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TUESDAY, 6 JANUARY, 2026

YEAR IN REVIEW... STORIES OF THE YEAR Moorabool councillor Paul Tatchell. (Supplied)

Frustration boils Melton and Moorabool councils laid bare their frustrations with the state and federal governments in 2025, fighting for vital road upgrades and rallying against dumped rubbish. Ahead of the federal election in May, Melton council launched a campaign calling for upgrades to the Western Highway between Caroline Springs and Melton, and electrification of the Melton rail line. Three years earlier, council had made a similar plea. But despite thousands of new residents moving into the area in that time, no funding had been delivered.

Council said years of underinvestment has led to aged, rural standard, congested, and unsafe roads. The advocacy paid off, with the federal government committing $1 billion to upgrade the Western Highway between Melton and Caroline Springs. With the upgrade secured, council turned its attention to the electrification of the Melton line and the construction of new stations at Mt Atkinson, Thornhill Park and Calder Park. It’s advocacy around those projects was unsuccessful. In May, Moorabool council took aim at

the state government’s “cruel” Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund, which it said would impact farmers already facing hardship caused by drought. The fund passed parliament on 16 May – with some amendments aimed at helping farmers – as a replacement for the Fire Services Levy. Moorabool then turned its attention to the Environment Protection Authority in July after it was slapped with a clean-up notice, ordering it to remove about 1000 to 1250 dissolved acetylene cylinders on pallets in two trailers parked on the nature strip of 210 Lerderderg Park Road, Merrimu.

Council applied to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a stay on the order, but the request was denied. Council argued it should not be responsible for the clean-up – and associated costs which were estimated to be about $500,000 – because the illegal dumper of the toxic waste had been under EPA surveillance since at least last year and “the EPA had failed to take action“. Council has since lobbied the state government to change legalisation to prevent councils from shouldering clean-up costs for waste dumped on their land.

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW ... NEWS

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Prioritising Leakes Road 1 April Melton council will seek further details on the Western Highway upgrades for works on Leakes Road in light of recent government funding commitments. The federal government and federal opposition committed $1.1 billion to upgrade the Western Highway between Caroline Springs and Melton, which council said had raised an opportunity for it to prioritise improvement on Leakes Road. Councillor Phillip Zada moved a motion at the March council meeting to seek clarity on the scope, timing, and prioriti-

sation of works on the Leakes Road-Western Highway interchange. Cr Zada also requests that councillors are prepared a briefing on the feasibility of installing a roundabout at the intersection of Westcott Parade and Leakes Road. “While the council has consistently advocated for the installation of traffic lights at this critical intersection, recent funding commitments for upgrades to the Western Highway present an opportunity to prioritise this long-overdue improvement,” Cr Zada said. Melton city delivery director Neil Whiteside told Star Weekly that council will

be engaging with the state government on works to be undertaken as part of the Western Highway upgrade, including the investment impact for the interchange. “Council is seeking further details on the Western Highway upgrades from both the federal and state governments, including the scope of works and delivery timeframes,” Mr Whiteside said. “Leakes Road carries approximately 14,500 vehicles per day, and traffic modelling commissioned by the council indicates that this will increase to over 22,700 vehicles per day by 2031. “With an additional 40,000 new resi-

dents expected to move into the area by 2046, the Leakes Road interchange will provide significant congestion and safety improvements.” Leakes Road advocacy group member, Donna Southern said it’s really important that residents are given the transparency to know what’s going on in regards to the upgrades. “It’s a matter of urgency that safety measures are applied on Leakes Road and we would like to see a response within the next couple of months.“

$25m pool splash 25 March

Phonsy and Bastian Mullan are world champions. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 457815_01

Melton father-son duo are world champs 11 February Melton father-and-son duo Phonsy and Bastian Mullan secured not one, but two world championship titles at the World Jetsprint Championship in Whanganui, New Zealand. Bastian, and his navigatorT ahleah Mullan, are the first world champions in the LS Class, a new class raced at the world championships this year. Bastian said despite the pressure he felt, he was confident with the “absolute rocketship of a boat”. Phonsy kept his Building King Super-

boat Class world champion title after a nail-biting run. Phonsy, and his navigator, Narelle Pellow-Djukic, recorded a run of 43.262 seconds, beating their opponent by only 0.6 seconds. Phonsy faced 22 boats from all over the world in his class, with three teams eliminated each round. By the top six, Phonsy’s boat was damaged, leaving him sure they weren’t going to make it to the finals. “With the water levels dropping, we took off crucial parts under our boat,” he said.

“Our team worked relentlessly to fix the boat in between the top six, and top three runs. Our competition had a brand-new boat, so we were against the odds. “We ran our original boat that was about three and a half years old.” Phonsy said world titles in the same event was a dream come true for himself and Bastian. “It was an absolutely amazing, and historical achievement for father and son to do it in the same team,” he said. “Winning the world titles, and winning it at the same time maybe was just the cherry on top, but that wasn’t our focus.”

Upgrade derailed as commuters miss out on nine-car trains 9 September Bacchus Marsh commuters will miss out on nine-car trains after a Melton line upgrade reshuffle. As reported by Star Weekly, in 2022, the state government pledged $650 million to upgrade the Melton train line, including a complete rebuild of Melton station, removing four level crossings and upgrading platforms to allow longer trains to run. This also included upgraded platforms at Bacchus Marsh, Cobblebank, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Ardeer sta-

tions to allow for longer nine-car trains. On August 29, the state government announced the project will be fast-tracked to be completed in 2027, with changes meaning platforms will only be extended at Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Rockbank and Cobblebank stations – with Bacchus Marsh and Ardeer dropped from the list. A new stabling yard will be built in Cobblebank instead of upgrading the existing yard in Maddingley. Star Weekly understands the government decided an upgraded Maddingley stabling yard that could facilitate nine-car services to

2 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

Bacchus Marsh would be redundant under future Melton Line electrification – as another stabling facility would have to be built at Cobblebank. According to the government, having the stabling yard at Cobblebank will allow trains to run straight from Melton to the city while also addressing the need for train stabling closer to Melton as part of Melton Line electrification. Bacchus Marsh will continue to be serviced by Wendouree and Ballarat six-car trains. V/Line will continue to use the Maddingley stabling yard.

Labor has pledged $25 million to build a long-awaited indoor pool in Bacchus Marsh if it is re-elected. A federal election is due to be held by late May. Hawke Labor MP Sam Rae announced the funding pledge for the indoor pool on 17 March . Moorabool council has committed $15 million for the project, while the state government has put forward $10 million. The pool will be part of the Mooraboo lAquatic and Recreation Centre in Taverner Street. Moorabool council and the community have been advocating for an indoor pool in Bacchus Marsh for a number of years. As reported by Star Weekly, Bacchus Marsh only has an outdoor pool, which is open in summer. Community advocacy group MooraPool formed in 2024 to urge the federal government to provide funding for the project. The project has repeatedly missed out on federal government grant funding. Mr Rae said this week’s funding pledge would be welcome news for Bacchus Marsh families. “This project is so important to the Bacchus Marsh community, and I’m thrilled that we’ve secured the funding to make it a reality,” he said. “This investment will ensure Bacchus Marsh has the pool facilities it needs for generations to come.” The indoor pool will provide essential services such as learn-to-swim, water safety, rehabilitation therapy, and recreational swimming, promoting health and wellbeing across the region, Mr Rae said. Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell welcomed the funding and called for the Liberal Party to match the commitment. “We have had a federal Labor election commitment on this project before so we are also asking the federal opposition to make the same commitment so our indoor pool will be built regardless of which party wins at the upcoming election,” he said. The Labor government pledged $7 million for the indoor pool in 2013 but that funding was cut under the following Coalition government. “This project is something council and the community have been advocating strongly for over many years,” Cr Tatchell said. “Council has already committed $15,000 to the project and the state government $10,000, so to receive the missing piece of the funding puzzle and see this become a reality would be fantastic for our community. It will help finally put the ‘aquatic’ into Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC).” The Liberal Party was contacted for comment

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VICSES volunteers, paramedics and members from Victoria Police at Lerderderg Gorge. (Supplied)

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Outdoor caution urged

A man was caught driving over five times the limit in Rockbank early New Year’s Day. The Toyota Camry Sedan caught the attention of patrolling police after they witnessed it veering from one side of the ride to the other, braking unnecessarily and going at a snail’s pace at 12.30am. Police pulled over the 36-year-old driver, with the Werribee man breathalysed, returning an alleged reading of .255. Officers impounded the man’s vehicle at a cost of $1014.98. The man’s license was immediately suspended for a period of 12 months, and he can expect to receive a summons for drink driving and other traffic offences.

