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SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

(Damjan Janevski) 215548_01

Back in the swing It’s been a long time between play dates for Victorian children. Families made the most of eased COVID-19 restrictions and sunny weather as playgrounds reopened last week. Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski captured some of the enjoyment. ■ Pictures: Page 11

SAM, 2

Hospital priority push By Ewen McRae A new Melton hospital would create thousands of jobs and inject millions into the local economy, according to a new report. West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WoMEDA) chair and former Premier Steve Bracks unveiled the report last week and strongly supported the timely delivery of the hospital. According to the report, the hospital would add $300 million to the region’s economy annually and create 3825 ongoing jobs and 375 construction jobs. The findings come as the need for job creation and economic stimulus becomes increasingly critical in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

“A new hospital in Melton will make an enormous difference in a post-pandemic economy, creating 3825 long term, diverse jobs and adding $300 million to the region’s economy every year,” Mr Bracks said. “In addition, positioning the hospital within Melton’s Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre will attract substantial investment in a range of industries and unlock the potential for 22,000 jobs. “Developing this facility as a priority will help transform the City of Melton into a thriving precinct of statewide importance. “This is not just a Melton priority, it’s a Victorian priority that can lead economic recovery and alleviate pressure on existing

hospitals.” WoMEDA has recommended that the state government include land acquisition for the hospital in its upcoming budget, commence construction by 2022 and have the facility fully operational by 2026. Employment figures outlined in the report show significant numbers of people on JobKeeper, representing 10 per cent of the Melton workforce, and adding to already high numbers of unemployed and disengaged workers locally, particularly young people. According to the report, Melton’s need for a 250-bed hospital will double in the next 15 years. Melton mayor Lara Carli said the report backed up the long-running grassroots

campaign for the hospital and she hoped to see the project moving forward at the next budget. “To have WoMEDA validate the urgency to develop a Melton hospital and the need for more jobs is especially welcome right now,” Cr Carli said. “The hospital will trigger major investment and jobs growth in justice, health, education, retail, recreation, and more. “This is critically important in Melton where 80 per cent of our professional workforce leaves the municipality for work. “It’s also exciting to see the Victorian government’s business case progressing and we hope the urgency to acquire land for the hospital can be recognised in the … state budget.”

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2 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Falling virus cases give hope By Ewen McRae Active cases of COVID-19 continue to plummet locally, with the statewide average falling dramatically in the past week. Melton had 70 active cases of the virus as of Sunday, the lowest total for nearly two months, while Moorabool had just two active cases. Moorabool has now moved to the second stage of the state government’s roadmap to reopening, with outdoor dining returning to restaurants, and an increase in the number of people allowed to gather together.

The metropolitan 14-day average fell to just 36.2 cases on Sunday, with Premier Daniel Andrews praising Victorians for their efforts in driving numbers down. “That is proof positive, beyond any question, that this strategy is working,” Mr Andrews said. “These numbers are coming down … thanks to the hard work of every single Victorian, the vast, vast majority of Victorians who are following the rules, doing the right thing, getting tested as soon as they have symptoms. “That’s why we’re seeing the numbers come down and that’s why we will continue to see

‘‘

numbers are cause for great optimism and a positivity - Daniel Andrews

’’

them come down in accordance with our road map to COVID normal.” While the average daily case numbers are within the range for reducing restrictions further, Mr Andrews said there would be a cautious approach.

Patient relives COVID pain Newport mother-of-two Kimberly Hanrahan has undergone an experimental plasma treatment as she recovers from COVID-19. Ms Hanrahan, 48, said she contracted the virus after a cleaner came to her home. The owner of the cleaning company called to advise that her son had tested positive at school. Ms Hanrahan said her husband, Dave, had a sore throat and underwent a COVID-19 test. After five days, his test came back positive. Ms Hanrahan was then tested with her eight-year-old twin boys. “I was positive and they were negative, thank goodness,” she said. “Then, I got all the usual sort of symptoms – a sore throat and a lack of smell and taste – but then I got really quite poorly … really severe migraines and body aches and pains and back aches.’ She called Altona North Respiratory Clinic and said, ‘It’s day 11, is this normal?’ Ms Hanrahan said she was told it was normal. “I called my doctor on the Wednesday because I was in so much pain. I hadn’t slept properly and he gave me some Panadeine Forte, which was great,” she said. “On the Thursday, the DHHS called me … I got quite upset and said, I feel like I can’t talk to you properly, I’ve got a real shortness of breath, I don’t feel very well. “He just said, ‘I’m going to put the phone down, I’m going to call your husband and get him to call an ambulance for you’. “I was avoiding going to hospital. I didn’t want to go if my symptoms were just normal. “You just don’t know, how bad is bad enough to go to hospital?” Ms Hanrahan was admitted to Footscray Hospital and “zipped up” in a room. “I spent the next 11 days in hospital,” Ms Hanrahan said. “I went in on August 13 … went into ICU the next day but then was on oxygen for the whole time until I came out of ICU, and then for a couple of days after that. Thankfully I didn’t have to go on a ventilator. “I was in ICU for six days. “The nurses, everybody, was amazing – they

Lotto win a top birthday gift

Kimberly Hanrahan is now recovering at home. (Joe Mastroianni) 215844_05 Inset: Ms Hanrahan while being treated at hospital. (Supplied)

put themselves at risk every day. “A lot of them that I spoke to had actually come out of what they were doing … and then got retrained to come into ICU because of the demand.” Ms Hanrahan said each day she was given a mask to enable her to breathe. “Essentially, this mask that covers your whole face, it’s very tight around your head so you can’t get any air in it and then it’s like a wind tunnel so it’s like air being pushed down into your lungs because my lungs had collapsed,” she said. “That was five times a day for a couple

“There will, of course, always be debates about timing and whether we’re on schedule, ahead of schedule, all of those things,” Mr Andrews said. “Ultimately, these numbers are cause for great optimism and a positivity, I would hope, right across metropolitan Melbourne, just as regional Victoria this week has taken two big steps to open up and we’re seeing stability in those numbers. “We will see the same thing occur in Metropolitan Melbourne and we’ll do it in a safe and steady way.”

of hours a day.” Ms Hanrahan said she had a transfusion of what’s known as “convalescent plasma”, which contains antibodies from people who have recovered from COVID-19. “I did get the symptoms back again when I was home … headache and sore throat and runny nose came back again,’ she said. “I don’t know yet if there’s been any long term damage to my organs. We don’t know for sure – it’s new for everybody.”

A Melton woman received the ultimate birthday present last week, becoming an instant millionaire. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was one of five winners in the September 5 Tattslotto draw, taking home $4 million in prize money. The woman also won division six of the draw, and said even that was enough to make her happy until she discovered the big win. “I was cooking dinner when I realised I hadn’t checked my entry, so I downloaded the app and scanned the ticket,” she said “It said we had scored a high win, but when I checked the ticket, I saw that we had won division six and won $13. “That amount is still a high win for us. If I can save $13 on the groceries that is a win, so I was happy with just scoring that much. “But then I scrolled down further and saw that I had won $4 million too. I couldn’t believe it. “I just kept sitting there checking it and double-checking it. I still don’t know if it’s real.” The thrilled winner said that the winning ticket was the best gift she’d ever received. “My hubby gave me this ticket as a birthday present,” she said. “We don’t play that often, but on a whim he went into the store and got me this ticket. He must have been in the right place at the right time. “We work really hard for our money, so this will go a long way.” The woman said she first plans to renovate her kitchen before taking her family on a relaxing holiday. Ewen McRae

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3 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Speedster caught Highway Patrol officers detected an SUV travelling at almost 70km/h over the speed limit in Parwan last week. Police were patrolling Parwan-Exford Road about 5.30pm on September 13 when they detected a vehicle travelling 169km/h in a 100km/h zone. Police pulled over the car and found that as well as the driver, there were two children in the vehicle. The 41-year-old Bacchus Marsh driver told police he had no reason for driving over the speed limit. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1006.

