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Swimming for joy Children were jumping back in the water last week as swimming lessons resumed and COVID-19 restrictions eased in Victoria. JUMP! Swim School, which operates at Bundoora, Caroline Springs and South Morang, had been closed since late March, leaving children high and dry on the sidelines. JUMP! chief executive Mark Collins said they were expecting to be busy in the coming months, with swim centres in other states recording a 26 per cent increase in patrons compared to the same time last year. “Swimming is not an activity most kids can practice at home – it requires a suitable pool and the qualified swim teachers that come with it,” Mr Collins said. “Considering most children have had more than six months off already, the loss in confidence and basic, life-saving skills is very likely and immensely concerning.” Mr Collins said with the warmer weather and Christmas school holidays approaching, water safety is even more important. Details: jumpswimschools.com.au. SISTERS KAIDA, 11, AND ALLIRA, 9
Tara Murray
Broady link to vaccine bid By Tara Murray A Broadmeadows company is at the forefront of Australia’s quest to find a COVID-19 vaccine. CSL Limited, a leading global biotechnology company, is manufacturing two different possible vaccines, with work beginning on the second vaccine last week. CSL Limited has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with the federal government for the supply of 51 million doses of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) COVID-19 vaccine candidate (V451), and a separate HoA with AstraZeneca
to manufacture about 30 million doses of the Oxford University candidate (AZD1222), should trials of both prove successful. Multiple doses of the UQ-CSL V451 vaccine candidate have been manufactured at the Broadmeadows facility and are being held in readiness to progress to the next stage of trials. The decision to proceed to the next clinical trial stage will be made once phase one data has been released and analysed. Last week, the manufacturing process started for the AZD1222 candidate, with the thawing of vials containing vaccine cells.
Over the next 12 months, CSL will manufacture eight large-scale batches of the AZD1222 vaccine. If the vaccine’s safety and efficacy is proven in clinical trials currently underway, it is anticipated that the vaccine will be administered to people in two doses. CSL’s chief scientific officer Andrew Nash said starting work on the manufacture of the vaccines was an important part of the process. “This … marks the end of many months of around the clock preparation by our skilled personnel globally within CSL Behring, Seqirus and research and development,” Dr Nash said.
“Both campaigns are still technically challenging but at this time we are tracking well and expect to produce the AZD1222 and the UQ-CSL V451 vaccine for Australia by mid-2021. “There’s still a long way to go and our first priority resolutely remains the safety and efficacy of the vaccines we produce.” The vaccines will not be released for use until the relevant clinical trial and manufacturing data are reviewed and approved by the Australian gwovernment regulatory authority; the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
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Cancer treatment out of reach By Tara Murray A Craigieburn mother battling cancer is calling for more support to help cancer sufferers afford valuable and vital treatment. Carol Milwain, who has two different cancers in her breast, has to pay for treatment herself because it’s not covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). She said she was unsure how much the treatment would eventually cost, after being given a number of different figures. “It’s quite expensive, I got told it was $6000 and then $26,000 and then looking on Google it could be $50,000,” she said.
“The treatment is only being recommended to me to get the optimum benefit. “I’m the only one that works, so it is scary. “I worry about the mortgage and the finances and everything on top of dealing with it.” Ms Milwain was diagnosed with paget’s breast cancer, which affects the nipple, after more than 12 months of mammogram and ultrasound results coming back clear. It was only when she paid to see a specialist that she was diagnosed. Ms Milwain has a stage 3 tumor in her breast and is looking at 18 months of chemotherapy, surgery, a mastectomy and medication. Because she isn’t classified as having
stage four cancer, she’s unable to access her superannuation to help with payments. “We’re not at the stage where I’m terminally ill and likely to die in the next 24 months, so I can’t access my super, which I have plenty of,” she said. “I would have been able to access my super had I been affected by COVID, but not if I have cancer.” Ms Milwain is speaking out in the hope that something can be done to help others in the same situation. Carol’s sister Tammie Milwain Marguccio has set up a GoFundMe page for Carol. To donate, go to https://www.gofundme. com/f/cancer-medication-for-my-sister-carol.
Carol Milwain. (Supplied)
Mental health budget boost
Janet Reading, acting centre manager of Craigieburn Central. (Damjan Janevski) 220089_01
Shoppers return for retail therapy Craigieburn residents are making the most of being able to head to the shops again after stores were closed for months. With the majority of shops in Craigieburn Central now open, the centre is experiencing an influx of shoppers. Acting centre manager Janet Reading said since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on October 28, there had been a noticeable increase in foot traffic compared to the same time last year. More than 200 people queued outside TK Maxx at 6am on October 30 for its reopening.
“It was lovely to see customers enjoying a coffee with friends, shopping for clothes and getting their post-lockdown makeovers,” Ms Reading said. “Whilst customers have experienced queues, difficulty in booking appointment times and increased safety measures, we’re incredibly grateful to all members of our community for playing their part to help keep everyone safe. “We encourage customers to plan their visit ahead of time and try and shop outside of peak times – early morning or late afternoon. This helps us manage the social distancing aspects
still in place.” Ms Reading said that 85 per cent of shops in the centre were now open and she expected that number to increase as more restrictions ease. “It is important for us to continue working closely with our retailers, supporting them on a case-by-case basis, so they have every opportunity to offer a great experience leading into the busy Christmas period and well into a more positive 2021.” Details: www.craigieburncentral.com.au.
Residents in Whittlesea and Hume will have access to more mental health services, with the state government allocating significant funding to the sector. This year’s state budget will include $868.6 million in funding to ensure Victorians have the mental health support they need. As part of the funding, $492 million will be spent on 120 mental health beds in Epping, Geelong, Sunshine and Melbourne. An additional $18.9 million is provided for 35 acute treatment beds for public mental health patients in private health services. The Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement (HOPE) service will be expanded, with individual, intensive and one-on-one support for Victorians as they rebuild their lives. Completion of the statewide rollout will deliver services in both metro and regional areas, including Broadmeadows and Epping. The budget also includes additional training opportunities to support students and job seekers looking to pursue a career in the mental health sector and funding to address workforce shortages in the sector. An extra 19,000 hours for community mental health support will also be funded. Premier Daniel Andrews said the mental health system is broken. “For far too long we’ve seen the patient instead of the person,” he said. “As we recover from this pandemic, we can’t lose sight of what matters most – the health and wellbeing of our families, friends and communities.” Tara Murray
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Online sales booms
United Cinemas Craigieburn staff with chariman Roy Mustaca OAM. (Supplied)
Film crew calls for action By Tara Murray A Craigieburn cinema operator has warned it will likely have to turn people away from sessions because the cap on patron numbers is too low. United Cinemas re-opened on Thursday, with 20 people permitted per session. It is anticipated that cinemas will be able to welcome 100 people per session from November 23, when restrictions ease further. United Cinemas Australia chief executive Sam Mustaca said he believed that the number of people allowed in each cinema should have
been 100 straight away. “It’s great that we can open our doors, but 20 people per cinema is not enough,” he said. “They’ve left us out for a long time, so it needs to be 100 people per auditorium … now, not on November 23.” The Craigieburn complex has eight cinemas meaning it can have a total of 160 people watching movies at one time. Mr Mustaca said they were expecting that they would have to turn people away from some sessions. “We will have allocated seating and limited ticket sales. Once it’s booked out, there’s no
more tickets available. “We welcome the news, but we don’t understand why we aren’t treated the same as restaurants and cafes.” Mr Mustaca said on top of the slow reopening, they had concerns about how the industry would cope the next few months. He said some companies, including Disney, were putting their movies straight to pay to view or on their streaming services. Village Cinemas, including Plenty Valley, reopened on Thursday. “To say we’re ready for a giant popcorn is an understatement,” a spokesperson said.
