Driving away crime
By Jaidyn Kennedy
Melissa Smiley and many of her neighbours fear for their safety, so much so that they have enlisted a private security company to patrol their streets at night.
“It’s terrible here, I won’t walk out of my house when it gets dark to even put my bins out or to go to my letterbox,” Melissa said.
“I would say to people looking for a place to move to don’t come and live here.”
Melissa doesn’t live in Los Angeles’s Skid Row or a gated community in Cape Town, she lives in Manor Lakes.
Since early April, more than 370 residents of the suburb have signed on to a private security trial run by Grant Burton’s company YPG RISK.
However, this isn’t Grant or his team’s first rodeo in the 3024 postcode – the company operates permanent patrols Wyndham Vale’s Jubilee Estate and in parts of Mambourin.
Grant said his company was approached by Neighbourhood Watch in Manor Lakes.
“They asked if we would consider coming to a non-owners corporation estate to run our model through the area,” he said.
Melissa said herself and other residents have chosen private security because they feel Manor Lakes is getting more dangerous and police are taking longer to respond.
Recently, she said people have ripped out her letterbox, several drug-afflicted people have attempted to open her front and car doors, and that someone slashed her neighbour’s seatbelt while she was still in her car before stealing the vehicle.
I joined Grant on patrol at 9.50pm on a Monday night.
The first thing you might notice about the patrol car when first jumping for a ride-along, an experience open to any resident if they sign a waiver, is the Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
Through a mounted camera, the system scans registration plates and will light up and startbeepingifitdetectsacarhasbeenreported as stolen or if the registration is invalid.
If Grant gets out of the vehicle, then the ALPR system will switch to his body camera and keep operating.
Every guard Grant deploys is equipped with a bulletproof vest, a batten and handcuffs.
Admittedly, while I feel pretty safe in the patrol car, I can’t help but think of the death of
Natan Mwanza in Wyndham Vale a couple of months ago.
We enter Lakeside, where the initial demand for the patrol came.
“Initially the demand was for Lakeside only, theywantedacartopatrolthiseightto10street precinct alone,” Grant said.
“We get a lot of activity around here mainly due to the parks and playgrounds, but two of the houses on this street have had attempted home invasions since we started.”
Some of the housekeeping tasks the patrol units will perform are making sure all garages are closed and scanning to see if individuals or groups are loitering.
Across the night, Grant will focus on streets where subscribers live, activity centres like Wyndham Vale station and respond to any concerns raised in the subscriber WhatsApp group.
A voice starts speaking through Grant’s
‘‘ The families are not out on the streets here ... It’s a dead zone ’’ - Grant Burton
radio, but it’s no cause for alarm, just a routine welfare check from headquarters.
Depending on the uptake from residents, there are plans to increase to six patrols across WyndhamVale,MambourinandManorLakes by July.
“The plan for Manor Lakes is to increase to two or three cars here over the next couple of years, if the program takes off,” Grant said.
I finally ask perhaps the most obvious question: Where does the authority of a private security guard end?
“That’s a grey area, we obviously have a line that we can’t cross,” Grant said.
“What we can’t do is enter people’s homes, we have no search powers, we have no ability to request identification.
“We won’t overstep our mark and we have a great relationship with the police in Werribee, so we don’t want to fracture or jeopardise that at any point.
They have the power to perform a citizen’s arrest – and will do so.
“If we find someone on the street breaking intoacar,we’renotgoingtoletthemgoandtell them to piss off and don’t come back,” Grant said.
“We’ll execute that every time we can.” Grant stresses that the operation is not all muscle.
“Mental health is a real part of a role here as well, we come across a lot of people at night who are just not having a good time sitting in cars on their own,” he said.
“Well try and talk to them and engage them and see if we can get them help.
“My team is not just here to be the governors ofthearea,layingthelawdownforourclients.” At about 10.15pm, we come across a parked car with a single male occupant.
Continued: Page 2.
TAMARA KULDIN AND THE TAMARA KULDIN QUARTET
Sunday, 18 May 2025 - 2.00pm – 5.00pm
YPG RISK security guards Tevita Pomale and Francisco Auque. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473294_01
Council releases budget wish list
By Jaidyn Kennedy
Wyndhamcouncil’swishlistfortheupcoming state government budget is in – and public transport, roads and courts are top of the agenda.
Mayor Mia Shaw said the council’s ongoing advocacy priorities include infrastructure investment, job creation, and funding for the delivery of health and essential services.
“We would like to see investment in better access to buses, especially in new estates, and a number of new rail stations, major road
upgrades and delivery of the Western Freight intermodal Terminal,“ Cr Shaw said.
She said council would also like to see continued funding commitments for the East Werribee Employment Precinct.
“Wyndham’s population is set to grow to close to 500,000 people by 2040,” Cr Shaw said
“So, the council remains committed to working closely with all levels of government to deliver on projects that support local jobs, build better transport connections and deliver vital infrastructure for our growing community.”
The yet-to-be-opened Wyndham Law Courts are also on council’s radar in the coming year.
“We are also eager to understand the funding arrangements to enact the new law courts,” Cr Shaw said.
The opening of the $270 million dollar precinct,whichwassetforMarchthisyear,has been delayed due to funding being deferred away from it in last year’s state budget.
As present the region is still dependent on themuchsmallerWerribeeMagistrate’sCourt.
CrShawsaidtheprioritisationofcommunity
100th Mini Woolies opens at Warringa Park school. (Supplied)
Mega milestone for mini Woolies
Warringa Park School and Woolworths celebratedaspecialmilestonewiththeopening of the 100th Mini Woolies on Wednesday, May 7.
Parents and guests joined students at the school’s Werribee South campus for the official opening of the converted classroom that was fitted with two registers and featured a paradoxically named Mini Big W. Mini Woolies are simulated supermarket spaces within various educational settings (primary and secondary schools, TAFEs and disability service providers) that help students practise new skills.
Fromstackingshelvestooperatingcheck-out registers, the mini supermarkets can be integrated within various learning models and applied to develop different skills.
“It’s incredible to see how far the program has come in seven years,” Woolworths Group general manager of Mini Woolies Sarah Corey said.
“Whether it’s for a maths class, cooking class or for practical experience in a retail qualification, we’ve seen the program used in so many creative ways, and it’s fantastic to see students and staff having fun and making the most of these spaces.”
Principal Ashwini Sharma said the opportunity to open a Mini Woolies is an incredibly exciting prospect for the school.
“We are dedicated to providing authentic learning opportunities to apply skills students have learnt over their time at school to real worldcontexts,topreparethemastheymoveto their post school pathway,” she said. “Having a spacewheretheycanlearntoengageeffectively with an authentic supermarket environment is critical to this growth.”
Since launching in 2018, more than 8100 young people living with disabilities have participated in a Mini Woolies.
centres, outdoors spaces and libraries was to cater to the needs of the area’s youth– many of whom are not native English speakers.
“Wyndham is a young and diverse community. The 2021 Census found that 21 per cent of the population was aged 11 years or younger, with 48 per cent of the population born overseas,“ she said.
“A total of 49.8 per cent of residents speak a language other than English as their first language.“
The state budget will be handed down on Tuesday, May 20.
Driving away crime
I ask him about the large sandbags coveringpitsintheground,andtowhich I’m told copper wire is still a blue-chip asset.
We also come across a dark grey Audi with no plates on it parked at Manor Lakes Reserve. The male and female in the car aren’t willing to talk, so Grant gives the police a heads up.
Theweekendsarewheretherealaction happens, Grant told me.
“You come here on a Friday or Saturday night [AND] we are constantly monitoring groups of up to six to eight people walking the street,” he said.
But on that Monday night, we counted more kangaroos than pedestrians or cars.
“The families are not out on the streets here – which is surprising for us because in other areas we patrol, the playgrounds and barbeque areas are busy until at least 9pm,” Grant said. “In Manor Lakes we don’t see that– recently, we’ve had people say to us ‘Nah, we’re inside by 7.30pm mate and we’re happy being in there’.”
“It’s a dead zone.”
As a developing suburb, Manor Lakes has plenty of houses that neighbour empty blocks, something the patrollers pay particular attention to.
“We’ve had a few back fences where they’ve[allegedcriminals]parkedbehind the house to jump over the fence – and not many people would have thought of that in the past,” Grant said.
“But these blocks of land that are empty allow criminals to come in ... come in through the back doors.”
My two-hour stint on night patrol is over, but the discussion on the role of private security patrols in Wyndhamand who should fund them- is just getting started.
Abioloa breaks negative stereotypes to minimise harm
“Negativestereotypesareneverharmless,”says Changeprenerus founder Abiola Akinyibi.
Ms Akinyibi is calling on the Wyndham community to join the fight against negative ethnic and racial stereotypes.
