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11 AUGUST, 2026

We deserve better By Sebastian Conidi The mayors of the western suburbs are calling for more police on the beat in the region in the aftermath of a series of high-profi le violent crimes. The most recent incidents – assaults on retail workers in Sunshine and Footscray on Saturday 1 August and Monday 3 August respectively – led to calls for more police and resources across the western suburbs. The victim of the 1 August attack, Van Viet Truong, died in hospital on Wednesday. The mayors from Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melton councils said local police resources have not kept pace with the growth of the region and the needs of their communities.

The community has sent a strong messaged. Enough is enough - Virginia Tachos “Recent attacks on traders, including the shocking assaults in Sunshine and Footscray this week, have shaken our people,” they said in a joint statement on Wednesday 5 August. “Crime rates are rising across Melbourne’s west with a combined 12.7 per cent increase in recorded crimes across the region so far in 2026. “Our communities deserve to feel safe in their streets. Our traders and workers deserve to feel safe in their businesses. Melbourne’s west deserves better.” The mayors pointed to a number of recent incidents including shots fi red at an Altona North home on Friday 31 July; the arrest of a man in Hoppers Crossing on Friday 24 July who was later charged with a number of offences including rape, false imprisonment and assault; the alleged murder of a man outside a Footscray pub in June; and an attack on two teenagers in Caroline Springs by a group of 11 people armed with machetes in December last year as evidence of the region’s growing crime problem. Just hours before fronting Wednesday’s joint press conference, Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra, his predecessor Cr Pradeep Tiwari, council chief executive

Councillors from across Melbourne’s west are calling for more police in the region. (Supplied)

Celia Haddock and council employees were threatened by a man with a knife in Footscray Mall. “There have also been numerous violent machete attacks in community spaces right across the west from libraries to shopping centres and on our streets,” the mayors said. “The impact of this violence has been compounded by closures of our local police stations. “Public access to Footscray, Keilor Downs and Caroline Springs police stations has been reduced to three days a week, while the Williamstown Police Station counter is temporarily closed. The Altona Police Station counter is closed

overnight and on weekends.” Brimbank mayor Virginia Tachos, who spoke at the press conference, said the state government resources needed to match the growing crime rates. “Brimbank’s crime rate increased by 8.8 per cent last year, but we recorded the highest fall in police numbers of anywhere in Victoria,” she said. “We are seeing an increase of anti-social behaviours, especially in the traders precinct like Sunshine, that even the traders are struggling to maintain their businesses, as they’re on high alert.” Cr Tachos stated that the call to action was in the community’s best interests.

“The community has sent a strong message,” she said. “Enough is enough. The mayors have called on the state government to increase visible neighbourhood policing across the west, improve access to police stations and ensure police resources keep pace with population growth. They also want more prevention programs for youth outreach and support and more outreach for mental health, homelessness and alcohol and other drugs to support police and prevent problems from escalating. Continued: Page 9.

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Shopping centre stink By Jack O’shea-Ayres Hillside residents living beside the Banchory Grove Shopping Centre say they are still being disturbed by noise, cooking smells and glaring lights more than a year after first raising their concerns with Melton council. The residents of four homes which back directly onto the commercial development claim cooking smells, commercial noise, and the appearance of the development had impacted their quality of life. Melton council has installed a sound monitoring device at one affected property, with a second to be installed at another home, as part of a month-long investigation into noise levels.

Resident Mark Andrewartha and his neighbours have been seeking solutions from council and shopping centre management for more than a year, claiming previous commitments to deal with their grievances had not been fulfilled. “We have been promised bigger trees, higher fences, screening over our ‘wall’ of glare. But nothing has happened and the problems we have been dumped with go way beyond the noise,” he said. Mr Andrewartha said residents had no objection to the shopping centre itself, but believed the placement and operation of food businesses along the rear boundary had created ongoing problems. “It’s the food stores they have lined our

back fence with and the acoustic wall they installed that has created more issues,” he said. A joint statement, affected Beddingham Drive residents claimed a 12-metre concrete wall, built within six metres from some backyards, had become an eyesore. They allege cooking odours, exhaust fumes, rubbish smells, refrigeration units, extraction fans, delivery vehicles and customer activity have created constant disturbances. The group has called for investigations into the planning and zoning compliance of the food businesses, as well as an independent assessment of noise, odour, and the wall’s impact on surrounding proper-

Wiki maps data boom

Golfer nails hole-in-one At 79 years old, Michael Pulijak thought he had experienced just about everything golf could offer. But during a regular round with close friend Tony Zammit at Keilor Public Golf Course, he achieved every golfer’s dream: a hole-in-one. Playing on the front nine, Michael struck what looked like a well-hit shot before watching it roll across the green and disappear into the cup. For a moment, neither player could quite believe what they had seen. Tony Zammit,77, was in awe of the sporting achievement. “Michael’s a big fella. He let one rip and it just careened across the green straight into the hole. He couldn’t believe it,” Tony said. “At our age you take anything. You take a par, let alone a hole in one.” The pair celebrated the ace with an afternoon of coffees and soft drinks. Despite his great achievement, Michael remained humble. “Tony was more excited than I was,” he said. “When we play we always encourage each other to keep going.” Still, Michael was proud of his golfing skills. “Its the best feeling for a golfer to achieve that. I’ve played in Keilor for a long time.” The ace was Michael’s first at Keilor, having previously made just one other hole-in-one at Gisborne. Michael said his golfing passion was driven by his friendship with Tony as they continued to support each other on the course. “Tony was just so happy for me.” Michael’s ace may have been the shot of a lifetime, but for him and Tony, the

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St Albans identified as a numberplate theft hotspot Residential streets in St Albans and Craigieburn are hotspots for number plate thefts according to new crime data. Crimes Statistics Agency Data shows that of the 32,614 number plate thefts in the three months to March, 14,431 were taken from cars parked on residential streets. St Albans and Cragieburn each recorded 170 thefts placing them amongst the top five most affected suburbs behind Dandenong (310), Preston (213) and Reservoir (197). Local hotspots for number plate thefts include Main Road, Thorndon Drive and

ties. A Melton council spokesperson said council was aware of residents’ concerns regarding air quality, odour, and noise. “Council understands that mitigation measures, including additional filtration and acoustic panels, have been implemented by either individual tenancies or the landowner,” they said. “Council is undertaking an independent assessment of those measures to understand their effectiveness and to consider any further steps council may take.” Council said it remained committed to protecting residential amenity and would continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant stakeholders.

William Street in St Albans and Yellowbox Drive and Lawn Court in Craigieburn. According to Victoria Police numberplates are the most common item to be stolen from cars and are often used to perpetrate more serious offending. Offenders use stolen number plates to hide the identity of a vehicle when committing other crimes such as burglaries, ram raids, petrol drive offs and to evade police. To avoid falling victim to number plate theft, police are urging people to park vehicles off the street and in a garage if possible.

2 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

Owners can fit anti-theft screws to their number plates which can be purchased from hardware stores, automotive parts stores and petrol stations. “Police are seeing far too many offenders steal number plates to help them fly under the radar and commit further offending,” said North West Metro Region Commander Jacki Kline. “Police are working hard to make arrests for the crime – but we also implore the community to take preventative steps to help protect their plates.”

Residents concerned about the rapid spread of data centres across Melbourne’s west have launched a new online tracker, saying communities deserve better access to information about developments planned for their suburbs. The community-led Data Centre Wiki brings together details of existing, approved and proposed facilities making it easier for people to find out information on what is happening in their neighbourhoods. The collaborative website has been modelled on Wikipedia and includes information on existing facilities across West Footscray, Brooklyn, Derrimut, Tullamarine, and those proposed or in the construction phase for Laverton North, Spotswood, Plumpton, Truganina, Cobblebank, Mickleham, and Campbellfield. Community members are also invited to contribute their own information, allowing the resource to be updated as new developments emerge. Western Metropolitan MP David Ettershank said Data Centre Wiki was a practical response to the lack of publicly accessible information about an industry expanding rapidly across the west. “Communities shouldn’t have to build their own information resource just to understand what’s being proposed in their neighbourhood. But when people can’t easily find the information they’re looking for, they’ll work together to fill the gap,” he said. “The Wiki gives residents a place to share information and better understand the scale of data centre development in their communities.“ Mr Ettershank said residents had legitimate concerns about the pace of development and the lack of transparency surrounding the industry. “Most of the proposed data centres in Victoria are planned for Melbourne’s west,” Mr Ettershank said. “These are major industrial developments that can consume significant amounts of land, electricity and water, yet many local communities have had little opportunity to understand what is being planned or what the long-term impacts could be.” Mr Ettershank said he had spent considerable time chasing transparency around the proposed facilities. “For more than a year I’ve been asking the government how it intends to regulate this rapidly growing industry to protect communities and the environment,” he said. Details: https://datacentremoratorium.net/index.php/Resources:Data_ Centre_Tracker.

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Calder works underway The Calder Park Drive Interchange Project will enter its next phase. Pre-construction works are underway on the upgrade, as the federal government promises to provide safer and more efficient access to the Calder Freeway for the growing communities of Melbourne’s west. The project will deliver a full diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive by raising the freeway over Calder Park Drive, removing direct freeway access from Calder Park Raceway and Organ Pipes National Park, and increasing the freeway speed limit through the interchange to 100km/h. Gorton MP Alice Jordan-Baird said the

project reflects the federal government’s commitment to ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with regions of growth, while improving safety and streamline access along the busy Calder Freeway. “Every week more families choose to call Melbourne’s west home, and it’s essential that our road network grows with our community,” Ms Jordan-Baird said. “This project will deliver a safer, more reliable connection to the Calder Freeway, reducing congestion and improving travel times for the thousands of people who use this corridor every day.” As part of the pre-construction phase,

An artist impression of the Calder Park Drive interchange.

detailed site investigations, environmental assessments and geotechnical testing will be undertaken to refine the design, obtain

planning approvals and preparing for construction. Ms Jordan-Baird said these early works are an important step towards delivering the project. “Major infrastructure projects require careful planning to ensure they are delivered safely and efficiently. These investigations will help finalise the design and prepare the project for construction. “We’re getting on with delivering the infrastructure our growing communities deserve, ensuring roads are safer, less congested and better connected - helping people get to work, school and home sooner.”

Teen charged in crime probe

Brimbank SES unit volunteers. (Supplied)

Brimbank SES calls for new volunteers Residents looking to give back to their community are encouraged to consider joining the Brimbank State Emergency Service unit, which is currently recruiting new volunteers. The unit is seeking community-minded, team-oriented people who are interested in supporting their local community during emergencies while developing valuable skills. Volunteering with VICSES provides members with nationally recognised training, practical emergency response experience and the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team of volunteers. Members also have the chance to

participate in incidents and community events that most people only witness from the sidelines. The Brimbank unit responds to a wide range of requests for assistance, including storm and wind damage, fallen trees blocking roads and other weather-related incidents. Volunteers also support Victoria Police with land searches, crime scene protection, lighting and animal rescues, and assist during larger-scale emergencies such as bushfires. “We are looking for people – men, women, younger, older, no matter your background, to come and volunteer

with us,” said recruitment drive facilitator Michael Eder. “SES members get the opportunity to work alongside like-minded people in the community and participate in events that most people only see from the outside. We are well supported by experienced people and train weekly.“ Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend an information night on Monday 24 August, from 7pm at the Brimbank VICSES Unit, 66 Stadium Drive, Keilor Park. To register, email Brimbank@ses.vic. gov.au.

Cabinet reshuffle gives Suleyman new responsibilites Premier Ben Carroll’s reshuffle of the state cabinet will see St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman take on the new portfolio of minister for trade, tourism and investment in addition to her role minister for small and family business and veterans. “I’m honoured to take on the new portfolios of trade and investment and I look forward to bringing new markets, new visitors and new opportunities into Victoria for the small and family businesses that are the backbone of our economy,”

Ms Suleyman said. “My focus will be to support Victorian businesses by growing trade and investment, creating jobs and strengthening our economy.” The portfolio for tourism was previously held by Oakleigh MP Steve Dimopoulous who was appointed as minister for WorkSafe and TAC and remains minister for sport. Ms Suleyman has been minister for veterans since 2022.

“I’m also honoured to continue the important work we do to support our veteran community,” she said. Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch – whose electorate covers parts of Sunshine and Deer Park – will remain minister for youth and careers and volunteers. Mr Carroll said the ministry was reduced to save costs. “This is a simple measure I can make right now to save taxpayers money,” he said.

