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7 OCTOBER, 2026

Pet therapy milestone

Western Health pet therapy volunteer Carmel Brown with her dog Olive at a morning tea to mark milestones in the program at Footscray Hospital on 2 October. (Damjan Janevski) 581798 03

Friday 2 October was therapy dog day at Footscray Hospital as Western Health hosted a morning tea to mark some significant milestones in its pet therapy program. Chief among them was the 15 year anniversary of Western Health’s partnership with Lort Smith Melbourne Animal Hospital to operate pet therapy programs at Footscray, Sunshine and Williamstown hospitals. Pet therapy involves professionally trained and assessed animals, usually dogs, working alongside volunteer handlers to provide psychological and emotional support in settings like hospitals, schools, and aged-care facilities. Along with celebrating the 15 year partnership between Western Health and Lort Smith, the morning tea also marked five years for a number of the program’s volunteers and their dogs, including Carmel and Olive and Rosemarie and Harvey at Footscray Hospital, and Rosana and Simba at Sunshine Hospital. “Volunteering gives us a chance to connect with people, allowing us to make a small difference to someone’s day,” Rosana said of her and Simba’s work.

Bird flu confirmed By Cade Lucas

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A case of bird flu has been confirmed in Hobsons Bay. The case was detected in a Greater Crested Tern on 28 September, but only announced to the public by council on 2 October after it received confirmation from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). The exact location of the case is unknown. Both DEECA and Hobsons Bay council are warning residents who see sick or dead birds or wildlife to avoid contact with them and their environment, and to instead record what they see and report it to the

relevant authorities. It’s the first reported case of bird flu in Hobsons Bay and the inner west and comes about a month after it was first detected in the neighbouring municipality of Wyndham, and in the outer-north west council areas of Moorabool and Macedon Ranges. Bird flu was first detected in Victoria in Portland in July, and on mainland Australia the previous month when it was found in seabirds in Western Australia. H5 is a highly contagious strain of bird flu which has affected millions of birds and thousands of mammals overseas. With coastal areas such as the Cheetham

Wetlands, Truganina Park and Laverton Creek among the most diverse and significant bird habitats in Australia, bird flu poses an especially high risk in Hobsons Bay. The first confirmed case in the municipality comes just over a week out from the annual celebration of World Migratory Bird Day at the Truganina Explosives Reserve in Altona on Saturday 10 October. It’s unknown if the celebrations will be affected by the arrival of bird flu in Hobsons Bay. Those who come across suspected bird flu cases should report them via

the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or online through the Agriculture Victoria website: agriculture. vic.gov.au/birdflu For more information about H5 bird flu and human health visit: https:// w w w.bet terhea lt h.v ic.gov.au/hea lt h/ conditionsandtreatments/bird-flu-avianinfluenza For information about bird flu in Hobsons Bay, visit: hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/birdflu An interactive map of bird flu cases across Victoria can be found at: https:// tinyurl.com/5f7nb2a6

Kenyon-Smith Denture Clinic A family tradition for 60 years 100 Pier Street, Altona 9315 9231 • 27 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 9748 8204

Dental Prosthetists Full dentures, Partial dentures, Repairs - relines • Victorian Denture Scheme • Veterans’ Affairs John, Andrew, Simon and Paul Kenyon-Smith

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M A R I B Y R N O N G

Citynews MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

OUT AND ABOUT

As we move into a warmer season, Maribyrnong comes alive with activity. Spring is a wonderful time of year to get out and explore everything our vibrant City has to offer, with a range of events celebrating creativity, connection and community. October sees the return of Fringe Westside, bringing the energy of Melbourne Fringe Festival to venues and public spaces across the City. The Bluestone Church Arts Space will provide an intimate setting for a diverse range of performances, whilst local First Nations-led Na Djinang Circus will present a free, family-friendly roving street performance in Footscray and Yarraville. We’re also celebrating Children’s Week from 24 October to 1 November, an annual celebration that honours the talents, skills, and rights of children. This year’s theme, ‘Children have the right to see their own language, celebrate their culture and practice their religion’ resonates with our commitment to fostering belonging for our youngest residents. Our libraries and community centres are hosting a range of activities from play sessions, intergenerational play to bilingual story-times to mark the occasion.

Maribyrnong's Seniors Festival is also underway, bringing a month of activities to get out, connect and try something new. Whether you're interested in joining a silent disco, intergenerational bird walk, exercise classes or live music, there’s plenty to get involved. These events are a wonderful reminder of the importance of creativity, connection and belonging at every stage of life. I hope to see many of you out and about this month, supporting local events, connecting with neighbours and enjoying all that our City has to offer. For more details on the events, visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/events You'll also see more improvements across Footscray as we work to make our City centre cleaner, safer, and easier to enjoy. Over the past few months, we've stepped up the basics, removing graffiti, increasing cleaning, improving lighting and repairing roads and footpaths. Some bigger projects across Footscray include improvements to Nicholson Street, Barkly Street, Byron Plaza, Bunbury Street and more, with funding from Council and the State Government. Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra Follow me on Facebook ‘Mohamed Semra for Burndap Ward’

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING Tue 20 October: 6.30pm Council Meeting The Meeting is held in the Council Chambers at the Civic Precinct and Community Hub and live-streamed on Council's website. Community members can submit questions for public question time online on or before the day of the meeting. Visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/meetings or phone 9688 0200 for more information.

GET ACTIVE WITH MARIBYRNONG THIS SPRING TRAFFIC TOWN Saturday 24 Oct | 10am–2pm Hansen Reserve, West Footscray To celebrate Children's Week, Hansen Reserve will transform into Traffic Town, a miniature streetscape, complete with traffic lights, road signs, zebra crossings and give-way intersections. Children can ride through the course, collect stamps in their very own Rider Passport, and learn valuable road safety skills along the way. Registrations essential. MARIBYRNONG GIRLS CAN WEEK 2026 26 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 Maribyrnong Girls Can brings women and girls together through movement, connection and wellbeing. With 45 programs to choose from, including Disc Golf, DS Bounce (trampoline fitness), Hot Mat Pilates, and Creative Dance, there's something for everyone.

Maribyrnong City Council Civic Precinct and Community Hub 61 Napier Street, Footscray

P: (03) 9688 0200 F: (03) 9687 7793

Postal Address: PO Box 58, West Footscray VIC 3012

email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra joined community members for a night of film, fun and connection at Footscray Flix.

Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra welcomed Maribyrnong's newest Australian citizens with The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP, Federal Member for Fraser.

Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra joined Brimbank Mayor, Cr Virginia Tachos and members of our Nepalese and Tibetan communities at Quang Mihn Temple for a candlelight interfaith vigil, following the floods in Nepal and Tibet.

Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra and Deputy Mayor, Cr Samantha Meredith attended the Phoenix Youth Fest, where they officially opened the upgraded courtyard at Phoenix Youth Hub.

Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra browsed the stalls at the Slow Foodscray market in Maddern Square and Nicholson Street Mall.

SPRING INTO SUMMER SERIES 6 Nov – 6 Dec 2026 The Spring into Summer Series returns in November, offering a range of free activities to help residents build healthy habits, stay active and connect with their community. From yoga, brain training, Friday Knock Off Choir, Maddern Square Pick-up basketball session and more, every session is led by an experienced local health, fitness and sport professionals. For more details, about these programs and to register, visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/active

Council is seeking feedback on: • Draft Climate Response Strategy • Draft Cruickshank Park Pump Track • Draft Community Infrastructure and Planning Framework Find out more and share your thoughts at: yourcityyourvoice.com.au

NRS: 133 677 or 1300 555 727 www.relayservice.com.au

TIS: 131 450

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NEWS

Doctors walk off the job Doctors across Victoria’s entire public hospital system, including Footscray Hospital, walked off the job last Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing industrial dispute with the state government. The four-hour strike took place from 1.30pm-5.30pm on 1 October while doctors rallied outside state parliament. Emergency departments were exempt from the industrial action and staffing levels remained above Saturday levels to ensure patients were not put at risk. Speaking ahead of the strike, Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) Victoria president Dr Roderick McRae said the problem of working hours

and fatigue in public hospitals was so acute, doctors felt they had no option but to strike again. “The reality is they are being rostered on for 84-hour weeks and frequently work even longer when emergencies occur,” Dr McRae said. “They are often completely exhausted and burnt out, with little opportunity to rest between shifts. The threat that this systemic fatigue presents to patient safety is simply unacceptable.” The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victoria president Simon Judkins said doctors were calling for safer working conditions.

“To ensure we can provide the best care for Victoria’s patients, doctors are asking for a 12.5-hour limit to shifts and at least three guaranteed days off every fortnight to support proper rest and recovery,” he said. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said she’d been in contact with both the AMA and ASMOF and that good faith negotiations were continuing. Western Health, which operates Footscray, Williamstown and Sunshine hospitals, warned patients last Thursday that its emergency departments (ED) would be extra busy due to the strike, but that plans were in place to ensure patients

weren’t affected. Even without the industrial action, Western Health’s ED’s have been under strain recently, particularly at the new Footscray Hospital. Responding to criticism that the hospital is still operating below its 500-bed capacity nearly eight months on from its opening, Western Health acting chief operating officer Jason Plant said it was always going to take time. “The expansion of Footscray Hospital is progressing in stages, with a focus on safely bringing new systems online, supporting our workforce and expanding capacity to meet growing demand,” Mr Plant said.

Thriving Kids coming to the west

Lacrosse Victoria are holding their annual Lacrosse Together Cup in Altona North on 18 October. Lacrosse Victoria’s Kristen Hutchison with her kids Bailey (10) and Sophie (8); Lauren Robinson with her kids Connor (5) and Finn (2); and girls Odette (5) and Thea (10). (Damjan Janevski) 579689 01

Come together for lacrosse round-robin Lacrosse Victoria is inviting players, families, clubs and the wider community to again come together for this year’s Lacrosse Together Cup at PJ Lynch Reserve in Altona North on Sunday 18 October. An annual social round-robin event that celebrates diversity, inclusion and connection through lacrosse, the 2025 Lacrosse Together Cup featured 22 teams competing across four divisions, with 182 individual registrations, more than 60 per cent of which were aged 25 or under. Lacrosse Victoria is looking forward to making the 2026 cup even bigger, brighter

and more connected. “The Lacrosse Together Cup is an important opportunity for Lacrosse Victoria and our clubs to celebrate LGBTQIA+ members, welcome new people into our community and show that lacrosse is a sport for everyone,” Lacrosse Victoria general manager Michael Sholly said of this year’s event which will again be supported by Proud2Play, an organisation that promotes LGBTQIA+ inclusion through sport. “Over the past six years, our partnership has helped drive meaningful change in policy, education and programming, and this

event is a powerful example of visible allyship in action,” Proud2Play chief executive Christine Granger said, adding that the event was a great example of how sport can create genuine connection and belonging. “And we are excited to see that impact continue to grow in 2026,” she said. Alongside the lacrosse, attendees can enjoy face painting, a free come and try lacrosse session, outdoor games, music and food. Details: https://tinyurl.com/mwd9s4ks Team registrations: https://bit.ly/ltcteams2026

Community funds for garden, miniature railway and safer suburbs A community garden, a miniature railway and a neighbourhood watch group are among the recipients of this year’s Hobsons Bay Community Fund (HBCF) grants. More than $60,000 has been shared across 15 local projects in the 2026 grants which the HBCF announced on Friday 2 October. The most lucrative of the grants was the $10,000 awarded to Western Chances for scholarships to help secondary and tertiary students in Hobsons Bay experiencing financial hardship, continue their studies. The Altona Miniature Railway received $5000 to create a community garden and planter project on its site, while Leading

