Star Weekly - Sunbury Macedon Ranges - 10th January 2023

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Gavin Smith and Jane Clarkson outside their Darraweit Guim house with their dog Maisie. (Elsie Lange)

A year for community YEAR IN REVIEW ...

STORIES OF THE YEAR

Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges roared back to life in 2022 after two years of COVID lockdowns.

Community events, stage shows, Blue Light discos, school fetes and music festivals were held across the region for the first time since 2020, as the pandemic slowly began to fade from the headlines.

But the year was not without its troubles.

Darraweit Guim was inundated with flood water, community groups rallied against master plans for Melbourne Airport and Hanging Rock and Hume council dealt with a series of councillor conduct complaints We look back at how 2022 unfolded in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges.

As we welcomed 2022, businesses across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges were dealing with staff shortages and a lack of consumer confidence, as another COVID-19

Neville West stands with his ruined books outside his flood-hit Darraweit Guim home.

(Elsie Lange)

wave tore through the state forcing thousands into isolation.

Also in January, the Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club was searching for answers after the club was left out of the 50-year planning document for the Hanging Rock precinct.

The draft Hanging Rock Master Plan was released on January 6 by the state government

following community consultation and the approval of the 50-year Hanging Rock Strategic Plan in 2018. The draft planning document provided no space for the Hanging Rock Cricket Club, the Hanging Rock Tennis Club or the Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club, which has met at one of the Hanging Rock precinct’s gravel car parks every Thursday for the past 20 years.

In February, Melbourne Airport revealed plans for its third runway, which would run north-south. The plans drew a mixed response from the community amid concerns about increased aircraft noise over Bulla.

Hi-Quality’s Bulla facility began receiving spoil from the West Gate Tunnel project in March, ahead of the Supreme Court’s May dismissal of Hume council’s legal action to review a decision by former planning minister Richard Wynne which allowed for the testing and disposal of contaminated soil at the site.

In July, latest Census data painted a new picture of Sunbury. The data revealed the growing diversity of Sunbury, with India jumping to the second-leading country of birth outside of Australia and Punjabi the second-most spoken language other than

English at home.

In September, people across the western suburbs shared their memories of Queen Elizabeth II following her death on September 8. Among those to pay tribute to the late Queen was Sunbury’s Emily Owens, 16.

Emily was just a little girl when she had the chance to hand The Queen a bunch of flowers on her last visit to Melbourne, in 2011.

Parts of the Macedon Ranges were inundated with flood water in October, with Darraweit Guim one of the worst-affected areas.

In December, Hume councillor Trevor Dance was cleared of serious misconduct by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Cr Dance applied to VCAT for a review of a Hume council-convened councillor conduct panel’s (CCP) decision to suspend him from council for three months after finding he had engaged in serious misconduct.

The CCP had found Cr Dance breached council’s internal arbitration process by failing to attend two arbitration hearings in June, 2021, in relation to his allegation of misconduct against Cr Jack Medcraft. Cr Medcraft was cleared of the allegation.”

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Year five pupils Ava and Clara with physical education teacher Kathryn McIntosh. (Damjan Janevski) O’Beirne, principal 298664_03 Krystine Hocking and Healthy Kids Advisor Christie

The pupils at Sunbury ’s Holy Trinity Catholic Primary are learning all about making meaningful changes to their food and drink choices , healthy habits for life. to help build Stephanie Alexander Foundation’s Healthy Kitchen Garden Kids Advisors have teamed up with state Vic Kids Eat Well moveme government’s nt to teach the philosophies of pleasurable food education.

The Vic Kids Eat Well movement is a fresh opportunity for to the guidance of a schools to look health promoter like Hume’s Christie McIntosh to inspire children to make healthy create healthier environmchoices and be on board until 2024. ents – she will After the school signed up to Vic Kids Eat Well, Ms McIntos h participate in a health was invited to and physical education day expo, where children to make healthy she taught afternoon snacks like rice paper rolls.

“Empowering children to choose their own vegetables and be hands on with preparing their food shows them what they are capable of,” she said.

Plan for airport ap proved

By Elsie Lange

The federal governm ent Melbourne Airport Master has approved the Plan, but was firm in saying it has yet to give approval to the development plan of a proposed third runway, citing residential noise concerns.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King approved the master plan on Monday, November 14.

“Today’s approval does not indicate an approval of the future Plan for the proposed Major Development third a separate process subject runway, which is to assessment on its own merits against the requirements of the [Airports Act 1996],” Ms King said.

“As expected, many communities surround members of the Melbourne Airport to continue to provide ing the airport have made representations and third runway to explore noise and health regarding their views the governm measures to minimis on impacts.

Melbourne Airport’ e Airport chief executiv ent. s proposed north-so e Lorie Argus said uth third runway project Cr Haweil said the and the impacts it will proposed north-south the updated master plan outlined a long have on their homes runway would impact term and lives. less residents than the vision for Melbourne Airport.

“In providing today’s previously proposed “Key to this is construc east-wes approva t runway. l, I have indicated my concerns “Council has not seen which will improve the tion of a third runway, regarding some plan the approved master efficiency of the airfield aspects of the proposa by at this stage,” he said. introducing parallel l operations, while also to the existing runways – including changes “Council will continue allowing the airport and noise sharing and to cater for increase to advocate for mitigation arrangem Melbourne Airport and d ents.” the federal government demand,” Ms Argus said.

Ms King said managem to meaningfully listen “Alongside the 2022 and respond to both ent of residents’ concerns would be an developing a sustaina Master Plan we are important consideration ours and our community’s submissions bility strategy, with in during the assessment a of the development plan, future assessment of the Major Develop the commitment to net zero (Scope 1 and 2) by expected to be submitte ment 2025, work Plan for the third runway.” under way on Scope d in early 2023.

3 emission Hume mayor Joseph A statemen reductio s n and a commitm t from Melbourne Airport ent to circular said it supported the proposed Haweil said council welcomed the approva l of the master plan, and economy principles including on runway, but asked it now plans to submit major infrastructure.” its proposal to build the ADVERTISEMENT

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2 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

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December 12 Hume councillor Trevor Dance has been cleared of serious misconduct by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Cr Dance applied to VCAT for a review of a Hume council-convened councillor conduct panel’s (CCP) decision to suspend him from council for three months after finding he had engaged in serious misconduct.

The CCP found Cr Dance had breached council’s internal arbitration process by failing to attend two arbitration hearings in June, 2021, in relation to his allegation of misconduct against Cr Jack Medcraft. Cr Medcraft was cleared of the allegation.

Cr Dance had cited his mental health for refusing to attend the hearings, but the CCP concluded Cr Dance “did not attend the hearings because he chose not to attend in circumstances where no medical evidence to support his non-attendance was provided by him”.

Cr Dance served two weeks of his suspension before VCAT granted him a stay.

On Thursday, December 8, VCAT president Justice Michelle Quigley found Cr Dance’s claims about his mental health should have been considered more seriously.

“On the material before me I do not accept

the failure to comply was wilful and deliberate in the proper sense. It was not without any reasonable excuse, ” Justice Quigley said.

“He took active steps to participate in the hearings.

“Concern for his mental health and psychological safety is a factor which I give significant weight to in forming my opinion of the circumstances in issue here.”

In her findings, Justice Quigley noted Cr Dance had asked to attend the arbitration hearings by Zoom, but this was refused.

Justice Quigley said when a person claims to have medical concerns, the CCP should ensure they can still take part in a “disciplinary process”.

“Particular care ought to be taken when a claim of mental health and psychological safety is raised,” she said.

Justice Quigley also noted the CCP had criticised Cr Dance for his attendance at a social event about the same time as the arbitration hearing, which the panel said contradicted his claims about his mental health.

She found that there was a “material difference” between attending a formal hearing where there are a handful of people, “one of whom is the source of a person’s anxiety”, and attendance at an event “where

there is personal support”.

“I note that Cr Dance’s demeanour before me both at the stay application and during the final hearing demonstrated patent distress and anxiety,” she said.

Cr Dance said he was emotional when he learnt he had won the case.

“In my view … this should never have gone this far … It’s been a waste of ratepayers’ money but under this act and in this country, everyone has a right to defend themselves,” Cr Dance said.

Council chief executive Sheena Frost said the outcome highlighted the challenges of managing councillor conduct matters in Victoria.

“I hope that the cost, time and energy required for us to work through this will encourage councillors to work together and seek to resolve disputes informally. The system we currently operate under is time consuming, costly and ineffective,” she said.

Hume mayor Joseph Haweil said the council team had always been committed to serving its residents.

“Working collaboratively as a councillor group will help ensure that the people of Hume city remain right at the centre of everything we do,” Cr Haweil said.

DV Cider House owner Marc Serafino with his daughter Lilly in their saved apple orchard. (Elise Lange)

Community shines as helpers have cleanup in hand October 25 Marc Serafino points out over his apple orchard in Darraweit Guim, home of Darraweit Valley Cider, and describes how the water came up over the hill and onto his crop.

“That’s the river,” he says, squinting into the distance.

“It came over that horizon like a wall of water … I can only describe the damage as tsunami-like.

“Normally it’s inundation here, it rises over 30 hours – this was not like that.”

Cider making, or apple growing, is a high-stakes game. If the trees don’t flower, or aren’t pollinated, the crop won’t grow for another year.

When flood waters rushed, leaving silt and grass on the blooms, it could have been devastating.

But thanks to a band of locals who came and painstakingly pulled the dirt from the flowers, Marc’s next batch might be saved.

“Wonderful community volunteers came in and took all of the debris off … which would have taken me weeks … I can’t believe it, [in just] two days,” he says.

“If the bees can’t find the flowers, there will

be no crop, which would have compounded the situation.”

Marc says the orchard is fine now, although he’s not sure what’s in store over the next wet few days.

He and his family moved to Darraweit Guim to chase his cider-making dream seven years ago, and even though the house was flooded and their belongings soaked, he is just glad the crop was saved.

“I think if the orchard had been flattened, I’d be in the fetal position sucking my thumb right now,” he says half smiling.

“It’s been seven years building it, it would have been tough.”

It was a derelict property when he bought it, before he cleared it by hand. He’d only just put the finishing touches on his decked-out events marquis when the flood came.

“I prefer not to think about it, it does get a bit emotional if you do,” he says.

“I am pretty good at rolling with the punches, we will rebuild.”

