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Filmmaker Ravi Chand. (Damjan Janevski) 586231 01
Local film, global reach By Ella Burns For Point Cook filmmaker Ravi Chand, telling multicultural Australian stories is deeply personal. After reconnecting with his grandmother he thought had died decades earlier, he rediscovered his language, culture and identity, a journey that inspired his short film, Coconut. The 12-minute comedy has travelled from its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) to the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, one of the world’s most respected film events. Written, directed and produced by Chand as part of his master of film and television studies at the University of Melbourne and Victorian College of the Arts, Coconut follows 19-year-old Dev, who unexpectedly becomes best friends with his non-English-speaking grandmother
after the death of his grandfather. While the film is packed with humour, its emotional core stems from Chand’s own life. Chand migrated from Fiji to Melbourne in 1982 and grew up near Moorabbin Football Ground, barracking for St Kilda and embracing Australian culture. “I was obsessively playing Aussie Rules footy and developed an Australian accent stronger than Mick Dundee,“ he said. But despite feeling Australian, Chand said he rarely saw people who looked like him. Fast forward to today after 15 years living in Point Cook, he is surrounded by what he describes as a “wonderfully diverse“ community. “When I see children who remind me of myself when I was their age, it brings home why the stories I tell exist,“ he said. The inspiration for Coconut came after Chand discovered his maternal
grandmother, who he believed had died decades earlier, was in fact still alive in Fiji. The reunion reconnected him with a language he had barely spoken for about 30 years. After being laughed at for speaking Fiji-Hindi as a child, Chand stopped using the language altogether. His grandmother, who speaks Fiji-Hindi, Tamil and iTaukei but no English, helped him reclaim that part of his identity. “My grandma never judged me or cared how I sounded. She was just overjoyed to have her grandson back and hear him talk,“ he said. Having lost his mother in a car accident shortly before his 12th birthday, Chand said hearing his grandmother’s voice felt like reconnecting with her. “Whenever my grandma spoke it was like having my mother whisper in my ear,“ he said. He then spoke with his grandmother
in Fiji-Hindi every week until her passing and Chand said the experience continues to shape the feature-length version of Coconut, which he is currently developing. The film is also a love letter to Melbourne’s west, with locations including Point Cook, Werribee, Altona, Newport and Yarraville deliberately selected to act as a “silent character“ in the story. Chand spent an entire summer exploring the region, narrowing more than 40 potential locations down to six. “When people from around the world are struck by the locations, it’s a great feeling,“ he said. The film’s success has resonated beyond Australia, drawing messages from Fijian-Indian communities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Fiji and beyond, proving that a story born in Melbourne’s west can connect with audiences around the world.
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2 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
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Precinct sale plan blasted By Glenn Fisher Plans released by the Liberal Party to dispose of the 775ha East Werribee Employment Precinct as part of a $1.3 billion land sell-off has copped backlash in Wyndham. State Liberal leader Jess Wilson announced the East Werribee plan on Friday 6 November, as part of a wider land sale to tackle debt and housing shortages if voted into power at this month’s state election. The East Werribee precinct is the largest parcel of mostly undeveloped government-owned land in Melbourne, with state governments over the past 15 years announcing plans for the former State Research Farm for housing, commercial and education developments. “We are deeply concerned by the announcement from Jess Wilson and the Victorian Liberals regarding the future of
the East Werribee Employment Precinct,” Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw said. “Wyndham has already taken more than its fair share of Melbourne’s housing growth. Our population is now estimated at 363,000 and is forecast to reach half a million by 2040. “Yet only 39 per cent of our working residents are employed locally, with six in 10 forced to travel outside Wyndham for work. East Werribee was supposed to change that. “This is a watershed moment, not just for Wyndham but for the state.” Cr Shaw said all parties contesting the upcoming state election had a choice – harness the long-term economic growth opportunities the site presented for Wyndham, the western suburbs and the whole state or “succumb to the sugar hit a quick sale provides and condemn another generation of Wyndham residents to long commutes and limited local
opportunities”. The Liberals proposed a ‘western suburbs CBD’ in 2012-13 with 20,000 residents and 58,000 jobs, the Andrews Labor government proposed a $31 billion ‘education city’ before ditching that plan in 2019 and the Liberals again recognised East Werribee’s potential four years ago by committing to a Special Economic Zone to attract investment and create local jobs. The latest iteration for the land was when the present state government appointed Development Victoria last year as its master planner for the site. “We need certainty, investment and a clear plan for delivery, not another decade of changing plans and unfulfilled promises,” Cr Shaw said. “Once you sell a site like this, the opportunity is lost forever. “This is not about politics. This is about the people of Wyndham and liveability, now and for future generations.
Open letter to Jess Wilson
The East Werribee saga October 2013 Liberal Premier Denis Napthine and Planning Minister Matthew Guy unveil a precinct structure plan for East Werribee, including a long-awaited employment precinct. The new suburb would be home to about 20,000 residents and was expected to provide about 58,000 jobs. The government launches a competition to name the new suburb.
June 2014 The Liberal state government calls for expressions of interest from companies keen to develop East Werribee’s first major parcel of land, which will comprise a town centre and housing.
August 2014 Land is set aside at East Werribee for a justice precinct.
November 2015 The Labor state government announces Australian Education City consortium, an Australian owned and managed company known for creating learning precincts, as the preferred bidder to develop the first parcel of land at East Werribee. The plan is for s mini-city with 50-storey apartment blocks, a focus on higher education facilities and a research and development hub.
The East Wearribee Precinct. (Development Victoria)
February 2019 The East Werribee Employment Precinct stalls, with the state government still assessing the project more than three years after the announcement of a preferred bidder for the site.
February 2020 About 600 people signed a petition launched by the Point Cook Action Group (PCAG) calling on the state government to establish a new city at East Werribee.
June 2021 Wyndham council and a state MP fears land earmarked for the East Werribee National Employment and Innovation Cluster will be developed for housing, with the state government refusing to reveal why the expressions of interest process for the site had stalled.
An artist’s impression of East Werribee in 2015.
November 2021 The PCAG launches another petition calling for the state government to proceed with plans to develop a new city in East Werribee.
August 2022 Wyndham council launches its Activate East Werribee Campaign ahead of the state election that November, calling for action on the site.
May 2024 The state budget includes $20 million to deliver roads and other enabling infrastructure to unlock government owned land in East Werribee precinct. The state government releases the East Werribee Opportunity Statement which explains how the site will be developed.
September 2025 Development Victoria is appointed the master developer of the site. Development is expected to occur across 30 years and will deliver a diverse range of housing options for the community, including about 10 per cent affordable housing. A significant portion of the site will also be developed for employment-related uses.
November 2026 The Liberals announce plans to sell East Werribee if elected to government.
“Wyndham is not opposed to housing. We are already doing the heavy lifting to accommodate Victoria’s population growth. But we cannot keep building homes without delivering the jobs, infrastructure and services our residents desperately need.” Werribee MP John Lister said last time the Liberals were in government they fast-tracked housing estates in Wyndham with no plans for infrastructure. “Jess Wilson wants to do it again,” Mr Lister said. “The Liberals don’t care about the west. They will always flog our communities off to the highest bidder.” A Special Wyndham City Council Meeting to discuss employment, including the East Werribee Precinct, was scheduled for Tuesday 10 November after Star Weekly went to press.
The Australian Education City Consortium’s vision for East Werribee.
The announcement in the past week of a future Liberal government selling the East Werribee Employment Precinct for housing and to pay off the state debt has caused grave concern for the communities surrounding the precinct. As an employment precinct, East Werribee seeks to fulfil an important task of delivering jobs, primarily of a white-collar nature but with many other support roles which would also be needed. By locating jobs closer to the suburbs of Wyndham, there will be an opportunity for the tens of thousands of residents who leave this region every day for work to seek opportunities closer to home. This means, less strain on the freeway and rail networks, improved ability to become involved in community and civic events and more time at home with family. Conversely, more housing will deliver greater strain on a community which is more than taking its fair share of the burden of Melbourne’s growth. If it is the debt you wish to manage, you need a longer term fix rather than a sugar rush of cash by just selling East Werribee. It was always going to be sold but the funds should be used to provide infrastructure for the East Werribee precinct to be activated. By selling the plot in five sections to different developers and consortiums, you are not seeing the site ruled by one company which if they fail would jeopardise the future of the whole site. By placing caveats upon the use of the site to ensure a minimum of 50,000 jobs and a maximum of 20,000 residents, this proposal becomes palatable. Without the jobs, any proposal should be outright rejected and with too many residents it should equally be knocked back. I call on you as the leader of the Liberal Party and as a strong contender for the role of the next Premier of Victoria to clarify your party’s position or withdraw from this concept until a jobs focused precinct structure plan is in place. Andrew Elsbury, West Party candidate for Tarneit
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 3
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RAAF base off the market By Glenn Fisher with AAP Wyndham council has welcomed a federal government announcement to withdraw the 113-year-old RAAF base at Point Cook from a list of Defence sites being considered for sale. The government backflipped on its decision to sell the 342ha Defence property and will instead transfer the land from the Department of Defence to the Finance Department. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the RAAF Williams Point Cook reversal decision at the weekend, alongside three other high-profile sites that had also been earmarked for sale after an
independent Defence estate audit in February this year. Fort Queenscliff, Victoria Barracks Melbourne and Victoria Barracks Sydney have also been taken off the list of 67 Defence sites due to be sold to private interests with the potential to raise $1.8 billion. “This outcome is consistent with the submissions we made to the federal government,” Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw told Star Weekly. “This site should never have been considered as surplus land, as one of the most important aviation heritage sites in Australia. “The heritage aspects of this site are
important historically not only for Point Cook and the wider Wyndham community but for our nation. “We acknowledge and thank the many community members, organisations and advocates whose tireless efforts helped secure this outcome.” The government said it would explore ways to maximise community access to the Point Cook base and the other three sites but would still look at commercial opportunities at each location. The Australian War Memorial has also been engaged to work on sharing and preserving the four sites’ history and stories. Opposition defence spokesman James Patterson said the government backflip
came after months of public pressure, and that the coalition would keep fighting to save the other sites from being sold. A Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee was set up after the February audit and it tabled an interim report in September that recommended an immediate halt to the planned sell-off of all 67 Defence estate property holdings. In a joint statement in September, Liberal senators Jess Collins (committee chair), Leah Blyth and Andrew McLachlan (committee members) and Mr Paterson said the Senate committee had revealed significant issues with the way the divestment process had been undertaken.