Craigieburn and Doreen shoppers continue to spend big online, according to Australia Post figures. With shops remaining closed during September due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was no surprise that Victorian postcodes made up eight of the 10 postcodes with the highest volume of deliveries for the month. The top five were all Melbourne postcodes. The 3064 postcode, which includes Craigieburn, came in at number four, after being the third highest location for volume the previous month. Shoppers in that postcode have shopped big throughout most of the pandemic – ranked 10th in April. Doreen, which entered the top five last month for the first time, remains in fifth. Wyndham residents remain the biggest online shoppers. Point Cook is steady at number one, with Hoppers Crossing also in the top five. Australia Post general manager of parcel and express services Ben Franzi, said online shopping remained high across the country. “Victoria retains the title of Australia’s online shopping capital, with over a third (36 per cent) of the country’s total online purchase volume last month. “For the four months from March to June, prior to the reimplementation of lockdowns in Victoria, five Victorian postcodes were among the top 10 online shopping locations nationally; fast forward to September, and Victorian postcodes now hold eight of those spots.
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Haweil elected mayor
Call to reopen loop road
By Tara Murray New Hume mayor Joseph Haweil hopes to inspire young people to take an interest in politics. At just 31, Cr Haweil becomes the second youngest overall and youngest male mayor in Hume, after being elected unanimously on Thursday night as the new council was sworn in. He said his father could never have imagined that his son would become mayor of Hume, after coming to the city as a refugee many years ago. He paid tribute to his wife and family in his first speech as mayor. “I express my immense gratitude to you all for bestowing this honour on me,” he said. “In this role I will support and champion Australian values like mutual respect, tolerance, passion for those in need and equality of opportunity. Those who know me well know my interest in public service and politics have been rooted in my upbringing and values. These include fairness, justice and support for the vulnerable. In my life family, faith and community have been seminal.” Cr Haweil said helping residents and businesses through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remained a massive focus of the new council. He said the council would prioritise work on projects, while looking to federal and state governments for funding to get projects moving, such as the redevelopment of the Broadmeadows train station, major road duplications, delivery of the Bulla Bypass and Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and new bus services. Cr Haweil said there were a number of issues he remained passionate about and would seek to champion. They include reforming council’s community hiring policy to make
New Hume mayor Joseph Haweil. (Marco De Luca) 204744_01
council facilities cheaper and easier to access; continuing the strong legacy of the past council on indented parking; combating the impacts of gambling harm in Hume; supporting youth training and internship opportunities; and incentivising businesses to employ local people. Jack Medcraft will serve as deputy mayor. Five new councillors were sworn in on Thursday night. In Aitken ward, councillors Haweil, Jodi Jackson and Carly Moore have all been elected for a second term. Jim Overend
NEWS
will serve on council for the first time. In the Meadow Valley ward, councillors Naim Kurt and Karn Sherry have been elected for a second time, joined by first-time councillors Chris Hollow and Sam Misho. Cr Medcraft, who will represent Jacksons Creek ward, is the most experienced councillor on the present council, after being elected for a fourth term. He is joined by first-timers, Jarrod Bell and Trevor Dance. Cr Dance missed the meeting but was sworn in the previous day.
The Broadmeadows Progress Association is calling on the new Hume council to reopen the Pascoe Vale Road loop in Broadmeadows. The loop, which connected Pascoe Vale Road with Camp Road, was officially closed last week with the road to be removed as part of the redevelopment of Hume central. The site will be re-purposed as a new multi-level carpark to help ease parking problems in Broadmeadows. Drivers will now have to use an alternative route via Dimboola Road and Pearcedale Parade. The council signed a memorandum of understanding with VicRoads last year to purchase the loop site for the carpark. Information on Hume council’s website said traffic modelling has shown that the removal of the loop road will result in minimal impact on motorists, with the proposed alternative route about 750 metres longer but has slip lanes at each turn. The council trialled the closure of the existing loop road and said there were no complaints following the trial. The Progress Association has put out a flyer calling for the council to “wake up”, saying the road had been working well for a number of years and should remain. “In the interest of the community and good traffic management, we call on the newly elected Hume councillors to reverse this decision,” the flyer stated. Tara Murray
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Teen hit by car A 19-year-old man has died after being hit by a car in Lalor on November 8. The man and his sister were on a pedestrian crossing outside Lalor North College on Childs Road just before 7.30pm when he was struck by a west-bound car. Despite the efforts of emergency services, the man died at the scene. The driver of the car, an 80-year-old Reservoir man, has been released pending further inquiries. Anyone with information or dash-cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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The Petbarn team and the Tree of Hope. (Supplied)
Appeal brings pet hope Purchasing a tree decoration this Christmas can help save the lives of animals in need across Victoria. The Petbarn Foundation, Petbarn’s charitable arm, has announced the launch of its annual Tree of Hope Appeal. The foundation hopes to raise $1.2 million through the appeal, with Petbarn customers able to purchase a $3, $5 or $10 Christmas tree decoration in-store, or online. Every time a Christmas tree decoration is purchased, the foundation will donate to Petbarn’s adoption partners and rescue organisations across the state. Money raised will help more 50 charities continue their important work caring for pets in need. One of the charities this year is Second
Chance Animal Rescue in Craigieburn. Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) founder Marisa Debattista said the money would allow them to continue providing volunteers to help rescue and rehabilitate dogs and cats due to be euthanised at pounds and shelters across Victoria. Petbarn South Morang store manager, Amy Hurrell said they are incredibly proud to be supporting this year’s Tree of Hope Appeal. “We’re always amazed by the generosity of our customers and the support they show for our charity initiatives. This small act of kindness goes such a long way in giving animals the love and care they deserve.”
Two men have been charged following an alleged attempted armed robbery at a service station in Campbellfield earlier this year. Investigators allege two men attended a business on Somerton Park Drive about 10pm on September 8. A 19-year-old Meadow Heights man was charged with nine offences including attempted armed robbery, possessing a firearm, criminal damage, assault of an emergency service worker and unlawful assault. An 18-year-old Meadow Heights man was charged with four charges including attempted armed robbery and unlawful assault. Both men were bailed to face court at a later date.
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By Tara Murray Job-generating projects and transport infrastructure are needed to help Melbourne’s north recover from the impacts of COVID-19, according to a new report. The latest Northern Horizons report, produced by economic development body NORTH Link and the Northern Councils Alliance, outlines a 50-year strategy urging job-creating infrastructure to help new industries to fill the gap in the job market. The region has been heavily affected by COVID-19, with about 80,000 jobs lost during the pandemic. NORTH Link and northern councils, including Hume and Whittlesea, say that
Poppy appeal
Blueprint for jobs By Tara Murray Job-generating projects and transport infrastructure are needed to help Melbourne’s north recover from the impacts of COVID-19, according to a new report. The latest Northern Horizons report, produced by economic development body NORTH Link and the Northern Councils Alliance, outlines a 50-year strategy urging job-creating infrastructure to help new industries to fill the gap in the job market. The region has been heavily affected by COVID-19, with about 80,000 jobs lost during the pandemic. NORTH Link and northern councils, including Hume and Whittlesea, say that economic confidence and jobs are needed urgently. The report identifies short and long-term infrastructure investments needed to stimulate job creation in the region. Among the key short-term projects is making the La Trobe NEIC [National Employment and Innovation Cluster] a Victorian government Priority Precinct; the continued development of metropolitan activity centres at Epping, Broadmeadows and Cloverton; building major activity centres in places such as Sunbury; the expansion of the Melbourne Market at Epping; increased mental health support services; and committed construction of community hospitals in Whittlesea, Craigieburn and Sunbury. Short-term transport projects include bringing forward Suburban Rail Loop construction in the north to connect precincts; the construction of the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal; completing the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and E6 business case; bus network changes; railway station upgrades including Broadmeadows; and outer north arterial roads including the Bulla Bypass. These projects are expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area, according to the report. In the medium term, the construction of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and E6 , Wollert rail extension and new hospital – likely in the Hume corridor – are key items. Report taskforce chair and Hume chief executive Domenic Isola said there is still a lot of work to be done in the north. He said the region’s rate of population growth meant there was a “large and rapdily growing” need for new infrastructure and services.