Darraweit Guim fire brigade captain Mark Spedding was one of the volunteers who made their way to the cidery to lend a hand, his wife Vicki helping to organise the efforts.

He says he feels proud to be a part of his

community in moments like this.

“This is business as usual, people help each other here,” he says. “They know each other and they help each other.”

Located at the cidery is a Melbourne Water measuring station, which gave the Marc and his family access to accurate information about water levels as they rose.

At 6.2 metres on Thursday, he, his partner Jenny and their two daughters got in the car.

“It’s never got in the house before, this is the highest flood historically in this area,” he says.

As Marc shows the damage to his bar and brewing area – explaining his flood insurance only covers the house and contents – three more pairs of hands pull up in a car, offering to help.

“I was talking to Jen yesterday and we said we’d pop in and offer a hand, if you guys needed one this afternoon,” the neighbour says.

“I don’t even know where we are up to at the moment,” Marc says, turning to another volunteer.

“Dino, can we put some people to work here?”

Costly soil legal challenge fails May 31 Hume council may be forced to pay as much as $500,000 in legal costs to the state government after its Supreme Court challenge to the storage of spoil at Bulla was dismissed, a councillor estimates.

The council took legal action to review a decision by Planning Minister Richard Wynne which allowed for the testing and disposal of contaminated soil at a site in Bulla.

At a meeting on Monday, May 24, council voted unanimously to note the Supreme Court’s judgment, in which Justice Melinda Richards ordered council to pay the defendant’s costs.

Council also noted to make “provision for the payment of these costs in the 2022-23 council budget as necessary”, and not to pursue further action.

Council told Star Weekly it could not provide a figure as Mr Wynne had not yet advised costs. However Cr Jack Medcraft said the legal challenge could cost ratepayers more than $500,000.

“We were never going to win.

Basically, you’re putting ratepayers’ money at risk to have such action,” Cr Medcraft said. “As it’s turned out, we could be up for half a million dollars or more. That money could have been used in a lot of places around the city of Hume.”

As reported by Star Weekly, Hume councillors voted unanimously in April 2021 to have the council’s lawyers initiate legal proceedings to review Mr Wynne’s decision.

Council had estimated costs would be between $100,000 to $200,000, “but could be higher”.

“If the application for a judicial review is not successful, there is a risk that the Supreme Court could require that council pay the costs incurred by the minister for planning,” council said at the time.

Cr Medcraft said he hoped Mr Wynne would decide not to recoup legal fees from the council.“Hopefully the minister decides that he’s not going to penalise us for standing up and asking questions for why he did what he did,” Cr Medcraft said.

“I don’t agree with what he did, but at the end of the day, the government’s the government and they make the decisions and you have to abide by them.”

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Cr Dance cleared at VCAT

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 3

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Rock paddock sale to proceed May 31 Macedon Ranges council has voted to proceed with the sale of Hanging Rock’s east paddock to the state government, despite internal opposition.

At a meeting on Wednesday, May 25, council passed a motion to negotiate a sale with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), but on its own terms.

Some of those terms include that the sale is equal to or within 10 per cent of council’s current unreleased valuation, retention of the land as public open space maintaining natural and cultural values and for council to remain as part of the committee of

management going into the future.

Council also decided to write to Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to highlight the “importance of alternative facilities for existing Hanging Rock sporting groups being identified, planned, funded and delivered”.

Concern within the chamber was raised early, with councillor Geoff Neil proposing an amended motion for council not to proceed with the sale unless the government provided a suitable alternative site for sporting groups to relocate to. Crs Anne Moore and Rob Guthrie did not support the sale of the paddock before the finalisation and endorsement of DELWP’s draft Hanging Rock Master Plan.

While they sympathised with concern for sporting clubs, other councillors said the sale of the land would not impact whether or not the master plan was endorsed.

Cr Janet Pearce introduced an amended motion to make sure council would be a permanent member of future governance and management arrangements of the Hanging Rock precinct, which was passed. “I want to assure the community that the funds [from the sale] will be set in a separate reserve, there’ll be transparency around that,” she said.

Cr Annette Death said the decision was “really hard”, but council was in the best position to negotiate a balanced outcome for the community, council and government, as

the sale process could include conditions to tackle key concerns.

“A risk to council is that [if] we delay or defer, the state government can undertake compulsory acquisition. The officer’s report notes this can occur without council consent on the agreement of the sale price,” Cr Death said.

“But it actually goes further than that, because council could lose the option to have any conditions as outlined in this recommendation.”

Community feedback to DELWP’s draft master plan is currently being considered for the final master plan to be submitted for approval in June.

Bunnings site in VCAT win August 2

The Melbourne Airport and Hume Residents community action groups. (Supplied)

Mixed reaction to third runway plan February 8 Melbourne Airport has laid out its plan for the future, with a third runway anticipated to bring more noise, traffic and employment opportunities for those living in its surrounding areas.

The airport released its draft Master Plan and preliminary Major Development Plan on January 31, which elaborates on a long held ambition to construct another runway for domestic and international flights.

The draft Master Plan states that this will cost $1.9 billion and will take between four and five years to build.

But with a number of steps in the way before works commence, including a community consultation period and approval from federal

Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Barnaby Joyce, the airport is anticipating the runway to be open “in the latter part of the decade”.

The airport expects the development to create an additional 37,000 jobs statewide, including 3200 onsite positions.

“Most of this increase in jobs will support employment in the local community,” the document stated.

The new runway will be constructed with a north-south orientation and will change the existing predominant flight paths that run around the clock.

An airport spokesperson explained that the direction was chosen to maximise flight availability and to capitalise on prevailing wind conditions.

However the design will also see greater noise interference across Hume, particularly in Bulla, as the township lies just north of the new runway.

The airport’s noise forecast maps in the draft Master Plan indicate that Bulla may experience 20 or more daily instances of aircraft noise greater than 70 decibels.

In a statement, the Hume Residents Airport Action Group encouraged the community to engage in the consultation process.

“Residents of neighbouring communities agree that aviation impact should be more broadly distributed and not concentrated to selected areas to achieve economic outcomes,” the statement read.

Too little, too late for bridge rescue June 14 In mid-March, many Gisborne locals watched in horror as the 148-year-old bluestone Bunjil Creek Bridge was demolished, a month before it would be found to meet heritage standards protecting its destruction.

The bridge was removed by Regional Roads Victoria contractors to install a roundabout at the intersection of Melbourne and Kilmore roads in a $12.5 million upgrade, despite loud opposition from Macedon Ranges council and the community.

The government-appointed planning panel considering council’s heritage overlay application concluded in April it was “appropriate and justified to apply the

Heritage Overlay (HO351) to the Bunjil Creek bridge and channel” – but it was too late, Bunjil Creek Bridge was gone.

Council also sought protection for two oaks and one elm tree aligned with the heritage avenue in Howey Reserve, Gisborne, which the planning panel deemed “strategically justified”, according to council documents.

At a planning meeting on Wednesday, June 8, council voted to adopt the heritage overlay for the remaining trees, but with an amendment to exclude the bridge, considering it no longer existed.

Councillor Anne Moore expressed her sadness over the destruction of the bridge, saying she was “bitterly disappointed and disturbed” the town had lost a part of “probably gold field history”.

4 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

“I’m disappointed with the amount of history we have lost, the heritage that we have lost, the character that we have lost to the gateway of Gisborne after the exit off Melbourne Road,” she said.

Cr Mark Ridgeway echoed Cr Moore’s anger, but said it was important to make sure the trees would be protected going into the future.

“In particular the loss of the channel is an absolute disgrace and the fact that we can’t actually preserve what’s left of it just makes life very, very difficult,” Cr Ridgeway said.

“But at least with this motion, we do provide some protection for Howey Reserve – the trees and some other aspects in the area, I think that’s what we need to focus on now.”

Macedon Ranges council (MRSC) said it was “disappointing” a Bunnings is now on the way to the outskirts of Kyneton, after being given the green light by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

In September, 2021, Macedon Ranges council knocked back two separate proposals for land at the intersection of Edgecombe Road and Pipers Creek Road, which included detailed plans for a Bunnings Warehouse.

Council received more than 500 objections to the proposal last year.

The decision was appealed at VCAT, and while the proposal for a service station and attached McDonalds at the same location is still pending, the tribunal granted a permit for a building, signs and parking for Bunnings.

MRSC planning and environment director Rebecca Stockfeld said council had blocked the planning application for a range of reasons which had not been addressed by the VCAT decision.

“The proposal had detrimental amenity impacts, a poor design and interface with its surrounds, inadequate landscaping, removal of native vegetation, and poor layout for pedestrians within the car-parking and access areas,” Ms Stockfeld said.

“The VCAT decision to approve the development with little change to the design is disappointing.

“The approved Bunnings will have a generic design, similar to many others in large cities, rather than responding to the unique character of Kyneton and the Macedon Ranges.”

A spokesperson from one of the four respondents to the VCAT hearing, the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, said they could not comment at this stage as an appeal for the second proposal was still under way.

At the council meeting in September last year, mayor Jennifer Anderson said developers for both applications had not met the necessary standards for approval.

“We are now declared an area of distinction and landscape, and we have a standard of planning policy and we must look at when we look at any application,” Cr Anderson said last year.

Ms Stockfeld said council would “continue to push for new developments to comply with the design standards incorporated within the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme”.

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Lyons Will Estate owners Renata Morello and Oliver Rapson can’t wait for the Summertime Fling Wine Festival. (Damjan Janevski) 307972_03

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It’s been a rainy and wet year for grape growers across the country, but now summer is here, Macedon Ranges winemakers are ready to celebrate with a month-long festival of wine.

Each weekend until January 29, the Summertime Fling Festival will showcase a different selection of events hosted by a range of local wineries.

At Zig Zag Winery, treat yourself to barbecue, wine and summertime beats, or enjoy a special tasting at Hunter Gatherer.

For something fancier, join Attwoods Wines winemaker Troy Walsh for a five-course lunch with great matched wine, or indulge in Lyons Will’s Food + Fire + Wine culinary journey

curated by Danish born chef Bente Grysbaek.

Macedon Ranges Vignerons Association president and Lyons Will Estate owner Renata Morello said she was excited to see the festival back again.

“It is an opportunity to sit back and relax and enjoy the summer vibes while exploring some of our regions great wines,” she said.

“We would love people to come for [more than] just one event … why not book in for something each weekend, there is plenty on offer.

