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JANUARY 26, 2021 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

School journey starts

(Damjan Janevski) 225262_01

Twins Avinoor and Parinoor are eagerly counting down the days until school starts. The sisters are among 168 preps starting at Hume Anglican Grammar next week, with 84 enrolled at each of the school’s two campuses at Mt Ridley and Donnybrook. Schools across Hume and Whittlesea will begin welcoming their 2021 prep pupils from Thursday. This week will also mark the opening of three new primary schools in Hume and Whittlesea. Mickleham’s Gaayip-Yagila Primary School, Greenvale’s Keelonith Primary School and Wollert’s Edgars Creek Primary School will all open their doors for the first time. They are among eight new schools to open in Hume and Whittlesea over the next four years, with Kalkallo Commons Primary School, Greenvale Secondary College, Wollert East Primary School and a Catholic primary school in Mickleham scheduled to open in 2022. A Catholic primary school in Greenvale is expected to open in 2023. Laura Michell

Airport bid for more power By Laura Michell Melbourne Airport has asked the state government to give it more power to intervene in developments which could impact aircraft operations or lead to noise complaints. Airport operators Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) has made a submission to the state government’s Melbourne Airport Environs Safeguarding Committee, which was set up to advise the planning minister on improvements to the planning provisions safeguarding the airport. In its submission, Melbourne Airport called for the government to designate it as a referral authority, meaning applicants would formally be required to consult with the airport on any

developments in the surrounding area. The submission stated that the airport is currently notified of planning permit applications as though it were a “third-party objector”. “Unlike a determining or even recommending referral authority, its position on any application has no statutory significance,” the submission stated. The submission cited recent applications and approvals which had the potential to generate a large number of noise complaints or impact on aircraft operations, including housing development in Phillip Street, Dallas, and a waste to energy facility proposed for Craigieburn. It stated the airport receives about 20 noise complaints per month – a figure the airport says will rise in the coming years given the

number of people now living in areas impacted by aircraft noise. Operators fear that if they are not granted a greater say in nearby developments, the airport could face constraints on its operations, such as a curfew or a reduction in airspace. “Constraints such as restrictions on flight paths, aircraft volumes (even during daylight hours) and aircraft types are all potential risks to the flexibility that Melbourne Airport’s operations presently enjoy,” the submission states. “The introduction of any such restrictions would have significant and far-reaching consequences for both Melbourne Airport, and its contribution to the state economy.” Melbourne Airport chief financial officer Grant Devonport said that if approved, referral

authority status would ensure the airport is consulted from the outset on developments subject to noise impacts, and those that have the potential to impact on aircraft operations. A Hume council submission to the inquiry stated the council “remains committed to protecting Melbourne Airport’s 24-hour curfew free operation”. It said meeting the needs of the general population growth of Melbourne, Hume and other aircraft noise-affected municipalities, has been a source of tension at the planning permit stage. “How to strike an appropriate balance between facilitating community needs and expectations against protecting the operations of Melbourne Airport is a difficult question that needs to be given very careful consideration.”

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Safer than houses. Never have any of us been through such a tumultuous time. The restrictions, the isolation, the feelings of helplessness of not being able to change what is going on in the outside world and not being able to do anything to help those most in need.

How have you gotten through this time? In our two Northern Retirement Estates our residents continue to tell us that they are so happy to feel safe and secure within the community and that we have kept them very well informed of what is safe, what is not and what restrictions we have to work with. In fact, many have said they are so glad to be in the village at this time rather than living in isolation in their original family home. Arguably, Safer than Houses.

Why? What have they been able to do that they couldn’t do if they lived in a traditional suburban home? The answer lies in how they have been able to manage and be involved in the little things. It started back in March with Communication to all Residents and Staff - constant, reassuring, encouraging everyone to follow the guidelines and respect the rules that the Health Authorities and The State Government asked us to follow. Ongoing it has involved encouraging people to write down their stories so we could produce a book of life stories. Our Community Our Story is the outcome now published on our village websites. It involved ensuring people had adequate sanitiser and facemasks so that they didn’t have to worry about access to those essentials. It was about making sure that they had essential food and medical supplies and a someone who could deliver these things. It involved making sure that their homes and gardens were still maintained without compromise. Ongoing it involves making sure those that are not lonely, have games to play, puzzles to access, people to talk with on the phone. It has involved encouraging people to get outside and walk and talk to their neighbours at appropriate distance and yet to feel safe doing so within the confines of the retirement estate. In fact, at both our Northern villages there is access to many kilometres of walking trails around the region without having to cross a road. Did we mention our picturesque gardens that people have been able to enjoy during this time? In fact, many people have been gardening, painting and continuing their card marking. The feedback we are constantly hearing is that older Australians want a safe haven from the dangers of living on their own. This is especially the case in these uncertain and challenging times. We have new websites for both our villages and have a limited number of homes to sell now that restrictions are easing. So come and discover what life is like at either The Elms at Kilmore or Bridgewater Lake at Roxburgh Park. Come also and look at our extensive Community facilities and take your pick of what you would like to do, swim in the pool, lawn bowls, cinema. You name it – Freedom to choose, Freedom to enjoy retirement the way you want to.

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2 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

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Food Collective demand grows By Laura Michell A Whittlesea food distribution centre set up just four months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit has received a $75,000 grant from the state government to help it grow. The Whittlesea Food Collective, which was launched in November 2019 by Whittlesea Community Connections and the Whittlesea Emergency Relief Network, is one of four local groups to receive a grant from the government’s Community Food Relief Fund. Whittlesea Community Connections chief

executive Alex Haynes said the grant would be used to improve the food collective’s warehouse at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Epping campus, improve safety equipment and disability access at the site, and train volunteers in food safety and first aid. Ms Haynes said the Whittlesea Food Collective had hit the ground running, making 4960 deliveries to households across Whittlesea between April and November last year. The deliveries included 76,600 kilograms of dry goods, 38,800 kilograms of fruit and

vegetables, 30,980 frozen meals and 12,370 kilograms of toiletries, cleaning products and pet food. Ms Haynes said financial support from Whittlesea council and the community helped keep the food collective operating during the pandemic. She said the food collective was not expecting the demand for its services to ease any time soon, with a surge in households accessing support for the first time expected in March when rent and mortgage repayment “holidays”, and JobKeeper and the JobSeeker coronavirus

supplement program come to an end. Ms Haynes said Whittlesea Community Connections data showed a surge in people accessing help in the two weeks following the first drop in JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments in September. “That will happen again and again. People have spent their superannuation money and maxed their credit cards trying to keep their head above water,” she said. “People who just managed to keep their head above water … they are not going to be able to repay their rent and mortgage.”

Report ‘frightening’ Homelessness is tipped to rise across Melbourne’s north-west as the economic fallout of COVID-19 continues, a coalition of support organisations has warned. The coalition, called Everybody’s Home, recently commissioned the report Double return: How investing in social housing can address he growing homelessness crisis and boost Australia’s economic recovery, which predicts homelessness will rise by more than 13 per cent across Victoria this year. Across Melbourne’s north-west, homelessness is tipped to rise by 21.8 per cent. The report also predicts that 49.1 per cent of households across the north-western suburbs will experience housing stress this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Everbody’s Home spokesperson Kate Colvin has called on the federal government to boost its investment in affordable and social housing to help thousands of families facing homelessness. “A secure, stable home is among our basic needs. With decent housing, we can fulfil our dreams. raise a family, and connect with our community. Take it away and even the most resilient person’s world will shatter into a million pieces,” she said. “Homelessness and housing stress are a hothouse for anxiety, depression and family breakdown. It’s in everyone’s interest to prevent this. “This modelling paints a frightening picture of the months and years ahead. … Investing in social housing is a no-brainer.”

New chapter for community A Doreen family is striving to share the magic of books with the wider community. Danielle Fatchen has created a street library outside her family’s Dunraven Crescent home. She hopes the community will embrace the library by donating or taking books. “[The street library] is something I wanted to do for ages. During last year, all the different community things people were doing – the rainbows and the bears – really inspired me,” Ms Fatchen said. “I initially had a kindness house out the front, with treasures for people to look at. “We like the idea of being able to share books with the community.” Ms Fatchen also plans to create small “whimsical displays” around the library “to make people smile”. She said the feedback from the community since the street library launched earlier this month had been incredible. “My daughter and I put some books out the first night and when we came back in the morning, people had added more books. And others have taken books,” she said. “We are asking people to donate one or two books that you have loved and want to pass on to someone else. We want diversity in the library … a mix of fiction and non-fiction.”

Laura Michell Laura Michell

Danielle Fatchen and daughter Tawny, 4, with the street library. (Damjan Janevski) 225386_01

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A message from our Chair Administrator Ms Lydia Wilson It is very pleasing to see 2021 heading along the path of recovery after last year caused significant disruption to everyone’s lives. With my Administrator colleagues The Hon Bruce Billson and Ms Peita Duncan, we have been enjoying more time out in the community recently, becoming familiar with the City and meeting local businesses and residents.

It is fantastic to see events coming back and we hope to see you at some of these events soon. Among them is the return of our popular Farmers and Makers Market, which is held in the car park at the Council offices in South Morang (see below for more).

Soon, Council will begin a conversation with everyone living and working in the City of Whittlesea to find out what your priorities are for us to focus on for the next four years during the consultation processes for our Council Plan.

Our Summer Series outdoor cinema is on this Friday 29 and Saturday 30 January. Head over to Bundoora or Epping for free local music, a circus spectacular and screening of two great Australian movies – Red Dog and The Sapphires. To find out more visit arts.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Please keep an eye on our website and our Facebook page where we will promote community engagement activities that we invite you all to participate in.

We are also showcasing artists connected to our City who have used their creative talents to tell a story about how COVID-19 has changed the future for our community,

country and planet. It is a fabulous exhibition now on in the Great Hall at Council Offices so please come in and experience the talent and vision of many artists who live and work locally. As a community, we should be proud of how we have united to overcome the challenges of 2020. Thank you for your individual and collective contribution in keeping our community safe. It is important however that we continue to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19), even if we have the mildest of symptoms. Stay safe, stay healthy and I hope 2021 is a great year for you and those close to you.

New Futures art exhibition now open!

South Morang Farmers & Makers Market is back on!

Explore the talented creations of artists who live, work or are connected to the City of Whittlesea. The New Futures exhibition reflects on the changes brought on by COVID-19 to our community, our country and our planet.

Join us for the first South Morang Farmers & Maker’s Market of the year. Enjoy fresh local produce by local farmers and quality handmade products, as well as live music, and kids’ activities. Don’t forget to bring your own reusables!