Justin Enrico Legaspi and Ming Liew. (Supplied)
Artists kick-start their careers
Hoppers Crossing CFA’s Seon McGregor (front), with volunteer firefighters Patrick Tyack, Charlotte Freemantle, Bailey Evans and Thomas Stafford. (Damjan Janevski). 588017 02
Get fired up for the CFA open day Hoppers Crossing CFA is inviting the community to get a behind-the-scenes look at local emergency services at its open day. The open day will be held at the station, located at 119 Derrimut Road, on November 22 from 11am to 2pm, giving residents the chance to explore the station, view firefighting equipment and meet the volunteers who help protect the community. Families can enjoy children’s activities, meet Captain Koala, and grab a bite to eat with sausages available for $2 and drinks for $1.50. All proceeds go towards supporting the CFA.
Representatives from Victoria Police, SES, Coast Guard, St John Ambulance and Border Force will also visit on the day. Hoppers Crossing CFA community safety coordinator Sean McGregor said the event is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the role the volunteers play. “It also reminds people that fire safety is a shared responsibility and encourages everyone to know what to do before, during and after an emergency,” he said. Mr McGregor said helping others motivated him to volunteer.
“I’m motivated by the opportunity to help people and make a positive difference in the local community,“ he said. “Volunteering with the CFA is rewarding because it allows me to develop valuable skills, work as part of a team and support people when they need help most.“ He hopes visitors will leave with a better understanding of emergency services and the importance of being prepared. “I also hope they enjoy the kids’ activities, connect with the emergency services and have a great day with us.“
Labor pledges millions for education improvements in Wyndham Labor has promised $50 million to build a new TAFE campus in Wyndham and more than $20 million for Tarneit P-9 College if re-elected in November. New classrooms and a gymnasium will be part of the $20.39 million investment in the college. The money will fund the replacement of the current relocatable buildings with permanent classrooms and gymnasium improvements will offer a new multi-purpose space. Tarneit MP Dylan Wight said he was
proud to support the investment that will give students modern and fit-for-purpose facilities to learn, play and thrive. “Tarneit is a growing community, and our schools need facilities that keep pace with that growth.” To boost job-ready skills, Labor has committed to new TAFE campuses in Wyndham as well as in the outer north near Kalkallo. The campuses will focus on delivering training in priority skills areas such as construction, trades, logistics, health, commu-
4 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
nity services, early childhood education and renewable energy. “This is about creating opportunities, strengthening local industries and making sure Tarneit’s future workforce can build their future right here in the west,” Mr Wight said. “We’ll deliver two new TAFE campuses so more young people in the north and west can get the training they want,” Skills and Training Minister Gabrielle Williams added.
Two Wyndham-based artists, Justin Enrico Legaspi and Ming Liew, have been selected to take part in the Kickstart professional development program presented by Next Wave. The program provides valuable opportunities to develop their creative practice, build professional networks and connect within the arts sector. Justin Enrico Legaspi is an interdisciplinary artist, writer and youth advocate. He explores the persistence of retro internet and consumer cultures. His work with youth focuses on access and visibility in arts education. Ming Liew is an artist-researcher whose practice spans moving image, experimental film and archival research, examining Chinese diasporic identity across cultures, ideologies, and histories. The Kickstart program is an 18-month artist development and mentorship initiative that supports early-career artists to develop and test ambitious new work. The program received 136 applications from across Victoria. The 2026–27 program brings together eight early-career artists from across disciplines to develop new work for public presentation while building creative networks, strengthening professional skills and exploring new opportunities for their practice. Through mentorship, curatorial and production support, professional development, peer exchange and networking, participating artists are supported from the early stages of an idea through to its development and public presentation. Next Wave’s home at Brunswick Mechanics Institute serves as a creative hub for workshops, conversations, experimentation and community engagement, connecting artists and audiences through shared creative experiences. The program will culminate with artist sharing their work in November 2027.
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Connor cool in an emergency By Ella Burns In a moment of crisis that would test many adults, 10-year-old Connor’s bravery and quick thinking proved lifesaving when he called emergency services to summon help for his mum Kerrie. Woodville Primary School Assistant Principal Jodi Binion reached out to Star Weekly about a hero within her school. “He is a hero in our eyes,“ she said. Connor, who is a student at Woodville Primary School in Hoppers Crossing, was having a relaxing day at home playing on his iPad when he noticed his mum slip off the couch and bump into a chair. “When I saw her, there were bubbles in her mouth,“ he said. Connor’s first instinct was to call his mum’s friend from the emergency contact list on her phone, which can be accessed without her fingerprint even when the device is locked. Unfortunately, Kerrie’s friend was overseas at the time and the call did not go through. Not deterred, Connor dialed Triple Zero (000). “I was talking to the police for a bit and then they sent me through to the ambulance,“ he said. “And then I started going through what happened and they helped me do some stuff to help her.“ As soon as the ambulance arrived, Connor was able to find his cousin’s contact photo on the phone and called for his “big brother“ to come and help. “I was really worried,“ he said. “When they came, they gave her a needle, which she doesn’t like.“
Mother Kerrie and son Connor with the phone that helped save his mum’s life. (Ella Burns)
Luckily for Kerrie, Connor was there holding her hand every step of the way, “saying good words to her“. “I don’t remember anything,“ Kerrie said. “I remember waking up in hospital on an ambulance stretcher.“ Kerrie undergoes dialysis most weeks, but had missed a treatment on the day of the incident because she was not feeling well. She recalls not eating or drinking
much and believes that may have contributed to what happened. Connor said he knew to call Triple Zero after learning about emergency services at school. He said paramedics visited the school and acted out emergency scenarios and taught students what to do in an emergency. “As a parent, we can only teach so much,“ Kerrie said.
“I’m so thankful they have the opportunity to learn these sorts of things from real paramedics, otherwise it’s just, ’Oh, that’s just mum or dad talking.’“ Thankful to have his mum by his side to tell the story with him, Connor said it feels “amazing“ to know he helped save her life. “I am beyond proud,“ Kerrie said.
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Maribyrnong’s Truong siblings Alexis and Charlie shoot their smart phone films.
Tez Vi Truong with children Alexis and Charlie at the Sydney Opera House for the SF3 Smart Fone Film Festival on 1 November.
Alexis and Charlie pose for the paparazzi after being announced as finalists in the 2026 SF3 Smart Fone Film Festival. (Pictures: Supplied)
Film festival a family affair Armed with nothing more than their phones, a heap of ideas and a tonne of enthusiasm, a western suburbs family is making films on small screens that are being shown on big screens. Cade Lucas reports.
I
n an era where many parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend staring at screens and often seek to limit or even prevent them from accessing smart phones and tablets, it’s fair to say Maribyrnong’s Truong family go against the grain. Not only do Tez Vi Truong and his wife Doris allow their children Alexis, 8, and Charlie, 6, to use smartphones, they actively encourage it. The Truongs, especially dad and the two kids, probably spend more time using their smart phone devices than just about any family, let alone those with kids aged under 10. Far from it being detrimental, recent evidence suggests that the Truong’s smartphone fanaticism is paying dividends. After all, how many primary school students, when asked on a Monday morning what they did on the weekend, are able to answer that they attended a film festival at the Sydney Opera House and were awarded first prize? Well, the answer is at least two, because that’s exactly what happened to both Alexis and Charlie Truong at the 12th annual SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3) on Sunday 1 November. One of the world’s largest and most prestigious smart phone film festivals, the 2026 SF3 attracted a record 400 entries from around the globe, including 19 feature films and 16 AI films, all vying for a share in $50,000 in prizes. While finalists in the festival’s ‘Mini’ and Feature Film sections were screened and winners announced at the White Bay Power Station in Rozelle on Halloween, both the SF3 Kids and Gala Finals sections were held on Sunday at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse. Alexis and Charlie won the Best Documentary and Touch Finished on
Alexis Truong’s 102 year-old great-grandfather Chiec Thau Ngo, the subject of her award winning smart phone film ‘My Great-Grandfather.’ (Supplied)
Mobile categories, respectively, in the kids section announced on Sunday morning. Not to be outdone, their father won his second consecutive Best AI Film award at the festival’s grand finale held on Sunday night. While Tez Vi Truong thought he stood a good chance of winning again, he wasn’t banking on his two children making it a Truong family trifecta. “Absolutely ecstatic,” the proud father said when asked how he was feeling the day after. “The kids winning was really unexpected.” Proving good things come in threes, not only did all three Truongs take home prizes, but this was the third year in a row they had all entered SF3 together. Truong said having witnessed how far
6 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
smart phone filmmaking had come in that time made Alexis and Charlie’s triumphs all the more meaningful. “Last year and even the year before, the quality of the work was great, but this year the quality was really fierce. Some of the people from last year didn’t even get accepted (into the festival) this time. Not only are we proud of them getting accepted but winning, that’s next level.” Alexis Truong was named joint winner of the best documentary award for her short film, ‘My Great Grandfather,’ a two-minute celebration of the life of Chiec Thau Ngo, the Truong family patriarch. The 102-year-old is still alive, though at the time of writing he’d not yet been made aware he was now the star of an award-winning film. “We haven’t seen him yet but we’re about to,” Truong said of his grandfather and his daughter’s great-grandfather. Alexis shared the award with Wolfe and Lucette Meisner and students from Scarborough Public School in Wollongong for their film ‘Between the Mountains and the Sea.’ Younger brother Charlie also shared his prize, having been named joint winner of the Touch Finished on Mobile Award for his autobiographical film ’Charlie’s Secret’. As the name suggests, Charlie reveals some of his biggest secrets and takes the audience on a fun, honest, and unexpected journey through his imagination and personal world in the film he recorded when he was just five. He won alongside students from the Hills Drama School in Rouse Hill near Sydney for their film ‘The New Prisoner.’ Truong was named the sole winner of the Best AI Film award for ‘No.08’ which he described as: “basically it’s an exploration of what we perceive as values and what we consume.”