A 19-year-old Fraser Rise man is facing serious drug and firearms charges after a major police operation targeting an alleged organised crime syndicate linked to violent attacks on Melbourne businesses. Detectives arrested the teenager following coordinated raids across Melbourne, seizing alleged drugs, weapons, counterfeit cash and luxury vehicles. The investigation commenced in April when police received intelligence in relation to drug and firearms trafficking linked to an offshore syndicate leader. Police then executed a search warrant at a Fraser Rise address seizing mobile phones. Another three search warrants were executed on Friday 31 July at a residential address in Fraser Rise, a business premises in Keilor Downs, and a residential address in Port Melbourne, where detectives seized what is believed to be methylamphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy. A Porsche SUV, alleged counterfeit notes, steroids, a dagger, OC spray, two extendable batons, and a number of mobile phones were also seized during the searches. The Fraser Rise teenager was arrested and has since been charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, attempting to traffic a handgun, and eight counts each of trafficking methylamphetamine and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail. An 18-year-old Caroline Springs man was also arrested before being interviewed and released by police pending further investigations. The investigation remains ongoing. The arrests follow the establishment of Operation Eclipse back in April, first established by police in response to the organised crime syndicate believed to be responsible for attacks on licensed venues in central Melbourne, as well as against people associated with those businesses. The operation has since expanded its focus to include other acts of violence directed by the syndicate which police believe has been undertaken to extort other business types and seek to control the illicit drug and tobacco markets. Anyone with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Mario’s plea to slow down By Jack O’Shea-Ayres A Deanside resident has urged motorists to slow down and take more care on the roads. Long-time Deanside resident Mario Cachia has called on the west’s drivers to take greater care after witnessing multiple crashes, collisions, and accidents along Clarkes Road and its connecting roads, including incidents which have repeatedly caused damage to his property. Mr Cachia, who has lived at his Clarkes Road property for close to 40 years, said the road had changed dramatically as development in the area had increased, with traffic and speeding becoming growing concerns. Mr Cachia described the most recent incident involving multiple vehicles colliding near the Clarkes Road and Neale Road roundabout as “traumatising”. “It ripped the whole front end of a car off, threw another car on its roof, and one car went through our fence trying to avoid the action,” he said. “One person was injured really badly.” Mr Cachia said vehicles had crashed through his property’s fence on multiple occasions, with the latest incident adding to a long history of crashes occurring just metres from where his family sleep. “This is probably the fifth time someone’s gone through our fence here,” Mr Cachia said. “They go so fast, some of these drivers, that they go through our fence and end up inside our property.” He recalled another incident in which a driver crashed through the fence before continuing down the road and hitting another section of fencing about 100 metres away. He also pointed to hooning in the area

Mario Cachia is calling on drivers to approach their trips with more care as crashes continue to plague Clarkes Road. Mr Cachia with his children Mariel (10), Marco (6) and Marytess (4). (Damjan Janevski). 567090_03

as a major cause for concern, recalling a vehicle that had reportedly been travelling at speeds over 200km/h along the road in the early hours of the morning. He said the increasing number of vehicles using the roads had made it more important for drivers to obey speed limits and remain alert to changing road conditions. “You can’t do these things, you’re risking

your life as well as others,” he said. “There could be anything on the road. If you’re going flat out and then hit something, you don’t know where you’re going to end up.” Mr Cachia said he hoped motorists would consider the potential consequences of dangerous driving and slow down, particularly as Deanside continues to grow.

He said drivers needed to remember that roads were shared spaces and that excessive speed could have devastating consequences for motorists, passengers, and nearby residents. The calls come as residents across the rapidly rapidly growing west content with increased traffic on local roads amongst ongoing development.

Young mum’s message during brave bowel cancer battle By Glenn Fisher “I’m not scared.” Rebecca Arden is also not old. Not even close to middle-aged. So nowhere near the age when medical experts recommend getting checked for something such as bowel cancer. Married for six years to Jesse and a loving mum to two young daughters aged five and two , Rebecca is just 37. But this brave Sunbury woman’s world was turned upside down on 18 June when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel and liver cancer. “I’ve been told my cancer is incurable, which was devastating to hear,” Rebecca told Star Weekly last week. “But I’m not scared. I’ve had the conversation with Jesse about if I pass. But I’m also a warrior. “I’m optimistic, like always, and I believe miracles can happen. “I’m choosing to focus on treatment, which is chemotherapy at the Sunbury Day Hospital, and time with my family, and making the most of every day.” Busy with her young children and a regular volunteer at Sunbury Toy Library, Rebecca said she had “many vague symptoms of being unwell“, iron deficiencies and anaemia, heavy and painful menstrual cycles, and various treatments for PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome formerly known as PCOS) and hormonal issues. It wasn’t until fatigue set in about January this year, followed by a raft of blood tests, treatment for a stomach bug, and more severe gastro-intestinal pain in April that she was sent for a bowel screening test, colonoscopy and finally an ultrasound in June. On 18 June, an oncologist told her there

Rebecca Arden is a 37-year-old Sunbury wife and mother of two was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. (Damjan Janevski) 567018_01

were cancerous spots on her liver and that a biopsy confirmed she had Stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to her liver. One week later, Rebecca had a port inserted into her body, where IV lines are now hooked up for fortnightly chemotherapy sessions at Sunbury Day Hospital and which continue at home for two days via a portable vessel before the IV is detached until the next session. “I was also told it was a slow growing cancer, that it didn’t just appear overnight, so maybe I have had cancer for a few years,” Rebecca said. “Looking back, I wish bowel cancer had been considered sooner. “But my goal isn’t to blame anyone or cause unnecessary alarm.

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“If sharing my experience helps even one person receive an earlier diagnosis or encourages someone to trust their instincts, then telling my story will have made a difference.” Rebecca continues to look ahead as she receives her treatment, saying she wants to “continue to be the mum I was” and get back to participating in events, return to the toy library, to kindergarten and be there when the couple’s eldest daughter starts school next year. Despite her own situation, Rebecca said she was so grateful for her support network of family and close friends, including her husband, parents, in-laws and sister, and had “huge respect” to frontline medical teams and especially the caring nurses at

Sunshine Hospital and Sunbury Day Hospital. “I’m sharing my story because I want other young women to know that bowel cancer isn’t just a disease of older people, and that persistent or unusual symptoms deserve to be investigated,” she said. Early-onset bowel cancer (diagnoses for people aged under 50) now accounts for about one in nine new cases. According to the Victorian Cancer Registry, rates have surged by 65 per cent in the past 20 years. Rebecca is posting personal blogs about her journey on a GoFundMe page (https:// www.gofundme.com/f/rebeccas-cancer-journey-9grjj) that was started by her family to help cover the family’s many unforeseen costs.

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Bush skills workshop Build confidence to safely explore the Australian bush at a beginner-friendly workshop. Learn essential bush skills, camping basics, fire safety, navigation and wildlife awareness through hands-on activities. Participants can also enjoy marshmallows by the campfire and go into the draw to win a bush safety prize pack. A $10 registration fee applies and will be refunded upon attendance.The workshop will be held on Saturday, 15 August 2026, from 2.30pm to 6.00pm at Westvale Community Centre, 45 Kings Road, Kings Park.

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Maribyrnong River litter clean-up Regional head of Macquaire Group Foundation Anna Le Masurier and CEO of Concern Australia Judith Atkinson. (Damjan Janevski) 569846_01

Helping young people thrive Charity organisation Concern Australia recently held an open day to showcase its community support initiatives. The group delivers a range of programs to aid disadvantaged youths. Programs include Youth Empowerment, aimed at supporting young people aged 14-17 to develop life skills through workshops and social activities. Additional programs include automotive training courses, volunteer outreach services for the homeless, accommodation and support services for teenagers transitioning from state care to independence and employee assistance services. “Fundamentally we are about helping young people that are vulnerable and disadvantaged to pursue a positive future,”

Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra with migrants and VU EAL students Hussain Haq Parast (left) and Khalid Ahmadi during a visit to the Sunshine campus on 30 July. (Supplied)

Mayor is a migrant role model When 19-year-old Afghan student Hussain Haq Parast arrived in Melbourne last year after fleeing the Taliban with his family, he spoke very little English. But last week , the Victoria University (VU) student delivered a heartfelt speech, sharing his story with students, staff and his new role model: Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra. Cr Semra, a VU business student who has deferred his studies – visited the Sunshine campus on Thursday 30 July to share his leadership journey with students at the Western Melbourne English Program (WMEP) Mr Haq Parast told the event that Cr Semra had inspired him to become a volunteer. Th rough the VU Vollies program he’s visited a Footscray aged care home and taught sport to other young migrants

through the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s Team Up program. Last month Mr Haq Parast even wrote to Cr Semra to arrange a meeting and seek advice on how to become a mayor himself. “After learning about your journey, I felt inspired because I saw someone from a migrant background who worked hard, helped the community and became a leader,” he wrote in the letter. “Your story showed me that no matter where a person comes from, they can achieve great things through hard work, kindness, and determination. The things you said about believing in yourself, working hard, and giving back to the community really inspired me. “It encouraged me to dream bigger and believe that one day I can also become a community leader, or even a mayor, and help people in Australia.”

said Board chair Jon Ma. “At the heart of our focus is to create a positive pathway and allow them to picture that their life can be really exciting. Every young person has a positive future, it just needs to be pursued.” The open day was a chance for youth volunteers and participants to showcase the charity’s work. “It’s our privilege to work with lots of amazing young people,” said CEO Judith Atkinson. “If we give young people a positive opportunity they can do all kinds of fantastic things, even if they have faced many challenges. Investing in young people it’s absolutely worth it, for them and for the whole community.” To get involved or find out more go to www. concernaustralia.org.au/get-involved/.

Join a community litter clean-up along the Maribyrnong River on Thursday 27 August from 1.30pm to 3pm. Meet at the end of Fosters Road, Keilor, and help keep local waterways clean. Participants are encouraged to wear suitable clothing and sturdy, waterproof footwear, and bring their own gloves and water bottle. Litter grabbers, rubbish bags and waste collection will be provided. Community groups, schools and businesses interested in organising a future clean-up are also encouraged to get involved.

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Charlie’s spirit lingers on In the opinion of all who knew him, Charles Lewis Greenwood was a happy- go- lucky bloke, with a sparkling personality that made him the life and soul of any party he attended. One of 12 children, he was accustomed to making himself heard by roaring over the racket made by his siblings, a rigorous training regimen which served him well in his future career of blasting the ears off back benchers. For all his popularity, however, he felt that something was missing in his life, and in 1909 at the Footscray Church of Christ, he found God. A fi re with his newfound enthusiasm, he soon started a “cottage mission”, meetings held at his own Sunshine home, usually attended by about 200 people, most of whom were lured more by Mrs Greenwood’s scones than rebukes from the pulpit. The Sunshine meetings grew so popular that Charlie established the Sunshine Gospel Hall in 1925. Hundreds, convinced that they were in imminent danger of Hellfi re, came to be convicted of sin and blessed by the Holy Spirit. When the house was no longer large enough to hold the crowds, Charlie graduated to open-air preaching. Miraculous healings were reported. Some spoke in tongues. All of this was deemed proof that God was working through his servant, Charlie Greenwood. Open-air preaching had its drawbacks, like heavy rains and nipping winds that made it an ordeal to be endured, rather than a pleasant interaction with God. Miserable weather kept the crowds away, even though scones were still on the menu. Charlie shifted to Bridge Road, Richmond, and started the Richmond Temple, which became the mother church of a Pentecostal network. Word spread rapidly. It was common knowledge that Pastor Greenwood was frequently summoned from his bed at unearthly hours to minister to the dying, or exorcise demons which were making pests of themselves by tormenting the mentally ill. In 1927, a young Welshman named Evan Thomas arrived in Warragul with a commission straight from God himself: to save souls, raise the dead and perform miraculous healings. He had popped into the Richmond Temple several times and from what he had observed, he felt certain that he could outdo Pastor Greenwood in the soul-saving lurk. Preaching to city slickers attracted disruptive hecklers and drunks; it was far easier to carry the good news to unsophisticated country areas. Pastor Thomas preached around Victoria’s rural towns, winning souls and healing the sick. No crank about sectarianism, he preached to Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Baptist congregations. Only the Catholics showed no interest in being saved, healed or resurrected, but then, Catholics were in thrall to the Antichrist himself and beyond all aid, whether earthly or divine. On the afternoon of 4 November, 1927, Pastor Thomas was walking near Warragul Post Office deep in spiritual thought, when a car suddenly pulled up and its two passengers poked their heads out. “Are you Pastor Evan Thomas, the minister who performs miracles?” “Yes, I am,” Evan admitted modestly. “How can I help you?” The message they gave him was like