Note Education Inc received the same amount to help young musicians access orchestra training as part of its free after-school music education program, Crashendo. Hobsons Bay Neighbourhood Watch was awarded $4500 for its safe communities program, while asylum seeker charity West Welcome Wagon, the Diesel Electric Rail Motor Preservation Association and Walker Close Community Centre each received $4000. Newport Community Garden received $2600 to run two community open days, while South Kingsville Community Centre and Williamstown Community and Education Centre both got $2500 for IT and craft

programs respectively. “This year’s grants support a diverse range of community priorities,” HBCF chair Pamela Sutton-Legaud said in announcing the recipients. “By partnering with trusted local organisations and supporting grassroots ideas, we’re helping build stronger, healthier and more connected communities-now and into the future.” To celebrate the recipients, HBCF is holding a community thank you event on Wednesday 25 November at Little Ginger in Williamstown North. For more information: https://hbcommunityfund.org.au/

Families of children with developmental delay and autism in Melbourne’s north-west will be among the first to benefit from the new Thriving Kids support program. Thriving Kids is a federal and state-funded initiative designed to provide support outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for children aged eight and under with developmental delays or autism and who have low-to-moderate support needs. The national roll out of the program began on 1 October with a support line, online information for parents and more publicly funded autism assessments among the first services to be offered. But from January 2027, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Hume and Melton will be among six initial delivery sites statewide for targeted allied health and support services to help children build everyday skills and independence – and help families understand how to support their child’s development. The time-limited support services will also include two new developmental checks – one as each child starts kinder, and one as they start school. Run in conjunction with the Education Department, the developmental checks will be undertaken by allied health professionals and trained clinicians, and are aimed at connecting children and families with the right supports sooner. “These initial supports will lay the foundation for the full complement of Thriving Kids services to be delivered across Victoria from 2028,” Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said. Among those to welcome the announcement of start date for Thriving Kids was Hobsons Bay council. “One of council’s advocacy priorities is to bring more health services to Hobsons Bay to ensure the community has ease of access to the help it needs,” council said in a statement, adding that it was still awaiting specific details on how the Thriving Kids program would operate in the municipality. “Council will communicate with the community when more information about the program’s roll out in Hobsons Bay is known.” Despite introduction of Thriving Kids, there will be no changes to how children with developmental delay or autism access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. More information is available at: vic. gov.au/thriving-kids.

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Motorists on best behaviour Maribyrnong motorists were on their best behaviour over the AFL Grand Final long-weekend, with just four traffic offences detected in a four day police operation. Operation Scoreboard ran from 25 September to 28 September, detecting more than 6500 traffic offences statewide. Yet in Maribyrnong, only four motorists were caught, with no offence recorded more than once. There was just one speeding offence, one motorist caught on their mobile phone, another caught disobeying a road sign or signal and one driver found behind the wheel of an unregistered vehicle.

It was a different story to the south in Hobsons Bay though, with 24 motorists caught speeding during the operation, while 10 were caught driving unregistered vehicles. All other traffic offences numbered in the single digits, with drunk and drug driving registering just one each. Seven drivers were caught disobeying a road sign or signal, five were caught driving while disqualified, four without seatbelts on and three using mobile phones. Two motorists were caught driving while unlicensed, while there was one vehicle impoundment.

Statewide figures for Operation Scoreboard were much less positive, with a rise of almost 1500 offences against the same operation last year. Of particular concern were drink and drug driving offences, with both increasing compared to the same operation last year. There were 246 drink driving offences detected from 120,995 breath tests - a strike rate of one in every 491 drivers tested and a 28 per cent increase on 2025 while there were 127 drug driving offences from 3136 roadside tests - a strike rate of one in every 24 drivers testing positive.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Mick Hermans said while the results were disappointing, drivers who got away with drink or drug driving over the AFL Grand Final long weekend, wouldn’t be so lucky in the future. “If you think you can drive irresponsibly – including drinking or taking drugs and driving – think again,” Assistant Commissioner Hermans said. “As the weather improves and we head towards the end of the year, our fleet of alcohol and drug testing vehicles will be out conducting testing anywhere, anytime, and at every opportunity.”

Speckles’ youngsters are the first emu chicks to hatch at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 20 years. (Zoos Victoria)

Chicks strut at zoo

Williamstown Jazz Festival organiser Danilo Rojas at the Williamstown Uniting Church where the festival’s Spring Series will take place on 9-10 October. (Damjan Janevski) 582274 01

Swing into spring with Williamstown jazz Hobsons Bay will swing into spring thanks to the Williamstown International Jazz Festival (WIJF) which is hosting its Spring Series on 9-10 October. The two day event at the Williamstown Uniting Church on Electra Street follows on from WIJF’s Winter Series and will serve as a prelude to the main festival itself which will take place from 12–14 February, 2027. The theme of the Spring Series is Australian Jazz Legacy, and with performances from local luminaries such as Paul Grabowsky and Michelle Nicolle, alongside Tony Gould, Nick Haywood and Eugene

Ball, it’s one that will certainly be lived up to. Having been born overseas, festival organiser Danilo Rojas said the theme was a tribute to the jazz scene in his adopted home. “Since arriving in Australia, I have observed the extraordinary commitment, openness and passion these musicians have brought to improvised music,” Rojas said. “For me, this legacy goes beyond nationalism: it is a living creative tradition, built through listening, collaboration and exchange. “Umar Zakaria’s participation from

New Zealand adds another international perspective, reflecting the festival’s aim to connect generations, cultures and musical ideas.” Along with acknowledging its past jazz, as well as international perspectives, Rojas said the Spring Series would provide a glimpse of Australian jazz’s future too. “The presence of younger musicians Joel Trigg and Paul Withwood extends that conversation into a new generation,” he said. Details: https://www.williamstownjazz. com.au

Exhibition shows age no barrier to art The artistic talents of Hobsons BayWilliamstown U3A members are on display at their fifth annual art show which is now underway at the Dennis Reserve Centre on the corner of Ferguson Street and Melbourne Road, Williamstown. Running from Tuesday 6 October through until Wednesday 21 October, the exhibition displays works produced by members of the Hobsons Bay-Williamstown U3A’s various art groups and is open daily from 10-4pm.

Each day a different artist in residence will be on hand to answer questions from those attending the exhibition and show them around the various pieces on display. Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski last week went along to the Dennis Reserve Centre to get an early sneak-peak of the exhibition and capture images of some of the works on display. For more information: https://www. u3ahbwilli.org.au/

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U3A Hobons Bay-Williamstown art show curator Vivian Axelson. 582348 02

Male emu, Speckles, is one lucky bird, stepping out at Werribee Open Range Zoo’s Australian trail with an entourage of five long-legged chicks. Native animals keeper Malinda Delahant said the emu chicks, which hatched in mid-September, are already turning heads with their striking looks. “These little ones are supermodels in the making” Ms Delahant said. “They have beautiful long legs and they’re still getting the hang of using them.” “The chicks have gorgeous eyes, luscious eyelashes, and have been strutting their stuff as if they’re on a catwalk.” Emu chicks are the first to sport a seasonal trend, hatching out cream-coloured with distinct dark brown stripes running along their backs and heads. The markings help them blend in among grassland tussocks and woodlands. In just a few months, however, they’ll drop this season’s patterned down for a shaggy, grey-brown monochromatic look, which has already been adopted by their older flock mates. Male emus are exceptional parents and take on the bulk of parental duties. During the two-month incubation, males will sit on the eggs to regulate the nest temperature, during which time they will forgo eating and drinking. With the sedentary dad-duties over, Speckles is now getting his steps up. “Speckles is an incredibly attentive dad and is keeping the chicks safe and together as a small unit. He’s already busy teaching them how to forage, where to find food and water in their habitat and how to preen their beautiful feathers.” Speckles’ clutch marks a milestone as the first emu chicks to hatch at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 20 years. The five chicks join a multi-generational flock of 11 adult birds at the zoo’s free-roaming Australian Trail habitat. Werribee Open Range Zoo is open all year round. Kids visit free on weekends, public holidays and Victorian school holidays.

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Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 5

BEHIND THE NEWS

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Help where it’s needed Brimbank is one of Victoria’s drug hotspots, recording the fourth highest rate of drug-induced deaths between 2015 and 2024 according to a recent report. Sebastian Conidi spoke to cohealth manager and Health Work’s Healthcare program facilitator Scott Withy about the work done by Van West to save lives.

cott Withy has seen more than most when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse. While my grand final was spent in front of the television, his was spent on-call, aiding people across the community. “All the data would show you that around Christmas Day, Melbourne Cup and Grand Final day, there is a significant increase in drug-and-alcohol-related harm,” Mr Withy said. “There is a significant increase in domestic and family violence callouts for police.” Working across Melbourne’s west, Mr Withy has seen firsthand the impact drugs and alcohol can have on vulnerable communities. He highlighted cohealth’s Van West program as one service working to address the issue. Funded through the Victorian government’s $95 million Statewide Action Plan, Van West is part of an outreach network providing mobile health, social and harm-reduction support to people in Footscray, St Kilda and Melbourne’s CBD who may otherwise face barriers to accessing care. “It connects people to housing, alcohol and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services, as well as health and social services,” Mr Withy explained. The program provides mobile support to people across Melbourne’s west, including first aid, basic health checks, safer drug-use information and overdose-reversal medication such as naloxone. Mr Withy said population growth and gentrification had pushed some vulnerable people to the margins, creating a need for services that could reach people in a myriad of locations and situations. “We had to ask the questions – do we have the right services in the right areas and, if not, how do we engage people who use drugs in areas where there aren’t fixed primary health services?” Launched in 2024, Van West operates seven days a week, spending four days in St Albans and Sunshine, with the remaining time in Footscray. Mr Withy said the program’s mobility was particularly important for people who faced difficulties accessing

traditional healthcare services. “Our clients find it difficult to even get from Braybrook to an appointment in Footscray. We’re really trying to meet people where they’re at.” The van often sets up in what Mr Withy calls “known hotspots”, including near Sunshine station and Alfreda Square in St Albans. It provides a range of services, including sterile injecting equipment to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. “We know people are going to inject drugs. From an evidence-based and health perspective, Australia has an excellent record of evidence-based interventions to prevent HIV and Hep-C.” The portable service also provides safer injecting advice, vein care and wound care. The van includes a nurse’s station where clients can receive basic health assessments. “If someone is hypothetically intoxicated or dehydrated or if they have an abscess that needs to be looked at, they can come into the van, sit in the pathology chair and get an assessment.” The van also provides naloxone, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, alongside education on how to administer it and respond to an overdose. The service also has a fridge and microwave. “We like to make sure there is access to water and meals,” Mr Withy said. “A lot of the work we do is engaging vulnerable people.” The team provides broader support through referrals to other cohealth services, including optometry, allied health and further medical care. Mr Withy said community engagement was a major priority for cohealth, with education playing an important role in helping the wider community understand how drug use is addressed from a health perspective. “If you ask the average person on the street why we give clean injecting equipment for drug use – you’d get a varied response,” he said. “People may ask if it’s illegal or whether it should be treated as a criminal matter instead of a health matter.” Mr Withy said providing sterile

6 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

Harm reduction workers Christo Keene and Nick Downie at Van West. (Damjan Janevski) 580662 02

injecting equipment helps reduce the broader burden on the health system. “What we know is that if you’re giving out clean injecting equipment and stopping the spread of HIV and hep-C, you are reducing the impact on the health system. These types of interventions provide evidence-based benefits to the health system.” He also stressed the importance of reducing stigma around drug use to ensure people can receive appropriate healthcare. “The people we look after from a health perspective are some of the most stigmatised individuals in the community,” Mr Withy said. “These are people with untreated mental health issues, trauma, experiencing homelessness, financial pressures, food insecurity – and are using drugs and alcohol to manage their trauma. “There’s an assertion between people who use drugs for pleasure and people who use drugs to mask their trauma and mental health issues.” Mr Withy said the healthcare system could do more to address the complex issues surrounding drug and alcohol use. “It’s a really unknown area of healthcare. It is not well understood. People don’t really talk about it in a broader sense.