Where: The Great Hall, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Blvd, South Morang When: 10am-4pm weekdays until 18 February 2021

Where: Council Offices car park, 25 Ferres Blvd, South Morang

Visit arts.whittlesea.vic.gov.au for more information

When: Saturday 20 February, 9am-1pm

Reach out for support Whittlesea Community Connections Provides people in need with food, financial assistance and support. Call: 9401 6644 (Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm)

Lifeline Call: 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days) Text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights). Chat online: lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat (7pm – midnight, 7 nights) Visit: lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service Call: 1800 512 348 Visit: coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au

Business support Call: 9217 2278 Email: business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Headspace

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support

Call: 1800 650 890 Visit: www.headspace.org.au

Call: 0437 425 903 Email: shontia.saluja@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Council continues to deliver essential services, and works are progressing on community infrastructure projects. Other Council programs and activities have also adapted so we can stay engaged and connected while physically distancing. Find out more at whittlesea.vic.gov.au/coronavirus For health information and guidance on current restrictions visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call 1800 675 398

Financial relief If you are having difficulty paying Council rates, fees and charges, you may be eligible for an interest free payment plan or deferral until 30 June 2021. View the COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy at whittlesea.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

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4 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

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Testing times for pathology staff By Laura Michel A northern suburbs pathology lab has processed close to 125,000 COVID-19 tests as part of the state’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus. Northern Pathology Victoria, which last week marked two years of operation, has processed more than 124,389 tests. Pathology director, Frank Hong, said the lab, which is based at Northern Hospital, employed extra staff at the height of the pandemic to

‘‘

Staff have grown so much as a team - Frank Hong

’’

ensure a quick turnaround for tests. He said the extra staff had allowed the lab to manage the surge in testing earlier this month, when more than 1100 samples per day were tested. “When the pandemic started, we had great support from Health Information Services, as well as medical students. After the second

wave, we have employed additional staff as part of our long-term workforce planning to meet future demand,” Dr Hong said. “The staff have grown so much as a team, and all 101 staff are working great together. At the moment, we are based in Epping, but looking to expand our services to wherever it’s needed.” Northern Pathology Victoria operations manager Uttam Punj said he was proud of how the lab had responded to the pandemic. “ I am … proud of our COVID-19 response, and how we were able to keep up with what

is expected by the community, as well as the demands of the hospital. I am pleased to say we have outperformed and achieved what was required of us,” he said. This year, NPV is looking forward to a new, modern Laboratory Automation Track System, expected to go live in late March. The new system will allow the pathology team to expand its capacity. Dr Hong said the project would change the way the lab works and allow it to handle a greater number of samples in the future.

Waste bill tops $2.5m A rise in dumped rubbish across Hume during the festive season has drawn the ire of residents. Many residents have taken to Facebook in recent weeks to report piles of abandoned rubbish, with the site of former donation bins at Craigieburn Plaza and Craigieburn Bunnings hot spots for illegal dumping. Hume councillor, Naim Kurt also took to social media to complain about unsightly piles of rubbish. “Rubbish dumping remains a huge issue in our city. Leaving any items on the nature strip is illegal. It impedes the view of motorists and encourages further illegal dumping,” he wrote. “There is no excuse for dumping. I will be working on making our tips more accessible … In the meantime, if you see any illegal dumping I encourage residents to photograph and report the location via the Hume app.” Hume sustainable infrastructure and services director Peter Waite confirmed the council had received an increase in reports of

dumped rubbish over the Christmas and new year period. “This is common for this time of year,” he said. “These actions are disrespectful towards our community, as ultimately illegal dumping costs ratepayers money and damages the appearance of our city.” Mr Waite said littering and dumping costs the community about $2.8 million each year. “These is no excuse for dumping in Hume as council offers a broad range of services to all Hume residents (renters and homeowners), which includes hard waste collections and tip vouchers.” According to the council, 5642 hard waste collections comprising 1005 tonnes of materials were carried out over the past three months. To book a hard rubbish collection, visit: hume.vic.gov.au/hardrubbish To report dumped rubbish, call: 9205 2200. Laura Michell

Dumped rubbish in Craigieburn. (Pictures: Facebook/Cr. Naim Kurt - Hume City Council)

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Drink driver A 68-year-old Campbellfield man is facing drink driving and unlicensed driving charges after allegedly returning a breath test more than four times the legal limit. Police intercepted the man’s grey Volvo SUV on the Hume Highway about 9.45am on January 14. Police said the man was found to have a cancelled licence and returned a positive breath test. He was taken to Broadmeadows station, where he allegedly blew 0.201.

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Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio at Mill Park library. (Supplied)

Adding value to libraries New books will be hitting the shelves of libraries across Whittlesea following a $1.37 million state government grant. Local Government Minister Shaun Leane and Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio announced the funding, which will be used to buy new books, collection items, run online services and deliver outreach programs. Ms D’Ambrosio said libraries have made a real impact in people’s lives at a challenging time, providing virtual story times for kids, check-in phone calls for members and book deliveries. “The pandemic really brought home the value City of Whittlesea libraries bring to our community. It’s great to see the state government give them the support they

deserve,” she said. “Libraries strengthen and enrich our Mill Park community. They’re places all of us can benefit from and they have a life-long impact.” Mr Leane said the funding was part of a $56.9 million state budget allocation for libraries. “This funding ensures libraries have the resources they need to keep up the amazing work they’ve been doing. Libraries really do change lives and they are about so much more than books,” he said. “It’s been fantastic to see so many Victorians, particularly children and older people, connected through virtual library services during the pandemic..”

Police are appealing for information following an “un-festive“ incident in Wollert on December 13. Police have been told that a car, believed to be a Ford Mondeo sedan, with four occupants, drove past a house that had Christmas lights on display three times about 1am. On the third time, two males got out of the car and used knives to cut away two decorations. Information to Epping police station: 9409 8100 or Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

Are you fire ready? To help residents stay-up-to-date with how to prepare for fires, Fire Rescue Victoria recently released a series of videos in Punjabi, Mandarin, Arabic and Turkish. The videos can be access via FRV’s YouTube channel: https://bit. ly/2LBCjA8 FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Laura Michell

Urban grassfires can spread at 25km/h. Urban fringe grassfires move very quickly. You’ll want to leave, but don’t drive. The smoke is blinding and you can block roads for emergency vehicles. Grassfires aren’t known to spread into built-up areas, so just walk two streets back and check the VicEmergency app for warnings. If you already live more than two streets away, just stay safely inside.

Plan. Act. Survive. Go to emergency.vic.gov.au

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12473879-RC03-21

6 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

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A win for indoor cricket By Laura Michell An elite indoor cricket training centre is on the cards for Greenvale. Hume councillors last month approved the submission of an application to the state government’s 2019-20 Community Cricket Program, seeking $1.5 million for the Hume Indoor Cricket Training Centre at Greenvale Recreation Reserve. If the application is successful, the council will contribute $4.573 million to the project as part of its 2021-22 and 2022-23 budgets. Sport and Recreation Victoria identified a need for five cricket training centres across

‘‘

once in a lifetime opportunity to develop an elite facility - Naim Kurt

’’

metropolitan Melbourne and invited the council to apply for funding from a one-off program to develop the centres. Council officers recommended that the council did not proceed with the application, citing concerns about the timing of the project. But Cr Jack Medcraft raised an alternative motion – which was carried – calling for the application to proceed.

The council received a number of submissions from cricket clubs across Hume expressing their support for the centre. Cr Medcraft said the training centre would be at the forefront of sporting facilities in Melbourne, especially in the north-west. “These training centres [will] …. develop the skills of both young women and young men in cricket,” he said. It is proposed that the training centre will include a six-lane indoor practice facility, female-friendly changeroom, a canteen, storage, office and reception areas and a multipurpose area. A report to councillors said the centre

“could support cricket competition, training, education, events and administration” and become “the home for women’s cricket in the region”. Cr Naim Kurt said proceeding with the application would present the council with an “once in a lifetime opportunity to develop an elite facility”. “I look forward to this project hopefully going ahead and seeing our young athletes, all the way from under-8s to premier league, being able to … stay in Hume.” Cr Trevor Dance voted against proceeding with the application, saying he felt the process had been rushed.

Two Hume suburbs are among the most popular location for solar power, the state government has revealed. According to the government, more than half a million households across Victoria are now generating their own energy through solar, with Sunbury and Craigieburn leading the charge. Wyndham Vale, Werribee and Point Cook in the west rounded out the top five locations for solar power. The government said that as many as one in every five homes have solar panels on their roof. Latest data shows there are now 510,000 small-scale solar PV systems in Victoria – all together they generate almost a third of the state’s total residential electricity demand. More than 15,000 households also have a solar

battery. Solar Homes Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victorians have embraced renewable energy. “Solar is good for jobs, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for bringing down power bills,” she said. The government said November 2020 was the biggest month for solar battery rebate uptake, with 429 applications, while December was the biggest month for battery installations (183). Almost 1900 Victorian households have applied for a solar battery since the state government’s rebate program began in July 2019. The government is offering a rebate and interest-free loan of up to $1850 for households installing solar panels and up to $4174 off the cost of installing a household battery system.

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Road of plenty The team behind the upgrade of Plenty Road is waging a war on waste. Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) and construction partner Decmil have been reusing and repurposing road materials and timber inside the project work site and across the local community, as well as using recycled materials wherever possible. According to MRPV, the surface of the new road is partially made up of asphalt from old road pavements. Any material that isn’t up to standard for the construction of the new road is reused in the subbase of shared use paths, the project team said. MRPV estimates that 13,400 tonnes of material have been recycled to date. The project team has also used glass recovered from the glass recycling process by crushing it into sand and using it as bedding fill and backfill for drainage pipes, while rock and concrete obtained from construction and demolition sites has been crushed and reprocessed to be used in the new pavements. Topsoil and mulch removed during construction is being kept aside to be reused during landscaping. Construction has recently commenced on a new boardwalk connecting Wealthiland Drive to the existing shared user path which is made from recycled plastics, including soft plastics collected by the RedCycle program. MRPV program director Eric Shegog said reusing, recycling and repurposing materials was a key priority for the Plenty Road team. “Wherever possible, construction waste is being reused inside the project work site and outside in the community,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see these materials getting a second life and benefitting the community in so many different ways.”

Epping private hospital plan

The surface of Plenty Road is partially made up of asphalt from old road pavements. (Supplied)

According to the project team, an old River Red Gum which was removed as part of the upgrade is now a home for local animals in Whittlesea Park, with logs from the tree now serving as habitat hollows. Habitat hollow segments were also donated to the Gippsland area where fires decimated fauna habitat early last year. Native timber has been donated to Epping Scouts, a local men’s shed and the Wurundjeri Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation in Healesville where it will be utilised for cultural

practices. Asphalt removed as part of the project was given to the Growling Grass Frog Golf Course, where it has been used to build access tracks and driveways around the course. Stage two of the $178.6 million Plenty Road upgrade is expected to be completed in mid-2021. The second stage includes the duplication of the road between Bush Boulevard, South Morang and Bridge Inn Road, Mernda, as well as upgrades to 12 intersections.