Barb McNeill. (Damjan Janevski) 432421

angelic trumpets to the ears. A dying girl too frail to come to Warragul, was bedridden in nearby Nilma, and would appreciate the touch of Pastor Evan’s healing hands. Acceptin the courteous offer of the front passenger seat, he leapt into the car, eager to embark on a mission of mercy. During the drive along Princes Highway, Evan chatted to the driver and passengers about the wonders that God had been busily working through his humble servant. The dead were yet to be raised –so far, they had remained stubbornly in their graves – but the dumb spoke and the crippled walked. Hallelujah! Then, for reasons known only to Himself, the Lord permitted His servant to be suddenly coshed from behind by the two back seat passengers . The pastor had a brief glimpse of celestial stars before passing out. He awoke in a paddock, his hands tied behind his back with barbed wire. He had been stripped to the waist and doused fore and aft with tar. Finding that the barbed wire bonds prevented him from rolling onto his back, he forced himself to wriggle painfully to the roadside where he collapsed, totally spent, convinced that Satan was behind this assault. With this unpleasant thought whirling around his throbbing head, he lay by the roadside of the Princes Highway for what seemed eternity until an engineer of the Country Roads Board spotted the pitiful sight and drove him at top speed to the Warragul doctor. There he was treated for shock, subjected to an unpleasant bath of tar-dissolving solvent and his bruises and cuts were patched up. “Why did this happen?” the GP wanted to know. “Have you any enemies?” “No, how could I? I spend my life doing good to others. Unless …” Evan paused. “Unless a rival preacher sent those men. A

6 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

charlatan who seeks glory for himself, and not for God.” With a great show of reluctance, he continued, “Pastor Greenwood of the Pentecostal Church in Melbourne hates me. He’s been threatening to come here to denounce me as unworthy to preach in Warragul. He sent those men to attack me, to force me to leave Warragul so that he can move in and take over.” The saintly Pastor Thomas repeated this story to Sergeant Carter who considered the story so weird that the pastor was handed over to two plainclothes policemen. Constables Ferguson and Montgomery relentlessly applied the pressure, fi nally extracting a signed confession that the alleged assault victim had invented the entire story. He had daubed himself from a jar of pitch, somehow tied his hands behind his back and had lain by the roadside until found a half hour later. But why? In his gentle lilt, Pastor Thomas tearfully tried another tack. Members of the Warragul Pentecostal congregation had already been warned by a lying, envious Pentecostal pastor in Richmond that their new preacher was unworthy to lead them to God. Alarmed that these slanders would seriously imperil his healings and resurrections, he planned a counter-offensive. Finding a jar of pitch in Nilma had provided the brainwave. If he were to pose as a victim of vicious crime, the local Pentecostals, though unsophisticated, would immediately realise that Pastor Greenwood and his Melbourne cronies were the culprits. Naturally, they would reject the preaching of such wicked people, and his own popularity would soar even higher. That is to say, he added hastily, that souls would be drawn ever nearer to God through his servant, Pastor Thomas. If the young Welshman thought that this

sounded perfectly reasonable, the police did not. On Wednesday, 17 November, 1927, the Warragul Court was packed to overflowing when Pastor Evan Thomas, in a grey suit and sporting a buttonhole of sweet peas, appeared before two J.Ps, Messrs Cromie and Hiscock, charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public place. Constable Ferguson was prosecutor, and future wife-killer, James Raymond O’Keefe from Melbourne, appeared for the Defence. Mr O’Keefe launched into a passionate plea. “Even if my client did commit this alleged outrage upon himself , how is it offensive? Whom does it offend to daub oneself in tar, bind one’s wrists with barbed wire and lie by the roadside?” Hastily, the J.P.s consulted some law books that happened to be handy, ready to deal with smart-alec lawyers from Melbourne. Sternly they announced that the defendant’s loopy behaviour did indeed constitute ‘offensive’ under the full meaning of the Act of Parliament. Portraying his client as some sort of twentieth century martyr, Mr O’Keefe continued with a defence that became crazier with each sentence. “My client vigorously denies the false contents of the second statement. He will adhere to the truth of his original statement. Why did he tate that he had tarred himself? “ He paused for dramatic effect. “As a devout Christian, he acted for the noble if misguided purpose of preventing the Pentecostal Church from falling into disrepute. Th is he sincerely believed would happen if he did not, like our Saviour, take upon himself the full punishment due to the sinners who caused this scandalous incident.” The J.P.s exchanged doubtful looks which they then switched to the defendant. “My client was enticed into the car, believing that a dying girl was awaiting a healing from God. There is no evidence that he tarred himself, only that he was found tarred in a public place.” Evan’s statement was read out by Constable Montgomery. The court heard that Pastor Charles Greenwood, who ran the Pentecostal show in Richmond, was burning with envy of the younger man’s success with exorcisms. So covetous was he that he had threatened to come to Warragul and wreck Pastor Thomas’s mission. Pastor Thomas entered the witness box and repeated his original story of assault, battery and bondage. “The second signed statement is incorrect. I made it to save the Pentecostal Church from public disgrace, but now, I am telling the truth. The assault did happen. I was bashed and tarred. The guilty parties must accept their punishment; I can no longer shield them.” The court tittered. The bench took 30 minutes to decide that the original statement was utter nonsense. No heavies had been sent by Pastor Greenwood. There had been no dying girl in Nilma, no car carrying three men, and no cosh wielded from the back seat. The defendant had indeed daubed himself with ta , lied under oath and wasted everyone’s time with his self-serving drivel. They imposed a fi ne of two pounds with two pounds, thirteen shillings costs. Pastor Thomas paid on the spot, adjusted his boutonnière and announced that he would resume preaching… just not in Warragul. With that, he fled, and it is to be devoutly hoped that his next sermon, wherever it was, focused intently on the Ninth Commandment. For the record, Pastor Charles Greenwood, formerly of Sunshine and later Chairman of the Assemblies of God, never showed the faintest interest in muscling his way into any Warragul exorcisms.

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Hobbies for seniors that are suitable and sustainable Retirement is a time to explore new interests, rediscover forgotten passions, and enjoy leisurely pursuits. But what if you could combine your hobbies with a commitment to sustainability? Engaging in eco-friendly activities not only benefits the environment but also enhances your well-being and provides a sense of purpose. At Centennial Living, we encourage our residents to embrace retirement sustainability ideas and adopt green hobbies for elderly individuals. In this blog, we’ll delve into sustainable hobbies for seniors, exploring options like birdwatching, hiking, and participating in local environmental groups. 1. Birdwatching: A Peaceful Eco-Adventure Birdwatching is a popular and low-impact hobby for retirees that encourages a deeper appreciation of nature. Centennial Living’s retirement communities often feature beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyards, providing the perfect environment for birdwatching. Equipped with a pair of binoculars and a field guide, you can embark on a peaceful eco-adventure right in your own community. Birdwatching fosters a sense of tranquillity and allows you to connect with local wildlife while contributing to conservation efforts. 2. Hiking: Explore Nature Responsibly Hiking is an excellent way to stay physically active while exploring the great outdoors. Centennial Living’s retirement villages are often located in picturesque settings, close to nature reserves and walking trails. Lace up your walking boots and venture into the natural beauty that surrounds our communities. Hiking promotes a sustainable lifestyle by encouraging you to appreciate the environment, reduce your carbon footprint, and foster a sense of adventure.

3. Sustainable Crafts: Creativity Meets Eco-Friendliness Engaging in sustainable crafts for seniors is not only a creative outlet but also a way to repurpose materials and reduce waste. At Centennial Living, our arts and crafts rooms are well-equipped for eco-friendly crafting. Create beautiful upcycled projects, make jewellery from recycled materials, or explore other sustainable crafting ideas. These activities not only tap into your artistic talents but also promote a green and sustainable way of life.

4. Join Local Groups: Make a Difference in Your Community One of the retirement sustainability ideas we encourage at Centennial Living is to actively participate in local environmental groups. Many of our retirement communities have established relationships with nearby organisations dedicated to sustainability and conservation. It’s an excellent way to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for sustainability. Retirement is a time to explore, learn,

and make the most of life’s precious moments. Embracing sustainable hobbies for seniors not only enriches your retirement years but also contributes to a healthier planet for future generations. At Centennial Living, we’re here to support your journey towards retirement sustainability. Whether it’s birdwatching, hiking, crafting, or joining local environmental groups, we provide the resources and opportunities to make a positive impact. Speak to one of our lovely team members on 1300 098 000 or visit www.centennialliving.com.au to learn more today!

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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 7

BEHIND THE NEWS

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People get blown away by the diversity in such a space. Essentially, that is a crop to two square metres - Jerry Coleby-Williams Lettuce protected by bales of straw. (Pictures: Supplied)

How Jerry’s garden grows Resilient, reliable, sustainable - Gardening Australia’s Jerry Coleby-Williams has become known nationally as well as overseas for illustrating methods and techniques of gardening that anyone and everyone can have a got at replicating in a way suitable to their home conditions. Erle Levey spoke with the gardening guru.

erry Coleby-Williams has always been willing to share his knowledge and tropical growing skills accumulated over a lifetime. His grandfather was a keen gardener in London and that proved vital to survive in England’s war years. Jerry is one of the familiar faces on ABC-TVs Gardening Australia, with his customary trademark boater-style straw hat. He draws upon his experiences from 23 years of sustainable gardening, which includes everything from starting a garden from scratch to dealing with droughts, floods, heatwaves and a few frosts. And even though he is based in Brisbane, Jerry’s gardening advice is adaptable and relatable to anyone interested in sustainability and growing their own food. Jerry’s award-winning, sustainable property is known as Bellis. There he successfully operates a 300-square-metre sustainable garden boasting 127 different plants. “People get blown away by the diversity in such a space. Essentially, that is a crop to two square metres,” he said. Bellis is designed to be a model that anyone can replicate, featuring water efficiency, energy production, organic growing and climate resilience. Th is involves harvesting rainwater and utilising treated domestic wastewater, generating solar power, cultivating more than 100 different edible crops, rare plants, and heritage seeds. Planting native and subtropical species adapted to extreme weather, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves has also been a priority. In 1992 he emigrated to Australia, following his ongoing passion for West Australian wildflowers. Th is led to his work at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. In 2017 Jerry was invited to attend the United Nations conventions at Geneva in Switzerland to speak about sustainable food production. “So many things can change in an instant. “Remember we’ve been here before during Covid, remember supply chain failures and my responses to them? “I held drive-by plant sales. I supplied community nurseries with stock. I even sent the ABC an action plan to better support their gardening audience. “I warned that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would affect global grain, fertiliser

Above: ABC Gardening Australia’s Jerry Coleby-Williams. Inset: ABC gardening personalities Phil Dudman and Jerry Coleby-Williams.

and oil prices. “Remember lettuce at $12 a head? That was due to a flood crisis way back in 2022. “Now it’s the price of oil triggered by politics that’s behind the latest rising cost of food. “More prices rises are already in the pipeline because the cost of everything depends on the availability and cost of oil.’’ At the same time Jerry has a shared

8 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

hope for feeding the homeless through communit y-led initiatives. h Modern homes have garages for sprouting seed and for growing mushrooms. Sprouting seed is the quickest way to grow nutritionally dense food there is, he said. “Use a windowsill or a garage. I started

sprouting seed in a linen cupboard. “Sixty years ago my family used a garage for storing fruit and root crops. My current 1914 Queenslander had space under the house to park a car - until I put that space to horticulture. “In Sydney I recorded a story on just how productive a sunny garage with a permaculture makeover can be - its sides had potted fruiting tomatoes cascading down them.” Jerry has been a tenant in five cities, so he knows balconies and windowsills can produce food in containers. He gained a reputation for beautiful, edible window boxes in 1980’s Paris. Now he grows food in containers, in self-watering pots. Jerry put a raised garden bed in for his 93-year-old friend and he said she loves it. Gardening keeps her fit and attached … watering the plants, collecting seeds. In a food-sharing community you were not as isolated - anyone can share the catch from a day fishing, or cook a stuffed capsicum and have a gorgeous meal on a bed of lettuce. It’s a simple exercise that builds community. Garden clubs are another way of sharing propagating material and knowledge. “A garden is diverse. A lot I get from the garden for a meal is foraged - mint, fennel, parsley - so you are eating volunteers rather than a dedicated crop. “Lettuce cast their seed in the air. That’s the concept to get into our minds. “These are non-hybrid crops so the act of preparing dinner is a matter of getting order in yyour ggarden. “A classic example was 10 years ago I had planned an open garden day, but there was a complete crop failure in one bed. So we turned it into an exercise of what could grow in such a situation. “We created rows and blocks of bl mulch. l h useable “Enclosed by bales of hay, my crops were sheltered from drying winds and could easily be protected from frost. “Everyone thought it was planned. So saving face turned into success.’’