“It’s a specialised area because you need to build trust with people that aren’t particularly trusting of health services in general because of prior poor experiences.” Mr Withy said he would like to see better education and engagement across the healthcare system so people feel more comfortable seeking care. “I would like to see more education in emergency departments and hospitals who are inundated with clients who use alcohol and other drugs but don’t feel comfortable telling a nurse or doctor what they’re doing.” He said seeking care could be particularly difficult when people feared being judged or stigmatised. “Even people in mainstream society who take legal substances such as cigarettes feel uncomfortable telling a doctor for fear of stigma. “If you have a client who’s sleeping rough and already feels stigmatised, they’re not going to feel comfortable telling a stranger exactly what’s going on in their personal life.” For Mr Withy, services such as Van West provide an opportunity to bridge that gap by bringing healthcare directly to people who may otherwise struggle to access it. Van West can be contacted on 0499 848 295.

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Catch the ‘cowards’ By Cade Lucas A woman who was brutally bashed during a carjacking in West Footscray earlier this month, has labelled her attackers “cowards” and accused them of increasing their violence towards her once they realised she was female. Emma, a 27 year-old from Wantirna South, was riding her motorbike to a friend’s house to watch movies when she was attacked by a group of motorcyclists while stopped at traffic lights on Sunshine Road about 11pm on Saturday 19 September. One of the riders is believed to have jumped from his bike onto Emma’s, knocking her to the ground where the rest of the all male group assaulted her with tasers and blunt instruments. “They were tasering me on my arms and back and I have burn marks on my stomach now amongst bruises and a fractured rib,” Emma said recounting her injuries at a police press conference held on 29 September to release CCTV footage of the incident and call for public assistance to identify those responsible. “I’m incredibly lucky I did not sustain crazy injuries.” Emma said she initially clung on to her bike during the attack to prevent it being stolen. “I didn’t want them to have it, they don’t deserve it,” she recalled, before eventually letting go due to their increasing violence. “Their actions escalated very rapidly and I felt their anger, I felt their frustration that I wasn’t letting go of my bike.” Rather than bring an end to the attack, Emma said letting go of her bike led to its most disturbing moment.

Vision released by police of four motorbike riders they want to speak to in relation to three violent carjackings in West Footscray on 19 September. (Victoria Police)

“I heard one of them make a statement in reference to me being a female. I can’t remember their exact words but it was something along the lines of “let’s get her,” she said. “I believe they took it personally that they as a group could not remove one female off a motorbike.” Emma said the attack became ever more violent until the traffic lights changed and the offenders fled the scene with her motorbike which has yet to be recovered. Police have released CCTV footage of four motorbike riders they want to speak to in relation to the attack on Emma as well as two similar carjackings and assaults that occurred in West Footscray earlier the same day. Senior Constable Thomas Menzies from the Westgate Divisional Response Unit said the third of the incidents involving Emma

was the most violent and the CCTV footage he’d seen of the assault was too confronting to be released publicly. “I actually called Emma immediately after seeing it because I was worried about her,” Senior Constable Menzies said. A motorbike stolen from a 40 year-old man in Napier Street just after midnight on 19 September was later found burnt out in Presidents Park in Wyndham Vale, while the scooter stolen a short time later from a 32 year-old man riding along Sunshine Road has yet to be recovered. Emma said she doesn’t care whether her motorbike is found or not, just that the offenders are caught. “They need to be held accountable,” she said. “I think they’re cowards.” Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au

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New era boards at Tullamarine Melbourne Airport officially opened its new pick up and drop off zones on Tuesday, marking the airport’s most significant transformation since opening in 1970. The $500 million road network launched at 4am, featuring the new T123 Transport Hub and a dedicated exit off the Tullamarine Freeway. The expanded facilities welcome passengers across all airlines, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, and international carriers. The redesigned drop off zone addresses longstanding traffic congestion with additional lanes and nearly double the previous number of bays. The new pick up zone offers 115 drivein/drive-out bays—nearly triple the original capacity—providing covered waiting areas with seating and toilet facilities for the first time. A striking 19-metre-wide bridge connects the transport hub to terminals, featuring artwork celebrating the Wurundjeri people and local culture. Drivers must now exit the Tullamarine Freeway earlier at Exit 19 (Naarm Way) to access the new elevated roadway. Melbourne Airport has deployed extra staff and volunteers to assist passengers during this transition period. CEO Lorie Argus emphasised the upgrade supports projected growth. “We’re expecting to welcome 75 million passengers annually by 2047, so building this infrastructure now is imperative,” she said.

Co-founders of Footscray community charity, Linking the Next Steps, Emma Wallis and Tarnia Cooper. (supplied)

Australia Post grant to link next steps A Footscray based charity assisting young people, families, carers, and individuals living with autism, neurodivergence and invisible disabilities has received funding from Australia Post to expand its work. Linking the Next Steps Inc. (LTNS) is a community charity co-founded by Emma Wallis and Tarnia Cooper that runs programs aimed at providing practical assistance for young people with developmental disorders and disabilities. It was for one of these programs, the Insightful HUB Wellbeing and Connection Series, that LTNS was recently awarded $10,000 through the 2026 Australia Post Community Grants program. The Insightful HUB Wellbeing and Connection Series is aimed at improving participant’s mental health and wellbeing through community connection. The LTNS co-founders said the money would help them continue to run this and

other programs for people with neurodivergence and invisible disabilities. “The funding will help us deliver programs that focus on reducing isolation, creating meaningful social connections and providing safe, supportive environments where people can take part in activities, develop skills and build a stronger sense of belonging,” Ms Wallis and Ms Cooper said. “For a small community organisation like ours, funding like this makes a significant difference. It allows us to turn ideas identified through lived experience and community feedback into programs that have a real impact.” LTNS was one of 18 community organisations across Victoria sharing in more that $163,000 of grant funding as part of Australia Post’s 2026 Community Grants program. For more information on LTNS: https:// www.linkingthenextstep.org/

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Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 7

NEWS

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Daylight copper pipe theft By Cade Lucas When Grace Perry awoke to the sound of banging outside her bedroom window on Monday morning last week, she thought it must’ve been a tradie who’d come to do maintenance on her Footscray sharehouse. “We need our door repaired, so I kinda just assumed my housemate had organised that and didn’t tell me,” Ms Perry said of who she initially thought was responsible for the banging, which occurred at about 10am on 28 September outside their Cowper Street home. A midwife at Sunshine Hospital, Ms Perry was enjoying a lie-in and was the only person home at the time. After looking out the window and seeing a duffle bag that looked like it belonged to a

tradie, she convinced herself that was who made the noise and thought nothing more of it until getting up half an hour later. “I went to have a shower and cook my breakfast and the hot water and the gas stove wouldn’t turn on,” Ms Perry recalled of the moment she began to worry. After a call to her housemate Angus revealed that he hadn’t booked a tradie after all, she called their energy provider, who told her to check the gas meter. “That’s when I realised our gas had been turned off,” Ms Perry said of the moment she became very worried. Fortunately, another phone call to Angus led to the source of the problem. “My housemate asked me to follow the [gas] pipes and that’s when I realised they

were missing.” The copper pipe attached to the weatherboards beneath Ms Perry’s bedroom window had been sawn off and stolen in broad daylight while she was fast asleep. “There was a lot of disbelief, just at the absolute audacity to rob someone in the late hours of the morning,” she said of her reaction to seeing a sawn-off bit of pipe poking out the side of the house. Soon after, an actual tradie really did come around to replace the pipe and get the power and gas back on, while Ms Perry reported the incident to police, later providing footage of the alleged offender captured on her neighbour’s CCTV, too. The status of the police investigation is currently unknown.

The remains of the copper pipe that was sawn-off and stolen from Grace Perry’s Footscray sharehouse while she was asleep inside on the morning of Monday 28 September. (Grace Perry) 582860

Connection and information at Parkinson’s forum Those living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones are invited to learn more about the disease and connect with others whose lives have been impacted by it at a community forum in Newport next week. ParKanDo, one of the state’s largest Parkinson’s peer support groups, is holding its annual community forum at the Newport Community Hub on Saturday 17 October. Among the speakers at this year’s forum will be Parkinson’s disease expert, Professor David Finkelstein from the department of optometry and vision sciences at Melbourne University, the chief executive of Fight Parkinson’s, Emma Collin, a neuro-specific speech pathologist and representatives from the federal government’s My Aged Care website. Those in attendance will also hear from a person who has lived with Parkinson’s disease for 15 years and who will talk about their journey, share some of the challenges they’ve faced and provide useful support tips. ParKanDo co-leader Pam West said the free community forum was for anyone who has been impacted by Parkinson’s. “Those diagnosed with the condition, their family, friends and carers will have the opportunity to increase knowledge and understanding, to better manage the condition and improve wellbeing,” Ms West said.

Members of ParKanDo, a peer support group for people with Parkinson’s, are inviting those with the disease and their loved ones to their annual community forum in Newport on 17 October. (Damjan Janevski) 577613

“Additionally, the forum will challenge the stigma associated with Parkinson’s.” Launched in February 2020, ParKanDo is a peer support group formed and run

by volunteers with lived experience of the disease. For more details about ParKanDo, email parkando.west@gmail.com or visit:

www.parkando.org.au To register for the community forum, go to: https://www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/1606847

Faces Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing events and people across the western suburbs, Macedon Ranges and Hume.

Mark Warner is a member of the Sunbury Model Railway Club. (Damjan Janevski). 578922

Michelle Saunders is a Careworks volunteer in Sunbury. (Damjan Janevski). 579675

Ride for the Fallen members participants Phillip Gordon, Bruce Wheeler, Robert Shaw and Sharlene Gordon. (Damjan Janevski). 580067

Getting crafty at the Wyndham Cultural Centre during the school holidays were IIssy, Will and Charlie. (Damjan Janevski). 580512

Melton Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Aaron Chavasse. (Damjan Janevski). 579751

8 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

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Stage one done, but wetlands works continue By Cr Paddy Keys-Macpherson We recently celebrated an important milestone for the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, with the official opening of the first stage of works. This is a project with massive potential for our whole community, not only for those of us in the western part of Hobsons Bay, but for the whole municipality and as a destination for those visiting Hobsons Bay. The centre will give our community a new place to connect with nature, learn about our environment and enjoy the incredible natural assets right on our doorstep. The stage one works are already giving us a glimpse at what the finished project will look like. Sculpted landscape areas, native planting, walking trails, elevated boardwalks and seating have created a more accessible way for our community to experience this special and unique asset we have in our city. I had the privilege of being at the recent official opening of stage one works, and it was a thrill not only to see the incredible work that has been done, but to see the positive reaction from community members, and hear about what the site means to them. The environmental significance of both our wetlands and the project can’t be overstated. Our wetlands play an important part in supporting native wildlife and migratory birds and supporting biodiversity. The centre will provide opportunities to learn about the significant impact of the wetlands, encouraging environmental education, research, volunteering and

Cr Paddy Keys-Macpherson.

community participation. While completion of stage one is something to celebrate, there is still more work to do. Council has committed $5 million towards the next stage of the project, but we need further assistance to make future stages viable, and so are advocating for a further $5 million in government funding. Stage two would deliver the fully operational wetlands centre, including a demonstration wetlands system, community and education facilities, infrastructure for school programs, research and volunteering, and improved access for visitors. The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre is about more than creating a new destination. It is an investment in our environment and our community. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the next stage and, ultimately, seeing the full vision for this remarkable place become a reality.