ELV open day

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VICSES volunteers are urging locals and visitors to take extra care when bushwalking and hiking this summer, with a spike in tourism expected to place further pressure on rescue crews across the state. Since January last year, VICSES volunteers across the state have received more than 500 requests for assistance to help paramedics reach injured or incapacitated people in hard-to-access bushland, with many hurt while hiking, cycling or mountain bike riding. Closer to home, VICSES Bacchus Marsh Unit volunteers assisted paramedics and Victoria Police on 27 rescues last year, navigating difficult terrain and using specialist equipment such as single-wheel “mule” stretchers to safely transport patients to medical care. Volunteers were also involved in more than 150 technical rescues, often requiring complex, multi-agency rope operations in rugged terrain.

Popular destinations like Lerdederg State Park, the You Yangs, Cathedral Ranges and Werribee Gorge have been frequent trouble spots, while the Grampians and Mount Buffalo continue to generate call-outs all year-round. With holiday numbers expected to rise, volunteers are bracing for an increase in callouts, having already spent more than 3,000 hours statewide responding to similar incidents this financial year. VICSES Bacchus Marsh unit controller Mick Schembri said preparation was critical. “Our volunteers have seen first-hand the challenge our incredible landscape can pose to those underprepared,” he said. “Understanding your capabilities and taking necessary precautions helps everyone enjoy the outdoors safely.” Community members are encouraged to download the VicEmergency app and call 132 500 for VICSES assistance, or triple-0 in a life-threatening emergency.

Early Learning Victoria Murrum is hosting an open day on Monday 12 January 2026, 10am-2pm at 17 Pegasus Drive, Weir Views (co-located with Murrum Primary School). The open day will provide an opportunity to tour the centre, due to open in early 2026, and meet the skilled and experienced educators. Government-run, Early Learning Victoria Murrum offers welcoming and inclusive spaces that support learning and development for all. Find out about enrolling your child in 2026 at earlylearning.vic.gov.au/ murrum.

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NO ONE’S UNSINKABLE To all those Unsinkable Guys out there – You might think it’s safe to have a few drinks around water, skip the life jacket when you’re out on the boat or go for a swim without checking the conditions. But statistics prove that 4 out of 5 drownings are men. Just remember that no one’s unsinkable.

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW... COMMUNITY

On a wild goose chase 18 February There’s a ‘fowl’ plot at play in Caroline Springs, with a dramatic “quacking” mystery rapidly gaining momentum in the suburb. Earlier this year, the quiet waters of the Lakeside Reserve became the eerie setting for the head-scratching disappearance of its long-time residents – a flock of geese. Among the lost gaggle was beloved goose Frank, whose alleged snatching has left many with ruffled feathers. Soon after he disappeared, Caroline Springs locals started a petition to bring him back. “Frank, the local goose … has become a symbol of community spirit in Caroline Springs,” the petition reads. “The sudden disappearance of Frank is deeply felt across our community.” With more than 300 signatories supporting the call since, the prospect of seeing Frank’s familiar waddle continues to seem bleak. The ripples of the odd incident were also felt all the way to Spring Street. Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch raised the issue in parliament on February 6, calling on the environment minister to investigate Frank’s unexplained absence. “This is not a request that you may hear every day, but it is an issue that has deeply affected the local community of Kororoit,” she said. Ms Grigorovitch said Frank has been a local fixture since 2022, over time becoming a cherished and familiar face to those who visited the lake. “Residents would often stop during their daily walks to admire Frank and enjoy his presence,” she said. “Frank wasn’t just any goose, he had a unique place in the community — studies show that animals like Frank contribute to the biodiversity of our public spaces, and Frank’s presence had a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of residents. “He was not just part of the local ecosystem, he was part of the Caroline Springs broader family.” According to Ms Grigorovitch, highlighting the matter in parliament was important

Thao Tran, Sharon Mamo, Kororoit MP Luba Grigovitch, and Georgina Sidon are all on the lookout for Frank. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 459005_02

to give a platform to “those that are grieving”. “One of the main reasons I decided to raise [this]... was because some people in the community were taking this seriously,” she said. “I don’t know exactly where Frank has gone but if someone has taken him then that’s not okay and there’s many people who have contacted me, they genuinely have concerns.” “I want those people to know that I, as their local member, have listened.” Caroline Springs’ Harris Hassan is among the residents to have taken the matter to heart, having already spent more than 50 hours looking for Frank. “It is really good to see that his disappearance is being taken seriously,” he said.

“I moved to the area two-and-a-halfyears ago and since then I have formed a connection with Frank. “He had this happy personality, he was very approachable – he was like a celebrity to us.” Given his affable star status, Mr Hassan remains determined to track Frank down. Over the past couple of weeks, he has reached out to animal rescue organisations, local businesses and even the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). “I’ve got some leads,” Mr Hassan said. But having a stickybeak hasn’t yielded many positive results for the amateur sleuth. “We just want some clarity, we want to know where he is,” Mr Hassan said.

“The only reason we’re after that information is because we want closure.” Star Weekly understands that Frank appears to be an introduced species of geese, and therefore is not protected by the Wildlife Act 1975, which prohibits the removal or disturbance of certain animals without approval. As a result, the issue falls outside DEECA’s remit as it does not enforce compliance for introduced wildlife. However Mr Hassan and fellow community members, although disappointed with the legal framework, aren’t losing hope for their feathered companion’s return. “I was partially heartbroken when he was gone, and we just want to know he’s OK,” Mr Hassan said.

Melton Fire Brigade marks a special milestone in 2025 2 September Having served the community since 1935, Melton Fire Brigade gathered with grateful community members recently to celebrate its 90-year anniversary. More than 150 people joined in the festivities at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday, August 23 to take a trip down memory lane, hearing stories from past and present members and reflecting on the many memorabilia items on show. As a stalwart of Melton Fire Brigade, Alan Squires, who has been involved for 55 years, was first introduced to the fire services when he lost his house to a fire that took off through the back of Truganina in 1969. “Not long after I transferred from Truganina in 1974, I took over as secretary for the next 35 years,” Mr Squires said. “Melton was a little spot on the map back then – a small town that averaged 250 to 300 fire call outs a year. I’ve watched both the town, and the brigade grow exponentially since then. “The biggest change has been transitioning from a farming and grassland area to an urban area of 100,000 people.” The old tin shed was replaced in 1974 when the brigade went from rural to urban. In 2008, the brigade grew, and permanent CFA staff were required, before integration with Fire Rescue Victoria in 2020.

Tim Welshe and Stephen Hirt. (Pictures: Uniform Photography)

“We were probably one of the first successful integrations for a long time in CFA,” Mr Squires said. “We could see we just couldn’t provide the service that the town needed. Now we have 118 members and a very strong junior program. “Because the town is so spread out, with a freeway going through the middle of it, we’ve also built a satellite station in Melton South, where we also house a vehicle.” Mr Squires recalls a fires that tore through Melton South in 1985 as being similar to the conditions endured throughout Ash

Wednesday, when 14 homes and a business were lost. “We’re very active in campaign fires as a brigade – I’ve been to New South Wales twice, Queensland, Gippsland and the most recent Grampians fires,” he said. “We were involved in the major Pentland Hills school bus crash in 2022 and in Exford in 2023. It was very confronting, but we looked after some of the kids and got them to hospital.” Fire Prevention Week was a real highlight for the community in the ‘80s and ‘90s, from school visits, poster competitions and a pa-

rade. It has since evolved into a yearly Djerriwarrah Festival. Melton is also well renowned for its success at the State Firefighter Championships in both rural and urban competitions and has had a very lively women’s auxiliary over the years. “We’ve put together a photo board of all the old equipment, radios, and knapsacks that we’ve collected over time. The clippings have covered my lounge room floor for weeks!” Mr Squires said. The brigade proactively fundraises for new vehicles, particularly road rescue equipment and has strong recruitment, with 20 new members arriving over the last 18 months. Third generation Melton firefighter, Ben Gilbertson is well entrenched in the brigade’s history, having started as a junior at just 14 when he started running in the championships. “My mum grew up in the area on a farm and her grandfather was one of the founders of the brigade, and our first president,” Mr Gilbertson said. “During our 75-year celebration, my twin brother and I were part of the procession because at the time, we were the youngest of our family in the brigade. “I was awarded with a brigade life membership last year for 20 years’ service and that has definitely been a highlight.”

