Star Weekly - Northern - 9th December 2025

Celebrate Christmas 2025 at Highlands Shopping Centre

This festive season, Highlands Shopping Centre invites the community to come together and celebrate the magic of Christmasclosetohome.

The centre is beautifully decorated, and this year’s Santa set-up is one of our most charming yet — come along to take your individualorgroupphoto!

Two of his visits will include free face painting, adding an extra touch of colour and excitement for little ones. On another special day, kids can enjoy Christmas muffin decorating, featuring muffins from thelocalfavourite,TheFlyingLoafBakery.

Highlands Shopping Centre is more

Santa will be visiting five times throughout December, bringing joy to children and families across Craigieburn.

than a place to shop — it’s a welcoming, family-friendly hub for the community. Fromfreshfoodandalocalbutchertocafés, casual dining, a bakery, and bubble tea, there’s something for everyone. Visitors can also explore gift and homeware stores, beauty and health services, hair salons, pharmacies, and phone repairs. Other essentialslikeavarietystore,liquor,tobacco

and lottery services, postal services, and a fitness centre are all conveniently under one roof, making Highlands a complete localshoppingdestination.

This Christmas, we invite you to visit, explore and celebrate with us. Join in the festive fun, support our local retailers, and makethemostofeverythingHighlandshas tooffer.

Highlands Shopping Centre tenants wish all their customers a merry Christmas (Damjan Janevski) 519054_04

Melba Vale Country Club is continuing to thrive and is a popular place for over 55s and retirees.

The Country Club is located in Coolaroo on Pascoe Vale Roadand welcomes visitors to view this amazing home and all that the community offers.

The Country Clubis is conveniently located only 5 minutes from the Broadmeadows Shopping Centre and is close to public transport.

Villa 61 is priced at an enviable price point of $469,000 and with no stamp duty, representing an offer that is rare for this type of quality home.

The many exciting features of this brand new villa include stone bench tops and quality appliances to kitchen, spacious living plus a second living / study or third bedroom, built in robes to bedrooms, two-way ensuite and a second toilet, gas ducted heating and split system air conditioning, ducted vacuuming, secure internal access direct from single car garage, and a private rear garden.

The Melba Vale Community, visitors and residents are delighted by the bright and happy atmosphere. You can embrace life and live your retirement just the way you want.

Come along and tour the Melba Vale facilities, which include a magnificent Community Club that houses a hairdressing salon, library, theatre, pool table and club bar. Other facilities include a gym and an outdoor bowling rink.

The Country Club is staffed with on-site managementand has a24hour emergency call system. The Country Club bus also commutes residents on shopping and social outings.

Village manager for the Country Club, Gregory Nicholls, welcomes inspections Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm or by private appointment.

Visit Melba Valeonline at melbavale. com.au

Tennis opens return to Hume

Hume Tennis and Community Centre will host the Victorian and Melbourne wheelchair tennis opens again next year.

Hume Tennis manager Tim Connelly said he is excited for the competitions which will run from 13-24 January in Craigieburn.

“It is shaping up to be another great summer series,” he said.

The world number seven quads player, Jin Woodman, 16, from Sunbury said he is excited to play at his home club again.

“The weather here can be unpredictable but I’m used to it … that’s an advantage.”

“This was my very first club … after I hit the first ball, I felt a connection.”

Finn Broadbent, 24, said he was proud of winning the first round in both singles and doubles during the 2024 summer series.

“It’s very special to be back at home … [and] to have family and friends come down and watch.”

Hume Tennis also runs a Saturday afternoon hub for people to come and try wheelchair tennis.

Hume Tennis manager Tim Connelly. (Damjan Janevski) 521492_01

Dirt bike damage

By Courtney Black

A cricket club president has been left with a bruised face after confronting dirt bike riders tearing up the Kalkallo Recreation Reserve surface.

Donnybrook Cricket Club president Noel Seipolt confronted the riders on Sunday 23 November in a bid to stop them from riding on the reserve’s cricket pitch.

He said that during the confrontation, he was punched in the jaw.

“It was awful, I wasn’t expecting it,” Mr Seipolt said.

Mr Seipolt said he caught the young group of riders before they could tear up the turf.

Mr Seipolt said he called triple-0, but

police didn’t arrive until more than an hour later.

“They were sorry they took so long … but weren’t really interested … they said there was nothing they could do,” he said.

“I went down a day or two later to the police station just to get a report number, they didn’t even have that.”

Victoria Police was contacted for comment. A spokesperson said police responded to reports of the alleged assault.

“It was reported that two unknown male teens were riding dirt bikes on the cricket pitch … at about 2.30pm,” the spokesperson said. “The teens were approached by a man, and there was an altercation involving the man pushing one of the teens off the dirt

bike,andoneoftheteenspunchingtheman in the face.”

The spokesperson said the teens fled on their dirt bikes before police were called.

“No one has been arrested, and the investigation remains ongoing,“ the spokesperson said.

Mr Seipolt said dirt bike riders tearing up thepitchisaongoingproblematthereserve.

He said police returned to the reserve Wednesday 26 November when a girls’ team was playing.

“[They] were chasing the motorbikes, but they couldn’t catch them,” he said.

Mr Seipolt said a week after the alleged assault, one side of his face is still black and he is triggered every time he hears a

motorcycle coming down the street.

“Why have they got to try and ruin lives?”

Mr Seipolt has been club president for 50 years and said it is devastating to see his hard work destroyed.

“The first time they trashed the pitch, I got down there and nearly cried … it happened on my birthday too.”

Mr Seipolt said dirt bike riders tore up the pitch at the start of the cricket season, and no matches could be played for weeks because of the damage.

“It affects players, it’s a community thing … these kids don’t care whether the people can’t play on a Saturday,” he said.

“I don’t know how you stop it … they just keep getting away with it.”

Jo Nursing

Community hospital opens

By Courtney Black

Mernda Community Hospital welcomed its first patients on the morning of Monday 24 November.

The hospital was officially opened on Saturday 22 November by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, who said the hospital is a warm and welcoming environment.

“This is a new model of care, to meet the everyday healthcare needs of the community, without needing to go to a big, busy, major hospital,” Ms Thomas said.

The hospital will be open from 8am5pm Monday to Friday, at 35 Flourmill Drive, Mernda.

Northern Health operates the hospital

which will offer dental, pathology, allied health, respiratory, allergy and paediatric services.

“I am particularly excited about… the commitment to deliver paediatric services … and assessments for ADHD and autism,” Ms Thomas said.

The hospital does not have an emergency department, the nearest hospital for life-threatening injuries is the Northern Hospital in Epping, 10km away from Mernda.

MsThomassaidthecommunityhospital does not have an emergency department because there are no theatres available.

“Community hospitals are… designed to take pressure off of our biggest hospi-

tals,” Ms Thomas said.

Northern Health’s Narrun Wilip-giin Aboriginal Support Unit senior liaison officer Karen Bryant did an acknowledgement of Country, and welcomed Aboriginal locals to the hospital.

“I see everyday the challenges that our mob face navigating health systems,” Ms Bryant said.

“To our mob in the area, this hospital is here for you, your health… and wellbeing matter.“

Luke Edwards, a Bangerang, Mutti Mutti, Wiradjeri man, gave Ms Bryant a gift of native, traditional Aboriginal medicines that he said could be used in a future smoking ceremony.

A sustainable winter wonderland in Epping

Northern Hospital in Epping has put up a Christmas display in its main foyer made entirely from recycled material.

Northern Health staff member Larni Koutsofrigas said she used mostly recycled polystyrene from packaging and boxes to create the winter wonderland theme.

“It is one of the best products to use, it’s a lightweight material and easy to hang… and it’s sustainable,” Ms Koutsofrigas said.

Ms Koutsofrigas said a team of engineers and other hospital workers spent hours helping her with the project.

“I couldn’t have done it without my elves … we stayed back until one in the morning to install the decorations,“ she said.

Ms Koutsofrigas said she is happy to see

that the display is making staff, visitors and patients happy.

“People who are not feeling well come here, so it’s nice that this puts a smile on their face to feel a bit better.”

Ms Koutsofrigas said she started on the project two months ago, spending hours a few days after work cutting out the material to create festive designs.

“It takes time, I tried to squeeze it in whereIcould…it’saformoftherapyforme.”

Northern Health public affairs executive director Pina Di Donato said the Christmas display is a gift.

“People have told me, ‘you’ve really stepped it up this year’, ‘in 30 years we’ve never seen anything like it’,” Ms Di Donato

said.

Ms Di Donato said visitors have been leaving gold-coin donations in a miniature ice-rink at the front of the display.

“We collected $55 this morning, on the first night there was a $10 note.”

Ms Di Donato said the display is one of the hospital’s many sustainability projects which include donating second-hand equipment overseas and reupholstering old chairs.

“We save what we can and we are very sustainable.

“It doesn’t matter the level, title or department we all work together to get things done.”

Northern Health chief executive Debra Bourne said the hospital is responding to continued growth in the area.

“We are really proud to serve this rapidly growing community,” Ms Bourne said. In a statement, the state government said in the new year the hospital will deliver renal and mental health services, which will later be followed by urgent care and imaging.

Ms Thomas said planning is important to ensure a smooth transition of staff.

“There are many healthcare workers who live locally… looking forward to… work[ing] closer to home,” she said.

School crossing safety upgrades

Hume council will invest $70,000 into school crossing upgrades that will help the safety of students from Elevation Secondary School crossing the road.

Councillor Jim Overend first raised the issue in council with a notice of motion in April to investigate ways of slowing traffic down on Elevation Boulevard.

“Earlier in the year there was an incident where someone was run over, because of fast moving traffic,” he said.

Cr Overend said raising the school crossing and extending the 40km/h school zone will help student safety.

The work to raise the existing school crossing was already scheduled and will be completed in early 2026.

Council will seek approval from the state government to extend the school speed zone to the intersection at Vantage Boulevard.

Cr Daniel English said anything that’s going to help the safety of kids is good.

“The raised platforms… do work, better than lines in the road that people don’t even see,” he said.

“Hopefully that’ll slow the area down.”

A pedestrian crossing will also be developed at 176 Elevation Boulevard using $140,000 funding from the state government.

Orian, 4, explores the winter wonderland. (Damjan Janevski) 521824_03

Plea to keep doors open

By Courtney Black

Representatives from neighbourhood houses across the northern suburbs have handed petitions to their local members of parliament calling for funding to keep the doors of these vital community spaces open.

On Friday 28 November, Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre manager Antoinette Ioannou handed a collection of signatures to Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny.

Ms Ioannou said she was proud of the collection of signatures and messages even if there was only enough to fit into a child’s toy trailer.

“Our community really did get behind us, everybody signed the postcards,” she said.

“A lot of people have said ‘you can’t shut it down, we bring our kids here’“.

Keep Our Doors Open is a statewide campaign calling for a 25 per cent increase in funding for neighbourhood houses.

Ms Ioannou said she has had to start charging people for programs to pay for administration and wages.

“I’m not doing this for the love of wages… it was my dream to work in the community,” she said.

Ms Ioannou said she often works outside of opening hours to apply for grants.

