Star Weekly - Melton Moorabool - 17th January 2023 by Star Weekly

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NGV Kids tours Melton The National Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) Kids on Tour program has arrived in Melton and Moorabool, with a number of free art workshops for young people. This year’s theme for Kids on Tour is ‘Let’s Make Art’ and it shares popular activities from the 2022 NGV Kids exhibition, ‘Making Art: Imagine Everything is Real’, which celebrates the work of influential 20th century artists, as well as local artists. NGV youth and families co-ordinator Stephanie Pohlman said NGV Kids on Tour is a “really important” part of the annual NGV Kids program. “It reinforces the gallery’s commitment to provide opportunities to communities across Victoria to connect with each other and connect with the gallery through art,” she said.

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Johnny, 8, and Harrison, 7, at NGV’s Kids on Tour portraiture class. (Damjan Janevski) 314994_08

pictures: Page 11

Campsite gunshots heard By Karen Sweeney, AAP Gunshots and a drone were heard near the remote alpine camp ground where a Melbourne couple was allegedly murdered, a court has heard. Russell Hill and Carol Clay were reported missing after going camping at a remote site in the Wonnangatta Valley area of the Victorian Alps in March 2020. Their bodies were discovered in bushland outside Dargo in November 2021, several days after their accused killer, Caroline Springs man Greg Lynn, was charged with their murders. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday for the beginning of a five-day committal hearing, testing the evidence against him. Lynn, a former airline pilot, has pleaded not

guilty to the murders. Hunters Damir Jovar and Goran Miljkovic believe they saw Mr Hill and Ms Clay in the Wonnangatta area when they camped there in March 2020. Through a Serbian translator, Mr Miljkovic told the court he heard gunshots early one morning of their trip, just before dawn. He then corrected himself. “Just one gunshot,” he said. In his statement to police, Mr Miljkovic had described hearing gunshots regularly in the area over many years of camping. He believed them to be coming from poachers trying to kill stags. He had been in the area to hunt deer. Mr Miljkovic and Mr Jovar both described following an older couple in a white Landcruiser ute during their trip. It pulled into a camp area with toilets. Mr Miljkovic

said, strangely, it parked closer to two other vehicles than the toilets. One was a white ute, according to both men. Mr Jovar said the second was a blue Nissan Patrol while Mr Miljkovic said it was a blue station wagon. Mr Miljkovic believed he saw the same couple the following day, walking from a graveyard to the ute parked near a river. Contract weed sprayer Robert Williams was working in the area the week the campers were reported missing. He said a “grumpy” man sped past him near the Bucks Camp before lunch on March 20. Others driving past had stopped to chat, but this man “put his foot down, zoomed past me”, he said. Hours later, as he phoned his boss about 5pm, Mr Williams said he saw a drone flying overhead.

He waved as it flew over him, filming, and it circled several times before flying over nearby campsites, describing it as rude. “You’re going there to have a peaceful camp and somebody’s flying a drone over top of you,” he said. The following morning he smelled burning plastic, but didn’t think much of it at the time because he said campers often burnt rubbish in their campfires. He had only taken note to check that it was none of his fellow workers. Later, when news reports revealed two campers were missing in the area, Mr Williams recognised the image of Mr Hill as the “grumpy” man. “I could tell straight away by looking at him – mid-70s, had that grumpy look about him,” he said. “I remember the vehicle very well. A V8 Landcruiser, decked out.”

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Hikes are ‘no walk in the park’ By Liam McNally Bacchus March State Emergency Service (SES) unit is warning hikers that trekking through Lerderderg Gorge is “no walk in the park”. The SES issued the warning after being called to four rescues in gorge between December 29 and January 8. The first incident on December 29 involved an injured hiker. SES crews and paramedics were required to hike for just over an hour until they were able to locate the injured hiker, who had fallen on a steep and isolated section of track.

An air ambulance was called to assist in the safe removal of the patient from the site, via a winch. The following evening, SES Bacchus Marsh unit volunteers once again returned to Lerderderg Gorge to assist police and Parks Victoria in locating a lost hiker. The crews found the lost man within 90 minutes and were able to escort him back to the car park. On January 8, SES responded to two incidents. The first call was to support Gisborne SES unit with a two-vehicle crash on Obriens Road.

SES crews winched a vehicle to safely extricate a patient and assisted Ambulance Victoria crews with the treatment of several patients. The second call was for an unwell hiker. The SES said the group had underestimated the intensity of the gorge on a hot day and had no water left. One female was treated for heat related injuries and the remainder of the hiking group escorted to safety. In a Facebook post, SES Bacchus Marsh said the Lerderderg Gorge is “no walk in the park”. “It is difficult terrain. Be prepared, take

sufficient supplies, consider the weather forecast, use a reliable map.” SES Bacchus Marsh unit controller Bill Robson said there are presently heightened terrain risks in Lerderderg, with trees down in certain areas and washed-out tracks following recent rain. “Our volunteers are always committed to the safety of our community and are ready to respond 24-7, but we’d love people to be well prepared and take appropriate precautions,” he said.

Caroline Springs Station.

(Damjan Janevski)

276463_02

New station parking open

Sisters Charlotte ,7, and Breanna, 11, are warming up for Melton council’s scavenger hunt.

(Damjan Janevski) 315091_03

Hunt for Melton’s hidden treasures Residents keen to test their knowledge of Melton, or learn something new about the area will have the chance to explore Melton township and win a share in $500 worth of prizes with a school holiday scavenger hunt. On January 24, competitors can start at the Melton civic centre from 10am, where they’ll receive a Melton town centre hunt kit that will give them all they need to complete tasks, sleuth out clues, and find giveaways along the way. The activity is expected to take about 45-minutes at walking pace along paved footpaths that are suitable for participants with

wheelchairs, mobility devices, and prams. The trail is also suitable for bikes and scooters wanting to zip through the course. The hunt finishes at the Melton Amphitheatre, where you can join members of the community for free morning tea, coffee and show bags. Submit your completed activity sheet for your chance to go in the draw to win a share in $500 worth of prizes. The event will finish at noon , and children must be supervised by a parent, guardian or carer. Mayor Lara Carli said council is “excited to

get the community moving.” “Our Melton Town Centre Scavenger Hunt gives families the opportunity to learn about their local town centre, its history, and hidden treasures, while having a memorable time in town,” she said. “With so much to see and do, the hunt provides a great occasion for our community to discover more of Melton and support our local businesses as part of a fun day out.” Liam McNally

Train station car parks in Melbourne’s western suburbs have received a major upgrade, including in Caroline Springs where 400 spaces have opened to commuters. The newly opened spaces more than doubles the car park capacity for residents wanting to utilise public transport. “More than doubling the parking capacity at Caroline Springs Station is an excellent result for our community, easing parking issues and improving transport connections in the west,” Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch said. New bicycle parking facilities, improved lighting and CCTV will also be delivered as part of the project, with additional landscaping also being provided. The works are part of the state government’s Car Park for Commuters program, delivering new and upgraded car parks across the state. “Not only have we delivered more than 1200 new and upgraded spaces across three stations in the west, but we’ve also made it easier and safer to catch the train,” Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said.

Melton council’s big plans for 2023 The coming year will be one of change for the City of Melton. Rapid population growth in Melbourne’s outer west is putting pressure on existing infrastructure, which council is hoping to ease with a number of infrastructure project in the pipeline for 2023. Melton is one of Australia’s fastest growing suburbs, and its population is expected to more than double by 2051 from 180,000 to over 400,000. Melton mayor Lara Carli said Melton continues to grow at an “unprecedented” pace, and a big focus this year is delivering better open spaces and more accessible sports and recreation infrastructure “so everyone can get active and outdoors”. “Council is working hard to make sure 4 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

our infrastructure not only keeps up with population growth, but improves services and amenities for everyone,” she said. “Investing in infrastructure now means we’re building a more resilient and healthy community. We’re rolling out our $89 million capital works program for the 2022-23 financial year, which includes constructing and upgrading community centres, sporting facilities, parks, roads and more.” Major projects will include upgrades to Bulmans Road from High Street to Centenary Avenue, new childrens and community centres at Mount Atkinson, Rockbank, Aintree and Cobblebank, upgrades to the MacPherson Park Rugby and Gridiron pavilion, revitalised play spaces at Banchory Green Reserve and

Centenary Park, a new pavilion at Diggers Rest, a new Mt Atkinson Active Open Space Precinct, and stage two of the Bridge Road Recreation Reserve redevelopment. “Building new infrastructure while maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure continues to be a major challenge, but our strong relationship with the state and federal governments will help ensure we have strong investment over the coming years,” Cr Carli said. “We’re proud to be delivering new and upgraded buildings, roads, recreation facilities and more to help local families enjoy the City of Melton even more.” Liam McNally

Melton council’s capital works program is its centrepiece for development in 2023. (Damjan Janevski) 260628_01

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Summer spike in fuel drive-offs By Liam McNally A Bacchus Marsh service station owner is calling on police to act after a sharp increase in fuel thefts over summer. APCO Bacchus Marsh owner Narinder Uppal said summer is usually the worst period for “drive-offs”, but this year had been particularly bad, with six in December, and another six in the first two weeks of January. “Lately it has become a pretty big problem. This week has been really bad, we’ve had five

drive-offs, normally we wouldn’t get that in a month,” she said. “It takes a toll on us, especially the operators, they get affected the most because they have a job to do and they’re trying to do the best they can. There’s people just out there who do the wrong thing but then they don’t understand what effect they have on other people. Ms Uppal said she uses security camera footage to search the number plates of those perpetrating drive-offs on VicRoads registration check, and finds the majority of

them come back as “not found”, or with the plates not matching the vehicle. “In the last seven years I’ve been at APCO, every drive-off that we’ve had I’ve never seen money coming back from cars with unrecognised plates,” she said. “If it’s like $500 that I’ve got to pay out of my pocket… I’ve got to fork money out from my savings or something.” Another Bacchus Marsh service station told Star Weekly drive-offs are a common problem, while three others said they only

occurred once or twice a month. Bacchus Marsh sergeant Matthew Watts said police have received reports of recent incidents of theft of petrol from service stations in the Bacchus Marsh area “and are currently investigating these matters”. “All service station operators are encouraged to report any petrol thefts to the police and provide CCTV footage of the incident to assist with the police investigation,” he said.