Poppy appeal Craigieburn War Memorial and Remembrance Committee is asking the local community to get behind Remembrance Day by putting poppies out to mark the day. Committee president Kevin O’Callaghan said with normal Remembrance Day services unable to go ahead because of COVID-19, the group was looking at different ways to remember those who served. He expects Remembrance Day to be quieter than usual. “We’re friends of the RSL, so anything we do has to be in accordance with the RSL,” he said. “It’s not likely to be a big service unless things change dramatically. “We’ll look at what we did on Anzac Day. The flags will be up at the memorial and we’ll look to get people involved through a live service on Facebook.” Mr O’Callaghan said one way the community could get involved was by placing poppies in front yards or mail boxes from the start of November. “We would love to see kids painting poppies on a rock or put poppies outside where people can see then and then send us photos. “It’s good to get the kids involved. People really got behind Anzac Day [light up the dawn] hopefully people will do this and send through photos to us.” This year’s poppy appeal has also gone online. Details: https://poppyappeal.com. au/
(Supplied)
Craigieburn War Memorial and Remembrance Committee is asking
CHARLOTTE, 3
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Helping hand for Salvos By Tara Murray The Craigieburn Salvation Army has been helping struggling families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and now they are receiving some help of their own. Stockland’s Highlands community has donated $5000 from its charity fund to help the Salvation Army continue its work. Craigieburn Salvation Army Captain Peter Brookshaw said they were really thankful for the support from Stockland Highlands. “With COVID-19 many families are struggling and we’re doing what we can to support people across all of Hume,” he said. “Lots of people are struggling, like international students, people in casual employment and then there’s families struggling to make ends meet. “Partnerships like this one with Stockland is really vital.” Mr Brookshaw said the money had helped with food vouchers, food hampers, and medical expenses. The Salvos have been running The Doorways Emergency Relief Program, which provides food donations to local families in need. “It’s not just the low socio-economic that are struggling, the middle class are also struggling to make ends meet,” Mr Brookshaw said. “We encourage people who need help to reach out.” Stockland Highlands project director James Westh said the donation came about after Salvation Army members reached out for help. “We have an annual grants program, for local groups and sporting groups in Craigieburn and surrounding areas. It runs every year and we usually give out five to 10 grants. Through that we’ve built a relationship with the local CFA and the Craigieburn War Memorial group
The Craigieburn Salvation Army has been helping families in need. (Supplied)
and a few of those are also members of the local Craigieburn Salvation Army group,” he said. “They reached out through that to us, asking if there was any chance we can apply for one of your grants … unfortunately they had expired for this year, but we said we can certainly have a look at what you’re doing and see where we can help out. “We said how about we bring forward $5000 from next year’s grants and give it to you as we
know it’s important.” The Salvation Army is preparing for a busy festive season and is encouraging the community to lend a hand or make a donation during the holiday period. “We encourage organisations to do toy and food drives and get in touch and we can disturb them. People are welcome to bring down food and financial contributions,” Mr Brookshaw said.
NEWS
Deadly airbags in circulation Thousands of car owners in the west are driving around with deadly Takata airbags in their vehicles, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned. ACCC data reveals there are still 589 vehicles in Hoppers Crossing with Takata airbags which need replacing and 449 vehicles in St Albans. Sunshine West is home to 431 cars which need the airbags replaced, Caroline Springs has 430 vehicles fitted with the airbags, Hillside 238 vehicles and Melton 271 vehicles. The airbags are the subject of a recall after being associated with more than 330 injuries and 30 deaths worldwide. Under the recall, vehicle owners are entitled to have their faulty Takata airbags replaced free of charge. ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said the Takata airbags “are very dangerous and have the potential to explode with too much force, even in low-speed accidents, sending sharp metal fragments into the vehicle at high speed, potentially killing or seriously injuring its occupants”. “We are concerned about the disproportionate number of outstanding airbags in some communities… where there has been less take-up of the free replacement service,” Ms Rickard said. Check if your airbag is affected by entering your number plate and state at ismyairbagsafe.com.au, or by texting ‘TAKATA’ to 0487 AIRBAG (247 224). Alesha Capone
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Survey examines future of news Newspaper readers in the northern suburbs are being urged to have their say on the future of country media in Australia’s biggest survey on local news. The survey, launched nationally this week, is part of the largest study of its kind in Australia, running for three years with almost $250,000 backing from the Australian Research Council, one of the federal government’s main competitive research funding agencies. Deakin University, RMIT University and Country Press Australia, the peak regional media organisation, of which this newspaper is
a member, are leading the study. The project’s lead investigator, Deakin Associate Professor Kristy Hess, said the future of local newspapers depended on support from local audiences. The survey aims to give people a voice on ways to improve the sustainability of their local paper. “If you read your local newspaper, then it’s absolutely vital you fill in this survey to show your support for local news. We are depending on you,” she said. “We want to hear your ideas and feedback on the role of country newspapers in these digital times. We want to know what
the paper means to you and how it might improve into the future.” Project partner and Country Press Australia executive director, Bruce Morgan, said the project was as much about regional communities as it was about local media businesses. “Local media outside metropolitan Australia is very much the journal of record for the towns and regions it represents,” he said. “It is not exaggerating to say that, should we lose local media representation, it will impact not just on the fabric of those communities, but
the very principles of democracy. That is, the ability to record, champion, challenge and hold accountable. That is why this highly-credible, well-funded research is vital to those communities and their future.” The survey should take up to 10 minutes and will ask a range of questions that relate to your views on local newspapers. All participants have a chance to win one of 10 new-release Apple iPads. The survey will run until the end of November. Visit this link now to start the survey: localnewsinnovation.org.
School zone warning The long hiatus from classrooms during the COVID-19-driven lockdown period has allowed bad driving habits to develop around school zones, according to police. Police are urging drivers to take extra care in and around schools now that students have returned to class. Acting Sergeant John Harris said it’s vital that drivers stick to the designated 40km/h speed limit in school zones and make sure they’re not distracted by mobile phones when driving. “Children can be unpredictable, and drivers need to remember this as they travel through designated 40km/h school zones,” he said. “With extra people moving about, it is so important that we take note of those reduced speed limits and stick to them.” Acting Sergeant Harris said mobile phone use remains the biggest driver distraction issue that police continue to see.
“Driving at any speed while using a mobile phone has a significant impact – it can impair a driver’s reaction time, ability to maintain speed and position on the road and general awareness of other traffic,” he said. Parents are also being reminded to park correctly when letting children out, as dropping them off in the middle of the road poses a “completely unnecessary risk”. Acting Sergeant Harris warned that police will continue patrolling in and around school zones. “If you choose to do the wrong thing behind the wheel of a car, expect to get caught,” he said. The 40km/h school zone speed limit is in place from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm on weekdays during school terms. The minimum penalty for speeding in a school zone is a $207 fine and one demerit. Benjamin Millar
Senior Sergeant Nick Di-Mieri and Caroline Springs Sergeant Laura Woolfe. (Damjan Janevski) 219544_03
Have more freedom
to live a bigger life
Come and see our brand new display homes at Lifestyle Wollert —the latest luxury over 50s community in the North.
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Or call us today on 1300 50 55 60 to book your appointment. lifestylewollert.com.au 64A Brighton Avenue, Wollert *From price correct as at November 2020 *Price correct as at October 2020 11 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Green light for development By Tara Murray A Thomastown development which attracted more than 50 objections from residents is set to go ahead after the state’s peak planning body overturned Whittlesea council’s decision to refuse a permit for the project. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last month approved a permit for a 69-dwelling development at 40 Dalton Road, following a hearing in August and September. Council had refused to issue a permit to
Tanyam Nominees Pty Ltd in October last year, citing concerns the development did not comply with sections of the Whittlesea Planning Scheme and that it was an overdevelopment of the site. The council received 51 objections and a petition against the development containing 242 signatories was also submitted. Residents raised concerns about transport, traffic and parking impacts, overdevelopment, impacts on neighbourhood character, poor design, noise, impact on property values and non-compliance with the planning scheme.