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW ... HEALTH

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Life-saving defib stolen 25 February A heartless thief stole a life-saving medical device from the main street of Ballan earlier this month. A man was seen on camera taking a defibrillator [AED] from a public access cabinet in Ballan on Wednesday, February 12. The incident occurred about 8.30pm on Inglis Street, outside the Ballan Newsagency. Ian Ireland was one of the people behind the decision to have the defibrillator installed in the street many years ago to provide the public with 24-7 access to it.

He was left shocked that someone would take it. “It’s taking it away from the community that it was put there for,” he said. “The community has used it over the years. “It’s been there eight or nine years and some lowlight stole it on Tuesday night. They just helped themselves to it, leaving a poor community vulnerable. “Hopefully it is not needed to save a life in the near future as it is the only device in Ballan available 24-7.” The defib was installed in Ballan after the end of the service provided the Ballan Ambulance Auxiliary Volunteers in 2007.

The volunteers provided an ambulance service to Ballan community for 43 years prior to the full-time Ambulance Victoria branch being established. They also raised money for the local community. Mr Ireland said the volunteers campaigned to have leftover funds used to install a defibrillator in Ballan, instead of the money going back into the system. The auxiliary, which does not fundraise any longer but still exists, has just celebrated its 60th birthday. Unfortunately it cannot afford to replace the defibrillator, which was uninsured. Mr Ireland notified police about theft

and police have since released an image and video of a man they believe can assist with their inquiries. The man is seen throwing items on the ground outside the newsagency before the defibrillator was stolen. Mr Ireland said there had been support from the community, with some offering to help replace the defibrillator. He said it was wonderful to have others put their hands up to help, but they shouldn’t have to be in this position. “This saves lives,” he said. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Major hospital works begin 22 July

Melmarsh Prostate Cancer Support Group members Wayne Evans, John Gausden, Doug Milne, and president and secretary Rhonda Weir.

Group offers prostate cancer support 27 May The Victorian Council of Prostate Cancer Support Groups is encouraging those living with prostate cancer to consider joining a support group. According to the organisation, too few men know that support groups exist and are often not made aware of the important role support groups can play – with 70 men in Australia diagnosed each day. One of these groups, the Melmarsh Prostate Cancer Support Group (PCSG),

offers men an opportunity to share their experiences with each other, which president and secretary Rhonda Weir said “really does help” members. “I became involved through my husband being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he wouldn’t talk to anybody. I saw the ad for group in the local paper, I rang up, and I went along too because he wouldn’t have gone by himself,” Ms Weir said. “If you joined a support group, that is

what it is for – for support. It is not just for the men, it is for the partners as well. We have many partners and wives who come to our meetings which is really great.” The group meets at the Melton South Community Centre from 12.30 to 2pm on the first Thursday of each month, and if you would like to enquire about joining, you can contact Ms Weir on 0411 264 166.

Bacchus students and staff join in Great Shave for great cause 8 July A group of students and staff from a Bacchus Marsh primary school have shaved their heads to raise funds for cancer research and are calling on the community to consider making a donation. Students from St Bernard’s Parish Primary School took part in a ‘Great Shave’ fundraising event at the school’s gymnasium on 2 July . St Bernard’s school captain and grade six student Talisha said she and another school captain, Tom, got the idea for the

Great Shave when discussing ideas of initiatives they could organise to help others. “We decided on organising a fundraiser, we listed different ideas on what we could fundraise for and chose to raise money for cancer and leukaemia. We liked the idea of a head shave,” Talisha said. “For me personally it is very close to my heart and I wanted to raise money to help those affected and to raise awareness,” she said. Talisha also made a speech at the event. Her brother, Jaxon (grade 5), also took part in the fundraiser as one of the shav-

6 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

ers. “My favourite part about being involved in the great shave was helping to raise money for people affected by cancer. I also did it for my nan and grandma who I lost to cancer,” Jaxon said. “The community can help support our great shave by donating big or small. Every little bit helps. If they can not donate they can help by sharing our fundraiser with family and friends.” Funds raised will go towards Cancer Council Victoria for cancer research, support, and prevention activities.

The first sod of the Melton Hospital was turned this week, with major construction now underway on the long-awaited project. The new $900 million hospital will have the capacity to treat 130,000 patients a year and help almost 60,000 patients in its 24-hour emergency department supporting Melton, Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Bacchus Marsh, and Gisborne, according to the state government. Located on a 68,000-square-metre site on Ferris Road, the hospital will have at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, mental health services, maternity and neonatal services, radiology services, outpatient care, and teaching and training and research spaces. Works over the next six months will focus on excavation including rock breaking and soil removal, trenching for inground services to be installed, piling works and retaining wall construction, pouring of concrete footings and ground slabs, forming the foundations of the hospital, and installation of the first tower crane. According to the state government, it will be Victoria’s first fully electric hospital – using carbon-neutral power from day one of operations – and it will be an important addition to the hospital network in the west, working with Sunshine Hospital and the new $1.5 billion Footscray Hospital to reduce wait times across the region. Melton MP Steve McGhie said the beginning of major construction on the site was “a significant step towards transforming Melton into a major hub for health, education, jobs and training.” Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne said the new hospital would create thousands of local jobs during construction, and once complete, will be a world-class addition to healthcare in Melbourne’s outer west. Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the new hospital will include important mental health services and make it easier for people who require care to get support. As reported by Star Weekly, a handson design process of the new hospital involved hundreds of Western Health staff, with more than 60 design meetings and workshops, including over 20 immersive sessions at plan visualisation company Big Plans Melbourne. At Big Plans, frontline healthcare workers walked through full-scale projections of key hospital areas like birthing suites and emergency bays, testing how spaces would work in practice to best meet the needs of Melbourne’s booming outer west.

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Honour for SES volunteer 10 June Long-time Bacchus Marsh resident Wayne Barnes has been awarded an Emergency Services Medal for his outstanding service as an emergency responder and crew leader, including with the local SES unit. A dedicated and active volunteer with the Bacchus Marsh SES unit since 2001, Mr Barnes has extensive skills and experience in areas such as road crash rescue, storm and flood response, and search and rescue. Mr Barnes was recognised in the King’s Birthday honours for his ability to make

quick actions and be an exceptional leader in critical incidents – including as one of the first responders to the May 2023 Exford bus crash where he provided life-saving first aid. It also recognises that as a former intensive care paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, Mr Barnes was able to leverage this medical experience and leadership skills to mentor and support volunteers across the service, helping other members develop skills, gain confidence in their abilities, and reach their full potential. Mr Barnes said receiving the award was a “total surprise.”

“I still don’t know who nominated me! But obviously, it’s appreciated … it’s also due recognition of many other volunteers who respond in a similar manner and have done also for many years,” Mr Barnes said. “I don’t see it as a personal accolade, but it’s also due to the support of a wife and family that enables me to be a volunteer.” Mr Barnes has contributed to raising the profile of VICSES through road rescue challenges, training and participating in these competitions and representing the emergency service on a state, national, and international stage.

Mr Barnes was offered the role of an assessor in these challenges, then leading him to join a rescue training team in West Africa in the early 2000s and participating in the competitions for more than a decade, providing expert guidance and coaching to road crash rescue teams from across Australasia. Retiring from Ambulance Victoria in 2016, he was then a volunteer with Australian Volunteers International and was involved in training paramedic students in Vanuatu, bringing a large cache of rescue equipment for natural disasters and road accidents.

Cricket pioneer receives an AM 28 January

Triple Zero Victoria Junior Triple Hero Award 2025 recipient and Harkness resident Emelia Jenkins with Triple Zero Victoria call-taker Laura Bennett. (Gavin Blue Photography).