“I have been trying to apply for a grant to extend the building for more storage space… 25 hours a week isn’t enough,” she said.

Ms Ioannou said the hallways are so crowded with equipment that she is worried people won’t be able to get out if there is a fire.

“My biggest fear is tables falling on the kids,” she said.

Thomastown Neighbourhood House (TNH) manager Liz Skitch said the demand for local community services had risen.

“Neighbourhood houses are needed more than ever,” Ms Skitch said.

Ms Skitch said TNH works to bring diverse groups of people together in a safe environment where they can overcome hardship.

“I work around the clock and only get paid for 21 hours a week, this is not sustain-

able,” she said.

MsHalfpennyacceptedthepetitionfrom Creeds Farm and said the state government supported neighbourhood houses.

“We know how much [they] do with very little,” she said.

“Five or six years ago we increased and standardised opening hours across Victoria.“

Ms Halfpenny said she will give the petitions to the Carers and Volunteers Minister Ros Spence.

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHV) chief executive officer, Keir Paterson, said half of the neighbourhood houses in the state have been running at a loss for two years.

“The number of programs and opening hours have been cut to the bare minimum,” he said.

Mr Paterson said a 25 per cent increase in funding would return the sector to the financial position it enjoyed 10 years ago.

The NHV 2024 annual report found that without this funding increase, the value lost to the community would amount to $230 million.

“We will see neighbourhood houses close because they can’t afford to continue running,“ he warned.

A spokesperson said the state government provides funding to more than 400 neighbourhood houses to the tune of $43 million per year and a further $9 million for neighbourhood house food relief programs.

According to the state government future funding proposals will be subject to the 2026/27 budget process.

Thomastown Neighbourhood House manager Liz Skitch with some community members. (Damjan Janevski). 519832_04

Whittlesea’s favourite tree

Whittlesea council is running its favourite tree competition again this year.

Residents are encouraged to submit a photo of their favourite tree and a short story about why it’s special.

Mayor Lawrie Cox said trees do so much more than just add beauty to local streets.

“Trees cool our neighbourhoods, clean our air, support native wildlife and create peacefulplacesforusalltoliveandplay,”Cr Cox said.

According to the council, there were 35 entries last year.

Joan Tolliday from Wollert, won the competition last year and said the majestic gum in Belknap Conservation Reserve has been her favourite since moving to

Wollert in 2016. “Iloveitsmajestyandestimateithasbeen here for hundreds of years. It is one of my favourite trees to photograph, especially at sunset as the sun’s rays meander through the branches,” Ms Tolliday said.

Thewinnerofthecompetitionwillreceive a copy of Silent Sentinel: The Story of a Redgum by local artist Amaria Stark.

The winner will also have their photo featured on the council’s scoop newsletter and on the greening Whittlesea tree hub website.

Entries close on 28 February . You can submit a photo of your favourite tree and a story about why you love it by visiting engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/trees.

Briefs

Christmas market

Celebrate the magic of the season at the Mickleham North Christmas Market. Stroll through a Christmas wonderland of unique stalls offering handmade items. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a festive evening. Entry is free and no bookings are required. It’s on Saturday 13 December, from 10am to 3pm at Mickleham North Community Centre.

Carols by Candlelight Hume council is hosting Carols by Candlelight in Westmeadows. Join local Hume resident and MC superstar Steve Tabone and a selection of talented performers for an evening featuring free face painting and Christmas-themed arts and crafts. The festivities kick off at 6pm. It’s a perfect evening for local families and friends to come together and celebrate the season. This is a free, non-ticketed community event, but residents are encouraged to register their interest via Eventbrite to stay updated with event details and announcements. It’s on Friday 12 December, from 6pm to 9pm, at Westmeadows Reserve.

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Carols by Candlelight: A night of music and festive fun

Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly evening filled with carols, kids' activities, roving performers and plenty to eat from our food trucks.

When: Friday 12 December, 6pm - 9pm

Where: Civic Centre Lawns - 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang

Santa will be visiting at 8pm, so bring the little ones. This event is free and no bookings are required.

For more information, visit whittlesea.vic.gov.au/carols

Celebrate the people who make our community stronger Nominations are now open for the City of Whittlesea Community Awards. These awards honour residents who give their time, skills and leadership to support others and make a real difference.

Categories include: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year and Sustainable Environment Citizen or Group of the Year.

The 2025 awards will be presented at the Community Festival on Sunday 15 March 2026. Nominations are open until Sunday, 15 February 2026.

For more information and to nominate, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/communityawards

Joan Tolliday won the competition last year with this photograph of a gum tree, in Belknap Conservation Reserve. (Supplied)

Calendars from the inside

By Jena Carr

Calendars featuring artwork by former prisoners are helping to break down barriers for women looking to reintegrate into society after prison.

Sharon* was incarcerated for four years and said she felt prison would be safer than remaining in a domestic violence situation.

“I was married nearly 40 years at the time, but it would have been the last 15 years of that marriage where it got really bad,” she said.

“You leave everything behind, and I’m not the only one that makes that decision, as there were a lot of people in with me who had done the same thing.

“You’re also impacted by a lot of things after prison, like to be able to get a job now is very difficult and you’re looked at differently, but the other side of the coin is worse.

“No one is saying things like ‘you’ll wear this’ or ‘you’ll do this’, so it’s totally different and I’m very lucky that I had the support of my family, which some women don’t get.”

Not-for-profit organisation Prison Network helps women reintegrate into society after incarceration and distributes calendars to prisons during December. The calendars feature artwork by women in and out of prison.

“Every year we’ll put together a hamper, that includes a calendar, so that every woman in prison gets a gift at a time that is obviously very difficult for them on the inside,” chief executive Amelia Pickering said.

“Anything that we can do to help destigmatise these women and present them as women who have got so much to offer and so much to give to society is so important.

“Nine out of 10 women in a Victorian prison have been a victim of violence and abuse, so there are a lot of tragedy, heartbreak, poverty and disadvantage that come before prison.”

Sharon’s art features heavily in the calendar and said she hoped her work would help remind women in prison that people were still there for them.

“It’s really lovely to be seen and people enjoy what they see, so I’m really happy to contribute some of my artwork to the calendar,” she said.

“Art saved my life and if I didn’t have that while I was in prison, it would have been a very different experience, and it can put you in a different headspace.”

Sharon said life after prison had been

“wonderful” as she has had no contact with the alleged domestic violence perpetrator since she was incarcerated. Visit prisonnetwork.org.au/shop to purchase a calendar or gift one to a woman in prison.

*Sharon’s name used in this article is an alias for the individual’s protection,.

CONNECTED LIVING

AT CALLISTO PLACE

Prison Network support workers Jodie MacCartney and Laurel Gore with artwork by Sharon. (Supplied)

A

of diverse celebrations

On 2 December Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre celebrated International Day for People with a Disability. The fun-filled free event brought together local performers, entertainers and community groups with party games, snacks and giveaways. StarWeekly photographer Damjan Janevskistoppedbytocapturethecelebrations.

SituatedinMelbourne’sleafynorthern corridor,CallistoPlacebyBoltonClarke offersavibrantlifestyleforover-55s, blendingthebestofcitylifewithastrong senseofcommunityandbelonging, witheasyaccesstoshops,transport, andservices.Justmomentsfromlush parklands,vibrantcafés,andMelbourne’s culturalheartbeat,CallistoPlaceiswhere everydayfeelseffortlesslyconnected andfullofpossibility.

Relaxandrechargeinthemodern clubhouse,connectwithneighbours inthewelcomingcoffeelounge,ortake inamovieinthegoldclassstylecinema. Withdedicatedspacesforhealth, wellness,andsocialising,you’llfind everythingyouneedtothrive.Live independentlywiththepeaceofmindthat comesfromaprofessionalmanagement teamandasecure,carefreeenvironment. DiscoverthedifferenceatCallistoPlace,a communitythatcelebratesindependence, connection,andthejoyoflivingwell.

The event was hosted in partnership with Thomastown Neighbourhood House. The manager Liz Skitch got involved with the celebrations. 521056_06

Daniella. 521056_05

Shelley. 521056_04

Roshni. 521056_03

Troy. 521056_02

An uncle’s waves of grief

Seth Crane, a young man from Tasmania’s north west coast, recently took his own life at just 19 years of age. His uncle,

It’soneofthosemomentsthatmakesyou wish smartphones didn’t exist. If I had a flipphone,aNokiaoroneofthosebricks from the 1980’s that needed to be tuned in likearadio,Ilikelywouldn’thaveknown,at least not straight away.

Better still, if there were no mobiles or internet, my week off down the Surf Coast would’ve continued in ignorant bliss until I got back to Melbourne at the weekend and my landline rung with someone bearing bad news.

Instead, I was standing on a lookout above Bells Beach, only a few hours after leavinghome,usingmysmartphonetotake pics of the surf below when it buzzed with one of its many other functions. It was my older sister Erin messaging the family group chat.

Erin’s calm, sensible and taciturn so the fact her message began with a profanity repeated three times in a row hinted that the rest of it wasn’t good.

And if the previous 19 years were any guide, something to do with my older sister that wasn’t good likely involved her eldest son.

Seth had always been a difficult kid.

He was loud, rude and could be stunningly self-centred. He was prone to wild outbursts that would upset those around him, but for which he showed little or no remorse.

His ears were deaf to the word ‘no,’ he had no concept of the word ‘share’ and ’sorry’ was just something to say to get out of trouble rather than a word with any real meaning.

The rest of our family used to (only half) joke that Seth would end up in jail by the time he reached adulthood, yet when he didgetthere,hisvastreservesofenergyhad been channelled towards something much more positive.

His thirst for attention, absence of shame and ability to charm and manipulate at will saw him gravitate towards performing arts rather than prison, and having finished high school in Tasmania last year, he recently started work as a theatre assistant at a local private school.

That he’d only sporadically attended school himself and needed ChapGPT to disguise the fact he was functionally illiterate, made it even all the more impressive.

He still had rough edges; empathy and generosity weren’t strong suits and neither was financial management or personal hygiene, but these were neither here nor there.

They didn’t matter.

Seth was on his way and he was gonna be fine.

He had an abiding passion that he was pursuing and he had the combination of charismaandchutzpahtobluffandbullshit around any obstacles that lay ahead.

It’s why I wasn’t too worried when my mum told me last year that Seth has spent time in the mental health unit at Burnie Hospital after breaking up with his long-term girlfriend.

And it’s why I was concerned, but not too concerned, when I learnt that Seth had recently gone back there after the end of another relationship and that having been discharged, he’d been re-admitted again.

And it was why, after reading the rest of my sister’s message and learning that earlier in the afternoon, nurses at the unit had found Seth unconscious following a suicide attempt and that after performing CPR and keeping him alive, he was now in ICU, I felt more stunned and numb than outright concerned.

After replying to her message with some profanities of my own, I stood there on a

reflects the loss of his nephew and the numbing experience of youth suicide.

sunny spring afternoon above the waves crashing below, feeling more worried about the welfare of my older sister and for my parents who were on holiday in Spain, than Iwasformynephewwhowasnowbreathing with help of a ventilator in a hospital on the other side of Bass Strait.