NEWS

Briefs Festive funding With Christmas just a few months away, funding grants are available for festive season events in Maribyrnong. Council’s Festive Fund (Quick Response) Grants Program 2026 is now open, with not-for-profit organisations running accessible, community-led events that activate public spaces and strengthen community connections across Maribyrnong, eligible to apply. Applications close at 12pm on 8 October and will be assessed by a panel of council officers, with applicants notified of the outcome within 28 days of the grant round closing.

Playground opening Hobsons Bay locals are invited to the opening of the municipality’s largest inclusive playground at McCormack Park in Laverton on Sunday 25 October. Suitable for all ages and abilities, the new state-of-the-art playground features outdoor exercise equipment, a double slide, reflexology paths, a full-size basketball court, a wheelchair accessible in-ground trampoline, picnic areas, shelters and barbecues. T The free grand opening event will take place from 10am-12pm and will feature fun activities for the whole family, including face-painting, a wildlife show and tree giveaways. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Many of us are feeling under cost-of-living pressure, so what’s causing the inflation the RBA acknowledges is making Australians “furious”? Households have been dealing with years of higher prices. Consumer confidence is weak, house prices have fallen and the economy is slowing. Yet inflation remains stubbornly above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2% to 3% target range. RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser acknowledged the frustration in a recent interview with the ABC’s 7.30 program. “People want inflation down. People are furious about inflation. I understand why. It’s unfair. It hits people on low incomes. It damages price signals. It makes the job of companies difficult. What they want us to do is our job and bring inflation down,” Hauser said. The latest ABS inflation figures show annual inflation rose to 4.0% in August from 3.5% in July. Trimmed mean inflation, which strips out some of the more volatile price movements to give a better sense of the underlying trend, remained at 3.6% for the third consecutive month. The first thing to understand is that inflation doesn’t measure how much we’re buying. It measures how much prices are changing. It also doesn’t tell you how high prices have already become. Imagine something that cost $100 rises to $110 one year and then $113 the next. The rate of inflation has slowed considerably, but you’re still paying $13 more than you were before. So where is the inflation actually coming from? The short answer is: from several places at once. Some of it is coming from prices Australians can’t easily avoid. Housing was the biggest

contributor to inflation in August, rising 5.7% over the year. Some of the pressure is also coming from overseas. Higher oil, diesel, fertiliser and other costs linked to the Middle East conflict don’t always reach consumers immediately. Businesses can absorb those costs for a while before eventually putting up their own prices and passing them through to customers. Then there’s a more structural problem: how much the Australian economy can produce. The RBA’s August Statement on Monetary Policy says the economy is still operating with capacity constraints. In other words, demand for some workers, goods and services remains stronger than the economy can comfortably supply without pushing up prices. So inflation can keep running even while parts of the economy are clearly slowing. CommBank Household Spending Insights data showed spending among Australians aged 65 and over was 10.1% higher in June than a year earlier. Spending growth among 25 to 34year-olds was just 4.2%, while 35 to 44 and 45 to 54-year-olds recorded growth of 4.5%. “Household consumption patterns diverge by age. Shifts in interest rates, inflation and wealth affect age cohorts differently, which can lead to varying rates of spending growth,” CommBank Head of Australian Economics Belinda Allen said. One obvious reason is housing debt. “These groups are more likely to have a mortgage, making them more sensitive to higher interest rates,” Allen said of the younger and middleaged groups. Higher rates can’t build more houses, lift productivity overnight or bring down the global oil price. What they can do is cool demand.

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If everyone’s feeling the squeeze, where’s all this inflation coming from?

Australians cutting back and inflation remaining too high aren’t contradictory. The squeeze

What matters most now is whether those pressures fade as the economy slows, or whether

is landing very differently across households, and many of the prices still rising are for

inflation remains persistent enough for the RBA to decide that more rate rises are needed.

things people can’t easily avoid.

Find out more at CommBank Newsroom

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 9

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MY PLACE For Bacchus Marsh local Teagan Scarlett, life in Melbourne’s west has always been about community, familiarity and connection. Born at Bacchus Marsh Hospital, Scarlett spent her early years in Melton before moving closer to Melbourne to study, work and experience city life. She eventually found herself drawn back to the western suburbs and the country-town atmosphere of Bacchus Marsh. She chats with Jack O’Shea-Ayres. What’s your connection to Melbourne’s north-west? My siblings and I were all born at Bacchus Marsh Hospital in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and I lived in Melton for the first 20 years of my life. In 2018, after living in Footscray, Brunswick, Coburg, and after travelling abroad, my husband and I bought our first house in Bacchus Marsh where we’ve been ever since. I was in Footscray from around 2009-2013, which was great to be so close to the city for university and for meeting up with friends. Footscray was so different at that time compared to now. But, one consistent thing is that the food has always been superb! What do you like about where you live? I love living in a place where it is so easy to chat with people who you’ve never met before - people here are pretty easy going and friendly. Living with nature at your fingertips is also wonderful, we love spending time outdoors. I’m not really sure what else to say about my time in Bacchus Marsh other than we just really enjoy living here. What, if anything, would you change about where you live? The rate of development in Bacchus Marsh is a little difficult to watch when you remember the cosy country town it was back in the day. Where is your favourite local place to spend time? Any park or trail! Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you…

COMMENT

Teagan Scarlett. (Damjan Janevski) 561733_01

I get to drive trains for a living. I’ve been working for Metro Trains since 2019 as a driver. It is wonderful, I get to see lots of

different parts of the city and get to see people going about their everyday lives. I have been trained to drive four different types of

trains which is great fun and very interesting.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

A cinema classic and a movie the whole family will enjoy 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. Coyote vs. ACME (PG) Walking the tightrope of invitation and homage is something director Dave Green pulled off flawlessly and left us with perhaps the most fun movie of the year. Having had enough of ACME’s faulty gadgets constantly stifling his endless quest to catch the Road Runner, Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote sets out to sue the ACME Corporation. Represented by lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), the pair set out to prove malicious intent behind the megacorporation’s malfunctioning products, such as rocket-powered roller skates and dehydrated boulders (Just add water!). What follows is a hilarious investigation and trial that features all the classic characters I hoped to see. Shot as a live-action cartoon in the style of 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, this film is a machine gun of comedy, firing off joke after joke, only pausing to deliver some shockingly heartfelt moments. When animation interacts with real actors and objects, it can often look out of place, but the time and passion put into the animation created such a strangely natural dynamic. Unfortunately, the original human characters are almost entirely forget-

Evan Turok.

table, lacking any sort of individuality. Considering Forte’s character was front and centre throughout the entirety of the film, it would have been nice to be given an opportunity to build a connection. If you are looking for an excuse to get back to the cinema, especially with the family, Coyote vs. ACME will have a little something for everyone and leave you

10 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

with just a little more than your average family comedy. 3.5/5

The Apartment (PG) Billy Wilder’s ‘The Apartment’ (1960) is a masterful showcase of why well constructed writing trumps all else in the world of film making. C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) rapidly

rises up the ranks of his insurance company by loaning out his apartment to his higher ups looking to find a private place to cheat on their wives. Treated with a wildly early 60s casual attitude, what follows is a charming love story that sets an unreachable standard for future romcoms. Here, actions have ongoing effects that domino throughout the full two hours. Smart writing doesn’t mean complicated writing. Having a clear understanding of the plot while still being thoroughly invested is the true mark of an amazing script. Its finest feat is in the way the early dialogue effortlessly weaves in necessary exposition without feeling forced. An iconic scene features C.C. Baxter is seated in a sea of desks that reach far into the depths of the frame. A genius visual metaphor to show Baxter’s unremarkable life, and simply a cool shot. To achieve this, the set was built with progressively smaller desks, and even going so far as to fill the far ends of the set with child actors to create the distant effect. Most often, films in production during the late 50s barely had enough of a budget to pay attention, so seeing ’The Apartment’ take advantage of its huge budget in such a creative way is truly special. There’s no wonder why ‘The Apartment’ is still a classic to this day. 4.5/5… enjoyment wise.

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WE DESERVE BETTER

Victims cry out for help As part of Star Weekly’s ongoing We Deserve Better campaign highlighting crime in Melbourne’s west and north, and the push by six councils to improve safety in the region, Glenn Fisher looks at what help is available for victims of crime. Support services for victims of violent crimes are facing unprecedented demand in Melbourne’s west and north, with a funding shortfall impacting on growing waitlists for adults and especially children. Of the 44,850 reported ‘crimes against the person’ across Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham in the 2025-26 financial year, 6869 of those were ‘high-harm’ offences. High-harm offences classified by the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, driving causing death, serious assault, rape, indecent assault, incest, sexual offences against children, abduction, slavery, extortion, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. So, apart from reporting a crime to police and getting medical attention, where else can a victim of a violent crime turn to for support? The first step to access free services in Victoria is the state government’s Victims of Crime Helpline, which offers information, advice and support. A Department of Justice spokesperson told Star Weekly the Helpline received 18,435 calls from across Victoria in the 12 months to 30 June, an average of more than 50 calls a day, with figures not available for specific council areas. When a person contacts the Victims

of Crime Helpline, trained victim support workers provide information based on the person’s individual needs and circumstances, as well as referrals to victim support services, family violence services, sexual assault services, mental health and counselling supports, legal assistance, and housing services. Referrals for callers from Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham may include Windermere Victims Assistance Program, The Orange Door and Footscray-based GenWest, Unison for housing support across parts of Melbourne’s west or WestCASA for sexual assault support. GenWest is a family violence support service that has been operating since 1988, focusing on helping to prevent violence by addressing what is driving it before it happens. GenWest CEO Dale Wakefield told Star

Weekly “the demand on all of our family violence services is unprecedented”. Ms Wakefield said its services, which are currently funded to support more than 2500 people every year, enabled people experiencing family violence to be safer, to recover, and to rebuild their lives. “We support many more people than this, and our waitlists can still be long. There are 50 people on our waitlist, who will wait over a month to be supported,” Ms Wakefield said. “That’s a long time when you are not safe in your home or relationship.” In tandem with The Orange Door, staff provided almost 80,000 hours of support to family violence victim survivors in the 2024-25 financial year, a 30 percent increase on the previous year. An after-hours program that supports victim survivors with emergency assistance outside regular business hours supported 698 victim sur-

vivors in the 2025-26 year. GenWest’s Children’s Counselling program is funded to support 234 children each year but regularly supports more than 300 children and young people, alongside their carers and support networks, Ms Wakefield said. “More than 100 children are currently waiting for this service, with some waiting up to a year,” she said. “We know that children who experience family violence are two to three times more likely to go on to experience intimate partner violence later in life. Research also indicates that boys who experience family violence may be at greater risk of using violence themselves as adults. “This is why GenWest’s children’s counselling is not simply a recovery service. It is a critical part of breaking the cycle of family violence,” she said. “We are urgently trying to source an additional $500,000 in funding to clear this waiting list and give these children the support they need now.” Ms Wakefield said of the funding GenWest received from government, the smallest amount was allocated for the prevention of family violence before it occurred. GenWest received no funding to conduct longer term healing and recovery with clients beyond their allocated support period, she said. “Survivors tell us this is something they badly need.” The Victims of Crime Helpline is 1800 819 817 and GenWest can be contacted on 1800 436 937. Any victims experiencing a crisis or worried about their safety should contact Victoria Police on Triple Zero, Lifeline, Safe Steps or 1800 Respect.