Appointed as the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) chair last month, MsAkinbiyisaidshehasfacedchallengesasan African woman in the professional sphere that stem from stereotyping.
“One lived experience that comes to mind is being underestimated in professional spaces becauseoftheassumptionthatEnglishisn’tmy first language despite coming from a country whereEnglishistheofficiallanguage,”shesaid.
She also said they aren’t necessarily the result of malicious intent, but a genuine lack of
understanding.
perceptions may stem from ignorance or lack of exposure.”
Describing the issue as multifaceted and at times subtle, she said not being aware of their existence can lead to someone’s qualifications, leadership,orlivedexperiencebeingdismissed.
Not limited to individual interactions, she said entire ethnic groups and communities can be labelled with unfair tags that negatively affect their image in mainstream society.
“These narratives often shape how entire communities are perceived, not only personally, but also further entrench societal misunderstanding and bias.”
to better understand people of different backgrounds.
“Start by being genuinely curious, open, and respectful about those around you,” she said.
“Engage with neighbours from different backgrounds, attend community events, try different cultural cuisines, and listen to people’s stories.
“Breaking the cycle starts with education, empathy, and open-minded engagementcultural awareness programs, cross-cultural dialogues, and inclusive platforms are essential tools for addressing stereotypes.”
“As a skilled migrant, I’ve encountered this often,butIalsorecognisefrommyengagement with many communities that many of these
She said Wyndham being one of Australia’s most culturally diverse councils makes it the perfect place to start for anyone looking
To learn more about Changeprenurs and volunteer: https://www.changepreneurs.com. au/
Jaidyn Kennedy ECCV chairperson and Changepreneurs
VCAT gives nod to development
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has overturned Wyndham council’s bid to prevent the building of a three-storey commercial complex in Sanctuary Lakes.
The challenge, launched by Sanctuary Lakes Village Pty Ltd, came after council refused to grant a planning permit for the 76 Greg Norman Road site in September.
Included in the proposed precinct are a medical centre, an adjoined pharmacy, six food and drink premises, a convenience store,
two retail premises and a bottle shop.
Star Weekly reported in September that several residents urged council to reject the plan due to fears increased foot traffic around the site would impact their lifestyles and the service of alcohol would encourage unruly behaviour.
Council made the refusal on the grounds that the plans were inconsistent with noise regulations, light emittance regulations and did not provide enough parking spaces to accommodate the traffic the precinct
would generate.
In their submissions to the VCAT, several residents said serving alcohol on site late into the evening might lead to an increase in confrontations with intoxicated patrons.
VCAT rejected the claim that the service of alcohol at the food and drink premises would alter the social fabric of the area.
The ruling contended that there was insufficient evidence to suggest increased anti-social behaviour would arise.
The bottle shop, proposed to operate
Screen Australia backs podcast
Hoppers Crossing comedian Ciang Ajeic will be tickling more funny bones as season two of his web series Justice and Crime is about to be funded by Screen Australia.
Justice and Crime follows two disgraced ex-cops on a chaotic hunt for a missing influencer.
Desperate to redeem themselves, they take a deep dive into internet culture, small-town secrets and get drunk on their own delusions of fame.
Artistic recognition is not something Mr Ajeic takes for granted.
“Having someone believe in what we’re
creating feels amazing,” he said.
“After our first grant got rejected we put in the work to prove our idea with the first season, showing just how much people are craving a comedy web-series like justice and crime.”
However, his work is not just about showcasing his own talents.
“With funding, the team wants to showcase some of the new generation of African-Australian comedians and portray African characters in all their complexity and humour – the heroes we need on Australian screens,” Mr Ajeic said.
“The goal for justice in crime is to continue developing the brand and take stepping stones from a web series to TV and film.”
Withvideogamesandanimationamongthe future ambitions, focusing on the immediate tasks at hand until he and his crew build up a consistent production and development cycle is the priority.
The first season was almost entirely improvised with no written script. Season two will be totally different as it has a full production ready script written in collaboration with some of television’s best new writers.
until 10pm Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and until 11pm Friday-Saturday, was also deemed a reasonable part of the precinct, due to the alcohol being served for take-away consumption, VCAT found.
VCATdidconcedethattherewastechnically a cluster of premises licensed to sell alcohol in the area, but that it was not unreasonable to permit another site to operate as well.
The tribunal did not agree with council’s claim that the machinery and generators used attheprecinctwouldviolatenoiseregulations.
New
St Vincent’s Private Hospital (SVPH) Werribee has announced it will open a new operating theatre this week.
The new operating theatre is expected to allow for approximately 2000 additional surgeries to take place at the hospital during the next year.
Orthopedics, general surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT), gastroenterology, urology, gynaecology and pain management, will be among the specialities that the new theatre will accommodate.
SVPH Werribee assistant director Rachael Cassar said the move was important to keep up with growing demand for surgery at the hospital.
“Opening the new theatre ensures we’re not only keeping up with community demand, but staying ahead of it,” Ms Cassar said.
“It also allows for more operating space, greater availability and the opportunitytowelcomemorespecialists to our growing team.”
Also included in the most recent upgrade of the hospital is the refurbished day infusion centre, which is now located on level one. Nurse unit manager Rachael Simpson said the new, larger unit has been redesigned to create a more calming, purpose-built environment for patients receiving regular treatments such as cancer care.
“We know how important comfort and dignity are for patients undergoing ongoing treatment and the new unit will enhancebothcomfortandcareforthese patients and their families,” she said.
Renewed Wyndham Cultural Centre to reopen in July
The Wyndham Cultural Centre will re-open to the public in July, more than a year after it closed for maintenance and refurbishment works.
Included in the revamped centre will be a new bar, a new foyer and upgraded seating for guests attending theatrical performances. New audio-visual equipment, improved sound for the hearing impaired, refurbished dressing rooms and back of house facilities for performers are also among the upgrades.
The last performance held at the venue was on May 18 last year, before it was closed for
upgrades to the tune of $7.4 million.
Alaine Beek, who runs the local Essence Theatre Productions, said the reopening was important for performing arts in the area.
“The challenges in Wyndham, we are unique only having one theatre, so we had to go outside of the area [to perform],” Ms Beek said.
“Once a twice a year we would get to use it, so it was definitely missed not being able to do our big showcase performances.”
She welcomed the upgrades and said it was the perfect opportunity for people to book
tickets and support theatre locally.
“They have quite a variety of offerings, so the community should attend more. It is a really good theatre.
“Even if you don’t know what the show is about, you should still give it a shot.”
Two acts will kick off the centre’s new era on Saturday, July 5.
At 7pm, King Stingray, which has been described as a blend of rock’n’roll and the IndigenoustraditionofManikay,willperform on the back of a recent international tour.
Their debut album earned 5 Australian
Recording Industry Association (ARIA) nominations and won ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Best independent Rock Album’ at the 2023 Australian Independent Record (AIR) awards.
They will be followed by electronic music duo Electric Fields, which is known for combining modern electric-soul music with Aboriginal culture, and sing in Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and English.
To see the full listing of performances and programs and to book tickets, visit: www. wyncc.com.au/
SVPH staff in new operating theatre in Werribee (Supplied)
Ciang Ajeic’s ‘Justice and Crime’ just got funding for its second season. (Damjan Janevski) 475613_02
The challenges of hyperemesis
For some woman, pregnancy can trigger around-the-clock nausea and vomiting leading to weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration. The debilitating condition is known as hyperemesis gravidarum – or HG for short. Thursday, May 15 is international hyperemesis awareness day – a day dedicated to advocating for better treatment and a cure for HG. Laura Michell shares her experience of living with HG twice.
Imagine having gastro-like symptoms for nine months, battling to keep down a glass of water and most foods.
Now imagine being pregnant at the same time,becausethat’swhatitisliketosufferfrom hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Hyperemesisisa“potentiallylife-threatening condition that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and/or vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mother and baby(ies)”, according to The HER Foundation, a global charity advocating for better HG awareness and treatment.
It’s believed the condition affects between one and three percent of pregnancies and has a recurrence rate of about 80 per cent.
Recent research suggests there is a genetic component to the condition.
I’ve been unfortunate enough to suffer from it in both my pregnancies until I gave birth.
Looking back at my most recent pregnancy in2023,Iwasn’tfullyawareofjusthowunwellI was. It’s with the benefit of hindsight that I can see I was really just surviving day-to-day.
So, what’s it like to actually suffer from HG?
In my experience, nausea and vomiting were worst parts of the condition. I took a cocktail of drugs three times a day to keep the nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux under control.
Without them, I would never have ben able to leave my bathroom.
BeforeIfoundtherightmixofmedications,I wasnauseous24-7andeverythingIatewasjust about guaranteed to come back up.
OnceIfoundtherightmedications,Istillhad to lock myself in my bedroom at the other end of our house while food was being cooked and eaten until I was well into my second trimester. Then there were food aversions.