‘‘
site was suitable for medium density housing
’’
- Megan Carew The developer submitted amended plans to VCAT, including reducing the number of dwellings from 73 to 69. All dwellings are two storeys, while a park is proposed for the north-east section of the site. A common property-private loop road will also be built and there will be visitor parking.
The site is adjacent to the Metropolitan Ring Road. VCAT member Megan Carew said the proposed design response will create a well designed and cohesive cluster housing development. She said there was “no dispute between the two parties that the site was suitable for medium density housing subject to a suitable design response”. She said the site also enjoys a reasonable level of access to services including the Thomastown and Lalor neighbourhood activity centres.
Minniti named local hero Northern Health Foundation patron Josie Minniti has been named one of three Westfield Plenty Valley Local Heroes. ‘Westfield Local Heroes’ is an awards program that celebrates individuals who make a positive impact to their local community. Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with winners awarded a $10,000 grant for their chosen charity. Mrs Minniti has chosen to donate her grant to Northern Health, with the grant contributing towards the purchase of an EBUS machine for the respiratory department. Mrs Minniti has dedicated more than 20 years to fundraising for cancer services and strives to make a difference to the lives of patients, something very dear to her heart with her own family dealing with cancer. “This is an amazing achievement, not just for me, but for the Northern Health respiratory department and their patients,” Mrs Minniti
said. “I’m very grateful to Westfield and every person who voted for me because I know many people did, so I’m truly appreciative.” The other two winners were Maddie Francis and Deborah Henry. Ms Francis was recognised for her work with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mercy Hospital. She created NICU Cheer in 2016 with a goal of bringing some joy to parents spending Christmas Day in the NICU. Ms Henry set up From Us 2 Youth nearly six years ago after her community services studies opened her eyes to the struggles people face. Three nights a week, homeless people in Melbourne can look forward to a feast of prawns and steak, cooked with love by Ms Henry and her dedicated volunteers. “They call me mum or street mum. I love it,” Ms Henry said. Tara Murray
Josie Minniti has been named a Westfield Local Hero. (Shawn Smits)
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NEWS
New park a hit Wollert residents are finally able to make the most of the Lyndarum estate playground which opened in July during COVID-19 restrictions. Warm
(Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 220723
weather last week enticed many people out to enjoy the sunshine. Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski caught up with some of them.
YOU’RE MORE SUITED THAN YOU MIGHT THINK NOW RECRUITING FOR OVER 3000 POLICE POLICE CAREERS 12468352-DL47-20
13 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! OUR COLLEGE CAPTAINS REFLECT UPON A CHALLENGING YEAR… Undertaking the role of School Captain has provided me with a unique opportunity to voice student concerns, actively promote the core school values and assist the college by upholding my roles and duties. Despite the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to strengthen NOUR MAQSODI my relationship with the school community and gain a deeper insight, into the efforts that it takes for all members, to promote a multicultural diverse environment. I thank the college and wish the school captains of 2021, the students, and staff a wonderful year. There is no doubt that coronavirus has brought the students of LSC a sense of uncertainty and melancholy this year. Yet I have felt warm support from my community and hope I have been able to offer this to others. To the school captains of 2021, I sincerely hope you are not in lockdown LACHLAN ANGELOVSKI and that you get to live out the role of the school captain to its fullest extent. The school captain program offers a great chance for future leaders to demonstrate the skills of a leader and to act as a positive role model to the juniors because they are tomorrow’s leaders. This year has taught me that if I could give any advice to any student, it would be enjoy your times at school, cherish them, cherish all the study groups you may have, cherish all moments with your friends, as many of us didn’t get the opportunity to do that this year. Best wishes to future students of LSC and the School captains of 2021.
The Year 12 students have experienced a lot throughout 2020 and have been tested in many ways that previous Year 12 cohorts have not. On Friday the 30th of November they had an opportunity to come together and celebrate the end of scheduled classes and their time as students over 13 years. The students were presented with a copy of ‘Oh the places you’ll go’ by Dr Seuss to represent the opportunities that will present to them in the coming years and to remind them of the possibilities that still remain after this tough year, as well as a school sash and certificate of completion. We wish the class of 2020 the best of luck with their exams that commenced on Tuesday the 10th of November and look forward to celebrating all of their achievements with family and friends when it is possible to do so. We are indeed proud of every last one of you.
Corey Jewell, Principal
LALOR SECONDARY COLLEGE PH 9463 7300, 118 David St, Lalor www.lalorsc.vic.edu.au 12470146-NG47-20
14 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
Road to recovery
SPECIAL EDITION SHOWCASING LOCAL BUSINESS
Advertising feature
Carl’s coming to town Carl’s Jr., the smash-hit global burger chain, is bringing to Thomastown its famous Chargrilled Thickburgers ™ and signature Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Milkshakes ™.
S
o, what makes Carl’s Jr. so famous – in 42 other countries as well as seven other current Victorian locations, with many more to come? For starters, it’s real food, using 100 per cent Angus beef and hand-breaded chicken tenders, made fresh to order and delivered to the table by an upbeat crew. For another, the burgers will satisfy both the traditionalist and the adventurous, with the likes of the California classic double cheeseburger, the jalapeno Thickburger ™ and the portobello mushroom burger in a long list of choices. There’s even a brekkie burger, along with plenty of other choices to start the day. Desserts? Yes, sundaes all ways. And the trademark milkshakes are as decadent as they should be, while the beverage bar is an all-you-can-drink. Carl’s Jr, in partnership with Australian company CJ’s QSR Group, is making Thomastown its latest home. Managing director of CJ’s QSR Group Andrew Firn is delighted. “We are excited to be providing more than 60 jobs to local residents, many of whom will be starting their first job,” Mr Firn says. “This will be the first Carl’s Jr restaurant to open in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. “Compared to other burger chains, we believe Carl’s Jr. will offer better quality, service, value and hospitality in a premium quick-service restaurant environment. We will offer a best-in-class proven menu, and
The new Thomastown location is opening this month. (Pictures: Supplied)
a quality restaurant experience, sure to succeed in the sophisticated Melbourne burger market. “Carl’s Jr. is famous and successful throughout the world thanks to its business model of offering authentic, premium-quality chargrilled burgers with the convenience and price of fast food.”
Domit Makhoul, CJ’s Vic general manager explains the move to Thomastown, which rides high on the national craze for great burgers. “We have had so much online feedback asking when we are coming to the northern suburbs of Melbourne. We know the people of Thomastown will be excited to know we
are finally opening this month.” Look out for Star Weekly advertisements for exact opening date in November. Carl’s Jr., 75 Dalton Road, Thomastown (next door to Bunnings). Details: www.Carlsjr.com. au; www.facebook.com/CarlsJrAU; twitter. com/carlsjrau; instagram.com/CarlsJrAU
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16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
Advertising feature
Country Club life with village charm Melba Vale Country Club in Coolaroo, part of the Country Club Living group, continues to thrive as a popular place for independent over-55s and retirees, says village manager Gregory Nicholls.
C
ountry Club Living, one of the largest family-owned retirement village businesses in Australia, is well known for providing quality retirement communities. “The Melba Vale community, visitors and residents are delighted by the bright and happy atmosphere,” Gregory says. “They can embrace life and live their retirement just the way they want.” Tony, a resident at Melba Vale Country Club, shares his story. “My wife and I moved into the village from Roxburgh Park. I was still working but wanted to downsize and live in a gated safe community. We can now travel and not worry about upkeep/security – even our mail is collected when we are away. “We enjoy the barbecues and happy hours, and having our own bar and pool table. We’ve made great friends and enjoy all of the social events – like playing bowls and movie nights when we choose. “Our family is thrilled with the beautiful units and love to visit as we have great-sized bedrooms and living area – as well as the community facilities.” Melba Vale facilities include a magnificent Community Centre that houses a hairdressing salon, library, pool table, club bar, theatre room and consulting room. Other facilities include a gym and an
An onsite gym is popular with residents at Melba Vale. (Supplied)
outdoor bowls rink. The village, staffed with on-site management, has a 24-hour emergency call system. There’s also a bus to take residents on shopping and social outings.
offer. What are you waiting for?”