“Summer is a great time in the vineyard, and a time to celebrate the season to come.”

Details: https://www.macedonrangeswine. com.au/

The Fire Danger Period (FDP) began at 1am on Monday, January 9 in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges. During the FDP residents are prohibited from lighting fires in the open air unless they have a permit. You can apply for a permit at firepermits.vic.gov.au.

New number plates to roll out across the state A new in-built security feature to reduce crime and number plate theft across Victoria, including in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges is rolling out across the state. New security markings will appear on about 430,000 new number plates per year including all general issue standard car number plates, trailer number plates, Commonwealth Government ‘Z’ number plates and ministerial number plates.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

RISK E R I F YOURODAY IS T

REA RISK A E R I F H BUS LEAVE

For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.

On Catastrophic rated days, your life may depend on the decisions you make, even before there is a fire.

Stay safe by going to a safer location early in the morning or the night before.

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

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12580909-JW02-23

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 5

YEAR IN REVIEW ... PEOPLE

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Disability pensioner David Cail feels trapped by his funeral insurance. (Damjan Janevski) 281908_01

Trapped paying ‘junk’ insurance June 28 When David Cail’s younger sister Leanne heard he was still paying $43 a fortnight from his pension for a funeral insurance plan he signed up for 20 years ago, she couldn’t believe it.

“It comes out of his food budget – there’s been times where he’s been living off a loaf of bread,” she said.

Her brother is a 63-year-old disability pensioner from Sunbury, and after recovering from two debilitating bouts of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since 2014, was this month diagnosed with terminal cancer in his brain.

In the early 2000s, David saw an ad for funeral insurance on television. As a single man with no kids or partner he thought signing up for a $15,000 plan would take the burden off his family.

But he still pays premiums to TAL Insurance company, years after he had paid $15,000. To keep his access to the $15,000 plan, David willhave to pay premiums until he turns 90, or dies.

“You kind of think, hopefully I’ll die soon, that way they’re not going to get any more

money and they’ll have to pay it out,” he said.

He said even though it might have been in the fine print, he didn’t realise what would be required of him for decades.

The disability pensioner said he contacted the company a couple of years ago to see where he was at with his payments. As a former actor who now sometimes relied on food banks to survive because of his cancer, he asked to be given back the money he’d paid, so he could put it aside himself and accrue interest.

Later, David said he took out a $4000 plan for his elderly mother, in addition to his $15,000 plan.

Documents seen by Star Weekly show David has paid more than $20,500 in premiums for the two plans. He no longer pays his mum’s premium as she is over 90 years old.

When he asked if he could transfer his $15,000 into a better plan, he said TAL told him no – he would have to start from scratch.

“Every fortnight, on my pension week, they take it out – $43.68.”

Since Star Weekly raised the issue with TAL, the company has reached out to David to renegotiate his plan, but had not provided

6 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

the offer in writing when Star Weekly went to print.

A TAL spokesperson said the company takes “very seriously” the importance of ensuring customers understand the products they purchase and the difference between insurance products and savings products.

“Insurance works to cover the financial impacts of a specific event through a collective risk pool which covers the cost of all customer claims,” the spokesperson said.

However, according to Financial Rights Legal Centre, many people who sign up for funeral insurance end up paying more in premiums than the benefit paid upon their death.

The issue of funeral insurance has been thrust into the public spotlight recently after the collapse of Youpla, formerly the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund.

The Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC), which provides free legal advice and pursues litigation on behalf of vulnerable consumers across the state, describes funeral insurance as a “problematic product”.

CALC assistant director Cat Newton said, “funeral insurance is junk”.

“For every $1 people pay in premiums, a paltry 29 cents is paid back to customers in claims across the industry,” Ms Newton said.

“Anyone misled or concerned about their funeral insurance should seek legal advice, and can make a free complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.”

If David lives until he’s 90 and continues on his current plan, he will pay $43.68 a fortnight for 27 years.

Calculating the number of fortnights in those approximately 1400 weeks, he will have paid more than $30,000 to TAL. The TAL spokesperson said the company “takes great care” to identify where customers may be vulnerable.

“We have a range of support options available for customers whose circumstances have changed. We encourage our customers to reach out and discuss those options with us,” the spokesperson said.

David said he hopes his story leads to better regulation of the industry, and shows others in a similar situation they are not alone.

“It’s $44 dollars I could have for more medication, when I need it. Or $44 to buy groceries that I really need,” he said.

YEAR IN REVIEW ... PEOPLE

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Pavilion to honour Allan Walters August 30

agreement about renaming the pavilion after Mr Walters.

Councillor Jack Medcraft said it was one of the saddest days in Sunbury’s history when Mr Walters was killed in an industrial accident in 2021.

“The ramifications of this have been felt by a lot of people in town, and by having the new building the new building opened just recently … it highlighted years and years of work and lobbying by Allan to get something like this built,” Cr Medcraft said.

“I’m only sad that he never got to actually see how good the building was when it was

Community consultation has wrapped and the results are in: pavilion number three at Eric Boardman Reserve will be named after the late Sunbury Kangaroos president Allan Walters.

At a meeting on Monday, August 22, council voted to accept the proposed name change and put it forward to the Registrar of Geographic Names for consideration and approval.

Feedback received by council during the consultation period was unanimously in

finished, that’s the sad part.

“But we’ll have his name up there forever and a day, and everyone will know who Allan Walters was.”

In submissions to council, residents outlined why they agreed the pavilion should be named after Mr Walters.

“Allan was a stalwart of community sport in Sunbury, and this would be a well-deserved memorial to his legacy,” one resident wrote.

“Allan is the reason Sunbury Kangaroos football club is the club it is today. He provided so much to the club, initiating a women’s football program which now has

two teams for the first time ever,” another wrote.

The Kangaroos described their “wholehearted” support for the name change in a submission too.

“Allan was a life member of [the Kangaroos] and his contribution to our club, as well as the senior club, was immeasurable,” the submission said.

“Naming the pavilion in Allan’s name would be a lovely way to honour his memory, as well as educating future members of our club of the significant contribution he made to it.

Fundraising helps heal August 16

isolated and lost and confused, and not really sure how to process it. That’s where Red Nose provided really amazing support for us.”

Red Nose works to reduce sudden infant deaths, supporting families who have been impacted by the death of a baby or child.

Money raised on Red Nose Day funds support services for the families who need it, as well as education programs for new parents.

The family raises money for the charity every year. Before the pandemic they would do chocolate drives, and even hosted big fundraiser events in the past. Benn said his advice to those who have lost a child who were struggling was to “just focus on surviving”.

“The key thing for us at the start was just, get through today, because time just disappears and the days seem to stretch on forever … worry about tomorrow when you get there,” he said.

Gisborne’s Benn Lockyer said there’s a clear distinction between who you are now and who you were before, when you’ve lost a child.

He and his wife Sarah’s worlds shattered when their first baby, James, died three days after he was born, despite a perfectly normal, healthy pregnancy. During labour, a blood clot formed in James’ umbilical cord, cutting off his oxygen supply, which led to a brain injury and his death. Benn said the Red Nose charity helped them heal, connecting them with the support networks they might have struggled to find. That’s why his family, including his two children Ella and Jack, are raising money for this year’s Red Nose Day, on Friday, August 12.

“It’s such a dramatic and unexpected event, and it’s something that’s just not talked about every often,” Benn said. “You just feel really

Sarah and Benn Lockyer with their kids, Ella and Jack, raising money for Red Nose Day.

(Supplied)

A great place to find yourself.

Sunbury Road overnight closures

Now open and looking forward to welcoming everyone, near and far, at Lost Watering Hole, The Lancefield Brewery you’ll enjoy premium quality beers and generous local food.

Our beers are 100% naturally brewed organic, flavoursome palette pleasers, perfect for when you’re sharing laughs and swapping stories with family and friends in the relaxed atmosphere of our brewery.

Artist impression of bridges connecting Sunbury Road and Macedon Street

Open 7 days a week, we also serve locally sourced wines and quality coffee and cake for when you want some quiet time away from it all.

We’re upgrading Sunbury Road between Powlett Street and Bulla-Diggers Rest/Loemans Road to improve connections and make your journey safer and more reliable.

Sunbury Road will be closed overnight between Francis Boulevard and Powlett Street from 8pm to 7am Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January and from 8pm to 6am Sunday 22 January. These works are required to lift and place beams for the new bridge over Jacksons Creek.

Drop in with friends today and say hi and see the great place for yourself.

Detours will be in place via Bulla-Diggers Rest Road, Calder Freeway, Vineyard Road and Horne Street. Expect additional travel time of up to 20 minutes.

SCAN FOR DETAILS

Fully Operational Brewery & Restaurant

Lancefield Road at Sunbury Road is closed until 5 February.

NOW OPEN 5592

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

8-10 The Crescent, Lancefield Bookings call (03) 4410 1054 12584682-SN02-23

12583251-MS02-23

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 7

YEAR IN REVIEW ... COMMUNITY

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Top Ranges citizens honoured February 1 The Kyneton Town Hall was adorned with flags and excitement on Wednesday, January 26, as Macedon Ranges council hosted its Australia Day citizenship and awards ceremony.

Although organised with a limited attendance to align with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the hall was regularly filled with applause as the community celebrated its newest and most impressive residents.

Speaking before the shire’s three newest residents took to the Australian Citizenship Pledge, Macedon Ranges council mayor Jennifer Anderson led an acknowledgement of country, and said she was looking forward to seeing how those becoming citizens would contribute to the community in their own way.

“By becoming an Australian citizen, we need to remember it doesn’t mean you’re forgetting where you come from, your own culture, or your own background,” Cr Anderson said.

“It means that you can bring that with you, embrace it still, and also take on some of what it means to be an Australian.”

Those in attendance were also treated to a keynote speech from Richard Rozen OAM, a holocaust survivor from Poland who migrated to Australia in 1951.

Mr Rozen and his family spent 13 months hiding in a cupboard during the Second World War to escape persecution.

After surviving the war, Mr Rozen arrived in Melbourne and has since become a successful businessman, a Bridge Grand Master and a National Chess Master.

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said Mr Rozen’s story was a timely reminder to cherish the relative safety of our community.

Citizen of the Year David Gormley O’Brien.