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NEWS

Good Samaritan mourned By Eleanor Wilson. AAP Brimbank council flags were at half-mast last week in honour of a good Samaritan who died days after he was allegedly attacked by shoplifting youths outside a local shopping strip in Sunshine. Van Viet Truong was critically injured after he rushed to the aid of a fellow retail worker trying to stop the group stealing clothes at Sunshine, on Saturday 1 August, police allege. The Hong Hung Asian Grocery store owner was rushed to hospital but died on Wednesday afternoon, police confi rmed on Thursday. Floral tributes outside the Hampshire Road store, which has been a mainstay on the strip for more than two decades, were growing on Thursday afternoon as mourners stopped to pay their respects. A note on the shop’s roller door said it would be closed until further notice due to an unexpected family emergency. The 60-year-old’s passing has devastated local traders including Julie Tran, whose Vietnamese restaurant Thuan An is doors down from where the street scuffle unfolded. “He was always really friendly to all the businesses. When we walked past his store he’d always say ‘hi’ and smile,” she said.. “His wife and his mother-in-law were always there with him, it was the three of them constantly there running the store.” Th ree boys aged 12, 13 and 15 and two 14-year-old girls were charged with a series of assault-related offences including aff ray, violent disorder and intentionally causing serious injury. On Thursday police upgraded charges against a 15-year-old boy from the Brimbank area to manslaughter. Charges against the 13-year-old boy were withdrawn. Angered traders have long called for help from the council and state government in addressing rising anti-social behaviour, crime and mental health concerns.

“They could have made a change. It didn’t have to take a person to die for them actually try to push for this further,” Ms Tran said. Since opening her restaurant 18 years ago, Ms Tran said the shopping strip has become a hub for crime and anti-social behaviour. “We’re here to make a living. We shouldn’t have to be on edge every time we go to work,” she said. Crime in the Brimbank council area is at its highest rate in six years and is almost nine per cent higher than the Victorian average, recent Crime Statistics Agency figures show. Traders fear round-the-clock police patrols in Melbourne’s west following the attack could be a short-term fi x. Laverton MP Sarah Connolly and new police minister Paul Edbrooke met with traders on Wednesday to hear their

Above: Van Viet Truong. (Supplied) Right: Two women comfort each other after placing flowers outside the Hong Hung Asian Grocer in Sunshine. (AAP Image/Jay Kogler)

concerns. Mr Truong was described as a pillar of the community, a generous supporter and a kind friend by Brimbank mayor Virginia Tachos. The council will continue to lobby the state government for a sustained increase in police numbers, Ms Tachos said. Premier Carroll joined Cr Tachos, St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman, Ms Connolly

and Mr Edbrooke at a community memorial outside Mr Truong’s shop to pay their respects. There are no words for this,” the premier said. “In a moment when someone else needed help, Van Viet Truong chose courage. He should have been able to go home to his family. There is nothing that can ease that pain. Nothing that can make sense of a loss like this.”

‘West deserves better’: Mayors united in call for action From page 1.

entire western suburbs community 24-7, including Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Brimbank and Melton areas. “While some local police stations have reduced public counter hours, officers continue to work and deploy from each station around the clock. “Our focus is on more street than station. Frontline patrols in the community have

remained completely unimpacted, and have actually been enhanced by these public counter revisions.” Acting Commander Papworth said police have strong ongoing relationships with councils and support services across the west to address key issues including amenity, homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health.

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North West Metro Region Acting Commander Troy Papworth said there was no doubt the incident in Sunshine had a ripple effect through the community and had caused angst and concerns. “Police feel these concerns as well –

we are as much a part of the community ourselves,” he said. “Following the alleged incident, we have enhanced our response to the Sunshine area to provide a dedicated and highly visible presence. Police will be there to provide support and ongoing reassurance as long as it’s needed. “We also have police patrolling the

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 9

COMMENT

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Evan Turok.

A ‘show of excellence’ and another Toy Story film

(Damjan Janevski) 545799_04

Romsey movie buff Evan Turok is Star Weekly’s film reviewer. Each month he shares his take on recent releases, cult classics, modern favourites and everything in between.

Toy Story 5 (G) Andrew Stanton’s Toy Story 5 is a story of replacement and the struggles of growing up in today’s world, told through a tale of toys vs. technology. When the band of toys now owned by eight-year-old Bonnie are suddenly beginning to be forgotten and cast away in place of an iPad, the sentient toys spring into action to reignite Bonnie’s imagination and help her make friends with other like-minded kids. Whether you are a fan of the original or you have been alive recently, I’m sure you have heard of the starring toy, Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks. Th is cowboy doll, over the past 31 years, has experienced levels of unmatched character development that is nothing short of perfection. Knowing that anything more that could be done to Woody would only

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All the President’s Men (M) Alan J. Pakula’s 1976 mystery thriller All the President’s Men is a show of excellence in every aspect of fi lm. From a realistic yet funny script that continues to build upon itself throughout, to acting that is natural and engaging, and, of course, award-winning production design, All the President’s Men holds a standard that is proven grueling to maintain. Th is fi lm is set fresh off events of the Watergate scandal, an incident in which one political party is caught attempting to illegally spy on and record the opposing party. Th is had devastating effects on the US and is cited as ruining the public’s trust for their elected officials. We follow a pair of newspaper journalists who are set on fi nding the truth and exposing it to the public.

serve to ruin the conclusive arc, the idea of a fi fth instalment had me nervous. The writers and directors had the same idea, choosing to push to centre stage, cowgirl toy, Jessie. Th is genius move allowed for emotional shifts and further development without a forced nature. Unfortunately, the side plots taken on by other non lead characters are weak and uninteresting, lacking the comedy we have come to recognise in Toy Story fi lms. Toy Story 5’s message about how technology is forcing kids to grow up too fast is a brutal one, strong emotion is still abundant five fi lms later. Scenes of online bullying are gut-wrenching in that signature Pixar style. A decent fi lm, but please, leave this franchise alone now.

Dustin Hoff man and Robbert Reford have a chemistry impossible to replicate. They bounce off one another with a casual grace, you can’t help but be kept in the flow of the story. Hoff man especially is very funny, which helps to cut through the complicated nature of the constantly unravelling political mystery. The uses of different camera techniques made sure the entire frame was in action. Never was the background blurred completely. There was a deliberate focus, literally and figuratively, on the background and foreground, ensuring each frame was lively, fi lled with people and activity that almost surrounded my viewing at the beautiful Astor Theater into a 360-degree experience, inviting you into the adventure and creating an environment rather than simply a scene.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors

40 years ago

30 years ago

20 years ago

10 years ago

13 August, 1986

14 August, 1996

8 August, 2006

9 August, 2016

Sixty-one year old Mary Nance of Maribyrnong began her writing in her late fi fties.

A magistrate said yesterday that teachers at Sunshine Secondary College had lost control of their students.

Former Brimbank councillor Sam Tabban was on Friday committed for trial in the County Court on a charge of attempting to bribe a fellow councillor in October 2004.

Drivers have been warned to expect delays as two years’ worth of works begin to upgrade the EJ Whitten Bridge to five lanes in each direction.

10 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

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NEWS

My Place Since 2018 Mat O’Keefe has owned and operated Pride of Our Footscray, a prominent queer late night venue on Hopkins Street. He spoke to Cade Lucas about living in the area. What’s your connection to the north-west of Melbourne ? My grandfather Jack O’Keefe was from Footscray. He moved over to Pascoe Vale when he got married to grandma, but he took his love of the Bulldogs with him and rarely missed a game despite having 10 kids! So my dad was born in Pascoe Vale and I lived there too, as well as nearby suburbs like Preston, Brunswick West and Brunwick East. Even did a four year stint in Darwin. I found my way to Maribyrnong at the end of 2013, first in Yarraville, but then moved next to the Whitten Oval to be closer to God (Bont). I have finally settled in Maidstone! And of course, I actually spend most of my life in Footscray running Pride of our Footscray. I’m on the Footscray Traders Association committee and am also part of the Future Footscray group through council, so I really do talk about Footscray a lot! What do you like about living/working here? I love the area, which is why I both live and work within Maribyrnong. For whatever magical reason, Footscray particularly feels like everyone’s in it together, like it’s a small village, and we’re all doing our best for the village and we’re proud of its achievements. Be it the success of the Bulldogs or when Cavallaro’s cannolli gets some attention or even hyper local amazing things like the Footscray Rubbish Runners or Crokinole Club or Trugo Club, just many very cool things, not to mention the obvious other things like the Vietnamese and Afri-

Mat O’Keefe. (Damjan Janevski) 553537_02

can restaurants. Hung Vuong’s pho helped convince me to move to Footscray, and the Banh Mi places all have their own character and stories and are basically legendary. It’s also incredible that Footscray can live so harmoniously together with so many nations represented, possibly the greatest advertisement for multiculturalism in the world. What, if anything, would you change about the area? Within the boundaries of Footscray, you have a number of very impressive things: an incredibly busy train station, the home of the world’s greatest football team, the mighty Maribyrnong River, a brand-new hospital, Footscray Park, the Heavenly Queen Temple, Footscray Community Art Centre and of course, the famous market. There’s a lot

to be grateful for. But sometimes the centre of Footscray can seem eerily deserted. So we need to encourage people visiting the outskirts of Footscray to also visit the centre and there’s some really good work going on to make that happen, as things currently seem a bit unbalanced. One simple idea that was mentioned was directing safe slow-speed cycling through the middle of Footscray to encourage visitation. Where is your favourite local place to spend time? Footscray Park and the Maribyrnong River trail for Pokemon with my partner Howard. The Local Cafe and French Baguette Bakery for Banh Mi. Hung Vuong for soup, Don Don for bento, Tan Thanh Loi, Viet Kitchen or Co Tham Can Tho for Viet meals, Conway Coffee, and Foodle at High Point!

Also special mentions to Savers Footscray and Yen Huot Gift Shop ($2 shop) on Paisley for shopping. Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you I won the under-14s cricketer of the year in Darwin in 1992, after a good year which included my first century. I thought I was going to open the batting for Australia! But I never made another 100 ever again. So my memories of cricket are quite painful, though I did contribute to a premiership in our park-grade seconds for Melbourne Wanderers as an openly gay player in 2002, wherein they called me Matty “Pretty Boy” O’Keefe in the end of season team report. Like the elusive second century, I was never called pretty ever again! Now I’m bald and hoping to learn golf! Time flies.

Students push to improve emergency healthcare By Binusha Pathirana This year marked a very special milestone for the Victorian Youth Parliament program - the 40th anniversary. Forty years of young people creating, debating and presenting bills on key issues across their communities, during their sitting week in the parliamentary chambers. As part of the 2026 Youth Parliament program, students from Overnewton Anglican College in the west represented the college within the Legislative Assembly. The team included students Ada Ozkan, Barnaby Trimble, Chloe Ord-Hume, Isaiah Jayasooriya, Komal Gill and Laura Ord-Hume. As pressures on Victoria’s healthcare system continue to rise, these students passionately wrote and debated a bill which aims to increase and improve emergency healthcare. “This bill reduces barriers to care while simultaneously increasing efficiency of our healthcare system” said Ozkan. The team debated strongly against their refuters from the CREATE foundation, with their bill proposing the introduction of an emergency department board, virtual care assistance, more healthcare support for regional areas as well as increased health literacy. The proposed emergency department board will partner with existing health authorities to promote optimal care through “monitoring emergency departments, iden-

Overnewton Youth Parliament team members Ada Ozkan, Chloe Ord-Hume and Laura Ord-Hume. (Supplied)

tifying areas for improvement as well as implementing systemic changes”. The board will therefore bring together experienced professionals that will make evidence based decisions to improve the efficiency and quality of emergency healthcare. Through the establishment of a “twostage virtual care assessment system,” the bill also advocates for patients to be “guided towards the most appropriate form of care based on the urgency of their condition”. This will increase efficiency and also

work to address delays when accessing care within the current emergency healthcare system. “Our bill presents a solution to the extensive wait times currently compromising emergency efficiency” said Gill. Furthermore, the proposed virtual care system will “create a clearer pathway for lower risk patients” through ensuring that “emergency resources are focused on those that need it most”. To ensure equitable emergency healthcare is provided to all, the team also chose to

prioritise healthcare accessibility for people in rural and regional areas. Through initiatives including the implementation of cheaper ambulance fees, the team pushed that such financial aid would encourage people in rural areas to now become “less hesitant in using ambulance services”. Finally, the bill aimed to increase health literacy, with the team advocating for a “statewide health literacy awareness campaign” which will educate and inform the public on “when to attend the emergency department, how to access virtual care and understand affordable healthcare options”. The push to increase health literacy initiatives will also incorporate several suggestions made by the Overnewton team to reduce access barriers, including “free first aid courses offered in rural areas” which will “improve community competence to respond in an emergency”. Despite the heated debate, the Overnewton student team’s bill passed with a majority ‘in favour’ vote within the Youth Parliament’s Legislative Assembly. This serves as a crucial reminder that all Victorian’s deserve an emergency healthcare system which is accessible and efficient. Our young people in the west and beyond will continue to advocate for a future which reduces pressures and increases accessibility to emergency healthcare systems in Victoria. * Binusha Pathirana is a member of the Youth Parliament press gallery.