Afterall, he was alive and in the best of care. And he was Seth. He always found a way. He’d be alright. Wouldn’t he?

I avoided answering that rhetorical question as I left the lookout, destination unknown.

I’donlyleftthatmorningonawhimandin typical fashion hadn’t organised anything, but I’d come too far to turn around now and what was there to turn around for?

I was on holidays and had come down heretogetoutofthehouse,soIwasn’tgoing back. And I couldn’t organise trip down to Tassie and wouldn’t be of any use down there even if I could.

And I wasn’t certain that was even necessary because, after all, Seth was gonna be fine, right?

My mind was scrambled to the point where I probably shouldn’t have been driving, but drive I did: Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Moggs Creek and finally to Lorne where I booked into an overpriced room in a cheap motel, just in time for my sister to send a picture of Seth hooked to a machine in the ICU.

His hair was dark, thick and shaggy like mine at the same age. His eyes were closed. He looked at peace.

The sun was up in Spain and my parents said they were cutting short their tour and looking at ways to get an early flight home. I’d contacted my brother who’d long checked out of the group chat and after a flurry of sorries and swear words, everything went calm.

I spent a couple of days wandering around Lorne trying to pretend things were normal, before heading off to Apollo Bay feeling slightly optimistic.

Seth was now breathing on his own and was booked in for an MRI on Friday afternoon.

I lulled myself into thinking the worst had passed when Erin dropped another message.

It was Friday night and I was having a drink at the pub when I opened and read it.

There were no swear words this time, just a matter-fact update on the results of the MRI which showed Seth had suffered too much brain damage to ever regain consciousness.

By the time I got to the crying emoji she’d posted at the end I’d already made it redundant.

The next day I drove home via the inland route to avoid any reminders and on Monday I returned to work; the deadlines that I’d recently sought to escape now provided a timely distraction.

But while Seth was no longer alive, his healthy heart and lungs meant he wasn’t dead either. So for the the next two weeks I found myself in the purgatory of wanting to tell people about it, but not wanting to add a qualifier: “he attempted suicide and was mostly successful.”

The lag period allowed my parents to complete their trip and come home (they decided against spending $10,000 on new flights to return three days early) and also for my youngest sister Peri, to return from overseas too. They took it in turns staying with Erin at the hospital while Seth slowly passed.Mumspoketohim.Peripaintedhis toenails.

By Melbourne Cup Day, a fortnight after attempting suicide in another part of the

hospital, he finally succeed.

Aswasnowcustomary,Erindeliveredthe news with a simple message to the group chat. It was a relief.

Since Apollo Bay, I’d been thinking about Seth in the past tense anyway.

I’d been thinking about the first time I met him as a baby at my sister’s old place in Burnie, near the hospital where he died. About the force of nature he was as a little boy, a wrecking ball trapped in an infant’s body. About how since moving to Melbourne in 2009, I hadn’t seen much of him, yet I still witnessed him grow-up. His mother posting pictures on Facebook messenger helped. So too his outsized personality that transcended any distance.

I remembered trying to be a good uncle and messaging him during his relationship struggles, telling him that I was there if he ever wanted to talk. I got a cheery ‘Thanks!’ in reply.

I recalled that in more recent years as he grew taller, we’d stand back to back to see who was now tallest in the family. Having conceded the title a few years ago, I wasn’t planning on regaining it so soon.

I included some of these anecdotes when I spoke at Seth’s funeral last month. It was much bigger and also much worse than I expected. Seth’s fabulous flamboyance won him a lot of friends. All of them were distraught.

Everyone knows suicide is bad, youth suicide especially.

Yet the reality is immeasurably worse than I could ever have imagined.

I don’t think I’ll be going back to the surf coast.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

https://standbysupport.com.au/resources/

Star Weekly journalist Cade Lucas,

Seth Crane. (Pictures: Supplied)

Stage two upgrades begin

By Courtney Black

Ground has broken at the northern end of Yan Yean road, marking the second stage of upgrades.

Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage led the sod turn on the afternoon of Friday 21 November, on the corner of Yan Yean and Doctor’s Gully roads, where the new intersection will be.

“There’s not going to be much disruption to start with,” Ms Kathage said. “During construction, people will be able to continue using the roundabout … while they build the new intersection in this paddock.“

The MP said another upgrade includes

paving a walking path from the new intersection to Doreen Primary School.

An Australian-owned company, Decmil, has been appointed for the construction of the northern upgrades between Bridge Inn and Orchard roads.

Upgrades to the southern end, between Orchard Road and Kurrak Road, are set to begin mid-2026.

Ms Kathage said the works have been split up so that the lower section didn’t have to wait to get started.

“This means the project will be delivered smoothly and more quickly,” she said.

In 2018, more than 6000 people signed a petition to protect native trees during

the upgrade.

Ms Kathage said protecting native trees has been a key part of the design.

“The team’s been really responsive to community feedback about… retaining as many trees as we can,” she said.

Doreen Recreation Reserve, at the corner of Bridge Inn Road and Yan Yean Road, has been closed for construction.

Painted Hills Ward councillor Deb Gunn said there are a number of other facilities available in Doreen and Mernda for the community to use during construction.

“If there are any queries, people from the community can contact myself or the council,” Cr Gunn said.

Taking action against family violence

A community forum aimed at promoting intervention and prevention of family violence against multicultural women and girls was held in Epping on 4 December.

The event was held by Whittlesea Community Connections as part of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence global campaign running from November 25 to December 10.

Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights client services director Mariam Deng said barriers to seek-

ing help are not static for multicultural women. “Barriers are always moving and changing,” she said.

Ms Deng said having an interpreter is crucial to understanding these barriers which can include language, cultural practices, financial reliance and caring for children. “Having an interpreter means being able to understand, and be understood,” she said.

“It allows the woman to be part of intervention, the woman existed before the family violence.”

A Victoria Police spokesman said lan-

guage barriers and the fear of not understanding the law can be isolating.

He said police spend whole days training to respond to different family violence scenarios using actors from diverse communities.

“We teach to impact the next generation of police officers,” he said. “Family violence doesn’t discriminate based on race, religion or any characteristic.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing family violence seek help from police or a support service.

Rates arrears targeted as owners fall behind with

Hume council will explore ways in which it can reduce the growing rate arrears across the municipality.

In September, council revealed the municipality’s rate arrears had risen to $45.75 million.

In response, Cr Kate Hamley raised a notice of motion at the 24 November council meeting, asking council to address rates hardship.

Cr Hamley also sought to seek clarification on when the state government would finalise its Rates Hardship Guidelines, so a review of council’s Rates Financial Hardship

Policy could be completed.

She also recommended exploring further measures to incentivise entry into payment plans for ratepayers who are experiencing financial hardship, including scoping a pilot project to collect data on what financial incentives could help reduce the number of accounts entering arrears.

Under Cr Hamley’s proposal, council would also directly engage with affected ratepayers to find the reasons why they have not paid their rates, and present findings back to a council meeting with recommendations on how council can address the core

Ms Kathage said local cricket clubs have been working with Nillumbik and Whittlesea councils to find alternative pitches.

McEwen MP Rob Mitchell said the works have gone ahead because of the change of government.

“Federally we had a starvation of funds for nine years so these projects have been waiting and waiting,” Mr Mitchell said.

“By us three levels of government all working together, with the focus on our community first, we get the result.

“Its an exciting day to come and turn a bit of dirt.”

The overall Yan Yean Road upgrades are projected to be completed in 2029.

Proposal to tackle youth crime issue

Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYCs) could be reinstated in Hume under a proposal aimed at tackling rising youth crime that is being considered by council.

At the 24 November council meeting, councillors adopted a motion from Cr Naim Kurt that included a number of avenues for council to tackle youth crime in the municipality.

Included in the recommendation was to invite Hume police command to meet with council to discuss local crime issues, developing a community engagement program across the municipality to enhance youth participation in pro-social, recreational, educational and community-building activities, and researches best-practice models on early-intervention community safety programs.

It also included bringing forward a review of council’s CCTV policy to ensure its effectiveness.

Council will also present a report to a future briefing on a new Community Safty Strategy, which includes the exploration of the reinstatement of funding for the Sunbury PCYC, which closed in 2014, the establishment of new PCYC facilities, and addresses the car parking shortages in the Broadmeadows precinct to support operational requirements of the Broadmeadows police station.

Cr Kurt said this aims to give council a formalised position on crime in the community.

“This is taking a holistic approach from us as a council to the issue of crime. It’s saying that we’ve got a role to play as well as local government,” he said.

Cr Kurt said council has heard from the local community and police on a number of issues raised in his notice of motion.

Cr Jarrod Bell welcomed the exploration of reinstating the Sunbury PCYC, which he said was an outstanding success, and helped divert many at-risk youth in Sunbury.

payments

issues.

“While Hume’s hardship policy offers some additional options for people experiencing hardship, including the waiving of interest on debts, there’s an opportunity to look further into the issues that actually cause people to fall behind on payments in the first place and have a look at the options that might be available to us to help them,” she said.

“Our existing options really don’t make rates much more affordable. The cost stays the same. It just sort of slices it up differently.“

“It was a great model that worked for a federal investment of $40,000, thousands of visits every single year and the diversions of I’m sure thousands of young people from lives that could have gone horrible ways is something that we need to explore, not only to see it return to Sunbury, but to see it maybe explored in communities around Hume,” he said.

“But really a model of active community policing, of community engagement, of mentoring young people, particularly young men away from lives that could be disastrous is something that we need to see across Victoria.”

Whittlesea Family Violence Network working group members Victoria Police community liaison officer Ansam Sadik Kids First Australia family services team leader Jodie Leahy, Whittlesea Community Connections gender equity and family violence lead May Thu Ne Win, Orange Door staff member Del Aulich, Victoria Police multicultural liaison officer Albert Fatileh.

MY PLACE

Tamara Carr is the new manager at Tin Shed in St Albans. She spoke to Sam Porter about her new role and her connection to the community.

What’s your connection to Brimbank?

I’ve had a strong connection to Brimbank sincechildhood.Mostofmyfamilygrewup here,andIwenttohighschoolinSunshine.

Even though I moved away for a few years, I always felt drawn back and eventually returned in 2007. In 2020, during the height of Covid, I started a charity supporting people in St Albans experiencing insecure housing. The Tin Shed quickly became a place where outreach services, volunteers, and community members could come together—and that’s where my connection tothisorganisationreallybegan.

How are you feeling about being the new Tin Shed manager?

Stepping into the manager role is both exciting and deeply meaningful. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers who inspire me every day.BrimbankhasshapedsomuchofwhoI am,andhavingtheopportunitytogiveback inthiswayfeelsincrediblyspecial.

What do you like about where you live? I live in Broadmeadows, and I love how convenient it is. Everything is right at my fingertips – public transport, shopping, the freeway, restaurants, the aquatic centre, schools, and so much more. Living out in Broadmeadows feels much like Brimbank with just how accessible services are and communitywelcomingitis.

What would you change about where you live?