missing ad: 12901174

NOW OPEN THE NEW HOME OF LIVE SPORT IN HOBSONS BAY NEWPORTSOCIAL.COM.AU

1 MASON STREET, NEWPORT 12901631-JO38-26

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 11

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President of UA Manufacturing’s parent company, Uniasia Group, Wu Zhiqing, visited the Altona North factory for the tour. 582220 03

Hobsons Bay chief executive Phu Nguyen, mayor Diana Grima and UA Manufacturing’s Liliana Zanon at a tour of the company’s Altona North factory. 582220 01

The tour group clad in protective suits ahead of entering the factory itself. 582220 07

Drums full of chemicals and materials used for manufacturing cosmetics. 582220 08

Altona’s hidden beauty giant When a business is described as a manufacturer, it usually evokes images of sparks flying, and plumes of steam and heavy machinery. But while Altona North’s UA Manufacturing has that word in its title and its factory has plenty of machinery, its end product isn’t made of steel or aluminium and doesn’t come freshly spray painted. Instead, the cosmetics and beauty products produced at the Chambers Road facility are designed to give consumers a fresh look rather than having one themselves. A subsidiary of Chinese cosmetic giant Uniasia Group, UA Manufacturing has been making all manner of moisturisers, creams, gels, shampoos and lotions in Hobsons Bay since 2018, and with a workforce of more than 100 - many of whom live locally - it’s one of the largest employers in the inner west. Yet, despite its size and the fact its various products and brand names sit on chemist and supermarket shelves across the country and overseas, UA Manufacturing remains largely unknown. In an effort to help change this, the company opened the doors of its Altona North factory on Wednesday 30 September to a tour of local dignitaries, including Hobsons Bay mayor Diana Grima and chief executive Phu Nguyen. Star Weekly’s Cade Lucas also donned a hair net and tagged along to take some pictures.

Rows and rows of stainless steel containers and machinery. 582220 06

Above: Protective covers were even required for footwear. 582220 Left: The inside of one of the many stainless steel processing machines at the factory. 582220 14

UA Manufacturing employee Ariel Mukherjee explains the mixing process. 582220 15

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12 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

FEATURING ... SENIORS

Advertising feature

Residents enjoy a delicious taste of life at Rivervue What does a good day look like when you live at Rivervue? There probably isn’t one answer. For some residents, it might begin with a walk through the Riverland gardens and along the trails beside the Maribyrnong River. For others, it’s a swim in the heated pool, yoga, a roll on the bowling green or catching up over ladies’ lunch. And there’s almost always someone adding another piece to the communal jigsaw puzzle. Lately, there’s been another reason to get together – for a good food. Since chef Kirsty Chiaplias joined Rivervue, Friday lunches and dinners have taken on a life of their own. Kirsty brings over 20 years of experience in professional kitchens, but it’s her generous, flavour-filled approach to food that residents are getting to know. Recently, she added a special Wednesday roast night to the mix. Inspired by Greek flavours, the tables filled and compliments were flowed, as residents enjoyed a trio of dips, lamb shoulder, lemon potatoes, feta salad and the winning baklava for dessert. The food was wonderful, but the photos from the evening tell the story even better – people gathered around the table, Kirsty chatting with residents and plenty of laughter. That sense of connection carries through everyday life at Rivervue. There are bowls, table tennis, dancing, exercise classes, garden walks and happy hour, but just as important are the conversations in between and the familiar faces along the way. During Seniors Month, some of that everyday life will spill beyond the village gates. On Wednesday 7 October, Come & Try Day will bring some of the regular activities’ residents enjoy to life. Visitors can join a guided walk through the gardens and along

the Riverland trails, take part in a friendly game of indoor carpet bowls and table tennis, or try something a little different with hula and line dancing. And then there is happy hour – an opportunity to put the activities aside, sit down and simply enjoy a conversation with the people who live here. Then on Friday 30 October, Denis Walter will perform live in the Community Centre, bringing his much-loved songs, stories and unmistakable warmth to Rivervue – a fitting way to finish Seniors Month. It seems a rather fitting way to finish Seniors Month. Call 1300 298 439 or register at www.rivervue.com.au. Join us for a little music. A little movement. Good food, good conversation and people to share it all with.

missing ad: 12903124

DENIS WALTER LIVE AT FRI 30TH OCT | 11.30AM Join us for an unforgettable performance by one of Australia’s much-loved entertainers, Denis Walter. With his unmistakable voice, warm personality and incredible collection of songs, Denis will have you singing along to the classics & enjoying an afternoon of wonderful live entertainment.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

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SCAN QR CODE For More Info

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25 Bellavista Drive Avondale Heights

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 13

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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

8 October, 1986

9 October, 1996

4 October, 2006

5 October, 2016

“It was like a time bomb. I almost had a nervous breakdown and had to get out.”

The resignation last week of Werribee Legal Service’s coordinator, Ms Tracey Atkins, has forced cancellation of services at Laverton.

An Aboriginal group which has filed a native title claim over Port Phillip Bay and shorelines is opposed to the state government’s channel-deepening project.

A financial windfall awaits the Western Bulldogs and the western suburbs following the Dogs’ drought-breaking premiership win at the weekend.

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14 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

PUZZLES ACROSS

easy

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

5 9 3

5 1 2 3 1

6 6 4 7 3 2 6

1 4

15 18 20 21 23 26 27 28 29

4 15

1 5 4 5 7

9 3 4 6

7 3

Pontiff (4) Disputed Spanish region (9) Ancient Roman aristocrat (9) Bygone (5) Feudal Japanese warrior (7) Boredom (5) Preceding day (9) Individual from Belgrade, say (4) Written declaration under oath (9) Father, as head of family (9) Travelling (2,7) Latter part of the day (7) Rundown (5) Musical drama (5) Data (coll) (4) Shortened form of boulevard (4)

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 24 25

12 16

22 2

4 23

2 4

26 15

5 11

23 5

12 9

4 24

No. 342 4

2 1

hard

R N

W S K Q U B J F A O Y R N 18 5

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

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25 12

26 13

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

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

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: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good 28 words: Excellent

A O

A E S

N I

No. 417 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

T E S T S R E C A P A R O M A S I R E N H E E D S

elfin, feign, fern, filing, fine, finer, finger, firing, fling, fringe, genii, glen, grin, infer, lien, line, liner, linger, PILFERING, piling, pine, ping, reign, rein, rifling, riling, ring, ripen

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

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

9-LETTER WORD

hard

medium

D G C E M L Z V X T P I H

24 25 27

WORDFIT 3 LETTERS ACT AGE AIL ALL ASK ASS EAR EAT EBB EEL FLU IFS INS ION KEG LAD LEE LET NEE OHS ONE PEA TAG TEE

No. 310

T H E E

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No. 310

4 LETTERS ADDS ARMS ASKS FLUX GENE GIGS MASS NOTE ODDS SCAB SETS SIPS SKIS THEE 5 LETTERS ABLER AIRED AMBER AMUSE

PIANO RAILS RATIO REIGN RENEW ROMPS SAUNA SECTS SHIES SLANT SLEWS SLING SOARS STAMP STARS STATE STEAK STEMS STINT TENET THESE TRITE UNTIE

6 LETTERS HIKERS MISSES ORDEAL SERIAL

8 LETTERS ESTIMATE RECOURSE STRADDLE TONNAGES

7 LETTERS ALARMED BLUNDER CREATES HAPPIER HASSLES RANSOMS

09-10-26

QUICK QUIZ

Which historic building was originally known as the Cappella Magna?

Heath Ledger (pictured) starred in Brokeback Mountain with which other lead actor?

How many stars are on the flag of the Solomon Islands?

Which song from the movie Barbie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song?

The Red Wings are an NHL team from which city?

Who led the First Fleet?

In which year did the Chernobyl disaster happen?

What is written on the poster that Mulder has up in his office in The X-Files?

And what object is also depicted on it?

10 Which instrument closely resembles a fiddle? ANSWERS: 1. The Sistine Chapel 2. Jake Gyllenhaal 3. Five 4. What Was I Made For? 5. Detroit 6. Captain Arthur Phillip 7. 1986 8. I Want To Believe 9. A UFO 10. Violin

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

No. 310

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

SUDOKU

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 15

COMMUNITY

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. Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand The club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6pm for a 6.30pm start at Pelicans Landing, Syme Street, Williamstown. Everyone is welcome to attend just contact the club beforehand. ■ Pam Barnes, 0418 347 691, rotarypointgellibrand.com Community jumble sale The annual community jumble sale will be held in the church hall in Montague Street, Yarraville on Saturday 7 November from 9am-3pm. There will be 36 stalls (run by local community groups or individuals) featuring clothing, trash ‘n’ treasure, vinyl, artwork, collector cards, plants and much more. There will also be a barbecue. Money raised will be donated to Need For Feed which helps farmers nation-wide affected by natural disasters such as bushfires or floods. ■ ghodgart13@gmail.com Founding members call out Williamstown Toastmasters is turning 30 this year and planning a celebration on 31 October. The club is currently trying to contact founding members to invite them to attend the event. The people the club is trying to reach are: Kevin Holland, Joy Leslie, Edward Magan, Marilyn Martyn, Joye Carver, Bernadette Cooper-Ellis, Ludwina Dautovic, Barry Fordham, Stephen Goss, Patrick Moran, Dennis O’Bryan, David Payne, Clive Seiffert, Dianne Seiffert, Sandra Wilson, Heather Whittingham, Ross Whittingham and Marion Young. ■ Tara, 0411 899 086 or vppr-9088@toastmastersclubs.org Free lectures The Footscray Mechanics Institute will be running a free lecture on the last Friday of each month until the end of October. The program includes: book launches, discussion of books and authors, and community guest speakers. The lectures will take place at the Footscray Mechanics Institute, 209 Nicholson Street, Footscray. ■ 9687 1935, info@fmi.org.au

This week’s photographer’s choice pic is of Mark Warner from Sunbury Model Railway Club at their clubrooms ahead of their annual exhibition. (Damjan Janevski) 580942 01

Mystery music sessions October is Victorian Seniors Month and to celebrate, one hand picked act will perform each Tuesday afternoon from 1.30-3pm at the Altona Senior Citizens, 2 Sargood Street. The month of shows will begin with Danny and The Rockets on 6 October, followed by the Glenrowan Bush Band on 13 October, Saltwater on 20 October and Steve Jahauri on 27 October. Entry is free. ■ 9932 1311

Art classes Bek & Jayne (Flipperfrog) are community artists who are offering art and collage classes at Joan Kirner House in Williamstown. The classes will run from 7.15-9pm every third Wednesday of the month. The workshops explore different types of collage, mixed media paint and lots of play with colour and mark making. All materials are supplied, with attendees asked to bring an apron and a picture or photo which can be incorporated into their work. The classes cost $25 per session in order to cover materials and venue hire. Walk-ins are welcome but places are not guaranteed. ■ 0400 693 025

Hip hop dance program L2R Dance is Australia’s only youth hip hop and street dance not-for-profit and social enterprise proudly based in Melbourne’s west. L2R’s free Next-Gen dance program is held at Phoenix Youth Hub, 72 Buckley Street, Footscray (Auditorium). Classes will be held from 4:30-6:30pm each Tuesday during term. ■ 0490 811 605, https://www.l2r.org.au/ dance-programs

The IT Club A free, informal weekly drop-in workshop designed to build digital skills. Participants can bring their phone or digital device to learn from each other and work through tech challenges together. Held at Joan Kirner House, 14 Thompson Street Williamstown on Mondays, 10-11.30am. No bookings necessary. ■Kaye, 9397 6168