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 11

NEWS

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Nylon Phoenix is on the rise A chance meeting and a shared dream was the spark that Sunbury locals Jet Bastos and Floyd Bassett needed to come together. Georgia Tacey caught up with duo Nylon Phoenix to hear more about the band and its origins in the lead up to their debut single Magenta releasing this month.

very great band has that iconic story of how they came to be. U2 formed through an ad on a bulletin board. For Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong met Mike Dirnt at a bus stop on their way to school. But for Nylon Phoenix, it all started in a restaurant and the constant tap tap tapping of Floyd Bassett’s imaginary drum. His future bandmate Jet Bastos, though he didn’t know it yet, was working at that very restaurant he came upon looking for his feed. “Whenever I have to wait for anything in my life, whether I’m at the supermarket or the gym or anything, I just start tapping, going through drum beats,” Bassett said. “I could see Jet watching me as I’m tapping along, waiting for my food, and he walks up to me as he’s like ‘are you all right man? You’ve just ordered, it’s gonna take a couple of minutes’. “I’m like ‘oh sorry, I’m just practising some beats that I’m working on’, and he said ‘Wait a minute, you’re a drummer? I’m looking for a drummer in this band I’m starting’.” It was perfect timing. Bassett, a skilled drummer, was looking for a fresh project after his previous band disbanded. Bastos, already a solo artist, was looking for someone to join him and create a band and accompany his vocals and ukulele. “We jammed and realised we had a good mix of influences and Nylon Phoenix was born,” Bassett said. Fusing ukulele punk and alternative, the duo has been playing a number of gigs and open mics around Melbourne as they navigate their way through the Melbourne music scene. Their name – taken from Bastos’s middle name Phoenix and the material used to make strings on the ukulele that defi nes their sound – was the perfect descriptor and title that was all thanks to Bastos. “The name is a bit of a contradiction in of itself, being a combination of the artificial, contrasted by the natural; it’s a critique of the insincerity of the modern popular music scene,” Bassett said. “It however also describes our music perfectly, as we combine live performances of acoustic and electric instruments with synthesized tracks, attempting to blend and balance the two different worlds together.” Over the past two years since their fateful meeting, Bassett and Bastos have been busy honing their sound and recording music, with their debut single set to release this August. Magenta, their fi rst single, will dive deep into Bastos’ trials and tribulations navigating the modern dating world. “It’s pretty much a critique on myself in the modern dating scene, which I fi nd quite funny,” Bastos said. The duo has spent the better part of the past year – alongside other gigs and projects – chipping away at the song, with Bastos taking the lead on production. “Jet comes up with the initial song idea and shows me and we start to workshop some ideas to flesh it out,” Bassett said. “Jet usually has pretty solid ideas of the feel and mood of the songs as well as the chord progressions, lyrics and structure. I add some drum ideas and then Jet gets into recording mode.” Bastos then layers the tracks, adding drums, bass ukulele and synth before laying down the vocals, which are all produced by him in his own home studio. Even the music video which they’ve been

Jet Bastos and Floyd Bassett from Nylon Phoenix. (Pictures: George Johnson)

shooting for the song has all been produced by them with little outside help. “The music video is based on different caricatures and different people you’d see on online dating apps and I’m playing them in different costumes,” Bastos said. “[The music video had] two shoots, one in a studio with professional videographer and photographer George Johnson, and another on site in Bendigo with our friend Sara Hancock, using various locations and a wider wardrobe to capture the lyrical motifs in the verses of the song,” Bassett said. Now in the fi nal stages, Nylon Phoenix are constantly working, creating music and gearing up for a busy few months as their single goes out to the world. “We’re working on music all the time,” Bassett said. “Every week is different as we sometimes have gigs on consecutive days or just a couple of days apart, but we are pretty strict about rehearsing at least once per fortnight.” Most recently, the duo took to a local stage, helping to put on a showcase of Sunbury’s fi nest performers in the scene at The Industrial. “Most of our shows are around the Fitzroy, Brunswick area … which was one of the reasons we wanted to put on the Sunbury show because it’s a fair distance for people to travel for those who are local to Sunbury,” Bassett said. “We wanted to give them a chance to hear us play with some of the other local bands around Sunbury.” For Bastos, this was his favourite performance. “It was such an amazingly unexpected turnout,” he said. “It was a fantastic show, a good crowd,

12 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

great energy, a great performance … I want to play more shows like that.” Bassett agreed, as well as the fi rst show they ever performed together. Performing live and making music was what they were meant to do, and Bassett said he was proud to work with Bastos on their music. “The development of the music that Jet’s putting together, it’s a really unique style,”

he said. “Not only having the ukulele as the front instrument … but also the way he’s crafting songs, taking elements since recorded music began and over the last 60 years of popular music, it’s just something that’s totally unique. “If you come to our shows, you’ll see something that you’ve never seen before.” Details: facebook.com/nylonphoenix

The name is a bit of a contradiction in of itself ... It however also describes our music perfectly - Floyd Bassett

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NEWS

Faces of the west Each week, Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing the people and events across Melbourne’s north-west.

The Nritya Rockers host regular Bollywood dance classes. Posing in their colourful costumes are Garima Gupta, Moumita Mukherjee and Ashwini Shetty. (Damjan Janevski). 568088_01

Youn soccer player Rayhaan has raised $500 for the Cancer Council. (Damjan Janevski). 568670_06

Moorabool mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor and Cr Sheila Freeman at the Carberry Drive Recreation Reserve new playground.(Damjan Janevski). 568179_01

The Tarneit-based United Seniors Club received a funding boost for its Heart Healthy Generations Cricket Cup, which enocourages grandparents and grandchildren to play cricket together. (Damjan Janevski).568771_06

Lisa Peplow has completed 250 parkruns at Brimbank Park. (Damjan Janevski). 567563_02

Diane Capelli, Noelene Wattie, Siovhan Brister and Nicole Power; were delighted when they heard that Barro’s Kealba landfill would close. (Damjan Janevski). 568522_05

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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 13

COMMUNITY

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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

Greek Festival The Greek Orthodox Parish in Keilor East will host a Greek Festival on Sunday 16 August 11.30am-4.30pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome. There will be live entertainment, Greek dancing, traditional Greek dance performers, Greek food and drinks and community market stalls. The event will take place at the Greek Orthodox Parish of Panagia Soumela. Kon Varvakis, 0404 031701

Maltese Folklore Association All seniors are invited to join Klabb Ghannejja Maltin (Maltese Folklore Association) and enjoy the friendly atmosphere the club provides. The club is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with traditional Maltese folk music held every Friday night and social nights hosted once a month on Saturday nights. Make your way to 4/6 Gooding Street, St Albans, to meet new friends, and enjoy the wonderful Maltese culture and entertainment. 9356 4638

Free Bingo Locals, especially seniors, can enjoy bingo but with a twist. binGO move encourages participants to get active, make friends and improve physical and mental wellbeing all while enjoying a classic game. Sessions run fortnightly on Thursdays from 1.30-2.30pm at St Albans Tin Shed, 309a Main Road East, St Albans. 9366 4302

Greening Brooklyn Greening Brooklyn Together takes place on Friday 14 August, 10am– noon at 174 Old Geelong, Brooklyn. Help make Brooklyn greener by joining this community planting event. Volunteers from the community and local businesses are invited to work alongside the Brooklyn Recycling Group, Melbourne Water and Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek to plant native vegetation and enhance local habitat. No experience is needed. Lisa, 0433 559 530, brooklynrecyclinggroup@outlook.com

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of the Indian Bengali adaptation of Canterville Ghost featuring director-actor Swastika Ganguly (middle), with actors Sayan Tani and Amitabha Chakraborty. (Damjan Janevski) 569192_01

4.30-5.30pm on Tuesdays at 822 Ballarat Road, Deer Park.

The Gathering Table St Albans Bowls Club Everyone is welcome at St Albans Bowls - no matter age, gender or ability. Whether you’re an experienced bowler or just curious to give it a try, the club would love to see more locals on the green. The club hosts social bowls every Thursday and Saturday at noon at Kings Park Reserve, oﬀ Magnolia Avenue, Kings Park. Come along for a friendly game, meet new people and spend time in great company. stalbans.bowls.com.au, stalbansbowlsclub@bigpond.com, 9366 0290

Women’s only conversation English Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to make friends, learn new skills and practice English in this fun and free women’s social group. Tuesdays during school terms, 9.30am-noon, at Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine. 9311 9973, dukest@dsch.org.au

Queers Out West Queers Out West is social programming for LGBTQIA+ adults to build community, hosted by commUnity+ Neighbourhood House. The program features creative arts sessions and relaxed ﬁreside-style conversations with queer icons across diverse ﬁelds. Sessions run from

Join other locals for cooking and gardening workshops during May where participants make the most of the garden beds at commUnity+ Neighbourhood House. Sessions run from noon-1pm on Wednesdays at 822 Ballarat Road, Deer Park. Food and plants provided.

Zumba Class in Deer Park Locals can vibe and move during sessions of Zumba Gold Toning classes at commUnity+ Neighbourhood House, featuring light dumbbells for strength building. Sessions run from 6-7pm on Thursdays at 822 Ballarat Road, Deer Park. No bookings required.

children aged 0-5 years. Running for eight weeks, on Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm, this program is designed to incorporate singing, stories, and fun activities to support your child’s development. Running from at the Sunshine Heights Playgroup Centre, 105 Glengala Road. 9663 6733, or events@ds.org.au

Crafternoons Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to a free adult social opportunity to get together and be creative. Learn a new craft or bring along your own craft projects. Tuesdays during school terms, from 12.30-2.30pm, at the Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine. 9311 9973, dukest@dsch.org.au

Over 50’s club Budding Artists Whether it’s your ﬁrst time dabbling in art or you’re fully-ﬂedged, Budding Artists is an art program for all abilities. This term’s theme is Celebrating Women in Art. Sessions are hosted by commUnity+ Neighbourhood House and run from 11am-12.30pm on Thursdays at 822 Ballarat Road, Deer Park. No bookings required.

Popcorn Musical Fun and Learning Join Popcorn Musical Fun and Learning, a free, evidence-based early education program that combines music, play, and connection for families with

14 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

The Keilor Over 50’s Recreation Club meets at Kealba Hall, 24 McShane Drive, Kealba, on Tuesdays, from 10am-3pm, and Wednesdays, from 7-10pm. Have a coﬀee and a chat, play social table tennis, pool and card games, go on organised outings and enjoy barbecues. The ﬁrst two visits are free. After that, the club’s annual membership fees apply. Graeme, 0404 809 640, keilorover50@gmail.com, www.keilorover50.com.au

Sunshine Community Brass Sunshine Community Brass is looking for

trumpet and percussion players to join its vibrant band of musicians. With more than 90 years of history, the band rehearses at 45 Furlong Road, North Sunshine, on Tuesdays, from 7.30pm. Andrew, 0419 444 620

Deer Park Probus Club The Deer Park Probus Club meets at the Deer Park Club, 780 Ballarat Road, Deer Park on the second Wednesday of the month from February to December. Meet at 10am followed by lunch available from noon. The club oﬀers bus trips, lunches, morning melodies etc. New members welcome. 0427 495 584

Keilor Park Tennis Club social night Join the club on Monday nights for a free social hit and get to know other club members. All levels are welcome. Female players are also required for Thursday competition from 10am-2pm and also for the B-grade mixed team on Wednesday, 7-9pm. keilorparktennis@gmail.com

Keilor Day View Club The Keilor Day View Club meets at 11am on the ﬁrst Thursday of each month at Green Gully Soccer Club, Green Gully Reserve, Club House Place, Keilor Downs. The club is inviting locals to come along and enjoy a meal and fun with a friendly group of ladies. Robyn, 0425 387 880

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ready to rock the Ranges The Ranges are ready to rock as some of the region’s best talent battle it out. Macedon Ranges council youth team’s Music in the Sticks (MITS) will once again host the Battle of the Bands, with the line-up this year featuring five local youth bands with a total of 24 young up and coming musicians. On Friday 14 August, the Civilians, Dead Silver, Saile, Bandemic and the Felonys will all take centre stage as they vie for the winning crown and top prize. The bands will be judged by three music industry judges, including MITS graduate and local youth sound engineer Arabelle Poucher, award-winning musician and local music tutor Lucy Wise, and local youth music industry mentor and sound engineer Jacob Munnery, with two prizes up for grabs. The main prize of the night will be a $1500 recording opportunity at local Field Day Recording Studio, while People’s Choice will take home a Mannys Music