Young triple-0 hero helped save her mum 8 July When Harkness resident Emelia Jenkins’ mother Kristina Parkhill fell unconscious, Emelia sprung into action, called triple-0, and remained calm to follow instructions before the ambulance arrived. Now, she is one of 19 young people across the state who received a Triple Zero Victoria Junior Triple Hero Award this year. Ms Parkhill, who has type one diabetes, became unconscious due to low blood sugar. She said that as she had taught Emelia

since she was four the actions to take in an emergency, Emelia, who was nine-yearsold at the time of the call, tried to remain calm and knew exactly what to do. According to Triple Zero Victoria, Emelia told call-taker Laura Bennett that her mother was unresponsive – painting “a really clear picture of what was happening with her mum” ahead of ambulance arrival – and followed all instructions to perform a breathing check. “[I] taught her how to unlock my phone, call triple-0, [and] how to open the front door with keys to let in paramedics and to

let them know what my medical condition is,” Ms Parkhill said. “I listened to her call [recording], and at the start of the call, she sounded … really scared and like she was about to start crying, but then as the call progressed, she just got more brave and did everything that the dispatcher told her to do – like check my breathing.” Emelia received her medal at the Melbourne Museum on 2 July, with all recipients receiving their awards alongside the triple-0 call-takers who responded to the young heroes’ calls.

One of the pioneers of women’s cricket in Australia, Raelee Thompson, was left “flabbergasted” when she learned she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia this year (AM). The Hillside resident has been recognised for for her contributions on and off the field in the Australia Day honours. Thompson said one way to look at being made a Member of the Order of Australia was as pay off for her hard work, but said she only played cricket because she’s passionate about it. “I really loved playing cricket, and the administrative roles are ways I can return the favour,“ she said. Thompson was a cricketer for 20 years playing interstate and internationally, and was also an administrator. She played 16 test matches and 23 one-day internationals as a part of the Australian women’s cricket team and captained the team to an Ashes win. Thompson, who was a right-arm medium fast bowler, became the oldest player to in test cricket to claim a maiden five wicket haul at the age of 39. She was also a former coach, captain and a player for the Essendon and Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club. She is in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame, and the Victoria Police Sporting Hall of Fame.

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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

Community centre Melton South Community Centre at 41 Exford Road, Melton South is offering a range of computer classes, cooking classes, and lots more. The program can be viewed on the community centre’s website. 9747 8576 or meltonsouth.org.au

Community band The Greater Western Community Band meets Thursdays from 7.30-9.30pm. The rehearsal venue is the Bridge Road Community Centre, Strathtulloh (Melton South). The band is available for events. Brass, woodwind and percussion players are always welcome. Sally Hamond, 0401474582

Lights of Wisdom The Bahá’ís of Moorabool warmly invite you to ‘Lights of Wisdom’ – a monthly event providing an opportunity to relax in a tranquil environment and reflect on inspiring themes. The event is held on the first Friday of each month from 7.30–8.30pm at the Lerderderg Library in Bacchus Marsh. This is a free community event open to all.

God, movie and chat A free community event is held every second Friday of each month with a film with spiritual themes screened followed by discussion. All thoughts are welcome. Bring your own sandwich. Tea, coffee, and popcorn are provided. The event is hosted at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall, 19a Gisborne Road, Bacchus Marsh. bacchusmarshanglican.org.au

Probus Club of Melton Ladies The Probus Club of Melton Ladies meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am at the Melton Country Club. It is a social club where all ladies are welcome. Glenda, 0418504616

Women Working Together A program connecting women aged 50 above in need of assistance, with mentors and mentees. Open to women across the western suburbs, including Melton. 9655 2131, or EmploymentSupport@ cotavic.org.au

Zonta club Zonta is an international organisation bringing women together to support other women. The Zonta Club of Melton meets on the first Monday of each month at Melton Country Club, Reserve Road, Melton. Meetings include guest speakers. Janet, 0421 080 923, info@ zontaclubofmelton.org.au

Melton Over 50s Social Group Join a friendly group of people aged 50 and older who enjoy each other’s company while attending events such as dinners, shows, dancing, cinemas and more. If you live in the Melton area and would like to meet new friends, in a welcoming group environment, this is for you. Marlene, 0498 329 290

Rose carers of Maddingley Park The group meets every Wednesday from 10am-noon at the Commemorative Rose Garden, Maddingley Park on the corner of Taverner Street and Grant Streets, Bacchus Marsh. They maintain the two rose gardens at the park. Volunteers are welcome and no experience is necessary to join . Elaine, 0400 052 857 or Judy, 0428 463 538

Bacchus Marsh Ladies Probus Club Meets on the first Thursday of every month

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of St Monica’s Primary School students Jonah, 12, Vivien, 8 and Carlos, 11, who helped the school win a statewide science award for the second year in a row. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 523766_01

from 10am-noon at the Avenue Bowling Club on 254 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh Krystyna, bacchusmarshladiesprobus@ gmail.com

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets on the second Friday each month at 10am at Melton Country Club. New members welcome. Ann, 0425705150

Sewing in Melton If you love sewing, head on down to the Melton South Community Centre. Bring along your machine and materials and make new friends as you swap tips and work on your own projects. 9.30am–3pm each Tuesday. Each session costs $5. 9747 8576

Melton South Community Singers Singers of all levels are welcome at the Melton South Community Singers. This free and friendly group meets at the Melton South Community Centre and rehearses to perform at local venues and events. The group meets from 12.15-2pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month. No bookings are required. Sue, 0400 082 413

Bacchus Marsh Senior Citizens The Bacchus Marsh Senior Citizens look forward to meeting up with new members at the Andy Arnold Centre, 10 Bennett Street, Bacchus Marsh. hopem@optusnet.com.au

Melton Concert Band Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 7.30-9.30pm at the Bridge Road Community Centre, Bridge Road, Melton South. Musicians of any age who are able to read music are welcome to come along with their instrument (oboe, bassoon, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion). Please contact if you are intending to visit. 0401 474 582

8 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

Cancer Support Group MelMarsh Prostate Cancer Support Group is for prostate cancer patients and their carers and meets on the first Thursday of the month, from 12.30-2pm, at Melton South Community Centre. Attendees are encouraged as members share their journeys through what could be a very traumatic time of their lives. Explanations of medical terminology used in the treatment of this cancer are given in this group. Grenville, 0412 741 865

Chatty Cafe Melton Are you feeling lonely, isolated or just wanting to make some new friends? If so, Chatty Cafe is for you. The group meets on Friday mornings at 10am for delicious free coffee from Latin foods and wines at 10 Wallace Square, Melton. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/352071857283331

Friendship Group For all aged 60 and older – are you looking for some new friends? Then this group is for you. The Melton and Surrounding areas Friendship Group meets fortnightly for a coffee and chat night and organises affordable outings such as dinners, movie nights and many social events – plus occasional weekends away, and local or overseas holidays. Shirley, 0419 006 525 or Vera, 0406 493 734

Over 50s games and cards Melton Club 50+ runs a games and cards afternoon every Sunday from 2-4pm at Kurunjang Community Hub, 33 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang. Join this friendly group and make new friends over games and a cuppa. Denise, 0403 840 241 or Sharon, 0407 461 069

Women’s Support Group Women’s Support Group Melton is for any women who feel they would like to

attend a peer support group which is relaxed, friendly and non-judgemental. The group meets weekly at 1pm on Mondays (except for public holidays) at Djerriwarrh Neighbourhood House, 239 Station Road, Melton. The group can discuss most subjects that may be of help https://ow.ly/QVwJ50Q5g42

Caroline Springs Rotary The Rotary Club of Caroline Springs is inviting new guests to join its meetings in person or via Zoom. Meetings are held every Wednesday at the Western Emergency Relief Network in Ravenhall from 7pm. rotarycarolinesprings@gmail.com

Melton Men’s Group Melton Men’s Group meets every Thursday from 5-8 pm at Arnolds Creek Children’s and Community Centre at 19 Claret Ash Boulevard, Harkness. Focusing on senior men’s mental and physical wellbeing. Join them for a cuppa and a chat, listen to guest speakers and participate in activities including, carpet bowls, pool, table tennis, cards and chess. Trevor, 0404 494 649 or https:// meltonmensgroup.home.blog/

Take weight off naturally Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere? Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton. Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Parkinson’s support group The Melton Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the second Thursday of the month, 10.30am-12.30pm, at Kurunjang Community Centre, 33-35 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang. New members and carers are welcome. Helen, 0409 186 576