Construction will begin on a new private hospital in Epping later this year. Ramsay Health Care has committed to constructing and operating the new $133 million hospital, which will service one of the fastest growing populations in Australia. The new hospital will deliver extensive medical, surgical and mental health services, with patients able to access a broad range of treatments in specialties such as general medicine, cardiology, vascular, orthopaedics, plastics, ENT, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, oncology, haematology, ophthalmology and gastroenterology. The hospital will be built adjacent to the Northern Hospital, which has one of the busiest emergency departments in the state. It is currently undergoing a major rebuilding and refurbishment. A bridge will link the two facilities. Construction on the private hospital is set to begin in June, with the first stage expected to be completed in 2024 and the second stage forecast to open in 2027. Ramsay Health Care Australia’s chief business development officer Alex Belcastro said the announcement is the culmination of three years of extensive planning and approvals. “This development is widely considered to be the most meaningful greenfield growth opportunity in Victoria and will offer patients in Melbourne’s northern suburbs access to high-quality health care in a private setting close to their homes,” she said.

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3 QUALITY DESIGNS

Bacchus Marsh, Bendigo, Coolaroo, Geelong, Ballarat & Noosa 9 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

COMMUNITY CALENDAR WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au. Deadline for copy and announcements is 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication.

Story time is back

Hanging Rock night walks

Take part in story time in the garden at Thomastown library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown, on Wednesday, January 27, 10.30–11am. BYO picnic rug. Registration essential for all adults and children 12 months and older. ■ www.yprl.vic.gov.au

Discover gliders, wallabies, native birds and more at night walks at Hanging Rock. Guided walks start at 7pm on February 5 and March 12, and take about three hours. Bookings required. Cost: $62 per family or $25 per adult and $12 per child. ■ 5422 0387

Women’s health

Registration day

Brimbank Youth Services and Women’s Health West are hosting a webinar to learn, investigate and ask questions about women’s sexual health. The webinar, which is for women between 16 and 25, will discuss topics such as consent, healthy relationships, stigma and STIs. To register, for the webinar which is on January 28 from 4pm, go to https:// sexualhealthsummer2021.eventbrite.com. au

Taylors Lakes Junior Football Club’s registration and mouthguard fitting day is on Wednesday, February 10, 3.30-6.30pm at Lionheart Reserve. New players welcome for under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 boys and girls teams. Under-18.5 males and females also welcome.

Movie nights Catch a movie at Bundoora’s Norris Bank Reserve on Friday, January 29 or at Epping’s Meadowglen Athletics Stadium on Saturday, January 30 as part of Whittlesea council’s Summer Fun series. The events will also feature live music and entertainment from Curbside Circus with Sophie DeLightful. Top End Wedding will screen on January 29, with Strictly Ballroom planned for January 30. Bookings essential. ■ https://bit.ly/2XDBRnj

Alcoholics Anonymous

Through the lens Summer Holiday Wheel Intensive coach Ludwig Schukin and his students impressed Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski this week. Janevski said the composition of this picture is all thanks to coach Ludwig who directed everyone, who all worked really hard to hold those poses. Road, Whittlesea, 8am–1pm. The market features a variety of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to the perfect plant and even the right part for your lawnmower. ■ www.facebook.com/ mondaymarketwhittlesea

Monday market The community-run Whittlesea Monday Market is on Monday, February 1 at 30 Yea

Badminton The new badminton season is set to

get underway for the Macedon Ranges Badminton Association. With new lights and lines at Tony Clarke Stadium, Macedon, players will hit the court from February 2. Competitions are played on Tuesday night and Thursday mornings. ■ Leith, 0402 791 263; David, 0419 589 425; or email macedonrangesbadminton@gmail.com

Regular face-to-face meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous have resumed. Meetings are held at St Thomas Anglican Church, 117 Synnot Street, Werribee, on Mondays from 7.30pm and St Andrew’s Church Hall, Williamstown, on Wednesdays from 7pm. Werribee: 0412 432 760. For other face-to-face and Zoom AA meetings call 1300 22 22 22 or visit wwww.aatimes.org. au

Coffee time Want to learn how to make coffee? Ready Set Work Barista is running a course at Keilor Downs on February 23 (online) and 24 (face-to-face work). The course is being held at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre. Details: Jesuit Community College on 9415 8700.

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10 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Your pictures

COMMUNITY

Star Weekly readers share some of their favourite moments with family and friends.

Tony is excited to start his first day of prep at Kismet Park Primary School in Sunbury.

Spot of lunch at the Wolf on Watton for Reg and his human. Love that our locals welcome both two and fourlegged-customers.

Beautiful Molly was rescued in April, by her loving new owner Debbie.

Hosts of the Oliver and Lucas kids’ YouTube channel visited Altona Sports Centre to film an educational video with basketball legend Lanard Copeland. Seaholme Primary School pupil, Maya, guest stars in the video with Copeland, who has played NBL alongside Andrew Gaze, won seven All-Star awards and was named Grand Final Most Valued Player. He is now a coach and an ambassador for the centre. Flock being shed at Lakey Farm, Sunbury. Pure bred Labrador Huddie enjoying camping along the Murray River at Echuca.

(Pictures: Claire Quirk)

OPEN DAY SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY 10am - 2pm Preston Campus 8 Clifton Grove 10am - 2pm Bundoora Campus 1436 Plenty Rd Register online www.parade.vic.edu.au p. 9468 3300 ■ registrar@parade.vic.edu.au

Year 7 2023 Enrolments Now Open! Limited places available in other year levels 12473190-SN05-21

11 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

MY PLACE Writer, filmmaker and theatre director John Tummino grew up in Hume and has since gone on to write, direct and produce award-winning films that resonated with audiences across the globe. He spoke with Laura Michell about growing up in the northern suburbs and his latest project, SPOT.

What did you enjoy the most about growing up in Hume? The northern suburbs offered me a lot of freedom and wide open spaces to enjoy and explore. I spent a lot of my childhood riding around exploring the area, getting muddy in Moonee Ponds creek or kicking the footy down at Jacana oval. The area could be rough and ready at times, but I think that gave me a certain awareness and independence. Were you involved in any local theatre groups growing up? I wasn’t really involved in much theatre growing up, other than the odd production at school. It took me a while to work out that is what I wanted to do and even longer to admit that to myself and do something about it. What sparked your interest in writing and directing? My interest in writing and directing started in high school, the world of cinema was always a source of fascination and it was around then that I started reading scripts of the films I loved which piqued my interest further. How long have you been involved in

scriptwriting and filmmaking? I’ve been involved in scriptwriting for about 15 years and I’ve been a filmmaker for about 10. My first public foray into theatre was in 2012 with a season of John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Revolt Theatre in Kensington. Can you tell us about your latest show, SPOT? The concept for SPOT was my co-deviser, Fabio Motta’s idea. Fabio had been wanting to create a show for some time and had undertaken a workshop in 2018 where the initial seed for SPOT popped up. Fabio presented me with a short skit that he had created based on that concept and it was from there that we were on our way! You recently spent some time living in Los Angeles, can you tell us about that? LA is still very much the centre of the film universe and so my wife – who is a film producer – and I have spent some time over there to expand our network and prepare various projects for pitching. It’s always a great place to visit and their level of energy and their capacity to make things happen is always exciting. While Australia will always be our home, we’d be happy to split our time across the pacific for the sake of our work. SPOT, the comedic story of young migrant, Mario, and his devilish alter-ego, a wicked dog named Spot, is at St Kilda’s Theatre Works from January 27-31. Details: theatreworks.org.au

(Supplied)

What’s your connection to the northern suburbs? My parents lived in Fawkner at the time of my birth and we moved to Westmeadows as a family when I was four years old. I grew up in the northern suburbs and went to school there.

NEW YEAR NEW CAREER NOW RECRUITING FOR OVER 3000 POLICE SCAN FOR POLICE CAREERS 12476719-JW05-21

12 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

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

10 years ago

7 years ago

5 years ago

1 year ago

January 25, 2011

January 28, 2014

February 2, 2016

January 28, 2020

The chance to build a better life for her daughter inspired Joni Ibarra’s decision to leave the Philippines for Australia in 2006. The Craigieburn resident and her seven-year-old daughter Anyanka, who has spina bifida, will join 50 other Hume residents in becoming Australian citizens on Australia Day.

As schools start for the year and parents get back to more normal work routines, spare a thought for the families of Aurora Estate, north of Epping, who have been left high and dry with bus stops but no buses. In the lead-up to this year’s budget, Aurora Community Association members are ramping up pressure on the state government to bring buses to their town.

A Tullamarine business owner recently locked himself inside his office with the lights off in fear of out-of-control late-night hoons outside his building. Lachlan Hunter says he’s had enough of the gatherings that have been attracting up to 100 cars to Lillee Crescent.

Two Whittlesea residents have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours for their services to the community and education. Mernda’s Rosanna Baini was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work with Victoria’s Lebanese Community. Whittlesea’s John Kinley Dewar was made an officer of the Order of Australia for his services to education.

PLANNING ON TRAVELLING INTERSTATE ?

ALL VICTORIANS RE-ENTERING VICTORIA WILL NEED A PERMIT

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), all Victorians travelling interstate must apply for a permit to re-enter Victoria.

Do not travel to a red zone. To find out whether your destination is in a red, orange, or green zone, visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne

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13 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Top citizerns compelled to help others Two Roxburgh Park residents have been recognised for their contributions to the community, with the pair jointly named as Hume’s Citizens of the Year. Joseph Youhana and Emel Huseyin will receive the awards at the city’s Australia Day event today. Two other Hume residents were also recognised for their work in the community, with Meadow Height’s Berat Kaya named Young Citizen of the Year and Greenvale’s Charlie Grech named Senior Citizen of the Year. The Sunbury Blue Light Disco received the Community Event of the Year award. Mr Youhana, who arrived in Australia as a refugee 14 years ago after fleeing his home in Iraq, described the award as a privilege. He hopes the award will inspire young refugees to become leaders and make a difference in their communities.

Mr Youhana is a Justice of the Peace, and is a community ambassador for the AFL and Melbourne Victory. He is also a Refugee Council of Australia board member, and last year helped found the Australian and Assyrian, Chaldean Syriac Advocacy Network. He said he felt compelled to help others. “I am very proud to advocate on behalf of refugees,” he said. “I am lucky enough to be in leadership positions to raise the voice for people who don’t have a voice.” Ms Huseyin, who volunteers with Northern Health and is involved with a number of groups including the Broadmeadows Turkish Senior Citizen Club, Homestead Community Centre and the Broadmeadows Turkish Islamic and Cultural Centre, said she was proud to be able to contribute to the community. The Hume resident of 36 years said she volunteered because it made her feel good.