Store voucher worth $1000, helping local artists kickstart their careers. MITS leader and music industry professional Jeff Tynan said there’s a vibrant youth music scene in the Macedon Ranges, with this event an opportunity to highlight their talents. “MITS events like this one celebrates talent and creativity whilst bringing young people together to connect with peers and contribute to a thriving community,” he said. “It’s as much about the personal growth as it is about the musical journey and through the MITS program it’s a privilege to share with young people skills and opportunities to help fulfi l their dreams of pathways into the music industry.” The five bands will battle it out on the Kyneton Town Hall stage on Friday 14 August. Doors will open at 6pm, with the event expected to conclude at 10pm. Tickets are $5 and are going fast. Details: mrsc.vic.gov.au/mits

Kyneton High School’s Bandemic will perform at the Battle of the Bands. Pictured is Francis Allen, Frankie Stagoll, Sidney Price-Robertson, Mila Hardiman, Asher Thomas and James Jarrett. (Supplied)

Greek myths set upon St Albans A new, original musical, Low Key Chaos, is set to run at the Bowery Theatre in St Albans Saturday 21August and Sunday 22 August . Written and directed by Sonja Wright, this community production mixes classical chaos with theatrical intrigue. “It’s original everything. Original story, original lyrics and its fully community based,” Wright said. “We have talent from ages 17-73 amongst the class from all different backgrounds with people coming from across the state.” The story centres around the Greek gods of Olympus, with a drama featuring Dionysus, Hera and norse god Loki. “The central themes are identity, belonging and friendship. It asks the question – is adoration worth sacrifice or should you be your authentic self even if you are not always admired?” Wright said. Wright was aided by talented family members with her niece and daughter contributing to choreography as well as her brother assisting with sound and audio-visuals. “It was actually quite daunting,” she said. “I’ve been working my full-time day job as well as doing all the behind the scenes stuff, advertising, meetings. It’s been a huge effort but to see my little story from two years ago about Dionysus now come alive on stage with people wanting to watch feels amazing.” Wright applauded the cast for its efforts in learning the original material. “The cast have done an amazing job of learning everything,” she said.

Footscray Flix to show 80’s hits

Alexander Glenk as Dionysus. (Supplied)

Wright has already put out a call for those interested for future productions. “We’ve already got next year’s musical in the pipeline. If people enjoy singing,

dancing and acting then it would be great to see community support.” Details: https://www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1548029

Inner-west film buffs wanting to see a movie have long had the choice of going up to Highpoint or down to the Sun Theatre in Yarraville. However, up until the late 1980s, Footscray was the west’s cinema central with La Scala, Trocadero, the Grand, and Barkly Theatres once located within 500m of each other. In honour of those four theatres that closed nearly four decades ago, a for-day film festival will be held in Footscray at the end of this month. Presented in partnership with Sun Theatre in Yarraville, Maribyrnong council is hosting Footscray Flix from Thursday 27 August to Sunday 30 August. With none of the four theatres able to be revived for the event, a purpose built 100-seat pop-up cinema will be erected at 34 Moreland Street , in between Yewers and Wingfield streets. The venue will host four nights of 80s and 90s popcorn classics, with tickets at 1980’s prices. The program opens on Thursday 27 August with films shot in Melbourne’s west, including The Big Steal, filmed in Footscray, and Mad Max. Friday 28 August is Slackers Night featuring Dazed and Confused, and Trainspotting, while 30 August is Sci Fi Saturday with ET, Alien, Blade Runner all showing. Footscray Flix then concludes on 31 August with Swayze Sunday and two of the 80’s heart-throb’s biggest hits: Point Break and Dirty Dancing. Details: https://collections. humanitix.com/footscray-flix

Go Bacchus to the 80s at a spectacular live concert this September Celebrate one jam-packed, fun filled event for the whole family, featuring your favourite songs from one of music’s most colourful decades over one weekend next month. Turn back the clock and get ready to relive one of the greatest decades in music when the Bacchus Marsh Theatre Company presents Back to the ‘80s, a spectacular live concert celebrating the unforgettable hits of the 1980s. Featuring a full cast of talented local

performers backed by live musicians, the high-energy production is set to combine the iconic hits of the 80s with stunning vocals, dazzling choreography, and a spectacular light show. Organisers have promised an electric night filled with 80s hits to suit everyone, regardless of their age. Whether you remember the decade firsthand or you’re introducing a whole new generation to the music, there’s something

for everyone in the fun-filled family show that’s guaranteed to have audiences singing along. “Re-Live the 80’s or share it with a whole new generation - there’s something for everyone,” organisers said. Everyone young and old is invited to tag along, with four performances across one weekend in September available to choose from for an entertaining trip back to one of music’s most colourful and electrifying

eras. So get back to the 80s on Friday 4, Saturday 5, and Sunday 6 September with the Bacchus Marsh Theatre Company at the Bacchus Marsh Arts & Cultural Hub, located at 5 Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh. Performance times are from 7.30pm on Friday, 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, and 3pm on Sunday. Tickets and details: https:// events.humanitix.com/back-to-the-80-seq6sa7dc.

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 15

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. True or false: Simone Biles has won the most Olympic gold medals of any gymnast?

3. I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestant Luke Bateman played 71 games for which NRL team?

2. Terry Bollea is the real name of which late US professional wrestler?

4. Kyle Shanahan is the head coach of which NFL team?

11. When and where were the ﬁrst Paralympic Games held? 12. Who has captained the Australian women’s football team since 2019?

5. Which Whic Fremantle Dockers footballer’s nicknames foot include The Big Cohuna inclu and Cyclone? 6. Which Whic country’s national netb netball team won gold at the 2 2026 Commonwealth Gam Games? 7. Wh Which New York Liberty player play was awarded MVP of the th 2026 WNBA AllStar Sta Game? 8 Which country did 8. Australia’s national netball team defeat to claim bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games? Ga 9. And which country defe defeated Australia in the n netball semiﬁnals?

13. What is considered to be the national sport of Japan? 14. Winning gold in her debut at the London Olympics, who is widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all time? 15. Which North Melbourne player captained Australia to victory in the 2026 AFLW Australia v Ireland match? 16. English amateur cricketer Brian Devine has become widely known by what nickname?

21. How many balls are on the table at the start of a standard game of pool?

27. In which year did Sir Don Bradman die?

29. Which wrestler became interim WWE Women’s Champion at this year’s SummerSlam?

24. What are the nicknames of the two Sydney AIHL teams?

30. And which match did she win?

25. Which word that can mean ‘the clothes worn by sports players’ is used in the NATO alphabet?

1. False (Larisa Latynina) 2. Hulk Hogan 3. Canberra Raiders 4. San Francisco 49ers 5. Josh Treacy 6. New Zealand 7. Jonquel Jones 8. England 9. Jamaica 10. Canberra 11. 1960; Rome, Italy 12. Sam Kerr 13. Sumo wrestling 14. Katie Ledecky 15. Jasmine Garner 16. Clicky Ponting 17. IndyCar 18. He holds the paddle with his mouth 19. FIFA 20. Two points 21. 16 (cue ball and 15 object balls) 22. American football 23. Andrew Walker (Cody) and Anthony Koutouﬁdes (Lukas) 24. Ice Dogs and Bears 25. Uniform 26. Sarah Rowe (for Ireland) 27. 2001 28. 3x3 basketball teams 29. Chelsea Green 30. Five-way ladder match

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26. Who was the only Collingwood player represented in the 2026 AFLW Australia v Ireland match?

28. The Gangurrus is the nickname of which Australian sports teams?

23. Potential Carlton prospects Cody and Lukas are the sons of which former players respectively?

17. Which class of car has the highest top speed: IndyCar, NASCAR or Formula 1?

19. Controversial ﬁgure Gianni Infantino is the president of which sports governing body?

Simone Biles

20. In the Super Netball league, how many points is a super shot worth?

22. Which sport is featured in the movie The Game Plan?

18. What is unique about the technique of table tennis Paralympian Ibrahim Hamadtou?

10. Whic Which state or territory capital is set to host the capi ﬁnal ﬁnals of the NBL’s inseason Ignite Cup from seas 2027? 2027

1408

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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 17

PUZZLES

easy

4 1 2

2 9

8 4 9

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

medium

3 8

5 4 8 3 9 7 6

ACROSS

DECODER

7 2

hard

9 2 7 8 6 8 3

19 6

20 7

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

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

10 11 12 13

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'.

Today’s Aim: 19 words: Good 28 words: Very good 38 words: Excellent

K A

No. 302

L O V E

5 LETTERS ALERT ALOUD ALTOS APRIL ARVOS ATONE BASIC BATHS CARGO CHEWS DINGO EASES EDITS GARBS GATES GLUED GREET HEART IDEAL IOTAS NERVE

4 LETTERS BASE BLOC CAGE CYST GIRL ISN’T LETS LOVE NEST SECT SEWS THEN TOSS WEAN

NEWSY NINNY ODDER ONSET OPERA PAPAS PASTA PEEPS PIECE RENEW REUSE ROUSE SEEDS SHELL SLEET SLEPT SLICE SNARL SNORE STATE STEER SWAYS

7 LETTERS INTENTS LESSONS PLUSHER ROUGHER SEVERER TRASHES

TEENS TERSE TESTS THESE THETA TORSO WHIRR 6 LETTERS ANYONE ASSAIL ENACTS STRAIN

8 LETTERS ABSENTEE GUERILLA HITHERTO OPTICIAN

14-08-26

The 1992 movie A League of Their Own revolves around which sport?

Gravity Let Me Go is a 2025 book by which Australian author?

‘Running dead’ is a political term that originated in which country?

The tombstone of Edgar Allan Poe features a quote from which one of his poems?

Explorer Alfred Giles crossed Australia from south to north how many times?

Kochius is a genus of what type of predatory arachnid?

10 Anne Hathaway (pictured) stars in a 2026 sequel to which hit movie released two decades prior?

Spanakopita is a spinach pie originating in which country?

Daiso is a variety store that was founded in which country?

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – ﬁve reading across the grid and ﬁve reading down.

Crisis on Inﬁnite Earths is a famous comic book crossover series published by which company?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

No. 409

L S

18 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

C U R S E A R O M A R I C E S A N K L E T E S T S

E M

bake, baker, bakes, bark, barks, bask, basket, beak, brake, brakes, break, BREAKFAST, breaks, fake, fakes, freak, karat, karate, kerb, kerf, kraft, rake, rakes, sake, sark, skate, skater, stake, stark, steak, streak, take, taker, takes, task, teak, trek, treks

4 2 7 6 1 5 8 3 9 1 8 6 4 9 3 5 2 7 3 5 9 2 7 8 6 1 4 2 7 3 5 4 1 9 8 6 9 4 8 7 3 6 1 5 2 5 6 1 9 8 2 7 4 3 7 1 5 3 2 9 4 6 8 6 9 2 8 5 4 3 7 1 8 3 4 1 6 7 2 9 5 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

9-LETTER WORD

hard

medium

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easy

5x5

5 3 2 9 5 1

Y L X Q A E V C P G J W Z

5 9

R H N T F M S K O B I U D

3 LETTERS ADO AGE ALL APE APT ARE ATE CRY EEL ERA GEL GNU HEW LAG NEE NET ONE PEA RAP SIP SOD SPA TNT TOP

8 '

WORDFIT

6 1 4 9 5 5 4

No. 334

5 4 7

8 8

Pithy (8) Shorten (7) Foul language (9) Exceptional; illusory (9) Astray (5) Mountain range (5) Life-form category (7) Gas vital to life (6) English side, – pudding (9) Build (9) Giving (8) Organise (7) Mouths of volcanoes (7) Emblematic person, animal or thing supposedly bringing good luck (6) Pursue (5) Ballroom dance (5)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 16 18 20 21

23 24

DOWN

Rascal (5) US city, San – (9) Comic strip (7) Visuals (7) Hoosier State of the USA (7) Dawn (7) A physical science (9) Ready money (4) Simple (4) Recorded history (9) Stone fruit (7) Gorge (7) Include (7) Before birth (2,5) Consequently (9) Jobs undertaken (5)

1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 22 25 26 27 28 29

No. 302

QUICK QUIZ

ANSWERS: 1. Japan 2. DC Comics 3. Australia 4. Seven 5. Scorpion 6. Greece 7. Baseball 8. Trent Dalton 9. The Raven 10. The Devil Wears Prada