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From Cornwall with love By Tania Phillips Cornwall is considered one of the most remote and yet beautiful counties in England. And the county’s North Coast with its dramatic cliffscapes, craggy coves, boundless white-tipped breakers and kilometres and kilometres of golden sands is a jewel in the crown, a hikers paradise – beloved by it’s local residents including local fisherman Jeremy Brown, who is more than happy to extoll it’s beauty, heritage and culture. Part of a five-generation fishing family Jeremy lives in Port Isaac – a quintessential Cornish Fishing village – known for its narrow, winding streets lined with charming, whitewashed cottages that overlook a picturesque harbour – locally referred to as the Platt. It has gained fame as the fictional village of Port Wenn in the BBC series Doc Martin with many a visitor searching the historic village for the “Grumpy Doc’s” landmarks according to the seasoned fisherman and part-time singer. However, Jeremy and his fellow members of Fisherman’s Friends – a group of local men who have been taking sea shanty’s to the world through their two successful movies, musicals and their forthcoming first Australian tour – are slowly changing that. Bringing the tourism focus back on the beautiful landscape and vibrant living culture. Fishing heritage dates back to the early fourteenth century in Port Isaac. It’s a village that has always been deeply connected to the sea, with fishing continuing to play a significant role in the lives of its residents. The village’s name comes from the Cornish Porthysek, meaning ’corn port’, a nod to its historic role in the grain trade. “People actually do turn up now and look for someone from the Fisherman’s Friends and not just the grumpy old Doc,” Jeremy laughed. “It’s been a goal of mine in a way – to have some people come to Port Isaac to see the home of Fisherman’s Friends. People have always come to Port Isaac it’s such a pretty place – but then we got a certain amount of the Tourism which was just people looking for the Doc’s House and what have you. “Even though we’ve got members in from other Ports now – Padstow and Boscastle – it is the home of the Fisherman’s Friends and people do make a beeline for it but of course the village sells itself - it’s so pretty.” And on Wednesday nights Jeremy, an

Down on the Platt at Port Isaac where Fisherman’s Friends first performed. If it looks familiar its probably because it’s better-known to a lot of the world as Port Wenn thanks to the TV Show Doc Martin.

original member of the group, formed to raise a bit of money for charity back in the 90s, can often be found in the pub singing sea shanties with the rest of the community. The band on stage on those nights is The Yarnigoats who do a lot of the Fisherman’s Friends repertoire as well as their own music. Local gigs are few and far between for the Friends these days. “Very occasionally about three times this year – on our group WhatsApp chat – we just say is anyone free on Friday and we just do an impromptu gig,” he said. “But we can’t advertise it these days because it causes chaos down there. If we advertise it we get 2000 people turn up – paramedics, police and marshals have to come because there’s no parking in the village – it’s all out of the village. “The old sea shanties are obviously from the days of sail so we’re going back hundreds of years. “But for some reason they’ve got some sort of resonance with people. When we first started singing we had no ambition other than to raise a few pounds for charity. We started singing in the open air at Port Isaac – it’s a bit of an amphitheatre and it sort of lends itself to it.” The beauty and setting of the village evokes the past and the fishing culture. “Everything rolls downhill to the harbour,” Jeremy says. “It’s a very small harbour and it’s straight into the open ocean from there. You’ve got the North Atlantic right out there and the

No need to make rustic backdrops for photos, movies or TV shows in Port Isaac in the breathtaking county of Cornwall in the UK.

gales literally come right on through and they sweep up the streets and we have to move all the boats.” He said visitors invariably always find themselves at the bottom of the village at The Platt – a concreted area where the fishermen (like Jeremy’s son who is one of just a few professional fishermen left in the town) keep their dingy. The Platt is also where Fisherman’s Friends got their start and still pop up from time to time. “You can get a beer and just sit on the Platt or you can go up to our local pub where some of the filming in our films took place and enjoy the atmosphere and have a sing.” Jeremy believes the best thing that has come out of the adventure of Fisherman’s Friends is the revival of pub singing – of singing just for the joy of it at your local

Fisherman’s Friends original member Jeremy Brown is part of a long-standing fishing family in the Port Isaac District. He’s also a staunch supporter of his home village and keeping the fishing culture alive and vibrant. (Supplied)

and of keeping that part of Cornish Culture alive. Of course, the band’s trip to Australia is another bonus – and it helps that it’s in the English winter when work is not so busy. “Singing has not really taken us around the world because we’ve all still got our regular jobs,” he said. The group’s first Australian tour starts in Adelaide on 7 January and closes out in Perth on 25 January and takes in all States and the ACT. Tickets on sale head to the fishermans-friends website for more information.

Dedicated travel content delivered to an untapped audience weekly. To advertise in our Travel Today section, please contact Gayle Williams e: gayle.williams@starweekly.com.au t: (03) 8318 5777

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW ... NEWS

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Emmanuel Pace AKA ‘Manny the Clown’ performed at the inaugural Sunshine Collective Market in June. 481609_01

Winni Wizard and the Ditzy Dizzard was s a kids comedy show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Pictured is comedians Lisa Gatenby (Winni Wizard) and Jacob Sacher (Ditzy Dizzard). 465765_01

The Ice Queens cheerleading team members Taylor Hallas, Laura Yildirim, Emily Hopkins and Bridget Bayliss used money raised by recycling drink cans to buy new bows for their uniforms. 488505_01

2025 through the lens Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski was out and about across Melbourne’s western and northern

suburbs throughout 2025. He shares his favourite pictures from the past year.

Elephants arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo in February. 468666_01 St Albans Secondary School students Paul (front), Luca, Cindy, DT, Talia, Thien, Ryan and Xai took to the stage for Spamalot in August. 496630_01

Brookfield resident Jacqueline Licitra’s elaborate Halloween decorations in her front yard entertained passers-by in October. Pictured is Jacqueline with her grandsons Maddix, 3, and Zanon, 1. 511243_01

Iva Rosebud starred in Club Kabarett, Melbourne’s bold new circus-cabaret in April. 471695_01

Zoe, 11, who played Duffy in the Melbourne season of Annie the Musical at the Princess Theatre in July. 489773_01

12 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

Thomas Stockdale won race four at the Kyneton Cup in early November. 516055_01

Dancers Mai Vu, Mai Nguyen, Ngoc Huynh, Thoa Tran, and Tina Nguyen and Brimbank councillor Thuy Dang (seated) brought festive fun to St Albans in November. 517610_01

Natalie Davis and Beth Johnson organised Tyldenvania to celebrate Halloween in the town of Tylden. 514408_01

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Tuesday, 6 January, 2026 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 13

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 271

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

ACROSS

easy

8 2 3 1 4 5 8 2 3 6 4 2 9 4 9

9 1 5 6 1 2 3 2 8 6

7 9

DECODER 18 3

18 15

17 21

S 23

Today’s Aim: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good

9 4 5 7 8 2 6 3 1 7 3 6 1 4 9 5 8 2 1 8 2 5 3 6 4 9 7 6 9 4 3 5 1 7 2 8 8 5 7 2 9 4 3 1 6 2 1 3 6 7 8 9 4 5 4 7 8 9 1 5 2 6 3 5 6 1 4 2 3 8 7 9 3 2 9 8 6 7 1 5 4

2 1 5 3 4 9 6 8 7 3 7 4 8 2 6 1 5 9 6 9 8 5 7 1 4 2 3 5 2 7 4 3 8 9 1 6 8 3 9 1 6 2 5 7 4 4 6 1 9 5 7 2 3 8 1 8 3 2 9 4 7 6 5 7 4 2 6 8 5 3 9 1 9 5 6 7 1 3 8 4 2

I O

3 LETTERS ADD ADO ADS AID BOW EEL EGO FED GEE IDS ILL IOU IRE LIE MAR NIP NOR OFF OKS ORE PEN TEE WHO YOU

No. 271

A C C O R D

5 LETTERS ABATE ABODE ALIGN ALIVE AMISS AWARE BEARS BERET CANAL CRATE DEALT DYING EAGER EATEN EDGES EERIE ELUDE EVERY EXUDE FLORA HOSTS

4 LETTERS EARL EBBS FLEE GULP KEEL LILY MEET MIEN POPE SASH SLAM TALL TRAY USES

INANE KNOTS LADLE LAPEL LEERY LOVES NOTED PIXIE RISER SATIN SCANT SEDAN SHREW SLAIN SLEPT SLEWS SOLED SPEAK STAFF START STEAM STUDY

SWING TEASE TENET TENOR TILDE TOILS ULTRA

7 LETTERS ANTENNA APOSTLE GOATEES LEOTARD REALISE SNUFFER

6 LETTERS ACCORD ASSURE FRONTS ORIENT

8 LETTERS CELLISTS HANGOVER HYSTERIA TABLOIDS

09-01-26

No. 378

QUICK QUIZ

Who was the first wife of Roman emperor Nero?