Ithinkweallhavethingswe’dchangeabout where we live, but honestly, I’m grateful to

have a safe roof over my head – especially with the housing challenges many people are facing right now. Being manager at Tin shed and seeing how the housing and costoflivinghasimpactedourcommunities has made me feel so much more blessed to

havewhatIhave.

What’s your favourite local place to spend time?

Honestly, it’s the Tin Shed. The volunteer team is amazing, and it’s a joy to be

surroundedbypeoplewhoaresodedicated to serving the community. I get to spend time with community members who drop in for programs, community lunches, a friendly chat, food relief, or outreach services. It’s a place full of heart, and I feel luckytobepartofit.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

People are often surprised to learn that I joined the Army Reserves at 19. I was based at the Duke Street barracks in Sunshine with 5/6 RVR A Company. My time in the ADF was one of the best experiences of my life—full of learning, discipline, and very fond memories. In the ADF I ranked up to Corporal and moved to Norforce in Darwin for 2 years. I believe this helped shape my leadershipskills.

Any plans for the Tin Shed you’d like to share?

One of my priorities is to create more opportunities for people in our community to share their talents and get involved in ways that inspire them. Whether it’s through social media, peer support, mums andbubsgroups,orcreativeprojectslikeart exhibitions, film, or photography—there’s a placeforeveryonehere.

IwanttheTinShedtobeaspacewherewe showcaselocalstrengths,celebrateculture, build confidence, and empower each other to thrive. I’m looking forward to building partnerships, expanding programs, and creating more opportunities for our diverse community to connect, learn, grow, and celebrateourculturestogether.

Heathcote Design shown

Manager Tamara Carr in front of Tin Shed artwork. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 519161_07

Coping with holiday stress

Across much of the world, December and January are special. The change of year, the change of season, the sense of renewal – it’s no coincidence that this period contains special days for most people, religious or secular.

These days can be fun, or sacred, or both. But they can also be highly stressful, triggering, trauma-inducing and utterly exhausting.

Self-management and self-care are critical to making it through the holiday seasonfullofgoodcheerandinonepiece.

So here is our handy list of tips and tricks for taking care of your mental health this season – provided by the good folk at North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.

Takeitadayatatime: Forsomepeople,this is the season of the invitation. You might be invited to work events, family events, sporting club events, social club events, street parties – all sorts of jolly occasions. And that can be fantastic, but it can also be completely draining. Too much of a good thing can leave people tired and cranky –whetherornotalcoholisinvolved.

Think carefully about how many get-togethers you want to go to, and try to makesureyouleaveyourselfadayortwoto restupandrecoverbetweengigs.Somaybe you miss out on seeing your cricket mates at the clubhouse this year. It’s ok. They’ll understand.

Keep it nice: At this time of year, we’re all people-pleasers, which means declining an invitation for a gathering of friends or family can feel challenging. We don’t want to disappoint, after all. But sometimes we

have to. And here’s the thing: saying no politely,kindly,andopenlymakesthewhole processeasierforeveryoneinvolved.(Andif someone gets angry because you’ve gently declined their invitation, well, that rather suggestsyou’vemadetherightdecision…)

Not all friendly families are family-friendly: We live in a world where the concept of family is often portrayed as central and supportive. Family is everything,wehear.Familycomesfirst. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it does. But not all families are sweet like sitcoms. Sometimes there can be conflict, or isolation, or judgement. Your mental and physical health are more important than once-a-year family obligations. Don’t be afraidtoturndowninvitationsifthethought ofattendingdoesn’tfillyouwithjoy.

Beingaloneandbeinglonelyaredifferent things: Sometimes the public holidays

or employment shutdowns that happen over the season are a glorious excuse to spend some time in solitude, and that’s a wonderful thing. Sometimes, though, for people who for whatever reason have few social connections, they can be a time of loneliness and sorrow. But they can also be a good opportunity to build and find new connections.

Many community centres, neighbourhoodhouses,faithorganisations, librariesandotherplacesputonfreeevents at this time of year. It can be fun, doing a bit of research, learning where and when these are happening, taking a deep breath and attending. True, it might require some new-found confidence to attend –but, equally, it might be the start of new friendshipsandnewadventures.

Reach out, people will listen: The holiday season can be difficult, and sometimes all you want is someone to talk to, to explain

how you feel. Friends and family can sometimes provide help – but sometimes tooit’sgoodtoreachouttoothers.

MedicareMentalHealthisafreenational service that can help you find the help you need, in the right place at the right time. Dedicated mental health counsellors will talk with you and link you with the most appropriate service to provide you with supportandcare.

Youcanmakecontactthroughthewebsite –medicarementalhealth.gov.au–ormakea free call on 1800 595 212 between 8.30am5pmweekdays(exceptpublicholidays).

If it all gets too much: If you feel overwhelmed, help is available, right now. Here are some options for immediate support:

Lifeline - call 13 11 14 for this free, Australia-wide crisis support and suicide preventionservice

Suicide Call Back Service - call 1300 659 467 for this free service for people having suicidal thoughts or for family or friends affectedbysuicide

SuicideLine -call 1300651251 forfreeand anonymous support, 24 hours a day, seven daysaweekacrossVictoria

13YARN – call 13 92 76 to reach this free crisissupportlineforFirstNationspeople. Kids Help Line - call 1800 55 1800 for free counselling for young people between the agesoffiveand25

Mensline Australia - call 1300 78 99 78 to access this free telephone support serviceformenwithfamilyandrelationship issues

Poisons Information - call 131 126 if you haveoverdosedorbeenpoisonedormadea mistakewithyourmedications.

Festive craft to bring Christmas cheer

Each month, Stephanie Martinez will share an exciting craft project designed to inspire and spark creativity.

Stephanie starred in the first season of Making It on Network 10, where she discovered and ignited her passion for crafting.

Join Stephanie as she explores the endless possibilities of crafting and turn everyday materials into something extraordinary.

This month, Stephanie is creating mini Christmas trees.

Mini Christmas Tree

Materials

Green and white yarn

Styrofoam cone

Coloured felt

Equipment

Glue

Scissors

Needle

Step 1: Wrap the green yarn around the entire styrofoam cone, securing it with glue as you go until the cone is completely covered.

Step 2: Cut the coloured felt into strips, then trim them into small squares. Thread the white yarn through the needle, and string the felt squares onto it to create a festive garland.

Step 3: Attach one end of the garland to the base of the tree with glue. Wrap it gently around the cone, securing it in place as you go.

Step 4: Finish your tree by gluing the glitter foam star to the top.

Stephanie Martinez.

Cashing cans to help Gaza

By Courtney Black

A Craigieburn man has raised $1500 for Gazaaidbyrecycling15,000bottlesthrough the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme.

Mohammed Kalassina has been recycling his cans and bottles for a year and half, and never thought his refunds could support people in Gaza.

“I never guessed … that something as basic as a few empty cans or bottles can mean survival for someone else,” Mr Kalassina said.

Mr Kalassina said he has always been

aware of the need to recycle and has encouraged more people to contribute to his cause.

“It’s gotten more and more popular … with people giving me their containers … we all pull our cans and bottles together,“ he said.

“It helps the environment, keeps your community clean … and at the same time, the money we raise goes to a very important cause.“

Mr Kalassina said collectively the group is raising up to $500 a month which is donated to Muslims Around The World.

“The work they do is close to my heart and has been something I’ve supported for years to get aid directly to people who need it most,” he said.

The charity organisation provides essential aid in over 30 countries, including food, water and medical supplies.

“Part of Islam is the idea of giving back to those in need and helping people to get back on their feet… there’s no shortage of people who need help,” he said.

Mr Kalassina has lived in Craigieburn for over 16 years, and said his first fundrais-

Dental van bites into tooth decay problem

The newest mobile dental van has been unveiled, set to bring accessible dental care to more primary schools.

The Teeth on Wheels founding director, and dental practitioner, Joseph Zeid said the service now reaches about 200 schools.

“We service about 25,000 kids a year,” he said.

Joseph said the experience is positive for students, who get their dental checkups in the van at school, which has space for them to bring friends along, and a TV to watch cartoons.

Joseph said he started Teeth on Wheels with his brother, Rami, 10 years ago, to help remove the stigma associated with the dentist.

“We both grew up having a negative outlook of the dentist … because of the language [our mum] used,” he said.

“She used keywords like … ‘don’t be scared, we’re going to be okay, be brave’,” he said.

Joseph said it was really exciting to get students to help with naming the new van.

The new van is named Jasmine, after

the Disney princess, but also because it uses the first letter of Joseph’s name, following a long naming tradition.

“The first letter of each of our clinics is from a family member... the first six we have named relate to our parents and grandparents.”

Joseph said the service does as much as it can to help parents who can’t find time to take their children to the dentist.

“Our vans are set up so that we have the licenses to do X-rays and some fillings and extractions... which prevents bigger treatments.”

ing effort began in high school.

“I remember spending all my recess time and lunch breaks just selling chocolate to raise… funds for Vanuatu to… build a water well,” he said.

Mr Kalassina said his advice for anyone considering fundraising is simple.

“Just do your part… if you have the means to help others, you also have a responsibility,” he said.

“If we all put our hands together, we can dosomethingtomakeabettercommunity.”

To find your nearest container refund point, visit: cdsvic.org.au

‘Rollercoaster’ roads in Craigieburn set to be fixed

Hume council has invested $1.5 million towards road upgrades in Craigieburn.

At the 24 November council meeting, New Horizon Construction was awarded the contract to reconstruct Hanson Road and Craigieburn Road, and develop a roundabout between Creekwood Drive and Malcolm Creek Parade.

Councillor Daniel English said he looks forward to the project being completed because the roads are like rollercoasters.

“At one stage at the [Malcolm Creek] bridge, you had to slow down to about 10 km/h before your suspension nearly fell off your car,” he said.

“Also not many people stop at the stop sign [at Creekwood Drive]... that needs a roundabout.”

Cr English said New Horizon Construction was awarded the contract because it provides the best value.

“Hopefully [the works are] a small-term pain for long-term gain in that area,” he said.

Cr Jim Overend said he also looks forward to the road being repaired and making it safer for the community to use.

The project is being funded by council’s 2025-2026 capital works program allocations.

The Teeth On Wheels team celebrate the unveiling of their newest mobile dental van. (Damjan Janevski).

A new commercial address for Melbourne’s north

Melbourne’s northern growth corridor is quickly evolving, and at the centre is 28 Greengate,thenewestcommercialaddress within the Greengate Work Precinct, part of the 51-hectare New Epping community, creating new opportunities for businesses inthenorth.

Just 18km from the CBD, 28 Greengate offers quality strata office (individually owned suites within a shared building), allowing people to purchase a workspace either as an investment or to occupy and operate a business from. This opportunity can deliver equity growth, stablecosts,andindependencefromrising officerents.

Research indicates that at 28 Greengate,

ownership is projected to outperform leasing within just six years*, and with consumer confidence lifting and interest rates at a two-year low, it’s a compelling timetoinvest.

Offices range from 50m² to 1,500m² and can be fully customised to reflect individual business identities, while the building itself delivers amenities rarely foundoutsidetheCBD:qualityend-of-trip facilities, secure bike storage, a bookable conferenceroom,landscapedterracesand outdoorworkstations.