While other pregnant women carefully follow eating guidelines, giving up soft cheese and sushi for nine months, I struggled to find foods I could actually keep down.
I couldn’t eat meat, most vegetables, or anything sweet.
I survived on buttered toast and two-minute noodles – hardly a nourishing diet - and some days even those ‘safe foods’ would fail me.
I couldn’t even keep a glass of water down, whichmadehydrationanongoingbattle.Ioften
needed IV fluids to reverse my dehydration.
As you can imagine, all of these things combinedmadeitdifficulttogoabouteveryday life.
When you are constantly nauseous and on the verge of dehydration, everyday tasks like taking care of your family, cleaning your house, or working become too much to handle.
As a result, I have missed out on a lot. In my second pregnancy, HG left me with less time to play with my son or take him on outings, less quality family time, and missed family functions, including a wedding and significant birthdays.
While missing out on all those moments wasn’t been ideal, these decisions have been necessary to keep me out of hospital and well enough to function on a basic level.
Working with HG, especially in weeks nine to 12 – referred to as ‘the death zone’ by sufferers because that is when symptoms are at their worst – can be almost impossible. It is very difficult to concentrate and give your job your all when all you want to do is throw up and sleep.
Showing up to work each day meant I spend my evenings and weekends bed-ridden, recoveringfromtheexhaustionofworkingand relying on my husband, Tim, to look after me and our son, Harrison.
Tim did all the cooking and the majority of the household chores and kept Harrison
entertained, all while trying to work himself.
My parents religiously visited us every Saturday to help clean, entertain Harrison, and cook batches of whatever meals I thought I might be able to tolerate that week.
For many HG sufferers, one of the most frustrating parts of the condition is the lack of awareness about hyperemesis.
For the most part, people don’t understand just how debilitating the condition can be unless they have suffered from HG or watched a loved one go through it.
As a result, HG can be a very isolating condition.
It can be very hard for people to grasp the
extent of the condition and well-meaning friends and family often tried me to ‘just try and drink some water’ or ‘try some ginger’ without really understanding why they weren’t going to stop the sickness.
It is also widely misunderstood by medical professionals.
Iencounteredplentyofdoctors,pharmacists, and midwives across my two pregnancies who weredismissive–oneGPinmyfirstpregnancy told me “vomiting is part of life – get used to it” – or reluctant to offer the medication, fluids and intervention I needed to survive.
But, I also found there is a community of HG sufferers past and present who lend their support to one another on the Hyperemesis Gravidarum Support Australia Facebook page, helping you feel like you are not going through this alone, while charity Hyperemesis Australia has a wealth of resources to help get you through.
After my first pregnancy, I honestly didn’t think I had it in me to face HG a second time. And while I did, I definitely know I cannot make through a third HG pregnancy.
To this day, the slightest bit of nausea sends meintoapanicandvomitingelicitsanextreme fear response.
Myhopenowisthatbythetimemydaughter has her own children, researchers will have found a way to treat and manage the condition so she doesn’t have to suffer.
Laura with Harrison and Annabelle.
Laura with Harrison and Tim during her second pregnancy.
(Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 342909
Better HG care ‘not a huge ask’
By Laura Michell
“We maybe don’t have a cure and the meds might be hit and miss, but it is possible for HG sufferers to receive empathy and care – and fluids!”
That desire to ensure women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) are taken seriously and receive a standard level of care, regardless of where they live, their background orsocio-economicstatuswasoneofthedriving forces behind Caitlin Kay-Smith’s decision to found the charity Hyperemesis Australia.
Ms Kay-Smith suffered HG for the first time when she was pregnant with her daughter in late 2017-18.
HG is characterised by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting that impacts the daily life of sufferers. It often leads to substantial weight loss and dehydration, with sufferers unable to eat or drink properly.
Ms Kay-Smith began struggling with the condition when she was about seven or eight weeks pregnant and was hospitalised for the first time at nine weeks.
She spent the next 30 weeks moving between her bed and the emergency department, never really receiving the care she needed and deserved – and never being told that there was actually a name for what she was experiencing.
“If I had more energy, I would have been enraged,” she said.
“IwassurprisedIwasexperiencingthisthing
that everyone was telling me was absolutely normal or would end soon.”
In the late stages of her pregnancy, Ms Kay-Smith found a Facebook group of fellow sufferers and UK charity Pregnancy Sickness Support – and realised that she wasn’t alone.
“That was a light bulb moment,“ she said,
“There was a name for what was happening tome…anditwasn’tOKanditwasn’tnormal.”
After the birth of her daughter, Ms Kay-Smith turned her thoughts to establishing an Australian hyperemesis charity.
Having emailed a “laundry list of the ways they failed me” to her delivery hospital – resulting in changes to how the hospital managed HG – Ms Kay-Smith realised it was possible to make a difference.
“That made me realise that for every person I had met along the way who had been wilfully dismissive … there were … people who just didn’t know any better,” she said.
Hyperemesis Australia was set up in August 2018 and gained charitable status in January 2019. Since then, Ms Kay-Smith has worked
Trading in on tariff pain
By Jaidyn Kennedy
When US President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs swept across the globe on April 2, many Australian businesses had to adjust the way they traded with US-based customers and companies.
Caught in the global trade pandemonium that resulted in most Australian goods entering the US being hit with a 10 per cent tariff was a different form of trading – the trading of cards.
The Hobby, a Point Cook business that sells a variety of cards ranging from Pokemon to US sports, had to stop providing some of its key services when the tariffs hit.
The biggest service that the business paused was sending trading cards over to the US to be graded on their customer’s behalf, a process done to verify a card’s authenticity and condition for resale.
Manager Connor Pain said the decision to suspend the service was to avoid customers being hit unexpected expenses, while he tried to make sense of the situation with the businesses he works with in the US.
“We weren’t willing to risk any of our customer’s cards being hit with any sort of tariff or having any delay in shipping,” he said.
“So we made the decision to just pause and restart once we had a clear understanding of the necessary procedures.”
“We just had to ride it out as best we could.”
Mr Pain said the company felt the most financial pain in the initial two weeks after the tariffs were announced, but have business has since returned to normal.
However, he said there are still concerns about selling cards to the US via Ebay.
“There haven’t appeared to be any major impacts yet, though it may affect Australian card sellers as a whole going forward – but we
still regularly attend shows in the US to buy, sell and trade cards,” he said.
“So now, theoretically, anything we now sell
to educate people about HG and empower sufferers and their loved ones to advocate for better care.
“So many of us are told this is a normal thing that happens,“ she said.
The charity also provides advice on treatment, diet and nutrition, mental health, postpartum recovery and how to support someone with HG.
Ms Kay-Smith said sufferers often reach out “in the depth of despair” asking for advice.
They are directed to the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) guidelines on HG.
While the guidelines are “hard for practitioners to dismiss”, they are not used by hospital, obstetrician or GP around the country.
Ms Kay-Smith said Australia needed statewide guidelines on medications for HG and treatment options such as IV fluids –which sufferers regularly report being refused – to ensure a standard level of care.
She also wants an end to the “doubt or scepticism“ women face when presenting to hospitals, GPs or pharmacies for treatment, and for it to be acknowledged that HG is a condition that needs a significant level of care.
“I would like to get to a place where no womanchangesthenumberofchildrenshehas because of HG,” she said.
“A place where no woman feels the need to end the pregnancy because of HG.
“These are not huge asks.”
Ms Kay-Smith said the HG community was “very realistic” and wasn’t expecting a magical cure to be found, but just wanted to be heard and properly cared for.
“We are just asking for a bag of fluids.”
Details: https://www.hyperemesisaustralia. org.au
Work at YMCA
Work is about to start on the new yard at the YMCA Point Cook Early Learning Centre, in a development that is expected to give children more space to play.
The upgrades include new shade sails, fresh landscaping, and play zones tailored to different stages of child development.
The outdoor space was designed in nature-based fashion and to facilitate active learning so children can build physical confidence, social skills, and a deeper appreciation for the environment.
Centre manager Will Simpson said he is excited about the development.
“We want children to feel free to move and try new things in a space that’s been designed just for them,” he said.
“At the Y, we see the outdoors as an extension of the classroom.”
The new outdoor areas will include climbing equipment, a sensory sandpit with water play, spaces for ball games and group activities, and quiet sensory zones designed to support all children.
A new tee-pee, an upgraded cubby house with an accessible climbing platform were included to help children engage in imaginative play, while the shade sails will offer year-round protection from the sun.
The designs were reviewed by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation to help ensure children of all abilities can take part and feel included.
online and ship to customers in the US will be hit with a 10 per cent tariff, which is an ongoing concern.”
The upgrades are supported by funding from the state government’s Building Blocks Grants Inclusion stream, which provides funding to kindergartens to upgrade early childhood buildings and facilities.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is usually treated with a range of medications and IV fluids.