Young advocate needed headspace Melton is seeking young people passionate about mental health to become members of their Youth Advocacy Group (YAG). YAG members are volunteers aged 16 to 25 that work with headspace Melton’s community awareness officer on a broad range of projects that aim to help improve their service for young people, engage with the community to chat about mental health, and connect like-minded young people with one another to build social wellbeing. Phoenix Crouch became a YAG volunteer at the end of 2019 to help young people with mental health. Since joining the YAG, Phoenix has worked on a community zine, a queer radio show, and volunteered at a range of events and festivals. “I love YAG, I love all of the people, I love the friends that I’ve made, I love working with Mel,” Phoenix said. “It’s very fulfilling, it’s very good to be around other people who share similar views,

or even different views and learn off of each other … working with other people and working to help other people. “I’ve learnt so many things I couldn’t even list them … since joining YAG I’ve decided that I want to go into social work myself and community work in the future when I’m ready.” Applications for YAG volunteers are open until February 12 and can be made online. Details: https://orygen.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/SV_2bknfQ5N5muLqpU Liam McNally

Phoenix Crouch is a headspace Melton Youth Advocacy Group member keen to see more like-minded volunteers join up. (Damjan Janevski) 314904_02

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‘Good timing’ saves neighbours By Liam McNally The year got off to a dramatic start for Caroline Springs resident Jake Di Caprio, who heroically assisted in evacuating neighbours from a house fire, seconds before the roof of the building collapsed. Mr Di Caprio said he was watching a movie upstairs at his home in Orrong Parade when he noticed a “whole heap” of smoke through his window at about 7pm. He ran outside to see smoke pouring from the roof of the house across the road, and flames coming from the ducted cooling. Mr Di Caprio said he “smashed through their back gate like a mad man” to alert the

residents who were unaware of the danger. He assisted three people to get out the front of the house, but once there an elderly gentleman was spotted on the top floor balcony. Mr Dicaprio rushed back into the burning house, and got the man downstairs “no more than 40 seconds” before the roof of the top floor collapsed. Mr Dicaprio put the rescue down to “good timing”. “It was meant to be, I guess,” he said. The residents of the house told Channel 7 that they couldn’t sleep the night after the incident because they were “so worried”. “We’re so sad at the moment,” one said. Within minutes 11 Fire Rescue Victoria and CFA vehicles arrived on the scene and spent

approximately an hour getting the fire under control. CFA Caroline Springs community safety co-ordinator Ryan Baker said the incident highlights the importance of servicing evaporative cooling units. “People should maintain their air conditioners and evaporative coolers by ensuring the dust filters and vent outlets inside the properties are cleaned regularly, and have the units regularly serviced according to the manufacturer’s specifications,” he said. The CFA recommends evaporative coolers be checked yearly to ensure optimal performance and reduce the risk of faults that could cause electrical fault or fire.

A Caroline Springs home caught fire in the evening of January 1.

Midsumma fun There will be plenty of colour and entertainment as the Midsumma Festival hits Melbourne’s west later this month. Midsumma is Victoria’s premier queer arts and cultural organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences. Following the success of recent years, councils, including Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, have supported the festival, which kicks off on Saturday, January 21. Among the events, Maribyrnong council is hosting an evening of multi-disciplinary performance art by creatives with roots in the western suburbs, along with an author talk and Hobsons Bay council is encouraging

residents of the west to be part of a rainbow installation, while there is also an outdoor exhibition space set to arrive in Laverton. Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre is hosting a multi-media exhibition, while there will be a queer history walk in Footscray. Lucy Best will perform at the Bowery Theatre in St Albans, while Brimbank council and Bulldog Pride will host a pool party in Sunshine. In Wyndham, the Park Lounge returns to Kelly Park, while The Substation in Newport will host the Queen on Country by Peter Waples-Crowe and there is a Pier Festival in Williamstown. Details: www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on

Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid are excited to return to the Park Lounge event this year at Werribee’s Kelly Park. (Artificial Studios)

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Pricing under the pump

Pricing under the pump By Benjamin Millar

‘‘

Eynesbury Australia Day (Supplied)

strongly encourage residents to complain to the ACCC

’’

- Steve McGhie

Mr McGhie said he has taken the issue up with the Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne and will be contacting federal Gorton MP Brendan O’Connor to discuss this issue soon, as fuel prices are regulated by the federal government. “In the interim I strongly encourage residents to complain to the ACCC [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission]” he said. The ACCC’s latest petrol monitoring report showed that average petrol prices rose in the 2020 September quarter after a record low earlier in the year. Although the ACCC does not set fuel prices, it does monitor retail fuel prices on a daily basis. A spokesperson said it has the power to investigate where it sees issues of concern. “Where we find sufficient evidence we will take action to protect consumers against misleading and anti-competitive conduct by fuel retailers.” Mr McGhie’s promise to take action was widely welcomed on social media, where some residents said they had seen price differences of up to 50 cents per litre between Melton and Watergardens.

Fuel prices at Melton petrol stations last week. (Damjan Janevski) 226880_01

Melton’s Andre Peters said the lack of independent competition makes it easier for the major fuel companies to keep prices inflated well above those in neighbouring suburbs. “Sadly there is no competition in Melton as there are no independents,” he said. “Generally we pay at least 20 cents a litre more at times in Melton.” A BP spokesman said petrol prices at the pump can be impacted by a number of different factors.

He said while there are currently about 1400 BP branded sites across Australia, about three quarters are owned by independent business partners who set their own retail pricing. “When it comes to retail fuel pricing, our aim is to be competitive and attract customers to our sites,” he said. “Generally speaking, the price at the pump is impacted by a number of different factors. In particular, international product prices and competition between service stations in a local

area. There are also other factors including exchange rates, taxes and local operating costs.” On Monday, unleaded 91 pump prices at Melton’s BP, Coles Express and 7/11 Mobil were all at 155.9 cents per litre, according to price comparison website Petrol Spy, with Woolworths Caltex at 168.9. Meanwhile Bacchus Marsh BP, Coles Express and 7/11 Mobil prices were 129.9 cents per litre – 26 cents less per litre – and independent outlets were just 119.9 cents per litre. 628174

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By Benjamin Millar

Melton’s petrol prices are coming under greater scrutiny with a local MP vowing to help take action to bring prices in line with neighbouring areas. Melton MP Steve McGhie said the area’s families are being unfairly hit with higher prices than people in neighbouring suburbs, often paying more than 20 cents per litre extra at the pump and spending at least $10 more every time they fill up. “I have had many constituents raise concerns regarding the prices of petrol in Melton being noticeably higher than in other areas,” Mr McGhie said. “I am deeply concerned that families in Melton are paying more than they should be.”

Water slide day makes a spash on January 26 Eynesbury is the place to be on Australia Day. Eynesbury’s annual Australia Day Party returns to the town, with plenty of fun activities for children of all ages. The day, which many children know as ‘water slide day’, will have three waterslides for everyone to enjoy. For those keen to stay dry, there is a beer garden with live music to be played throughout the day. In a bonus for those in attendance, Australia

Day is part of Eynesbury’s Food Truck Festival, which has been running throughout the summer months. Food will be available throughout the day via the trucks, while there will be wood fire pizza available. The event runs from noon to 8pm at the Eynesbury Homestead. Details: https://eynesbury.com.au/ australiaday/.

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West property prices holding up By Liam McNally The property market in Melbourne’s west is performing better than the rest of the city amid a sharp drop in property prices across the nation, according to latest CoreLogic data. According to CoreLogic, nationwide property values hit a record decline of 8.4 per cent on January 7, from a peak in May 2022. CoreLogic said this is due to record-breaking interest rate rises, along with inflationary pressures and high levels of household debt. In 2022, property values in Melbourne

decreased 5.1 per cent, with some of the steepest declines coming from suburbs with higher median values. Melbourne’s western suburbs have been more resilient to the volatility. Wyndham and Melton-Bacchus Marsh were the highest-performing areas in greater Melbourne outside of the CBD with declines of 0.4 and 1.6 per cent respectively. CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless said that the stability of prices in the west is because of more affordable markets. “It’s a fairly common phenomenon where

the top end leads the market, it seems to be that homeowners or prospective buyers across that upper end of the market get more sensitive to changes in the environment like interest rates or credit tightening policies,” he said. “We are seeing a deflection of demand toward that middle and lower end of the pricing spectrum, which is helping to support demand to some extent around your mortgage belt areas like Wyndham and Melton.” Mr Lawless said that homeowners in Melton and Wyndham are still in a “very strong equity position” compared to other areas, but

that we are in a “buyer’s market”. “A lot of these markets have seen pretty reasonable growth over the long term, it’s really just the last 12 months or so where we’ve seen this downward pressure,” he said. “For that stock that is on the market it’s generally taking longer to sell and vendors are having to discount their prices by a larger margin. So buyers can take their time, there’s not a great deal of urgency in the market anymore, and they can negotiate quite hard.”