Set beside Edgars Creek Reserve, 11-hectares of revitalised natural corridor with a 2.7 kilometre walking and cycling loop, 28 Greengate offers a strong

connection to green space, where workers can step outside, recharge in nature and enjoy a workplace that supports both wellbeingandbusiness.

Local investor Emre said: “28 Greengate offers the kind of premium office environment you’d usually only find in the CBD, but in a nature-rich location that’s right in the heart of Melbourne’s north.”

“The convenience of being surrounded by nature, health, retail and transport infrastructureoffersagreatsetup.

“For me, strata ownership means I can secure an asset that will grow in value over time, while also supporting local businesses by being part of a growing,

connectedcommunity.”

PositionedbesidetheNewEppingHealth Hub and a future Civic Heart precinct of retail and public spaces, and with Pacific EppingShoppingCentrearoundthecorner, daily convenience is at your fingertips. Strong transport connections place the city and surrounding suburbs within easy reach, while being part of a networked community of like-minded organisations offers collaboration, referrals and new opportunities.

Interested in owning an office at 28 Greengate?Registeryourinteresttoday.

*Based on a research report by Urbis commissionedbyRiverlee

An artist’s impression of 28 Greengate. (Pictures: Supplied)

TechnologyOne is changing the game for councils

Imagesofdevastatedpropertyarebecoming an increasing feature of news outlets in communities across the country.

Uprooted trees on buildings, carparks with rows of battered vehicles, smashed windows, flooded local shops and homes–even loss of life is increasingly common.

Last month, it was NSW and southern Queensland battered by severe hail and thunderstorms through northern parts of Melbourne and what was described as the most significant storm event on record in Port Pirie in South Australia.

In Sydney and the Central Coast, the hottest October on record was punctuated by sudden and record-breaking wind, rain and hail.

All over Australia, what were once one in 50-year weather events – or even the type of event usually associated with in the tropic –have become more and morefrequent.

Fortunately, technology has progressed as climate uncertainty has increased. It is now possible, for example, to have such a detailed and granular view of all the assets and infrastructure in a community that the individual trees at highest risk of falling can be identified in minutes after a storm warning.

And, furthermore, to get individual messages to the residents most likely to be affected.

So why is not every council doing this?

Firstly, budgets are desperately tight. An aging community putting pressure on the cost of services and rate capping constraining revenue have them in a fiscal pincer.

Secondly,thecostofkeepingalivetheold, legacy technology running their operations is growing more and more, and delivering less and less of the services residents have a

right to now expect.

Some, however, are showing there is a path through.

Central Coast Council in NSW recently partnered with Australian tech giant TechnologyOne to completely replace business systems it had relied on for more than 20 years.

Thenewsystemswillnotonlydeliverhuge internal operational savings – automating processes that today take hours of council

stafftime–itwillsupportthecitizenfocused services that communities increasingly will not be able to do without.

But the icing on the cake is that the Councilwillpaylessforthetechnologythan it is presently paying for its outdated and inadequate mishmash of overseas software products.

Notjustsaveasmallamount–itbelievesit willsave$2.4millionofpreciousratepayers’ money.

The combination of TechnologyOne’s unique pricing model, which does not charge separately for implementation –the heart of the tech wreck horror stories councils so desperately need to avoid –and the reality that system modernisation can save money from day one, is changing the game for councils considering digital transformation.

And not a moment too soon for residents.

Out and about

Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing events and people across the north and north-west. Keep an eye on this new weekly section for faces you may know.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors

10 years ago 8 December, 2015

An independent wildlife expert has called on the state government to cull kangaroos in growth corridors before housingdevelopmentsoccur.

7 years ago 11 December, 2018

Whittlesea mayor Lawrie Cox has declaredhisconfidenceincouncilchief executive Simon Overland, despite him beingembroiledinaRoyalCommission into Victoria Police’s recruitment of a lawyerasaninformant.

5 years ago 8 December, 2020

Hume and Whittlesea residents are being urged to be prepared for a potential grassfire-dominated fire season.

1 year ago 10 December, 2024

Itwasduringoneofherbusinessclasses that 35-year-old Hiba Fathi first felt the rush of entrepreneurism, which later morphed into a dream of opening her owneatery-’DustyCoffee’.

Bronwyn Tacey and Jane Goodall are gearing up for the Gisborne carols. (Damjan Janevski) 519960_05

Woodend Neighbourhood House’s Helen Edwards and Melissa Baker are feeling festive. (Damjan Janevski) 519286_03

Lalor Neighbourhood House’s Hala Saba (front), Priyanka Tauchoony, Amsitpal Sinngh, Katherine Walsh, Santa, Damian Richardson, Bridget Runganga and Jason Tran are counting down to Christmas. (Damjan Janevski) 519634_03

Hume sustainability star Amy Sledziona. (Damjan Janevski) 516522_02

Hume Men’s Shed members Gino Merlo, Anthony AJ Magaton and president Bruce Tripptree. (Damjan Janevski) 514750_05

Amira Safi, Abrad, Rabiha Safi, Wadad Hassoz and Intisar Tamimi at a Golden Years Festival event. (Damjan Janevski) 513345_03

PUZZLES

ACROSS

1 Small hard seed in a piece of fruit (3)

3 Free from contradiction (10)

10 Animal cadaver (7)

11 Germane (7)

12 Extravagant (9)

13 Light globe (4)

15 Brightness (10)

17 Travel slowly to the airport terminal (4)

19 Greasy (4)

20 US science magazine, National – (10)

23 Molten rock (4)

25 Capital of Catalonia (9)

27 Suffer (7)

28 The travel industry (7)

29 As a whole (10)

30 Hearing organ (3)

1 Portable notebook (10)

2 Narrow-minded (9)

4 Stubborn (9)

5 Debonair (5)

6 Penman (6)

7 Kick out (5)

8 Long tooth (4)

9 Bondman (6)

14 Warning (10)

16 Rolled up tobacco and paper (9)

18 Ancient Greek goddess (9)

21 Thoroughfare (6)

22 Courting (6)

24 Assume (5)

25 Sheep’s cry (5)

26 Celebration (4)

No. 374

1 Which spice is derived from the flower of Crocus sativus?

2 What is the northernmost capital city in the world?

3 Jack Black (pictured) plays which children’s author in the Goosebumps series of films?

4 True or false: jelly babies were originally known as 'unclaimed babies'?

or

7 What does the ‘E’ stand for in BASE jumping?

8 Mickey Mantle is best known for playing which sport?

9 What is the name of Linus’ sister in the Peanuts comics?

10 Who wrote the novel Crime and Punishment?

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication

HUME U3A

Health and Wellbeing as you age is Hume U3A’s FOCUS. Join the community and engage in activities that enrich your body, mind and spirit. The doors are open at the Gladstone Park Community Centre, 13 South Circular Road. Gladstone Park.

 9330 3239 or secretary@humeu3a.org.au

Gladstone Park Probus Club

Have fun with like minded people if you live in Gladstone Park and surrounding suburbs. Monthly speakers, lunches, outings and bus tours. The probus club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 9.45am at the Good Shepherd Parish Hall, 88 South Circular Road, Gladstone Park. Visitors and new members welcome.

 Chris, 0422 017 907

Bundoora Probus

Bundoora Probus meets on the second Wednesday of each month at St Peters Anglican Church Hall, Alma Road, Bundoora at 10am. Make new friends at excursions, lunches, coffee mornings, walks and craft sessions. Hear guest speakers at monthly meetings.

 Leanne, 0419 004 997

Community singing group

Join the Broadmeadows Community Singers on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. No previous experience needed, just a love of singing.

 Sonja, 0429 587 285

Chatty Cafe

Join Mill Park library’s Chatty Cafe for a coffee, tea, and biscuits and meet new friends. The cafe is open every Thursday, from 6.30-7.30pm, at 394 Plenty Road, Mill Park.

 https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/

Homestead Walking Group

Enjoy some fresh air, beautiful gardens and meet other locals. Volunteer leaders will meet at the Homestead Community and Learning Centre at 9.30am on Wednesdays for a 30-45 minute walk.

 https://tinyurl.com/2wbet35x

TAC L2P Program

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) L2P Program is a community-based program developed to assist eligible young Victorian learner drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 who do not have access to a supervising driver, or an appropriate vehicle to gain driving experience required for a probationary licence. Volunteer mentors needed.

 Cynthia Petridis, 0435 653 371

Broadmeadows Senior Citizens Club

The club meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and first Sunday of the month. It also has indoor carpet bowls, bingo, and snooker. Enjoy a dance between 7-11pm on the third Saturday of every month. All are welcome.

 Liz Munro, 0409 712 613, or lizmunro7@gmail.com

Craigieburn Toastmasters

Craigieburn Toastmasters supports community members in developing and practising their public speaking, leadership, and communication skills. It meets the first and third Thursday, from 7-9pm, at the Craigieburn Guide Hall, 33 Hamilton Street, Craigieburn.

Craigieburn education and community centre

Do you or someone you know need help learning English or understanding technology? Craigieburn Education and Community Centre is offering free beginner English and computer classes to eligible

residents. Small, relaxed and friendly classes, drop in and say hello at 20 Selwyn Avenue, Craigieburn.

 9308 1477 or www.craigieburn.org.au

Whittlesea Historical Society

The Whittlesea Historical Society welcomes anyone interested in the history of the City of Whittlesea area. A meeting schedule is available on the society’s website.

 www.whittleseahistoricalsociety.org.au

Indigenous Community Gardens

Westmeadows Indigenous Community Garden members are hosting a monthly open day on the first Saturday of each month, 11am-noon, to showcase the gardens at the corner Toora Drive and Redan Court. All are welcome.  Eva Mazzei, emmmazzei@gmail.com

Craigieburn Residents Association

Do you live in Craigieburn and wonder what’s happening about roads and facilities, or have a concern you’d like to raise so it can be addressed? Go along to the Craigieburn Residents Association and tell them about it. The association liaises with Hume council, as well as state and federal government organisations to get the job done. They also give annual donations to a local charity each year. They meet on the last Wednesday of the month at Selwyn House, Selwyn Avenue, Craigieburn, 7.30pm.

 craigieburnresidents@gmail,com, or 0401 369 311

Menergise men’s walk and talk

Every Thursday from 7pm, starting at the Mernda Neighbourhood House. A nightly walk for men to get some exercise and

shoot the breeze in the breeze.

 0475 454 133

Senior citizens meet

The Gladstone Park Senior Citizens Club regularly meets for games of bingo, carpet bowls and a chat over a cuppa, at the corner of Carrick and Elmhurst drives, Gladstone Park.

 Liz, 0433 249 995

Craigieburn Probus Club

Craigieburn Probus Club offers retired people an opportunity to socialise, go on monthly bus trips, enjoy dine outs and morning melodies among other activities like general business, morning tea and an interesting speaker. Every second Monday of the month at the Craigieburn Bowling Club, 233 Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn.