From left: Luke Spielvogel, Ron Cole, David Gormley O’Brien and Andrew Towner. (Oliver Lees)

The afternoon then proceeded to the citizenship awards which this year included three new categories.

Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG) president Dr David Gormley O’Brien was named the Citizen of the Year.

Since taking over as president four years ago, Dr Gormley O’Brien has more than doubled MRSG’s membership base, across a plethora of community action groups and was one of the founders of the Woodend Bee-Friendly Society.

Dr Gormley O’Brien said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the award.

“What actually gives me absolute pleasure regarding this, is the recognition that the council and the public have given to the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, and for the terrific work it has been doing in all the Macedon Ranges,” he said.

In the new award categories, Newham resident Luke Spielvogel received the Connecting Communities Award.

Passionate about the shire’s native

surroundings, Mr Spielvogel founded a group dedicated to bringing recognition to Hanging Rock, which has included 6000 residents. He also founded the not-for-profit Rock & Ranges Brewing Co-operative which aims to provide social opportunities for the community.

The Kyneton District Soccer Club was named the Healthy People and Environment Award winner, adding another trophy to its cabinet after being named Football Victoria’s Regional Club of the Year for 2021.

Led by president Ron Cole, the club has improved its female player participation to 42 per cent.

And the Business and Tourism Award went to Braeside Mt Macedon owner Andrew Towner.

Serving also as the president of the Macedon Ranges Accommodation Association, Mr Towner has advocated for local business and tourism operators in the area since moving to the shire in 2014.

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8 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

YEAR IN REVIEW ... COMMUNITY

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Mt Macedon takes title as state’s top Tiny Town July 12 It’s almost unsurprising the delightful village of Mount Macedon has been crowned Victoria’s best tiny town, and local tourism operators are “thrilled”.

Last Wednesday, July 6, the hamlet received the Top Tiny Tourism Town award, a new category introduced by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council’s (VTIC) Top Tourism Town Awards, for populations under 1500 people.

Excited about the news, Tourism Macedon Ranges chair Jenny Stillman said Mount Macedon reiterated that the town “punches above its weight”.

“We’re very, very proud and pleased with the outcome,” Ms Stillman said.

“It’s a all-year round attraction and asset,

and a wonderful place to live.”

Other champions revealed include Bendigo, for Victorian Top Tourism Town with a population over 5000, and Port Fairy, for Top Small Tourism Town Award with a population between 1500 and 5000.

The three towns will now go in the running for the title of Australia’s Top Tourism Town in their respective categories, to be announced in coming months.

Macedon Ranges Accommodation Association (MRAA) president Andrew Towner believes the award recognises the hard work of local businesses, the community and council to create “exceptional experiences“ for visitors. “Mount Macedon now advances to the National Awards and this will help raise the profile of the Macedon Ranges Australia-wide,” he said.

VTIC chief executive Felicia Mariani described tourism as the “lifeblood” of regional towns, and the awards showcase the diverse range of incredible places to visit in Victoria.

Daylesford Macedon Tourism chief executive Steve Wroe said the win was “thrilling“ and was feeling confident about the town’s prospects at the national awards.

“What it demonstrates is the ability to balance the visitor economy with community needs,” Mr Wroe said. “An example of this is the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, which was specifically designed to offer visitors a broad suite of activities during the autumn leaves times, while dispersing the visitors across the region to minimise the impact on local residents.”

Anne Beaty, baby Boston, Lee Kelly and Jane Gerber are looking forward to the 100th Sunbury Agricultural Show in October. (Damjan Janevski) 292848_05

Show marks a century August 16 Have you got a particularly handsome chook? Can you bake up a storm? How’s your crop of rhubarb looking?

Well, gear up and get ready to enter them into the 100th Sunbury Agricultural Show on Saturday, October 8, finally celebrating its century after lockdown pushed the event back two years.

Show secretary Anne Beaty said the show was for everyone in the community to come together and showcase the best of what they do.

“You might not ride a horse, you might not have a sheep to come and show but you might have a couple of chooks in the backyard that lay quite even eggs,” she said.

“You can put in a half dozen eggs, you might be a gardener, you can bring in some of your produce … and have it judged.”

Just for the entry fee, enjoy camel and pony rides and a wild action zoo. There might even be fireworks on the cards.

“There’s things for all ages to do there,” Ms Beaty said.

Treehouses go full circle March 8

Romsey Neighbourhood House manager Michelle Balthazar (front) with volunteers Alex McLeod, Nabo Baro, Michael Lopes and Judith McKayn at the new community foodshare. (Damjan Janevski) 285732_01

At the old sawmill on Blackforest Drive, the Woodend Men’s Shed members are making tiny wooden homes for native wildlife left homeless by recent storms.

Woodend Men’s Shed president Kevin Davis said the organisation has been providing nesting boxes to vulnerable species in the Macedon Ranges for some time, but have only recently used the recycled timber provided by council.

“We were using purchased timber, but now the Macedon Ranges Shire is supplying us with planks that have been cut from storm-felled trees, and we’re using those to manufacture the nesting boxes,” he said.

“In a sense, it’s a win-win. Because the timber is being recycled back out into the environment and it’s providing these nesting spaces which have been removed from the environment by the storms.”

Community’s heart and soul food June 28 Tucked between the laundromat and St Mary’s Church in the village of Romsey is a little kiosk full of friendly faces, now home to a new community foodshare.

The project by Romsey Neighbourhood House is about ensuring food access “to the whole community”, because the cost of living is so high.

“We’re inviting the community to be part of the food security solution by being involved in the initiative,” house manager Michelle Balthazar said.

“It’s a buy, swap, sell, take or donate initiative, where if you can afford it, [you can] pay a donation to buy the goods.

“We’ve got a range of fresh and non-perishable items to swap, if people grow an extra row or produce their own fruit or veggies, they’re invited to come along and swap.”

The project is all about ending the stigma associated with needing a hand, and can even help locals generate an income from what they grow.

“If you’re going through hard times, you’re welcome to register to be able to

be on a [monthly] credit system to take the fresh produce and non-perishable items,” Ms Balthazar said.

“Help keep the initiative going by helping to donate towards it in either produce, products, or your time. We are hoping that will keep the initiative sustainable.”

The foodshare is open every Tuesday and Thursday, but would welcome more volunteers to stay open all the time.

Inquiries: 5429 6724 Paul Muller working on one of the nesting boxes made from recycled timber by the Woodend Men’s Shed. (Damjan Janevski) 270358_02 Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 9

YEAR IN REVIEW ... HEALTH

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Ambulance waits extending pain August 18 Ambulance response times to urgent care calls in Gisborne are the longest they’ve been since the pandemic began, and the second longest in Sunbury, according to figures released by Ambulance Victoria [last week].

Latest Ambulance Victoria (AV) data highlights the pressure the COVID-19 pandemic has put on the health system, as ambulances across the state were called to 97,928 code one incidents between April and June this year.

Wait times for code one incidents, which are those that require urgent paramedic and hospital care, remained above the

recommended average of 15 minutes in both Gisborne and Sunbury.

In Gisborne, patients waited an average of 16 minutes and 15 seconds in the June quarter, up significantly compared to 13 minutes and 33 seconds in the same period last year. Sunbury residents waited 17 minutes and 26 seconds, the second highest wait time for the urban centre in half a decade after the second 2021-22 quarter, which was 17 minutes and 28 seconds.

In the June quarter of 2020-21, the average wait in Sunbury was 15 minutes and 48 seconds, and before the pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2018-19, it was 10 minutes and 13 seconds.

According to the data there was an 18.4 per cent increase in potentially life-threatening

code one cases in Sunbury from the same time a year earlier, or more than 100 extra cases.

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said wait times were blowing out in outer metropolitan areas because hospitals were located closer to the city, meaning ambulances were transporting patients away from their branches.

“I think that the strain that’s on the system at the moment, the strain on hospitals means that crews are ramped longer so the crews are stuck in the city,” Mr Hill said.

“It leaves those towns uncovered … That’s just a by-product of the very steep increase in demand right across Melbourne.”

Ambulance Victoria metro region acting director Jess McGowan said the pandemic continued to put unprecedented pressure on the health system, with ambulances attending1800-2000 cases a day.

“We’re working hard to relieve pressure in the system with more paramedics on the road and more resources at hospitals to help offload patients faster,” she said. She urged the public to save dialling triple-0for emergencies.

Mr Hill said he was pleased to see a “shift in thinking” towards finding ways to reduce demand on ambulances “rather than just continually trying to mop up the work load with more paramedics”.

Community Hospital plans November 1

Live4Life chief executive Bernard Galbally with students Isabella and Paris.

(Supplied: Kim Selby)

Youth mental health gets grant win June 28 Youth Live4Life has been granted more than $750,000 over three years to support young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing across regional and rural Victoria.

State Trustees Australia Foundation provided the grant to recognise the vital role Youth Live4Life plays as the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed for rural and regional communities in the state.

Youth Live4Life chief executive Bernard Galbally said the grant would help bring three new communities into the model. “[It] is our business plan to be able to bring on three new rural and regional communities year on year, as well as transition our existing communities to self sustainability,” Mr Galbally said.

In April, the Macedon Ranges-founded organisation was also granted more than $850,000 to expand its award-winning youth mental health and suicide prevention program interstate by the previous federal government.

State Trustees chief executive John Velegrinis said the Emotional Wellbeing grant being awarded to the organisation supports organisations with “a clear plan focused on mental health and building resilience”.

“The foundation is delighted to make this multi-year grant to an organisation creating local partnerships and promoting community conversations on mental health and suicide prevention,” Mr Velegrinis said.

According to the foundation, the three-year grant will allow Youth Live4Life to expand its presence through its geographic reach to

nine communities across the state, as well as increasing marketing and communications to spread awareness.

“Part of the funding is … to help our communications and marketing and help connect those dots within the communities,” Mr Galbally said.

“It’s really interesting because a lot of communities have wanted to do things, and we just haven’t had the funding to do it.”

Mr Galbally said following an evaluation, one of the main priorities raised at the organisation was that “it’s not just about delivering mental health education for young people in schools”.

“It’s also about training up those adults in the community, the parents, teachers, carers, sporting coaches, netball coaches etc, and that they’re also part of Live4Life,” he said.

If you, or anyone you know needs mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Early works have begun and designs released for the Sunbury Community Hospital.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Sunbury MP Josh Bull visited the hospital on Saturday to celebrate the next step in the $675 million Community Hospitals Program, revealing designs for the facility’s exterior, main reception, waiting area and treatment areas.