Fuelling a better future Seventeen students from across Melbourne’s west have graduated from a new automotive program designed to keep at-risk and disadvantaged youth from engaging in anti-social behaviours. The ‘Flip My Ride’ initiative was developed for 12-24 year olds by employment and training service AGA, in collaboration with Victoria Police, pathways group Inception Point, and Jacky’s Gym, and included students from Melton, Brimbank, Wyndham, Maribyrnong. Participants learnt automotive trade skills, first-aid, money management, taxes, anger management, and nutrition and with each milestone achieved, were gifted vouchers or taken on excursions. Fifteen-year-old Shalai Wepa became involved in the program after being referred by her high school. “My teacher told me to give it a go as she knew I wanted to work in automotive and get

a white card,” she said. “It’s been a fun adventure and definitely a new experience making friends and learning a few things about cars.” A significant number of students were also referred from Victoria Police’s offender management program. “We had really good reports on how the kids interacted in the program,” Victoria Police acting senior sergeant Justin Watkins said. “They are engaging now, their willingness to learn has come leaps and bounds from where it was from the start and their improvement has come a long way.” The car the students restored, a Toyota Camry, will be auctioned off and proceeds will be donated to Vinnies. Students who graduated the program also received a tool kit containing $900 worth of equipment. Details: https://www.aga.com.au/ flip-my-ride/

Students from four local government areas participated in the initiative.

(Supplied)

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As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re upgrading the Sunbury Line to allow bigger, more modern trains to run on the line. We are also building Melbourne Airport Rail, connecting Victorians to Melbourne Airport for the first time with a new rail service. Buses replace trains in both directions on the Sunbury Line 8.30pm 3 February to last train 5 February

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Road closures Roads in the Melton and Moorabool municipalities have recently been closed for roadworks. The intersection of Troups Road South-Davis Road and Boundary Road, Mount Cottrell, is currently undergoing a $1 million intersection upgrade and will be closed until the end of March. Yendon-Egerton Road, over Black Creek, Millbrook, between Mcguigans Road and Sullivans Road will be closed from January 16 to February 6 for pavement reconstruction and guardrail upgrade works.

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The Sunset Safari is back at Werribee Open Range Zoo (Supplied)

Sunset Safari returns One of Werribee Open Range Zoo’s most popular experiences is back for another year. The zoo’s Sunset Safari is back from January 14, with safari buses taking visitors on a mesmerising and immersive after-hours adventure to witness some of the world’s most endangered animals. For the first time this year, visitors will embark on a new route with a focus on the fascinating behaviours of the hippopotamus and learning from zoo guides about the threatened species’ plight in the wild and how to help. It’s the fifth year the zoo has run the safari. Zoo director Dr Mark Pilgrim said safari is a must-do experience for people of all ages. “As a golden glow descends over the zoo’s savannah in the summer evenings,

Sunset Safari will emulate the essence of an authentic African safari,” he said. “The experience is located right in the heart of Melbourne’s west with no plane ticket required. “There’s something a little bit different for everyone, including music and storytelling for children and families, an outdoor adventure for adults, and opportunities for a relaxing and enjoyable evening for grandparents.” A ticket to the safari also provides access to the zoo’s walking trails, interactive performances of drums, song and dance to the rhythm and soul of Africa. The safari is held each Saturday throughout January and February from 5.30pm. Details: www.zoo.org.au/sunsetsafari

Armed Crime Squad detectives have charged a 46-year-old man following an alleged assault in Rockbank following an incident on Wednesday, January 11, where police were called to reports of an altercation at a caravan park. Police will allege the man shot at a 44-year-old St Albans woman with a BB gun. She was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Police believe the parties were known to each other.

CCTV at Lake Caroline Reserve It’s been one year since CCTV cameras began operating around Lake Caroline and council is conducting a survey to assess their effectiveness. Complete the survey and go into the draw to win one of three $50 gift cards. Details: conversations.melton.vic.gov.au FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

YOUR NEW CAREER ... starts here PRINT AND ONLINE SALES EXECUTIVE

REQUIRED

Star Weekly seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms. Star Weekly is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future. The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business. Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance. The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme. Send your application letter and resume to: Advertising Sales Manager, Mandy Clark salescareers@starnewsgroup.com.au

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8 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

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NEWS

Achievers set to be recognised By Liam McNally This January 26, Melton and Moorabool councils will host special citizenship ceremonies and community award ceremonies that recognise community achievers. In Melton, 200 people will be sworn in as new citizens, and the winners of the 2022 Community Achievement Awards will be celebrated with a free sausage sizzle and live entertainment. Among the award winners will be City of Melton Citizen of the Year and community

champion, Les Chitts. City of Melton residents are invited to join in the free celebrations from 9.30am to noon at the Willows Historical Park in Melton on Thursday, January 26. Festivities will include live entertainment by Alexi Cola Duo, dingoes and reptiles to meet, a market hosted by the Country Women’s Association, and activities for all ages from Bunnings and the Taylor’s Hill Men’s Shed. A free sausage sizzle and free coffee will also be available. Melton mayor Lara Carli said Australia Day

is “not only a time to celebrate the country we’re so lucky to call home, but the people who help make it so special.” “Our awards are just one way we recognise our many residents who have made outstanding contributions locally. Our community spirit makes me proud to call Melton City home,” she said. “Our citizenship ceremony is always an Australia Day highlight and I look forward to personally congratulating each of our new citizens.” Moorabool council will be hosting their own

annual Australia Day Awards celebrating the achievements and contributions of individuals and community groups in the shire. Moorabool council said the awards are one of the “highest honours” council can bestow to publicly acknowledge local heroes, whose dedication and contributions may otherwise go unnoticed. The awards will begin at 9am at the Mechanics Institute, Ballan, and will include musical entertainment and a town crier. The awards will be followed by a citizenship ceremony from 11.30am.

Bird count before flight Members of the Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden played their part in documenting population numbers of a rare bird over the weekend. On Saturday, January 14, Latham Snipe bird populations were recorded across Australia’s east coast as a part of the Australian Latham Snipe Project, before they migrate back to Japan for the breeding season. A group of volunteers walked along Ryans Creek and around Darlingsford Lake within the garden to flush out and count the number of Latham Snipes residing in the wetland. Latham Snipes were first spotted in Melton Botanic Gardens in 2009, and since 2014 populations have been regularly surveyed for the project. The Australian Latham Snipe project is led by Federation University of Australia which use the survey findings to assess vulnerability levels and track migration habits. This survey just two Snipes were found, down

from four spotted in the November survey. Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden president John Bentley said he believes that this is due to heavy rains providing more wetland habitats for the birds. “Normally we would see a bit more but this year the Melton Botanic Garden has had a low count because I think there’s been a lot of water around so there’s a lot of wetland areas for them to go to,” he said. “Some of the better areas like Port Fairy have recorded record numbers this year.” The Snipes will leave Victoria in February for a journey that will eventually lead them to Japan for their breeding season, and will return in August. The Latham Snipe is listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and are vulnerable due to loss of wetlands along their migratory route. Liam McNally

Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden president John Bentley led the Latham Snipe survey on Saturday, January 14. (Damjan Janevski) 228239_04

KIDS in the KITCHEN 23–29 January 11am–2pm Outside Woolworths Bookings essential. Visit woodgrove.com.au

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SECTION STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

17 January 2023

Mayor’s message Cr Lara Carli

STAY INFORMED Quickly and easily connect with us online: melton.vic.gov.au facebook.com/cityofmelton Instagram @cityofmeltonofficial

To everyone in our community, Happy New Year! I’m excited about what 2023 will bring, including the fantastic projects Council will work on over the next 12 months. We continue to roll out Council’s $89 million 2022/23 capital works program which includes constructing and upgrading community centres, sporting facilities, parks, roads and more. Among the highlights, we’ll open the new Mt Atkinson Children’s and Community Centre and upgrade the MacPherson Park Rugby and Gridiron pavilion in Harkness, revitalise playspaces including those at Banchory Green Reserve in Hillside and Centenary Park in Kurunjang, signalise some key intersections, and implement strategies like the Dog Off Lead Strategy. There are so many projects to list with $37 million allocated to buildings, $26 million for road upgrades, and $14 million for leisure and community facilities and we’ll update you on the projects as they progress. Next week, we’ll also mark Australia Day with a special citizenship ceremony and community event. It’s a time to not only celebrate the country we’re lucky to call home, but the people who make it special and I invite you to join us for this occasion. Finally, I’d like to congratulate Moira Deeming for her election as a Member of the Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region and thank her for her service to the community as a Councillor. A countback will be conducted next week to elect a new councillor. Feel free to contact me about Watts Ward or Council related issues on 0409 951 020 or email at: lara.carli@melton.vic.gov.au or visit my Facebook page at: facebook.com/Cr.LaraCarli

Learn something new – enrol in a course! Activities, workshops and courses for term one are now open on the Melton Learning Directory. Sign up to learn how to cook delicious recipes, hone your arts and craft skills, get active with Zumba, tennis or yoga, learn to use computers or a sewing machine, pick up a new language and so much more. There’s programs for everyone, no matter your age, ability or interest.