Gregory says he welcomes inspections, 10am-4pm Monday-Friday, or by private appointment. “Come and have a chat and cuppa with me and discover the amazing lifestyle on
ESCAPE TO YOUR NEW LIFE It’s time for something more secure
O
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Melba Vale Country Club, 1390 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo. Inquiries: 1800 503 225 or visit www.melbavale.com.au
F LE
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QUALITY SECURE RETIREMENT LIVING
* CURRENT STAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION - ONLY 3 VILLAS REMAINING • Country Club bus • Beautiful central Country Club
• Low maintenance living • 24/7 emergency call system
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1390 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo, Vic 3048
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To arrange an inspection contact Country Club Manager - Gregory Nicholls today!
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• Secure over 55’s community • Resort Style facilities
17 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
Advertising feature
Be a trend setter not a follower Shane and Pam Langdon, owners of Langdon Building, have gained a solid reputation with the homes they’ve designed and built in regional Victoria in the past 15 years – and now they are bringing their talents to Melbourne’s north and west growth corridors.
S
hane’s a builder who’s known for his exacting standards, as well as his adherence to total transparency with his clients. “Many builders create display homes that are illusory,” Shane says. “Buyers fall in love with a display home, only to find out down the track that the standard homes look quite different when upgrades are excluded.” “Our display homes are real, no illusions, so what a client can see is what their new home will actually contain. Of course, each design can be customised. “What you see is what you get, with nothing hidden. Clients won’t be ‘tricked’ into loving a display, only to find the standard version they can actually afford is considerably reduced in the bells and whistles department.” As general manager Pam puts it, “We don’t believe in big egos or making promises we can’t keep. “We’re a big enough outfit to ensure delivery of outstanding service, great value and exceptional build quality, but we’re still small enough that we can take care of all the little things homebuyers want.” Langdon is a trend-setter, rather than a trend follower. “We believe in the freedom to create, innovate and set the trends in our home designs,” Shane says. “We’re always innovating and
12469378-SG47-20
18 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
implementing new ideas, and our choice of designs is vast.” Langdon’s exclusive MyRoom indoor/ outdoor living concept is one example of innovative thinking. Part of the designer range, MyRoom is a fully enclosed space, accessed via cavity sliders from the house, that effectively gives another living room to use year-round. When opened right up, there’s incredible flow-through and looks fab. Another clever offering is the customisable MyHomeOffice option, an absolute boon for people who work from home, so important now that new work habits are being formed through the coronavirus pandemic. Display homes at Donnybrook and Wollert have these wonderful options on full display. As well, homes come in designs to suit all block sizes, including very narrow ones. Now that restrictions have eased, the Donnybrook and Wollert displays have re-opened, so if a new home or house and land package is on the agenda, Langdon Building is well worth checking out. Call Langdon Building on 5334 3045 or visit www.langdonbuilding.com.au Wollert and Donnybrook displays open noon-5pm Thursday-Monday.
Langdon’s designs combine innovation and functionality. (Supplied)
Advertising feature
A home away from home At a time when the wellbeing of older people has never been more important, Baptcare Wattle Grove Aged Care Community provides outstanding care and a welcoming environment for those who can no longer live at home, says client relationship partner, Camila Dahan.
“I
’m the first point of contact for people who are considering a move into the community,” Camila says. “I support new residents and their families throughout their transition to residential aged care, right from the time of their initial inquiry.” She says that Wattle Grove makes people feel at home from the moment they arrive. “Wattle Grove is a brand-new facility but it has a homely feel, so it really offers the ideal environment – it’s spacious and modern while also being welcoming.” Another notable aspect of the Wattle Grove community is its focus on meeting the cultural needs of residents. “Our residents come from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds that are representative of the local area, so we try to ensure that we cater to individual cultural needs. “As well as providing plenty of variety with our menu choices and lifestyle activities, we also feature a specific cultural theme each month, so residents can enjoy familiar experiences while being exposed to other cultures. Our residents also find it reassuring that we have multicultural staff who speak a range of languages.” Aside from these features, Wattle Grove
Wattle Grove is a brand-new facility but has a homely feel. (Supplied)
is known for the quality of its care. “Our community is run by Baptcare, which is a not-for-profit organisation with 75 years’ experience in providing aged care services to the people of Victoria. “Unlike some aged care communities, we have experienced registered nurses on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A dedicated nurse unit manager is assigned to each floor and is responsible for co-ordinating clinical care, as well as
providing a consistent contact point for residents and their families.”
Putting health and safety first Camila says that Wattle Grove has been vigilant in protecting its community from the risk of COVID-19. “We are strictly following all government guidelines pertaining to aged care. This includes continuous training of our staff, limited movement of people through the
facility, fastidious cleaning practices and the use of appropriate protective equipment.” With these protocols in place, Camila notes that COVID-19 hasn’t changed the process for people interested in joining the community. “We are accepting new admissions as normal, and we are conducting tours.” Details: 13 BAPTCARE (13 22 78)
Baptcare Wattle Grove Community
We cater for all cultural needs at Baptcare Wattle Grove Community. Wattle Grove is a family-friendly aged care community that provides outstanding care for older people who can no longer live at home. At Wattle Grove, we pride ourselves on meeting the cultural needs of the local community.
We are currently offering a special discount for new permanent and respite admissions* – contact us to find out more and book a tour of our brand-new facilities. Government-funded places available.
SAVE up to 1,567.50
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Call 13 BAPTCARE (13 22 78) or visit baptcare.org.au Baptcare Wattle Grove Community 51 Pinetree Cres, Lalor WELLMARK | BPT29254 | WG | NSW | NOV 20
*Prior to 11 December 2020. Terms and conditions apply – visit website for details.
12470164-DL47-20
19 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
Advertising feature
Who’s making Christmas pudding? Nola took up watercolour painting at the age of 79 and hasn’t looked back since. Now, aged 96, she lives at home and spends her days painting beautiful landscapes, portraits and everything else in between.
T
he Melbourne great-great grandmother has even had her works exhibited at her local neighbourhood centre, where she enrolled for watercolour classes nearly 20 years ago. And Nola, who has arthritis, is delighted to be living her best life at home thanks to a home care package through Uniting AgeWell, which provides her with domestic assistance. Nola keeps cuttings of photographs from newspapers for inspiration to paint, using watercolour, gouache, coloured Indian ink, pastel or charcoal. “Mixed media is a favourite,” Nola says. “I enjoy painting and it’s certainly helped me fill in time during isolation.” Now that restrictions have lifted, she’s looking forward to being able to once again share her other passion – cooking – with the rest of her very large family. She loves whipping up a storm in the kitchen, anything from lemon butter to pies and Christmas pudding. So, guess who’ll be making this year’s Christmas pudding! Nola is one of the thousands of clients receiving home care services through not-for-profit aged care provider Uniting AgeWell, across Victoria and Tasmania – with many in Melbourne’s north and west. Uniting AgeWell is now also delivering
Nola and, inset, her artwork. (Pictures: Supplied)
home care services to some 900 clients in the Brimbank council area, as well as those in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong. Rohan Bond, Uniting AgeWell program manager West Metro Home Care says with 80 per cent of clients living alone, extra welfare checks and one-on-one visits are
being done to ensure they’re OK. Rohan says an upside to the pandemic is that many people adjusted their home care packages to buy electric beds, mobility scooters and install ramps in their homes to enable them to live more independently during isolation. So now that things are
getting back to normal, they’ll be able to continue living their best lives possible. Clients can also access Uniting AgeWell’s North West Metro Short-Term Restorative Care package – an early intervention program that aims to reverse and/or slow functional decline in older people and improve their wellbeing. Rohan says the pandemic has taken its toll on family carers who reported being exhausted, with a growing need for respite. Uniting AgeWell provides respite in the home as well as centre-based. All Uniting AgeWell residential communities, including Preston, are offering respite stays, with a special package offering a three week stay for the price of two. It’s also useful for those recovering from a hospital procedure who need extra care before returning home. The facilities all offer 24-hour clinical and dementia care. For inquiries about Uniting AgeWell home care packages, respite stays and residential facilities, phone 1300 783 435 or visit www.unitingagewell.org
My Aged Care letter arrived? Need support at home now?