Set to be managed by Western Health, it will be an expansion of the Sunbury Day Hospital at 7 Macedon Street in Sunbury, with site works including the installation of safety fencing, worker amenities and site scraping under way.

“Today is an important milestone for the program, with site preparation works kicking off to build a facility that will be of huge benefit to the local community,” Ms Thomas said.

“We’re making it easier for Victorians to manage their health needs closer to home, with the development of these new community hospitals across the state.”

The expansion and upgrade works will increase the hospital’s capacity to provide a greater range of services, including medical imaging and pathology services, a pharmacy and separate reception and waiting area.

Additional services will operate alongside the existing day surgery, chemotherapy and dialysis services already onsite. The facility is hoped to take pressure off nearby major hospitals including Sunshine Hospital and Northern Hospital in Epping.

On-track to be completed by 2023, the hospital will be delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority.

Clinics face cash crisis as GP wait times soar in Sunbury August 23 The financial strain on bulk billing general practices coupled with GP shortages is causing appointment wait times in Sunbury to soar.

Gap Road Medical Centre senior GP Dr Emil Baselyous said the situation facing his bulk billing clinic, and therefore his patients, was “very, very bad”.

“Waiting periods for a patient to see a doctor in Sunbury now is over a week, at least,” Dr Baselyous said.

“There is huge, huge pressure on the clinic to see patients.”

He said there weren’t enough incentives to attract doctors to work in public general practice, and said staff were leaving to work in private clinics.

The GP is calling for Sunbury to be classified as a District of Workforce Shortage (DWS), which is an area where people are considered to have poor access to specialist medical practitioners.

“We serve not just Sunbury, we serve other towns around Sunbury. We have people coming from Kilmore, from Kyneton, from Gisborne, from Romsey, from Riddells Creek,” Dr Baselyous said.

10 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

“We have people coming from different towns to see us, we have over 50,000 patients and I’m getting less and less doctors because there is no incentive for them to stay with us.”

He said a lack of GPs would “cause a lot of problems in the future”. “[Patients’] medical condition can get worse, or would be a delayed diagnosis and that can lead to a further impact on the Medicare system,” Dr Baselyous said.

While Dr Baselyous said his clinic would continue to bulk bill, rising costs and Medicare cuts were hitting general practices hard.

“It’s not fair to start charging people out of

pocket knowing the situation of the people around us,” he said. “Saying this, bulk billing clinics are struggling badly.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said primary care was in the “worst shape” since Medicare began.

“Across the country we hear stories of Australians not being able to get in to see a bulk billing doctor or GPs changing from bulk billing to mixed billing,” Mr Butler said.

“The reality is after nine years of cuts and neglect from the former government it’s never been harder or more expensive for Australians to see a GP.”

YEAR IN REVIEW ... BUSINESS

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Business takes hard battering March 22 When Siobhan McGrory opened her Forty Winks franchise on one of Sunbury’s main strips 32 years ago, she didn’t think its downfall would be road works, a pandemic and a train line upgrade.

The last four years have been a blow to her business, and in turn, her livelihood. She’s devastated to be closing its doors, and feels as if her needs as a business owner were not properly compensated or taken into consideration since road upgrades outside her shop began in 2017.

“The site that I have is the number one spot in Sunbury, we get 19,000 cars per road per day along Gap Road, and Horne Street … that’s why they did the upgrade,” Ms McGrory said.

“It was a nightmare … it took two years, they cut the electricity line, they cut the gas line, it took them half a week to do half a driveway, customers couldn’t get in and out.

“People totally by-passed us, figures just plummeted big time.”

While the works took place between 2017 and 2019, Ms McGrory said her business suffered major financial losses – Forty Winks experienced a 20 per cent reduction in turnover in 2019 compared to the previous three years.

Just as sales had started to recover in the beginning of 2020, coronavirus hit.

Had it not been for JobKeeper, she said the store wouldn’t have survived until now.

But with the Gap Road level crossing removal project under way, she doesn’t believe she has a

viable business to sell anymore. The project will force Gap Road to close between Horne and Evans streets from May 30 to late 2022.

Responding to questions from Star Weekly, a Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) spokesperson said they were working closely with traders, Hume council and the Sunbury Business Association to limit disruption to businesses while they complete the “much-needed” project.

“Works to remove the dangerous and congested Gap Road level crossing will be completed later this year, making Sunbury safer and more connected, and boosting opportunity for people and businesses in Melbourne’s growing north west,” the spokesperson said.

It is understood RPV provided wayfinding

and ‘open for business signage’, local advertising, window cleaning, driveway widening, and is paying for advertising and signage for Forty Winks’ closing down sale.

Ms McGrory’s request for a 10-year franchise renewal required her to spend $150,000 to $200,000 on upgrades for her store, but she couldn’t justify the investment given her current sales figures.

She said she’s sad for her staff, especially her store manager, Grace, who’s been there for 10 years, who will lose their jobs – but celebrates what the store has achieved in its more than three decades.

“I have even been selling beds to the grandchildren of my original customers – how good is that?” she said.

Prizes prove in local pies we crust June 14

“We turned it into a pie filling, which is very unique … the judge gave us the highest score for this one because they said it is different, it is delicious,” Mr Khun said.

It’s been a big six years for the business – just last month appearing on Masterchef to reveal some of the tricks of the pie-making trade.

“During lockdown we were pretty quiet, we were struggling because not many people were travelling to Kyneton because

of the distance limit,” Mr Khun said.

“We took lots of time to practice again and again our pies, to create new flavours – because we knew when the lockdown ended, people would be able to travel again.”

Country Cob Bakery co-owner Ryan Chun is delighted to have won the pie trophies again.

(Damjan Janevski) 214294

12544962-AV15-22

Locals are lucky as pie to live near the pastry connoisseurs that are Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton.

At this year’s Baking Association of Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition, the bakery took home a bag of awards, including best meat pie – for the fifth year running – as well as for best gourmet pie and best vegetarian/ vegan pie.

Ryan Khun, who owns the business alongside his brother

Chan, and is so happy to have taken home the trophies again.

“I’m pretty excited, we were pretty surprised that we won three of the classes there,” he said.

Their pockets of delight were chosen out of 2500 pies and pasties from bakeries across Australia.

The winning gourmet pie was a Char-Siu pork and apple sauce creation, a combination of a Hong Kong dish and an Australian apple sauce.

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 11

YEAR IN REVIEW ... IN PICTURES

Tishya Del Rosario was a Top Model contestant in July. (Damjan Janevski) 313601_10

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

The Wiggles performed at Wyndham Cultural Centre in June.

(Damjan

Srimathumitha released a yoga album in May.

(Damjan Janevski)

Janevski) 313601_02

2022 through Star Weekly’s lens Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janveski shares his favourite pictures from 2022.

Sarah Harvey, owner of Cafe 500 at the Melton airfield posed with her goat for this photo in January. (Damjan Janevski) 313601_07

In April, Star Weekly showcased John Warren’s ‘crazy caravan’ that he built from scratch.

(Damjan Janevski) 313601_06

Robin Bootle posed for this pictured ahead of the Sunbury Model Railway Club exhibition in October.

Phung Thanh Nguyen’s animal-shaped hedges caught our eye in August.

(Damjan Janevski) 313601_09

(Damjan Janevski) 313601_03

This picture of Bilal, 5, praying at the Melbourne Grand Mosque was taken in March.

(Damjan

Janevski) 313601_16

This photo of Daisy was captured in September to promote Lort Smith Campbellfield’s Mission Adoptable campaign. (Damjan Janevski) 313601_01 12 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

James Liotta and Piero Viavatene hit the road with their new show featuring their characters Pasquale Pappagallo and Pippo Siciliano in February. (Damjan Janevski) 313601_08

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

COMMUNITY

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

Cuppa and craft Share or learn a craft over a cuppa at this social group for adults. Wednesdays, 10am-noon, at Sunbury Neighbourhood House, 531 Elizabeth Drive, Sunbury. n www.sunburyhouse.com.au

Mural painting Just Another Agency is joining the Hume Youth Services Team to bring young residents, aged 12 to 18, an exciting art program this summer. Learn how to create a mural alongside an established artist on January 18, noon until 3pm at the Sunbury Youth Centre. Free and bookings required. n https://bit.ly/3B0xozb

Family trivia night Bring your smarts and knowledge along to Sunbury Library’s family trivia Night on Thursday, January 12. Teams can include adult, children and any other family members who want to join in. Bookings required and tables are capped at 10. If you dress up as your favourite character, you go in the running to win door prizes too! 6pm to 7.30pm at Sunbury Library, 44 Macedon Street, Sunbury.? n https://bit.ly/3j58MyX

Breast cancer support group On the first and third Tuesday of the month breast cancer survivors are invited to head along to the Gisborne Golf Club at 10.30am to take part in a breast cancer support group. There they discuss experiences, find connections and improve mental health. n Lesley, 0484 691 226

Village connect A new service for older people and carers provided by Macedon Ranges council for residents over 55 years old to stay socially connected, chat with others in the community and enjoy some free coffee and cake. Happening on Tuesdays and Thursday at cafes across the municipality, there’s sure to be one near you. n https://bit.ly/3AMUrxm, or 5422 0262

Arts and games night Get creative at the Sunbury Youth Centre as part of an art and games night each Wednesday at the Sunbury Youth Centre, 3.30- 5.30pm. There’s a range of arts and crafts to try, and if art isn’t your thing, there’s a wide variety of games. The program is for people aged 12 to 18 years old and is free. It’s at 51-53 Evans Street, Sunbury.

Carer connect chat Are you caring for someone close to you?