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Festival turns to radio A new format for the Victorian Seniors Festival will have the program delivered straight to your lounge room. The festival, which is in its 38th year, usually involves a series of events for seniors across the state. But with the coronavirus pandemic making that impossible, the festival has turned to radio to ensure local seniors still get the festival they look forward to each year. Local community radio stations, including Apple FM in Bacchus Marsh, will broadcast the festival programs throughout September and October. New programs will be introduced each week, including shows focused on music, dancing, comedy, film and theatre. Disability, Ageing and Carers Minister Luke Donnellan said it was important for the festival

to continue in some form despite the pandemic. “The Victorian Seniors Festival is an important part of Victoria’s social calendar, and it’s great to see it will continue as something for older Victorians to enjoy during this uncertain time,” Mr Donnellan said “We wanted to ensure the reimagined festival had a mixture of activities and broadcasts for everyone to enjoy. “From Mark Trevorrow – a staple in the Australian comedy scene – to a showcase of opera from a leader and pioneer of First Nations arts and culture Deborah Cheetham AO, there’s something for everyone.” Tune into Apple 98.5FM to hear all the programs until the end of October.

The community has helped name Eynesbury’s new school. Following several weeks of community consultation, it has been announced that the school will be known as Eynesbury Primary. The school will include two learning neighbourhoods, an arts, science and food technology building, an administration building, outdoor play courts, a performing arts and physical education building, and a sports field.

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Ewen McRae

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4 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Show of force as lockdown eases By Ewen McRae Melton and Brimbank police will be out in force in coming weeks as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease. The move is part of a statewide operation targeting a range of high harm offences including robberies, aggravated burglaries, armed robberies, car jackings and assaults, which increased when the previous lockdown ended. Police say they have seen patterns emerge in criminal behaviour which show increases in a

‘‘

we can’t ... wait for crimes to be committed

’’

- David Jones number of specific offences when restrictions are lifted or reduced. This is predominantly offences that are linked to more people being out and about in the community and able to move freely across suburbs, such as opportunistic street and armed robberies.

Divisional Commander in charge of the Melton and Brimbank areas, Superintendent David Jones, said the operation was about having a significant planned police response in place as restrictions start to change. “We can’t be complacent and wait for crimes to be committed – this is about being proactive and taking decisive action to disrupt this type of offending,” he said. “It’s also about being smarter and looking at what our intelligence has shown us during the COVID-19 period in terms of patterns in criminal offending, then working as hard

as we can to constantly be that step ahead of offenders. “Local police know who their local offenders are, and we make no apologies for targeting them through operations such as this. “We’re also able to draw on specialised resources from across Victoria Police, such as the Gang Crime Squad, who can really provide that statewide overview and intelligence. “This is about driving down crime and in what has already been a tough year for many people, we want to make sure everyone in our local community stays safe.”

Stepping up for health While locals are spending more time than ever indoors, one firefighter isn’t letting COVID-19 restrictions stop him from stepping up to a physical challenge. Caroline Springs CFA Lieutenant Tom Greaney is taking part in the annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, helping to raise funds and awareness for mental health charities. While the climb normally involves firefighters climbing the Crown Metropol tower in full kit and breathing apparatus, this year participants will aim to collectively climb one million steps over the next month. Mr Greaney is doing the challenge for the fourth straight year, and aims to complete 3046 climbing steps by October 10, World Mental Health day. “I use the steps at the local park, and I head down and climb my steps every day,” he said. “I’m actually aiming for 6092 steps personally, which would be two steps for every

suicide in the past 12 months, and this year more than ever I think being aware and looking after your mental health is more important. “Doing my 150 or 200 steps a day isn’t all that hard, but I think it’s more the routine of doing it every day and getting the message of the challenge out there.” More than $2.4 million has been raised for a variety of charities since the first stair climb in 2014. Funds raised from this year’s event will go towards Lifeline, the Black Dog Institute and the 000 Foundation. Mr Greaney said he had raised almost $700 this year, and hoped more people would take part in future years. “It’s a different time for people at the moment, but I wanted to make sure I was still taking the time to be involved,” he said. “I really do hope we can grow this.” Ewen McRae

Tom Greaney trains for the steps challenge. (Damjan Janevski) 215756_02

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5 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Council dishes up relief By Ewen McRae Moorabool council is embracing the push for more outdoor dining across the municipality. As part of a state government call for more restaurants and food outlets to create outdoor dining spaces to help the hospitality industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic, Moorabool council has announced it is waiving permit fees for outdoor dining for the rmainder of the financial year. It goes alongside an $87.5 million government funding announcement last week, under which businesses can apply for funds to purchase outdoor dining equipment to help serve patrons outside while following customer limits and social distancing requirements. Moorabool mayor David Edwards said it was exciting to see more businesses reopening their

‘‘

very exciting to have hospitality venues opening up - David Edwards

’’

doors as restrictions eased. “It’s very exciting to have hospitality venues opening up in our region again and a huge relief to many business owners and workers in this industry,” Cr Edwards said. “Council’s support to help these businesses operate under COVID-19 safe requirements will hopefully help all our hospitality businesses, and importantly, it will help generate local spending again to keep our economy rolling.” Premier Daniel Andrews said businesses had to be willing to adapt as the state finds its way towards a ‘COVID normal’.

“We’re the cultural and dining capital of our nation. That means, when it comes to reimagining what eating and entertainment means under COVID normal, there’s no one better equipped than Melbourne and Victoria,” Mr Andrews said. “It will be our innovation, ideas and creativity that will help us find – and maintain – our COVID normal.” The government support will come in the form of grants of up to $5000, which will be available to licensed and unlicensed cafés, restaurants, takeaway food businesses, pubs, taverns, bars and clubs with a payroll of less than $3 million. Cr Edwards encouraged local hospitality businesses to apply for the state government grants, and to visit www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/ outdoor-dining for free outdoor dining permits.

Help to lower energy bills A new webinar series aims to take some of the stress out of rising energy bills as lengthy lockdown restrictions continue. The Consumer Policy Research Centre is hosting webinars explaining consumer rights for those struggling to pay energy bills. Chief executive Lauren Solomon said the free Energy Simplified program would explain four simple steps toward more affordable energy bills followed by a live question and answer session. Ms Solomon said the program would help to make complicated price comparisons easy and reveal which appliances might be contributing most to driving up bills. “There are people that have lost jobs or are on steady incomes, that might have never had to worry about their energy bills before,” she said. “And others, already under financial strain, are now finding it even tougher to make ends meet.” Program manager Karl Barratt said participants would leave with a clearer picture of what can be done easily, right now, to cut their electricity and gas bills. “We’re making it simple for people to understand four fast ways they can significantly cut their bills,” Mr Barratt said. “By knowing what to ask your energy company, lower energy bills can be just a single phone call away. “Our team will also take your questions during the session, so you can ask about what that confusing number on your bill actually means, what’s causing your bills to go up, or the best ways to use less energy while staying warm and comfortable at home without breaking the bank.” Energy Simplified webinars will run until December. Register: www.energyinfohub.org.au

Ball fund goes to charity

The cohealth team. (Joe Mastroianni)

Social, welfare help for COVID patients A program helping high-risk COVID-positive patients to safely self-isolate is rolling out over the western and northern suburbs following a successful pilot in Footscray. Community health organisation cohealth has revealed almost 60 per cent of the 1263 people who were referred through the pilot program needed social and welfare support in the form of financial assistance, food packages, housing or drug and alcohol support in order to be able to self-isolate in a safe way. Featuring a team of 40 GPs and nurses, the cohealth pilot program has been operating from a control centre in Footscray since early August. Social risk factors that cohealth identified among COVID-positive people during the five-week pilot included caring obligations,

insecure housing, social isolation, poor language literacy, a lack of internet for online grocery shopping, and the threat of losing their jobs. Chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said the finding that a majority of COVID-positive patients have complex social risk factors debunks the misconception that people are deliberately disregarding health directions. Ms Bartholomeusz said every COVID-positive person needs a personalised ‘self-isolation plan’ to reduce virus transmission and help Victoria fully emerge from its lengthy lockdown. “It’s the missing piece of the puzzle. There’s been a lot of focus on encouraging people to get tested, and issuing strict quarantining directions for those who are positive,” she said.