4575
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A Home Care Package with Uniting AgeWell offers you tailored care and support
More care hours and low administration fees Personal care Domestic and personal assistance Clinical care and allied health services
Transport assistance for shopping, medical appointments and social outings Assistive technology
Find out how you can be supported to live well with choice and peace of mind at home.
1300 783 435
20 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
unitingagewell.org
F th kid
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TODAY Message us on Facebook to share your recipes and activity ideas.
Cook it
Colour it
Colour each panel using the colour code to reveal the picture
MINI M INI B BURGERS URGERS Ingredients 500g lean beef mince 1 small carrot, grated 1 small red onion, grated 1/2 cup grated cheese 1 zucchini, grated 1 egg, lightly beaten
2 Weetbix, crushed 1 tablespoon tomato sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil Mini burger buns (or 8 slices bread) Lettuce 4 cherry tomatoes, halved
Method 1. Combine mince, carrot, onion, cheese, zucchini, egg, Weetbix and sauce in a bowl. Mix well. 2. Form into small balls and press flat with the palm of your hand. 3. Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. 4. Toast buns (optional) and top each with a burger, lettuce, tomato and any other salads you like. Serve. TIP: Bread slices can be used instead of buns - remove the crusts and cut each piece into 4 squares or use a shape cutter to create circles. *Uncooked burgers can be frozen, roll in flour and place between baking paper sheets to avoid sticking. Recipe from www.taste.com.au
Make it
SIDEWALK CHALK Ingredients Plaster of Paris Warm water Tempera or acrylic paint Wax paper Masking tape Small ziplock bags
fun fact
een 12 Elephants spend betw s, plants to 18 hours eating gras and fruit every day!
Method 1. Using a ratio of 1 part warm water to 1 1/2 parts Plaster of Paris, stir together as much wet chalk as you want in a certain colour. 2. Add paint, squirt by squirt, until you get the shade you want. Keep stirring until the colour is evenly distributed and any lumps have been mashed away. 3. Roll tubes of wax paper to the width you want your chalk at and tape one end closed using masking tape. 4. Spoon wet chalk mixture into a ziplock bag, close it and snip the corner to make a piping bag. 5. Pour the mixture into the prepared wax tubes (add extra tape if you need to) and stand upright in a jar or box to dry. 6. Leave chalk for 24 hours to dry. 7. Undo tape and remove paper on each tube to reveal your chalk stick - and it’s ready to use! TIP: Toilet paper rolls are great moulds for sidewalk chalk sticks, just line with wax paper. Recipe from www.food52.com
PRIVATELY ownEd And fAmILY oPERATEd EARLY EducATIon And chILdcARE cEnTRE cATERIng foR chILdREn 8 wEEks To 5 YEARs oLd • 7 AgE sPEcIfIc Rooms 4 AgE APPRoPRIATE ouTdooR PLAY sPAcEs PERmAnEnT dEdIcATEd PRofEssIonAL EducAToRs nuTRITIonAL mEALs PRoVIdEd • LIVE uPdATEs of YouR chILds dAY VIA kooL konnEcT APP
12459348-HL41-20
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21 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
PUZZLES SUDOKU
No. 003
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.
easy
6 1 5
7 5 2 8 3
4
7 4 7 4 5 8 9 6 8 3 5 9 5 6 8 7 8 3 6 1
4 1 6
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS
DOWN Spectacles (7) Neighbour of Mexico (9) Listlessness (5) Components (5) Celebrated (9) Citizens of the US (9) Preamble (colloq) (5) Winners at Hastings in 1066 (7) Related to pressurised water systems (9) Recruit (9) Promise (9) City in California (7) Cooked with water vapour (7) Mythical shooter of lovers (5) “I don’t know” (colloq) (5) Places (5)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14
Concert (3) Clarification (11) Another time (5) City in New York (9) Group of organisms (7) US state (7) Cut (5) Periods before elections (9) Left behind (9) Water birds (5) Very outdated (7) Sickness (7) Eviction (9) — pole (5) Pharmaceuticals (11) Finish (3)
1 3 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 20 22 24 25 26 27
15 16 17 19 21
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medium
7 5 6 8 2 7 6 9 8 5 3 7 4 8 1
No. 003
DECODER
No. 003
WORDFIT
No. 003
4 9 2
7 5 2
3 9 2 7 1
hard
6 7
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J U H Z E G S V C R Q P F 9
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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 words ending in “s”.
Today’s Aim: 28 words: Good 42 words: Very good 56 words: Excellent
N H I
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V E
S
4 3 6 5 7 1 8 9 2
1 8 9 6 2 3 4 5 7
3 6 2 7 4 5 9 8 1
9 4 8 1 3 6 2 7 5
7 1 5 2 8 9 3 6 4
5 9 1 4 6 8 7 2 3
6 2 3 9 1 7 5 4 8
8 7 4 3 5 2 6 1 9
3 7 6 9 1 2 5 8 4
8 4 9 7 5 6 3 2 1
5 3 2 1 9 8 6 4 7
1 6 7 4 2 3 8 5 9
9 8 4 5 6 7 2 1 3
6 9 1 2 7 5 4 3 8
4 5 8 6 3 1 7 9 2
7 2 3 8 4 9 1 6 5
1 6 8 2 3 4 5 7 9
4 9 2 5 1 7 3 8 6
3 7 5 6 8 9 4 1 2
6 3 1 7 5 2 8 9 4
8 5 9 1 4 6 2 3 7
7 2 4 8 9 3 1 6 5
2 1 3 9 6 5 7 4 8
9 8 7 4 2 1 6 5 3
5 4 6 3 7 8 9 2 1
$70
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22 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
3 LETTERS CUTS SIR TIC
9-LETTER WORD
A
advise, adviser, aver, avid, dervish, diva, divan, dive, diver, drive, driven, have, haven, hive, invade, invader, naive, nave, rave, raved, raven, ravine, ravish, ravished, rive, rived, riven, save, saved, saver, shave, shaved, shaven, shaver, shiver, shrive, shrived, shriven, vain, vainer, vane, vanish, vanished, varied, varnish, VARNISHED, vase, vein, vend, vera, viand, vide, vied, vine, visa, visne
2 1 5 3 8 4 9 7 6
2 5 7 8 9 4 1 3 6
Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
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MD A I OW Y X L N B T K
6 8
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4 LETTERS HAWK KILT KNIT RANK 5 LETTERS ABIDE DRYER MERGE NASTY
REIGN UPSET
ORIGAMI RUMMAGE
6 LETTERS CHORDS CRINGE ENZYME INCOME MARMOT ORCHID SIESTA
8 LETTERS ETHERNET JAUNDICE JUNCTION TUTORED VEHEMENT
7 LETTERS ABDOMEN ANAGRAM CITADEL 20-11-20
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Finding a good personal trainer As the weather warms up and the COVID restrictions continue easing, you may notice an influx of personal training groups around your local area – and you may even be interested in joining one of them. But, how do you know which group and which personal trainer will be the best fit for you? There is such a wide scope of experience and areas of expertise within personal training – so it is really going to depend on exactly what you are hoping to achieve. This is the first thing you need to do: become clear on your own health and fitness goals. What are you hoping to achieve? When are you hoping to achieve it by? How much time can you dedicate? Once you know this, you can be armed with better information to help you consider the rest of these handy tips:
A few simple steps can help you find a personal trainer that is the right fit for you. (Staples Media)
trainers in your area, so seek recommendations this way first. If not, use popular searches to help you see the ratings of each trainer. That said, not all trainers can be found this way – often times, trainers employed by larger gyms may not have their own social media presence.