The smoky spirit mezcal is derived from which plant?

Which band had hits with the songs Dreams (1993), Linger (1993) and Ode to My Family (1994)?

Dorothea Brooke is the heroine of which 19th century English novel?

Comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble co-host which podcast?

True or false: the shoe company Dr. Martens was founded by a British doctor?

What long-distance hiking trail spans 4,265 kilometres from Canada to Mexico?

How many US states begin with the letter ‘n’?

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

E T

14 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

F R A N K R O B I N A T O N E N O V E L C R E S T

WORDFIT

chip, chips, chit, city, hips, hiss, hits, itch, itchy, physic, PHYSICIST, physics, pitch, pith, pithy, pits, pity, schist, ship, ships, sips, sits, spicy, spit, spits, this, tips, tipsy, yips

4 7 2 5 8 1 6 9 3 8 3 6 7 9 2 4 5 1 5 9 1 6 4 3 8 7 2 9 1 3 8 5 4 7 2 6 6 8 4 9 2 7 3 1 5 2 5 7 3 1 6 9 8 4 1 2 8 4 6 9 5 3 7 7 4 9 2 3 5 1 6 8 3 6 5 1 7 8 2 4 9

C S

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

29 words: Excellent

hard

10 11 12 13

medium

easy

9-LETTER WORD

1 6 5

J W M V T Y Z K P O Q D U

19 22

15 20

19 25

S X

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

8 4 6

5x5

R C G I B L A F N E H S X

2 1

4 3 8

hard

6 9

No. 303

The 2006 film She’s the Man, starring Amanda Bynes (pictured), is a modernday retelling of which of Shakespeare’s comedies?

10 What was the name of artist Frida Kahlo’s spouse? ANSWERS: 1. Claudia Octavia 2. The Cranberries 3. Off Menu 4. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) 5. Twelfth Night 6. Agave 7. Middlemarch 8. False; he was a German doctor 9. Eight 10. Diego Rivera

6 8 6 1 5 7 4 5 4 9 3 1 2 7 1 7 8 3 9 4 2 6 5 6 1 3 4

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Inhabitant (8) Abstinence (8) Childish (7) Pressurised dispenser (7) Light rainfall (6) Holiday spot (6) Fringe (4) Tableland (7) Meeting for an exchange of ideas (7) Sheath (8) Sing to (8) Unaffected (7) Settle (7) Help (6) Slip-on shoe (6) Ballot choice (4)

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Formula (6) Large rope (6) Climb (5) Light-headed (9) Disadvantage, disservice (9) Impugn (5) A spice (6) Plummet (4) Require (4) Source of wisdom (6) Schnoz (5) Incapable of being seen (9) Provider of information (9) Tropical climbing plant (5) Slave (6) Interfere (6)

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No. 271

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MOTOR

High quality, bargain price By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring Yet another new name for Australian buyers to grapple with, Jaecoo is one of three sub-brands from the Chinese Chery brand. Chery is the leading exporter of Chinese vehicles worldwide with Australian sales more than tripling over the past 12 months. Marketed as the group’s premium brand, Jaecoo was launched here in March 2025 with the J7, a mid-sized SUV powered by either petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains. It was joined recently by our test vehicle, the J8 family-size SUV. Although they are built on different platforms, they do share many of the same design elements, most noticeable being what Chery describes as its Waterfall Grille with 20 vertical chrome and piano black bars and the Jaecoo name in the centre. The J8 differs also in that it only comes with a single power option, a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine although it seems likely that a PHEV will follow. Although J8 is significantly larger in all dimensions than the J7 both are five-seaters. It’s highly likely that a third row will be added later to allow it to compete against similarly-sized vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger. Jaecoo J8 comes with two variants, the Track 2WD priced at $49,990 and the AWD $54,990 Ridge. Both prices are driveaway.

The Jaecoo J8 is one of the best offerings yet from China, certainly the best SUV. (Pictures: Supplied)

RATINGS Looks: 9/10 Performance: 7.5/10

Styling Chery’s design team, headed by a former Mercedes-Benz stylist, have done an impressive job with its two Jaecoo vehicles. Both have an understated but stylish appearance, one that proved to be real head-turners wherever we drove, invariably followed by the need to explain that Jaecoo was the upmarket version of the Chinese carmaker Chery. The 320mm extra length of the J8 over the J7 is the most obvious difference between the two siblings with its stretched, slightly tapering roofline just crying out for that extra row of seats. There’s LED lighting all round, both external and internal, with a light bar connecting the tail lights.

Interior The quality and premier feel of the Jaecoo J8 extends into the cabin. The front seats are heated and ventilated with massage function and four-way lumbar support. The Ridge variant adds heating and ventilation to outer second row seats. The driver gets an eight-way powered seat with extended thigh support, four-way lumbar support and memory function. The front passenger has six-way power adjustment. The rear seats get their own air conditioning controls and a folding centre armrest. There’s even an in-built fragrance system in the Ridge that uses replaceable cartridges, located below the dashboard to release a choice of scents through the interior of the vehicle. One feature that we haven’t encountered are speakers built into the front seat headrests. We received a few phone calls during our test – backseat drivers indeed. Boot space is a huge 738 litres expandable to a van-like 2021 litres with the rear seatbacks folded. Note that these measurements are to the roof. Both variants come with a full-sized spare wheel.

Safety: 8/10 Thirst: 7/10 Practicality: 8/10 Comfort: 8.5/10 Tech: 8/10 Value: 8.5/10

1750rpm. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and comes in either front-wheel drive in the Ridge and all-wheel drive in the Track. The engine requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded fuel.

Safety Jaecoo J8 was yet to be tested by ANCAP, however given that it shares all of its safety features with the J7 which was tested in May 2025 and received the maximum five-star rating, that would seem to be assured. Track has eight airbags including front centre and driver’s knee. Ridge adds side airbags for the outside rear seats. Both variants get Chery’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) package that includes forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assist, blind spot detection, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and braking, lane departure prevention with emergency lane keeping, driver monitoring system and tyre pressure monitoring. The Range variant adds extra drive modes, torque vectoring and continuous damping control. There are also four lane deviation and three driver inattention/speed limit monitoring systems. All can be turned off temporarily although, fortunately, they are nowhere near as intrusive as others we have come across One thing that impressed us, with both the Jaecoo models that we’ve tested, was that the vehicle will not move unless the driver’s seatbelt is fastened. Such an obvious safety but one that very few other manufacturers have adopted. We understand that ANCAP may add to its testing regime in future.

Engines/transmissions The Jaecoo J8 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 183kW of power and 385Nm of torque from

Infotainment In contrast to the portrait format of the Jaecoo J7’s infotainment screen the J8

reverts to the conventional landscape design. The touch screen is 12.3-inch and is butted up against a driver’s information cluster of the same size to display as a single, panoramic screen. Both screens are crisp, clear and easy to access. There’s inbuilt satellite navigation that can be displayed on both screens. There are USB-A ports at both front and rear with fast-charge USB-Cs in both locations. 12-volt power outlets are located in the front and in the boot and there is a 50W wireless charger in both variants. Audio is through an impressive 14-speaker Sony surround sound system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless.

Driving There are retractable handles on all four doors that open automatically when the key fob comes in range. Unlike most other vehicles with such door handles that can be awkward to open those in the J7 open fully square for easy opening. Visibility isn’t great with about half of the narrow rear window blocked by the rear seat headrests. The A-pillar is wide and sharply angled which, together with the large side mirror, does restrict left-side vision for the driver. As is rapidly becoming the norm, almost all vehicle functions are accessed through the touchscreen rather than using physical controls. While these are among the many important safety features in the vehicle, and no doubt many drivers will appreciate them, they can be quite intrusive and frequently require the driver to look at the touchscreen instead of the road ahead. They can be turned off although with most vehicles they then default back on when the engine is stopped. Fortunately, with the Jaecoo that’s not the case and, apart from the driver distraction alert, they remain off until turned on again.