6 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

“The only way we are going to be able to fully transition out of COVID is if we address the social inequities that prevent people from self-isolating. Whether it be not having the financial means, the mental capacity, the social network.” Ms Bartholomeusz said ensuring everyone is able to comply with the directions is difficult when not everyone has the same social supports. “Rather than ask ‘Why are they disregarding the rules?’, this model asks ‘what will help you to comply with the rules?’” The program is now being rolled out across Melbourne’s northern, western and south-western suburbs including locations in Wyndham, Brimbank, Hume and Melton.

Melton council has cancelled the annual mayoral ball, instead, it will make a donation to groups in need. The ball, an annual event held towards the end of the mayoral term, before the next mayor is voted in, will not go ahead this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 ball was to be the final mayoral ball of the current council, with a new council to be elected in October. Earlier this month, the council determined to donate the money which would have been used for the ball to Women’s Health West and McAuley Community Services for Women. Each organisation will receive $10,000. Mayor Lara Carli said while it was disappointing not to have the event this year, supporting important local charities was one good outcome. “I know the great work that these two organisations do for women in our community who are experiencing family violence,” Cr Carli said. “Unfortunately as a growing community, we are going to see increased cases of family violence. “I believe that when these coronavirus restrictions are removed, these two organisations will need our support more than ever, so I thank my fellow councillors for their support in this.” Ewen McRae

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Call to reopen clubs

Tips for lockdown

By Goya Dmytryshchak Victoria’s community clubs have been left to “burn and die” by the state government’s roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions, the industry head says. The government’s roadmap to easing restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne is subject to the city recording a daily average of 30-50 cases by September 28 and fewer than five by late October. Club Managers Association of Australia state president and Yarraville Club chief executive, Chris Byrne, said the roadmap was unrealistic. “The club industry closed on March 23 and a re-opening on November 23 would see businesses shut for eight months with minimal or no revenue,” he said. His association represents the not-for-profit sector such as sporting, welfare and cultural clubs. “What we’ve been calling for is to get the industry open a lot quicker,” Mr Byrne said. “In effect, the restrictions they’ve put over our industry are that draconian, they’re that health-specific, they’re not considering the economic issues. “If you took the Victorian roadmap to reopening to NSW and Queensland, both of those states would be closed as well. “It’s now coming out that it’s the most restrictive model in the world. “We understand that the health issues are there but realistically COVID is not disappearing, it’s not going away. “We need to learn to live with it and, as an industry and as a community, we need to get places reopen, we need to get our economy open, we need to get back to some level of normality – what we call the COVID norm, I suppose.”

Chris Byrne. (Damjan Janevsi) 215408_02

Mr Byrne said he knew of a number of clubs in the local community that would not be able to reopen. “If they do reopen, they won’t be able to deliver the number of community or sporting services they used to – they just won’t

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have the money,” he said. “That’ll impact on the elderly, it’ll impact on the kids in sport … the longer we stay closed, the harder it is to recover and that then has a flow-on effect.”

The Australian Red Cross is reminding people of simple ways to stay resilient during COVID-19 lockdown. Red Cross national resilience adviser John Richardson said it was important to stay alert to a range of health affects of isolation, including prioritising mental health. “It’s absolutely normal to experience anxiety and frustration with another round of restrictions, but reminding ourselves that staying home will stop the spread and save lives puts it in perspective,” Mr Richardson said. “This pandemic has been particularly hard for young people, so make sure you reach out to them.” Mr Richardson said it was increasingly important to make time to stay in touch with friends and family, and also to check in on those you know who may be vulnerable at the moment. “If you are in need of a social chat, sign up for a free daily phone call from a trained Red Cross volunteer. “Embrace self-care, and stay away from compulsively watching the news. Stay up-to-date, but focus on what you can control. Exercise and eat well. These simple things will help you maintain good mental health. “If you are struggling and can’t access essentials like food and medicine, or are facing issues such as family violence, contact the Victorian coronavirus hotline (1800 675? 98) for direct assistance.” Ewen McRae

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7 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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Bid to honour tireless volunteer By Ewen McRae Melton council is proposing a special recognition for a much-loved volunteer as part of the upgraded MacPherson Park. Council last week endorsed naming the new development at the park the ‘Higginbotham Sports Complex’ to recognise the passing of Melton resident Kenneth Higginbotham and his lifelong contributions to sport and the wider Melton community. Mr Higginbotham was a member of the Melton Football Club committee until his

‘‘

this particular case … we thought it was worthy

’’

- Maurie Heaney passing in 2019, after providing decades of service as a continuous volunteer along with his wife Norma. During this time, he served as club president, secretary and treasurer, and he was also voted as a life member of the club. Mr Higginbotham also served as the president of the Lions of Club of Melton, and received the

International President’s Appreciation Award from the district governor in recognition of his service for more than 50 years. While council endorsed the name at last week’s meeting, the proposal will still go out for community consultation before a final decision on the name of the complex is finalised. Several councillors also flagged the need for an official policy to govern future naming proposals brought before council. Council community services general manager Maurie Heaney said it was an area that needed to be looked at further.

“It’s a monstrous process and something that we are light on at the moment,” Mr Heaney said. “It does require a pretty firm policy, and a lot of community engagement to set that policy, which we would embark on I think. “There is no doubt there is extra work to be done in that space, but for this particular case … with the renewal project and the work that Mr Higginbotham and his wife had done at that complex we thought it was worthy, but I do agree that it needs a lot of extra work in future to guide council.”

Darley Park cash splash

Melton’s Liam Wardle. (Shawn Smits) 204570_23

Council plans for soccer future Melton council has endorsed a plan for the future of soccer in the region. After more than a year of discussions with clubs, Football Victoria and other local stakeholders, the strategy will help guide investment and growth of facilities and participation across the next 10 years. Investigations for the strategy found that soccer is the fourth most participated sport in the Melton municipality, with 1690 participants, but that facility improvements had not kept up with demand in recent years. Council’s community services general manger, Maurie Heaney, said the strategy had been well received by local clubs, who have

experienced high growth in recent years. “We have consulted very heavily in the soccer world,” Mr Heaney said. “I think it’s been a very robust process and we’ve had very good feedback from the soccer clubs and the football federation itself, who all had input into the final document. “This document will guide us through the next 10 years.” The strategy will sit alongside an overall sports strategy for council, which will help prioritise investment for new and upgraded facilities across the municipality. While Football Victoria was supportive of the strategy and the end goals, Mr Heaney said

it was unlikely this would translate into any financial contributions towards projects within Melton. “The work we’re doing with the football federation is more around planning and governance,” he said. “This document talks about ‘super clubs’ and those clubs keep growing and growing, and it’s about how do we monitor that and plan for the future new clubs and assets. “But I wouldn’t say there’s an agreement to fund anything at this stage, more an agreement to engage with all clubs and council.”

