13-year-old Ashwell Starr is making waves in the Australian youth soccer league

BY RHEANATH

shwell Starr still reme1nbers that he scored over ten goals in the first soccer match of his life as a young boy. Ever since, the now 13-year-old has been hooked to the beautiful ga1ne.

"I love the thrill ofthe competition and scoringgoals," Ashwell admittedwith a cheekygrin.

Overtheyears, he's garnered a few feathers in his cap, playingforbig clubs in Sydney like the Parran1atta Eagles and Marconi Stallions. The left-wing striker impressivelyended the 2019-2020 season as the highest scorer in his agegroup in the league.

This year, the budding soccer star is all set to commence a new stage in his career, playing for the U-14 team ofthe highly competitive Western Sydney Wanderers.

"It's a testament to his skills that he was scouted by the Western Sydney Wanderers. You don't typically try out for theWanderers - they scoutyou,"proud father Carlton Starr toldIndianLink.

By most accounts, he could be the most successful 1ndian player in the Australian youthleague so far. Ofcourse, the accolades don't come easy.

"Ashwell undertakes specialised training once a weekwith one ofthe best academies in Australia called Futboltec," Carlton explained. "Then he trains three ti1ues a weekwith the Wanderers. And there are games over the weekend."

With thewhole family involved in Ashwell's training, includingolder brother Jason who played soccer in India and England, the game is very much a family affair for the Starrs. (Even their pet dog Diego is named after the late Argentina soccerlegend Maradona.)

As part ofhis soccercareer,Ashwellhas travelled all over, such as to theCairnsCup Yanmar Cup in Japan lastyear. With such a busylifestyle dedicated to his game, the unwaveringfanuly support helps.

"It's not easy to train eaTlymornings and late nights. At times, we'vehad to make sacrifices, but Ashwell has an undeniable talent. Others train very hard to reach this level oftalent that he'sborn with," said Carlton.

It's this talent that continues to fuel Ashwell's Socceroos ambitions.

"I'd love to play for the national team, of course," he shared with JndianLink. "I'd also love toplayfor the Indian Super League (ISL); there are a lot ofAustralian players doing well there."

Like most boys his age,Ashwellcounts Neymar, Messi, Renaldo as his favourite players. When asked about the English

Premier League, theexciten1entin his voice is hard to contain when he states that he's an Arsenal fan.

So what has he learnt about hi111self fro1n the game?

"Soccer, like most sports, teaches discipJj11e and respect for the opposition. l've learnt to remain hun1ble with victories and with losses," he said.

His fathercouldn't agree more.

"Ashwell is a really respectful boy. He's learned a lot about the importance of teamwork and conducting yourselfwell,on and offthe field," Carlton elaborated.

The Starrs, originally from B01nbay, migrated toAustralia in 1995. As Ashwell's soccer careers continues to reach new heights, it's easy to acquire naysayers. To this, Carlton Starr has one simple philosophy - hard work and results should do all the talking.

"It's a great sign that there's an increasing number ofIndian boysplaying soccer at the grassroot levels. I believe we're goingto see a lot ofIndian talent coming up the ranks in the next few years. As l frequently tell Ashwell, no one can argue with dedication and talent," he said.

Like with many aspects oflife, COVID has puta dampeneronAshwell's soccer plans too, but the Starrs are keeping apositive outlook.

"Ashwell has been contacted by Genk, a celebrated soccer team in Belgium. But we've been unable to travel because ofborder closures," Carlton revealed.

With this manyexcitingthings in the works, it's nowonder the Starrs are eager to see what2021 holds for the talented lad. Onwards and upwards,we say!

BY PETRAO'NEILL

ithafocusonofferingrailtours toexploreregionalNewSouth Wales,Irecentlyjoinedthe inauguraltouroftheGolden WestwithVintage RailJourneysasthetrain's TourDirector.

Overfivedaystravelling 1500kilometers wevisitedhistorictownships,wineries, gardensand1nuseums,andviewedtheeverchanginglandscapethroughthewindowsof thetrain.

The train

Initsheydayfron1 1962-86,theSouthern Auroraprovidedafirstclassovernighttrain servicebetweenSydneyandMelbourne.

Aftertheserviceceased,manySouthern Auroracarriagesca1netoformpartofthe collectionsofrailpreservationgroups.In 2017,VintageRailJourneysacquired 14, renamedthecarriagesAuroraAustralis,and scrubbedandpolishedthembacktotheir originalcondition.Togetherwiththedining andloungecars,thedecorislikethatofan old-fashioneddiner,featuTinglaminated walls,andflutedstainlesssteelexteriors, allowinggueststorevisitthepast.