“When I hear people need help … I do what I can,” she said. “I never expected anything in any way. Volunteering means you do things from your inside. “I am proud to be a voice for my community.” Berat was recognised for his work with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, where he is manager of the youth leadership group and works to develop programs and initiatives to better the lives of young people living in Hume. Mr Grech, a former City of Broadmeadows councillor for nine years and Rotary Club of Broadmeadows member since 1978, was recognised for “outstanding service and commitment“ to the community. Mr Grech was involved in a number of local projects including the Broadmeadows Hospital. He also served as president and secretary of the Greenvale Residents Association. Laura Michell

Joseph Youhana. (Supplied)

Gary Doorbar. (Supplied)

Service medal a ‘team honour’

Mates Mike Walsh and Kevin O’Neill were both recognised in the Australia Day honours. (Pictures: VCA Umpires & Scorer’s Association and supplied)

Scoring duo honoured By Tara Murray Michael Walsh and Kevin O’Neill have shared many a scorer’s cricket box at local, state and international level over the years. The two mates are again in the same company after they were both recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours. Both were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division [OAM] for their services to cricket. Mr Walsh, who lives in Keilor East, has been the scorer at Victorian Premier Cricket Club Essendon since 1963. He scored on 17 tours with the Australian team, as well as at plenty of state matches. “I don’t know who nominated me,” he said. “It’s an honour. “I’ve been in the game a long time and you don’t expect these sorts of things. When I got the notification to accept it, I was over the moon.” Mr Walsh played junior cricket at school before starting to score at Essendon in 1963. 14 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

‘‘

you don’t expect these sorts of things

’’

- Michael Walsh

He said there had been plenty of highlights and star players he had seen in his time. “I think the first tour with the Australian team for the 1989 Ashes. It was supposed to be the weakest team we sent over and we won. “The Essendon premiership in 1969-70 is pretty special as well.” He said Ricky Ponting is the best player that he had seen play. Mr Walsh said he would continue to score as long as he could. He was one of the scorers at the recent Boxing Day Test. “It beats gardening on a Saturday.” Mr O’Neill said he was just as surprised by the award. He has been scoring at Carlton since he moved to Melbourne 50 years ago, having started scoring in the country when he was 11. “I was very surprised as there are other

people just as important at Carlton,” he said. “I enjoy seeing the young players coming through the various teams.” The Craigieburn resident said there had been a number of good players come through Carlton, including the late Dean Jones. When he first moved to Melbourne, he would score on a Saturday and play on a Sunday. He has scored at 34 Test matches and been a scorer for Cricket Victoria. He said Australia had won most of the Test matches he had scored, which had been good. Former Indian captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi is the best batsman he has seen. Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are up there for the top bowlers. Both men, who are long-time members of the VCA Umpires & Scorer’s Association, said they had formed a lot of good friendships with other scorers who had been around for a long time. “Meeting other fantastic people has been really good,” Mr O’Neill said. “You get to know them and have a good friendship.”

For more than a decade, Gary Doorbar had dedicated his time to helping the community in its time of need. The Whittlesea State Emergency Service unit controller’s contribution to community and the Victoria State Emergency Service has been recognised, with Mr Doorbar receiving an Emergency Service Medal as part of this year’s Australia Day honours. Mr Doorbar joined the Broadmeadows SES unit 13 years ago, before moving to the Whittlesea unit in 2014. He said he enjoyed the “sense of community, camaraderie and friendship” of the Whittlesea unit. Mr Doorbar helped grow the Whittlesea unit from 10 members to a group of more than 90 volunteers. He said that while he is proud to receive an Emergency Services Medal, he wanted to recognise the contributions of the entire unit. “We have a great team at Whittlesea,” he said. “I would like to acknowledge the people who have helped me achieve this medal. It is not something you can achieve unless you have other people behind you.” Mr Doorbar said he had been involved in many different emergencies over the years, but the one that stood out the most was the search for missing teenager William Callaghan at Mt Disappointment in June last year. “We co-ordinated the search. We had a couple of hundred volunteers over the three days.” Laura Michell

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

BEHIND THE NEWS

Women of the airforce

Oral historian and documentary maker Jessica Ferrari shares her “moving and inspirational” experience chronicling the untold stories of the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force in Point Cook. She talks with Alesha Capone.

s Ferrari runs Memento Media, making legacy memoirs and celebration tributes for individuals, communities and organisations. In 2017, she received a grant from the federal government’s Community Heritage and Icon Grants Program to create an eight-part documentary series about the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) personnel who were based at Point Cook’s air base between 1951 and 1977. The series, which was a finalist in last year’s Victorian Community History Awards and Premier’s History Awards, features archival footage, photos and interviews celebrating the contribution which the “amazing women” of the WRAAF made to the nation. Ms Ferrari said a letter of support from RAAF historian Martin James was a great help in enlisting support for her online documentary series, which has been viewed more than 17,500 times. Ms Ferrari said she came up with the idea for the series after visiting the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, where she was impressed by the aircraft displays but did not see much about the WRAAF’s heritage. She spent two years putting together the series, which including research and interviews Main: Oral historian and documentary maker Jessica Ferrari. (Supplied/Laureen Villegas) Above: WRAAF members, including administrative clerk June Hoy with former WRAAF members. (nee James) who was interviewed for the documentary series, in 1957. Top right: Margaret Campbell (nee Reid) working as a telephonist in the WRAAF, “We spent several weeks doing the research and in uniform. Right: Shirley Lumsden (nee James), pictured right, representing WRAAF as an officer. (Pictures: Supplied) and filming the interviews, followed by well over a hundred hours in the edit suite,” Ms Ms Lumsden was in the WRAAF between Ms Campbell said she enjoyed the sometimes their cheeky male colleagues would Ferrari said. camaraderie between the WRAAF members raid the girls’ rooms for underwear and put on 1959 and 1964, and enlisted in Sydney before a parade to showcase the garments. “I don’t have a military background but the and the lasting friendships she made there. coming to Victoria. Ms Campbell met her future husband WRAAF women were very patient and took the “My working on the switchboard was great, I “It was a very interesting time, something I’d Malcolm while serving in the WRAAF, after never come across before, with women from all time to explain service life and lingo. got to talk to lots of different people,” she said. “In a way, I think it helped to come at the Sometimes, the telephonists would set up a two men visiting the base asked her and her different ages and walks of life,” she said. friend Betty to go out to Laverton. subject with a degree of ignorance as it allowed folding bed when they worked nights. “It taught me things it didn’t teach me in When the girls went to meet the men, they everyday life. me to really unpick the intricacies of military “When I worked at Point Cook, we would life with these trailblazing women.” collect mushrooms on the airstrip and turn the were “under the weather” from drinking “Service life gives you opportunities and it’s One of the women interviewed for the series radiator on its side to cook them,“ Ms Campbell alcohol and the date never went ahead. up to you to take them.” Not to be deterred, Ms Campbell and Betty is Margaret Campbell, a Werribee resident who said. Under a somewhat old-fashioned has written a memoir about her time in the The WRAAF personnel also formed a review caught a taxi to the Laverton venue – where she requirement, women had to leave the WRAAF defence force. company and performed at the Mechanics Hall encountered Malcolm. when they married, which was the case for “We danced all night,” Ms Campbell said. She worked as a telephonist in the WRAAF’s to raise money for the local hospital. both Ms Lumsden and Ms Campbell. Shirley Lumsden, also completed her Signals Section between 1954 to 1958 and did Ms Campbell said the WRAAF ladies were However, Ms Lumsden’s daughter went on her “rookies” training at Point Cook, where she not allowed to have contact with the men’s WRAAF training at Point Cook – she went on to become an Air Commodore in the RAAF later served. block accommodation at Point Cook, although to become an officer in the Air Force. Reserves. 15 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

POLITICS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Broadmeadows’ big build Frank McGuire, Broadmeadows MP After years of lobbying, new jobs and homes are expected to flow in Broadmeadows after the district was designated a priority under the state government’s Big Housing Build. The historic $5.3 billion investment in affordable and social housing, announced last year, is the biggest ever in Australia. The Australian government has also invested $1 billion in (global specialty biotechnology company) CSL for life-saving vaccines. Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to Broadmeadows to make this announcement vindicates my call to designate our precinct for advanced manufacturing four years ago in Creating Opportunity: Postcodes of Hope. This strategy is designed to fast track Broadmeadows through deindustrialisation by attracting new industries to provide local jobs for local people. Securing a $500 million investor for the Ford sites in Broadmeadows and Geelong has proved significant in reversing fortunes, four years after the iconic assembly lines fell silent, marking the demise of Australia’s once proud automotive manufacturing industry. Another big win for Melbourne’s north after a long campaign is the $285.7 million Glenroy level crossing removal. This project will deliver 500 local jobs, a new station at Glenroy and remove congestion in and out of Broadmeadows. I’m delighted to see such progress after launching this campaign. The Broadmeadows railway station has been designated as a super hub in Australia’s biggest transport infrastructure project, the Suburban Rail Loop. Co-investment from the Australian and Victorian governments will create hundreds of jobs in the construction and operation of the new terminal in Somerton that

will deliver freight to the Port of Melbourne. As chairman of the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board 4.0, our aim is to build on these investments by co-ordinating the three tiers of government, business and civil society to maximise results and establish Broadmeadows as a prototype for economic and social recovery, suburban revitalisation, investment attraction and job creation.

‘‘

a $500m investor for the Ford sites … has proved significant - Frank McGuire

’’

The board plan leverages the Victorian government’s designation of Broadmeadows as a place of state significance, one of six Central Activities Districts as part of Plan Melbourne, and one of eight priority precincts to be developed under Melbourne’s North-West City Deal, announced last year. Hume City Council has unprecedented capacity to invest on behalf of the municipality, at record low cost, in shovel ready and pipeline projects. Investments in schools and social cohesion in Broadmeadows is continuing and includes $10 million budgeted for the Jacana School for Autism and $7.8 million for Fawkner Primary School. Extra funds have been committed to engage primary school students with complex education needs through Project REAL, delivered in partnership with 15 local schools for vulnerable students and the Northern Centre of Excellence for School Engagement. Funds have also been designated to plan upgrades at John Fawkner College.

(Supplied)

Support Local We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions

Doing things differently during covid-19?

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re easing congestion by building better roads across our suburbs. We’re also preparing the Mernda Line for High Capacity Signalling as part of the Metro Tunnel.