Coming it at 4:44 in duration, No.8 is more than two minutes longer than Alexis’ or Charlie’s films and joins Truong’s 2025 film “The 5-Minute Empire” in winning the best AI film category. In contrast to other categories, Truong said AI films didn’t involve any camera work and were generated solely on smart phones rather than being edited on other devices. A former screenwriter at Disney, Truong has a background in the film industry but said filmmaking became a family affair after Alexis entered a storytelling competition at a local library. “She didn’t get into (the storytelling competition) so then we looked for other avenues for her work and stumbled upon SF3.” While offering them guidance here and there, Truong said Alexia and Charlie generate their own film ideas and execute them themselves. And while she mightn’t have any awards to her name, mum Doris also plays a significant role. “She’s the backbone,” Truong said of his wife who organises the logistical side of the family filmmaking along with various other off-camera roles. “She’s even involved in the production design and make-up with the kids.” After taking a break for the festival, the Truongs are now busy brainstorming more film ideas and hope to eventually screen some of their work at home in Victoria. With screenings mostly confined to festivals such as SF3, Truong said the best way for people to keep up to date with the family’s work was via his Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/ tezfrost/?hl=en To learn more about SF3, go to: https:// sf3.com.au/
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Tis the season for carnival fun Wyndham Christmas Carnival is back this year returning to Werribee Racecourse. A perfect day out for the family, the carnival will be held on Sunday 15 November from noon until 6pm. The event will have over 100 indoor and outdoor market stalls giving people a chance to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. There will also be live entertainment, food trucks, amusement rides, camel and pony rides, reptile encounters, and emergency services displays. Organiser Margarita Udarbe said the carnival gets bigger and better every year. “It just started off as a standard market and here we are now,” she said. Ms Udarbe looks forward to seeing the families out and about enjoying their time at the carnival. “Even seeing adults on the rides
rediscovering their youth is great,” she said. As a Wyndham local herself, Ms Udarbe said the goal of the Christmas carnival is to give back to the community and make it as accessible as possible. “We have tried to make it an event where you aren’t paying 50 or 60 dollars to get in, so ten dollars in what we’re doing,” she said. “We find that in December people get so busy and so much is happening, so doing the event before makes it more accessible.” With a mix of shopping, entertainment and family-friendly activities, Ms Udarbe said the carnival offers something for all ages while showcasing local businesses and community organisations. Tickets are on sale now and can be bought online at https://www.trybooking. com/au/event/1625915/tickets?sessionId= 6610535§ionId=3150033
Wyndham council has awarded a $2.6 million contract for the $6.6 million Thames Boulevard reconstruction, with work on track to commence this month. The Connecting Wyndham project will fully rebuild Thames Boulevard between Tarneit and Heaths roads, including a new road surface, kerbs and gutters, vehicle driveways, sections of footpath, minor drainage improvements, and new road signs and line marking. The project will also rebuild both school crossings, a new pedestrian crossing on the southern side of the Thames Boulevard and Danube Drive roundabout, as well as minor kerb changes to improve on street parking, refreshed line marking and upgraded road signage.
Cardboard trial Wyndham council’s 12-month cardboard collection trial has come to an end, with large volumes of recovered cardboard counteracted by high levels of contamination and illegal dumping at the collection sites. As a result, the council announced that cardboard collection bins will be removed from all trial locations. The council has asked residents to not leave cardboard or other items at the sites once the bins are removed. Cameras will remain in place to help monitor activity during the transition period. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
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COMMENT
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A reckoning and a player 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. The Player
Evan Turok.
1992’s ‘The Player’ features Tim Robbins playing Griffin Mill, a studio executive in charge of separating the thousands of yearly film ideas from the mere 12 that will be produced. With an apathetic indifference to the countless writers he rejects on a daily basis, it becomes impossible to know which of them has begun to send death threats his way. What follows is a witty and tense comedy thriller supported by technical filmmaking excellence. Having to constantly crush the dreams of writers is sure to lead to some enemies. Soon after being the last straw to an unstable writer, Mill becomes embroiled in a murder mystery in which he himself is the main suspect. What worries me is that, with the waves of unwatchable garbage that we already have to sift through to find something enjoyable, I can’t help but lose sleep imagining what kind of ideas couldn’t even get a look in! Director Robert Altman opens with an incredible nine minute single shot sequence. Choreographing a series of actors, a camera, a crew, as well as
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(Damjan Janevski) 545799_04
hundreds of extras is not only wildly impressive, but is the heart and soul of directing a film. Blocking a scene from start to finish allows the audience to witness the dynamic nature of a well written scene. Altman uses this long take to make the world of the film feel lived in, as if each character is only a small piece of the puzzle in the lively yet mysterious world of Hollywood.
The Social Reckoning Written and directed by the writer of the original, Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning continues on from the 2010 film ‘The Social Network’. We follow Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), an ex-employee of Facebook who attempts to expose the media conglomerate’s greedy willingness to promote hateful content.
What was once an unnerving, gripping thriller has become a melancholic math mission with no personal emotional weight. The fact that ‘private message shares carry a 3.2x higher algorithmic weight than a standard passive reaction’ means nothing to me and should not be the sort of statistics that become the sole focus of the film. (If it means anything to you, please call me and explain. Talk slowly.) My point being, the detrimental difference between the two films is that the original understands that human connection is much more valued to an audience than a series of facts and statistics. None of the characters have any distinctive personality besides the mutual fast talking wittiness found in all Aaron Sorkin dialogue. Unfortunately, when every single character has the same personality trait, it ceases to be one at all. Visually, there was nothing defining about Sorkin’s vision, a simple dot-to-dot approach that lacked a style and failed to do its part to create desperatel needed tension to enhance this so-called ‘thriller’. Jeremy Strong plays Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg with an uncanny perfection. His presence on screen is the clear highlight but not enough to save this ‘colour in the lines’, non offensive but emotionally void film.
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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
12 November, 1986
13 November, 1996
8 November, 2006
9 November, 2016
Werribee hospital nurses walked out on strike yesterday (Tuesday) at Noon.
Werribee police have warned residents to be on alert for a burglar who robbed his victims as they slept in their beds.
Four Wyndham community centres have joined forces in a bid to secure funding after being overlooked by the State Government.
Seven of Wyndham’s busiest roads will be duplicated and widened over the next six years in a mammoth $1.8 billion state government upgrade.
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Help feed families By Ella Burns A garage transformed into a makeshift supermarket was just the beginning. The women behind the Feed A Family project have spent years supporting people in need and are now calling on the community for help to continue their mission. Founded more than five years ago by Julie McDonald alongside close friends and supporters Pauline Stephens and Jenny McGowan, Feed A Family’s goal is to help as many struggling families as possible over Christmas. “Every day, especially at Christmas time, there are families financially struggling within our community,” Ms McDonald said. Last year, the project created more than 60 hampers, which were distributed through the Salvation Army Werribee Corps. However, rising living costs and financial pressures have made the team concerned that donations may be harder to secure this year. “With the financial rate at the moment, it is really hard for everybody,” she said. “Last year was exceptional and if we get even 40 this year, I will be really happy.” Feed A Family began after COVID while Ms McDonald was working at a hospital and saw the challenges many people were facing. “I’d see people coming in who were really struggling and I thought, how could we help these people out in any way, shape or form,” she said. Over the years, helping families during difficult times has provided motivation for the team to keep going. Alongside its food hampers, Feed A Family also runs a toy drive. Ms McDonald recalled one young
Jenny McGowan, Julie McDonald and Pauline Stephens from the Feed A Family project. (Ella Burns).
boy who received a cricket set he had always wanted but his family could not afford. “How happy he was to get that cricket set after he thought he never would,” she said. Feed A Family is now accepting dona-
tions of non-perishable food, toiletries and toys, including items such as pasta, boxed cheese, spaghetti, tuna and spam, to help support families in need this Christmas. Reach out to Julie on 0402 037 201 to make donations.
NEWS
Wyndham North Police Station to be reopened Wyndham North Police Station have its public counter reopen if the Liberals are elected in this month’s state election. The Coalition said it will reopen the station through their plans to recruit an additional 3000 Victorian Police officers. More 40 police stations that have been closed or had their hours cut will be reopening under the Coalition’s election promise. Victoria Police first announced it would close the reception counter at Wyndham North Police Station on 19 October last year. It is currently still closed and the next closest station is Werribee Police Station which is 6.5km away. Crime statistics in motor vehicle theft is up 107 per cent, retail store theft is up 180 per cent and residential aggravated burglary is up 81 per cent in Tarneit, the Liberals stated. “Victorians are rightfully worried about their safety at home and in their communities,” Liberal deputy leader David Southwick said. Liberal candidate for Tarneit Venkat Ram Upparlapalle said more police and reopened stations would create more visible law enforcement in local communities and better protection for Victorians. “Through my close work with the community and my petition, I know how important it is for the people of Wyndham to have access to their local police station,” he said.
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Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 9
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MY PLACE Derrimut local mortgage broker Niti Bhargava is a powerhouse in the financial world. Through her work, she empowers migrant women toward financial independence. She chats with Jack O’SheaAyres about her pride as a long-time resident of the west. What’s your connection to the north-west? I have lived in Melbourne’s west for almost two decades, and over the years I have built not only my business here but also deep personal and community connections. My career in finance and banking spans around 18 years, and I have seen first-hand how access to the right financial information can change the direction of a family or a business. My connection to the west goes well beyond finance. I am passionate about creating opportunities for people, particularly women and migrant communities, to build financial confidence and independence. Through financial literacy workshops and community programs, I have supported hundreds of people across Melbourne’s west, including migrant and culturally diverse women, young people and small business owners. I am also the co-founder of Business Women of Melbourne, a grassroots network created to connect, support and celebrate women in business across Brimbank, Melton and surrounding communities. What do you like about where you live? What I love most is the sense of community. The west is incredibly diverse, ambitious and entrepreneurial. You meet people from different cultures, backgrounds and walks of life, but there is often a shared desire to build something better for their families and their community. I also love that peo-
ple here genuinely support local businesses. As a business owner myself, I understand how meaningful it is when someone chooses to support a local business, refer a friend or simply says, “I know someone who can help you.” There is a real sense that the west is growing and evolving, while still retaining that strong community spirit. What, if anything, would you change about where you live? I would love to see even more investment in opportunities for local people, particularly young people, women and small business owners. The west has enormous talent and entrepreneurial energy. I would like to see more accessible mentoring, business education, financial literacy programs, networking opportunities and pathways into leadership. I also believe financial wellbeing should be treated as an important part of community wellbeing. Understanding money, credit, debt, home ownership and business finance can have a profound impact on people’s lives. Where is your favourite local place to spend time? I love attending local community events, networking with women in business, meeting local business owners over a coffee and being involved in events across Brimbank and Melton. Some of my favourite moments have simply been sitting with another local businesswoman and hearing her story, talking about her challenges and working out how we can support each other. Those conversations are often where the most meaningful connections happen.
