins a side that is coming off a premiership.

He said he knows he has to work hard for a spot come round one.

“The irony is a I moved across to have more opportunity, but it’s won’t be an easy time to be picked in the side or squad,” he said.

“I’ve been impressed by the class of Louis Pinnuck and Jack Henderson. I want to improve and show I can be part of the team.”

Longmire said he won’t say no to an opportunity to play AFL, but knows that it gets harder the older you are.

He said for him though was to have a good year with Werribee and see where his football takes him.

“I’m more worried about getting a game first.”

The pre-season is starting to heat up for the Tigers. Longmire said he was keen to get into the match stimulation and pre-season camp before matches get underway.

“It gives you more motivation.”

Eyers’ signing also carries on Werribee’s famously strong connection with the Ovens and Murray Football League, with the defender playing for Corowa-Rutherglen and winning their 2024 club best-and-fairest, being named in the best in 13 of his 16 matches.

The Tigers have also announced the signing of Liam Kershaw and Isaac Nixon.

The pair come from the Coates Talent League, with Nixon coming from the Western Jets.

Ryan Eyers. (Werribee FC)

Jedd Longmire. (Supplied)

The Bulldogs start to rebuild under new coach

It’s been a pre-season of resetting for Point Cook in the Western Football League division 1 competition.

After finishing bottom last season, the Bulldogs know they need to make some changes under new coach Saade Ghazi

Ghazi, who had 12 months off coaching, said he was happy with how things were going so far.

“We have really strong juniors, but we need to set the senior department up again,” he said.

“We are really happy so far and we have the right group that wants to be here. The expectationistobeabitmorecompetitiveand win more games.

“We know we’re coming from a long way back. Next time we play finals we want to have sustained success, playing finals year after year

Ghazi said pre-season had been good so far, with the group returning after Christmas on January 13.

He said they were hoping to have a bit more luck with injuries this year as well.

The Bulldogs have announced a number of re-signings, and recently announced two signings with AFL experience.

Josh Carter joins the club from St Albans.

Ghazi said the pair had a connection from when he was at Williamstown and Carter was at the Western Bulldogs, who were aligned with Williamstown.

“He lives in Point Cook,” he said. “I know Point Cook has spoken with him before about the opportunity to play close to home.

“Heknowsafewoftheguysandhascoached some of the guys in the Western Jets. He’s still agoodplayerandwillbeagoodrolemodelfor the whole club.”

Ghazi said Carter can play all over the ground, but said his leadership would be massive.

“Hopefully he’ll be here a few years and can be there in a non playing capacity later on,” he said.

“We are not expecting the Josh Carter of seven or eight years ago, more a leader and teacher.”

Carter Michael, who was on the Brisbane Lions list playing one AFL game, has signed with Point Cook as his local club.

He has also committed to Williamstown in the Victorian Football League.

The Bulldogs announced on Sunday, that another former Lion Blake Coleman had aligned with the club while committed to playing with Williamstown.

Ghazi said they were really focused on building a connection with its two local VFL clubs, Williamstown and Werribee.

Point Cook last week also announced the re-signing of young forward Michael Cilmi.

The Bulldogs have already announced its leadership group for this year.

Nick Buykx will again captain the side, with Billy Kolyniuk, Shaun Wyatt and Lochlan Allen again part of the leadership group.

The Cats bounce back

By Tara Murray

Hoppers Crossing responded exactly how the doctor had ordered in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west.

Coming off their second loss of the season, the Cats were back in action on Saturday against second bottom side Moorabbin in a one-dayer.

It was a comprehensive performance with both bat and ball in the win for the Cats.

Cats captain-coach Simon Lambert said it was much needed after a disappointing performance the week before.

“WewonourT20theothernightandwehad confidence going into yesterday [Saturday],” he said.

“The guys needed to win, with the competition being tight and not much can go wrong. Hopefully we can carry it into next week.”