Community story time Every Friday during term from 8-8.30am at the blocks behind Alfa Cafe Yarraville. Free to attend and a free babychino with every coffee purchase, when storytime is mentioned, ■ 9314 5996, office@sayarraville.catholic. edu.au

St Augustine’s Primary School Playgroup Free playgroup for ages 0-5 held from 1-2.30pm every second Friday during term at the St Augustine’s Primary School library. ■ library@sayarraville.catholic.edu.au

Whitten Oval AFLW The Western Bulldogs have two more home

16 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

games left at Whitten Oval for the 2026 AFLW season. The Bulldogs host Essendon on Friday 9 October and Melbourne on Saturday 24 October. Both games start at 7.15pm. ■ https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/ news/2136288 Book sales Friends of Altona Libraries (FOAL) hold monthly book sales at the rear of Altona Library during the first week of each month. Books no longer required by the library are sold for as little as $2. All money is returned to the library to support community programs. New members who are happy to volunteer to help organise and sell books for only a few hours per month are welcome. ■ Ann Nicol, 0408 460 062. Cards and conversation Play cards and games at Altona North Library every Tuesday from 10am-12pm. Free of charge, morning tea provided and no bookings required. Altona North Library corner of Millers and McArthurs roads, Altona North. ■1300 179 944 Altona North grandparent playgroup. A friendly weekly opportunity for grandparents and their grandchildren to play, have a cuppa, cake and chat. Held from 10am-12pm on Mondays during school terms at Eastona Park Community Facility, 13 Collins Avenue Altona North (old kindergarten venue). Entry $5. ■ Marnie, 0478 011 981 Heritage walks

Enjoy a leisurely one/two hour walk around Williamstown and nearby suburbs with guide John. Walks start at 9.30am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Place. ■ John Becroft, 0418 377 336. Sing with WIllin Wimmin choir Discover the joy of group singing with the friendly women at WiIlin Wimmin choir in Williamstown. New members are always welcome, no audition. The choir sings contemporary, folk, choral and world repertoire in acapella style. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings during school terms, 7.30-9.30pm at the Dennis Reserve Centre, 109 Ferguson Street, Williamstown. ■ willinwimmin.org.au, willin.wimmin@ gmail.com Mainly music A music-playgroup program for kids and their carers from birth to school age. Held every Thursday from 9.30-10.30am during school terms at Westgate Baptist Community, 16 High Street, Yarraville. The cost is $7 per family, per week. ■ Jenny, 0401 651 012, Ruth, 0409 635 468, westgatebaptist.org.au/mainlymusic/ Hobsons Bay Altona Garden Club Come along to the garden club and enjoy an afternoon of discussions and talks about gardening. Guest speakers will discuss what is happening in the garden - keeping and looking after bees and the environment. Meetings are held at the Youth Hall on the corner of Civic Parade and Sugar Gum Drive, Altona on the third Monday of the month at 1pm. New members welcome. ■Kay, 0411 793 534

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ENTERTAINMENT

A day of fun by the river The Lauriston community is invited to a special family and cultural day on the Coliban River to celebrate the waterway and find out more about the project to restore it. The Coliban River Gathering Day will be held at Lauriston Common on Friday, 9 October, hosted by the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA), Coliban Water and North Central Catchment Management Authority (North Central CMA). The common is the site of the current

restoration work under the A Healthy Coliban Catchment (AHCC) project, a community-backed plan to restore and protect key sections of the waterway. “We’d love to see locals, visitors, farmers, community and their families join in the activities, lunch and river walk,” project manager Tess Grieves said. “It will be a relaxed celebration of the river and the people who make it special. “There will be interactive turtle and native fish displays, a barbecue, information displays, a lovely river walk, and we’ll also

have a community clean-up of the site for those who want to get involved.” Now in its ninth year, AHCC is a partnership between Coliban Water, North Central Catchment Management Authority, DJAARA, local councils and local communities. AHCC works to revegetate and fence stream banks, remove weeds, and build off-stream watering systems for landholders along waterways throughout the Upper Coliban River catchment. The catchment is home to significant

numbers of threatened plants and animals and is a key social, cultural, and economic asset for the region. It’s also home to three water storages – Malmsbury, Lauriston, and Upper Coliban – that supply raw water for drinking purposes to more than 130,000 people, including the towns of Trentham, Tylden, Bendigo, Kyneton, and Castlemaine. The event will run from 10.30am-2.30pm, with registrations open now. Details: colibanrivergatheringday. eventbrite.com.au

Delight for green thumbs

A play for all ages Cast members from the new intergenerational play, Prime Time, which will be performed at The Substation in Newport from 14-17 October. (Supplied)

Many events and festivals claim to have something on offer for all ages merely as a marketing ploy. But when it comes to this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival that might actually be the case, at least as far as a show being performed at The Substation in Newport is concerned. Billed as a celebration of life in all its stages, Prime Time is a show that interrogates the relationship between age, power, visibility, and value. And given that it features cast members aged between 5 and 93, it’s very well

placed to do so. Produced by independent Melbourne theatre company Born In a Taxi and directed by Penny Baron, Prime Time challenges assumptions and expectations about age and ageing and forges new dialogues across generations through shared stories, perspectives, dance and sound. Oaka Scully, Florence Bertoli ,Gilly Wright, Rhinestone Desbois, Natasha Mohamed and Corey Saylor-Brunskill are among the 14-strong cast which will perform the show from 14–17 October,

with a preview showing on the 14th, opening night on the 15th and a closing matinee show on the afternoon of the 17th. The Wednesday evening preview begins at 6pm, the Thursday and Friday night performances are at 6.30pm and the Saturday afternoon matinee starts at 2pm. Tickets are on sale now, with concessions for Hobsons Bay locals and First Nations peoples. For more information and to book, go to: https://thesubstation.org.au/program/ prime-time

Spring will be in full bloom when the annual Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show returns to the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall in October. The much-loved community event is set to bring together gardeners, growers, creatives, and families for a weekend celebrating the colour, fragrance, and produce of the region. Visitors can wander through a vibrant display of competition entries, with sections dedicated to roses, cut flowers, floral art, Australian natives, pot plants, and garden produce. Green thumbs will also have the chance to show off their talents in the jams and preserves categories. For those possessing a creative streak, the show will offer plenty for visitors to enjoy, with stalls run by local not-for-profit organisations, free face painting, and balloon twisting for children. Devonshire tea will also be available, giving the perfect opportunity to take a break and soak up all the atmosphere. Green-minded visitors can also take a piece of the show home with them, with plants available to purchase throughout the weekend at the show’s plant stall. Organisers are inviting the community to come along and experience the sights and smells of spring gathered all under one roof at the historic public hall. The show runs from noon to 4pm on Saturday 25 October and 10am to 4pm on Sunday 26 October, with admission costing $5 for those aged over 15. Details: https://www. bmflowershow.org/.

Eagles cover band takes fundraising ‘to the limit’ Australian cover band The Eagles Story will hold a special “one off” event at the Keilor Sports Club from 4pm on Sunday 18 October to support the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The band was inspired in its fundraising quest by keyboardist and guitarist Norm McNaughton, a cancer survivor. “At the beginning of last year I was diagnosed with throat cancer. It was all a bit of a shock,” McNaughton said. After seven weeks of treatment and a long recovery, McNaughton wanted to help others, pledging to raise a minimum of $10,000 for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. “It was a way of giving something back to

The Eagles Story, live in concert. (Supplied).

the facility that treated me so well.” The afternoon of Eagles’ classics will help the fundraising effort. Keilor Sports Club will put on a barbecue while the band

performs two sets of Eagles’ hits. Whether its the mellow country tunes of Take It Easy, Tequila Sunrise and Peaceful Easy Feeling, the rock ragers of Hotel California and Witchy Woman or tender love ballads of Take It To The Limit and Desperado, this group has something for every classic rock fan. “The Keilor Sports Club is an important part of the local community and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world class facility,“ McNaughton said. Doors open at 4pm with the show kicking off at 5pm. Tickets are selling fast. See the link for more details: https://www.trybooking. com/events/landing/1598867.

This year’s annual Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 361628_04

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 17

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Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 19

Potential to be a winner By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring How about that grille heh? It’s the GAC M8 (mate, get it?) and it shouts look at me! The vertically-ribbed grille brings sparks memories of the so-called ‘cow catchers’ they used to fit to trains. The idea was to lift and push obstacles out of the way rather than slice and dice them in the case of an unfortunate cow. Perhaps that’s GAC’s plan for the M8, billed as Australia’s only plug-in hybrid people mover – to push the competition out of the way? Those competitors include but are not limited to the Denza D9, Kia Carnival, Lexus LM and Zeekr 09. The Carnival has been around longer than any of them and pretty much owns this segment of the market. All of them come as hybrids, but not as a plug-in hybrid and that makes GAC believe the M8 has the potential to become a genuine automotive ‘disruptor’ – for business users and families alike. For those not familiar with the brand, the Chinese state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group is the fifth largest auto maker in China, with 1.74 million sales last year.

Styling M8 seats seven in a 2+2+3 configuration that includes two separate captain’s style armchairs for the second row. It comes in two grades: Premium priced from $76,590, and Luxury from $83,590 – both figures before onroad costs. Okay, so the styling is a bit over the top. Well, quite a lot really, but it will appeal to some punters and there’s a growing demand for these flashy super wagons. Make no mistake, the M8 is a luxury vehicle, trimmed to a high standard in half-aniline leather, with 10-point air pump massage chairs, leg rests with four-way adjustment, heating and ventilation, personal USB charge ports and a 58-degree rear recline angle. Getting the picture? Those phones you see on the arms of the captain’s chairs aren’t really phones, but small individual control panels for making fine seat adjustments with a tap of a finger. The two armchairs are the highlight of the experience, deep and genuinely comfy, and had us contemplating pinching one for the loungeroom at home. The second and third rows feature the latest i-Size standard in child seat restraint compatibility whatever that is? There’s also ‘draft free’ air-conditioning, ensuring the cabin temperature is kept where you want it, without blowing air directly on any passengers. Further enhancing the ambience are 10 different sorts of noise-reduction to keep things library-quiet. They include 108 sound-insulation panels, acoustic soundproof glass and 20 cavity partitions that block wind noise transmission and noise cancelling technology that actively reduces interior noise by 4dB. They reckon 30 rounds of optimisation were conducted to ?nalise the design of the A-pillars and side mirrors, a prime source cabin noise. Storage, important when you’re catering to needs of seven people, sees 15 hooks, 15 storage boxes and 14 cup holders scattered throughout the cabin, with privacy screens and drop-down tray tables for second row passengers. The lower console tray is expansive. The short but deep boot offers 280 litres of capacity with all seats in use, expanding

remained open, the car allowed us to move off Looks: 7.5 without any warning. Performance: 7.5 The engine both powers the battery and Safety: 6 drives the front wheels Thirst: 7.5 as required. Practicality: 8 With no charge however performance Comfort: 8 will take a big dent. Tech: 7 The dash from Value: 8 0-100km/h takes 8.8 seconds while claimed Overall: 7.4 fuel consumption is 6.1L/100km in hybrid mode. Combined range is 1032km, while all-electric range is 106km. The battery can be charged at a rate of up to 6.6kW AC or 35kW using a fast DC charger, the latter providing a zero to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. For a people mover, performance is surprisingly strong. Fun, even. It accelerates sharply and smoothly, with an emphasis on smoothly – thanks to the lift from the electric motors. Lexus watch out. But, frustratingly, there is some initial hesitation and rather than put the boot in, some experimentation revealed a quicker response with a lighter foot. Pushing hard through corners, not that you’d do that with the fam aboard, it remains reasonably flat and controlled thanks to a low centre of gravity. Only accelerating hard out of a second gear left-hander did the rear wheels begin to show some movement – remember it is front-wheel drive after all. There’s a lot to like about this car. The glittering gearshift with its round faceted piece of plastic adornment threw us a couple of curve balls too. Said jewel rotates and on more than one occasion swiping at the shift resulted in our hand sliding across its surface and off again. You also need to watch out when switching quickly between forward and reverse during three-point turns, because sometimes it did not produce the desired result – instead the car continued to move backwards instead of forward. Whoops! Mind you it has 12 – yes, count them 12 – parking sensors as well as automatic parking and rear auto braking, so the chances of actually hitting something are slim. Riding on 18-inch aluminium wheels with 225/60 profile Michelin e-Primacy tyres, electromagnetic dampers smooth out the bumps. While adaptive dynamic control adjusts throttle sensitivity to limit both lateral and vertical movement during turns and varying speeds, keeping the vehicle balanced and composed. A word of warning because the front apron is very low and you should keep this in mind at all times when approaching dips and driveways and so forth. We were getting 6.3L/100km and 3.4 kWh/100km after close to 400km of mixed driving. RATINGS

No car is perfect but the M8 has got the potential to be a real winner for GAC. (Pictures: Supplied)

to 1500 litres with the third row tumbled (they don’t pack flat). It sounds more like the level of engineering that goes into building a Bentley rather than a modest $80K Chinese people mover. M8 is covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with another eightyear/200,000km coverage for the high voltage battery. Customers will also beneit from five-year complimentary roadside assistance.