Niti Bhargava. (Damjan Janevski). 577609 01
Students making music By Ella Burns Students at Warringa Park School are striking a chord once again with the release of their latest original track and music video, Friendship Song. The song celebrates the friendships students share with both each other and the community. The release comes just one week after Mumble Every Day which was inspired by Australian DJ and producer Ninajirachi. Both songs were created through Radio On, a music project running since 2014, which gives students the opportunity to write, record and produce original music with their teacher Ben Butcher. Mr Butcher works with the students for an hour each week and he said it was a “real pity” he doesn’t get more time with them. “They all have their own styles, and they all have a great sense of what good music is,“ he said. “My job is so rewarding.“
Friendship Song is inspired by Ed Sheeran’s work, using vocal samples that the students made into a loop and beat. Earlier this year, students hoped Sheeran would collaborate on the track, and Mr Butcher said they still hope he will join with a remix. They are also hoping Ninajirachi could feature on a future version of Mumble Every Day. The school has previously welcomed big names such as Snoop Dogg who worked with students on their track Drip last year. Mr Butcher said he was proud to see students’ work shared with a wider audience. “This is a song they’ve been refining all year and it’s so great that we can celebrate it through publishing this video clip,“ he said. A CD album featuring the students’ music will be available for purchase at Warringa Park School’s Night Market at its Cayleys Road campus in Werribee South on 17 November.
Warringa Park School students Labeeqa (front), Lachlan, Xerrar and Thomas. (Damjan Janevski). 586775 01 12916222-JV46-26
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WE DESERVE BETTER
Steps to reducing violence As part of Star Weekly’s ongoing We Deserve Better campaign about crime in Melbourne’s west, Glenn Fisher takes a look at the state’s new Violence Reduction Unit and how it operates. The noise from the community has been getting louder over the past few years. Noise about rising violence and crime rates, with a particular focus on ‘out of control’ youths in our midst. When the state government appointed Youth Justice Commissioner Andrea Davidson as chief executive of the new Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) 12 months ago, her goal was to set up a reference group to bring together local organisations and community leaders to guide the government on the challenges and opportunities facing the VRU. The VRU says its focus is on stopping violence before it starts, working with young people, families, schools, community organisations and government agencies to address the underlying causes of violence. The VRU model, which is based on similar units in Glasgow, Scotland, and London, England, but is tailored to Victoria, has seen the state government partner with Blue Light Victoria, which already has a successful youth mentoring program operating in schools to address the issues of school disengagement, isolation and limited access to positive role models. More than $30 million has been invested in the VRU, with recent announcements including $10 million towards 17 new violence prevention programs in communities most affected by youth crime, the launch of a $13 million targeted grants program called
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny (left) and Werribee MP John Lister (centre) were at Werribee station recently with outreach workers for the expansion of the VRU’s Community Connectors program. (Supplied).
Ground Up to help organisations already doing the work on the ground, and $9.5 million to boost Blue Light Victoria’s youth mentoring program. “There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to violence prevention,” Ms Davidson said. “By supporting local programs to deliver solutions that work for them, we can make communities safer for everyone.” The new violence prevention programs will help deliver early intervention in schools and communities, including knifecrime prevention, homework clubs and
youth mentoring, with programs such as the Melton-based Airtime Cobblebank Basketball Program already giving young people a positive place to connect and keep them away from bad influences. Another VRU initiative involves community organisation 1000 Generations providing youth drop-in centres across Brimbank and Melton that will give young people a dedicated place to build strong positive relationships, access education, employment, wellbeing and community support services, and to develop practical life and employment skills.
Blue Light Victoria may be remembered by older generations for its popular police-run discos in the 1970s and ’80s, but it’s much more than that these days with its youth mentoring and early intervention programs such as Blue EDGE. Run in partnership with police and emergency services, Blue EDGE blends fun fitness activities with life skills to boost resilience, encourage healthy and safe decision making, and strengthen community connection in the 10-21 age group. Train stations in Melbourne’s west have also benefitted from VRU funding, with Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny visiting Werribee late last month with Werribee MP John Lister to announce the expansion of the Community Connectors program. Community Connectors are specialist outreach workers who patrol train stations and provide proactive support to community members to prevent incidents arising. Two outreach workers will be based at Werribee station by the end of 2026, providing on-the-ground support for people experiencing challenges such as homelessness, mental health concerns, trauma, family violence, alcohol and other substance issues. The outreach workers build meaningful connections with the people they’re there to help, and also provide training, mentoring and support to Metro Trains staff in managing people with complex needs. Werribee is the third station funded through the VRU, with Community Connectors also present at Sunshine and St Albans. Outreach workers were also introduced at Footscray and Broadmeadows stations earlier this year. Details: https://www.vic.gov. au/what-violence-reduction-unit-vru
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The new age of aged care
Arcare Point Cook opens February 2027. To learn more about this extraordinary residence, call 1300 272 273 or visit us at arcare.com.au Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 11
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The car still drives like a dream. (Damjan Janevski). 587662 04
Jo-anne Wade and her late father’s 91-year-old Humber. (Damjan Janevski). 587662 01
Ronald Wade and his Studebaker. (Supplied)
Humber history for sale By Ella Burns A 91-year-old vintage car still runs perfectly, but for Jo-anne Wade selling it means parting with far more than a rare collector’s vehicle. The 1935 Humber was a cherished possession of Ms Wade’s late father Ronald Wade, a Werribee resident for 24 years. Having a “lifelong love affair” with vintage cars, Mr Wade owned many vehicles during his life including the 1935 Humber, a 1940 Buick, a 1933 Chrysler, a 1926 Essex and a 1929 Studebaker. “Each one held a special place in his heart,” Ms Wade said. Mr Wade’s first vintage car was his 1929 Studebaker Dictator Straight Eight which Ms Wade said was the “true love of his life”. “It was his pride and joy and, although he eventually sold it in 2004, I don’t think any other car quite took its place in his heart,” she said. Some of Ms Wade’s fondest childhood memories revolve around her father and his beloved Studebaker with rallies and outings with other vintage car enthusiasts occupying their weekends. One of Ms Wade’s favourite memories was attending Australia Day celebrations at Flagstaff Gardens where everyone would dress in old-fashioned clothes to match the
era of the cars. “Looking back, it wasn’t just about the cars, it was about the friendships, the adventures and the special family memories that came with them,” she said. Purchased in 2021, the Humber was the last car added to Mr Wade’s collection. A family connection made this car especially meaningful as Mr Wade’s mother was originally from England. “When he first saw it advertised for sale, it struck a special chord with him,” Ms Wade said. The story behind the Humber goes back well before it was in Mr Wade’s hands. The Humber was originally purchased by a man who won first prize in Tattersall’s Sweeps and used part of his winnings to buy the vehicle. “They were associated with wealthy families,” Ms Wade said. Keeping a 91-year-old car running is no small feat, but for her late father, it was a labour of love. Mr Wade ran his own sheet metal business specialising in ventilation and air-conditioning. “[He] had an amazing mechanical mind,” Ms Wade said. Mr Wade took pride in maintaining his vehicles and was always eager to tackle a challenge. Even in his later years, he embraced the internet and taught himself how
to research mechanical issues and track down solutions. He also drew on the knowledge and support of other passionate and knowledgeable people through the Vintage Drivers Club and Chrysler Club who were always willing to lend a helping hand. “That sense of community was something Dad really valued,” Ms Wade said. Ms Wade hopes the next owner will appreciate the beauty, craftsmanship and character of the Humber just like her father did. “It is so much more than just a vehicle, it is a piece of motoring history,” she said. “Can you imagine the stories it could tell, the people who have sat behind its wheel and the places it has travelled over the past nine decades?” Mr Wade’s lifetime of collecting didn’t stop at cars, he had old radios, records, vintage enamel signs, oil tins, bottles and tools, just to name a few. He never passed up the chance to hunt for a bargain or an overlooked gem. From Newmarket Trash and Treasure Market to roadside hard rubbish collections, he was always searching for something special, driven by a belief that even the most forgotten objects deserved a second life. “We kids would be absolutely mortified, ducking down in the car so nobody would see us,” Ms Wade said.
He even valued his trips to the tip where Ms Wade’s mother would laugh and say that Mr Wade would come back with more than he took there. “He could see beauty and potential in things that other people thought was junk,” his daughter said. “He loved the thrill of the find, the history behind an object and the satisfaction of bringing something old back to life.” Connecting to his love for rehoming and finding treasure in anything, Ms Wade thinks her father would be “absolutely chuffed” to see his collection laid out for the auction. “He absolutely loved a good clearing sale, garage sale, op shop or antique shop,” she said. The Wade family has decided to keep the Chrysler and Buick to always have a special connection to Mr Wade and his love of vintage cars. “It has been an extremely difficult and emotional decision,” she said. “These cars were so much more than just vehicles to Dad.” The 1935 Humber’s new chapter will begin on 23 November when it goes under the hammer in an online live auction conducted by ME Auctions. The sale will feature more than 1,500 lots, with a public viewing day to be held beforehand. Details will be announced on the ME Auctions website.
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12 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
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NEWS
Faces of the west Above: Sharon Murphy from Keeley’s Cause. (Damjan Janevski) 585064_04 Left: Ekram Hassan-Ali is the One Wyndham recipient for October. (Damjan Janevski) 584723 03
Right: Karen Spaull and Gisborne Golf Club general manager Brett Campbell. (Damjan Janevski) 584822 05
Each week, Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing the people and events across Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs.