Go and connect with other carers in your local area, share a light lunch, have a chat at noon on the first Wednesday of the month. Head to Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, 1 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton. n 9744 9267, or deb.mccallum@scchc. org.au

HarmoniX Vocal Company Get involved with an all-male, auditioned singing group happening on Thursday, 79.30pm in Sunbury. The group is inviting new members to join. The group also has a mixed choir, DynamiX Vocal Company, rehearsing Tuesday. 7-9.30pm. Both groups rehearse at Dulap Wilim Hub, 11 Leichardt Street, Sunbury. No auditions required, just bring your love of music. n harmonixvcinc@gmail.com

Jacksons Creek Combined Probus Jackson’s Creek Combined Probus Club, gathers on the second Monday of each

month at the Sunbury Football Club at 10am. Enjoy outings and meetings each month with a friendly group of men and women, and twice yearly trips away staying in cabins and caravans. n Doug, 5428 3317, or Teresa, 9746 3402

Craft and conversation If you’re a passionate crafter and want some company, why not head down to the Sunbury Library on Mondays at noon for the craft and conversation group. The program is open to people aged 15 years and older. n https://bit.ly/39BIu2O

Chill Out Sunbury Are you between 12 and 18 years old and want to engage with other young people, participate in activities such as trivia, games, art, music, competitions, personal development and more? Chill Out Sunbury is for you. It’s free and happens every Wednesday, 3.30-5.30pm at Sunbury Youth Centre, 51-53 Evans Street. n https://bit.ly/3lmVgVh

Sunbury Ladies Badminton Club Get involved with a welcoming, fun, social group of women who have spread the word of ladies badminton since 1999. Social games are on Mondays, 9.30am-noon, and team competitions are on Thursdays, 9.30am-12.30pm at Eric Boardman Stadium, Wilsons Lane. n sunburylbc@gmail.com

Come have a chat Delve into deeper topics and enjoy intriguing conversations by joining the Table 8 Discussion Group. The key theme for the coming months will be kindness.

The chats take place every Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am at Macedon Lounge, 40 Victoria Street, Macedon. n Carol, 0431 186 575

Sunbury Police Community Register Volunteer for the Sunbury Police Community Register. Formed in 2010 as a result of the 2009 Black Friday bushfires in Victoria, the community register’s mission is to make regular contact, and provide reassurance and wellbeing checks to elderly or vulnerable residents living in the Sunbury area, including those without friends or relatives.

Volunteers head to the Sunbury Police Station to chat with clients. n 9744 8111

outings, film mornings, speakers and presenters, as well as special events like holidays and bus trips.

New members are warmly welcomed. n Pat, 0433 789 754, or Sylvia, 0417 170 142

Sunbury Combined Probus Club The Sunbury Combined Probus Club meets every fourth Thursday of the month at the Sunbury Football Social Club at 10am. n Carmel , 0416 477 271

Toastmasters Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society If you’ve got a hankering to learn more about Sunbury and even your own family history, why not check out the Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society, meeting at 1.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Sunbury Senior Citizens Centre, 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury. n https://bit.ly/3jvM6oJ

Rotary club The Sunbury Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at the Sunbury Bowling Club from 7pm. n sunburyrotary@gmail.com

Ladies probus The Woodlands Ladies Probus Club of Sunbury meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Sunbury Bowling Club at 9.45 am. The club is based on fun, friendship and fellowship and enjoys monthly outings, an annual trip away and a lot of fun meetings. n Leonie, 0401 764 182

Sunbury Ladies Probus Club The Sunbury Ladies Probus Club meets at 9.30am on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Sunbury Football Social Club rooms. The friendly group of women enjoy

Sunbury & Macedon Ranges Toastmasters helps its members develop their public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, from 7.20-9.30pm, at the Sunbury Senior Citizens Hall. n vpm-4185@toastmastersclubs.org

Sunbury Seniors Sunbury Seniors meet on Mondays and Fridays at 8 O’Shanassy Street, Sunbury, from 10am-3pm. A variety of activities are offered – indoor bowls, cards, snooker, guest speakers, day excursions, subsidised lunches or just a cup of coffee and a chat. If you’re 55 or older and would like to make some new friends. n 0434 400 754

Probus Club Of Sunbury Join the Probus Club of Sunbury on the first Wednesday of the month at the Sunbury Football club at 9.30am.

It’s a friendly men’s group open to all retired and semi-retired men. E njoy morning tea and a guest speaker.

Visitors and new members are welcome with a number of great events held each month. n Greg, 0417593035

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 13

PUZZLES

16

No. 115

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7 1 3 6 9 9 1 7 5 8 3 1 8 9 hard

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8 LETTERS ACREAGES ASSENTED ASTEROID CONCOCTS 10 LETTERS EVERYWHERE REFLECTORS

7 LETTERS ADVERSE CLAMPED ENTWINE

13-01-23

No. 115

QUICK QUIZ

1

Who plays Eve Polastri in the UK spy series Killing Eve?

7

What type of tea is processed the least?

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

2

And what book series is Killing Eve based on?

8

Who is the author behind the Red Rising trilogy?

3

In fan fiction, AU stands for what?

9

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

The Oort cloud is named after which Dutch astronomer?

4

Ariana Grande (pictured) released what album in 2020?

10 The study of mosses and liverworts is called what?

5

What three main ingredients are used to make arrabbiata sauce?

6

In what decade was the National Heart Foundation of Australia established?

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T H E R O N E D R I T Y A C H E

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14 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

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Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

R

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.

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46 words: Excellent

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No. 115

ANSWERS: 1. Sandra Oh 2. The Villanelle series

by Luke Jennings 3. Alternate Universe 4. Positions 5. Garlic, tomato and dried red chilli peppers 6. 1950s 7. White tea 8. Pierce Brown 9. Jan Oort 10. Bryology

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13

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No. 115

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To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

QUICK CROSSWORD

3 2 / $ 5

No. 115

$ 1 * 6 7

SUDOKU

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12575127-AI44-22

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Very diverse in all aspects of specialised property services Pergolas • Decks • Retaining Walls • Renovations • Landscaping

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GRASS SLASHING & FIRE BREAKS PROMPT & RELIABLE SERVICE INSURED - OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE JOHN HABER 5428 7166 OR 0427 058 164

Phillip Haber Agricultural Contracting Grass Mulching, Fire Breaks, Pasture Improvement, Direct Drilling, Horse Paddocks, Fertiliser Spreading.

Servicing: Macedon • Gisborne • Woodend • Riddells Creek • Sunbury Prompt and Reliable V Television/Video/Audio

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EXCELLENT QUALITY REDGUM 3m split ..... $210 pcm 6m split ..... $205 pcm 12m split .. $200 pcm

Open 7 days 48 Davies Avenue, Sunshine North 9364 0770 SWA6566B

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The Chief Officer of CFA will be introducing the Fire Danger Period for all land within the municipalities listed below.

The Fire Danger Period will commence at 0100 hours on the date shown and unless varied by a subsequent declaration, will end at 0100 hours on 1st May 2023

BONE DRY FIREWOOD

Certain restrictions on the lighting of fires are in force during the Fire Danger Period.

Information about fire restrictions within the Country Area of Victoria can be obtained from www.cfa.vic.gov.au, your local CFA District Office or Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.

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ADVERTISERS, in this section are qualified practitioners and offer nonsexual services.

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3m split ...... $210 pcm 6m split ...... $205 pcm 12m split .... $200 pcm 20m split .......$195 pcm 20m unsplit ...$185 pcm Free Delivery All Areas Phone Peter on

ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number.

It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice.

For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au

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Admin and adhoc duties, full time position, computer knowledge is essential.

Saturdays required.

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Municipality Date of Commencement Macedon Ranges Shire Council 09/01/2023

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chris@ascenttreesolutions.com.au www.ascenttreesolutions.com.au

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12577293-AI46-22

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Andrew 0425 852 621 | Froggys.com.au | info@froggys.com.au

Duties include greasing, maintenance and adhoc.

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Awesome Dad to Greg and Brad, mischievous loving brother to Aunt Dianthe and Uncle Rex, and a wonderful Grandpa to Amelie, Ollie, Frances and Rex. Dearly loved father in law to Amanda and Melinda.

Excavator Operator Loader Operator and Labourer required.

Rest in peace Woolly Bull old mate.

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Family and friends are invited to Montsalvat in Eltham on January 25th, 2023 for a 2pm service start to celebrate the life of our Dad Dean, Aka Deano, The Master Blaster, Grandpa, Papa bear. We invite you to stay afterwards for refreshments and to share your memories of Dean with us.

12577846-SN46-22

(include your name, address and phone number)

Dean, Aka Deano, The Master Blaster, Grandpa, Papa bear passed away peacefully on 1st January 2023.

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

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MOTOR STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Pajero proves versatile

Pajero Sport has Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield which gives it an excellent look.

By Ewan Kennedy

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE

Mitsubishi Pajero is a large vehicle that’s been a major player in the Australian 4WD / SUV field for many years. It’s sold as a five-seat GLX, and seven-seat GLS, Exceed and GSR. Our test vehicle for the past week has been the GSR.

GLX 2WD: $44,440 GLS 2WD: $49,190 GLX 4WD: $49,440 GLS 4WD: $54,190

STYLING Pajero Sport has Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield styling. The grille features a black honeycomb design with projector headlamps positioned outside of the daytime running lights in a continuation of the grille.

Depending on the model there are up to seven body colour options Black Mica and White Diamond are exclusive to the GSR. Our test Pajero Sport had the White Diamond and it certainly looked great.

There are black exterior and interior accents, front and rear bumper garnish, on the radiator grille and roof rails. The Black Mica GSR also gets a black roof.

INTERIOR The Pajero’s seats are large and comfortable and the steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach. We found it easy to set everything up to the way we like it. This adds to the safety of the vehicle because the driver never feels the need to fiddle with settings that never feel quite right.

The centre console has a modern shape.

There are lower trays in the dashboard forward of the gear lever and more under the floor console, allowing access from both sides, giving improved utility and convenience.

There’s plenty of headroom in all seats and second row legroom is reasonable. Unusually, the second-row seatback can also be tilted to give occupants the choice of which angle suits them best. Third row seats are best suited for young children as there’s not enough space for adults. Besides, the kids prefer to be as far away from Mum and Dad as possible…

It’s hardly a surprise that rear storage space in the seven-seat Pajero Sport is minimal with the third-row seats in place. The base can by folded back to make for floor that’s almost completely flat. This expands the space up to 673 litres depending on the variant tested.

There’s also a shallow compartment in the floor at the back with a lid to hide smaller items from view.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS All Pajero Sport models are powered by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine with outputs of 133 kW at 3500rpm and 430Nm at 2500 revs.

The GLX and GLS come with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive, Exceed and GSR are 4WD only. Transmission is through an eight-speed automatic.

All Pajero Sport 4WD models come with four drive modes: 2WD high range, full Time

Exceed 4WD: $59,690 GSR 4WD: $61,440 SPECIFICATIONS (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GSR 2.4-litre diesel five-door wagon)

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

4WD and high and low range 4WD with locked centre differential.