HummingalongtothetunesofFrank Sinatra,barmanagerDanservesdrinkswith flair. Passengersareofferedqualitywines sourcedfromvineyardsalongthejourney. ChefsBelindaandScottpreparehea1ty countryfare,withanemphasisonfreshlocal produce.Afteralongday'stravel,passengers cantuckintomainsincludingrackofCowra LamborslowlybraisedBeefCheeksserved withlentilsandsweetpotatoes,followedby lemonpiewithadollopofcreamorsticky datepuddingwithcaramelsauce.

An old Sydney-to-Melbourne train service takes on a fascinating new avatar ...

Twin-sharecabinshaveseatsthatfoldback tobecomebunkbedsatnightwithasteep laddertoclin1bandacompacten-suitewith folddownbasinandtoilet.Thesmallsingle cabinshavesharedtoiletsandshowers.

The journey

AtSydney'simposingCentralStation,we welcomed 124guestsonboard.Thewhistle blewandtheAuroraAustralisheadednorth, pastruggedsandstonecliffs,densebushland, andstunningcoastalscenery.AtBrooklynwe joinedtheRiverboatPostmanthatsince 1910 hasdeliveredn1ailandessentialsuppliesalong theriver,foraleisuTelythree-hourcruiseof theHawkesburyRiverandBrokenBay.

Rejoiningthetrain,wetravelledontothe pictureperfectvillageofPaterson,nestledon thebanksofthePatersonRiver.Volunteers fromtheRailMotorMuseumandHistorical Societyguidedusaroundthetownslovingly restoredhistoricbuildings,manydatingback totheearly1830s.

Thenextday,wejoinedahop-onhop-off bus to visit the H.untei- Valley Gardens with the med gardensincludiJ1g an Indian garden. Stops wei-e also made at the Watershed Gallery showcasinglocal artists, and at several wineries to sample wine at cellar doors. Re-boardingthe train,we travelled onto Werris Creek, and were metby volunteers to view the fascinating collection of1nemorabilia at the Railway Museum. Later that evening, with a band playing, we met friendly locals at the renownedWerrisCreek Railway Hotel.

An earlydeparture bad us travelling on freightlines, with the train turningat Binnaway Junction, before passing towns including Dubbo and Wellington. Thegently undulatiJ1g landscape graduallychanged fron1 lush greento golden, around bends and through tunnels aswe passed by canola fields, rollinghills, fruit orchards, viJ1eyardsand paddocks. Many differentbirdsflew overhead and horses flicked their manes. It was a relaxing day,withguestsgaziJ1g out oftheir cabin windows to view the ever-changing scenery.

Arrivingin Orange, a cityof40,000 overlooked by the iinposing Mount Canobolus,guests could selfexplore with a map in hand to view parks, Federation-era mansions and historicbuildings. Atour was also offered to visitAdagio Mills that specializesin alpacawool, to learn more about how thewoolis processed.

The followingday,we visited Bathurst, and explored local sites such as the impressive Fossil Museum, featuring rare crystals and fossils fro1naround the world. Wethen travelled bycoach towards Oberon tovisit May field Garden, the prettiest privategarden I've ever seen. With meandering pathways, waterfalls, lakes and streams, surroundedby oak, maple and birch trees, this was a day to re1nember, with a picnic lunch by the lake.

This beingour final night, ourjow·ney continued to Kandos, a small settlement tucked in the foothillsofthe mountains. Greeted with a Welcome to Countryby men1bers ofthe Wiradju1·i people, volW1teers led us to view aboriginal art galleries and the Rail Museum, before arriving at the Kandos Community Hall, for a spit roast dinner and liveband that soon had us clappingand stomping our feet.

At sunrise the nextmorning, the huge sandstone cliffs ofthe Caper tee Valley gave offa goldenglow, as wefollowed the Gwabegar line, across the Great Dividing Rangeto Wallerawang. Thescenerywas breathtaking and on a line that is seldon1 used, the overgrown tree branches almost stroked against the train.

Onourwayto Lithgow, we crossed a series ofbrickviaducts built in the 1920s, before arriving at Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains. Passengers spent the day selfexploringon the hop-on hop-offsightseeing bus before re-boardingthe train and ending ourjourney atCentral Station.