Infotainment We were expecting a large-to-very-large, free-standing touchscreen, but instead it’s a modest, 10.1-inch screen that is inset in the dash like they all used to be once upon a time. It looks larger than it actually is because it blends with its piano black surrounds, with touch sensitive controls either side for volume and fan speed. The graphics are bright and clear with rich colours. There’s AM and FM radio and support for Bluetooth audio streaming, as well as wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. But surprisingly there’s no digital radio and no satellite navigation, although these days we tend to head straight for Android Auto (maybe it’s changing cars all the time). Sound comes from a premium eight-speaker Yamaha audio system which does a credible job. The sound is very clean but there does not appear to be any way to add bass or treble. A quick audit revealed a single wireless phone charger in front and a mix of eight USB A + C ports, along with 12-volt and 240-volt outlets.

Safety M8 has not been tested for safety by ANCAP but boasts an extensive list of active and passive safety systems, with seven airbags including an industry leading 3.2m side curtain airbag plus unique rear window airbag to protect occupants in a rear-ender. There’s a 360-degree camera, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking and forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise

20 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

control with stop-go, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, rear car approach warning, door open warning and emergency lane-keeping. Head-up display, however, is missing and that is out of step with the rest of the car.

Engines/transmissions Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, together with a pair of electric motors and 26 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Combined output is 274kW of power and 630Nm of torque, with drive to the front wheels through a dedicated, two-speed hybrid transmission.

Driving M8 is a large vehicle and it needs to be, to accommodate seven people, at more than 5.2 metres in length, with a 3070mm wheelbase. The boxy design with the wheels pushed out to the four corners is more practical than it looks because it maximises the amount of interior space available. Sitting lower to the ground a people mover is much easier to get in and out of and more comfortable to travel in than an SUV. Dressed in black our test vehicle looks ready for its next shift as a hire car or corporate shuttle, but the opulence appears to have its limitations. That black by the way is a $1200 option (white is free). A detailed examination revealed an unexpected amount of generic plastic, but not where you can see it and this certainly increases the closer you get to the back. By the time you reach the boot, it looks and feels just like any car. The sliding, electric side doors could be a bit slow for some people and access to the all-important third row is a squeeze between the two middle seats. But it’s worth the visit because they’re actually large enough to accommodate real adults and quite comfortable into the bargain, not so much for three but two occupants is fine. Of note, although one of the sliders

Summing up Wow. No car is perfect but the M8 has got the potential to be a real winner for GAC. Not only does it look and feel a million bucks, but performs way better than you might expect. It’s comfy, nice to drive with strong performance and the ride quality is good even on secondary roads – and it doesn’t use much fuel. For long distance jumps it could be just the ticket.

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No excuses for Clubbers By Tara Murray Yarraville Club is backing in experience for another tilt at the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division premiership. Last season’s premiers after finishing in fourth, the Clubbers have kept their core group together while adding another star batter to the mix. Clubbers’ coach Mitch Johnstone said many of the group were realistic they were getting towards the end of their careers but were keen to have some more success first before hanging up the bat and ball. “We’ll back in experience and the core group will go around one more time to go deep into March,” he said. “We’re experienced and always there-

abouts in the last four seasons. “We have zero excuses this season. Father time is starting to catch up with a few but we have the knowledge and experience and competitive nature when the whips are cracking.” Johnstone said the new season had come along quickly, but the group was ready. All but one player from last year’s premiership team has returned. “We’ve retained pretty much the whole group except for Nadeera Thuppahi who has gone to Haig Fawkner and we wish him well,” he said. “Dan Sartori comes in and has reinforced our leadership profile across the club. “It’s my seventh year at the club and

Kane Twentyman is my assistant coach and second XI captain and does a lot of work across the whole club. “We wanted to spread the influential figures around the club and he fits in like a glove.” Satori crosses to the Clubbers after three seasons at Deer Park after a long Victorian Premier Cricket career. Last season, Sartori made 591 runs for the season at an average of nearly 50. He top scored with 93 for Deer Park in its semi final loss to the Clubbers. Johnstone here would be some dilemmas come selection time now with Sartori in the mix. “He’ll bat in the top three and we will have to spend some time working out the

top six,” he said. “The competition is healthy throughout the whole club.” Johnstone said their junior program continues to grow quicker than they thought it would. This season they’ll have two under-17s and two under-18s teams. Johnstone said there were still be a few spaces for younger players to come through the ranks and possibly play in the first XI. “Our second XI looks like a lot of other club’s first IXs,” he said. “There’s some veterans, some kids and everything else in between.” The Clubbers were set to kick off their season on 3 October in a one-dayer against Altona North, but the round was called off.

Iguchi signs with Melbourne Aces

Oscar Shimakura. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 518161_07

Newport Rams’ season starts with a win By Tara Murray The Newport Rams were one of the rare winners on Saturday as the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1 first nine competition got underway. As rain washed out most sport across the state on Saturday, the Rams not only managed to get on the mound, but came away with a win. Just two matches in the top grade managed to get underway. A ground change proved to be the right call in the lead up to the match, as the Rams beat Melbourne 4-3 on Saturday. Rams’ coach David Land said they were happy to come away with the win. He said Melbourne did a really good job to get the ground up to play on. “It was a good team effort up and down the lineup,” he said. “Everyone connected and worked well together. “All round it was a good team effort.” David Tongue, Keenan Spence, Madoka Honjo and Samuel Land were the run scorers for the Rams in the win.

Land said the side was a bit younger than last year, which was exciting. Spence returns to the side for the first time in a few years while some other players will get opportunities. Land said it had been a pretty good pre-season leading into the season. “We had a long nine-week build up,” Land said. “We’ve been able to bring in some younger players who we’ve tried to get as prepared as possible for division 1. “We’ll look slightly different this year. We have a new Japanese player that is set to join us as well and some young players that have stepped up.” Land said the group felt they could improve on last season, despite the changes in the off-season. After sneaking into the finals last season, the Rams won two finals before being beaten by Malvern. Land said the finals run last season had given the group a lot of belief that they want to build on this season. The Rams are set to face Cheltenham in

round two this Saturday. Land said every match would be a challenge and they were hoping to keep the momentum going. Overall, Land said things were looking good across the whole club. “Right through every team we have senior players and some young players,” he said. “We have a good mix of young players and veterans. “It will hold us in good stead going forward; when they step up, they will be ready.” In the other match to be played, the Williamstown Wolves beat Doncaster, 7-0. The Wolves had seven individual run scorers in the win. The Wolves are set to face Blackburn in round two this Saturday. Women’s premier division action is set to kick off this Saturday as well. Newport is on the road against Doncaster, while Footscray will face Springvale. With Sandringham stepping up, it will be a six-team competition this season which will mean no byes.

The Melbourne Aces have added more veteran pitching to the roster for the 2026-27 International Baseball Showdown, signing Nippon Professional Baseball Japan Series champion right-hander Kazutomo Iguchi. The Japan-born Iguchi joins MLB World Series champion Danny Duffy on the Aces pitching staff, bringing Melbourne championship pedigree from two of the world’s premier professional baseball leagues this summer. The 32-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2015 NPB draft by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, making an immediate impact during his rookie season. Iguchi appeared in 37 games with a 3.86 ERA in 2016 before taking the mound in games two and six of the Japan Series, working two innings without allowing an earned run as the Fighters defeated the Hiroshima Carp to capture the championship — the franchise’s third and most recent title. Powered by a five-pitch mix featuring a fastball that can reach 95 mph (153 km/h), alongside a slider, forkball, cutter and curveball, Iguchi went on to pitch 10 seasons in NPB. He spent eight seasons with Nippon-Ham before joining the Orix Buffaloes for the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, finishing his NPB career with 260.2 innings across 254 appearances and a 3.66 ERA. In 2026, Iguchi took his career overseas for the first time, joining El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League and adding another chapter to a professional career that had previously been spent entirely in Japan. The 2026-27 International Baseball Showdown will now make Australia the third country of Iguchi’s professional career, bringing his championship experience and veteran presence to Melbourne Ballpark. The Aces recently announced the re-signings of Declan Speirs, Jordan Ellis, Kodai Hamaya, Elliot Johnstone, Cameron Gibbens, Kyle Morrison and Shane Gustafson, alongside infielders Morgan McCullough and Jayden Kim, and Connor Gleeson for this season. The Aces are set to face competition from the United States in the Southern Stars and Stripes Shield and Continental Cup, alongside their Trans-Tasman rivals in the Australia– New Zealand Shield and more series still to be announced.

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 21

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Spurs pair share medal By Tara Murray Parkside Spurs duo Taquila Angel and Rita Ceravolo are inseparable on and off the field, and they couldn’t be split at the Western Football League awards night on Friday night. The dynamic duo shared the league’s women’s best and fairest award with both players polling 24 votes in a count that went down to the final votes. West Footscray’s Layla Dawkins, who earlier claimed the rising star award, led by one vote heading into the final round. Dawkins, Angel, Ceravolo and Wyndhamvale’s Larissa Renaut were split by just two votes with one round remaining.

Renaut had earlier won the leading goalkicker award. Renaut polled two votes to move equal with Dawkins, who didn’t poll, leaving the medal going down to the final game. Ceravolo polled two votes and Angel three votes in the final round to finish on 24 votes, one clear of Dawkins and Renaut. For Ceravolo it’s a second straight league best and fairest award having shared it with Akec Makur Chuot last season. The Spurs were stunned to have shared the medal. “It’s amazing, we’re pretty inseparable at the club,” Angel said. “To win it together is pretty amazing, it’s perfect I think.

Ceravolo added, “it’s an amazing feeling to win it with Taquila.” The pair said they weren’t sure where the count was at in the final rounds and didn’t realise they had shared the medal until their names were announced. Angel said she didn’t expect the win. “Obviously I had a pretty decent season,” she said. “Missing the last few games, I was a bit unsure how this would go.” Ceravolo said they did really well as a team and it was a good year both personally and overall. She said the two medal winning seasons felt different. “I felt this year was a bit easier than last season,” she said. “We stepped it up con-

Perfect season for Devils captain Petridis

sidering our one-point loss [in the finals] was a bit disappointing. “We worked hard this year.” The pair said the medal win was the icing on the cake. The Spurs completed the perfect season and claimed their first Western Football League premiership. Angel was named best on ground in the grand final. Both were named in the team of the year, with Angel named captain. With the Spurs moving to the Essendon District Football League next season, it will be a new challenge next year. “It’s going to be a hard one, a big pre-season I think,” Angel said.

