FEBRUARY 4, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Short change to tradition The Westside Saints Netball Club have broken a long held netball tradition and created a piece of history in the process. The Saints, a representative team out of the St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association have become the first in the state to do away with skirts in favour of shorts. Tracy Wallace helped lead the way on the initiative and said it was a long time coming. “We started designing the shorts about six months ago with manufacturer BLK, had samples made and had the girls try them on,” she said. “We actually had to go to Netball Victoria to change bylaws, which they were really good about … there were no problems there.” The shorts were debuted last Tuesday night and Ms Wallace said there was a strong reaction. “There were lots of people looking in shock when they saw them,” she said. “The main comment was that it looked like we were wearing training attire … that’s the idea, it makes sense to train in the same sort of gear you play in.” Ms Wallace said more clubs will follow the Saints’ lead. “I guarantee that within 12 months others will start wearing them,” she said. “They’ll let the dust settle, then they’ll them roll out … especially when the Suncorp side the Queensland Firebirds wear them this year.” Tate Papworth
Uneeq Palavi, Olivia Powells, Alyssa Dreaneen and Beyonce Palavi. (Joe Mastroianni) 203656_02
Brimbank security boost Three Brimbank sites will undergo security upgrades following a funding win from the state government’s Community Safety Fund. Installation of under awning lighting will take place in Elaine Street, St Albans to improve perceptions of safety and security following a successful bid from the council. The $9,090 project follows previous safety initiatives in the area, which includes the installation of CCTV cameras.
The council also had a successful bid in Sunshine, where security lighting will be installed in the Watt Street carpark to prevent and deter crime and anti-social behaviour. The $4,490 project could be the start of a number of security measures for the suburb. In November, Sunshine traders told Star Weekly they would lobby the Department of Justice and Brimbank council to install CCTV cameras throughout the suburb. Sunshine Business Association president Carson Luk said an application for cameras
would be lodged when submissions open this year. “For a while we thought other things like improved lighting needed to happen before cameras went in, but now our backyard is in order, we’ll be putting in an application for cameras when the Department of Justice grants open next year,” he said. The Brimbank Little Athletics Centre is also set for some upgrades. The centre was awarded $10,000 to install vandal-proof security lighting and security
gates to prevent further beak-ins and improve the security of equipment stored on site. The initiatives are a handful of 63 which are being rolled out across the state. Acting Minister for Crime Prevention Jill Hennessy said the grants were vital for keeping the community safe. “We’re supporting 63 local organisations to run community safety projects at the grassroots – each of these groups are working hard to develop solutions to combat local crime,” she said.
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By Tate Papworth