The Hobby’s grading manager Connor Pain had to temporarily pause sending trading cards to the US. (Damjan Janevski. 475755_01)
A Passage to Home
Passage to Home is one of those stories that is both unique and universal.
Point Cook filmmaker Aaron Cilmi’s seven-minute documentary about his grandparents’journeyfromGreecetoAustralia started as a university assignment, but is now screening across the globe.
On Wednesday, May 7, the short film was showcased at the Touchstone Independent Film Festival in Florida.
Three days later, it screened a little closer to home – the Setting Sun International Film Festival in Yarraville.
Currently studying in The Netherlands, Cilmi said he still can’t wrap his head around the momentum the film has gained.
“Going from a university assignment to being screened internationally still blows my mind,” he said.
Turns out condensing the journey of a lifetime into a seven-minute video is no easy task.
“This was one of the hardest parts post-production– I had roughly 90 minutes of pure interview footage with them.”
“To try and go through it all and create a compelling story without undermining their past was really challenging.
“Itwasalittleconfrontingtohearaboutwhat their lives were like and how little they had in Greece after the war.”
“I gained a new level of respect and appreciation for the decision they made.”
SixtyyearsafterhisgrandparentsleftEurope, Cilmi says he expects it to screen at several festivals across the continent later in the year.
To watch: https://youtu.be/ OvgGGR2E4P8?feature=shared
Briefs
Wyndham Vale woman injured
A 36-year-old Wyndham Vale woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a collision on Citylink in Burnley on the morning of Friday, May 9. Emergency services responded to reports of a car, that police believe the woman was driving, travelling against the flow of traffic before colliding with a truck about 2.10am. The truck driver, a 51-year-old Aintree man, was not injured. Police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam/CCTV footage from the area prior to the collision can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
Garbage truck blaze
Firefighters responded to a rubbish truck fire on Parramatta Road, Werribee on Thursday, May 8. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) firefighters arrived on scene at about 12.45pm to find the rear of the rubbish truck alight. Crews attacked the fire after the truck released the rubbish it was carrying on to the road. Crews needed two hours to fully extinguish the flames before the fire was deemed under control at 2.58pm. Resident Allan Calleja said he saw fire damage to the body of the vehicle. The EPA was also notified of the incident. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au
Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Wyndham Business Awards open
Cedar Woods’ commitment to the Wyndham Business Awards is not just about showcasing success, it is about building a stronger community that is backed by a vision.
The company has been an integral part of Wyndham since 1998, when it acquired the land that it would later transform into Williams Landing.
Nearly three decades on, Williams Landing is a vibrant community with four residential estates, a shopping centre and a bustling business precinct.
James Bovell, who is the state manager for the company’s operations in Victoria, said that sponsoring the business awards for the ninth year in a row was a no-brainer.
“A lot of local businesses obviously operate out of Williams Landing that participate in the awards, so it’s great to be a part of that,” he said.
“Supporting the event also aligns with our principle of creating community connections.”
Ensuring businesses in Wyndham have a platform to be recognised is only one way Cedar Woods contributes to the community, but the gala night of nights for local entrepreneurs holds special significance.
“It’sgreattogetoutandmeetbusinessesthat are doing wonderful things for the Wyndham community,” Mr Bovell said.
“To be part of the recognition of the businesses and the important role that they play in our community is something that brings us great satisfaction.”
Mr Bovell said the gala presentation evening, to be held this year on Friday 12 September, was a fantastic opportunity to network and and hear local success stories.
“A lot of these businesses have been born out of garages and to see them transition into a professional work setting is something we
Cedar Woods is proud to sponsor the Wyndham Business Awards for the ninth consecutive year. Excited to hear which businesses will triumph this year are team members Karen Huong, Sophie Zhou, Laurence Hutt, Anna Notari and James Bovell. (Damjan Janevski) 476389_02
appreciate and we find fulfilling as well.”
Cedar Woods has long supported new business ventures, which are crucial in creating local jobs. From Boston Commons to the newly built Hudson Hub, those with the passion to grow their business have a home at WIlliams Landing.
“The Wyndham community is so tight-knit, so the exposure that’s garnered from the
awards is something really fantastic,“ Mr Bovell said.
“I would urge everyone to participate.”
Entries for this year’s awards are now open and close on Friday, June 13. Business Awards Information Sessions will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 9am-10.30am, and Wednesday, June 4, 1pm-2.30pm.
Whether you’re a small startup, an
established enterprise, or a local leader in your industry,theWyndhamBusinessAwardsoffer an incredible opportunity to gain recognition and celebrate the impact your business has made. For more information or to enter go to wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/ business-investment/business-awards-
The story of Point Cook residents Peter and Fotini Giantsis’ journey to Australia is screening across the world. (Damjan Janevski) 475567_06
Basel — Eurovision Central
This week the world’s eyes will be on Basel, Switzerland where performers from all over Europe plus Australia are gathering for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, screening here live and in prime time from 14-18 May exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Basel can look back on more than 2000 years of history - there has been a settlement there since Celtic times. Its geographic location between Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura Mountains gives the city an exceptional amount of sunshine and one of the warmest climates in Switzerland.
But with the world’s biggest song contest in town, the historic city’s population –usually about 190,000 - is expected to swell as thousands of people from all over the world arrive to watch the 36 contestants, including Australia’s own Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto), compete for the coveted glass trophy.
There is no permanent home for the contest which is hosted by the country that wins the year before with the host city chosen from a group of bidding cities – competition is fierce with international exposure on the line and so when Switzerland’s Nemo won in Mamo, Sweden in May 2025 Basel, Bern, Geneva, and Zurich all officially declared their interest.
Eurovision fans wait with bated breath to see where it will be and are quick to book tickets and accommodation when the host city is announced. And while last year 2.2 million Australians watched Eurovision on television in 2024 – there were hundreds maybethousandsmoreonthegroundsoaking up the atmosphere.
Going to Eurovision is a holy grail for many – something that long-time Sydney-based fan Henry Yau and his wife Lauren Davis finally achieved two years ago when Liverpool hosted for war-torn Ukraine. It was a long-held ambition for Henry, who had been a fan since 2004, originally planning to go to Rotterdam in 2020.
“Having been a fan for as long as I have, I suppose it had always been on the bucket list. And so, when we were planning the wedding and the honeymoon to follow – and given that my wife Lauren is also a fan, thanks to my influence – it sort of became an opportunity to actually go there and do something,” he said.
“We needed something as extravagant and celebratory as a honeymoon to kind of justify the not-insignificant expense of the international travel, as well as the tickets to the event itself. And of course, for the past few years Eurovision has been hosted in countries that tend to not be particularly affordable to travel to, and then you add Eurovision on top
of that….
“But my wife and I got married in March of 2020. So, we were originally planning on going to the Rotterdam contest – with the idea of spending a week in the Netherlands, a week in Germany and a week in the UK –and that fell through. We weren’t really feeling comfortable with the international travel for a few years after that, which meant that we ended up going to Liverpool 2023 instead.”
Of course, Eurovision wasn’t the only reasonforHenryandLaurenchoosingtheUK for their honeymoon.
“It certainly wasn’t the only drawcard, because both my wife and I are big Anglophiles,” he explained.
“There were plenty of things going on in the UK that we were very keen on –pop culture stuff, just lots of little nerdy things that we’re interested in.
“TheUKwasalwaysgoingtobeonthecards for our honeymoon, even before we knew they were hosting, because there was so much stuff that we were interested in that we wanted to check out. So, we spent time in Manchester, in Liverpool, in Cardiff, in some more
village-y parts of the south of England, and in London.
“I’m not sure if we would have visited Liverpool necessarily if Eurovision had been hosted in some other part of the country, but that said, the time that we spent there, it seemed like a really lovely place. Like we’re not Beatles fans particularly, but just the fact that we’re big Doctor Who fans, and there have been some scenes and episodes shot in Liverpool, meant that we were able to knock that out – two big things in the one city.”
Liverpool’s event was a special moment for Eurovision – a real coming together with UK hosting geographically but culturally the event was about Ukraine.
“TherewereallthesereallylovelyUkrainian cultural touches dotted throughout the city, with Eurovillage at Liverpool Pier Head being the kind of centrepiece for that,” he said. He said the circumstances made the event “really something special.”
And was being emersed in the Eurovision culture what he expected?
“There’s a big difference between watching it at home, and maybe talking about it with some mates or colleagues afterwards, and seeing how an entire community can get behind this event,” Henry said.
“Ithinkthesheerscaleofthat–eventhough you sit at home and you’re aware that there are people that are really passionate about it, and there’s a huge community, and there are lots of fans, and it brings a lot of people together –you’re not really prepared for the scale of how it impacts things.”