Lambert said they were happy to keep Moorabbin to anything under 160 after it decided to bat first.

HegottheirwishastheybowledMoorabbin

out for 108 in the 42nd over. Harshit Takkar took four wickets.

“Last week we only made 120 and it took them 42 overs to knock it off and dropped a number of catches,” he said.

“We are bowling well and we were able to take a few more catches.”

The most pleasing thing for Lambert was getting the runs for the loss of just one wicket.

The Cats needed just 21.5 overs as they finished 1-109.

Lambert top scored with 57 not out, while Shijit Chandran Poovathingal finished 40 not out.

“The top order found a few runs,” Lambert said. “It’s been good as it’s been a few weeks.

“Hopefully that will continue and a few others start stepping up for the rest of the games.”

With other results going their way, the Cats sit in fourth spot, three points off top.

The Cats will be without Daryl Sunder Ferrario for the rest of the season in a big loss for the side.

Alongside Lambert, they have been the two

Cats, Tigers go through

Hoppers Crossing and Werribee are through to the next round of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association T20 competition.

The top six teams including Hoppers Crossing won both their matches, with the last two finals spots coming down to percentage.

Teams from seventh through to 26th all won one match, including Werribee. Hoppers Crossing made it two from two with victory against Altona on Tuesday night.

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.

Jack Blanche took two wickets for Altona.

Werribee opened its account with a final over win against Coburg.

Coburg was bowled out for 138 with three balls remaining.

Stephen Plumridge, Finlay Cowell and Joy Patel took two wickets each for the Tigers.

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 secure a finals spot.

stars with the bat.

“He had a three month visa,” Lambert said.

“He had to go back to India.

“He has been a big player for us. Other players will have to step up and fill the hole that he has left.

“We have more than enough players that can fill that hole.”

Hoppers Crossing is away in the next round in a two-dayer against Taylors Lakes.

Meanwhile, Werribee made it two in a row with victory against Taylors Lakes, which has now lost three games in a row.

The Tigers bowled first and were able to restrict the Lions to just 127.

Tim O’Brien took three wickets, while Stephen Plumridge, Mitchell Cullen and Jackson Hopper took two wickets each.

The Tigers needed just 26.3 overs to get the runs, finishing 3-128.Matthew Burton made 43.

Werribee now sits 10th on the ladder.

Both Hoppers Crossing and Werribee were in action on Tuesday night, after deadline, in the T20 finals.

Werribee was due to face Elsternwick and Hoppers were to play St Bernard’s OC in round three on Tuesday night after deadline.

Elsewhere, Yarraville also got its first win of the competition, beating Spotswood.

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.

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.

Josh Carter. (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Shijit Chandran Poovathingal. (Jacob Pattison) 386617_14

Bees lose, but are still in finals mix sitting third

Werribee is right among the mix as the race for finals in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant division 2, section 2 season.

With three rounds remaining, five teams remain in finals contention with the Bees sitting in third spot.

Bees chairman of selectors Mick O’Neil admits to looking at the run home of the teams left in the race.

“Looking at the games we have the best draw,” he said. “We play last and second last both at home in the run home along with fourth.

“A few other sides in the top part play each other.”

O’Neil said it was nice to know that their finals hope is in their own hands.

“Ifwedon’twingames,wedon’tplayfinals,” he said. “Playing those lower sides, if we don’t win, we don’t deserve to play finals.

“We have a few people out the next few weeks so we won’t be at full strength.”

On Saturday, the Bees fell short against Bacchus Marsh.

There wasn’t much between the two sides, with Bacchus Marsh getting the win, 77 (12)-72 (6).

O’Neil said it could have gone either way.

“We’ve had the wood over them in the last season and a half and they are acutely aware of it,” he said.

“It was a bit disappointing to lose. To win three rinks is not a bad effort at their place.

“The one rink that did go down was by eight

shots. You usually don’t lose if you win three rinks and lose one rink by eight.”