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

P A S T A B A T H S G A R B S A L T O S A P R I L I D E A L S T A T E R O U S E P E E P S A R E A G E S H E L L S I P S T R A I N T H E T A S E C T P L U S H E R G E L C A G E N E S T D I N G O W E A N O P T I C I A N A L L R O U G H E R I N T E N T S G U E R I L L A L E T S N E E O D D E R B L O C C Y S T E R A S E V E R E R I S N T T H E S E A N Y O N E O N E T E E N S S P A P E A A T O N E C H E W S T O R S O A R V O S R E N E W T E R S E S E E D S T E S T S S W A Y S

No. 302

S C A M P F R A N C I S C O B R A M H P X U C A R T O O N I M A G E R Y I F T S I C G C S U N R I S E I N D I A N A G N S E N N C A S H C H E M I S T R Y T T I O O G E A S Y C H R O N I C L E R K S R N M S A T I A T E A P R I C O T A H A H R T R S C O N T A I N I N U T E R O G S G R C R U O T A S K S T H E R E F O R E

SUDOKU

Premium car for less cash By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring Launched here in late 2025 the Leapmotor B10 is a fully-electric compact SUV from the new Chinese brand backed by the huge Stellantis group which brings a number of brands to Australia including Jeep, Peugeot, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo. We’re told that the unusual name is a loose translation from the Chinese Lingpao Qiche that means Zero Run Automobile. Makes sense. Leapmotor B10 is the brand’s second model joining the larger C10 SUV that arrived here in early 2025. It’s currently EV only but we’re told that an extended range hybrid (REEV) version will be added later this year. We understand that a Leapmotor B05 compact electric hatchback will be added to the range later this year. Others, yet to be confi rmed, include a city electric SUV and a large seven-seat SUV plug-in hybrid. Two variants of the B10 are available, both powered by the same rear-mount motor but charged by different Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. The entry-level Style has a 56.2 kWh battery and is priced at $37,888 plus on-road costs while the B10 Design Long Range generates 67.1 kWh and sells for $40,888 plus ORCs. The B10 is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

The Leapmotor B10 offers outstanding value for money. (Pictures: Supplied)

dash is dominated by a large touchscreen and no physical controls. There are some quirky features such as the three oval openings at the top and bottom of the dashboard in front of the passenger. Nobody could work out if they were functional or just decorative. Style comes with grey fabric seats with the Design getting what Leapmotor calls TechnoLeather aka synthetic seats. The front seats are heated, ventilated and powered with six settings for the driver and four for the passenger. The steering wheel is also heated. The customizable 64-colour interior ambient lighting system can sync with the car’s sound system.

Exterior

Powertrain

While Leapmotor B10 shares much of its overall styling with its larger C10 sibling, its compact proportions give it a slightly sportier look. Having said that there’s little that will have it stand out from its numerous compact SUV rivals. Both B10 variants come with LED automatic head and brake lights, a fi xed panoramic glass roof with a powered blind, LED automatic headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Design LR grade adds an LED dynamic rear light bar, rear privacy glass, automatic power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wiper and a power tailgate. Oddly, there are no rear wipers on either model.

The B10 is powered by a high-efficiency electric motor delivering 160kW and 240Nm of torque. Zero to 100km/h is listed at 8 seconds with a top speed of 170km/h. The Style has a 56.2 kWh battery with an 11kW maximum AC rate through three-phase power that can charge from zero to 100 per cent in around six hours. With single-phase power that drops to 7.4kW and around 10 hours. Both Style and Design LR support 11kW AC charging and ultra-fast DC charging up to 168 kW (Design LR), enabling a 30 to 80 per cent charge in approximately 20 minutes. The charge port is located at the rear driver’s side. Both Style and Design LR support DC charging up to 168 kW (Design LR), enabling a 30 to 80 per cent charge in approximately 20 minutes.

Interior The inside of the Leapmotor B10 is a real surprise with a look and feel that’s comparable with a much more established and more expensive brand. As is the norm with Chinese EVs the

in November 2025 and received the maximum five-star rating. A positive for parents is a near-perfect child occupant protection score. There are seven airbags including one in the front centre position. Also standard are adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping, speed assist system, blind spot monitoring, front collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and braking, rear parking sensors, and driver attention monitoring. As is now the norm with Chinese EVs the frustrating and incessant alerts that have drivers screaming ‘Just Let Me (expletives deleted) Drive!’ such as lane correction, speed limit alert and driver alert can be turned off. While they do need to be turned on every time the car re-starts there is a customisable button on the steering wheel where they can be turned off again with a single touch. One surprising omission in either model, and a trap for the unwary, is the absence of front parking sensors.

Infotainment Standard in both B10 variants are a 14.6-inch colour touchscreen and an 8.8-inch LCD driver instrument cluster. There’s also satellite navigation, 360-degree camera with guidelines, an integrated 360-degree dashcam recorder and wireless smartphone charger. The high-resolution screens are both fast and sharp. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless.

Safety

Driving

Leapmotor B10 was tested by ANCAP

At 4.5 metres the Leapmotor B10 is only

marginally smaller than the C10 and can carry five adults in reasonable comfort. Entry into the B10 is through a frustrating digital keyless system that requires an NFC key card to be tapped on a tab on the outside of the driver’s side mirror. There is a smartphone app as an alternative. While both methods unlock the doors, they don’t open the flush handle which needs a button to be pushed and the handle then pulled out. The card then has to be placed on the left-hand side of the centre console otherwise the vehicle won’t start, although it can then be moved. Fortunately, common sense has prevailed and after a wave of buyer complaints, we’re assured that physical keys will progressively be introduced with the keycards remaining only as a backup. On the positive side there is a Leapmotor App that provides remote access as well features such as vehicle status, vehicle location and scheduled charging. B10 is a capable city transporter with the smooth, steady acceleration that is the norm in electric vehicles. It lacks the whiplash pick up of performance EVs but does move from zero to 100km/h in 8 seconds making it sharp enough for quick lane changes when needed. There are three drive modes: Comfort, Standard and Sport. In Sport there’s noticeably more response in steering and throttle for greater driving enjoyment.

Summing up With so many new brands coming from China it’s getting increasingly difficult to evaluate each of their credentials and compare them with each other. While some like MG, BYD and GWM are now well-established, others, including Leapmotor, are still largely unknown. The fact that it’s part of the Stellantis group, currently the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturing group should reassure potential buyers. Importantly, Stellantis didn’t just take Leapmotor off the shelf. Its engineers provided significant input into the design, chassis tuning and driving characteristics. It’s a reasonably spacious and comfortable family vehicle that’s equally at home in either urban or motorway conditions and it’s large enough to make for an excellent long-distance cruiser. Best of all, it offers outstanding value for money especially with the extra features and extended range in the Design variant costing just around $3000 more than the Style.

12886531-AD33-26

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

SECTION

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ROUND 23 , 2026

TIPPING 2026 LW 5

LW 5

Benny Nguyen OBrien Brisbane Sydney Fremantle GWS Hawthorn Geelong Melbourne St Kilda Carlton

David Thompson Deer Park Club Brisbane Sydney Fremantle GWS Hawthorn Geelong Port Adelaide St Kilda Western Bulldogs

Allan Cayzer Wyndham Harbour Brisbane Sydney Fremantle GWS Hawthorn Geelong Melbourne St Kilda Carlton

PH: 9366 8188

PH: 9363 1030

PH: 9233 8530

Tony Montessano

137

Benny Nguyen

134

Allan Cayzer

131

Rod Gaut

131

David Thompson

130

Mick Trim

117

ROUND 23 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

LW 5

Tony Montessano Taylors Lakes Hotel

Rod Gaut Wyn Active

Mick Trim Walking Football 4 Health Vic

Brisbane Lions V Gold Coast SUNS (G)

Brisbane Sydney Fremantle West Coast Hawthorn Geelong Melbourne St Kilda Western Bulldogs

Essendon V Sydney Swans (MCG)

Brisbane Sydney Fremantle GWS Hawthorn Geelong Melbourne St Kilda Carlton

Brisbane Sydney Fremantle GWS Hawthorn Geelong Melbourne St Kilda Western Bulldogs

Fremantle V Adelaide Crows (OS) GWS GIANTS V West Coast Eagles (ES) Hawthorn V Collingwood (MCG) North Melbourne V Geelong Cats (MRVL) Port Adelaide V Melbourne (AO) Richmond V St Kilda (MCG) Western Bulldogs V Carlton (MRVL)

PH: 9217 9500

PH: 8734 5678

PH: 0430 163 550

*Correct at time of publishing

GROUNDS KEY: (AO) Adelaide Oval, (AS) Accor Stadium, (BA) Blundstone Arena, (G) Gabba, (GS) Giants Stadium, (M) Mars Stadium, (MRVL) Marvel Stadium, (MCG) Melbourne Cricket Ground, (MS) Metricon Stadium, (SCG) Sydney Cricket Ground, uunnd,(OS (OS)O (OS (OS))OOptus ptu t sOOOval, vall,(T) ((T) T)TIO T) TIOSSt TIO SStaduim, tadu adui d im im ((UTS) im, UTS)U UTS )UUniversity nivers niv i ers ersiitity it Of ityOf OfTTasmania Tasmania Tasma Ta niaS i Stadium. Stadi St adium dium um.

Walking Football is a low-impact, modified version of soccer. No running – Players must always have one foot on the ground. Non-contact sport – Tackling and physical challenges are minimized to prevent injuries. Modified rules – Smaller pitches, lower-intensity gameplay, and reduced ball heights make it safer and more accessible. Team-based environment – Encourages communication, teamwork, and social interaction. We have programs at the Keilor Basketball and Netball Stadium on Monday’s and Wednesday’s

www.wf4hvictoria.org.au/

www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/

For more information please email info@wf4hvictoria.org.au 12849955-KH20-26

20 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

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Craigieburn’s Sienna Scuderi.569976_12

Deer Parks’ Joshua Cooper.569972_13

Westmeadows’ Danielle Linton and Courtney Bligh.569971_04

Keilor Park’s Ashleigh Guest. 569976_06

Finals action is underway Finals action got underway in several competitions, while there were plenty of season defining results on Saturday.

Star Weekly photographer Ties Urie was out shooting some of the action.

Deer Park’s Kwame McHarg.569972_01

Darley’s Brett Bewley goes flying.569980_08

Lancefield’s Meaghan Lyons.569969_21

Westmeadows’ Courteney Munn.569971_09

Riddell’s Ruby Ayers.569969_07

Melton’s Adrian Monitto. 569980_01

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 21

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Parkside’s future vision By Tara Murray The long term future and stability of Parkside is behind the club’s decision to move to the Essendon District Football League. The EDFL and Western Football League announced on Monday that Parkside’s application to leave the Western league for the EDFL had been successful. Parkside was a founding member of the former Footscray District Football League (FDFL), now known as the WFL, and has been an integral part of football in Melbourne’s west for more than 90 years. Parkside president Ben Crook said it had been a very long process to get to this point. “It’s good to have it finally resolved and the affiliation with the EDFL moving for-

ward,” he said. “There was a long consultation process with the membership base, scenario based outcomes, certainly polls were taken and feedback taken. “There was a lot of engagement with the membership base. What the preference was going forward. “It was certainly a positive consultation process in terms of the consideration of the long term future and stability for the club, that perhaps a move to EDFL would be best suited.” Crook said he was very much of the belief that committees are custodians of clubs and it’s ultimately not their decision to direct or dictate the direction of the club. While the Western league fought when Deer Park and St Albans left the competi-

tion at the end of 2022, the league didn’t stand in the way of Parkside’s move. Crook said it had been a fully transparent professional process between the two leagues, the club and AFL Victoria over a long period of time. In a letter to EDFL clubs on 2 July, chief executive Andrew Johnston said that Parkside had in principle, agreed to amalgamate-merge with the Ascot Vale Panthers Junior Football Club prior to the 2027 EDFL season. This would then allow them to be a junior and senior club within the EDFL. This proposal is fully dependent on both clubs’ members voting in favour of the merger at their respective annual general meetings.

Crook said there were a lot of conversations ongoing between the two clubs. “We’ll continue to work with them about what a possible future could entail.” The club has announced a number of re-signings for next season already continuing the continuity it has. Focus now turns to the rest of the 2026 season. Parkside’s men’s side sits third on the division 1 ladder after 15 rounds, while the women’s side has claimed the minor premiership. “It’s a bit of a reset now,” Crook said. “Focus on what is in front of us in the immediate future, long term future of the club, now have to prepare and undertake the next few weeks, both men’s and women’s.”