Find out more at meltonlearning.com.au Coburn Ward with Cr Bob Turner Firstly, I’d like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoy health, happiness, and success in 2023. Personally, I’m thankful for the time I got to spend with my loved ones over the last month. Holidays are such an important time for us all to rest, recharge and reconnect with friends and family. I’m looking forward to celebrating our events for the year, starting with our Australia Day activities next week. I invite you all to join me and 200 of our newest Australian citizens for a ceremony at The Willows in Melton where we can reflect on Australia’s history and future, and have a fun family day out. Grass mowing continues to be a top priority and our contractors are working to address the significant

growth throughout our city. As many of you will be aware, higher overnight temperatures and increased rainfall led to rapid grass growth. We’ve recently brought in new tractors with special tyres to access sites that were waterlogged. Now that the rain has eased off, the ground starting to dry out, and with our team working additional hours, we expect that our City will be back up to standard in the near future. If you’d like to see the areas being mown or report an area, please go to melton.vic.gov.au/ parksandreservesmaintenance I am available to meet with residents most Saturday mornings from 9am, by appointment. Please contact Barb McKenzie on 9747 7200 to book a time, or contact me on 0412 584 224 or bob.turner@melton.vic.gov.au

Australia Day celebrations Come join us at our Australia Day celebration and special citizenship ceremony for 200 newest Australians. There’ll be fun for the whole family with the Alexi Cola Duo will be playing some classic hits along with a dingo and reptile display, a market hosted by the Country Women’s Association, and activities for all ages from Bunnings and the Taylor’s Hill Mens Shed. We will have a free sausage sizzle and free coffee for everyone. The event will be held at The Willows Historical Park in Melton on Thursday 26 January, 9.30am until noon.

CS Gallery new windows There’s a new window exhibition at the CS Gallery with works “We don’t live in nature, we are nature” from local artist and educator Emma Ismawi unveiled this month. On the external CS Gallery windows you’ll see pieces that celebrate the connection between the land, local waterways, sky, animals and people – through the lens of bees working together to pollinate and tend our ecosystem. To see the artworks, visit CS Gallery along Caroline Springs Boulevard.

Your Councillors – Visit melton.vic.gov.au/councillors to find your ward Councillors and their contact details

Mayor Cr Lara Carli

Deputy Mayor Cr Julie Shannon

Cr Steve Abboushi

Cr Goran Kesic

Cr Kathy Majdlik

Cr Sophie Ramsey

Cr Bob Turner

Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg

A vibrant, safe and liveable City accessible to all 12584571-AV03-23

10 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

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NEWS

Isabelle, 9. (Damjan Janevski) 314994_03

Dominic, 9. (Damjan Janevski) 314994_02

Kids get creative thanks to NGV NGV Kids on Tour got started in Melton with a Make a Creature session on January 10, and a Create a Portrait with Archer Davies session on January 12. The Archer Davies session focused on portraiture and showed young artists how to draw a subject’s face while highlighting their individuality through things like character, gestures, and movements. There will be further sessions at Melton Library with a Make a Collage session on January 17, as well as sessions at Ballan Library on January 18, and Lerderderg Library on January 19.

Lucas, 7. (Damjan Janevski) 314994_04

Dorothy, 7.

(Damjan Janevski) 314994_05

Jaydrien, 9. (Damjan Janevski) 314994_01

Grace, 8.

(Damjan Janevski) 314994_06 Tuesday, 17 January, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 11

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Laura Deakin and her sons Ethan, 10, and Oliver, 8 at Williamstown beach. 314710_01

Sisters Vivi, 5, Gigi,3, and Ava, 7, at Williamstown beach.

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Cooper, 9, and Isaac, 9, enjoyed a day at Altona beach. 314552_01

Families splash into summer fun Families have been flocking to swimming pools and beaches across the west to make the most of the summer heat. Swimmers enjoyed a cool dip at Werribee Outdoor Pool and Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre, while Altona and Williamstown beaches were also popular. Kids have also been enjoying Sciencework’s summer school holiday program, which is running until Sunday, January 29. Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski was out and about in the west last week to capture the fun.

Serena, 5, at Altona beach.

Meredith ,3, at Werribee Outdoor Pool.

Ryder, 6, at Scienceworks.

Isla, 5, at Scienceworks. 314658_03

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Cooper, 10, explores Scienceworks.

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Twins Tom and Jack, 5, have fun at Scienceworks. 314658_08

12 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

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Natasha and daughter Scarlett, 1 at Sunbury pool. 314423_01

Kasy Suneja and son Avik, 1, cool down at Werribee pool. 314551_02

Jacinta and son Isac, 1, at Sunbury pool. 314423_02

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Kevin O’Callaghan.

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Paul Ledwich.

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Alan Penaluna.

BEHIND THE NEWS

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Terrific trio serve for 40 years As the saying goes, all good things come in threes, and this is certainly the case for the founding members of Craigieburn’s State Emergency Service (SES) unit who have marked their 40th year in the unit. Millicent Spencer caught up with the trio. Kevin O’Callaghan, Paul Ledwich, and Alan Penaluna started the Craigieburn SES in late 1981. All hailing from different backgrounds the men joined the unit with a shared passion to help the community. Mr O’Callaghan helped form the unit after moving to Craigieburn in 1978 and realising there was no group who could go out and help people if something went wrong. “Prior to August, 1981, there was no SES in Craigieburn, just the CFA,” he said. “At the time a community group wanted to buy the jaws of life to use on the Hume Highway, and at the time the CFA weren’t allowed to do it. “We had to take the loan out to get the jaws of life and two local businessmen underwrote the loan.” After acquiring the jaws of life, the group focused its energy on road rescue on the Hume Highway having both the tools and skills to facilitate complex rescues. “When we first set up together, there were a lot of ex-military, scouting, and St John Ambulance people so there was a community base to start with,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “I was in the military and I had First Aid skills which I wasn’t using at the time and I wanted to do something. “We were originally set up to do road rescue on the Hume Highway and that’s been our primary role over all the years, but we also do things like windstorm damage, search and rescue.” For Mr Ledwich, it was the variety of interesting tasks volunteers could do with the SES that intrigued him to join the Craigieburn unit shortly after Mr O’Callaghan. “I’d always wanted to do something for the community and I couldn’t find anything that would really suit me until the SES came along,” Mr Ledwich said. “I saw an advertisement in the local newspaper that the SES was forming, and Kevin had happened to come around and see me one day after that, and he told me that the training was starting … so I went [along]. “When I joined the SES, it was sort of a job for people who can do anything.” Six months later, paramedic Alan Penaluna joined the unit after moving into the area. “I’ve seen and done things that I’d never ever thought I’d see and do. You go places where very few people get to go,“ he said. “Interestingly, a person asked me yesterday, if I had my time over again, would I do it all the same? And the answer is yes.” Recalling the most memorable rescue, both Mr O’Callaghan and Mr Penaluna named a truck rescue on May 16, 1963. “A truck collided on the highway, right off the road and turned on its side. The driver was

Paul Ledwich, Alan Penaluna and Kevin O’Callaghan who have served in the SES for 40 years.

trapped, he was hanging up in the tree. It took us nearly two and a half hours to get him out,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “That was an exceptional rescue because there were the best part of 25 people working on getting him out. “The chap lives in Queensland and he still sends us a Christmas card every year.” Over the last 40 years the men have seen significant changes in the community, from population growth to the changing faces of this now diverse suburb. “Craigieburn finished 200 metres down the road [from the SES], it was just a little country place and everyone knew everyone,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “We found now we’re getting more members from the other cultural groups.” Mr Penaluna said one of the great joys of still being in the unit is seeing new people join. “You can teach the people that are coming through how to cope with situations and what to do to maintain a level head, which is probably the hardest thing to do with any job,” he said. While the community has drastically changed so too has technology, which the men agree is one of the bigger changes they have seen in their 40 years of service. “We used to get old trucks to convert them and they were pretty unreliable. Our first rescue truck was an old fire truck. Now we get issued brand new trucks by the state,” Mr O’Callaghan said. Mr Ledwich said: “The major changes I’ve

(Damjan Janevski) 313677_04

seen is the training and the equipment that we use. I mean, when I first started, if we had to go up on somebody’s roof, we didn’t use a safety harness“. Having all been awarded their 40 year service medals the “original three” aren’t slowing down anytime soon. “I could quite easily rest on my laurels now and say I’ve done 40 years [but] what happens then? Do I just sit in a chair and twiddle my thumbs until I die,” Mr Penaluna said. “What I do now has changed over the 40 years because I’m not a young man anymore [but] I’m still fit enough to be able to do things and assist the community in different ways. “It’s (the SES) more for me a way of life.” Both Mr Penaluna and Mr O’Callaghan are still actively involved in the training aspect of the Craigieburn unit, and Mr Ledwich helps out with maintaining the uniform stock at head office. “Once you’ve done one rescue, it sort of hooks you,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “Although I don’t get out on the truck as much, I am the unit assessor … because of my qualifications I can test people for road rescue, navigation, and storm.” The three men all agreed that being a volunteer in the SES has given them skills and experiences to last a lifetime. “It’s like my second family. Very few people have really good best friends through thick and thin, that have lived the same experiences you have,” Mr Penaluna said. “Everyone helps everyone, so you build up a really strong friendship base. I will be on a

rescue and I can think about what I need to use, and when I turn around Alan’s handing it to me,” Mr O’Callaghan said. SES chief operating officer Tim Wiebusch said the organisation is very proud of the three founding members of the Craigieburn unit. “Having known these members for around 30 years, in the course of volunteering with VICSES, Paul Ledwich, Kevin O’Callaghan, and Alan Penaluna have made an extraordinary contribution to their community whether through community education, or responding to requests for assistance,” he said. “Best of all they give the benefit of their leadership, technical skills, and experience, gained over four decades of responding to emergencies as mentors, to our new unit members at Craigieburn; for whom they are a constant source of support. “The unit still benefits today from the breadth and scope of their work, as do the communities across the wider Craigieburn area and throughout the country, where they have served.” While the last 40 years have been strong, Mr O’Callaghan said membership is dwindling. “I think the risk we’ve got at the moment is that the number of people we’ve got to the size of the area. Team members are just getting worn out,” he said. “We need to potentially double our number, we need about 80 active operators. “If we can get across to people the importance of helping the local community in that way I think that’s where we’re going to try and pick up the numbers through that.”