Sunshine Hospital palliative care unit director Maria Coperchini with staff Sacha McDonald, Carmen Camilleri and Mariana Grgat. (Damjan Janevski) 587239 04
Advertising feature
InFUse Lab participant Millie Sanchez Montoro, program facilitator Augustine Ang and participant David Soderlind. (Damjan Janevski) 587195 04
Altona Meadows Primary School students Max (front), Ethan, Ayman, Emily, Imogen, Liam and Rose. (Damjan Janevski) 585921 05
EDUCATION CHOICES
At Aspire, early education is about so much more than care. It’s about connecting, learning and growing. Our educators get to know every child as an individual, building classrooms that are warm, joyful and full of connection. Families can feel at ease knowing their little ones are safe, supported and flourishing every single day. Our values guide everything we do. We are Inspiring and Nurturing, creating environments where children feel inspired to explore, learn and grow. We are Building Trust, through open communication and reliable partnerships with families, our people and our communities. We are Empowering Excellence, investing in our educators so the quality of care and education children receive keeps getting better. And we are Connecting Communities, strengthening the bonds that help children and families thrive together. We’re proud to offer a strong network of Aspire centres, with 10 operating locations across the Wyndham area, and four
new centres opening in 2027. Servicing areas such as Manor Lakes, Mambourin, Tarneit, Truganina and Werribee, families can secure their place now at one of these centres. With so many convenient locations, finding the right fit for your child and your routine has never been easier. Every Aspire centre offers high-quality programs designed to support children through each stage of their early learning journey, from nursery right through to kindergarten. Our inspiring, safe and nurturing environments give children the space to explore, grow and reach their full potential. The early years shape a lifetime, and at Aspire we make them extraordinary. We go the extra mile to build curiosity, confidence and compassion that children carry with them well beyond their first classroom. 2027 enrolments are now open. So come and experience the difference genuine care makes, and take the first step in your child’s Aspire journey. Call our friendly team on 1800 978 429 or visit our website to enquire today.
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Where little learners begin to shine
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 13
COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication. Car show Classic, retro and special interest vehicles will roll into Williams Landing on 15 November for the Outwest Concrete Wyndham Retro Motor Show 2026, bringing the local community together for a morning of motoring, entertainment and family fun. The Outwest Concrete Wyndham Retro Motor Show 2026 is hosted by Wyndham Health Foundation and will be held from 9am to 1pm at 70 Overton Road, Williams Landing. Alongside the cars, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, family activities and more throughout the day. Vehicle + Driver: $20, General Admission: $5, Children under 12: free. ■ wyndhamretromotorshow.com.au First Nations Family Fun Day Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their families and carers are invited to a free day of connection, culture and community with IPC Health and Wyndham Council. Enjoy a deadly feed, smoking ceremony, yidaki performance, face painting, photo booth, market stalls and family-friendly activities. Saturday 21 November, 10am-2pm at Wyndham Youth Services Centre (86 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing 3029). Practise English A weekly meet to help members of the community improve their practical English conversation skills to help with daily tasks such as shopping and booking appointments. Meets 10am each Saturday at Werribee Church of Christ, 200 Tarneit Road, Werribee ■ Bronwyn, 9741 6051 Laverton Community Choir Open to new members and everyone is welcome. If you enjoy singing, and are curious about joining a choir, come along and try out your vocal cords with our fun and inclusive group. No audience or musical knowledge required. Meets on Thursday evenings during school terms at Laverton P12 College, 91 Bladin Street, Laverton from 7-9pm, with supper provided. ■ Sue, 0418 386 147 or lavertoncommunitychoir@gmail.com Wyndham Rotary If you have an hour or two to volunteer in a local project Wyndham Rotary would love to hear from you. If you have an idea and you want some help taking the idea to action, contact Rotary. Meeting locally each week, you will be made welcome. ■ Julie, 0406 196 630. Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour Assist with service projects in the local community and overseas. The club meets at 7pm on the first Tuesday of the month at the ‘By the Bay Cafe’ in Wyndham Harbour. ■ Mamode, 0469 888 126 Wyndham Probus Club A social club for retired or semi-retired people. There is a broad range of social activities to suit all interests such as lunches and brunches each month, day trips, theatre outings and longer trips away. Hear interesting speakers and make new friendships. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Iramoo Community Centre, Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale. Meetings commence at 1pm. ■ Kaye Angel, 0407 551 694, or wcpc1306@ gmail.com
This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of an Australian king parrot at Mount Macedon. (Damjan Janevski). 588000 01
Point Cook Combined Probus Club Retired or semi-retired people are invited to join this active social group. Enjoy an impressive and interesting monthly guest speaker. Interesting monthly outings, and fortnightly lunches where the development of friendships are encouraged. The Point Cook Combined Probus Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am at The Brook Point Cook, 215 Sneydes Road, Point Cook. ■ John Sloan, 0436 480 728 or sloanrisk@ gmail.com Lions Club The Lions Club of Point Cook meets at the Featherbrook Community Centre on the third Monday of the month at 7.30 pm. The club is seeking to grow the Lions free vision screening in schools team. Volunteers needed to work with the region’s schools in combating undiagnosed children’s vision issues. You do not have to be a Lions member but must obtain a working with children check. ■ Robert Eyton, 0417 549 684, or robeyton@ bigpond.com Adult drumming classes If you ever wanted to try out your rhythmic skills, the first class is discounted and concessions apply for other classes. All hand drums supplied or BYO. No experience required, just bring an open heart and mind and enjoy making some great rhythms together. The class is friendly and welcoming to everyone. Thursdays, 7.30-8.30pm, during school terms, at Saltwater Community Centre, 153 Saltwater Parade, Point Cook. ■ 0411 028 077 or bfmusic15@gmail.com Wyndham Ladies Probus Retired or semi-retired ladies are invited to join this very active social group. Enjoy impressive monthly guest speakers, interesting monthly outings and many lunches where the development of friendships is encouraged. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month
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at Hotel 520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, at 10am. ■ Sue, 0448 381 027 Watton Group A support group providing a social space for carers to get together in a safe and compassionate environment. Gives carers an opportunity to connect, share their experiences and offers emotional and practical support. The group meets at 49 Watton Street, Werribee at 10am, every fourth Tuesday of the month. ■ Patricia, 0434 487 360, or wattongroup131@ gmail.com All Abilities Netball All-abilities netball for 10-to-25-year-olds is run by Wyndham Netball Association every Saturday morning during school terms, from 10.30am, on outside court 14 at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Intellectual, physical and social disabilities are catered for in a fun and supported group. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2. ■Phil, 0437 078 739 Walking Netball Walking netball is a low impact, no running, no jumping version for those that love the fun, friendship and activity of a weekly game of netball. Sessions are run every Thursday during school terms, from 8pm, at Eagle Stadium, Ballan Road, Werribee. Come and try your first session for free, with stadium entry $2. ■Phil, 0437 078 739 With One Voice Wyndham Choir With One Voice Wyndham Choir is a community choir open to all. The community choir welcomes all ages, abilities, faiths, cultures and genders and is directed by a very experienced and friendly professional conductor. Fun weekly rehearsals and amazing performance opportunities are provided. They sing for an hour and then have a cuppa. The first two visits are free; and then payment is by tax-deductible donation.
Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm, at Wayaperri House, 106 Duncans Road, Werribee. ■ wyndham@withonevoice.org.au Adult community garden group The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 10-11am, at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale. Head down and join them as they maintain their rejuvenated community garden. Planting and harvesting produce that they grow. ■ 8742 3688 Seniors club The Werribee Senior Citizens Club meets at 80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing. The group is open to all people 55-plus and it runs on Wednesdays, 10am-noon. Entry: $2, includes morning tea. ■ 0403 041 499 Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus The friendly and vibrant group meet at Hotel 520 on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am. They have a guest speaker each month as well as social lunches, outings and theatre trips. ■ Yvette, 0411 952 706 Western Budgerigar Club The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee. Meet other members who are also passionate about breeding Budgerigars. ■ Don, 0414 975 862 Western Melbourne Men’s Chorus Do you like to sing? The Western Melbourne Men’s Chorus wants you! Be part of a rewarding fraternity of fellow amateur musicians serving the community, sharing comradery and having fun. Rehearsals at 7pm Tuesday evenings at St. James Church, Hoppers Crossing. ■ Chris, 0400 414 215
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ENTERTAINMENT
Family bootscootin’ night Dust off your boots and get ready for a night of country fun at the Commercial Hotel in Ballan. Country music, line dancing, and family-friendly fun will take over the Commercial Hotel in Ballan this month, with locals invited to dust off their boots for a lively country night out. Family Country Night will take over the Commercial Hotel on Friday 13 November, promising to bring a taste of country hospitality to Ballan from 5 to 10pm. The evening is set to kick off with free face painting and pony rides for the kids,
before the dancing gets underway. The Boot Scooting Society will lead a free line dancing session from 7pm,
welcoming everyone from seasoned dancers to first-timers keen to learn a few new steps. Live country music will follow, with performer Tristan Ross taking to the stage to keep the country atmosphere going throughout the evening. Entry to the live music costs $10 per adult, while the line dancing session and children’s activities are free. Organisers are encouraging families and friends to come along, get involved and enjoy a night of entertainment close to home. Those planning to stay for dinner are
encouraged to contact the hotel ahead of time to secure a table. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite or at the venue. So bring your friends, round up the family, and join in on the fun for a boot-scootin’ good time! Family Country Night will run from 5pm to 10pm on Friday 13 November, at the Commercial Hotel, 151 Inglis Street, Ballan. Details and tickets: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/line-dancing-countrymusic-night-at-the-commercial-hotelballan-tickets-2003750484639.