Need to let your customers know?

Buses replace trains in both directions: Mernda Line

Epping and Mernda 8:30pm to last service each night from 1 to 4 Feb, 8 to 11 Feb, 15 to 18 Feb, 22 to 25 Feb 9pm 12 Feb to last service Clifton Hill and Reservoir 14 Feb 8:30pm 26 Feb to 28 Feb

Parliament and Reservoir

Waterview Drive closed at Plenty Road intersection

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

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Throughout Feb

2157

Waterview Drive, Mernda

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Closed roads, lanes and ramps:

Contact retail@starweekly.com.au to see how Star Weekly can help. #InThisTogether

FEATURING . . . MY COMMUNITY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The best of three

ABOUT BELGRAVIA LEISURE Formed in 1990, Belgravia Leisure is passionate about connecting communities to leisure. Working in partnership with government, not-for profit and the commercial sector, Belgravia Leisure has a strong track record of delivering diverse, accessible and affordable health and wellness services across Australia and New Zealand. Currently partnering with more than 50 local and state government authorities, Belgravia Leisure adopts an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable approach to operations across all its sites, with a focus on healthy communities. Belgravia Leisure employs more than 5000 staff in 180-plus swim, sports, fitness, health and wellness and leisure facilities, and is part of Australian company, Belgravia Group, which also owns Genesis Fitness Clubs, Coaching Zone and Ninja Parc.

Yarrambat Park Golf Course, Golden Hills Brewery and Yield Specialty Coffee Roasters are uniting to celebrate the summer season and being back in business after a tumultuous year of COVID-19-related restrictions and closures. The special two-week-long ‘Back in Business’ summer launch from Friday, January 15 to Friday, January 29 will coincide with the official unveiling of Yarrambat Golf Course’s multi-million-dollar upgrade which includes Belgravia Leisure’s signature Goanna Golf mini-golf course and Grasslands restaurant. The golf course, a Nillumbik Shire Council leisure facility, is operated and managed by Belgravia Leisure. The exciting 18-hole mini-golf course is part of the premium hospitality offering that includes upgrades to the traditional course, and Grasslands – a premium new cafe and bar that transforms Yarrambat Golf Course into a family destination.

Grasslands restaurant launch Grasslands will kick off with a tap takeover by Golden Hills Brewery, featuring a range of craft beers, brewed locally in Diamond Creek by their onsite expert and head brewer, Steven Matthews. Patrons can also enjoy Yield Specialty Coffee’s seasonal blend, from local roasters Piccolo Meccanico. The newly opened Grasslands bar and restaurant has two liquor licenses, allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages at the bar or takeaway to enjoy on the golf course.

Goanna Golf mini golf course For younger members of the Nillumbik community, the mini golf course will entertain. The course complements the local landscape, encouraging an appreciation of the wildlife and vegetation of Nillumbik. There’s an educational component to the game, with each mini golf hole themed around a native animal, with information and facts about the species. The course has trick holes and secret passageways to challenge players. Nillumbik mayor Peter Perkins says it was great to see the new Grasslands restaurant partner with other local businesses to further showcase local produce. “This is a wonderful example of our business community working together,” Cr Perkins says. “The mini golf course will complement the

Top: Locals enjoy the Yarrambat Park Golf Course. Centre: The newly opened Grasslands bar and restaurant. Above: Younger members will love the mini golf course. (Pictures: Supplied)

upgraded restaurant well and introduce more families to the world of golf. “Getting outdoors, being active and supporting local businesses has never been more important after the year we have just had.” Belgravia Leisure chief executive Nick Cox

says changes to Yarrambat Golf Course would provide new opportunities for the Nillumbik Shire community to connect and engage in the great game. “With the large number of families that already enjoy the precinct for picnics and recreation, there is a huge opportunity to

engage new users to get into golf via an inclusive family destination,” Mr Cox notes. Yarrambat Park Golf Course, 649 Yan Yean Road, Yarrambat. Inquiries: 03 9436 2201 or visit www.yarrambatgolf.com.au 17 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020

Outstanding results attract international attention Principal Peter Cooper says it was another successful year at The Kilmore International School for students undertaking the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in 2020. “In a year that will be remembered for the emergence and impacts of COVID-19, the school withstood evolving challenges and continued to deliver high quality education to its community. “A number of local students achieved outstanding results, including Oscar Mikic (Whittlesea), Charlie Nuske (Kilmore), Daniel Gower-Hall (Kilmore), Natasha Bourne (Wallan) and Simar Aujla (Craigieburn).”

Congratulations to Oscar Mikic, School Captain

Left: Graduating class of 2020. Above: High score achiever Oscar Mikic. (Pictures: Supplied)

International boarding student cohort

Year 12 graduates

Gamin Nam (Korea), School Captain, and Tuan Phong Vu (Vietnam) both obtained a final score of 42. Bryan Handoko (Indonesia), Aom Isarakarnkul (Thailand), Konoka Ito (Japan) and Xi Yu (China) all obtained high scores. “The high-achieving cohort of 2020 has received first-round offers in areas of commerce, engineering/computer science, paramedicine, and pharmacy, both in Australia and at international universities in the UK, USA, and South East Asia.”

“Overall, 12 per cent of our Year 12 graduates scored an IB result equivalent of an ATAR of 98 or above, while 54 per cent scored above 90. Our IB average score translated to an ATAR average of 90.” “The graduating cohort of 2020 notably achieved 37 bilingual diplomas and recorded an astounding 53 perfect subject scores across 27 subjects.” Reflecting on the student outcomes, Mr Cooper continues: “We are immensely proud of our students, who have achieved remarkable results under remarkable circumstances.

“The dedication of our entire staff sees the school stand amongst some of the highest achieving in the state.” Enrolments for The Kilmore International School remain open, with applications available for 2021-2023 across all year levels. Numerous scholarship opportunities are also available, including the new Innovation Scholarship initiative open for applicants in Years 5-10 in 2022. Applications close on April 9, 2021. The Kilmore International School, 40 White Street, Kilmore. Inquiries: 5782 2211 or www.kilmore.vic.edu.au

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“Oscar achieved an IB score of 43 out of 45 (ATAR equivalent 99.55). He graduated with the subject award for four of his six IB subjects ranging from Chemistry to Indonesian. This led to offers from the Australian National University for their Flexible Double degree and also for commerce at The University of Melbourne and the Melbourne Principal’s Scholarship. He is also a Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar. “During the COVID year, Oscar led the school – in particular the year 12 cohort – with great calmness, humour and maturity, helping others to keep their focus on their studies and mental health despite the repeated interruptions to their school life. He received the Principal’s Award for Leadership excellence. “Oscar joined the school in Year 8 and was always a very keen participant in a range of UN Youth activities, the Evatt speaking competition, Model United Nations and various state conferences.”

The Kilmore International School 40 White Street, Kilmore, Victoria, 3764 W kilmore.vic.edu.au T 03 5782 2211 E enquiries@kilmore.vic.edu.au ABN 21 083 505 131 CRICOS 00671E

ENROL NOW Scholarships for 2022 available

18 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 013

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

7 2

4 1 9 8

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

9 1

7 8

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

Acidic (4) Picking up from where you left off (10) Subvert (9) Fierce weather (5) Coagulate (4) Spreading to wide area (9) Ultimate (7) Cleaning scoop (7) Withstands (7) Siblings (7) Displace (bone) (9) Cut (with axe) (4) Lack of order (5) Meddle (9) Medium-size naval vessels (10) Throne platform (4)

1 3 10 11 12 13 15 16 18 20 22 25 27 28 29 30

No. 013

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 21 23 24 26

Bullet (4) Moves in waves (9) Villains (9) Operators (5) Own (7) Idols (5) Dexterity (10) Squirm (6) Propagated (10) Rebel (9) Unexplained events (9) Fund an event (7) Locked and safe (6) Suns (5) Peace (5) Stinging insects (4)

DECODER

No. 013

3 2 8 6

3 5

4 7

9 8

8 9

5 4

3 3 7

6 5 hard

8 9 5

10 11 12 13

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

L 18

9-LETTER WORD 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: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good 28 words: Excellent

T X

3 LETTERS ALL ARE AVO BAR EEL EGO ELF ERA GAP GEE GET HER ILL ION IRE IVY LAP LEG LOP ORE SOD SOS TEA TIN TOE VIP 4 LETTERS AWES BODY CUBE EARL EDGE GILL GIST GLEE ISNT MEAN MOLE NULL PAIN ROOF TAUT

TEXT THEE UGLY 5 LETTERS AMISS ANNEX APRIL APTLY ASHES AUDIO BARNS CEDAR CLEAR DIALS DIRGE ELOPE EVOKE GAMMA GORED IDEAS

No. 013

INLET IVIES LEASE LOATH METRE MIAOW MUSED MUSTS NORTH OGLES OVALS PAGAN PROPS PULSE RESET RIPEN SCANT SHRUG SLEPT SPELT SPENT

STAFF STAGE UNCLE UNTIE URINE UTERI YOKEL 6 LETTERS OTTERS SETTLE 7 LETTERS AEROSOL COLLAGE

DEFILES ERASURE MOTLEYS VERTIGO 8 LETTERS FESTIVAL RESTLESS SMARTING STANDOFF 10 LETTERS ANCESTRIES ECONOMISTS

celt, cite, cited, city, deceit, deity, delict, diet, edict, edit, elect, elite, excite, excited, EXCITEDLY, exit, exited, leet, lite, teed, telex, tide, tidy, tied, tilde, tile, tiled, yeti

3 9 7 5 4 8 1 2 6

5 6 4 7 2 9 8 1 3

3 7 1 8 5 4 2 6 9

2 8 9 3 6 1 7 5 4

9 5 8 6 3 2 1 4 7

1 4 2 9 7 5 3 8 6

7 3 6 1 4 8 9 2 5

8 2 7 4 9 6 5 3 1

6 9 5 2 1 3 4 7 8

4 1 3 5 8 7 6 9 2

5 1 2 7 9 6 8 3 4

8 6 4 2 3 1 7 9 5

6 3 1 9 8 4 5 7 2

9 4 5 3 7 2 6 1 8

7 2 8 6 1 5 3 4 9

2 5 9 1 6 7 4 8 3

1 8 3 4 5 9 2 6 7

4 7 6 8 2 3 9 5 1

3 4 8 1 5 2 6 9 7

6 1 7 8 3 9 2 4 5

2 9 5 7 6 4 3 1 8

4 8 2 5 9 1 7 6 3

1 5 9 6 7 3 8 2 4

7 6 3 2 4 8 1 5 9

8 3 4 9 1 6 5 7 2

9 7 1 3 2 5 4 8 6

5 2 6 4 8 7 9 3 1

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

hard

medium

easy

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

QW B Y C H J A R G N V T

2 1 9

D KMO X U F I Z E S L P

WORDFIT

29-01-21

12477687-CG03-21

19 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

AUSSIEQUIZ

15.