 Bill, 0411 517 217, or Marion, 0407 052 774

Mernda Repair Cafe

Located at Mernda Neighbourhood House, the Mernda Repair Café will be open monthly for residents to come and have their faulty or broken items fixed. Staffed by skilled volunteers from the community. A range of repairers will be available at each session with skills in repairing items including bikes, small electrical items, clothing and jewellery.

 Mernda Repair Cafe Facebook page for bookings each month.

Regular storytime for kids

Yarra Plenty Regional Library offers a range of children’s services and programs across their network of libraries. They are run every day with sessions for young babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and families.

Come along to help your child develop those crucial language skills and social connections.

 yprl.vic.gov.au

Craft and Conversation

Craigieburn library is hosting a Wednesday weekly craft group, from 1-3pm, and everyone is welcome. Join the craft and conversation group and share your love of all things crafty. Bring your current project and make new friends.

 humelibraries.vic.gov.au

Little Diggers

Each week, Little Diggers provides creative craft activities and movement based games for children (eg: hide and seek, duck- duckgoose, grandmothers footsteps, charades etc.).Thursdays 3.30-5pm. Thomastown Library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown. Please note, children must be accompanied by a carer (16+).

 0488 224 439 or manager@tnh.org.au

All Seasons

All Seasons provides young adults living with disabilities and their friends, family and carers, with the opportunity to garden, craft, recycle, be creative and connect nature in a supportive setting. Tuesdays 10am-noon. Thomastown Library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown.

 0488 224 439 or manager@tnh.org.au

Recycled Teenagers Group for seniors Come and join the Recycled Teenagers every Tuesday between noon-3pm. Play Bingo, hold games days and enjoy monthly lunches. A $10 yearly fee, includes tea, coffee and afternoon tea every week.  Natasha, 0408 561 597

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Jan Batty with Christmas decorations outside her home in St Albans. (Damjan Janevski) 521123_01

Uplifting tales of recovery

A moving exhibition telling women’s stories of family violence recovery will have its first presentation in Melbourne’s westaspartoftheexhibition’sfinalseason.

“Black and White Exhibition – stories of the hearts reflected through diamonds” is a project initiative of Underneath My Umbrella’s founder and chief executive, Julie Kelly, and has previously exhibited in Upper Ferntree Gully, Forest Hill and Boronia.

The exhibition, which features photography and visual art, creates a thoughtful and reflective space that honours survivor resilience, sparks empathy, and strengthens community

understanding of abuse and healing.

Ms Kelly said the exhibition has been well-received.

“It’sreallyimpactedpeople,reallystirred them a lot. The stories are quite real … it’s presented in a way that people can still take it in,” Ms Kelly said.

Ms Kelly said the recovery journey for women who have experienced family violence is not often talked about.

“Often the women and children are left with mental health issues. It’s actually an ongoing process and ongoing journey for many women,” she said.

Ms Kelly said the impacts of family violencealsoimpactthewidercommunity.

Local Brimbank artist Shannon Meilak, who created 10 intimate photographic portraits for the exhibition, said it’s been an honour and privilege to contribute her work to the exhibition.

“Capturingtheseportraitsallowedmeto see the incredible resilience and courage in each woman,” Ms Meilak said.

“It’s a powerful testament to the strength of these women and a crucial step in supporting those who are healing. Ihopethatviewingtheseartworksinspires empathy and drives vital conversations about recovery and support.”

The free exhibition, supported by Brimbank council, will be showing from

Summer daze at Seaworks in Williamstown

SeaworksWilliamstownwillcomealiveon

Saturday 13 December, from 10am – 5pm, as BIG Summer Daze brings a full day of entertainment, market shopping, food, and family fun by the bay.

Perfect for those chasing last-minute gifts, the BIG Summer Daze Market will feature a vibrant mix of local makers, artists, designers, and creatives.

From handmade treasures to unique homewares and festive treats, there’s something for everyone and plenty of reasons to support the west’s incredible community of stallholders.

The entertainment line-up is set to thrill audiences of all ages, with roaming performances by the Giant Seagulls (hold onto your chips!), incredible aerial artistry from The Sway, the high-energy soul sounds of Sweethearts, and the crowd-favourite Super Amazing Dolphin Show is sure to leave everyone with a huge smile on their faces.

Visitorscanalsoenjoydeliciousofferings from a range of food trucks, while the Pirates Tavern will be open throughout the day.

Andofcourse,adayatSeaworkswouldn’t

be complete without a nod to maritime heritage.

A beautiful wooden boat display will be on show, celebrating the craftsmanship and seafaring history of Melbourne’s West.

BIG Summer Daze is a free community event supported by the Westgate Tunnel Neighbourhood Fund and will take place at Seaworks, a working maritime precinct on the Williamstown waterfront.

For more information about BIG Summer Daze and other upcoming events at Seaworks, visit: seaworks.com.au.

Friday 5 December until Monday 12 JanuaryatBrimbankGalleryandSunshine Library, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine.

The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. UnderneathMyUmbrellaisacommunity organisationdedicatedtoassistingwomen who have experienced domestic, family, sexual, or spiritual abuse.

The exhibition aims to educate the community, inspire action, and generate vital support for recovery programs.

Details: creativebrimbank.com.au

Lifeline: 13 11 14

1800Respect domestic family and sexual violence counselling service: 1800 737 732

Merry Melton movie night

TheMeltonLibrary&LearningHubis rollingouttheredcarpet(andmaybe a few booby traps) for its festive film night on Thursday 18 December with a special community screening of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The film kicks off at 5.45pm and runsto7.45pmwithfamilies,friends, and Christmas tragics alike invited to settle in for a night of laughs, nostalgia, and yuletide chaos. If you’ve ever worried about losing your keys, spare a thought for the McCallisters, who have once again managedtoloseKevin,provingsome Christmas traditions are harder to shake than fruitcake. This time, Kevin hops on the wrong flight and findshimselfinNewYorkCity,where he uses his dad’s credit card to check into the luxurious Plaza Hotel before running into his old enemies The Wet Bandits, who are back to cause more mischief than a naughty elf on a shelf.

This year’s screening is PG and open to all, so feel free to deck yourself out in your best Christmas gear - ugly sweaters, Santa hats, or even a pretend Talkboy if you’re feeling extra nostalgic are more than encouraged.

Bring along some snacks, cushions and picnic rugs to get comfy - just maybe leave the paint cans and micro-machines at home.

So, mark your calendars and jingle all the way to 31 McKenzie Street, because this festive flick is guaranteed to leave you laughing, gasping and feeling all the holiday heart.

Login with your library membership to book online at https://libraryevents.melton.vic.gov. au/event?id=176389

South Morang is on Santa’s list as the community prepares for carols

The festive season is set to shine bright in South Morang as Whittlesea prepares to host its annual Carols by Candlelight on Friday 12 December.

Running between 6pm and 9pm on the Civic Centre Lawns, the beloved community celebration is expected to draw hundreds of families for an evening of music, lights, and Christmas cheer.

The night will open with a lively performance from Team Dream, whose energetic Christmas show promises plenty of fun for children and parents alike.

More than 70 singers and musicians

from across the region will then take to the stage as thew Community Carols Choir and Diamond Valley Brass Band come together to perform a collection of classic Christmas tunes.

Headliner Glenn Starr will close the evening with a feel-good set of festive favourites, offering smooth vocals and plenty of holiday warmth to round out the night.

Alongside the music, families can expect to enjoy free activities to the likes of face-painting, craft workshops and roving entertainment, with Santa Claus himself scheduled to make a special

appearance at 8pm.

Mayor Martin Taylor said the event remains a highlight of the city’s festive calendar.

“Carols by Candlelight is one of those special events that truly captures the spirit of our community,” he said.

“It’s a night full of warmth, laughter and song, and a wonderful way to wrap up the year.”

Residents are encouraged to pack a picnic rug, gather friends and family, and enjoy food from on-site trucks.

The free event will be held at 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang

Crowd favourites, Super Amazing Dolphin Show, will perform at BIG Summer Daze at Seaworks, Williamstown on 13 December. (Supplied)

Whittlesea’s Carols by Candlelight come to South Morang Friday 12 December. (Supplied)

PLANNING SCHEME

Notice of the preparation of an amendment to a planning scheme Amendment C287wsea Overview

The amendment proposes to apply the Heritage Overlay (HO205) to part of the land at 1470 Plenty Road, Mernda on a permanent basis. The proposed amendment will provide permanent protection to conserve a heritage place of local aesthetic and historic significance.

For further details, refer to the explanatory report about the amendment.

Details of the amendment

The City of Whittlesea planning authority has prepared Amendment C287wsea to the Whittlesea Planning Scheme.

The land affected by the amendment is 1470 Plenty Road, Mernda.

The amendment proposes to

• Amend the Schedule to Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay) to include HO205.

•Amend Planning Scheme Map No. 13HO to apply the Heritage Overlay HO205 to part of the land at 1470 Plenty Road, Mernda.

•Amend the Schedule to Clause 72.04 (Incorporated Documents) to include the statement of significance for 1470 Plenty Road, Mernda.

You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment, free of charge, at:

•the Department of Transport and Planning website www.planning.vic.gov.au/public-inspection or by contacting 1800 789 386 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation.

•the City of Whittlesea website at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/building-planning- development/ planning-scheme-and-amendments/ and

•on request, during office hours, at the office of the planning authority, City of Whittlesea Civic Centre, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang, 3752 by contacting 9217 2170 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation.

Any person may make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment and the application. Submissions must be made in writing giving the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the amendment and/or application are supported or opposed and indicating what changes (if any) the submitter wishes to make.

Name and contact details of submitters are required for planning authority to consider submissions and to notify such persons of the opportunity to attend planning authority meetings and any public hearing held to consider submissions.

The closing date for submissions is 16 January 2026. A submission must be sent to Chief Executive Officer

Whittlesea City Council

Locked Bag 1 Bundoora MDC 3083

Orstrategic.planning@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

The planning authority must make a copy of every submission available at its office and/or no its website for any person to inspect free of charge until the end of the two months after the amendment comes into operation or lapses.

Craig Lloyd Chief Executive Officer

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Which team did North Melbourne defeat to win the 2025 AFLW Premiership?

2. Australian athlete Nicola Olyslagers competes in which track and field event?

3. US-born AFL player Mason Cox is set to play

4. Perth Thundersticks defeated which team to win the 2025 Women’s Hockey One Grand Final?

5. Which AFL team did Ross Lyon coach first in his senior coaching career?

6. Which Spanish golfer won the 2025 Australian PGA Championship?

HC Melbourne defeated which team to win the Men’s 2025 Hockey One Grand Final?

R360 is a proposed international competition showcasing which team

Eli Katoa plays for which NRL club?

Idrissa Gueye was sent off during a match against Manchester United for slapping which Everton teammate?

Argentina has lodged a formal complaint against which England rugby union player for alleged bad behaviour?