Darley Park is one of the major winners from the latest round of the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, with a multi-million dollar upgrade on the horizon. The park will receive $2.5 million from the fund to go towards upgrading the pavilion and modernising the facilities. Council will also contribute $1 million and the tenant clubs will add $250,000. Moorabool mayor David Edwards said it was a big win for the region to have access to the fund for the first time, and receive a grant at the first opportunity. “I’m incredibly pleased we have received funding for this much-needed pavilion at Darley Park for the community to enjoy,” Cr Edwards said. “We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of residents as well as increasing access to community spaces. “This will be done by providing quality infrastructure to support increased participation in sport and opportunities for community groups to meet in appropriate spaces. “This is just one example of the work council is doing to advocate on the community’s behalf for better facilities and services in our shire.” The pavilion will have female-friendly change rooms, three multipurpose community spaces, office space, kitchen and social amenities. Council will now work through the specifics of the project and map out a plan for tendering and getting the project started. Local Government and Suburban Development Minister Shaun Leane said the Growing Suburbs Fund had helped bring investment and improvements to some of the fastest-growing parts of the state. “This will deliver the local infrastructure these communities need, and create work for local tradies and businesses as we rebuild from coronavirus,” Mr Leane said. Ewen McRae

Ewen McRae

Working for Victoria jobs boost helps Moorabool council A state government jobs program has proved a success in Moorabool, with dozens of positions filled recently. The Working for Victoria initiative involved up to $2.5 million in grants available for local councils to employ professionals looking for work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moorabool chief executive Derek Madden said it had resulted in extra skills and personnel at council to deliver better service to the community. “This initiative has been fantastic for our

council,” Mr Madden said. “Among the 51 funded positions, we have hired people across all services in council – parks and gardens, risk, administration, economic development, communications, information technology, waste – the list goes on. “Many of these people held professional jobs prior to commencing at Moorabool – some lost their roles as a result of business closures due to the pandemic. The collective skills, expertise and experience these extra people have brought to the organisation has seen us able to advance

8 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

projects and provide a much greater level of service to our community.” While some of the participants at Moorabool live in or near the shire many are from Melbourne and working from home, in line with state government guidelines. Working for Victoria participant Spencer Rogers said working for council in a communications role had presented an opportunity to bring his writing and marketing experience into local government. “It’s a classic win-win,” he said.

“I am learning so much working with stakeholders in council and I feel I am bringing a lot of valuable skills and transferable insights to the table also.” Melton council has also been making full use of the government initiative, with more than 120 new positions made available through the grants program. More than 8500 Victorians have found positions through the program since it was launched in April. Ewen McRae

MELTON ANY SYMPTOMS GET TESTED It’s important to get tested for coronavirus at the first sign of any symptom and stay home until you get your result. •

Djerriwarrh Health Services - Melton Mon - Sat: 9.00am - 4.30pm Sat: By appointment only please call 8746 1100 Sun: 9.00am - 12.00pm

•

Bunnings Caroline Springs drive-through testing site Daily: 9.00am - 5.00pm

Bookings are required at some testing locations. Opening hours subject to change. Getting tested means you keep yourself, your friends, family, workplace and your community safe. It’s not over yet.

For more details visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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9 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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New festival full of flavour By Ewen McRae A food and wine festival is coming to Aintree. Melton council has entered into a three-year partnership with Woodlea estate to deliver the festival, starting from next year. Following the dissolution of the Summersault Festival, council had been planning with Woodlea to deliver a major food and wine festival – known as Flavour Fest – at Frontier Park in March 2020. However, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

‘‘

enjoy and experience … the best of the west

’’

- Peter Bean Council hopes to relaunch the event in March 2021, and run it every 12 months until at least 2023. A report to last week’s council meeting recommended establishing a long-term partnership with Woodlea to give the festival’s future more security.

“No major planning will commence or financial commitments made until clarity on physical distancing and crowd gatherings in 2021 is provided by the Victorian government,” the report said. “However, recommendations in this report are provided on the assumption that the event can proceed with no restrictions to ensure council and Woodlea have endorsement of the sponsorship agreement and preliminary event scoping can commence.” More than 12,000 people had registered for free tickets to this year’s cancelled event.

Final financial contributions will be determined before each event, but Woodlea has committed up to $200,000 per year and council will contribute up to $150,000. Council corporate services general manager Peter Bean said the event was an exciting opportunity to bring people together and provide a boost for the municipality. “It’s a very exciting opportunity to be hosting an event such as this,” Mr Bean said. “From an accessibility point of view it’s there for the entire municipality to … enjoy and experience what we believe will be the best of the west.”

Community grants now open

Parkwood Green pupils Monse, Antonia and Clarisse. (Damjan Janevski) 215684_01

School’s Spoonville brings joy In a year of staying apart, Parkwood Green Primary School has found a novel way to bring its community together. Following on from a global trend, the school has created its own ‘Spoonville’ in front of the main building, helping its pupils find a creative outlet and also bring some much-needed joy to a tough year. Originating in the UK, Spoonville involves creating characters on a spoon to display. Variations have been popping up all over the world. School principal Keir Jasper said it had been

great to see the pupils come together on the project. “We saw some schools in other areas doing it, so a few weeks ago the art teachers decided it was something we could do,” Mr Jasper said. “With most of our students studying remotely at the moment, we were able to get them to create their characters at home, and the students really ran with it. “It’s been amazing to see the students really embrace the concept, and it will be great to have our Spoonville out the front to welcome us when we get back next term.”

Along with the Spoonville, the school also held Wacky Wellbeing Wednesday last week, with pupils encouraged to wear mismatched outfits for the day and take part in activities to support their wellbeing. “It’s a bit of an acknowledgement that this year has been quite difficult, and sometimes you need to stop and look after your own wellbeing,” Mr Jasper said. “The community has been amazing, and the kids have engaged really well with their learning.”

Local organisations planning to hold events that celebrate their community in the first half of next year can apply for funding through City West Water’s community sponsorship program. The latest application round for the popular community sponsorships is now open for not-for-profit organisations planning to host events or programs within the City West Water service area between January and June, 2021. City West Water strategy and planning general manager Richard Smith said community events helped promote community cohesion and social inclusion and played an important role in keeping the community connected. “With restrictions on face-to-face gatherings and events likely to be in place for quite some time, we are looking at creative ways to keep our communities connected and have adapted our sponsorship program accordingly,” he said. “We have created a flexible round of community sponsorship funding, designed to support organisations to deliver a range of new-look events and programs, such as online productions or concerts and webinars. “We’ll also work with our community event partners to adapt their events and programs in line with the latest government health advice due to coronavirus (COVID-19).” Applications are open until September 30 and successful applicants will be notified in the second week of October. Details: www.citywestwater.com. au/community/community_groups_ support Ewen McRae

Ewen McRae

Carjacker jailed four years after high speed chase A man who stole a car at knifepoint before leading police on a high-speed chase through Caroline Springs has been sentenced to more than four years behind bars. Jai Bright plead guilty in the County Court to aggravated carjacking and dangerous driving while being pursued by police, following an incident on April 7, 2019. The court heard that Bright and another man were waiting outside the Modern Medical Centre in Caroline Springs when they approached a man who was about to start a shift cleaning the centre. Bright demanded the man give him his car

keys, and when the man refused Bright pulled out a serrated knife and threatened him with it. The man threw his keys at Bright, who then fled the scene with the other man. The victim contacted police, who soon located the car and tried to stop it, however, Bright took evasive action by mounting a traffic island and speeding down Melton Highway. The police air wing tracked the vehicle as it sped along the Western Highway, through Caroline Springs and Deer Park, sometimes reaching speeds up to 150km/h, the court heard. The vehicle eventually sustained damage on a traffic island in Cairnlea. Bright

10 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

and the other man fled on foot before police found them in a backyard. Judge Irene Lawson said the offending was serious enough to warrant a significant jail term. “Both the circumstances of the aggravated carjacking and the dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police are serious examples of these very serious offences,” Judge Lawson said. “The dangerous driving is a particularly bad example of this type of offending. It involves a course of conduct of dangerous driving of some duration on major roadways where other vehicles were present.