O’Neil’s rink had a one shot win, as did

Robert Smith’s and Brendan Barker’s rinks.

Robert Panton’s rink went down 23-15.

The loss has the Bees sitting in third spot, six points behind Bacchus Marsh and four

De Jong gets his chance

By Tara Murray

Werribee Giants’ Wesley De Jong wasn’t even thinking of playing in the Australian Baseball League when he got a call up for the final round of the season.

With a number of players unavailable, the Melbourne Aces put the call out to a number of local pitchers including De Jong.

It became a bit of a whirlwind week for De Jong.

“It was huge,” he said. “ alia it’s the peak of what you aim for.

“I had no idea at all they were interested. I got a message on Monday and it was the first I had heard about it.

“They pretty much said we want you to come down on Wednesday and pitch a bit. I said I was pitching on Tuesday night and the coach came down.

“Wednesday I was signing a contract and Thursday I was playing.”

DeJongsaidtheshortturnaroundmeanthe didn’t have long to think about it which made things easier.

He said the Aces environment had been really good.

“I loved it to be honest,” he said. “Being around professionalism is helpful.

“I’ll try and take back what I learned and hopefully put my best foot forward if the opportunity arose again”

De Jong played in two games against Adelaide. He said he felt like he played at a high level.

“The first night was really short,” he said. “I got in and did my job.

“On Saturday I pitched one innings and it was spot on.”

De Jong, who grew up in Hoppers Crossing and made representative sides in baseball, cricket and football, said being able to play for the Aces at the Melbourne Ballpark, which is innearbyAltonaMeadows,wasprettyspecial.

“To have my family and friends come down and club members not have to travel too far to watch was nice.”

De Jong will now focus on the rest of the season with the Giants. After 21 rounds, the Giants sit second bottom in the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1st nine competition.

The Giants had their fifth win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating Sandringham, 3-2.

On Saturday it was a bit tougher, losing to Essendon, 13-6.

He said the group was starting to find an bit more consistency at this level having been promoted into division 1 this season.

Having come through the ranks at Werribee, De Jong said it was nice to see the next generation start to make their mark as part of the group.

points behind Rosamond.

Fourth placed Keilor is seven points behind the Bees.

O’Neil said their second side would play finals, while they were hoping to get three of their five sides playing finals.

He said that would be a good achievement for the club.

Meanwhile in division 4, section 1, Hoppers bounced back against Yarraville Footscray 4, winning 78 (16)-66 (2).

Stephen Macklin rink won 23-15, while Albert Wu’s won 23-20 and Andrew Doyle’s rink won 18-15.

Hoppers sit atop the table, 15 points clear of Bacchus Marsh 2.

Point Cook sits in third spot.

On Saturday, it defeated Sunshine RSL, 101 (16)-59 (2).

Barry Watson’s rink had a massive 34-7 win with the two other winning rinks for Point Cook also in double figures.

Palm Lake wasn’t able to come away with the win, losing to Bacchus Marsh 2, 87 (17)-70 (1).

- Tara Murray

Sports shorts

GDFNL

The Geelong and District Football Netball League has revealed its fixture for the 2025 season. Werribee Centrals will start its season on April 5 against Belmont Lions on the road. The Centurions first home match will be on April 26 against Bell Post Hill.

Western FL

The Suns have announced the signing of Brayden Schibeci for the Western Football League division 2 season. Schibeci clubs the Suns from Werribee Districts, where he has made a significant impact on the field, playing half forward and wing. He was part of the 2022 and 2023 division 1 premierships.

A-League

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.

The 18-year-old has committed until 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.

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.

“I’ll take back what I’ve learned and put in place and hopefully it will allow us to win a few more games and stay up in division 1.

“It’s massive having them come through .I think in local sport, you have a bit of a circle.

“The next generation is starting to come through and there’s a few more to come through the next few years.”

Robert Smith. (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Wesley De Jong. (Supplied)