TANIA PHILLIPS
Beautiful Basel will be on display for the world to see this week when the Swiss city hosts the Eurovision Song Contest. (SBS: Julien Mayer)
Basel will be on display this week as it hosts Eurovision. Look out for the “postcards” for each artist during the semi-finals and finals for more glimpses of Basel and Switzerland. (SBS)
Basel by night. (SBS)
Eurovision comes to Basel. (SBS)
More of the beauty of Basel. (SBS)
Escape to super Switzerland
IS it time for Switzerland? What does the name summon up? Pristine Swiss Alps, chocolate tasting, panoramic sightseeing cruises, cable cars, glaciers, train rides through the alps, glaciers, chalets, and fondue?
Anyone who has travelled to Switzerland will agree the reality is every bit as good as the guidebooks say and by far one of the most stunning and luxurious ways to explore this pristine country is with Viking.
From the Rhine River, Viking offers unparalleled journeys through Switzerland to discover the country’s scenic beauty among the Alps.
Whether it’s a Basel walking tour or a day spent among the rich culture of alpine Switzerland with a drive to the charming village of Brienz travellers never fail to thrill at the beauty of the country.
Holidaymakers can pedal through the beautiful Alsatian countryside, following its famous wine route to quaint villages.
Savour the taste of Switzerland with a delicious cheese fondue dining experience. Fondue is a meal of bread dipped into a hot pot of cheese flavoured with garlic and a dash of wine and is synonymous with Switzerland.
Derived from the French word fonder, meaning “to melt,” fondue has its origins in the 18th century as a way for Swiss farmers to stretch their limited food stocks during the winter months.
From its simple origins, fondue has become a winter tradition and the national dish of Switzerland.
Guests of the Viking Rhine and Main Explorer cruise can experience this tradition. Travellersleavetheirstunningroomsonboard toboardatramforashortridetooneofBasel’s Beiz to dine on national and local dishes. Swiss hosts love to show guests more about cheese fondue as they dip their bread into the mouthwatering concoction, accompanied by a glass of white wine or beer and a shot of Kirsch.
Take the opportunity to explore Zürich’s charm with its stunning lake setting and exceptional architecture with scenic alpine views from the traditional Swiss town of Lucerne.
Viking guests can take advantage of extension tours before or after selected cruises with a favourite being the four Nights in Geneva and Zermatt extension which is an ideal option for those seeking to take in more of the beauty of the region.
On this extension guests have the chance to breathe in the pure mountain air of Zermatt, a
car-free haven high in the Alps set at the foot of the famed Matterhorn and explore the rich culture and stunning setting of Geneva.
The Glacier Express train from Zurich to Zermatt passes through dramatic mountain tunnels, and up and down alpine slopes with breathtaking vistas and soaring peaks, and wide green valleys.
Guests rest for the night at the Resort Hotel Alex, Zermatt before they jump on board a cogwheel train to the summit of Gornergrat.
Strollitsnarrowlaneslinedwithchalet-style buildings and venture into the surrounding countryside, with its high meadows and breathtaking views.
On day three head to Lausanne to enjoy the impressive Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, the largest continuous vineyard in Switzerland. TasteChasselaswinewithlunchthentravelon to Geneva for a two-night stay at the elegant Intercontinental in spacious, well-appointed accommodation within walking distance to the Botanical Gardens.
Another extension choice is ‘Five Nights in the Swiss Alps’ where guests explore Switzerland’s renowned lakeside cities of Zürich, Lucerne, and Geneva.
Guests love the two-night cruise extension in Basel where they discover the city that stands at the point where France, Germany and Switzerland meet.
Here travellers can enjoy the lovely Middle Bridge, the Basel Cathedral and the winding cobblestone streets lined with medieval houses and colourful fountains and explore the museums and art galleries.
The opportunities are endless and now is time to talk to one the Viking staff about a trip to Switzerland in 2025.
For further information please visit www. viking.com or phone 138 747 to plan the trip of a lifetime.
LEE MCCARTHY
Zermatt, the car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn.
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Zara, 6, is on the search for elephants. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 475097_02
A gigantic elephant hunt
Nine Asian elephants are running loose in the middle of Werribee and there is a mad rush to confirm their whereabouts. While that first sentence is misleading, it’s not entirely false.
TocelebratetherecentopeningofWerribee Open Range Zoo’s (WROZ) new Elephant Trail, there are nine elephants hidden in the business windows in Werribee city centre. Along Watton Street and between Wedge Street and Cherry Street, the tiny counterparts of the multi-tonne grey titans are waiting to be spotted.
The self-guided activity can be done on any date or time during the competition period–and with anyone.
In February, moving the nine elephants that now live in their new oasis at Werribee Zoo took an incredible logistics team of 21 elephant zookeepers, veterinarians and the support of cranes and trucks.
Once you find one of their mini-mes, make suretoscanoneoftheQRcodesinthevicinity and enter their whereabouts on the site.
If you manage to find all nine, you’ll enter
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
the draw to win a family prize pack valued at more than $800.
The ‘staycation’ prize includes a WROZ family pass, a night at Holiday Inn for two adults and two children and $300 worth of vouchers at local restaurants. It might not be the world-class 21-hectare trail that the crew at the zoo live at, but it is far from shabby.
Entries close at 10am on Saturday, May 31. Fill in your entries at: https://www. visitwerribee.com/findtheelephants
Night out for the family
A night out under the stars is set to be a family affair for Sunshine Heights Football Club’s outdoor movie event.
The club has opened its junior fundraiser on May 24 to the community and is hoping that people of all ages will come along and enjoy the night. at Ainsworth Reserve.
Junior coordinator Hailey Attard said they want to get their juniors involved in their fundraising event.
“It’s catered for all ages,” she said. “We do junior functions in the past and have done things like trivia nights and have been pretty much for the parents.
“I kind of wanted to do something kid orientated.
“I seen it advertised on line and took it to the committee and they all loved it and we’re running with it.
Attard said all the families at the club were excited and had posted the event in school newsletters as well.
They are now opening it up for the wider community.
Attard said they were hoping a night like this would encourage more people to get involved with the club.
“Hopefully we can get more juniors involved in the season as well,” she said. “The cut of for registration isn’t after until after the movie night.
“Hopefully they all come to the ground and they see hey this is actually family orientated club. They are more likely to join our junior sides as well.
The decision on what movie will be shown is still to be decided, but there were hoping it would be a movie that caters for all ages.
Tickets are $15 per person and it includes a bean bag, some popcorn and fairy floss. Tickets have to be purchased by May 17. Details: 0450 998 456
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
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
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
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
Seniors club
The Werribee Senior Citizens Club meets at 80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing.
The group is open to all people 55-plus and it runs on Wednesdays, 10am-noon.
Entry: $2, includes morning tea.
0403 041 499
Western Budgerigar Club
The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee. Meet other members who are also passionate about breeding Budgerigars.
Don, 0414 975 862
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
Beekeeping group
Werribeeks is a group for beekeepers in and around Werribee and surrounding suburbs that meet every third Monday of the month at the Wyndham Park Community Centre to share information, tips and ideas on beekeeping..
https://www.facebook.com/ WerriBeeksClub
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.
admin@werribeeriver.org.au, or www. werribeeriver.org.au
Wyndham Park Community Shed
A place to connect, share skills, get hands on, and have fun. New members and volunteers are welcome. Men’s Shed open Tuesdays and Thursdays, Women’s Shed open Monday and Shed for All Abilities open Sunday. The Tool Library is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
0437270791 shed@wyndhamparkcc. com.au
Don’t shoot the messenger: MD
OPINION
By Paul Thomas Star Weekly managing director
In the final days of the federal election campaign, Peter Dutton’s decision to lash out at the media was not just desperate, it was dangerous. Labelling the ABC and Guardian Australia as “hate media” and accusing journalists of being “activists” rather than reporters echoed the tired, toxic playbook of Donald Trump: when you’re behind, don’t reflect, just shout “fake news”.
Australians saw through that. No amount of spin, deflection or blame shifting could hide the truth. Voters rejected the Coalition’s message. Shooting the messenger doesn’t change the message.
Media scrutiny is not the enemy of democracy; it’s the oxygen that keeps it alive. A free press questions power, challenges spin and asks uncomfortable questions. That’s not bias, that’s journalism.
Sure, when journalists get something wrong, call it out. Point to it. Demand a correction. Any credible newsroom will make
Paul Thomas.
one. But blanket accusations, unsubstantiated claims and outright falsehoods aimed at delegitimising the media are not just
cheap politics, they actively erode trust in institutions that underpin democracy.
We see this tactic far too often, not just at a federal level but in local councils, including one our newsroom currently covers. Rather than engaging with the facts or addressing legitimate public concerns, some in power choose the easy path: Attack the media. But in doing so, they expose themselves, not the journalists.