Tuesday, 17 January, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 13

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

25 years ago

20 years ago

15 years ago

January 20, 1993

January 14, 1998

January 21, 2003

January 15, 2008

Only a stone’s throw away from some of Melbourne’s most up-to-date housing estates lives a family which has become one of Melton’s few “keeper’s of the seal”.

Moorabool council has given the nod to a controversial plan to reopen a derelict abattoir in Ballan.

A Melton GP who has worked to have the area declared one of high medical need to overcome the severe local doctor shortage has described federal government efforts as “just not good enough”.

Melton’s mayor could earn almost double the current salary if the state government decides to increase councillor pay and remuneration.

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30 years ago

14 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

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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

The Gap on Graham The Gap provides a place for Melton youth to hang out, socialise, play games and learn new skills. The centre holds a night for girls aged 10 to 18 years at 5 Graham Street, Melton, on Wednesday evenings. There is also a drop-in night for anyone aged 12 to 25 years old. n Val, 0414 769 605.

Melton Men’s Group Melton Men’s Group meets every Thursday from 5-8pm at The Gap on Graham, 5 Graham Street, Melton. Focusing on Senior Men’s mental and physical wellbeing. The group invites new members to come for a cuppa and a chat, listen to guest speakers and participate in activities including carpet bowls, pool and table tennis. n https://meltonmensgroup.home.blog/

Bacchus Marsh Market Bacchus Marsh rejoice! There will be a monthly market at the gorgeous location of Maddingley Park. On the second Saturday of every month there will be a lovely variety of stallholders and food trucks. Bring a picnic blanket and invite your friends and family for a lovely market day out.

Take weight off naturally Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere? Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton. n Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

Star Weekly photographer Jacob Pattison captured this picture during the St Albans Gift on Saturday, January 7.

bringing women together to support other women. The Zonta Club of Melton meets on the first Monday of each month at Melton Country Club, Reserve Road, Melton. n Suzanne, 0417 512 420

Parkinson’s support group The Melton Parkinson’s Support Group meets on the second Thursday of the month 10.30am–12.30pm at Kurunjang Community Centre, 33-35 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang. New members and carers welcome. n Helen, 0409 186 576

U3A Melton

Melton Bridge Club

Melton Combined Probus Club

The Melton Bridge Club has recommenced weekly social Bridge sessions at the Melton Library on Fridays from 10am-noon. Come along to play an exciting, social card game and have loads of fun. Bridge offers the suspense of poker, the cerebral qualities of chess and the excitement of athletic sports, all in a relaxed and social setting. If you like playing cards this is for you. n Rosemary, 0407 894 817

The Melton Probus Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Melton Dart Club, 63a Reserve Road, from 9.45am. n 9746 0271

Melton Friendship Group. Join the Melton Friendship Group for singles 55 and older. Meet fortnightly for coffee and chat nights and organised affordable outings and events. n 0406 493 734

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club The Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets at 10am on the second Tuesday of each month at the Melton Country Club. The group is open to everyone, new and old members, to get together and discover the social aspects of the group. n Ann, 0425 705 150

Melton South Knit & Natter All are welcome to join this social crafting group, running at the Melton South Community Centre each Monday from 10am-noon. Bring along any knitting or crochet projects and work on them while sharing tips, learning skills and catching up over a cuppa. n 9747 8576

Zonta club meets Zonta is an international organisation

U3A Melton offers among its activities a book group, Australian history and a gentle exercise class for those 55 and over who are retired or semi-retired who wish to stay mentally and physically active. n 0419 563 016

Rose Carers Of Maddingley Park The Rose Carers meet Wednesdays from 10am-noon at Maddingley Park, corner of Grant and Taverner streets, Bacchus Marsh, to maintain two beautiful rose gardens. New volunteers are always welcome – with or without experience. n Elaine Greenhall, 0418 171 119, or 0400 052 857

Melton Cycling Club Melton Cycling club meets for regular Sunday rides. There are three different riding groups to cater for different abilities starting at 7.30am. The rides finish at Lazy Moe’s for a cuppa. n 0403 057 003

Community singing group If you love to sing, come join the Melton Singers. The group rehearses regularly and also performs at aged care facilities. The group is very relaxed and sings songs mainly from the 60’s and 70’s. It meets Tuesdays at 10am. n Val, 0418 667 150

Rotary Club of Melton The Rotary Club of Melton invites new guests to join its meetings, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, 6pm at Tabcorp Park in Melton. n meltonrotary@gmail.com

Melton Trauma Teddies Melton Trauma Teddies are seeking volunteers to assist with knitting, stuffing, or stitching teddy-bears that go to children in their time of need. n Jean, 0412 931 498

Hotel 520 on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am. They have a guest speaker each month as well as social lunches, outings and theatre trips. n 0407 856 519

U3A Werribee Deer Park Lions Club Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. n Michael, 0417 307 572

Sunshine Community Brass Sunshine Community Brass is looking for trumpet and percussion players to join its vibrant band of musicians. With more than 90 years of history, the band rehearses at 45 Furlong Road, North Sunshine, on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. n Andrew, 0419 444 620

St Albans senior citizens St Albans Senior Citizens group meet at the centre at the corner of Alfrieda and William streets, St Albans, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9am-1.30pm. Annual membership: $10. Cost: $1 entry on attendance day. n Roma, 9338 3815

The group is a not-for-profit community organisation for semi-retired and retired Wyndham residents. They hold a variety of classes/activities specifically designed for Seniors, including, light physical and mental wellbeing sessions, arts, games and craft, and general classes such as current affairs, history and lunch groups. Most classes/activities are held at Wyndham Community Centres. n Rick, 0402 299 220.

Lions Club Lions Club of Werribee meets at the RSL Club 2a Synnot Street Werribee on the first and third Wednesday of the month 6.30pm for a 7pm dinner meeting. n Lou, 0409 331 271

Bingo for all The Werribee RSL hosts Bingo every Monday, except public holidays. Eyes down from 12.30-2.30pm. n 9741 5525

Western Budgerigar Club Seniors House of Fun The Grange Community Centre would like to invite the seniors of Wyndham to its weekly Seniors House of Fun. This is a free program running every Friday 11am-12.30pm, at The Grange Community Centre, 260-280 Hogans Road, Hoppers Crossing. n Vanessa, 8742 800, or enquires@grangecommunity.org.au

Seniors club The Werribee Senior Citizens Club meets at 80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing. The group is open to all people 55-plus, and it runs on Wednesdays, 10am- noon. Entry: $2, includes morning tea. n 0403 041 499

Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus The friendly and vibrant group meet at

The Western Suburbs Budgerigar Club meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month at Masonic Hall, 223 Watton Street, Werribee. Meet other members who are also passionate about breeding Budgerigars. n Don, 0414 975 862

Wyndham Ladies Probus The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Hotel520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, and normally has an outing or event on the third Wednesday of each month. n Rosa Sanderson, 0410 303 046

West Footscray Rotary Meets at Medway Golf Club, Maidstone, for lunch, fellowship and guest speakers each Wednesday from 12.30 until 2pm. n David, 0416 497 398 Tuesday, 17 January, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 15

PUZZLES

DOWN Fellow employee (2-6) US city known as ‘The Windy City’ (7)

10 11 12 13

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

AGILE ALLEY ANGER AREN’T BAGEL BRUTE DELTA EAGLE EASED EDGES EGGED ELEGY ERASE GARBO GONNA GOODS HAILS INANE IRATE LEARN LEGAL

6 1 9 3 5 7 4 2 8

8 3 9 5 6 2 1 4 7

6 2 4 1 9 7 3 5 8

7 5 1 8 3 4 9 6 2

3 6 2 4 7 9 5 8 1

19 words: Very good

S E

No. 116 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

QUICK QUIZ

In which district of London would you find Mayfair?

Rudy Giuliani (pictured) was mayor of which US city?

The Etruscan civilisation existed in what is now which modern country?

Who did Kanye West interrupt during an award acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards?

Who wrote the 1868 Russian novel The Idiot?

Kim Philby was a member of which famous ring of spies in England during the Cold War?