“The driving at speed, repeatedly on the wrong side of the road and travelling through intersections against red lights demonstrated little regard for the safety of other road users who were impacted and exposed to your dangerous driving. “Furthermore, you have never held a driver’s licence. It is only by good fortune that there were not any accidents or injuries suffered.” Bright was sentenced to four years and six months in prison and will be eligible for parole after three years. Ewen McRae

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

Five great ways to be active – yes, even turning into courts or no through roads! Of course, it’s wise to consider the safety of your decisions. Once the timer goes off, you’ve got ten minutes to head back home. Make it a scavenger hunt: Again, this is possibly better with the kids in tow – but make your regular walk more interesting by creating a scavenger hunt. There are plenty of suitable scavenger hunt lists available through a quick internet search, or you could make your own. Even something just as simple as finding as many examples of a particular letter, a particular number or a particular colour along the way. You could even make it a competition for the kids!

As the days get longer and warmer, Melburnians have been granted two hours of exercise and recreation time outside of their property as part of the roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions. But, if you’ve been hibernating inside during winter, what is the best way to make the most of this additional leisure time?

Start slow While it’s important to stay within a 5km radius of your home there are still plenty of great ways that you can be active around your local neighbourhood. Before you do get started, it is wise to take a quick assessment of your current physical activity levels* and aim to build up slowly, rather than aim for the full two hours if you’re just not ready. So, if you’ve already been taking full advantage of the hour outside, then build up by about 10 minutes each time. But if you’ve only been making it outside for a quick 20-minute dog walk, then aim to build on that base by five minutes each time. Make the most of your two hour time limit by warming up at home before you start and stretching once you finish. And remember to wear your mask.

Mix it up

Be active at the park: With playgrounds now open again, find an area away from others and get active with the kids. Have you ever observed children playing? They move their bodies in so many different ways – so, if it’s safe for you to do so, join in a game with your children and aim to move just like them. Flipping a coin helps break up the around the block walk. (Supplied)

walking pace (and maybe the speed of children in tow), most adults walk at a pace of about 4-6km/h. This means that you can easily do an ‘out and back’ walk of about 8-10km from your home. And that’s a lot of area to explore! Find some great walking and bike trails in your area by checking out your council’s website, or here: www.visitmelbourne.com/Things-to-do/ Outdoor-activities/Walking-and-hiking/Day-

hikes-near-Melbourne. Flip a Coin: This one is probably better if you’re out and about with the kids, but flipping a coin certainly helps break up an around the block walk. Simply set a timer for about 10 minutes shorter than your anticipated exercise time and set out from home. At each intersection, flip a coin to determine a left turn or a right turn

Melburnians really do have access to some wonderful outdoor areas and a new appreciation for leisure time. So, enjoy getting out, about and active. www.theresapriorpersonaltraining.net * Seek advice from your GP or Allied Health Professional before undertaking any new exercise program.

(Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 215668

The ‘go-to’ exercise for most Melburnians during stage four seems to be walking – but do you find yourself doing the same loop each day? Boredom can definitely prevent adherence to exercise, so here are some great ways to change up your daily walk: Walking and bike trails: Depending on your

Find your local history: A quick search on your council’s website (or you may even have a local history group) will highlight the areas of interest within your 5km radius. Learning about these sites will supplement any remote learning your children are doing, or will simply help you become more aware of your own area.

Out and about Braybrook’s Tenterfield Park was abuzz last week as families emerged from their homes and enjoyed some warmer weather. Thankful parents were able to let their children loose at the park as the Melbourne metropolitan’s COVID restrictions eased with outdoor playgrounds, off leash dog parks and outdoor exercise equipment re-opened for use. Physical distancing and group number limits still apply as the state carefully rolls out Victoria’s roadmap out of the pandemic. Libraries across the municipality will bring back the click and collect service for members and the Home Library Service and the Library to Your Door services will also be available. Returns chutes will also be open so that borrowed library materials can be returned. Brimbank mayor Georgina Papafotiou said council, in accordance with the state

government’s roadmap, was planning the eventual safe re-opening of other council services. “As always, the health and safety of our community and staff is our top priority,” Cr Papafotiou said. “I ask that people continue to do the right thing despite how hard it may seem, and follow whatever restrictions are in place. “In anticipation of the future easing of restrictions later this month, we are also carefully planning for the re-opening of the Sunshine Leisure Centre outdoor pool to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. “Of course this can only be when outdoor pools are allowed to reopen, under the state’s roadmap for reopening.” Esther Lauaki 11 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

F th kid Colour it

TODAY Message us on Facebook to share your recipes and activity ideas.

Cook it BANANA PIKELETS Ingredients 2 cups self-raising flour 1 pinch salt 1/3 cup sugar 1 1/2 tbs butter melted 2 eggs beaten 1 1/2 cups milk 2 bananas mashed Method 1. Sift self-raising flour and salt into a bowl. 2. Whisk in sugar, butter, eggs and milk until smooth. 3. Add mashed bananas and stir mixture well. 4. Heat a frying pan with a little oil or butter and pour batter in small circles. 5. When pikelets bubble on top, flip and cook the other side until brown. Eat warm or cold with your favourite topping. Makes 10 pikelets, suitable to freeze. Recipe from www.bestrecipes.com.au

Make it

NO-COOK PLAY DOUGH

fun fact r Germs can live on you urs ho 3 hands for up to

Yuk!

Ingredients 2 cups plain flour 1 cup salt 1 tbs oil 1 cup cold water 2 drops liquid food colouring Method 1. Combine plain flour and salt. 2. Add Â˝ cup water, food colouring and oil. Mix until ingredients are combined. 3. Knead well. 4. Gradually add more water or flour until you get the desired consistency. Store in a sealed container in the fridge and it will last a few months.. Recipe from www.bestrecipes.com.au

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12 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Sudoku

Quick crossword 1

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

9 11

16 17

18 19

22 25

28 29

Down 2. Give permission (7) 3. Angel portrayed as a child (6) 4. Speech defect (4) 5. Move swiftly (4) 6. Boil gently (6) 7. Educational institute (7) 8. Straight, honest (6) 9. Middle (6) 13. Rescuer (7) 14. Maxim (7) 15. Solemn (7) 20. Legendary (6) 21. Strategies (7) 23. Tympanic membrane (7) 24. Farewell (3-3) 25. Separate, break away (6) 26. Saturated (6) 29. Halt (4) 30. Daring (4)

WordFit

Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out which letters are represented by the other numbers. As you get the letters, write them into the main grid and the reference grid. Decoder uses all 26 letters of the alphabet.