That’s why strong local media matters now more than ever. Local newspapers and newsrooms remain one of the last truly independent and accountable sources of community information. They report on councils, expose local corruption, celebrate community success and give a voice to residents. Yet their very survival is under threat.
Digital platforms and social media have stripped local media of its commercial foundations, and worse, they have helped legitimise the kind of rhetoric Dutton and Trump rely on. By feeding audiences personalised echo chambers and monetising outrage, they have weakened the public’s trust
in credible journalism, while doing little to support its production.
Those who benefit from journalism must also help sustain it, and that includes the massive digital tech companies who have profited enormously from republishing, aggregating and monetising news content without paying fair value.
Now, artificial intelligence platforms are doing the same, scraping content, harvesting the work of journalists and training their models on material they never paid for. It’s the same pattern we’ve seen for years with social media - extract the value, deny responsibility, and undermine the industry you depend on.
This cannot continue. Everyone who profits from journalism must help fund it. That includes readers, advertisers, governments - and yes, the tech giants and AI developers whose empires have been built in part on the work of others.
On Saturday, Australians made it clear they won’tbefooledbyleaderswhoblameeveryone but themselves. Let’s hope they also recognise the essential role of a strong, independent media and are willing to fight for its future.
Entries now open for Wyndham Writing Awards
Grabyourpens,pencilsandmostimportantly your imagination, because the Wyndham Writing Awards are now open and there are prizes to be won.
Open to all Victorian adults aged 18 years and older, the aim of the event is to inspire, encourage and recognise Victorian adult writers and literary creators.
Prizes will be awarded for unpublished works in three categories: short stories
Trades & Services
(1500-3,000 words), flash fiction (between 100-600 words) and poetry (60 lines maximum).
The total prize pool is $3600 and the awards will be judged by Melbourne-based author Katherine Kovacic
Each category has a cash prize for an overall winner and a second cash prize for a Wyndham Local Encouragement Award. All shortlisted entries will be published
in the 2025 Wyndham Writing Awards Anthology.
For those looking for some writing tips and tricks, council will be hosting several free workshops for adult writers of any ability or experience.
Michelle Wright will teach flash fiction at theHoppersCrossingLibraryonWednesday, May 14 between 6.30-8.30pm.
Amra Pajalic will host an online crash
course for short stories on Thursday, May 22 from 6.30-8.30pm.
Dr Chris Ringrose will cap off the workshops when he teaches the art of poetry at the Point Cook Library on Wednesday, May 28 between 6.30-8.30pm.
Bookings are essential for all workshops. Entries close on Sunday, June 30. To enter the awards visit: www.wyndham. vic.gov.au/writingawards
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 One who believes in sharing evenly amongst the community (9)
6 Majestic (4)
10 Possessive pronoun (3)
11 Notorious dispute (11)
12 Of cooking (8)
13 Situate (6)
14 Without (arch) (4)
15 Hitchhiker'sGuide author, – Adams (7)
20 Enterprise (7)
21 Not genuine (4)
25 Invisible (6)
26 Tied up (8)
28 Offender (11)
29 Special effects (1,1,1)
30 US university (4)
31 Not at all sleepy (4-5)
DOWN
1 Patience (8)
2 US state, North – (8)
3 Climb (6)
4 Closest to the centre (9)
5 Duration (4)
7 Package (6)
8 Wild dog native to North America (6)
9 Infested (7)
16 Clothed (9)
17 Erased (7)
18 US actress who portrayed Allison Dubois, – Arquette (8)
19 News title (8)
22 Provide, furnish (6)
23 Of the stars (6)
24 Himalayan mountain person (6)
27 The bow of a ship (4)
The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, UK is home to which annual tournament? 3 In Norse mythology, what is the name for the world tree?
4 Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English a) poet, b) singer or c) actress?
5 What does the phrase ‘per contra’ mean?
6 TheJazzSinger (1927) starring Al Jolson was the first of what
7 In what year did the division of Korea take place?
8 Which famous gem was extracted from the Kollur Mine in Guntur, India in the 17th century?
9 What is the name of the town in the Netflix TV series StrangerThings? 10 Karen Gillan (pictured) plays which character in the Marvel cinematic universe?
Cerato ain’t broke, so why fix it?
By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring
The futuristic-looking K4 is a replacement for the Kia Cerato.
But, for the time being at least, both are offered for sale by the South Korean car manufacturer. At this stage we get the sedan but not the hatch, which will probably turn up later in the year.
Kia says the change of name brings the K4 into line with the rest of the world, where it has already adopted the same naming strategy: K3 (Kia Rio), K5 (Optima) and K8 (Cadenza) and K9 (K900). Only the tiny Picanto remains.
At a time when many car manufacturers are dumping sedans, it is interesting to note that Kia has chosen to continue with the K4, which like the Cerato is a larger small car - but this time at a higher price.
Styling
K4 embraces Kia’s latest design language with bold, sporty lines and sleek, fastback style, with a lower roofline and lower beltline than its predecessor.
Inspired by Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, it employs vertical front headlights and daytime running lights at the outer edges to accentuate the wide stance.
K4 also incorporates Kia’s signature ‘Star-Map’ front and rear lighting graphics to align with the brand’s latest ‘Tiger Face’ styling.
Concealed rear door handles, integrated into the C-pillars, reinforce the coupe appearance, while black wheel arch cladding and wheel ranging in size from 16 to 18-inches add to the sporty stance.
From the back, K4 exudes a powerful presence punctuated by vertical tail lights and longer overhangs, plus a raked rear windscreen and air diffuser on GT-Line. K4comesinfivegrades,pricedfrom$30,590. There’s the entry-level K4 S ($30,590), K4 S w/ Safety Pack ($32,690), K4 Sport ($35,190), K4 Sport+ ($37,590) and K4 GT-Line ($42,990). They mirror Cerato grades but cost more, in the case of GT-Line $6130 more. Clear White is the only colour that isn’t extra.
Our test vehicle, the K4 Sport+ costs $5380 more than the Cerato it replaces. Sport+ is kitted out with 17-inch alloys, artificial leather upholstery, two-zone climate air with rear vents, solar shield glass windscreen, heated front seats, six-way power driver seat adjustment, smart key with remote and push-button start, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed limit assist, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors and heated, power-folding exterior mirrors.
In this model a sweeping dashboard display incorporates a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and second 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, separated by a 5.0-inch climate screen - all housed within the one assembly. K4 is covered by the company’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty together with sevenyearsofcappedpriceservicing,roadside assistance and Connected Services.
Infotainment
Infotainment includes personalised user profiles, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, Sounds of Nature background noise, wireless and wired CarPlay and Android Auto, plus six-speaker audio.
GT-Line adds a Harman Kardon eight-speaker system.
The system also supports over-the-air updatesandKiaConnecttelematics,including auto SOS call, control some functions, vehicle status monitoring and you can even send an address directly from the app to the vehicle navigation system.
There are four USB-C outlets, two in front and another two in the back, plus a 12 volt outlet in the front, but only GT-Line offers wireless phone charging.
Access is complimentary for the duration of the warranty.
Safety
The car is yet to be tested and receive a crash rating from the ANCAP organisation, but comes with a full suite of safety systems.
All models get seven airbags, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and all-important automatic emergency braking (AEB).
Standard are Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go functionality, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Multi-Collision Braking (MCB), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Rear View Monitor (RVM) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
The Safety Pack adds Junction Turning & Crossing plus Direct/Oncoming Lane Change Detection functionality.
Sport+upstheantewithKia’slatestHighway Driving Assist 2, with stop-and-go capability, combining with Lane Following Assist (LFA) to keep K4 centred in the lane even when driving through a curve, while HDA 2 adds Lane Change Assist (LCA), allowing the K4 to autonomouslychangelaneswhentherequired conditions are met.
There are three child seat tethers and two ISOFix anchor points.
Engines/transmissions
Sport+ is powered by a carry-over 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four cylinder engine that develops 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque, together with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Driving
The new, five-seat sedan is more rigid and with reduced noise, vibration and harshness thanks to the use of high-strength steel and reinforced sound insulation.
K4 measures 4710mm long, 1850mm wide and 1425mm high, with a 2720mm wheelbase.
Inside, those dimensions convert to more space, especially with respect to rear legroom which has grown by 56mm.
Front seat occupants benefit from increased head and shoulder room.
Additionally, K4 boasts an increase in boot space over its predecessor, with the sedan offering 508-litres (a lot more with the rear seat backs folded forward).
The spare is a steel space saver.
K4 embraces Kia’s ongoing efforts in sustainability, incorporating the use of the brand’s 10 ‘must-have’ sustainability items, includingPPandBioPEplastic,PostConsumer Material (PCM), Bio PU Leather, Bio PU foam, BioPaint,BTX-freePaint,RecycledPETYarns, and Recycled PET Felt.