Explore your creativity with Way Out West
Organiser of storytelling salon, Between The Lines, Aud Pitch, at The Chestnut Tree Bookshop in West Footscray where the monthly event is held. (Damjan Janevski) 554512_01
Saturday night live storytelling salon Live storytelling salon, Between The Lines, returns for the final time in 2026 on Saturday 28 November at The Chestnut Tree Bookshop in West Footscray. Held on the last Saturday of each month, Between the Lines is an invitation for people to share something true to a room full of strangers who are there to listen. You don’t need to be a writer, a poet, a performer, or really anything other than
someone willing to tell a story that is true, that is your own and which is in keeping with a chosen theme, which for November is ‘the long day.’ You must register beforehand and then on the night wait and your name is drawn at rundown from a storytelling pool. If it is, you will get handed the mic and the attention of the audience for 10-12 minutes to tell them your story. Selected speakers also get a glass of wine on the
house to ease any nerves. If it’s not, you get to remain a member of the audience and enjoy a night of bold, honest, and unfiltered storytelling. Whether on stage or in the crowd, everyone pays for a ticket in order to keep the event fair and sustainable. To register, book tickets and learn more about Between the Lines, go to: https:// events.hu ma n it i x .com/bet ween-t helines-storytelling-salon
Raise a glass to the 35th annual Budburst festival Get ready for a weekend of food, wine and country hospitality as Budburst Wine Festival is back in the Macedon Ranges celebrating 35 years. Every year, the wineries of the Macedon Ranges region come together, open their doors and showcase their cool climate wines and local food. Budburst not only features the region’s established cellar doors but also producers not normally open to the public, small batch wines and special releases. The event spans across Saturday 14 November to Sunday 15 November, from 10am to 5pm, with tastings, curated good menus, live entertainment and the chance to chat with the winemakers at every stop.
Passes start from $39 with weekend passes $55. Tickets come with a keepsake Plumm crystal Macedon Ranges wine glass, a festival passport with all the details you need for the weekend and wine tastings across participating wineries. The festival welcomes all and is a family friendly event with designated drivers and children under 18 are invited to join the festival for free. Participating venues will offer visitors the chance to taste their wines, hear their stories and learn what makes the region so special. Details: https://www. macedonrangeswineandfoodfest.com.au/
Lyons Will Estate owner and winemaker Renata Morello celebrating the upcoming Budburst Festival. (Damjan Janevski) 586977 04
Deaf and disabled artists across Brimbank are being invited to unleash their creativity, develop new skills and connect with fellow artists through Way Out West (WOW), an inclusive multi-arts studio presented by Arts Access Victoria. Open to artists aged 18 and over, Way Out West provides a welcoming and supportive space for people to experiment with different art forms, share ideas and explore new ways of creative expression. The program offers opportunities to explore visual arts, performance, installations, music, animation and video. Participants can combine traditional art techniques with digital technology, including iPads, musical instruments and sound-making equipment. More than simply a place to make art, WOW is about building connections, sharing stories and celebrating the diverse experiences and creative talents of deaf and disabled artists. Artists can work alongside others, explore their individual interests and develop their artistic skills in an environment that encourages collaboration, experimentation and creative freedom. For Brimbank residents interested in exploring their artistic side, the workshops offer an opportunity to try something new, build confidence and become part of an inclusive creative community. The final Way Out West workshops for 2026 will be held on Saturday 21 November and Saturday, 5 December at St Albans Community Centre, from 10am - 4pm. Way Out West welcomes deaf and disabled artists aged 18 and over, whether they are experienced creatives or looking to take their first steps into the arts.
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15
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Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 17
SPORTS QUIZ 1. 2026 WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams won the award playing for which team?
3. The 2026 Liz Ellis Diamond was recently awarded to which Adelaide Thunderbirds player?
10. 2026 World Series MVP William Contreras won the award playing for which team?
2. Which country’s men’s national rugby league team is known as The Cedars?
4. American sports identity Pat McAfee played his entire career with which NFL team?
11. Who is the current captain of the Jillaroos?
5. Which horse did jockey James McDonald ride to victory in the 2026 Victoria Derby? 6. The Connecticut Sun has been sold and will relocate to which Texas city for the 2027 WNBA season? 7. Australia’s national wheelchair rugby league team is known by what nickname? 8. Former Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan recently joined which AFL club as Director of Coaching?
Alex De Minaur
9. Anthony Ippolito portrays which famous actor in a 2026 biographical drama based on the development of a 1970s sports film?
Steve Smith
12. In what place did Australia’s Haftu Strintzos finish the 2026 New York City Marathon? 13. In June, high diver Molly Carlson made history as the first woman to dive off what? 14. What is the only country with a single FIFA World Cup win?
20. What is the maximum number of free throws you can be awarded at once in basketball?
15. Which of these singers has run a marathon: Bruno Mars, Harry Styles or Mick Jagger?
21. How many teams qualify for the AFL Women's Finals Series each year?
16. Who is the youngest F1 World Champion in history? 17. Pencak Silat is a class of martial arts that originated in which country? 18. Sensei, in karate, is equivalent to what role in kung fu? 19. Who defeated Alex de Minaur in the 2026 Vienna Open final?
22. Steve Smith suffered an injury to which part of his body during the recent Test cricket series against South Africa? 23. English soccer team Fleetwood Town defeated which iconic EPL team in a recent EFL League Cup match? 24. The Socceroos are scheduled to play which two nations in the Middle East this month?
25. Which state has won the most Sheffield Shield titles? 26. In 1972, who became the first woman to win five individual swimming medals at a single Olympic Games? 27. In soccer, the penalty spot is how many metres from the goal line? 28. What is the highest score you can get in a single turn of darts? 29. Which Australian city is currently hosting the inaugural SWIM GP event? 30. Karen Rolton Oval is a cricket venue in which Australian city?
1311
1. Golden State Valkyries 2. Lebanon 3. Georgie Horjus 4. Indianapolis Colts 5. Stormy Marco 6. Houston, Texas 7. The Wheelaroos 8. Carlton 9. Sylvester Stallone 10. Milwaukee Brewers 11. Isabelle Kelly 12. Fifth 13. A free-standing iceberg 14. England 15. Harry Styles 16. Kimi Antonelli 17. Indonesia 18. Shifu (or sifu) 19. Carlos Alcaraz 20. Three 21. Eight 22. Neck 23. Arsenal 24. Qatar and Jordan 25. New South Wales 26. Shane Gould 27. 11 metres 28. 180 29. Melbourne 30. Adelaide
YOUR DONATION HELPS KEEP THEIR HOMES CLEAN.
PROTECTED BY PEOPLE LIKE YOU. 18 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
PUZZLES
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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'.
A
Today’s Aim: 12 words: Good 18 words: Very good 24 words: Excellent
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No. 422 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
R O P E D A B O D E D E I G N A S S E T R E E D S
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apricot, atop, captor, carp, copra, crop, optic, pact, pair, part, patio, patriot, PATRIOTIC, pica, picot, pita, pitta, port, rapt, tapir, topic, trap, trip, tropic
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WORDFIT 3 LETTERS ACE APE AVO AWE BIN BYE DAD DOE ERA FOX ICE IRE MOB ODE ORE OUT PIE RAM REV SIT TON TRY
ATLAS ATONE AWAIT AWARD BLADE BRACE CLASP DELTA DIETS EAGLE ERRED FENCE FREER GREEN HABIT HERDS INANE LASER MOANS MOLAR NICER OPERA
4 LETTERS EDGY ERRS EYED GODS LEWD MESH PEAR RAMP SAME SHIP 5 LETTERS ABOVE ADORE ALIBI AORTA APPAL ARROW ASIDE
QUICK QUIZ
No. 315
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No. 315
PIECE POWER PROXY RELAX SEARS SEEDS SEXES SHARP STAFF STEAL SWABS SWEET TAPES TENOR TOMBS TYPES WAIVE WATER YARDS
6 LETTERS BREATH LEAVES PERTER SABRES SPIDER TARTAR 7 LETTERS CHOLERA INSPIRE ISTHMUS PIRANHA
PURPLER VOYAGER 8 LETTERS PARTICLE REBELLED RESORTED SEASHORE 10 LETTERS PRECLUDING PROMOTIONS
13-11-26
1
Which nursery rhyme characters travelled by sea in a pea-green boat?
7. Commemorated with a famous basilica, who is the patron saint of Venice?
2
What is the term for a male duck?
8
What is the southernmost point of the Australian mainland?
9
Not counting re-recordings, The Life of a Showgirl is what number studio album by Taylor Swift?
3. In what year was the first Samsung Galaxy phone released? 4. Gillian Anderson (pictured) portrayed which historical figure in The Crown? 5. Moose Jaw is a city in which country? 6. How many total players are on the court in a game of volleyball?
10 The Orionids meteor shower is associated with which wellknown comet? ANSWERS: 1. The Owl and the Pussy-cat 2. Drake 3. 2009 4. Margaret Thatcher 5. Canada 6. 12 (six per side) 7. Saint Mark the Evangelist 8. Wilsons Promontory 9. 12th 10. Halley’s Comet
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
S H A R P A S I D E T O M B S W A T E R T E N O R A D O R E L A S E R R E L A X A B O V E B I N C L A S P S I T A C E S T E A L S H I P S A B R E S O U T O R E T R Y A W A R D B R E A T H E D G Y P A R T I C L E R A M P E R A P I R A N H A P U R P L E R G O D S R E S O R T E D A V O L E W D L E A V E S M O A N S A P E M O B F O X S P I D E R E Y E D T Y P E S T O N R A M A L I B I I R E A W A I T E A G L E O P E R A S W E E T N I C E R F E N C E F R E E R H E R D S S E E D S
No. 315
G A R I S H O P E R A T E S A P A E R M L B A L A C L A V A A N N U L S G U A L O D R S P E A R M I N T S M E A R G I T D T E E S E C R E T L Y E S P I E D O O D U R E S S A P P O I N T S E P P K A C T T I B I A P R O B A T I O N R T T I O E T A R E A L I S T I C B R A K E T A E E K L T F R O S T Y S P E L L I N G
SUDOKU
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 19
Tiggo super in name only By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Let’s get something straight. Wheels magazine (is it still a magazine?) may have recognised the Chery Tiggo 9 as Australia’s best value large SUV. But they’re talking about the top of the range Ultimate model, not the entry Elite which is the one most punters will end up buying at this end of the market. And the Elite is a quite different beast, front-wheel drive, with a smaller battery, less powerful drivetrain, less electric only range and of course less equipment. But it costs less and it still seats seven.