U N E R

A I N T N N U I N A K E

P E S

The River Cam runs through which English university town?

10 Which '80s rock anthem begins: ‘I followed the Moskva down to Gorky Park'?

Founded in 1088, what is the oldest continuously operating university in the world?

ANSWERS: 1. West End 2. New York City 3. John le Carré 4. The Cambridge Five 5. Cambridge 6. University of Bologna 7. Italy 8. Taylor Swift 9. Fyodor Dostoevsky 10. Wind of Change

4 1 6 7 5 8 2 3 9

9 8 3 2 1 6 4 7 5

2 7 5 9 4 3 8 1 6

2 7 4 1 8 9 5 3 6

3 8 5 6 4 2 7 1 9

9 5 3 7 2 6 1 8 4

7 2 1 4 9 8 6 5 3

4 6 8 5 3 1 9 7 2

8 4 2 9 1 5 3 6 7

5 9 6 8 7 3 2 4 1

1 3 7 2 6 4 8 9 5

6 1 4 8 9 7 2 3 5

2 3 9 6 5 1 4 7 8

9 7 8 3 4 6 5 1 2

1 2 6 7 8 5 3 4 9

4 5 3 2 1 9 6 8 7

3 6 1 5 7 2 8 9 4

8 9 2 1 6 4 7 5 3

7 4 5 9 3 8 1 2 6

16 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

8 LETTERS DOGGEREL DRAINAGE ENTITLED RELOADED

Who wrote the 1996 spy novel The Tailor of Panama?

E D S

6 LETTERS CRESTS CRYPTS DESIRE RETIRE

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

5 9 7 3 8 1 6 2 4

7 LETTERS ALIGNED BELLIED CENTRED ENLARGE GIMMICK VILLAGE

20-01-23

TENET TOKEN TONED TRADE TWANG UNSET USAGE

ages, ease, gasman, gasmen, manages, MANGANESE, mans, manse, means, mesa, mesne, nags, names, saga, sage, same, sane, sang, seam, seaman, seamen, seem, seen, semen, senna, snag

1 4 8 6 2 5 7 9 3

5 8 7 4 2 3 9 6 1

A E

Today’s Aim: 13 words: Good

5 LETTERS ADAGE

I N

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

26 words: Excellent

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

medium

9-LETTER WORD

4 LETTERS BENT BETS GETS IRIS LADE LASS OVAL RELY RIDE SAME SAYS SEAS SODS SPED

LISTS LIVID LOBES MASON NYLON OUNCE PEDAL PIANO QUITE REALM REEDS SHAMS SITED SKILL SLEPT SNAKE SOLAR SQUAD STAVE STONE SUEDE

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26 27 28 29

18 20 21 23 24

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Chocolate powder (5) Star symbols used in text (9) Authors (7) Sack (7) Harvesting (7) Notwithstanding (7) Pathological self-admirer (9) Counterfeit (4) Enthusiasts (4) Republic in Central America (9) Sprinting (7) Control the functioning of a machine, process, etc (7) Dutch tech company (7) Japanese paper folding (7) Mental disorder (9) US actress, – Holmes (5)

$ 5 7 ( ( 7 , , 5 & ( ( 6 / , , 7 9 ( , ' ' % * ( 2 1 3 7

easy

Citizens of US (9) Designating (9) Warmish (5) Acting parts (5) Ill from ocean movement (7) Spectacles (6) Making loud and confused noise (10) Male name (9) Austrian children’s character who lives in a French orphanage (8) Reprieve (7) Rigid (7) Support (4,2) From Dublin or Galway (5) Strong wind blasts (5)

3 4 5 6 7 8 14

ACROSS 1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19

No. 116

( 5 $ 6 (

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 ( ' $ /

No. 116

6 + $ 0 6

SUDOKU

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Castle ba in busine ck ss

Kryal Castl e chief

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Hamilton. (Damj

an Janevs

Highway

ki) 30839

By Liam

6_05

McNally

upgrade

The team at Kryal Cast months durin le spent long g COVID improvem quietly ents with a live-i and practicin making g world cham n skeleton crew their craft that inclu pion joust ded Post-lock er Phill Leitc h. park has down, the medieval boomed theme back into and has been action, with a nom rewarded for its efforts Attraction ination for Best Tourism Tourism in Victoria by the Industry Victo rian Coun chief exec utive Bart cil. Kryal Castle nominati on feels “amHamilton said the “It’s been azing”. coming back quite a long journ ey from from COV been for ID , as it most touri has the team sm has put in entities, but amount of such an incre work dible over the months to last now,” he get us back to wher12 to 18 said. e we are Since 1970 , Kryal Cast to provide le has medieval guests with an imm aimed experienc Within the e for kids ersive the highlightcastle walls you and adults. can witne s of the ss jousting, sword fight middle ages – wizards, ing, potio an n-making dungeon, executioner, a tortu and re The awar a maze. at the Melb ds will be decided Decembe ourne Conventio at a gala n Centre r 1. on Liam McN

ally

pledge

Labor has Melton coun business casepledged $10 milli on federal gove cil has been callin if it wins to upgrade the Wes dollars for a Our Road rnments to help g on state and Novembe the state election tern Highway s’ camp critical need fund in its r 26. State Tran aign. ” on Satur ‘Fix Last week In October for Melton commute day, Jacin sport Infra , the the Liber ta Allan structure announce state al Party rs. said a Minister million to upgrade governme d major arter re-elected commitm it would match Labor party part of a nt will the Western pledged $700 ial ent from and $1.5 billio Labo “More than road to standard. deliver improved federal Laboa $10 million in the year. n west road Highway, as safer road r elected. 5000 peop traffic Melton. “We Fix Our r made earli s package, The busin Melt ’re doing flow for families s er bette if our com Roads petition le have signed the what matt r road in pleas on mayor Lara and I’d like munity for along the ess case would explo ers, delivering Carli ed with Labo to safer,” she s to get Victorians stretch of re the r’s election said council is important to them showing all parti thank hom Melton throu that said. need Western e sooner and there s es what com behind the . Ther High Melt case will is more work need mitment, but The Westerngh to Caroline Sprin way from High on MP Steve McG campaign e’s still time to ’s provide a everyone ed. “A busin gs. get way was Highway hie and I’d said the Wes upgrade and to add their clear ess is one of the a “crit encourag voice “We look tern future-pro direction on how e six roads candidate for Koro ical road link” forward to . of this high to the . Labor of Australia’s faste said the busin roit Luba State and working way in one st growing “While Grig ess case woul closely Fede election d help addrorovitch not deliv we acknowledge areas,” she said. to ensure ral governments after with ess “the this er Melton get key for, it is an the critical upgrades funding will the attention roads in the City the important of they deser first step we’re asking ■ ve.” in bringing More Fix Our Road this s coverage : Page 5

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Kath & Kim

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Hyundai’s electric drive By Ewan Kennedy, Marque Motoring The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a fully electric vehicle, that is it doesn’t work in tandem with a petrol or diesel engine. It’s is currently available in one grade in Australia, with the option of a rear-wheel single motor layout or a dual motor (rear and front) AWD. We feel that other models may follow later, but Hyundai Australia won’t comment on this. Time will tell …

Drivetrain The IONIC 5 RWD has a 72.6 kWh electric motor mounted at the rear that produces 160kW of power and 350 Nm of torque with a listed WLTP range of 451 km. The AWD version has motors at the front and rear with outputs of 225 kW and 605 Nm but less range, at 430 km. The shorter range is probably due to the testing method and may not happen in real life.

Styling The front of the car features two narrow glass strips, the top one with twin rectangular LED headlamps outside of orange turn indicators on either side and sensors and a camera in between. There’s a full-width string of LED daytime running lights beneath while at the bottom there is a pair of air flap that opens when needed to provide cooling to the various pieces of componentry above. On the side a diagonal crease runs from high in the front doors down to the base of the rear ones. The door handles sit flush against the doors and pop out when you unlock the car.

Interior Hyundai IONIQ 5 has a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and an adjustable centre console. The front seats are 12-way power adjustable and come with a ‘Relaxion’ (zero gravity) mode. Which is good for lying back and having a rest on a long country trip. Especially if you’re driving at night and feel tired. The IONIQ 5 has the very good rear legroom the sort that you get in a luxury vehicle. All seats are power adjustable with a memory function which can be set through the digital display screen. A vision glass roof with a powered sunshade is standard in both models. The charge point is at the right-rear of the car, with both AC and DC sockets. The cables are stored under the front bonnet and there’s a Vehicle to Load device which plugs into the car’s AC port at one end and a standard power plug at the other allowing for multiple uses including providing power to another electric vehicle. Full charge through a standard domestic power point is upward of 24 hours. A home / office charging wallbox will reduce charging time to around six hours. An ultra-fast charger can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 18 minutes. It’s likely that in the not-too-distant future service stations will install these, and of course charge you to use them (excuse the joke). Thus, you can ‘refuel’ when you stop and have a light meal or simply walk around and stretch your legs.

Slim horizontal styling at the front looks great.

Infotainment

Safety

Driving

The IONIQ 5 has two 12.3-inch screens embedded into a single panel. A digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and a Multimedia navigation unit in the centre. There are three USB ports at the front and two more at the rear with 12-volt sockets at the front and another in the boot. Wired-only Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard as well as wireless smartphone charging. Sound is through a BOSE eight-speaker premium audio system. Satellite navigation includesdetails of the closest charging stations and a driving radius on how far the battery will allow the car to reach.