What do the participants/clients look like? Do they look like people you could have a good chat with? Do they look like people you could at best make friends with, and at worst get along with? Like attracts like, so if the participants in the group look like your kind of people, then you’ll find it easy to fit in. And more than that, the trainer should be experienced in working with people just like you.
Get recommendations You may already have some friends that see
So, what experience does the trainer have? While not all trainers are required to be registered, Fitness Australia (www.fitness.org. au) is a great first resource to find out about the trainers operating in your area, and what experience they have. But also, don’t be afraid to ask. Some trainers will have a wealth of experience in strength training, while others will be more well versed in long distance running. Just as other professions have areas of expertise, so too do personal trainers.
What ongoing professional development does the trainer do? Because not all personal trainers are required to be registered with a governing body, not all will be undertaking ongoing professional development (yours truly excluded, of course). Feel free to ask a trainer about this – they should be able to tell you about the past few courses they did and how that will help them help you.
be interested in gently easing back into exercise after the birth of a baby – but if the trainer talks about getting results through high intensity exercise, then again, they may not be a great fit.
Get quotes on training rates
What results do their clients get?
There really isn’t a guidebook for trainers on how much to charge – so if you have a few trainers in your area offering a similar service, feel free to get quotes. This will tell you a few other things as well – their professionalism and their client relationships.
Asking this question will give you a great idea of what you’re going to get out of going to a particular trainer. You may be interested in decreasing your 5km running time, but if the trainer talks about weight lifting gains, then this may not be the trainer for you. You may
At the end of the day, we are ‘personal’ trainers. So, the trainer’s ability to connect with you, understand your goals and communicate their ability to help you will help you decide who to work with.
SPORTS QUIZ 1. Who was the 2020 US Open women’s singles champion? 2. Name the five English cricket venues that hosted the 2019 Ashes series. 3. Which English professional snooker player is currently ranked number one in the world?
4. Which soccer team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the first time it had not made the tournament since 1958? 5. Which team did the Melbourne Vixens defeat 66-64 in the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball grand final? 6. The 2020 Tri Nations Series is contested between which three countries? 7. Which country hosted the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships? 8. Who won the 2020 Brownlow Medal? 9. Which soccer team won the 2020 UEFA Champions League final? 10. Which American Thoroughbred racehorse won the 2020 Pegasus World Cup? 11. Which team did New Zealand defeat in the final of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland?
12. Who is the highest ranked Australian male golfer as of November 2020?
Naomi Osaka
13. Which nation won the 2019 Rugby Championship? 14. Who won the men’s 100 metres at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar? 15. Who won the 2020 AFL Coleman Medal? 16. Which team won Major League Baseball’s 2020 World Series? 17. Which sailing team won the 2017 America’s Cup? 18. Who did Sofia Kenin defeat to win the 2020 Australian Open women’s singles title? 19. Which horse won the 2019 Melbourne Cup? 20. Who won the 2020 Women’s London Marathon? 21. Which tennis player won a record 13th French Open singles title this year? 22. Which country won the 2019 Rugby World Cup?
23. The Hopman Cup was held for the last time in which Australian city? 24. Who was the #1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? 25. A statue of which AFLW player was erected in Melbourne’s Federation Square?
29. Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah plays for which English Premier League club? 30. The 2019 Youth World Weightlifting Championships were hosted by which US city?
26. Lewis Hamilton (pictured) drives for which team? 27. Which country was runnerup in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup? 28. Who did Naomi Osaka (pictured) beat to win the 2019 Australian Open women’s singles title?
Lewis Hamilton 1. Naomi Osaka. 2. Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval. 3. Judd Trump. 4. Italy. 5. West Coast Fever. 6. Argentina, Australia and New Zealand 7. Sweden. 8. Lachie Neale. 9. Bayern Munich. 10. Mucho Gusto 11. England. 12. Adam Scott. 13. South Africa. 14. Christian Coleman. 15. Tom Hawkins. 16. Los Angeles Dodgers. 17. Team New Zealand. 18. Garbiñe Muguruza 19. Vow And Declare. 20. Brigid Kosgei 21. Rafael Nadal. 22. South Africa. 23. Perth. 24. Kyler Murray. 25. Tayla Harris. 26. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. 27. South Korea. 28. Petra Kvitová. 29. Liverpool. 30. Las Vegas.
2020
25 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
SPORT Stars having ‘a lot of fun’ as training resumes New Lalor Stars coach Josh Nixon said the limited pre-season training the club has had this season has been among the best in his time in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association. Nixon, who takes over as coach from Steven Kemp, said everyone was keen to get out and have some fun after being locked down for several months. “A lot of people have been in lockdown, so the excuses not to train subside,” he said. “We’ve been getting between 30 and 40 people at training, so we’ve had to stagger times. Everyone has been good with all the new codes. “We’ve had a lot of fun and it’s some of the best training I’ve been involved in, it’s real positive signs.” The Stars come into this season on the back of two grand final appearances earlier this year. Both matches ended in draws, with the Stars missing out on the premiership because they
David Worthington. (Damjan Janevski)
were the lower-ranked team. In the Money Shield grand final, the Stars were bowled out for 78, with Banyule 2-50 after day one. Day two was called off due to COVID-19 and Banyule was awarded the premiership after finishing higher on the ladder.
The Stars have been able to strengthen their squad with three former players returning. David Worthington returns from Victorian Premier Cricket and Matt Ceravolo from Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association. Nathan Mittica also returns after a few years off cricket. Nixon said they had strong core and depth across all the grades which would make selection difficult. He said they were looking to have strong sides across the board which would suit this season’s one-day format. “We’ve got a strong side with the likes of Steven Kemp, Aaron Amos and now David Worthington has come back. We’re an attacking side, which can get us into trouble at times, but it can be a real advantage. “With one-dayers, it brings the lower sides into it as well. Any side can beat any side.
Eagles target finals By Tara Murray Craigieburn is hoping to back up last season’s finals appearance with another one in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 this season. The Eagles were knocked out of the finals by eventual premier Westmeadows, but had a number of close results which has left them with plenty of confidence heading into this season. While it will be a different division 1 competition this season, with teams from the division 1 west and north competitions combining into one grade, Eagles coach Chris Laffan is confident they can be in the mix. “It’s a little bit of an unknown with different sides and being a one-day competition, where you can get different results,” he said. “We felt, and so did most other sides, that Westmeadows was the benchmark last season and we had a couple of really good matches against them. “Performing like that against a quality side, we will take that. “We hope we can put it together again and will target to compete with the best sides. We will be targeting finals.” The Eagles have maintained their playing group from last season, while adding a couple of key players. Bageshwar Bisht, who played for the Eagles in 2018-19, returns after missing last season with a knee injury. Narinder Sharma has come across from Diamond Valley Cricket Association side Bundoora and will add some more experience to the team. Laffan said he believed that they had the right mix of youth and experience. He said they were hoping the likes of Josh Eaton, Brodie Warren and Adam Davies would take that next step. “We’ve got those guys and then we’ve got the experienced guys around them,” he said. “We have a nice well rounded squad, which we normally always have and we’ll be looking to put together some good team cricket.” Due to COVID-19, the shortened season will be all one-day matches. While the Eagles would have struggled with that in the past, Laffan said they had addressed some areas and believed they were now a good one-day side. “We’ve traditionally struggled in one-dayers as we think we have some bowlers who have the endurance and perseverance to bowl through long spells,” he said. “It’s something we worked on last year and we got Sunny [Shupinder Taggar] in and he can bowl you eight overs. “We tightened up a few screws and the 26 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
Craigieburn’s Brodie Warren. (Shawn Smits) 201643_09
experience from last year holds us in good stead.” The Eagles returned to training Melbourne Cup week, with Laffan saying they had plenty of numbers on the track after the committee had
done a mountain of work to make it happen. “It was definitely a favoured destination to interact and socialise for everyone.” The Eagles kick off their season on Saturday against Spotswood at home.