Styling There are two grades, Elite FWD (our test vehicle) priced from $52,990 and Ultimate AWD priced from $59,990. Although both are described as ‘super hybrids’ with the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, Track has two electric motors, while the Ultimate adds a third motor and larger battery. This means more power and greater range. Standard kit for Elite includes synthetic leather trim and two-zone climate air with rear outlets, heated power-adjust front seats, acoustic glass for windscreen and front doors, colour selectable ambient interior lighting, cooled console box, power tailgate and a tilt-slide panoramic sunroof with powered sunshade. There’s also 19-inch alloys, puddle lights, pop-out door handles, walk-away locking, LED head, tail and daytime running lights, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, and front and rear parking sensors. Ultimate adds 20-inch wheels, real leather, auto dimming mirror, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooling for both the front and rear seats, massage for the front seats, head-up display, automatic parking assist, additional side parking sensors, and a 14-speaker Sony system. Tiggo 9 is covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, plus an eight-year battery warranty, with capped price servicing and roadside assistance for seven years. Service is due every 12 months or 15,000km, with servicing capped at a total of $3174 for the first seven years.
Infotainment Infotainment consists of a 15.6-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch instrument display, with Bluetooth, intelligent voice control, built-in navigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Audio is provided by an eight-speaker Sony sound system. There’s also 50W wireless phone charging, USB-A and -C ports front and back, 12-volt outlet front.
Safety Tiggo 9 has not been rated for safety yet but features an array of active and passive safety features. There are 10 airbags that include front, front side and centre, rear side, driver knee and side curtain airbags. The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) incorporate the likes of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) – just to mention a few.
Engines/transmissions Powering the Tiggo 9 Elite is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces maximum 105kW of power
driving on electric power alone (1250km combined). Driving mainly in normal HEV or hybrid-electric mode, we clocked up just under 400km at a rate of 6.0L/100km. In our defence, sometimes it is not convenient to charge the battery, but it’s great to have the option. AC charging is limited to 6.6kW, but with a fast DC charger it can be charged at a rate of up to 41kW. Access to the car is via walk-up/ walk-away locking, with pop-out door handles and a drivetrain that powers up automatically in readiness for departure. There’s no start/stop button. However, before the transmission will engage, you must have your seatbelt fastened. It sounds like a great idea, but in practice it wears thin fairly quickly. Surprisingly at this price point the steering wheel is power-adjust, but disappointingly offers very little range of adjustment. You can also choose between Comfort and Sport settings in the system that alters the amount of steering effort required. Of note, sometimes the transmission wouldn’t go into gear and at other times it jumped out. This happened on more than one occasion. RATINGS Once up and running however the Tiggo is an Looks: 7 easy, inoffensive car to drive Performance: 7.5 and that is a compliment. Safety: 7.5 It accelerates briskly and even handles pretty well Thirst: 7 as we discovered, pushing It’s expensive, but the Tiggo 9 is decent value, but with some drawbacks. (Pictures: Supplied) Practicality: 6 hard through a few corners. Comfort: 7.5 By rights it should have been and 215Nm of torque, together with two Ride and handling is a electric motors, both of which are located switched to the other side as most pleasing balance of comfort Tech: 7.5 at the front – delivering 75/170Nm and manufacturers normally do. and control and it doesn’t Value: 7.5 Third, returning the access seat 90kW/220Nm apiece. porpoise the way some Overall: 7.2 Combined output is 225kW of power and to its original position proved SUVs do on undulating problematic, requiring the driver’s 315Nm of torque. roads. With three electric motors, Ultimate, in seat to be moved all the way forward before The Tiggo just feels a little disconnected, it too could be moved all the way forward. comparison, delivers 315kW and 580Nm. but that won’t be a problem for the majority This unlocks the seat and allows it to be of drivers. Torque is the more significant figure because it’s the stuff that gets you moving returned to its original position. Talk about Three-level regenerative braking is quickly and makes short work of hills when a major pain in the butt. offered, but there doesn’t seem to be a way Once ensconced, there’s just enough to adjust it that we could find. the car is fully loaded. In the Elite driving force is sent to the room for smaller children and even On a downhill run you can actually see front wheels via a three-speed dedicated then, some negotiation may be required the battery level begin to rise. with those in the second row. Adults can hybrid transmission. Thankfully, most of the driver assistance forget it. stuff isn’t too intrusive. The Chinese seem The seat adjustment, by the way, is to be getting better at this stuff. Driving You’re buying this car primarily for the located on the door, like a Mercedes. A complete lack of physical controls With the seats in use there’s little room however became annoying after a while. seven seats, right? So, let’s have a look at leftover for luggage, as is the norm for most the seats first. Want to change the temperature? See the The key figures are the length and seven-seats SUVs, but at least the third-row touchscreen. Turn the radio down. wheelbase which dictate how much room packs flat when not required. Touchscreen. Anything else. Cargo capacity is limited to 143 litres, Touchscreen. it has inside. The Tiggo 9 is 4.8m long with a with 819 litres when the second row is 2750mm wheelbase. Not only is it annoying, it is also difficult To give this some perspective, Toyota’s folded, or 2021 litres with both rows folded. once you’re on the move. There’s no spare under the rear floor soft road Kluger is 166mm longer with a Limited control is accessible via the 100mm longer wheelbase, which means either, just a tyre repair kit. steering wheel buttons, but these can be Four driving modes are available, difficult to see in strong sunlight. more room for longer legs. There’s a smaller Tiggo 8 that seats accessed by a large circular control knob Alternatively, there’s always voice seven too, but at 4724mm/2694mm it has in the centre console: pure electric, series, control, but after a minute trying – like us – even less legroom – it is however $10K parallel, and energy recovery. you’ll probably give up, swearing. Despite the fact it plays second fiddle cheaper. We’ve been doing this job for a long time. Other alternatives include the Jaecoo to the Ultimate in terms of power, the Once upon a time glitches in test vehicles J8 or fancier Omoda 9 (also produced by front-drive Elite with its single electric were rare. motor is by no means a slouch. Chery). These days they have become Chery doesn’t provide acceleration commonplace, and point to a lack of But back to the Tiggo 9. Getting in and out of the third row figures, but it feels around the 8.0 or 9.0 research and development. second mark from 0-100km/h. presents some challenges. Of course, you need some charge to Summing up First, to raise the two third row seats with the straps provided, you need to slide the receive assistance from the battery. Is the Tiggo 9 value for money? Sure. With a 70-litre fuel tank the Tiggo takes second row forward to provide clearance Is it cheap? Not really, not when you premium 95 unleaded and has claimed consider that it costs almost $60K to put on for the headrests. Second, the single, second row, tilt and fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km, but that the road. slide seat that provides access is located depends on keeping the battery topped We wonder when this became the price on the driver’s side of the vehicle, not ideal up – otherwise it reverts to normal hybrid point for a family wagon? in our neck of the woods where it exposes operation. The quality of Chinese vehicles may have Power consumption is 15.6kWh/100km. come on in leaps and bounds, but so too those getting in and out to the risk of You can expect to get about 77km (WLTP) has the price. What next? passing traffic.
20 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
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Woodend’s Harrison Sheahan. (589012)
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Williamstown’s Sean Sturrock. (589005)
Weather again plays havoc It was another wet and windy day on Saturday, leaving many cricketers on the sidelines yet again. Star Weekly photographer VALERIUS BOENAWAN was out shooting some of the action that went ahead.
Caroline Springs celebrate a wicket. (589009)
Point Cook Centrals’ Max Pritchard bowls to Melton South Royals’ Steven Szabo.
PEGS’ Charith Sylvester. (589009)
Point Cook Centrals’ Mitchell Waugh. (589006)
Williamstown’s Sean Sturrock. (589004)
No action at Deer Park. (589004)
Williamstown’s Jarrod Flood Bauce bowls to Ralf Beer. (589005)
Yarraville Club players wait around. (589004)
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 21
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Point Cook’s challenge By Tara Murray Point Cook is hoping to show that it belongs in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant division 3, section 1 competition. Having made the division 4, section 1 grand final last season, Point Cook has earned promotion into the higher division. After four rounds, Point Cook has one win but has been competitive in all of its matches. Chairman Gary Boddington said they were hoping for another good season. “We have two weekend sides and two midweek sides,” he said. “With our division 3 side we were expecting it to be a little more difficult.
“We have got off to a good start and been quite competitive. “It’s been a reasonable start for us.” One of the smaller clubs, with members having to live in the local retirement village, means the club is limited in what recruits they can sign. With only 42 bowlers, Boddington said that they were playing above their weight. “We’re a tiny little club,” he said. “I think we do really well and we’re hopeful that we can do pretty well this season.” After losing to Werribee 2 by one shot in round two, Point Cook had another thriller this time against Williamstown in weekend pennant division 3.
Bruce Mummery’s rink won 23-20 and Brian Turner’s rink won 21-15 to give Point Cook a chance of victory. But a 22-17 loss for Jim Rayner and an 18-11 shot loss for Barry Watson, resulted in Point Cook losing, 75 (14)-72 (4). After four rounds, Point Cook sits in sixth spot only one point outside the top four. Boddington said as well as being competitive in division 3, they wanted to try and get their division 7 side back up to division 6 having been relegated for this season. Meanwhile in other division 3, section 1 matches, Hoppers also lost a close one to Altona 3. It was two rinks a piece with Altona 3 winning 67 (14)-66 (4).
Andrew Doyle had an 18-17 rink win for Hoppers, while Glenn Maxwell had a 20-13 rink win. William Russell’s rink lost 18-12, while Jason Wright’s rink lost 19-16. Hoppers sits in fourth spot with Altona 3 sitting between Hoppers and Point Cook. Meanwhile in division 2, section 2, Werribee lost to Rosamond. It was a tough day for the Bees with just one rink getting the points in the 89 (16)-72 (2) loss. Gavin Joyce’s rink had a 32-15 win, but it couldn’t make up the gap for Robert Panton’s 20-15 loss, Brendan Barker’s 19-18 loss and Mick O’Neil’s thrashing of 35-7. After four rounds, Werribee sits in fifth.
