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St Albans Gift gets ready to fire By Tara Murray The runners are ready and the blocks will be out as the St Albans Gift returns next year. After not going ahead in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be run on January 15 at the St Albans Sports Club. The gift is run by the St Albans Sports Club on behalf of the St Albans cricket and football clubs. Gift co-ordinator Terry O’Donnell said there had been some doubt about the event being run next year, but things were now all go. “From a club perspective they’re excited to
get people back into the venue,” he said. “There was some doubt and if we didn’t get a grant from [Brimbank] council, it probably wouldn’t have got up and running. “The council came along with it and the club was happy to get it up and going.” The event has been going for 12 years and there will be 10 events ranging from under-14s, seniors through to masters, on the program next year. For the first time, the women’s prize money will be the same as the men’s. Mr O’Donnell said this was something that was starting to come in at more and more events.
Mr O’Donnell said the event had become more popular in recent times. “Many people use it as a launching pad to the Stawell gift,” he said. “It attracts people from interstate and people are trying to win it. “In 2019 the men’s winner who won the St Albans Gift won the Stawell Gift. Last year, the Maribyrnong Gift winner won the Stawell Gift. “The ones in the west are doing really well.” Mr O’Donnell said they were still yet to finalise details of what else will happen on the day, while entry into the races are still open until until the end of December.
St Albans Gift winner Hamish Adams in 2019. (Mark Wilson)
One of the sinkholes at Verona Drive Reserve. (Supplied)
Sinkholes open up near playground
Jack McDonald and head professional Scott Wearne will run all-abilities clinics next week.
(Damjan Janevski) 258961_01
All-abilities encouraged to have a go Two free all-abilities golf clinics will be held at Keilor Public Golf Course this week. The events are being held in the lead up to International Day of People With a Disability, with councils from across Melbourne’s west coming together to host an all-abilities regional inclusion activities week. The golf course and Brimbank council will host two clinics for children, young people and adults.
Led by all-abilities coach Scott Wearne, the clinics will include an introduction to golf and an opportunity for participants to make new friends. Course venue manager Jack McDonald said they were incredibly pleased to partner with Brimbank council in the lead up to International Day for People with a Disability “Golf is a terrific way to keep active and form social connections, so we are very excited
4 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 30 November, 2021
to introduce the sport in a setting that will facilitate the next generation of golfers in Brimbank”. The clinic for young people and adults will be held on December 1 and the children’s clinic on December 2, both at 11am. Carers, parents and guardians are welcome to provide support and bookings are essential. Details: 9390 1538. Tara Murray
Brimbank council is investigating sinkholes just outside the playground at Verona Drive Reserve in Taylors Lakes. Star Weekly was made aware of the sinkholes late last week, with no signs or safety measures in place on Wednesday night. Brimbank council infrastructure and city services director Neil Whiteside said the area has since been made safe. “Council’s maintenance staff have made the area safe, and they will investigate and take further action, as required,” he said. “Subsidence can occur for several reasons, and recent heavy rains could be a contributing factor.” It’s not the first time that sinkholes have been found at that reserve. The council previously addressed a subsidence issue at the reserve in 2019. On that occasion, an inspection of the council’s underground drainage assets determined they were not the cause. Residents who spot a sinkhole can contact the council on 9249 4000. Tara Murray