Off-Road modes are: gravel, mud/snow, sand or rock.

SAFETY Standard safety features include seven airbags (front, side, curtain and driver’s knee); ABS brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake override and emergency stop signal; stability, trailer and traction control; forward collision mitigation system; hill start assist and descent control, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera as well as rear parking sensors.

There are two IsoFix child seat anchors in the second row of seats.

Pajero Exceed and GSR also have blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, miss-acceleration mitigation system, an adjustable speed limiter and speed limit display. There is multi around monitor and front parking sensors.

INFOTAINMENT All models have an 8-inch colour touchscreen, it is LCD in the Exceed and GSR. The entry-level GLX comes with Bluetooth connectivity with voice control and audio streaming, digital radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

Pager Exceed and GSR have an 8-speaker premium sound system. A smartphone app which allows a range of features to be operated from outside the vehicle including tailgate opening, vehicle status check, fuel consumption check car finder function, set-up notification and Apple watch connectivity.

DRIVING Pajero Sport is a large vehicle so getting into it can be a task for smaller occupants. However, the side steps and grab handles make it simpler.

Variants above the Pajero GLX come with a powered tailgate and a kick-motion sensor.

16 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

I found the sensors worked most of the time, not always the case in some other vehicles we’ve tested.

Pajero Sport isn’t designed from the ground up as an SUV, rather it’s built on a Mitsubishi utility platform, in this case the Mitsubishi Triton.

There’s plenty of grunt when needed and semi-serious off-road credentials but still smooth and comfortable on the bitumen.

Towing capacity is very good, at 3100kg.

Around town it has a tight – for its class – turning circle of 11.0 metres. Power assist has been calibrated to reduce steering effort when stationary or at low speeds while providing greater feedback at higher speeds.

The Pajero Sport offers an easy, relatively refined drive with a nice blend of power and control. Given its real off-road capability it is not as compliant or gentle as those bitumen-only SUVs but it’s certainly comfortable enough.

Fuel consumption is listed at 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres. We averaged 9.3 litres per hundred on our usual test course which includes motorway, flat and hill country roads as well as boring driving around the suburbs.

Looks: 8/10 Performance: 8/10 Safety: 7/10 Thirst: 8/10 Practicality: 9/10 Comfort: 8/10 Tech: 7/10 Value: 8/10

ENGINE: Capacity: 2.442 litres Configuration: Four cylinders in line Maximum Power: 133 kW @ 3500 rpm Maximum Torque: 430 Nm @ 2500 rpm Fuel Type: Diesel Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 8.0 L/100km CO2 Emissions: 212 g/km

DRIVELINE:

SUMMING UP

Eight-speed automatic

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is equally at home carrying out family duties in the urban environment where it’s likely to spend most of its time. It also works well in harsh off-road situations that would stop most of its softer rivals.

Pajero is well-priced and comes with Mitsubishi’s very impressive 10-year warranty – provided that its always serviced at a dealership and doesn’t travel more than 200,000 kilometres in that period. Otherwise, it drops to five years and 100,000 km.

Not so impressive when most five-year competitors provide unlimited distance.

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

RATINGS

Length: 4825 mm Wheelbase: 2800 mm Width: 1815 mm Height: 1835 mm Turning Circle: 11.0 metres Kerb Mass: 2125 kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 68 litres

BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Ventilated disc

STANDARD WARRANTY: 10 years / 200,000 kilometres (but note conditions)

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Third time lucky for the Bombers September 13 After years of building Riddell is finally back on top in the Riddell District Football League.

Having not won a premiership in 2013, the Bombers have been around the mix ever since, including making a couple of grand finals.

On Sunday, September 11, they faced Diggers Rest, which had beaten them in those grand finals. It would be third time lucky for the Bombers as they won 14.10 (94)-9.10 (64).

Both teams had big selection calls heading into the match.

Lucas Shaw, Tim Walsh and Riley Patterson came back in for the Bombers. For Burras who were already missing Cale Morton, they lost Taylor Hine to a knee injury.

The Burras came out flying with nine scoring shots to one in the first quarter as they kicked with the wind.

It was the Bombers turn in the second quarter as they turned it on to pile on the goals and hit the front at the 13-minute mark.

While they slowed down after that, they still took an 11 point lead into half-time.

The Burras needed goals in the third quarter while they had the wind.

They had two within the first seven minutes to take the lead back. From there the ball spent the majority of the quarter between the arcs.

The Burras led by two points at the last quarter. With all 12 goals in the first three quarters kicked to the end the Bombers were kicking in the last, it was the Bombers match to lose.

It took five minutes to get one and they started to come as they kicked eight for the quarter. The Burras would kick three late against the wind, but the game was already over.

There were winners lining up all over the ground for the Bombers.

Callum Williamson won the Doug McIntyre Medal after being adjudged the best player by the umpires.

Mick Edwards was busy around the ball, while captain Josh Grabham dominated the ruck. Ben Sonogan was massive, especially in the third quarter in defence.

Nathan Croft kicked three goals, while Edwards, Walsh, Berry and Dylan Tarczon kicked two each.

Justin Belleville can now add premiership winning coach to his playing success at the club.

He was quick to point out this had been a team effort over a number of years.

“It’s been too long and well overdue,” he said. “I just think it was a good team effort.

“We knew we had a young group and we went with our young group. We trusted the process and the young players coming through and will hold us in good stead for the next few years.”

Callum Williamson was named best a field.

(Pictures: Joe Mastroianni). 298019_12

Belleville said they almost knew that the Burras would continue to push them throughout and with a history of close games between them a thriller was always on the cards.

He said his boys had a bit in reserve in the second half.

“Holding them out [in the third] was the key,” he said. “We just had to stay composed.

“We had plenty of run and we had to be brave with the football. We’ve been brave all year with the footy, don’t go into your shell, take the game on.”

Grabham said this side was the closest he had ever been a part of.

Grabham returned to his junior club last season, having played with Gisborne in recent times after a successful junior basketball career.

“It feels good,” he said. “I’ve been talking about it [captaining a premiership side] for too long, so it’s kind of a relief.

“I knew most of them beforehand. It’s such a tight knit group and we talk about it at every huddle every single speech. We are a team and we feel like we can get on top of other teams and it happened today.

The Bombers celebrate on the final siren.

298019_04

“They got off to a hot start, we showed what we can do and can score quickly.”

Grabham said they always had confidence they could get the job done, it was just about being aggressive.

While the Bombers claimed the senior premiership, their under-19.5s grand final to Wallan, 14.5 (89)-9.5 (59).

Belleville said the side was hurt by their best three players all being in the seniors team, but it showed they were on the right track.

Belleville, who is yet to commit for next season, said he would deal with that later on.

“Let’s get over this week and go from there.”

Cannons stars shine for Cats, Dogs and Dockers July 5 Eighteen-year-old Calder Cannons star defender Abbey McDonald will don the white and navy blue for Geelong following Wednesday night’s NAB AFLW draft.

The versatile player from Sunbury was the Cats’ final selection at pick 55, and will join the club for season seven.

McDonald, a die-hard Geelong fan, said she was “still in shock”.

“I know mum’s happy as, she apparently yelled at the airport when she heard my name called out,” she said.

In a statement, the club said McDonald’s footy smarts means “she can be deployed right across the ground”.

“Abbey is a real competitor, and we love the way she plays,” Geelong’s head of women’s

football, Brett Johnson, said.

“She defends first and is able to work off her opponent and contribute to our attack.”

McDonald received congratulations from big names too.

“I had [Patrick] Dangerfield and [Joel] Selwood message me,” McDonald said.

“That was a big shock and eye opener … it was just amazing.”

McDonald will join Geelong VFLW deputy vice-captain Mia Skinner (pick 33) and Northern Knights’ Brooke Plummer (pick 42) at the Cats.

Leading up to the draft, McDonald told Star Weekly the opportunity would “mean the world” as she’d been wanting to play high level football for years.

“I started playing football as I was always with a family full of boys who loved football

and inspired me to start playing and it grew bigger over the years as I got older,” she said.

She’s been kicking career goals during her time at the Cannons – one of the team’s best this season – and was named in the AFL NAB Academy best under-18 plays heading into this year.

The defender was also named in the NAB League Girls team of the year on the half-back flank.

More jewels in the Cannons crown were picked up too, including forward/midfielder Heidi Woodley from Kilmore, welcomed to the Western Bulldogs at pick 37, and Tahlia Read at pick 85 for the Fremantle Dockers.

Woodley is described by the Bulldogs as having “burst onto the scene at this year’s AFLW under-18 championships, catching the eyes of recruiters with her evasiveness and

athleticism forward of the ball”.

The 17-year-old – who suffered an injury in the opening round of the 2022 NAB League Girls season only returning to action in round seven – said the news was “very unexpected”.

“I was sitting on the couch, with all my family around me, some really good friends,” Woodley said.

“I heard it, and we were all just looking at each other like, ‘Oh my god, what has just happened’.”

Woodley was surprised to be picked so early, and was stoked with the outcome – especially being chosen for the Bulldogs.

“Whether it was the last, a high pick or a low pick, I don’t care at all. I’m just very grateful for the opportunity,” she said.

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 17

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Burras fly the premiership flag September 13 After years of building Diggers Rest can finally say it’s the Riddell District Netball League A-grade premiers.

Having been around the mark in recent years, the Burras started to find form at the right time of the season this year.

Having knocked out Riddell and then minor premiers Macedon in the preliminary final, the Burras were full of confidence heading into the grand final against Woodend-Hesket.

Both sides were aiming for their first A-grade premiership. The Burras had gone close before, losing the 2003 grand final in extra time.

On Sunday, it was going to be the case of which side settled first.

The Hawks got the first two, before the Burras got the next six to open up a small lead. Both sides were creating turnovers as the defenders dominated.

The Burras would maintain about a four goal lead for much of the first half. Early in the third quarter, the Hawks reduced the margin to just one goal.

Instead of panicking, the experience of the Burras showed through. They would get the next six goals, as the Hawks went cold in the goaling circle.

The margin would continue to grow as the Burras sealed a convincing win in the end, winning 40-32.

Wing defence Anica Shearer was named best on court.

Burras coach Pam Strong said the group used their experience in grand finals with other teams to help settle their nerves.