Fit the words into the grid to create a finished crossword

1 6

18 21

16 24

18 21

22 18

1 23

14 2

3 LETTERS ADD ALE ALL AND ASP EEL ERA ERR GIN ICY LAG MOA NAP ONE SHE SOT SPA STY SUE SUM TAB TEA YEN YES

20 7

14 4

1 21

16 8

14 10

ABCDE FGHIJKL MNOPQRSTUV WXYZ

10 11 12 13

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

Quick crossword solution

WordBuilder WordBuilder

I A

416

S D

4 LETTERS AURA DOTS EDDY ERRS FANG LEAF MENU OPEN OSLO PAPA PEST SILO STEP TAPS 5 LETTERS AGILE AGLOW ALGAE

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word. Good 9 Very Good 13 Excellent 18

O K A P I

ALONE ANGLO BLADE CAUSE CYRIL DEEMS DELTA DISHY DROOP ENDUE FUSSY GAFFE GHOST INANE INCUR LITHE NERVE OKAPI OMENS

PARES PIKER PITON POPPA PSALM RAISE REIGN RISKY ROBES SAHIB SAINT SATYR SLEET SNAPS SPOTS STEER STUDS TOAST TONTO

TYRES USERS USHER VISOR YAWNS

8 LETTERS ANTEROOM INTERCOM WARRANTY WAYFARER

6 LETTERS ASSAIL DABBLE LITTER SLATES

11 LETTERS DILAPIDATED OBSERVATORY

7 LETTERS CLIPPED ICERINK LAURELS PLACEBO PLAINLY PRESENT

Sudoku solutions

Decoder F

14 1

15 2

16 3

17 4

18 5

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

Across: 1. Parcel, 5. Dismal, 10. Impress, 11. Rummage, 12. Exodus, 15. Select, 16. Barrier, 17. Tier, 18. Pyre, 19. Circuit, 20. Fate, 22. Herb, 25. Surplus, 27. Bicker, 28. Source, 31. Evident, 32. Orderly, 33. Asleep, 34. Dynamo. Down: 2. Approve, 3. Cherub, 4. Lisp, 5. Dart, 6. Simmer, 7. Academy, 8. Direct, 9. Centre, 13. Saviour, 14. Precept, 15. Serious, 20. Fabled, 21. Tactics, 23. Eardrum, 24. Bye-bye, 25. Secede, 26. Sodden, 29. Stop, 30. Bold. B L A D E

A L O N E

S T U D S

I N A N E

D I L A P I D A T E D

A L G A E

P S A L M

R E I G N

E S E T L E P U S T H Y E R R E S T A S B L A S T U E M S

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

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

WordBuilder

Across 1. Package (6) 5. Dreary (6) 10. Stamp, imprint (7) 11. Search haphazardly (7) 12. Mass departure (6) 15. Choose (6) 16. Obstruction (7) 17. Layer (4) 18. Funeral mound (4) 19. Lap (7) 20. Destiny (4) 22. Food flavouring (4) 25. Excess (7) 27. Quibble (6) 28. Origin (6) 31. Obvious (7) 32. Neatly arranged (7) 33. Elapse (anag) (6) DECODER 34. PowerDECODER generator (6)

Decoder

WordFit

PUZZLES

ads, aid, aide, aides, aids, ais, aside, dais, die, dies, dis, ide, idea, ideas, ides, ids, sad, said, sea, sei, side

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

SOLUTION TO DECODER 16:

We can only carry out EMERGENCY/Safety Breakdowns and Repairs. But will return to normal Covid 19 regulation servicing after September 19 T

161 High Street Melton

•฀Full฀range฀of฀Goodyear,฀Dunlop฀ Branded฀tyres฀&฀all฀major฀brands฀ Including฀Monsta฀Extreme฀MUD,฀ MUD฀Warrior฀&฀Street฀Series

T DUNLOP AUTO SERVICE CENTRE 161 High Street Melton Y R E S

E L E C T

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

E L F I N

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

R I F L E

What does the M stand for in the radio abbreviation FM? What was the name of Chris Hemsworth’s character on Home and Away? In which sport would you encounter a jerk? Which comic-strip hero inspired the invention of ankle tags for monitoring the movements of criminal offenders released early from prison? 5. Whose leaving Genesis led to Phil Collins becoming the main man for vocals? 6. What is the most common French surname? 7. Who made up the trio of buddies with Ritchie and Potsie in TV’s Happy Days? 8. Is hypocaust a violent tropical storm, a type of paint-stripper or a Roman heating system? 9. Lexus is the luxury car division of which car maker? 10. In tennis, which two countries won every Davis Cup from 1946-1973? 1. 2. 3. 4.

G H O S T

Insert the missing letters to make ten words — five reading across the grid and five reading down.

T Y R E S

E L E C T

5x5 solution E L F I N

Quiz

R I F L E

5x5

G H O S T

Quiz solution

•฀All฀Mechanical฀Repairs฀ •฀Log฀book฀servicing •฀Car/Small฀Truck/4WD฀ •฀Car฀&฀4WD฀Suspension฀&฀ Alignments

9746 0088

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13 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

1. Modulation, 2. Kim Hyde, 3. Weightlifting, 4. Spiderman, 5. Peter Gabriel, 6. Martin, 7. Ralph, 8. Roman heating system, 9. Toyota, 10. Australia and United States.

FEATURING ... EDUCATION CHOICES

Preparing your child for school Starting school is a momentous occasion in a child’s life. It’s a major milestone for children and their parents, and one that’s filled with a mix of emotions. To help make the transition as smooth as possible, there are many things mums and dads can do to prepare their child. Emeritus Professor Bob Perry is an education expert in transitions, having developed a guide featuring multiple case studies of parents, teachers and kids during the transition to school. Professor Perry says while beginning primary school can be a challenge, most children find it enjoyable. “Children of that age want to grow up – they see excitement in growing up and they want school to be different. So we shouldn’t worry that it is different as the kids want it that way,” he explains. The move from kindergarten to primary school, he says, is more about a child’s social and emotional development, than academic. Here, Professor Perry shares his top tips to help a child prepare for primary school.

Talk

Most children are keen to go to school because they see it as ‘growing up’. (Supplied)

Start talking to your children about school. This includes talking about the school itself, what it was like when you went to school, what’s changed since you went to school and what it will be like for your child. Ask your child about what’s concerning them and what are they looking forward to? Like most people, children will bottle things up unless they are

specifically asked about them. For example, the child may be particularly worried about the playground – sometimes playgrounds can be a bit daunting.

Managing expectations The key is being honest, even if you didn’t particularly like school. Parents can talk about some of the positive things that did happen when they were at school. Be honest about it, but make sure you know what will happen when they go to school. For example, I know some parents who talk about children lining up before going into classroom – this doesn’t happen at some schools any more. If a child sees that doesn’t happen then the parent loses some credibility with the child. It’s important for parents to talk to the principal or teacher about what happens in that particular school. Another thing is many children wish they’d known before their first day is that everyone wears a school uniform. We often make a big deal about getting their uniform but forget to tell them everyone will be dressed the same.

Lunch boxes Buy a lunch box and check your child can open it. There seems to be a tendency to buy the latest superhero lunchbox or whatever the trend is, but the critical thing is that your child can actually open it. Talk to your child about having lunch at school and be sure to tell them that you don’t eat everything at once! Also make sure you can pack lunches that don’t require wrap or foil, so that the kids don’t have trouble unwrapping their food.

Join us online for a Talk & Tour of our College.

Applications for Year 7 2022 are now open

A new way of

EXPLORING

Applications close 9 October 2020 Limited places available for Years 8—12 2021

For information and bookings, visit:

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14 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

FEATURING ... EDUCATION CHOICES

‘‘

you want them to feel a sense of belonging - Bob Perry

Toilets

’’

school has to be aware of it before they can do anything about it.

Going to public toilets is critical for both boys and girls. School toilets are different to home toilets and preschool toilets. While school toilets have improved a great deal, they aren’t as sparkling clean as the toilet at home or at kindy. And, for the first time, kids will have to make a choice about whether they go to the boys toilets or girls toilets – they need to know about that. For boys it is important they know that there are different ways of going to toilet other than standing over a bowl. These are the practical things.