16.

17.

18. 19. 20.

1. The WWI effort 2. Paradise Road 3. January 1, 1901 4. Charles Cochrane-Baillie (Lord Lamington) 5. Gundagai, NSW 6. Edith Cowan 7. 14 years 8. True 9. January 26, 1788 10. Bondi Beach

SOLUTIONS

10.

14.

21.

22.

23. 24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Which prime minister lead Australia during World War I? What animal was featured on the Australian one-cent coin: a frill-necked lizard, a gliding possum or a lyrebird? Which Australian animal has cubed-shaped poo? Which prime minister was the first to reside at the Lodge? Jessica Mauboy (pictured) competed at Eurovision in which year? What NBA team does tennis star Nick Kyrgios support? Which two railway lines cross the Australian continent completely, coast to coast? True or false: the word ‘selfie’ originated in Australia? Which of the following is not an Australian invention: polymer banknotes, the electric drill, Google maps or Bluetooth? The scientific name Macropodidae refers to which group of native Australian animal?

31.

22.

33.

34.

35.

36. 37.

38.

39.

40.

When did Australia Day first become a national public holiday on 26 January? What words does Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman have tattooed on her arm? Which Australian author appears on the 50-dollar note? When were the Aboriginal flag and the Australian flag first raised together on Sydney Harbour Bridge for Australia Day? What date has the Triple J hottest 100 been moved to? Who wrote the lyrics of Waltzing Matilda? Who was awarded Australian of the Year in 1992? For which film did actor Deborah Mailman (pictured) win her first AFI award? Where was bushranger Ned Kelly’s “last stand”? What civic ceremony is popularly held on 26 January?

20 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

T A

L I

A A

R S

SOLUTIONS: alas, alias, alit, altar, aria, aril, astir, astral, atlas, atria, aura, aural, austral, AUSTRALIA, lair, lariat, last, liar, lira, rail, rata, rial, ritual, sail, salt, sari, sitar, slat, stair, star, sutra, tail, tala, tarsal, tarsi, tiara, trail, trial, tsar, ultra

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”.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

Which ship of the First Fleet was first to arrive at Botany Bay? Which Australian prime minister is the only one to have taken office on Australia Day? When did Advance Australia Fair become the national anthem of Australia: 1972, 1984 or 1991? Guy Sebastian (pictured) won Australian Idol in which year? In 1837, what event was first held that has since become annual? ‘How’s the serenity’ is a quote from which classic 1997 Australian film? Who was the captain of the Australian cricket team for the 1999 World Cup? On October 24, 1889, where did Sir Henry Parkes give a speech that was pivotal in setting the course for federation? The world’s largest stained-glass ceiling is situated in Melbourne in which building? In 2003, Bob Carr named what as “Australia’s national dish”: the sausage roll, meat pie or chicken parmigiana?

WORDWHEEL 21 words: Good 31 words: Very good 40 words: Excellent

42.

50.

9-LETTER JUMBLE Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list?

41.

? D

Can you work out what the missing letter is that spells an 8-letter word? It could read either clockwise or anti-clockwise. ANSWER: The missing letter is E and the 8-letter word is ADELAIDE.

13.

11. Julia Gillard 12. Cricket 13. 1906 14. Tasmania 15. Sydney 16. New Holland 17. Kylie Minogue 18. Bowen, Queensland 19. False (it is in Melbourne) 20. Alan Border

12.

Which former prime minister of Australia was born in Barry, Wales in 1961? Before making her name on the tennis circuit, Ash Barty (pictured) played what other aussie sport? Australia’s first known film production, The Story of the Kelly Gang, was made in what year? Where in Australia would you find Granny’s Gut and Satan’s Lair? The defunct Big Day Out music festival debuted on Australia Day in which city? In 1817, the word ‘Australia’ replaced what name for the country in official use? Who recently became the first female solo artist to achieved a No.1 album in five consecutive decades? Where is the Big Mango located? True or false: AC/DC Lane is in Sydney? Which former cricketer played the most Tests as captain of the Australian national team?

21. William “Billy” Morris Hughes 22. A gliding possum 23. Wombat 24. Stanley Bruce 25. 2018 26. Boston Celtics 27. The Indian Pacific and the Ghan 28. True 29. Bluetooth 30. Kangaroos and wallabies.

11.

31. 1994 32. “Cos I’m free” 33. David Unaipon. 34. 2013 35. January 23 36. Banjo Patterson 37. Mandawuy Yunupingu 38. Radiance 39. Glenrowan, Victoria 40. Citizenship

The first official Australia Day was held to raise funds for what? Cate Blanchett (pictured) made her feature film debut as a WWII nurse in which 1997 film? On what date did Australia’s federation occur? Lamingtons were most likely named after which Governor of Queensland? Where is the Dog on the Tuckerbox tourist attraction located? Who became the first woman to serve as a member of the Australian parliament in 1921? How long did it take to construct the Sydney Opera House: four, nine or 14 years? True or false: the Hills Hoist has been manufactured in Adelaide since 1945? On what date was New South Wales (the first permanent European colony) established? What famous Australian beach’s name comes from the Aboriginal word for “noise of water breaking over rocks”?

41. HMS Supply 42. Harold Holt 43. 1984 44. 2003 45. Sydney Australia Day Regatta 46. The Castle 47. Steve Waugh 48. Tenterfield, NSW 49. National Gallery of Victoria 50. Meat pie

0-10 Phone a friend 11-20 Not too bad 21-30 Smarty pants 31-40 Walking encyclopedia 41+ Genius!

AUSSIEGIANT 57 Tracks (6) 59 Marriage partner (6) 60 Tasmania is the Apple – (4) 61 Rugby League series between NSW and Queensland, State of – (6) 64 Purple-flowered tree (9) 66 Sink (5) 67 Cut of meat (5) 68 Technology (4) 70 Farm vehicle (coll) (3) 71 Great Ocean Road landmark, The – Apostles (6) 73 Outside the law (7) 74 Rate (5) 75 Australia’s currency unit prior to 1966 (5) 76 Sydney landmark, – House (5) 77 Of the country (5) 78 Respiratory condition (6) 79 18th prime minister of Australia, Sir John – (6)

DOWN

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW 1. Who co-hosts I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! with Morris? A. Grant Denyer B. Chris Brown C. Osher Günsberg D. Beau Ryan

2. Which dating show did she host in 2018? A. Take Me Out B. Love Island C. Blind Date D. Beauty and the Geek

3. Which character did she perform as on The Masked Singer Australia? A. Queen B. Dragonfly C. Cactus D. Kitten

JULIA MORRIS 4. What is the title of her 2009 memoir? A. Don’t You Know Who I Used To Be? B. No Judgement C. I’m Not Even Joking D. Lift and Separate

AUSSIE 5x5 C E K O A L A N E E I T O T

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. One word has already been filled in. There may be more than one solution.

ANSWERS: 1B, 2C, 3D, 4A

21 23

C R E W O A L A N T E R

S K I

10 18

C T

49 An embankment to prevent 30-down (5) 51 Tragically, the Tasmanian tiger is this (7) 54 Tasmanian city (6) 56 See 11-across 58 Gallipoli soldier (5) 60 ‘Molly’ Meldrum’s first name (3) 61 Cephalopod mollusc, Blueringed – (7) 62 The Ghan and Indian-Pacific (7) 63 58-down nickname (7) 65 – Australia Fair (7) 69 Long walks in the bush (5) 70 Northern Territory landmark (5) 72 Eat away (5)

5 6

29 Hunting weapons used by First Nations peoples (10) 30 Common natural disaster in Australia (5) 32 Non-native citizen (9) 34 Built by children on the beach (10) 37 Classic Aussie events, backyard – (9) 38 Australian cameleers (6) 39 Victorian newspaper, The – (3) 43 Pink and grey Australian birds (6) 46 Cabbage salad (8) 47 Burning (5) 48 Australian TV channel (1,1,1)

Pacific region (7) Nationality of 36-across (5) 2002 film, Rabbit-Proof – (5) Fauna (7) Seat of government (7) Australia’s largest bird of prey, –-tailed eagle (5) Regional Queensland city (9) Sweets (7) Tropical North Queensland city (6) South Australian peninsula (5) Monotreme (7) Victorian gold rush town (8) Queensland attraction, – World (3) Football game (5)

O O T

2 3

1, 8-across Australian flower emblem (6,6) 8 See 1-across 11, 56-down Australia’s head of state (5,9) 12 Australian singer, Tina – (5) 13 Australia’s westernmost capital city (5) 14 Arboreal marsupial (5) 15 Holidaying in a tent (7) 16 65-down is Australia’s national – (6) 17 Chiller (3) 19 South Australian peninsula (4) 22 Mythical Australian monster (5) 24 Problem in Australian waterways, Blue-green – (5) 25 Southern lights, seen from some parts of Australia, Aurora – (9) 27 Victorian TAFE, –glen (6) 31 Australian music award (4) 33 Australian game show, Blankety – (6) 35 Northern Territory location (3,3) 36 First known explorer to reach Van Diemen’s Land, – Tasman (4) 40 Boil billy on it (4,4) 41 Sausage (coll) (4) 42 Hopping animal (8) 44 Achieving three wickets in a row (3,5) 45 Queensland climate (8) 50 Flannelette shirts (8) 52 Commonwealth, ANZ, NAB, etc. (4) 53 Pub (8) 55 Pace (4)

ACROSS

21 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

M A D R I D D I S P L AY F O R S A L E

Indulgent living starts here THIS H O ME CO ULD B E ALL YO UR S

F I N D

O U T

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22 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

Rental law delay “the right move” REIV president Leah Calnan welcomed the Victorian government’s decision last year to hold off on introducing changes to rental laws, allowing the state to deal with coronavirus. Rental reforms were due to take effect on July 1 last year, which would have been difficult to implement while the real estate industry was dealing with the fallout of coronavirus.

In April 2020, the Victorian government announced that it agreed that it was not the best time for rental reforms and it would hold off for the time being. Ms Calnan said it was a sensible decision. “The … decision to delay the introduction of rental law changes was a huge relief to everybody in the Victorian real estate sector and allowed us to focus our full attention on

dealing with COVID-19,” she said. “Dealing with drastic changes to rental laws would have been impossible to manage when the industry was already dealing with significant increases in workload with reduced resources and income. The financial viability of real estate businesses was also heavily impacted at that time. “Everybody had enough on their plate;

delaying rental law changes was the right call. Delaying changes to the RTA helped protect VCAT from being further flooded with residential cases, creating an unnecessary backlog during the pandemic. “We congratulate the … government on listening to our industry and making the bold decision to delay rental changes which allowed us to … tackle the impact of the coronavirus.