Another problem we found was the location of the gear selector on the right-hand steering wheel stalk. Typically, that is the location of the right turn indicator or windscreen wiper controls. On a number of occasions, we inadvertently moved the vehicle into neutral when we went to use either the indicator or wipers. The drive experience from the Jaecoo J8 is predictable enough for a large boxy and relatively heavy vehicle but that applies equally to most vehicles in the medium SUV field. It does what the typical family owner wants and does it well. It provides a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride both around town and on the motorway. Steering is light Note that, unusually for a relatively large vehicle, J8 does not have any towing rating. Both variants get an adjustable head-up display.

Summing up Although the Jaecoo brand doesn’t have the badge prestige of European vehicles of similar size the J8’s driveaway price starting from just under $50,000 it offers incredible value for money. The standard Jaecoo warranty covers eight years and unlimited kilometres. There’s also 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance, that can be with the opportunity of extending for the full warranty period provided that the vehicle is serviced throughout at authorised Jaecoo dealers. Another Jaecoo initiative is a ‘Future Price Promise’ that guarantees a minimum resale value subject to specific conditions being met including the aforementioned servicing criteria. The Jaecoo J8 certainly gets our nod as one of the best offerings yet from China, certainly the best SUV. The combination of its, excellent interior space and comfort, safety equipment and pricing make it well worth checking out.

Tuesday, 6 January, 2026 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 15

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW ... SPORT

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Lalor United’s Solomon Sunray. 488179_09

Keilor’s Daniel Poelsma. 488186_10

Footscray’s Paula Nailovolovo in June. 481972_18

Keilor’s Adetomi Ayilara. 488186_27

Sport through the Star Weekly photography lens Star Weekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic captured all the sport action across Melbourne’s western and northern

suburbs throughout 2025. She shares her favourite pictures from the past year.

Gisborne’s Elijah Bretherton. 496381_17

Myra Wood in action in for Craigieburn in August. 497759_32

Don Geodes in action in November.520809_21 Ashleigh Palmer won the women’s 400m at the Lancefield Gift in November. Also pictured as Grace Carter, Genevieve O’Brien, Lucy Zotti, Ella Tobin and Alex Tzilantonis. 517333_26

Footscray’s Kerry Nease during the women’s grand final in August. 499386_04

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Ameir Majur on the court for Melton. 508552_12

Craigieburn’s Darren Wotu. 518147_02

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW...SPORT

Dramatic win for Sharks 2 September Hillside has claimed its first Essendon District Football League women’s premier division premiership in the most remarkable circumstances. After leading for most of the day, the Sharks premiership hopes came down to the final kick of the day. Oak Park defender Rhianna Nunn won herself a free kick about 20 metres out from goal with her side five points down. The siren went meaning the shot at glory and a third straight premiership would come with the final kick of the day. Nunn’s kick went straight into Ash Thorneycroft, who was standing the mark, giving the Sharks the ultimate prize, 3.4 (22)-2.5 (17). Sharks coach Blaise Ferraro said he only had one thing going through his head as Nunn had the ball. He said it wasn’t surprising to see Thorneycroft with that little bit of extra effort to make sure she got a hand on that kick. In round one, Thorneycroft broke her finger on that same hand in the first contest of the year against Oak Park. “I first thought was making sure that it’s not 50,” he said. “I was making sure that Ash didn’t run over the line. “I knew it was the full back and I knew it was the fairytale story to have a threepeat, I thought it was lined up for that. “It’s a bit ironic that the hand that broke in the first contest of the season against Oak Park, was the hand that saved the day. “It was a bit symbolic there, which was nice.” The Sharks came into the grand final as underdogs against a Kangaroos outfit looking to make history. Ferraro said he was fairly confident heading into the game that his side could find a way to get across the line. “We had done everything that we needed to do,” he said. “There was a bit of calmness about that.” The Sharks did most of the attacking in the first half and kicked the only three goals of the first half. Ferraro said they knew that the Kangaroos were going to come. It proved to be a similar story to 12 months, but on that

Hillside celebrates its first premiership. (Tara Murray)

occasion the Kangaroos were in front and had to hold off Aberfeldie. “We just had to make sure that we didn’t panic,” Ferraro said. “No matter what happens, you know that they are going to come and you have to absorb that pressure. “Get a break and reset from there. They came in the third quarter and managed to

hold them off just long enough to hold a three score lead heading into the last.” Ferraro said they wanted to score in the second half but couldn’t get it out so they were resigned to holding on for dear life. He said they played like that last year and had played in some tight ones against the Kangaroos in the past two years. Ferraro said he always thought they

had done enough heading into the final quarter to get the win. The premiership win is two seasons in the making after finishing on top last season and then going out in straight sets. Ferraro said the hurt of last year really drove them this year. Annalise Wilkie was awarded the best on ground medal.

Joy as the Sharks net title in first grand final since 2013 16 September Hillside Recreation Reserve will be rocking for days as Hillside celebrates claiming the Essendon District Football League division 1 premiership. Playing in their first grand final since winning the division 2 grand final in 2013, the Sharks were able to upset Oak Park on the biggest stage on Saturday at Coburg City Oval. The Sharks were able to hold their nerves to come away with a 9.12 (66)-5.14 (44) win. Making the day more special, the Sharks reserves also won their grand final. Sharks coach Mo Kaakour said it was a pretty special feeling. “It’s starting to settle in,” he said the following day. “It was a big day with the early game and the late game and getting the results in both. “We were stiff not to have our 18s in as well. It’s really good for the footy club.” Kaakour said while they tried to make the lead up to the grand final special, it was also about ensuring they kept it as business as usual. Several former players and committee members came to training during the week to speak to the group. Once game day came on Saturday, there

Hillside celebrates. (Mike Tarr/Sport Star Photography)

were a few early nerves. While the Sharks were leading by nine points at quarter time, the Kangaroos had missed a number of chances as they kicked five straight behinds. “There were a few nerves early and we talked about that at quarter time,” Kaakour said. “We talked about getting to the right spots. “We settled down after quarter time and played our game after that.” Oak Park reduced the margin to just one point at the main break with it was game on.

The Kangaroos again struggled to convert their opportunities. Kaakour said they had really focused on making any opportunities the Kangaroos got to score coming from difficult positions. “There were a lot of pressure shots and we were forcing leads to go wide,” he said. “A couple were long range and they weren’t easy shots. “There was some perceived pressure as well.” Three goals to one in the third quarter gave the Sharks a 13 point lead leaving them

one quarter away from their first division 1 premiership. Kaakour said they needed to continue to be bold in the final quarter and take the game on. He said they weren’t going to win if they didn’t score in the final quarter. One of the biggest moments of the match came in the fifth minute of the final quarter. Full forward Josh Covelli, who had kicked one goal to that point, kicked his second and his 100th goal for the season. It’s the second straight season he has reached the 100 goal milestone. Friends, family and fans jumped the fence to celebrate with him. Kaakour said it was a momentum that they enjoyed. “You don’t see a 100 goalkicker that often and he’s done it two years in a row,” he said. “ For him to get 100 goals is an unbelievable achievement. “It was never about Josh, it was always about the footy club and winning a premiership. “He has bought into that big time.” The Sharks enjoyed the moment and then refocused on the task at hand which they soon completed. Khalil Kaakour was awarded the best on ground medal.

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Royals get premiership 25 March A number of hard years of work has paid off for Melton South Royals, who have claimed their first Victorian Turf Cricket Association top grade premiership. While the final day of the Evans-Clark season didn’t pan out as how the Royals would have hoped, with the grand final against East Coburg ending in a draw, the outcome was something they had dreamed of. Less than 12 overs were bowled on Saturday when the game was called off after heavy rain during the week left the wicket wet. The Royals, who were the higher ranked team having finished in third, was awarded the premiership.