“We had the momentum swing, they stayed to their structure and they didn’t panic,” she said. “They were great. They were more calm than I thought they would be this week. They were more nervous last week than this week.

“I think both teams have a strong starting seven and the game could have gone either way to be honest.”

Diggers Rest’s Alexandra Ball and Woodend-Hesket’s Tayissa Coppinger.

(Joe Mastroianni). 298018_01

Strong had been praying to the weather gods to keep the rain away after the side struggled earlier in the finals when the two teams played in rain.

While there were some spits in the second half, it was dry for the most part.

Strong said the key was which team settled first.

“They were good defensively,” she said of her girls. “We knew we had to work hard all the way through the centre third to stop them getting the ball easy as their goalers are so accurate.

“We did settle. We know one thing I always look at is if our structure is working and when they start making changes, that’s things are going well.

“They did and I knew we had the win and the girls know that’s how I think and it lifts

(Joe Mastroianni). 298018_05

the team too.”

Strong said the whole team was in sync throughout. They made just one change, Nicole Isles replaced Sally Mitchell at centre at half time to bring on some fresh legs.

Stefanie Symes and Shelby Strong, who both went into the game with injury concerns, got through the whole match.

Pam Strong said she wasn’t going to ask Symes how her injured ankle was, saying it wasn’t in a good way.

Strong said Scherer provided the performance they were after.

“She was brilliant and rose to the occasion,” she said. “She was amazing and drove the ball down the court, she was great.”

The Burras B-grade side also claimed the premiership, beating Macedon 32-29. Strong said the team had to overcome adversity to

claim the title.

She said it was a nice reward for the club to get the two premierships.

“I’ve been here a few years and Shelby has been here longer,” she said. “It’s been a slow build as you don’t go out and buy premierships.

“There’s locals that have been here for a long time. Maggie [Payne] said she’s been there for seven years and it’s finally paid off.

“It’s good and there’s a lot of good young players coming through.”

The premiership caps off Strong’s time as coach of the Burras.

“It’s a nice way to go out,” she said. “I was going to stop after the first year of COVID and then one more and last year was going to be my last.

“This year was always it, I’ve decided it’s time.”

Extreme stars in thriller May 31 Melbourne Extreme exceeded all expectations and nearly took home the title at the Bowls Premier League 15.

Extreme, which is run by Club Sunbury, was competing in the competition for the second time having made their debut earlier this year.

After finishing second bottom last time, the side made it through to the grand final, losing to Melbourne Pulse in a tie breaker.

Extreme coach Kelvin Kerkow said the result was huge for the team and the program.

The BPL has been likened T20 Big Bash cricket competition, as a model of the game designed to appeal to a younger demographic and a television audience.

“We learned so much from the first BPL,” Kerkow said.

“We played so well together and we learned a lot from the first one like new plans, when to attack, different combinations.

“It all came together.”

Carla Krizanic, Matt Flapper and Ali Forsyth again made up Extreme’s team. They won 11 of their 18 matches in the rounds to qualify for the finals.

Kerkow said they had hoped to make the finals heading into the event.

He said not only had they been able to plan better for this one, they were able to train and prepare for it more.

“Carla had just had a baby last time so she hadn’t been playing a lot,” he said.

“She had been practicing, but without game time it can be hard.

“We already had a strong team and she was even more valuable this time. Everyone else

had stepped up from last time.”

The tournament wasn’t without drama.

Sunbury’s own Krizanic had to withdraw late in the tournament, after testing positive for COVID-19.

Jessie Cottell stepped in to replace Krizanic for the last two days of the event.

Cottell is a highly credentialled bowler in Queensland, currently representing the state side.

“It was devastating for Carla,” Kerkow said.

“Jessie came in. She was the super sub. I know her as she’s from my club. She probably over achieved from what we were hoping to get from her.”

Extreme lost their first final, but made the most of a second chance and won through to face Pulse for the fourth time of the event.

It would go down to the final bowl.

“There was nothing in it,” Kerkow said. “It came down to a tiebreaker. The plan was to make finals which we achieved, it would have been nice to win it too.”

Flapper was the standout for Extreme and was named in the all stars team for his performances.

“Kerkow said they were hoping to have the same team come back for the next event in November, which is at the same location.

“Playing from scratch we learned a lot from the first one. We’ll learn more again from this one and hopefully we can go well again.

“Overall it’s been excellent.”

Club Sunbury bowls director Marc Bullows said they were thrilled with how the team had performed and represented the club.

18 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

Kelvin Kerkow OAM, Ali Forsyth, Matt Flapper and Jessie Cottell.

Matt Flapper (Bowls Australia)

(Bowls Australia)

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Focused Gisborne takes honours September 20 Gisborne coach Rob Waters knew pretty early on his side was switched on heading into the Bendigo Football League grand final.

After a below par finals series which saw them just sneak into the grand final, the Bulldogs showed they were the side that they had been through the best part of the regular season on Saturday.

In tough conditions with rain falling all day, the Bulldogs were able to break through for their first premiership in 16 years, beating Strathfieldsaye, 5.20 (50)-2.10 (10).

Bulldogs coach Rob Waters said this had been a number of years in the making.

“All the work everyone has put in the last seven-eight years, to have six sides in grand finals and every team play finals,” he said.

“They lost the grand final in 2012 by a couple of points and a couple of preliminary finals similar since. They’ve been thereabouts for years.”

While the rain and the resulting muddy and heavy ground was most people’s worst nightmare, for the Bulldogs it was the perfect scenario.

Bulldogs co-captain Pat McKenna said the conditions were ‘Gisborne-esk’. The group had trained in the rain on Thursday night, a perfect lead up to the biggest day of the year.

“They are a quality side and they make you play on the outside,” McKenna said. “The rain evened out the contest and the conditions did help us.

“It was a bit of a muddy slug and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Both Waters and McKenna said the group weren’t happy with how they had played throughout the finals.

The group could have easily said they were okay with the season that they’d had, but they knew there was more on the line.

“It could have been perfect conditions but it wouldn’t have mattered as they were in the right frame of mind,” Waters said of Saturday.

“The things done in the other finals were a great learning curve. The boys showed in the last 10 minutes of the preliminary final that they were highly spirited with their backs towards the wall.

“That held us in good stead.”

Gisborne celebrate

Braidon Blake was named best on ground.

(AbbyLouisemedia)

(AbbyLouisemedia)

The Storm had the breeze in the first quarter, with the Bulldogs taking the ascendency as they restricted them to just one goal.

The Bulldogs managed to hit the lead in the second quarter and led by 12 points at the break.

“It was a game of inch by inch and we had to slow them down,” Waters said.

“There were repeat stoppages and every time we won one, or halved one the confidence grew.

“Players were coming off the ground seeing what they were doing was helping.”

Waters said the key difference to the last few weeks was that all 22 players were contributing. He said in the previous two finals they’d struggled to pick their best six.

Neither team scored a goal in the third quarter, before the Bulldogs kicked three in the last quarter to open up a match winning lead.

Not that Waters realised.

“I was talking to a couple of the line coaches in the box and was yelling we shouldn’t have let them kick a goal,” he said.

“Boys were coming off and I was telling them to pull their heads in. They’re like there’s two minutes to go. It then dawned on me we had the result.”

Braidon Blake was named best on ground.

Jack Reaper was another standout, while Brad Bernacki and Mckenna were named in the best.

McKenna said it was pretty special to win a premiership.

“It is really good and I was feeling pretty content last night,” he said.

“I watched as we lost 2012 and played in the preliminary finals in 2014 and 2019. It’s a great bunch of boys and a really gout unit.

“It’s still a really young group and it’s a

pleasure being able to lead them.”

McKenna and Waters were quick to both point out the club’s junior program. Eight or nine players in the premiership side had come through from the under-18 side in the last three to four years.

McKenna said being able to win a premiership with his local club made it more special.

“Looking back it’s pretty special to have all three teams in the grand final, it doesn’t happen often,” he said.

“There’s so many players who have come and worked their way through the club, having played their whole life.

“A good core of us it’s our home club.

Means so much more being a local. It’s great for the town, club and people who have been in so much work.”

Dragons’ perfect timing earns premiership cup March 29 Gisborne timed its run to perfection in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup. After not having the season they would have liked across the senior grades, the Dragons are now celebrating after claiming their second premiership in three seasons.

Dragons president Andrew Headberry said the grand final against Romsey couldn’t have gone much better.

The match saw the third and fourth placed teams face off in Gisborne after causing upsets the week before against the top two teams.

“It was a great day out and the weather was beautiful,” he said.

“It was a very similar game to the week before against United. They never really got the run rate to where it needed to be.

“We always felt like we were in control and that they needed to make 180 to really test us.

“The only time we were a little concerned was when Ben Way was dropped, but he didn’t make many more.”

Romsey made 8-144 after being at 2-108 earlier in the innings. Way top scored with 44.

Josh McDonald took 4-31 off his nine overs, while Mick Allen and Jay King took one wicket each and were both very economical.

Headberry said they were always confident in getting the 145 needed for the win.

Gisborne premiership team

(supplied)

“I think winning the toss and bowling first, showed that we will back our main guys to chase the runs down.

“It was a pretty daunting when you get Mick [Allen] out, and then Jason [Wilson] walks in

and Pat [McKenna] walks in after him.

“The only chance they had was to get those guys out cheaply.”

The Dragons finished 4-146, hitting the winning runs with 10 balls to spare.

McKenna made 37 not out, while Wilson (37) and Allen (36) were also among the runs.

Louis Moor took two wickets for Romsey.

McDonald was awarded the player of the match for his all-round performance. As well as four wickets, he made 19 at the top of the order.

He joins his father as a premiership player at the club.

“He didn’t have the greatest season,” Headberry said of McDonald.

“He has built up as the season went on and bowled really well in the semi final and final.

“It’s a good story as he’s from a Gisborne sporting family.”

Headberry said it was good to finish the season with a premiership. He said it had been a bit of an up and down season with COVID-19 interruptions.

“What’s been really pleasing this year has been the social side of the club coming back strongly,” he said.

“We had eight senior teams so that’s a lot of people and there’s a real community feel around the place.

“The top grades have underperformed for most of the year, but came right at the end of the season and we got a premiership.”

The premiership is the club’s fourth in the McIntyre Cup after coming into the top grade in the 2014-15 season.

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023 SUNBURY & MACEDON RANGES STAR WEEKLY 19

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