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4. Which current netball team was formed in 2007 after the merging of Melbourne Kestrels and Melbourne Phoenix? 5. Which Welsh-born Australian professional ice hockey player has played for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues? 6. Hidden Valley Raceway, home to an annual round of the Supercars Championship, is located not far from which capital city? 7. Which retired cricketer holds the record for most career wickets in Test cricket by an Australian with 708? 8. Australian snowboarder Torah Bright won the gold medal for the women’s halfpipe competition at which Winter Olympics? 9. Which AFL team played its first game in 1995? 10. The NRL’s player of the year award, the Dally M Medal, is named in honour of which former rugby league great? 11. Which NBA team does Aussie Matthew Dellavedova play for?

12. Which F1 team has been renamed Alpine for the 2021 season?

Usain Bolt

13. Who was the first female horse trainer to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double? 14. What was the scoreline in Australia’s Test series loss to India in the 2020/21 home summer? 15. Which country famously won the Euro 2004 soccer tournament? 16. How many VFL/AFL players have kicked over 1000 goals in their career? 17. In tennis, which country won the most recent Davis Cup, in 2019? 18. Who is the captain of the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby team? 19. Which West Indian legend played cricket for South Australia in the early 1960s? 20. In golf, what is a hole score of three-under-par called? 21. What team did the Perth Wildcats defeat in the 2020 NBL Finals series? 22. How many fights did Mike Tyson lose during his professional boxing career?

23. Which Australian professional golfer and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame has 41 wins on the LPGA Tour, more than any other active player? 24. Who won Player of the Series in the 2020-21 Australia v India Test series? 25. What Adelaide Crows AFLW player received the longest suspension in league history in a 2021 practice game?

27. In what year did snowboarding make its debut at the Winter Olympics? 28. Which Grenadian cricketer played for the Melbourne Stars in the 2020-21 Big Bash League? 29. What sport was played on the moon by Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr in a 1967 landing? 30. What was netball known as in Australia and New Zealand between the years of 1901 and 1990?

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1. Novak Djokovic. 2. Central Coast Mariners. 3. Dolphins. 4. Melbourne Vixens. 5. Nathan Walker. 6. Darwin. 7. Shane Warne. 8. 2010 Winter Olympics. 9. Fremantle Dockers. 10. Herbert Henry ‘Dally’ Messenger. 11. Cleveland Cavaliers 12. Renault 13. Sheila Laxon 14. 2-1 15. Greece 16. Five 17. Spain 18. Dane Haylett-Petty 19. Sir Garfield Sobers 20. Albatross 21. Sydney Kings 22. Six 23. Karrie Webb 24. Pat Cummins 25. Ebony Marinoff 26. Bendigo 27. 1998 28. Andre Fletcher 29. Golf 30. Women’s basketball

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Craigieburn Quality Food Store Cnr Craigieburn Rd & Aitken Rd Craigieburn Milk Bar Store 100 Fairways Boulevard Craigieburn Nanak Indian Grocery Highlands SC 300 Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Woolworths Supermarket 300 Highlands SC Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Highlands News & Lotto 300 HighlandsSC Grand Boulevard Craigieburn Hothlyn Drive Milk Bar Hothlyn Drive Craigieburn Foodworks 130-132 Hothlyn Drive Craigieburn Caltex 315 Hume Highway Craigieburn Metro Petroluem 330 Hume Highway Craigieburn IGA Xpress Grand Boulevard 27-29 Princes Circuit Craigieburn Moey's Milk Bar 2 Smeaton Court Doreen TSG Riverstone Convenience Cafe Shop 1/121 Elation Boulevard Doreen Laurimar Centre Newsagency Shop 8, 95 Hazel Glen Drive Doreen Woolworths Supermarket 95 95 Hazel Glen Drive Doreen Doreen General Store 920 Yan Yean Road Epping Foodworks 10/351 Dalton Road Epping Pacific Epping Shopping Centre 571-583 High Street Epping The Groove Train 571-583 High Street Epping IGA Plus Liquor 1/53 McDonalds Road Epping Greenbrook Milk Bar 2/53 McDonalds Road Gladstone Park Gladstone Park SC 8-34 Gladstone Park Drive Glenroy Pascoe Vale Road Market 815 Pascoe Vale Road Glenroy Glenroy Newsagency 773 Pascoe Vale Drive Greenvale Coles Supermarket 1-11 Greenvale Drive Greenvale Greenvale Newsagency Shop 4, 1 -11 Greenvale Drive Lalor Woolworths Supermarket Hurtle Street Lalor Lalor Library 2A May Road Lalor Dandy Mart 17-19 May Road Lalor No 1 Fruit Market 37 May Road Lalor Coles Supermarket 47-71 May Road Lalor Lalor Plaza Newsagency Shop 22, 17 McKimmies Road Lalor Lalor Plaza Shopping Centre McKimmies Road Lalor Coles Supermarket Lalor SC Cnr McKimmies Road & Darebin Drive Lalor Santino Continental Grocery 296 Station Street Lalor Afghan Supermarket 322 Station Street Lalor Everfresh Fruit Market 346 Station Street Mernda Coles Mernda Mernda Junction SC Cnr Plenty Rd & Bridge Inn Rd Mernda Riverdale General Store 33 Riverdale Boulevard Mernda Mernda Post Office 50 Mernda Village Drive & Galloway Drive Mernda Woolworths Supermarket Mernda Village Drive & Galloway Drive Mill Park Centenary Drive Milk Bar 147 Centenary Drive

Published Tuesday (fortnightly) Mill Park 7 - Eleven Mill Park 252 Childs Rd & Morang Dr Mill Park The Stables Shopping Centre Childs Road Mill Park Grenda Milk Bar Grenda Drive Mill Park Coles Supermarket McDonalds Road Mill Park Westfield Plenty Valley 415 McDonalds Road Mill Park Shriji Supermarket 522 Plenty Road Mill Park Woolworths Shop 8/538 Plenty Road Mill Park Rivergum Village Shopping Centre 538 Plenty Road Mill Park Woolworths Supermarket Cnr Redleap Ave & Childs Rd Roxburgh Park Woolworths Supermarket Somerton Road Roxburgh Park Roxburgh Village Shopping Centre 250 Somerton Road South Morang South Morang Milk Bar 15 Gorge Road South Morang Westfield Plenty Valley SC 415 McDonalds Road South Morang North City Accountants 7/545 McDonalds Road South Morang Coles Supermarket Mill Park Lakes, The Lakes Boulevard Thomastown Foodworks 126 Alexander Ave Thomastown Caltex Thomastown Cnr Dalton Road & Wood St Thomastown Thomastown News & Lotto 223 High Street Thomastown Thomastown Library 52 Main Street Thomastown BP Service Station 72 Keon Parade Thomastown APCO Service Station 228-234 Settlement Road Thomastown Shell Service Station 27 Cnr Spencer St & Dalton Rd West Meadows Shell Petrol Station - West Meadows 36 Fawkner Street West Meadows The Old Broadie Milkbar 40 Fawkner Street West Meadows Claudio's IGA Supermarket 12-23 Fawkner Street West Meadows Caltex Petrol Station - West Meadows 227 Mickleham Road Whittlesea Whittlesea Bakery 34 Church Street Whittlesea NewsXpress Whittlesea 45 Church Street Whittlesea Whittlesea Courthouse Information Centre 74 Church Street Whittlesea IGA Supermarket - Whittlesea Shop 2, 22 Church Street University Hill Coles Supermarket Uni Hill 224 Plenty Road University Hill Wollert Wollert Post Office 491 Epping Road Also available from Real Estate Agents everywhere

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25 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

MOTOR STARWEEKLY.COM.AU The new Mitsubishi Express bears only subtle styling changes from the European Renault Trafic van. (Pictures: Supplied)

Orient Express meets Euro Star By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring

Exterior colours are matter of fact – white, black, red or platinum grey (silver).

Because of the billions of dollars needed to design, develop and manufacture a vehicle these days, economic social distancing is a thing of the past. What were once bitter rivals in a notoriously competitive industry are hopping into bed with each other, sharing automotive architecture, technology and production methods associated with a new car. Recent palling up of Peugeot, Renault and Mitsubishi is an example, which has led to the production of the first Mitsubishi Express van in more than seven years. One look at the vehicle gives the game away, with styling straight out of the Trafic playbook, one of Renault’s most popular products. New grille, bonnet and badging are the only differences. Manufactured in France, the Mitsubishi Express is offered in short or long wheelbase, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. It comes with standard dual sliding doors across the range. Both van styles are powered either by a 1.6-litre twin turbocharged diesel engine or a 2.0-litre single turbo diesel motor with a 25-litre AdBlue tank for improved emissions. The 1.6 unit is available only with a six-speed manual transmission, while the 2.0 model takes a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. All variants are front-wheel drive with what’s called Extended Grip function, a traction control system activated by the driver to assist in low-grip conditions. Mitsubishi versus Renault pricing is pretty much line ball, with the Express GLX short wheelbase 1.6 turbo diesel manual (the test vehicle) selling for $38,490, plus on-road costs, compared to the corresponding Renault Trafic 1.6 SWB Pro at $36,990.

Interior

Styling The Express has been specifically designed to support the busy delivery driver, with sliding doors on either side. There’s also a rear barn door with 85 and 160-degree stops. The latter is made easy for loading and unloading by a step integrated into the rear bumper. The high-sided square-set vehicle rides on standard 16-inch steel wheels, with a full-size spare located under the cargo floor. 26 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

Three hard wearing black fabric seats take pride of place across the whole cabin width. The driver’s seat offers comfort with some lateral support, while the other positions are flat and on the firm side. The driver gets a centre retractable armrest, manual height and lumbar adjustment, as well as a steering wheel adjustable for height and reach. He or she has easy access to controls and equipment. The dashboard top features open space for storage of paperwork and pens, while a smartphone can be clipped into a dash-mounted cradle. Rubber floor coverings make the cabin serviceable and easy to keep clean.

Infotainment The audio system is sparse by modern standards but is enabled for Bluetooth and USB connection, offering hands-free phone and music streaming.

Engines / transmissions The 1.6-litre twin turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine in the short wheelbase Express produces maximum power of 103 kW at 3500 rpm and 340 Nm or torque at 1500 rpm. Mated with a six-speed manual transmission the combination has a measured fuel consumption of 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle. The test vehicle clocked up 8.8 L/100 km during a stretch with similar surroundings and varying loads.

