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24 JANUARY, 2023
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Baby, what a great name Victoria’s most popular baby names from the past year have been revealed, with Charlotte and Oliver coming in at number one for the third year in a row. The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria revealed there were 551 babies named Oliver in the last year, and 410 named Charlotte. The name Oliver has cemented its place as number one, continuing it’s nine-year streak while Charlotte continues its shorter three-year streak. New mum Kate Galling said she chose the name Oliver for her new baby as she had always liked it. “We’ve loved the name for a long time,” she said. “I have two other children named Zachary and James, and Oliver felt like it fitted in.” Over the course of its nine-year reign, 4790 babies across the state have been named Oliver. Ms Galling said Oliver is now 10-months old and is happy as ever. “He is the happiest boy on the planet – he loves life,” she said. Other popular names for boys included Noah, Jack, Charlie, and Leo, and for girls Olivia, Isla, Amelia, and Mia.
Mum Kate Gelling with her 10-months-old son Oliver. (Damjan Janevski) 315729_01
Level with us: Residents Diggers Rest residents say they feel left out of the conversation about level crossing removal works along the Sunbury train line. In October, Sunbury MP Josh Bull announced level crossing removals would take place at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road in Diggers Rest to make the Sunbury line free of level crossings by 2026. Mr Bull is also the level crossings parliamentary secretary. Community advocate David O’Connor and 14 other signatories reached out to Mr Bull via post and email to ask for a face-to-face meeting
with himself and the level crossing project team about a month ago, but they had not received a response when Star Weekly went to print. “My concerns are that although we support the removal of the crossing, residents are concerned that the lack of consultation is not addressing all the options available,” Mr O’Connor said. “I’m up the street from it, it upsets me because we want the best for Diggers Rest and we feel that without the right consultation, which includes everybody, [we] won’t achieve those outcomes.” As part of planning, the level crossing project
team undertook site investigation works during November and December last year. These works included geotechnical, land and utility surveying around the sites, traffic surveys along Watsons Road and Old Calder Highway and surveying of the rail corridor. Mr Bull said there would be comprehensive public information sessions on every aspect of the Diggers Rest project prior to any construction. “As with all local projects I am happy to meet with residents to hear their views and discuss the project in more detail,” he said. “The removal of both of these level crossings
presents a really exciting time for Diggers Rest and I am committed to ensuring we achieve a wonderful outcome for the community.” Jasdev Singh, Diggers Rest resident and letter signatory, said he and others were anxious to make sure they were involved in the process of planning. “We are not against removing the level crossing, but we want to know how they are doing it,” he said. Mr O’Connor praised Mr Bull’s previous efforts to keep the community informed, but having not heard from him yet “makes us nervous”.
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By Elsie Lange