Sports shorts Talent League

By Tara Murray Winning the Alan Smith Medal as the best player in the Western Football League division 2 competition is icing on the cake for North Footscray’s Adam Petridis. The Devils captain had already claimed the prize he wanted most, a division 2 premiership, along with winning a best on ground medal. He finished the season with another individual honour as he did enough to hold on to claim the Alan Smith Medal. Petridis led by one vote heading into the final round, with Braybrook’s Jayden Danaher one vote behind. Petridis didn’t poll in the final round, but what he and most of the guests at the awards night didn’t realise was Danaher played reserves in the final round, not seniors. It meant Petridis had already won the medal. Adding to the final round suspense, Taj Danaher, Jayden’s brother, would poll the three votes in the final round. Petridis said it was a pretty special moment to claim the Alan Smith Medal on 20 votes. Danaher finished on 19, with West Footscray’s Henry Lovell in third, while last year’s co-winner Lewis Stanton and North Footscray’s Abdikhane Fitaax rounded out the top five. “A pretty special year,” he said. “I didn’t expect much when I came here, I thought it would be a presentation for the premiership. “But to get the medal, special year allround. Great for the club and great to cap my year off too.” Petridis said heading into the final round, he thought his chances were blown. He finished the game in hospital. “I split my chin open in the second quarter and went to hospital,” he said. “I was speaking to Muller [Cameron Mullenger] the president over there on the bench at the time, I kind of want to play the last half out. “He said go to hospital, you’ve just got finals to play for, and then to go to the last round one vote ahead, I let him know about it. “When they said the name [Danaher] I thought I might have got beat here, but apparently it was his brother.” For Petridis, who stuck around when the club went through the hard times and nearly shut the doors, this season was pretty special. “To win the flag was something that I always dreamed of,” he said. “These medals are cool, but winning the flag with 21 of your best mates is always going to be special. “Moving up to div 1 is going to be a challenge, but exciting for the club for sure.” Meanwhile, Albion’s Caleb McPherson won the Barry Priest Medal as the best play-

Lachlan Hicks and Jacinta Eteuati have claimed the Western Jets Talent League best and fairest awards. Hicks won the boys ahead of Khaled El Souki and Kobe Williams, while Eteuati pipped Addison West and Leilani Petaia.

VTCA Seddon has announced the signing of Sham Dadallage for the next two Victorian Turf Cricket Association seasons. An experienced left-arm spinner and handy middle-to-late order bat, Dadallage arrives at the Dockers after an outstanding 2025-26 season with Euroa. “Sham was joint winner of the Cricket Shepparton B-grade best and fairest and played a major role in Euroa’s premiership campaign,” the Dockers said. “His season included a remarkable career-best 8-36 in the grand final to help Euroa secure the premiership. Sham also brings plenty of higher-grade experience, having played A Grade cricket for Euroa and produced several match-winning performances with the ball over several seasons.”

FV Newport Storm has locked in its coach for next year’s FV state league season. Khaled Filli joins the club as coach bringing more than 10 years of playing experience in Victorian state league football, coaching experience across senior and youth levels, and a Football Australia C Licence, “Khaled brings a strong focus on player development, high standards and building a winning culture,” the Storm said on social media.

FV Altona City has announced the appointment of Nikola Markovski as its coach for next year’s FV state league 1 north-west season. Markovski joins Altona City with valuable experience as part of Western United as an individual player development coach and academy assistant coach. “He has also done amazing work at Lalor United Sloga, making a strong contribution both on and off the pitch and demonstrating his passion for developing players and building a positive football culture,” Altona City said on social media. Altona City finished bottom in the Victorian Premier League 2 competition this year and drops back down to state league. FOR MORE SPORT VISIT

Adam Petridis. (Tara Murray)

er in the division 1 competition. McPherson polled 25 votes, including two best on grounds to finish the season, to beat Caroline Springs’ Cooper Pepi, who

22 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 7 October, 2026

finished two votes behind. Werribee Districts and former winner Dillon Viojo-Rainbow finished third with last year’s winner Michael Selsby in fourth.

Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Saad steps up at Newport By Tara Murray New Newport coach Ahmed Saad is keen to help the Panthers next generation come through in the Western Football League division 1 competition. Saad, who finished second in the competition goalkicking this year in his first season at the club, will step into the coaching role next season. Saad said he had quickly fallen in love with the club in his first season and it was reflected in his performance on field. “I’m pretty excited to take on the role,” he said. “It’s good for the club and it’s good for me. “I’ve always enjoyed coaching and nurturing talent. When the club asked me to do it, it was a good opportunity.”

The former AFL player has been involved with AFL talent academies and works with the Bachar Houli Foundation. Saad said he wanted to further be a voice for the young talented group that the Panthers have put together. He said the players they have coming through is one of the key reasons why he took on the role. Saad said Newport had been one of the best clubs to bring through juniors in under-18s and its partnership with Newport Power. “I’ll put some good people around myself to help the young boys,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of games for the young kids and we’ve been trying to get them ready. “They’ll have more experience around them, they will be better.

“The last two years, the 18s won the flag last year and this year just missed out. “We know the young talent and culture is there.” Saad said the key for the club was to now bring some more experienced heads around the young group. Having played in the AFL and Victorian Football League, along with Essendon District and Northern football leagues, he has plenty of contacts. Saad said they would look to add players who were prepared to help teach the young kids, while also aligned with what they want to do. “We want to add a bit more senior talent, top end talent,” he said. “Jack [Papachatzakis] our captain did an awesome job, but he needs some support around

him.” Saad said he was planning on being a playing coach and felt that he could still contribute on and off the field. Saad said under-18 coach Munir El Houli will step up into a senior assistant role to help continue with the development of those players. Michael Chiovotti has already been appointed as the club’s high performance coach. He works with Saad at the Bachar Houli Foundation. Chiovotti has more than 20 years’ experience across professional and development levels of sport. “He understands how I want to run the program,” Saad said. “He was my first appointment. “He aligns with me on and off the field.”

Cricket round one a washout

Jake Miller, Griffin Barker and Nate Jenkins. (Ljubica Vrankovic)

Tasmanian Devils announce first players By Tara Murray Western Jets’ pair Jake Miller and Griffin Barker, along with Calder Cannons’ Nate Jenkins are among the inaugural players selected for the Tasmania Devils’ AFL team. The Devils announced their first eight players on Tuesday night, ahead of the Devils introduction to the competition in 2028. Under list concessions granted by the AFL, the Devils were allowed to pre-list up to 12 potential draft picks over the next two seasons. The first group was chosen after careful consideration from the club’s list management, recruiting, and coaching team. West Australian Axel Walsh was the first signing announced, with Miller the second player taken. Miller made the All-Australian squad as a bottom age player this year, after kicking five goals in three games for Vic Metro this year. He was also named at centre half forward in the Talent League team of the year. After his All-Australian selection, Miller told Star Weekly his goal was to just play one game this season for Vic Metro. “I didn’t really expect to play three games but I felt like a bit of reward for my

effort in the pre-season and the work that I put in before the champs started. “It was awesome. The whole carnival and eight weeks before the lead up to the champ games and all the training was special and the coaches have been awesome for me.” Barker, who like Miller comes from Yarraville-Seddon, was also selected by Tasmania. The midfielder was described by the Devils as a powerful, line-breaking midfielder who has established himself as a threat both on the wing and through the midfield. “His combination of speed, agility and ability to fend off opponents makes him one of the more exciting midfield prospects in his age group.” Jenkins will add to the young forward talent for the Devils after being selected. The Pascoe Vale player was the last of the seven 17-year-olds selected with Tasmanian Hugh McCallum, who is in his draft year, also selected. The Devils said that Jenkins is a highly talented and athletic key forward, who has shown consistent improvement throughout 2026. “His agility and evasiveness with ball in hand rival those of most midfielders in his

age group,” the Devils said. “His penetrating field-kicking and strong endurance base will see him begin his journey as a key forward, although he possesses the traits to impact the game across all thirds of the ground.” Devils’ coach Ken Hinkley spoke glowingly of the talent joining his first AFL squad and will work closely alongside the club’s head of development Nigel Lappin, and head of academy Matthew Knights to prepare the group for 2028. “Tonight is a very special evening, and it’s a proud moment to welcome our first group of Tasmania Devils players to our state,” said Hinkley. “I am excited to be working with such a talented group of young footballers, all of who have tremendous skill sets and AFL attributes already. “It will be great to share this moment with their families. “The build of our list is a significant focus for the club and tonight is another great step forward as we move toward 2028.” All pre-listed players will move to the state later in November and begin their preparation for their AFL debut in 2028 with individualised training programs and plans in 2027.

The Victorian Turf and Victorian SubDistrict cricket associations cancelled day one early last week, before the rest of the competitions in Melbourne’s north-west later followed suit. The VSDCA made the call on Tuesday, with the VTCA decision being announced on Wednesday morning. The decision is not a new one, with the last time both competitions kicked off on time was in the 2019-20 season. Since then rain, grounds not being ready and Covid-19 meaning there have been delayed starts across both competitions. The VSDCA confirmed its decision on Wednesday. “On behalf of the board, I write to advise that due to the large number of grounds being unavailable for play for this coming weekend plus the forecast of heavy rain across Melbourne on both Thursday and Friday, the board has decided to delay the commencement of our 202627 season until Saturday October 10,” chief executive Ken Hilton said. “All games scheduled for Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4 have been cancelled. “Round one will now be played as a One-Day fixture on Saturday October 10. In the VTCA, with round one being one-dayers, the games have been abandoned and there are no backup dates this season. “Due to a large number of grounds being unavailable for play this weekend, the VTCA has made the decision to cancel this weekend’s scheduled commencement of the 2026-27 season,” the VTCA said on social media. “The season will now commence on Saturday, 10 October.” The decision to make the early call was the right one. Heavy rain was predicted later in the week and on Saturday, which proved to be the case including some flooding, which resulted in all other senior and junior competitions cancelling matches on Saturday, including Victorian Premier Cricket, the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Competition and the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association.

Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 23

FIGHTING FOR THE

WEST

Member for Western Metropolitan Region LEGALISE CANNABIS VICTORIA davidettershank.com.au (03) 9317 5900

OUR ADVOCACY IN ACTION: $162 MILLION for new and extended bus routes for growing communities across the West, including Riverwalk, King’s Leigh, Mt Atkinson, Thornhill Park and Mystique estates.

CRITICAL FUNDING for WestJustice’s Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Project, helping vulnerable young people stay out of the criminal justice system. SUPPORTED the community to organise the campaign against data centre development, and pressured the government into releasing the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, which it has now done.

SUCCESSFULLY helped the township of Little River push back against the construction of an inappropriate and environmentally destructive rail-freight terminal nearby. SUCCESSFULLY pressured the government to suspend the licence of a dodgy tip operator in Kealba, after residents have endured its appalling odour for six years.

SAFER PEDESTRIAN CROSSING for Blackshaws Road in Altona North — after I raised residents’ concerns of incidents and near misses in Parliament.

SUCCESSFULLY campaigned for reforms to driving laws for medicinal cannabis consumers, allowing courts to choose not to automatically suspend their licence after a positive roadside THC test.

When I got elected in 2022, I knew it was important not to be a ‘single issue MP’. We have responded to resident concerns across many, many issues. Scan the QR code to see more about our work in Parliament. Authorised by D. Ettershank, Suite 101/19 Lacy Street Braybrook VIC 3019 12906416-AD41-26