S, Sport and Sport+ are all powered by a carry-over 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four cylinder engine, together with a six-speed automatic transmission, that develops 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque, and uses a claimed 7.4L/100km.
GT-Line scores a more powerful 1.6-litre turbochargedunitandaCVT-basedeight-speed auto, that generates 142kW and 264Nm, with consumption rated at 6.7L/100km.
One wonders why a self-charging hybrid is not offered, but that would obviously bump up already inflated prices.
With a 47-litre tank, both engines take standard unleaded and we averaged 6.4L/100km after 470km of mixed driving in a week.
There are three drive modes from which to choose: Sport, Normal or Eco to suit your driving preferences.
GT-Line also gets beefier brakes and a more sophisticated rear suspension setup.
Six years ago, I praised the then Cerato Sport for its performance.
Although fitted with the same 2.0-litre engine as the K4, there was nothing dull or lifeless about the naturally aspirated engine.
“It’s a willing worker that likes to rev and evenproducesahealthynotewhenyou’rereally going for it,” I wrote back in 2019.
The same holds good for the current K4 Sport+ that we drove recently.
Ride and handling are particularly well-sorted, thanks to Kia’s local tuning program.
But the drive experience is somewhat spoiled by a down-market, polyurethane steering wheel that becomes irksome over time.
You’ll read a lot of reviews urging punters to skip this model and put their money into the turbocharged GT-Line, even if it does carry a $5400 premium.
But most of them are written by privileged young blokes who have become used to driving top-specmodelsandcravetheextrapowerthey bring.
Older,lessdemandingbuyersaremoreeasily satisfied.
At this end of the market that is a huge difference in price and one that many buyers will simply not be able to afford.
Yes, the turbo is quicker. Yes, the turbo is better for overtaking. And yes, the turbo even uses less bloody fuel.
However,arealitycheckrevealstheSport+is still a nice bit of kit.
Summing up
K4 is a better car than the Cerato, but the Cerato sold on price and value for money.
The extra cost of the K4 could see it slip from favour if Kia is not careful.
As the saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (and it ain’t).
K4 is a better car than the Cerato, but the Cerato sold on price and value for money. (Pictures: Supplied)
The sun was out and so were the fans as local sport seasons continued to heat up. StarWeeklyphotographer Ljubica
was out shooting some of the action.
The perfect weather for sport
Vrankovic
Hume City’s Erdeniz Yildiz. 458912_07
Whittlesea United’s Mert Tuna. 476969_09
Keilor’s Ruby Gibson. 476974_17
Hoppers Crossing’s Dylan Lee. 476972_03
St Albans’ Fletcher Mcfarlane and Hume City’s Josh Bingham. 458912_17
Plenty Valley Lions’ Daniel Peluso. 476972_11
Bundoora’s Liam Kolar. 476968_15
Keilor’s Olivia Lacy. 476974_07
Whittlesea United’s Jack Marth. 476969_01
St Albans’ Gideon Arok. 458912_01
South Morang’s Brandon Compt. 476968_12
Bundoora’s Liam Mallia. 476968_01
Jayarathna rewarded for strong season with bat
Point Cook Centrals’ opener Rasanjana Jayarathna was rewarded for his strong Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield season sharing the player of the year award.
Jayarathna in his second season with the club shared the division’s top honour with Gellibrand’s Jacob Macdonald.
Jayarathna said it was really good to share the award.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and it’s very good,” he said. “I was very happy [with how he played].
“We were unlucky not to get the championship as well, hopefully next year.”
Jayarathna made 447 for the season at an average of 26.69 while also taking three wickets.
He said that he had always been an opening batter since under-13s.
Having joined the club from East Keilor for the 2023-24 season, the Sri Lankan said he loved being involved in his home club.
“It’s a really good club and really good people,” he said. “They always support me and
I love it down there.”
Jayarathna thanked his wife, family and the club for helping get the medal.
He said stepping up into division 3 this season was really good.
“It was more competitive and hard working,” he said. “It was really good.”
Sharks’ Brett Talbot said he thought it was the first men’s competition best and fairest award for the club.
He said Jayarathna was a key player in what they were doing.
“He has been one of our better players,” he said. “He won our player of the year last season.
“He’s just an exciting top order batsmen who really values his wicket and bats time in the middle.
“He loves being out there.”
Talbot said they didn’t expect Jayarathna to win the medal, having missed a few games when he went back to Sri Lanka.
It was a nice reward for him too.
“He’s a big part of the future of the club,” he said. “He is one of our leaders and best
players.”
Having fallen in the semi finals, Jayarathna already has his eyes on next season and winning the premiership.
Sharks teammate Krishan Alang finished equal third in the player of the year.
Jayarathna was named as an opener in the team of the year.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Bellbridge’s Hendro Dias shared the player of the year award with Melton South Royals’ Praveen De Silva.
Werribee Centrals Tarique Jeffrey finished equal third.
Dias and Jeffrey were named in the team of the year alongside Centrals’ Luke Simpson and Bellbridge skipper Dillon Hinge.
Elsewhere, Wyndham Vale’s Jay Dolliver finished second in the Russell Pollock player of the year.
Dolliver was named in the team of the year as well.
Tara Murray
Devils’ rebuild pays off
North Footscray has turned its program around in the Western Netball League. After struggling to have enough numbers to get one side on the court each week last year, the Devils are now fielding three sides this season.
Netball coordinator Nikki Genio said there had been a lot of hard work put in during the off season to get the side to where it is now.
“It’s been a bit of a rebuild,” she said. “We were hopeful of getting three teams on the court, we had not had that for a long time. “The girls are only just starting to find their feet.”
Genio said they had 30 new players come into the club this season and they were learning to come together as teams as the season starts to progress.
She said new coach Ashley Trantor, who
crossed from Braybrook, had played a big role in that.
“We had a new head coach come across and a lot of people followed them,” she said.
“They have a great reputation and players come from all over wanting to play under them.
“It’s amazing for us, we have been able to get three teams.
“We had three teams a couple of years ago and things didn’t pan out and we lost a lot of girls.
“We’ve built the program back up from scratch.”
TheDevilshaveteamsindivision1,division 4 and division 7 following grading.
Genio said they had kept their aims simple this year as they focus on ensuring they have a stable program in the long term.
“We just want the girls to enjoy themselves
Sports shorts
VAFA
It was a good day for the Westbourne Grammarians on Saturday in the Victorian Amateur Football Association premier B women’s competition. Facing Marcellin, the Grammarians came away with an 8.15 (63)-3.5 (23) win. Hannah McMahon and Stephanie Williams kicked two goals each for the Grammarians. The win moves the Grammarians up to fourth spot.
VPL
Werribee City had to share the points in its Victorian Premier League 2 match with Pascoe Vale on Friday night. Looking to get back on the winners list for the first time in a month, the Bees had to settle for a 2-2 draw. The result leaves the Bees with a 3-5-4 record.
Western FL
Parkside Spurs claimed the first upset of the Western Football League women’s season, upsetting reigning premiers Werribee Centrals on Friday night. After an arm wrestle in the first three quarters, the Spurs kicked two final quarter goals to seal the 4.4 (28)-1.4 (10) win.Yarraville Seddon was also on the winners list on the weekend, as it beat Wyndhamvale on Saturday, 12.9 (81)-1.2 (8). West Footscray and Point Cook Centrals played out a draw, with the Sharks kicking three final quarter goals to finish locked at 4.6 (30) apiece. In the other match, Caroline Springs beat the Suns, 12.9 (81)-1.0 (6).
Western FNL
and have a ball, that is the main thing,” she said.
“It’s a bit of a bonus if we get any wins. It we were to make finals tat would be amazing.
“We have three solid teams and extra girls. We want to build and get girls here and enjoying themselves.
“We know wins will come.”
It’s a big year for the club overall as it celebrates its 90th anniversary and there will be a big celebration later this year.
Like the netball program, the football program is now thriving after struggling 12 months ago.
“We’re going from strength to strength in football and netball,” Genio said. “Twelve months ago we were in trouble.
“People are giving us a chance and taking a risk and it’s paying off.”
Tara Murray
The Western Football Netball League is set to develop a women and girls football growth strategy. Through funding support from AFL Victoria, the WFNL have enlisted the services of former AFL player and AFLW Western Bulldogs coach and now leadership consultant Nathan Burke to lead the development of the strategy. The league said the aims of developing the strategy include to engage women and girls to gain much needed feedback on all of its programs to improve its competition structures, development programs, clubs and league.
Rasanjana Jayarathna. (Jacob Pattison) 392482_01
North Footscray’s division 1 side. (Supplied)
Hawks continue to build on strong program
Glen Orden continues to focus on getting the basics right in the Western Netball League competition.