Travel Notebook

• Thefive-dayGolden Westjourney costs$3995 perperson,twin shareorfora singlecabin.Other itinerariestothe North Coastand Riverin a arealsoavailable. Contact 1300421422fordetails.The journey providesan introductionto regional NSW.

• Ifyou'd prefertoexplore in greater depth,a short break iseasyto organise. Manyexpertlydesigned roadtripsareavailabletoguide yourdrivethere, orchoosea town toserveasyourbase, and make daytripsfromthere. Mypicksare OrangeorTamworththatare both buzzingrightnow. Regionaltowns offersomuchtoseeand do, and while basedthere,takescenicdrives tovisitnational parksand quaint historicvillages, madeeasy by touristdrive mapsthatcan beeasily downloaded.

• Ifyou'd prefertocatchthetrainand hirea caron arrival, NSWtrains arecomfortable, affordableand relaxing.GotoNSWtrainlink.Visitor Information Centresare located atall majorcenterswith veryhelpfulstaff.

• Togetyou started,goto visitnsw.com

Before makingplans checkthe latest advice fortravelInNSW.

Talk about biryanis, and you'll encounter waytoo many FAQs...

Doyou cookthe riceand meatseparately,ortogether?Doyou usetheovenordoyou prefertoplaceyourpotontopofa hotirontawaonthestove?

Doyou useboned meat, ordoesbonelesscomeoutbetter?How doyou preventyourbiryanistickingtothe bottom ofthepan-doyou cookon low heat, ordoyou layerthebottomwithsliced potatoes?Thecorrectanswertoeachoftheseofcourse, istotrythem outbothways, and find outfor yourself!Whileyou'reatit, whynottastethedifferentregionsofIndiathisRepublic Day,andtrydifferentvariationsofthe biryani? It'll bea pleasure if you do itwith Fortune Rice

Bombay

Vegetable Biryani

Forthe Rice Wholespices

• 250grams(roughy2 cups)

Fortune Biryani Rice rinsed andsoakedfor 15 minutes

• 2 tbsp oil

• 1 tsp shahijeera

• 4-5 blackpepper pods

• 1-inch piece cinnamon

• 2-3 cloves

• 2-3 green cardamom

• 1 large fresh bayleaf

• Salt to taste

FortheVegetables

• ½ cup green peas

• 4pods blackcardamoms

• 3cm piece cinnamon

• 8 whole cloves

• 8 whole peppercorns

• 1 tsp shahiJeera

• 3 fresh bay leaves

Forthe Masala

• 3 tbspghee or oil

• 4medium onions, sliced

• Green chillies to taste

• 3 tspg,nger-garlic paste

• ½ tsp turmeric powder

• Red chilli powderto taste

Plus

• ½cupyogurt,whisked

• Afewstrands saffron, soaked,natbspofwarm milk

Forgarnish

•Tomatoslicesand corianderstrips

•2onions,friedcrisp

•Choppedmintand corianderleaves

•Limeorlemonwedges

• ½ cup carrots, cut into

• 1½ tsp garam masala long pieces

• ½ cup green beans, cut into long pieces

• 2 medium sized potatoes, cut into four pieces each

• 4-5 dried plums or prunes

• 3 large tomatoes powder

• 1½ tsp coriander­ cumin powder

• Saltto taste

-

• Oil fordeep fryingonions vegetables and prunes cook until vegetables arejust about al dente. Add atinyamountofcookingwater ifnecessary. Cool, and stir inyogurt to keep it all moist. Keep covered until needed.

Tocookrice, heatoilandadd inthe When well-combined, add the whole spices. When they begin to crackle add in the drained rice and sautebriefly.Addwater(equivalent to double the rice) and salt, and cookuntil 75%done. Sievethrough a colander.

Heat oil and deep fry onions until well browned. Removefrom oil and cool,thengrindtoa paste.

To cook the veggies, heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and throw in thewhole spicesandgreen chillies. Allow oil to infuse flavours until spices crackle, then introduce the onion paste, ginger-garlic paste and saute. Stir in tomatoes. Add turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and coriandercumin powder and salt. Saute until itallcomestogether.

Assemble biryani in a large baking dish.

Arrange alternate layers of rice and prepared vegetables. Pour over the milk infused with saffron. Cover tightly with alfoil and bake in a moderately hot oven for 20 minutes.

Servedecorated withgarnish.