12. What is the name of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s iconic WWE elbow drop move?

13. Which F1 team had two drivers disqualified from the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix?

14. What happened for the first time in 104 years during a recent Ashes Test match between England and Australia?

15. Former basketball player Luc Longley part-owns which two NBL teams?

16. Performed by many athletes before major events, what does the term ‘tapering’ refer to in sports training?

17. The domed Macquarie Point Stadium has been proposed for which Australian city?

18. In which year did Mike Tyson infamously bite Evander Holyfield’s ear during a boxing match?

19. Waldi, the first ever Olympic mascot, was created for which Olympic Games?

20. And what type of animal was Waldi?

21. What was the nationality of F1 driver Ayrton Senna?

22. What is the name of the track by Blur that is featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 98?

23. Which team won the very first AFLW premiership in 2017?

24. Stephen Amell starred in a TV show called Heels, which is about which sport?

25. Tarni Brown, who recently retired, played for which two AFLW teams?

26. True or false: in gymnastics, women compete in the pommel horse event?

27. In the NBL, how long is an offensive player allowed to stay in the key?

28. Which sport features in the movie Inside Out 2?

29. The Washington Nationals play in which league?

30. How many times has Ronnie O’Sullivan won the World Snooker Championships?

Ronnie O'Sullivan Mike

Flawed but impressive MG

By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring

Wow. MG’s Cyberster is a knockout.

You can see why the company lavished so much time and money developing a car that realistically few people will buy.

The Cyberster (great name) provides a direct link between the modern Chinese company and the storied British manufacturerfromwhichittakesitsname.

It’s a modern interpretation of a very old idea, based on such classics from the company’s past as the famous MGB sports car from the 1960s.

MG says Cyberster isn’t just here to be another car, it’s here to make a statement and continue to propel the legacy of MG into the modern era, with discrete badges that celebrate its 100th anniversary.

As impressive as it is, however, the fully electric roadster is not without its flaws.

Styling

Believe it or not there’s actually two versionsofthecar,althoughtheybothlook exactly the same. In April this year MG added a cheaper, less powerful, rear wheel drive version, presumably for those who like the style but who don’t feel the need to compete with Ferrari.

Cyberster RWD is priced from $115,000; CybersterAWDfrom$129,000–bothprices before on-road costs.

Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line twin-motor, high performance all-wheel drive model finished in Diamond Red Metallic.

StandardkitintheAWDincludes20-inch alloys, Alcantara leather trim, two-zone climate air, heated power-adjust seats (but not cooled), a heated steering wheel, sporty metal pedals, ambient lighting and sun visors with a mirror and illumination.

There’s also LED lights front and back, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, autohighbeam,andfrontandrearparking sensors.

There are six colours from which to choose: English White, Sterling Silver Metallic, Camden Grey Metallic, Mayfair Blue Metallic, Royal Yellow Premium and Diamond Red Metallic. They can be teamed with a red or black cloth roof.

English White is the only colour that does not incur a charge. Sterling Silver Metallic, Camden Grey Metallic, and Mayfair Blue Metallic add $1000 to the price.RoyalYellowPremiumandDiamond Red Metallic $1200.

There are also two interior colour options: Century Red is standard; Victory Grey adds $1000.

Cyberster is covered by a 10-year/250,000km warranty and that includes the battery.

However, the convertible roof is only warranted for five years.

Infotainment

Infotainment comes in the form of two 7.0-inchtouchscreenswhichflankacentral driver 10.25-inch centre screen. The two smaller screens are partially obscured by the steering wheel most of the time and being small are difficult to operate on the move.However,theycanalsobecontrolled from the two unlabelled buttons on the wheel. It’s a learning experience.

Dark mode works best, especially in bright sunlight which makes them hard to see.

There’s Bluetooth, voice control, FM and DAB+ digital radio (but no AM), satellite navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and AndroidAutoandeightspeakerBoseaudio for both grades.

Access to connected services is free for 12 months.

USB-A and -C ports are provided as well asa12-voltoutletintheboot(Notsurewhy – the car fridge isn’t going to fit).

Safety

Cybersterremainsunratedforcrashsafety.

It is fitted with four airbags and a 360-degree camera, blind spot monitor, as well as Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction & Crossing, Backover and Head-On).

There’s also a lane support system with lane keep assist, with lane departure warning,emergencylanekeepingandrear cross-traffic alert with braking, plus an advanced speed assistance system with a speed sign recognition system.

Andgetthis,dooropenwarningprevents the doors from being opened into the path of an oncoming vehicle or cyclist. Firstly, they’re too slow and secondly, they go up, not out? LOL.

Engines/transmissions

The two electric motors in the AWD model generate a total 375kW of power and 725Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0 to 100km/h in a supercar 3.2 seconds, with a top speed that is limited to 208km/h. RWD is rated at 250kW and 475Nm, with 0-100km/h taking 5.2 seconds (199km/h top speed). Not to be sneezed at.

Driving

Built on the same platform as the MG4, Cyberster is 4.5 metres long and weighs in at 1985kg.

One of the more eye-catching features of this two-seater is its electric, scissor-style doors.

They are what turn it from a sports car into a fully-fledged, electric supercar. It just had to have them (red upholstery too).

Unfortunately, the doors are also Cyberster’s main weak point. Although they look sensational, they are totally impractical when it comes to day-to-day use.

Gettinginandoutislaborious,especially if you forget something and have to open the car again.

What’s more, as we discovered, they don’t actually work if the car is parked on

putting the boot into their new Ferrari and Lamborghini, only to wrap the car around the nearest power pole, stunned by the sudden response of the accelerator.

Just saying.

Theseatsarecomfortableandsupportive once you’re in, but the dash feels a little cramped and busy. The right screen is wasted.

UnlikeotherMGs,theblinkersareonthe left which is kind of understandable, given that it is probably targeted at the American market.

RATINGS

Looks: 8

Performance: 8.5

Safety: 7

Thirst: 7

Practicality: 5

Comfort: 7

Tech: 7.5

Value: 9

Overall: 7.4

a slope. Yep. They open a few centimetres, but that’s as far as they go.

WTF? The first time it happened we were perplexed. What to do? How to get out?

Should we call for help?

Somedeepbreathslater,wedecidedthat brute force was called for and using both hands we were able to push the doors far enough upwards to get out. However, it required force to close them again and we were concerned this operation could damagethem,althoughthistimewehad the advantage of leverage.

Older or infirm folk might find this task beyond them. How come this anomaly wasn’t picked up in the research and development phase?

We’ve been to factories where robotic armsopenandclosedoors24/7,thousands oftimesadayforweekstoensurereliability. The doors don’t always respond to the key fob either.

Also of note, your seatbelt must be fastened or the car will not move off when you put it in Drive. Great idea, but highly impractical in execution.

This combined with the clumsy doors made positioning the car for our photo shoot extremely difficult.

Still, Cyberster is a head turner and heaps of fun to drive – easy or flat out.

The roof is made of cloth and takes 15 seconds to raise or lower and this can be accomplished at speeds of up to 50km/h. When dropped it does not impinge on boot space which at 249 litres is surprisingly large.

There’s also a bit of storage behind the seats.

A puncture repair kit is provided.

Convertibles are great fun, especially in Spring or Autumn, but you can forget dropping the roof in summer because it’s too damn hot.

Incasethingsarealittlelibrary-likewith the top up, you can tell the sound system to generate a traditional engine note or a more futuristic electric sound.

Of course, there’s always music to fall back on and the car is equipped with eight-speaker Bose audio, but sadly we couldn’t get any sound out of the system.

Cybesterisalotofcarandinexperienced drivers could easily get themselves into trouble.

There’s plenty of examples of drivers

Over the shoulder vision is terrible with the roof up and it is also difficult to see the extremities ofthecar,butcamerasareprovided to compensate for this.

Disconcertingly, the reverse camera displays to the right of the steering wheel, instead of centre of dash.

The 360-degree camera is so tiny however that it is almost useless –day or night.

Ridequalityisquitegoodoverall, but can become a bit unsettled on back roads.

A low centre of gravity and sticky Pirelli rubber sees the car corner flat with plenty of mid-corner grip.

However, undulations in the road can really unsettle the suspension (the driver too), suddenly snapping the car sideways. The regenerative brakes are discs all round, with Brembo calipers up front, but braking could be stronger.

They don’t quite give the driver the confidence to go really hard into corners. That said the car more than makes up for this on the way out.

The driver-assist systems work okay, with the usual caveats, but the car slows unnecessarily on bends with cruise active.

Range for the AWD is 443km; the RWD 507km, under the widely accepted WLTP test procedure.

With energy consumption rated at 19.1 kWh/100km, we were getting 19.4 kWh/100km after about 300km of driving, some of them pretty quick.

During this period the car reportedly recovered 21.6 kWh of energy from regenerative braking, believe it or not?

The button on the left of the steering wheel labelled KERS can be used to modulatethelevelofbraking,rightdownto one-pedaldrivingwhereitisnotnecessary to physically apply the brakes.

The red button on the right selects drive mode: Comfort, Sport, or Custom, or Super Sport. Comfort mode is fine and the one in which we spent most time. Be careful with the latter.

There’s Launch mode too for impressing the neighbours, in case they aren’t impressed already.

Both models are fitted with a 77kWh ternary lithium-ion battery.

Recharging can be performed in as little as 34 minutes with the right DC fast charger.

But this is from 30-80 per cent which leaves you 50 percent out of pocket.

ThreephaseACpowertakesninehours–that’s to 100 per cent. The supplied granny charger is good for 144 hours.

Summing up

Bravo. What a great effort.

The price is a bargain for this type of car too and it could well become a collectable item in years to come.

But the tech already feels a little dated and those scissor doors need some work.

Whoever signed off on them has rocks in their head, or doesn’t have a job anymore.

The Cyberster is here to make a statement. (Pictures: Supplied)

Local sports people were again greeted with rain on Saturday as they were keen to get out on the fields, greens and pitches. While many matches were called off on Saturday, others went ahead. Star Weekly photographer LJUBICA VRANKOVIC managed to find some of the action.

Weather again the story

Harkness had a tough day in the field. 522509_19

Diggers Rest Bulla have fun on the bench. 522509_25

Macedon Ranges Rockies’ Hakaraia Tahi. 522496_42

Macedon Ranges Rockies’ Matthew Merrett. 522496_48

Riddell’s Jarvis Boland. 522511_02

Macedon Ranges Rockies pre-game. 522496_10

Riddell comes together on Saturday. 522511_07

The Western Crusaders in action. 522498_35

The Western Crusaders celebrate a score. 522498_09

Western Crusaders’ Joseph Donaghy. 522498_54

Hume City locks in pieces

By Tara Murray

Hume City has strengthened its squad as it prepares for next year’s National Premier League season.

Hume has announced four signings over the past couple of weeks, adding talent across the park.

New Zealand defender Taylor Schrijvers has signed multi year deal.

The highly regarded 28-year-old arrives in Broadmeadows with extensive experienceatthetoplevelinNewZealand,aswell as strong performances across the NPL.

“I’m really excited to get started at Hume City FC. It’s a big club and I’m really happy to be here,” Schrijvers said.

“There were a few reasons behind the

decision, but ultimately I just want to get back out there. Hume has consistently been a top-six side, and I want to be part of a team pushing for finals football and competing for silverware.