“You can’t have a week off and that is driving us this year.” Nixon, who has previously coached at Whittlesea and Mernda, said he was excited by the coaching challenge in his second year at the Stars. “I just love coaching,” he said. “Getting something out of the younger cricketers and getting stuff out of players from the firsts, seconds, thirds and fourths.” After a tough year for many people, Nixon said the club had one really clear aim this season. “My big philosophy is to look to bring the enjoyment out for everyone,” he said. “I don’t want it to be a chore to come down. If they enjoy their cricket the skill level should be up and the results should take care of itself.” Tara Murray
Tigers return to the track Westmeadows has already hit the training track in preparation for next year’s Essendon District Football League division 1 season. The Tigers have been training in groups of 10 since early November, with the aim to train as a bigger group when COVID-19 restrictions ease. Tigers coach Mo Kaakour said the players had been keen to get back out on the field after several months of lockdown and a cancelled 2020 season. “We can’t have the whole group together, but we’re doing what we can do to get a head start,” he said. “We’ve had 68 players training across a number of different venues, who were really keen to get back to training and see their mates.” The Tigers put together a strong list for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. Those recruits, including Jayden Ranno, George Nabbout and Aaron Vendramini, have re-signed for the upcoming season. They also added Michael Gillard, who returns to the club for 2021 and Dylan Ryan. “The main aim was the retention of the list, so we haven’t gone out and got many more players for 2021,” Kaakour said. “We haven’t lost anyone and added two or three players to the club.” Kaakour said the club was focused on continuing to promote within and give younger players opportunities. Their under-18/19 team has played off in three straight grand finals and won two premierships. Many of those players have progressed into the senior side in recent years. “We’ve got good kids coming through and we want to give them an opportunity in the seniors,” he said. “There’s young players from the under-19 grand final like Steven Callanan, Reece Field and Daniel O’Kearney. “I think they are the future of the club.” The club is planning to have three open age male sides. “In terms of depth in 2019, we used 44 players,” he said. “I thought the depth really stood up and I think it will be stronger next year. We’re hoping to be competitive and there at the pointy end of the season.” Tara Murray
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Brand ticks the boxes ahead of AFL draft Calder Cannons defender Cody Brand moulds his game on Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher and he could soon find himself following in his footsteps. Brand is seen as one of the top key defender prospects ahead of next month’s AFL draft ,with many clubs watching the key position player. Essendon has the right to match any bid for Brand, a Next Generation Academy player linked to the Bombers, on draft night. A die-hard Bombers supporter, playing for Essendon would be a dream come true for Brand. “I grew up supporting Essendon and we’re an Essendon family through dad’s bloodline,” he said. “It would honestly be a dream come true to play for the Bombers … but I’m open to any club. Anywhere would be a dream come true for me to play the sport I love, and do it professionally at the highest level. “I dreamt about it as a little kid running
around the backyard, but I’m trying to stay as calm as possible.” As an NGA member, Brand spent time with Essendon during the pre-season and has been in touch with them during the year. He also had Fletcher, who played 400 AFL games for the Bombers, as his backline coach for school football at PEGS. Brand said he was lucky to have been able to learn from Fletcher. “He has definitely taught me a few of his tricks along the way and showed me how to go about your football on field and off field with game vision, how you can improve your defensive capabilities and one-on-one skills.” Tony Lucas, who coached Brand at the Sunbury Lions, is another person who made a big impact on his career. “I played my juniors at Macedon,” Brand said. “I came back to Sunbury to play under Tony Lucas in the under-18s in 2018. Credit to him, he pushed me pretty hard during that year and probably developed me into the player I am physically and mentally today.”
Brand, who is sitting his year 12 exams, said this year was about working on the areas he could. “I’ve done a fair bit of work in the previous years, hopefully to get my name read out on draft night,” he said. “I took on a training program put together by our high performance manager at Vic Metro. It was a pretty rigorous program. “I’ve tried to show my progression through lockdown. Speaking to clubs, they’ve been asking what have you been doing to stay fit and improving on your inadequacies. “I’ve been trying to tick off little boxes.” Brand was selected for the AFL combine and tested alongside other Victorian players earlier this month. A hamstring strain meant he couldn’t do all the testing. While the nerves have started to set in for Brand, he said his year 12 study was keeping him focused. Tara Murray
Cody Brand. (Supplied)
Bulldogs look to build
Matthew Allison is ready for the AFL draft. (Supplied)
Allison puts in the work By Tara Murray Calder Cannons forward Matthew Allison put plenty of hard work in over the COVID-19 lockdown and the results showed at the AFL combine testing. With no football due to the coronavirus, Allison spent plenty of time working on his fitness combining running, skills and weights sessions. The hard work was on show as he tested with the other Victorians invited to the combine earlier this month. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, particularly the two kilometres time trial, to do really well,” he said. “The thing that surprised me was my 20 metre sprint. I had never broken under three seconds before, so I was absolutely stoked with that. “Not sure what my vertical jump was, but I was pretty pleased with that result too. “It has been quite nice, to know all that hard work has paid off.” His strong form at the combine comes after
two good trial games for the Cannons earlier this year. It would be the only two games of football he would get to play this year. “I wanted to perform well in those two games. I wanted to earn my selection for the round one team. “I didn’t play round one as a bottom-ager, so a big reason was that I had that goal of playing round one.” Allison, who is related to North Melbourne premiership player Brett Allison, is a North Melbourne supporter. And it’s a former North forward who he moulds his game off. “Drew Petrie is someone who I kept a close eye on,” he said. “Also Nick Riewoldt … The reason why I sort of model my game on those two, is just the work rate and being able to get up the ground. “Both those guys had elite endurance … It’s one of my biggest assets I pride myself on and something that I really have been working on as well.”
With only two pre-season games under his belt, he knows that heading into this year’s AFL draft has a lot more unknowns than usual. He has spoken with about a dozen AFL clubs and said the experience had been a good one as he looks to achieve the dream he’s had since he was a child. “It’s a bit of the unknown, not knowing what is going on is going to bring a little bit of anxiety, but I suppose I’m pretty excited as well to see what might happen, I’m prepared for either scenario. “Not even having any control over that [no football] is quite challenging having to deal with. For me it was about trying to keep a positive attitude … and stick to my training routine to help me going forward.” If he doesn’t get drafted, Allison said he was prepared for that as well. He’s studying a bachelor of sports management at university. He will look at returning to the Cannons next year to play football, with the competition moving to an under-19 competition.
Bundoora United is hoping to take the next step in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield. Having missed finals by one point in 2018-19, the Bulldogs made finals last season. And while they were knocked out in the semi-finals, Bulldogs captain-coach Mathew Ross said they were coming along nicely. “I think that we’ve been building along really nicely the last few years,” he said. “We’ve got some more kids coming through and a group of experienced players around them. “We’re as good as anyone on our day.” Ross said there had been good numbers at training following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. He said everyone was raring to go. “It has been a long six months,” he said. “We’ve had really good numbers at training and everyone is itching to go across all the grades. “We’re averaging 30 at training a night and for a small club that is good numbers. It’s good to see everyone.” The Bulldogs will take in a similar side to last season, with a couple of outs due to work and an overseas player. The club’s main recruit is Joel Thompson. Thompson comes across from Rosebank, which was a powerhouse in the North Metro Cricket Association. He claimed the Bill McFarlane Medal for the NMCA’s best player in 2015-16. Ross said he had known Thompson for a number of years and he had fitted in really well. “We’re really excited to have him,” he said. “He already knows 90 per cent of the people at the club. He will bowl plenty of overs for us and bat in the top five I would say. “He’s a very handy inclusion.” The Bulldogs started their season on Saturday against Mernda in a one-dayer. Ross said with all matches being one-dayers this season it could shake up the competition. “We usually play two one-dayers a year,” he said. “It’s a completely different challenge for everyone. It’s an interesting test of sides’ depth and ability to adapt in games. “We’re confident we have the squad to do it.” For weekend match results, go to www. starweekly.com.au. Tara Murray
27 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 November, 2020
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