What to do at home Don’t organise a big party to celebrate starting school in the first week. Your child will be too tired – it’s a big change. Like many people, kids are not necessarily going to be ready to talk about their day as soon as they walk in the door or get in the car. Sometimes there needs to be tricks played to get the kids talking. Sometimes it’s worth parents just talking with teacher at the end of the day and asking them how things are going. At least that gives the parent a way in by saying ‘Ms So and So said you enjoyed doing such and such today, would you like doing more of that at home?’ It’s all about communicating when you know more about what’s going on. Sometimes the child won’t want to talk and that’s OK. However, if they spend the first six months not wanting to talk you may want to have a yarn to the teacher about it.

Playground practice Take your child to big public spaces. Take them to the park and let them play on the playground equipment. Schools have playgrounds that are bigger than they are used to with more people in them and less adults per child. The children need to have experience around these things. While you are there, take them to the toilet! Choose a lunchbox that is easy for your child to open. (iStock)

What if my child comes home upset

Meet and greet Before the school year begins, every parent should take their child to the school to meet the principal and the potential teacher. It’s important to take your child with you as you want them to feel a sense of belonging. You need to know the teacher, so you don’t have to get on the phone and start introducing yourself if there’s a problem.

After school care This is something that tends to be forgotten. After school care is another transition that

can be challenging. Certainly at prep level you go there to play, but you have to get there. For some kids that means walking across the playground, but for others it will involve getting a bus. The child needs to be prepared for that. They need to go and visit the after school care place. Sometimes it’s not a bad idea for kids to go to vacation care for a couple of days to get used to that transition. However this only works if the actual after school place they will be going to offers vacation care.

Special needs Often with children who have special needs, there will have been a very extensive transition to school program. This is generally instigated by the parent or kindy teacher. Providing the child is identified as having special needs, there is usually meetings between school representatives, principals, the teacher, kindy teacher and therapists of various sorts. They work out an individual plan for these children. Parents need to make sure this happens. If they know their child has additional needs, the

Before your child comes home upset, you need to know the teacher so you don’t have to get on the phone and start introducing yourself. You want to get straight down to the business and say ‘we have a problem’. It is a problem that everyone – the teacher, parent, school and child will have to work out together. It’s possible your child will come home and throw their bag down and say ‘I’m not going back there’ because of an incident. The parent needs to get straight onto the teacher. The big problem is if a parent tries to solve problem themselves as they only know part of the story.

Catholic Regional College Melton Enrolment Applications for 2021 close on 2nd October 2020

W O N L NRO

ay n Frid due o re for a d 2 202 epte g acc Year 7 r in it an e fo b m s also r sub ation o c re li a in p s p bta ion ent a 1. To o plicat m.au Enrolm in 202 20. Ap on.co lt 0 2 2 e 1 r m e to b crc ar 8 9 Octo ents@ s in Ye our enrolm place il a d e m led by it e e lim g m r e ll fo n Co ation sessio of the applic l Tour e Q&A v a li u r t a u ir des e yo e aV reserv h inclu to tak en. To , whic e you s s r it n v -tours e e e d in We olleg e Jorg nt lea c n e / s le d r u -u t a M 2s join Year 1 al, Mrs m.au/ on.co Princip lt r e u o m c with ww.cr visit: w place

E For details of our enrolment process and to request an enrolment form please email office@sameltonsth.catholic.edu.au Please note that we are currently working through enrolment applications that have already been submitted and will be contacting those families regarding interviews/places available between now and the end of this term.

Celebrating 40 years of quality catholic education

** St Lawrence of Brindisi Primary School is expected to open in 2022. New families living in the St Lawrence catchment area who would like to commence in 2021 will commence at St Anthony’s Primary School in 2021 and will then transfer to St Lawrence once it opens. St Anthony of Padua Primary School Wilson Road Melton South 03 8099 7800

St Lawrence of Brindisi Primary School Waterway Boulevard Weir Views – Opening 2022 ** 03 8099 7800

109-141 Bulmans Road, Melton West Ph: 03 8099 6000

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SPORT Cricket’s waiting game By Tara Murray Cricketers across Victoria are playing a wait and see game ahead of the cricket season. Usually, at this time of year, players are entering the final stages of pre-season, but this year it is one big unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions. Associations are trying to plan seasons, with late November likely to be the earliest start date. Sydenham-Hillside’s committee is focusing on what it can control for its teams playing in the Victorian Turf and North West Metropolitan cricket associations. Storm head of cricket Bob Kunesevic said the club had already had five different versions of a pre-season senior training plan. “We’ve just been indicating to our playing base, just to be flexible,” he said. “The boys are doing their extra work and they’re pretty close-knit. They’ve got the Strava app happening and they’re keeping themselves accountable. “Obviously with the bat and ball it’s been pretty limited at the minute so the majority of stuff we’ve been working on is our fitness levels.”

‘‘

We are still confident of a start at some point

’’

- Steve McNamara Adding to the unknown for the Storm, who have won back-to-back premierships, is whether they will see the return of international premiership stars, playing coach Alston Bobb and VTCA division 3 best and fairest winner Akeem Springer. Both are keen to return for a second season. “International travel probably won’t be open for this season or at least until 2021,” Kunesevic said. “We might get them in January and February and that would be great. We’re being flexible in our coaching structure and how that will look.” Kunesevic said the potential loss of the two international stars could open up the doors for some of the Storm’s younger players to step up. The Storm have been making sure their juniors aren’t forgotten, with Zoom and WhatsApp conversations aplenty. The under-16s have been studying theory, trying to understand the game a bit better – something Kunesevic said they normally don’t get the time for. Cam Clayton, a premiership winning captain-coach with St Anthony’s, has come across to Storm and taken on a lot of the coaching so far. Gayashan Weerasekara, who has won two VTCA best and fairest awards, is another key recruit for Storm, having crossed from Caroline Springs. Williamstown is also coming off a successful season, winning its second Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association premiership in three years. Both its firsts and second XIs were awarded the premiership last season after being the highest-ranked team heading into the grand finals, which were cancelled. Seagulls secretary Jordan Doyle said there wasn’t a lot happening at the club with the present restrictions. “We haven’t been able to do our annual GM [general meeting],” he said. “Some clubs have chosen to do over Zoom, but we have life members to induct so we don’t really want to do it on that platform. “The executive committee has been meeting frequently and discussing some things. I’ve had a council meeting and discussion about a few things that are happening with our ground.” Doyle said seniors were due to start