“I believe this club is capable of winning a trophy, and I hope I can play a part in helping us get there.”

Young midfielder Aiki Tsukamoto joins Hume from the Eastern Lions having spent the majority of his development at A-League club Perth Glory.

“It’s a great challenge for me and I want to prove myself at this level,” Tsukamoto said.

“My hope is to achieve as much as possible. Hume City is a big club and the expectation is to win. With the squad we

have, I think we can do that. If I can play a part in that success, I’ll be very happy.”

“I’m still young, but I don’t want to waste any time. I want to kickstart my career at this great club and achieve all the goals I can.”

John Paikopoulos is another signing who has been through the A-League pathway system, joining the club from Melbourne Victory’s youth system where he made his NPL debut last season.

“Signing with Hume City FC is a big deal for me as I am coming to an established and developed club,” Paikopoulos said.

“Nick Hegarty and all the boys here are very determined to win and play well together, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I hope to develop as a player and as a

El Achkar is living the dream as a Bomber

By Tara Murray

Hussien El Achkar may have spent plenty of time at Essendon but it’s still settling in that he is now an AFL player at the club.

The Essendon Next Generation Academy player was the fifth and final player taken by the Bombers in the recent drafts.

Having trained at the club the past 12 months, he has spent time with most of the playing group.

“It doesn’t feel real, it’s been a couple of days now which is pretty cool,” he said at the club days after being drafted.

“I’ve still got to pinch myself to know if that has happened, it’s pretty cool.”

Draft week was a big week for El Achkar.

On night one of the draft he was at the house of best mate and fellow Essendon Next Generation Academy member, Adam Sweid.

With the Bombers not matching a bid from Fremantle, Sweid’s football future was on the other side of the country.

The pair were then side by side the fol-

lowing night at El Achkar’s house as he waited to find if he would find out whether he would be drafted.

This time round the Bombers matched a bid from Richmond to lock in the forward.

El Achkar said he was on edge all day as he didn’t know whether the Bombers would match any bid for him.

“The whole family was there [night one] and he [Sweid] got picked by Freo, pretty big night,” he said.

“Then Thursday at my house was pretty big as well. Both our dreams came true on both nights so it worked out pretty well.

“It still doesn’t feel quite right that he is at Freo. I think once the season starts running we’ll both know at different clubs.”

On both nights there was a big bunch of family and friends for the two Calder Cannons and Pascoe Vale teammates.

One eager onlooker during the drafts was Bomber forward and now teammate Isaac Kako

The crafty forward had already taken El Achkar under his wing.

person, while also getting the most out of training and contributing to the games as much as possible.

Former Newcastle Jets player Moonib Adus as its latest addition for the upcoming season.

Boasting an impressive junior career, Adus began with the Newcastle Jets’ youth team before breaking into the senior squad at the start of 2023.

The 22-year-old played for Oakleigh Cannons this year.

“I’ve been wanting to sign with this club for a while now,” he said. “I feel like the way Hegs (Nick Hegarty) wants to play coincides with my playing style, while I also really like the pitch as its large size suits my style.”

Sports shorts

EDFL

Tullamarine has signed Summa McIntosh for the Essendon District Football League women’s season. McIntosh makes the switch from Roxburgh Park where she finished third in the best and fairest this year.

“A genuine goal-kicking threat, she’s known for her fierce tackles, relentless drive and ability to break lines with her run-and-carry whilst bringing some flair to each game,” the Demons said on social media.

FV

Danny Barakat will coach the Uni Hill Eagles in the FV state league 2 north-west season. Barakat brings elite experience and a winning mentality as a two-time championship player, and league best and fairest winner. He took over as player-coach mid-season in 2025 with the side having just one loss in 17 games and the side narrowly missing out on promotion.

Premier Cricket

Greenvale Kangaroos fell short in its Victorian Premier Cricket T20 match against Northcote on Saturday. The Kangaroos first match of the day against Carlton was abandoned due to rain with the Blues 2-29. The rain cleared enough for the second round of matches to get underway. The Kangaroos made 8-146 from their 20 overs with Prabhnoor Bhalla top scoring with 38. Northcote finished 3-148 in reply. There is another round of T20 double headers this Saturday.

FV

“It still feels so surreal coming in with Kak” El Achkar said “I picked him up today [Wednesday]

“Him presenting my jersey [for the Cannons] and hopefully playing on the same ground next year.”

El Achkar said both the Panthers and Cannons have had a big impact on his career.

As has the Bachar Houli Foundation.

Houli, a three-time AFL premiership player, has been among the well wishers.

“He said now the hard work starts,” he said. “This is the easy part.”

El Achkar, who said he went straight to bed after the first day of training, said he was excited to get to work.

“[It’s about] getting used to it and starting training well,” he said. ”Get used to all the boys and get used to the intensity that’s the start and come back from Christmas up and running.

“All the boys are similar age which is pretty good and we all know each other, so good can’t wait for next year.”

Whittlesea Ranges has announced its coaching line up for next year’s FV state league 2 north-west season. Nik Kovacevic will coach the side with Zoran Kitanovski and Anthony Boschini named his assistant coaches. “Nik and Zoran with over 15 years of coaching experience each bring a wealth of knowledge from their time in both NPL and VPL competitions,” the Ranges said. “ Between them, notably they’ve achieved seven promotions over that time. Anthony is entering his 15th year at Ranges.”

FOR MORE SPORT VISIT

Web: starweekly.com.au

Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Hussien El Achkar and Isaac Kako. (Supplied)

Big summer for Raiders

By Tara Murray

For the first time in three seasons, it won’t be a complete unknown for Old Paradians as they enter the Northern Football League season.

The Raiders’ two seasons ago were preparing for their first in the division 3 competition and after winning the premiership were straight up into division 2.

Having done enough to stay up in division 2, the Raiders have the opportunity to build on what they’ve done the past couple of years.

“We learned a lot in division 2,” coach Ben Turner said. “The group was capable and we might be able to fast track that with the type of guys we were keen to get in front of and secure.

“Both seasons were great unknowns but we start the season with familiarly with 95 per cent of them.

“We start the season in a better position than last year and hopefully we’re a chance to be competitive at the back of the year, which we were this year.”

The Raiders have been one of the biggest movers in the off season with a number of key signings.

Turner said they could have never imagined the signings falling into place like they have when they first started talking to players.

“It’s been a pretty productive off season,” he said.

“There were some players that we were targeting but I don’t any of us anticipated it would fall into place.

“One of the things we wanted to target was experience.”

The coaching group leant into the big network of Parade College and went from there.

Turner said while you don’t have to have gone to the college, it was a good starting point for them.

And it paid off.

Former Victorian Football League player Josh Iacobaccio joins the club from West Preston. He captained the Parade school football team in the past and is now a teacher at the school.

Jesse and Mitch Kane cross from Heidelberg.

Both have played in different 1 premierships and bring plenty of experience.

Bebbere picked by Boston in draft dream

By Tara Murray

Wollert’s Allie Bebbere would have regretted had she not put her hand up for the first-ever Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) draft.

Players from across the world nominated for the draft which occurred on 21 November with five teams selecting their squads for the new competition.

Bebbere was the only Victorian who made the draft pool. She was taken by Boston in round four, pick 17.

“It was so exciting,” she said. “I’m rapt and it’s very hard to describe how I’m feeling.

“I’m really excited.”

Bebbere said she was fairly confident of hearing her name called out in the draft with 150 players vying for 120 spots.

She said while the odds were in her favour, she did get nervous as the draft progressed and she hadn’t heard her name. When it was finally read out, there were plenty of cheers from those who had gathered at Doncaster to watch.

There were 600 people who nominated for the draft.

Players could send through videos to clubs or decide to go over and trial.

Bebbere decided to head to America.

“There were 15 or so nominated from Victoria and then there were players from other states,” she said.

“I know four Australians who went over to trial.

“If I went over and did and didn’t get past the first day, at least I gave it a go. If I did a video and didn’t make it for the rest of my life I would have been thinking what if.”

Bebbere said she never imagined in her playing lifetime that there would be this sort of opportunity.

She said when it did come up it was one that was too good to refuse for a sport that has played such a big role in her life.

“There’s a natural hunger and competitiveness that you have to give it a go,” she said.

“It’s the next big thing in baseball and it would mean the world to do,

“I work a full time job and then baseball

Adam and Daniel Valeri, are also former Parade students.

Adam joins the Raiders from West Preston Lakeside where he is a two-time premiership player.

Connor McDonald joins the club from Tooleybuc-Manangatang in the Central Murray league, where he captained the club and has managed to take home back-to-back league best and fairests.

Ben Bisset joins from Pyramid Hill where he kicked 74 goals from centre half forward this year.

Turner said they were yet to set expectations for next year and would let things take shape before getting to that point.

“At this stage we’re hoping to be better than 2026.”

Rain causes havoc for DVCA

Rain again marred the latest round of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association shield competitions on Saturday.

The last two-day round before the Christmas break had players reporting to grounds, but many didn’t get out on the pitch due to rain on Saturday.

In the Barclay Shield, Epping and Diamond Creek got 46 overs of action in their match.

Diamond Creek finished the day at 4-76.

Daniel Bramich has two wickets for Epping so far.

Bundoora United is also fielding first in its match with Rosanna. The Bulldogs won the toss and sent in Rosanna which finished day one at 6-114.

Scott Barnett has three wickets for the Bulldogs.

Bundoora’s match with Rosebank is now a one-dayer after day one was washed out.

In the Money Shield, there was no action in Mernda’s match with Greensborough which will now also become a one-dayer.

It’s the same story for Lalor Stars match with Plenty with rain meaning there was no start on Saturday.

In the Mash Shield, Rivergum had a good day with the bat against Dennis.

for 25 hours a week either playing or training.

“I was married on a baseball ground.”

While it’s baseball where Bebbere made her name, it was softball where she started.

She met her now husband at a softball ground in Mill Park.

Bebbere followed him along to watch him play baseball and the rest of history.

While Bebbere has made the squad, there’s still work to do.

Only 15 of the 30 players selected will get a contract.

Bebbere said she’d had a lot of support on the journey from within the baseball community, especially the women’s baseball community.

“We’re in the middle of our summer season which is our biggest season of the year,” she said.

“There’s trials for the Victorian team and then trials for the Australian team and hopefully I’ll make that.

“I’m always honing my skills and improving my fielding.I want to stay fit and active and keep the fitness up.”

The Kookas had contributors throughout the order with James Bonnici (55) and James Gilmour (59) both scoring half centuries as they look to continue their strong start to the season.

Meanwhile, Thomastown United is in trouble against Hurstbridge. The Kookaburras were bowled out for 134 in the 44th over.

Riley Patterson finished with 62 but was the only player to pass 20. Hurstbridge was 2-66 at stumps. Thomastown is 5-130 in its match with Keon Park.

Shoaib Khan continued his good form as he top scored with 45.

South Morang and Laurimar’s match along with Mill Park and Lower Eltham’s matches are now one-dayers after day one was washed out.

The DVCA summer smash competition will also be in action on Tuesday night.

Allie Bebbere. (Baseball.com.au/Izzy Lilburn)