Standard safety features include seven airbags; front and rear autonomous emergency braking; front and rear parking sensors; blind spot monitoring including camera coverage; lane departure warning; lane keep assist (which can be temporarily turned off; smart radar cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert; safe exit alert; rear seat occupant alert; driver inattention alert; and an interactive surround view monitor including a 360-degree overview; remote smart parking assist which allows the car to be moved remotely; and two IsoFix child seat mountings.

The driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive and the overall ambience of the interior sets the scene for an enjoyable travel experience. The driving position is fairly high. The chunky steering wheel feels great but does tend to obstruct the driver’s view of the instrument panel and the gear selector. We love driving electric vehicles at the best of times but the IONIQ 5 takes that enjoyment to an even higher level. It cruises effortlessly and with such a large amount of instant torque on offer it can accelerate sharply when needed. Smart regeneration braking to extend range can be adjusted through steering wheel

20 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

paddles including an i-Pedal feature which allows one-pedal driving.

Summar y No review of an EV can be complete without looking at the price / range equation. Electric vehicles are very expensive when compared to conventional vehicles, including hybrids. At $69,900 for the IONIQ 5 RWD and $77,500 for the AWD it sits at the higher end of the segment. Its range of up to 450 kilometres makes it more practical than many of its competitors. Standard warranty is five years with unlimited distance. There’s an eight-year, 160,000 km battery replacement warranty,

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Melton’s netball program is on track New Melton coach Nichole Gleeson is excited for the challenge ahead at the Ballarat Netball League club. The Bloods announced that Gleeson would coach the club’s A and B-grade sides this year, as they rebuild their netball program. Last year, the Bloods had just three sides due to a lack of numbers. Gleeson said she didn’t have any plans on coaching Melton this year, but decided the offer was too good to turn down. “It’s definitely exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s a new challenge. “It’s something that I wasn’t planning on doing this year, but some of the girls kept approaching me about doing it and I decided to take it on.” Gleeson has more than 14 years coaching experience, having coached interleague in Bacchus Marsh and being a part of Darley’s junior program in the BNL. Gleeson said working with younger

players and helping develop them was one of her strengths and she currently holds a developmental coaching accreditation. Moving into the senior coaching ranks is something different for Gleeson. “I’ve had nothing to do with the Melton Bloods before,” she said. “I’ve coached some of the girls before in interleague in Bacchus Marsh. It’s a new challenge and I’m looking forward to coaching some more experienced players.” Gleeson said the club was on track to field all six sides this season, which is a massive boost for the club. She said the club was still looking for an under-19s coach and some under-19s players. A couple of shooters for the A-grade side would be handy as well she said. “I don’t think they had many sides last season,” she said. “They want to redevelop the netball program. “The club has been able to attract some old

players back to the club and brought in some new players. “It’s exciting for the club and exciting for netball in the area.” Gleeson said not knowing many of the players meant that she came in with a blank canvas to coach, which was something she was looking forward to. She said the aim for her was to develop a program that would be successful and sustainable in the long term. “We want to develop the A-grade and B-grade sides,” she said. “It’ll be an achievement to have all the teams after the last few years. “Hopefully we can get a few wins under the belt and be able to incorporate some of the juniors into the senior program and make playing at Melton more attractive.” Tara Murray Nichole Gleeson (Supplied)

MacRae puts on a show

Sports shorts RDNL Reigning Riddell District Netball League premiers Diggers Rest are on the hunt for an A-grade coach. Pam Strong stood down at the end of last season, having guided the club to A and B-grade premierships. Anyone interested can contact netball coordinator Teagan Dowsett on 0403 348 917. The Burras’ netball pre-season starts on January 30.

By Tara Murray Melton’s Ben MacRae has been itching to play the two-day format in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association for a couple of months and showed why on Saturday. MacRae put on a show against Endeavour Hills to have his side in a strong position after day one of the match in the east-west division. MacRae made 154 as the Lions made 7-282 from their 80 overs. Coach Mitch Stephens said while it looked like they would score more than 300 at one stage, they were happy with 282. “It was good to be back to two-day cricket,” he said. “Nothing changes in two-day cricket for us, the focus remains on batting out the overs and putting ourselves in a good position. “To have 282 is a competitive target for our bowlers to set attacking fields and hopefully bowl to them.” MacRae hit 15 fours in his innings, the last man out as he tried to push the score late. Stephens said the return of MacRae had been a massive boost for the squad and something they were missing last year. “He has been massive for the group,” he said. “Ben showed us how to bat in the two-day format. “Ben brings that leadership and I know he’s been keen for a couple of months about playing two-day cricket and getting out there and batting some time.” A win this week, would be the Lions’ fourth in a row and the fifth for the season. For a side that didn’t win a game last season, it’s a massive step up. The club is also starting to show some depth across the sides, with Stephens dropped back to the second XI this week. He said it was a sign of a really strong club. “We’re having conversations throughout all the grades about dropping players,” he said. “We want players firing at all levels.” The wins are also seeing the confidence grow in the group, with good numbers at training since returning from the Christmas break. Stephens said despite the success that they’ve had this season, nothing changes for the group for the rest of the season. “Hopefully we can get a couple more wins on the board,” he said. “With two-day cricket there’s changes to teams and changes to the landscape. We’ll look to bat our overs out every game. “We’ll hopefully get a couple of wins on the board and look at individual success as well. Players who have had good starts like MacRae and [Jason] Hibbert need to push on. “Others who haven’t had the best seasons need to step up, like [Joshua] Luca did in the T20.”

YPL The Central Highlanders under-15 girls representative side finished sixth in their pool in the Youth Premier League. Played last week, the competition had the best players from the state taking to the field, representing their local regions. The Highlanders won one of their five games. Emma Niessen was the side’s best batter, averaging 27, while Shameka Grero finished with eight wickets, fifth most in the competition. It comes after the Highlanders under-16 male side won the title back in December.

Bowls It was a tough day for Bacchus Marsh in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant, division 1, section 4. Facing a strong Flemington Kensington side, Bacchus Marsh lost 81 (16)-60 (2). Phil Minniti was the winning skip for Bacchus Marsh, with his rink winning 21-13. Bacchus Marsh sits seventh after 11 rounds. In division 2, section 2, Melton beat Brunswick, 83 (16)-77 (2). Melton remains on top, with a 20 point gap to second-placed Aberfeldie CBC.

Ballarat CA Darley made light work of Ballarat-Redan in the Ballarat Cricket Association on Saturday. Ballarat-Redan was bowled out for just 89 with Danza Hyatt taking 5-28 for the Lions. The Lions got the run chase down easily, finishing 1-93 with Dilan Chandima finishing 60 not out. After 10 rounds, the Lions sit on top of the ladder, 10 points clear of Wendouree. The Lions face Mt Clear this Saturday. Melton’s Ben MacRae.

(Joe Mastroianni). 307768_01

The Lions won their first T20 match of the season last week, beating Yarraville. The Eagles were sent in and finished with 6-120 from their 20 overs. Joshua Raymer top scored with 61 at the top of the order. Luca took 4-19 for the Lions. Joel Mitchener held the Lions innings

together and despite losing late wickets were able to get the win with seven balls remaining. The Lions finished 8-123 with Mitchener top scoring with 58. Raymer took two wickets for the Eagles. The Lions host Werribee in the second round of the T20 competition on Tuesday night.

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Dakic enjoying a ‘dream start’ By Tara Murray Western United’s Natasha Dakic couldn’t have asked for much more in her debut A-League Women’s season. Coming into the season on the back of a best and fairest win with National Premier League Women’s champions, Calder United, Dakic has continued to develop. She made her A-League debut earlier in the season and has played in three of the club’s first seven matches. Speaking before last Wednesday’s match against Sydney FC, Dakic said it had been an amazing experience so far. “Obviously it has been a dream start,” she said. “To come in as a new team and to have won our first six games … any time you have results like that you’re happy. “I don’t think that it has sunk in. We’re all hungry and there’s so much belief in each other. We work hard as a team and we’ll continue to work hard for one another.” While many were unsure what to expect from United in its first season, Dakic said the playing group never doubted that they could achieve great things. She said the group would continue to focus on what they’re doing and their game plan, not worrying about what the other teams were doing. Dakic said sh was enjoying being part of an A-League set up. “You’re out training and playing every single day,” she said. “Being part of a professional environment and working towards something. “The transition was made a little easier as I had played with a lot of the girls and coaching staff, which made it easier to fit in. “All the internationals have so much experience. You’re consistently learning from

them.” Dakic said she was starting to feel at home on the pitch for United. After not being selected for the club’s first two matches, she’s been named on the bench in every match since, getting minutes in three of them. “Making my A-League debut was amazing,” he said. “The first couple of runs was about getting the feel of the ball and for everything. “I stay in a positive mindset and I know when I go on, I will continue to work hard for the player I’m coming on for. “I’ll keep working towards playing minutes and hopefully later in the season I’ll get a starting spot.” Dakic said one of the big things that had helped her this season was her time with Calder United. She said the environment that had been fostered at Calder had flowed through into Western United. “To have the season we had at Calder, we know how much belief we have in each other,” she said. “We work for each other and we’ve brought that into Western United. Even before we started pre-season, everyone was so excited to play in a professional environment. “The mindset and mentality has never changed and we’ve brought in the same culture from Calder.” With an undefeated start to the season, Dakic knows the side now has a target on its back. It’s a challenge the group is up for. “We have high expectations from the beginning and are pushing to be in that top four,” she said. “With the results so far, we’ll continue to work hard and hopefully continue to achieve positive results.” Natasha Dakic