After all six teams made grand finals last season, including winning five premierships, the Hawks program has continued to grow.
Hawks coach Rebecca Hicks said the momentum continues to build at the club.
“We’ve got seven teams this year, last year we had six,” she said. “This year we have increased off the back of the success we had last year.
“A lot more players have gravitated towards us, so I’ve had to put in another team, our division 7 team. Overall I think we are tracking well.
“The quality of players we have this year is a lot higher than what we had last year and I’ve
actually had to reshuffle my teams quite a bit.
“It’s very exciting this year with how we are tracking and what we’ve been putting out on court the last few weeks.”
Hicks said for the club to be attracting so manyplayerswasreallyexcitinganditshowed how far it had come in the past few years.
She said a lot had changed.
“Culture is a big thing for us on and off the court,”shesaid.“BehindthescenesI’veworked really hard to put a team together to help me create something special.
“To see everyone want to come and be a part of that, it’s very exciting and very grateful that everyone has seen us now.
“Forusitwasaboutbuildingabetterculture, building a club that everyone wants to be part ofandourkidswillhopefullygrowupandplay for the same club that we all played for.”
Hicks,astarshooterofthecompetitionsince itbegan,hadbeenfocusedonjustcoachingthis year, but has returned to the court after some injuries and unavailabilities.
After six grand finals last season, the Hawks are just focusing on what they do best.
Centurions relieved
By Tara Murray
It was more relief than anything on Saturday as Werribee Centrals got on the board in the Geelong and District Football League.
The start to the season for the Centurions was less than ideal as they dropped their first four matches after coming off a finals appearance last season.
On Saturday, the Centurions found the winning feeling as they accounted for Corio, winning 18.12 (120)-13.5 (83).
Centurions coach Rhys Prismall said getting a win on the board was the most important thing. He said there was more relief than excitement for the side after the result.
“Our first two games were against one and two from last year and we lost both games by three points,” he said.
“The pressure starts to build and we then lost a third game under a goal. The fourth game we lost.
“When you are 0-4 and expect to be top
three, the pressure builds. It wasn’t super pleasing on Saturday, but we kicked a good score.
“Getting the win was the most important thing.”
The Centurions set the win up in the first half as they led by 47 points at half time.
Primsall said they probably should have won more and that they took their foot off the pedal in the second half.
Prismall kicked three goals for the Centurions along with Bradley Carlton and Carmelo Saliba.
Carlton was named the Centurions best along with Michael Culliver and Max Murdock.
Prismall said they were hoping that with a win on the board it would realise the mental pressure from the group and let them play with a bit more freedom.
Now behind the eight ball, he knows they can’t have too many slip ups from here on in.
The Centurions sit in 10th spot now.
“Fromthirdtoninth,theyenteredtheround on wto wins,”Prismall said. “The competition is so even and the good sides will drop games to mid of the table sides.
“We have to take care of what we can. You can’t predict who will beat who, which is stressful as a coach.”
The Centurions will face Geelong West Giants this Saturday. Like the Centurions, they have only one win for the season so far.
Primsall said pre-season it was one they would have penciled in as a likely win, but they know they pushed the top side within two goals on the weekend.
“We will treat them like any other side,” he said. “We can not take anyone lightly any more.”
In the A-grade netball, the Centurions also got on the board with a 27-10 win.
Bella Mountain shot 14 goals from 15 attempts for the Centurions.
The win moves the Centurions to 10th o the ladder.
Their top side is again one of the teams to beat in division 1.
“I think for us, we focus a lot on the basics,” Hicks said.
“We play simple netball. We train the girls very hard and drill the basics into them.
“I always say basics will win you games, you don’t have to play fancy netball to win.
“To do the basics right we are going to reap the rewards at the end of the season, so for us doing the basics right and making sure we have the right coaches coaching these girls is important.
“My coaching staff are amazing and all on the same page and all want the same things out of this season, which is very good.”
Tara Murray
Wyndham men on the
board
Wyndham has opened its account in the Big V men’s championship competition, with not one but two wins on the weekend.
After being close in previous contests, Wyndham was finally able to get the job done. Wyndham started the weekend at home on Saturday night against RMIT University, with a 92-90 win.
It was an even first half before Wyndham opened up a 12 point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Redbacks came hard late, but Wyndham managed to stay in front all quarter to get the win on the board.
Junior Garbah top scored with 24 points for Wyndham. There was no rest for Wyndham as it was back in action on Sunday against Wyndham.
It was an up and down game as both teams pushed the scoreboard.
Scoreswerelockedattheendofregular time and then again after the first period of overtime.
Wyndham scored the first bucket of second overtime and then didn’t give up the lead as it won 131-124.
MalikMillertopscoredwith34points, while Garbrah scored 31 points.
Coach Stuart McMurray said it was a brilliant effort on the second game of a back-to-back to push through and get a double overtime win against a resilient Blackburn team. Meanwhile, Wyndham’s championship women fell short against the Sunbury Jets, losing 79-73 on Saturday night.
Briana Bailey put up 30 points and had eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in the loss.
Coach Jason Bryant said after giving the Jets a head start they were able to stay close for the rest of the game.
“Afterthreeclosequarters,thegirlsgot a small lead midway through the fourth quarter,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Sunbury were able to take it back and get the win.”
Bryant said it was another strong performancefromBailey,whiledebutant Amber Ross had a good game with a double-double.
On Sunday, the women’s side lost to the Sherbrooke Suns, 81-68.
Bryant said their much younger group showed great resilience keeping in touch but losing out to a far more experienced team.
Glen Orden during pre-season. (Supplied)
Kai Gomes Pattiyage. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 475479_09
Tigers off the boil against Hawks
By Tara Murray
Werribee’s consistency problems again reared its head as the Tigers slipped to another loss in the Victorian Football League.
It was one of the more disappointing performances by the Tigers this season, as they were out of the game with a quarter to go against the Box Hill Hawks on Sunday.
The Hawks set the match up in the middle two quarters.
After leading by three points at quarter time, the Hawks kicked four goals to one in the second quarter.
They again kicked four goals in the third quarter compared to the Tigers to extend the lead out to 38 points at the last break.
The Tigers trailed by as much as 40 points early in the last quarter before they kicked seven goals to get back into the game.
They ran out of time, with the Hawks winning 14.9 (93)-11.11 (77).
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said it was just a frustrating day out.
“It was a very ordinary day for us, we were just not good enough for long enough again,” he said.
“We had our chances in the first quarter and didn’t capitalise at times. In the second quarter we went completely away from the way we wanted to play.
“Our effort defensively at times was nonexistent which hurts me to say.
“We kicked some goals late in the game when we took the game on a little bit hard to know if it was a result of us playing better or the opposition putting the cue in the rack.
“The game was well and truly done by the time we got a bit of a run on.”
Allan said the one positive outcome of the game was that the group never gave up and they again fought the game out this week.
He said that made the end result even more frustrating with how we played throughout the whole game.
“Defensively we were really poor, just our ball movement and decision making and just care and working for each other wasn’t at a level which will compete.”
Allan said the playing group couldn’t take whole responsibility for the loss and the coaches would have a look at what they were doing as well.
He said in saying that the players did things thatweretotallyagainstwhattheyhaddonein the last couple of years.
Anthony Depasquale kicked three goals for the Tigers.
Dom Brew had 35 disposals for the Tigers while Jack Riding, Jaelen Pavlidis and Angus Hicks had 23 each.
Allan said they didn’t have many winners on the day. He said Flynn Young was good in the second half when he won a number of one-on-one battles, while Bior Malual tried hard on the wing to get them going.
The Tigers sit 10th on the ladder with a 3-4 record.
Allan said for them the focus is on the process more than the results.
“The ladder is normally a good indication of how we are going, we haven’t been able to play
good enough for long enough,” he said.
“Even the week before we were good for two and half quarters and that’s not enough either.
“I don’t know whether the group was satisfied. I felt that a little bit this week … they were maybe a bit comfortable.
“We maybe need to have them more on edge a bit more.”
The Tigers play Sandringham Zebras on Sunday. The Zebras have just one win for the season.
It will be the first time Allan has coached against them, with the two sides not facing each other last week.
In the VFLW, North Melbourne Werribee returned to the winners list with a big win against the Box Hill Hawks.
Scores were level at quarter time before the Kangaroos kicked into gear and ran away with it, 9.7 (61)-4.3 (27).
Madeleine Di Cosmo had 27 possessions for the Kangaroos, while Charlotte Ryan had 25.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos Tessa Boyd will get another chance at AFLW level after being added to North Melbourne’s list
The 27-year-old is a rebounding defender and has been named in the VFLW Team of the Year for the past two seasons.
tarneitudf@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Flynn Young tries to breakthrough a pack. (@bvphotography.a)
Sam Conway in the ruck on Saturday. (@bvphotography.a)