Opener Blake Ivory said it was a pretty weird feeling. “It’s a hollow feeling, you don’t want to win it that way,” he said. “We wanted to win it or lose it on the field. “We had a lot of rain on Thursday and Friday and it was dangerous.” East Coburg was 4-19 in reply to the Royals’ 171 when the match was called off. Ivory said they had worked all morning to try and get the pitch dry. Saman Kumara Muthuwadige took 3-6 for the Royals. Ivory said had it been a regular season match they would have called it off completely. He said the premiership was something they had been building towards for a number of years and felt it was some-

thing they deserved. “We felt it was a reward for a consistent season, a couple of pretty consistent seasons,” he said. “We finished in third. We lost the last three games for various reasons but we were able to beat everyone but Sunshine YCW throughout the season.. “We felt like we couldn’t have done much more.” The premiership is the club’s first top grade flag since joining the competition. Ivory, who has been there through the highs and lows, said the club had come so far in that period of time. “It’s a huge achievement for the club,” he said. “I’ve been here for 12-13 years. “We really struggled those first few years I was here and the amount of work

put in is amazing. “We were in the Williamstown competition and cellar dwellers there. We slowly built the club up and we’re now in division 3. “We have got a turf wicket, new club rooms and juniors. “I’m so proud of the side. What happened in the grand final is only a small part of that.” While the Royals top side claimed the premiership, their second XI fell short against Footscray Angliss. Now with a new challenge ahead of them in division 3, Ivory said they were looking forward to it. “We’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

Bacchus Marsh claims division 2 25 March

Bacchus Marsh’s premiership side. (Supplied)

Premiership the icing on the cake in 2025 1 April This year was already a big year for Bacchus Marsh as it celebrated 50 years, but claiming its first Ballarat Cricket Association premiership on Sunday is the icing on the cake. The club in just its second season in the competition, claimed the competition’s top honour as it beat Wendouree in the grand final the past two weekends. Bulls coach Sam Crea said on Monday morning that it had been a pretty special time for the club. He said it was one of the most successful seasons for the club. “I had to pinch myself a couple of times,” he said. “We were in a good position after day three, needing just one wicket. “I had some time to think about it on Saturday night. Think about what it took throughout the season and we always believed we would get the runs. “It still feels surreal. It’s big for the Bacchus Marsh community and the supporters that come to watch.” The Bulls led by 61 runs heading into

the second weekend of play, after some strong lower order batting on the first Sunday. Wendouree started well with the bat on Saturday and at 1-91 had set a good platform to give the Bulls a big score to chase. As happened on the first weekend, the Bulls managed to get a role with the ball again. Wendouree struggled to get any partnerships going and were bowled out for 209 early on the final day of play. Crea took 6-66 for the Bulls, while Shanin Silva took three wickets. Crea said they didn’t start the day bowling well but was happy to have kept them to that total. “We never want away from getting back to bowling well and put the pressure back on them,” he said. “We got some wickets and were able to restrict them. We kept bowling good balls and made them make mistakes. It left Wendouree needing to bowl the Bulls out for less than 147 to claim the premiership. The Bulls top order was steady and they

18 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 6 January, 2026

were able to get the job done with ease, finishing 2-149. Alex Porter finished 56 not out, while Will Lalor was 27 not out. Crea said it’s never fun watching on the sidelines, but it was nice to see the top order get the job done. He said it was a clinical performance which was finished off by two players who had come through the pathways at the club The premiership comes after the Bulls women’s side claimed its first premiership a couple of weeks ago. The men also finished runners-up in the T20 grand final. Crea said this season exceeded all expectations. He said they just wanted to be competitive week in, week out and go from there. Now the Bulls go from the hunter to the hunted and it’s something they are looking forward to. “We want to be the hunted,” he said. “It’s a good thing for us. “Rightly so at times this season we weren’t respected. They know we are the real deal now.”

Bacchus Marsh added the icing to the cake to an already good season as it claimed the Bowls Victoria division 2 overall title. Having claimed the division 2, section 1 title, Bacchus Marsh beat Ringwood and Diamond Creek to win through to the overall grand final against Port Melbourne 2. After having dominant performances in the previous two matches, it was another big win in the final as it won 80 (16)-61 (1). Bacchus Marsh’s Tanner Dickson-Arthur said it was a pretty special moment for the club. “It was a good feeling,’ he said. “Five years ago was the last time we played in a grand final and missed out on playing for the big flag because of Covid. “We sat back and thought that we could have won it. It would have been three or four more games but we thought we had the side that could go the whole way. “We knew that we would win it this year and for the club to see us win it was fantastic.” Bacchus Marsh travelled to Glenroy for the grand final on 16 March to face Port Melbourne. Dickson-Arthur said they put out a strong performance and they just wanted to have the opportunity to show the rest of the competition what they could do. “It was pretty good,” he said. “We did what we did in the other games, we got out to a good lead and were able to hold on for the rest of the day. “Phil Minniti’s rink was fantastic. They would have had a massive percentage for the finals after a number of big wins. Dickson-Arthur said it had been a really rewarding season for the club. “The club won the big flag in division 2,” he said. “We are promoted in division 4 and one of our midweek teams won the grand final and are promoted as well. “Three out of our six teams are promoted and we’ve won a couple of grand finals as well, we’re pretty happy.”

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Darley’s senior footballers. (Tara Murray)

Darley’s women’s footballers, (Supplied)

Darley’s A-grade netballers. (Tara Murray)

2025 was the Devils’ year 23 September If 2025 is remembered for anything in the Ballarat Football Netball League, it will be the year that Darley proved it was the undisputed kings—and queens—of the competition. In a stunning display of club strength, the Devils have secured premierships across senior football, A-grade and B-grade netball, and women’s football, capping off a season of dominance that will be spoken about at Darley Park for years to come. It all started with the women’s football side that secured the first premiership. In a remarkable achievement, the women’s side claimed a three-peat, winning its third straight premiership against arch-rivals Redan, 7.2 (44)-2.11 (23). Co-coach Brett Faulkhead described the season as a “jigsaw put together” after overcoming significant injury challenges. Star player Lilli Condon, despite nursing an ankle injury that forced a move from midfield to full forward, kicked two first-quarter goals to set the tone. “Each year we’ve turned over girls and had new players come in,” he said. “It’s a new identity and new ideas. “We had some injuries that have kept

girls out of the team. There’s been so many emotions and we’ve ridden the bumps with the girls. “We’ve had some laughs and some tears and hurdles a couple of times throughout the year. “We worked them out.” Faulkhead emphasised the rarity of the achievement, noting that statistically, “just one point something per cent throughout sports wins three in a row”. Less than a month later, the Devils converged to watch both the A-grade netballers and senior footballers go for premiership glory. The A-grade netballers finally shook off the heartbreak of previous seasons to claim their maiden premiership. After losing the last three grand finals, it was fourth time lucky for the Devils, who held off a late Sunbury Lions comeback to win 51-46. Coach Shannon Blackman admitted the victory was an intense experience after the team’s previous near-misses. “It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster I think,” Blackman said. “We just wanted it. Everyone played for each other and that’s what it was this sea-

son.” Goalkeeper Matilda Elliot was named best on court for her defensive heroics, particularly in the dying moments when the Lions cut the margin to one goal. “In those moments when it got close, she was able to win it for us,” Blackman said of Elliot. It came after the B-grade side had also beaten the Lions in the grand final. The two teams then did battle in the final game of the season, the senior football. Darley, having been the team to beat all season, produced a flawless first quarter, utilizing the wind advantage to race to a 47-0 lead at the first break. Devils coach Dan Jordan admitted that, arguably, the game was effectively over at quarter time. While the Lions fought back valiantly in the second half, the maturity of the Devils’ group held firm, ultimately running out winners 11.13 (79)-6.9 (45). “In 2023 it was so adrenaline charged, this one I’m really proud of the boys,” he said. “I thought they had worked themselves into a position to be the best team all year. “The danger is you can get to the grand

final and if you don’t win it, it’s disappointing. “But they were really dialled in and focused during the week. “I’m so proud of them. They’ve worked so hard.” Ex-AFL speedster Nick Hind, who joined the club following his professional career to play under his best mate Jordan, was awarded the AFL Victoria best on ground medal. Jordan noted that while the 2023 win was adrenaline-charged, he was particularly proud of how “dialled in” this group remained during the week. Skipper Brett Bewley also capped an outstanding season by winning the Roy Edward Memorial Trophy. With four premierships since 2015 for the men, a historic first flag for the A-Grade netballers, and a hat-trick for the women’s footballers, the club is in a golden era. “We want to have sustained success,” Jordan said, noting the club’s desire to build a lasting legacy. As the siren sounded, Jordan predicted a big party at Darley Park, and given the club’s unprecedented haul of silverware across the codes, the celebrations are likely to last quite a while.

Tuesday, 6 January, 2026 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 19

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