(Supplied)

Angie Beard United’s newest recruit Western United continues to add pieces to its squad, announcing the signing of Angie Beard for two seasons. Beard, who has played 80 A-League Women’s games, joins United from Danish club Fortuna Hjørring. Upon returning to the A-League, the versatile left-footer said she is thrilled to join the project at Western United. Beard captained Melbourne Victory to an A-League Women’s title in 2021, and has also played with Brisbane Roar. She has also played three games for the Matildas. “I’m excited to be here with the girls,” Beard said. “Seeing what [coach] Mark [Torcaso] and Amanda [Stella] are doing with Western is really inspiring. “It’s always good to aim for more silverware and more achievements and this team is a very talented group. I think the team chemistry and what they’re creating on the field and the environment off the field is very attractive for me. “I’m loving Australian football right now and I’m loving being back in Australia, so hopefully it’s a good fit for both of us.” Beard is no stranger to many of those in the United women’s program, including coach Torcaso, having played with Calder United in 2019 when it won three titles in the National Premier League Women’s season. A large part of United’s squad has come through Calder United. Torcaso said he is eager to work with Beard again and that the signing was another important move as United seeks to continue its early momentum in the A-League. “The fact that Angie wanted to come here and the fact that we are able to go out and get her is another indication of our ambition in this competition,” he said. “Angie has been a star in this league already, she’s had big experience overseas and she is going to be a massive player for us and for our

Angie Beard

(Supplied)

league. “Her quality as a player is important but her quality as a person is even more vital.” Beard wasn’t selected for United’s midweek match against Sydney FC. United won the top of the table clash 2-0, to make it seven wins from as many matches in its debut season. Beard made her debut on Saturday for United against the Western Sydney

22 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 17 January, 2023

Wanderers, coming off the bench. United suffered its first loss of the season, losing 2-1. Scores were locked at 1-1 at half time after Hannah Keane again found the back of the net. The Wanderers found the winner in the second half. Tara Murray

Lakers unveil new signings Caroline Springs has welcomed back Barry Priest Medallist Stephen Brewer for this year’s Western Region Football League division 1 season. The Lakers have announced a number of new signings in recent days, headlined by Brewer. Brewer, who won the Priest Medal in 2021, left the Lakers last season to play closer to home. On Facebook the club said it was thrilled to welcome him back to the club. “Brewer will add some class to our senior team and as always, will set high standards on the training track for our young squad to aspire to,” the post read. “Everyone knows what Brew will bring to the club, and we are all looking forward to seeing him back in Laker colours in 23.” Joining Brewer at Caroline Springs this season is Geelong Victorian Football League-listed Billy Crofts, who has joined the club. Crofts had been playing locally with Melton. “Billy is a hard-running midfielder with exquisite skills that can break the lines on a consistent basis,” the Lakers said on social media. Tim Speirs joins the Lakers from North Ballarat in the Ballarat Football League. The other new signing announced in recent days was Tyson Hartwig. Hartwig, who is a defender, joins the club from Wangaratta.

Druids, Storm, Jaguars through to next round The Druids, Sydenham-Hillside and Jacana were among the teams to seal spots in the next round of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association T20 competition. With the pool round games continuing, due to washouts before Christmas, there was plenty of action on Tuesday night. The Druids claimed top spot in the Taylor group with victory against Footscray United. Both teams had earlier beaten Sunshine United. The Bulldogs made 8-102 from their 20 overs with Daniel Melican top scoring with 26. The Druids shared the wickets around with three players taking two wickets each. The Druids got off to flier, before losing three quick wickets.

It mattered little as the Druids hit the winning runs with more than six overs to spare. Lahiru Kumara took 4-10 for the Bulldogs. Sydenham Hillside got one over local rival Caroline Springs and sealed its finals spot in the Smith group. The Storm made 5-152 from its overs with Dylan Knight top scoring with 68. It was all single wicket takers for the Falcons The Falcons started off well and were 1-86. As they upped the run rate, the wickets fell as they were restricted to 7-133. Roshan Laksiri top scored with 43. Jacana, which is in division 5, beat Glenroy in an upset in the Waugh group.

Jacana made 7-131 from its overs, with Damien Petrucciani top scoring with 42. Glenroy was bowled out for 113 with two balls remaining Kasun Mahela took 3-6 off 2.4 overs. The win was Jacana’s second and sealed top spot in their pool. In the Paine group, Grand United opened its account against Seddon. With both matches set to be played this week, it’s a busy few days for the Gorillas. Seddon decided to bat after winning the toss and managed to put on 90 for the first wicket partnership. A few late wickets halted its run, with Seddon finishing 4-129 with Liam Braithwaite scoring 55 at the top of the order.

Sachintha Silva took two wickets for the Gorillas. The Gorillas found themselves at 4-52, but the middle order got the job done, finishing 4-130. Nilan Fernando made 55 off 32 balls. Keilor kept its finals hopes alive in the Simpson group, beating Tullamarine. The Blues made 4-171, with Lucas Elliott top scoring with 73 All single wicket takers for the Demons The Demons started slowly and were in trouble at 4-17. The innings never really got going as they were restricted to 8-88, with David Scott finishing 35 not out. The Blues are now equal on points with West Coburg, which still has to face Tullamarine.

Bulls display strong form

Roshan Laksiri scored a century on Saturday.

(Luke Hemer)

Falcons’ learning curve By Tara Murray Consistency is the key for Caroline Springs in the back half of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 competition. The Falcons have produced some really good results to have themselves in the finals mix, but have also let slip a couple of matches. Falcons captain-coach Kevin McClean said it had been an up and down season so far. The Falcons sit seventh spot after nine rounds, 12 points outside the four. “It’s been a season of half and half,” he said. “It’s been up and down with a couple of close matches that we could have won. “There’s two teams in the top four that we’ve beaten, but there’s two teams below us that we have lost to. “It’s been topsy-turvy, but our destiny is still in our hands.” McClean said this season had been a learning curve for everyone, with the side playing in division 3 for the first time. He said the club was really focused on development and the long term success of the club.

“Every division has its different challenges,” he said. “We have to embrace the challenges and it’s about learning to play in division 3. “We’ve always got support from the top and committee. We need to continue to play with passion and hopefully get some more wins on the board.” The Falcons on Saturday returned to red ball cricket for the first time before COVID-19. McClean said it was a different challenge which opened up the possibility of different results. Facing Pascoe Vale Hadfield, the Falcons made 8-231. “It went pretty much OK,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement. It’s a decent total and we should be able to defend that.” Roshan Laksri was the star of the show. Coming in at 3-34, he put on 108 to help the side reach a competitive total. McClean said Laksri showed the others in the side how to bat in a two-day match. “He’s an experienced guy,” he said. “He showed the younger ones that hard work and the dedication gets results. He got into the zone.

“It’s a lesson for all of us.” McClean said they were confident of getting the wickets this weekend to get the win on the board. In other matches, Sydenham-Hillside has a solid run chase on its hands in division 1 against Altona North. Altona North were bowled out for 199 on the final ball of the day. Tim Grech took three wickets for the Storm. In division 5, Melton South Royals had a day out against Seabrook. The Royals made 8-331 from their overs with Thiwanka Kekulawala top scoring with 121. Burnside Springs is 1-23 in reply to Jacana’s 181. Mathew Sanders and Tim Stephens took three wickets each for Burnside. There was no play on the first day of the match between Melton Centrals and Wyndhamvale due to Melton council reprogramming the ground’s watering system.

Bacchus Marsh’s strong form has continued in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup. After a big win in the first week back after Christmas, the Bulls got one back against Rupertswood on Saturday. Having lost the first clash between the two teams, the Bulls came out firing at home. Rupo won the toss and elected to bat in hot conditions, but struggled to get going, bowled out for just 98. Daniel Kavanagh top scored with 26 for Rupo, while Thomas Wardell was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets. While the Bulls lost an early wicket, it meant little as they easily chased down the runs. The Bulls finished 1-99 in 21 overs. James Lidgett continued his good form finishing 41 not out, while Brenton Payne finished 40 not out. Diggers Rest Bulla cemented its spot in the top six with victory against East Sunbury. The Burras made 8-229 from their overs with Mulkapuge Lakshan top scoring with 53 as the middle order did most of the damage. Lachlan Wilkins was the only multiple wicket taker for the Thunder. After tumbling to 5-52 the task was always going to be tough for the Thunder. It would fall well short, bowled out for 166 in the last over. Caine Schofield top scored with 36 for the Thunder. Rhys Berry and Indika Massalage took three wickets each for the Burras. In other results, Jarryd Vernon put on a show for Gisborne against Woodend. Vernon made a massive 178 as the Dragons made 9-279 from their 50 overs. Woodend fought hard, but were bowled out for 202. Warren Else top scored with 74 not out. Romsey skipper Ben Way was also in the runs, making 134 not out against Wallan. The Redbacks finished 6-268 from their overs after being in trouble at 5-22.Adam Frost finished with 92. The Magpies finished 9-204. Sunbury United accounted for the Sunbury Kangaroos in the other match.

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