Safety Standard features in the Mitsubishi Express SWB manual include cruise control with speed limiter, automatic stop / go, which can be turned off, and hill start assist. Also standard are rear-park assist, anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control and a driver blind spot mirror in the passenger sun visor. There are five airbags, including driver and passenger front and side curtain airbags, and a driver thorax airbag. The passenger airbag can be manually deactivated in cases where the cabin is reconfigured.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Mitsubishi Express GLX SWB 1.6 turbo diesel manual $38,490 Mitsubishi Express GLX SWB 2.0 turbo diesel automatic $42,490 Mitsubishi Express GLX LWB 1.6 turbo diesel manual $40,490 Mitsubishi Express GLX LWB 2.0 turbo diesel automatic $44,490

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mitsubishi dealer for drive-away prices.

Driving Despite side steps, there is a climb to get into the seats. Grab handles here would not go amiss Setting off has its quirks too, with the automatic door locking going off almost like a gunshot. Under way, however, the Express 1.6 SWB on test behaved in an easy-going manner with the twin turbos whistling along in unison. The absence of a solid bulkhead had the empty van echoing to the sound of intrusive booming in the cabin. However, this became more manageable with the addition of sound-absorbing loads. Short wheelbase by name, but five-metre length by nature put pressure on parking, while solid sides presented a major blind spot, especially when reversing. Large split side exterior mirrors and rear parking sensors helped here, while a wide-angle mirror on the passenger sun visor stepped up to increase rear vision. Loading the 5.2 cu m cargo space in the short wheelbase van is made easy by the all-round

access, with space allowing a standard pallet to be slotted between the rear wheel arches. Loads are held safely by up to 16 tie-down points at various heights. Mitsubishi has recently updated its Diamond Advantage Program, with the new-car warranty extended to ten years or 200,000 kilometres. providing the vehicle is serviced by a company dealer. If owners do not service with a Mitsubishi dealer, the warranty reverts to five years / 100,000 km. Capped price servicing is also extended to 10 years / 150,000 km and roadside assistance to four years with authorised Mitsubishi dealer servicing.

Summary For those with fond memories of the original Japanese Express, the European input might appear misplaced. However, the van on which the new model is based is the tried-and-tested Trafic, one of Renault’s best-selling products.

SPORT National competition preferred for second tier A true national soccer competition is the favoured model for the National Second Division (NSD) competition. The Reshaping the second tier of football in Australia progress report, released last week, sets out the proposed working model for the NSD as developed by Association of Australian Football Clubs [AAFC] together with its NSD Partner Group. It identifies and explores the critical success factors for a successful NSD and discusses the available options for governance and commercial arrangements for the new league, and its clubs. Among the 32 clubs in the partner group are local clubs Altona Magic, Hume City, Caroline Springs George Cross and Melbourne Knights.

The report states that Football Australia chief executive James Johnson, has repeatedly said it was no longer about “if” we will have a national second division but about “how” and “when”. In the report, the group highlights the forming of a new competition in 2022-23 with 12 clubs initially and plans to expand to 16 by 2025. It states there is a pathway gap between the A-League and the NPL clubs. “This report is about what our member clubs can contribute to Football Australia in establishing and operating a true national second tier,” it states. “It is about the best possible. Not about a notional ‘best’ or the merely ‘possible’.” Promotion and relegation with the NPL competitions is essential for the competition,

with discussions about promotion and relegation with the A-League once the competition is established also on the cards. The report looked at three different models for how the competition could run – a national competition; a conference system; and the existing National Premier League’s playing an extended national finals series. The partner group’s view is for a singular national competition. “The proposed model represents the best possible financially viable and responsible true second tier which can be delivered. “We understand it may disappoint those with more ambitious hopes for it from the start – that it might be immediately fully professional, for example.”

While it’s predicted to cost more than the other options, more than $1 million per club, overall the competition structure’s benefits outweigh the others. “As disclosed by the analysis, any savings in travel costs are more than off-set by the expected reduced revenue from such a model,” the report states. “Further, the wider benefits a truly national second division will bring to the game will not be achieved by a localised conference model.” The report a states a national second tier women’s competition would kick-off in 2025. NSD clubs continue to participate in NPL at youth level. The final report is due in April. Tara Murray

Squad leads the way By Tara Murray Williamstown Athletics Club is putting together a female track and field squad to rival the best in the country. Led by Australia’s top female heptathlete Celeste Mucci, the squad includes a number of talented athletes and, with the development of some exciting talent coming through, has coaches at the club excited. Club president Stefan Voorham said the club was proud of its female program. “Through all their hard work, our female athletes have recently achieved fantastic results with six state titles at the 2020 State Championships,” he said. “The Williamstown Athletic Club is excited to watch their development and see them reach their goals.” Mucci, who has been part of the club since she was a little athlete, has gone on to represent Australia in the heptathlon in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where she placed 4th overall. Mucci said the club had done a lot for her and her career. “I’ve been with Williamstown since I was a junior and transitioned to seniors with them,” she said. “I love my small club. They have done a lot to support me over the years and I’m excited to have more of my squad join this amazing club.” Maddie Coates, Kiara Reddingius, Jessie Andrew and Mareelou Boyle have all joined the club in recent years. Coates, from Watsonia, has represented Australia at both junior and senior level, including at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 World Championships in both the 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay. Coates said Williamstown felt like the right fit for her, having previously been involved in coaching clinics at the club. Reddingius, who moved to Avondale Heights from Western Australia, has been with the club the past two seasons and has represented Australia at the Oceanic Games. Jessie Andrew, who is from Riddells Creek, was the 100 metre sprint champion at the Oceanic Championships in 2017 and was the 2020 state 200 metre champion. Yarraville’s Mareelou Boyle has been at the club the past two years and was part of the Australian 4 x 200m indoor relay team that set a new Australian record in 2017. Mucci and Andrew were also part of that team. Up-and-comer Ashlee Farrar is also impressing. She won the Stawell Gift Little Athletics 100m in 2019 and holds many Williamstown Little Athletic records. The club is also establishing a strong coaching line-up. Elite distance running coach Elizabeth Mathews is involved at the club. Among the athletes she trains are Olympian and western suburbs athlete Morgan Mitchell and up-and-coming athletes Lucinda Rourke,

Lily Dodd (middle). (Bowls Victoria)

Young stars on the rise

Maddie Coates. Inset: Jessie Andrew, Kiara Reddingius, Celeste Mucci and Mareelou Boyle (pictured back) with some of the youngsters at Williamstown Athletics. (Pictures: Supplied)

Abby Goldsworthy and Monique Goldsworthy. Matthews said she liked coaching at the club’s Newport track. She said the club is supportive of coaches and athletes and having both a little aths and senior club allows great transition from junior to senior athletics. Darren Clark, another high profile coach at the club, highlighted the location and

supportive club as reasons for their success. Coach Robbie Spencer, who specialises in sprints, hurdles and long jump, believes that having elite, approachable and dedicated role models will ensure the young athletes can “be what they can see”. “We pride ourselves on being a club that accepts any athlete that wants to join.”

Melton Bowls Club members were keen observers of the Bowls Victoria State Champions week earlier this month. With four of its new recruits among those competing against the best of the state, there was plenty of excitement. New club coach Todd Trewarne, along with a young trio of stars Lisa Trewarne, Sophie Kurzman and Lily Dodd, all put in some strong performances. Melton’s Conrad Dawson said the club hadn’t seen results such as these at a state level in a long time. “Results aside this season, we’ve had some amazing young kids coming to the club and kicking goals. “The kids were flying at the championships against the champions of different clubs and regions. “We’ve brought a lot of youth into the club. It was something the club had to do and we’re focusing on. “They’ve done a fantastic job and we’re proud as punch.” Lisa Trewarne paired with her old Sunbury teammate Carla Krizanic, who also won the champion of champions women’s single title, to claim the women’s pairs title in a thriller. Todd Trewarne also teamed up with Krizanic, winning the mixed pairs by one shot. Dodd, who came across from Bacchus Marsh, made the semi-finals of the under-18 girls competition and the final of the under-18 open triples. Kurzman, who came from Sunbury, along with the Trewarnes, won the under-18 girls pairs title. Lisa Trewarne and Kurzman also made the semi-finals of the women’s fours, alongside Krizanic and Akasha Fortune. Dawson said all four had fitted in well in their Saturday pennant side and the club. Melton sits atop division 2, section 2 after six rounds. Tara Murray 27 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 26 January, 2021

A U S T R A L I A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L A C A D E M Y

Journey to Excellence “Getting through such a year was an achievement in itself, and excelling required motivation and hustle, working even when you didn’t want to.”

“Getting through this year, let alone excell in it, was a great feat. And in the end, this achievement came down to four things: hard yet smart work; belief in oneself; support from family, friends, and teachers; and absolute determination to make myself proud.”

- JABRAEL ABBOUCHIE -

- SOHALIA ELNAHRAWY -

JIBRAEL ABBOUCHIE

SOHAI LA ELNAHRAWY

HASSAN ALETHAN

YUSRA KALIF

IKRAM ABDULKENI 88.15

EMAN SANAD 86.4

AYESHA FANHAM

YAREN ALTUNTAS 88.15

MOHAMED HASHIM 84.9

BEYA DAR

HUSSAIN NASSAR

ALBARAA AL SAYDAOUI

SALMA MOELADAWILAH 88.15

LARA EL HAYEK 84.3

HAYLA RAFEI 88.15

SESANGA KAKEMBO 84.3

ISRAA AL-KANTAR 81.9

HIND EL HAWLI 86.4

RAYAN HAMAD 81.9

RAYHAN ABOU-EID

KHALED MERHI 86.4

OSMAN JEWHAR-DAUD 81.9

MAHMOUD NASSIF 86.4

MO USSA MOUSSA 81.9

- LIMITED PLACES FOR 2021 The Australian International Academy of Education is dedicated to the provision of high-quality education for students from Foundation to Year 12. Australian International Academy is an International Baccalaureate school offering the (IB) programmes at all three campuses in Melbourne as well as the local Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). The programmes allows AIA to enhance its local curriculum and to achieve its mission of developing productive Australian Muslim citizens who will help to create a better and

more humane world through intercultural understanding and respect. At the Australian International Academy of Education we believe that each child is a unique individual. AIA strives to deliver a quality education to students in a nurturing, enriching, comfortable and safe learning environment in pursuit of academic and spiritual. The Academy offers a broad and a well-balanced curriculum with global perspectives to students in primary, secondary and post-secondary schooling.

The Academy enjoins its students to cultivate a global perspective and a universalist outlook on life. We encourage our students to constantly seek to broaden their horizons in a spirit of tolerance, compassion and co-operation with one another – and with others outside the school. AIA provides a wide range of cocurricular activities that extend and complement the core curriculum, enrich student lives and develop their skills. 12473348-NG03-21