Joe Antonetti. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 497597_12

Antonetti steps down

Achel Yout defends Ashlea Mawer. (Tara Murray)

Falcons knocked out after a loss to Hawks By Tara Murray It was a disappointing end to the City West Falcons’ Victorian Netball League season, having exceeded their pre-season expectations. The Falcons, who were the only team with two sides through to the preliminary finals, felt like they had overachieved this year. That meant little with grand final spots on the line on Wednesday, with the club eager to have success on the big stage again. The championship side lost to the Hawks, while the 23 and under side fell short against the Geelong Cougars. Falcons’ coach Marg Lind said they were disappointed with the results, but were happy with the bigger picture. “The 23s are really young. Third spot is probably a good result,” she said. “They showed their lack of experience, where with champ we lost it in that first and second quarter, we made way too many errors. “Afterwards everyone said we didn’t

even think that we would make finals at the start of the year. “I’m not happy that we didn’t get through, but given where we were at the start for the club to finish three and three, is pretty good.” The Falcons’ championship side, which had been going for a fifth straight premiership, was left to rue a poor first half against the Hawks in the 72-65 loss. The margin was 11 goals at half time, before the Falcons won the second half. Lind said the experienced attacking end of Jane Cook, Maggie Lind, Montana Holmes and Olivia Cameron made too many errors in the first half and it proved costly. “We needed to let loose early, which we did in the second half,” she said. “We got the pace up a little bit, I thought Lani Fauonuku impacted really well, she should be really happy with herself. “She came on an offered a bit more height on centre pass and also took a couple of intercepts, but you can’t give them that led. “The second half was a lot better, we didn’t give up.”

22 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 11 August, 2026

Cook finished with 62 goals for the Falcons. At the other end of the court, Achel Yout had a good game in defence after struggling in the other finals. Yout and Fauonuku, along with Lara Turner are still eligible for 23 and unders and all got good experience with the championship side this year. In the 23 and under side lost to the Cougars, 66-61. The Cougars led throughout the match and had the answers every time the Falcons came at them. Lind said the focus for them next season would continue to rebuild. She said she hoped that the older players would return for another season to help guide the younger ones through. She said there were a number of good young ones coming through and would also look outside the club to add some more depth to their defensive end. “We still need to do some rebuilding, I think it will be two to three years of that,” she said.

Taylors Lakes’ inaugural women’s coach Joe Antonetti has called time on his time as coach of the Essendon District Football League women’s side. Antonetti joined the Lions ahead of their inaugural standalone women’s side, having coached the Sunbury Kangaroos the previous season. He led the side the past three seasons. “After the last game of the season on Saturday, our senior women’s coach, Joe Antonetti, advised the team and the club that he will not be continuing on in season 2027,” the Lions said on social media. “Joe was our inaugural senior women’s coach and led the team for three seasons. “In an amazing effort, Joe took the team all the way to the grand final last year after just missing finals in the very first season. “We thank Joe for his time and effort the last three years, recognizing how difficult it is to juggle coaching around running your own business which often takes you far from the home base of the club. “His commitment to training and game day was unwavering and we are most appreciative of his dedication to the role for the last three years.” The Lions struggled this season with numbers and failed to win a game, finishing bottom of the ladder. Many rounds they fielded the bare minimum players needed to play. The club said going forward it wants to build on the foundations that Antonetti set and hoped to see him around the club as a spectator.

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Eagles remain in the hunt By Tara Murray Western Eagles have shown great resilience and belief to put themselves in touch with the promotion sides with four rounds remaining in the FV state league 2 northwest season. The Eagles sit third with four rounds remaining, three points behind second-placed Uni Hill Eagles. Eagles’ coach Paul Falzon said it’s been a positive season so far. The Eagles finished mid-table last season and have made massive improvements this year. “The players have shown great commitment, and they have been competitive in all of our matches,” Falzon said.

“Over the season so far we feel that a few things haven’t gone our way, but the playing group has shown great resilience and belief to put ourselves in touch with the promotion places.” Falzon said the culture within the playing group and the overall club had been the key to their strong season so far. He said the signing of four new players into the squad had given them an overall boost as they look towards the end of the season. “The players have worked hard for each other, and we’ve developed a real belief within the group,” Flalzon said. “Our ability to stay focused, respond positively to challenges, and continue improving each week has helped us re-

main in the promotion race.” Falzon said the team’s priority each week is to simply concentrate on the next match and not looking too far ahead. “The playing group understands the position we are in and are all working hard to secure the points we need weekin, week-out,” he said. After a loss before the bye, Falzon said the week off had given them time to reflect, recover, and improve for their next match against the Whittlesea Ranges, who sit in sixth spot. Falzon knows that match won’t be easy. “Every match in this league is very competitive, and I have no doubt that Whittlesea will be no different,” he said.

“We are playing away from home so we will need to prepare well and be at our best to get the points.” Falzon said overall the club was in a strong position and there had been really good support from supporters and members. In other state league 2 north-west matches scheduled for this weekend, Albion Rovers will face the Geelong Rangers. The Rovers sit in eighth spot. The Brimbank Stallions will face Corio on Saturday. The Stallions sit in ninth only goal difference behind Albion. In state league 1 north-west, Westvale faced Clifton Hill in a catch up match on Saturday.

Danny Younan (middle) is the new coach of Taylors Lakes. (Supplied)

Younan new Lions coach

Taylia Iglesias tries to smoothes Ella Guest’s kick. (Ties Urie) 569971_17

The Bears almost pull off a major upset By Tara Murray Burnside Heights will take confidence into the rest of the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 finals series, after almost upsetting Westmeadows. For most of Saturday’s qualifying final against the Tigers, the Bears looked like they could pull off the unthinkable. The Tigers ended the qualifying final undefeated and red hot favourites to be the first side through to the grand final. But the Bears had other ideas and led for most of the match. The Tigers hit the front in the last quarter and were able to hold on, winning 6.7 (43)5.7 (37). Bears’ coach Michael Davis said while they were naturally disappointed not to get the win, they took so much out of the game. “It proved what we knew we were capable of,” he said. “Had we got one more goal in the third quarter it would have got the margin to 21 points, which I think would have been enough.

“We have got belief in each other when we play the Burnside way.” Davis said the wind played a big part in the game, with most of the scoring at one end of the ground. The Bears got a goal against it in the second quarter which was valuable to lead at half time. The margin was 15 points heading into the final quarter, with the Tigers kicking to the scoring end. Davis said it was about continuing to play their football. “It all started the week before when we played them,” he said. “We wanted to play a certain way and the result was irrelevant. “We wanted to control the game for 40-45 minutes and compete with them. We were able to do it for 30 minutes. “We knew we could do it and we had the right plan in place. We pushed them for 75 minutes of game day.” The Bears kicked the only three goals of the final quarter to hit the front. A couple of late behinds had the margin

at six points with 40 seconds on the clock. Davis said they pushed to the end but they couldn’t get a goal to push it into overtime. It was all single goalkickers for the Bears. Tonja Davis was named their best for her job on Gemma Wright. As well as restricting Wright, she kicked a goal. Aarzu Mavi, Kiara Asani-Davis and Anj Singh were other standouts for the Bears. Davis said having their under-19s not double up had also made a difference. He highlighted Hannah Seward as one who made an impact. The Bears will face Keilor Park in the preliminary final for a second straight year. Davis said they were confident heading into Saturday’s match. “We always believed that we were capable,” he said. “It was about producing it. “Keilor Park is a good side and they did what we expected [in the elimination final]. “They will come out and do their thing and we will do our thing and the better side will run over the top.”

Danny Younan will step up and take on the coaching role at Taylors Lakes for the next two Essendon District Football League seasons. In a statement from president Matt Noy, the Lions announced that Younan would replace Steve Burns, who had announced he was standing down. Younan has been a playing assistant coach this year and currently sits second in the the division 1 league goalkicking. “Danny Younan is unquestionably a tremendously loyal Taylors Lakes Football Club person who has represented our club with distinction, firstly playing many games in our junior program and being an integral player in the club’s first senior men’s premiership in 2010,” Noy said. Danny returned to our football club in 2025 after playing over 100 senior VFL games with both Essendon and Coburg providing exemplary football knowledge, direction and leadership to our playing list. “Danny’s leadership qualities are unquestionable and he will continue to drive the Taylors Lakes Football Club football family with a strong direction, culture and values ensuring a whole junior and senior club emphasis.” Noy said they extremely confident with the decision and direction of the club in relation to the current men’s playing list, together with its junior development and targeted recruitment strategies, to continue to grow the club with the appointment of Younan. The Lions sit in seventh spot with, one round remaining in the division 1 season. They faced a tough task against Oak Park on Saturday. The Kangaroos won, 27.16 (178)-4.4 (28).

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 23

11, AUGUST, 2026

Bears push Tigers

Falcons’ season over

Devils dream on By Tara Murray Keilor Park is daring to dream after a brave elimination fi nals win in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 competition. With key players out and having battled injuries in the lead up to fi nals, the Devils limped into the elimination fi nal with Craigieburn. The Eagles had won against the Devils in the fi nal round of the season and were hoping to continue a dream fi rst season back in the competition. The Eagles had the wind in the fi rst quarter and kicked the only goal to lead early on. With the wind in the second quarter, the Devils hit back to take a narrow lead into the main break. A goal against the breeze for the Devils gave them momentum and they fi nished the stronger of the two sides as they won, 4.8 (32)-1.6 (12). Devils’ coach Marcus Barclay said it was a pretty special moment for the group. “That is fantastic,” he said. “It was always going to be a tough game, the last four to five weeks we’ve had 15-16 girls and injuries have really killed us this year “I thought they were probably quicker than us and getting through was a massive bonus. “Full credit to Craigieburn, they’ve been amazing in their fi rst season.” Barclay said he thought their experience was the difference in the end. They brought back Sophie Shaw, Ash Guest and Caitlyn Crameri into the side for the elimination fi nal. All had a big impact. Barclay said the conditions also helped them. “We were fortunate it was a windy day,” he said. “If it had been dry, no wind day, they would have run us into the ground. “It was nice that it was played in a half.

Ella Grant-Campbell tries to evade Teegan Natoli, and Louise Portell. (Ties Urie) 569976_14

We had to work really hard defensively, you’ve got to be lucky sometimes when you’re going forward.” Barclay said having some targets back in their forward line had made a huge difference in the win. It was all single goalkickers for the Devils. Antonietta Parisi, Isabella Arvanitis and Kyiesha Taylor were named their best. The only downside for the Devils was a

hamstring injury to Guest. Barclay said it was the same hamstring she had injured three or four weeks ago. “It’s a shame,” he said. “I think everyone else got through, which should give us numbers for the game. “We have to try and look after them. We have to patch ourselves up and go again.” The Devils will now face Burnside Heights in the preliminary fi nal after the Bears lost to Westmeadows.

For Barclay, it’ll be a third straight year he has faced the Bears in a preliminary fi nal. “It’s just exciting,” Barclay said. “You just never know, once you’re there anything can happen, really proud of them. “It was a good contest last time, Michael [Davis] is a great coach and they are a great club. It’s almost a free hit. I think when you win an elimination fi nal, treat it that way again.”

Deer Park coaching change as Madigan steps away By Tara Murray Anthony Anastasio will step into the coaching role for the 2027 Essendon District Football League premier division season. The Lions announced on Tuesday that Jamie Madigan would hand over the reins to Anastasio, who will be a playing coach next season. Anastasio joined the Lions this season in a playing capacity. “Jamie bleeds Deer Park Football Club,” the Lions said on social media. “Having coached the senior side for the past three seasons — including leading the club to its maiden fi nals appearance in the EDFL premier division

— his journey with Deer Park began long before his time as coach, starting as an under-10s junior player. “Since answering the call to return to the club in 2008, Jamie has continually put Deer Park fi rst, second and third. His commitment, loyalty and willingness to take on whatever role the club has needed have played an enormous part in shaping Deer Park into the club it is today. “Looking ahead to 2027, Anthony Anastasio will lead the Parkers as playing coach — a role that has served our club proudly throughout its history. An experienced and decorated footballer at VFL level with both Williamstown and Port Melbourne,

including two VFL premierships, Anthony brings a wealth of experience, leadership and football knowledge to the role. “We’re incredibly excited to see Anthony lead this group into the next chapter and build on the foundations that have been laid. The club said it was forever grateful for the many critical roles Madigan has taken on over the years and for everything he has given to Deer Park. Meanwhile, the Lions fi nals hopes took a hit on Saturday. Sitting in seventh, the Lions needed everything to go their way in the last three rounds. On Saturday, the Lions lost to Pascoe

Vale, 12.11 (83)-10.10 (70). The Panthers jumped out to an early lead with as they had the breeze and were able to still be in front at half time . The margin was 24 points at three quarter time. Despite winning the fi nal quarter, the Lions weren’t able to come away with the win. Jackson Barling kicked three goals in the loss. Trent McKenzie, Barling and Luke Scicchitano were named the best in loss. The Lions sit a game and percentage outside the top five with two rounds remaining. The Lions face Airport West and Keilor to end the season.