Tigers bounce back
Will Elliott. (Werribee FC)
Key forward re-signs with Tigers for 2027 By Tara Murray Werribee key forward Will Elliott has committed to a second season at the Victorian Football League club, while Emerson Jeka and Noah Tullio also recommitting. After kicking a career-best 29 goals, Elliott will return to the Tigers looking for success. The 22-year-old played 18 games in 2026, finishing second in the club’s goalkicking behind Brady Wright and providing a valuable option in the ruck. In his third VFL campaign, Elliott averaged 9.6 disposals, 3.4 marks, 4.9 score involvements and five hit-outs per game. He led Werribee for contested marks, ranked second for hit-outs, fifth for both score involvements and goal assists, and seventh for clearances. After helping Werribee return to finals in his first season at the club, Elliott is excited about what lies ahead for the group. “Super excited about where the club is going and the group we have,” he said. “The hunger the group has to go the next step after having a taste of finals is
super exciting.” He played every game before being a late withdrawal from the round 20 interstate clash with Tasmania, returning for finals and kicking two goals in each of Werribee’s September appearances. Jeka had an injured interrupted 2026, playing just two games for Werribee. The defender said his belief in the group made it an easy decision to sign on for another year. “I’ve really enjoyed my first two years with the club and the group we’ve got here. It was an easy decision to go again. There’s a strong belief in what we’re building, and I’m excited to keep improving alongside the boys next season.” Injuries kept Jeka out of action for three months after that round three clash on 4 April 4. He returned to football with his junior club Altona on 4 Julyand played five games for the Vikings across July and August, averaging 21.8 disposals, eight marks, 5.4 rebound 50s and four score involvements. A Werribee local, Jeka joined the club in May 2025 after five seasons on AFL lists
22 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 11 November, 2026
with Hawthorn and Geelong. He played seven AFL games for Hawthorn and spent the 2024 season with Geelong, where he averaged 18 disposals and six marks across 19 VFL appearances. Tullio kicked 10 goals and averaged 11.7 disposals, 4.2 score involvements and 2.4 inside 50s per game in his second VFL campaign. Tullio said his love for the club and belief in the group made him excited to return for another year. “I’m super pumped to go around again in 2027 for Werribee. I love the club, and the support we receive is incredible. There are absolutely no limits for this group, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.” A Werribee local, Tullio joined the club after a standout 2024 campaign with the Geelong Falcons, where he kicked 16 goals in 16 games, was named in the best nine times and earned Vic Country selection. He secured his place on Werribee’s senior list following a three-week pre-season trial and now has 20 VFL appearances to his name.
Werribee bounced back in perfect fashion on the back of masterclasses from Dean Russ and Jonathan Burton, while Hoppers Crossing lost a thriller against Strathmore in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west. Rain was again the tale of the story on Saturday, as games across the competition were shortened. Every match managed to get on and results were able to be decided. Coming off their first loss of the season, Werribee was able to get the job done against Plenty Valley. The match at Chirnside Park became a 37-over game after a delayed start. The Tigers put on nearly 100 for the opening partnership. They continued to build but lost wickets late in the contest as they tried to push the run rate up. The Tigers finished 9-216 after losing their last six wickets for just 12 runs. Russ was the star as he batted through the innings, finishing 101 not out off 97 balls. The Tigers bowlers then got to work and had the Bats in trouble at 6-42. The Bats had a little bit of a fightback before losing 4-9 to be bowled out for 115. Jonathan Burton took 7-22. The Tigers now have a 3-1 record. Hoppers Crossing slipped to 2-2 with a defeat to Strathmore. With the game reduced to 35 overs, the Mores made 6-166. Saaransh Mahay and Gurtej Nahal took two wickets each for the Cats. The Warriors struggled to get partnerships going in their run chase. They were in a solid position at 3-95 when the in-form Brett Smith fell, quickly followed by Lokeshwar Suresh, who had made 29. It came down to the final over, with the Warriors needing 16 to win. They got five off the first four balls, including a wide, before Justin Goegan was bowled to all but end the Cats’ hopes. The Cats finished 9-159. Werribee faces Spotswood in a two-dayer this weekend, while Hoppers Crossing faces Altona.
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T20 competition grows By Tara Murray The Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association’s T20 competition continues to go from strength to strength. Having built the competition up the past few seasons, the competition now has 26 sides across four grades this season. The top grade has grown to eight teams this season, up from six last season with the Indigos, Brimbank Strikers and West Point all stepping up. Several clubs have multiple sides, with Altona Sports leading the way with five teams. With round two getting underway this week, league registrar Dean Bryden said they were excited for what the competition
will produce. “The competition is continuing to grow, it has been amazing,” he said. “We’ve seen it now grow to even more sides. “West Point has signed two district ones players, with the help of their junior program “Tarneit Central, Glen Orden and Altona Sports will be strong as always.” The opening round already saw some upsets. The Indigos, who were the division 3 T20 champions last season, have come up to the top grade and made an instant impact as they defeated Altona Sports. Defending champions Tarneit Central also suffered a first round loss to Manor Lakes.
Bryden said it showed the strength of the competition to have results like that so early. “Every club in division 1 has pushed to make this T20 competition really strong and I think it’s one of the strong T20 competitions in Victoria,” he said. “It’s a really high standard and seeing each year the permit players are getting better and better. “The clubs are really buying into it which is great to see.” Altona Sports has again signed Netherlands international Scott Edwards, who lit up the competition last season with a double century. Cedric De Lange and Tom De Leede, who are both Netherlands players, who will also play for Altona Sports this season. Both are just 19 and playing in Australia
for the first time. Bryden said there would be marquee games and clubs would hold special matches to really promote the competition. “There’s excitement for the competition,” he said. “Come down and watch, there will be games every second Tuesday throughout Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. “See international cricketers and premier grade cricketers play at the local level.” In the round two matches division 1 matches that were played on Tuesday night, after deadline, Glen Orden Thunder hosted Altona Sports, Tarneit Central played the West Point Titans, the Indigos took on Manor Lakes and the Brimbank Strikers faced Williams Landing.
SPORTS SHORTS Western FL Hoppers Crossing has received a boost with Josh Pickess returning to the club for next year’s Western Football League division 1 season. The premiership player and former WFL most valuable player spent the 2026 playing for Palm Beach Currumbin, where he played 11 goals and kicked 14 goals. Pickess had spent four seasons at the Warriors in his previous stint at the club. FV West Point has announced a new coach for next year’s FV state league season. Isa James Bale will lead the side. “I chose West Point because I believe in building from the ground up and embracing the underdog challenge,” Bale said. “I’m excited to lay strong foundations, shift mindsets and build a team that doesn’t just compete, but genuinely believes in what it can achieve. With the right mentality, personalities, commitment and unity, anything is possible.”
Max Rouvray bowls to Ameer Hamza. (Valerius Boenawan) 589006 03
Sharks on the board knocking off Royals By Tara Murray Point Cook Centrals had been waiting for two-day cricket to arrive and made the most of it when it did in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield. After an up-and-down start to the season, the Sharks showed what they could do against the previously unbeaten Melton South Royals the past two Saturdays. Sharks’ Brett Talbot said it was good to get out there and perform the way they did. “We batted fantastic as a team unit,” he said. “We had been waiting for two-day cricket for a little while with our focus being on twoday cricket. “We had four one-dayers to start the season which wasn’t helpful.” The Sharks batted through day one and finished the day at 6-317. After batting on, on Saturday, the Sharks finished 7-330. Talbot said they were stoked when they lost the toss and were sent in. “We had some good partnerships and we had four guys make 50,” he said.
“It was really pleasing but it would have been nice to see someone go on and make a 100.” Rasanjana Jayarathna top scored with 77 at the top of the order, while Joshua Cowell, Max Rouvray and Max Pritchard were the other batters to reach 50. Having had wet conditions on day one, it was similar conditions on Saturday. Talbot said day two wasn’t a great day in terms of weather and it had been difficult to manage to ensure they got a result. The Sharks bowlers enjoyed the conditions and were able to bowl the Royals out for just 69 in 35 overs. Rouvray took 6-14 to be the pick of the bowlers for the Sharks. Talbot said he returned to form with the ball, while Mitchell Waugh, who finished with 0-18 off 10 overs, was unlucky to not get the rewards for his work. The Sharks then tried to get an outright result, but the Royals were stubborn and finished 0-33 in their second innings when the game was called. After five rounds, the Sharks sit in sixth with just one win.
Talbot said they wanted to start building into the season now. “There’s some good teams in this competition,” he said. “We play Keilor Park which will be a challenge. They made almost 300 and they have improved this season as well.” Elsewhere, Point Cook’s match with Moonee Valley was abandoned. After not getting any play on day one due to rain, it was the same on day two. In the Clark Shield, Bellbridge lost to Sunshine Heights but was able to avoid an outright loss. Resuming at 0-9 in reply to 5-260, the Bears were bowled out for 64. Steve Kelaart top scored with 22 as just two players reached double figures. Sunshine Heights then sent the Bears back in as they went searching for the full 10 points. The Bears finished 5-127 in their second innings. Werribee Centrals’ match with Footscray Angliss ended in a draw, while in the Russell Pollock Shield Wyndham Vale’s match with St Andrew’s Footscray was abandoned.
Baseball Werribee Giants have signed import Kiara Gendis Prameswari for the Baseball Victoria summer league women’s state league 1 season. Joining the Giants from Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, Gendis Prameswari will bring her skills as a catcher and infielder to the club. “Beyond her own playing career, Kiara is passionate about growing women’s baseball in Indonesia and creating opportunities for others to enjoy the game,” the Giants said. Gendis Prameswari has previously represented Indonesia. Meanwhile on Saturday, the Giants game with Chelsea didn’t go ahead due to the wet weather. GDFL Werribee Centrals have signed Bailey Siwek for next year’s Geelong and District Football League season. Siwek crosses to the Centurions from Werribee Districts. “An inside midfielder who can also push forward, Bailey brings plenty of experience, having played in five grand finals, winning two premierships,” the Centurions said. “A former Western Jets player and WRFL [Western Football League] under-19 and senior interleague representative, Bailey is looking forward to a fresh challenge at Galvin Park.” Western FL The Suns have announced the signing of Oliver Scomazzon for next year’s Western Football League division 2 season. The Suns said he is a dynamic forward with the ability to push into the midfield and brings flexibility to the side.
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