Victoria that no cricket would be possible. He said it’s been shown in the United Kingdom that cricket can be played safely. Having had their season cut short last season because of bad weather, Hilton said clubs were keen to get back on the ground. 206365_01 He said there could be a different fixture structure depending on restrictions. Above: The Gisborne and District Cricket Williamstown Association has already made the call to make celebrate a wicket its season one-dayers only. last season. President Rob McIntyre said one of the (Mark Wilson) biggest issues was the location of clubs. With half of the associaiton’s competing clubs in metropolitan Melbourne and half in regional areas, they could have different COVID-19 timeframes for sport to resume. “There may be a situation where the clubs in the other [regional] areas that are permitted to play may have a small competition whilst waiting for the clubs in metro councils to be permitted to play,” McIntyre said. “We would then start over again with all clubs competing in a competition for points.” McIntyre said they had seven different scenarios with January 30 the latest start time for a season. fit for cricket, but it’s not like footy when you While a start date is still unknown, there are need 100s of ks [kilometres] in the legs.” plenty of players keen to wait it out and get out Doyle said the club believed it needed three on the ground. GDCA clubs are reporting an weeks of training ahead of any season. increase in the number of players signing up With their ground unavailable for much of – many of them footballers keen to play some the season due to ground works, Doyle said for sport. them this was the ideal season, if any, to have VTCA president Steve McNamara said they less games. had a number of different scenarios ready to go. From a club perspective, Doyle said the He said they expected clubs to need four to junior step up was more complicated with their five weeks to prepare for a season. program growing and several clubs in the area. “Obviously we are expecting a delayed start,” he said. “It’s just a waiting game for all of us at Cricket associations also are having to put present. We are still confident of a start at some several plans in place for various scenarios. point.” VSDCA chief executive Ken Hilton said they McNamara said there would be a number of remained confident there would be a season. He changes once any season started, including all said there has been no suggestion from Cricket competitions facing stricter hygiene regimes. Left: Sydenham-Hillside coach Alston Bobb may not get back to Australia this season. (Shawn Smits)

pre-season training at the start of August, but hadn’t been able to do so. With most of the premiership side sticking together, it had made things a lot easier. Fraser Hay, who won the club’s first XI bowling average, has moved to Footscray, while Dale McDonald has retired again. Former junior Sean Sturrock returns from playing premier cricket with Melbourne. “It’s all been pretty positive and we’re confident we have the depth,” Doyle said. “We haven’t set any individual programs as we’ve all been in stage four lockdown. There’s a few of us in our Strava group doing some fitness stuff. “Everyone has been around long enough to know what is expected of them. You need to be

18 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

McFerran returns to her western suburbs’ roots

Shannon McFerran will coach Keilor’s women’s team. (Supplied)

Shannon McFerran began her football life in the western suburbs and she returns to her roots after being named Keilor’s new women’s coach. One of Australia’s top women footballers, McFerran turned her focus to coaching once she finished her playing career. She’s spent the past five years as an AFLW assistant coach, while juggling a role as Carlton’s VFLW coach for the past three years. She said that with two young boys, she wanted to find a balance with football and family life – something she thinks she can achieve at the Essendon District Football League club. “I’m looking forward to it, it should be good,” she said. “I know that they’re a really good club … the opportunity kind of came up and it was kind of too good not to take part in it. “I was looking forward to a fresh sort of start at grassroots level again and getting back into that should be good.”

McFerran, who is completing a level three AFL coach accreditation, said she has heard a lot of good things about Keilor. Former Keilor coach Emma Kerry has been part of the Carlton VFLW coaching panel, while Sarah and Gemma Wright both made the transition from Keilor to Carlton’s VFLW before being drafted. “The club itself has a great culture and reputation of a really good female program, which is always really exciting, and in juniors as well,” McFerran said. “I think that’s always important to have a pathway there so they can stay at the one club and start from such a young age and journey the way through, so that for me is a huge part of my decision, seeing them develop all the way through.” McFerran said there was still a lot of unknowns as to when football could start and how things would look with COVID-19. She was hopeful of being able to have some training sessions before Christmas. The Blues finished

Darley is back training

Danza Hyatt will again be in Darley colours this season. (Shawn Smits) 203366_03

One player who is returning for the Lions is former West Indies international player Danza Hyatt. Hyatt, who starred for the Lions last season, has spent the off season in Australia. “The West Indies have different rules and they weren’t allowing flights in,” Wheelahan said.

Tara Murray

Bowden back for Lancefield

By Tara Murray Darley cricket players excitedly hit the cricket nets last week, but have had to start pre-season training without their coach. With COVID-19 regional lockdown rules changing midweek, cricketers in regional areas were given permission to train in groups of 10. While the majority of players hit the nets, coach Brian Wheelahan can’t join them as he lives in Melton, which is classified as a metro area and still in stage four lockdown. He said while it was disappointing he couldn’t be at training, he understands the significance of why. “I rang the [COVID-19] hotline yesterday and I’m not essential service so I can’t go to training,” Wheelahan said. “It’s a mixed bag returning to training. The boys are excited to get together, but there are strict guidelines and we don’t know what to expect the next few weeks.” Wheelahan said there was a group of four or five players who had formed a leadership group last season who would take charge of coaching for the meantime. He said he was more than confident that they would be able to get the job done. Wheelahan said the group was excited to get back and train. “It’s exciting for them to get back to some form of normality,” he said. “It’s a little bit different and there’s new learnings along the way. Everyone else is in the same boat.” Wheelahan isn’t the only one affected by the different lockdowns, with Rahmatullah Khwaja living in Sunbury, which is also a metro area. The Ballarat Cricket Association was due to meet on Thursday with hopes of being able to reveal a start date for the season. The Lions, who went through last season undefeated and were awarded the premiership after the season was called off due to COVID-19, will have a different side this season. Englishman Harry Killoran, who made more than 600 runs, won’t be coming out to Australia. Jake Wilkie lives in Ocean Grove and Ryan Ali’s playing future is up in the air due to work. Wheelahan said the focus was to continue on what they had put in place last season. “We’ve lost four out of our premiership side,” he said. “It gives opportunities for blokes like Joel Cadman, Jordan Monaghan and Drew Locke to put their hands up. “We’ll be super competitive and our driving force is to make sure we back up what we produced last season. “I’m not saying we’ll go through undefeated again, but we want to be asking questions at the end of the year.”

runners-up in premier division in 2019. “It’s always unknown territory when you head into a new position, but I think the club and previous coach have really kind of worked hard at keeping a good relationship with all the players and hopefully we can hit the ground running. “I’m really excited and keen to get the ball rolling.” Having been involved with football most of her life, McFerran said it was exciting how far female football had developed since she started. “I always talk about my junior days at St Albans and I loved growing up in the western suburbs of Melbourne,” she said. “The opportunity now is greater than when I was their age. I think the growth has been huge and it’s through the hard work of people at local clubs running those programs and maintaining them that is integral to the growth. “We see some really good AFLW players come out of those clubs which has been great.”

“The club has been great in accommodating Danza and when the decision was made about training he was at the nets and running laps that day. “Cricket is his life and he can’t wait to start like the rest of us. I’ve said it a few times before he’s a class above and the best player I’ve played with or coached.”

A familiar face has returned to Lancefield Cricket Club and is stepping into the coaching hot seat for the upcoming Gisborne and District Cricket Association season. Multiple premiership-winning star Matthew Bowden has returned to the club after having the past two seasons off. Bowden said it was exciting to return to the club. “I stepped away from the club due to family commitments with our first baby and thought I would have a year off,” he said. “We then had renovations at home and I just wanted to focus on that over the last couple of years. We had another boy last month, but we’re a bit more settled. “With no footy this year, I’ve gone crazy with the free time so I’ve decided to play cricket again. “I was at the AGM and they said they were looking for a coach. I enjoyed working alongside Digger [Luke Barker] previously and I thought I would give it a crack.” Bowden, who is also captain of the Lancefield senior football team, said he was looking forward to working with the young kids coming through the club. He is hoping he won’t be the only player returning to the club. “There’s a few players who are questionable at the moment, it’s hard with the COVID-19 side of things with work and trying to make a commitment. “A few players who played the McIntyre Cup might play a few games. The two Malone boys[ Luke and Nathan] and Jarryd McGill. Most players from last year have committed.” The Tigers, who claimed the north premiership last season will play in division 2 this season, with the hopes of fielding a second team in a lower division. Bowden said they had hoped to play in the higher Jensen Shield, but were prepared to do the hard work to rise up the grades. The Tigers will again field a women’s side this season in the new Gisborne and District Cricket Association competition. The Tigers are still looking for a coach. Applications close September 25. Tara Murray

19 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 22 September, 2020

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